February 12 to 18, 2020

feb. 12-18, 2020

NOW ON STANDS

WEDNESDAYS!

GET ON THE

BACK-COUNTRY BUS SKY TAVERN

DEDICATED TO TEACHING KIDS TO SKI TUBING FUN AT TAHOE DONNER SNOWPLAY // PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG FLOCK TO TAHOE // MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL RETURNS //

fun. unique. everywhere.

A Week-Long Kids Extravaganza February 15-22, 2020

EVENTS 2019/20

KID-O-RAMA ACTIVITIES • Kids Craft & Game Room • Belmont Rail Clinic for Kids • Big Truck Day • Kids S’mores Après Party • Kids Carnival Games, Balloons & Face Painting • Free Live Music Kids DJ • Fireworks • Live Ice Carving Demonstration • SAF Peak2Peak Family Fun Race • Oakley Grom Jam • Crazy Hat & Helmet Day

February 14: Valentine’s Day Dinner February 15–22: Kid-o-Rama February 21 & 22: Sunset Happy Hour February 22: Moonlit Snowshoe Tour & Dinner March 14: Sunset Happy Hour March 19–22: U.S. Freestyle Mogul National Championships March 27–29: WinterWonderGrass Tahoe March 29: The Mothership Classic April 11: Sunset Happy Hour April 12: Easter Brunch April 18: Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival April 18: 36th Annual Snow Golf Tournament at Alpine Meadows* May 2: 30th Annual Cushing Crossing* May 23–24: Made in Tahoe Festival Saturdays: Disco Tubing Free Live Music at Squaw and Alpine Please check squawalpine.com for most up to date calendar of events. *Weather dependent subject to change

NOW FREE!

Erik Bergen

Just hop on the bus.

TAHOE TRUCKEE AREA

REGIONAL TRANSIT

WINTER 2020 BUS SERVICES

FREE North Shore and NEW Truckee Night Service!

NEW this winter night service extends to Truckee until 11pm with North Shore routes extended until 2am.

Enjoy a night out on the town within Tahoe City, Tahoe Vista, Kings Beach, Crystal Bay, Northstar, Squaw Valley

FREE Park and Ride Weekends | President’s Day

and Truckee!

4–5, 11–12, 18–19, 25–26

February 2020:

1–2, 8-9, 15–17, 22–23, 29

March 2020:

1, 7–8, 14–15, 21–22, 28–29

Go to TahoeTruckeeTransit.com for Park and Ride details.

I-80 I-80South South Shore Dr.

Shore Dr.

Donner Pass Rd.

PARK &

RIDE Old Highschool

PARK &

RIDE Old Highschool

Gateway Center

Gateway TRUCKEE Center H Donner Pass Rd.

Donner Lake

H

Depot

Depot

SQUAW 89 VALLEY SQUAW VALLEY

KINGS BEACH KINGS P Minnow P TAHOE VISTA BEACH 28 RIDE

National /28

TAHOE VISTA 89

Alpine Meadows

P

Grove St.

431 431

INCLINE VILLAGE INCLINE 28 VILLAGE CRYSTAL BAY 28

North Minnow P P Tahoe Event North Cntr.

CRYSTAL Tahoe Event CARNELIAN BAY Cntr.

28

CARNELIAN TAHOE CITY BAY TAHOE CITY SUNNYSIDE

28

BAY

Hyatt Hyatt

Diamond Peak

Diamond Peak

Sand Harbor Sand Harbor

89 SUNNYSIDE

Homewood Mountain Resort Homewood Mountain Resort

28

P

89

P

National /28

Grove St. Alpine Meadows P Tahoe City Transit Center P

89

Truckee. Extended 30-minute service through April 6 to:

PARK &

89NORTHSTAR

Deerfield Dr. | Crossroads

RENO

I-80

Rd.

Granlibakken

Hourly service on Highway 267 and Highway 89 to/from

P

RENO

I-80

Regional Truckee Airport Park Town Hall P PARK & Regional Park Brockway 267 Truckee AirportRIDE Town Hall Rd.

Brockway 267 NORTHSTAR

Deerfield Dr. | Crossroads

Donner Lake

Granlibakken P Tahoe City Transit Center

FREE Daily Regional Routes

Henness Flat

Pioneer TRUCKEE Trail

From area Park and Ride lots January 2020:

Henness Flat

Pioneer Trail

FREE to/from Squaw Valley and Northstar California

HOMEWOOD

TAHOMA HOMEWOOD Sugar Pine Point

TAHOMA

Sugar Pine Point

MEEKS BAY

MEEKS BAY

Crystal Bay, Kings Beach, Tahoe Vista, Carnelian Bay, Tahoe City, Squaw Valley, and Northstar.

FREE PARK & RIDE TART P PUBLIC NIGHT PARKING to Northstar & PUBLIC SERVICE Squaw BUS FREE PUBLIC PARK & RIDE Valley TART P NIGHT PARKING to Northstar & PUBLIC SERVICE Squaw Valley BUS

TahoeTruckeeTransit.com – Text “TART” to 24587 Take the North Lake Tahoe Express: Daily airport shuttle from 5:30am–midnight. NorthLakeTahoeExpress.com | (866) 216-5222

local. independent. fresh.

Aimee Had

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Volume 39 | Issue 4 TM

P.O. Box 87 | Tahoe City, CA 96145 (530) 546-5995 | f (530) 546-8113 TheTahoeWeekly.com Facebook.com/TheTahoeWeekly @TheTahoeWeekly

19

SUBMISSIONS

20

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

14

making it happen Publisher & Editor In Chief Katherine E. Hill publisher@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 102 Sales & Marketing Manager Anne Artoux anne@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 110

in this issue FEBRUARY 12-18, 2020

Art Director Alyssa Ganong production@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 106

FEATURES Sky Tavern Back-Country Bus

14

Squaw Valley Celebrates 70 Years, Part III

17

OUT & ABOUT Sightseeing

6

Lake Tahoe Facts

7

Events

8

FAMILY FUN Tahoe Donner Snowplay

10

For the Kids

10

FUN & GAMES Horoscope & Puzzles

Graphic Designer Justeen Ferguson graphics@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 101

8

12

ARTS & CULTURE LoRita Ungar

18

The Arts

18

MUSIC SCENE Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

20

Entertainment Calendar & Live Music

20

LOCAL FLAVOR Maya’s Mexican Grill

23

Tasty Tidbits

23

Wine Column

25

Chef’s Recipe

26

ACCESSING TAHOE’S BACK COUNTRY FROM THE PUBLISHER

Recreation from back-country skiing and snowmobiling, to trail access for hiking, climbing and mountain biking, among many other pursuits, remain an important part of visiting and living in the Tahoe Sierra. While the interest in access to public trails for both winter and summer continues to grow each year, access has not.

The need for more parking or alternative transportation to access public lands has not kept up with demand in some areas, and in the case of winter parking access, it’s actually shrunk in recent years for a myriad of reasons. The Tahoe Backcountry Alliance has stepped in this winter to try out a microtransit shuttle to transport back-country enthusiasts from Tahoe City to Emerald Bay, an area at the epicenter of the problem.

Writer Sean McAlindin has been covering public access issues for the last few years and tried out the new back-country shuttle during its inaugural run in January for his story “Get on the Back-Country Bus: Alliance pilots microtransit on West Shore.”

The Alliance hopes the shuttle could help address the parking issue to access winter trails in Emerald Bay and could provide a model in the future for possible expansion to areas like Castle Peak, Mount Tallac and Donner Summit.

SKY TAVERN’S DEDICATION TO KIDS We continue our ongoing series on local, independent downhill ski areas in this edition profiling Sky Tavern along the Mount Rose Highway. While the City of Reno owns the land, the nonprofit Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program has been operating the ski hill since 1991 for the benefit of local kids and has taught more than 100,000 children to ski and ride. Kayla Anderson recently spent the day at the ski area for her feature on this unique program: “Sky Tavern: Dedicated to teaching kids to ski.” 

on the cover Michelle Parker enjoys back-country skiing in January on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe above Emerald Bay with views of the South Shore in the distance. Photography

by Ming Poon | MingPoonPhotography.com, @Ming.T.Poon

4

Entertainment Editor Sean McAlindin entertainment@tahoethisweek.com Food Editor Priya Hutner priya@tahoethisweek.com Family Editor Michelle Allen michelle@tahoethisweek.com 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 Thursdays.

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.

… the mighty Sierra, miles in height, and so gloriously colored and so radiant, it seemed not clothed with light but wholly composed of it, like the wall of some celestial city... Then it seemed to me that the Sierra should be called, not the Nevada or Snowy Range, but the Range of Light.

–John Muir

February 12-18, 2020

5

TheTahoeWeekly.com

SIGHTSEEING

Nicole Baran skins up the ridge above the Bradley Hut with sweeping views of Lake Tahoe, Silver and Gold Peaks, and Tinkers Knob. | Alyssa Ganong

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.)

Find more places to explore at

TheTahoeWeekly.com

North Tahoe Arts Center

Tahoe City

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

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

Tahoe City

North Shore

(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

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

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion

Tallac Historic Site

Heavenly

South Lake Tahoe

West Shore

$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) 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

C PACITY CITY:: 40 0,870 ,8 BOCA 12,362 CAPA

Truckee

IN 2018:

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

Old Jail Museum

C 226,500 STAMPEDE 19,9661 CAPACITY: truckeehistory.org | truckee.com The historic town of Truckee was settled CAPACITY: 29,840 PROSSER 11,061 in 1863, and grew quickly as a stagecoach CAPACITY: C 9,500 50Pacific Railroad.

DONNER 4,690 stop and route for the Central During these early days, many of Truckee’s INDEPENDENCE 1,3763 CCAPACITY: 18,300 historical homes and buildings were built including The Truckee (1868) and the Capitol CAPACITY: A Hotel 20,400 0 MARTIS 1,052 Building (1868). Stop by the Depot for a walking tour of historic downtown. Paid parking downtown. TART River | FLOW AT FARAD 3650 Truckee

6,227.39 Truckee

(530) 582-0893 | truckeehistory.org One of a few surviving 19th Century jailhouses of its kind in the West used from 1875 until May 1964 (open for tours in summer). TART

Olympic Museum

Olympic Valley

(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com Squaw Valley, host of the VIII Winter Olympic Games in 1960, celebrates its OlympicTROA.NET History Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS) with the symbolic Tower of Nations and Olympic Flame at the entrance to the valley. The Vikingsholm Castle Emerald Bay Olympic Museum at High Camp features historic Parking fee | Tours in summer only memorabilia and photographs. TART (530) 541-3030 | (530) 525-9529 ADA parks.ca.gov or vikingsholm.com Tahoe Maritime Museum Tahoe City Tour the grounds of Vikingsholm Castle, see (530) 583-9283 | tahoemaritimemuseum.org Eagle Falls and Fannette Island (the Lake’s only island), home to an old Tea House, and explore Featuring self-guided tours, exhibits and hands-on activities for kids on maritime snowshoeing trails. TART history. TART

Watson Cabin

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

MUSEUMS 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 Science Center

Incline Village

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

Donner Memorial Visitor Center

Donner Summit Historical Society

225

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

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

6,227.41 |

200,000 AF

North Shore

ELEVATION :

175

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”.

Kings Beach

Readings taken on Friday, February 7, 2020

150,000 AF

Truckee

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

LAKE LEVEL Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

125

Donner Summit

Olympic Valley

100,000 AF

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.

