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.

Post "Decision Day" Guerilla Gay Mission to Carpe Diem Winebar, Weds, 8p

[Update, Aug 4, 7:30p: Event moved from Downtown Joe's to Carpe Diem]

Whether or not you are able to make it to Wednesday's "Day of Decision" rally at Veteran's Park, Napa's Guerilla Gay Bar is planning a post-rally mission at Carpe Diem Winebar at 8p:

Win or Lose - the Napa Valley Unity League, Napa Valley Equality Coalition and many other organizations are planning a "Day of Decision Rally" at Veterans Park in Napa (on Main Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets) from 6 to 8 p.m.

Following the event, troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar will descend upon Carpe Diem Winebar (1001 2nd Street in Napa) for post-rally food and beverages.

Of course this Guerilla mission has a Facebook event page if you'd like to RSVP or see who's going...

Carpe Diem Winebar invasion by Napa Guerilla Gays, Sun, Aug 1

Today's the day for a quick queer "invasion" of one of Napa's newest hot spots, the Carpe Diem wine bar. Carpe Diem is located at 1001 2nd Street (for old time Napans, in the old PJ's spot next to Peking Palace) and they've has some great "Sunday Funday" specials:

According to their website they offer "$3 specials, sliders, fries, draft beers etc . . . " from 4 to 6 p.m. every Sunday. Let's check it out!

This is one of Napa Guerilla Gay Bar's "fb/blog/twitter" only events, so don't expect an email blast...If you'd like to peek at or RSVP yourself, go to the event's facebook page, here.

Who's in?

Napa Pride dance night tickets prices go up, Tues, June 1, "You Can Leave Your Hat On!"

Friday, June 18, 2010 from 6p - midnight should be a blast! There are only a few days remaining to get discount tickets for "You Can Leave Your Hat On", the main (and all kinds of fun) dance for the 21+ crowd this Napa Pride. Get your tickets before Tuesday:

TIME is RUNNING OUT! Ticket prices for "You Can Leave Your Hat On! - a Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride Celebration" go UP in price on Tuesday, June 1. Buy your discounted advance tickets on-line RIGHT NOW at hat.napagaybar.com

Ticket prices are:

• General Admission - $20 in May / $35 in June
• VIP - $65 in May / $85 in June
• "Designated Driver" General Admission - $10 in May / $20 in June
• "Designated Driver" VIP - $40 in May / $60 in June

Want to pay with cash or check? Send an e-mail before the end of May to info@napagaybar.com. We'll reserve a spot for you and work out the details!

Remember last year's "Eat/Dance/Walk" fundraiser dance and buffet for AIDSWALK? And "Rockin' Around the..." that fabulous holiday party? "You Can Leave Your Hat On" is being hosted by the same folks and should be even more amazing on the outside patio at the Made in Napa Valley Culinary Centre.

What's included at "You Can Leave Your Hat On"?

• Dance to the music of Napa's own DJ Rotten Robbie
• Savor the optional buffet dinner prepared by Kinyon! Culinary Services
• Enjoy wines donated by some of Napa Valley's finest wineries
• Bid on fabulous silent auction lots - all to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life
• Hear your favorite songs by using the "Human Jukebox". Just make a donation to the Relay for Life and you're song will be put in the mix. The more you donate the sooner your song will play.
• Win prizes for wearing the best hat!
• Relax at the optional "After Party" with coffee and desserts prepared by Kinyon! Culinary Services and the staff at The Centre Cafe. Baristas will be on-hand to make hand-crafted drinks for $5 each

It all takes place on Friday, June 18, 2010 on the beautiful outdoor patio/courtyard at the Made in Napa Valley Culinary Centre (388 Devlin Road in Napa).

• The buffet dinner will be served from 6 to 8 p.m.
• DJ Rotten Robbie will "power up" at 7 and play until 11 p.m.
• The "after-party" begins at 10 p.m. and lasts until midnight

Other dances for Pride in the North Bay include the Twilight T-Dance (this year it moved to Sonoma County) on June 5 and the first ever Napa Pride dance for youth (21 and under, subtance free) on June 12.

For details about those and the 20+ other events happening for this year's Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride, see our write-up or visit the official site.

