Dec. 15-28, 2016

Magic of

ILLUSION

GLIDING ON ICE IN THIS ISSUE

MAKING SNOW CHANGING THE BUSINESS OF WINTER

Sounds of the

HOLIDAY SEASON

Lift ticket deals to

SKI CHEAP

THE SOUL OF SKIING CELEBRATES HERE

D E C E M B E R 17–31, 2016

MERRY DAYS & HOLLY NIGHTS Holly Feet & Grinch’s Groove Show Moonlit Snowshoe Tour & Dinner Toccata Symphony Reno Jazz Orchestra NYE Celebrations FEBRUARY 18–25, 2017

KID-O-RAMA

Kid Friendly Activities MARCH 9–12, 2017

2017 AUDI FIS SKI WORLD CUP MARCH 25–APRIL 23, 2017 Saturdays and Sundays

SPRING MUSIC SERIES MARCH 30–APRIL 2, 2017

WINTERWONDERGRASS Live Bluegrass Family Friendly Locally Sourced Food Craft Beer Wine & Spirits *All events subject to change, check squawalpine.com to confirm dates and for the complete calendar.

S Q U A W A L P I N E .C O M

1-800-403-0206

World Class Views.

World Class Guides.

World Class Equipment.

LOCATIONS Brockway Summit

Highway 267 Brockway Summit, Tahoe Vista, CA Jackson Meadows

Little Truckee Summit OHV parking lot Hwy 89, 14 miles north of Truckee, CA

Reservations

•

775.831.4386

•

SledTahoe.com

TheTahoeWeekly.com

What’s Inside

Volume 35 | Issue 32 TM

| DECEMBER 15-28

Features

10 Gliding on ice 14 Lift ticket deals to ski cheap 18 Making Snow 22 Sierra Stories 24 Tahoe Locals 30 The Arts

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

SUBMISSIONS Editoral | editor@tahoethisweek.com Entertainment | entertainment@tahoethisweek.com

Out

IN THE OFFICE Mark Stone

about

Photography | production@tahoethisweek.com

Publisher & Editor In Chief Katherine E. Hill | publisher@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 102 Sales Manager Anne Artoux | anne@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 110 Account Executive Lynette Astors | lynette@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 108

12 30 Local

From the Publisher

A JOYOUS HOLIDAY Winter has fully arrived in the Tahoe Sierra just in time for the joyous holiday season. Downhill and Nordic skiing is in full swing and holiday celebrations are a plenty every day until Christmas. Now is the time to get out and explore the mountains in winter – from ice skating to snowshoeing, sledding and tubing, fat tire biking and basking in a winter’s day by a fire with your favorite après ski beverage.

Photo credit

flavor

Graphic Designer Mael Passanesi | graphics@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 101 Entertainment Editor Priya Hutner | priya@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 104

Lake Tahoe Facts Sightseeing Events Powder Report Announcements Downhill Skiing For the Kids Family Fun Snow Trails Cross-Country Skiing Snowmobiling Worship Services

06 08 10 12 16 17 20 21 23 24 25 26

Copy Editor Katrina Veit Adminstrative Manager Michelle Allen Contributing Writers John Dee, Barbara Keck, Bruce Ajari, Mark McLaughlin, Casey Glaubman, David “Smitty” Smith, Priya Hutner, Katrina Veit, Justin Broglio, Kayla Anderson, Lou Phillips, Sean McAlindin, Tim Hauserman, Alex Green

DEADLINES & INFO Dec. 29 Issue Display Ad Space: Noon Thursday, Dec. 15 Display Ad Materials: 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 Camera-Ready Ads: 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 Jan. 12 Issue Editorial: 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3 Display Ad Space: Noon Thursday, Jan. 5 Display Ad Materials: 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5 Camera-Ready Ads: 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5

42 42 Cookies for the holidays 42 Tasty Tidbits 43 Christmas Cookie Contest 44 Chef’s Recipe 45 Wine Column

There are musical celebrations for all ages from live shows to holiday performances and everything in between to enjoy. And, when it’s time to bake those favorite holiday treats, check out the siblings that won our annual Christmas Cookie Contest this year with a peppermint chocolate delight.

THE

Music SCENE Jen Schmidt Photography

18

Kayla Anderson

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

34 Puzzles Horoscope Sounds of the season Entertainment Calendar & Live Music 37 The magic of illusion 38 Blue Oyster Cult 32 33 34 34

Happy Holidays from the staff at The Tahoe Weekly. 

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.

ON THE COVER

… 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 Recent storms have brought fresh powder to the mountains and local ski resorts just in time for the holidays.

Photography courtesy Northstar. | NorthstarCalifornia.com

Subscribe to the free, digital editions of Tahoe Weekly & Tahoe Powder TheTahoeWeekly.com | issuu.com | issuu app iTunes & GooglePlay | E-Newsletter

Find us at TheTahoeWeekly.com | Keep up-to-date at 4

Facebook.com/TheTahoeWeekly & post your photos on Instagram

@TheTahoeWeekly

December 15-28, 2016

: en om Op tt w bo No op-t To

KIDS $74

byop

6 & UNDER SKI FREE ADULT TICKET $79 HOLIDAYs

$40/day $50 Holidays

(bring your other pass Deal)

Upcoming Events:

12/15: opening day 12/16: Ski Film & Passholder Party 12/17-1/1: Child ski center theme days 12/24-25: Santa & penguin pete visit 1/2-1/8: IVGID Community Appreciation

DiamondPeak.com • (775) 832-1177 5

TheTahoeWeekly.com

N

TAHOE DONNER

Truckee Donner Lake

DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK

Donner Summit BOREAL

TRUCKEE AIRPORT

Reno & Sparks MT. ROSE

WEST EAST SOUTH

RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

SUGAR BOWL h Ta

AUBURN SKI CLUB

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK

Tahoe City

SQUAW CREEK

Marlette Lake

Sunnyside Tahoe Pines Eagle Rock

Volume: 39 trillion gallons

Lake

Spooner Lake

Tahoe

il

Ta h o e R i m

NV

Dollar Hill

GRANKLIBAKKEN

Carson City

Homewood HOMEWOOD

e Ri

Visit plugshare.com for details

m Tr a i l

Tahoma

SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK

Meeks Bay

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.

Size: 22 miles long, 12 miles wide

CA

Age of Lake Tahoe: 2 million years

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.

Natural rim: 6,223’

Glenbrook o Ta h

ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS

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

DEEPEST POINT

ALPINE MEADOWS

a Tr

Maximum depth: 1,645 feet

TAHOE CROSS COUNTRY

SQUAW VALLEY

Average depth: 1,000 feet

Crystal Bay

Kings Beach

Carnelian Bay

Olympic Valley

CASINOS

DIAMOND PEAK

Incline Village

Tahoe Vista

CLAIR TAPPAAN

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI AREAS

oe

NORTHSTAR

Truckee River

ROYAL GORGE

DOWNHILL SKI AREAS

ra Rim T

il

DONNER SKI RANCH SODA SPRINGS

Cave Rock

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

Watershed Area: 312 square miles Zephyr Cove

Average Water Temperature: 42.1˚F Emerald Bay

Average Surface Water Temperature: 51.9˚F

Cascade Lake

Average Surface Temperature in July: 64.9˚F

Fannette Island

Shoreline: 72 miles

South Lake Tahoe

Stateline HEAVENLY

CAMP RICHARDSON

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

Highest Peak: Freel Peak at 10,881 feet Ta h oe

Average Snowfall: 409 inches

R i m Tr ail

Fallen Leaf Lake

Meyers

LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT

FREEL PEAK

Permanent Population: 66,000 Number of Visitors: 3 million annually HOPE VALLEY

Kirkwood

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE

Markleeville

KIRKWOOD

LAKE TAHOE

How the lake was formed

About 3 to 5 million years ago, the valley that would become the Tahoe Basin sank between parallel fractures in the Earth’s crust as the mountains on either side continued to rise. A shallow lake began to form in the resulting valley.

Roughly 2 to 3 million years ago, erupting volcanoes blocked the outlet, forcing the lake to rise hundreds of feet above its current elevation, and eventually eroded down to near its current outlet.

Between 1 million and 20,000 years ago, large masses of glacial ice covered the west side of the Tahoe Basin. Current geologic theory suggests an earthen berm (moraine) left by a receding glacier near Olympic Valley acted as a dam, causing the lake level to rise and then draw down rapidly when the dam catastrophically failed. Between

7,000 and 15,000 years ago, a four-mile segment of the West Shore collapsed into the Lake causing a massive submerged debris avalanche, widening the Lake by three miles and creating McKinney Bay.1 The Tahoe Basin is mostly granite, with little topsoil, and therefore few nutrients have washed into the lake to promote the growth of algae and other organisms that make water murky.

As well, 40 percent of the precipitation falling into the Tahoe Basin lands directly on the lake. The remaining precipitation drains through the decomposed granite soil found in marshes and meadows, creating a good filtering system for water.

Urbanization of the Tahoe Basin has eliminated 75 percent of its marshes, 50 percent of its meadows and 35 percent of its steam zone habitats. About 85 percent of all wildlife in the Tahoe Basin use these habitats.

About the lake Lake Tahoe is located in the states of California and Nevada, with two-thirds in California. It is fed by 63 streams and two hot springs.

The Truckee River is Tahoe’s only outlet and flows from the dam in Tahoe City east through Reno and eventually drains into Pyramid Lake in the Nevada desert.

However, water releases are not permitted when the lake surface level falls below the natural rim at 6,223.’ The lowest lake level on record (measured since 1900) was 6,220.26’ on Nov. 30, 1992.

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

Lake clarity The University of California, Davis, operates the Tahoe Environmental Resarch Center, which monitors, among other

things, the clarity of Lake Tahoe. Clarity has been measured since 1968 and was first recorded at 102.4’.

The waters of Lake Tahoe were clear to an average depth of 73.1’ in 2015. The lowest average depth on record was 64.1’ in 1997. Lake Tahoe is losing clarity because of algae growth fueled by nitrogen and phosphorus.

Lake Tahoe’s discovery The first recorded discovery of Lake Tahoe by white explorers was on Feb. 14, 1844, when John Charles Frémont and Charles Preuss spotted the lake from atop Red Lake Peak. The lake went through several names before it was officially named Tahoe in 1945.

Tahoe is a mispronunciation of the first two syllables of the Washoe’s word for the lake – Da ow a ga, which means “edge of the lake.” 

Learn more: Visit the Tahoe Science Center in Incline Village or tahoesciencecenter.org. Sources: Tahoe Environmental Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, “Tahoe Place Names” and David Antonucci (denoted by 1).

6

December 15-28, 2016

A better, more effective approach to Pre K- 12 education is now open.

Submit a refundable deposit by February 8th for priority consideration.

In partnership with the Martis Valley Education Foundation, Tahoe Expedition Academy and +Impact School have raised approximately $17 million over the last five years. Construction has started on a 42-acre campus in the beautiful Martis Valley, with an opening slated for the Fall of 2017.

Pre K-8th Grades TahoeExpeditionAcademy.org

Our academic programs utilize a hands-on approach that builds character through expedition-based learning.

Much more than occasional field trips, students spend 30+ days in the field each year engaging with experts on incredible adventures that will challenge them in unexpected ways.

9-12th Grades ImpactSchools.com

7

TheTahoeWeekly.com

SIGHTSEEING

ATTRACTIONS Cave Rock

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion

Truckee

Courtesy Donner Summit Historical Society

Donner Summit

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”.

sites, is a volcanic plug beside Highway 89 on the West Shore. TART

Explore Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe

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

Drive through one of the area’s natural wonders - 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.

d today also.

Colors Eagle Rock look great; hopefully West Shore current ad came out too dark.

Eagle Rock, one of the lake’s famous natural

es:

Heavenly

East Shore

South Lake Tahoe

combine boxes 2&3 into one big box, (530) 542-2908 | cityofslt.us as Shoppe &Urban Florist Trailhead at base of Heavenly Gondola with local exhibits andGifts programs.

BlueGo Beautiful One-of-a-Kind * Oras Trees * Candles * Cards For All Fannette Island Emerald Bay ers * Jewelry * Fountains * Fresh Flower (530) 541-3030 | parks.ca.gov and more!

Olympic Valley

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

Kings Beach

North Shore

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

North Tahoe Arts Center

Tahoe City

Wed.-Mon. | 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

Heavenly BASE DEPTH:

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 544-2313 | talart.org Featuring local artists and workshops. Second location at Ski Run Center. BlueGo

Lake Tahoe’s only island is located in Emerald Bay & is home to an old tea house. Boat access (Closed 1-June for nestingall birds.) tooonly. diffi cult Feb. to do.

I’m15 around

Squaw Valley

23”-38”

Reports taken on Friday, December 9, 2016

Mt. Rose Ski Area BASE DEPTH:

BASE DEPTH:

40”

15”-25”

West Shore

$10 parking (530) 525-7232 Park | (530) 583-9911 Tours 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

High Camp

REGIONAL SNOW LEVELS

Kirkwood Mountain Resort BASE DEPTH:

LAKE TAHOE

25”-53”

North Shore

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

Free parking at Commons Beach, Grove Street, Jackpine Street, and the 64 acres at Highways 89 & 28. TART

Tallac Historic Site

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. BlueGo

Taylor Creek Visitor Center

12”-24”

Elevation: 6,222.96 | Elevation in 2015: 6,221.54

Natural rim 6,223’

Tahoe City

Sugar Bowl BASE DEPTH:

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 543-2674 | fs.usda.gov Features Stream Profile Chamber to view slice of Taylor Creek, nature trails & more. BlueGo

Truckee truckeehistory.org | truckee.com The historic town of Truckee was settled in 1863, and grew quickly as a stagecoach stop and route for the Central Pacific Railroad.

During these early days, many of Truckee’s historical homes and buildings were built in-cluding The Truckee Hotel (1868) and the Capitol Building (1868). Stop by the Depot for a walking tour of historic downtown. Paid parking downtown with free lot on Donner Pass Road next to Beacon. TART

Vikingsholm Castle

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

Watson Cabin

Christmas Trees Christmas Shoppe & Florist North Shore’s finest selection

Beautiful One-of-a-Kind Gifts · Ornaments · Candles Lighted Christmas Trees · Cards For All Occasions Jewelry · Stocking Stuffers · Fountains Fresh Flower Centerpieces & Poinsettias and more!

866 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, NV | (775) 831-7390 | Open Seven Days a Week | HSGardens.com 8

Tahoe City

Opens late June (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

and not l questions/phone calls.

NOBLE FIR · GRAND FIR SILVER TIP Custom Wreaths · Fresh Garlands Swags · Unique Fresh Greens

Emerald Bay

December 15-28, 2016

MUSEUMS Donner Memorial Visitor Center

A winter storm rolls in across the Tahoe Basin as seen from Commons Beach in Tahoe City looking toward South Lake Tahoe. | Katherine E. Hill

Truckee

Incline Village & Crystal Bay Historical Society Incline Village

Tahoe Maritime Museum

Daily | Free | tahoehistory.org Features local history exhibit focusing on 1870-1970, along with “Bonanza” exhibit. Inside Starbucks building. TART

(530) 583-9283 | tahoemaritimemuseum.org Featuring guided tours, exhibits and handson activities for kids on Tahoe’s maritime history. TART

Lake Tahoe Museum

Tahoe Science Center

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 541-5458 | laketahoemuseum.org Features Washoe artifacts and exhibits on early industry, settlers, and archival films of Tahoe. BlueGo

Donner Summit Historical Society

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. Maps online or at museum. TART

Gatekeeper’s Museum

Tahoe City

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

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 for newborns to 18 months & the Jungle Gym for toddlers and older. TART

Incline Village

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. Located at Boreal off I-80. TART

VISITORS’ CENTERS

Museum of Sierra Ski History & the 1960 Olympic Winter Games Tahoe City Daily | Free Features official 1960 Winter Olympic items such as skis, promotional literature, collection of official Olympic photographer Bill Briner. Learn the history of skiing in the Sierra. Inside Boatworks Mall. TART

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

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

Old Jail Museum

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 the summer). TART

Olympic Museum

Olympic Valley

South Lake Tahoe 3066 Lake Tahoe Blvd., (530) 541-5255

Stateline

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

169 Hwy. 50, (775) 588-4591

Tahoe City 100 North Lake Blvd., (530) 581-6900

Truckee 10065 Donner Pass Road (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

Truckee Railroad Museum Squaw Valley

(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

Tahoe City

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

Steve Schmier’s Jewelry

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

SteveSchmiersJewelry.com

35 College Dr., (530) 543-2600

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

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

TRANSIT: NORTH LAKE TAHOE & TRUCKEE | laketahoetransit.com SOUTH LAKE TAHOE | bluego.org

•

Boatworks Mall

•

Tahoe City

•

530.583.5709

9

OUT & ABOUT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Out

&ABOUT

OUTDOORS & RECREATION, EVENTS & MORE

Gliding on ice

EVENTS CALENDAR DECEMBER 15-29, 2016

STORY BY TIM HAUSERMAN

DAILY

Christmas tree lots Local venues

Christmas tree lots to benefit local groups are open throughout the season. The Truckee Optimist lot is at the Truckee Crossroad Shopping Center from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Dec. 23. (530) 559-1466. Boy Scouts Troop 267 will be selling trees at Mountain Hardware in Truckee until the trees are gone. (530) 4489441. Boy Scouts Troop 266 is selling trees at the Lighthouse Center in front of CVS in Tahoe City from 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends until Dec. 23.

(530) 412-1219

Courtesy Heavenly Mountain Resort

EVERY TUESDAY

W

hile Lake Tahoe in the winter is best known for downhill and crosscountry skiing, it’s also a great place to don the skates and glide along on the ice.

If the winter produces little snow, but icy temperatures, frozen lakes are certainly an option. If you would like to be assured of your safety, want consistently smooth ice or don’t have your own skates, however, the Tahoe region has a variety of Zambonismooth places to skate away without a fear of dropping into the deeps.

Many of these skating spots are in the middle of the action at a ski area or in town, so they can make for a fun interlude before hitting your favorite restaurant or a movie. Be sure to check on conditions and hours before going.

E X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT

TahoePowder.ski Explore Nicole Cheslock’s picks for winter family fun in the winter edition of Tahoe Powder

NORTH TAHOE

Tahoe City Winter Sports Park The newest addition to ice skating is the Tahoe City Winter Sports Park, located at the Tahoe City Golf Course. For several years, the golf course has provided a sledding hill and groomed trails for skiing and snowshoeing. Now an ice-skating rink has been added to the mix.

10

The 4,000-square-foot rink opened in mid-December. Skate rentals and lessons are available. There is a restaurant on site, making it the perfect spot for a reasonably priced birthday party or event. | wintersportspark.com OLYMPIC VALLEY

Olympic Ice Pavilion Squaw Valley ice rink is located at High Camp at the Top of the Tram. This rink in the open at 8,200 feet in elevation offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Tahoe. While it is certainly the largest rink to be found on the North Shore, having to take the tram means that this will not be a quick or inexpensive skate, so plan accordingly.

Hockey and figure skates are available for rental. Next to the rink is a swimming pool and hot tub, as well as several food facilities, and of course, all of the skiing opportunities of Squaw Valley. | squawalpine.com

Resort at Squaw Creek Amidst the swimming pool and spa facilities outside the sumptuous Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley sits a small ice-skating rink. Rentals are available and it makes a perfect spot for a first skate for the kids. A variety of restaurants and shops can be found on the grounds. | squawcreek.com TRUCKEE

Northstar California This 9,000-square-foot ice-skating rink sits in the middle of the busy Village at Northstar, making it a popular gathering place for families. Skate rentals are available. Before, during and after skating, folks lounge around the fire pits that circle

the rink. Nearby are a host of restaurants and shops. | northstarcalifornia.com

Truckee River Regional Park Just a half mile from downtown Truckee at the Truckee River Regional Park, you will find skating under the pines with music and bonfires. The outdoor facility has overhead lighting, a snack bar and reasonable rates for both the use of the rink and rentals. They have group and private lessons, as well as broomball and hockey for both children and adults. | tdrpud.org SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena This year-round indoor arena in the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Area offers a NHL-sized sheet of ice, locker rooms, snack bar, retail store, private party rooms and TRX and Pilates fitness rooms.

In addition to public skating, there are figure skating programs, as well as a youth and adult hockey program. There are private and group lessons, as well as hockey league matches and drop-in hockey games where anyone can join in. The arena is also home to the Lake Tahoe Epic Curling Club. | tahoearena.com

The Shops at Heavenly Village In the middle of the action on the California-Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe sits the Shops at Heavenly Village ice skating rink. It’s open daily throughout the winter. It sits in front of the Heavenly Village Cinema and near the Heavenly Gondola. Skates are available for rental.

There is music and lighting, and it is surrounded by a variety of restaurants and shops. | theshopsatheavenly.com 

Preschoolers wanted Kings Beach

Kings Beach Library offers Preschool Story Time from 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays. Each week is themed. | (530) 546-2012

Toddler Time Truckee

Truckee Library hosts Story Time every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. for ages 18 months to 3 years. | (530) 582-7846

Like gliding on snow Tahoe City

Take free intermediate skate ski lessons and free introductory cross-country lessons every Thursday until February at Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area. Intermediate lessons are at 9:15 a.m. Introductory lessons are at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Trail passes and rentals separate. | tahoexc.org

EVERY WEDNESDAY

Babes in Bookland Truckee

Truckee Library hosts Story Time every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. for ages 6 months to 2 years. | (530) 582-7846

Like gliding on snow Tahoe City

Free introductory skate skiing lessons every Wednesday until February at Tahoe Cross Country Center. At 9:15 a.m. Trail passes and rentals separate. | tahoexc.org

Just heavenly South Lake Tahoe

Wine Wednesdays at The Loft in Heavenly is from 4 to 7. Free wine tasting from different featured winery each week. Half off all house and selected wines by the glass. Free corkage with any entrée. Free guest speaker and/or tasting notes from featured winery. | (530) 523-8024

EVERY THURSDAY

Discuss what’s happening Incline Village

The Conversation Café is a drop-in conversation forum hosted by the Senior Programs staff at Aspen Grove Community Center from 10 to 11:15 a.m. every week except holidays.

Participate with people sharing diverse views and a passion for engaging with others over topics and news. $2 donation includes continental breakfast. | (775) 832-1310

December 15-28, 2016

OUT & ABOUT

Events

MORE Eric Hjorleifson in Here and Now | Robin Oneill

Story Time Tahoe City

Tahoe City Library hosts Pre-Schooler Story Time for ages 5 and younger every Thursday from 10:30 to 11 a.m. | (530) 583-3382

Toddler Story Time Incline Village

Incline Village Library hosts story time every Thursday from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. with stories, puppets, music and movement for ages 6 months to 3 years. | (775) 832-4130

Preschool story time Truckee

Truckee Library hosts Story Time every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. for ages 3 years and older. | (530) 582-7846

Help with computers Kings Beach

Live art painting benefit Truckee

Join artists Sara Zimmerman and Sara Smith “WAT?! Women’s Art Tribe” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tahoe University to benefit the High Fives Foundation. The duo will simultaneously and collaboratively create a painting of Squaw Valley, in partnership with the High Fives Foundation, who will be filming the event throughout the day. The final artwork will be auctioned off to benefit High Fives Foundation. | womensarttribe.com

Bilingual story time Incline Village

Incline Village Library hosts a bilingual story time from 4 to 4:45 p.m. All ages. | (775) 832-4130

Kings Beach Library offers ongoing computer help from 3 to 4 p.m. First Thursdays of the month are “Beginners Basic Instruction,” second Thursdays are “Computers Questions with Carl LeBlanc,” third Thursdays are “Everything iPhone” and fourth Thursdays are differing themes about technology. | (530) 546-2021

Open House, open hearts Tahoe City

Join the tradition Northstar

Visitor center open house Tahoe City

Northstar California hosts Noel Night every Thursday in the Village from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy s’mores by the fire, free ice skating, hot cocoa, shopping specials, holiday carolers, photos with Santa and more. | northstarcalifornia.com

Wine voyages Olympic Valley

Dive into the cellar at PlumpJack Bar & Café to learn about wine varietals, regions and discover new worldly wines to love. Flights available from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Jan. 26 on Thursdays. | squawalpine.com

EVERY FRIDAY

Watching as a family Tahoe Donner

Enjoy a free family movie every Friday at Northwoods Clubhouse at 6:30 p.m. with G and PG movies. Canceled Dec. 16. | (530) 582-9669

EVERY SATURDAY

Love a parade Northstar

The Ripperoo Parade around the ice rick at Northstar’s Village is every Saturday through April 4, 2017 at 4 p.m. Meet at the Kid’s Ski School entrance at 3:45 pm to participate.

Noisemakers and toys will be provided. | northstarcalifornia.com

Like gliding on snow Tahoe City

Free introductory skate skiing lessons every Wednesday until February at Tahoe Cross Country Center. At 9:15 a.m. Trail passes and rentals separate. | tahoexc.org

EVERY SUNDAY

Like gliding on snow Tahoe City

Free introductory skate skiing lessons every Wednesday until February at Tahoe Cross Country Center. At 9:15 a.m. Trail passes and rentals separate. | tahoexc.org

DEC. 15 | THURSDAY State of the water Truckee

Truckee River Watershed Council hosts River Talk, a one-hour virtual tour of projects and core programs throughout the watershed at 8 a.m. Learn more about work to protect, enhance and restore local rivers, streams and meadows and share comments and feedback.

Free. | RSVP (530) 550-8760, ext. 5

Alpenglow Sports hosts a Holiday Open House from 4 to 8 p.m. with eggnog, whiskey, beers and gift wrapping. Fundraiser for Ty Whisler, a local boy fighting cancer; percentage of sales and donations will go toward his fight. | gofundme.com/tywhisler

The North Lake Resort Association/Chamber/CVB hosts a Holiday Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. with live music, appetizers, drinks for all ages and more. Local artists’ works for sale. | gotahoenorth.com

Sparkling tasting Truckee

Third Thursday Tasting at The Pour House is from 5 to 7 p.m. Features Champagnes and sparkling wines to usher in the holiday spirit.

Cover charge $20. | thepourhousetruckee.com

New location celebrated Truckee

GOLDEN CELEBRATION F E AT U R E S

TA H O E F I L M T O U R Diamond Peak celebrates its 50th anniversary with a Ski Film & Season Passholder Party on Dec. 16 at the Base Lodge. Local Freshies presents the Tahoe Film Tour with 4frnt’s “Here and Now” followed by “Tahoe: The Daily Routine,” a Local Freshies production, along with giveaways, raffles, food and drink.

A ribbon cutting for the new location of bigtruck will be from 5 to 8 p.m. at 10800 Pioneer Trail, Suite 2. Truckee Mayor Morgan Goodwin will cut the ribbon promptly at 5 p.m. Guests can enjoy prizes, holiday refreshments and special holiday offers. | bigtruck.com

Food will be available for purchase from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and drinks and popcorn will be available for purchase for the duration of the event. This event is also the winter season passholder appreciation event and Diamond Peak 2016-17 season passholders will receive free entry and appetizers. Entry to the celebration is free to passholders and $5 for the public.

Cozy up and shop Stateline, Nev.

The films start at 6:30 p.m. “Here and Now” showcases the skiing of Eric Hjorleifson, David Wise, Wiley Miller, Thayne Rich and Cam Riley with friends and their escape to the outdoors. “Tahoe: The Daily Routine” highlights the local businesses that give Lake Tahoe its flavor and show its culture is alive and well. | diamondpeak.com

The League to Save Lake Tahoe presents Winter Wonderland, a holiday open house from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the office on Lake Tahoe Boulevard. Cozy up by the fire and enjoy an evening of light appetizers, drinks and music while shopping discounted prices on Keep Tahoe Blue gifts for the holidays. Bring a jar or cup and recreate it into a keepsake. Canned food and new toy donations will be collected.

Free. | RSVP keeptahoeblue.org

DEC. 16 | FRIDAY F is for festive Truckee

Festive Fridays are from 4 to 8 p.m. in Historic Downtown Truckee where several of downtown’s unique shops, boutiques, art studios and eateries keep the doors open later and offer special promotions, activities, demonstrations, food and beverages, music and more. Participating shops and restaurants will display First Friday Flags. | historictruckee

Share and write Incline Village

Lifescapes, a memoir-writing program for seniors, is from 2 to 4 p.m. at Incline Village Library. First and third Fridays of each month.

