On the Road Again, Wearin' A Rose in Sharkey's, Lightning Strikes Again, More from the Carson Valley Inn

On the Road Again

No . . .  this is not a hint that Willie Nelson is coming to TJ’s Corral . . . although that certainly would be exciting news! On the Road is the giant board game associated with the weekend drawings in our 3 Harleys and 7.5 Million Points promotion going on from 7 to 8:30 PM every Friday - and “again” on Saturday - through October 26. The fun ramps up as we pick ten winners in drawings every 15 minutes starting at 7:00 PM. Each of these folks receives two Golden Tickets for the grand finale Harley Giveaway on Wednesday, October 30. All ten also pick a custom cookie provided by The Chocolate Shoppe and if your cookie has the face of Deanna, Phil, Nick, Jessica or Paul you go on to the 8:30 PM On the Road board game. With Deanna at the mic, there are then six rounds of picking giant playing cards to see how far you advance on the game board . . . from as few as one space for an Ace, up to 10 spaces for a face card and 12 spaces for a Joker. There are minor free prizes along the way and a bonus prize for making it to the finish line. Over 150,000 Free Points are given away each night based on your order of finish including 50,000 Free Points to the first place finisher! Want in on the fun and Free Points? Simply use your INN Club card whenever playing at the CVI and listen for your name to be called starting at 7:00 PM this Friday and Saturday! Check at Guest services for all the promotion details.

On the Road Game Pieces

A Lady Walks into Sharkey’s Wearing a Rose . . .

Sip 'n' Sweets is the theme for the final Third Thursday Wine Walk in Gardnerville this week from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. And for any participating ladies who walk into Sharkey’s wearing a rose, we’ll know why – the first 50 ladies who check-in at one of the two start locations will receive a free rose courtesy of the event sponsor, Main Street Gardnerville (sweet, huh!) Get all the details at this link and be sure to walk through our sister property Sharkey’s Casino. We’ll “re-load” your commemorative glass at the Silver Dollar Bar during the walk . . . and provide you with an opportunity to chow down before, during or after the “Walk” with snacks at the Silver Dollar Bar and full dining in our Jackpot Café. Register in advance online or “day of” at the two check-in spots: Gardnerville Station (1395 US Highway 395 N) or Big Daddy’s Bicycles (1546 US Highway 395 N).

Michael & Darla Create Lightning!

Our Lightning Link Games continue to be enriching CVI players and a few days ago it was Michael (pictured above with his wife Darla) who cashed in. Darla is a fan of horses, and coincidentally (?)  Michael was playing the Best Bet horse race-themed Lightning Link game along the wall to the right as you come in the front casino entrance. Don’t know if the horse theme tied into the lucky outcome, but a $10,812 Jackpot was Michael’s payout on a 50-penny max bet!

RIP TJ’s Alum Eddie Money

Our thoughts go out to the family of Eddie Money who passed away last week. Eddie appeared in TJ’s Corral on June 21, 2014 as part of a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada, Carson Valley Branch. This Rolling Stone Article is a fitting summary of his career with links to some of his top hits videos.

This Week’s Promotions Lineup

• Ladies’ Night Wednesdays: The fun runs from 5:30 to 8:30PM including a Free Pen & Meat Rub for the first 150 ladies (over 100 include FreePlay), Garden Gourmet 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. See the On the Road article above and get in on the drawings every Friday and Saturday!  
• Point Party Sunday: You’ll be earning anywhere from 2X to 10X Points from noon to 7 PM 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

