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Holiday 2014

(707) 252-68322497 Solano Ave. NapaMon.~Sat. 9:30 am~5:00 pm

(707) 252-6832

Jackies Consignments

Lessons That LastA Lifetime

Not everything is about you. Sometimes itsabout others. Let them have their turn.

Be your own best friend,not your worst enemy.

Surround yourself with beauty. Flowers onthe table. Birds at the window. Wind in yourhair. Sand beneath your feet. A dog by yourside. A song in your head. Food that makesyou stronger. Words that feed your soul.

Music that makes you dance. People who liftyou up and make you laugh and

leave you better.Smile at everyone -- old people, children andstrangers. It might not do much for them,

but it will make you feel better!

2

Holiday Celebrationsstart at IronHorse Home

At IronHorse Home, we believe that stylish home decor can be affordable. We take the time to understand our customers needs, and our everyday low prices put style within reach.

Our family is dedicated to helping our clients create the home of their dreams. Visit us today and share your vision for your dream home-we would love to help you make it a reality.

Our showrooms are constantly changing, at IronHorse Home we have furniture and accessories arriving weekly, so there is always something new to discover.

Take a look inside and come visit us to experience our fantastic furniture, amazing selection, incredible prices, great selection, and convenient delivery.

We hope to see you soon and visit us at www.ironhorsehome.com or www.facebook.com/ironhorsehome

-The lronHorse Home Family

BENICIA990 Grant St. | Benicia, CA 94510 | 707.747.1383

SAN FRANCISCO151 Vermont Street #8 | San Francisco CA 94103 | 415.525.3725

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HOLIDAY 2014

To advertise in Inside Napa Valley, please call us at: (707) 256-2228

Holiday Table Setting at McClelland Priest B&B Inn

Photo by Classic Photography Staging by 5-Star Productions

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a publication of the

On the COverMr. Downtown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Art in the Napa Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

John Shafer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Napa Valley Bistro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Christopher Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Holiday Gift Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Calistoga Community Thanksgiving . . .34

Napa Valley Holiday Events . . . . . . . . .36

50 Years and Still Going . . . . . . . . . . .41

Sue Payne Holiday Extravaganza. . . . .45

Coffee and Cocktails . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

A Taste of Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Memories of Malfatti . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Buoncristiani Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Mad Fritz Beer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Thanksgiving Traditions . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

In this Issue

20 51 16

4

Sean ScullyAltamura has become of the citys largest property owners

and, most likely, one of Napas richest men.It didnt start out that way at all.Altamura, now 83, comes from a background that makes

humble sound extravagant. Raised by Italian immigrants in rough-and-tumble Buffalo, New York, Altamura recalls a life of poverty in a close family.

His parents had no education whatsoever, he said, but they were good people the kids were it they would go without something for the kids to have something.

Early on, his parents set their expectations high for young George, the third of four siblings. He would get an education, go to college, become a lawyer, make something of himself. Through a combination of hard work and support from their church, George made it to St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, a prestigious, historic Catholic high school in Buffalo. He seemed destined to be the first in his family to head off to college.

In the summer after his junior year, however, something changed. He and three friends pooled their meager money and bought an old truck. They spent the summer driving around the country in search of adventure. What George and his buddies did was beyond their imagining.

I thought I was in heaven when I came to California, he recalls of rolling into Los Angeles along historic Route 66 in that summer of 1947. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

Better was to come on their swing north. They hit Napa just at the point where it was still booming from the war years. Altamura said it was the place where servicemen came to blow off steam in their off hours because it was just beyond the patrol range of MPs from Mare Island and Travis.

It was just wild, he said. Dancing, people in the streets till all hours, seven restaurants open 24-hours-a-day.

Altamura said he wasnt the best looking guy in town, but he could dance, making him a hit with the local girls.

The 16-year-old reluctantly returned home to complete his high school, but the moment he was able, he turned around and came back. In the summer of 1948, he hopped a ride with a man driving west to Reno to get his third divorce, and never looked back.

He arrived in Napa in August, with $9 in his pocket and no skills to speak of, other than dancing.

In desperation, he begged a job at a the Rough Rider clothing factory on Soscol, where the owner took pity on him and gave him a job as a courier, shuffling piles of fabric pieces between work stations for $35 per week. He slept on the floor of an abandoned rabbit hutch not far from the factory and relied on the charity of his coworkers, mostly women who took the young man under their wings, for food.

Sometimes Id cry a little bit say what am I doing here, he said. You start to get doubts when youre all alone for two or three weeks lying on a floor.

In a matter of months, however, his hard work ethic had earned him a series of promotions, eventually to a station pressing the finished pants before they were packaged to ship out. That earned him an impressive $120 a week, affording him enough to rent a small room and enjoy the nightlife of still-bustling Napa. To make even more money, he worked shifts at local drycleaners, pressing clothes.

The outbreak of war in Korea saw Altamura enlist in the Navy, where he spent a year on what he recalls as a dull, no-glory assignment on a troop ship plying the Pacific. But in the final months of his 2-year tour, he was assigned to Hunters Point in San Francisco. There he would moonlight at area cleaners, again pressing clothes.

MR. DOWNTOWNGeorge Altamura Leaves a Lasting Mark on Napa

George Altamura still sits in the same seat he sat in as a kid at the renovated Uptown Theatre. File photo/Register

George Altamura Sr. has become nearly synonymous with downtown Napa. It is hard to name a building he does not own, has not owned at one time or made an effort to buy. His name is so closely associated with the downtown revival of recent years that searching the archives of the Napa Valley Register for information about him is nearly useless hes somewhere in every story.

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Through it all, he always had his eye back on Napa. When he learned that the famous Knotty Pine drive-in restaurant was for sale, he gathered his lifes savings - $3,000 and went into the restaurant business. He describes a hectic life, racing back and forth between Napa and San Francisco, cooking in the evenings and on weekends and serving out his duties at Hunters Point during the weekdays.

The restaurant business, however, was a bust and was over in only a year or so. The restaurant was busy, but the landlords wanted to use the space for something else, so he walked away and lost his entire investment. But he did gain something even more valuable his wife and lifelong companion, Jackie. George had seen her around the restaurant with her boyfriend, but at a dance in Napa some months later, he wooed her away and they married a short time later.

After he left the Navy and the restaurant closed, he needed a trade. He took a job at Mare Island as a civilian apprentice, working as a carpenter. His plan was to become a contractor after his four-year apprenticeship.

With a wife and soon a son to support, Altamura found that the carpenters paycheck wasnt making it. Accounting for all their bills, he said, the young couple usually had just $2 left over every week, even then a paltry sum.

Over the objection of his in-laws, but with the quiet support of his wife, he concocted a plan to trade on his skills and contacts in the laundry business. He begged a shop on Jefferson Street and set up a business collecting laundry, which he would run down to a San Francisco business where he had worked while in the Navy. Every night, he would load the clothes in his battered VW van, drive them to San Francisco and haul back the finished clothes, splitting the proceeds with the cleaner in the city.

Altamura said he started the business with just $300 to his name, but landlord John Lui wanted the first months rent, $130, plus a security deposit and the last months rent

up front, far beyond Altamuras budget. Luis wife took pity on the young businessman and convinced her husband to rent the storefront for just the monthly rent.

To this day, Altamura says, he doesnt charge his tenants for security or last-month-rent deposits as tribute to the kindness of the Luis.

