Reno River Festival Coming up May 9-11 Photo courtesy of RGJ.com

ENGAGE
Calendar of events
A sampler of upcoming activities and events in the area.
May-June 2008

Compiled by Dorraine Earnest

MAY

3-4
AFRICAN VIOLET SHOW
Moana Nursery and the African Violet Society present a free African violet show. The event, in the nursery’s new landscape design building (1100 W. Moana Lane), will feature ribbon-winning African violets, along with a display of mature, flowering African violets. The Reno-Sparks African Violet Society will be on hand for demonstrations and to answer questions. The African violet seminar is at 10 a.m. May 3. The show runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 3 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 4. Details: 825-0600.

9
BELLA VOCE
The women’s vocal ensemble presents The World is Full of Poetry, featuring the works of William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, and W.B. Yeats. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 Island Ave. Tickets are $15, $12 seniors and students, and free for children 12 and younger. Details: 359-1533.

9
BASH WITH LAUGHS
BASH, Building a Scholastic Heritage, is a benefit for Bishop Manogue Catholic High School. It includes food, entertainment by comedian Greg Hahn, live and silent auctions, and a raffle. The event takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. at the school, 110 Bishop Manogue Drive. Tickets are $175, $2,500 table sponsorship, and $5,000 VIP Sponsorship. Details: 336-6016 or april.gonzales@bishopmanogue.org.

9-11
RENO RIVER FESTIVAL
The three-day event ventures beyond whitewater events this year to showcase land-based competitions, including mountain bike speed trials and the Run Amuck fun run. There will be instructional clinics, an industry expo, food and beer gardens, live music, and nighttime activities. The festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 9, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 10, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11 at the Truckee River Whitewater Park and Wingfield Park, First Street and Arlington Avenue. Admission is free. Details: 784-9400, ext. 119 or RenoRiverFestival.com. Follow Team Reno as they train for the event at: http://riverfest.rgj.com.

9, 11, 17, and 18
SIERRA NEVADA GUITAR SOCIETY
The society will present concerts of Victorian and Romantic music for voice and guitar. The May 9 performance is at 7:30 p.m. at Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City. Tickets are $20. Reservations are required for the 3 p.m. May 11 show at Thunderbird Lodge in Incline Village. Call 832-8750. The next performance is at 7:30 p.m. May 17 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in South Lake Tahoe. Tickets are $10 to $25. The final in the series is at 3 p.m. May 18 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 Island Ave. Tickets are $10 to $25. Tickets are available at the door or at activitytickets.com. Details: 321-8584 or sierraguitar.org.

10
KATHY GRIFFIN
The actress-comedian performs two shows of stand-up comedy at 8 and 10:30 p.m. in the Grande Exposition Hall at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, 407 N. Virginia St. Griffin appeared for four years on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan. Her reality show, Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List, won an Emmy Award in September 2007. Her other credits include comedy specials on the HBO and Bravo cable networks. Tickets are $55, $65 and $80. Patrons must be 18 and older to attend the show. Details: 325-7401 or silverlegacy.com

10
WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY
Fair & Green — Gifts with Conscience hosts World Fair Trade Day. This year’s theme is Fair Trade + Ecology. There will be Fair Trade food and beverage samples, short videos, giveaways, and a raffle from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the store, 10382 Donner Pass Road, Truckee. Details: 530-582-0908.

11
MOMS ON THE RUN
This benefit for local women suffering from breast cancer includes a 5k run and fun events for the whole family. There will be raffles, prizes, and a costume contest. It takes place at Reno High School’s Foster Field. Details: Momsontherun.info.

16
BOB WOODWARD
The best-selling author and investigative reporter will speak at the Western Industrial Nevada lecture series dinner. Proceeds support the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, the Youth Leadership Scholarships, and WIN programs. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, 4590 S. Virginia St. Tickets are $200, $1,500 for a table of eight, and $3,000 for the winner’s circle table of eight and a cocktail reception with Woodward. Details: 359-7117 or WINevada.com.

17
RHYTHM AND RAWHIDE
The Reno Philharmonic Orchestra presents its annual fundraiser, which includes a dinner, an auction, and a concert featuring Utah balladeer Brenn Hill and cowboy poet Rodney Nelson. It takes place from 6:30 to 11 p.m., with a VIP cocktail party at 5 p.m., in the Tuscany Ballroom at the Peppermill Hotel Casino, 2707 S. Virginia St. Proceeds benefit the Reno Rodeo Foundation and the Reno Philharmonic Association. Tickets are $250, $2,000 for a table of eight, and $3,000 for a VIP table for eight. Details: 323-2380 or rhythmandrawhide.org.