High Camp

75

East Shore

50

Cave Rock

25

ATTRACTIONS

Tahoe City

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

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

Fri.-Sun. | Free (530) 426-3313, ext. 113 | auburnskiclub.org Showcasing the history of skiing, exhibits include snowshoes from the 1850s, ski equipment from the 20th Century and a pair of 8-footlong skis used by John “Snowshoe” Thompson, a legendary mail carrier. TART

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

Incline Village 969 Tahoe Blvd. (800) 468-2463

KidZone Children’s Museum

Truckee

Tues.-Sun. | Locals’ first Tues. half price (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

South Lake Tahoe

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

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 35 College Dr. (530) 543-2600

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

TRANSIT Boots McFarland by Geolyn Carvin | BootsMcFarland.com 6

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

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

February 12-18, 2020

LAKE TAHOE FACTS | CLAIR TAPPAAN

Donner Summit

Truckee Donner Lake

TRUCKEE AIRPORT

DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK

h Ta

SUGAR BOWL

DOWNHILL SKI AREAS

ra Rim T

ALPINE MEADOWS

Ta h o e R i m

CASINOS

Average depth: 1,000 feet

DEEPEST POINT

TAHOE CROSS COUNTRY

Dollar Hill Tahoe City

Lake

GRANKLIBAKKEN

Spooner Lake

Tahoe

l

Eagle Rock

NEVADA NORDIC

Glenbrook o Ta h

HOMEWOOD

e Ri

at

m Tr a i l

Tahoma

SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK

Meeks Bay

Emerald Bay

Fannette Island

Average Water Temperature: 42.1˚F Cascade Lake

Average Surface Water Temperature: 51.9˚F

Zephyr Cove

Size: 22 miles long, 12 miles wide

South Lake Tahoe

Ta h oe

R i m Tr ail

Average Snowfall: 409 inches

Stateline

BIJOU PARK / LAKE TAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Fallen Leaf Lake

Meyers

LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT

FREEL PEAK

ECHO LAKES

Permanent Population: 66,000

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

HEAVENLY CAMP RICHARDSON

Average Surface Temperature in July: 64.9˚F Highest Peak: Freel Peak at 10,881 feet

Natural rim: 6,223’

Cave Rock

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Watershed Area: 312 square miles

Volume: 39 trillion gallons

Lake Tahoe sits at an average elevation of between 6,223’ and 6,229.1’.

The top 6.1’ of water is controlled by the dam in Tahoe City and holds up to 744,600 acre feet of water.

CA

Age of Lake Tahoe: 2 million years

Carson City

Lake Tahoe is the 2nd deepest lake in the U.S. (Crater Lake in Oregon, at 1,932 feet, is the deepest), and the 11th deepest in the world.

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

Homewood

Learn about the natural history of the Tahoe Sierra

Maximum depth: 1,645 feet

Marlette Lake

NV

Sunnyside ai Tr

Crystal Bay

Kings Beach

Carnelian Bay

SNO-PARKS

Lake Clarity: 2018: 70.9 feet avg. depth.

1968: First recorded at 102.4 feet

Incline Village

Tahoe Vista

TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK

SQUAW CREEK

DIAMOND PEAK

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK

Olympic Valley SQUAW VALLEY

oe

N

WEST EAST SOUTH

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

NORTHSTAR

Truckee River

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI AREAS

MT. ROSE

RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DONNER SKI RANCH

ROYAL GORGE

SKY TAVERN

il

SODA SPRINGS

BOREAL

Reno & Sparks

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.

Number of Visitors: 3 million annually Kirkwood

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE

HOPE VALLEY

Markleeville

Shoreline: 72 miles Lake Tahoe has a surface area of 191 square miles. If Lake Tahoe were emptied, it would submerge California under 15 inches of water.

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.

KIRKWOOD

7

OUT & ABOUT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Out

&ABOUT

OUTDOORS & RECREATION, EVENTS & MORE

Sky Tavern

Explore more events in the Tahoe Sierra or submit your event for free at TheTahoeWeekly.com Email news to editor@tahoethisweek.com

D E D I C AT E D T O T E A C H I N G K I D S T O S K I EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AT

S T O R Y & P H O T O S B Y K AY L A A N D E R S O N

TheTahoeWeekly.com

O

n a beautiful Saturday morning in January, dozens of people are filing into the parking lot of Sky Tavern located on Highway 431. Looking up toward the mountain, clusters of kids are hanging out in the base area and every chair on the Sky Ridge triple chairlift is full.

Among all the parents, kids, skis, poles and weekend morning bustle, I eventually find Sky Tavern executive director Bill Henderson.

Check out the 2019-20 Tahoe Downhill Ski & Nordic Ski guides.

Agreement OK’d

for new Squaw

gondola

“ This is the most amazing thing ever; it lets anyone who wants to learn how to ski go out and do it.

And Sky Tavern makes it affordable. Everyone is here because they love skiing and want to be involved.”

–Jeff Grossman Henderson has been involved with Sky Tavern since 2000 and has four grown children who have all gone through the Jr. Ski Team program, made possible by a slew of parent volunteers.

As one of Tahoe’s oldest ski resorts, Sky Tavern opened in 1946. Two years after it opened, local skier Marce Herz approached then-owner Keston Ramsey with the idea of using Sky Tavern as a children’s ski learning center. In 1948 the Jr. Ski Program was born.

Over time, the property changed hands and is now owned by the City of Reno, but in 1991 when the city decided it wanted out of the ski business, local parents pulled together to form the nonprofit Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program to keep the program going.

Now is an especially exciting time for the program since the organization recently signed a new 30-year lease with the City of Reno to continue running the ski hill. With the new lease, Henderson hopes to implement a snowmaking system, put in slope lighting, replace the Poma lift with a modern carpet and expand its lesson program.

The Jr. Ski Program is going strong; 100,000 kids have been through it, including Olympian David Wise, thanks to the hard work and dedication of local parents.

“It’s always been like this — a whole bunch of kids and a whole bunch of 8

parents. We all work together. You come here and there’s not one parent here who doesn’t play an instrumental role in keeping this place going. It’s all these guys at the barbecue,” Henderson says of the parents on the deck chuckling over smoky grills.

“If you’d left it up to me, you’d have a burned hamburger.”

To keep the ski resort in business, the program hosts an eight-weekend winter program that members join for a nominal fee. When the school buses full of kids and parents arrive, they are split into two-hour group lessons. After lunch, they have the option to free ski together for the rest of the day.

Grabbing a helmet — the kids are quick to call you out if you’re not wearing one — I join in a lesson group taught by volunteer parent Jeff Grossman. The kids are all over the place, either laying in the snow or working on their turns.

“This is the most amazing thing ever; it lets anyone who wants to learn how to ski go out and do it. And Sky Tavern makes it affordable. Everyone is here because they love skiing and want to be involved,” Grossman says.

The notion that Sky Tavern is like one big family is cemented when I head over to the Sky Ridge chair and meet Kelly Orr and Julie Eldridge who are facilitating the line, making sure that classes stay together and generally keeping an eye on the kids.

“My kids will choose to come here over any other mountain; they love the people,” Eldridge says.

I then meet Eric Ruud, Sky Tavern’s

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Students and their instructor ski the slopes of Sky Tavern; Volunteers Kelly Orr, left, and Julie Eldridge; Eric Ruud skis down a run off the America lift; The Oziminski Family: Nick, Christina and Harrison.

snowsports director, who has been involved with the ski program for 20 years. One of his favorite parts about participating in the program with his kids is that it gives him some one-on-one time with them away from technology.

“They are always on their phones or in front of a screen but riding on this chairlift gives you 2 minutes to talk to your kid,” he says.

After a morning of lessons, the Oziminski family is having lunch on the sunny deck, their 5-year-old Harrison is nibbling on a chicken tender.

Explore more ski areas at TheTahoeWeekly.com “I love it,” he says. It’s his second year participating in the program and his dad Nick says that you can’t keep him off the mountain.

“Everyone here loves kids, otherwise they wouldn’t be here. No one’s stressed about the cost of skiing, it makes it affordable and accessible. And it’s such good terrain and we’re so close to it,” Oziminski says.

The Sky Tavern Jr. Ski Program also hosts an adaptive ski program and lessons for parents. | skytavern.org 

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Granite Chief Wilderness Protection League announced on Feb. 5 that they have reached an agreement to dismiss the League’s lawsuit against the approval of the Squaw Alpine Base-to-Base Gondola, according to a joint press release. The agreement details protection measures for Sierra Nevada Yellow Legged Frog habitat and for the nearby Granite Chief Wilderness Area.

The Base-to-Base Gondola will feature 8-passenger cabins, two base terminals, two mid-stations, 33 lift towers and will be able to transport 1,400 people per hour.

The lift is expected to take 2.5 months to construct and will be 2.2 miles long.

Expected ride time between the bottom of Squaw Valley and the bottom of Alpine Meadows will be 16 minutes. No construction schedule for the new gondola has been determined as of Feb. 5. Read the full release at TheTahoeWeekly.com.

EVENTS Pop Up Park Boreal Mountain | Soda Springs | Feb. 12-14

An exclusive park build that lasts one week. California’s best skiers and snowboarders will session the park in a private shoot the night before it opens. 9 a.m. | rideboreal.com

Level Up: Tradeshow 101 Workshop Tahoe Chamber | Stateline | Feb. 12

12-1:30 p.m. Free | business.tahoechamber.org

February 12-18, 2020

OUT & ABOUT

Scott Rokis | Alpenglow Sports

EVENTS

Mountain Festival returns Alpenglow Sports kicks off the seventh annual Mountain Festival on Feb. 15 with a screening of Telluride Mountainfilm On Tour. Alpenglow Mountain Festival is a nineday celebration of human-powered sports, events, clinics, equipment demonstrations, critically acclaimed films and more. Geared toward the beginner and intermediate winter-recreation enthusiasts, Mountain Festival showcases some of the best activities Lake Tahoe has to offer: back-country skiing and splitboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, natural history, yoga, educational workshops and more.

Mountain Festival starts with a Mountainfilm on Tour kickoff party, which features a collection of the best films from the Mountainfilm Festival at Olympic Village Lodge at Squaw Valley from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $7 for ages 14 and younger.

From Feb. 16 to 22, Mountain Festival will also feature nightly events, most free of charge. All bar proceeds from the evening events will benefit Tahoe Backcountry Alliance. | alpenglowsports.com

Red Lips, Wine Sips & Waxing Tips Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area Tahoe City | Feb. 12

Join the women of Tahoe XC for a free Nordic ski-waxing clinic. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free | tahoexc.org

Conversation Cafe Incline Rec Center | Incline Village | Feb. 13

Meet other seniors and share interesting views, have discussion on engaging topics.

10-11 a.m. $5 | yourtahoeplace.com

How to Get a Job in the Outdoor Industry Coalition Snow | Truckee | Feb. 13

An annual event series that benefits Zawadisha, an organization that removes the barriers for rural women to access clean energy and water products. 6-8 p.m. | facebook.com

Scott Hudson Relay Race Kirkwood Mountain Resort | Feb. 14

A middle- and high-school team sports event for cross- country ski teams. 7:30 a.m.

Free | kirkwood.com

Share the Love Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area Tahoe City | Feb. 14

Ski with someone special and look for hearts hidden around the trails. Ski to the most hearts and get the most likes to win a special prize.

8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Great Sierra Elopement Sierra-at-Tahoe | Twin Bridges | Feb. 14

14 couples will have the opportunity to say, “I Do,” at 8,852 feet (conditions permitting). 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | (530) 659-7453, sierraattahoe.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

EVENING EVENTS Mountainfilm on Tour Kickoff Party Feb. 15 | 7 p.m.

Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley

ADULT TICKETs

$94

starting at WITH A 3-DAY PEAK PASS

KIDS byop

6 & UNDER SKI FREE

$20 off adult ticket

Bring Your Other Pass Deal

Purchase lift tickets & rentals online: DiamondPeak.com

Open theto

Public

“Pecha Kucha” & Happy Hour Feb. 16 | 6 p.m.

