Vicki Kahn | The beat goes on in the heart of Tahoe City

Commons Beach concerts give new rhythm to Sunday afternoons

Bikinis, hula hoops, families having picnics and dancing — all this and lots more make up the Sunday afternoon scene at the Tahoe City Commons Beach, now that the Tahoe City Downtown Association has started up its Sunday concert series. It's an interesting phenomenon: The whole center of downtown Tahoe City starts to swell with an influx of people carrying beach chairs, picnic food (some with children in tow), as the continual migration heads down to the beach venue boasting one of the most beautiful views around.

Last Sunday approximately 1,500 people gathered to listen to the ten piece San Francisco Afrobeat band “Albino.” TCDA executive director Justin Broglio credits Brent Harding of Double Dog Productions and Blake Beeman of Seventh Wave Sound for helping secure the organization's best line up to date, as well as helping with production needs. For more info check out www.visittahoecity.com.

So who was at the Commons Beach on Sunday? Well, who wasn't there? Spotted in the crowd were Nick and Madona Casini, Dave Wilderotter, Amy and Mike Rosen, Hal Slear and Madalyn Bodell, Nancy and Tom O'Neil, Laura and Doug Read, Michele DeBraganca and Ken Volz, Marilyn and Ron Treabess, Sally Taylor and Rob Weston, Eleanor and John Chapman, Carol and Mike Sabarese from Truckee, Deborah Ward, Bob McCormick, Benita and Greg Tiller, Sally and Steve Osborn, Karen Leep, Steve Wallis, Marsha and J.O. O'Brien, Johnny (David Reutter) B. Good and Vicki, Deborah and Dave Lane.

Corkscrews at the Cobblestone

Corkscrews, a new wine shop that recently opened in the Cobblestone Center across from Commons Beach hosted an opening reception to show off its new, upscale wine bar selling reasonably priced bottles of wine, assorted cheeses, and offering wine tastings with flights of wine to make one's palate soar.

Owner's Elgin and Brooks Marsted and Bjorn Larson have redesigned the corner space adjacent to the theater with the help of Todd Mather of Gary Davis Group, giving it a sleek, modern look with a back drop of the verdant Tahoe City golf course viewed through the rear windows.

An entire wall displays an extensive selection of boutique and hard to find wines secured laterally with an innovative and impressive impact. The shop serves tasty cheese plates and charcuterie to accompany wine tastings — making for a perfect pre-dinner or pre-event meeting spot. Several special wine tasting events by individual winemakers are scheduled to be held at the new shop.

The new owners envision nurturing the desires of oenophiles interested in learning, drinking and indulging in great wines, cheeses and charcuterie. The shop is open daily in the Cobblestone in Tahoe City. For more info check www.corkscrewwinebar.com.

—Vicki Kahn may be reached at vickikahn@sbcglobal.net