In this edition:
Baker, Elko, Ely, Las Vegas, Laughlin, Lincoln County, Mineral County, South Lake Tahoe
Baker
April is a wonderful month to be in Baker. Flowers are blooming, snow is melting up in the mountains, and the temperatures are very comfortable. Visitors are coming, and the town is reawakening from its winter slumber. The Great Basin Café will be opening mid-month at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center under new management. Check the May installment for more info about what they’re offering.
The Magic Bean coffee cart will also be opening in April. Locals have gone all winter without their special caffeine fix, so it will be great to see it come back.
The Stargazer Inn and Kerouac’s Restaurant and Bar will be opening in April. This is at the site of the old Silverjack Inn and Lectrolux Café. Jack Cerese and Kate Claeys left New York City to begin a new life in Baker. They are excited to bring their energy to this project. The Stargazer Inn opens April 7. Rooms have been refurbished and have a fresh look. Kerouac’s Restaurant will offer classic American food with a fresh take. Most of the food offered will be made from scratch, and there will be vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options included. The restaurant is expected to open the end of the month. For reservations or more information visit the Stargazer Inn website.
As the snow melts, the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is opening further up the mountain. The road is usually not open to the Wheeler Peak Campground until after Memorial Day weekend. Lower campgrounds will open throughout the month. Great hikes include Pole Canyon, Timber Creek, and the Snake Creek area. If you’d like to take a tour of Lehman Caves, book early, as number of tours are limited and they can fill up fast. Other fun things to do in the area in April are visit Crystal Peak, Crystal Ball Cave, and Gandy Warm Springs. These are just over the border in Utah.
For more info about all the amenities, in the area, click here.
— Gretchen Baker
Check out Gretchen’s fabulous outdoor adventure blog, Desert Survivor!
Elko
Bighorns in the Rubies
Early Spring is the perfect time to see the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in the Ruby Mountains. Last weekend, I took a quick drive in Lamoille Canyon and spotted over 20 sheep right along the road. It was quite the sight. Every spring the sheep come down low to graze on the fresh vegetation that greens up in March and April. Enjoy the sights, and please remember to keep your distance from the sheep when viewing.
Edible Elko
I just heard word that Elko has a new Mediterranean restaurant. Odeh’s has just opened at the corner of 11th and Railroad Street (at the old 11th Street Deli location). I’ve heard good reviews from friends, and it sounds like it is worth checking out!
Big boots in downtown Elko
The city of Elko is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. As part of the celebration, dozens of big boots will be on display throughout the city. The first boot to arrive is out in front of the Elko Art Club Gallery on Railroad Street. After checking out the boot, venture into the art gallery and see what our local artists have been up to. I’ll have more on the Centennial next month and you can find the Art Club by clicking here.
Nevada Art Postcard Project
Please join concerned Nevada citizens in creating handmade art postcards to show our local and national representatives how much Nevadans value the arts and their arts organizations. Duncan Little Creek Gallery will be hosting a postcard making party on April 3rd at 5pm. With potential budgets cuts, it is especially important to encourage our representatives to support funding for the Nevada Arts Council (NAC), Nevada Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). See http://kenvtv.com/news/local/nevada-art-postcard-project
— Doug Clarke
Ely
Ely Art Bank Adds New Exhibit
The Ely Art Bank will host an open house on April 1 for its newest art exhibit. Wally Cuchine has been collecting Nevada Art for over 40 years. Part of his collection will now be on display at the Art Bank.
Wally Cuchine’s art collection is made up of paintings and other pieces that capture the beauty of Nevada’s Great Basin landscapes, buildings, and the people who have made Nevada home for generations. Cuchine spent years as the director of the Eureka Opera House, beginning with its restoration in 1995. He has been active in promoting Nevada tourism, traveling the state for years. His collection grew as he met local artists around the Nevada and began putting together this unique representation of the beauty of Nevada.
The Ely Art Bank is proud to display this collection. The Art Bank features work by more than 35 local artists and includes painting, sculpture, wood and glass pieces, jewelry, books, and many more items that all reflect the heritage of the Great Basin.
