Howie sez: "Greetings from the Lake. What with fresh white powder in the Sierras and Super Tuesday just around the corner things have been looking pretty decent. Oh sure the economy is on everyone's mind and if you listen to the media on national television they're as accurate about predicting the economy as say those who predicted the outcome of The New Hampshire Primary. The good news about comedy is that everyone needs to laugh so they can skip the thought of suicide on occasion. So far the acts this year have been anything but recessive and look for some new faces too coming to The Improv in the next few weeks. Gotta keep it fresh."

Now through Feb. 3, the headliner is Harry Basil, and the featured act is James P. Connelly. The Improv is dark on Mondays- for ticket and time info, click on the Harveys Resort or Harrah's Tahoe listing here on HotelsByCity.net.

No two ways about it, it's a powderhound paradise in the Sierra this season.

But the same snow that makes for great winter rec opportunities also makes for some hazardous driving conditions.  This past weekend saw an avalanche that closed Mt. Rose Highway up above my house for quite a while Sunday night, with something like a hundred and fifty yard stretch of eight-foot deep snow.  Even Spooner Summit— normally the best bet for getting up to Tahoe from the eastern side during bad weather— experienced an avalanche in the aftermath of the past storm.  And this morning, reports from out Meyers way, west of SLT on Highway 50, indicated that the drifting snow was so bad, it was as if no plowing or clearing had been done at all.

So enjoy the Tahoe ski and board resorts, but be safe about it... book a room at a local hotel, and thumb your nose at the bad road conditions!  And what do you know... here you are on HotelsByCity.net—  what site could be better for checking out the hotels and motels of South Lake Tahoe?

Snow on!

"Our faithful powderhounds will be live, in-the-chilly-flesh, at Kirkwood handing out the hippest new eco-friendly lip balm and sun block au naturale, compliments of local upstart Sierra Summits

Pick up our newest pocket publication Tahoe@Play, chock full of all the best entertainment, insider tips and hot-spots in North and South Lake Tahoe. Don't miss a minute of the fun - you'll be glad you came.

See our awesome photo galleries and video footage of the past Snow Days. Check back after the event to see yourself on the pages of tahoe.com as a snowboard superstar or a ski-whiz. Get flashed by a tahoe.com shutter bug, and make Snow Day history."

So check it out, then head down the hill to enjoy the Shane Dwight Band at the big Brew HaHa dance party at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks.

Jason Stewart

"I can’t think of a better comic this week to headline the annual Lake Tahoe Blue Gay-La extravaganza. When it comes to being ‘out’ and hilarious nobody delivers the goods more than actor/comedian Jason Stuart. It’s not only his first time performing up here at The Improv but also an opportunity for him to see how he likes working at this elevation.

Jason was born in the Bronx, New York and raised in Los Angeles by a very crazy and lovable Jewish family all of which have found there way into his act. He has taken much of his upbringing and turned it into a one-man show called, “Looking For Mr. Right” that has been seen all over the country entertaining crowds in comedy clubs, colleges, and Gay events to sell out performances.

As an actor, Jason recently guest starred on “George Lopez,” playing the fussy manager again! He was also on the medical drama, “House” (directed by Bryan Singer of X-MEN fame) and Showtime’s improv-style comedy “Fat Actress” starring Kristie Alley. He is best know for his recurring role on the ABC sitcom “Wife & Kids” (on ABC) starring Damon Wayans playing a gay shrink. Jason has been seen all over television guest starring on the Emmy winning “Will & Grace” twice, “Charmed” with Shannon Doherty and Alyssa Milano, “Strong Medicine” with Patricia Richardson (Home Improvement), “Providence”” opposite Melina Kanaredes, “The Norm Show,” “The Drew Carey Show”” with his old pal Drew and Kathy Kinny, “Murder, She Wrote” with Angela Landsbury and “Sunset Beat” with George Clooney.

Jason’s stand up work has brought him to the best comedy clubs including The Laugh Factory, The Improvs, Funny Bones, Punchlines, Comedy Zones and so many more. He was asked to perform at The Montreal Comedy Festival, Toyota Comedy Festival, Holland Comedy Festival and Vail Comedy Festival. And if that wasn’t enough his comedy has brought him to Harrah’s Las Vegas for “Broadway’s Town Hall Theater” twice.

Some of Jason’s gay television work includes Comedy Central’s “Out There” plus his gay shows on Showtime, A&E and FOX TV just to name a few. His outrageous wit has been seen in over a 100 local TV talk shows around the USA, Canada and Holland. Also he is included in “Out Laugh!,” “Ticked Pink” and “God & Gays” documentaries. As a talking head he has been all over VH1 and TV LAND.

