Category: Community News

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In The News – Fox Cultural Hall Closes as Arts for the Schools Returns to Schools

August 5, 2025 | Member Submitted

Originally published in Moonshine Ink, 08/05/2025, Written by Luke Zinn

Fox Cultural Hall, a nonprofit and community culture hall that opened in 2023 in Kings Beach, closed its physical venue and is transitioning back to its former name, Arts for the Schools, as of Aug. 1. 

Originally started in 1984 with the mission of providing art and culture to rural schools that lacked robust arts programs, Arts for the Schools provided arts funding; took performers, music, and art into classrooms; and put on cultural assemblies for Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District schools. The opening of Fox Cultural Hall venue gave Arts for the Schools a new way to achieve their mission by sharing culture at a community hub.

The organization merged its name with the hall while still providing arts education to the schools by bringing students into a culture-filled space. According to newly appointed Executive Director Linday McIntosh, a lack of funds, growth in the Tahoe Basin, and age-old troubles with bus transportation caused the success and accessibility of Fox Cultural Hall programming to waver.

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PINE NUTS – The Return of Chautauqua

August 4, 2025 | McAvoy Lane

President Teddy Roosevelt called Chautauqua, “The most American thing in America.” Then along came Vaudeville and Chautauqua faded away, but guess what, it’s back, and it’s the wave of the future! 

Just this year, The Legend of the Valley, Kim Harris, hosted The First Annual Summer Chautauqua Showcase at Dangberg Ranch, featuring Youth Chautauquans from Douglas County Historical Society, Al Capone, Calamity Jane and Lucille Ball. And what a smart weekend it was. Home Ranch was filled with instruction and delight. I’m still in a good humor from having had a front row seat…

Chautauqua is destined to diminish adverse effects of the modern-day smart phone. People are craving eye contact, subtle signals of body language, and the sound of a live human voice.

Then there is the historical value of Chautauqua, the benefit of bringing historical characters to life, and sharing those historical lives, adventures and accomplishments with a live audience.

Typically, an 45-minute presentation of the character is followed by a lively Q&A session with the historical character, followed by a Q&A session with the Chautauquan. At the end of an hour an appreciative live audience goes away smarter and satisfactorily entertained.

Some Chautauquans are actors, others are educators in a costume, but all Chautauquans are entertainers. History has never been so much fun.

I encourage all retired folks, and those who might be about to retire, to find a person in history that you admire, study that person’s life, and bring that person to life in various classrooms, tents and lecture halls. You won’t regret it. It will give you a second life, and one life is not enough.

An extra added attraction of Chautauqua is hanging out with other Chautauquans when you are off duty. I’ve had the pleasure of dining with Julia Child, Will Rogers and Julia Bulette to name a few…

So I would ask you to start thinking about who you might like to be. There are so many wonderful characters we know nothing about that deserve to be brought to the forefront and appreciated. It might even be an uncle or an aunt of yours who is looking down on us as we commune.

Enveloping yourself in another century can be comforting and satisfying. You will be pleasantly surprised how many modern little annoyances don’t bother you anymore because you have removed yourself from the reach of their influence…

History is so much more interesting when presented firsthand by the character who lived that history and can put muscle and blood into the telling of the story. You might be thinking, “I could never do that,” but you could, if you found it to be a most interesting challenge, which is exactly what will happen. 

So I invite you to give it some thought. You just might get swept away into another person’s life, another person’s time, that will thrill and entertain you to no end…

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The Power of AI

August 4, 2025 | Member Submitted

By David Vomund

The task of building Artificial General Intelligence is said to be on a scale similar to the Manhattan Project.  Sam Altman, head of OpenAI, made reference to the Manhattan Project when his company was developing the now famous ChatGPT product (did he notice the irony in that analogy?).  AI will dramatically change how we live and work.

In her book, Empire of AI, Karen Hao details her view that one consequence of AI is that the gap between the powerful and everyone else will widen.  The power/influence of the largest technology companies (i.e. the hyper-scalers) will continue to grow.  Meta, Amazon, Alphabet, and Microsoft will spend approximately $320 billion this year on AI.  These hyper-scalers are spending more money on AI data centers than all the others combined.  And they are hiring the best talent from the smaller upstart companies.  Good luck to those trying to compete with them!   

