Hey Napa,

This week we’ve got Porchfest’s potential expansion up-valley, the city’s spicy legal beef with Shein (late packages > climate collapse, apparently), a possible underground winery in the works (yes, literally underground), a buzzy new food truck pushing the limits of Hot Cheeto science, and a karaoke awakening that might actually change your life.

Also: historical fiction is having a comeback, Violent Femmes are playing Meritage, and a way to avoid SFO’s emotional spiral.

Let’s gooooo.

NEWS

Porchfest is one step closer to moving up Valley.
Napa is suing Shein over late deliveries but not, apparently, for the whole fast fashion-fueled planetary collapse. Priorities.
Try to wrap your head around the upcoming underground winery.
The Oxbow School goes public.
You can now book a flight from Napa to LA on JSX. Safe travels!

EVENTS

MAIN EVENT

16 | Napa Historical Society Book Club @ The Goodman Library | Historical fiction is having a moment and this book club is riding the wave. Show up for lore, stay for the escapism. | FREE | 6PM-7PM

FAMILY-FRIENDLY

CREATIVE BLOCK

10 | Shellac(ed) Art Show @ Folklore | A record collection you didn’t expect (but should totally see). | FREE | 5PM

12 | Napa Valley Writers Workshop @ Unitarian Universalists | A practical workshop that gives you a new POV on story, goals, and audiences. | $5-$10 | 10AM-12PM

15 | Open House Celebration @ Blue Water Day Spa | Come see why everyone’s talking about this place (there’s a lot to talk about). | FREE | 5PM-7PM

ADULTS-ONLY

11 | 80s Karaoke night @ Barnhouse | Tease your hair and warm up those pipes because vintage Whitney waits for no one. | FREE | 8PM-12AM

15 | Brooks Demo Run @ Harvest Middle School | Lace up and test-drive top-tier kicks (Hyperion Max 3s, Ghost 17s aka, runner candy). | FREE | 6PM

LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

10 | Smorgy @ Sky & Vine | 5PM
10 | Desoto Reds @ The Fink | 730PM
10 | Ronkalunga @ Blue Note | 8PM
10 | Sedona Rose @ Jam Cellars | 8PM

11 | Smorgy @ Yountville Community Center | 430PM
11 | John Pizzarelli @ Blue Note | 630PM
11 | Ears of Maize @ Folklore | 7PM
11 | Ariel Martin @ Jam Cellars | 8PM
11 | Rivertown Blues Society @ Tonewood & Courage | 8PM
11 | Grey Young @ Cadet | 8PM
11 | DJ Rotten Robbie @ The Fink | 8PM
11 | Rave Till the Grave @ The Garden | 9PM
11 | John Pizzarelli @ Blue Note | 9PM

12 | Dawn, Tony & Michael @ The Yard | 5PM
12 | Acoustic Alchemy @ Blue Note | 630PM
12 | Bill Walden @ Lavendi | 7PM
12 | Fleetwood Macramé @ Uptown | 7PM
12 | Road Band Eleven @ The Garden | 730PM
12 | Ellie James @ Jam Cellars | 8PM
12 | Acoustic Alchemy @ Blue Note | 9PM
12 | DJ Willie G @ 1331 Cocktails | 930PM

13 | DJ Lou @ Jam Cellars | 2PM
13 | Island Crew @ Wilfreds | 4PM
13 | People of Earth @ Yountville Veterans Park | 5PM
13 | Smorgy @ Sky & Vine | 5PM
13 | Flat 5 @ The Fink | 6PM
13 | Lindsay Gang @ Silverado Mansion | 6PM
13 | Love Island Finale @ The Garden | 6PM
13 | Patrick Lamb and Special Guests @ Blue Note | 630PM
13 | Violent Femmes @ Meritage | 7PM

15 | Colin Mahar @ The Fink | 8PM

16 | Amplfi Listening Lounge @ Folklore | 6PM
16 | Emergency Jazz Responders @ The Fink | 730PM

