Dec. 8-14, 2021 edition by Tahoe Guide (Tahoe Weekly)

local. independent. fresh.

december 8-14, 2021

the original guide to tahoe & truckee since 1982

“Tahoe Nutcracker”

reimagines characters

breweries

winter

preparedness guide

of the Lost Sierra

centenarian

recalls a life on skis holiday gifts for

wine lovers

LEGENDARY TERRAIN AT A STEEP DISCOUNT TAHOE SUPER 4-PACK Hurry, prices go up after December 24

The famous Tahoe Super 4-Pack is back. Ski or ride 4 days this winter for as little as $88/day. New this season, choose between the Tahoe Super 4-Pack with no blackout dates or the Midweek 4-Pack for even more savings.

PALISADESTAHOE.COM/4PACK

Courtesy Ronin Fermentation Project

P.O. Box 154 | Tahoe Vista, CA 96148 (530) 546-5995 | f (530) 546-8113 TheTahoeWeekly.com Facebook.com/TheTahoeWeekly @TheTahoeWeekly

December 8-14, 2021

Brandon Skinner, Palisades Tahoe

Volume 40 | Issue 24

Jen Schmidt

fun. unique. everywhere.

SUBMISSIONS Events & Entertainment Submit at TheTahoeWeekly.com Click on Events Calendar Editorial Inquiries editor@tahoethisweek.com Entertainment Inquiries entertainment@tahoethisweek.com

in this issue DECEMBER 8-14, 2021

FEATURES

Cover Photography production@tahoethisweek.com

Christmas Bird Count

Winter Preparedness

Sightseeing 4

Lake Tahoe Facts

Events 7 FUN & GAMES

Horoscopes & Puzzles

THE LINEUP

Publisher/Owner & Editor In Chief Katherine E. Hill publisher@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 102

The Nutcracker

Live 14

SNOW OR NO SNOW, TAHOE AN OUTDOOR PARADISE

Art Director Abigail Gallup production@tahoethisweek.com

Donner Party Calamity

GET OUTSIDE

making it happen Sales & Marketing Manager Anne Artoux anne@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 110

Martin Halloway

THE MAKERS

Forest-Fire 16 The Arts 16

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Graphic Designer Lauren Shearer graphics@tahoethisweek.com

When I wrote about Tahoe’s wacky weather in my publisher’s note in the last edition of Tahoe Weekly, I could have never predicted the unseasonably warm weather we’ve had. While everyone is lamenting the lack of snow that has delayed the start of the ski season, Tahoe is fortunately one of those rare places where you can enjoy the outdoors anytime. Hiking, mountain biking and cycling season has been extended far past when you can normally access trails. The snow will return with a small system moving into the area this week and, fortunately, night-time temperatures have finally dropped into the 20s and 30s, which will enable ski resorts to be able to make snow overnight that won’t melt the next day. So, keep praying for snow and those cold nights.

Website Manager LT Marketing Entertainment Editor Sean McAlindin entertainment@tahoethisweek.com Food & Well Being Editor Priya Hutner priya@tahoethisweek.com Family Editor Michelle Allen michelle@tahoethisweek.com

EAT & DRINK

Lost Sierra Breweries

Tasty Tidbits

Wine Gifts

Pot Pie 19

BE PREPARED FOR CONDITIONS

Copy Editor Katrina Veit Contributing Writers John Dee, Barbara Keck, Bruce Ajari, Mark McLaughlin, David “Smitty” Smith, Priya Hutner, Katrina Veit, Kayla Anderson, Lou Phillips, Sean McAlindin, Tim Hauserman, Alex Green, Lisa Michelle, Cam Schilling, Alex Silgalis TAHOE WEEKLY is published weekly throughout the summer and biweekly the rest of the year, with occassional extra issues at holiday times by Range of Light Media Group, Inc. Look for new issues on Wednesdays. Subscribe to the free digital edition at issuu.com/ TheTahoeWeekly. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com. TAHOE WEEKLY, est. 1982, ©2007. Reproduction in whole or in part without publisher’s express permission is prohibited. Contributions welcome via e-mail. The Weekly is not responsible for unsolicited submissions. Member: North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, North Tahoe Business Association, Incline Community Business Association, Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce, Tahoe City Downtown Association, Truckee Downtown Merchants Association, Tahoe South Chamber of Commerce and Alpine County Chamber of Commerce. Printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks. Please recycle your copy.

I want to remind visitors to our region that while you’re enjoying the outdoors – whether hiking, biking, skiing or snowshoeing – that you need to be prepared before heading out. Once you leave the pavement, you are in the wilderness. That means weather can change rapidly, trail conditions will vary by elevation and there will likely be no cell service. You need to carry layers for rapidly decreasing temperatures, food and water, and the proper gear, as two visitors found out recently when they needed help from Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue. Rescuers responded to a call on Dec. 1 for two lost hikers found near the top of the Shirley Canyon trail. “They were not from the area and did not know the severity of the ice and snow at higher elevations. TNSAR was dispatched to locate the hikers and bring them jackets, water, crampons and ski poles so that the hikers could make it safely off the mountain,” they wrote in a Facebook post. I have lived in Tahoe for 20 years and I’ve hiked many local trails late in the season and I’ll share the best advice I can – be prepared with food, water and clothing but also be prepared to turn around. I know these trails and when I reach snow, I turn around if I didn’t pack my snowshoes. Post-holing sucks. It’s no fun, it’s exhausting and you can get hurt doing it. And trails disappear in the snow and ice. Just turn around.n

on the cover Paul Hamill enjoys the sunset at China Cove at Donner Lake in Truckee. Photography by Katey Hamill | kateyhamill.com, @kateyhamill

bears & wildlife BEAR EMERGENCIES BEAR League (530) 525-7297 (24 hours) | savebears.org A bear walking nearby or through your yard is not an emergency unless it is trying to enter your home or car. INJURED ANIMALS Lake Tahoe Wildlife Center, South Shore (530) 577-2273 | ltwc.org The Wildlife Shelter, North Shore (866) 307-4216

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AVAILABLE ONLINE

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LAKE LEVEL Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

Readings taken on Friday, December 3, 2021 ELEVATION :

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

6,223.46 |

IN 2020:

C ACITY CITY:: 40 CIT 0,870 BOCA 12,362 CAPA

Eagle Rock

West Shore

Eagle Rock, one of the lake’s famous natural sites, is a volcanic plug beside Highway 89 on the West Shore. TART

Explore Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 542-2908 | cityofslt.us Urban Trailhead at base of Heavenly Gondola with local exhibits and programs. South Tahoe

Fannette Island

Emerald Bay

(530) 541-3030 | parks.ca.gov Lake Tahoe’s only island is located in Emerald Bay & is home to an old tea house. Boat access only. (Closed Feb. 1-June 15 for nesting birds.)

Heavenly

South Lake Tahoe

(775) 586-7000 | skiheavenly.com Enjoy a 2.4-mile ride on the gondola to the top with panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley. South Tahoe

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion

Find more places to explore

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

North Tahoe Arts Center

(530) 581-2787 | northtahoearts.com Featuring exhibits of work by local artists and works for sale by local artists. TART

Tahoe Art League Gallery

$10 parking | parks.ca.gov (530) 525-7232 Park | (530) 583-9911 Tours Sugar Pine Point State Park is home to the historic Ehrman Mansion (open for tours in the summer), see boathouses with historic boats, and General Phipps Cabin built in the late 1800s. TART

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 544-2313 | talart.org Featuring local artists, workshops. South Tahoe

Tahoe City

North Shore

visittahoecity.com Tahoe City is popular for shopping and dining with historical sites. At the junction of highways 89 & 28, visitors may see the Tahoe City Dam, Lake Tahoe’s only outlet, and Fanny Bridge. Peer into Watson Cabin (1909) in the center of town for a glimpse at pioneer life. Free parking at Commons Beach, Grove Street, Jackpine Street, and 64 acres at Highways 89 & 28. TART

Tallac Historic Site West Shore

Tahoe City

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 541-5227 | tahoeheritage.org Once known as the “Grandest Resort in the World” as the summer retreat for three San Francisco elite families with the Baldwin Estate, Pope Estate & Valhalla. Grounds open yearround. South Tahoe

Truckee River C ACITY CAPA CITY:: 40 CIT 0,870 BOCA 12,362 |

STAMPEDE Truckee 19,9661

FLOW AT FARAD

218

IN 2020:

6,225.81

225

200,000 AF

175

6,223.46 |

Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS)

TROA.NET

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

Museum of Truckee History

CAPACITY: C 226,500

Truckee

Vikingsholm Castle

Emerald Bay

200,000 AF

175

CAPACITY: 29,840 PROSSER 11,061| truckee.com truckeehistory.org Thurs.-Mon. | (530) 582-0893 | truckeehistory.org DONNER The historic town of Truckee was settled Housed in the original Depot, built in 1901. Exhi9,500 5 4,690 CCAPACITY: in 1863, and grew quickly as a stagecoach bits cover different eras in Truckee history. TART 8 stop and route for the CentralCCAPACITY: Pacific 18,300 Railroad. INDEPENDENCE 1,3763 During these early days, many of Truckee’s Old Jail Museum CLOSED Truckee CAPACITY: A 20,400 4 MARTIS 1,052 and historical homes buildings were built in(530) 582-0893 | truckeehistory.org cluding The Truckee Hotel (1868) and the Capitol Building (1868). Stop by the Depot for a walking One of a few surviving 19th Century jailhouses | FLOW FARAD 218 Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS) Truckee River tour of historic downtown. Paid AT parking downof its kind in the West used from 1875 TROA.NET until May 1964 (open for tours in summer). TART town. TART 150,000 AF

Donner Summit, just west of Truckee, holds the record for the United States’ snowiest April. On April 1, 1880, a storm dumped 4’ of snow on the Sierra Nevada west slope within 24 hours. A massive snow slide near Emigrant Gap buried Central Pacific Railroad’s tracks under 75’ of snow, ice and rock. For the rest of the month, storm cycles continued to flow in, dropping a total of 298”.

