Freedom Games, Free Bingo, Week One NFL Thoughts, More from the Carson Valley Inn

Freedom Games

You’ve probably seen the Freedom Games message on our big outside sign. We’ve had them on the casino floor (marked with balloons) for a couple of weeks and here’s what it’s all about:  Twenty of our single-game video slots have been converted over to a new IGT platform which gives you the choice to play any one of 4 to 6 (for now) different games. We call them Freedom Games because you definitely have more freedom: you choose which of the games you wish to play, you can change games at the same machine without having to “cash out” and start over and you have less need to get up and move around.  In the process of installing this concept we added 38 new game themes from IGT without taking away any of your favorites!

Here’s another direct player benefit already in place and we’ll use the Fortune Coins video slot as is an example. Prior to Freedom Games we just had one of these popular slots on our floor. Seemed to always be somebody wanting to play Fortune Coins but our only one was in use. Previously, we would’ve had to purchase more Fortune Coins machines. Now, the Fortune Coins theme is available on four or five of our Freedom Games.

When new games come out from IGT each month, it’s a much simpler process to get them in front of you quickly. In the past, we’d have to decide which games to order, how many to order and which games would go away in the process. Now, we have access to the full IGT library of game themes – all the existing and the new as soon as they come out.  Adding a new game or more of a popular game to our floor is easy. No more moving machines around, changing hardware, screen glass or anything else. Once we get a theme from IGT, we can upload it to one or more of our Freedom Games and “make it live” as they say. If your collective play dictates that we should have a particular theme available on more of our slots, that decision can be quickly made and implemented. And, in doing all this, we don’t have to “get rid” your favorite game in the process!

Ask any of our slot or customer service folks for the location of or more information on the Freedom Games.

This Week’s Promotions Lineup

• Ladies’ Night Wednesdays: The fun runs from 5:30 to 8:30PM including a Free Lip Balm & Chocolate Treat for the first 150 ladies (over 100 include FreePlay), Chocolate Shoppe Baskets as hot seat prizes. The ladies will also enjoy 3 free Bingo Games, 4 free Raffles and a weekly Drink Special!
• Free Bingo Thursdays: Free Bingo Games in the casino every hour from 11 AM to 7 PM. Just be gaming with your INN Club card when we hand out tickets and play bingo with us for free cash and FreePlay Prizes.
• Point Multiplier Fridays: Watch your benefits roll up quickly with Four Times Points all day every Friday in September. 
• Harleys and 7.5 Million Points Friday and Saturday: We’re giving away 3 Harleys this fall - one  each at CVI, Bodines Casino and SlotWorld Casino.  In the process, we are also giving away a total of 7.5 Million Points at our four properties. Bringing it back to just the CVI: get in on the drawings every Friday and Saturday between 7 and 8:30 PM and check at Guest services for all the promotion details.
• Point Party Sunday: You’ll be earning anywhere from 2X to 10X Points from noon to 7PM with the point multiplier changing every half hour. We guarantee the 10X Points will run for 30 minutes at least twice every Sunday.

From the Sports & Race Book

• NFL Week One Thoughts: Mike in the Sports and Race Book penned a few thoughts after the first weekend of NFL Football:
• "Did you see that?" is a common refrain in the world of sports betting.  The Colts' Malik Hooker made a great one handed interception in the end zone, which did not impact the outcome, as his team still lost... but, it preserved their covering the spread.  High 5's all around, unless of course one had bet the Chargers.
• There were a couple of games that were of little initial interest that looked to be out of reach at half time.  The Bills and Jets ended up in a close contest that a lucky few must have enjoyed.  And the Lions/Cardinals made it to overtime, where the suspense was all about whether the Lions would be successful in their attempt to give the opponent a victory - nope, it ended in a draw. 
• Favorites went 6-9-1 in the first week with 4 dogs actually winning.
• Our Pro Pick’em Progressive Jackpot is at $2,630 this week. Pick all 15 NFL winners on our weekly Parlay Card and it’s yours. The Payout goes up each week if it is not “hit” based on the collective contest play at the CVI, Sharkey’s Casino, Bodines Casino and SlotWorld Casino.
• Football Extras:
• $2 Coors Light draft at the Casino Bar or in the Cabaret Lounge during all televised NFL and College Games.
• A couple of Free NFL Hats given away for each of the teams playing every Monday Night Football Game.
• Bar Snacks Delivered to Your Seat while you watch or play. Get the full menu and pricing at this link!
• Poker Room Squares Pool: Earn squares as you play in live poker games during the week. Payout is on the Monday Night Football Game - $40 cash to the winners of the first three quarters and the final score.
• Seasonal Action on the board includes NFL and NCAA Football, Major League Baseball, Canadian Football, WNBA Basketball Horse Racing and this Sunday’s NASCAR Monster Energy Series South Point 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
• Futures Bets on the board include: 2019 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup, 2019 World Series, 2020 NCAA Football Championship, 2020 Super Bowl, 2020 NCAA College Basketball, 2020 NBA Championship and 2020 Stanley Cup.

