great basin

There are some things that one never thinks they will see in their lifetime. I must admit, the Carson City Freeway was one of those things. But lo and behold, the new 580 extension opened its last leg to traffic yesterday. The hot summer temperatures continue, so seek indoor entertainment during the day and keep cool.

UPDATE from NDOT: Last leg of Carson City Freeway opens beginning at 10 am today. Be attentive. Anticipate changing traffic patterns.
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It may be a universal truth that kids love helicopters. Alright, everyone loves helicopters. Head to Mills Park for the annual ‘National Night Out’ with the Carson City Sheriff’s Department for free hot dogs, cool equipment, vendors, and more. Take a team of smarty-pants to Fox Brewpub and fight for a place on the DJ Trivia leaderboard. You’ll be whisked to ‘Non-stop New York’ at the Brewery Arts Center during tonight’s Classic Cinema Club film viewing.

TUESDAY:

Get ready to kiss July goodbye. August begins tomorrow and brings with it classic cars, the Virginia City Rodeo, and some scorching hot temperatures. Beat the heat with an ice cream cone from Baskin Robbins – today they’re offering a scoop for just $1.50. Survive the week and you’ll be rewarded with the downtown Carson City Wine Walk and the Silver Dollar Car Classic, just to name a few of your options. Keep your eye on my things to do, and all week long you’ll find something to enjoy.

MONDAY:

A sunny summer weekend has arrived and it brings numerous fun ways to seize the day. You can always head out hiking or spend the day at the pool, but the Carson City Fair is just here until Sunday. Farm animals, great exhibits, live entertainment, a carnival, and a bull-riding rodeo can be found at Fuji Park. Park your car at the Super Walmart on Topsy and you’ll be treated to a free shuttle. Go a little bit country at the Brewery Arts Center tonight; they are bringing back the Southern Drawl Band to the Minnesota Street Stage for this week’s free concert.

SATURDAY:

Another summer weekend has arrived. The Carson City Fair will be open all day, but tonight is something special. The Bulls, Broncs, and Barrels Rodeo takes over the Fuji Park Arena. You’ll find another free outdoor concert in McFadden Plaza this evening featuring Road Daddy, food and fun. Youth Theater Carson City debuts its newest production, Into the Woods, Jr., at the Community Center and is a great option for a special kids’ night out. Keep reading, and you’ll find all that the area has to offer for a great time.

FRIDAY:

Happy Thursday, Carson City. Help move the workweek along by doing something fun. You’ll always find the boys of J and M Productions running the karaoke show at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar. Living the Good Life has music every night Tuesday through Saturday, and tonight it is Dougie L’s turn to entertain. The Café at Adele’s is always a good choice for date night, but when they also have music on their veranda, you’ve got all the ingredients for a memorable night.

THURSDAY:

Today’s the day. Archie, the Reno Aces mascot, has been entrusted to once again oversee the grand opening of the Carson City Fair at Fuji Park. The soft opening of the accompanying carnival begins at 6 p.m. with one dollar rides. It’s Miss Scarlet with the lead pipe in the Observatory as the Carson City Library hosts a super-sized game of Clue for teens. Families will enjoy Beauty and the Beast, complete with a craft, if they sign up for the Library’s movie night. See what Teddy Roosevelt has to say at Dangberg Home Historic Ranch Park during tonight’s Chautauqua.

The Carson City Fair gathers steam today: they’ll be setting up the carnival, judging the items in the exhibit hall, and the 4-H kids are showing off what their dogs can do. It’s a play-doh afternoon at the Carson City Library, in addition to their weekly Pajama Story time on Tuesday evenings. The Carson Nugget is hosting a job fair to fill a plethora of positions in their restaurants and on the casino floor.

It won’t be lions, and tigers, and bears taking over Fuji Park; the Carson City Fair is more about bunnies, alpacas, pigs and chickens. It begins today with a 4-H dog show focusing on obedience and rally. You’ll have to wait until Wednesday for the carnival, but you’ll be rewarded for your patience with one dollar rides opening night, courtesy of Carson City Toyota. If you happened to be awake during the wee hours of the morning, you may have heard some thunder rattling about – there may be a little more of that on its way.

