Home Care In Saint Helena, CA

St. Helena, California, the small charming Napa Valley town home to many upscale boutique hotels, as well as bustling restaurant and art scenes, will welcome a new concept store on Sept. 1, focusing on immersive design, wellness, and dining.

Housed in a remodeled 1920s building with a courtyard on 1429 Main Street, NO|MA House Café & Collective will be an all-day gathering space with integrated shoppable decor and an ever-changing selection of objects and furniture sourced from international and hard-to-find brands.

"It's a dynamic space. As soon as you walk into this space, you feel elevated," Ann Backen, NO|MA House's owner, told Travel + Leisure.

Backen, a St. Helena resident who works alongside architect Howard Backen at their design firm Backen & Backen, was inspired by the idea of a gathering space that blends design, community, wellness, and food. To make it more welcoming and connect the space to the outside, she opened the façade of the historic building by installing a 17-foot pivot window and incorporating an indoor-outdoor bar. Then, she added lush greenery and sidewalk seating reminiscent of European cafes. Another standout design feature is the 14-foot living green wall by award-winning landscaping company Seasons that infuses the interior with a relaxing vibe and brings the outdoors in.

"We painted the floors in a beautiful, oversized checkered pattern like Alice in Wonderland to evoke this playful, whimsical feeling," Backen explained. "The design was the genesis of the whole project. We want to whisper luxury rather than jamming it down your throat," she added.

Guests of NO|MA House Café & Collective can purchase almost everything in the space — from the beautiful porcelain ceramic plates their food is served on to the chair they are sitting on. The property will be the only U.S. retailer to carry items by sustainable lifestyle English brand Marfa Stance as well as luxury home textiles company Treko Chile, and Belgian furniture maker Ethnicraft.

The cafe will offer comfort diner classics — think: lemon ricotta waffles, breakfast sandwiches, and grain bowls — prepared with fresh ingredients sourced from local farms and vendors.

The space will also feature a large video wall for special movie screenings and documentaries, workshops, and presentations by artists, designers, authors, and other tastemakers aimed to educate and engage the community on "regenerative practices for land, body, and building."

"This space [NO|MA House Café & Collective] will teach, inspire, and support whoever walks in there — their mental and physical health," Backen said.

NO|MA House Café & Collective opens in St. Helena, California, on Sept. 1st and will be open Wednesday from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (retail only) and Thursday - Sunday from 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

You’ve done all the Napa vineyards. You’ve chilled in Oakland. You’ve explored Sonoma and maybe even Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, and Petaluma, too. Now, it’s time to add the gem that is St. Helena to your Bay Area road trip roster.

This Napa Valley burgh is 70 miles from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 63 miles from Oakland International Airport (OAK), 75 miles from Sacramento International Airport (SMF), 94 miles from San Jose International Airport (SJC), and 34 miles from Sonoma County Airport (STS), making it a convenient getaway from many commercial airports. (Private airports are nearby too: It’s 40 miles from Buchanan Field Airport (CCR) and 10 miles from Napa County Airport (APC).)

By car, St. Helena is a picturesque 90-minute drive from San Francisco and Sacramento. However you get to St. Helena, you and your crew are going to want to bookmark this guide to ensure a weekend as flawless as the fine vino in these parts. Ahead, seven must-dos in St. Helena for group getaways.

Book an outdoorsy-oenophile’s dream excursion with Wild Vine Tours

What better way to get acquainted with a region known for its wine and natural beauty than booking a group tour that incorporates both? You’ll want to swap your penny loafers for comfy sneaks or hiking boots for this one as you tackle hidden hiking trails with the help of a knowledgeable guide coupled with wine tastings you won’t soon forget (perhaps with a cave tour!). It’s all tailored to your group’s comfort level, and you’ll have luxury transportation shuttling you and your crew around the whole way long. If you booked the tour on behalf of your friends, ask them to pay you back on Zelle® to make reimbursement fast and safe.

Or, try another unique local wine experience

First, there’s the Merryvale Blending Experience where groups create blended wines in Merryvale’s historic cask room. You’ll make the sippers from four high-quality Napa Valley Bordeaux varietal barrel samples — once you and your pals pick your fave, you’ll get to bottle it as a parting gift.

Another stellar choice is paying Brasswood Cellars a visit. Comprising 17,000 square feet of caves, the wine cellar has an impressive wine cave library. Sit down with your crew at the live-edge redwood table as you savor a flight of Brasswood Cellars varietals, all the while munching on delectable cheeses and wondering why people don’t go back to that whole living in caves thing.

Last but not least, we recommend HALL St. Helena where the art dazzles at its tasting gallery. Pair wine sipping with a tour of the on-site art collection, which includes the works of John Baldessari, Jim Campbell, and Nick Cave, among others. (Since parties are limited to a maximum of six guests, if your group is larger you’ll want to arrange a private experience.)

One thing to note on the transportation front: Uber and Lyft are accessible to downtown St. Helena, but you might not be able to get a ride-share service to take you to wineries that are farther away. You can learn more about booking transportation (or even a bike tour!) here.

