Top Ten Reasons the Roaming Gnome should should have broken his Cabin Fever in Tahoe rather than Utah in Travelocity’s Top Ski Destination contest.

1.     Ski in two states at the same time at Heavenly while looking at the deep blue of Lake Tahoe, even with your narrow gnome stance

2.     Go on a blind date with Tahoe Tessie (Lake Tahoe’s mythical resident “sea creature”).

3.     Depending on how the date goes, perhaps a quick wedding and an even quicker divorce in Reno.

4.     50 Tram laps at Squaw Valley USA to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first televised Winter Olympic Games.

5.     Tempt fate with a visit to the Donner Party museum,  just hope they don’t think you’re a chocolate filled gnome.

6.     Our drinks have personality with drinks like the ‘Wet Woody’, the ‘Scorpion’ and the ‘Flaming Kava Kava’. Gnomes keep your beards away from the flames!

7.     Forgot your skis?  No problem, where else but in Sparks can you get your skis, ride a Ferris Wheel and drive a NASCAR simulator in one mega sports store?

8.     Follow in the footsteps of Ol’ Blue Eyes and Marilyn Monroe in the tunnels at the historic Cal Neva Lodge

9.     Spend a little downtime at the spa before heading out for a long night in Reno

10.    Satisfy a late night hunger at what has been heralded as one of the best burgers in the country, the Awful Awful, awfully big, awfully good, don’t be scared my friend, you can do it.

Short of delivering presents the world over, it’s the most fun you’ll have in a Santa suit.

The annual Reno Reindeer Games returns the weekend of Dec. 11-13 with an expanded slate of events highlighted, of course, by the Reno Santa Pub Crawl, where visitors flock to the watering holes of downtown Reno for a night of holiday revelry.

This year, the charity event gets even bigger with a holiday pajama party, discount skiing at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe and discounts for attendees who book a hotel room. In 2008, event organizers estimate as many as 3,000 Santas crawled Reno’s pubs, and 2009 is expected to be even bigger. There is NO EXCUSE to miss a party this fun.

Reno Reindeer Games Events:

• Santa Crawl Pajama Ball, Dec. 11

Bowling + Pajamas = Fun. The party starts Friday evening at the “Taj Mahal of Tenpins,” the National Bowling Stadium, with the Santa Crawl Pajama Ball. The mammoth facility usually plays best to 100 lanes of world-class bowling, usually aired on ESPN – Not tonight. Festivities include pictures with Santa, raffle prizes, holiday drink specials and a best dressed in holiday pajamas contest. The cover charge for party revelers dressed in pajamas or holiday flare is $15, which covers bowling and a donation to the Reindeer Charities. For those not dressed in pajamas or holiday flare the cover charge is $20. The party starts at 9 p.m.

• Santa Crawl Skiing Extravaganza, Dec. 12

Dress festively & get a $39 all-day lift ticket at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe with $5 dollars going to Support the Claus during the Santa Crawl Skiing Extravaganza! Join other Reindeer Game revelers for holiday drink specials and the best-dressed contest. Added bonus: watching hundreds of Santas shredding pow. That’s worth the price of admission.

• Reno Santa Pub Crawl, Dec. 12

The magical anticipation of St. Nick dropping down the chimney on Christmas Eve may be long gone, but that doesn’t mean the adults can’t have fun. The highlight of the Reno Reindeer games, the Reno Santa Pub Crawl, brings the whole event home. Basically, several thousand Santa crawlers hit the streets and more than two-dozen participating watering holes of downtown Reno, showing off their best Santa-inspired costumes – the party reaches a crescendo when revelers meet under the legendary Reno Arch.

• Hotel deal

Event organizers have teamed up with the Silver Legacy Resort Casino to create a killer package: Rooms start at $59 and include a $35 coupon book, $5 food voucher, 2-for-1 drinks at Aura Ultra Lounge, health spa admission, 20 percent Silver Legacy Shopping Discount, $4 off ticket to Catch a Rising Star comedy club and one free ace-in-the-hole.

Attention zombies, ghouls and ghosts. Check out the calendar of Halloween events and parties in Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe.

