In this  our 30th “Year of Firsts” we’ve added our FIRST Napa Valley Wine Auction.

Jim & Carol smiling and serving at Rubicon Estates

Held at the fabled Rubicon Estate owned by Francis Ford Coppola and his talented family, it was a scene right out of Hollywood. All of the stars of Napa Valley culinary and viticulture scene were on stage.

And we played our bit part!

Our setting was “The Terrace” and the “E-bid Hall” on the second floor of the massive stone winery founded in the 1800s known then as Inglenook.

Shaded by a 150 year old Redwood tree, the Terrace was lined by a legion of legendary chefs, caterers and vintners. In the center was a grand piano on a Persian carpet,  its keys sending  familiar notes to the heavens.

The weather gods had been exceedingly kind by allowing the morning fog to linger- sparing us from the sun’s glare and heat.

Our duties were as simple as they were clear: we were to do anything the chefs, caterers, vintners asked, with a smile and knowledge certain that we ALL were there to serve the guests. We were a team.

Our team was captained by our dear  friend Arthur Roosa, a veteran volunteer of the Wine Auction.  His second in command was the lovely Keiko, his wife and we were joined by Arthur’s sister Donna from Phoenix. The team was filled out by Charles from Angwin and Laura from St Helena.

Team Roosa: Arthur, Keiko, Carol, Laura & Donna. The Electronic Bids "Cave" is behind.

We worked beside two other teams: one on the Terrace  and one team of techies helping with the Electronic Auction in the Barrel room. This cave-like hall was lined with vintners and purveyors with its center glowing with laptops set to take their “E” bids.

This was the first day of the famed event, which over the last 30 years has raised almost $100 MILLION for local charity. The auctioneers would wring a near record breaking $8.51 million out of the guests at Meadowood Resort the next day.

These generous guests were as easy to serve as our Beazley House guests. They were polite and grateful as we whisked away their napkins and nibbles on silver trays.  Even after hours of wine tasting NO one appeared tipsy.

Rubicon's fountain was the center piece for the 30th Napa Valley Wine Auction

Perhaps the setting of the romantic Rubicon Estate with its splashing fountains and gardens demanded decorum.

However, given the copious quantities of wine consumed along with culinary delicacies, even a saint would have been tempted to over indulge.

And there was serious money being bid, even before the next day’s “main event.” Usually money spoils a good time, ask any working girl.

But in the end it was the “paradise effect” that probably mellowed the crowds: that feeling that they had died and gone to Heaven.

That and they were a classy crowd.

This June the Beazley House will begin our 30th year as Napa’s 1st B&B by celebrating the entire year!

Celebrating 30 years of Carol's killer Chocolate Cakes!

We will call it a “Year of Firsts!”

And you will be the FIRST to hear about it in detail when we send out our FIRST email blast on … June 1st.

Okay, you won’t have to wait, THAT long because I’m going to give you a little sneak peek in this blog.

What does OUR being FIRST mean to you? Why should you care?

It’s simple, really. As the 1st bed and breakfast of Napa our 30 years of experience enriches yours.

We know stuff.

There are over 425 wineries in the Napa Valley alone. The Beazley House knows where YOU should go. Not based on hype but what will suit YOU best.  First time in Napa? We will tailor your itinerary to hit the landmarks and offer places known only to us. It will match your tastes, not some wine snob.

The only constant in life is change.

Jim & Carol take in the newly-revitalized Uptown Theater on May 14th.

And in 30 years we’ve seen LOTS of great changes to Napa. Like how we are now within walking distance to dozens of fabulous restaurants; everything from nationally recognized to locals’ favorites. And not just the famous, but the best VALUE too.

There’s an UPTOWN now.

Even if you’ve been coming to Napa for years, we can turn you on to new and exciting experiences we are learning about everyday.

Take the new and exciting LIVE entertainment venues which have arrived on the Napa scene: The Napa Valley Opera House, the Uptown Theater, Silo’s and Uva‘s. The Opera House is a circa 1879 gem of a 500 seat theater which Judy Collins said is “acoustically perfect”. The Uptown opened May 14th with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and will host a virtual galaxy of stars. Silos is a place where the piano lounge is being redefined by fresh talent and a newly formed jazz club. And Uva offers jazz and so much more five nights a week.

Napa’s FIRST Choice for Dog Friendly

Their smiles say it all, DOGS and people welcome!

