9th Annual Local’s Choice Awards
The 9th Annual Local Happenings Magazine Local’s Choice Awards voting is now closed. Watch for the winners to be announced in our February 2020 issue.
Thanks to all who voted and nominated your favorites!
From a Friend . . .
We have rounded the corner for 2019, and we are already in the second half of the year. With less than 5 months until Christmas, we are sure that there are a few stores with their Christmas decoration sales already in full gear. We, here at Local Happenings Magazine, are NOT focused on the year’s end but rather the start of the voting for our Local’s Choice Awards. Yes, that time of year when you, our reader, get to nominate and select your favorites in Napa, Solano, and Contra Costa counties. Voting will open up in September, and you can read more about the details a little further in the magazine. You can also reach out to us if you have any questions about how to vote or nominate people or businesses.
Summer is in full swing and the Local Happenings calendar is full of events for you to enjoy. Make sure to visit our online calendar as well because we simply can’t get all of the great events into the pages of the magazine. You can also search online for the specific types of events you prefer the most. We have a couple of stories in these pages about some great events that are upcoming; check out our stories on Music in the Vineyards and the Pittsburg Seafood and Music Festival. Both are great for people of all ages. Remember, the first weekend of October is the Vallejo Waterfront Weekend—make sure to put all of these events on your calendars.
We are also coming up on our 10th anniversary. Our first issue came out in December of 2009—and now 10 years later—here we are! It has been a wonderful ride, not always up not always down. We are so happy to have spent this time with all our readers, and we are looking forward to sharing more great events and happenings with all of you in the future. Please drop us a line and let us know what you have thought about our first 10 years of the magazine . . . we can include them in our anniversary issue!
Now that we have brought up anniversaries, Robert Briseño, one of the magazine’s creators, and his wife, Regina are celebrating their 14th year of marital bliss. We would also like to wish happy birthday shout-outs to our sisters Karen, Barbara, Clara, and to our nephew Christopher. There are many more, of course, to recognize: John, Kenny, Joe, Catherine, Krystle, Jeff, Bob, Pippen, Yvonne, Michael, Duane, Christine, Wendy, Lou, Emily, Debbie, Dora, Therese, Freda, Cindy, Patty, Tricia, Harry, Joanne, Patrick, Cindy, Don, Mel, Derrick, Rich, Diane, Dan, Roberta, Holly, JoEllen, Jim, Eric, Caroline, Bea, Shannon, and everyone else whom we know and love who are celebrating in August, September and early October!
We look forward to talking to you again in our next issue, which will be in early fall. Have a wonderful summer!
Cheers!
Robert Briseño & Deanna Troupe
Touro Student’s ‘Fresh’ Idea is Taking Root
Perhaps it’s fitting that a college located on an island could be seen as providing a bridge to the future, but that’s exactly what Touro University California DO/MPH student Timothy Kim is hoping happens with Pharm Fresh.
Pharm Fresh, in one light, is an urban farming initiative, but from Kim’s perspective represents a paradigm shift in how communities and individuals currently interact with their food, and how agriculture and healthcare professionals can work together with community advocates to reshape how food can promote the health of communities.
Kim won the Student Shark Tank at Touro, which helped him push Pharm Fresh forward and, in earning a San Francisco Bay Area Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, the concept took off and it’s now a fiscally sponsored non-profit urban farm.
A team of healthcare students, agriculture students, doctors, farmers, soil engineers, nutritionists, and community advocates have helped make Pharm Fresh something more than just a collection of greens growing in a lot once littered with broken bricks and shattered glass.
Some community organizations, like Global Center for Success, Vallejo People’s Garden, and Harmony Organics helped Pharm Fresh build momentum.
“We were recently awarded the 2019 Napa-Solano Community Benefit Grant from Kaiser Permanente,” Kim said. The group also co-launched the Touro COOKS event, provides Employee Wellness Program seminars at Kaiser and are launching DIY kits for commercial sale among various other projects.
“We believe medicine needs to shift from “sickcare” to “healthcare,” Kim said, “and agriculture needs to shift from growing calories to growing nutrients.”
