Craig Smith

The idea for Compline, the well-received restaurant and wine bar Ryan Stetins and Matt Stamp, Master Sommelier (MS) opened in September, part of First Street Napa near Clay Street and across from Archer hotel, began over wine and dinner nearly four years ago.

Just a reminder that tonight and tomorrow are the final nights of the digital art displays in downtown Napa. The best way to enjoy the art is to walk from building to building, so you can watch each image as it dissolves and evolves into something else. Think of the lights on the SF Bay Brid…

A park full of people came out the Napa Tree Lighting ceremony last week, enjoying 800 cookies courtesy of Sweetie Pies and gallons of hot chocolate from Downtown Joe’s.

Join your family and friends Wed., Nov. 22, 6 p.m. at Veterans Park for the annual Christmas tree lighting.

The community-wide outpouring of support, for both the first responders and those who lost everything in the fires, was and continues to be amazing.

Scott Lyall, owner of Scott Lyall Clothing for Men at 614 Main St. in the Riverfront Building, wants to do something to support those adversely affected by the fires. The question is, what to do?

The city of Napa and Downtown Napa Association are hosting Coffin Races, Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Oxbow Commons.

In-the-know ghouls and goblins will take their empty bags and head to downtown Napa Sat., Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and trick or treat to their hearts content.

In just two years, Whirlwind Blow Dry Bar has become a go-to place for people interested in getting their hair and makeup done before a night out.

…Are the headline band at today’s Blues, Brews & BBQ, and admission is free. If that isn’t enough of an incentive, there are seven other bands on two stages, including Napa’s own Second Street Band, which opens the show at noon.

Now a part of Napa’s fabric, the Main Street Reunion Car Show is a highly anticipated event.

Okay, actually Grace Kelly style is back, via a line of handbags now available at Muguette Renee Boutique at 1409 Second St., inspired by the actress-turned princess.

As they say, there are two kinds of people in the world: Those who like to go out at night, and those who don’t. If you are one of the latter, skip this column and turn to the sports page.

The Downtown Napa Association recently hosted a half dozen travel writers, introducing them to all things new in Napa.

Napa Live: Inside and Out, a music crawl featuring 35 bands playing throughout downtown, kicks off at noon on Sunday.

Downtown Napa’s music crawl, featuring 40 bands at 35 locations, is Sunday, June 4 from noon to 6 p.m.

Michael Bauer, food critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, just released his annual list of the top 100 Bay Area restaurants.

Last year, the Downtown Napa Association (DNA) introduced Napa Live: Inside and Out. A music crawl, the event featured 30 businesses hosting music either inside their store or outside the patio, as well as music in Veterans Park and Dwight Murray Plaza. Because it was a new event, organizers…

Cheryl Richburg, owner of Napa Valley Traditions at Main and Pearl, thinks egg hunts should be for everybody, not just kids, and is hosting one at the store on Wed., April 12, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Indra Fortney, owner of Boho Lifestyle at 1012 First St., next door to Starbucks, lives and breathes fashion – the variety, the fast pace, the creativity and the ever-changing looks.

The Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company opened for business 32 years ago in downtown Napa.

Becky Anderson owns Miyamo, a clothing store for women, located at 1128 First St. The first time I met her was weeks before the business was to open.

Romance’s Big Day is Tuesday.

Want to research an eye doctor before making your next appointment? Check out Dr. Craig Sultan on Yelp, and you’ll find more than 100 comments, mostly from locals but with a visitor or two thrown in, all singing his praises.

During the recent storms, many held their collective breath as the creeks and river rose, wondering if flood control was going to do what it was designed to do.

Jill Brandt, who owns the Napa General Store with her husband Jim, describes their business as a “lifestyle store and community gathering place” that includes a restaurant and wine shop with a tasting bar.

Mother Nature said “no” to last Thursday’s free horse drawn carriage rides, bringing us much needed rain instead. Next Thurs., Dec. 22, will be the last night for carriages, which run from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and begin at Napa River Inn.

John Shackford, who opened Shackford’s Kitchen Store at 1350 Main St. in 1975, said that in some ways the store is stuck in the ‘50s.

Join your family and friends Wed., Nov. 23, 6 p.m. at Veterans Park for the annual Christmas tree lighting.

Winemaker Mark Herold is a scientist, having earned a Ph.D. in ecology with an emphasis in nutritional biochemistry.

...Or not, depending on your perspective, but Halloween is right around the corner.

Cake Plate, at 730 Main St. in the Riverfront building, just turned nine years old.

JaM Cellars (named for John and Michele Truchard, who own and operate the brand recently opened a tasting room at 1460 First St., just west of the Andaz hotel.

Enjoy three suites for Solo Cello by Bach, performed by concert cellist and symphony conductor Thomas Shoebotham, Sept. 25, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Quent Cordair Fine Art Gallery, 1301 First St. 

If Blues, Brews & BBQ isn’t your thing, this might be a good day to clean the gutters or organize that sock drawer.

Now a part of Napa’s fabric, the Main Street Reunion Car Show is a highly anticipated event. Three years ago, the show organizers added a ‘pre-show’ event, to give folks an added chance to take in the cars.

It sounds like a cliché, but as soon as you walk into Greenhaus Spa, located at 1300 Pearl St., you can feel stress drain from your body.

Two of Napa’s favorite events are just around the corner.

Craig Smith's column will return. 

The response to Napa Live: Inside and Out was overwhelmingly positive.