The Ely Art Bank is located at 399 Aultman Street in downtown Ely. The Art Bank is open Friday and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm. Information can be found at elynvarts.com.
— Lorraine Clark
Las Vegas
You never know what you’ll find in Las Vegas — so enjoy!
On April 1st and 2nd, the Silver State Kennel Club will have their AKC (American Kennel Club) Show at the Sports Center of Las Vegas on Las Vegas Boulevard South and Sunset Road. The events are from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and will showcase all breeds of purebred dogs in obedience, junior showmanship and rally trials. You will see hounds, poodles, bull & Scottish terriers, labs, dachshunds, and more. On April 2nd will be the puppies! Who doesn’t enjoy seeing all kinds and ages of puppies?
As of publication, there was no general admission charge for the events on either day, although the Silver State Kennel Club is a non-profit corporation. There is a parking charge of $5 for each event day.
The Pirate Fest will be held at Craig Ranch Regional Park at 628 Craig Road (east of MLK Blvd. & west of Losee Rd.) on April 21st through 23rd. Tickets are $15 for a single day or $30 for a 3-day wrist band for those aged 12 to 64. Senior and military prices are $10 or $20, respectively. You can obtain $2.00 discounts for single day entries with a receipt from Sonic, Green Valley Grocery or Smith’s Foods. Hours are Noon-10 p.m., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. & 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday.
Although this event was a basic rain-out last year, it should be fun this year because, “How often does it rain in Vegas?” Chances are good it won’t happen two years in a row! It is all things pirate, including a cardboard regatta on Sunday from Zappos. There will be games and treasure maps to follow, food, entertainment, demonstrations, a beer garden, and more for the whole family to enjoy.
The Las Vegas Highland Games will be held April 29th and 30th at Floyd Lamb Park (Durango North & Brent Lane off I-95 North) beginning at 9 a.m. each day until 6 p.m. General admission is $15 for 1 day if over 12 years of age, $10 for military and those over 60. 2-day tickets are $30 (over 12) and $20 (military & over 60). There is no charge for parking, and you can bring lawn chairs to make sure you have a seat. You are not allowed to bring in food or beverages, but, there will be food available for purchase.
There will be competitions in bagpiping and drum bands, highland dancing, athletics (which is throwing telephone poles, hammers, weights, etc.), a shortbread competition, and live music all weekend long. There are Scotch whisky tastings, beer, and toy vendors, and a children’s glen set up for play time. This should prove to be a fun and different experience for all to enjoy.
The Great American Foodie Fest is slated for April 27th through 30th in Henderson at Sunset Station. Food trucks from all over the country will be here so you can taste the best-of-the-best! They will also have carnival rides, food, eating competitions, a beer garden, and more food to enjoy.
Advance tickets are $8 for the 4-day entry or $10 at the gate. Or, you can purchase a $50 VIP for the 4 days, which includes $25 in food & drink vouchers, a t-shirt, express entrance, VIP seating, and a swag bag. Carnival rides are not included in the price of admission. Make sure you bring cash since not all vendors accept credit/debit cards. ATM’s will be available.
— Pauline Cimoch
Diamond Jack has seen the new Las Vegas and it’s a 54,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art marijuana production facility. Desert Grown Farms, a pharmaceutical grade cultivation and processing facility, is less than two blocks from the Strip and is expected to produce more than 20 strains and 10,000 pounds of cannabis per year.
I already have the munchies.
Desert Grown Farms has an expansive genetic library with marijuana strains that have been collected, researched and developed for a number of years. Production techniques include a dedicated network of hardware modules and specialized software applications designed to provide an automated and comprehensive system for feeding the plants. It starts with extremely clean water that comes from a robust reverse osmosis treatment system that provides fresh water to the grow rooms. The advantages to all this are accuracy and uniformity for an improved root system and overall plant health for the “perfect crop.”