ONGOING

MONDAYS
Storytime @ Napa Bookmine | 10AM
Drop-In Wellness Workshops @ Mentis Wellness Campus | 2PM-5PM
Movie Mondays @ The Garden | 7PM
Karaoke @ Downtown Joes | 830PM

TUESDAYS
Farmers Market @ Downtown | 8AM-12PM
Karaoke @ Downtown Joes | 830PM

WEDNESDAYS
Kids Eat Free @ Downtown Joes | 8AM-1AM
Bingo @ Trade Brewing | 5PM

THURSDAYS
First Thursdays @ Oxbow Commons | Through October | 5PM-9PM

FRIDAYS
Drop-in vaccine clinic @ Napa Humane | 930AM-1230PM
Storytime @ Napa Bookmine | 10AM
Fried Chicken Friday @ Southside | Order on THURS
Fried Chicken @ Addendum | FRI-SUN
Buy a Bottle, Pick a Record @ Folklore | 5PM-7PM
Orin Swift Industry Night @ Orin Swift | 5PM-7PM
Fridays in the Park @ Downtown | 6PM-10PM

SATURDAYS
Farmers Market @ Downtown | 8AM-12PM
Saturday Picnic & Live Music Series @ Beringer | Through SEPT | 12PM-4PM
Lobster Rolls @ Heritage Eats | SAT-SUN

Want to see your event listed in the newsletter? Fill out our Event Form!

The Week I Learned Karaoke is Basically Therapy

There’s a reason karaoke feels so good. (And no, it’s not just the half-priced drinks.) We mapped the best places in Napa to scream-sing your way to joy, plus the surprising science behind why karaoke hits so hard in the feels.

READ THE STORY

So You’re Ready to Karaoke? Start Here.

So you’re ready to hit the mic…or at least thinking about it. First of all: you’ve got this. Second: it’s not about being good, it’s about being game. I asked San Francisco-based karaoke expert and consultant Beth Teague for her tips on picking the right song for your on-stage debut. Here’s how to set yourself up for glory (or at least avoid total chaos).

Pick a Song You Know. Like REALLY know. If you only half-remember the lyrics or need to mumble through the second verse, save it for the shower. Choose something you know inside and out — melody, lyrics, second verse. Not only will you feel more confident, but your audience will thank you.
Bonus pro tip: Keep a personal rotation of three to five go-to’s. Think of them as your karaoke emergency kit.
Sing With Confidence. Can’t hit the notes? Doesn’t matter. Karaoke isn’t The Voice but it is all about confidence. If you show up with energy and commit to the bit, you’ll win the room every time.
Surprise Us. If you’re queuing up “Sweet Caroline,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” or “Baby Got Back”… maybe don’t. Everyone’s heard them a million times and your fellow karaoke-ers want a little surprise. Go for something unexpected, like a deep cut or underrated banger. Then sing it with confidence and watch the room melt in your hands.

Thanks again to Beth T. for sharing her deep karaoke knowledge with us!

FOOD & DRINK

One To Order: Change Your Lunch Plans for Contimo’s Mortadella Sandwich

Let’s get one thing straight: mortadella is not just fancy baloney.

Sure, it’s a porky deli meat flecked with fat, peppercorns, garlic, potentially pistachios, berries, or other seasonings (depending on where you go), and sliced whisper-thin. But mortadella is Italy’s O.G. cold cut — an emulsified masterpiece with ancient roots (we’re talking Roman Empire-era), hailing from Bologna and protected by D.O.P. status like a Parmigiano-Reggiano or Champagne. It’s savory, silky, and ever-so-slightly sweet — and when it’s done right, it melts on your tongue like butter.

Which brings us to this sandwich.

Contimo, the downtown kitchen known for their weekly sellout Baller Biscuits and obsessive house-made everything, has turned the humble mortadella sando into an all-caps SITUATION. It starts with slices of mortadella stacked just thick enough to feel indulgent, layered with tangy giardiniera, provolone cheese, and a swipe of Dijonaisse for heat and depth. Add in crisp shredduce (because texture matters), all tucked between a soft, hollowed-out bun (to make more room for the meat of course) — and suddenly, lunch feels like a luxury.

