Day or night, it would be hard to miss this large sculpture that stands in front of the Archer…read moreHotel. The piece is by artist Gordon Huether and there's a caption. It reads, "This sculpture is inspired by the masterful baskets of the original people who inhabited the Napa Valley and were known for their precise basket making. They wove using parts of local plants such as gray willow branches, sedge and redbud to create beautiful ceremonial artistic baskets and baskets for more utilitarian purposes such as gathering food. The baskets were woven so tightly they could even hold water. Gordon Huether's unfinished basket could be interpreted as a metaphor for an ever-evolving community, never stagnant and always dynamic, weaving together the past, present and future of the Napa Valley." It is pretty and the daytime and with the underlighting at night, even more so after dark. [Review 17661 overall - 452 in California - 1182 of 2022.]

Painted high on the side of the exterior wall of an art gallery, this historical mural is only…read morepartially blocked by a growing tree. Looking at the Google Street View history, there was a much bigger tree in the way back in 2007 that was since replaced and this tree was a tiny sapling back then. So maybe it will take a couple of viewpoints to see the entire mural as the new tree gets bigger. There is a marker posted adjacent to the mural. It reads... Credit the 1908 Napa City & County Portfolio & Directory, published by Mr. H. A. Darms of Napa, and considerable research in the archives of the Napa County Historical Society by Napa artist Miky Kravjansky for the concept behind this montage of early Napa. Important personages represented include, from left, Napa County Sheriff D. A. Dunlap (with hat & moustache), Napa Mayor D. S. Kyser (with moustache & sideburns), Superior Court Judge Henry C. Gesford (with beard & shock of white hair) and Justice of the Peace (future State Senator) Nathan Coombs. The lady depicted on the page of the Napa Daily Journal is Lena A. Jackson, the then Superintendent of Schools. Noteworthy buildings of the time are, from left, the Goodman Library, the Napa County Courthouse, the Migliavacca Mansion (all three are still standing) & the Central School. In the center, behind the courthouse & depicted in the distance, are some of the many spires of the "Insane Asylum", the city's largest employer of the time. The glove and shoe in the Keigs Shoe Store ad are examples of goods manufactured locally and the Horse & Buggy, an example of the major mode of transportation. The "1900" wine cask and fresh fruit denote the large part agriculture played in those days. The lady & two children and the couple in the center are in the dress of the day & the foursome of "dandy" gentlemen are shown sampling wine, a pastime as popular then as it is today. In recognition of their generosity in making this mural possible, the Napa Mural Society gives special thanks to: Artist Miky Kravjansky, who donated his time and talent. Bell Products, Inc., Jim Asbury, President, for the installation. Superior Paint of napa, Roger Langley, owner, for the paint. Morris Brown Realty, building owners, for providing the location. Napa City Council, for their support of the mural project. The Napa Chamber of Commerce, for making it all possible. Stop by and check it out. There is street parking. [Review 17592 overall - 387 in California - 1110 of 2022.]

The City of Napa has a requirement that in any new large building development, the developer must…read moreinclude public art in some form or they can pay into a city fund for the art to be displayed elsewhere. For the Napa Century Center https://www.yelp.com/biz/south-napa-century-center-napa?hrid=lBDQBbt2cFO-Xb0ARD25ag, they decided to install the art locally. This one in yellow is the second installation and is located along the southern end of the parking lot near the CREAM Napa ice cream shop and the Trek Bicycles Napa and adjacent to the Southside Century cafe https://www.yelp.com/biz/southside-century-napa. It is formed from sheets of folded, yellow-painted metal and designed by Phoenix-based artist Peter Deise. It was installed in 2018. The artist described it: "The mix of hues and textures are intended to capture the impression of grasses and wildflowers along the nearby Napa River...[symbolizing] a confluence of energies twisting and turning ... reacting and rising beautifully like this spire into a cool misty morning sky." This $97,000 sculpture is formed from sheets of folded, yellow-painted metal, the Deise-designed spire will be supported by a bundle of tubes in rust-coated steel. It is specifically untitled, "in keeping with the artist's desire not to hang any written influences or directions onto his work." From the developer, "[this] newest sculpture is meant to add atmosphere and interest to outdoor spaces as the complex gains more businesses, especially eateries." In such a bright yellow hue, it is pretty and interesting and it definitely added atmosphere. When I look at it, I see the wind blowing through the grass and reaching for the sky. [Review 17568 overall - 364 in California - 1086 of 2022.]

