Empty Bowls

December has arrived, and all things holidays are on the way. The annual Silver and Snowflakes Tree Lighting Celebration tonight will shut down traffic on Carson City for a little while. Sleigh rides, caroling, the Empty Bowls Soup Fest, and a performance by the Youth Theater Carson City Showstoppers are just some of the planned festivities. Stay downtown for comedy at the Carson Nugget, Improv at the Brewery Arts Center, or a live DJ at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar and at Battle Born Social. Keep reading, though, that’s just the tip of the Friday happenings iceberg.

FRIDAY:

A cherished holiday tradition in Carson City, It's Your City host Cortney Bloomer talks with Debbie Anderson about the Empty Bowls project.

We are days away from a winter wonderland: halls will be decked, and everything will be merry and bright. On Thursday, Gardnerville will flip the switch on its holiday lights, with help from Santa. Friday, the capital city hosts the Silver and Snowflakes Tree Lighting Celebration, as well as the very yummy Empty Bowls Soup Fest. Saturday, in addition to Carson City’s monthly downtown wine walk and the annual Holiday with a Hero Crawl, Minden holds its annual Christmas Parade.

Tis the season for visits with Santa, holiday twinkle lights, and craft fairs and festivals. In order to make your December planning a little easier, take a look at what is coming up in the Carson City, Carson Valley, Dayton, and Virginia City area. Go deck the halls, get some jingle bells, and wassail away.

For many of us, our bowls are never empty. That cannot be said for those less fortunate who live paycheck to paycheck or live in the various motels filled with those who cannot afford permanent housing for their families.

The Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights annual tree lighting celebration outside the Nevada State Capitol Building in Carson City is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1. Activities are planned throughout downtown from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and listed below.

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:

Once upon a time the talented kids of Youth Theater Carson City took to the Community Center stage. You have one last chance to catch their fairytale, ‘Into the Woods, Jr.’ before it heads off to Neverland. The Brewery Arts Center plays host to a plethora of Jazz and Beyond today. Don't miss the final day of hot rods and chrome at the Silver Dollar Car Classic in Mills Park. Exercise your artistic talent and play with some mud at Ogres-Holm Pottery where they will be creating bowls for the upcoming Empty Bowls event.

SUNDAY:

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.

It may be a Monday, but there’s some sunshine, no rain, and Valentine’s is in the air. Treat your honey to a night on the town and an amazing performance by the Reno Philharmonic. For one night only, you’ll find the orchestra and special guest pianist, Conrad Tao, in the Bob Boldrick Theater. Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint welcomes the River Arkansaw, a bluesy-Americana band from Colorado. Pick your favorite love song to sing at the Fox Brewpub’s karaoke night.

MONDAY:

• Social Work Legislative Day at the Nevada State Legislature

Rich and Robin McGregor, owners of Carson City Art Gallery and Pottery in downtown Carson City, are continuing to ensure no food bowls are empty this holiday season by donating 10 percent of gallery sales to the Friends In Service Helping (FISH) food program, which feeds hungry residents in Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties.

Amid frigid below-freezing temperatures, hundreds gathered around the Nevada State Capitol in downtown Carson City to celebrate the 28th annual Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights.

Following weeks of preparation on the grounds of the Nevada State Capitol and around downtown Carson City, the Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights flipped the switch on the 2016 holiday season.

Tonight’s the night! With one flip of the switch all of downtown joins in the Christmas Spirit. The Silver and Snowflakes Festival includes carols, sleigh rides, hot chocolate, and of course, the lighting of the Capitol. Don’t forget to head to the First Presbyterian Church for the Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser. You’ll get a handmade, hand painted ceramic bowl to keep and lots of yummy food to keep you warm. The talented kids of Wild Horse Children’s Theater hit the stage for opening night of ‘Elf Jr.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in downtown Carson City.

Especially at the State Capitol, where grounds crews are working hard to complete the holiday display in preparation for Friday's annual Silver and Snowflake Festival, a Carson City tradition for 28 years.

This week's It's Your City with Cortney Bloomer features Ronni Hannaman, executive director of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce to discuss the Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights this Friday, Dec. 2 and several other events planned for the holidays.

I volunteer a lot of my time. Every potential client gets 30 minutes on the phone with me. I work with community organizations to support local causes. Advocates to End Domestic Violence is one of those. Each holiday, I usually write something about the importance of volunteerism. Yet, the power and two-way benefit of volunteerism didn’t hit me until I returned home to Carson City.

For more than a quarter century, Carson City’s own Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights has rung in the holiday season for residents and visitors of the Nevada state capital.

