(press release) Dickey's Barbecue Pit franchise owner Farrokh Hormazdi will be opening his doors for business tomorrow, Tuesday January 31st. The first 100 people receive a free big barbecue pulled pork sandwich.

"I am extremely excited to open and begin serving authentic barbecue to our community," said Hormazdi.

The new 1,448 square foot store is located at 3250 Retail Drive, Suite 100. The hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

People are encouraged to check out this Dickey's Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/xhMZgt . Hormazdi will be choosing one of the Facebook fans on Sunday, February 12th; the winner will receive a voucher for free barbecue for one month valid only at this Dickey's location.

"This location will have much success," said Roland Dickey, Jr., president of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "I am sure they will have a line out the door on Tuesday."

Dickey's Barbecue Pit opened its first location in Dallas in 1941. Dickey's began franchising in 1994 and has continued to grow across the country. Dickey's currently has 206 locations in 36 states nationwide.

Dickey's Barbecue offers a quality selection of signature meats, home style sides and tangy barbecue sauce. All meats are slow smoked on-site in each restaurant. Kids eat free every day at all participating Dickey's locations until February 29th. For more information, including a full menu, other restaurant locations and franchising opportunities, please visit http://www.dickeys.com .

Grilled skewers of marinated meat and vegetables make a savory treat for a barbecue. They also are great for eating on a budget.

The 16th annual Kids Auction & World's Greatest BBQ held Saturday at Mills Park raised $175,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, said Hal Hansen, the club's chief professional officer, Wednesday.

If you have not yet made any plans to be in the Great Outdoors for the upcoming Fourth of July, you might want to heed some or all of the following tips.
Because the Fourth of July falls in the middle of the week on Wednesday this year, it will put a crimp in many folks’ plans for celebrating in the outdoors, as many of them will only have Wednesday off as a holiday.
So, their celebrating will have to occur either on the preceding weekend or the weekend following the Fourth.

With that said, consider this for either weekend:
You had better expect to encounter big crowds no matter where you go.
If you like to bait fish, spincast or fly fish;
If you like to fish from shore, in chest waders, in a float tube or from a boat, canoe, kayak or raft;
If you like to camp in a vehicle, camp in a campground or backpack;
If you like to stay overnight in a hotel, motel, cabin or resort;
If you like to tour in your car, four-wheel drive, ride an ATV or ride a bike;
If you like to go horseback riding or on a packhorse trip;
If you like to water ski, jet ski, row a canoe or ride in a boat;
If you like to bask in the sun, swim, hike, climb a mountain, photograph scenery or watch wildlife;
Then, be advised that I guarantee you will have company, and plenty of it, wherever you go, with the possible exception of backpacking a long distance into remote areas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
If you don’t like big crowds of people, either weekend may not be for you to be in the Great Outdoors.

Home or away
On the Fourth of July holiday, just about everyone falls into two categories:
Those who are away from home, somewhere in the Outdoors, or those who are going to enjoy a backyard barbecue.
Elaine and I, luckily, fall into both of those categories because we will be away from home, plus enjoying a barbecue with relatives, friends and neighbors on the deck of the Quilici Cabin (our second home) in the mountains of Northern California near Davis Lake.

Staying home
If you are one of those folks who will be staying home for the Fourth, then plan to have a nice, quiet, tasty barbecue in your backyard, complete with your choice of savory items such as:
Appetizers and cocktails, followed by steak, lobster, chicken, ribs, hamburgers or hotdogs, plus iced tea, tossed salad, ear corn, baked potatoes, to be followed by ice cream or strawberry shortcake with fresh cream.
Then as a bonus, when it gets dark, just kick back, relax and enjoy the annual holiday fireworks display from your home.

Outdoors
If you’re headed for the Outdoors for either of the two weekends, around the Fourth of July, here are some tips to consider:

Be considerate
When camping overnight be considerate of the other campers around you.
They certainly did not plan to spend the night next to a group of rowdy, noisy people staying up into the wee hours of the morning, partying, talking, laughing and playing loud music.
Be a good neighbor.

Be bear safe
If you are camping in bear country, you would be well advised to keep all of your food items where they and their odor are not tempting.
If you don’t, you could have an unexpected visitor in the night.