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
  

Napa Guerilla Gays go to Cheers! St. Helena this Fri, May 7, 6-9p

I've been wanting to check out Cheers! St. Helena since I heard about it last year (I was drunk dialed by a gay friend of mine who clearly had a very good time), and Napa's Guerilla Gays going this week sounds like a great opportunity to check it out. Here's some of the info:

It's the once-a-month event that takes over Main Street in downtown St. Helena. On the first Friday of each month (between May and October) the stores, galleries and restaurants stay open late. Each storefront hosts a different Napa Valley winery. There's entertainment throughout the downtown corridor. People mix and mingle. It was a HUGE hit in it's inaugural season last year with over 15,000 people attending. It's a blast!

So, why not join the ground troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar on Friday, May 7 when we invade Cheers! St. Helena during their first event of the 2010 season. Things get started at 6 p.m. and last until 9.

It's free to attend the event but if you want to sample wine then the cost is $35...

So, how will you know your fellow troops as you roam? Dig through your closet and drawers and find something with rainbows or camouflage - extra points for something that is BOTH rainbow and camouflage! It can be something as simple as a button. It might even be your wristband from last year's Napa Valley Pride celebration!

There isn't a specific time or meeting place, so go with some friends, and wear your rainbows and/or camouflage so the other gays can find you, too! The Guerilla Gay event has a Facebook event page, so you can RSVP (optional) and/or check out the other hotties who might be going. Cheers!

Guerilla Gays go to Zinsvalley w (or w/out) their taxes, Weds, April 14

Rick and the Guerilla gays (and friends) are all marching over to Zinsvalley this Wednesday night, April 14 (the night before Tax Day) for happy hour all night long--and free, automatic tax filing extension forms:

What does that mean?

• Premium bottled beers for just $ 3
• Well drinks are only $ 4
• Specialty cocktails & call drinks are just $ 6
• Zinsvalley's house white or red wine at $ 4 a glass
• Discounts on their great selection of "Shareables" including their fantastic crispy calamari, sweet onion rings and a selection of pizzas.

Don't think you'll have your tax return done? Never fear - your Mission Commander will have a handful of IRS Form 4868 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S Individual Income Tax Return) for any troops that need more time . . . or another drink.

Troops will begin arriving at 5 p.m. and should continue arriving throughout the evening as they complete other missions (aka "get off work").

To note, if you owe money on your taxes, even if you file the free/automatic extension, you still owe the money on April 15 and quite possibly could end up paying penalties and interest on what you owe. Still, we'll commiserate with you.

Also, Zinsvalley can now be found at 1106 First Street in Downtown Napa (in the old NV spot). Zins left their Browsvalley Plaza location this last year.

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.]

Napa's Guerilla Gay Bar turns 1: Happy b-day Guerilla Gays!

napaIt's so hard to believe that Napa's Guerilla Gay Bar is just now turning one (who knows, maybe that's like 22 in gay-blog years?).
Today, March 20th, marks their first mission: to Henry's cocktail lounge and then the bonus yummyness at BarbersQ.

They started with a bold, yet simple-enough mission:

There are no “gay” bars in the Napa Valley. Our mission is to turn selected bars, restaurants, pubs and other facilities “gay for a day”.

...and in the last year have mightily upheld that and even fleshed it out a bit. In just one year, who knew we'd have had 18 fabulous missions to bring together local gays and allies with wine and dive bars and food, pool parties, jazz lounges, airport restaurants, bowling and more!

Congratulations to Napa's Guerilla Gay Bar, and Mission Commander, Rick for bringing such great events, venues and groups of people together. Napa truly wouldn't be the same--or as fun--without you.

The Valley's Other Fruit is glad that you were born!

Click here to visit the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar blog and see their full list of missions/maneuvers and more! They also have a Twitter and Facebook account, so don't say you don't know how to find them. Subscribe and attend the events, cuz Napa wouldn't be quite as gay, and the Guerilla Gay Bar won't be quite as successful without you.

Here's to many more years! Share your congratulations, memories, experiences and favorites from their missions in the comments.

PS - Of course the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar has an upcoming mission: Coin-flip breakfast @ Compadres Rio Grill (Napa), Sat, Mar 27, 9a-11a

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?

"What Superbowl?" alternate party for Napa gays and gay-friendly

Napa's Guerilla Gay Bar (that local group that promises to make your place "gay for the day") has been busy, busy, busy this year! In addition to its regular missions, they've been highlighting other events of gay interest in Napa and nearby and also promoting subscription to their facebook fan page, twitter page and blog by developing some "announcement only" missions.

