Napa/Calistoga

After checking into the beautiful Avia Hotel in downtown Napa, we took a drive to Yountville and walked around enjoying the pleasant weather.  We looked over several paintings done by a local artist that Phil and AnneMarie had introduced us to several years ago but nothing intrigued us.  We own one of the artist's glass bottle compositions but now he paints primarily wine bottles.  I began to practice shooting with my new camera, a Nikon D7000.

We then headed back to Napa for our dinner at Don Giovanni's.  The restaurant is located just outside Napa overlooking some vineyards.  We have dined there several times before and enjoy the atmosphere and delicious food.  A terrific couple that we had met on our cruise from Singapore last year live in Napa and had agreed to join us.  Judy and Leon looked just as happy and content as we remembered them.  They had brought a special bottle of red for us to enjoy.  It was wonderful catching up and hearing about everything they had done since we saw them last.

The next day, Phil and AnneMarie called us to meet them in Calistoga for a walk around town and then  head up to the ranch where the wedding was going to be held.  We made the half drive up to Calistoga and found Phil lounging on Main Street.  We grabbed a quick bite to eat and then made the winding drive into the mountains towards the ranch.  The ranch is located atop the mountain range separating the Napa Valley and Sonoma.  While the facilities are quite rustic, the views are amazing.  The wedding will be outdoors with the reception under a giant tent.  It looks like the event will be something to remember.

We drove back to Napa to get ready for dinner.  Barbara and Rick would be checking in soon, so we wanted to get back and catch up with them.  Alas, Rick got stuck on set in Hawaii and could not make the wedding.  Boo!

We drove Barbara to our dinner in Yountville at the restaurant Redd.  What a beautiful restaurant!  The food was incredible although I found the room very loud.  Phil and AnneMarie, their good friends the Kasden's and the three of us had a terrific time.

I forgot to mention our Napa hotel room.  What a nice room!  We had stayed in this chain once before in Long Beach and had enjoyed our stay.  They just were taken over by Hyatt, so I'm not sure what this change portends.  Our room was called a tower suite located at one corner of the the hotel.  Service was a bit spotty but we were given a discount on our stay for our troubles.  There is not really much to see anymore in downtown Napa.  The economic downturn has really affected the retail population.