Out and About in the Neighborhood
If you, like me, have been reading stories with the “best of” lists, you’ve probably seen some experts’ lists of the best movies, best books, top news stories of 2025, etc. I decided to follow the trend and put together a list of highlights from the past year that make Yountville a great place to live and contribute to the fabric of our community.
In no particular order:
Pancha’s, the return of our Cheers Bar: After what seemed like an interminable wait, our iconic dive bar is open for business! Word has it there might be a grand opening this week but we’ve already had a sneak peek. The pool table is back but the cigarette smoke is gone! Ren and Marilyn Harris have done a wonderful job renovating the place and managing partner, Scott Lewis, is the perfect Irish bartender, serving up pints of Guinness stout and more. We’re looking forward to cozying up to the bar and having a place where everyone knows our name!
Yountville Fit, our community fitness hub: If you don’t mind being seen in your sweat clothes, YVF is the place to be. Our local gym just celebrated its one-year anniversary and now has about 300 members. Sharing workouts with friends and neighbors is a fun way to get exercise. I got to know Dan May working out alongside him on the treadmill and he’s now become my new biking buddy. Eliza Raulston, Lisa Allard, Terry Mitchell and Evelyn Donoviel are just a few of the gals pushing the limits with me in classes. The gym is very well run by owners Donavan and Jacqui Almond and manager Ariana Avina. The coaches and all the staff are upbeat, welcoming and knowledgeable. I’ve belonged to other gyms before, but I’m delighted to have such a great fitness resource in our town, and most of us can walk or ride our bikes there!
Hope’s Chest, a charitable venture with glam: Iren Jenny has combined her love of fashion with her philanthropic spirit. Several times each year, she holds a pop-up event featuring vintage jewelry and accessories and donates the profits to charities such as Cope Family Center and Molly’s Angels. Her sales have taken place at Hotel Yountville and Jessup Cellars, but the highlight was her annual fashion show, held this year at her family home in St. Helena. There’s usually something special to pick up for yourself or a friend and it’s nice to know you’re supporting a good cause.
Blessing of the Animals, spreading kindness to all things big and small: Longtime resident Carol Fink probably started this program even before we bought our Yountville home in the early 2000s. Years ago, we used to take our dog Riley to be blessed at what was then a relatively small ceremony in the Community Center Plaza. This year’s event was held at Veterans Park and besides many small pets, Carol ministered her blessings to a camel and highland cow! There was also a poignant tribute to town icon, Lois Riker who had recently passed away. Lois’s two daughters, her dog Lolita and friend Sharon Stensaas were on hand to acknowledge her support of this event and her love of animals.
Sculpture Walk and Steve Rogers Gallery, a town committed to the arts: Residents and tourists alike have delighted in the many sculptures that adorn our streets and the local gallery presenting exhibitions of fine art. Much of the credit for the selection and location of our sculptures can be attributed to Ronda Schaer, chair of the Yountville Arts Commission. She collaborated with sculptor Richard Starks in his creation of the new “Heartsong” sculpture. The town has also invested in sculptures, including the iconic “Sidewalk Judge” and “Chaos Pamplona.” Our gallery, run by Yountville Arts and the Yountville Parks and Recreation Department, provides the opportunity to feature art in a range of media, including a dedicated Youth Art Show. Art is all around for us to appreciate and enjoy.
Yountville Library, books and more: A treasured destination in our community, the Yountville Library is here to provide reading material, access to computers and a host of programs in town. Rebecca Simon and Alex Delgado help recommend and check out books, answer questions and provide a cozy space to read and relax. You can stop by on Friday for a cup of coffee, put an album on the turntable or browse the “library of things.” Programs including Mah Jong, Tech Help and Storytime for Kids engage residents of all ages.
Yountville Night Out, a social evening for emergency preparedness: The second annual YNO took place in 2025, and it was a huge success. Thanks to Town Clerk Hilary Gaede and several of us organizing our respective neighborhoods, this event is intended to bring neighbors together for a meet and greet, and includes various first responders. Making things especially fun was a visit from the Sheriff’s Posse on horseback and fire trucks from Fire Station 12. The program was the catalyst for me to form a social committee for my development with Bob Baumann and Gisela Campagne, leading us to arrange some long-awaited gatherings for our Vintage Association residents.
Town’s Tree Lighting brightens up the holidays: This amazing event put on by our Parks & Recreation Department is the start of the holiday season in Yountville. It attracts residents from our town and neighboring communities with a guest appearance from Santa Claus. It is always nice to see our elected officials join us each year, including Congressman Mike Thompson, County Supervisor Anne Cottrell and members of the Yountville Town Council. The huge crowds make it a little challenging to find our friends and neighbors, but this year we went with new neighbor Paul Blystone and segued with him to the Villagio Hotel for some holiday cocktails. Seeing the lighted trees on Washington Street keeps the holidays aglow for several weeks.
The Yountville Sun, news that continues to shine: Our beloved local newspaper is now in an online format but continues to provide news and information to paying subscribers and those who visit the website. I am grateful to Marc Hand for hanging in there with us as we all try to navigate the new landscape without a handheld paper. Lisa Adams Walter is a great editor and journalistic contributor. I am proud to be among the local volunteers who write for the paper; it is a labor of love for all of us: Kim Cook, Marianne Lyon, Ranndy Pina, Susan Wiechers and Anthony Halstead, director of the Napa County Library. Thank you to everyone who continues to support this essential news source for our town.
Lest you think I forgot about the Town Bash, Crab Feed and Music in the Park, we had to miss some of these events in ’25 due to our travels and Sundays with the grandkids. We did enjoy the Mardi Gras Parade and Halloween Block Party, launched for the first time last year.
Next up, Restaurant Month at Lucy Bar and Grill with Iren and Ted Jenny and the first Yountville Chamber of Commerce mixer of 2026.
There is obviously more than enough to keep us happy and busy in this special little town. Thanks to the Town Council, our amazing town staff and Chamber of Commerce who keep it all together.
Please feel free to reach out in 2026 with your good news: [email protected]. I hope to see you out and about in the New Year!
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