features

The Youth Theatre Carson City opened its newest musical production, "The Wiz," at the Carson Community Center last week with another three shows scheduled for this weekend.

The play, a seven-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical based on Dorothy Gale’s adventures in the Land of Oz, runs through Jan. 17 in the Bob Boldrick Theatre. It features a mixture of rock, gospel and soul music numbers.

Nevada’s New Year’s resolution is to ensure that travelers go home with more stories than souvenirs. With the lineup of events scheduled in early 2016, that is sure to ring true. As always, Nevada will offer fun, unique events for visitors of all interests and ages that will guarantee unforgettable experiences. Kick off the New Year at one of these Nevada-only events:

In the early 1970s, as assistant city engineer in Urbana, where I attended the University of Illinois, I worked on bikeways, sewer systems to minimize pollution, promoting underground power and telephone lines, and other “green” projects. Later, as a university research engineer, I worked on many other environmental, energy and policy issues.

Puppet stories, animal stamp crafts and studying the signs of scat are all on the menu from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, as the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, celebrates “Beastly Encounters and Coyote Stories,” an educational and fun program for all ages.

Plans are underway and vendors are being sought for the second annual Early Childhood Expo in March. The event is organized by the Carson City Early Childhood Advisory and is designed to share early childhood information and resources in Carson City.

Are you ready for tomorrow? New Year’s parties can be found where ever you go; check out a complete list here. No point in wasting today while waiting for the ball to drop, though. Plenty of fun to go around whether you’re in the mood for live music, dancing, or karaoke.

This week's It's Your City with Cortney Bloomer features guest Miya MacKenzie, chief professional officer with the Hop & Mae Adams Foundation in Carson City.

Reno artist Nate Clark’s paintings will be featured at the Nevada Arts Council’s OXS Gallery in Carson City beginning Monday, Dec. 28 through March 11.

This 1937 adaptation of Mark Twain's timeless tale, features Errol Flynn and Claude Rains. This evening also marks the beginning of our new alliance with the Brewery Arts Center, where our monthly screenings will now be shown, in the Black Box Theater.

General Admission $5; Senior/Student $3; Free for members. Film discussion and trivia begin at 6:30, film at 7:00. Join us for a fun film, interesting discussion, prizes and free popcorn. Proceeds benefits local arts students and programs. For more information, please visit www.ccclassiccinema.org or call Rhonda 775.315.8495.

Celebrate New Year’s Day 2016 with Nevada State Parks. Guided hikes led by park rangers and local volunteers will be offered at State Parks throughout Nevada as part of the nationwide First Day Hikes Program. Nevada State Parks is waiving entrance fees for all first day hikers.

This week's It's Your City with host Cortney Bloomer features Carson High senior Taylor Weddell who is organizing an attempt to break a world record by getting the community to rally this Saturday to create the world's largest human Christmas Tree.

NevadaGrown celebrates the launch of the cookbook, “NevadaGrown A Year in Local Food” on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Reno Provisions, 100 N. Sierra St.

This week's It's Your City with host Cortney Bloomer features Carson City Fire Chief Robert Schreihans. The two discuss fire safety tips, including regular chimney cleaning, disposing fire ash properly and keeping your home and Christmas tree with decorations safe during the holiday season.

Building upon a legacy of excellence, Carson Tahoe Health proudly celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the acclaimed Regional Medical Center in Carson City on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Over the past decade, Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center has grown into one of Northern Nevada’s premier healthcare destinations, earning numerous awards and accolades affirming its outstanding patient care, leading-edge medical expertise, and ultra-modern healing environment.

Mallards Restaurant and Bar at Empire Ranch Golf Course Presents Monday Night Football. Enjoy kickoff at 5:30pm on one of the ten televisions. Every week features a different Buffet menu that includes soup, salad bar, and dessert for only $10. Drink specials are available during the game. Join in the football pool for prizes including a 2016 Annual golf pass to be given away at the end of the season.

Perennial holiday favorite “The Nutcracker” as performed by the Pinkerton Ballet Theatre returns to Carson City Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 27-29. Featuring Erica Chipp of the Smuin Ballet in San Francisco as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Maykel Solas as Cavalier, this 27th year of performances is not to be missed.