• Halloween Warm-up with Enzyme Dynamite, Black Rock City Allstars
  Vixens – 906 Victorian Ave. – Sparks
  October 23 @ 9 p.m.
  Party the week before Halloween with a costume contest, giveaways and performances by Enzyme Dynamite of the Bayliens, DJ True Justice, XienHow, Black Rock City Allstars, Wordplay and live art by Stk One.
• Reno Beer Crawl – Halloween Homecoming Edition
  Amendment 21 Grill & Sports Bar – 425 S. Virginia St. – Reno
  Every 4th Saturday of the month (starting October 24)
  Monthly crawl serves specialty beers downtown. Dress up for this one and take part in some special UNR homecoming stops.
• Nowloween – Dance of the Dead
  Reno-Sparks Convention Center – 4590 S. Virginia St. – Reno
  October 24 @ 7 p.m.
  An early Halloween costume party featuring several electronica artists and DJs in several rooms. They include Frankie Bones, DJ ESP, Bryan Cox, DJ Flave, Danny the Wildchild, Tom Foolery, and Ripple. Full bar for those over 21. Benefits local food banks.
• Skin, Sin and Ink Tattoo Competition
  Diamond Dolls – 310 Spokane St. – Reno
  October 29 @ 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. (Finals)
  The Skin, Sin and Ink Competition is back for a third year, so join Chris Payne and KRZQ every Thursday at Diamond Dolls for a different tattoo parlor’s show every week and tattoo contest where one lucky person will win a custom-designed tattoo worth $600. And at the end, on Oct. 29, the finals will pit the best designs against each other. Every night enjoy $2 Jager shots and $2 Coors and Coors Lights. The event has gotten so big, it’s even being featured in Skin Ink tattoo magazine. Schedule: July 23: Deep Ink Tattoo July 30: Aces Tattoo Aug. 6: Lucky 7 Tattoo Aug. 13: Stain Tattoo Aug. 20: Body Graphics Tattoo Aug. 27: Reno Tattoo Sept. 3: Battle Born Tattoo Sept. 10: Distinct Ink Sept. 17: Neighborhood Ink Sept. 24: Nightmare Studios Oct. 1: Absolute Tattoo Oct. 8: Stingray Tattoo Oct. 15: Under Your Skin Tattoo Oct. 22: Evolution Tattoo Oct. 29: Tattoo Competition Finals
• Reno Zombie Halloween Bar Crawl
  Amendment 21 Grill & Sports Bar – 425 S. Virginia St. – Reno
  October 30 @ 8 p.m.
  Last year, more than 300 people came out for the Reno Zombie Crawl, shuffling from stop to stop in downtown Reno. The event returns with a vengeance, promising more brains, gore and, probably most important, beer. The goal is $2 drink specials at all the participating bars.
• Fantasies in Chocolate Vampire’s Ball
  Grand Sierra Resort and Casino – 2500 E. Second St. – Reno
  October 30 @ 7 p.m.
  Fantasies in Chocolate is a black-tie benefit party for the Reno Gazette-Journal Foundation and, even more important, overflows with chocolate and drinks. This year, it’s taking advantage of the proximity to Halloween and just going all out. More than 65 vendors serve chocolate and champagne and all kinds of other treats and drinks. Feel free to dress up or go with classic formal attire, but $1,000 goes to the best-dressed vampire and vampiress. Liquid Blue has taken over organizing duties and are bringing in new vendors and adding new twists to the annual event, now in its 25th year. Win a pair of tickets from us!
• Wild Erotic Ball – Blood Lust
  Grande Exposition Hall at the Silver Legacy – 407 N. Virginia St. – Reno
  October 30 @ 9 p.m.
  Wild 102.9’s annual Halloween party has caught vampire fever, and you can feel the Blood Lust at this year’s Wild Erotic Ball, a night of drinks, dancing and costumes. There’s a contest, of course, and live DJ.
• Day of the Dead Live Art Show & Masquerade Ball
  The Tree House Lounge – 555 E. Fourth St. (behind The Underground) – Reno
  October 30 @ 7 p.m.
