Tag: carsoncity

It's been a long time since I've done one of these construction update posts. Probably because I rarely set foot in Carson City during the daylight hours anymore, owing to my stay-at-home dad status with the new baby. But it's winter break now, which means my bleary eyes get to emerge into the sunlight and snap a few pictures.

Bodine's construction, way down south at Clear Creek road, is coming along very nicely. The exterior wall panels are going up, and soon they'll be able to start working on the interior, fitting it out for a spring opening.

Work on the Marriott Courtyard hotel at the Casino Fandango is now entering the final stretch. The exterior work is almost completely finished; just a little rockwork on the ground floor remains. I'm sure interior work has been progressing just as fast, and look for this place to open within a couple of months.

But the real gem of Carson City is turning out to be the St. Charles Hotel. It is undergoing renovation to welcome the Firkin and Fox Pub into the ground floor, and I gotta tell you, it's starting to look Firkin Fantastic. I posted a few construction photos last month, but they've already made so much progress even since then.

A new coat of paint, new signs, new windows, new awnings; everything on the St. Charles has been moved from "old and dated" to "new and fresh". You don't realize how much of a difference can be made with just a little "curb appeal" until you see it in action. The hotel went from a neat old building that was easy to overlook to an absolute showcase for downtown. This is the kind of rejuvenation that many of the other storefronts on Carson Street need; maybe this project will kickstart more renovations throughout downtown.

And F-Day is fast approaching. They've tacked a sign on the door that announces the opening date for the Firkin and Fox Pub; it will be January 7, 2008. That's only about a week and a half from now. The doors will open at 5:00pm

Just for a kicker, here's how the St. Charles looked just two years ago. Actually, it looked like this up until last summer. If they put half as much care into running the restaurant as they did into renovating it, they should have a solid hit on their hands.

Construction walls have gone up at the Carson Mall. This is Phase 1 of their remodeling process, where they're going to be updating the facade to give it a fresher, more modern look.

It's not going to be a very involved job, because they're estimating that it will done in the spring. We'll see.

Do you think that maybe, if you're the City, and you're going to go around talking about your big plans to move the city library into a large building right downtown, that maybe you should check with the current occupants first, to see if they're willing to sell you the building? This is exactly what Carson City didn't do, apparently.

No Safe Place today has a little article on the State Printing Office. This is a great little building that's still around. but it's hard to find because for 15 years it's been hidden behind the colossal State Library.

Photo by Flickr user BBkld

Construction started on Phase 2A of the Carson City Freeway two months ago, and already they've made good progress. They're well into working on the future interchange at Fairview Drive, which will become the southern terminus of the freeway when this phase is all finished. Phase 2B will then continue south from here, but it could be years before they start on that.

Most of Phase 2 will be below ground level, so the freeway will be riding in a trench with all the cross streets passing over it. This is in contrast to Phase 1, which is already open in the north part of town, where the freeway passes over the cross streets. So that means that the bulk of construction at Fairview doesn't involve building a freeway bridge over the street, it involves building a street bridge over the freeway. Here are some shots of the progress they've made on that front.

Approaching the Fairview interchange from the east. You can see the pillars that will support the bridge off in the distance. Fairview Dr. has been routed around the consturction area.

A look to the north. The freeway will be passing through this land on its way to Hwy 50. The northbound onramp will be right about where I'm standing.

A closer look at the pillars. This bridge is where Fairview will pass over the freeway.

Looking at the interchange from the west.

Fairview will remain rerouted until the bridge is finished. Then they'll be able to start work on the freeway's roadbed itself. And, of course, at some point the city will have to widen Fairview to four lanes between Carson Street and the freeway, because once Phase 2A is finished, all traffic will be dumped off the freeway at this spot, and have to make their way down Fairview to rejoin Carson Street. It will stay that way until Phase 2B is completed.

So, basically what I'm saying is avoid Fairview Drive for the next six years or so.

More events that are coming up in the next week around the Christmas season:

December 6, 5:30 p.m.: Silver & Snowflakes Holiday Tree Lighting. Free.

December 7-9, 6:30-8 p.m: Drive-thru Living Nativity at the Carson City First United Methodist Church. Free.

December 9, noon-5 p.m.: Carson City Historical Society's annual Victorian Christmas Tour. Walking tour of six historical homes on Carson City's west side. $20.

December 9, 4 p.m.: Carson City Symphony "Holiday Treat" Concert at the Carson City Community Center. $12.

December 11, 8 p.m.: Mile High Jazz Band "Holiday Jazz" program at Comma Coffee. $5.

The first Saturday of every month is the Carson Wine Walk, a kind of communal open house featuring many of the downtown merchants. It's a chance to indulge in a little wine and, well, walking. As one of the attractions for today's Wine Walk, these two camels were perched right off of Telegraph Square, posing for pictures and petting.

The fancy getups are related to the Christmas season; these two camels take part in the annual drive-thru nativity scene at the First Methodist Church, so they (and their handlers) are just wearing their costumes.

It was pretty cold at dusk when we made our way down to Telegraph Square, but the kids sure had fun with the camels.