ELEVATION :

125

northtahoebusiness.org Kings Beach is a popular spot for dining and shopping with the North Shore’s largest sandy beach located in the heart of town. Free parking at North Tahoe Beach, Brook Street, Minnow and the Christmas Tree lot on Hwy. 28. TART

Truckee

North Shore

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

Readings taken on Friday, December 3, 2021

100,000 AF

Donner Summit

Kings Beach

(800) 403-0206 | palisadestahoe.com Aerial tram rides with views of Lake Tahoe, Olympic Heritage Museum, ice skating, events and more. Ticket required. TART

Drive through one of the area’s natural wonders at Cave Rock, the neck of an old volcano. The area is named for the small caves above Highway 50 that were cut by waves when Lake Tahoe was 200 feet higher during the ice ages.

CAPACITY: 18,300 C 8

LAKE LEVEL A 20,400 4 MARTIS 1,052 CAPACITY: Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

150,000 AF

INDEPENDENCE 1,3763

Olympic Valley

High Camp

CAPACITY: 9,500 C 5

125

DONNER 4,690

East Shore

CAPACITY: 29,840

The Truckee River flows through downtown Truckee on a serene early December afternoon. | Katherine E. Hill

Cave Rock

CAPACITY: C 226,500

100,000 AF

ATTRACTIONS

PROSSER 11,061

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

SIGHTSEEING

STAMPEDE 19,9661

6,225.81

225

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Olympic Museum

Olympic Valley

Parking fee | Tours in summer only (530) 541-3030 | (530) 525-9529 ADA parks.ca.gov or vikingsholm.com Tour the grounds of Vikingsholm Castle, see Eagle Falls and Fannette Island (the Lake’s only island), home to an old Tea House, and explore snowshoeing trails. TART

(800) 403-0206 | palisadestahoe.com Palisades Tahoe, host of the VIII Winter Olympic Games in 1960, celebrates its Olympic History with the symbolic Tower of Nations and Olympic Flame at the entrance to the valley. The Olympic Museum at High Camp features historic memorabilia and photographs. TART

Watson Cabin CLOSED

Tahoe Science Center

Tahoe City

Tours in summer only (530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org Watson Cabin, built by Robert Watson and his son in 1909, is the oldest building in Tahoe City and on the National Register of Historic Places. TART

Donner Memorial Visitor Center

Truckee

(530) 582-7892 | parks.ca.gov The Donner Memorial State Park features exhibits and artifacts on the Donner Party (184647) at the visitor center, and see the towering Pioneer Monument. TART

Soda Springs

donnersummithistoricalsociety.org Museum at the corner of Old Highway 40 & Soda Springs Road. Take the 20-mile interpretive driving tour along Old 40. TART

Gatekeeper’s Museum

Tahoe City

(530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org Featuring historic photos, the Steinbach Indian Basket Museum and local historical memorabilia. TART

KidZone Children’s Museum

Truckee

Wed.-Sat. (530) 587-5437 | kidzonemuseum.org For kids up to age 7 with interactive exhibits, science & art classes, the BabyZone & the Jungle Gym. TART

Lake Tahoe Museum

Tues.-Fri. & by appt. | Free (775) 881-7566 | tahoesciencecenter.org University of California, Davis, science education center at Sierra Nevada College. Exhibits include a virtual research boat, biology lab, 3D movies and docent-led tours. Ages 8+. TART

Truckee Railroad Museum

MUSEUMS

Donner Summit Historical Society

Incline Village

Truckee

Sat.-Sun. & holidays truckeedonnerrailroadsociety.com Located in a caboose next to the Truckee Depot. Exhibits include the train’s role in logging, fighting snow on the railway, the role of Chinese emigrants and a children’s area. TART

Western SkiSport Museum

Donner Summit

Closed for the season | Free (530) 426-3313, ext. 113 | auburnskiclub.org Showcasing the history of skiing, exhibits include antique ski and snowshoe equipment, and a pair of 8-foot-long skis used by legendary mail carrier John “Snowshoe” Thompson. TART

VISITORS’ CENTERS Kings Beach Kings Beach State Rec. Area (Thurs.-Mon., July-Aug.)

Incline Village 969 Tahoe Blvd. (800) 468-2463 Stateline 169 Hwy. 50 (775) 588-4591 Tahoe City 100 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 581-6900 Truckee 10065 Donner Pass Rd. (Depot) (530) 587-8808 U.S. Forest Service | Incline Village 855 Alder Ave. (775) 831-0914 (Wed.-Fri.)

U.S. Forest Service | South Lake Tahoe South Lake Tahoe

(530) 541-5458 | laketahoemuseum.org Features Washoe artifacts and exhibits on early industry and settlers. South Tahoe

35 College Dr. (530) 543-2600

U.S. Forest Service | Tahoe City 3080 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 583-3593 (Fridays)

U.S. Forest Service | Truckee 10811 Stockrest Springs Rd. (530) 587-3558

TRANSIT Boots McFarland by Geolyn Carvin | BootsMcFarland.com 4

North Tahoe & Truckee (TART) | laketahoetransit.com South Tahoe | tahoetransportation.org

National Forest access info fs.fed.us/r5/webmaps/RecreationSiteStatus

December 8-14, 2021 YOUR BUSINESS COULD

lake tahoe facts |

CLAIR TAPPAAN

Truckee

BOREAL

Donner Summit

Donner Lake

SPONSOR THIS PAGE

Your business’

Reno & Sparks

PLUMAS-EUREKA STATE PARK

TAHOE DONNER

AUBURN SKI TRAINING CENTER

Read about how the lake was formed, Lake Tahoe’s discovery, lake clarity and more at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on Explore Tahoe.

RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

TRUCKEE AIRPORT

SKY TAVERN MT. ROSE

WEST EAST SOUTH

DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK

anne@tahoethisweek.com for details

NEVADA NORDIC ra Rim T

DONNER SKI RANCH

LOGO here

h Ta

SUGAR BOWL SODA SPRINGS

Tahoe Vista

PALISADES TAHOE SQUAW CREEK

DEEPEST POINT

TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK

Tahoe City

Ta h o e R i m

Eagle Rock

CASINOS

Spooner Lake

Tahoe

West Shore

Maximum depth: 1,645 feet (501 m)

Lake

Sunnyside

Glenbrook

Homewood

There is enough water in Lake Tahoe to supply everyone in the United States with more than 75 gallons (284 liters) of water per day for 5 years.

East Shore

e Ri m Tr a i l

Tahoma

SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK

Meeks Bay

Natural rim: 6,223’ (1,897 m)

Only Outlet: Truckee River (Tahoe City)

Lake Tahoe sits at an average elevation of between 6,223’ and 6,229.1’. (1,897-1,899 m) The top 6.1’ (1.8 m) of water is controlled by the dam in Tahoe City and holds up to 744,600 acre feet of water (91,845 m).

Cave Rock

Watershed Area: 312 square miles (808 sq km)

Zephyr Cove

Average Water Temperature: 42.1˚F (5.61˚C) Average Surface Water Temperature: 51.9˚F (11.1˚C)

Emerald Bay

Fannette Island

Eagle Lake

Average Surface Temperature in July: 64.9˚F (18.3˚C) Highest Peak: Freel Peak at 10,881 feet (3,317 m)

CAMP RICHARDSON

South Shore

Average Snowfall: 409 inches (10.4 m) Permanent Population: 66,000

South Lake Tahoe

Ta h oe

Size: 22 miles long, 12 miles wide (35 km long, 19 km wide)

Stateline

Lake Tahoe is as long as the English Channel is wide.

HEAVENLY

Cascade Lake

R i m Tr ail

Fallen Leaf Lake

Number of Visitors: 15 million annually

Meyers

Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the U.S. (Crater Lake in Oregon, at 1,932 feet, or 589 m, is the deepest), and the 11th deepest in the world.

Volume: 39 trillion gallons (147.6 trillion liters)

o Ta h

Fed By: 63 streams and 2 hot springs

Carson City

NEVADA NORDIC

HOMEWOOD

Age of Lake Tahoe: 2 million years

Average depth: 1,000 feet (304 m)

Marlette Lake

Dollar Hill

GRANKLIBAKKEN

a Tr

Lake Clarity: 2020: 63 feet avg. depth (19.2 m) 1968: First recorded at 102.4 feet (31.21 m)

Crystal Bay

TAHOE XC

CROSS COUNTRY SKI AREA

SNO-PARK

Incline Village

Kings Beach

Carnelian Bay

Lake Tahoe is located in the states of California and Nevada, with two-thirds in California.

DIAMOND PEAK

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK

Olympic Valley

DOWNHILL SKI AREA

North Shore

NORTHSTAR

Truckee River

ROYAL GORGE

BIJOU PARK / LAKE TAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT

Shoreline: 72 miles (116 km) Lake Tahoe has a surface area of 191 square miles (307 km). If Lake Tahoe were emptied, it would submerge California under 15 inches of water (.38 m).

FREEL PEAK

ECHO LAKES

Learn about the natural history of the Tahoe Sierra

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

map design by Alyssa Ganong | Tahoe Weekly©

HOME

I M P R OV E M E N T Call (530) 546-5995, ext. 110, to be included in Home Improvement.

Kirkwood

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE

Window Cleaning Since 2000

Residential & Commercial

581-2343

(530) CA & NV Licensed & Insured

Hope

KIRKWOOD

Tahoe Science Center Hands-on science activities, Guided tours & 3-D movies Open Tues.–Fri., 1–5 p.m.

SIDESHOW BOB’S

HOPE VALLEY

Markleeville Valley

(or by appointment, closed all holidays)

Why is the lake blue? The Lake of the Sky appears blue in color as other colors in the light spectrum are absorbed and the blue light is scattered back.

