July 8 to 14, 2020 by Tahoe Guide (Tahoe Weekly)

fun. unique. everywhere.

july 8-14, 2020

UNCHARTED WATERS

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT ADAPTS TO CHANGING CONDITIONS

SUMMER READING LIST

REFRESHING SUMMER BEVERAGES

BOOKS FROM TAHOE NICOLE STIRLING WEEKLY CONTRIBUTORS GIFTS ART TO OTHERS SUMMER GRILLING TIPS

Everybunny wears a mask in Tahoe

Six feet and a mask, please. Even outside. Especially inside. takecaretahoe.org #takecaretahoe

Steve Schmier’s Jewelry 530.583.1874

400 SQUAW CREEK ROAD

OLYMPIC VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

Located in the Boatworks Mall, Tahoe City · SteveSchmiersJewelry.com · 530.583.5709

Tahoe Adventure Company Inspiring High Sierra Adventures

• Kayak & SUP Tours • Beachfront Kayak & SUP Rentals • 7010 N. Lake Blvd, Tahoe Vista • Gear Deliveries

R E D I S C O V E R

your best moments

Now is the time we’ve all been patiently waiting for – from enjoying favorite spots around town and eating out, to grabbing a beer and meeting up with friends, it’s time to get outside and help boost our local economy. We look forward to everyone getting back to doing what they love. The North Lake Tahoe community is stronger together and we will bounce back as we start to rediscover our playground for adventure.

GoTahoeNorth.com/TahoeWeekly

• Mountain Bike Tours • Guided Hiking • Backpacking • Family Adventures • Multisport Tours

GROUP & CORPORATE OUTINGS + TEAM BUILDING

530.913.9212 TahoeAdventureCompany.com

Courtesy Mark McLaughlin

local. independent. fresh.

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Volume 39 | Issue 9 TM

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

SUBMISSIONS Events & Entertainment Submit at TheTahoeWeekly.com Click on Events Calendar

Editorial Inquiries editor@tahoethisweek.com

Courtesy Nicole Stirling

Photo Credit | Photographer?

Entertainment Inquiries entertainment@tahoethisweek.com

in this issue Snow Surveying II

GET OUTSIDE Sightseeing 5 Lake Tahoe Facts

Events 7 Mountain Biking

Marinas & Boat Ramps

Hiking 10 Beaches & Parks

Summer Fun

FUN & GAMES Horoscope & Crossword

THE MAKERS Nicole Stirling: Giving the Gift of Art 15 Summer Reading List

THE LINEUP Music Innovations 18 Music, Events & Festivals Guide

EAT & DRINK Summer Beverages

Tasty Tidbits

Wine Column

Chef’s Recipe

on the cover A.J. Marino and Eric Dunn enjoy kayaking around Bonsai Rock on the East Shore during a trip circumnavigating Lake Tahoe. Photography by Brian Walker | BrianWalkerPhoto.com, @Brian.Walker

DISCOVER TAHOE THIS SUMMER

to our monthly e-newsletter at TheTahoeWeekly.com

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

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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

Tahoe is packed with visitors, second homeowners and locals this summer. And, everyone is looking for something to do while distancing and wearing a face mask (it’s required). So, Tahoe Weekly is going to help you fill these long, summer days.

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

We’ve been the No. 1 source for things to do in Tahoe since our first edition debuted in 1982, but we take that role even more seriously now. So, our goal is to fill our pages this summer with safe, fun and family friendly things to do. In this edition, historian Mark McLaughlin shares his favorite historic spots to visit in South Lake Tahoe by electric bike in “Magical Bicycle Tour: South Lake Tahoe” and wraps his two-part series on the father of snow science – James Church (Part I is available at TheTahoeWeekly.com). Entertainment Editor Sean McAlindin has been hard at work covering the local entertainment scene, which changes almost daily. The good news – live music is happening, just on a smaller scale; some events are going forward, even if only virtually; and local event producers are looking for innovative ways to provide great entertainment to everyone. Read Sean’s story “Uncharted Waters: Local entertainment adapts to changing conditions.” Our copy editor Katrina Veit works hard behind the scenes on each edition, and we put her to the test the last few weeks to find out what is actually happening this summer for our readers to enjoy. We have a (very) abbreviated version of our Tahoe Music, Events & Festival guide covering July 8 to Aug. 7 in this issue. We’ll continue to follow up this summer as more events are allowed to move forward. I can’t share yet what some of them are, but there’s some really cool, fun events being planned. Because things are changing so rapidly with events, we’ve included some local food events in our Eat & Drink section in this edition, but we’re not printing any other calendars. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com and click on Events for the most up-to-date information for the region. While you’re exploring Tahoe, keep your eyes open for Nicole Stirling’s art drops. Nicole has been gifting her artwork for people to find by placing them throughout the community. Read Kayla Anderson’s story on “Nicole Stirling: Giving the gift of art.” I invite you to purchase some of the books from my “Summer reading list: Amazing books from Tahoe Weekly contributors.” We have many wonderful local writers that work with Tahoe Weekly, and many of them also write books. You can support their great work by buying a book from these local writers. One of these books is the 2nd edition of “Wineries of the Sierra Foothills,” which Range of Light Media Group (aka Tahoe Weekly) published this month. The printon-demand version is available on Amazon. The ebook will be available, as well, as soon as we rectify technical issues with Amazon. (Does anyone else have a love/hate relationship with Amazon?) Stay tuned for the release of our next guidebook, “The Ultimate Tahoe Summer Bucket List: 101 Things to See & Do in Tahoe” this summer. n

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

FEATURES 7

E-NEWSLETTER

making it happen

JULY 8-14, 2020

South Shore Bike Tour

Cover Photography production@tahoethisweek.com

Entertainment Editor Sean McAlindin entertainment@tahoethisweek.com Food Editor Priya Hutner priya@tahoethisweek.com Family Editor Michelle Allen michelle@tahoethisweek.com Copy Editor Katrina Veit Contributing Writers John Dee, Barbara Keck, Bruce Ajari, Mark McLaughlin, David “Smitty” Smith, Priya Hutner, Katrina Veit, Kayla Anderson, Lou Phillips, Sean McAlindin, Tim Hauserman, Alex Green, Lisa Michelle, Cam Schilling, Alex Silgalis

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

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.

LAKE LEVEL Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

Readings taken on Friday, 3, 2020 JulyJuly 8-14, 2020 ELEVATION :

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

6,227.77 |

6,229.01

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

Explore Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe

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

Fannette Island

Emerald Bay

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

Heavenly

South Lake Tahoe

Tallac Historic Site

South Lake Tahoe

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

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

High Camp OPENING TBD

Truckee

(800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com Aerial tram rides with views of Lake Tahoe, Olympic Heritage Museum, 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 Lake Tahoe Demonstration Garden

Incline Village

Summer | Free (775) 586-1610, ext. 25 | demogarden.org Demonstrations of lake-friendly landscaping using native and adaptive plants, water conservation, soil stabilization techniques, defensible space from wildfires & BMPs. Self-guided tours & clinics. TART

North Tahoe Arts Center

Tahoe City

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

Tahoe Art REOPENS JULY 18 League Gallery

South Lake Tahoe

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

truckeehistory.org | truckee.com Settled in 1863, Truckee grew quickly as a stagecoach stop and route for the Central Pacific Railroad. During these early days, many historical homes and buildings were built including The Truckee Hotel (1868) and the Capitol Building (1868). Stop by the Depot for a walking tour of historic downtown. Paid parking downtown. TART

Vikingsholm Castle

Emerald Bay

200,000 AF

225

175

100,000 AF

TROA.NET

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

Tahoe Maritime Museum CLOSED Soda Springs

5 DONNER 4,690 CCAPACITY: 9,500 donnersummithistoricalsociety.org At the corner of Old Hwy 40 & Soda Springs 8 INDEPENDENCE 1,3763 CCAPACITY: 18,300 Rd. 20-mile interpretive driving tour along Old 40. TART A 20,400 40 MARTIS 1,052 CAPACITY:

Tahoe City

(530) 583-9283 | tahoemaritimemuseum.org Features self-guided tours, exhibits and handson activities for kids on maritime history. TART

Tahoe Science Ctr OPENING TBD

Incline Village

225

150,000 AF

Measured in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS)

CAPACITY: C 226,500

Donner Summit 2 PROSSER Historical 11,061 SocietyCAPACITY: 29,840

Tues.-Fri. & by appt. | Free Gatekeeper’s Museum Tahoe City (775) 881-7566 | tahoesciencecenter.org in Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS) TROA.NET Truckee River | FLOW AT FARAD 737 Measured (530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org University of California, Davis, science eduFeaturing historic photos, the Steinbach cation center at Sierra Nevada College. Exhibits Indian Basket Museum and historical memorainclude a virtual research boat, biology lab, 3D bilia. TART movies and docent-led tours. Ages 8+. TART

Find more places to explore

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

KidZone Children’s OPENING TBD Museum

Truckee

Tues.-Sun. | Locals’ first Tues. half price (530) 587-5437 | kidzonemuseum.org Interactive exhibits, science & art classes for kids up to age 7. BabyZone & Jungle Gym. TART

Lake Tahoe Museum East Shore

May-October | thunderbirdtahoe.org The former Whittell estate. This magnificent lakefront home features the Lighthouse Room, Old Lodge, 600’ underground tunnel (with a former lion cage) and Boat House, home to the “Thunderbird,” a 1939 wooden boat. Ages 6+ only. No on-site parking. Tours by reservation only.

Olympic Valley

737

South Lake Tahoe

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

Thunderbird Lodge CLOSED West Shore

STAMPEDE 19,9661

FLOW AT FARAD

6,229.01

200,000 AF

North Shore

Summer | (530) 583-3279 | terc.ucdavis.edu This 1920s-era building features a history of the field station, current UC Davis research projects, interactive exhibits and demonstration garden. Ages 8+. TART

Taylor Creek Visitor Center

(775) 586-7000 | skiheavenly.com Enjoy a 2.4-mile ride on the gondola to the top with panoramic views. Ticket required. South Tahoe

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion

Tahoe City Field Station

6,227.77 |

175

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

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

ELEVATION :

Readings taken on Friday, July 3, 2020

150,000 AF

West Shore

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

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

125

Eagle Rock

North Shore

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

Tahoe City

East Shore

CAPACITY: 18,300 C 8

LAKE LEVEL A 20,400 40 MARTIS 1,052 CAPACITY: Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

125

INDEPENDENCE 1,3763

Check schedules & openings before visiting.

Cave Rock

CAPACITY: 29,840 2

Taking in the view along the Tahoe Rim Trail above Tahoe City with Lake Tahoe in the background CAPACITY: C 5 DONNER 4,690 over July weekend in 2019 with Sarah Jordan, front, and Michelle Allen. | Katherine E. Hill 4th of9,500

100,000 AF

ATTRACTIONS

PROSSER 11,061

CAPACITY: C 226,500

SIGHTSEEING

STAMPEDE 19,9661

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

South Lake Tahoe

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

Old Jail Museum

Truckee

Truckee Railroad Museum OPENING TBD

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

Incline Village 969 Tahoe Blvd. (800) 468-2463 Stateline 169 Hwy. 50 (775) 588-4591 Tahoe City 100 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 581-6900 Truckee 10065 Donner Pass Rd. (Depot) (530) 587-8808

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

U.S. Forest Service | Incline Village

Olympic Museum OPENING TBD

U.S. Forest Service | Tahoe City

Olympic Valley

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

Truckee

Sat.-Sun. & holidays truckeedonnerrailroadsociety.com Learn about the historic railroad. Located in a caboose next to the Truckee Depot. TART

855 Alder Ave. (775) 831-0914 (Wed.-Fri.)

U.S. Forest Service | South Lake Tahoe 35 College Dr. (530) 543-2600

3080 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 583-3593 (Fridays)

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

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

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

Watson Cabin

Tahoe City

(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. (summer tours). TART

MUSEUMS Donner Memorial Visitor Center

Truckee

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

Boots McFarland by Geolyn Carvin | BootsMcFarland.com 5

TheTahoeWeekly.com

lake tahoe facts |

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

COYOTE MOON

TAHOE DONNER

The Lost Sierra

Reno & Sparks

TRUCKEE AIRPORT

Donner Lake Donner Summit

OLD GREENWOOD

Truckee

BOCA RESERVOIR

DONNER LAKE

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR

ho Ta

GRAEAGLE MEADOWS WHITEHAWK RANCH

NORTHSTAR

Truckee River

WEST EAST SOUTH

GRIZZLY RANCH

Tahoe City

LAKE FOREST

Dollar Hill

TAHOE CITY MARINA

Sunnyside Ta h o e R i m

GOLF COURSES

SUNNYSIDE

CASINOS

Lake

Spooner Lake

HOMEWOOD

Glenbrook

Homewood

East Shore

OBEXER’S

e Ri m Tr a i l

Meeks Bay

Fed By: 63 streams and 2 hot springs Only Outlet: Truckee River (Tahoe City)

Cave Rock

Watershed Area: 312 square miles

Emerald Bay

Average Surface Water Temperature: 51.9˚F

Eagle Lake

Average Surface Temperature in July: 64.9˚F

Zephyr Cove South Lake Tahoe

Highest Peak: Freel Peak at 10,881 feet

CAMP RICHARDSON

Average Snowfall: 409 inches Ta h oe

Permanent Population: 66,000 Number of Visitors: 15 million annually

R i m Tr ail

Fallen Leaf Lake

LAKESIDE

Meyers

LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT

Echo Lakes

FREEL PEAK

Kirkwood

YOU ONLY NEED ONE CALENDAR

Tahoe Events Calendar at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Events are in flux, so visit our online calendar to find something in your area facebook.com/TheTahoeWeekly | @TheTahoeWeekly

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

TAHOE PARADISE LAKE TAHOE

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

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

Shoreline: 72 miles

BIJOU

South Shore

Learn about the natural history of the Tahoe Sierra

Stateline

SKI RUN TAHOE KEYS

Natural rim: 6,223’

Size: 22 miles long, 12 miles wide

Fannette Island

Cascade Lake

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.

