It’s all about the food this weekend! It is still Restaurant Week through Sunday. The grand finale is on Sunday at Christmas Tree Village, with Crosby’s, Tahoe Gifting, and Thania’s Juice Bar squeezed (pun intended) in between.

Russell, Darya, and their teams have a great recipe for the perfect combo of food, entertainment, and fun. Those of you who already have been “Praying for Snow Sun”, thank you. Come celebrate that sun at this Pray for Sun party and bring your dog. Oh, you don’t have one? Pet Network is on hand to fix that problem!

DIY Weekend

It is DIY weekend and the best place to start is at Mountain Hardware in Raleys Center. They are showing off their new renovation and that means there are specials throughout the entire store.

As most of you know, I am NOT a DIY girl. I am going for the free hot dogs and a chance to dance during the day to Jacked Up. The Store Manager, Divina, says they “ONLY” have 450 hot dogs and they always run out…I’m calling it brunch at 11:30, so I can hit one more restaurant for Restaurant Week.

My top choice that night is the CBC’s Steak and Lobster House. Their special is Wagyu meatloaf. Hmm. I might have to bring Mike O’Neill, who loves meatloaf. PLUS I can stay for the concert by Los Kingdom featuring locals Arielle Virinis and Dave Green.

Thursday Is Like a Weekend of Its Own

Thursday is kind of like a weekend of its own.

It is the second Thrifty Thursday at Village Center. Take a look at Jessica’s (Tahoe Love founder and TFS Thrift Store Manager) graphic on IVCBA.org to see the cutest graphic ever for a shopping center event.

Street Tacos by Lupitas? I wonder what wine to pair with them from Glasses!

After shopping, I am heading to an Open House for a new nonprofit, the Empowerment Foundation. They are inviting the community to learn more about how they plan to bring awareness and support for survivors of human trafficking. Their office and Open House are in the US Bank building on Tahoe Blvd.

One more thing about Thursday: Osteria has a winemaking dinner with ZD Winery.

Memorial Day

HANG ON! I haven’t even gotten to Memorial Day yet!

You know those big flag poles on the upper Village Green across from the Rec Center? They are a marker for the Veterans War Memorial. The groundbreaking for the monument is on Monday, along with the whole celebration honoring those who gave their lives in service to our country.

Thank you to Michael Gross, who spearheaded the fundraising and the effort to get the memorial approved.

Cornerstone Church is providing a free continental breakfast afterward for everyone. No need to be a Vet, just someone who wants to show respect to the armed services.

A big shout-out to the 4 veteran-related organizations in Incline:

• IVCB Vets Club
• MOAA
• PTSDNow!
• Onward Opps

One More Thing

Just consider this a long long weekend that extends to Tuesday.

Please plan to attend the Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation seminar at the Chateau. Defensible Space and Firewise are more important than ever this year. Everyone is worried about fire and smoke because of the early spring.

Thanks to Kristie Wells, Casa Tua realtor and Community Advocate, for organizing this first-time event and bringing so many relevant organizations to the same room.

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IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!

If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org.

We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help!

JOIN HERE

Maybe it’s a Hallmark moment, but Mother’s Day, this Sunday, evokes memories from those childhood years, both for me as a child and as a mom with young children. Remember breakfast in bed? Those cute ceramic handprints or homemade cards? Going for brunch at the Hyatt used to be our tradition, too. The kids wore their Easter outfits again and found their “company behavior”. 

My 3 kids are in their early thirties now, with careers and the things one can do before children come along. Instead of waiting for grandchildren, I am finding opportunities to spend time with babies and young children who don’t mind having an extra grandma around!

No brunch at the Hyatt anymore, but I want to share a couple of other experiences there that are a family-friendly special treat. Last week, I went to the Hyatt’s Pasta Hour with Kristin Derrin, along with her two kids, Alexa and Jaydin. We watched them make pasta and then sampled it, along with charcuterie.  Adults got to sample wine too…. all complimentary!

Here’s another fun thing: Afternoon tea on the weekends. Again, this brings back memories…my kids loved tea parties. In a time when dress and occasions are so casual, Afternoon Tea at the Hyatt can be a mini experience, maybe even a Mother’s Day treat. 

Mother’s Day Brunch at the Grille at the Chateau! Call to make a reservation: 775.832-1178.