“ When I dream of Tahoe I see the sun and snow.” THE TAHOE COLLECTION Reversible pendant shown.

TahoeScienceCenter.org

(775) 881-7566

pendants • earrings • charms • more collections

I VAW I N T O N J E W E L R Y . C O M 5

TheTahoeWeekly.com

GET outside

Email news to editor@tahoethisweek.com

the outdoors | recreation | events | mountain life

Martin Hollay C E N T E N A R I A N R E C A L LS A L I F E O N S K I S

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS FOR FREE Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to add your Event for our print & online calendars. Click on Events; then the blue Add Event button.

BY DAV I D A N TO N U C C I

diminutive fit man with a mischievous grin and a shock of wavy gray hair carefully leans his skis against the garage wall, satisfied that he once again achieved 100 days on the slopes. While 100 days on the slopes is not all that unusual for a Tahoe local, this isn’t just any man; he is a centenarian, 101 years old, to be exact. Martin Hollay has spent the equivalent of several lifetimes’ worth of schussing on the slopes. Hollay, a Hungarian immigrant, has lived a life filled with disparate and life-threatening experiences and his nine decades on skis would easily make for a riveting biographical movie. Asked about his longevity and event-filled life, he quips with humility and gratitude, “I was so lucky.” As a boy in his native country, he apprenticed as a glove maker, a skill he would

Anthony Cupaiuolo | TAMBA

ABOVE: Palisades Tahoe and The Sierra Nevada Olympic & Winter (SNOW) Sports Museum recently honored ski legend Martin Hollay, center, for his many contributions to

While 100 days on the

the ski industry. | Brandon Skinner, Palisades Tahoe

slopes is not all that

LEFT: Martin Hollay working as a ski patroller at Heavenly

unusual for a Tahoe local,

in 1977. | Courtesy Hollay Family

this isn’t just any man; he is a centenarian, 101 years old, to be exact

practice throughout his life. Given a pair of wooden skis as a Boy Scout, he spent his idyllic youth hiking up snow-covered hills, skiing down and learning to sail. “I was so lucky.” As World War II engulfed his homeland, he volunteered in the Hungarian Air Force and crewed planes bombing Russian targets. German takeover resulted in conscription into the Luftwaffe as a bomber crew member; he survived many more harrowing missions. “I was so lucky.” As the allies surged across Europe, Americans took him as a prisoner of war in 1945. It was during his one year in captivity that he had contact with his American guards. The kindness and respect shown by the American GIs allowed him to survive the harsh conditions in the POW camps and convinced him to go to America. “I was so lucky.” The 1956 brutal Soviet takeover of Hungary prompted him and his young family to make a daring escape from communism. Traveling by the dark of night, they safely made the perilous journey to Austria and freedom. With the help of American social organizations and sponsorship by relatives, the refugees flew to their new life in the U.S. “I was so lucky.” The Hollays settled in Los Angeles, where Hollay resumed his glove-making vocation. On New Year’s Eve, 1957, he made his first trip to Lake Tahoe to compete in the California Cross-country Ski Championships, where he placed first. Hol6

lay later completed the Annual Snowshoe Thompson race from Twin Bridges to the base of Heavenly Mountain Resort and took second place. Sitting on a Heavenly chairlift, he asked himself, “Martin, what are you doing in LA?” By chance, he met Heavenly Ski School Director Stein Erikson and told him he wanted to work at Heavenly. Erikson told him he had a job anytime he liked it, and in August 1958, he moved to South Lake Tahoe. “I was so lucky.” Hollay joined the local ski club and at a club meeting, Willy Schaeffler, the director of Skiing Events for the 1960 Winter Olympics, appeared. Schaeffler was looking for employees and volunteers to help stage the Games. Hollay, a cross-country skier, was hired on the spot and began work in January 1959. Initially helping to cut the downhill courses in Olympic Valley, he spent most of his time helping construct McKinney Creek Stadium and competition trails for the cross-country and biathlon events. He built bridges, cut racecourses, created three shooting ranges, constructed buildings, erected bleachers and shaped flagpoles from lodgepole pines that would fly the flags of participating nations. During the Games, he towed a powered tiller uniquely invented to groom the trail surfaces. He witnessed the racing of such Olympic Nordic skiing greats as Viekko Hakulinen, the most decorated athlete

at these Games, and Sixten Jernberg, the Swedish ace with several Olympic medals. Afterward, Hollay and his crew removed the temporary facilities and returned the land to its owners. He salvaged and recycled the materials for use in building additions to his home in South Lake Tahoe. “I was so lucky.” Following the Olympic Games, Hollay returned to his regular job at Harvey’s Casino until 1965. In that year, Heavenly invited him to join the professional ski patrol. He eventually became the leader of Heavenly Ski Patrol and served until his ski patrol retirement in 1977. Not one to sit around, he continued as part of the trail crew for another 12 years, where he oversaw new trail and ski-lift construction. At age 65, he officially retired from Heavenly but not from skiing. Heavenly presented a lifetime ski pass at a lavish retirement party and Heavenly President Bill Killebrew bestowed him with a $50,000 retirement benefit. “I was so lucky.” We started this article with Hollay putting up his skis after 100 days on the snow, but it’s not what you think. The spry centenarian doesn’t ski downhill anymore; he skis uphill on the Roundabout Trail nearly every day and takes the Heavenly Tram down. Currently, Hollay is taking a break from his routine to deal with a medical challenge and hopes to resume his frequent up-skis soon. Except for a daily visit from his daughter Cezi, Hollay still lives independently in the South Lake Tahoe house he built and remains an active and vital inspiration for all of us.n David C. Antonucci is the author of “Snowball’s Chance – The Story of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games” and a good friend and admirer of Martin Hollay.

TAMBA trail fundraiser launched Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association has launched a month-long fundraiser called the [Re]Build the Future: December Donor Drive to motivate support of efforts to rebuild and restore trails impacted by the recent Caldor Fire. Funds raised before the end of the year will allow the nonprofit to address these challenges as they continue developing 50 miles of multi-use trail basin-wide, according to a press release. The Caldor Fire burned roughly 20 miles of multi-use trail in the Tahoe Basin that TAMBA maintains and helped build. tamba.org

Ty Dayberry | Brian Walker

“Future Freeheel II” released

Pro teleskier Ty Dayberry of South Lake Tahoe has released “Future Freeheel II,” filmed during the 2020-21 winter season.. South Lake Tahoe photographer Brian Walker filmed and edited the video giving it a sharp, detailed and progressive feel. “The community support at film premieres has been positive,” Dayberry said in an email. The film was an Official Selection of the IF3 Ski Film Festival. | @dizzleberry, youtube.com

December 8-14, 2021 GET OUTSIDE

Truckee Community Christmas donations area venues | Truckee | Dec. 8-15

truckeecommunitychristmas.com

My Turn Slideshow Alpenglow Sports | Tahoe City | Dec. 9 6:30-8:30 p.m. | facebook.com

Preschool Storytime Truckee Library | Truckee | Dec. 9

10:30-11 a.m. | (530) 582-7846 madelynhelling.evanced.info

Winter Predictions from the National Weather Service Courtesy U.S. Forest Service LTBMU

Trail improvements at Taylor Creek

The U.S. Forest Service recently completed improvements on the Rainbow Trail at Taylor Creek on the South Shore to create a more sustainable alignment with the site’s wetland characteristics including a newly constructed elevated boardwalk. As well, the Great Basin Institute and Forest Service partnered for new interpretative features available including a bilingual audio tour, a webcam system for Taylor Creek and upgraded interpretative signage, the Institute recently announced. Additionally, after decades of site stewardship by the Tahoe Heritage Foundation, site operations for the Tallac Historic Site will be assumed by the Great Basin Institute. The Foundation will continue to provide advisory support to advance historic preservation and public education programs at the National Register of Historic Places-listed Historic Site. | thegreatbasininstitute.org

virtual | Incline Village | Dec. 9

12-1 p.m. Free | tahoe.ucdavis.edu

AIARE Avalanche Training Donner Summit | Truckee | Dec. 10-12, Dec. 14,-15 avtraining.org

Festival of Winter Lights and Holiday in History Lake Tahoe Historical Museum | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 10-12 4-8 p.m. | cityofslt.us

Festive Fridays Historic Downtown | Truckee | Dec. 10 Free | historictruckee.com

Play Forever Fridays Boreal Mountain | Norden | Dec. 10 $25 | rideboreal.com

Eastern Sierra History Talks Wylder Hotel Hope Valley | Markleeville Dec. 11, Dec. 12 | wylderhotels.com

Far West Auction & Raffle virtual | Truckee | Dec. 11

5-6 p.m. | farwestnordic.org

Holiday Bazaar Tahoe Flow Arts | Tahoe Vista | Dec. 11

events December Tahoe Big Year Outing area venues | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 8 9-10 a.m. Free | tinsweb.org

Heavenly Holidays

3 p.m. | facebook.com

Santa Run 2021 Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 11 10:30 a.m. | tahoesouth.com

Your Favorite Characters Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 11 3-6 p.m. | tahoesouth.com

Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe Dec. 8, Dec. 9, Dec. 10, Dec. 11, Dec. 12, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 15

Girls Who Code Club

Museum of Truckee History Tour

River Talks

Museum of Truckee History | Truckee | Dec. 8

virtual | Truckee | Dec. 14

10 a.m. | skiheavenly.com

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Northern Lights area venues | Incline Village | Dec. 8-15 northernlightstahoe.com

Parade of Christmas Tree Lights area venues | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 8-15 $5-$ | liveviolencefree.org

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2021 Christmas Bird Count area venues | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 15 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Free | tinsweb.org

Truckee Library | Truckee | Dec. 8, Dec. 15 4-5 p.m. | (530) 582-7846 madelynhelling.evanced.info

Trail of Lights area venues | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 8-15 $0-$25 | business.tahoechamber.org

