Jack C. Davis Observatory

The Carson City Library held an event Thursday at the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College as part of the nationwide NASA@ My Library initiative.

The Carson City area is awash in entertainment, shopping, and family-friendly options this weekend. Santa Claus is popping up all over, including at Benson Feed for the annual CASI Pet Photos with St. Nick and aboard the train at our Railroad Museum’s Santa Train. The musical ‘Honk, Jr’ for the young ones and Love/Sick for the older crowd are on the stage at the Brewery Arts Center. Spend the day at the Silver Saddle Ranch: their annual Holiday Open House is the perfect time to explore their trails and learn more about the working ranch’s preservation.

The air may be brisk, but the view from C-Hill is rewarding. Meet up with Muscle Powered in the Curry Street parking lot behind the Railroad Museum for their afternoon conditioning hike. Get the little ones to the Carson Library for story time today; the Library will be undergoing some much needed sprucing up and will be closed for up to two months starting Dec. 10. Community Roots in Dayton hosts an open house to show off their collection of gifts, flowers, and more.

THURSDAY:

The rumors of Santa Claus coming to town are true. The jolly old man is making several appearances today, and is feeling photogenic. Take a ride with him at the Nevada State Railroad Museum, join him on the ‘Elf Crawl’ from the Capitol to the Carson Mall, or tell him your wish list at Debug Computers. Adults have a hard choice to make: the monthly downtown wine walk and the Holiday with a Hero Pub Crawl both take place today, and I’m not sure I’d recommend attempting both.

Everyone has a favorite alien movie. Whether it’s Alien, Star Wars, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Independence Day, Men in Black or Predator, extraterrestrials certainly have long captivated movie lovers.

Once the turkey has been devoured, all thoughts turn toward shopping. Shop Small Saturday helps to throw a spotlight on our local gems, and the great gifts you’ll find. New this year is Museum Store Sunday with both the Nevada State Museum and the Nevada State Railroad Museum participating. Make time for family and friends at the annual Nutcracker Ballet performed by Pinkerton Ballet at the Carson City Community Center. Keep reading and have a safe and happy holiday weekend.

FRIDAY:

With Thanksgiving just days away, the holiday season is just around the corner. The annual Holiday Craft Fair at Carson High features a plethora of handmade and locally crafted gifts for the loved ones on your shopping list. Take the plunge at the Carson Aquatic Center if you want to get a picture with Scuba Santa. Grab a coat, some friends, and your ID and head downtown for this month’s beer crawl. $15 gets you a glass and your first beer, from there you’ll pay only $1 for refills at several watering holes. There’s even more to enjoy this weekend, so keep reading for your options.

Although Veterans Day was observed yesterday, there are several things today that honor our former members of the military. Battle Born Harley Davidson is throwing an appreciation party complete with food trucks. Virginia City’s annual Veterans Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. and the City of Reno will commence their parade after a short ceremony beginning at 11:11 a.m. You’ll find an abundance of craft fairs in Carson City, Carson Valley, and Dayton. Western Nevada Musical Theater Co.

Gain a better understanding of the universe you live in by attending a free lecture by Mike Thomas on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Western Nevada College’s Jack C. Davis Observatory.

Welcome to the weekend, Carson City. Now that we are in November, thoughts turn to the holiday season. That means craft fairs. St. Paul’s Lutheran Family on Saliman welcomes you to their annual Craftique Open House. You’ll find the Young at Heart Seniors Club hosting a faire at the Douglas County Community Center. The Carson Nugget’s Sierra Room will be home to several artisans, vendors, and crafters during today’s wine walk. There’s quite a bit more, and plenty that doesn’t involve shopping, so take a look and have a great time.

SATURDAY:

It’s Nevada Day weekend, and that means the annual parade and festivities will bombard downtown Carson City with thousands of revelers. I made the decision to put all of the parade related events into a separate list for a few reasons: one, this list would be way too long otherwise; two, Halloween fun is plentiful all weekend long; and three, I want my list to be as easy to read as possible. Read on for events throughout Carson City, Carson Valley, Dayton, Silver and Virginia Cities.

Welcome back to the weekend, readers. Halloween stuff is plentiful (go HERE for a complete list of upcoming activities), pumpkins are patched, the ghosts are walking, and there are loads of events to keep you, your friends and family entertained. The Harvest Train at the Nevada Railroad Museum is a fun treat for kids of all ages. It’s time for the annual all-day downtown Ghost Walk. From 10 a.m.

Leaves turning, wind blowing, and all things pumpkin sprouting up everywhere. It is absolutely autumn in Northern Nevada. Get ready for Halloween with your choice of pumpkin patches. Seeliger Elementary School is hosting theirs for the twenty-fifth year in a row. Take a trip on the V and T Steam Train at the Nevada Railroad Museum, actually take several trips. The annual Harvest Train event offers an all-day wristband that allows for as many rides as you’d like, in addition to museum admission. So many more fun activities are available to you, you’ll have to read on to see them all.

Some weekends are pretty cut and dry, just a few things to choose among. This, however, is not one of those weekends. High-flying, death-defying action takes over the Minden Airport as the Aviation Roundup Air Show takes to the skies. Pasta-lovers won’t want to miss the Eldorado Great Italian Festival in downtown Reno. Carson City’s monthly Downtown Wine Walk gets a dose of nostalgia as the Western Airstream Convention sets up shop and welcomes the curious.