• We’ll be paying attention to this Phone Chatter:  We’re talking about the Phone Chatter Stakes at Los Alamitos this Thursday and we’ll have our eye on Quality Response, a 2-year-old filly with some very strong CVI ties!
• And so after NFL Week Two:  
• Mike’s Musings:
• How is that possible - where are my chickens?  Two totals stood out on Sunday: The Packers/Vikings and Chiefs/Raiders. The Pack was up 21-10 at half as were the Chiefs 28-10.  Both of these games would surely make the over.  Well "Shirley," among the 4 teams, there were only 6 points scored in the second halves!
• What does it mean, when a team has "no chance"?  Let’s put it this way: at what odds would you be willing to bet $20 the Dolphins will win the Super Bowl? 1,000:1? 10,000:1?  How about $100? 
• The favorites went 7-9 against the spread in Week Two with 6 underdogs actually winning.
• A few of us were pondering: Before the season started, who would have predicted that after two weeks, the Niners would be 2-0 after two east coast games as underdogs AND both the Jets and Steelers would be 0-2 and looking at a quarterback predicament! 
• Our Pro Pick’em Progressive Jackpot is at $2,770 this week. Pick all 15 NFL winners on our weekly $5 Parlay Card and it’s yours. Each week it is not “hit,” the jackpot climbs 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 College and NFL 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 Playoffs, Horse Racing and this Saturday’s NASCAR Monster Energy Series Federated Auto 400.
• Futures Bets on the board include: 2019 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup, 2019 World Series, 2020 NCAA Football Championship, 2020 Super Bowl (the Steelers and the Saints had significant movement this week . . . and the Niners also moved but in the other direction), 2020 NCAA College Basketball, 2020 NBA Championship and 2020 Stanley Cup.

Hot From the Bodines Pizza Oven!

Friday is Pepperoni Pizza Day and as we do each year, we encourage our readers to stop at our sister property Bodines Casino to enjoy a hand-tossed, made-to-order, piping hot Pepperoni Pizza just minutes out of the Bodines custom brick pizza oven!

Order one in the restaurant or do the pizza and beer scene while relaxing and watching football at or around the Bodines Casino Bar or Sports Book Bar!

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 for 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 Beer Braised Wild Boar Shanks slow cooked in beer, tomato, mustard and fresh herbs. 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

• Denver Saunders tonight: Dance, laugh and sing-along to this inspiring vocalist/guitarist who is a mainstay with the band Well Dressed Mannequins!
• Arizona Jones Thursday thru Saturday: In a scene so often dominated by technology and gimmicks, Reno Nevada’s Arizona Jones prefers to do it the old fashioned way – live and personal. When they put their rockin’ spin on classic R& B hits from the 60’s and 70’s, you never know who’ll be singing louder, the audience or the band. They play the hits from Aerosmith and Amy Winehouse to Wilson Pickett and ZZ Top . . . and many artists in between. Bring your dancin’ shoes!
• NFL Football Sunday and Monday Nights: We suspend live entertainment on Sunday and Monday nights during the fall so the featured night NFL games can be enjoyed on the big screen.
• Roem Baur Duo Tuesday and Wednesday: Roem is a multiple award-winning touring songwriter and classically trained opera singer. He ultimately answered the call of rock n’ roll and has been featured on the main stage at Super Bowl 50, NBC’s The Voice and at CES & SXSW conferences.

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!

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!

Food Trucks this Weekend, Eddie Money Info, June Events Listings, More

Eddie Tickets the Easy Way: The Boys and Girls Club Board members are staffing a "booth" this weekend at two community events so that you can pick up your Eddie Money Concert tickets in-person: the Community Concert in Minden Park this Friday evening and then again at the Food Truck Festival at the CVI on Saturday.  Speaking of Eddie Money . . . he was a New York City Police Officer for two years before moving to Berkeley, California in 1968 where he began performing at local clubs (remember that question we posed in last week's blog posting?). Next week, we'll tell you how this concert is financially structured to make it the largest fundraiser of the year for the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada Carson Valley Branch.

Food Trucks this Saturday: Cold beer, hot food and decadent desserts are all on the menu at the Carson Valley Food Truck Festival this Saturday in the Carson Valley Inn north parking lot and TJ's Corral. Foodies will enjoy everything from gourmet specialties to all-American standards plus desserts and other treats. Among the scheduled participants are Battle Born, Brothers BBQ, Bubba Bob's, Hot Dog Rod, Island Ice, Los Caporales, Shanghai Express, Shalala Ice Cream Truck, St. Lawrence Pizza, Nevada Nosh Food Truck, Taster's Paradise and more plus Goodi's Fresh Squeezed Lemonade!

