Immersed in verse
In much of the Northern Hemisphere, April arrives with a pastel explosion of early spring blooms and a general sense of renewal. Many a poet has found inspiration in this vernal month—from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s joyful ode to spring, “An April Day,” to T.S. Eliot’s condemnation of April as “the cruelest month” in his poem “The Waste Land”—so it seems fitting that the Academy of American Poets designated April as National Poetry Month. Celebrate the beauty of poetry with local and regional poets who will read from their own works at a weekly series of readings every Thursday through the end of the month. Michael Jones, Steve Gehrke and Gailmarie Pahmeier (pictured) will kick off the series on April 3, followed by Melanie Perish, Courtney Cliften and Joanne Mallari on April 10; Amy Smith, Karen Terrey, Kathy Nelson on April 17; and Marina Leigh, Max Stone and Dani Putney on April 24. The readings start at 6:30 p.m. at Mountain Music Parlor, 735 S. Center St. Entry is free, but seating is limited. Call 775-843-5500, or go to www.facebook.com/mountainmusicparlor.
Rock of ages
Explore our area’s geology with local experts during a series of presentations titled “Washoe County Rocks!” The Reno Gem and Mineral Society will discuss “The World of Rocks and Minerals” at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 3, at the Western Heritage Interpretive Center at Bartley Ranch Regional Park, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road. Get hands-on experience picking and handling specimens while learning about igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, including common ore metals, quartz, fossils and Nevada minerals. Roger Putnam, author, researcher and physical sciences professor at TMCC, will present “The History of Your Home: Geology of the Truckee Meadows and Virginia Range” later this month. He will take participants on a short, moderate-level hike on the Highland Loop Trail as they study the rocks at Hidden Valley Regional Park, at 4740 Parkway Drive. The talk begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 26. The series continues next month with “Truckee River Rocks—Exploring Geology at Crystal Peak Park.” A geologist with the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology will discuss the history of the park and take attendees on a short walk for an up-close look at some of the rocks. The event begins at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 17, at Crystal Peak Park, 561 Crystal Park Road, in Verdi (not the Crystal Peak mine site on the California side). It’s free to attend the talks, but pre-registration is required. Visit www.washoecounty.gov/parks/calendar.php.
Thrill me, chill me, fulfill me
Whether you’re a “virgin” or a local OG who regularly attended showings at the old Keystone Cinema, plan for fun night of partici…pation at a screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. The comedy horror musical starring Tim Curry as the transvestite alien scientist Frank-N-Furter and Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon as virginal couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss was a box office bomb after its release in 1975, but it gained a new life through late-night showings where audiences began to dress as the movie characters and act out scenes. The bawdy audience call-backs and gender-bending role-playing helped push the Rocky Horror Picture Show to cult status and beyond. Fifty years later, younger generations of self-described freaks, misfits and outcasts still consider it a right of passage to attend a live performance and screening at cinemas and theaters across the country. Local theatrical group Red Lip Rebellion will be the shadow cast at this screening and fundraiser for the Out and About Club at TMCC, and local LGBTQ+ organizations. Audiences are encouraged to dress up as their favorite RHPS character at the event, which starts at 6 p.m., Friday, April 4, at the Red Mountain Student Center at TMCC, 7000 Dandini Blvd. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for non-students. Prop bags will be available for sale. The show is recommended for those age 15 and older. For more information, click here, or visit www.instagram.com/renorockyhorror.
Smitten with kittens
Local animal shelters are bracing for another busy kitten season, which can last anywhere from the start of March through the end of October. The feline baby boom can often overwhelm animal shelters, especially when there are limited space and supplies to accommodate all those sweet little fur babies. If you love cats, you can help ease the pressure on resources by offering to foster a kitten and free up space for other animals in need. The Nevada Humane Society will host two free events designed to educate and inspire those who want to explore becoming potential fosters. The first, Fostering 101, covers requirements and expectations for foster families. The event starts at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 2 (yes, that’s tonight—a little earlier than most 11 Days a Week happenings) at the NHS Carson City Shelter, 549 Airport Road, Carson City. The Foster Fun Fair will feature interactive activities and opportunities to meet current foster parents from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 5, at the NHS Reno Campus, 2825 Longley Lane, Suite B. Visit nevadahumanesociety.org/foster-fun-fair for more information or to RSVP.
A friend in seed is a friend indeed
Trade and share some of your favorite vegetable, flower or ornamental plant seeds with other area gardeners this weekend when the May Arboretum Society hosts its Community Seed Swap. The event offers phytophiles a chance to connect with and learn from other plant lovers about how to best sow and grow these seeds so that they can have healthy and thriving plants in their home gardens. Master gardener Liz Morrow will teach three mini-classes that will cover topics such as seed viability, seed-saving and storage, and the pros and cons of using, buying or creating your own seed starting mix. The swap takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 5, at the Ranch House in Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra St. The event is free, but registration is recommended. If you don’t have seeds to trade, you can still take home some seeds for a small donation of 50 cents. Visit mayarboretumsociety.org for more details or to register.
Musical journey
The Pioneer Center Youth Programs Free Family Series presents traditional music ensemble Cascada de Flores. Educators and musicians Arwen Lawrence and Jorge Liceaga (pictured) tell original, bilingual stories using traditional music, storytelling and dance. They will be accompanied by multi-instrumentalist and luthier Jorge Mijangos for the family-friendly program “Aquí-les va un cuento: The Treasure of Aquiles,” which tells the story of a boy who sets out on an adventure to discover dance, music and song. With help from the characters he meets along the way, Aquiles uncovers a treasure hidden in his culture and imagination. The free performance begins at 4 p.m., Saturday, April 5, at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St. Seating is first come, first served. Visit pioneercenter.com.
Call of the wild
The Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary opens up for the season starting this weekend. Greet a few newcomers and longtime resident animals, which include bears, raptors, reptiles, tigers, wolves and other felines and canines. Visitors can also see various animals in action during feedings and trainings at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Afterward, stop by the gift shop to purchase a few mementos or grab remaining items that are being cleared out to make room for new inventory. The wildlife sanctuary will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, but call ahead to confirm the hours of operation in case of bad weather or poor road conditions. Animal Ark will be open Tuesday through Sunday until Nov. 1. Admission is $20 for adults, $16 for seniors age 65 and older, and $12 for children ages 3-12. Children age 2 and younger get in for free. Animal Ark Wildlife Sanctuary, 1265 Deerlodge Road, is located about 25 miles north of Reno, off Red Rock Road. Call 775-475-9626, or visit www.animalark.org.
Matter of fact
What’s lurking in the forests of the Lake Tahoe Basin or floating in the waters of Lake Tahoe? Guest speaker Sarah Hockensmith from the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science will separate fact from fiction in the program “Mythbusting Lake Tahoe.” She’ll take the audience on a journey through Tahoe’s history, unusual geology and diverse flora and fauna, while dispelling myths and misconceptions surrounding the Lake Tahoe Basin and the surrounding Sierra Nevada and Carson Range ecosystems. The talk begins at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 8, at the Incline Village Library, 845 Alder Ave., in Incline Village. Visit www.tinsweb.org/upcoming-events or events.washoecountylibrary.us/event/13689750.
11 Days a Week is written and compiled by Kelley Lang. Want your event included in 11 Days a Week? Email 11days@renonr.com for consideration. Email advertising@renonr.com for advertising info!
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