TheTahoeWeekly.com

T H E 17 5 T H A N N I V E R SA RY O F T H E

Donner Party Adventure CALAMITY IN THE DESERT S TO RY & P H OTO S BY M A R K M c L AU G H L I N

rossing Utah’s Wasatch Mountains took a severe toll on the Donner Party with repeated delays, diminishing supplies, loss of morale and increased bickering. At times they made barely a mile a day. At one point they worked feverishly over several days to clear eight miles of tangled wilderness only to find out that they had entered a dead-end box canyon. The 36-mile ordeal through the Wasatch took them 18 days even though trail guide Lansford Hastings had promised a quick three-day passage over the range. Tamsen Donner must have been angry and in deep despair (her journal was never found) as she had emphatically warned against using Hastings bogus shortcut. Now she saw their previously delightful journey unraveling into potential disaster. As the group spent precious time and energy hacking a primitive road though canyon country, other tardy strangers joined them. The 87 members that now comprised the Donner Party needed to suppress their divisions and join forces to survive. On Aug. 22, the wagon train finally reached the eastern margin of the Great Salt Lake Valley. Edwin Bryant, Tamsen’s friend and fellow writer who would later publish a memoir of his trek titled, “What I Saw in California,” had reached the same spot three weeks earlier. Bryant was fascinated by the seemingly endless expanse and despite the summer heat wrote: “We

had a view of the vast desert-plain before us, which as far as the eye could penetrate, was of a snowy whiteness, and resembled a scene of wintry frosts and icy desolation. Not a shrub or object of any kind rose above the surface for the eye to rest upon…It was a scene which excited mingled emotions of admiration and apprehension.” Bryant’s group was riding mules and the surface of the desert plain was solid enough that the burros’ hooves left little trace of their passing. Despite harsh deprivations from alkali dust storms, lack of water and nearly a gunfight between them, these nine single men traversed the desert successfully. That would not be the case for the unfortunate members of the Donner Party. After several days they approached the edge of ABOVE: : Ten-year-old Patty Reed saved her doll from the Great Salt Lake Desert. Hastings had the abandoned wagons. | Courtesy Sutter’s Fort stated that the barren plain was only about Archives 40 miles across and the journey could be accomplished in 24 hours, including short days of nonstop travel but had insufficient rests. In fact, the desolate wasteland is 83 stores of potable water or nourishing grass miles wide with no water or grass. As James for their livestock. On Sunday, Aug. 30 they Reed and George Donner scanned the horientered the desert. (Indicative of how much zon, some of the emigrants gathered pieces they had fallen behind, Bryant’s fast-movof a tattered note posted by Hastings. Tam- ing group had already crossed the Sierra and sen Donner assembled the scraps to read an was only one day from Sutter’s Fort in the alarming warning: “2 days—2 nights—hard Sacramento Valley.) The Donner Party traveled over the arid driving—cross—desert—reach water.” Hastings had lied again, and the pioneers wasteland day and night stopping only to were distressed about the dangers ahead. feed and water the cattle. The Great Salt They prepared as best they could for several

Lansford Hastings had lied

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table water or nourishing grass for their livestock. Lake Desert appears to be a landscape that can support wagon traffic, but it chiefly consists of gray mud impregnated with salt. When the hot winds of summer blow across these salt flats, surface water evaporates and forms a thin, brittle layer that traps moisture in the mud beneath. The narrow wheels of the emigrants’ heavy wagons broke the crust and cut deep into the quagmire, accelerating the exhaustion of the parched and weak oxen teams trying to pull them. One migrant described it as “walking through deep oatmeal mixed with glue.” The seven-day ordeal was a catastrophe for Reed and many others. When the oxen began to falter and then give out completely, Reed saddled his prized racing mare, Glaucus, and set out alone into the darkness in a search for water. Before he left, he told his head teamster Milford Elliott that when the oxen could go no further, unhitch the animals, abandon the wagons and march the livestock forward. Reed eventually found a freshwater spring 20 miles away, but when he returned at midnight to alert the others, he discovered that his desperate cattle had smelled water and bolted into the night. After days of searching the animals were never recovered with Reed assuming that Native Americans had appropriated them

for food. In one fell swoop, Reed lost 18 head of oxen, which forced him to cache two of his three wagons and the supplies they carried. Reed was only able to proceed through the generosity of Patrick Breen, Franklin Graves and William Pike who together lent him two yoke of oxen (four animals). When they finally escaped the desert nightmare, a considerable number of oxen, cattle and horses were dead or missing. A portion of the remaining livestock was too weak or sick to travel and were simply shot or left to die. Four wagons were abandoned, 36 draft animals lost and critically, an additional 11 days wasted. On Sept. 10, the search for missing oxen ended and the Donner Party pushed on. That day a quick-moving snowstorm chilled them to the bone, a harbinger of winter and sign that time was running out. The squall “made all the mothers tremble,” but the women of the party were already worried, angry and feared for their children. A few days later when the party stopped for water at a spring, Reed christened it: Mad Woman Camp. Hastings had lost all credibility among the emigrants, but they had plenty of redhot animosity for Reed, who as a leader rashly convinced the party to take the devastating shortcut. In mid-September, the Donner Party reached the Humboldt River in present-day northern Nevada. Weak and famished they were the last wagon train on the California

Read more local history at TheTahoeWeekly.com Trail that year. Desperately short of food supplies, they sent a call out for volunteers to ride ahead for help. In keeping with his previous exploits of financial overreach, Reed announced that he would write a letter promising Captain John Sutter that he would be responsible for the cost of all provisions provided. Chicago bachelor Charles Stanton stepped forward to say that he would go if someone would furnish a horse. His bravery was commendable, but some grumbled that because he was by himself with no family ties, there was little reason to expect his return. At this point no one realized the strength of Stanton’s character, fortitude and commitment to his word. n Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin is a nationally published author and professional speaker. His award-winning books are available at local stores or at thestormking.com. You may reach him at mark@thestormking.com.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: To acknowledge the

historical significance of the Donner Party and its window into an important era in the West, over the next 10 months I will occasionally write a column chronicling the progress and challenges of this cursed wagon train as it made its way to California. The columns will be available in future editions of Tahoe Weekly and at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on Donner Party under the Explore Tahoe menu.

December 8-14, 2021 GET OUTSIDE

L I F E I N TA H O E

Christmas Bird Count P R O V I D E S C R I T I C A L D ATA BY W I L L R I C H A R D S O N , TA H O E I N S T I T UT E F O R N AT U R A L S C I E N C E

For work, or play. All the outdoor essentials you need and more to take on a Truckee/Tahoe winter. Northern Pygmy-Owl is a common year-round resident at

n the 1800s, wealthy Americans engaged in a Christmas tradition known as a side hunt, where teams would go afield with their guns and whoever brought in the biggest pile of birds won. The American conservation movement was in its early stages in that era and ornithologist Frank Chapman proposed an alternative holiday tradition: a Christmas bird census that would count birds during the holidays rather than shoot them. Thus, on Christmas

Each year, from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5, tens of thousands of volunteers head out into the winter landscape to count birds for a day. Day 1900, birders held 25 Christmas Bird Counts ranging from Toronto, Ontario, to Pacific Grove. Fast forward 120 years and the tradition has not only taken hold, it has exploded in popularity, making the Christmas Bird Count the largest and oldest citizenscience project in the world. Each year, from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5, tens of thousands of volunteers head out into the winter landscape to count birds for a day. The 2019 count had a remarkable total of 2,646 counts, spanning locations all over the world and involving 81,601 observers. In those years since Chapman’s first count, a priceless database of bird populations has been developed. Birders at Lake Tahoe established a count in 1975 when there was an Audubon Society chapter based out of South Lake Tahoe for a brief period. Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) became involved with the South Lake Tahoe count in the late 1990s and has coordinated the count since 2004. The annual event provides critical data about bird population trends and helps inform conservation efforts; every count makes a contribution toward that larger dataset. Indeed, this is the primary goal from the perspective of the Audubon Society, which compiles the data from the

Lake Tahoe, and occasionally seen during the Christmas Bird Count. | TINS

thousands of counts across the globe. Some counts also become fiercely competitive, with a primary objective of tallying more species than their rival counts. A few Texas and California counts regularly pass 200 species for their day, while counts in far northern Canada might be lucky to manage two species. At Tahoe, we usually see more than 60, but earlyseason storms, count-day weather and ice conditions make all the difference. Last year, TINS broke its own record with 87 species, a fairly remarkable achievement for a count in the mountains. TINS’ goals for the count extend beyond mere data collection because the event is a great opportunity to bring the birding community together in the winter at a time when many birders have hung up their binoculars for the season. In recent years, the count started out with most participants meeting at a local coffee shop and then birding as a group for several hours. At the end of day counters would reconvene to share their sightings, enjoy pizza and compile an overall tally. Unfortunately, COVID has pressed pause on those traditions for now,

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but TINS intends to reboot the end-of-day tally this year via videoconferencing. The 2021 South Lake Tahoe Christmas Bird Count will be on Dec. 15. All birders are welcome to participate either by joining a small team of counters in the field or by tallying birds in their own backyard — feeder watchers contribute a lot of data. TINS also needs volunteers for the midwinter Bald Eagle Count on Jan. 14, 2022. | tinsweb.org n Will Richardson is the co-founder and executive director of TINS.

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Leo (Jul 22-Aug 23)

A powerful, creative impulse has been activated. It extends into your relationship life including the wider public beyond the personal. It will synchronize with changes in your career and earning potential. Circumstances may require you to reinvent yourself. Get clear on your talents and resources available to increase the scope of possibilities.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22)

Changes close to home and involving your daily rhythm and routine are likely themes linked to last week’s eclipse and should be apparent by now. A learning curve process is likely. The biggest hurdle may be worry and negative hallucinations regarding the future. Focus to be fully present and practical.

