New pool pass, baby giraffe and other news 🦒
Issue 61
NEWS (TO US)
All the latest scoops
St. Helena’s Summer Pool Pass. Launches at Bothe Estate Park.
Unlimited pool access for $20?! Shakespeare for everyone! Memorial Day through Labor Day, Bothe Estate Park.
Safari West. Welcomes little baby giraffe calf.
We do animal news now. Need those clicks!
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. White tiger cubs arrive.
Not to be outdone, Vallejo’s Six Flags recently welcomed Nalani and Baldr, two rare white tiger cubs. Everyone expected them to dig the Sidewinder Safari, but surprisingly they prefer the Sky Screamer.
Valley Villager. Brilliant local newsletter launches new “guides” feature.
First guide? BREAKFAST SANDWICHES. Recently updated based on reader feedback/we forgot some of our favorites. What guides would you like to see us make?
Fuller Park. PLAYGROUND REOPENED!
And it’s got that bouncy rubber flooring! Suck it, Yountville playground! We don’t need you anymore!
Forge Pizza. Closed!
It had a fireplace, a bar, pizza, booths, a great beer selection, and it was steps from the movie theater. We here at Villager are Forge apologists — we all should have been going to Forge all the time and we are sad it’s gone.
Santa Rosa Airport. Expanded Alaska Airl routes.
Starting November 1, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Boise will be added to Alaska Airlines’ lineup at Charles M. Schulz Airport, along with the return of two oldies: Long Beach and Seattle.
Napa Recreation Center. Hires architect for new facility.
Big moves are happening at the old Harvest Middle School site. Berkeley-based Noll & Tam Architects is taking on the $50-75 million project to create a state-of-the-art recreation and aquatics center. More pool passes? Maybe!
Valley & Vine. Opens in Downtown Napa this weekend.
May 9th marked the grand opening of Valley & Vine, the chic sister store to Miyamo Boutique. Take your sister — hell, take your sister-in-law! They’re gonna love it.
Kollar Chocolates. Closing, will stay open until sold out.
Bittersweet news from Yountville—Kollar chocolates is closing, but Chris Kollar isn’t closing shop until every last chocolate is gone. If you have to close your business, this is the way to do it.
Sip Yountville. Launches outdoor drinking experience.
Raise your glass to drinking outdoors, legally. Just like everyone always says, Yountville is Napa’s Bourbon Street, Restoration Hardware our Rick’s Cabaret.
Oxbow Commons. First Thursdays are back.
First Thursdays return with live music, food trucks, lawn games, and good vibes galore. Grab your friends, a picnic blanket, and maybe your bike (there’s a free valet!).
Napa Genealogical Society. Learn your roots.
With events like “Genealogy Unplugged” and “Grandma Said What???,” NGS helps folks learn the methods to dig up family ancestry and lore. Just don’t examine Great Uncle Klaus’s hasty move from Munich to Buenos Aires too closely.
Gamling & McDuck. Hosts Friday Night VHS movie nights.
We don’t report on wine news. We DO report on cool sh*t news. And this is so cool! Red Dawn with red wine? Yes!
Hopscotch & Bark. Opening kids & pet boutique in Napa.
Turner & Hooch. Ratchet & Clank. Jak & Daxter. Gamling & McDuck. If it’s got an &, I’m in!
Flora Springs Wine Lounge. Opens in Downtown Napa.
Flora Springs Wine Lounge has officially arrived at the historic Gordon Building. Again, we don’t do wine news, but they have wine cocktails and other stuff, sooo… I don’t know,
Inn at the Abbey. Planned near Freemark Abbey.
Three buildings near Freemark Abbey are set to be replaced by a 55,000-square-foot hotel. The Inn at the Abbey promises fresh hospitality vibes, though opening dates are still TBD. Watch this space.
Decanela Bakery. Opens at Fuller Park and Yajome St.
A bakery is serving up handmade treats rooted in Mexican tradition. Catch Decanela Bakery at Fuller Park Thursdays and Fridays or Yajome Street Saturdays, 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Don’t forget your mug—sustainability is sweet!
Over the Hill
Lily’s Outpost. New tiki bar in the old Starling space. (Sonoma)
That didn’t take long! What’s old is new again!
COMING IN HOT
Events and happenings
MAY
May 16: Geek Out Napa Valley Comic-Con. Napa County Library, free
May 21: BottleRock AfterDark: Larkin Poe. The Uptown Theatre, TBD
May 22: BottleRock AfterDark: Rilo Kiley. The Uptown Theatre, TBD
May 22: BottleRock AfterDark: LCD Soundsystem. Napa Music Hall, $300+ (resale)
May 23: BottleRock AfterDark: Børns. The Uptown Theatre, TBD
May 24: BottleRock AfterDark: Maoli. The Uptown Theatre, TBD`
May 22 - 24: BottleRock (music festival). Napa Valley Expo, prices vary
May 30 - July 6: INTERSECTION: Photography by Emma Kruch. Carter & Co, free
May 31: Flavors of Film: Hugo. CIA Copia, $8+
JUNE
Jun 6: BloodRoot Ramble (music festival) feat. Lucius and Spoon. Abel De Luna Community Center, (Healdsburg), $85+
Jun 10: Sip & Support: LGBTQ Connection Napa & Sonoma (food and live music). Clif Family Tasting Room, prices vary
Jun 18 - 21: Black Food & Wine Experience. CIA Copia, $55+
Jun 20: Rock the Ride. Yountville, $40+
Jun 27: Chris Tucker. Meritage, $90+
Jun 28: Family SummerFest: Festival and Benefit for Napa Valley State Parks. Tres Sabores, $60 (less if you are member)
Paid subscribers: Check out our Events Calendar for the fullest list of goings on!
Unpaid subscribers: Pay us and then check out the events calendar! Or borrow someone’s password, that’s what we’d do.
Thank you!!
"Yountville is Napa’s Bourbon Street" -☠️