Empty Bowls

This last weekend of August is filled with ways to celebrate your community. Carson Animal Shelter Initiative, better known as CASI, hosts their annual Bark, Whine, and Dine Fundraiser at Fuji Park. Animal lovers can also head to Carson Catalina Apartments for a rummage sale that benefits the Carson Tahoe SPCA. The Carson City Sheriff's Office young Explorers will host a fundraising car wash; The Marine Corp League can be found at the north Carson Walmart; half of the donations received will go to Deputy Howell’s family fund. And don’t miss out on the drought-friendly water balloon ice bucket challenge raising funds for ALS at Butler Meats on Sunday.

SATURDAY:

• Car Wash fundraiser for Carson City Sheriff’s Office Explorers at Unique Sounds: 3080 Hwy 50 East (10am-2pm)
• Virginia City Ferrari Hill Climb
• Back to School at Carson Hot Springs (Free 17 and younger admission per paid adult; outdoor pools only; 7am-10pm)
• Rummage Sale fundraiser for Carson Tahoe SPCA at Carson Catalina Apartments: 700 Hot Springs Rd. (7am-ish until?)
• Annual Outreach and Fundraiser by the Marine Corps League of Carson City Silver State- Detachment 630 at the Walmart store on Retail Drive (8am-5pm; half of the donations go to the family of fallen Carson City Sheriff’s Office Deputy and former U.S. Marine Carl Howell)

I apologize, Carson City. You have some decisions to make. There is quite a bit going on whether you want something family friendly, adults only, indoors, outdoors, or a combination of it all. The weekly Farmers Market at Third and Curry St. is always a good way to start the weekend. Yummy food, a bounce house for the kids, and beautiful flowers are hard to argue with. Keep reading for enough fun to make your head spin!

SATURDAY:

• Back to School at Carson Hot Springs (Free 17 and younger admission per paid adult; outdoor pools only; 7am-10pm)
• 21st Annual Silver Dollar Car Classic at Mills Park (8am-4pm show and shine, music, and vendors; Registration 8am-11am; Pancake Breakfast 8am-10:30am; Judging until 4pm)

Can you believe it? It’s the last weekend of July and the kids will be headed back to school in no time. Don’t be dismayed though, plenty of summer fun can still be found. Sign the kids up for the Capital City Kids’ Triathlon at the Carson Aquatic Center. Head out to Mills Park for a few laps on the train or a picnic. Don’t miss out on making a bowl for the Empty Bowls project at the Farmers Market; or let the kids run off to the bounce house while you make a bowl yourself.

SATURDAY:

• Capital City Kids' Triathlon: Swim, Bike, Run at the Carson Aquatic Center: 841 N. Roop St. (registration begins at 7:30am, must check in 30 minutes prior to start time; $25 same day registration; ages 13-18 8am start; ages 11-12 8:45am start; ages 9-10 9:30am start; ages 7-8 10am start; ages 4-6 10:30am; must provide own bike and mandatory helmet)
• Poker Ride and Ice Cream Social hosted by Nevada All State Trail Riders at Silver Saddle Ranch: 4901 Carson River Rd (sign in 8am; $20 per poker hand; hikers, cyclists, and horse riders will each have own trail; begin at 9am)

Thunderstorms are on the horizon, so seize the day and enjoy the sunshine while it’s here. Muscle Powered has organized a monthly trash mob to help keep our trails clean, join them at US Bank to help out. The Ghost Walk returns: meet behind the Firkin and Fox for some local haunted history. Teens will enjoy a ‘Night at the Library’ with pizza and games. And as always, the Nevada State Railroad Museum beckons: this week with rides on the Steam Train available.

SATURDAY:

• EAA Sierra Chapter #403 Pancake Breakfast at the Chapter Building: 2500 E. College Pkwy (8am; $5; Everyone Welcome)
• Muscle Powered One Hour Trash Mob: located at the south side of East College Parkway near the I-580 overpass where the multi-use path meets the sidewalk. Parking is available at US Bank/Dotty's Casino (8am-9am; Gloves, trash bags, and water will be available)
• Weekly Live Auction at Good Time Auctions: 3579 E Hwy 50, Suite 211 (Preview 8am-3pm; Live Indoor Auction 3pm)

I hope you’re hungry, Carson City. Hungry and adventurous. The annual Chili Cook-off and Craft Fair hits Glen Eagles this weekend, and there will be plenty to sample. If you need something cold to drink, head to 7-ELEVEN for a free small slushee from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. in celebration of Seven Eleven Day. The Farmers Market is always a good bet on Saturday mornings for sampling all the yummy stuff that grows nearby.