Libra (Sep 22-Oct 22)

Seeing yourself and the world and in the world in new ways is a central theme now. As eager as you may be to be able to affect rapid change, like being stuck in traffic, outer reality may be slowing the process. The changes implied likely include financial realities. These are invariably pushing you to get creative.

Scorpio (Oct 22-Nov 21)

In the deeper reaches of your sign, I have discovered various disturbing challenges that you may have been experiencing of late. This eclipse influence stands to produce both a positive impulse yet one that also pushes you out of your comfort zone to face certain fears. The good news is that the reward of facing the destined fears, we will lay claim to latent gifts of power.

Sagittarius (Nov 21-Dec 21)

The Solar Eclipse in your sign is destined to activate new modes of expression. These can be as subtle as a shift of attitude and approach or an entirely fresh start altogether. Themes of commitment are featured. The challenge is to overcome a lack of clear focus and getting lost in tangents. Be open to the possibilities then set your sights.

Horoscopes Puzzles

Capricorn (Dec 21-Jan 19)

Balancing inner retreat with powerful outer expression continues. The eclipse stands to have a

Aquarius (Jan 19-Feb 19)

A philosophical mood backed by heightened interests in themes of truth, justice and democracy will be activated by the eclipse. It may simply take you to the next level of existing realizations. Dealing with an urge to expand yet a simultaneous sense of delay and/ or restriction is in the plot. Exercise patience and find reason to be optimistic.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)

Your career and public life will receive a boost from this eclipse. Various changes are also likely which could manifest as a noticeable change of attitude, approach and status. Digging deeper to draw upon reserves of faith will be activated yet must contend with sobering realities as well. Follow through and completion will fare better than new projects.

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)

Your sights are set on the future. A revolutionary and determined mood has gripped you, body, mind, heart and soul. A victory cry resounds as you steadily and intensely push for reform. Whether it is directed inward, without or both depend on the details of your destiny. Either way, you mean business.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 21)

Deep changes are rumbling through your world. These may include purging and prove quite liberating. However, the implications could also prove more…powerful. They are at least indirectly related to your career, public life and social status. Expansion and increase is very possible, but not without the polarization of contraction

Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)

Your relationship life continues to be in the spotlight. Changes are pretty much certain. Positively, these themes of destiny include words like liberty and visionary attunement to the future. As ever, the old must ever give way to the new and the challenge is ever to gracefully accept what we cannot change and to adapt.

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22)

Circumstances of late and which may even amount to years have culminated to leave you wondering who you are and where you belong in the world. Currently, such existential questions are activating changes in your daily routine and lifestyle in general. Wisdom guides such questioning to themes of quality and health.

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W I N T E R P R E PA R E D N E S S G U I D E

Prepare Your Home for Winter BY K AT H E R I N E E . H I L L

etting your home prepared for winter weather will save you thousands in repairs from broken water pipes and fires by following a few simple tips from FEMA, American Red Cross and Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team. This is even more important if your home is a vacation rental and not occupied full time. If you do rent out your home, hire a local agency to ensure your house is maintained properly.

PREPARE YOUR HOME • Insulated pipes save water and energy and can prevent them from freezing. Visit redcross.org for tips on insulating and thawing pipes. Courtesy NOAA

• Drain irrigation systems to keep pipes from freezing. • Use insulated window coverings to reduce heat loss. • Check weather stripping around doors and windows to eliminate drafts. • Install wall socket insulators. • Have the heating system serviced. • Replace the air filter to improve indoor air quality and save energy. • Clear propane tanks and gas lines of snow. • Be sure to keep roof vents, chimneys and flues free of snow. Blockages can cause carbon monoxide to buildup. • Check and install, if needed, carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms. • Have a grill and gas on hand in case of power outages. • Leave thermostats set for at least 55 degrees when away from home to keep pipes from freezing. • Bring pets indoors during snowstorms or cold weather and have supplies including crates inside for them. • Inspect all appliance exhaust systems to ensure they have not become blocked by debris or nesting rodents. • If space heaters are being used, place them three feet away from anything combustible and away from the path of traffic. • Never use a surge protector to power a heating device; plug it directly into an outlet.

FIREPLACE SAFETY • Have the fireplace and chimney cleaned and inspected annually. • Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from a fireplace, wood stove or other heating appliance. • Create a 3-foot kid-free zone around an open fire. • Keep a sturdy screen in front of fireplaces.

• Allow ashes to cool completely before disposing of them. Four days or 96 hours is the minimum recommended cooling period. • Place completely cooled ashes in a covered metal container. Keep the container at least 10 feet away from the home and other buildings. Check with local fire districts to see if they offer free ash can programs. Visit tahoe.livingwithfire.info to find a local fire district. • Ashes should never be disposed of in a plastic garbage box or can, a cardboard box or paper grocery bag. Never use a vacuum cleaner to pick up ashes. • The metal container should be placed away from anything flammable. • It should not be placed next to a firewood pile, against or in the garage, on or under a wood deck or porch. • After sitting for a week in the metal container, check ashes again to be sure they are cool. If so, the ashes are then safe to dispose of in the trash or used as compost in the garden.

PREPARE FOR SNOW REMOVAL • Be prepared to shovel a lot. Have a snow shovel and scrapers for your vehicles on hand. • Limit your time outside. If you need to go outside, wear layers of warm clothing. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. • Reduce the risk of a heart attack by avoiding overexertion when shoveling snow and walking in the snow. • Have pet-friendly ice melt on hand. • Consider a snow removal contract.

They are hard to come up this late in the season, but some are still available. • If you have a snow plow contract, you need to be ready to move your vehicle when they come to plow your driveway, which if often the middle of the night. It’s your responsibility to keep your car clear and be ready to move it when they arrive. • After the city or county plows your street, if will leave a berm at the end of your driveway. That is your responsibility to remove and doesn’t fall under your snow plow contract. • If you have a lot of stairs or walkways, hire someone in advance to shovel those areas. Don’t forget your hot tub cover, which will collapse if left uncleared and ruin your hot tub. It’s best to hire one with a monthly retainer to handle all the extra snow removal needs. • If you don’t have someone on retainer, be prepared to wait several days or longer for help with snow removal on your property.

PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES • Consider investing in a whole-home generator and have it installed by a professional only. • Have a grill and gas on hand in case of power outages. • Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. • Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. • Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven. • Keep battery-powered flashlights and an emergency radio on hand with extra batteries.

• Know how to use fireplaces in advance of power outages. • Be prepared to evacuate if you lose power for extended periods and have a plan. • Prepare a home disaster kit with 72 hours of supplies, including medications and food, for every member of the family and pets. Find a complete list at TheTahoeWeekly.com. • Keep cell phones and devices charged.

ROOF SLIDES ARE DEADLY During snowstorms, snow will accumulate on the roof and slide as temperatures warm. NEVER play or walk next to a home or building where the snow will shed from the roof. Unfortunately, people and pets have been killed by massive snow slides off roofs burying them before help could arrive. n

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W I N T E R P R E PA R E D N E S S G U I D E

Winter Driving Tips BY K AT H E R I N E E . H I L L

riving in the winter in the mountains presents its own challenges unique to the Tahoe Sierra from knowing how to drive in snowy conditions, when to put chains on your cars and when to stay home, and what to carry in your car in case you get stuck or stranded during a winter storm.

CHECK CONDITIONS FIRST Before going anywhere, check the weather conditions and the road conditions for potential chain controls and road closures. All the mountain passes in the Tahoe region may close during heavy snowstorms or require chains. Also fill up your windshield wiper fluid with one that is rated for 0 degrees Fahrenheit; it has been known to dip into the single digits overnight.

• Ice scrapers and a shovel to dig out your car. • Sand or cat litter for traction if you get stuck. • Warm blankets and extra clothing • Water and food (don’t leave the food in your car once you arrive; bears do roam the area in the winter, too). • Cell phone chargers and keep them charged. • Keep the gas tank full. During power outages, gas pumps may not work.

NO PARKING ON ROADWAYS Parking is prohibited on roadway shoulders in nearly all localities between Nov. 1 and May 1 and will result in a ticket and damage to your vehicle during snow removal operations.

STAY ON THE HIGHWAYS

DRIVING TIPS

Don’t try to take sideroads through neighborhoods or lesser-used roads during a snowstorm. These roads will likely not be plowed, will not have shoulders to pull off on and conditions will be icier. The main highways are always the first to be plowed and are constantly maintained; side roads are not and you may get stuck in the snow.

• Remove all the snow from your car after a storm. Tahoe snow has a high-water content that will turn into ice when left on your car. • Never pour hot water on car windows. They will crack. Buy an ice scraper and let your car warm up. • Remove all the snow from your car. Don’t leave snow on the roof; it will slide when it starts to melt and obscure your entire windshield. You’ll also get a ticket for doing so. • Slow down and don’t tailgate. 4WD and snow tires or studs will not help you stop your car if it’s icy. • Don’t use your high beams at night during a snowstorm. • Stay at least 4 car lengths back from snowplows and snow removal equipment. • Bridges freeze first, so slow down before reaching a bridge. • Avalanches pose a danger to drivers on mountain roads. If you are caught in an avalanche, stay in your vehicle and turn off the engine to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning from a clogged tailpipe. n

USING CHAINS • Always carry chains. Ideally, you should purchase them before coming to Tahoe and practice putting them on. Know which wheels they go on in your car. It will vary by model. Watch our video made with Mountain Hardware on how to put chains on our Facebook page or visit dot.ca.gov. • Carry cash if you plan to use a chain installer and be prepared to wait in long lines. • Chain installers are not allowed to sell or rent chains. • When removing chains, drive beyond the signs reading “End of Chain Control” to a pull-off area where you can safely remove them. • Pack out all chains, even the broken ones, and any equipment. • After a snowstorm, check chain control requirements. You can receive a ticket for not having chains on and you won’t be able to travel over many passes if you don’t have chains on. • The speed limit when chains are required is 25 or 30 mph.

