Napa Guerilla Gays head to the Fair, Weds, Aug 11

It's that time of year again! One week before school starts and today, Wednesday, August 11 is the first day of the Napa Town & Country Fair! The Town/Country Fair (not to be confused with Napa County's Fair, held around the 4th of July in Calistoga) is held mid-August, yearly in Napa City, just south of 3rd Street at the Expo.

Many long-time Napans remember fondly riding the Zipper at the Carnival, cruising Chardonnay Hall for infomercial wares, perusing the smelly livestock area (or selling livestock if you're a 4H kinda person), judging local art/food/crafts, watching a performance and buying (insert product here)-on-a-stick and loving it!

Well to make the fair a little "gayer" this year (and what's a fair without fun friends to enjoy it with), Rick has launched a Guerilla Gay mission encouraging us all to head to the fairgrounds today and soak up some of the last bits of summer:

Join the troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar as we invade the Napa Town & Country Fair (on the grounds of the Napa Valley Expo at 575 Third Street in Napa) on Wednesday, August 11 for OPENING DAY!

We'll eat (of course), we'll drink (naturally), we'll visit the exhibits, we'll all hold our noses as we look at the livestock, we'll ride the rides in the carnival area (or watch as others scream and cry like little kids).

Then, at 8 p.m. we'll meet up at the brand new amphitheatre for a concert by jazz pianist David Benoit (pronounced, believe it or not, BEN-wah). Those who saw him perform with Dave Koz at the Robert Mondavi Summer Concert Series know how good this guy is! What could be better? A warm August evening, sitting with friends outdoors and listening to great jazz! And don't forget - the concert is free with your admission to the fair.

Blow off work and spend the entire day or just show up when you can. Be sure to wear your Napa Valley Pride dog tags or other camouflage and/or rainbow paraphernalia so we can spot you.

Advance tickets are available for just $8 (a 20% savings) by clicking on the "Buy Tickets" link at http://www.napavalleyexpo.com/fair.html

There is a facebook event page if you'd like to RSVP or see who's going already. Share your favorite fair (Napa or otherwise) moments in the comments.

Napa Pride day 9 (final day): brunch, art & poetry, poolside sunset cocktails, Sun, June 19, 2010

How can it already be the last day of Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride? These past 8 days have been incredible, but make sure and make day 9 the true highlight by attending today's events. Bring a group of family, friends and even Dad:

• 10a-1p: Recovery Brunch at Characters, Napa Valley Marriott, Napa
  Relax and recover while enjoying the amazing cuisine of Executive Chef Brian Whitmer...It all takes place outside on the courtyard patio at Characters Bar & Grill at the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa. The menu includes: "The Valley's Other Fruit" Plate, Wine Country Drama Queen Omelet, Marriage Egg-uality Benedict, Napa Guerilla Gay Waffles, Castro Street Croissant & Egg Sandwich, OUTmeal oatmeal.
  **Those 21 and over will receive a complementary "Rainbow" Mimosa or Bloody Mary courtesy of the Napa Valley Marriott**
  
  
• 4p-9:30p: Art Show and Poetry Reading, "Showing Our True Colors" at Bloom, Napa
  Art Exhibition 4-7pm | Spoken Word 7:30- 9:30pm | 10 min intermission with lite food and drink: 8:30pm. What are the true colors of your existence? What colors have made you who you are? What are our society's true colors? The Art Show and Poetry Reading asks artists to present the true colors of their community and their identity through visual art and spoken word. Be present, be heard, and hear the voices of others. If you are interested in sharing your spoken word art come up to the mic during the poetry session! It will be hanged on the wall space. Artists will retain all rights to their pieces.
  
  
• 4p-sunset: Ibiza Chill-Out in the Napa Valley at Bardessono, Yountville
  It will be the perfect ending to a perfect 9 days of Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride 2010...Imagine lounging on the roof pool deck at a fabulous Napa Valley hotel . . .Sipping on an appropriate beverage . . .Watching the sun go down on the longest day of the year . . .Listening to fabulous Ibiza Chill music . . .While recounting the amazing events of the past nine days during Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride 2010
  

Additionally, other local businesses (like Three Twins and C Casa Taqueria in the Oxbow, for instance) are joining in the celebration by offering Pride-themed specials. See a special around town we should know about? Please share in the comments or on the Fruit's Facebook page.

