Some Concerts Near Sell Out, Two Gaming Tournaments, Kentucky Derby, More

He Wanted a Party – It’s Friday, May 12 in TJ’s Corral!

Before Stew “The Turtle” Stewart passed away earlier this year he told Joey Whitacre, our Director Of Marketing And Casino Operations, he didn’t want a “service” or “memorial,” he just wanted us to throw a party.  Music was Stew’s life-long passion and his biggest sense of pride was TJ’s Corral where he brought in great national acts including one of country music’s biggest stars, Merle Haggard.  So, the party is Friday evening May 12th in TJ’s Corral and we are affectionately calling it “Turtle’s Last Dance.”  The fun starts at 5pm, the Davisson Brothers – they had a special place in Stew’s heart – perform live at 6pm and the evening is free to all ages. 

Concert Chatter

• Thank you for your overwhelming support of our season opening concert!  We had a Sold Out

  

  Aaron Watson June 16 in TJ's Corral

  audience – and the best weather we could possibly have expected for late April – for the Wynonna and the Big Noise Tour concert last Saturday. Our thanks to Tahoe Onstage’s Pheonix Gruneich who posted this review.
• Moving along, just a reminder that this weekly blog is supposed to be fun and light-hearted and we never intend to make serious predictions, give warnings or lecture. However, we did get a couple of “remarks” from people who missed out on Wynonna concert tickets because they waited too long. So, please don’t do the same if you have any intention of attending the Lee Brice Concert on May 20 or the Kenny Loggins Concert on Friday, June 9.  If we were into speculating, we would give you the “nod” that both of these concerts will be sold out in advance. 
• Also on sale now are tickets for the Aaron Watson featuring special guest Clare Dunn Concert on Friday, June 16.
• For your convenience, here is a link to our Remaining 2017 Concert Lineup.

Sports and Race Book:

• The Kentucky Derby is this Saturday and the draw for post positions is this morning at 8 a.m.
  
  - fans can watch a live stream through the Kentucky Derby's official Facebook and Twitter pages.  We’ll start taking bets on Friday and you can place pari mutuel wagers during Sports and Racebook hours until post time Saturday. Of course we’ll be showing the festivities and race (3:46 PM PDT) in the Cabaret Lounge with $2 draft beer specials.
• Also on the Board:  NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs, MLB, all other Horse Racing and Sunday’s NASCAR GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Futures include winners for the World Series and 2018 Super Bowl.  Here’s one that will probably come as no surprise to any football fan: according to the odds makers, the Patriots are currently most likely to win the Super Bowl and the Browns are the least likely.

Turns Out It’s More Than PR Fluff! We’ve often touted the Carson Valley Inn as “centrally located” for exploring, recreation, or whatever other activity meets the “promotional” needs of the subject at hand. Well this time we are making another such claim that is de-facto supported, ratified and sanctioned by a media giant! Our claim: the Carson Valley Inn is centrally located for visiting and experiencing two of the Southwest’s 10 Best Small Towns, Genoa and Virginia City! Who says? Turns out the folks who jumped in on the Readers’ Choice Poll conducted by USA Today. . . See the results here.

Some Stuff We Think is Important: 

• Mother’s Day is less than two weeks away and if you haven’t made dinner plans yet, we suggest you do so soon! We’re offering Mother’s Day Specials and our regular menu items in both Katie’s and CV Steak (CV Steak reservations strongly suggested at 775-783-6650).
• Thursday is International Firefighter’s Day and we offer our sincere thanks and appreciation to all of the professional and volunteer firefighter/paramedics who make up the East Fork Fire District. We have witnessed your dedication, training, responsiveness and professionalism so many times over the years . . . the Carson Valley is so fortunate to have such a high level of protection in our area!
• If you are at the Carson Valley Inn this weekend you’ll notice a few most-unusual sites and quite a high level of activity at TJ’s Corral both Friday and Saturday nights (is that really a great big tent?!)  We are pleased and honored to be hosting a major corporate event bringing 300 people from around the country to the Carson Valley for an employee appreciation weekend. 
• Band Tastic 2.0 is coming to TJ’s Corral on Saturday, May 13 . . . with over 200 student musicians from various Douglas County schools participating. Get it on your calendar (noon start) and we’ll have more details next week.
• Today is National Two Different Colored Shoes Day. Do we really think this is important? Of course not. Do we think it is somewhat amusing and strongly indicative of people who have too much time on their hands and sit around thinking these “days” up? You bet we do! Are some of us around here wearing two different colored shoes today? Guess you’ll have to stop by see for yourself! 

Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge

Jamie Rollins tonight, Decoy Thursday thru Saturday, Bill Wharton Sunday and Monday, Half Dressed Mannequins next Tuesday and Wednesday. An upbeat and experienced entertainer, Jamie Rollins performs a variety of music from country to rock, to classic oldies and R&B – plus a few of his own songs. Decoy is one of Northern Nevada's leading cover bands known for their high-energy shows, excellent vocals and varied song list. The group was voted best Casino Band by the Reno News and Review for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. An evening with Decoy includes the hits of artist such as Patsy Cline, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bruno Mars, Lynyrd Skynard, Cee Lo Green, Miranda Lambert, Sublime, Zac Brown Band, Led Zepplin, Journey and more.  Local artist Bill Wharton’s smooth, melodic tone comes out in his vast repertoire from old classic country thru modern country, pop to classic rock, blues and jazz.  Acousti Pop-Duo "Half Dressed Mannequins" is a stripped down performance of the band “The Well Dressed Mannequins.” Hailing from Northern California, Denver Saunders (vocals/guitar) and Jarom Horner (6-String Bass) are known for inspiring dancing, laughing and sing-alongs wherever they play. 

In the Casino

• Ladies’ Night Tonight: Join us 5:30 to 8:30 PM with free Gold Owl Hand Cream Brulee for the first 150 ladies, Wine Country Gift Baskets as hot seat prizes, games, drink specials, FREE Bingo and a chance to earn entries for the for the May 31st drawings for a $500 Spa Package at Pure Glow Salon.
• Free Breakfast or 50% Breakfast Discount Wednesdays and Thursdays: Earn 50 Points in the morning, swipe at the casino kiosk and receive a free breakfast in Katie’s usable the same day, 7:30 – 11:30 AM. Or, if you’re 50 or over, receive 50% off your breakfast 7:30 – 11:30 AM.
• 5X Points Friday: That’s 5 times the benefits for your play!
• $10,000 Guaranteed Giveaways Saturday: Drawings at 8 & 9 PM with $10,000 guaranteed including one guaranteed $5,000 winner!
• Monthly Ladies-Only No-limit Texas Hold'em Bounty Tourney Sunday:  Play starts at 4 p.m. $40 buy-in, no re-buys. Check with the Poker Room for all the info.
• 4X Points Monday: Quadruple the benefits of your casino play all day every Monday in May with no limit on points earned!
• Monthly Blackjack Tournament Tuesday: Just a $25 buy-in and all entry fees and re-buys go into the prize fund. Sign ups are from 5 to 6 p.m. on the day of the tournament and play starts at 6:00 p.m.
• Poker Room: All our Featured Games, Tournaments and Special Promotions are listed on our website, click here for the full story.
• Here’s a Handy Page with all our Current Casino Promotions!

In Our Restaurants

• Wednesday is Italian Day in Katie’s – three specials for $6.99 each served from 11 AM to 10 PM!
• Our Friday special in CV Steak is Braised Buffalo Short Rib for $30.00.  Sunday's special is one pound of King Crab Legs for $32. These specials are served with fresh vegetable, choice of rice or potato – au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked – tableside tossed salad and warm demi-loaf of bread.
• Click the restaurant name for more info, specials and links to menus for Katie’s, CV Steak and Jobs Perk at the CVI . . . or our nearby sister property restaurants, the Jackpot Café at Sharkey's Casino and the Bodines Restaurant at Bodines Casino. 

Planning a Stay at the CVI? You will always get the best rate by booking directly with the Carson Valley Inn either online or by calling our Reservation Department directly at 775-783-6629 or 800-321-6983.

Comments? Have questions or comments about the CVI? Use the comments section below, shoot us an email or pick up the phone and call us @ 775-782-9711. Hit “0” when the automated voice comes on and you'll go right to the hotel operator who can get you to the correct person or department.  We have a lot more coming up at the Carson Valley Inn so check our Blog posting every Wednesday morning!

Free Concerts, Football Kicks Off, Meet Randy Houser

Free CVI Birthday Concert this Saturday:  A free TJ’s Corral concert by the Davisson Brothers Band highlights our 32^nd Birthday Celebration this Saturday from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and the whole community is invited! We’ll be serving free popcorn and free ice cream from 6 to 7:30 and quenching your thirst with $2 water and sodas and $5 draft beer. Meanwhile in the casino, free cake and champagne will be served from 2 to 3 p.m., free birthday t-shirts will be distributed randomly during the day (while supplies last), INN Club members will earn 4X points all day and we’ll  have drawings for up to $5,000  at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.  Continuing the flashback we started last week regarding 1984, the year the CVI opened:  The NCAA announced the expansion of their basketball tournament to 64 teams setting the stage for March Madness to grow to a legitimate three-week sports holiday. The LA Raiders (remember those days!) beat up on the Washington Redskins 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII and Apple Computer unveiled its revolutionary Macintosh personal computer (remember those TV commercials). Among the “celebrities” born in 1984: Katy Perry, LeBron James, Khloe Kardasian, Scarlett Johansson and Prince Harry! Ronald Reagan was president and he carried 49 of the 50 states to get re-elected! The Supreme Court ruled that taping television shows at home on a VCR (In your 20s? Google it) did not violate copyright law. Grammys for 1984 included "Beat It" by Michael Jackson for Record of the Year, “Thriller” by Michael Jackson for Album of the Year and Sting’s "Every Breath You Take" for Song of the Year.

