Sam's Best Bets for the Weekend

Some suggestions for this weekend and next around Carson City. Check entries in the daily Nevada Appeal for more details, but this should be enough for planning this weekend and next.

Pumpkin festivals abound and there's a karaoke contest at Harrah's Lake Tahoe Saturday Oct. 20 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Gi Fu Loh restaurant. First place yodeler wins a two-day getaway to Harrah's Lake Tahoe including a $100 dining credit. Second place wins a $100 dining credit, and third place nets you a $50 dining credit. Free entry. Must be 21 years or older to participate and have a Total Rewards card. Don't have a Total Rewards card? It's free to sign-up at the Total Rewards Center at Harrah's or Harveys Lake Tahoe.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic also at Harrah's, tickets are $45 for the Saturday show.

Friday and Saturday Oct. 19-20 Joe Piscopo's "Tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes" roils the Celebrity Showroom at 8 p.m. Cost you $30.

Carson High Capitol Stars add a lot of laughter to the city with their production of the spoof "The Phantom of the Soap Opera." It's a mega-comedy, of course. The Carson Performing Arts is the producer of it all. "Phantom of the Soap Opera" plays Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday Oct. 13-14 at 2 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center. Tickets are $9 for general admission, $7 for children and students (with a Student Body Card), and $8 for seniors and students. Give a ring to 283-1684 and get tickets.

Wild Horse Children's Theater and Comma Coffee are presenting a new, non-competitive venue for kids to perform. "Cabaret Kids" will take the stage at Comma Coffee on the second Friday of every month. The premiere performance is Friday at 7 p.m. and includes Heather Hall, Stephanie and Melissa Kulla, Monica and Melody Ricketts, Anne Marie, Logan Bard, Erryn Bard, Kasia McKay and Mysha Van Straten, Heather Canfield and Katie Rominger, Laura Mohlenkamp and Jayme Foremaste. Admission is free and donations will be accepted to benefit Wild Horse Children's Theater scholarship program.

MontBleu in Stateline Sunday Oct. 14 hosts Galactic hip-hop with opening band Lifesavas at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and this is an all-ages show. Advance tickets are available at www.renegadeshows.com or call (530) 583-2801.

And 3D is back at the movies. "Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure" is at the Fandango Galaxy cineiplex. This is the Galaxy's first chance to show off its 3D capability. No funny glasses are needed.

Garaj Mahal plays at the Sawtooth Ridge Cafe, Tahoe City, Friday Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. with FlowMotion opening. Advance tickets are $15 at the venue or at renegadeshows.com or call (530) 583-2801.