Soon business was booming. He first added some light tailoring repairs and alterations but later hired a talented tailor who could custom sew suits and other clothes. By the early 1960s, he was making good money, though he only had a few thousand

dollars in the bank to show for it.Thats when Altamura found his calling. In the early 60s, he

bought two lots at the corner of Monte Vista Drive and El Cortez Drive. He spent all of his $3,000 savings for the lots, but within weeks, he was able to resell the lots for $6,000 each.

From that humble beginning, Altamuras real estate empire grew. By the early 1970s, he had sold the cleaning business and devoted himself full time to real estate.

He wont say how many properties he owns today, or how much he is worth (a lot, he concedes), but his holdings and developments span the entire city. He is, perhaps, most famous for his loving restoration of the Uptown Theater, and he recently bought the citys oldest building, a structure on Silverado Trail known as the Old Adobe.

He has donated freely to good causes as well, including Meals on Wheels and the non-profit Hands Across the Valley, which he founded in 1994 to combat hunger.

George is a true example of a self-made man; He came here with nothing and has been so very successful, said longtime friend and Register columnist Jim Ford. He is also a very generous man and gives to others without fanfare. He loves this community and has invested heavily in it.

Altamura admits hes come from nothing, but he doesnt like the notion that hes done it all by himself. Every step of the way, he said, he had benefactors; the priest who helped him get into his elite high school, the Napa factory owner who gave the penniless teenager his first job, the women who kept him safe and fed in those perilous early months in Napa. Hes had supporters, foremost among them his wife. And most of all, he said, he has had good employees, who helped his businesses make money.

There is no such thing as a self-made man, Altamura said. The people around you make you.

George Altamura's renovation of the Uptown Theatre in 2009 finished a two-month restoration of the ceiling mural. File Photo/Register

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Queen of the ValleyMedical CenterWednesday, Dec. 4

4:30 to 7 P.M.

1000 Trancas St., Napa

Join Queen of the Valley Medical

Center as we ring in the holiday

season with our annual Tree Lighting

ceremony. Its the perfect way to

share the spirit of Christmas. We will

share the story of the first Christmas

and display our lifesize Nativity

scene. Santa will arrive to light

our majestic tree and greet Napa

children with his holiday magic.

Join us forour annualtree lighting

AMinistry founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange

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7

cynTHIa SWeeneyBeginning at the northern end of the Napa Valley, Calistoga is home

to Lee Youngman Galleries, one of the oldest galleries in the Valley. Lee opened the gallery in 1985, and only carries very traditional and only originals from mostly regional, established artists. Original works from her father, Ralph Love, whose work is in museums throughout the west, also hangs in the gallery at 1316 Lincoln Ave. 707-942-0585 or leeyoungmangalleries.com.

Across the street, photographers Elizabeth and Olaf Carmel showcase their mainly landscape and nature photography from Napa, Tuscany, France and Mexico in a gallery they built themselves. At Carmel Gallery, they also print their own photos as well as custom frame their works, and feature eclectic/organic home decor that brings elements of nature indoors. 1329 Lincoln Ave., TheCarmelGallery.com

or 707-942-0557.CaToga Galleria DArte

is the exclusive work of Carol Marchiori. His one-of-a-kind works span a wide variety of mediums from painting to ceramics and bone sculptures to painted furniture, all with a sense of humor and whimsy associated with Commedia dell Arte. Marchiori is famous for his murals, like the one painted on the ceiling of the gallery. His Palladian Villa is also in Calistoga and available for tours. 1206 Cedar St., call 942-3900 or visit catoga.com.

The Calistogan Studio Kokomo represents more than 60 different artists from Northern California and around the world, with many one-of-a-kind, hand-made jewelry, ceramics, glass art both fused and blown, metal works, wood furniture and bowls, wine barrel furniture and original paintings from well- known area artists such as Vicki Asp, Steve Memering, Dierdre Shibano, Carol Rosemond, Greg De Luca and of

CaToga Galleria DArteAn abundance of art in Napa Valley

Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Napa Valley, its no wonder we find a myriad of art galleries here.

Lee Youngman Galleries

Carmel Gallery

LivetheStyle

LivetheStyle

WomensContemporary

Apparel

1120 First St, Downtown Napa707-258-1347

Studio Kokomo

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course, Kokomo. 1421 Lincoln Ave., 707-341-3130 or studiokokomo.com

Stix & Stones, also in downtown Calistoga, is dedicated to the American artist and craftsman, with a variety of handcrafted wood rocking chairs, bowls, fine art, jewelry and pottery. Many of the artists are from the Napa Valley and draw their inspiration from nature. 1409 Lincoln Ave. 707-942-6002 or stixandstonesgallery.com.

A little further down the Valley, The Christopher Hill Gallery has been owned by the same proprietor for 12 years, the longest in St. Helena. The gallery is urban with European curation, focusing on

German and Austrian artists, as this is where Christopher Hill has spent considerable time. Different, unique, and unexpected without

being shocking or perverse, Hill said he only carries originals. He is interested in artists who have a unique technique or subject matter, with content that viewers can relate to. 1235 Main St., 707-963-0272 chgalleries.com.

Oliver Caldwell and Susan Snyder opened Caldwell Snyder Gallery in San Francisco in 1983. They started out specializing in artists who were

well-known in their own home countries, but relatively unknown in the United States. They opened their location in St. Helena at 1328 Main St. in 2007, in the Star building, which is on the National Registry of Historical Places. The collection changes each month, featuring contemporary American and European paintings and sculpture. 707-200-5050 or caldwellsnyder.com.

Across the street, Dennis Rae Fine Art, 1359 Main St., concentrates on innovative artists who are doing things that no one else is doing. They also carry renowned artists like Salvador Dali and

Renoir, people who have an edge to them, said Director Michael McLaughlin. Dr. Seuss prints sit in the front window and are popular with tourists and locals. 707-963-3350 or dennisraefineart.com.

I. Wolk Gallery, 1354 Main St., is soon to be renamed RENA. The

gallery showcases a wide variety of emerging, mid-career and established artists, with a wide range of styles and media. Many of the artists are featured in recognized museum, corporate and private collections and were chosen because of a proven commitment to their medium, their integrity, craftsmanship and professionalism 707-963-8800 and aerenagalleries.com.

Not an art gallery per se, a few doors down, Martin Showroom, 1350 Main St., is an interior design showroom with unique, different and interesting art, vintage, repurposed and new sculptures and paintings in an ever-changing, eclectic collection. 707-967-8787 and martinshowroom.com.

Further down the Valley, V-Marketplace, 6525 Washington St., Yountville, is a shopping destination and home to several distinct galleries. Gallery 1870 carries a diverse selection of art, from abstract metal to original oils of master quality to contemporary realism. Its fun. We try not to come across as too snooty. You can come in and just enjoy, said Director Kassia Kilgore. The gallery also showcases the work of renown wine country artist Eric Christiansen. 707-944-9670 and Gallery1870.com.

North Bay Gallery features hand-crafted American art work. Hand-blown glass, fine and fashion jewelry, bronze sculptures and original wall art and prints. 707-945-0145 or northbaygallery.net.

Upstairs, The Blue Heron Gallery is owned by photographer Dennis Hogan and long-time Calistoga painter Betty Jo March. The gallery prominently features Hogans dramatic and sublime wine country photography complimented by Marchs mostly landscape watercolors. 707-280-7707 or dennishogan.com or bettyjomarch.com.