  Reno Erotico Diablo presents a benefit for breast cancer research. The second annual party features a ball and live art for sale with half the proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen foundation. Performers and other entertainment include Black Rock City Allstars, Bohemian Burlesque, body painting, and costume contest.
• Punk Skalloween
  The Underground – 555 E. Fourth St., Suite B – Reno
  October 30 @ 9 p.m.
  A Halloween concert with some ska and a lot of punk. Keyser Soze headlines with Del Mar and the Humans. DJ D. Bruce also spins.
• Halloween Cover Band Show
  Rainshadow Community Charter High School – 121 Vesta St. – Reno
  October 30 @ 7 p.m.
  Halloween party show with tributes to The Clash, Sam Cooke, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Bangles, Blondie, Violent Femmes and more. Sponsored by the Holland Project.
• Halloween weekend at Eldorado
  Eldorado Hotel Casino – 345 N. Virginia St. – Reno
  October 30 @ 8 p.m.
  The Eldorado’s many nightspots host Halloween activities, kicking off Oct. 30 with a coffin crawl at 8 p.m. to places like Brew Brothers and Cin Cin for drinks and prizes before reaching the Wild Erotic Ball at the Silver Legacy. On Oct. 30 and 31, Brew Brothers hosts a party at 10 p.m. with $5,000 in prizes for the costume contest. DJ Spook and dancing go down at Cin Cin starting at 9 p.m. on Oct. 31.
• AC/DShe
  Crystal Bay Club-Casino – 14 Nevada 28 – Crystal Bay
  October 30 @ 9 p.m.
  The all-female AC/DC tribute band plays for a Devil’s Night Party in the Crown Room followed by The Marones playing an after party Red Room show.
• Skin & Scare Ball
  EDGE at the Peppermill – 2707 S. Virginia St. – Reno
  October 31 @ 10 p.m.
  The Peppermill’s fourth annual Skin Scare Ball takes place at Edge, with just the normal $20 cover. $5,000 in prizes will be awarded in the costume contest, with winners for scariest, sexiest, silliest and more.
• Halloween $500 Beer Pong Tournament
  Club Cal Neva Hotel Casino – 1 E. First St. – Reno
  October 31 @ 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
  Since this beer pong tournament is every Saturday, it’s also on Halloween. But the holiday event is earlier than usual, at 6 p.m., so players will still have time for other Halloween events. Aside from the usual $500 in prize money, prizes will also be awarded for best and scariest costume.
• Freakers Ball 12
  Bruka Theatre – 99 N. Virginia St. – Reno
  October 31 @ 9 p.m.
  The annual Bruka Halloween event includes music, magic, masquerade, mayhem and much more.
• Hollywood Undead Halloween Party
  Jungle Vino – 248 W. First St. – Reno
  October 31 @ 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
  Haunting both Jungle Vino and Java Jungle, this Halloween party has a Hollywood theme, with guests encouraged to dress as their favorite movie character, bit player or rock star for the costume contest.
• Rocky Horror Picture Show
  Red Martini – 214 West Commercial Row – Reno
  October 31 @ 11:55 p.m.
  Celebrate Halloween in style with a full-fledged Rocky Horror Picture Show, complete with all of the props, costumes and other types of adult fun. All costumes welcome, so drop by in between or after other Halloween festivities.Donations of peanut butter, jelly or loafs of bread for the local charity Spread Peace Reno, which serves the area’s homeless, are appreciated.
• Helloween Metal Fest 2009
  The Underground – 555 E. Fourth St., Suite B – Reno
  October 31 @ 11 p.m.
  Seven bands play for a Halloween concert, with Zend, Deplete, Fire to Reason, Sinister Scene, Dominion NV, Dead Wreckoning and Determined. The costume contest has $150 in cash prizes and $5 shots get you a free PBR. Buy advance tickets from any of the bands. After 11 p.m, the event is 21 and over only.