Kim’s goal is to have Pharm Fresh serve as a foundation for a network of microfarms throughout the city that serve their own micro-communities while leveraging the larger network for more sustainable and consolidated overhead logistics, and they’ve been working with Sustainable Solano to build that model.
“Our hope is that this model will not only create more job opportunities by offering profit sharing, but also make the supply chain from seed to plate a more familiar, personal, and quality experience that remains . . . centered around the end consumer.”
Touro is developing a food pantry to address students who may be experiencing food insecurity during their time on campus, which Kim had input with. The parallels between the food needs of students on campus and residents in the Vallejo community are part of what drove Kim’s project.
His effort to assist the needs of students and residents alike has drawn praise.
“We are always interested in doing everything we can to ensure student success at Touro,” said Steven Jacobson, Dean of Student Affairs at Touro. “Pharm Fresh not only tackles this problem but it also demonstrates what our students are capable of with the proper encouragement and support.”
As for Kim, he’s cognizant that the seed for his own rapidly growing idea was first planted at Touro.
“The faculty at Touro is made up of some of the most forward-thinking and supportive people I’ve ever met.”
As for his own leadership, Kim doesn’t think he’s terribly different than his fellow Touro students.
“There are so many leaders and visionaries (at Touro) that are working to reimagine how certain aspects of health and medicine are being practiced or utilized.”
Tales of the Kitchen
First Annual Dennis Garvey Cook-off
By Chef K. Marie Paulk
Happy summer to all. This article is a bit different than those of the past, as we want to inform our readers about a local foundation that is doing a lot of great local work … and perhaps inspire others as well. This foundation helps those in need who are battling cancer; and if you went to the Benicia Fourth of July parade, I am sure you all were well aware that Tim and Jeannie Hamman were the grand marshals of the parade.
Since these two Benicia locals give so much to the community, it is not hard to understand why Benicia wanted to give them their moment. The Tim and Jeannie Hamann Foundation has been in existence for five years, involved with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, which they still support; however, when a close friend needed help, they stepped up. They heard their friend had breast cancer and needed help with a poorly running car, so an idea was born: have a picnic in a park and reach out to friends to see if they can raise some money to help her—and it was a success!
Because friends stepped up to help one another, they were able to raise $4,000! Thus, the Tim and Jeannie Hamann Foundation was off and running with the mission “To promote cancer research” and “to provide services and support to cancer patients and survivors” (hamannfoundation.org).
Their story is truly a touching one, and what really touches my heart is that the Hamman Foundation team are all volunteers. No one receives a salary—their entire team does this work because they truly care. They even have gone the extra mile by learning grant writing (again, on their own time). The foundation has several annual events: a dinner auction, a Turkey Trot, and Sip and Shop—all to raise awareness and money for those in need. This year will be the first for the Dennis Garvey Big Rib Cook-off.
Dennis Garvey was a realtor who worked with the Hammans and was instrumental in getting this latest venture off the ground. He and Tim worked with St. Pat’s/St. Vincent’s High School on securing the location for the cook-off. I personally never met Dennis, but in speaking with both Tim and Jeannie, he was a special soul. He lived in a neighborhood where no one was a stranger. If you were new to the neighborhood, he would be the first to welcome you to the area. Not only did he work with the Hammans, but he was also involved with the Knights of Columbus, doing his part in giving back to the community. I’m sorry to say that Dennis had his own battle with cancer and within a few months of being diagnosed with esophageal cancer, he was gone. Truly heartbreaking, but to pay tribute to Dennis, the Hammans are naming this fundraiser after their very special friend.
So, we would like to invite all you semi-professional cooks to participate and show off your skills at the First Annual Dennis Garvey Rib Cook-off. Of course, if you are just interested in eating and tasting the ribs, the cost is minimal at just $20 per person to taste the local talent, not to mention supporting a truly great cause.
So, if you need some inspiration, here is my husband Ken’s recipe for some great tasting ribs:
- Heat the smoker to 250 ͦ degrees. Try to maintain 225-250 ͦ degrees during the entire smoking process. The ribs are done when the internal temperature reaches 175-180 ͦ, but the best way to tell when ribs are done is to follow step 3.