Need a recap of all the fabulousness of the last week? Go here for a list of all nine days, 20+ events that took place to celebrate Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride 2010.

Napa Pride day 6: fundraising toys, Chef's Market Pride & Downtown Joe's w/ Guerilla Gays, Thurs, June 17, 2010

They're stacking up the fun again! Here's today's Pride triplet of activities:

• Napa Valley Toy Company 10 & 10 Day, St. Helena
  Let's continue raising much needed money for our local PFLAG and this time with some awesome discounts at the Napa Valley Toy Company. They will give Pride shoppers a 10% discount and additionally donate 10% of the day's gross sales to PFLAG! Make sure to wish the owner/clerk a "Happy Pride".
  
  
• 5p-9p: Chef's Market Pride Night, downtown Napa
  Chef's Market is downtown Napa's weekly summer street-fair, with music, food, wine and lots of people watching. Tonight we'll gay it up a bit with local LGBT groups (and yours truly, The Fruit's blog author) staffing a rainbow festooned table to get the word out about what they offer and to answer questions, and Guerilla Gay Mission Commander Rick Turko will be "Guest Chef"ing at the demo table, with support from T.J. of Stonehedge (featured) wines and Annie the Baker. (Wear your Pride dogtags and rainbow bracelets or colors so we can find you all walking the market!)
  
  
• 7:30p-9:30p: Downtown Joe's invaded by Napa Guerilla Gay Bar
  After the Chef's Market, join Napa's Guerilla Gays and friends at Downtown Joe's for some pub time and celebrate Pride. Will the rainbow flag be waving above the park again?
  

For a list of the rest of the week's events for Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride 2010 click here.

Napa Pride day 5: fundraiser at Gott's Roadside for Relay for Life, Weds, June 16, 2010

Feeling rested? Because today, Napa's Pride events pick up right where they left off. And I saw plenty of you folks out at the Oxbow last night to know you weren't resting on your laurels. And, if you were at Gott's on Tuesday, today's your chance to order what you didn't get to last night (secret menu favorites, anyone?).

So, what Pride-ful event is in store for today?

• 2p-9p: Gott's Roadside Tray Gourmet Relay for Life Fundraiser, Napa
  Show up at Gott's Roadside's Napa/Oxbow location today between 2p and 9p with this flyer (or go green and don't print anything! just say, "Relay for Life" or "Napa Valley Pride" when you order) and 10% of your bill will go to Napa's Relay for Life on behalf of Napa's LGBT Community
  

I haven't heard official word, yet, but I imagine folks from the Guerilla Gay Bar and others will gather together for dinner at 6ish, just like at the Mary's Pizza fundraiser. Can anyone confirm when they're going? It's so much more fun in a group!

While you're at it, clear your calendar for the rest of the week and fill it up with the other events we have planned for Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride 2010--including the big 21+ Pride dance Friday night--click here.

Napa Pride day 3: PFLAG Pfundraiser at Mary's Pizza, Mon, June 14, 2010

So far, with a fabulous youth dance and cocktails and golf and supper and a great picnic and more, Napa Pride has been amazingly fun and centered around bringing our community together.

...and today, the fun continues with a special fundraiser to support a local organization working to expand support for those who support (or want to learn how to) our community:

• 11a - 10p (and a post-6p "meetup"): Mary's Pizza Shack PFLAG Pfundraiser, Napa
  It will be Pfabulous Pfun! As part of Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride 2010 join us for a PRIDE PIZZA PARTY and PFUNDRAISER for (pfor?) PFLAG on MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010 Mary's Pizza Shack will donate 20% of dine-in, take-out and delivery orders AT THE NAPA RESTAURANT all day if you present this PFLYER (click to download) when you pay your bill.
  
  [You can dine at Mary's all day with your flyer and help raise money for PFLAG, but folks from Napa's Guerilla Gay Bar will gather to eat dinner together at 6p and later. Look for us!]
  
