December 12 to 19, 2019

fun. unique. everywhere.

dec. 12-18, 2019

Tahoe

MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS WINTER EDITION

THE MAJESTY OF

HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD DISPLAYS

CREATING IN TAHOE’S TINIEST ART GALLERY // BECOMING DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN // THE ART OF FAMILY ADVENTURES AT INDOOR CLIMBING GYMS //

WAXING DOWNHILL SKIS

TM

Kevin Jamieson

Volume 38 | Issue 34

Golden Dragon Acrobats

December 12-18, 2019

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

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

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Cover Photography production@tahoethisweek.com

MAKING IT HAPPEN Publisher & Editor In Chief Katherine E. Hill publisher@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 102 Sales & Marketing Manager Anne Artoux anne@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 110 Art Director Alyssa Ganong production@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 106

IN THIS ISSUE DECEMBER 12-18, 2019

Graphic Designer Justeen Ferguson graphics@tahoethisweek.com, ext. 101 Entertainment Editor Sean McAlindin entertainment@tahoethisweek.com

FEATURES

Food Editor Priya Hutner priya@tahoethisweek.com

Sierra Stories

11

Tahoe Music, Events & Festivals

15

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

TAHOE WEEKLY is published weekly throughout the summer and biweekly the rest of the year, with occassional extra issues at holiday times by Range of Light Media Group, Inc. Look for new issues on Thursdays.

Subscribe to the free digital edition at issuu.com/ TheTahoeWeekly. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com.

TAHOE WEEKLY, est. 1982, ©2007. Reproduction in whole or in part without publisher’s express permission is prohibited. Contributions welcome via e-mail. The Weekly is not responsible for unsolicited submissions. Member: North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, North Tahoe Business Association, Incline Community Business Association, Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce, Tahoe City Downtown Association, Truckee Downtown Merchants Association, Tahoe South Chamber of Commerce and Alpine County Chamber of Commerce. Printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks. Please recycle your copy.

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

–John Muir

Waxing Downhill Skis

TAHOE’S SEASON OF CELEBRATIONS FROM THE PUBLISHER

December in Tahoe is not only a time for celebrations for the holiday season, but it’s also a time for celebration of many other important milestones – the 20th anniversary of Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area, the 60th Anniversary in February of the 1960 Winter Olympics, the 70th Anniversary of Squaw Valley and the 80th Anniversary of Sugar Bowl. These are all important milestones in our community, the ski industry and the regional economy from a summeronly destination to a year-round destination (and, if I missed any other important dates, I know you’ll send me an email.)

The holiday season celebrations are already in full swing, with a jam-packed few weeks left until Christmas of live music, holiday performances, familyfriendly fun, festive activities and lots of visits from St. Nick. As we do to kick off every December, Tahoe Weekly features its Winter Tahoe Music, Events & Festival guide with the season’s best events to enjoy during the holidays and for the next few months with some winter favorites to some fun new events coming to Tahoe.

Just in time for the holidays, Priya Hutner discovered some of the behind-the-scene secrets for making a classic holiday decoration – life-sized gingerbread creations. It’s a favorite local tradition to visit the life-size creations of some of the region’s best chefs, so be sure to check out these amazing holiday displays at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, Resort at Squaw Creek and Harveys Lake Tahoe. 

6

OUT & ABOUT Lake Tahoe Facts

4

Sightseeing

5

Events

7

FAMILY FUN Blue Granite Climbing Gym

8

For the Kids

8

FUN & GAMES Horoscope & Puzzles

10

ARTS & CULTURE Kevin Jamieson

12

The Arts

13

MUSIC SCENE Del the Funky Homosapien

30

Entertainment Calendar & Live Music

31

LOCAL FLAVOR Gingerbread Displays

33

Tasty Tidbits

33

Wine Column

34

Chef’s Recipe

35

ON THE COVER A winter storm moves in over Lake Tahoe’s East Shore as seen from Hidden Beach. | Photography by Paul Hamill | PaulHamillPhotography.com, @PaulHamillPhotos

TheTahoeWeekly.com |

Facebook.com/TheTahoeWeekly |

@TheTahoeWeekly 3

TheTahoeWeekly.com

LAKE TAHOE FACTS | CLAIR TAPPAAN

Donner Summit

Truckee Donner Lake

TRUCKEE AIRPORT

DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK

h Ta

SUGAR BOWL

CROSS-COUNTRY SKI AREAS

SQUAW CREEK

Dollar Hill

Lake

GRANKLIBAKKEN

Spooner Lake

Tahoe

l

Eagle Rock

NEVADA NORDIC

Glenbrook o Ta h

HOMEWOOD

e Ri

m Tr a i l

Tahoma

SUGAR PINE POINT STATE PARK

Meeks Bay

Age of Lake Tahoe: 2 million years Emerald Bay

Watershed Area: 312 square miles Average Water Temperature: 42.1˚F

Cascade Lake

Average Surface Water Temperature: 51.9˚F Average Surface Temperature in July: 64.9˚F Highest Peak: Freel Peak at 10,881 feet

Ta h oe

R i m Tr ail

Average Snowfall: 409 inches

Fannette Island

Natural rim: 6,223’

Cave Rock

Zephyr Cove

Size: 22 miles long, 12 miles wide

South Lake Tahoe

Stateline

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

HEAVENLY CAMP RICHARDSON

Fallen Leaf Lake

BIJOU PARK / LAKE TAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Meyers

LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT

FREEL PEAK

ECHO LAKES

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

SIERRA-AT-TAHOE KIRKWOOD

4

Volume: 39 trillion gallons

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

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

CA

Learn about the natural history of the Tahoe Sierra. Click on Nature & Environment under the Out & About menu.

Carson City

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

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

Homewood

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Maximum depth: 1,645 feet

Marlette Lake

NV

Sunnyside Ta h o e R i m

Average depth: 1,000 feet

DEEPEST POINT

TAHOE CROSS COUNTRY

Tahoe City

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AT

Lake Clarity: 2018: 70.9 feet avg. depth.

1968: First recorded at 102.4 feet

Crystal Bay

Kings Beach

Carnelian Bay

SNO-PARKS ai Tr

DIAMOND PEAK

Incline Village

Tahoe Vista

TAHOE CITY WINTER SPORTS PARK

ALPINE MEADOWS

CASINOS

ra Rim T

NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK

Olympic Valley SQUAW VALLEY

oe

N

WEST EAST SOUTH

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

NORTHSTAR

Truckee River

DOWNHILL SKI AREAS

MT. ROSE

RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

DONNER SKI RANCH

ROYAL GORGE

SKY TAVERN

il

SODA SPRINGS

BOREAL

Reno & Sparks

TAHOE DONNER

AUBURN SKI TRAINING CENTER

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

HOPE VALLEY

Markleeville

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

Why is the lake blue?

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

December 12-18, 2019

SIGHTSEEING

Snowmobiling at Watson Lake. | Katherine E. Hill

ATTRACTIONS

Explore Tahoe (530) 542-2908 | cityofslt.us

South Lake Tahoe

Urban Trailhead at base of Heavenly. South Tahoe

Fannette Island

Emerald Bay

(530) 541-3030 | parks.ca.gov

Lake Tahoe’s only island, home to an old tea house.

Heavenly

South Lake Tahoe

(775) 586-7000 | skiheavenly.com

Enjoy a 2.4-mile ride on the gondola to the top with panoramic views. South Tahoe

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion

West Shore

$10 parking | parks.ca.gov (530) 525-7232 Park | (530) 583-9911 Tours Located in Sugar Pine Point State Park.

(Open for tours in the summer.) TART

High Camp (800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com

Olympic Valley

Aerial tram rides, Olympic Heritage Museum, ice skating, events and more. Ticket required. TART

Kings Beach northtahoebusiness.org

North Shore

truckeehistory.org | truckee.com Settled in 1863 as a stagecoach stop. TART

Vikingsholm Castle (530) 541-3030 | (530) 525-9529 ADA parks.ca.gov or vikingsholm.com

Emerald Bay

Tour the grounds of Vikingsholm Castle, see Eagle Falls and Fannette Island. TART

Watson Cabin

Tahoe City

(530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org

The oldest building in Tahoe City and on the National Register of Historic Places. TART

MUSEUMS Donner Memorial Visitor Center (530) 582-7892 | parks.ca.gov

Truckee

The Donner Memorial State Park features exhibits and artifacts on the Donner Party. TART

donnersummithistoricalsociety.org

Soda Springs

Gatekeeper’s Museum Daily | (530) 583-1762 northtahoemuseums.org

(530) 587-5437 | kidzonemuseum.org

Lake Tahoe Museum

Tahoe Art League Gallery South Lake Tahoe

Features Washoe artifacts and exhibits on early industry and settlers. South Tahoe

visittahoecity.com

North Shore

Stateline 169 Hwy. 50 (775) 588-4591

Tahoe Maritime Museum Tahoe City A 20,400 0 MARTIS 1,052 CAPACITY: (530) 583-9283 | tahoemaritimemuseum.org Self-guided tours, exhibits and hands-on activities. TART

Truckee River |

FLOW AT FARAD

Tahoe Science Center

3650

Incline Village

Tahoe City 100 N. Lake Blvd. (530) 581-6900 Truckee 10065 Donner Pass Rd. (Depot) Measured Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS) (530) in 587-8808

TROA.NET

U.S. Forest Service | Incline Village

Free | (775) 881-7566 | tahoesciencecenter.org

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

Exhibits include a virtual research boat, biology lab, 3D movies and docent-led tours. TART

U.S. Forest Service | South Lake Tahoe

Truckee Railroad Museum

U.S. Forest Service | Tahoe City

truckeedonnerrailroadsociety.com

Truckee

Exhibits include the train’s role in logging, fighting snow on the railway, the role of Chinese emigrants and a children’s area. TART

(530) 426-3313, ext. 113 | auburnskiclub.org Showcasing the history of skiing. TART

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

Truckee

Featuring exhibits of work by local artists and works for sale by local artists. TART

Tahoe City

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

CAPACITY: 18,300 C

Featuring historic photos & memorabilia, and the Steinbach Indian Basket Museum. TART

Interactive exhibits, science & art classes, the BabyZone & the Jungle Gym. TART

Featuring local artists and workshops. South Tahoe

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

Tahoe City

North Tahoe Arts Center

(530) 544-2313 | talart.org

Kings Beach

Museum and 20-mile interpretive driving tour along Old 40. TART

KidZone Children’s Museum

Free | (530) 581-2787 | northtahoearts.com

VISITORS’ CENTERS

Games. Tower of Nations. Olympic Flame. Olympic CAPACITY: 9,500 C DONNER 4,690 Museum at high camp.

TART 50

Western SkiSport Museum Donner Summit

Donner Summit Historical Society

Home to the North Shore’s largest sandy beach, in the heart of downtown. TART

Tahoe City

Measured in Acre Feet (AF)

Olympic Museum Olympic Valley C 226,500 STAMPEDE 19,9661 CAPACITY: (800) 403-0206 | squawalpine.com CAPACITY: 29,840 PROSSER 11,061 Celebrate the home of the 1960 Winter Olympic INDEPENDENCE 1,3763

6,226.84

225

One of the lake’s famous natural sites, a volcanic plug on the West Shore. TART

Truckee

IN 2018:

200,000 AF

West Shore

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

6,227.43 |

175

Eagle Rock

ELEVATION :

RESERVOIR CAPACITY

150,000 AF

The Summit, just west of Truckee, holds the record for the United States’ snowiest April in 1880 when a storm dumped 4’ of snow in 24 hours.

Readings taken on Friday, December 6, 2019

125

Truckee

Once known as the “Grandest Resort in the World.” Grounds open year-round. South Tahoe

LAKE LEVEL Lake Tahoe Natural rim 6,223’

100,000 AF

Donner Summit

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 541-5227 | tahoeheritage.org

75

Drive through the neck of an old volcano.

Tallac Historic Site

50

East Shore

25

Cave Rock

South Lake Tahoe

(530) 541-5458 | laketahoemuseum.org

Old Jail Museum (530) 582-0893 | truckeehistory.org

Truckee

One of a few surviving 19th Century jails. TART

Historical sites and Commons Beach. TART

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OUT & ABOUT

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Out

&ABOUT

OUTDOORS & RECREATION, EVENTS & MORE

Wax on, wax off

T H E A RT O F WA X I N G D O W N H I L L S K I S S T O R Y B Y T I M H A U S E R M A N | P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y S TA R T H A U S

I

debuts Season 3 ABOVE: Collin Fletcher smoothing the wax over

“ Go with colder wax rather than warmer. You can never go wrong adding a few drops of blue in, even in the spring, to make the wax last longer.”

–Collin Fletcher

Before you apply the wax, use a hard, ceramic stone. Rub it flat against the edges to smooth off the big nicks. For more serious issues with your base or edges, bring it into a shop for a tune.

The first step in the waxing process is to use a warm, cleaning wax — yellow or warm universal wax. To apply the wax, use the iron to drip or crayon on the wax, then make several steady passes down the ski to apply the wax evenly. Scrape off the 6

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Afterglow podcast

the ski, then scraping it after it has cooled.

THE WAXING PROCESS

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AT Check out the Tahoe Downhill Ski Guide to see what’s new & exciting for the 2019-20 season. Click on Out & About: Winter.

spend a lot of time waxing crosscountry skis at Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area, but because I like to write about unfamiliar topics, I figured I should learn about waxing downhill skis. I reached out to a few experts and found that waxing downhill skis is similar to waxing cross-country skis with a few important distinctions — and that once you have the right equipment, waxing is something anyone can do.

First, I talked to Collin Fletcher, a waxing expert at Start Haus in Truckee.

He told me that if you want to wax your own skis, you to acquire the necessary tools: vises to hold the skis; a coarse stone to smooth out the nicks; a warm, base conditioner wax, a middle-range wax and a colder wax; a waxing iron; a horsehair, coarse brush and a smooth, nylon brush and a plastic scraper. You can also add painter’s tape. This will set you back a couple 100 bucks, although perhaps some of it is already sitting in your garage.

Fletcher recommends waxing every few times you ski, with a more detailed tune once or twice a season depending on how often you ski and in what terrain.

How much you wax will probably depend on how much time you have, how serious a skier you are and how much you want to spend on wax. It also depends on how many rocks you hit. Do you wait until the snow is deep or do you have to get out as soon as anything white has covered the ground?

Another option is to have a shop do a stone grind, which refreshes your base and creates a structure pattern. In the process, however, it removes a bit of that base, which is why you can only do a grind about two or three times during the life of the ski.

Tell us what’s happening.

Email editor@tahoethisweek.com.

BELOW: Collin Fletcher dripping on wax.

clean, use painter’s tape along the ski where the binding is to keep wax from mucking up the works.

Once you have invested in the equipment, this is a process that is almost free —the cost of wax is the only recurring cost — and should only take about 15 to 20 minutes. If you don’t have the time or don’t want to invest in the waxing gear, take it to your favorite local ski shop.

TUNING TIPS

cleaning wax while it is still warm. This removes the dirt and grime. Brush out any remaining wax. Always brush first with the coarse brush and then with the fine brush.

Next, wax with the wax of the day. Red wax is a middle-of-the-road wax for normal snow temperatures, while blue wax is for colder temperatures.

“Go colder rather than warmer,” said Fletcher. “You can never go wrong adding a few drops of blue in, even in the spring to make the wax last longer.”

Let the wax of the day cool off before scraping with a plastic scraper, followed by a good brushing and you are ready to go.

Fletcher says to keep the skis and bindings

For nearly 20 years, Rob Furtney has been involved in the ski industry, including working as a representative with a large demonstration fleet of skis. He passed on these key tips.

Tuning is a lot like cooking. The more you know, the more options you have to make the process quicker, easier and much better. Knowing the individual steps and what they add to the overall process is important.

Tuning will improve your ability to hold an edge on firm surfaces, as well as glide better in sticky snow.

Attend a tuning clinic at a local ski area.

Make tuning time fun. Good music and a tasty beverage can elevate the experience. Never underestimate the atmosphere that a proper she-shed or man-cave can bring. Make sure it stays clean and above all well ventilated.

Don’t waste time and money with crazy expensive waxes unless you are racing and looking for the win. There are many wax options these days including some that claim to be environmentally friendly. 

Season 3 of Afterglow, a mountain storytelling podcast, is underway for another deep dive into the minds, hearts and souls of eight world-renowned adventure athletes. Episode 1 with snowboarder Jeremy Jones is available now. Other episodes will include local ski guide Lel Tone, climbing photographer Jim Herrington, author Dierdre Wolownick Honnold, ski mountaineer and climate activist Caroline Gleich, 1970s Yosemite climber John Long and freeskier Glen Plake. Afterglow is the brainchild of Brendan Madigan, owner of Alpenglow Sports. | alpenglowsports.com

Mountains to Meadows debuts in 2020

Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship announces the expansion of the Original Gravel Enduro with Gravelation at Mountains to Meadows from Sept. 24 to 27, 2020. Registration opens on March 20.

The new Mountains to Meadows featuring Gravelation will celebrate the trails renaissance in Plumas County with new events. The headlining event, Gravelation, replaces Grinduro in Quincy and will feature the redesigned and challenging 2019 Grinduro course with four timed stages known as Hough and Puff, Pine Creek Plunge, Rouler’s Revenge and Smokechaser. There will also be a Friday night cyclocross race. live music, weekend camp out and other outdoor adventures. | quincymountainstomeadows.com

December 12-18, 2019

OUT & ABOUT

EVENTS CALENDAR

Courtesy Tahoe Cross Country

DECEMBER 12-19, 2019

Tahoe XC Celebrates 20 Years

Lake Tahoe in natural diamonds

Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area will celebrate its 20th anniversary by throwing a party like it’s 1999 on Dec. 15 from noon to 4 p.m. with music from The Blues Monsters, a raffle, 20th anniversary T-shirts, an obstacle course for the whole family and food available from MOGROG Unimog Food Truck.