WHAT TO PACK IN YOUR CAR • Carry gloves, hats, winter jackets and snow boots for every member of the family Bring extra waterproof gloves to use for putting on chains (you don’t want to use your expensive ski gloves), a headlight to wear in case you’re doing this in the dark, and towels to kneel on and for clean up. 12

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Tahoe Nutcracker R E I M AG I N E S C H A R AC T E RS

ike many long-time traditions, “The Nutcracker” has reached a 21st-Century reckoning. In recent years, the most popular and profitable ballet in history has come under public scrutiny for its stereotypical portrayal of various cultures. For this year’s “Tahoe Nutcracker,” Lake Tahoe Dance Collective is making some changes. Asian-American ballerina Allison Walsh will play the Sugar Plum Fairy in the upcoming production. The New York City dancer whose mother emigrated from Hong Kong has witnessed a slow progress toward inclusion throughout her distinguished career. “I’m the product of someone who was born in a colony,” says Walsh. “When I think about that second act, it does feel there is a tint of colonialism to it. It needs to change.” The ballet was choreographed and composed in 1892 at the height of European Imperialism. As young Clara travels with The Nutcracker Prince to the enchanting Land of Sweets, she encounters dancers

like me could shift your

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from Spain, Arabia, China and Russia. For generations, the presentation of these divertissements was based on misrepresentation. The Dance Collective consulted the organization’s co-founder, Phil Chan of Final Bow for Yellowface, to help redesign their production. Instead of the traditional caricatures, the divertissements will now feature a Chinese lion that interacts with a solo female dancer in the variation. This isn’t the first time Dance Collective artistic director Christin Hanna has reworked the ballet to be more culturally responsive. Her 2020 virtual production premiered with African-American dancer Christopher McDaniel cast as the Nutcracker Prince. For the first time in his career, his doll head was a shade of brown, reflective of his skin tone. Previously, McDaniel had done guest appearances all around the country and always wore a Caucasian mask. It’s no secret ballet has long been attached to aesthetics that not every dancer could meet. While these may seem like small steps, they are reflective of an artform rooted in ritual that is beginning to embrace change.

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“As a mixed-race person, I have mixed feelings about ballet and my experience in it,” says Walsh. “No one would ever say something explicitly like: ‘You look too Asian for this role.’ But what happens when directors are not used to seeing someone who looks like me in that role? I wouldn’t go so far as to say I was discriminated against, but the ballet world did not often allow for

“ TA H O E NUTCRACKER” DEC. 17-19 | TIMES VARY North Tahoe High School | Tahoe City

diversity as far as people who look different or move differently.” Walsh believes more changes are in store for “The Nutcracker” if it hopes to maintain its magical, inspiring spirit in the modern world. “Truly, why it is enduring is because it’s a ballet based on childhood joy,” she says. “I understand the appeal of trying to celebrate different cultures, but I don’t know if we need to do that anymore. It doesn’t have to be connected to any culture and it shouldn’t be. I think that will change as more artists of color take over companies.

ABOVE: Summer Hatcher as the Snow Queen in 2019 Photo by Jen Schmidt

I know change is hard when it surrounds a tradition, but it is necessary.” Walsh was a 9-year-old Party Boy No. 1 when she first performed “The Nutcracker” at Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Since then, she’s danced almost every role, as a member of the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and BalletX in Philadelphia, before going on to perform on Broadway in “An American in Paris” and on television in “Flesh and Bone.” While ballet continues to adapt along with our changing world, “The Nutcracker” will always hold a special place in her heart. “I just want people to know how excited I am to be a part of it,” says Walsh. “Seeing someone like me could shift your views about what’s possible. It’s about childhood innocence and imagination and I think that’s why people connect to it. But that’s not a reason it doesn’t need to keep evolving and progressing as a piece of art. Because it is maybe the only time people experience ballet, I think it’s important to be having these conversations about the impacts of the portrayal of people and the stories it is telling.” | laketahoedancecollective.org n Sean McAlindin is a writer and musician living in Truckee, who loves a secret powder stash just as much as a good jam. You can reach him at entertainment@tahoethisweek.com. Other writings and original music are available at seanmcalindin.com.

Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Live Music Heavenly Mountain, South Lake Tahoe, 3-5 p.m. Noel Nights Northstar California Resort, Truckee, 6-8 p.m. Handel’s “Messiah” Trinity Lutheran Church, Gardnerville, 6:30 p.m. “White Christmas, The Musical” Community Arts Center, Truckee, 7 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. “Guilty Christmas” Valhalla Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, 7:30 p.m. Chris Costa Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino, Crystal Bay, 8 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Dueling Pianos Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30 p.m. Karaoke Classic Cue, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. DJ Arty the Party Harrahs Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m. Live DJ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 9 p.m. Magic After Dark: Robert Hall Unfiltered The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Dippin Sauce Bar of America, Truckee, 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Karaoke Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m. DJ David Aaron Bally’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m. Live DJ Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

December 8-14, 2021 THE LINEUP

DECEMBER 11 | SATURDAY

DECEMBER 12 | SUNDAY

Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. DJ Cat Heavenly Mountain, South Lake Tahoe, 12-2 p.m. Winter Music Series Northstar Village, Truckee, 2-5 p.m. Live Music Heavenly Mountain, South Lake Tahoe, 3-5 p.m. Mudd Bonz Casey’s, Zephyr Cove, 6-9 p.m. Resonating Earth Loyalton Museum, Loyalton, 6:30 p.m. “White Christmas, The Musical” Community Arts Center, Truckee, 7 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Chris Costa Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino, Crystal Bay, 8 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Dueling Pianos Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30 p.m. Petty Theft Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, 9 p.m. DJ Arty the Party Harrahs Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m. Live DJ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 9 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Minnesota Bally’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m. Dippin Sauce Bar of America, Truckee, 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Karaoke Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m. DJ David Aaron Bally’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m. Live DJ Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Live Music Cutthroat Brewing Company, Markleeville, 2 p.m. “White Christmas, The Musical” Community Arts Center, Truckee, 2 p.m. Bluebird Days Winter Music Series Wylder Hotel Hope Valley, Markleeville, 2-5 p.m. “Magic in the Mountains” Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley, 3 p.m. Handel’s “Messiah” Sierra Bible Church, Truckee, 3 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 4:30 p.m. “Magic in the Mountains” Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley, 6:30 p.m. Live Music Tahoe Tap House, Tahoe City, 7-10 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Live DJ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 9 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

DECEMBER 13 | MONDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Women’s Singing Group Commons Beach, Tahoe City, 4-5:30 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. “Guilty Christmas” Valhalla Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, 7:30 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

DECEMBER 14 | TUESDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. “Guilty Christmas” Valhalla Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, 7:30 p.m. Alex Ramon Real Magic Winter ‘21-’22 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Night Blues Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

Shakespeare Festival lineup announced

The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival will feature Shakespeare’s classic battle of wits and wills in “Much Ado About Nothing” and the smash-hit musical “Mamma Mia” from July 1 to Aug. 21, 2022, at Sand Harbor. Tickets are now available. | laketahoeshakespeare.com

DECEMBER 15 | WEDNESDAY Live Music Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 12-9 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. “Guilty Christmas” Valhalla Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, 7:30 p.m. Alex Ramon Real Magic Winter ‘21-’22 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 7:30 p.m. Live Music McP’s Taphouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m. Karaoke Classic Cue, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m. Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

Courtesy Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival

TheTahoeWeekly.com

THE makers

creative awareness | arts & culture | makers’ movement

“FOREST-FIRE” exhibit opens

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS FOR FREE Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to add your Event for our print & online calendars. Click on Events; then the blue Add Event button.

E X A M I N E S F O R E S T E C O L O G Y, F I R E R E L AT I O N S H I P BY P R I YA H UT N E R

ires have ravaged the West with devasting results, burning through towns, ski resorts and forests, uprooting thousands, destroying homes and businesses. As smoke blanketed Northern California this past summer, fires were on the minds of many. These are the fires that gave birth to the upcoming free “FOREST FIRE” exhibit to debut at Truckee Donner Community Recreation Center on Dec. 10 connects art, the humanities and science to examine the future of forest fires in the West. “FOREST-FIRE” is a multimedia art installation that features 19 California artists. Using different mediums such as painting, textiles, beadwork and sculpture, the exhibition tells the story of forest

Watercolor by Lisa Jefferson

Holiday Open House at gallery

“The way the exhibit is

ABOVE: Model Forest-Fire exhibit

laid out is that it’s broken

LEFT: Tree schematic of Forest-Fire exhibit

into four main chapters. What the forest was, what happened to it, what it’s become and what we can do about it.” –Michael Llewellyn ecology and its relationship with fire. The project is curated by Nevada County Arts Council Artist-in-Residence Michael Llewellyn and Heather Llewellyn in partnership with Nevada County Arts Council, Truckee Donner Recreation & Park District and UC Berkeley’s Sagehen Creek Field Station. “That’s what our narrative is all about. It explains the historical context of fire and fire ecology that was introduced by human interaction. The forest was managed for 13,000 years with fires,” says Michael. The Llewellyns have a photography and film background and were drawn to work with the community and public engagement projects. “It was our experience making exhibits. We realized that we were engaging all of our interests, all of our skills and we really Watch t”A Fire for All” film

