• El Dorado Winery Association’s Passport weekends are April 13-14 and April 20-21. For tickets, go online. They are $70 per weekend or $40 Sunday only.

• Backcountry gates between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are open on a pilot program basis in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service.

• January is California Restaurant Month. Well, Tahoe-Truckee eateries, where are the deals like other cities are offering?

• The Village at Squaw Valley Specific Plan project applicant has submitted a revised specific plan and phase 1 project description, which are available for review online.

• Smokehouse 360 at Sierra-at-Tahoe is mentioned in the February issue of Ski magazine as “arguably the best barbecue in Tahoe.” The same issue says the KT Base Bar at Squaw Valley is one of the best “beach” aka sunny deck spots at a resort.