Minden Park Free Concerts are a Fun Time

Unauthorized Concert Friday Night: The Douglas County Parks & Rec Department's 2016 GE Family Concert Series concludes in Minden Park (two blocks from our front door) with "Foreigner Unauthorized" this Friday starting at 6:00 p.m.  As a major supporting sponsor of this series, we invite you to stop by the CVI for dinner or a drink before or after this free tribute to Foreigner - a chance to relive their many hits that shaped Rock music in the 70's, 80's & 90's!  

Randy Houser Wraps the 2016 TJ’s Concert Season Sept. 8:

We’re getting Fired Up for the Randy Houser Concert in TJ’s Corral on Thursday, September 8 – the last TJ’s concert in our 2016 season. Tickets start at $59 and are available on our website, at the hotel desk, or by calling 775-783-6606. Want to chat with Randy up close at a private Meet & Greet before the concert on September 8? Be sure to follow our Facebook page for a special contest this week!  

We Need a Few More Golfers

Need A Few More Eggs for this Scramble: Our Annual Mixed Scramble Golf Outing the weekend after Labor Day is almost here and we could use a few more participants. This event “works” only when we have a total number of players divisible by 4. When this math doesn’t work we have to run around and recruit a few of our staff members (What? Play golf instead of work?) So if you or any of your golfing friends are interested, check out all the details and then give Greg a call it 775-783-6615.

Flying Far For Football Frolic in Sydney

It’s Week Two and I’ve already logged 20,000 Miles! The 2016 college football season "kicks off" this Friday at 7 p.m. (ESPN) when the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and the California Golden Bears tangle in the 2016 College Football Sydney Cup at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, Australia.  The two teams will travel a total of over 25,000 miles getting to and from this season opener. With Hawaii playing the following weekend against Michigan in Ann Arbor when the rest of the NCAA schedule kicks in, the Rainbow Warriors will have logged over 20,000 miles before playing its first home game! Our Sports Book locations at the CVI, Sharkey's Casino, and Bodines Casino are all taking action on this Fridays NCAA game and all the college games for the full season kickoff on Labor Day weekend. This would be a good week to play your hunch on who will win the NCAA Football Championship . . . .the odds start changing after the first and second week of play.  Also on the board this week: Major League Baseball, Horseracing, Pre-Season NFL Football and Sunday’s Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Race.  

Blood Drive at CVI Labor Day Friday

Heroes Remembered Blood Drive at CVI September 2: We’re not going to try to be “cute” on this one. When someone needs blood due to an accident, surgery or illness it’s not a laughing matter, it’s a matter of life or death. So, as we do a few times each year, we are partnering with United Blood Services for their Heroes Remembered Blood Drive which will take place in their large Bloodmobile buses parked in our West parking lot under the big marquee sign on Friday, September 2 from noon to 6 p.m. If you can help by donating a pint, please click on this link or call United Blood Services at 800-696-4484. Thanks!

Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge:  John Palmore is on stage tonight, Just Us entertains Thursday thru Saturday, Justin Lee lands for one night on Sunday and Jonathon “JB” Barton plays Monday through Wednesday.  Just Us blends together the sounds of the Motor City and Oakland, CA to develop "Sweet, Grown & Sexy" sounds - music from the 60’s to the present.  Aladdin handles lead vocal and percussions. He is joined by Les Carter on vocals and drums, Phil Weaver on vocals and guitar and Fred Williams on bass. Justin Lee captivated the large crowd Cabaret lounge after the Eli Young band concert last Sunday with his country music covers and originals. Click here for the recently updated lineup of free entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge.