EDGEWOOD TAHOE

CAVE ROCK

Average Water Temperature: 42.1˚F

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.

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.

MEEKS BAY

Maximum depth: 1,645 feet

Volume: 39 trillion gallons

Tahoma Age of Lake Tahoe: 2 million years

Carson City

o Ta h

West Shore

TAHOE VISTA REC AREA

Lake Clarity: 2018: 70.9 feet avg. depth. 1968: First recorded at 102.4 feet Average depth: 1,000 feet

Marlette Lake

SAND HARBOR

Tahoe

Eagle Rock

DEEPEST POINT

NORTH TAHOE

TAHOE CITY

INCLINE VILLAGE CHAMPIONSHIP

Crystal Bay

COON ST. BOAT LAUNCH

SIERRA BOAT CO.

Alpine Meadows

ai Tr

Incline Village

Kings Beach

Carnelian Bay

RESORT AT SQUAW CREEK

BOAT RAMPS

INCLINE VILLAGE MOUNTAIN

Tahoe Vista

Olympic Valley MARINAS

North Shore

OLD BROCKWAY

NAKOMA FEATHER RIVER PARK

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

i m Tr a

SCHAFFER’S MILL

PLUMAS PINES

RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

PROSSER RESERVOIR

PONDEROSA

Hope Valley Markleeville

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

July 8-14, 2020 GET OUTSIDE

GET outside

Email news to editor@tahoethisweek.com

the outdoors | recreation | events | mountain life

Magical Bicycle Tour: S O UT H L A K E TA H O E S TO RY & P H OTO S BY M A R K M c L AU G H L I N

American Century Championships at Edgewood Tahoe | Brian Williams, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority

American Century

Championship goes on

The American Century Championship will bring golf, celebrity and community service together for the 31st time from July 8 to 12 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course with no spectators. The event will be televised live on NBC Sports. Stephen Curry, Aaron Rodgers, Charles Barkley and two-time defending champion Tony Romo are among 80 sports and entertainment stars planning to compete and charity fundraise for nine hours of live NBC Sports coverage over three days.

outh Lake Tahoe is a popular destination in the region and suffers from serious summertime traffic congestion. It’s an eclectic and frenzied scene during the busy months, but taking a casual off-thehighway bike tour can be a relaxing way to entertain the family. South Shore offers plenty of challenging, singletrack mountain biking options, but I spent a summer morning on a recreational paved trail that took me to some of my favorite historic places in the Tahoe Basin. I left my own bicycle at home and drove to Tahoe Bike Company. It’s located in a perfect spot west of the bustling casino district. The trails that I would be riding were relatively level, but I was anxious to see why electric-assisted bikes are all the rage and rented one. So much fun.

South Shore offers plenty of mountain biking options, but I spent a summer morning on a recreational paved trail that took me to some of my favorite historic places in the Tahoe Basin.

All prize monies will be donated to COVID-19 relief and area nonprofits as the tournament continues its longstanding commitment to charity fundraising efforts that have totaled more than $5 million over the years. Boaters who watch the tournament from Lake Tahoe are being asked to practice safe distancing. Boaters may not disembark from their vessels or go onto shore. Boats may not tie up, and each passenger must have life jackets and masks on board. | americancenturychampionship.com

Golfing for Schools Card available

The Excellence in Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that enhances public education within the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, has made its popular Golfing for Schools Card available for the 2020 golf season. The fully transferable Golfing for Schools Cards are $325 each, and cardholders enjoy one round of 18 holes at Coyote Moon, Old Greenwood, Resort at Squaw Creek, Tahoe City Golf and Gray’s Crossing. Proceeds provides grants, resources and partnerships to benefit students and teachers. | exined.org

TOP: Taylor Creek Visitor Center’s wetlands overlook.

The employees at Tahoe Bike Company were friendly and professional. They showed me how to operate the e-bike and gave me a detailed map that indicated trails and choice beach spots around South Lake Tahoe. The colored routes and cyclist icons, along with direction signs on the local roads, enabled me to navigate neighborhood side streets that would ultimately guide me to my turnaround point at Tallac Historic Site, less than 10 miles away. After a short stint getting a feel for the electrically propelled bike, I started out on a path that briefly ran west parallel to busy Highway 50, but soon turned from the noisy road onto a mix of quiet paved trails and residential streets. The route meanders through a thinned pine forest, open meadows and the lush Upper Truckee River marshland where the river flows north into Tahoe Keys development and Lake Tahoe. There were quite a few families touring on bicycles that day, but the trail never felt crowded. Six miles from the starting point is Camp Richardson Resort with its pristine beaches and popular Beacon Bar & Grill with a deck perched on the beach. There’s also a General Store and delicatessen if you need supplies like sunscreen or a quick snack. Make it your business to visit the award-winning Richardson’s Ice Cream Parlor — you won’t

be disappointed. If the notion strikes, lock up your bikes near the marina and take one of the daily boat cruises to nearby Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm Castle. It’s hard to leave Camp Richardson, but there’s plenty more to see. The bike trail runs north parallel to Highway 89. Keep pedaling to the entrance of Tallac Historic Site, with its meticulously landscaped Old Tahoe estates. In 1875, Ephraim “Yank” Clement built a two-story hostelry for summer visitors at this location. In 1878, mining speculator and California realestate investor, Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin, bought Yank’s extensive acreage and mile of Tahoe beach. The following year Baldwin upgraded the property into a swanky lakefront hotel-casino for the well-heeled city crowd. Baldwin later sold adjoining parcels to wealthy San Francisco families that built rustic summer homes there. These period estates are maintained by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with the nonprofit Tahoe Heritage Foundation. Visit Tallac Museum inside one of the original Baldwin family cabins to get the low-down on the fabulous history of this area. If it’s a hot day, refresh yourself with a splash or swim at the beach. The final focus of this tour is Taylor Creek Visitor Center. Head north half a mile to the park to view a rare, protected

LEFT TO RIGHT: Baldwin Beach; Baldwin Tallac house, Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum’s Pony Express exhibit.

Tahoe wetland with wildlife and brilliantly colored wildflowers in season. A special treat is the unique Stream Profile Chamber on the pedestrian-only Rainbow Trail that provides interpretive signs and an underwater view of biological diversity. Afterwards head toward the lake and take a stroll in the sand to enjoy the wild beauty of Kiva and Baldwin beaches. While in South Lake Tahoe, visit Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum, located on the main drag, Lake Tahoe Boulevard. A notable structure is the 1859 Osgood Toll House, the oldest commercial building still standing at Lake Tahoe. The museum is jammed with interesting artifacts and exhibits. Friendly, knowledgeable docents can tell you about the legendary skiing mailman Snowshoe Thompson and the Pony Express route that ran right through South Lake Tahoe. A visit to the museum will quickly dispel the myth that South Shore has no colorful history. | fs.fed.us, tahoeheritage.org or laketahoemuseum.org  Note: The museum at Tahoe Tallac was still closed as of press time. Check in advance for schedules.

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Mountain Biking

Tahoe Rim Trail debuts

Kevin Starr | Truckee Donner Land Trust

kids’ activity book

Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for more Mountain Biking Trails and Local Bike Paths to enjoy.

Always check to see if trails & parks are open before visiting. NORTH SHORE

INCLINE BIKE PARK Incline Bike Project on Facebook Park terrain and features for all ages.

TAHOE CROSS COUNTRY (530) 583-5475 | tahoexc.org All levels | Varied terrain Tahoe Cross Country offers marked mountain biking and hiking trails in the Burton Creek State Park area just north of Tahoe City. Trail access is free and the terrain is ideal for beginner and intermediate mountain bikers. Advanced riders can find challenging terrain on the Tahoe Rim Trail and around Mount Watson.

WESTERN STATES TRAIL Strenuous | 11.6 miles RT This is a challenging and exhilarating ride (sometimes referred to as Three Bridges Trail) that will afford you a fun downhill swoop and beautiful mountain views. You can ride it either way, starting on either side of the Midway Bridge between Alpine Meadows and Olympic Valley off Hwy. 89. EAST SHORE

FLUME TRAIL Strenuous | 14 miles There are several mountain biking trails off the Flume Trail, but if you follow the Flume Trail the whole way you will be rewarded with magnificent views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains. The Flume Trail rises 1,600’ above the East Shore of Lake Tahoe. At the end of the Flume Trail, there is a 3-mile, 1,600’ descent down to Tunnel Creek Station on Hwy. 28. It is a moderately difficult ride at 7,000’ to 8,000’ in elevation with more than 1,000’ of climbing and 4.5-miles of single track. It has several steep sections. Shuttle available at Tunnel Creek Café off Hwy. 28 in Incline Village to Spooner Lake State Park. Info (775) 298-2501. Call for shuttle schedule.

MOUNT ROSE TO SPOONER LAKE Strenuous | 20 miles The beginning of this beautiful section of the Tahoe Rim Trail is at 8,700’ above the Sheep Flats (aka Tahoe Meadows) on Mount Rose. The first part of the trail parallels the highway and then descends through the meadows and briefly joins the Ophir Creek trail. Look for Rim Trail signs, then after a quarter-mile up and to the right of the Ophir Creek trail (don’t stay on the Ophir Creek Trail). After a 300’ climb out of the meadows, you begin to contour your way to the Tunnel Creek road. At 9 miles, you will come to the Tunnel Creek Road. Follow it a half-mile with the Flume Trail on the right. Continue straight for an 800’ switchbacking climb. Near the top of the climb, consider taking the vista trail to the Sand Harbor overlook. Once at the top, the trail winds down past the Marlette Peak campground to Hobart Road. The Rim Trail past this point is closed to bikes, so your only path back to Spooner is along this road to the right and down to Marlette Lake. A short, but tough climb leads out of the Marlette basin and then it is downhill back to Spooner Lake. Mind the speed on this descent due to heavy equestrian and hiking use. Shuttle (775) 298-2501. Call for schedule. SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

BIJOU BIKE PARK bijoubikepark.org The 5-acre park features pump tracks, BMX Track, striderfriendly pump track, jump lines and loop trail. Dawn-dusk.

CORRAL AREA TRAILS tamba.org All levels | Varied terrain Corral area trails include Sidewinders, Cedar and Armstrong Connector. This area has a high density of trails for all ability levels and serves as the unofficial hub of mountain bike activity in the South Shore. Featuring log rides, jumps and rock rolls including the new jumps, berms, rollers and hips. The trails all run parallel to the Fountain Place paved road. These trails link to Armstong Trail, the Tahoe Rim Trail, Powerline, Railroad Grade and this is also where Toads ends.

KIRKWOOD (209) 258-7277 | kirkwood.com The mountain bike park offers a network of lift-accessed trails for all levels with 22 trails in the valley, and 12 accessed by the lift, with 11.5 miles of single track. The bike park features log rides, pump tracks and other terrain features. Open; no lift access for summer 2020.

MR. TOADS WILD RIDE Moderate-Strenuous | 6.2 miles Mr. Toad’s heads mostly downhill from the Tahoe Rim Trail with several options for making a loop. The upper section of this trail is much more technical than either section of the TRT and has many big drops and sections of nothing but rocks. There is also a huge stair step section that comes up on you quickly. TRUCKEE

COLDSTREAM VALLEY Easy to moderate | 6 miles RT This loop offers a mellow ride offering views of the Sierra Crest, has nice flowers in the spring and circumnavigates a series of ponds. From Donner Pass Road, take Coldstream Road, which alternates pavement and dirt. After a short climb up the old terminal moraine of the glacier that once filled this valley, the valley opens up. Proceed on this road until you come to private property signs at the last pond, then turn left on the dirt road and return on the east side of the valley. Park outside the white gate on Coldstream.

DONNER SKI RANCH (530) 426-9350 | facebook.com/old40bikepark Offering lift-accessed mountain biking on its trails with varied terrain and great views. Call for schedule.