Traveling with your pooch? We will be your second best friend…maybe even your FIRST if you consider we’ll host you, send you to places you and fido will be welcome and we offer the most Dog Friendly rooms in Napa.

Our Gardens have been stopping traffic for years!

Our gardens have made us the most photographed landmark in Napa.

Perhaps the FIRST thing you’ll notice as you arrive at our inn will be our beautiful gardens. Lovingly planted and tended by Nilda Douma, our master gardener, with help from Javier Becerra, our gardens reflect 30 years of care.

We started with a patch of ancient lawn in front, over grown shrubs and dying birch trees. Our “backyard” was just that. Today it is our “secret garden” where weddings are celebrated and breakfasts served.

Sometimes a “bargain hotel”  isn’t such a good deal, even if Captain Kirk SAYS it is. Especially if it costs you MORE.

Because a cheap hotel deal is about as trustworthy as a Klingon, when you add it all up.

Especially as versus the Beazley House Bed and Breakfast in Napa.

First off you have to add in all the “Stealth Extras” the hotels will charge you. They go by various names: “Resort Fees, Concierge charges, Parking fees, Room Service, BREAKFAST, even Water.”They all add weight to your bottom line, like bon bons to a fat girl.

During a conference Carol and I attended this year in Napa we paid a $50 Resort fee. Concierge charges average about $15 to $25 per night. Parking at hotels can run $28, if you don’t move your car. Room Service?  It’s not the $25 hamburger that’s going to give you a stomach ache, it’s the 18% “service charge.” Breakfast:   Let’s just say you better not be hungry.

So the “bargain” you THOUGHT you were getting morphs into a nasty surprise when you check out.

At the Beazley House you’ll be surprised by all you get FOR FREE.

We would NEVER resort  to a “Resort” fee.

WE are your concierges. Our guidance to all Napa Valley has to offer is given freely.

Parking in our off-street spaces are as free as the abundant street parking.

We don’t “service charge” you when you’ve ordered fruit and cheese or a bottle of wine. It will be delivered to your room as arranged and you’ll know exactly how much it will cost when you place your order.

BREAKFAST is a bountiful spread served each morning. It’s INCLUDED in your rate and heart healthy.

You could even be “car free”.

The Beazley House is located in a Victorian neighborhood only three blocks from downtown Napa. We are within walking distance of over 30 zagat rated restaurants, 19 wine tasting rooms  and the Napa Valley Wine Train. The Napa Valley Opera House, an intimate 500 seat theater built in 1879 is a short stroll away. The Uptown Theater, an art deco masterpiece, has been completely restored and opens May 14th with “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.”

In addition to all the above you’ll find FREE bottled water, our wonderful Beazley House Chocolate Chip cookies, a variety of teas, our own Beazley Blend coffee and afternoon sherry.

And on Friday and Saturday evenings we offer a FREE wine tasting of Napa Valley wines with complimentary food pairings. And we’ll make your dinner reservations for that evening if we haven’t already. Free.

After nearly 30 years as the 1st bed and breakfast of Napa our happy guests know our experience enriches yours.

They also know the difference between a “bargain” and a value.

“You look mah-velous!”  Billy Chrystal’s signature line perfectly fits the new pictures of our 108 year old Napa landmark mansion.

Now you can see Napa’s favorite bed and breakfast in a whole new, brilliant light, when you go to  http://www.beazleyhouse.com/rooms/index.php .

Taken over a period of nearly a week in late March by the famous duo of Carolyn and Roby LaPorte of WowiZowi, the pictures offer a glimpse of that Beazley House magic inside and out.

You know it’s time to re-shoot your inn when your guests say: “This is much prettier than it showed on your website,” especially if you were the one who shot the original pictures.

Carolyn and Roby not only came with state of the art digital cameras but with a fresh eye and a fantastic ability to create images which perfectly capture the spirit of our inn.

Now, dear guests, you can see all we’ve done to spiff up the place this Spring including beautiful Damner shutters in the East Loft, Blossom View and Garden Rooms,   complete re-do of the Snug, new blinds throughout the Mansion, new furniture in the Wedgwood and Sherry.

The living room has never looked so inviting and our FOOD! You’ve eaten it, you know how good it tastes. Who knew you could get pictures as good as our breakfasts!

I said they showed the Beazley House in a whole new light, they even captured it at night!

Now doesn’t this just make you want to drop everything and come “home” to the Beazley House?

WE hope so!