lessons

Batten down the hatches, a storm is brewing. It’s almost Christmas, and whoever asked for snow is getting their wish. Take a break from the hustle and bustle at karaoke: choose from Living the Good Life, Crossroads Lounge, or Caterpillar’s Hookah Lounge. Grab your smartest friends for Geeks Who Drink trivia at Lake Tahoe Brewing Co. Head to Red’s Old 395 for a chance to tell Santa what’s on your list.

WEDNESDAY:

• Carson City School District Winter Break

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, and it’s not a bad bet this week. Enjoy the sunshine while we’ve got it. Enjoy an evening of trivia at Living the Good Life. Break out the ugliest of sweaters for a night of karaoke at Carson Cigar C0. Head out to Sassafras to hear Linda Argento’s duo, ‘Xing Bridges,’ host an invitational jam.
TUESDAY:

• Carson City School District Winter Break
• ’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)

Caroline Gabica slid activated hand warmers into her boots, picked up a bag of footballs and followed the coach out onto the field during the playoff game between Carson and Reed high schools in November. Soon Gabica, manager for the Carson High School Senators football team, was back on the sidelines, taping up the injured fingers of a player who got tangled up with another player’s face mask.

The weekend is just around the corner, but Thursday offers some fun with or without the kids. Join Santa for story time at the Carson City Library. Head over to Red’s Old 395 or the Carson Mall for photos with Santa. Celebrate those December birthdays at Carson Cigar Co. with live music by the Trippin King Snakes. Unleash your inner diva at karaoke night at Living the Good Life or Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar. Unleash your creative side at the Brewery Arts Center: learn to make ‘em laugh at tonight’s improv workshop.

THURSDAY:

Welcome to Wednesday, Carson City. This time next week it will be Christmas Eve and Santa will be on his way. Make sure to tell him what you want and grab a free photo at Red’s Old 395. Join Capital City Arts Initiative in the Sierra Room of the Community Center; an artist reception for Claudia Knous begins at 10 a.m. Heads up, you’ll need to park on the east side of the building. Enjoy our award winning high school band, Blue Thunder, as they perform a winter concert in the Bob Boldrick Theater. They will be joined by the school’s orchestra as well.

WEDNESDAY:

It’s a perfect afternoon for a trip around the rink at the Arlington Square Ice Rink. School will be off for winter break next week, and the rink will have expanded hours for the occasion. Warm up inside with country dancing at Carson Lanes. Test your knowledge at Trivia night at Living the Good Life. For cool jazz and yummy food, Sassafras is the place to be tonight.

TUESDAY:

• ’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)

As the holiday season approaches, participants from Carson City Parks and Recreation’s Kids Klub programs were invited to share in the giving spirit.

This past week, children from the Carson City Parks and Recreation joined the Ron Wood Family Resource Center in their yearly non-perishable food drive. Beginning on Monday, Dec. 7, participants in the Kids Klub after school programs begin bringing in their much needed donations in hopes of helping others have a happier holiday season.

Deck the halls with broken tree branches; the wind, she is a-blowin’. Hopefully we get some snow out of all of this bluster. Tonight is a good time for some ‘Joyful Noise,’ the 14th Annual Community Holiday Show at the Brewery Arts Center. If you’d rather make some noise yourself, check out karaoke at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar or at Living the Good Life. Turn the heat up with Salsa Dance at El Charro Avita. Santa’s waiting for you at the Carson Mall or at Red’s Old 395.

THURSDAY:

Oh, the weather out there is going to be frightful. A blustery storm is on its way in today, so you may want to bring in that inflatable snowman. Heading outside will be rewarded though. Ladies will find great specials at the Ormsby Club and Carson Cigar Co. Live music will be playing at Glen Eagles and Living the Good Life.

The Carson Library offers some great activities for the kids and Craft Tuesday today is one of them. While you’re there, head across the street to Browser’s Corner Book Store to check out the holiday offerings at their craft fair. ‘Break a leg’ to the talented students of Carson High Musical Theater: their Winter Ensemble Concert is at the Community Center tonight. Jazz and poetry return to Comma Coffee: the monthly performance of the Mile High Jazz Band begins at 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY:

Have you been naughty or nice this year? You’ll have no problem finding Jolly Old St. Nick this weekend. At Debug Computers where, in exchange for a donation to Holiday with a Hero, you can get a photo with the man in red. The Santa Train at the Nevada State Railroad Museum is a good place to grab a candy cane, some hot cocoa, and tell him what you’d like to find under the tree. Photographs with Santa are available at the Carson Mall Wednesday through Sunday. Genoa’s annual Breakfast with Santa has three seatings beginning at 8:30 a.m.

