With 6 new feet of snow having just landed in Tahoe, last weekend looked, in the words of one first grader, just like the landscape from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  There’s more than enough new snowfall to bury a vertical first grader - and more on the way. And they’ll be a blizzard of savings for 7x7 Readers.

Last weekend marked the opening ceremonies for the 28th Annual Snowfest:"The Mountain Mardi Gras," which runs through Sunday, March 8 and includes all kinds of fun snow pursuits: think snow-themed parades, races, polar bear swims and snow sculpture contests.

Even if you miss snow fest, fine wining and dining is a permanent fixture at the PlumpJack Café in Squaw, which is part of the Gavin Newsom empire of plumpjackery. Originally built to house the 1960 Winter Olympic delegation, the 61-room inn is Squaw Valley’s best bet to fine wine and dine -- and literally skip cross the street to the Gondola.

If you go up to PlumpJack, say hi to Eric the cutie pie of a hotel manager (he’s the one who looks like Hamish Linklater from “The New Adventures of Old Christine”) and tell him I sent you: when you reserve a room and get a special for 7x7 readers package: Complimentary wine tasting! Room rate discount! PlumpJackSport store discount!