As a prelude to Restaurant Week coming up on May 16-25, I want to highlight some Incline restaurants.

At the Hyatt, Osteria has a great breakfast buffet, but also try their elegant Italian dinners. Cutthroats is very family-friendly and feels like a new place for great burgers. 

Big Water Grille: dinner and sunset is a great idea for Mother’s Day or anytime!

Sage Leaf and Crosby’s never disappoint. Tunnel Creek is a great brunch spot as well.

The cinnamon rolls at Happy Tiers are legendary… why not pick some up on Saturday for that breakfast-in-bed?!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there!

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IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

Our largest growing demographic is arguably families. When I look at what’s going on right now with the public schools, Lake Tahoe School, and the Incline Education Fund, I get a little dizzy trying to keep track of it all, so pay attention!

Starting with the high school…

The ‘We The People’ constitutional debate team competed at the national level and took 10th place last weekend! This is a life-changing “rite of passage” that teaches students how to think, write, and talk professionally. And our little Village High School is a rock star in that competition nearly every year for the last 20 years. 

INCLINE HIGH SCHOOL 

CRAB FEST on Saturday, April 25

Think of this annual event as an all-school reunion. Yep, that means YOUNGER parents who can still fit into their letter jackets and sports attire will be there. Time to pass the torch for fundraising from “vintage” donors like Richard and me to the younger generation. I’ll be there, and I hope the thrift stores have old IHS T-shirts and things like that.

SCHOOL PLAY in the Duffield Theater on Friday, April 24

Maybe it’s not Broadway, but if your kids have never seen live theater, start here!

LAKE TAHOE SCHOOL

A program on Parenting Tech-savvy Kids (What a challenge!) is available to all parents courtesy of the Doyle Family Speaker Series.

Ending with the Littles…

Tahoe Connection For Families’ Teddy Bear Picnic on April 26 

It’s a little early this year, but it has an ind00or-outdoor location at Aspen Grove. At least, I hope they are opening that building! It could be snowing on those toddlers!

EARTH DAY at UNR@ Lake Tahoe campus on Friday

Lots of stuff for people of all ages who care about our environment. Stop by!

EWASTE AND LITHIUM BATTERY COLLECTION by Rotary Club

They do this every year. Bring all that stuff on Sunday to Ace Hardware between 10 and 3pm.

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IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

IVCBA shared its accomplishments and current plans at its Annual Meeting yesterday at Prim Library. The evening felt like a true celebration of the past five years, bringing together the community and building programs that support businesses and strengthen connections across Incline Village and Crystal Bay. It was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and to share the vision for what’s ahead.

A huge thank you to UNR at Lake Tahoe for hosting and providing food and refreshments, and to UNR President Brian Sandoval for his annual update and continued partnership. We’re especially grateful to have spent the evening with more than 120 members of our community, an inspiring reminder of the people and relationships that make this work so impactful.

I want to share some of our history and accomplishments. We reformed the original business association into IVCBA in 2021, with membership dues ranging from $50 to $5,000. With over 285 members coming from agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and residents, we view our mission as a mandate. We are apolitical and view our work as benefiting the entire community by bringing people together and making our community stronger.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Our strategic priorities are economic vitality, civic engagement, and revitalization through beautification. 

• Provide local news and promotion for local organizations through the Weekly SnapShot, now reaching over 3,000 subscribers.
• Organize community-wide events Local Heroes 4^th of July Celebration with signature parade(partnership with Rotary) and community fair(partner with IVGID).
• Organize a Northern Lights Tahoe community tree lighting and a “Forest of Giving Trees” at Prim Library. Jingle Mingle is the “shop local” event. 
• Organize and promote Community events: Restaurant Week and Fall Fest.
• Started the LIVE.WORK.PLAY magazine highlighting local residents and organizations.
• Established the Washoe Tahoe Leadership Academy and VIP Receptions for community organization leaders.
• Maintain the community website and calendar at IVCBA.org.
• Started Incline Village Main Street beautification programs, including Inclined to Bloom and Dancing with Daffodils
• Initiated the Gateway Roundabout improvements, to be executed in spring 2026

I hope it is obvious that what benefits our members benefits the entire community. Most communities have local governance structures to help fund the programs we run. As an unincorporated part of Washoe County, we do not have a city government. Moving forward into 2026, we are asking the community to help fund and sustain IVCBA in a variety of ways.

