Here we include a short list of the most popular pit-stops in the Reno-Sparks area that burners with little time on their hands, or experienced knowledge about the area, typically want to check off as a stop before heading off to the playa.

Although this list tends to also be reflect our favorite shops, we defer to experience here in pointing out that, although they are somewhat scattered around the region, there is a reason why these shops are so popular during the burner migrations.  Please read on for the details…

The Melting Pot World Emporium
1049 South Virginia Street – 775-322-9445 – map – (Downtown)
Regular hours: Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm. Around the time of Burning Man, open earlier and as late as 9pm. Call ahead for special hours.  Family-owned and operated by burners Monique, Eric, and Kaz, this wonderful place is also a year-round and longtime favorite of the local and world burner community. Lots and lots of great, exotic, ethnic, futuristic, retro, steampunk, eastern, and other fashionable costuming, clothing, lingerie, tutus, booty shorts, belts, boots, shoes, leg warmers, goggles, bags, jewelry, masks, hats, pasties, capes, wings, hoola hoops, playa-safe boas, parasols,  a large variety of fire tools, ready-to-go el-wire kits, light toys, flags, tapestries, playa gifts, backpacks, camel-bags, belts, poi, body paints and latex, body and eco-friendly lotions and oils, lip balms, smoking tools, portable ashtrays, books and dvd’s about Burning Man, Burning Man calendars, and other curiosities.  Also a section of fun clothing just for kids too!  All-in-all, a great place to meetup with other burners and for local info.

Junkees Clothing Exchange
960 South Virginia Street – 775-322-5868 – map – (Downtown)
Open every day, 11am-8pm.  Open later during Burning Man, call ahead for special hours. Owned and operated by burners Jessica and Troy and crew, Junkee Clothing Exchange is a wonderful journey backwards and forwards in time and space to find a HUGE and MASSIVE variety of very affordable vintage recycled, upcycled, custom, and one-of-a-kind clothing for women and men, including exotic and fun costumes, dresses, hats, scarves, corsets, tutus, vests, purses, shoes, suits, jumpsuits, glasses, jewelry, masks, glasses, el-wire kits, and other accessories for the funkee life on the playa. Also a place to sell or trade back, recycle your playawear! Just can’t rave enough about this place!

Polyesther’s Costume Boutique
655 South Virginia Street – 775-420-5050 – map – (Downtown)
Burning Man hours: Open daily 10am-9pm, but call ahead for after-hours possibilities.  Polyesther’s is unique for it’s custom-made line of wild fun fashion-ware, unique to the life of Black Rock City and beyond.  Here you can find unique, wild, and fun upcycled as well as brand-new clothing and costumes ranging from vintage to Renaissance to Victorian to faux to industrial to disco to fishnet to chain-malle and to sexy, for both women and men. Designs by Esther and other designers. You can find a wide variety of coats, mini-coats, dresses, pants, shirts, vests, suits, tutus, corsets, lingerie, leggings, gloves, belts, ponchos, boot toppers and covers, vests, pants, hats, wigs, halos, wings, bikini-wear, el-wired and weighted hoola-hoops, el-wire kits, LED toys and hokey spokes (for bikes), hand-painted parasols, wigs, masks, and jewelry.  And perhaps best of all, you can get your hands on their own “Lightning Fur” line of LED-lit and patterned faux fur clothing.  Esther will also make something custom just for you, contact her by August 12 to get in your order.

The Doll House
1092 South Virginia Street – 775-337-6060 – map – (Downtown)
Open Mon-Sat 11am-7pm. Open Sunday during Burning Man and call for possible extended hours. The Doll House is the place to get some of the sexiest custom-made outfits and costumes for the playa, including spandex pants, booty shorts, mini-pleated skirts, bikinis, tops, fishnet stockings in a wide variety of colors and designs, fur clothing and accessories, feather earrings, pasties, eye lashes, and a large selection of boots and shoes. Some sexy wear, such as booty shorts, thongs, and boots, for men too. Also carrier of men-magnet lotions and lip gloss. Owner and burner Jeanne specializes in sewing stretch fabrics, including lames and other wild fabrics, and she also carries a large variety from other brands. Custom outfits possible — orders should be placed by no later than August 10!