At the college level Jason has been invited to perform for so many universities that it’s too long to list those credits. He was invited to perform at the “Seven National Associations of Campus Activities Conventions” and his comedy has grown year after year with new colleges inviting him back frequently. This work soon lead Jason to become a popular lecturer at such fortune 500 companies as Motorola, ATT, The Out And Equal Conference and a comedy tour for The Human Rights Campaign.

Some of Jason’s movie credits include “Coffee Date” with Wilson Cruz and Jonathan Silverman, the drama, “San Saba” opposite Angus Macfadyen, “Twisted Faith” opposite Elaine Hendrix, “Ghosts Never Sleep” opposite Oscar winner Faye Dunaway and Tony Goldwyn, “Puff, Puff, Pass” with Mekhi Phifer, “Lost and Found” with David Spade, “Vegas Vacation” with Chevy Chase, “Kindergarden Cop” with Arnold Schwartzenegger, “Cross my Heart” with Martin Short, HBO’s “Gia” with Oscar winner Angelina Jolie, the AIDS drama, “Letting Go,” “A Day Without A Mexican” and “Ping Pong Playa.” Jason also starred in and co-producing “10 Attitudes” with Michael Gallant (also the director). This dogma style romantic comedy has won the best picture award at the Barcelona Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in addition to selling out at several other film festivals around the world. Co-starring his friends Alexandra Paul, David Faustino, Jim J. Bullock and Judy Tenuta.

Jason has been profiled everywhere from TV’s “Entertainment Tonight” and “Extra” to almost every news and interview show across the country. He's been featured in the Los Angeles Times three times and has written articles for The Advocate and Genre Magazine. Jason has released his stand up comedy CD, “Gay Comedy Without A Dress” available on his website in addition to completing his first stand up comedy special “Jason Stuart: Making It To The Middle” which he also produced. What other reason could you possibly have to not see him this week?"

Wow, sez Keith. And that's just part of it... tomorrow we'll talk about Chipper Lowell!

Well, I don't know about anything else, but I do know that we got inches and inches of primo, grade-a powder this a.m. Light and fluffy, the good stuff.

I don't know how many people took advantage of the MLK Jr. holiday to hit the slopes... I live on Mount Rose Highway, and to be honest, there didn't seem to be very much traffic from people coming up from Reno to visit the ski areas. But for those who did make it out there, the only thing missing was probably the bluebird sky (and even at that, some of that sweet, sweet azure should have winked through the clouds at them at least once or twice during the day...  )

Next up: It's Tahoe.com day on the slopes!

The whole thing wouldn't have been so galling if this lawyer weren't known for being the most voracious ambulance chaser in the Tahoe Basin. (And if I didn't personally know him to be such an egomaniacal jackass̷ I guess he figured that if someone actually did have the misfortune to hit him, it would just mean that much more money in the pocket.

It's caucus eve... be sure to get out and participate tomorrow!

My friend Nancy Oliver Hayden, Community Editor at the Tahoe Daily Tribune, reports that Neighbors Bookstore in the Crescent V Center (or what they're calling the Village Center now, I guess) is going out of business.

They'll have a farewell party this Saturday, from noon to 6 p.m., with a special performance by Dream Spirit Baroque Band from 2 to 4 p.m.

It happens, I guess, but it's too bad. When I edited the entertainment magazine for the Tribune, Neighbors showed up in the listings quite a bit, with live music performances by Dream Spirit, or special release parties for books like Harry Potter, or whatever. If they didn't have a book in stock that you were looking for, they'd jump right on ordering it for you. They were a nice, solid part of the community, and hey, a bookstore is an asset to ANYPLACE.

But I guess we should have seen it coming. I worked part-time for an independent bookstore over on the Nevada side at Zephyr Cove way back when. But there's got to be enough revenue to at least pay the rent (which can get pretty pricey for retail storefront in a resort area like Tahoe), and there would be times when I'd go an entire shift without anyone buying a book. And it's not like the store was a hole-in-the-wall: it was a nice, upscale place in the new (and only) shopping center at Z.C.  But it's been long shut down now, and you might be hard-pressed to find anyone around who would even remember its name (which was Treasures, btw.)

So if you want to say good-bye to Neighbors, swing in on Saturday. And tell 'em Keith sent you.

More info available at www.tahoedailytribune.com

Lucky No. 13 Brew HaHa features dance party with Shane Dwight

“The majority of blues music is music that gets rid of your blues,” says Shane Dwight.  And if his life is anything to judge by, he’s absolutely right.

