The heart and soul of the Napa Valley is its viticulture, the fashioning of some of the finest wines on the planet. But there’s more to this northern California slice of heaven than fruit of the vine. Travel north from San Francisco the weekend of Jun. 17 through Jun. 19 and:
Quaff, slurp and savor stout beer floats at the wineries of Napa Valley. See how they mix dark, rich stout with creamy ice cream. Talk about a way to flat out beat back the summer. No reservations are required, just bring your thirst – and $10 per person. No need for reservations for this Jun. 17 event that runs from four until six in the afternoon. See the Web site for details.
- Kick back, sit a spell and listen to some of the region’s best live music at the Oxbow Public Market in Napa. The show starts at 6:30 p.m., but you want to make a point of getting there a bit early. Get some food and drink from one of the myriad local vendors, sit back and revel in the Napa twilight.
- Take a trek through historic Napa Saturday Jun. 18 from 10 a.m. until 12 noon. Local historian and raconteur George Weber is your guide. He knows his city inside out. Visit historic landmarks. Hear tales of the way things were. Don a pair of comfortable shoes, silence your cell phones and enter another era. The trip starts at Riverbend Performance Plaza behind historic Napa Mill and it will cost you $20. Reservations are required.
- Pay tribute to Sir Paul on his birthday with a tribute to the Beatles at the Lincoln Theater Saturday Jun. 18 from 2 till 11 p.m. Rewind your weltanschauung and submerge tour self once again in Yellow Submarine and A Hard Day’s Night. Both films will play during the half-day festivities. Pick up some Beatles memorabilia and walk again down Penny Lane. Passes run $20 and up. The theater is located in Yountville.
- Zombie-proof your planet, or—at least—your home. See how it’s done at the opening of the Zombie-Proof House. This art exhibition is open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday Jun. 18. Explore the preoccupation these days with societal collapse, upheaval and end-of-the-world scenarios – like Zombie infestation. Sip some cider from Teton Cider Works, and listen to a performance by Inka Hoots. The exhibition’s opening party is at 5200 Sonoma Highway.
- Zoom into summer at the 21st Annual Father’s Day Show on Sunday Jun. 19 from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at V Marketplace in Yountville. There are a ton of collectable cars here: Packards, Porsches even a Muntz. Best thing is, the show is free. V Marketplace provides plenty of good places to eat and browse.
A nice room at the Hampton Inn & Suites Vacaville – Napa Valley is not free, but it won’t cost a bundle either. A kind, non-smoking runs $129, taxes not included.
Story by Jerry Chandler
