Patty Sheehan, World Golf and LPGA Hall of Famer, in partnership with The Legends Tour, the official senior tour of the LPGA, announced today a new event on The Legends Tour to be played at Hidden Valley Country Club June 3 – 6, 2011.The official three day tournament, Patty Sheehan & Friends, boasts a field of 40 LPGA Legends competing in a two-day, stroke play tournament for a $225,000 purse. In addition to Sheehan, LPGA Hall of Famer Betsy King, LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley and 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Captain Rosie Jones have confirmed that they will be teeing it up in Reno this June.

“This LPGA Tour event will, for the first time, bring these ‘legends’ of women’s golf to Reno for a weekend of incredible golf and a spectator experience that is unmatched,” Sheehan said. “The lineup of professionals is incredible, and I’m thrilled with the response we’ve been receiving. We’ve even extended an invitation to Kathy Whitworth to attend. She has the most wins of any professional on the LPGA or PGA TOURS. This inaugural tournament also launches the Patty Sheehan Foundation, established to return funds back to charities in our local community.”

Tournament week begins Thursday, June 2 with a junior clinic for girls of The First Tee as well as professional practice rounds and an evening pairings party for sponsors and guests. The Patty Sheehan & Friends Pro-Am is set for Friday, June 3. The first round kicks off tournament play on Saturday with the final round to be held Sunday. A Monday Pro-Am has been added due to demand.

“On behalf of our Board of Directors, management team and members, Hidden Valley Country Club is thrilled to serve as the host course for Patty Sheehan and Friends,” Ann Marie Sear, Hidden Valley Country Club general manager said. “It’s going to be one powerful weekend of great golf and experiences hosted by our very own Patty Sheehan and her colleagues. Plus, it provides us an incredible opportunity to show off northern Nevada and all that we have to offer.”

According to Tournament Director Rebecca Gaston, “To say we’re excited about this event is an understatement. An LPGA Legends Tour event is completely different than anything this community has seen in recent years. Limited roping along the course will provide an opportunity for spectators to get right in on the action and follow their favorite LPGA Legends along the fairway. Patty Sheehan & Friends provides yet another feather in Reno’s cap of golf achievements.”

Tickets for Patty Sheehan & Friends are $10 per day and are now available at www.pattysheehanandfriends.org. Admission for ages 17 and under and military personnel is FREE.  Tournament proceeds benefit the newly-formed Patty Sheehan Foundation designed to support local charities and the Reno community. Hidden Valley Country Club is a 7,300 yard, 18-hole course designed by Mike Stark and Dick Bailey. For information and sponsorship opportunities for Patty Sheehan & Friends, a Legends Tour event, visit www.pattysheehanandfriends.com. 

About The Legends Tour: The Legends Tour is the Official Legends Tour of the LPGA. The tour began in 2000 by LPGA professionals to showcase the talents of some of the greatest women’s golfers of all time. The Legends Tour has over 100 members, including ten LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame members. Legends Tour players have a combined 625 LPGA Tour victories, including 65 major championships. In its ten seasons, The Legends Tour has donated more than $10.7 million to charity. The Legends Tour has hosted events in Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Japan and Australia. For additional information on The Legends Tour, log on to www.thelegendstour.com.

-Ronele Klingensmith

The high style and musical glory of the 20s and 30s arrive in Reno, Nev., April 10with a performance by world-renowned Max Raabe & Palast Orchester. Bringing a modern sensibility and an ironic twist to American and German classics, the group’s “Berlin Nocturne” earns rave reviews and sold-out audiences the world over.

“It’s nice to misbehave, in a tuxedo,” says Raabe, the charismatic baritone that leads the retro styled performance. A singer of incredible range, he has a singular ability to capture the cunning rasp of the cabaret singer, the confident belcanto hero, the oily melodiousness of the revue beau, the carefree timbre of early jazz, as well as the falsetto of ragtime, all backed by his stellar 12-member band, many of whom have been with him from the beginning in 1986. The band’s repertoire draws from more than 500 songs including such classics as “Chic I Bum,” “Cheek to Cheek” and “You’re the Cream in My Coffee,” just to name a few.

