The killing moon
During last’s month “parade of planets,” Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune were all visible at the same time along a line or arc in the evening sky. This month, the moon takes center stage when it will transform into a ruddy hue during a full lunar eclipse visible in North America on Thursday night. The so-called Blood Moon will start with a partial eclipse just after 10 p.m., with totality occurring between 11:26 p.m. and 12:31 a.m. The Jack C. Davis Observatory in Carson City will hold a free viewing party from 8 p.m., Thursday, March 13, through 4 a.m., Friday, March 14. If weather interferes with viewing of the moon, the observatory will provide a livestream of the eclipse from another location in North America. The observatory is located 2269 Vanpatten Ave., on the northern end of the Western Nevada College, Carson City campus. Go to wnc.edu/news/jcdo-lunar-eclipse-event-2025 for more info. The Fleischmann Planetarium at the University of Nevada, Reno, will also offer a free viewing party starting at 9 p.m., Thursday, March 13, using telescopes (weather permitting) to watch the progress of the eclipse and explore favorite moon features, including significant craters, maria (plains) and mountains. Go to events.unr.edu/event/celebrate-the-total-lunar-eclipse for more details.
Jazz it up
The Carson Valley Arts Council present an evening with Stella Heath, who will perform a variety of music ranging from the hot jazz of the 1920s to Billie Holiday hits and other jazz standards. The vocalist and bandleader showcases her love of American swing along with her love of French chanson and jazz manouche with an all-star band featuring Ian Scherer on guitar, Robby Elfman on reed, Neil Fontano on drums and Daniel Fabricant on bass. The show starts at 7 p.m., Friday, March 14, at the CVIC Hall, 1602 Esmeralda Ave., in Minden. Advance tickets are $27 for general admission and $22 for CVAC members. Admission is free for kids under age 18 with a paid adult ticket. Call 775-782-8207, or go to www.cvartscouncil.com.
Booze, balls and ballyhoo
Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you don’t. And if you are feeling a little nutty, you’re not the only one. This weekend, you and thousands of other adventurous folks can sample a variety of bull testicles at the 34th annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry in Virginia City. Dress up in your favorite St. Patrick’s Day attire, and indulge in a creative assortment of calf fries, cowboy caviar, swinging beef or other euphemistically named fare. Professional and amateur cooks will vie for best Rocky Mountain Oyster in the West and the people’s choice award. Those willing to take a bite can choose from the Sack of Six for $28, Tasty Testes (10 samples) for $40, or the Bushel of Balls (all samples) for $60. If a pint of Guinness, a shot of whiskey or some other libation befitting the St. Patrick’s Day-theme is more your style, you can hit up the historic boomtown’s saloons and shops during the St. Paddy Made Me Do It Saloon Crawl. Participating locations will offer a variety of Irish-themed drinks and sweet treats as they compete for your vote for best cocktail, luckiest stop and best sweet treat. Tickets are $30 for a commemorative cup and map or $15 if you’re the designated leprechaun, um, driver. Or, you can do the crawl and oyster fry package for $80. Finally, go all green for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade down C Street starting at noon. The annual celebration features decorated vehicles and floats, as well as costumed horse riders, musicians and marchers as they head down the historic center strip. The all-day festivities take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 15, in downtown Virginia City. Visit visitvirginiacitynv.com/events/rocky-mountain-oyster-fry or lbe.ticketspice.com/34th-annual-rocky-mountain-oyster-fry.
Forever young
A.V.A. Ballet Theatre opens its spring season with the classic ballet Peter Pan. Re-staged and re-choreographed by Alexander Van Alstyne, the ballet is based on the J.M. Barrie work about a free-spirited boy who never grows up, his friend Wendy, and their adventures in Neverland. Fairies, pirates and the Lost Boys all have starring roles in this fantasy adventure. Carmon DeLeone, the composer of the Peter Pan score and music director of the Cincinnati Ballet, will conduct the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra while guest principal dancers who have danced with the San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet and Salt Lake City’s Ballet West will perform with the large cast from A.V.A. Ballet Theatre. Peter Pan performances start at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 15, and 2 p.m., Sunday, March 16, at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St. Ticket prices for adults are $30-$65, and $25-$52 for seniors age 65 and up and kids age 12 and younger. For tickets, call 775-434-1050, or go to www.pioneercenter.com.
St. Patrick never drank
You don’t have to be Irish, but you should at least wear a bit o’ green as you partake in night of good craic in downtown Reno during the annual Reno Leprechaun Crawl. More than 30 participating bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the Riverwalk District and Reno Brewery District will offer drink and food specials, Irish music and other entertainment with no cover charge to those who bring their Leprechaun Crawl cup. Sample a variety of alcoholic or non-alcoholic offerings at different crawl locations; kiss an Irish person or two; and dance a jig under the Reno Arch until the wee hours. The pre-St. Patrick’s Day revelry begins at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 15, at the Silver Baron Ballroom, behind Rum Bullions inside the Silver Legacy Resort Casino, 407 N. Virginia St. Crawl cups and maps can be purchased online for $15. If cups haven’t sold out by crawl night, you can purchase in person at the Silver Baron Ballroom or at Lead Dog Brewing, 415 E. Fourth St. Call 775-624-8320, or go to crawlreno.com/event/leprechauncrawl.
A way with words
Seven high school students from across Nevada will compete in the 20th Annual Poetry Out Loud Nevada State Finals, a national arts education program and competition supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. The students will compete by reciting poetry to the audience as they seek to represent the Silver State at the national Poetry Out Loud competition, which will be held in Washington, D.C., in early May. Nevada State Poet Laureate Shaun Griffin will serve as master of ceremonies at the free event, which starts at 1 p.m., Saturday, March 15, in the theater at the Joe Crowley Student Union on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. A live stream of the event also will be available on the Nevada Arts Council’s YouTube channel. Call 775-687-6680, or visit www.nvartscouncil.org for details.
Hit the books
Looking to refresh your book collection, but you’re on a tight budget? You might find your new favorite novel, autobiography or DVD for just a few clams at the Friends of Washoe County Library Book Sale. You can browse through about 30,000 books from every category, as well as CDs, DVDs, jigsaw puzzles and more during the weeklong sale. Hardcover books and large paperbacks are $1. Newer and more valuable books are individually priced. The Friday night before the first sale date is Member Night from 3 to 6 p.m. New members can sign up at the door to get their pick of this sale’s offerings. The last Sunday of the sale is Bag Day. The Friends will supply the bag, and you can with fill it with as many books you want for only $5. This month’s sale runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily, Saturday, March 22, through Sunday, March 30, at the Sierra View Library in Reno Town Mall, 4001 S. Virginia St. Other book sales are scheduled for May 30-June 8, Aug. 2-10 and Oct. 18-26. Only cash or checks will be accepted. Visit washoelibraryfriends.org.
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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