• Join IVCBA
• Be a Family and Friends Community Sponsor and honor a Local Hero
• Make a charitable donation to the Gateway Roundabout and beautification projects at the Sierra Giving Circle through The Incline Tahoe Foundation.

LIKE WHAT YOU READ?

IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

Say Good-bye on Saturday to Sunshine Deli owners John and Debbie Sullivan and say hello to new owner Marley at their farewell party from 2-4. When John and Debbie Sullivan took over Sunshine Deli 12 years ago, they brought new life to this local restaurant on Incline Way. In the early years, they took their lunch business to local businesses, bringing sandwiches and salads to people who couldn’t  leave for a lunch hour.  Their catering business was a labor of love, including service to Rotary lunches and TBX breakfasts, among others. They were my “go to” caterer for numerous IVCBA events too. The new owner has Laotian heritage and New Zealand roots, where she lived for many years. She will bring new international flavors to the Deli, including signature dishes like “Andaz biscuits (cookies)” and sausage rolls. The IVCBA staff sampled them on Monday, and we approve.

Are we thrilled to be Dancing with Daffodils?! Thanks to everyone who planted daffodil bulbs last October. I want to give a shout-out to:

IPM – daffodils at Raleys Incline Center and Natural Grocer

IMS students with direction from Mary Danahey of Incline Education Fund

IVGID – thanks to Steve Phillips and his grounds crew

Christmas Tree Village and property manager Tony Robinson

Tahoe Immo and property manager Scott Dutcher 

Steve Blaney and friends

Lori Bard and the Tahoe Trekkers

And all of you who either picked up some bulbs from IVCBA or supplied your own!

FUN LEARNING EVENTS

I so appreciate all the “big city” events right here in our little Village. UNR is rolling out the Tahoe Discovery Lab and Innovation at Tahoe,  thanks to UNR Professor Chris Jeffrey.   The Tahoe Series features him this Thursday at 6pm at the Prim Library on the Lake Tahoe campus. Title of the talk: Learning from Resilience: Nature’s Innovation and Multidisciplinary Discovery. Watch for the one on May 7 as well.

Probiotics…do you take them “just because your mother told you to”? Alina at Natural Grocer will explain WHY they are so important on Saturday at 11 am. Pretty sure you will get a recommendation on which ones are actually effective! It’s a good reason to shop healthy and stock up on your other supplement needs. See you there!

LIKE WHAT YOU READ?

IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

We will be “Dancing With Daffodils” soon! Remember those 7,000 bulbs planted last fall? Be on the lookout for daffodils near you or throughout our commercial areas. Send photos of daffodil sightings to Info@IVCBA.org. Daffodils reflect the hardy nature of people who live here year-round. We know we will get snowed on again this year, but we keep popping back up! We are so fortunate to enjoy this unprecedented stretch of warm weather, but remember what I say about spring: It’s really only the month of June, and then all of a sudden, it’s summer on the 4^th of July! 

Incline Village Main Street is the IVCBA program that champions beautification and revitalization projects. It brings you daffodils, flowers in pots, and hanging baskets, and works to create a cohesive look to Tahoe Blvd. The Gateway Roundabout improvements are on track for this spring and will create a sense of place for the gateway to the East Shore of Lake Tahoe, also known as the gem of Washoe County. Irrigation to support perennials and other vegetation will reflect the natural beauty of the Tahoe Basin.

COMMERCIAL REVITALIZATION

Sometimes I feel like I live “under a rock”, but even I have been hearing the buzz about the new restaurant going into the old Rookies building in Raley’s Incline Center. I have met with James, who works for a restaurant implementation company, on behalf of the building owner. Although they have not finalized the name or menu, I can safely tell you it is not going to be a steakhouse (as the current rumor). Watch for casual dining and a “provisions” hub for “grab and go” food items for picnics or family dinners.

One could say there is a restaurant revitalization underway throughout Incline. Rosewood in Raleys Incline Center is expanding into the old Jiffy Pizza space; details still to come. Across the street at Incline Plaza, Bite expanded its space last year, and La Loca adds a fun Mediterranean vibe at the end of the boardwalk. Country Club Center is still a “go-to” place for restaurants. People who go looking for Austins will not be disappointed to find Paxton’s.  

