South Lake Tahoe Blog
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Snow in September!!
Get out your beanies and gloves if you are headed to Lake Tahoe this weekend! A wall of cold air is on its way downfrom Alaska, set to drop Tahoe-area temperatures for the weekend andpossibly even deliver some high-elevation snow.
“This is areally strong low dropping out of Alaska,” said Jim Wallmann, ameteorologist from the National Weather Service office in Reno. “Thelast time something this cold happened this time of year was 10 yearsago — it's really uncommon.”
Saturday will see highs in the 60swith light breezes, then drop into the 50s on Sunday, associated withsome moisture — maybe a quarter of an inch — that could become a fewinches of snow above 8,000 feet, Wallmann said.
The moisture,mostly headed north of Tahoe, could bring some thunderstorms, he said,but with the light winds, meteorologists aren't expecting red-flag fireconditions.
Thursday's red flag warning said critical fire conditions are also possible south of Interstate 80 on Friday.
Atlake level, temperatures will drop into the 20s Sunday night intoMonday morning, Wallmann said, but after that as the low passes, thingswill look a little more like summer and less like winter.
“It will start to warm back up to around 80 by Wednesday,” Wallmann said.
Wine on Water event hosted by Hyatt
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino has announced the inaugural Wine on the Water, a food and wine festival set for Aug. 29 in Incline Village.
Featuring 20 wineries and a dozen local restaurants, the event will include tastings of the region's food and wine, live music and a silent auction.
All proceeds generated from ticket sales and silent auction sales will be donated directly to the Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe.
“We hope Wine on the Water will be a warm, community-building celebration of our many talented local chefs and regional wine producers,” said Mark Pardue, general manager with Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. “By encouraging tax-deductible donations, and keeping the price point low, we hope to make the event accessible to everyone, while still allowing us to make a meaningful contribution to a worthy charity.”
From 1–5 p.m., guests will have a chance to sample vintages from acclaimed Northern California wineries. Top local and regional chefs from favorite restaurants — including Chef Mark May of Lone Eagle Grille — will provide signature bites. In addition to wine and food, Wine on the Water will also feature a silent auction including special wines, dinners and gift certificates. Jeff Jones & Friends will provide live music.
Tickets to the event ware $65 per person in advance, $75 at the door.
For tickets or more information, call 775-886-6889
Do you have kids interested in Filmmaking? Lake Tahoe has you covered.
Youth interested in filmmaking will have the chance to do so during a weeklong class at the Brewery Arts Center where they will receive instruction from experts including a well-known award-winning sound editor.
“It was a huge success last year,” said Donna Walden, who will lead the course. “So it's back by popular demand.”
The workshop is part of the Northern Nevada Film Factory, a club of filmmakers and animators.
During the course of the week, students ages 12 to 20 will write, edit, produce and act in a film that will be screened on the final day of the workshop.
“The demand for kids to learn the art of film is growing,” Walden said. “This age of kids are very proficient with technology. They're very easy to work with.”
John Phillips, award-winning sound editor and designer for Hollywood blockbusters including “Rain Man,” “Mississippi Burning,” “Good Morning Vietnam,” “Hoosiers,” and “Big Business” will be making a guest appearance at workshop.
Recipient of a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for Best Sound for “Mississippi Burning,” Phillips will be sharing his Hollywood experiences with youth at the workshop.
The course begins Monday at the Brewery Arts Center where participants will be divided into groups to create a script.
During the five days, they will learn basic animation instruction, acting in a dramatic short film, moderating a documentary, proper operation and care of cameras, editing, and working together as a crew.
The workshop will conclude Friday with a screening of their work, which will be open to parents, family and peers. Each participant will leave with a DVD of his or her film.
Independent filmmakers Janie Chesney and Brandon Chesney will return to help with instruction.
The workshop runs 9:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Friday. Cost is $250, Northern Nevada Film Club Members receive a $25 discount.
Work on new Heavenly lodge begins
Heavenly Resort officials celebrated the start of work on the first new lodge in the skii area in over 30 years.
Construction of the lodge near the top of the resort's gondola was hailed as a “milestone” that will change the way visitors experience the 4,800-acre ski area by Blaise Carrig, co-president of Vail's Mountain Division and the former Chief Operating Officer at Heavenly.
“The lodge is transformational for Heavenly's overall resort experience, allowing us to ramp up the quality and variety of our food while increasing comfort for our guests,” Carrig said in a statement. “While many resorts are pulling back, Heavenly is pushing forward, solidifying our position as Lake Tahoe's leading destination resort.”