Now is the time to dig deep into the bottom of your closet and pull out those neon tights that were the best and brightest 1980s and 90s Nordic fashion. The event is free, but reservations are requested. | tahoexc.org

The Future of Your Business: Succession Planning in Truckee/Tahoe Truckee Chamber Administrative Office | Dec. 12 A local panel of experts covers employee ownership, co-op models, business brokers and owner-financed sales. 8-10 a.m. $20 | chamber.truckee.com

GED Preparation Class TTUSD offices | Truckee | Dec. 12, 17, 19

TTUSD Adult Education offers free GED Preparation classes in Truckee. This class will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays in the morning at the TTUSD District Office. 9-10:30 a.m. Free | ttusd.org

Truckee Community Christmas

“Fresh Set of tracks” premieres

“Fresh Set of Tracks: A Snowmobiling Documentary” follows Duncan Lee, Cody McNolty and Simon Selberg as they travel the globe in search of untouched zones and the world’s most mind-blowing scenery.

It will premiere at Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema on Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. | freshsetoftracks.com, tickets tahoearthauscinema.com

Area venues | Truckee | Dec. 12, 13

Accepting clothing, toys and food donations at selected drop-off locations until Dec. 12.

Volunteer to help wrap and box donations on Dec. 12 and 13. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free | (530) 5872757, truckeecommunitychristmas.com

Conversation Cafe Incline Rec Center | Incline Village | Dec. 12, 19 Join this drop-in forum with Incline Senior Program. Meet others and share interesting views, have discussion on engaging topics.

10-11 a.m. $0-$5 | yourtahoeplace.com

Help with computers Kings Beach Library | Dec. 12, 19

Ongoing computer help. Call or stop by for the class schedule. 3-4 p.m. Free | (530) 5462021, placer.ca.gov

Holiday Snowshoe Tours Resort at Squaw Creek Olympic Valley | Dec. 12-19

Enjoy a guided snowshoe tour of Squaw Valley, while learning about the history of how the Olympic Valley came to be. Offered are sunset tours, full-moon tours, Christmas Day tours and private tours. 4 p.m.

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

7

FAMILY FUN

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Family FUN F A M I LY A D V E N T U R E S AT

indoor climbing gyms STORY & PHOTOS BY MICHELLE ALLEN

FOR THE KIDS DECEMBER 12-19, 2019

Birthing With Confidence

Incline Village Community Hospital | Dec. 12 6 p.m. | facebook.com

Holiday Family Movie Night

Duke Theatre | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 12 5 p.m. | ltcc.edu

IV Quad

Incline Village Library | Dec. 12, 19 3-5 p.m. | (775) 832-4130

Paws2Read

Incline Village Library | Dec. 12 4-5 p.m. | (775) 832-4130

S

ince moving to the Tahoe Sierra, my husband Luke and I have enjoyed many of the recreational opportunities available in the area. Our interests have mostly centered around snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, whitewater rafting and kayaking. But we never made climbing a part of our adventures. Now that we are raising our son Anikin in the heart of some of the best climbing terrain in the world, it seems only natural for him to try it out.

Being climbing novices, we needed some help introducing Anikin to the sport. Climbing gyms are a great resource for learning how to climb and there are several in the Tahoe region, including Blue Granite Climbing Gym in South Lake Tahoe. We took Anikin there for his first climbing experience.

SOS Outreach Enrollment Event

For Goodness Sake | Truckee | Dec. 12 5:30-7:30 p.m. | facebook.com

Take Photos at Santa’s Ski Shop

Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 12-19 5-9 p.m. | theshopsatheavenly.com

Mommy and Me

Barton Health | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 13, 17 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | (530) 539-6620,

Movie Night

Incline Village Library | Dec. 13 6 p.m. Free | (775) 832-4130

Nautical Storytime and Boat Building

Tahoe Maritime Museum | Tahoe City | Dec. 13 10:30-11:30 a.m. | tahoemaritimemuseum.org

Santa Trains

Western Pacific Railroad Museum Portola | Dec. 13, 14 5 p.m. | wplives.org

We watched Luke

Teen Scene

bag route after route

Kahle Community Center | Stateline | Dec. 13 6:30-9 p.m. | (775) 586-7271

with what seemed like

Brunch With Santa

little effort and amazing

The Chateau | Incline Village | Dec. 14

speed. Anikin said he

Santa’s Fly-In

8 a.m. | yourtahoeplace.com

looked like Spiderman

Truckee Tahoe Airport | Dec. 14

and I agreed.

Breakfast with Santa

10 a.m.-1 p.m. | chamber.truckee.com

Resort at Squaw Creek | Olympic Valley | Dec. 16, 17 8 a.m.

We were greeted by Ivan Belardo, a friendly climbing instructor, who set us up with day passes and rental equipment.

We were given climbing shoes; Luke and Anikin got harnesses for the auto-belay.

Set up above a route, a rope runs from the auto-belay device to where it is tethered to the floor with a locking carabiner. You unhook the carabiner and clip it into your harness. The auto-belay automatically takes in slack as you climb up, and then, when you reach the top, or fall, it gently lowers you to the ground.

After a quick and thorough safety talk and equipment demonstration, Belardo took us on a tour of the building explaining all the features as we went. Our first stop was the beginner auto-belay area. The walls are covered with various colored, hand and foot holds, which vary in difficulty. Anikin spent a short amount of time getting acquainted with his equipment and the wall, but his favorite part was the ride back to the bottom on the auto-belay. A short time later, his attention waivered and he wanted to move on to the boulder room.

The boulder room has a heavy padding on the floor and no ropes. The features include underclings, overhangs and lots of angles. Climbers ascend using the hand and foot holds, but to get down the climber must either climb down or jump 8

Baby Story Time

Incline Village Library | Dec. 17 11:30 a.m. | (775) 832-4130

Cafe De Padres down onto the padding. This room is tough and requires a good amount of strength and courage.

It is difficult to find a good starting point even on the easy routes; once you ascend part of the way up, the grip placements get more difficult. As I climbed some of the routes, I felt more comfortable — and more tired. Each time I ascended farther; I knew that at some point I had to figure out how to get down.

Next, we explored what I think was the coolest feature: The Pit. The first floor of this three-story climbing area was built underground. The walls start at the underground level and extend to the top of the building. There are a variety of route options that range in difficulty and include lots of overhangs, features and cracks.

Luke and Anikin played around for a little while on the easier routes until Anikin was ready to go. Before we left, I suggested that Luke climb on his own.

He clipped into his first rope and in less than a minute he was at the top. For 20 minutes we watched him bag route after

Sierra Community House | Kings Beach | Dec. 17 5-8 p.m. | (530) 546-0952

Preschool Story Time CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Young climbers build confidence and strength on the auto-belay routes at Blue Granite Gym; Plenty of fun for the parents too; The boulder room requires a good amount of strength and courage and is extremely fun.

route with what seemed like little effort and amazing speed. Anikin said he looked like Spiderman and I agreed.

Blue Granite Climbing Gym offers day passes, memberships and classes in climbing, yoga and fitness. There are clubs for children with six-week sessions from Jan. 13 to Feb. 18, from Feb. 24 to April 4 and from April 20 to May 30. | bluegraniteclimbing.com  Michelle Allen is a nearly 20-year resident of Tahoe and mother to a rambunctious 7-year-old and understands the challenges of keeping kids entertained.

She may be reached at michelle@tahoethisweek.com.

Kings Beach Library | Dec. 17

10:30-11 a.m. | (530) 546-2021

Teen Tuesdays

Incline Village Library | Dec. 17 4-5 p.m. | (775) 832-4130

Toddler Story Time

Incline Village Library | Dec. 17 11 a.m. | (775) 832-4130

Twosday Morning

Kahle Community Center | Stateline | Dec. 17

9:30-11 a.m. | douglascountynv.hosted.civiclive.com

Baby Bookworms

Truckee Library | Truckee | Dec. 18 10:30 a.m. | (530) 582-7846

RUFF, Read Up for Fun

Truckee Library | Dec. 18

4-5 p.m. | (530) 582-7846

Toddler Time TV Shows

Community Arts Center | Truckee | Dec. 18 10-11 a.m. | (530) 582-7200

December 12-18, 2019

OUT & ABOUT

EVENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

Silent Nights

Noel Nights

Merry Days & Holly Nights

Northstar California Resort | Truckee | Dec. 13

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Olympic Valley | Dec. 14-19

Enjoy ice skating and s’more roasting while watching Holiday classics 5 p.m. | (800) 466-6784

Take a festive journey through our Winter Wonderland featuring live music, ice skating, face painting, activities and Santa Claus himself! 5 p.m. | (800) 466-6784, facebook.com

Heavenly Village Tree Lighting

Tree Lighting & Holiday Toy Drive

Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 12-19

West Shore Cafe | Homewood | Dec. 13

Northstar California Resort | Truckee | Dec. 12, 19

Every night at 5 p.m. 5-11 p.m. Free | theshopsatheavenly.com

Bourbon, Beacons & Babes Alpenglow Sports | Tahoe City | Dec. 12

Tahoe Backcountry Women hosts this event to practice skills and toast to winter. 6:30-8:30 p.m. | facebook.com

Heavenly Holidays Family Festival Heavenly Mountain South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 12-19

A tree lighting, fireworks, live music, rail jams, train rides, special performances, ice sculptures, breakfast with Santa, ice skating performances starring Disney characters, a Ferris Wheel, virtual reality, and more. | (775) 586-7000, tahoesouth.com

Live music, Christmas caroling from the Tahoe Truckee School of Music and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the end of the pier.

Bring an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots. 5 p.m.

This month-long celebration of the holiday season offers 30 events in area venues. | northernlightstahoe.com

Winter Warmth and Wellness Area venues | Kings Beach | Dec. 12, 13, 16-19

Requested donation items include: personal care/hygiene items, household/laundry items and winter clothing (new/lightly used for all ages).

Volunteers are needed also. Free | (775) 2301066, winterwarmthandwellness@gmail.com

Magical Memories Resort at Squaw Creek Olympic Valley | Dec. 12-19

Magical Memories is back for the month of December with more family activities and nightlife. Check out the full calendar online. | destinationhotels.com

PSIA Nordic Winter Symposium Tahoe Cross Country | Tahoe City | Dec. 13-15 Offering a variety of skiing and teachingoriented topics designed as a Level I exam prep clinic. 9 a.m. | (800) 466-6784

Customer Appreciation Day Tahoe Donner Downhill | Truckee | Dec. 15

All day long everyone may ski for just $15.

Bring the whole family for a day packed full of fun. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. $15 | chamber.truckee.com

Santa Ski Day Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe | Reno | Dec. 14

Every ski and rider is dressed as Kris Kringle, elves, candy canes, shiny presents, Mrs. Claus and more. 7 a.m. | skirose.com

Snowball Festival Soda Springs Ski Resort Norden | Dec. 14, 15

Snowball Fest offers arts and crafts, facepainting, custom balloons, photo ops, holiday snow tubing, snow parkour, a bounce house and the world’s biggest cup of cocoa. 10 a.m.4 p.m. Free

Northern Lights Area venues | Incline Village | Dec. 12-19

Enjoy musical, dance and dramatic performances, a glow stick parade, Merry Wonderland and Ice Garden, enter contests, take sleigh rides with Santa. | (800) 403-0206, squawalpine.com

Christmas Bird Count Alpina Coffee Cafe | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 15

Meet at Alpina Coffee Cafe. Bird watch at Cove East as a group and then split into groups to bird at other areas. A pizza party will conclude the day. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Free | tinsweb.org

20th Birthday Party Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area Tahoe City | Dec. 15

Put on your lycra, don your best 90s plaid and get ready to party like it’s 1999. Boogie down with The Blues Monsters and fill up at MogRog Food Truck. 12-4 p.m. | tahoexc.org

Santa’s Workshop and Maker Market Truckee Roundhouse | Truckee | Dec. 14

Santa will be visiting from the North Pole workshop to work with his maker elves at the Truckee Roundhouse. Visit with Santa, shop for local art and gifts and make a custom elf hat.

11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free | truckeeroundhouse.org

Holiday in History

Business Plan Development Workshop Placer County Administrative Center Tahoe City | Dec. 19

We’ll show you how to write a business plan whether it’s to get organized, support a loan application or serve as a roadmap to advance your business. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Free | (530) 546-1945, placer.ca.gov

History Museum South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 14

Lake Tahoe Historical Society offers an open house with free tours, discounts in the museum shop, family activities, decorated fire engine, Santa and Mrs. Claus, cookies, hot chocolate and more. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free

Holiday Open House Truckee Maritime Museum Tahoe City | Dec. 14

Enjoy a day of family, festivities and fun.

Mrs. Claus will read a story and Santa will be around for photo taking, ornament making and cookie decorating. Light appetizers, beer and wine. 3-6:30 p.m. | tahoemaritimemuseum.org

Heavenly Holidays Rail Jams Friday Night Snow Tubing Tahoe Donner Snowplay | Truckee | Dec. 13

Bundle up to tube and sled under the lights.

1:30-6:30 p.m. | tahoedonner.com

Heavenly Mountain South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 14

The rail jam will feature both professional and amateur riders, as well as kids. 4 p.m. | (775) 586-7000

Virtual Reality Studio Incline Village Library | Dec. 13

Experience the canals of Venice, ride a roller coaster or walk with dinosaurs on the second and fourth Fridays. 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free | (775) 832-4130, libraryaware.com

Cross Country Season Passholder Appreciation Party + Ski Swap Alder Creek Adventure Center Truckee | Dec. 14

Catch up with your ski buddies and meet new ski-loving friends. 6-8 p.m. | tahoedonner.com

Festive Fridays Downtown Truckee | Dec. 13

The fifth annual Festive Fridays offers longer shopping hours, free parking from 4 to 6 p.m., a sip & shop and scavenger hunt. 4-7 p.m. Free

Ski Season Kickoff Party & Season Passholder Appreciation Diamond Peak Ski Resort Incline Village | Dec. 13

Celebrate Diamond Peak’s 2019-20 season with music, food, prizes and more. All ages are invited to for a fun night at the Diamond Peak Base Lodge. 4:30-7:30 p.m. | (775) 832-1177, facebook.com

Tailgate Talk: Scott Rokis Alpenglow Sports | Tahoe City | Dec. 14

Action photographer Scott Rokis wraps up the Tailgate Talks of 2019. He will talk about his life on the road, chasing adventure and the perfect shot. 7-10 p.m. Free | facebook.com

Toys 4 Tots Discount Day Sugar Bowl | Norden | Dec. 14

For 50% off ticket window rates bring a donation of a new, unwrapped toy $15 or more value. Donations can be dropped at any ticket or rental location. | facebook.com

Season passes on sale Includes over $4000 in perks

Adult (ages 24-64)

$489 Youth (ages 13-23)

$269

Child (ages 7-12) & Senior (ages 65-69)

$209

Super Senior (ages 70-79)

$179

Purchase online or at Guest Services: DiamondPeak.com 9

FUN & GAMES

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Horoscopes

FIRE

EARTH

AIR

WATER

Puzzles

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

Sagittarius (Nov 21-Dec 21)

Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)

Jupiter is your ruling planet and with it in Capricorn, you will become more sober and serious regarding practical affairs. Your health is among these.

This could manifest as establishing a new health routine. Yet, it could also be directed to getting more involved, perhaps with a new business venture. Either way, your ambitions are rising, quickly now.

That cycle of deep transformation that has been underway, has entered into a whole new phase.

This will accelerate the flow and like a river with more slope and narrows, may produce rapids. Positively, you will rise to meet the challenge and this could even result in a rejuvenation process. Still, you have work to do.

Capricorn (Dec 21-Jan 19)

Jupiter in your sign is an indication that you are ready to broaden your overall scope of expression.

This will synchronize with increasing your exposure and network. Taking new approaches and exploring new possibilities is featured. However, you do it, you want more. The main thing to be aware of is that this expansion could affect your waistline too.

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22)

You have entered an expansive cycle. This will lead you to push harder to get results. These are linked to relationships in general, but to your public and professional life more specifically. In simple terms, you want more power and authority. If circumstances or other key players are not supportive of this objective, you could get pushy, ever aggressive. Exercise grace despite the pressure.

Aquarius (Jan 19-Feb 19)

You have entered a time when circumstances will push you to draw deeper from both your reserves of talent and of faith. Positively, you could realize some of your dreams with this influence and become better at what you do too. Necessity will play a role and so too will the prospect of opportunity and progress.

Leo (Jul 22-Aug 23)

You are readier than you have been for a while to get down to business. You will push harder for practical results than previously. Your daily routine stands to become more disciplined. At worst, you will not act on the cues to be more organized and focused and this could cascade into worry and anxiety. Set clear goals and get to work.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)

An increase in your outreach and scope of contact with new friends, groups, and associations, in general, has come forward as a whole new theme in your life. Some of these may well be with family members or old friends and/or their friends. Keeping it warm is featured. Yet, it could also manifest as opening up to whole new professional networks, as well.

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)

Your power potential has been rising steadily.

A creative boost of energy and focus is now coming to the fore. Ironically, tending to more than one project might prove better than not. However, you will still have to safeguard from getting scattered with your focus. If altruism has not spurred you into action this year, ambition will now.

Your mood and attitude have become much soberer and your attitude serious, as if suddenly. This synchronicity is due to Jupiter entering Capricorn.

Positively, inspirations for adventure will be directed towards productivity. You could get a lot done with this influence. You will also feel included to take a few risks to expand your position, albeit calculated ones.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 21)

Your philosophy of life tends to be more grounded and tangible than that of many others. Less talk and more action with an emphasis on results speak to you the loudest. This theme will prove extra strong with Jupiter Capricorn. The twist is that you will take revolutionary action or at least measures that can be described as original to fulfill your ambitions.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22)

Libra (Sep 22-Oct 22)

Recent turns and events have produced circumstances that are helping you feel more confident.

