First Friday St. Helena - Food, wine, art, frolic, and something to CHEER! about

St. Helena is leading the socially outward bound pack by serving up a fantabulous Friday night adventure on the first Friday of each month (next event: July 3). It’s a sprightly event that gives you a reason to CHEER! , whether you’re meeting an old friend, mixing and mingling to rustle up a few more, or simply trolling the town in search of swanky art, edible delights, a perch or ten to swig fine wine, and horn in for some music (hopefully the music side of the house will grow as the events progress through the summer and fall). The event is free to the public, but if you want to sample and slurp wine tickets are available with prices ranging from $5/person for a single taste, $35/person for the night (unlimited tasting) or the season’s pass ($100/person includes all events through October) which grants you access to all future events (through Oct 2009). Once you try CHEERS! on for size, you’ll never go back to your standard fare mundane Fridays, so if you’ve got the upfront cash go for the package deal discount. Whether you’re blazing through town on your way back to the city, visiting the Valley vineyards, or a permanent townie fixture, the night won’t disappoint. In these times it’s not often that something actually over-delivers. So grab your unbreakable goblet from one of the two ticket stands on either end of town, you’re guaranteed to leave CHEERS! perma-grin pasted to your puss for the rest of the weekend and summer for that matter. What a better way to declare your independence! Wacky WineSense Rating: 5 grapes!