The Barista Dance!

I learned the barista dance at Deux Gros Nez, a coffee shop in Reno where I worked during the year after high school. It was my first paying job! The "Deux" as we called it is also where I learned the joy of simple things: like the difference a smile, a hello, and a coffee can make in someone's day. I took pride in learning how to make good coffee, knowing that people made a special trip to get one. I learned the meaning of cooking with love: cooking for someone the way you would want to eat it. ( Much to its regulars' chagrin, the Deux is no longer open, though you can find at least a little of its essence over at the new Laughing Planet Cafe, which Deux Chief Tim Healion now runs.) When The Thinking Cup located in Boston handed over footage of one of their baristas at work, knowing the swift and careful moves of a busy barista, I was excited to edit it into a jazzy dance.

Thinking Cup Coffee Shop from lis bartlett on Vimeo.

Speaking of Stumptown coffee, which The Thinking Cup serves, this is one of the best videos I've ever seen. Cheers to you, Trevor Fife.

Colin Loretz

In March I started working at Reno Collective, where I met Colin. What strikes me most about Colin is that as a web developer / entrepreneur he could live in any major city, but he chooses to live in Reno - because he likes it here. Not only does he live here, but he works hard to make Reno a better place. When I asked him why he does this, he seemed thrown off. "A rising tide lifts all boats," he said in our interview. He wants everyone to succeed at whatever they're trying to do, simply because he wants to live in a place like that. Colin is definitely a leader, having founded Reno Collective (with Ed Adkins), Reno Wordcamp, and Ignite Reno, but he doesn't ask for much spotlight. He seems to lead from the back- which makes him all the more interesting....Meet Colin Loretz.

Meet Jason Geddes

Jason Geddes is Environmental Services Administrator for the City of Reno. The City created that position in 2007, and Jason is the first person to have it. As Environmental Services Administrator, he serves as the environmental awareness / sustainability liaison for the city council. Prior to this he was the Environmental Affairs Manager at the University of Nevada, Reno. That position, and his current position as Vice-Chairman of the Nevada System of Higher Education's Board of Regents, allowed him to play an integral role in the design and building of the awesome new green building, the Joe Crowley Student Union at UNR. It was great touring the building with Jason, having him point out some of the key features that make the building green, and also reflect the great state of Nevada. Jason is a Nevadan through and through, who was born in Winnemucca, raised in Gabbs, went to Sparks for High School and UNR for college. Meet Jason Geddes.

Know Your City Employee: Dave Barrett

I recently started interning with the City of Reno Television Production Department. Together we came up with the idea for a new show that airs on Reno 213 in town, and on youtube. It's called Know Your City Employee. The idea is that we feature City Of Reno employees who also have interesting hobbies outside of work. It's a way to see where your tax dollars are going, and to get a new perspective from someone who maybe you have seen or who's job title you have heard of, but were never sure about what they did exactly or who they were.

Episode 1 features Dave Barrett, Parks Maintenance Supervisor and pilot.

Trans Tahoe Relay Swim 2009

The Trans Tahoe Relay Swim is a 30+ year tradition where teams of six individuals complete an 11 mile course across the glorious Lake Tahoe- starting at Sand Harbor Beach and ending at Skylandia Beach. Each individual swims for 30 minutes, then 15, then 10, until their team lands at Skylandia Beach. Speedboats filled with teammates bob alongside their swimmers until their turn in the 60-ish degree water. Then the swimmers touch, and switch.

The first swimmer of each team starts on the beach at 7:30 am. The first finishers come in around three hours, and keep coming in for about three more hours. Ambitious individuals who want to swim the whole thing alone are also allowed to compete.

This year instead of swimming I interviewed swimmers and created a video portrait of the event, in collaboration with my friends at ActiveReno. Check it out!

Swimmer Jim

I present you with Swimmer Jim! It's a little video portrait of Reno area Masters swimmer Jim Conkey, done as a part of Project Moonshine, and last winter's 'I Like Winners' exhibition at UNR's Sheppard Gallery. The basis for the exhibition was to explore through art the ideas of winning and athleticism. Here's Jim and his thoughts.

Swimmer Jim from lis bartlett on Vimeo.

Reno is Artown

Every July Reno hosts Artown, a month long summer arts festival, and most events are free. Pretty cool. Two summers ago I was part of a group, Project Moonshine, that made a sort of documentary- called Being Here- about the event.

This year something I had never seen before, a woman acrobat dancing hanging from a type of hot air balloon (that was tethered to the ground)- apparently called The Heliosphere, kicked off the festival on July 1 in Wingfield Park. Here's a taste...

Le Tour de Nez

This past week I spent at the Tour de Nez- a pro bike race in Reno/Tahoe- a fantastic way to spend the week.


This is Roman Kilun who won two stages at Nez and who I just found has a blog of his own.

Dave Towle announced, which was exciting for me because for a few years I reallllly enjoyed him commentate the Tour de France on OLN, now Versus. He knows loads about cycling, and he's a real artist. Watching and listening to him makes you feel like you are there in person.

Co-filmer Mike Albright in for the good shot before having to fall back.



Here's a photo of a moment later, when after a bit of rain and fears of cancellation, a double rainbow emerged.



There's just something about a bike...

Go See Young at Heart

This Memorial Day Weekend I drove back home for a little relaxation/family love/refreshment.


*the sky in Reno is always fantastic (I think it has something to do with how it's simultaneously the desert and mountains), this weekend especially so because it was drizzly the whole time.

While here I saw the documentary Young at Heart by Stephen Walker, which is a portrayal of an elderly choir called Young at Heart. It was a fantastic! The movie has been recommended to me a lot because of my own similar documentary film making interests of late, which I will be posting proof of here soon.

OK, easy subject you may say. Old people say the darndest things. Pretty much, exactly. But also way more than that. They have 80 or so years of knowledge that is the foundation for what they have to say. In spending an hour and a half with older people, it's hard for your head and heart not to go back to the basics and realize what's important in life. Props to Walker I say. I'm all about creating entertainment by simply (not to say it's not a difficult task) putting a frame around beautiful things in life.

A scene most powerful is when the choir performs at a jail. Here we get to watch the prisoners watching and listening to the chorus, as we are thinking the prisoners must be affected, and be realizing, like we are, that we must live each day to the fullest, savor every moment, and appreciate life for what it is.



Smiling? I thought so.
Young at Heart is currently playing in San Francisco at the 4 Star Theater on Clement Street.