Boating
Don’t wait until you are on the boat ramp to load things into your boat.
That is the wrong time to load your water ski equipment, fishing equipment, arm loads of clothing and life preservers, coolers, lunches, cameras, etc.
For darn sure, don’t wait until your boat is in the water and tying up the boat ramp to try to start your motor for the first time this year. That is the last place you want to be when you and everyone else waiting to launch their boats discover that it won’t start. You won’t be popular!
Most importantly, be patient while you are waiting for those ahead of you to either launch or retrieve their boats. And, don’t cut in ahead of others trying to launch or retrieve their boats, because if you do, it could get very exciting with lots of colorful language.

A special treat for fishermen
For those of you who would like to fish in the State of California and do not have a fishing license, be advised of the following:
This year, California has two Free Fishing Days.
One is for the Fourth of July on July 07.
The other is for Labor Day on Sept. 08.
You can fish anywhere you want on either day, without a license.
Just be sure to obey the rules and regulations for whatever water(s) you fish.

Finally
Be sure to have a happy and safe and sober Fourth of July.
Enjoy yourself wherever you are.
Happy Fourth of July!

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you why I like the Fourth of July.
If he grins and says, “Don likes that holiday because it is the first of a series of Holidays that mean the days are getting shorter and we are moving back to the winter snow, ice and cold that he loves,” that pigeon could be a close friend or relative of mine.
I don’t like hot weather!

— Writer Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now and www.SouthTahoeNow.com. He can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com

The community is invited to the Annemarie Bozin Memorial Bench unveiling on Wednesday, July 15, 7 p.m. at Sonoma Park in Carson City. The event is a barbecue. Organizers are asking everyone to bring something to eat or drink, potluck style. Leave a comment below with what you can bring.

On March 28, Annemarie Bozin died. She grew up in Carson City and was 24.

A network of Annemarie's friends, with the permission of the Bozin family and Carson City Parks and Recreation Department, agreed to build a memorial for her in Sonoma Park, a place she grew up near, played at as a youngster and now where her friends and family who are still in Carson City can gather and remember her for everything that she was.

Money for the bench was collected through GoFundMe. Go here for the page and to contribute.

The Carson City Parks and Recreation Department gave permission to build a memorial for her in Sonoma Park where as children many of Annemarie's friends and Annemarie herself would play.

Sonoma Park is in central Carson City near Seeliger School east of Baker Drive on Sonoma Street.

Again thank you for all the support and love.

Lots of shady trees, a nice gentle breeze and plenty of ice cold beer were enough to keep the heat down a notch Saturday at the High Sierra Regional Chili Cook-Off and Craft Fair in Carson City.

The two-day event at Glen Eagles Restaurant, which continues through Sunday, has brought dozens of the best chili cookers from around the region hoping for a chance to win prize money, bragging rights and a trip to Las Vegas for the World Chili Cook-off Championship. The public is invited to Sunday's event and sampling costs next to nothing, organizers said.

“If you like it hot, we’ve got it hot. If you like it with a kick, we’ve got that too,” said Big John Konvicka, organizer of this year’s event, who says nothing is more patriotric than a summer day with families, sipping on suds, eating ice cream and sampling the greatest chilis of the Wild West.

This year all proceeds collected at the chili competition will go to Honor Flight Nevada, the charity that takes veterans to Washington, D.C. several times a year as a way of showing gratitude to those who were in the service during World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars.

“We’re so appreciative to all the venders, the chili cookers and the people taking time today to come out here and pay tribute to the Honor Flight heroes,” said Konvicka. “None of us would be here today if it wasn’t for these veterans.”

With temperatures in the upper 90s Saturday, there was just enough breeze through the shady trees to keep the event cool, even among those dishing up the hottest chilis and homeade salsas. Hundreds had come through the fair on Saturday, paying $3 for a sample kit that lets tasters try some of the boldest, spiciest and zestiest concoctions around.

Festivities finished Saturday at 3 p.m. with a first day judging. The cookoff will fire up again Sunday morning at 11 a.m. The public is welcomed and encouraged to join in on the tasting.

the bragging began early Saturday. Goldfield chili cooker Bob Scott’s said his “End of the Line” chili is a subtle heat, always good with a cold beer straight out of an ice chest. While Scott was stirring the pot, Jim and Karen Watson of Napa, Idaho brought their specialty red chili and green chili verde, also packing a medium heat: ideal for chili tasters.

