Off the couch

Today

-- Men of Worth perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall. Call 883-1976.

-- Caroling in Genoa Community Church, 182 Nixon St., 7 p.m. Lighting of the town tree after performance; refreshments will be served. Call 782-1233.

-- Spaghetti Feed and Christmas Tree Bingo, 5 p.m. at the CVIC Hall in Minden. Call 782-2444.

-- Lighting of the Minden Gazebo, with live music and refreshments in Minden Park. Call 782-2444.

Saturday

-- 31st annual Elks Hoop Shoot for boys and girls ages 8-13 at Carson Middle School on King Street. Sign up at 9 a.m., competition at 10 a.m.

-- V&T Railroad fund-raiser from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Plaza Hotel, 801 S. Carson St., in Carson City. Collectible items up for auction include: V&T license plates, belt buckles, books, timetables and first-edition books. Call Janice Ayres, 687-4680.

-- Carson Hot Springs Resort hosts a toy drive for Toys for Tots, 7 to 11 a.m., 1500 Hot Springs Road. Bring a new toy with no extra wrapping and pool admission is free. Call 885-8844.

-- Greenhouse Garden Center open house, features Carson High School Jazz Band, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

-- Bingo afternoon at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 5335 Snyder Ave., begins at noon, hosted by the Saint Benedict Society. Includes cash prizes and a raffle; concession stand available, free popcorn and coffee. Must be 21 to play. Call 882-1967.

-- St. Teresa of Avila School's annual Christmas benefit, "Old Fashioned Christmas," at the Carson Nugget. Doors open at 11 a.m., features luncheon, revue and silent auction. Reserved tickets $30; call 882-2079.

-- High Desert Brass performs at 2 p.m. in the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, 511 W. King St. Tickets $10 general, $8 BAC members and seniors, $5 students with valid ID, 12-younger free. Call 883-1976.

-- Parade of Lights with floats, marching bands and a surprise guest, Minden-Gardnerville. Call 782-8144.

-- "The Nutcracker" ballet is performed at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Piper's Opera House, Virginia City. Features students from Carson Valley and Reno areas, also, Squeek Lavake on piano at intermission of 2:30 p.m. performance. Tickets $25 reserved, $15 general and $8 children 12-younger. Call 847-0433.

-- Genoa Christmas Faire, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday in Genoa Town Hall, Genoa. Call 782-8696.

-- Annual Christmas Commitment fund-raiser, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Joe Bob's Hot Springs Road House, 1510 Hot Springs Road, hosted by the Carson City Raiders Booster Club. Call 720-4333 or 450-7128.

-- Carson City Historical Society 2002 Victorian Christmas Tour, noon to 5 p.m., features 12 locations, entertainment, music and refreshments. Tickets $12 adults, $10 seniors 65 and older and students 13 to 18, children 5 to 12, $3.

-- Bethany Circle of Women in Mission annual Advent Tea, 2 p.m. in Luther Hall, 1837 Mountain St. Call 882-7057.

-- 'Tis the Season 2002 featuring Sierra Nevada Ballet's "Peanutcracker, the Story in a Nutshell," at 4 and 5:30 p.m. at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall on King Street. Call 883-1976.

-- The Compassionate Friends worldwide candle-lighting ceremony, 5 p.m. at the Nevada State Library and Archives, for families grieving the loss of a child. Call Kathy Schultz at 883-3132.

-- Silver Knights Motorcycle Club meets at 7 p.m. at Round Table Pizza in Eagle Station Shopping Center, near Raley's. Call 265-6998 from noon to 3 p.m.

-- Joyful Noise Christmas concert at Unity Church of Today, 7 p.m. at CVIC Hall in Minden. Features Cherie and John Shipley, Steve Hayes, Jim Finnin, Howard Coleman and more. Call 782-4429.

-- 2002 Holiday Home Tour, 1 to 4 p.m. at seven homes in the Carson Valley. Wine and hor d' oeuvres reception after the tour. Tickets $20 per person. Call 782-8144 or 885-4596.

-- Feast of Hanukkah, 8 and 10:30 a.m. at New Beginnings Christian Church, 145 Esmeralda Drive, Washoe Valley. Features guest speaker Richard Hill of CJF Ministries. Call 849-2830.