Wander around Main Street’s Historic Shopping District

If you love boutique-hopping in, say, Napa or Carmel-by-the-Sea, you’re really going to swoon for Main Street St. Helena. We’re talking brick facade buildings (some as old as the 19th century), cute cafés, and dozens of locally-owned shops. Our top choices include luxury go-to Elyse Walker, craft chocolatier Woodhouse Chocolate, and the newly opened Orin Swift Cellars tasting lounge.

Soak up all that wine with amazing food

You’re in farm-to-table country, folks, and fresh, locally sourced fare abounds. While it’s hard to narrow down the list, a few of our go-tos follow.

There’s Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch, which is housed in a barn dating back to the 1800s. Several of the ingredients are grown on the property (which is open to the public to walk around before or after your meal) and the brunch is spectacular. Order the deviled eggs, fire-roasted garden peppers, wood-grilled Castroville artichoke, Dungeness crab roll, cheddar biscuits, and the signature Bloody Mary made with house-smoked bacon, house-pickled garden vegetables, and a seasoned salt rim.

One sleeper hit awaits at Clif Family Winery. This winemaker is renowned for its sustainable and organic practices, and the Clif Family Bruschetteria Food Truck is just about the greatest casual mid-drinking nosh ever. The truck serves up a motley bunch of bruschettas, along with salads and more, all to be enjoyed on the outdoor patio. If you can make it happen come on Wednesdays, when a global street food menu takes over at the food truck.

For something fancy, we’d steer you towards Acacia House, the epicurean stronghold of luxury hotel Alila Napa Valley. The contemporary California menu features standouts like sugar snap pea salad and whole Branzino with Castroville artichoke. For something unique to finish your feast, the Frond of You is a winner: the fennel cheesecake is topped with figs, fennel confit, pickled fennel, and hazelnuts. Oh, and did we mention that you’ll be dining in a handsomely restored Georgian farmhouse? It’s a pretty delightful setting, as is sipping cocktails on the wraparound veranda when the weather is nice.

Count sheep at a winsome retreat

Speaking of Alila Napa Valley, not only is this Main Street staple a solid place to dine, but it’s even better when “the ride home” is moseying over a few yards to one of 64 rooms or suites, many of which have oversized balconies, vineyard views, and private fire pits. The adults-only property is perched amid Beringer vineyards for peak tranquility, but is only a brief walk or bike ride to everything downtown St. Helena has to offer. During your stay, be sure to carve out time for some R&R at Spa Alila or activities like forest bathing, new moon yoga, sound healing sessions, and more.

If you and your posse really can’t get enough of vineyard views, other great options are the Inn at Salvestrin, which was originally built in 1879, and Wine Country Inn, where the sunset strolls or poolside hangs never disappoint.

With Zelle®, money goes directly into your bank account. It’s taken care of, so you can feel, enjoy, and savor every moment. It’s delightfully seamless.

The Adventist Health hospital network — including its St. Helena-area location — recently dropped Blue Shield of California patients from its coverage network after what the health care company said were 11 months of failed negotiations on reimbursement rates.

"This is not what we wanted," Adventist Health St. Helena spokesperson Anthony Albright said Dec. 8.

The move has customers in Napa, Mendocino, San Joaquin and other counties up and down the state scrambling to find solutions after receiving letters from Adventist after their coverage was interrupted.

St. Helena resident Katie Somple, a retired real estate broker, said in an email that she was angry and frustrated that she got "zero-days notice of this monumental change that affects my immediate and long-term healthcare."

"This may be a horrible 11th hour negotiation tactic," she wrote. "At best, it's a cruel decision by Adventist Health to treat its patients with (such) disregard."

Somple's reaction was not unique.

A Dec. 5 Facebook post from Adventist announcing the development that occurred on Dec. 1 was met with frustration.

"No excuse for this or for notifying people after the fact," said a comment from John Redding.

"This could cost people their lives!" wrote Charlotte Anne Smith.

"This is TERRIBLE NEWS for our rural community members," said commenter Gina Balassi.

Statewide, Blue Shield has 4.8 million customers. The Oakland-based company generates $24 billion in annual revenue, according to its website.

Blue Shield said it had reached its limit of what it was willing to pay.

"There have been extensive renewal negotiations with Adventist Health for nearly a year to reach a reasonable agreement on reimbursement rates and contractual terms that keep care sustainably affordable for our members. We are disappointed to have not been able to reach a new agreement with Adventist Health following their notice to terminate our existing contract, and we regret the inconvenience this causes our customers and members," said Aliza Arjoyan, Blue Shield's senior vice president of provider partnerships and network management.

Adventist stopped accepting the insurance carrier throughout the state, including locations in Willits, Fort Bragg, Ukiah and Lodi, as well as at Adventist Health St. Helena in Deer Park. Locations in Kern, Los Angeles and Ventura counties were also affected.