More pictures on Flickr.

Ruby McFarland in the Nevada Appeal brings us a short history of fire in downtown Dayton. And she ends with this admonition to be careful with fire around the historic building they have left:

It's difficult to relate any kind of history about a vacant piece of property. It falls into the "so what?" category when outsiders come to view our history. Let's do what we can to maintain the buildings and history of Dayton.

And downtown Carson City, while its history has been blissfully devoid of catastrophic fire, still has its share of "so what" vacant lots, locations where buildings were lost to the wrecking ball. Places like the Nugget's west parking lot, that used to house the Arlington Hotel. The empty lot next to Jack In The Box on Stewart Street where the V&T shops used to stand. And the Children's Services / Boys and Girls Club land on Fifth Street, which was home to the Nevada State Children's Home. All of those are buildings that would be a huge draw for Carson City if they were still around, but now they're gone. At least the plan to demolish the State Capitol in the 1950s never came to pass. Let's make sure we don't lose any more buildings.

Yes, the old Kmart building is still empty. It's been four years now. And it sounds like it's not going to be filled any time soon. The city has already given all its redevelopment money to get new businesses to move into the old Wal*Mart building.

Maybe the Kmart parking lot could be turned into a drive-in movie theater during the summer. At least then we'd be getting some kind of use out of that wasted acreage.

I know it hardly feels like winter has even started around here, given that we haven't had any snow since September. But now that Thanksgiving is in our rear-view mirror, it's time to start looking forward to Christmas. Already decorations are popping up on houses around the area, and a whole host of civic Christmas events are planned for the next week. Here's what's coming up:

Carson City

Silver & Snowflakes Holiday Tree Lighting will be on Thursday December 6, 2007 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Festivities begin on the Capitol grounds. The State trees will be lit, Santa will give out candy canes, and the 300 voices of the Carson City 5th Grade Music Students Singing Ensemble will contribute the music. A warm feeling envelops the Capitol as families gather to hear children sing and to watch the tree and all of Carson Street spring to light. The young and young at heart all squeal with delight as Santa and his helper arrive in a decorated 1926 Model T, driven by Beau the dog. Sixteen creative willow "reindeer" made the week of the event by local school children and Boy Scouts, under the guidance of "Willow" Bill, will be placed on the Capitol lawn and above the Capitol portico and lit with white lights.

5:30 PM Carson City 5th Grade Music Students Singing Ensemble starts to sing. Carson Middle School Red Hot Bell Peppers handbell choir will accompany them.
5:30 PM Santa Arrives in a 1926 Model T Ford. He will give out candy canes.
5:40 PM Remarks by Gov. Jim and Mrs. Dawn Gibbons
5:45 PM Tree Lighting; all of Carson Street is lit up.
5:55 PM Remarks by Carson City Mayor Marv Teixiera
6:00 PM Candlelight Procession to City Tree at Musser & Nevada Streets (First Presbyterian Church). Songs by the BAC In Time Carolers.
6:15 PM City Tree Lighting by Mayor Teixeira.
6:30-7:00 PM City Hall Open House. Art Contest winners announced and prizes given by the Mayor. BAC In Time Carolers will sing. Refreshments will be served.

Minden

Minden's annual Weihnachts Strasse Fest, German Christmas Market, opens noon, Nov. 30 in the old C.O.D. Garage. Toys, handicrafts, candles, ceramics and woodwork will be featured in about 30 booths. Many traditional German specialties such as stollen, gingerbread, pretzels, sausages and gluewein (hot spiced wine) as well as Chinese food will be available. Hot cider and cookies will be served by the Carson Valley Inn. Hours of the market are noon to 8 p.m. Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 2.

The lights of the Minden gazebo will be turned on 6 p.m. Friday night, Nov. 30, with the help of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Children get one free picture with Santa on Friday night at Santa's house in the Christmas market.

The 12th annual Parade of Lights begins 5 p.m. Dec. 1 at Lampe Park in Gardnerville, traveling on Highway 395 and ending in Minden Park around 6 p.m. This year's theme is Holiday Traditions from Around the World.

Live music at the Christmas Market Saturday night and a live Christmas play on Sunday afternoon.

Gardnerville

The Town of Gardnerville presents the third Carson Valley Christmas Season Kick Off, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the Heritage Park pavilion. The family-oriented event features the Sierra Ringers from Carson Valley United Methodist Church, a quartet singing holiday music and Carson Valley Community Theater's presentation of Santa's Little Helper Part 3, "Which Way is North?" The park pavilion will be lit and Santa Claus will be on hand to welcome children young and old to the 2007 Christmas season. Also on the program is the dedication of the Zelda Shaw Memorial.

Come and join us for hot chocolate, hot apple cider, provided by Red's 395 Grill, popcorn courtesy of Gardnerville Water Co. and a holiday treat provided by the Town of Gardnerville. Carriage rides around the park will also be available.

Virginia City

The Parade of Lights, Virginia City's traditional Christmas Parade will start at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec 1. Prizes will be awarded for the best entries. Call the visitors center at 847-4FUN (4386) or visit the Visitor Center for more information and an entry form.