I emailed to cancel three days in advance due to a hospitalization in the family. They would not…read moregive me a refund due to their two week cancellation policy. In the business of children's kids camps a two week cancellation policy is simply not practical and frankly a scam. Winter, flu season, kids... GUILD needs a reality check of what real life with kids is. Once they have your money they won't give it back! Capitalizing on families and kids in disguise of an art camp.

We hired GUILD for my baby shower and am so glad we did! The ladies of Guild are are amazing! We…read moreset up an adult crafting area and a toddlers activity. The guests loved to create a favor for themselves and the baby! GUILDs customer service is top notch.

The good: Food was excellent, server was polite & knowledgeable. Facility grounds were lovely…read more The bad: Timing of food service. 6 adults - took approximately 10 minutes from first person served to last - etiquette suggests that all wait until all served, so first served food was cold. Check included 23% "surcharge", with gratuity expected in addition. Why not just add 23% to menu prices?

Not sure why I didn't know this existed but so happy it does. The 'CIA' is walking distance from…read moreOxbow Market so me and my daughter just decided to walk in. The outside area was so nice we agreed that we'll have to return in Spring to enjoy it. Inside there's a CIA store with so many kitchen items. I spoke with the employee there and she shared her knowledge of the two CIA facilities, there in Napa and the other in St Helena. She was super friendly and it was nice to meet her. We ventured into the museum which for me, someone who enjoys and appreciates food and cooking, I loved. This culinary collection was amazing. We also got to view the long wall of viticulturist which was interesting. Take a look at my photos to view CIA's testing kitchens. Very cool. This facility also has a restaurant, The Grove and an open area to rent for special occasions. Since the restaurant was closed, when I'm in Napa again, I'm definitely going to try it.

We were looking for an art gallery while passing by Napa. We went here on a quiet afternoon…read more Multiple art selections were okay.

Wild at Art As of…read morelate, we've been trying to pick up small pieces of (real) art from local artists to decorate our home, and the Art Gallery Napa fit that bill to a T. They're a collective of 53 local artists that display all their wares in one shop that's conveniently located along the main drag in DT Napa. They aren't your typical art gallery where the pieces cost more than a car--or a house in some places--as they have pieces of original art in pretty much anyone and everyone's wheelhouse; the prices start as low as $50 and as high as ±$1k, with most pieces being in the less than $500 range. The service is welcoming, not pushy at all, and the mood isn't stuffy as most art galleries tend to be where you need a Black AmEx just to walk in the door. Highly recommended to come check it out, even if you're not currently in the market for art. You just might find something that captures your eye and imagination.

My daughter reported an experience that was in many ways transformational for her. And I heard the…read moresame word from other parents in describing their child's experience at Oxbow in the summer of 2014 What I mean and what I infer that the other parents meant by "transformational" was strangely not because of the emphasis on art, but rather, in spite of it. My daughter finally found "her people" - kids who she connected with and those that shared her interests, humor, and outlook. At 15 years-old, my daughter has had a difficult time socializing in a world that seems alien to her; of long blonde hair and polished nails, of short skirts and unpolished intellect. At Oxbow however, she found an emotional connectivity that had thus far eluded her and allowed her to feel part of a larger world of like-minded kids.

My daughter just returned from a fantastic two-week session at Oxbow Summer Art Camp. I had heard…read moreabout the camp from someone in the arts but there were very few online reviews when we were doing research. It's a relatively small, specialty camp for 14-16 year-olds who are interested in the arts and it was incredible to see the diversity of art that these kids produced for the final show. Besides the creative aspects, the Oxbow counselors created an environment of trust, sharing and fun for the teens -- a one-of-a-kind experience. In addition, the campus is beautiful and I heard rave reviews about the quality of the food. My daughter and several of her new friends plan to return next year.

After My Own Art…read more Located on 217 acres of pristine Napa Valley land, the Di Rosa is a contemporary art museum that's been operating publicly since 1997. This museum is the personal collection of Rene & Veronica di Rosa. The Good: *Temporary exhibits rotate approximately every four months. *Complimentary umbrellas (more on that later) *A good portion of the exhibits are outdoors along their gorgeous property. *Shuttle if you don't want to or need assistance walking from building to building. *You really have to like weird shit because this place is full of it. Personally, I love it, but if you're more "serious" art person, then this probably won't be your jam. *Picnic tables on the grounds, as you're encouraged to bring food and drink to enjoy in their outdoor area. *Friendly staff The Meh: *General admission of $25 might be a touch high for an art museum. The Ugly: *Be wary when visiting during inclement weather,as there's a large part of this museum that's outdoors. So you'll probably miss out on some of it, but the free umbrellas (mentioned above) did come in handy. Conclusion: Fun art museum with some really cool pieces and doesn't take itself too seriously.