All crops are kept at very precise Co2 set points to achieve optimum health and growth. A solution called EcoSol is designed to create an electrolyzed, chemically-activated solution that provides a safe and environmentally friendly, potassium-chloride based chlorine-free oxidizer. This solution is injected into the irrigation and drain water to treat bacterial and fungal diseases.
The post-harvest phase of cannabis cultivation is when the flowers of the plant dry and “cure” into their finished form. Desert Grown Farms utilizes a method that equates to a higher quality finished product that will produce a full flavor profile and best possible effects when being consumed via smoking or vaporizing.
Drive through the valley and discover stores with names such as Las Vegas ReLeaf, Medizin, Essence Vegas, Euphoria Wellness, ShowGrow, Reef Dispensary and Top Notch. The greatest concentration of stores (12) is in an area called the Green District. It begins near South Third at Charleston Blvd. and moves out to East Twain and Paradise Road.
Keep in mind this new Las Vegas is not just Las Vegas. This is the new Nevada.
— Diamond Jack Bulavsky
Monorail Offers Month-Long Earth Day Savings Passes
The Las Vegas Monorail, which is the city’s most sustainable form of mass transit operating zero-emission trains, will be celebrating Earth Day April 22 all month long with special rates on multi-ride passes. From April 1-30, two-day multi-ride passes will be $17, which is a $5 savings. These passes allow holders to ride the Monorail’s four-mile seven-stop route—from SLS to MGM Grand—as many times as they wish for 48 hours. Earth Day fares may be purchased beginning April 1 online or at eKiosks at Monorail stations using promo code GREEN17.
Cardio Spider is next Spring Artist-in Residence at Neon Museum
The third annual Spring Performing Artist in Residence program at the Neon Museum will feature Cardio Spider. The Las Vegas-based sketch and improv team will present “What’s Your Sign?”—an interactive improv comedy experience open to the public in the museum’s North Gallery from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 1. This public program at the Neon Museum will be followed by an exhibit component, which will be on view at the Marjorie Barrick Museum at UNLV from April 3–15. The program is free, but advance registration is required online at neonmuseum.org.
Cardio Spider’s interactive live shows consist of sketch comedy and improvised games, scenes, and songs based on audience suggestions. Their original skits, songs and videos often explore issues of race, gender, relationships, and current events.
Axe Monkeys is Open
It seems every activity imaginable is in Las Vegas so Axe Monkeys should fit in just fine. While axe throwing as a recreational activity has become popular in Canada, Japan and other countries the past several years, why shouldn’t folks in America enjoy the sport?
Las Vegas’ first and only axe throwing facility is located at 3525 E. Post Rd., Suite #110. The new facility has 23 indoor axe throwing lanes, where customers can practice or learn from trainers to throw at a thick disc of wood. The lanes are separated by chain link fences as is the spectators’ area. The throwing task may sound easy but it’s not.
The goal is to make the axe weighing about 1 ½ pounds rotate once and sink itself cleanly in the target about 15 feet away. More experienced throwers can choose from a supply of knives, throwing stars, tactical tomahawks, shogun axes and other throwing implements in stock.
Hours are daily 10 a.m.-2 a.m. One-hour rates are $25 for adults and $20 for ages 17 and younger; two-hour rates are $40 for adults, $25 for children ages 7 to 12 and $32 for youths 13-17. Everyone participating signs a waiver. Axe Monkeys will host leagues and parties.
— Jackie Brett
Laughlin
Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters Visit Riverside Resort
Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters will headline in Don’s Celebrity Theatre at the Riverside Resort April 6-8 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.
This April, The Boxmasters are celebrating their 10-year anniversary with their “Tea Surfing Tour.” The group was formed when Thornton met J.D. Andrew in Bellflower, Calif., and discovered they both came to California to make it in the world of electric hillbilly music. Combining this genre with 60’s pop and country rock music, Academy Award-winner Thornton decided to form a band, and they took on lead guitar player Micheal Wayne Butler and formed The Boxmasters.
