A new and very smart wine bar cum bistro has opened in Carson City at 200 N. Stewart. It's about as far removed from a casino or a locals' bar as you can get, and it is as tastefully modern as anything in San Francisco.
The name pretty much says it all - D'Vine Wine Tasting. Of course, there's more to it than just wine. For lunch, there is a limited menu, soon to be expanded, said Eugene Donner, with whom I worked in Europe. He has joined his son in the venture, and if class means anything, this is going to be a winner.
I tried a Greek salad and a glass of chardonnay (no retsina wine available) and found it a fine place to lunch. In the evening, Gene said, there will be a selection of tapas-type appetizers along with, of course, a fine selection of wine. Next time, I'll ask for a glass of sancerre. That ought to be a test of the cellar.
Then there's the Vietnam Pho on North Carson Street, just down the street from Adele's. You won't confuse them: Adele's is fine Victoria, and Pho (which I think refers to noodles and soup) is a very basic restaurant. Service is sort of casual, but the Pho was fine.
MACDAVIS
He's penned chart-topping songs for the King and Dolly. He's appeared opposite Nick Nolte and Jackie Gleason on the silver screen. And he's reached No. 1 with his own pop-country crossover recordings. Mac Davis plays Friday and Saturday at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks. He plays in the Celebrity Showroom at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50 at (800) 648-1177 or 356-3300 or see janugget.com.
Kenny Shepherd
Labeled a guitar prodigy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd has lived up to the hype. Chart-topping recordings, peer recognition and a series of industry awards have combined to produce an artist who many considered among the best young bluesmen on the planet. That may be a bit of hype, but he is good. Catch Shepherd at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8-9, in the Celebrity Showroom at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks. See item above for tickets info and price.
New Mastersounds touring
Join the Stanton Moore Trio featuring Will Bernard and Brian Coogan with the New Mastersounds live at the Crystal Bay casino at 9 p.m. Sunday Dec.10. The casino is on Highway 28 in Crystal Bay. Tickets are $17 and $20. Call 833-6333.
Don't know if these Mastersounds are the same group that Wes Montgomery once headed; if so, they are not to be missed. The old group did a version of "The King and I" music that I treasure.
MontBleu doings
Mixmaster Mike, from the Beastie Boys, appears with Pigeon John and Red Cloud appears the MontBleu Casino in Stateline at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $20 in advance for the all-ages show. At-the-door tickets are $25. O.C.T. opens the show. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and the show starts at 8.
FROM THE VAULTS
While the 1934 Tarzan film "Tarzan and His Mate" had Maureen O'Sullivan in what would be the match of today's bikini swimsuits, the 1936 "Tarzan Finds a Son" had her dressed in something that would have been called matronly. No matter, the old B&W movie had a kind of nostalgic charm of its own, and Maureen certainly is a chipper beauty. Johnny Weismuller does his swimming and vine-swinging thing, and the animals are all nicely human-like. Not rated.
In a more modern mode, "The Pillow Book," a Japanese film of 1997, is caught up in an obsession about body painting in Chinese kanji characters. This is a very modern movie with picture inserts into inserts into the main picture that sometimes gets confusing. This Japanese film is not rated, but has some nudity, both male and female. This is a visual feast and it really isn't porn - but not for kids. The title is a bit confusing, as in Japanese, a pillow book is something mothers gave to daughters as a kind of sex manual - which this movie isn't.
• Contact Sam Bauman at 881-11236 or sbauman@nevadaappeal.com.