Special Days This Week

Seafood Linguini

• Friday is National Peanut Day. We had no idea how many recipes there are for peanut sauce until we googled it. Got way too confusing for us, so we’re just going to Katie’s on Friday and ordering a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich accompanied by a cup of Katie’s traditional Friday favorite: Clam Chowder!
• Sunday is Linguini Day. Apparently Linguini warrants its own “day” because, next to spaghetti, it is one of the most popular pastas. You can get out the old pasta machine and make your own linguini at home . . . but that’s not our approach. It’s too darn simple to just make a reservation at CV Steak and order the Seafood Linguini served with shrimp, scallops and diced lobster in your choice of a lemon butter sauce or spicy Pomodoro sauce. Seriously, doesn’t that sound like much better approach!
• Sunday is Double Cheeseburger Day. Single or double, good reason to enjoy the “Cheeseburger Humor” of 1978 in this scene from Saturday Night Live! And of course you can enjoy a Double Cheeseburger (and most of the other “no” items in the skit) 24/7 in Katie’s.
• Tuesday is International Country Music Day (not to be confused with National Country Music Day which is in July.)  Seems we’ve come close to hitting this date on the nose over the last few years with country concerts in TJ’s Corral such as Randy Houser on September 8, 2016; 38 Special (country rock) on September 21, 2018 and Lee Brice on September 18, 2015. This year we’ll have to find another way to celebrate as our outdoor concert season wound down in August.
• Tuesday is Monte Cristo Sandwich Day. You can watch this 3½ minute video and learn how to make your own Deep Fried Monte Cristo Sandwich – which will take you quite a while to make and even more time to clean up. Or, come on into Katie’s and order one of our Fried Monte Cristo Sandwiches!

Loaded Mac & Cheese Read More Below

This Week in Our Restaurants

Katie’s Specials:

• Wednesday: Lasagna is served for just $6.99 from 11 AM to 10 PM.
• Thursday: Brats & Cabbage with garlic mashed potatoes for $7.99.
• Friday: Lunch Special is a Pulled Pork Sandwich served on a sesame bun with coleslaw & French fries for $6.99 from 11 AM to 3 PM.
• Friday and Saturday for dinner:  Roasted Prime Rib and Fried Shrimp Dinner served with baked potato, vegetable and soup or salad from 4 to 10 PM for $14.99.
• Saturday & Sunday for Brunch from 7 AM to 2 PM: Brunch Skillet - combination of home fried potatoes tossed with peppers, onions, bacon & sausage, scrambled eggs & tomato, topped with melted cheese all for $7.99.
• Sunday Dinner:  "The Chandler" Chicken Dinner is served from 2 to 10 PM for just $7.99:  southern fried chicken with mashed potatoes and cole slaw.
• Monday: Loaded Mac & Cheese; BBQ pulled pork, mac & cheese paired with tomato & scallions for $6.99 from 11 AM to 10 PM..
• Tuesday: Enchilada Suizas; two flour tortillas filled with chicken, chilies & cheese topped with green tomatillo sauce & jack cheese with Spanish rice & beans for $6.99 from 11 AM to 10 PM.

CV Steak Specials: Wednesday’s special is Beef Tenderloin Brochette with bell pepper, onions, cherry tomato and a spicy sweet and sour sauce. Thursday is the CV Steak Mix Grill, a combination of our Filet Mignon, a Dijon and molasses marinated Pork Tenderloin Medallion and herb marinated Lamb Chop Steak.  This Friday’s special is Grilled Duck Breast. On Saturday night CV Steak features Garlic Studded Prime Rib. This Sunday’s special is “Oscar Style” Fillet of Salmon with crab and Béarnaise sauce. CV Steak 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 sourdough baguette.

Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge

• Jayson Angove tonight: Jayson brings a great selection of covers and his own music in a one man show filled with high energy and a soulful voice.
• Michael Furlong Band Thursday thru Saturday: Michael Furlong has been an accomplished performing musician and technician throughout his life with extensive experience as a lead vocalist, lead guitar player, songwriter, studio and live audio engineer, record and video producer and editor. While he and his band perform hits from a variety of artists, he is best known for his “Petty Theft” Show.
• NFL Football Sunday and Monday Nights: We clear the stage of entertainment on Sunday and Monday nights during the fall so the featured night NFL games can be enjoyed on the big screen.
• Denver Saunders Tuesday and Wednesday: Dance, laugh and sing-along to this inspiring vocalist/guitarist who is a mainstay with the band Well Dressed Mannequins!

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!

A Message from TG Sheppard, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and More

TG Sheppard Invites You to CVI

TG Sheppard sent us this short video a few days ago inviting everyone to join him and  his special guest and wife Kelly Lang at his upcoming concert in the Valley Ballroom on Saturday night, November 12. Tickets are $25 and are available at the hotel desk or by calling 775-783-6606. Our suggestion: make it a weekend with our special 2-night TG Sheppard hotel package which includes tickets for TG’s Concert and $50 towards your CVI restaurant dining. All the details are at this link.

I have Mystical Powers and I'm Here To Help You: We're not sure what type of creatures or characters you'll run into on Monday at the CVI as our employees are welcome to come to work in costume and take part in our annual Employee Halloween Costume Contest. Unlike the majestic beauty displayed by Bonnie Cosgrove during Halloween 2015, sometimes these costumes can be somewhat scary! To help soothe any potential trauma, we’re offering all of our INN Club members 5X Points all 24 hours of October 31^st!

Leave the Cooking to Us on Thanksgiving: 

• Our Thanksgiving Dinner to Go for up to Ten is back this year  . . . includes a fully-cooked 18-20 pound turkey plus all the trimmings - mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, green beans amandine, cranberry sauce, a pumpkin pie, rolls and butter all for just $89.00 plus tax. For more information or to order, check at the Katie's cashier counter or call 775-783-6664 after noon today and ask for the Katie's supervisor. We are taking a limited number of orders so please don't miss out! 
• Thanksgiving Dinner Specials will be served in CV Steak and Katie's on Thursday, November 24^th. Watch our blog next week for Thanksgiving menus, dinner specials and hours.

A Man Walks Into a Bar and the Bartender Says . . . Actually, you can finish this one if you’d like ‘cause we are looking for a casino bartender! You can get all of the information on this position and the other open positions at the CVI on the employment page on our website.

Put these on your calendar:

• Christmas Comedy: Sister’s Christmas Catechism comes to the Valley Ballroom Thursday and Friday, December 1 and 2  . . . Tickets are $22 and are available at the hotel desk or you can order by phone at 775-783-6606.
• KTVN Share Your Christmas Community Food Drive: Mark it down for Friday, December 9 at the entrance to our RV Park. More details next week.
• Eagles and Ag: The Carson Valley Chamber got together with the local ranching community and moved this event three weeks earlier to January 27 - 29 to increase the eagle and raptor sighting odds.  Our friends at the Chamber said the details are just about finalized and we'll put a link in our blog as soon as we have the info.
• Annual CVI Clay Shooting Weekend: Flyers and entry forms will be out very soon - but for now circle February 23 – 25, 2017 for two days of clay shooting and plenty of food and fun.

Sports and Race Book:

• On the Board: This week you can bet the World Series (Cleveland Indians vs. Chicago Cubs), NFL and NCAA Football, NBA Basketball, NHL Hockey, and the Sunday Goody's Fast Relief 500 NASCAR race.  Also on the board: futures bets on who will win the NBA Championship, NCAA Football Championship and the February, 2017 Super Bowl.
• The PRO PK’EM Parlay Progressive is now at $3477– pick all 15 NFL games straight up on the $5 card and it’s yours!
• Chatter Around the Sportsbook with Mike and Allen:
• Last Week: Allen liked the Kansas City Chiefs (at -6½) to cover against the New Orleans Saints. The Chiefs won by six so we had to put a tic mark in the "lost this one" column for Allen. Mike said take West Virginia (-5½) over TCU and the Mountaineers covered easily. He also liked 1-5 Buffalo to beat the spread against the favored-by-22 Northern Illinois. Mike suffered his first "defeat" in the last three weeks as Northern Illinois won by 37!
• This Week: Allen really likes the Raiders against Tampa Bay in this “pick ‘em” game. Two reasons: they’ve been doing great on the road and they stayed in Florida all of this last week after beating Jacksonville last Sunday. Embarrassed by his first loss, Mike is trying to hide from the spotlight this week with two obscure picks. He likes favorite Kansas State (-6½)  over Iowa State and he projects the underdog Connecticut will cover against East Carolina who is favored by seven.

Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge:  Bill Wharton entertains tonight, The Blues Monsters are here Thursday through Saturday, we show NFL Football on the Big Screen in the Cabaret on Sunday and Monday nights and Steve Lord performs next Tuesday and Wednesday.  The Blues Monsters is a popular red-hot rockin' blues band from the North Lake Tahoe and Reno area. The quartet performs a powerfull and unique combination of R&B, funk, jazz and Chicago-style blues. Whether paying respects to the masters of traditional blues, or rockin' out other tunes, The Blues Monsters get the whole house up and dancing! Click here for the upcoming lineup of free entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge.

In the Casino

• Ladies’ Night Tonight: Join us 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with free Chocolate Shoppe gifts to the first 150 ladies, Chocolate Shoppe Gift Baskets as hot seat prizes, games, drink specials, FREE Bingo and the drawing for a free Coach Handbag and Wallet.
• Bingo Thursday: Come in and play Bingo on the odd hour, 11 a.m. to 5 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. 
• Bonus Cash Drawings Thursday:  You’ve been earning entries with your play all month, just be here at 6 & 8 p.m. for these extra cash drawings.
• Win $20,000 Friday: The last weekly Friday drawings in our October Progressive Giveaways Promotion are at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. with plenty of cash and free play and the chance to win the $20,000 progressive jackpot. Use your INN Club card while you play!
• 4X Points Saturday: Every Saturday in October earn 4X Points all day.
• Progressive Giveaway Grand Prize Saturday: Drawings at 6 & 8 p.m. for cash, FreePlay and other prizes. Ten winners picked each time for a minimum of $100 up to $2,500 each!
• October Scratcher Drawings Sunday: 4 & 6 p.m.
• 5X Points Monday for Halloween: Use your Inn Club card while you play and the points add up five times faster all day Monday!
• Senior Mondays: Seniors 55 and over are invited to our Senior Mondays during October from 8 AM to 11 AM in the Cabaret Lounge. We have free coffee and cookies, free bingo games and a chance to win free play and cash! Senior Slot Tournament for cash & free play prizes. Seniors play one time free and have additional entries by earning 100 points on the previous Mondays.
• Penny Progressive Over $28,500 . . . That’s enough to buy one nice car, a couple of really nice motorcycles or three fairly nice snowmobiles . . . and this jackpot can only be won on one of the Triple Red Hot 7's slots at the CVI, Sharkey’s or Bodines.
• Poker Room: Featured Games, Tournaments and Special Promotions with something going on every day of the week - Click here for all the poker room info.
• Here’s a Handy Page with all our Casino Promotions!

In Our Restaurants

• Wednesday is Italian Day/Night in Katie’s – three specials for just $6.99 each! Check all the Katie’s Daily Specials at this link.
• The 18-Piece Sushi Platter Special is served in CV Steak on Thursday (hint: save $4 Thursdays), Friday and Saturday nights.
• Our Friday special in CV Steak is Game Tips with Mushroom Cabernet Demi and Pepper Pappardelle for $26.  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 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!

TG Sheppard Returns, New Casino Promotions, Another Beer Day, More

His Last Acoustic Performance at the CVI Sold Out!