The 14,980-square-foot restaurant will sit just behind the resort's Tamarack Express chairlift and will include seating for 500 people indoors and 250 outdoors. Forty-foot tall windows will dominate the front of the building, allowing guests to overlook ski runs originating from the Tamarack lift.
Carrig said the outside of the building was kept simple to make the project economically feasible, but said the inside of the lodge is the “real showpiece” of the project.
Resort officials expect to submit the lodge for LEED certification upon completion because of its environmentally-friendly features.
The lodge is scheduled for a Feb. 1 opening, but Carrig was hopeful the lodge could be completed sooner.
Heavenly officials hoped to open the new lodge earlier in the ski season, but an appeal challenging the U.S. Forest Service's approval of the project pushed construction back from June to July, Carrig said.
Washington D.C. resident Robert Coronado appealed the decision by Forest Supervisor Terri Marceron that allowed construction of the lodge, contending the forest service's approval failed to develop an adequate range of alternatives, evaluate all unauthorized routs and did not sufficiently establish National Environmental Policy Act compliance for ground disturbing activities.
Coronado requested an Environmental Impact Statement be prepared regarding construction of the new lodge, and several other activities anticipated at the resort, including new snowmaking and construction of new ski trails.
In a July 2 letter, Regional Forester Robert MacWhorter found the documentation surrounding the projects “demonstrated compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies n light of the appeal issues raised by appellants.” The decision allowed construction of the new lodge to proceed.
Carrig declined to say exactly how much the new lodge will cost, but said Vail has put “millions and millions” into construction of the building.
Vail put more money into the project following the appeal to ensure the lodge could reach completion during the upcoming winter season, Carrig said.
Hot August Nights coming to Reno
The gold paint on Dave Hobson's 1923 Ford street rod shimmered in the morning sun Friday as he wiped off the bugs that had accumulated on the car's front during his drive from Somerset, Calif.
“I think I got all the bugs,” he laughed.
One of the many participants in the inaugural Hot August Nights festival in South Lake Tahoe, Hobson said it was good to be in Tahoe.
“It's closer to home and of course you've got the lake,” he said. “I hope they do it again next year.”
Hobson's ride is parked at the MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa and has a custom built chassis, automatic overdrive transmission and 330 horse power.
“It's a lot of fun to drive,” he said.
The car's backseat also comes in handy, he said.
“When my wife wants to back-seat drive, that's where she has to ride,” he said. “Actually, it's for the grandkids.”
Hot August Nights, a celebration of the American car culture of the 50s and 60s, has been a Reno fixture since 1986. Reno's event begins Today and winds down Aug. 8.
South Lake Tahoe was added as a sister event this year, while Long Beach, Calif., will join the roster in 2011 for six year-run.
Three hundred and fifty cars will be auctioned off this weekend in the MontBleu Theatre, a swap meet will be held in Heavenly Mountain Resort's California parking lot, show and shines are set and bands will perform at indoor and outdoor venues.
MontBleu and the Horizon's parking lots will have 650 cars on display from 14 states, including New York and Alabama.
“For us, it's a win for people in our community and stimulating the commerce,” Frye said. “We hope to find other events like this and continue to grow our event base.”
— Lake Tahoe Action Editor Tim Parsons contributed to this report.
New and safe bear boxes for all our South Lake Tahoe Vacation Rentals
No one wants to wake up at their lovely South Lake Tahoe Vacation home and see this! Charles Seidel, owner of Tahoehouse.net vacation homes, has just recently decided that is time to install bear boxes at all three of his vacation rental homes! With a record numbers of bears coming into South Lake Tahoe neighborhoods this year it was time to just take care of the issue once and for all. Now when you are staying with us at one of our awesome Vacation Rentals you will no longer have to worry about where to put excess trash. Bear Boxes are large metal outdoor trash containers that keep the trash in and the bears out. Happy South Lake Tahoe vacationing to all!
Museum features Tahoe water skiing history
The "Calypso Dollies” were the winners of the Tahoe Yacht Club's sixth annual Water Ski Carnival exhibition in 1958. Pictured from left is Gloria Westphal, Sue Good and her sister Stannie Good.
The Tahoe Maritime Museum in Homewood is hosting a Water Ski Weekend Thursday through Saturday.
There will be a water ski roundtable discussion at 5 p.m. Thursday at the museum, 5205 West Lake Blvd., Homewood. The panel will discuss the history of water skiing at Lake Tahoe and feature Mary Jo Shepherd, Lee Schmidt, Randy Walker, Les Bartlett and Ron Rupp. Admission is $8 adults, free for children under 12 and includes light refreshments.
