Hey Napa,

I’ll skip the "it’s been a minute" speech, mostly because we both know it’s been more like an entire season. But after a few months of radio silence, Among Locals is officially back in your inbox, and honestly? It just feels right.

I’ve spent my hiatus falling back in love with the stuff that doesn’t make the postcards: the every-night-is-karaoke-night at Downtown Joe’s, the DIY crafty hubs, and the third spaces that keep us sane (ahem, the library). I'm coming back with a fresh obsession for the people and projects that make this place actually interesting.

In this week’s issue: we’re dissecting the 2026 BottleRock lineup (it’s 1998 again), mourning the BART-to-Napa dream that almost was (a really interesting piece from NVR), and launching a new tool to ensure you never have to play hide-and-seek with your favorite taco truck again (a pain point we’ve all experienced).

It’s good to be back in the mix. Let’s get into it.

di Rosa Preserve is For Sale.
Big news for the Carneros area: the di Rosa is listing its iconic 217-acre spread for $10.9 million to help build a forever fund that secures the nonprofit’s future. Don’t worry, the museum isn’t going anywhere - they’ll keep the downtown gallery and rotating shows going, and because the land is protected by the Land Trust, that beautiful landscape we all know isn’t going to change. It’s a major pivot, but it's all about keeping the art and the vibe alive in Napa for the long haul.

The Big 2026 BottleRock Reveal.
The lineup for BottleRock 2026 is officially here, and it’s officially the perfect mashup of Alice, Live 105, and KMEL throwbacks (AKA, the soundtrack to my entire high school experience), with some current hit makers mixed in for good measure. Plus there’s enough culinary star power to make you forget you’re standing on a hot field.

Napa’s Almost History.
A fascinating new look at the ambitious projects that almost redefined the county. From the dream of turning Redwood Creek into a regional water recreation paradise to the long-lost hope of bringing BART into the valley, these died-on-the-vine ambitions remind us that Napa’s current landscape is as much about what didn't happen as what did.

Napa Gets Crafty.
In a move that will delight local makers, Blue Tin Fabrics is officially moving into Jeffries General. It’s been a long wait for a proper downtown fabric store; now, the DIY set finally has a local hub to source materials for their next project without a trek out of the county (or whatever you can find at Michael’s).

The modern lament is that third spaces, those essential social anchors outside of work and home, have been priced out of existence or hidden behind club memberships. But they do exist in Napa; we’ve just forgotten where to look.

Sorin Street, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley, is proving that a third space isn’t a luxury lounge, but a Friday night futsal game. By providing free pickup soccer for local youth, they’re reclaiming the idea that community happens best when there’s a ball, a safe space to play, and absolutely no barrier to entry.

Want to give a shout out? From hidden community hubs to the people keeping Napa weird/cool/functional—we want the tea. Tell us everything here.

26| Profs & Pints: Frankenstein @ Napa Yard | 6PM | $13.50+
Ever wonder if we’re actually the monsters? Grab a cold one at Napa Yard and join the ultimate deep dive into the gothic, chaotic world of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Powerpoint parties are definitely having a moment so we’re trading boring lectures for intellectual entertainment. We’re talking sharp slides, chilling history, and a vibe that’s way more unhinged niche than high school English.

23 | Gnome Jams @ Napa Yard | 5PM-8PM | FREE ENTRY
Justin Diaz provides the soundtrack for an evening of outdoor tunes and roaming literal gnomes that is, mercifully, both dog- and kid-friendly.

27 | Candle Making Class @ NVEF Discovery Campus | 6PM-8PM | $65
Oh, the siren song of the cozy girl aesthetic in winter. Learn the science of scents and pour your very own custom candle. Your abode is about to smell incredible. 

28 | Liz Moore Author Talk @ Virtual NVL | 4PM-5PM | FREE 
Its mindblowing that this virtual event is totally free. Did you read God of the Woods, yet?

23 | Mother of Sauces Cooking Class @ PLAYTE Kitchen | 5PM-8PM | $150 
Enter your Chef era. Head to PLAYTE Kitchen to master the five mother sauces that make literally everything taste better.

24 | Argentinian Empanadas Cooking Class @ PLAYTE Kitchen | 11AM-2PM | $150 
Forget the takeout. Learn to hand-fold the perfect Argentinian empanada. Come hungry, leave with a new personality trait: Empanada Expert. 

24 | Paint Pottery Workshop  @ Covet Napa | 4PM-6PM | $75 
Get off your phone and get your hands dirty. It’s the perfect afternoon to tap into your creative side and customize a piece that’s actually aesthetic.

28 | Book Club: The Authenticity Project @ Azur | 530PM-630PM | FREE Entry 
Got the book? Check. Devoured it? Check. Meet up at Azur to discuss the secrets, the drama, and everything in between with fellow readers? Obvi.

22 | Cocktails With Kyle: Dry Jan Edition @ The Club Room | 630PM-9PM | $55+ 
Join Kyle at The Club Room for an alcohol-free mixology session that’s high on vibes and zero on the hangover.

23 | Women in Health & Wealth @ Pure Barre | 2PM-530PM | Register
Build some literal and figurative core strength at this three-part series kickoff. Start with a Pure Barre sweat session before pivoting to an unfiltered talk with owner Kim Jacobs on the grueling jump from corporate life to business ownership (which, not to brag, but we know a little about already).

