Start the New Year Off Right

It's hard to believe that 2010 is almost over.  It's been a great year for the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar!

We've had over 40 missions during the year and supported lots of great businesses and non-profit organizations . . . and we couldn't have done it without a loyal and dedicated platoon of troops (that's YOU!)

We don't have any missions planned for New Years Eve but that doesn't mean there's nothing going on. 

Shortly after being "deployed" to the Napa Valley, your Mission Commander discovered a remarkable source of intelligence - Paul Franson's "NapaLife".  Paul investigates what's going on in the Napa Valley and distributes it each Monday morning via his newsletter.  The idea for many of our missions during the past two years came from the pages of NapaLife.  I guess that makes Paul the honorary Intelligence Officer of the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar!

Interested in obtaining this excellent intelligence for yourself?  Visit http://www.napalife.com/ for more information.

One of the added benefits of subscribing is the additional issues that Paul distributes.  For instance, included this last Monday was the special "New Year's Listings".  To compile this list, Paul contacted most of the restaurants and bars in the Napa Valley and asked them what their plans were for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

As a public service, here are just a few items of note from some of our regular haunts that were included:

• Bank Cafe in the Westin Verasa is having a "Midnight Masquerade" party on New Year's Eve with a DJ spinning real vinyl, a dance floor, party favors and decor
• BarBersQ is serving a traditional Southern "lucky meal" of pork, black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year's Day
• Bardessono is serving a four-course prix fixe meal from 5:30 to 6:30 pm on New Year's Eve and a six-course meal from 8:30 to 9:30 pm
• Bounty Hunter will be open New Year's Eve until 1 am with over 20 different sparkling wines
• Carpe Diem will be serving cioppino and bubbly with a toast at midnight on New Year's Eve - hats and noise makers provided!
• Silo's Jazz Club is featuring a Blues Brothers tribute band, appetizers and champagne on New Year's Eve.

That's only 6 of the more than 60 listings.

Want more information?  Subscribe to NapaLife TODAY!

G'Day Mate!

Winter blues got you down?

Let's all go "Down Under"!  It's summer there!

Join the troops of the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar as they celebrate Australia Day on Wednesday, January 26 at Carpe Diem Wine Bar (1001 Second Street in Napa).

Steve, one of Carpe Diem's fabulous owners and it's Wine Director will select wines from the "Land of Oz" for us to enjoy.  Executive Chef and Owner Scott Kendall will prepare some Australian-inspired dishes to help us commemorate the first fleet arriving in Sydney Harbour.

Carpe Diem is open from 4 to 10 pm.  Join us!

One more thing - wanna win a trip for 4 to Australia and meet Jamie Durie from HGTV?  Treasury Wine Estates is running a promotion called "You Don't Know Oz" which includes a contest.  The mission?  To create a picture and caption which best expresses "how you brought Australia Day to life".  The caption has to be 140 words or less and include one or more of these words:

• Greg
• Norman
• Wolf
• Blass
• Rosemount
• Penfolds
• and/or Lindeman's

You can find the full contest rules, including the fine print at http://youdontknowoz.com/

What better way to ensure that one of our troops wins than to have an event that brings Australia Day to life right here in the Napa Valley!  Bring your cameras, your costumes, your props (no live crocodiles please!) and your ideas.

And to get you in the mood . . . here are Men At Work:

On Broadway

Broadway Show Tunes?  Check!

Outstanding Wine?  Of course!

Fabulous Friends?  Absolutely!

Join the troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar as they invade the Lucky Penny Piano Bar at the Napa Valley Wine Train Station (1275 McKinstry in Napa) on Thursday, January 13, 2011.

We'll be enjoying an evening with Lucky Penny Productions' Taylor Bartolucci and Barry Martin with Andrew Moore on the piano for favorites from Broadway musicals.  You'll be able to wet your whistle with a beverage and join in the singing or grab the spotlight for a solo - or just sit back and enjoy the show.  It promises to be an evening sure to blow away your winter blues.

This is a "one-night only" event and the admission is free!

