Beginners

I’m going to apologize right now. I can’t anticipate what this storm system will throw at us, so some of these planned events could get cancelled. One event that is never afraid of Mother Nature is the Downtown Carson City Wine Walk. Come rain, shine, or blizzard, you’ll find can sip, stroll, and discover starting at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Carson Hot Springs aren’t afraid of a little snow, and a special visit from Megan the Mermaid will make the icy hot experience more memorable. Keep reading to see what this slushy weekend has to offer.

SATURDAY:

It’s no secret that I’m ready for spring, but I’d like to see a little winter show up first. Seems that I got my wish this week. We’ll get a nice dusting here in the valley, with a few inches in the mountains. Roads will be slippery, especially that bridge to Reno, so keep the driving to a minimum.

February is coming to a close, and we’ve got the chance at a nice weekend. Explore a new trail with Muscle Powered as they take on the Fay-Luther Trail south of Genoa. If you’re in a theater kind of mood, catch the Proscenium Players’ production of ‘Love Letters.’ See what the Nevada Artists Association has been up to during their Grand Re-opening and Winter Art Show Reception this afternoon. Read on and see what options the weekend brings.

SATURDAY:    

• — Flying Pig Flea Market at Fuji Park (8am-3pm; $1 admission, kids free) 

Thank goodness that there won’t be any school traffic on this very cold and icy morning. Presidents Day is a day off for the kids, so let them stay in their warm beds. Dollar days at the Gold Dust West and Carson Lanes Bowling Alleys can be a fun activity if you venture out. The Proscenium Players are still looking for members of their Repertory Theater troupe, so don’t miss their last audition event this evening. The Empty Bowls Project Soup Fest is a delicious part of the Silver and Snowflakes Tree Lighting Ceremony in December, but the planning begins now.

There is absolutely a little bit of everything this weekend. There’s somewhere to volunteer, somewhere to eat some fundraising pancakes, join in an Asian New Year Lion Dance Parade, Beer Crawl in downtown Carson City, and get your Zumba on. I think the eclectic mix of happenings is one of my favorite things about our corner of the world. Whether it’s the International Film Festival, the Vagina Monologues, or telescope viewing at the WNC Observatory: you can’t tell me there is nothing to do.

SATURDAY:

Brrrrr. That chilly winter air has finally made an appearance, so pile on the layers and stay cozy. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed that some white stuff sticks to the mountains. Valentine’s Day is on Wednesday, so you’ll want to make reservations if you’re planning on dinner with your sweetheart. The Be Mine Gift and Craft Fair at the Carson Mall is a great place to find something unique for your one and only.

You can probably scratch ‘hitting the slopes’ off this weekend’s list of options, but you can hit the ‘hill’ instead: Prison Hill, to be exact. You’ll find the start and finish line for Ascent Runs’ ‘Love Can Be Cold’ 5 or 10K at the Prison Hill Southern Trailhead. If you’d rather crawl than run, Virginia City’s ‘Devil Made Me Do It’ Saloon Crawl might be for you. Find something special for your special someone at Artsy Fartsy’s annual Champagne and Jewelry Show or at the Valentine’s Craft Fair inside the Carson Mall.

There doesn’t seem to be any ‘brrrr’ in this February so far, and this week won’t buck the warm weather trend. A new exhibit can be found at the CCAI Gallery on the second floor of the Carson City Courthouse: Writing from Mars, by Rick Parsons, is on display until May 23. Red’s Old 395 is known for their happy hour with great drink prices and yummy appetizers. Martinis are half-price today if you need to unwind.

For many, today is all about the big game. For others, it’s just about the commercials. For some, it’s no big deal at all. Either way, I’ve got you covered. You’ll find where to watch and where to bet on your favorites. Today is your last chance to audition for the upcoming production of ‘The Producers,’ so swing by the Brewery Arts Center if you’d like to be considered.

It’s hard to believe that it’s winter with these balmy temperatures. Take advantage of this beautiful day at the Downtown Carson City Wine Walk; grab a friend, a light jacket, and enjoy. See what the Wild Horse Children’s Theater’s elite performance troupe will be showcasing at an upcoming competition during a special presentation at the Carson Mall. If your bookshelves are looking a little bare, head to Dog Eared Books on Fairview where their fill-a-bag parking lot sale will have your reading list well supplied. Read on for a weekend full of happenings.

