Comstock

You can probably take ‘beach day’ off of your agenda. Spring has been briefly usurped by a blustery chill. Grab a coat and hit the town anyway. The early spring farmers market downtown, the Cops and Kids event at the Sheriff’s Department, and the Annual Relay for Life at Mills Park are still a good time. This weekend is jam-packed full of fun, so take a look at the weekend event summary for your options indoors and out.

SATURDAY:

Nevada's Wild West spirit with all the flavor arrives this Saturday, June 11 in Virginia City with Taste of the Comstock, an event that blends food tasting restaurant tours with Comstock-era history, demonstrations, competitions and thirst-busting saloon drinks.

The Nevada State Railroad Museum and its restoration team were honored with Carson City’s 2016 Historic Preservation Award presented at the board of supervisors meeting Thursday. The award recognizes decades of accumulated public service in the preservation, restoration and celebration of Nevada’s railroad heritage, centered on the recent completion of the Glenbrook steam locomotive project.

How’d we get to Thursday so quickly? Choose from live music at Living the Good Life, a fun night of karaoke at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar, or even a lecture on the Dayton Cemetery. Join Muscle Powered for a Washoe Valley hike this morning or a bike ride this afternoon. Maybe some salsa dancing is what you’re in the mood for; if so, head to El Charro Avita. Look the list over for all your options, and have a great day.

THURSDAY:

If you were looking for a lazy day, today might not be it. Carson City BMX welcomes moms to the track today; their Mother’s Day race was postponed due to the wet weather. Virginia City still has plenty of chili on the menu, in addition to their annual Fun with the Runs 5K. Gardeners will want to head to Douglas High School for the Future Farmers of America plant sale. Read on for even more options.

SUNDAY:

Ready to have some fun? Virginia City’s Chili on the Comstock Cook-off goes on all weekend. For some healthier fare, hit up the Spring Farmers Market downtown. Go fly a kite at Dangberg Home Historic Park, just past Douglas High School on Highway 88; their ‘Something in the Wind’ Celebration is both Saturday and Sunday. Don’t forget to leave non-perishable food by your mailbox: the annual ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ food drive is today. Take a gander at the whole list, there is plenty of stuff to do in the Carson City area this weekend.

SATURDAY:

As the weather warms, so does heat dished up this weekend with all the right spices at the 33rd annual Chili on the Comstock in Virginia City.

The 2016 Virginia & Truckee Railroad season chugs full steam ahead starting Memorial Day weekend, May 28-29. Authentic period steam trains ride through the heart of Nevada’s 1860s silver boom towns where legends of the Wild West were born and live on today along the original 16-mile route between Carson City and Virginia City, Nevada.

I think we are all learning to take advantage of sunny spring days when they arrive. Appreciate the new blooms as you explore the historic downtown as part of a City-sponsored scavenger hunt. The Mile High Jazz Band takes over Comma Coffee tonight with Merry May Jazz. Learn the ins and outs of fire spinning if you head to the Controlled Burn Community Practice at A to Zen. Let the Carson Chamber Singers transport you to Broadway: their spring concert is tonight at St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

TUESDAY:

Bringing the Legacy of a Nation to Life
An unforgettable evening to support CITY OF WHITE GOLD, the quintessential documentary film on how Comstock silver built San Francisco and the Far West in the 19th century Bonanza Era.

The weekend is getting started early. Cinco de Mayo brings out drink specials, parties, and fun throughout the valley. Don’t forget that Mother’s Day is on Sunday, so head to Carson Mall for something special or swing by the Elks Club after 4 p.m. to grab tickets for their Champagne Brunch. The RSVP Spring Carnival kicks off tonight with family night: all rides are a dollar.

Tuesday has arrived and brings with it a splash of art, cinema, and nature. The Nevada Discovery Ride is the reason for a fundraiser and fair at Sierra Place Senior Living: learn about the ride, Nevada’s wild horses, gold-panning and more. The Carson City Classic Cinema Club brings ole blue eyes, Frank Sinatra, to the Brewery Arts Center: The Man with the Golden Arm is this month’s movie. Late artist, Craig Shephard, will be honored at the Nevada Arts Council this evening.

The Douglas County Historical Society's May 12, lecture "Nevadans: Spirit of the Silver State" at the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center in Gardnerville, will feature well known Nevada Author Stan Paher.

Stan's "Nevada: Spirit of the Silver State" is a powerpoint presentation that begins before Nevada became the Utah territory. Learn how early trappers, explorers and emigrants set the framework for modern Nevada. Early trading posts, like Mormon Station, became the backbone for later territorial settlements that still later morphed into some of our existing towns and cities.

In celebration of Historic Preservation Month, the Carson City Historic Resources Commission will hold its 7th annual Historic Preservation Scavenger Hunt beginning Monday and running through May 31.

Visit the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum. The Last One Standing of its kind in the United States. Explore the Comstock story, Mark Twain’s life, letter press printing, early Nevada education and mining. This year’s changing gallery is The Comstock Through Time.

Welcome to Tuesday, Carson City. Dance yourself through the evening with Country Line Dance at Carson Lanes, or if you prefer a big band sound, a beginning lesson in swing dance is at El Charro Avita. Get a good view of our valley from the Kings Canyon Trail with today’s Parks and Rec Easy Walk. The Clear Creek Bowman have started up Tuesday Night Archery for the season, so head out to the range and let a few arrows fly.