SATURDAY:

• EAA Sierra Chapter #403 Young Eagle Flights (Weather Permitting; 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
• Garage Sale to benefit CASI (Carson Animal Shelter Initiative) at 611 Marsh Road, located at the end of East Fifth St. (8am-?)

Happy birthday, America! Today we celebrate our independence, and what better way than with a carnival. You might as well stay at Mills Park all day, the fireworks display starts when it gets dark. Tune into Magic 95.5FM and you’ll hear the choreographed music to go along with the oohs and aaahs. Where ever you choose to watch fireworks, please be safe. There are thousands of visitors in the Northern Nevada area this weekend, and law enforcement will be out in full force.

SATURDAY: Independence Day

• Free Swim for Active and Retired Military at the Carson Hot Springs (7am-10pm; outdoor pools only)
• Freedom 5K Fun Run/Walk and Concert in the Park with the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra at Heritage Park, Gardnerville (5K, $20 per person and family rates, free for active/retired military; register 7am-7:45am; Run/Walk begins 8am, Patriotic costumes encouraged; 8am Carson Valley Lions Club Pancake Breakfast $7; Free Kids Obstacle Course 8am; Free Concert begins 11:30am)

Bikes, and cars, and brews: oh my! Downtown Carson is awash in activity on Saturday. Battleborn Brews, Bikes, and Bubbly features the Extreme Motor Officer Training Challenge, vendors, a brewfest, moustache competition and more. The Karson Kruzers are hosting their annual car show at Fuji Park, but will be making their way downtown after it’s over, so there will be plenty of cool cars to admire. Mojo Green takes the stage at 7 p.m. and you can head into the Carson Cigar Company to enjoy Reno’s newest Pink Floyd Tribute Band, Scarlett Moon at 9 p.m.

SATURDAY:

• Karson Krusers’ Run Whatcha Brung Car Show at Fuji Park (registration 7am-9am; show and vendors until 6pm; parade to downtown 6pm)
• Youth Theatre Carson City Showstoppers Fundraising Yard Sale on Ophir Circle, off Richmond (8am-3pm; help send them to perform at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)

The solstice couldn’t come at a better time: we need some long days to get through all the fun stuff Carson City has crammed into one weekend. The annual Powwow at the Stewart Indian School runs Friday through Sunday, so you’ll have plenty of time to see the dancing, peruse the crafts, and eat an Indian Taco. Don’t miss the Fly-in and Open House at the Carson City Airport: fun for the whole family. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of Carson City’s favorite events: the Taste of Downtown. Music, food, and more from Carson Mall to Williams Street. Have a great time, and be safe.

I don’t mean to make this hard on you, but you have some decisions to make. All day, all night, all weekend long, there are numerous activities throughout our area. Take a good look at the list, grab your friends, family, and kids, and have a great weekend. The Experimental Aircraft Association is hosting the Ford Tri-Motor this weekend, and has Young Eagles flights for the kids: registration and orientation is at 8 a.m. Head over to Eagle Valley Golf for free family golf day.

The Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, Project Empty Bowls Carson City and Deloitte Consulting partnered Friday for a pottery event that brought dozens of children who created and crafted more than 150 clay mugs and bowls.

Deloitte Consulting provided 10 volunteers for the event and has donated 600 pounds of clay that will be used for bowl making projects throughout the year. Friday's event brought nearly 100 children, plus their parents, grandparents and family members.

First things first. Saturday afternoon could be expecting some wet weather, so be prepared. I can’t predict what events may be affected by it, or if the rain will even show up. No worries for you wine walkers, though, downtown will be hopping: rain, shine, or blizzard. Head over to Artsy Fartsy Art Gallery and wish them a happy fourth anniversary, Jeffery will be serving up one of his signature Sangrias. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church won best wine walk stop last month and will have live music. Don’t forget to spend some time inside Westside Pour House: ARTistically INKlined pop-up gallery returns and proves that tattoo artists are first, and foremost, artists.