Tahoe Mill | Alpine Meadows Tailgate Talk & Happy Hour Feb. 17 | 7 p.m.

Alpenglow Sports | Tahoe City Tailgate Talk with Jim Zellers & Happy Hour Feb. 18 | 7 p.m.

Alpenglow Sports | Tahoe City Tahoe Backcountry Women Hour and presentation with Lel Tone (women-only event) Feb. 19 | 7 p.m.

Alpenglow Sports | Tahoe City Winter Speaker Series with Hadley Hammer Feb. 20 | 7 p.m.

Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley Ski Graphic Design Workshop with Coalition Snow Feb. 21 | 7 p.m.

Coalition Snow Clubhouse | Truckee Tailgate Talk with Hilaree Nelson and Jim Morrison & Happy Hour Feb. 22 | 7 p.m.

Alpenglow Sports | Tahoe City

The Incline Village Recreation Center is open to the public & features group fitness classes, a cardiovascular/strength room, massage therapy, 8 lane indoor pool, sauna, gymnasium & more. Now offering indoor pickleball for winter!

Invest in your wellness today!

1-day adult Pass: $16 ($12 w/IVGID Picture Pass) 1-Week Family Pass: $72 ($54 w/IVGID Picture Pass) 1-year adult Pass: $689 ($517 w/IVGID Picture Pass) View full list of membership options & rates online.

Holiday Hours: Feb. 17 (6am-7pm)

980 Incline Way, Incline Village

InclineRecreation.com • 775-832-1300

9

FAMILY FUN

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Family FUN

WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO

Explore more events in the Tahoe Sierra or submit your event for free at TheTahoeWeekly.com

T U B I N G F U N AT

Tahoe Donner Snowplay

Email news to editor@tahoethisweek.com

FAMILY FUN GUIDE

2020

Family Fun N WINTER EDITIO

T A H O E

G U I D E

STORY & PHOTOS BY MICHELLE ALLEN

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

P

laying in the snow is fun for everyone in the family, but many families with young kids seek a safe place to play. The gentle slope and well-maintained terrain at Tahoe Donner Snowplay in Truckee is designed for safe, carefree family fun.

From a young age, my son Anikin has loved to play in the snow. Often this means he is rolling around, making snow angels or burying himself in the snow like it is beach sand. Naturally, he is up for going anywhere he can go sledding or tubing and he was eager to go to Tahoe Donner Snowplay.

Check out the 2020 Winter Tahoe Family Fun Guide.

Kids enjoy sledding at the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park.

Wade Snider | TCPUD

Courtesy Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows

Disco tubing fun

Anikin chooses straight and the attendant gives him a good push and down the hill he goes.

He disappears out of

On Saturdays, families can spin, slide and speed down the snow-tubing lanes at SnoVentures in Squaw Valley Ski Resort on Saturdays through March 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. while the night is illuminated with colorful lights and lasers splashed on the mountainside while a DJ spins some tunes.

sight as the tube follows a sharp right-hand turn.

On a warm, sunny day, Anikin, my husband Luke and I visit Tahoe Donner Snowplay. We park a few steps from the Snowplay entrance. The sweet smell of doughnuts coming from Ta-Hot Hot Donuts food truck parked onsite greet us as we walk over to get tickets. Our friends Laurie and Kayl Climenhage join us soon after we arrive and once we enter, the boys head directly to the tubing lane.

The attendant instructs them to grab a tube and slide it over to the top of the tubing area. Anikin sits down and the attendant asks if he wants to go straight or spin. Anikin chooses straight and the attendant gives him a good push and down the hill he goes. He disappears out of sight as the tube follows a sharp righthand turn. Kayl is next and Laurie and I decide to try it out.

Find more family friendly activities at

TheTahoeWeekly.com

When it is my turn, I hop on and I tell the attendant I want to go straight, and he sends me on my way. The walls of the tubing lane are high on both sides to keep the tubes in the lane and from traveling outside the course. There are a few fun twists and turns as the tube zips downhill before the lane ends and the tube comes to a gentle stop. I grab the tube and walk the short distance back to the top. I take another slide.

Eventually, the boys take a break from tubing and head to the open snowfield to the left of the tubing lane — a perfect spot for silly, carefree snow play. Kayl has a snowball fight with some other kids and Anikin and Luke build a mini snowman, which Anikin smashes as soon as it is done.

There are several families playing, as well, and everyone has big smiles and seem to be having a great time.

We spend the last hour in the sledding area to the right of the tubing lane. Anikin grabs one of the provided sledding toys and asks Luke to push him down the hill.

Anikin slides to the bottom and then finds the steepest part of the slope and lines himself up at the top telling Luke to give

EVENTS Feb. 14 | Friday Night Snow Tubing March 1 | Snowman Building Contest March 15 | Snow Tube Bowling March 29 | Snowball Throwing Contest

Disco Tubing sessions are 55 minutes long and begin at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Children must be at least 40 inches tall and must be able to get in and out of a tube by themselves.

There are adult- and kid-sized tubes; one person per tube — parents cannot ride with children. Winter boots are recommended; no ski boots. Tickets are $55 per person. | squawalpine.com

Tahoe Donner Snowplay is a fun, safe place to play for the whole family.

FOR THE KIDS Toddler Time TV Shows

him a bigger push this time. Lap after lap, Anikin tries to go faster and longer down the hill. After several hours of playing in the sun and snow, we end our day with a dozen delicious, fresh baked doughnuts.

Tahoe Donner Snowplay is open on Fridays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It will also be open from Feb. 17 to 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | (530) 587-9437, tahoedonner.com  Michelle Allen is a 20-year resident of Tahoe and mother to a rambunctious 7-year-old and understands the challenges of keeping kids entertained. She may be reached at michelle@tahoethisweek.com.

Community Arts Center | Truckee | Feb. 12

10-11 a.m. Free | (530) 582-7200, tdrpd.org

2’s & 3’s on the Go South Lake Tahoe Library | Feb. 12

10:30 a.m. Free | engagedpatrons.org

Mid-Day Movies Community Arts Center | Truckee | Feb. 12 1 p.m. Free | (530) 582-7720, indd.adobe.com

RUFF, Read Up for Fun Truckee Library | Truckee | Feb. 12 4-5 p.m. Free | (530) 582-7846, truckeefol.org

RUFF: Read Up For Fun South Lake Tahoe Library | Feb. 12

4 p.m. Free | engagedpatrons.org

10

February 12-18, 2020

OUT & ABOUT

FOR THE KIDS Make and Take

Family Fun Fridays

Incline Village Library | Feb. 12

KidZone Museum | Truckee | Feb. 14

11 a.m.-12 p.m. Free | kidzonemuseum.org

Community Movie Night Mother Goose on the Loose South Lake Tahoe Library | Feb. 13

North Tahoe Event Center | Kings Beach | Feb. 14 6 p.m. Free | ntpud.org

10:30 a.m. Free | engagedpatrons.org

Movie Night Preschool Storytime Tahoe City Library | Feb. 13

10:30-11 a.m. Free | (530) 583-3382, placer.ca.gov

Toddler Time Incline Village Library | Feb. 13

Incline Village Library | Feb. 14 6 p.m. Free | (775) 832-4130

Teen Scene Kahle Community Center Stateline | Feb. 14

LEARN TO SKI + RIDE AT

THE BEST PLACE TO BEGIN

6:30-9 p.m. $5 | (775) 586-7271

Photo Credit | Photographer?

4-4:45 p.m. Free | (775) 832-4130, washoecountylibrary.us

11 a.m. Free | (775) 832-4130

STEAM Exploration Saturdays IV Quad Incline Village Library | Feb. 13

3-5 p.m. Free | (775) 832-4130, libraryaware.com

Paws2Read Incline Village Library | Feb. 13

4-5 p.m. Free | (775) 832-4130, washoecountylibrary.us

Nautical Storytime and Boat Building Tahoe Maritime Museum Tahoe City | Feb. 14

Kidzone Museum | Truckee | Feb. 15

9 a.m.-12 p.m. | ww.kidzonemuseum.org

LEGO Club Truckee Library | Truckee | Feb. 15

12-1 p.m. Free | (530) 582-7846, madelynhelling.evanced.info

Dive in Movie Series Truckee Indoor Community Pool | Feb. 15

4-6 p.m. | (530) 550-4406, indd.adobe.com

Kids Night Out

TAHOE DONNER DOWNHILL SKI RESORT

10:30-11:30 a.m. | tahoemaritimemuseum.org

Northwoods Clubhouse | Truckee | Feb. 15

Safe, Low-Angle Learning Terrain 40% Novice | 60% Intermediate

Some of the Region’s Best Instructors

Early Literacy Storytime

Family Snowshoe Tours

South Lake Tahoe Library | Feb. 14

Northstar California Resort Truckee | Feb. 16

Affordable + Convenient Learn-to-Ski Packages for Kids as Young as 3 Years Old

Lift tickets start at $74 for adults and $44 for children ages 7-12

10:30 a.m. Free | engagedpatrons.org

5-9 p.m. | tahoedonner.com

1 p.m. $45-$67 | (800) 466-6784

GET SKIING AND RIDING TODAY! TAHOEDONNER.COM/DOWNHILL

*VALID UNTIL MARCH 18, 2020. EXCLUSIONS APPLY. SEE STORE FOR DETAILS.*

NEW LOCATION AT SOARING RANCH COMING SUMMER 2020

EXPERIENCE NORTH LAKE TAHOE’S

11320 Donner Pass Rd Truckee, CA | 530.587.4844

WINTER RECREATION FACILITY

Mountainhardwareandsports.com

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SLEDDING • XC SKIING • ICE SKATING • SNOWSHOEING

W INTER S PORTS P ARK . COM | 530-583-1516 11

FUN & GAMES

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Horoscopes

FIRE

EARTH

AIR

WATER

Puzzles

Michael O’Conno, Life Coach Astrologer | SunStarAstrology.com

Aquarius (Jan 19-Feb 19) A new day has dawned in your life. It arrived along with the New Moon in your sign just two weeks ago. Now under the light of the Full Moon, the implications of these seeds of change are, at least, revealing their first real sprouts. Hopefully, you are at peace with these changes because they are now your new norm.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20) A busy time behind the scenes is underway.

Positively, this is proving to be a very creative and inventive cycle. You not only see more clearly and understand certain things more deeply, but you also feel determined to take direct and immediate action to reinforce them. This could amount to changes in your daily routine. For best results, use this time to focus on creative projects.

Leo (Jul 22-Aug 23) Changes in your lifestyle are affecting your relationship life and the opposite is also true. This marks yet another time for making adjustments. This is necessary periodically to recalibrate with the cycles of destiny. Assuming these are completely under your own control is like believing you control the flow of traffic. Self-control implies cooperation.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22) Ever so subtly you are undergoing changes in your beliefs, your philosophy of life - your personal paradigm. These changes are closely aligned with how you regularly engage with the world. Old methods and strategies are being exchanged for new ones. This probably includes paying even closer attention to certain details.

Libra (Sep 22-Oct 22) The early signs of spring will be felt by you.

These are inspiring you to take new leads. Professional expansion is indicated. Yet, you are challenged to exercise a more integral form of leadership. Deciphering what this specifically means for you depends on the realities of your circumstances. Empathizing with the needs and realities of others will reveal you as a true leader.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 21) Changes in your public and professional sphere continue to unfold. Establishing closer bonds in friendship or moving on from those that no longer align with your values and priorities is featured. Either way, you are inclined to proceed gracefully, for now, despite powerful ambitions to take more direct and pragmatic action.

