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.

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 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 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
  

Sonoma GayDar at Sonoma Mission Inn Sun, Mar 21: celebrate Spring!

Sonoma's GayDar group, that fun/wine loving group that mixed so well with us Napa gays back in Feburary, is throwing a party to celebrate the first day of Spring:

Let's meet in the Springs to celebrate the first day of Spring!
Sonoma Mission Inn is opening up it's lobby doors to our group on Sunday, March 21st from 4-6:30pm! Look forward to seeing everyone!

Where: Sonoma Mission Inn, 100 Boyes Blvd, Sonoma
When: Sunday, March 21, 2010
Time: 4:00pm - 6:30pm

You can get more info, peek at who's confirmed to go, or RSVP yourself at the event's Facebook page. Want to find more info about Sonoma's GayDar group or other upcoming social events? Visit the Facebook Group for Sonoma GayDar.

"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?

Big gay wine tasting bus back to Napa with Fernando & Greg, August 1

After the big, gay success of their first trip to Napa for wine tasting, Fernando and Greg are coming back to Napa (with the big gay bus full of their friends) on Saturday, August 1st.

This time they're starting at Artesa heading to "the Room" at Flora Springs and then ending their debauchery atop Sterling. Tickets for those coming up from San Francisco are $75, but I say we crash the party at each stop. We can be wino roadies (with designated drivers, of course).

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!

Big Gay Wine Tasting Day, Fernando & Greg bring the "Big Gay Bus" to Napa Valley, April 25

Apparently Energy 92.7fm is bringing a big gay bus for a big, gay day of wine tasting on Saturday, April 25th. They're starting in the Castro then launching their Napa Valley tour at Chandon, St. Supery, Peju and then finishing up at Atresa (in Carneros).

It would be fun to have a big, gay Napa Valley welcome and roadie tour to join them for tasting! You know, living here, as close as all the wineries are (and I think most of the wineries listed have free tastings for locals), I don't get out tasting much. This is a great excuse to get out and drink some more wine and show them how the locals do it. Anyone have a large van (and/or professional driver) they'd like to offer up? Anyone interested in stalking gathering a Napa contingent to join Fernando, Greg and their friends?

Thanks for the heads up, Rick...

Beringer Twilight T-dance details, including pre and post parties

Got some more info just now on Beringer's Twilight T-dance that we told you about the other day, and now we have the new link to purchase tickets:

Twilight T-Dance
Saturday, June 20, 2009

Beringer Vineyards
2000 Main Street
St. Helena, CA 94574
6 - 9 pm on the Historic Promenade

Music by DJ Rotten Robbie

Tickets:
General Admission: $25 - (Includes tasting, light-medium style wines)
VIP: $35 - VIP Lounge & Reserve Wine Tasting
This is a very limited event. Advance purchase recommended.

Portion of proceeds go directly to:
Queen of the Valley Medical Center HIV/AIDS/CANCER
Services provided by the CARE NETWORK

Looks like there'll be a pre-party at Pride Mountain Vineyards (for $15) that includes "an exclusive afternoon Vineyard Tasting and Barrel Sampling...and the breathtaking 7-county view from our Vineyard Patio..." The post T-dance celebration is really just an invitation to Tra Vigne for "dinning on their magnificent Tuscan courtyard." The event page on Beringer's site has all the details, links and phone numbers to purchase tickets.

They have noted all over the page that tickets are limited and additionally there is a NASCAR event that weekend at Infineon, so book hotel rooms (if needed) and buy your tickets sooner rather than later.

Who's going?

Beringer's Twilight T-Dance celebrates Napa Valley Gay Pride June 20

Click to embiggen.

[Update, April 19, 2010: Looking for info about this year's T-dance in Sonoma? Click here. The rest of this post is about 2009's T-dance, at Beringer in Napa. It was amazing!]

Looks like one of the major events at Napa's 2009 Pride will be this Twilight T-Dance at Beringer. What's a T-Dance, you ask?

A tea dance or, thé dansant (French: literally dancing tea), is an afternoon or early-evening dance....This term--sometimes spelled T-dance--is also used within gay culture to designate similar dances: particularly those held on weekends (especially Sunday evenings) in night clubs, or at the end of the day at gay resorts (usually beside a pool). A live DJ typically plays recorded club music at these tea dances. It originated at the Blue Whale hotel/club/restaurant on Fire Island, NY, as a way to entice visitors to spend additional time (and money) before taking the Ferry back to the mainland to prepare for their workweek.

Don't worry, I had to look it up, too. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday. I'll post a link as soon as I find it.

Also, this is only one of the handful of events coming up for Napa Valley Pride 2009, on Saturday, June 20. More details, soon.

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...


View Larger Map

(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)

• Best parking in downtown Napa
• Best quick bite to eat near the tournament fields
  
• Best bets for Saturday night