Menagerie Costumes
1999 South Virginia Street, Suite B – 775-322-5427 – map
Located behind Sushi Boat, turn right on Hillcrest off of Virginia Street, Menagerie is located then immediately on your right in the strip mall.  Open Wed-Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 2pm-6pm. During Burning Man Hours Open Daily 11am-9pm. Call ahead for possible after-hours appointment.  Recently opened, The Menagerie is burners-owned and operated, providing THE LARGEST selection and variety of costumes for purchase and rental in Northern Nevada. Focusing primarily on very good quality, custom-made costumes, hats, masks, wigs, and many other accessories formerly used in movie or stage sets, there’s just about everything for everyone … and at pretty good prices. If you want to be an alien, cowboy, renaissance princess, prom queen, roman legionary, clown, movie diva, monster, star trekkie, gangster, rabbit, alligator, loonie tunes cartoon character, … you just about name it, they probably have it — and in variety!  Also have el-wired clothing, playa-ideal body paints, wigs, masks, and other accessories, as well as tutus, corsets, faux fur vests, booties, leggings, etc.  Anything not fitting?  Alterations possible.  Custom orders available — all custom orders need to be in by no later than August 17.  Call for custom orders and questions.

Prism Magic Clothing & Imports
2161 Pyramid Way – 775-356-5577 – map – (Pyramid)
Open Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat. 10am-6pm. Yup! On the way to the big ole Burn on Pyramid Way. Owned and operated by burners for burners, they specialize in tie-dye but have all sorts of fun ‘Playa Wear’. Petticoats, animal bikes, costumes, sarongs, hats, vintage clothing and other unique items. Black Rock Bicycles are also available. Stop on by & have some fun c/o Lauren & Crew.

Save Mart Supermarket
525 Keystone Ave – 775-786-2150 – map – (Keystone Ave)
Open 24/7 for Burning Man. This Save Mart every year increasingly goes out of their way for burners, and is the most popular spot among burners on their way to the playa. Moreover, bicycles, recycling, and ridesharing can also be found here in abundance. A one-stop shop if there is one….

An area of the Save Mart parking lot will be set aside for LOTS AND LOTS of bulk-water that may be picked up after being purchased inside. They will also be carrying 15 and 55-gallon barrels, spigots, and pumps, and Aquafill-Pacific Mist will have a truck in the parking lot to fill up any container or RV with Reverse Osmosis-filtered water.

Other specialty products will be located inside and outside of the store, including Black Rock Bicycles, Kiwanis Bikes, and bike accessories, Cool Neon el-wire ready-kits, various glow toys, fun hats, masks, goggles and fun glasses, headlamps, solar chargers, tiki torches, medium and small propane tanks and propane stoves, bicycle tubes and lighting, dry ice,vegetarian and vegan sandwich fillers, various energy bars and powders, freeze-dried backpacking foods, sushi, reusable cups and other kitchenware and storage containers, lots of canned beer and other booze, and coolers.

Like some other Save Marts and stores in the region, they also will again be part of the Exodus Trash and Recycling Network, having a convenient center to dispose of all of your recyclables and trash. Recycling is free and trash disposal is available at $3 per 35-gallon trash bag.  Just PLEASE sort and have your recyclables as clean as possible and removed from bags before depositing in the appropriate containers. Bicycles, plastics (HDPE 1,2,3,4&5), plastic bags, glass, all metals (aluminum, tin, lead, steel, etc), paper, cardboard, household batteries, and non-perishable food and water are all welcome. Human and other hazardous waste is NOT permitted.  All proceeds raised from this recyclables will be donated to support new local Black Rock Solar installations, and food and water will be donated to local food banks. Both the store and center will be open 24/7 from September 1 to September 5.

Also notable here for those on a shoestring is that this Save Mart will also be serving again as a Rideshare Base during the event. What's Rideshare? If you need a ride to the playa, it is likely that you will be able to quickly land a ride here to the playa at any hour, as this store is the busiest pit-stop in the region for Burners traveling to Burning Man. Please just remember that offering to help out with gas is sometimes helpful, that not everyone shopping here is even interested in Burning Man, leave no trace, everyone must wear a seat belt in the vehicle, and most importantly, be comfortable with whom you may come to share a ride with.

Whole Foods Market
6139 South Virginia Street – 775-852-8023 – map – (South Virginia and Kietzke Lane)
Open 8am-9pm daily. On Aug 25 and 26, open 7am-midnight. A very popular place among burners, Whole Foods is the largest healthy food store in the region, with a HUGE variety of high-quality foods, wine, beer, and spirits, and body products. They also have a section of fun playa-fashionable clothing and accessories – hats, vests, shirts, pants, dresses, coats, el-wire kits, etc. And of course they will have plenty of bulk water in 2.5 and 5 gallon sizes on the side.