Blues & Brews Festival is Annual Event
The 19th Annual Blues ‘n’ Brews Festival will be held on the Riverwalk and the stage at the Loading Dock Bar and Grille April 14-16. This outdoor event is all about great live blues bands, beer and food happening Friday and Saturday from noon to midnight and Sunday noon to 8 p.m. The entertainment is free with featured acts
Preston Shannon, Chris Hiatt, Bill Magee, and John Earl & the BoogieMan Band featuring guitarist Chris Tofield.
Annual River Run Takes over Laughlin
Dal Con Productions’ 35th Annual Laughlin River Run with thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts will invade the whole town Wednesday-Saturday, April 26-29. As one of the largest bike rallies in the western United States, the annual River Run expects more than 35,000 participants who will partake of special events, music, and heavy duty bike watching and riding. Acres of vendors will be located in the Colorado Belle and Edgewater’s parking lots.
The official Harley Davidson headquarters will be in the Edgewater parking lot with riding demos. The Edgewater will host the Hogs & Heifers Bartainers in the Party Zone Wednesday through Saturday.
The Ink Mayhem Tattoo Convention will return to the Colorado Belle’s D Deck while the Center Circle in front
of the casino’s main entrance will be a late-night party spot featuring a DJ and plenty of beer.
The Colorado Belle will also feature free live entertainment by four blues bands Wednesday through Saturday on the Loading Dock stage: Preston Shannon, the “King of Beale Street;” Bill Magee’s New York/Chicago style blues; Chris Hiatt; and John Earl and the BoogieMan band featuring guitarist Chris Tofield.
The Ms. Laughlin River Run® 2017 contest competing for $1,000, $400 and $100 cash prizes will be held Friday, April 29 at 4 p.m. at the Riverside Resort.
The American Heroes Charity Poker Run will be held Friday, April 28 from 8:30-10 a.m. The fundraising ride takes in the Old Route 66 and Mother Road Harley-Davidson® Party. It’s $15 for the rider and $10 for a passenger.
The Colorado Belle will host the Early Bird Poker Run on April 27, 28 and 29 starting any time after 9 a.m. and finishing before 3 p.m. The start location is the Riverside Resort Starview Room, the finish location in the Colorado Belle Vendor Area, and the ride goes to the London Bridge and Pirate Cove. Awards pasting will be Saturday, April 30 at the Colorado Belle Loading Dock Grille.
The Custom Bike Show will be held at the Center Circle adjacent to the Colorado Belle’s main casino entrance on Saturday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prize money is $250, $500 and $700.
Willie Nelson at Harrah’s during River Run
While all the bikers are visiting Laughlin for the annual River Run, country music legend Willie Nelson and Family will appear in concert at Harrah’s Rio Vista Amphitheater with country musician and songwriter Steve Moakler on Friday, April 28 at 8 p.m. Show tickets range from $45.50 to $91.50.
Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998. In 2011, he was inducted to the National Agricultural Hall of Fame for his labor in Farm Aid and other fundraisers to benefit American farmers. In 2015 Nelson won the Gershwin Prize, the lifetime award of the Library of Congress. The country singer-songwriter known for hit songs like “Crazy” and “On the Road Again” was included by Rolling Stone on its 100 Greatest Singers and 100 Greatest Guitarists lists. He rose to prominence at the end of the 1960s and contributed to the “outlaw country” subgenre. He will turn 84 on April 29.
— Jackie Brett
Lincoln County
New Hiko Junction billboard
When are you coming to Lincoln County again? Soon, we hope. And as you come to the Hiko Junction, where U.S. 93 and SR 375 intersect, there is a new, more attractive tourist billboard to see.
It is more interesting than the old one that has been on the same wooden frame structure for many years. This new sign is double-sided, whereas the old sign was only single sided, and it has a slightly different message on each side.
It replaces two other signs at the same location that were not nearly as good, and faded so badly in only two or three years as to be unreadable. They had come to look more like a single-sided blank white board in need of something.