Their investments are working.  The market capitalization of these four companies ranges from $1.8 trillion to more than $3 trillion!  As a comparison, the market-cap of Walmart is $760 billion.

The gap between today’s powerful leaders that run the AI companies and to the rest of us is also widening.  Those running the hyper-scalers see their wealth growing at the same time that many others struggle to pay their rising utility bills thanks in part to AI’s need for energy and water.  This year, electricity bills for some 67 million customers are projected to surge by over 20 percent in 13 states from Illinois to New Jersey, the region with the most AI data centers.  Closer to home, NV Energy is expanding their infrastructure to provide power for two Alphabet data centers.  Will Nevada residents be competing with Alphabet for electricity?  

And what about jobs?  Many workers, especially entry level white color workers, are at risk of being replaced by cost-saving AI tools.  Look no further than to Microsoft, which has laid off 15,000 employees this year without seeing a drop in their strong financial performance.  While they say efficiency gains from AI were not a predominant factor in the layoffs, they acknowledge that over the long term AI will reshape jobs at Microsoft and everywhere else.  AI will boost productivity and profits, but are most people better or worse off?  I wonder.

When it comes to AI there is another kind of power:  the power needed to run AI.  Remember when the public was concerned that crypto currency mining required too much energy?  Even Elon Musk worried about its environmental impact.  We no longer hear about that.  Why?  The energy required for crypto currencies pales in comparison to what is needed to run Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers.

My last article focused on the power of the AI companies and those who run them.  Now we’ll cover a different type of power – the power needed to run AI.  The energy required for AI data centers is expected to grow 50 percent a year through 2030 and in just three years it is expected to consume 13 percent of electricity demand.  Efforts to fight global warming be damned.

This column is about investing and when it comes to investing, in AI there are the usual suspects.  AI chip designer Nvidia leads the pack.  Then there is Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet.  But those are already well owned.  What are the best under the radar AI stocks?  That’s hard to know.  In early internet days companies like AOL and Ask Jeeves seemed unstoppable … until they were stopped.  

Instead of trying to choose who will benefit from AI, I prefer the more predictable approach of investing in the companies that are needed to build and power the AI data centers.  Most of those stocks have already rallied, but the need for more power is in a grand supercycle.   

The most direct AI power play might be GE Vernova (GEV).  It is the leading provider in natural gas turbines and it also has exposure to small modular nuclear reactors.  GEV is the second-best performing S&P 500 stock in 2025 so Wall Street understands its attractive position, but the general public isn’t aware, not yet.  Speaking of nuclear, Vistra Corp (VST) is the second-largest nuclear operator in the U.S. and it also supplies natural gas, solar and battery storage facilities.  Knowing which nuclear stock will benefit the most is difficult so I’m happy to simply own VanEck Nuclear and Uranium ETF (NLR).

One of my largest client holdings is Williams Cos. (WMB).  Unlike the volatile choices above, Williams has a steady income stream and an attractive 3.5 percent yield.  Williams is the prominent pipeline company that transports one-third of U.S. natural gas, which is then used to generate electricity for power centers and other uses.  Last month regulators approved a Williams 400-MW natural gas-fired power plant in Ohio to serve a Meta Platforms data center.  Their pipelines serve others, too.

David Vomund is an Incline Village-based Independent Investment Advisor.  Information is found at www.VomundInvestments.com or by calling 775-832-8555.  Clients hold the positions mentioned in this article.  Past performance does not guarantee future results.  Consult your financial advisor before purchasing any security.

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Help Your Back Work for You

August 2, 2025 | Member Submitted

Submitted by IVCBA Member, Barton Health, Written by Dr. Zachary Child

Your back plays a vital role in nearly every movement you make, but it’s easy to overlook until pain strikes. Once discomfort sets in, you may wish you’d paid more attention to protecting your back. While you can’t undo the past, you can adopt habits now to safeguard your back and maintain an active, pain-free lifestyle.