(Editors Note: We tried to reach two other Calistoga galleries, but got no response from Chloe Fine Arts Gallery American, contemporary and fine art. 947-7072, chloefinearts.com. or Indian Springs, which is an emerging and very high end gallery. Owned by avid collector Robert Casterline. 1506 Lincoln Ave. Indianspringsargallery.com.)

Stix & Stones

Gallery 1870

North Bay Gallery

Caldwell Snyder

Christopher Hill Gallery

Dennis Rae Fine Art

Erin Martin Designs

I. Wolk Gallery

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10

JOHN HARDYSpecial Holiday Trunk Show

December 5th & 6thBe dazzled by exquisite pieces

from your favorite designer directfrom his studio in Bali.

Exclusive event pricing and an expandedcollection during this event only.

JOHN HARDY ~ One of a kind.One piece at a time. Each by hand.

RSVP to info@creationsfinejewelers.comand receive a $25 gift card.

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Full Service Design Center

Fine Home Furnishings

Window Fashions

Floor Coverings

Home Accessories

Custom House Furniture

Hours: M-F 9 - 5:30pm Sat 10 - 3pm

Our Family Serving Your Family Since 1958

706 Trancas Street, Napa 707-224-5544

Never Pay Full Retail for the Finest Furniture!

20% OFF our already discounted prices until the end of the year!

www.customhousefurniture.com

14thANNUAL Come Celebrate the Season withNapa Regional Dance CompanysFourteenth Annual Nutcracker ProductionNapa Valley Performing Arts Centerat Lincoln Theater in Yountville, CADecember 20 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.December 21 2:00 p.m.Tickets: $25-$35TICKETS ON SALE NOW!Lincoln Theater Box Office 707.944.9900Online at: www.lincolntheater.orgwww.naparegionaldance.com

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Classic Photography

Melissa PetersonDarla Aaron

707-322-3224707-328-1059

www.photosbyclassicphotography.com

Families Sports Teams WeddingsGraduations Children Businesses

Home for the HolidaysCherish family memories this holiday season

and gather loved ones for a family photo

Celebrating ten years ofcapturing classic moments in Napa Valley.

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Friends, family and fans celebrate John Shafer's lifetime of givingl. PIeRce caRSOn

When he turned 21, John Shafer had no idea that one day hed launch a wine brand that would tempt palates around the world.

Yet, now at 90, Shafer can take heart knowing thats what he did.

Recently, the valleys old guard along with some of the new turned up at Shafer Vineyards to pay tribute to a man whose wine helped establish the Stags Leap District as a world-renowned viticultural area for cabernet sauvignon. They came to acknowledge a man who spent more than four decades crafting incredible wines as well as offering a helping hand to countless wine country neighbors.

And he was able to make his mark in wine, as he likes to say, without any outside board of directors because we didnt need em.

Not only is this the year of the family patriarchs 90th birthday, 2014 also marks the 30th anniversary of the partnership of John Shafer, son Doug Shafer and winemaker Elias Fernandez.

Its a great family story that Doug Shafer chronicled in a recently published book, A Vineyard in Napa.

In it, Doug tells readers that his father left a 20-year career in publishing in Chicago and purchased a 209-acre site in the Stags Leap District in 1973. After learning the business of growing grapes, he established Shafer Vineyards winery with his first vintage of cabernet sauvignon in 1978. In the mid-1980s, John led the effort to establish the Stags Leap District as an American Viticultural Area (AVA), which was finally approved in 1989.

Stony Hill vintner Peter McCrea told the 150 dinner celebration guests that the book about the Shafer family reveals the sense of joy and can-do attitude of what John felt when he arrived here. John loaded his family into a station wagon and headed West like pioneers.

Son Doug gave the move added perspective: We went from a country club to a funky farmhouse with no heat, no air conditioning. Yet, 41 years later, here we are.

McCrea said that within two decades, John Shafer had built his new business into a success story ... one of the premier wineries in the Napa Valley.

But he wasnt ready to go on Medicare. So, in 1990 he went on the board of Clinic Ole instead. He helped mold Clinic Ole into what it is today reportedly the second largest medical provider in the county behind Kaiser.

He doesnt like to raise money ... but he raised funds for the

Napa Valley Vintners Health Center. For the last 30 years, hes devoted himself to helping the underprivileged of Napa County ... no one has done as much. Hes made a lasting impression on the lives of others.

In an emotional tribute to the evenings honoree, winemaker Elias Fernandez said hed had the pleasure to work with John Shafer for more than 30 years. How cool is that? That a young Hispanic guy who went to college could become the winemaker at Shafer Vineyards.

Noting that the cellar team at Shafer was quite small at

the start, Fernandez said work days were long and tiring. He said he would come into work some days already fatigued. But knowing the leader of the company had already been at work for an hour or two motivated us.

Fernandez also addressed the honorees giving nature his giving started with giving me a job. He noted that Shafer also mentored numerous children of winery employees over the years.

In the mid-1990s, John turned the reins of the business over to his son, Doug Shafer, in order to pursue his interests in philanthropy. In addition to Clinic Ole, John has been deeply involved in Auction Napa Valley, chairing the event in 1999. He spearheaded the effort to design and raise money for the Napa Valley Vintners Community Health Center and more recently has been a leading backer and fundraiser for VOICES, a growing

Shafer Vineyards founder John Shafer celebrated his 90th birthday in August. Russ Widstrand photo

Friends, family and members of the local wine industry gathered at Shafer Vineyards in August to help winery founder John Shafer, center, celebrate his 90th birthday. Meg Smith photo

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nonprofit which supports youth who are emancipating out of the foster care system, helping them toward successful adulthood.

Leslie Medine of VOICES told celebration attendees that she appreciated John Shafers belief that change happens one person at a time ... quietly, with no hoopla. She said he offered exceptional leadership ... (exhibiting) clarity and urgency ... when you roll up your sleeves you make things happen.

Hes a driving force a busy guy who doesnt sit still long, noted son Doug. I bet you didnt know that hes an artist ... hell take a sketch pad and disappear for a few hours. He took up sculpting ...hes a musician, he plays guitar and ukelele. Now, hes an opera buff, thanks to (wife) Barbara. He and Barbara travel theyve been known to tango in Argentina.

The year 1924 must have been a great vintage because look what it produced, he added, referring to the year of John Shafers birth. Everyone at Shafer feels fortunate to have worked with dad, to have benefited from his vision, and learned from his humanity, generosity and wisdom.

I am wowed and lucky to have the family I have, said the honoree in response to the outpouring of love, affection and appreciation. But 90 isnt a big deal any more. I have two loves winemaking and education.

He addressed both, getting a laugh from the crowd when he

talked about pulling electric blankets off family beds to wrap around fermentation tanks to make sure some of his earliest reds went through malolactic fermentation. It wasnt long before Shafers rudimentary cellar techniques led the winerys three amigos to develop Shafers signature wine, Hillside Select, a wine that helped establish Stags Leap District as a world-class AVA for cabernet sauvignon.

With one of their Stags Leap District vineyards serving as backdrop, Shafer Vineyards three amigos are, left to right, Elias Fernandez, Doug Shafer and John Shafer. Russ Widstrand photo

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In addition, both young natives of Michoacan, Mexico, kept busy tending a wealth of farm animals some hundred chickens, half as many turkeys and a hutch full of rabbits.

The brothers also kept watch over the familys crops, ranging from watermelon to sweet potatoes, cilantro, onions, squash, beans and lots of corn.