EMIGRANT TRAIL Moderate | 15+ miles Offers rolling, wide, single-track through high desert, winding through sagebrush, seasonally wet meadows and Jeffrey Pine forests. North of Truckee on Hwy. 89 to Donner Camp picnic area. If too wet, proceed 2.5 miles on Hwy. 89 to Prosser Creek Bridge pullout. 15 miles to Stampede, but can continue on to other areas.

NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA (530) 562-2268 | northstarcalifornia.com All levels | Varied terrain Northstar’s Mountain Bike Park boasts more than 100 miles of trails for mountain biking including its signature trail, LiveWire, and the most extensive life-accessed trail network in the Western United States. The park features Skill Development Areas and terrain features including jumps, rails and bridges. Downhill Mountain Bike Race Series and Cross-Country Race Series open to everyone. Open July 10-Oct. 4.

TRUCKEE PUMP TRACK/BMX truckeebikepark.org The Park has the sweetest flow lines and the smoothest strider/pump track for all skills levels to progress along with beginner to advanced jump lines. Featuring a dual pump track, dirt jumps, flow lines, dual slalom track, xc trail, drop zone, medium slopestyle line and more. Open from sunrise to sunset. Helmets & brakes required.

WOODWARD TAHOE MOUNTAIN BIKE/BMX (530) 426-1114 | rideboreal.com The Slabs lift-served bike park featuring flow lines with natural elements, granite rock and obstacles with berms, wall rides and jumps. And, visit The Trenches BMX park. All levels. MOUNT ROSE

SKY TAVERN (775) 323-5125 | skytavern.org The mountain bike park features downhill, climbing and dual slalom trails, designed as a series of progressive trails. Open sunrise to sunset spring to fall.

Check trail conditions before heading out. Please do not bike on wet trails.

2,900 acres north of

Donner Summit preserved

Truckee Donner Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land – working together as part of the Northern Sierra Partnership – announced the permanent protection of 2,914 acres of wildlands north of Donner Summit on June 29. The acquisitions include a spectacular sub-alpine lake, mixed conifer forests, aspen groves and the watershed that protects the meadows and fens of the lower Carpenter Valley, which the partners conserved in 2017. The conservation partners led a two-year, $14-million campaign to acquire high-priority private inholdings east of the Sierra Crest including Frog Lake, Red Mountain and Carpenter Ridge. Frog Lake, which sits in a glaciated basin beneath Frog Lake Cliff, has been owned by members of the Smith family since they purchased it from the Southern Pacific Railroad in the 1930s. Truckee Donner Land Trust plans to retrofit the Smith’s historic stone hut into a year-round spot for visitors to Frog Lake, including guests staying in one of four new low-impact, back-country huts the trust plans to install at the lake. The acquisition of Red Mountain and Carpenter Ridge protects lands adjoining recently preserved Lower Carpenter Valley and the U.S. Forest Service’s Sagehen Experimental Forest. Previously owned by Sierra Pacific Industries. The lands will now be owned by the Truckee Donner Land Trust and the U.S. Forest Service and will be open to public access. In addition, the partners plan to construct a 15- to 20-mile trail connecting Donner Summit near Castle Peak to Frog Lake, Red Mountain, Lower Carpenter Valley, Carpenter Ridge and Independence Lake. The multiuse trail, which will not be completed for several years, will create new opportunities for the public to explore and enjoy the wild beauties of the Truckee River watershed. | truckeedonnerlandtrust.org

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association has released a kids’ activity book to help kids learn important concepts including trail building and maintenance, stewardship ethics, and natural history while engaging in fun activities like puzzles and coloring. Download a free virtual activity book or donate a minimum of $5 to have a copy mailed. | tahoerimtrail.org

Plans for new

Tahoe XC lodge under review

The Tahoe City Public Utility District has completed the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Tahoe Cross-Country Replacement and Expansion Project and is open for public review and comment. The plan includes repurposing the historic Schilling Lodge to become the new center and other improvements for the cross-country ski area. In the summer, the property is a popular location for mountain bikers. An online public meeting will be held July 17 to people to provide comments, and written comments are being taken until July 24. | tcpud.org, theschillinglodge.com

Museum of Truckee History opens The Museum of Truckee History has opened in The Depot in downtown Truckee. The museum features exhibits based on the theme “Why Did Truckee Survive?” The museum is operated by the Truckee-Donner Historical Society and the Truckee Donner Railroad Society. The museum is planning to be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Monday as restrictions allow. Volunteers are needed, as well. | museumoftruckeehistory@gmail.com

Take the Sierra

Summer Challenge Sierra Nevada Alliance presents the Sierra Summer Challenge until Sept. 7. Participants register for a friendly competition, all while documenting their adventures and raising donations and awareness for the important work that the alliance does to protect and restore the region. As an added bonus, the winner from each challenge will receive back-country gear. Participants can sign up to either compete in the Sierra Alpine Lake Challenge to swim in the most Sierra lakes or the Sierra Summit Challenge to summit the most Sierra peaks. They are encouraged to document their adventures and can also compete for the best photos. Post pictures on social media and tag Sierra Nevada Alliance to help raise awareness. Winners will be announced on Sept. 10. Sierra Nevada Alliance exists to elevate and support Sierra ecosystems and communities. | sierranevadaalliance.org

July 8-14, 2020 GET OUTSIDE

Marinas & Boat Ramps

Call (530) 546-5995, ext. 110, to be listed in Marinas.

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OBEXER’S Homewood | (530) 525-7962 | obexersboat.com

Power boats & jet skis

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SUNNYSIDE MARINA (530) 583-7201 | marinasunnyside.com

Power boats & pontoons

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TAHOE CITY MARINA Marina & Rentals: (530) 583-1039 Service: (530) 581-2516 | tahoecitymarina.com

Power boats & a 22’ sailboat (no overnight rentals)

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SUPPLIES

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FOOD

Office: (530) 525-5966 | Service: (530) 525-3373 homewoodmarina.net

REPAIRS

HOMEWOOD HIGH & DRY MARINA

LAUNCHING

FUEL

Power boats & jet skis

RENTALS

TRAILER PARKING

SLIP/BUOY RENTALS

MARINAS

RESTROOMS

*Restrictions vary by location. Call in advance to check schedules.

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Experience Lake Tahoe Learn to

Water Ski · Wakeboard · Wakesurf

Jet Ski Rentals (2019 sea-doo gti 130) & Boat Charters

(530) 525-7962 - ObexersBoat.com Obexer’s Marina - 5300 West Lake Blvd. - Homewood, CA

BOAT INSPECTIONS

Come Play With Us!

MANDATORY INSPECTIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR LAKE TAHOE, ECHO LAKES, FALLEN LEAF LAKE, DONNER LAKE, AREA RESERVOIRS & WEBBER LAKE. LAKE TAHOE

(888) 824-6267 | tahoeboatinspections.com | Stations open by appointment only at tahoeboatinspections.com.

NORTH SHORE LAKE FOREST: Lake Forest Rd. | ALPINE MEADOWS: Hwy. 89 at Alpine Meadows Rd. TRUCKEE TRUCKEE-TAHOE AIRPORT: Hwy. 267 off Airport Rd., Truckee. EAST SHORE CAVE ROCK: Hwy. 50. | SPOONER SUMMIT: Junction of Hwys. 28 & 50. No vessels more than 30’. SOUTH SHORE MEYERS: At the junction of Hwys. 89 & 50. TRUCKEE AREA

CALIFORNIA BOATER CARD CALIFORNIA REQUIRES BOAT OPERATORS TO PASS A MANDATORY BOAT SAFETY EDUCATION COURSE. This law will be phased in over eight years by age. | californiaboatercard.com

PUBLIC RAMPS

Fu l

er v i c e B

est

(530) 582-2361 | truckeeboatinspections.com Mandatory self inspections are required for all vessels for Donner Lake at inspection stations above. (530) 582-7724. Mandatory self inspections are in place at Prosser, Boca, Jackson Meadows & Stampede reservoirs.

a uran

Fun for the whole family!

COVID-19 Restrictions may apply

GolfTahoeCity.com · 251 N. Lake Blvd.,Tahoe City · 530.583.1516

LAKE TAHOE

LAKE FOREST

(530) 583-3796

1.5 miles east of Tahoe City, off Hwy. 28

TAHOE VISTA REC. AREA (530) 546-4212 Hwy. 28, Bottom of National Ave.

COON ST. BOAT LAUNCH (530) 583-3075 Hwy. 28, Bottom of Coon St. in Kings Beach

SAND HARBOR

(775) 831-0494

Hwy. 28, 2 miles south of Incline Village

CAVE ROCK

(775) 831-0494

7 a.m.-7 p.m. Picnic area, beach, restrooms.

NORTH TAHOE CRUISES On the Tahoe Gal

Four Cruises a Day

Call for schedule. Restrooms.

6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. Picnic area, beach, Visitors’ Center, food, restrooms. Sealed boats only.

6 a.m.-8 p.m. Picnic area, restrooms.

Hwy. 50, East Shore

EL DORADO BEACH

6 a.m.-7 p.m. $15-$20. Pass available. Restrooms. One-way exit only after closing.

(530) 542-2981

Hwy. 50 at Lakeview Ave., South Lake Tahoe

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Picnic area, restrooms.

AREA LAKES

BOCA/STAMPEDE RSVR.

(530) 587-3558 I-80, Hirschdale exit

DONNER LAKE

(530) 582-7720

I-80, Donner Lake exit

INDEPENDENCE LAKE

(530) 587-3558

Hwy. 89, 2 miles north of Truckee

WEBBER LAKE

Call for schedule. 2 boat lanes, fish cleaning station, restrooms.

(530) 582-4711

Henness Pass Rd., 26 miles north of Truckee

Restricted to on-site watercraft: kayaks, tubes & small motor boats available on first-come, first-served basis until Oct. 1 at no charge. No outside craft. Boat schedule at nature.org. 10 mph speed limit strictly enforced. No fees for parking or launching. Mandatory inspections. 5 mph speed limit. Boat ramp & trailer parking. Self inspection required. Sierra County Inspection form at sierracounty.ca.gov.

PUBLIC PIERS Public piers are free, but have limited space; often limited to loading and unloading. DONNER LAKE

DONNER LAKE

I-80, Donner Lake exit

37 public piers on north shore from the boat ramp east. Fenced piers are private.

Carnelian Bay

KINGS BEACH

Bottom of Coon St.

SKYLANDIA PARK

Lake Forest

RENTALS | TOURS | LESSONS | SALES | DELIVERY

NIGHTLY SUNSET KAYAK TOURS $5 OFF Rentals & Tours

LAKE TAHOE

GAR WOODS

We are covid compliant, all tables are spaced 6 ft apart. Reservations: (530) 583-0141 | Book online at TahoeGal.com | Tahoe City, CA

(775) 322-4990

Independence Lake Rd., 20 miles north of Truckee

PROSSER RSVR.

45 mph speed limit. No launching fee. $10 parking. Subject to closure during low water levels. Mandatory inspections.

Access to restaurant, small beaches. Restrooms.

Must mention ad at booking & present upon arrival.

Busy pier adjacent to town, public beach, picnic sites. Restrooms. Small beach, picnic facilities. Restrooms.

TAHOE CITY

KASPIAN PICNIC AREA West Shore

Between Tahoe City and Homewood. Picnic area, beach. Restrooms.

Shop at 521 North Lake Blvd. Rentals on the water at Commons Beach

GROVE STREET

Open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Located east of Commons Beach. Restrooms at Commons Beach.

SAND HARBOR STATE PARK

Center of Tahoe City

SUGAR PINE POINT

Tahoma

Hiking, Ehrman Mansion tours, nature trail. Restrooms.

Rentals next to the boat ramp

Reservations 530.581.4336 | TahoeCityKayak.com & SandHarborRentals.com 9

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Hiking

Virtual Vibes

2020

*Trails open depending on conditions.

Mileage is roundtrip, with levels based on family access. All trails are more heavily used on weekends.

Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for more Hiking Trails to enjoy.

TAHOE RIM TRAIL Moderate The Tahoe Rim Trail is a 164.8-mile loop trail that encircles Lake Tahoe. The trail is open to hikers and equestrians, and mountain bikers in some sections. It is generally moderate in difficulty, with a 10 percent average grade and elevations ranging from 6,300 to 10,333’. Visit tahoerimtrail.org for maps, guided hikes & descriptions.

LAKE TAHOE EAST SHORE

MARLETTE LAKE Moderate | 9 miles RT Walk along the dirt path through the picnic area and follow signs to Marlette Lake. Mostly sun exposed. Great wildflowers in early summer. Start at Spooner Lake State Park.

SECRET HARBOR & CHIMNEY BEACH

June 26 Peter Joseph Burtt & the Kingtide July 10 The Sextones July 24 Vokab Kompany August 7 The Blues Monsters August 28 Sneaky Creatures

Easy | 3 miles RT Follow the trail to Chimney Beach trail and follow the trail to the end and over a group of boulders to reach the sandy beaches of Secret Harbor (the wooden steps off the trail lead to the nude beach at Secret Cove). Off Hwy. 28.

