By Nate Gartrell
What happens when you take world-renowned musicians and put them in the backdrop of the beautiful Napa Valley, along with the fine wine and cuisine this area is known for? You get what’s become known as a luxury event, a unique getaway designed for intimate, up-close, views of artists and chefs who typically showcase their work on television, or in multi-thousand seat arenas. It all started in 2008, with a Jason Mraz performance in the Napa Valley around the time he released the multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated hit “I’m Yours.” Nowadays, Napa Valley has three such events each year, all put on by FF Entertainment, and starting this year with Yountville Live. The four-day event is a celebration of food, wine, and music, and surrounds the popular annual Taste of Yountville Festival.
“Yountville Live was, hands-down, the most incredible festival experience of my life,” popular singer/songwriter Marc Broussard said in a testimonial on Yountville Live’s website. “The food, the wine, the hospitality, and the music were of a caliber unmatched by any other event I’ve ever been associated with. If I’m not invited back as an artist, you can bet I’ll be buying a ticket as a fan.”
For this year, Yountville Live will stretch from March 19 through March 22. The 2020 lineup hadn’t been finalized at the time of publication, but in the past the festival has pulled in some of the musical artists in the country—David Hodges, the Goo Goo Dolls, Colbie Caillat, O.A.R., X Ambassadors, Foy Vance, Blue October, and the Plain White T’s, to name a few.
“We try and find the next artist who’s about to break and also the artists who are very talented and have big personalities who can perform acoustic guitar with no amplification at a wine dinner,” said FF Entertainment President Bobbii Hach Jacobs. “They’re just very much in that creative tip.”
One of the secrets to pulling this talent, Bobbii said, is simply to extend the Napa Valley’s hospitality to the performers as well as the audience. “I think what’s really awesome is when artists are on the road or on tour—it’s their job—but what we try to do is we not only have them perform and entertain but to enjoy themselves while they’re here and take it all in,” Bobbii said. We encourage them to bring their spouse or significant other. They just don’t have a great experience; they say, ‘Wow I’m all in. Everyone here is so welcoming and engaging—it’s amazing.”
Bobbii said the Live In The Vineyard concept stems from the desire to bring “current pop music” into the area; however, in a way, that’s designed to make the audience members feel connected with the performer, as opposed to being one in a sea of people or watching a singer from two football field-lengths from the stage.
“When you’re at Yountville Live or Live In The Vineyard you don’t need a set of binoculars,” Bobbii said. “You’re right up close and personal with the best chefs, winemakers, and artists right there at your fingertips—to talk to, to see, to be right up there with.”
Yountville Live is still going strong after five years, and the fall Live In The Vineyard event will turn 12 this year. Bobbii says her group will follow Yountville Live with a “Live In The Vineyard Goes Country” event that she said will “come back for a third year with a vengeance” just six weeks after Yountville Live, in partnership with CMT.
“Everything we do is curated,” Bobbii said. “I work off the current releases of artists releasing new music. It’s never about big, big, big, it’s about the sexiest and most authentic experience that my team and I can create.”
“It’s very special; it’s one of the most beautiful little towns in the United States. And you put in the chef component and the picturesque backdrop—it’s really amazing. We took our special sauce, which is music, and put it all together and stirred the pot.”
The musical performances are acoustic or acapella, which Bobbii said adds to the intimate feeling of the show. “Personally, I think [acoustic performances] show the artist’s true raw talent,” Bobbii said. “Anyone can go see a live band plugged in, but very few can see that grit of the artist, where they’re singing their heart out with acapella or an acoustic guitar. It just makes it that much more special.”
Bringing rock stars to the Napa Valley seemed like a “natural fit,” Bobbii said.
“I think music, food, and wine are the perfect combination, and Napa Valley is such a beautiful backdrop. If you take great music and put it in the Napa Valley, it will be even better,” she said. “You throw that in with an acoustic performance and something really authentic and all of a sudden you have this amazing once in a lifetime performance.”
The mood at Live In The Vineyard shows varies greatly from what one might picture when they see lineups containing world-famous musicians. The crowds might be excited, passionate, and engaged; however, when the music is playing, the audiences usually remain silent, Bobbii said.
