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For those who
live in Napa Valley |
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An Insider’s Look at Napa Valley |
Volume 19, Number 5 – Jan. 29, 2024 |
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Businesses closing in Napa Valley California Brandy House closing Gallo’s California Brandy House on First Street in Napa closed at the end of business yesterday. It was a tasting room that showcased the company’s upscale and excellent Germain-Robin and Argonaut brandies. In a statement, Gallo said, “As the first stand-alone tasting room dedicated solely to luxury California brandies, we accomplished our objective of re-introducing California’s native spirit made from wine grapes grown in the Golden State. Consumers are looking for ways to explore new spirits and flavor profiles, especially with products that are made by knowledgeable people with high-quality ingredients. “By shifting our focus to a wider approach, we are poised to reach even more consumers and members of the trade through education and new offerings. We are grateful for the support and friendship of the Napa community during this time. Since opening in October 2020, the California Brandy House saw over 18,000 guests and consistently garnered 5-star reviews.” Germain-Robin and Argonaut brandies can still be found in retail stores, fine bars and restaurants. Within California, you can order them at www.californiabrandyhouse.com to ship to your door. Cosentino tasting
room closed, Clos Pegase, Girard open only weekends W. Blake Gray
in Wine Searcher reports
that Vintage Wine Estates has laid off many employees in sales and marketing
after putting a number of its brands
up for sale. The publicly traded
company has seen its stock plummet after poor results and it recently
announced plans to sell many brands including Clos Pegase, Cosentino and
Swanson in Napa Valley. The tasting
room at Cosentino Winery north of Yountville has been closed and the tasting
room at Clos Pegase in Calistoga is now open only Friday to Monday. Girard
nearby is open Friday to Sunday. I always read
anything Blake writes. He often discloses things the subjects would like
unreported. Vintage didn’t
respond to his queries to confirm the information but I was able to confirm
these changes. Zeppelin
Comics closing Zeppelin Comics will close on Feb. 1. The owners are retiring from comic book retailing and closing their stores in Napa and Benicia on Feb. 1, but they are talking with a potential buyer. The store in Napa opened last April. They will continue selling comics online. Zeppelin Comics, 1311 First St., Napa Food and wine La Taquiza is back! After closing when the owners moved back to the central coast, La Taquiza at Solano and Redwood has reopened with new owners but apparently the same team and menu. It was especially renowned for its authentic Baja fish tacos. Be Bubbly blossoming Be Bubbly will
launch Be Bubbly Lounge & Bistro this spring with the addition of
champagne cocktails, spirits and an elevated bistro menu. I can’t wait.
Chef Rogelio Garcia of Auro and Truss restaurant at the Four Seasons resort in Calistoga is a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards for best chef in California. He is the only Napa County chef named to the list this year. The list tends to favor new chefs, restaurants and positions. Many chefs and restaurants in Napa Valley have already been honored. Auro got a Michelin star last year, too. The winners will be recognized at the James Beard awards ceremony on June 10. New food truck on California La Casa Del Cesar is a new food truck, or restaurant on wheels as they call it, on California Boulevard near HealthQuest gym. The owner has been head chef at Boonfly Café and Napa General Store in the Napa Mill. The Bakery Café at Greystone reopens Saturday The Bakery Café at the CIA at Greystone will open Saturday, Feb. 3, for a limited time. Students prepare and serve the offerings at the café. Stop by for a beverage, salad or sandwich, fresh bread, chocolates, pastries, cookies or tarts to take home. It will be open Tuesday to Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The prices look reasonable, too. The Bakery Café at Greystone, 2555 Main St., St. Helena, thebakerycafeatgreystone.com Hot water
cornbread for Black History Month In celebration
of Black History Month, Chef Darryl Bell will offer a side of hot water
cornbread made with Rancho Gordo cornmeal Thursdays through Sundays starting
at noon until sold out during February. The cost for two servings of
cornbread is $5. Bell honors
his great-grandmother and his heritage by recalling the weekly ration of corn
slaves were given, which they would then mix with hot water to make fried corn
cakes. Bell adds a little leavening to lighten the bread. All proceeds will be donated to the Napa Valley Black History Committee. Bell is in a temporary pop-up at Napa’s Oxbow Public Market while he waits for final approval from the city for his restaurant. They are hoping it will finally open on Vallejo Street in Napa in March, more than a year after he had originally hoped to open. Meanwhile, you can find his Stateline Roadhouse Barbecue ribs, chicken, salads and specials from Thursday to Sunday, from noon until they sell out.
For the first
two weeks in February, Toasted is making bagels in the shape of a valentine
heart. Get some
bagels for breakfast, or chocolaty babkas and maybe a bouquet from Neve
Farms. They still
have all of their usual bagel and schmear flavors so feel free to order those
as well. In addition to
being at Napa Farmers Market on Saturday, they’ll be at Barnhouse Napa every
Tuesday morning in February except Feb. 6., Napa Valley Coffee Roasting
Company on Feb. 16 from 7 to 11:30 a.m. and at St. Clair Brown Winery &
Brewery on Feb. 17 and Feb. 23. They also
deliver and you can mix dozens. www.toastednapa.com
Folklore’s happy hours Folklore has Happy Hours at its bar from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday while music plays from KCMU 103.3 MHz, whose studio is in the vinyl store. Folklore, 1226 Third St., Napa, folklore-napa.com, 707-812-5506 Breakfast
at Downtown Joe’s You can
add Downtown Joe’s to places downtown that serve a traditional American
breakfast at a reasonable price. Their breakfast special for $9.95 includes
two eggs, hashbrowns, choice of toast and a cup of coffee. It’s served
from 8 to 11 a.m. I’m sure you
can get a boilermaker to accompany it if that’s your desire. Downtown
Joe’s, 902 Main St, Napa, www.downtownjoes.com,
707-258-2337 Events
and specials at Ox & the Fox and Frankie’s Deli First and
Franklin Marketplace houses two businesses, Ox & the Fox and Frankie’s
Deli. The
bar, Ox & the Fox, has a happy
hour Sunday through Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m., with half off all bar snacks,
$8 well drinks and $5 draft beer. On Taco
Tuesday every week from 2 p.m. to closing, they have $2 tacos, $4 Mexican
lager and $5 Margaritas. Wednesday is
free trivia night with the games from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. They have free
karaoke every first and third Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Frankie’s Deli
has started offering a sandwich of the month special. The February sandwich
of the month will be “Pretzel Ma Heart” turkey, salami, Wild Groves Tequila
Habanero Mustard, mayonnaise, white cheddar, lettuce, tomato and red onion on
a toasted pretzel bun. They’ve
expanded their menu to include a full selection of hot sandwiches and panini.