MONDAY:

It’s almost like Christmas Day for some of us locals: the long awaited Taste of Downtown has finally arrived. Food, drink, live music, rubbing elbows with friends and neighbors, and a new wine-tasting add-on make this one of the best parties of the year. The morning brings an unparalleled opportunity: you’ve got one chance to walk, run, or bike right down the middle of the freeway before the new bypass is open to vehicle traffic alone. Grab your favorite four-legged friend and head to Adele’s: Dining for Dog Town is a delicious way to help out this amazing rescue organization.

A whirlwind of a weekend is on its way and you may as well get it off to an incredible start. Stop by Living the Good Life and celebrate their third anniversary with an outdoor concert featuring Soul Connection. Telegraph Square has a stage set up for the Taste of Downtown tomorrow, so the Carson High Class of ’77 is hosting a street party with Prey for Son tonight. All Carson Alums (along with everyone else) are encouraged to come say hello.

Three new species of toads have been discovered living in Nevada’s Great Basin in an expansive survey of the 190,000 square mile ancient lake bottom.

I’m sending good thoughts to those in the California fire zones: with as bad as the smoke is here, I can only imagine how bad their eyes burn. Free ice cream and a concert featuring the Capital City Community Band can be found tonight at the First United Methodist Church on King Street. You’ll find free pool, a nice beer selection, and great drinks at Remedy’s Bar on Williams Street tonight. Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery celebrates the paper and book sculptures of mother-daughter team, My Thousand Words, at a meet and greet reception tonight. Keep reading for a plethora of ways to spend the day.

The weekend is inching closer, and bringing with it one of Carson City’s favorite events – The Taste of Downtown. The annual fundraiser for the Advocates to End Domestic Violence brings everyone downtown for samplings from our local restaurants, live music, and a good time had by all. Stay busy and the week will just fly by.

It is going to be a beautiful Tuesday: toasty, but not too hot, and with a nice afternoon breeze. As the summer goes along, kids get a little antsy. Take your grade schooler up to Silver City for their annual Bike Safety Rodeo and you’ll leave confident that they know the rules of the road. Hit the dance floor tonight. You can learn some beginning swing dance moves at El Charro Avita. Grab your partner and head to Carson Lanes for lessons in country line dancing and a good time with DJ Cowboy Bobby Truesdale.

TUESDAY:

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Monday has returned. Don’t worry, you’ll find plenty of things all week long to keep you occupied until the weekend returns. The Carson City Library continues its Summer Learning Program with a fun presentation on the butterflies and other bugs you can find in Nevada. Its family day at Carson Lanes, which means bowling is just one dollar per person per game all day long. Warm up those vocal chords for karaoke at the Fox Brewpub: Manic Monday by the Bangles or Monday, Monday by the Mama and the Papas might make for a good song choice.

What to do, what to do? That’s the question that starts most every weekend. If you’ve got kids, test their mettle at the annual Capitol City Triathlon. Open to kids of all ages, they will bike, run, and swim their way to the finish line. The third annual Sassabration event kicks off with a multi-colored, costume bike parade from the Brewery Arts Center to the celebration at Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint. Multiple bands, vendors, non-profit booths, free swimming at the Carson Hot Springs, not to mention the yummy food and drink available make this a not-to-be-missed festival.

I hope your dancing shoes are handy because the music will have you on your feet. Local favorites, Jelly Bread, take the stage at McFadden Plaza as part of the Fridays at the Fox series. Start the weekend with some belly laughs: either with Kevin Farley at the Brewery Arts Center or with Mrs. John Hughes at the Carson Nugget. Break a leg to our talented friends and neighbors participating in this year’s Senior Follies. ‘As Seen On TV’ marks the twentieth year the variety show has showcase local talent.

FRIDAY:

The sun keeps shining and the summer fun keeps on coming. Great live music tonight can be found on the Veranda at Adele’s, at Living the Good Life, on the stage at Sassafras, in the Glen Eagles Lounge, and at Battle Born Harley Davidson's Bike Night. The Carson Library starts the day with story time for the little ones, and ends with an exciting science presentation featuring Fire and Ice. Learn a little about Nevada with photographer Ernie Winters at the Gold Hill Hotel. He’ll take you back in time with color photographs of Virginia City in the 50s.