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester perform April 10 at 8 p.m. at Grand Sierra Resort’s Grand Theatre for Encore presented by Artown. Tickets for Max Raabe & Palast Orchester are just $25, $35 or $45 and are available online at www.RenoIsArtown.com or by phone at 800-648-3568. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Grand Sierra Resort Box Office with no service fees.

-Kristen Power

Join the Ascuaga family as they commemorate more than a half-century in business on Thursday, March 17 at 6 p.m. at the Casino Cabaret at John Ascuaga’s Nugget.

Family-owned and operated since 1955, John Ascuaga’s Nugget’s twin hotel towers illuminate the Reno-Sparks skyline with 1,600 rooms, eight award-winning restaurants, 110,000 square feet of meeting space, business center, concierge, covered and valet parking, salon/spa, year-round atrium pool, 1,200 slot machines, Bingo, live poker, table games, world class entertainment, airport shuttle service and attentive staff representing dozens of languages. Close to world-class skiing and golf, located along Interstate 80, recent $25 million updates include complete remodels of the East Tower, Executive Convention area and Rotisserie Buffet. From its humble beginnings as a small restaurant, the Nugget and its namesake, John Ascuaga, have grown into Northern Nevada icons during the past 56 years.

The party starts at 6 p.m. in the Casino Cabaret. Mr. Ascuaga will preside over a cake-cutting ceremony along with his daughter Michonne, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, and his son Stephen, Chief Operating Officer. The cake, along with refreshments, will be complimentary for guests. In addition, the Nugget will have a special gaming promotion from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., when 56 lucky players, eight per hour, will win $50 in free slot play. And local favorites Steppen Stonz will play dance music to keep the party going!

In addition, as the anniversary always coincides with St. Patrick’s Day, traditional specials will be available in Rosie’s Café’ and green beer will be offered at the party. All bars will feature $3 Guinness and $3 Irish whiskey, plus the daily Nugget Happy Hour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. features $1 Coors, Coors Light and Margaritas.

John Ascuaga’s Nugget is a premier casino resort owned and operated by the Ascuaga family in Sparks, Nevada. For more information, call (800) 648-1177 or (775) 356-3300, or visit janugget.com.

-Mike Traum

It’s a LEAVE sNOw TRACE extravaganza as the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics partners with Tahoe Mountain Sports and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association for an entire weekend of events March 10-13, 2011. 

The award-winning Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is the international leader in sustainable recreation practices. The nonprofit organization teaches children and adults vital skills to minimize their impacts when they are outdoors. Leave No Trace is the most widely accepted outdoor ethics program used today on public lands across the nation by all types of outdoor recreationalists. One of Leave No Trace’s 7 fundamental principles is “Plan Ahead and Prepare,” and Tahoe Mountain Sports and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association continually help Tahoe residents and visitors do just that.

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association exists to maintain and enhance the legendary 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail and encourages stewardship through volunteer programs, education outreach, and community partnerships. TRTA staff and volunteers inspire trail-users to adhere to the Leave No Trace principle.

For their LEAVE sNOw TRACE crusade, Leave No Trace, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and Tahoe Mountain Sports have planned the following events to help spread the word of leaving no trace at Lake Tahoe:

• Thursday, March 10 – Tahoe Mountain Sports Sasquatch Sale Benefits the Tahoe Rim Trail Association.The Tahoe Mountain Sports annual spring clearance, the Sasquatch Sale, kicks off with 10% of all profits being donated to the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, all day 10am-6pm.
• Thursday Night, March 10 – Leave No Trace Winter Skills Awareness Workshop: Join the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers at the North Tahoe Events Center in Kings Beach for an interactive program that provides the necessary tools to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Participants will explore the principles of Leave No Trace through hands-on, engaging activities that are guaranteed fun for all ages. Rumor has it that Bigfoot will be there to share some of his secrets on leaving no trace in the wild! Program runs 6-8pm with light refreshments provided, and is free and open to everyone.
• Saturday, March 12 – Kings Beach SnowFest Parade: Bigfoot, the Leave No Trace mascot, hits Kings Beach’s mainstreet for the SnowFest Closing Weekend Parade, joined by the official, decked-out Leave No Trace Subaru and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association Ford F-150 filled with Tahoe Mountain Sports and Tahoe Rim Trail staffers. Parade starts at 11:30am. Watch the action go by at Tahoe Mountain Sports, aka “parade central,” with the judges and the emcee hanging out on their front porch, and the best deals of the season inside with the Sasquatch Sale!

- Lis Korb

The glitz, glamour and humor of life behind the scenes of a stage show comes to life at Silver Legacy Resort Casino with “Secrets of an Old Showgirl” showing on March 2 and 9 at 2 p.m.  This a one-of-a-kind docu-tainment style show giving audience members a backstage pass full of laughs at the Catch a Rising Star Comedy Club!

Back by popular demand, “Secrets of an Old Showgirl” is a unique, creative, entertaining and educational look at the world of show business.   Watch as narrator Karen Burns transforms from a girl in a bathrobe and bunny slippers to a full-fledged feather and rhinestone showgirl.  From her early days as a ski instructor, to professional dancer and entertainment business entrepreneur, hear the humorous stories of her experience behind the scenes.

In addition to “Secrets of an Old Showgirl” Karen also presents the original MGM costumes from the production “Hello, Hollywood, Hello.”  Heralded by the San Francisco Chronicle and New York Times and studied by the Costume Society of America, these iconic pieces are even more dazzling in person.   

For big laughs see Karen Burns in “Secrets of an Old Showgirl” on March 2 and 9 at 2 p.m. at Silver Legacy’s Catch A Rising Star Comedy Club. Tickets are $25 which includes 2 glasses of champagne.  To reserve seats call 1-800-MUST-SEE (678-8733) or 775-325-7401 or visit www.silverlegacy.com.

- Diana Rogers

Come join our celebration of the great outdoors at the 10th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival Truckee Meadows Tour. The spirit of outdoor adventure in all its glory comes to life on screen through spectacular stories of skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, kayaking and much more. Remote locations and stunning scenery make this film festival a must-see for adventurers of all ages and skill levels. Plus, an exciting outdoor adventure raffle offers guests an unforgettable experience.

The adventure begins Wednesday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m.  in John Ascuaga’s Rose Ballroom. All seats are assigned, and tickets are available through John Ascuaga’s Nugget. General admission is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. VIP seating is also available for $43, which includes one year’s membership in Nevada Land Conservancy.

The Banff Mountain Film Festival is the Nevada Land Conservancy’s largest annual fundraiser. Established in 1998, the Nevada Land Conservancy is a private, non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting Nevada’s open spaces and special places for future generations. As the state’s first “Nevada-Born” land trust, the Conservancy meets open space needs by working closely with area landowners, businesses, environmental organizations, and public officials. The Nevada Land Conservancy has protected more than 39,000 acres to date through acquisition, facilitation and partnership!
For more information on Banff or the Nevada Land Conservancy mission, please visit www.nvlc.org or call (775) 851-5180.
-Becky Stock

On February 24, 2011, the Weasel himself called the Visit Reno Tahoe offices from Des Moines, Iowa, to talk about his tour and his upcoming show to Reno on March 5 at the Grand Sierra Resort.

Shore has a stand-up career that spans nearly 30 years. He has been a recurring guest on Howard Stern’s late-night show, as well as MTV, David Letterman’s and Craig Kilborn’s talk shows. Shore is probably best known and loved for his roles on Encino Man, Son in Law and Jury Duty.