Speaking of those who enjoy all the flavors, Bill and Linda Robotham of Carson City and pitmasters of Y’alls BBQ, a catering outfit that serves up Texas barbecue Nevada style, said they were getting a good heat going sampling the goods. Next weekend the couple will be competing in a Northern California Barbecue Association event in Boomtown and always like to try what those in the regional chili world are dishing up.

International Chili Society chefs are competing this weekend for a chance to go to the World Cook-Off in Las Vegas. Each day cooks are submitting red chili, chile verde, and salsa for judging, the winners of each category, each day, qualify for the World’s Championship Chili Cookoff in October. Chili tasters are also voting for the best concoctions in a people’s choice award.

Saturday's event is the ICS High Sierra Regional competition. Red and Verde winners also qualify for the November World Food Championship in Las Vegas. Sunday's is the ICS Nevada Capital Regional competition.

The public is invited to sample red and verde chili as well as salsas. Tasting kits are $3 each. The "People's Choice" Chili award will be determined by the vote collected by everyone who samples. Tasters are invited to participate as judges for any or all of the competitions. Salsa will be judged at noon Sunday, chile verde at 1 p.m., and red chili at 3 p.m.

The Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada will hold a kickoff Carson City summer party on Sunday, May 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The free community barbecue will feature a Bounce house, games and activities, parent membership orientations and discounted memberships.

The Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada is located at 1870 Russell Way in Carson City.

Carson City community members flooded downtown for Taste of Downtown Saturday evening with their appetites ready to taste the delicious foods prepared by local businesses. Taste of Downtown gave guests a wide range of dinner entrees, promoted local businesses and supported Advocates to End Domestic Violence.

Guests listened to eight local bands throughout the evening and tasted food and refreshments from local restaurants, bars and eateries. Among the bands and musical performers were: Molly Seals, Chaser, Hick'ry Switch, Mo'z Motley Blues, Mic Smith, Red Rose, The Refiners, The Remains and The Smooth Two.

From cake pops to bacon burgers, guests dined like kings and queens at Taste of Downtown, courtesy of Advocates to End Domestic Violence. Go here for the list of this year's winners as selected by guests who participated in the taste. Food samples for Taste of Downtown Carson City was provided by the following:

Advocates to End Domestic Violence is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1979 by two formerly battered women who saw a need for a domestic violence program in Carson City. The organization began in a small two-bedroom apartment and today has grown into a full service program that operates a 51-bed shelter and provides a wide variety of services designed to protect and support battered women and their children in the community.

With a mission to provide a safe and supportive environment where domestic violence victims can re-examine their view of themselves, advocates are working towards a violence free future. Advocates encourage acceptance of women for who they are and encourage women to take a step towards positive growth, independence and self-sufficiency. Advocates offers a 24-hour crisis hotline at 775.883.7654.

All proceeds from The Taste benefit Advocates to End Domestic Violence, a Carson City non-profit committed to aiding abused families in northern Nevada.

Auctions, food, music and fun were the vibe at the 16th annual Kids Auction & World's Greatest Barbecue on Saturday, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada's largest fundraiser of the year.

The Fourth of July holiday period is the busiest time of year in the Lake Tahoe Basin. For those visiting during the holiday and attending one of the firework displays over the lake, expect extremely crowded conditions and excess traffic.

Because of the Basin’s high elevation, expect intense sunlight during the day and much lower temperatures at night. Bring sunscreen, a jacket, and carry a flashlight. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

If planning to camp overnight at a designated campground, make reservations ahead of time by going here. In addition, keep the following information in mind to help everyone enjoy a safe and fun holiday.

Wildfire prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Possession of fireworks of any kind, including firecrackers and sparklers, is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Campfires and portable charcoal grills are not permitted on National Forest beaches or in the general forest. If planning to barbecue on the beach, bring a portable gas grill instead of charcoal.

This will reduce the danger of wildfire in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Remember, a hot ember can travel for miles in the wind and it only takes one small spark to ignite a large wildfire. Fire restrictions on National Forest System land in the Lake Tahoe Basin begin on July 1, 2016. For complete information on fire restrictions, go here.

The annual alcohol ban will be in effect at Nevada Beach, Zephyr Cove Resort, and Zephyr Shoals (the former Dreyfus Estate) from 6 a.m. to midnight on July 4, 2016.

The Forest Order and maps will be posted here. In addition, county and state laws ban the possession or consumption of alcohol on the Truckee River from Tahoe City to Alpine Meadows and Chamber's Landing Beach on the West Shore, beginning July 1 and continuing through July 6. These areas will be patrolled by law enforcement personnel from the Forest Service, Douglas and Placer counties, the Carson City Sheriff’s Department, and private security staff.