Back pain is one of the most common causes of disability, and it can stem from a variety of factors. Poor muscle tone, excess weight, and improper lifting techniques can strain your back muscles. Aging also increases the risk of injury. Sometimes, though, back pain occurs without a clear cause.

The good news is a strong, healthy back is within reach. Regular care and strengthening exercises can help your back function efficiently and with fewer complaints. Strengthening your core and back muscles through consistent exercise reduces the likelihood of injury and improves overall stability.

Follow the steps below to strengthen your back and prevent discomfort:

Practice good posture: Stand tall with your weight evenly distributed on both feet. When sitting, choose a chair that supports your lower back or place a small pillow or rolled towel behind your lower back for added support.

Exercise regularly: Engage in activities that strengthen your back, abdominal, and leg muscles. Low-impact exercises like walking, swimming, or stationary biking improve circulation and reduce the risk of injury. 

Always consult your healthcare provider before starting a new exercise program.

Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight puts added strain on your back. Your healthcare provider can offer guidance if weight loss would benefit your back health.

Lift objects properly: When picking up items — even small ones — bend at your knees, not your waist, and keep your back straight. Hold objects close to your body to minimize strain on your back muscles.

Listen to your body: If you feel pain or discomfort during an activity, stop and rest. Ignoring pain can lead to more serious injuries.

By adopting these habits, you can help your back stay strong and support you through your daily activities. Investing in your back health today will pay off with better mobility, comfort, and overall well-being.

Dr. Zachary Child is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon with Tahoe Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, practicing at Barton Health’s orthopedic offices in South Lake Tahoe and Carson City. To learn more about expert orthopedic spine care, call 530.543.5554. And join Dr. Child for his free webinar, “Summer Strains: How to Prevent Back Injuries in the Warmer Months,” on Thursday, July 10 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Details can be found at BartonHealth.org/Lecture.

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In The News – Former Navy SEAL organizes endurance race around Tahoe to end veteran suicide

August 1, 2025 | Member Submitted

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 08/01/2025, Written by Katelyn Welsh

In less than a month, a former Navy SEAL and 11 other highly trained veterans will embark on a 220-mile endurance race across Sierra Nevada mountains, including the Tahoe Rim Trail loop to cultivate awareness around the daily number of veteran suicides.

“We need Americans to know the issues that we face if we’re going to be able to solve them,” race founder and former Navy SEAL, Liam Cogan says. That’s why you’ll see 22 as a repeating number throughout the race parameters.

The inaugural event begins Aug. 22, involving veterans racing 22 miles ten times over, with a 22-pound pack—symbolizing carrying the burden of those 22 veterans who commit suicide every single day.

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Tahoe: A Scientific Wonderland

August 1, 2025 | Member Submitted

Originally published in TRPA newsletter, 08/01/2025

Every four years, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) compiles the Threshold Evaluation Report, a science-based snapshot of the environmental health of the basin. Today, nearly 80 percent of environmental standards adopted more than 40 years ago are being met, and more than 90 percent are stable or improving. The science shows that Tahoe is on the right path—thanks to decades of collaborative, data-driven work.

Ten environmental threshold categories, ranging from water quality to wildlife, frame the region’s long-term environmental goals and standards. We measure the standards through science-based indicators and policy work. Together, they ensure Lake Tahoe stays protected for generations to come.

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Image: Field monitoring technician Sarah Newsome measures sediment in the Upper Truckee River. Years of monitoring data from TRPA, federal, state, and local agencies, research institutions, and community organizations are essential to tracking progress and informing policy decisions in the Tahoe Basin. Photo by: Beth Vollmer

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Barton Health Becomes a Cleveland Clinic Connected Member

July 30, 2025 | Member Submitted

Barton Health becomes the newest member to join the Cleveland Clinic Connected program, which provides members with access to the highest standards of patient care, quality and safety.   

The goal of the Cleveland Clinic Connected program is to build a global network of independent, like-minded, quality-focused organizations that have a positive impact on patient care.  

