Blue Bull

Merry Christmas, Happy Chaunukah, and a very blessed holidays to you, Carson City. I’m hoping your out of town friends and family made it safely, winter storms are known to wreak havoc on travel. Be safe out there as you finish last minute errands and finish up your shopping. Enjoy Carson City this weekend: you’ll find some fun things to do with the kids, family and friends on this list, so read on.

SATURDAY: First Night of Chanukah, Christmas Eve

• Nevada Artists Association Art Exhibit featuring Jenny Schnabel at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-6pm)

It's that time of year again! It's time for the Blue Bull's annual booze basket raffle to raise money for St. Jude Children's Hospital. Three baskets, each overflowing with over $300 worth of choice spirits will be raffled off to three lucky winners.

Don't miss out! Tickets are available at the Blue Bull Bar on 107 E. Telegraph St from 2:30 until we close everyday until the drawing on Jan. 2, 2017. Tickets are $3 for one ticket, $5 for three tickets, $10 for five and $20 for 20.

It’s looking like we may be in store for a white Christmas this year, but anything could happen in the next few days. Don’t wait till the last minute to get your holiday affairs in order, check out Carson City’s great little shops and art galleries for those hard-to-find gifts. Country line dancing at Carson Lanes will get your toes tapping and your blood pumping. Award-winning singer-songwriter Canyon White is a perfect companion to dinner or a few cocktails at Living the Good Life.

The moon has looked incredible these last few nights, and a view from Washoe Lake State Park is sure to inspire. Just make sure to call for reservations if you’d like to join the guided hike along the sand dunes. For some daytime scenery, join Parks and Rec. for their easy walk at Fuji Park. Head to Comma Coffee tonight for hot drinks and cool jazz. Enjoy the vocal stylings of Jakki Ford and proprietor June Joplin, in addition to some great poetry. Keep reading for more happenings around town.

TUESDAY:

What do you need to get in the holiday spirit? Carson City probably has it covered. Watch ‘A Christmas Wish’ with Jimmy Durante at the monthly meeting of the Carson City Classic Cinema Club. Let the talented kids of ‘Strings in the Schools’ entertain you with their annual ‘This is Not a Christmas Concert’ Concert at the Community Center. If you need some bowl-full-of-jelly belly laughs, then the Super Santa Extravaganza, featuring some of the area’s funniest stand-up comics, is for you. You’ll find that in the Brewery Arts Center Black Box Theater. For a good dose of Christmas lights, head to the Johnson Lane area. Off Stephanie Lane, on Chaparral Court, is a spectacular display known as Nevada Christmas.

TUESDAY:

I hope you got your fill of naps last weekend because this weekend is chock full of fun to be had for all. You can Wine Walk until you Holiday Crawl downtown. Take your pick of craft shows in town. Kids won’t want to miss the Santa Train at the State Railroad Museum or one of the two performances of ‘The Peanutcracker’ at the Community Center. Whether you’d like to spend the days indoors or out, there is something for all ages in the Carson City area this weekend.

SATURDAY:

• Nevada Artists Association Art Exhibit at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-6pm)

Today is the National Day of Giving, a day to think about the charities that help make our communities a better place. Choose your favorite non-profit and put them on your gift list; help them help others. Do yourself a favor and get one step ahead of flu season with the vaccination clinic at the Carson Library today. It’s a chilly day, but it’s always hot on the dance floor: country dance at Carson Lanes or swing dance at El Charro Avita will get your blood pumping.

It’s a common tradition to say what you are thankful for today. I am grateful for you, Carson City, my community. Enjoy the day with your families, friends, and loved ones. It’s a quiet day in town. The annual Turkey Trot Run begins at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Governor’s Mansion, costumes are always welcome. A free Thanksgiving Day meal at the Carson Nugget is offered to all. A few local taverns will open this evening for some after-feast libations.

THURSDAY: Thanksgiving Day

Sometimes you just want to make some noise. The brand-new Harmony Sculpture Park at the Brewery Arts Center is the perfect place to make some music: the ribbon cutting is at 1 p.m. The new FoodMax will open in early December and jobs are still available: the job fair at Job Connect will put you in the running. Let Firehouse Subs take care of dinner tonight, and do something for our local Relay for Life in the process. We are in for some wet weather over the next few days, so please slow down and watch for slick roads.

TUESDAY:

Just nine days until Thanksgiving and the Carson Library is offering a pretty novel way to acquire a turkey: Turkey Bingo. Go try your luck and see if you walk away with your dinner centerpiece. Sierra Nevada Forums feature our great local volunteer organizations and what you can do to get involved; learn more at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall. The Change Place, a new whole body, mind wellness center, hosts its Grand Opening today. Check out the Christmas Bazaar at the Elks Club and see what goodies the Emblem Club has baked up. Keep reading for even more to do today.