There are vegetarian/vegan-modifiable options, and they offer gluten-free
bread. Their soup and
sandwich lunch combo is any house sandwich and a cup of soup for $17. First and
Franklin Marketplace, 1331 First St., Napa, www.frankiesnapa.com, emma@firstandfranklin.com New flavors
at Roman Holiday Gelato Roman Holiday
Gelato in St. Helena has new flavors from Elisha Smiley, a graduate of
Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna, Italy. The gelato and boba feature
no artificial flavors, are locally sourced and are made daily. Roman Holiday
Gelato, 1336 Oak Ave., St. Helena, www.romanholidaygelato.com
Happy hour
at NoMa NoMa House in St. Helena has a happy hour Thursday to Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. NoMa
House, 1429 Main St., St Helena, www.nomahousecafeandcollective.com, Wine and
chocolate pairing at Merryvale Vineyards Merryvale
Vineyards offers a special flight of Merryvale wines paired with Earth and
Sky Chocolates, during February in a month-long celebration of Valentine’s
Day. The cost is
$75. Merryvale
Vineyards, 1000 Main St., St, Helena, www.merryvale.com,
info@merryvale.com, 877-887-7763 Affordable food and special offers As I do occasionally, I recently asked all the local restaurants for which I have emails —376 of them — to update our corkage and special/happy hour lists, among other things. Many didn’t respond; I guess they are too busy with current customers. A few told me about so many discounts and deals I almost wish I hadn’t asked. Some of those deals jumped out. Almost all certainly fit the “affordable” qualification: Andaz We think of the Andaz hotel for its music, especially on the upstairs terrace in good weather, but they also have many food and drink specials: Monday is local’s day, with 20% off all food and beverage for Napa Valley locals all day at Farmer’s Table breakfast restaurant and two cocktail bars, Mercantile Terrace and Mercantile Social. Tuesday is industry night with $8 beers and a well tequila shot, 25% off food, and 25% off well drinks from 10 p.m. to midnight at Mercantile Terrace and Mercantile Social. Wednesday, take 20% off all wines by the glass and bottle. Visit the Mercantile Instagram page for the latest promotions in the bars and lounges. You can click Andaz Eats for a list of all the dining options at the Andaz. Andaz Farmer’s Table has one of the best breakfasts in downtown Napa. Thursday, is trivia time. Test your knowledge on the Mercantile Terrace and enjoy handmade cocktails and new food selections while sitting cozily by the fire. Winners receive credit toward their bill. Trivia is brought to you by North Bay Trivia Company. They have live music in the Andaz Artists Series in the Mercantile Social Lobby Lounge every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. The Mercantile Mixology class is offered daily for $35 each. Check out a full list of experiences at Andaz Napa. Andaz, 1450 First St., Napa, www.hyatt.com, 707-687-1234 Entrecot Argentine Cuisine Entrecot Argentine Cuisine has so many great deals that it’s difficult to keep them straight. My top pick is the Lomito Argentino, a large steak sandwich and fries plus a beverage (beer, glass of wine or nonalcoholic) for $20. They’ll put a fried egg on the sandwich if you like. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, they charge no corkage but they have wines by the glass for $5, so why bother? On Friday and Saturdays, they do charge $25 corkage unless you buy a house bottle. Did I mention happy hour from 5 to 8 p.m. every day they’re open? They have specials with an appetizer, main course, dessert and glass of wine for $30. Other especially attractive menu items: · Entrecot burger and beverage for $18 · Classic Gula with choice of empanada, Milanese (breaded cutlet) with salad/fries, dessert and beverage for $30 · Bombas de Papa (breaded potato balls filled with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on a smoked tomato sauce) for $10 It’s not all meat, either. Remember that a third of the Argentine population is of Italian ancestry. One item is Parmesan gratin cauliflower and Brussels sprouts for $15. Entrecot Argentine Cuisine, 670 Main St., Napa, entrecotnapa.com The Lincoln To start with, all of the menu items at the Lincoln are under $28. That fits within the limit of $30 I’ve informally established. It would have been $25 before Covid hit. In addition, every Wednesday guests can enjoy wines by the glass or bottle for 25% off and wings are $8. Wing flavors are lemon, pepper and feta, Buffalo blue cheese and adobo. New for February is Industry Appreciation Month. During February, if you present a business card of the business where you work in the food and beverage industry, you will receive 20% off your tab. The Lincoln in Ace & Vine, 505 Lincoln Ave., Napa, www.thelincolnnapa.com North Bar and Grill North Bar and Grill is a little out of the way for many of us, but convenient for many others. It’s a classic neighborhood bar open daily next to Genova and Sunshine Café. They offer drink specials every day from 3 to 6 p.m. · Monday is $10 Burger Night with a special burger menu from 4 to 9 p.m. · Taco Tuesday offers a special taco menu, plus a full menu from 4 to 9 p.m. · Wild Wing Wednesday features special wings plus a full menu from 4 to 9 p.m. · Thursday to Saturday they have happy hour food from 4 to 6 p.m. with chips and guacamole for $5, carne asada street tacos $8, hot wings $8 and two beef sliders and a pint of your choice for $12. · Saturday, they have live music from 6 to 9 p.m. · Sunday is game day. Catch your team starting at 10 a.m. with a brunch menu. Northwood Shopping Center, 1540 Trancas St., Napa, www.northnapa.com Bank at the Westin Bank doesn’t have a happy hour but does feature a Burger of the Month. One was chosen Best Cheeseburger in the “Best Damn Burger in Napa” competition held by the Downtown Napa Association last August. Each month’s Bank’s burger special is posted to its Facebook and Instagram accounts. Bank Café and Bar in the Westin Verasa, 1314 McKinstry St., Napa Wilfred’s Lounge I sort of forget about Wilfred’s Lounge except as a tiki bar, but it has a number of interesting specials. Just don’t confuse it with Winston’s, which replaced ABC. Wilfred’s has a special winter menu with funnel cake topped with powdered sugar for $5 and soup of the day for $12. It also has some special winter cocktails: · Wilfred’s wassail (English yuletide cider), $13 · Aztec hot cocoa, $13 · Hot buttered rum, $13 · Aloha coffee, $11 And for those avoiding alcohol, some mocktails for $8: · Wilfred’s Easy Sail (apple cider) · Aztec in Training Cocoa · Hot Buttered Yum · A-no-ha Coffee During Wilfred’s Lounge Wine Down Thursday, all wine bottles on its list are 50% off, and they don’t charge a corkage fee. Otherwise, they charge $50 but waive it if everyone orders a cocktail first. And if you’re there, you are likely to want a cocktail. They serve lunch on weekends plus Friday, and on Friday from noon to 3 p.m., they also have a special lunch menu with four items that rotate weekly. They always have lunch pineapple fried rice for $12. Wilfred’s Lounge, 967 First St., Napa, www.wilfredslounge.com, 707-690-9957 Tell us about affordable food and drink you find NapaLife readers ask for more affordable food
(and drink) other than at happy hours. You can help. What are your
favorite affordable restaurants, specials and dishes at restaurants? But don’t
forget our list of happy
hours and specials
and corkage for another
way to save a few dollars. Check them if you go out and tell us when you find
a change (or addition). Email comments
to paul@napalife.com. Affordable
food and drink hints from readers Reader Luisa
Heymann gives a boost to Red Rock on Lincoln. “It’s the opposite of fancy
(you know if you’ve ever been there), but the food is good, it’s locally
owned and the staff is nice as can be. Also, a shout out to the other part of
their business, which is Back Door BBQ, which has great take-away ribs,
chicken and all the sides at bargain prices.” Red Rock Café
& Back Door BBQ, 1010 Lincoln Ave., Napa, backdoorbbq.com. Performing
arts
The seventh annual Yountville International Short Film Festival returns Feb. 1 to 4, offering 20 dedicated screening blocks, filmmaker Q&A sessions and VIP wine tasting events. The festival will screen more than 100 films at two pop-up cinemas, the Yountville Community Center’s Heritage Room and The Estate Yountville’s recently remodeled Barrel Room. Everything kicks off at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Heritage Room. It will offer cabaret-style seating and complimentary popcorn. Sponsored by the city of Yountville and its lodging establishments, the festival features short films from around the globe, shown over four days. With blocks from animation and suspense to fantasy and science fiction, to the best in drama and foreign film selections, the festival will deliver many special cinematic moments. The filmmaker Q&A sessions will offer behind-the-scenes stories of the filmmaking process after many of the film blocks. Passes begin at $15 for individual film blocks to $99 for the all-access pass to the all-access VIP Pass at $199. For more information and passes, visit www.yisff.com.
The fifth show in Lucky Penny’s current season, Almost, Maine is by John Cariani and runs through Feb. 11. Almost, Maine features four actors, Julianne Bradbury, Mark Bradbury, Max Geide, and Jenny Veilleux, playing multiple roles. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 11 at the Lucky Penny Community Arts Center in Napa. Thursday performances are pay-what-you-can. Kurt Gonsalves/KMG Design Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount. Email info@luckypennynapa.com to arrange a group purchase. Reserved seats for both shows are available at www.luckypennynapa.com or by calling 707-266-6305. Lucky Penny Community Arts Center, 1758 Industrial Way, Napa. Visual arts
As part of the Mustard Celebration, businesses – and mustard – on Atlas Peak
Road will be highlighted Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3 and 4. The Napa Valley Mustard Celebration occurs January through March. Here are the companies and organizations participating in the opening celebration for businesses on Atlas Peak Road: · Atlas Peak Road Opening Celebration, Jessel Gallery, 1019 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, 707-257-2350, Feb. 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ·
Dijon Days, Mustard & Chardonnay, William Hill
Michael Fitzpatrick · Mustard Celebration Art Show, Silverado Resort, 1600 Atlas Peak Road, Feb. 3 · Wine tasting at Whetstone, Whetstone Wine Cellars, 1075 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, Feb. 3 and 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. · Taste The Mustard Celebration Official Wine at Bougetz Cellars, 1029 Atlas Peak Road, Ste C, Napa, Feb. 2 to 4, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. · Open studio, Gordon Huether, 1821 Monticello Road, Feb. 3 and 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. · Special flight offer, Jean Edward Cellars, 1021 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, Feb. 3 and 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn more at www.napavalleymustardcelebration.com
Beginning Feb.
