Napa Valley natives, and sisters, Talulah and Ruby Finkelstein (12 and 9 years old respectively) were inspired by a close family friend a few thousand miles away several years ago. While visiting that friend Laurie Philips, who lives in New York, they noticed that she wore a simple, yet bright and impactful, pin with a clear graphic that included two simple-yet-powerful-words: Be Kind. “We got inspired by our friend in New York who actually created and made the Be Kind pins,”

Some of the big pleasures of summer for many folks in Napa Valley are juicy fresh tomatoes, flavorful basil and other gifts of the summer garden. Before I became a Master Gardener, I started to mourn when fall arrived, because it seemed like the best gardening time of year was over. Happily, that’s not the case anymore. We’re blessed with a Mediterranean climate, and that means we can literally grow vegetables all year long. In fact, in our climate, the natural growing season

Unplug, sit back and enjoy life, family and circus -- the way it used to be! In 1948, Alberto Zoppé left his native Italy for America, bringing with him a family tradition that dates back to 1842. Today, Alberto’s son Giovanni is the sixth-generation driving force and impresario behind Zoppé, one of the last, old-world, family-run touring circuses. “We are a circus by family, for families,” Giovanni said. E & M Presents brings this charming, entertaining and unique experience

Sat. Sept. 21, 10am - 5pm & Sun. Sept. 22, 10am - 4pm | Napa Valley EXPO Over the past 12 years, thousands have gathered in the Napa Valley to enjoy a weekend of all things Hawaiian, and learn the true meaning of ‘Aloha.’ The Napa Valley Aloha Festival offers hours of relaxation as people enjoy the sights, sounds, and flavors of Hawaii. Napa has been host to mainland Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and neighboring cities every third weekend in September with the Annual Napa V

Storytime, ladies and gentleman. I once worked for a well-known local chef who believes burgers are an extravagance only to be enjoyed once every six months. He may be a master in the kitchen and a savvy restaurateur, but he is wrong. Burgers are the backbone of America, happiness, and at least two of my previous relationships. Napa Valley is rich in delicious burgers made with local produce, the highest quality beef, and sumptuous cheese. Geography, price point, public feedb

Saturday, August 24th, Noon to Six, on First Street, Downtown Napa Last year, Blues Brews & BBQ returned to First Street, after a one-year change of venue. The feedback was loud and clear – people like BB&BBQ being on First Street, so that’s where it will be again August 24. Part of the appeal of First Street is shade – if it gets too hot, half of the event is always out of the sun, and people can also duck into an air conditioned business to do a little shopping, get somethi

Friday, August 16, 5 to 8:30 p.m. | Saturday, August 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you’re a car enthusiast, you probably already know that it’s time for the annual Show and Shine and Main Street Reunion. Even if you have a casual relationship with cars of the past – say you remember that ’68 GTO your boyfriend drove in high school, and how you’d wear his Letterman jacket walking down the hall to classes – these shows are the chance to see more classic cars in one place in Napa tha

The corner of Oak and Brown Streets was the center of history for Napa as an American town. Napa was a winter retreat for gold miners, who bought groceries and supplies from its downtown stores, enjoyed hot meals and baths in hotels and boarding houses, and drank whiskey at Main Street saloons. Until ferries began operating in 1848, travelers had to swim their horses across the Napa River. Two years later, the first steamship, the Dolphin, began to run from here to San Franci

Sixteen years ago my then two-and-a-half-year-old daughter marched independently into her first classroom at a Montessori school, not even glancing back over her shoulder at her parents and auntie, who watched through tear-filled eyes as she made her way into her future. This year as the beginning of school approaches, I am once again tearing up. I have an eighteen-year-old child. Is that an oxymoron? Perhaps. Yet, this now young adult, my only child, has taught me more about

July 12–21 Napa Valley Becomes a Cultural Destination There’s Bottlerock. And there’s Festival Napa Valley with world-class performances in another genre, in the category of culture. Perhaps more highbrow? Now in it’s 14th season, Festival Napa Valley has turned Napa Valley into a cultural destination. More than 200 artists, wineries, resorts, theaters, restaurants, chefs and vintners participate each year. People come from far and wide. True story. This season there are 60

In the past year and a half since the 2017 fires, the Napa real estate landscape has had some unpredicted shifts. Most significantly, it has shifted quickly from a seller’s market to a more balanced market. Right after the fire, sellers were in control of the market, not many were selling and those that were selling could ask a premium price for homes. In that time as the market has settled, inventory has increased significantly and prices have stabilized in recent months. Th

If you’re like me, self-care is something that gets pushed to the side during my busy schedule. Self-care can seem like a luxury most of us can’t afford, or something unattainable like meditating in the full lotus position on a distant mountaintop. However, this year I’ve made self-care a personal priority. I decided to take a closer look and at how we can incorporate self-care into our daily life. What is self-care? “Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in orde

Home is where the heart is. That saying is more than an overused phrase. It’s true. Who doesn’t feel that sigh of relief when you get home after a long day at the office, or playing taxi driver to the soccer team, or whatever your busy day entails? Your home should provide you with a sense of comfort and joy. The design and decor elements of your living space are the foundation which makes your house a home. If you are building a new home, or if you have a remodel job in mind

Lucky Penny Productions’ first play was produced in 2009. Now the Napa-based theatre company is looking ahead to its 11th year, and has announced the plays and musicals chosen for the 2019-20 Professional Season. The season includes six musicals and two plays. “We love to craft a season that offers something for everyone, and for our 11th year we have a mix of classics and new creations,” said company Co-Founder and Artistic Director Taylor Bartolucci. “We’ve also included a

April 25th | Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center | 6pm Reception & 7pm - Films Soroptimist International of St. Helena Sunrise, a women’s service organization aiming to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment, is celebrating ten years of hosting LUNAFEST® Napa Valley, the film festival that showcases films by, for and about women. The film festival coincides with the #MeToo movement, which has given voice to

Women inPower Napa Valley is a local community movement connecting women through empowering discussions, workshops and events designed to elevate one another and advance them to the highest levels of leadership. “We believe women are natural mentors with the ability to teach, learn and collaborate by sharing personal stories and experiences,” says Chapter Co-Leader, Ingrid Hohimer McNicoll. The Women inPower Napa Valley chapter started as a unified local response to gender pa

While the Napa Valley has become a destination for visitors during the holidays, locals who live here and spend our holidays here year after year have some long-standing and “only in Napa” traditions that remain, as well as memories of those very special traditions that have vanished with the evolution of the “new Napa” we are living in today. For me, Christmas Eve midnight services, checking out the lighted homes around the valley, the downtown Napa stores that stayed open l

We decided to visit two local delis and serve up some food for thought. Our first afternoon excursion began as a mystery to us. We chose a place none of us have been. One thing was certain, we found some good food! The first day, we headed up the trail, Silverado Trail that is—two miles north of Trancas Street—to Soda Canyon Store. It’s the the only deli you’ll find on the trail until you hit Calistoga. The barista cheerfully greeted everyone that came in the door. The aroma

When Lowell Stallbaum, a retired learning disabilities specialist, attends E & M shows, he’s often bringing not only his own grandchildren and their friends, but other members of his large, extended family. A veritable entourage of eager theater-goers! “It’s such a joy seeing their reactions to the performers,” Stallbaum shared. “And the thing is, the shows combine entertainment and education. I like that they are fun for adults as well.” The new E & M Presents season include

Photo: Derek Everhart Much More Than a Carpet Store In November of 1985, Janice Clifton and her father, John Hartley, took a huge leap of faith. Janice, a professional accountant, assisted a client who hoped to sell their business. Pat and Jay Sibbett, owners of what was then known as Carpet Remnants Unlimited, were disappointed when the sale fell through. Considering the long relationship they already had with Janice and her father, Jay and Pat offered to sell the business t