All are welcome. | (775) 832-4130

50th Anniversary Party Incline Village

Diamond Peak celebrates its 50th anniversary with a Ski Film & Season Passholder Party at the Base Lodge featuring food and drinks,

giveaways, raffle and more starting at 4:30 p.m. and the Local Freshies’ Tahoe Film Tour at 6:30 p.m. with 4frnt’s “Here and Now” and “Tahoe: The Daily Routine,” a Local Freshies production. $5, free to passholders. | diamondpeak.com

What’s in the future Incline Village

Astrologer Michele Hagan will discuss the upcoming astrological cycles, eclipses and transits for 2017 at the Incline Village Library starting at 6:30 p.m. | (775) 832-4130

Sled under lights Tahoe Donner

Friday Night Tubing starts at 6:30 p.m. at Tahoe Donner Snowplay. Admission includes tubing and sledding equipment. | tahoedonner.com

Tree Lighting Party Homewood

Christmas music, a gingerbread housebuilding contest, ornament decorating, Santa and more are part of the Christmas Tree Lighting Party at West Shore cafe. Doors open at 5 p.m.; tree lighting at 7:30 p.m. | westshorecafe.com

DEC. 17 | SATURDAY Yeah for customers Tahoe Donner

In appreciation to loyal skiers who visit year after year, guests will be treated to Customer Appreciation Day, which means lift tickets are $5 for all at Tahoe Donner Downhill. | tahoedonner.com

Demo a shred stick Twin Bridges

The First Never Summer Demo Day at Sierra-at-Tahoe is from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Solstice Plaza. Free demos. | sierraattahoe.com

Seniors to seniors Incline Village

A group of tech-savvy high school seniors will be at the Incline Village Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to help older seniors with computer-related questions. Bring your laptop, phone, tablet or other devices. | (775) 832-4130

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

11

OUT & ABOUT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Adrian Ballinger | Mark Stone, Alpenglow Expeditions

Powder Report

Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for a complete Powder Report.

Holidays sprints & snowshoe classics

EXPLORE

SQUAW, ALPINE

B AC K C O U NT RY

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has partnered with Alpenglow Expeditions to provide lift-accessed, guided back-country skiing and snowboarding for the 2016-17 season.

Alpenglow Expeditions received a U.S. Forest Service permit to conduct winter back-country guiding on USFS lands for back-country enthusiasts. The company will guide small groups in two zones: Munchkins back-country terrain covering 900 acres located to the northeast of Scott Peak in Alpine Meadows and in the area known as Tram Ridge located to the north of Broken Arrow in Squaw Valley covering 145 acres.

“Our company has been guiding high altitude mountaineering and ski expeditions around the world for over a decade, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring the same level of professional guiding to my home resort.” says Adrian Ballinger, owner and founder of Alpenglow Expeditions, in a press release. “Being able to guide in my own backyard is a dream come true and we aim to be a cornerstone in our comE X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT munity, promoting back-country safety, TheTahoeWeekly.com education and training in Lake Tahoe.”

Explore the map of the guided back-country terrain opened at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows

Alpenglow Expeditions and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows will also team up on a $2,500 donation to the Sierra Avalanche Center to support its mission to inform and educate the public about backcountry avalanche conditions in the greater Lake Tahoe area.

Alpenglow Expeditions guides are professionals trained and certified by the American Mountain Guides Association. The company also provides avalanche education courses, as well as mountaineering and climbing courses. | (877) 873-5376 or alpenglowexpeditions.com

12

Norden Tahoe Mountain Sports Holiday Sprints are on Dec. 17 at the Auburn Ski Club Training Center. The distance is 1.25km, freestyle sprint qualifier and heats.

The Snowshoe Thompson Classic is on Dec. 18 from the Auburn Ski Club.

Youth, ages 12 and younger, will start at 9:30 a.m. and the rest at 10 a.m. in intervals. There’s a 10 km and 5 km depending on categories.

Paco’s Fun Freestyle Race is on Jan. 1 and the President’s Cup is on Feb. 20.

Biathlon races include the 10th Mountain Division Biathlon on Jan. 15 and the Chuck Lyda Memorial Biathlon Weekend on Feb. 11 and 12. | Register auburnskiclub.com

Santas on the run Reno, Nev. The Great Santa Dash is on Dec. 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. in downtown Reno. The festive 5km fun run through downtown includes hundreds of costumed participants with the real spirit of Christmas. This year there will be a new route and a new time.

Runners start at City Plaza and run along the Truckee River, enjoying aid stations with cocoa and cookies. A great afterparty is included. | (775) 624-8320 or renosantacrawl.com

Local Freshies hosts South Lake Tahoe Local Freshies, in association with 4Frnt Skis, will host a movie premiere of “Here and Now” along with “Tahoe: The Daily Routine” on Dec. 16 at Diamond Peak Ski Resort at 6:30 p.m.

“Here and Now” showcases the skiing of Eric Hjorleifson, David Wise, Wiley Miller, Thayne Rich and Cam Riley with friends and their escape to the outdoors.

“Tahoe: The Daily Routine” highlights the local businesses that give Lake Tahoe its flavor and show its culture is alive and well. There will be a raffle; come early to get seats. Free entry to all ages. | localfreshies.com

Take the challenge Tahoe Basin The Tahoe Rim Trail Challenge is a family-friendly, outdoor adventure for both novice and seasoned trail users who want to explore more of the Tahoe Rim

Trail. Participants can choose whether to hike, mountain bike or ride horseback to six premier destinations chosen for the 2016 challenge.

The six sites, which vary in length from 2 to 12 miles roundtrip, lead to various sites along the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail.

The challenge runs until Dec. 31. The cost is $55 per individual, $85 per family, $20 for current TRTA members and additional family members. Group and sponsorship rates are also available. The fee includes a one-year membership with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, a tech T-shirt, access to six downloadable maps and trail descriptions, online tracking and entrance into monthly drawings for prizes. | tahoerimtrail.org

Winter Film Series continues Alpenglow Sports continues its 11th annual Winter Film Series, which this year is sponsored by Tahoe Weekly magazine.

Series speakers include Tommy Caldwell on Jan. 5 who will present a once-ina-lifetime show on his historic ascent of Yosemite’s Dawn Wall, the hardest traditional free-climb on earth. On Feb. 23, high-altitude mountaineers Adrian Ballinger and Cory Richards will round out the series with a tandem show on their #EverestNoFilter oxygen-less, Snapchatcaptured attempt of the world’s tallest peak, Mt. Everest.

All shows are free and raffle prizes from sponsors are sold to raise funds for local nonprofit organizations. | (530) 583-6917 or alpenglowsports.com

Know before you go Truckee North American Ski Training Center offers Avalanche School from Jan. 13 to 15, 2017, at Cedar House Sport Hotel. NASTC is an AIARE school, which means it can offer the AIARE L1 curriculum. This is a three-day intensive seminar is designed to give participants an understanding of avalanche formation, observation skills, the ability to use an avalanche transceiver and probe and how to dig a snow study pit. There is time spent daily in the classroom and in the field. | Register skinastc.com

December 15-28, 2016

OUT & ABOUT

More Events DEC. 17 | SATURDAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

It’s a wrap Incline Village

Incline Village Library hosts a Wrap Party from 2 to 5 p.m. Paper, ribbons, tape and scissors will be provided, as well as warm cider, cookies and Christmas carols. | (775) 832-4130

Promote local writers Truckee

Literary Arts & Wines is a monthly reading series every third Sunday at 5 p.m. to promote the work of emerging regional writers at Art Truckee. | literaryartsandwine.com

Merry Days & Holly Nights Olympic Valley

Squaw Valley offers a Kids Glowstick Parade and Carnival from 4 to 7 p.m. from KT Base Bar to Olympic House. Opening Ceremonies are at The Village, in Merry Wonderland at Olympic Village Lodge and at KT Base Bar from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Horse-drawn sleigh rides from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | squawalpine.com

Light up the tree Area venues

Sip & Shop in Incline Village and Crystal Bay from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., then meet at The Chateau for A Community Tree Lighting and Holiday Festival from 4 to 7 p.m. The tree lighting is at 6:45 p.m. Events include caroling, pictures with Santa and Penguin Pete, holiday activities and a chance to cast a vote for the best decorated storefront. Food and beverages for purchase. | ivgid.org

Like walking on snow Olympic Valley

Resort at Squaw Creek offers a sunset snowshoe tour at 4:30 p.m. Meet at the Ice Rink. Fee includes snowshoe rental and s’mores. $45. | RSVP (530) 581-6610

DEC. 18 | SUNDAY Demo a shred stick Twin Bridges

The First Never Summer Demo Day at Sierra-at-Tahoe is from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Solstice Plaza. Free demos. | sierraattahoe.com

Eat with Santa Olympic Valley

Heavenly Holidays South Lake Tahoe

Heavenly Ski Resort offers Santa’s SnowGlobe in the Village from 2 to 7 p.m. The 16-foot interactive snow globe is a great place to get pictures with Santa. Holiday music and holiday cheer included. | skiheavenly.com

DEC. 19-JAN. 8 | MONDAY-SUNDAY Ski for less Tahoe venues

Skiing For Schools is on at these participating resorts: Homewood, Tahoe Donner Downhill and Cross Country and Tahoe Cross Country. Lift tickets are offered at discount prices and all proceeds go to Excellence in Education to help local schools. | exined.org

DEC. 20 | TUESDAY Merry Days & Holly Nights Olympic Valley

Squaw Valley offers Santa in The Village and on the slopes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Train rides in the Ice Garden from 3 to 6 p.m. Great Basin Carolers in the Village from 4 to 7 p.m. Holly Feet and Grinch’s Groove Christmas Show at 7 p.m. in Merry Wonderland. | squawalpine.com

Heavenly Holidays South Lake Tahoe

Heavenly Ski Resort offers Santa’s SnowGlobe in the Village from 2 to 7 p.m. The 16-foot interactive snow globe is a great place to get pictures with Santa. Holiday music and holiday cheer included. | skiheavenly.com

DEC. 20-22 | TUESDAY-THURSDAY Become a Xmas elf Northstar

Ritz Kids at Ritz-Carlton offers Holiday Crafts with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. While kids, ages 5 to 12, are busy helping Santa, parents can get a jump on shopping or socializing. $100 per child. | RSVP (530) 562-3046

DEC. 21 | WEDNESDAY

Squaw Valley offers Santa in The Village and on the slopes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Train rides in the Ice Garden from 3 to 6 p.m. Great Basin Carolers in the Village from 4 to 7 p.m. Reno Jazz Orchestra performance from 7 to 9 p.m. at Merry Wonderland. | squawalpine.com

Santa’s on the slopes Alpine Meadows

Heavenly Holidays South Lake Tahoe

Merry Days & Holly Nights Olympic Valley

Squaw Valley offers Santa in The Village from 3 to 4 p.m. Horse-drawn sleigh rides from 3 to 6 p.m. Ice Sculpture demonstrations from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Ice Garden with train rides. Great Basin Carolers will be in the Village from 4 to 7 p.m. Santa will be reading “Polar Express” and “A Christmas Carol” at Merry Wonderland in Olympic Village Lodge at 4:30 p.m. with milk and cookies. | squawalpine.com

DEC. 19 | MONDAY Merry Days & Holly Nights Olympic Valley

Squaw Valley offers Santa in The Village and on the slopes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There’s a bigtruck Sew-on Site from noon to 4 p.m. Ice Sculpture demonstrations from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Ice Garden with train rides. Great Basin Carolers in the Village from 4 to 7 p.m. Holly Feet and Grinch’s Groove Christmas Show at 7 p.m. in Merry Wonderland. | squawalpine.com

Since 1977

SteveSchmiersJewelry.com Boatworks Mall - 760 North Lake Blvd • Tahoe City • 530.583.5709

PROTECT

YOUR LIVELIHOOD & BUSINESS

Merry Days & Holly Nights Olympic Valley

Santa’s Pancake Breakfast is from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Merry Wonderland in Olympic Village Lodge. Meet Santa and hear the singing Christmas tree. $12.95, ages 5 to 12; $19.95, ages 13+. | RSVP squawalpine.com

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Alpine Meadows, Santa will be on the bus and on the slopes. | squawalpine.com

Lake Tahoe in natural Diamonds

Heavenly Ski Resort offers Santa’s SnowGlobe in the Village from 2 to 7 p.m. The 16-foot interactive snow globe is a great place to get pictures with Santa. Holiday music and holiday cheer included at Tamarack Lodge from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. | skiheavenly.com

Paper take-offs Incline Village

Incline Village Library welcomes children of all ages to paper airplane folding fun from 4 to 5 p.m. Prizes for the paper airplanes that fly the farthest and straightest. | (775) 832-4130

Snowshoe under the stars Northstar

Tahoe Star Tours will host an evening under the stars pairing stargazing with a snowshoe tour led by local astronomer, Tony Berendsen. Guests of all ages will enjoy an easy to moderate snowshoe walk followed a view of constellations through high-powered telescopes. Tours are approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Meet at 5 p.m. at Northstar’s CrossCountry Ski, Telemark & Snowshoe Center. | tahoestartours.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

R.L. Milsner, Inc. Insurance Brokerage

Basic Commercial Insurance Business & Workers Compensation

Weather Insurance Limited perils subject to policy terms & conditions.

Business interruption caused by weather/climate

Intellectual Property Insurance Media liability, the three types of Patent Insurance

Litigation Reimbursement Insurance Personal Insurance Needs Insurance counseling for businesses Expert witness services

Mike Mansel Office (530) 386-6717 | Cell (925) 899-5845 Certified Insurance Counselor 11025 Pioneer Trail, Ste. 220, Truckee, CA 13

FEATURE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Ladies’ Day Thursdays | Courtesy Mt. Rose

E X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Check out our Tips for Tahoe Ski Trips

LIFT TICKET

DEALS TO SKI CHEAP

Photo caption.

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

M

ost Tahoe locals have a season pass (or two) to his or her favorite ski areas, but also like to ski and ride at all the resorts throughout the TahoeTruckee region, which means looking for the best deals on lift tickets.

Most local ski resorts also offer discounted lift ticket bundles, along with discounts for active duty military and interchangeable parent tickets. And, the best discounts when buying direct for any ski resort are always online.

Grab the best deal to get on the slopes while helping a good cause in some cases from fighting domestic violence, to helping Tahoe kids get a quality education to funding environmental conservancy projects through the Tahoe Fund with these offerings.

Tahoe SAFE Alliance Ski Days

Through its Epic Promise grant, Northstar has donated all-day lift tickets to support Tahoe SAFE Alliance’s mission to end the incidence and trauma of domestic/intimate partner violence and child abuse in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee. Even though Northstar tickets can be as high as $160, tickets may be purchases through the Tahoe SAFE Alliance for $111. Every $111 raised can provide three hours of counseling to a child. Tickets bought through Tahoe SAFE Alliance are valid any day of the season at Kirkwood, Heavenly and Northstar. | tahoesafealliance.org

Ladies’ Day Thursdays

If you’re female and it happens to dump snow on a Thursday, then it may be worth calling in sick to take advantage of Mt. Rose Ski Resort’s $29 lift ticket. Ski with friends and feel free to take advantage of Ladies’ Day clinics for an extra $25. | skirose.com

Sierra Avalanche Center Ski & Ride Days

Participating in Sierra Avalanche Center Ski and Ride Days is a great way to support the mission of continuing to provide educational programs and avalanche advisory to those who like to go off-piste every so often. Details on participating resorts and days will be announced soon. | sierraavalanchecenter.org

Customer Appreciation Day

On Dec. 17, Tahoe Donner Downhill offers its annual Customer Appreciation Day. If you’ve never visited this quaint, 120-acre ski resort, now is the time to check it out. On this day, everyone skis or rides for $5. | tahoedonner.com

National Winter Trails Day

We appreciate you! | Courtesy Tahoe Donner Downhill

Skiing for Schools

Skiers and riders can buy discounted lift tickets to support the Excellence in Education Foundation knowing that 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit local schools in Truckee and the North Shore.

Participating resorts include Homewood, Northstar, Tahoe Donner Downhill and Cross Country, and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows with tickets available for skiing and riding starting Dec. 19. | exined.org 14

Celebrate National Winter Trails Day by learning how to snowshoe and cross-country ski. On Jan. 7 and 8, Kirkwood Mountain Resort will be offering a snowshoe rental and trail pass at 50 percent off.

The cross-country center will also be hosting an introduction on how to use the equipment, as well as help you become an expert in tromping through the snow in just 10 steps. | wintertrails.org/find-a-site

Ski Free on Your Birthday

Diamond Peak Ski Resort offers a free lift ticket to those lucky enough to be born in the winter. Present a photo ID at the ticket window and your arrival into this world will be honored with a free lift ticket.

If your birthday happens to fall outside of the ski season, then Diamond Peak offers a free ski day in celebration of your birthday on March 24. | diamondpeak.com

It’s your birthday! | Courtesy Diamond Peak

License Plates for Powder

Anyone who buys a California or Nevada Tahoe license plate between now and April 1, 2017 can receive two free alpine or Nordic lift tickets to any Lake Tahoe resort of his or her choice. These license plate fees go directly to the California Tahoe Conservancy and the Nevada Department of State Lands environmental improvement projects. | tahoeplates.com

Feel Good Fridays

Enjoy a $25 lift ticket on select Fridays at Boreal Mountain Resort; a portion of the proceeds will go toward the High Fives Foundation and the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. After you’re done shredding, check out live music and food specials up at the Boreal Bar. | rideboreal.com 

December 15-28, 2016

More Events CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

DEC. 22 | THURSDAY Merry Days & Holly Nights Olympic Valley

Squaw Valley offers Santa in The Village and on the slopes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ice Sculpture demonstrations from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Ice Garden with train rides from 3 to 6 p.m. Great Basin Carolers in the Village from 4 to 7 p.m. | squawalpine.com

Waffles and story time Twin Bridges

Sierra-at-Tahoe offers a waffle breakfast at Mama’s Kitchen from 9 to 9:45 a.m. while JR, the general manager, hosts a holiday reading. Kids can listen while the parents get ready for the slopes. | sierraattahoe.com

Heavenly Holidays South Lake Tahoe

Heavenly Ski Resort offers Santa’s SnowGlobe in the Village from 2 to 7 p.m. The 16-foot interactive snow globe is a great place to get pictures with Santa. Holiday music and holiday cheer included at Tamarack Lodge from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. | skiheavenly.com

Thank you members Soda Springs

Donner Summit Area Association will host a Members’ Appreciation Holiday Party at 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Summit Restaurant and Bar. Mingle, welcome winter and celebrate the holidays. Appetizers and open bar. | RSVP admin@donnersummitareaassociation.org

DEC. 23 | FRIDAY Merry Days & Holly Nights Olympic Valley

Squaw Valley offers Santa in The Village and on the slopes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ice Sculpture demonstrations from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Ice Garden with train rides from 3 to 6 p.m. Horse-drawn sleigh rides from 3 to 6 p.m.

Great Basin Carolers in the Village from 4 to 7 p.m. TOCCATA performance of “Messiah” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Merry Wonderland. | squawalpine.com

Waffles and story time Twin Bridges

Sierra-at-Tahoe offers a waffle breakfast at Mama’s Kitchen from 9 to 9:45 a.m. while JR, the general manager, hosts a holiday reading.

Kids can listen while the parents get ready for the slopes. | sierraattahoe.com

Heavenly Holidays South Lake Tahoe

Heavenly Ski Resort offers Santa’s SnowGlobe in the Village from 2 to 7 p.m. The 16-foot interactive snow globe is a great place to get pictures with Santa. Holiday music and holiday cheer included at Tamarack Lodge from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. | skiheavenly.com

Santa’s in the house Kings Beach

Holly, Jolly Christmas Party, featuring Santa Claus, is at Kings Beach Library from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Make an ornament, listen to books, vote for the best gingerbread house and see Santa. | (530) 546-2021

Guess who’s coming Northstar

The Ritz-Carlton will be hosting Santa and Mrs. Claus. Take your photo with the Claus couple from 5 to 7 p.m. Storytime with Mrs. Claus is from 7 to 8 p.m. | (530) 562-3046

DEC. 24 | SATURDAY

Carolers in the Village from 4 to 7 p.m. Christmas Candle Light Service from 9 to 10:30 p.m. at Merry Wonderland. | squawalpine.com

OUT & ABOUT

Holiday

Sale

CLOTHING | SHOES | ACCESSORIES

Waffles and storytime Twin Bridges

Sierra-at-Tahoe offers a waffle breakfast at Mama’s Kitchen from 9 to 9:45 a.m. while JR, the general manager, hosts a holiday reading. Kids can listen while the parents get ready for the slopes. Santa will be on the slopes from 9 to 4 p.m. The Ugly Sweater Après Ski Party is from 2 to 5 p.m. Prizes for the ugliest. | sierraattahoe.com

Heavenly Holidays South Lake Tahoe

Heavenly Ski Resort offers Santa’s SnowGlobe in the Village from 2 to 7 p.m. The 16-foot interactive snow globe is a great place to get pictures with Santa. Holiday music and holiday cheer included at Tamarack Lodge from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. | skiheavenly.com

Santa with canes Incline Village

Santa and Penguin Pete will be on the slopes at Diamond Peak’s Base Area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. handing out candy canes and taking pictures with the kids. | diamondpeak.com

Like walking on snow Olympic Valley

Resort at Squaw Creek offers a sunset snowshoe tour at 4:30 p.m. Meet at the Ice Rink. Fee includes snowshoe rental and s’mores. $45. | RSVP (530) 581-6610

Torchlight Parade Tahoe City

Granlibakken hosts a Christmas Torchlight Parade from 4 to 8 p.m. Ski down the historic ski hill with an LED light, followed by gifts from Santa and cookies, hot drinks and mulled cider. | granlibakken.com

DEC. 25 | SUNDAY Merry Days & Holly Nights Olympic Valley

C A M I L A’S TA H O E

Boatworks Mall, Tahoe City

760 N. Lake Tahoe Blvd. Ste. 11

(530) 583-0120

Come shop with us at

The Resort at SquawCreek!

Squaw Valley offers Santa in The Village and on the slopes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | squawalpine.com

Ho-ho-ho pancakes Tahoe Donner

Have a holly jolly breakfast with Santa on Christmas morning. Breakfast starts at 10 a.m. at Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area, followed by a half day of skiing and riding with Santa. Lifts open at 11:30 a.m. | tahoedonner.com

Santa with canes Incline Village

Santa and Penguin Pete will be on the slopes at Diamond Peak’s Base Area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. handing out candy canes and taking pictures with the kids. | diamondpeak.com

DEC. 26 | MONDAY Like walking on snow Olympic Valley

Resort at Squaw Creek offers a sunset snowshoe tour at 4:30 p.m. Meet at the Ice Rink. Fee includes snowshoe rental and s’mores. $45. | RSVP (530) 581-6610

Photograph the moment Olympic Valley

Gallery Keoki’s annual Holiday Reception is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Village at Squaw Valley. The event is free and for all ages.

No RSVP. | gallerykeoki.com

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

Merry Days & Holly Nights Olympic Valley

Squaw Valley offers Santa in The Village and on the slopes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ice Garden train rides from 3 to 6 p.m. Great Basin

530.583.1874

400 SQUAW CREEK ROAD

OLYMPIC VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 15

OUT & ABOUT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Courtesy Northstar California

Announcements

SNOWSHOE

STARGAZING TOURS Tahoe Star Tours will host a series of magical evenings under the stars that pair stargazing with a snowshoe tour in North Lake Tahoe this winter. Each event provides an opportunity to enjoy an educational evening in the snow learning about the night sky, led by local astronomer Tony Berendsen. Tours are offered Dec. 21 and 28, Jan. 14 and Feb. 11.

Berendsen leads every tour, with each featuring a lively science-based talk about the cosmos and poetry reading. Guests of all ages will enjoy an easy to moderate snowshoe walk with an unobstructed view of the cosmos, followed by the opportunity to view constellations through high-powered, professional telescopes.

Tours are approximately 2 to 2.5 hours in length, and meet at 5 p.m. at Northstar California Resort’s Cross-Country Ski, Telemark & Snowshoe Center. A guided snowshoe walk, laser tour of the night sky and telescopic viewing when guests reach The RitzCarlton, Lake Tahoe is included.

Tickets are $63 for ages 13 and older and $45 for kids ages 10 to 12. Snowshoe rentals are available for $21 per person. | RSVP northstarcalifornia.com

Volunteer snowshoers needed The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is seeking volunteers to assist with the 2017 Winter Trek Conservation Education Program at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Individuals who can volunteer a minimum of four hours per day, one day per week from Jan. 10 through March 30, 2017. Winter Trek takes place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Volunteers should be able to snowshoe for at least 90 minutes at an elevation of 9,100 feet without difficulty. Snowshoes are provided.

Experience working with kids is highly recommended and volunteers should be comfortable speaking to large groups.

Knowledge of Sierra Nevada natural history is a plus. Reliable transportation to the transit center in Stateline, Nev., is required and volunteers must attend the mandatory training session in early January. | E-mail jdnorman@fs.fed.us

Local help for Christmas Truckee Community Christmas, a nonprofit organization, has provided help in the form of a large box of food items, grocery store gift cards, toys and coats for more than 25 years to individuals and families identified as the most in need during the holiday season. This program, that vets recipients and depends on the generosity of locals, will benefit several hundred Truckee families, teenage moms and their babies and lowincome or homebound seniors.

Food collection barrels for nonperishable items will be placed at SaveMart.

16

Collection bins for toys will be at banks, real estate offices, schools, homeowners’ association clubhouses and businesses around town. Warm, clean, gently used winter coats can be dropped off at Church of the Mountains in Truckee and Tahoe Forest Church on Hirschdale Road.

Donors can also provide necessities for seniors; Gratitudes in downtown Truckee is coordinating senior gift donations.

In addition to goods and services, help is needed to sort, pack and wrap donated items at the SELS school gym on Donner Pass Road on Dec. 15 and 16. The food drive needs assistance from volunteers too.

Tax-deductible contribution checks can be mailed to Truckee Community Christmas, P.O. Box 2955, Truckee, CA. 96160 or visit truckeecommunitychristmas. com to donate online. | (530) 587-2757

Help count Tahoe birds The Christmas Bird Count is widely regarded as the largest and oldest citizen science project in the world. Each year, through Jan. 5, tens of thousands of volunteers head out into the winter to count birds for a day. This tradition goes back to 1900, and in the intervening years, these birders have built a database on bird populations unmatched by any other wildlife census.

Tahoe Institute for Science co-founder Will Richardson has coordinated the South Lake Tahoe bird count since 2004.

This year, the South Lake Tahoe bird count has been scheduled for Dec. 17 at Cove East as a group and then split into

Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for a complete list of Announcements. groups. Interested volunteers should meet at Alpina Coffee Cafe at 8 a.m. A pizza party will conclude the day at 5 p.m.

The 36th annual mid-winter Bald Eagle count is on Jan. 13, 2017, from 9 a.m. to noon.

There are 26 stations located around the Lake Tahoe Basin that need volunteers. Participants must commit to showing up 15 minutes early and staying for the entire three-hour session.

This year, TINS will be holding a special learn about the count dinner the night before the survey from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lake Tahoe Pizza Co. in South Lake Tahoe. The cost is $15 for the dinner. Purchase tickets for the dinner by Jan. 9, 2017. | RSVP sarah@tinsweb.org

Pets for the year

Cut your own tree

Seeing-eye skiers needed

Eldorado National Forest | Christmastree-cutting permits for pine, fir or cedar trees up to 6 inches in diameter at the base.

Christmas-tree permits will be issued with tree tags for $10 each, with a limit of two per family or address. These permits must be purchased in person, are not transferable and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. | fs.usda.gov/eldorado Plumas National Forest | Christmastree-cutting permits are available at forest offices or by mail. Walk-in permits are available through Dec. 24. Permits are $10 and include a map of tree-cutting areas, as well as safety information and helpful tips.

Two permits are allowed per household. | fs.usda.gov/plumas Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit | Christmas tree permits for $10 each, with a limit of two permits per family. Permits must be purchased in person, are not transferable and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Permit holders may choose from a variety of pine, fir or cedar in designated cutting areas in the Lake Tahoe Basin. | fs.usda.gov/ltbmu On the South Shore, permits will be sold at the Forest Supervisor’s office. For more information, call (530) 543-2600.

On the North Shore, permits will be sold at the Incline Village Forest Service office, For more information, call (775) 831-0914.

In Tahoe City, permits will be sold at the North Lake Tahoe Visitor Center, For more information, call (530) 581-6900.

The Every Kid in a Park program offers one free Christmas tree permit to fourthgrade students who present a valid paper voucher or durable Every Kid in a Park pass. Visit everykidinapark.gov for details.

Ski for Light is looking for experienced cross-country skiers to serve as ski guides for blind, visually and mobility impaired adults. Ski for Light, Inc. is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit corporation founded in 1975.

It was created by a group of NorwegianAmericans who were familiar with a program in Norway, the Ridderrenn, and the success that program has enjoyed teaching blind/visually-impaired and mobilityimpaired people the Norwegian national sport of cross-country skiing. | sfl.org

Shop to win The Shop Local Holiday Contest has begun and continues until Christmas Eve. Participate by picking up a card and earning stamps for purchases made at participating businesses in North Tahoe and Truckee.

Completed cards will be entered to win a $500 cash prize or a vacation valued at $1,500. | shopnorthtahoetruckee.com

Watch where you park Winter parking restrictions around the greater North Lake Tahoe area are in effect until May 1, 2017. Parking along roadway shoulders during this time is prohibited.