SKUNK HARBOR Moderate | 2.8 miles RT This interesting hike ends at a beautiful cove lined with boulders and a luxurious sandy beach on the edge of Lake Tahoe with some of the warmest waters around the lake. Visitors can look inside the historic party house owned by George and Caroline Newhall in the 1920s along beach. Park north of gate; do not block gate off Hwy. 28.

SPOONER LAKE Easy | 1.8 miles RT Spooner Lake is a great, easy hike for any season with interpretive displays. At Spooner Lake State Park. NORTH SHORE

PICNIC ROCK Moderate | 3.6 miles RT Just off the Tahoe Rim Trail, the expansive view from the top provides a panorama of both Lake Tahoe and the Martis Valley. A single track winds up, offering a gradual climb with no technical challenges, until reaching Picnic Rock, an old volcanic rock. Off Hwy. 267.

STATELINE LOOKOUT Easy | .5 miles RT This short hike offers superb views of Lake Tahoe. A short, self-guided nature trail explains the history of the North Shore. Hwy. 28 in Crystal Bay. SOUTH SHORE

LOWER & UPPER ECHO LAKES Easy | 2.4-4.8 miles RT Lower and Upper Echo Lakes is a little-known paradise perched atop Echo Summit, 5 miles west of Meyers on Hwy. 50. The trailhead begins next to the dam. Once you reach Upper Echo Lake, 2.4 miles from the start, you’ll see a kiosk at a dock for a water taxi. You can take a taxi back or return the way you came, or continue into Desolation Wilderness. The ride is a relaxing 20-minute tour through the channels connecting the two lakes. Taxi, cash only. (530) 659-7207. WEST SHORE

CASCADE FALLS

Tune in online 6-8:30pm at NorthTahoeBusiness.org 10

Moderate | 1.4 miles RT This boulder-strewn hike takes hikers to the waterfall descending from Desolation Wilderness into Cascade Lake. The falls are raging in the spring and are often a trickle by late summer. Near the end of the trail, walk up a large, flat boulder to the top of a hill where the trail can become confusing. Look for wooden posts marking the trail. Trailhead at Bayview Campground off Hwy. 89. Not recommended for small children or small dogs.

EMERALD BAY & VIKINGSHOLM CASTLE Moderate | 2.5 miles+ RT | No dogs Steep descent to Vikingsholm Castle. Can continue to Eagle & Emerald Points around the bay for easy hikes. Connects to Rubicon Trail (see below). Park on either side of rocky overlook in Emerald Bay on Hwy. 89. ADA access (530) 525-9529.

GRANITE LAKE Moderate | 2.2 miles RT A small alpine lake situated on the cusp of Desolation Wilderness, the hike is a popular entrance for hikers and equestrians to the back country and a spectacular trek towering over the pristine waters of Emerald Bay. Steady ascent of 850’ in less than 1 mile. Trailhead at Bayview Campground off Hwy. 89.

PAGE MEADOWS Easy-Moderate | 4-6 miles RT The hike to Page Meadows is a local favorite because of its easy access and beautiful scenery through forests to an expanse of several meadows. You can start the hike to Page Meadows from 64 Acres off Hwy. 89 along the Tahoe Rim Trail for a longer hike or from Ward Creek Boulevard off Hwy. 89.

RUBICON TRAIL & LIGHTHOUSE Easy-Moderate | .5-9 miles | No dogs Hike starts at Calawee Cove at D.L. Bliss State Park or Emerald Bay. Trail follows cliffs and coves along Lake Tahoe, nesting ospreys and eagles, short side trail to Rubicon Lighthouse, which is easy to access with small children. Bliss closed for season.

BALANCING ROCK Easy | .5 miles | No dogs A short, self-guided nature trail featuring Balancing Rock, an overlying rock of 130 tones balanced on a rock. At D.L. Bliss State Park.

SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK Easy | 1.5 miles RT The nature trail loops through the forest past an array of wildflowers and through several sections of dense slash bleached nearly white from years of sun exposure. There are great spots to relax on the beach below Ehrman Mansion. ALPINE MEADOWS

FIVE LAKES Strenuous | 5 miles RT Five Lakes is a great hike inside Granite Chief Wilderness, with the first 1 mile+ a steady ascent with great views of Alpine Meadows. Trailhead 1.8 miles up Alpine Meadows Road from Hwy. 89 across from Deer Park Drive. Dogs prohibited May 15-July 15. OLYMPIC VALLEY

SHIRLEY CANYON & SHIRLEY LAKE Easy-Strenuous | .5-5 miles RT This hike follows a creek as it passes by waterfalls and spectacular granite boulders along Shirley Creek. Park at the end of Squaw Peak Road. The first section that follows the creek is great for kids. As you climb, the trail may sometimes be hard to distinguish, so keep the creek on your right going up and on your left going down. Can continue a strenuous climb to High Camp and take the Aerial Tram to the valley (schedule at squawalpine.com).

SQUAW & EMIGRANT PEAKS Moderate | 3.4-4.4 miles RT Ride the Aerial Tram to High Camp, elev. 8,200’, and choose from a variety of trails (maps from Guest Services or squawalpine.com). Climb to the weathered buttresses atop Squaw Peak, visit the historic Watson Monument at Emigrant Peak or meander through the meadows covered with wildflowers, and enjoy the panoramic views afforded from Squaw’s spacious upper mountain. Tram ticket required. Hikes in the meadows good for small children. TRUCKEE

GLACIER MEADOW LOOP

Moderate | 1 mile RT Quick hike to the top of a volcanic outcropping offers panoramic views of the area off Hwy. 89 south of Tahoe City.

Easy | .5 miles RT Short, self-guided nature loop with signs that explain how glacial action carved and polished the surface landscape. Take Interstate 80 W from Truckee to the Castle Peak/Boreal Ridge Road exit.

EAGLE FALLS & LAKE

MARTIS CREEK WILDLIFE AREA

EAGLE ROCK

Easy-Moderate | .1-3 miles RT Great views of Lake Tahoe & Emerald Bay. Falls 5-minute walk from parking lot. Steady ascent to Eagle Lake not recommended for young children. West end of picnic area across from Emerald Bay, Hwy. 89.

Easy | 4 miles RT Loop through Martis Creek meadow for a walk along the creek. Off Hwy. 267.

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VOLLEYBALL

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PICKLEBALL

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TENNIS

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BIKE PARK

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SKATE PARK

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DISC GOLF

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TRAILS

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DOGS OK

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PLAYGROUND

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BBQ/GRILL

BEACH

PICNIC TABLES

RESTROOMS

BIKE TRAIL ACCESS

Beaches & Parks

HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE

July 8-14, 2020 GET OUTSIDE

Diamonds are forever! Why not now?

EAST SHORE

CHIMNEY BEACH & SECRET COVE ROUNDHILL PINES BEACH

Hwy. 50

SAND HARBOR STATE PARK ZEPHYR COVE PARK

5.9 miles south of Incline Vlg.

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3 miles south of Incline Vlg.

Hwy. 50

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KINGS BEACH

COON STREET DOG BEACH

Hwy. 28, bottom of Coon Street

KINGS BEACH STATE REC AREA

Kings Beach

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MOON DUNES BEACH

Hwy. 28

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NORTH TAHOE BEACH

Hwy. 28, across from Safeway

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SECLINE BEACH

Hwy. 28, at the end of Secline Street

SPEEDBOAT BEACH

CLOSES AUG. 19 FOR SEASON.

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TAHOE VISTA

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK & DOG PARK Hwy. 28, at top of National Ave.

SANDY BEACH

Hwy. 28, across from the Perennial Nursery

TAHOE VISTA RECREATION AREA

Hwy. 28, at National Ave.

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CARNELIAN BAY

CARNELIAN WEST BEACH PATTON LANDING

Hwy. 28, next to Gar Woods

Hwy. 28, at Onyx Street

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TAHOE CITY

COMMONS BEACH HERITAGE PLAZA

Hwy. 28, Tahoe City behind old fire station

Hwy. 28, Downtown Tahoe City

LAKE FOREST BEACH POMIN PARK SKYLANDIA

Lake Forest Rd, 1.5 miles east of Tahoe City

Lake Forest Road, east of Tahoe City Lake Forest Road, east of Tahoe City

64-ACRES PARK & BELL’S LANDING

South of Tahoe City

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TAHOE CITY DOG PARK

Grove Street

WILLIAM KENT BEACH

2.5 miles south of Tahoe City

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WILLIAM LAYTON PARK & GATEWAY PARK Hwy. 89, south of Tahoe City at Dam

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Located in the Boatworks Mall, Tahoe City · SteveSchmiersJewelry.com · 530.583.5709

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BBQ with gas or you could ruin a lot more than dinner.

WEST SHORE

D.L. BLISS STATE PARK

17 miles south of Tahoe City

ELIZABETH WILLIAMS PARK EMERALD BAY BEACH KILNER PARK

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18.5 miles south of Tahoe City

Hwy. 89, 3.5 miles south of Tahoe City

MARIE SLUCHAK PARK MEEKS BAY

4 miles south of Tahoe City

Corner of Hwy. 89 & Pine St., Tahoma

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Hwy. 89, 10 miles south of Tahoe City

SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK

9.5 miles south of Tahoe City

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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE

BALDWIN BEACH

BIJOU COMMUNITY PARK CAMP RICHARDSON EL DORADO BEACH KIVA BEACH

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Al Tahoe Blvd.

Hwy. 89 Hwy. 50 at Lakeview Commons

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Hwy. 89 east of Taylor Creek

NEVADA BEACH POPE BEACH

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Hwy. 89

Hwy. 50

Hwy. 89

REGAN BEACH

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Hwy. 50

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TRUCKEE RIVER CANYON

SQUAW VALLEY PARK

At Hwy. 89 & Squaw Valley Road

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TRUCKEE

MARTIS CREEK

Hwy. 267, 1 mile south of Truckee Airport

RIVER VIEW SPORTS PARK

12200 Joerger Drive

TRUCKEE RIVER REGIONAL PARK

Hwy. 267, Truckee

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DONNER LAKE

WEST END BEACH

For more information visit:

TahoeLivingWithFire.com

DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK SHORELINE PARK

IN TAHOE, it’s never a good idea to use charcoal to fuel your grill. Using propane instead of charcoal reduces the risk of sparking a wildfire while grilling or disposing of ashes. Like any great chef, it helps to start with the best ingredients.

I-80 Donner Lake exit

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Donner Pass Road, next to the State Park

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West of Donner Lake

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No smoking or vaping of cigarettes, e-cigarettes or marijuana on state beaches or in state parks allowed per state law. BUS & SHUTTLE SCHEDULES

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

TheTahoeWeekly.com

The science behind snow surveying

PA R T I I

S TO RY BY M A R K M c L AU G H L I N

ith curiosity, perseverance and innovation, James E. Church, Ph.D., launched snow surveying in the Tahoe Sierra; his methodology was later adopted by water agencies all over the American West and, in fact, around the world. Over years of trial and error, first Church and then state and federal agency workers learned how to effectively obtain core samples from mountain snowpacks. The measurement of the snow-water equivalent provides vital information for predicting the volume of

Church was focused on Lake Tahoe and its flow into the Truckee River because his initial goal was to protect Reno, Nev., from catastrophic floods. The Truckee River is one of the most volatile in the United States, averaging a damaging flood every nine years. In the 1930s, snow surveys were expanded throughout the Sierra Range, the Great Basin, Rocky Mountains and Pacific

The importance of snow in the nation’s hydrologic systems cannot be overstated. In the western United States, 85 percent

Read Part I at TheTahoeWeekly.com spring snowmelt and water runoff from elevated mountain terrain during the West’s dry seasons. Stored in an elaborate array of connected reservoirs, water is allocated for urban use, ranching, agriculture, fisheries and more. Managing water levels in massive reservoirs is a complicated business. Especially in California where atmospheric rivers can overwhelm flood control systems, while severe drought can make storage goals impossible. In the 1960s and 70s, Western water managers would consider their work successful if they hit a reservoir storage level within 15 feet of their target. Today, as the science of snow surveying has advanced, it’s usually a matter of inches. Lake Tahoe is a reservoir managed for Truckee Meadows Water Auth-

MARKETPLACE - Since 2000 -

Dr. Gerdel’s radioactive snow-gage system, circa 1951. | Courtesy Mark McLaughlin

ority in western Nevada. Tahoe’s springtime water-level rise is usually controlled and accurately predicted to within an inch or less. When Church started his research in the early 1900s, he established the first snow course at Tahoe City meadows – now Tahoe City Golf Course. A snow course is a permanent line of set measurement probe sites that indicate the average SWE for a section of watershed. It’s more accurate than a solitary sample in a random location.