It’s rich. It’s nostalgic in theory, but absolutely elevated in execution. And yes, it’s worth ditching your sad desk salad for.

📍Contimo | 950 Randolph St. | TUE-SAT 8AM-3PM

Find This Food Truck: Mucho Mochi

There are corn dogs, and then there are Hot Cheeto-crusted corn dogs — crispy, chewy, neon-red chaos in the best possible way. Mucho Mochi, our officially mochi-obsessed food truck, is serving up a menu that’s part comfort food, part fever dream. From gooey mozzarella-stuffed mochi dogs to Hot Cheeto meatballs, everything they fry is engineered for maximum joy.

You’ll also find churros, deep fried Oreos, funnel cake, and the kind of “did I just eat that?” satisfaction you won’t get anywhere else. Find them on Soscol Ave.

Small Bites: Food News

The Best of Napa ballots are open. Vote once per day till July 25th!
A clear sign that the much-anticipated Clemintine will be opening soon in Yountville.
It’s a truffle summer at La Toque from July 9 to 20.
Your Michelin guide to Michelin-starred restaurants in Napa and Sonoma counties.
Good Pantry, a new community grocery concept from the team behind Compline and Compline Wine Shop, is set to open next door to Naysayer. The space was previously home to Galaxy Smoke Shop, which has since relocated next to Domino’s on Imola. A move that, frankly, makes a lot of sense.
Napa Hot Chicken is also coming to the Food City location, which will give this area even more kick.
For those of us that trek to Vallejo to pick up Starbread know how lucky Petaluma is to be getting their own bakery.

REAL ESTATE

There’s a Big Surprise Inside This 1930’s Bungalow

We get it. From the curb, this two bedroom, one bath, 1200 square foot 1930s bungalow at 1531 F St. ($685,000) doesn’t exactly scream dream home. But hang tight — that’s just the first act.

Step inside and you’re hit with a wave of vintage charm that’s hard to come by: rich wood built-ins, original wall niches, and that oversized arched window next to a stone fireplace that’s practically begging for a book and a rainy day. It’s warm. It’s welcoming. It’s the kind of place you can really live in.

Sure, the outside could use some love (and that massive yard is practically begging for an HGTV-style garden glow-up), but the bones? They’re beautiful. And if you’re the type who swoons over architectural integrity and sees possibility in a plaster wall, this one’s worth a closer look.

Got a property you’d like to feature here? Hit reply and let us know!

BUSINESS

Your Next Fave: Marquee Pinball Lounge

Some nights, you don’t want a wine flight. You want flashing lights, the clack of flippers, and a cold beer in a dim little bar that feels like a secret. Marquee Pinball Lounge is that place. This retro, neon-lit gem tucked downtown next to Cadet and Moulin, was started by a husband-and-wife duo who got very into pinball and decided to share the obsession.

The space is tight but the beer list is solid (50 and counting) and the machines are pure dopamine at $1-$3 per play. All ages are welcome before 8PM and you can even bring in your own snacks while they work on expanding their food and wine list. Go for a tournament night or just to remember what fun feels like when it doesn’t come with a tasting fee.

📍Marquee Pinball Lounge | 1311 1st St. | MON-THU 3PM-10PM, FRI-SUN 12PM-10PM

The Tourists Aren’t Coming. Now What?

Image: EC2 Studios

In our latest feature, we explore what happens when the usual foot traffic fades and how some of Napa’s most interesting businesses are shifting focus, building community-first experiences, and turning locals into their most loyal customers.

READ IT HERE

The Brief: Quick Links and News

The post office might be getting a new life as a hotel/condo combo.
Apartments may soon be popping up in a (former) section of Skyline park.
The Grapeyard shopping center is getting a facelift.
Brick & Mantel said goodbye to Bel Aire Plaza and moved downtown.

That’s it for this week. Let me know what you think — anything you’d like to see in future issues? Hit me up.

And if you find this newsletter useful, share it with a friend or two (or three). The more the merrier!

Cheers,

🔥 Hot Lawsuits, Cold Cuts, and a Full Moon Party You’ll Regret Missing