Free meals for area's needy today

Happy Thanksgiving! According to Webster's Dictionary, thanksgiving (thanks-'giv`ing, n.) is "the act of giving thanks, or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies."

I know of two groups who are "expressing gratitude for favors or mercies" by giving back. The Carson Valley Christian Center and the Carson Nugget Casino are offering free Thanksgiving meals today for those in need.

If you and your family would otherwise not have a Thanksgiving meal, head to the Christian Center at 1095 Stephanie Way in Minden between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

For more details on that feast, call 267-0151.

If you're closer to Carson and can't scrape a meal together today, go to the Carson Nugget from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They serve about 1,900 free Thanksgiving meals each year, which works out to be about 3,700 pounds of turkey, 1,000 pounds of ham, 600 pounds of stuffing, 500 pounds of yams and 150 gallons of giblet gravy. That's like a hot tub full of gravy. What a way to commemorate the feast Pilgrims enjoyed in 1621! I bet the sight of all that gravy would knock the socks of the Wampanoag Indians, who helped the Pilgrims survive those early winters.

Photographer Rick Gunn and I will be there, whipping together a story for the Appeal.

For more details on the Nugget's free Thanksgiving meal, call 882-1626.

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You can be sure the holiday season is officially here when Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" ballet is performed. Friday at 7 p.m. is the opening performance for the 15th annual production by the Pinkerton Dance Company. The production features 75 local people and several nationally-renowned dancers.

Tristi McMaster, who will play the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy, is a Nevada native who has performed with the Washington Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet. Armen Hagopian, a professional Russian folk dancer, will make his sixth appearance in the Pinkerton production. Rachel Chipp, a former Pinkerton student who studied dance at the University of Utah for two years, will play the Snow Queen.

Because the set makers have built a second "flying sleigh," the audience can pose for pictures in a sleigh with Clara, the Nutcracker and other cast members during intermission.

Shows are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. Tickets are at the Bookcellar bookstore until Friday about noon. The store is not open today so get there early Friday.

"There are still tickets left for all three nights - Friday and Sunday are the fullest," said Roberta Navarro, employee at the Bookcellar, 1202 North Carson St.

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A new exhibit in the King Street Gallery at the Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St., will feature the photography of Carson City's Larry Taylor. Taylor, a member of the Nevada Native Plant Society, has trained his lens on native flora of the Eagle Valley and the Carson Range. The exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The framed, color photographs will be sold with prices for $60 to $250.

For more details, call 883-1976.

Contact Karl Horeis at khoreis@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.