Concerts, Dinners, Tastings

What Could Be More Fun…

Howard Jones

Web gal loves live music. So when 4 English bands: Modern English, English Beat, Wang Chung and headliner Howard Jones, when special suites sold out at Napa’s Meritage Resort, she was not to be deterred. After a little online search, found they were playing at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles and we were off to concert time, along with a Willie Nelson show the next night. Those 4 bands were unknown to me, but we had a ball, was surprised how much I enjoyed it, all us old timers groovin and movin to all that 80s music. And same for Willie’s show the next night. Willie has to sit down now at 93, but he still picks a mean acoustic guitar and sings the hits with as much power as he can muster, with his crack, backing band that includes his son Lukas. Opening act Ian Munsick’s brand of country/rock won the crowd over as well.

Morimoto

After the first show, we didn’t give into the greasy, fair food temptations, but found an Italian restaurant named Rustic Fire, near the fair grounds that hit the spot with a fine, thin crust pizza, meatballs and salad. Bellasera Hotel & Suites Paso Robles, Tapestry by Hilton was a reasonably priced, nicely decorated suite that was a pleasure to return to after our concert fun.

Wang Chung

Up the 101 after Willie’s concert, for a fun day of wine tasting. First stop, Robert Biale Vineyards, where our pal, Wine Educator, Andrew Lincoln, always knows to pour me those big, bold reds that I adore. Web gal purchased 3 out of the 5 Andrew poured for me, on the condition that I not polish them off before she had a sip or two. Swearing restraint, promised her that they will be poured over our steak dinners at home. Up the 29 for a stop to check out the newly opened, totally renovated Robert Mondavi Winery. Wow!! Such finely crafted architecture, huge floor to ceiling windows, looking out in every direction to the grapes growing in the fields. Had a glass of the 2023 Mondavi Chardonnay that hit the spot in that had a nice balance between fruit and acidity.

Beaulieu Vineyard

After Mondavi, it was time to check out Beaulieu Vineyard, which has also completed a fantastic new renovation for their tasting rooms. Love how they have this huge, high vaulted ceiling now in their ground floor tasting room and bar, while the upstairs patio is available for members. Enjoyed a pour of Beaulieu’s 2023 Cabernet.

Willie Nelson

Final stop for the evening was dinner at Morimoto Napa’s restaurant in downtown Napa. After being knocked out how good Morimoto’s food was on our cruises, wanted to take up Morimoto Napa’s Regional GM, Vince Le’s invitation to try it out on dry land. And we were ecstatic to try. As were a lot of other people. Man, the joint was jumpin, in a good way. Excellent service, tons of staff on hand to sweep plates away and bring new delights to the table, all the while serving a packed restaurant. Wait staff and customers can get a little snippy if the place is overrun and the staff is in the weeds as Bourdain once remarked. But I couldn’t see anyone who wasn’t smiling, and it was because the food is so good. We started off with a rock shrimp tempura, that was just right in terms of a thin crust batter, with a spicy tamarind dipping sauce that the web gal loved too. On to surf and turf combo plates that had us sighing with pleasure, sharing different sticks of finely grilled fish and meat. Again, loving the grilling sauce accompanying the dishes. If the web gal had a super sized kitchen pantry she would have completely stocked it with the grilling sauce without blinking an eye. Grilled veggies were good too. Dessert was three scoops of delicious sorbet ice cream. Web gal and I both loved the coconut and caramel cream scoop the best.

Morimoto

Inaugural White House Dinner

Next day it was time to stop at Napa’s Premium Outlets mall as the web gal wanted a new top to go with her skirt for the evening dinner event at Olive Hill Estates. Not much of a shopper, but having nothing to do, wandered into the Ralph Lauren store and got lucky finding a couple of nice, linen, short sleeved summer shirts that were going for half the sticker price, which I quickly scooped up. Web gal found a white top she liked that went with her skirt and we were off to the Olive Hill Estates for Napa County Historical Society’s Inaugural Heritage White House Dinner reception. Asking for Senior VP of Sales and Marketing Brian Allard, was told he was wearing a jacket with bees on it. Initially I thought the gal said beads and was looking for a sparkly like jacket that we saw when we recently had a ton of fun at a KC & the Sunshine Band concert at a Seattle casino. But sussing it out that it was bees on his jacket, Brian was relatively easy to find and styling as the matrons were cooing over his jacket and we had a bunch of laughs before moving onto the dining room in the barn for the dinner, which was very classy and fun. Don’t miss the 2^nd one next year.

Bellasera Hotel & Suites

Back on the road, this time up the 97 to Bend, Oregon where the Goo Goo Dolls were playing a makeup gig after cancelling in 2025 due to poor air quality from wildfire smoke. Opening act Neon Trees warmed up the crowd good and the Goo Goo Dolls delivered a fine set that made it a capper for our trip. Long, but beautiful drive, especially passing Hood Mountain. Not a lot to do in Bend, but fine scenery around it and good concerts.. cheers!!!