Consider public transportation during the holiday as holiday traffic and road construction make for extremely crowded roads and parking areas. Walk, carpool, or bicycle to avoid limited parking in crowded recreation areas and heavy traffic and delays after the firework displays.

The Nifty Fifty Trolley stops at National Forest beaches along the South and West shores of Lake Tahoe. At developed recreation sites, such as Kiva, Tallac Historic Site, Taylor Creek Visitor Center and Echo Lake and Angora Lake resorts, parking is allowed only in designated parking spaces inside the parking lots, not along the roadway.

When parking, do not block road access or narrow lanes, which could impede response in an emergency. Where parking on the side of the road is allowed, be careful to not park on vegetation as this can cause damage to the environment and can spark a fire.

Day-use parking fees for July 4 at Pope, Baldwin, and Nevada beaches will be $20 and at Zephyr Cove Beach $25 to cover increased security and facility maintenance costs of the holiday.

For information on rules regarding pets, go here.

Trash and debris left behind after festivities can be harmful and even fatal to wildlife. It represents a human health hazard, and degrades Lake Tahoe.

Trash cans may become full, so plan ahead and pack out all garbage. Become part of the solution by volunteering for the Adopt-A-Beach program coordinated by the Lake Tahoe Visitor’s Authority and the City of South Lake Tahoe or the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s (LTSLT) Annual Keep Tahoe Red, White and Blue beach clean-ups from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, July 5.

Clean-up sites include areas all around Lake Tahoe. To volunteer and learn more, visit http://www.adoptabeachtahoe.com/ or https://keeptahoeblue.org/news/events.

For more information on the July 4 holiday, visit the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/ltbmu or call 530-543-2600, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., or the Taylor Creek Visitor Center at 530-543-2674 on weekends and holidays. We wish everyone a safe and fun Independence Day holiday.

Hawaiian music, its melody as gentle as a swaying tropical breeze, floated off the stage and around the Marv Teixeira Pavilion at Mills Park Saturday afternoon to the delight of visitors at the first-ever Polynesian Festival in Carson City.

Organized by the Northern Nevada Hui Association (NNHA), the festival is a celebration of Polynesian culture, said Master of Ceremonies Shawn Satoga.

"This is about perpetuating our culture," said Satoga, who moved to Dayton from Hawaii 18 months ago. "We keep on meeting new island people with every event we hold, and this makes us want to give back."

Satoga said a sizeable community of Pacific Island people reside in the Northern Nevada region, and that number is expected to increase.

"It's growing," he said.

Satoga said this is the first of three Pacific Island festivals scheduled in Northern Nevada. The next event is the Aloha Festival next month at Wingfield Park in Reno.

Since Saturday's celebration was an inaugural event in Carson City, Satoga said planning and organizing took over a year.

"About 12 to 16 months to organize," he said. "It's hard work, and it takes a team. But I've got good team members around me."

Turn out at Saturday's inaugural Polynesian Festival was robust.

Dozens were in attendance for the opening ceremony, and many more visitors filed through the pavilion gates in the afternoon.

The lunch hour was particularly busy as visitors sought to satisfy their palates at one of a handful of Pacific Island food vendors, including festival sponsor L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, a Hawaii-based food-chain with franchises in Reno and Dayton.

Several craft vendors also lined both sides of the pavilion, leaving the center for visitors to enjoy Polynesian food and entertainment.

Visitors were treated throughout the day festival to live Hawaiian music from bands and vocalists, a drum routine by the Taiko Drummers of Reno, and carefully choreographed dances by trained Polynesian dancers.

Festivities continue through the afternoon until about 8 p.m. Saturday.

The NNHA's inaugural Polynesian Festival is sponsored, in part, by the Carson City Visitors Bureau, L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Walmart, Trader Joe's, Round Table Pizza, Applebee's, Starbucks, the Home Depot, Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys Burgers, and the Hyatt South Lake Tahoe.

For more information about celebrations of Pacific Island culture and events in the area, visit the NNHA web site here.

Dickey’s Barbecue is turning up the heat for its grand opening in Carson City. The event will be held on Friday, September 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Dickey’s will be serving $1 Pulled Pork Big Barbecue sandwiches.