SATURDAY:

What a weekend in store for us: the Silver and Snowflakes Tree Lighting, the wine walk, Holiday with a Hero crawl, and more. First things first, though, Thursday fun stuff. Bundle up and head to Gardnerville for the Christmas Kick-off at Heritage Park with Santa, a tree lighting, and fireworks if the weather cooperates. Empty Bowls is hosting a preview night at the First Presbyterian Church; for a donation of $25 or more you get first pick of the handmade bowls that members of the community have made and decorated over the past year, and that includes admission to the soup fest tomorrow.

Don’t let hump day get you down, Carson City. Lunchtime blues with Dave Leather at Comma Coffee will get you through the workday. Geeks Who Drink trivia at Lake Tahoe Brewing Co. is a fun and silly way to pass an evening; and you can win prizes. Get some shopping done at the Carson Mall, and don’t forget your Hawaiian shirt: Hawaiian Santa will be there for photos. You’ll want your cowboy boots for line dancing at Carson Lanes.

WEDNESDAY:

The 2015 Tahoe Adventure Film Festival debuts at its birthplace this month at Stateline on the south shore of Lake Tahoe and will expand to places far and wide into the new year.

Marking 13 years of adventure sports cinematography and culture, Tahoe Adventure Film Festival is the annual gathering of the who’s who of outdoor adventure set in a hypnotic theatrical show of go-go dancers, DJs, and dramatic action imagery.

Carson City Symphony does some great things: one of which is the Strings in the Schools program. Join our talented STRAZZ students tonight at the Community Center as they perform the annual ‘This is not a Christmas Concert’ concert. Sassafras will be filled with some swanky jazz; Judith and Rocky are hosting this week’s jazz jam. Santa has been spotted at Red’s Old 395 and, naughty or nice, little boys and girls will get a photograph to take home. Stick around and enjoy Janet Leigh in Holiday Affair with the Carson City Classic Cinema Club.

TUESDAY: National Day of Giving Charity Drive

• Kit Carson Toastmasters Weekly Meeting at Grandma Hattie’s (6:30am; for info call Frank 775-885-7579 or KitCarsonToastmasters@gmail.com)
• World AIDS Day: Free HIV Test at Carson City Health and Human Services: 900 E. Long St. (8:30am-12pm, 1pm-4:30pm)

The annual Turkey Trot is a fun 5 or 8K run around the west side of town Thanksgiving morning. Costumes, silliness, and good times had for all. Sign up this afternoon at St. Teresa school. Living the Good Life is a good go-to for Tuesday night fun with bar games and trivia. Pizza lovers should head to Brugo’s for their weekly beer specials and a special tasting with High Sierra Brewery.

TUESDAY:

• ’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)

The Polar Express takes its first trip of the season today, and I hope you got your tickets. The annual event always sells out. Check here for ticket information; you may get lucky. Take the kids to the Carson City Library for weekly story time and check out CCAI’s Industrial Art Exhibit while you’re there. Today is the last day it will be on display. Hear stories of Old Virginia City at the Gold Hill Hotel. Or take a trip to the Nevada State Museum: the bombing of a Basque village during the Spanish Civil War and the affect it had on the United States is the topic of this month’s Francis Humphry lecture.
THURSDAY:

• American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout: Take a One Day Stand Against Tobacco at Western Nevada College (college campus is smoke-free for the day)
• ’Lines and Fields: Abstract Narrative Paintings’ by Liz Penniman at the Western Nevada College Main Gallery in the Bristlecone Building

With a promising November that dropped early snow and brought sustained cold temperatures following the winter storms, Sierra-at-Tahoe is the latest Lake Tahoe area ski resort to open before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Sierra Resort will in fact open Friday with early season conditions and limited terrain. The resort will run three lifts and two surface lifts and its season passes and additional products from 2014-15 will be valid for use through Dec. 20.

