Dine with Mark Twain at the historic Dangberg Ranch

Have you dined with the ghost of Mark Twain recently? If not, the historic Dangberg Ranch in Minden, NV is giving you an opportunity!

The non-profit Friends of Dangberg Home Ranch will present a day of music, art and Americana on Saturday, September 13, to raise operating funds for the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park.

The main event is a reservations-only gala dinner, "Under Western Skies: Dinner with Mark Twain," at 5:30 p.m., featuring McAvoy Layne performing as the ghost of Mark Twain.

Layne is well-known to Nevada audiences, and is one of the preeminent preservers of Twain’s wit and wisdom. He portrayed the legendary author in A&E’s biographical treatment, and in the Discovery Channel’s Cronkite Award-winning documentary, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He is a winner of the Nevada award for excellence in school and library service, and the author of a memoir, Becoming Mark Twain.

Teri Sweeney and Charles Muench, both nationally recognized painters and Carson Valley residents, will display their work inside the Dangberg ranch house during the dinner. Twenty percent of all art sales will be donated to the Friends of Dangberg.

Muench is a recipient of many awards. These include the Irvine Museum Gold Medal at the California Art Club's 2012 exhibition, the Southwest Art Award of Excellence in 2010, and the Edgar Payne Award for Best Landscape in 2009. He was unanimously elected a Signature Member of the California Art Club. He was also given the First Place Award at the 2008 Heritage Art Exhibition, and the Collector’s Choice Award at the 2013, 2008 and 2005 Maynard Dixon Country Invitational. His work is in the permanent collections of both the historic California Club and the Irvine Museum.

Teri Sweeney had already perfected the watercolor techniques that would define her style when, after moving to Gardnerville, she began painting full time and expanded her choice of mediums to include oils. Skill in both mediums allows her to choose the one best suited for each painting. A frequent award winner, Sweeney’s work has been accepted into numerous shows, including the Western Masters Show and Sale and the Russell Auction, Cowgirl Up!, the San Dimas Festival of the Arts, the Phippen Show, and the Mountain Oyster Club.

More information about the dinner is at underwesternskies.eventbrite.com, where tickets can also be purchased for $60 per person. Online reservations must be made by 5:00 pm on Friday, September 5. After that time, reservations can only be made by contacting Mark Jensen at 775-783-9417.

Muench’s and Sweeney’s paintings will also be on display that morning, from 9 am through noon, while Milton Merlos, a Spanish Flamenco guitarist plays from 10-11:30 am in front of the Dangberg ranch house. Admission to the concert and art show is $5 for adults, free for 16 and younger and for members of the Friends of Dangberg. Reservations are not needed for the morning event, and champagne mimosas, wine and soft drinks will be available at a no-host bar.

The park is located at 1450 Highway 88, Minden, Nevada, ¾ mile south of the Carson Valley Swim Center. More information about the park, and donation and membership opportunities, is at dangberghomeranch.org.