As the holiday season approaches, Charlie Blim, owner of Charlie B Gallery, advises going into local shops rather than big box stores.

“I’ve got stuff made by actual humans,” he said. “All that other stuff is made by machines.”

But when customers come into his shop, he’s not pushing to make a sale. He’s got a bigger goal in mind.
“Art changed my life,” he said. “If they take the time to learn the history, learn about the artist, it could change their lives too. It’s not just about buying stuff.”

After collecting as many pottery bowls as possible throughout the year, the local Empty Bowls Project is holding its annual fundraiser Friday, Dec. 2 at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Carson City to deliver a blow to hunger in the community.

Sundays are a great time for relaxing, but you’ve got some options around town just the same. Head out with Muscle Powered for their weekly bike ride. Try some inline skating and hockey at Marv Teixeira Pavilion. Get into the autumn mood at the Corley Ranch Pumpkin Patch Harvest Festival. Warm your belly and your heart at the Douglas County Empty Bowls dinner this evening. See all the activities below.

SUNDAY:

The weekend is here and you’ll find plenty to do in Carson City and the surrounding valleys. Run from zombies in Virginia City as the REDRUN obstacle race returns. Find the perfect pumpkin at the annual Seeliger Elementary Pumpkin Patch. The long-awaited Animal Shelter has been built and is now home to adoptable pets waiting for a home: take a tour at their open house after the 10 a.m. ribbon cutting. Keep reading and you’ll find a great way to enjoy the weekend.

SATURDAY:

• Nevada Day Treasure Hunt: today’s clue at http://www.nvdaytreasurehunt.com/

Whoa doggy, what a weekend. Dayton Valley Days, the Steampunk Ball and Parade in Virginia City, and the Western Heritage Festival at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park are just the tip of the iceberg. Whether it’s in Carson City, or just over the hill in one of our neighboring counties, you’ll find something fun to do. Read on.

SATURDAY:

Welcome to the weekend, Carson City. Happenings, going-ons, and to-dos can be found all over. Early birds catch the Great Reno Balloon Race, while night owls can enjoy karaoke and live music. Kids won’t want to miss out on the Young Eagle flights at the Carson Airport, just make sure to get there on time. Learn about Roswell at the WNC Observatory or meet Author Sandie LaNae at Artsy Fartsy. Our valley offers something for everyone, keep reading and see.

SATURDAY:

There are multiple ways to say farewell to summer this weekend. The Best in the West Rib Cook-off is a local favorite, as is the Fallon Cantaloupe Festival. It has finally cooled down a little, so the Downtown Carson Wine Walk is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. Keep reading and have a great time.

SATURDAY:

The kids deserve some fun for surviving their first week back at school, and Carson City delivers. The first annual Northern Nevada Family Fun Day takes over Mills Park with music, a kids zone, activities, food, raffles, and much more. Check out the Bowling Blast Off at Carson Lanes for a Car Show, bowling specials, and fun. Once the sun sets, Washoe Lake State Park offers a basic astronomy lesson and some celestial viewing. Keep reading: there’s something for everyone this weekend.

SATURDAY:

Are you ready for the new school year? One last weekend of summer break before the kids of Carson City head back, so make the most of it. Jazz and Beyond takes it up a notch in its final few days with eight hours of non-stop music downtown. Western Nevada College new soccer team plays its first home game today against Folsom Lake Community College. Head to Carson High for the inaugural ‘A Place to Shine’ Show and Shine for fun for the whole family. Keep reading, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The historic building at 110 S. Curry Street, one of the oldest existing structures in the Nevada state capital, will soon have a new resident starting Sept. 3.

The weekend has arrived and there are festivals everywhere. A Basque Festival and Picnic can be found in Gardnerville. Bowers Mansion hosts a Bluegrass Festival for the 31st year. Ta-Hoe Nalu Paddle Festival returns to King Beach for the weekend. The Annual Jazz and Beyond Music Festival has infiltrated the whole valley with musicians. Check out the Douglas County Junior Rodeo or Carson Valley Ag Day in Gardnerville. Continue on down the list for all of the area’s happenings.

SATURDAY:

Are you ready for the weekend? The weekend is sure ready for you with the monthly Downtown Wine Walk, the final Levitt Amp Concert the Brewery Arts Center, and the Wild West Rodeo at Fuji Park. Live music galore, classic cars, theater, dancing and so much more await. Continue on for the low down.

SATURDAY:

• Hot August Nights
• Annual Rummage Sale at Saint Gall’s Catholic Church: 1343 Centerville Lane, Gardnerville (7am-3pm)