Get LEGOs at a significantly reduced prices at Bricks & Minifigs

If you have a child that loves building with LEGOs or Duplo bricks toys, then Bricks & Minifigs is an absolute must location to visit in south Reno at 18180 wedge pkwy suite 1, Reno, NV 89511.

Located near Galena High School on the south end of town off Mt. Rose Highway, in the same shopping center as Bully’s Sports Bar and Raley’s, sits a quaint little shop known as Bricks & Minifigs. Technically, it is a franchised store, but boy, this store has a local flair and vibe where you can’t tell that it is a franchise.

My son and I visit this location frequently, sometimes once or twice per month. The employees know us, almost by name at this point. In fact, we had my son’s 7th birthday party there earlier in November 2017 as well.

Bricks & Minifigs has just about everything a lover of all things LEGO could ask for besides the amusement park and water park attractions that come with a visit to Legoland in California. Bricks & Minifigs has pre-built sets covering everything from Star Wars to Scooby Doo and everything in between. They also have other boxed sets that are both new, used and discontinued that you might not find anywhere else. Most people would claim that LEGOs are geared towards boys, but they also have sets that a girl would like too. My 9 year-old daughter especially likes to get a new minifig under their glass counter each time we visit. It’s just something that comes with the territory when visiting Bricks & Minifigs

Bricks & Minifigs has open bins where you can fill a bag of miscellaneous LEGOs for anywhere between $15 to $50, depending on the size of the container if you’re not interested in getting a set (what I call building with instructions). When sifting through these bins, you may be able to find missing pieces to your own sets or enough to let a young child’s imagination run wild with pieces that can make just about anything. They also have pre-assembled minfigs that are in plastic clear balls and open bins to assemble a truly custom minifig that is as unique as the child assembling it. Even further, there are open bins with rubber tires for those wheels that are missing their treads and mini-sets in bags that you can pick up and keep in a purse or bag while out and about, such as a restaurant to keep your kids entertained when the kids’ menu and crayons don’t seem to do the trick any longer and you don’t want to necessarily give them your iPhone to play with at the table.

Beyond that, there are LEGO Dimensions characters there too from the Simpsons to Lord of the Rings and more, in boxes as sets where you can build the minifig that comes with a vehicle or gadget. But that isn’t the real reason why I am mentioning LEGO Dimensions.

Beetlejuice Fun Pack game play: It’s ShowTime!

For those who don’t know, LEGO Dimensions (view the wiki devoted to the game) is a video game where you can assemble a character and their vehicle/gadget and use it in a video game by putting them on a pad and putting their pad on the “Dimensions” portal. The “Dimensions” portal is a pad that connects via a USB cable to an XBox One, PS3 or PS4 where the character joins the game and unlocks their world. Some of my favorite characters to play as are Beetlejuice, the Goonies, E.T., The Powerpuff Girls, Slimer from the Ghostbusters and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Finn the Human from Adventure Time, and a couple of others. The ones I am still working to get for the game are Ethan Hunt from Mission Impossible, Gizmo and Stripe from Gremlins, Knight Rider and the new, 2016 version of Ghostbusters (Abby Yates is the buildable character) and the LEGO Batman Movie Story Pack.

These characters are able to travel from world to world and mostly the game is a bunch of puzzles that unlock gold bricks that you can use to upgrade their vehicles/gadgets to enhance the gameplay. I really enjoy the game because it isn’t all too violent (there are times when there are bad guys you need to defeat to get a gold brick) and they also have different kinds of packs. From Fun Packs and Team Packs (where you get to play around in the worlds) to Level Packs where it unlocks a level to play in that is themed for the character that contributes to the game’s storyline that is rather engaging. The most fun I had playing a level is the Dr. Who Level Pack. That one was really long and a lot of fun with their puzzles and taking the TARDIS to different chronological eras and times, and locations on Earth and in outer space.

