The Staglin Family put on the best fund raising event in Napa each year, and the 2003 Music Festival for Mental Health looks to continue the growing tradition tomorrow.  The day begins early and it looks like it will reach well into the 90s.  Thank goodness for the wine caves.

• 12:00 noon - Dr. Sol Snyder, director of the Johns Hopkins Medical Center's Department of Neuroscience, will lecture on drugs and the brain in the concert tent. (free to the public)
  
• 2:00 - A reception will convene in the winery caves, presenting a selection of rare wines, including Harlan, Colgin, Lynch, Screaming Eagle, and Diamond Creek. Yountville Chef Bob Hurley's hors d'oeuvres will be present should anyone get hungry. ($250/person)
  
• 3:30 - Jazz legend Ramsey Lewis and his trio will perform under the tent.
  
• 5:45 - Dinner at last, orchestrated by Chef Wayne Nish of New York City's March restaurant. ($2500/person)

"This festival was conceived eight years ago as a celebration of life. The generosity of so many individuals, corporations and volunteers has allowed us to exceed $11 million in gifts since its inception and provide substantial support to research and care," said Shari Staglin.  "We are engaged in a struggle of major proportions to fight for the cures for mental illness which continues to affect more than 20 million Americans annually."

Last year's event began with a scientific symposium featuring Nobel Laureate Dr. Eric Kandel, whose work on the biology of memory storage and related disorders neatly captivated the audience.  In addition, two other Nobel laureates, John Nash and Michael Spence joined the party to share in the festivities. (see photo of the three of them with Garen Staglin)

Tomorrow I'll be pouring the Lynch 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon in the wine caves, so I won't be able to attend the other interesting event happening in the Bay Area tomorrow: Accelerating Change Conference 2003.

Other: Democratic Presidential candidate Howard Dean's view of Mental Health in America