Yet, you will still want to be that much more organized to meet the inevitable challenge that will come with wanting to act on this boost. This is true especially close to home. Perhaps creating a home office or studio or lab space will satisfy your need for order.

Scorpio (Oct 22-Nov 21)

If you have wanted to be busier, then you are in luck. Jupiter in Capricorn will serve to increase the flow. The biggest challenge stands to be your ability to focus on one thing at a time. This will activate your creative leadership. As well, circumstances will emerge to support you to be more imaginative. Focus on creating beautiful works for the best results.

CryptoQuip

In famously playing a cross-dressing soap opera actor, Dustin Hoffman had a Tootsie role.

Hocus Focus differences: 1. Boy’s pants are black, 2. Ball near boy’s foot is missing, 3. Mom’s hat is gone, 4. Drapes are wider, 5. Girl’s bow is different, 6. There’s more trash on floor.

10

December 12-18, 2019

FEATURE

SIERRA STORIES

BY MARK McLAUGHLIN

L ate Start in 1911 But Record Snow A n y w a y Monster storm in January 1911. | Courtesy Sparks Tribune

T

he Central Sierra Snow Laboratory near Donner Pass averages 48 inches of snow in November — just 12 percent of the median annual snowfall for that location — since Southern Pacific Railroad began taking measurements in 1879. It’s not uncommon for terrain to be limited by a lack of natural cover this early in the season, making snowmaking systems a critical tool at this time of year. Sierra winters have been trending drier early in the season with more of the storm action coming later. A significant portion of winter precipitation in this region is delivered by a half-dozen or so atmospheric rivers that wallop us with intense rain and snow.

In November and December 1910, mountain loggers were hoping for early rain to increase the seasonally low river flow for floating timber to Truckee’s sawmills. Workers in the ice-harvesting industry wished for extended cold temperatures to freeze their ponds for cutting.

And residents and downtown businesses in Truckee were looking for enough snow to bring tourists and money to their annual Ice Carnival. Erratic, early-season weather conditions pleased no one. It’s a truism that the most predictable aspect of California’s climate is its unpredictability.

The winter of 1910-11 was also a late starter with little to no snow accumulation on Donner Pass into January. But the storm door blew open on Jan. 11 with a potent atmospheric river event. Heavy snow pummeled downtown Truckee, sometimes at the rate of 12 inches per hour.

The howling winds and incessant snowfall shut down lumberjack operations, cut off the commercial ice harvest and brought Truckee’s popular winter carnival to an abrupt halt.

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

The snow overwhelmed Southern Pacific Railroad crews and paralyzed train traffic.

Dangerous avalanches between Boca and Donner Pass forced the railroad to hold all westbound trains in Reno, Nev. One passenger train was stranded near the summit for 30 hours in drifts 20 feet deep. Stalled trains littered the tracks for miles and 300 feet of wooden snow shed near Truckee collapsed under the weight of snow.

It’s a truism that the most predictable aspect of California’s climate is its unpredictability.

Communication between California and Nevada was lost when the storm knocked out all telegraph and telephone lines over the Sierra. Finally, the six-day blizzard subsided, leaving snow 7 feet deep in Truckee with all roads blocked and schools closed. The few trains pushing through the snow-choked mountains were running up to 50 hours late. It had been the longest and most intense storm since 1890, a Top 10 winter for snowfall.

For three days skies were clear and Truckee residents and railroad crews had a chance to dig out, but the break was short-lived. For the next two weeks, Pacific cold fronts charged onshore, increasing the snowpack to 18 feet on Donner Summit.

On Jan. 30, an avalanche at the Prosser Creek ice plant buried six men who were shoveling a roof. Co-workers began digging immediately, but three men were killed in the slide.

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AT

TheTahoeWeekly.com Enjoy more of Mark McLaughlin’s Sierra Stories. Click on Explore Tahoe: History.

The snowfall total for 1911 on Donner Summit was 563 inches. That winter set benchmark weather records that have yet to be matched or exceeded. At Tamarack, 767 inches (64 feet) of snow fell that year with more than half falling in January alone. The current United States monthly snowfall record of 390 inches (32.5 feet) was set there during the January barrage.

The greatest snow depth ever measured in California, 451 inches (37.6 feet), was recorded on March 11, 1911, also at Tamarack, located in Alpine County at 8,000 feet.

On March 13, the snowpack at Spooner Summit measured 22.5 feet deep, the all-time record snow depth for Nevada.

Remember, a late start is no barrier to a big winter.  Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin is a nationally published author and professional speaker. His award-winning books are available at local stores or at thestormking.com. You may reach him at mark@ thestormking.com. Check out his blog at tahoenuggets.com or read more at TheTahoeWeekly.com.

Click on History under the Explore Tahoe tab.

Our Mission: We connect and empower our community through family strengthening, crisis intervention, hunger relief, and legal services.

Hunger Relief Program (formerly Project MANA):

775-298-4161

WEEKLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS AND TIMES:

MONDAYS TAHOE CITY | 3:00pm to 3:30pm Fairway Community Center, 330 Fairway Drive

(or by appointment, closed all holidays)

TUESDAYS TRUCKEE | 3:30pm to 4pm Sierra Senior Center, 10040 Estates Drive

TahoeScienceCenter.org

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

(775) 881-7566

A relatively dry February brought relief from the onslaught with only 53 inches snow recorded on Donner Pass that month. But harsh conditions continued to take a toll. In Plumas County, a Western Pacific passenger train carrying 60 people was stranded for nearly a week. Crews tried to dig out the train, but an avalanche killed one workmen and convinced railroad officials to abandon the site. Anxious passengers had to struggle over the deadly snow slide and then board maintenance handcars for a ride to safety.

Despite sobering headlines, Truckee continued to promote its winter carnival activities. California and Nevada newspapers carried advertisements for weekend excursions to Truckee, where participants could enjoy ice skating, sledding, tobogganing, skiing, evening dances and organized snowball fights. Sled-dog races were popular and rigs could be hired to carry tourists to Tahoe City for spectacular views of the lake. Southern Pacific had spent $500,000 beefing up its snow removal equipment, so despite occasional delays, passengers could be fairly certain of reaching their destination safely — if not always on time.

In early March, a moisture-packed storm tore into the region. A prominent Sacramento weather forecaster proclaimed it the worst in 40 years. Whipped by gale-force winds, heavy snow pounded the Sierra into submission. All train traffic was suspended. In Truckee, the snow became so deep that a tunnel was dug from the train depot across the main street to the businesses of Commercial Row. Donner Summit’s snowpack hit the unprecedented depth of 307 inches (25.5 feet).

As the snowpack neared its zenith at Lake Tahoe, it seemed the world came crashing down. Mr. Melver and his son were contracted mail carriers on the route between Lake Tahoe and Truckee throughout the winter. Skiing along the relatively safe ridge high above the Truckee River canyon, the men were suddenly caught in a giant avalanche and swept down toward the river. Cushioned by the snow, the men tumbled down 1,000 vertical feet; fortunately both survived this ride of a lifetime.

Nature was less forgiving on March 9, when after nine days of continuous snowfall, a series of powerful avalanches crashed down on the mining towns of Jordan and Lundy in the eastern Sierra near Mono Lake. The bombardment lasted two hours and killed 17 men and women, including a hermit who had lived on the mountain for 30 years. Three days later, rescuers miraculously discovered a woman who had been buried for 60 hours under snow and debris. Mrs. R.H. Mason, wife of the chief engineer of the wiped out Hydro Electric Power Co., was found in her bed, practically unhurt and thankful to be alive.

THURSDAYS INCLINE VILLAGE | 3:00pm to 3:30pm St. Patrick’s Church 341 Village Blvd. sierracommunityhouse.org

BLUE SAPPHIRE!!

Boatworks Mall, Tahoe City | 530.583.5709

11

THE ARTS

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Arts

& CULTURE

CREATIVE AWARENESS

Millennium

Camera installed

Kevin Jamieson

Ryland West

C R E AT I N G I N TA H O E ’ S T I N I E S T A R T G A L L E R Y S T O R Y B Y K AY L A A N D E R S O N

S

tepping into Mail Bag & More, a mailing and shipping service in South Lake, one would not expect to find Tahoe’s tiniest gallery. The owner of both, the mailing service and the art gallery, is Kevin Jamieson. His quirky characters and creative doodles adorn the walls. There are also gifts for purchase, like you would find in an art studio.

Originally from Los Angeles, Jamieson has been doodling since he was 10 years old.

He moved to England at age 18 to pursue a drumming career. While there, Jamieson studied classic piano theory and music at one college and art at another. His primary goal at the time was to join a rock ‘n’ roll band, but he soon became disillusioned.

The first of four Millennium Cameras as part of the Tahoe Timescape project from artist Jonathon Keats has been installed on the East Shore Trail as part of a project to photograph the changing landscape of Tahoe over the next 1,000 years.

Keats’ pinhole cameras will capture the changing environment for 1,000 years. Each camera is made of copper and is 2.75 inches long and 2.25 inches in diameter. Inside the camera is a sheet of 24-karat gold pierced by a small hole. As light passes through this small hole, it causes a reaction with the rosecolored pigment inside the camera, which causes the color to fade where the light is the brightest. This will slowly imprint an image on the pigment over the next 1,000 years. Read more about the project in Tahoe Weekly’s interview with Keats at TheTahoeWeekly.com.

“ I call [art] my ‘artsycodone.’ It keeps me calm, relaxes me.

The first camera was installed by Tahoe Public Art and is located on the first vista by the Sand Harbor boat launch area and a plaque has been installed with information on the project. | tahoepublicart.com

It’s with me night and day. I sit down with my inks and go at it.”

“Sierra Nevada Burning Revenge”

–Kevin Jamieson “I realized there were 100 other guys like me 10 feet away. There are a lot of talented musicians there,” he said.

Jamieson came back to the United States and became a roadie. “I hauled equipment for Ozzy [Osbourne] among others. It was a good way to stay with creative people,” he says.

He eventually got into hairdressing and truck driving. Then, 30 years ago after someone crashed into his big rig in the congested city of Los Angeles, he decided to sell his trucking company and move to the Tahoe Sierra with his wife Kym. “I came up here to be around the beautiful landscape and enjoy different seasons,” he said.

TA H O E A RT WA L K D E C . 1 4 | 4 - 8 P. M .

South Lake Tahoe galleries Tahoe Art Walk on Facebook

In Tahoe, he continued to drive trucks and help out on rock tours while making new Tahoe friends. One of them was the owner of Mail Bag & More. Jamieson ended up taking over the business when his friend passed away.

12

released

Jamieson’s interest in art blossomed again three years ago, when he bought some cardstock and ink on a whim and started doodling again.

“Stuff started happening, I came up with my most beautiful creative work,” he said.

The random characters translated to paper are eccentric and colorful and inspire happiness. His friends encouraged him to frame his work.

Mail Bag & More has great lighting and a stark white motif that’s perfect for displaying art. Jamieson has 50 to 100 prints available to view and purchase whenever the shipping store is open.

“You can buy gifts you won’t find anywhere else here,” he said.

He is right. For me, it is impossible not to smile when sipping out of a Kevin Jamieson “Walkies” coffee mug.

He is indeed a busy guy, running a mailing and shipping business, an art gallery and a notary service. With everything going on, though, he admits that his favorite place in which to create art is at work in Mail Bag & More.

“We’re all into healing, artwork, massage, hairdressing — there’s lots of business

Kevin Jamieson art | courtesy Kevin Jamieson; Jamieson in his studio | Kayla Anderson

going on here. My office is my hangout, my studio. I’m most comfortable here,” he said.

Among his fellow businessowners where he has access to music, munchies and all-around good vibes, the characters he conjures up just fall out of him and onto the paper. He suffered a bad injury a while back and was on pain medication. A friend asked him if the medication sparked his imagination. Jamieson was intrigued so he stopped taking the meds; happily, he found that his unique characters still came to him naturally.

“I call [art] my ‘artsycodone.’ It keeps me calm, relaxes me,” he said. “It’s with me night and day. I sit down with my inks and go at it.”

Mail Bag & More is at 2301 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Suite 14, in South Lake Tahoe. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m., weather permitting. Jamieson is involved with Tahoe Art League and participates in the self-guided Tahoe Art Walk with Scott Forrest Fine Art Studio on the second Saturday of every month. | @thejamiesongallery 

“Sierra Nevada Burning Revenge” the newly released Mountain Girl Mystery novel from long-time local Jennifer Quashnick is on sale for the holidays. Follow the adventures of Rachel Winters and her dogs, Bella and Avi, as they become embroiled in murder, mystery and romance in the Sierra Nevada. This latest is the fourth book in the novel series.

Quashnick will have books on sale at these events: South Lake Tahoe Library Special Winter Anthology of Authors on Dec. 14; South Lake Tahoe Friends of the Library Book Reading on Jan. 28, 2020; and Alpine County Library in Markleeville Book Reading on Feb. 8. | mountaingirlmysteries.com

“No Forced Entry” released

Sierra Nevada local Robert Max recently released his new book “No Forced Entry: Be Careful Who You Let In.” The murder mystery is about Robert Bennet, who learns the hard way that leaving his life in New York City behind was more difficult than he ever imagined. Now living in the Sierra Nevada, he discovers is he is suspect in a double murder that happened far away more than a year ago. | robertmaxnovels.com

December 12-18, 2019

Arts

THE

THE ARTS

“Outboards: In-Style”

Fiber Art Friday

Tahoe Maritime Museum | Tahoe City | Dec. 12-Jan. 23

South Lake Tahoe Library | Fridays 1 p.m. | engagedpatrons.org

10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | tahoemaritimemuseum.org

NeoRealismo: The New Image Public Tour Truckee Roundhouse | Thursdays

arte italia | Reno | Dec. 13-29

12-5 p.m. | (775) 333-0313, arteitaliausa.org

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

Anthology of Authors Regine Bandel art exhibit City Hall Lobby | South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 12-March 31 Courtesy Eadington Collectors Gallery

8 a.m.-5 p.m. | cityofslt.regroup.com

“Something Old, Something New” Wilbur D. May Center | Reno | Dec. 12-14 10 a.m. | sierrawatercolorsociety.com

Tahoe Art League “Winter Show” Tahoe Art League Gallery South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 12-Feb. 24

11 a.m.-4 p.m. | (530) 544-2313, facebook.com

SOUTH SHORE HOSTS

ART WALK

Brea Ropelis art exhibit Sierra Nevada College | Incline Village | Dec. 12-15

“Without You I Am Nothing”

Tahoe Art Walk invites the community to explore the venues that showcase local art.

Participants will enjoy various perks such as wine and appetizers, discounts on purchases, artist talks and demonstrations, pop-up galleries and extended business hours.

Nevada State Museum Carson City | Dec. 12-Feb. 22

Nevada Museum of Art | Reno | Dec. 12-15

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

10 a.m.-6 p.m. | (775) 329-3333, nevadaart.org

Work Ethic in American Art: E. L. Wiegand City of Reno Employee Art Show City Hall Metro Gallery | Reno | Dec. 12-27

5-7 p.m. | facebook.com

Knit and Sip Alibi Ale Works | Truckee | Dec. 15

Nevada Museum of Art | Reno | Dec. 12-April 19 10 a.m. | (775) 329-3333, nevadaart.org

North Tahoe Arts Tahoe City | Dec. 17

Open Studio South Lake Tahoe Senior Center | Tuesdays 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | (530) 544-2313

Wine and Wool Wednesdays Glasses Wine Bar Incline Village | Dec. 18

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

8 a.m.-5 p.m. | (775) 334-6264, reno.gov

David Maisel: “Proving Ground” Nevada Museum of Art | Reno | Dec. 12-Jan. 12 10 a.m. | (775) 329-3333, nevadaart.org

Nevada Museum of Art | Reno | Dec. 12-Feb. 16

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10 a.m. | (775) 329-3333, nevadaart.org

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

Fall Pop Up Shop Series South of North Brewing Company South Lake Tahoe | Dec. 12 5 p.m. | facebook.com

“Galen Brown: Sine Cere” Nevada Museum of Art | Reno | Dec. 12-Jan. 19 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | (775) 329-3333, nevadaart.org

A Month Full Of Fun Holiday Activities For The Whole Family!

“Going Places: Sailing By Stars” Tahoe Maritime Museum Tahoe City | Dec. 12-Jan. 23

10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | (530) 583-9283, tahoemaritimemuseum.org

Holly Arts North Tahoe Arts | Tahoe City | Dec. 12-31 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | northtahoearts.com

America’s Art, Nevada’s Choice: Community Selections from the Smithsonian American Art Museum

“King of Beasts” A Study of the African Lion by John Banovich

Nevada Museum of Art | Reno | Dec. 12-April 19

Nevada Museum of Art | Reno | Dec. 12-Feb. 15

Andrea Zittel

Linda Christensen and Linda Fleming

Nevada Museum of Art | Reno | Dec. 12-Dec. 29

Stremmel Gallery | Reno | Dec. 12-14

Andy Skaff art exhibit

Nolan Preece exhibit

Wolfdale’s | Tahoe City | Dec. 12-Jan. 31

The Lilley Museum of Art | Reno | Dec. 12-20

5 p.m. | wolfdales.com

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | nvculture.org

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | nvculture.org

Decorative Arms

10 a.m.-6 p.m. | (775) 329-3333, nevadaart.org

Tahoe Style | Olympic Valley | Dec. 14

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

Chinese Woodcutters in the Great Basin

10 a.m. | (775) 329-3333, nevadaart.org

“Tales from Two Valleys” signing

Gathering of Artists

10 a.m.-6 p.m. | (775) 832-4130

Nevada State Museum | Carson City | Dec. 12-Feb. 22

Banning also writes the gambling history and true crime blog “It Really Happened!” at author.doresabanning.com. | doresabanning.com

kirkwood.com

Incline Village Library | Dec. 12-31

Under One Sky

“This is the story of a gambling business’ journey from concept to stability during the 1960s and 70s, a time when the industry was mob infiltrated, often volatile, theft and cheating prone, and unpredictably policed,” says Banning of her new book.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort | Dec. 14

8 a.m.-5 p.m. | (775) 831-1314, sierranevada.edu

South Lake Tahoe Senior Center Tuesdays & Thursdays

Reno, Nev.-based author Doresa Banning has released the nonfiction book “A Bold Gamble at Lake Tahoe: Crime and Corruption in a Casino’s Evolution” about the former Incline Village Casino that was stood on the site of the present-day Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe.