When parking in downtown areas, visitors are encouraged to use designated public parking lots. County officials also advise renters with vacation homes to alert their tenants of seasonal parking restrictions.

Illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed and fined or towed, if necessary. | placer.ca.gov

The Humane Society of TruckeeTahoe’s 2017 calendar is now available for sale online and in stores. Each year the Humane Society endeavors to develop an inspired concept for the calendar. This year’s theme is “This is You When … .”

Calendar sales benefit the Humane Society.

Purchase calendars online or at the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe’s shelter, Burger Me, Canine Country Truckee, Mountain Hardware & Sports, Tahoe Integrative Veterinary Care, Truckee-Tahoe Pet Lodge and Wild Cherries Coffee House. | hstt.org

Rent a space now The 2017 Business Expo on March 31, 2017 at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe is accepting booth registrations. Booth space is available to Tahoe Chamber member businesses only and is assigned on a first-paid, firstreserved basis. Early bird registration offers a 15 percent discount before Jan. 1. All businesses registered on or before Feb. 1 will be eligible to attend the EXPO Prep Workshop free of charge. Sponsorship opportunities are available, as well. | (775) 588-1728 or tahoechamber.org

Eco-submissions sought The Tahoe Fund has opened its online project submission portal for environmental organizations that would like to partner with the Tahoe Fund to help solve environmental challenges at Lake Tahoe. Organizations are invited to submit project ideas

by Jan. 29, 2017. The Tahoe Fund is seeking projects for its 2017 Signature and Premier Project Portfolios. These are late-stage projects that will improve Lake Tahoe’s environment by enhancing the water quality of the lake, restoring watersheds, providing healthier forests, improving transportation and fostering outdoor recreation. The organization also seeks projects to build a greater sense of stewardship in the Tahoe Basin. | tahoefund.org

Keeping it real and safe Taylor Creek is the most popular interpretive center in the Tahoe Basin.

Visitation spikes in the fall when the kokanee salmon begin spawning up the creek and the waters turn alive with the bright red fish — visits from humans and bears alike. Unfortunately, there is no proper way to responsibly protect the salmon and bears from selfie-taking visitors, which putts all three in danger.

The Tahoe Fund is working with the U.S. Forest Service to design a new overlook at Taylor Creek that will provide a viewing location that will significantly lower the issue of human-bear conflicts.

The fundraising goal is $28,000. All donations | tahoefund.org

December 15-28, 2016

Ski and ride with Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows chief mountain host and Olympic gold medalist, Jonny Moseley. Ticket and passholders can enjoy a free 2-hour mountain tour of Squaw Valley or Alpine Meadows. Must be an intermediate skier. If you miss him on the slopes, join him after for après and poster signing. Full schedule online. | squawalpine. com

DEC. 27 | TUESDAY What’s your genre South Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Writers Works is an open workshop for writers of all genres that meets every other Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Charter Advertising Design. | bonafidebooks.com

Like walking on snow Olympic Valley

Resort at Squaw Creek offers a sunset snowshoe tour at 4:30 p.m. Meet at the Ice Rink. Fee includes snowshoe rental and s’mores. $45. | RSVP (530) 581-6610

Dine with Olympians Olympic Valley

Squaw Valley hosts a Farm to Table Dinner with local Olympic athletes at 5:30 p.m. at Merry Wonderland in Olympic Village Lodge.

Gather beside local legends for an intimate evening of stories, camaraderie and history in the making over a delicious four-course, family-style meal and drinks. $29, ages 4 to 12; $59, ages 13 to adult; free, ages 3 and younger. | RSVP squawalpine.com

Spirited dinner party Truckee

Stella at Cedar House Sport Hotel offers a Winter Comfort Pop Up Dinner. There is one tasting menu for the gathering, seating is communal and each course is served at the same time with commentary from the Stella kitchen team. $97 per person. Seating is limited. | RSVP cedarhousesporthotel.com

DEC. 28 | WEDNESDAY Just your basics Truckee

Membership 101 hosted by Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce is from 8 to 9 a.m. the fourth Wednesday of every month at the California Welcome Center. | (530) 587-8808

Heavenly Holidays South Lake Tahoe

Heavenly Ski Resort offers Ice Sculpting exhibitions in the Village from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Unbuckle Après Ski Party at Tamarack Lodge from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. | skiheavenly.com

Dine with Olympians Olympic Valley

Squaw Valley hosts a Farm to Table Dinner with local Olympic athletes at 5:30 p.m. at Merry Wonderland in Olympic Village Lodge.

Gather beside local legends for an intimate evening of stories, camaraderie and history in the making over a delicious four-course, family-style meal and drinks. “Secret Life of Pets” movie at 7 p.m. $29, ages 4 to 12; $59, ages 13 to adult; free, ages 3 and younger. | RSVP squawalpine.com

Spirited dinner party Truckee

Stella at Cedar House Sport Hotel offers a Winter Comfort Pop Up Dinner. There is one tasting menu for the gathering, seating is communal and each course is served at the same time with commentary from the Stella kitchen team. is $97 per person. Seating is limited. | RSVP cedarhousesporthotel.com

Dazzling white evening Olympic Valley

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Foundation presents The White Out Soiree from 6 to 9 p.m. at Plaza Bar. Casual, fun and festive, this evening is filled with food, drinks, rockin’ music and a silent auction. | Tickets squawalpine.com

DEC. 29 | THURSDAY Heavenly Holidays South Lake Tahoe

Heavenly Ski Resort offers Ice Sculpting exhibitions in the Village from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Unbuckle Après Ski Party at Tamarack Lodge from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. | skiheavenly.com

Après ski awards party Norden

Sugar Bowl Ski Club Kickoff Party is from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hambrechts’ private residence.

The ski club will award two ski-team, academy athletes with scholarships. Food and drinks. | RSVP donnersummitareaassociation.org

Like walking on snow Olympic Valley

Resort at Squaw Creek offers a sunset snowshoe tour at 4:30 p.m. Meet at the Ice Rink. Fee includes snowshoe rental and s’mores. $45. | RSVP (530) 581-6610

Spirited dinner party Truckee

Try the newest skis, boots and poles from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tahoe Donner Cross Country. Industry reps will be on site with demo gear. Free event; trail pass required. | tahoedonner.com

Stella at Cedar House Sport Hotel offers a Winter Comfort Pop Up Dinner. There is one tasting menu for the gathering, seating is communal and each course is served at the same time with commentary from the Stella kitchen team. $97 per person. Seating is limited. | RSVP cedarhousesporthotel.com

Like walking on snow Olympic Valley

Inspired by the Alps Alpine Meadows

Demo Day Tahoe Donner

Resort at Squaw Creek offers a sunset snowshoe tour at 4:30 p.m. Meet at the Ice Rink. Fee includes snowshoe rental and s’mores. $45. | RSVP (530) 581-6610

Alpine Meadows offers a Moonlit Snowshoe Tour and Dinner. Seating times are 5:30, 6:20 and 7:30 p.m. Arrive at Base Lodge 15 minutes before your seating time. Distance quarter-mile uphill. Alps-inspired menu. $35, child; $74, adult. | RSVP squawalpine.com

ALPINE MEADOWS (530) 581-8374 | squawalpine.com 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets also good at Squaw Valley.

BOREAL MOUNTAIN RESORT (530) 426-3666 | rideboreal.com 9 a.m.-9 p.m. All tickets good until 9 p.m.

DIAMOND PEAK (775) 831-1177 | diamondpeak.com 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Last Tracks Feb.-April.

DONNER SKI RANCH (530) 426-3635 | donnerskiranch.com 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tubing hill.

GRANLIBAKKEN OPENS DEC. 19 (530) 581-7533 | granlibakken.com Fri.-Sun. & holidays only. Snow play area, open daily. Warming hut open daily.

HEAVENLY (775) 586-7000 #1 | skiheavenly.com 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays; 8:30 a.m. weekends. Sledding, tubing, cross-country and snow bikes available.

HOMEWOOD MOUNTAIN RESORT (530) 525-2900 | skihomewood.com 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Snowcat skiing.

KIRKWOOD (877) 547-5966 | kirkwood.com 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Cross-country ski, tube, dog sled, Snowcat tours.

MT. ROSE SKI TAHOE (775) 849-0704 | (800) 754-7673 | skirose.com 9 a.m -4 p.m.

NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA (530) 562-1330 | northstarcalifornia.com 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tubing lanes and lift.

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE (530) 659-7475 | sierraattahoe.com 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; 8:30 a.m. weekends & peak times.

Tubing, snowshoe trails.

SODA SPRINGS (530) 426-3901 | skisodasprings.com 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thurs.-Mon. & holidays Snow tubing 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily.

SQUAW VALLEY (530) 583-6955 | squawalpine.com 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dawn Patrol 7:40 a.m. select dates.

Tickets also good at Alpine Meadows.

SUGAR BOWL (530) 426-1111 | sugarbowl.com 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Connects to Royal Gorge Cross Country.

TAHOE DONNER DOWNHILL (530) 587-9444 #2 | tahoedonner.com 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Base 6,835’ Vertical 1,802’

2,400

Base 7,200’ Vertical 500’

380

Base 6,700’ Vertical 1,840’

655

Base 7,031’ Vertical 750’

505

Base 6,200’ Vertical 300’

10

Base 6,540’ CA 7,200’ NV Vertical 3,500’

4,800

Base 6,230’ Vertical 2,510’

Base 7,800’ Vertical 2,000’

TERRAIN

MILITARY DISCOUNTS

SKIABLE ACRES

NIGHT SKIING

ELEVATION

TERRAIN PARKS

*Ski areas open depending on conditions.

SHUTTLE BUS

THE RESORTS

Novice 25% Intermediate 40%

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Advanced 35%

Novice 30% Intermediate 55%

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6

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Novice 18% Intermediate 46%

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Advanced 36%

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Novice 25% Intermediate 40% Advanced 35%

Novice 20% Intermediate 45%

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Novice 15% 2,010

Intermediate 40% Advanced 30% Expert 15%

Novice 12% 2,300

Intermediate 30% Advanced 38%

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Expert 20%

Novice 20%

Base 8,260’ Vertical 1,800’

1,200+

Base 6,330’ Vertical 2,280’

3,170

Base 6,640’ Vertical 2,212’

2,000

Base 6,700’ Vertical 550’

200

Base 6,200’ Vertical 2,850’

3,600

Base 6,883’ Vertical 1,500’

1,650

Base 6,750’ Vertical 600’

120

Intermediate 30% Advanced 40%

Reno

Ski with an Olympian Area venues

Tahoe Star Tours will host an evening under the stars pairing stargazing with a snowshoe tour led by local astronomer, Tony Berendsen.

Guests of all ages will enjoy an easy to moderate snowshoe walk followed a view of constellations through high-powered telescopes. Tours are approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Meet at 5 p.m. at Northstar’s CrossCountry Ski, Telemark & Snowshoe Center. | tahoestartours.com

Expert 10%

Novice 11% Intermediate 56%

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Novice 17% Intermediate 45% Advanced 38%

Truckee

DEC. 26-31 | MONDAY-SATURDAY

Snowshoe under the stars Northstar

CHILD CARE

Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding

More Events CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

OUT & ABOUT

Novice 40% Intermediate 60%

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Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for a complete list of Events.

17

FEATURE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

MAKING SNOW CHANGING THE BUSINESS OF WINTER S T O R Y B Y K AY L A A N D E R S O N

L

ake Tahoe is famous for giving skiers and riders more than 300 days of sunshine and more than 400 inches of snowfall, but sometimes there have been winters when all skiers and riders want is more snow. Luckily the 2015-16 winter season dumped enough snow in the region, but the four years before that were some rough seasons.

The evolution of snowmaking has been a game changer for Tahoe resorts by giving them more control, better onsnow experiences for their guests and a full winter season of snow without being solely dependent on Mother Nature. If relying on Mother Nature alone, Tahoe resorts may not be able to open until early to mid-December and it’s all up to the weather on how long they can stay open.

E X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT

TahoePowder.ski This story originally appeared in the Winter 2016-17 edition of Tahoe Powder magazine.

Download the free digital issue:

TheTahoeWeekly.com issuu.com/TheTahoeWeekly Free issuu app in iTunes & GooglePlay

MAKING SNOW SINCE THE 1930S The first snowmaking system in North America came in 1934 from an idea to use shaved ice to create competition ski jumps, according to the the New England Ski Museum.

In 1949, a company called Tey took a snowmaking prototype to Mohawk Mountain in Connecticut to try to create a ski slope for the masses. Soon after, Larchmont Farms Company adapted irrigation nozzles that released live steam and water to protect crops from frost to use in snowmaking. Larchmont has largely been credited with discovering how to manufacture snow.

Throughout the 1950s, Larchmont snowmaking systems were integrated into mountain operations of ski resorts on the East Coast and soon made its way west. In 1963, Killington Ski Resort in Colorado installed a Larchmont system but then soon upgraded to Ratnik Industries freeze-proof snowmaking system in 1964. As snowmaking systems continued to improve and evolve, SMI and Hedco came on the market with its airless snowmakers.

In 1966, Diamond Peak was the first ski resort in Lake Tahoe to install snowmaking on its mountain and then in the late 1970s other Tahoe resorts followed. By the early 1980s, ski resorts across the country started investing in snowmaking in an effort to provide a consistent winter recreational product.

LEADING THE WAY IN TAHOE As snowmaking systems become more efficient, Tahoe resorts open earlier each year (depending on the cold temperatures), which translates to more skier days for snow enthusiasts. In the past, an average ski resort season was mid-December through mid-April but now some resorts can be open from midNovember through mid-May. This is a full two-month extension largely due to snowmaking.

18

Fifty years ago, Diamond Peak founder Art Wood committed $2 million to build a ski area with equipment to make snow as an insurance policy against Mother Nature (or to enhance what she already provided). Bringing on Ratniks and then expanding its fleet to include HKD Snowmakers, SMI Pumas and SMI Super Wizards, Diamond Peak can cover 75 percent of developed terrain in manmade snow. Their innovation in those early years has helped drive revenue in lowsnow seasons.

“Ski resorts would not be able to exist the way they did back then without the snowmaking capabilities we have now,” says Diamond Peak general manager Mike Bandelin. He remembers 1977 as being a particularly bad snow season in Lake Tahoe and that’s when other ski areas started looking at snowmaking more seriously.

With the highest base altitude in Lake Tahoe at 8,260 feet and its north-facing runs, Mt. Rose has been able to get away with an abundance of natural snow for most of its history (no doubt saving money on not needing artificial snow).

But in one mid-1990s season when the snow came rather late, Mt. Rose took the weather into its own hands by tapping into the water line to install a snowmaker on the beginner Ponderosa run.

“We had one snowmaker hooked up to the fire hydrant,” recalls Mt. Rose general manager Paul Senft.

The mountain later expanded its snowmaking on the Kit Carson Trail.

Then, in the summer of 2011, Mt. Rose laid snowmaking pipe on Silver Dollar trail to allow skiers’ access to the Slide Bowl and Winters Creek Lodge.

“The second we can get a run open, we do,” says Mt. Rose marketing director Mike Pierce. “Our goal is to get the whole mountain open as quickly as possible,” he adds. Pierce says that being one of the first resorts open for the winter season inspires confidence that Mt. Rose can deliver a great product throughout the rest of the season.

“Getting open by Thanksgiving used to be a bonus, but now it’s a priority,” he says, adding that there’s heavy competition with other Lake Tahoe ski resorts to open first, Pierce says.

For this season, Alpine Meadows added five HKD SV10 snowmaking guns to be able to cover the lower portion of Summit run and Squaw Valley added high-capacity snowmaking guns to be able to build better snow surfaces for Big Blue, Siberia and Headwall loading areas. With 350 snowmaking guns across both mountains, Squaw Alpine can turn on snow guns anywhere in a matter of seconds.

“We can turn on the whole system at the same time, bumping up our opening day because we have that confidence to make snow whenever and wherever we want,” says Squaw Alpine public relations manager Liesl Kenney. Adding snowmaking guns to the Kangaroo area at Alpine Meadows ensures that one of their most popular beginner areas opens with plenty of snow coverage over the Thanksgiving holiday.

“Our investment in grooming and snowmaking is our commitment to our guests. We depend heavily on natural snow, but we are even less dependent on it now. Snowmaking is a guarantee to our guests that we will have snow,” says Kenney.

The 2015-16 season was one of the resort’s earliest openings (Alpine Meadows opened Nov. 12 and Squaw Valley opened Nov. 14) largely due to snowmaking. “We got a lot of snow, but snowmaking helped,” Kenney says.

“We are able to manipulate the actual quality of the snow making that wet, dense snow that’s so good to ski on,” Kenney says. “Before, you would have to know the exact temperature and wet bulb of every snow gun on the mountain, but now it’s all automated. You can get the whole mountain online within seconds and when you’re trying to get open, every second counts.”

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

ADVANTAGES OF TECHNOLOGY

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is at the tail end of its multi-year $70 million in capital improvements with $9 million in snowmaking over a span of six years.

Northstar California director of mountain operations Jim Larmore has worked in the ski industry his whole life and is passionate about snowmaking.

BRAGGING RIGHTS

December 15-28, 2016

FEATURE

LEFT: A snow gun pumps out freezing

water at Diamond Peak. | Kayla Anderson THIS PAGE: Courtesy Northstar California

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snow without being solely dependent on Mother Nature.

Spending 23 years at Heavenly as its snow surfaces director and the past five years at Northstar running its mountain operations, Larmore has seen improvement in snowmaking efficiencies. Gone are the days when he walked around the mountain at night with a thermometer.

Now Larmore can turn on a snow gun with the push a button from the comfort of his own home.

“In the old days everything was manual with snow pumps, compressors, laying pipe and communicating with telephones and radios compared to what it is now,” Larmore says.

He says that new technology and software systems have advanced snowmaking to create a more efficient and safer operation. Although some technical expertise is still needed (a push of a button can turn on a 750 horsepower gun), quick communication is key when you are trying to make quality snow.

“Efficiency [in snowmaking] is way up from the old days. It’s like comparing a wagon train to a car,” says Larmore. “If you have to do it manually, it takes so long. From 20 years ago to today it’s not even the same industry.”

Northstar now has the ability to make snow accessible from every chairlift and can cover up to 70 percent of its 3,910 acres of skiable terrain.

“Snowmaking helps to get open by the Christmas holiday and sustain yourself through March. Even if it doesn’t snow, we will have a great product for

H A P P Y H O L I D AY S F R O M O U R F A M I LY T O Y O U R S

our guests – guaranteed,” he says.

Larmore adds that when Vail Resorts purchased Heavenly, it already had a large snowmaking system and the corporation continued to invest in upgrading snow guns and technology. Northstar sends out a snowmaking crew of 10 to 12 people per night shift and as the temperatures drop, the water consumption and workload increases.

“Heavenly and Northstar have the biggest snowmaking systems around, but at the end of the day it’s all about how many trails you have open and the quality of the snow,” he says.

Northstar communications specialist Cassandra Walker adds, “Jim will not allow opening day to happen without the experience that our skiers expect.”

All three Vail resorts in the Tahoe Sierra – Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar –opened for the 2016-17 season on Nov. 18.

Nothing beats being able to go outside and build a snowman, go sledding or shred in fresh powder after a snowstorm. But, unfortunately, with the unpredictability of the weather, the storms just don’t roll in when ski resorts or skiers would like them to. If a ski resort doesn’t have snowmaking, it can hurt business and tourism for the entire region.

The millions invested in snowmaking through the years allows skiers and snowboarders to enjoy perfect onmountain conditions at the touch of a button. 

KEEP THIS AD AND RECEIVE

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TAHOE UNIVERSITY 39˚20’32”N 120˚12’13”W

19

OUT & ABOUT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

For the Kids

Courtesy Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows

Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for a complete list of kids’ activities.

Days during the Christmas break is Dec. 19 to 22 and Dec. 27 to 30. February Fun Days is offered during Ski/Skate Week from Feb. 21 to 24. Spring Fling Camp is from April 10 to 14. | (530) 582-7720 or tdrpd.org

Exploring is fun

SANTA CLAUS

I S C O M I N G TO TOW N

Santa Claus will be spending the holiday at Tahoe and Truckee’s local ski resorts visiting, skiing, sledding and having a jolly good time with kids of all ages. As well, look for special events to spend extra time with Old Saint Nick including breakfast with Santa, photos and letters to Santa, and more at the local resorts. See Events in this issue for details.

Make maritime ornaments

Play holiday days

Tahoe City Tahoe Maritime Museum offers ornament designing on Dec. 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids can choose from three unique wooden nautical designs, dig in and get crafty with paint, glue, stamps and glitter. Each child can make one ornament.

The suggested donation is $5. Drop-ins are welcome. | tahoemaritime.org

Incline Village, Nev. Incline Village Parks and Recreation offers a Homemade Holiday Cooking & Sewing Class on Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake Tahoe School This homemade holiday class includes baking favorite holiday treats and creating a homemade holiday gift. The class is for Grades 2 to 6.

The fee is $106 without an IVGID pass and $85 with a pass.

EPIC Base Camp at Lake Tahoe School, for Grades K to 5, is offered from Dec. 19 to 21, Dec. 26 to 28, Feb. 21 to 24 and April 10 to 13. Campers will enjoy activities that include swimming, arts and crafts, games and more. | (775) 832-1310 or yourtahoeplace.com

Girls create powerfully Truckee Kindred Creative Empowerment in Truckee offers full-day sessions for girls, ages 5 to 14, during the winter break from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mentors and interns are welcome. The cost is $55 per day.

On Dec. 19, students will turn old sweaters into a new fashion statement.

Focus will include cutting patterns, knitting, simple hand sewing techniques and design.

On Dec 20, students will create their own terrariums. On Dec. 21, spirits of the forest come to life in painting, writing and metallic leaf basics. On Dec. 22, students will create small candles, body butter, aromatherapy misters and bath salts. On Dec. 27, students will carve stamps, learn about printmaking, calligraphy and other hand-drawn typesets. On Dec. 28, painting taken to the next level as we experiment with melting wax landscapes and other multimedia delights.

On Dec. 29, students will learn how to make a mold using their hands as the subject matter, then pour and create base, then add metallic finish and woodwork for base. | Register kindredtruckee.org 20

Shop while they play Reno & Sparks, Nev. Arts for All Nevada offers holiday art mini-camps for ages 6 to 10, so parents can get in some last-minute shopping. The Larry D. Johnson Community Center in Sparks will offer the camp on Dec. 19, 20 and 21. Lake Mansion in Reno will offer the camps on Dec. 16, 19 to 21, 27 and 28.

The camps are from 9 a.m. to noon.

Participants will be introduced to creative movement, visual art and acting/ theater each day. Children should bring water and a mid-morning snack. The fee is $20 and supplies are included. | (775) 826-6100

School’s out for holiday Truckee Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District offers holiday camps when school is out for Grades K to 5 at the Community Recreation Center. Winter Wonderland

Truckee KidZone Museum offers Art Studio Specialty on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. for toddlers, ages 1 to 3. Children will be introduced to a gooey or sticky medium in which to glue, stamp, build or simply explore. Family Fun Fridays are at 11 a.m.

All classes are free to members or with the price of admission.

On Dec. 15, Bilingual Sing Along with Brooke is at 10:30 a.m. Learn with your child basic musical skills and songs.

During the Christmas break, there will be a science camp for girls ages 4 to 7 and for girls 8 to 11 from Dec. 26 to 30. See the Web site for details. | kidzonemuseum.org

Little ones like to congregate Incline Village, Nev. Tahoe Tiny Timbers Gym Time at Incline Village Recreation Center is for ages newborn to 5 on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. This is an opportunity for youngsters to socialize and use gross motor skills in a stimulating environment. Caregivers/parents must be present. | yourtahoeplace.com

Free gym time Truckee Toddler Gymtime is for walking children to age 3 and their parents/ caregivers. They can enjoy socialization and active play with play equipment, including pushing and riding toys, balls, hoops, slides and tunnel mazes. This drop-in class in the big gym at the TTUSD District Office is parent-facilitated and free of charge. It will be on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. following the school district schedule. | truckeefrc.org

Little classes for little people Truckee Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District offers several ongoing classes for babies and parents. Mommy & Me Curiosities is on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 to 10:30 a.m. for ages 1 to 3. Baby & Me Discoveries is on Wednesdays from 11 to noon for ages 1 to 3. Baby Bears Yoga is on Tuesdays from 11 to noon for ages 2 to 5. The instructor for all is Renee Grennan; classes are held at the Community Art Center and can be paid for the month or by drop-in fee.

Music Together Family Class is on Tuesdays from 10 to 10:45 a.m. or Saturdays from 11 to 11:45 a.m. for age birth to 5. Parents must stay with students.

Brooke Chabot is the instructor. | Register tdrpd.org

December 15-28, 2016

OUT & ABOUT

ADVERTISEMENT

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NORTH LAKE TAHOE

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INCLINE VILLAGE

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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

Snow Play Area on Fairway Blvd., next to the Chateau, on the driving range. Bring own equipment.

MOUNT ROSE Near the Mount Rose summit, enjoy sledding in Tahoe Meadows off Highway 431. Bring equipment.

(530) 542-6262 | citiofslt.com Indoor facility open year-round. BlueGo

TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK (530) 583-1516 | wintersportspark.com Ice skating & rentals. Club House. TART

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK

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TRUCKEE

(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com At Truckee River Regional Park. Skate rentals, broomball leagues, ice dancing & hockey lessons. Skate rentals & season passes available. TART

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OLYMPIC VALLEY

SQUAW VALLEY

PUBLIC POOLS

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ICE SKATING

Tubing & mini snowmobiles. TART

INCLINE VILLAGE

(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com 25-yard, 8-lane indoor pool at Incline Recreation Center, swim lessons, aqua fitness, 1-meter spring diving board, inflatable slide (weekends).

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ECHO LAKE

(530) 644-2324 Highway 50 at Echo Lake Road. Bring equipment.*

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SAWMILL POND

Swimming Lagoon & Spa at High Camp at Squaw Valley, free form lagoon with 50-meter lap lanes, two islands with waterfalls and native boulders. Reopens spring 2017.

TART

TAYLOR CREEK

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

On Lake Tahoe Blvd. Bring equipment. BlueGo

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STATELINE

KAHLE PARK

TRUCKEE

SNOWSHOEING

WinterSportsPark.com 530-583-1516 Full Service Bar

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

& Restaurant

Highway 89, north of Camp Richardson Road. Bring equipment.* BlueGo

(530) 542-6056 | citiofslt.com 25-yard indoor/outdoor year-round pool. Lessons. BlueGo

SLEDDING

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

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(775) 586-7271 | douglascountynv.gov

(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com Indoor pools with competition pool and warm water pool, diving board, swim training, hydraulic lift and lessons. TART

Off Highway 207. Bring equipment. BlueGo

TRUCKEE & BEYOND

ROCK CLIMBING WALLS

DONNER SUMMIT

TRUCKEE

South side of I-80, Castle Peak exit beyond Boreal Inn frontage road. Bring equipment.*

Community Recreation Center offers 29’ climbing wall & 12’ bouldering wall. All ages & levels. Lessons available. TART

TAHOE DONNER

(530) 587-3558

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(530) 587-9437 | tahoedonner.com At Trout Creek Recreation Center. No personal sleds.

Family events all season.

SLEDDING & TUBING

YUBA PASS

EAST SHORE

(530) 994-3401

SPOONER LAKE

Highway 49 at Yuba Pass. Bring equipment.*

(775) 831-0494

State park open for general snow play. Bring equipment.

WEST SHORE

BLACKWOOD CANYON

HOPE VALLEY AREA

(530) 543-2600

CARSON PASS

Snowplay area off Hwy. 89, 3 miles south of Tahoe City.

Bring equipment.*

(209) 295-4251

Highway 88 near Carson Pass. Bring equipment.*

GRANLIBAKKEN

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HOPE VALLEY Highway 88 at Blue Lakes Road. Bring equipment.*

Machine-groomed snow play area; no tubes or toboggans allowed. All ages.

MEISS MEADOW

TAHOE CITY

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(209) 295-4251

Highway 88 near Carson Pass. Bring equipment.*

Gentle slope on Highway 89 South, one-eighth mile south of the wye. Bring equipment. TART

65KM OF GROOMED TRAILS CAFE AND COZY DAY LODGE

Call (530) 546-5995, ext. 100, to be listed in Family Fun. ALL ACTIVITIES ARE WEATHER DEPENDENT. * Sno-park permits required. Go to ohv.parks.ca.gov/snoparks or find locations at (916) 324-1222.

BUS & SHUTTLE SCHEDULES

North Lake Tahoe & Truckee: laketahoetransit.com | South Lake Tahoe: bluego.org

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Text “TAHOEXC” to 24587 for coupons 21

FEATURE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

SIERRA STORIES

BY MARK McLAUGHLIN

Re x the Blizzard King | Tr u c k e e ’s c a n i n e s u p e r h e r o respected, which minimized fights. What made Rex go? One observer said, “Rex was five pounds of bones and hair, the rest was all heart.”