“You can hear a pin drop when the artists are performing,; it’s very respectful,” she said. “Our return rate is so high for people coming back year after year, that we constantly have to deliver that highest level and never take anything for granted.”
Yountville Live will start Thursday, March 19 and run through Sunday, March 22. The bulk of the four-day festival will be held at The Estate Yountville. Tickets for four days are currently going for $2,750.00 and can be purchased by visiting: eventbrite.com/e/yountville-live-2020-vip-weekend-tickets. For additional information about the festival, including past lineups and a list of wineries and restaurants, visit yountvillelive.com.
For information about Live In The Vineyard Goes Country—running from April 29 through May 1 in Napa (Brad Paisley headlined last year)—visit liveinthevineyardgoescountry.com.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.
OH! I love the nightlife…at California Academy of Sciences?!
Do you want to boogie too?
By Nate Gartrell
For eons, humanity has struggled with the age-old conundrum: How do we make learning fun, especially in an era where mind-numbing distractions exist just about everywhere you turn? Well, the folks at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco appear to have this one figured out. They’ve taken the concept of a science museum and meshed it with a 21st-century entertainment venue. The result is a learning center that’s constantly evolving, and coming up with new ways to engage people of all ages. Show up at the Cal Academy during the day, and you’ll find a planetarium, aquarium, rainforest, and natural history museum all rolled into one; arrive at night, and you’ll find something of a science nightclub, with spirits, live DJs, and seasonal themes that adapt and change around the clock.
A lot of the rudimentary science education that children and young adults receive starts out by teaching concepts, then applying them to the real world. The Cal Academy’s approach is the opposite: its displays, events, and research projects aim to teach you why science is important to everyday life, and then they fill you in on the details behind it.
Take the Cal Academy’s recently-opened “Tis the Season for Science: Life on Ice” exhibit as an example: from now through January 5th, 2020, the exhibit will feature live reindeer, indoor flurries of snow every half-hour on average, musical performances, life-sized models of polar bears and Antarctic penguins, and a Snowman Theater, described in a news release as, “an immersive, digital dome-shaped like a giant snowman,” which will play a show entitled Roaming with Reindeer. The purpose of the exhibit is to teach guests about Earth’s north and south poles, the animals that inhabit them, and how these critters have adapted to survive in some of the harshest places on the planet. The Cal Academy’s website invites guests to: “Enjoy festive live performances in the piazza, a kid-friendly show about reindeer in the Snowman Theater, and learn about our planet’s polar regions to ensure your holidays are chock-full of scientific cheer.”
The Cal Academy’s history dates back to the Gold Rush Era, and it has survived some rocky periods over the years. In 1916, more than a half-century after its start in 1853, the academy moved to its current home in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. However, in 1989, came the mother of all ironies: its building was badly damaged by the Loma Prieta Earthquake, and it became apparent that the place where millions of people had come to learn about science and engineering had not been adequately designed to withstand California quakes. The ultimate result was a $500-million remake in 2005, which forced the academy to move to a temporary new home on Howard Street during the interim; once it reopened in 2008, however, the Cal Academy was bigger and better than ever. Bay Area residents greeted the new, state-of-the-art museum by turning out in droves: the line was a mile long out the door, and the staff was forced to turn away thousands of guests for lack of space.
These days, the Cal Academy is probably best known for its NightLife events on Thursdays, where it becomes a 21+ venue with food, cocktails, a DJ, and constantly-changing themes. Most recently, on December 5th, there was a Star Wars night, where attendees could “wander among droids built by the R2 Builders Club,” or view epic lightsaber battles by the Saber Guild, a not-for-profit costuming group that specializes in choreographed lightsaber performances and is recognized by LucasFilms. The live DJ sets typically have some sort of interesting twist, such as an accompanying light show or a set up where everyone listens to music through headphones, while the actual dance floor stays completely silent (outsiders simply see a large group of people eerily dancing to nothing).