- Place the ribs bone side up in the smoker: Yes, bone side up. He uses a rib mop sauce that has very little to no brown sugar and no tomato products in it. These two ingredients will burn before the meat is done, and can produce bad results. It is best to apply a finishing sauce or glaze towards the last 30-40 minutes of smoking. When applying the finishing sauce, turn the ribs over so that the bone side is down, and then apply the sauce.
- The ribs are done when the meat retracts and exposes the edge of the rib bones by about 1/2 inch or so, and each rib section will tear apart with ease. Grab a rib bone and twist. If it releases from the meat or is pretty darn close, the ribs are done.
The internal meat temperature will be about 175 ͦ when done. An instant-read thermometer is a must-have for checking this. After a few times, you will be able to tell if they are done or not by the feel and look of the ribs.
Using different types of wood will produce different smoke flavors in the meat. He usually uses mesquite, apple, and hardwood charcoal. Too much mesquite can add too much smokiness to the flavor, so use it sparingly. Hickory and oak are also some of the commonly used woods for smoking ribs.
Cut down the middle of each strip of meat between each rib bone. It is easier to see the bone when you slice the bone side up. Add your favorite sauce, and enjoy.
In closing, Jeannie wanted to say to the readers, “If you need help due to a cancer-related illness, do not be afraid to reach out.”
The event will be held Saturday, September 7th at St. Patrick – St. Vincent High School, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please contact Kelly Baldwin at (707) 319-6392 to sign up and compete.
All I can say … there is no better way to make a person feel good about themselves than to give back—and taste some darn good ribs while you’re at it. Hope to see you there.
The Pittsburg Seafood Festival
Where crustaceans and charity meet
By Nate Gartrell
Thirty-five years ago, a small group of community organizers and local business owners unwittingly altered the course of history in the East Bay’s Delta-adjacent city of Pittsburg. Their goal was simple: to put together a modest festival that celebrated seafood and music from around the country in a way that paid tribute to Pittsburg’s diverse history. They planned for a couple of hundred people to turn out; instead, they were overwhelmed by a huge crowd of thousands of folks from all over the Bay Area and beyond. From there, the Pittsburg Seafood Festival became a cornerstone of the city, its “can’t miss” event of the year.
“We all know that this is one of the biggest events in the city. We all get to enjoy the great food, the great music, and entertainment,” then-Pittsburg Councilman Jelani Killings, who has since become the Vice-Mayor, said at a public meeting last year. “I encourage everybody to get their tickets early.”
Since its foundation in 1984, Pittsburg Seafood Festivals have cumulatively brought in hundreds of thousands of people—including internationally-known musical acts—and even more lobsters, crabs, crawfish, catfish, alligator bites, and more, and helped raise lots of money for charitable events in the process. It is by far the biggest festival in Contra Costa County and many call it the staple celebration of the East Bay. Last year’s festival brought in upwards of 20,000 people for the two-day festival, which is why the event’s organizers recommend that you plan out your trip well in advance.
This year, the Pittsburg Seafood Festival will take place on September 7-8, the very first weekend of the month.
“Since (1984), it has grown to become one of Contra Costa County’s largest family events and is now recognized as one of the best festivals in Northern California,” the festival’s website says.
The festival is sponsored by the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, with some funding provided by the city, and security provided by the Pittsburg Police Department. (Since 1972, Pittsburg has helped fund Chamber of Commerce events and other programs.)
For whatever reason, anniversaries that end in a five or a zero tend to garner the most attention, and with that in mind, the Chamber of Commerce says it “has big plans to making this 35th Annual Pittsburg Seafood & Music Festival even more special.” Unfortunately, at the time of publication, the festival’s musical lineup was not available. But last year’s festival was headlined by the iconic singer Sheila E., known for her Grammy-nominated 1984 album, The Glamorous Life, as well as collaborations with Prince, Marvin Gaye, Herbie Hancock, and Lionel Richie, to name a few. The lineup also included Caravanserai, the Santana tribute band, as well as more than 20 other thrilling singers and bands who showcased a diverse range of sounds, performing throughout both days on three stages. So, you know, these guys know how to book an act.