  Don't have time to stay or have other dining plans that day? Stop by and buy a Mary's gift card, give them a copy of the flyer and they'll donate 10% to our PFRIENDS at PFLAG North Bay.
  

For a list of the rest of the 20+ events for Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride 2010--you know, to plan out the rest of your amazing week to come--click here.

Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride coming June 12-20, 2010; 20+ events planned

[Update, May 28: corrected the location of the youth Pride dance to Kenney (not Fuller) Park.]

The folks behind this year's Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride have outdone themselves and scheduled 20+ events for this year's celebrations. There's bound to be something (if not many things) to get everyone involved, so get these all on your own calendars, now!

There's a "fan page" on Facebook if you'd like to follow the news, or as usual, I'll cover developments, here on The Valley's Other Fruit.

Additionally, Saturday, June 5 (10a-2p) there's a carwash fundraiser at Compadres to bring in money to fund all these amazing rainbow events.

Saturday, June 12

• 4p-9p: Tee Up Your Pride at Vintner's Golf Club
  
• 7p-11:30p: Youth Pride Dance at Pelusi Building/Kennedy Park
  

Sunday, June 13

• 9:30a-10:30a: Reconciling Sunday Service, "Creating Sanctuary for All" at First United Methodist Church
  
• 12p-4p: Pride Family Picnic at Fuller Park
  
• 4p-5:30p: "Fish Out of Water" film Screening, God & Gays, Some Perspectives at First United Methodist Church
  
• 4p-9p: Ben & Jerry's Fundraiser
• 6p-9p: Panchas of Yountville invaded by Guerilla Gay Bar
  

Monday, June 14

• 11a - 10p: Mary's Pizza Shack PFLAG Pfundraiser

Tuesday, June 15

• no events yet planned, visit napavalleypride.com for late breaking updates

Wednesday, June 16

• 2p-9p: Gott's Roadside Tray Gourmet Relay for Life Fundraiser

Thursday, June 17

• The Napa Valley Toy Company 10 & 10 Day, fundraiser for PFLAG
• 5p-9p: Chef's Market Pride Night
• 7:30p-9:30p: Downtown Joe's invaded by Napa Guerilla Gay Bar

Friday, June 18

• 6p-midnight: "You Can Leave Your Hat On!" Pride celebration, dance, food at Made In Napa Culinary Centre
  

Saturday, June 19

• 10:30a-2:30p: Pride Hike at Skyline Park
• 7p-10p: Family & "Family" bowling night at Napa Bowl
• 11p-1a: Mamma Mia sing-a-long at Cameo Cinemas

Sunday, June 20

• 10a-1p: Recovery Brunch at Characters, Napa Valley Marriott
  
• 4p-9:30p: Art Show and Poetry Reading, "Showing Our True Colors" at Bloom
  
• 4p-sunset: Ibiza Chill-Out in the Napa Valley at Bardessono
  

Solano Pride Center monthly pizza social Weds, April 21, 5:30p

embiggen for schedule and details

Solano Pride Center wants to make sure you know you're invited:

Hello All!

This coming Wednesday, April 21, is our monthly Pizza Social. We meet at Round Table Pizza at 2401 Waterman Blvd., in Fairfield at 5:30 PM. The flier below has detailed information for the rest of the year.

We'd sure enjoy seeing you there, so be sure to mark your calendar.

Take care!
David Trutanich
Solano Pride Center Board Member

In case you forgot, they do this monthly. You should go this month!

Napa's Guerilla Gays breakfast at Compadres this Sat, Mar 27, 9a-11a

I slipped this announcement into my post celebrating Napa Guerilla Gay Bar's one-year anniversary, but wanted to make sure you noticed: For those who went to the Grange breakfast with the Guerilla Gays--or those who celebrated with us at The Valley's Other Fruit's blogoversary last year, you know how much fun we can have.

This Saturday, Napa's Guerilla Gay Bar invites all of the local & visiting LGBTs and friends to meet up for breakfast at Compadres Rio Grill:

Saturday, March 27, 9a-11a
Coin-Toss Breakfast at Compadres Rio Grille

...So, here's the deal. Compadres is running a special during the weekend mornings during March to promote their breakfast/bunch menu. Here's how it works:

• You enjoy a traditional American or Mexican breakfast, or any one of their very own "special creative dishes"
• They'll flip a coin - you'll "call it"
• If you win the coin toss your entree is "on the house"

Compadres has a full-service bar and a beautiful deck along the river.

