High Sierra

The countdown to Christmas has begun. Our downtown is aglow in holly jolly lights and looks amazing. The weekend was jam-packed with holiday cheer: Silver and Snowflakes, the Holiday Crawl, craft fairs, and the Railroad Museum’s Santa Train. Monday’s offer some fun times, as well, with swing dancing at El Charro’s or karaoke at the Firkin and Fox. Shopping and wine await at 'Ladies Night Out' at the Holiday Inn Express in Minden. It's a benefit for the Family Support Council of Douglas County.

MONDAY:

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:

Wassail: (noun) a festivity or revel with drinking of healths; liquor for drinking and wishing health to others on festive occasions (Verb) to revel with drinking. Tis the season for wassailing all over downtown Carson City. Start Saturday, Dec. 5 off with the Downtown Business Association’s monthly wine walk, and stick around for the first ‘Holiday with a Hero’ Holiday Crawl.

It’s the last day of November, and there has been no shortage of wintery weather. Take advantage of the season by hitting the ice at Arlington Square. The weekday afternoon special for elementary and middle school kids includes free skate rental and hot chocolate. Watch the Ravens take on the Browns at Empire Ranch Golf Course, and partake in their weekly buffet. Get into the swing of things with the High Sierra Swing Dance Club’s night out at El Charro Avita.

MONDAY:

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)

It’s Monday, but this week should fly by. Thanksgiving will be here before you know it, so you probably want to start thawing your bird. There are still many organizations collecting food for families, so consider dropping off a frozen turkey at Salvation Army, or something non-perishable in one of the many bins around town. If helping kids is a passion, you’ll want to attend the informational meeting at the office of the Court Appointed Special Advocates this evening. CASA is always looking for people who’d like to make a difference to a child.

MONDAY:

All aboard, Carson City. The Polar Express returns to the Virginia and Truckee Thursday. This annual tradition features hot chocolate, caroling, and a read-along of Chris Van Allsburg's Christmas story, in addition to a visit to Santa at the North Pole.

High Sierra Swing Dance Club presents its Christmas dance party Dec. 5th at the Brewery Arts Center’s Grand Ballroom, 449 W. King St., Carson City. There will not be a lesson. At 6:30 p.m. there will be a members appreciation dinner catered by Mitch Tufts. Join the club that night and dinner and dance are free. Otherwise the dinner is $10. Social dance is 7:30-10 p.m.with DJ Steve Wood, and is $7 for members of swing clubs and $10 for nonmembers. For information, go to www.highsierraSDC.org or call 775-443-8870.

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:

Let it rain. We enjoyed a perfect Nevada Day weekend: not too cold or hot, and the wind didn’t pick up until long after the floats left the parade route. Halloween was enjoyed by all with trick or treating at the Governor’s Mansion, the annual Blinky Man Halloween ride, the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Brewery Arts Center, and costumes galore. It’s time to move into November, though. Daylight savings time has ended and there is talk of snow.

The skies above show promise for a nice, pleasant Nevada Day welcome, with plenty of sunshine and warm weather. And that's good for the thousands of revelers headed into Carson City today and Friday to celebrate Nevada's statehood on Saturday. As we celebrate the Silver State, there's something else worth raising a cup to: The arrival of snow up in the Sierra by late Sunday into Monday.

I know it’s Monday, but it just brings us one day closer to the Nevada Day/Halloween festivities next weekend. Check out my list of things to do, and the week will go by quickly. Go here for a list of all Halloween fun coming up this week.

MONDAY:

• Last day to RSVP to the Chamber of Commerce’s Soup's On Luncheon on Wed. Oct. 26 ($16; 775-882-1565)
• ’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)
• Artists Walter McNamara and Lynda Yuroff featured in the OXS Gallery at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)
• NAA Art Exhibit by Mark Kyle and Photography by Chas. H. McDonnell, III at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)

One last weekend until Nevada Day, and the ghosts and ghouls are coming out of the woodwork. Learn our haunted history with the Downtown Ghost Walk. For thrills and chills, don’t miss the Second Annual Carson Creepy Short Horror Film Competition in the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall. For a complete list of all Halloween activities this week go here.

SATURDAY:

Monday has returned, but it brings us one day closer to the Halloween/Nevada Day weekend. Just a reminder, Carson City trick-or-treats on Friday, Oct. 30 this year. For our newer residents, this follows the Carson City custom of not having treat night the same day as the parade. The last time this happened was in 2009. Don’t get tricked, you’ll see the little ones a day early. If you need a pumpkin, check out the pumpkin patch at Red Horse Ranch on Cochise, just south of Clearview Dr.