However, if you’re not old enough to drink, don’t fret—the Cal Academy has children’s nightlife covered too, with its sleepover events offered throughout the year. These start at 6 p.m. and last 14 hours, offering live animal presentations, planetarium showings, a chance to spend the night in an exhibit area, and other features. They’ll also give you breakfast before they send you on your way. Nine sleepovers have been scheduled so far for 2020, and they’re already selling out. To book yours (tickets are $119 per guest but discounted for members), visit calacademy.org/penguinspajamas-sleepovers. You can also email them at penguinsandpajamas@calacademy.org or call (415) 379-5854.
The academy’s daily exhibits are one-of-a-kind. Its 90-foot rainforest dome, the largest in the world, recreates the unique South American ecosystem’s flora, animal life, and humidity. “It will instantly transport you to some of the most biodiverse places on Earth,” the academy’s website says.
The Steinhart Aquarium, founded in 1923, is home to 40,000 animals of 900 unique species and allows guests to get up close. You can walk through a tunnel, immersed in underwater life, allowing an “unprecedented view of underwater and terrestrial habitats.” Similarly, the Morrison Planetarium, with its 75-foot dome, offers shows “fueled by cutting-edge scientific data, resulting in stunning visualizations of the latest findings, discoveries, and theories about our Universe.”
These are just a sliver of what the Cal Academy has to offer; it’s impossible to encapsulate everything in a single article. For a full list of features, upcoming lectures, and other events visit their website at calacademy.org.
The Cal Academy is located at 55 Music Concourse Drive in San Francisco. It is open 365 days a year, but has limited hours on the major holidays, like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Eve. Its regular hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. NightLife hours are from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission ticket prices vary with the age of guests but run in the $30-35 range for adults, around $25 for ages 3-17, and around $30 for seniors. Nearly all the academy’s exhibits and features are covered by a single admission ticket. NightLife tickets are in the $15-20 range.
For additional information, email them at info@calacademy.org or call (415) 379-8000.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.
By Nate Gartrell
The San Pablo Bay, the Napa River, and the mighty Carquinez Strait are not only stunning natural beauties, they’re also the reason many of the cities along the northern Bay Area—originally port towns—exist in the first place. They’re also home to rare birds, extensive marshlands, and some of the most overlooked hiking spots around.
Every year for the past five years, Vallejo has been home to a festival aimed at spreading appreciation for the area’s intricate bodies of water and lush natural sites. Sponsored by the United States Forest Service and local groups like the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation, the four-day Visions of the Wild festival draws a connection between the allure of nature and self-expression.
“Our goal is to bring people to nature using the arts, or to bring people to the arts using nature,” said Steve Dunsky, a video producer with the US Forest Service. “We do that using films, art exhibits, talks, field trips, river cruises, things like that.”
Vallejo held the first festival in 2014; it was created as a way for the Forest Service (which has its regional headquarters on Mare Island) to connect with the city that has been its home for nearly 20 years. “We’ve been here since 1999, but it wasn’t until 2014, when we first did Visions of the Wild, that we got really engaged with the community,” Steve said.
Steve, who serves as the festival director for Visions of the Wild, said it’s structured around other local projects and events that all share the common goal of promoting Vallejo arts and the Carquinez area’s ranches, wetlands, and other open spaces. “Vallejo has been through some ups and downs in recent years, and the revival of the downtown area has largely been driven by artists,” Steve said. “As the Forest Service, we want to engage with that community and support the revitalization of our city.”
“In the last five years we’ve been doing this, we’ve seen a lot of real positive things,” he continued. “There has been a burst of energy and excitement about what is happening in Vallejo and Mare Island. We’re excited to see that and also to be a small part of it.”
This year the festival kicks off on September 20th with a reception downtown at the Vallejo Naval Museum featuring guest speaker John de Graaf, a prominent activist and award-winning documentarian who writes, speaks, and creates films on environmental and economic sustainability. De Graaf has a major campaign going on right now called ‘And Beauty for All’—about this whole idea of getting people out in nature to improve their lives.