Barton Health is committed to providing consistently exceptional care to both residents and visitors of the Lake Tahoe region. By joining Cleveland Clinic Connected, Barton seeks to elevate its care delivery through unique access to Cleveland Clinic’s clinical expertise and specialized resources. This collaboration will support the development of more comprehensive service lines in key areas that significantly impact the health of its community, including cardiology, oncology, and neurology. Through this member program, Barton aims to enhance its capabilities and ensure advanced, high-quality care is accessible for its patients close to home. 

Cleveland Clinic created Cleveland Clinic Connected in response to the increased global demand for quality healthcare. The collaborative program enables hospitals and healthcare organizations to connect with Cleveland Clinic’s clinical and operational experts to improve patient care, enhance operational efficiencies, and supports the professional development and education of clinical and non-clinical staff. Through the program, members benefit from clinical and operational support and best practices developed during Cleveland Clinic’s 104-year history.  

“Our goal with the Cleveland Clinic Connected program is to positively impact patient care no matter where patients live,” said Tommaso Falcone, M.D., Cleveland Clinic Executive Vice President and President, International and Emerging Markets. “Together, this collaboration underscores our shared commitment to deliver safe, high-quality care to patients. We are excited to welcome Barton Health to the Cleveland Clinic Connected program.”  

As a Cleveland Clinic Connected member, Barton Health clinicians will be able to access educational opportunities either at Cleveland Clinic or through distance learning, as well as best practices and protocols that are used at Cleveland Clinic locations worldwide. In addition, Barton Health’s staff can access Cleveland Clinic’s continuous quality improvement and advisory services, plus education and training including clinical observership programs. 

“Our rural community deserves access to the best care possible, and Cleveland Clinic Connected represents a significant step forward in advancing that goal,” said Dr. Clint Purvance, President & CEO of Barton Health. “We value the opportunity to work alongside such esteemed colleagues as we continue our journey of continuous improvement and healthcare excellence. This collaboration will allow us to expand our expertise, strengthen key service lines, and ultimately provide our patients with more advanced, comprehensive care, right here in Lake Tahoe.” 

Cleveland Clinic and Barton Health are working together to identify priority focus areas, which will begin with planning for the expansion of cardiology, neurology, and cancer care. Cleveland Clinic’s top ranked heart care team will consult with Barton Health to enhance opportunities to provide new treatments and therapies to patients, as well as explore cutting-edge technologies and techniques in cardiac and vascular care that will accelerate advances in treatments. With the expertise of the Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic is consulting with Barton Health to support the launch of a new cancer program, providing expert guidance and proven best practices to expand access to high-quality cancer care in the region. 

The focus on neurology builds on Cleveland Clinic’s nearly 20-year presence in Nevada, which began with the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in downtown Las Vegas in 2009. This specialized outpatient neurological center is dedicated to the research, treatment, education, and support of individuals and families affected by neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, and multiple sclerosis. With Cleveland Clinic in an advisory role, Barton Health looks to expand its neurological services, including the addition of leading diagnostic technology to care for individuals facing neurological disorders in Lake Tahoe. 

Additionally, the collaboration will bring Cleveland Clinic’s expertise in building design, patient flow, and space optimization as Barton Health plans for expansion on its Nevada campus — a transformative project for Lake Tahoe healthcare, which aims to construct a state-of-the art hospital, featuring increased emergency and surgical capacity, improved care rooms, and modern medical equipment to advance the delivery of patient care and continue to improve health outcomes.  

Keep Memory Alive’s annual Summer Festival & Rodeo returns on Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 10 at the historic Shakespeare Ranch, a private estate in Glenbrook, for more western fun with the addition of a luxury car show experience to raise funds in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases across Nevada. This year, the Summer Festival and Rodeo will recognize Barton Health with the Community Leadership Award for their longstanding commitment to serving the Lake Tahoe community. 

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 82,600 employees worldwide are more than 5,786 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,700 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,728-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 280 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2024, there were 15.7 million outpatient encounters, 333,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 320,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 112 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

Editor’s Note:Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.  

