Art notes: Neil Sedaka concert rescheduled
The Neil Sedaka Pops Concert with the Napa Valley Symphony, originally scheduled for Feb. 24, has been rescheduled to May 26, due to a medical emergency for Sedaka. Tickets for the Feb. 24 concert will be honored at the May 26 concert. If you cannot attend on the rescheduled date, contact the Napa Valley Symphony as soon as possible to indicate if you would like a tax receipt for your donation or a refund. The symphony can be reached at 226-8742 or www.napavalleysymphony.org.
Biblical glimpses become novels of passion and temptation
Eva Etzioni-Halevy’s own life is the stuff of novels, but she prefers to set her fiction in the ancient, legendary times of the Bible.
Pocket Opera in Napa: Before ‘The Simple Life’ there was ‘Martha’
Lady Harriet is blessed with everything usually considered desirable — youth, beauty, intelligence, charm, wealth and position. Living under the placid rule of Queen Anne in an era of relative peace and prosperity (for the lucky few), why is she unhappy? Why the ennui, melancholy, discontent and restlessness? What is the missing ingredient?
Cooper shines, spies lie craftily in ‘Breach’
Hollywood’s dreary season has been infiltrated by an interloper. The spy thriller “Breach” is an unusually smart, tense and engaging film amid the usual dreck that lands in theaters this time of year.
Film capsules
“Bridge to Terabithia” — There’s something endearingly quaint about the images and ideas presented here, the notion that the most troubling force in a kid’s life could be the fear of a bully on the school bus. The special effects in this coming-of-age fantasy tale, though, are extremely high-tech — yet feel distractingly clunky. (They come from Weta Digital, the same company that designed the visuals for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.) Effortless performances from the two young stars ultimately make this movie worthwhile, regardless of the age of the kids watching. Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb star as the outcasts of Katherine Paterson’s book, who form a friendship based on loneliness and a shared love of imagination. They merge his artistic skills with her talent for storytelling to create a magical land where they rule as king and queen. Robert Patrick plays Hutcherson’s gruff, hardworking dad, with Zooey Deschanel (lovely as always) as the kids’ supportive music teacher. If you’ve never read the book, here’s a bit of advice: Bring Kleenex. PG for thematic elements including bullying, some peril and mild language. 95 min. HH 1⁄2
Harold & Marian: Then and now
Love — what can’t it do? In Meredith Willson’s “The Music Man,” the tender passion thaws a spinster, reforms a swindler and conjures that marvelous marching band — all to the tune of unforgettable melodies.
O is for Olivia
Olivia Voss sits in a dark corner, facing the evening’s audience; she flashes a Crest-white smile at the bar, then turning her attention to the dining room she announces her next song. Acoustic guitar in tune she begins:
Public input sought in effort to create a road map for the arts in Napa County
In the last five years, donors and funders in Napa County have invested close to $150 million dollars in the arts — without an overarching plan. The result?
The Police plan first tour since 1984 breakup
WEST HOLLYWOOD — The Police announced their first tour in decades Monday at a rehearsal at the Whisky a Go-Go as a throng of fans crowded near the legendary Sunset Strip nightclub.
Lamplighters brings a merry 'Merry Widow' to the Opera House
If you walked into the Napa Valley Opera House Saturday night pondering weighty matters such as the collapse of Western civilization, you quickly lost your moribund mindset. That’s because for its third visit to the Opera House, San Francisco’s resident musical troupe, the Lamplighters, chose one of the most popular and delightful operettas of all time, Frank Lehar’s “The Merry Widow.”
Miss Napa County contestants vie for the crown this weekend
Twelve semi-finalists will compete in the 2007 Miss Napa County Scholarship Program Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Napa Valley Opera House. The program is a preliminary to the Miss California and Miss America competitions.
Sir James and Lady Jeanne present a Valentine’s Day gem
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, comes a bouquet of classical and romantic gems with a lollipop finale. Flutists Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway headlined the latest in the current season’s subscription series presented by the Napa Valley Symphony.
Game bytes: Feb. 15
• Atomic Doug: Most players have never heard of Doug Lowenstein, but his impact on video games far outweighs that of, say, John Madden or Tony Hawk. Since 1994, Lowenstein — as president of the Entertainment Software Association and its predecessor, the Interactive Digital Software Association — has led the fight against video-game censorship. Alas, he’s leaving the industry, but not before he delivered a stinging valedictory speech at the DICE (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit, an annual gathering of industry pooh-bahs in Las Vegas.
M0D3RN L0V3
Editor’s note: We asked readers to share their experiences with online dating for Valentine’s Day, and as the tales came in we noticed a startling thing: They were nearly all happy ones — quite a shock to a journalist. In one case, both partners sent their stories. Thanks to readers for sharing them. Sasha Paulsen
Napan Larry Wallace honored for 35 years of service with Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America will present the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award a volunteer can receive, to Larry Wallace of Napa for his service to local youngsters.
