The Volcano, The French Disaster, A Craft Show and More

The Volcano Barely Edges The Hangover! Sounds like the headlines the day after a bout between two boxers with quirky names!  If you read our blog last week, you'll know these are both specialty hamburgers we serve in the Jackpot Café at Sharkey's Casino. And the truth is, The Volcano barely did edge The Hangover for first place in the Burger Wars poll by carsonvalleytimes.com so The Volcano joins the top three finishers in the 2014 Burger Wars poll for the 2015 Finals voting which starts this coming Monday at carsonvalleytimes.com.  

I may not look hot, but read about me . . . I am!

The Volcano is definitely a unique burger. We start with ground beef and ground chorizo and combine them together in a mixture percentage known only to Chef Bruce at Sharkey's. A beginning amount of ghost pepper cheese (pretty darn hot stuff!) is folded into this meat mixture. The burger is then cooked and additional ghost pepper cheese is melted on top. We add a secret spicy sauce and sprinkle on some volcano dust, a seasoning blend of some pretty spicy peppers (again known only to Chef Bruce). We serve it up with a stack of french fries or, for a small extra charge you can get sweet potato waffle fries which tend to ease the “heat” of the burger.

If you think The Volcano is close to the edge of the charts, be sure to check one of the other finalists, the “not for lightweights” CV Steak Gourmet Burger available in two versions: The French Disaster and The American Disaster.  We start with two half-pound Char Broiled Burger Patties made from choice Filet Mignon, New York and Rib Eye Steak ground in house. Toppings and additions include Jack and Cheddar Cheese, Smoked Tomato, Pickled Cucumber Slices, an Onion Ring and Truffle Oil Mayonnaise. The French Disaster is topped with Duck liver "Foie Gras" and a Quail Egg . . . The American Disaster is topped with Applewood-Smoked Bacon. This monstrosity is served with Fresh Potatoes, French Fried and lathered with butter and garlic Parsley. Most people can't finish this gigantuous $19 feast but they often come back to try again!

The 15th Annual Touch of Class Craft Show is this Thursday through Saturday in our Valley Ballroom from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day. A Touch of Class is a unique craft show as all of the twodozen plus crafters sell items handmade here in Nevada, there are no booths, and there are central cashiers eliminating the need to purchase items from individual crafters. For more information, contact Sue at 775-265-1097. Or, better yet, catch this 3-minute clip with Melissa Carlson that aired on MyNews4 and Fox 11 News earlier this week. Great coverage of everything you can expect!

Good Game Last Week Coach! The Nevada Wolf Pack looked good in their win over New Mexico last Saturday and Coach Brian Polian shared the highlights with those attending the weekly Blitz Lunch last Monday – but it was in Reno (boo). The Pack is at Wyoming this Saturday and they then host Hawaii on Saturday, October 24^th. Win or lose that week, Coach Polian will be here at the Carson Valley Inn for his Blitz Lunch in our Valley Ballroom on Monday, October 26 and let’s hope the film and player highlights he shares are of a big win over the Rainbow Warriors! All Wolfpack fans are invited to attend . . . and we make it easy on you as no reservations are necessary, just show up for the start of the gathering at 11:30 a.m. and pay at the door (under $20).

Fun Bunko - Serious Cause: Time to get serious about participating in the annual Bunko for Breast Cancer event in the CVI Valley Ballroom on Saturday night, October 24. There are lots of ways you can get involved including assembling and sponsoring a team, sponsoring a table, giving a cash donation, donating prizes for the raffle or auction, or just throwing your hat into the ring to help in whatever way is needed. The Bunko for Breast Cancer Webpage has links to just about anything that might trigger your involvement. So how many are on a bunco team? What kind of prizes are they looking for? What’s the dress theme?  Heck, we don't know all the answers . . . we're still befuddled by why this group spells it "Bunko" when everything we've found says "Bunco!" For the answers to these and other questions, call Sheila at 775-215-1626.​

Race and Sports Book:

• This week you can watch and bet Horseracing, the Major League Baseball playoffs (3 series finale showdowns between today and tomorrow), NFL and College Football, and Sunday’s NASCAR Hollywood Casino 400 at the Kansas Speedway.
• The PRO PK’EM jackpot is $3,358 on this week’s progressive parlay card.
• Football games our sports book crew is watching with interest this weekend include the Michigan (#7) vs. Michigan State (#12) game on Saturday, all the Sunday NFL games involving the remaining unbeaten teams and the Giants vs. Eagles game on Monday night. They also gave us a “sure bet” – the Atlanta Falcons will remain undefeated after this weekend! Of course we all know about the uncertainty of a "sure bet!"

