A flood engulfed the Napa Valley Opera House this past Wednesday evening. No, it was not the Napa River on yet another rampage, but a torrent of powerful, polished song by the internationally famous baritone, Dmitri Hvorostovsky in concert with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. And what an impressive performance it was.

17

A VOENA CHRISTMAS -- VOENA, Voices of Eve 'N Angels, is the internationally acclaimed, multi-ethnic children's choir that combines inventive a cappella vocal arrangements with percussion, dance and theatrical elements. A joy for the eyes, ears and heart, and one you won't want to miss. Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. at Copia. $25 general/$22.50 member. Info, 259-1600.

NEW YORK -- Many fashion brands can boast Hollywood royalty as clients, but few have loyal royal fans the way Breguet does.

Is one of your goals for 2006 to find your own fashion statement, to dress in a way that helps you to appear your best?

Expect magic and it will start to happen. This is the message of Laura Bushnell, a practicing psychic and author who will be at Copperfield's Bookstore in Napa Tuesday night to sign copies of her book, "Life Magic."

Education

So I'm walking through life minding my own business and then, Bam! I'm pregnant again.

The "Friday Night Live" prototype worship service originated in New York's upper west side. Rabbi Kennard Lipman and soloist Bella Bogart will be joined by a dozen musicians. The event is today at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Sholom, 1455 Elm St., Napa. For information, call 253-7305./Register

When it comes to easy dinners, the trick is to keep the good taste while refining your recipe's ingredients down to a few well-chosen components that work really well together.

Now that the holidays are over, how about giving yourself a present? This weekend, visit the nearest good wine store and buy a bottle of Cote-Rotie, from the northern part of the Rhone Valley of France. You won't find this everywhere, and it will probably cost around $50, but you've earned it. Prepare a big meal, let the wine breathe a little, pour, drink -- and, finally, relax. The presents are open; the relatives are gone. This is your time.

New wine releases next month at Krug

Just as winemakers blend grapes from different lots to achieve a ideal result, so are architects at work combining tradition and innovation, agriculture, technology, production and hospitality to create today's wineries.

Napa vintner Dennis Cakebread is finally sending out cases of wine to thirsty New York state customers, seven long months after a Supreme Court ruling paved the way for the shipments.

Register Staff Writer

Winter Evenings

When a respected chef offers to share his or her cooking techniques and tips as well as treasured recipes, local foodies do more than sit up and take notice.

Tortilla de Patatas

Potatoes la Didier

Persimmon Cookies

If you live in the Midwest or South, chances are you own a home.

When Suzanne Shiff announced her plan to replace the ramshackle shed in her Old Town Napa backyard with a one-bedroom rental cottage, her friends were skeptical. After all, the space was tiny, she was on a tight budget and aren't planning departments notoriously inflexible?

Mueller-Hooten

St. Helena Hospital

Castaldo-Krug

Wicks-Wilmot

BEHLMER -- Keith Behlmer vs. Karen Behlmer, Dec. 29, 2005

BARRIERE-BOYER -- Luis Alejandro Barriere, 46, Alta Loma Drive, American Canyon, to Terrilyn Brianna Boyer, 35, Kentucky Street, Vallejo.

For a pure theatrical experience of the best kind, you would have to go a long way, probably all the way to New York, to beat what's playing at our own Napa Valley Opera House this weekend. Anyone who wants to see topnotch professional actors performing the work of a topnotch playwright need go no further.