25 | Bodyrok @ The Garden | 830AM-1030AM | $25+ 
A high-intensity, low-impact sweat session at The Garden first thing in the AM? Sure. It’s all about those good endorphins moving. And you know what they say about endorphins…

25 | Vision Board Party @ Azur | 12PM-2PM | $46+ 
Manifesting is cool, but having a plan (and wine) is better. 

25 | Intention Setting & Vision Boarding @ Decant | 1230PM-330PM | FREE Entry 
Find your focus and set your intentions for the year. Bring your big ideas and a positive mindset. 

25 | Drag Chateau @ Folklore | 1PM | $13
Sundays are for the queens. It’s the ultimate weekend vibe - expect major looks, major talent, and a whole lot of fun. Bring your singles (or fives).

26 | Lawyers in the Library @ NVL | 4PM-6PM | FREE 
Adulting is hard, but getting legal advice shouldn't be. Swing by the NVL for free, low-pressure guidance from actual pros.

23 | King Kyote @ Quilt & Co. | 7PM
24 | Megadeath MegaWeekend Release Party @ Folklore | 12PM 
24 | Nina Gerber & Chris Webster @ The Grange | 7PM 
24 | Rook’s Night @ Folklore | 7PM
24 | Kenji Yoshida @ The Garden | 8PM 
24 | IMOMSOHARD @ The Uptown | 8PM
25 | King Kyote @ Quilt & Co. | 4PM 
25 | Tyler Edwards @ The Fink | 6PM
27 | Take it to the Limit @ The Uptown | 730PM 
28 | Dave Ruane @ The Fink | 7PM 

Jan 17 - Feb 15 | Napa Lighted Art Festival @ Downtown 
Jan 19 - Feb 15 | From Broadway With Love @ American Legion Hall

Check out our new CALENDAR page for ongoing weekly events and themed nights at your favorite places around town!

March 01 | Napa Valley Marathon @ Everywhere
April 23-26 | Napa Valley Streamfest @ Various
May 22-24 | BottleRock @ Napa Fairgrounds 
May 30-31 | La Onda @ Napa Fairgrounds

I’ll be honest: I didn’t think I was a boba scholar. I always figured a tapioca pearl was just a tapioca pearl until I had the brown sugar boba at Cha Na Tea House. It was so good it actually sent me down a rabbit hole to figure out why every other boba I’ve had suddenly felt subpar.

The obsession starts with the texture, which the pros call "QQ" — that perfect, bouncy snap that isn't mushy or a workout for your jaw. It turns out that’s a result of some serious temperature-control chemistry, but all you really need to know is that these pearls are soaked in a house-made brown sugar syrup until they’re caramelized all the way through.

You can add these pearls to anything, but they really sing in the Brûlée Brown Sugar Latte or the Matcha Latte. Watching the warm, dark syrup swirl into the cold milk (or oat milk) and earthy matcha is peak afternoon beverage.

📍Cha Na Tea House | 1453 W Imola Ave

We are spoiled for choice when it comes to food in Napa, but street food has to be our favorite. It’s real, it’s made from the heart, and it connects our communities. That’s why we want to make it easier for locals (and visitors) to find their next fave.

We’re officially launching the Among Locals Street Food Finder, and we’re looking for 5 Pioneers to help us lead the way.

To celebrate, we’re giving our first five vendors to sign up the royal treatment. We’re talking a full year on the platform, a professional photoshoot with a Michelin-level storyteller, a custom-written legacy bio, and a dedicated newsletter spotlight to our audience.

Ready to get on the map? These spots are first-come, first-served so claim yours before someone else takes your corner.

Forget the fussier, sit-down spots on Main Street. IYKYK, you’re heading to The Grapeyard strip mall on Jefferson for the Pescado taco at Mother’s. It’s a husky slab of beer-battered gold that actually respects the structural integrity of the (handmade, heirloom corn harina) tortilla.

And speaking of the tortilla, it’s a standout on its own. Nutty, sturdy, and a world away from the store-bought stuff. Topped with a punchy chipotle mayo and just enough cabbage for some acidic snap, it’s the kind of culinary win that immediately ruins every other fish taco for you.

Order two. Trust me.

📍Mother’s Tacos | 3150 A Jefferson St

Love Park Pretzels is doing more than just perfecting the local snack game; they’re spending 2026 clearing the shelters. This month, they’ve partnered with the Napa County Animal Shelter to fully sponsor the adoption fees for senior animals and long-term residents who just need the right introduction.

The January tab is already settled for Rayo, a soulful 10-year-old Husky, and Charlotte and Doormouse, two cats who are ready for a couch of their own.

High praise to Love Park Pretzels for putting their money where their heart is. Supporting a local business that makes sure no pet gets left behind? That’s an easy choice. If you’ve been looking for a sign to add a four-legged roommate to your life, this is it.

Head to the Napa County Animal Shelter to meet the crew, or check out the shelter’s page to see who’s still looking for a home. LuLu is also waiting to meet her match.

That’s it for this week! It’s good to be back.

Until next time…