SATURDAY:

The weekend is over and we are just a few days from February. Let me be the first to remind you that Valentine's Day is just around the corner. If you have a romantic dinner in mind, make those reservations now. Start the week with some swing in your step; the High Sierra Swing Dance club will even get you started with some new moves. Sing the workweek blues away during karaoke night at the Fox Brewpub.

MONDAY:

Sunday offers some great options for a variety of interests. Learn about the Nevada State Children’s Home during the 1940s and 50s at a presentation hosted by the Carson City Historical Society. A free concert offered by the Capital City Community Band is perfect for all ages, and your donations will help the all-volunteer troupe cover the costs of their many free events throughout the year.

Sunny days in the fifties are okay for spring, but we still need some winter to come our way. Take advantage of the warmer weather during a Winter Hike along Carson Valley’s Pinion Trail with Muscle Powered. Song and dance kids will want to audition for the upcoming performance of ‘Willy Wonka, Jr.’ If you’re a fan of song, but possibly too old to join the Youth Theater Carson City cast, check out the monthly jam in Silver City at their historic School House. All instruments are welcome, in addition to vocalists and those who just want to listen.

It’s back to school for the students of Western Nevada College, and they’ll have the traveling exhibit ‘Geographical Divides: Finding Common Ground’ to enjoy in the Bristlecone Building’s Main Gallery. There’s a storm in the hills, and it might just make it into the valley, so bundle up and drive safely. Tonight, everyone is invited to the Healthy Communities Coalition’s monthly cooking class; you’ll learn to make a meal, and then sample it. Learn how to find your center with the Dharma Zephyr Sitting Group. Beginners begin at 5:30 p.m., and those with practice meet at 6:45 p.m.

It’s play-off Sunday and we are all picking the teams that we want to cheer for in the big game. You can watch the Jaguars battle the Patriots, then the Eagles attack the Vikings. You have one last chance to commune with the monks of India. There is a workshop at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Coincidentally the classic sci-fi movie, Alien, is playing at Galaxy Theater the same times. Get a glimpse inside the historic Wungnema house at the east end of Mills Park during the afternoon’s Open House.

Ready, set, crawl. The Brew Crew’s monthly pub crawl kicks off from the Laxalt Plaza next to the Nugget and includes up several downtown area taverns and restaurants. If your new year’s resolution includes volunteering, the Muscle Powered Trash Mob is a quick, but mighty, helping hand. Learn about the future of the Stewart Indian School Historic Site during an encore lecture at the Nevada State Museum. Flashback to Beatle-mania at the Brewery Arts Center or karaoke at Battleborn Social are just some of your nightlife options.

SATURDAY:

CARSON CITY — University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with the Nevada Department of Agriculture, will offer a series of eight classes for those in the green industry beginning Feb. 1. The program benefits people wanting to enter the industry, beginners in the industry and established industry professionals.

Deborah Stevenson offers a refreshing, six-week series, featuring simple movements and guided meditations for balance and renewal. This Sheng Zhen Qigong course is suitable for beginners who have an interest in meditation but "can't sit still." Qigong means “energy in motion” and its purpose is to open and purify the heart. Sitting, standing, and lying down meditations will be introduced. This class is perfect for seniors. Non-yogis are welcome; the form is easy to learn.

“Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by service… You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.” Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke those words, and they still ring true today. A community is what a community does, and ours is filled with people that do amazing things for others. As we stand at the beginning of a new year, consider getting involved with a local non-profit: FISH, Advocates to End Domestic Violence, and the Nevada Humane Society are just a few of the great organizations in our valley.

Playing in the snow probably isn’t an option for this weekend, but Singing in the Rain sure is. The kids of Youth Theater Carson City present a junior adaptation of the musical favorite this weekend and next. The Experimental Aircraft Association hosts ‘Young Eagle’ flights every few months at the Carson Airport to give kids 8 – 17 a plane ride to remember. Help out the Dayton Food Bank during their ‘Stuff-a-Cop-Car’ food drive at the Smith’s in Dayton; unexpired non-perishables of all kinds are appreciated. Read on and see what else the weekend brings.