In his interview with Visit Reno Tahoe (full audio below), Shore talks about his love of smoothies and girls (in that order), shares his favorite jokes, big projects for 2011, and at one point, even gets a little serious as he opens up about his greatest obstacles in his career.

To purchase tickets to Shore’s show at the Grand Sierra, click here.

Thunder Canyon, a private golf and country club located in Washoe Valley, Nevada, has been named the 2011 Nevada Golf Course of the Year by the Nevada Golf Course Owners Association (NvGCOA).  In addition to this honor, Thunder Canyon was chosen as one of three finalists for the Golf Course of the Year Award by the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA).

Each year, the NGCOA honors the most outstanding successes of the past year.  These individuals and organizations have helped preserve the tradition of the game while embracing the challenges and opportunities of the golf business.  Each state chapter submits the application for the winner of the state award to the NGCOA who selects a course demonstrating four criteria: exceptional quality of the course, exceptional quality of ownership and management, outstanding contribution to its community, and significant contribution to the game.  The three finalists were Thunder Canyon located in Washoe Valley, Nevada; Hidden Valley located in Norco, California and Walnut Creek located in Marion, Indiana, all finishing ahead of such notable clubs such as Whistling Straits (Wisconsin) and Trump National (New Jersey).

The awards ceremony held in Orlando, Florida on February 9^thalso honored David Leadbetter, Lifetime Achievement Award and Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland, as the Jemsek Award for Golf Course Excellence.  The winner of the 2011 Golf Course of the Year was Hidden Valley, Norco California. 

Accepting the award for Thunder Canyon were Roger and Gayle Block, Owners, along with Bill Gibson, General Manager.  The Block’s were recognized for their nearly twelve years of ownership of Thunder Canyon as well as their work to promote golf on a local and national level.

- Bill Gibson

A great round of golf doesn’t require a long drive in Reno Tahoe. Check out the 50+ resorts here: http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/reno-tahoe/what-to-do/golf.

After multiple Emmy Awards and Comedy Central specials, comedienne Wanda Sykes is still one of the funniest sidekicks and stand up acts in the country.  From writing for other famous comedians to doing her own headline tours, Wanda Sykes ranks among Entertainment Weekly’s “25 Funniest People in America.”  See her live at Silver Legacy Resort Casino on Saturday, March 5in the Grande Exposition Hall at 8 p.m.

Growing up, Sykes didn’t necessarily know she wanted to do comedy.  She was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised in Maryland, later attending Hampton University and receiving a Bachelor of Science degree.  After college she was prompted to use her smart-witted attitude for something more—stand up comedy. 

After success at a talent showcase in Washington, D.C. Sykes began spending more time on the stage.  Soon after, outspoken stand up comedian Chris Rock discovered her talents and recruited her to write for HBO’s critically acclaimed “Chris Rock Show.”  As a performer and writer on the show, she was nominated for three Primetime Emmy’s and in 1999 won the Emmy for “Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special.” 

From there, Sykes career skyrocketed to the top.  In 2001, she won the American Comedy Award for “Outstanding Female Stand Up Comic.” She won three more Emmy’s in 2002, 2004 and 2005 for her work on “Inside the NFL” for “Outstanding Weekly Studio Show.”  In 2003 she was seen on Fox’s “Wanda at Large” which she wrote, produced and starred in.  She also put together a one hour Comedy Central special called “Wanda Sykes: Tongue Untied”.  Her first HBO Comedy Special “Wanda Sykes: Sick & Tired” debuted in October 2006 and was nominated for a 2007 Primetime Emmy.