Food at the festival is intended to bolster the Pacific fishing industry’s North Coast (which encompasses the Bay Area to Oregon), but many of the festival’s signature items read off like a checklist for a vacation in New Orleans.
“We carefully screen all vendors so as to offer the best variety available at any festival. Visit the Pittsburg Seafood & Music Festival this year and we know you won’t go away hungry or thirsty,” the festival’s website says. “From delicious seafood gumbos, clam chowders, BBQ oysters, steamed muscles, good ol’ craw-fish boils, lobster rolls, Jambalaya to alligator-on-a-stick, calamari, and shrimp creole —all are available for you to sample during the Festival.”
They will have also have a beer garden with football games broadcasting on giant TVs, located near the main stage, with a nice view of the Delta, as well as a wine pavilion with live DJs and dancing, and a “Margaritaville” area that the festival’s website says will offer, “a fun fiesta experience with tons of Latin flare fun, dancing show horses, live salsa music and entertainment, folkloric costume dance performances, and much more!”
Last year, more than 200 vendors set up shop at the festival, including food along with arts and crafts. The organizers try to switch things up from one year to the next, in part so that attendees can try a variety of seafood and BBQ, but also because the Bay Area has more to offer than you can fit into two days. At the time of publication, the Chamber of Commerce was still accepting applications for folks interested in setting up booths. Applications are open to entertainment acts, non-profits, and businesses, as well as food, art, and arts and crafts, and can be filled out by visiting pittsburgseafoodandmusicfestival.com/vendors.
Tickets are $15 at the gate, $12 for kids, and $10 for military veterans, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. Kids 5 years old and younger get in free. But a number of early bird sales are also being offered (a July sale offering tickets from $8-10 just ended). Until the end of August (or the first 10,000 tickets sold, whichever comes first), bundle packs of four, five, and six will be offered for what comes out to $10 per ticket. There is also a business pack, encouraged for employers who want to treat the folks who work for them, which offers a dozen tickets for $99.
It’s not just about seafood, art, and music, either. Within the festival is an entire carnival for the kids, with “super thrilling bungee jumper, wild and wacky water-ballers, a rock climbing wall, pony rides, an adorable petting zoo, whimsical face painting and so much more entertainment for our younger guests,” the festival’s website says.
It wouldn’t be right for a Pittsburg festival not to include some kind of tribute to the Delta, which is known for houseboat parties and a culture of water sports, including some of the best winds in the world, according to multiple professional kiteboarders. This year, there will be jet ski races by Diablo Jet Ski Action, as well as stunt performances of jet skis and kiteboarding. Paddleboard lessons will be available at the nearby Pittsburg Marina.
The Chamber of Commerce also uses the festival to partner with more than 40 important local charity groups, and over the years the festival has helped raise more than $750,000 towards causes that help the community.
This year offers all-free parking options, as well as free shuttles that will show up at set locations every 15 minutes to transport festival-goers. Those who arrive by car are encouraged to park at Los Medanos College Lots A, B, and C. The college campus is located at 2700 East Leland Road. Shuttles will pick up passengers from those three lots.
If you arrive by BART, regular shuttle service is offered at Pittsburg’s BART station, 2099 Railroad Avenue. However, there will be no festival parking here, unless you want to risk getting a ticket.
The Pittsburg Seafood Festival will last from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days. It is located near Old Town Pittsburg by Marina Boulevard. No animals are allowed, other than service animals with paperwork, and no outside alcohol. Tickets went on sale Aug. 1, and can be purchased at pittsburgseafoodandmusicfestival.com. If you purchase tickets online, make sure to remember to print them out and have them ready.
For additional information, including ticket-related questions, call the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce at (925) 432-7301. You can also follow them on Facebook for regular updates, by visiting: facebook.com/PittsburgSeafoodFestival. To become a sponsor, which includes participation in special acts, and high visibility at the festival (among other perks) visit pittsburgseafoodandmusicfestival.com/become-a-sponsor.
