Welcome back to the Napa Lowdown - Weekend Game Plan Edition

After a weird little weather week - some beautiful days, some abrupt downpours… I think we are finally back.

This weekend feels like peak Napa weather before we get into the real heat later in the year.

And yes, I have focused the Game Plan on a couple specific events. But in reality, I know most of you probably use this less as a strict itinerary and more as a “oh, that sounds interesting” list.

But this week, maybe you completely ignore the events and just use this as your reminder that the weather is amazing, the birds are bumping, and you should probably go outside for a minute.

Honestly, that might be the real Game Plan.

Hit Alston Park. Walk around Kennedy. Wander Westwood Hills. Or just take one lap around the block and enjoy the fact that Napa is doing the whole spring thing pretty well right now.

Napa Lowdown trivia of the day: Rick Springfield is playing Uptown Theatre this weekend, so here’s the obvious music trivia question:

What year was Rick Springfield’s debut album released?

A. 1972
B. 1976
C. 1981
D. 1984

Answer later in the issue.

Ok, I gotta be honest, I am a little out of my league here.

But while I was looking through all the graduation dates, I stumbled across this one: the Napa High Choir Spring Concert.

The program mentions “America the Beautiful,” and I am not totally sure what the full theme is here, but I do know this: local student stuff is good Lowdown territory.

And I have to shout out the ticketing situation for a second.

It is 2026, and we are seeing prices like this? Clear fees? Tickets under $20? I almost want to buy one just to support the concept of reasonable online ticketing.

But really, shoutout to the students.

End of the year, putting in real work, probably balancing school, finals, graduation chaos, and everything else, while the rest of us are busy complaining about traffic.

Very wholesome. Very local. Maybe kind of weird if you do not have a student there? Sure. But also, there are worse ways to spend a Friday than sitting in an auditorium and supporting kids who can actually sing.

Link or tickets: https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/l3x3new1jd

On a similar note, this one is kind of specific, but honestly, maybe very useful for the musically inclined.

Napa Valley College is hosting a Musical Instrument Sale this weekend through the Rockley Family Foundation.

And this is one of those events where the target audience is probably very narrow, but if it applies to you, it really applies.

I want to be clear up front. This does not look like an estate sale type of thing.

Most instruments are less than one year old, include a 5-10 year service contract, and are tuned and ready to enjoy. So we are talking pianos, digital pianos, keyboards, guitars, violins, drums, and other instruments that are actually ready to be used.

The sale is by appointment, and the foundation says people are invited to attend a private sale on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 28-30, along with faculty and staff, with priority selection and price reductions.

To secure a time, you can call or text 707-254-6534, or use the appointment button on their site.

The proceeds support the Rockley Family Foundation, which is a nonprofit founded by Tobin and Liane Rockley to help bring music education to schools and students in need. They raise money for music scholarships, donate instruments, and help provide instruments to educational communities.  

So yes, very specific. But a potential great opportunity for some of you

Details

Link: https://www.rockleyfamilyfoundation.org/napa/

You guys know me. I rarely just put an Uptown Theatre show in here because that feels lazy.

But for this one, I had something to say.

Which, depending on your age and general relationship with 80s rock, either means a lot to you immediately or means you are about to hear the phrase “Jessie’s Girl” from someone with great intensity.

As someone who grew up in the 90s, this one hits home. However, am I really about to pay $115 plus fees to hear the one song I know?

Well, that is probably the cutoff for me.

But that is also kind of why I am writing this newsletter - to hopefully get to a point where I do not have to make that decision quite so personally.

But for those of you who were old enough to remember the hits as they came out, Rick Springfield was a big deal, and I do not want to pretend he wasn’t.

So if this is your lane, this is probably the cleanest Saturday night show in town.

Details

Link: https://www.uptowntheatrenapa.com/event/jam-cellars-presents-rick-springfield/

Finally, just a little something slower, indoors, and educational: The MAC in St. Helena is doing docent tours this weekend.

If you have not been, The MAC is the Napa Valley Museum of Art & Culture. It is one of those places that is easy to forget about as it’s in St. Helena so a bit of a drive.

However, the tours are free with museum admission, which means the tour itself does not cost extra. You still pay whatever the normal museum admission is, but you are not paying an additional fee for the docent tour.

The current exhibition is “The Wyeths: Three Generations,” and the museum says the docent tours are meant to make the visit richer, with one of their trained docents walking you through the show.

No reservations are required, but they do recommend calling ahead to confirm docent availability at 707-944-0500.

Details

Call ahead recommended: 707-944-0500

Link: https://napavalleymuseum.org/products/docent-tours-at-the-mac

There you have it. Some cool events this weekend, but honestly, this might be the best weather weekend of the year. Calling it early.

And as I do every so often, quick temperature check: let me know what you want more of in the Lowdown.

More trivia? More events? Fewer events? Deeper dives? Shorter blurbs? More local people, small businesses, prominent leaders, weird little stories, and things hiding in plain sight?

I am still figuring out the exact shape of this thing, so replies genuinely help.

The answer to today’s trivia: A. 1972.

Rick Springfield’s debut album was Beginnings, released in 1972.

And on that note, thank you for reading.

Have a good weekend, Napa.

Callie