LEGO Dimensions game play with Buttercup and other Powerpuff Girls

Psst… Come here. I want to tell you a little secret about Bricks & Minifigs

Now, here is where I let you in on a little secret. At Bricks & Minifigs, they also have just the LEGO Dimensions character game pads for anywhere from $1 to $2 each. No character, no vehicle/gadget, just the game pad. This was a game changer, literally, when my son and I found out they had these pads, becuase it expanded our gameplay exponentially. In fact, just this weekend, we picked up Bubbles and Blossom from the Powerpuff Girls universe for $8 total where it would have been $24.99 (at the time of writing this article) on this site/via Amazon.com. They don’t have every single character’s game pad in stock, but if you’re like me and lucky enough to puruse the bins of game pads and recognize one you don’t already have, you can pick it up for a fraction of what it costs to buy it as a full pack at retail. Through this method, I was able to pick up Marty McFly from Back to the Future, Dr. Who, Homer Simpson, the Lord of the Rings characters, Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, the Powerpuff Girls as I mentioned above and many more.

However, even more telling of this story, I seem to spend way too much money at this store every single time we visit. Black Friday, this past Friday was especially dangerous for us as a family financially. We walked away with some great deals, including a free minifig (sorry R2-D2! He was eaten by the dog, so we lost one of our two that the kids got for free within minutes of coming home; I guess that is the nature of a 1 year-old Chessapeake Bay Retriever for you).

Here I am, rambling on… Let’s continue, shall we.

Goonies Level Pack game play: Hey, you guuuys!

Did you say Bricks & Minifigs hosts birthday parties, too?

Yep. My son, as soon as he set foot in that store and found out that they have birthday parties, immediately begged for his next birthday party to take place at Bricks & Minifigs. Who are we to deny our middle child who wants nothing more than to play with LEGOs and play video games about LEGOs all day long? He even wears clothes with LEGOs on them too.

The birthday party accommodations included:

• Time to build special LEGO cars to race down the track;
• The opportunity for every kid to build a minifig to take home with them;
• A movie playing in the background, my son chose the LEGO Movie;
• A Bricks & Minifigs t-shirt with a minifig body where the head is the child’s head out of the shirt;
• Bricks & Minifigs supplied the plates, napkins and decorations, we just had to show up with the cake, drinks, and pizza; and
• The best part, lasting memories and the happiness of a son who wanted to have his birthday party here for so long.

All-in-all, my son and most notibly my wife, really enjoyed the affair. I did too. We didn’t have to clean up anything. Bricks & Minifigs staff took care of cleaning up after the party. We were able to be in the party room for 1 and a half hours too! That was a real bonus. It didn’t feel rushed between activities. They were really laid back in their approach to handling the birthday party.

I used to work at Fun Quest, when it was still the Reno Hilton in the late 90’s – early 2000’s (does that date me?) and I know a thing or two about making a successful birthday party happen. Bricks & Minifigs staff really know what they are doing when it comes to birthday parties.

Well, that is pretty much all I have to say about this family-friendly store. Although, if you let me, I can keep going, I’m sure. If you’re looking for more information about Bricks & Minifigs, please check out some Bricks & Minifigs reviews on Yelp or stop by to see this fantastic store for yourself and tell them you heard about the store on Windy Pinwheel.

As always, thanks for stopping by Windy Pinwheel.

Where: 18180 wedge pkwy suite 1, Reno, NV 89511

What: Bricks & Minifigs, (what I like to call a LEGO lover’s paradise)

Need to know: They accept all major credit cards, host birthday parties, LEGO sets in the box or in open bins including minifigs (mini-figures), LEGO tires, small and large sets for any price point you are seeking to spend.

Extra Extra: Ask to take a look at their LEGO Dimensions game pads. Bricks & Minifigs sells them for $1 – $2 depending on the kind of gamepad to find those characters you don’t yet have or don’t need the set to play.

Website/Contact Information: (775) 501-5364, 18180 wedge pkwy suite 1, Reno, NV 89511, https://bricksandminifigs.com/store/reno-nevada/ or reno@bricksandminifigs.com

Hours: Monday – Tuesday (10AM – 6PM), Wednesday (closed), Thursday – Saturday (10AM – 6PM) and Sunday (11AM – 5PM)

Bounce around, dodge lasers and playtime that never ends at Paradise Cove Fun Center

Last weekend, my kids and I had the chance to get out of the house and drop in at#wind up at#show up at Paradise Cove Center (hereafter referred to as Paradise Cove) in south Reno, Nevada, near the Double Diamond and Cyan neighborhoods.