Gemini (May 21-Jun 21) Circumstances are leading you to see a bigger picture. Yet, you may find yourself looking down a deep well, also. Themes of death and rebirth continue to echo in your mind. This is a time when you must decide if your imagination is your friend or your enemy. As your friend, it is serving to help you accept the eternal ebb and flow of life.

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22) Deep changes continue to shake your world.

These are most evident on relationship fronts. Yet, they are also pushing you to clarify and assert your resolve.

Key players are destined to directly or indirectly challenge you to stand up for yourself. Yet, this does include an exercise of your ability to empathize. As is often true, the best path is somewhere in the middle.

Realizations about things previously hidden are surfacing in your mind. These are causing you to pause and reflect. Deciphering whether current investments and involvements are truly worth your while is featured. You may not be ready to take full and direct action right away, yet certain situations and relationships may be on your probation list.

Scorpio (Oct 22-Nov 21) Gaining a clearer sense of who you are is currently underway. Themes of individuality and personal rights are part of the plot. The results may be provoking changes in your relationships. The repercussions of some of these may be quite sobering.

The early signs of the need to build upon new foundations are coming to light.

Sagittarius (Nov 21-Dec 21) The way you see the world is changing. This is both the result of inner and outer experiences and events. You are challenged to let go of certain habitual perspectives and traditional attitudes. Circumstances are requiring that you be willing to flow with things more and detach from beliefs and interpretations that may not be as true as you once assumed.

Capricorn (Dec 21-Jan 19) A process of building upon new foundations continues. This includes new values and priorities regarding your long-term objectives. While the shifts may be subtle, they are probably sure. At worst, it may seem that much that once was is literally disintegrating. At best, you are able to see into and through people and events much more clearly.

CryptoQuip

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)

During college, do gung-ho podiatrists aspire to get to the foot of the class?

Hocus Focus differences: 1. Apron is longer, 2. Earmuffs are removed, 3. Fence is shorter, 4. Door window is lower, 5. Footprint is missing, 6. Bow is added.

12

February 12-18, 2020

OUT & ABOUT

EVENTS Feel Good Fridays Boreal Mountain | Soda Springs | Feb. 14

Ski or ride for a $25 lift ticket at Boreal Mountain, includes $5 donation to High Fives Foundation. 9 a.m. $25 | facebook.com

Ski with a Ranger Heavenly Mountain | South Lake Tahoe | Feb. 14

Winter Superstars Week

Winter Fireworks

Tahoe Donner | Truckee | Feb. 15-19

KT Deck at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Olympic Valley | Feb. 15

Events include ski and snowboard races, a weighted ski patrol sled pull, luge racing event and more. 12 p.m. | tahoedonner.com

Sunset Snowshoe Trek

Alpenglow Sports Mountain Festival

Kirkwood Mountain Resort | Feb. 15

Area venues | Truckee | Feb. 15-19

4:30 p.m. $25-$32 | (209) 258-7248, kirkwood.com

1 p.m. Free | (775) 586-7000, fs.usda.gov

Star Gazing Snowshoe Tours 1 Billion Rising Truckee/Tahoe InnerRythms | Truckee | Feb. 14

Northstar California Resort | Truckee | Feb. 15

Learn the One Billion Rising Flash mob dance.

4 p.m. Free | facebook.com

Explore the dark skies on a snowshoe tour with Star Guide and poet, Tony Berendsen. 5 p.m. $57-$79 | (800) 466-6784, eventbrite.com

Sunset Sweetheart Trek

Sierra Speaker Series

Kingsbury North Trailhead | Stateline | Feb. 14

Donner Memorial State Park | Truckee | Feb. 15

Snowshoe trek to Caste Rock. 4-6:30 p.m.

Free | tahoerimtrail.org

Friday Fun Nights Northstar California Resort | Truckee | Feb. 14

Disco lights surround the ice-skating rink with a DJ, drink specials, face painting. 5-8 p.m. | (800) 466-6784, northstarcalifornia.com

Advanced Skate Clinic Royal Gorge Cross Country | Soda Springs | Feb. 15 For advanced skiers with U.S. paraOlympic team coach Martin Benes. 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. $45-$54 | (530) 426-3871, facebook.com

Guided Snowshoe Hikes with a Ranger Tahoe Meadows | Incline Village | Feb. 15

Participants must bring their own snowshoes.

RSVP. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free | facebook.com

Free live music at the Plaza Bar from 4 to 6 p.m. 7-9 p.m. | (800) 403-0206, squawalpine.com

A celebration of human-powered mountain sports, events, clinics, equipment demonstrations and critically acclaimed films. | (530) 583-6917, alpenglowsports.com

Family Snowshoe Tours

Current Topics in Tech

Start Haus | Truckee | Feb. 15

Tahoe City Library | Tahoe City | Feb. 18

Mountainfilm on Tour is bringing a selection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and inspiring documentary films curated from the Mountainfilm festival held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride, Colo. 6:30-9 p.m. | facebook.com

amphitheater

PechaKucha & Happy Hour

Tuning for Spring

Olympic Village Inn | Tahoe City | Feb. 15

visitor center,

The three-hour tours are open to all ages and ability levels. 1 p.m. $45-$67 | (800) 466-6784

Tahoe Mill | Tahoe City | Feb. 16

Mountainfilm on Tour

Spooner Lake

Northstar California Resort | Truckee | Feb. 16

Award-winning Tahoe local, David Antonucci, talks about the VIII Olympic Winter Games that took place in Feb. 19 to 27, 1960. 5-6:30 p.m.

Free | (530) 583-9911, sierra-stateparks.org

We’ll talk about the basics of spring wax selection and application, tuning basics, edge maintenance and more. 6-7 p.m. | facebook.com

New

PechuKucha, Japanese for chit chat, celebrates visual storytelling through short, captivating slideshows. 6-9 p.m. | facebook.com

3-4 p.m. Free | (530) 583-3382, placer.ca.gov

Tailgate Talk with Jim Zellers & Happy Hour Alpenglow Sports | Tahoe City | Feb. 18 6:30-9 p.m. | facebook.com

Tahoe Backcountry Women Happy Hour Alpenglow Sports | Tahoe City | Feb. 19

Veteran Alaska heli-ski guide and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows patroller Lel Tone offers an educational and inspirational evening. For women only. 6:30-9 p.m. Free | facebook.com

Courtesy Tahoe Fund

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

A successful collaboration between Nevada State Parks, Nevada State Lands and Tahoe Fund has raised funding for a visitor center and new amphitheater to be built at Spooner Lake State Park for programs and community events. Construction will begin in May and is expected to be finished in fall 2021. | parks.nv.gov

13

FEATURE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

GET ON THE

BACK-COUNTRY ALLIANCE PILOTS MICROTRANSIT ON WEST SHORE

BUS STORY & PHOTOS BY SEAN McALINDIN

WEST SHORE SHUTTLE Feb. 15 & March 14 | Free DEPARTS

Tahoe City Transit Center at 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30 a.m.

RETURNS

Highway 89 Emerald Bay north gate at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15, 2:15 & 3:30 p.m.

Reservations available, but not required.

The beauty of Tahoe’s West Shore looking south past Jake’s toward Emerald Bay and South Lake Tahoe.

14

AS ANYONE WHOSE EVER

been to the West Shore of Lake Tahoe on a weekend knows, parking and traffic can be tough. This winter a local nonprofit is offering an alternative.

On Feb. 15 and March 14, Tahoe Backcountry Alliance will be providing a free shuttle from the Tahoe City Transit Center to back-country destinations along Highway 89.

Departure times are 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. with return times from the north gate of Emerald Bay at 10:15 a.m. and 12:15, 2:15 and 3:30 p.m.

“We’re working with public agencies to increase our parking capability,” says Alliance president Greg Garrison.

“But realizing that it is a limited public resource, we’ve also decided to implement a microtransit pilot study this winter to understand how viable it would be to have back-country skiers use a shuttle service to access some of these locations. It reduces cars off the road. It reduces pressure at the trailhead parking areas. And it also instills a sense of community in the back-country skiing community.”

February 12-18, 2020

EXPLORING THE MICROTRANSIT SOLUTION I arrive at the Tahoe City transit center on a cold, clear winter morning in January to try out the first pilot shuttle.

I am the guinea pig so to speak, if guinea pigs like to telemark ski. I look at the various glamping vans, Volkswagen buses and converted pickup trucks around the parking lot and spot four dudes in trucker hats milling about in the dawn’s early light.

On the welcome table is a signup sheet for the shuttle and the day’s safety report from Sierra Avalanche Center. After receiving 15 to 25 inches of snow in the first sig-nificant storm of 2020, the avalanche danger scale is considerable. This is Level 3 on a five-part scale that goes from low (Level 1) to extreme (Level 5). It’s certainly enough to make most seasoned back-country travelers pay attention.

Since I am the only rider who showed for the shuttle, I take some time to speak with members of the Alliance amid the cool morning air.

“We recognize locals are going to be accessing these trailheads super early,” says Garrison. “If you live on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, you are changing your schedule to get to the trailhead. If you don’t live on the West Shore and you still want to ski Rubicon or Jake’s or Tallac, you’re most likely out of luck unless you are leaving your house at 5:30 [a.m.].”

We receive word from Alliance board member and local photographer Ming Poon that Jake’s Peak parking lot between D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay State Park on Highway 89 is already full. It’s now 7:30 a.m.

“Traffic’s not going to lessen as time moves forward,” says board member and local educator Geoff Quine. “There is no forecast for increased access on the West Shore here, so we feel like [microtransit] is a pretty positive move for making it possible for people to access winter back-country spots.”

Public transit also isn’t currently an option. TART, the free public transit system serving North Lake Tahoe and Truckee, only offers service as far as Sugar Pine Point State Park on the West Shore, about 8 miles from Emerald Bay. On the South Shore, Tahoe Transportation transit service stops at the Y on Highway 50, about 9 miles from Emerald Bay. As we converse, two cars of two skiers each park at the transit center and jump into one vehicle. There are still no

takers for the shuttle, but it’s a positive sign. At least folks are making an effort to reduce their impact in this increasingly popular recreation corridor.

As the morning light begins to spill into the parking lot, I load my skis in the Suburban and head for the trailhead with shuttle driver and owner of Tahoe Sierra Transportation, Michael Keating. His company has been compensated $1,000 by the Alliance to run the service for the day.

We follow the winding curves of Highway 89 along Lake Tahoe. By 8:30 a.m. each of the paved pullouts we pass has maybe a spot or two available if you’re a creative parker. On reaching the gate where the road closes north of Emerald Bay during snowstorms, there happens to be a couple of spots available at 9 a.m., a true rarity.

We chat with a friendly Caltrans employee who is preparing to open the gate following the recent snow. Although Caltrans does its best to clear paved pullouts along the West Shore, when cars are in the roadway or in the way of heavy equipment they will be towed.

“If they’re blocking our ability to maintain the highway and the opportunity for our plows and blowers to operate, or if there is a ‘No Parking’ sign and one of our workers sees that, we would report it,” says Caltrans spokesperson Steve Nelson. “If they are completely off the highway and it’s not signed as ‘No Parking,’ that’s fine.”

Without consulting the local recreation community, Caltrans eliminated numerous traditional back-country parking spots during a water mitigation project completed in 2015.

Ever since, the Alliance and other groups have been advocating for long-term solutions to this glaring problem. They’ve been working with Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to bring these concerns to the upcoming Highway 89 Corridor Project, but so far nothing concrete has been proposed by the agency.

“The plan revolves around transit trail technology, optimizing our transit system and using those new technologies with real-time information to enhance community and quality of life,” says TRPA spokesperson Devin Middlebrook.

“Once the plan is implemented there will be improved transit access, more emphasis on parking management strategies, park and ride and transit-only lanes. We are looking at the dynamic suite of things.”