Kirkwood Deep Riders Awards Ceremony

6 p.m. | (530) 386-2700, ateliertruckee.com

Ceramics Class

Book on Incline Village Casino released

facebook.com

Tia Rancourt and Joan Davis art exhibits

Tahoe Art Walk’s free self-guided tour of local art takes place in South Lake Tahoe on the second Saturday every month. This month’s walk is on Dec. 14 from 4 to 8 p.m.

Pick up a brochure at the trailhead at Scott Forrest Fine Art Studio or download the online map. The next Tahoe Art Walk is on Jan. 11, 2020, from 2 to 6 p.m. | maketahoe.com

South Lake Tahoe Library | Dec. 14

For a full list of events, use your phone camera and scan the code!

10 a.m.-6 p.m. | (775) 329-3333, nevadaart.org

| (775) 786-0558, stremmelgallery.com

12-8 p.m. | (775) 784-4278, unr.edu

400 Squaw Creek Road, Olympic Valley, CA | 800.404.8006 13

FEATURE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

Shop Local F O R

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NORTH TAHOE ARTS PRESENTS

Holly Arts Holiday Art Fair November 12-December 31

Local Art Fine Art Holiday Gifts

Starts Nov. 30 | Go Local for the Holidays Passport | South Shore Dec. 13 & 20 | Festive Fridays | Downtown Truckee

Join us for Art Classes | Gallery Exhibits Book your Private Parties & Special Events with us www.northtahoearts.com/exhibits

Boatworks Mall, Tahoe City | 530.583.5709

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Holiday gifts to please everyone

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ABOVE THE BLUE AGAVE

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Twinkling lights, a dusting of snow Magic in the air, our mountain town aglow.

Tahoe City in its finest; a beautiful fairy-tale show.

Show your support, make a donation and watch the lighting grow!

Open Daily 10:30am-6pm Located in Downtown Truckee 10091 Donner Pass Road

Donate to the Downtown Lighting Program today! visittahoecity.org/tahoe-city-holiday-lights

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live music | holiday celebrations | culinary delights | arts & culture | the great outdoors | festivals & frivolity

The Golden Dragon Acrobats perform at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. | Courtesy Golden Dragon Acrobats

T A H O E

WINTER EDITION | tahoe, truckee, northern nevada, the lost sierra & beyond

15

MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS | TheTahoeWeekly.com

WINTERWONDERGRASS | MARCH 27-29

live music Classix Series: Landscapes & Legends of Mexico Feb. 22 & 23 | Pioneer Center | Reno, Nev. Partnering with the acclaimed symphonic photo-choreography company Westwater Arts and Nicholas Bardonnay, the Reno Phil brings you “Magico,” a collaboration of live symphonic music with photography that weaves together a vibrant tapestry of the landscapes and people of Mexico. | renophil.com

Reno Wind Symphony Feb. 23 | Nightingale Concert hall | Reno, Nev. Reno Wind Symphony presents “Variations Around the World.” | renowindsymphony.com

University Symphony Orchestra Honors Concert Courtesy WinterWonderGrass

Feb. 25 | Nightingale Concert Hall | Reno, Nev. Every year students at the University of Nevada, Reno compete for the honor of playing a solo with the University Symphony Orchestra. This concert is a showcase for the best young musicians that UNR has to offer. | events.unr.edu

Martha Redbone Small Ensemble Concert Reno Wind Symphony offers a free concert at the Reno/Tahoe Airport at noon. | renowindsymphony.com

Redbone is a compelling voice in American roots music. “Bone Hill: The Concert” exposes a never-before-told piece of American history in this dramatic musical by Redbone and long-time collaborator Aaron Whitby. | events.unr.edu

Nevada Chamber Music Festival

ALTUS Music Festival

Dec. 26-Jan. 1 | Area venues | Reno, Nev.

March 18-21 | South Shore

The 16 annual festival features unique concerts showcasing world-class musicians and the best in classical music, culminating with a New Year’s Day celebration, presented by the Reno Chamber Orchestra. | renochamberorchestra.org

Enjoy four days of music, snow sports and entertainment during Spring Break.

Dec. 20 | Airport Gardens | Reno, Nev.

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MTV SnowGlobe Music Festival Dec. 29-31 | SLT Community Playfields & Bijou Park | South Lake Tahoe This is the only festival in Tahoe that gets everyone outdoors moving and dancing to some of the hottest DJs to hit the lake culminating with fireworks to ring in the New Year. | snowglobemusicfestival.com

The BRRR-Roque Masters Jan. 4-12 | Area venues TOCCATA Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will begin the 2020 Season with Baroque chamber music masterpieces from Handel, Bach and Vivaldi, featuring soloists from within the orchestra. | toccatatahoe.org

Celtic Music Series Jan. 18-May 16, 2020 | Brewery Arts Center | Carson City Nov. The Celtic Music Series presents local, regional and internationally recognized traditional, acoustic Celtic music artists every third Saturday of the month from October through May, except December. | breweryarts.org

Classix Series: Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto Jan. 18 & 19 | Pioneer Center | Reno, Nev. Violinist Esther Yoo joins the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s beloved Violin Concerto, Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4 and Sarah Kirkland Snider’s “Something for the Dark.” | renophil.com

Reno Chamber Orchestra Jan. 25 & 26 | Nightingale Concert Hall | Reno, Nev. This January concert will be led by music director finalist Nicholas Carthy.

After a light-hearted Schumann opening, soprano Hope Briggs joins the RCO for a Beethoven concert aria. | renochamberorchestra.org

Apex Concert: Piano and Winds Feb. 20 | University Arts Building | Reno, Nev. Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will perform compositions

by Mozart, Barber, Ligeti, Francaix and Reicha. | unrmusic.org 16

Feb. 27 | Nightingale Concert Hall | Reno, Nev.

Steel Betty March 12 | Nightingale Concert Hall | Reno, Nev. This authentic Austin, Texas band proves Austin is still the heart and soul of the American music scene. Their shows honor the original musical pioneers of bluegrass, folk, country and conjunto music. | events.unr.edu

Reno Chamber Orchestra March 14 & 15 | Nightingale Concert Hall | Reno, Nev. Maestro Kuo will take listeners on a journey back in time, from a recent classical composition to a traditional Beethoven symphony. | renochamberorchestra.org

Classix Series: Scheherazade March 21 & 22 | Pioneer Center | Reno, Nev. Andrew von Oeyen will bring his artistic flair and piano technique to the Reno Phil for Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1. The concert also features Rimsky-Korsakov’s most popular work, Scheherazade. | renophil.com

Apex Concerts: Flautissimo March 26 | University Arts Building | Reno, Nev. Flutist Demarre McGill, violinist Angelo Xiang Yu, cellist Dmitri Atapine and pianist Hyeyeon Park will perform compositions by Ravel, Villa-Lobos, Nino Roto, Handel-Halvorsen and Kapustin. | unrmusic.org

WinterWonderGrass March 27-29 | Squaw Valley Ski Resort | Olympic Valley WinterWonderGrass brings the best of bluegrass, acoustic roots and Americana music, along with California craft beers, wines, spirits and local food in a winter wonderland. | winterwondergrass.com

Reno Chamber Orchestra April 4 & 5 | Nightingale Concert Hall | Reno, Nev. Dynamic young conductor Conner Gray Covington brings the season to a close with a concert juxtaposing new works with traditional classics. | renochamberorchestra.org

5,000 YEARS OF CIVILIZATION REBORN

“It’s like being in heaven!”

—Paul Behrends, consultant

T

“It is breathtaking! I am walking away deeply inspired and profoundly moved!”

hroughout history artists in almost every culture looked to the divine for inspiration.

Art was meant to uplift, bringing joy to those who created and experienced it. Today, Shen Yun Performing Arts pays homage to this tradition, weaving the wisdom and virtues of Chinese civilization with ancient legends and modern heroic tales on stage.

—Rita Cosby, Emmy Award-winning journalist

“The energy, the precision, the beauty...

I’m just overwhelmed. It’s so beautiful!”

—John Anthony, retired judge

SHEN YUN brings to its audiences a whole new experience, revealing a China untainted by communist rule. Be prepared to traverse time and space and be mesmerized by the action, humor, and beauty of five millennia. It’s an experience that will uplift your spirit and touch your heart.

“ I’ve reviewed about 4,000 shows.

None can compare to what I saw tonight.”

—Richard Connema, Broadway critic

FEB 28–MAR 1, 2020

FRI FEB 28 SAT FEB 29 SUN MAR 1

7:30PM 2:00PM 2:00PM

Reserve Tickets Today!

ShenYun.com/CA 888.633.6999

Box Office: Mon–Fri 11:00am–6:00pm Phone: 775-686-6600 Tickets: 775-434-1050

100 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89501

Other Cities Starting Dec 20, 2019

San Francisco San Jose Berkeley Folsom Modesto Fresno Reno

MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS | TheTahoeWeekly.com

Dana Nöllsch | Brüka Theatre

“SON OF A … BUTTCRACKER 9” | UNTIL DEC. 21

holiday celebrations

Candy Cane Express

The Polar Express

Until Dec. 15 | V&T Depot | Virginia City, Nev.

Until Dec. 24 | Eastgate Depot | Carson City, Nev.

Begin the holiday season aboard vintage, heated coaches traveling along the historic Virginia & Truckee route to Gold Hill. Savor hot chocolate, candy canes and cookies during this magical trip. | virginiatruckee.com

The one-hour-long train rides are great family fun. Kids can even wear pajamas. The popular holiday movie is brought to life with characters, including Santa. A souvenir silver sleigh bell is offered as remembrance of a journey to the North Pole. | vtrailway.com

Noel Nights Until Dec. 20 | Village at Northstar | Northstar

Silent Nights

Kick off the holiday season with Noel Nights every Friday night from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be carolers, sleigh rides, face painting, holiday crafts and pictures with Santa. | northstarcalifornia.com

Enjoy ice skating and s’more roasting while watching Holiday classics from 5 to 6:45 p.m. on Thursdays. | northstarcalifornia.com

Until Dec. 26 | Village at Northstar

“Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge”

Santa’s Christmas Wonderland

Until Dec. 21 | Good Luck Macbeth | Reno, Nev.

Until Dec. 29 | Eldorado Resort Casino | Reno, Nev.

The premise of the parody is the question: What if Dickens’ Mrs. Cratchit wasn’t so goody-goody, but instead was an angry, stressed-out, modern-day, American woman who wanted out of this harsh London 1840s life? The main character is the hard-drinking, suicidal Gladys Cratchit. | goodluckmacbeth.org

Santa’s Christmas Wonderland features glittering costumes, sensational sets, a dazzling cast and the highest kicking chorus dancers this side of the North Pole. | eldoradoreno.com

“Son of a … Buttcracker 9” Until Dec. 21 | Brüka Theatre | Reno, Nev. In this ridiculous parody of “The Nutcracker,” an outlandish underbelly of Mary Shelly-isms, neologisms and Brüka-isms abound. | bruka.org

WinterFest Reno Until Dec. 24 | Greater Nevada Field | Reno, Nev. Adults and children can ride the Holiday Express Train, a custom narrated journey around the inside of the stadium, taking you on a mission from Reno to the North Pole to deliver Santa’s Naughty and Nice list, take pictures with Santa and enjoy ice skating. | WinterFest Reno on Facebook

Candy Cane Lane Until Dec. 31 | Carson Valley Inn | Carson Valley, Nev. Drive down Candy Cane Lane to see thousands of Christmas lights and a variety of scenes depicting traditional characters and images. Accompanying music can be heard by tuning the car radio to 89.9 FM. | carsonvalleyinn.com

Christmas on the Comstock Until Dec. 31 | Area venues | Virginia City, Nev. Celebrate Christmas as they did in the 19th Century in this month-long celebration. Historic Virginia City hosts a Sierra Concert with the Comstock Cowboys at Piper’s Opera House, the Grinch Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl, Parade of Lights, photos with Santa and V&T Candy Cane Express. | visitvirginiacitynv.com

Magical Memories Until Dec. 31 | Resort at Squaw Creek | Olympic Valley

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Experience the magic of the holiday season at this annual resort-wide celebration. Holiday festivities include Gingerbread Village and holiday music, movie nights, family events and more. | destinationhotels.com/squawcreek

December 12-18, 2019 | MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS

Northern Lights Tahoe Until Dec. 31 | Area venues This annual, popular, month-long festival will highlight local communities.

Celebrate the season with a Santa Pub Crawl, holiday parties, ski films, music and more in Crystal Bay and Incline Village, Nev. | northernlightstahoe.com

Heavenly Holidays Until Dec. 31 | Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe Heavenly Holidays Family Festival offers a search for Santa and his elves on the slopes, ice sculptures, breakfasts with Santa, ice-skating performances starring Disney characters, a Ferris Wheel, virtual reality, ski simulator, magic shows, symphony orchestra and a Heavenly Rail Jam. Adult highlights include holiday-themed après-ski parties with a DJ inside Santa’s 16-foot interactive snow globe. | skiheavenly.com

39 North Pole Village Dec. 12-14 | 39 North Victorian Ave. | Sparks, Nev. Downtown Sparks becomes a sparkling winter wonderland as the Nugget Casino Resort and 39 North Downtown team up to host 39 North Pole Village. Stroll through the holiday lights and enjoy visits with Santa and more. | 39northdowntown.com

Jubilate! Holiday Concert Dec. 13 & 15 | Assumption Catholic Church | Truckee Truckee Tahoe Community Chorus, Tahoe Truckee Youth Chorus and Truckee Christmastime Strings present holiday music and traditional carols to celebrate the season, including the annual audience sing-along. | truckeechorus.org

How Hip-Hop Stole Christmas Ugly Sweater Party Dec. 13 | MontBleu Resort Casino | Stateline, Nev. Blu Nightclub is the scene of this holiday party featuring Del the Funky Homosapien and Chali 2na with special guest DJ Vangloryus. | montbleuresort.com

Tree Lighting & Holiday Toy Drive Dec. 13 | West Shore Café | Homewood West Shore Cafe hosts its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony & Holiday Dinner event with live music, Christmas caroling from the Tahoe Truckee School of Music and the inaugural Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the end of the pier. Bring an unwrapped gift for Toys for Tots. | westshorecafe.com

A Comstock Christmas Carol Dec. 13-15 | Piper’s Opera House | Virginia City, Nev. This production borrows from the classic story by Charles Dickens with historical Comstock characters set in 1860s Virginia City. | visitvirginiacitynv.com

Festive Fridays Dec. 13, 20 | Downtown Truckee Celebrate with free parking from 4 to 6 p.m., Victorian scavenger hunts, historical tours and holiday sip & shop. | historictruckee.com

“The Nutcracker” Dec. 13-15 | Pioneer Center | Reno, Nev. A.V.A. Ballet Theatre presents the annual ballet. Artistic director Alexander Van Alstyne has choreographed an exciting rendition of the popular holiday ballet and the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s moving score. | pioneercenter.com

Santa Train Dec. 13-14, 20-21 | Western Pacific Railroad Museum | Portola The Santa Train rolls into the Western Pacific Railroad Museum featuring visits with Santa, exhibits, cookies and hot drinks and more. Museum open from 4 to 9 p.m.; trains departs at 5. | santa.wplives.org

“Home for the Holidays” Dec. 13 & 14 | Cargo Concert Hall | Reno, Nev. Reno Jazz Orchestra has been dazzling audiences with grand sound and soul since 1997. They embellish great music with grand Christmas tradition in the spirit of the jazz big-band stage performance. | renojazzorchestra.org Continued on page 20

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MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS | TheTahoeWeekly.com Holiday Celebrations continued from page 19

Holiday Music with Sierra Strings of Tahoe

Homestead Holidays

Dec. 14 | South Lake Tahoe Library | South Lake Tahoe

Dec. 14-15 | Silver Saddle Ranch | Carson City, Nev.

The Friends of the Library present Sierra Strings of Tahoe to usher in winter and the holiday season. Meet with local authors first and then enjoy this magical performance. Free and open to all. | engagedpatrons.org

More than 8,000 feet of lights make Silver Saddle Ranch look magical.

Visitors can enjoy live music, Santa, horse-drawn wagon rides, chili from Hillbilly Chili and Kiwanis, fire pits, hot cocoa, apple cider, and more. | visitcarsoncity.com

Holiday Open House Dec. 14 | Tahoe Maritime Museum | Tahoe City

Christmas in the Sierra

While Mrs. Claus reads a story, guests can take photos with Santa and make an ornament from 3 to 5 p.m. There will also be wine, beer and light appetizers from 4 to 6 p.m. | RSVP (530) 583-9283, ext. 105

This event features David John and the Comstock Cowboys at 7 p.m. | (775) 782-5500

Santa’s Workshop and Maker Market

Holiday in History

Dec. 14 | Truckee Roundhouse | Truckee

Dec. 14 | Lake Tahoe Historical Society | South Lake Tahoe

Santa will be visiting from the North Pole workshop to work with his maker elves. Visit with Santa, shop for local art and gifts from the makers and visit the textile elves to make a custom elf hat. | truckeeroundhouse.org

Lake Tahoe Historical Society is planning a festive day of free family fun as the museum is transformed into a Victorian Christmas scene. Tour the museum and 1930’s log cabin. Santa arrives by sleigh and there will be free sleigh rides for all. | laketahoemuseum.org

Carson Valley Winter Concert

Dec. 14 | Douglas County Community & Senior Center | Gardnerville, Nev.