Today they've got something planned for anyone and everyone not so interested in today's big game:

The “What Superbowl?” Party

Let's face it - not everyone is "into" football. And even if you are a football fan you might lose interest once your favorite team is out of the playoffs.

So, let's have a "What Superbowl?" party! We'll go to a television-free locale and enjoy ourselves.

Here's the mission - we'll start assembling at the Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ (975 First Street in Napa) starting at 2 p.m. (one hour before kick-off) on Sunday, February 7.

The Bounty Hunter has 40 wines by the glass and over 400 wines by the bottle. They also serve Guinness on tap and a selection of beer by the bottle. And don't forget about their terrific food menu - including great bar appetizers and their amazing "Beer Can Chicken".

And for a little fun(d) - anyone caught saying "Football" or "Superbowl" during this mission will be "ordered" to put one dollar in a specially-designed bucket. Proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross for Haitian Earthquake Relief.

Heading to a Superbowl party? Why not stop by Bounty Hunter after the game and have a nightcap?

Napa's Guerilla Gays going to Crab Feed, Sat, Jan 23: Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser

Can't make it bowling? Love crab (and pasta and salad)? Want to support the youth of the community and have a great time at a table with fellow gays and gay-friendly folks? The Napa Guerilla Gay Bar will be grabbing a table (or two or three?) at the Boys And Girls Club of Napa Valley fundraiser on Saturday, January 23rd at the Napa Fairgrounds. Here's the details from the Guerilla Gays:

Join the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar when it invades the 18th Annual Crab Feed to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Napa Valley. The event takes place Saturday, January 23, 2010 starting at 6 p.m. in Chardonnay Hall at the Napa Valley Expo (575 Third Street in Napa)

Your $50 ticket includes:

• All-you-can-eat Crab, Pasta and Salad
• No-host bar
• Access to silent auctions, music, dancing and raffles

The organizers said that they have reserved a great table for us and are thrilled that we’ll be joining in the fun this year.

Buy your tickets at https://secureonlinegiving.com/events/site/checkout.asp?qty=2&itemID=260&eventID=135

VERY IMPORTANT:
BE SURE TO PUT "NAPA GAY BAR" IN THE FIELD THAT SAYS "FRIENDS AT YOUR TABLE". That way they'll seat you with the platoon from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar.

Guerilla Gays go to Napa Bowl, Sat, Jan 16

Napa's Guerilla Gay Bar--that roving party group of Napa gays and friends that picks different places to "take over" each month--has announced its January missions. First up, Napa Bowl, and of course the invitation would have been lacking without its usual punny humor:

Here's a mission that will be right up your ALLEY. We think it will BOWL you over and get your mind out of the GUTTER. If you've got the time to SPARE, you'll be able to STRIKE up conversations with old friends and new acquaintances. We think you'll have a BALL!

Join the troops on Saturday, January 16, 2010 as we invade Napa Bowl (494 Soscol Avenue in Napa) starting around 6:30 p.m.

• Bowl - if you want. Games are $5.00 each. Shoe Rental is $3.00.
• Play pool or video games
• Eat! Bowling alley food is usually great. Napa Bowl features the "Lane 33 Cafe" with pizza, burgers and fries.
• Have a drink (or two). Bowling veterans know that some of the most classic "cocktail lounges" exist in bowling alleys.
• Watch. Don't feel like showing off your skills as a kegler? No problem. Just sit back, grab a beer, glass of wine, cocktail or soft drink and enjoy the fun.
• Bring the entire family. We don't often have events that are open to all ages. Well, this is one that everyone can enjoy!
• We'll even have a prize for the person wearing the coolest bowling shirt/attire.

Never bowled before? It's fun and easy. There'll be folks on hand to explain the game and scoring.

We announce Guerilla Gay Bar happenings here, but if you'd like first word, you can visit their blog anytime at napagaybar.blogspot.com, where you can subscribe to their email blasts, facebook fan page, etc.

"Rockin' Around" big, gay, holiday party nets $2k+ for Napa shelters and foodbank

Got a great email in the Fruit's inbox this morning and had to share the great news:

Together we raised $2,253.80 to help the hungry and homeless in Napa County at “Rockin’ Around – a Holiday Party” on Sunday! We'll be delivering checks to both the Napa Valley Food Bank and the Napa Valley Shelter Program today in the amount of $1,126.90.