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

wanted to serve the public and create public conversation,” says Michael. They began looking for a project to sink their teeth into, a bigger story so to speak, and ultimately connected with Jeff Brown, former manager of Sagehen Creek Field Station. “Jeff said they’d been studying forest management and fire and that they had a solution for catastrophic fires. Sagehen had 60 or 70 years of data on the forest. They got 16

together with all of the forest stakeholders, from environmentalists and land managers to the timber company. They brought in the Washoe Tribe and basically sat down and they figured out a solution,” Heather says. This became the inspiration for the exhibit. Sagehen has an artist-in-residency program and the Llewellyns became part of this. “We felt like there was a story there that we could really develop and break down into simple parts for the public to understand. The way the exhibit is laid out is that it’s broken into four main chapters. What the forest was, what happened to it, what it’s become and what we can do about it,” says Michael. The exhibit describes different periods of time and what happened or what is happening, and each one has a piece of art that supports it. It’s an interpretive exhibit. Heather points out that the artists involved in the exhibit want to participate in the climate conversation and want to know how can they help the forests. Local artist Sara Smith is one of the artists who contributed to the exhibit. She is involved with the exhibit through one of its educational aspects, which is a collaboration with Sierra Watershed Education Partnership (SWEP). “SWEP is creating a three-year program. One piece within that whole exhibit is the interactive, participatory installation project that I’m doing with the kids,” says Smith. “The kids get to experience the exhibit itself, respond to it and then become part of the exhibit. It is a reflective project. For me,

the most important thing is giving a voice to the kids.” A book, “Who Needs a Forest Fire” by Paula Henson, and an animated film, “A Fire for All” by Christopher Baldwin, have also been created for the project to connect with children. Essays will also accompany the exhibit and be translated into Spanish, along with a Washoe response to every issue accompanying each essay. “It is important to give the Washoe a voice throughout the entire exhibit narrative, but also it’s very important for people to see not only the language, but to see [the Washoe’s] participation and to be reminded that the land that they live on was once Washoe land and was cared for for 13,000 years. It’s a way to reinforce the cultural idea that people have taken care of the land for so

Piper J Gallery in Incline Village, Nev. is hosting a Holiday Open House on Dec. 11 from 3 to 6 p.m. Everyone is invited to browse the gallery, enjoy refreshments and meet local artists. The gallery represents Patrick Cahill, Lisa Jefferson, Piper Monika Johnson, Liz Paganelli, Molly O’Mara and Susan Watson. Piper J Gallery is a working artist studio and gallery featuring a variety of artwork from large-scale contemporary abstracts, modern realism landscapes, ceramics and plein air oil paintings. | piperjgallery.com

the art s For Heart’s Sake Exhibit

For Goodness Sake | Truckee | Dec. 8-28 12 p.m. | goodnesssake.org

Holiday Art Show & Silent Auction Alpine Co.Community Center Markleeville | Dec. 8-17

8 a.m.-5 p.m. | alpinecounty.com

“ F O R E S T- F I R E ”

Holly Arts Fair

EXHIBIT DEC.10 - JUNE 2022

North Tahoe Arts | Tahoe City | Dec. 8-Jan. 7

RECEPTION DEC. 10 | 5-7 PM Truckee Donner Community Recreation Center | Truckee

11 a.m.-5 p.m. | (530) 581-2787 northtahoearts.com

Museum of Truckee History Tour Museum of Truckee History Truckee | Dec. 8

long and then something needs to return in that way,” says Michael. The opening reception for the exhibit is on Dec. 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. and will include presentations by Truckee Mayor Anna Klovstad, Nevada County Arts Council executive director Eliza Tudor, The Center for Art + Environment at the Nevada Museum of Art director William L. Fox, Sacramento poet laureate emeritus Indigo Moor and the Llewellyns. The exhibit will run until June 2022. | nevadacountyarts. org. n

4-6 p.m. | truckeehistory.org

Forest Fire Exhibition TD Community Recreation Center Truckee | Dec. 10-Jan. 30

5-7 p.m. | nevadacountyarts.org

Holiday Open House Reception Piper J Gallery | Incline Village, Nev. Dec. 11 3-6 p.m. | piperjgallery.com

Make Your Own Tahoe Wreath North Tahoe Arts | Kings Beach | Dec. 11 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | (530) 581-2787 northtahoearts.com

EAT &drink

December 8-14, 2021 EAT & DRINK

food & libations | recipes | delicious events

Sierra Sips

BREWING IN THE LOST SIERRA BY P R I YA H UT N E R

here is something magical about the Lost Sierra, driving through vast ranch lands, thick forests and small towns steeped in rich history with deep roots that go back to the days of the Pony Express. It is here that small breweries have established themselves and honed their craft. There are more than a dozen local breweries creating craft beers stretching from the Lost Sierra to the South Shore, and in this installment of my series on the breweries of the Tahoe Sierra, I’ll be highlighting those in the Lost Sierra. You can create your own pub crawl using our inaugural Sierra Sips map or read about the breweries of Truckee and the North Shore at TheTahoeWeekly.com.

Dope Is King Pale Ale pong. We are a local watering hole,” she said. In the summer months, they host music from the stage on Saturdays. From April until November, they are open seven days a week. From November until January, they are open Fridays through Mondays and from January through April, they are open Fridays through Sundays. Guests are welcome to bring their own food with a few barbecue grills available on site (BYOB bring your own briquettes). Their brews can be found at Old Town Tap and New Moon Natural Foods in Truckee and The Bridgetender in Tahoe City.

is a classic pale ale, a winter brew that pays homage to the miners of the 1800s. THE BREWING LAIR HOP-FORWARD

with hints of espresso. The BLT, Brewing Lair Tripel, is a Belgian ale and is 9.6 percent alcohol. The Louie is another IPA that uses Sierra Valley Farms hops from Beckwourth. The Brewing Lair makes several IPAs, which Sue notes are hop-forward and hop-centric. They don’t create lagers, but they make Lairy brew, which is a brown ale. When I asked Sue 14

Sierra Sips Tahoe Weekly presents

Plan your own

Portola

Blairsden BREWERY

Graeagle

FEATURED LISTING (PAID)

Lost Sierra

FOOD TRUCK

DISTILLERY

FOOD

brewery tour with

Great Basin Brewing Company Sparks

846 Victorian Ave., Sparks, NV 89431 | greatbasinbrewing.com

Great Basin Brewing Company Reno

Ronin Fermentation Project 601 Graeagle Johnsville Road #1645, Graeagle roninfermentationproject.com

WINERY

Reno & Sparks

The Brewing Lair

67007 CA Hwy 70, Blairsden | thebrewinglair.com Dedicated to high-profile ales

5525 S. Virginia St, Reno, NV 89502 | greatbasinbrewing.com

Sierraville

Classical brews married with experimental brews

Truckee

Reno

Alibi Ale Works Truckee Public House 10069 Bridge St. | alibialeworks.com

RENO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Truckee

An adventurous line-up this is always evolving

TRUCKEE AIRPORT

Donner Creek Brewing

11448 Deerfield Drive | donnercreekbrewing.com Pico brewery focused on locally grown hops

FiftyFifty Brewing

11197 Brockway Road, Suite 1 | fiftyfiftybrewing.com Barrel-aged gems from Truckee’s oldest brewery

The Good Wolf

Northstar

10990 Industrial Way B103 | thegoodwolfbrewing.com

our Sierra Sips map

Incline Village

Forest beer from local sources

Old Trestle Distillery

West River St. | Tasting room opening fall 2022 | oldtrestle.com Gin, vodka & bourbon using locally harvested botanicals

Kings Beach

Olympic Valley

Truckee Brewing Co. a. 10736 Pioneer Trail, Suite 1 b. 1001 Soaring Way (opening Jan. 2022) truckeebrewco.com

Alpine Meadows

Focus on high-quality ingredients

Truckee River Winery

10061 S. River St. | truckeeriverwinery.com Specializing in single-vineyard varietals

Tahoe City

North Shore

Carson City

Alibi Ale Works Brewery and Barrel House

204 E. Enterprise St., Incline Village | alibialeworks.com

Alibi favorites & Barrel House exclusives (bring your own food)

Homewood

8428 Trout Ave, Kings Beach | bearbellybrew.com Small batch brewery

South Shore

TAKE THIS

MAP WITH YOU

Cold Water Brewery

2544 Lake Tahoe Blvd. | tahoecoldwaterbrewery.com 7-barrel brewhouse featuring all-grain beer

Sidellis Brewery

3350 Sandy Way | sidellis.com

Specializes in rotating, small-batch brews

South Lake Brewing Company

1920 Lake Tahoe Blvd. | southlakebeer.com

16 craft brews on tap with styles for every beer lover (bring your own food)

South of North Brewing Co.

932 Stateline Ave. | southofnorthbeer.com Locally handcrafted ales

Stateline Brewery

4118 Lake Tahoe Blvd. | statelinebrewery.com

Emerald Bay

Available at

issuu.com/

Alibi Ale Works Incline Public House

931 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village | alibialeworks.com Crafted with an eye to experimentation & variety

Bear Belly Brewing Company

South Lake Tahoe

Stateline

READ OUR STORY ON

TheTahoeWeekly

TRUCKEE’S EXPANDING BREWERY SCENE IN THIS EDITION ON PAGE 16

Crafting house & seasonal favorites

Revive 15

The Brewing Lair, owned by Rich and Sue Delano, is a fabulous brewery located off the beaten path in Blairsden. I met with Sue early on a sunny picture-perfect fall Sunday afternoon. The brewery is set on 30 acres, the property a gift from her former partner, the founder of Stone Brewing Company. Sue, who grew up in Quincy, had been brewing beer for years before opening The Brewing Lair 10 years ago with her husband Rich. “Rich has the scientific mind. He’s definitely more precise. I am more of a chef adding a little of this and that,” said Sue. Brewing requires consistency and with Rich’s scientific mind and precision, the couple has created a beautiful place to hang out and drink delicious beer. As we sit outside (there is only outdoor seating), people started arriving: adults, families with grandparents and kids, and couples. It was a busy day. Sue and I talked beer. The Brewing Lair has 10 brews on tap at any given time that change with the seasons. “Ambush IPA is by far most popular. We’ve had it since the beginning. It’s a classic West Coast IPA,” she said. Dope Is King Pale Ale is a classic pale ale, a winter brew that pays homage to the miners of the 1800s. The miners would ride the ore cars up and ski down the hill on their longboards. Those with the best dope – the equivalent of modern ski wax – were the best racers. A year-round brew on tap is Deep Cover Black IPA. It’s a dark, dry and crisp beer

