The Oak Ridge Boys are SRO, B. J. Thomas Concert tickets on sale, Minden-Tahoe Airport, more!

In this week's blog posting: The Oak Ridge Boys are Standing Room Only for Thursday, B. J. Thomas Concert tickets are now on sale, Minden-Tahoe Airport in our spotlight, more!

Concert Notes:

Video Image of Grassy Seating Area

• The Oak Ridge Boys Concert has sold out for the regular and VIP seating BUT – we have opened up a limited number of SRO (Standing Room Only with a seating option) tickets for what promises to be a truly electrifying Carson Valley Event this Thursday!! Bring a blanket, sit on the raised grass area along the back of TJ's Corral - or stand if you wish - and you'll have a pretty darn good view! The grassy area is over 4,000 sq. ft. (see the video above) and it's the same distance from the front of the stage as it is from home plate to first base on a baseball diamond. Did you know that professional baseball players cover that distance in about 4.5 seconds! But, before we digress further (wait- isn't digressing part of the idea behind a blog?), here's the important part: SRO tickets are $30 plus processing fee and they are only available by calling our Events Center Hotline at 775-783-7766.
• Tickets are now on Sale for the B.J. Thomas Concert on Thursday, July 10. Once again, our blog readers are getting this information first . . . so we suggest you check our blog posting every Wednesday morning for a heads up on the latest news from the CVI!
• Kudos to the folks at Getaway Reno Tahoe who were most gracious in letting CVI's Bill Henderson write a guest blog for them. He talks about the summer concert lineup, the new TJ's Corral and – well heck, just read it – fairly short!
• Dustin Lynch's (June 13) Where It's At and Chris Young's (August 2) Who I Am With You continue to trend up on the iTunes Top 100 Country Songs and Billboard Top 100 Country Hits. 
• Speaking of Dustin Lynch, we'll be running a contest on our Facebook Page starting this Friday to giveaway two tickets for the Dustin Lynch Concert including a hotel room for concert night. It's free to enter, so check it out!!

 Everyone Loves Airplanes . . . 

. . . and our local Minden-Tahoe Airport (KMEV in airplane jargon) has just about the best general aviation access and services a pilot could expect. Sure helps the tourism economy, too, providing guests for our hotel whether here on business or pleasure. In early June, the airport will be hosting a 3-day visit by the Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour with the opportunity to tour or take a ride (for a fee, of course) in a B-17 (see the modern-day tail gunner at the left), B-24, B-25 or P-51. Later in June KMEV will be the site of the Minden 18 Meter Nationals Glider Competition – just one of the many national or international soaring events held locally.

As Always, Interesting Tidbits and News: 

• Mike's horses:  Fiftyshadesofhay rallied to take the one-mile Grade 2, $250,000 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park on Sunday. Last we heard, none of Mike's horses are running this weekend, but we'll all be rooting for California Chrome in Saturday's Preakness Stakes!
• Game On! Chef Patrick's Game-On Fridays special in CV Steak this Friday is a Rabbit Stifado – a flavorful, slow cooked rabbit stew served with Orzo pasta – just $25.00! As with all CV Steak entrees, the Game-On Friday special also includes tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato - au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked potato.
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge: George Pickard  performs tonight, The Vegas Road Show appears Thursday through Saturday and Brian Andrews takes the stage Sunday through next Wednesday. Here is a link to the schedule for the next couple of months.
• Pardon Our Dust: OK, so it's sealer and not dust. If you drive by this week and wonder what's going on in the west parking lot (between the CVI and the RV Park), we're having the lot re-sealed – half today and the other half on Sunday. This project will not affect the available parking for Thursday night's concert and we'll be sealing other sections of the lot next week.

I Turned $25 into $$650 in just 3 Hours! Sure sound like one of those too-good-to-be-true "come on" claims . .  but turns out someone really did exactly this last night here at the CVI. Richard L. finished first in our monthly blackjack tournament and turned his $25 entry fee into winnings equal to half the $1,300 prize pool. The rest of the money? 30% and $390 went to Rich R. for finishing 2^nd and 20% ($260) to David B for 3^rd. Pretty simple deal and you can take a shot for yourself in next month's Blackjack Tournament on Tuesday, June 10.

Let's Hear From You! To send us suggestions or comments, 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!

Kentucky Derby Saturday Plus Info on Over 15 May Events

In this week's blog: our owner's Horse running in Kentucky Derby (See Update Below), info on over 15 May events, win dinner in CV Steak, a $75,000 Giveaway and a bunch more!

Facebook Winner Plus Another Contest Today: "Shout out" to Becky Cohn Kendall who won two tickets to the Michael Martin Murphy Concert in our Facebook contest last week. In a "good karma" gesture, Becky is taking her friend Heather . . . who just happens to be the person who suggested she enter the contest! What's next? Check our Facebook Page today for an easy contest to win a Free Dinner for Two in CV Steak!