“Carson city is a wonderful community,” said franchise owner Farrokh Hormazdi. “The local barbecue aficionados truly enjoy our authentic, mouthwatering barbecue and we are looking forward to celebrating our grand opening with them.”

Three lucky customers will win free barbecue for an entire year at the grand opening. Dickey’s Barbecue in Carson City is located at 3250 Retail Drive, Suite 100 and is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Founded in 1941, Dickey’s has mastered the art of slow smoking meats to perfection every night. Dickey’s is proud to give the Carson City area the right balance of juicy tender meats, topped with Dickey’s family recipe barbecue sauce and savory home-style sides.

About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants
Dickey’s Barbecue was founded by Travis Dickey with the goal of authentic slow smoked barbecue. More than 70 years later, the Dallas-based family run barbecue franchise still offers a quality selection of signature meats, home style sides, tangy barbecue sauce and free kids meals every Sunday. All meats are slow smoked on site in each restaurant. The fast-casual family-friendly concept has expanded to over 250 locations in 43 states and holds the title of the world’s largest barbecue franchise. This year Nation’s Restaurant News named Dickey’s “Top Five Growth Chains” and they were also named “Best Franchise Deal” by QSR Magazine. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com or for franchise opportunities call (866) 340-6188.

An Indian Hills family of six was left homeless when a barbecue set the home they were living in on fire Wednesday evening.

The Fourth of July holiday weekend is the busiest time in the Lake Tahoe Basin. For those visiting during the weekend and attending one of the firework displays over the lake, expect extremely crowded conditions and excess traffic.

Because of the Basin’s high elevation, expect intense sunlight during the day and much lower temperatures at night. Bring sunscreen, a jacket, and carry a flashlight. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. If planning to camp overnight at a designated campground, make reservations ahead of time at here. In addition, keep the following information in mind to help everyone enjoy a safe and fun holiday.

Wildfire prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Possession of fireworks of any kind, including firecrackers and sparklers, is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Campfires are not permitted on National Forest beaches or in the general forest. For those planning to barbecue on the beach, bring gas barbeques instead of charcoal. This will help to reduce the danger of wildfire.

The annual alcohol ban will be in effect at Nevada Beach, Zephyr Cove Resort, and Zephyr Shoals (the former Dreyfus Estate) from 6 a.m. to midnight on July 4, 2014. The Forest Order and maps will be posted here. Additionally, county and state laws ban the possession or consumption of alcohol on the Truckee River from Tahoe City to Alpine Meadows and Chamber's Landing Beach on the West Shore, beginning July 1 and continuing through July 6. These areas will be patrolled by law enforcement personnel from the Forest Service, Douglas and Placer counties, the Carson City Sheriff’s Department, and private security staff.

Consider public transportation during the holiday. Walk, carpool, or bicycle to avoid limited parking in crowded recreation areas and heavy traffic and delays after the firework displays. The Nifty Fifty Trolley stops at National Forest beaches along the South and West Shores of Lake Tahoe. At developed recreation sites, such as Kiva, Tallac and the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, parking is allowed only in designated parking spaces inside the parking lots, not along the roadway. When parking, do not block road access or narrow lanes, which could impede response in an emergency. Where parking on the side of the road is allowed, be careful to not park on vegetation as this can cause damage to the environment and can spark a fire.

Day-use fees for the Fourth of July at Pope, Baldwin, and Nevada beaches will be $20 and at Zephyr Cove Beach $25 to cover increased security and facility maintenance costs of the holiday.

Pets are not allowed at National Forest designated swim beaches, including Nevada, Pope, Baldwin, Meeks and William Kent. Leashed pets are welcome at Kiva Picnic Area from Valhalla Boathouse/Pier to Tallac Point in South Lake Tahoe, Echo Lakes on Echo Summit, Zephyr Shoals and Hidden and Chimney beaches on the East Shore, Coon Street Beach (at the boat launch) in King's Beach, and Kaspian and 64 Acres beaches in Tahoe City. Please pick up after pets and keep them leashed at all times.

Trash and debris left behind after festivities can be harmful and even fatal to wildlife. It presents a human health hazard, and contributes to Lake Tahoe’s loss of clarity. Trash cans may become full, so plan ahead and pack out all garbage. Become part of the solution by volunteering for the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s Annual Keep Tahoe Red, White and Blue beach clean-ups from 9 a.m. to noon on July 5. Clean-up sites include Taylor Creek to the Tallac Historic Site and Regan Beach to Timber Cove on the South Shore, Nevada Beach and Zephyr Shoals on the East Shore, and Commons Beach on the North Shore. For information on volunteering, contact Marilee Movius at 530-541-5388 or email marilee@keeptahoeblue.org.

