Wednesday Evenings | 5:30 to 8:30pm | June 12 - July 31 Inside First Street Napa
Napa’s new summer series takes outdoor events into a whole new level, and makes locals part of the fun. Each week features a mixology competition, in which three of Napa’s favorite bartenders will participate. And the judges? The first two hundred attendees who are interested will be ID’d, given a wristband, and tickets to taste. They will sample all three of the cocktails and pick their favorite. That bartender will get a gift certificate to a downtown restaurant. A second panel of judges, two bartenders and a local celebrity, will also pick the bartender who will advance to the final round, and at the end of the eight-week series, one of them will take home a giant engraved shaker, two-night stay at Archer Hotel Napa, $250 gift certificate to Charlie Palmer Steak Napa – and a check for $1,000.
And that’s just part of it. More on that in a moment.
Locals Night Out is the chance to get outside and enjoy Napa’s summer weather, while taking in local, hand-made arts and crafts, savoring appetizers from four downtown restaurants and enjoying a craft-brewed beer or glass of wine; all while listening to music from local artists. All the activity will take place inside First Street Napa between Archer and Markers Market, with all downtown streets left open. The event promises to surprise you every week with the quality of the arts and crafts, curated by Lisa Gordon, manager of Makers Market on First Street, just west of Archer Hotel. “We won’t have the old hand-crafted items that you might have seen in the past,” said Gordon. “What you’ll find are the up and coming artisans of today; DIY booths, henna, apothecary, wood crafters, even granola makers and more.” Best of all, different artists will be part of the mix each week, so you’ll see something new every time you attend. “Seeing what these artisans create is inspiring. It’s great to be able to help support people do what they love.”
Beer from downtown’s participating breweries will be featured – Downtown Joe’s, Palisades and Trade. Wine from Napastak, Compline Wine Bar, Restaurant and Merchant, and other downtown tasting rooms will be for sale by the glass. And if you’re hungry? Enjoy appetizers from Charlie Palmer Steak, Compline Wine Bar, Restaurant and Merchant and Filippi’s. In July Miminashi will join the mix.
The mixology portion of the evening is the brainchild of Peter Triolo, director of food and beverage, Charlie Palmer Steak Napa. “We have some amazing bartenders in Napa, and this is a great way to showcase their talent. We want everything about this to be local,” said Triolo, “and that means locals will weigh in on the competition and the fun.” Triolo said mixologists will be challenged to craft the perfect cocktail. Organizers will ID the first 200 interested people each night, charge them $1 and then give them a wristband, three tickets and a chip. “People will turn in their tickets for a one ounce pour of each cocktail, and will then use the chip to vote for their favorite.” Charlie Palmer Steak is the primary partner in the event, providing everything necessary for the weekly contest. “We’re thrilled to play a part in bringing a little mid-week fun to the heart of Napa,” he said.
The idea for a mid-week outdoor event came from board of the Downtown Napa Association (DNA) in response to feedback they’ve gotten from residents and businesses. “Locals miss some of the outdoor events we used to do,” said Bill LaLiberte, General Manager of the Oxbow Public Market and president of the DNA. “There’s nothing like being outside; enjoying a glass of wine and an appetizer, talking to your neighbors and checking out the entertainment. Downtown is the perfect place for this kind of thing.”
For more information, visit DoNapa.com, and check out Locals Night Out.