Parents rejoice! We have another great activity option in town – Color Me Mine in the Summit Reno (south Reno, next to Century Theaters). What is Color Me Mine? Well, let’s call it an art studio that specializes in ceramics (or what I came to find out are called bisques). As you walk in, you’ll see a long wall of blank “canvases.” This includes everything from mugs to plates, picture frames to bowls, and flower pots to animal figurines. If they don’t have what you want, they can get it.
“We have the largest selection in Reno,” said Color Me Mine manager and master potter, Brittany Sundheim.
Paint Your Heart Out
The premise is straightforward. Select the items you want to paint (the price is on the bottom of all items – so there’s no surprise; it seemed to me that most of the items were around $20). You can reserve a time to come in, or simply walk in (don’t worry, they have enough room that you won’t have to wait to get started).
The staff is not only knowledgeable and creative, they’re very friendly and service-oriented. They will guide you through the process of picking out your paints, choosing the right brushes, and getting started. You’ll be seated at a table as a family, and able to paint at your own pace. The Color Me Mine staff is very attentive, so you’ll never feel like you’ve been abandoned. Truthfully, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have an artistic bone in your body or if you’re channeling Michelangelo. This is such easy fun for adults and children alike. If you can only manage to slap paint on a surface, it’s still going to look amazing when it’s done (I know, that sounds crazy, but it’s true).
Once you’re finished painting, you’ll leave your creations with the Color Me Mine team to go through the glossing and “firing” process (which basically means they bake it in a large oven), which finalizes your personalized work of art (and keeps the paint from coming off). It takes one week to get your item ready for pickup.
Special Events
I was impressed by the volume of special events and promotions available for parents to take advantage of. One, in particular, stood out to me – Date Night (every Saturday night from 6-9pm). As much as I loved painting with my sons, I love a well-deserved date night. But here’s the kicker – you can drop your kids off at Color Me Mine, let them paint for up to two hours, while you go have a date night! It’s convenient that the movie theater is next door – I almost never get to see a non-kid movie anymore.
Of course, you can also have a date night at Color Me Mine with you and your sweetheart (sans kiddos). It actually a really fun and unique couples experience to either paint your own item or collaborate on a single item. And what’s great is that you will have your artwork around afterward (be it in the kitchen, on the shelf, or at the office) to remind you of the night.
Let’s level it up even more – they have father/daughter and mother/son days, as well, often with special pricing. Keep an eye open for all the great theme nights they make available each month. They’re also equipped to host birthday parties (which sounds like a unique idea for the kids), or any kind of get together, really.
I’d highly recommend adding Color Me Mine to your rotation of fun family activities in Reno.
