Beaucoup Valentine's Day events and PROTECT INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES💘📚

Issue 41

VALLEY VILLAGER PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

Remember Barnes and Noble, that beige store where you bought the Marcy Playground CD when you were 13? Well, did you know that Barnes and Noble plans to open a location in Bel Aire Plaza this summer? This big box bullsh*t is a direct threat to our small town’s existing, independently owned bookstores, Copperfield’s and Napa Bookmine (see a message from owner Naomi Chamblin here). Do we want to live in a town where these stores don’t exist?

Please join the Valley Villager in the opposition to this corporate incursion. What does that mean? Well, at the very least, let’s not buy books there. Stay tuned for further action to take. Now, onto the news.

NEWS (TO US)

All the latest scoops

• Napa Bookmine. Buy any used book online!
  Did you know that you can buy used books from the Napa Bookmine via Alibris? Next time you are about to add a book to your Amazon cart… do this instead!
  

• Pliny the Younger. Might be available on draft at local spots.
  But… already confirmed out at Hop Creek and Erosion. Try Hopmonk Sonoma on 2/12.
  

• Stanly Lane Smokehouse & Pumpkin Patch. Up for sale.
  $14M. There’s gourd in them thar hills…
  

• Press. Chef de cuisine to appear on Top Chef!
  We’re rooting for you!
  

• City of Napa. Call for art!
  Pavement art is needs for the upcoming “pedestrian scramble.” Get involved, or we’ll end up with a weird cactus!
  

• Side Hustle Snacks. New snack mix purveyor.
  Chex Mix tastes better when someone else makes it.
  

• Ohm + Ray Ray’s Tacos. Breakfast tacos at Ohm on Saturdays!
  Doesn’t it seem strange there weren’t breakfast tacos downtown before this?
  

• The Green Door. Teeth found in parking lot…!
  I was wondering where I left those…
  

• Brick & Mantel. Leaving Bel Aire Plaza.
  Major sale in preparation of the move.
  

• Bobos & Momos, Auenuenue. New(ish) eateries open at the outlets.
  I think this happened a long time ago, but hey, it’s news to us. Hawaiian shave ice and bubble tea to keep you cool while you cruise for discount sweatpants.
  

• Rydeables. Ride a giraffe through downtown Napa.
  ADA-compliant scooters made up to look like animals so you can slowly cruise through several blocks. In times like these I am cowed by the scope of man’s ambition.
  

• Meet Me in Napa. A Napa-focused podcast!
  Okay fine, you can interview us!
  

Over the Hill:

• Småstad Coffee. New “Swedish-American” coffee shop. (Sonoma)
  Started by the son of the Barking Dog Roasters’ founder. Legacy!

  
  

COMING IN HOT

Events and happenings

Feb 10: Bonnie Prince Billy. Sebastiani Theatre (Sonoma), $52

Feb 14: Valentine’s Day “San Francisco Treat” Cooking Class. Playte, $150

Feb 14: Speed Swimming (Speed Dating). Valley Swim Club (Sonoma), $25

Feb 14: Valentine’s Gift Marketplace. Valley Swim Club (Sonoma), varies

Feb 14. Valentine’s Day Prom Crawl. SoFi District, free to attend

Feb 14: Salty Sundays Presents Queen of Hearts Underworld Ball. Calistoga Depot, $80+

Feb 15: Call of the Valley (documentary). Sebastiani Theatre (Sonoma), $12

Feb 15: Napa County AAUW Authors Forum 2025. Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center, $50

Feb 16, 22: Filipino Pop-ups (Carabao, Eats by E). Decant, vibes are free

Feb 18: Sushi Monkey Ramen Pop-up. Winston’s, varies

Feb 22: Speakeasy with DJ Tyler Snow. St. Clair Brown, $20, requires password (hint: ☮️)

Feb 22: Latte Art Throwdown. Naysayer, $10 to compete

Feb 22: National Margarita Day Collab. Chispa x Mothers, prices tbd

Feb 23: Oyster Art & Fiddle Fest. Nimbus Arts (St. Helena), $60

Feb 23: Shuck Buddies: Oysters & Beer. Armistice, varies

Feb 28: Black Wine Fest. Napa Valley Library, sold out but thought you should know the library does cool stuff like this

Advance Notice:

Mar 1: Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets. Uptown Theatre, $52+

Mar 1: Mardi Gras Parade. Downtown Yountville, free

Mar 2: Cameo Celebrates the Oscars. Cameo Cinema (St. Helena), $40

Mar 5: Whitney Cummings. Uptown Theatre, $57+

Mar 5-8: Celebration of Women in Wine. location and prices tbc

Mar 6-9: Fork2Film Festival. Cameo Theatre, $20 per screening

Mar 8: The Comedy Of Brian Posehn. Sebastiani Theatre (Sonoma), $45

Mar 15: Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings. Uptown Theatre, $90+

Mar 19-23: Sonoma Film Fest. Various locations, prices vary

Mar 21-23: 19th Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival. Various locations in Sonoma County, $50+

Apr 24-26: Madeleine Peyroux. Blue Note, $115+

May 9, 10: David Sedaris. $73+

Apr 24-27: Napa Valley StreamFest. Downtown venues in Napa, $250+

May 16: Thievery Corporation. Uptown Theatre, $63+

May 17: Art, Sip & Stroll. Yountville, price tbd