The fun runs from 7 until 10 pm.  No reservations are needed - just drop in whenever you can.

Double Axels, Salchows and Lutzes, Oh My!

Join the troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar when we invade the Yountville Holiday Skating Park at V Marketplace (6525 Washington Street in Yountville, of course) on Sunday, December 26 (that's Boxing Day to you folks from Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom) from 3 to 9 pm.

We'll enjoy "skating under the stars, with a clear-top tent" protecting us from the elements.  Vintage Estate Private Dining will be on hand to provide a menu of sweet, savory, hot and cold offerings.  Beverages will include hot chocolate, apple cider, wine and beer.  And starting at 6 pm you'll be able to warm up with Hot Toddies and a festive holiday cocktail menu.

It's just $12 for a pair of rental skates and ice time (kids 12 and under skate for just $8). 

Don't have an inner Brian Boitano, Apolo Ohno or Kristi Yamaguchi?  Just show up!  We'll have a great time people-watching and being together.

Due To Circumstances Beyond Our Control . . .

Well, we tried but just couldn’t pull it all together. As a result, we’re POSTPONING the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar holiday dance party and fundraiser.

We had originally planned to hold the event on Sunday, December 19. Unfortunately, plan after plan kept falling through:

• the first venue was too small
• the second was too expensive
• the third venue never bothered to return our calls
• the fourth venue didn’t have an ABC license (and what’s a Napa Guerilla Gay Bar event without a bar?)
• the fifth venue was too busy
• by the time we’d found the sixth venue we had run out of time

So, we took it as a sign that now was not the time.

You’ll be the first ones to know when we reschedule the event.

Have a great and safe holiday season.

DJ Rotten Robbie's Holiday Mixes Are HERE!

It's a holiday tradition - like Caroling, Egg Nog, Latkes, Pfeffernüsse, watching "It's A Wonderful Life" and building snowmen (and women).  Every December, good little girls and boys wait patiently for the gift that brings joy to their hearts.  That gift?  None other than DJ Rotten Robbie's Holiday Mixes!

He started out releasing them on cassette tapes.  Later he moved to compact discs.  Now they're digital . . . and even better?  THEY'RE FREE!

This year there are 5 different mixes making for more than six-and-a-half hours of festive fun and holiday hijinx.  This year's mixes are:

• Alt-y Indie
• Fantastical
• Dance-y Dance
• Cartoon-rific
• Funktastic

Make your holidays a little merrier and start a new tradition.  Download them at:

http://www.djrottenrobbie.com/djrr/Holiday_Mixes.html

A Holiday Party Right Out of the Movies!

UPDATE:  It was an outstanding event!  The Unity League raised $504 in cash and collected 1 Wal-Mart (thanks Harry!) and 38 Target gift cards for V.O.I.C.E.S.  Thanks SO much for your generosity!

The folks at the Napa Valley Unity League really know how to throw a party . . . especially holiday parties.  Here's what they've got planned for this year!

It Will Be A Holiday Party

Right Out Of The Movies . . .

with “Chinese Turkey” and Everything!

Join the Napa Valley Unity League at our annual Holiday Party Extravaganza on Monday, December 6 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at Riverpointe Resort (500 Lincoln Avenue in Napa - FIRST floor of the Clubhouse Building)

So, here’s the story . . .

We had planned to have a great big Italian feast at the Napa Valley Unity League’s annual Holiday Party, just like last year. When we contacted the restaurant we found out that they were closed on December 6. We were disappointed but we’ve never let our disappointment get the better of us. The situation called for creativity . . . and boy, did we get creative!

We thought – hey, remember in the movie “A Christmas Story” when the Bumpus’ hounds invade the Parker’s house and devour “the old man’s” turkey? They didn’t let a little catastrophe ruin their holiday! They all got dressed, jumped in the car and headed out for Chinese food.

And then we thought – hey, why can’t we do the same?

Join us on Monday, December 6 for a Chinese meal, beverages (including delicious wine from Stonehedge Winery) and festive holiday fun! We’ll gather for drinks starting at 6:00 pm. Dinner will be served at 7:00.