The exact location is across the street from Todos Santos Plaza, directly in front of Uncle Jay…read moreBurger House in Concord.  It's a fairly simple artistic creation, a colorful and somewhat playful depiction of the guitar and its music, the artwork in honor of Oceanworks Productions. Though topped off with a bit of dirt and graffiti, it was a cool piece to check out while I was in the area.

despite the location being noted as being in Kansas, it's actually in Concord, Ca. at one of the…read morecorners of Todos Santos Plaza. the mural depicts many colorful editions of classical guitars in shades of orange, green, black, and red. there's also a banjo and an electric version in black with white dots. creator: Oceanworks Productions, Jhea Jue

Along Main Street where it parallels the Napa River, this interactive artwork is also next to the…read moreparking lot. Lots of foot traffic here. It is a harp and the online caption reveals that it is made with Wood, metal, musical strings, anti-graffiti coating. The artist's description reads, "'Public Sound Harp #1' is a musical sculpture for people to touch and play. With 225+ musical strings tuned to the Earth's fundamental frequency & harmonic intervals, it is part of the Sound Cave Project: sound art installations harnessing the aural phenomenon of sympathetic resonance." The artist's name is Tyson Ayers. I poked at it a bit but I wasn't able to make any coherent sounds. But then, I'm not a musical talent. Maybe you'll do better. [Review 17605 overall - 397 in California - 1124 of 2022.]

Oakville's Carmelite Monastery is a historically fascinating spot in the Napa Valley. There were…read moreplans for this mansion to be a Summer White House on the West Coast. It had the same designer as Golden Gate Park- https://noehill.com/napa/poi_carmelite_monastery.asp The South Napa quake of 2014 severely damaged the monastery, yet the chapel remained intact. Miraculously, the chapel is having Masses to this day. They are celebrating Holy Week&Easter. They have a small gift shop- not sure if it's still being restored/renovated. A serene, beautiful oasis for prayer.

Whether you go there to take in the Catholicism or you just want to see the "Great Gatsby" style…read moremansion, the place is something to see. The grand mansion built in the 1920's has a history and I think even a ghost. You know those types of stories, a well-to-do family with a fortune and then a stepmother or father walks into the scene, something like that. The place is well worth the visit on the Napa Valley wine country tour. Take a few minutes to visit the little town of Oakville, which is close to St. Helena. It is among the few small town spots left in Northern California. See the Carmelite's web site for details about retreats and events. And, they also have a gift shop. http://www.oakvillecarmelites.org/

This piece was the first by artist Peter Deise to be featured in the South Napa Century Center…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/south-napa-century-center-napa?hrid=lBDQBbt2cFO-Xb0ARD25ag and it's sure hard to miss. Titled "Orange Ribbons" it is a series of undulating powder coated steel. Bright orange, it is in the corner of the lot near Forge Pizza https://www.yelp.com/biz/forge-pizza-napa?hrid=HXMFdy67xx37oAdcDoYTOg. It was installed in May 2016. According to the artist, "I like to convey the idea of energy unfolding. It flows and undulates like flags, like seaweed, like life itself." You can certainly see that here. He continues, "My work is primarily an overlapping of science and art. Science is real; it's learning about life. The art is my brain filtering that and trying to relate to it in its own way. And steel was the hardest thing from which to create these delicate forms, so that's why I went with it." [Review 18071 overall - 468 in California - 1593 of 2022.]

The city of Sonoma is a perfect place for a getaway and a place that I personally love for so many…read morereasons. I personally prefer Sonoma County more than Napa Valley because it is so charming and has a small town feel that I love. It feels less crowded and more laid back, which I also love. The Sonoma Plaza is in the heart of town and this area is very quaint and charming. This is a perfect area to sip and stroll, shop, enjoy the amazing restaurants, and/or to enjoy a picnic. The city of Sonoma is also great for both foodies and wine lovers. The vineyard views in this town are also absolutely gorgeous. There are lots of amazing wineries if you enjoy wine tasting. There are lots of farm to table restaurants that are amazing as well as events throughout the year that are fun to partake in. You can also take a hot air balloon ride and soar above the vineyards. There are spas if you are looking to relax and this is an excellent spot for a girls getaway. If you enjoy hiking, there are lots of places to enjoy within a short drive. There is also the Sonoma Overlook Trail which is an easy loop that offers panaramic views of the town and the valley below.

I love this small town for a quick getaway. I like it much better than neighboring Napa which is…read morejust a short drive from here. Napa has evolved into a much more commercial and bougie destination that I can see the glaring changes each decade brings. I mean I will still visit the Napa area, but if given the choice, I will take Sonoma any day. I've been preferring this wine valley over on Hwy 12 versus the one on Hwy 29. The actual town of Sonoma is very quaint with good California history in its tow. And I don't find it as pretentious as Napa and their neighboring appellations like Yountville and Calistoga. I have stayed in small hotels, camped, hiked, wine tasted and dined at many places in or nearby Sonoma. And on every visit, I always make an effort on spending some time near their main square where there are several beautiful parks with shady mature trees, beautiful rustic buildings, lots of great places to eat/drink and just people watch. A great local gem for a getaway where I don't have to significantly travel. Been in my back pocket since the early 90s. And still madly in love with it. Trust.