Public meetings on the project are expected to start in March.

FEATURE

“Traffic’s not going to lessen as time moves forward. There is no forecast for increased access on the West Shore here, so we feel like [microtransit] is a pretty positive move for making it possible for people to access winter back-country spots.”

–Geoff Quine

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

15

FEATURE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

TO PARK OR NOT TO PARK?

PARTY ON THE MOUNTAIN

If the West Shore pilot study is successful, the Alliance will consider adding shuttle programs to South Lake Tahoe and Truckee.

A South Lake shuttle could provide access to Mount Tallac and locations south of Meyers.

A Truckee shuttle could drop skiers at Donner Lake where homeowner complaints led the Alliance to establish a recent agreement between Donner Lake Woods Homeowners Association and Truckee Donner Land Trust to lease a vacant lot on Washoe Road at the base of the popular back-country Lake Run down Mount Judah for $1 a year. Plowing expenses provided by Snow Patrol Snow Removal for $700 for the rest of the 2020 winter season will be covered by funds raised by the Alliance.

According to a joint press release by the Alliance and the Land Trust, the agreement follows in the footsteps of past deals to protect strategic recreational amenities such as Castle Valley trailhead, Donner Lake Rim Trail, Pacific Crest Trail and Black Wall climbing area.

“We are really happy to be able to facilitate public-land access while mitigating any negative impacts to the homeowners,” says Garrison. “This will keep homeowners happy and keep skiers from getting ticketed or towed.”

From the Donner Lake lot, a Truckee shuttle could continue on Old Route 40 to Donner Summit and up to the I-80 westbound rest area where the legality of parking for the back country is hazy at best. The maximum parking time allowed for passenger vehicles at California highway rest areas is seven hours for passenger vehicles. While that is technically enough time to skin to Castle Peak’s north bowls, take a couple of laps and turn back, whether recreational access is actually allowed to and from this area is another matter. There are visible signs prohibiting snow recreation and visiting snow enthusiasts are routinely asked to leave by the California Highway Patrol.

According to CHP public information officer Pete Mann, it’s a matter of public safety: “The main reason is the rest area is for tired motorists to use the facilities. We don’t want to it to be parking for back-country access.”

The snowy forest behind the summit rest stop beckons curious travelers, yet hides a variable topography of hidden crevasses, snowcovered frozen ponds and unmarked avalanche terrain. Last year, the CHP called in search and rescue to extract someone who fell through the ice, says Mann.

“It’s about twice a winter we end up doing a rescue out there,” he says. “It’s Tahoe, not Minnesota.”

According to Mann, while CHP officers will ticket cars parked at the rest area for longer than seven hours (especially those left overnight to access Peter Grubb Hut), casual winter recreationalists will be asked to relocate to the Sno-Park across the highway at the Castle Peak/Boreal exit. Back-country skiers, however, are generally tolerated, but there is a catch: weekends.

“We try and bring shades of gray into everything,” says Mann, who is a back-country splitboarder. “We want to keep that access open in a way that’s mutually beneficial for everybody. But there is the public good and access good. If you want our fair and honest opinion, park at the eastbound [Sno-Park]. If you are at the rest area for four or five hours on a Wednesday, it’s not going to be a big deal.

But if it’s a busy day with a lot of travelers, it could be an issue.”

While this willingness to bend the rules to the situation may be done in good faith, it is also exactly what can make back-country parking in the Tahoe Sierra so unpredictably frustrating.

“It’s that gray area and that ambiguity,” says Garrison. “We appreciate [the CHP] having an interest in access issues. The hard part is when you put skins on your skis; the last thing you want to think about while traveling through avalanche terrain and handling group dynamics is, ‘Is my car still there?’ There shouldn’t be so much guess work and that’s what we are trying to achieve. You can see how a microtransit system like this really opens the door to access spots that in the past have been difficult to impossible to access.”

After surveying the parking situation at Jake’s Peak and Emerald Bay’s north gate, I ask Keating to drop me 3 miles back up the road at the southern skin track for Rubicon Peak. Considering the avalanche danger today this moderately angled slope of old-growth glades seems like a safe bet.

As I hike up the mountain, the late morning light streams through the snow-covered trees creating a luminescent world all my own. I soundlessly skin beneath fluorescent green wolf lichen glowing on towering red firs. On reaching the ridge, the vast expanse of the Tahoe Basin appears before on this windless, tranquil powder day.

Two silent hours after my drop off, I round the corner of the massive granite block that crowns Rubicon’s summit. To my surprise, I come on a crowd of 20 people at the top. There is music playing and a few folks are sipping on beers and passing around a whisky flask. It looks like the considerable avalanche danger drew a lot of folks to Rubicon today.

I climb less than confidently in my telemark boots over ice and rock to the true summit where I take in views of Peak 9269 (named for its elevation) and the lofty summit of Mount Freel beyond the placid, cold, blue-green lake. On my way back down through untouched powder on Rubicon’s southeast face, I bob and weave around giant boulders and ponderous pines as the water stares back at me mirroring an empty reflection.

When I arrive back at my pickup location it turns out there was one more skier who took the shuttle today, Alliance board member Steve Byrne. He’s on his way back from Jake’s where he spread the word about the shuttle program while passing out Clif Bars.

“It was pretty luxurious,” he says. “I just got dropped at the trailhead and my boots are already on. All I had to do was put my skins on and start going up. It was pretty cool.”

According to Byrne, feedback on the shuttle from other backcountry travelers that day was mixed. While some thought it was an excellent idea, others worried it might simply bring more recreationalists to these popular locations.

“These are already pretty busy places,” he says. “A lot of people want to enjoy and use our public lands. Sometimes people want to be alone and that gets tougher and tougher.” | (530) 550-5300; tahoebackcountryalliance.org 

Follow our ongoing Public Access coverage at TheTahoeWeekly.com 16

Saturday summit party atop Rubicon.

TOP FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Skin tracks weaves below the summit of Rubicon; From left, Tahoe Sierra Transportation owner Michael Keating and Tahoe Backcountry Alliance members Geoff Quine, Glen Poulson and Greg Garrison; The skin track traverses amongst towering old-growth forests where glowing wolf lichen abounds; A skier drops in from the summit of Rubicon Peak.

February 12-18, 2020

FEATURE

Squaw Valley Celebrates 70 Years PA R T I I I STORY & PHOTOS BY MARK McLAUGHLIN

I

n the months leading up to the grand opening of Squaw Valley in 1949, tensions were high between acting president Wayne Poulsen, acting secretary-treasurer Alex Cushing and several key stockholders in The Squaw Valley Development Corp.

As Cushing correctly iterated in company correspondence, since a board of directors had not yet been appointed to manage the company, officer positions were temporary and not official until the board voted on the positions — a procedure slated to be held on Oct. 15, 1949.

Cushing’s statement was made in a written response to Marti Arrougé, Poulsen’s boyhood friend, who had complained to Cushing that as a stockholder in the company he was never given an opportunity to vote for candidates running for board positions. Arrougé, who had invested cash and his valley land, also declared that he found Cushing’s management style imperious, one that silenced investors — a trait that others often acknowledged.

History has blamed Cushing for the breakup between himself and Poulsen.

The narrative showcases a slick, New York attorney (Cushing) who fleeced a naïve and good-natured country boy (Poulsen) out of his dream to build a ski resort.

However, as in most real-life dramas, the reality is more complicated than that. Over the past two years, I have reviewed many

Tahoe ski history talk Feb. 27 | 6:30-8 p.m.

Word After Word Books | Truckee

unpublished telegrams, letters and cables between some of the principle investors who ultimately forced Poulsen out of the company. Cushing played a role, but he was far from acting alone or without significant support in taking the presidency away from Poulsen. This harsh schism is one of the most notorious in the ski world and still resonates somewhat unfairly on Cushing’s Squaw Valley legacy.

When the corporation was first organized, the Poulsens didn’t have money to buy stock so they traded land for 12,000 shares in the company. Poulsen’s wife, Sandy, later admitted that it was a mistake because they should have leased the land to the enterprise, even for a nominal amount and retained title ownership in case of a falling out. When the breakup occurred, the Poulsen’s lost the land; they owned a substantial amount of stock, but certainly not enough to influence the new board of directors with Cushing as president.

The Poulsens were out, but Squaw Valley opened weeks later to great fanfare. At the time, all renowned resorts hosted a famous instructor to head the ski school to attract wealthy, influential students of any age. As post-war, moneyed skiers, Marti and Norma Arrougé were close friends with acclaimed French racing champion Emile Allais and his wife Georgette. Allais had developed a new downhill-turning technique that was rocking the ski world. French racers swept both the slalom and downhill events in the 1948 Winter Olympics using Allais’ system.

Allais had recently taken a job as an instructor in Sun Valley, Idaho, but he and

Alex Cushing played a role, but he was far from acting alone or without significant support in taking the presidency away from Poulsen. This harsh schism is one of the most notorious in the ski world and still resonates somewhat unfairly on Cushing’s Squaw Valley legacy.

TOP: Emile Allais entertaining guests at Squaw Valley, circa 1950; RIGHT: Squaw Valley’s double chairlift was the longest in the world, circa 1950.

to quit the Pan Am job to spend more time getting the resort up to speed, Poulsen declined, responding that he had a family to support and that the ski resort was not guaranteed to produce much in the way of shared profits, at least not initially.

Space precludes me from sharing here all the details, but a few statements about Poulson’s perceived lack of management involvement indicate the frustration level of important Squaw investors in 1949. On Oct. 8, one week before the scheduled vote for board directors, Robert Heron wrote a public letter to all stockholders encouraging them to vote Poulsen off the board, claiming that “his influence has been negligible.”

Heron Engineering, highly respected in the ski industry for extensive lift construction at Rocky Mountain resorts, was installing Squaw’s double chairlift, which was billed as the longest in the world. Despite previous opportunities, Squaw Valley was Heron’s first investment in any ski enter-

prise, indicative of the engineer’s belief that the corporation — with good management — had a strong chance of success.

In a separate October missive to shareholders, David Fritschi, the major western U.S. investor who spent the summer of 1949 at Squaw Valley observing the project, stated that “despite Poulsen being given ample opportunity to do so, he has not participated in the construction activities of management of this Corporation in any capacity whatsoever since approximately May 1949.”

Comments like these made Cushing’s decision to marginalize Poulsen’s position and take over as president an acceptable resolution for many investors in the company. It’s possible that Cushing never took Poulsen’s role in the partnership seriously. In one flippant comment to Arrougé about Poulson’s executive title, Cushing wrote: “ ‘President’ in this case means Head Lift Engineer.”

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Call (530) 546-5995, ext. 110, to be included in Marketplace.

Read Parts I & II

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

To be fair, whether he realized it or not, Poulson had been in a tough spot all along.

He was designated chief executive of a new company, but he was already obligated to his time-consuming job flying for Pan American World Airways, as well as trying to complete construction on his home in the valley. When Cushing encouraged him

his wife were unhappy with their situation there. Working with Arrougé, the couple switched to Squaw Valley in time for the 1949-50 opening season where Allais became a star attraction. His ski school was staffed by top skiers Dodie Post, Warren Miller, Charlie Cole and Alfred Hauser.

Reno-native Post was captain of the 1948 U.S. Olympic ski team and a multi-winner of Sugar Bowl’s Silver Belt races. Miller became famous for producing dynamic ski films. Allais skied until he was 100 years old; he died in 2012.  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.

