High Sierra

It’s back to work and back to school today, but the kids of Carson High School have Homecoming Week to enjoy. The annual Bonfire celebration takes place by the football field tonight at 7 p.m. Western Nevada College is celebrating Constitution Day with a series of films and a student panel. Shake off the back-to-work blues at the Fox Brewpub – it’s karaoke night. Monday Night Football is back in full force. Tonight, watch the Saints battle the Giants at home on ESPN, or at any number of our local casinos or taverns.

MONDAY:

Sundays can be a lazy day if you prefer, but there’s plenty to do if you’d rather seize the day. There's a Health Energy Fair today from 11 to 4 in Carson City. The pet parade at Dayton Valley Days is free for all participants, so dress up Fido in his best costume and strut your stuff. Head over to the Shoe Tree Brewing Company for an afternoon of good feels. A fundraiser to benefit the family of Iliana Avila, a local girl with an inoperable brain tumor, features great beer, a silent auction, live music, and more. Keep reading for all your Sunday options.

SUNDAY:

A local charity is doing its part to help displaced victims of hurricanes Harvey and Irma in storm-ravaged parts of the southeast.

Enjoy these September days, it will be blustery and cold before we know it. Celebrate our neighbor to the east during their annual Dayton Valley Days street festival. Tour their museums, pan for gold, and enjoy samples at their Chili cook-off. Downtown Carson is a hotbed of fun tonight with two pub crawls and the Ghost Walk Haunted History Tour. Keep reading for all of the happenings.

SATURDAY:

As you drive through Carson City today, the flags at half-mast are a somber reminder of the lives lost during the attack on the World Trade Center. If you’d like some time to reflect, the memorial in Mills Park is the perfect setting. Learn how to lend a hand to the next generation during a volunteer workshop at the Senior Citizen’s Center: reading help is needed and the volunteer commitment is only one hour a week. They say laughter is the best medicine, and funny-lady Kat Simmons is the prescription.

Labor Day commemorates the men and women whose sweat made this such a great country and has been a national holiday since 1894. Celebrate this unofficial end-of-summer with a trip to the lake, a backyard bar-be-que, the parade in Virginia City, or one of the many fun events going on around town. Head over to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church for their annual Inter-faith Potluck Picnic and don’t forget to bring some silverware and something yummy to share.

MONDAY: Labor Day

The great thing about Labor Day weekend is that it just keeps going. The Best in the West Rib Cook-off offers up family fun, live music, and plenty of bar-be-qued delights all the way through Monday. For those with younger kids, consider a day at Mills Park. This is the last weekend for summertime train rides through the cottonwoods. Join Muscle Powered at Silver Saddle Ranch by the Carson River for a bike or hike this morning. Bring water and a camera, you never know what wildlife will make an appearance.

SUNDAY:

Summer is holding on for dear life, and sending a miniature heat wave our way for this long weekend. For those of you not in Black Rock City, the Carson City region offers plenty of recreation and entertainment. Downtown will be hopping with the Farmers Market, monthly Wine Walk, and this season’s last outdoor concert at the Brewery Arts Center – and that’s just Saturday! Keep reading for three days of good times.

SATURDAY:

It’s the Wildcats turn to head back to campus. The fall semester at Western Nevada College kicks off today. The Reading Partners Program is welcoming volunteers that would like to lend a hand to kids learning to read. Attend their short seminar today and you’ll be on your way helping instill a love of reading to the next generation. Get on the dance floor at Carson Lanes. You’ll find a beginner’s swing dance class, one for intermediate dancers, and a few hours of open dancing to show off your new moves.

MONDAY:

You’ll see some pretty interesting vehicles on the road these next few days, as travelers from all over head to Burning Man. If you aren’t off to the Playa yourself, there will be plenty of fun around town to keep you and your family occupied. The second annual Family Fun Day in Mills Park is your best bet for kids of all ages. This week’s free concert at Brewery Arts Center features the Dusty Green Bones. Don’t forget your dancing shoes; they’re sure to keep you on your feet.

SATURDAY:

Hello fellow anglers, I have been away for a couple weeks fishing in Oregon and northern California. Oh did we get into some nice fish, which I will give you the full story at the end of this report.

What a day we have in store. Sure, it’s off to school for the kids in Carson City, but this will be a day to remember for another reason, the solar eclipse. A huge swath of our country will see a total solar eclipse, but here in Carson City, only 81 percent of totality will be achieved. That means there is NO time that you can look at the sun without risking injury. I repeat: do NOT look directly at the sun. The Jazz and Beyond Music Festival bids farewell to another year with a free concert in McFadden Plaza featuring the talented members of the Mile High Jazz Band.

I’ve got some bad news for the kids in Douglas County – it’s back to school for you today. Carson kids still have one last week to enjoy their summertime freedom and Lyon County has until Aug. 31. Don’t let Monday get you down, though, there’s still plenty to enjoy. Head down to Carson Lanes for beginning and intermediate swing dance lessons, then stick around to put your new moves to the test. The Jazz and Beyond Music Festival continues with a free outdoor concert in McFadden Plaza.

I must admit, the rainy cool-down has been a nice break from what was a very hot July. You may see a little more of the wet stuff this afternoon, so have a back-up plan for outdoor activities. Find some inner peace with the Monks of Nechung Monastery. They’ll lead meditation and teach about the Buddhist philosophy and compassion during their visit to the Brewery Arts Center. High Sierra Swing Dance Club is shaking things up. Their weekly night out has a new home at the Eleventh Frame Lounge in Carson Lanes, and now both beginners and intermediate lessons will precede the open dancing.