• Halloween with Ashlee Stone
  Biggest Little City Club – 188 California Ave. – Reno
  October 31 @ 9 p.m.
  Join Ashlee Stone, DJ Sean Murray and the BLCC Crew for Halloween fun, including costume contests (such as rhinestone cowboy) with $200 cash prize. VIP table service is available (e-mail for details).
• Halloween Party and Shames CD release
  Chapel Tavern – 1495 S. Virginia St. – Reno
  October 31 @ 10 p.m.
  Halloween concert with the Shames (celebrating their CD release), the Humans, and Pinky Polanski, with prizes for best male and female costume.
• Halloween party at Strega
  Strega Bar – 310 S Arlington Ave. – Reno
  October 31 @ 9 p.m.
  Halloween at Strega features a costume contest and scary specials including $4 TUACA Hot Cider and $4 Peppermint Patties.
• Glam-Rock Gala with the Reagan Years
  Tonic Lounge - 231 W. Second St. – Reno
  October 31 @ 10 p.m.
  The Reagan Years host this retro bash, with all costumes encouraged but special discount for those rocking ’70s and ’80s glam-rock outfits. $100 costume contest and prize giveaways. Courtesy Call opens. Drink specials include $2 pumpkin beer.
• Hellaween with Evergreen Terrace
  Vixens – 906 Victorian Ave. – Sparks
  October 30 @ 7:30 p.m.
  Touring band Evergreen Terrace performs with For the Fallen Dreams, Asking Alexandria, Unholy, and Barcadia. For those who like their candy-oriented holidays loud.
• Beck’s House of Horrors
  Beck’s Brew House - 3611 Kings Row – Reno
  October 31 @ 7 p.m.
  The mayhem starts at 7 p.m. with drink specials and a potent witches brew. The costume contest is at 10 p.m. with prizes for best costume, best couple and most disturbing.
• Nigels’ 14th Annual Halloween Bash
  3rd Street – 125 W. Third St. – Reno
  October 31 @ 8 p.m.
  The annual party features the band Hardrive and a contest for best costume at midnight.
• Halloween open bar at Amendment 21
  Amendment 21 Grill & Sports Bar – 425 S. Virginia St. – Reno
  October 31 @ 10 p.m. – 12 a.m.
  On Halloween from 10 p.m. to midnight, enjoy $5 mugs and $20 for free refills on all well and draft drinks.
• Halloween parties at Bonanza
  Bonanza Casino - 4720 N. Virginia St. – Reno
  October 30 @ 7 p.m.
  On Oct. 30, there is a DJ debuting the bar’s new dance floor. On Oct. 31, the Bonanza hosts a costume contest at 9 p.m. with $500 in prizes. Registration is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fort Reno Booth, and then there’s dancing all night.
• Creeper’s Ball Costume Party – Tainted Love
  Crystal Bay Club-Casino – 14 Nevada 28 – Crystal Bay
  October 31 @ 9 p.m.
  Annual costume party featuring the ’80s tribute band.
• Le Chamois Halloween Party
  The Village at Squaw Valley – 1750 Village East Road – Olympic Valley
  October 31 @ 8 p.m
  DJ Blue 42 will be spinning dance tunes at 9 p.m. at the Le Chamois bar. Costumes are strongly encouraged.
• Virginia City All Hallow’s Eve
  Silver Queen Hotel – 28 N. C St. – Virginia City
  October 31 @ 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.
  Presented by Bats in the Belfry. Spend a chilling Halloween night with the spirits of Virginia City. Includes a buffet style dinner, discussion panel on paranormal investigating presented by Ghost Posse Inc. and four hours of ghost hunting in some of the most haunted places in Virginia City. Advance ticket sales only. Event goes from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Halloween Party Dinner and Dance
  Gold Hill Hotel – 1540 Main St. – Gold Hill
  October 31 @ 5 p.m.
  Fine dining from 5-9 p.m. followed by music for dancing from 9 till midnight. Costumes are encouraged with awards for best costume. Call to reserve.

