Sylas Wright
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Articles by Sylas Wright
Forest Fungi Fever - Tahoe Quarterly
Forest Fungi Fever Posted at 02:55h in Features, Summer 2026 A heaping handful of morels found in the Tahoe National Forest, photo by Seth Lightcap You would have thought $100 bills were sprouting up from the dirt and pine needles. The joy in An Hoang’s smile is palpable. On a sunny, cool day in April 2026, Hoang has just found a large cluster of wild morel mushrooms in the forest near Fallen Leaf Lake.
Following His Calling - Tahoe Quarterly
It is perhaps too obvious to assert that great photographers capture meaning inside their photographs. It is less obvious, I think, to suggest that the best ones capture meaning outside their photographs, too—their life a lens in permanent focus, an open shutter forever swallowing light.
The Long Return - Tahoe Quarterly
The Long Return Posted at 03:05h in Features, Summer 2026 The varied terrain of the WélmeltiɁ Preserve from a bird’s-eye view, photo by Elizabeth Carmel After more than a century of fighting to claw back its ancestral grounds one small chunk at a time, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California tripled its land base in one historic swoop.
A Higher Bar for Tahoe
A Higher Bar for Tahoe Posted at 02:50h in Food & Wine, Summer 2026 If you haven’t seen or heard of Gaviota yet, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Like everything else about Incline Village’s hidden-in-plain-sight speakeasy, when people eventually stumble upon it, the place feels accidental, if not inevitable. Look a little closer, though, and you’ll discover it’s all very much by design.
Save of a Lifetime
Far from shore on a windy afternoon, Janelle Hibler was paddling toward Speedboat Beach after a fun visit to the Hyatt when a large wave slammed into her kayak, tossing her into the frigid water of Lake Tahoe. No big deal, she thought: “I’ll just climb right back in.” She tried to lift herself out of the water and into the vessel, but she could not. She tried again. Then again, and again. “I legitimately couldn’t drag myself back into my kayak,” she says.
Trial by Wildfire - Tahoe Quarterly
A Serene Lakes home designed by Tara Sypriano lacks eaves and overhangs, leaving fewer places for embers to get caught, photo by Ruthanne Zouboukos Trial by Wildfire Posted at 02:40h in Mountain Homes, Summer 2026 Around Lake Tahoe, high-end homes have long been inspired by the landscape.
Wine Country Without the Glitz
An easy day trip from Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Foothills holds its own as one of the most diverse and historic wine regions in California. And yet, this close-to-home gem receives little fanfare, often bypassed by wine lovers headed to more prestigious locations. But that’s not a bad thing. Because while the region may lack the renown of Napa or Sonoma, it also lacks the crowds and the costs, exuding a charm all its own.
Breaking Free - Tahoe Quarterly
A Truckee resident for the past 13 years, Priya Hutner has done her part to enrich the area’s literary and culinary communities. In addition to creating delicious concoctions through her catering business, The Seasoned Sage, Hutner co-founded the annual Tahoe Literary Festival and Truckee Lit Crawl and has written hundreds of articles for local publications, mostly Tahoe Weekly (Tahoe Guide).
72 Miles of Healing
The impact came out of nowhere. One moment, I was sitting at a stoplight after a dawn patrol splitboard mission up Jakes Peak, still buzzing from the kind of morning that fills your soul. The next moment, my blissful mood was shattered as a Hummer slammed into the back of my car. Just like that, the rhythm of my life—movement, mountains, momentum—screeched to a halt. What followed was a blur of diagnoses: a broken collarbone, a concussion and shoulder damage that would require surgery.
Legacy Among the Trees
The home features an open-concept flow connecting the kitchen, dining and living area, all framed by a stunning lake view Legacy Among the Trees Posted at 02:20h in Mountain Homes, Summer 2026 Designed to embrace its surroundings, the home balances contemporary architecture with the warmth and authenticity of natural materials After falling in love with Donner Lake, a Bay Area resident set out to build a home that reflected the beauty and charm of the location while also creating a legacy she...
New Tools for an Ancient Game
New Tools for an Ancient Game Posted at 02:40h in Best of Tahoe 2026, Outdoors James II of Scotland banned golf in 1457 because the game was distracting the men from their archery practice. Almost 600 years on, no one claims the sport threatens the realm, but plenty claim the obsession with long drives down the fairway and putts for par continues to divert men and women from more fundamental responsibilities. Those complaints haven’t changed, but nearly everything else has.
Choice Beans to Tasty Brews
Choice Beans to Tasty Brews Posted at 02:55h in Best of Tahoe 2026, Food & Wine Ralph Backstrom of Pacific Crest Coffee loads his roaster with green beans It’s a gorgeous day in March, and Ralph Backstrom, co-owner of Pacific Crest Coffee in Truckee, has the roll-up door next to his coffee roaster wide open. Fresh Sierra air mixes with the sweet smell of freshly roasted coffee in perfect harmony. It’s an exquisite atmosphere any coffee connoisseur might choose to live in for eternity.
Last Call - Tahoe Quarterly
The connective tissue between the bars that made up the narrative during North Lake Tahoe’s après-ski heyday and today is remarkable. Given the remaining watering holes and gathering spots that can trace their lineage back to those halcyon days, whether it’s the employees who work there, the customers who still belly up to the bars or the buildings that house them, opportunities remain for Tahoe revelers to find both a familiar space and face—if they know exactly where to look.
Let There Be Color
In the great room, a Crate & Barrel sectional and Design Within Reach rug establish a welcoming space accented by a West Elm coffee table and Burke Decor lounge chairs When a couple began looking for a summer home at Lake Tahoe, they fell in love with the tranquil setting of a Tahoma property. The 3,895-square-foot home on the forested lot was conveniently located within walking distance of the lake—an added perk for a family that owns a boat—and not far from the ski runs at Homewood.
A Ruby in the Rugged West
In 1845, Lansford Hastings published The Emigrant’s Guide to Oregon and California, the lengthy subtitle of which promised “a description of the different routes to those countries and all necessary information relative to the equipment, supplies, and the method of traveling.” Hastings, a lawyer and self-styled empire builder, published the guidebook with the intention of taking California from Mexico by sheer numbers.
The Best Spot to Satisfy a Sweet Tooth
Mike Akay hand-selects a collection of his favorite chocolates for a gift box Just off the main drag in Tahoe City, up the wide wooden staircase of the Boatworks Mall, sits one of the area’s most unlikely treasures. Most people pass right by it. These days, few even wander into the aging building, which feels half-abandoned since Jake’s on the Lake closed its doors. Empty storefronts outnumber the open ones. But tucked into an upstairs corner is a chocolate shop that feels almost hidden in time.
The Town Where Everybody Knew Your Name
While contemplating recent and potential future changes to Tahoe City, I thought I’d tell the tale of what it was like growing up in my town in the 1960s and ’70s. There were no cellphones or Internet; just a few unreliable Reno TV channels, which arrived via rabbit ears. There were no sidewalks or a playground on Commons Beach, and we didn’t have the supervised after-school activities that keep kids busy today.
The Immersive Revolution - Tahoe Quarterly
Inside “Under the Mountain,” everything is interactive and hides layers of storytelling within The Immersive Revolution Posted at 02:20h in Arts, Best of Tahoe 2026 The sculpture oddities of Daisy Mae Jones can be found all over “Under the Mountain” installation Touch it. Touch the art. Feel the texture of the paint. Is it soft? Is it crunchy? Does it make you feel uneasy? Good. Now take a step forward. Let the art touch you.
Best Of Tahoe 2026 Readers’ Poll
Best Of Tahoe 2026 Readers’ Poll Posted at 02:25h in Around Town, Best of Tahoe 2026 Tahoe residentsand visitors selected their favorite places around the lake to eat, drink, shop and play in TQ’s 2026 Best of Tahoe Readers’ Poll. Due to the expansive size of North America’s largest alpine lake, the multiple-choice poll was separated into two categories: South Shore and North/West/East Shore, which includes Truckee. Here are the results.
Striking Balance - Tahoe Quarterly
Antique pieces selected by the homeowners and their longtime interior designer, Caroline Tyler DeCesare, adorn the interiors, such as an old French clock face above a fireplace in the living room A collaborative friendship spanning 20 years and more than a dozen projects provided a solid foundation to approach a unique situation. It featured a property that was both private yet exposed, and architecture that would be modern in form yet traditional in its lived expression.
Lakefront Love - Tahoe Quarterly
A firepit on the elevated back deck offers a perfect gathering area to soak in the incredible view of Donner Lake Ryan Marsden, president and principal architect at Marsden Architects, only recently began exploring Donner Memorial State Park. “I’ve lived in Tahoe for 14 years,” he says.
Homage to a Classic
As in the main home, funky angles contribute to the 1970s aesthetic of the guesthouse In April 2017, Michael and Pam Hillman fell in love—with a southwest Reno home designed in 1978 by acclaimed Swiss architect Eduard Dreier. “They just don’t construct homes like this anymore,” Michael says. As part of their bid, the couple vowed to restore the home, a promise they made good on over the course of four and a half years.
On the Front Lines of California’s Wolf Recovery
The most exceptional case of wolf-livestock conflict in modern American history unfolded in the summer of 2025 in the pastoral Sierra Valley, about 50 miles north of Lake Tahoe, as a single pack of gray wolves killed at least 88 cattle. “The Beyem Seyo Pack was one of the most livestock-predating packs in the history of Western wolf recovery,” says Arthur Middleton, professor of wildlife management at UC Berkeley, who is currently studying gray wolves in the state.
Second Home Is Where the Heart Is
A large window provides a unique view between the home’s two building volumes and into the forest beyond Some Tahoe houses seem more akin to museums than homes, in that they’re filled with art but light on that lived-in feel. Others, however—such as this Olympic Valley home—reflect a more people-oriented purpose: bringing loved ones together for fun, fellowship and family time. “My cousin’s son got married and we co-hosted the rehearsal dinner there, along with my cousin Chris next door.
Resplendent Revamp - Tahoe Quarterly
A covered outdoor living space off the great room features cozy furniture set in front of an in-wall fireplace and recessed TV When a family of avid skiers looked to invest in a legacy retreat at Lake Tahoe, choosing a location was hardly a consideration. There was only one place they sought to plant roots: Olympic Valley, home of the legendary Palisades Tahoe ski resort. “There’s just something about that mountain that I’ve always been in love with,” says the family patriarch.
Home on the Range—Redefined - Tahoe Quarterly
Anchored on the north end of the great room, a fireplace clad in limestone and a subtle white microtopping by Evolution Industries provides a focal point, with built-in window seats on either side As a young family set out to build a Martis Camp home to accommodate their growing household, they knew just who to call—architect Ryan Marsden, who had previously designed a multigenerational home they vacationed in throughout the years with their mother and siblings.
A LEGACY HOUSE THAT FEELS LIKE HOME
Rich wood siding, refined stonework and a softly illuminated approach create a welcoming arrival designed for everyday living When a couple in their late 60s decided to build a custom home in Clear Creek Tahoe, they envisioned a family retreat where they could effortlessly entertain their kids and grandkids for years to come. Their goal was to create a legacy home that would strike just the right balance between beauty and grandeur, without seeming stuffy or unapproachable.
Aerie Abode - Tahoe Quarterly
A large-format concrete paver walkway leads to the entry alongside a babbling water feature that flows under a bridge link to the junior primary pavilion Sometimes everything clicks. That was the feeling for a California couple who, after their son left home, decided to try something new.
Fitting In - Tahoe Quarterly
A covered outdoor space off the great room affords year-round enjoyment It’s not uncommon for a builder to ascribe a nickname to a project. An affectionate, descriptive moniker is a way to distinguish a house from others that might be underway simultaneously, but it’s also an effective way to characterize the form and scope of a residence with a single word or two. Soon after taking on the commission to build a 2,359-square-foot house on Tahoe’s West Shore, Jude Gavigan came up with a name for it.
Houses on the Hill
A custom home on a large plot of land in southwest Reno boasts a grand view of Mount Rose Houses on the Hill Posted at 03:25h in Mountain Home Awards 2026, Valley View Most neighborhoods have a certain look. They are part of a master plan, built with a cohesive design, and easy to name and navigate. But not this one. This southwest Reno enclave is well hidden, strangely hard to define, packed with a who’s-who of longtime locals and deeply rooted in the city’s ranching past.
A Contemporary Sanctuary - Tahoe Quarterly
One of the few asymmetrical installations in the home, the fireplace is situated between a window featuring the adjacent fairway and a hemlock wood wall, which ties in the grand hemlock gabled ceiling “‘Contemporary,’ I find, has become a little bit of a loaded word in architecture and design circles.” Brendan Riley, owner and principal architect of designSense, is talking about designing a home that represents “the moment,” but not in an expected way.
Brushstrokes of Brilliance - Tahoe Quarterly
LeeAnn Brook in front of her painting Creekbed, inspired by Martis Creek Lake. Known for her large-format contemporary landscape paintings, Brook strives to create a feeling of place by use of color, texture and atmosphere in her work, photo by Ingrid Nelson On a chilly December evening in downtown Truckee, a respectable crowd braved the cold to attend LeeAnn Brook’s art reception at Piper J Gallery.
High Standards, Low Profile
A neutral palette in the living area allows the big views to shine After decades in the Bay Area, followed by 11 years in Dallas, Sara and John Amos wanted to settle somewhere that combined Texas’s zero state income tax with California’s mountainous outdoor activity options. Reno, however, was not the obvious choice. “When you grow up in the Bay Area, you typically think of Reno as the land of casinos,” Sara says.
Inspiration Ignited - Tahoe Quarterly
A statement stone fireplace with integrated lighting stands out as the architectural focal point of the great room, where exposed steel and stained wood ceilings establish a refined industrial warmth It started with a candle. The homeowners had purchased a lakefront property in Tahoma with visions of building a timeless family retreat. Having completed four previous projects with Marcio Decker of Aspen Leaf Interiors, it was a given that he would handle the interior design.
Bridge to the High Life
The elevated back deck features a firepit along with ample seating and spectacular views overlooking Lake Tahoe Set on a spectacular lot in one of Tahoe’s most historic communities, a striking new three-story home in Glenbrook provides a family with a high-end yet inviting retreat with plenty of room to soak up the best of lakefront living.
Merit Award: Family-Friendly
A truly grand great room with high ceilings includes a large pocketing Andersen door system set flush into the wall to maximize usable floor area • Objectives: A project team that included Daniel Fraiman Construction, Farrell Faber & Associates and Rachel Wright Interiors set out to create a light, bright and timeless family home centered on connection.
Wellness by Design - Tahoe Quarterly
Natural light and stellar views abound thanks to large windows on the lake side. The project team chose Awake Windows for their slim profile that maximizes the amount of glass Presented with an opportunity to purchase a neighboring lakefront property, a couple assembled a talented project team to execute their vision for a sleek, multifunctional structure designed to complement their summer vacation residence.
Living Large - Tahoe Quarterly
The bright and open great room of this Martis Camp home was designed to entertain on a grand scale “Lake Tahoe architecture” often conjures up images of A-frames and log cabins, but an expansive home in Martis Camp represents a radical departure from that tradition. Commissioned by a family that was looking for a bright, open-concept abode designed for entertaining on a large scale, the house breaks decisively from older Tahoe styles in favor of a bold, modern layout.
Merit Award: Sustainable Living
A greenhouse off the kitchen allows for year-round growing • Objectives: The homeowners, who chose not to hire an architect because they wanted more control of the project, worked with South Lake Tahoe-based Sierra Sustainable Builders (SSB) to achieve their vision for a modern home that felt comfortable in its mountain landscape.
The Truly Great Outdoors
Building forms create space for a private backyard with a lawn and cascading water feature, as well as an ideal location for the primary bedroom, photo by Farr Photo That oft-repeated line about the most important aspect of real estate—“location, location, location”—may sound cliché these days, but it does serve as a reminder that exactly where a home is built remains as important as ever. Buyers in Lahontan Golf Club, for example, are choosing the area specifically.