3135 Harrison Avenue | revivecoffeewine.com

Meyers

TheTahoeWeekly.com DESIGN BY ALYSSA GANONG | TAHOE WEEKLY

Kirkwood

what her favorite brew is, she said she mixes the BLT and the Ambush. I tried the BLT. It was tropical, citrusy and tasty. I also tried the Dope Is King, which I really enjoyed. I loved the setting of this brewery. I can’t wait to come back out. “I feel like what makes us unique is that we are like a park, where dogs, kids and families can come for birthdays, rehearsal dinners and anniversaries. They can take over the area, barbecue if they want, play cornhole or ping

RONIN FERMENTATION PROJECT KOJI-STYLE Ronin Fermentation Project in Graeagle had a rocky start as owners Charlie Johnson and Lisa Jansen received their certificate of occupancy the week of the pandemic in 2020. “It’s been crazy,” says Jansen of opening a brewery during a world-wide pandemic. Johnson was a brewing consultant for nearly 20 years, spending many years abroad, before opening Ronin, which creates kojistyle beers. The name Ronin is an ode to Japanese master samurais. “I’ve been in the commercial side for quite a long time, almost 20 years. I consulted with mainly breweries and I’ve done a few distillery projects, as well, but mainly breweries all over the world from Japan, Mexico, Hong Kong, Australia, UK and here in the states,” he said. “Koji is a hybridized style from sake brewing and beer brewing. We use local grains and inoculate them with this koji. We actually have a koji sauna in the brewery lined with cedarwood,” said Johnson. The brew is only made in the winter because cold weather is needed to produce it. The Electronic Monolith and Multiverse Lives are two styles of koji beers Ronin offers. The Alpen Glow Pilsner is one of their most popular beers. Johnson described it as “a nice light, dry, pale yellow, German-style pills brewed with all European German barley and

ABOVE: Outdoor tasting room at The Brewing Lair | The Brewing Lair LEFT: Alpen Glow Pilsner. | Ronin Fermentation Project

German hops.” They also make lagers. They use all-natural carbonation, and it takes 10 to 12 weeks to produce. “We make slow beers. It’s our big defining feature. Our beer is 100 percent all-natural. We blend Old-World with the experimental,” he said. Currently, they have six different varieties of beer based on season and demand. Ronin Fermentation Project is open on Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. with indoor and outdoor seating. Their brews can be found at Old Town Tap, Donner Lake Brewing Company and New Moon Natural Foods all in Truckee.n

The Brewing Lair (530) 394-0940 thebrewinglair.com Ronin Fermentation Project roninfermentationproject.com

Priya Hutner is a food writer, personal chef and owner of The Seasoned Sage, a local meal delivery and catering company. Priya has been creating and preparing meals from an early age. She has worked in the restaurant industry in New York City, attended catering school, and was the head chef and executive director of a nonprofit spiritual community in Florida. Visit her website at TheSeasonedSage.com. Send your comments, story ideas and food tidbits to priya@tahoethisweek.com.

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Holiday gifts for wine lovers S TO RY & P H OTO S BY L O U P H I L L I P S

ou have to love wine lovers, especially around any gift-giving occasion because you know you are going to nail it when it comes to gifting — especially with a little help from your friendly neighborhood wine writer. So being that we are in the heart of the giving season in many parts of the world, what better time for a primer on bringing joy to the wine lovers you care about. To make the process even easier and more fun, let’s break this down by personality types.

Cape House opens Rick Boyd has opened his newest restaurant, Cape House, in the Raley’s shopping center in Incline Village, Nev. “Inspired by a summer in Cape Code, Cape House is bringing that New England Beach Town experience to Lake Tahoe,” according to the website. The menu features a raw bar from raw oysters to tuna poke, boils like a Clam Bake and a VietCajun Boil and entrees from Lake Trout and Nordic Salmon to Chicken Confit and Osso Bucco. Cape House is open Wednesday to Monday for dinner and reservations are recommended. | (775) 413-5050, cape-house. com

A key to getting a wonderful wine is using a trusted source, which if you are lucky is your local purveyor. Courtesy Cape House

THE INTELLECTUAL The questions that intrigue these folks may include such pressing issues as: Is Vinho Verde actually green? How can I tell a wine aged in American oak from one raised in French barrels? And most importantly, is that mushroom or forest floor in my Pinot? Trust me, they wonder about these things and will love you for giving their souls peace with these gifts of knowledge. Old-school or new, there are a range of options from books, both classic and new wave, to magazines, to websites, both for a fee and free. For a fanatic, I suggest WINE Berserkers, an active online wine community or for the more casual type, the editorial content on wine-searcher. com.

THE TECHNICIAN AKA MS. GADGET This one is so easy. Jump online. Look at gadgets, as on Total Wine & More. Pick any that look cool. Order. Boom: give a great gift.

THE SPECIAL-EVENT FAN Think birth year, anniversary year, graduation year or any year that has special meaning to your giftee. For older vintages, Explore more wines with Lou

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

tasty tidbits Holiday Block Party

Tahoe Food Hub | Truckee | Dec. 9

Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay | Courtesy Hanzell Vineyards

provides direct advice either by phone or in person.

THE NAME DROPPER

you have to go with classic aging wines such as Port, Sauternes, Madeira, Napa Cabernet, Bordeaux or Tuscans. Another key to getting a wonderful wine is using a trusted source, which if you are lucky is your local purveyor. However, that can be problematic because they rarely carry or source older vintages past a few years. A good solution is a trustworthy online source. Some that I have used and vetted for years are: K&L Wine Merchants, which also has brick-and-mortar outlets in the Bay Area and Los Angeles; WineBid and Belmont Wine Exchange. These places check each bottle before even accepting it for sale or auction. K&L additionally

In yesteryear, this was non-negotiable because it was a pricey endeavor. With top names adding more options, they usually have several price and quality levels under their brand name. Here are a few examples: Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection for $200; Caymus Grand Durif/ Petite Sirah for $60, Hanzell Vineyards Chardonnay $80; Hanzell Vineyards “Sebella” Chardonnay $30, Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon for $3,000+ or Screaming Eagle Second Flight for $1,000, really. So go forth confidently and spread the wine love.n Lou Phillips is a Level 3 Advanced Sommelier in Tahoe and his consulting business wineprowest.com assists in the selling, buying and managing wine collections. He may be reached at (775) 544-3435 or wineguru123@gmail.com.

4-8 p.m. Free | (530) 562-7150 tahoefoodhub.org

Holiday Santa Paws & Yappy Hour Fire + Ice Restaurant South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 9

3-5 p.m. $5 | tahoesouth.com

Breakfast with Santa Heavenly Village South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 11

8-10 a.m. $15-$20 | facebook.com

EAA Breakfast with Eagle Flights Truckee Tahoe AIRPORT-TRK Truckee | Dec. 11 8-10 a.m. | eaa1073.org

Eclipse Party Historic Downtown Truckee | Dec. 11, Dec. 12

11 a.m. | fiftyfiftybrewing.com

Santa Pub Crawl area venues | Incline Village | Dec. 11 8 p.m. | northernlightstahoe.com

TAKE-OUT, INDOOR & OUTDOOR DINING

Level 3 (Advanced) Sommelier

Louis Phillips

Fine Italian Food & Spirits

Call or email today for your

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Locals Love Lanza’s! (530) 546-2434 7739 N Lake Blvd - Kings Beach

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Helping Businesses and Collectors Become More Successful for Over 30 Years

December 8-14, 2021 EAT & DRINK

F RO M T H E S E AS O N E D SAG E

POT PIE CHICKEN, TURKEY OR VEGETABLE R E C I P E BY P R I YA H UT N E R

EST. 1982

Authentic Mexican made from scratch daily

Kings Beach

Indoor & Patio Dining 12:00pm-8:00pm

Full Bar

CLOSED ON MONDAYS

(530) 546-4539 - 8345 North Lake Blvd. - Across from the State Beach in Kings Beach

Lakeview Dining OPEN DAILY 12-9PM

his comforting recipe is perfect for a chilly evening dinner. I use leftover turkey and vegetables for a delicious pot pie. This meal is comfort food at its best. n Find more from The Seasoned Sage

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

FEATURING: Slow-Roasted Prime Rib | Baby Back Ribs | Full Bar Cooking is a meditation for Priya, it is from that place she curates her menus and recipes to create delicious and nutritious meals for The Seasoned Sage, her company catering to client’s culinary preferences and dietary restrictions. She is also working on a series of cookbooks. Visit her website at TheSeasonedSage.com or contact her at priya@theseasonedsage.com.

Steaks | Seafood | Pasta | Gourmet Hamburgers | Kid’s Menu

jasonsbeachsidegrille.com

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POT PIE From the kitchen of: Priya Hutner · Serves 4-6 2 prepared pie crusts 2 T olive oil 2 T butter 1 small onion, diced 1 celery stalk, sliced

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2 cloves garlic, sliced 1 large potato, peeled & diced in small cubes ½ pound of cooked chicken or turkey 1 12 oz. bag organic frozen peas, carrots & string beans, defrosted ½ C mushrooms, sliced 1 C chicken or vegetable stock 1 C heavy cream (nondairy milk as a dairy-free alternative) 2 T flour 1 t salt 1 t pepper

In a large pot, sauté onions and celery in oil and butter for 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook for 3 minutes. Add diced potatoes; cook for 5 minutes. Add spices and flour; cook for 1 minute, making sure to mix flour well. Add in stock and cream. Add bagged vegetables, chicken or turkey (omit meat for a vegetarian version) and mushrooms; cook for 3 minutes. Add spices and mix. Pour it all into one piecrust and top with the second crust. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

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Dec. 8-14, 2021 edition

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