Zen

Where to begin? How about with a Slurpee? 7-Eleven is having a ‘bring your own cup’ day and if your vessel fits through a ten inch cut-out hole, then you can fill it up for $1.49. Get creative! Take that slushy treat with you to the kick-off of the Carson City BMX season at the Livermore Sports Complex. Play some games at Nerdvana as they celebrate International Tabletop Day, or enjoy the bounce house, face painting, games and more at the WNC Deaf Fun Day to cap off Deaf Pride Week.

SATURDAY:

• EAA Sierra Chapter #403 Young Eagle Flights (open to ages 8-17; registration 8am at the Airport Terminal Building, orientation 8:30am; free) Coffee and Donuts (8am-12pm, all welcome) at 2500 E. College Pkwy
• Gigantic Sale to benefit local charities at St Paul's Lutheran: 1201 N. Saliman (8am-1:30pm; fill a bag $3 starts at 12pm)
• Spring Craft and Vendor Faire at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church: 1837 Mountain St. (9am-3pm, free)

We are now 100 days into the year 2015; where does the time go? Hopefully, with help from my list, you've spent it exploring the food, drink, music, theater, art, museums, and outdoor fun stuff that Carson City has to offer. Let me tell you, there’s plenty of fun to come! Tonight, you can check out Mo’z Motley Blues at the Brewery Arts Center or the Whitehats at Westside Pour House. It’s also opening night for the kids of Youth Theater Carson City: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is at the Community Center at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY:

• Carson School District Spring Break
• CCAI Exhibit: BRIC Art 5 at the BRIC: 108 E Proctor Street (8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm)
• ’Second Skin’ by artist Sarah Lillegard at the Nevada Arts Council: 716 N. Carson St. (8am-5pm)

There are plenty of things to do today; if you don't believe me, just take a look at the list! After enjoying a free spirits tasting at Red’s this afternoon, stick around for a movie with the Carson City Classic Cinema Club. This month is ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy:’ a 1965 Charlton Heston flick about Michelangelo and the painting of the Sistine Chapel.

Court Appointed Special Advocates is holding an information hour this evening for those who would like more information on how to volunteer.

TUESDAY:

• Carson School District Spring Break
• Customer Appreciation Month: free small iced tea today at Dunkin Donuts
• Father-Daughter Cinderella Ball Tickets Available at the Carson High School Admission Desk (8am-2pm; $25, $5 additional princess)

It’s a good weekend to be a kid in Carson City. Easter egg hunts, bounce houses, fun and games abound: I’ve made family friendly events easy to find by putting them in bold in the list. It’s a good weekend to be an adult, as well, with the Downtown Business Association wine walk and a few adults-only egg hunts.

Busy weekend ahead! It’s a wine walk weekend in addition to the Easter festivities, but don't let Friday pass you by. Head to Sassafras tonight to catch the Trippin King Snakes or Living the Good Life for music by Jamie Rollins. If it’s laughs you're after, First Friday Improv at the Brewery Arts Center will have you in stitches or head to the Carson Nugget for comedy night with this week’s funnyman, Huck Flyn.

Yesterday, I found myself in Walmart doing last minute “Band-Aid shopping” for a party I was throwing. Band-Aid shopping is a special kind of shopping. No, I’m not talking about shopping for Band-Aids. I’m talking about shopping for items that will be a temporary fix to a problem.

As they say, the show must go on. And when faced with a gas grill with no propane, no punch bowl, and birthday cake without ice cream, I went into go fix-it mode. T-minus one hour until the DJ arrived to set up for the party and I hit the road for a solution.

The sun is shining, the flowers blooming, the birds chirping, the wind gusting, and Carson City is hopping! Easter fun can be found this weekend at the annual EGGstravaganza at Carson Tahoe Medical Center, the Children’s Museum, the Carson Mall, and the Brewery Arts Center.

Head over to Mills Park for the Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration, complete with military vehicles, exhibits, and more. For demonstrations from soldiers with an even older history, the Nevada Civil War Volunteers will be in Dayton Saturday.

