Arts & Entertainment

Weekend Planner Sept 9-11

Ukulele at the Opera House, Sondheim returns to Dreamweavers, Napa remembers 9/11 and much more.

Friday

Be prepared to forget everything you thought you knew about the ‘ukulele and meet James Hill, a powerhouse of music of all styles and genres, wielding nothing but an instrument with just four strings. He has been called the “Paganini of the ‘ukulele” and likened to Jimi Hendrix, in the same breath. He can croon with the best of them, and, in the quebecois foot-tapping tradition of Quebec, he can accompany himself with each foot, independently, too. Great sounds!

If you go: Tickets are $25-$50 and can be bought by clicking here. The ukulele’s on fire between 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. at the , 1030 Main Street in Napa.

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Friday:

Mystery author Ellen Crosby will be in the store reading from and signing copies of her new book The Sauvignon Secret in which a seemingly innocent favor sends Lucie and Quinn into a deadly cat-and-mouse game that takes them from glittering San Francisco to the legendary vineyards of Napa and Sonoma, and back home to Virginia, as they try to discover whether a killer may be seeking vengeance for the long-ago deaths.

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If you go: This free event is from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at , 2900 Bel Air Plaza in Napa.

Friday:

“Now it’s hard to remember it any other way.” Band of Horses singer Ben Bridwell’s compellingly evasive lyrical style will never let the listener on to the exact intent of this line as it appears in  “Neighbor,” the expansive Infinite Armsalbum closer, but taken out of the context of the song it becomes a sentiment of currency. The present state of the band is as close to ideal as rock n’ roll can be. Having assembled a true creative and personal collective, designed and signed the record deal of his dreams, and made a fantastic new album free of any influence other than his onstage brothers in arms, it's hard to imagine that Bridwell cares to dwell on any time but the present. It took nearly 2 years, virtual bankruptcy, five states and a dead falcon to get there, but Infinite Arms is the product of a band doing things on their own terms and finally learning to enjoy the results.

If you go: Tickets are $37 and can be bought by clicking here. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. at the , 1350 3rd street in Napa.

Friday-Sunday

presents its first musical in a dozen years with Stephen Sondheim’s classic “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus, the musical tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door, complete with satire, puns, slamming doors and  mistaken identity. The musical's original 1962 Broadway run won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Book and was made into a successful film starring the original lead of the play, Zero Mostel.

If you go: ”A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” debuts with the Opening Night Gala on Friday, Sept. 9. Tickets for the Gala are $40 for all seats and include free wine from Elyse Winery and hors d’oeuvres provided by Sandi Perlman from Napa Valley Emporium. Tickets for shows after 9/9 are $30 for general admission, $28 for seniors 60+, students and military and special $20 tickets for youth under 21. The show runs through Oct. 2 with Friday and Saturday evening curtain time at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online by clicking here or by calling 707-255-LIVE (5483). is in the River Park Shopping Center in the southwestern most building, 1637 Imola Avenue in Napa.

Saturday:

Join  and Suzy Stamper for a Landmarks walking tour around the riverfront of the historic Napa Abajo neighborhood. Learn about the riverboat captains who called this area home and see the spectacular mansions that still grace the streets. Participants will also get a chance to tour the interior of , an architectural gem, located on Coombs Street.

If you go: The tour is $10 for the general public, and  members pay $5. Reservations are recommended and can be made by contacting charlotte@napacountylandmarks.org or by calling (707) 255-1836. Tour will begin at 10 a.m. at the , 600 Main Street in Napa.

Saturday:

Have you heard the buzz?  Chili, beer, wine, live music, dancing, amazing auction items and even bull riding at the Third Annual “Hoedown Showdown” Chili Cookoff  taking place at !  All this fun benefits . Come on over for some rockin' chili!

If you go: Tickets are $25 in advance and can be bought by clicking here, $35 at the barn door and includes chili tasting and two drink tickets. Dinner is also available for $10 and includes pulled pork sandwiches with a choice of two sides.  The fun begins at 2 p.m. at , 3141 Browns Valley Road in Napa.

Saturday:

Four great groups! Two wonderful venues! One fabulous evening! Join the crowd today when the Napa Guerilla Gay Bar, Sonoma GayDar, Solano-Yolo Gay Men's Alliance (SYGMA) and the Vallejo Gay Network come together for what the Napa troops would call "Mission: Mega Meet-up and Maneuvers." The fun begins at Valley Gate Vineyards with a wine tasting and general “mixing” and merriment.  Their horseshoe pit and croquet set will be available for a little friendly competition. Following the wine-tasting head on over to for some al fresco on their patio. Come on over for a great evening of wine, food, friends and fun and like all Napa Guerilla Gay Bar "missions," everyone is welcome: The only requirement is to treat fellow participants (troops), other patrons, the facility and its management and employees with respect.

If you go: This no-host food and wine event begins at 5:30 p.m-8:30 p.m. at the , 1 Kirkland Ranch Road just off Jamieson Canyon Road in Napa and continues at , 3900 D Bel Aire Plaza in Napa.

Sunday:

Today there will be a commemorative ceremony to honor the 10-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks. The ceremony includes a dedication at the future site of the Napa 9/11 Memorial Garden (set for completion in 2012). Selected dignitaries will speak, religious leaders will bless the site and a local choir group will perform the National Anthem. The site plan for the Napa 9/11 Memorial Garden and a piece of steel from the World Trade Center will be on display and volunteers will be present to answer questions about the evolution of the project. The public is invited to join in this special ceremony.

If you go: The ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. at the future site of the Napa 9/11 Memorial Garden, in downtown Napa west of Main Street adjacent to Napa Creek, across from the .

Do you have a weekend event we did not list? Go ahead and add it in the comments to let everyone know other cool stuff going on in the community. Is your event not in our calendar? You can add your own events for free just by clicking here.


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