Special thanks to:

• Kinyon Gordon and the folks at Kinyon! Culinary Services and The Centre Cafe at the Made in Napa Valley Culinary Center. Leilani was absolutely amazing.
• DJ Rotten Robbie - the man sure knows how to "pump up the volume" so we can "dance, dance, dance"!
• The volunteers - Rob Meason, Renee Babcock, Juli Sanchez, Tom Roberts, Josie Jenkins, Janice Morrish, Robbie Hayes, Jim Estep, Randy Martinsen, Annie "the" Baker, TJ Danser, Jorge Contreras and Eric Oesterle.
• The wineries and tasting rooms that donated wine that was served at the event and sold at the silent auction. Thanks to White Cottage Vineyard, Herb Lamb Vineyard, Napa Valley Wine Train Wine Store, Beringer Vineyards, Silverado Trail Wine Studio (Bighorn Cellars, Expression and Tetra), Ascentia Wine Estates (Gary Farrell, Buena Vista Carneros, Geyser Peak and Atlas Peak Winery) and, of course, Poem Cellars.
• Everyone who attended! I think it's safe to say that "a good time was had by all"!

Here are a few financial facts:

• your bids in the Silent Auction raised more than $500
• your song requests to the "Human Jukebox" raised over $400
• you tossed more than $100 into the "Friends don't let friends dance with change in their pockets" donation buckets
• local businesses made more than $4,100 of "in-kind" donations (food, wine, space rental) in support of the event

Again, thank you for your support of the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar and your community. There will be folks this holiday season with a roof over their heads and food in their bellies because of you!

Watch for even more fun with the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar in 2010. Make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

It's awesome to know that we can do such good at the same time as having so much fun. Thanks to Rick and the crew who organized and volunteered. I'm ready for more in 2010!

Napa Guerilla Gay holiday party, Sun, Dec 20, 3p: with Kinyon! catering and DJ Rotten Robbie

I guess goodness comes in threes from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar this time of year?

1. Sun, Nov 15: Sunday's $5 Cocktails at Cole's
   
2. Fri, Nov 27: Post-Thanksgiving midnight shopping at the Napa Outlets

and now...

3. Sun, Dec 20: "Rockin' Around*" -- A Holiday Party
   *Rockin' Around: the Christmas Tree, Chanukah Menorah, Kwanzaa Mishumaa Saba and/or Festivus Pole
   

For those who went to the Napa Valley AIDS Walk eat / dance / walk fundraiser at the Made in Napa Valley Culinary Centre Cafe, you know what an amazingly fun combo Kinyon, Rotten Robbie and the gays are!

Here's the main details, you can also find more at the Guerilla Gay Bar or Kinyon! Culinary Services websites:

It all takes place from 3:00 to 8:00 pm at The Centre Café at the Made in Napa Valley Culinary Centre (388 Devlin Road in Napa).

DJ Rotten Robbie will be spinning for your listening and dancing enjoyment. Festive fare will be prepared and presented by Kinyon! Culinary Services and The Centre Café. Think of it as eat/drink/dance/walk! with mistletoe!

Net proceeds from this event will be split between two very worthy local causes:

• 50% will be donated to the Napa Valley Shelter Project
  
• 50% will be donated to the Napa Valley Food Bank

Advance “general admission” tickets are $20 per person. VIP tickets are $25 and will feature access to a dessert bar known as “Kinyon’s Chocolate Wonderland”. Advance tickets can be purchased through midnight on Tuesday, December 15 by following this link for general admission and this link for VIP tickets. You can also purchase advance tickets from “Mission Commander Rick” at any Napa Guerilla Gay Bar event. Tickets at the door will jump to $30 for general admission and $35 for VIP.

Remember, Napa Guerilla Gay Bar events are created as gathering for Napa's LGBT community and allie and all--with open hearts and minds--are welcome! Invite your friends!

...and here's to hoping that DJ Rotten Robbie is spinning his decks dressed like a cute, bear Santa! Happy Holidays!

Napa Guerilla Gays going midnight shopping at Premium Outlets, Nov 27, 12am

As if the announcement about this Sunday's Guerilla Gay Bar cocktails at Cole's adventure wasn't enough, the Guerilla Gays have a shopping soiree planned now as well--welcome news for the under-21 set and those who were looking for something queer to go to besides a bar:

Napa Guerilla Gay Midnight Shopping at Napa Premium Outlets
This year you'll need to take a "disco" nap after your Thanksgiving supper! In case you didn't know, the Napa Premium Outlets (just west of Hwy 29 and south of First in Napa) open at midnight on Friday, November 27. In the past, it's been a very active, very social event. So what the heck, let's join in the fun!