They are but two of the four Ayala brothers. Their siblings didnt share Bernardo and Alejandros culinary ken, feeling rather that cooking was womans work. They were not easily persuaded to help mom in the kitchen and that suited Bernardo and Alejandro just fine.

My mother is a great cook, Bernardo enthusiastically volunteers as he recalls the wood-burning stove where pots of savory beans and meat dishes, along with the family staple, tortillas, were prepared in Indaparapeo, a village of less than 7,000 named for a fierce battle won by the indigenous Tarascos centuries ago.

Without a doubt, the family matriarchs cooking talents inspired both Bernardo and his brother to seek careers in the hospitality industry. Both have been cooking at valley venues for decades Alejandro is the respected banquet chef at Meadowood Resort and Bernardo is chef/partner in Napa Valley Bistro in downtown Napa.

The four Ayala brothers came to the United States in 1989, settling in the Napa Valley as friends had before them. Bernardo Ayala was only 17. Im a farmer at heart, the local chef says today. At the time, he decided to seek employment in the food business. Yountville chef Bob Hurley took him on as a line cook and eventually Ayala became the well known Napa Valley restaurateurs executive sous chef, a post he held for four years. Over the years, Ayala studied at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, trading work in the restaurant and banquet operations for tuition.

In 2001, Ayala teamed up with Michael Fradelizio, owner of Silverado Brewing Company in St. Helena. He served as restaurant chef until the business closed in 2012.

In May of 2013, Ayala and Market owner Ernesto Martinez launched Napa Valley Bistro in downtown Napa. At the beginning, its very scary, Ayala says of opening ones own eatery. But this is the perfect size, he says of the 72-seat restaurant. The bar area accommodates 18 and on weekends Ayala sets up a chefs table for eight overlooking the kitchen, something his regulars enjoy.

Ayala and his wife, Anita who admits to being a Napa Valley foodie (she loves to eat what I cook) have a seven-year-old daughter, Jade Zahira, who already has informed her parents she intends to be a chef. Dad, Im your little chef, is how she speaks of her duties when she helps her father prepare empanadas at home. Shes also a lover of animals and farming, says her proud father.

A Latin twistAsk chef Bernardo Ayala to describe his restaurant and hell

tell you its an American bistro with a Latin twist. He adds that the diner can also find Asian and Italian influences in a few dishes as he tries to accommodate the American melting pot palate.

His mix of American and Mexican comfort food include fish tacos (served at lunch every Wednesday and Thursday with in-house prepared masa), addictive blackened chicken empanadas, mac n cheese tossed with English peas and bacon, a popular lamb burger with feta cheese, black Mission fig and pear flatbread and, if you arrive on the right day, corundas a variety of salty tamale with pork chile verde style found in Michoacan, a specialty of his mother.

Ayala features a number of daily specials each week, ranging from wild king salmon and Dungeness crab in season to Sonoma rack of lamb. Wednesday night is prime rib night at Napa Valley Bistro and a wild game week is planned in November, featuring ostrich and buffalo as main dish items.

Dinner begins with a selection of small plates ranging from a tiny dice of papaya, avocado and asparagus wrapped in rice paper, a refreshing way to hang onto summer. Napped with cucumber sauce and surrounded by peppery watercress, these vegetarian rolls will set you back $9. Other plates ($11-$14) range from halibut and bay shrimp ceviche on blue corn tortilla chips to sea bass and corn cakes served with a red and yellow

Napa Valley Bistro's comfort food has its roots in Michoacan

Armando Ayala and his brother, Alejandro, grew up in their mothers kitchen.

Bernardo Ayala, chef/partner of Napa Valley Bistro in downtown Napa, dresses his spicy Cajun prawns before sending the dish to a hungry diner. Sean Scully/Register

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PragerWinery & Port Works

Family Owned & Operated Since 1979

Open Daily 10:30 to 4:30Tours by Appointment

1281 Lewelling Lane, St. Helenawww.PragerPort.com

800-969-PORT 707-963-PORT

pepper salad. Sesame crusted ahi cozies up to Asian slaw, while braised pork belly shares the plate with roasted marble potatoes and an apple bacon compote.

The salads at Napa Valley Bistro are hearty fare ($7-$15), including a toss of freshly picked greens with creamy ranch dressing, roasted organic red and gold beets with feta cheese and red onions, Chinese chicken salad, a classic Caesar and a chopped salad with broccoli, carrots, goat cheese, egg, bacon, avocado, garbnzo beans everything but the kitchen sink. The kitchen also offers Dungeness crab louie in two sizes ($14, $23).

Main courses range from $13 for the Painted Hills grass fed beef burger to $29 for the grass fed filet mignon served with lemon herb risotto and caramelized shallots. One of the kitchens specialities is fried organic chicken with mashed potatoes; another is the crumbled blue corn tortilla crusted halibut over a corn, leek and shiitake succotash. A heritage pork chop comes with a yummy buttermilk leek gratin and apple bacon compote, hanger steak with roasted marble potatoes and wild mushrooms, smoky molasses St. Louis ribs with sweet potato fries and citrus thyme risotto with English peas, asparagus, cherry tomatoes and crispy carrots.

The lunch menu features small plates, salads and a range of sandwiches ($12-$15), including the savory lamb burger, barbecued pork, veggie burger, grilled Reuben, chicken wrap. turkey burger club and bistro burger. Beer battered fish and chips ($15) and garden vegetable farfalle ($17) also also midday options.

Sunday brunch specialties ($12-$17) include smoked salmon Benedict, huevos rancheros, buttermilk pancakes, spinach and Fontina cheese omelette, Dungeness crab cakes with poached eggs, plus chilaquiles and chorizo.

For those with a sweet tooth, chef Ayala and his culinary team offer a variety of desserts ($7-$9) tres leches and vanilla bean natilla with blueberry and guava compote and cinnamon/nutmeg churros; warm Scharffenbergeer chocolate fudge cake with vanilla ice cream; pear, apple and dried cranberry crumble with vanilla ice cream; and butterscotch pudding with a chocolate wafer and vanilla whipped cream.

The substantial wine list leans heavily on producers from Napa and Sonoma counties. By-the-glass wine options are limited. Local chef Gerry Castro is a member of Ayalas front of the house team, helping diners with questions about food and wine pairings several days a week and on Sundays.

Napa Valley Bistro opens at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday, serving dinner until 9 p.m., until 9:30 on Friday and Saturday. Brunch is offered Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the dinner menu avaiable until 9.

The restaurant is located at 975 Clinton St., Napa. For reservations and additional information, call 707-666-2383.

Putting the finishing touches on one of his restaurant's popular desserts. Sean Scully/Register

17

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19

JOHn InTaRDOnaTOLiving in St. Helena as a

single parent, and with his daughter, Alexandra, attending St. Helena Elementary, Hill wants to be a bigger part of the community. I want to give back, now, and help to preserve what we have in this unique town. I would like it to be more than just another repetitive, tourist town, he said.

Hill said he wants to see St. Helena as a living community, one where the people who own their businesses here, or own homes here, will also make their home address here. We have a lot of vacant, part time homes, He said. We need to change that. Id like to see these people have more than a business interest in the town. They could be an important part of the city and make meaningful contributions if they were full-time residents.

His interest, he admits, is personal to preserve a sense of place for his daughter, now 10. Fatherhood always comes first, Hill said. But I also cherish the small-town atmosphere we have in St. Helena and its historical sites. I want to keep our buildings as visual references to the past to make our young people relate to their town. Destroying architecture that has been a visual reference for over 10 decades is not positive.

