Locals' Feature: Jesse James Ziegler, Reno's Poet Laureate

Locals' Feature: Jesse James Ziegler, Reno's Poet Laureate

Jesse James Ziegler and his wife, Amanda McHenry at Shim's Tavern in Reno

Meet Jesse James Ziegler, Reno's Poet Laureate. Jesse grew up in Grass Valley, California, and now lives in Reno. One of his main goals among Reno’s famously artistic community was to become Poet Laureate. He made his dream come true, and then some!

Group photo of participants in Monday Night Poetry at Shim's Tavern in Reno

Jesse James Ziegler, Reno's Poet Laureate, and an orange and yellow pet parrot on his shoulder

Jesse James Ziegler performing open mic spoken word poetry

Jesse is also the Creative Director of Reno’s Monday Night Poetry and True Colors Poetry. Monday Night Poetry happens at Reno’s Shim’s Tavern which, according to Jesse, is home to the world’s best non-alcohol Guinness beer, hands down—or up (all hail a tasty non-alcohol beer!) If you’re in Reno for an extended stay (always a good idea), head to a Monday Night Poetry session. Everyone is welcome, whether you just want to sit, sip, and listen to poetry or get up and share your own words.

Photo of Lake Tahoe turquoise waters taken by Jesse James Ziegler

Photo of Reno's Love, Believe, Home sculpture in Reno by Jesse James Ziegler

In his spare time, Jesse finds inspiration in Reno's beautiful mountain and desert landscape, as well as the numerous artistic enclaves in the city. As he explores and finds inspiration in and around Reno he enjoys taking pictures.

Listen to our podcast interview with Jesse, where he shares his favorite places to go outdoors for poetic inspiration in Reno (there are a lot of choices!) and discusses the thriving creative community—from Burning Man to less known enclaves where art is always percolating.

Follow Jesse James Ziegler, @sidewayseightprojects

Listen to Weekend Sherpa's podcast Take It Outside, episode 66, "From Southeast Asia to Reno Tahoe"

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

    View
  2. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

    View
  3. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View
  4. Up and Umunhum

    Early risers can experience one of the Bay Area’s best morning glory hikes on this 7.4-mile out-and-back up beautiful Mount Umunhum. In early spring if you arrive at the parking area right before sunrise, you’ll get a beautiful eastern view of the sun coming up between Bald Mountain and the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains. On days when fog settles into the valley, the colorful view is nothing short of magical.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

    View
  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

    View
  4. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

    View