CVI Wins Best of Nevada, Austinpalooza Announced, July Events, More

Carson Valley Inn is Best of Nevada! It's True!!! Carson Valley Inn was voted Best Casino in Nevada by the print readers and online followers of Nevada Magazine! We are thrilled and offer our sincere "Thank You" to all who made this happen! Here's how it was explained to us: Statewide there are three "Best Casino" winners: one for Reno/Sparks, one for  the metro Las Vegas area and one for the entire rest of the state (including Tahoe and Carson City) - and that's the category we won! Pretty good honor considering how many casinos there are around the state outside of Reno and Vegas!

A Peak at Our July Promotions: The details for our July promotions went "to the printer" earlier this week and we'll have more in next week's blog posting. As a heads-up, there is a special promo next Wednesday, July 2: Earn 125 points that day and receive a free USA T-Shirt while they last, plus you keep the points!

$100,000 for the Boys & Girls Club Last Weekend! What an incredible team: The Eddie Money Concert audience, the Mike Tice Charity Golf Tournament participants, a dozen very generous local sponsors and the Carson Valley Inn – we all teamed up for a most energetic weekend that raised $100,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada Carson Valley Branch! A sincere Thank You to all who helped, participated and dug deep! Eddie Money didn't disappoint - see the short clip from "Take Me Home Tonight" courtesy of our Host Deanna Lucier Ness and her trusty iPhone!

Austinpalooza in TJ's Coral on August 16th to Benefit Austin’s House!  The CVI is proud to be teamed up with GE’s Bently Nevada to sponsor the fourth annual Austinpalooza to benefit Austin’s House, a vitally important emergency children’s shelter.  Lee Rocker, formerly of The Stray Cats, will headline the event starting at 8:30 p.m.  A string of local bands will precede Lee including Lavish Green, Metal Echo, the Bootleggers, Seymour’s Trick Back and The Engineered Disaster.  All-Day tickets (on sale now) with in-and-out access are $25 for adults and $15 for children age 12 and under . . . and all proceeds from the ticket sales go directly to Austin’s House. The event will run from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Drinks will be available for purchase all day and food will be available for purchase after 5 p.m.

Blood Drive this Coming Tuesday: United Blood Service is conducting their annual All American Blood Drive this coming Tuesday, July 1 here at the CVI. The Bloodmobiles will be in our west lot from noon to 6 p.m. and you can just show up or, better yet, schedule an appointment by calling 800-696-4484 or click here to schedule online. All donors are entered into a drawing for two tickets to the B. J. Thomas Concert in TJ's Corral on Thursday, July 10^th.

Old Olds? Ok, feeble attempt at humor. It's actually the National Antique Oldsmobile Club and they are holding their 2014 National Meet here in the Carson Valley over the next few days. Look around the CVI and the area for over 50 pre-1950 Oldsmobiles and Olds enthusiasts from all over the country! Our thanks to local residents Doug and Kathy Hone (that's Doug's Olds on the left) for putting this event together over the past 24 months - their efforts are benefiting the entire community as the group tours around the area Thursday and Friday before the Saturday judging at CVI.

July Happenings in and Around the CVI and Carson Valley (things do change, so if we have something incorrect in the following, please let us know):

• All American Blood Drive: Tuesday, July 1. CVI West Lot.
• Cowboy Fast Draw – Nevada State Championships: July 3 – 5. Genoa.
• Independence Day:  Friday, July 4.
• Town of Minden 4th of July Celebration:  Minden Park.
• Freedom 5K Fun Run & Walk & Yankee Doodle Chalk Artfest:  Heritage Park. 
• Genoa Americana Celebration:  Genoa Park.
• Big Boy Toy Show: Saturday, July 5. Lampe Park.
• Sweet Sippin Sundays: Sunday, July 6. Genoa. Nevada Hazzurd
• CVI Monthly Blackjack Tournament:  Tuesday, July 8.  Table Games Area.
• Fast Pitch Softball World Series Tournament: July 10 – 13. Lampe Park.
• B. J. Thomas Concert: Thursday, July 10. TJ's Corral Outdoor Events Center.
• Community Concert in Minden Park:  Fri., July 11. The Chicago Tribute Authority.
• Death Ride:  Sat., July 12.  Markleeville.
• Genoa Concert on the Green: Sunday, July 13.  Genoa Park. Stardust Cowboys
• American Century Celebrity Golf:  July 15 – 20.   Edgewood Tahoe.
• Thirsty Third Thursday Wine Walk:  July 17.  Gardnerville Main Street District.
• Movies in the Park:  Fri., July 18.  Heritage Park.  Despicable Me 2
• Elks Carnival: Thu. – Sun., July 24 – 27. Lampe Park.
• Splash Dogs-Dog Days of Summer: Fri. – Sun., July 25 – 27. Heritage Park.
• Hot August Nights on South Shore:  July 25 & 26. 
• Color Blast Genoa 5K Fun Run: Saturday, July 26. Genoa.
• Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Youth Program: Monday, July 28. CVIC Hall.
• NV150 Sesquicentennial Fair: July 30 - August 3. Fuji Park.
• Hot August Nights Poker Run Stop in Minden Park:  Thurs., July 31. 

As Always, Interesting and/or Helpful Tidbits and News:

• Friday's Game-On Fridays special in CV Steak is Grilled Elk Tenderloin Medallions with a brandy cherry demi glace for $28 - includes tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato - au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked potato. 
• CVI is a Great Place to Work! We have a constantly updated property, a nice benefits program, an energetic approach . . . and we do have some openings!
• More Best of Nevada Kudos:  Three of our important tourism partners also won "2014 Best of Nevada" honors in the expansive "Everywhere Else in the State" category: Golf Course - Genoa Lakes Golf Club & Resort; Ski Resort - Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort; Spa - 1862 David Walley’s Hot Springs Resort and Spa. 
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge: Michael Furlong performs tonight, Atomika appears Thursday through Saturday and Jonathan "JB" Barton takes the stage Sunday through next Wednesday. Here is a link to the schedule through July.
• When Did CVI Open? We posed this question in last week's blog and we did received a few blog comments and emails with the correct answer of 1984. It will be 30 years in a few months and we are gathering pictures from opening day – do you have any?
• Be sure to keep tabs on our upcoming concerts and we hope to see you often at TJ's Corral!

Get In Touch With Us: 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!

Chris Young Tickets On Sale, Eddie Money Concert this Weekend, Great Videos, Much More

Dustin Lynch A BIG HIT: Whew – what a night at the Dustin Lynch Concert last Friday! Another sell-out crowd and our best guess is that 85 - 90% of the audience was totally different folks than those who attended the sold-out Oak Ridge Boys concert in May. Actually, many said this was their first time to the CVI and the Carson Valley. Dustin stayed after the show and signed autographs for his fans until everyone was covered. Then Dustin and some of his band joined Stew Stewart on the Cabaret Lounge stage after the show and the party and jamming went on for hours! According to Stew, "Dustin did everything we asked and then some – he was one of the most cooperative acts I have ever worked with!" Our sincere thanks to this talented young singer who treats people with respect!  And also thanks to Deanna who got behind the stage and took this iPhone video of Dustin and the audience singing Friends in Low places!

Mike Tice Invitational = Big Boost for Boys & Girls Club: Looks like a guaranteed third straight exciting weekend at the CVI as NFL Coach Mike Tice brings 100+ of his friends to town for the annual Mike Tice Invitational Golf Tournament and the Eddie Money concert . . . and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada Carson Valley Branch will reap the benefits! Coach Tice, now Offensive Line Coach for the Atlanta Falcons, is hard to miss at 6' 8" and you can certainly see why he was effective as an NFL tight end from 1981 to 1995 with the Seahawks, Redskins and Vikings. But not to worry, when you run into him in the casino he is as gentle and polite as you would hope a guy his size would be!! While most of the participants are outside of the "I played NFL Football" ranks, joining Mike will be Bryan Cox, former NFL linebacker and current Falcons Defensive Coordinator who played for the Dolphins, Bears, Jets, Patriots and Saints from 1991 to 2002. One of the Invitational's evening functions includes a Silent Auction with many valuable prizes and ALL proceeds to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, Carson Valley Branch.

Eddie Money: We admit that we've explained it a few different ways and, honestly, we really don't want to get into banging the same drum week after week on one subject. So, if you'll indulge us one last time:  The Carson Valley Inn is paying all costs associated with Eddie Money's appearance this Saturday. The Eddie Money tickets are $60 each – which includes two drinks - and all $60 goes to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, Carson Valley Branch. So spend a night enjoying some good ole rock 'n' Roll and do your part to bolster the chances of tomorrow's generation!

Chris Young Tickets Go On Sale Today!! We told you we'd give our blog readers a heads up and here it is: Chris Young Concert tickets go on sale through our web site today at 8 a.m. (not before). Click here to go to the Chris Young Concert Page!

Mike's Horses:

• Fiftyshadesof hay finished third in the Ruffian Stakes on Saturday night at Churchill Downs.
• What's Up for Mike in the 2015 Kentucky Derby? Ha! If we – or anybody – had the answer to that question we'd be . . . well, we don't have the answer. BUT, for a feel about the path to the Derby and how Mike has fared over the years, check out Chris Murray's column in last Sunday's Reno Gazette Journal. Chris is one of those special sports reporters who listens carefully and then reports fairly and accurately. 

How About The USA Soccer Game Against Ghana!! As they say, "A win is a win" (somebody please tell us who first said that!) and the United States' defeat of Ghana, coupled with Portugal's loss to Germany, puts a big target of importance on Sunday's USA - Portugal game at 3 p.m. Catch the action on the HD screens in the Cabaret Lounge and Cabaret Bar!

Look Up in the Sky . . . it's a Bird, It's a Plane   . . . Actually, in this case it is a Plane!! If you are reading this in the Carson Valley area you may have noticed a multi-engine jet flying around the last few days (and continuing today and tomorrow). It’s British Aerospace 146e Airliner that's been converted by our friends at Minden Air into the next generation of Fire Bombers – and that's a good thing to have nearby as the fire season approaches rapidly.  Take a look in the sky, read about it here or watch the incredible video taken by Airport Operations Manager Chris Johnson when we joined him right on the edge of the drop zone for Tuesday's test drops. You'll see two real-time passes dropping water, another real-time pass dropping retardant and then a final slow-motion retardant pass - all taken from just 200 feet directly below the overflying aircraft!

As Always, Interesting and/or Helpful Tidbits and News:

• Coming in Next Week's Blog Posting: Our list of July events and activities in the Carson Valley area and news about an Austinpalooza Festival in TJ's Corral in mid-August featuring Lee Rocker and a handful of local bands.
• Bunko for Breast Cancer: It's not until October, and, in this usage, it is spelled "Bunko" instead of Bunco, but now is the time to check out the details on how you can become involved in this admittedly loud and boisterous fund raiser for Cancer services in our area.  This is a yeoman's undertaking by our friends at the nearby GE facility and we are proud to be part of their efforts!
• Friday's Game-On Fridays special in CV Steak is Grilled Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast with natural duck jus for $28 - includes tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato - au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked potato!
• CV Steak is humming on all cylinders since we opened 7-days-a-week for the summer. We recently made a few additions to the wine list so check it out!
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge: Jonny Smokes (an unbelievable power-packed one man band you have to see and hear!) finishes up tonight, After Dark takes the stage tomorrow through Saturday and Michael Furlong entertains Sunday through Wednesday.  Here is a link to the schedule for the next couple of months.

Just Wondering: Does anyone really read blog postings all the way to the end? Does anyone post any comments or questions on blogs anymore? Does anyone know what year the Carson Valley Inn first opened? Just Wondering.

Chris Young Tickets Available Next Week,Dustin Lynch Concert This Friday, Super Heroes in Saturday Parade for Eddie Money Concert Next Week and an Incredible One-Man-Band in the Cabaret

What a Week!

• Thursday started positively when Doctor Dempsey, one of CVI owner Mike Pegram's horses, won the 7^th race at Belmont Park. Later Thursday, our Sports fans were reminiscing about the lights going out in the 2013 Super Bowl when an air conditioning failure changed the whole nature of the last few minutes of the opening game in the Heat-Spurs NBA Finals.
• The Chromemania then built through Saturday and the crowd was huge at the CVI with seemingly ALL cheering for the hometown favorite. Then, the reality of horse racing – and life in general – set in as Mike's horse Shakin it Up finished 4^th in the $1.25 million Metropolitan Mile and California Chrome finished 4^th in the Belmont Stakes.  While not the result we all hoped for, it sure gave us something positive to embrace this spring!

  

  Photo by Cathleen Allison/Carson City Visitors Bureau

• A few hours later the Carson City Fairgrounds arena was Standing Room Only (1,400+ people) on Saturday night for the Bodines (our sister property) Bull Riding Smackdown! Keep your eye on the Bull Riding winner ($1,800!) Dalton McMurtrie of Lasson College as he competes in the 66^th College National Rodeo Finals this weekend in Casper, WY. Kudos also to Tyler Moore winner of the ATV/Motorcycle Barrel Racing, Graycee Starr who won the Mutton Busting and Cassidy Champlain, winner of the traditional Barrel Racing.
• Our hockey fans and sports bettors also had a wild ride on Saturday as the Rangers blew two 2-goal leads to lose in overtime to the Kings. Sunday's Heat-Spurs game, while exciting to the end, almost seemed uneventful!
• Last night's Monthly Blackjack Tournament wound up with Jerry Gritz

  

  L-R: Jerry Gritz, Inga Silver, Rich Rooney

  the last man standing for the $663 first place prize, Inga Silver finished 2^nd for $398 and the 3^rd place money of $264 went to Rich Rooney. Join us next for the next Monthly Blackjack Tournament on Tuesday, July 8 – all it takes is a $25 buy-in and you're in the hunt for a payback pool of all entry fees and additional buy-ins!! 

The Dustin Lynch Concert this Friday in TJ's Corral is shaping up nicely and tickets are still available. To get a feel for what it's like (as opposed to Where It's At – Dustin's latest hit currently at #17 on the iTunes Top 100 Country Songs and the American Country Countdown and #21 on the Billboard Top Country Songs) at a concert in TJ's, check out this video of the recent sold-out Oak Ridge Boys Concert . . . courtesy of our friends at Lake Tahoe Television.  After the concert we'll be holding "Hot Seat Drawings" in the casino where each winner will have a chance to pocket up to $5,000.

Boys & Girls Club Super Heroes in Saturday's Carson Valley Days Parade: The Carson Valley Inn recognizes that today's kids are the Super Heroes of tomorrow . . . and some of these Super Heroes from the Boys and Girls Club will be accompanying our float and handing out beads in this Saturday's Carson Valley Days Parade whose theme is Super Heroes and Super Villains. Why? 'Cause the float will be promoting the Eddie Money Concert in TJs Corral at the CVI on Saturday, June 21^st and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada Carson Valley Branch will be the recipient of all the ticket sales and auction proceeds from that night! Show your support by cheering the kids on this Saturday and then attending the Eddie Money Concert next Saturday!

About the Chris Young Concert Tickets:  We told you we'd try to give our Blog readers an occasional "Heads up" on certain things . . . has to be some bonus for plodding through our blog each Wednesday! Well, here's a tip: Tickets for the Chris Young Concert on Saturday August 2^nd will go on sale next week (not sure which day yet) and they will start at $49. We hope to announce the details in next week's blog or, if necessary, a special blog posting. Please check our Chris Young Concert Web Page for updated information. As for Chris Young's current hit Who I Am With You, it's #1 on the GAC Top 20 Country Countdown, #12 on the Billboard Top Country Songs and #14 on the iTunes Top 100 Country Songs.

As Always, Interesting Tidbits and News:

• The week's Game-On Fridays special in CV Steak is Roasted Rack of Venison with a cherry demi-glace for $31.00 which also includes tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato - au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked potato. Yum!
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge: George Pickard performs tonight, Stew Stewart and his band appear Thursday through Saturday and Jonny Smokes, a dynamic one-man-band from the Seattle area makes a special appearance at the CVI Sunday day through next Wednesday.  Here is a link to the schedule for the next couple of months.
• Gift Season: Weddings, Anniversaries, Graduations, Birthdays . . . the list is long of occasions for which a Carson Valley Inn Gift Card might be appropriate. They can be redeemed here at the CVI, at our sister property Bodines Casino or at the Carson Valley Market Shell convenience store.

We want to hear from you! 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!

Triple Crown? and Bull Riding Saturday plus Eddie Money Can Mean Big Money for Boys & Girls Club

History to Be Made This Saturday? We'll know by 4 p.m. Saturday if California Chrome has become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978. Meanwhile, it's been a whirlwind for the colt's owners Steve and Carolyn Colburn who are also Douglas Country residents and CVI customers. What's the anticipation and edginess like during the three weeks between the Preakness and Belmont for someone whose horse has won the first two legs of the Triple Crown? Turns out Carson Valley Inn owner Mike Pegram knows the feeling well and the "story" was captured by Reno Gazette Journal sports reporter Chris Murray. Here's a link to his article as picked up by USA Today earlier this week!

As for Mike and his horses this weekend at Belmont Park: Doctor Dempsey is entered to run in the 7^th race Thursday, Shakin it Up is listed as probable for the $1.25 million Metropolitan Mile on Saturday and Mike will be at Belmont cheering on California Chrome as will hundreds of us doing the same in the CVI cabaret lounge and casino. Post time is listed at 3:52 p.m. PDT and  we are giving away free California Chrome t-shirts in the casino and cabaret lounge while they last on Saturday before the Belmont Stakes.

And After the Belmont, Joins Us for Bull Riding! Good grief, we're not asking you to actually ride a bull . . . but rather to join us at Fuji Park behind Bodines Casino in Carson City for the Bodines Bull Riding Smackdown! It's an evening of two-dozen plus snorting bulls, plenty of brave and anxious bull riders and an encouraging crowd cheering 'em all on! Gates open 5:30 p.m. and the bull riding starts at 7:00 p.m.  There's plenty of free parking, food and beverages will be available and tickets can be grabbed for $10 in advance at Bodines Casino Guest Services or the Carson Valley Inn Hotel Desk. Tickets are $12 at the gate and children under 12 are just $5 at the gate.

Dustin Lynch – See Him in Nashville this Week or CVI Next Week! If you were at the CMA Fest in Nashville this week, you'd have two chances to catch Dustin Lynch: Thursday on the Chevy Riverfront Stage or Saturday on the CMA Close Up Stage. But, we'll bet the 99% of our blog readers will not be in Nashville this week – so, come see him in concert next Friday, June 13 in TJ's Corral here at the Carson Valley Inn! Dustin even recorded a "selfie" inviting everyone to the CVI concert. Check it out on our Facebook page.

"All Proceeds" – with no Asterisk!: We've been flacking about how "all proceeds" or "all revenues" from the Eddie Money Concert ticket sales go to the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada, Carson Valley Branch. In this case, there is no small print and no asterisk with a list of exclusions.  The concept is simple: The Carson Valley Inn is paying all costs associated with Eddie Money's appearance including his fee (not small), the rooms and other amenities for Eddie and his band, the lighting, the sound and the myriad of "extra requirements" that entertainers always have. The tickets are $60 each – which includes two drinks - and all $60 goes to the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada, Carson Valley Branch.

Putting This in Perspective (we all need a frame of reference): For the last few years the major B & G Club fundraiser for the Carson Valley Branch was held in a big hangar at Minden-Tahoe Airport and last year a $75 ticket gave you a nice BBQ buffet and a comedian. Plus, buying raffle tickets was a must (how much ya got in yer wallet there, mista?!). So $60 for this year is actually not bad for an evening of entertainment with Eddie Money and a couple of cocktails in a venue perfect for comfortable concert viewing while mingling  the great people who make this one of the best places to live in the country! Oh, and of course there is the built-in bonus of a quick glance to your right for another spectacular Carson Valley sunset over the majestic Sierra Range!

But Wait, There's More! The auction prior to the concert has some top-notch items that don't come our way very often (probably an understatement) including a VIP Trip for 2 to the 2015 Academy Of Country Music Awards in the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, a VIP Trip for 2 to Del Mar Race Track, a VIP Trip for 2 to an Atlanta Falcons game as a guest of Coach Mike Tice and the right to name one of Mike Pegram's future race horses. Don't worry, this auction will not "drag on" – we promise. All proceeds from this auction also go to the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada, Carson Valley Branch.

Bottom Line: If we all get out and support the concert, and the auction items bring anywhere near their value, the total raised could hit six figures – that's as in $100,000+! So, Eddie Money can mean Big Money for the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada, Carson Valley Branch! For sponsorship packages that also include spots in the Mike Tice Charity Golf Tournament the next day, call Jeri at 775-771-6432. To buy concert tickets online, click here.

Be sure to keep tabs on all of our upcoming concerts and we hope to see you often at TJ's Corral!

Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge this Week: Steve Lord performs tonight, Midnight Express appears Thursday through Saturday and George Pickard takes the stage Sunday day through next Wednesday.

We'd Like to Hear from You! 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!