Advice Goddess

environmental film festival includes a premiere section of new environmental films as well as important American independent films, Latin-American films and a special filmmaker tribute. All screenings will take place at Incline Village Cinema and Northstar Cinema. Th-Su through 12/4. $12-$50. Visit http://tahoefilmfest.org.

WARREN MILLER’S HERE THERE &

EVERYWHERE: The Lake Tahoe premiere of Warren Miller’s newest ski/snowboard action film features world-renowned athletes JT Holmes, Jeremy Jones, Seth Wescott, Jess McMillan, Ingrid Backstrom, Marcus Caston, Wendy Fisher, Tyler Ceccanti, Kaylin Richardson and others. F, 12/2, 7:30pm; Sa, 12/3, 7:30pm. $16.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, 15 Highway 50, Stateline, (775) 588-6611.

MusIc

ARGENTA CONCERT SERIES: SONGS OF SPAIN:

The program features the works of Spanish masters Turina, Arbós and Cassadó. Th, 12/1, 7:30pm. $5-$25.

Nightingale Concert Hall, Church Fine Arts Building, University of Nevada, Reno, 1335 N. Virginia St., (775) 784-4278.

COMPOSERS’ CONCERT: New acoustic and

electronic music by student composers. Su, 12/4, 7:30pm. Free. Nightingale Concert Hall, CFA Building, University of Nevada, Reno, 1335 N. Virginia St., (775) 784-4278.

DAN FRECHETTE & LAUREL THOMSEN: The

roots-folk duo performs. F, 12/2, 7pm. $20$25. Mountain Music Parlor, 735 S. Center St., (775) 843-5500

HIGH DESERT HARMONY CHRISTMAS CONCERT:

The all-women barbershop music group will sing favorite Christmas songs. M, 12/5, 7:15pm. Free. Five Star Premier Residences of Reno, 3201 Plumas St., (775) 722-2788.

NEVADA WIND ENSEMBLE: WINTER CONCERT:

The Nevada Wind Ensemble will present new works and standards of the wind repertoire. F, 12/2, 7:30pm. $5; free for UNR students. Nightingale Concert Hall, Church Fine Arts Building, University of Nevada, Reno, 1335 N. Virginia St., (775) 784-4278.

RENO PHIL: SPIRIT OF THE SEASON: The Reno

Philharmonic Orchestra kicks off the holiday season with a variety-style show featuring singers, dancers, performers, Santa Claus and more. Sa, 12/3, 2-4 & 8-10pm; Su, 12/4, 2-4pm. $16-$70. Pioneer

Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., (775) 323-6393.

UNIVERSITY JAZZ ENSEMBLES 1 & 2: The

University of Nevada, Reno’s jazz ensembles present an evening of big band music. Tu, 12/6, 7:30pm. $5; free for UNR students with ID. Nightingale Concert Hall, Church Fine Arts Building, University of Nevada, Reno, 1335 N. Virginia St., (775) 784-4278.

OnsTage

BUTTCRACKER 7—OZMOSIS: Brüka Theatre

parody based on TheNutcrackertakes Clara and the gang into a warped land of Oz. All tickets will be $10 on Artist Night on Dec. 7. The show is recommended for those age 8 and older. Th, 12/1, 8pm; F, 12/2, 8pm; Sa, 12/3, 8pm; Su, 12/4, 2pm; W, 12/7, 8pm; Th, 12/8, 8pm; F, 12/9, 8pm; Sa, 12/10, 8pm; W, 12/14, 8pm; Th, 12/15, 8pm; F, 12/16, 8pm; Sa, 12/17, 8pm; Su, 12/18, 2pm; W, 12/21, 8pm; Th, 12/22, 8pm; F, 12/23, 8pm. $22 for 12/2:Audition Good Luck Macbeth presents this one-act play by John Bankhead. Set in a small New England town at the fictional Berkshire Regional Theatre, the musical is about a small group of community theater actors who brave a heavy winter storm for a chance at starring in a famous, yet strangely mysterious, playwright’s next Broadway production. The cast of seven performers show off a wide array of talents as they act, sing and play instruments. The play opens on Friday, Dec. 2, at the GLM Theatre, 713 S. Virginia St. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday through Dec. 17 with a matinee show at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18, and an additional performance at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15. Tickets are $15. Call 322-3716 or visit www.goodluckmacbeth.org.

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: TheatreWorks

of Northern Nevada’s production of the holiday tale by Charles M. Schultz is based on the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson. F, 12/2, 7pm; Sa, 12/3, 2 & 7pm; Su, 12/4, 2pm. $12 general admission,

$10 students, seniors, military. McKinley Arts & Culture Center, 925 Riverside Drive, (775) 284-0789.