Rex’s storied career in wintertime rescue operations is legendary, but search and rescue training was almost a tradition at the Mason’s White Way Kennels. During World War II, the Masons volunteered their Samoyeds for service in the U.S. Army and several dogs were trained to parachute from small aircraft for remote rescue missions. A sled rigged with a parachute was first dropped from the plane, and then the dogs, one by one, each with a chute. Once on the ground, the dogs were gathered and hitched to the sled. The military exercises demonstrated the adaptability and trainability of the Samoyed, but criticism about animal cruelty from the Samoyed Club of America forced Ms. Mason to eventually discontinue the program. It’s likely that Rex received parachute jump training, but no one knows for sure.

Rex of White Way was a superhero Samoyed known

W

ith its wide-open spaces, clear streams and lakes, and absence of ticks and fleas, the Tahoe-Truckee region is a dog’s paradise. By the 1860s, sled dogs were common in the mountains along with horse-drawn sleighs. In the early decades of the 20th Century, Truckee thrived as the dog-sled racing capital of the United States, attracting thousands of spectators each winter.

Men dominated the sport until 1928 when Thula Geelan entered the Tahoe Dog Derby. Geelan was the first female to match her skills and endurance against men in the international dog-sled racing circuit. In 1931, on her third attempt, she won the Tahoe Derby beating seven men, among them the most noted drivers in the world. Geelan and her team of Irish Setters finished the 60-mile race in less than six hours, winning a $1,000 prize.

History is replete with tales of amazing canines that made their mark on the region, but one stands out above the rest. Rex of White Way was a superhero Samoyed known for more than 30 mountain rescues over his lifetime, including an impressive effort delivering a Truckee doctor to a snowbound train west of Donner Pass in January 1952. His exceptional endurance and uncanny ability to forge ahead on stormy missions earned him the moniker The Blizzard King.

The story of Rex represents the classic lesson that perseverance and hard work can overcome obstacles and lead to success.

Initially, it didn’t look like Rex was going to have an exceptional life at all. A few months after he was born in 1946 at a Sacramento kennel called White Way, owners Agnes Mason and daughter, Aljean, took one look at the puppy and figured that he couldn’t be a candidate for their champion breeding program.

According to breeding standards at the time, Rex was too tall, his thick coat too short and his legs too gangly. Agnes almost considered Rex an embarrassment to her well-respected kennel, but over time he 22

Rex with trainer Lloyd Van Sickel. | Jim Cheskawich

became the top male of all American-born Samoyeds. During his life, Rex excelled in so many ways that he became the new standard for the breed. The height standard for male Samoyeds was raised 1.5 inches and 59 years after his death in 1957, the vast majority of Samoyeds in the United States can be traced genetically to Rex of White Way. Rex wasn’t a big dog, but he had heart, keen intelligence, speed and world-class strength. Among his many exploits, Rex set a world record in weight pulling, worked on a movie set with actor John Wayne, rescued crash victims from Truckee’s airfield and won countless sled races. As an adult, Rex weighed from 62 to 70 pounds; he was exceptionally fit and had the perfect temperament to lead dogs in harness.

Rex led with a bearing, strength and calmness that other team dogs recognized and

for more than 30 mountain rescues over his lifetime …

His exceptional endurance and uncanny ability to forge ahead on stormy missions earned him the moniker The Blizzard King.”

Lloyd Van Sickel was the chief trainer at White Way Kennels. Besides his work for the Mason’s kennel, Van Sickel owned a ranch for training and boarding dogs. Over the years, he provided dogs for the film industry, including John Wayne’s “Island in the Sky” filmed near Truckee and popular TV programs such as “Have Gun Will Travel” and “Bonanza.” Van Sickel took charge of Rex’s training when he was a pup and later moved to Truckee to get involved in dog-sled competitions.

TA H O E

Sled racing had enjoyed great popularity during the annual winter carnivals at Truckee, but World War II disrupted the contests. By 1949, however, the Donner Trail Association was sponsoring a team of racing dogs and challenging drivers of teams in Truckee (Van Sickel) and Tahoe City (Constable Harry Johanson). Ms. Mason had her 11 Samoyeds kenneled at the Hill Top Lodge above Truckee, along with a team of Irish Setters owned by Van Sickle.

Lloyd Van Sickle and his dogs soon became part of Truckee’s local color and from winter’s first snow could be seen mushing along the town’s icy streets. In March 1949, Van Sickle became the U.S. champion of 11-mile dog-sled racing when his team, led by Rex, took first place in a national competition held near Truckee.

Two months later, Van Sickle and Rex successfully defended their national crown in the Sierra Dog Derby in front of an estimated 1,000 spectators, beating out Lloyd’s brother, Bob, who was visiting from Idaho with a team of Malamutes.

Van Sickle’s location in Truckee made him the go to guy when it came to mountain rescues during winter months.

Engine-powered snow cats and functional snowmobiles were still in early development and unavailable; dog sleds were the only way to get supplies in or victims out of the snowbound backcountry. Tahoe City Constable Harry Johanson had been using his own teams for search and rescue in the Lake Tahoe area.

In 1949, Rex was involved in several rescue operations and over the next few years he was credited as the sled leader to at least three airplane crashes at Truckee’s airfield where pilots and passengers were successfully rescued.

Stay tuned for Part II in the Dec. 29 edition and at TheTahoeWeekly.com.  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. Check out his blog at tahoenuggets.com, or read more at TheTahoeWeekly.com.

Nostalgia

RECORD SNOWFALL IN NORDEN At the end of March 1983, the snowpack at Norden near Donner Pass peaked at 18 feet deep, one of the greatest depths ever recorded there. The family of a Southern Pacific employee, pictured, in Norden does their best to cope with record snowfall in April 1983.

Photograph and caption are from Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin’s newest book “Snowbound: Legendary Winters of the Tahoe Sierra” available in local stores or at thestormking.com.

Courtesy Richard Steinheimer

December 15-28, 2016

OUT & ABOUT

Snow Trails EXPLORE

TA H O E ’ S W I N T E R

T R A I LS

E X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com > Beginner’s guide to snowshoeing > Snowshoeing among the pines in Tahoe Donner > Lake Tahoe views from Chickadee Ridge > Trek to Coldstream Canyon > Touring Tahoe Meadows

SKI TOURING & SNOWSHOEING

TAHOE MEADOWS

LEVEL: Easy to strenuous

TRUCKEE

CABIN CREEK TRAIL

LEVEL: Easy to moderate A marked route of 3 to 6 miles follows old logging roads and Cabin Creek Road. This is a nice area for downhill practice while cross-country skiing. The terrain has gentle, rolling slopes. From Interstate 80, take Highway 89 south 3 miles, then turn right on Cabin Creek Road. The unmarked trailhead is 1 mile from the highway. Limited parking is available in a road cut, when plowed. There is moderate snowmobile use in the area.

DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK

LEVEL: Easy | (530) 582-7892

The park is mostly flat and open year-round. Skiers can enjoy the forests and boulder fields, glide down to the lake and meander through the park. There is an unmarked, 9.6-km, skier-packed trail starting near the Emigrant Trail Museum. For the more adventuresome, glide over the hills into Coldstream Canyon. TART

PETER GRUBB HUT/CASTLE PEAK LEVEL: Moderate to strenuous

A marked Nordic ski trail begins at the Castle Peak/Boreal interchange on Donner Summit off Interstate 80, west of Truckee. Take the Castle Peak exit and follow it for one-quarter mile to the intersection for the trailhead to the north that goes up Castle Valley and over Castle Pass. Follow unmarked trail to Peter Grubb Hut. For overnight stays at Peter Grubb Hut, call (530) 426-3632 for reservations.

POLE CREEK TRAIL SYSTEM LEVEL: Easy to strenuous

Unmarked trails follow roads along Pole Creek and Silver Creek Drainages. Trailhead 6 miles south of Truckee on Highway 89. Some parking on west side of highway. Trails follow U.S. Forest Service roads. Several loops.

SAGEHEN SUMMIT

LEVEL: Easy to moderate An unmarked route follows the road up to the creek bottom. Lateral roads offer many side trips. Trailhead at Sagehen Summit on the west side of Highway 89, 8 miles north of Truckee. Limited parking.

NORTH SHORE

BROCKWAY SUMMIT LEVEL: Easy to strenuous

Brockway Summit off Highway 267 offers an abundance of areas to ski. Between Northstar and Kings Beach, there are turnouts on both sides of the highway where Nordic skiers and snowshoers can follow logging and utility roads.

PAGE MEADOWS

LEVEL: Easy to moderate

On Mount Rose high above Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Meadows offers an expansive area where skiers can stretch their legs. Head up Highway 431 from Incline Village until you reach the meadows before the summit. This is a busy area on the weekends for skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers, so try skiing during the week.

WEST SHORE

BLACKWOOD CANYON

LEVEL: Moderate to strenuous The meadows in Blackwood Canyon offer a great place to get into the wilderness off Highway 89 on the West Shore.

Follow Highway 89 south from Tahoe City and park at the Kaspian Recreation Area. Skiers can glide along the road (not plowed in winter) or through the meadows. For a longer outing, head up the mountain to Barker Pass. This area also is open to snowmobilers.

MEEKS MEADOWS LEVEL: Easy

Meeks Meadows on the West Shore off Highway 89 offers a vast area to ski. The trailhead is across from the Meeks Bay Fire Station; look for the log cabin with red trim. Follow the U.S. Forest Service road or meander through the meadow and down to Meeks Creek.

SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK

LEVEL: Easy to moderate | (530) 525-7982 The Ed Z’berg/Sugar Pine Point State Park is a spectacular spot to cross-country ski or snowshoe among the dense forests of the West Shore or along Lake Tahoe’s shores.

The park offers more than 18 km of marked ski trails. Three groomed trails begin at the campground, 9 miles south of Tahoe City, with two skier-packed trails on the lake side of the park, accessed from the Day Use entrance.

Winter camping available. The park also offers a number of guided tours throughout the season including full moon snowshoe tours, ski tours of the 1960 Olympic crosscountry trails, historic snowshoe tours and the family Junior Ranger program; call for dates. No dogs allowed on trails. TART

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

TAYLOR CREEK

LEVEL: Easy | (530) 573-2600 Developed for beginners, this well-marked series of trails allows skiers to explore the area. Terrain is mostly flat and is good for the entire family. Take Highway 89 south around Emerald Bay to the Fallen Leaf Lake Area. Turn on Cathedral Road and park in the Sno-Park. Marked trails start at the parking lot with three trails near Fallen Leaf Lake. On the Lake side of Highway 89, follow the road to the Visitor Center to access the Tallac Historic Trail. SnoPark Permit required.*

Ski or snowshoe along an old road that meanders through a forest and into a cluster of meadows. Take Highway 89 south from Tahoe City, then turn right on Pine Avenue and right on Tahoe Park Heights Road. At the crest of the hill, take the middle fork, which becomes Big Pine Road, then take a left on Silver Tip. The parking area is at the top of the road.

SEE OUR EVENTS CALENDAR FOR GUIDED SNOWSHOE TREKS. * Sno-park permits required. Go to ohv.parks.ca.gov/snoparks or find locations at (916) 324-1222.

23

Eva Rose Lund STORY BY TIM HAUSERMAN

Cross-Country Skiing TRAILS

ASC TRAINING CENTER

KM 25

Open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wed.-Sun. Biathlon range, ski jumping hills.

Acres 500

BIJOU CROSS-COUNTRY (530) 542-6056

CAMP RICHARDSON (530) 542-6584 | camprichardson.com 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Cross-country & snowshoe rentals. Guided ski tours.

CLAIR TAPPAAN LODGE

She was born and raised in Tahoe.

She says that she has always loved art and has become locally renowned for her face-painting skills, which she exhibits at birthday parties, the Tahoe City farmers’ market or wherever she is needed.

According to her younger sister, Anja: “She is naturally good at every type of art.”

Trails 6+ KM 35

Intermediate 40% Advanced 0%

DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK

Trails 5

Novice 67%

(530) 587-7892 | parks.ca.gov

KM 16+

Intermediate 20%

Winter nature trail. Trail guides in museum.

Groomed None

Advanced 13%

GRANLIBAKKEN SKI AREA

Trails 2

Novice 25%

KM 7.5

Intermediate 75%

Groomed None

Advanced 0%

(530) 694-2266 | hopevalleyoutdoors.com

Trails 60 miles

Snowshoe & cross-country lessons, rentals (cash or check only).

Groomed 20 miles

(209) 258-7248 | kirkwood.com 3 trail systems. Two dog-friendly trails.

LAKE TAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (530) 541-4660 x717 ltccnordiccenter.weebly.com Groomed several times a week.

Trails 24 KM 80 Acres 4,200 Groomed 80 KM

KM 5-7

(775) 720-9355 | nevadanordic.org

Groomed 10 KM

NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA

Trails 18

(530) 542-3270 | northstarcalifornia.com

KM 35

Telemark, track, skating lessons daily. Nordic geocaching. Alpine ticket exchangeable for trail pass.

Acres 600

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK

Groomed 35 KM

simple story, while adding

ROYAL GORGE

Trails 60

(530) 426-3871 | royalgorge.com

KM 200+

bits of subtle humor.

Open 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Day lodge & 3 cafés along trail.

Offers snowbiking & snowkiting.

Acres 7,500

SQUAW CREEK CROSS COUNTRY

Trails 9

Do you know someone interesting in Tahoe?

To nominate someone you’d like to see featured, e-mail editor@tahoethisweek.com.

24

Groomed 200+ KM

(530) 583-6300, x6631 | squawcreek.com

KM 18

Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Guided snowshoe tours.

Dog sledding.

Acres 400

SUGAR PINE POINT (530) 525-7982 | parks.ca.gov

“Hue and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” is a full-color, perfect-bound paperback available at lulu.com.

•

•

•

1

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

N/A

•

•

N/A

•

N/A

Novice 20% Intermediate 60%

•

3

Advanced 20%

At Spooner Lake State Park.

Groomed 11 KM

“We always wanted for [our children] to just do whatever they wanted, but always had a ton of art supplies in the house,” she says.

As a sophomore, college is still a way down the road for Eva, but she is focusing on the Vancouver Film School as one possibility. She likes cinema, makeup and special effects, and she is excited that the school has a flexible, extensive program.

While she is not exactly sure what she wants to do with her life, she knows it will involve creating art. 

•

NEVADA NORDIC

Maps available at North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach. Sled hill, snow play area.

“Hue and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” is the story of Hue, a snail, and Ted, a keychain teddy bear, and their search for a blissful beach found in a place called, “Orona.” Lund does an impressive job of telling a simple story, while adding bits of subtle humor. For example, Ted has a birthmark that reads, “Made in China.”

The illustrations are simple, clear and loaded with charming colors.

“I came up with the snail character, Hue, first. I was just doodling as we drove,”

•

Groomed 5-7 KM

KM 11

impressive job of telling a

•

Trails 5

(530) 546-5043 | northtahoeparks.com

Eva Rose Lund does an

N/A

Groomed 10 KM

Groomed 14 KM

KIRKWOOD

•

N/A

Shuttle to Soda Springs, Donner Ski Ranch & Sugar Bowl. Overnight wilderness huts.

HOPE VALLEY OUTDOORS

1

Advanced 30%

Novice 60%

Open Fri.-Sun. & holidays. Tubing area & warming hut open daily.

she says. “Then I wrote the beginning of the story and read it to the family and my parents said, ‘This is funny, you should do this.’ They kept telling me it was a good idea.”

She later came to realize that the writing was the easy part.

“The story and the drawings were pretty simple, they shouldn’t have taken me so long. I was procrastinating,” she says with a grin.

Her mom, Bethany, says that Eva was naturally drawn to art. “When she was 18 months old, she drew a picture of a penguin that was amazing. We kind of knew then. She has the ability that needs encouragement, but she already knows how to do it. Eva has had very little art training. At this point, it will be really neat to see where she can go with it.”

Lund takes after her parents, who have a custom metal fabricating business and create mixed media art. Bethany has taught art and says her husband, Matt, is creative and talented, as well.

KM 4

Intermediate 50%

KM 14

(800) 543-3221 | granlibakken.com

va Rose Lund recently published her first children’s book, “Hue and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.” She wrote it while traveling in Baja California for two months with her family. The writing came quickly, but it took her three years to complete the illustrations. The results are worth the wait. It’s a fun story that will enchant children and adults alike. Oh, and by the way, Lund is a 15-year-old North Tahoe High School student.

Groomed 25 KM

Novice 20%

Trails 7

(530) 426-3632 | clairtappaanlodge.com

E

Trails 10

(530) 426-3313 | auburnskiclub.org

TERRAIN

GUIDED TOURS FAT TIRE BIKING TRAILS

TA H O E L O C A L

DOGS OK

TheTahoeWeekly.com

CHILDREN’S SCHOOL WARMING HUTS SNOWSHOE TRAILS

OUT & ABOUT

Groomed 18 KM

Novice 47% Intermediate 32%

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2

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Advanced 21%

Novice 45% Intermediate 50%

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Advanced 5%

Novice 32% Intermediate 50%

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9

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2

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N/A

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N/A

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Advanced 18%

Novice 60% Intermediate 25% Advanced 15%

Trails 5 KM 20

Winter camping (call for availability). Guided crosscountry and snowshoe tours offered Jan. to March.

Groomed 13.6 KM

TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK

Trails 2

(530) 583-1516 | wintersportspark.com

KM 4

Sledding & ice skating.

Groomed 4 KM

TAHOE CROSS COUNTRY

Trails 23

(530) 583-5475 | tahoexc.org

KM 65

Open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Free skate & cross-country lessons on select days.

Acres 3,000

TAHOE DONNER CROSS COUNTRY

Groomed 65 KM

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Novice 20% Intermediate 50%

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3

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5

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Advanced 30%

Trails 58

Novice 27%

(530) 587-9484 | tahoedonner.com

KM 100+

Intermediate 44%

Open 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. 7 a.m. for passholders Mon.Fri. (non-storm days). *Weekends & holidays.

Acres 4,800

Advanced 25%

Groomed 100+ KM

Expert 4%

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December 15-28, 2016

OUT & ABOUT

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TRAIL AREAS MOUNT ROSE

TAHOE MEADOWS

Intermediate to advance On Mount Rose above Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Meadows offers an expansive area where snowmobilers can enjoy the back country. Head up Highway 431 from Incline Village until you reach the meadows before the summit. This is a busy area on the weekends, so visit during the week.

Snowmobiling is allowed on the north side of Highway 431 only from the staging area to service road 051. Follow this road northwest to the 1,000-acre riding area.

WEST SHORE

PROSSER LAKE/TRUCKEE AREA Easy to advanced

Take Highway 89 north of Truckee. Various launching sites are along the road at Prosser Lake, Hobart Mills, etc. A large Sno-Park is about 14 miles north of Interstate 80 at Little Truckee Summit. Groomed roads lead to hundreds of miles of back country. Access to Basset’s Station on Highway 49 for lunch and gas (30 miles), Mount Lola at 10,300 ft., Webber Lake trail system, ridges at Independence Lake and more. From Prosser, go east or west of Highway 89 to open areas.*

CISCO GROVE

RATTLESNAKE Easy to advanced

Steep canyon and side slopes at lower end of trail with 7 miles of groomed access. Upper elevations feature ridges and bowls. Route follows Rattlesnake Road to Magonigal Summit. Trailhead at Cisco Grove exit north off Interstate 80.*

HOPE VALLEY

BLACKWOOD CANYON

HOPE VALLEY

The meadows in Blackwood Canyon offer a great place to get into the wilderness off Highway 89 on the West Shore.

Follow Highway 89 south from Tahoe City and park at the Kaspian Recreation Area. Snowmobilers should follow the road about 2.5 miles, then take a left across the bridge and continue up Barker Pass Road to large open areas, some steep bowls and many roads.*

Located at the junction of Highways 88 and 89 south of South Lake Tahoe. Sno-park on the south side of Highway 88 at Blue Lakes Road. Much of Hope Valley is open to snowmobiling, but some areas are not; stay in designated areas. Ungroomed routes to Willow Creek (8.5 miles) and Tamarack Lake (1 mile) and groomed routes to Blue Lakes (11.5 miles) and Forestdale (3.5 miles). Stage from Hope Valley Sno-Park.*

Intermediate to advanced

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TRUCKEE

CABIN CREEK TRAIL Intermediate

A marked route of 3 to 6 miles follows old logging roads and Cabin Creek Road off Highway 89 south of Truckee.

Turn onto Cabin Creek and look for the unmarked trailhead 1 mile from the highway. Enjoy gentle, rolling slopes.

Parking is limited.

MARTIS PEAK

Intermediate to advanced Best access and limited parking about one-quarter mile north of Brockway Summit below the top of Highway 267 on the Truckee side. No groomed trails, but many old lumber roads exist. Take a good map, as it’s easy to become turned around.

LOST SIERRA

YUBA PASS

Easy to advanced The route north from Yuba Pass off Highway 49 is popular for snowmobilers, and shares the trail system with Nordic skiers for the first mile before branching off.

Snowmobilers can head north on the trail and travel through Gold Lake Highway. Then, head south to Bassett’s or north to Gold Lake. This route offers a variety of terrain and beautiful views of the Sierra Buttes and the Lakes Basin. More than 100 miles of trails. Take Highway 89 north of Truckee, and then take Highway 49 to Yuba Pass. Trailhead parking is 6 miles east of Bassett’s Station.*

LITTLE TRUCKEE SUMMIT Easy to advanced

There are several marked routes with about 110 miles of groomed trails. Marked snowmobile trails follow roads to Webber Lake and Yuba Pass, Rim and Ridge Loops, Bald Ridge Loop and Treasure Mountain, Pass Creek Loop, Independence Lake Loop, Meadow Lake Loop and Jackson Meadow. Most trails are groomed. Trailhead at Jackson Meadow Road, about 14 miles north of Truckee on Highway 89.

Call (530) 546-5995, ext. 100, to be listed in Snowmobiling. * Sno-park permits required. Go to ohv.parks.ca.gov/snoparks or find locations at (916) 324-1222.

25

FEATURE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

H O L I D A Y

WORSHIP SERVICES BAPTIST First Baptist Church of Tahoe City, 390 Fairway Drive, Tahoe City. Sunday service at 9 a.m. followed by fellowship. Kids’ Club & nursery offered during service. Christmas Eve Candlelight services at 5:30 & 7 p.m. No Christmas Day service. Pastor Scott Capshaw. | (530) 583-7458, tahoeministries.com First Baptist Church of South Lake Tahoe, 1053 Wildwood Ave., South Lake Tahoe.

Sunday services at 11 a.m. Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Bible study at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Ladies’ Bible study at 6:15 p.m.

Pastor Alan & Sharon Morse. | (530) 5442743, firstbaptistchurchslt.com Fellowship Community Church, 11605 Deerfield Road, Truckee. Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. (breakfast at 9:30 a.m.) Sunday school and nursery for 5th graders & younger during service. Together Thursday Fellowship at 6 p.m. | (530) 582-4045, fctruckee.com

CATHOLIC Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 10930 Alder Drive, Truckee.

Saturday vigil at 5 p.m. in English and 6:30 p.m. in Spanish. Sunday Mass at 9 a.m. in English. Monday, Tuesday & Friday Mass at 8 a.m. Holy Hour with Benediction Friday at 8:30 a.m. Confessions Saturday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass at 5 & 10 p.m., 6:30 p.m. in Spanish. Christmas Day Mass at 9 a.m. Solemnity of Mary Dec. 31 5 p.m. English & 6:30 p.m. Spanish, and Jan. 1 9 a.m. English. Rev. Vince Juan. | (530) 5873595, assumptiontruckee.com Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 905 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City. Saturday vigil at 5 p.m. Sunday Mass at 8 & 10 a.m. all year.

From July to Labor Day at Marie Sluchak Community Park, Tahoma. Daily Mass Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Confessions Saturday at 4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Christmas Eve Family Mass at 5 p.m. Solemn Mass at 10 p.m. Christmas Day Mass at 8 & 10 a.m. Father Benedict DeLeon, Pastor. | (530) 583-4409, corpuschristi-tahoe.org

Queen of the Snows, 1550 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley. Sunday Mass at noon from July to Easter Sunday. Outstation Sunday Mass at 9 a.m. at Marie Sluchak Community Park, Tahoma from July to Labor Day. Christmas Day Mass 12 p.m.

Father Benedict DeLeon. | (530) 583-4409, corpuschristi-tahoe.org St. Francis of Assisi, 701 Mount Rose Highway/State Route 431, Incline Village.

Saturday Mass at 5 p.m. Sunday Mass at 9 & 11 a.m., & 5 p.m. in Spanish. TuesdayFriday Mass at 9 a.m. Saturday Sacrament of Reconciliation from 4-4:30 p.m. & on request. Christmas Eve children’s Mass at 3 p.m. Mass at 5 p.m. & midnight with choir.

Christmas Day services 9 & 11 a.m. & 5 p.m. in Spanish. | Father William Nadeau. (775) 831-0490, sftahoe.org St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1041 Lyons Ave., South Lake Tahoe. Saturday vigil at 5:30 p.m. Sunday Mass at 8 & 10 a.m., 12 & 7 p.m. in Spanish. Monday-Friday Mass at 8 a.m., Wednesday & Friday Mass at 12 p.m.

Saturday Confession at 4 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass at 5:30 p.m. & midnight. Christmas Day services 8, 10 a.m. & 12 & 7 p.m. in Spanish.

Father Mauricio Hurtado. | (530) 544-3533, sttheresa@tahoecatholic.com

CHRISTIAN Calvary Chapel of South Lake Tahoe, 807 Emerald Bay Rd., South Lake Tahoe.

Sunday services at 9 & 10:30 a.m., at 6 p.m. with childcare. Children & Youth Church at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday Ladies’ Bible Study at 10 a.m. and Youth Group at 7 p.m.

Wednesday Bible study at 7 p.m. with childcare. Pastor Jerry Foster. | (530) 5447320, calvarytahoe.com Calvary Chapel of Truckee, 11725 Donner Pass Road, Truckee High School cafeteria.

Sunday service 10 a.m. with Sunday school & childcare. Wednesday Bible study, Calvary Kids Club & Youth Groups meet at 7 p.m. at Fellowship Community Church, 11605 Deerfield Drive. No Christmas Eve service.

Christmas Day service at 10 a.m. Pastor Brian Larson. | (530) 587-1711, cctruckee.com

Worship service listings are available online year-round at TheTahoeWeekly.com Our Lady of Tahoe Catholic Church, 1 Elks Point Rd., Zephyr Cove. Saturday vigil at 5 p.m. Sunday Mass at 8 & 10 a.m. & 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday Confession from 4-4:30 p.m. & by appointment. Father Oliver Curran. | (775) 588-2080, ourladyoftahoe.org Our Lady of the Lake (Mission Church of Assumption of the BVM), 8263 Steelhead Ave., Kings Beach. Sunday Mass in English at 4 p.m., Sunday Mass in Spanish at 6 p.m. Sunday Confession 3:30 & 5:30 p.m. Thursday bilingual Mass at 8 a.m.

Christmas Day Mass at 4 & 6 p.m. in Spanish. Solemnity of Mary Jan. 1 at 4 & 6 p.m. in Spanish. | (530) 587-3595, assumptiontruckee.com 26

Church on the Lake, 7000 Latone Ave., Tahoe Vista, at North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation building. Sunday at 10 a.m. Christmas celebration Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Pastors Ken Kasterko & Jimetta Mayne. | (530) 580-8292, tahoechurchonthelake.org Iglesia Cristiana Vida Nueva, 918 Northwood Blvd., Incline Village. Servicio Domingo al mediodia (12). Pastores John y Ruby Cole. | (775) 831-5030, inclinevidanueva.org Lake Tahoe Church of Christ, 3609 Vanda Lee Way (in the Seventh-day Adventists building), South Lake Tahoe. Sunday class at 10 a.m., services at 11 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Bible class at 7 p.m. Guest speakers. | (530) 208-9509, southtahoechurchofchrist.com

Lake Tahoe Christian Fellowship, 3580 Blackwood Road, South Lake Tahoe. Sunday pre-service prayer at 9:15 a.m., service at 10 a.m. Children’s ministries at 10:40 a.m.

Wednesday Women’s Bible study at 10 a.m. Friday Men’s Bible Study at 6:15 p.m.

Saturday Iglesia Vida Nueva service at 7 p.m.

Pastors Terry and Cheryl Edwards. | (530) 544-4357, laketahoecf.com

Truckee North Tahoe Church of Christ, 11662 Hope Court off Brockway, Truckee, at Truckee Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Sunday Bible study at 10 a.m. Sunday worship at 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. | (530) 563-6744

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

New Life Foursquare Church, 918 Northwood Blvd., Incline Village. Sunday service 10 a.m.

