El Capitan, Gerad Stemke, DJ Phil, and our own Hula Hooping Diva, Cassady Jeremias!

Ok ok ok... So you wanna know what's up with the reunion. You wanna know what your $25 is paying for. You wanna know whether it's worth it or not to go ahead and buy them tickets and show your face. Fine. Here's a little peek at some of the fun stuff we've got goin' on for you this fabulous October 7. Need we remind you that there's some real pro's workin' to make this thing great? I think you'll agree:

Entertainment Lineup

Napa's own Gerad Stemke

Stemke is a 1997 graduate of Napa high, and is coming up from Orange County just to perform for us! As of Friday, he's right in the middle of recording his first album, and hopes to have it completed and on sale soon, including at the reunion! Stemke's an awesome guitar player and singer, livin' the dream in SoCal. He's come a long way from being wrestling partners with our very own 1996 Homecoming Queen, Erin Murphy-- in the 103 weight class (tee hee!) Check out his music on myspace, www.geradstemke.com, and see us listed in his upcoming shows!

San Francisco's

A sweet, sweet band to get us groovin'... El Capitan has been a favorite of some of the reunion planners for some time. We were first introduced through former drummer, Matt Butler of Napa, who has recorded with them in the past. El Capitan has just released a new album and will soon be touring, including a stop at our lil' old reunion! Read some of the reviews pulled from their website, www.elcapitanland.com:

"Relaxed without ever tumbling into lethargy, the introspective collaboration between guitarists Ryan Henry and Christopher Connolly works as both eclectic string and pure pop." - Seattle Weekly

"These guys rock as hard as that hunk of granite they're named after." - Mission Creek Music Festival

"Spooky California mountain music--nice guitar work and harmonies from the New Folk generation." - San Francisco Folk Festival

"Backwoods savants El Capitan closed the show with a satisfying ramble through the bogs and briars of their musical versatility, meandering from hoarse, guitar-driven blues to delicate vocal harmonies, and dredging up plenty of fiddle, harmonica, banjo, and other pioneer instruments along the way." - West Coast Performer

"I never knew what a cord of wood was until El Cap defined it so eloquently on the spacey, back porch-swinging dirge "The Woodcutter's Hymnal." Don't pinch the measurements, keep an eye on the details." - SF Bay Guardian

You remember him spinnin' at Henry's in downtown Napa. Long-time Napa resident, DJ Phil!

Currently living in San Francisco, Phil's just plain cool. He'll keep us dancing long after most of Napa has gone to bed. More to come from Phil once he responds to his email!

And yes, curious readers, the hula hooper is our very own '96 grad, Cassie Jeremias!

No, she sure as hell didn't grow up thinking she'd be a professional hula hooper, but when opportunities come 'a knockin, she couldn't say no. Recently returning from Mexico where she got the nickname Hula Hula when locals spotted her hooping on the beach, (see photo, below).

Cassie's been in an instructional video, and her hoop group was featured in Portland Monthly Magazine. Plus, she's just had offers from a fitness class instructor wanting her to teach, and a filmmaker wanting to put her in a music video! Catch her moves at the reunion where and she'll have plenty of hoops to share for the un-shy/drunk, and some to purchase as well.

Honk if you like to party!

We'd like to get a head count for the party. Please send us your vote!

Are ya coming to the party?

Yes!Yes, but only if [weak excuse here]...I'm on the fence about itNo. Totally lame.

Free polls from Pollhost.com

If you want info about tickets, or would like to purchase them online, please click HERE to be taken to the reunion payment page. Thanks!

What to wear?

Man, are we a fashion-conscious crowd or what? I didn't think this would be the hardest part of the planning, but it just may be! We've gotten more than 20 emails, mostly from gals, wondering what on earth to wear to the party. Well, like we've said, the party is outdoors and pretty casual. Dress comfortable with style, you want to feel & look good dangit! Tents and/or outdoor heating will be provided if necessary.

That said, we won't turn you away if you show up in your old prom clothes. Actually, if you still fit in your old prom stuff and want to wear it, more power to ya! Bring it on!

Most of us girls will be wearing dresses or skirts, maybe a couple will wear pants. Cocktail-type dresses are great, but keep in mind if you wanna sit, it will be on picnic tables or grass. As for shoes, I'm a boot girl myself, but heels are acceptable--dance on the asphalt pad at your own risk! I'm sayin' casual cocktail party attire, taken down a notch. For guys - jeans and t-shirt, probably not. Slacks, yes. Cords, yep. Ties, sure, if ya wanna.

Want to help?

We could use it!
We have a supply list a million miles long!
We got positions to fill - fun ones even!
There's lots to do.
If you want to be a part of this reunion (and still get to enjoy the
party like the rest of 'em!) please email us at
napahighreunion@gmail.com and we'll add you to our volunteer email list
and contact you about helping out.
Thanks!