Main Street Minden Fall Fling This Saturday: The Main Street Minden Fall Fling this Saturday, October 17 is from 3 to 9 pm on Esmeralda Street, a short walk from the CVI. Food available for purchase includes soups, stuffed mushrooms, chips and salsa, fabulous BBQ appetizers and more. There will also be hot cocoa, 12 beers on tap and other beverages for sale. Kids activities include balloon animals, Photobooth by Legendary Entertainment, pumpkin decorating and story teller Captain Michael. While the adults enjoy more food and beverage along Esmeralda Street, the kids can watch the movie Frankenweenie in the CVIC Hall with FREE adult supervision, and popcorn from Ironwood Cinemas. Find out more on the Main Street Minden Webpage or call Sheila at (775) 309-1101.  

Cabaret Lounge Entertainment – No Cover, No Minimum – Free! Josh Budro performs tonight, the The Voodoo Cowboys make their CVI Cabaret Lounge debut Thursday thru Saturday nights, NFL Football is on Sunday and Monday Nights and George Pickard appears next Tuesday and Wednesday.   Playing together since 2009, the Voodoo Cowboys have appeared at most major casino venues in Nevada. Not the “cryin' in your beer” type country band, they are the life of the party with their dance-inducing, hard drivin' country music and rock ‘n’ roll. The group has rocked crowds on numerous stages around the world, as well as sharing stages with such rock and country stars as David Nail, Little Texas, Ron Keel, Toby Keith and many more. George Pickard is an early-week regular at the CVI. He co-wrote What Did You Do with Your Old Forty Fives for Bobby Vinton and was also one of the Kingsmen (Louie, Louie) for a while.

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 blue or silver water bottle  and coupon for tonight's ladies-only drink special.  There are also ladies-only raffles and hot seat drawings for Wine Country Gift Gift Baskets. Also just for October: Earn just 50 points during Ladies Night and receive a free ladies shirt plus you keep the points! Tonight’s free shirt is a pink short sleeve t-shirt.
• Quail Friday, Prime Rib Saturday, King Crab Sunday in CV Steak:  Our Friday Special this week is Roasted Stuffed Quail with prosciutto, wild rice and plum port glaze for $28.00. Saturday night its Garlic Studded Prime Rib for $26 and Sunday's special is one pound of King Crab Legs for $32. All these 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:
• Today is National Dessert Day. Best we can interpret the meaning, everyone is supposed to disregard calorie, fat, or sugar content and just gobble it all down. We're neither suggesting that you do this nor suggesting that you don't. However, if it sounds good, the desserts in Katie's and CV Steak are here to help you.
• Friday is Bosses Day. The theory is that it doesn't hurt to be nice to your boss at least one day a year! And if you decide to write your boss and note, please make sure that your spelling and grammar are correct as Friday is also Dictionary Day.
• Saturday is Wear Something Gaudy Day. For some of us, that just means that what we wear every day is somewhat acceptable and tolerated one day a year.
• Monday is Evaluate Your Life Day. Probably falls at a good time especially if you overate on the National Dessert Day, took the wrong approach on Bosses Day, and really went overboard on Wear Something Gaudy Day!
• Next Wednesday is National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day and rumor has it we will have fresh made (in our bakery) pumpkin cheesecake for sale in Katie's and at the Katie's bakery counter. 

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!

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!

Football Returns, Chris Young Video, Half Off Tuesdays, Another Throw Back Thirty Picture

Football Season is Here!  Yesterday the season's first Parlay Card came out at the

Sports Book and it's all College this week with 41 games from which to choose. Starting next Thursday, the NFL returns and we're ready with: 

• Our Progressive Pro Pick'em offers a special $5 parlay card each week with all the NFL games and you pick winners without a point spread. Pick 'em all and win a minimum of $2,500 (ties split)!
• During all NFL Games, Bud & Bud Light draft beer is just $2 and all other Anheuser-Busch draft beers are $1 off.
• Monday Night Football drawings are held for items such as NFL hats, CVI shirts, Budweiser merchandise and other prizes.
• Also every Monday: two guests will be drawn to qualify for the Super Bowl Ultimate Tail Gate Package including two tickets to any Raider's home game in 2015, a BBQ grill, a $100 meat gift certificate to Costco, a Bud Light Easy-Up canopy, a couple of cases of Bud beer and assorted Bud Light T-shirts, hats and promotional items. 