SANTA SKI DAY | DEC. 14

Dec. 14 | CVIC Hall | Minden, Nev. Carson Valley Pops Orchestra will delight young and old with a lineup of musical selections. The concert starts at 7 p.m. | cvpops.org

Breakfast with Santa Dec. 14 | Town Hall | Genoa, Nev. Santa will be visiting throughout the morning for three seatings starting at 8:30 a.m. | genoanevada.org

Santa Fly-In Dec. 14 | Truckee Tahoe Airport | Truckee Kids can watch Santa fly in on a special plane at 10 a.m., and then visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There will be hot chocolate, holiday treats and holiday photo ops. | chamber.truckee.com

Brunch with Santa Claus Dec. 14 | The Chateau | Incline Village, Nev. This family event features many fun activities including a delicious brunch, magic show, arts and crafts, raffle prizes, a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus and more. Reservations. | yourtahoeplace.com Courtesy Mt. Rose Ski Area

Reno Winter Light Festival Dec. 14 | Reno City Plaza There will be an ice-carving contest; watch ice carvers create sculptures from a block of ice and vote for your favorite artist. There will be a performance by Fire Dancers and food trucks and beer garden. | reno.gov/community

Santa Pub Crawl

“The Twisted Nutcracker & The Tale of the Rat King”

Dec. 14 | Incline Village/Crystal Bay, Nev.

Dec. 14 & 15, 20 & 22 | Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley

Celebrate the season with a pub crawls at North Shore venues as part of Northern Lights Celebration. The crawl is from 8 to 11 p.m. with stops in Incline Village and Crystal Bay. There is a complimentary shuttle for participants. | northernlightstahoe.com

Truckee Dance Company is celebrating the season with a twist on the timeless tradition of “The Nutcracker.” A spectacular choreography of upbeat and passionate performances will thrill and amaze audiences in the lavishly decorated Merry Wonderland. | truckeedancefactory.com

Grinch Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl

Santa Ski Day

Dec. 14 | Downtown Virginia City, Nev.

Dec. 14 | Mt. Rose

Have some spirited fun in Virginia City saloons featuring specialty holiday drinks from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | visitvirginiacitynv.com

Get into the holiday spirit and experience the Santa Ski Day, where every ski and rider is dressed as Kris Kringle, elves, candy canes, shiny presents, Mrs. Claus and more. | skirose.com

Tahoe Flow Arts Holiday Bazaar Dec. 14 | Tahoe Flow Arts Studio | Tahoe Vista Tahoe Flow Arts Studio presents a high-caliber mixed-media performance of acrobatics, aerialists and dance followed by a bazaar from 5 to 10 p.m. | tahoeflowartsstudio.com

Reno Santa Pub Crawl Dec. 14 | Reno Arch | Reno, Nev. Get your jollies on and run those cookies off. Dress up like Santa and run around Reno with 20,000 others dressed in their best Santa costumes.

Be under the Reno Arch at 10 p.m. | renosantacrawl.com

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Home Ranch for the Holidays Dec. 14 & 15 | Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park | Minden, Nev. Home Ranch for the Holidays is a celebration of the season that includes a vintage toy exhibit, music and treats. A doll house, dolls, handmade clothing and accessories are features of the exhibit. Construction toys, cooking toys, games and cards will also be shown. | visitcarsonvalley.org

Reno Wind Symphony Holiday Celebration Dec. 14 & 15 | UNR Nightingale Concert Hall | Reno, Nev. One of the highlights of this concert is the recitation of the poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” by KOH Radio personality Ross Mitchell, accompanied by the Reno Wind Symphony. | renowindsymphony.com

December 12-18, 2019 | MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS

“Messiah”

“A Rat Pack Christmas”

Dec. 14, 15, 21 & 22 | Area venues

Dec. 20 | Crystal Bay Casino | Crystal Bay, Nev.

TOCCATA presents its annual grand performance of Handel’s classic with Maestro James Rawie. | toccatatahoe.com

The Dean O’Holics present this tribute to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. | crystalbaycasino.com

Santa Train

“Tahoe Nutcracker”

Dec. 14 & 15, 21 & 22 | Wabuska Depot | Carson City, Nev.

Dec. 20-22 | North Tahoe High School | Tahoe City

Nevada State Railroad Museum celebrates the 34 year of Santa Train.

Ride in rail cars pulled behind the historic V& T Railroad No. 25 steam locomotive. Santa hands out candy canes to all the riders and listens to children’s Christmas wishes. | nvculture.org

Lake Tahoe Dance Collective offers this holiday classic set in 1919 Tahoe with professional guest artists, community members and local dancers. | laketahoedancecollective.org

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Snowball Festival Dec. 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29 | Soda Springs ski area Soda Springs’ Plant Kids will transform in to the North Pole from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a holiday bounce house, a giant oversized snow globe and Santa himself. Holiday music will fill the air as guests make their way through the candy cane forest or take in the thrill of holiday-themed tubing.

Holiday cheer continues with joyful snow play, merry face-painters, cheerful balloon artists, delicious festive foods and a craft hot cocoa bar. | skisodasprings.com

Merry Days & Holly Nights Dec. 14-31 | Village at Squaw | Olympic Valley

“The Nutcracker” Dec. 20-24 | Nugget Casino Resort | Sparks, Nev. Reno Dance Company’s production of this classic holiday ballet features 20 professional dancers and 200 local children. | nuggetcasinoresort.com

Unsilent Night Dec. 22 | Brewery Arts Center | Carson City, Nev. Unsilent Night is an original composition by Phil Kline, written specifically to be heard outdoors. It takes the form of a street promenade in which the audience becomes the performer. Each participant gets one of four tracks of music in the form of a cassette, CD or Mp3 and walks a route according to the music. | Brewery Arts Center on Facebook

The holidays at Squaw Valley begin with a welcoming reception for Santa, who will stay around until his big night on Dec. 25, followed by an opening ceremony and glow stick parade to the Merry Wonderland and Ice Garden.

Enjoy musical, dance and dramatic performances, enter contests, take sleigh rides and ski with Santa. | squawalpine.com

Fa La La La La

Holiday Treat

Breakfast with Santa

Dec. 15 | Carson City Community Center | Carson City, Nev.

Dec. 24 | Village at Northstar

Carson City Symphony presents its 35th annual Holiday Treat, a feast of seasonal and holiday entertainment including the Carson City Symphony Chorus and the Victorian Dancers. | ccsymphony.com

Come to TC’s Christmas Eve morning from 8 to 10 a.m. before Santa has to head back to the North Pole. | northstarcalifornia.com

Breakfast with Santa Dec. 16 & 17, 23 & 24 | Resort at Squaw Creek | Olympic Valley

Dec. 22 | Brewery Arts Center | Carson City, Nev. Tintabulations Handbell Ensemble perform with 120 glistening bronze bells and chimes. | Tintabulations on Facebook

Torchlight Parade Dec. 24 | Granlibakken | Tahoe City

Tell Santa Claus all of your favorite toy wishes as you enjoy a breakfast buffet in Cascades from 8 to 10 a.m. | squawcreek.com

Granlibakken’s annual Torchlight Parade starts at 5 p.m. Ski down the holding a torch, then enjoy hot chocolate, cider, s’mores and gifts. Santa will be there for photos. | granlibakken.com

Whitehats Christmas

Santa & Penguin Pete

Dec. 18 | Brewery Arts Center | Carson City, Nev.

Dec. 24 & 25 | Diamond Peak | Incline Village, Nev.

This special evening of acoustic splendor and harmonic bliss features The Whitehats: harmonies atop acoustic stylings with bassist Kyle Rothchild and percussionist Frank “Fletch” Fletcher. | Brewery Arts Center on Facebook

Santa and Penguin Pete will be handing out stickers and treats and visiting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the slopes and in the Base Area. | diamondpeak. com

Joyful Noise

Christmas Day Breakfast with Santa

Dec. 19 | Brewery Arts Center | Carson City, Nev.

Dec. 25 | Tahoe Donner Downhill | Tahoe Donner

The 18th annual Joyful Noise community show featuring Cherie and John Shipley with special guest artist Tom Miller, Lanny Hansen and the fabulous eight-piece Joyful Noise chorus. | breweryarts.org

Enjoy breakfast, starting at 10 a.m., with Santa followed by a half day of skiing and riding with Santa. Lifts open at 11:30 a.m. | tahoedonner.com

“The Christmas Express” Dec. 19-21 | Community Arts Center | Truckee Apropos to this celebratory year of the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, this play, presented by Truckee Community Theater, is set in a train depot in the festively named town of Holly. | truckeecommunitytheater.com

Holiday Dreams Dec. 19-Jan. 1 | Grand Sierra Resort | Reno, Nev. Holiday Dreams is a unique holiday-themed show with a fresh approach, taking the time-honored elements of the holidays — music, decorations and spirit of Christmas — and mixing them with computer animation and projection mapping, for a modern, up-to-date spin on the classic holiday show. | grandsierraresort.com

Cirque Musica Holiday Wishes Dec. 28 | Nugget Casino Resort | Sparks, Nev. This production brings a holiday story to life, featuring the worldrenowned cast of Cirque Musica with favorite holiday hits performed live by a full symphony orchestra. | nuggetcasinoresort.com

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” Dec. 30 | MontBleu Resort Casino | Stateline, Nev. Everyone’s favorite holiday classic comes to life in the all-new touring production live on stage. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the whole Peanuts gang will produce their own Christmas play and ultimately learn the true meaning of the season. | montbleuresort.com

Cruise with Santa Dec. 21 | M.S. Dixie | Zephyr Cove, Nev. Zephyr Cove Resort Santa Cruise features a meet and greet with Santa, spectacular views of the beautiful Lake Tahoe, professional photography, holiday music and delicious treats with hot cocoa. | (775) 589-4922 21

MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS | TheTahoeWeekly.com

Courtesy Tahoe Donner Downhill

200-FOOT BANANA SPLIT EXTRAVAGANZA | MARCH 14

culinary delights

Art of the Mixology

Moonlight Snowshoe Tour & Dinner

Sundays | Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe | Northstar

Dec. 14, 17-19, Jan. 11 & 25, Feb. 1 & 8 | The Chalet | Alpine Meadows

Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe hosts Art of the Mixology during the winter.

This entertaining, educational experience will feature freshly cut herbs, classic ingredients such as bitters and infused liquors to create three unique cocktails paired with appetizers. | RSVP ritzcarlton.com

After the mountain closes and the winter moon rises, experience a snowshoe tour to the mid-mountain Chalet for an intimate seated dinner featuring Bavarian-inspired, multi-course cuisine created by Executive Chef Steve Anderson. | squawalpine.com

Carson City Wine Walk

Anthony Chophouse Wine Dinners

1 Saturday | Downtown Carson City, Nev.

Dec. 19, Jan. 30, March 26 | Nugget Casino Resort | Sparks, Nev.

Enjoy the Wine Walk from 1 to 5 p.m. while strolling through downtown sipping and tasting the afternoon away. | downtowncarson.org

Enjoy wonderful wine and delectable dining in an attractive atmosphere.

The dinners offer several courses, paired with the perfect wine from the featured winemaker. | nuggetcasinoresort.com

st

Wine Walk at the Carson Mall 2nd Saturday | Carson Mall | Carson City, Nev. Come sip and shop at the Carson Mall on the second Saturday of the month from 2 to 6 p.m. | visitcarsoncity.com

Wine Walk 3rd Saturday | Riverwalk District | Reno, Nev. The Wine Walk along the Truckee River is from 2 to 5 p.m. on every third Saturday of the month. | renoriver.org

Reno Beer Crawl 4th Saturday | The Library Tap House | Reno, Nev. Attendees can sample domestic, nationally recognized and locally distributed craft beers across 15 different locations. This self-guided event is every fourth Saturday of the month. | renobeercrawl.com

Holiday Mixology Dec. 13, 20, 27 | Resort at Squaw Creek | Olympic Valley Learn how to make three delicious craft cocktails with Six Peaks Grille master mixologist. Participants will use fresh, seasonal ingredients provided. | RSVP (530) 581-6610

Tail & Ale

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S’moresapalooza Dec. 21, Jan. 18, Feb. 1 & 15, March 7 & 14 | Northstar California Enjoy creative, delicious s’mores in the Village at Northstar. | northstarcalifornia.com

Farm to Table Dinner with Olympians Dec. 26 | Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley Enjoy a cozy, family-friendly dinner in the company of some of the region’s most renowned athletes. Gather beside local legends for an intimate evening of stories, camaraderie and history in the making. | squawalpine.com

WhiSki Farm to Table Dinner & “Winterland” showing Dec. 27 | Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley Enjoy a holiday Farm to Table dinner and whiskey tasting, followed by dessert, a showing of Teton Gravity Research’s “Winterland” and Q&A with the athletes. | squawalpine.com

Farm to Table Dinner & movie Dec. 29-30 | Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley Guests will enjoy a cozy, family-friendly, buffet-style meal beside the grand fireplace following by a showing of “The Lion King.” | squawalpine.com

Dec. 14 | Tahoe Biltmore | Crystal Bay, Nev.

New Year’s Day Pancake Breakfast

The annual Tail & Ale from 5 to 9 p.m. features North Lake Tahoe’s only indoor, winter, dog-friendly microbrew festival. Tickets include unlimited beer tastings, a commemorative glass and live entertainment. All proceeds benefit Pet Network Humane Society. | northernlightstahoe.com

Kick off 2020 with the annual New Year’s Day Pancake Breakfast. Enjoy pancakes, bacon, coffee and juice then take a ski and snowshoe. Proceeds benefit youth programs. | tahoexc.org

Jan. 1 | Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area | Tahoe City

December 12-18, 2019 | MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS

Elevate Your Palate Week Jan. 10-17 | Area venues | South Lake Tahoe Score dining deals throughout the week at some of the best local eateries that belong to the South Tahoe Restaurant Association. | tahoesouth.com

Brew HaHa Jan. 25 | Nugget Casino Resort | Sparks, Nev.

Join us in Olympic Valley Saturday, December 14

Meet the Author of Squaw Valley & Alpine Meadows: Tales from Two Valleys Enjoy wine tasting from 5-7 pm

Brew HaHa is a benefit for the Sierra Arts Foundations, featuring a large selection of micro and macro beer tasting plus entertainment from The Garage Boys. | nuggetcasinoresort.com

First Tracks Breakfast Jan. 25, Feb. 9 & March 1 | Homewood Mountain Resort Early birds looking for the freshest snow can load Madden Chair from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and take laps on Old Homewood Express before the slopes open to the public. Grab a breakfast burrito at the bottom of Madden Chair and hit the slopes. Free to passholders. | RSVP skihomewood.com

Science of Cocktails Jan. 31 | Sierra Nevada College | Incline Village, Nev. Science of Cocktails is a unique evening event where mixology and science meet. UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center together with support from community partners, will host the fourth annual event; proceeds directly support the UC Davis Tahoe Science Center and innovative science education programs. | tahoe.ucdavis.edu

Last Tracks Wine & Beer Feb. 1-April 11 (Saturdays) | Diamond Peak Ski Resort Intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders can take the last chairlift up to the mid-mountain Snowflake Lodge and enjoy wine or beer tastings and appetizers before skiing down a freshly groomed run at sunset.

No event Feb. 15. | RSVP diamondpeak.com

Devil Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl Feb. 8 | C Street | Virginia City, Nev. Stroll through Virginia City’s historic saloons and sip on signature, themed drinks with your colored cup, which tells others if you’re single, taken or open for suggestions. | visitvirginiacitynv.com

Ability Bash Feb. 8 | Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley Get your tickets to the 26th Annual Achieve Tahoe Gala feature amazing food and wine selections to benefit Achieve Tahoe. | achievetahoe.org

Reno Onesie Crawl Feb. 8 | Downtown Reno, Nev. With more than 70 bars, restaurants and nightclubs within walking distance, downtown Reno has established itself as the undisputed bar crawl capital. Each event is themed. Party until the sun comes up. | crawlreno.com

200-Foot Banana Split Extravaganza March 14 | Tahoe Donner Downhill Help devour an incredible 200-foot banana split at 1:30 p.m. for free. | tahoedonner.com

Mountain Family Dinners March 16 | The Lodge at Big Springs | Northstar All aboard the gondola for this unique dining experience. Ride up to The Lodge at Big Springs where hot wine and hot cocoa await, followed by a family-style interactive dinner. Finish the evening with s’mores around the fire pits. | northstarcalifornia.com

Beer & Gear March 21 & 22 | Homewood Mountain Resort Guests can sample new suds and find a new favorite board or skis, including a sneak peak of 2020-21 gear. Don’t miss the action at the 4th annual “Homewood King of the Hill Race” on The Face on March 21. | skihomewood.com

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MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS | TheTahoeWeekly.com

Courtesy Wild & Scenic Film Festival

WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL | JAN. 16-20

arts & culture

“Frozen, Jr.”

PJ Masks Live! Save the Day

Until Dec. 15 | Brewery Arts Center | Carson City, Nev.

Dec. 20 | Reno Events Center | Reno, Nev.

The enchanting modern classic is based on the 2018 Broadway musical and brings Elsa, Anna and the magical land of Arendelle to life onstage. The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film. | wildhorsetheater.com

This live musical production is back with an all-new show features preschoolers’ favorite superheroes and familiar songs. | visitrenotahoe.com

“Winter Dreams” Until Dec. 22 | Sierra Marketplace | Reno, Nev. The most unusual, breathtaking and hilarious performers come together in “Winter Dreams,” a blend of modern entertainment with Old World artistry.