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to try to eliminate manual sampling. Snow pillows are filled with liquid anti-freeze and placed over a weight sensor that is powered by electricity produced from solar panels. As the snowpack increases over a winter season, its weight pushes down on the pillow and the sensor underneath. The weight is calculated into snow-water equivalent. Today, almost 900 of these inert pillows produce near real-

Northwest. The importance of snow in the nation’s hydrologic systems cannot be overstated. In the Western United States, 85 percent of freshwater runoff originates as snowmelt. East of the Rockies, nine of the most significant floods in the 20th Century were directly related to snowmelt. After World War II, the importance of streamflow management increased as California water agencies struggled to supply the state’s expanding agricultural industry, as well as its urban regions exploding with post-war population growth. Hydrologists still use the old-fashioned, monthly snow surveys developed by Church to measure water content — there are 1,100 manual checkpoints across the West — but this critical science has advanced dramatically in the past 50 years. Manual sampling of snow is expensive, time-consuming and potentially dangerous for field crews. The process also degrades the snowpack, impacting the accuracy of subsequent sampling. Ironically, on the day that the surveyors go out to sample the snowpack with the Church-designed equipment, anyone with a computer can observe real-time snow-water equivalent amounts for any watershed in the West, based on remote sensor data that is constantly being uploaded to the Western Regional Climate Center in Reno. Remarkably, the first remote data streaming of snow-water equivalent began at the Central Sierra Snow Lab in 1948. Robert W. Gerdel, Ph.D., lead physicist of the new lab located near Donner Pass, and project director B. Lyle Hansen developed the first nuclear snow gage, which used radioactive material to measure the water content of the snowpack. Hansen was a wiz at designing innovative equipment like the radioisotope snow profiler. Gerdel and Hansen took a small capsule of radioactive cobalt-60 to a remote location where the material was placed at ground level and a Geiger counter suspended by a cross arm 15 feet above. As the emitted gamma rays passed through the winter snowpack, collisions with water molecules lowered their energy level, which indicated the amount of water in the snow. The Geiger counters were rigged with radiotransmitters so that their measurements could be relayed in real time to the snow lab, but with the idea that ultimately off-site hydrologists in Sacramento or San Francisco could also receive the signals. Hansen was later part of a team that developed the first heated drill bit to extract cores from the Greenland ice sheet. Information revealed by annual layers in the cores ultimately led to the discovery of previous rapid climate changes on Earth. Beginning in the 70s, steel-mesh pillows were installed in western mountain ranges

time data that is relayed by signal antennae to Western Regional Climate Center. This snowfall telemetry system is called SNOTEL. Currently, two innovative methods adapted for snow hydrology by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are operational. In 2017, NASA started a program called SnowEx that employed airborne gamma-ray detection and Light Detection and Ranging technology (lidar) to develop systems that can effectively survey vast expanses of remote mountain snowpacks. Airborne gamma detectors measure

HONORING JAMES CHURCH A plaque dedicated to James Church is located just east of the Mount Rose summit highway parking lot on the other side of the highway looking east into Nevada with Mount Rose to the left.

background radiation emitted from soil and rock. Gamma emissions from naturally occurring elements such as potassium, uranium and thorium interact with water molecules in the snowpack, which can be analyzed to determine snow-water equivalent. The SnowEx program hopes to eventually equip orbiting satellites with remote sensing technology for planet-wide accuracy. Lidar is a remote-sensing method that combines features of radar (radio-wave navigation used by ships and planes) and sonar (underwater detection using sound for submarines). The lidar apparatus spins rapidly, firing invisible laser beams in all directions. It measures distance and creates a virtual 3-D map with GPS coordinates of everything it can see. For aerial snow surveying, the lidar is mounted beneath an airplane and flown over the sample zone. The results are compared with a previously acquired lidar map of the area bare of snow (snow-off and snow-on). Snow-depth height and high-resolution horizontal snowpack profiles provide hydrologists with key snow-water equivalent data needed for forecasting runoff. The technology works well in densely forested areas and has applications in avalanche research. When combined with groundbased lidar and GPS sensors, accuracy is measured within centimeters. Lidar is also a key component — along with GPS — in self-driving vehicle technology.  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.

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Horoscopes

FIRE

EARTH

AIR

WATER

Puzzles

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

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22)

Capricorn (Dec 21-Jan 19)

Sometimes the current flow faster than others while at other times they are slow, but may also be stronger… This complex weave of emotions is influencing you and are invariably manifesting on the screen of your outer relationships. Family is certainly featured, but so too is your public and professional status. The biggest question is which direction to take.

This Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in your sign will activate you very noticeably. Your ambition, drive, determination, discipline, and resolve will all get a boost. If you have been waiting for such a wave of energy to arise in order to get things done or to take new initiatives, this is probably it. Be careful, however, not to let negative reactions disperse your focus.

Leo (Jul 22-Aug 23)

Aquarius (Jan 19-Feb 19)

Despite all the commotion on the world stage, you are extra happy to be out of the limelight and focused behind the scenes at this time. If you are not able to do so enough, you may feel grumpy and depressed. So, take whatever windows you can to take time out. Since you also feel inspired to socialize a little, allow for that but do not over-promise. Short visits will work best.

Changes in your lifestyle linked to your public and professional life are in the spotlight. The urge to play more and to express yourself more creatively is part of this plot. Positively, your focus is clear and sharp. It may, however, amount as much to completions, if not more so than fresh initiatives. If so, trust this phase is tie up all necessary loose ends.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22)

Dreams of possibility are flowing through your mind. This has been a strong theme for the past couple of weeks anyway. Yet, with Mars in Pisces, you may not have felt the drive or will to take direct action. However, Mars in Aries should prove helpful in terms of getting you more focused and willing to do the work required. This includes gathering new tools and knowledge that you can actually implement.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)

The world is changing and you see and feel it and you both want to do something about it and also to escape all the drama. This is probably a good idea for now. More time spent close to home with your projects and studies will at least prove fulfilling and productive. You will know when it is time to get more involved, but it is probably not time yet, at least not literally.

Libra (Sep 22-Oct 22)

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)

A lot is probably shaking close to home. Positively, this is amounting to a busy time in your garden and with family toward practical and productive outcomes. However, some of the indicators include some more pointed and edgy elements that could be the source of some conflict. But this is the last thing you want to direct this energy away from people.

Wow. The Sun in Cancer plus Mercury Rx there, the Lunar Eclipse in Capricorn and Mars in your sign will altogether activate some rather complex emotions and reactions. Positively, you will feel charged and determined to take new leads for the sake of practical ambition. Yet, quality time with home and family will also demand your attention. Remember, we do what we do to feel good so focus there.

Scorpio (Oct 22-Nov 21)

Taurus (Apr 20-May 21)

As eager as you are to see the bigger picture and gain a clear sense of what is actually going on, you may still feel lost and confused due to so many mixed messages. Moreover, these are coming from both within and without. These clouds of confusion will clear eventually but it may take a couple of weeks yet. So, gather information and facts now and connect the dots later.

Many thoughts, ideas, impressions, reflections, and reactions are crowding in your mind. This is an especially good time to slow down and center. If you allow yourself to get swept up in the emotions of others, especially if they are imbalanced, the result could prove quite challenging. Step back to see the bigger picture and make every effort to keep an open mind.

Sagittarius (Nov 21-Dec 21)

You have entered a rather deep cycle. Although spring is now officially over, this energy might be best met with a focused resolve to do some deep cleaning. Whether your focus is directed to your home, your body, or your mind, or all of the above is for you to decide. Either way, doing so may not be the same as fun in the sun but the clear and flowing feeling afterward will be worth it.

Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)

Getting clear on what is truly important to you at this time is in the spotlight. The simple answer is probably: family. Yet, themes of security are woven into this plot, and with the Capricorn Full Moon and eclipsed at that, you should not expect the waters to be flat and calm. In fact, you are in the final stages of an important and powerful process of not just change, but transformation.

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Hocus Focus differences: 1. Table is different, 2. Picture has moved, 3. Fish is missing, 4. Water level is higher, 5. Woman’s hair has changed, 6. Boy’s neckline is different.

July 8-14, 2020 THE MAKERS

THE makers

Email news to editor@tahoethisweek.com

Courtesy Muse: Art Reclaimed

creative awareness | arts & culture | the makers movement

Muse

artisan shop opens in

Tahoe City A new business opened in Tahoe City with the goal of “creating community through creative expression.” Local artists Peggy Lindquist and Renee Koijane came together this winter in a serendipitous moment (preCOVID-19) realizing that all of their values and interests had aligned. In early May, they launched Muse: Art Reclaimed, located at 855 North Lake Blvd. in Tahoe City.

Courtesy Muse: Art Reclaimed

Through a carefully curated mix of local artisans’ and artists’ work, along with opportunities for workshops and art classes, event space and pop-up shop space, Muse offers patrons a place in which to explore untapped areas of interest or hidden talent.

“Our tagline, ‘Art Reclaimed,’ sounds like it’s about repurposing materials, which is something we certainly like to do. But really, it’s about reclaiming and nurturing an interest of art in your life, as so often it’s something we put on the backburner and don’t properly cultivate,” said Lindquist in a press release. Featured at Muse are textile and jewelry by Kerri Bradley; ceramic work by Karen Pilaar; mixed-media work by Lauren Chorey; potted candles by Barry Bailey; mask, skirts and hats by Sarah Luse; felted wool bowls by Abigail Gallup and Skin Food skincare products by Madona Casini. Also featured are oil paintings by Koijane and mixed-media art by Lindquist. Classes and pop-up shops will also be offered in an open-air venue. Customers may shop online or in the store. Curbside pickup is also available. Summer hours are Wednesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | museartreclaimed.com

Nicole Stirling THE GIFT OF ART S TO RY BY K AY L A A N D E R S O N | P H OTO S C O U R T E SY N I C O L E S T I R L I N G

bright, soothingly detailed blue and white mandala sits perched in a tree in a Tahoe forest, patiently waiting for someone to come find it. Along with it is a note that reads: “Congratulations! You just found yourself some free art! Hoping to brighten someone’s day in a colorful way. You can bring your new art home to hang up and enjoy, or you can pass it along to a friend, or you can leave it here for the next lucky person. (This is an archival print that can be removed from the bag and framed if desired.) Much love Tahoe! We are stronger together.”

The mandala was Tahoe native Nicole Stirling’s ninth art drop, a project that she started by placing her mandala prints in nature in mid-March at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Born and raised in Tahoe, Stirling specializes in painting mandalas. Originally, she sold her art at Handmade at the Lake in Incline Village, Nev., but when the shop permanently closed a few months ago due to the pandemic, she needed to relocate her art. “The owner handed me a big stack of prints that I just wrote off as a loss. So I thought I’d just give them away,” she says. In mid-March, Stirling took a few of her mandala prints to the post office and laundromat in Tahoe Vista, the post office in Kings Beach and a couple other places with the same congratulatory note. In total, she hid five. They were eventually found, but she doesn’t know by whom. “They were definitely gone within 24 hours, but I don’t know what happened to them,” she says. “I just put them out. I didn’t leave any clues because everyone was supposed to be self-isolating and it was hard to know what was okay and not. I didn’t want any backlash.” Stirling concentrated on placing the art in spots where locals would find them before she started leaving photo clues on local Facebook groups. She placed one mandala in front of Tahoe Central Market and within 5 minutes someone found it. “The next one I hid behind the fire station and library in Kings Beach and that one took a little longer to find but a local person who works at Safeway found it; I was very happy it was an essential worker,” Stirling says.

Hidden in the aspen grove on the north side of Highway 267.

Behind Kings Beach Library and along Griff Creek.

She placed her next artwork off a bike path in Tahoe Vista near her parents’ house and she watched as people looked for it. According to Stirling, she did her ninth art drop on June 18 in Truckee because “Kings Beach people know Kings Beach really well, so I tried to expand. I will continue doing it throughout the summer.” Her favorite part of doing the art drops is “the thrill of hiding it and giving it away to someone who appreciates and loves it.” Stirling studied art and music at California State University, Chico before moving back to North Lake Tahoe and has been painting mandalas for eight years. “I’ve always liked round art, bubbles, orbs. I’m interested in repetition and small details. The art drops make me feel like I can help a little bit when I don’t know how else to contribute and do something based around

the community. Our community members need to be recognized, too,” she says. When asked if she thinks more Tahoe locals have found the art drops more than visitors have, Stirling says, “When I was hiding them and not posting clues to Facebook then I felt like more locals were finding them. No one else was really up here at the time I started doing the art drops and who else would’ve gone to the post office and laundromat? I’m aiming to hide one a week. Since I’m from here I have some secret spots.” Explore Tahoe’s vibrant arts scene

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Stirling will also be participating in Game of Shrooms to be held on Aug. 15, a global art-themed scavenger hunt. Started by Hi-Fructose magazine co-founder Daniel Seifert, the idea behind the Game of Shrooms is to allow artists from all over the world to hide mushroom-themed art in obvious urban places. “The idea is to place something from nature and put it in an urban area. A number of other artists are participating,” she says. | stirlingstudiostahoe.com 

TheTahoeWeekly.com

SUMMER READING LIST A M A Z I N G B O O K S F R O M T A H O E W E E K LY C O N T R I B U T O R S S TO RY BY K AT H E R I N E E . H I L L

ahoe Weekly has great, local contributors who not only pen articles for our print and online editions, but many of them are also published fiction and nonfiction authors. Several of them are quite prolific. If you’re looking for some great books to enjoy for your summer reading list, I recommend ordering a copy from one of our Tahoe Weekly contributors to support them and their great work.