“Each year, it is a little bit of a different theme. Last year’s theme was changing landscapes, and the year before that about urban wildlife,” Steve said. “This year we are celebrating rivers and trails. It’s about getting outdoors using rivers, trails, kayaking, biking, hiking, and enjoying the scenic beauty of nature.”
Among the featured artists will be Ian Ruhter, an internationally-known photographer who turned heads by bringing back one of the earliest methods of photography, and created a new genre of photography. Ruhter uses the collodion wet plate process, which is said to have been invented in the 1850s when films were manually developed using a concoction of chemicals. Ruhter has transformed a large van into a mobile camera, using it to take giant photographs and project them onto plates of glass. He’ll be coming to photograph Mare Island and his work will be on display at the Naval Museum. Steve tells us he’s also going to teach art classes with local kids at the Vallejo Summer Arts Camp.
The festival will also have an exhibit that pays tribute to the life of Doug Tompkins, a conservationist who founded the clothing company North Face. “This exhibit is kind of a tribute to Tompkins’ work, but it is also based on a quote that Tompkins had that gets back to the concept of scenic nature,” Steve said. “He said, ‘If anything can save the world, I’d put my money on beauty.’”
On Saturday, September 23rd, the festival will hold a Nature Discovery Zone at the Vallejo Farmers’ Market. It will coincide with a chalk festival that day as well, running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. “The Nature Discovery Zone is always based around the theme of the festival,” Steve said. “It’s an opportunity for young people, or anybody really, to learn about the beauty of nature.”
One of the most popular festival events, the river cruises, will take place this year along the Napa River and Carquinez Strait. The river cruises have a cover charge because of the overhead costs for the boat, which is the only element of the festival that does. So, with the exception of the festival’s boat cruises—everything is free!
The four cruises should have a little something for everyone; they include a beer/food cruise, a photography cruise, and two others dedicated to learning about the area’s natural history. “The morning cruises are more informational, but the afternoon ones are more relaxing, recreational, and in an informal type of setting,” Steve said.
We have many fascinating sights to see in the area’s waterways, from century-old shipwrecks to gorgeous views and up-close looks at native animals and birds. For as long as humans have lived in this area, animals have relied on the network of waterways to eat, travel, and simply to appreciate. “It’s a tremendous place for birdwatching, kayaking, and there are levees you can hike on,” Steve said. “It’s a huge area that’s really spectacularly beautiful. Frankly, a lot of people don’t know it’s there or how to access it.”
To that point, Steve said the Forest Service is working with local groups to improve access to the waterways, starting in Vallejo. “One of the things we’re working on with our local friends and Solano trail advocacy group is to try and get more water access in general,” Steve said. “Right now there are no official kayak launch sites in Vallejo and we’re working to get access for people with kayaks, paddle boats, canoes, that sort of thing.”
The festival kicks off on September 20th. For additional information, visit visionsofthewild.org or check out the schedule in this magazine. You can also contact the Forest Service at (707) 562-8737.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.
Run through a rainbow of positivity at this year’s Color Run
The largest organized running series in the world is coming to the Bay Area at the end of October. The Color Run, also known as “the happiest 5k on the planet,” is even happier this year as their theme will be The Color Run Dream Tour. Across the globe, they’ve created a world of their own where anything is possible: unicorns are real, foam clouds exist, and the colors are vibrant as ever.
Held at Alameda Point on October 28th, the run will allow participants to experience getting doused in the classic Color Zones, and they’ll also be surrounded by dreamy foam “clouds” as they run through the brand-new Lay’s Poppables Foam Zone, plus music, giant unicorns, the Dream Wall (a new addition where runners can spray paint their dreams for all to see!), and so much more. At the end of the race, runners can enjoy the Finish Festival where they party with the Runicorn, dance, take photos, and partake in the massive color throws every couple minutes! Have questions? So did we. Our first of which was: What makes this the “happiest” 5k on the planet?
“Just look at the smiles on people’s faces at the run, and you’ll understand where the ‘happy’ part comes from,” Event Director Louis Wills said. “From start to finish, The Color Run is just a fun event—and everyone around the world seems to agree!”