Ben Rowley of Nevada Central Media, was commissioned by the Lincoln Communities Action Team to design the artwork for the new sign. He said, “LCAT has been working on ideas to improve the old sign for several years. After obtaining a $6,250 grant from the Nevada Commission on Tourism and a $5,000 donation from the Lincoln County Room Tax Board, we were able to move forward with developing a new sign.”
He said the plan was to have a double-sided sign, instead of just a single side that only those heading north could see. Now, motorists who are southbound and coming into the Pahranagat Valley, might take an interest in what the valley has to offer, as well as those heading to the north, east or west. “Ultimately,” Rowley said, “we want to install solar lighting on the sign so it can be seen at night as well.”
The sign was manufactured by Verry Best Signs of Las Vegas. Additional paneling was added to the backside to make the wood frame structure more secure.
Lincoln Communities Action Team president Marcia Hurd said, “We’re very excited about the sign because it stands out so well. I think it’s awesome. It stands out so beautifully, and now when motorists are coming from Caliente, we actually see a sign, the new backside, a wonderful addition. We used to look at that old faded blank board and cringe. Now, with the new sign, we want to cheer, and we are very excited to be able to be involved in that.”
There is more to do in Lincoln County than you might think, and that’s all the more reason to come. Five state parks to visit, the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, several popular fishing areas, hiking trails, and soon to be a trailhead in Caliente for about 35 miles of Intermountain Bicycle Association trails.
Of course, there is the historic old west town of Pioche, with its own historic Million Dollar Courthouse, Thompson Opera House, and legendary Boot Hill, and not too far away the ghost town ruins of Delamar.
— Dave Maxwell
Mineral County
An Amazing Patriotic Experience
There is no denying that the feeling of patriotism is alive and well in Mineral County. Hearts fill with pride upon seeing and hearing the U.S. military jets present their formal noon flyover, the kickoff to the annual Armed Forces Day parade. It is the one holiday in which Hawthorne, Nevada opens up its streets in an endearing atmosphere. With memories of a small country fair, this rural town becomes a celebration of every military contribution made, but the moments created are reminiscent of troops coming home from war.
This amazing May 20, 2017 Armed Forces tribute will be hosting representatives from all six branches of America’s guardians of freedom within the parade. Standing along the main street, attendees wave, as a mile-long parade proceeds down E Street with High School bands marching. Vintage cars and homemade floats mix in among various emergency crews driving firetrucks and police cars, as sirens blare and lights flash. Military tanks slowly trudge along with old Army jeeps, and the chosen Grand Marshall is highlighted within a vehicle of choice.
The spotlight for the children is the famous black sea-serpent named Cecil, that winds his body of framework while spitting out steam. Each year, the returning high school reunion visitors participate in the parade by finding a place on Cecil’s platform to hitch a ride down the parade route.
The planned events begin to unfold on Wednesday, May 17, with the Armed Forces pageant and choosing the local royalty of princesses and Miss Armed Forces. A Talent Show, held on Thursday, is generally performed in the renovated USO building, which is one of the two historic United States Officers Clubs left in the United States. This is a place of interest all within itself. This year, a special nostalgic dance will be held in town to honor the seniors and mix in the younger “Rosie the Riveter” look-alikes around town. Many trek each year to Hawthorne’s Armed Forces Day for the spirit, the varied fun of various entertaining arenas and to experience the tribute of America’s finest.
A variety of events take place throughout the town’s boundaries, including an art show, adult competitions as well as rides and games for the children. Visitors are welcomed into the two main museums in town, the Mineral County Museum, which houses a variety of interesting rural, mining and historic items, and the Ordnance Museum, which is an extraordinary collection of military items from warfare pieces, to vintage clothing, to actual photo ops with a full-sized, retired Patton Tank and much more.
Within this weekend party is a variety of food vendors and local eateries full of specialized items that will tempt the taste-buds of every age. The aromas, the sounds, the music, and the festivities envelop every visitor, as each exploration is an adventure within the weekend. Make plans now to attend, using the local Tourism Board as a contact for further information at (775) 945-5854. Local rooms are available, as are several local camping locations.