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

(or by appointment, closed all holidays)

Art • Community • Yoga • Meditation • Sound Reiki • Movement • Hiking • Herbs • Tinctures Intentions • Essential Oils • Dance • Chant • Discussions VISIT www.TahoeBoho.com FOR TIX/INFO

TahoeScienceCenter.org

(775) 881-7566

17

THE ARTS

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Arts

& CULTURE

CREATIVE AWARENESS

LoRita Ungar

ENAMORED OF COLOR S T O R Y & P H O T O S B Y K AY L A A N D E R S O N

T

ucked away in a quiet South Lake Tahoe neighborhood overlooking the regenerating Angora Hills, artist LoRita Ungar spends her free time making metal enamel jewelry, botanical watercolors and soft leather handbags. She has been making silver jewelry for about 15 years.

She picked up the craft after retiring from teaching middle school in Washington.

She had a friend in Santa Barbara and went there for six months to take art classes at the community college.

Michelle is an award-winning author, screenwriter and filmmaker. The former rodeo cowgirl and mother of two makes her home in the Sierra Nevada. She hopes that her fiction brings meaning to the struggles of life we all share. The book is available on Amazon and Kindle. | lisamichelle2020.com

me to try new things.

I never run out of ideas, I only run out of time.”

–LoRita Ungar

at

TheTahoeWeekly.com

“I have a lovely room that I work in.

I paint in there, I sew in there, I make my jewelry in there. People appreciate my work and that motivates me to try new things.

I never run out of ideas, I only run out of time,” she says.

Ungar continues to refine her process by seeking out jewelry makers whom she admires and if possible, she’ll take a workshop with them. She hasn’t found many other artists in South Lake who are into silver enameling, but she does belong 18

Love Stories

“Mountain Misery: Calaveras Love Stories,” by local author and Tahoe Weekly contributor Lisa Michelle was released recently. “ ‘Mountain Misery’ reminds us that love is a motley collection of emotion — often twisted and tangled. Set deep in the backwoods of Calaveras County on the verge of the Sierra Nevada, these stories offer an intimate and authentic look at those who exist in the darkness of failure but courageously continue to seek the light of possibility,” says Michelle in a press release.

work and that motivates

Explore Tahoe’s vibrant arts scene

Email news to editor@tahoethisweek.com

by Local Author

“ People appreciate my

“I took every art class I could. I had great teachers and then got into enameling more because I love color. I paint on the side and do botanical illustrations, but jewelry is where it’s at. There are so many techniques and styles with jewelry,” she says.

Ungar enjoyed the classes so much that she continued going back to Santa Barbara every winter for nearly 10 years to continue studying art. She was looking to move back to Washington when one of her children encouraged her to swing by South Lake Tahoe to visit him, thinking she would like the local artist scene.

“I was thinking of going back to Seattle because I didn’t want to deal with heavy winters, but I came to Tahoe in a mild one, so I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” she says. “But I like it here.”

She soon joined Tahoe Art League and learned about how best to sell her work. She enjoys working in her studio in South Lake.

Explore more events in the Tahoe Sierra or submit your event for free at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Artist call

for XC logo design

to a few Facebook jewelry groups and has a jewelry maker friend in Southern California whom she visits every year.

“I get my wildest ideas while driving and then will get home and think: ‘What do I want this to look like? What am I trying to do here?’ I’m a Gemini and I’m drawn to jewelry because there’s just so many materials to work with and ways to do it,” she says.

Aside from making jewelry, Ungar makes botanical illustrations and leather handbags.

“About 5 years ago I found that my shoulder was hurting from carrying commercial leather purses that were heavy and had metal in them. As a quilter, I quilted some bags, but they wore out quickly. Then one day I was in San Francisco and I found a shop that carried lovely soft leather colors, so I bought a few swatches. I just had a regular sewing machine and it took me some time to figure out how to make them,” she says.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: LoRita Ungar jewelry; LoRita Ungar in her studio; LoRita Ungar leather handbags.

After a lot of research and trial and error, Ungar started creating soft leather purses that can also be considered functional art, but she hasn’t found the right home for them so far.

“As fabric people do, I have collected lots of leather, but I haven’t found a market for the handbags yet,” she says.

Since making art is her hobby, Ungar works when she’s motivated or learns something new that she can apply to her craft.

“There are a couple of techniques I’d like to do better. I have a small kiln for enameling,” she says, adding she plans to apply her silversmithing and enameling skills into making wall hangings and bigger pieces of art. “That’s one thing I’d like to work on this winter.”

LoRita Ungar’s art, including her leather handbags, are available at Tahoe Art League Art Center. | 530-544-2313, talart.org 

Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area’s board of directors, executive director and staff are calling artists to design a logo for the Kevin Murnane Scholarship. Murnane served as the ski area’s manager from 1999 to 2015 and was a central part of the North Lake Tahoe community. They are holding a logo contest for something that will represent Murnane and his memorial scholarship for years to come.

Read more about Murnane and the rules for the contest online. The deadline is Feb. 29.

Contact Genevieve Evans with questions at genevieveevans@tahoexc.org. | tahoexc.org

THE ARTS “A Series of Ricochets” Sierra Nevada College Incline Village | Feb. 12-14

10 a.m. | (775) 831-1314, sierranevada.edu

Diamond Cut film contest Diamond Peak Ski Area Incline Village | Feb. 12-March 15 diamondpeak.com

“Fall Into Art” Community Rec Center | Truckee | Feb. 12-29 tdprd.org

February 12-18, 2020

THE ARTS

Presidents Week Sale!

THE ARTS

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“Red Dress” Aimee Had | Truckee Community Recreation Center

‘Fall Into Art’ Truckee Public Arts Commission hosts “Fall into Art” exhibit through February at Truckee Donner Recreation and Parks District’s Community Recreation Center. Each piece depicts the artist’s interpretation of autumn in Truckee and how it is a time to let creativity and imagination shine.

The show will include artists featured in the Art & Soul Artwalk hosted by Truckee Downtown Merchants Association in the fall, as well as representatives from Arts For the Schools, Trails and Vistas, InnerRhythms Dance and Tahoe Truckee School of Music. | (530) 582-7720, tdrpd.org

Wine and Wool Wednesdays

530.583.1874

400 SQUAW CREEK ROAD

OLYMPIC VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

Glasses Wine Bar Incline Village | Feb. 12, 19

5:30-7 p.m. | (530) 270-9463, glasseswinebar.com

Writing Series Word After Word Bookshop Truckee | Feb. 12-March 25

6:30-8 p.m. | wordafterwordbooks.com

Ceramics Class South Lake Tahoe Senior Center | | Feb. 13

SKI OR RIDE FOR FREE

1:30-4:30 p.m. | (530) 544-1482, talart.org

Public Tour Truckee Roundhouse | Feb. 13

2-2:45 p.m. | chamber.truckee.com

Snow Series Word After Word Bookstore Truckee | Feb. 13

6:30 p.m. | wordafterwordbooks.com

Fiber Art Friday South Lake Tahoe Library | Feb. 14 1 p.m. | engagedpatrons.org

Logo Contest Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area | Feb. 12-29 tahoexc.org

Artworks, Wineworks, Fireworks Gallery Keoki | Olympic Valley | Feb. 15-29 4-6 p.m. | gallerykeoki.com

Regine Bandel art exhibit City Hall Lobby | South Lake Tahoe | Feb. 12-March 31 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | cityofslt.regroup.com

Gathering of Artists North Tahoe Arts | Tahoe City | Feb. 18

10 a.m.-2 p.m. | (530) 581-2787, northtahoearts.com

TAL Presents Member Art Show Lake Tahoe Community College | South Lake Tahoe | Feb. 12-March 20

Open Studio

“What’s Your Best Mountain Life?” art exhibit

Open Writers Workshop

North Tahoe Arts | Tahoe City | Feb. 12-March 3

Keynote Used Records and Books South Lake Tahoe | Feb. 18

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

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

South Lake Tahoe Senior Center | Feb. 18 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | (530) 544-2313

Purchase a CA or NV Tahoe license plate and get one free Alpine or Nordic ticket to the Tahoe resort of your choice*. For more information or to purchase your license plate online, visit TAHOEPLATES.COM. JEREMY JONES pro snowboarder big mountain freerider

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6-9 p.m. | tahoewritersworks.com

19

MUSIC SCENE

Music SCENE TheTahoeWeekly.com

LIVE MUSIC, SHOWS & NIGHTLIFE

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong F L O C K T O TA H O E Feb. 16 | 9 p.m. | Crystal Bay Casino | Crystal Bay, Nev.

B

altimore jamtronica quartet Pigeons Playing Ping Pong was born in the dorm rooms of University of Maryland at College Park, Md. They took their name from the miraculous results of psychologist B.F. Skinner’s landmark experiments with Columba livia domestica, the domestic pigeon, and the Victorian pastime of table tennis.

Twin guitarists Greg Ormont and Jeremy Schon came up with clever moniker when they were an acoustic guitar duo playing mashups of Bob Marley and Phish (“No Woman No Farmhouse”) at a local university bar.

FEBRUARY 12 | WEDNESDAY Mr. D River Ranch, Tahoe City, 4-7 p.m.

Unplugged Truckee Philosophy, Truckee, 6-9 p.m.

Live Music CB’s Bistro, Carnelian Bay, 6-9 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

The Improv Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m.

much as we do, you’re

enjoy the crowds, feed off it, smile from ear to ear and let it rip.”

–Greg Ormont “We often do show posters and it’s given our artists a lot to work with,” says Ormont “It’s a very visual concept.”

They met bassist Ben Carrey when moving their rehearsal space from the dorms to off-campus housing.

“Ben lived upstairs,” says Ormont.

“He heard the music, picked up his bass and joined the band thereafter. It was all really natural. We started basically in the garage.”

Nowadays these curly-haired birds play their energetic brand of psychedelic, electro-funk groove at major music festivals around the country including The Peach Music Festival, High Sierra Music Festival and Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.

Their fan base from coast to coast is known affectionately as “The Flock.” Each year they gather on Marvin’s Mountaintop in Masontown, W.V., to celebrate Domefest with multiple sets of Pigeons, as well as a host of band-member side projects such as Scrambled Greg.

After recording their first two albums, “Psychology” and “Pleasure,” drummer Dan Schwartz left the band to start realestate software company InvestorFuse.

Luckily, he was replaced by phenomenal standout musician Alex Petropulos.

“Alex is on another level,” says Ormont.

20

Check out the Tahoe Music, Events & Festivals guide for all the winter fun.

THE LINEUP

“ When you prepare as

have fun with it. You

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

STORY BY SEAN McALINDIN

able to cut loose and

Explore more events in the Tahoe Sierra or submit your event for free at TheTahoeWeekly.com

FEBRUARY 13 | THURSDAY JAMTRONICA

“He plays with such snap and focus and power. He is continually working his craft, constantly watching videos, networking with other drummers on Instagram and hosting drum sessions in his off time. It trickles down to the rest of us.”

It’s all part of another psychological concept by K. Anders Ericsson that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become an expert at anything.

“We are trying to do that as a group and as individuals,” says Ormont. “When you prepare as much as we do, you’re able to cut loose and have fun with it. You enjoy the crowds, feed off it, smile from ear to ear and let it rip.”

Petropulos’ unbelievable timing feel helped lead the group to new heights with 2017’s “Pizazz.” Same goes for their newest release “Presto,” which came out last month. The album was recorded at Wright Way Studios in Baltimore by producer Steve Wright who has worked with Mos Def, M.I.A and SR71 to name a few.

“I think there are some better songwriting techniques in there,” says Ormont.

“We’ve studied music of other people.”

At a recent New Year’s Eve performance, the band played songs by Steves: Stevie Nicks, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Steve Miller Band. The music of Stevie Wonder in particular carried over to the new compositions on “Presto.”

“He does a few things you can incorporate, for example having a bass note carry over a few different chords,” says Ormont referencing new track “Sail On.” “It creates a really cool tension and resolve.”

Another time they put on a concert called, “Red Hot Sergeant Peppers” that features a mashup of Red Hot Chili Pep-

pers and The Beatles.