And, finally, a most wonderful thing for last, Whole Foods will also again be part of the Exodus Trash and Recycling Network, having a convenient center to dispose of all of your recyclables and trash. Recycling is free and trash disposal is available at $3 per 35-gallon trash bag.  Just PLEASE sort and have your recyclables as clean as possible and removed from bags before depositing in the appropriate containers. Bicycles, plastics (SPI 1,2,3,4&5), plastic bags, glass, all metals (aluminum, tin, lead, steel, etc), paper, cardboard, household batteries, and non-perishable food and water are all welcome. Human and other hazardous waste is NOT permitted.  All proceeds raised from recyclables will be donated to support new local Black Rock Solar installations, and food and water will be donated to local food banks. The center will be open 24/7 from September 1 to September 5.

Trader Joe’s
5035 South McCarran Blvd – 775-826-1621 – map – (South Virginia and Kietzke Lane)
Open 8am-10pm daily and later during Burning Man.  Call ahead for special hours. In the Smithridge Shopping Plaza, a place to maneuver carefully for parking large spacecruisers, but heck, the legend of Trader Joe's is well worth it! A VERY hot spot among local and world burners for great and novel foods, drinks, and booze absolutely ideal for playa life, …and at great prices!

Simply Water
1070 Gentry Way – 775-337-8111 – map – (Moana)
Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-3pm, but will have special (8am-8pm) hours for Burning Man – call ahead for possible after-hours appointments. Purified water for 40 cents a gallon. Owner Mike Cadena’s been to Burning Man. Bring your own container, buy one, or fill your RV directly.

Twin City Surplus
1675 East 4th Street – 775-323-5630 – map – (Grand Sierra)
Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm. Long-time mega magnet for burners, this place has a little of everything. They have an extended portion of their site just for Burning Man. They will have the usual 35 and 55-gallon water barrels — will even let you fill them up there — along with the usual variety of tents, tarps, rope, goggles, clothing, stoves, and military-ware. Crank flashlights, Everlites, and solar lanterns are just a few of the many green-er items they are now carrying. Check out their website for their hot items.

Carter Bros. Ace Hardware
1215 South Virginia Street – 775-337-1200 – map – (Downtown)
Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 11am-4pm. One of the few hardware stores owned by burners in town that is as well independently seeking to meet the shade and camping needs of the burning man participant. Stocking up on a wide variety of playa-specific hardware, camping, and lighting needs.

Lowe’s Home Improvement
5075 Kietzke Lane – 775-824-4750 – map – (South Virginia and Kietzke Lane)
Open Mon-Fri 6am-9pm, Sun 8am-8pm. A bit larger than Home Depot, but just as friendly to burners, carrying all the basic building supplies for your shade or camp, flashlights, batteries, rebar, and other goods you might want…

Lowe’s Home Improvement
2450 Oddie Blvd – 775-356-6333 – map – (Oddie)
Open Mon-Sat 6am-10pm, Sun 7am-8pm. A bit larger than Home Depot, but just as friendly to burners, carrying all the basic building supplies for your shade or camp, flashlights, batteries, rebar, and other goods you might want…

Home Depot
5125 Summit Ridge Drive – 775-787-9690 – map – (West McCarran and Mae Anne Ave.)
Open Mon-Fri 6am-9pm, Sun 7am-8pm.

Home Depot
6590 South Virginia Street – 775-851-9600 – map – (South Virginia and Kietzke Lane)
Open Mon-Sat, 6am-9pm, Sun 7am-8pm. This Home Depot sets up an area specifically for Burners, stocked with all the basic building supplies for your shade or camp, flashlights, batteries, rebar, and other goods you might want.

Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor
71 South Wells Avenue – 775-384-1652 – (Downtown)
Open daily 2pm-whenever!  Look for the giant monkey and “FYD” on the side of the building — Jub Jub’s is located in the back.
Well, seeing how there may be some people who are eager for some local burner scenery mixed with firewater and grit, we just had to include Jub Jub’s here among the areas Hot Stops.  Owned and operated by Burners, and known as “The Fucking Classiest Dive Bar in Reno,” if you are wondering if there is any kind of affiliation between this place and the Jub Jub’s Theme Camp in Black Rock City, well, uhhhh…..,  you’ll just have to come find out for yourself.  Regularly featuring great drink specials, live music, free bad advice, and cheesy jokes, this is the best place in town to stir with other bizarre and fun personalities, events, and games.  Oh, and Fuck Your Day.

Preparation