Located on Double R Boulevard in south Reno, Nevada this location is a great place to take the little ones for a couple of hours for a fun time.

My kids were invited to birthday parties at this location last weeken on Saturday and Sunday. I was able to take them on both days. My son on Saturday and my daughter on Sunday. My wife and I also have a Groupon for it, but we have been so busy that we never got around to using it… yet.

What I was most impressed with is the very laid back attitude that the staff has while you are there. They take the time to talk to you and just make sure that you are having a good time. There are enough attendants at each slide/play structure to ensure that your children are using the equipment appropriately and safely and there are more than enough bounce structures to entertain any kid for a couple of hours. I also found out by chit-chatting that Paradise Cove has been open since January of 2014, so this is a relatively new attraction to Reno.

The bounce/inflatable structures include:

• An obsticle course with two entrances for racing through to see who can get to the end the fastest;
• A large double slide;
• A wrecking ball octagon with pedestals to stand on to try to knock the other opponent(s) off (Note: don’t hang on the wrecking ball);
• A regular bounce house; and
• A bounce/slide with blow-up animals attached to it for younger chilren.

There is also a “Laser Maze”. What is a laser maze, you ask? It is a game to see who can reach a diamond, pick it up and set it back down, and exit a room in the quickest amount of time without touching any of the lasers… well, as few as you can anyway. Think of Catherine Zeta-Jones in the movie, Entrapment. The game is called, “The Heist”.

Further, there is an arcade area with about ten or so, maybe more, video games and attractions for your kids to play as well.

Next, there is a game area called, “Bazooka Ball”. While I was there, because my children are so young, we didn’t get to experience it. However, we were told it is for kids ages 6 and up. It is a game involving Nerf-type soft balls shot from a “Bazooka”. I don’t know much more about it than that, but it sounded like a good time.

Finally, and something most places that cater to children don’t pay attention to, is the attractions for the parents. As you can see from the gallery above, there is a flat screen television in just about every image. There is a plethora of televisions in this place and each of them, because it was Saturday and Sunday during the Fall, were set to a football game. That makes a dad/mom or two happy. Also, they have an officially designated “Parents Room” with glass on both sides so that parents can keep an eye on their kids while they can relax and watch the game or just whatever is on the TV at the time. There are also remote controls so you don’t have to just watch what is on, you can watch whatever you like, provided that the other parents in the room don’t mind.

Overall, I had a great time during both visits this past weekend and I will definitely be back again with my little ones in tow. Check this place out. You’ll be glad you did.

What: Paradise Cove Fun Center.

When: Closed on Monday. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Friday and Saturday 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM Pacific Time Zone.Need to know: Bring some socks. You can’t go in the bounce structures without them. Also, be prepared to sign a waiver of liability before your kids can play.

Extra Extra: Birthday parties range from $175 to $300. An all-inclusive pass is now $15 for the day; unlimited access to the inflatables, one laser maze pass and 1 bazooka ball pass. Of course, like all things with a business, price is subject to change.

Website/Contact Information: www.ParadiseCoveFunCenter.com or call (775) 851-7232. 9475 Double R Boulevard, Reno, NV 89521.

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Jump up, jump up and get down at EZ Air in South Reno, Nevada.

EZ Air is a unique spin on the bounce house playground. EZ Air is an indoor trampoline park in South Reno. A creative and exciting venue for all ages, from little kids all the way up to adults. EZ Air offers birthday parties, toddler Thursdays and several open bounce times throughout the week.

We first experienced EZ Air while attending a birthday party for our daughter’s classmate. It was on a Saturday and location was very busy. In fact, the time slot when we attended was sold out, but the good news is you can pre-book your bounce time online (we highly suggest this for the weekends).

Upon entering, there are racks for shoes and a sitting area for parents with comfy couches and TV’s. The first bounce area is a series of smaller trampolines (about 20+ of them) where the bouncers can run and jump; even jump off the side where there are trampolines lining the walls. The next area includes two trampolines you can run onto and jump into a large foam pit filled with super soft foam blocks. This was a big hit among the five year old group we were with, they were racing each other, seeing who could jump higher and in general the amount of giggling happening from this area made it clear this was a fan favorite.