SATURDAY:

• Street Vibrations Spring Rally: Downtown Reno
• Reno Tahoe International Film Festival – go to www.RTIFF.org for schedule and locations
• Sierra Lutheran High School's 13th Annual Golf Classic at the Silver Oaks Golf Course (7am Check-in, Shotgun start at 8am; $125 for a single player or $400 for a team of four)

I have a confession to make. I love Carson City. I’m fifth generation Nevadan, and have been in Carson since I was three years old. I created a Facebook page called ‘I Love Carson City’ almost three years ago because I was getting tired of hearing ‘nothing ever happens in Carson’ or worse ‘I would have gone to that if I had known about it.’ That is why I do what I do. I am a long time local. I love my valley: the people, the views, the restaurants, the parks, the bands and artists. Community is what community does. We are as great as we want to be. Support your local venues, artists, non-profits, and they can do wonders. Read my list of things to do: I follow almost every local Facebook page and check out over 30 websites weekly to keep it as up to date as possible.

So much is going on today that I don’t even know how to fit it in this introduction.
FRIDAY:

• Monthly ‘Breakfast with Supervisor Brad’ Bonokowski at the Cracker Box (7am; open to Carson City residents, the coffee is on Brad)
• Street Vibrations Spring Rally: Downtown Reno

Project Carson City Empty Bowls Event will be featured at the Children's Museum of Northern Nevada on Friday, with free admission to the first 15 kids that make a bowl.
The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is sponsored by Deloitte Consulting. It is opened to all ages. Adults welcome. The Children's Museum is located at 813 N Carson St, Carson City.

There was an old woman who swallowed a fly. Why, oh, why did she swallow that fly when there is the monthly W.I.N.O.S. ladies night at Tahoe Ridge Winery tonight? Wine and cheese are a much better alternative to flies anyday. It’s National Cheese Day and Old Maids Day, so all you single ladies go celebrate; an old maid ain’t what it used to be. For those of you with kids, head over to the Carson City Library to visit with Mother Goose: she knows what to do if one swallows a fly.

THURSDAY:

• One Putt Jr. Academy at Silver Oak Golf Course (sign in 7:45am, 8am-10am; $40 per class or $200 for six classes classes includes Green Fees, Pull Cart, Golf Clubs, Gatorade; space limited, ages 7-12)
• Last week: ‘Forevermore’ by artist Su Limbert at the LXS Gallery in the Legislature Building

After 12 years, the annual Carson City Sheriff's Office Cops and Kids open house Saturday was among the biggest yet, with dozens of families and hundreds of children taking part in games, contests and information events well into the late morning and into the afternoon.

The popular community event is aimed at children of all ages and their families as a way introduce public safety agencies, especially law enforcement, to them. The event is part family carnival without the rides, and part educational experience, where music, food, contests, songs and dancing are the orders of the day.

Bundle up, Carson City. We aren’t afraid of a little wind, are we? The Dangberg Home Historic Ranch is celebrating our infamous Washoe Zephyr this weekend with kite making, demonstrations, and more. The Friends of the Silver Saddle Ranch would love to see you at their open house on Saturday; if you’re an early riser, join them on a 7 a.m. bird walk. The Carson City Sheriff’s Office is hosting their annual Cops and Kids Open House, so head to the courthouse for some fun.

SATURDAY:

• Bird Walk at the Silver Saddle Ranch: Carson River Road (7am)
• EAA Sierra Chapter #403 Pancake Breakfast at the Chapter Building: 2500 E. College Pkwy (8am; $5; Everyone Welcome)

Do you want to meet an author or play with clay? Luckily, both of those are available to you today. The Friends of the Carson City Library are hosting Rockin’ Rev. Ken Haskins and Carson City Pottery needs help getting ready for an Empty Bowls bowl making event. Dancing shoes are perfect for salsa dance lessons at El Charro’s, but you may want cowboy boots for line dance lessons at Beercade. Practice those newly learned dance moves at Living the Good Life: DJ Bobby G is featuring Latin music. Sing to your heart’s content at Jimmy G’s Cigar Bar or at the Feisty Goat Pub: it’s karaoke night.