SATURDAY:

This Monday might feel a little manic. The Carson and Lyon County kids are back at school (Douglas County starts up again tomorrow.) Rain is expected all day long, so indoor activities are your best bet. Inquiring minds will enjoy the ‘NASA at your Library’ program, just make sure to register online if your kid would like to participate. The High Sierra Swing Dance Club is back on the Eleventh Frame Lounge dance floor after a few weeks of holiday hiatus.

After back to back three-day weekends, this one may feel a little short. Grab onto the hours allotted and have a good time. The monthly downtown wine walk is a great way to catch up with friends after the bustle of the holiday season. The annual Be Bold, Run in the Cold Winter Trail Series offers the Winter Round-up 5 or 10K. If staying active is a resolution, then a brisk run in our hills fits the bill. For something less strenuous, you can join our Parks and Recreation Department for a Winter Wonderland Walk along the Carson River.

It’s finally here, the last weekend of 2017. It’s fairly quiet around town, until Sunday night, that is. Today, Muscle Powered is leading a five-mile half-day hike along Prison Hill. Take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather, and join them. The Carson Nugget is hosting three nights of comedy this weekend: catch Myles Weber on the stage tonight. Head’s up. Galaxy Theater usually plays a movie from the past on Sundays and Wednesdays. This week, we get treated to the Christmas Classic, Die Hard. You won’t want to miss that.

SATURDAY:

Before you break into the cookies, you might want to consider a morning bike ride with Muscle Powered; it won’t do anything for the calories, but it may assuage some guilt. If you’re over 21, then test your luck at the Senior Citizen’s Center. BINGO today raises money for the Meals on Wheels program that feeds home-bound seniors. You’ve got one last chance to see Santa Claus. Find him at the Carson Mall until 5 p.m. and then he’s off for his midnight ride.

If you’re anything like me, there are still plenty of last-minute preparations for the holiday. Luckily the shops and businesses around Carson City are there with open arms. Find something one of a kind at the Carson Mall Craft Fair, drop it off at the Rainbow Girls Assembly #7 gift wrapping booth, and grab lunch while you wait. Breakfast with Santa at the Fox Brewpub serves as a toy drive for area kids and as no-fuss way to get start the day with a full belly. Read on for a weekend full of holiday happenings.

SATURDAY:

It may be Monday, but the next one on the way is Christmas. If you still have some loved ones on your holiday shopping list, the Craft Fair at the Carson Mall is sure to have something for everyone. Monday also means football. Watch the Falcons take on the Buccaneers at Living the Good Life. You’ll find good food, good drinks, and the game on all of their screens. Put some swing in your step at Carson Lanes. The High Sierra Swing Dance Club meets weekly to learn some new dance moves and put them into action. Santa has been spotted at Red’s Old 395: from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

It’s beginning to look, and sound, a lot like Christmas. Let the Tintabulations Handbell Ensemble entertain you with the in the warmth and magic of the holiday season during their free Winter Wandering concerts. ‘Elf’ is a modern holiday classic, and you’ll find it on the big screen today and Wednesday at the Galaxy Theater. Track down Santa at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada; a family membership to the museum makes a great gift for anyone with little ones. Keep reading for even more Sunday fun day activities.

Santa comes in all shapes, sizes, and apparently, vehicles. Hop aboard the Santa Train at the Nevada Railroad Museum. It’s an out-of-this-world Alien Santa at the annual Zen Christmas at A to Zen. A cookie-loving Santa can be found at Adele’s during their annual toy drive for the Ron Wood Resource Center. If your ‘kids’ are the four-legged kind, then head over to PetSmart or Paws to Pur-fection Dog Grooming for your holiday photos. In addition to the Santa-mania, you’ll find a downtown Carson Beer Crawl, two plays at the Brewery Arts Center, and plenty of music.

It’s the beginning of another work week, and a chilly one, at that. Take an hour to get yourself grounded and ready for what life throws your way during ‘Motivation Monday’ Yoga at the Adams Hub. Learn something new in the kitchen at this month’s cooking demo and dinner at the Dayton Community Center.

You are in for a Holiday Treat today; the annual Carson City Symphony Winter Concert with Victorian Dancers in beautiful costumes takes to the stage. Take in a play at the Brewery Arts Center or play BINGO at the Senior Center. The Santa Train, the Living Nativity at the Methodist Church, and a remembrance ceremony at Walton’s Chapel are on the list, too. Sunday’s aren’t sleepy this time of year, so read on and take a look at your options.