Originally published with Tahoe Housing Hub, 03/18/2026
This week we introduce you to Xander Guldman, a professional skier raised in Truckee who has come back after college to build his life here. For Xander, Tahoe/Truckee isn’t just where he skis. The mountains he grew up on, the community he’s built his life around, and the access to the outdoors make everything else in his life possible. But it all depends on the availability of affordable housing. Listen to Xander’s take on what makes this place so special and also so hard to hold onto.
The Voices for Housing campaign is made possible thanks to a generous grant from the North Tahoe Community Alliance’s TOT-TBID Dollars at Work Program.
In The News – Paxton’s restaurant provides new approach, flavors to the Incline Village dining scene
March 24, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 3/24/2026, Written by Robert Galloway
A longtime restaurant space in Incline Village has been given new life under local ownership, as Paxton’s focuses on fresh ingredients, seasonal menus and community ties.
The restaurant, which replaced Austin’s, across the street from the Hyatt Regency, was taken over about five months ago by co-founders Cole Dunbar (Executive Chef) and Jordan Armstrong (Beverage Director) who said they saw potential in the location.
“One of the biggest things was just seeing what the place could be,” said Dunbar. “We just needed direction, consistency and a clear identity.”
The 3rd Annual Incline Village Crystal Bay Restaurant Week returns this spring, running May 16 through Memorial Day Weekend.
This year, we’ve shifted the timing later, opening up a great window to get out, eat local, and enjoy the shoulder season before the summer rush hits.
Restaurant Week puts a spotlight on the spots that shape our local dining scene, from longtime favorites to newer additions around town. Throughout the week, participating restaurants will offer special menus, featured dishes, and promotions that give locals and visitors a reason to try something new or come back to a place they already love. It is a chance to experience the range of what Incline Village and Crystal Bay have to offer, while supporting local businesses during a time that really counts.
For Restaurant Owners & Managers
If you’re a restaurant, café, bar, or food-based business in Incline Village or Crystal Bay, we’d love to have you in, whether you’ve participated before or are joining for the first time.
Keep it simple. Offer a special menu, featured item, or promotion that fits your business.
You’ll also be featured across IVCBA channels, including SnapShot, social media, and our website.
We’ll be sharing participating spots soon. In the meantime, save the date and get ready to enjoy dining out at our great restaurants around Incline Village and Crystal Bay.
In The News – Ski Resorts in Tahoe/Truckee Close Early
March 23, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in Moonshine Ink, 3/23/2026, Written by Alex Hoeff
What’s with the lack of snow this winter in Truckee/Tahoe, and will it change the business of snow down the line?
These questions typically surface every time there’s a relatively warm winter, and/or one with little snow, and that has certainly been the case for winter 2025/26. Compared the 1991 to 2020 stretch of measurements, on March 22, 2026, the accumulated snowfall taken at UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab was 75 inches shy of the median.
In The News – TRPA is Fighting for Improved Transportation
March 22, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 03/22/2026, Written by Julie Regan
As we in Lake Tahoe know, there are pretty much two seasons at the lake—winter and construction. And construction season is just around the corner. While orange cones may slow cars down, they also help keep Tahoe clear by improving transportation infrastructure. At the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), we’re focused on expanding the region’s transportation system year-round.
Transportation in Tahoe is about more than getting from one place to another. What happens on our roads directly affects lake clarity. Stormwater runoff from roadways can carry fine sediment and pollutants into tributaries and ultimately Lake Tahoe. Connected transportation options can reduce the number of cars on the roads and improve safety. They also protect the environment and recreation experiences that make Tahoe special.
As a warmup to celebrating our 250th birthday, I find myself reflecting upon memories regarding the discovery of the Fountain of Youth as I recall them from fourth-grade…
The first European to see America, so far as we know, was a Norseman named Barney, sometime around A.D. 986. Barney was wading ashore, holding his shoes, when he encountered some Native Americans who were not in a good humor on that particular afternoon, and they gave Barney the bum’s rush. So he absquatulated in his dinghy, and rowed for home.
It would be 500 years before another European would venture a look, and that European would be Chris Columbus, who, though gifted as a lobbyist at home, was ham-fisted at sea. When the winds dropped off and the rum ran out with no land in sight, his crew decided to keelhaul Captain Chris, but Chris managed to hornswoggle them into staying the course, and they actually did catch a brief glimpse of America before landing in the New World, Cuba.