Their breakfast menu includes Huevos Rancheros, Omelettes of all kinds, Eggs Benedict and a selection of "$9 Breakfasts". They also have a "French Toast Relleno" which is a peanut butter and banana sandwich dipped in egg batter, griddled, dusted with powdered sugar and topped with house-made cajeta (which is a syrup made from caramelized milk)

And don't forget about their $3 Bloody Marys (vodka), Bloody Marias (made with tequila) and $5.50 Mimosas made with fresh-squeezed orange juice.

[Update, 9:30p, Mar 24: Optional but fun, RSVP to this event on Facebook.]

Guerilla Gays breakfast at Rutherford Grange this Sat AM, Mar 13

I've grown up in the valley and happen to notice things off the beaten path, so of course I've seen "the grange" before. I have just never been exactly sure what a grange is. There's one out on Coombsville and one upvalley and one back near Mankas Corner between Wooden Valley and Fairfield. My best guess is a community hall for a farm community...and I think I'm close...

Either way, this Saturday morning, March 13, Napa's Guerilla Gay Bar and friends are heading up to Rutherford's Grange for a big ol' breakfast. Yes, gays at the grange!

There's only one thing better than a good old-fashion breakfast . . . an INEXPENSIVE old-fashioned breakfast!

Join the troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar when they invade the Rutherford Grange Hall (8550 St. Helena Hwy in Rutherford - just south of the Rutherford Grill) on Saturday, March 13 anytime from 7 to 11:30 a.m. for a Ranch-Style Breakfast.

The "all-inclusive" breakfast includes "silver dollar pancakes, delicious fresh sausage & bacon, homestyle potatoes, free range eggs, coffe, tea and juice". The price? Just $5 for adults and $3 for kids. They're also offering a family rate of $15.

What qualifies as a family? When your Mission Commander asked the folks at the Rutherford Grange this question here is what they said: "Anyone is welcome at the Grange. If someone is a family, they are a family, no qualifiers . . ." We like that attitude!

Funds from the breakfast support the Grange's mission to "provide community programs (that) serve all the people of Napa County.

Click through to Napa Guerilla Gay Bar's website for more info on the Grange's projects and other Napa Guerilla Gay happenings.

So, with bikini season still months away, let's make the trek for a new gay Napa experience, breakfast at the grange! And, just to make sure the other gays know you'll be going, be sure to RSVP on the event's facebook page! Who's hungry?

New monthly pizza social schedule for 2010 Solano Pride Center; 1st social Wed, Jan 20

Click the image to enlarge (and read)

The Solano Pride Center may have closed their brick/mortar offices, but their work keeps going on through their website, facebook and email blasts. One of their regular events is the monthly pizza social, and they just published the calendar for 2010. The first social of the year happens this Wednesday night at Round Table in Fairfield:

Happy New Year! It's time once again for our monthly social at Round Table Pizza. It takes place next Wednesday beginning at 5:30 PM at 2401 Waterman Blvd. in Fairfield. Since the closing of the Solano Pride Center office last month, I strongly encourage you to support our community and attend. It is more important than ever with the current social and political climate to join together and make our community visible. I've attached the updated flier for 2010, so please print it out and mark your calendar each month.

See the following [click the image] for further details. Thanks and hope to see you all there!

Take care,
David A. Trutanich
SPC Board Member

Solano Pride Center closes offices, continues services; last pizza social of 2009

Within the last week, I recieved this letter with sad news from David Trutanich, from the Board of Directors of the Solano Pride Center:

Dear Members of the Solano Pride Center Community,

The Board of Directors of the Solano Pride Center unanimously agreed that it is no longer feasible to keep and maintain a separate and unique meeting and office space for the Center. The Center will vacate its current premises at 1125 Missouri Street, Suite 203D, in Fairfield on Sunday, December 20, 2009. That being said, the Center will still exist in a virtual environment by keeping this e-mail list for communication, the SPC Web site at www@solanopride.org, and the Center phone number at 707-427-2356.