Nursery & Sunday school provided. Pastors John R. and Ruby E. Cole. | (775) 8315030, nsfclt@aol.com

Christian Science Society, 11350 Donner Pass Road, next to Ace Mountain Hardware, Truckee. Sunday service & Sunday School at 10 a.m. Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Childcare provided at all services. Reading room open after services. | (530) 587-6352, christiansciencetruckee.com

Sierra Bible Church, 11460 Brockway Road, Truckee. Sunday service at 8:30 & 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wednesday Junior High & Senior High Youth at 5:30 & 7:15 p.m., respectively.

Christmas Eve service at 5 & 7 p.m. Christmas Day service at 10 a.m. Pastor Wayne Hoag. | (530) 587-6025, sbctruckee.com

First Church of Christ, Scientist, 2081 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. Sunday service & Sunday school at 10 a.m. Wednesday service 7 p.m. Childcare provided for all services. Reading Room open Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m. | (530) 541-7892, christiansciencenevada.org

Sierra Community Church, 1165 Sierra Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. Sunday services 9 & 10:45 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Nursery care for ages younger than 3. Sunday school age 3 & older. Monday Bible study at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday Men’s Bible study at 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight services at 6, 7:30 & 9 p.m. Christmas service at 10 a.m. Pastor Dan Wilvers. | (530) 544-7055, sierracommunitychurch.org

EPISCOPAL

Squaw Valley Chapel, United Church of Christ, 444 Squaw Peak Road (behind Tram), Olympic Valley. Historic chapel built for 1960 Winter Olympics. Sunday services at 10 a.m. Christmas Eve services 4 & 5:30 p.m. Candle lighting & scripture at 7:30 p.m.

Christmas Day service at 12 p.m. Guest pastor Rev. Gene Nelson. | (408) 781-6447, squawvalleychapel.org South Shore Christian Assembly, 886 Glorene Ave., South Lake Tahoe. Sunday service 10 a.m. Children’s church at 10 a.m.

Wednesday Bible study at 7 p.m. Pastor Bob & Marie Sapp. | (530) 541-0757, hislake.com/ssca.htm Tahoe Community Church, 145 Daggert Way, Stateline. Adult Sunday school at 9 a.m.

Sunday services at 10:30 a.m. Nursery care for newborn to age 5. Children’s worship at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Men’s Bible study at 7 a.m. & Thursday at 6 p.m. Thursday Women’s Bible study at 9 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Pastor Paul Tracy. | (775) 588-5860, tahoecommunitychurch.org Tahoe Faith Fellowship, at Tahoe City Community Center, Fairway Drive. Sunday service at 10 a.m. Home fellowship & other services during the week. Pastors Bill & Betty Ransom. | (530) 583-3977, tahoefaithfellowship.org Tahoe Forest Church, 10315 Hirschdale Road, Truckee. Saturday at 6 p.m. Sunday service 9 & 10:45 a.m. Tuesday Men’s Bible study at 6 a.m., High School group at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Middle School group at 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve services 6 & 8 p.m.

Pastor Mike Sampson. | (530) 587-7725, tahoeforestchurch.org Truckee Christian Center, 11556 Brockway Road, Truckee. Sunday school & worship at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Bible study at 7 p.m.

Pastors Jerry & Lynda Burks. | (530) 5874638, truckeechristiancenter.org

St. John’s In the Wilderness, 1776 U.S. Route 50, Glenbrook. Sunday service at 10 a.m.

Christmas Eve service 7 p.m. Christmas Day service 10 a.m. Rev. Victoria Warren. | (775) 586-2535, stjohnsnv.org St. Nicholas, 855 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City.

Sunday service at 9:30 a.m. (services are pet friendly; well-behaved pets only) with coffee hour after. Worship in historic Chapel of the Transfiguration June to August. Wednesday Contemplative Prayer at 9 a.m. Christmas Eve Eucharist 5 & 7 p.m. Christmas Day Holy Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. Rev. Dr. Jenni Liem. | (530) 583-4713, stnicksepiscopal.org St. Patrick’s, 341 Village Blvd., Incline Village. Sunday services at 8 & 10 a.m., forum at 9 a.m.; Godly Play for preschoolers and grade-school kids at 10 a.m. Tuesday A Course of Miracles at 5 p.m., Healing service, a 12-step Eucharist at 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday Interfaith Prayer & Quieting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday Lectio Divina at 12:15 p.m. Christmas Eve family service w/Holy Communion at 5:30 p.m., carol singing at 9:30 & services at 10 p.m. Christmas Day service at 10 a.m. w/Holy Communion. Rev. John Seville, interim priest. | (775) 8311418, tahoeepiscopal.org

JEHOVAH WITNESSES Kingdom Hall, 1325 Herbert Ave., South Lake Tahoe. Sunday service meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday Bible study, school and service meeting at 7 p.m. | (530) 6544-4770 Kingdom Hall, 3005 West Lake Blvd., Tahoe City. Sunday Spanish Bible discourse & Watch Tower at 10 a.m., English Bible discourse & Watch Tower at 1 p.m. Tuesday Bible study & service meeting at 7 p.m. in English. Wednesday Spanish Bible study & service meeting at 7 p.m. | (530) 581-0122 Kingdom Hall, 10155 Smith St., Truckee.

Sunday service meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday Bible study, school & service meeting at 7 p.m. | (530) 214-8033

JEWISH North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation, 7000 Latone Ave. (off National Ave.), Tahoe Vista. Friday Shabbat service at 7 p.m.

High Holidays schedule & activities on Web site. Guests welcome. | (530) 5460895, tahoetemple.org

December 17-30, 2015

Temple Bat Yam, 3260 Pioneer Trail, South Lake Tahoe. Rabbi Evon J. Yakar. Friday Torah at the Lake at 12 p.m. Shabbat services at 6 p.m. | (530) 542-1211, tbytahoe.org

LATTER-DAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Highway 267 at Kingswood Way, Kings Beach. Sunday service at 10 a.m. Bishop Kenneth Craig. | (530) 546-3065 Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, 3460 Spruce Ave., South Lake Tahoe. Sunday service at 10 a.m. Bishop Ellis. | (530) 544-4477

LUTHERAN Christ the King, 3125 N. Lake Blvd., Dollar Hill, Tahoe City. Sunday worship & Sunday School at 9 a.m. Wednesday Bible study 4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve services 5:30 & 7: 30 p.m. Christmas Day service at 10 a.m.

Pastor Chip Larson. | (530) 583-1222, ctktahoe.net Hope Lutheran Church of the Sierra, 930 Julie Lane, South Lake Tahoe. Sunday service w/Communion 10 a.m. Nursery care & Children’s Time provided during service.

Tuesday & Saturday Hispanic services at 7 p.m. Saturday Bible study at 9 a.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight service time TBA. Christmas Day worship at 10 a.m. Rev. Stan Pesis, interim pastor. | (530) 541-1975, hopelutheransierra.org Truckee Lutheran Presbyterian Church, 11662 Hope Court, near the intersection of Brockway Road & Highway 267, Truckee.

Sunday worship services at 9 a.m. Christmas Eve family worship 5 p.m., Service of the Candlelight Communion at 9 p.m. Christmas Day worship at 10 a.m. Rev. Jeanie Shaw, interim pastor, and Rev. Joanie Tankersley, associate pastor. | (530) 582-4243, tlpc.org

METHODIST Church of the Mountains, 10079 Church St., Truckee. Sunday service at 9 a.m. Sunday school & infant care offered. Monday Women’s Bible study at 10 a.m. Thursday Men’s Bible study at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday & Wednesday Contemplative Prayer at 8 a.m. Christmas Eve family worship at 5:30 p.m. and Candlelight service w/Holy Communion at 9 p.m. Pastors Donna Farrell & Allison Mattocks. | (530) 587-4407, churchofthemountains.com Lake Tahoe United Methodist, 8425 Dolly Varden at Bear, Kings Beach. Sunday family worship & children’s Sunday school 9:30 a.m. Tuesday casual service & meal at 6 p.m.

Thursday youth (ages 11 to 18) night at 6:30 p.m. Pastor Patty Inis. | (530) 546-2290, kbumc.org

NONDENOMINATIONAL Cornerstone Community Church (formerly LifePoint Church), 300 Country Club Drive, Incline Village. Sunday services at 9:30 a.m. Christmas Eve service at 5:30 p.m. No service Christmas Day. | (775) 831-6626, cornerstonecommunity.net Fallen Leaf Lake Church, operated by St. Francis of the Mountains in the summer, 280 Fallen Leaf Road, South Lake Tahoe. JuneSeptember Sunday services at 8 & 10 a.m.

All denominations welcome. Call to confirm. | (530) 544-6635, fallenleaflakecabins.com

FEATURE

Tahoe Resort Ministries, weekly Sunday services at 2 p.m. at local ski resorts until March 27 Easter Sunday. Services are 1520 minutes. Services at Squaw Valley, top of Big Blue Express. Alpine Meadows, top of Roundhouse. Northstar, top of Vista Express. Homewood Mountain Resort, top of Madden. Diamond Peak, top of Lakeview Quad. Mt. Rose, top of Lakeview. Sierraat-Tahoe, top of Easy Rider Express. Dress warmly. Christmas Eve candlelight services Northstar Village Conference Center at 4 p.m. & Olympic Village Lodge at Squaw Valley at 9 p.m. Debbie Wohler. | (530) 448-9359, tahoeministries.com Unity at the Lake, 1195 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe. Sunday meditation 9 a.m. Sunday celebration at 10 a.m. Ministers Stew & Hillary Bittman. | (530) 544-2266, unityatthelake.org

PRESBYTERIAN Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church, 2733 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

Sunday services at 8 & 10 a.m. Adult Sunday school at 9 a.m. Children’s Sunday school at 10 a.m. Childcare for newborn to age 3 during 10 a.m. service. Thursday Men’s Bible study at 7:30 a.m. Christmas Eve service at 7 & 9 p.m. Christmas Day service at 10 a.m. only. Rev. Bob Kelley. | (530) 544-3757, tahoepres.churchsites.com Truckee Lutheran Presbyterian Church, 11662 Hope Court, near intersection of Brockway Road & Highway 267, Truckee.

Sunday worship service at 9 a.m. Christmas Eve family worship at 5 p.m., Service of the Candlelight Communion at 9 p.m. Christmas Day worship at 10 a.m. Rev. Jeanie Shaw, interim pastor, and Rev. Joanie Tankersley, associate pastor. | (530) 582-4243, tlpc.org The Village Church, Mt. Rose Highway, 736 McCourry Blvd., Incline Village.

Sunday services at 8 (traditional) & 10 a.m. (blended), Youth Sunday school & childcare at 10 a.m. service. Tuesday Prayer Group at 10 a.m. Tuesday Men’s Bible study at 4:30 p.m. & Wednesdays at 6:30 a.m.

Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 5:30 & 7:30 p.m. Christmas Day service at 10 a.m. only. Pastor Jeff Ogden. | (775) 831-0784, thevillagechurchnv.org

RELIGIOUS SCIENCE Center for Spiritual Living Tahoe-Truckee, 700 N. Lake Blvd., at Tahoe City Marina.

Sunday Celebration & Youth Church at 10 a.m. w/childcare. Meditation centering service at 9:25 a.m. Dec. 23 candle-lighting service at 6 p.m. No Christmas Day service. Rev. Liz Luoma. | (530) 581-5117, tahoecsl.org

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Heavenly Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church, 3609 Vanda Lee Way, South Lake Tahoe. Sunday school at 10 a.m. Sunday worship at 11:15 a.m. | (530) 544-3525, tahoeadventist.org Truckee Seventh-day Adventist Church, 11662 Hope Court off Brockway, Truckee.

Saturday Bible study at 10 a.m., service at 11:05 a.m. followed by lunch. | (530) 5875067, truckee22.adventistchurchconnect.org Updates for listings may be sent to editor@tahoethisweek.com.

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THE ARTS

Arts

TheTahoeWeekly.com

CALENDAR

THE

ONGOING

“Around the World in 40 Days” Wilbur D. May Museum | Until Dec. 18

Ashley Follmer McKinley Arts & Cultural Center | Until Dec. 30

Anastiscia Chantler-Lang Incline Village Library | Until Dec. 31

Bill Stevenson Incline Village Library | Until Dec. 31

Tahoe Rim Trail Incline Village Library | Until Dec. 31

Calotypes OXS Gallery | Until Dec. 30

Monique Rebelle Metro Gallery | Until Dec. 30

“Book + Publication Arts” McKinley Arts & Culture Center | Until Dec. 30

Pam Sutton Cobalt Artist Studio | Until Dec. 31

HOLLY ARTS FOR THE

HOLIDAYS Holly Arts is a North Tahoe Arts tradition at the Art Center. Every year the shop dresses up for the holidays with new items that make perfect gifts with handmade items and artist made holiday cards through December. | northtahoearts.com

Mel Smothers, Carol Brown & Cynthia Hipkiss Tahoe Art League | Until Dec. 31

Orbital Reflector Nevada Museum of Art | Until Jan. 1, 2017

La Vonne La Tulip Vasick Copeland Gallery | Until Jan. 2, 2017

Nevada Day Art Brewery Arts Center | Until Jan. 6, 2017

Frontier Fellows SNC Tahoe Gallery | Jan. 7-March 2, 2017

Gabie Strong SNC Garage Door Gallery | Jan. 9-Feb. 17

Anthony McCall Nevada Museum of Art | Until Jan. 8

Leiko Ikemura Nevada Museum of Art | Until Jan. 15, 2017

Dennis Parks Nevada Museum of Art | Until Jan. 17, 2017

“Pocket Ziggurat” CCAI Courthouse Gallery | Until Jan. 19, 2017

“A Shared Legacy: Folk Art in America” Nevada Museum of Art | Until Jan. 22, 2017

THEN AND NOW OXS Gallery | Until Jan. 23, 2017

“Blue Brilliance” Incline Village Visitors’ Center | Until Jan. 30, 2017

Live art painting benefit Truckee Join artists Sara Zimmerman and Sara Smith for a live art painting event, “WAT?!

Women’s Art Tribe” on Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tahoe University to benefit the High Fives Foundation.

In this live event, the duo will simultaneously and collaboratively create a large painting of Squaw Valley, cocreating in front of the Truckee Tahoe community in partnership with the High Fives Foundation, who will be filming the event throughout the day. Together, these female visual artists will work on location, merging their styles as they incorporate randomly selected artistic challenges throughout this live art event. The final artwork will be auctioned as a fundraiser benefitting the High Fives Foundation. | womensarttribe.com

Browse the walls Incline Village, Nev. Incline Village Library offers art exhibits in the month of December featuring a Tahoe Rim Trail exhibit in the display cases. The trail is a world-class system allowing individuals the opportunity to experience Tahoe’s wild places, iconic

Truckee’s Big Life Community Recreation Center | Until Jan. 31 2017

Andy Skaff Wolfdale’s restaurant | Until Jan. 31, 2017

Tarek Al-Ghoussein Nevada Museum of Art | Until Feb. 19, 2017

“Glyphs and Houses” “Placer Creates” Placer County venues | Until Feb. 28, 2017

Charlie Macquarie SNC Garage Door Gallery | March 2 to 10, 2017

Winter Art Exhibit Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe | Until April 2017

Peter Stichbury Nevada Museum of Art | Until May 2017

A Place in the Country Nevada Museum of Art | Until June 2017

“On the Water”

30

landscapes and diverse flora and fauna.

Artist Anastiscia Chantler-Lang, from Toronto, Canada, and recently relocated to Tahoe is a self-taught artist with a master’s in psychology. Chantler-Lang has traveled extensively working in fashion and handbag design. In her colorful mix mash of style, she uses pastels and colored pencils to convey feelings and experiences of the Sierra region. She is co-owner and contributor at Art Obsessions Gallery in Truckee.

Photographer Bill Stevenson has been a high-altitude climber and extreme sports and landscape photographer for more than 15 years. He specializes in capturing the beauty of the Tahoe Sierra region.

His published works include National Geographic and Powder Magazine to name a few. He has also captured images from the mountains of Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, Alaska, Chile and France. Descended from a long line of professional

photographers, he is co-owner and a contributor at Art Obsessions Gallery in Truckee. | (775) 832-4130

The women of Squaw Alpine ski patrol Olympic Valley Local photographer Keoki Flagg has released the Women of Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows Ski Patrol Calendar to benefit avalanche education scholarships.

The calendar features the 13 female patrollers from the 2015-16 winter season.

“I feel the soul of mountain like is grounded in nature, and our ski patrol women live it daily, personifying power and commitment, inspiring us all to live deeply now. To me, their natural beauty arises from their daily immersion in the everchanging environment of our mountain and by living every moment to its fullest,” Flagg says of the calendar.

There will be a holiday reception on Dec. 26 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Gallery Keoki at the Village at Squaw Valley. The event is free and open to all ages. The calendar is available at locations at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, the Tahoe City Visitor Center and online. | squawalpine.com/ womenofpatrol

Cobalt like the lake

Carson City Community Center | Until Feb. 24, 2017

Tahoe Maritime Museum | Until summer 2017

Glass Mosaic Ornaments Lori Humphrey | North Tahoe Art Center

Tallac Norma Cili | Cobalt Artist Studio

Incline Village, Nev. Cobalt Artist Studio presents glass artist Pam Sutton exhibiting through December.

Sutton is a professional glass artist creates jewelry and objects for the home and garden that reflect harmony with nature and occasionally humor. She will be displaying new oil paintings.

Norma Cili oil paintings will be displayed until Dec. 31. She is inspired by life and everyday events. Recently, she has focused on the art of plein air painting, which represents a different challenge than studio work. Workshops at the studio include: Watercolor Painting in the Batik Method on Jan. 21. | cobaltartiststudio.com

December 15-28, 2016

Art Center features new artists South Lake Tahoe Three artists are showing their work for the first time the Tahoe Art League’s Art Center Gallery. The first is abstract painter Mel Smothers, who participated in this year’s Studio Tour. Next, there is woodblock printer, Carol Brown, who carves her own blocks and will be teaching woodblock printing at Bona Fide Books.

Lastly, Cynthia Hipkiss, ceramic sculptress, with her charming creative sculpture is showing, too. The exhibits will be on display through the end of the year. | thenewtalart.org

The effect of devices Reno, Nev. Gallery East in McKinley Arts & Culture Center hosts University of Nevada, Reno graduate and local artist Ashley Follmer until Dec. 30. “Filtered” is a series of oil paintings that portrays the effect of mobile devices on interpersonal communication. By using a figurative realist style each intimate vantage point explores how the digital landscape has altered our perception of experience with the use of mobile technology. | (775) 334-6264

The art of the book

Connection to nature Truckee Until Dec. 31, Liz Robb’s soft sculpture will be on display at Atelier. Based in San Francisco, she works sculpturally to create textured surfaces and forms with natural materials such as wool, cotton, jute and indigo. Robb has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally and has most recently completed a residency at the Icelandic Textile Center in Blönduós, Iceland.

Atelier hosts many workshops, including a Knitting Group on Tuesdays. Holiday workshops include: Holiday Waxed Ornaments on Dec. 17, Holiday Wrapping Paper on Dec. 22 and Pine Cone Fire Starters on Dec. 23. | ateliertruckee.com

Highlighting local talent Tahoe City Photographer Geoff McGilvray’s works are on display at the North Lake Tahoe Visitors’ Bureau. McGilvray is an awardwinning landscape and nature photographer based out of Incline Village, Nev. He has lived in the Lake Tahoe Basin since 1975 and has developed a keen eye for great composition and timing for capturing the different moods and the beautiful lighting of the Lake Tahoe region and the surrounding high Sierras. | gotahoenorth.com

Worldwide exhibit Reno, Nev. The Sierra Watercolor Society returns to the Wilbur D. May Museum, with a new exhibition of original watercolor paintings until Dec. 18. Local and regional artists were asked to paint places they have visited or want to visit, favorite views, special events and other scenes. The result is the “Around the World in 40 Days” exhibition, featuring dozens of paintings that evoke the allure and beauty of travel. All paintings in the exhibition are available for purchase.

Visitors are also invited to vote for their favorite painting to win the coveted “People’s Choice Award.” | (775) 785-5961

Reno, Nev. Gallery West in McKinley Arts & Culture Center hosts “Book + Publication Arts: Student and Staff Works From the Black Rock Press” until Dec. 30. The Black Rock Press preserves the history and traditions of the art of the book while simultaneously turning a creative and critical eye toward its relevance in contemporary art and culture. Its publishing and outreach activities support and strengthen the academic pursuits at its heart, connecting students to local and global communities. | unr.edu/art/black-rock-press

Along with the exhibit are talks and presentations at the museum.

On Dec. 16 at noon Art Bite presents Toys and Tradition with the Nevada Woodchucks, dedicated to teaching the skills of woodworking to Northern Nevada.

On Jan. 6 at noon Art Bite presents Christina Barr on the Ties That Bind: How Traditional Arts Bring Us Together.

Folklorist Barr has documented traditional art forms, communities and cultural issues around North America and abroad.

On Jan. 7 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. there will be an evening of storytelling and films based on “The Makers - The Stories of Craft, Creativity and Skill.”

On Jan. 20 at noon Art Bite presents Wild Woman Katherine Case on Linoleum-cut Printmaking. Case converses about artistic traditions, her work in the community and the California and Nevada artists and crafts(wo)men that inspire her. | nevadaart.org

THE ARTS

cities to the West. Tahoe was truly a summer playground, with recreation at the resorts focused around boating and other water activities. The exhibit will be on display throughout the year. | tahoemaritimemuseum.org

Hotel features winter art Northstar The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, has joined with SLATE Art Consulting to feature a new winter exhibition of the works of 31 Northern California artists throughout the hotel’s lobby and public areas through April 2017.

Hotel guests, residents and visitors alike will enjoy sculpture and painting including landscape and abstract works emulating autumnal and winter weather with the Lake Tahoe lifestyle in mind. All artwork from SLATE Art is available for purchase.

Artists featured include Jonah Burlingame, Maria Burtis, Elaine Coombs, Pauletta Chanco, Micah Crandell-Bear, Joanne Fox, Holly Van Hart, Carol Lefkowitz, David Nyquist, Thea Schrack, Amy Lee Solomon, Jeff Snell, Rob Synder, David Wellner and Diane Williams.

Works from the collection are clearly labeled and additional information about the artists is also provided. There are notes to help with a self-guided tour, a walk-through map and price sheet of the SLATE winter collection at the concierge desk. Private tours of the rotating art collection, led by one of the exhibition’s curators, can also be arranged for groups of eight or more, through SLATE Art Consulting. | ritzcarlton.com/laketahoe

Summer playground celebrated Tahoe City Tahoe Maritime Museum features the exhibit is “On the Water: Sport and Leisure at the Lake” at its new location in Tahoe City. Lake Tahoe’s crystal waters have attracted people for generations, but it wasn’t until the 1850s that the region had its first year-round settlers when logging camps formed around the basin. Knowing logging was a fleeting industry, the camp owners quickly turned to tourism.

By 1900, Tahoe’s summer resorts were catering to visitors from the nearby Nevada cities, and the larger Californian

Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for a complete list of Arts.

A new, non dimension Reno, Nev. Metro Gallery in City Hall hosts abstract painter Monique Rebelle until Dec. 30.

“Nonobjective Dimension” is a series of oil paintings that deals with transcendence and a breakthrough in perception. Monique Rebelle was born in Poland and has lived internationally including England, Amsterdam and L.A. before currently living and working in the Reno area. She has a long history with experimental styles that include neo-expressionism to neo-constructivism. | (775) 334-6264

From humble folk Reno, Nev. Nevada Museum of Art welcomes works by 19th-Century rural American artists “A Shared Legacy: Folk Art in America” examines how makers, craftspeople and painters created fine objects that exemplified the breadth of American creative expression during a period of enormous political, social and cultural change in the United States. Folk art is not typically made by professionally trained artists and does not attempt to emulate art made in urban centers by classically trained artists. The exhibit will remain on view through Jan. 22, 2017 at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for the Visual Arts, E. L. Wiegand Gallery.

Consisting of more than 60 works, the exhibit showcases rare and fine portraits; vivid still life and landscapes; figurative and animal sculptures; whimsical trade signs; furniture and other household objects from artists living across New England, the Midwest the Mid-Atlantic and the South between 1800 and 1925.

Michael Knepp | “South Fork Yuba” Oil Painting on Belgian linen | 46” x 60”

Representing

(Frame built by the artist)

Locally, Nationally & Internationally Acclaimed Artists

Boatworks Mall

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Tahoe City, CA

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530 581 5111

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jhg4art.com 31

FUN & GAMES

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Puzzles

Trivia test

by Fifi Rodriquez

1. MOVIES: What was Grace Kelly’s character’s name in the movie “High Noon”?

2. PSYCHOLOGY: What fear is represented in the phobia called “cryophobia”?

3. LITERATURE: What was the name of the island inhabited by tiny people in “Gulliver’s Travels”?

4. U.S. CITIES: What city bills itself as “The Sweetest Place on Earth”?

5. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the Gulf of Riga located?

6. HISTORY: How many human beings have walked on the moon?

7. ART: Which post-impressionist painter created the series titled “Sunflowers”?

8. LANGUAGE: What product was slangily known as a “Tin Lizzie” in the early 20th century?

9. ASTRONOMY: What is the largest planet in our solar system?

10. MUSIC: Which 1960s rock group recorded the hit song “A Whiter Shade of Pale”?

Strange but true

by Samantha Weaver

Junior Whirl: 1. Augusta, 2. Santa Fe, 3. Raleigh, 4. Phoenix, 5. Hartford, 6. Annapolis, 7. Bismarck, 8. Columbus, 9. Salem. The state capital’s name in the dark frame is St. Paul (Minnesota).

Differences: 1. Log is missing, 2. Box is smaller, 3. Stocking is reversed, 4. Glass is smaller, 5. Rug is missing, 6. Sleeve cuff is missing.

When you see angry fish scowl darkly at each other, you might exclaim “If lox could kill!”

CryptoQuip

1. Amy Fowler Kane, 2. Fear of extreme cold, ice or frost, 3. Lilliput (the Lilliputians), 4. Hershey, Pennsylvania, home of the Hershey chocolate company, 5. Northern Europe, 6. 12, 7. Vincent van Gogh, 8. Model T Ford, 9. Jupiter, 10. Procol Harum

TRIVIA TEST

32

Those who study spycraft are aware of the many ingenious ways that have been used to pass secret messages. One of the earliest examples occurred in the late 6th century BCE, when Histiaeus, the tyrant of Miletus (in present-day Turkey), shaved the head of his most trusted slave, tattooed a message on the slave’s scalp, and waited for the hair to grow back before dispatching the slave to his son-in-law, Aristagoras, along with instructions to shave the slave’s head upon his arrival.

December 15-28, 2016

Horoscopes

PUZZLES FOR KIDS

FIRE

FUN & GAMES

EARTH

AIR

WATER

Michael O’Connor is an astrologer, counselor and life coach | SunStarAstrology.com

Sagittarius (Nov 21-Dec 21)

Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)

The Sun in your sign implies initiative.

Even new thoughts, ideas and plans qualify.

Increasing your social network is featured. Unwilling to simply settle, your Spidey senses are telling you to negotiate new terms and deals.

Your energy levels are running high and you need an outlet. Make plenty of room for the opinions of others for best results.

Yay hurray, it’s time to play. Okay, you may be feeling a little more serious than that. The question is: is that sober note contained within this exuberance or is it the other way around? Either way, balancing the two is a likely goal now. Social and cultural activities are especially appealing and may come wrapped in travel interests.

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22) Capricorn (Dec 21-Jan 19) You are in an introspective and philosophical mood. Yet, you also want to share your thoughts and be heard. As you do, you may be reminded that you have a lot to say: thoughts others would probably like and perhaps need to hear. Call it, ‘finding your voice’. Once found, you may discover a new level of power.

Aquarius (Jan 19-Feb 19)

A review of your regular routine and daily habits is underway. While it is your right to do it your way, is your way right in terms of your best interests? Rebellion can prove costly when it deflects the wisdom achieved from a humble review of which actions are beneficial and not. Traditions have their place but they can also cause problems.

Leo (Jul 22-Aug 23)

Venus and Mars in your sign signify assertiveness and pro-action. This awakened pioneering spirit will prove mind-opening. There are some very auspicious factors at play for you now and they may well include fresh opportunities for love and romance. Add spice to existing relationships and/or break away into new ones.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)

Your mind is on fire. Well it may be more a matter of many little fires. This can be the source of excitement and inspiration, yet also confusion due to scattered objectives. This is a call to prioritize. You can keep all of them lit and do the rounds, but you must decipher their order and priority.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22)

Some exciting possibilities are brewing in your mind. These may be recognized as returns for prior successes. A growing determination to manifest your ideas will become evident this week.

Positively, they could have a big impact on your financial situation. Looking at how things are and where they could lead will support your decisions.