And what does all this cost? Just one $10 gift card from either Target or Wal-Mart.

The gift cards will be donated to V.O.I.C.E.S. – a local organization that “unites transitioning foster youth, social service agencies, educational institutions and committed community members to help young people become independent adults and engaged citizens.” The gift cards will be used as holiday presents for their clients. Can’t get to Target or Wal-Mart? Just bring $10 and we’ll take care of it for you!

What else? For every $10 gift card (or $10 in cash) that you donate you’ll receive one raffle ticket for a chance at some fabulous prizes.

So, please join us DOWNSTAIRS at Riverpointe Resort on Monday, December 6 for the Napa Valley Unity League’s annual Holiday Party Extravaganza!

See you there!


The troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar absolutely can't miss this event!  Just be sure to RSVP to rsvp(at)napavalleyunityleague(dot)org as soon as possible.  We don't want them to run out of Kung Pao Chicken!

Follow-up:  Not into Target or Wal-Mart?  Don't want to fight holiday traffic?  The folks at the Unity League encourage you to just bring $10.  They'll turn to cash over to V.O.I.C.E.S. to use as they see fit.

Guerillas Give Gifts

If your mission commander has learned one thing it's this - the hearts of his troops are HUGE!  And given that the holiday season is upon us, it's time to show the Napa Valley that Guerillas care!

This year we're going to help out the folks at Cope Family Center.  Their mission is to empower families to create happy, healthy lives for their children through child abuse prevention​, parent education and self-sufficiency services.  Napa, Yountville​ and American Canyon families are served at their Family Resource Center in Downtown Napa.  They offer diverse programs to help families and connect them with resources in the community.​  Families of every background​, ethnicity and economic level are able to access resources at Cope Family Center. 

Participating couldn't be easier - you can even do it in your pajamas!

Just go to Amazon.com by following this link:

Cope Family Center Wish List

There you will find a list of diapers and formula that can be used by the clients of Cope.  Just purchase one or more of the items and Amazon.com will send your order directly to the Cope Family Center.

And get this!  For a limited time if you purchase any of these items (or any other select diapers, formulas or baby wipes sold by Amazon.com) and choose 2-Day Shipping your order will ship for FREE!  (your shipping fees will be deducted at check-out.  Complete details are here.

Remember - Cope Family Center is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, and donations are tax-deduct​ible to the extent allowed by law.  Their tax ID is 94-2322399​.

Lemon Tree Very Pretty!

"Lemon tree very pretty and the lemon flower is sweet but the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat."

. . . unless, of course, the folks at Cole's Chop House work their magic! They've developed the "Trifecta Lemon Drop" cocktail and for a limited time it's only SIX BUCKS! (Sunday through Thursday, holidays excluded)

Imagine this: Ketel One Citroen Vodka, Limoncello, Fresh Meyer Lemon Juice served "up" in a sugar-rimmed glass. As Rachael Ray would say - "DELISH!"

Join the troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar as they descend once again upon Cole's Chop House (1122 Main Street in Napa) to take advantage of this remarkable special (or anything else you might care to imbibe) on Wednesday, December 1.

Drop by for a "quick one" after work or stay for the duration (Cole's closes at 9 pm)

For your entertainment, please enjoy Trini Lopez singing "Lemon Tree":

Post-Feast Festivities at BANK

Instead of just lying on the couch in a post-Thanksgiving supper tryptophan stupor, why not join the troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar as they invade Bank Cafe and Bar at the Westin Verasa (1314 McKinstry in Napa) for a post-meal cocktail (or two) and some camaraderie.

We'll be there Thanksgiving evening - Thursday, November 25 starting around 7:00 p.m.  The bar stays open until 11.

Flip For Brunch at Compadres

They're doing it again!

Join the troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar as we once again descend upon Compadres Rio Grille (505 Lincoln Avenue in Napa) for the "Best Breakfast Bet" on Sunday, November 14.  We'll gather starting around 9:00 am.