This run is not your average 5k, and even the most average runner is invited to participate. Plenty of experienced runners will be training to get in shape for the event, but you could also just roll off the couch without any preparation and go share in the happiness—judgment free! “You really don’t have to do anything to come out and have a great time,” Wills added. “Just wear white so you can see how colorful you end up at the finish line!”
The Color Run may be the best first impression for an organized run you could possibly have, as it’s all about positivity and just having a good time, and there’s no “winner” as this isn’t a race! It’s simply a run. “The whole point of The Color Run when it started was to create a fun, nonthreatening environment,” Wills said. “We want to encourage everyone to be healthy and have fun, without the pressure of racing the person next to you.” And who knows, maybe after participating in The Color Run you’ll discover a new passion for fitness…
“The Color Run changes people,” Wills said. “People who would never consider themselves runners come out to jog/walk with their friends and family, just for the sake of having fun, and all of a sudden they realize exercising doesn’t have to be hard or boring. We’ve heard countless stories from people who now have a genuine desire to be happier and healthier just because of this event.” If that doesn’t convince you, then you should read it again, then mark your calendar for October 28th.
While this run may be unlike any other, it’s also an experience unlike probably anything you’ve ever done before. The Foam Zone is The Color Run’s newest and most unique element this year. It’s described as being “Cloud 9 brought to life” where you’re invited to run, dance, cartwheel, and/or make snow angels in “cloud-like foam.”
One would naturally expect to meet a few unicorns on Cloud 9; and at The Color Run, you can meet their mascot, Runicorn: the running unicorn. “Runicorn reminds us to keep things fun and lighthearted,” Wills said. “This year, unicorns are everywhere as part of The Color Run Dream Tour to represent everything that’s fun, whimsical, and dreamy about our race. And who doesn’t like unicorns?!” To top things off, every participant will receive a limited-edition Dream Tour race shirt, an embroidered headband, a temporary tattoo, and a one-of-a-kind Unicorn Finisher’s Medal. “Our Unicorn Medal has been a complete hit,” Wills added. “We have people coming out to the race just to snag a medal after! It’s definitely the most unique finisher’s medal we’ve ever had.”
In only five years, The Color Run has put on 300 events in more than 25 countries, making them the largest event series in the world. It’s a run that really is for everybody: young or old, male or female, first-time runner or seasoned athlete. It’s really just all about having a good time, even if you go alone! You don’t need to bring a plus one to enjoy yourself at this colorful party. Friendship is in the atmosphere; and as you get covered in a rainbow of colors, you’ll soon find you’ll have plenty to talk about as you’re laughing with friendly strangers.
To recap: the run is untimed, unicorn-themed, full of positivity, recognized worldwide, and you’ll get doused in colors from head to toe with thousands of your Bay Area neighbors. The Color Run is a true cultural event that you’ve got to check off your bucket list by going at least once. Plus, the Bay Area run is benefiting the American Diabetes Association, so it’s for a good cause as well.
The Color Run Dream Tour begins at 8 a.m. Saturday morning on October 28th. The location is Alameda Point, 1100 W Red Line Ave., Alameda. The cost is $29.99 for an individual, or $24.99 if you’re part of a team—NOTE: Tickets increase in price closer to the event date; so the sooner, the better! For a clearer picture of what to expect, follow “The Color Run” on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and search for the hashtags #Happiest5K and #DreamInColors. To register now, visit www.thecolorrun.com.
By Matt Larson, who is an actor/comedian/director from Vallejo who lives a double life between the Bay and LA. When he’s not writing for Local Happenings Magazine he could be editing a short film or working on his next rap album—who knows!
Keep up with all things Larson at www.MarsLegstrong.com.”
It’s that time of year again. Yes, the Vallejo Waterfront Weekend is back! Right on schedule for the first weekend in October.
Be prepared to see Vallejo showcased at it’s finest. You’ll find yourself thinking the community never looked so good. Featuring some of last year’s favorite attractions with some new surprises, the Vallejo Waterfront Weekend will attract thousands of visitors to the Vallejo waterfront this October 1st and 2nd.
Wanna win a car? At the Vallejo Waterfront Weekend you can! “One lucky winner will be driving home in a brand-new 2017 Chevy Cruze with a 24-month prepaid lease, donated by TEAM Superstores!”
