This Week

For a complete listing of this week’s events, visit newsreview.com/reno

Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off Twenty-four of the world’s top rib cookers compete for the first-place trophy, cash prizes and the People’s Choice award at the 25th annual end-of-summer event. More than 500,000 people are expected to congregate in downtown during the six-day festival, which includes the Rib Eating Championships on opening day, free entertainment, arts BONES and craft booths and a kids’ area with carnival rides, inflatable games, rides and slides. Main stage entertainment includes Diego’s Umbrella on Wednesday, Aug. 28, Keller Williams on Thursday, Aug. 29, The Fabulous Thunderbirds on Friday, Aug. 30, Mark Chesnutt on Saturday, Aug. 31, Bad Company with Brian Howe on Sunday, Sept. 1, and Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen on Sept. 2. TO The cook-off winner will be announced on Sept. 2. The rib PICK fest takes place between 14th Street and Pyramid Way along Victorian Avenue in downtown Sparks. The gates are open from 11 a.m to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Sept. 1, and 11 am. to 5 pm. on Monday, Sept. 2. Admission to the festival is free, but plan to bring enough dough to sample a wide variety of ribs and all the fixings. Call 356-3300 or visit www.nuggetribcookoff.com.

Canfest

The fifth international beer festival celebrates the growing trend of canning beer and its purported benefits such as protecting taste, lightening travel loads and convenient packaging. Beers include American entries from Anderson Valley Brewing Company, 21st Amendment and Sun King Brewing Company, as well as international offerings from Belgium, England and Japan There will also be live music, food and competitions. A portion of the event, including a local bike drive, benefits the Reno Bike Project. The festival takes place from 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, 2707 S. Virginia St. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door for general admission and $60 for VIP tickets, which are limited to 400 people. Call 323-2977 or visit www.canfestbeer.com.

Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series: Silver State Showdown

The off-road racing event features huge dirt jumps that launch 900-horsepower trucks into the air, followed by steep downhill stretches that push racers to the highest speeds in the series. The three-day event also includes a “Free Friday” opening day in which spectators can tour the pits, meet the drivers and see the machines that will compete on the track on Saturday and Sunday. The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, through Sunday, Aug. 25, at Wild West Motorsports Park, 12005 Interstate 80 east at exit 23 (Mustang exit). Tickets are $11-$33 and; free for kids age 12 and younger. Call (800) 342-2512 or visit www.lucasoiloffroad.com.

Reno Greek Festival

The 26th annual festival features authentic Greek food and pastries, Greek music by the Chris Dokos Band, traditional dancing by the Dionysios Dancers and St. Anthony Dancers, a Greek market and events for kids. The event is open from 5-10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, noon-10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25, at St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 4795 Lakeside Drive. Advance tickets are $12, which includes $10 worth of food. Admission is $5 at the gate and free for children age 12 and younger. Call 825-5365 or visit www.renogreekfest.com.

Boil ’n’ Fry Day Festival

The inaugural festival features a crawfish boil with crawfish caught fresh from Lake Tahoe just hours before the event. Highlights include a barbecue, hot wig cookout, lawn games, carnival games and the Miss Crawfish Pageant. There will also be a dunk tank, a water cool-off zone and raffle prizes. The Americans, Arden Park Roots, The Parmesans, Infamous Swanks and Weapon will perform on MontBleu Resort’s Outdoor Stage. The outdoor festival takes place from 1-10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the south end of MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa, 55 Highway 50, Stateline. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 kids 7-12. Admission is free for kids 6 and younger. Call 588-3515 or visit www.bfdfestival.com.

Nevada Humane Society Duck Race & Festival

About 15,000 rubber ducks will race down the Truckee River on Sunday, Aug. 25, during the fourth annual fund-raising event for Nevada Humane Society. The day’s festivities begin shortly after 11 a.m. with live music, games, activities, food and refreshments and a pet adoption booth at Wingfield Park, First Street and Arlington Avenue in downtown Reno. The musical lineup includes Rumble, VooDoo Dogz, Farewell Belladonna and MoMatik. Admission is free to the festival. Visitors can adopt a duck for $5 or up to 50 ducks for $200 prior to the start of the race, which begins at 4 p.m. Entrants get a chance to win a variety of prizes and a $400,000 cash prize. Proceeds from the event will go toward providing for homeless pets and advancing Nevada Humane Society’s goal of sustaining a no-kill pet shelter. Call 856-2000 or go to www.nevadahumanesociety.org.

UNR STUDENT MAKES BIG IMPACT

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Chris Boline, is busy as a Business major at UNR

and as a “Big Brother” to “Little Brother”, Dominic, age 16. Both are focused on their studies, sports, talking about girls, and being good friends. After listening to a presentation about Big Brothers Big Sisters on campus, Chris took a look at his own life and realized he could use his free time in a positive way. He called the Reno agency and soon after, Chris was matched with Dominic. “Our friendship has given me meaning and let me mix it up and get away from my daily grind,” he said. Chris and Dominic see each other each Saturday and never lack for activities, some of which are sponsored by the agency. Dominic’s father and older brothers were absent when he was young and his mother thought that a “Big Brother” might help him improve his social relationships as well as his school grades. On the occasion of their fi rst meeting, Chris and Dominic tossed a football, took a tour of UNR, and met Dominic’s grandparents. They checked out “Spice Island” along the Truckee River. It was Chris who was afraid to get in the cold water, but Dominic dove right in. Dominic watched one of his siblings drop out of high school and yield to excessive drinking and partying. After he failed a grade and his mother cried, Dominic realized, “It was time to get my act together. I’d upset my mother and disappointed her. Chris helped me deal with things and learn to rely on myself to solve problems.” Chris doesn’t take credit for Dominic’s recent success in school and with his football, wrestling, baseball, track, and swimming activities. “I’ve told him to step up and take responsibility for his life,” Chris said and Dominic recently received all “A’s” and just one “B” on his Progress Report from Sparks High School. Dominic has also reached Cadet Captain status with the Jr. ROTC program and said he wants to be a Navy SEAL in honor of his grandfather, a Navy veteran. Chris is confi dent he’ll be sitting in the audience when Dominic graduates high school and later achieves his dreams of being a college graduate. And he’ll still be Dominic’s “Big Brother.” Call 352-3202 to fi nd out becoming a “Big Brother” or a Big Sister” and creating a friendship with a child in need.

INSTOCKNOWATMINIOFRENO

MINIOFRENO

11505SOVIRGINIAST RENO,NV89511

445 West Moana Lane, Suite 200 Reno, NV 89509 775-352-3202 www.bbbsnn.org 775-851-6464