The 20th-anniversary celebration of Napa Valley Open Studios was both a party and a preview that drew more than 300 people to Robert Mondavi Winery Friday evening.

Miranda Peralta, 9, of Napa, was in Washington, D.C. last weekend to be honored as a winner of the American Kidney Fund’s 12th annual national art contest for children with kidney disease.

The 27th annual Napa Valley Writers’ Conference earned high approval ratings from the majority of the 94 participants hailing from across the United States and abroad. The writers attended a full week of workshops, lectures and readings as they studied with nationally recognized writers including Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Stephen Dunn and best -selling novelist Antonya Nelson.

It wasn’t a large gathering — a dozen citizens, a handful of staff from Arts Council Napa Valley and one guitarist.

Saturday night at Dreamweavers Theatre the audience was treated to a performance of Ivan Menchell’s poignant yet comic play, “The Cemetery Club,” which ran on Broadway in l990 and became a movie in l992.

Napa Valley Arts & Lectures presents Cathryn Jakobson Ramin, the author of New York Times best seller ”Carved in Sand: When Attention Fails and Memory Fades in Midlife,” on tonight at 8 p.m. at Copia.

LONDON — Over the course of more than 500  pages, Graham Hancock, in his new book, “Supernatural,”  concludes there is convincing evidence for a direct connection between the 35,000-year-old cave drawings seen throughout Europe, the spiritual realm frequented by shamans and shamanism, the fairy world, aliens (and alien abductions) and the world’s religions.

"Look closely at Brian's work," one viewer instructs another in the preface to "Aquatique," a collection of photographs by Brian Oglesbee. "It brings great rewards."

Widely considered one of contemporary African music's most exciting new talents, 25-year-old Dobet Gnahoré performs at the Napa Valley Opera House on Sept. 22. The singer, dancer and percussionist from the Ivory Coast thrilled the audience when she appeared at the Opera House in 2006 with Putumayo's Accoustic Africa with Malian guitarist Habib Koité and South African troubadour Vusi Mahlasela

An evening for the arts

Superintendent of County Schools, Barbara Nemko, announces that Jan Sabo has been promoted to the new position of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.

Education

One of the first grains cultivated by man, farro is the ancestor of modern-day wheat.

Copia

This tiramisu comes to us from Giovanni Guerrera, co-owner and executive chef at Uva Trattoria Italiana in Napa. The recipe is easy to make, but it’s even easier to go to Uva and enjoy tiramisu there!

Celebrating its first anniversary Sept. 16, Ad Hoc, Chef Thomas Keller’s family-style restaurant in Yountville, is now going to be open seven nights a week.

2 Tbsp. olive oil

What is it about Italian food that is so soul satisfying? The savory sauces, the earthy wines, the magical combinations of a few simple ingredients? It comes to this: Have you ever sat down to an Italian meal and left feeling hungry? Impossible.

Adapted from “Modern Italian Cooking” by Biba Caggiano

1 garlic clove, chopped

It’s summertime, and the living is … busy.

We are so lucky to live in Napa Valley. The soil is rich; we call it healthy.

ROCKWELL-JONES — Mitzi vs. Stephen, Sept. 6, 2007

CAMORONGAN-MANDAPAT — Ike Abraham Camorongan, 48, Tuscan Oak Train, American Canyon, to Elma Mandapat, 46, Tuscan Oak Train, American Canyon.

QUEEN OF THE VALLEY

Casper (left) and Critter (right)

Nickname: Markie, Mr. Polo

Dozens of aging veterans from Yountville found their sea legs last week, just in time to enjoy a special trip down the Napa River aboard a $1.5 million, 52-foot yacht called Freedom.

Folio Enoteca and Winery has announced plans to open a café, wine shop and micro-winery at the Oxbow Public Market, scheduled to open this fall in Napa. 

One of the busiest winemakers in the business today, Nils Venge has carved yet another notch in his enological belt.

The harvesting of the red grapes, particularly merlot, malbec and zinfandel, is under way, with some of the correspondents reporting the harvest of cabernet sauvignon to start within a week or two. All reported last week’s cool and foggy weather was welcome and slowed down the red grapes’ ripening.