When Aw Naw is Ah Yes! Whether you were there or not, this video of the Chris Young concert really gives the feel for what it's like attending a young country artist's concert at TJ's Corral! Thanks to all who made this concert a sell-out!  And thanks also for making this Friday's Charlie Daniels Band Concert another sell-out 'cause Minden's Gonna Do It Again with this Long Haired Country Boy!

More on Coach Polian's Visit: We now have more details on Nevada Wolf Pack Coach Brian Polian's visit to the Carson Valley Inn for a Blitz buffet lunch on Monday, September 22. The doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the program begins at noon. Coach's candor, insight and humor was quite entertaining last year and we encourage all football enthusiasts to enjoy his presentation and jump in with questions. 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.

More Throwback Thirty: So we cheated a little last week with the picture of the CVI from a little less than 30 years ago. We'll go the other way this time and use a picture (above) from late 1983 shortly after groundbreaking. Using the Comments section below, can you tell us the approximate vantage point from which this picture was taken? Do you know what ever became of the structures on the left behind the construction equipment? And how about the small light green house in the background center . . . does anyone remember what two incidents happened the week before it met its demise?

Ya Just Had to Be There! Like the Flying Elvi, Giant Sand Castle and Splash Dogs that helped us celebrate our Birthday in recent Augusts past, the LivFast crew featuring X-Games Gold Medalist Lance Courey didn't disappoint last Sunday. Many aerial jumps, stunts, oohs and aahas plus over a dozen birthday cakes, cases of champagne, a thousand free anniversary tee shirts, the Blues Monsters, piles of free popcorn (wind + popcorn = mess), hundreds of free ice cream sandwiches, families and a zillion kids enjoying it all – what a day and night!

Run That By Me Again!? Our September casino promotions start next week, but here's a peak ahead. We'll start with the part that has even the Blog Department amazed. Inn Club members earn 5X Points on Saturdays and then get 50% off when paying with points in Katie's on Tuesday's from 2 to10 p.m. We're confident our Casino Marketing and Accounting folks checked in advance to make sure this makes financial sense, but it sounds to us writers as if this is a "don't miss" opportunity to dine in Katie's on Tuesdays for "pennies on the dollar!" Add in that CVI points have 5 times the value of the place just down the street (yep, we checked it out ourselves on the video reels and that's the majority of our slot play) and the multiplier effect becomes so high we can't even see it! Here's another one that has us non-numbers-types scratching our heads: On Mondays in September, when you earn 125 points that day, you just swing by the casino kiosk and swipe your card for a Free Omelet or Free $6.99 Platter (we have 6 of 'em on the menu) that same day. Plus, you keep the 125 points!

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

• A reminder that the '65 Mustang Coup will be given away this Saturday at Bodines Casino. The drawings are at 5 & 7 p.m.
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret: Greg Austin appears tonight, Stew Stewart entertains Thursday – Sunday and Jonathan "JB" Barton takes the stage Monday thru Wednesday.
• This Week's Game-On Fridays special in CV Steak is Mesquite Smoked Buffalo Prime Rib, a 10 oz. carving of American Bison Prime Rib, seasoned with a rock salt mixture of herbs, cold smoked and slow roasted to retain juices. Served with creamed horseradish, tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato - au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked potato . . . all for $32.00!
• Ladies' Night Gifts & Prizes: Each of tonight's Hot Seat winners will receive a Gift Basket from World Market . . . and the first 150 ladies will receive clip-on book lights. Next Wednesday night there will be more stuff from The Blue Cow (Blue Cow? We'll explain next Wednesday).
• Coming next Wednesday's blog: A September Top Ten Recreational & Adventure Activities in our area and an update on the scheduled bus service between Carson Valley and Reno Airport.

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!