Paul’s Picks for this week
By Paul Franson
NAPA VALLEY, Calif. — Here are my picks of the most promising things to do in Napa Valley this weekend. Most are my personal choices, and some are those that I appreciate will appeal to others. It’s a fairly light week leading up to Independence Day on Tuesday, but a few interesting events anticipate the actual Fourth of July.
Multiple cities in Napa County will be celebrating Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4th. American Canyon will have a parade, festival and fireworks at Community Park No. 2. Napa will host a parade, community celebration at Oxbow Commons and fireworks. Yountville will celebrate at Veterans Memorial Park with live music, food trucks and family activities. St. Helena will have a bike parade, community festival at Crane Park and fireworks display. Calistoga will have a parade followed by a social event at Pioneer Park with live performances and a laser light show.
We’re told that “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is the last movie in the series – Harrison Ford is 80 – but the reviewers seem impressed, so maybe you should see it at the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena this weekend.
Lucky Penny is taking a break from its excellent musical, comedic and dramatic productions with its Summer Series kicking off with comedian Myles Weber on Friday and Saturday. Of course they also have beverages.
I finally got around to seeing Savor After Hours at the JaM Cellars Ballroom of Napa Valley Opera House. It’s a thoroughly entertaining and well-executed cabaret show that weaves in performances by fit and talented dancers, familiar music and wine-tasting with a bit of eroticism on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Savor After Hours - Submitted Photo It’s virtuoso guitar/bass night Friday at the Hollywood Room of the Napa Valley Distillery in Napa with eight-string guitarist Nate Lopez and friends playing the bass and guitar. There’s no admission charge, but get there early.
Have you been to the Calistoga Farmers’ Market yet this summer? It’s not huge, but it has produce plus prepared foods you’ll love. It’s on Saturday morning.
You might wonder what a French-owned (but thoroughly American) winery has to contribute to our Independence Day, but remember that the French fleet and the Marquis de Lafayette were critical in the colonists’ beating of the Brits at Yorktown, the deciding battle of our revolution. Raymond Vineyards is having a BBQ to celebrate. Vive la France!
The Meritage Resort is also jumping the gun a bit with its Red, White & Brews party on Friday and Saturday with Bailey Callahan and Brodie Stewart singing, but who can resist an extra party for our 247th birthday?
If you love songs from operas and musicals sung by top classical-caliber artists, “It’s a Grand Night for Singing” is held monthly, including this Saturday, at Jarvis Conservatory.
Calistoga is having a pre-Independence Day band concert on Sunday with Calistoga Band Camp and The St. Helena Community Band, but don’t worry, the city will party again on the Fourth of July, and the Community Band will be in St. Helena.
Hawai’i and Hawai'ian music are very popular here, and John Cruz brings Hawai’ian music to the Blue Note on Sunday.
Also Sunday, the Napa Valley Education Foundation presents the 11th annual Beer Battle & BBQ on Sunday at Tre Posti in St. Helena.
And while it’s not this weekend, as mentioned above, Tuesday is Independence Day and every city — and the town of Yountville — will celebrate. American Canyon, Napa and St. Helena will have fireworks, but Napa almost didn’t. Napa Expo, BottleRock Presents and Napa Hotels & Inns saved the show when the city balked, due partly to concerns about fire. The display will be most visible in downtown Napa, but if you have a friend in Alta Heights, you might drop a hint.
Fireworks are the order of the day for the Fourth of July holiday. In Napa County, Napa, St. Helena and American Canyon will have fireworks. - Tim Carl Photo
If you’d like to find out more about these events and many, many more, subscribe to “NapaLife,” a weekly newsletter that focuses on news and events about food, wine and the arts in Napa Valley — visual, literary and performing. It’s $50 a year for individuals at www.napalife.com, where you can find a recent example.