About Barton Health

Barton Health is a non-profit, bi-state healthcare system providing nationally recognized, compassionate care to residents and visitors of the Lake Tahoe region. Nestled in one of the most iconic alpine destinations in the world, Barton proudly serves an active, outdoor-oriented community with a wide range of services focused on promoting lifelong health and wellness. Since its founding in 1963, Barton Memorial Hospital has grown into a regional hub for health and healing, featuring 63 licensed acute care beds and an additional 48 beds in its Skilled Nursing Facility. Barton Health offers extensive inpatient and outpatient care, cutting-edge medical specialties, advanced surgical treatments, and a network of providers committed to enhancing community wellbeing. Recognized for multiple years on Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list, Barton continues to set the standard for excellence in rural healthcare. A leader in orthopedic and sports medicine, Barton provides specialized trauma care as a designated Level III Trauma Center and is home to the Lake Tahoe Orthopedics Sports Medicine Fellowship, a nationally accredited program training the next generation of surgeons nationwide. For more information, visit bartonhealth.org. 

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PINE NUTS – Love at First Sight – Part II

July 30, 2025 | McAvoy Lane

I finally did get to take Jane out to dinner, where we talked about the Bruins and the weather. While we were waiting for dessert to be delivered, I asked her to marry me, and captured her so off-guard, she said yes. Jane had never been west of New York, so a move to Maui would be an anomaly, not to mention her mother and sisters were lining up to shoot me.

So off we flew to the Valley Island, where upon landing at Kahului Airport Jane took a look around, and told me she wanted to go home. I asked her to give Maui a few days, and took her to the well named Aloha Restaurant for dinner…

As good fortune would have it, Rick & Sol Hoopii were sitting a few tables over, and they came over to meet Jane…

“Macky Boy, dees your Bride?”

“Yes, Rick, Sol, please meet Jane Layne, formerly of Cape Cod.”

“May we sing The Hawaiian Wedding Song to Miss Jane?”

“Please…”

Well, I don’t know if you’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing the Hoopii Brothers sing together, but their acapella harmony surpasses anything that has ever fallen upon mine ear, and I couldn’t help but notice a tear or two welling up in Jane’s beautiful brown eyes…

That evening we went body surfing at midnight under a full moon, and a couple porpoises joined us as playmates and instructors. It was supernatural, enchanting, and Jane did not mention Cape Cod that night…

The next thing I knew, she had joined a polo team and was playing hockey while  horseback. She asked me to join her book club, which I did, but when she asked me to join her hiking club and join them on a hike from the summit of Haleakala, sixteen miles down Kaupo Gap on sliding sands, I “drawed out” as they say in Nevada…

While I was doing my level best to keep up with her, she opened a dress shop and had me selling mumus on my days off from the radio station, while she surfed and hunted Ahi with a Hawaiian sling so we could enjoy a sumptuous Maui dinner when I got off work…

In Jane’s second month on Maui she bought a Jeep and joined an “Off Road Jeep Club,” that I would meet with a cooler of Primo and a platter of Manini at the end of the day. Then she took to coaching Youth Soccer, and I became assistant coach of the Wailuku Swarm. We barnstormed other Islands with those talented Maui kids, and won most of our matches.

But when she started training for the Iron Man in Kona, I wore myself out driving the sag-wagon while she swam, biked and ran all over creation. It was while driving that sag-wagon that I realized Jane had come to love Maui as much as I did, maybe more. Unwaveringly, she continues to live her idyllic Maui life as we speak… 

Audio: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Fhv4PrH1UuwlhbnTT23zO

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Mountain Team, Grocery Dream – Grocery Outlet Incline Village

July 29, 2025 | Member Submitted

Originally posted with Tahoe.com, written by Kathryn Reed

Dreams do come true. Just ask Julie Liddicoat and Brandon Hibbs.

After her first trip to Lake Tahoe last summer, Julie fell in love with the area. It’s a story many locals share: One visit and you start plotting how to move to the mountains.

