Outdoors
Backcountry Sleepovers
A handful of wilderness cabins can be accessed via snowshoes or cross-country skiing for backcountry sleepovers. Spooner Lake Cross County Ski Area is home to two quaint cabins. Located within the area’s 9,000-acre trail system outside Incline Village, the hand-hewn Scandinavian-style log cabins have cooking and wood-heating stoves, some kitchen utensils, beds with bedding and two gallons of water per day. The Sierra Club has huts nestled throughout the Sierra Crest. They provide the ultimate backcountry getaway and require a little more experience and determination to access. The huts (Peter Grubb, Benson, Bradley, Ludlow) are about a day’s ski apart or about a day’s journey from various trailheads. Each hut is supplied with cut, un-split wood in the fall (which may be depleted by spring) and a wood stove (normally inefficient for cooking). spoonerlake.com, sierraclub.org, GoTahoeNorth.com, 877-949-3296.
Ski for Light
February 20 and 21
Sierra Regional Ski for Light offers free guide-training clinics. If you are an experienced cross-country skier or snowshoer, you can become a Cross-country Ski Guide for a blind/visually impaired skier. To become a guide, you must attend both sessions.
Part 1 – Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. Part 2 – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tahoe Donner Cross Country Center, 15275 Alder Creek Road, Truckee, tdxc.com, Vicki Post, Guide Training Coordinator, vickipost@earthlink.net, 415-98-2711.
General Creek Snowshoe Hike
February 21
Carmen Carr provides monthly, guided hikes and snowshoe trips. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Martis Peak trailhead. Take Highway 267 south from Truckee. Turn left 1/2 mile south of Brockway Summit at a convenient turn out. Park here. The hike is a steady snowshoe on a well-packed snow trail with rewarding panoramic views. Approximately five miles round trip. Carmen@CarmenCarr.com, 530-550-5192.
Turtleneck Tuesdays
Tuesdays
Lace up your ice skates and enjoy the sweet sounds of the ‘70s and ‘80s on Northstar’s Village Ice Rink. Skate rentals are just $5 a pair and the skating is free. The fun begins at 5 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. Take advantage of the warm outdoor fire pits, and enjoy a drink and s’mores from the Cabana Bars. Rink open daily from 2 to 8 p.m, weather and conditions permitting. northstarattahoe.com, 530-562-3689.
Kids
Glowstick Parade and Carnival
February 21
Ski into some fun at the Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area Carnival with music, hors d’oeuvres, a bounce house and games with glowstick prizes. From 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Ski Hill Cafeteria. At 6:45 they’ll load the Snowbird Chairlift for a 7 p.m. parade. Skiers age 10 and under, who can ski in the dark, unassisted, wear glowstick necklaces, bracelets, rings and sticks down the Snowbird Run. Free. Weather conditions permitting. skitahoedonner.com, 530-587-9444.
Teen Snowboard and Skateboard Icons
February 12, 19 and 26
Teens will create sleek art and design projects inspired by snowboarding and skateboarding. Drawings, paintings, and printmaking projects will reflect their unique sense of style. Students are encouraged to bring in special objects or surfaces on which to paint and create designs. Greg Hayes instructs this class at Nevada Museum of Art’s (NMA) E.L. Cord Museum School. Thursdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Ages 12 and up. $68 / $60 NMA members, 160 West Liberty Street, Reno, nevadaart.org/school, 775-329-3333.
Perform, Perform, Perform
February 23 through March 20
University of Nevada, Reno, School of the Arts presents this collaborative exhibition by emerging artists Allison Lacher and Victoria Calabro: a large-scale installation specific to the Sheppard Gallery. The artists will transform the gallery space into an environment expressing the frivolity and simultaneous treachery of the female adolescent experience. Elements of the installation will include twirling batons, ribbon, and performers highlighting the artists’ affinity for materials, humor, and cultural absurdities. Lecture on February 26, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by opening reception until 8 p.m. Room 153, Church Fine Arts Building. Gallery hours Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, unr.edu/art, 775-784-6658.
High School Mentoring Program
Hang out, have fun with middle school students, and acquire community service hours to beef up your college application or resume. Fifteen spots open for students from the middle school and 15 from the high school. Attend a brief orientation for mentors before the program starts. Snacks, prizes, and lots of fun provided. Program runs Thursdays (except during Ski and Skate Week) from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at Alder Creek Middle School. Contact Peggy Martin, Case Manager at the Truckee Office of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County, peggy @bigsofnc.org, 530-587-7717.
