East West Partners No Longer in Tahoe
East West Partners, the development company behind the Northstar Village, Gray’s Crossing, Old Greenwood, and Mountainside Northstar, as well as the proposed Martis Valley West project, no longer has a presence in Tahoe as of Jan. 1. East West Partners had managed those properties, in addition to Tahoe Mountain Club and the Tahoe Mountain Reality Brokerage Company, for Crescent Real Estate Holdings since 2000. The decision not to renew the management agreement, which expired at the end of 2014, was a mutually agreed-upon business decision, according to Blake Riva, vice president of Mountainside Partners. “The local team is able to manage directly for Crescent,” Riva said. “This removes a layer of management.”
The local team, based at Northstar, now operates under the name Mountainside Partners. No personnel were laid off in the transition.
The Texas-based Crescent and East West Partners have been doing business together for more than 25 years and will continue that relationship on ventures in Colorado and other areas. ~ Melissa Siig/Moonshine Ink
The Yoga Room Opens in Tahoe City
On Jan. 2, local resident, yoga teacher, and massage therapist Jenna Minnes acquired what was previously the Tahoe Yoga Institute and has renamed and rebranded it as The Yoga Room. The Yoga Room continues to offer daily yoga classes in addition to monthly events and workshops. The Yoga Room is keeping the majority of the original teachers and classes and adding six classes and up to three new teachers. Minnes is motivated by the community of Tahoe City and will offer yoga lifestyle courses to bring in all walks of life. “Yoga offers teachings of health, lifestyle, and community support,” she said. “Just because you cannot stand on your head does not mean that you cannot practice yoga.” There is an introductory locals pricing of 30 days for $30. Info: yogaroomtahoe.com
New Brewery Opens in Incline Village
Kevin Drake and Rich Romo opened Alibi Ale Works, a brewery and public house, Dec. 13 in Incline Village. The duo brews all the beer and house soda on site. Alibi Ale Works rotates its 18 taps and offers growlers to go. Tastings come in 4, 10, and 16 ounces. No food is served, but customers can bring food in or order from food trucks that stop by. Drake and Romo also want to produce enough beer on tap and in bottles to distribute in the region. Info: 204 East Enterprise, Incline Village, (775) 298-7001, facebook.com/AlibiAleWorks ~ Kara Fox/Moonshine Ink
Bar of America Reopens Its Doors After Renovation
Iconic Bar of America, located in the heart of historic downtown Truckee, has reopened its doors after an extensive remodel. The five-and-a-half-week renovation brought an update to just about every part of the interior of this 90-year-old building. Yes, that means those comically tiny restrooms, too. New floors, plumbing, electrical, windows, lighting, and kitchen equipment are just some of the highlights of the extensive project. The old Bank of America vault was removed in favor of expanded restrooms and kitchen. Managing owner Tom Turner put an emphasis on retaining the character of Bar of America while improving the safety and utility of the space. Info: barofamerica.com
Truckee River Winery Wins Medals in Wine Competition
Truckee River Winery recently won two medals in the prestigious 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. A record 6,417 entries from more than 25 states were entered in the competition, recognized as the largest competition of American wines. Truckee River Winery was awarded a silver medal for its 2011 Gary’s Vineyard Pinot Noir and for its 2012 Chalk Hill Malbec.
Ritz-Carlton Named Best Hotel
The 2015 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hotel Rankings included 47 of The Ritz-Carlton hotel properties. The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe was named among the Best Hotels in the USA, Best California Hotels, and Best Lake Tahoe Hotels. To qualify for this accolade, U.S. News & World Report identifies the best hotels using an unbiased methodology centered on three components: reputation among professional travel experts, guest reviews, and hotel class ratings.
Shop Local Contest Generates Over $400,000 for Local Economy
Holiday shoppers in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee who participated in the Shop Local Holiday Contest generated $407,476 in revenue for local businesses. This revenue increased by more than 100 percent from the 2012 campaign, which generated $192,225 in revenue. In total, 256 businesses and 1,420 people participated in the Show Your Love — Shop Local contest with participating retailers in Tahoe City, West Shore, Kings Beach, Northstar, Squaw Valley, Incline Village, and Truckee. Shoppers received a stamp for each purchase of at least $25. Retailers reported an average of $24,000 in sales from the program. Info: shopnorthtahoetruckee.com