Consort Canzona, a select group of instrumentalists and singers that specializes in early music, will present two “Lessons and Carols” concerts this Christmas season.

The wait is over. Sierra-at-Tahoe will open for the 2015-16 Winter season on Friday with early season conditions and limited terrain. Sierra will run three lifts and two surface lifts. Season passes and additional products from 2014-15 will be valid for use through Dec. 20, 2015.

We have plenty of things to look forward to this weekend: Mary Poppins' final shows, the annual Craft Fair at Carson High, the opening of the Polar Express. Just don’t forget that fun can be had every day in Carson City. Tonight, enjoy line dancing at Carson Lanes. Ladies enjoy pool and drink specials at the Ormsby Club. The ever-popular Geeks Who Drink trivia game makes its weekly appearance at Lake Tahoe Brewing Co. And Living the Good Life is proud to bring Liam Kyle Cahill to the stage as part of his acoustic folk rock ‘Turkey Tour.’

WEDNESDAY:

• ’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)
• Nevada Artists Association Art Exhibit featuring Anna Louise Darden and Photography by Chas. H. McDonnell, III at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)

You could almost bet on strange weather in Northern Nevada. The Sierra Valley Forums are hoping to answer some of your questions about the extreme weather at the Brewery Art Center this evening. Get to toe-tapping at El Charro’s tonight; beginning swing dance lessons are on the menu. Flex your mind with trivia at Living the Good Life. Get your jazz fix at Sassafras: Rocky and Judith are hosting a jam.

TUESDAY:

• Kit Carson Toastmasters Weekly Meeting at Grandma Hattie’s (6:30am; for info call Frank 775-885-7579 or KitCarsonToastmasters@gmail.com)
• ’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)

When it comes to school, it’s usually the "grown up" who are setting the example and teaching the lessons. But at one school in Carson City it was a second grade student who did the teaching.

No need to wait for black Friday or Small Business Saturday to get a jump on your holiday shopping. Western Nevada College’s annual Craft Fair is today, as is Santa’s Village at the Carson City Senior Center. Support local artists and crafters while finding a one of a kind gift for your loved ones. If you have a book-lover on your list, a book signed by local author Ken Beaton is easy to acquire. Browser’s Corner is holding a meet and greet with him this evening.

THURSDAY:

Today is Veterans’ Day: a day to commemorate the men and women of the Armed Forces that have fought, and possibly died, for our country. Thank you for your service. Several places around town are offering something special for our Veterans today: free coffee, free breakfast, free lunch, etc. You’ll need to bring proof of service. Tonight, everyone is invited to the party. Check out the Junebugs at Living the Good Life. The Portland pop-folk band returns for a night of fun and dancing.

Do you want to build a snowman, Carson City? That may be ambitious with our first dusting of snow, but I’m sure you could finagle a snowball or two.

UPDATE: As storms continue to drop feet of snow in the Sierra, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows are latest Tahoe ski resorts to announce early season starts.
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Lake Tahoe ski resorts Heavenly and Northstar will launch their 2015-16 ski and snowboard season this Saturday, six days ahead of schedule, thanks to recent winter storms. This is the earliest the resorts have opened since 2012, officials said.

It was rainy last night in our valley, but this evening should see some snow. A winter wonderland isn’t always easy to drive in, so please slow down and be careful. Monday always brings karaoke at the Firkin and Fox, so go sing your heart out. Football lovers will probably be watching the Bears-Chargers game. For those of you with swing in your step, head to El Charro Avita for intermediate dance lessons and the High Sierra Swing Dance Club’s weekly ‘night out.’

MONDAY:

Before you catch a chill, head down to the Community Flu Shot Clinic held this afternoon at the Fire Station by the Carson City Airport. Warm up from the inside at Tahoe Ridge Winery’s monthly Ladies Night: Women In Need Of Sanity. Crooners Jimmy Mallett and Jack Clifton are just the recipe for a hot time at Living the Good Life. . Rick Radecki sizzles as he returns with his Flashback Thursdays show at the Casino Fandango. Things get spicy at El Charro Avita: salsa dance lessons are tonight.

THURSDAY: