• Zephyr Cove Lodge Restaurant has been renovated, as has the menu. In November it was named Best Restaurant at the 47th annual Soroptimist Food and Wine Tasting.

• On-the-books occupancy for mountain travel in the Western United States from November through April is up 8.7 percent compared to the same time last year and revenues are up 14 percent, according to Denver-based DestiMetrics.

• Among the San Francisco Chronicle’s top 100 U.S. wines are: Skinner El Dorado Viognier 2011, Four Fields El Dorado Grenache 2011, Holly’s Hill Petit Patriarche El Dorado Red 2010, Forlorn Hope San Hercumer delle Frecce Amador County Barbera 2011, and Turley Wine Cellars Judge Bell Amador County Zinfandel 2011.

• The feature length film “Branded” is being filmed at Strawberry Lodge. The cast includes: Jeremy London, Jason London, Susan Duerden and Burton Perez.

• South Tahoe High grad Jerod Haase is making a name for himself in the world of college basketball coaches. Check out the results of this game.