Audiences of all ages will enjoy the skills honed by years of dedication and training. | magictheatercircus.com

“Hearts Like Fists” Until Dec. 22 | Restless Artists’ Theatre | Sparks, Nev. This superhero noir comedy is about the dangers of love. The city’s heart beats with fear: Doctor X is sneaking into apartments and injecting lovers with a lethal poison. Can the Crimefighters stop Doctor X? | rattheatre.org

“The Addams Family” Dec. 13-15 | Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe | Kings Beach Great Futures Productions’ presents this musical comedy from the multiaward-winning writers of “Jersey Boys,” with music and lyrics by Tony Awardnominated composer Andrew Lippa and directed by Rayme Sciaroni. | bgcnlt.org

The Nevada Show Dec. 13-April 25 | Harveys Lake Tahoe | Stateline, Nev. This show, hosted by The Magic(ish)an Nick Fedoroff, takes you on a wild ride through the many reasons all other states are eNVious. It features an entirely Nevadan cast of classically trained dancers, singers, acrobats and circus freaks. For age 21 and older. | caesars.com

Ignite Cabaresque Dec. 14-March 2020 | Harrah’s Reno | Reno, Nev. Hosted by the magician Tyler Wilson, Ignite is a fiery exploration of the things that heat you up — passion, desire, adrenaline — and an explosion of sensations to put a little pink in the cheeks. | caesars.com/harrahs

Kirkwood Deep Riders Awards

Dec. 20-Jan. 11 | Harrah’s Lake Tahoe | Stateline, Nev. The spellbinding artistry and amazing athletics of the world’s leading Chinese acrobatic troupe will thrill you. | caesars.com

“Winterland” showing & dinner Dec. 27 | Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley Enjoy a showing of Teton Gravity Research’s “Winterland” along with a farm-to-table dinner, whiskey tasting. | squawalpine.com

Reno Latin Dance Fest Jan. 9-12 | The Row Reno | Reno, Nev. Enjoy workshops taught by professional instructors, night parties with hours of social dancing, Latin DJs and an evening showcase where couples and teams from all over the nation perform. Enjoy an array of styles such as bachata, salsa, cumbia, hip-hop and the now popular kizomba. | renolatindancefest.com

“What Rhymes with America?”

Jan. 10-26 | Restless Artists’ Theatre | Sparks, Nev. A father and his teenage daughter stand on either side of a closed door.

Life is unraveling for him and it is entirely uncertain for her. So begins this poignant, funny play about estrangement and the partially examined life. | rattheatre.org

“Shrek, The Musical Jr.” Jan. 17-26 | Community Arts Center | Truckee An ogre named Shrek finds his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits, who have been cast off by Lord Farquaad, a tiny terror with big ambitions. Shrek sets off with a wisecracking donkey to confront Farquaad and rescue princess Fiona. | truckeecommunitytheater.com

Wild & Scenic Film Festival Jan. 16-20 | Nevada City & Grass Valley

Enjoy the latest film edits from Kirkwood skiers and riders in this video competition awards ceremony and showing. | kirkwood.com

The renowned Wild & Scenic Film Festival inspires environmental activism and a love for nature through film with more than 100 films, workshops, filmmaker and activist talks, family-friendly programs, exhibits, parties and much more. | www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org

“A Year with Frog and Toad”

Take Five 2020

Dec. 14-15 | Damonte Ranch High School | Reno, Nev.

Jan. 17 & 18 | Brüka Theatre | Reno, Nev.

Two great friends, the cheerful Frog and the grumpy Toad, work and play their way through four fun-filled seasons. | sierraschoolofperformingarts.org

Thirty artists have five minutes each to share the unique characteristics of making art in Reno. | bruka.org

Dec. 14 | Kirkwood

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Golden Dragon Acrobats

December 12-18, 2019 | MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS

“The Play That Goes Wrong”

“Noises Off”

Jan. 24-26 | Pioneer Center | Reno, Nev.

March 6-April 4 | Good Luck Macbeth | Reno, Nev.

What would happen if Sherlock Holmes and Monty Python had an illegitimate Broadway baby? Welcome to opening night of The Murder at Haversham Manor where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous — sure to bring down the house. | pioneercenter.com

This play takes a fond look at the follies of theater folk, whose susceptibility to out-of-control egos, memory loss and passionate affairs turn every performance into a high-risk adventure. This play-within-a-play captures a touring theater troupe’s production in three stages. | goodluckmacbeth.org

“Murder on the Orient Express”

Roses are RAD Film Festival

Jan. 24-Feb. 9 | Reno Little Theater | Reno, Nev.

March 13 | Cargo | Reno, Nev.

With a train full of suspects and an alibi for each one, it’s the perfect mystery for the world-famous detective Hercule Poirot. Wax your mustache, hold on to your passport and get ready for a suspenseful, thrilling ride aboard the legendary Orient Express. | renolittletheater.org

The Roses are RAD Film Festival is an amateur film festival where Mt. Rose skiers and snowboarders have a chance to show off their editing skills on the big screen. | skirose.com

Wild & Scenic Film Festival Jan. 25 & April 17-18 | Area venues Enjoy showings on Jan. 25 in Reno, April 17 in Truckee and April 18 in Tahoe City. | wildandscenicfilmfestival.org

“Disrupted”

“The Imaginary Invalid” March 13-29 | Reno Little Theater | Reno, Nev. Zany as a Marx Brothers movie, a hypochondriac complains of a million imaginary ills and astronomical medical bills. He concocts a plan to wed his daughter to a doctor in hopes of receiving free medical care, but she has her eye on another. | renolittletheater.org

Jan. 31 | Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema | Tahoe City

“Never the Sinner”

Realization Films, a Tahoe-based, feature-film production company run

by Mark Gogolewski, Jared Drake and Steven Siig, offers this tight-knit thriller that festers in the collateral damage of gentrification and race-related tensions rooted in modern day Oakland. | disruptedmovie.com

This is a love story set to themes of crime and punishment, the press, the times, humanism, Nietzsche’s philosophy and the end of the jazz age. | blackicetheatreco.com

Writers in The Woods

“The Secret in the Wings”

Feb. 7-8, 22-23, April 10-11 | Sierra Nevada College | Incline Village, Nev.

March 20-April 4 | Brüka Theatre | Reno, Nev.

This literary series features poets, writers and essayists, who give readings followed by Q & A from the audience on Friday night. On Saturday morning, they teach a workshop. | sierranevada.edu

This is a fantastical story into a spellbinding netherworld of rarely told fairy tales. | bruka.org

“The Children” Feb. 7-19 | Brüka Theatre | Reno, Nev. How do we decide when a stranger’s life is worth more than our own? | bruka.org

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live Feb. 10 | Pioneer Center | Reno, Nev. The Peabody Award-winning hit TV comedy is coming to Reno with The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour. Show creator and original host Joel Hodgson and riffing robots Tom Servo, Crow and Gypsy will take you through some of the cheesiest films ever made. | pioneercenter.com

Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville Feb. 14-16 | Pioneer Center | Reno, Nev. This musical comedy features both original songs and Jimmy Buffett classics, including “Fins,” “Volcano,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and many more. | pioneercenter.com

Mountainfilm Feb. 15 | Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley Alpenglow Sports brings MountainFilm to Tahoe at 7 p.m. at part of the annual Mountain Festival. | alpenglowsports.com

“Slow Girl” Feb. 21-March 8 | Restless Artists’ Theatre | Sparks, Nev. This is the story of a teenager who flees to her reclusive uncle’s retreat in the Costa Rican jungle to escape the aftermath of a horrific accident. The week they spend together forces them both to confront who they are as well as what it is they are running from. | rattheatre.org

Shen Yun Feb. 28-March 1 | Pioneer Center | Reno, Nev. Everyone loves a great story and Chinese culture has 5,000 years of them.

Each Shen Yun performance includes short dance stories of heroes who battle demons, fly up to the heavens and visit deep-sea palaces. | pioneercenter.com

TEDx UNR Feb. 29 | Reno Sparks Convention Center Explore new ways of thinking and stoke your curiosity in an environment full of intrigue and optimism featuring 21 speakers including entrepreneurs, journalists, techies, authors, therapists, artists and more. | tedxuniversityofnevada.org

March 19-28 | LTCC Duke Theater | South Lake Tahoe

Dancing with the Stars March 21 | Grand Sierra Resort | Reno, Nev. TV’s biggest dance show is returning to Reno. The show will feature fan-favorite professional and troupe dancers in a new production showcasing every type of dance style as seen on the hit ABC show from ballroom and jazz to modern and hip-hop. | grandsierraresort.com

“Steel Magnolias” March 27-April 5 | Community Arts Center | Truckee The action is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Louisiana, where all the ladies who are anybody come to have their hair done. Helped by her new assistant, Annelle, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town’s ladies. | truckeecommunitytheater.com

“Bandstand” March 27-29 | Pioneer Center | Reno, Nev. This inspiring new American musical explodes with infectious music and high-octane, heart-stopping dancing. It’s 1945. Private First Class Donny Novitski, singer and songwriter, struggles to rebuild the life he left behind. | pioneercenter.com

Diamond Cut April 3 | The Chateau | Incline Village, Nev. View the winning videos at The Diamond Cut Awards Ceremony and Screening. | diamondpeak.com

“Jersey Boys” April 8-12 | Pioneer Center | Reno, Nev. This is the true story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were 30. | pioneercenter.com

“Deer” April 10-26 | Restless Artists’ Theatre | Sparks, Nev. West Side empty-nesters Ken and Cynthia hit a deer while driving to their weekend house in the Poconos. Cynthia tries desperately to nurse the dead animal back to life, as Ken fights for his first weekend alone with his wife in 25 years. | rattheatre.org

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MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS | TheTahoeWeekly.com

Courtesy Northstar California

FRIDAY FUN NIGHTS | DEC. 27-APRIL 4

the great outdoors

Holiday Snowshoe Tours

S.A.F.E. A.S. Clinic

Dec. 12-28 | Resort at Squaw Creek | Olympic Valley

Dec. 14-15 | Squaw Valley Ski Resort | Olympic Valley

Enjoy a guided snowshoe tour of Squaw Valley against the beautiful backdrop of Tahoe’s alpenglow, while learning about the history of how the Olympic Valley came to be. Offered are sunset tours, full-moon tours, Christmas Day tours and private tours | destinationhotels.com/squawcreek

Women, ages 14 and older, interested in snow and avalanche safety in and out of bounds can attend a S.A.F.E. A.S. Clinic. The Intro to Avalanche and FUNraiser Day offers classroom and on-snow training, morning yoga, lunch, après party and raffle. | squawalpine.com

PSIA Western Nordic Symposium

Christmas Bird Count

Dec. 13-15 | Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area | Tahoe City

Dec. 15 | South Lake Tahoe

Professional Ski Instructors of America Nordic Symposium for crosscountry ski instructors offers a variety of skiing and teaching-oriented topics designed as a Level I exam prep clinic. | tahoexc.org

Join Tahoe Institute for Natural Science for its annual Christmas Bird Count. The Christmas Bird Count is regarded as the largest and oldest citizen science projects in the world dating back to 1900. TINS has coordinated the South Lake Tahoe count since 2004. | tinsweb.org

AIARE Avalanche Training Dec. 13-15, Jan. 18-20, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 15-17 North American Ski Training Center | Truckee

Dec. 21, March 2 & April 9 | Sugar Bowl

The curriculum is an intensive seminar designed to give an understanding of avalanche formation, observation skills, the ability to use an avalanche transceiver and probe and how to dig a snow study pit. | gotahoenorth.com

A Sugar Bowl signature, the Silver Belt Series, returns with three events: D-Money’s on Dec. 21, the Banked Slalom TBA and Quad Crusher TBA. | sugarbowl.com

Alpenglow Tailgate Talks

Snowshoe Star Tours

Dec. 14 | Alpenglow Sports | Tahoe City

Dec. 23, Jan. 20, Feb. 24 | Area venues

Alpenglow Sports’ Tailgate Talk series of Fall 2019 is the largest Tailgate Talk lineup to date for the mountain shop. Famed athletes, conservationists, photographers and others will give free talks at 7 p.m. Beverages are available for purchase; all proceeds go to a nonprofit beneficiary. | alpenglowsports.com

Tahoe Adventure Company and Tony Berendsen present telescopic tours of the night sky. It starts with guided sunset snowshoeing, followed by a brilliant tour of the night sky. For ages 8 and older. | tahoeadventurecompany.com

Feel Good Fridays Dec. 13, Jan. 17, Feb. 14, March 13, April 10 | Boreal |Mountain | Soda Springs

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Silver Belt Series

Friday Fun Nights Dec. 27-April 4 | Village at Northstar

Ski or ride for a $25 lift ticket at Boreal Mountain; the price includes a $5 donation to High Fives Foundation. | Boreal on Facebook

Join the fun in the heart of the Village as the disco lights surround the ice-skating rink every Friday night with drink specials, complimentary face painting and live music. | northstarcalifornia.com

Heavenly/Kirkwood Holiday Rail Jam

Snowshoe Stargazing Tours

Dec. 14, 21, 28 | Heavenly & Kirkwood

Dec. 28-Feb. 29 | Cross Country, Telemark & Snowshoe Center | Northstar

The rail jam will feature both professional and amateur riders, as well as kids. Experience all the fun for the whole family from 4 to 6 p.m. | skiheavenly.com

In this easy to moderate snowshoe walk, tours are led by Tahoe Star Tours Tony Berendsen; each tour features a science-based talk about the cosmos, followed by the opportunity to view constellations through high-powered, professional telescopes. | northstarcalifornia.com

December 12-18, 2019 | MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS

Disco Tubing

National Winter Trails Day

Dec. 28-March 7 | SnoVentures Activity Zone | Olympic Valley

Jan. 25 | Echo Lake

On Saturdays, families can spin, slide and speed down the snow tubing lanes to vibrant DJ tunes as the night is illuminated with colorful lights and lasers splashed on the mountainside from 5 to 8 p.m. | squawalpine.com

This National Winter Trails Day, The Tahoe Rim Trail Association and the Sugar Pine Foundation will be co-hosting a snowshoe trek to Echo Lake from the Echo Lake Sno-Park. | tahoerimtrail.org

Ski with a Ranger

Burton Qualifier

January-March | Heavenly

Feb. 1 | Boreal Mountain | Soda Springs

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management invites participates to Ski with a Ranger at Heavenly. Tours begin at the top of the gondola every Monday and Friday at 1 p.m. starting in January. | skiheavenly.com

The premiere amateur snowboard contest series offering local riders of all ability levels and ages a fun day of riding, cash prizes and the opportunity to go to the finals at Boreal for the third year. | events.burton.com

Alpenglow Winter Speaker Series

Mountain Festival Winter

Jan. 2 & 23, Feb. 20 | Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley

Feb. 15-23 | Area venues

Back for its 14th year, the Alpenglow Winter Speaker Series will be showcasing its best lineup to date. Locals and athletes share stories of their incredible adventures in the mountains. | alpenglowsports.com

Alpenglow Sports presents this nine-day festival, a celebration of humanpowered mountain sports with events, clinics, equipment demonstrations and films. Geared toward beginner and intermediate winter-recreation enthusiasts, the festival will showcase Nordic skiing, back-country skiing, splitboarding and snowshoeing and natural history of the region. | alpenglowsports.com

Lake Tahoe Backcountry Demo Days Jan. 4 & 5 | Alpine Meadows Ski Resort | Alpine Meadows Alpenglow Sports offers this annual backcountry demo event to perpetuate the enthusiasm for all aspects of in-area and back-country skiing. Join guides, forecasters, AIARE instructors and gear experts for a resort-based showcase of all things back country, including demos, avalanche education, guided tours and a raffle. | squawalpine.com

McKinney Cup Feb. 22 | Mt. Rose This USSF Far West Masters event pits some the fastest skiers in the sport against each other in Giant Slalom, sponsored by Tamara McKinney in memory of members of her family, Steve, McLane and Frances McKinney. | skirose.com

Avalanche Rescue Tips & Tools

Banked Slalom

Jan. 8 | Craft Wine & Beer | Reno, Nev.