TG Sheppard Returning in November!  Combined with 21 number one hits, and being ranked among the top 100 country artists of all time, TG Sheppard’s unstoppable passion for music has made him one of the most popular live performers on tour today. T.G.'s first commercial album in over 13 years "Legendary Friends & Country Duets" was released a year ago - a duet CD with some of music's biggest icons including Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty, Kelly Lang, Ricky Skaggs, The Oak Ridge Boys, Englebert Humperdink, Lorrie Morgan, Crystal Gayle, Delbert McClinton, The Whites, Mickey Gilley, Steve Cropper, Jimmy Fortune, and Wayne Jackson and the Memphis Horns. TG will bring an acoustical evening full of chart topping hits like "Last Cheaters Waltz","I Loved 'Em Everyone","Do You Wanna Go To Heaven", "Party Time" and many more to the intimate setting of the Valley Ballroom on Saturday night, November 12. Tickets are $25 and are available starting at 9 a.m. today at the hotel desk or by calling 775-783-6606. A special 2-night package is also available that includes tickets for TG’s Concert. All the details are at this link.

Which Would Your Choose: A New Harley or $10,000

October Rolls In Saturday – But First, A Harley?  Two quick suggestions: First, don’t miss out on the Grand Prize Drawings this Friday at 6 PM and 8 PM our September Cash/Harley giveaway promotion. It’s all about the Golden Tickets and the chance to win generous amounts of cash, free play and even a brand-new Harley or $10,000! Second, Saturday brings October and new casino promotions for you to enjoy so be sure to look through the In the Casino section below as there just might be something there that catches your interest.

19 Bottled Beers at Bodines, Over a Dozen at CVI &
Sharkey's, plenty of draft choices, what's that add up to? 

Not Another Beer Day!! Not to be confused with International Beer Day (August 5) or National Beer Day (April 7), today is National Drink Beer Day. Turns out that according to one survey, beer is America’s #1 social drink of choice (can you guess what came in second?), Americans love domestic beer over imported beer by a 2-to-1 margin and some states are more prone than others to have beer as the top drink to enjoy with friends at a bar or other social venue. We started counting up how many different bottled beers and draft beers we have between our two bars at the Carson Valley Inn, the Silver Dollar Bar at Sharkey’s Casino and the Casino Bar and the Sports Bar at Bodines Casino and . . . . well the total was close to one of the numbers in this song!

Bunko for Breast Cancer is coming up Saturday, October 8 and we hope you’re planning to attend this jubilant event with eclectically costumed wanna-be-sports-stars in our Valley ballroom. More information is available on the Bunko for Breast Cancer Web Page or the Bunko for Breast Cancer Facebook Page.  However you choose to get the information, please do get involved in some form or another – All proceeds support the Carson Tahoe Cancer Resource Center!

Sports and Race Book:

• This week you can bet Major League Baseball, Horseracing, NFL and NCAA Football, the semi-finals of the WNBA Playoffs and Sunday’s Citizen Solder 400 NASCAR race.  Also on the board: updated futures bets on who will win the World Series, the 2016 Season NCAA Football Championship and the February, 2017 Super Bowl.
• The PRO PK’EM Parlay Progressive is now at $2986 – pick all 15 NFL games straight up on the $5 card and it’s yours!
• Chatter around the Sportsbook: Lots of talk, speculation and action on three big college conference games this weekend between undefeated teams. Friday night, Stanford (3-0) battles Washington (4-0), midday Saturday Wisconsin travels to Michigan (both 4-0) and Saturday evening Louisville takes on Clemson (both 4-0).  On the NFL front, the Raiders (2-1) continued to draw more interest (and more bets!) for their Sunday morning game against the undefeated Ravens. You can watch and bet these games plus many more here at the CVI. 

The Nighthawks This Weekend in Cabaret Lounge

Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge:  John Palmore entertains tonight,  The Nighthawks are in Thursday through Saturday, we show NFL Football on the Big Screen in the Cabaret on Sunday and Monday nights and Jonathon “JB” Barton performs next Tuesday and Wednesday.  A popular local (Gardnerville/Wellington) country and rock band, The Nighthawks specialize in popular dance tunes from the 60's and 70's. The group performs a wide variety of styles covering artists from Alan Jackson to ZZ Top, including great classic country tunes and expert performances of classic rock songs. The Nighthawks are Mike Clark (bass), Leon Leet (guitar), Mark Harris (guitar) John Mcknight (drums) and, when the guys are nice to her, Wendy Adkisson on vocals. Click here for the upcoming lineup of free entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge.