Then along came Ponce de Leon, who upon capturing Puerto Rico without firing a shot, heard word of a large Island north of Cuba that contained a Fountain of Youth, today’s Florida. Well, that was just the place Ponce was looking for, as he was contemplating retirement and had no pension.
Ponce was advised by a Puerto Rican travel agent that most old folks his age retired to Tampa, and their parents retired in St. Pete. So Ponce went to Florida to find the Fountain of Youth, or make a reservation at a retirement home, whichever came first.
Thus, Ponce de Leon became the first European to actually set foot in America. There is a Ponce de Leon Hotel in St. Pete today to commemorate that occasion. And those lucky few who actually did discover the fountain of youth, well, yes, they are alive and well in Key Largo today I imagine. (Our fourth-grade bus driver gave us all this wonderful history while we were stuck in traffic.)
We no longer celebrate Columbus Day in America, but rightly celebrate our indigenous population of Native Americans on the second Monday in October, as it should be. Our Native Americans were most hospitable until their new neighbors gave them an eviction notice.
However, I’d like to propose that we show a modicum of respect for Ponce de Leon and name a national holiday for him. One way we could celebrate Ponce de Leon Day is for everybody over the age of eighty to drink Fountain of Youth Root Beer free, while those youngsters who have been drinking from the Fountain of Youth can heap encouragement upon their elders. We really can’t do enough to honor the memory of the man who discovered and passed on to us, the gift of eternal youth. And too, Ponce gave us an excuse for our occasional immaturity, “I must have been drinking from the Fountain of Youth.”
Tahoe Philharmonic (Lovers of Harmony) Orchestra and Chorus continues Maestro James Rawie’s 21st annual WinterFest with the “Passion of Bach/The Joy of Handel” concert series March 31 thru April 5. Maestro Rawie presents for the 21st consecutive year the sweeping drama of J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion (Part 2 – performed in English). This epic performance features antiphonal orchestra, chorus, and his most demanding vocal solos. Experience the universal power and emotion of Bach’s largest and yet most personal work, a spiritual journey for all. Maestro Rawie was the Founder and Artistic Director of TOCCATA for the past 19 years, presenting more than 500 classical concerts and soirees throughout the Reno/Tahoe Basin. Tahoe Philharmonic is now under his Artistic Direction.
Bach takes a personal approach to retelling the Passion story through music. The piece touches on basic human problems: love, hate and betrayal. Bach’s music, with unrivaled variety and breadth, brings the text alive and compels the listener to respond to the drama. Although Bach uses Biblical passages, with soloists portraying characters in the drama and the chorus acting as his disciples or the angry crowd, the most moving texts are written specifically for this work. Bach brings the listeners in on the action by having the chorus represent us, reacting to the story or answering questions raised by it. And many solo arias are Bach’s most deeply-felt responses to what is occurring. The “Passion” is an oratorio, not an opera, and Bach relies on the power of the music alone to illuminate these texts. Part of Bach’s brilliance is how sensitive he is to the text settings. Minor and dissonant chords underlie texts on suffering and sacrifice; the music turns to major keys when the subject is redemption. Listen, too, for Bach’s “word-painting” — a raindrop-like staccato to depict falling tears, or a musical earthquake following Jesus’s death on the cross, or his “halo” represented by the strings alone. If you follow the text as you listen, your spirit will be moved.
Two of this year’s performances include selections from parts 2 and 3 from Handel’s Messiah. Following the Passion, which ends with Jesus in the tomb, Handel’s selections focus on the life of Jesus and the resurrection, culminating in the finale, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, Amen, and the famous Hallelujah chorus.
When and Where:
Tuesday, March 31 7pm RENO: St Thomas Aquinas Cathedral (310 W 2nd St);
Saturday, April 4 4pm MINDEN: CVIC Hall (1604 Esmeralde Ave.)
Sunday, April 5 4pm RENO: St Rose of Lima Catholic Church (100 Bishop Manogue Drive)
Tickets are available at the door for all concerts or online at www.Tahoe-Philharmonic.com. General admission to PASSION/MESSIAH concerts is $30 for adults. Preferred seating is $40 adults/$15 youth and Premium seating is $50 adults/$25youth. Benefactors row is $100/seat. Under 23 years of age are admitted free in general admission seating , to most regular season concerts in 2026. Seniors enjoy $5 discount in all areas. There are “back row” seating tickets at no set charge, just donate what you can afford for this concert.