For more information, visit the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit website here or call 530-543-2694, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., or the Taylor Creek Visitor Center at 530-543-2674 on weekends and holidays.

Hey Carson City, grab your favorite swimsuit and get ready to strut your stuff to win more than a $1,000 in cash and prices.

The next Red, White and Blue Barbecue at the Carson Nugget in Carson City will feature a Men and Women’s Swimsuit Contest during the June 29th day-long barbecue from 1 to 7 p.m. The contest will be held from 2-5:30 p.m. with the finals being held inside the casino at the Show Bar beginning at 5:30 p.m.

All signups will receive a free barbecue plate. Because the barbecue is a family event, there are ground rules regarding the competition:

• You must be 21 years or older to participate
• Must have swimsuit approval by Nugget Management prior to the event
• No Speedos
• No String Bikinis

The barbecue will be held on the Carson Street lot, across from the casino. This will be the second in a series of four “Red, White and Blue Barbecues” this summer. The barbecues are FREE and offer fun for all ages.

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong, Mayor Bob Crowell and Carson Nugget General Manager Star Anderson will be guest judges for the competition.

For more information on the Carson Nugget summer activities and specials, please call 775-882-1626 or visit www.ccnugget.com.

Thirteen blocks. Dozens of restaurants. Multiple live bands. One Day. Foodies prepare yourself because the best of Carson City's culinary side comes alive Saturday, June 15 at the 20th annual Taste of DownTown, the capital city's premiere downtown summer event.

From tangy barbecue ribs to piping hot pizza and lasagna, tacos, sushi rolls and decadent desserts, there's more than enough food to around for the three-and-a-half hour culinary bonanza that benefits Advocates to End Domestic Violence.

Tasting begins at 5:30 p.m. from Telegraph to 10th Street and continues until 9 p.m. Live bands will be located throughout downtown with music playing until midnight.

A mix of Carson City restaurants will dish it up and hand it out at their own downtown sites while restaurants, pubs and grills from outside the downtown area will serve their faire from locations on streets and sidewalks with live bands scattered in between. Go here for a list of participating restaurants.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased here. If you would like to be guaranteed a ticket, you can call the AEDV office at (775) 883-7654 and get your name on the list. To purchase tickets June 1, please visit:

Classy Seconds: 411 Hot Springs Road, Carson City; (775) 841-7081. It is open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday; 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sat; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sun. Classy Seconds will accept cash or debit/credit in person.

The Advocates to End Domestic Violence office has credit/debit capabilities. You can call the office at (775) 883-7654 to order over phone with credit/debit and pick up the day of the event at the information booth on the steps of City Hall.

Twenty years ago, Advocates was a struggling non-profit looking for every avenue to raise revenue. The first year of the Taste, the agency also participated in 17 additional fundraisers.  The first Taste included 7 restaurants and 1 band.  Advocates Executive Director Lisa Lee and a then current Board member, stood downtown, looked around, and thought, "success."

"The event was a win-win, no other fundraiser in Carson City like it, meaning no competition, it promoted restaurants, local businesses, and downtown and generated awareness and revenue for Advocates," said Lee.

The Taste has continued to grow because it is a different type of fundraiser, it is a summer activity which is looked forward to annually by many. It is like the annual summer coming out street party, said Advocates Office Manager Terri Farnworth.

"It was never imagined that, in the beginning, it would grow into 35-plus restaurants, 7 bands, and 2,000 tickets, Advocates was never that ambitious to think it could be more than a few participants and supporters coming downtown," said Farnworth.

The first year of the event, it was advertised that there would be a limit of 500 tickets. Advocates was hoping to sell 250 and would have been thrilled at that.  But, it sold out.

The limited number of tickets being sold has increased to meet the public demand.  Advocated had to cap the total at 2,000 to enable the restaurants the ability to produce quality tastes for the ticketholders as well as maintain regular evening dining opportunities for other patrons.

The event is important to Advocates as it is the primary fundraiser for the shelter. The profit from this event will pay for the utilities in the shelter for a year.  Advocates has the largest domestic violence shelter in Northern Nevada. For Carson City and local businesses, it is a showcase opportunity.