Kayla Anderson

Kayla is a long-time local writer, author and marketing maven, who has worked with Tahoe Weekly contributing features on local makers, Tahoe’s foodie culture, local profiles and recreation. I don’t believe Kayla’s ever met a challenge she can’t master and kick some ass while doing it. Check out some of her most memorable challenges she’s done for Tahoe Weekly from “16 Chutes in One Day” on Mt. Rose’s Chutes and “From Tahoe’s Slopes to Big Blue. 5 Sports in One Day” after the epic 2017 winter season to her ongoing series for the last few years on “Tahoe’s Best Burgers.” She recently released “Northern California Road Trips” guidebook from Moon Books. The book is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, IndieBound or directly through Moon Books at moon.com. | kaylaanderson.org

Geolyn Carvin

I was first introduced to Geolyn’s work (and immediately became a fan) when I received a preview copy of her book “On the Trail with Boots McFarland-Volume 1,” a collection of humorous and thoughtful outdoor comics interspersed with entries from the artist’s Pacific Crest Trail journal. After reading through her cartoons and sharing them with my coworkers, I invited Geolyn to share her illustrations in Tahoe Weekly. I’ve enjoyed receiving her cartoons with her humorous look at life in the Sierra Nevada and it always arrives in my inbox just when I need a good laugh. She’s been contributing to Tahoe Weekly since the fall of 2018. Purchase a copy of her book on Amazon. You can also sign up for her weekly newsletter at bootsmcfarland.com.

Tim Hauserman

>>>>>

I think Tim is the true master of the Tahoe lifestyle with his light-hearted demeanor, zest for enjoying Tahoe’s great outdoors at every possible moment and ability to hike, snowshoe, paddle or cycle for what I can only image is thousands of miles every year (at least). I can’t really remember when I met Tim because I’ve known him for so long, but I’m sure we were talking about a great local hike when we decided that we needed to work together. Tim’s work has filled hundreds of pages of Tahoe Weekly through the years with hiking, mountain biking, cycling, paddleboard, canoeing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing articles. Tim just released the fourth edition of “Tahoe Rim Trail: The Official Guide for Hikers, Mountain Bikers and Equestrians available at Word After Word in Truckee, Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City or wildernesspress.com. He’s also the author of “Monsters in the Woods: Backpacking With Children,” the children’s book “Gertrude’s Tahoe Adventures in Time” and “Cross-Country Skiing in the Sierra Nevada,” which are available on Amazon.

Barbara Keck

I remember vividly when I met Barbara at a local blind winetasting event many moons ago, where we struck up a conversation and became friends over our shared sense of humor and sarcasm at the fact that the event organizers wrapped the bottle of wines in aluminum foil to mask their identity. Many of the bottles looked like the foil had been pulled out of the recycling bin and haphazardly wrapped by 7-year-olds. After a good laugh and a few glasses of good wine, Barbara proclaimed that we need a good wine column. We sealed the deal over a clink of our wine glasses, and Barbara penned our wine column from 2009 until Lou Phillips took over the column in 2014. Barbara’s columns eventually led to her 2015 guidebook, “Wineries of the Sierra Foothills: Risk-Takers & Rule-Breakers,” which was produced by Range of Light Media Group aka Tahoe Weekly. The second edition is available now on Amazon and includes new wineries that have opened in the last five years and an expanded section on the wineries of Butte County. | wineriesofthesierrafoothills.com

July 8-14, 2020 THE MAKERS

Mark McLaughlin

A prolific author, historian and weather guru, Mark has been a fixture at Tahoe Weekly for more than 22 years, penning his column on regional weather, history and interesting characters. He has the tenacity and grit of a hardened newspaper writer, with an unwavering commitment to the facts, while weaving interesting stories and characters through his work for Tahoe Weekly and in his many books — all traits I’ve long admired in his work. His books include “Sierra Stories: True Tales of Tahoe” volumes 1 and 2; “Western Train Adventures: Romance, Robberies & Wrecks,” “The Donner Party: Weathering the Storm,” “Longboards to Olympics — A Century of Tahoe Winter Sports,” “Skiing at Lake Tahoe” and “SNOWBOUND! Legendary Winters of the Tahoe Sierra.” Mark is working on two new books. The first is about the history of vigilantism and extrajudicial violence in California and Nevada in the second half of the 19th Century, which should be out this fall. The content is also currently under consideration for a Netflix or HBO special. The second book profiles female Western pioneers — African-American, Hispanic, Jewish, Native American and others — whose stories are often missing from the history books. It is slated for release in early summer 2021. | thestormking.com

Mike White

I’ve long admired Mike’s work. He’s a prolific guidebook author, covering many trails and adventures in California and Nevada with 17 books currently in print. I own many of Mike’s guidebooks, but when I received my copy of “50 of the Best Strolls, Walks and Hikes around Reno” and discovered in the author’s bio that he lived in Reno, my heart started racing. I’m serious, I got excited, my heart started pounding and I immediately emailed Tim Hauserman and told him he needed to do a profile on Mike. I then emailed Mike and asked him if he’d be interested in writing features on local hikes and snowshoe treks for Tahoe Weekly — and he accepted. His new book “50 of the Best Strolls, Walks, and Hikes Around Carson City” from the University of Nevada Press is now out. He is also working on “Best Backpacking Trips in Washington, Oregon and Idaho,” releasing new editions of several of his guidebooks and is working on a book about his outdoor experiences. His books are available from University of Nevada Press at unpress.nevada.edu/books, Wilderness Press at wildernesspress.com and Amazon. n

Mark McLaughlin has the tenacity and grit of a hardened newspaper writer, with an unwavering commitment to the facts, while weaving interesting stories and characters through his articles and in his many books.

Lisa Michelle

Lisa is a true Renaissance woman if I’ve met one: writer, paddleboarder, screenwriter, filmmaker, former rodeo cowgirl and farrier and all-around, avid outdoorswoman. She’s penned articles about local makers and outdoor adventures near and far, including her Tahoe Weekly feature “Solo on Big Blue, A Five-Day Paddle on Lake Tahoe.” She recently released “Mountain Misery: Calaveras Love Stories” available on Amazon. I had a hard time putting down this book to actually do some work. It’s filled with dark twists and turns on every page. Her next venture is the contemporary Western thriller, “Calaveras,” which will be released this summer. Find her work at lisamichelle2020.com or facebook.com/lisamichellestories.

Kathryn Reed

An award-winning, pull-no-punches journalist, Kathryn and I have long shared a passion for hard-hitting local news coverage, which is how we met. We connected over our commitment to local news and I started writing news stories for her former online news site, laketahoenews.net. Since closing the site, Kathryn has become a contributor to Tahoe Weekly and has penned three guidebooks on Tahoe: “The Dirt Around Lake Tahoe: Must-Do Scenic Hikes,” “Snowshoeing Around Lake Tahoe: Must-Do Scenic Treks” and “Lake Tahoe Trails For All Seasons: Must-Do Hiking and Snowshoe Treks,” which combines her favorites from her first two books. All three are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with Tahoe area stores carrying some of her works. Follow her blog at kathrynreed.com. For a signed copy, email kr@kathrynreed.com.

“Just Married at Valhalla” | Talia Koval

Live painting at Valhalla

Artist in Residence Talia Koval will be painting live and showing her work at Valhalla Tahoe’s Viking Gallery. Koval believes live painting, like live music, is an improvised performance that expresses a moment’s magic— on canvas. “I’ve happily spent my life turning the magic of human connection into art that celebrates who we are,” she says in a press release. “People are surprised by how exciting it is to watch a painting come to life and love interacting and asking questions,” she said. “Since I begin with a blank canvas and paint on location, in real time, the outcome always has an element of amazement and surprise.” She will be painting at Valhalla on July 9, 11 and 12 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. | valhallatahoe.com

Tahoe Art Walk

hosts self-guided tour The South Shore’s Tahoe Art Walk Online Map is keeping art lovers up to date with information on where to find local art. As businesses reopen and follow the new guidelines, the map at tahoeartwalk.com provides an easy way for those venturing out to create an art walk that fits their preferences. Two shows have extended their exhibit dates. South Tahoe’s flagship gallery, the Tahoe Art League Gallery, hosts a group show titled “Black, White, and a Hint of …” Nearby at the South Lake Tahoe Library, Kevin Jamieson’s colorful and whimsical figurative art exhibit has also been extended. Look for hidden gems inside unusual places. The vast vintage art exhibit at Focus on Interiors will give your eyes plenty of room to roam. Tune in to the art of Cherie Pinsky featured at Keynote Records and Books. If you like records with your art, you can find MakeTahoe.com’s “Freshly Groomed Vinyl” exhibit and fundraiser for the Tahoe Arts Alliance at Scott Forrest Fine Art Studio. Enjoy local exhibits at Glazed and Confuzed Tahoe Donut, Aloha Ice Cream and A Cup of Cherries. Live events on July 11 include Talia Koval at Valhalla, art events at Lake Tahoe Paint and Sip and Compass Clay Studio has resumed classes. Many of the larger galleries are open and offer expanded online galleries including The Eadington Collectors Gallery, Marcus Ashley Fine Art Gallery, Benko Art Gallery, Scott Forrest Fine Art Studio and Emanate Gallery. | tahoeartwalk.com 17

TheTahoeWeekly.com

THE lineup live music | shows | nightlife

festivals | entertainment

Uncharted Waters L O C A L E N T E R TA I N M E N T A DA P T S TO C H A N G I N G C O N D I T I O N S S TO RY BY S E A N M c A L I N D I N

n spite of rising coronavirus numbers, the Tahoe Sierra has entered what is predicted to be a banner summer tourism season. With the vast majority of public events canceled, people continue to flock to the sandy beaches and outdoor opportunities plentiful in our mountain region. But with so much uncertainty in the air, many are left wondering: What is happening this summer? When it comes to live music, what now remains is an intrepid assortment of approaches to recovering a once-prosperous music scene in and around Lake Tahoe. While every venue has to follow its own state, county and municipal guidelines before opening shop, the bottom line is large gatherings are still banned in both California and Nevada. “I tried to dance between the raindrops and see what we could do, but even with free or private events for less than 50 people, we couldn’t do that,” says Crystal Bay Casino general manager Bill Wood. At the moment, Wood has live music booked as early as Sept. 18, though that is likely to change. “Obviously the most important thing is we get through this virus and people stay safe,” he says. “We are in total compliance with that. Having said that, we’ve talked to a lot of agencies and bands and those bands are really suffering. They want to come and play as soon as they safely can. We’re booking bands out later in the fall going into the Christmas holiday with the proviso that we’re allowed to do so. We may end up having to postpone or cancel shows.”

Major Motion Pictures · Independent Films Live Music · Dance Performances

The theater is open! Our pop-up drive-in runs through end of July Thursdays-Saturdays.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off | Drive-In July 16-18

Inside Out July 7-16

The Empire Strikes Back July 7-16

Beauty and the Beast July 17-23

Iron Man July 17-23

Visit TahoeArtHausCinema.com for showtimes, schedule, events + tkts THE COBBLESTONE CENTER 475 N LAKE BLVD., TAHOE CITY, CA | 530-584-2431

Chris Walstad

South Lake Tahoe’s city council will be discussing the prospects for summer entertainment at its July 14 meeting. Until then, plans for outdoor summer shows like Live at Lakeview are up in the air. In Truckee, Cottonwood Restaurant and Bar of America are now hosting socially distanced live music. Alibi Ale Works has reopened with an outdoor beer garden and will be hosting trivia and music this summer with socially distanced table service. “Since we’ve reopened our mindset has been changing a little bit,” says Rylan Cordova, general manager at Alibi Ale Works. “We’re still not really supposed to encourage gatherings, but we’re doing host-greeted seating to keep people in their six-feet bubbles. We’re trying to do what we’ve always done in a more controlled and seated manner. People want to see their friends again. They want to be part of their

“ People want to see their friends again. They want to be part of their community. We’ve always seen ourselves as a place for people to connect. If we can do that in a socially responsible way, then that’s great.” “The problem that exists when they do allow crowds is will they have social distancing involved?” says Wood. “You can’t really force people to stay six feet away from each other. We’re really built more for standingroom-only crowds. With a seated show, you have to have six feet, side to side and front to back. That’s a lot of room.” Wood is hoping he is able to book bands for audiences somewhat smaller than what they would normally play. “It’s going to be something where we have to work with artists and their agents,” he says. “It seems there is going to be some cooperation there. Everybody feels the same way.” According to music agent Kevin Calabro who regularly brings touring bands into the area, almost everything across the country is still on hiatus as guidelines change and change again. “Everyone is struggling with it from a financial perspective and definitely nervous about the CARES Act money for unemployment going away in July,” he says. “That said, from a creative perspective, everyone has been inspired and working hard. We’re selling more vinyl than ever.”

