Radio Memories II — The Fabulous Forties

Back by popular demand, the Carson Valley Community Theatre presents a follow-up to its successful old-time radio re-creation show that played to sold-out audiences in 2011. Once again the show will return to the golden age of radio with the focus being the Fabulous Forties, when radio entertainment was at its peak.

The performance, November 16-18 at at the Carson Valley Inn, will re-create an evening of prime-time programming set in the mid-1940s with performers gathering at KVCT radio station in Minden to present the evening’s entertainment with such shows as “The Bickersons," "Fibber McGee & Molly," "The Shadow," and others from that era complete with vintage commercials sung by the Jinglettes, a modern-day version of the Andrews Sisters.

Ticket prices are as follows:

• Dinner & show on Friday the 16th & Saturday the 17th: Dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with show at 7 p.m.; $30. Tickets must be purchased before midnight the day before the show.

• Show only on Saturday the 17th at 1 p.m.; $15.

• Champagne Brunch on Sunday the 18th from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with show at 1 p.m.; $35. Tickets must be purchased before midnight the day before the show.

• Show only on Sunday the 18th at 6:30 p.m.; $15.

Tickets can be purchased at showtix4U.com or by calling 866-967-8167. Tickets can also be purchased at the CVCT box office at 1572 Highway 395 in Minden, or by calling 775-292-0939, beginning October 30.

Corley Ranch Hosts October Harvest Festival

For those of you with kids, you already know that October is an exciting month. The anticipation of dressing up to score a bag full of candy late at night while pretending to be your favorite villain or superhero is enough to make little ones shake and shimmy with enthusiasm. Lucky for you, though, there’s more than just sugar to peak the interest of little goblins in magical Carson Valley.

The Corley Ranch Harvest Festival, in particular, is a great way to spend any one of your weekends throughout October. 2011 marks the seventh annual celebration every Saturday and Sunday in October from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission ($6 for adults; kids age 3-17 and seniors pay $5 each; kids 2 and under are free!) includes live entertainment, a petting zoo, Kiddie Land, bounce house for kids 5 and under, photo opportunities, a pumpkin patch, pig races, and a two-acre corn maze. Also available—but for additional costs—are vendors, crafts, food and drinks, miniature horse rides, hay rides, mini golf, train rides, pumpkins and fresh produce for purchase, a giant pumpkin slingshot, and more.

This year, the corn maze takes the shape of the state of Nevada, with paths representing major Highways throughout the state and points of interest within the maze at major town and city locations. Test your wits with questions throughout to win prizes once you make your way out of the maze. To take the corn maze a step further, be sure to check out the “Night Crawler Maze Event” on Saturday evenings from 7-9 p.m. when you can enter the maze with your own flashlight.

If you’ve yet to venture South of Gardnerville on Hwy 395, and are wondering what to do with the kids this weekend, The Corley Ranch Harvest Festival is sure to delight. With enough activities to keep them busy the entire afternoon you need not make additional plans. Pick your pumpkins, watch the pigs race to their favorite treat of Oreo cookies, and enjoy the autumn weather. You’ll be placing this event on your October calendar for years to come. Who knows, you may even end up booking a wedding, private party, or special event there. It’s a family affair!

The Corley Ranch is located at 859 Highway 395 South in Gardnerville. Additional info can be found at corleyranch.com or by calling 775-721-1047.

Elvis Week at the Carson Valley Inn

Elvis Presley would have turned 75 years old on January 8, 2011 and the Carson Valley Inn is marking this milestone with a special Elvis Week celebration, January 3-8. Highlights include Elvis impersonators in the casino and Cabaret Lounge, teddy bear and Elvis memorabilia giveaways on January 3, cake and champagne on January 8 and some of Elvis' favorite food combinations served as specials in Katie's all week.

The teddy bear giveaway will kick off the celebration on January 3 when every INN Club member earning 125 points or more that day will receive a free singing teddy bear while they last — plus you keep the points! Accompanying some teddy bears will be a surprise gift which could be cash, free play or a variety of Elvis memorabilia items including posters, shirts, movies, key chains and more.

The Elvis impersonators, Brian Andrews and Rob Ely, will be strolling through the casino from time-to-time during the day and entertaining in the Cabaret Lounge in the evening on Wednesday through Saturday, January 5-8. Rob Ely has placed in the Top 3 in many Elvis Tribute Artist Contests in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Arizona and California. He has done dozens of appearances and shows — from corporate events to casino showrooms — and has appeared on Fox40 TV News and CBS’s Good Day Sacramento, chosen as their Elvis for Elvis’ 75th Birthday edition of the shows.

Rob will appear Wednesday to Friday of Elvis Week. According to D.J. Fontana (Elvis' drummer from 1954 to 1968), "Brian Andrews is the closest thing to Elvis that I've ever seen or heard." It's no surprise that Brian can re-create Elvis so well . . . he happens to have one of the best memorabilia collections around. Brian will appear Friday and Saturday of Elvis Week.

Special large Elvis Birthday Cakes will be cut and served along with champagne in the casino on Saturday, January 8 from noon to 2 p.m. and again from 6 to 8 p.m.

Elvis was also known for his eclectic taste in food and a few of his favorites will be served in Katie's at special prices on January 3 – 8 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Included in the pickings are Biscuits Smothered in White Sausage Gravy for $1.99, Fried Peanut Butter and Nana Sandwich on country-style white bread served with bacon strips for $2.99, Cornmeal-battered Fried Catfish with cole slaw and tomatoes for $4.99 and Banana Pudding with vanilla nilly wafer cookies for $1.99.

The Carson Valley Inn is located on US Highway 395 in Minden, near the start of State Highway 88, twenty minutes from Lake Tahoe's south shore and 45 minutes south of Reno. The property includes a recently-remodeled casino, 152-room hotel, 74-room motor lodge, 59-site RV Park and a convenience store with Shell gas and diesel fuel. Three dining facilities include Katie's, Job's Perk and CV Steak, a Nevada-style steakhouse featuring steaks, seafood, chicken, pasta and more.

Paul Zarzyski headlines second annual Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival

Tickets for the highly anticipated second year of the Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival are now available. Following up a highly successful inaugural event in 2010, the Town of Genoa and the Carson Valley Arts Council have been busy securing poets, storytellers, singers and a lot more for the second go around.

The Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival is a wonderful blend of setting, heritage and western culture and entertainment. Nestled at the base of the Sierra Nevada in Northern Nevada’s Carson Valley, historic Genoa, Nevada’s oldest settlement, is the site of the first ranch in Nevada and still has working cattle ranches literally steps from the town. From its 19th-century beginnings, cowboys and ranching have shared work, words and music here.

Headliners committed to appear include award-winning poet Paul Zarzyski and multiple entertainer of the year winner Dave Stamey, along with Belinda Gail, Wylie & the Wild West, David John & the Comstock Cowboys, Doris Daley, Sourdough Slim, and more favorites. Alongside the entertainers, attendees will find a packed schedule of workshops and several galleries of fine western art, a Native American Center, cowboy dinners and dances and opportunities to shop for western clothing, collectibles, jewelry and tack. There’s even a Trail Ride, with its own barbecue dinner and concert on Saturday and a special Mother’s Day Brunch and Concert offering on Sunday.

Just over the hill from Lake Tahoe’s South Shore and only an hour from Reno-Tahoe International Airport, it’s easy to get to Genoa and Carson Valley. You can find all the festival information at cowboypoetrygenoa.com and area information at visitcarsonvalley.org. Day Passes and tickets for individual concerts and dinners may be purchased online, at the festival website or by visiting the Town of Genoa or Carson Valley Arts Council offices.