A new kayak tour is bringing Tahoe’s rich history and boundless recreational opportunities together on the North Shore.

Tahoe Adventure Company introduced a kayak tour that has groups launching at Sand Harbor State Park (in Incline Village), with a stop at Thunderbird Lodge, to enjoy a walking tour of the 1930s estate and learn the story of George Whittell, the eccentric man who built it, followed by a fantastic deli spread lunch on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

If you’d rather hoof it, try the Tahoe City guided walking tour put on by the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society. Participants start at the Gatekeeper’s Museum and make their way to Watson Cabin, which turns 100 this year.

History is king on the West Shore as well. Head down the 1-mile, steep trail to visit Lake Tahoe’s only castle. Vikingsholm offers a sandy beach perfect for a picnic and a quick dip in the region’s clear blue waters. Tours are available. Also on the West Shore is the 1903 Ehrman Mansion, the opulent summer home of a San Francisco businessman.

For event details, along with deals on lodging, activities and entertainment, click to www.GoTahoeNorth.com.

File it under “Only in Reno.” It’s a Michael Jackson tribute, by an Elvis impersonator singing karaoke at Club Cal Neva. That’s like four great things all mixed together.

An exhibit showcasing the amazing adventure of a 22-year-old from Hackensack, N.J., who became the first woman to drive across the United States in 1909, is open at the National Automobile Museum, The Harrah Collection, in downtown Reno. “On the Road with Alice Ramsey: 100 Years Ago” will fill the Changing Exhibits Gallery at the National Automobile Museum, 10 S. Lake St. through Jan. 11, 2010.

Challenged by a sales manager for Maxwell-Briscoe Company, Ramsey drove a 1909 Maxwell Model DA – 30 horsepower Touring Car right out of a New York City showroom and into history.
The company sponsored and publicized the trip to persuade Americans that cars were here to stay. The automobile had recently been invented.

There weren’t a lot of roads at the time, and those that existed were often in questionable condition. Ramsey and her three female companions carried a block and tackle, which they used often.
Ramsey changed tires often and cleaned and tested spark plugs when necessary. When she felt a “skip” in the engine she would hold a hammer against each plug and shorting it against the cylinder jackets to find the problem one. Then she would disassemble it, clean it with fine sand paper and reassemble it.

Alice Ramsey would later be the first woman inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

The National Automobile Museum at 10 S. Lake Street in downtown Reno is open Mon. – Sat. from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $4 for children 6 to 18 years. Children age 5 and younger are free. Parking is free. For more information, call (775) 333-9300 or visit www.automuseum.org.

Special events season is underway in Reno Tahoe, and for fans of beer, blues music and hearty barbecue there may be no better time than the Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews & Blues Festival, June 27-28.

Microbreweries from all over the world pour into the region – 31 in all – this weekend to pour their finest wares, while bands play on several stages and ribs, burgers and brats sizzle on the grill.

Virginia Street in downtown Reno is closed to traffic and lined with vendor tents, all under the downtown casino skyline. Read More

The Little Book of Artown, a free pocket guide for all that is Artown, the nation’s most comprehensive arts Festival held in Reno, Nev., is now available. Covering every event, every hour for the entire month of July, the Little Book of Artown is a one-stop guide to the more than 400 events held at more than 100 locations.

The 2009 festival calendar boasts on average eight unique free events each day and includes international musical performances, national dance, theater, multi-cultural events, family and youth activities and entertainment, hands-on workshops for emerging artists and more.

Designed to point art lovers in the right direction, the Little Book of Artown is available at the Artown office, located at 300 E. Second St., ground floor as well as other locations throughout downtown Reno. If you’re from out fo the area and want more information on Artown – including a downloadable version of the Little Book – visit www.RenoIsArtown.com or call 775-322-1538.

A summer tradition kicks off again this week in Sparks as the Hometowne Farmer’s Market brings dozens of vendors, hundreds of people and a party atmosphere to Victorian Square.

The Sparks Farmer’s Market runs Thursday evenings throughout the summer. And while visitors can score great produce and family-farm fare, the market is as much of a party as a place to get the groceries.

See bands and dance the night away. Drink an “Icky” from Great Basin Brewing Co. (also located at Victorian Square) and check out local art. Thousands converge on the Square – young and old – and the party goes into the evening.

Sparks Farmer’s Market

• When: Thursdays, 4-9 p.m., June 11-Aug. 20 (except Aug. 6)
• Where: Victorian Square, Sparks, Nev.
• Web: Sparks Hometown Farmer’s Market

Recognized as one of the most comprehensive art festivals in the country by the National Endowment for the Arts, Artown brings more than 400 events to downtown Reno, Nev., for an extraordinary showcase of theater, dance, film and history as well as multi-cultural, musical, visual and performing arts.

Now in its 14th year, Artown expands its month-long event into a 32-day festival transforming the city into a summer epicenter of cultural entertainment. Launching Artown into the month-long cultural celebrations, the festival’s July 1 opening night brings Richie Havens, the artist that opened Woodstock 40 years ago.

This year’s Artown Opening Extravaganza includes a children’s hands-on printmaking workshop with festival artist Candace Nicol, face painting for children with Body Masterpiece and a performance by Havens. The festival continues with the nationally recognized and multi-faceted Aspen Santa Fe Ballet July 24 and ”Queen of Bluegrass” Rhonda Vincent and the Rage with opening band Contraband July 25.