Two more areas include trampolines to bounce towards basketball hoops, you too can be Michael Jordan or Lebron James!

Each area is monitored by an employee to ensure safety guidelines are always followed. When I took our three year-old, I was incredibly impressed with the employees who are all friendly and really know how to talk to a child. My three year-old was nervous and was not sure of himself, but was encouraged to give the various areas a try by several employees.

The entire place is large and open. We absolutely enjoyed our couple of visits to EZ Air and will surely be back many times with our children. If you haven’t visited this South Reno family friendly venue, it’s a great indoor place to get some energy out of your kids. I personally recommend booking your time for just before nap time… I promise you they will be tired!

Where: EZ Air, 895 E. Patriot Blvd., Suite#103 Reno, NV 89511.

What: EZ Air Indoor trampoline park.

When: All week long.

Need to know: Call ahead to book a Saturday session, birthday party or for best times for open jump.

Extra Extra: Check out all of their upcoming summer camps.

Website/Contact Information: www.EZAirSports.com.

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For all reviews, please exercise discretion. If the sponsor of the article is in conflict of the topic of the article, we will pull down the sponsorship to remove any conflict of interest with the article at-hand. For instance, there is an article about a hamburger restaurant and a competing hamburger restaurant sponsors the article; we will pull the sponsorship and issue a refund.

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Let your kid go wild at the bounce-house-a-palooza at Pump It Up: The Inflatable Party Zone in Sparks, Nevada.

‘Jump-N-Art’ where, [k]ids spend part of their time laughing, bouncing and playing games and part of their time exploring their inner Rembrandts Pump It Up: The Inflatable Party Zone is an indoor play space perfect for kids of any age that caters to special events such as birthday parties, fieldtrips, fundraisers, a year round track-out & Summer camp program called “Jump-N-Art” where, “[k]ids spend part of their time laughing, bouncing and playing games and part of their time exploring their inner Rembrandts”, and much more.

This past weekend my 4 year-old daughter and 2 year-old son were invited to a birthday party from a friend at their daycare/school at Pump It Up. Pump It Up is located just east of McCarran Boulevard at 610 E. Glendale Avenue, south of I-80 and filled with seven different inflatable bounce houses separated into two arenas. The birthday party we attended was during the mid-afternoon hours so it was excellent for our littlest because he had just arisen from his nap and was ready for some fun. Our first impression of this place was that it is amazing for a couple hours of fun or as little as an hour to exhaust the kids.

Our kids had so much fun at this venue. It was perfect for a kid of any age because, even as adults, you can get into one and romp with the little one too.

The birthday party worked just like a seamless operation, choreographed to the minute with fun things for the kids to do and change to the environment. At one point, the lights went out and disco-esque strobe lights came on and the kids went wild.

As a group, we all experienced both arenas and the birthday party room. We spent some time in arena A and then the party manager moved everyone to arena B before finally arriving at the birthday party room. It was like the progression of a part on an assembly line; moving from one part of assembly to the next with relative ease.

Because they were twins, the birthday boy and girl each received a blow-up hat to wear during the party. It really made their day.

The rate for the 100% private party was based on the number of people who attended. Because the Pump It Up organization had to have a staff member for so many number of kids, it made sense to use that pricing structure.

We found out that free play, “Pop-in Time” hours typically run during the middle of the week and it is usually around $6/hour per child.

The facilities were really clean and each of the inflatable bounce houses were well maintained. I would definitely return for another visit in the future.

Where: 660 Glendale Avenue, Sparks, Nevada 89431. (East McCarran and Glendale by the JC Penny Outlet Store).

What: Pump It Up and indoor inflatable bounce house location for kids of all ages.

Need to know: Check their website for events and available open play times and rates.

Extra Extra: Be sure to remember a pair of clean sox becuase they are necessary in the indoor arenas and extra change/money to spend on the indoor photo booth and cyclone machine. Also, know that if you’re planning a birthday party, there is an option to send an invitation online (a great option for any parent on-the-go with little time to spend writing out invitation cards).

Website/Contact Information: www.PumpItUpReno.com