The On-the-Water Exhibition of Water Skiing will be from 8-10 a.m. Friday at Obexer's Marina in Homewood. The event will feature a demonstration of aquaplaning, slalom skiing, kneeboarding, double skiing, wake boarding and wake skating. View the exhibition from the shore or by boat. Admission is free for all ages.
Living History Day is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the museum. There will be temporary exhibits, activities for children, raffles and guided tours at noon and 2 p.m. Admission is free.
For more information, call the museum at (530)525-9253
There will be a water ski roundtable discussion at 5 p.m. Thursday at the museum, 5205 West Lake Blvd., Homewood. The panel will discuss the history of water skiing at Lake Tahoe and feature Mary Jo Shepherd, Lee Schmidt, Randy Walker, Les Bartlett and Ron Rupp. Admission is $8 adults, free for children under 12 and includes light refreshments.
The On-the-Water Exhibition of Water Skiing will be from 8-10 a.m. Friday at Obexer's Marina in Homewood. The event will feature a demonstration of aquaplaning, slalom skiing, kneeboarding, double skiing, wake boarding and wake skating. View the exhibition from the shore or by boat. Admission is free for all ages.
Living History Day is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the museum. There will be temporary exhibits, activities for children, raffles and guided tours at noon and 2 p.m. Admission is free.
For more information, call the museum at (530)525-9253
Crowds gather in wait for scores of celebrity golfers, while MJ still enthralls spectators at the 21st American Century Championship
The sun was bright and the sky was blue on Tuesday morning for the opening of the 21st American Century Championship.
“It's all about getting loose,” Brian Baumgartner said as he twisted his hips before hitting the driving range for a few practice swings. Baumgartner is best known for his role as Kevin on NBC's hit comedy “The Office.”
The first group of celebrities teed off for their practice rounds at 9 a.m. The group included Rick Rhoden, eight-time ACC winner and former MLB All-Star pitcher; Joe Carter, former MLB All-Star outfielder; Brett Hull, former NHL All-Star; John Smoltz, former MLB All-Star pitcher; Joe Theismann, former Super Bowl champion quarterback; Mark Rypien, former All-Pro NFL quarterback; Vince Coleman, former MLB All-Star outfielder; Sterling Sharpe, former NFL All-Pro wide receiver; Jack del Rio, head coach of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars; and former NFL quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver.
“The greens are hard,” Carter said while signing autographs near the ninth hole. “It's like playing on cobblestones, you just gotta' find the right cobblestone.”
Also coming out early for practice was four-time winner Dan Quinn. “Just playing a few holes,” he told fans. “Just practicing a bit.”
A former center in the NHL, Quinn is no stranger to the Edgewood course. He has been crowned champion of the ACC in 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2004.
Chris Chandler, former NFL All-Pro quarterback and 2007 ACC champion, was a crowd favorite during the morning practice session. Moving between the driving and putting ranges Chandler happily gave out his autograph to anyone who asked.
For spectators, the ACC is a great chance to see so many of their favorite celebrities in one place. “I'm a big sports fan, so I'm happy to see everybody,” Mike Reznick said.
A resident of Los Angeles, Reznick travels to Tahoe each year with his family. This year, however, is his first time attending the ACC. “I've played the course a few times,” he said. “It's a really fun course. I wish I was out there playing with them.”
Reznick watched the opening practice rounds with his friend Joe Simminack, a native of Canada who came to Tahoe for the event. “It's mostly the baseball guys I'm here to see. I'm a big baseball fan, I still play,” Simminack said.
On the top of Simminack's to-see list are former MLB pitchers Greg Maddux and John Smoltz. “I wish (Tom) Glavine was here for the Big Three,” he said. “That would just be awesome.”
The friends disagreed on who they thought the winner of the tournament was going to be. “I like (Tony) Romo this year,” Reznick said. “Smoltz is going to take it this year. He's going to surprise everyone,” Simminack said.
Agreeing with Reznick was Derek Yeager from Kansas City. “Tony Romo seems to be consistent,” he said.
Derek, along with his brother Nathan and father Ken, first attended the ACC in 2008. This year marks the family's second trip to the tournament.
The ACC provides the Yeager family with the chance to see some of their hometown heroes in a much different setting. “Being from Kansas City, we're looking forward to seeing Matt Cassel, Todd Haley and Trent Green,” Ken said. “And Michael Jordan, too,” Nathan added.