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)

Steps and measures to increase your earning power continue to be a central area of focus. Yet, what you earn may not solely be about money. Earning confidence, satisfaction, freedom, inspiration and so on need not necessarily be all about finances. On the other hand, these very attributes can be translated into more moolah too.

Libra (Sep 22-Oct 22)

You are serious about increasing your social network. Before the week is out, you will have taken some bold initiatives. Your approach could even be described as rebellious or, at best, revolutionary. Yet, practical objectives continue to guide your focus so, while you do want to shake things up, you also want to be popular.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 21)

Circumstances of late are leading you to entertain new perspectives. There is always another way…of interpreting things. It is healthy to be open to new points of view. In fact, doing so may be the key to feeling liberated and expansive for the sake of other areas of interest. The time is right to play with the possibilities.

Scorpio (Oct 22-Nov 21)

Digging deeper includes increasing your overall confidence levels. Call it the inner work that will provide added insurance for success for your outer efforts. This ‘work’ could include key actions and measures in your home. Going deeper yet, this is a call for a body scan. This includes your physical, mental and emotional bodies.

Often to go big externally, we have to dig deep internally. What we are digging for includes deep reserves of faith in our self and confidence in our abilities. It could be described as a spiritual process, yet the objectives are about outer ex-pressions and interactions. Sometimes a shovel works while at others a jackhammer is needed.

Tails in Tahoe Trinity

Huck

Squeaker

Kiwi

I enjoy lounging in a cozy spot in the sun. I am always the first cat to go outside on the porch in the morning, and will spend most of my day outside watching the dogs and birds.

Sweet Huck is looking for his forever home and hopes he doesn’t have to wait much longer. Huck is handsome, affectionate and playful.

Squeaker, female, Tortie Point Siamese mix. Short hair. 5-years-old. Spayed, shots, chipped.

Kiwi can be shy and reserved but has a lot of love and affection to give. Give her a scratch behind the ear or under the chin and she will purr her way into your heart.

Pet Network (775) 832-4404 bschilpp@petnetwork.org www.petnetwork.org

Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe (530) 587-5948 www.hstt.org

WARF (775) 790-4066 bfh3rd@gmail.com www.tahoewarf.com

Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe (530) 587-5948 www.hstt.org 33

THE MUSIC SCENE

Music SCENE TheTahoeWeekly.com

The

LIVE MUSIC, SHOWS & NIGHTLIFE

Sounds of the season

T O C C A T A P E R F O R M S H A N D E L’ S ‘ M E S S I A H ’

E X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Read Tahoe Music & Festivals for more Holiday Happenings

TOCCATA’s performance will be highlighted by the solo performances of soprano Joy Strotz and tenor Brad Perry, both residents of Incline Village, Nev. “Joy is just one of those singers who is phenomenally talented,” says Rawie. “She’s our top soloist and a coloratura soprano, which means her main voice range is a bit higher with a penchant for lots of fast notes. Brad is a very versatile tenor who can also sing the baritone range. He’s more a Verdi-type tenor than a Baroque-type tenor meaning he’s a bigger more operatic34

DECEMBER 15-29, 2016

DEC. 15 | THURSDAY

Dec. 16 | 7 p.m. | Corpus Christi Catholic Church | Carson City, Nev. Dec. 18 | 3:30 p.m. | St. Theresa Catholic Church | South Lake Tahoe Dec. 23 | 5:30 p.m. | Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley Brad Perry & Joy Strotz | Courtesy Jen Schmidt Photography

“It’s one of the most inspirational pieces ever written. … Handel was in a frenzy of joy when he composed it in a little less than three weeks.”

Aaron Oropeza Truckee Tavern & Grill 5 p.m.

Shannon Carroll and Hunter Nichols Cottonwood 7 p.m.

Blue Ribbon Classical Choir MontBleu 7 p.m.

80’s music night Mellow Fellow Truckee 8 p.m.

Jesse Dunn and Friends Moody’s 8 p.m.

Mic Smith McP’s TapHouse 8 p.m.

Rustler’s Moon Bar of America 8 p.m.

Stan Charles Pastime Club 10 p.m.

Bobby G Cabo Wabo 9:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ Cat Heavenly 2:20 p.m.

DJ Roger That! The Loft 10:30 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Classic Cue 8 p.m.

Open Mic Alibi Ale Works 9 p.m.

Lip Sync w/Dreu Murin MontBleu 9 p.m.

Karaoke The Grid 9:30 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Twelve Days of Christmas Radio Show Harvey’s 6 p.m.

Magic Fusion The Loft 7:30 p.m.

Dat Phan and Chase DuRousseau The Improv 9 p.m.

NEVADA CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL Isabel Bayrakdarian

his holiday season, TOCCATA Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will be returning to the stage with their annual performance of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.”

“It’s one of the most inspirational pieces ever written,” says TOCCATA artistic director, Maestro James Rawie. “It’s also one of the world’s most popular pieces.

Handel was in a frenzy of joy when he composed it in a little less than three weeks. ‘Messiah’ is the equivalent of the ballet world’s ‘Nutcracker.’ It’s a seasonal piece that kicks off the holiday tradition.”

The Orchestra and Community Choral Artists of the Tahoe Area (TOCCATA) was founded in 2005 by Rawie and his wife, Nancy, as a nonprofit musical arts organization. Its mission is to raise awareness and appreciation of classical orchestral and choral music by bringing quality, affordable performances to the greater Reno-Tahoe area and to provide a venue for accomplished musicians to display and develop their talents. Aside from the local community aspect, what makes TOCCATA unique is the combination of the full choir with the symphony.

“Our chorus is our signature,” says Rawie.

“With this combination, the music becomes much more subdued and profound.”

The full “Messiah” is three hours long and interprets the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ through music. It was first performed in Dublin, Ireland. on March 23, 1742; Handel conducted it.

TOCCATA adapts the piece in order to bring out the holiday spirit of the audience.

“Nobody’s really ready to listen to the complete ‘Messiah,’ ” says Rawie. “We do about half the piece and in the middle we do Christmas carols for which the audience has word sheets in the program. They’re invited to sing along with a big orchestra and chorus and that’s always fun. Our performance is a true holiday celebration.”

CALENDAR TAHOE & TRUCKEE

STORY BY SEAN MCALINDIN

T

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

–Maestro James Rawie type tenor who is much more powerful than focused and agile.”

Although Strotz has been singing this part for many years, she looks forward to this opportunity each time around.

“Every year I think maybe I’ll be tired of it this time and then I start singing and I’m thinking, ‘This is all I want to,’ ” she says. “I love to encourage first-timers to attend because they have no idea how fantastic ‘Messiah’ is. It’s beautiful music.

You can’t beat it.”

The key to harnessing the composition’s beauty and power is the full assembly of more than 50 TOCCATA singers from Truckee, Lake Tahoe, Reno and Carson City.

“Mostly it’s the blending of the classical musical instruments and the choral voices,” says Strotz. “The best parts are when everyone is playing and singing together.

They all really love doing it. For most of them, they feel that it’s spiritual as well.”

The final performance will be even more spectacular this year with the addition of a “Singing Tree” created by Squaw Valley Institute. This is a giant structurally engineered Christmas tree built to hold all

the singers in the chorus at once, stacked baritone to soprano from bottom to top.

“The Singing Tree will be a set highlight so prepare yourselves for an amazing evening,” says Squaw Valley Institute executive director Matt Reardon. “I’m a big fan of Maestro Rawie and his work, so the fit was quite seamless to pull off at Squaw. It will have humans wrapped up to the ceiling and has been six months in the making. It will be by far the wow factor of the show.”

While singing in a Christmas tree will be a new experience for most TOCCATA singers, at least one person is eager to try it out.

“I look forward to my first experience being part of a tree,” says Strotz. “I’m very curious to see what it will be like.

The only the thing I haven’t done yet is sing while swinging like Peter Pan or sing upside down. So I guess this time I’ll be in the tree. Hallelujah!” | toccatatahoe.com 

Dec. 26-Jan. 1 | Reno venues THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL of the Reno Chamber Orchestra features 11 unique concerts showcasing world-class musicians and the best in classical music, culminating with a New Year’s Day celebration. The concerts feature soloists and small ensembles including many of the world’s renowned classical musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic. Opening night features some of Reno’s favorite artists performing the music of Bach for Bach

By Candlelight. New this year is soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian and violinist Josef Špaček. | renochamberorchestra.org

December 15-28, 2016

THE MUSIC SCENE

C A L E N D A R | DECEMBER 15-29, 2016 RENO & BEYOND Gil Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Dave Leather Sassafras 6 p.m.

Jason King Band Boomtown 6 p.m.

Terri, Craig & Mick Glen Eagles 7 p.m.

Baldo Bobadilla Peppermill 7 p.m.

The Blues Monster Carson Valley Inn 7 p.m.

Joyful Noise Brewery Arts Center 7:30 p.m.

Gary Hoey Rockbar Theater 8 p.m.

Gnarly Sacs, American Slacker Society Jub Jub’s 8 p.m.

Jaime Rollins Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Blue Oyster Cult Harrah’s 7:30 p.m.

Chris Costa Tahoe Biltmore 8 p.m.

Steve & Tom Gar Woods 8 p.m.

Matt Rainey Bar of America 8 p.m.

Peter Apfelbaum & Josh Jones Moody’s 8:30 p.m.

Killer Dueling Pianos MontBleu 9 p.m.

Live music Steamers Bar & Grill SLT 9 p.m.

Mickey Avalon & Black Rock City Allstars Whiskey Dick’s 9 p.m.

Gotcha Covered Cabo Wabo 10 p.m.

Gift of Gab, Landon Wordswell & Mostafa Crystal Bay Club 10 p.m.

Get your Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass on with Leftover Salmon at the Crystal Bay Casino on Dec. 28 and 29.

Swinging Chads Atlantis 8 p.m.

Bobbie R. & Paul J. Eldorado 8:30 p.m.

Boondoggle Live St. James Infirmary 9 p.m.

Steel Rose Gilley’s Nugget 9 p.m.

Poperz Lex GSR 10 p.m.

Garage Boys Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ & Dancing Gilley’s Nugget 6 p.m.

DJ MoFunk Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

DJ Trivia Singer Social Club 8 p.m.

DJ Bobby G Living the Good Life 8:30 p.m.

DJ Ivan Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

Country Music Night Grand Sierra 10 p.m.

DJ Montague Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke RocKaraoke Rockbar Theater 7 p.m.

Karaoke Club Cal Neva 8 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 8 p.m.

Karaoke The Point 8:30 p.m.

Karaoke Bottom’s Up Saloon 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Domino” Potentialist Workshop 7 p.m.

“Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 7 p.m.

J. Chris Newberg The Laugh Factory 7:30 p.m.

“Audition” Good Luck Macbeth Theatre 7:30 p.m.

“The Velocity of Autumn” Restless Artists’ Theater 7:30 p.m.

“The Santaland Diaries” Reno Little Theater 7:30 p.m.

“Buttcracker 7” Brüka Theatre 8 p.m.

DEC. 16 | FRIDAY TAHOE & TRUCKEE Jody Sweet Piano Best Pies 11 a.m.

Lee Jones Gunbarrel Tavern 11 a.m.

Live music Northstar Village 2 p.m.

Live music Mellow Fellow Truckee 6 p.m.

Lake Effect Jazz Fresh Ketch 7 p.m.

Live music 968 Park Hotel Coffee Bar 7:30 p.m.

Tahoe Dance Band South Lake Senior Center 7:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ Cat Heavenly 2:20 p.m.

Northstar Village 5:30 p.m.

DJ Enfo & DJ Josbeatz Harrah’s 8 p.m.

Guest DJ Classic Cue 9 p.m.

DJ David Aaron MontBleu 10 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Punk Rock Karaoke Tourist Club 9 p.m.

MontBleu 9 p.m.

Karaoke Classic Cue 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Twelve Days of Christmas Radio Show Harvey’s 6 p.m.

Magic Fusion The Loft 7:30 p.m.

Dat Phan and Chase DuRousseau The Improv 9 p.m.

RENO & BEYOND Swinging Chads Atlantis 4 p.m.

Gil Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Live music David Walley’s Hot Springs 6 p.m.

The Look Boomtown 6 p.m.

Craig, Terri, Rocky & D. Spiteri Glen Eagles 7 p.m.

Corky Bennett Reno Senior Center 7:30 p.m.

The Blues Monster Carson Valley Inn 8 p.m.

Nightmare Before Rockbar Theater 8 p.m.

Handel’s “Messiah” Corpus Christi Catholic Church CC 7 p.m.

The Blues Monster Carson Valley Inn 8 p.m.

Planes Mistaken for Stars Studio on 4th 8 p.m.

Jenny O Holiday Show Peppermill 8 p.m.

Island of Black & White Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Tippin King Snakes Max’s Casino 8 p.m.

Soundwave Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Frank & Jerry Harrah’s Reno 8 p.m.

Eric Anderson Java Jungle 9 p.m.

Steel Rose Gilley’s Nugget 9 p.m.

Tyga Grand Sierra 9 p.m.

Michael Furlong Boomtown 9 p.m.

Nick Ferrer Lex GSR 10 p.m.

Arizona Jones Atlantis 10 p.m.

Garage Boys Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ & Dancing Gilley’s Nugget 6 & 11 p.m.

DJ I Harrah’s 9 p.m.

DJ Bobby G Living the Good Life 9 p.m.

DJ Roni V & DJ Bob Richards Eldorado 10 p.m.

DJ Travy St. James Infirmary 10 p.m.

Country Music Nights Grand Sierra 10 p.m.

Boggan and guest DJs 1 up 10 p.m.

DJ Montague Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Chris English Peppermill 1 a.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Karaoke Club Cal Neva 8 p.m.

Karaoke w/Darren Castle Club Cal Neva 8 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 8 p.m.

Karaoke Bottom’s Up Saloon 9 p.m.

Karaoke The Point 9 p.m.

Karaoke Spiro’s Sports Bar 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Domino” Potentialist Workshop 7 p.m.

“Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 7 p.m.

Rex Meredith Carson Nugget 7:30 p.m.

J. Chris Newberg The Laugh Factory 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.

“The Velocity of Autumn” Restless Artists’ Theater 7:30 p.m.

“Audition” Good Luck Macbeth Theatre 7:30 p.m.

“The Santaland Diaries” Reno Little Theater 7:30 p.m.

The Hootchy Kootchy Girls Pioneer Underground 7:30 p.m.

Dancing with the Stars Live!

Grand Sierra 8 p.m.

“Buttcracker 7” Brüka Theatre 8 p.m.

“Elf, The Musical” Pioneer Center 8 p.m.

Jason Resler 3rd Street Bar 9 p.m.

DEC. 17 | SATURDAY TAHOE & TRUCKEE Jody Sweet Piano Best Pies 11 a.m.

Bear Bones Sierra-at-Tahoe 12 p.m.

Truckee Tahoe Community Chorus Truckee Arts Center 1 p.m.

Live music Northstar Village 2 p.m.

Live music Donner Ski Ranch 5:30 p.m.

Mick Clarke Lakeside Inn 7 p.m.

Matt Rainey Bar of America 8 p.m.

Blue Oyster Cult Harrah’s 7:30 p.m.

Steve & Tom Gar Woods 8 p.m.

Rock River Duo MontBleu 8 p.m.

Chris Costa Tahoe Biltmore 8 p.m.

Peter Apfelbaum & Josh Jones Moody’s 8:30 p.m.

Killer Dueling Pianos MontBleu 9 p.m.

Live music Classic Cue 9 p.m.

Edge of the West Moe’s BBQ 9 p.m.

Live music Steamers Bar & Grill SLT 9 p.m.

Coco Montoya & Dirty Revival Crystal Bay Club 9 p.m.

Cash Only Band Whiskey Dick’s 9 p.m.

Gotcha Covered Cabo Wabo 9:30 p.m.

Live music Pastime Club 10 p.m.

DJ Parties Big Blue View Bar Homewood 12 p.m.

DJ Cat Heavenly 2:20 p.m.

Northstar Village 5:30 p.m.

DJ Rick Gee & DJ Josbeatz Harrah’s 8 p.m.

DJ David Aaron MontBleu 10 p.m.

Pump Up the Jams Rookies 10 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Twelve Days of Christmas Radio Show Harvey’s 6 p.m.

Dat Phan and Chase DuRousseau The Improv 9 p.m.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 36

Major Motion Pictures · Independent Films Live Music · Dance Performances

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Dec. 15 »7 pm sold out Dec. 16 - Jan.1 » 2:30 pm 5:45 pm 9:00 pm Jan. 2 - Jan. 12 » See website

for showtimes

Visit TahoeArtHausCinema.com for showtimes, schedule, events + tkts

THE COBBLESTONE CENTER 475 N LAKE BLVD., TAHOE CITY, CA | 530-584-2431

NOW PLAYING

Tahoe 3-D Movie Science Center

Lake Tahoe in Depth See it at the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center 291 Country Club Drive Incline Village, Nevada

Phone: (775) 881-7562 Email: tercinfo@ucdavis.edu Hands-on science activities, Web: terc.ucdavis.edu

Guided tours & 3-D movies Open Tues.—Fri., 1—5 p.m.

(or by appointment, closed all holidays)

TahoeScienceCenter.org (775) 881-7566

Not just Pizza!

HAPPY HOUR Daily 3-7pm SALADS • SANDWICHES • BEER/WINE

Daily Soup, Lunch & Pasta Specials Daily Specials - Italian Wednesdays Mexican Thursdays, Fishy Fridays Arcade Games • Wi-Fi • HDTV Sports NFL Sunday Ticket on HDTVs with Specials!

Live music every Wednesday evening 6–9pm

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Not good with any other offers. Good through 12/28/16 view full menu & daily specials at cbspizza.com

TO GO Orders Welcome Open 11am-10pm Daily

546-4738

5075 N. Lake Blvd., Carnelian Bay • Next to 7-11

35

THE MUSIC SCENE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

K-VON

C A L E N D A R | DECEMBER 15-29, 2016 DEC. 17 | SATURDAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

RENO & BEYOND

Dec. 23 | 7:30 p.m.

Carson Nugget | Carson City, Nev. K-VON HAS received rave reviews on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” The star of MTV’s hit show, “Disaster Date,” and can be seen on Laughs TV Show and Netflix.

Born and raised in Reno, his standup comedy career has taken him around the world several times, performing in comedy clubs and theaters. | carsoncomedy.com

BEATS ANTIQUE

Dec. 28 | 8 p.m.

MontBleu Resort Casino | Stateline, Nev. FRESH BAKIN’ PRESENTS Beats Antique as they return to South Lake Tahoe on their critically acclaimed “Shadowbox Tour.” Beats Antique is an experimental world fusion and electronic music group that mesmerizes with their stage presence. The show features special guest, Thriftworks. | montblueresort.com

Project MANA

(Making Adequate Nutrition Accessible)

Emergency Hunger Relief Organization serving the North Shore and Truckee since 1991 Our mission is to reduce the incidence of hunger and its detrimental effects upon individuals, families, the community and the region.

(775) 298-4161 WEEKLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS AND TIMES: MONDAYS TAHOE CITY | 3:00pm to 3:30pm Fairway Community Center, 330 Fairway Drive TUESDAYS TRUCKEE | 3:00pm to 3:30pm Community Arts Center, 10046 Church Street WEDNESDAYS KINGS BEACH | 3:00pm to 3:30pm Community House, 265 Bear Street THURSDAYS INCLINE VILLAGE | 3:00pm to 3:30pm St. Patrick’s Church ProjectMana.org 341 Village Blvd.

36

Swinging Chads Atlantis 4 p.m.

Gil Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

The Look Boomtown 5 p.m.

GHI Jazz Living the Good Life 6 p.m.

Live music David Walley’s Hot Springs 6 p.m.

Corky Bennett Bavarian World 6 p.m.

Craig, Terri, Rocky & D. Spiteri Glen Eagles 7 p.m.

A Classic Rock Christmas Rockbar 7 p.m.

Tintabulations S. Reno United Methodist Church 7 p.m.

Reno Jazz Orchestra UNR Nightingale Concert Hall 7:30 p.m.

The Blues Monster Carson Valley Inn 8 p.m.

Island of Black & White Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Tippin King Snakes Max’s Casino 8 p.m.

Soundwave Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Frank & Jerry Harrah’s Reno 8 p.m.

Lacy J. Dalton Red Dog Saloon 8:30 p.m.

Todd Ballowe Java Jungle 9 p.m.

Michael Furlong Boomtown 9 p.m.

Steel Rose Gilley’s Nugget 9 p.m.

Brzowski w/DJ Halo, 7 Out & Dylano, Dublgragon Jub Jub’s 9 p.m.

Arizona Jones Atlantis 10 p.m.

Grandtheft 1 Up 10 p.m.

Garage Boys Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ I Harrah’s 9 p.m.

DJ Roni V Eldorado 9 p.m.

DJ Bobby G Living the Good Life 9 p.m.

DJ Spryte Birthday Party Peppermill 10 p.m.

Country Music Nights Grand Sierra 10 p.m.

DJ Peeti-V Lex GSR 10 p.m.

DJ Montague Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Karaoke w/Darren Castle Club Cal Neva 8 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 8 p.m.

Karaoke Bottom’s Up Saloon 9 p.m.

Karaoke The Point 9 p.m.

Karaoke Spiro’s Sports Bar 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Dorothy in Wonderland, The Musical” Cargo 2 & 8 p.m.

“Elf, The Musical” Pioneer Center 2 & 8 p.m.

“Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 3 & 7 p.m.

“Domino” Potentialist Workshop 5 p.m.

The Hootchy Kootchy Girls Pioneer Underground 6:30 p.m.

“The Velocity of Autumn” Restless Artists’ Theater 7:30 p.m.

“The Santaland Diaries” Reno Little Theater 7:30 p.m.

“Audition” Good Luck Macbeth Theatre 7:30 p.m.

J. Chris Newberg The Laugh Factory 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.

“Buttcracker 7” Brüka Theatre 8 p.m.

Tosh.Show Live Grand Sierra Resort 8 p.m.

Lisa Lampanelli Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

“Decadence” Harrah’s 10 p.m.

DEC. 18 | SUNDAY TAHOE & TRUCKEE Jody Sweet Piano Best Pies 11 a.m.

Sierra Saxmas Sierra-at-Tahoe 12 p.m.

Live music Northstar Village 2 p.m.

Live music 89 Bar & Grill 2 p.m.

Tintabulations St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church IV 7 p.m.

Handel’s “Messiah” St. Theresa Catholic Church SLT 3 p.m.

Great Basin Carolers Village at Squaw 4 p.m.

Unkle Funkle McP’s TapHouse 9 p.m.

DJ Parties Arty the Party Harrah’s 8 p.m.

DJ Chris English Cabo Wabo 10 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Pastime Club 9:30 p.m.

Karaoke w/Andrew The Grid 9:30 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Twelve Days of Christmas Radio Show Harvey’s 6 p.m.

Dat Phan and Chase DuRousseau The Improv 9 p.m.

Tintabulations Marriot Courtyard Hotel CC 7 p.m.

Bobbie R. & Paul J. Eldorado 8:30 p.m.

DJ Parties Amp Ent DJ Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Java Jungle 7 p.m.

Gold Hill Hotel 7 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 9:30 p.m.

Open Mic w/Tany Jane Sidelines 8:30 p.m.

Blazing Mics! Jub Jub’s 9:30 p.m.

Live Band Karaoke Eldorado 10 p.m.

DEC. 20 | TUESDAY RENO & BEYOND

TAHOE & TRUCKEE

Tristan Selzer Brasserie St. James 12 p.m.

Sunday Jazz Wild River Grille 2 p.m.

Reno Jazz Orchestra UNR Nightingale Concert Hall 2 p.m.

Gil Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Deep Groove Red Dog Saloon 5:30 p.m.

First Take Rockbar 6 p.m.

Stephen Lord Boomtown 6 p.m.

Bogg Jazz Ensemble Peppermill 6 p.m.

Tintabulations St. Paul’s Lutheran Family CC 7 p.m.

Arizona Jones Atlantis 8 p.m.

Bobbie R. & Paul J. Eldorado 8:30 p.m.

Garage Boys Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ & Dancing Gilley’s 5 p.m.

DJ Teddy P Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

DJ Ivan Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Karaoke with Steve Starr Rockbar Theater 6 p.m.

Premier Karaoke Show The Point 6:30 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 8 p.m.

Karaoke w/Darren Castle Club Cal Neva 8 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Elf, The Musical” Pioneer Center 1 & 7 p.m.

“Dorothy in Wonderland, The Musical” Cargo 2 & 8 p.m.

“Buttcracker 7” Brüka Theatre 2 p.m.

“The Santaland Diaries” Reno Little Theater 2 p.m.

“The Velocity of Autumn” Restless Artists’ Theater 2 p.m.

“Audition” Good Luck Macbeth Theatre 2 p.m.

“Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 3 & 7 p.m.

J. Chris Newberg The Laugh Factory 7:30 p.m.

DEC. 19 | MONDAY

Holiday music Heavenly Village 2 p.m.

Great Basin Carolers Village at Squaw 4 p.m.

Buddy Emmer Band Harrah’s 8 p.m.

Grey Mitchell McP’s TapHouse 8 p.m.

DJ Parties Lip Sync w/Dreu Murin MontBleu 9 p.m.

DJ Keenan Whiskey Dicks 9 p.m.

Karaoke Pastime Club 10 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic w/Ryan Taylor Mellow Fellow Truckee 8 p.m.

Open Mic w/Lucas Arizu Fat Cat Bar & Grill 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Twelve Days of Christmas Radio Show Harvey’s 6 p.m.

Holly Feet & Grinch’s Groove Christmas Show Olympic Valley Lodge 7 p.m.

RENO & BEYOND CW and Dr. Spitmore Comma Coffee 11:30 p.m.

John Shipley Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Jaime Rollins Carson Valley Inn 6 p.m.

The Robey’s Boomtown 6 p.m.

Bogg Jazz Ensemble Peppermill 6 p.m.

Canyon White Living the Good Life 6:30 p.m.

Black & Blues Jam Sidelines 8:30 p.m.

Bobbie R. & Paul J. Eldorado 8:30 p.m.

DG Kicks Big Band 3rd Street Bar 8 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ Ivan Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

DJ Chris English Eldorado 10 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Karaoke Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 8 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 7 p.m.

Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk Grand Sierra Resort 8 p.m.

TAHOE & TRUCKEE Holiday music Heavenly Village 2 p.m.

Lee Jones Gunbarrel Tavern 3 p.m.

Great Basin Carolers Village at Squaw 4 p.m.

Mark Wilson McP’s TapHouse 8 p.m.

Chris English Cabo Wabo 9:30 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Himmel Haus 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Twelve Days of Christmas Radio Show Harvey’s 6 p.m.

Holly Feet & Grinch’s Groove Musical Dance Show Olympic Village Lodge 7 p.m.

RENO & BEYOND CW & Mr. Spoons Comma Coffee 12 p.m.

Gil Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Bogg Jazz Ensemble Peppermill 6 p.m.

Tandymonium Boomtown 6 p.m.

DEC. 21 | WEDNESDAY TAHOE & TRUCKEE Holiday music Heavenly Village 2 p.m.

Lee Jones Gunbarrel Tavern 3 p.m.

Live music Tamarack Lodge 3:30 p.m.

Great Basin Carolers Village at Squaw 4 p.m.

Reno Jazz Orchestra Olympic Valley Lodge 7 p.m.

Live music Cabo Wabo 9:30 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Mellow Fellow Truckee 8:30 p.m.

Karaoke Classic Cue 9 p.m.

Auld Dubliner 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Twelve Days of Christmas Radio Show Harvey’s 6 p.m.

Gene Pompa and Felicia Michaels The Improv 9 p.m.

ElectroSwing Burlesque The Loft 9 p.m.

December 15-28, 2016

THE MUSIC SCENE

THE MAGIC OF ILLUSION RENO & BEYOND Dave Leather Comma Coffee 12 p.m.

John Shipley Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Jaime Rollins Carson Valley Inn 6 p.m.

The Robey’s Boomtown 6 p.m.

Bogg Jazz Ensemble Peppermill 6 p.m.

Local Band Wednesday Rockbar Theater 7 p.m.

Terri & Craig Glen Eagles 7 p.m.

Corky Bennett Polo Lounge 7 p.m.

Purge the Perfect, Resistance, Man the Tanks Rockbar 7 p.m.

Rick Metz Blues Jam Sands Regency 7 p.m.

Bobbie R. & Paul J. Eldorado 8:30 p.m.

Steel Breeze Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ & Dancing Gilley’s 6 p.m.

DJ Jamie G John Ascuaga’s 7 p.m.

Johnny Bailey Vinyl Club St. James Infirmary 8 p.m.

Bingo & Country Rock DJ Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

DJ Ivan Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

Justincredible DJ Carson Station 9 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Red Dog Saloon 7 p.m.

Open Mic Firkin & Fox 7 P.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 7 p.m.

“Buttcracker 7” Brüka Theatre 8 p.m.

Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk Grand Sierra Resort 8 p.m.

DEC. 22 | THURSDAY TAHOE & TRUCKEE Holiday music Heavenly Village 2 p.m.

Live music Tamarack Lodge 3:30 p.m.

Great Basin Carolers Village at Squaw 4 p.m.

Aaron Oropeza Truckee Tavern & Grill 5 p.m.

Winter Solstice Music Cottonwood 7 p.m.

80’s music night Mellow Fellow Truckee 8 p.m.

Jesse Dunn and Friends Moody’s 8 p.m.

Mic Smith McP’s TapHouse 8 p.m.

Rustler’s Moon Bar of America 8 p.m.

Bobby G Cabo Wabo 9:30 p.m.

Stan Charles Pastime Club 10 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ Roger That! The Loft 10:30 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Classic Cue 8 p.m.

Open Mic Alibi Ale Works 9 p.m.

Lip Sync w/Dreu Murin MontBleu 9 p.m.

Karaoke The Grid 9:30 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Twelve Days of Christmas Radio Show Harvey’s 6 p.m.

The Magic of Rob Lake Harrah’s 7:30 p.m.

Gene Pompa and Felicia Michaels The Improv 9 p.m.

WITH

Rob Lake S T O R Y B Y P R I YA H U T N E R

Dec. 22-Jan. 7 | 7:30 p.m. & Dec. 30, Jan.1 & 7 | 4 p.m.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe | Stateline, Nev.

RENO & BEYOND Gil Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Dave Leather Sassafras 6 p.m.

The Robey’s Boomtown 6 p.m.

Terri, Craig & Mick Glen Eagles 7 p.m.

The Love Dimension Peppermill 7 p.m.

Just Us Carson Valley Inn 7 p.m.

Tony Glaser Studio on 4th 8 p.m.

Jaime Rollins Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Bobbie R. & Paul J. Eldorado 8:30 p.m.

The One with the Album St. James Infirmary 9 p.m.

Josh Budro Band Gilley’s Nugget 9 p.m.

Poperz Lex GSR 10 p.m.

Steel Breeze Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ & Dancing Gilley’s Nugget 6 p.m.

DJ MoFunk Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

DJ Trivia Singer Social Club 8 p.m.

DJ Bobby G Living the Good Life 8:30 p.m.

DJ Ivan Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

Country Music Night Grand Sierra 10 p.m.

DJ Montague Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke RocKaraoke Rockbar Theater 7 p.m.

Karaoke Club Cal Neva 8 p.m.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

W

hat is the difference between magic and illusion? While magic is illusion, an illusionist creates technical, large-scale stage effect that astounds and awes.

How many times have we seen the man standing on the street corner with his three cups and the shell game? Our eyes follow his quick moving hands and we’d bet almost anything we knew which cup the shell was under — one of the oldest tricks around. But sawing a lady in half or making her levitate or conjuring up vehicles from out of air, that is theatrical illusion.

of the truck and there was also security to consider — it was $1 million, after all.

Lake and his team had less than two weeks to create the illusion.

When asked about slight of hand, Lake says, “I don’t want to trick or distract the audience. I want to create wonder and enchantment. I want to create an inspiring, magical and uplifting experience,” he says.

“As kids we believe and with that wonder anything is possible.”

Lake says he is always looking to go bigger and become more creative with

“ I want to create wonder and enchantment. I want to

Courtesy Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival

create an inspiring, magical and uplifting experience.”

Shakespeare festival announces 2017 season Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival has announced its 45th season, which includes an expanded performance schedule.

Showcasing live entertainment seven nights a week from July 8 to Aug. 27, 2017 at Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s season is headlined by productions of “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” William Shakespeare’s labor of love and laughter, and “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” a hilarious Sherlock Holmes whodunit based on the novel by Sir Arthur

Conan Doyle, adapted by Steven Canny and John Nicholson.

Festival Producing Artistic Director Charles Fee will direct “The Hound of the Baskervilles” and Tyne Rafaeli will direct “Love’s Labour’s Lost.” The productions will be performed in rotating repertory Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m. Discounted Early Bird tickets are on sale through Dec. 31. | laketahoeshakespeare.com

Illusionist Rob Lake takes magic and illusion to another level. He is the youngest magician in history to receive the Merlin Award for International Stage Magician of the Year, which is considered magic’s highest honor, the industry equivalent of an Oscar, Emmy, Tony or Grammy. Lake is touted as one of the great illusionists of our time.

As young child, Lake practiced magic as a hobby, mastering card and coin tricks.

He was a 10-year-old Oklahoma kid when his saw his first live magic show. From that point on, he knew that was what he wanted to do with his life. As he matured, Lake read books by the great illusionists and immersed himself in illusion philosophy, which explores magic principles and the psychology of magic.

“Growing up, I loved Walt Disney. He was a real wizard, so magical with craft, telling stories and creating magic,” says Lake, who has worked on special effects for numerous productions including “Beauty and the Beast” and “Phantom of the Opera.”

As a consultant, Lake teaches actors how to perform magic tricks for television and film.

One of Lake’s more outrageous illusions was for Harrah’s. The company was giving away $1 million in cash and enlisted Lake to make an armored truck filled with the cash appear out of thin air. An armored truck weighs 20 tons. The team needed to engineer a special stage to hold the weight

each new illusion he crafts and performs, and he’s got something new up his sleeve for his upcoming shows at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. The illusion is five years in the making and will debut in Tahoe.

“I am always looking for ways to make a show magical,” he says. “Part of the show is interactive. We bring people on the stage to be part of the magic, we go into the audience and get them involved.”

Lake’s shows are fast paced and each night is different. Music is a big part of his productions. Whether he uses a movie soundtrack or an edgy rock recording, the music is as diverse and eclectic as his tastes and meshes with each illusion.

Whether it’s making a motorcycle he is

E X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com Watch Rob Lake make a motorcycle disappear

riding explode and reappear a minute later in the back of the venue or having a helicopter magically appear, Lake is a master of his craft. He creates a world of enchantment and mesmerizes even the greatest of skeptics.

Lake will be performing from Dec. 22 through Jan. 7 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. | harrahs-tahoe.com 

37

THE MUSIC SCENE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Blue Oyster Cult BURNING T O P L AY TA H O E S T O R Y B Y P R I YA H U T N E R

Dec. 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Tickets start at $44.95 Harrah’s Lake Tahoe | Stateline, Nev.

DEC. 22 | THURSDAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

Karaoke West 2nd Street 8 p.m.

Karaoke The Point 8:30 p.m.

Karaoke Bottom’s Up Saloon 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 7 p.m.

“Buttcracker 7” Brüka Theatre 8 p.m.

Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk Grand Sierra Resort 8 p.m.

DEC. 23 | FRIDAY TAHOE & TRUCKEE

E X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com Listen to the 1976 classic “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”

B

lue Oyster Cult lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Eric Bloom met his band mates in a New York City record store nearly 50 years ago. Bloom spent his college years in upstate New York playing in bars, then moved to New York City to take a job as a booking agent, the job didn’t work out and he fortuitously ended up selling records.

“I moved into the band house on Christmas Day 1968 before the band was called Blue Oyster Cult,” says Bloom. The band started recording in Long Island.

They released their first album in 1972 and toured with Alice Cooper.

“We’ve had lots of successes and stubbed our toes a few times,” explains Bloom of the bands decades in the business.

In the early days, the band played more than 200 gigs a year. Now seasoned veterans of the rock world, the band picks and chooses where they play and how often they tour. “We are perennial road dogs doing what we do,” he says.

With decades under his belt as a professional musician, Bloom says one of the most important lessons that he’s learned is the karmic one of cause and effect – what you put out is what you get back. “I follow the golden rule philosophy – don’t burn people and you won’t be burned back and what you do comes back to you,” he says.

Bloom says that he’s often asked when he’ll retire, but this rocker has no intention of doing so. “Why would I do that? Anyone who plays music for a long time does it because they like doing it and want to play music,” musing about guys like Tony Bennett, who is still performing at 90. “I go out and see big bands and guys in their 80s are still playing, because they love to play.”

Bloom who continues to write music, said that he’s also passionate about video games.

For many years, he wrote for Massive Online Gamer Magazine (now defunct) and is currently one of the 10 industry voters for the MMO Hall of Fame, which recognizes massive multiplayer online games.

With mega hits like “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” from the “Agents of Change” album and “I’m Burning for You,” from the 1981 album “Fire of Unknown Origin,” Bloom acknowledges many of the group’s songs were inspired by the bands love of science fiction.

Bloom will be heading to the South Shore Room at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, and maybe “Godzilla” will make it into the set from the legendary Blue Oyster Cult. | harrahstahoe.com 

38

Jody Sweet Piano Best Pies 11 a.m.

Lee Jones Gunbarrel Tavern 11 a.m.

Holiday music Heavenly Village 2 p.m.

Live music Northstar Village 2 p.m.

Live music Tamarack Lodge 3:30 p.m.

Great Basin Carolers Village at Squaw 4 p.m.

Handel’s “Messiah” Olympic Valley Lodge 5 p.m.

Live music Mellow Fellow Truckee 6 p.m.

Holly Sternberg Nakoma Resort 6 p.m.

Lake Effect Jazz Fresh Ketch 7 p.m.

Live music 968 Park Hotel Coffee Bar 7:30 p.m.

Tahoe Dance Band South Lake Senior Center 7:30 p.m.

Jaime Rollins MontBleu 8 p.m.

Paul Covarelli Bar of America 8 p.m.

Chris Costa Tahoe Biltmore 8 p.m.

Steve & Tom Gar Woods 8 p.m.

Chris Sexton’s Charlie Brown Christmas Moody’s 8:30 p.m.

Killer Dueling Pianos MontBleu 9 p.m.

4 Piece Puzzle Whiskey Dick’s 9 p.m.

Live music Steamers Bar & Grill SLT 9 p.m.

Live music Cabo Wabo 9:30 p.m.

Trippin King Snakes Crystal Bay Club 10 p.m.

DJ Parties Northstar Village 5:30 p.m.

DJ Josbeatz Harrah’s 8 p.m.

Guest DJ Classic Cue 9 p.m.

DJ David Aaron MontBleu 10 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Punk Rock Karaoke Tourist Club 9 p.m.

MontBleu 9 p.m.

Karaoke Classic Cue 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Twelve Days of Christmas Radio Show Harvey’s 6 p.m.

The Magic of Rob Lake Harrah’s 7:30 p.m.

Gene Pompa and Felicia Michaels The Improv 9 p.m.

Mojo Green hits The Saint in Reno on Dec. 16.

Dijital Lex GSR 10 p.m.

DJ Travy St. James Infirmary 10 p.m.

Country Music Nights Grand Sierra 10 p.m.

Boggan and guest DJs 1 up 10 p.m.

DJ Montague Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Chris English Peppermill 1 a.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Karaoke Club Cal Neva 8 p.m.

Karaoke w/Darren Castle Club Cal Neva 8 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 8 p.m.

Karaoke Bottom’s Up Saloon 9 p.m.

Karaoke The Point 9 p.m.

Karaoke Spiro’s Sports Bar 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 7 p.m.

K-Von Carson Nugget 7:30 p.m.

“Buttcracker 7” Brüka Theatre 8 p.m.

DEC. 24 | SATURDAY RENO & BEYOND TAHOE & TRUCKEE Gil Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Hoaloha Boomtown 5 p.m.

Live music David Walley’s Hot Springs 6 p.m.

Craig, Terri, Rocky & D. Spiteri Glen Eagles 7 p.m.

Corky Bennett Reno Senior Center 7:30 p.m.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra Grand Sierra 8 p.m.

Murderock Studio on 4th 8 p.m.

The Love Dimension Peppermill 8 p.m.

Tony Vee Max’s Casino 8 p.m.

Flock of 80z Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Audioboxx Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Just Us Carson Valley Inn 8 p.m.

The Vegas Road Show Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Josh Budro Band Gilley’s Nugget 9 p.m.

Low La La Java Jungle 9 p.m.

Steppen’ Stonz Atlantis 10 p.m.

Steel Breeze Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ & Dancing Gilley’s Nugget 6 & 11 p.m.

DJ I Harrah’s 9 p.m.

DJ Bobby G Living the Good Life 9 p.m.

DJ Roni V & DJ Bob Richards Eldorado 10 p.m.

Jody Sweet Piano Best Pies 11 a.m.

Holiday music Heavenly Village 2 p.m.

Live music Northstar Village 2 p.m.

Live music Sierra-at-Tahoe 2 p.m.

Live music Tamarack Lodge 3:30 p.m.

Great Basin Carolers Village at Squaw 4 p.m.

Live music Donner Ski Ranch 5:30 p.m.

Lindsey Cheek w/Bread and Butter Lakeside Inn 7 p.m.

Steve & Tom Gar Woods 8 p.m.

Jaime Rollins MontBleu 8 p.m.

Chris Costa Tahoe Biltmore 8 p.m.

The Roemers Whiskey Dick’s 8 p.m.

Tristan Selzer Trio Moody’s 8:30 p.m.

Killer Dueling Pianos MontBleu 9 p.m.

Live music Classic Cue 9 p.m.

Live music Steamers Bar & Grill SLT 9 p.m.

Live music Cabo Wabo 10 p.m.

Live music Pastime Club 10 p.m.

Pine Street Ramblers Crystal Bay Club 10 p.m.

DJ Parties Northstar Village 5:30 p.m.

DJ Rick Gee & DJ Josbeatz Harrah’s 8 p.m.

DJ David Aaron MontBleu 10 p.m.

Pump Up the Jams Rookies 10 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Twelve Days of Christmas Radio Show Harvey’s 6 p.m.

Gene Pompa and Felicia Michaels The Improv 9 p.m.

RENO & BEYOND Gil Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Hoaloha Boomtown 5 p.m.

GHI Jazz Living the Good Life 6 p.m.

Live music David Walley’s Hot Springs 6 p.m.

Corky Bennett Bavarian World 6 p.m.

Craig, Terri, Rocky & D. Spiteri Glen Eagles 7 p.m.

Flock of 80z Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

The Love Dimension Peppermill 8 p.m.

Tony Vee Max’s Casino 8 p.m.

Alex and Janice Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Audioboxx Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Just Us Carson Valley Inn 8 p.m.

The Vegas Road Show Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Josh Budro Band Gilley’s Nugget 9 p.m.

Stephen Lord Boomtown 9 p.m.

Lounge Party LEX GSR 10 p.m.

Steppen’ Stonz Atlantis 10 p.m.

Steel Breeze Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ I Harrah’s 9 p.m.

DJ Roni V Eldorado 9 p.m.

DJ Bobby G Living the Good Life 9 p.m.

Lounge Party! GSR Lex 10 p.m.

Country Music Nights Grand Sierra 10 p.m.

DJ Montague Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Chris English Peppermill 1 a.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Karaoke w/Darren Castle Club Cal Neva 8 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 8 p.m.

Karaoke Bottom’s Up Saloon 9 p.m.

Karaoke The Point 9 p.m.

Karaoke Spiro’s Sports Bar 9 p.m.

December 15-28, 2016

THE MUSIC SCENE

C A L E N D A R | DECEMBER 15-29, 2016 Open Mic & Karaoke Karaoke with Steve Starr Rockbar Theater 6 p.m.

Premier Karaoke Show The Point 6:30 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 8 p.m.

Karaoke w/Darren Castle Club Cal Neva 8 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 3 & 7 p.m.

Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk Grand Sierra Resort 8 p.m.

DEC. 26 | MONDAY

TAHOE & TRUCKEE Jesse Dunn Plaza Bar Squaw 2 p.m.

Lee Jones Gunbarrel Tavern 3 p.m.

Live music Tamarack Lodge 3:30 p.m.

Mark Wilson McP’s TapHouse 8 p.m.

Mark Sexton Group Moody’s 8:30 p.m.

Patrick Walsh Cabo Wabo 9:30 p.m.

Hellbound Glory Crystal Bay Club 10 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Himmel Haus 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Line Dancing Nakoma Resort 7 p.m.

The Magic of Rob Lake Harrah’s 7:30 p.m.

RENO & BEYOND

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 3 & 7 p.m.

Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk Grand Sierra Resort 8 p.m.

DEC. 25 | SUNDAY TAHOE & TRUCKEE Jody Sweet Piano Best Pies 11 a.m.

Live music Northstar Village 2 p.m.

Live music Tamarack Lodge 3:30 p.m.

Unkle Funkle McP’s TapHouse 9 p.m.

Chris English Cabo Wabo 9:30 p.m.

Blue Haven Crystal Bay Club 10 p.m.

DJ Parties Arty the Party Harrah’s 8 p.m.

DJ Chris English Cabo Wabo 10 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Pastime Club 9:30 p.m.

Karaoke w/Andrew The Grid 9:30 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Twelve Days of Christmas Radio Show Harvey’s 6 p.m.

Gene Pompa and Felicia Michaels The Improv 9 p.m.

RENO & BEYOND Tristan Selzer Brasserie St. James 12 p.m.

Sunday Jazz Wild River Grille 2 p.m.

Gil Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Crush Boomtown 5 p.m.

Deep Groove Red Dog Saloon 5:30 p.m.

First Take Rockbar 6 p.m.

Christmas Party Jub Jub’s 6 p.m.

Bobbie R. & Paul J. Eldorado 8:30 p.m.

Stephen Lord Boomtown 9 p.m.

Steppen’ Stonz Atlantis 10 p.m.

Steel Breeze Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ & Dancing Gilley’s 5 p.m.

DJ Teddy P Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

DJ Ivan Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

CW & Mr. Spoons Comma Coffee 12 p.m.

Gil Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Bach by Candlelight Trinity Episcopal Church Reno 5 p.m.

Tandymonium Boomtown 6 p.m.

Swing Time St. James Infirmary 7 p.m.

Atomika Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Platinum Atlantis 8 p.m.

Bobbie R. & Paul J. Eldorado 8:30 p.m.

DJ Parties Amp Ent DJ Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Java Jungle 7 p.m.

Gold Hill Hotel 7 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 9:30 p.m.

Open Mic w/Tany Jane Sidelines 8:30 p.m.

Blazing Mics! Jub Jub’s 9:30 p.m.

Live Band Karaoke Eldorado 10 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk Grand Sierra Resort 8 p.m.

DEC. 27 | TUESDAY

TAHOE & TRUCKEE Chi McLean Plaza Bar Squaw 2 p.m.

Live music Tamarack Lodge 3:30 p.m.

Buddy Emmer Band Harrah’s 8 p.m.

Grey Mitchell McP’s TapHouse 8 p.m.

Chuck Hughes Moody’s 8 p.m.

Sage Francis & The Good Samaritans Whiskey Dick’s 9 p.m.

Live music Cabo Wabo 9:30 p.m.

DJ Parties Lip Sync w/Dreu Murin MontBleu 9 p.m.

DJ Keenan Whiskey Dicks 9 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic w/Ryan Taylor Mellow Fellow Truckee 8 p.m.

Open Mic w/Lucas Arizu Fat Cat Bar & Grill 9 p.m.

Karaoke Pastime Club 10 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance The Magic of Rob Lake Harrah’s 7:30 p.m.

K-Von Crystal Bay Club 8:30 p.m.

RENO & BEYOND CW and Dr. Spitmore Comma Coffee 11:30 p.m.

John Shipley Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Jonathan Barton Boomtown 6 p.m.

Canyon White Living the Good Life 6:30 p.m.

Tyler Stafford Carson Valley Inn 7 p.m.

Nevada Chamber Music Festival UNR Nightingale Concert Hall 7 p.m.

Atomika Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Platinum Atlantis 8 p.m.

Black & Blues Jam Sidelines 8:30 p.m.

Bobbie R. & Paul J. Eldorado 8:30 p.m.

DG Kicks Big Band 3rd Street Bar 8 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ Ivan Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

DJ Chris English Eldorado 10 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Karaoke Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 8 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 7 p.m.

Dante The Laugh Factory 7:30 p.m.

Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk Grand Sierra Resort 8 p.m.

DEC. 28 | WEDNESDAY TAHOE & TRUCKEE Jessie Leslie Plaza Bar Squaw 2 p.m.

Lee Jones Gunbarrel Tavern 3 p.m.

Beats Antique MontBleu 8 p.m.

Mark Mackay Group Moody’s 8 p.m.

Dirt Nasty for President Whiskey Dick’s 9 p.m.

Leftover Salmon w/ Tea Leaf Green & Dusty Green Bones Crystal Bay Club 9 p.m.

Live music Cabo Wabo 9:30 p.m.

DJ Parties Tamarack Lodge 3:30 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Mellow Fellow Truckee 8:30 p.m.

Karaoke Classic Cue 9 p.m.

Auld Dubliner 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance The Magic of Rob Lake Harrah’s 7:30 p.m.

Raj Sharma & Jen Murphy The Improv 9 p.m.

LAKE TAHOE’S BEST SELECTION OF LIGHTING

RENO & BEYOND Dave Leather Comma Coffee 12 p.m.

Platinum Atlantis 4 p.m.

John Shipley Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Jonathan Barton Boomtown 6 p.m.

Local Band Wednesday Rockbar Theater 7 p.m.

Terri & Craig Glen Eagles 7 p.m.

Tyler Stafford Carson Valley Inn 7 p.m.

Rick Metz Blues Jam Sands Regency 7 p.m.

Nevada Chamber Music Festival UNR Nightingale Concert Hall 7 p.m.

Atomika Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Bobbie R. & Paul J. Eldorado 8:30 p.m.

Audioboxx Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ & Dancing Gilley’s 6 p.m.

DJ Jamie G John Ascuaga’s 7 p.m.

Johnny Bailey Vinyl Club St. James Infirmary 8 p.m.

Bingo & Country Rock DJ Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

DJ Ivan Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

Justincredible DJ Carson Station 9 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Red Dog Saloon 7 p.m.

Open Mic Firkin & Fox 7 P.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 7 p.m.

Dante The Laugh Factory 7:30 p.m.

Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk Grand Sierra Resort 8 p.m.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

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THE MUSIC SCENE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

EDGE OF THE WEST

C A L E N D A R | DECEMBER 15-29, 2016

Dec. 17 | 9 p.m.

Moe’s Original BBQ | Tahoe City

EDGE OF THE WEST is a rock ‘n’ roots, honky-tonk, jam band. Their catchy, quirky originals and outlaw hippie sound strikes a chord with lovers of alt-country, Americana and the Grateful Dead. The group writes original tunes and draws from a deep well of eclectic covers; they never play the same show twice. | facebook.com/ moesoriginalbbqtahoe

“DOROTHY

IN

WONDERLAND:

THE MUSICAL” JULY 30 | THURSDAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE XX

DEC. 29 | THURSDAY

TAHOE & TRUCKEE

Dec. 17 & 18 | 2 & 7 p.m.

Cargo Concert Hall | Reno, Nev. DOROTHY, TOTO AND the characters of Oz get caught in another whirlwind that sweeps them off to Wonderland, where they meet Alice, White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, March Hare, Cheshire Cat and many more. Dorothy, Alice and their friends join forces to defeat the queen at croquet, but will that be enough to return Wonderland to normal and get everybody back home? | cargoreno.com

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SnowGlobe 2016 Lake Tahoe Community College Ben Fuller Plaza Bar Squaw 2 p.m.

Aaron Oropeza Truckee Tavern & Grill 5 p.m.

80’s music night Mellow Fellow Truckee 8 p.m.

The Devil Makes Three Harrah’s 7:30 p.m.

Mic Smith McP’s TapHouse 8 p.m.

Jesse Dunn and Friends Moody’s 8 p.m.

Rustler’s Moon Bar of America 8 p.m.

Leftover Salmon w/Mother Hips & Kitchen Dwellers Crystal Bay Club 9 p.m.

Stan Charles Pastime Club 10 p.m.

Bobby G Cabo Wabo 9:30 p.m.

DJ Parties Tamarack Lodge 3:30 p.m.

DJ Roger That! The Loft 10:30 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke Open Mic Classic Cue 8 p.m.

Open Mic Alibi Ale Works 9 p.m.

Lip Sync w/Dreu Murin MontBleu 9 p.m.

Nevada Chamber Music Festival S. Reno United Methodist Church 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.

Platinum Atlantis 4 p.m.

Gil Eldorado 4:30 p.m.

Dave Leather Sassafras 6 p.m.

The Look Boomtown 6 p.m.

Terri, Craig & Mick Glen Eagles 7 p.m.

After Dark Band Carson Valley Inn 7 p.m.

Dirty Bourbon River Show Peppermill 7 p.m.

Perfect Is What We Aim For Jub Jub’s 7:30 p.m.

Jaime Rollins Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Atomika Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Huey Lewis & The News Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

Bobbie R. & Paul J. Eldorado 8:30 p.m.

Bazooka Zoo’s Groovy Good Time Bash St. James Infirmary 9 p.m.

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40

RENO & BEYOND

Poperz Lex GSR 10 p.m.

Audioboxx Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

DJ Parties DJ & Dancing Gilley’s Nugget 5 p.m.

DJ MoFunk Silver Legacy 8 p.m.

DJ Trivia Singer Social Club 8 p.m.

DJ Bobby G Living the Good Life 8:30 p.m.

DJ Ivan Silver Legacy 9 p.m.

Country Music Night Grand Sierra 10 p.m.

DJ Montague Eldorado 10:30 p.m.

Open Mic & Karaoke RocKaraoke Rockbar Theater 7 p.m.

Karaoke Club Cal Neva 8 p.m.

Karaoke West 2nd Street 8 p.m.

Karaoke The Point 8:30 p.m.

Karaoke Bottom’s Up Saloon 9 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance “Domino” Potentialist Workshop 7 p.m.

“Miracle on 34th Street” Silver Legacy 7 p.m.

Dante The Laugh Factory 7:30 p.m.

Cirque Mechanics: Pedal Punk Grand Sierra Resort 8 p.m.

Chris Franjola Pioneer Underground 8 p.m.

Bowl Incline North Shore’s Complete VOTED BEST POOL ROOM ON THE NORTH SHORE!

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Karaoke The Grid 9:30 p.m.

Theater, Comedy & Dance Raj Sharma & Jen Murphy The Improv 9 p.m.

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LOCAL FLAVOR

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Local

flavor

FOOD & WINE, RECIPES, FEATURES & MORE

Cookies

New deli in town

F O R T H E H O L I D AY S S T O R Y & P H O T O S B Y P R I YA H U T N E R

There are also eggless recipes for vegan cookies. Aquafaba is a great egg substitute.

It is the juice from canned beans and can even be used to make vegan meringue.

Kristin McKenna, co-owner of Therapeutic Chef, is a vegan chef who makes fabulous cookies and shares her recipe for vegan ginger cookies.

One thing is certain as the holidays approaches – cookies will be plentiful. 

TRIPLE GINGER COOKIES WET INGREDIENTS

T

hey are biscuits in England and Australia, galletas in Spain, biscotti in Italy and in Germany keks or plätzchen. In the USA, they are cookies. Derived from the Dutch word koekje, meaning small cake, the earliest cookie-style cakes are thought to date back to 7th Century Persia A.D. (one of the first countries to cultivate sugar). The bakers added sugar to bread recipes to create sweet cakes that were baked in a clay oven fueled by dry wood fires.

When spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper, and dried exotic fruits such as citron, apricots and dates were introduced they were added to baked goods. These items, along with sugar and butter, were expensive and only prepared by families during holidays.

Today, baking cookies is still a holiday tradition. My grandmother would spend weeks leading up to Christmas baking. The sweet scent of butter, nuts and chocolate filled her kitchen. I’d open the round tin and dig through the waxed paper searching for my favorites: her chocolate chip cookies and Russian tea cakes.

E X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Try Chef David Smitty’s recipe for Sugar Cookies

Gingerbread, butter cookies, sugar cookies, gingersnaps, chocolate chip and snickerdoodles are some of the traditional Christmas cookies baked during the holiday season. During Hanukah, rugelach are filled with raisins, walnuts, cinnamon, chocolate, marzipan, poppy seeds or fruit preserves.

The delightful pizzelle is an Italian waffle cookie made from flour, eggs, sugar, butter or vegetable oil and anise or anisette. Biscotti, a twice-baked cookie is sometimes dipped in chocolate. Both are

42

traditional during the holidays. You might also find Brutti ma Buoni (ugly but good), a hazelnut or almond-flavored biscuit; Croccantini, a cracker that can be served savory or sweet and the pignoli, a pinenut macaroon-type cookie on the holiday table in Italy.

From Germans, there are hausfreunde, buttery almond-apricot sandwich cookies in bittersweet chocolate; basler leckerli, a spiced cookie bar; lebkuchen, molassesginger cookies; Haselnuss Makronen, raspberry-hazelnut macaroon and pfeffernuesse, tiny spice cookies.

The Swedes make pepparkakor, a flat gingerbread cookie. Austrians make raspberry linzer torte. The French make Chinese almond cookies, madeleines and macaroons.

Decadent and delicious, most of us cannot eat just one.

