Pica-Pica Maize Kitchen recently opened a bar in the Oxbow Public Market, adjacent to its restaurant. It’s really more of a welcoming social space, much like a coffee house where young and old alike can relax, eat fresh Venezuelan bar foods and maybe a meal. Enjoy a range of beverages including blended fruit juices (batidos,) sangria, other wine cocktails and specially selected craft beers. They also serve ceviche — the bar’s signature food — as well as arepa “bites” and “sliders.” Live music is featured every Friday night, monthly salsa and sangria parties, and “meet the brewer” beer tasting events are on the calendar at www.picapicakitchen.com.

Pica Pica Maize Kitchen’s main ingredient is corn, used in three different types of corn bread, which are offered with a choice of fillings. Breads include, an Arepa, a grilled corn four cake; Cachapa, a 100 percent corn sweet pancake; and Maize’wich, a sweet corn bread.  This is Venezuelan food, which owner Adriana Lopez-Vermut describes as being “fresh, honest food — nothing pretentious and no obscure recipes. It’s food that’s found on the street corners of Venezuela, and is very popular.” Sounds like comfort foodz. If you want something light, the soup and salads are excellent. Stop by seven days a week.

Moving on …

Christopher’s Fine Foods is leaving the Napa Town Center at the end of the month. He’ll have another downtown address, which will be announced soon. His new, smaller location will be a restaurant. Meanwhile, he is selling all of his retail kitchenware and food products at 50 percent off. Get a great deal and help Christopher’s shed its inventory at the same time. Open seven days a week.

Taking it on the road …

Downtown restaurant owners Michael Getvyn of Azzurro Pizzeria, Greg Cole of Celadon and Cole’s Chop House, and Toni Chiapetta of Sweetie Pie’s Bakery will be at the Napa Valley Marriott between 1-4 p.m., today. They will be part of Marriott Chef Brian Whitmer’s first ‘Brian’s Back to School Barbecue,” a fundraiser benefiting the Napa Valley Unified School District’s SC-21 program. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children under 10.

Goodbye, old friend …

Joe and Cathy Salerno closed Piccolino’s after    13 years of operation. Businesses come and go, but rarely do you hear such outpourings and heartfelt feelings for a former merchant. “I’m sorry he’s leaving. Joe is such a nice guy,” is a sentiment heard repeatedly since the doors closed. Salerno is a community leader. A two-time president of the Napa Downtown Association, he was the architect of the Property Based Improvement District, served on the Workforce Investment Board, the Conference and Visitors Bureau board and many others. More importantly, he is a nice guy. MBA schools would probably discourage this kind of thing, but Salerno was known to help an employee with the deposit to get into an apartment, or help pay for a car. He did it quietly and without expectations of a return, but it resulted in a loyal staff, and that many more people who will remember Salerno fondly. Good luck to you, Joe.

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.