More information can be found at the Napa Premium Outlets websites. Did anyone go to the midnight after Thanksgiving shopping last year at the Napa Outlets? Any big deals you're going to be busting down doors for this year?

Napa Guerilla Gay Bar goes to Cole's this Sun, Nov 15 for $5 Ketel One cocktails

Yet another Napa Guerilla Gay Bar event, this Sunday, November 15, join Napa's LGBT folk and friends in the bar at Cole's Chop House for a drink special that seems too good to be true:

$5 Ketel One Cocktails in the bar at Cole’s Chop House

We'll assemble starting at 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 15. The target? $5.00 cocktails made with Ketel One Vodka in the bar at Cole's Chop House (1122 Main Street) in downtown Napa...of course, non-imbibing troops are ALWAYS WELCOME.

More information can be found at the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar site or at Cole's Chop House.

eat/drink/dance/walk Napa AIDS Walk party nets $2k

Via a message from Rick Turko, organizer of Napa's Guerrilla Gay Bar (among other things), I found out what a huge financial success Friday night's party/fundraiser was for the Napa AIDS Walk (from 1st hand experience I knew it was a culinary and entertainment success!)! Here's the details on what happened at "eat/drink/dance/walk" at Made in Napa Valley's Centre's Cafe, I know my group of friends and I had an amazing time, and I saw many others doing the same:

Thanks to everyone who attended eat/drink/dance/walk! It exceeded every expectation!

• Kinyon and his staff prepared absolutely amazing food & drinks. The Centre Cafe at the Made in Napa Valley Culinary Centre was the perfect venue. Wines from Artesa Vineyards & Winery, along with the Cosmopolitans were terrific. If you enjoyed the facility and food please consider becoming a Facebook fan of The Centre Cafe.
• DJ Rotten Robbie was off the hook last night. He was helped by all of you who played the "Human Juke Box" You donated $484 just to hear your favorite songs played.
• You guys were AMAZING! The dance floor was smokin'!

We're still finalizing numbers but it looks like more than $2,000 will be donated to the Napa Valley AIDS Walk from this event alone!

And it's not too late to get involved. The Napa Valley AIDS Walk takes place on Saturday, October 31. Join us! For more information visit http://www.napavalleyaidswalk.com

It's not too late: big Napa AIDS Walk party & fundraiser tonight, Fri, Oct 16

Yes, I know I told you last night's pre-sale super sale was only until 10p, and that's true (well, sorta. Rick extended it until 10:30p).

However, you can still get tickets at the door!

For only $25 you get food and drinks by Kinyon!, music and dancing by DJ Rotten Robbie (featuring the human juke box) and lots of great people...an amazing deal for a very worthy cause. The party goes from 6p until at least 10p...

All proceeds go to Napa Valley AIDS Walk 2009, benefitting the Queen of the Valley CARE Network, supporting people in our very own valley with HIV and AIDS.

Click here for the details.

See you at tonight's party!

Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar AIDS Walk fundraiser this Friday, Oct 16: Eat / Drink / Dance / Walk & Kinyon!

[Update: pre-sale discounted tickets are no longer available, however you can still get tickets at the door!]

Our busy friends over at the Napa Guerrilla Gay Bar are at it again. This time, they've got Kinyon Gordon involved from Kinyon! Culinary Services with a big fundraiser for Napa Valley AIDS Walk, and it's this Friday.

A while back Kinyon (from Cafe Kinyon at Vintage 1870 back in the day, among other projects) hit me up on the blog proposing a joint effort with the Guerrilla Gay Bar and a promise of an amazing event and amazing food. I forwarded his info to Rick and voilá:

Eat / Drink / Dance / Walk! to benefit AIDS Walk Napa Valley 2009

Friday, October 16, 2009
6:00 - 10:00 pm
The Centre Cafe at the Made in Napa Valley Culinary Centre
388 Devlin Road in Napa

• Food and beverages provided by The Centre Cafe and Kinyon! Culinary Services
• Music provided by DJ Rotten Robbie (and featuring "The Human Juke Box")

This event is for EVERYONE (21 and over)

Tickets are $15.00 in advance, $25.00 at the door. Buy your tickets here.