This Week at the CVI

• In the Casino
• Ladies’ Night Tonight: Free Bingo plus a free Coin Purse to the first 150 ladies to sign up tonight. Our hot seat prizes tonight are Chocolate Shop Gift Baskets and there will also be a ladies-only drink special and raffle. Tonight is also our drawing for a free Coach Wallet and Handbag.
• Bingo Thursday: Come in and play Bingo every hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and win $50 - $100 instantly!  Simply be in the casino playing slots or table games using your INN Club card and watch for our staff bringing around Free Bingo Cards. 
• Friday Drawings: Catch our drawings at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. for a guaranteed giveaway of fifteen thousand dollars every Friday in August between the CVI and Bodines. Use your INN Club card while you play!
• 32^nd Birthday Extras Saturday: there’s quite a bit more to this Saturday . . . be sure to check out the article at the top this week’s blog.
• Bingo Monday: Come in and play Bingo every hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and win $50 - $100 instantly!  Simply be in the casino playing slots or table games using your INN Club card and watch for our staff bringing around Free Bingo Cards. 
• Poker Room: Our Poker Room offers Featured Games, Tournaments and Special Promotions with something extra going on every day of the week.  Click here for a complete listing of everything happening in our poker room.
• In Our Restaurants
• Wednesday is Italian Night in Katie’s: three specials just $6.99 each!
• The 18-Piece Sushi Platter Special is served in CV Steak on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
• Our Friday special in CV Steak is Roasted Stuffed Quail for $28.  Saturday night’s special is Garlic Studded Prime Rib for $26 and Sunday's special is one pound of King Crab Legs for $32. All three specials are served with fresh vegetable, choice of rice or potato (au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked), tableside tossed salad and warm demi-loaf of bread.
• Thursday is Kiss and Make Up Day. If you fall into the need to "celebrate" such a "Day," we suggest you follow (or prelude) the kiss with dinner in CV Steak . . . with the Dessert Sampler as the finale!
• Click the restaurant name for more info, specials and links to menus for Katie’s, CV Steak and Jobs Perk at the CVI . . . or our nearby sister property restaurants, the Jackpot Café at Sharkey's Casino and the Bodines Restaurant at Bodines Casino.

Planning a Stay at the CVI? You will always get the best rate by booking directly with the Carson Valley Inn either online or by calling our Reservations Department directly at 775-783-6629 or 800-321-6983.

Comments? Have questions or comments about the CVI? Use the comments section below, shoot us an email or pick up the phone and call us @ 775-782-9711. Hit “0” when the automated voice comes on and you'll go right to the hotel operator who can get you to the correct person or department.  We have a lot more coming up at the Carson Valley Inn so check our Blog posting every Wednesday morning!

Next Concert is Free, The Point to Multiple Points, More

Free Concert in TJ's Corral

Free Concert and More:  The Davisson Brothers Band will be performing in TJ’s Corral from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.  on Saturday, August 27 as part of our 32^nd Birthday Celebration and we invite everyone to attend and enjoy! The evening includes free popcorn and free ice cream from 6 to 7:30 plus $2 water and sodas and $5 draft beer.

Free cake and champagne will be served from 2 to 3 p.m. inside the CVI on August 27. We'll also be distributing free birthday t-shirts at random times throughout the day while supplies last, INN Club members will earn 4X points all day and we'll have drawings for up to $5,000 in the casino at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.

When the CVI opened in 1984, a movie ticket was $2.50, a gallon of gas was $1.10, a Dodge RAM 50 Truck was $8,995 and the Space Shuttle Discovery took off on its maiden voyage.

Another Rockin’ Night in TJ’s Corral

The Eli Young Band Concert last Sunday was another Carson Valley country-rock experience unique to TJ’s Corral! The night-before-the-first-day-of-school concert was reviewed by former Bay Area journalist and current Tahoe Onstage copy chief Randy Hashagen with up-close pictorial images by Tim Parsons!  Read about it here.

Keep Your Boots On for the Randy Houser Concert  coming to TJ’s Corral on Thursday, September 8. OK to wear your “dirty old hat” also! Tickets start at $59 and they are available on our website, at the hotel desk, or by calling 775-783-6606.

What’s the Point? We all see the signs: 5X Points at this casino, 10X Points at that casino and even 20X Points when the stars align just right! What does it mean to YOU and how does it work here at CVI? Glad you asked!  Starting with the basics: As you play, your points balance builds based on the type of game you play, the amount you bet each time, and the amount of time you play. Pretty much the same everywhere. At the CVI it doesn’t matter if you win or lose. When you win, you’re actually playing with house money and you’re earning even more points “on us” so to speak. The value of these points and what they can be redeemed for is what matters to the player ‘cause there are two sides to this whole “point thing,” how you earn them, and how you redeem them. Simply put: 10X Points looks great on a marquee sign . . . but if it takes 1,000 points to earn $1 in value at Casino X, when it only takes 100 points to earn $1 in value at CVI, 10X Points at Casino X suddenly loses its luster.  We know how our points work and we share that info clearly on our website. We’ve "shopped" many of the "Casino X" locations to learn how their points work and . . . well, we’ll take the high road and say it’s a pretty darn good deal here at the CVI on a “regular” day and it really does mean more to you when we have a multiple points day, such as what we’re doing with 4X Points on Saturdays in August.  Bringing it all around: “Casino X” needs to run 5X Points just to match our base point days on reel slots . . . and when we offer 4X Points we’re running 20X better than the Casino X! Convert those extra points to dining and that means four times the food . . . use 'em for free play and you\ll enjoy more playing time, more excitement and more chances to win! So, that’s the Point!