TahoePhil / Maestro James Rawie’s 21st Anniversary Summerfest begins June 1-9 with Classics+, featuring Beethoven’s Symphony #5 “Victory” and Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor with guest pianist Jennifer Savage.
Protecting Lake Tahoe requires constant vigilance. Invasive species, climate pressures, and development decisions threaten the Lake’s clarity and ecological balance. Through science-based advocacy and strong partnerships, Keep Tahoe Blue works year-round to stay ahead of these risks.
In this advocacy update, you’ll see how our team is advancing solutions, from preventing the spread of invasive golden mussels to securing federal funding for forest health and restoration.
Tahoe’s future is in your hands too. Your support is key to ensuring it remains bright. Your contributions create lasting change and help Keep Tahoe Blue protect this special place for many generations to come.
In The News – Local author creates guide to California State Parks
March 18, 2026 | Member Submitted
Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 3/17/2026, Staff Report
Moon Travel Guides, a bestselling guidebook publisher for over 50 years, is proud to announce its new guide, Moon Best of California State Parks: Top 50 Parks in the Golden State.
According to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, 68 million people visit California’s popular state park system annually, and this brand-new, one-of-a-kind book covers the best sights and experiences across 50 parks, making it an essential resource for residents and visitors alike.
Moon Best of California State Parks, written by Jenna Blough and Kayla Anderson, reveals fun roundups of the best parks for wildlife, history, family travel, and more, plus detailed hike descriptions marked with distance, duration, effort level, and trailheads—so park visitors can hit the trails with confidence.
It’s spring in Lake Tahoe… Actually, with temperatures in the 70s at Lake level this week, it almost feels like summer! But we’ve still got snow on the slopes and a slate of great spring events coming up that you won’t want to miss. So read on for event updates, and then make plans to join in the fun!
Pro Tip: 2026-27 season passes are on sale now and include spring access for the remainder of this ski season. It’s the best deal in Tahoe!
New Date for Dummy Downhill – Sunday, March 29The big news is that we are pushing the Dummy Downhill event forward to ensure we have enough snow to build the dummy launch ramp. The new date is Sunday, March 29. Everything else about the event remains the same – same incredible creativity, same entertaining dummy flights, same fun DJ dance parties.
Saturday, March 21 – Spring Summit Pop Up Bar
Anyone who’s ever enjoyed a beverage at Snowflake Lodge will appreciate the incredible views available all over the mountain. For one day only, that view gets elevated to the top of the Crystal Express chairlift for the Spring Summit Pop Up Bar. We’ll offer a selection of canned beers, cocktails, hard seltzers and non-alcoholic options, plus packaged snacks for sale at the custom-made snow bar on top of Crystal Ridge. Click here for full event details.
Note: Spring Summit Pop Up Bar is only accessible to intermediate/advanced skiers and snowboarders who can ski/ride down Crystal Ridge.
Friday, March 27 – 60th Anniversary $60 Lift Ticket Day + DJ Party
Enjoy old-school pricing with $60 lift tickets, $60 ski or snowboard rentals packages, and $60 first-time learn-to-ski and learn-to-ride lesson packages on March 27. There is no limit to the number of lift tickets available on our $60 days, but the learn-to-ski/ride packages are subject to availability. Click here for full details.
The fun continues in the afternoon with DJ Dom spinning tunes on the Loft Bar Deck from 2 – 5pm.
Saturday, March 28 – Luggi Foeger Uphill/Downhill Festival & SkiMo Race.
There is nothing quite like the feeling of ascending and descending a mountain under your own power. At Diamond Peak’s 7th annual Luggi Foeger Uphill/Downhill Festival, rather than riding the chairlifts to the top of the resort, participants will climb the slopes using whatever human-powered method they prefer – skins, snowshoes, running shoes, etc. – then ski, snowboard, snowshoe or run back down to the finish line.
It’s part endurance challenge, part in-bounds adventure, and completely customizable to participants’ personal fitness levels.
The competitive divisions require pre-registration, and the Beer Luggi offers a pre-registraion discount. So don’t delay – get registered today.The discounted pre-registration deadline is March 27!Register now and save big compared to the day-of rates! (Reminder: There is no day-of registration in the competitive divisions – you MUST register in advance.)
