Artist Cathy Trachok Barnes is best known as a children’s book illustrator and as the artist behind the colorful literary-themed mural in the children’s section of the Napa City-County Library.

Last weekend, 90 local artists welcomed the public into their studios for the first weekend of Napa Valley Open Studios 2007. The event continues this weekend, with studios open again on Saturday and Sunday.

Appearing on stage with a stool, a microphone, and a can of Diet Pepsi, Paula Poundstone is famous for her spontaneous wit and off-kilter humor. By popular demand, Poundstone returns to the Lincoln Theater in Yountville for one show this Saturday night.

Close to 100 people, including artists, officials, teachers and parents, gathered at the Napa Valley Opera House Café Theatre last week to help plan the future of the arts in Napa County; a subsequent meeting in Yountville drew a more intimate crowd of 15.

Hope for the Future, a non-profit organization created to help Romanian children living in Romania who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless, holds its annual fundraiser Oct. 6 at Skyline Park in Napa. The event, which begins at 6 p.m. features a traditional Romanian dinner, live and silent auctions and live music.

Bay Area crooner Jonathan Poretz grew up listening to songs from the great American songbook.

Performances by the Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats have been called “incredible,” “breathtaking,” “stunning,” and “quite unbelievable.”

Some of Ireland’s best known musicians will be in Napa tomorrow night to perform at the Opera House in a benefit concert for the Napa Valley Shelter Project.

More than a consummate performer, Rita Moreno is a force of nature, as she proved again over the weekend at the Napa Valley Opera House.