Not surprisingly, MJ's appearance at the ACC was highly anticipated by most, if not all, of the spectators. After arriving at Edgewood, Jordan walked to the putting green using a tunnel below the clubhouse to avoid being swamped by fans.
Once he emerged from the clubhouse, however, fans of all ages rushed over to try and grab an autograph. Smoking his trademark cigar and sporting custom-made Air Jordan golf club covers, Jordan declined to give any autographs during the practice rounds.
The forecast for the tournament promises clear blue skies and a temperature hovering right around 80. Tickets are $15 per day for Wednesday and Thursday and $25 per day for Friday through Sunday. A season badge, good for all days, can be purchased for $60 and children ages 10 and under are free with a paying adult.
Volunteers lead effort to connect the South Shore to the Tahoe Rim Trail
Crew Leader Bill Weik, supervises the removal of a granite slab from a trail that will connect the Van Sickle Bi-State Park to the Tahoe Rim Trail.
Come Sail Away in Lake Tahoe
After the Tahoe Cruz — a 50-foot sailing vessel designed to accommodate 25 guests — motored away from the Tahoe City Marina, the first mate unfurled the main sail and the jib, cut off the engine and the smooth, silent and easy feeling of being on a boat powered naturally by the wind as it knifes through the crystalline waters of Lake Tahoe settled over me, two professional sailors and the other 24 guests aboard the ship.
The Tahoe Cruz is run by Tahoe Sailing Charters, and it's co-owned by Jim Courcier and Mike Pavel, who alternate as captain of the ship.
During the late afternoon of Sunday, June 27, the clean golden light unique to the Sierra Nevada range poured down on the guests assembled at the docks outside the marina, as many discussed how tardy summer was in Tahoe this year.
While the muffled tones of a blues concert playing at Commons Beach near the marina bounced between the bobbing boats about 30 minutes prior to a scheduled disembarkation, Courcier, who assumed the helm on this particular excursion, expressed worry about the conditions.
“It's pretty calm today,” he said. “The wind has been blowing at a steady 5-6 knots all day. Most days, around 2:30 p.m., the prevailing south western winds pick up and you get a nice warm perfect breeze from Sacramento.”
Courcier — who has been sailing the surface of Lake Tahoe since 1988 — appeared dubious that such ideal conditions would materialize that evening.
The ideal conditions, apart from clear skies and warm temperatures, consist of a steady wind at around 10-15 knots with sporadic moderate gusts which serve as extra propulsion for the boat.
What separates the experience of sailing on Tahoe as compared to the open ocean or the larger lakes of the Midwest — apart from the lake's unparalleled beauty — is the wind makes for consistent movement without making the water choppy, so the movement is both steady and smooth, said Courcier.
Regarding the consistency of wind, Courcier's earlier fears were soon alleviated as the engine was shut off, the wind picked up to 10-15 knots with occasional gusts of 20 knots and the journey was underway without a hitch.
Guests on the boat hailed from as far away as New York City, and as near as Tahoe Vista. A large party celebrating the 40th birthday of a former Tahoe resident gathered in the cockpit, merrily clinking glasses, sampling the appetizers and drinking Chardonnay and beer.
Among the party were Chris and Jessica Katt, former owners of Tahoe Sailing Supply, who once conducted a reconfiguration of the Tahoe Cruz, making it less of a racing boat and more amenable for chartering purposes.
“This boat is the right choice,” said Jessica Katt. “It's a perfect size for chartering. It has a huge cockpit. It's comfortable, stable and it has a lot of qualities people overlook.”
Katt should know about qualities of a sailing vessel, as she spent the last winter on one, sailing down the Pacific coast of Mexico.
The Tahoe Cruz was designed and built by Bill Lee in Santa Cruz, Calif. He designed the boat to race in the TransPac — a sailing race which runs from Los Angeles to Honolulu.
During original construction, the racing vessel was not configured to provide for the comforts of 24 guests.
“Mike and I bought the boat and rapidly refurbished the entire thing introducing all new elements,” said Courcier.
The renovation was clearly successful, as ample room made for an easy time of it for all 24 members.
The sun began to decline as the boat hugged the western shore and the bow pointed toward Mt. Tallac, and we passed Sunnyside and Homewood before making the turn for home around Sugar Pine State Park.
“It doesn't get any better than this,” Courcier said as we glided into the marina.
“Except for tomorrow. That's what you get in Tahoe.”