Safeway’s Generous Contributions
KidZone Museum honors Safeway for their commitment to education. In the last year, Safeway has contributed over $15,000 through the eScrip Funding program to the KidZone, one of the Top 200 earning groups nationally in the Safeway 10 Percent Back to Schools Program. Out of 15,000 schools that participated, KidZone will receive an additional $1,000 bonus. Without this money, the KidZone Museum would not be able to continue providing stellar hands-on educational programs to our children and community. For 15 years, the KidZone Museum has operated as a nonprofit children’s museum serving locals and visitors from Truckee, Lake Tahoe, and Nevada. For more information, contact Tina Cook 530-448-0052.
Classes
Designing and Living a Green Life
February 18
How do you get your electric bill down to zero? Nationally acclaimed and locally-based architect Charles Durrett will share this and other tricks of sustainable design discussing ways to live green beyond saving energy. Durrett argues that highly sociable neighborhoods are also more environmentally sustainable, and he has authored two popular audience books interpreting Danish neighborhood patterns. He and his wife and partner, Kathryn McCamant, introduced the ‘cohousing’ model to the United States – a cross between eco-village and custom neighborhood. He will show examples of social neighborhoods that embody a green lifestyle, as well as projects which reduce toxicity, reduce lumber in framing, use recycled and reclaimed building materials, retain water on-site, and effectively steward the land. Admission $5. 7 p.m. Nevada City Veteran’s Hall, 415 North Pine Street, Nevada City, info@cohousingpartners.com, 530-478-1970.
The Yoga of Knitting
February 21
Based on the book ‘Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga’ by Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. David Simon, this class incorporates yoga with knitting. Eliminate stiffness and restore balance to your body, mind, and spirit, while knitting the Laws of Pure Potential, Giving and Receiving, Karma, Least Effort, Intention, Desire, and Dharma into a meditation shawl or scarf. Each change of yarn color will focus attention on a Chakra and different body part combining a yoga asana (position) you can do from the comfort of your chair. Knitters must be comfortable with knitting and purling, casting on, and binding off. Register early. $35. Supplies not included. Pick up materials list at time of payment. Jimmy Beans Wool, 5000 Smithridge Drive, Reno, jimmybeanswool.com, 775-827-YARN.
Film-watching with a Critical Eye
February 23 through March 9
Film lovers learn to recognize and appreciate the five key elements of a memorable film with local independent filmmaker and film critic Scott Birmingham. Birmingham, a member of the Las Vegas Film Critics Society, has won several awards for his films. He instructs this class at Nevada Museum of Art’s (NMA) E.L. Cord Museum School. Students watch clips and a feature film, and discuss the importance of the elements of story, storytelling, acting/performance, editing/pacing, and ending. Mondays from 6 to 9 p.m. Ages 18 and up. $81 / $72 NMA members. 160 West Liberty Street, Reno, nevadaart.org/school, 775-329-3333.
Input on Truckee Community Performing Arts Theater
March 5
The Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District (TDRPD), in cooperation with the Arts and Culture Council of Truckee Tahoe (ACCTT), are holding Community Input Workshops to collect ideas on what the public wants and needs in a local Performing Arts Center. ACCTT’s vision of ‘Art Everywhere for Everyone’ prompted the formation of an advisory group to help form a sustainable, well-planned theatre for performers in the community. This goal evolved into a greater mission to sustain local arts by creating space not only for theatre, but also for dance, music, visual arts, and art education. A stakeholders group from the community was formed to discuss how to develop a sustainable art center. Because there are multiple theatre projects in the works in Truckee and North Lake Tahoe, efforts were streamlined in a regional feasibility study available online. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at The Truckee Community Center, 10046 Church Street, Truckee, nltra.org, 530-582-7720.
Free Business Counseling
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Sierra College offers no-cost, private and confidential counseling sessions once a month to business owners and professionals. A counselor can help you assess ways to increase revenue, decrease expenses, review and update a business plan, explore marketing options, understand accounting records, and explore other business solutions. Call for an appointment at the new Sierra College Campus in Truckee, 916-781-6235.
Exercise is Sexy
Get in shape with classes designed to bring out your feminine, playful side. From Pole Dancing to Hula, Sexy Stretch to Body Alchemy, you’ll find your inner Goddess at Vertical Fitness. 760 Mays Boulevard, Suite 7, Incline Village, verticalfitness.com, 775-771-5506.
Riding The Dragon
March 10 through April 7
A new five-part series, ‘Riding the Dragon: Women and the Creative Process,’ will explore women’s personal experiences with the creative process in journals, film and art, referencing their special issues of having a family, keeping a job, staying involved with friends and community and accessing the forces that spark them to create. Presented by author, playwright and retired therapist, Maggy Anthony, the series will include discussion, films, filmed interviews and works from women artists and writers. $12.50 per session, or $50 for the five-session series. Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the River School, 7777 White Fir Street, Reno, riverschool.info, 775-747-3910.