SPILL IT AND WIN PRIZES!

You are fabulous! Many people who filled out surveys have been sharing their stories, and we're amazed at how differently we've all chosen to live our lives these past 10 years. We've got alums who have made families, some HUGE families, some who've traveled all over the world, some who are still in school, going back to school, and many who have chosen interesting other paths.

But — We want to hear more! We're putting a program together for the reunion that will feature alumni photos, stories, and much, much more! We're looking for contributors. Send us your story in 150 words or less telling us what you've been up to. No matter how mundane, dull, crazy or twisted it is, we want it. If you know someone you think has a good story, tell 'em to send it in! If we use it in the program, you'll get 10 raffle tickets!

Email your stories to Cassady Jeremias, writer and hulahooper extraordinaire: cjeremias at gmail.com

Sunday Breakfast

I don't know what your experience in Napa was like, but I know that for me (Kim), every time I think about 'hometown' my mind inevitably wanders to the yummy post-party Saturday morning or Sunday morning (or both) breakfast. It just seems like a staple for Napa-kin (aka, Napkins).

You go out, have a nice evening (or a wild one), sleep cozily in your bed, then wake up to the 9-10ish breakfast call round-up. You stumble down to any one of the plethora of breakfast joints that Napa has to offer to find your friends seated around a table, looking for a greasy meal and storytellin' good time. Some are hungover, some are still in pajamas, some don't even make it there.

But I know it's not just me. Because this is a small town. You look around and see ALL of the tables are filled with like-minded hungry souls. Many of the same faces from the night before.

I miss that.

And it's just one of the many things I'll be looking forward to about reunion weekend. See you all at breakfast.

Comment and share some of your favorite breakfast spots. Are there any new places to check out? Is Soscol Cafe still around? That place is fantastic!

Volunteers!

We need help! There are several volunteer positions open still, and many items/supplies needed! I sent out an email earlier this week to all people who opted to help on their survey forms. If you did not get the email, or want to help, please send an email to napahighreunion@gmail.com. I'll put you on the email list and let you know what is still needed.

Thanks!

So, who's coming to the party?

I bet you'd all like to know! I know, but I'm not telling!

But I can tell you this...the response has been AMAZING! Over 95% of the survey forms I've received have the glorious box checked off, saying that they will either definitely be at the party, or they are a maybe. Very few "no's". But overwhelming majority of yes'es!

See, this party is dependent on you guys - and if you're wondering who's going to be there, or if so-and-so will be there...you just have to SHOW UP AT THE PARTY. And if enough of you are curious about that, then you will all show up, and nobody will have to wonder if so-and-so will be there. See how that works?

Well, it's all moot (or as my friend likes to say, "it's all moo"), because enough of you are responding and participating and what not that I am SURE this is going to be a raging success. You're making it happen!

Less than a month away!

Let me encourage you to buy your tickets now! It'll save you $10, and make it easier to get through the crammed front gate on October 7th!

Click here for ticket purchasing info!

Friday Night Pre-Party Details!

We now have a Friday night pre-party in the works! At Downtown Joes, with a Rocakbilly band Jinx Jones & the Kingtones playing for you & your classmates. Come at 9 pm to start with appetizers. More details on their way!

A late night reunion after-party is also being coordinated. It will be put together by Kristen Techel & Anne Huffsmith and will be held at Compadres Restaurant.

Keep checking back with us for details on all THREE events!

Tickets are ONLY $25, NOT sixty dollars!

I've received a few emails about this, and I just want to unconfuse things - Tickets/Admission to the party is only $25 per person. Many people assumed that tickets were $25 in advance AND $35 at the door because I worded things a bit wonky (did I tell you all that I graduated with a degree in Linguistics? Yeah, it shows.) Sixty dollar tickets would be expensive, and that would be lame! Nope, tickets are only $25 per person and you can buy them HERE!

That is all for now. I need my coffee. :-)

Can you help us find someone?

We are STILL missing people! If you see a friend or classmate's name that is not in bold on either the 1996 Class List or the 1995 Class List then they have not turned in a survey, which means we don't know where they are! Please tell them about the party, about this website, and that we would like to hear from them! Our MySpace page gives us a general idea of how many are out there, but without the surveys, we can't be sure!

We want to find as many people as possible so that nobody gets left out!

And if you know somebody who doesn't have email access or would like us to contact them another way, we would be happy to do so. Please let us know at napahighreunion@gmail.com.
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For all those who have already filled out surveys...Thank You!
Your responses have been very interesting at the least and downright hilarious at best! I will be compiling a few later on this week to share with you all.*

*Disclaimer: I'm only sharin' those that want to be shared. Sheesh. You all act like we went to private school! Public it up!