Looking for a great way to get away after Thanksgiving, have some fun and create some fabulous Christmas gifts? Well, come join us in this three hour jewelry making class where we'll be making "Bold and Funky" wire wrapped necklaces that are eye catching AND as fun to wear as they are to make.

The Polar Express on the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad has sold out for the fifth consecutive year, with more than 15,000 passengers securing rides to the North Pole.

A wait list sign-up is available online here that could offer a last chance to ride the Polar Express in 2015. Tickets for next year’s holiday train go on sale in August 2016.

After three long years of producing Women to Women for television on Charter Network, Producer Jose Paz and his wife and show host Carol Paz decided to retire.

Or so she thought.

After a little time off and a much needed break, Carol is now back in a new and bold way. She has created a new website and she hosts magazine-style, in-depth personal interviews.

TOCCATA - Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus announces its 10th annual production of Handel’s Messiah with performances in five distinct locations, including Carson City. The Reno-Tahoe-Truckee community can continue enjoying the wonderful holiday tradition of TOCCATA’s Messiah production.

Strings in the Schools, Carson City Symphony's after-school program, presents its sixth annual "This is Not a Christmas Concert" on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 6:30 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center.

With the holiday season now in full swing, it’s only appropriate that the Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO) brings Jazz for the Holidays to Northern Nevada for all to enjoy on December 19th and 20 at Nightingale Hall - University of Nevada. Sharing the stage with the 17 piece big band this year is Tierney Sutton, 2015 GRAMMY Nominee for “Best Jazz Vocal Album”.

All aboard, Carson City. The Polar Express returns to the Virginia and Truckee Thursday. This annual tradition features hot chocolate, caroling, and a read-along of Chris Van Allsburg's Christmas story, in addition to a visit to Santa at the North Pole.

Carson City Library and Nevada Center for the Book will host Laura McBride, author of the 2015 Nevada Reads selection “We Are Called to Rise” on Friday, Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m. in the Library Digitorium.
“We Are Called to Rise” is told in four distinct voices: An immigrant boy whose family is struggling to assimilate, a middle-aged housewife coping with an imploding marriage and a troubled son, a social worker at home in the darker corners of Las Vegas, and a wounded soldier recovering from an injury he can’t remember getting.

The Frances Humphrey Lecture Series this week features a presentation on the Bombing of Gernika and its impact upon the United States. The lecture is Thursday, Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m. at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City. This lecture and book signing by Xabier Irujo will be enjoyed by anyone interested the history of modern warfare, Basque studies, and ethical and humanitarian issues related to the effects of war on society.

Magic, cuisine and live music will raise the roof this winter with the opening of The Loft Theatre, a new all-ages performance theater and dining venue in the heart of South Lake Tahoe.

The Loft is a first for the California side of Tahoe South that combines a theater, with nightly live entertainment, a lounge and restaurant for families and adults. Located on the third floor of the Heavenly Village Cinema, the $1 million complex features 107-seats, a separate dining area serving authentic Italian cuisine, bar and lounge.

Two weeks before The Polar Express takes its first ride from Carson City to the completely reimagined North Pole aboard the Virginia and Truckee Railroad 88 percent of tickets have already been sold.

A testament to the popularity of the Polar Express — the train ride has completely sold out each of the previous four years — now’s the time to secure tickets so the kids aren’t disappointed.

Inspired performances. Distinguished artistry. "Friends with Amazing Voices" is a select group of friends of all ages, that features some of the finest vocalists and musicians in the Northwest.

Their mission is to create unforgettable concert experiences, with professional performance opportunities by exceptionally talented singers and musicians of all ages. For the first time, “Friends with Amazing Voices” is bringing their artistry to the Brewery Arts Center’s Performance Hall this Sunday.

Only in Nevada does a state throw a party in its capital city and everyone is invited. And so it is with the celebration Saturday of the Silver State's 151st birthday in Carson City.
Nevadans from north, south, east west and central make the annual pilgrimage to the state capital to honor and celebrate statehood which came, Oct. 31, 1864.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church in downtown Carson City at Telegraph and Division streets offers its annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday November 14 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. This year's bazaar features crafters who won a total of 19 ribbons at the 2015 Nevada State Fair. One of those crafters has created this year's queen-sized quilt in a traditional English Ivy block pattern in tones of red, white, and blue to be raffled.