by Christina Julian I spent the prime years of my dating life in NewYork and Los doorman and sleek space. I ask a thirtyish brunette what sheme of standing outside a NYC club, minus the threatening Angeles – the best dating capitals of the world if you enjoy seri- thinks about Napa nightlife. She inhales “Not enough,” and then al dating, the worst if you’re hunting for a relationship. Regard- blows smoke in my face. She should hook up with Mr. Surly less, those nightlife scenes sizzle. Let’s see how ours measure Pants from Morimoto. I can barely squeeze in, it’s so packed. up. The vibe screams “hook-up.” I wonder if anybody will remem- My crawl begins at Morimoto. As I sip my Morimo-tini, I lap up ber this in the morning. the glamorous scene. Perhaps the blazing yellow couches and Three steps in I meet Wendell Coleman, a general contractor, scantily-clads that surround me have something to do with it, say mid- to late thirties. His take on the scene: “Below par with or maybe it’s my cocktail. potential. There isn’t enough diversity, not enough energy and a A thirty-something dude with sculpted pecs and biceps ap- lack of dancing.” proaches. His scarlet face indicates his crawl began hours be- Wendell seems to be popular with the ladies. His groupies fore mine. His nugget on Napa nightlife: “There is none.” I probe await, so he tosses me one last nugget. “Napa needs to inte- further to uncover his favorite haunt to meet women. “Ana’s grate a universal thread between youths and elders to create a when I want to score.” Mr. Surly Pants stumbles onward, where vibe that is universally fulfilling.” Wendell may not be as inebri- two babes offer him a shoulder to lean on. For some, muscles ated as I thought. trump attitude. Night two I head to Goose & Gander. Someone hands me a I approach some twenty-something women on the slick couch Scarlett Gander. I may never drink wine again. This swig is as seats. They quip and sip as they share different renditions of, smooth as the crowd. In between sips I chat up Matt (early “Nightlife, Napa? Non-existent.” Is there a parrot on premise or thirties), who moved here three years ago from LA. Economic is this a trend? The best place to meet singles: “Nowhere.” This woes brought him here, but something else kept him. “I fell in is getting tedious, so I flag a passerby. “I don’t think too much love with it. It’s a hard place to leave.” His view on the locale about it. I go for it, play to win.” Jeremiah Callahan says this differences, “Here it’s a feel-good thing. You meet good people, without a hint of sarcasm. By the looks of things he won’t have eat and drink. But there are no random encounters here.” His to “go for it” much longer. Women flock to him. nutshell: “It’s a hard place to date under the radar.” He sparks a wave of more candid responses. “The scene is My ten-pound burger arrives and for a moment I tell everyone getting better, with places like this, and new restaurants like to screw dating and find solace in this fabulous hunk of beef. It Oenotri,” says Caity McPherson. She channels her inner Carrie oozes with flavor and makes everything else seem meaningless. Bradshaw, “If you want a bad one night stand, you go to Joe’s. But singles beckon. A Bay Area native, P.H. moved to Yount- If you want a good one, go to Yountville. And Green Door; it’s a ville a few years back. She’s the West Coast Carrie Bradshaw. “I dive, I love it.” Note to self, open that door to score. She sug- love San Francisco, but it’s hard not to appreciate Napa Valley. gests 1313 Main (great music), Bounty Hunter (food) and Uva We’re in Paradise. Nightlife is another story.” Her favorites: 1313 (lounge). “But end up at Joe’s or Henry’s.” Main, Morimoto, Bounty Hunter, Oenotri, Norman Rose and A group of thirty-somethings share their take: The scene lacks John Anthony. dance clubs, breweries and bars that serve liquor. The leggy As if P.H. is wrapping up her own night- blonde spouts her spiel for visiting singles, “Go to San Fran- life column, she dispenses, “Sit at the bar. cisco or Sacramento.” Make connections. Spread the love and 7 and summer there’re a lot of transitional women here, bach- While I’m no Millionaire Matchmaker,share the joy. That’s the whole point.”A doctor shares his prescription. “It’s a seasonal thing. In spring elorette parties, girls’ weekends. If you can say you work for a perhaps P.H. and Wendell should get to- winery or restaurant, you’re gether. He said, “Everyone needs to just halfway there.” Spoken show up.” like Bradley Cooper in The Indeed they do. Nightlife is what you Hangover. His girlfriend adds, make of it. People can wax on about “There are seasonal wine- what it is and isn’t, but if you don’t get makers that come in and go. on out and taste it, you’ll never know. I tell my friends to visit dur- ing crush.” Christina Julian dated her way from New York to Los Angeles and survived to write about Last call approaches so I it, but it was in Wine Country where she met head to Downtown Joe’s. her mate. Having since retired from the serial Women linger at the door in dating scene she now wines, dines and writes tight tube tops and dresses. her nights away. Her work appears regularly in Men leer. The crowd is young NorthBay biz, California Home + Design, Wine and lively. The line reminds Enthusiast and The Bohemian.
NVLife_SeptOct_2012
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