Tastemaker: Jill Techtel

• What is your city best known for, as far as the locals are concerned?
  Napa is best known for its tremendous variety of excellent restaurants – and it’s also known for all the changes occurring downtown, from the AVIA to Napa Square, the Riverfront project, other new buildings and, of course, the revitalized Napa River. Even in this economy, so much is happening here!
• If you sought a truly "off-the-beaten-path" experience in your city, where would you go or what would you do?
  The crab feeds held by local service clubs and charities during the winter Dungeness crab season are typically Napa treats. You get cracked crab, all the pasta you can eat and more. In general, look for the local events. You can get great deals at school and charity auctions and fundraisers, including exceptional wines.
• Where is a great place to see and experience local architecture in your city?
  Surprisingly, our new parking garage is a great place. From its two glass elevators, you get a great view of downtown Napa, both the old and the new.
• What does your city have to offer as far as unique, romantic outings?
  Just being in Napa is romantic. Wherever I travel, people always glow when I tell them I live here as they remember their own romantic visits to Napa. It’s a mix of the weather, great food and wine, and so many places to wander and explore.
• What are some sensational shopping spots in your city?
  Caymus Corner at Main and Caymus Street has unexpected delights, including the Playful Garden with its art and supplies for outside, to Shackford’s kitchen supply and the Learning Faire for toys and educational treats for kids.
• Where would you take your friends to experience the local music scene?
  A wonderful addition to the local music scene is Silo’s Jazz Club in the Napa Mill, joining Uva Trattoria with jazz, Downtown Joe’s, Friday evening at the Veterans Park, and of course the Opera House with its eclectic performances.
• Where would you go to see intriguing local art?
  A good place to see truly local art is Artists of the Valley, the gallery of the Napa Valley Art Association at 710 First St. near the Oxbow Market in downtown Napa. The di Rosa gallery is also a good place to see art, as are many galleries and museums throughout the valley.
• What types of family fun activities would you suggest to those you know?
  Our new science and learning center, Scientopia, is a wonderful place for kids and families. Playground Fantástico is another unique attraction, as is a trip to Marine World.
• Imagine you're planning a local day trip for your friends. What would it entail?
  One of the best local day trips is to stay in downtown Napa and taste wine. With the Winetasting Card from the Downtown Napa Association, you can taste wine at more than a dozen places for just 10 cents per taste as you explore along First and Main Street to the Oxbow and nearby. And you don’t have to drive! The tasting rooms are just a few blocks apart.
• If the weather is not cooperating, what would you do or where would you go?
  We don’t get rain during the summer, but rainy days are a great time to sit by a fireplace and enjoy wine. Many restaurants have fireplaces or fire pits, including Zinsvalley, Celadon and Cuvée. Just sipping wine in the tasting rooms is fun, too.
• Hands down, what is your favorite local event or festival?
  Our favorite local events include the crab dinners in the winter, Friday in the Park with its live music, symphony concerts on the river, and of course, all the wine auctions.
• If you were to do one thing that characterizes a true local experience in your city, it would be…
  True local experiences include Locals Night at the Oxbow Market on Tuesday, the Beer Can Chicken at the Bounty Hunter, the River Walk, and all our one-of-a-kind restaurants. We don’t have chains: Some of the best are Cole’s, Celadon, Angèle, Elements and La Toque.
• Where in your city do you go to splurge or treat yourself?
  The Wine Train is a great splurge. It has great food and wine, great service and great views as you travel up Napa Valley.
• What are the three words you would use to describe your city?
  Napa is friendly, caring and evolving.
• Where in your city are you most likely to run into a celebrity?
  We have a lot of local celebrities, people in the wine business that are known all over the world by wine and food lovers, and we also get many celebrity visitors. In Napa, you’re most likely to run into both at the Bounty Hunter, La Toque, Ubuntu and Cole’s Chop House.
• If your city were a movie, what would be its soundtrack?
  That’s easy. “Standing on the Corner” from the Most Happy Fella, the musical set in Napa Valley. It even refers to Main Street.
• What are some essentials that guests to your city should be sure to pack?
  Don’t forget a sweater—It gets chilly at night, even in the heat of summer.

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