3 and 4 and continuing subsequent weekends in February, Yountville Arts will
scatter signed and numbered glass hearts along its Art Walk sculptures for
all to find. Glass hearts will
be “hidden-in-plain-sight” by the Yountville Arts commissioners, most likely
in in the dark of night or at break of dawn; glass heart seekers won’t know
until they get out Saturday and Sunday mornings and start looking on the Art
Walk and its 38 sculptures. Napa Valley
glass artist Patti Wessman created the 300 glass hearts. The one you find is
yours to keep. On Saturday,
Feb. 17, a larger, yellow glass heart will be hidden to celebrate the Napa
Valley Mustard Celebration. The one who finds this heart will receive a
special prize. Art Walk maps
are available at the Yountville Community Center (6516 Washington St.) and
the Yountville Welcome Center (6484 Washington St.) and online at www.yountvillearts.com.
Downtown
Napa’s annual Napa Lighted Art Festival continues through Feb. 18. Stroll around
town to see the amazing art created with light technology. This exhibit
features 10 lighted art sculptures for five weeks. This image
Biotechture is from Hotaru Visual Guerilla Donostia of San Sebastian, Spain.
Photographers
sought for The Photo Finale 2024 open photography exhibition is seeking entrants for the show at Jessup Cellars that is part of this year’s Mustard Celebration. The deadline has been extended through Feb. 10 because the mustard was late this year. Entries are accepted at www.photo-finale.com. The exhibition opens March 1 at Jessup Cellars Gallery in Yountville and closes on March 31. The artists’ reception will be on March 2 at 5:30 p.m. Jessup Cellars Gallery, 6740 Washington St., Yountville
Jessel
Miller’s February acrylic classes will focus on abstraction from organic and
figurative reality. They will study how nature forms brilliant suggestions of
compositions by looking at the world up close. Each week they
will take a subject as far as individually comfortable for each artist –
reality in soft focus or complete abstraction. Diane Pope’s Pope will
demonstrate texture techniques to paint rocks and sand. Pope will also
teach beginning watercolor each Thursday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. starting
Feb. 1. In this class, learn about which materials to use, watercolor
vocabulary, color mixing and a variety of techniques to help build confidence
in the medium. The cost is $275. RSVP to Diane
Pope at spinpope@sbcglobal.net or call 707-483-4926 Get details at
www.jesselgallery.com. Jessel
Gallery, 1019 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, 707-257-2350 Benefits and good works
Rich Frank, former president of Disney Studios, founder of Frank Family Vineyards and vice chair of the American Film Institute has established the Richard Frank Scholarship for the AFI. Through a multi-million-dollar donation, 20 AFI Conservatory scholarships will be awarded in the name of the individual honorees each year over the next 10 years. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial assistance to empower and support current AFI fellows who demonstrate financial need. This is not the first time Frank has supported educational access. In 2020, he and his wife, Leslie Miller Frank, donated $7.5 million to The College of Media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where Rich Frank is an alumnus. The gift, the largest in the college’s history, established the Richard and Leslie Frank Center for Leadership and Innovation in Media. Transportation Vine Trail
to hold town hall meetings for Yountville to St. Helena link The Napa
Valley Vine Trail Coalition and the County of Napa invite community members
to a series of town hall meetings to discuss the design and alignment of the
route of the Napa Valley Vine Trail from Yountville to St. Helena. Attendees can
share their comments with key project partners, including design and
engineering consultants Kimley-Horn and RSA+, the county of Napa, the city of
St. Helena, the town of Yountville, and the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition.
In addition to
the town hall meetings, the Napa Valley Vine Trail encourages community
members to participate in shaping the project by filling out the Vine Trail
Survey at https://forms.gle/vU3M8xDuRpncVxE46.
The town hall
meetings will be conducted in two phases: Phase one
meetings · Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. - St. Helena Carnegie Building · Jan. 31 at 12 p.m. - Via Zoom · Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. - Rutherford Grange Hall · Feb. 2 at 8:30 a.m.- Via Zoom · Feb. 5 at 12:30 p.m. - Yountville Community Center Phase two
meetings will be in April. Several
meetings will be accessible via Zoom. The meeting calendar and additional
details can be found at www.vinetrail.org.
Should you
have any questions, or concerns, or require further information, please feel
free to contact the Napa Valley Vine Trail at 707-252-3547 x200 or info@vinetrail.org. Get more
information on the Vine Trail at www.vinetrail.org.
Wine Train special for locals
There are two choices: Gourmet Express Lunch includes a toast of sparkling wine and a
multi-course meal during the three-hour journey for $99 per ticket. Legacy Tour, a full-day winery tour includes a six-hour journey
with three hours on the train and three hours of wine tasting. It starts with
a glass of sparkling wine and includes a four-course meal, plus one-hour tastings
at Krug and V. Sattui with 11 wines tasted. It’s $175 per ticket. Call 707-253-2111 to reserve. You can’t book online. Mention the
Napa Neighbor offer. It’s valid Jan. 16 through March but not Feb. 9 to 20. Other restrictions apply. They appreciate tipping the on-board
service team.
The fifth annual Napa Valley 750 classic car tour will happen
May 5 to 10. This motor tour and culinary experience of the Northern
California Wine Country is five days of scenery, winery experiences and open
roads with other vintage sports car enthusiasts. Get details and register at
www.harvestinn.com. The registration fee is
$10,750. Community news
Calistoga Library is celebrating its 100th birthday with activities and events all year. One of Napa County Library’s four branches, it was built in 1924 and joined the Napa City-County Library system in 1979. The celebration will feature a new library card design based on an early photo of the library. You can open an account or replace your card. The library will host two events to celebrate the beginning of construction in spring 1924 and completion in the fall of that year. What did life look like in Calistoga in 2024? In April, residents can bring what they would like to see placed inside a 50-year time capsule. In the fall, the public will be invited to celebrate the anniversary with food, music, period games, and crafts, alongside a dedication of the time capsule that will be sealed and put in place. For updates on the celebration throughout the year as well as library programming, visit the Calistoga Library web page, www.countyofnapa.org. Local media Larry Kamer launches website on communications Larry Kamer, an internationally renowned strategic communications consultant who advises companies and organizations, often those with problems, has started publishing a new online commentary via Substack about communicating. He calls it Simple, Not Easy. His first weekly commentary was on the recent House Oversight Committee hearing with college presidents. The next issue will focus on shifting support among Democrats for Israel. You know, easy stuff. He says, “We get information about important issues from trusted and dubious sources. It’s shot at us from the firehose of social media. We’re conditioned to seeking out news that speaks to us, often at the expense of actually informing us. And despite our own biases, we freely label others’ thinking orthodox, heterodox, MAGA, progressive, woke, anti-Trump, anti-anti-Trump, conservative, etc. The net of all this? Too often, it’s snap judgments about consequential things. “If you could step back and think for a moment, look to sources of information that can stand up to factual scrutiny and intellectual integrity, and understand that amidst all the noise, would some truths endure? That’s what I’m trying to tackle in Simple Not Easy.” This publication is free. Go to larrykamer.substack.com to join. This
week in Napa Valley Movies at
the Cameo Cinema in
St. Helena · Monday, Jan. 29: Closed · Tuesday, Jan. 30: · Wednesday, Jan. 31: · Thursday, Feb. 1: · Friday, Feb. 2: · Saturday, Feb. 3: · Sunday, Feb. 4: Cameo
Cinema, 1340 Main St., St. Helena, www.cameocinema.com Tuesday, Jan. 30 Oxbow