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.
Napa Valley Plastic Surgery
Plastic Surgeons for the Greater Good
A local plastic surgeon takes his skills overseas
By Matt Larson
When it comes to something as involved as plastic surgery, what’s most important is that whoever is providing the procedure is safe, professional, and passionate about doing good work. We spoke with Dr. William McClure of Napa Valley Plastic Surgery, who explained to us how his practice consists of much more than meets the eye.
“Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have attracted a loyal following of patients who trust me, and continue to refer new patients,” he said, noting that it couldn’t be done without his manager and staff who are equally devoted to the care and comfort of their patients. “On my part, I strive to keep up to date on all advances in plastic surgery and continue to innovate.”
McClure completed his plastic surgery training at Stanford in 1984, shortly before being offered a position here in Napa by his senior partners, Jeff Reichel and John Zimmerman. “I was attracted by the fact that they were both excellent surgeons who had also trained at Stanford,” he said. “And a big enticement was that they offered me the opportunity to continue doing yearly overseas volunteer work.”
At this writing, Dr. McClure has completed 86 surgical missions spanning 16 countries. The majority of these missions he covers out of pocket and/or brings his own supplies, but donations and fundraisers also play a major role. If you’re able to contribute to the cause, the work he’s doing overseas is truly changing lives for the better.
“Children with congenital deformities, such as cleft lips, and those with traumatic deformities, such as burn scars,” receive much of his focus, he explained. “My proudest accomplishment had been in 1989, which was starting a plastic surgical teaching program in Vietnam. The program is thriving today.” He began a similar training program in Cuba in 2016.
“We are the only American program accepted by the Cuban government,” McClure stated. “As in Vietnam, it is humanitarian partnerships such as these that bring hostile countries together.” The Cuba program, by the way, is being completely funded by donors in the Napa Valley.
“Napa has never let us down,” McClure added. “Whether for hurricane relief in Honduras, a health clinic in central Africa, a mentoring program for at-risk youths—the citizens of Napa have consistently opened their hearts and their wallets.”
Wineries and local restaurants have donated to many of their fundraisers, some of which were held by the local Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, as well as some local churches. “One long-time Napa resident [who prefers to remain anonymous] has personally donated and raised over $850,000!” McClure exclaimed. It’s as if the support from the community fuels his passion to make a difference even more.
“If plastic surgery was a hobby, I would do it on the weekends!” he said. Now at 35 years in the business after completing his training at Stanford, he doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon. “I enjoy my patients too much, and I love operating.”
Looking forward, McClure plans to bring on younger associates, which will allow him to devote even more time to his overseas work, as well as volunteer projects closer to home.
To any readers who have previous experience with Napa Valley Plastic Surgery, Dr. McClure delivered the sad news to us that his partner of 25 years, Dr. Rebecca Jackson, suffered a devastating injury at the end of last year that may prevent her from ever returning to plastic surgery again.
“She is currently in a rehabilitation program and gradually improving,” McClure said. Her specialty was teaching microsurgery. “She has already donated her specialized microsurgical instruments to a volunteer organization which will continue the work that Becky held so dear … The outpouring of support from her patients and colleagues has been heartwarming.”
In 1998, Dr. Jackson helped to create Taboo Tattoo, a volunteer, community-based program that helps former gang members move on with their lives by removing any gang-related tattoos they may have. Since then, they’ve removed tattoos from hundreds of people seeking a better life for themselves.
From tattoo removal to traumatic deformities, McClure’s specialties run across the board, but he does have one particular skill that is rare among many plastic surgeons. “It may surprise readers to know that many plastic surgeons don’t do rhinoplasties [nose jobs],” he said. “These operations require a high skill level and a degree of artistic creativity.” That being said, rhinoplasties are McClure’s favorite cosmetic operation to work on. Always up for a challenge, he pursued this skillset early in his career.
“Early on in my training I became attracted to this operation and sought out extra training with two of the nation’s most renowned rhinoplasty experts,” he recalled. “I do many of those both at home and abroad. Doing rhinoplasties is as fun for me as carving wood or shaping surfboards, both hobbies of mine.”