Many people’s efforts go into making the event a success. Advocates will use more than 150 volunteers along with support from Carson City agencies — from the Permit Department, Health Department, Parks and Rec, and the Streets Department, sheriff’s office — to the fire department. 

Many people have a role in assisting us with the success of the Taste. Carson City is at its best that night, streets are alive, music at every corner, the smells of the restaurants cooking outside, the clustering of people meeting up with old friends and making new.

The 2013 Edible Pedal is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 15

A guest post by Jill Stockton
If you are interested in trying something new as summer winds down, why not consider registering for the Edible Pedal 100™? The event takes place on Sunday, Sept. 15 at Bower’s Mansion in Washoe Valley.

Hijinks on the Comstock with a twist comes to Carson City this summer with "Where is the Gold?" a Wild West melodrama and murder mystery dinner set aboard a vintage Virginia and Truckee Railroad steam engine train, July 18 and August 15.

"Where is the Gold?" produced by the Brewery Arts Center will entertain with plenty of Comstock legend and lore intertwined with spellbinding whodunit mystery. The audience will be invited to help the cast of characters solve the mystery of who stole the gold, and who is responsible for the death of Mr. Big.

Passengers will interact with the cast — transformed into unique fictional characters of Northern Nevada’s 1900s— before departure.

The steam engine will depart at 6 p.m. and head into the Carson River canyon for a 45-minute murder mystery train ride as the play unfolds before their eyes on each of the cars as the train rolls through the Northern Nevada landscape.

The show starts with murder. Passengers in each car will be witness to Mr. Big’s demise. To abuse the famous MT line, “his death will not be exaggerated,” as Mr. Big will meet his demise three times, once in each passenger car.

Passengers from each train car will cast a vote on who they think the murderer is. Will it be Rose, the incognito opera singer; Silver Jack, the suave gambler; Rusty, the yodeling western cowboy; or Elliot, the accountant with a questionable past? Before the clock strikes 8:30 p.m., the case of the missing gold and the murder of Mr. Big will be solved in the final summation of the play, and the remains of the night will be a guilty culprit and a delighted audience.

Upon return to the Eastgate train depot around 7 p.m. a hearty western barbecue and cash bar will be waiting.

The murder mystery trains depart the Eastgate depot in Carson City at 6 p.m. both nights. Tickets are $75 per person, and include the dinner, show and one drink ticket. Fares include an 8 percent historic preservation fee.

Discounted private group charters are also available. For group fares and special excursion trains contact Candace Duncan at (775) 721-6255 or (775) 291-0208. Email candy@vtrailway.com.

The Carson City passenger station is located at Eastgate Siding on Flint Drive off U.S. Highway 50 East. To keep the memories rolling passengers can stop by the station’s gift shop stocked with V&T souvenirs. For the latest train updates or to purchase tickets visit www.vtrailway.com, or call (877) 724-5007.

Western Nevada College student veterans are invited to join fellow student veterans from the University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College for a hiking event on Saturday, July 27, at Spooner Lake, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.

The preregistration deadline is July 25. The easy 2-mile hike on the Spooner Loop Trail will begin at 10 a.m., so participants are encouraged to arrive in the parking lot by 9 a.m. Pre-registered participants will be sent a parking pass prior to the event, to avoid paying a $6 parking fee at the state park.

A barbecue will be provided following the hike. Participants are advised to wear appropriate clothing and shoes, and to carry water. Spooner Lake/Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is 15 miles southwest of Carson City, near the intersection of U.S. Hwy 50 West and State Route 28 at Lake Tahoe. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information or to register, call or email Cesar Melgarejo at 775-323-1294 or cesar.melgarejo@va.gov.

Signups are underway for the 12th annual Stroke to Help Fight Breast Cancer golf tournament, Saturday, Sept. 28 at Eagle Valley Golf Course in Carson City.

Hosted by Soroptimist International of Carson City, ASCE, Carson Tahoe Hospital and Tahoe Carson Radiology, the tournament features raffle prizes, contests, games, 2 hole-in-one prizes, closest to the pin and lowest and highest score prizes.

The cost is $85 and includes golf and cart, a continental breakfast and barbecue.

Check-in begins at 8 a.m. with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

For more information and to sign up, contact Soroptimist International of Carson CIty, Dixie Busch, at (775) 882-3051 or Pat Riggs at (775) 885-7784.

See the flier below.