News Worth Mentioning – November 27, 2025
Thanksgiving Eve at RO Restaurant Yountville
Kick off the holidays at Chef Thomas Keller’s RO Restaurant & Lounge with a Thanksgiving Evecelebration today.
An all-day Happy Hour from 4 to 9:30 p.m. will be available at the bar and on the heated garden patio. Highlighting the bar menu are two festive cocktails, the White Negroni with Casa Dragones tequila and Lillet Blanc, and the Holiday Spritz with persimmon-infused Aperol, Dolin Rouge and sparkling wine.
Guests can also enjoy savory specials in the dining room, including a whole smoked Liberty Duck served with Koshihikari duck rice, confit duck leg, maitake mushrooms, crispy leeks, sweet potatoes and citrus jus from Chef de Cuisine Jeffery Hayashi. Reservations through RESY are encouraged.
Holidays in Yountville
The annual Holidays in Yountville series of events began with the Yountville town and tree lighting and continue through Jan. 1. More than 100 events are planned, including wine tastings, holiday treats, crafting workshops, gift shopping, cooking classes, open houses and opportunities to give back. For a complete schedule of events visit this link.
Arnold joins Bottega to run wine program
Rich Frank and John Hansen, owners of Bottega Napa Valley, have added new wine director, Stephen Arnold, to the team. Arnold will build upon Bottega’s wine program, which has a long tradition of offering compelling wines from around the world.
Originally from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Arnold most recently served as sommelier at Press in St. Helena, where he worked closely with extensive collections of Napa Valley wines. He has also worked as a wine director and sommelier on the East Coast and in Los Angeles at establishments including Ristorante Massimo in New Hampshire and Wally’s Wine & Spirits in Beverly Hills.
Bottega’s leadership team also includes Executive Chef Alex Espinoza, a Culinary Institute of America alum and Tra Vigne veteran, and General Manager Edgar Antonio, a veteran of Michelin-starred restaurants including The Restaurant at Meadowood. To learn more about Bottega’s new wine menu visit this link.
Bardessono to host Latke Throwdown
Bardessono Hotel & Spa’s 5th Annual Latke Throwdown is set for Thursday, Dec. 11, from 5 to 7 p.m. Guests will watch top local chefs, including Bardessono’s executive chef, Rick Edge of Lucy Restaurant and Bar, compete in a latke-making contest. Competitors have approximately 30 minutes to create the ultimate latke, which guests will then have the opportunity to sample. The winner will be awarded the Golden Spatula. This year’s judges panel is composed of past Latke Throwdown winners, alongside local chefs and tastemakers, who will judge competitors in three categories: creativity, presentation and taste.
Tickets to the event are $20 per person, with all proceeds benefiting Parents CAN, a Napa-based nonprofit supporting families of children with special needs. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
Honor Market hot dogs featured on LA’s 4KNBC
4KNBC Los Angeles featured Honor Market this Thursday on the program California Live! “California Live’s Jobeth Devera takes us to a humble gas station in Yountville that has transformed into Honor Market, a foodie hotspot famous for its all-beef hot dogs. Served on freshly baked brioche buns with house-made relish and mustard, these dogs have locals and visitors lining up daily. Many are calling it the best hot dog in Napa Valley — and one bite might just convince you too!” Check out the video here.
Yountville’s Gather and Watch: six- week viewing of Ken Burns’ ‘The American Revolution’ continues
Yountville neighbors can attend a free big-screen viewing of Ken Burns’ new documentary series, “The American Revolution,” continuing for an additional five sessions. Each screening is followed by an informal group discussion.
The six-part series explores how America’s founding turned the world upside-down, providing an expansive look at the virtues and contradictions of the Revolutionary War and the birth of the United States of America. More information can be found at https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-american-revolution/about-the-film
Each week attendees gather at 5 p.m. for a two-hour episode beginning at 5:15 p.m. The 45-minute informal discussion will follow. Attendees are encouraged to bring snacks and beverages to share. The remaining viewing dates are Wednesdays: Dec. 3, 10 and 17, followed by Tuesdays, Dec. 23 and 30.
Old Mill Holidays at Bale Grist Mill
Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park hosts a festive morning of holiday crafts on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Folk music and carols will fill the air and hot apple cider will simmer on a wood-burning stove. Activities include crafting letters to Santa using quill pens and wax to seal letters, and creating wreaths and garlands to adorn homes. Guests can try making pomanders, a sweet-scented, clove-studded citrus; icing and decorating gingerbread men; stringing cranberry and popcorn decorations; weaving wheat ornaments and cutting paper snowflakes for the tree.
Admission is $5 per person and free for children ages 2 and under. On-site parking is available, and no advance registration is required. For more information, visit www.napavalleystateparks.org/upcoming-events/. Bale Grist Mill is at 3369 St Helena Hwy., St. Helena.
Calistoga Lighted Tractor Parade
The 30th annual Calistoga Lighted Tractor parade will take place Saturday, Dec. 6, from 7 to 8 p.m. The dazzling holiday tradition brings thousands of spectators from near and far to admire beautifully decorated tractors, trucks, floats and farm equipment, all aglow with festive lights. Experience the joy of the season as local farmers, businesses and community members showcase their creativity in this uniquely Calistogan celebration.
For more information, visit: https://visitcalistoga.com/lighted-tractor-parade/.
Glow Pickleball Night returns
Calling all pickleballers to get ready to light up the indoor court at the Yountville Community Center on Friday, Dec. 19, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Snacks, drinks, and music will fill the game-filled evening, which is perfect for all skill levels. Neon, glow-in-the-dark apparel and accessories are encouraged. Visit www.yvilleparksandrec.com to register.
2025 Give!Guide campaign
The 13th annual CanDo Give!Guide campaign launched on Nov. 1 and will run through Dec. 31. The community’s end-of-year giving campaign features a record 91 nonprofit organizations, offering donors the broadest range of choices in the program’s history.
Since Napa Valley CanDo founded the Give!Guide in 2013, it has raised more than $7.3 million for 154 Napa County nonprofits, which includes $1.14 million in donations collected in 2024.
Participating nonprofit partners work in key community sectors including health, education, environment, animal care, youth, seniors, arts and social services. Donors can browse participating organizations online and make contributions to one or many nonprofits in a single, secure transaction.
The Give!Guide accepts donations by credit card or check starting at $10. All participating nonprofits are carefully screened and all money raised stays in Napa County.
For more information and to access the guide online, visit www.CanDoGiveGuide.org/. For questions, email [email protected].
Napa Valley Bike Tours now owned and led by Magro
Napa Valley Bike Tours, with its flagship location in Yountville, has announced that longtime team member Mackenzie Magro has taken ownership of the company and stepped into the role of CEO. Magro succeeds Brad Dropping, who is retiring after more than 20 years of ownership.
Magro joined Napa Valley Bike Tours as a concierge more than a decade ago, drawn to a business built around two of her passions: fitness and wine. She grew with the business, eventually leading day-to-day operations, guiding strategic growth and strengthening partnerships across the hospitality community.
Napa Valley Bike Tours employs a team of more than 20 tour guides and maintains a fleet of more than 250 bicycles, offering guided and self-guided experiences from three locations: Yountville, Napa and St. Helena. Napa Valley Bike Tours is at 6500 Washington St. in Yountville.
