The second annual Main Street Reunion car show is Aug. 15, and features 400 pre-1976 cars. Last year’s event drew more people to downtown than any event  has in at least the past 15 years and attendees loved it. The Napa Valley Cruisers organize this, and they do it right.

The show actually began in 1998, and ran successfully for five years when the Cruisers decided to take a year off. “We are all volunteers,” said Rich Garcia, a past president of the Cruisers, “and we had some other stuff come up. We figured we’d take a year off and start fresh.” As things happen, one year turned to six. The show came back with a vengeance last year, and is likely to be around for a long time. The show runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. Two music stages and plenty of food and beverage. For more information or to register a car, go to www.napadowntown.com.

He’s baaaack …

If you haven’t heard, Chino Yip, original owner of First Squeeze, re-purchased the business after selling it three years ago. “I missed everybody downtown,” Yip said. Returning with him is much of the original staff and the (slightly revised) original menu. It is open for breakfast and lunch, seven days a week at 1126 First St. 224-6762.

If you like beer …

You’re gonna love Blues, Brews and BBQ, Aug. 29 in downtown Napa. The music line-up will blow blues aficionados away, but the beer! Twenty micro-brews, many that you’ll have a hard time finding elsewhere. We’re talking Dogfish, Alaskan, 21st Amendment, Lagunitas, Boston Beer, Pyramid Ale, New Belgium Brewery and more. These will be their smaller beers. Noon to 6 p.m. Just want to listen to music? Admission is free. www.napadowntown.com for information.

That’s a wrap…

The 15th annual Chefs Market season has come to a close. Attendees seemed to like it — crowds were the size of the old Friday night crowds — and merchants were happy. If you didn’t attend this year, the music, children’s area and chefs demonstrations in particular were quite an improvement over prior years.

Much of the credit for the market goes to Julie Morales from the Napa Downtown Association, who oversees it all. As she does with everything she takes on, Julie poured her heart and soul into the market, working many late nights to ensure that it would be the best it’s ever been. People have no idea how much hard work it is to create an event, and Julie does it with a smile. She has also been organizing the Fourth of July event for the past five years and manages Napa City Nights, the free Friday night concerts in Veterans Park. She does it all because, well, because she’s Julie, and because she loves to create a good time for others.

There are a couple dozen people there every week to make sure that the free Chefs Market goes on every Thursday night. On behalf of the thousands of Napans who enjoy the market every week, thank you to all of you.

See you downtown!

Craig Smith is the executive director of the Napa Downtown Association, and can be reached at 257-0322 or craig@napadowntown.com.