Ready to let the good times roll, rock around the clock, or twist again? The Silver Dollar Car Classic is throwing a party in the front parking lot of the Max Casino – plenty of hot rods, shiny chrome, and great music by Route 66 is in store. The 14th Annual Jazz and Beyond Music Festival opens tonight with a Garden Party at the historic Bliss Mansion across from the Governor’s Mansion. Bring a picnic and enjoy an art show, great live music and tours of the mansion.

Get ready to kiss July goodbye. August begins tomorrow and brings with it classic cars, the Virginia City Rodeo, and some scorching hot temperatures. Beat the heat with an ice cream cone from Baskin Robbins – today they’re offering a scoop for just $1.50. Survive the week and you’ll be rewarded with the downtown Carson City Wine Walk and the Silver Dollar Car Classic, just to name a few of your options. Keep your eye on my things to do, and all week long you’ll find something to enjoy.

MONDAY:

It won’t be lions, and tigers, and bears taking over Fuji Park; the Carson City Fair is more about bunnies, alpacas, pigs and chickens. It begins today with a 4-H dog show focusing on obedience and rally. You’ll have to wait until Wednesday for the carnival, but you’ll be rewarded for your patience with one dollar rides opening night, courtesy of Carson City Toyota. If you happened to be awake during the wee hours of the morning, you may have heard some thunder rattling about – there may be a little more of that on its way.

MONDAY:

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Monday has returned. Don’t worry, you’ll find plenty of things all week long to keep you occupied until the weekend returns. The Carson City Library continues its Summer Learning Program with a fun presentation on the butterflies and other bugs you can find in Nevada. Its family day at Carson Lanes, which means bowling is just one dollar per person per game all day long. Warm up those vocal chords for karaoke at the Fox Brewpub: Manic Monday by the Bangles or Monday, Monday by the Mama and the Papas might make for a good song choice.

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Granted, some of us were without power for a little while, but with all the fun stuff going on, I hope you weren’t home to experience it. We’ve got one hot week coming up, so keep the water and sunscreen handy. Fox Brewpub wants to see you tonight for their weekly karaoke night, and tomorrow they are adding DJ Trivia to their line-up.

Two dozen competitive chili cooks armed with ladels and their top-secret recipes stormed the front lawn of Glen Eagles Restaurant Saturday morning to tempt the palates of guests attending the annual High Sierra and Nevada Capitol Regional Chili Cook Off.

What are you in the mood for? The Third and Curry Farmers Market is always a great place to start off your weekend. Kids won’t mind getting up early for the Young Eagle airplane flights at the Carson City Airport – they are free of charge for kids 8 – 17, you just need to be on time for registration. The Annual Chili Cook-off returns to Glen Eagles this weekend; with live music, a craft fair, and lots of yummy stuff to eat, raising money for Honor Flight has never tasted so good. Keep reading, there is plenty more in store.

SATURDAY:

A July favorite with a dash of all the right spices arrives in Carson City this weekend when Honor Flight Nevada hosts its annual High Sierra and Nevada Capitol Regional Chili Cook Off at Glen Eagles Restaurant this Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m- 5 p.m.

It may just be the third of July, but our country’s birthday celebrations have already started. You’ll find the annual RSVP Carnival at Mills Park with games, rides, cotton candy, and hours of skateboarding feats of daring-do. It’s an old-fashioned Fourth of July Party at the Senior Center in Dayton, complete with a show-n-shine and yummy bar-be-que. Head up to Kings Beach in Lake Tahoe for the early-bird fireworks show and beach bash.

I suspect this last week of June will just fly by. Before you know it, you’ll see the annual Fourth of July Carnival setting up in Mills Park. Make plans now for the monthly downtown Wine Walk on Saturday; it’s always a fun time. Don’t think you’ve got to wait for the weekend for some fun, though. You’ll find live music, karaoke, art, and dancing most every day, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take a break from the work week.

MONDAY:

Let the good times roll, Carson City. Cars, chrome, choppers, and kruzers are in abundance. Run Whatcha Brung at Fuji Park is open to any and all cars that can get themselves there. The Rockabilly Riot and T Bucket Alliance at Mills Park is an American Graffiti flashback. Cheer on our local motorcycle cops at the Extreme Motor Challenge, or hop on your own bike and go on a poker run with the Lords of Iron Motorcycle Club.

SATURDAY:

With hot weather settling into the Carson City region, the chance of afternoon thunderstorms will increase through the early part of the week, according to the National Weather Service.

What a weekend. With the Stewart Pow Wow and the Carson City Off-Road, the town was packed with visitors and locals enjoying our city. Next weekend comes jam-packed with everything vehicular.

I don’t know what to tell you, Carson City, the weather seems to be suffering from confusion. The second week of June shouldn’t be starting out this wet and chilly. My only consolation is that the weather app on my phone promises rising temperatures later this week. Take the kids to Carson Lanes today: it’s indoors and they’ve got one dollar game and shoe rental specials all day long. Tonight, Sassafras is proud to bring you the Hottman Sisters, a sister-led band from Omaha, Nebraska, centered around tight harmonies.

The weekend is behind us, but there is so much to look forward to this summer.

Honor Flight Nevada is hosting the High Sierra and Nevada Capitol Regional Chili Cook Offs at Glen Eagles Restaurant, Saturday July 8 and Sunday July 9.

The winner of the Chili Cook Offs and the winner of the Salsa competition continue on to the National Cook Off. People's Choice Chili competition is open to enter for free and is judged by all in attendance. Trophy and bragging rights to the winner.