First Americans
November is National Native American Heritage Month, which honors and celebrates the histories, traditions and contributions of Native American and Alaska Native communities. The University of Nevada, Reno, will host several events in observation of Native American Heritage Month, including film screenings, open houses and dedications. Watch two award-winning documentaries directed by local Native filmmakers—Jeremiah Sampson’s short documentary Not Forgotten, and Paige Bethmann’s feature film Remaining Native—during Native American Film Night. The film screening starts at 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 13, in the Wells Fargo Auditorium, Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center, at the University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia St. Display Indigenous pride with traditional dress or a pair of moccasins at the Rock Your Mocs Movie Night, featuring a showing of Crooked Arrows, a sports drama film centered on a Native American lacrosse team making its way through a prep-school league tournament. The event begins at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14, in the Joe Crowley Student Union Theatre at UNR. Enjoy an evening of free climbing and learn about Native land and how it relates to climbing at Native American Heritage Climb Night starting at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Mesa Rim Climbing Center, 970 Harvard Way. Visit www.unr.edu/nevada-today/native-american-heritage for more information.
Change in seasons
You’d be forgiven for wearing shorts and flip flops after all those mild temperatures we had this past weekend. But weather forecasters say you’ll likely have to bundle up by the end of the week—and just in time for the rush of holiday-themed events that suggest winter is on its way. Several local performing arts companies will offer their season’s greetings this weekend. Truckee Meadows Community College’s theater program will present The Christmas Tree Farm, Adam Szymkowicz’s holiday play about love and joy told through a series of vignettes that take place at a Christmas-tree farm. Performances start at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 13-15 and 20-22, with 2 p.m. matinee shows on Saturday, Nov. 15 and 22, in the TMCC Performance Lab (Red Mountain Building, Room 240) on the TMCC Dandini Campus, 7000 Dandini Blvd. Tickets are $18 for general admission, $15 for seniors and military and $12 for TMCC employees. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online, with a special student rate of $5, with valid student ID. Go to www.tmcc.edu/visual-performing-arts.
Reno Little Theater will present a contemporary twist on A Christmas Carol. Performed with gender-blind casting, Sam Kebede’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story bursts with energy, music, magic and comedy—all while staying true to the story’s spirit of redemption, generosity and hope. The production, featuring two casts of three performers, opens on Friday, Nov. 14, and runs through Sunday, Dec. 14. Performances start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 14-15, 20-22 and 29 and Dec. 4-6 and 11-13, with matinee shows at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 23 and 30 and Dec. 7 and 14. There will be a post-show talkback with the audience after the Nov. 23 performance. Reno Little Theater is located at 147 E. Pueblo St. Tickets are $33 general admission, $30 for seniors and $20 for students. Visit www.renolittletheater.org.
Sierra Nevada Ballet will present Peanutcracker: The Story in a Nutshell, a 45-minute narrated version of The Nutcracker that is designed for families with younger children. Performances begin at 1 and 5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St., and 2 and 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St. Tickets are $17-$18. Go to sierranevadaballet.org.
Fair-feather friends
Northern Nevada isn’t known for its wild turkeys, but plenty of other birds call it home, or at least a place they like to visit. You’ll have a chance to see nuthatches, woodpeckers, kinglets and other birds this weekend when you join the Great Basin Bird Observatory and Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance (aka Lahontan Audubon Society) for a bird walk and presentation. Ned Bohman of the Great Basin Bird Observatory will lead the bird walk starting at 8 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, followed by a presentation on “Wild Turkeys and the First Thanksgiving” by Alan Gubanich with the Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance, at the Galena Creek Visitor Center, 18250 Mt. Rose Highway. The event is free, but registration is encouraged. Go to www.gbbo.org/bird-walks/november-galena-bird-walk to sign up.