Here's how it works:

• You order and enjoy a traditional American or Mexican breakfast from Compadres menu
• At the end of your meal, Dave from Compadres will flip a coin - you call heads or tails
• If you call it correctly your meal is FREE!

And since the last time we were there they've installed a "Bloody Mary Bar" which will allow you to "add spice and taste" to your favorite "hair of the dog".

Friendsgiving Potluck at Toolbox Wine Company

It's a first . . . the first Napa Guerilla Gay Bar potluck!  It all takes place on Saturday, November 20 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the Toolbox Wine Company tasting room (1021 McKinstry Street in Napa - just across from the Oxbow Public Market).

It will be a great opportunity for troops to get together before all the holiday craziness begins and enjoy friends, both old and new . . . and those that are gifted in the KP (Kitchen Patrol) arts will be able to show us what they can do. Not so gifted? You can always stop by a local grocery store, bakery, cafe or charcuterie and pick something up.

At the event you'll meet the "Fierce Female Founders" of Toolbox Wine Company and enjoy their newly released wines for just $6 a glass. They'll also be offering one-night-only specials to the troops on purchases.

Please bring a tasty casserole, side dish or dessert (or any other potluck appropriate dish) to share. The Toolbox girls will supply plates, silverware and the like.

Taco-Palooza!

It's gonna be a Taco-Palooza!

Join the troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar on Saturday, October 30 as we once again invade the Oxbow Public Market (610 First Street, Napa). This time we're going to "strike" C Casa - An Innovative Taqueria. And get this . . .

IF YOU MENTION "NAPA VALLEY AIDS WALK" WHEN YOU PLACE YOUR ORDER, C CASA WILL DONATE 10% OF YOUR CHECK TO THE WALK ON BEHALF OF TEAM-2SUM!

Catherine Bergen along with Pablo and Erasto Jacinto opened C Casa during 2010 and it's been a hit with locals and visitors ever since. The food is "about innovative tacos, refreshing salads, rotisserie meats; all prepared fresh and made to order." They feature grass-fed meats, free-range poultry and sustainable fish. And the hand-made tortilla are to die for!

So, here's the plan:

• hit C Casa on your way to Yountville for the Napa Valley AIDS Walk and enjoy one (or more!) of their outstanding BREAKFAST TACOS (They're actually opening a 1/2 hour earlier just for us!). 
• on the way home, stop by and have an amazing (and well deserved, I might add) lunch.
• one of C Casa's fabulous rotisserie chickens would make a fabulous Saturday night dinner!

Pre-Walk Carb-Loading

"Carbohydrate loading, commonly referred to as carbo-loading or carb-loading, is a strategy used by endurance athletes such as marathon runners to maximize the storage of glycogen (or energy) in the muscles . . . hundreds of marathoners and triathlon participants have large pasta dinners the night before the race." (Wikipedia)

Well, if it's good enough for them then it's good enough for us!

Get ready for the Napa Valley AIDS Walk and raise funds at the same time as the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar invades Grano at the Depot (806 Fourth Street at Soscol in Napa) on Friday, October 29 for some carbohydrate loading, great food and wines and fabulous company.  Grano is open from 5 to 10 pm.

If you print out this flyer:

http://attachments.wetpaintserv.us/LQjDoQzvl9BxkFxpUEhwkg124738

and give it to your waiter when paying the bill, the folks at Grano will donate 10% of your check to the Napa Valley AIDS Walk on behalf of Team2Sum (a joint maneuver of the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar and the Napa Valley Unity League).  Pretty cool, isn't it?

Pasta loving troops of all ages are invited to attend.  It probably wouldn't hurt to make a reservation by calling (707) 252-4477.

Want something to whet your appetite?  Your Mission Commander's favorite dish at Grano is Spaghetti Chitarra.  They take fresh, house-made pasta, cook it perfectly and then place it in a bowl made from a giant wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.  The warm pasta, Shiitake mushrooms, garlic and olive oil pick up all kinds of goodness while the pasta is tossed with tongs in the cheese bowl.  So good!

This picture is from the Napa Valley Register.  It shows Santo Sacca, General Manager of Grano working his magic!