TUESDAY:

Into every life a little rain must fall, and we just got plenty. The tulips and lilac blooming around town will be pleased. Unfortunately, it could make for soggy feet if you’ve got any outdoor activities planned. Lucky for us, plenty of fun can be found indoors. Hit the Carson Mall for Cowgirls and Lipstick or learn about rare coins at the Nevada State Museum. Meet author Joe Crowley at Browsers' Corner Book Store or read to therapy dogs at the Carson City Library. There's something for everyone on this list, so take a look and have a great weekend, Carson City.

Since the early 1980s, May has been a month for celebrating historic preservation and archaeology in Nevada. This year, the theme acknowledges the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, which helps to stabilize neighborhoods and downtowns, contributes to public education, attracts investment, creates jobs, generates tax revenues, supports small business and affordable housing, and powers Nevada’s heritage tourism industry.

Train enthusiasts and history lovers took a ride on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad on Saturday. Train riders were helping to raise money for Carson Tahoe Health Auxiliary.

Happy Anniversary, Mile High Jazz Band. Every second Tuesday they play a concert at Comma Coffee, and have for fifteen years. Help them celebrate. Grab your dancing shoes and head to Carson Lanes and learn some country line dancing. Kids won’t want to miss Craft Day at the Carson City Library: all supplies are free and waiting. It’s an evening of illusion at the Brewery Arts Center. Be dazzled and help raise funds for the Carson Middle School Band Program.

TUESDAY:

Sundays can be lazy, but with this list of things to do, they needn’t be. BMX Racing has returned for the season and can be found at the Livermore Sports Complex off Edmonds. Fall down the rabbit hole and find yourself at the Community Center for the matinee of Alice in Wonderland Jr. Check out Children’s Day on the Comstock in Virginia City for food and family fun.

SUNDAY:

• National Library Week

What a wonderful community we live in. Music, theater, hiking, biking, wining, dining, walking, TED-talking, animal loving, state governing, and so much more are available in our valley. The days are getting longer and there is so much in store for us in the coming weeks and months as we journey into summer. Take a good gander at my list of what’s going on in the Carson City area. It is always arranged chronologically by start time.

SATURDAY:

Silver Cats Presents: Comstock Lode of Cats April 9-10, 2016 at Fuji Park, 601 Old Clear Creek Rd. in Carson City, NV.

The show is open to the public: Saturday, April 9th: 10:00am-5:00pm and Sunday, April 10th: 10:00am-2:00pm

Parking is free.

Cost for entry:
Adults over 12, $5.00
Seniors over 62, $3.00
Children under 12, $3.00
Families of 3 $10.00

Please provide 2 cans or bags of cat food to help feed homeless cats served by rescue groups in the Northern NV. Area. Our featured rescue group is:

http://www.catmanducc.org

This beautiful weather is no April Fool’s joke, so get out and enjoy the sunshine. Ascent Runs begins their half marathon series today with a race through Carson Canyons, and it is sure to get your heart pumping. The Downtown Business Association wants to see you at today’s wine walk. Once you’re around Telegraph Street, you’ll see some throwbacks from a by-gone era courtesy of Naughty Tea Mistresses, the First Nevada Cavalry, and more.

SATURDAY:

• Rummage Sale at St. Paul’s Lutheran Family: 1201 N. Saliman Road. (8am-1:30pm)

The last day of March and we are all itching for some springtime weather. Luckily, we have some nice days ahead. Dust off that motorcycle and head down to Bike Night at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar. Enjoy an afternoon hike with Muscle Powered. The Kiwanis Club just pulled off their big annual Easter Egg Hunt and is always looking for civic minded community members to join: they meet every Thursday at Casino Fandango. If beer brewing is an interest, then check out the monthly meeting of the 395 Brewers at Just Brew It.

THURSDAY:

The Reno Aces Baseball Club and Professional Sports Catering have revamped and reinvented the menus at Bugsy’s BBQ and Duffy’s Ale House within Greater Nevada Field’s premises. Additional game day concepts for the 2016 season include three new signature concession brands and partnerships with local food hotspots, including Wild Garlic pizza, Flocchini sausage and hot dogs made in Carson City and Sierra Meats burger meat.

Dennis Cassinelli, a Nevada historian and author, will offer a presentation on “Petroglyphs” and “The Dayton Petrified Forest” that Mark Twain wrote about in his book, Roughing It at the Thursday Night Presentations at the historic Gold Hill Hotel on Thursday, April 7.

Deke DiMarzo, a 30-year law enforcement officer who turned his interests and energies to history upon his retirement, will present “The Paiute Wars” and “Camels on the Comstock and Other Interesting Information” at the Gold Hill Hotel Thursday Night Presentation Series on Thursday, March 31.

I love Carson City. Our history is just one of the reasons, and you can learn more about it yourself today with the Parks and Recreation Easy Walk. Meet at the Capitol building at 9 a.m. and you’ll enjoy an hour of wandering down memory lane in our Historic East Side. The annual Father-Daughter Dance at Carson High is quickly approaching and ticket sales are suspended during spring break, so you’ll want to grab them today or tomorrow. If you’ve ever wondered ‘Why Should I Like Shakespeare? then the workshop this evening at the Carson Library is for you.

TUESDAY:

I hope everyone had a great time yesterday. I also hope you are ready for the party to continue. The Brewery Arts Center has Celtic duo Men of Worth playing in the Black Box Theater, folk singer/songwriter Liam Kyle Cahill is at Living the Good Life, you'll find the Whitehats performing at the West Side Pour House, and Sassafras has a night of rock with Year of the Fist and Double Header. Those who love dance should check out World Dance Open Floor at Comma Coffee or the West Coast Swing night that Yaple's Ballroom hosts every third Friday. Let's kick off this weekend right, Carson City.