Spaghetti & Meatballs
A Top-20 Famous Duo!

Sharkey’s Right in the Middle of Thursday Wine Walk! You kinda have to go right by Sharkey’s if you are participating in this week’s Thirsty Third Thursday Wine Walk in Gardnerville . . . so stop in and belly-up to the Silver Dollar Bar! You might even wolf down (vs. gobble up) one of our Bar Bites to re-energize yourself to walk to even more wine locations!   We like the possibilities with this month’s theme which is Famous Pairs. As you might expect, someone figured out how to rank the famous duos of all time and we are partial to #8 (Hamburgers and Fries) ‘cause you can order them up in the slider version at Sharkey’s Silver Dollar Bar and to #13 (Spaghetti & Meatballs)  ‘cause it’s the $7.99 Monday special in Sharkey’s Jackpot Café!

Melissa Dru Band this Weekend in Cabaret Lounge:

Bill Wharton is on stage tonight, Melissa Dru entertains Thursday thru Saturday, and John Palmore plays Sunday through Wednesday. Singer and songwriter Melissa Dru has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York and at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Melissa and her band cover a wide mix including classic rock, R&B and a bit of country; everything from Pink Floyd to Patsy Cline. A natural performer and entertainer, Melissa will delight you with her unique vocal style and sense of fun. Click here for the upcoming lineup of free entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge – recently updated through September.

This Week at the CVI

• In the Casino
• Ladies’ Night Tonight: Free Bingo plus a free hot/cold pack shaped like a car to the first 150 ladies to sign up tonight. Our hot seat prizes tonight are World Market Gift Baskets and, as always, there will be a ladies-only drink special and raffle. This Wednesday, earn entries for the Ladies’ Night drawing next Wednesday for a Coach Wallet and Handbag.
• Bingo Thursday: Come in and play Bingo every hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and win $50 - $100 instantly!  Simply be in the casino playing slots or table games using your INN Club card and watch for our staff bringing around Free Bingo Cards. 
• Friday Drawings: Catch our drawings at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. for a guaranteed giveaway of fifteen thousand dollars every Friday in August between the CVI and Bodines. Use your INN Club card while you play!
• 4X Points Saturday: This Saturday INN Club members earn 4X Points all day – that’s quadruple the benefit buildup! 
• Bingo Monday: Come in and play Bingo every hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and win $50 - $100 instantly!  Simply be in the casino playing slots or table games using your INN Club card and watch for our staff bringing around Free Bingo Cards. 
• Poker Room: Our Poker Room offers Featured Games, Tournaments and Special Promotions with something extra going on every day of the week.  Click here for a complete listing of everything happening in our poker room.
• Sports and Race Book: This week you can bet Major League Baseball, Horseracing, Pre-Season NFL Football and Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night NASCAR Race.  Also on the board: futures bets on who will win the World Series, 2016 Season NCAA Football Championship and the February, 2017 Super Bowl (hmmm, Raiders odds have moved down slightly . . . wonder what “they” know!!)
• In Our Restaurants
• Wednesday is Italian Night in Katie’s – three specials – just $6.99 each!
• The 18-Piece Sushi Platter Special is served in CV Steak on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
• Saturday night’s special in CV Steak is Garlic Studded Prime Rib for $26 and Sunday's special is one pound of King Crab Legs for $32. These specials are served with fresh vegetable, choice of rice or potato (au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked), tableside tossed salad and warm demi-loaf of bread.
• National Potato Day is Thursday and we invite you to try to finish one of the giant (at least one pound) stuffed and twice-baked potatoes in CV Steak! Oh, there is one caveat: you also have to finish the rest of your meal including the tableside tossed salad included with every entrée!
• Click the restaurant name for more info, specials and links to menus for Katie’s, CV Steak and Jobs Perk at the CVI . . . or our nearby sister property restaurants, the Jackpot Café at Sharkey's Casino and the Bodines Restaurant at Bodines Casino.

Planning a Stay at the CVI? You will get the best rate by booking directly with the Carson Valley Inn either online or by calling our Reservations Department directly at 775-783-6629 or 800-321-6983.

Comments? Have questions or comments about the CVI? Use the comments section below, shoot us an email or pick up the phone and call us @ 775-782-9711. Hit “0” when the automated voice comes on and you'll go right to the hotel operator who can get you to the correct person or department.  We have a lot more coming up at the Carson Valley Inn so check our Blog posting every Wednesday morning!