All Dressed Up and Nowhere To Go?

Following the Napa Valley AIDS Walk on Saturday, October 30 you'll probably be looking for a Halloween party to attend.  Since you'll already be in costume, why not head over the hill to Sonoma?

Our friends at Sonoma GayDar, a "casual, social networking group whose purpose is to bring the local LGBT community (and friends of) together for a fun, casual time with old and new friends" are sponsoring their Halloween Bash 2010 - "To The Cave BatBoyz and BatGirlz!"

It will be a costume bash and dance in the cave at the Deerfield Ranch Winery (10200 Sonoma Highway in Kenwood) on Saturday, October 30 from 7 to 11 pm.  Tickets are $25 and includes light hors d'oeuvres.  Wines will be available to purchase by the glass or bottle.

According to the group, you can expect "a fabulous party with fabulous people dressed in fabulous costumes."

Space is limited to 80 so reserve your spot today.  Just e-mail gary@outinthevineyard.com to let them know that you want to attend.  Then mail a check for $25 per attendee, payable to "Out In The Vineyard" to:

Out In The Vineyard

16926 Eveton Lane

Sonoma, CA 95476

Once payment is received they'll confirm your reservations.

It will be a great way to cap off a full day of fun!

Big Weekend!

UPDATE:  Thanks to everyone who attended our events this past weekend! 

• Between ticket sales and a collection from the audience at the end of the performance of Rent we raised $365.11 for the Napa Valley AIDS Walk.
• Thanks to the generosity of Rose and the entire crew at Panchas as well as those who "braved" the rain and attended the Beer Bust we raised another $524.99

Don't miss a minute of the two Napa Guerilla Gay Bar events this weekend!

First, join us for an evening of entertainment as we invade the Lincoln Theater in Yountville on Saturday evening, October 16 for a live performance of the rock musical, Rent.  If you buy your tickets from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar organization, at least $10 per ticket will be donated to the Napa Valley AIDS Walk.  Look for the PayPal link at the top of the right-hand column of the our website (www.napagaybar.com).  The show starts at 8 pm with a VIP lounge especially for troops and friends of the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar before the perfomance and during intermission. 

UPDATE:  The VIP lounge will be on the southern end of the lobby, furthest from the entrance.

Then, cap off your weekend with A Good Old Fashioned Beer Bust.  It takes place from 3 to 9 pm on Sunday, October 17 at Pancha's (6764 Washington Street, Yountville).  You'll enjoy $10 "bottomless" beer cups, Rose's famous top-shelf margaritas, grilled hot dogs with all the fixins, pool, music and raffle prizes.  Again, net proceeds from this event will be donated to the 19th Annual Napa Valley AIDS Walk (which takes place on Saturday, October 30)

Hope to see everyone this weekend!

Support Napa Emergency Women's Services

There are SO many great organizations in the Napa Valley doing such great work . . . and the folks at Napa Emergency Women's Services provide a vital service to our community!  Their mission is "to provide a nurturing refuge for women and children suffering from domestic violence and/or sexual assault, and to be a catalyst for change through prevention, intervention and advocacy.

They're having an "Eat to Defeat Domestic Violence" event at Ristorante Allegria (1026 First Street in downtown Napa) all day on Thursday, October 7.  Eat lunch or dinner at Allegria on that day and a portion of your check will be donated to NEWS.

Let's have a great turn-out from the troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar!

Once Again It's B-R Day

Once again, it's B-R Day (Breakfast in Rutherford Day)!

Earlier this year a large contingent from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar invaded the Rutherford Grange Ranch-Style Breakfast. It was a blast! This time promises to be even better.

Here's the deal - on Sunday, September 19 from 8:30 to 11:30 am the folks at the Grange will be serving up Scrambled Eggs, Pancakes, Bacon, Sausage, Home-fried Potatoes, OJ, Coffee and Tea.

The charge? $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for kids and $15.00 for entire families. (and just a reminder from last year - when asked what the Grange considered a "family" they replied - "Anyone is welcome at the Grange. If someone is a family they are a family - no qualifiers")

This time your Mission Commander, having already receive the approval of the folks from the Grange, will be bringing some complementary "bubbles" to add to our OJ in order to make Mimosas. He may even make up a batch of his famous Bloody Marys!