Over the past few years, and especially this last year, donations to the Center have diminished so that we must make this difficult decision. We will continue having our current meetings and groups, but will move them to other locations yet to be determined. As new information becomes available, it will be communicated to you via e-mail as well as be posted on our Web site. Be assured that the Board of Directors will continue to be active and work on ways to better serve the LGBTQI community of Solano County.

Active participation by members of our community is the lifeblood that allows us to exist. If it has been a while since you participated in a Center event or group, or even if you never have, we strongly encourage you to do so.

One immediate way to actively participate would be to volunteer to help us move the Center’s belongings to temporary storage on December 20. We will begin the move at 9:00 AM at 1125 Missouri Street. Please contact me at dtrutanich@yahoo.com if you are available to help.

Lastly, because of changes that have happened in my own life, I needed to resign as Chair of the Board of Directors. The remaining Board members will continue to function and reorganize replacing me in the very near future. It has been my pleasure to serve our community for the last two years on this Board and strongly support the current Board in its endeavors.

Sincerely,

David. A. Trutanich
Outgoing Chair, Board of Directors
Solano Pride Center

In a county (the only Bay Area County to vote Yes on Prop 8) that definitely needs a gathering spot and services like the Pride Center, this is definitely hard news to hear and a loss for our community. However, with churches like 1st Christian Church (in Vallejo) and groups like the Gay/Bi men's HIV support group carrying on and looking to expand, the community will make/find new places to gather and perhaps this is just time for the rebirth of the Phoenix...

In the same light, Solano Pride Center vows to continue their services including their website and emails and announced their last pizza social (held on every third Wednesday of the month) of 2009 (hinting that they will return in 2010):

Click the pic for more details, but here's the basics:

Solano Pride Center Pizza Social
Round Table Pizza
2401 Waterman Blvd, Suite A, Fairfield, CA
Dec 16, 5:30-7:30p
No host food and beverages
*We encourage all who attend to make a small donation to the Solano Pride Center
For more information call 707-427-2356

Have you ever been? Tell us about it...

Wishing the best to the Solano Pride Center and to the North Bay gay community, during these holidays and the year ahead.

Three Twins Napa celebrates National Coming Out Day

Three Twins Organic Ice Cream showed their support for the queer community back in June for Napa Pride, so we know they'd be friends of the Fruit if ice cream could read... (and, well, a few of their staff follow our posts, too).

This Sunday, they continue their fine, LGBT-supporting tradition by celebrating National Coming Out Day with:

- Free RAINBOW Sprinkles!
- The employees of Three Twins will donate their tips to the Napa Valley AIDS Walk on behalf of Team Guerilla

Stop by, grab a cone or dish, drop some coin (or bills!) in the tip jar and help a great cause!

And...you don't even have to come out as queer for the free rainbow sprinkles! Click here for the Facebook Invite with more details on Three Twins' celebration for National Coming Out Day.

Napa Valley AIDS Walk is on Saturday, October 31st. More information soon. National Coming Out Day is this Sunday, October 11.

Dine at Mary's Pizza, donate to Napa AIDS Walk, Mon, Sept 28

A reminder that today, Monday, Sept 28, is the 2nd of two special Guerrilla Gay Bar organized dining events that also double as fundraisers for Napa Valley AIDS Walk (the first was at Taylor's a few weeks ago).

20% of purchases--when presented this flyer from 11AM to 10PM today--will go towards AIDS Walk 2009 fundraising, which in turn goes towards the Queen of the Valley's CARE network providing chronic disease support services and case management for folks right here in our own valley. Dine in, take-out, even gift cards count towards the donation... So, eat up.

Last reported, folks from the Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar will rally at Mary’s beginning at 6:00 pm.

Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar goes to Characters (in the Marriott), Fri, Sept 18

Just a couple days ago, I got a short, to the point email from our friends at the Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar, our local, "make a place gay for the day" traveling gathering:

After a brief late-summer hiatus the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar returns!

