Entertainment briefs

Carson City

Mile High Jazz group opens Sunday series

The Mile High Jazz Band will open Carson City's 2006 free Sunday Concerts in the Park series Sunday at 5 p.m., at the Legislature Plaza.

"Sunday Concerts in the Park" is a weekly event, part of the Capital City Summer Music Celebration. A different band performs each week. The 17-member Mile High Jazz Band will play big-band favorites and feature vocalist Sheryl Adams.

Guests are invited to bring a picnic. Call 687-7410 or see www.carson-city.org/events.

Brewery will host Friday music lunches

Brewery Arts Center's summer music series "Friday Classical Lunches" begins Friday at 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the BAC patio, 449 W. King St. Admission is free. Light lunches, snacks, and beverages will be available for purchase, and visitors are welcome to bring their own. The weekly series opens with "Silver Strings and Friends" performing light classics.

The Lunches is a new program for residents, workers, and visitors to Carson City's historic district.

"The Silver Strings and Friends program will feature Wendy Ray, flute, Elinor Bugli, violin, Sue Kitts, viola, and Lou Groffman, cello.

Call 883-1976 or see Brewery Arts.org.

Jazz Band plays music under stars

The Mile High Jazz Band and vocalist Sheryl Adams will present an evening of "Big-band Jazz Under the Stars" at Comma Coffee Courtyard on Tuesday July 11, 8 to 10 p.m.

Comma Coffee, 312 S. Carson Street, is across the street from the state legislature building. Admission is $5 general, $4 for members of the Mile High Jazz Band Association and free for those 18 and under. Swing dance instruction Call the Mile High Jazz Band at 883-4154.

Washoe Valley

'Fingerpickin' music at Bowers Mansion

Original and familiar tunes fill the night around Bowers Mansion when Dave Fritz performs a "fingerpickin and family pleasin" guitar show at 7:30 p.m. on Friday July 14 as part of this summer's Programs from the Porch series.

Bowers Mansion is at 4005 Old U.S. 395 North. Call 849-1825

Programs from the Porch are free and offered at Bowers Mansion every Friday evening through Aug. 4. A complete list of programs is on the "Events" page of www.washoecountyparks.com .

Bring a low-back lawn chair or blanket, picnic dinner and enjoy the evening. Pets are not permitted in park.

Reno

Eldorado stages BBQ, Brews, Blues

Coming to Downtown Reno Friday and Saturday, it's the Great Eldorado BBQ, Brews and Blues Festival. Now in its 11th year, the annual festival features food, brews and smokin' rock and blues.

The Eldorado's own Brew Brothers' custom microbrews will be on tap along with creations from over 30 of the region's best breweries. Sample Eldorado's barbecue. Enjoy free, live entertainment all day. Friday is the Brew Fest Pub Crawl. Call 786-5700.

Brüka Theatre offers comedy 'Food Chain'

Reno's Brüka Theatre will stage "The Food Chain," an off-Broadway comedy, that looks at the lives of an anorexic poet, her close-mouth husband and a "food" stalker.

The play will be presented Friday and Saturday, July 13-15, 20-22 and 27-29 at 8 p.m. Matinee is July 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16 general admission, $14 for students and seniors and $20 at the door. For advanced ticket purchase call 323-3221 or see www.bruka.org.

Planetarium shows two major features

Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center at the University of Nevada, Reno presents two new theater experiences featuring the SkyDome 8/70 large-format - "The Human Body," and the full-dome digital star show, "Black Holes," daily.

The Center is north of Lawlor Events Center on Virginia and 16th streets. Tickets for "The Human Body" and "Black Holes" are $5 general admission; $4 children and seniors. Museum admission is free. Call 784-4811 or visit www.planetarium.unr.edu.

Also showing through is the "Dark Side of the Moon," Pink Floyd's legendary rock 'n' roll masterpiece in full-color animation on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8.

general admission.