With all the motorcycles on the road, you may be looking for some peace and quiet. Luckily, it’s fee-free day at all of the Nevada State Parks. Load up the kids, pack a picnic, at head to the great outdoors. Don’t miss out on the last-of-the-season Farmers Market at Third and Curry, stock up on local honey and load your basket with yummy stuff. Oktoberfest takes over the McFadden Plaza at 3 p.m. Bavarian and German beers, authentic food, and live music await. Keep reading for everything the area has to offer.

SATURDAY:

One might think that the end of summer means that the fun times are over: they would be wrong. This list of happenings in the Carson City area isn’t getting any shorter. The annual Genoa Candy Dance is a favorite among locals and visitors alike, and this weekend welcomes the first ever Silver State Arts Festival at Fuji Park, as well. The first ever Community Garage Sale at the Community Center offers one-stop bargain hunting. Swing into the season at the monthly dance party hosted by the High Sierra Swing Dance Club.

SATURDAY:

Enjoy these September days, it will be blustery and cold before we know it. Celebrate our neighbor to the east during their annual Dayton Valley Days street festival. Tour their museums, pan for gold, and enjoy samples at their Chili cook-off. Downtown Carson is a hotbed of fun tonight with two pub crawls and the Ghost Walk Haunted History Tour. Keep reading for all of the happenings.

SATURDAY:

I’m going to suggest that you keep this weekend’s plans flexible. There’s only a chance of rain, but the chance of it showing up at the wrong time is always high. The very early morning is best spent watching the hot air balloons against the Reno skyline, but you’ll probably want a sweater for the pre-dawn chill. Head up the hill to Virginia City this weekend. If you’ve never been to the annual International Camel Races, you’ve been missing out. Keep reading, there’s something for everyone on this list. Find your fun.

SATURDAY:

Mark your calendars to attend a pair of science lectures at Jack C. Davis Observatory in September. This Saturday, Sept. 9, WNC physics professor Dr. Thomas Herring will lecture on “Nuclear Physics for Everyone,” while on Sept. 23, WNC astronomy instructor Dr. Marla Moore will talk about “The Cassini Probe at Saturn: Its Journey and Legacy.”

Summer is holding on for dear life, and sending a miniature heat wave our way for this long weekend. For those of you not in Black Rock City, the Carson City region offers plenty of recreation and entertainment. Downtown will be hopping with the Farmers Market, monthly Wine Walk, and this season’s last outdoor concert at the Brewery Arts Center – and that’s just Saturday! Keep reading for three days of good times.

SATURDAY:

You’ll see some pretty interesting vehicles on the road these next few days, as travelers from all over head to Burning Man. If you aren’t off to the Playa yourself, there will be plenty of fun around town to keep you and your family occupied. The second annual Family Fun Day in Mills Park is your best bet for kids of all ages. This week’s free concert at Brewery Arts Center features the Dusty Green Bones. Don’t forget your dancing shoes; they’re sure to keep you on your feet.

SATURDAY:

The Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College brought around 200 solar eclipse viewers to the Carson City campus Monday.

For those unable to get outside, you can watch Monday morning's solar eclipse live on NASA TV by clicking the link here for the raw feed.

In Carson City, there are eclipse programs at the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College and at the Carson City Library. (Solar eclipse glasses at the library have been pre-distributed and none are available at this time.) However, those who wish to participate in the program are welcome to attend.

What a day we have in store. Sure, it’s off to school for the kids in Carson City, but this will be a day to remember for another reason, the solar eclipse. A huge swath of our country will see a total solar eclipse, but here in Carson City, only 81 percent of totality will be achieved. That means there is NO time that you can look at the sun without risking injury. I repeat: do NOT look directly at the sun. The Jazz and Beyond Music Festival bids farewell to another year with a free concert in McFadden Plaza featuring the talented members of the Mile High Jazz Band.

This week's edition of It's Your City features Dr. Thomas Herring, professor of physics and the director of the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College in Carson City.

Make this weekend something special. School starts up on Monday and it will be Halloween before we blink an eye. The Carl Howell Memorial Music Festival at Battle Born Harley boasts a full day of live music, vendors, activities and family fun. Bowers Mansion plays host to the annual Bluegrass Festival – bring a picnic and enjoy. Downtown Carson City will see the first of three monthly Beer Crawls; if you get there early, head over to Remedy’s to witness their yearly Bloody Mary Competition. There is something for everyone this weekend, so keep reading and find your fun.

Jack C. Davis Observatory Director Tom Herring adjusts a telescope for viewing Jupiter for Tommy Hubert and Michelle Hale during the 2nd annual Western Nevada College Foundation Reach for the Stars Gala in Carson City on Saturday, Aug. 12.

Don’t have the time or means to travel to the pathway to view a total solar eclipse later this summer? Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College in Carson City has you covered when the moon covers the sun on Monday, Aug. 21.

Summer weekends make me wish I had a clone. With all the hustle and bustle in town, there is just no way to do and see it all. Start the day at the Silver Dollar Car Classic and you can get your fill of shiny chrome and breakfast, too; the Kiwanis will be serving up pancakes until 10:30 a.m. The Downtown Carson City Wine Walk has been infiltrated by the Jazz and Beyond Music Festival. Several of the stops will be hosting musicians, in addition to vino.

Entertainment. Stargazing. Silent auction. Dancing and so much more! All this to benefit local science and technology students pursuing their dreams. Attend the second annual Reach for the Stars Gala on Saturday, Aug. 12 at Western Nevada College in Carson City.