Even the most passionate Shakespeare aficionados will admit that among the Bard’s three-dozen-plus comedies, tragedies and history plays, there are some parts that can drag on a bit.

Author, actress, singer and public speaker Julie Caitlin Brown has one message: “Love First.”

“Seraphim Falls” — The film comes from Mel Gibson’s company, Icon Productions, but it’s so creatively and consistently violent you’d think Gibson himself directed it, too.

LOS ANGELES — R&B singer Brandy was involved in a four-car freeway crash last month that left a 38-year-old woman dead, authorities said Wednesday.

PARK CITY, Utah — At a festival that features several films with sexual content, including full male nudity and a documentary about bestiality, a Southern Gothic tale that includes the rape of a young girl is causing the biggest stir.

LOS ANGELES — A federal judge on Wednesday refused to hear a lawsuit brought by the father of Ronald Goldman over the money paid to O.J. Simpson for his unpublished book, “If I Did It.”

• WHERE IS Wii? Who would have thought, given all the publicity surrounding the PlayStation 3’s arrival last fall, that the Nintendo Wii would be the must-have console of the new year?

TOKYO — Square and loud, SpongeBob wasn’t supposed to have much chance for success in Japan, a nation famous for its love of more cuddly characters like Hello Kitty and Pikachu.

Writer Susannah Grant, directing for the first time with “Catch and Release,” seems to be aiming for the same kind of meaty chick flick she’s come up with before in “28 Days,” “Erin Brockovich” and “In Her Shoes.”

It’s rare that a video game comes along that’s so original that it doesn’t fit into any pre-existing categories. Take Nintendo’s “Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day.” Is it an educational game? A puzzle game? Or (heaven help us) “edutainment”?

When an aspiring young musician of 17 has a chance to get sage advice from one of the great professionals of our day, it often has lasting influence.

San Francisco Chronicle film critic Mick LaSalle returns for his fourth annual Napa Valley Arts & Lectures appearance on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at Copia.

Students from Napa County will compete in the second competition round of Idol NV at the Napa Valley Opera House Saturday.

More than a concert, “In the Mood” takes a look at the life and time of America’s greatest generation with music and dance that combines up-tempo Big Band rhythms with intimate ballads. The String of Pearls Big Band orchestra and cast of 24 singers and dancers bring back the music that moved a nation’s spirit more that 60 years ago,

One of the Bay Area’s favorite entertainers, Val Diamond, returns to the Napa Valley on Monday night to serenade fans gathered at Copia.

LONDON — Coca-Cola Co. has reached an agreement with an unsigned London ska band over the global soft drink giant’s use of the band’s material in TV ads.

Napa Valley College presents “Faculty and Friends” a vocal recital Sunday at 3 p.m. in the NVC Theater

The 14th annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival kicks off this weekend with the traditional food, wine and arts gala, Mustard Magic, at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena.

Familiar melodies, virtuoso saxophone playing and a dash of the contemporary highlighted Sunday afternoon’s concert by the Napa Valley Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Asher Raboy.

Celebrating the release of a new compact disc and their first local performance of the decade, California Zephyr will bring its rich, folk-inspired harmonies and songs to Copia next week as part of the Community Spotlight Concert series.

Editor’s note: Colin McCuen, a senior at Napa High School, provided this piece on a visit by Wynton Marsalis to Napa last fall. Through a computer glitch, it got lost on its way to the Register, but it has finally arrived and we wanted to include it today with our coverage of his brother’s visit.

Napan off to D.C. leadership forum

From Register staff

Tim Mondavi  announced yesterday that Continuum is the name of the new wine produced by the partnership of Tim and Marcia Mondavi, their families, and Robert and Margrit Mondavi.

Ed Sbragia had been making wine at Beringer Vineyards for about 25 years when he made a big career move. At a time when some people might consider retirement, Sbragia took on even more winemaking responsibility — he formed Sbragia Family Vineyards to make and sell wine from his family’s property in the Dry Creek area of Sonoma County.

With the 16th annual Zinfandel Festival at Fort Mason coming up on Saturday in San Francisco — the largest single variety tasting in the world — a retrospective on zinfandel as a world-class red wine seems appropriate.

I love Port, and I use the capital “P” to denote the real stuff from Portugal.

Each Tuesday The Register reviews an area restaurant, with an emphasis on establishments where a couple can dine for $30 or less. Reader suggestions are welcomed.

Ever imagine yourself cooking with the big boys — or gals, for that matter?

Real men don’t rely on significant others to cater their Super Bowl parties. With a bit of planning and the right recipes (read as easy), even a kitchen idiot can pull together a Bowl bash that keeps guests munching during the big game.

Gone are the days when the grill was the only spot manly men could express their culinary leanings. A wave of man-friendly foods, gadgets and food-media have made it safe for guys to get in the kitchen. Here are a few recipes to play with while there.

NEW YORK -- You're out of Mom's house, you've left the dorms, you're up off your friends' futons. You're a young, single man with your own home, and it's time to start living that way.

All about olives

Meet Jack Frost

LAS VEGAS -- Congratulations! You're pregnant. Now comes the stressful task of figuring out which baby gear you actually need. It's easy enough to head to the baby store, grab the scanner gun and beep on every item in sight for your registry.

Coping with the cold

Jennifer Carte and Erich Jinks, both of Napa, were married on Sept. 28 at Robinson Family Vineyard. The date was chosen because it is the birthday of the bride's paternal grandfather, who passed away in 2002.

Ruth Mariana Rivera and Brandon Ignatius Glenn, both of Napa, announce their engagement with plans of an outdoor wedding planned for June 30 of this year at Sand Harbor, Nev./Lake Tahoe, Nev. The romantic proposal took place while boating at sunset on Bucks Lake, Quincy, on Aug. 11.

Melissa Fore and Chris Walden, both of Napa, announce their engagement to be married on Aug. 4 at the bride's family home.

Heather John and John L. Fogarty, both of Los Angeles, announce their engagement to be married on June 2 in the Napa Valley.

Jenny Rement King and David Lee Bryant III, both of San Diego, announce their engagement to be married in Napa Valley in the fall.

DOYLE-CAPOOT -- Robert Donald Doyle, 27, Kansas Avenue, Napa, to Amanda Star Capoot, 23, Kansas Avenue, Napa.

BARSKY -- Judy Barsky vs. William Barsky, Jan. 8, 2007

Kaiser Vallejo