Napa Valley Plastic Surgery provides basically every type of cosmetic surgery on the face and body, as well as reconstruction of the breasts and face after cancer treatment. Non-surgically, they provide Botox and fillers, skin resurfacing for wrinkle reduction, medical skincare, and laser vein treatment.
“We are also available to see patients in the emergency room for treatment of lacerations, burns, dog bites, and other traumas requiring repair or reconstruction,” McClure confirmed.
Throughout his career, McClure has been honored by the ReSurge International Foundation, he received the Sister Ann McGuinn Award for Justice from Queen of the Valley Medical Center, and was recognized by the Dalai Lama himself in 2005 as “an unsung hero of compassion” when they met each other at a special ceremony in San Francisco.
Give them a call for additional information at (707) 258-6053, or visit napavalleyplasticsurgeons.com to submit an inquiry, check out their blog, video clips, reviews and more.
With more than three decades of experience, and consistently voted as one of the best plastic surgeons in the region, consider Dr. McClure and Napa Valley Plastic Surgery if you find yourselves or your loved ones in need of their services.
Larson 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.
Napa’s Chamber Music Festival’s Silver Anniversary
Thrive & Jive for the Big 25
It’s the Napa’s Chamber Music Festival’s silver anniversary
By Matt Larson
Is it August yet? If so, at your earliest convenience, start planning to attend Napa’s 25th Anniversary Season of Music in the Vineyards. Four weeks of chamber music concerts await you, performed by professional musicians in an exquisite setting, resulting in an experience that is quite unique, to say the least.
“Music in the Vineyards is a magical combination of incredibly talented musicians, an engaged and intimate audience, Napa Valley wine, and a wine country setting,” said PR Manager Natasha Biasell. “That combination doesn’t happen anywhere else.”
As chamber music is defined as being just that—music played within an often-small chamber—most of their concerts sell out every season, but not every one of them. Naturally, the smaller venues sell out more quickly, but some of the larger venues, with 200+ seating capacity, tend to remain open until showtime. Either way, reserve your tickets ASAP at musicinthevineyards.org.
What you’ll encounter at Music in the Vineyards may be unlike any concert that you’ve experienced. Classical music, played by a soloist, duo, trio or quartet (as opposed to a full orchestra), in a smaller performance venue (as opposed to a large concert hall) is something anyone and everyone can enjoy.
“Our chamber music concerts are held at intentionally intimate venues,” Natasha explained. “We’ve got a really incredible lineup of not just individual artists, but ensembles; returning favorites and some new ensembles as well. And every concert is different.”
Settings for this year’s concerts include a wide variety of Napa Valley venues, including Frog’s Leap Winery, Domaine Carneros, Robert Mondavi Winery, Silverado Vineyards, Charles Krug Winery, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, and many more.
It all kicks off on July 31st at The Walt Disney Family Museum, and concerts are held every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, until the final concert on Sunday, August 25th at Inglenook Winery, closely followed by the event’s official 25th Birthday Party at Tre Posti.
We asked Natasha what has changed the most over the past 25 years of Music in the Vineyards, and what has stayed the same. “In one way, we have grown and developed in terms of our scope, and our quality of music,” she said. “The quality of the musicians that we are now able to attract to our festival is impressive.” But the experience as a whole, she added, is just as special as it’s always been. “On the other side of the coin, the intimacy and the uniqueness of our festival has remained the same.”
Audience members really get to know these musicians; compared to being one of thousands in an oversized venue, being one of a hundred or so at a Music in the Vineyards event makes the experience a bit more personal. And that personal connection goes a bit deeper than you might expect.
“One of the unique offerings that we provide for musicians is that we set them up in houses, with Napa Valley residents,” Natasha said. “It’s one of the reasons why we think they love to come back year after year! They actually get to interact with residents of the Napa Valley and create lasting friendships.”
