Lee Brice Added to Concert Lineup, 38 Special Concert Days Away

How Many 38 Special Songs Do You Remember? A few of us were sitting around wondering the same thing. This popular and highly-successful rock group had many hits in the 1980s so we pulled up a list. As we played each one on YouTube, it quickly became obvious that between the three of us, at least two of us and often all of us knew each one of their hits. We're confident that if you were following music in the 1980s, you will do the same. So, click on any of the following and see if they ring a bell . . . Then go to our 38 Special Concert webpage and order your tickets now for this sure-to-be-high-energy event.  Just some of their hits: Hold On Loosely, Caught Up In You, Second Chance, Wild Eyed Southern Boys, If I'd Been the One, Back Where You Belong, Somebody Like You . . . catch these and many more in just a few days on Thursday, July 23 in the wow-this-place-is-really-incredible setting of TJ's Corral!

Judy When Her Name Was Called

Becky When Her Name Was Called

Cash Is Still King! Two of our player club members got this dilemma thrown at them last weekend: "A shiny new top-rated 2015 Ford F-150 Pickup Truck . . . or $20,000 in cash - go!"  On Friday night at CVI Judy – a CVI regular who also plays occasionally at both Sharkey's Casino and Bodines Casino – got to make that call and she did so fairly quickly when she took the give-me-the-money route. That was immediately followed by some texts to her family back east! The next night at Bodines Casino, Becky was faced with the same pleasant choice. She wavered back and forth while dancing around the truck with one of Bodines favorite slot attendants Gigi. After thinking about it, she also took the cash! What would you have done? Were both of these ladies expecting to win? Hard to say . . . But both looked either surprised or flabbergasted when their name was called as our marketing department ladies captured in these two pictures.

And Even More Cash Either Handed out or Certain to Come: Bob looks quite happy and certainly not shy about showing off a fanned-out handful of cash after hitting a $7,400 Royal Flush on $1 poker machine . . . . it happened last week just a few nights before Judy was faced with her cash-or-truck decision. And soon (perhaps very soon?), someone will win more cash than can possibly be fanned out in one hand when our Penny Progressive Jackpot hits. The ever-increasing and certain-to-come jackpot scrolled past $75,700 this morning and it has been climbing pretty rapidly as play has been strong. You can't win this handsome sum unless you play!

$80,000 Guaranteed Giveaway Promotion First Drawings This weekend . . . So don't miss out on your share of the Cash and FreePlay. 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 our other current casino promotions. 

Uncle Sam Walking for Wine? Could be cause' there's a Patriotic theme for this Thursday's third 2015 Thirsty Third Thursday Wine Walk (say all that fast – before or after your wine) and once again Sharkey's Casino is one of the "must" stops. Sponsored and produced by our friends at Main Street Gardnerville, these popular events often draw over 300 people visiting the businesses in Gardnerville to enjoy a little wine here, perhaps a beer  there!  Be sure to register starting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at either Big Daddy's Bicycle Shop near the Minden-Gardnerville line or at the Town of Gardnerville office across the street and two blocks south of Sharkey's. And come dressed in your best Red, White and Blue attire! Speaking of the Main Street program, Main Street Minden is in the formative stages and looking for residents interested in serving on the Board of Directors. Interested? Call 775-309-1101. Just as Sharkey's is involved with Main Street Gardnerville, the Carson Valley Inn will be joining the fun conjured up by the Main Street Minden program.

Breaking Concert News - Lee Brice? YES!  As we were buttoning up this blog last night we got confirmation that 2014 Grammy nominee and 2014 Country Music Awards nominee Lee Brice will be appearing in concert in TJs Corral on Friday, September 18. Watch for more details in this blog which is updated every Wednesday morning at 7 a.m.  

Mike's Horses:  We're not saying or inferring anything predictive or definitive, but the Delmar Thoroughbred Club opens its Summer Meet this Thursday and Mike has been known to run a horse or two at Delmar most years. The crew at the Race and Sports Book here the CVI or over at Bodines Casino will be glad to help you decipher which horses are Mike's and, if you're feelin' lucky, help you place your bet!

