Farewell, Caesars; welcome, Montbleu

Big week at the Montbleu (née Caesars) Resort and Casino & Spa in Stateline as it opened to a press preview Wednesday and today, and to the public earlier.

Big bucks have been spent on the old place, long a fixture in South Lake Tahoe with its faux Roman decor. As of late, it had begun showing its age, and the new owners have spent millions in transforming it into a modern casino.

There's a fireworks show tonight and Saturday, both at 9 p.m. Sugar Ray appears over the holiday weekend on Saturday night, George Clinton on Sunday night, and Evans Blue on Monday. Call (800) 648-3353 for tickets.

Montbleu gives Casino Alley a fresh, new look, something that has been needed there for a long time. If you want to get a peek at what the place looks like now, stop in and just look at the new ceiling in the main casino. It's almost enough to take the pain out of shooting boxcars.

We'll show you what it looks like on Sunday's C1 page.

Laugh time

Blue Collar comedian Bill Engvall does his bit to keep the holiday happy at the Silver Legacy Resort on Sunday night. He's not your usual comedy club comic, with his rough humor. Cost is $35 to share the fun. Go to www.silverlegacy.com or call (800) MUST-SEE for tickets.

Our band in Reno

The Capital City Community Band will present a "Tribute To Marches" tonight at 7:30 in the South Reno United Methodist Church at 200 DeSpain. The free concert, directed by Richard Doede, will feature marches from Sousa to Pierre Leemans. Also featured are selections by the CCCB Saxophone Quartet. Call 883-2219.

Music at the library

The audience was small but the music large as classical guitarist Peter Fletcher played at the Carson City Library last week. His "Pavane for a Dead Princess" by Maurice Ravel was quietly beautiful.

The library's modest performance room was just better than half full as there hadn't been a lot of publicity about Fletcher's appearance. When he returns, a better flow of advance information will assure a better crowd.

Last week's listeners will surely spread the good word about his music next time.

Esquire makes up for it

After jeering at Esquire magazine's men's clothing articles ($1,495 for a wrinkled summer sport jacket - what a hoot!), the boys there have made up for it with a jarring piece by C.J. Chivers on the Chechen terrorist attack on the Russian middle school in Beslan. More than 300 died - mostly women and children.

Change the location of the brutality to Carson City and Eagle Valley Middle School, and you'll come up with a terrifying story. It can happen here - are we better prepared than the Russians?

From the vault

It was released in 1934 in the depths of the Great Depression, but apparently America was ready to laugh because "The Thin Man," based on a book by Dashiell Hammet, was a hit.

William Powell and Myrna Loy were the stars, supported by Maureen Sullivan (later to become Tarzan's mate) and Cesar Romero. In black and white, running 93 minutes, it was a crime spoof as Powell and Loy solved a mystery for fun, consuming many, many cocktails in the effort.

• Contact Sam Bauman at 881-1236 or sbauman@nevadaappeal.com.