Are you doing the TGIF happy dance? There are plenty of reasons to if you take a look at this list: live music, art exhibits, comedy, tequila tasting, karaoke, baseball, bingo, theater, and more.

Print out the flyer if you head over to Buffalo Wild Wings on Friday or Saturday: 15 percent of your bill will be donated to Western Nevada College Athletics if you do.

Memorial service for Zenny (Zen J. Alldredge Jr.) March 28th at 9:30 am at The Church of Je...

It’s a good weekend to be a kid: the Kerak Shrine Circus is in town! Well, it’s in Reno, but that isn’t too far of a drive for elephants, clowns, and cotton candy. Also in Reno, but intended for a slightly older audience, is the Lady Luck Tattoo and Art Expo, coincidentally held at Circus Circus.

For the outdoorsy-types you can join in the March to End Senior Hunger 5K in Dayton; the 5K Glow Run benefitting the Western Nevada College Softball Team; or join a ranger at Washoe Lake State Park for a guided hike.

It’s the International Day of Happiness and I hope song and dance make you happy. Carson City is awash with live music and theater tonight. Local favorite Stereo Galaxy teams up with Southern California performer, Loc Lion, for a show at Sassafras. You’ll find the Remains at Westside Pour House, and Jaime Rollins keeps it rollin at Living the Good Life. Just Sayin’ is this months featured talent in the Brewery Arts Center’s Eclectic Electric Series.

Sunday enjoy the choirs of local elementary schools at the Capital City Community Band’s Salute to Young Musicians Concert in the Community Center’s Bob Boldrick Theater. It won’t cost you a thing, but donations are always welcome.

If you have the kind of luck that brings rain as soon as you wash your car, please drive over to Squeaky’s Car Wash at the corner of Highway 50 E and Lompa Lane. It’s their opening weekend and they are offering free car washes and raising funds for the Carson City Community Counseling Center.

If you consider yourself adventurous, then the Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry in Virginia City is for you. It’s not nicknamed the Testicle Festival for nothing! If you need some liquid courage, take part in the Ball Breaker Saloon Crawl. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade heads down C Street at noon.

Are you ready to paint the town green? St. Patrick’s Day quickly approaches and there will be plenty of Irish action throughout town. The festivities start this weekend with the annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fest in Virginia City, complete with a parade and saloon crawl.

The wine walk is on the top of the weekend to-do list for many of you, but Carson City has a lot more going on. Ascent Runs is hosting a 5/10K and a half marathon at C-Hill on Saturday. You can register at the race, just make sure you aren’t late. Youth Football season has arrived with sign-ups for SYFL and Pop Warner on Saturday. Cheer on the Western Nevada College Wildcats as their Baseball and Softball teams battle against Salt Lake City Community College.

Happy Friday, Carson City. Grab a bite at Meek’s Lumber at their first Friday BBQ for lunch, or at the Lions Club Crab Feed at Fuji Park tonight. Cheer on the Western Nevada College Wildcats as they battle Salt Lake City Community College on the softball and baseball fields.

Keep up the snowy thoughts, Carson City. We desperately need the water, the ski resorts need visitors, and those mountains are so much prettier with a blanket of white. Wildcat Softball on Saturday is weather pending, so it’s too early for me to call it canceled.

“Act out being alive, like a play. And after a while, a long while, it will be true.”
― John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Birthday boy Steinbeck has it right. Carson City is what you make of it; plenty going on, but it won’t come to your home and ask you to get involved. Music, art, theater, dance, hiking, biking, wining, dining, volunteering, sports, and more are available in our area.

Such beautiful weather this week. True to Nevada luck, the chill returns in time for the weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that the storm front brings some precipitation our way. One place it’s seasonally appropriate is the Nevada Artist Association Gallery at the Brewery Arts Center. They will be hosting an artists’ reception for their new Winter Art Show Saturday evening.