Feb. 23 & 24 | Kirkwood

Learn the ins and outs of avalanche rescue. The night will begin with a discussion on the essential avalanche safety tools and how beacons work, best practices when using a shovel and probe and the role of an airbag. Raffle benefits Tahoe Backcountry Alliance. | Tahoe Mountain Sports on Facebook

Back for its 25th year, The Kirkwood Banked Slalom is a local favorite where top local skiers and riders battle it out over two days. Day 1 is the kid’s competition and Day 2 is for adults. Watch or participate in this intense race through Snowsnake Gully, and catch the awards ceremonies, including one for the best parent and child duo. | kirkwood.com

Full Moon Snowshoe Tours Jan. 10-April 7 | Area venues Tahoe Adventure Company offers full moon snowshoe treks monthly during the winter. Enjoy instruction, natural history and hot drinks and snacks. No experience is needed. | RSVP tahoeadventurecompany.com

Continued on page 28

18th annual

Reno Rumble Jan. 10 & 11 | Reno Event Center Professional Bull Riders: Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour brings the excitement and top levels of cowboy and bovine talent that fans have come to expect from the sport’s leader. | pbr.com

Mid-Winter Bald Eagle Count Jan. 10 | Area venues Tahoe Institute for Natural Science will be coordinating the 39th annual mid-winter Bald Eagle count and volunteers are invited to participate. There are 26 stations located around the Tahoe Basin. | tinsweb.org

Moonlight Snowshoe Hikes Jan. 10, Feb. 7 & March 6 | Diamond Peak Join a Community Snowshoe Hike to Diamond Peak’s Snowflake Lodge for ages 10 and older. Enjoy s’mores and hot cocoa at the top. | diamondpeak.com

Full Moon Snowshoe Tours Jan. 11, Feb. 8 & March 7 | Sugar Pine Point State Park | Tahoma Enjoy a guided full moon snowshoe tour through the park and along Lake Tahoe’s shore to learn about local and natural history from 6:30 to 9 p.m. | sierrastateparks.org/events

STOKE Mountain Tours Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 7 | Diamond Peak | Incline Village, Nev. Join a free, guided interpretive tour of the mountain while learning about natural and local history. | diamondpeak.com

The Sheep Show Jan. 16-18 | Reno Sparks Convention Center | Reno, Nev. The Wild Sheep Foundation’s premier outdoor and mountain-hunting expo includes an exhibit hall filled with more than 400 North American guides and outfitters and top-of-the-line retailers of gear, art, taxidermy and outdoor items. | wildsheepfoundation.org

January 16-20, 2020

Nevada City + Grass Valley, CA Five days of films, workshops, speakers, music, art, & celebration W I L DA N D S C E N I C F I L M F E S T I VA L .O R G 27

MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS | TheTahoeWeekly.com The Great Outdoors continued from page 27

Pain McShlonkey

IFSA Freeride World Tour Qualifier

March TBA | Squaw Valley Ski Resort | Olympic Valley

March 26-29 | Squaw Valley | Olympic Valley

Dress up in outrageous ski duds and come out for a day full of belly laughs, camaraderie and philanthropy in celebration of legendary skier Shane McConkey. Festivities include the Extreme Small Mountain Invitational and a downhill race, where pros and amateurs battle it out on snowblades for the Golden Saucer trophy. | shanemcconkey.org

Tahoe Freeride teams up with the McConkey Foundation to create the McConkey Cup. The IFSA FWQ will be run the same weekend as the McConkey Foundation Gala and the PMS Downhill. | freeskiers.org

The Great Ski Race March 1 | Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area | Tahoe City The 42nd annual Great Ski Race challenges cross-country skiers to race from Tahoe City to Truckee. The event raises funds for the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue Team, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization. This is one of the largest Nordic ski races west of the Mississippi. | thegreatskirace.com

Community Cup March 7 | Homewood Mountain Resort This event is open to skiers and riders of all ages and abilities. Participants will be required to register in teams, with races starting at the mid-mountain Big Blue View Bar. | skihomewood.com

Spring Loaded March 9-April 5 | South Lake Tahoe venues Celebrate sun, snow and good times during Spring Break with events from rail jams and fun runs, to cruises on Lake Tahoe and snowmobile tours, to beer tastings and late-night events. | springloaded.tahoesouth.com

Banked Slalom March 21 | Boreal Mountain | Soda Springs

March 28 | Homewood Mountain Resort The second annual Pride Ride will return, featuring a fun weekend of festivities on and off the mountain including live DJ and dance parties, slalom drag race, Rainbow Ridge Pride Parade and more. | skihomewood.com

Gunbarrel 25 March 28 | Heavenly GB25 in its 17th year is bigger and better than ever. With awards from leading industry manufactures from the fastest 25 laps to the Iron Man/ Women award. | skiheavenly.com

Spring It On March 28 | Northstar California Enjoy the celebration at Northstar with retro costumes, upbeat music, Family Fun Night, the annual Pond Skim and more. | northstarcalifornia.com

Tom Sims Retro World Championships March 28 & 29 | Soda Springs Enjoy three days of crazy fun and rubbing elbows with legends and heroes of snowboarding’s history from The Great Race and The Beach Party HandShaped Old-School Pipe Session. | Tom Sims Retro on Facebook

A costume race benefiting the High Fives Foundation and includes live music and a legendary après party. | rideboreal.com

Luggi Foeger Uphill/Downhill Festival

Subaru Winterfest

The weekend features an uphill face to the top of the mountain followed by a race back down to the finish line, along with a recreational course, ski boot races, live music, fun relays and more. Costumes are strongly encouraged. | diamondpeak.com

March 13-15 | Sierra-at-Tahoe | Twin Bridges Enjoy live music by emerging artists, along with s’mores and craft coffee, daily giveaways and test the latest gear. | sierraattahoe.com

Clover Cup March 14 | Woodward Tahoe | Soda Springs

March 28 & 29 | Diamond Peak

NASTAR National Championships March 31 | Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows

Woodward Tahoe is hosting a fun-filled day of action sports competitions — skate, scooter and BMX — to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with lots of clovers, high fives, smiles and green clothes. | rideboreal.com

An exciting week of activities with free concerts, autograph signings by NASTAR Pacesetters, a raffle, awards receptions, a Family Team Race, a Team Race for Friends, a Resort Team competition, a slalom competition and a final Race of Champions to determine overall winners. | squawalpine.com

Gold Rush Festival

Beyond the Boundaries Camp

March 14 & 15 | Royal Gorge Cross Country | Soda Springs

April 3-5 | Boreal Mountain | Soda Springs

This cross-country festival at Royal’s Gorge’s Summit Station hosts a number of races both classic and freestyle in a number of distances. There are also kids’ races and obstacle races. | royalgorge.com

Beyond the Boundaries provides a women’s snowboard camp that is freestyle focused with pro-rider coaches and staff. Private parks, morning yoga, goodie bags and celebratory aprés create this weekend snowboarding experience. | rideboreal.com

US Freestyle Moguls Championship March 19-22 | Squaw Valley | Olympic Valley National team members and divisional athletes will face off on the renowned Red Dog ski run. | squawalpine.com

Subaru WinterFest

Spring Fling Rail Jam April 4 | Heavenly Mountain Resort | South Lake Tahoe Come compete or watch the fun at the base of World Cup for the annual Heavenly Spring Fling Rail Jam. | skiheavenly.com

March 20 | Boreal Mountain | Soda Springs

Boarding for Breast Cancer

Demo the latest equipment from Nordica and LibTech, grab great giveaways and hot chocolate, support Adaptive Sports Chapter, participate in the Subaru scavenger hunt or take a photo in the giant Subaru Adirondack chair. | rideboreal.com

Boarding for Breast Cancer partners with Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort for breast cancer awareness, prevention and fundraising during the Boarding for Breast Cancer event. | sierraattahoe.com

Pink Heavenly

Heavenly Pond Skim

March 21 | Heavenly Mountain | South Lake Tahoe

April 11 | Heavenly Mountain Resort | South Lake Tahoe

A family-friendly deck party, all-day music, costume contest and prizes will bring thousands of fun-loving, pink-clad participants together at the California Base Lodge. All proceeds benefit Barton Health cancer support services. | pinkheavenly.com

Come celebrate Spring and see if you can make it across the pond or cheer on others as they skim or sink at Heavenly’s Pond Skim. | skiheavenly.com

PinkFest Tahoe March 21 | Mt. Rose Ski Area

28

Pride Ride

Mt. Rose hosts its annual PinkFest Tahoe fundraiser featuring women’s specialized clinics, ski and snowboard clinics and a Deck Party at Winters Creek Lodge. | RSVP pinkfesttahoe.com

April 4 | Sierra-at-Tahoe | Twin Bridges

Billy Dutton Uphill April 12 | Squaw Valley | Olympic Valley Participants start at the base of KT-22 and go up the Mountain Run to High Camp. Ski it, skin it, run it, snowshoe or hike, whatever works. The Billy Dutton Uphill is a unique race with a tough 2,000 feet of climbing over the 3.2-mile course. | squawalpine.com

December 12-18, 2019 | MUSIC, EVENTS & FESTIVALS

Jen Schmidt | Diamond Peak

DUMMY DOWNHILL | MARCH 22

frivolity & festivities

Retro Après Ski Party

SnowFest!

Dec. 28 | Alpine Bar | Alpine Meadows

Feb. 28-March 8 | Area venues

Pay tribute to the good ol’ times and get ready to say goodbye to 2019.

Grab your best retro après ski gear and meet Jonny Moseley, host of an unforgettable throwback party. There’ll be a live DJ mixing classic beats from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. | squawalpine.com

Every spring since 1982, North Lake Tahoe has come alive with 10 funfilled days and nights of events and activities for all ages. On and off the mountain, at North Tahoe’s resorts and lakeside neighborhoods, enjoy onsnow events, special events, parades, races, parties, concerts, theater and more. | tahoesnowfest.org

White Out Soirée Dec. 28 | Olympic Village Lodge | Olympic Valley This dazzling evening is filled with delicious food, dancing and merrymaking to celebrate the holiday season and support Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Foundation. Guests will enjoy an outstanding silent auction and rockin’ music. | squawalpine.com

Winter Fireworks Jan. 4-Feb. 22 | Squaw Valley | Olympic Valley Enjoy a winter fireworks celebration every Saturday at 7 p.m. at KT Deck. | squawalpine.com

Snowshoe Cocktail Races Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 21, April 18 | Camp Richardson | South Lake Tahoe Think you have what it takes to run with a full cocktail tray in hand through obstacles up and down the beach while wearing snowshoes? We have great prizes for the fastest (and cleanest) at the obstacle course finish line. | camprichardson.com

Leap of Love Feb. 29 | Squaw Valley | Olympic Valley Leap of Love is for couples ready to get married or those wanting to renew their vows on the High Camp Upper Deck with a light reception to follow in the Terrace Room that offers panoramic views of the Sierras and Lake Tahoe. | squawalpine.com

Cocktail Bingo March 7 | Historic Downtown Truckee Truckee Downtown Merchant Association offers a bi-annual tradition of fun, laughter and play with eight games of bingo. There will be a no-host bar and small assortment of snacks. | historictruckee.com

Monster Jam March 20-22 | Reno Livestock Events Center Watch some of the best tricks and stunts from Monster Trucks, ATVs and Speedsters with fun for the entire family. | monsterjam.com

UllrFest

Dummy Downhill

Jan. 24-25 | Diamond Peak Ski Resort | Incline Village, Nev.

March 22 | Diamond Peak | Incline Village, Nev.

The 10 annual UllrFest is a benefit weekend to raise funds for the Diamond Peak Ski Team. It kicks off Friday night with a torchlight parade, bonfire, party and live music. There are also a gala and auction at The Chateau.

Dress in Ullr attire; the event is named for the Scandinavian god of winter and snow. | diamondpeak.com

Join the fun at the 19th annual Dummy Downhill. Participants build a dummy on skis (or a snowboard) that gets launched off a jump on Show-Off while spectators cheer them on from the Base Lodge Deck. This wacky event is fun for the whole family. | diamondpeak.com

th

Winterpalooza Jan. 26 | Snowplay Area | Tahoe Donner Winterpalooza may be the most exciting day of the year at Snowplay, with tube racing, snowman building, relay races, a snowstrider course and much more. | tahoedonner.com

Downhill Dummy Contest April 12 | Tahoe Donner Downhill Join Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort for the annual end of season bash. Enjoy food and beverage specials, a bounce house, live music and the traditional Downhill Dummy event, in which teams build unique dummies to send sliding down the hill and off a massive jump. | tahoedonner.com

Glowstick Parade & Carnival Feb. 22 | Tahoe Donner Downhill A light parade and carnival for kids. Children 10 or younger who can ski or ride unassisted in the dark on our Snowbird run will be given glowsticks. | tahoedonner.com

29

MUSIC SCENE

Music SCENE TheTahoeWeekly.com

LIVE MUSIC, SHOWS & NIGHTLIFE

BECOMING

Del the Funky Homosapien

TAYLOR TOMLINSON

STORY BY SEAN McALINDIN

T

eren Delvon Jones grew up in 1970s Oakland surrounded by his parents’ record collection.

“My father was up on musical styles like reggae and jazz,” says the artist better known as Del the Funky Homosapien. “He was into the deeper stuff while my mom listened to pop hits and Motown.”

A self-proclaimed nerd, Del found the hip-hop lifestyle at a tender age. He started out writing poetry before discovering rap on the black comedy of party records by Richard Pryor and other comedians. The 1979 “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang was a historical jumping-off point.

“I heard that and I liked it, but I knew that wasn’t, like, the real,” he says. “I heard how people really talk.”

Along came RUN-DMC in 1983.

“Anything tight to us was ‘the beat.’ The harder it was, the more it was ‘the beat’ to us. There were other records out like Prince and Michael Jackson, but that was crap to me. “Sucker M.C.’s” was just hard rhymes and a beat. It was the hardest I’d ever heard. To my young mind, that was the hardest out there.”

This was in a time before rap music went mainstream. Del listened to KZSU Stanford University and KPOO San Francisco on the weekends and visited mom-and-pop shop Leopold Records whenever he could to peep the newest jams. He subscribed to The Source when it was only a newsletter.

“There wasn’t too many people that were into rap,” he says. “It was strange to people. It was hella new. If you’d been from New York, it was nothing to you, but on the West Coast we got shit hella late.

Dec. 12 | 7 p.m. | Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor | Reno, Nev. “How Hip Hop Stole Christmas” w/Domino & Chali 2na Dec. 13 | 9 p.m. | MontBleu Resort Casino | Stateline, Nev.

COMEDY

Dec. 12-14 | Various times Pioneer Underground | Reno, Nev. RENO TAHOE Comedy presents comedian Taylor Tomlinson who has appeared on “The Tonight Show,” “Conan” and Netflix. At 25, she is one of America’s youngest comedy headliners delighting audiences coast-to-coast with her sharp crowd work, biting wit and self-deprecating point of view. | pioneercenter.com

DANIEL TOSH HIP HOP

“I felt like hip hop lost a lot of its audience because it was overwhelming them. For the average person it was doing too much. I wanted to pull back a little.”

–Del the Funky Homosapien

People used to think I was from New York because I was always up on the styles. I was a fiend for it. I wanted anything I could get my hands on. As the culture started growing, stuff like that started to appear and everybody just grew together.”

Del’s first foray into public performance came in the form of talent shows and unsanctioned rap battles at King Estates Junior High School in Oakland.

“It was something we did for a reaction or for fooling around,” he says. “Maybe I was cutting class and with my homies.

Eventually it would get to the point where there was a crowd and the whole school was gathered around. The principal had to break it up a few times.”

A family trip to Los Angeles took his 30

music career to the next level when he met Sir Jinx, a DJ in the early rap group C.I.A. with Del’s cousin, O’Shea Jackson, aka Ice Cube. In fact, it was Jinx who introduced Jackson to his own cousin, Dr. Dre, to form the ground-breaking rap group N.W.A. “[Ice Cube] was slightly older than me,” says Del. “Previous to that he would be around, but at this point he was out looking for girls. So I went next door. Dre’s aunt lives next to my aunt. Jinx was playing with remote-control cars or some shit. He was as old as my cousin, but outside doing the same thing I probably would’ve been doing. I learned everything about production and how to make songs from him.”

Del signed with Street Knowledge Productions and released his debut record

“I Wish My Brother George Was Here” in 1991 before founding legendary hip-hop crew Hieroglyphics back in Oakland. After innovative collaborations with Kid Koala and Gorillaz, his most recent album “Gate 13” was created with alternative hip-hop producer Amp Live.

“We wanted things to be fundamentally sound,” says Del. “I felt like hip hop lost a lot of its audience because it was overwhelming them. For the average person it was doing too much. I wanted to pull back a little.”

The album is full of witty wordplay over simple drum and bass that recalls the golden era of hip hop Del helped to create.

“I’m older so I guess it’s a matter of perspective, but I feel like we had more to say or we were allowed to say more back then than we are now,” he says. “For a lot of the artists today their end game is to be famous or get money or whatever. After Puff Daddy and all that shit, you’re thinking, ‘I’m about to have millions.’ I didn’t grow up that like. It was was like ‘Are you out your mind?’ It just so happened that hip hop actually changed the world like it did in the end.” | jubjubsthirstparlor.com, montbleuresort.com 

COMEDY

Dec. 13 | 7 p.m.

Grand Sierra Resort | Reno, Nev. AMERICAN FUNNYMAN Daniel Tosh is best for the offensive and controversial black comedy he honed on his longstanding Comedy Central program, “Tosh.0.” | grandsierraresort.com

December 12-18, 2019

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

CALENDAR DECEMBER 12-19, 2019

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AT

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

Click on Music Scene.

DECEMBER 12 | THURSDAY The Brewery Comedy Tour Alibi Ale Works, Truckee, 5-6:30 p.m.

Luke Stevenson Lone Eagle Grille, Incline Village, 6-10 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Titou The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Live Music McP’s Irish Pub, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

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

MUSIC SCENE

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

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

Tim Bluhm & Coffis Brothers Alibi Ale Works - Truckee Public House, Truckee, 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m.

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

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

Magic After Dark Starring Robert Hall The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 9-10:30 p.m.

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

How Hip Hop Stole Christmas MontBleu Resort, Stateline, 9 p.m.

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

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

Noche Latina Rojos Cavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m.

Luke Stevenson plays at the Lone Eagle Grille in Incline Village on Dec. 18.

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

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

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

DECEMBER 13 | FRIDAY Kris Diehl The Idle Hour, South Lake Tahoe, 2 p.m.

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

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

Handel’s Messiah Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 3 p.m.

Do You Think You Can Dance? Dance Recital Incline High School, Incline Village, 5-6 p.m.

Luke Stevenson Lone Eagle Grille, Incline Village, 6-10 p.m.

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

Open Mic Night Art Truckee, Truckee, 7 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Titou The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

Ike & Martin Jake’s On The Lake, Tahoe City, 7 p.m.

“The Addams Family” Boys & Girls Club NLT, Kings Beach, 7 p.m.

Jubilate! Holiday Concert Assumption Catholic Church, Truckee, 7 p.m.

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

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

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

Heidalicious & DJ Ang Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, 11 p.m.

DECEMBER 14 | SATURDAY Kris Diehl The Idle Hour, South Lake Tahoe, 2 p.m.

“The Addams Family” Boys & Girls Club NLT, Kings Beach, 2 p.m.