Hill has become personally involved in the preservation of St. Helenas historical past. He was involved with the Downtown Renaissance group, and is now a member of the St. Helena Star editorial board, where he hopes to make his positions known.

He also stays busy with his daughter, who he said is an accomplished equestrian.

We make frequent visits to Rianda House (Senior Activity Center) to keep her involved in good causes. Shes working now to develop a recycling program at her school and contribute the proceeds to the Rianda House fund. Hill also sponsors a girls softball team, called The Crushers.

He is fluent in German, and communicates with his daughter in that language when they are at home. Its important that she keep

her second language, Hill said. I also try to use good examples every day to show her the results of cause and effect; that is, if you do X then Y will happen. I try to make her understand that results can be positive or negative, depending on what you do, and how you apply them.

Hill said he is trying to set a positive example by showing his daughter that he also has a commitment to his community. I live here, I work here, and I should participate here, he said emphatically. I think its my responsibility as a resident.

He admits that keeping St. Helena as a heritage site is a challenge. The Chamber of Commerce here has named me The Opinionator, and I suppose I am. Hopefully my work is educational.

Three problems facing St. Helena, he said, are redundancy, traffic, and too many vacant homes, all of which are negatives on the community and future generations.

Even if we are a tourist based economy, there is no reason why we cant keep our traditions. People come here for our uniqueness. Why do we want to make ourselves like Laguna Beach, Carmel,

Art, parenthood & community are St. Helena art dealers mantra

Christopher Hill is an art dealer in St. Helena and a California native. After living and studying in Berkeley, Germany, and Austria, he opened his studio in St. Helena 12 years ago. Now, with four art studios in the Napa Valley and two in Sonoma County, he wants to contribute some of his time to the town that gave him his success.

Gallery owner Christopher Hill said he and his employees are "very informal -- no suits or ties. Were what I describe as casually edgy." John Intardonato

20

or Healdsburg? We need to maintain our own identity, not just be a repetition. Hill wants to keep the charm that has kept people visiting St. Helena. Attempting to redirect the towns style like so many other towns are doing will make us redundant, not unique.

While Hill knows you cannot force people to live in a home they own, one answer he proposes is to apply a real estate transfer tax on all home purchases within the city. The tax would remain if the property is kept as a seasonal home or a rental. It would be like a tax credit that the owners would get back if they move permanently to the property.

He wants to do more about the traffic issue, but Hill admits that many of these problems are controlled by Napa County and Caltrans. When new winery projects are approved by the county and outside the citys limits we are always affected but have no vote, and cant do anything about it, he said.

He proposes that St. Helena make a greater attempt to be involved in planning done outside the city on issues that will affect city residents. Were limited to what we can do to private land. Im personally a big fan of round-a-bouts. With many more rooms being built in south valley, mostly for tourists who plan to drive up here, I would like to see passenger trains on the Wine Train tracks to carry those visitors. That would save a lot of car traffic and (solve) parking problems, and make the visitors time here more enjoyable.

Hill moved to St. Helena in 2002 to open the Christopher Hill Gallery on Main Street. Now he has a total of six galleries in wine country, including venues at three wineries, Peju Province Winery in Rutherford, Frank Family Vineyards in Calistoga and the Gary Farrell

Winery in Healdsburg. He also maintains studio space in Yountville and Healdsburg.

Hill said he opened his second-floor studio in St. Helena in September, 2002. I had just turned 31, and we were still in a recession because of the events of 911 the year before and the tech fall out, he said. Most of my friends gave me six months at best. And that was it. They said I was just a young whippersnapper and times were tough. And then they added that the tourists just wont come to an upstairs location.

But Hill not only made it through that terrible period, but survived the 2008 meltdown, as well, which was on a global scale. By then a lot of our clients had lost their disposable income to buy art, but I still managed. So my mantra is if I can survive and expand during those tough times, I can make it anytime.

Born in Berkeley, Hill lived in Germany when his father was in the service. He returned as an adult, and began his career in Graz, Austria at age 27. We like to think were more of a European gallery. Were eclectic, not clich, he said. We offer much more than vineyard scenes. And were very informal no suits or ties. Were what I describe as casually edgy.

His exhibits have featured as many as 35 to 40 different artists, mostly from California, Austria and Germany. His link with wineries, he said, is an arrangement to allow people to enjoy great art while enjoying great wine. I think it gives our visitors a greater experience. I think keeping our towns unique past, also gives them that special experience.

The Gallery in St. Helena.

21

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33

Volunteers serve up free Thanksgiving dinner in CalistogaTOM STOcKWell

Kerri Hammond Abreu has been organizing Thanksgiving dinner for hundreds of Calistogans for the past eight years.

The free dinner complete with turkey, cranberries, potatoes and pie has been a gift that she and her loyal group of volunteers have been hosting each year at the Butler Building at the Napa County Fairgrounds.

But the tradition of holding Thanksgiving at the Butler Building may be in jeopardy this year as the fairgrounds has tripled the rent of the venue. Were going to do it, Abreu said. But were still figuring out how to make it work financially. She said shes considering moving the event to the new high school cafeteria. Shes also accepting donations to defray the cost of holding the feast. Its difficult this year, she said. I completely understand why the fairgrounds needs to increase the rent. It just makes the financial aspects of holding Thanksgiving there difficult. Im investigating all options.

Abreu said that volunteers are always needed. We need people to help set up and decorate, she said. And people to serve, and people to clean up. Its not that hard if everyone chips in.

Asked how she initially began organizing the event Abreu said she remembers the day that Silvia Marciano came into Abreus hair salon and told her the Marciano tradition of holding

Kerri Hammond-Abreu, who runs 'Kerri's Ultimate Cuts' salon in Calistoga, has been orchestrating the community Thanksgiving dinner for the last eight years. Tom Stockwell/St. Helena Star

34

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the event was in jeopardy. She said that Pete was too ill, Abreu recalled. And she was upset because she hadnt found someone to carry on the tradition. For Abreu, who had grown up in Calistoga, it was a sad state of affairs. She said she started wondering if maybe she could take it over. The more I thought about it, the more I started to like the idea that I could do this.

Abreu called up her mother, Elizabeth Hammond and got her take on the logistics. You can do it, Abreu remembered her mom saying, and Abreu got a lot of advice about what needed to be done. She called up her sister, too, and asked if she might be able to help.

She even went home and asked her children. Well, maybe, she remembered her kids saying. With that encouragement, Abreu held her first Thanksgiving dinner in 2006. The food was donated, and volunteers decorated, cooked, served and then cleaned up.

It was a rousing event, and over 100 free dinners were served to whomever signed up. About 20 dinners were sent out to those who could not come to the Butler Building. Now its a tradition for Calistoga a tradition started by Silvia Marciano, but carried on by Abreu and volunteers: A free Thanksgiving feast.

For Abreu, the idea of a community feast is pretty simple. Calistoga has three mobile home parks, she said. And theres a significant population of older people that dont get out much. But why did she think a community event at Thanksgiving was important?

She thought for a moment and then said, I think theres no greater gift than not being alone for Thanksgiving. When I see everyone show up, greeting each other, and then sitting down to a Thanksgiving meal, it just seems right.

If you wish to volunteer or to donate food you can call Abreu at 942-9230. If you wish to make a donation, send a check made out to Calistoga Community Thanksgiving Dinner and send it to P.O. Box 1210, Calistoga, CA 94515.