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 the third piece in the July 5-piece condiment set – get a different item each Wednesday! Also enjoy hot seat drawings for Yankee Candle Gift Baskets, ladies-only drink specials and more.
• Quail Friday, King Crab Sunday in CV Steak:  Our Friday Game Special this week is Roasted Stuffed Quail with Prosciutto, Wild Rice and Plum Port glaze served with fresh vegetable and tableside tossed salad all for $28.00. Sundays in CV Steak we feature one pound of King Crab Legs for $32 and that also includes tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato.
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge: Jonathon "JB" Barton is here tonight, American Made entertains Thursday - Saturday and Steve Lord appears Sunday through Wednesday nights.  You can also watch and bet Major League Baseball games, The (British) Open, NASCAR and horseracing!
• Monthly Black Jack Tournament Winners: $1325.00 was paid out in last night's Monthly Black Jack Tournament won by Justin L. who pocketed $665.00. Second place and $400.00 went to Willy C. and the $260.00 in third place money to Kim K.
• Because We Feel Like Mentioning It: Friday is Yellow Pig Day. The story about how this came to be is proof again that even our highest educational institutes sometimes breed temporary lunacy! 

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!

Free Pickup Truck This Weekend, Free Advertising for Your Business, Mike Has A Winner, More

Pickup Truck Giveaways this Friday and Saturday! Just a friendly reminder that we are giving away two Ford F150 pickup trucks this weekend - one on Friday night at the Carson Valley Inn and another on Saturday night at Bodines Casino. It's not too late to get in, but you have to use your Inn Club card while playing in the casino in order to earn virtual drawing tickets. All the details are posted at the Guest Services counter and we hope you'll throw your hat into the "possibility ring" because there will be a pickup truck winner on Friday at the CVI and Saturday at Bodines!

$80,000 Giveaway Promotion Starts Sunday . . .  and continues through Friday, August 28. A total of $80,000 will be given away including $20,000 guaranteed on  August 28! Like most of our casino promotions, this one is pretty simple: you earn a drawing ticket for every five points you accumulate using your INN Club card. Drawings are every Friday and Saturday at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. for Cash and FreePlay. Check this page for all the details on this and our other current casino promotions.

We'll Advertise Your Business for Free! Opportunities like this don't come along very often. The Carson Valley Inn, Bodines Casino, and Sharkeys' Casino publish a newspaper every two months called the Carson & Valley Voice. It usually runs about eight pages and is direct mailed to addresses in Carson Valley, Carson City, some of our neighboring California communities to the south, and certain sections of the Nevada side of South Lake Tahoe. A little over 50,000 copies. The next issue comes out on August 1 and we are offering a few local businesses the opportunity to advertise at no charge. All we ask is that you make an offer to our Players Club members in your ad that provides them with a discount or special deal that is not available through your normal advertising and promotional avenues. You supply your company logo and the offer details, we'll even help design your ad at no charge. Naturally, we reserve the right to approve advertisers, the offer, and we certainly need to limit the number of advertisers in each issue. If this sounds interesting, please call 775-783-7713 or send an email as soon as possible with your name, phone number and company name. Hurry . . . our deadline is Wednesday, July 15.

Tanya Tucker drew a big crowd last Friday and the spectacular sunset was an added bonus to a nostalgic night. Thanks to all who helped make this event another success. Don't forget to jump in now for tickets to the 38 Special Concert on Thursday, July 23 and the Moe Bandy & TG Sheppard Concert on Saturday, August 8!

Mike's Horses: we haven't been saying much lately about how Mike's horses are doing. They have been running, but no one wants to read about horses that come in second or, even on a couple of occasions, furthest-from-first. Last Saturday, he had a winner when Gimme Da Lute won the Los Alamitos Derby at Los Alamitos Race Course. That's the second consecutive win for the colt that also won the Affirmed Stakes on June 7 at Santa Anita. What's next?  The nature of the business dictates that we always have to say "were not sure." However, we will always let you know the good news after-the-fact!

Penny Progressive Jackpot Climbing . . . like from $60,000 to over $67,000 in the last week!  We can't predict when the jackpot will hit, but history tells us that when it gets to this level, the play picks up substantially and chances are pretty good that it will hit soon. However, we can guarantee it will be paid right here at the Carson Valley Inn. 

Steven Tyler’s "Love Is Your Name" is the first country music release for the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Famer. This is not something we would usually put in our blog, but the planets aligned in such a way on this one that we felt we should: Aerosmith was in our area about a week ago. Steven Tyler is the lead singer. The band members in his new video are from the group Loving Mary who performed in TJ's Corral last month. You'll see some of them in the video above!!

