Bella Fiore Wines

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.

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.

Keep up the snowy thoughts, Carson City. We desperately need the water, the ski resorts need visitors, and those mountains are so much prettier with a blanket of white. Wildcat Softball on Saturday is weather pending, so it’s too early for me to call it canceled.

“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.

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.

Such beautiful weather this week. True to Nevada luck, the chill returns in time for the weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that the storm front brings some precipitation our way. One place it’s seasonally appropriate is the Nevada Artist Association Gallery at the Brewery Arts Center. They will be hosting an artists’ reception for their new Winter Art Show Saturday evening.

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:

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.

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)

Looks like our rain and snow dances finally did the trick, but don’t let the weather scare you away from downtown this weekend. The Downtown Business Association’s Wine Walk, Artsy Fartsy’s Annual Jewelry Sale, Just Brew It’s Annual Thirsty Boy Home Brew Competition, and Family Fun Day at the Nevada State Museum are all hoping to lure you out of your home. Leave your ice skates at home though, the Arlington Square ice rink has closed for the season.

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:

The perfect reason to peruse the downtown shops and find a Valentine's gift for your special someone arrives Feb. 7. The Carson City Downtown Wine Walk is always held, rain or shine, the first Saturday of the month from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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.

Super Bowl weekend is here, and so is some great music around town. Stereo Galaxy will be jamming downtown at the Westside Pour House. The Brewery Arts Center presents Mig O’Hara as the first installment of their new Nevada Songwriters Series. And local band Iron Age will be filmed at their gig tonight in the 11th Frame Lounge at Carson Lanes for a ‘rock-umentary.’ Where ever you end up tonight, you’re bound to have a good time.

FRIDAY:

• Demonstrations of Coin Press #1 at the Nevada State Museum (10:30am-12pm AND 1pm-3pm)

Today, Mayor Bob Crowell will deliver the State of the City Address to the Chamber of Commerce’s Soup’s On luncheon. It is sold out, so for those without tickets, you can catch it online later this week.

If you have some Legos handy, you may want to commemorate the 57th Anniversary of the little brick’s patent while celebrating National Have Fun at Work Day. It’s probably a safer bet than trying to celebrate National Kazoo Day at work.

WEDNESDAY:

Thanks to Muscle Powered and the Carson City Parks and Recreation Department, Tuesdays are a good day to go for walk and explore some great trails and paths around town. You can find the schedule online here, and I always include them in my list.

It’s a Jazz Extravaganza tonight as the Mile High Jazz Band teams up with Carson High School’s Jazz Band at the Community Center.

First things first. I want to send a big shout out and good luck to all of our Carson kids that are competing at the Flips Invitational Gymnastics meet in Reno this weekend. For those of you who aren't the proud parents of tumblers, Carson City has plenty to keep you busy.

The long wait is over, Friday has returned. There are some great music options for tonight: the kick-off to the Tahoe Sound Series at the Brewery Arts Center with 4 Piece Puzzle, local favorites, the Whitehats, jammin’ at Westside Pour House, DJ Country Bobby will be at Carson Lanes, and Jimmy Mallett brings the swanky tunes to Bella Fiore.

One last reminder to avoid Saliman if possible. Road work continues today.

Let’s call this Roller Derby Wednesday. Carson’s own Victory Rollers are looking for fresh meat and are holding a six week class (off roller skates) to show everyone the ropes. They hope to see you tonight at Bordewich Elementary School. Just down the street, the Brewery Arts Center has an Improv workshop starting at 6:30 p.m. If you’ve wanted to attend the First Friday Improv, but have been a little shy, this is a great chance to learn about what goes on and how to jump in the fray. Be warned, you will probably have some fun.

The Tuesday after a day off can feel like a Monday, but it does make the week go by quickly. It’s back to school for those attending Western Nevada College, and maybe back to work for some of those who attend the Greater Nevada Credit Union’s Job Fair today.

January 16th is National Nothing Day, so celebrate whatever you choose; I recommend the fact that it’s Friday. Live music is playing at several venues tonight: Foodies Bystro, Westside Pour House, and Living the Good Life to name a few. Carson High School’s production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons debuts at the Community Center. World Dance Open Floor returns to Comma Coffee for a night of dancing and fun.

FRIDAY:

• ’Pets of the Homeless’ Food Drive at Evergreen Gene’s: 1811 N. Carson (10am-5pm)

Today is unofficially National Dress Up Your Pet Day. It’s pretty self-explanatory, so have some fun with this. If you dress up your pooch as William Tell, he’ll fit in perfectly at the Clear Creek Bowman Indoor Archery Shoot tonight at the Fuji Park Exhibition Hall. If your kitty looks pretty as a cowboy, then check out Country Line Dancing at the 11th Frame Lounge inside Carson Lanes.

WEDNESDAY:

It’s National Rubber Ducky Day! I have no idea how that is relevant to anything, but now I've got the ‘Rubber Ducky’ song from Sesame Street in my head. It’s also Stephen Foster Memorial Day, so feel free to sing ‘Camptown Races’, one of the prolific song-writer’s most famous songs, instead. Keep the musical theme going today with the Carson Feet Warmers during lunch and the Mile High Jazz Band playing this evening, both at Comma Coffee.

If you were waiting for the sun to come out tomorrow, your wait is over. It is Friday and Annie, Jr. hits the stage tonight. Grab dinner at the Firkin and Fox and help celebrate their anniversary, or get your boogie on at 70s night at the Arlington Skating Rink. If blues or jazz are more your style, catch Boon Doggle at Bella Fiore, then head to the Black Box theater in the Brewery Art Center for a Jazz Jam.

FRIDAY:

• Curbside Christmas Tree Recycling: cut them if over six feet; put it out on your regular trash day