Merit Award: Legacy Remodel
• Objectives: Originally built in the 1970s for former Major League Baseball pitcher John Montefusco, this ranch-style home in Incline Village was sold to a family that cherished it for years as a vacation residence. Eventually, however, the house required an upgrade to accommodate their growing multigenerational family.
Merit Award: Heritage Home
The home was built on large boulders that project into the lower-level rooms and are celebrated as organic art pieces • Objectives: Originally built in the 1940s, this cherished family home passed on from father to son was ready for a transformation, which was executed by the project team of DNM Architecture, Sawtooth Builders and Andrea Lackie Design.
ENTER TO WIN TQ’S BEST OF TAHOE PHOTO CONTEST
Abe Blair's winning photo in the Black & White category of TQ's 2025 Best of Tahoe Photo Contest, photo by Abe Blair ENTER TO WIN TQ’S BEST OF TAHOE PHOTO CONTEST Posted at 18:35h in Features Welcome to Tahoe Quarterly’s 2026 Best of Tahoe Photo Contest, which is accepting entries through March 18. Photos will be shared on TQ’s Facebook page leading up to the submission deadline, after which entries will be judged by a panel of professional photographers and designers.
Mid-Century Marvelous - Tahoe Quarterly
The exposed superstructure, obvious upon first entry, is both functional and decorative This home could have been a disaster. The beloved general contractor was diagnosed with ALS and had to leave the job midway through, passing a few months later. The ensuing transition shut down the project for three to four months. Winter weather caused further delays, and the pandemic created supply chain issues. All the while, two of the homeowners’ three adult children were dealing with severe health issues.
Tails From the Shelter
Bernice, a long-haired French bulldog, arrived at Incline Village’s Pet Network Humane Society this past summer from a partner shelter in Las Vegas. Small and sweet with gentle, soulful eyes, Bernice appeared to have been used for breeding, then abandoned when she was no longer able to carry puppies. She struggled to breathe and had several infections. Pet Network veterinarians brought her in for immediate lifesaving care.
Behind the Magique - Tahoe Quarterly
Ten minutes before the Magique show begins, 12 performers and crew members disappear into a labyrinth of dark hallways behind the Nugget Casino Resort’s Celebrity Showroom stage. Off stage, two laptops play soft music for audience members as they file into the room to find their seats. On one of the screens, a small pop-up window asks if the show is ready to start. The “OK” button is highlighted.
Road Trippin’ to Las Vegas Outer Orbit
Graffiti and junk art intersect at the International Car Forest of the Last Church in Goldfield, Nevada Road Trippin’ to Las Vegas Outer Orbit Posted at 02:55h in Out & About, Winter 2025-2026 Las Vegas is like Coke versus Pepsi. Visit the city a couple of times, and your opinion of it will likely swing hard either way. Love it or hate it, the draw of Nevada’s most populous metropolis can’t be denied.
Tahoe’s Electric Evolution - Tahoe Quarterly
Rivian describes its R1T as a long-range electric truck built for performance, sustainability and adventure, photo courtesy Rivian Tahoe’s Electric Evolution Posted at 02:50h in Environment, Winter 2025-2026 From the farthest stretches of the globe to the streets of Tahoe, the rise of the electric vehicle has been explosive over the last decade. The statistics bear this out.
Everything is A-OK at Restaurant Trokay - Tahoe Quarterly
Trokay is Paiute for “everything is all right” or “everything is well.” John and Nyna Weatherson carefully chose the word, which is also the origin name for Truckee, for their modern New American restaurant in historic downtown, where their mission is to showcase hospitality, craft of cooking and culinary artistry focused on sustainable, locally and regionally sourced organic ingredients.
‘Present to Win’: 21 Days on Thompson Pass
‘Present to Win’: 21 Days on Thompson Pass Posted at 02:35h in Outdoors, Winter 2025-2026 The day started on a high. I had just wrapped a sunrise backcountry tour up Jake’s Peak before work—one of those mornings where everything aligns. Deep snow, warm alpenglow and that post-ride bliss humming through my chest. I sat at a red light on Al Tahoe Boulevard, replaying turns in my head—smooth, dreamy arcs across untouched snow. Life in that moment felt simple. Golden.
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