(Thanks to Tamara Bunch of Wheezy Photography for the photos on this page.)
— Sheri Samson
South Lake Tahoe
Spring is in the air, and there is snow everywhere. But the big thaw is underway, while the days get longer and the temperatures start to rise. All the creeks and streams are swollen, and the meadows look like big ponds. When the snow starts to melt off the mountains, the number of people visiting Lake Tahoe starts to melt as well.
April is typically the slowest time of year up here at the South Shore. The ski resorts close, the parks and trails are still closed and it’s still too cold to enjoy the beach. The area goes into its cocoon while transitioning into another glorious Tahoe summer. But it wasn’t a typical winter up here — it was huge. So big that Heavenly Resort has announced an April 30 closing date, exceeding last year’s date by almost two months. This year we can just skip spring and have all the fun of winter right up until summer.
It always seems this time of year people don’t put Tahoe on their travel plans, but they are missing out. When things get slow, local hotels do their best to attract business, so they reduce their prices and make a springtime visit easier on the wallet — and it’s less crowded. If it’s possible to play hooky from work and get up here on a weekday, rates at a fabulous Stateline casino-hotels are excellent. Like at Harrah’s casino, where a great room can go for $65 in April, which isn’t that bad for this day and age. Plus Harrah’s rooms are quite nice, and the views from any spot in the hotel tower are wonderful. Spacious rooms with two bathrooms in each of them, designed so the person who can get ready faster doesn’t have to wait for the bathroom to be free to get down to the casino. Or get down to the showroom to enjoy some top notch entertainment at the South Shore Room. Like on April 6th and 7th, when STS9 hits the stage with their Get Loud Tour. The band describes their music as post-rock dance music, so get on up here and shake your booty on the dance floor. Then stick around on April 8th and see Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, and get ready to be into something good.
Likewise across the street at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the room rates plummet in April, but the entertainment is at a very high level. If you’re a heavy metal music fan, or a fan of any type of metal music, the Hard Rock is hosting the Spring Meltdown Festival April 20-22. It’s a music festival that will last three days, with three stages and over 50 bands, and there’s definitely going to be some hard rocking going down. Necks will be sore the day after this festival, as there will be some serious head banging going on. And the devil horns will be held high when bands like Origin, Ghoul or Alterbeast attack the stage.
The entertainment at the casinos doesn’t take a break during the slow period of April, and the redevelopment at Tahoe South just keeps chugging along too. One major project that has been building non-stop for the last year is at Edgewood Golf Course. The Edgewood Lodge will be ready and open for business in June, and people can make reservations for stays starting for June 22 at the Lodge. Go to www.edgewoodtahoe.com for more information. The Lodge has 154 luxury rooms and suites all located right on the shoreline and having every amenity imaginable. The construction has been a pretty remarkable feat, especially during a record setting winter; workers had to dig out the snow and then get to work building the Lodge. While the wait is on for the June opening date at the Lodge, people can visit two restaurants located in the clubhouse on the golf course. While the course is still buried under a few feet of snow, they are expecting to open for golf in May. The Edgewood Restaurant offers a fantastic place to enjoy Easter Sunday brunch on April 16. The restaurant offers panoramic views of the Lake and delicious food. Or come down for lunch at Brook’s Bar and Restaurant, open Wednesday through Sunday during the month of April. And, on a nice sunny day, sit outside and soak up some rays on the patio and munch on some food.
It’s not going to be the average run-of-the-mill spring up here at the Lake. It’s going to take a while for the snow to melt, and we may receive more snow, as it’s been known to snow during every month of the year. And after this winter, maybe we’ll get another two feet in April. People not making the trip up because “ski season is over” won’t have that problem this April, because every ski hill will be going strong throughout the month, and some places like Squaw Valley will be open till July 4th. Get on up here, get the deals, see a show, hit the slopes, and love Lake Tahoe.
— Brendan Packer