17
MAUREEN MCVERRY
The actress-singer performs a humorous show New Fashioned Love Songs at 8 p.m. in the Tahoe Room of the Peppermill Hotel Casino, 2707 S. Virginia St. McVerry’s credits include a long list of productions for the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Tickets are $35. Details: 826-2121 or peppermillreno.com.

23
BOWFIRE
This group of string instrumentalists perform jazz, classical, bluegrass, Celtic, rock, gypsy, and world music styles. Mixed in with the music is step and tap dancing, and vocals. The show is at 8 p.m. in the theater at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, 2500 E. Second St. Tickets are $35, $45, and $59.50. Details: 789-2000 or grandsierraresort.com.

JUNE

6
RENO-TAHOE ODYSSEY RELAY RUN ADVENTURE
The 178-mile relay run begins at 8 a.m. in Reno and ends in Reno, and it is suited for teams of 12 runners. There are 36 legs between 3-8 miles in length. A party after the race will have food, microbrews, music, and awards. Portions of the proceeds benefit the Angel Kiss Foundation and the Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway. Cost is $90 or $1,080 per team of 12. Details: 825-3399 or peopleburningfatproductions@pyramid.net.

9
SPCA GOLF BENEFIT
This inaugural tournament takes place at Red Hawk Golf Course in Wingfield Springs with registration at noon and a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Northern Nevada. The cost is $125, which includes lunch and a cocktail reception. Details: Kim Stange-Herlihy at 324-7791.

14
A DAY OF WINE AND ROSES
The annual rose and flower show of the Reno Rose Society will take place in the California Building in Idlewild Park. This year's arrangement competition theme is Red, White & Bloom, commemorating Flag Day. The day will include a luncheon, wine tasting, art show, raffle, as well as the rose and flower show. The show is free and runs from 1 to 4:45 pm. There is a charge for the luncheon and wine tasting. Details: 746-1140 or renorosesociety.org.

17-22
TOUR DE NEZ
The cycling event moves its headquarters to Northstar-at-Tahoe in Truckee. It includes professional and amateur races, fun rides, special races for women and children, and family activities. A twilight criterium kicks off the professional race June 18 in downtown Reno. Details: 287-3599 or tourdenez.com.

19-28
RENO RODEO
The rodeo features professional contestants in all areas of rodeo competition. In addition to the nightly performances, there are daytime contests, vendors, a carnival, a cattle drive, and exhibits at the Reno Livestock Events Center, 1350 Wells Ave. Tickets range from $10 to $20 depending on performance. Details: 329-3877 or renorodeo.com.

21
CABARET CONCERT SERIES
New York jazz singers Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano perform A Little Romance at 8 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of Peppermill Hotel Casino, 2707 S. Virginia St. Tickets are $35. Details: 826-2121 or peppermillreno.com.

21-23
GOLF FORE EDUCATION
The three-day event begins with a carnivale-themed cocktail party and a silent auction from 6 to 9 p.m. June 21. The first scramble golf tournament is June 22 with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start at Incline Village Championship Golf Course, 955 Fairway Blvd., Incline Village. Dinner follows at the Chateau. The “best ball” tournament takes place June 23 with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start at Montrêux Golf Course, 16475 Bordeaux Drive. It’s followed by a barbecue and awards at the country club. The event is sponsored by Incline Schools Academic Excellence Foundation, American Association of University Women, Project MANA, and Lake Tahoe School. The cost is $200 for the Championship Golf Course, $300 for Montrêux, $475 for the triple-day event, and $25 for those not playing golf. Details: 298-0101.

22-26
NEVADA HUMANITIES CHAUTAUQUA
Formerly known as Great Basin Chautauqua, portrayals of historic characters take place at 7 p.m. each evening at Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater in Bartley Ranch Regional Park, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road. This year’s theme is Lincoln and the Civil War. Performances and ticket prices will be listed on the Nevada Humanities Web site, nevadahumanities.org. Details: 784-6587

28
B.B. KING
The blues legend and his guitar Lucille perform in the new Downtown Reno Ballroom, Fourth and Center streets. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40, $60, $70, and $80. Details: 325-7401 or silverlegacy.com.