Pairing musicians with local residents isn’t something new, by the way. In fact, it has been part of the process since the very beginning. “So instead of sticking folks in a hotel, we put them with people who live in the Napa Valley, know the Napa Valley, and who can really introduce them to the heart of what the Napa Valley is all about,” she added. “We believe that actually adds to the magic of that intimacy between the performance and the audience, because you’ve got people on stage who are actually staying in the homes of some of the folks in the audience!”
A new tradition for Music in the Vineyards is the Apprentice String Quartet Program, with 2019 being only its second year. Designed to help a pre-professional ensemble that has been active somewhere throughout the country, this year’s winner, chosen by a national audition, is Indiana-based 2nd St. Quartet.
“They’ll come to Napa and will be mentored at the festival,” Natasha said. “And as they’re learning and practicing and growing, they’ll be performing at local venues in the Napa Valley.” In collaboration with select Music in the Vineyards musicians, the 2nd St. Quartet will perform free concerts in local retirement communities, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Veterans Home, Napa School of Music, The Cameo Theater, and the Yäger Galerie.
2019 also marked the sixth year of the Solo Instrumental Competition, created to foster instrumentalists in grades 10-12 who reside in the greater Bay Area. It was held on March 9th, and winners were awarded a cash prize with the opportunity to perform at a recital as part of the festival. The Competition Winners Recital, including both the 2nd St. Quartet and the winners of the Solo Instrumental Competition, will be held on Saturday, August 3rd at 2 p.m. at Napa Valley College.
Commitment to the local community is obviously yet another aspect of the festival that has continued to grow over the past 25 years. Music in the Vineyards also provides a scholarship program designed to help pay for music lessons for young Napa Valley musicians, done in partnership with the Napa Valley Youth Symphony.
The Apprentice String Quartet program is supported by the Napa Valley Performing Arts Foundation, with matching funds from the Napa County Arts, Culture and Heritage Arts Program, City Council of St. Helena, and donors to their Community Outreach Program.
Partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, residents, and restaurants, have all played a huge role in the success of this event. Natasha gives a special shout out to the venues themselves. “We get to play at incredibly gorgeous venues across the valley, who give us their space free of charge because of their connection to the art community. We are so grateful to these venues for partnering with us.”
There are many, many concerts to choose from over the four-week Music in the Vineyards extravaganza. If you are having trouble deciding which one to attend, Natasha recommends getting tickets to the concert at Markham Vineyards on Wednesday, August 14th, featuring the Pacifica Quartet, now in their 14th season with the festival. “They are a favorite!” she exclaimed. “Their energy, their style of performance, and their love of the Napa Valley is inherent and clearly present.”
Other dates to note are the Bravissimo! Gala on August 10th, Free Open Rehearsals on Thursdays at Napa Valley College, Pre-Concert Talks on August 8th, 15th and 22nd, and of course the official dates for the Napa Valley Chamber Music Festival: July 31st through August 25th.
To purchase tickets and for additional information, head to musicinthevineyards.org. Give them a call at (707) 258-5559 or email them at info@musicinthevineyards.org.
If you haven’t been to Napa in a while and are in search of a new experience, make some calls, texts, faxes—find a date! And make it out in time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Music in the Vineyards.
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- Photo by Chick Harrity, submitted by Music in the Vineyards
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- Photo by Chick Harrity, submitted by Music in the Vineyards
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- Photo by Chick Harrity, submitted by Music in the Vineyards
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- Photo by Chick Harrity, submitted by Music in the Vineyards
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- Submitted by Music in the Vineyards
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- Submitted by Music in the Vineyards
Larson 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.
The Historic Empress Theatre Lights Up
By Nate Gartrell
The Empress Theatre in Vallejo is probably the region’s most celebrated entertainment venue. Named a Vallejo Landmark in 1990, the Empress’ enduring past includes withstanding a devastating fire, the Loma Prieta earthquake, several years of inactivity, half a dozen name changes, and many new owners. If its 108-year-old walls could talk, they’d be able to recite an Encyclopedia’s worth of plays, musical compositions, and movies.
Now, the Empress is better than ever, thanks to the latest series of new features: a city-funded renovation of its sound and lighting systems. The improvements are described by those familiar with the theater as a game-changer, “unbelievable,” and an opportunity to book greater acts.