Eli Young Concert, Davisson Brothers Coming Back, Beer, More

Eli Young Band Concert August 14:  ACM, CMA, Grammys – The Eli Young Band has had songs nominated by all three of these prestigious organizations and more. Above we feature their #1 hit "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" which brought them numerous nominations in both 2012 and 2013.  The EYB will be performing this song along with their other top 10 hits plus new releases in TJ’s Corral on Sunday, August 14 and we hope you’ll be joining us. Tickets start at $49 and they are available on our website, at the hotel desk or by calling 775-783-6606. 

Davisson Brothers Coming Back!!  And they’ll be rocking the TJ’s Corral stage as part of our 32^nd Birthday Celebration on Saturday, August 27! Their appearance is free as our birthday gift to the many customers who have called, written, posted on social media, emailed and otherwise screamed out, “PLEASE BRING THEM BACK!”  We'll also have plenty going on inside the casino and all the details are on our website.

The Temptations Review Last Saturday in TJ's Corral
Photo By Tahoe Onstage

The Temptations Review last Saturday night was another incredible night in TJ’s Corral. Dennis Edwards led 80 minutes of steadily building nostalgia that had the younger people in the audience complaining about the older folks upfront dancing and blocking their view! Our friends at Tahoe Onstage did another fine verbal and pictorial review that pretty well tells the story.

Jackpot Firestorm! Whatever we said in last Wednesday’s blog triggered a firestorm of jackpots. Last Thursday we had two $5 Wheel of Fortune winners:  Allen D. for $10,000 and Jeff H. for $5,045. Later that evening, Gary pocketed $97,704 when he hit our Penny Progressive Jackpot. We figured that should be about it for the week, but as Steve Martin used to say, “But Nooooo!” The very next day Heather R. won $27,438 when she hit the Major Jackpot on the new Buffalo Stampede video slot.  These plus over four dozen more “under the radar but not small” jackpots in excess of $1,000 made it a very good week to be playing slots at the CVI.

Are You a Ballot Box Stuffer? We certainly hope not because it’s definitely not something we advocate. So, consider this a reminder and if you care to interpret it as such, a gentle nudge if you are a fan of the Carson Valley Inn or Sharkey’s Casino:  The Record Courier opened up voting today for the Best of Carson Valley 2016.  They have made it quite easy to vote online and we hope you’ll give us a positive nod in the many various categories where you’ll see our restaurants, bars and casino listed.

Want One of These Signs? The Nevada Department of Transportation is making it easy for you – they’re having a free raffle to give away four of these iconic lone-miner signs as they gear up to replace them. You can enter online, by calling 775- 888-7000 or by direct messaging through the NDOT Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Draft Beer on Sharkey's Silver Dollar Bar!

Today is Watermelon Day. Watch out for seedy characters – like people who write casino blogs! Thursday is International Beer Day. Domestic, imported, whatever. Just honor the day by drinking beer! And we have plenty of beer choices throughout the Carson Valley Inn, Bodines Casino, and Sharkey’s Casino. Saturday is Root Beer Float Day. We are just mentioning this because it has the word “Beer.”  Sunday is India Pale Ale Day. Hmm, I think we’re fixated on the subject! Tuesday is Book Lovers Day . . . The perfect day to read a book about beer!

Shark Sandwich and More Free in the Cabaret Lounge

Shark Sandwich and Decades This Weekend in Cabaret Lounge:

Patrick Major is on stage tonight, Shark Sandwich entertains Thursday and Saturday, Decades is sandwiched between them on Friday and George Pickard takes over Sunday through Wednesday.  Shark Sandwich plays a variety of music with wide appeal - a fun multi-generational show with your favorite surf, 50's sock hop, modern rock, 80's, disco, psychedelic 70's & swing songs. Decades presents a vibrant and diverse act from Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode to Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars Uptown Funk. A quintet of former music majors from Chico State, Decades is’ 4-part harmonies and energized rhythm section truly shine when playing hits from the 1950's to today.  Click here for the upcoming lineup of free entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge.