The Rutherford Grange is located at 8550 St. Helena Highway (aka Hwy 29) just south of the Rutherford Grill and across from Rubicon Estate. They suggest that GPS users enter "1991 St Helena Hwy, Rutherford" into their devices.

Come early and see you there!

Team 2-Sum!

Please join us as we participate in the 19th annual Napa Valley AIDS Walk on Saturday, October 30, 2010.

This year, the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar and the Napa Valley Unity League will be joining forces. Together we are forming Team 2-Sum . . . because 2-GETHER we can raise a great SUM!

This year’s beneficiary of funds from the Napa Valley AIDS Walk is the CARE Network at Queen of the Valley Medical Center (Tax ID 94-1243669). This groundbreaking program serves low income, uninsured or underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Nurses and social workers from the CARE Network assist their clients to better manage their own health needs through case management, advocacy, resources, referrals and education.

In 2009 our two organizations individually raised more than $7,600. Together we should be able to do even better!

Here's how you can help:

WALK

Sign up to walk with us at http://www.active.com/donate/team2sum. There you'll be able to create your own fundraising web page (it's easy, really!) and use all the tools that active.com makes available - including posting to Facebook and allowing your friends and family to make donations using their credit cards.

Want to do it "old school"? No problem. Just download a pledge collection form from the Napa Valley AIDS Walk website at http://www.napavalleyaidswalk.com/registrationforms.html. Just make sure to put "Team2Sum" in the "Team Name" field of the form.

DONATE

Can't make it to the walk? Just want to make a donation? Well, you can do that at http://www.active.com/donate/team2sum too! Contribute at whatever level (or whatever amount) you can: 

• General - $ 1,000
• Colonel - $ 500
• Major - $ 250
• Captain - $ 100
• Lieutenant - $ 50
• Sergeant - $ 25
• Corporal - $ 10
• Private First Class - $ 5

PARTICIPATE

Plan to attend one of these FUN (and FUNdraising) events:

• Wednesday, September 29 - All-Day Pizza Party at Mary's Pizza Shack
• Saturday, October 16 - Rent at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville
• Sunday, October 17 - Old Fashioned Beer Bust at Pancha's of Yountville
• Friday, October 29 - Pre-Walk Carb-Loading (details to be announced)

First Annual Napa Valley BBQ Battle

Previous Napa Guerilla Gay Bar missions have proved that the troops love their BBQ.  They also love helping their community.

Well, here's a two-fer!  Chef Brian Whitmer from the Napa Valley Marriott has personally invited us to the 1st Annual Napa Valley Barbeque Battle.

It all takes place on Sunday, October 3 at the Napa Valley Marriott.  Hosted by Judd’s Hill Winery and Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa, this barbeque cook-off will benefit the Napa Valley Education Foundation’s Music Connection Program.  Music Connection has been equipping student musicians with quality musical instruments to begin their musical journeys in the Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) for more than 12 years.

On October 3rd from 1 to 4 pm guests will be spoiled with great wine, food and entertainment.  Highlights of the event include:

• opening reception featuring Judd’s Hill’s delicious current release Sauvignon Blanc and Rose paired with BBQ Oysters from Tomales Bay Oyster Co.
• sit-down BBQ meal featuring side-by-side tastings of smoked ribs, brisket and chicken paired with Judd’s Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Petite Syrah
• both People’s Choice judging as well as celebrity judging from James McNair, internationally recognized food author-stylist-photographer, to determine who has the best BBQ
• live music throughout, featuring Education Foundation Teacher of the Year, Alan U’Ren

The Battle features two highly regarded barbeque enthusiasts:

• Napa Valley Marriott and Characters Bar N’ Cue, Executive Chef Brian Whitmer.  Chef Brian's career began at Sammy’s Barbeque in Kansas City, Missouri.  He'll use his life-long passion for all things smoky and his signature recipes currently featured at Character’s for the people to decide.
• Pat Burke, Hospitality Director at Judd’s Hill Winery, is a recognized award winning barbeque competitor and a member of the famous “Barnyard Roasters” BBQ Team and team captain of “The Vineyard Roasters”, who took 1st Prize in the Rib category at the 2006 West Coast BBQ Championships.

