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Tidbits and Benefits

Welcome to Napa Insider, a column about Napa County that will focus on business (and, since we’re Napa, will often have a wine and food component).

Curious about me? Well, I’m heading into my 20th year in Napa and, although people complain about the changes in the valley, of the many places around the country where I’ve lived, I believe it’s changed the least, thanks to our vigorously defended RULs (Rural Urban Limits). My writing background includes several published novels (none, oddly enough, set in Napa) and novellas, national/regional magazine and newspaper writing, freelance corporate writing and, now, this column. Hope you enjoy it.

Steering your business
Don’t say I didn’t give you fair warning: The Napa County Economic Outlook for 2008, “GPS for Your Business” will take place Friday, Oct. 12, at the Meritage Resort in Napa. This popular event will cover global competitiveness, sustainable business practices, state of the cities, commercial and residential real estate, consolidation in the wine industry and workforce education. Although none will have a crystal ball, a heavy-hitting lineup of experts will give attendees a glimpse of where we’re going as a community, a region and as part of the state.

Featured speaker Dr. Robert Eyler recently completed a study that shows a huge shift in the future demographics of the North Bay, from baby boomers to a growing Latino population. California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is also an invited speaker.

A joint project of the Napa Valley Economic Development Corporation, the Napa and St. Helena Chambers of Commerce and the Napa Valley Vintners, you can make reservations at www.napachamber.com.

Another renaissance
While the City of Napa is undergoing its own type of “renaissance” with multiple building projects (see “Time for a Change,” page 30), the City of St. Helena has organized “Renaissance Downtown St. Helena,” the original brainchild of business owner Tom Allen. With the help of design consultant Cliff Lowe (paid for by seed money from the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce and the city), a voluntary task force has charged itself with generating ideas for beautifying the historic Main Street area.

“The timing is perfect, since we’ve started the St. Helena General Plan update,” says Bob Beckstrom, chair of the steering committee, who adds initial goals are modest. “In the short term, it’s beautification—trees and benches. In the long term, we need to determine how to create a friendly, pedestrian-oriented place.”

This, however, is made more challenging by the 18-wheelers lumbering down Main Street. “Most towns don’t have a state highway through the middle of town,” he acknowledges.

The group recently had a reception for property owners, merchants and residents to show off ideas for sidewalk improvements, benches, trash receptacles, street planter boxes and enhanced pedestrian crosswalks. Folks seemed pleased with items such as tree grates; there was less enthusiasm on the controversial idea to convert Hunt Street into a pedestrian plaza.

Beckstrom was unfazed. “It’s just one idea. This gathering was an opportunity to do a check-in with the main stakeholders to see if we’re on the right track and all working together.”

Next up? Money. The group will organize a finance committee. As Beckstrom says, “There’s no such thing as free wine and cheese.”

Music and mental health
When a child is diagnosed with a mental illness, parents often react with fear, guilt, perhaps even shame. Not so for Garen and Shari Staglin. In the summer of 1990, their then 18-year-old son, Brandon, was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Instead of hiding it, they created a Music Festival for Mental Health to raise funds to support research and treatment of physiological brain disorders.

Now in its 13th year, the Staglin Family Vineyard Music Festival for Mental Health has raised more than $33 million, with all proceeds going to scientific research and treatment programs including those at UCSF, Stanford University, UCLA and more.

This year, the festival is Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Staglin Family Vineyard in Rutherford. The featured performer is Gladys Knight with her 22-piece band. Rick Moonen of RM Seafood in Las Vegas will provide dinner, Richard Reddington of Redd in Yountville will provide hors d’oeuvres, which will be served with wine donated by more than 30 Napa and Sonoma county wineries.

Tickets for the lecture, reception and concert are $500 and sell out quickly. In fact, by the time you read this, they may be gone. However, donations can be made at www.staglinfamily.com and you can post your name so you won’t be left out next year.

Innovative restaurants—at last
Was it my imagination, or were all the new Napa city restaurants five years ago serving some version of Italian food? Not so anymore. Recently, we’ve gotten a smorgasbord of international, innovative restaurants such as ZuZu, Pilar and BarBersQ. The delicate taste of Vietnamese cooking at Restaurant Annalien, the Cajun pop of Bleaux Magnolia and, dare I mention it, the taste that sends me to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, Napa Valley Lobster Shack.

Now comes one that could only happen in California: Ubuntu Restaurant and Yoga Studio. Owner Sandy Lawrence has a vision of a restaurant serving vegetarian meals, sourcing most of the food locally and headed by talented chef Jeremy Fox. Architects on the project are Michael Bauschke and David Berman, designer is T Beller and the restaurant consultant is Michael Dellar. Master Gardener Jeff Dawson oversees Ubuntu’s biodynamic garden.

Upstairs in the historic 19th century building on Main Street, Veronica Vidal directs a world-class yoga studio.

“Ubuntu,” its origins in the Bantu languages of Southern Africa, roughly means, “humanity toward others.” Welcome, Ubuntu.