See you at the movies
History buffs, cinephiles and budding filmmakers looking for a bit of inspiration are invited to check out the Comstock Film Festival. The second annual event boasts a weekend of independent film showings, filmmaking workshops, special guest appearances and more. The festival is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum and Archives, 537 S. C St., Virginia City. Tickets are $9 for film screenings, panel discussions and the afterparty, $10-$15 for filmmaking workshops, and $20 for an all-access pass. Visit fourthwardschool.org.
Creative drive
As anyone who has ever created a play, a poem, a song or any example of literary, visual or performance art knows—it can be a mix of blood, sweat and tears bringing that idea or vision to fruition. How do some of Reno’s artists and creatives do it? Brüka Theatre invited more than 20 artists from Northern Nevada to reveal in five minutes or less how they make their magic during the weekend showcase Take Five—Wild Card: Making Art in Reno. Each night, a different group of artists will share their secrets. The presentations start at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14-15, at Brüka Theatre, 99 N. Virginia St. Tickets are $25 each night or $40 for both nights. Proceeds from the event benefit Brüka Theatre’s programming and operating costs for its 33rd season. Go to www.bruka.org for details.
Naughty but nice
You’re neither a Grinch nor a Scrooge, but you don’t care for all that holly jolly Christmas stuff? Then you might find Reno Punk Rock Flea Market’s annual Fleas the Season holiday market a little more to your liking. The all-ages event features a full arcade, activity tables, a “possum pile” clothing exchange, food trucks and up to 60 vendors offering all kinds of rad stuff for the loved ones on your Christmas list. Local and regional punk, alternative and other bands across the rock spectrum will perform over the three-day event, including Mr. This and That, No Assumption, Picket Fences, The Tremolos, In Another Life, Little Dad, Hamapple, Dewolfe, Rotten Heights, Trash Clams, Procyon, The Hyperdrive Kittens and The Rocketz. Don’t forget to unleash some pent-up frustration on a hunk of junk during the car smash. Festival hours are 6 to 10 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15-16, at South 40, 1445 S. Meadows Parkway. Since the event can get a bit loud, you can take advantage of quiet hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $8 for one-day general admission and $15 for a weekend pass until Thursday, Nov. 13. After Nov. 13, tickets will be $10 for one-day general admission and $20 for a weekend pass. Kids under age 12 get in for free. Visit www.rprfm.org for details.
Sunrise, sunset
Western Nevada Musical Theatre Company continues its production of the beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof. Set in a small village in Imperial Russia on the eve of the Russian Revolution, the story follows Tevye, a poor dairyman, and his wife, Golde, as they struggle to embrace family and traditions in the face of a changing world. WNMTC’s production of the Tony Award-winning musical features such classics as “To Life,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” and “Matchmaker,” among others, accompanied by an 11-piece professional orchestra. Performances start at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14, and 21-22, with 2 p.m. matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15-16, 22-23, at Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St. Tickets are $25-$28. Visit www.wnmtc.com.
These magic moments
Dubbed “The World’s Largest Free International Festival of Magic,” the 11th annual Spellbinders show features world champions of magic from around the globe. There will be free performances by Bob Sheets, Paul Vigil, Ace Miles and Steve Branham at various library locations and at the Reno Public Market, 299 E. Plumb Lane, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 14-16. Spellbinders’ gala show—featuring Kalin and Jinger, Dan Birch, Michael Finney, The Flying Cavettis and Larry Wilson—will have two performances, at 3 and 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 S. Virginia St. Tickets are available for free at Washoe County libraries. Visit spellbindersfestival.com for more information.
Planet rock
Los Angeles rock trio Together Pangea brings its catchy mix of punk, surf and indie influences to Reno as part of a short tour in support of its upcoming album Eat Me. Originally known as Pangea, the band, featuring William Keegan, Danny Bengston and Erik Jimenez, have strived to challenge themselves with each subsequent offering—from their 2010 debut Jelly Jam to last year’s Misery EP. Their new album is scheduled for release in January. Together Pangea, along with Southern California punk group Null, will perform at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 16, at The Holland Project, 140 Vesta St. Tickets are $24 in advance and $29 at the door. Go to hollandreno.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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