Carson magician to perform, help clean Carson River

Twenty-year-old Curtis Adams graduated from Carson High School a year early so he could perform his magic on tour. In his latest show, "Adrenaline ... Magic that Rocks," he has incorporated motorcycle stunts, pyrotechnics and dance into what he calls "extreme magic."

"This is a new beginning, a new era of magic," he said. "It's magic with attitude."

He'll perform a one-night-only show at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in Reno from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

After dancing on to the stage, Adams will clone himself, perform wheelies and endos on his Ducati motorcycle then walk up a wall, across the ceiling and down the other side. Adams, who's been in love with performing since age 7, does all his own stunts.

He studied under extreme stunt rider Gino Velasquez for the show directed by Don Wayne, who spent 20 years as an illusion designer for magician David Copperfield.

"Years ago, Copperfield and I decided to redefine magic by changing how magic was presented," he said. "Today Curtis Adams and I are about to do it again."

Tickets are $19.95, $29.95 or $39.95. Part of the proceeds benefit the Friends of Special children. Doors open at 7 p.m. Call 787-TIXS or 686-6600.

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The third-annual Markleeville Creek Cleanup Day is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature the planting of five types of trees, a fish release, free lunch and T-shirts, a Washoe tribal dance, Smokey Bear for the kids and a speaker.

"We want people to come out and enjoy the natural environment and have fun," said event coordinator Genie Azad of the Carson Water Sub conservancy District. "It's going to be a learning experience as well as fun."

This year's river cleanup, first organized by the Sierra Nevada Alliance, is being organized by the Alpine Watershed Group.

The Western Nevada RCND's Dan Kaffer -- who has organized river work days for a decade -- will be there as well as Don Jardine of the Alpine County board of supervisors sponsors. The special guest will be Washoe Tribe member Tony Smoky doing a spiritual blessing and dance around 9:15.

The event is at the Markleeville Community Park behind the library.

As you roll into Markleeville from Woodfords, take the second right, and you're there, according to Azad.

"If you hit the bridge, you've gone too far," she said

M's Coffee House will provide food, and the Carson River Resort will provide drinks. Call 887-9005.

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Appeal writer F. T. Norton picked me up in Reno Friday night after two weeks in Spain, France, Andorra and Portugal. The people I traveled with wanted to spend time in the party spots full of foreigners, but I couldn't get enough of untouched, authentic fishing villages and towns off the tourist map. I was awed by the calm demeanor of 10,000 Spaniards, who had been drinking for hours during a city festival in Valladolid. Even after 1 a.m., they chatted quietly with their shirts tucked in below a 1,000-year-old cathedral. Quite a contrast to shouting over the music in tank tops next to the new big-box store. In the coastal hamlets south of Finnisterre (Latin: Fini = end, terre = land), widows in black dresses walk with fresh loaves from the bakery to stone homes made hundreds of years ago.

Of course, these villages aren't known for convenience -- stores are almost never open, and cashing a traveler's check is like trying to get a slots player to give you their full coin bucket. It's always exciting to travel, but I'm glad to be back where I speak the language and can get a macaroni special at the Carson Nugget 24-7.

Karl Horeis is a general assignment reporter for the Appeal. He can be reached at 881-1219.