The Napa Valley Youth Chorus Performing Choir presents its Spring Concert on Sunday at 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 1917 Third St. They’ll perform a variety of musical selections from classical to contemporary; featured is a medley from “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” There is no charge; donations will be accepted and support the Napa Valley Youth Chorus. For more information, call Sharon Olson, director, at 252-2544.

Napa Valley Ballet presents its first production since losing its lease and director. The former Royal Academy of Ballet in Napa has been renamed and now rents space at the Napa Women’s Club. The group has been working hard to prepare for its production of excerpts from “Coppelia.” The performance will be June 14 at the Napa District Auditorium.

The Missoula Children’s Theater presents a fresh look at an age-old favorite on June 16 when more than 60 local students present “The Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe” at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Napa Valley Opera House. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children.

Get ready for music under the summer stars as Copia kicks off its outdoor River Concert season on June 21.

European cinema is the theme for this month at Copia, with zinfandel tastings before each screening from 7:15 p.m.–8 p.m. Films are shown Friday nights at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6, sold at the Box Office

If your taste in music runs to the country greats — Hank Williams, Bob Wills, Merle Haggard — then scoot your boots over to the Napa Bowl Lounge on Saturday for an evening with the Mean Time Playboys. You’ll enjoy a generous serving of Western-style country music, with plenty of great picking and singing from an all-Napa group.

I have to hand it to the guys at Disney -- they really nailed the visuals in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," at least in the Xbox 360 version I played.

The following schools, teachers and students participated in this year’s diversity essay contest sponsored by the Napa Interfaith Council.

Napan the youngest SF State grad

Education

Transformations: The Napa Valley Weight and Lifestyle Management Program: an 11-day in-depth health education program, comprising “camaraderie, healthful eating, cooking classes, exercise.” The program includes personalized medical care, health assessments and a plan to take home. Scholarships are available. Info, (800) 358-9195 or www.shhTransformations.com

Noted Italian vintner Piero Antinori purchased a 14th century monastery and vineyard not far from Florence a little more than two decades ago to celebrate his family’s 600th anniversary as Chianti wine producers, spanning 26 generations.

Napa chef and cooking teacher Julie Logue-Riordan and Barbara Hughston, author of “In the Kitchen with Kids,” are teaming up to hold special classes for children ages 9 and up.

When the Culinary Institute of America and Harvard University recently hosted a gathering of health professionals from around the country in St. Helena, the focus was on how to make healthy living — and eating — a bigger part of the American lifestyle.

When the Joseph Phelps Vineyards family is honored as chairs of Auction Napa Valley this weekend, Sonoma County should take notice of the long list of civic contributions the Phelps family has made over the years, because Sonoma County may soon become the beneficiary of the same generosity after the new Phelps winery, Freestone, is completed. 

While no one can predict another million dollar bid this year, the 45 lots at Saturday night’s Auction Napa Valley should attract generous bids from attendees at one of the world’s top charity wine events. 

At Colgin Cellars, a kiss is not just a kiss.

The 2004 vintage produced some of the best-ever merlots in California, and Ronn Wiegand, MW and MS, will conduct a tasting and discussion of 12 of them, mostly from Napa Valley, on Tuesday at St. Supery Winery , 6:30-9 p.m.

Over the years, several winemakers, as they were about to leave on a trip to promote their wines, have remarked to me, “Making wine is easy. Selling it is the hard part.”

Making a toast to someone or on a special occasion is something we all do, probably without even thinking very much about it. We raise a glass of wine and say, “Here’s to you,” or “To your health,” or even simply, “Cheers,” and then take a sip.

GENEVA — India blocked a World Trade Organization investigation of import duties on American wine and spirits Monday, delaying a U.S. complaint alleging that the country discriminates against products like wines from Napa Valley and Jack Daniel’s whiskey.

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