Napans vacationing at Tahoe this summer will have a chance to see a Napa guy on stage at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Ben Stowe has been cast as Benvolio in this season’s “Romeo & Juliet” and as Philip, a servant to Petruchio, in “Taming of the Shrew.”

This Sunday, Napans can take advantage of a rare opportunity to roam the grounds of Napa’s famed di Rosa Preserve without making a reservation or paying an admission fee.

An invitation to perform at the Golden State Choral Competition is a good indication that you’re the best of the best.

The Maikai Gents, featuring the Mysterious Miss Mauna Loa, are scheduled to perform at Copia Thursday night as part of venue’s Community Spotlight concert series.

 A reception for fiber artist Camille Ahern marks the opening of her new show at St. Supery Vineyards and Winery on Saturday, 5:30-7 p.m.

Vintage High School dance department presented a program filled with whimsy, inspiration and terrific dancing in their end of the year program, “Dance Upon a Dream.”

NEW YORK — The final installment of the Harry Potter series isn’t out until mid-July, but you don’t have to go bookless to the beach; there are plenty of titles out there perfect for relaxing in the sun.

As much in the public eye for acclaimed television and silver screen roles, Harry Connick Jr. brought his stellar brand of musicianship to wine country over the long holiday weekend.

Guitarist/vocalist Bob Wootton and drummer WS Holland are not a tribute act or cover band, but the men who toured and recorded with Johnny Cash for more than 40 years, performing the music that powered nearly every Cash stage show and recording since 1960.

HOUSTON -- At first glance, the photographs seem simple.

FICTION

NEW YORK -- As flip-flops hit the pavement and barbecue grills ignite, some of the biggest artists are packing their bags to get the summer concert season started.

Cameron Busquaert, a seventh-grader at Silverado Middle School, thinks big.

Napan the youngest SF State grad

Education

Napa's Bunco Beauties -- a group whose rambunctiousness rivals that of a university sorority house -- are 12 women who meet regularly to play Bunco, a team-oriented dice game.

“That banana just ate a grape,” one child told another. It was true. The giant dancing banana had just popped a grape into a fold in its peel.

Cuvée will be “white hot” on Saturday night as the Napa restaurant features a prix fixe Latin-inspired menu, summer cocktails featuring Bacardi Rum, wines by Mi Sueno and Renteria Cellars and sizzling Latin music from Sapo Guapo.

Interest continues to grow in fresh, local produce, driven by farmers markets, chefs who favor top quality seasonal ingredients,  says author Leanne Kitchen, author of “The Produce Bible.”

While Paul Franson was wandering through Tuscany, Pierce Carson and I made quick trip to Italy by heading up Silverado Trail to Signorello Vineyards, where Italian chef Danielo Turco had prepared a seven-course feast to pair with Signorello wines.

More and more people are making their own wine these days, but they aren’t necessarily making it in their garages or basements nor are they doing it alone.

After bouncing in the back of a van for 20 minutes on a questionable dirt road through hills and mountains, I was beginning to wonder when the glamour of Tuscany was going to show itself.

As Trinchero Napa Valley Winery nears completion — its inaugural crush will come from this year’s harvest — Mario Monticelli has come on board as the head winemaker for the Italian family-owned winery. Monticelli is a fourth generation winemaker with strong roots in Italy.

For about $6,000 per year you can instantly solve all of your home storage problems by renting space at your local storage facility ($500 a month gets you a 16-by-20-foot storage space in California).

I took a trip down Memory Lane today and, as it turned out, this Memory Lane was tree-lined. Allow me to explain.

It’s kitten season. Each spring and summer, as sure as the tulips and strawberries come, animal shelters across the nation burst with adorable feline furballs.

Many succulents, including cacti, make great indoor plants as well as great starter plants for people with brown thumbs or those new to gardening.

British rose expert Luke Stimson leads tours of Whiting Nursery’s rose garden and answers questions at an open house at Whiting in St. Helena, Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m. The open house, celebrating Whiting’s 50th anniversary, features hors d’oeuvres from Tra Vigne and wine from Smith-Madrone Winery. Children’s garden-themed art activities will be directed by Jamie Graff of Nimbus Arts.

Bill and Gloria (Bassi) Garibaldi of Napa celebrated their 50th anniversary on May 19 at Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. They were married May 19, 1957, at St. John's Catholic Church in Napa.

Wendi Beasley and Sean Misner of Napa announce their engagement to be married July 7 at Skyline Park in Napa.

Stephanie Oliver and Steven Nelson of Edina, Minn., were married May 17, 5 p.m. at the Wine Country Inn.

Lena Ditlow and Will Clark of San Leandro were married May 12, 5:30 p.m., at Marriott Napa Valley.

Danna Ruffner and Harry Horn of Angwin were married May 25 at Lake Natoma Inn in Folsom.

Hilary and Corey Wardlaw are proud to announce the engagement of their son, Rob Lattimer, to Leah Safranek, daughter of Bill and Rainey Safranek of Lake Arrowhead. Rob and Leah will marry on July 27 in Cancun, Mexico.

ABERNATHY-BULLOCK -- Brandon Jay Abernathy, 34, Pine Street, Napa, to Kelly Marie Bullock, 30, Pine Street, Napa.

St. Helena Hospital

BOWEN -- Marie Bowen vs, Frank Bowen, May 15, 2007