In Mexico, we might find buñuelos, a fried dough cookie; biscochitos, a cross between a butter cookie and a snickerdoodle; and Mexican wedding cookies, which are akin to a Russian tea cake.

The evolution of the cookie has changed and today there are thousands of cookie recipes. Decadent and delicious, most of us cannot eat just one. There are many iterations of the cookie that have evolved depending on our diet: gluten free, sugar free and vegan cookies have made their way into our culture.

There are plenty of healthy cookies, nobake cookies, protein cookies and cookies with whole grains, nuts and seeds. Want to reduce sugar in your diet? Mashed bananas, applesauce, pears, maple syrup or agave nectar are excellent ways to cut out sugar.

TA S T Y TIDBITS

1 T flax seeds, freshly ground 2 T warm water ¼ C coconut oil, melted ¼ C sugar (rapadura or coconut palm sugar) 3 T blackstrap molasses DRY INGREDIENTS

1½ C spelt flour 1 t baking powder ¼ t baking soda ½ t unrefined sea salt ½ t ginger powder ¼ t cinnamon powder ¼ t cloves powder 2 t grated fresh ginger Dash of cayenne ¼ C candied ginger, minced small Additional sugar, for coating

In a bowl, mix ground flax seeds with 2 tablespoons of water and let sit for 10 minutes. Then whisk in the oil, molasses and sugar until well combined.

In another bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda and all spices except the candied ginger. Add the wet ingredients to dry and stir until it becomes a dough, using hands if needed. If it seems too dry and won’t stick together, add a dash of water and mix again. Then fold in the candied ginger.

Chill the dough for 30 minutes. Shape into flat disks. Press the disks into the sugar to coat and place on parchment-lined sheet.

Bake in preheated 350 degrees F oven for 12 to 13 minutes.

The cookies will be slightly soft in the center to touch. Let them cool completely before transferring to a container. Store in an airtight container and consume within a few days. Makes 14 to 16 cookies. 

Priya Hutner is a writer, health and wellness consultant, and natural foods chef. Her business, The Seasoned Sage, focuses on wellness, conscious eating and healthy living. She offers healthy organic meals for her clients. She may be reached at pria78@ gmail.com or visit theseasonedsage.com. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to read more.

Stateline, Nev. Lake Tahoe Markets announces the opening of Bella Deli located between Dart Liquor and Lakeside Inn & Casino on U.S. Route 50. It will offer lunch to go from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and grab-and-go gourmet meals until 7 p.m. seven days a week. Menus will change biweekly. | bellatahoe.com

New baker promises the best Tahoe Donner Alder Creek Café has turned up the heat with the addition of baker Cass Rodriguez.

She brings with her years of awardwinning culinary experience and baking expertise. Using fresh, seasonal ingredients, Rodriguez is offering guests some of her specialties such as cherry white chocolate scones, ultra-healthy morning glory muffins, gluten-free dark chocolate chunk muffins, seasonal pies and cheesecakes, as well as soups and other unique dishes.

“I like to use organic ingredients when available and try different flavor profile combinations to provide my customers with a variety of unique baked goods that are different than the same old thing,” said Rodriguez in a press release.

A former student at the New York Restaurant School, Rodriguez apprenticed with the famous pastry chef Francois Payard at the Restaurant Daniel in New York City. She moved to Lake Tahoe from Auckland, New Zealand, where she was the pastry chef at Pandora Bakery.

In Tahoe City, she was hired by ownerchef Douglas Dale of Wolfdale’s Cuisine Unique, where she created original recipes for pastries, cakes, pies, sorbets and tarts.

In 2000, Rodriguez opened her own business, Joe Coffee in historic downtown Truckee. Joe Coffee earned “Best of ” awards each year from 2005 to 2008.

According to Rodriguez, “Our goal is to make the Alder Creek Café the new morning hot spot to grab fresh-baked goods or a morning quiche and cappuccino and get your day started.” | tahodonner.com

Pop in for a Pop Up Truckee Stella at Cedar House Sport Hotel offers a Pop Up Dinner Series several times per month. Designed and formatted like a spirited dinner party, a Stella Pop Up event is an exploration into creative cooking.

Guests are encouraged to walk around the kitchen, joining conversations that are free flowing and educational. There is one tasting menu for each gathering, seating is communal and each course is served at the same time with commentary from the Stella kitchen team. The cost is $97 per person. Seating is limited; reservations are necessary. The series includes Winter Comfort Pop Up on Dec. 27, 28 and 29, New Years! Pop Up on Jan. 1 and Nordic Adventure Pop Up on Jan. 6 and 7. | cedarhousesporthotel.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

LOCAL FLAVOR

December 1-14, 2016

Siblings take 1st place in Cookie Contest I

1ST PLACE

CHRISTMAS LOVE IT IS ...

SEQUOIA & REEVE DENTON

1 stick reindeer unsalted butter ¾ cup Santa sugar 1 egg ¼ tsp. elf peppermint extract 1¼ C snowflake flour ½ tsp St. Nick’s baking soda 1/3 Ms. Clause’s cocoa powder ¼ tsp holly salt ½ tsp ornament baking powder 1 candy cane from the evergreen tree 1/3 C semisweet chocolate from us

Bake with love at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 Polar Express minutes.

2ND PLACE

ENGLISH TOFFEE STEPHANIE MAISENBACH

1 lb. butter 2 C sugar 4 T water

Bring all the above to a boil. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until amber color.

Turn onto foil. Break when hard about an hour.

Taste better if it sets overnight.

3RD PLACE

SNICKERDOODLE COOKIES STEPHANIE MAISENBACH

1 C butter 1½ C sugar 3 large eggs 2¾ C flour 2 t cream of tartar 2 t Vanilla 1 t baking soda Pinch of salt

ncline Village, Nev., siblings Sequoia and Reeve Denton took First Place in the Tahoe Weekly’s 5th Annual Christmas Cookie & Holiday Treats contest.

Entries were scored on appearance, texture and flavor by the Tahoe Weekly staff, along with our special guest judge, 4-year-old Anna Ganong.

“You had me at candy cane,” commented one judge on the winning entry named “Christmas love it is …”

The chocolate, heart-shaped cookies were inspired by candy canes, said 10-yearold Sequoia of the winning creation. Mom Phoebe says Sequoia and her 6-year-old brother Reeve came up the idea on their own and did all the baking themselves, joking that the homeschooled kids watch a lot of cooking shows.

“Chocolate peppermint Christmas love,” another judge noted of the cookies. “You can tell how much fun these guys had making these tasty cookies.”

Stephanie Maisenbach of Homewood won 2nd Place in the contest with her English Toffee, and took 3rd for her Snickerdoodle Cookies.

The judges all enjoyed the butteriness of the toffee. “It melts in your mouth,” noted one of the judges.

Our award-winning bakers also previously placed in our Cookie Contest.

Sequoia took 2nd Place in 2014 for her “The 12 Reindeers of Christmas” cookies, while Stephanie took 3rd Place in 2014 for her Butter Cookies. Both recipes are available at TheTahoeWeekly.com.

Thank you to all the delicious entries that we received this year. We look forward to enjoying more delights at the 6th Annual Christmas Cookie & Holiday Dessert Contest in 2017. Happy Holidays!

-Katherine E. Hill

E X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Mix all above ingredients, roll about 1-inch balls in following mixture. Put on cookie sheet bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Roll in a mixture of 3 T sugar, 3 t cinnamon.

Try the tasty creations from our past Cookie Contest winners: > > > >

Thank you to our judges: Anna Ganong, Alyssa Ganong, Priya Hutner, Anne Artoux & Katherine E. Hill

n in o! e p o en Nowown R T Mid

Mom’s Toffee Ricotta Cookies Apricot Walnut Rugelach Grandma Kitty’s Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Cozy Fireside Dining

Let Morgan’s Cater Your Holiday Party!

Don’t forget to get your holiday crab & fish orders in early.

2 fresh fish tacos w/ a soft drink or beer for $8 Wednesdays & Thursdays

Daily from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

10089 West River Street · Truckee (530) 582-5000 · MorgansLobsterShack.com

Cedar House Pub Opening December 16 | 2-for-1 entrees on opening night.

Full bar, live music, specials, family friendly atmosphere, affordable pricing.

Open 5-9PM Fridays and Saturdays, and 5-9PM daily December 16–January 7.

granlibakken.com 530.583.4242 43

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THE SOULE DOMAIN

CHRISTMAS DINNER B Y C H E F D AV I D “ S M I T T Y ” S M I T H

Se c re t s

I

TURKEY

CREATIVE HOLIDAY DINING IN AN ELEGANT LOG CABIN Vegan Sauté

•

Sustainable Fresh Fish • Filet Mignon Local Seasonal Produce

•

Organic Chicken

Christmas Week open from 5pm with extensive holiday nightly additions Open for dinner nightly at 6pm - Please make reservations

530-546-7529 | www.souledomain.com

Stateline Dr. next to Tahoe Biltmore, Crystal Bay, North Lake Tahoe Slow-Roasted Prime Rib · Full Bar · Steaks Baby · Back Ribs

Salad Bar · Kids’ Menu · Seafood Pasta · Gourmet Hamburgers

Open Daily 11am-10pm 8338 North Lake Blvd., Kings Beach, CA · JasonsBeachSideGrille.com · (530) 546-3315

LAKE VIEW DINING open every day at 4pm

HacDelLago.com

Facebook.com/HaciendaDelLago BOATWORKS MALL AT TAHOE CITY MARINA ·· (530) 581-3700 760 NORTH LAKE BLVD. SUITE #30 ·· TAHOE CITY, CA

Antipasti, Homemade Pastas & Rustic Regional Entrées Dinner served nightly in an ingenious Italian atmosphere HAPPY HOUR

Sunday-Thursday 5-6 p.m.

In Downtown Truckee - (530) 587-4694

pianetarestauranttruckee.com 44

t is officially the holiday season.

Everywhere I went in the last month there have been signs — lots and lots of signs. The ghouls and goblins barely made it back into their crypts before the sleigh bells were ringing, Christmas lights were blinking and tinsel was hanging from every banner in the stores.

There are two things that will happen during this time of year. The first is that we will drive ourselves to the brink of craziness trying to find presents in stores so packed with people trying to find their own special gifts that it is almost impossible to move. The second certainty is that most of us will eat entirely too much.

Though this is the time for endless dinners, parties and celebrations, there are meals that are usually the two biggest meals of the year. I say meals instead of dinners because when you think of dinner, it is a time to sit down at the table, eat your food, have a glass of wine and possibly some dessert — and then it’s over. On Christmas, it is a daylong event. The meal can go on for hours as we have second and third helpings. When they finally take all this from the table, it doesn’t mean the meal is done. There is usually a second act.

There can be a few hours of naps, nibbling, football, nibbling, storytelling and. yes, more nibbling before the dessert makes its appearance to the table and the crowd finds their seats again. These meals go beyond the usual meat, starch and vegetable. These holiday meals can include more side dishes than you will find on the normal high-end restaurant menu.

With this said, here are a few easy things you can try to add that little extra flavor to some of your dishes. As far as the main item goes, it usually comes down to two choices: prime rib or turkey with stuffing and mushroom gravy.

PRIME RIB First, let’s talk red meat. Personally, prime rib is my favorite cut of beef. If I am not buying a whole prime rib, I’ll try to find a piece that has plenty of marbling and a nice thick fat cap on the top. Season it heavy with salt, pepper and garlic. If you use whole garlic, try using the side of the knife and rub it with some salt on the cutting board to make a salt and garlic paste. This will keep the garlic from burning and from getting bitter. Cook the rib three-quarters of the way upside down and then flip it over to finish it.

Remember to let it rest at least 15 minutes before slicing.

Now for the turkey. First, prepare the stuffing separately; do not cook it in the bird. I’m sure you have heard that cooking stuffing in the turkey can add to the risk of contamination. Also, remember that stuffing is basically dried bread, which is like a sponge. It can suck a lot of the moisture out of your turkey and no one likes a dry bird. Season the cavity with salt, pepper, sage and a little rosemary.

Cook it on a rack or cut off the wings and make a rack and keep a little water in the bottom of the pan. If you happen to be making your stuffing from scratch, try slicing some breakfast sausage in half length-wise and remove the meat from the casing. Sauté the meat and then add finely chopped carrot, onion and celery to the fat and sauté this before adding the bread, herbs and stock.

Here are a few easy things you can try to add that little extra flavor to some of your dishes.

TASTY TIPS Here are some more tasty tips to try: • Try using maple syrup instead of brown sugar to sweeten your squash.

• Add a little feta cheese to your mashed potatoes before you salt them.

• Be sure to add nutmeg to the mashed potatoes.

• Add a spoon of sugar to the salted water to cook your pearl onions.

• No. 1 addition to your gravy is a little cream sherry. The sherry alone will make everyone want more, so be prepared.

This Christmas give some of these tips a try and enjoy your meal. Have a happy holiday season.  Smitty 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. To read archived copies of Smitty’s column, visit chefsmitty.com or TheTahoeWeekly.com. Contact him at tmmsmitty@gmail.com or (530) 412-3598.

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December 1-14, 2016

ALL-AMERICAN

BY LOU PHILLIPS

New Year

Artisanship is held in high esteem in the wine world and the new artisan metric for sparklers is whether they are grower/producer wines. This

Artisanship is held in high esteem in the wine world and the new artisan metric for sparklers is whether they are grower/producer wines. This means estate fruit versus buying from growers. Check this box for the Americanos because the majority of French Champagne is made from purchased grapes.

means estate fruit versus buying from growers.

Kings Beach Lunch Specials Daily Early Bird Special 4-6pm

Dinner Special 4-10pm

$3.50 Margaritas $3.50 Dos Equis $2.50 Draft Bud

25% Off Mexican Combo Dinners

Full

Bar

Open 11:30am-10:00pm (530) 546-4539 All-American 8345 North Lake Blvd. - Across from the State Beach

2 glasses

of &wine

cheese I

n 2017, we’re all on the same team.

OK, that’s my positivity pledge and feel free to steal the mantra. With that as a theme, how about a look at domestic sparkling wines? Call them champagnes if you prefer. We’ll focus on quality American bubbles made with classic grapes in the classic winemaking method.

First, let’s look at the similarities with the competition: sparklers from Champagne. The grapes in Champagne are Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay — and the same for U.S. versions, except there is little Pinot Meunier. The complex and expensive winemaking method is also the same.

Both contestants do their best to grow grapes in the region’s most conducive to fruit meant for quality sparkling wine.

This means complex, limestone-based soils and cool climates that deliver fruit with minimal ripeness, high acid and mineral components for the base wine.

And, now, for the contrast. Champagne wins the history category because it has been rockin’ the bubbles for hundreds of years. Although if you are a regular reader of this column, you know the bubbles in Champagne were originally considered a flaw and the French spent decades trying to get rid of them.

E X C L U S I V E C O N T E N T AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Discover Lou’s picks for holiday wines

> Holiday wines on a budget > Great holiday wines for gifts

Next up is price. Unless you are someone who must pay more to enjoy your wine — and as a long-term, in-the-trenches sommelier I say, “God bless you” — domestics win hands down at typically half the price.

Another artisan factor is usually believed to be quantity of production. The wellknown producers in Champagne put out hundreds of thousands of cases or more each year. A typical American fine-bubbles producer makes a small fraction of that.

So. is there anything inherently superior about Champagne when compared to quality domestic sparklers?

You’re the only one who can answer that, so let me suggest some of my U.S. favorites to compare. From California look for bubbles such as Iron Horse Vineyards or Sharffenbarger Cellars from Mendocino, Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves or Mumm Napa from the Carneros region and J Vineyards from Russian River. From Oregon, in the Vintage labeled category, try Argyle Winery. And, surprisingly, New Mexico delivers some of the best from Gruet Winery. I guarantee you’ll love the price pints and the rest is up to your palate.

Try some of these gems for your festivities this year and celebrate some love and unity in this still great country.  Lou Phillips is a Level 3 Advanced Sommelier and his consulting business WineProwest.com assists in the selling, buying and managing wine collections. He may be reached at (775) 544-3435 or lou@ wineprowest.com. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for more wine columns.

uncorked Locations:

Old Town Trucke e Cobblestone Tahoe City The Village at Squaw Valley

plate $

21

everyday from 3-5 pm

TelosWine.com

American Bistro & Wine Bar

Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Don’t wait in the cold for breakfast!

Newly Remodeled Expanded Dining Room Available for Private Parties, Events and Weddings Watch your favorites sporting events

Happy Hour Everyday 4-6:30 pm Tuesday all night

SpindleshanksTahoe.com 400 Brassie Ave, Suite B - Kings Beach - (530) 546-2191 45

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TA S T Y Courtesy Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

Tidbits

Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for a complete list of Tasty Tidbits.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42

Comfortable, contemporary with coffee

RITZY OFFERINGS

Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe offers many memorable dining adventures. Winter Vintner Dinner Series is a delectable four-course meal featuring different Northern California wineries and fresh, local ingredients. The series is offered at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 12, Feb. 9 and March 9, 2017.

This winter guests are invited to enjoy the Marshmology program, which takes place nightly at the fire pit from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Guests can learn about the history of the marshmallow and traditional ingredients while enjoying complimentary s’mores with winter-themed marshmallows.

After a long day on the slopes, guests can imbibe in the Après-Ski Champagne Experience, offered daily from 3 to 5 p.m. by the resort fire pit for a lively après-ski hour, featuring Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial and a raw bar of chef favorites, including chilled shrimp cocktail, oysters on the half shell and ceviche.

DINING GUIDE KINGS BEACH

Jason’s | American

Jason’s Beachside Grill, a locals’ favorite for more than 30 years offers casual dining in a rustic atmosphere. Savor American classics like Slow Roasted Prime Rib, Teriyaki Chicken, Pasta, Blackened Salmon and Jason’s famous Baby Back Ribs, along with nightly specials. Jason’s boasts the largest salad bar on the North Shore and gourmet halfpound burgers and sandwiches. There’s a kids’ menu, and a large selection of spirits, wine and microbrews. 8338 N. Lake Blvd., Kings Beach, next to the North Tahoe Event Center | Daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. | (530) 546-3315

La Mexicana | Authentic Mexican

The Manzanita Chef’s Tasting Counter is offered nightly from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and features an interactive five-course tasting experience with views directly into the open kitchen and personal interaction with the chef.

Designed for intimate dinners of up to eight guests, The Chef’s Table is a culinary journey featuring mountain-inspired California cuisine.

Guests will enjoy a private table adjacent to the exposition kitchen and personal interaction with the chef, who will prepare a tasting menu reflecting the innovative offerings of Manzanita.

Craft cocktail lovers can participate in Art of Mixology every Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m., an educational experience that features freshlycut herbs, classic ingredients and infused liquors to create three unique cocktails paired with appetizers. | ritzcarlton.com/laketahoe

To be included in the Dining Guide, call (530) 546-5995, ext. 100.

Las Panchitas | Mexican

Serving fine Mexican food since 1975 and at Lake Tahoe since 1982, delicious Chinga-Lingas head the appetizer list.

Authentic Chili Relleños are made from fresh-roasted chiles stuffed with jack cheese, and Fiesta Tostadas are created from a flour tortilla with beans, ground beef, chile colorado, chile verde, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole and cheese.

The Chicken, Shrimp and Sirloin Fajitas are enough for two.

8345 North Lake Blvd., Kings Beach | Full bar with delicious margaritas | Dinners from $10.95 | (530) 546-4539

RENO

Daughters Café | Hungarian

Taqueria La Mexicana opened in 1997 and brought the tried and tested family recipes from their taqueria in Norwalk, California that made them so successful. Tahoe locals instantly began to notice the fresh ingredients and authentic dishes and La Mexicana quickly became a local’s favorite for fast, affordable and delicious Mexican food all prepared fresh daily. Under the same roof you will find an authentic Mexican bakery (fresh bread is baked daily), carniceria, and a full line grocery store to meet your needs while visiting Lake Tahoe. Come taste the difference or order online through Eat 24. 8515 Brook Ave. Kings Beach | lamexicanakb.com | Daily 9am to 9pm | 530-546-0130

Located in a Victorian House on the corner of First and Bell Streets in the Downtown Truckee River District of Reno, Daughters Café offers unique homemade seasonal selections for breakfast and lunch. Choices include Hungarian Chicken Paprikas, Smoked Grits, Homemade Limoncello, fresh daily soup, eggs, omelets, sausage, salad and potatoes.

They serve Magpie Coffee and all food is made to order and impeccably fresh. Family owned and operated by mom Barb, and daughters Skye and Bianca. This restaurant will hug you with warmth as if you have come home. Menu changes seasonally and is posted daily on the web. The Beignets alone are worth a visit during your holidays.

97 Bell Street, Reno, Nev. 89503 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. TuesdaySunday (Brunch) | (775) 324-3447 | daughterscafe.com

Lanza’s | Italian

TAHOE CITY

Traditional Italian food since the 1930s, and Lanza’s has been a long-time favorite with locals, as well as visitors.

It’s been voted best Italian restaurant for many years.

Guests will find a great family atmosphere featuring family recipes and large portions. Most dinners are between $12 and $19. Lanza’s also offers a nice selection of Italian and California wines. Lanza’s now offers gluten-free pizza and spaghetti. Offsite catering available. 7739 North Lake Blvd., King’s Beach (next to Safeway) | No reservations | Dinner at 5 p.m. | Full Bar and Happy Hour 4:30 p.m. | (530) 546-2434

46

Olympic Valley Coffeebar, a full-scale Italian café originally founded in Truckee, is opening Coffeebar Squaw Valley on the eastern end of The Village at Squaw Valley.

Featuring espresso, coffee, fresh-baked pastries, panini sandwiches, beer and wine, Coffeebar will be open daily in the morning through the late evening with a farm-to-table menu and a professional coffee program serving the highestgrade coffee available, known as C1. The Coffeebar team is working hard toward a pre-Christmas opening.

Coffeebar Squaw Valley will be both comfortable and contemporary, designed in collaboration with local artists from Roundwood Furniture, Mountain Forge and Root of Design Electric. The interior will feature forged steel, light fixtures made from recycled materials and reclaimed wood from Lake Tahoe’s old boats and houses, repurposed into modern functional art.

Coffeebar Squaw Valley will be the fourth local Coffeebar establishment, joining two locations in Truckee and one in Reno. The staff of “hospitalians” prides itself on operating a true Italian coffee bar, serving something delicious for every time of day. | coffeebar.com

Bacchi’s | Italian

Since 1932, this family owned restaurant has taken pride in serving family style Italian food in a checkered tablecloth setting with touches of Old Tahoe. Servers bring large tureens of minestrone soup, followed by a salad bowl for the table and a generous antipasto tray with some housemade delicacies. The menu has more than 40 selections including their renowned housemade ravioli. The large dining room easily seats big parties. 2905 Lake Forest Road (2 miles east of Tahoe City off Hwy. 28) | Dinner from 5:30 nightly | Bar opens at 4 p.m. | Extensive wine list and banquet room | (530) 583-3324

TRUCKEE

El Toro Bravo | Mexican

This is outstanding Mexican cuisine with recipes that have made El Toro Bravo a favorite in Truckee for 25 years.

Located in a quaint, old-time, Truckee house, with a friendly ambience to go with your meal. Happy Hour Monday to F riday from 4 to 6 p.m. Topping the menu are tender Steak and Chicken Fajitas, Chimichangas, Tacoladas, Chili Relleños, Snapper Santa Cruz, Grilled Prawns and the unusual Oysters 444. Patio dining, weather permitting. 10816 Donner Pass Road, on the west end of Commercial Row, downtown Truckee | Service from 11:30 a.m. | Full bar | (530) 587-3557

Pianeta | Italian Cucina

One of the Tahoe area’s best, Pianeta transports the palate with sophisticated, yet rustic Italian food in a warm, cozy atmosphere. The Antipasti features Bruschetta Olivata, Filet Mignon Carpaccio, Housemade Grilled Sausages & Crab Cakes. Pianeta makes most pasta in house with dishes like Veal Meatballs with Pesto & Linguini Pasta, Chicken & Prosciutto Cannelloni with Porcini Cream Sauce & Ravioli della Casa. 10096 Donner Pass Road, along Commercial Row, downtown Truckee | Open for dinner nightly | Full bar and wine list | Happy Hour at the Bar Mon.-Fri. from 5 to 6:30 p.m. | (530) 587-4694

WEST SHORE

The West Shore Café and Inn | Seasonal California cuisine

With its beautiful surroundings, warm ambiance and seasonal menus, the West Shore is a lakefront favorite among Tahoe’s community and visitors alike. Enjoy lakefront dining with breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe, while experiencing our seasonal menus, which always draws from the best seasonal meats, seafood and produce available. Reservations strongly encouraged. Free Lakeside S’mores 4 to 4:30 & Après Ski Specials 3 to 5 p.m. 5160 West Lake Blvd., Homewood | (530) 525-5200 | WestShoreCafe.com

A house for the North Pole Kids and kids at heart are invited to work alongside a Ritz-Carlton pastry chef in Santa’s Gingerbread Workshop on Dec. 18 or 20 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Holiday beverages are included. Reservations are required at least 48-hours in advance by contacting Restaurant Reservations at (530) 562-3051. The fee is $195 per family of four. | ritzcarlton.com

Free on Wednesdays South Lake Tahoe Wine Wednesdays are at The Loft in Heavenly. Free wine tasting from different featured winery each week, with a guest speaker and/or tasting notes from the featured winery. Half off all house and selected wines by the glass until 4 to 7 p.m. | (530) 523-8024

Java on the go

Reno, Nev. Circus Circus Reno announces the opening of Sips Coffee & Tea. The graband-go coffee and food shop is located on the casino floor between hotel checkin and table games. In addition to lattes, mochas and iced coffee, Sips offers a selection of fresh-baked donuts, bear claws, croissants and more. Sips is the first of many renovations coming to Circus Circus Reno as part of Eldorado Resorts’ $50-million reinvestment into its three downtown Reno properties. The re-imagined Carnival Midway recently opened and upcoming improvements include a new sushi and Mexican restaurant and a food court. | circusreno.com

Local company shines in L.A. Tahoe City WINERAM Productions LLC, a Tahoe City-based wine creative agency and film/television company, took home nine total nominations from the 8th annual Taste Awards in Los Angeles. The Taste Awards recognizes and acknowledges outstanding excellence in video, film, mobile and interactive content focused on food, drink, fashion, design, travel, health and lifestyle.

“Sustainable Because” is a documentary short exploring the reasons why New Zealand winegrowers are choosing to be sustainable. Aside from being nominated for the Best Reality Series and Ferrara Flame Award for Best City or Regional Program, “Sustainable Because” also won Fourth Place in the Wine Spectator Award.

“Vineyard to Vintner” is another documentary short exploring the connection and relationship between a vineyard and its vintner while working with Stags’ Leap Winegrowers in Napa. “Vineyard to Vintner” took home nominations for Best Drink or Beverage Program, Best Reality Series, Ferrara Flame Award for Best Branded Content and Best Single Topic Series.

WINERAM Productions LLC works on independent film, television and Web-based projects and provides film production and public relations solutions for the inter-national wine industry. | wineram.com

Luxury Vacation Cottages Overlooking Tahoe’s West Shore

Nightly 5-6 p.m.

CedarCrestCottages.com | 530.412.9222

SKI OR RIDE FOR FREE Purchase a CA or NV Tahoe license plate and get two free Alpine or Nordic tickets to the Tahoe resort of your choice*. Now you can play in some deep powder without having to dig deep to make a difference. Your modest commitment will help fund hiking and biking paths, and water quality and restoration projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin. For more information or to purchase your license plate online, visit tahoeplates.com.

Elyse Saugstad & Cody Townsend Professional Freeride Skiers *restrictions apply

Photo by Matt Bansak

Fuel Dock

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday Weather Permitting

ALPINE HOME Design · Lighting · Furnishing · Rugs · Accessories

Enjoy lakefront dining & shopping at the Tahoe City Marina.

Alpine Home Furnishings Dockside 700 Tahoe Yacht Club Tahoe Canvas Co. A & M Marine Tahoe Marine Supply Center for Spiritual Living Lake Tahoe Parasailing Tahoe Sailing Charters

PUT A BOW ON IT AND SAVE After Christmas sale prices in time for the holidays. Up to 50% off.

Call or visit our 3,800 sq. ft. showroom to schedule a home consult.

(530) 583-1039

TahoeCityMarina.com

The Tahoe City Marina wishes you

Alpine Home Furnishings · Tahoe City Marina · 700 N. Lake Blvd.

Tahoe City, CA 96145 · 530.564.0971 · alpinehomefurnishings.com

ocated in the heart of downtown Tahoe City, the Marina is one of the largest and oldest marinas on the Lake, built in the 1940s.

Offering services for every aspect of boating, the Marina is dedicated to serving our customers in a highly efficient manner with an emphasis on customer satisfaction.

COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR LEASE 1,196 square feet available now for lease at Tahoe City Marina, 700 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA Triple Net Lease option Additional space also available For more information contact Jim at (530) 583-1039