WHEN LESS IS MORE Smaller venues, such as restaurants, cafés and bars where people are seated and socially distanced, have been the first to bring back live music with new protocols. Sometimes musicians are required to wear masks when they aren’t performing. Ensembles are limited to one or two people at a time.

The audience is seated in small groups and spaced apart. It’s putting a few musicians back to work, but it’s not enough to keep some longtime seasonal performers here. “I hate to leave Tahoe, but with no work starting March 9th or so for me, there’s no way I could justify staying there,” says well-known area musician Chi McLean. “It’s such a bummer. Obviously, I miss the money. It’s how I used to make my living, but I really miss making music in a live environment — the vibes, the fun, the interaction.” For the past few months, McLean has been hunkered down in Nashville writing and recording new material while trying to stay busy with a number of long-forgotten projects. “I’m really starting to worry about income or lack thereof and the future of live music,” he says. “Virtual shows just aren’t the same. Here’s hoping the resorts and casinos can open this fall and host entertainment. But I’m not confident they’ll be able to do so safely, which is scary on many levels.” Although Squaw Valley and other resorts are booking live music for their restaurants, larger events planned for the end of August and beyond are up in the air. “We’re in the same boat as everyone else,” says Caroline Ross of Squaw Village Neighborhood Company. “We want to do the right thing. But it’s too premature for us to share what we’re doing because we don’t know what we’re doing yet. Everything is constantly changing. ”

–Rylan Cordova community. We’ve always seen ourselves as a place for people to connect. If we can do that in a socially responsible way, then that’s great.” In South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, Nev., live music events are mostly on hold. Heavenly Village, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Lake Tahoe AleWorX are offering live music and The Loft Theatre is open for magic shows with reduced capacity. Billy Drewitz of Late Night Productions has been booking shows in the area for 23 years, but all of his events are currently posted until next year. “Everything on a professional level is on hiatus,” says Drewitz. “The only event casinos have considered is [Extreme Midget Wrestling] with a controlled, sit-down audience. That’s scheduled for September, but I don’t even see that happening with the current surge. … Every day I wake up and it looks like I’m further and further from getting back from normal. It’s discouraging, but I’m just rolling with the punches. Things are changing by the day, but unfortunately, I feel like we’re moving backwards. At first, people were being proactive. I think it was helping, but for the most part, people are being irresponsible right now.”

A TIME FOR INNOVATION In the face of endless hoops and unpredictable challenges, some music festivals are innovating their approach for 2020 in order to allow live performance to continue in a new form. Even if Classical Tahoe won’t raise its grand pavilion on the campus of Si-

July 8-14, 2020 THE LINEUP

erra Nevada College this year, the nonprofit will forge ahead with another edition of its internationally renowned music festival. To keep within state guidelines, they are dropping its annual summer gala and orchestra performances in favor of chamber ensembles of 10 musicians. Performances are to be held from July 31 to Aug. 15 at private residences and lakefront gardens in Incline Village, Nev., with small audiences of 30. “Logistically, it’s not easy to switch venues,” says Sarah Wells, the organization’s patron experience manager. “It’s a lot of production value built from the ground up. It’s a colossal endeavor to consider the new venues in terms of the speed it would normally require.” While tickets are on not available to the public, the weekly performances will be livestreamed on the festival website and aired as a six-part special on PBS Reno. “The opportunity to think in different ways led to the collaboration with PBS,” says Wells. “Even though it’s a pivot to who we’re serving, and we can’t offer a sunupto-sundown experience, the programming through the livestream is extraordinary.” Big BLUEgrass Benefit Concert at Sugar Pine Point State Park is another music festival that is thinking outside the box in a wish to push forward with its annual event. The Sierra State Parks Foundation plans to hold an intimate 50-person gazebo concert on Aug. 7 at Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, featuring Lost Whiskey Engine and The Well Known Strangers depending on approval from several state agencies. The event will be livestreamed on social media as part of a fundraiser for the park. If it is cancelled, a pre-recorded music special will air in its place. “We’re kind of between a rock and a hard place,” says foundation spokesperson Denise Tran. “We are a small team, but we just wanted to take on this challenge. A lot of our events are getting canceled and we wanted to keep this tradition alive.”

A SUMMER OF VIRTUAL CONCERTS Rather than cancel outright, several local music events are foregoing in-person gatherings in favor of livestreamed events or pre-produced specials. Instead of its annual summer concerts at Kings Beach State Recreation Area, North Tahoe Business Association is broadcasting a five-part series of virtual concerts on select Friday nights. Peter Joseph Burtt & The King Tide kicked it off on June 26 with a concert livestreamed and aired on KTKE 101.5 FM from inside the North Tahoe Events Center. “We’re doing it to keep the music alive

and support our local bands,” says NTBA Executive Director Alyssa Reilly. “The arts are very important in King’s Beach. We wanted to do what we can.” Each week is sponsored by two area restaurants and Reilly hopes people will consider tuning into the music while ordering food and spending time with family and close friends. “It’s about helping businesses come back to life and get through this,” she says. “We’re hoping people may order out and put on the radio while they’re having dinner. It’s all this big full circle. I think we are going to learn a lot as we go. This is new to all of us. We can’t bring the people to the music, so we’re bringing the music to the people.” Tahoe City Downtown Association will be airing past performances from the Concerts at Commons Beach music series on social media and live of KTKE on Sunday nights for its Backyard Boogie Series starting Aug. 2 for five weeks from 4 to 7 p.m. “Our businesses are hurting,” says TCDA Executive Director Kylee Bigelow. “On Sundays people can go support a local restaurant socially distanced with their households and have a Concerts at Commons vibes at home. We’re festing in place.” TCDA is also encouraging people to get takeout from local restaurants to enjoy while listening to the sounds from past concerts. This year Lake Tahoe Dance Festival will be coming to your home with a three-night broadcast of world-class dance performances from July 22 to 24 through its website. This year’s themes include American classical ballet, mid-century modern dance and Europe’s contemporary influence. In an entertainment industry that has been widely shut down, creative events like these at least bring some hope to audiences and artists as everyone navigates these uncertain times together. “I think it keeps the live music spirit alive in our hearts and reminds us of the joy we’ve had,” says Brent Dana, a concert organizer. “It takes us back to a happy time. The quality of all the artists that have performed there over the years is extraordinary. We can connect as a community as we look forward to getting back in the good-times business and celebrating together as soon as we possibly can. Hang in there.”  Sean McAlindin is a writer and musician living in Truckee, who loves a secret powder stash just as much as a good jam. You can reach him at entertainment@ tahoethisweek.com. Other writings and original music are available at seanmcalindin.com.

T A H O E

JULY 8-AUG. 7 EDITION

Many events in July have been cancelled due to ongoing restrictions on mass gatherings. These events are still being held as of press time, with many switching to livestreaming options for people to enjoy. Events may be still be canceled, so check in advance for schedules. Distancing guidelines remain in place and masks are currently required in Nevada and California.

For the most up-to-date information, visit the Events calendar at TheTahoeWeekly.com.

The Loft

Downieville Virtual Brewfest

Magic shows open

July 18 | Virtual

thelofttahoe.com

ARTown

Lucas Oil Off Road Race Series

Until July 31 | Reno, Nev.

July 24-25 | Wild West Motorsports Park | Sparks, Nev.

Livestreamed, virtual & small gatherings | artown.org

Concerts at Commons Beach will go virtual this summer with the Backyard Boogie series running on Sundays from Aug. 2 to 30 with concert favorites broadcast on 101.5 KTKE. Enjoy an eclectic mix of highlights from the best of Concerts at Commons featuring local, regional and national bands broadcast over the radio. The lineup of concerts will be announced at a later date. Pick up a picnic from local restaurants and join the party. Collectible Best of Concerts at Commons Beach koozies will be available at participating businesses. Join the social media concert replay picnic challenge by snapping a pic of your Sunday picnic set up for a chance to win gift cards to local restaurants #bestofcommons. The concerts are produced by the Tahoe City Downtown Association and the Tahoe City Public Utilities District. | visittahoecity.org, concertsatcommonsbeach.com

lucasoiloffroad.com

Summer Concert Series

Tahoe Mountain Bike Festival

Until Sept. 6 (select dates) | Live music

July 25-26 | Tahoe Paradise Park | Meyers

Visit Heavenly Village Lake Tahoe on Facebook

Sierra Summer Challenge Ongoing until Sept. 7

Explore the outdoors to win prizes sierranevadaalliance.org

Tahoe Mountain Bike Festival on Facebook

Alta Alpina Challenge: Riding the Wild Sierra July 25 | Turtle Rock Park | Markleeville

altaalpina.org

Tahoe Art Haus

Tahoe Paddle Race Series

Ongoing drive-in movies | Tahoe City

July 25, Aug. 29, Sept. 19 | Area venues

tahoearthauscinema.com

tahoepaddleracing.com

Brewery Arts Center Movie Series

Barracuda Championship

Ongoing drive-in movies | Carson City, Nev.

July 27-Aug. 2 | Old Greenwood | Truckee

breweryarts.org

Broadcast only starting July 30 barracudachampionship.com

American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament

Classical Tahoe

July 8-12 | Edgewood Tahoe

July 31-Aug. 15 | Livestreamed & on PBS Reno

Broadcast only starting July 10 americancenturychampionship.com

Virtual Vibes

Concert at Commons Beach goes virtual

downievillebrewfest.com

July 10 & 24, Aug. 7 & 28

Livestreamed & on KTKE 101.5 northtahoebusiness.org

Outdoor Movie Nights July 11-Sept. 27 | Drive-in movies | Chicken in A Barrel | South Lake Tahoe

tahoesouth.com

Lake Tahoe Dance Festival July 22-24 | Livestreamed

laketahoedancecollective.org

Cordillera International Film Festival July 23-26 | Drive-in showings | Reno, Nev.

ciffnv.org

classicaltahoe.org

Tahoe Beach Bash Aug. 1 | Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe | South Lake Tahoe

tahoehomeless.org

Big Blue Adventure Race Series Aug. 1-Oct. 4 | Area venues

bigblueadventure.com

Backyard Boogie Series Aug. 2-30 | Aired on KTKE 101.5

visittahoecity.org

Big BLUEgrass Benefit Aug. 7 | Sugar Pine Point State Park & livestreamed

sierrastateparks.org 19

TheTahoeWeekly.com

EAT &drink

Email news to editor@tahoethisweek.com

food & libations | recipes | delicious events

Sage Leaf

restaurant opens REFRESHING

Summer Beverages I

t’s hot out there. It’s time to create unique, refreshing beverages to quench the thirst and dazzle the taste buds. Lemonade, watermelon and cucumber waters are definitely on the menu, adding mint is refreshing, too. They provide a great non-alcoholic beverage that’ll cool you down, whether you’re sitting and relaxing on a dock, hanging out in the driveway for happy hour or hiking on a mountain trail. Adding fresh fruit to lemonade gives the drink a new dimension. Muddling or blending your favorite berry or watermelon into your lemonade is so easy and pleasantly delicious. Currently, I am a fan of blackberry lemonade with or without a dash of sun-brewed iced tea.

Blackberry Bellini. | Priya Hutner

cinnamon and anise are a few other spices to consider for your shrub.

CREATE A SHRUB

Muddle some ripe, peeled peaches in a glass, add a dash of elderflower liquor, champagne and sparkling water for a fabulous summer cocktail. BLUEBERRIES Speaking of berries, let’s explore the blueberry. They are fabulous at this time of year and delicious to mix into cocktails. Blueberries added to daiquiris, margaritas or Moscow Mules give new meaning and purpose to these traditional summer cocktails. If you’re a fan of gin, try a Blueberry Gin Lemonade; if gin isn’t your thing, vodka will work with this drink, as well.

BLACKBERRIES Blackberries are currently my jam. I am mixing them into every drink and cocktail I create. And when it comes to adding raspberries, strawberries and blackberries to beverages, the sky’s the limit. I prefer my cocktails sugar free, so muddle the berries first and then add the alcohol. I suggest vodka, gin, tequila or even a light rum, a dash of lemon juice and some fizzy water. It’s the perfect low-calorie summer drink. Enjoy the tastes of Tahoe

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

PEACHES Peach season is in full tilt and this delightful fruit makes any cocktail or mocktail a summer experience. Muddle 20

Courtesy Safe Leaf

S TO RY & P H OTO S BY P R I YA H UT N E R

some ripe, peeled peaches in a glass, add a dash of elderflower liquor, champagne and sparkling water for a fabulous summer cocktail. Peach Bellini’s are on my summer list, as well; blend or muddle some fresh peaches and add Prosecco. Peaches are perfect in daiquiri’s, margaritas, mojitos and mules.