This will definitely be a battle for the ages!

Guest Emcee and musician, Judd Finkelstein of Judd’s Hill Winery, will oversee the competition and offer his unique flair of commentary and insight as the battle builds to a crescendo with single category awards going to best Beef, Chicken, Pork and Sauce.

In addition there will be a Silent Auction and Raffle to benefit the Music Connection with packages featuring hotel stays, spa indulgences, winery tours and tastings and even the famous Characters Bar N’ Cue pool table!

Tickets to The Napa Valley Barbeque Battle are $60 per person and can be purchased by calling 707-253-8600, ext 3317.

Oom Pah Pah!

It may not be October but it is time for OKTOBERFEST!

Let's invade the "Oktoberfest at JV" at JV Wine & Spirits (301 First Street, Napa) on Friday, September 17 from 5 to 7 pm!

They're promising a "Harvest-time celebration featuring approximately 15 German wines including Dr. Loosen, Selbach Dry Riesling, Leitz Dragonstone, Theo Minges and many more" as well as "10 German or American Oktoberfest-style beers including several styles of Chimay, St. Martin, Schneider's, Hoptober Golden Ale, Samuel Adams Octoberfest and more!"

In addition, Chef Diana will be preparing special German Sausages, Sauerkraut and Pretzels for the very low price of $10.

Prost!

No Day But TODAY!

I LOVE the musical RENT!  I was absolutely blown away when I first saw it in the late 1990's on Broadway.

The musical is loosely based on Puccini's opera La Bohème and tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

The most recognized song from Rent is "Seasons of Love".  Here's it is from the last performance on Broadway: 

Well, we're in luck!  Rent - the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning musical is coming to the Lincoln Theater in Yountville on October 16 and 17.

I've managed to score a great deal on a block of 20 tickets for the Saturday evening, October 16 production.  The seats are smack-dab in the middle of rows F, G and H - absolutely great seats.

These tickets usually sell for $35 plus a $3 transaction fee.  I paid $20 plus the transaction fee for them.  Here's the deal - you buy them from me for $35 and the difference will be donated to Napa Valley AIDS Walk 2010.  That means you save the transaction fee AND $10 or more of your ticket price will be donated to the AIDS Walk!

It's a win/win deal.  You save $3 and get to see what I think is the best Broadway musical of all time.  The CARE Network at Queen of the Valley gets at least a $10 donation.

So, here's how you can buy your tickets AND help support HIV/AIDS services in the Napa Valley:

• Buy your tickets via PayPal using the button on the right hand column of the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar blog
• Use this PayPal link:  https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ESDT8Z3NZJZW4
• Send a check made payable to "Napa Valley AIDS Walk" to:

Rent Tickets
c/o Napa Valley Unity League
PO Box 125
Napa, CA  94559-0125

• Give your cash or check to your Mission Commander at any Napa Guerilla Gay Bar or Napa Valley Unity League event

We'll save the PayPal fees if you pay with cash or check.  As a result, even more will go to the AIDS Walk.

Don't miss Rent!

UPDATE:  There will be a Napa Guerilla Gay Bar lounge (open to everyone, of course) on the Mezzanine prior to the performance and during intermission!

March with the Guerillas!

It's that time of year again!

The 19th Annual Napa Valley AIDS Walk takes place on Saturday, October 30, 2010.  Once again it will have a Halloween theme and once again it will begin and end in the courtyard of the Lincoln Theater and wind through the lovely town of Yountville.

Last year, Team Guerilla raised over $6,000 . . . and we're shooting for even more this year.

Sign up to walk with us at www.active.com/donate/napagaybar.  There you'll be able to create your own fundraising web page (it's easy, really!) and use all the tools that active.com makes available - including posting to Facebook and allowing your friends and family to make donations using their credit cards.