“We’re just doing our homework,” says Ormont. “It makes each song better, a little more nuanced while still maintaining our carefree attitude. The band is rooted in having fun, putting those worries aside and getting lost in the music.”

One of the singles on the new album has already inspired a good cause. The group founded Dawn a New Day Foundation to put $1 from every ticket toward mental health and wellness resources in the music community.

“It speaks to what our mission is as a band,” says Ormont. “It radiates positivity.

It lets people know that no matter what they are going through, they have support around them. We all have different ways of feeling a little blue, but there are positive walls to handle life’s curveballs. It’s about inspiring people to keep their chin up.”

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will be joined at Crystal Bay Casino Sunday night

by Norwalk, Conn. Up-and-coming jam band Goose, making their first West Coast tour.

“You know what they say about birds of a feather,” says Ormont. “We’ve got to look out for our avian brothers. I think these shows are going to be electric and filled with the excitement the West Coast brings.”

San Francisco via Shanghai funk group Collectivity will play the after party in the Red Room. | crystalbaycasino.com  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.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Sierra Night DJ McP’s Tahoehouse, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m.

Dueling Pianos Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30-10:30 p.m.

The Improv Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m.

Live Music Bar of America, Truckee, 9-11:30 p.m.

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

Live Music/DJ Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

FEBRUARY 14 | FRIDAY Live Music Northstar California Resort, Truckee, 2 p.m.

Live Music Hard Rock - Hotel Lobby, Stateline, 3-6 p.m.

Live DJ Azul Latin Kitchen, South Lake Tahoe, 4-8 p.m.

Kris Diehl The Idle Hour Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, 5-8 p.m.

Live Music Gar Woods Lake Tahoe, Carnelian Bay, 6:30 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Live Music Moody’s Bistro, Bar & Beats, Truckee, 8-11:55 p.m.

Chris Costa Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino, Crystal Bay, 8 p.m.

Dueling Pianos Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30-10:30 p.m.

Metal Echo Alibi Ale Works, Incline Village, 8:30 p.m.

The Improv Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m.

February 12-18, 2020

MUSIC SCENE

afroman Feb. 14 | 7 p.m.

Jubs Jub’s Thirst Parlor | Reno, Nev. Feb. 15 | 9 p.m.

MontBleu Resort Casino | Stateline, Nev. THE PERPETUALLY POTTED composer of “Because I Got High,” Southern rapper Afroman will be flying even higher at 6,225 feet above sea level in MontBleu’s Blu Nightclub. | montbleuresort.com HIP HOP

classical marty tahoe o’reilly releases lineup

Courtesy Classical Tahoe

& the old soul orchestra

Classical Tahoe Festival and Music Institute has announced the upcoming ninth season from July 9 to Aug. 15, featuring classical music concerts, jazz performances and community programs for music education and appreciation at Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village, Nev. Classical Tahoe celebrates in 2020 the anniversaries of Beethoven and Brubeck, along with opera favorites, masterful symphonies and chamber music concerts and meet the musician events. Tickets sales open April 1. | classicaltahoe.org INDIE FOLK ROCK

Feb. 15 | 9 p.m.

Crystal Bay Casino | Crystal Bay, Nev. MARTY O’REILLY & The Old Soul Orchestra performs alongside Lost Sierra Hoedown favorites Royal Jelly Jive, Willie Tea Taylor and The Sam Chase & The Untraditional for Winter Snowdown II. | crystalbaycasino.com

metal echo

Arty the Party Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m.

Live Music McP’s Irish Pub, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

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

DJ in Center Bar Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 10 p.m.

DJ David Aaron MontBleu Resort, Stateline, 10 p.m.

The Nevada Show Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

Live Music/DJ Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

FEBRUARY 15 | SATURDAY

HEAVY METAL

Feb. 14 | 8:30 p.m.

Alibi Ale Works | Incline Village, Nev. Feb. 22 | 9 p.m.

Alibi Ale Works | Truckee LED BY THE INDOMITABLE Kandy Xander, Metal Echo is the greatest heavymetal cover band to grace Lake Tahoe or anywhere else in the world for that matter. | alibialeworks.com

DJ Music Homewood Mountain Resort, Homewood, 12-3 p.m.

Live Music Northstar California Resort, Truckee, 2 p.m.

Live Music Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, Tahoe City, 2-5 p.m.

Live Music Hard Rock - Hotel Lobby, Stateline, 3-6 p.m.

Live Music Village at Squaw, Olympic Valley, 3-6 p.m.

Kris Diehl The Idle Hour Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe, 5-8 p.m.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

21

MUSIC SCENE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

robert hall

snow line

Feb. 12-19 | Various times The Loft Live Theatre | South Lake Tahoe RESIDENT MAGICIAN Robert Hall astounds with an edgy style of magic and sleight of mind. His stage presence and sense of humor perfectly suit the intimate setting at The Loft; audience members get an up-close and personal experience they’ll never forget. | thelofttahoe.com

HIRIE

AMERICANA

Feb. 15 | 9 p.m.

Alibi Ale Works | Truckee March 2 | 5 p.m.

West Shore Café | Homewood GRASS VALLEY AMERICANA trio Snow Line joins fiddle, mandolin and guitar with homegrown harmonies as bright as the golden California hills. | alibialeworks.com, westshorecafe.com MAGIC

Susana Millman

Carrie Jaymes

dark star orchestra

REGGAE

Feb. 15 | 7 p.m.

The Saint | Reno, Nev. PATRICIA JETTON grew up in Kaneohe, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu playing ukulele and guitar by the ocean before moving to San Diego in 2010 to form catchy island hip-pop of HIRIE. | Facebook The Saint Reno

CLASSIC ROCK

Feb. 16 | 7:30 p.m.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe | Stateline, Nev. SINCE 1997 Chicago cover-band extraordinaire Dark Star Orchestra has toured the world recreating the historical experience of the Grateful Dead one show at a time. | caesars.com/harrahs-tahoe

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22

FEB. 15 | SATURDAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

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Musica Sierra Launch Event & Concert The Loyalton Milton-Gottardi Museum, Loyalton, 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Live Music Glasses Wine Bar, Incline Village, 7:30 p.m.

Jonny Lang MontBleu Resort, Stateline, 8 p.m.

Live Music Moody’s Bistro, Bar & Beats, Truckee, 8-11:55 p.m.

Riffs Comedy Club Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 8 p.m.

Chris Costa Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino, Crystal Bay, 8 p.m.

Dueling Pianos Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30-10:30 p.m.

The Improv Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m.

Winter Snowdown II Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, 9 p.m.

Arty the Party Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m.

Live Music McP’s Irish Pub, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

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

Snow Line Alibi Ale Works, Truckee, 9 p.m.

The Stone Foxes Moe’s Original BBQ, Tahoe City, 9 p.m.

Afroman MontBleu Resort, Stateline, 9 p.m.

DJ in Center Bar Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 10 p.m.

DJ David Aaron MontBleu Resort, Stateline, 10 p.m.

Live Music/DJ Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

FEBRUARY 16 | SUNDAY Live Music McP’s Irish Pub, South Lake Tahoe, 2-5 p.m.

Live Music Northstar California Resort, Truckee, 2 p.m.

Roland Haas Sierra-at-Tahoe, Twin Bridges, 2-5 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 4:30 p.m.

Bluegrass Jam Alibi Ale Works - Truckee Public House, Truckee, 6-9:30 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Dark Star Orchestra Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7:30 p.m.

The Improv Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, 9 p.m.

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

Live Music/DJ Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.

Alpenglow Sports Mountain Festival Area venues, Truckee

FEBRUARY 17 | MONDAY Live Music, Service Industry Night West Shore Cafe, Homewood, 5-8 p.m.

Song Group Tahoe Truckee School of Music, Truckee, 5:15-6:30 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Alpenglow Sports Mountain Festival area venues, Truckee

FEBRUARY 18 | TUESDAY Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Swing Dance Lessons Alibi Ale Works, Truckee, 7:30-10:30 p.m.

Tuesday Night Blues Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8 p.m.

Brother Ali Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Stateline, 8 p.m.

FEBRUARY 19 | WEDNESDAY Mr. D River Ranch, Tahoe City, 4-7 p.m.

Unplugged Truckee Philosophy, Truckee, 6-9 p.m.

Live Music CB’s Bistro, Carnelian Bay, 6-9 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Collie Buddz MontBleu Resort, Stateline, 8 p.m.

The Improv Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 p.m.

Live Band Karaoke Eldorado Resort Casino, Reno, 10 p.m.

Explore more events in the Tahoe Sierra or submit your event for free at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Local

FOOD & LIBATIONS, RECIPES, FEATURES & MORE

Send Tidbits to editor@tahoethisweek.com

February 12-18, 2020

LOCAL FLAVOR

flavor

Maya’s Mexican Grill

D E D I C AT E D T O F R E S H C U I S I N E , H A N D M A D E T O R T I L L A S

Courtesy Keep Truckee Green

S T O R Y & P H O T O S B Y K AY L A A N D E R S O N

Reusable to-go box

program launched

Keep Truckee Green has launched the Reusable To-Go Box Program to replace single-use takeout containers with reusable to-go boxes at several local restaurants that can be reused.

The reusable boxes are currently available at Red Truck, The Station, Stella, Siam Cuisine and Wild Cherries. Order and ask for takeout or leftovers in a green, reusable to-go container. There is a $5 initial cost to purchase a container but after that, it’s free to exchange. Reusable to-go containers are also available at Tahoe Food Hub.

R

oy Maya of Maya’s Mexican Grill has a penchant for quality food and he won’t settle for anything less — for himself or his customers.

Across from Heavenly Village at Stateline, Nev., Maya’s Mexican Grill offers a bright décor and a smattering of two-top and four-top tables in front of an ordering counter and salsa bar. Behind the counter is a small kitchen with a stovetop, prep areas, two tortilla presses and various other equipment.

In the corner of the kitchen, Roy’s sister Leticia Maya is standing in front of the small wooden tortilla press. She grabs a handful of dough, rolls it into a ball, stamps it into a perfect circle and puts it on the grill. She makes about 100 tortillas by hand per hour; when business gets busy, she uses a metal tortilla press that can flatten tortilla dough at a faster pace.

RIGHT: Leticia Maya making fresh tortillas

“ My mother used to say, ‘Before you order anything, ask to try the salsa. If the salsa’s good, then the food will be good.’ ” –Roy Maya Robert Maya grew up in Mexico; his mother Isabel is of Mayan descent. Roy fondly remembers watching his mother make fresh tortillas to serve with every meal.

“I’m so lucky to have been able to experience that and grow up eating healthy, fresh food,” he says.

When finished with the box, rinse it out and return it to one of the participating restaurants and exchange it for a clean one. Each restaurant washes and sanitizes the boxes.

Maia and Roy Maya in front of Maya’s Mexican Grill.

Restaurants interested in participating in the program may email emertens@townoftruckee.com. | keeptruckeegreen.org Freshly pressed tortillas on the grill.

TA S T Y T I D B I T S Winemaker Tastings The Idle Hour Lake Tahoe South Lake Tahoe | Feb. 13

Every Thursday is a wine tasting with different family-owned wineries. 12 p.m. | (530) 600-3304, theidlehourlaketahoe.com

Meet the Winery Uncorked Truckee | Feb. 14

Meet the Winery allows you to sample wines from different, interesting wineries.

5 p.m. | (530) 550-5200, uncorkedtahoe.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

LEFT: Chicken soft tacos with homemade tortillas;

When Roy moved to South Lake Tahoe and opened his own restaurant in Meyers in 2009, it was only natural for him to want to make his own tortillas just like his mother did.

“This is how they made them back in the Mexico at the ranch,” he says.

