I'm sure some locals will have a better perspective but my first trip to Reno in ten years and the place looks like "poverty". Holiday weekend and it wasn't crowded at all.

The new downtown improvements were very nice and the places that are re-modeling plus the attempted image enhancment was nice. But the casinos just don't look like they have enough business to keep the number available profitable.

It looked like people are going to Atlantis, Peppermill and the newer places.

The Horseshoe signs are still up but it's a collection of liquore stores, pawn shops and junk stores that occupy most of the old area.

If you want to rub elbows with winos, old Reno is the place to go. Fitzgerald's was the saddest of all, even though they have my favorite parking offer and the nice new bridge over the railroad tracks.

To the North, Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus looked well maintained. Golden Phoenix was sharp.

But my biggest disappointment was finding the Ethyl M chocolate store was now a corner coffee shop. Second was the Riverboat antique mall, because I loved the ouster and seafood bar there.

In all, aside from the casinos, there was nothing to attract anyone to the area and the general atmosphere was skid row, more than ever before.

Sad, because old downtown Reno used to have a character and appeal.