Dec 21, 2015
An absolutely wonderful development should make both denizens and visitors to Napa Valley really really happy. Joyful, even. It was announced today that an outpost of the great New York jazz club, Blue Note, will be opening in downtown Napa. Assuming that the new venue will be bringing some of the same kinds of talent that shows up at the famed NY club, then devotees of great music should be in heaven! Add Blue Note Napa to the city’s other…
Nov 13, 2015
I left my casual meeting with Cathy Huyghe a little bit miffed at her for being late. She was traveling from Saint Helena to meet me at Peet’s Coffee in Napa and was a half hour late (she didn’t factor in traffic). As I sat outside Peet’s waiting for her and got her email apologizing for her tardiness, I didn’t really care. My work was done for the day, I had a cup of coffee and something to read. I…
Nov 9, 2015
The other day a friend posed this question to me: If you knew that stopping drinking alcohol right now would mean that while you’d still die at around 85 years of age, you would actually live one year longer than if you kept drinking alcohol? I didn’t have to think much about that question. For anyone who has ever consumed a Manhattan at 3:00 in the afternoon at the Campbell Apartment the idea of giving up Manhattans and Old Fashions…
Aug 10, 2015
Shepard Bliss (what a great name!) is the latest in what is becoming a slew of people pushing back against the wine industry in Napa and Sonoma Counties. The anti-industry activists appear to be concerned the growth in the industry will cause massive harm not only to the counties and their environments, but also to the quality of life for residents. What’s interesting about these anti-winery activists is the remarkably disingenuous way they are trying to make their case against…
Apr 1, 2015
I’ve always thought that if one’s biblical perspective informed them that homosexuality was immoral, the best course of action would be to not engage in homosexual acts. Likewise, if one feels reliably sure that the Bible instructs that God is opposed to sex out-of-wedlock, then the best course of action is to refrain from sex until married. But I’m old-fashioned. It appears that some are so sure that their responsibility to their religious beliefs requires them not merely to abstain…