A similar dispute between Adventist and Anthem Blue Cross was resolved last year without patients losing coverage, but that negotiation included two extensions of deadlines set by the company.

On its website, Adventist recommended that customers request a continuity-of-care waiver from Blue Shield for continuing coverage. Blue Shield said it will still cover the cost of emergency services.

Both Adventist and Blue Shield said it wanted to resolve the impasse. Adventist officials said patients can get updates on its website.

“Our sincere hope is that we can continue the dialogue with Adventist Health leadership and establish a new contract that enables our members to access high quality care at Adventist Health hospitals at an affordable price,” Arjoyan said.

Adventist Health recorded $5.4 billion in operating revenue in 2022, an increase of 3.6%, but its operating costs went up by 5.3%. The nonprofit entity's investment portfolio lost $319 million in 2022.

The company said on its website that negotiations are “fluid.”

“We believe you have chosen to receive your healthcare services from Adventist Health because you recognize our high standards of quality and the valuable services we provide to our community,” the company's statement said.

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"The addition of pickleball courts has been several years in the making, so we are excited to bring this new amenity to St. Helena."

ST. HELENA, CA — Following a grand opening celebration held last week, the highly anticipated pickleball courts at Crane Park in St. Helena are officially open for community use.

The four pickleball courts are situated near the southwest entrance to Crane Park off South Crane Avenue with the existing tennis courts. The courts feature a new, high-quality playing surface, lights for evening matches, and fencing.

"We are excited to bring pickleball to our community and provide an additional recreational activity that promotes fitness, social interaction and friendly competition," said Mayor Paul Dohring. "The opening of these pickleball courts is a testament to our continued commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our residents and fostering a sense of community."

The pickleball courts are in addition to existing Crane Park amenities which include lighted tennis, volleyball and bocce ball courts, picnic tables, playground equipment, a skatepark, restrooms and more.

This past spring, the St. Helena Parks & Recreation Commission and St. Helena City Council reviewed and approved a plan to transition one tennis court — Court #6 — into four pickleball courts.

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Over the next six months, the city plans to monitor the court usage and may add additional scheduling details and court guidelines, and/or make facility modifications as needed.

"It is our hope that community members of all ages will have increased opportunities to be active and to participate in friendly matches, open recreational play and pickleball clinics," said Dave Jahns, director of Parks & Recreation. "The addition of pickleball courts has been several years in the making, so we are excited to bring this new amenity to St. Helena."

The City of St. Helena extended its gratitude to the community members, including the Parks & Recreation Commission made up of St. Helena residents, who supported and advocated for the creation of the pickleball courts.

"Their dedication and enthusiasm were instrumental in bringing this exciting project to fruition," city officials said.

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A gauge near the Pope Street Bridge registered 5.71 inches of rain between Wednesday and Sunday. Showers continued into early Monday afternoon but were forecast to taper off by mid-afternoon.

According to PG&E’s website, more than 1,100 customers in St. Helena were without power on Monday morning, mostly on the west side of town. Those outages were reported between 10:46 a.m. and 4:25 p.m. Sunday.

Power was restored to about half of those customers by late Monday morning. By Wednesday morning, power had been restored to all but about 150 customers, mostly along Spring Mountain Road, Dean York Lane, Palmer Drive, Spring Mountain Court and Fulton Lane.

The St. Helena Unified School District told parents that kids at St. Helena Elementary School and RLS Middle School should dress warmly on Monday morning, since parts of those schools were without power. Power was restored at both schools before noon Monday.

Downed trees, utility lines and road debris from Sunday’s storm resulted in road closures on Silverado Trail from Deer Park Road to Glass Mountain Road and Spring Mountain Road from the St. Helena city limits to the county line. Silverado Trail didn't reopen until Wednesday morning.

There were no reports of serious flooding, aside from localized street flooding at a few intersections where storm drains typically get overwhelmed by heavy rain.

According to the Napa One Rain website, the Napa River near the Pope Street Bridge swelled as high as 14.14 feet late Sunday, short of its 16-foot flood stage.

Sulphur Creek near its confluence with the Napa River got as high as 4.74 feet Sunday morning, well short of its monitor stage (8 feet) and flood stage (10 feet).

On Sunday Public Works was monitoring a few manholes around town that were “under watch,” Public Works Director Joe Leach said.

The most serious issue occurred on Paseo Grande Drive in Vineyard Valley Mobile Home Park, where a sewer nearly overflowed late Wednesday.

Public Works used hoses to bypass the sewer and prevent wastewater from escaping the collection system and possibly entering a nearby storm drain inlet. City Manager Anil Comelo said Public Works “avoided a major problem (Wednesday night) through their diligence and commitment while the rest of us were sleeping soundly indoors.”

“In addition to Clayton (Church) and other department leaders, kudos go to our newest cadre of Public Works employees, most of whom have only been with the city for about six months,” Comelo said.

An additional pump was delivered to the Wastewater Treatment Plant last Thursday to help the plant handle high flows.