Reno/Tahoe

Seeing Squaw Valley in the fall, coated with the merest dusting of snow, is like glimpsing a starlet not quite made up and fully powdered, not quite red carpet-ready.

In a brilliant stroke, the Nevada Museum of Art landed "Rembrandt: The Embrace of Darkness and Light," an exhibit of 130 etchings by the legendary Dutch master.

There's an upside to a down economy: Prices at Lake Tahoe's winter resorts are holding steady this season, and myriad discount and incentive programs offer ways to save.

There's an adage in the ski industry that good snow conditions trump bad economic conditions, but the 2008-09 California ski season proved that even powder has its limits.

My travel insurance claim has been denied, and so have my appeals. I hope you can help us.

Steven Wright's wry delivery emerged from fear of being onstage without hearing laughter.

John Ascuaga's Nugget, Sparks – Cabaret: Trey Stone Band, Thursday-Saturday; Buddy Emmer, Nov. 5-7. Celebrity Showroom: "Doggone Silly," today; "Ghost!," Friday-Saturday; Sarena Ryder, Nov. 5; Teton Gravity Research, Nov. 6; Steven Wright, Nov. 7. Orozko: Joel Edwards, Thursday-Saturday; Scot and Scott, Nov. 5-7; Darcy, Nov. 12-14. Trader Dick's: Shaka, Thursday-Saturday; Paul Covareli, Nov. 5-7. (800) 648-1177.

Oct. 31 isn't just for trick-or-treaters in Nevada. It's the day to celebrate statehood on Oct. 31, 1864.

Nevada casinos never miss a chance to celebrate Halloween.

The economic downturn has taken some of Reno's glitter, but that big little city continues to compete with California.

It couldn't have been easy. Frank Sinatra Jr., son of the most famous singer of his time, decided to become a singer in his own right.

There's no going back for the former star of the ABC series "Rodney."

John Ascuaga's Nugget, Sparks – Cabaret: Rick Hayes and American Steele, Thursday-Saturday; Hookah Stew, Oct. 22-24; Trey Stone Band, Oct. 29-31. Celebrity Showroom: Johnny Lee, Saturday; "Ghost!" Oct. 23-24; "Doggone Silly," Oct. 25; "Ghost!," Oct. 30-31. Orozko: Dos Mamas, Thursday- Saturday; Jackie Landrum, Oct. 22-24; Joel Edwards, Oct. 29-31. Trader Dick's: Da Big Tsunami, Thursday- Saturday; Paul Covareli, Oct. 22-24; Shaka, Oct. 29-31. (800) 648-1177.

The arrival of Rob Thomas at the Reno Events Center this Saturday offers more than just Thomas. It provides a chance to hear two up-and-coming bands, both of which have hit recently with true impact – OneRepublic and Carolina Liar.

In December 1978, the walls came tumbling down. For the first time, a casino showroom, the domain of Liberace and Wayne Newton, welcomed rock 'n' roll to its stage.

"When I first started out, I called my show an evening of twisted love songs," said comic Stephen Lynch. "I guess nothing has really changed from that description. I take experiences that could be considered universal and put twists on them."

CASINO GUIDE

Carson Valley Inn – Cabaret Lounge: M8trix, today; Jeff and Ileia, Tuesday-next Sunday; Blue Flame, Oct. 6-11. (775) 782-9711.

Reno's Artown is celebrated during the month of July, but that doesn't mean its events are limited to just those 31 days. Some artists who participated in the past wanted to return in July, but their schedules wouldn't permit it. No matter. Allowances are made, so a few special attractions are sprinkled throughout the remainder of the year.

Tommy Castro has been rumbling around Northern California and northern Nevada for almost two decades. He opened for B.B. King, his group became the house band for three seasons of the little-remembered "Comedy Showcase" on NBC, and he found his music backing action on shows as diverse as "Nash Bridges" and "The Young and the Restless."

It's rare to see the legendary P-51 Mustang, the Grumman F8F Bearcat and the Hawker Sea Fury in flight – and rarer yet to see them compete.

Here's a look at entertainment this week in the Reno-Tahoe area.

Matthew Nelson, who arrives at the Grand Sierra next Sunday with twin brother Gunnar, describes their show, "Ricky Nelson Remembered," as "visual and auditory comfort food."

If you go to the 28th annual Great Reno Balloon Race this year, look for Michael Glen at the launch site.

No doubt about it, Joel McHale is hot. He is also excited, if also nervous, about two new projects.

The poor economy isn't expected to turn down the heat at this year's Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off.

Few productions have had the staying power of "42nd Street." A 1933 Warner Bros. film, it was a hit Broadway musical in 1980 and enjoyed a successful revival in 2001.

Comic Lewis Black summons a tsunami of outrage over just about anything – political figures, media, trends and stupidity in general.

Portraiture is not what it used to be, but that doesn't mean it has lost its significance. It has just shed most of its pretense.

"It's usually safe to sit somewhere behind the 10th row," said a Silver Legacy spokesman about Lisa Lampanelli's upcoming show. "Anywhere closer is the danger zone, definitely."

Summer brings out the blues, and the 5-year-old Reno-Tahoe Blues Festival, held in Reno's Rancho San Rafael Park, now draws some of the best players around.

"I ask my grandkids, 'Who do you like now?' and they say, 'The Jonas Brothers.'

It's a big week in Reno and Sparks – one that's hotly anticipated the whole year by hotels, restaurants and casinos, and one that promises challenges for residents who know streets will be closed and venues jammed.

Music outdoors is a summer treat. The pleasure only increases when the proceeds go toward making even more music.

A steady diet of Tom Jones and Mario Lanza music prepared Spanish baritone Carlos Marín for his place in Il Divo, the impeccably dressed operatic pop foursome with a worldwide following.

Other casino entertainment in the Reno-Tahoe area:

Northern Nevada fireworks light up the sky in multiple locations this year, but only one display is ranked in the top five in the world by the Pyrotechnics Association. That one takes place at 9:45 p.m. on Independence Day over Lake Tahoe's South Shore.

Probably at no time in the history of Reno's Artown has the word "free" been as attractive as it is this year. For the entire month of July plus Aug. 1, Artown will present more than 400 attractions in theater, dance, film, history, art and music. More than 60 percent of these events this year will be free of charge.

A herd of cattle moving along Reno streets Thursday morning will mark the beginning of the 90th edition of Reno Rodeo, the fourth-richest in the nation.

Tom Smothers, the naughty half of the Smothers Brothers, makes the point that the siblings have absolutely no plans to retire.