The Other Fruit Recommends: for our softball visitors

[This post is written as a special welcome for the thousand+ softball players and supporters that will be in town on Memorial Day weekend for the Golden Bear Classic tournament. This guide is not sponsored in any way, and is purely our compiled opinions from the editors, readers and friends of The Valley's Other Fruit.]

So you're gay, you're a softball player, and you're visiting the Napa Valley for Memorial Day Weekend. Napa doesn't really have any gay-only establishments. However, we do have gay-owned and gay-friendly...and God knows that us gays love art, wine, food, and anything over-the-top glamorous. Here's what we recommend...

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(bold = must go, the rest are additional recommendations)

For Breakfast/Brunch:

ABC (Alexis Baking Company)
Bright, cozy, delicious breakfasts, lunches, baked goods, slightly pricey but worth it.
Gillwoods
Excellent brunch and huge variety on the menu for breakfast and lunch.
First Squeeze
Relaxed, friendly, casual style, smoothie, juice bar and deli, great service, specials (and free coffee with the combos!).

Mexican Food:

Taquería La Playita
Always full of latino families and delicious mexican food. catch a novela or soccer game on the TVs.
Tacos Michoacán
Best taco truck in town, usually on Salvador @ ByWayEast OR Soscol @ 1st St.
Villa Corona
More americanized than La Playita, but amazingly delicious food (my favorite: special chile relleno burrito, also try the shrimp burrito).

Lounge/Bar:

Cuvee
stylish and comfortable lounge, full bar, great patio, worthy of the gays.
Silverado Brewing Company
For when you're done with wine and just want a cold beer, friendly service.
Pacifico
Food's not the greatest, but free mariachi every Fri (and Cinco de Mayo), mostly local Latino hang out, gays at the bar.

Touristy (But worth the trip & time):

Castello di Amorosa
Over the top, beautiful style, amazing architecture, good wine. Who knew this was in the Valley? ($30)
Tram ride @ Sterling
Great views, meander the roof-top terrace as you taste the wines. Tram ride included with tour ($10)

Winery:

Mumm
Who wouldn't enjoy tasting bubbly in their beatiful hilltop solarium/tasting room? Photography exibit on site as well.
Artesa
Wine is pretty good, but the views, unique architecture and grounds are worth it.
Hess Collection
This "secret" is worth the way-off-the-main-roads trip. Good wine and free art gallery.

Relaxation/Spa:

Indian Springs Resort
After all those hard games, why not cruise upvalley and relax in the amazing waters and ambience of Indian Springs? Treat yourself and get a massage, too.

Foodie Find:

Oxbow Public Market
Napa Valley's answer to the San Francisco Ferry Building. (Not so cheap, but worth it) local gourmet from Taylor's Refresher, to Three Twins Organic Ice Cream, to RoliRoti...sip wine and enjoy a great plate of cheese, lunch or dinner on the river patio. 20+ merchants, daily produce stands.
Dean & DeLuca
Gourmet grocer features many local treats. Felicity is not currently employed.
Model Bakery
Long-time local bakery added Napa (@ Oxbow) to complement it's usual St. Helena location. Try the homemade english muffins! Or get a great lunch special.

Nature/Hike:

*Napa River Trail & Promenade Downtown
Beautiful and newly opened river walk links and opens 5 blocks of downtown Napa to the river.
Napa River Trail (South of Imola)
Eventually the River Trail will connect existing trails from Trancas (in N. Napa) to the marshes in American Canyon. For now, the most interesting part of the trail is from Imola to the South, past Napa College and out along the river and marshland out to Kennedy Park and the ball fields.

Coming Soon... (click here for the update)