Things To Do This Weekend Around Reno / Tahoe

Sierra snowfall over the last couple of weeks was measured in feet. Ski and snow play conditions are the best they've been this season. In fact, they're the best they've been in years. The forecast for the next few days calls for a break in the storm action, making this a good weekend to get up to the mountains for a weekend winter sports activities like skiing and family fun in the snow. There are plenty of things to do down here in the Truckee Meadows as well.

"Come in From the Cold" at Bartley Ranch Park - January 30. When it's freezing outside and the budget has taken a holiday beating, free family entertainment sounds pretty good. This Saturday evening, Beverly Colgan and Joe Venuto perform everything from bluegrass to Bach for an amazing musical experience. Doors open at 5 p.m. and shows start at 7 p.m. Seating is limited to 280 people. For more information, call (775) 828-6612.

"Animal Grossology" at the Wilbur D. May Museum - January 30 though April 18. If it's really gross, kids usually love it, so this new interactive family exhibit is sure to be a hit. This fun way to learn natural science will feature some pretty yucky stuff and teach why gross can actually be good. How about slug and snail slime, dung beetles, leeches, and flies? If these don't interest kids, nothing will. The Wilbur D. May Museum is in Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, 1595 N. Sierra St. in Reno. Grossology hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8 adults, $7 children under 18 and seniors 62 and over. Call (775) 785-5961 for details.

Family Skating at Rink on the River - Weekends through February 15. Reno's downtown Rink on the River ice skating venue is only open to the general public on weekends. Crisp temperatures and some sunshine should make for good skating conditions. The Rink is open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Before visiting, call the Rink on the River Hotline at (775) 334-6268 to make sure the Rink is operating normally.

Nevada Wolf Pack Basketball - January 30. The Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball team plays Hawaii this Saturday at Lawlor Events Center on the UNR campus. Tipoff is at 7:05 p.m. You can get tickets online or by calling (775) 348-PACK (7225).

Reno Bighorns Basketball - January 30 & 31. The Reno Bighorns, our NBA D-Leauge basketball team, plays two home games this weekend. On Saturday, tipoff is at 7 p.m. against the Utah Flash. This will be Breast Cancer Awareness Night benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Discounted tickets start at $6. Sunday's game, starting at 3 p.m., is Military Appreciation Day and also vs. the Flash. Bighorns home games are played at the Reno Events Center, 400 N. Center St. in downtown Reno. You can buy tickets at the Events Center box office, online through Ticketmaster, or by calling (775) 335-8815.

The Great Train Expo - January 30 & 31. Model train buffs, this is a big weekend at the Reno Sparks Livestock Events Center. The Great Train Expo will feature just about everything a model railroader could lust for - lots of exhibits, operating model railroads, buying and selling, stuff for kids to do, and more. The show is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission is $7, free for kids under 12. The Events Center is at 1350 N. Wells Avenue in Reno. For information, call (630) 608-4955.

The Knitting Factory Features Reno Bands - January 30. The Knit will be invaded by a bunch of local Reno bands this Saturday evening. Here's the roster - The Airplane Game, Anthropophagus, BeyondThePit, The Chicago Outfit, Full Count, June Set Fire, Leviathan, Lil Rasta, Passports, Pyro, She Has A Fashion Vice, The Waiting Ends, Wayward, Weston, Wolf City. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., show starts at 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 general, $35 VIP balcony. Get them online or just show up at The Knit, 211 N. Virginia St. in downtown Reno. The actual entrance is around the corner and behind the building, off 2nd Street in Fulton Alley.

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