Arts Council

Happy Friday, Carson City. Grab a bite at Meek’s Lumber at their first Friday BBQ for lunch, or at the Lions Club Crab Feed at Fuji Park tonight. Cheer on the Western Nevada College Wildcats as they battle Salt Lake City Community College on the softball and baseball fields.

The original idea for The Intergalactic Nemesis (a wacky live-action graphic novel performed on stage with simple scripts, a couple actors, some crazy noises), all started in a coffee shop in Austin, Texas.

It’s a whole lot bigger than that now: Enter a sound-effects genius, an emotion-wielding keyboardist, three actors voicing tons of wacky characters, with 1,200 vintage-cool illustrations projected over the stage, all telling the story like a 1930s radio play with decidedly 21st-century spins.

We have almost made it to the weekend. Let visions of the Downtown Wine Walk, CASI’s Woof, Wine, and Whiskers, and the kick-off of Carson Comedy at the Carson Nugget keep you buoyant until then. Just don’t be in such a hurry to enjoy the weekend that you miss out on what Thursday in Carson City can offer.

National Grammar Day is celebrated across the United States each year on March 4, as established in 2008 by Martha Brockenbrough, founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar. I've attached a Weird Al Yankovic song that I believe best pokes fun at the sentiments of the day.

Yes. You are looking at a bunny with a pancake on its head, but I can explain. Today is National Pancake Day, so head over to the International House of Pancakes for your free short stack and donate to this year’s charity, the Children’s Miracle Network. It is also National ‘I Want You to Be Happy Day.’ Pancake Day and trying to share a smile, ergo silly picture of a bunny with a pancake on its head. Find your own way to share some happiness today.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

It’s never too cold, too wet or too hot
To pick up a book, and share what you’ve got
You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild
To pick up a book, and read to a child...
― Anita Merina, 1997

“Act out being alive, like a play. And after a while, a long while, it will be true.”
― John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Birthday boy Steinbeck has it right. Carson City is what you make of it; plenty going on, but it won’t come to your home and ask you to get involved. Music, art, theater, dance, hiking, biking, wining, dining, volunteering, sports, and more are available in our area.

Once upon a time in Nevada, a Reno tailor named Jacob Davis wrote a letter to Levi Strauss about his pocket rivets, and thus the blue jean was born. Coincidentally, today is Strauss’ birthday. Once upon a time in Nevada, Buffalo Bill Cody was just a kid riding for the Pony Express. It’s his birthday, too. Fun fact: Cuba Crutchfield, a trick-rope cowboy with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West, is buried in Carson City’s Lone Mountain Cemetery. Once upon a time in Nevada, a man was shot in Reno.

Applebee’s is the place to be for dinner tonight if you want to help the 2015 Carson City Leadership Class raise funds for the children’s area of the Carson City Library. You do need to bring the flyer with you if you want Applebee's to donate a portion of your bill. Print it out or grab a copy at the Library’s youth desk.

Grab your dance shoes and kick up your heels at a beginning swing dance lesson at El Charro’s tonight. The High Sierra Swing Dance Club hosts its monthly Swing Dance Party in the Ballroom of the Brewery Arts Center Saturday night. If you prefer to dance in cowboy boots, you can learn Country Line and Partner Dancing at the 11th Frame Lounge in Carson Lanes every Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Just another Monday in the Capital City. The Legislative Gallery has a new offering: Natural Memorial Realist by artist Max Bunnell of Overton. The gallery rotates every two weeks. The CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse features Nevada Watersheds by Nolan Preece, and the Nevada Artists Association is hosting their Winter Art Show at the Brewery Arts Center.

Carson City native Michelle Lassaline is featured in a special SENarts event at the Nevada Legislature from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. Lassaline invites the public to meet and interact with some of her fanciful characters, including the Highland Cow, Pashmina Goat, Mountain Bluebird, and Wild Burro. Her presentation is part of “The Work of Artists,” a series of programs scheduled throughout the legislative session. Admission is free.

Kick up your heels, it’s finally Friday. World Dance Open Floor will be dancing for donations for CASI tonight at Comma Coffee. The Brewery Arts Center is hosting Mixed Company as part of its new Eclectic Electric series. The party is at Remedy’s; the blacklight body paint Mardi Gras Masquerade starts at 9pm, with the talented Lynzie Ruecker doing free body paint and music by DJ Justincredible.

It’s National Love Your Pet Day, so give your pooches and kitties some extra love.

FRIDAY:

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year; welcome to the year of yang, which could be a goat, a sheep, or a ram, depending on the translation. Time to reunite with family and loved ones and celebrate spring. New York City got in on the festivities with its first ever fireworks display for the Lunar New Year; I've included a YouTube video, just in case fireworks really are lucky.

The Pizza Factory on Hwy 50 East is holding a fundraiser for Eagle Valley Middle School today. 20% of the day’s proceeds will benefit their Parent Teacher Organization.

The words of great poets come to life on stage across the state as more than 3,100 high school-aged students compete to represent their county at the 10th Annual Nevada Poetry Out Loud State Finals at the Siena Hotel in Reno on March 14, 2015 from noon to 3 p.m.

It’s a great day for the arts in Carson City today. An artist reception honoring Sarah Lillegard will be held at the Nevada Arts Council where her exhibit ‘Second Skin’ is on display. Sande Rowan will share knowledge about baskets around the world in the first of six ‘The Work of Artists’ SENarts events. The Galaxy Theatre brings the Metropolitan Opera back to Carson City this week with an Encore showing of Duke Bluebeard’s Castle, the live showing occurred Saturday morning.