Graham ("Jonesy") Jones and Tony McBeardsley prepared the newly arrived turkeys at the Napa County Fairgrounds last year in the Butler Pavilion on Thanksgiving. Tom Stockwell/St. Helena Star

35

Christmas is a season of traditions, filling each of us with special memories that warm our hearts and bring us closer to friends and relatives. For some, it means a turkey dinner and all the trimmings, with the whole family together at Grandmas. For others, its taking the kids to pick out the Christmas tree that will be the highlight of the house; a repository of gifts that will be the focus of discussion and anticipation for weeks to come. Maybe its the immediate family and special friends, sharing hot chocolate with cookies around the fireplace on Christmas Eve, with permission granted to pick out and open just one gift.

As a community, Downtown Napa has riches of traditions, some new, some older, all that the whole family can enjoy. As you start making Holiday plans, consider adding some or all of the following. And Happy Holidays from your neighbors, the downtown merchants. May you make only good memories this Holiday season.

Ice Skating Second and Coombs StreetsFrom Nov. 8 to Jan. 11, children of all ages and those young at

heart will be able to ice skate in downtown Napa. The 6,300-square-foot outdoor rink has stainless steel railings, a quality ice surface, a real Zamboni, hot chocolate, and your favorite Christmas music. Situated in the parking lot at the north east corner of Coombs and Second streets, the rink will be open until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and until 8 p.m. on Sundays. It opens at noon when school is out, 2 p.m. when students are in class. Skating is only $12 per person, which includes skate rentals. More information is available at Napaonice.com.

Napas Christmas Tree Lighting Wednesday, Nov. 26, 6 p.m. Veterans Park, NE corner of Third and Main

The kids are home from school and the family is in town to spend Thanksgiving at your house. Join your neighbors the night before in Veterans Park, when Mayor Jill Techel lights the 29-foot-tall Christmas tree. Free hot chocolate from Downtown Joes and cookies from Sweetie Pies Bakery are a perfect accompaniment as you enjoy children performing holiday singing and dancing. Of course, its free and open to the public. Bring your skates, and enjoy the rink before or after the tree lighting.

Napas Christmas Parade Saturday, Nov. 29, 5 p.m. First and Second Streets between Franklin and Main Streets

The theme of the 52nd Annual Christmas parade is Tis the Season,

which lends itself to all kinds of creative interpretations. Napans build floats, decorate cars, animals and children, and march down the street. Participants are encouraged to decorate using lights, with a prize of $500 going to the entry that the judges think does that better than anyone else. A second $500 prize goes to the entry that best follows the parade

theme. This years parade Grand Marshal

is Anette Yazidi, owner of Anettes

Chocolates. And if all Napans have been good girls and boys, there is a chance that Santa Claus himself will show up. Its all free and all fun.

Carriage Rides Thursdays, Dec. 4, 11, and 18, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Outside the Napa River Inn, at the NW corner of First & CoombsEnjoy free horse drawn

carriage rides through downtown Napa. Its one of the best ways to enjoy the Holiday lights on all the buildings, see what the Christmas windows look like in the stores, and just snuggle with the family. One carriage leaves the Historic Napa Mill on each of the scheduled nights; a second one departs from Coombs Plaza at First and Coombs Street during the same time. Ride either or both there are two separate routes, with each route lasting about twenty minutes. Spend the time between rides shopping and dining in beautiful downtown Napa. If you enjoy it, come back the following week with your neighbors.

Holiday Trolley Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 5-21, 3 to 6 p.m. Stops at Main and Pearl, Napa River Inn, Coombs at Second (across from the ice rink) and First at Randolph.Everyone can enjoy a free trolley ride downtown. Bring the family,

friends or anybody else youd like. The Christmas-decorated trolley will be playing music of the season as it travels between four regular stops: at the Oxbow Public Market, Historic Napa Mill, First and School Streets near the Andaz Hotel, and at Main and Pearl Streets. Signage will show you exactly where to get off and on. Enjoy the whole loop at one time, or get on and off as you wish.

Santas Helpers Holiday Gift Faire Sat., Dec. 13 10a.m. - 5p.m. and Sun., Dec. 14, 11a.m. - 4p.m. Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third Street, NapaTerrific shopping awaits at the 23rd Annual Holiday Gift Faire at the

Napa Valley Expo, 575 Third St. in Napa. Visit more than 90 booths, dine on delicious food and enjoy the carolers while sipping on hot apple cider. Free admission and free parking. Additional information is available at santashelpersnapa.com.

Reception Kicks Off Photo ExhibitJerrys Eye, an exhibit featuring the photos of Jerry Peil, will

begin with a reception at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at the St. Helena Library. A member of the Calistoga Camera Club, Peils eye became discerning from years of making short films. Free. For details: SHPL.org or 962-5244.

Symphonic Wind Concert at PUCArist-in-Residence Asher Raboy, the longtime conductor of the

Napa Valley Symphony, will conduct the Pacific Union College Symphonic Wind Ensemble in its fall concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Paulin Hall Auditorium on the PUC campus in Angwin. Free. For details: puc.edu/calendar.

Firefighters Bingo & Raffle in CalistogaThe Calistoga Firefighters Association is holding their 76th Annual

Bingo and Raffle Night on Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Napa County Fairgrounds. The fundraising event is held every year to collect money to assist the Calistoga Fire Department with funding for some of the needed emergency equipment around the fire station. The

Christmas parade entrants are encouraged to decorate their cars and floats with Christmas lights; the best example can earn a $500 prize.

The annual Christmas tree lighting downtown, right after Thanksgiving, marks the start of the season in Napa.

Napa Valley Holiday Events

36

money also supports community scholarship funds, cancer fundraisers and other youth programs.

The Art of CalligraphyPart two of Victoria Johnsons

calligraphy workshop will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Rianda House Senior Activity Center, 1475 Main St. in St. Helena. Johnsons whos who of celebrity clients proves that the art of personalizing your wedding invitations, table settings, poems and other written work is still in style. Samples of her work are available at InkwellCalligraphy.com. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5. RSVP to 963-8555.

From Bach to Glass and BackSymphony Napa Valley, featuring the return of Belgian vocalist and

conductor Michael Guttman, will present From Bach to Glass and Back at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater. The program will include string orchestra pieces by Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Glass. Tickets are $25-$55 and you can get more information at LincolnTheater.com.

Latino Artists in CaliforniaInherit: Latino Artists in California, featuring Latino artists whose

work portrays Latino culture, history and influence on American culture, continues through Nov. 30 at the Napa Valley Museum, 55 Presidents Circle in Yountville. The exhibit is presented in partnership with Latino Heritage Month and Somos Napa. Featured artists include Dionisio, Frances Ortiz Chavez, Israel Valencia, Joann Ortega Snowden, Jose Hernandez, Juan Diaz, Lewis de Soto, Malaquias Montoya, Oscar Aguilar Olea, Rupert Garcia and Susann Ortega. For details call 944-0500 or go to NapaValleyMuseum.org.

Pink Martini Goes to the SymphonyPink Martini will bring its cross-genre brand of classical/Latin/jazz/

pop to a Holiday Pops performance with Symphony Napa Valley at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center and Lincoln Theater. For details go to LincolnTheater.com.

King Lear at Lincoln TheaterThe Shakespeares Globe Theatre Production of King Lear will

be performed at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater. The show features eight actors playing multiple roles, and stars Joseph Marcell of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as the betrayed king, more sinned against than sinning. Tickets are $25-$65. For more information go to NapaShakes.org.