Are you ready for one of the best Wednesdays of the year? The annual Concert Under the Stars just gets bigger and better every year. Food trucks, a silent auction, an exciting live auction, and of course, some amazing music – this year, the Family Stone will be rocking the Brewery Arts Center Minnesota Street Stage. For some quieter entertainment, Doug Watson appears as ‘Will Rogers’ at Dangberg Home Historic Ranch. Take the kids to Galaxy Theaters tonight and introduce them to a timeless favorite, The Sandlot.

It was pointed out to me that this is a week full of palindromes – a bit of fun word play with something that is the same forward and backwards. July 11, __17 is also 7.11.17, tomorrow 7 12 17, and so on. Coincidentally today, 7/11, is also free slurpee day at your neighborhood 7-Eleven. A full moon and a performance by the Mile High Jazz Band in the Comma Coffee Courtyard. Living the Good Life goes acoustic with singer/songwriter Canyon White.
TUESDAY:

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Granted, some of us were without power for a little while, but with all the fun stuff going on, I hope you weren’t home to experience it. We’ve got one hot week coming up, so keep the water and sunscreen handy. Fox Brewpub wants to see you tonight for their weekly karaoke night, and tomorrow they are adding DJ Trivia to their line-up.

What are you in the mood for? The Third and Curry Farmers Market is always a great place to start off your weekend. Kids won’t mind getting up early for the Young Eagle airplane flights at the Carson City Airport – they are free of charge for kids 8 – 17, you just need to be on time for registration. The Annual Chili Cook-off returns to Glen Eagles this weekend; with live music, a craft fair, and lots of yummy stuff to eat, raising money for Honor Flight has never tasted so good. Keep reading, there is plenty more in store.

SATURDAY:

Whether you are looking for a night on the town with friends or something for the whole family, Carson City has got you covered. The Friday night concerts in the McFadden Plaza will get everyone movin' and groovin' - especially when a band like Mojo Green hits the stage. Kids will love the Dive-in Movie night at the Carson Aquatic Center. Moana will be playing on their big, new LED screen. The Trippin' King Snakes kick off the Summer Concert Series at Living the Good Life, followed by a DJ into the wee hours of the morning. Keep reading and prepare to have a great day.

And just like that, it’s almost the weekend. Karaoke at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar takes over their patio- a perfect place to enjoy a cocktail and sing a little song. Enjoy live music, a good drink and yummy food at Living the Good Life. Show off your chrome at the Silver Dollar Cruise Night – this week you meet up at the Courtyard by Marriot next to the Casino Fandango. If you love your chopper, then Bike Night at Battle Born Harley Davidson is your best bet to get the party started.

THURSDAY:

In and Around the Great Basin: Recent Plein Air Paintings from Erik Holland will be open to public viewing at the Rinckel Mansion throughout July.

The show opens with a reception to meet the artist Friday, July 7 (1–6 pm) and Saturday, July 8, (9 am - 6 pm). The show will hang through the end of July and be open to the public during business hours. This also affords an opportunity to see the beautifully restored Rinckel Mansion, one of Carson City's grand historic buildings.

Happy Wednesday, Carson City. The long holiday weekend is over, but you can keep the good times rolling. The Fox Brewpub is hosting their monthly Whiskey Wednesday tonight, complete with raffle prizes and of course, whiskey. The Classic Cinema Club pushed back their monthly movie viewing by a day, so head over to the BAC Performance Hall to watch ‘Three Came Home.’ Keep Tahoe Blue will be starting the day at numerous beaches; their annual clean-up is necessary after the fireworks.

It may just be the third of July, but our country’s birthday celebrations have already started. You’ll find the annual RSVP Carnival at Mills Park with games, rides, cotton candy, and hours of skateboarding feats of daring-do. It’s an old-fashioned Fourth of July Party at the Senior Center in Dayton, complete with a show-n-shine and yummy bar-be-que. Head up to Kings Beach in Lake Tahoe for the early-bird fireworks show and beach bash.

Cara Strasser, a member of the Great Basin Bee Keepers Association, places a swarm trap in the tree at Carson City's Foreman-Roberts House Museum, 1207 North Carson Street in Carson City on Friday, in an attempt to capture and relocate a swarm of honeybees.