This Week at the CVI

• In the Casino
• Ladies’ Night Tonight: Free Bingo plus a free Personal Mini-Fan to the first 150 ladies to sign up tonight. Our hot seat prizes tonight are Costco Gift Baskets and, as always, there will be a ladies-only drink special and raffle. This Wednesday, earn entries for the Ladies’ Night drawing on August 24 for a Coach Wallet and Handbag.
• Bingo Thursday: Come in and play Bingo every hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and win $50 - $100 instantly!  Simply be in the casino playing slots or table games using your INN Club card and watch for our staff bringing around Free Bingo Cards. 
• Friday Drawings: Catch our drawings at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. for a guaranteed giveaway of fifteen thousand dollars every Friday in August between the CVI and Bodines. Use your INN Club card while you play!
• 4X Points Saturday: This Saturday INN Club members earn 4X Points all day – that’s quadruple the benefit buildup!
• Ladies Only Poker Tournament Sunday: This Sunday is our monthly Ladies-Only Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament –  Click here for a complete listing of everything happening in our poker room.
• Bingo Monday: Come in and play Bingo every hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and win $50 - $100 instantly!  Simply be in the casino playing slots or table games using your INN Club card and watch for our staff bringing around Free Bingo Cards. 
• Blackjack Tournament Tuesday: This Tuesday is our monthly Blackjack Tournament in the Table Games Area. Just a $25 buy-in and any of our table games staff can tell you all about it!
• Sports and Race Book: This week you can bet Major League Baseball, Horseracing, WNBA, and Sunday’s Sunday’s CHEEZ-IT 355 at the Glen NASCAR Race.Also on the board, futures bets on who will win the Super Bowl, 2016 Season NCAA Football Championship and the World Series
• In Our Restaurants
• Wednesday is Italian Night in Katie’s – three specials – just $6.99 each!
• The 18-Piece Sushi Platter Special is served in CV Steak on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
• Our Friday special in CV Steak is Chef's Choice Game. Saturday night’s special is Garlic Studded Prime Rib for $26 and Sunday's special is one pound of King Crab Legs for $32. All three specials are served with fresh vegetable, choice of rice or potato (au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked), tableside tossed salad and warm demi-loaf of bread.
• Click the restaurant name for more info, specials and links to menus for Katie’s, CV Steak and Jobs Perk at the CVI . . . or our nearby sister property restaurants, the Jackpot Café at Sharkey's Casino and the Bodines Restaurant at Bodines Casino.

Planning a Stay at the CVI? You will always get the best rate by booking directly with the Carson Valley Inn either online or by calling our Reservations Department directly at 775-783-6629 or 800-321-6983.

Comments? Have questions or comments about the CVI? Use the comments section below, shoot us an email or pick up the phone and call us @ 775-782-9711. Hit “0” when the automated voice comes on and you'll go right to the hotel operator who can get you to the correct person or department.  We have a lot more coming up at the Carson Valley Inn so check our Blog posting every Wednesday morning!

Lee Brice Concert Ticket Info, TG Sheppard & Moe Bandy This Weekend, Football, Beer, Golf, Airplanes, Classic Cars and More

Concert News:

• Moe Bandy & TG Sheppard: With 14 #1 Country Hits between 1974 and 1986, TG Sheppard extends his personal invitation in the video above to join him and his friend Moe Bandy (two dozen Top 20 Hits) for their concert this Saturday in TJ's Corral. Tickets are just $29 and available on our website, at the hotel desk, or by calling 775-783-6606.
• Davisson Brothers Band: The energy, talent and enthusiasm the Davisson Brothers Band brought to TJ's Corral during their June concert was so well received we just had to bring them back so more people could enjoy them. This time it's a free concert - part of our 31st Birthday Party on Saturday, August 15. Before the concert we'll have free ice cream, free popcorn, $2 hamburgers, $1.50 hot dogs, $2 soda and water, and $5 beer and wine. Inside the casino that Saturday: 3X Points from 8 AM to 5 PM, free cake and champagne from 2 to 3 PM, free birthday shirts handed out randomly throughout the day while they last, and drawings at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. to win up to $5,000!
• Austinpalooza: this event is Friday evening, September 11 with four bands in succession for your entertainment pleasure. The fun runs from 5 to 10 PM and, while there is no ticket price or admission fee, Austin's House board members will be taking donations at the door and every single dollar goes to support this emergency shelter for children between the ages of birth to 18.
• Lee Brice on Friday, September 18: Tickets for the “Jägermeister Presents: Lee Brice” concert in TJ's Corral are on sale through our website.Tickets for Lee's center-stage VIP Party Pit (Standing) and for Reserved Seating are $65. General Admission Standing and grass area tickets are $59. 

Counting Down the Days to Aviation Roundup! Just two weeks until the local skies are roaring with the sights, sounds and excitement of the Carson Valley Aviation Roundup on Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23 at the Minden-Tahoe Airport.  Tickets are on sale at aviationroundup.com where you'll also find much more information.  Don't miss this rare opportunity to see the USAF Thunderbirds and a half dozen other aerobatic acts including Team Rocket whose spectacular 5-minute 2013 highlights video is above (the rock & roll starts at about :40). Also on tap: over 40 vendors/exhibitors and almost two dozen static displays.

Just Put Ice on It! Now that we are in the dog days of the summer season, it's time to start thinking about how to cool down on these hot days. In our opinion, there's nothing that surges through you (including your brain sometimes) faster than a frozen smoothie at Job's Perk (located near the elevators on the hotel first floor). We mix 'em "to order" and offer seven flavors: banana, strawberry, raspberry, peach, piña colada, cappuccino and mango. How much, just $2.49 (yes, you read that correctly)! And which is the most popular? It's the combo mixture of banana and strawberry!