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 the second piece in the July 5-piece condiment set . . . get a different item each Wednesday! Also enjoy hot seat drawings for Gift Baskets, ladies-only drink specials and more.
• Wild Boar Friday, King Crab Sunday in CV Steak:  Our Friday Game Special this week is Beer Braised Wild Boar Shanks served with fresh vegetable, choice of potato (au gratin, baked, or a one-pound, twice-baked) and tableside tossed salad all for $28.00. Sundays in CV Steak we feature one pound of King Crab Legs for $32 and that also includes tableside-tossed salad, vegetable and your choice of potato.
• Free Entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge: George Pickard is here tonight, After Dark entertains Thursday - Saturday and Jonathon "JB" Barton appears Sunday through Wednesday nights.  You can also watch and bet Major League Baseball games, the Home Run Derby, the All-Star Game, The (British) Open, NASCAR and horseracing!
• Just Because We Feel Like Mentioning It: Admittedly, this falls into the category of not having anything at all to do with the Carson Valley Inn or any of our properties. However, since many of our customers can relate to the subject matter, we want to point out that this coming Sunday is Etch-a-Sketch day!

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!

My Wife Got the House But I Kept My Truck!

One of the Ford F-150 Pickups We Are Giving Away

My Wife Got the House But I Kept My Truck!

Whether it's a booze-soaked ballad or a driving southern anthem, three "things" seem to be true about country lyrics and music: the message comes from the heart, you will be able to understand the words, and there are an unusually high number of references to pickup trucks! Just check out this Top Ten Country Songs About Pickup Trucks from 2011 - one of a bunch of such lists. Anyway, we "get it" so we (CVI, Bodines Casino and Sharkey's Casino) are giving away two Ford F-150 Pickup Trucks on the second weekend of July - plus a guaranteed $25,000 in cash and Freeplay during the same promotion that kicks off on June 1. Look for an F-150 on display at each location thanks to our friends at Dick Campagni's Capital Ford in Carson City.

About the Country Songs: We're not sure how many songs from these artists cover the pickup truck subject, but these four concerts are all coming to TJ's Corral during our Ford F-150 Pickups and $25,000 Giveaway Promotion and tickets are on sale now!

• Gary Allan on Thursday June 4: Gary will launch the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage performances at the 2015 CMA Music Festival on Thursday, June 11 just a week after his June 4 concert in TJ's Corral. Big time in Nashville, big time in Minden. Don't miss out . . . get your tickets now before we sell out.
• The Davisson Brothers Band and Loving Mary Band on Friday, June 12: The song lyrics and sound of Brothers Donnie and Chris Davisson, cousin Sammy Davisson, and life-long best friend Aaron Regester tell powerful stories of their family history and lifestyle in West Virginia. The Loving Mary Band will jet to Minden after a performance the day before on the Chevrolet Roadhouse Stage at the CMA Music Festival.
• Rodney Atkins on Saturday, June 27:  We like Rodney's comments about his approach to writing love songs, "Love is not all blue skies and no bills …it's gutters leaking and the cat messed in the fireplace. It's not convenient at all, and you've got to make time for it - that's the toughest part of it."
• Tanya Tucker on Friday, July 3: Did you know . . . Tanya was the first female country artist to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, she performed at halftime of the 1994 Super Bowl and appeared on an episode of the popular TV series The Love Boat in 1981. 

WW II Vintage Aircraft in Town Monday - Wednesday:  The Carson Valley Inn is honored and privileged to host the pilots and crew for the Collings Foundation’s Wings of Freedom Tour as it brings World War II history and nostalgia to Minden-Tahoe Airport next week. This is a rare opportunity to visit, explore (inside and out), and learn more about four unique treasures of aviation history: The B-17 is one of only 8 in flying condition in the United States, the B-24J and Full Dual Control P-51C Mustang are the sole remaining examples of their type flying in the World. The B-25 is best known for flying the Doolittle raids. Visitors may also experience the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to actually take a 30-minute flight aboard these rare aircraft. For reservations and information on flight experiences call 800-568-8924.  Meanwhile click here for times, costs and other details.

What Are Your Memories of Sharkey?