• Our outside bars will be selling cold beer, wine, sodas and water and we'll have two shaded eating areas with tables and chairs, of course!
• The Blues Monsters will be providing Free Entertainment on the TJ's Corral stage from 1 to 3 p.m. and again from 5 to 7 p.m.
• To sweeten the pot, drawing tickets will be distributed randomly at the Food Truck Festival for drawings inside the casino at 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m. for up to $5,000 Cash!

June Events: There's quite a lot coming up at and around the Carson Valley Inn during June and we've assembled a list of events you may want to mark on your calendar. Let us know if you find these lists useful.

• Community Concert - Minden Park:  Fri., May 30. Heartache Tonight (Salute to the Eagles). 
• CVI Food Truck Festival: Saturday, May 31. Near TJ's Corral.
• Kids Fishing Derby:  Sat. & Sun, May 31 & June 1.  Lampe Park.
• Ride for the Tatas Poker Run Stop at CVI: Sunday, June 1.
• Sweet Sippin Sundays: Sunday, June, 1. Genoa. Rick Hammond Blues B.
  
• Wings of Freedom Tour: June 2 – 4. Minden-Tahoe Airport.
• Movies in the Park: Fri., June 6.  Heritage Park.  Frozen
• Minden 18 Meter Nationals Glider Competition: June 6 – 20. Minden-Tahoe Airport.
• Bodines Bull Riding Smackdown: Saturday, June 7. Fuji Park.
• Family Support Council "Grillin & Chillin BBQ Cook Off": Saturday, June 7. Heritage Park.
• Mindenfest Spring Arts & Crafts Festival & Inliner Car Show:  Sat. & Sun, June 7 & 8.  
• Belmont Stakes:  Saturday, June 7.
• Genoa Concert on the Green: Sunday, June 8.  Genoa Park. Notch 8
• Relay for Life "Bark for Life": Sunday, June 8. Minden Park.
• CVI Monthly Blackjack Tournament:  Tuesday, June 10.
• Eastern Sierra ATV Jamboree:  June 11-14. Topaz Area.
• Carson Valley Days (Parade, Softball Tourney, etc):  June 12 – 15.  Lampe Park.
• Dustin Lynch Concert: Friday, June 13. TJ's Corral Outdoor Events Center.
• Nevada's 150th Birthday in Genoa: Saturday, June 14.
• Thirsty Third Thursday Wine Walk:  June 19.  Gardnerville Main Street District. 
• Community Concert in Minden Park:  Fri., June 20. Savannah Blue (Southern Rock Revue).
• Eddie Money Concert: Saturday, June 21. TJ's Corral Outdoor Events Center.
• Little City Stage Race (Bicycles): Sat. & Sun, June 21 & 22.  Minden & Woodfords.
• Tour of the Carson Valley Bike Ride, Barbeque and Ice Cream Social:  Sun., June 22.  Start and Finish at Morman State Park, Genoa.
• Movies in the Park: Fri., June 27.  Heritage Park. Percy Jackson Sea of Monsters
• Alta Alpina Challenge "Riding the Wild Sierra":  Sat., June 28.  Start/Finish at Turtle Rock Park.
• Grand Prize Drawings in the CVI's $75,000 Cash Giveaway: Saturday evening, June 28. 

 A few Helpful Links for Community Events:

• Carson Valley Visitor's Authority Events Calendar
• Town of Minden Events
• Main Street Gardnerville Events
• Town of Genoa Events

As Always, Interesting Tidbits and News:

• The Game This Friday: The Pacers and Heat play Game 6 of the NBA Conference Championships on Friday if needed. Closer to home, this Friday's Game-On Fridays special in CV Steak is Braised Buffalo Short Ribs, one pound of American Bison short ribs braised and slow cooked finished with natural pan sauce for $28.00   The Game-On Friday special also includes tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato - au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked potato
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge: Jonathan "JB" Barton performs tonight, Escalade appears Thursday through Saturday and Steve Lord takes the stage Monday day through next Wednesday.
• Coming Next Week: Chromemania at the CVI, Bull Riding at Bodines (OK, right behind Bodines), How Eddie Money will mean Big Money for the Boys & Girls Club . . . and whatever else come up!