Can't make it to the walk?  Just want to make a donation?  Well, you can do that at www.active.com/donate/napagaybar too!  Contribute at whatever level you can:

• General - $ 1,000
• Colonel - $ 500
• Major - $ 250
• Captain - $ 100
• Lieutenant - $ 50
• Sergeant - $ 25
• Corporal - $ 10
• Private First Class - $ 5

Every bit helps!  Once again, the beneficiary of the funds raised during the Napa Valley AIDS Walk is the CARE Network at Queen of the Valley Medical Center. This groundbreaking program serves low income, uninsured or underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Nurses and social workers from the CARE Network assist their clients to better manage their own health needs through case management, advocacy, resources, referrals and education.

And don't forget about our two other fundraisers:

• The "All-Day" Pizza Party at Mary's Pizza Shack on Wednesday, September 29
• The "Good Old Fashioned Beer Bust" at Pancha's on Sunday, October 17

The Beer Bust Comes to Wine Country

The Good Ol' Fashioned Beer Bust Comes To Wine Country!

Join us on Sunday, October 17th from 3 to 9 pm at Pancha's (6764 Washington Street, Yountville) as the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar presents "A Good ol' Fashioned Beer Bust" to benefit the 2010 Napa Valley AIDS Walk (the walk itself takes place on Saturday, October 30th)

• $10 for a "bottomless" beer cup
• $2 from the sale of every "Rose's Top Shelf Margarita" during the event will also be donated to the AIDS Walk
• Hot Dogs & Sausages with all the fixin's for sale
• Raffle Prizes
• Music

Once again, this year's beneficiary of the Napa Valley AIDS Walk is the CARE Network at Napa's Queen of the Valley Medical Center. This groundbreaking program serves low income, uninsured or underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Nurses and social workers from the CARE Network assist their clients to better manage their own health needs through case management, advocacy, resources, referrals and education.

For more information about the 19th Annual Napa Valley AIDS Walk visit http://www.napavalleyaidswalk.com

Eat Pizza, Fight AIDS!

UPDATE!  Thanks to everyone who participated we raised $166!

Great Food and a Great Cause!

Join the troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar, their friends and their families on Wednesday, September 29 as they descend upon Mary's Pizza Shack (3085 Jefferson Street, Napa) for another All-Day Pizza Party.

Mary's will generously donate 20% of your dine-in, take-out or delivery order (10% of your gift card purchases) to Napa Valley AIDS Walk 2010 IF YOU GIVE THEM A COPY OF THIS FLYER WHEN YOU PAY ...YOUR BILL:

http://attachments.wetpaintserv.us/j3qcq8CxzyG7OqHabLlDQw829039

In order to double the fun (and the fundraising) join us for a good old group recon mission for dinner at Mary's sometime between 6 and 10pm.

Remember that once again this year proceeds from the Napa Valley AIDS Walk will benefit HIV/AIDS services provided by the CARE Network at Queen of the Valley Medical Center. This groundbreaking program serves low income, uninsured or underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Nurses and social workers from the CARE Network assist their clients to better manage their own health needs through case management, advocacy, resources, referrals and education.

Post-Rally Mission to Carpe Diem

Today is the day!  Judge Vaughn Walker will release his decision on the constitutionality of Prop 8 sometime between 1 and 3 this afternoon.

Towleroad guest blogger Ari Ezra Waldman says "August 4, 2010 will be a momentous day in the history of LGBT law. Today’s decision will mark the first time a federal district court has ruled explicitly on the constitutionality of a voter-approved initiative that withdrew marriage equality rights from millions of Californians.  It will tell the story of why millions of dollars were spent to prevent committed gay couples from marrying and whether that story merits legal legitimacy.  It will also set the stage for the upcoming legal battles at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court."

As Vice President Joe Biden once said - "This is a big F***in' deal!"

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 Downtown Joe's Brewery & Restaurant (902 Main Street in Napa - adjacent to Veterans Park) Carpe Diem Wine Bar (1001 Second Street) for post-rally food and beverages.  See you there!