My friend Paul Franson writes a weekly column for our paper the Napa Register.
He also “publishes” a very much expanded version online at www.Napalife.com.
His July 28 communiqué ( http://www.napalife.com/5544.htm) features a FULL list of all of the places offering nighttime entertainment in old town Napa under the heading: “Downtown Napa Rocks.”
It’s not my intention to infringe on Paul’s good work, but to underline his message that there are now MANY venues offering musical entertainment in Napa. Everything from Accordion to Jazz to Latin Salsa to Opera can be heard in a growing abundance of Napa’s restaurants and theaters. And it is not the canned crap, but LIVE music!
And we’re talk’in UNIQUE here!
The circa 1879 Napa Valley Opera House is one of only a handful of second story theaters west of the Mississippi. It has featured the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie, George Winston and John Bayless. Marsalis said the newly re-built theater has “perfect acoustics.”
The Jarvis Conservatory is located in a 19th century former stone Sherry distillery. It has a jewel box of a theater with “Opera Night” the first Saturday of each month. It’s home to a unique theatrical presentation, known as Zarzuela, which is version of a Spanish opera.
During the summer Copia, the American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts, features outdoor concerts under the summer stars, along the banks of the beautiful Napa River. On Thursday nights assorted fun-filled music is accompanied by gourmet picnic fare. A Napa Valley tradition since 2002, the 2008 season offers a kaleidoscope of musical diversity from blues, rock, flamenco, Cajun and tributes to Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash – something for almost every musical taste.
Many of our restaurants now feature live music and not just on Friday and Saturday nights. Now you’ll find Jazz at Uve Trattoria Wednesday through Sunday; Downtown Joe’s a favorite locals brew pub also rocks five nights each week. The new Oxbow Public Market hosts music Tuesday nights as well as Sunday afternoons. Now, remember, this is just a partial list. See Paul Franson’s link above for the FULL list.
Not satisfied to just LISTEN? Ceja Vineyards Tasting Salon & Lounge has SALSA lessons every Saturday night.
Napa will never sit still after this!