THE MIRACLE WORKER: William Gibson’s play is based on the early life of deaf and blind author and activist Helen Keller, who, after meeting her teacher Anne Sullivan, learned to communicate with the outside world thanks to Anne’s determination, consistency, tough love, perseverance, hope and faith. Th, 12/1, 6:30pm; F, 12/2, 7pm;

Sa, 12/3, 7pm. $10 adults, $5 students. Sage Ridge School, 2515 Crossbow Court, (775) 315-8680.

THE SANTALAND DIARIES: Reno Little Theater

presents its holiday production based on David Sedaris’ humorous essay recounting his stint working as a Christmas elf in “Santaland” at Macy’s department store. Th, 12/1, 7:30pm; F, 12/2, 7:30pm; Sa, 12/3, 7:30pm; Su, 12/4, 2pm; Th, 12/8, 7:30pm; F, 12/9, 7:30pm; Sa, 12/10, 7:30pm; Su, 12/11,

2pm. $22 adults, $12-$18. Reno Little Theater, 147 E. Pueblo St., (775) 813-8900.

THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN: Restless Artists’

Theatre presents Eric Coble’s funny and touching play concerning an 80-year-old artist in a showdown with her family over where she’ll spend her remaining years. F, 12/2, 7:30pm; Sa, 12/3, 7:30pm; Su, 12/4, 2pm; Th, 12/8, 7:30pm; F, 12/9, 7:30pm; Sa, 12/10, 7:30pm; Su, 12/11, 2pm; Th, 12/15, 7:30pm; F, 12/16, 7:30pm; Sa, 12/17, 7:30pm; Su, 12/18,

2pm. $12-$20. Restless Artists’ Theatre, 295 20th St., Sparks, (775) 525-3074.

Tulle time

by AMY ALKON

A female friend of mine wanted to get married, but her boyfriend was resistant. He’d been married before, with disastrous results. He eventually married her—not because he wanted to be married but because it meant so much to her. Initially, she felt bad about this. She had to give up her romantic dream of getting married because somebody would want to be tied to her forever. Do men just marry women to make us happy? Evolutionary psychologists David Buss and David Schmitt note that we humans evolved to choose between two different sexual strategies—short-term and long-term. Women typically benefit more from a “long-term sexual strategy”—a commitment model, i.e., getting men to stick around to invest in their children. Men often benefit more from a “short-term sexual strategy”—a lack-of-commitment model, i.e., sticking it into a long line of sexfriends. That’s because a man can have sex with thousands of women and never end up pregnant with something that needs to be fed, clothed and sent to day care.

Although a man gets more shots to pass on his genes with the short-term approach, it’s sometimes more advantageous for him to opt for a long-term strategy. It’s a huge time-, energy- and resource-suck to perpetually be on the hunt. Also, Buss explains, because “highly desirable women” can hold out for commitment, men can get a much better woman if they’re willing to go for a long-term thing.

Whether to commit generally doesn’t play out in men’s heads in such clear cost-benefit terms—like calculations on whether to go all in on pork futures. It’s emotion that pushes them toward commitment—loving a woman who happens to insist on a commitment and wanting to make her happy. Economist Robert H. Frank calls love “a solution to the commitment problem.” Mushy-wushy feelings are what keep you with that special someone.

So a man’s being willing to officially take his penis off the market—even if he isn’t hot on the idea of marriage—is a really big deal. There are two major reasons you spend the rest of your life with one person: Either you realize you love them more than you love your freedom or you’re serving a sentence for a string of really bad felonies.

In thickness and health

My wife isn’t smart. She also doesn’t read books or newspapers or know anything about current events or politics. I knew that when I married her, but we were both kids, and I thought it was kinda sweet and funny. Fifteen years later, it bothers and embarrasses me. I still love her, but I’m depressed by the idea of spending the rest of my life with someone who can’t share some of what I see as life’s basic pleasures. It’s something of an attraction killer when you look deep into a woman’s eyes—and feel pretty sure you can see clear out the back of her head.

Yes, 15 years ago, you pledged to spend forever with this woman—surely intending to follow through, despite how she probably makes major life decisions by consulting fortune cookies. The truth is we can lack foresight when we’re younger.

Though you care about her, what you’re missing—being similar in essential areas—is called “assortative mating.” Psychologist Michelle Shiota notes that “studies have repeatedly found that similarity between romantic partners in domains such as socioeconomic status, educational background, age, ethnicity, religion, physical attractiveness, intelligence, attitudes and values predicts higher levels of marital satisfaction and lower likelihood of separation and divorce.”

Sure, you could focus on what you love about her and try to get your intellectual needs met elsewhere. However, if what makes you feel alive and connected to somebody is engaging intellectually, this might just be a bridge too far—being with someone who believes the Electoral College is where your 18-year-old niece is going next fall to study bioengineering. Ω

Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave., No. 280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or email AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com). 12.01.16 | RN&R | 33