Community Bulletin Board
Education
Black-eyed peas create a healthy spread rich with vegetables
You’ve got to love beans.
Boil up the ‘bon temps’
The crab feed is the local tradition but here’s another idea for easy entertaining for a crowd: Boil everything in one pot, and when it’s done, drain it and tip the contents out onto a table and let the guests fill a plate. Tongs are optional.
Displaced New Orleanians bring Mardi Gras traditions with them
When Hurricane Katrina forced Mary Prater to flee New Orleans, she left much behind, including cherished family heirlooms.
The healthy plate: sweet and tangy mango barbecue sauce for chicken
The most important thing to remember about healthful cooking — if it doesn’t taste great, it doesn’t get eaten.
Sturgeon eggs add luxury to Valentine’s Day
Once so costly and rare that it was reserved for czars and emperors, now fresh caviar is often farm-raised and can be enjoyed by the masses — at least on special occasions, like Valentine’s Day.
Deconstructed tuna salad sandwich makes for an easy, impressive dish
Generally, I shy away from any menu item modified by “deconstructed.”
Register recipes: Feb. 13
Mini Shrimp Boil
LA judge imposes probation and millions in restitution in wine fraud
LOS ANGELES — A Colorado man who bilked millions of dollars from clients for wine futures was sentenced Monday to five years of probation, two years of home confinement and ordered to pay $11.2 million in restitution.
Wine notes: Feb. 15
The Napa Valley Grapegrowers present “The Future of Napa Valley: Beyond Hang Time,” a seminar for the winegrape industry March 8, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Copia.
A true Napa Valley wine
What, exactly, is a Napa Valley wine? It’s difficult, if not impossible, to define, because all 14 of Napa Valley’s American Viticultural Areas, or sub-appellations, as they are often called, produce wines with different characteristics.
Added lighting makes home safer as well as brighter
Adding lighting to your home can make it safer and brighter, and can also make it easier to accomplish everyday chores and projects in the kitchen and many other areas.
Seed catalogs entertain as well educate and enlighten
NEW MARKET, Va. -- Maybe there should be an Academy Awards kind of event for people who create seed and garden catalogs. They certainly deserve it, having entertained and enlightened generations of growers with their carefully crafted prose and collector-quality pictures.
Color my world - Joan Osburn gives colorful advice
Designer Joan Osburn knows color. In fact, she consulted on the Sunset book, "Color for Your Home."
Organized World
The Benefits of Organizing
SF Orchid Society hosts 'Fantasia'
The San Francisco Orchid Society presents the 55th Pacific Orchid Exposition, "Orchid Fantasia," featuring more than 150,000 orchids, from all over the globe, in every color, shape and size Feb. 15-18 at Fort Mason Center's Festival Pavilion in San Francisco.
Master Gardeners
Meet the Dirty Thirty
Gregory-Taylor
Carrie Gregory of Napa and Ryan Taylor of Willows announce their engagement to be married on May 12 at Napa Valley Country Club.
Gregory-Feigel
Tiffanie Gregory and Keith Feigel, both of Napa, announce their engagement to be married on Aug. 4 at the First Presbyterian Church in Napa, where Tiffanie's parents were married 38 years ago.
Captanian-Bronson
Leah Marie Captanian, originally from Angwin, and Scott Cameron Bronson were married Sept. 23, 4 p.m., at Unity Center, Hamilton Field, Novato. The ceremony was outdoors and featured a string ensemble. There was an indoor buffet dinner and slide show of the bride and groom's childhood years, following by dancing with a band and DJ under an indoor canopy and outdoor seating and cocktails under the stars.
Fullner-Barker
Michelle Renee Fullner of Napa and Andrew Allen Barker of San Jose announce their engagement to be married on May 27 at the Elks Lodge in Napa.
Lubarsky-Vanderslice
Robert Paul Vanderslice and Teresa Ida Lubarsky are pleased to announce their marriage. The wedding ceremony took place on Dec. 25 aboard the cruise ship "Spirit." The marriage was officiated by Minister Wallace J. Kimari and the reception was held at the Singapore Lounge. The couple celebrated their marriage with a holiday cruise through the Mexican Riviera.
Speigle-Todd
Jennifer Speigle and Matthew Todd, both of Lincoln, were married June 3 at Meadowood in St. Helena.
Scorza-Crane
Larry Scorza and Tammy Scorza, both of Napa, are very excited to announce the engagement of their daughter, Michelle Scorza, to Andrew Crane, son of Van and Debbie Crane of Lincoln.
Marriage Licenses
AGUILAR-IRUCUTA GARCIA -- Gonzalo Aguilar, 33, Shurtleff Avenue, Napa, to Maria Isabel Irucuta Garcia, 28, Shurtleff Avenue, Napa.
Birth Announcements
Sutter Davis Hospital