The invigorating new LED lighting system allows crews at the Empress to do things that weren’t possible before. The system cost $150,000, paid for by grants from the City of Vallejo, which owns the theater. It allows for electrifying displays of lights in all sorts of colors and designs, which—as Empress staff recently demonstrated at a sneak preview in June—can stand alone as its own show. The June demonstration was evocative of a laser show, and featured flashing colorful lights and movement as the songs “Foreplay,” by Boston and “Frankenstein,” by The Edgar Winter Group boomed through the sound system. For those who missed this early display, a video of it can be found on the city’s YouTube page (under the username “CityofVallejo.” It is entitled “Empress Lighting Upgrade.” (https://youtu.be/0YrVNzqPwN8)
“I believe the opportunity for this small financial investment will yield results tenfold both in offering an improved experience for theatre-goers as well as the youth training programs the Empress is looking to offer,” Vallejo City Manager Gregory Nyhoff said. “I was honored to be invited to the sneak preview. It exceeded all expectations. I encourage the community to find a show of their liking and go experience it for themselves.”
Early feedback of the new lighting and sound has contained equally high praise. City officials, council members and local supporters of the arts who attended the initial showcasing described it as a night-and-day shift, saying they were blown away and several of them predicting that the changes will help the theater book bigger acts in coming years. The staff of the Empress compares the lighting system to a kid having a new toy to play with on their birthday and point out the changes are part of a new era for the Empress, which in recent years has gotten some badly-needed stability.
Known previously as the Fox Senator, the Vallejo Theater, the Republic, and the Crest, the Empress returned to its original name in 1980, following a restoration that followed nearly 20 years of inactivity at the theater. It has remained “the Empress” ever since and is now owned by the City of Vallejo and managed by the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation, a California Public Benefit Corporation designed to bolster local art programs and events. Built in 1911, it now seats nearly 500, less than half its original capacity of 1,100 (before it was nearly destroyed by a fire in the 1930s). It spent several years as a movie theater in the 1950s, and still occasionally screens films, but its main purpose is to showcase live performances. Its current general manager, Kevin Frazier, is an accomplished saxophone player who has shared the stage with Huey Lewis (among other musical legends) and knows what it takes to build a successful theater, in both the business world and in terms of acoustics. Each month the Empress hosts a wide array of events, from film clubs and stand-up comedy to classical music to rock and jazz concerts. In early 2017, the Vallejo Symphony announced it was returning to the Empress after several years performing at the Hogan Middle School auditorium. To help accommodate the symphony (and as part of the revitalized sound system), the theater installed new microphones across the stage.
The Empress’ upcoming acts in August and September include tributes to Fleetwood Mac, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Eagles, and the Bee Gees, as well as the blues/tango intersection group María Volonté / Blue Tango Project, Akira Tana and Otonowa, presented by the Vallejo Jazz Society, and Richmond singer Duane Patton. In late August, the Empress will host one of the most popular events of the year, the San Francisco International Piano Festival.
“Now in its 3rd season, the Festival has quickly become one of the most exciting and engaging musical events in the Bay Area and has attracted international attention through its world-class artists, unique programming, and friendly rapport between performers and audience,” the Empress’ website says.
The new sound and lighting improvements have also opened the door for new masterclasses to be taught in the Empress. Starting September 9, classes will be offered in acting, digital lighting, and digital filmmaking. The digital lighting class will be taught by the Empress’ own Lighting Director, Carl Brooks, and all three classes will provide students with, “an opportunity to learn valuable skills to get ahead in today’s entertainment industry,” the theater’s website says. To sign up, visit www.emc2.empresstheatre.org.
The Empress is located in downtown Vallejo at 330 Virginia St. Its box office is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday, and starting one hour before every show. If you’re interested in buying tickets, you can also call the box office during open hours at (707) 552-2400. The Empress can also be reserved for private parties, weddings, corporate meetings, film screenings, and other events. For more information, to volunteer, check the schedule, sign up for classes, and more, visit www.empresstheatre.org.
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.