It's Random Act of Kindness Day. I think the inventor of the smiley said it best.

"The catch phrase for the day is 'Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile.'"
Harvey Ball

Have a great day, Carson City. Do something nice for no reason.

TUESDAY: Fat Tuesday – Mardi Gras:

• Catholic Charities Day at the Legislature

If you have a hard time deciding what to do tonight, may I suggest you blame me? After all, the first Friday the 13th of the year is known as National Blame Someone Else Day.

First things first. Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, so I’m reminding you to make reservations for your favorite restaurant if you haven’t already. Check out the Carson Mall’s Craft Fair and Gift Sale or any of Carson City’s great shops like Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery, Evergreen Gene’s, Morley’s Books, the Artisan Store at the Brewery Arts Center or Purple Avocado for something special for that special someone.

If you are looking to take advantage of National Make a Friend Day, try one of our many art galleries to spark up a conversation with a stranger. You may also strike it rich while listening to Dave Leather play the blues at Comma Coffee, or tonight, during the first of many Jazz Jams that Sassafras will be home to. It’s also National Shut-in Visitation Day, so you could always make a new friend at one of Carson City’s nursing homes.

Don’t miss the Mile High Jazz Band at their monthly appearance at Comma Coffee tonight, make sure to bring your sweetheart. Today at the Legislature, they will be celebrating Nevada Tribes. A cultural presentation is in Room 3100 if you want to learn more about the Native people of the Great Basin.

TUESDAY:

• Nevada Tribes Day at the Legislature; Cultural Presentation and Information in Room 3100 (10:30am-1:30pm)
• Roseman University of Health Sciences Health Fair in the front foyer of the Legislature (8am-3pm)

Monday is upon us and it’s drizzly. You could stay indoors and celebrate National Clean Out Your Computer Day, but there are a few reasons to put your umbrella to work. CW and Mr. Spoons will get your toes tapping at Comma Coffee at lunchtime. It’s the last week to catch the New Year’s Show at the NAA Gallery at the Brewery Arts Center. High Sierra Swing Dance Club will be dancing the night away at El Charro’s for their weekly Club Night Out.

It’s Carmen Miranda’s birthday, so I've included a YouTube video to bring a little Havana sunshine to this grey Nevada day.

Days like this I wish I could clone myself. There are so many options for a good time tonight: an artist reception at the CCAI Courthouse gallery, ‘Himalaya’ playing at the Community Center as part of the International Film Weekend, Improv at the Brewery Arts Center, wine tasting at Genoa Coffee and Candy, and loads of music!

If you think today holds a plethora of good times, wait until you see what the weekend has lined up!

FRIDAY:

Today kicks off the second annual International Film Weekend in Carson City. The main event is this evening in the Bob Boldrick Theater at the Community Center, a free showing of “Boy.” “Boy” is about a youth coming of age in the Maori culture in New Zealand in 1984.

Some of Northern Nevada's finest traditional, folk and contemporary artists will appear at the 2015 Nevada State Legislature in “The Work of Artists,” a series of interactive talks and demonstrations that bring a personal side to exhibited pieces. Designed to create an opportunity for artists to engage with community members and people working in or visiting the Nevada State Legislative Building, the presentations are at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 18 and 24, March 19 and 30, April 17 and May 7. All are free and open to the public in Room 3100.

Wonderful Wednesday is upon us, and one way to get over the hump is to head out for a good meal. If you haven’t heard yet, Sassafras has returned and is serving up its Eclectic fare in its new location right next to the Carson Hot Springs. Downtown, the Lake Tahoe Brewing Co. will be hosting the Chamber of Commerce for its Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting. Capital Eats inside Westside Pour House (former home of Mo and Sluggo’s) always has some tempting dishes. A little further north on Carson St., Living the Good Life Nightclub and Bistro has live music this evening and a delicious array of options on its menu.

This may be ‘the day that music died’ back in 1959, but Carson City wants you to find your dancing shoes tonight. Beginning swing dance lessons will be held at El Charro Avitas; go check out their brand new dance floor. Country Line dancing is taught at the 11th Frame lounge at Carson Lanes every Tuesday and Wednesday. Jimmy Mallett and Jack Clifton will be at Living the Good Life Nightclub and Bistro channeling all the swank of the rat pack.

Sarah Lillegard works in what she calls second skin. The Reno artist featured in the latest show at the Office eXhibition Series Gallery works in fabrics that explore group identity, belonging and symbols, in garments sometimes called clan jackets.

The attire is said to communicate meaning, cultural legacies and myths. The OXS exhibit “Second Skin” is free at the Nevada Arts Council, 716 N. Carson St., in Carson City, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 17. Lillegard will discuss her work at a public reception from 5-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, with an artist talk at 6:15.

A flurry has blown into town: not of the snow kind that we so sorely need, but one of Legislative activity. The 2015 Legislative season starts today, so please keep an eye out for increased activity in our downtown crosswalks.

“Pine Spirit” by Sande Rowan comes to the Legislative eXhibition Series Gallery Feb. 2 Working with Native American basket makers in the Southwest, Sande Rowan learned coiling techniques she incorporated into her own style as a professional basket maker. Her “Rainbow Spiral” pine needle basket is among her works featured in “Pine Spirit” at the Legislative eXhibition Series Gallery Feb. 2-20 in the Nevada Legislative Building.