You Can Leave Your Hat On TOO!

Hold On To Your Hats!

Get ready for a fabulous time as the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar, along with Clos Du Val Winery presents "You Can Leave Your Hat On Too!" on Friday, June 17th from 7 to 11 pm on the grounds of the beautiful Clos Du Val Winery in the Stags Leap District of the Napa Valley.

Here's what we have planned:

• Music and dancing directed by the one-and-only DJ Rotten Robbie including the amazing "human jukebox" (the more you donate, the sooner your request will be played)

• Celebrate your "vindependence" as you enjoy amazing wines from our host, Clos Du Val
• Firevine Pizza will be on hand selling a selection of their delicious hand-made pizzas cooked right before your eyes in their authentic Italian wood-fired oven
• Celebrate Napa Valley LGBTQ Pride 2011 by donning your favorite hat.  Prizes will be awarded in various categories
• Bid on terrific silent auction items donated by fabulous businesses
• Find out more about the 5 worthy organizations that will receive the net proceeds from the event based on your votes!  The beneficiaries are:
• Napa Valley Hospice & Adult Day Services
• Napa Valley Education Foundation
• CARE Network at Queen of the Valley Medical Center
• V.O.I.C.E.S.
• Napa Emergency Women's Services

Tickets are just $ 20.00 if purchased by May 31.  Prices will jump to $ 35.00 on June 1 and at the door.

Buy yours on-line today using the PayPal link at napagaybar.com

Another way to help and to vote for your favorite organization - consider making a donation of goods or services for the silent auction.  If you donate an item valued at $100 or more you'll receive a "vote" . . . and the more you donate, the more votes you'll receive!  Download the donation form at http://www.napavalleypride.com/2011%20YCLYHOT%20Donation%20Form.pdf

Fabulous Wine for the Queer Guy (and Gal)

"All Things Just Keep Gettin' Better!"

This is the fabulous Mr. Ted Allen.

You've probably seen him most recently on television shows like "Chopped", "The Best Thing I Ever Ate", "Top Chef" and "Iron Chef America".  He's also a best-selling cookbook author ("The Foods You Want To Eat - 100 Smart, Simple Recipes").

Well, we all got to know him as the Food and Wine Connoisseur on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy".

Why are we telling you all of this?  Because Ted will be co-hosting the "Discover Wine Day" at Robert Mondavi Winery on April 16 with Margrit Mondavi herself!

Here's what's on the agenda:

• Complimentary wine tasting from 10 am to 5 pm on the lawn
• Live music and food vendors from 11 am to 4 pm on the lawn and in the vineyards
• Ted and Mrs. Mondavi will offer an official welcome and toast from noon until 12:30 pm
• Ted will sign copies of his cookbook from 12:30 to 1:00 pm

In addition, there is a multitude of special events:

• "Tasting the in Vineyard" with Matt Ashby & Mark DeVere from 10:30 to 11:30 am ($15 per person)
• Food and Wine Pairing with winery chef Jeff Mosher from 11:00 to 11:45 am and again with Chef Jeff and Ted Allen at 1:00 to 1:45 pm ($15 per person, per session)
• Reserve Tasting and Q&A with winemaker Genevieve Janssens from 1:30 to 2:30 pm ($35 per person)
• 2008 I-Block Fume Blanc Release party hosted by Margrit Mondavi & Ted Allen with food pairings from Chef Mosher from 3:00 to 5:00 pm ($50 per person)

Tickets for the paid events can be purchased in advance by visiting http://www.robertmondavi.com/discover_wine_tour/38.

There's no admission charge, except for the special events.  Let's just enjoy spring in the Napa Valley together in one of the most beautiful spots - the Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville!

Fundraiser for World Vets in Japan

Sometimes we forget about the fur-babies.

A group of folks here in Napa is sponsoring a fundraiser to support the work of World Vets in Japan.  World Vets is a "non-governmental organization providing veterinary aid around the globe in collaboration with animal advocacy groups, foreign governments, US and foreign military groups and veterinary professionals abroad."  Right now they're "on-the-ground" in Sendai - an area affected by the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami working with a large coalition of Japanese animal welfare groups.  They were deployed just 4 days after the horrific tsunami as a first responder to the animals of the region.

The fundraiser will take place Sunday, April 10 from 2 - 8 pm at Billco's Billiards (1234 Third Street, Napa).  "Oh, for Pet's Sake" will feature:

• Martial Arts Performances
• Taiko Drumming
• Performances by Pion 2 Zion and 21 Gun Saloon
• Silent Auction & Balloon Raffle Items
• Delicious Food
• Japanese Beer
• AND FREE POOL!

100% of the net proceeds from this event will benefit World Vets International Aid for Animals - Japan Relief as well as the American Red Cross.

Admission is just $3.00!  See you there!

* The picture above is of World Vets first responder Adrien Zap scanning what used to be the city of Sendai for animals impacted, displaced or injured in the tsunami.

It Gets Better!

It gets better!  There's no doubt about it!  Let's make sure that the kids attending Napa Valley's high schools know that too!

The Napa Guerilla Gay Bar is starting a project called "It Gets Better - Napa Valley".  Our aim is to put a copy of "It Gets Better:  Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living" in every high school library in the Napa Valley.  In fact, we want to place at least one copy on the shelves for every 150 students.  With 7,500 kids attending the Valley' high schools that means we'll need at least 50 copies.