We've been overwhelmed by the number of people who, upon visiting Sharkey's Casino in the first month, have told us about memories they have of Sharkey, Cow Pasture Boxing, Serbian Christmas or some of the characters and stars who made Sharkey's a stop while in town. You've also told us we did a pretty darn good job of preserving the spirit of Sharkey in the physical building and accompaniments. Now we want to complete the task and start building the emotional, colorful, and historic memories that chronicle the "story" of Sharkey's since it opened in the early 70s.  We'll start this process on Friday, June 5 when we invite anyone with a "Sharkey's Story" to stop by so we can get it on video. Could be a short one-liner, could be a three or four minute story. We'll get them all together, start building the memory bank, and use these videos to preserve the history of this important Gardnerville landmark just as we have preserved the building.  So, please join us on Friday, June 5 either between 2 and 4 PM or between 5 and 7 PM. We'll buy you a cup of coffee or a drink, make you comfortable, and look forward to you sharing a few memories with us. Can't make it on June 5? Send us an email to SharkeysCasino@gmail.com and we'll get in touch to make other arrangements.

Mike Tice Charity Golf Tournament Update! We mentioned this event in detail in last week's blog and "poof," Coach Tice showed up this past week for a final planning meeting with the CVI's Greg Enholm and Lori Gorris and Susie Messina from the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada. As a quick reminder because time is running out to get in on this event: Tickets are available for the Crawfish Feed in TJ's Corral on Saturday evening, June 20. Just $40.00 includes beer, the Crawfish and accompaniments, and music by “Decades.” For tickets, contact Jeri Johnson at 775-771-6432 or 775-783-7037.  There are still a very few spots available in the golf tournament on Sunday, June 21 at the Golf Club at Genoa Lakes. Click Here for Sponsorship Information. Proceeds stay right here in our community and benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, Carson Valley Branch!

Motorcycles and Riders Decked Out in Pink? It's true - there will be hundreds of them and some of the sights will be most interesting and unusual when the Pinocchio's Ride for the Tatas 6th Annual Motorcycle Poker Run makes a stop at the Carson Valley Inn this Sunday. All proceeds benefit Moms on the Run, a local charity helping women battling breast and gynecological cancers.

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 the last set of two May spa products.  Also enjoy hot seat drawings for Tahoe Toffee Baskets, ladies-only drink specials and more.
• Roasted Stuffed Quail in CV Steak:  Our Friday Game Special this week is Roasted Stuffed Quail with prosciutto, wild rice and plum port glaze . . . Served with tableside-tossed salad and vegetable for $28.00. As a reminder, Sundays in CV Steak we feature one pound of King Crab Legs for $32 and that 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: George Pickard is here tonight, The California Cowboys entertain Thursday - Saturday and Greg Austin takes the stage Sunday through Wednesday nights.  You can also watch and bet the NBA Playoff games, NHL Stanley Cup games, Major League Baseball games, NASCAR and horseracing.
• Because We Want To Make Sure You Know:
• Today is Senior Health and Fitness Day. We have been asked not to bring this up so we won't.
• Thursday is Hamburger Day and we have some recommendations in order from traditional to more adventurous: The Bodines Restaurant Double Cheese Burger with beer-battered French fries is our north sister property's biggest seller.  The Cheese Burger is also Katie's biggest seller, but we suggest stepping it up a notch with the Smoke House Burger (double bacon, cheddar cheese and hickory BBQ sauce). Next up the gastrointestinal delight ladder are two from Sharkey's Jackpot Café: The Drunken Burger (includes one well shot or domestic draft beer) and the Volcano Burger (stuffed with ghost pepper cheese and chorizo, topped with more ghost pepper cheese and spicy secret sauce). And for a most-un-traditional and "bet-you-can't-eat-the-whole-thing" experience, go for the Gourmet Hamburger (aka The French Disaster) in CV Steak.
• Monday is Leave the Office Early Day. Assuming this is acceptable in your environment and doesn't result in an "Oh yeah? Well then you might as well just take the rest of the week off without pay" response, why not leave an hour or two early and make plans to enjoy the Sunset Special (sometimes referred to as Early Bird) in CV Steak!  Click here for the menu and be sure to arrive at CV Steak between 4:30 and 5:30 PM to take advantage of this Sunday thru Thursday special offering. 

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!