Street Vibrations, one of the nation’s largest motorcycle events, Sept. 23-27, brings together enthusiasts of every stripe, taking over Reno Tahoe with rides, competitions, food, music and fun.

You don’t have to be a motorcycle nut to enjoy Street Vibrations, but it helps. Thousands of bikers mix with casual riders, builders and spectators to check out each others’ rides, listen to some rock n’ roll, and share the company of friends on a sunny afternoon.

For more information and a schedule of events, visit the event Web site.



Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

There are few guarantees in life, but when it comes to Lake Tahoe summers, you can pretty much count on 1) consist sun 2) warm, moderate temperatures 3) and breezy afternoons. And there may be no better way to capture the essence of Tahoe than aboard a sailboat.

Several charter companies throughout the lake offer sailboat rides, complete with cocktails and bonus sunsets. So get on board and experience Tahoe under wind power. Check out this “Reno Tahoe Experience” aboard the Tahoe Cruz, a boat that sails out of Tahoe City on the lake’s North Shore for a taste of what you’ll experience.

Photographer Thomas Bachand has a unique take on the Tahoe environment: His photos have a dreamy quality, often taken with long exposures to capture movement in nature … colorful yet subtle.

Bachand’s work reflects Tahoe’s delicate balance, so it is fitting that his new book “Lake Tahoe, A Fragile Beauty” works from that perspective.

In addition to photos illustrating the lake’s insurmountable beauty – they range from “Donner Summit Bridge” to handsome, simplistic shots like “Shadow light upon the Truckee Marsh” – Bachand writes of the dangers of development and climate change to this natural wonder. Those who know Tahoe’s history have witnessed the tense decades-long struggle to balance development with environmental preservation.

The book includes an introduction by preeminent Tahoe research scientist Dr. Charles Goldman, a poem by former U.S. Poet Laureate and 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Hass, and historical content by literary icon Mark Twain and 19th Century photographer Carleton Watkins.

“Lake Tahoe, A Fragile Beauty” is a must for any Lake Tahoe enthusiast’s bookshelf. Buy the book from Bachand’s Web site and check out more of his amazing photography.

- Submitted by Jessica Glasgow

Last year marked a record-setting ski season for U.S. resorts with 60.5 million skier visits, according to the National Ski Areas Association. As travelers begin thinking about where to find the best deals and the most snow for the upcoming season, Orbitz predicts Lake Tahoe will be this year’s most popular destination.

“While ski vacations are more popular than ever before, the current economy presents new challenges for travelers on tighter budgets than in past years,” said Heather Leisman, senior director of merchandizing for Orbitz. “Travelers looking for ski season savings need only a bit of expert advice on when and where to travel, and Orbitz has the insider knowledge to help them hit the slopes.”

2008-2009 Orbitz Insider Ski Index (Ranking* and average daily hotel rate**)

1. Lake Tahoe, CA/NEV    $116
2. Breckenridge, CO    $225
3. Park City, UT    $239
4. Vail, CO    $286
5. Aspen, CO    $227
6. Keystone, CO    $149
7. Winter Park, CO    $193
8. Whistler, BC    $292
9. Banff, Canada    $189
10. Steamboat Springs, CO    $204

*Based on hotel and vacation package bookings from 11/1/08 to 4/30/09 for bookings as of 10/14/08
** Based on average daily hotel rates from 11/1/08 to 4/30/09 for bookings as of 10/14/08

Some people say it’s the end of the summer but I don’t buy that. In Reno-Tahoe America’s Adventure Place summer is here until the end of September so we still have another month of summer activities!

We’ve really enjoyed this summer with 2 little ones (we have a 2 year old and a 5 month old baby) — lots of camping, hiking, beach volleyball, bike-riding… the kids love the outdoors, they play with each other and learn to enjoy nature from a young age. I couldn’t think of a better area to grow up in!

Our favorite camping spot for families with young kids is Fallen Leaf Lake Campground. We took our German friends tent camping for the first time a couple of weeks ago and they absolutely loved it! The weather was perfect, we had a fire and roasted Marshmallows, checked out Fallen Leaf and took our kite to Baldwin beach.

Check out what the US Forest Services has to say:
Fallen Leaf Lake Campground is uniquely situated 1/4 mile away from Fallen Leaf Lake and offers easy hiking around the lake. The Taylor Creek Visitor Center is directly across Hwy 89 and has interpretive programs, guided walks on the Rainbow Trail and to the Stream Profile Chamber. The first weekend in October, the annual Kokanee Salmon Festival is held at the Visitor Center.

Also near by are:

Tele Girl