So, here's how you can help.  Just follow this link:

It Gets Better - Napa Valley

That will take you our wish list.  Buy one or more copies and either have them shipped directly to us or bring them to any Napa Guerilla Gay Bar event.  We'll gather them all up and deliver them directly to the schools - all the way from American Canyon to Calistoga!

April in Carneros . . . by Limo!

Imagine this!  Imagine spending an entire day enjoying fabulous wines and wineries in the Carneros region of Napa and Sonoma counties with fellow troops from the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar.

We'll start the day on Saturday, April 16 at 9 am at Riverpointe Resort (500 Lincoln Avenue, Napa) with coffee and bagels.  At 10 we'll jump in our limos from American VIP Limos & Wine Tours and head to a group of specially selected wineries that are participating in the April in Carneros event.  After enjoying our fill of outstanding wines, we'll jump back in our limos and head back to Riverpointe at about 7 pm for light refreshments before going home.

The cost for all this fun and camaraderie?  Just $105 . . . and includes a Napa Guerilla Gay Bar cap.

But here's the deal - you must buy your tickets by 11:59 pm on Thursday, March 31.  This event WILL sell out - don't get left out.  Buy your tickets TODAY using this link:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9PFR87VBMF78S

And here's a deal for any troops coming from out-of-town.  Marilynn at Riverpointe has secured a deal at the Gaia Hotel.  You'll get a standard room or a room with two queens (insert joke here) for just $60.00.  You'll be picked up the morning of the event and brought to Riverpointe and returned to your hotel at the end of the day.  Just call the hotel at 1-888-798-3777 and mention "Hotel.com" when you make your reservation.

Japanese Relief Fundraiser at Oxbow - Sunday, March 20

The devastation in Japan due to the earthquake, tsunami and on-going nuclear crisis is horrific.  The images on television and on-line are heartbreaking.

Our friends at the Napa Valley Unity League are working with the fine merchants and purveyors at the Oxbow Public Market (610 & 644 First Street in Napa) to help raise funds to assist with the Japanese relief efforts.

So, here's the mission troops - come to the Oxbow Public Market on Sunday, March 20 between 3 and 7 pm.  Here's what will be happening:

• a number of fine Oxbow merchants will be donating a portion of their proceeds to the American Red Cross on behalf of Japanese relief efforts.  Signs will be posted to let you know which merchants are participating.
• folks from the Unity League will be soliciting donations to help the people of Japan.
• there will even be raffle prizes and some live entertainment!

In addition to attending the event, here are some other ways to help:

• volunteer to sell raffle tickets
• volunteer to walk around the market with a collection bucket
• donate a raffle item

Contact Deb Stallings at (707) 738-4826 for more information or to volunteer/donate.

Can't attend the event?  Here's some other ways to help the people of Japan:

• Make a donation to the American Red Cross by visiting http://www.redcross.org/
• You can also make a donation to the Red Cross through you Amazon.com account.  Just click on THIS LINK.
• Donate $10 for Japan earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief by texting REDCROSS to 90999.

Let's get the word out and help Japan!

Band Geeks Unite!

"I would teach the children music, physics and philosophy, but the most important is music - for in music is the patterns of the arts and key to all understanding."

                             - Plato

Military organizations have always depended upon music.  "Reveille" is played on the bugle every morning while "Taps" is played every evening.  Marches would lead forces into battle and full bands would help troops celebrate victories or comfort them in defeat.

For many of us, including your mission commander (he played bass clarinet in the junior high school band), music played a huge part in our growing up.  We carried our trumpet or trombone to school (uphill, both ways, in the snow).  We stashed our violins in our lockers before lunch.  We'd practice every afternoon or evening when we'd rather be out with our friends.  Most of all, we learned discipline, working as team, commitment and fractions (you can't play a waltz if you don't understand 3/4 time!)

Why are we telling you this?  Well, budget cuts are forcing the Napa Valley Unified School District to make some hard choices.  The Napa Valley Education Foundation (NVEF) wants to make sure that music survives the chopping block.  They're conducting a campaign to raise funds to ensure that over 1,300 school-aged children can continue to participate in school music programs.

So, why is this important?  Studies have shown that students involved in music programs have a higher level of self-esteem, which is the main predictor of resilience to substance abuse and other negative behaviors.  Music programs teach and engage students so they are more successful in learning other subjects.

Here's how you can help - consider making a donation of any amount to the Napa Valley Education Foundation on behalf of the "Campaign to Sustain Music for our Children".  This money will go directly to plug any holes in music program budgets.

You can make a donation using your credit card or PayPal account by visiting:

music.napagaybar.com

The above link will take you to the NVEF's web page for the campaign.  You'll see the "Donate" link in the lower left-hand side of the page.

To make things a little more interesting - for every member of the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar that donates $5.00 or more to sustain music in Napa Valley schools your mission commander will donate $5.00 up to a total of $500.00.  Just drop him a note via this link to tell him that you've made the contribution.  No need to say how much you donated - just donate 5 bucks or more.

The Napa community prides itself on being a world-class destination with world-class wines.  Our kids deserve a musical education as good as that wine!