Golf for All Levels: 

• The annual Carson Valley Inn Mixed Scramble is just six weeks away on
  
  the weekend after Labor Day and now is the time to "sign up!"  We get close to the old childhood "choosing up sides" with a blind draw for teams at the reception on Friday night. The Saturday Scramble is at the Genoa Lakes Ranch Course and prizes are awarded at a banquet dinner Saturday night. This is a great event for golfers of all levels to compete in a fun way - all the details are on this page which also includes a link to the flyer/registration form.
• Speaking of golf, the Carson Valley Inn is headquarters to over 100 different golf groups each year from as few as eight people to over 100. We make it easy by packaging the hotel rooms, golf starting times, food and beverage functions and even activities for the non-golfers. Are you part of a group you feel might be interested? Give Greg a call at 775-783-6615.

First NFL Preseason Game This Weekend! It's not a full card (that's next weekend), but the first official NFL preseason game is this Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings meet in the Hall of Fame game at Canton, Ohio. We'll be glad to take your bet on this game at the Sports Book at the Carson Valley Inn, Bodines Casino, or Sharkey's Casino . . . and when you place your bet, please share whatever logic you used to pick a winner when the  teams have only been in training camp a little more than a week! If you're a true football junkie, you might appreciate these 10 Reasonably Fun Facts About the NFL's 2015 Preseason Schedule.

Hot August Nights Classic Cars in Town Thursday: Over 500 classic automobiles will pass through Esmeralda Street and Minden Park this Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM as the Hot August Nights Poker Run makes its annual lunch stop in the Carson Valley. Thanks to the generous support of the Carson Valley Visitors Authority and the Town of Minden, we all get the visual treat just three blocks from the Carson Valley Inn without having to fight the crowds in Reno. There will be food and beverages for sale and upbeat oldies music by Bill McClain . . . so stop by and enjoy!

As Always, Interesting, Helpful and Even Useful Tidbits and News

• New Items in Katie's: We've added some new items to the menu in Katie's this week including a Crisp Calamari Salad, a Spinach Salad, a Beef Brisket Sandwich, a Benedict Omelette, and two burgers: the Blackjack and the Big Island. Come on in and give 'em a try!
• Wednesday Ladies' Night 5:30 to 8:30 PM: The first 150 ladies to sign up tonight receive a free gift and coupon for tonight's ladies-only drink special.  There are also ladies-only hot seat drawings for Wine Country Gift Baskets and ladies-only raffles.
• Mike's Horses: Gimme Da Lute won the $200,000 Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar last Sunday . . . the 8^th race of 2015 for the colt who has won 5 times, placed once and came in third twice! Remember Hoppertunity, Mike's horse that was scratched 3 days before the 2014 Kentucky Derby? Here's an interesting story about the colt, his trainer and the folks who inspired his name as it appeared in the New Your Times earlier this week.
• Buffalo Shirt Ribs Friday, King Crab Sunday in CV Steak:  Our Friday Game Special this week is Braised Buffalo Short Ribs served with fresh vegetable, choice of potato (au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked) and tableside tossed salad all for $29.00. Sundays in CV Steak we feature one pound of King Crab Legs for $32 and that also includes tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato.
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge: Jonathan "JB" Barton is here tonight, The Vegas Road Show entertains Thursday thru Saturday nights and Greg Austin takes the stage Sunday through Wednesday.  
• Race and Sports Book: You can watch and bet Horseracing, Major League Baseball games, golf's PGA Championship and this weekend's "Cheez-it 355 at the Glen" NASCAR race. We're also taking futures bets to win most professional and collegiate championships.  As a side note, we're starting to wonder if the people who name NASCAR races and the people who name racehorses are starting to hang out together?
• Because We Feel Like Mentioning It:  Every day of the year there are up to a half dozen different "days of recognition" for one thing or another. We try to pick out one or two each week and sometimes making the choice is difficult. This week was a no-brainer as Friday, August 7 is both International Beer Day and India Pale Ale Day. And no matter how many of our readers decide to join us for this celebration, we can handle all of you between our six locations: The Cabaret Bar and CV Steak Bar at the Carson Valley Inn, the Casino Bar and Sports Book Bar at Bodines Casino, and the Silver Dollar Bar at Sharkey's Casino!

Comments? Have questions or comments about the CVI? Use the comments section below, shoot us an email or just pick up the phone and call us @ 775-782-9711. Hit "0" when the automated voice comes on and you'll go right to the hotel operator who can get you to the correct person or department.  We have a lot more coming up at the Carson Valley Inn so check our Blog posting every Wednesday morning!