THURSDAY: Bike to Work Week

• Last Day to RSVP for the May Carson City Leisure Hour Club meeting on Wednesday, May 20 with speaker Sherry Rupert, Executive Director of the State of Nevada Indian Commission (call Dorothy Link at (775) 885-2542 to RSVP)
• ’The Driest State: Nevada Watersheds’ by artist Nolan Preese at the CCAI Gallery in the Courthouse: 885 E. Musser (8am-5pm)

Editor's Note: Kiwanis Club of Carson City was accidentally omitted from the list of donors and contributors. We apologize for the error.
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With more than 1,400 hot dogs and buns, 700 sodas, 800 bottles of water, coffee, music, games and prizes all dished up and out to the community Saturday, the 12th Annual Carson City Sheriff's Office Cops and Kids Open House will roll out rain or shine, said Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong.

Editor's Note: Kiwanis Club of Carson City was accidentally omitted from the list of donors and contributors. We apologize for the error.
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The 12th annual Carson City Sheriff's Office "Cops and Kids" Open House, billed as the "Safest Street Party in Carson City," will be this Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the sheriff's office, 911 East Musser Street.

The free community event features, activities, ID kits for children, food, music, games and more. On hand will be the sheriff's office K9 dogs, motorcycle patrol unit, Special Enforcement Team, stellar squad, a new SWAT unit, representatives from DARE, and the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Empty Bowls Carson City Project for 2015 kicks off with its first event Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cops and Kids public safety festival at at the Carson City Sheriff's Office, 911 E Musser Street. Bring your family, friends, co-workers and local groups down for some creative fun for a great cause at this free pottery making event to end hunger in Carson City.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

It’s never too cold, too wet or too hot
To pick up a book, and share what you’ve got
You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild
To pick up a book, and read to a child...
― Anita Merina, 1997

Happy 2015, Carson City! Let’s whet your appetite for some of the fun to be had in the next twelve months.

January: Youth Theater Carson City’s Annie, Jr; Winter, Wine, and All that Jazz at the Brewery Arts Center, and the Thirsty Boy Home Brewing Competition.

Fresh from last week's Empty Bowls project in downtown Carson City, local potters Robin and Rich McGregor of Carson City Pottery Art School and Debbie Anderson of Turtle Mountain Designs will hold their annual holiday sales Saturday at two different locations.

The second annual Home Studio Holiday Tours will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Celebrating 25 years, the Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights held at the steps of the Nevada State Capitol Building has become a Carson City Christmas card to the world.

Delicious, nourishing soup for the soul served steaming hot for the price of a handmade artisan bowl was the early warm-up Friday favorite at the second annual Empty Bowls Project held at Telegraph Square in downtown Carson City. The feast kicked off the annual Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights at the Nevada State Capitol.

Hello, Carson City! The holiday season is in full swing with tree lightings, craft fairs, Santa sightings all around the area. Every week, I create a list of the fun stuff and events going on around the Carson City area for my Facebook page, I love Carson City. I follow the pages of local businesses and organizations, search website calendars, keep my ear to the ground, and compile a list of anything and everything going on in this community.

The following road closures are scheduled to occur today, Friday, Dec. 5, from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for the Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights in downtown Carson City:

The Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights will officially kick off Friday evening, Dec. 5 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the steps of the State Capitol in Carson City.

Now in its 25th year, the annual event is sponsored by the Carson City Redevelopment Authority as part of their efforts to showcase the downtown core and to bring families together to enjoy the advent of the holiday season.

Seventy-five budding artists from kindergarten through grade 12 entered their art work into an annual contest recently as part of Carson City's annual Silver and Snowflake Festival of Lights.

Each year, the teen board of the Carson City Library chooses a theme to coincide with the Christmas holidays. This year’s theme was “A Novel Christmas,” asking children to draw what Christmas would look like in their favorite novels.

On December 5, 2014 from 4-7pm help end hunger in Carson City. Join the soup feast and keep the artisan bowl to remind you of the hungry people in your community.

All proceeds go to local 501(C)3, Friends in Service Helping (F.I.S.H.) to feed the hungry. It will be in conjunction with the Carson City Chamber event, Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights. $12/person includes one artisan bowl and admission to enjoy locally made soup donated by Carson restaurants and organizations.