MONDAY:

• Nevada Day Treasure Hunt (www.NVDayTreasureHunt.com)

Former Carson City District Attorney Neil Rombardo has been named Chief General Council for the Washoe County School District, officials announced Tuesday. The district also hired a new police chief.

Monday returns, and I hope you all enjoyed the beautiful weather this past weekend. Autumn in Northern Nevada follows no rules when it comes to temperature, so enjoy it while you can, because it can, and does, change on a dime. A great way to start your week is by enjoying something beautiful, and luckily Carson City offers a good handful of art exhibits to appreciate. If you missed Industrial Art at the Courthouse, wander over to its new home in the Carson City Library. Today also kicks-off a week-long celebration at the Carson Cigar Company in honor of their 20th Anniversary. Enjoy live music with ‘Cheese the Knife’ featuring Ev Mussleman of the Trippin King Snakes. If you prefer to do the singing yourself, Firkin and Fox is where you’ll find karaoke.

MONDAY:

• Nevada Day Treasure Hunt (www.NVDayTreasureHunt.com)
• ’Divergence’ by artist Katie Lewis at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)
• Artists Walter McNamara and Lynda Yuroff featured in the OXS Gallery at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)

National Do Something Nice Day sounds a lot better than Monday. Jump Around Carson, our city bus, is doing something nice to celebrate its tenth anniversary: free bus rides all day. Here’s a link to the schedule. New artwork has moved into most of the galleries in town. Industrial Art is now at the Library; Divergence just opened at the CCAI Courthouse Gallery; and you’ll find Liz Penniman’s exhibit at the Western Nevada College Gallery.

High Sierra Swing Dance Club presents its monthly dance party Oct. 24th at the Brewery Arts Center’s Grand Ballroom, 449 W. King St., Carson City. At 6:30 p.m., Tiffany Alms will teach a lesson in intermediate Night Club 2step. Social dance is 7:30-10 p.m. Partners are not required. Lesson $7 for HSSDC and any swing dance club members or $10 for nonmembers; dance $7 for members of swing clubs and $10 for nonmembers. Join the club that night, and the dance is free. For information, go to www.highsierraSDC.org or call 530-307-8937.

Bowling, books, music, and art: that’s what Monday is made of. Monday’s are always a good day to head to Carson Lanes Bowling Alley. Enjoy specials on games and shoe rentals, so bring the whole family. Karaoke at Firkin and Fox will liven up your evening. A new exhibit opens in the OXS Gallery at the Nevada Arts Council. It’s in the same building as the Visitor’s Center. Celebrate your favorite saucy book at the Carson City Library. It’s Banned Book Week, and it’s surprising to see what books have been banned over the years.

The Dog Days of Summer have hit town, so grab your favorite four-legged friend and have fun. CASI is hosting the ‘pooch plunge’ at the Carson Aquatic Center so that your pooches can beat this late September heat. Join the Nevada Humane Society at Lake Tahoe Brewing Company for the first annual ‘Brew-paw.’ Adoptable pets, a raffle, and more await. Don’t miss out on the downtown walk Sunday following coffee and mimosas at Adele’s. The ‘wag-n-walk’ will end up at the Visitor’s Center where you will be rewarded with a special pet tag.

Oktoberfest, the yearly celebration of all things German, will have a taste of California on the shores of Lake Tahoe at Camp Richardson Historic Resort and Marina Oct. 3-4.

This popular annual event will feature German beers brewed here in the Golden State. Saint Archer Brewery of San Diego created a beer infused bratwurst exclusively for the event with its IPA. And another San Diego firm, Ballast Point’s Longfin Lager will be on pour.

Monday Night Football debuted on this day in 1970. Forty-five years later, the tradition continues. Catch the Jets and Colts duke it out tonight at your favorite sports bar. If pigskin just isn’t your game, consider joining the High Sierra Swing Dance Club tonight at El Charro Avita. You can catch the game and sing your heart out at the Firkin and Fox. Monday night is karaoke. It’s the first day of fall, so you may want to make a habit of keeping a sweater handy once the sun goes down.