Bootleggers Ball Benefits MuseumCelebrate the 81st anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition with a

Bootleggers Ball at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Napa Valley Museum, 55 Presidents Circle in Yountville. There will be live music, cocktails and 1920s-inspired food, with proceeds benefiting the museum. Tickets are $45, or $35 for museum members. Please RSVP to georgene@napavalleymuseum.org or 944-0500.

Community Band Plans ConcertsThe Saint Helena Community Band will perform Christmas concerts

at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Heritage Room at the Yountville Community Center, and at the Inglenook Winery open house on Dec. 7 in Rutherford.

Christmas Concert At Puc

Pacific Union Colleges music ensembles will perform a Christmas concert at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the PUC Church in Angwin. The concert will feature the PUC Chorale and I Cantori under the direction of Bruce Rasmussen. Admission is free. See puc.edu/calendar for more information.

Vineyard Valley Singers PerformThe Vineyard Valley Singers, led by Maggie OFallon, will

perform holiday tunes and lead and sing-along on the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the Carnegie Building, 1360 Oak Ave. in St. Helena. Refreshments will be provided. Admission is free. Please RSVP to 963-8555.

Amadeus at Lincoln TheaterCelebrate the 30th anniversary of the film Amadeus with a Merry

Mozart party featuring live music, seasonal drinks and appetizers at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater, 100 California Drive in Yountville. Sir Neville Marriner, the founder of the famed Academy of St. Martins in the Fields Orchestra who was credited as music supervisor for the film, will share the backstory of the Oscar-winning movie. A screening of the film will follow.

The celebration will continue with Marriner conducting Symphony Napa Valley and internationally renowned violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky in a performance of music from the film and other Mozart masterworks at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. For more details visit LincolnTheater.com.

Photos on Display at Rianda HouseThe photography of Linda Williamson will be on display through

Dec. 31 at Rianda House Senior Activity Center, 1475 Main St. in St. Helena. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free. Go to RiandaHouse.org or call 963-8555 for more information.

New Years Eve Bash in CalistogaCelebrate! Napa Valleys all-inclusive New Years Eve Bash will

be held Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Napa County Fairgrounds. Experience a night of fine dining in downtown Calistoga, then hop on the courtesy shuttle to the Fairgrounds Events Center where guests will enjoy a premium open bar, over-the-top dessert bar, late-night munchies, and dancing to classic party tunes performed by Night Fever. Count down to midnight with friends, family and Schramsberg sparkling wines.

And at the conclusion of the evening, let the complimentary shuttle safely deliver you to your Calistoga destination.

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40

Sean ScullyIf you have picked up a printed edition of

the Napa Valley Register anytime since the Eisenhower Administration, Mrs. Nalley has been a part of your life.

Nearly every edition of the Register since July 22, 1957 has featured Mrs. Nalleys work, though youd be hard-pressed to find her name anywhere in print.

On that first day, a 24-year-old Geraldine Gerri Nalley walked into the old Register building on First Street and secured a job helping prepare ads for the paper. She later went on to sketch out the daily layout of ads, meaning most editions of the Register in the past 50 years have, in some sense, been designed by her hand.

Now, at 81, Mrs. Nalley is the longest-serving Register employee, a living link to another era in journalism, perhaps even another era in American culture. And she has no desire to quit what shes doing.

I dont like sitting at home, she said recently, designing the next days edition at her desk in the Registers temporary offices, which substitute for the building damaged in the August earthquake. Here I can talk to my friends and everything. Its interesting and it keeps me going Id rather not be at home twiddling my thumbs.

Mrs. Nalley the only employee of the Register who is routinely addressed with an honorific rather than a first name started in an era that is almost incomprehensible to todays journalists.

In those days, articles and advertisements were assembled by hand. She and a team of advertising reps and clerks had to design and type up ads themselves. Among her first tasks was combing through huge books and folders full of stock art to illustrate the ads pulling out tiny pictures of common items from clothing to furniture and automobiles. Those tiny pictures were sent back to the composing room, where another team would assemble the words and pictures into an ad. Mrs. Nalley and others on the ad team would then hand carry copies of those ads to the store owners for their approval before the next days paper went to press.

She later went on to laying out the ads on the page, hand-drawing mockups on a piece of paper known as a dummy. Those dummies show page designers the space they have available for stories and photos.

The dummies are prepared on computer these days, but Mrs. Nalley still hand-draws a daily cover sheet that describes the layout of the paper, just as she has done for decades.

While Mrs. Nalley appreciates the speed and versatility of the computer, she says she misses the camaraderie of that manual era.

It was really hard work back then, she said. I really enjoyed the closeness with the sales people; they were really involved.

In the old building, Mrs. Nalleys second-floor office looked out on the intersection of First and Coombs, right at the heart of downtown, where she could watch the pulse of the town. But, she recalls, there was no air conditioning, making it intolerably hot during the summers.

When the new building on Second Street opened in the late 60s, the building came with air conditioning, and a new-fangled conveyer belt to carry the ads back to the composing room, the first of a long line of technological conveniences that have revolutionized the business.

Mrs. Nalley has been through dozens of publishers, editors, and sales representatives. Shes seen the Register at its best and at its worst, including power outages, near disastrous floods, and the devastation of the Aug. 24 earthquake.

If Mrs. Nalley were to share all her Register secrets, we could sell an extra thousand copies, said City Editor Kevin Courtney, a relative youngster at the paper with just 41 years of service.

50+ Years and Still Going Strong

Gerry Mrs. Nalley has been working in the advertising office for over 50 years. Sean Scully/Register

41

Today, ads are no longer pieced together by hand, but rather drawn on computer. The dummies, too, are built electronically and distributed to editors and page designers by email. And there is no more smoking and drinking in the newsroom either.

Mrs. Nalley has seen the creation and rise of the Internet. She seems resigned to the shift from the printed page to the electronic screen.

Thats just the way it is; thats the way things are going now, she said with a shrug. Its all moving to technology.

Register Publisher Brenda Speth, pays tribute to Mrs. Nalleys longevity in such a rapidly changing business.

I admire Mrs. Nalley's commitment to the newspaper, she said. What is really impressive is how she's kept pace with all of the changes to our business as far as technology.

Still, Mrs. Nalley misses the old ways. Work was much, much harder then, she said, and more fun too.

It was just what we had to do and we did it, you know, she said. And at the end of the day, wed all leave and go across the street to the bar.

There is one major change in journalism that gets Mrs. Nalleys hearty approval: the increasing participation of women. In 1957, there were no women in the top ranks of the paper other than a society editor. Today, more than half of the Registers editors and top managers are women, including Speth.

I think its great, Mrs. Nalley said. They can do the same thing as a man can do and some can do it better.

Mrs Nalley reacts with surprise from her 50th Anniversary party at the Napa Valley Register. File Photo

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Nineteen years ago, Sue Paynes friend, Lorraine Harck asked her if she would host a party in her home, so she could sell her hand-designed Christmas decorations and gift items to all of Sues friends. Sue agreed and included some other artists to participate and show their work. It ended up being a very successful, enjoyable evening and the following year, when Sue started designing jewelry, she became one of the participating artists herself. Over the next few years it evolved into an annual event that had become increasingly popular to the point that Sues husband asked if she could please move it outside their home as they were attracting a few hundred people each year.

