A&E Briefs

FREE CONCERT SERIES

A taste of Tennessee is coming to Carson City’s summer music series courtesy of the next band to perform at the Minnesota Street venue.

Rock, country and blues music by the Southern Drawl Band will fill the outdoor stage when the Brewery Arts Center continues the free music at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Hailing from Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn., are members Mike Nash, lead vocals/ac guitar; J.D. Edge, fiddle/vocals; Paul Wray, bass/vocals and Larry Dunsmore, drums/vocals.

Citing The Allman Brothers Band, Bob Seger, George Strait and Rage Against the Machine as musical influences, the band incorporates bits of Southern rock and country from the backwoods of Tennessee.

The band’s achievements include sharing the stage with music stars like The Charlie Daniels Band and Jimmy Buffett.

It has performed with country artists like Aaron Tippin, Neal McCoy, and Pure Prairie League in addition to Brantley Gilbert, Blackberry Smoke and Justin Moore.

Sponsored in part by the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, a private family foundation that empowers communities to transform neglected public spaces into thriving destinations through the power of live music, the Levitt AMP Carson City Music Series presents 10 free family-friendly concerts.

The series has a diverse lineup of talent spanning genres including reggae, rock, country, cumbia and bluegrass.

Next to perform on Aug. 5 is psychedelic cumbia-punk trio Thee Commons and reggae royalty Marla Brown on Aug. 12.

Five-piece electric newgrass group Dusty Green Bones will take the stage on Aug. 26 with the Cherry Pickers opening. Irish Rockers and Young Dubliners will end the series on Sept. 2.

The public is invited to bring their own picnics, blankets and lawn chairs to the concerts, which will have an open lawn and lot setting.

Food trucks, libations and kids activities are available at each of the shows. Pets on leash are welcome.

The Levitt AMP concert series is at 449 W. King St. at the corner of King and Minnesota streets. Admission is free.

Visit http://levittamp.org/carson_city for a full schedule of concerts, directions and information on parking and wheelchair accessibility.

WASHOE LAKE STATE PARK

August events at Washoe Lake State Park include an astronomy program, a sunset hike and an introduction to Washoe Lake slide show.

Astronomy Program. Meet at the Maze Parking Lot for a program about astronomy. Ancient cultures studied and mapped the stars for various reasons. Hear their stories while stargazing with park staff. Please bring a jacket and a folding chair if possible, as seating is limited. Participants are also encouraged to bring a red flashlight, as red light does not negatively affect night vision.

WHEN: Saturday, August 5, 8:30-9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Washoe Lake State Park, Maze Parking Lot. Take Exit 44 from I-580 and drive north approximately four miles on Eastlake Blvd. The park entrance is on your left. Turn left past the fee booth, and it will be the first parking lot on the right.

COST: $7 per vehicle; there is a $2 discount for Nevada residents. Cash or check only.

Sunset Hike. Meet at the North Boat Ramp Equestrian Parking Area for a sunset hike through the sand dunes. Reservations are required for this one mile round-trip walk. Participants should bring a flashlight and wear sturdy hiking shoes, as the trail is very sandy.

WHEN: Monday, August 7, 8-9 p.m.

WHERE: Washoe Lake State Park, North Boat Ramp Equestrian Area (off Douglas and Lake Shore). Take Exit 44 from I-580 and drive north approximately four miles on Eastlake Blvd. The park entrance is on your left.

COST: $7 per vehicle; there is a $2 discount for Nevada residents. Cash or check only.

Introduction to Washoe Lake State Park Slide Show. Learn what makes Washoe Lake State Park such a unique place during this 30-minute slide program. If weather permits a campfire, we will make s’mores.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 16, 8-9 p.m.

WHERE: The Equestrian Area is in the Main (south) part of Washoe Lake State Park. Take Exit #44 from I-580 and drive north on Eastlake Blvd. for approximately four miles. The park entrance will be on your left. Enter the park, turn right, pass the campground, and follow a short gravel road to the Equestrian Pavilion.

COST: $7 per car; there is a $2 discount for Nevada residents. Cash or check only.

CONTACT: Kim Zuch, 775-687-4319, washoelake@hdiss.net.

FORT CHURCHILL PHOTO CONTEST

Fort Churchill State Historic Park announces its third annual amateur photo contest. Visitors to Fort Churchill and Buckland Station are invited to submit photos of scenery, plants, wildlife and cultural resources found within the park.

The top three winners will receive a Nevada State Parks Passport Permit, good for free entrance to any Nevada State Park for an entire year.

Entries must be submitted as an 8 x 10 or smaller photograph and dropped off at Buckland Station on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. or mailed to Nevada State Parks, Fort Churchill Photo Contest Entry, 16799 Lahoantan Dam, Fallon, NV 89406. Entries are due by Oct. 1, and will be on display for public voting at Buckland Station from Oct. 7-Dec. 31.

V&T RAILROAD

Get your tickets for V&T Train Rides now. This year features the return of an all-new Dinner & Melodrama Train Ride, plus a new Dinner & Murder Mystery Train Ride and the ever-popular Toast of the Canyon Wine Tasting Train!

But of course, you can still take the fully-narrated excursion into historic Virginia City to explore one of the country’s largest National Historic Districts, too. For information call 877-724-5007.

NORTHERN NEVADA RAILROAD

As the Nevada Northern Railway Museum rumbles back to life for its 30th anniversary excursion season, the working historic railroad brings back visitor favorites and adds new events guests will love.

The Nevada Northern is unique among railroad museums, not only offering visitors the chance to see history, but to experience it as it was a century ago with rides and other events on this living, working railroad.

New for 2017 is the Pony Express Limited in June, with special, celebratory postage, Pony Express horseback riders and photo opportunities.

Also new this year is a train ride taking advantage of one of the wonders of the solar system – a solar eclipse excursion on Aug. 21 called the Eclipse Express. Departing at 9:15 a.m., special eclipse viewing glasses will be on.

For more information and a complete schedule, go to www.nnry.com.

KELSO’S NEW RELEASE

A new release, “Andy and Spirit Go on a Day Count,” is written by Fernley author Mary Jean Kelso. It is the sixth in a series for children that features a wheelchair-dependent boy and an albino therapy horse. The illustrations were painted by award-winning artist KC Snider.

A longtime resident of Nevada, Kelso has written about 30 books. She has won several awards for her writing.

Kelso is a member of Made in Nevada, the Fort Churchill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, The Catherine Cynthia Overton (Kelso’s second great grandmother) Chapter of The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, The Alamo Defenders Descendants Association and The Alamo Society.

Kelso’s books, including “Andy and Spirit Go on a Day Count,” are available through the regular online outlets, at www.guardianangelpublishing.com, and her website, www.maryjeankelsoauthor.wix.com/mjkel. Contact Kelso at mjkel@aol.com or look for her at author signings locally.

She will be signing at The Lights of Christmas’ “Christmas in July Craft Show” at the Fallon Convention Center on July 22. Proceeds from booth rentals are donated to Toys for Tots and seniors in need.