The last big push of summer is upon us, and it’s been one hot summer all over the country. The dog days of summer are here at Lake Tahoe, and Reno is not the only place with hot August nights. We must enjoy them as much as possible, because lounging at Zephyr Cove Beach or taking a dip in the lake in December is no fun at all. Things are still very happening in the final month of the Tahoe summer: hitting the beach, swimming, boating, parasailing, kayaking, great music, great restaurants, and just an overall abundance of activities that will send people into fall with a hangover never to be believed.
August is also a milestone for a wonderful South Shore establishment: The Sage Room inside Harveys Casino turns 70. Since opening in August of 1947, this Western-themed steak house has been a popular spot with locals 
and guests alike. This great place has been serving up big juicy steaks since the days when Lake Tahoe was a summer-only destination. Open for dinner nightly, the Sage Room has the original bar and hand-hewn beams that were part of the original log cabin that housed Harveys in 1944. Unique appetizers, such as Blackened Pan Seared Ahi Tuna, Oysters Rockefeller, Marlyland Lump Crab Cakes and Jumbo Sea Scallops, are just part of the Sage Room’s charms. Entrees include Filet of Beef Wellington, Chateaubriand-Bouquetiere for two and the signature dish, Steak Diane, which is filet mignon flambéed tableside with brandy, mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic, and rice pilaf. Or if you just want a good rib-eye steak with a baked potato and a nice glass of red wine, they have that too. And of course, don’t forget dessert: Bananas Foster and Cherries Jubilee, both prepared tableside. For reservations call, 775-588-2411 or go online to www.harveystahoe.com. You will not be disappointed by this choice for your dinner destination.
Another tradition that continues to thrive at Stateline is the great entertainment, in particular the music and comedy. And during one week in mid-August the level of talent that will be hitting the stages around the casino corridor is pretty high. An Evening with The Who is Wednesday, August 16 at Harveys Outdoor Amphitheatre. Reunited again for another tour, The Who can still blast some good old rock n’roll music. Then, the next night, Thursday, August 17 at Hard Rock Casino, Primus and Clutch will hit Hard Rock’s outdoor stage, that will be setup only for this show. Then, Friday, August 18 over at MontBleu is Cheech and Chong, so bring a few doobies and be prepared to laugh your tail off. All tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or in person at the box offices at all venues. And those are only a few things happening on the entertainment calendar in August.
Also throughout August, down at El Dorado beach in California, is the Live at Lakeview Concert Series, which is right on the beach, with great local and regional bands playing every Thursday night starting at 5:30. A beer garden is set up where you can party and shake your rump while music plays and another phenomenal Tahoe sunset happens right before your eyes.
To get a little involved in preserving the natural beauty of the lake, why not attend the Annual Lake Tahoe Summit, August 22 at 12pm at Harveys Outdoor Amphitheatre? Since the Presidential Forum in 1997, the annual Lake Tahoe Summit has become an important gathering of federal, state and local leaders dedicated to the goal of restoring and sustaining Lake Tahoe. Last year President Barrack Obama showed up and marveled at the beauty of Lake Tahoe as he flew over to land at the airport. It was president Obama’s first visit to the lake, but he said he definitely would return for a vacation with his family. That’s what Lake Tahoe is: a place for everyone, and especially in the summertime. And August is perfect: hot in the day and comfortable at night, with the lake always there to refresh and reboot the mind, body and soul.
— Brendan Packer