Cinco de Mayo at the CVI: Join us Monday, May 5 for Cinco de Mayo with 5X Points all day in the casino plus drawings at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. for a chance to win up to $5,000 instantly.  The casino bars are offering 16-Ounce Corona Light draft for $2 and Two Beef Tacos for $3.99. A few steps away, Katie's is serving $3.99 Chicken Enchiladas and $3.99 Beef Burritos.

Kentucky Derby Update: Graded stakes winner Hoppertunity, the 6-to-1 second choice on the morning line for the  140th Kentucky Derby, will be scratched from the first leg of the Triple Crown because of a problem with his left front foot, trainer Bob Baffert said Thursday.

Vroom, Vroom: Someone will win a Polaris Sportsman® 400 H.O tonight at the CVI!! Our thanks to the folks at Michael’s Cycle Works who were kind enough to provide one of these sporty units for display on our casino floor all month. Drawings are at 6 and 8 p.m. UPDATE: Lyndel G. of Gardnerville was the lucky winner who opted to leave the adventure to someone else and pocketed the $4,500 Cash option.

Are We Really Giving Away $75,000 in Cash? Yes – Guaranteed! Between the CVI and our sister property Bodines Casino we are giving away $75,000 in cash during May and June. That's a bundle of money and all the details are on this page!

Fun Events Coming in May: We routinely put together an extensive internal calendar so all of us at the CVI can try to keep up with "what's goin' on" around here. We thought you might like an edited version of just some of the many events (most with links) happening in May at or near the CVI. For those events nearby, perhaps you'll stop by before or after and enjoy some of our entertainment, food and hospitality!

• The Michael Martin Murphey Concert is this Thursday, May 1 in TJ's Corral Outdoor Events Center. Tickets are still available and the weather will be great!
• The Genoa Cowboy Festival is this Friday through Sunday in Genoa – same great weather.
• The Kentucky Derby is this Saturday, May 3.  In case you missed our last few blogs, don't read the local paper, or have had blinders on: Keep your eye on Hoppertunity in the Derby this Saturday – the colt is owned by CVI owner, Mike Pegram! Oh, we really don't think any of our readers wear blinders, but some horses do while racing and we just took a stab at topical humor.
• Sweet Sippin Sundays start this Sunday, May 4 in Genoa.
• The NFL Draft is next week on May 8, 9 & 10. We only bring this up because the Draft marks the unofficial beginning of the 2014 Fantasy Football preseason for many local football fanatics!
• The Carson Valley Arts Council Tempest Celtic Rock Concert is Friday, May 9 at the CVIC Hall in Minden – less than a 5 minute walk from the Inn. Check out our Special Hotel Package.
• Big Mama's 9^th Annual Show & Shine Car Show is Saturday, May 10 in Lampe Park. 
• Mother's Day is Sunday, May 11 and we are offering specials in Katie's and CV Steak plus a  CVI Weekend Hotel Package.
• May 12 in CV Steak: OK, so this is not really an event as such. But we figure we can include whatever we want in our blog, so just a friendly reminder: Starting May 12, CV Steak is open 7-nights-a-week for the summer!
• The Monthly CVI Blackjack Tournament is Tuesday, May 13 with all the entry fees paid back out as prize money!
• The first 2014 Thirsty Third Thursday Wine Walk is May 15 in the Gardnerville Main Street District. This is a great afternoon "tune up" for . . .
• The Oak Ridge Boys Concert is Thursday, May 15 in TJ's Corral Outdoor Events Center and tickets are selling fast with more tickets sold than there are remaining (HINT – get on the stick and get your tickets before we start our advertising blitz).
• The Action/Adventure Expo is Friday & Saturday, May 16 & 17 at the Fairgrounds Pavilion.
• The Preakness Stakes is Saturday, May 17 and we don't know yet if CVI owner Mike Pegram will have a horse running . . . but you can bet we'll let you know as soon as we know!
• The Minden Farmer’s Market Starts Tuesday, May 20 and continues on Tuesday evenings thru September on Esmeralda Street in Minden.
• The first GE Community Concert in Minden Park is Friday evening, May 30 featuring Heartache Tonight (A Salute to the Eagles).  The CVI is proud to be a series sponsor and the host hotel for all Community Concert performers.
• The CVI Food Truck Festival is Saturday, May 31 in and near TJ's Corral.
• More Concerts??: Of course - all the concerts are on this page.

Sous Chef Patrick Pierce's Game-On Fridays special in CV Steak this Friday is a Game Mix Grill with marinated Buffalo and Elk medallions, Venison and Rabbit Sausage and finished with a Brandy Cherry Demi-Glace for $29.00. As with all CV Steak entrees, the Game-On Friday special also includes tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato - au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked potato.

Talk to Us! To send us suggestions or comments 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. He or she will 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!