I need another paragraph to cover more restaurant changes! Have you seen the renovated Glasses Wine Bar in Village Center? Gamechanger!  Go see it. Sunshine Deli has changes coming up too. Long-time owners John and Debbie Sullivan are retiring and turning the business over to Marly. Marly has a Kiwi accent but has roots in the Southeast Asian country of Laos.  New lunch place: Happy Tiers is expanding, both their food options and adding a location in Kings Beach.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Tahoe Forest Health System and UNR at Lake Tahoe both want your feedback and insights into future programming. True North is the hospital’s campaign. Their survey is already out. Two listening sessions are planned for Incline in the next couple of weeks. Also, TNT/TMA is conducting a Winter Commuter Survey to better understand commuter needs and encourage the use of alternative transportation.

TRUE NORTH SURVEY FOR TFHS >

UNR STATEGIC PLANNING SURVEY >

WINTER COMMUTER SURVEY >

The CAB meeting next Monday…They have asked Tahoe Family Solutions and Sierra Community House to speak to the need for workforce housing. They hope to attract the attention of the Reno Housing Authority, which has also been invited to the CAB meeting. Washoe County has asked RHA to explore the possible use of the old elementary school site for workforce housing. Tahoe Transportation District announced in December that they were no longer trying to build a transportation hub there; presumably, there could be more discussion about it at its April 1 board meeting. 

Linda’s “hot tip” for enjoying the nice weather:  Take advantage of the East Shore Trail in this off-season when you can probably get a parking place! 

LIKE WHAT YOU READ?

IVCBA is the Community and Business Association that promotes our local businesses and nonprofits, organizes community events, and produces the Weekly SnapShot!  If you are a subscriber and regular reader, please join as a Community Supporter for $50. If you are not a subscriber, do for free! Go to IVCBA.org. We are financially supported by our local agency “investors”, and our business community and residents. Please help! JOIN HERE

Guest Writer, Samantha Zechman – University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe

Having moved to Incline Village just six months ago, one thing quickly became clear: this is a tight-knit community that truly shows up for one another. Each weekend event, local news story, and Facebook post has revealed a village that rallies together, generous with its time, supportive of its neighbors, and deeply invested in the well-being of the place it calls home.

When I was given the opportunity to plan Winterfest, the vision for the event came naturally. The transition from Sierra Nevada University to the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe has brought change, and with change often comes uncertainty. What felt most important was creating space for connection: connection to the campus, to one another, and to the future of this evolving partnership between the university and Incline Village.

Winterfest became our invitation.

As we celebrate the seasonal shift from winter to spring, we also celebrate a renewed relationship between the university and the community, one rooted in transparency, collaboration, and shared experiences. This campus belongs to the community as much as it belongs to our students, and Winterfest reflects that belief.

With the support of Linda Offerdahl and Denise Menzies, my introduction to Incline Village has been both joyful and inspiring. Together, we secured more than 20 local organizations to lead family-friendly activities, offer health and wellness resources, share local eats, and provide live entertainment. The afternoon promises something for everyone.

Children can enjoy hands-on arts and crafts with Pet Network and the American Association of University Women, free books from the Rotary Club of Tahoe-Incline, interactive science demonstrations with university staff, and face painting from local volunteers. Community members can test their coordination with the sheriff’s department, photos at festive backdrops by the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and Diamond Peak staff, and dance to the upbeat sounds of the local band, Jacked-Up. Guests will also enjoy a special demonstration by the Sierra Alphorn Players, competitions led by Achieve Tahoe, and the inaugural color powder toss at 5:30 p.m. on the main lawn, set against the backdrop of the campus.

Guests can also enjoy hot chocolate, s’mores, and sno-cones, offered by local donors. These treats will be available on a donation basis, with proceeds supporting two outstanding educational programs serving students with special needs: The Newton School and the Path to Independence Program at the University of Nevada, Reno.

This component of Winterfest is especially meaningful. In previous roles as an Assistant Principal of Specialized Services and as a Special Education teacher, I had the privilege of working closely with students and families navigating unique learning journeys. Supporting programs that expand opportunities for students with disabilities is not just important, it is personal. I am honored to help elevate the work these organizations are doing in our broader community.

Winterfest is about more than a single afternoon of celebration. It is about showing up for one another, opening our doors wider, and recognizing what is possible when a community and its university grow together.

Join us March 7 from 2 to 6PM at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe. We look forward to celebrating with you!