Red, blue, left, right: today is Election Day. I would be remiss if I didn’t urge you to do your civic duty.All Carson City voters can choose between the Community Center or the Courthouse any time before 7 p.m. If you need to get away from it all, Muscle Powered leads a walk along the Linear Ditch Trail this afternoon. Comma Coffee welcomes the Mile High Jazz Band: Election Day Jazz with vocalist Jakki Ford is the perfect way to spend a Tuesday night.

TUESDAY:

It’s the perfect season for a stroll downtown and the monthly Downtown Business Association’s monthly Wine Walk gives you a great reason. Grab your friends, neighbors, and a light jacket for this Carson City tradition.

Whew. One more Halloween/Nevada Day weekend in the bag: now let’s start November off with a bang. Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos at Red’s Old 395 with the Modelo girls or check out the festivities at Western Nevada College that the Latino Outreach and Association of Latin American Students have planned. Travel back in time with the Carson Chamber Singers in Concert featuring Requiem for the Living and music of the Renaissance at the Shepherd of the Sierra Church. The popcorn is always free at the monthly Carson City Classic Cinema Club’s movie viewing.

Trick or treat, Carson City. Little ghouls and goblins will be hitting the streets for the annual tradition, so please drive carefully. Avoid the chill by hitting up the Carson Mall or Carson Library for goodies. The Governor will be handing out candy after 5 p.m.; you may want to start your west side visit with our Downtown Business Association’s Candy Crawl. Virginia City’s Goblin Parade is followed by trick or treating down ‘C’ Street. In Minden, don’t miss the annual Trick or Treat Safety Street at the CVIC Hall. Adults can enjoy Halloween Parties at Crossroad’s Lounge or the Blue Bull.

Even though Carson City is awash with Nevada Day festivities, Halloween is just as important. Here is an updated list of all the reasons to throw on a costume Saturday through Monday in Carson City and the surrounding valleys. Remember, rain is expected on Friday and Sunday, so consider an umbrella if you don’t want your make-up to run!
Adults only parties are in italics.

As October marches along we find ourselves nearing election day. Head to the first floor of the courthouse to earn your 'I Voted' sticker now; early voting continues until Nov. 4. Another way to make your voice heard today is by attending the Arts Town Hall sponsored by the Nevada Arts Association. They are looking for the ways that arts and culture can be improved in the Carson City area, among other things. While the mornings can be chilly, a walk with Muscle Powered along the Freeway Multi-use Path will get your blood pumping.

It’s that time of year again. The ghosts and ghouls come out of hiding and paint the town orange. Halloween isn’t just one night around here. Combined with the festivities of Nevada Day, you can be sure to enjoy at least a week’s worth of celebrating.

Here is a comprehensive list of fall festivals, Halloween parties, and fun for all. Items in italic are for those 21 and older only.

Saturday, Oct. 22:

Dear goodness, autumn is beautiful around here. The leaves changing, the snow dusting our mountains, and the air is crisp. Keep a jacket handy, and enjoy a jaunt up Voltaire Canyon. Help celebrate community services as new names get added to the memorial outside the Marv Teixeira Pavilion. The League of Women Voters and Sierra Nevada Forums are almost done with this election, but not before they bring you a discussion about four of our ballot questions: be at the BAC Performance Hall by 6pm to see what they have to say.

TUESDAY:

Pick your poison, Carson City. Art, music, politics, film, hiking: all are available today. CCAI brings us a Nevada Neighbors talk with one of the artists featured in the Nevada Museum of Art. The Wired Wednesday group has a workshop for filmmakers in time for the upcoming creepy film festival and competition. Local candidates can be found at the BAC Performance Hall in the first of three voters' forums. It's hard to miss the new 'Home Means Nevada' mural on the side of CAL Ranch at Winnie Lane; the opening ceremony for our newest piece of art is at 2 p.m.

Tuesday has arrived, and that means a new stroll with Carson City Parks and Recreation. Today's Easy Walk is the Annual Art Tour, visiting eight galleries and exhibits downtown. If you can't join them on this excursion, just grab the new art walk map at the Carson Visitor's Center to make sure you don't miss anyone. Today also marks the beginning of the Nevada Day Treasure Hunt, an annual tradition that has history buffs and Nevada aficionados combing the grounds for the lucky medallion. Read on, and enjoy your day.