At the time Julie and Brandon, who had been happily running a Grocery Outlet in San Diego for three years, joked about what it would be like to own a Grocery Outlet somewhere at Lake Tahoe. They were not really thinking it would become a reality – at least not anytime soon. Turnover at locations in the greater Lake Tahoe area is rare.

When the Incline Village Grocery Outlet went on the market in 2024, they knew they had to check it out. And suddenly their wish to move to the mountains was becoming a reality. Now they are even happier living in Incline Village just minutes from the Grocery Outlet they own and operate.

“We fell in love with the small-town feel,” Brandon says. “I feel like everyone knows each other. Being from a big city, this really appeals to us to be in a tight-knit community.”

Prior to their foray into the grocery store business, Julie had been in retail for about 16 years, with 13 years at Walmart, including going through the conglomerate’s management training. Brandon spent the bulk of his early career working as a caddy for six months, traveling throughout the world for six months then repeating that scenario.

He’s been to every continent except Europe.

It was at the urging of Julie’s sister-in-law, who owns a Grocery Outlet, aka GO, that the couple took the leap to acquire their first store. Now they are hooked on these stores.

In a world of big-box grocery stores, Grocery Outlet is the antithesis. There is great autonomy in the GO world for owners because they have a corporate partner who does not dictate what they sell or where merchandise is located.

“This model is so unique and interesting,” Julie says. “You are responsible for your own success.”

Since last December, the duo has been the hands-on owners of the Incline Village Grocery Outlet. It didn’t take long before they were greeting customers by name, incorporating local products like bread from Truckee Sourdough Company and ensuring the shelves were stocked to accommodate the fluctuating summer crowds and run on goods before a winter storm hits.

Regular shoppers at the Incline Village Grocery Outlet will get to know Birdie, Julie and Brandon’s German shorthaired pointer, who has a bed in the office. She, like her parents, is having no trouble ad justing to four seasons even though all three were used to the climates of Florida and San Diego before moving to Tahoe.

Birdie loves her winter cold plunges into the lake – and so does Brandon, who’s an avid golfer, hiker, climber and skier. Julie is also embracing the water, the beach and paddleboarding in particular. Learning to snow ski is on her to-do list.

All three like that there are plenty of outdoor places to explore and that people are friendly and welcoming.

While customers understand that Grocery Outlet deliveries might be delayed because of weather or road closures, that is something Julie and Brandon have had to adjust to. They are also dialing in on what to stock. With fewer shopping options in this small Nevada town, Grocery Outlet for many people is more than a place to shop for food items.

“Health, beauty and general merchandise sales are more prominent at this Grocery Outlet location because there are fewer retailers here,” Julie says. “The market isn’t saturated like it was in Southern California.”

The amount of bedding and clothing sales have been a surprise to them. These are items the Incline GO will keep ordering to meet the demands of customers. Specialty health foods are another popular item in Incline.

“It’s interesting how much more volume we have with produce here,” Julie says, again reflecting it back to a different level of competition in a small town versus a city. Everything about a small town is what the couple is embracing. While the first few months of taking over the Incline Village store were about getting settled, putting a team of employees together and figuring out how much of what to order when, it’s the people – the workers and the customers – who keep them coming to work every day.

It’s about being part of a community – something more than themselves, being something other than business owners.

As Julie and Brandon continue to fine-tune the Incline GO operations, you’ll find them out in the community more, being involved in activities, embracing all that the area has to offer and putting down roots in their adopted hometown.

(775) 636-7745
NorthTahoeGroceryOutlets.com
770 Mays Boulevard, Ste 2, Incline Village

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If You Take Care of These Incline Businesses, They’ll Take Care of You

July 29, 2025 | Kayla Anderson

By: Kayla Anderson – Originally Published in LIVE.WORK.PLAY Summer 2025 Edition

As a local business, it can be tough navigating the seasonality of economics in this town, especially when so much relies on tourism. That’s why it can help to offer incentives to keep people coming back, and make customers feel valued. Here are some Incline businesses that offer loyalty programs, clubs, happy hours, and more: 

