Week of Sept. 20, 2023

From the editor’s desk

Annamaria Cavallone and Mario DelaRosa were frustrated by the lack of Spanish-language arts programming around town—so they took matters into their own hands. Their organization, Arte Latino, has now been presenting Spanish-language theater for 21 years. The duo also started the annual Fiesta on Wells, which takes place this Sunday, Sept. 24.

With a few days of summer still ahead of us to savor, wine writer Steve Noel would like you to know that light reds are still officially in season. He consulted local sommelier Dani Morris for a list of Beaujolais, Cotes du Rhone, and a few more highlights of the genre. 

After a challenging, pandemic-addled few years, the space that is now Minden Mill Distilling is up and running and welcoming visitors. Resident cocktail aficionado Michael Moberly spoke with the distillery’s Lucas Huff to get us up to speed. 

“Queam.” Some people cringe at the name. Others love it. Either way, writes Matt Bieker, this local band is “a live-looping, drum-and-bass funk machine that uses digital wizardry and solid musical chops to produce something weird, new and—above all—fun.”

Despite the fact that Kenneth Branagh directed and starred in A Haunting in Venice, Bob Grimm found it “stodgy, stumbling and just absolutely tedious.” But a good Grimm review on a lackluster film is always still a quality read.

Nic Graver is the guitarist and vocalist for Night Rooms, a dreamy, jangle-pop band with psychedelic lead guitar, and bass-and-drum grooves. Want to know his favorite acts, guilty pleasure, and which band changed his life? Check out Matt King’s Lucky 13 interview. 

Have you been to Fallen Leaf Lake? You can paddle, hike, camp and swim—all without the Tahoe crowds. And now’s the time to go spot some pink and red kokanee salmon. Outdoor adventurer Maggie Nichols is your virtual tour guide. 

Take care,

—Kris Vagner, managing editor