What's On Your Mind! To send us suggestions or comments, 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 This Year? More Concert News

2 Down, 1 to Go: How sweet to watch Steve Coburn weep with absolute joy and elation after California Chrome won the Preakness Stakes last Saturday. We wish Douglas County residents Steve and Carolyn a place in history on June 7^th when California Chrome runs in the Belmont Stakes for the first Triple Crown since 1978!  We'll have all the TVs in our place tuned in and we'll all be Crooning for the Chrome with some tee shirt giveaways, too. In case you missed it, be sure to check Chris Murray's column in the Reno Gazette Journal on the Ten Things You Don't Know About California Chrome!

TJ's Corral News and Info: 

• The Oak Ridge Boys Were Great!  Thanks to over 1000 gracious and enthusiastic fans and supporters, The Oak Ridge Boys Concert sold out and "The Oaks" certainly did not disappoint! They did all their hits plus a rockin' (southern style of course) rendition of the Allman Brothers' Ramblin Man! Be sure to keep tabs on our upcoming concerts and we hope to see you often at TJ's Corral! 
• Food Truck Festival Next in TJ's Corral: Saturday, May 31 brings our next Food Truck Festival to TJ's Corral and the adjacent parking lot area with a variety of Food Trucks, beverages to wash it all down and free live entertainment with The Blues Monsters. 
• The Bluebird Café – as seen on many episodes of the ABC hit show Nashville – is the real roots
  
  for Dustin Lynch who appears live in TJ's Corral on June 13. He rented an apartment behind the Bluebird Café’s back parking lot and literally walked to the Bluebird several times a week to listen and learn about the mysterious art of creating songs from some of Nashville’s most important writers.
• Eddie Money means Real Money on June 21 for the Boys and Girls Club of Western Nevada, Carson Valley Branch . . . and we'll tell you how it all works next week! 
• One of our 2014 concert artists appearing in TJ's Corral is a former New York City Police Officer. We'll reveal the identity next week!

As Always, Interesting Tidbits and News: 

• Game On! Chef Patrick's Game-On Fridays special in CV Steak this Friday is Braised Wild Boar Shanks: two boar shanks braised and slow cooked with a Bourbon boar sauce for $26.00. The Game-On Friday special also includes tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato - au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked potato. 
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge: Brian Andrews performs tonight, After Dark appears Thursday through Sunday for the long Memorial Day Weekend and Jonathan "JB" Barton takes the stage Monday day through next Wednesday. 
• The NBA Conference Finals are Thundering along at a Heated Pace Spurred on by . . .  well NBA fans can see where this was trying to go! Anyway, bet the games in our Sports Book, watch 'em in the Cabaret Lounge or at the Cabaret Bar, and enjoy our variety of bar bites munchies right at your seat! 
• Cover Up Continues: but just for a few more days as we finish resealing our parking lot this week. It's a section at a time so we'll always have plenty of parking. Thanks for your patience. 
• Bear Claws: We have a few regular visitors who call in to order the Bear Claw pastries we bake fresh at the CVI and sell in Job's Perk! Want to check availability on any given day? Call Job's Perk at 775-783-7736.
• What's Happening? As promised a couple of weeks ago, we're working on a June Calendar of area events (with links to more information) and we'll have that in next week's Wednesday blog posting. 

Another Facebook Winner: Liz Miller won two tickets and an overnight stay for the Dustin Lynch Concert in TJ's Corral on June 13. How, you ask? It was a very simple "contest" on our Facebook Page that went up last Friday. If you are into Facebook (if you aren't, be careful about getting hooked!), be sure to check our page, "Like" us, and watch for up-to-date reminders on our casino promotions and other news . . . plus our occasional easy-to-enter giveaway contests.

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!