This Week at the CVI

• In the Casino
• Ladies’ Night Tonight: The fun runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with free lighted mirror gifts to the first 150 ladies, World Market Baskets as hot seat prizes, games, drink specials, FREE Bingo and the big drawing for a free Day Spa Package at Pure Glow.
• Bingo Thursday: Come in and play Bingo on the odd hour, 11 a.m. to 5 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: Grand prize drawings in our September Harley Promotion are at 6 and 8 p.m. with plenty of cash, free play at the chance to win a brand-new Harley or $10,000. Use your INN Club card while you play!
• 4X Points Saturday: this Saturday and every Saturday in October earn 4X Points all day.
• Ladies Poker Tournament Sunday: Our monthly Ladies-Only Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament is late Sunday afternoon with sign ups starting at 4 p.m. There’s a $40 buy-in, no re-buys and lots of fun extras.
• Free T-Shirt Mondays: We're giving away Free Long Sleeve CVI T-Shirts every Monday through October 24th!  To qualify, simply earn 75 points the same day and the free T-Shirt is yours . . . plus you keep the points!
• Senior Mondays: Seniors 55 and over are invited to our Senior Mondays during October from 8 AM to 11 AM in the Cabaret Lounge. We’ll have free coffee and cookies, free bingo games and a chance to win free play and cash!
• Our Penny Progressive had topped $19,000 on Tuesday Night – only can be won on one of the Triple Red Hot 7's slots at the CVI, Sharkey’s or Bodines.
• Poker Room: Our Poker Room offers a Monday Night Football squares grid plus Featured Games, Tournaments and Special Promotions with something going on every day of the week – plus an Omaha 4-8 ½ kill Hi-Lo game is back on Mondays (sure sounds like Peyton Manning calling an audible!)  Click here for all that’s happening in our poker room
• Here’s a Handy Page with all our September Casino Promotions!
• In Our Restaurants
• Wednesday is Italian Day/Night in Katie’s – three specials for just $6.99 each! Check all the Katie’s Daily Specials at this link.
• 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.
• 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!

Eli Young Band Coming, Granger Smith Tickets on Sale Monday, Easter, More

Eli Young Band Coming to TJ’s Corral

Their hit "Crazy Girl" won the Academy of Country Music Award for Song of the Year in 2012. They've been nominated for over 20 music awards including a 2016 ACM nomination for Vocal Group of the Year (catch the 51st ACM Awards® on CBS Sunday, April 3).  They are the Eli Young Band and they will appear live in TJ's Corral on Sunday, August 14. The full concert line up as we have it so far is on this page on our website which will be updated regularly as tickets go on sale and more concerts are announced.

Granger Smith Concert Tickets On Sale Monday: Granger Smith released his album Remington two weeks ago and it has been in the top-ten onthe Billboard Top Country Albums chart since. Last night Granger appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. We can’t pass all this up so tickets for the Granger Smith Concert in TJ’s Corral on Saturday, May 28 are going on sale via our website this coming Monday, March 28 at 8 a.m. – $23 for the party pit and $29 for reserved seating. 

But First, Win ‘Em Before You Can Buy ‘Em! We’re giving away two free sets of two party pit tickets for Granger’s Concert and you can enter two ways: tell us you want to win in the comment section below – that gets your name in the hat once. Then, go to the TJ’s Corral Facebook Page and either “Like” the page if you already don’t, or share our blog posting from TJ’s Corral Facebook Page with your friends on Facebook. That enters you a second time. Deadline is Sunday, March 27 at 4 p.m. and we’ll post the winners on this page. Must be 21 to enter and win tickets and it’s up to you to get a hold of us if we can’t contact you (we’ll try!).

Before We Go Outside For Concerts . . . It’s just over two weeks until the Lacy J. Dalton Concert in the Valley Ballroom on Friday, April 8.  Dale Poune, comedian Huck Finn and the singing group All Hat and No Cattle will be joining Lacy to help support Nevada's wild horses at this special event sponsored by her Let'em Run Foundation. Tickets ($20) are available at the CVI hotel desk or call 775-783-6606. All proceeds from ticket sales go to the Let 'em Run Foundation.

Easter Bunny Cakes Big Hit! Remember the Easter Bunny Cakes we mentioned in last week’s blog? As promised, we’ve included a picture this week and, as you might guess from looking, our bakery has had a hard time making them fast enough to keep up with the sales! So, if you’re interested, we suggest you stop by Katie’s Bakery Counter as soon as possible. If there are no Easter Bunny Cakes available, we will take orders up to a point this week.  And while we’re on the Easter subject, Katie's and CV Steak are both serving their regular menu plus specials on Easter Sunday. Click for more on the Easter Specials.

Go Pack!!!  We’re rooting for the Nevada Wolfpack as they compete in the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational tournament tonight at Lawlor Event Center in Reno. Coach Mussleman has done an excellent job developing his team and recruiting for next year. Whatever the outcome tonight, we know they are going to be a powerful force in the Mountain West Conference next year.

Free Cabaret Lounge Entertainment: The Rye Brothers are here tonight through Saturday and John Palmore performs Sunday through Wednesday.  The Rye Brothers are a “power-pop” country act, mixing contemporary country music and rock n’ roll guitar driven songs Paul Justin & Justin Foutz, who trade off on the lead vocals and guitar licks, formed The Rye Brothers in the of Summer of 2015 and quickly added a solid rhythm section consisting of Jacob Delott (bass, backing vocals) and Jeff Sorenson (drums, backing vocals) to round out this Southern California based “power-pop” quartet.

Interesting, Helpful and Even Useful Tidbits and News

• Sports and Race Book: This week you can bet College Basketball tournament games, Major League Baseball Exhibition Games, Horseracing, NBA Basketball, NHL the Masters. NASCAR takes this weekend off for Easter.
• Ladies’ Night Tonight: The first 150 ladies who sign up for Ladies’ Night tonight receive the third of four Jennifer Aniston Luxury Fragrance items.  Also tonight: a ladies-only drink special, games and hot seat prizes – this week for Wine Country Easter Gift Baskets.
• Buffalo Friday, Prime Rib Saturday, King Crab Sunday in CV Steak:  Our Friday special in CV Steak is Braised Buffalo Short Ribs for $29. 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. 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.
• Monday’s CVI Polo Shirt is Red and you can have one just for earning 150 points on the same day. Check at Guest Services for your shirt and remember, you keep those 150 points for comps or Freeplay!

Because We Feel Like Mentioning It

• Friday is Waffle Day. You can go the "traditional" route in the morning and order waffles in Katie’s at the CVI or at Bodines Restaurant. Or, wait until later in the day and dig into the Waffle Fried Chicken in Sharkey’s Jackpot Café: Maple syrup marinated chicken breast fried in waffle flour finished with a peppered maple syrup and served with vegetable and sweet potato waffle fries! Come on, admit it . . . you’re thinking about it!
• Saturday is Spinach Day. We have options starting with the healthy approach of the Spinach Salad in Katie’s. You can also add fresh spinach to any Katie’s Omelet (along with your other favorite toppings).  CV Steak has a Warm Artichoke and Spinach Dip served with toasted baguette. Cutting to the chase, you could also go to Bodines, order a Fresh Made Pizza, and include spinach as one of your toppings. Anybody looks at you, just stare ‘em down and say, “It’s got spinach on it, it has to be good for you!”
• Sunday is Quirky Country Music Songs Day. We checked out a few of the lists online and didn’t feel comfortable directing you to any one of them in particular . . . so, click here to Google the subject and take it from there!  Also, here’s a quirky title in need of a song to be written around it: Guns and Grass and Taxes and Gas. We didn’t make this up - it was the title of the presentation given at the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce meeting last week regarding four resolutions which will be on our local ballot this November.

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!

Lacy J. Dalton in April, Two TJ's Corral June Concerts, More

Comedy Hypnotist Chris Cady – Tonight

Chris Cady’s Comedy Hypnosis Show is tonight in the Valley Ballroom and it is not too late to get tickets. The doors open at 7:00, the show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $15 at the hotel desk or call 775-783-6606. 21 or over for this show. Want to be one of the on-stage "subjects?" Get near the stage and wave your arms when Chris asks for volunteers!

Before We Start the Outdoor Concert Series:

Lacy J. Dalton, one of the most distinctive female country singers of the '80s, will perform in the intimate setting of our Valley Ballroom on Friday evening, April 8.  Born Jill Lynne Byrem in Pennsylvania, she performed as a protest-oriented folksinger during the ‘60s in Santa Cruz and sang with a Bay Area psychedelic rock band called Office. She went on to reinvent herself as a country performer, adopting the stage name Lacy J. Dalton.

Her Top 20 debut single, "Crazy Blue Eyes," helped her win the CMA's Best New Female Vocalist of the Year Award in 1983. She scored an impressive run of hits over the next three years highlighted by "Hard Times," "Tennessee Waltz," "Hillbilly Girl with the Blues," the number two smash "Takin' It Easy," "16th Avenue," and "Everybody Makes Mistakes."  All but "Tennessee Waltz" made the Top Ten. Tickets are $20 at the CVI hotel desk or call 775-783-6606.

TJ’s Corral Concert News:

• Since We Last Saw Them: They were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, visited with friends President George H. W. Bush and Barbara at Taste of Texas, did a session with Blake Shelton, won a GMA Dove Award for Country Song of the Year 2015 “Sweet Jesus,” mingled with Taylor Swift and her parents backstage after her October 17 show at AT&T Stadium, received the Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society . . . and that’s only some of what The Oak Ridge Boys have been up to. Oh, and now to the reason we brought it up: After performing to a Sold Out crowd in TJ’s Coral in May of 2014, The ORB will be back again on Saturday, June 25!
• It All Started with a Beer is a song that really isn’t about beer. On the other hand, “Sunshine
  
  and Whiskey” is somewhat about whiskey. You’ll hear both of these hits and more when Country artist Frankie Ballard takes the stage at TJ’s Corral on Thursday, June 2.
• Ticket Availability: as soon as we have tickets available for these and other to-be-announced concerts, we’ll post the information on this page on our website. Depending on timing, we’ll try to give you a heads-up in this blog which is new every Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. Speaking of heads-up, next week we’ll cover some improvements we're making in TJ’s Corral with construction starting in early March.

Birds of Prey and Birds of Clay This Weekend:
It happens every year on the third weekend of February: the annual Carson Valley Inn Clay Shooting event and the Chamber of Commerce Eagles and Agriculture event combine to produce what can be a most interesting mixture of guests at the CVI. The clay shooters bring shotguns, chokes, shells, ATVs, and whatever else they need to survive 2 – 3 hours out in the middle of nowhere trying to break clay targets. The Eagles and Ag participants bring cameras, tripods, lenses and whatever else they need to survive 4+ hours riding from ranch to ranch in search of an elusive raptor image caught at the perfect moment. The two groups have co-existed for almost 15 years . . . if only our political parties could do the same!

Free Cabaret Lounge Entertainment:

• George Pickard is here tonight, Decades entertains Thursday through Saturday and Jonathon “JB” Barton returns Sunday through Wednesday.
• Decades is one of our most energetic, vibrant and diverse groups! From Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode to Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk, Decades’ 4-part harmonies and driving rhythm section truly shine when playing hits from the 1950's to today.  The group includes Samantha Francis (keyboard, harmonica, guitar, flute and vocals), Ben Ruttenberg (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Billy DiBono (drums, vocals), Will Watje (guitar, sax, vocals), and Tobias Brooks (bass, guitar, vocals). 

Race and Sports Book:

• This week you can watch and bet Horseracing, NBA and College Basketball, NHL Hockey and Sunday’s Daytona 500. We’re also taking action on the Donald Cerrone vs. Alex Oliveira UFC fight in Pittsburg, PA on Sunday.
• Looking ahead, the odds are up for who will win the Masters Golf Tournament April 7 – 10 at Augusta.
• Baseball Fever Starts Tomorrow as pitchers and catchers for the Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Giants, Phillies & Reds have their first workout. The rest of the MLB teams get cranking over the following four days.
• And Ends with the World Series in October and the odds are up as to who will win the Fall Classic. The three favorites at our Sports Book as of yesterday, all at 8-1, were the Giants, Cubs and Red Sox. The longshots? The Braves, Rockies and Phillies. 

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

• Tonight’s Ladies Night features a Ladies-only kiosk game for Crystal Ring Holder gifts, free play, food comps and drawing entries for grand prize drawings next Wednesday, Feb. 24. Also tonight: Hot Seat drawings for Wine Country Gift Baskets.
• Venison Friday, Prime Rib Saturday, King Crab Sunday in CV Steak:  Our Friday special in CV Steak is Roasted Rack of Venison with Cherry Brandy Demi for $32. 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. 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.
• Because We Feel Like Mentioning It
• Thursday is Drink Wine Day. We suggest you celebrate in CV Steak and enjoy one of the many wines available by the bottle and/or by the glass. However, if you have a “special” bottle of wine at home, please hold it until a week from Saturday - more about that in next Wednesday's blog.
• Monday is Margarita Day. Shaken, stirred or straight up for you? 

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!