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

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

Holiday Music w/Sierra Strings South Lake Tahoe Library, South Lake Tahoe, 3 p.m.

Luke Stevenson Lone Eagle Grille, Incline Village, 6-10 p.m.

“The Addams Family” Boys & Girls Club NLT, Kings Beach, 7 p.m.

“The Twisted Nutcracker & the Tale of the Rat King” Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Olympic Valley, 7 p.m.

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

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

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

31

MUSIC SCENE

TheTahoeWeekly.com

JD McPHERSON

Swing Alibi Ale Works - Truckee Public House, Truckee, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Live Music McP’s Irish Pub, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

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

Dec. 14 | 9 p.m.

Crystal Bay Casino | Crystal Bay, Nev. JD MCPHERSON’S fourth album “Socks” is full of tongue-in-cheek holiday spirit. He joins Joel Paterson for a rock ‘n’ roll Christmas tour focused on both original music and classic hits from the 1940s and 50s. | crystalbaycasino.com

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AT

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

Click on Event Calendar. FREE! Jim Herrington

IKE & MARTIN HOLIDAY ROCK

SUGAR PINES FOLK

Dec. 13 | 7 p.m.

Jake’s on The Lake | Tahoe City Dec. 18 | 7 p.m.

Alibi Ale Works | Incline Village, Nev. TAHOE’S FAVORITE acoustic rock duo, Ike & Martin, is one part swinging 1960s Cockney and one part Mississippi good ol’ boy. Together on guitar and violin, they travel through a broad and energetic array of crowd-sourced requests. | alibialeworks.com

CLASSIC ROCK

Dec. 14 | 11:30 a.m. | Sugar Bowl | Norden Dec. 20 | 8:30 p.m. | Alibi Ale Works Incline Village, Nev. TAHOE TRUCKEE School of Music founder Ben Martin leads this group of local musicians who play classic rock with vocal harmonies woven of pure mountain air. | sugarbowl.com, alibialeworks.com

SV Snow Removal

AIRPORT SHUTTLE SERVICE

North Lake Tahoe Express Daily airport shuttle 6:00am–midnight

d Squaw Valley d 10 years experience d Local references d We use shovels & snow blowers Call Bob at (530) 412-2703

Major Motion Pictures · Independent Films Live Music · Dance Performances

Every Day Low Fares $49 One way per person $98 Round-trip per person Large group discounts NorthLakeTahoeExpress.com (866)216-5222

Frozen 2 Dec. 12

Parasite

DEC. 14 | SATURDAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

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

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

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

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

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

Magic Fusion Starring Titou The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.

JD McPherson w/ Joel Paterson Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, 9 p.m.

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

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

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

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

DECEMBER 15 | SUNDAY Live Music McP’s Irish Pub, South Lake Tahoe, 2-5 p.m.

“The Addams Family” Boys & Girls Club NLT, Kings Beach, 2 p.m.

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

Jubilate! Holiday Concert Assumption Catholic Church, Truckee, 2 p.m.

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

“The Twisted Nutcracker & the Tale of the Rat King” Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Olympic Valley, 7 p.m.

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

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

Dec. 13-18

Fresh Set of Tracks: a snowmobiling documentary with Duncan Lee Dec. 18

Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker Dec. 19-Jan. 16

NorthLakeTahoeExpress.com 32

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

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

DECEMBER 16 | MONDAY Song Group Tahoe Truckee School of Music, Truckee, 5:15-6:30 p.m.

Magic Fusion Starring Titou The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

DECEMBER 17 | TUESDAY Magic Fusion Starring Titou The Loft, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.

DECEMBER 18 | WEDNESDAY Mid-Day Movies Community Arts Center, Truckee, 1 p.m.

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

Luke Stevenson Lone Eagle Grille, Incline Village, 6-10 p.m.

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

Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7-8:30 p.m.

Ike & Martin Alibi Ale Works, Incline Village, 7 p.m.

Live Music McP’s Irish Pub, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

MURS Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, 8 p.m.

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

Open Mic Rosie’s Cafe, Tahoe City, 9 p.m.

DECEMBER 19 | THURSDAY Luke Stevenson Lone Eagle Grille, Incline Village, 6-10 p.m.

“The Christmas Express” Truckee Community Theater, Truckee, 7 p.m.

The Christmas Express Truckee Community Theater, Truckee, 7-9 p.m.

Live Music McP’s Irish Pub, South Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

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

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

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

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

Shakespeare announces

2020 Tahoe Season Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival 2020 is scheduled from July 3 to Aug. 23 at Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park and for the 48th season will feature “Much Ado About Nothing,” Shakespeare’s battle of wits and wills, and “Mamma Mia!,” the feel-good musical. Both productions will be performed in rotating repertory, Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m.

Discounted early-bird tickets and two-show subscription packages are on sale now. | (800) 747-4697, laketahoeshakespeare.com

Local

TA S T Y TIDBITS

Send Tidbits to editor@tahoethisweek.com

FOOD & WINE, RECIPES, FEATURES & MORE

Truckee River Winery tasting room closing Truckee River Winery is closing its tasting room in Truckee in January because the property is being sold. The winery will continue to make and sell wine through online sales and its wine club, with a new Web site debuting in December.

The winery will continue to have wine club allocations and pick-up parties with the next one on Dec. 14 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the tasting room. | truckeeriverwinery.com

Thai on Ski Run opens Thai on Ski Run has opened in South Lake Tahoe in the former Nephele’s location. The restaurant features authentic Thai cuisine with lunch specials offered Monday to Friday during non-holiday periods. The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 1169 Ski Run Blvd. #6. | (530) 420-8424, Thai on Ski Run on Facebook

Holiday Mixology

Resort at Squaw Creek Olympic Valley | Dec. 13

December 12-18, 2019

flavor

T H E M A J E S T Y O F H O L I D AY

gingerbread displays S T O R Y B Y P R I YA H U T N E R

T

he scent of ginger, cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon is unmistakable and nostalgic; the holiday season is here. Gingerbread is one of the desserts that remind me of this time of year. Gingerbread comes in many forms whether it’s a crispy ginger-snap cookie, a soft, moist loaf cake or a colorful holiday gingerbread house that delights children and adults alike. Gingerbread houses range from simple to outrageously elaborate. A number of gingerbread displays that stand out can be seen at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley, Harveys and Harrah’s Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nev., and Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, Nev. Executive pastry chef Jeremy Moore at the Hyatt Regency created a unique, life-sized Advent calendar made of gingerbread for this year’s holiday season. The creation is 14 feet long and 10 feet tall complete with lights, ornaments, and Santa eating cookies by the

4 p.m. | (530) 581-6610, destinationhotels.com

Grinch Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl Area venues | Virginia City | Dec. 14 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | visitvirginiacity.com

“ I use a lot of ginger, butter and molasses so that the house will smell really good. It is meant to last for a month. Brown sugar and molasses are both natural preservatives.”

Carson Mall Wine Walk

Carson Mall | Carson City | Dec. 14 2-6 p.m. | visitcarsoncity.com

Tail & Ale

Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino Crystal Bay | Dec. 14

5-9 p.m. | (775) 831-0660, northernlightstahoe.com

Moonlight Snowshoe Tour & Dinner Alpine Meadows Ski Area Tahoe City | Dec. 14, 17-19

5:30 p.m. | squawalpine.com

Tahoe Club Crawl

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe Stateline | Dec. 14 7-10 p.m. | eventbrite.com

Edible Art with Chef Pete St. Mary’s Art Center Virginia City | Dec. 15

1-4 p.m. | (775) 847-7774, stmarysartcenter.org

Art of Mixology

Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe Truckee | Dec. 15

4-5 p.m. | chamber.truckee.com

Far West Nordic’s Auction, Dinner & Raffle Tahoe Yacht Club | Truckee | Dec. 15 5:30-8:30 p.m. | facebook.com

Anthony Chophouse Wine Dinners

Nugget Casino Resort | Sparks | Dec. 19 5 p.m. | (775) 356-3300

Tahoe Forest Cooking Club

Tahoe Forest Center for Health Truckee | Dec. 19

5:30-6:30 p.m. | (530) 587-3769, tfhd.com

LOCAL FLAVOR

fireplace. On Christmas Day, Mrs. Clause will make a visit. Moore started baking the gingerbread in mid-November.

“I use a lot of ginger, butter and molasses so that the house will smell really good. It is meant to last for a month. Brown sugar and molasses are both natural preservatives,” Moore says.

He mixed up 300 pounds of bread flour, 160 pounds of butter, 120 pounds of brown sugar and 15 gallons of molasses. The dough is then refrigerated for a couple of days.

Moore and his team run the dough through a sheeter, which is an electric rolling pin.

“Once the dough is rolled out into giant sheets, we bake them,” he says.

He uses 3-inch-by-12-inch molds and bakes 700 pieces of cookie in a walk-in oven that holds 150 cookies at a time.

“I use an egg-white wash to give the sheets a crinkle look,” he says.

The next step is the assembly, which requires building a wooden support frame.

The display takes weeks to put together.

Instead of glue, Moore uses an egg white and powdered sugar mixture. He uses a thicker combination of these ingredients to pipe in the areas that need extra securing.

A fireplace is in the middle and there are 24 12-inch-by-12-inch doors that open.

Behind each door there will be lights and ornaments.

“Every morning at 9 a.m. a person from the Hyatt leadership will open a door and give out prizes and gifts for the people that are there,” says Moore. “We wanted to create something that is nontraditional.

–Jeremy Moore

The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe created a life-sized Advent Calendar for its gingerbread display this year. | Courtesy Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe

MAKE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE AT HOME From the kitchen of Executive Chef Jeremy Moore 1 lb. brown sugar 1 lb., 4 oz. butter (or shortening) 5 oz. water ½ oz. baking soda 1 quart molasses 1 ¼ oz. ground ginger 2 lbs., 8 oz. bread flour

Resort at Squaw Creek features a life-sized Gingerbread Village every year. | Courtesy Resort at Squaw Creek

The life-sized display is an extravaganza not to be missed and will on display through the holidays.

Another spectacular display is at the Resort at Squaw Creek with its annual Gingerbread Village featuring a running train and pictures. Santa will also be in the village. The display is part of the resort’s holiday celebration Magical Memories with events throughout December.

Both Harveys and Harrah’s create elaborate gingerbread displays that depict scenes from the region. In the lobby of Harveys Lake Tahoe, you can see a gingerbread rendition of Emerald Bay, complete with Vikingsholm, the “M.S. Dixie” and surrounding mountains. In the lobby of Harrahs, the gingerbread display will feature a snowy, alpine village scene. | hyatt.com, destinationhotels.com/squawcreek, caesars. com/harrahs, caesars.com/harveys 

Cream the brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Scrape the bowl. Pour in the water and molasses and mix on a low speed for 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl. Pour in the bread flour, ground ginger and baking soda and mix on low speed for 5 minutes. Place onto a baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Place dough in the refrigerator for 2 days minimum to allow the dough time to absorb the water and firm up.

Roll dough to 3 millimeters (.12 inches) in thickness.

Cut shapes to fit your personal design (search for plans for gingerbread houses online). Brush with egg whites to get a crackled look or egg yolks for a shiny look.

Bake dough until hard at 330 degrees. Large pieces will take 30-plus minutes; small pieces may only need 20 minutes.

Allow to cool and store at room temperature for at least one day. After baking, the ginger-bread will last for months. Decorate to taste.

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. Read more at TheTahoe-Weekly.com; click on Local Flavor. Send story ideas to priya@tahoethisweek.com. | (772) 913-0008, pria78@gmail.com, seasonedsage.com

33

LOCAL FLAVOR

TheTahoeWeekly.com

PINOT GRIS AND

Eclectic old world Ambiance Home made Pastas Wide-ranging Wine list

P in o t Grig io

STORY & PHOTOS

BY LOU PHILLIPS

N

eed a sophisticated wine that delivers crisp mineral-laden citrus and palateclearing acidity? Or a simple, inexpensive people-pleaser that offends none? How about a complex vino that is full of luscious tree fruit and honeysuckle flavors? Or a blush wine with spice and structure? Well, then look no further than Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio.

Unlike most wines that achieve their highest potential in one specific region when crafted in a certain style, Pinot Gris/Grigio is one of the wine world’s beautiful chameleons. Even at full ripeness, this grape can

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present skin color from almost clear to grey — hence the name — to a soft, dusky rose or purple blush. We mostly see it made into white wine; the pigmented skins are removed as soon as the grapes are pressed.

with notoriously difficult vegetables to pair with wines, such as asparagus or artichokes.

Oregon wineries have taken Pinot Gris as their signature white wine and quality versions come in either of the above-mentioned styles. Depending on what you are serving them with, they make for wonderful wine matches for northwest cuisine, but also make for great aperitif pours. As you have probably guessed, it is best to know which Pinot Gris/Grigio you are getting into. Even the simple, watery ver-

Pinot Gris/Grigio wines make for the most refreshing of drinking experiences and a seafood match of the highest order.

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When grown and produced in the Dolomite mountains of northeast Italy, the grape expresses an intense almost clear laser beam of classic, crisp citrus flavors and an undeniable lick-a-rock minerality.

These wines make for the most refreshing of drinking experiences and a seafood match of the highest order.

A Grand Cru-level Alsatian Pinot Gris will be a full-bodied, complex, goldenhued beauty with luscious fruits and winter spices. Alsatians and others adore these wines with vegetable courses and meat dishes with rich sauces. This wine goes well

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sions ubiquitous in California and much of Italy make for good cheap quaffs and sort of an intro-to-wine wine. These are best served chilled.

Here are the rules of thumb for your Pinot Gris/Grigio wine exploration.

• Ask your knowledgeable wine purveyor because he or she should know exactly what style wine is in the bottle.

• Regions are another good rule for success in your Pinot Gris/Grigio experience. When following the wine descriptions and experience matches given earlier for each type, you will rarely go astray.

• The best tip of all is to fetch examples of each of these types, gather some friends and have yourselves a Pinot Gris/Grigio party extraordinaire.

Cheers. 

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TheTahoeWeekly.com Explore more wines with Sommelier Lou Phillips. Click on Local Flavor: Wine Column.

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) 5443435 or wineguru123@gmail.com. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for more wine columns. Click on Wine Column under the Local Flavor tab.

LOCAL FLAVOR

December 12-18, 2019

BEEF ROULADEN B Y C H E F D AV I D “ S M I T T Y ” S M I T H

I

had been getting as much hiking in as possible before the snow started. And, I hadn’t really wanted to do much cooking after getting home. I would hike and then cook something quick and easy at home like a salad. Then, I splurged and grilled a steak one night. It reminded me of how much I like meat and so I am dedicating this recipe to myself and all you other carnivores out there.

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normally see because of the fairly unique ingredients.

This is a dish we used to have in Vermont quite a bit when I was working at the small Austrian Inn. Chef Dietmar would grind his own veal stuffing, but you can use ground beef and save yourself the extra work and cash. The rouladen is braised, which means it gets seared in a heavy pan, and then liquid is added and it gets finished in the oven.

If you happen to have a cast-iron skillet, that is the perfect pan for this. Also, just so you know, this is quite often called a roulade, but since Chef Dietmar always called it rouladen, that’s good enough for me.

The rouladen is different than most beef dishes you will normally see because of the fairly unique ingredients. Like the name implies, it is a piece of beef that is seasoned and rolled up with a stuffing. Unlike most stuffings, however, this one consists of pickle, carrot and celery sticks along with strips of bacon. You roll it up the same way you would roll up a jelly roll, so you don’t want the filling to cover the entire piece

of meat you are going to roll up or it won’t seal all the way.

There also is a simple pan sauce to make once the meat has finished cooking to top it off. So the next time you are thinking you want to try something different, try this German/Austrian dish and enjoy.  Smitty is a personal chef specializing in dinner parties, cooking classes and special events. Trained under Master Chef Anton Flory at Top Notch Resort in Stowe, Vt., Smitty is known for his creative use of fresh ingredients. Contact him at tmmsmitty@gmail.com or (530) 412-3598. To read archived copies of Smitty’s column, visit chefsmitty.com or TheTahoeWeekly.com. Click on Chef’s Recipe under the Local Flavor tab.

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BEEF ROULADEN

From the kitchen of: Chef David “Smitty” Smith 2 lbs. beef, cut into 4 to 6, ¾-inch thick cutlets pounded thin 1 lb. ground beef 1 yellow onion, diced small to medium 4-6 thin carrot sticks, almost as long as the cutlets, lightly blanched 4-6 thin celery sticks, almost as long as the cutlets, lightly blanched 4-6 dill pickle sticks, almost as long as the cutlets, slightly thicker than the veggies (use the outer crisp section of the pickle and not the center) 4-6 bacon strips, as long as the cutlets, cut in half lengthwise (use one half of the bacon strip for each rouladen) as long as the cutlets 2 T Dijon Pinch of marjoram Pinch of thyme Pinch of garlic powder Salt & pepper 3 bay leaves 2 C water or beef broth 2 T butter

Lay out the cutlets and season with salt and pepper, marjoram and thyme. Spread the mustard over them until about 1 inch on one side. Lightly sauté half the onion and add it to the ground beef. Season with a little salt and pepper.

Spread the ground beef over the cutlets, again leaving about 1 inch from one side uncovered.

Lay one each of the carrots, celery, pickles and bacon down the cutlet just a little closer to the side covered with the stuffing. Roll the cutlets toward the side that has no filling on it. Tie them with butcher’s twine.

Get the skillet hot; sear the meat all the way around in half the butter. Add the liquid and bay leaves and cover with foil. Place in the oven for about an hour or until cooked through and tender. Remove the rouladen from the pan and pour the liquid into a bowl. Brown the rest of the onions in the rest of the butter and add the liquid back to the pan. Let reduce and season as needed.

This should be a fairly thin sauce; you don’t need to thicken it but if you want it thicker, you can make a little brown roux.

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