Public Market Locals Night Oxbow
Public Market holds a weekly Locals Night on Tuesdays starting at 4 p.m. Most
vendors at the market offer happy hours, special meals, shopping deals and
discounts. Oxbow
Public Market, 610 First St., Napa, oxbowpublicmarket.com Salty Magazine dinner series at Press with Esmé and Habitué Salty Magazine, Press Restaurant and host chef Philip Tessier welcome guest chefs Jenner Tomaska of Esmé in Chicago and Marcus Jernmark of Habitué in Los Angeles for a multi-coursed dinner that will showcase their culinary talents for one night only on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $295, with wine pairing for $210. Reserve at www.pressnapavalley.com. Press Restaurant, 587 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, 707-967-0550
The Fink presents Radio Bobcat on Tuesday, Jan. 3o, from 7 to 9 p.m. Radio Bobcat is a spirited Americana rock and roll band delivering a high-energy performance with originals and covers that convert an audience into a community. The seasoned musicians and performers in the band are Shane Soldinger, Joe Shotwell, Jack Hines and Josh Yenne. There is a $5 cover charge during the show. The
Fink, 530 Main St., Napa, www.thefinknapa.com Trivia
Tuesday at Barnhouse Brews Barnhouse Brews
is resuming Trivia Tuesday starting Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. Barnhouse
Brews, 1014 Clinton St., Napa Wednesday, Jan. 31 Clif
Family’s Street Food menu The Clif Family food truck serves a Malaysian-themed street food menu featuring laksa, mee goreng mamak and curry puffs on Wednesday, Jan. 31. They will have live music to enjoy on the patio from 4 to 7 p.m. The Malaysia menu as well as regular menu items and wine orders will be for sale from noon to 6:30 p.m. Order at www.cliffamilyfoodtruck.com or 707-301-7188. The Wednesday street food menus sell out quickly. Orders will be accepted starting the Sunday evening before and until sold out. Clif Family Winery, 709 Main St., St. Helena Battle of
the Crabs: Dungeness vs. Stone The Q R&B
presents the Battle of the Crabs: Dungeness vs. Stone on Wednesday, Jan. 31
from 5 to 9 p.m. Truchard,
Bouchaine and Firetree Vineyards, Julien Fayard’s new Chardonnay, will
participate with their Roussanne, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay by the glass and
flights. Reservations
are recommended. The Q R&B,
1313 Main St., Napa, www.theqrandb.com
Wine
Wednesday at Cadet with Big Cat Wines Cadet Wine + Beer
Bar offers weekly Wine Wednesday when it features different wineries or
themes. The guest on Jan. 31 is José Tenorio with reds from Big Cat
Wines that will pair well with a California winter. Cadet Wine +
Beer Bar, 930 Franklin St., Napa, www.cadetbar.com
Jenny Don’t
and the Spurs perform at Blue Note’s Locals Night at 7 p.m. on Wednesday,
Jan. 31. An independent
country and western quartet, they sing heart-wrenching songs about emotional
turmoil with passion and honesty. Attendance is
free for Napa County residents but they can pay to reserve seats. Blue Note,
1030 Main St., Napa, www.bluenotejazz.com/napa. Mike Greensill
plays Great American Songbook
He has played
around the world for royalty, presidents, and enthusiastic audiences, and
this is his home base. Enjoy his charm, humor and music from 5 to 8 p.m. A $5 charge
per person applies while Greensill is playing. The Fink, 530
Main St., Napa, www.thefinknapa.com Thursday, Feb. 1 ‘Who’s on the
Vine?’ at Silverado Resort Silverado
Resort presents “Who’s On The Vine?” a monthly wine dinner series pairing
regional wines with four-course dinners created by its culinary team. Held in the
resort’s Royal Oak private dining room, each dinner will be on Thursday,
starting at 6 p.m. and will feature a local winery. The winery on Thursday,
Feb. 1, is Burgess, whose Napa Valley vineyards represents a legacy of 150
years of traditional farming on volcanic, stony soils on the steep slopes of
Howell Mountain. The wine
dinners are $150. Silverado
Resort, 1600 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, www.silveradoresort.com,
Elaine
Jennings at Be Bubbly Be Bubbly
presents Elaine Jennings on Thursday, Feb. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. Jennings is a
multi-talented singer who has been featured in major productions throughout
the Bay Area. She is currently performing with David Austin on piano
featuring favorites and lesser-known compositions from the Great American
Songbook. Be Bubbly,
1407 Second St., Napa, www.bebubblynapa.com
Napa Bookmine presents author Manjula Martin of The Last Fire Season on Thursday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. H Is for Hawk meets Joan Didion in the Pyrocene in this arresting combination of memoir, natural history and literary inquiry that chronicles one woman’s experience of life in Northern California during the worst fire season on record. Author Manjula Martin will be in conversation with poet Tess Taylor. Find more information and RSVP. Napa Bookmine, 1625 Second St. Napa Movie Night
at Outer Space Wines – Wine Club Outer Space
Wines presents movie night on Thursday, Feb. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. The movie is Wine
Club. A just-married couple stumbles upon a vineyard owned by a former
child star who is desperate to escape his own cult. Order wines by
the glass or by the bottle (retail price plus $10). You can order snacks from
Ox & The Fox. There will be a 15-minute intermission to get more wine and
drinks. Outer Space Wines, 974 Franklin St., Napa, www.outerspacewines.com, 707-657-7401 Growing lettuce year-round in
Napa County Join UC Master Gardeners of Napa County for a library
talk on growing lettuce year-round in
Napa County via Zoom on Thursday, Feb. 1, from 7 to 8 p.m. Learn what they
know about growing lettuce in Napa County. This is a free Zoom event, but you must register at ucanr.edu to receive the link.
Vocalist
Stella Heath performs songs from the Great American Songbook, focusing on
traditional jazz and swing spanning the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s on Thursday, Feb.
1 at 8 p.m. at Blue Note. Heath grew up
in the North Bay steeped in her mother’s eclectic music collection. Some of
her early musical influences were Louis Armstrong, Edith Piaf, Buena Vista
Social Club, Billie Holiday, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and Ella Fitzgerald. Her education
was primarily in acting and she spent many years as an actress in New York
City, where she began to sing jazz with Marjorie Eliot in Harlem. She returned
to her home state in 2014 and began playing music full time, starting the Bay
Area-based band Bandjango Collectif, which mixes French jazz manouche, New
Orleans hot swing and eclectic global folk, allowing Heath to explore and
play in vocal improvisation, different languages and song interpretation. In 2019 she
debuted The Billie Holiday Project, a historically centered musical
tribute to the great Lady Day. Blue Note,
1030 Main St., Napa, www.bluenotejazz.com.
JaM Cellars
Wine & Music Studio in Napa presents a JaMSession with local singer and
KVYN radio personality James Patrick Regan on Thursday, Feb. 1, from 9 to 11
p.m. Enjoy JaM
wines and snacks from Tarla while he sings. JaM Cellars
Wine & Music Studio, 1460 First St., Napa, www.jamcellars.com, 707-265-7577 Friday, Feb. 2
Farmstead
holds a farmers’ market every Friday from 8 a.m. to noon until St. Helena
Farmers Market resumes in May. Market vendors
include Long Meadow Ranch, Far West Fungi, Katryana Zide Chocolates, Mi
Fiesta, Nova Terra
Creamery, Santa Rosa Seafood, Tango with Chef, Wild Pear Co.
and Woodlands Charcuterie. Stop by the
Farmstead Café during market hours for a free drip coffee. Farmstead, 738
Main St., St. Helena, www.longmeadowranch.com Tastings at Back Room Wines Back Room Wines conducts a blind tasting every Friday from 3:30
to 7:30 p.m. They feature four mystery wines for $25. Each is selected to
offer a unique educational experience. Drop in at your leisure. No
reservations are required. Back Room Wines, 1000 Main St., Ste. 120, Napa
Live Music
Fridays resume at Levendi Winery with Jacob Philip Benning on Feb 2 from 7 to
9 p.m. in its tasting room. Levendi
Winery, 1465 First St., Napa, www.levendiwinery.com,
707-699-2306
The American
Canyon Chamber of Commerce Casino Night and annual awards will be on Friday,
Feb. 2, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Eagle Vines Golf Club. Tickets cost
$80 each or $150 per couple and include $250 in play (blackjack, roulette,
Texas hold’em and craps) along with food, cocktails, wine, beer and prizes. Register at amcanchamber.org.
Eagle Vines
Golf Club, 580 S. Kelly Road, American Canyon
Napa Bookmine
presents Food & Wine wine editor Ray Isle discussing his new book, The
World in a Wineglass, on Friday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 6 p.m. Isle shows
readers how to choose more delicious, interesting and environmentally
friendly wines without breaking the bank. Isle explains
that the way a wine is made, and who made it, can make a huge difference when
you drink it—and why that matters much more than a 90-point score or tastes
like blueberries or black pepper. His enthusiasm
for the grape growers and winemakers who are working sustainably or
organically shines through. Focusing on wines people can afford rather than
$500 rarities, Isle shows us how to find the most interesting bottles
available today. Get more information and RSVP. Napa Bookmine,
1625 Second St, Napa Napa
Valley Then & Now
at Acme Fine Wines Join Acme Fine
Wines for Napa Valley Then & Now on Friday, Feb. 2, from 4 to 6
p.m. The event
features Kelli A. White, former New York City sommelier and author, with her
$250 book Napa Valley Then & Now. Enjoy wine tasting, book signing
and a 10% discount on wine. Acme Fine Wines,
1118 Hunt Ave., St. Helena, acmefinewines.com,
707-963-0440
Outer Space
Wines pours wines from Sicily and Sardinia on Friday, Feb. 2, from 5 to 7:30
p.m. Taste reds and whites, mostly indigenous varieties, made by some of the best artisan producers of Italy’s two biggest islands. The cost is $25 with $5 off tasting for each bottle bought. Outer Space
Wines, 974 Franklin St., Napa,
Back by overwhelming customer demand, Cuban singer Ronaldo Rodriguez (Ronkalunga) will return to the Fink in the Napa Mill with guitarist Carlos Caminos for a soulful and energizing evening of music on Friday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. You can even dance to the music. Food, cocktails and other drinks will be available. A $10 cover charge will apply during the show. The
Fink, 530 Main St., Napa, www.thefinknapa.com
Blue Note Napa
presents Colin Hay solo with songs and stories upstairs in the JaM Cellars
Ballroom on Friday, Feb. 2, at 8 p.m. Colin James
Hay is a Scottish-Australian musician, singer, songwriter and actor. He came to
prominence as the lead vocalist and the sole continuous member of the band
Men at Work and later performed as a solo artist. Upstairs in
JaM Cellars Ballroom, 1030 Main St., Napa, www.bluenotejazz.com/napa
Blue Note
presents Chanté Moore on Friday, Feb. 2, at 6 and 9 p.m. and Saturday, Feb.
3, at 6 and 9 p.m. Chanté Moore
is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer who has served up
countless hits to fans throughout the years. She is sharing her inspiring
story through new music and live stage performances. In 1992, Moore
exploded onto the R&B music scene with her gold debut album, Precious.
Since then, she has released more than 20 chart-topping singles, seven
full-length albums and collaborated with artists like Prince, Babyface and
The Isley Brothers. In 2022, at
the Soul Train Awards, she performed a medley of her hits including “Love’s
Taken Over,” “It’s Alright,” and “Chanté’s Got A Man.” “The
music I write and perform are chronicles of my life. When I’m happy, I write
about it. When I’m sad, I write about it. It really is a map of my life’s
journey,” she said. Blue Note,
1030 Main St., Napa, www.bluenotejazz.com/napa
Wine
tasting at Calistoga Motor Lodge and Spa Markham
Vineyards will offer free tastings of its wine at Calistoga Motor Lodge and
Spa at the end of the Silverado Trail on Friday, Feb. 2 and other wineries
will pour on other Fridays during February. The public is invited this time
of the year. Calistoga
Motor Lodge, 1880 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, www.fleetwoodcalistoga.com,
JaM Cellars
Wine & Music Studio in Napa presents a JaMSession with Vintage Spirits on
Friday, Feb. 2, from 9 to 11 p.m. Vintage
Spirits is a band of mischievous minstrels who make music that goes with
memorable moments, tasty morsels and fine libations. JaM Cellars
Wine & Music Studio, 1460 First St., Napa, jamcellars.com, 707-265-7577 Saturday, Feb. 3 Calistoga
Farmers’ Market The
Calistoga Farmers’ Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the
Sharpsteen Museum Plaza and Community Center on Washington Street. It
offers locally grown fruits and vegetables, flowers and nursery-grown
ornamental plants, gourmet and prepackaged food, fresh seafood, smoked
salmon, crepes, quiches, Mediterranean deli items, olive oils and vinegars,
fruit pies, crafts and gifts. Calistoga
Farmers’ Market, 1311 Washington St., Calistoga, calistogafarmersmarket.org
The Napa
Farmers Market is held rain or shine from 8 a.m. to noon year-round on
Saturdays at 1100 West St. at Pearl. It offers
produce from local farmers, prepared food and drink from local vendors,
artisan goods and nonprofit organizations. Even though
it’s winter, there are plenty of fresh, local produce and specialty foods
along with handmade artisan goodies. The Tuesday market
will return on April 2. Until then, shop every Saturday. Get
information and sign up for the newsletter at www.napafarmesmarket.org.
Consortium
auction house and store will hold a Lunar New Year Art and Design Auction on
Saturday, Feb. 3, starting at 11 a.m. Doors open at 10 a.m. They will host
a preview of the auction on Friday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The lots
offered at auction and in the store are from Bay Area estates and artisans. The Chairman
food truck from San Francisco will be onsite from 12:30 to 4:30 on Saturday.
Feb. 3. It serves Chinese bao and chips. Attendees who
register and bid or spend $100 in the store will get a free entree. Consortium, 25
Executive Court, Napa, www.consortiumasc.com,
714-292-2326 Green Screen Film Series Napa Climate Now presents the Green Screen Film Series, sharing
climate-healthy ways to live in our world, at Napa and American Canyon
libraries: Short films with family activities following will be at the American
Canyon Library for preschoolers to adults on Saturday Feb. 3, from 1 to 2
p.m. The films to be shown are Waste is a Verb and The Story of a
Plastic Bottle, a closer look at recycling. Napa Climate Now is a local nonprofit citizens’ group advocating for
smart climate solutions based on the latest climate science. See napa.350bayarea.org. American Canyon Library, 300 Crawford Way, American Canyon Childhood
Expo Napa Moms
hosts its annual Childhood Expo at Las Flores Community Center on Saturday,
Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to noon. This free event is a one-stop shop to gather
information about community resources and businesses catering to local
families. Las Flores
Community Center, 4300 Linda Vista Ave., Napa, www.napamoms.org
Join the city of Napa Public Art program and Children’s Museum Napa Valley for a lantern-making workshop to prepare for the Napa Lighted Art Festival Lantern Parade at the Senior Center on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lantern-making supplies will be provided but you also can bring your own supplies. This workshop is for the entire family. Children, teens, adults and older adults are all welcome. Advanced registration is appreciated. Click here to register. The Lantern Parade will be at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, in downtown Napa.
Celebrate
the Year of the Dragon at Beringer Beringer
Vineyards welcomes the Year of the Dragon On Saturday, Feb. 3. Enjoy a live
performance of traditional lion dancers and enjoy Asian-inspired fare with a
glass of wine. Enjoy photo opportunities with the performers. There will be
performances at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. This event
will take place outside, so dress appropriately for the weather. Tickets are
$35 at www.beringer.com. They’re
introducing the Year of the Dragon Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon. This
limited-edition wine, crafted from the finest terroir, offers a unique blend
of flavors that are as dynamic and spirited as the Dragon itself. It’s not just
a wine; it’s a celebration of tradition and excellence, making it the perfect
gift for loved ones or a splendid addition to your collection. 2000 Main St.,
St. Helena, www.beringer.com,
707-257-5771 Lunar New
Year Celebration at Vin en Noir Chef Leilani
Baugh at Vin en Noir in Napa will celebrate Lunar New Year with Asian-owned
wineries and a VIP dinner on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Buy
tickets at Eventbrite. Vin En Noir,
1001 Caymus St., Napa, Black
History Month Celebration The Napa
Valley Black History Committee hosts its seventh annual Black History Month
Celebration on Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Crosswalk Church in Napa. The event
starts at 3 p.m., with a dinner at 5:15 p.m. This year's
theme is “African Americans and the Arts” and features speakers, craft
activities, Buster's Backyard Barbecue and wines donated by Black-owned
wineries. Tickets are
$25 at www.napavalleyblackhistory.org and all proceeds benefit the Napa
Valley Black History Committee. Kids 17 and under are free. 707-224-1739 Crosswalk
Church, 2590 First St., Napa Whitehall
Lane Winery winter release party Join Whitehall
Lane Winery for its latest wine releases, wood-fired fare and live music on
Saturday, Feb. 3 from 3 to 6 p.m. The cost is
$75 at release party tickets. Whitehall Lane
Winery, 563 St Helena Hwy S., St. Helena, www.whitehalllane.com, 707-963-9454 Pacific
Union College on Broadway Pacific Union
College’s Music Club presents the 2024 PUC on Broadway concert on
Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 3 and 4. Coordinated,
produced and performed by students, this collection of Broadway hits includes
favorites from shows such as Dear Evan Hansen, The Lion King, The Pirates
of Penzance, Footloose, Hamilton, The Greatest Showman and The Little
Mermaid. Admission is
free and open to all. Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Pacific Union
College, 1 Angwin Ave., Angwin
CAMi Art +
Wine owner, artist Laurie Shelton, hosts artist receptions four times per
year. The spring show includes sparkle and light from Nancy Willis’
Chandelier series. The group
exhibition will have an opening reception on Saturday, Feb. 3, from З to 6
p.m. CAMi Art &
Wine, 13336 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, www.camivineyards.com
Learn more
about Nancy Willis at www.nancywillis.com. Lunar New
Year Celebration at RD Winery Celebrate the
Lunar New Year at RD Winery south of Napa with a lion dance on Saturday, Feb.
3, from 4 to 7 p.m. A local DJ will spin tunes. Food and wine will be for
sale. Entrance is $10 with kids free. RD Winery, 3
Executive Way at Jamieson Canyon Road, Napa, 707-259-9446
The 14th annual A Cappella Extravaganza featuring this year’s headliner Naturally 7 will be at the Uptown Theatre in Napa on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. A benefit concert for Napa High Vocal Music Workshop, it features The Stanford Fleet Street Singers, Western Addition, The California Golden Overtones, PDA (American Canyon High School) and Vintage High School Vocal Music Workshop. Tickets cost $35 general and $20 for students $20 with ID. Buy tickets. The Uptown Theatre, 1350 Third St., Napa Jarvis presents It’s A
Grand Night For Singing Jarvis Conservatory presents It’s
A Grand Night For Singing on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. Each program features
professional vocalists and the most promising talent of tomorrow. Singers from
all over the San Francisco Bay Area (and beyond) perform excerpts from opera,
musical theatre, cabaret, and zarzuela, well-loved musical favorites as well
as surprises from lesser-known repertoire. The singers this month will
be soprano Morgan Harrington, baritone Roman Chavez and Napa resident,
mezzo-soprano Meghan Scheibal. Jarvis Conservatory, 1711
Main St., Napa, www.jarvisconservatory.com, 707-255-5445
The Duo Quartet, featuring
Chris Webster, Nina Gerber, Pam Delgado and Jeri Jones, will perform at the
Welcome Grange in Napa on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m. Step out for a Saturday night
of acoustic music with four musicians performing tender, ethereal songs as
well as raucous barn-burners. Tickets are $35 at Duo Quartet. Food and wine will for sale.
Kiwanis Club of Napa crab feed The Kiwanis Club of Napa will have a crab feed on Feb. 3 at 5:30 to 11 p.m. at Chardonnay Hall at the Napa Valley Expo. It includes a silent auction, live auction, wine wall, raffle prizes, DJ and dancing as well as delicious food with a dessert auction. Tickets are $95 at www.kiwanisclubofnapa.org. Chardonnay Hall, Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third St., Napa Kolbe Trinity Crab Feed The Kolbe Trinity Crab Feed is sold out. kolbetrinity.org Soroptimist International of St. Helena Soroptimist of St. Helena’s “Speakeasy on Spring” crab feed on Feb. 2 and 3 is sold out. Napa Valley Horsemen’s Association The Napa Valley Horsemen’s Association Crab & Pasta Feed on Saturday, Feb. 3, is sold out. www.napahorsemen.org.
Napa
Valley Distillery presents Last Pleasure and Evening Glass on Saturday, Feb.
3, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Last
Pleasure includes Cierra Schuer, the bandleader and front person, her
co-collaborator and recording engineer Robinson Kuntz (Change!Pop), with Pete
Davies (Slippery People) and Lucas Farmer (One Sharp Mind). The
cover is $10.
JaMSession with RIVVRS Enjoy a JaMSession with RIVVRS on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 to 11 p.m. A Northern California native now living in Los Angeles, RIVVRS — born Brandon Zahursky – has more than 40 song placements across network television shows and 12 million Spotify streams. Raised on classic rock, he spent his early years moving with his blended family across California, Washington and Oregon, then back to the Bay Area. It was a nontraditional upbringing. He remembers at one point staying in a halfway house with his parents. JaM Cellars Wine & Music Studio, 1460 First St., Napa, jamcellars.com, 707-265-7577 Sunday,
Feb. 4
The Art
Association of Napa Valley will hold an open house and fundraiser at its Clay
and Glass Center on Sunday, Feb. 4, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Clay and glass
artists will demonstrate their work in clay, glass and mosaics and sell it as
well as art pieces from other artists. It will include art for sale, a raffle
and clay hearts to decorate and take home. For
information, email amy.elliot@sbcglobal.net or wjmellberg@comcast.net AANV’s Clay
and Glass Center, 2201 Jefferson St., Napa
Progressive Women of Napa Valley and Indivisible Napa hold a fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. for Christopher Cabaldon, who is running for State Senate, District 3, with incumbent Bill Dodd’s being termed out. Cabaldon was mayor of West Sacramento. Chasten Buttigieg will be a special guest. If you have any questions, or to RSVP, email Amber Moran Wannell at RSVP@amwconsulting.net Individual tickets are $100. Contribute online actblue.com.
Dark Star
Orchestra in JaM Cellars Ballroom of Opera House Dark Star
Orchestra brings the music of the Grateful Dead upstairs to the JaM Cellars
Ballroom at the Napa Valley Opera House on Sunday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. Performing to
critical acclaim for more than 20 years and 3,000 shows, Dark Star Orchestra
continues the Grateful Dead live concert experience. Their shows
are built off the Dead’s extensive catalog and the talent of seven musicians.
The Blue Note,
1030 Main St., Napa, www.bluenotejazz.com/napa
Upcoming events Justin-Siena High School crab feed Justin-Siena’s 39th Crab Fest is on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 5 to 10 p.m. The Crab Fest will be held in Clark Gym with silent and live auctions and an all-you-can eat crab dinner, benefiting Justin-Siena students. Tickets are $100 at justin-siena.ejoinme.org until Dec. 31. 707-255-0950, ext. 646. Justin-Siena High School, 4026 Maher St., Napa, www.justin-siena.org
The St. Helena Historical Society is hosting a paella dinner fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will feature Gerard’s Paella, a flamenco guitarist and a silent auction. Enjoy pre-dinner tapas followed by a choice of chicken and shrimp or vegan paella plus green salad, artisan bread and dessert from the CIA plus beer and Napa Valley wines. Tickets are $150 at paella dinner or send a check payable to St. Helena Historical Society to SHHS, PO Box 87, St. Helena, 94574. No tickets will be sold at door. The Heritage Center, 1255 Oak Ave., St. Helena Sunrise
Montessori’s Sapphire Anniversary Gala Sunrise
Montessori of Napa Valley celebrates its 45th anniversary with a Sapphire
Anniversary Gala on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 5:30 p.m. at the CIA at Copia. The
evening includes wine, dinner, a silent and live auction and dessert with
proceeds benefiting Friends of Sunrise Montessori. Visit website
for more information. Tickets are $150. CIA at Copia, 500 First St., Napa Valentine’s Day dinners Valentine’s Day this year is on a Wednesday, certainly not one of the best days, as many local restaurants are now closed then (as well as Tuesdays) since Covid. As it is, few restaurants promote special meals, though most probably offer a few (expensive) romantic specials on the menu that day. The reason is simple. They don’t need to. They sell out anyway. Couples go out together; they’re not looking for a group experience with other diners. This year Mardi Gras is the day before Valentine’s Day, a fairly rare occurrence, but that doesn’t make much difference here to most people. It would along the Gulf Coast for sure or with people like me who have lived there. It also means that Valentine’s Day occurs during Lent, traditionally not a time for earthly pleasures. When I was a kid, even though we didn’t observe Lent, it was a big factor in our lives because many people did.
One warning:
whether you choose one of these restaurants or another of the romantic
destinations in Napa Valley for your special night out, make a reservation. It’s too late
for some favorite places already, but I doubt that you want to take your love
to Taco Bell that night. All prices are
per person unless stated otherwise and none include tip or tax. Napa Charlie
Palmer Steak Charlie Palmer
Steak in the Archer Hotel will serve a four-course dinner with caviar, filet
mignon, crabcakes and more for $125. Wine pairing is $50. Archer Hotel,
1230 First St, Napa, www.charliepalmersteak.com,
707-690-9800 The Grove
at CIA at Copia Celebrate the
most romantic day of the year with a special menu at CIA at Copia's
restaurant, The Grove. Chef Deborah Mullin's special menu features
hyper-seasonal ingredients picked daily from the culinary gardens. The cost
is $75 per guest with optional wine pairing for $40. The Grove at
CIA at Copia, 500 First St., Napa, www.ciaatcopia.com
La Toque in
the Westin La Toque is featuring
a special six-course Valentine's Day tasting menu for $225 with optional wine
pairings for $125. A vegetarian version of this menu will also be available
for $145. These will be the only menus available that night. You can even
order a gorgeous floral arrangement for your table. www.exploretock.com/latoque La Toque, 1314
McKinstry St., Napa, www.latoque.com,
707-257-5157 The Lincoln
at Ace & Vine The Lincoln at
Ace & Vine is trying to stand out for reasonable prices and comfortable
food, and that extends to Valentine’s Day. They’re serving a spaghetti and
meatball dinner for $45 that includes spaghetti and meatballs, romantic
garlic bread with a side salad, chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle
of bubbles. The Lincoln at Ace & Vine, 505 Lincoln Ave, Napa, aceandvine.com, 707-699-2281 The Grill
at Silverado At The Grill
at Silverado Resort, Executive Chef Patrick Prager, Chef de Cuisine Pablo
Jacinto and Pastry Chef Devon Pritchard will create a romantically inspired
three-course dinner starting with a decadent amuse bouche and ending with a
memorable dessert. The amuse is
caviar and hamachi tart with hamachi tartare, osetra caviar, pickled shallots
and garden herbs. Wine pairing is Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs, 2018. First course
appetizer is seared diver scallops served with pommes puree, melted leeks and
truffle foam. Wine pairing is Flowers Chardonnay, 2021. The main
course is grilled filet mignon accompanied by potato gratin, creamed spinach
and truffle bordelaise. Wine pairing is Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon,
2019. The dessert is
decadent flourless chocolate cake served with dark chocolate mousse, Tcho
cremeux, candied cocoa nibs and raspberry gastrique. The dessert wine pairing
is Terra d’Oro Port. The
three-course dinner with amuse is $85. Wine pairing is an additional $40.
Reserve online. It
will be served from 4 to 9 p.m. The Grill’s
customary menu will also be offered. The Grill at
Silverado Resort, 1600 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, www.silveradoresort.com, 707-257-5400 Yountville Ciccio Ciccio will
serve a Valentine’s Day dinner for $95. Find
more information and reserve at Ciccio, 6770
Washington St., Yountville, www.ciccionapavalley.com
The Restaurant at North Block The Restaurant at North Block will serve a Valentine's menu Feb. 9 to 14, for $125. · First course: lobster bisque with butter-poached lobster medallion, crème fraîche, chervil · Second course: frutti di mare chitarra pasta with PEI mussels, squid, Manilla clams, Dungeness crab, San Marzano tomatoes · Third course: Snake River Farm short rib celery root crema, Napa wild mushrooms, Bordelaise sauce · Something sweet: The Heart raspberry white chocolate mousse, lemon cake The a la carte menu is available as well. www.opentable.com/r/the-restaurant-at-north-block-yountville The Restaurant at North Block, 6757 Washington St., Yountville, northblockyountville.com St. Helena The Charter
Oak The Charter Oak
will serve a chef-curated menu for $135. Find
the menu and reserve. The Charter
Oak Restaurant, 1050 Charter Oak Ave., St. Helena, www.thecharteroak.comy, 707-302-6996 Join Clif Family on Wednesday, Feb. 14 for a Valentine’s-themed Street Food Napa Valley menu. The Valentine’s menu, as well as regular food truck menu items and wine, will be served from noon to 6:30 p.m. Enjoy your meal on Clif Family patio until 7 p.m. They also offer an Italian four-course dinner plus wine pairing for two. · Bistecca Tagliata
Order starting Sunday, Feb. 11. Pick up to-go orders at the Clif Family Kitchen at 1284 Vidovich Ave, behind the tasting room. Order at www.cliffamilyfoodtruck.com or 707-301-7188 To reserve a table, email wineryexperience@cliffamily.com Clif Family, 709 Main St., St. Helena, www.cliffamilyfoodtruck.com, Harvest Table Celebrate romance in Napa Valley with a meal at Harvest Table, featuring a special menu for Valentine’s Day for $99 Harvest Table, 1 Main St., St. Helena, www.harvesttablenapa.com, 707-967-4695
Calistoga Solbar at
Solage Valentine's
Day dinner at Solbar showcases the finest locally sourced ingredients. Indulge
in the finest wines from Napa Valley to complement the meal. The cost is
$240 per couple and includes a bottle of wine to share, two appetizers, two
entrees, two side dishes and one chocolate sundae to share The regular a
la carte menu will be available. Solage, 755
Silverado Trail N, Calistoga, aubergeresorts.com,
707-226-0860 Truss at
the Four Seasons At Truss at the
Four Seasons, Chef Rogelio Garcia offers a special “for two” menu designed
for sharing, featuring guest favorites like the seafood duet and the lobster
two ways that comes with lobster cavatelli mac & cheese, Brussels
sprouts, and caviar beurre blanc. The “For
Two" dinner is $165 per person and available from Feb. 14 to 17. View menu at www.trussrestaurantandbar.com.
Make a
reservation at Truss.