Join us when we invade Characters Sports Bar & Grill at the beautiful

Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa
3425 Solano Avenue in Napa
(just north of Trancas/Redwood, just west of Highway 29)

Friday, September 18, 2009
any time after 6:00 pm until closing

This event is open to all ages!

...and that was it. Short, to the point, and unexpected. (I had thought that the AIDS Walk dinner/fundraisers were going to be the only events for this month, but I guess I though wrong.) Anyone been to Characters before? Who's going this Friday?

Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar hosts 2 fundraisers for AIDS Walk

It has been a little over a month since the last Napa "Guerrilla Gay Bar" event and people have been asking when the next one might be. In preparation for this fall's Napa Valley AIDS Walk (and in effort to raise money for an extremely worthy cause that needs our money at this time, the Guerrilla Gay Bar is going to spend the month of September helping to raise money while having a "gay ol' time"...

Taylor's Refresher: Wednesday, September 2
Join us at Taylor’s Automatic Refresher (644 First Street at the Oxbow Public Market in Napa) when we “Get Our Burger On!” Just give the friendly Taylor’s folks this flyer (click to download & print) OR say “AIDS Walk” when you place an order any time after 2:00 pm and they’ll donate 10% of your bill (including beer and wine) to the AIDS Walk on behalf of Team Guerrilla.
From 6:00 pm until closing the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar troops will convene to enjoy Taylor’s finest cuisine and libations.

Mary's Pizza Shack: Monday, September 28
The troops return to Mary’s Pizza Shack (3085 Jefferson Street in Napa) for another full day of “Pizza, Pasta & Amoré”. Once again, you must come armed with this flyer (click to download & print) in order for Mary’s to donate 20% of your bill (dine-in, take-out, delivery – even gift cards!) to AIDS Walk Napa Valley on behalf of Team Guerrilla...
Folks from the Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar will rally at Mary’s beginning at 6:00 pm.

Napa Gay Pride: Sat: Community picnic, Beringer t-dance, Tra Vigne

Yup, Napa Valley Pride 2009 is here (last night was a BLAST, and what a great turnout)!

Hang the rainbow flags! Inflate the balloons! Greet your neighbors! Release the doves! Spruce up the village and have a gay old time!

Today's Napa Valley Pride events include the main event:

• 10a-2p, Family-friendly Community Picnic and Sidewalk Pride Walk at Veteran's Park in downtown Napa
  bring your picnic basket or bring cash for the vendors, there'll be sno-cones, face painting, balloon animals and DJ Rotten Robbie spinning festive, fun and danceable tracks for us. even downtown joe's will be featuring a pride beer garden next door
  
  
• 2-4p, Special tasting at Pride Mountain Vineyards, St. Helena
  exclusive afternoon vineyard tasting and barrel sampling, including breathtaking, 7-county view from the mountaintop vineyard patio
  
  
• 6-9p, Beringer Twilight T-dance @ Beringer in St. Helena dancing in honor of LGBT pride month! in spite of a complete sell-out of website tickets, they won't turn away people at the door
  
  
• 9p-?, "After-party" at Tra Vigne restaurant in St. Helena
  Tra Vigne is welcoming us with open, queer-friendly arms for nibbles (or full-on dinner) and beverages after the t-dance
  

Click here for the full listing of Napa Valley Pride 2009 events and festivities, including Sunday's Oxbow Market recovery brunch. Hope to see you out and celebrating!

Napa's Oxbow Market celebrates Pride w/ rainbow of specials

After posting the exciting news about Three Twins' Organic Rainbow Sherbert debut for Napa Valley Pride next weekend, I got an email from a friend of The Fruit listing the fabulousness of all the other Oxbow Public Market that are joining in on the celebrations:

• Oxbow Wine Merchant – Mimosas, choice of 2 different Brunch items served on the deck
• Three Twins Organic Ice Cream – Rainbow Sherbet, Free Rainbow Sprinkles, Tips donated to Relay for Life
• Kara’s Cupcakes – Pride Cupcakes (rainbow-colored fondant on their Vanilla Chocolate cupcakes)
• Taylor’s Refresher – special pricing on the Miss Kentucky (chicken sandwich) and the Mister Kentucky (1/3 pound hot dog) served with their ever-popular Criss-Cut Fries
• Pica Pica Maize Kitchen - $2.50 Sangria
• The Model Bakery – Rainbow cupcakes & cookies
• Hog Island Oyster Company – Seared Rainbow Trout with Fruit Salad
• Kanaloa Seafood Market – Rainbow Sushi Rolls
• Tillerman Tea – Donate $5.00 to Relay for Life, get 25% off their “Triangle” (pyramid) teabags
• Napa Valley Adventure Tours – 20% off Bike & Kayak Rentals all weekend (reservations recommended)