Sykes can also be seen in the feature films “Evan Almighty,” the sequel to “Bruce Almighty,” in which she co-starred with Steve Carell, the New Line feature “Monster-In-Law” starring opposite Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda and heard in the animated feature “Over The Hedge” for Dreamworks as well as “The Barnyard” for Paramount Pictures. She can also be seen co-starring with Luke Wilson and Uma Thurman in the romantic comedy “My Super Ex-Girlfriend.” Sykes starred and produced the Comedy Central show “Wanda Does It” where she tried various non-showbiz jobs. Her first book titled “Yeah, I Said It” hit bookstores in September 2004.  She can be seen on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

During her routines Sykes attacks topics like politics, gay marriage, karma, healthcare, racial profiling, the pressures of being a woman and the perks of getting older with smart, savvy wit audiences can’t help but laugh at. 

See this Emmy winning comedienne up close and personal at Silver Legacy on Saturday, March 5 at 8 p.m. inside the Grande Exposition Hall!  Tickets are available now for $50 with premium seating for $67.50.  To reserve seats call 1-800-MUST-SEE (678-8733) or 775-325-7401 or visit www.silverlegacy.com and www.ticketmaster.com.  iPhone, iPad and Android users, download the free Silver Legacy App to get tickets instantly and check out Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for the latest Legacy news.  It’s Wanda Sykes in a show you don’t want to miss!

 - Diana Rogers

His reign as the King of Blues has spanned more than five decades, now B.B. King makes his way to Silver Legacy Resort Casino for a knockout performance of all of his biggest hits.  With famed guitar Lucille in hand, see one of the biggest legends in music history live in the Grande Exposition Hall on Saturday, February 26 at 8 p.m.

For more than half a century, Riley B. King—better known as B.B. King—has defined the blues for a worldwide audience. Since he started recording in the 1940s, he has released over fifty albums, many of them classics.  Nicknames like the Beale Street Blues Boy and Blues Boy King later helped the legend become what he is today, B.B. King.  The Grammy Award-winner has had two #1 R&B hits, four #2 R&B hits and his most popular crossover hit, 1970’s “The Thrill Is Gone,” went to #15 pop.

King’s first big break came in 1948 when he performed on a live radio program out of West Memphis, Tennessee.  This led to steady gigs at the Sixteenth Avenue Grill and later a ten minute radio show called “King’s Spot.”  He began recording and touring nationally as his first number one hit, “Three O’Clock Blues” took off.  His 1956 tour played an astonishing 342 one-night engagements around the country from the Chitlin Circuit with its small-town cafes, juke joints and country dance halls to rock palaces, symphony concert halls, universities, resorts and various amphitheaters. 

Over the years, King has developed one of the world’s most identifiable guitar styles.  His every-note-counts phrasing has been a model for thousands of players from Eric Clapton and George Harrison to Jeff Beck. King has mixed traditional blues, jazz, swing, mainstream pop and jump into a unique sound.

B.B. was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He received NARAS’ Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 1987 ant the National Award of Distinction from the University of Mississippi in 1992.  He has also received honorary doctorates from Tougaloo(MS) College in 1973; Yale University in 1977; Berklee College of Music in 1982; Rhodes College of Memphis in 1990; Mississippi Valley State University in 2002 and Brown University in 2007.

In 1991, B.B. King’s Blues Club opened on Beale Street in Memphis and in 1994 a second club was launched at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles. A third club in New York City’s Times Square opened in June 2000 and most recently two clubs opened at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut in January 2002.  King’s autobiography, “Blues All Around Me” was published in 1996.

King’s touring continues today with an average of over 250 concerts per year around the world. Classics such as “Payin’ The Cost To Be The Boss,” “The Thrill Is Gone” and “Why I Sing The Blues” are concert and fan staples.  Hear your favorites live in Silver Legacy’s Grande Exposition Hall on Saturday, February 26 as B.B. King takes the stage!  Tickets start at just $60 with premium seating available for $70 and $85.  Reserve your seats by calling 1-800-MUST-SEE (678-8733) or 775-325-7401 or visiting www.silverlegacy.com and www.ticketmaster.com.  Don’t miss this unforgettable show as the King of Blues returns to Reno!