Lorraine and Sue realized they had given birth to an exciting idea and now it was time to get serious about letting it take wings and y. Sue searched for an affordable location to hold her event, which ended up being the Welcome Grange Hall on Hagen Road in Napa. Lorraine came up with the name Holiday Shopping Extravaganza and they put the word out to a variety of artists that focused on quality work. They knew they wanted to offer a unique art/craft show. Sue made sure all the participants made their own creations and they had to be of a ner quality.

As the show progressed, Sue wanted to give back to the community, so in 2005 she invited Napa Valley Hospice and Adult Day Services to have a booth in her event. She asked all the artists to donate a gift item and created a wonderful rafe that allowed anyone a chance to win the selected prize of their choice for a $5 ticket. They could win something that was valued anywhere from $100 up to $2,500, depending on which rafe selection they chose. Through this rafe they raised over $2,000 for Hospice each year.

Every year they had no problem attracting new participants to ll the hall and show their creative talents. There were so many visitors, the parking lot was always full and the customers eventually complained there wasnt enough room to park. Sue even hired her nephew to help direct cars to nd a parking spot. The hall was so busy with people buying gifts, it was obvious this little show had become an annual favorite.

Artists were calling to be put on a wait list because they had heard it was the best show around. Sue invested endless hours promoting and advertising her event. She didnt want to just make money on selling booths, she sincerely wanted everyone to be successful. She also wanted her customers to be thrilled with the quality and selection of art and crafts offered. After 14 years of successful shows, it became obvious they had outgrown the Grange Hall. Everyone loved that funky place with all its charm, but it was time to move on, allowing more artists to participate and providing ample parking space for the customers. The Holiday Shopping Extravaganza moved to the Napa Valley Expo in the Cabernet Hall. It wasnt the largest hall, but it was the perfect size for a quality show that allowed every artist to be seen and have sufcient room to show their exquisite designs.

Being a window displayer for over 32 years, it is important to Sue that her show is decorated in a tasteful, elegant manner. This new larger hall provided the opportunity for that to happen. Hand-painted silk banners and icicle lights dazzle above from the rafters. The smell of free hot apple cider and treats, permeates the room. Along with Christmas songs in the background, all of this creates a delightfully irresistible holiday experience.

Even bigger and better now, the show had acquired quite a

following and each year customers come back to shop with their favorite artists and see which new ones have been added. Sue said shes always delighted to see the surprise on the faces of new customers that have never attended her show before. They have no idea its not going to be the normal craft show and that there is such an amazing selection of exciting artists to experience.

Every year people stop at my booth just to thank me for having such a wonderful event, she said. That makes it all worthwhile.

With all the artists in place for the upcoming 19th Annual Holiday Extravaganza, sadly the August 24 earthquake took its toll on the well-loved Cabernet Hall. The Napa Valley Expo generously offered the Chardonnay Hall to house the 2014 event. Sue didnt even skip a beat and went right back into show-mode, knowing they will still be able to have the same quality event.

Theres no way were not going to have this show, Sue said. I feel were offering the best and most unique artists weve ever had in the past 18 years. The show will absolutely go on! Both the artists and our customers would be disappointed if it didnt.

For this years show, Sue is including some youth singing groups to participate in the festivities. The Holiday Shopping Extravaganza dates are Friday, Dec. 5, noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. She invites all of you to come and experience this uniquely joyous event and be sure to bring your family and friends.

19 Years of Sharing

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Coffee and cocktails:Firelit adds a 'third-wave' coffee liqueur to the world of spirits

Savoring a cocktail made with Firelit coffee liquor, one might not realize the long road it traveled to the glass.

SaSHa PaulSenJeff Kessinger had been working 14 years for a

Bay Area wine distributor when he noticed a hole in the market place a coffee liqueur that would appeal to the growing ranks of coffee aficionados.

People are really into coffee, he said, but most of what was out there, in coffee liquors, was like syrup made with instant coffee, he said.

This was hardly something to appeal to the prevailing third-wave of coffee connoisseurs. The first wave was what your mother made, Kessinger said. That would be the stuff from a can of Yuban. The second wave came in with vendors like Peets, which originated in Berkeley and launched a revolution of coffee conscientiousness.

The third wave travels beyond the once-trend-setting Peets, with coffee-drinkers seeking out products where the details of the beans, the roasting and brewing elevate the morning cup of joe experience to an artisinal experience right up there with wine, cheese, bread and salumi.

People are trying to be the first with something new, Kessinger reflected. But with the popularity of cocktails on the rise, the absence of a premium coffee liqueur called for a response, he said.

He had one drawback. I had no money but I had an idea, he said.

On the other hand, he also realized he had an advantage in the customer base he had built throughout the Bay Area from his years as a distributor. If he could create the product, he would have a network of contacts and possible places to sell it.

He began to experiment. From James Freeman, the owner of the trendy, third-wave Blue Bottle Coffee, he learned the art of cold-brewing, a time-consuming process that produces a different, slightly sweeter flavored coffee because the different chemical reaction that occurs as compared to the standard brewing method that uses boiling water.

Kessinger used this cold-brewed coffee as the basis for his liqueur. He decided he would make his product in small batches, with beans from one origin. As he got good reviews from tasters, he

Firelit is a coffee liqueur developed by Jeff Kessinger of Firelit Spirits, and produced in Napa. Kessinger utilizes local roasters to provide the cold-brewed base, most recently Charlie Sange of Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company. Several local restaurants use Firelit to create signature cocktails, including Fagiani's. File Photo/Register

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I calculated that I needed $8,000, Kessinger said. He found unexpected support from a friend, Marcus Urani, a musician, who plays keyboard in the reggae band, Groundation. Urani offered to front the money, telling Kessinger, It drives me nuts when people have ideas and dont pursue them. It drives me nuts, too, Kessinger noted.

Ive had a lot of people help me along the way, he added. This, he said, includes Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company, which roasts his small batch coffee to his specifications and cold-brews his coffee.

He also includes Casey Escher, his current landlord of his manufacturing space, Phez Park, in south Napa. He is so cool and understanding, and he went way over and above in being patient and accommodating, Kessinger said.

His business partner and childhood friend Tyler Warrender designed a website and a hand-stamped label describing the origins of the coffee for that particular batch, and Firelit Coffee Liqueur was ready to be introduced to the world.

The first reviews were strong and positive. Coffee geeks will go bananas for this coffee liqueur, wrote Wine Enthusiast as it named Firelit to its list of the top 50 spirits of 2011. Firelit retains all the nuance and glory of fine coffee, Virginia Miller wrote in the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Praise came in from European tasters, as well. We think they say it tastes good, Kessinger commented of a lengthy review in German in Lecker Food Magazine.

Locally, bartenders joined the praise and added Firelit to their stocks. In Napa, The Thomas at Fagianis is making a Stinger& Buzz drink with Firelit, while at the Napkins bar, bartender Nick

Petrakis created a Morning Margarita. (Napkins, currently closed by earthquake damage, reports that it is working as quickly as possible to reopen). In St. Helena, Goose and Ganders Vincent Lee serves up Cafe Fumado.

If you want to mix your own cocktails, Firelit is available locally at Dean and Deluca in St. Helena and Val's Liquors in Napa.

The 60-proof liqueur goes down real smooth, Kessinger said. You can shoot it in the morning. But dont drink it late at night.

More information about Firelit coffee liqueur can be found on the website, FirelitSpirits.com.

Jeff Kessinger of Firelit Spirits, left, has worked with Charlie Sange of Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company, right,