$99,000 Winner, CVI Birthday Party Saturday, Much More

CVI 31^st Birthday This Saturday, August 15:

31 years ago in the summer of 1984 the "Footloose" soundtrack was big, and Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," Duran Duran's "The Reflex" and "When Doves Cry" by the artist formerly known as Prince were the top hits. A then just-turned-20 Courteney Cox danced onstage with Bruce Springsteen in the video for "Dancing In the Dark" (starts at about 3:20 in the above video) and Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" was poised to take over the # 1 spot on the charts. "Ghostbusters" was riding high in the theatres after wrestling away the spotlight from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." The XXIII Olympiad in Los Angeles had us glued to our TVs as gymnast Mary Lou Retton captured our hearts. And during all of this, the Carson Valley Inn opened!! So much for our little trip down memory lane. Here's what's in store as we celebrate our 31^st Birthday this Saturday:

In the Casino:

·         Free Cake and Champagne from 2 to 3 p.m.

·         Free Birthday T-shirts distributed at random times throughout the day while they last.

·         Triple Points from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

·         Drawings for up to $5,000 at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.

In TJ's Corral:

·         Before the Concert from 6 to 7:30 p.m. we'll be serving free popcorn and free ice cream, $1.50 hot dogs, $2.00 hamburgers, $2.00 water and sodas and $5 draft beer.

·         The Davisson Brothers Band cranks it up at 7:30 p.m. and will keep it rockin' until about 10 p.m. Many of you who saw them in TJ's Corral back in June asked us to bring them back . . . so we did and this time it's free!

And the $99,000 Goes to . . . . Our Penny Progressive Jackpot finally "hit" on Monday night and the $99,000 went to a very happy Bob Hail pictured with his friend Janette. Bob is a CVI regular who usually plays the dollar video poker machines. He's been dabbling a little with the Penny Progressive since the jackpot got up so high, but then so have a lot of people! Anyway, on Monday night he and Janette stopped in for a bite to eat and she suggested they play the penny slots. Bob started getting bored, asked her to finish out the money he had in the machine, and she talked him into playing it out himself.  Just another chapter in the constantly-being-written book, "Behind Every Successful Man Is a Woman!"

But Wait, There's More . . . . Just as were were wrapping up this blog on Tuesday afternoon the bells and whistles started going off along the wall to the right as you walk in our main casino entrance. Seems the "Grand" Jackpot on the bank of 88 Fortune machines decided to make one of our players feel most fortunate to the tune of a $19,252.00 Jackpot!!

And Even More . . .  Player club members have been whittling away at the $80,000 Guaranteed Cash and FreePlay pool, but going into this weekend's drawings over half of this total is still up for grabs through the end of the month and we encourage you to get in on the winnings. You earn a drawing ticket for every five points you accumulate using your player card and drawings are every Friday and Saturday at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Check this page for more on this and other current casino promotions.   

Coming Up in TJs Corral:

• Austinpalooza: Be sure this one is on your calendar for Friday evening, September 11 from 5 to 10 PM. We have four local bands performing including Miki Rae, The Engineered Disaster (TED), Seymour's Trick Bag and Lavish Green. There is no admission charge, but the folks from Austin's House will gladly accept your donation at the door or during the concert.
• Lee Brice: Tickets went on sale last week for the September 18 “Jägermeister Presents: Lee Brice” concert and they are selling quite briskly. Above is Lee's "I Don't Dance" video . . . you can catch this and all of his other hits in TJ's Corral from Lee's Party Pit (standing – stage center), Reserved Seating or General Admission (standing) . . .  but don't wait too long 'cause this one is sure to be a sell-out! Buy tickets through our website, at our Hotel Desk or by calling 775-783-6606.

Aviation Roundup "Turning Final": A week from today the first Thunderbird jet will zoom overhead and the brief survey flights on Wednesday and Thursday will give way to a rehearsal on Friday and the full Carson Valley Aviation Roundup air show on Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23 at the Minden-Tahoe Airport.  Tickets are on sale at aviationroundup.com where you'll also find answers to common questions about the air show and information on all of the civilian acts that will precede the spectacular 45+ minute performance by the USAF Thunderbirds!

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

• Wednesday Ladies' Night 5:30 to 8:30 PM: The first 150 ladies to sign up tonight receive a free gift and coupon for tonight's ladies-only drink special.  There are also ladies-only hot seat drawings for Bath & Body Works Baskets and raffles.
• Elk Friday, Prime Rib Saturday, King Crab Sunday in CV Steak:  Our Friday Game Special this week is Grilled Elk Medallions for $30.00. Saturdays, CV Steak features Garlic Studded Prime Rib for $26 and Sundays the special is one pound of King Crab Legs for $32. All of these specials include fresh vegetable, choice of potato (au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked) and tableside tossed salad.
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge: Greg Austin performs solo tonight and with his band on Thursday night. The John Dawson Band entertains Friday and Saturday nights and George Pickard returns Sunday through Wednesday.  
• Race and Sports Book: You can watch and bet Horseracing, Major League Baseball games, winner of the PGA Championship (Jordan Speith is favored at 4 to 1, Tiger Woods is at 35 to 1) and this weekend's "Pure Michigan 400" NASCAR race. We're also taking futures bets to win most professional and collegiate championships. Our "local" teams odds to win the Super Bowl? As of yesterday, the Forty Niners were at 15 to 1 and the Raiders were 40 to 1.
• Flowery Branch, De Pere and Berea: What are these names . . . audible plays called in a football game (picture Peyton Manning yelling "Omaha, Omaha!). Not quite . . . they are all actual towns in which NFL teams hold their pre-season training. Find out more  about these towns and others in this interesting article on 10 Quirky Facts About NFL Preseason Towns.
• Blackjack Tournament Winners: Our monthly Blackjack Tournament last night paid a prize pool of $1475. Richard Leigh took the top prize of $740, Inga Silver finished second for $445 and Gary Griffith won the "show" money of $290. Next tournament is Tuesday, September 8.
• Because We Feel Like Mentioning It:  Sunday is Airbourne Day created to pay tribute to the courage and dedication of airborne members of the Armed Forces. We thought this would be a perfect segue into reminding our readers that 6 days later, the Misty Blues all-women sky diving team will kick off the Aviation Roundup by circling the American Flag as they descent into Minden-Tahoe Airport to the singing of the Star Spangled Banner!

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