MONDAY: Autumnal Equinox – First Day of Fall

• Carson High School Homecoming Week
• ‘Wally’s World: The Loneliest Art Collection in Nevada’ in the OXS Gallery at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)

Do you like shopping, Carson City? Check out the Vintage Fair at Du Sorrella downtown. The last Farmers Market of the season is at Third and Curry, so get your fix of fresh fruits, veggies, honey and more before the leaves fall. Wild Horse Children’s Theater is hosting a huge Warehouse and Multi-family sale; if you need a Halloween costume, you won’t want to miss it. The Teixeira Pavilion at Mills Park is where you’ll find the Autumn Earth Spirit Faire with vendors, workshops, and more.

With all this smoke in the air, it’s probably best to stick to indoor activities. Luckily you’ve got a few options. The Nevada Artist Association has a new exhibit on display in their gallery at the Brewery Arts Center; the Late Summer Regular Show begins today. The Nevada Arts Council has a rotating gallery.

Happy Labor Day, Carson City! There will be two parades to enjoy today. Head up to Virginia City for their annual Labor Parade, followed by the Battle of C Street as part of the Great Civil War Days. The other parade is comprised of the thousands of people leaving Burning Man; watch out for their dust! Join Keep Tahoe Blue for their annual beach clean-up at Nevada Beach this morning, then head over to Heavenly Village for a car show and huge winter sports equipment sale.

MONDAY: LABOR DAY

• Burning Man Exodus

From Carson City to Silver City, Fallon, Virginia City, Sparks and Lake Tahoe, Sunday is filled with activities as we round the corner into the three-day weekend. There's a 5K Remembrance Run in Carson City, a rib cook-off in Sparks, a farm-to-fork festival culinary festival and fireworks at South Lake Tahoe, the Cantaloupe Festival in Fallon, the Comstock Community Rummage Sale in Silver City and the Great Civil War Days Camp at Virginia City.
SUNDAY:

• IHOP 5K Remembrance Run and Walk: free, informal, untimed five-kilometer run/walk is set to start in the parking lot at the Carson City IHOP: 3883 S. Carson St. at 7am and finish at the Nevada Guard's Office of the Adjutant General Complex: 2460 Fairview Dr. (7am-10am; Reflective running/walking gear is recommended and participants should follow the marked course; Civilian participants should arrange ride back to start line)
• First Sunday Breakfast at the Elks Club: 515 N Nevada (bar opens 7am; 8:30am-11am, $7)
• Revolution Dog Sports Rat-tacular Barn Hunt and BattleBorn Bonanza Jack Russell Trials at Fuji Park

Don’t be scared. I know you’re going to take one look at this list and get overwhelmed with all the things going on in the area. I’ve written an overview of some of the bigger things here, but take a look below for a complete list of everything that the Carson City area offers.

SATURDAY:

• California Free Fishing Day
• Revolution Dog Sports Rat-tacular Barn Hunt and BattleBorn Bonanza Jack Russell Trials at Fuji Park
• NAA Exhibit by artist Deborah Foster at the Carson Visitor Center (8am-5pm)
• Third and Curry Farmers Market; Live Music (8:30am-1pm)

The K-12 kids have had a few weeks to get back in the swing of things. Now it’s your turn, Western Nevada College students. The new semester starts today and WNC has plenty of ways to welcome you back. Don’t miss the new exhibit in the WNC Main Gallery: Victor Sandblom’s ‘Wind on the Sea, Tracks in the Sand.’ Let off some Monday night steam with karaoke at the Firkin and Fox. Or head to El Charro Avita and party it up with the High Sierra Swing Dance Club.

MONDAY:

Happy Monday, Carson City. Is it just me, or does the weekend just fly by? If you have some free time, you may want to spend it looking at something beautiful. Industrial Art can be found at the CCAI Courthouse Gallery. The Nevada Arts Council is currently displaying the traveling exhibit ‘Wally’s World.’ Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery is where you’ll find one of a kind pieces made by regional artists, and there is something for almost any price range. Don’t miss the amazing photographs in the Sierra Room of the Community Center.

Hold on to your hats, Carson City, summer isn’t ready to quit us just yet. An aviation air show at the Minden Airport, the coin show and fair at the Nevada State Museum, and a fishing derby for the kids at Little Washoe Lake are only the tip of the iceberg. The Pavilion at Mills Park is where you’ll find the annual Carson High Football Boosters Fundraising BBQ. The Quicksilver Dog Agility Trials are always fun to watch, and they’ll be at Fuji Park all weekend. Carson Lanes has family fun indoors and out all day long during their Bowling Blast-off.