With South Lake Tahoe’s TWC Cannabis Cup snuffed out, even more attention wafts west up Lake Tahoe Boulevard to the Buttermuffin Smoke Shop’s two-day 4-20 event.
Held for the 15th year at the 16-year-old business, Buttermuffin 4-20 Games will be from noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20 in the Swiss Chalet Village. Attendance is free.
New to the village this year is the return of the record store Mad About Music, which will celebrate National Record Day. The store used to be at the Sierra Boulevard side of the mall, which in October became home for Elephants Music.
Now owned by Dan Berger, Mad About Music has moved, coincidentally, from the Bijou Center, which was going to be the location for the fourth Tahoe Wellness Center April 20 Celebration. Julian Marley, the son on Bob Marley, was going to perform at the event, which has been moved to Reno’s Knitting Factory. The 18-over show begins at 8 p.m.
In a press statement, promoter Cody Bass said, “We are in true disbelief that we have to announce a venue change at this late date. The city of South Lake Tahoe denied Awake Nations the permit on private property that had been granted for the past three years without a single incident. They (the city) have threatened to shut down our dispensary if we hold the 4:20 TWC (Cannabis Cup.) We won’t back down though and will continue to negotiate with them and prove the legality of our events.”
Performing at the Knitting Factory at 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. are Julian Marley & The Uprising Band, Perfect, Iqulah Rastafari, Jah Warrior Shelter Hi-Fi, Mr. Rodgers, Roommate and Christafari.
The City Council Wednesday unanimously voted to deny the special activity permit, the Lake Tahoe News reported. Here is an excerpt:
“What the city took issue with is that the original permit filed on April 4 did not resemble the promotional material that was being circulated for the event. This raised concerns about parking, noise and disturbance to neighboring businesses, as well as possible traffic issues along Highway 50. … It’s estimated about 1,300 would have attended the concert.”
The Buttermuffin 420 Games will feature the Glass Blowing Flame Off, a competition with 12 top glass blowers, along with numerous food and vendor stations. There will be raffles, a rolling contest and roshambo, along with the presentation of the prestigious Stoner of the Year award.
A new South Shore reggae band, Rise Up, which includes Ricky Westt, the owner of the Swiss Chalet’s music store, plays at noon Sunday.
South Shore native Dreda Dre also will perform. Vinyl DJs include DJ Rundown, DJ Shorterm, Aux, and DJ Producers are Bass Mentality, Nas Ja and TYMK.
Berger, a New York native who moved to Tahoe in December, worked at Mad About Music before he bought it. While the business already is open, Berger is busy this week putting up shelves and stocking them with vinyl records from the old location. He said he is optimistic the business will succeed.
“The focus is on the Internet,” he said. “There is a collective market to be tapped into online. But I also want to make this a venue. I have had a good reception from all parties involved.”
The Buttermuffin’s 420 games
When: noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20
Where: Swiss Chalet Village, 2540 Lake Tahoe Blvd