He believes that making tortillas by hand adds a flavor to the delicately formed combination of flour and water.

However, Roy says that it’s not easy to find someone to make big batches of quality tortillas: “The consistency of the dough has to be right, otherwise the tortillas get hard. You want the tortillas to be soft in your mouth. It’s physical work, pressing 1,000 to 1,500 tortillas a day.”

Business was good at his restaurant in Meyers, but he always wanted to be closer to the action in South Lake Tahoe, so in 2013 the Maya family bought a food truck and parked it next to Tahoe Tom’s gas station near Stateline.

Roy says that managing a food truck is harder than a managing a restaurant, but fortunately, after nine months, the small space on 4041 Lake Tahoe Blvd. became available. He opened Maya’s Mexican Grill in early 2014.

Roy owns a construction company, as well, but admits that quality food is one of the most important things in his life, which is what made him want to open a restaurant.

“I have to have a good meal every time I go out to eat. The tortillas, for example, here they are all made to order. And the steaks, chicken, shrimp, fish, it’s all made fresh. We have pride from the food that we make,” he says, adding that his favorite dish is made with Angus beef, which they

drive to Sacramento every week to get.

“It’s top of the line, it’s a superior beef for our char broiler. That’s how important the flavor is for us. I could not in good conscience offer customers food that we are not happy with.”

Customers can also expect the salsa at Maya’s Mexican Grill to be delicious.

“My mother used to say, ‘Before you order anything, ask to try the salsa. If the salsa’s good, then the food will be good.’

I try the salsa in a new restaurant every time now and 80 percent of the time she’s right. If the salsa’s bad, I honestly don’t even stay. But if the salsa’s good, then it’s a clear indication that everything is going to be good.”

Roy also emphasizes the value of health and nutrition.

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“We have to watch what we eat. Food is one of the most important things in life and we have to make sure that the food we put into our bodies is good. Our horchata is made from scratch, we don’t use any preservatives. Meat isn’t good for you, but it’s part of my culture so we offer the best quality. Our prices may be a little higher, but it’s because we take pride in our flavors,” he says.

Maya’s Mexican Grill is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays thought Sundays from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. | (530) 578-0051, Facebook Maya’s Mexican Grill 

23

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Snowshoe Cocktail Races

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Camp Richardson South Lake Tahoe | Feb. 15

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Bertie’s Hot Chicken

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

Rick Boyd, owner of Brewforia, has opened Bertie’s Hot Chicken, a pop-up Nashville-style hot chicken shop. Serving up fried chicken, Southern-style sides and big plates of hospitality for a limited time in Incline Village, Nev., next to Brewforia at 902 Tahoe Blvd.

With a variety of chicken sandwiches, you pick the heat to make it your own from Honey Butter to Xxtra Hot. The menu also features Po’Boys, Chicken & Waffles and Catfish.

Bertie’s Hot Chicken is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday to Monday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Friday. | (775) 4135050, bertieschicken.com

Think you have what it takes to run with a full cocktail tray in hand through obstacles up and down the beach while wearing snowshoes? We have great prizes for the fastest (and cleanest) at the obstacle course finish line. 5 p.m. | camprichardson.com

Dinner & Dance Sierra Valley Grange Hall Loyalton | Feb. 15

Enjoy a dinner and dance on the third Saturday of each month with a country-style pork 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dance lessons from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free with paid admission.

Dance from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Benefits Sierra Valley Grange Hall. 5:30-10:30 p.m. $10-$15 | sierracountychamber.com

Meet the Winery Petra | Truckee | Feb. 15

Meet the Winery allows you to sample wines from different, interesting wineries. 6-8 p.m. | (530) 562-0600, uncorkedtahoe.com

Art of Mixology Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe | Truckee | Feb. 16

This entertaining, educational experience will feature freshly cut herbs, classic ingredients such as bitters and infused liquors to create three unique cocktails paired with appetizers. Price exclusive of tax and gratuity, minimum age applies for participation. 24-hour advance reservations are required. 4-5 p.m. $60 | chamber.truckee.com

February 12-18, 2020

LOCAL FLAVOR

Great Wines for 2020 PA R T I V STORY & PHOTOS BY LOU PHILLIPS

Petra Restaurant and Wine Bar located in the Village at Northstar

T

he last in this four-part series will be a looking at 2019’s biggest wine trend: blends. The numbers back this up because this was the fastest growing segment in California wines. Blend requests were and are ubiquitous, heard by wine professionals everywhere from five-star restaurants to the bargain aisles of supermarkets. Yep, blends are the newest, latest and greatest.

Or, are they? We will get to that, but first let’s examine the what and why of

Petra focuses on Mediterranean Farm to Table Cuisine that rotates throughout the season, such as Oven Roasted Fulton Valley Chicken, green beans and polenta, Coco rubbed Bavette Steak with shoe string fries and spring mix.

uncorkedtahoe.com petra@uncorkedtahoe.com | 530.562.0600 Photo Courtesy : Andria Gutierrez.

Blend requests were and are ubiquitous, heard by wine professionals everywhere from

Bargain blends.

five-star restaurants to the

Looking back at the Merlot/Cabernet example cited earlier, we know Bordeaux was built on blends. Modern Red Bordeaux usually has two or three grapes in it with Cabernet Franc being the third option. In past centuries, Malbec was often the lion’s share, with large percentages of Carménère and Petit Verdot as well.

bargain aisles of supermarkets. these crowd pleasers. The what is winemakers putting appropriate percentages of different grapes together that complement each other to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. This particularly makes sense in regions with widely varying climates from year to year; in especially cool years, winemakers will add more of an early ripening grape such as Merlot to balance a degree of under-ripeness in Cabernet Sauvignon. In addition, for wineries that depend mostly on purchased grapes, blending gives them more flexible buying options.

Less of a bargain blend.

Many people point to fan favorites such as The Prisoner, usually a combination of five bold red grapes, as the start of the red-blend craze. From a commercial standpoint this idea holds some water because this Davis Phinney creation was titled Red Blend with the grapes listed on the label. In the bigger picture, The Prisoner was another version of what winemakers have been doing for several hundred years at least.

Read the first three parts at

TheTahoeWeekly.com

In Southern Rhone, 13 grapes are allowed in red wines and vintners there often change the percentages of year to year depending on which benefitted most in that year’s climate.

The same can be said for legacy regions in Italy and Spain, although with more consistent weather lately and modern winemaking techniques, certain grapes are consistently dominant in said blends.

With California’s many regions having steadier climates and the ease of transporting the fruit large distances, winemakers there have a cornucopia of available grape varieties from which to create tasty blends.

In addition, depending on what appellation (specified area) they choose to put on the label, they can put significant percentages of other varieties even in wines that are represented as single varietal.

By the way, all of this applies to white wines, as well. In addition, as the accompanying pictures demonstrate, the quality and price of blends varies greatly.

So, whether your taste and budget lean toward Apothic or Insignia, blends are delicious options. 

Open for Dinner Call for hours

530.583.3324

2905 Lake Forest Road, Tahoe City

BacchisTahoe.com

Famous for our Mexicans!

(530) 587-3557 10186 Donner Pass Rd - Truckee

Nightly 5-6 p.m.

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.

Local’s Lakefront Menu 3-Course $35.00 sunday - thursday excludes holiday periods

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FROM CHEF SMITTY’S KITCHEN

Scallop Ceviche B Y C H E F D AV I D “ S M I T T Y ” S M I T H

I

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thought I would bring a little taste of summer to you through this article, since ceviche is more of a summer treat.

Also, my friend Kitty from Nantucket was just here and brought some Nantucket Bay scallops, which I think are the best scallops in the world. At least I haven’t found any scallops I like better anywhere I’ve been.

There is no cooking over a flame or in the oven, but instead, the seafood is cooked in the acid of the citrus juice.

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(530) 546-2434 BAR - 4:30 p.m. DINNER - 5 p.m.

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WEDNESDAYS KINGS BEACH | 3:00pm to 3:30pm Community House, 265 Bear Street

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These are the sweetest scallops around and I will usually simply sear them quickly and serve them with a little brown butter and lemon or a red-wine vinegar reduction and brown butter. Since she was here, however, I asked Kitty what her favorite way to eat scallops was and she gave me this recipe for ceviche.

Ceviche is made using raw seafood. In this case, I am using scallops, but you also can use other seafood. There is no cooking over a flame or in the oven, but instead, the seafood is cooked in the acid of the citrus juice. With this in mind, you definitely want to be sure to use fresh fish.

Although it will keep for a few days, try to make just what you will need. Like seafood that has been overcooked, you might notice the seafood in your ceviche getting a little more on the tough or rubbery side as the days go by. The best part of making Find more of Chef Smitty’s recipes at

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a ceviche is that it is just a matter of cutting things, mixing them together and letting them sit for a short time, so it really is wicked easy.

As for the cutting of your ingredients, think of the dish as a type of cold salad and the seafood is the main ingredient. That means you want to cut the seafood at least as big, if not slightly bigger, than the other ingredients. If there are a couple pieces of vegetable that are larger than your seafood,

it isn’t a big deal. It’s also not as important that everything is cut all the same size as if you were cooking something in the oven that all needed to be cooked the same throughout. This again makes ceviche an easy treat to make.

When you are making ceviche, it can be pretty hard to say the exact amount of each ingredient. There are too many variables to say it is exactly four or five lemons or limes. Even saying half a cup of lime juice or lemon juice won’t be correct because of the differences in tartness and flavor between individual fruits or hot peppers. It depends on individual taste, so use the recipe as a guide.

When cutting the Nantucket Bay scallops, remove the foot, which is the muscle that attaches it to the shell and cut the scallops into halves or quarters, depending on their size. When using other scallops, cut them to the size of a thumbnail. When cutting the hot peppers, be sure to wash your hands well after cutting and don’t touch your eyes.

The last bit of advice I have might sound a little wacky and unnecessary, but when you are using celery in a dish such as ceviche, you want to be sure to use stalks from the center of the head because they will be a little more tender. If you use the outside stalks and they are stringy, you might want to consider peeling the stalks before cutting.

This might seem a little much, but when you are eating a nice ceviche, a little crispness isn’t bad, but it is definitely not good when you find yourself flossing with one of the ingredients. Enjoy.  David “Smitty” Smith is a personal chef specializing in dinner parties, cooking classes and special events.

Trained under Master Chef Anton Flory at Top Notch Resort in Stowe, Vt., Smitty is known for his creative use of fresh ingredients. Contact him at (530) 412-3598 or tmmsmitty@gmail.com.

NIGHTLY, HOMESTYLE CLASSIC 4 COURSE MEAL $29 Dinner nightly at 6pm | Reservations 530.546.7529 Charlie Soule Chef | Owner Sunday through Thursday not valid with any other offer | Expires May 22, 2019 9983 Cove St. Kings Beach | www.souledomain.com

SCALLOP CEVICHE

From the kitchen of: Chef David “Smitty” Smith

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26

1 lb. Nantucket Bay scallops or other scallops 1 small bell pepper, chopped small 1 small red onion, diced small ½ gala or Fuji apple, peeled & diced small 3 celery stalks, diced small 1 orange, ½ squeezed, ½ diced 4 to 5 limes, squeezed 1 to 2 lemons, squeezed 1 habanero or jalapeño pepper, diced small Salt & pepper to taste

Cut the scallops and place in a bowl. Squeeze the limes and lemons into the scallops so they are well coated and mixed together. Squeeze in half the orange. Add all the ingredients, except the hot pepper and salt.

Add the hot pepper slowly to taste and remember the heat will take a little while to disperse, so add more after you let it sit for a bit.

Add the salt and pepper to taste along with any more citrus, if desired. Let sit for 10 minutes or so in the refrigerator with the occasional gentle stir. Serve.

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