Kick up your heels, it’s finally Friday. World Dance Open Floor will be dancing for donations for CASI tonight at Comma Coffee. The Brewery Arts Center is hosting Mixed Company as part of its new Eclectic Electric series. The party is at Remedy’s; the blacklight body paint Mardi Gras Masquerade starts at 9pm, with the talented Lynzie Ruecker doing free body paint and music by DJ Justincredible.

It’s National Love Your Pet Day, so give your pooches and kitties some extra love.

FRIDAY:

Where to start? This weekend is chock-full of options. The local 4-H club is hosting their annual Fabric and Rummage Sale at Fuji Park. The Annual Feast of Chocolate, hosted by AAUW, is Saturday afternoon at the Plaza Event Center. The Vagina Monologues and One Billion Rising are both raising awareness this V-Day weekend for women’s issues.

If you have a hard time deciding what to do tonight, may I suggest you blame me? After all, the first Friday the 13th of the year is known as National Blame Someone Else Day.

Looks like our rain and snow dances finally did the trick, but don’t let the weather scare you away from downtown this weekend. The Downtown Business Association’s Wine Walk, Artsy Fartsy’s Annual Jewelry Sale, Just Brew It’s Annual Thirsty Boy Home Brew Competition, and Family Fun Day at the Nevada State Museum are all hoping to lure you out of your home. Leave your ice skates at home though, the Arlington Square ice rink has closed for the season.

Days like this I wish I could clone myself. There are so many options for a good time tonight: an artist reception at the CCAI Courthouse gallery, ‘Himalaya’ playing at the Community Center as part of the International Film Weekend, Improv at the Brewery Arts Center, wine tasting at Genoa Coffee and Candy, and loads of music!

If you think today holds a plethora of good times, wait until you see what the weekend has lined up!

FRIDAY:

There are a few big questions to ask yourself this weekend. Patriots or Seahawks? Where are you going to watch the game? And who is going to have the best commercial? Just remember to be safe on game day and have a designated driver handy.

Speaking of sports, sign-ups are going on Saturday for Little League, AYSO, and the Sierra Nevada Football League. Spring is almost upon us without ever really giving us a decent taste of winter.

Super Bowl weekend is here, and so is some great music around town. Stereo Galaxy will be jamming downtown at the Westside Pour House. The Brewery Arts Center presents Mig O’Hara as the first installment of their new Nevada Songwriters Series. And local band Iron Age will be filmed at their gig tonight in the 11th Frame Lounge at Carson Lanes for a ‘rock-umentary.’ Where ever you end up tonight, you’re bound to have a good time.

FRIDAY:

• Demonstrations of Coin Press #1 at the Nevada State Museum (10:30am-12pm AND 1pm-3pm)

First things first. I want to send a big shout out and good luck to all of our Carson kids that are competing at the Flips Invitational Gymnastics meet in Reno this weekend. For those of you who aren't the proud parents of tumblers, Carson City has plenty to keep you busy.

The long wait is over, Friday has returned. There are some great music options for tonight: the kick-off to the Tahoe Sound Series at the Brewery Arts Center with 4 Piece Puzzle, local favorites, the Whitehats, jammin’ at Westside Pour House, DJ Country Bobby will be at Carson Lanes, and Jimmy Mallett brings the swanky tunes to Bella Fiore.

One last reminder to avoid Saliman if possible. Road work continues today.

The weekend returns, and with it a new chance to do something fun. The Brewery Arts Center is hosting its annual ‘Winter, Wine, and All That Jazz’ fundraiser, and it promises to be better than ever with performances by Le Cirque Vagabond, Starr Nixdorf, a live Jazz Orchestra and more.

January 16th is National Nothing Day, so celebrate whatever you choose; I recommend the fact that it’s Friday. Live music is playing at several venues tonight: Foodies Bystro, Westside Pour House, and Living the Good Life to name a few. Carson High School’s production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons debuts at the Community Center. World Dance Open Floor returns to Comma Coffee for a night of dancing and fun.

FRIDAY:

• ’Pets of the Homeless’ Food Drive at Evergreen Gene’s: 1811 N. Carson (10am-5pm)