Sierra-at-Tahoe’s annual Pray for Snow Party is Nov. 11 at Mo’s Place in South Lake Tahoe on Lake Tahoe Boulevard.

Seasonpass holders get in at 6pm, everyone else is welcome at 7pm.

Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra meets every Thursday at 7am at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center (3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd.).

All are invited; breakfast and coffee served.

Oct 28 the agenda is a “holiday surprise: followed by a trip to view South Tahoe’s recycling center.

Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra meets every Thursday at 7am at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center (3050 Lake Tahoe Blvd.).

All are invited; breakfast and coffee served.

Oct 21 the speaker will be Lisa Serafini, assistant district attorney with El Dorado County.

Lava Cap Winery hosts Rick Kushman of the Sacramento Bee on Nov. 6 at 1pm.

Learn about harvesting grapes and how all those grapes become such good wine.

In Harvest & Winemaking 101, Kushman will focus on the process of harvesting wine grapes. He will begin the class in the vineyard and then move to the crush pad, where the grapes are harvested. He will discuss how the winemaker improves the wine quality through particular harvesting techniques. The class will finish in the winery’s barrel room with wine tastings.

Lava Cap’s red and white wines will be featured and sampled, including new releases.

The class will last 90 minutes.

Contact Lava Cap Winery for tickets and information (530) 621.0175 or online. The Placerville winery is at 2221 Fruitridge Road.

Barton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary’s annual Holiday Faire at St. Theresa Catholic Church is Nov. 7 from 9am-3pm.

The church is at the corner of Lyons Avenue and Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

The auxiliary’s famous cheese balls will be for sale.

El Dorado County is having a special budget briefing and discussion on Oct. 25 in South Lake Tahoe.

Staff from the Chief Administrative Office will be at the South Lake Tahoe branch library to present an overview of the county budget and answer questions.

“The county’s budget is currently balanced, but we know there are hard decisions on the horizon to maintain that balance,” Chief Administrative Officer Gayle Erbe-Hamlin said. “We want to provide a convenient opportunity for people to learn about their county’s budget, understand the challenges and offer constructive feedback.”

El Dorado County’s general fund budget is approximately $200 million. The county is projecting an $11 million shortfall for 2011-11.

Similar budget briefings were in Placerville earlier this month.

The meeting will be from 6-8pm, Oct. 25, county library, 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd., South Lake Tahoe.

Buddy Guy, Chicago’s blues king today, is a musician with unrelenting onstage energy and high energy musicality coupled with a tortured vocal style that’s as distinctive as his incendiary rapid-fire fretwork.

The show starts at 9pm at MontBleu with doors open at 8pm. Tickets start at $30 through MontBleu’s ticket office (775) 588.3515 or www.TicketMaster.com.

Buddy Valastro, star of the hit TLC reality show Cake Boss, brings his Jersey attitude west for an evening of cake, shake and bake.

An accomplished master baker and cake decorator, Valastro has been featured in a variety of publications and TV programs including the New York Times, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Modern Bride, Oprah Winfrey Show and The Today Show.

The show starts at 8pm at MontBleu in Stateline. Tickets start at $25.50 through MontBleu’s ticket office (775) 588.3515 or www.TicketMaster.com.

The freaks will be out in full force for the 32nd annual Freaker’s Ball, Tahoe’s longest running Halloween party, Oct. 30, at MontBleu in Stateline.

Party-goers in all costume shapes and sizes will celebrate with three parties all in one casino: blu nightclub, Opal Ultra Lounge and the MontBleu Convention Center. Festivities include body painting, go-go dancers, drink specials and a costume contest with more than $10,000 in cash and prizes. Pop Fiction will be on hand with live music.

Doors open at 8pm. Tickets are $25 at the door or $20 in advance through MontBleu’s ticket office (775) 588.3515 or www.TicketMaster.com.

Queensryche plays at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe on Nov. 13 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $39.

For more South Shore Room information, show times, ticket prices and reservations, call 800.786.8208.