SHRUBS Shrubs are another way to uplevel your summer beverage repertoire. A shrub is a concentrated syrup, often a mixture of fruit or herbs, sugar and vinegar. Popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, fruit and herb shrubs are currently all the rage. Primarily a drinking vinegar, shrubs can be mixed with carbonated water, lemonades and teas to make a tasty mocktail. Add your favorite spirit, balsamic, champagne vinegar and sugar or simple syrup. For an herb shrub, try fennel, thyme, basil or rosemary. Shrubs are acidic, so using citrus fruit is not recommended. Berries and summer fruits create a delicious shrub. Combinations like strawberry and basil, blackberry and lavender or peach and thyme are delicious. Add a slice of ginger to spice up an adventurous shrub. Black peppercorns, cardamom, bay leaf,

There are several different methods to use when preparing a shrub. Mix the fruit, herbs and sugar and vinegar together. Let the shrub mixture sit for two to three days on the counter and then strain and refrigerate. There are hot and cold methods. Shrubs can last up to six months in the fridge. Most cocktails can be prepared with-out spirits for a refreshing nonalcoholic cooling beverage. Try a ginger and peach mocktail with ginger beer, peaches, mint and lime. Consider a sparkling grape or apple juice as a base. Berry mojitos, virgin daiquiris or an Aqua Fresco with any fruit is so satisfying. Try a mocktail shrub for a delightful summer beverage. Stepping up the mocktail/cocktail game is a fun and creative way to cool off. Cheers and enjoy the art of creating unique summer beverages.  Priya Hutner is a writer, personal chef and workshop facilitator. She is the owner of the Seasoned Sage, which prepares organic artisan meals for dinner parties and events. She also offers in-home cooking classes, parties and local pop up dinners. As a breath meditation teacher and long-time yogi, she facilitates workshops and classes that focus on gaining a deeper awareness of self. Send story ideas to priya@tahoethisweek.com. | (772) 913-0008, pria78@gmail.com, seasonedsage.com

BLACKBERRY BELLINI From Priya Hutner’s Kitchen ½ C blackberries Chilled Prosecco A sprig of fresh mint

Muddle or blend the berries and pour into a glass or champagne flute. Top off with chilled Prosecco and fresh mint.

Shane Hammet, the former head chef at the Lone Eagle Grill, has opened Sage Leaf in Incline Village, Nev. The restaurant is located in the former Jack Rabbit Moon location. Sage Leaf offers creative and seasonal offerings for healthy and comforting lunch and breakfast cuisine with dine in, take out and patio seating options. Online ordering is also available Enjoy breakfast creations like Braised Bacon Tacos or the Vegan Scrambled Silken Tofu. For lunch, try Pastrami & Cheese, Roasted Niman Ranch Pork Banh Mí or the Tahoe Food Hub Salad. Open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Located at 893 Tahoe Blvd., Suite 600 in Incline Village. | (775) 413-5005, sageleaftahoe.com

Raley’s opens in Truckee

Raley’s O-N-E Market has opened its 35,000-square-foot store on Soaring Way near Truckee Tahoe Airport featuring a selection of organics storewide, meats free from antibiotics and hormones, sustainable seafood and an abundance of freshly prepared foods available for dine-in or takeaway. The Raley’s O-N-E Market Café features coffee from Stumptown Coffee Roasters, an organic juice bar, hearth-baked pizza and sandwiches, freshly prepared sushi and artisan baked goods. It also features the Raley’s Something Extra Health program, offered exclusively at the Truckee store. In-store tours and classes, personalized nutrition counseling and supplement recommendations will be offered by the full-time nutrition advisor Scott Brown, RDN. The McKinney Loft, named for Tahoe’s famous skiers, Steve and Tamara, features a beer and wine bar, bar bites, an outdoor fireplace and large TV screens. The market will provide pickup and delivery to the 96161 area code through raleys.com. Raley’s is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. | (530) 587-0125, raleys.com

July 8-14, 2020 EAT & DRINK

Wine Myths PA R T I S TO RY & P H OTO S BY L O U P H I L L I P S

Kings Beach

hat’s right, for your eyes only and for your wine entertainment, your intrepid columnist treads where none have dared tread before to bring you this episode of wine-myth-busting madness.

Open

I am starting with this myth because it easy to blow apart with four easy points. First, land costs and taxes are slightly more than Fresno farmland, for example, try several hundred thousand up to $1 million plus per acre. Secondly, there are expensive grapegrowing and winemaking practices. It is not just the barrels, although at $1,000 to $2,000 plus per barrel for new French versions, that is a significant part of the equation. There is the almost mandatory consulting winemaker, the newest and best of equipment, skyrocketing labor costs at every level — and, well, you get the picture. Watch the movie “Sour Grapes”

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

Thirdly, there are restrictive building and use codes. In most regions of California, a winery is a license to print money in many ways. Unrestricted tasting-room hours, special events licenses, restaurants and lodges are among the sub-businesses allowed with a winery license. In the heart of Napa Valley, these licenses are incredibly expensive and usually somewhere between difficult and impossible to obtain. Lastly, the trump card is that Napa’s best regions make world-class wine and it’s a basic law of the human jungle that if you want excellence, you need to be willing to pay for it.

WINE FRAUD IS OVER Many may think that wine fraud is over now that Rudy Kurniawan is visiting a Federal Country Club for an extended stay, but that’s not the case. Kurniawan, real name Zhen Wang Huang, created and sold many bottles of five- and six-figure juice, but the whole single-evil-entity theory falls apart after that. First of all, based on the estimates from records, he would have had to get the hard-to-acquire or make himself, raw materials and then be able to manufacture more than 100 bottles per day with a one-at-a-time, painstaking

Full

12:00pm-10:00pm

NAPA WINES ARE OVERPRICED

Food Service stops

Bar

8:00pm

(530) 546-4539

8345 North Lake Blvd. - Across from the State Beach in Kings Sunday Beach through Thursday not valid w

Worth the Moolah, the 2007 Keenan Merlot-Cab-Cab Reserve and 2010 Del Dotto Sangiovese.

Lakeview Deck and Patio Open for Dining

process. He would have also had to create his own acceptance as a wine savant, which is impossible to do without sponsors to be taken seriously. In the spirit of not getting myself sued, I’ll leave out the likely suspect, but watch the free movie “Sour Grapes” and you can probably identify the real perpetrators.

Napa’s best regions make world-class wine and it’s a basic law of the human jungle that if you want excellence, you need

JasonsBeachSideGrille.com

•

(530) 546-3315

8338 NORTH LAKE BLVD., KINGS BEACH, CA

to be willing to pay for it. Another clue may be to search which auction house was quite recently outed and then withdrew a 1924 Domaine De la Romanee-Conti from its auction and has several other questionable bottles from the same mystery collector still up for grabs in the upcoming crap show — I mean wine auction. Note that this is transpiring several years into Kurniawan’s 11-year stay with the federal government, which still has a few years to go. More dish coming soon in Part II.  Lou Phillips is a Level 3 Advanced Sommelier in Tahoe and his consulting business wineprowest.com assists in the selling, buying and managing wine collections. He may be reached at (775) 544-3435 or wineguru123@gmail.com.

Available Now! 2nd edition

Wineries of the Sierra Foothills Purchase your copy at Amazon. Bulk orders available at books@tahoethisweek.com

TheTahoeWeekly.com

FROM CHEF SMITTY’S KITCHEN “We are overjoyed to be a part of the Truckee community and be able to provide big savings on quality groceries,” said Ryan and Shannon Parrish, the independent operators. “This partnership with Grocery Outlet gives us the ability to grow our business, create new jobs and more importantly, give back to our local community.” Along with the Truckee grand opening, Grocery Outlet launched its 10th Independence from Hunger Food Drive and pledged to match up to $1 million to support food banks. Until July 31, cash donations and pre-made bags of nonperishable foods will be collected in-store.

“Wine of

Nevada County” released

Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. | (530) 5363983, groceryoutlet.com Try Smitty’s recipes for Grilling Trout or Roast on the Grill

at TheTahoeWeekly.com

By Barbara Keck “Nevada County Wine,” by Mary Anne Davis, takes a leisurely approach to helping wine lovers tour this area of the Sierra Foothills wine scene. Davis introduces the reader to the long history of the region, its towns and industries with detail on Nevada County both before and after the Gold Rush. In 1852, the first vineyards were planted in Nevada County. The discovery of gold, the influx of miners and the thirsts they brought with them for drinks of various sorts are all documented in Davis’ historical sweep. After Prohibition, new varietals were planted, and dry farming and drip irrigation made it possible to revive wine-grape growing. “Nevada County Wine” is published by The History Press; it is available on Amazon and Kindle. arcadiapublishing.com.

Grocery Outlet

opens in Truckee

Grocery Outlet Bargain Market opened its newest location in Truckee on Donner Pass Road. Grocery Outlet stores are independently operated by local families, committed to supporting their communities.

tasty tidbits Incline Village Farmers Market Incline Village Library | Incline Village | July 9

3-6 p.m. | (775) 832-4130, laketahoemarkets.com

Tahoe City Farmers Market Commons Beach | Tahoe City | July 9

8 a.m.-1 p.m. | tahoecityfarmersmarket.com

Tahoe Club Crawl Center Bar | Stateline | July 11

7:45-10:30 p.m. $45 | tahoeclubcrawl.com

Taste of Gold Remote Version remote version | South Lake Tahoe | July 11 $25 | false, tahoesouth.com

El Dorado County Certified Farmer’s Market American Legion Parking Lot South Lake Tahoe | July 14

8 a.m.-1 p.m. | eldoradofarmersmarket.com

Truckee Certified Farmers Market Truckee River Regional Park Truckee | July 14

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BY C H E F DAV I D “ S M I T T Y ” S M I T H

got a few inquiries as to how to go about grilling without having everything stick. It’s true, it is easy to find your food sticking when grilling. Beef and other meats can stick, but it is usually chicken and fish that are the main culprits. There are few things more frustrating while grilling than going to flip your dinner and having half of it rip off, with the other half stuck to the grill. The trick to grilling is to think about the possible outcomes before you start so you have a much greater chance to get the outcome you’re looking for. First, think about when you are cooking in the house using a pan. The pan is clean; more often than not these days, it has a non-stick coating. Even with the coating, you will normally use at least a few drops of oil. Once you place the piece of fish or whatever you are cooking into the pan, you might swish it back and forth, oftentimes out of habit and not really for any particular reason. Now, once you have given that little swish, what do you do? You leave it alone for a few minutes to let it cook and you don’t keep flipping it or moving it. Now, when was the last time you cleaned your grill? I mean cleaned it so there are no little pieces of last night’s burgers or tiny burnt-to-a-crisp pieces of fish from a few nights ago. What you are looking for is a smooth cooking surface.

CLEANING & SEASON THE GRILL The normal way to clean your grill is to get it very hot and then use a grill brush to scrape off all the stuck-on stuff. That might get all the burnt-on pieces of food off, but as far as keeping the surface smooth, just imagine all the scratches the brush is putting on your grilling surface. To season the grill, fold a thick cloth into fourths and dampen one side with a little oil and sprinkle it with a little salt. Make sure the grill is hot again. You might have to take the grilling rack off and brace it against a big rock or something. Using a little elbow grease, rub the cloth lengthwise along the grate. You can do this with the grate still over the fire, but it can flame up if there is too much oil and it can get hot. Repeat this process a few times. OK, it’s time to cook. Again, first make sure the grilling surface is hot. You don’t put your dinner into a cold pan on the stove;

you wait for the pan to get hot. What’s the next thing you would do in a pan? Once it is hot, you add a little oil and then place your fish or meat in it. Well, you are certainly not going to pour oil on your fire, but you can use the same technique as when you seasoned it. Pour a little oil on a thick rag and rub it lengthwise back and forth along the grill. Remember it is possible for it to flame up and fire is hot, so you can always use a pair of tongs to hold the rag.

GRILLING TECHNIQUE Slightly oil your intended piece of dinner and instead of just putting it on the grill, place it and slide it back and forth along the grate about an inch. If it slides with no problem, then you are good to go. If it does stick, repeat the oil rag swipe again.

When was the last time you cleaned your grill? I mean cleaned it so there are no little pieces of last night’s burgers. Now leave it along for a few minutes. You want to caramelize the outside, which in effect will create a nice skin like searing a steak, that will keep the moisture in your dinner and also allow you to flip the food without it sticking. For both fish and chicken, you can look at either and see the color change as it starts to cook. The lower half that is down facing the heat will turn more of a solid color rather than the raw, translucent side. As this color changes about one-third the way up, then you can flip it. If you want those nice crossed grill lines, turn it 180 degrees for a few more minutes and then flip it. Enjoy the grill. Don’t fight with it and let it devour half your meal.  David “Smitty” Smith is a personal chef specializing in dinner parties, cooking classes and special events. Trained under Master Chef Anton Flory at Top Notch Resort in Stowe, Vt., Smitty is known for his creative use of fresh ingredients. Contact him at (530) 412-3598 or tmmsmitty@gmail.com.

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