Truss
Restaurant + Bar,400 Silverado Trail N, Calistoga More
upcoming events Le Jazz Hot
at the White Barn Le Jazz Hot
perform at White Barn in St. Helena under guitarist Paul Mehling on Saturday,
Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are
$35 at www.thewhitebarn.org. White Barn, 2727 Sulphur Springs Ave., St. Helena
Salty Sundays and the Calistoga Depot Distillery by Jean-Charles Boisset join for the Queen of Hearts Underworld Ball on Sunday, February 18 from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Calistoga Depot. This will truly be a night to remember filled with opera, pole dancing and plenty of playful surprises. The cost is $70 to $95 at www.calistogadepot.com Calistoga Depot, 1458 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, www.calistogadepot.com, 707-963-6925, info@calistogadepot.com Mentis Blue Skies Ahead 2024: Lighting the Path Mentis Blue Skies Ahead 2024: Lighting the Path weekend will be Friday night and Saturday, March 1, with an online auction Feb. 24 to March 2. Friday night will be dinner at fabulous venues in the Napa Valley. Each venue will seat 10 to 15 guests and feature a three-course meal with wine pairings. Saturday will be a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. featuring a life-size version of the Game of Life, a guest speaker and a live auction at the CIA at Copia in Napa. Buy tickets at mentisnapa.org
The Cameo Cinema hosts a live stream of the 96th Academy Awards from Hollywood on Sunday, March 10. Walk the red carpet and be transported to the Hollywood of yesteryear in the Art Deco theater. Raise a glass to toast the magic of moviemaking and celebrate the 96th annual Academy Awards. Doors open at 3 p.m. Make a grand entrance as fellow movie-goers gather for the annual Red Carpet Party. Don your best party clothes or recreate the latest styles from the big screen. There will be prizes for the most creative attire. Everyone is asked to contribute to the community Oscar Buffet; they’ll supply the libations for the evening. Guess the nomination winners, and those who come the closest will receive a prize. Tickets are $40 and include buffet, wine, popcorn and selection of drinks from the concession stand. Cameo Cinema, 1340 Main St., St. Helena, www.cameocinema.com News for the wine community Plata Wine Partners expands portfolio from Purple Brands Napa-based Plata Wine Partners has bought Purple Brands’ portfolio of 14 retail wines including Donovan-Parke, Main & Geary, Athenaeum and Shiloh Road, each highlighting fruit from California regions. “Bringing these new brands into our fold pushes us closer to producing 500,000 cases of wine this year. These lines also beautifully complement our current collection of premium wines from California appellations, including sub-AVAs in Napa, Sonoma, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties,” said Scott Smith, president and CEO, Plata Wine Partners. Plata Wine Partners offers cased goods and bulk wine services to wine companies, wineries and major retailers. Their team is as involved in the winemaking process as a client requires, from minimal intervention to custom production. Plata’s sustainability initiatives include eco-conscious decisions. Winemakers Alison Crowe and Stacy Vogel source Plata’s wines from the company’s own certified sustainable vineyards. Beginning with the 2023 vintage, its winemaking facilities will also have additional certification through Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW). Moss Adams wine technology seminar Moss Adams will hold a webcast, “Grow Your Winery with Technology,” on Wednesday, Jan. 31, from 11 a.m. to noon. Technology can streamline the flow of data between systems and deliver timely, accurate information to help your team make informed decisions and focus on growing your business. Many wineries find themselves bogged down with multiple software systems that don’t integrate, causing significant costs, errors and wasted time. The seminar will explain how you can successfully integrate your systems and align your technology solutions to your business objectives. They will also discuss: · Information accessibility for quick decision-making · Aligning solutions with business value · Leading toolsets for business insights · Key drivers of business value Register at www.mossadams.com. Questions? Contact: consulting@mossadams.com
Concierges and
event coordinators are invited to a Bubbles & Bites open house at
Silverado Cooking School on Monday, Feb. 5, from 4 to 8 p.m. RSVP to
info@silveradocookingschool.com. Silverado
Cooking School, 1552 Silverado Trail, Napa NapaLife’s live music this week in Napa Valley Here
are pop music events in Napa Valley this week. The list includes both paid
and free music. I
update it during the week, often with a few items from Royln Hiatt’s Napa
Muse Facebook page that is posted on Thursdays.
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NapaLife’s calendar of future events
Here
are upcoming live events scheduled for Napa County that typically require
buying
tickets or planning in advance. Send details of future events
to paul@paulfranson.com.
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Jan.-March |
Napa Valley Mustard Celebration |
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Jan. 31 |
Locals Night with Jenny Don’t and the Spurs at Blue Note |
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Feb. 1 |
Stella Heath: Great American Songbook at Blue Note |
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Feb.1-4 |
Yountville International Short Film Festival |
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Feb. 2 |
Colin Hay solo at JaM Cellars Ballroom |
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Feb. 2 & 3 |
Chanté Moore at Blue Note |
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Feb. 3 |
A Capella Extravaganza featuring Naturally 7 at Uptown |
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Feb. 4 |
Dark Star Orchestra with music of Grateful Dead upstairs |
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Feb. 8 |
Latoya London sings Whitney Houston at the Blue Note |
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Feb. 9 |
John Pizzarrelli at the Blue Note |
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Feb. 10 |
Bob Marley birthday tribute with Sol Horizon JaM Ballroom |
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Feb. 10 |
Johnny & June Forever at the Blue Note |
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Feb. 15 |
Wailing Souls at the Blue Note |
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Feb. 16 & 17 |
Goapele at the Blue Note |
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Feb. 17 |
Napa Valley Writers’ Forum at Jessel Gallery |
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Feb. 18 |
Stella Cole at the Blue Note |
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Feb. 20 |
Amy Grant at the Uptown Theatre |
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Feb. 20-24 |
Premiere Napa Valley |
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Feb. 22 |
Sullivan Fortner Trio at the Blue Note for NVJS |
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Feb. 23 |
The Psychology of Serial Killers at the Uptown Theatre |
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Feb. 23-25 |
Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra at the Blue Note |
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March 1-31 |
Pawsport 2024 |
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March 1-31 |
Photo Finale of Mustard Festival at Jessup Gallery |
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March 2 & 3 |
Jonathan Butler at the Blue Note |
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March 3 |
Napa Valley Marathon |
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March 7 |
Carmen Jones: Tribute to Teena Marie at the Blue Note |
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March 8 |
Demola The Violinist at the Blue Note |
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March 8-30 |
Lucky Penny presents the Sound of Music |
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March 9 |
Stanley Jordan at the Blue Note |
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March 9 |
Cat Power sings Dylan at the Uptown |
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March 14 |
Yachtley Crew at the Uptown Theatre |
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March 15 |
Black Uhuru at JaM Cellars Ballroom |
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March 15 & 16 |
Lyle Lovett at the Uptown Theatre |
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March 15 & 16 |
Chrisette Michele at the Blue Note |
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March 16 |
Napa Stand Up: Let Reproductive Freedom Ring |
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March 16 |
A Flock of Seagulls at JaM Cellars Ballroom |
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March 17 |
Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre at the Blue Note |
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March 22 & 23 |
Karl Denson Project at the Blue Note |
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March 23 |
The Terrapin Family Band at the Blue Note |
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March 30 |
Appellation St. Helena (ASH) bASH, |
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April 5 |
Kathy Griffin at the Uptown |
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April 5 & 6 |
Con Funk Shun at the Blue Note |
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April 5-7 |
¡Viva Mariachi! Festival at Napa Valley College |
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April 11 |
Trace Bundy at the Blue Note |
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April 12 |
Bob James at the Blue Note |
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April 13 |
Hall Cabernet Cookoff |
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April 13 |
Afternoon in Vineyards with Grapegrowers and Vintners |
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April 16-18 |
Global Plant-Forward Culinary Summit at CIA at Copia |
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April 17 & 24 |
Mindi Abair at the Blue Note |
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April 19-May 5 |
Lucky Penny presents The Glass Menagerie |
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April 26 & 27 |
Eric Roberson at the Blue Note |
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April 27 |
Coombsville Vintners & Growers Grand Tasting at Copia |
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May 3-5 |
Inspire Napa Valley Spring Wine Weekend |
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May 16 |
St. Helena Hospital Foundation Rockout/Knockout Cancer |
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May 18 |
Yountville Art, Sip & Stroll |
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May 18 |
Terry Family Band at the White Barn |
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May 18 |
Napa Valley Writers’ Forum at Jessel Gallery |
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May 18 |
St. Helena Hospital Foundation Neighborhood Table |
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May 24-26 |
BottleRock at Napa Expo |
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May 31&Jun 1 |
Napa Valley Collective Barrel Auction |
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May 31-Jun 16 |
Lucky Penny presents Real Housewives of Napa Valley |
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June |
Pride Month |
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June 1-6 |
La Onda at Napa Expo |
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June 15 |
29th Taste of Howell Mountain at Charles Krug |
HowellMountain.org |
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June 21 & 22 |
WineaPAWlooza for Jameson Humane |
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June 27-29 |
Vida OLE! 2024 |
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July 6-21 |
Festival Napa Valley |
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July 13 |
Taste of Napa at the Meritage |
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July 20 |
Napa Valley Writers’ Forum at Jessel Gallery |
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July 28 |
Porchfest |
napacountylandmarks.org |
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Aug. 24 |
Harvest Stomp |
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Oct. 19 |
Napa Valley Writer’s Forum at Jessel Gallery |
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Publisher and Editor: Paul Franson paul@paulfranson.com Telephone 707-326-0797. © 2024 by Paul Franson. Proofreading by Betty Teller, Polly Webber and Rosemary Gafner. |
