OFF THE COUCH

Today

-- Second annual Relay for Life, American Cancer Society's signature event, takes place at Carson High School track. Begins at 5 p.m. with a dinner hosted by the Sunset Rotary Club. Fee $3 per person. Relay is from 6 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday morning. Call 329-0609.

-- "Six Women with Brain Death or Expiring Minds Want to Know," 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Brewery Arts Center. Tickets $12.50 general public, $11 students, seniors and BAC Members. Call 883-1976.

-- Renaissance Fair at Educare Academy, 2210 Lone Mountain Drive, features Knighthood skills demo, barbecue, face painting, "faire food," all activities begin at 7 p.m., plus sleep-over. Call Joan at 882-3011.

-- "Two Gentlemen of Verona" at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at Sand Harbor. Festival ends Aug. 26. Performances of "The Comedy of Errors" and "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" alternate nightly. Tickets start at $20. Call (800) 747-4697 or visit the Web site at: tahoebard.com.

-- Joe La Chew performs in the Cork and Bottle Lounge of the Carson Nugget. Call 882-1626.

-- 29th annual Concours d'Elegance and Wooden Boat Week, features Chris-Craft boats, then and now; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sierra Boat Co., Carnelian Bay, North Shore Lake Tahoe. Tickets, information (530) 581-4700.

-- Summer Family Concert Series 6-8:30 p.m. in Minden Park features The Ken Davidson Trio (jazz). Call 782-9828.

-- "Summer Thunder" United States Auto Club sprint cars compete at Carson Tahoe Champion Speedway, plus local racing divisions. Call 888-9777.

-- Kool and the Gang perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. at The Plaza at Harrah's Reno. Call 788-2900.

-- Cuda Shaver performs at 9 p.m. at Joe Bob's Hot Springs Roadhouse, 1510 Hot Springs Road. Call 853-7698.

-- Olivia Newton-John performs at Silver Legacy's Grande Exposition Hall at 9 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $55, $49, $30. Call (800) MUST-SEE for tickets.

-- Pam Tillis performs at 8 p.m. at John Ascuaga's Nugget Celebrity Showroom. Call 356-3300.

-- Northern Nevada Living History Festival of Fernley at The Out of Town Park in Fernley. Call (775) 575-4459 or (775) 575-7994.

-- Comedians Bruce Fine and Brant Von Hoffman on stage at The Improv Harrah's Lake Tahoe. Call 588-6611.

-- The Palmore Brothers and The Gardners perform at the Carson Valley Inn Cabaret Lounge, Minden. Call 782-9711.

-- Mud Puppies, Top 40/Rock, 10 p.m. today and Saturday at The Brew Brothers, Eldorado Hotel Casino in Reno.

-- Panama, Today's Top Hits, at 8:30 p.m. at the BuBinga Lounge, Eldorado, Hotel Casino in Reno. Call 786-5700.

Saturday

-- Antique Tractor show in Minden, 2838 Heybourne Road, off Stephanie Lane. Call 267-4816 for information. Admission, $3.

-- Public dance from 7-11 p.m. at the Carson City Senior Citizens Center, 911 Beverly Drive. Live music by Reminisce; admission $4. Refreshments and door prizes available. Call 883-0703.

-- Children's presentation at Mormon State Historic Park, Genoa at 1 p.m. A display and short discussion on the way pioneer children lived, followed by a story read under the tree. Call 782-2590.

-- Genoa's Super Summer Swap Meet, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Genoa Town Park. Call 782-0810.

-- Skateboard Park Grand Opening, 10 a.m. at the Skate Park in Gardnerville. Includes demonstrations, food, live music, raffles, prizes and competitions (helmets required). Call 782-9828 or 783-1003.

-- Berkeley Opera performs Bizet's "Carmen" at 5 p.m. at the Granlibakken Resort and Conference Center. Tickets, which include dinner, $75. Call (800) 543-3221.

-- Rail Days 2001 honors the 1914 Fernley/Lassen Railroad Depot's 87th birthday and restoration work, 10 a.m. at 675 Main St., Fernley. Includes open house, railroad displays, model trains, demonstrations and more. Call 575-2515.

-- Olivia Newton-John performs at 9 p.m. Saturday in Caesars Tahoe Circus Maximus Showroom. Tickets $65, $55, $50 and $40. Call (800) 648-3353.

Sunday

-- Sunday concert in the Park, 5-8 p.m. at the Legislature Plaza, bring a picnic dinner, free. Call 746-5024 or 687-7410.

-- Buckwheat Zydeco appears at 9 p.m. at The Garage, Reno Hilton. No cover or minimum. Must be 21. Call 789-2015.