TUESDAY:

Fall in love with downtown as Carson City moves into autumn. The monthly Downtown Business Association’s monthly Wine Walk pays no heed to what the weather serves up. Start the day at the semi-annual Vintage Market right behind Due Sorella, then stick around to sign yourself, your friends, family and neighbors up for October Wine Walk.

Happy Tuesday, Carson City. Parks and Rec’s Easy Walk explores the Stewart Indian School. It’s a great opportunity to explore one of our incredible cultural resources. The Children’s Museum of Carson City hosts a special ‘Step Up For Kids’ event with free admission sponsored by the Children’s Cabinet: it’s a perfect time to learn what resources are offered. Canyon White is one of the area’s favorite singer/songwriters. Enjoy her tunes and some great food tonight as Living the Good Life goes acoustic.

TUESDAY:

• Carson High Homecoming Week

Happy Tuesday, Carson City. Parks and Rec’s Easy Walk is a special trip to Spooner Lake where you’ll get to enjoy the crisp autumn morning in a beautiful setting. Listen to the voices of the past as members of the Washoe Tribe recount stories of their people in their native tongue at the Carson Valley Cultural Center and Museum in Minden. J's Bistro in Dayton hosts a spaghetti feed fundraiser for the Remote Area Medical program. A special lecture on the Sutro Tunnel takes place in Virginia City this evening.

What a day Carson City has in store. Jazz and Poetry hits Comma Coffee tonight as the Mile High Jazz Band puts on their monthly performance. Let the Sierra Nevada Forum's panel inform you about the facts and fictions of recreational marijuana from Colorado's experience. The Community Development building on East Proctor, formerly the 'BRIC', hosts an artist reception for the talented students in the Capital City Arts Initiative 'High School Pic[ks]' show.

It’s back to school and back to work after a long weekend, but don’t let the day feel like a Monday. Join the Classic Cinema Club for Whistle Stop, a love triangle starring Ava Gardner. Bring something for the ducks if you join in the Easy Walk at Ross Gold Park. Five years ago, our community suffered a great shock when four people, including three National Guardsmen, were the victims of a shooting attack at IHOP. The annual remembrance run begins at 7 a.m., so please be cautious when driving along Fairview this morning.

TUESDAY:

Where has the time gone? We are moments away from Labor Day weekend with its Best of the West Rib Cook-off, monthly Downtown Wine Walk, Fallon Cantaloupe Festival, and Virginia City’s Civil War Days. Enjoy a walk in the Ronald D. Wilson Memorial Park, just west of Emerson Drive. Canyon White, the award-winning singer-songwriter, can be found at her weekly gig at Living the Good Life joined by Keith Alan Barnett. Dance it up: swing at El Charro, country line dance at Carson Lanes, or square dancing in Genoa are on the table.

Happy Tuesday, Carson City. The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West has returned and will be at the Community Center tonight, if you were quick enough to grab free tickets from the Chamber of Commerce. Join the ladies of Muscle Powered for a mountain bike ride through beautiful Ash Canyon. Hear the stories and legends of the Washoe People in their native language with translations into English at the Carson Valley Cultural Center. Continue on for even more to do.

Today is a perfect day for the great outdoors. Go explore the Ormsby Fire Road and the Historic Pioneer Cemetery with Carson Parks and Rec. Kids won’t want to miss the Bike Safety Rodeo in Silver City. Enjoy the Mile High Jazz Band this evening in the Comma Coffee Courtyard: special guest vocalists Cindee LeVal, Jakki Ford, and June Joplin make this a ‘don’t miss’ event. Wander up Longview Trail with Muscle Powered for some amazing views. It’s going to be a beautiful day, keep reading for all the ways you can enjoy our capital valley.

TUESDAY:

Holy Tuesday, Batman! Today is jam-packed full of options around our valley. A walk with Parks and Rec, a movie viewing with the Classic Cinema Club, and life-sized board games at the Library are all on the docket for today. The big story, of course, is National Night Out with the Carson City Sheriff's Department. Free food, activities, fun, and even an aircraft or two descend on Mills Park for the annual party.

Happy Tuesday, Carson City. Today’s happenings include country line dancing at Carson Lanes and swing dance at El Charro Avita. Take a walk with Carson Parks and Recreation along the Carson River by Morgan Mill. Dinner at Firehouse Subs tonight will help raise money for the Carson City Relay for Life. Ladies may want to join in on the Muscle Powered Bike Ride to Ash Canyon. London artist, Stewart Easton hosts an embroidery workshop at the Silver City Schoolhouse. Keep reading for all of Tuesday’s offerings.

TUESDAY: