CVI Best of Carson Valley,$10,000 Guaranteed Giveaway Tuesday,Candy Dance Shuttle, More

We're Number One! Blah, blah, blah . . . any company can hype or "twist" the facts or numbers to make the We're Number One claim in one area or another. In this case, we're just reporting what the 40,000+ votes in The Record Courier's Best of Carson Valley poll will show this Friday: The Carson Valley Inn won a whopping 19 awards – ten for 1st place and the other nine for 2^nd or 3^rd. Wow – we are honored! We'll proudly put these 19 kudos next to our 2014 Best Casino in Nevada award as voted by the print and online readers of Nevada Magazine!

September $10,000 Cash Giveaway Drawings Conclude Next Tuesday: We're bringing September to an end Inn Style next Tuesday evening by giving away the rest of our guaranteed $10,000 between the Carson Valley Inn and Bodine's casino. CVI drawings are at 6 & 8 p.m.

The annual Genoa Candy and Craft Faire is this Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. As a friendly reminder, downtown Genoa is closed to through traffic from 7 a.m. to early evening both days so you'll have to use Jacks Valley Road if you are heading to either of the Genoa Lakes golf courses. To help make it easier for you to attend the event, the Town of Genoa is running Shuttle Service between the Carson Valley Inn and Genoa during the Candy Dance hours. The fare is $3 round trip, payable to the driver.

Speaking of Genoa, our friends at Getaway Reno/Tahoe ran a great blog about Genoa last week and we are pleased share it with you along with the above video on Genoa. 

Update on Scheduled Bus Service between Reno Airport and Carson Valley: We spoke to the folks at Amador Stage Lines a few days ago and they are still on target to start this service in early November. The schedule is just about finalized and there will be four round-trips 7 days a week between the Carson Valley and Reno (both the airport and downtown). They hope to have complete details finalized in about 10 days.

This Part's About Golf:

• Golf Joke Contest Winner: Congratulations to Darrell Schue of Lake Tahoe who won a spot on the Divine Nine Golf Media Tour next Tuesday with the golf joke he submitted in the Hooked on Golf contest we mentioned the last two weeks. We got a chance to look at the top half-dozen jokes and, as you might expect with golf jokes, they were all quite humorous . . . and most a little too risqué for our blog. 
• This is No Joke: What we can and will mention is the incredible popularity the Carson Valley Inn enjoys as headquarters for about 100 different golf groups each year. We arrange all of the tee times, food and beverage functions, side trips for the non-golfers, etc. Many groups have already booked for 2015 and we'd welcome the opportunity to learn more about your group. Click here for a starting look at our golf package approach and then give Greg a call at 775-783-6615 for more information!

Events at the Inn: The Business Council of Douglas County Critical Issues Conference is sold out for this Thursday but there are still tickets available for the Douglas County Republican Women Dinner & Fashion Show this Saturday. Call Janet at 775-267-2991. The playing spots are now all filled for the Bunko for Breast Cancer fundraising event on Saturday, October 11. If you'd like to get on a waiting list, or to make a donation to the cancer center or provide a prize for the event, contact Pamela at 775-215-1027. There are many more community events coming up in our Valley Ballroom this fall and we will continue to mention them here in our blog. If you are interested in holding a banquet, Christmas party, meeting, seminar or other function in our convention center, please call Carrie at 775-783-6673.

Interesting, Helpful and Occasionally Even Useful Tidbits and News:

• Mike's Horses:  Global Hottie returned from a 10-month break to win the  feature race for California-bred fillies and mares at Los Alamitos last Thursday. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Global Hottie has two wins in three career starts. West coast thoroughbred racing now shifts to the L.A. area as the fall season starts at Santa Anita Park this weekend. It's all leading up to the Breeders' Cup races at Santa Anita on October 31 and November 1. Remember, we have full pari-mutuel horse betting at both the Carson Valley Inn and Bodines Casino. Bet the horses, watch the races, have a snack delivered to your seat and then go through the cycle again when the football games start!
• Progressive Pro PK'em Jackpot: the pot is now hovering at $3000 for this weekend's games . . . simply pick the card's 15 NFL winners straight up and the jackpot is yours. It's just $5 and you can enter as often as you like!
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret: George Pickard appears tonight, After Dark entertains Thursday – Saturday, NFL Football fills the Cabaret Sunday and Monday nights and Paul Covarelli takes the stage Tuesday and Wednesday.
• This Week's Game-On Fridays special in CV Steak is Roasted Stuffed Quail with Prosciutto, Wild Rice and Cherry Port glaze served with  tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato - au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked potato . . . all for $27.00!
• Ladies' Night –Tonight! Each of tonight's Hot Seat winners will receive a gift basket from World Market and the first 150 ladies to check in tonight will receive a specially made CVI logo cookie from the local Chocolate Shoppe in Gardnerville.

Your Turn to Talk to Us! Use the comments section below and let us know your comments, suggestions or questions. You can also 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!

Clay Shoot Weekend, New Visitors Guide, Lots More

2015 Clay Shoot Details Set: We've lined up all the details and have the registration form ready for our 2015 Clay Shooting Weekend on February 19 – 21 and we hope you'll check it out. There's a Thursday reception, Friday sporting clays at Walker River Resort, Saturday sporting clays at Carson Valley Clays, a Saturday Awards Dinner and some new twists this year.Not a clay shooter? Please pass this along to a friend or relative who enjoys this sport!

Deadlines are Imminent for:

• Golf Joke Contest Deadline is Noon Today to Win 3 nights at CVI & 3 Rounds of Golf: Quick -  go to this link for the details and send your best golf joke by noon today! We guarantee the winner will have an experience you won't soon forget – for more on the "fun" part, scroll down and read last Wednesday's Blog.
• The Annual Bunko for Breast Cancer Party is just over 3 weeks away and the deadline for getting your official t-shirt is coming up even sooner – this Friday, September 19! All t-shirt funds raised will be go directly to Carson Tahoe Resource Center for Bunko for Breast Cancer.

The Northern California PGA Chapter held their Northern California Senior Open Championship at nearby Clear Creek Tahoe earlier this week and congratulations to Shawn McEntee, a PGA instructor at Chardonnay Golf Club who won by one stroke over Stuart Smith, Director of Golf at Somersett Golf and Country Club in Reno. What does this have to do with the Carson Valley Inn? For starters, many of the participants including the winner stayed here at the CVI on Sunday and Monday – another of the 100ish golf groups who headquarter at the CVI each year. Also, this is a good reason to remind all of our golfing guests there is still time to enjoy golf at Clear Creek Tahoe this year if you are staying at the CVI. Call Greg at 775-783-6615 for more on golf group packages or access to Clear Creek!

A CV Steak Did Ya Know? CV Steak at the Carson Valley Inn is the only restaurant in our area that offers tableside tossed salad – and it's included with every entrée!! Choose our house-made special dressing (sure, we'll let you taste it first) or a dressing of your choice – it's the last thing to go on before the tossing begins. Our tip for a relatively unusual and exceptionally special CV Steak appetizer? The Salmon Tartare – try it!  While not mandatory, reservations are always suggested and sometimes necessary for CV Steak – call today at 775-783-6650.

Four Ways to Check Out the new Carson Valley Visitors Guide! This very new (came from the printer Monday) 42-page Guide  is full of information about all there is to do, experience, see and enjoy in the beautiful Carson Valley. Check it out in one of these ways:

• To read the guide online, Click Here. thesr is also an option to download a PDF file,
• To request one by mail, Click Here.
• Stop by the Carson Valley Inn Bell Desk or the Carson Valley Visitors Authority and pick one up in person!

Don't Just Talk the Talk . . . Walk the Walk!

• Walk for Wine: The season's last Thirsty Third Thursday Wine Walk is tomorrow from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and the theme is "Happy Birthday Nevada!" Register at the Town of Gardnerville Offices or Stratton Center North near Big Daddy’s Bike Shop and enjoy the wine stops at many of our local merchants.
• Walk for Health:  Enjoy the great trails system in the Carson Valley Hike for Health Trail Adventure Day this Saturday, September 20.

Poker Fun to Help Basketball Programs: Stop by our Valley Ballroom this Saturday night and jump in on the special poker tournament to benefit the Douglas High School basketball program. Just $40 gets you in and prizes are $500 for first place and $250 for second place. For more information, call Steve Walsh at 267-4321. 

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

• Progressive Pro PK'em Jackpot Climbs: As you might expect from the upsets the first two weeks, our Progressive Pro PK'em Jackpot hasn't hit yet. $2,825 is now up for grabs – simply pick the winners straight up of the 15 NFL Games on the card and the jackpot is yours . . . just $5 and a shot, enter as often as you want!
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret: Steve Lord appears tonight, Lisa-Marie Johnston entertains Thursday – Saturday, NFL Football fills the Cabaret Sunday and Monday nights and  George Pickard takes the stage Tuesday and Wednesday. Lisa Marie Johnston ("LMJ") is a singer & songwriter from Oakland who blends country, Americana and blues into a unique style she calls "Stomp and Groove."   A regular in the Fillmore Poster Room at the historic Fillmore West in San Francisco, she has also played venues in New York City and New Orleans. Joining Lisa this weekend are Arion Salazar (Third Eye Blind) on bass, Isaac Bolivar (Taking Back Sunday) on guitar and John Morales (Ten Mile Tide) on drums.
• Don't Duck this Punch Next Time: If you passed on last Saturday's boxing in TJ's Corral because you saw the words "collegiate" or "exhibition" or "amateur," . . . consider that your "oops" for the month. All the bouts were quite exciting with two being won by TKO and one by knockout. Our thanks goes out to all the boxers, trainers, coaches, judges, referees, announcer and ringside doctors who conducted the day just like any professional card. When this event pops up next year, mark it on your calendar and don't miss it!
• Reminder: Coach Brian Polian's Wolf Pack Blitz lunch at the Carson Valley Inn originally scheduled for this coming Monday, September 22 will now be on Monday, November 3.
• Ladies' Night –Tonight! Each of tonight's Hot Seat winners will receive a surprise gift basket (Julie was still assembling them when we wrote this last night) and the first 150 ladies to check in tonight will receive an acrylic cup with lid & straw. Local merchants interested in getting involved in our Ladies' Night promotion; please contact Stephanie at 775-783-7711. We gather six hot seat prizes and 150 of something every week! 
• Next time you see our dealer D.J. in the Poker Room, ask him about his golf game!

A Look Ahead:

• The Carson Valley Inn won a whole bunch of Best of Carson Valley awards in The Record Courier's recent poll and we are sworn to secrecy until the official announcement . . . but we will leak some of the info next Wednesday.
• The Carson Valley Visitors Authority's new online Interactive Map is almost ready – we'll let you know more as soon as some of the final details are tweaked.

We'd Like to Hear from You! Use the comments section below and let us know your comments, suggestions or questions. You can also 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!

Win a 3-Night Golf Trip to CVI, Boxing this Saturday, More

Win 3 Nights at the CVI and 3 Rounds of Golf - No Joke!!  If you are a golfer,  you definitely want to read this one. Your best golf joke can win you exactly what the headline states and more. One of the rounds of golf is part of the Divine 9 Golf Media Tour on Tuesday, September 30. On the surface, it's a round of golf. However, it is one of the most unique rounds of golf you will ever play: two holes at each of nine area courses - all in one day! You start with breakfast at o dark thirty, the bus leaves at dawn and you'll be joining a dozen media types who will be writing about, tweeting, blogging, or recording the day's events to help promote the courses and lodging in our area. This day is not for the feeble. It's long, the crowd gets loud towards the end of the day, and there's no time for practice swings or whining. There are plenty of liquid refreshments on the bus, lunch and snacks are included, and everyone gathers for dinner at the JT Restaurant and Bar after the last two holes at the end of the day - and it's all included. Sound like something you'd enjoy? Here's how you enter: Go to this link for the details and then just send your best golf joke by noon on Wednesday, September 17. We guarantee the winner will have a golf and social experience you won't soon forget.

The Collegiate and Amateur Boxing card in TJ's Corral this Saturday starts at 4 p.m. and tickets are just $10 . . . get 'em online or at the hotel desk. Catch boxers from Nevada, Airforce Academy, Cal and Washington as they tune up for the 2015 season.  You'll see 2014 National Champions and National finalists in action and have a chance to meet the Nevada Boxing coaches and some of the Nevada Boxing alumni.

Was that the Real Billy Joel? If you thought you heard Billy Joel singing in TJ's Corral last Saturday . . . it wasn't the real Billy Joel!  We had a summer BBQ for our INN Club members with a Billy Joel Tribute Act as the evening's entertainment. Why point this out? It's just another reminder to use your INN Club card whenever you play at the CVI. All the invites to this event went to folks who had earned a certain level of points in the past few months and, the best part: No points were charged to attend the event! We have more of these events coming up . . . so please always use your card!

100 Days 'Til Ski Season: Actually, as of today, there are 72 days 'til ski season . . . because we are just now getting around to including this link to the "100" list that our friends at Heavenly Lake Tahoe send us on August 13. So, you can go through the first 28 days on fast-forward and pick up from today, scan thru all 100, or pick 'n' choose as you wish. No matter how you shake it, Ski Season is on the horizon and the Carson Valley Inn will be posting our 2014/15 Ski Packages soon! And for the record: we're going to take a swipe at the day-71 tip as soon as it warms up today!

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

• We mentioned a lot of the details of our NFL Football Promotions  last week but forgot to remind you that that our Bar Bites Snacks are available during all games (because they are served 24/7) and we invite you to check out the offerings at This Link. Nothing like having food delivered to your seat while you watch sports at the CVI!
• Speaking of Football - After Further Review: Nevada Football's first 2-0 start since 2010 has everyone pumped up at the University of Nevada and "things" are happening fast . . . including a change in date for Coach Brian Polian's Wolf Pack Blitz lunch at the Carson Valley Inn. Originally scheduled for September 22, the trip to Minden by the Coach and Athletic Department staff will now be on Monday, November 3. All other details are the same: The cost is $17 per person and advance reservations are a must through the University of Nevada Athletic Department at 775-682-6901.
  
• This Week's Game-On Fridays special in CV Steak is Seared and Braised Antelope with Cranberry Port Glaze and Smoked Potato Croquettes, served with  tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato - au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked potato . . . all for just $26.00!
• Congratulations to last night's winners in our September Blackjack Tournament as the top 3 finishers shared the prize pool of $1250. Mickey Bennett finished first for $625. Second place and $375 was won by Joshua Gutierrez. The $250 for third place went to Ron Perreira. It's just a $25 buy-in and the next monthly tournament is Tuesday, October 14.
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret: Dale Poune appears tonight, The Vegas Road Show entertains Thursday – Saturday, NFL Football fills the Cabaret Sunday and Monday nights and Steve Lord takes the stage Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Ladies' Night –Tonight! Each of tonight's Hot Seat winners will receive a Cosmetic Travel
  
  Bag filled with goodies assembled by Julie and Stephanie. And the first 150 ladies to check in tonight will receive a deco-magnet (some pictured). Remember, if you are a local merchant interested in getting involved in our Ladies' Night promotion, please contact Stephanie at 775-783-7711. We are looking for six hot seat prizes and 150 of something smaller every week!
• A reminder about two big events in our Valley Ballroom this Weekend:
• The Sierra Nevada Republican Women “September 11” Dinner is Friday evening. Tickets for this official NV Sesquicentennial event are available thru Nancy, 775-267-6937.
• The Friends of the NRA dinner is Saturday and last minute tickets are available through Blayne at 775-450-2349. 

What's On Your Mind? 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!

Ten September Activities, Community Events at the CVI, Bakery Topples Blog Writers, Much More

Sunset at the Charlie Daniels Band Concert Courtesy of Brian Aspenleiter

A September Top Ten! September is the ideal time to stay at the CVI and enjoy our area's recreation and adventure. Here are just a few of our suggestions:

• Go Soaring at Minden-Tahoe Airport (775-782-9595)
• Experience Skydiving (on your bucket list?) at Minden-Tahoe Airport (775-790-7602)
• Marvel at The Fall Colors in Hope Valley on Hwy 88
• Take A Hike on one of the many Carson Valley Trails (775-782-8145)
• View Lake Tahoe from above with a Hot Air Balloon Ride (775-790-7572)
• Take a Walking Tour of Minden's Historic District (775-782-8145)
• Stroll thru Nevada's oldest settlement with a Walking Tour of Genoa (775-782-8145)
• Take home one of the top three cash prizes in the CVI Monthly Blackjack Tournament this coming Tuesday, Sep. 9
• Sip Wine & Visit Local Shops at the Thirsty Third Thursday Wine Walk on Sep. 18 (775-782-8027)
• Feast on a Fantastic Dinner in CV Steak! 

Our Community Comes Together at the CVI! Our Valley Ballroom is in the spotlight this fall with many of our community's most prestigious organizations holding annual events. As always, one of the benefits of holding these events at the Carson Valley Inn is the assistance we often lend in getting the word out (space available, of course). Some of the upcoming events (all numbers are area code 775): Sierra Nevada Republican Women 911 Dinner on Friday Sep. 12, an official NV Sesquicentennial event (Nancy, 267-6937), Friends of the NRA Dinner on Sat., Sep., 13 (Blayne, 450-2349), Douglas County Republican Women Dinner & Fashion Show on Sat., Sep. 27 (Janet, 267-2991),  Business Council of Douglas County Critical Issues Conference on Thu., Sep. 25 (Renea, 782-6715), Bunko for Breast Cancer on Sat. Oct. 11 (Pamela, 215-1027),  D.A.W.G. Celebrity DAWG Pound Dinner & Comedy Show on Sat., Oct. 18 (Allison, 267-7325) and A Touch of Class Show on Oct. 23 – 25 (Sue, 265-1097).  To book your next event, convention, reception, meeting or reunion at the CVI, call Carrie at 775-783-6673.

Please Don't Forget these Two Events Coming This Month:

Garrett Felling at Nevada
Boxing Hall of Fame
Induction Last Month

• The Collegiate and Amateur Boxing in TJ's Corral on September 13 presents a great opportunity to see some National Collegiate Boxing Association Champions in action including Nevada boxer Garrett Felling who won the NCBA boxing title last spring at 185 pounds and Jacob Berggren who captured the NCBA 139-pound championship title over Nevada's JJ Mariano. You'll also get a chance to meet the Nevada Boxing coaches and many Nevada Boxing alumni, a caring brotherhood of now successful businessmen who continue to keep the sport alive and well. Tickets are just $10 and are available online.
• Nevada Coach Brian Polian's Visit is less than three weeks away so plan now to attend his Nevada Wolf Pack Blitz buffet lunch here at the CVI on Monday, September 22. The cost is $17 per person and advance reservations are a must through the University of Nevada Athletic Department. Please call 775-682-6901 by Friday, September 19.

CVI Bakers 2, CVI Blog Writers 0:

• They Threw a Cupcake at Me! Last week we mentioned a great deal for September: 50% off
  
  when paying with points in Katie's on Tuesday's from 2 – 10 p.m. We also mentioned that on Mondays in September, when you earn 125 points that day, you can just swing by the casino kiosk and swipe your card for a Free Omelet  or Free $6.99 Platter that same day. About an hour after last week's blog went live, a couple of the bakers showed up in the Blog Office and pelted us with cupcakes. Good thing for us the cupcakes are always fresh and thus the damage was more embarrassment than the "ouch" which would come from a stale cupcake. The reason for the onslaught? We forgot to mention that every Monday in September all bakery items at the Katie's counter are 50% off when paying with points!
• And Then They Attacked Our Waistlines!  A day later, a frequent CVI Guest Reggie Gold asked an innocent question on our Facebook Page inquiring about what flavor of pies we would have that weekend. Foolishly, one of us went down to the bakery to ask. A half hour later we had been sweet-talked into tasting all of the weekend's offerings and the result?? Not even a dent could be made with 50 minutes on the treadmill that night!
• Bottom Line: Our bakery operates seven days a week making the cakes, pies, cupcakes, cookies, brownies and other goodies served in our restaurants and sold at the bakery display at the entrance to Katie's. Order is advance for birthdays, anniversaries, office or home open houses or receptions, holidays, or any special occasion. The heavy volume of sales assures freshness and, as we found out, if you try to eat a whole room full of this stuff (way past the "moderation" level) by yourself, it will require a few extra minutes on the treadmill . . .but it's worth it!!

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

• NFL Football Starts This Weekend and we're all set with Parlay Cards, our Progressive Pro Pick'em where you pick the NFL games without a point spread, beer specials during all NFL Games including Bud & Bud Light draft beer for just $2 and $1 off all other Anheuser-Busch draft beers, Monday Night Football drawings and more!
• We are in touch weekly with the folks at Amador Stage Lines as they work out the details for Scheduled Bus Service between Reno Airport and Carson Valley. Their web site should be coming soon with rates, schedules and a more definitive starting date.
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret: Jonathan "JB" Barton appears tonight, Steppen Stonz entertains Thursday – Saturday, NFL Football fills the Cabaret Sunday and Monday nights and  Dale Poune takes the stage Tuesday and Wednesday.
• This Week's Game-On Fridays special in CV Steak is Grilled Game Brochette with marinated Buffalo and Antelope, Venison and Alligator Sausage finished with a red wine demi and served with tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato - au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked potato . . . all for $28.00!
• Ladies' Night –Tonight! Each of tonight's Hot Seat winners will receive a Gift Basket from
  
  The Blue Cow - a relatively new Gourmet Food Shop in The Record Courier center offering custom gift baskets and a wide array of food goodies and gifts for every foodie and cheese lover in your life. Oh, and the first 150 ladies to check in tonight will receive a lucky stone paperweight. If you are a local merchant interested in getting involved in our Ladies' Night promotion, please contact Stephanie at 775-783-7711. We are always looking for a few hot seat prizes and 150 of something – every week!
• Speaking of Gift Baskets: We saw the list of some of the Gift Baskets that will be auction prizes at the Bunko for Breast Cancer event in our Valley Ballroom on Saturday, October 11.Those dedicated ladies at GE are VERY creative!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You . . .

. . . for making the Charlie Daniels Band Concert a sell out and an overwhelming success.  At the top of today's blog is just one of the hundreds of stunning photos taken that night as the sun set in spectacular fashion over the Sierra Range. Thanks to Brian Aspenleiter of Minden Grill Company for sending us this one!

. . . for supporting the recent Austinpalooza which raised $7,435 for Austin's House. Left to right in the picture: Derek McReavy, Julie Keller and Chad Cox (all GE); Conrad Buedel, Austin's House; Bill Henderson and Stew Stewart (Carson Valley Inn).

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!