It only takes $5 to enter the Lucky Ducky Derby, and there are only 5,000 duckies to purchase, so the odds of winning are like, 1 in 5,000! Plus, 2nd place gets $2,500 cash, 3rd place gets a VIP package for 4 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, 4th place gets a $1,000 Victory Stores shopping spree … so that’s actually odds of like, 4 in 5,000! At least! Depending on how many duckies you have … pretty decent chances, indeed.
Of course the Whaleboat Regatta will be returning as a major facet of the weekend. Back in the day—‘70s and ‘80s—the Whaleboat Regatta had up to 150 teams competing with some major rivalries going on. It made a brief resurgence in 2004 and is now back for good in its 3rd consecutive year. So get your team together, and they’ll provide the boat! Or come spectate and start placing your bets. (Bets? … shh.)
Getting seasick? Then head over to the car show by Boyz Under the Hood (Saturday only). Judging categories include cars from 1931 and earlier, 1932-1940, 1941-1969, 1969 to present. You’ll also find truck, rat rod, low rider and special interest categories, so for the motoring enthusiast you’ll definitely want to take a look under these boyz’ hoods.
Our community comes together to make this event possible. And what better way to bond with your local community members than a Celebrity Dunk Tank? And this is an election year! (wink, wink) Other attractions include a Chili Cook-off (which is NOT to be missed!), art exhibits, a triathlon and 10k, kayak races, the Gus Vegas Memorial Lite the Nite Glo Run, food vendors galore … there is literally too much going on over the course of these two October days—hotel reservations are highly recommended!
And it’s free admission! So round up the family, call your friends, and experience Vallejo Waterfront Weekend 2016!
For more information please visit www.VallejoWaterfrontWeekend.com.
Matt Larson is a writer/actor/comedian native to Vallejo who travels back and forth from Los Angeles way too much. He’s desperate for attention and urges you to follow him on all social medias@MarsLegstrong. He lives for likes, please keep him healthy.
2016 marks the Soroptimist International of Vallejo’s 77th year of service to the community. They invite you to join them as they host “Hello, Hollywood, Hello!” at their 7th annual Winemakers Dinner, Saturday, September 10th. They will be featuring a six-course dinner, complemented by selections from the Wagner Family of Wine portfolio of Caymus, Conundrum, Mer Soleil and Emmolo. Jenny Wagner is the owner and winemaker for Emmolo Wines and will be the featured winemaker. The Wagner Family of Wine is currently located at Caymus Vineyards in the charming town of Rutherford but is expanding into Suisun Valley. Welcome to Solano County, Wagner Family!
“Hello, Hollywood, Hello!” celebrates Hollywood’s famous years of moviemaking, along with the actors and actresses who are renowned to this day. Vintage dress from the 30’s and 40’s is suggested but not required.
Dinner tickets are $100 per person of which $30 is a donation. They are laying out the red carpet at the entrance!
The goal of the Soroptimist International of Vallejo’s Winemakers Dinner is to continue to fund their programs and opportunities for women and girls to live their dream. Some of these include:
- Awarding scholarships for college-bound high school seniors
- Providing scholarships for middle school girls to attend Tech Trek Science Camp
- Presenting Live your Dream Awards for women seeking to make a better life for themselves and their
families
- Assisting girls graduating from foster care through New Beginnings by providing items for their new
lives beyond foster care
- Providing utility assistance through De Paul Women’s Resource Center
At the end of this fiscal year they will have donated over $40,000, which is 100% of their fundraising proceeds.
With your help as a sponsor they can touch many lives in so many ways. Call for more information on how you can participate!
Thank you so very much for your help in making our Winemakers Dinner a great success again this year!
Sharon Powers, Event Co-Chair 707.246.0803
Jackie Arnold, Event Co-Chair 707.631.1147
Pinky Santiago, Sponsorship Chair 707.649.1100
Soroptimist Club of Vallejo is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization Tax ID # 94-6107900. Any amount donated in excess of the fair market value of goods and services received is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
