Villager glow-up, La Onda line-up, and other ups 🆙

Issue 58

UPDATES

From the editor’s desk

Scoop Hotline
Dropping a scoop just got easier. Text us at 707-266-6150 with news, events, hot tips, or heartfelt confessions. We’ll even accept cute pet photos. We have standards, but they’re flexible.

Events Calendar
But it’s only for paid subscribers! Ugh! What money grubbing ogres we are… but don’t worry, we are going to keep putting current events into the bottom of each issue of the newsletter. But upgrade to paid! We like that too!

Audio Edition
Don’t have time to read our newsletter? (Ahem, Tim.) Well, the Substack app will happily read it for you. Queue it up for dog walks, dish duty, or that third load of laundry you’re avoiding.

NEWS (TO US)

All the latest scoops

• La Onda. Lineup announced.
  Maná returns!

• Kindled Grounded. Robo cafe / candle boutique now open!
  The robot even has a “disaffected youth” mode!

• Love Park Pretzels. Sultans of salt covering pet adoption fees throughout 2026.
  For senior-aged animals and long-stay residents at the Napa County Animal Shelter. Adopt an older good girl/boy! Reach out to Courtney at Love Park to learn more!

• Downtown Joe’s. Pretty legit new patio bears mentioning, exploratory visit.
  Your fearless editors have historically struggled with Joe’s – the lighting, the tourists – but we’re gonna give it another shot.

• Pancha’s (Yountville). It’s open. It’s… clean?
  Speaking of revamped dive bars, Pancha’s is back. It’s… bright.

• Ps and Qs Ice Cream. New takeaway-style ice cream spot in Carneros Plaza.
  The Napa ice cream wars of 2026 will rival the Napa pizza wars of 2023!

• Contimo. Introduces Konbini
  Late(r) hours Thu-Sat, tamago sandos, french fries (!), and community collabs.

• Compline. …becomes Kämplin
  Temporary identity shift. Burger missing. We are processing.

• Chispa. …becomes Khisba?
  No wait, that’s not right…

• Ashes & Diamonds. Introduces Cinema Club.
  A&D wine club member now get two comp tickets to a first Friday screening at the Cameo.

• Di Rosa Preserve. For sale for $10.9M.
  The new Valley Villager campus…?

• Procore Golf Tournament. Discontinued in Napa.

  Damn, first year I was gonna qualify, too…

• Rotation by Feast is Forward. Soft opens this week
  Chef Martin Yan is kicking things off. But don’t get too attached, it’s basically speed dating with chefs.

• Le Petit Atelier. Kids art classes.
  Arts education for them. Fewer paint splotches in the living room for us. Sold.

• Jumpstart Science Club. A brand new science camp for kids

  If we’re being honest, we may even more excited about this than our kids.

• Rice Flower. Locally-made, Japanese fermented foods
  And, they even offer workshops. Perfect for the “Experimental Food Nerd” in your life.

• Among Locals. Napa Street Food Locator
  Finally. Can’t wait to check it out!

• Chapter 5 Restaurant. Wednesday night 3-course dinner series
  Wait, did we miss the first few chapters? Well, we’re jumping in now before we hit Chapter 11.

• Third Space Napa. “Not home. Not work. Someplace else.”
  Opening in the space that used to be (still is?) 1313 Cocktails / Rutherford Slice Shop, which used to be Ox and the Fox / Frankie’s Deli, and honest to god I think there was something in between that I don’t remember. “Opening eventually.” Godspeed, Third Space.

• Napa Doo Crew Co. Family-run pet waste removal company.
  I sh*t you not.

• Normandie. New restaurant opening on the waterfront.
  Châteaubriand for two, please!

• Bennys Hawaiian Grindz. Lunch Pop-Up
  Did somebody say Spam?

• Embassy Suites… is now Casa Mani.
  But until there’s a pool pass, it’s Casa Not-Me.

• Petit Soleil. Now open in the former Denny’s location
  Now, a little less petite.

• Val’s. Now offering Krispy Krunchy Chicken.
  Everything you love about gas station fried chicken, minus the fumes.

• Napa Lowdown. Yet (another) newsletter
  Napa: land of 400 wineries and approximately 401 newsletters. Rising tides, lifted boats, yada yada. We’re all about that ENM lifestyle — editorial non-monogamy, of course.

• Local Vibe. Napa edition.
  …402 newsletters. 🤦‍♂️

• Village (Vallejo). Wine bar now open in Vallejo!
  I feel like we should get free drinks.

• Napa Kids. Our favorite newsletter lists events for your kiddos!
  Something for your babysitter to do with your kids while you’re at Village.

  
  
  Over the Hill:

• Jenner Outpost / The Outpost Cellar (Sonoma Coast). Opening Summer 2026
  Picnic supplies, curated goods, natty wines, and the sea breeze.

Rumor Mill:

• Azteca Market (St. Helena). Future uncertain?
  We’ve heard the landlord may be considering a — wait for it — tasting room for the space. We’ll just say: local markets > more cab flights. If you’ve got similar feelings, now’s the moment to speak up.

  
  

COMING IN HOT

Events and happenings

Feb 13: Family Film Fridays: Soul. Valley Swim Club, free admission + food/bev for purchase

Feb 14: Valentine’s Day Planter (workshop). Covet Ceramics, $125

Feb 14: Valentine’s Day Steakhouse Classics (cooking class). Playte Kitchen, $175

Feb 14: SoFi Prom Crawl. SoFi District (various locations), prices vary

Feb 14: Valentine’s Candle Making. Kindle & Grounded, $110

Feb 14: Lovers or Friends (Valentine’s event). 1331 Cocktails, ~$25

Feb 14: Queen of Hearts: A Night at The Mansion (by Salty Sundays). The Mansion, $135

Feb 15: Sunday Sessions (Open House). The River Club, free RSVP + food/bev for purchase

Feb 16: ThWistle Ping! (Book reading and music throw-down). Valley Swim Club, free admission + food/bev for purchase (RSVP here)

Feb 17: Fat Tuesday Cooking Class (w/ Ward Four Wines). Playte Kitchen, $95

Feb 19: Little Shop of Horrors with Live Accompaniment (1960, Screening). Cameo Cinema, $35

Feb 19: The Next Table - Honoring Charles Phan (dinner experience). Slanted Door, $215

Feb 20: Family Film Fridays: Cool Runnings. Valley Swim Club, free admission + food/bev for purchase

Feb 21: The Language of Coffee with Naysayer Roasters. Decant Bottle Shop & Bar, $50

Feb 21: Johnny Doughnuts Pop-up. Oxbow Parking lot, price of doughnuts

Feb 22: Flavors of Film: Chicken Run. CIA Copia, $8+

Feb 23: Madeleine Peyroux (live music). Uptown Theatre, $42+

Feb 23: Sonoma Film Club: Jamón, Jamón (Screening). Sebastiani Theatre, $14

Feb 25: About Time (movie screening). River Club, $21

Feb 26: Big Ass Burgers & Big Ass Beers. Armistice, prices vary

Feb 26: Chris Isaak. Uptown Theatre, $112+

Feb 27: Family Film Fridays: Raya and the Last Dragon. Valley Swim Club, free admission + food/bev for purchase

Feb 27: Lunar New Year (dinner experience). Under-Study, $75

Feb 28: The Twilight Sessions: eggcorn (live music). Blackbird Vineyards, $28

Feb 28: Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Uptown Theatre, $54+

Feb 28, Mar 1: Chefs Who Are Also Not Italian: Nancy Silverton. Ciccio, $125+

Mar 1: Ground Down, Get Down! Community Event. Playte Kitchen, $10+

Mar 4: Johnny Doughnuts Pop-up. Oxbow Parking lot, price of doughnuts

Advance Notice:

Mar 10: The Next Table - Honoring Charles Phan (dinner experience). Stateline Road, $95

Mar 15: Cameo Celebrates the Oscars (live stream). Cameo Cinema (St. Helena), $40

Mar 19 - 22: FORK2FILM Festival. Cameo Cinema, prices vary

Mar 28: The Twilight Sessions: Change! Pop (live music). Blackbird Vineyards, $28

Apr 23: The Next Table - Honoring Charles Phan (dinner experience). PRESS, $200

May 10: A Mother’s Day High Tea Fête. Clif Family Tasting Room, $80+

Jun 10: Sip & Support: LGBTQ Connection Napa & Sonoma (food and live music). Clif Family Tasting Room, prices vary