Great art collection. The car by David best was my favorite - a local. The political exhibits were…read moreinteresting as well. Thought provoking and inspiring conversations. The outdoor gallery seemed so vast and too much to cover in one visit. Appreciated the shuttle ! Everyone that worked there was so knowledgeable and excited about the works. Highly recommend.

I came across this quant and extensive art gallery on my way to Jean Edwards Cellars. The space…read morelooks small from the outside, but the layout curves around in a maze of gallery rooms. There was so much to see from a jewelry gallery room to an array of artistry. The building dates back to 1915 when it was a distillery. The artist, Jessel was an artist with other creators in this space until she took it over. She showcases her work of course, and local artists. The two gentleman that day were kind and helpful, especially John Roos who's an artist and his work is displayed in the gallery, with a room with his creations.

This gallery is on our way home for the Bubbling Well Cemetery. It's just off the road and has a…read morevery welcoming storefront with plenty of parking. It's very easy to get to and off the main road so it's easy in and out of their parking lot. The staff are very friendly and helpful and not overbearing. I've been here twice. Last time we were there they had a special event going on. The gallery is filled with lots of different artists work. I like that there is so much to look at, something for everyone. Last time I was there I bought a book about wine that was illustrated by an artist. It was the perfect gift for my girlfriend that loves wine and art.

My sister and I go to Napa every February for our sister trip and wanted to attend a cooking class…read more We loved our day with Julie--it was much more than we expected. We learned, cooked, laughed, talked, and plan on attending another one of her classes. The recipes were delicious and she went out of her way to make sure everything was perfect! My sister and I highly recommend Cooking with Julie!

We were the highest bidders at an auction for homeless animals. This bid included " Cooking with…read moreJulie." We were hesitant at first as we have been to cooking classes that did not impress. Chef Julie is pleasant, fun, professional, personable, a brilliant Chef and a master mind of Napa produce, meats, spices, wines and how to marry them all together. Would highly encourage you to include her on your next trip to Napa. Very impressed.

Diana Belenky is the Bee's Knees. There, I said it…read more If there's one thing Diana knows how to do, it's to teach. I have had a great many teachers who know how to draw and paint--even the legendary Henry Yan--but very few who know how to teach it. With a great sense of humor, a veritable wealth of information, and a heaping dose of patience, Diana excels at sharing her knowledge and demonstrating its application effectively. If ever you were uncertain of how to, say, capture a specific kind of fold in your gesture drawing, then you need not look further than Diana for just how to do it.

Diana is a DREAM of a teacher. I am an adult beginner and new to drawing and painting, and wanted…read moreto get the foundations down. Diana is SO knowledgeable and organized. She took me from drawing in flat, 2-D to a beautiful 3-D drawing in pencil, in only 3-4 lessons. She is so thoughtful, organized and flexible - she sequenced and adjusted her curriculum to my needs and adjusted to my style of learning seamlessly. In addition, she interweaves art history into her lessons so you understand what she is teaching in context. And she is so nurturing and encouraging! I've gone through a few teachers and she is one of the very best. I recommend Diana for anyone looking to improve their skills.

I took a six hour stained glass class from Suzannah and it was wonderful. There were five of us in…read morethe class and we all ended up with a beautiful piece of stained glass art to take home and hang up in the window. Suzannah is a wonderful teacher, kind and thoughtful and able to give good feedback, and really straight instructions on how to do the things you need to do to create a stained glass piece. I highly recommend these classes to anyone. It was a wonderful experience, and I would do it again.

Suzanne is an excellent teacher. I have worked with her for over two years and have enjoyed every…read moremoment--even when the glass frustrates me. She is patient and understands how to teach rather than just telling someone to "just do it." And this praise come from a teacher of many decades! Everyone in the studio is kind and interesting. I always come away refreshed from every class.