The young singer/guitarist from the coast is just about the hottest thing going in blues bands, and he couldn’t be happier.  But he’s found that people can be misled by the genre’s label, and wants to spread the word that you don’t have to be blue to enjoy the blues.

Take Shane, for example.  Oh, he’s put in his time, he’s toted those barges and lifted those bales.  “There’s been a lot of labor jobs, a lot of years of hard work.”

But right now, his music career is on fire.  From the Monterey Blues Festival and San Francisco Jazz Festival to B.B. King’s in Los Angeles and the House of Blues radio show, Dwight is taking his interpretation of the blues to the people.

“I’ve always been heavily influenced by rock, country… I studied Beethoven and classical music for four years.”  And the Shane Dwight Blues Band eventually trimmed its name down to the Shane Dwight Band, to keep people from bringing too many preconceptions to group’s music.

This all makes Dwight and his band a perfect fit for Sierra Arts’ annual Brew HaHa dance party at John Ascuaga’s Nugget, in Reno, on Jan. 26, where the attendees enjoy good music, good beer and a good time.

And Reno is a great match for Dwight and his band.  They’ve got a large following among the blues fans such as the members of the Reno Blues Society— be sure to check out that group’s upcoming Mardi Gras Dance, details on page 13.  Dwight is also a favorite at intimate area venues such as William’s Back Door Blues Club on Tahoe’s South Shore, where he sells out the room every time he plays.

But, to his credit, Shane Dwight doesn’t coast along solely on his past successes.  “We’ve been lucky, but you’ve got to stay out there, stay busy.  We’ve got a lot of performances scheduled.”  The band even postponed a previously arranged gig on the coast in order to play for the Brew HaHa.

So order your tickets now.  The phone has already been ringing off the hook at the Sierra Arts offices, and as of press time, the tickets haven’t even been printed yet.  People are finding that admission to the Brew HaHa, and the perks that come with it, such as the Shane Dwight Band music and all of the great brew that you can responsibly drink, make for a great gift.  And why not up the ante with a VIP pass?

Remember, this party is a sure-fire sell-out, so call for tickets right now—  Sierra Arts at 329-ARTS or John Ascuaga’s Nugget at 356-3300, or online at www.sierra-arts.org.

But it's skiing, boarding and snowsports aren't the only Tahe attractions for those of the alternative lifestyle set during this week. Some of the entertainment venues on the South Shore also schedule gay or lesbian, or friends of, performers to coincide with this event.

Here's the entertainment lineup scheduled for that time-frame (and here's a little secret: although the event and subsequent promotion may list these entertainers as being a part of the festival, the performances are really just part of the venues' regular offerings... it's not like they have been booked into the big showrooms specifically for the Gay-la. Their appearances, like I said before, are timed to coincide with the festival. So it's not like you have to be a Blue Gay-la participant to get a ticket and attend̷

Wednesday, Jan. 23 through Sunday, Jan. 27
-The Improv at Harveys, with Jason Stuart and Chipper Lowell, hosted/mc'd by Howie Nave
Friday, Jan. 25
-KC and the Sunshine Band at Harrah's Tahoe, in the South Shore Room
-English Beat at MontBleu

Saturday, Jan. 26
-Paula Poundstone and ANT at MontBleu

Check back later on for more info and interviews...

Wayans has been a peformer since childhood, when he developed his skills in order gain attention among a family that included nine siblings. As an adult, he has parlayed his talent into a unique comedy style that has resulted in a successful career across stage, television, and film.

After beginning his career as a stand-up comic in 1982, he landed a role as a featured performer on Saturday Night Live. Wayans went on to star in his own HBO specials. For three seasons, he co-starred and wrote for the Emmy Award-winning series, In Living Color, for which he also personally received two Emmy nominations.

Other television credits include Damon, a comedy in which he starred and executive-produced. He was the creator and executive producer of 413 Hope Street, an hour-long drama that was nominated for a People's Choice Award. Additionally, he served as an executive producer on Waynehead, a Saturday morning animated show featuring the voices of siblings Kim, Marlon, and Shawn Wayans.

Wayans has starred in a number of films, including Bamboozled, Major Payne, Blankman, Bulletproof and Mo' Money, which he also wrote and executive produced. Additional film credits include The Great White Hype, Celtic Pride, The Last Boy Scout, Earth Girls are Easy, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Colors, Punchline, Hollywood Shuffle, Roxanne, and Beverly Hills Cop.

Doors open at 8 p.m., the show begins at 9 p.m. at MontBleu. Tix are $35 to $45 (plus tax) for reserved seating. Call 800-648-3353 or log on to ticketmaster.com.