Be sure to pick-up and register a specially-marked Friend of Oxbow card at many of the Pride Weekend events to receive other discounts and to be entered to win a fabulous raffle prize!

Help us repost the news all over the place AND join us for Napa's gay pride activities happening all weekend. Who's planning on going to the recovery brunch on Sunday?

Three Twins: Rainbow Sherbert & Sprinkles for Napa Pride

I've heard through the grapevine (Oxbow vine?) that Three Twins Organic Ice Cream (my fave in Napa, btw), will be creating its first ever Rainbow Sherbert to celebrate Napa Valley Pride with us the weekend of June 20th. And they gotta make this stuff by hand, so YOU KNOW it's with love! Talk about support!

Additionally--and I know you're already in shock--there will be free rainbow sprinkles offered all day (maybe all Pride weekend?) to help everyone get in the celebratory mood (if the Sherbert didn't do it already, I dunno what will).

Other merchants, too, will be joining in on the festivities--especially for the Napa Pride Recovery Brunch planned for Sunday, June 21st from 10a - 3p, the day after our Napa Pride Picnic.

Have you heard anything else exciting about Napa Pride weekend?

Click here for the full Napa Valley Pride 2009 run-down.

[Update, 2:45p: Mandi from Three Twins wanted to make sure we knew, "Don't forget Three Twins Staff will be donating all tips that day to the Napa Unity league's Relay for life team!"]

Dine & Donate, Fight Cancer at Mary's Pizza, Mon, June 8

Tomorrow, Monday, June 8, some folks from the Napa Unity League and the Guerrilla Gay Bar are going for lunch, dinner and/or libations (read: drinks) to help raise money for the American Cancer Society and the team for the Relay for Life:

One out of every three of us will receive a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime. We all have family members or friends that have been stricken with various forms of the disease.

It’s time for the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar to head for the front lines in this battle and help shake things up. Napa Guerilla Gay Bar and Mary’s Pizza Shack (home of Pizza, Pasta & Amoré!) at 3085 Jefferson Street in Napa present Eat Here – Fight Cancer! Monday, June 8, 2009 ALL DAY!

(YOU MUST BRING A COPY OF THE FLYER) Just submit this pdf flyer: when you place your dine-in, take-out or delivery order(s) and 20% of your bill (including beer, wine and gift card sales) will be donated to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on behalf of Team Napa Valley Unity League.

Additional information is encouraging the Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar contingent to show up from 5p - 10p, and bring multiple copies of the flyer, so that each round of drinks gets the Unity League Team Credit.

No Dining Out for Life in Napa, again

photo by brandi666

In the Napa Valley--a world class dining destination--HIV/AIDS charities are sitting at a dirty table yet again.

For some reason, for yet another year, no Napa Valley restaurants are participating in the Dining Out for Life event this Thursday, April 30th. I wrote about this last year--Dining Out for Life is a special event, pairing restaurants of all tastes and sizes with people who want to support a worthy cause.

Locally, San Francisco and the East Bay are hosting this Thursday, April 30, Sacramento held their event last Friday, April 24, and Sonoma (for some weird reason) holds theirs in December each year.

It's not like we don't have a worthy cause: the Queen of the Valley's CARE Network reported at last month's Unity League Mixer and shared that at any moment there's an average of 70 or 80 HIV/AIDS patients in the Napa Valley receiving their support... And it's not like restaurants don't need a great reason to get their tables filled...

What gives, Napa? If any restaurateurs are reading this, start planning now for next year... OR, better yet, use the comments of the tipline to let us know that if we go out at your restaurant THIS YEAR that you'll donate 25% or more to the CARE Network.