A number of Festival favorites return including the Family Series, Monday Night Music Series, World Music Series, Dancing in the Park, Rollin’ on the River music series, Movies in the Park, Artown After Dark and the Discover the Arts children’s series. Artown’s Closing Night, which has grown year after year to now rival opening night, brings Motown stars The Funk Brothers to Wingfield Park on what festival organizers are dubbing July 32 (Aug. 1) to wrap up the festival’s 14th year on a Saturday.

For schedule details or to advance order a FREE copy of the Little Book of Artown, visit www.RenoIsArtown.com or call 775-322-1538.

The Hills are alive in Reno-Tahoe, as the 11th Annual EuroFest takes over the parking lot at Terrible’s Sands Regency this weekend, June 5-7.

With a huge selection of beers ranging from Spaten, Warsteiner, Kronenbourg and Stella Artois, to Hoegaarden, Bass Ale, Young Chocolate Stout and Monty Pythons’ Holy Grail Ale, there’ll be no shortage of beverages to quench any thirst brought on by dancing to the live music.

Also, sample a variety of European cuisine, including specialties from Germany, England, Spain (including Basque country), Poland and Italy.

EuroFest, as always, is free so bring your friends and have a great time at the Sands.

Calling this a “shopping center” doesn’t do it justice. It’s a shopping experience.

The Legends at Sparks Marina, a destination retail center under construction in Sparks, Nev., is almost ready for its June 18 first-phase opening. And developers of the mega-mall are going big. Really big.

From a huge tower that anchors the center of the center, to common areas with statues depicting Nevada historical figures, features and wildlife, the concept behind Legends is to create a mecca for shopping and socializing. The first phase is expected to bring 28 tenants online, with a total of 47 tenants open for business by Aug. 1. Several tenants are already wowing visitors, including Scheels, the World’s Largest All Sports Store (at nearly 300,000 square feet) and Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen. By next spring there will also be a 13-theater movie complex, complete with an iMax screen – and tentative plans call for a destination casino hotel resort to anchor the north end of the project, as well as a concert venue that can seat up to 9,000 for big-name acts.

Bringing the “legends” to Legends

“The idea is to celebrate the history, people and places of Nevada,” said Dennis McGovern, Legends general manager. “When the first phase is finished you’ll see three ‘living room’ areas surrounded by artist depictions of the bristlecone pine (Nevada’s state tree), bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, a statue of Samuel Clemens …”

Common areas are replete with waterfalls, firepits, and lush landscaping. McGovern says developers are planting 1,600 trees and 26,000 shrubs at the site. The landscape is also varied – elevation changes enhance the feeling place and reflect the diverse topography of Northern Nevada.

Designed to appeal to all of the senses, a 151-speaker sound system will be installed at Legends, along with spaces for public events, including a five-story Christmas tree during the holiday season.

But it’s (mostly) about the shopping

On Wednesday 500 workers were on site – installing fixtures, punching out final touches on storefronts, hanging signs, pouring concrete and powering the huge electrical infrastructure.
“This place is changing every day,” McGovern said. “You can barely walk through here right now, but by June 18 this won’t even look like a construction site.”

The tenant mix will be 60 percent outlets – good news for deal seekers. Stores that have signed on the dotted line include:

Entertainment

• Dickinson Theatres & IMAX
• Kingpins

Hotel/Casino

• The Legends Bay Casino, Resort, Spa (Olympia Gaming)

Restaurants

• Cadillac Ranch
• FreshBerry Yogurt Cafe
• Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen
• Olive Garden
• Patsy Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizzeria
• Subway

Stores

• Adidas
• Ann Taylor Factory
• Banana Republic Factory Store
• Bath and Body Works
• BCBG
• BCBGirls
• Best Buy
• Bose Factory Store
• Carter’s
• Converse
• Easy Spirit
• GameStop
• Gap Outlet
• GNC
• Guess Factory Store
• Gymboree Outlet
• Harry & David
• Jones New York
• Kasper
• Kenneth Cole
• Lane Bryant Outlet
• Leather Works
• Lucky Nails
• Michael Kors
• Nike Factory Store
• Nine West Outlet
• Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse
• Old Farmer’s Almanac
• Osh Kosh B’Gosh
• Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th
• Samsonite Factory Outlet
• Scheels
• Skechers USA Outlet
• Sprint
• Styles for Less
• Target
• Tommy Hilfiger
• Vans
• Volcom

Celebrate Reno-Tahoe’s newest destination

Although the ribbon will be cut June 18, Legends is going to stretch the party all summer long. A grand opening celebration runs July 31-Aug. 9.  Events include a summer concert series, fashion show, celebrity appearances, fireworks and more. The opening events coincide with the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open PGA Tour event and Hot August Nights.

Men’s Journal has named Reno’s Old Southwest neighborhood as one of the best neighborhoods in America. The neighborhood - dubbed “the new Boulder” by the magazine - features early 20th Century craftsman bungalows along tree-lined streets. And it is walking distance to the hip, artsy and historic area of downtown Reno.

We couldn’t agree more.

From Men’s Journal:

Two hundred and fifty days of sunshine per year, skiing up the road, runnable whitewater in town, and an influx of creative types make Reno the new Boulder. One of its oldest neighborhoods, the Old Southwest, is its best, with quiet, leafy sidewalks near an up-and-coming part of downtown (at California and Sierra).