Known for their incredible stromboli, pizza, and sandwiches baked on housemade breads, you can’t go wrong with anything on Incline Bak’d’s menu. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 11am-5pm, the best time to visit is from 3pm-5pm when happy hour is going on. During that time, buy a draft beer or wine and get a slice of pizza for only $2, or a pizza slice for $4 if you don’t get a drink. Be sure to indulge in a couple of delectable made-with-love cookies while you’re there…you can get two for $5 during Happy Hour. www.inclinebaked.com

On Tuesdays-Fridays from 3pm-6pm, Glasses Wine Bar also hosts a happy hour, offering customers 15 percent off glasses of wine ordered from behind the bar or 10 percent off to those out of the wine dispensers. Four varietal wine tastings are available during its Happy Hour as well, available at the bar only.

If you’re a high level wine enthusiast, the Glasses Wine Bar Wine Club also has two types of tiered subscriptions offered, costing between $95-$149 quarterly. Both tiers include four bottles of wine, discounts on merchandise/additional bottles of wine, free wine tastings, and more. Glasseswinebar.com 

Using a Santa Maria-method of grilling over red oakwood-fueled open pit, Gus’ has made a name for itself with its signature melt-in-your-mouth LATS (its smoked, grilled, and sauced-up chicken legs and thighs). Their open pit and relaxed indoor atmosphere with a full bar and 140” TV make Gus’s a popular shifter spot. Speaking of which…Gus’ has a happy hour from 4:30pm-5:30pm Thurs.-Mon. with beer, wine, and cocktail specials to pair with $2 street tacos. http://www.gusbbqtahoe.net/ 

Marie Antoinette famously said, “let them eat cake!” which no doubt has me thinking that she’d be a fan of Happy Tiers’ Cake of the Month Club. Members of the club receive one gigantic piece of layered cake once a month for an entire year, which is perfect for sweet treat lovers and fans of cakemaker Andrea Jurss’s artistry. Memberships usually go on sale sometime in January and are limited to 25 participants. 

Happy Tiers also offers a variety of VIP packages for families and businesses who have regular celebrations throughout the year; packages include monthly gift cards and regularly distributed sweet treats for your employees and/or loved ones. www.happytiersbakery.com

  • Wyld Peony, 797 Southwood Blvd. Ste. 15, Incline Village

Incline’s newest floral boutique, Wyld Peony, specializes in uniquely customized floral arrangements, capturing the thoughtfulness and beautiful personality of the giver and receiver. Holding a degree in environmental horticulture from UC Davis, Wyld Peony Owner Jen Weschler knows her stuff when it comes to flowers and takes your special event to the next level with her lovely bouquets. 

On top of that, you can give yourself or someone else the gift of flowers all year long with a Floral Subscription—having the freshest, seasonally available flowers arranged and delivered to you at intervals of your choosing. https://wyldpeony.com/

  • Alibi Ale Works– Incline Public House, 931 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village

Alibi Ale Works has a secret/not-so-secret club that rewards its beer lovers with exclusive benefits. Limited to 250 people per year, it costs $100 annually to be a part of Alibi Anonymous, and in turn members get discounts off pints, cans, bottles, growler refills, merchandise, food, and more. Members also receive access to growler fills on limited beers, early access to new beer releases, and access to the AA Facebook group which fosters connections with fellow members. 

If you join AA, just be sure to always bring your special membership token every time to visit an Alibi location, otherwise beers may be on you. Open to people ages 21 and older. https://alibialeworks.com/

No matter how young, fit, or healthy a person is, altitude sickness can happen to anyone, and being at 6,220 feet above sea level can affect people differently. Therefore, if you find yourself spending a full day hiking, biking, or having an active day on the lake and afterwards feel sick or lightheaded, the Go2 Aroma Oxygen Bar is there to give you a boost. Fifteen different aromatic treatments are available on the oxygen bar aroma menu and one 10-minute session can get your energy levels back to 100 percent. 

If you’re a fan of oxygen bars, Go2 Aroma Oxygen Bar also sells gift cards so you can save on multiple sessions. https://www.oxygenbartahoe.com/ 

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