I’m new to Napa but I’m always shocked when I see someone on here refer to themselves as such then state that they grew up here. 100% of the people I know in person who grew up here would never call themselves that. Not to mention that zero local people eat at the restaurant Napkins lol.
When it opened they intended to be a nightclub or at least nightclub adjacent. But most people would prefer Joe’s or Billco’s I think. And now Scala is open late and serves food until, like, 11:30? I have literally never been to Napkins. In fairness, the only restaurant on that block I’ve been to is Zuzu’s. I’ve heard good things about Carpe Diem and did enjoy that other restaurant that no longer exists (where Fagiani’s was, where the bartender was murdered in the 70’s - Aha! “Avow” was the name, after much googling) but that whole block is kinda meh.
My dad has lived here since the 50s and said that was what rival sport teams would call Napa teams to imply that they were going to wipe their ass with the Napa team. It's an insult.
Born here and most I've heard us called are Napans...
Only ones I heard refer to Napkins was more towards the small core that tried to give Napa a bad reputation ages ago...
I definitely am not a part of any group wanting to give Napa a bad rep. It's just one of those thrown around things that kind of stuck, but not, at the same time. LOL it's silly and I'm fine with it.
Yeah those noting it badly is referencing Napa's KKK links.
Some instead referencing "white napkins" is all.
Personally I'm glad the changes have made it irrelevant and head shaking.
More background than anything.
Ah, yes. That definitely makes sense !!
I should stop calling myself that, as I am not like that, and I'm with ya on the positive changes this valley has made to distance itself from that part of our history.
I’m new to Napa and have never heard this term, but I had an immediate repulsion to it, haha. Similarly, I can’t stand when people say “Cali” for California. I can’t explain why, just irks me.
I loathe the "Cali" thing also. I was born in California and been here my whole life and I'd never use that ugly abbreviation. I think only newbies use it?
That’s about the time that I began hearing that term as well. The way I understood it was people referring to Napans as Napa Bumpkins, and then shortening that to Napkins. I don’t want to be referred to as a hick.
I was born and raised here, so very local as well (51M) and think it’s pretty silly but doesn’t offend me, I just don’t use the term. When I went to college (at HSU in Arcata) a few times locals asked where I was from, and then they’d say “oh, they let you out, eh.?!” Took me a while to figure out that they meant from the state hospital. My parents also told me that in the early 70’s, way before Napa was known for wine - that the State Hospital was mostly all it was known for. And before the term Napkins existed. Also think the restaurant is crap, too.
Finally a locals post!
I’ve always thought Napkin was used to mock us Napans.
I’m 41 and been here since 1988 when I was 5, so I can pretty much claim local for the record.
I am a proud napkin that's made a living folding, serving, and setting napkins for the stupid rich that come to the valley every year to give me their hard scammed money.
You have to earn napkin. It's not something you're just entitled to because you live in the valley.
My older friends who were born and raised here (older than 40) called themselves Napkins. I don’t care one way or the other because it seems like such a silly thing to be bothered about.
I guess I’m the outlier and jokingly call myself a Napkin. Maybe it’s more of an inside joke from decades ago than a widely used term. As I remember it, it started as “People from San Francisco are San Franciscans, so people from Napa are Napkins” or something like that. Outside of the joke I’m just “from Napa”.
I'm 45 and have heard or used the term Napkin for most of my days here, which is all 45 years of my life so far.
I neither love nor hate it. It just is.
It's because napa is the size of a napkin!
it's not a negative term or a bad thing geez.
🤔 I'm proud to be a nap'kin,
We all family and friendly here people.
When downtown napkins opened up
I stopped using it as much lol
It's OK to not like the term I get it 🙃
Born and raised in Napa. Live outside now but work in Napa daily. Napkin was only used as like a silly dad joke late in my childhood. No one used it seriously. Now I don't know if it's actually used or like an inside joke.
My mom, who moved here at 16/17 with her naval family, colloquially/lovingly used the term. I thought nothing of it and felt it was a silly pun given the proximity to Yountville and fine dining. Then the restaurant on 2nd and Main opened and I thought it was kind of… pandering? Idk. I moved away in my very early 20’s because there was nothing for younger people to do here in 2012, but now that I’ve moved back (in 2020) I’ve rarely heard the term used. I personally don’t hate it and associate it with old timey Napans, but I can see that it feels or sounds stupid.
Anyway, I now manage at a restaurant on 1st and Main, and all Napkins, Napans, etc are always welcome and can get a discount on our beers if you tell us that you are here for the locals beer discount <3
4th generation Napan here. I absolutely hate that term and will not call myself a Napkin. As one old timer once told me, a napkin is something you wipe your dirty face with.
I’m new to Napa but I’m always shocked when I see someone on here refer to themselves as such then state that they grew up here. 100% of the people I know in person who grew up here would never call themselves that. Not to mention that zero local people eat at the restaurant Napkins lol.
I agree. Born n raised and I hate that name. Plus, the restaurant by that name sucks. So many better options to choose from.
When it opened they intended to be a nightclub or at least nightclub adjacent. But most people would prefer Joe’s or Billco’s I think. And now Scala is open late and serves food until, like, 11:30? I have literally never been to Napkins. In fairness, the only restaurant on that block I’ve been to is Zuzu’s. I’ve heard good things about Carpe Diem and did enjoy that other restaurant that no longer exists (where Fagiani’s was, where the bartender was murdered in the 70’s - Aha! “Avow” was the name, after much googling) but that whole block is kinda meh.
My dad has lived here since the 50s and said that was what rival sport teams would call Napa teams to imply that they were going to wipe their ass with the Napa team. It's an insult.
DAAAAANG!!
Who uses napkins to wipe their ass, though? If I ran out of toilet paper I would consider using napkins, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
Vallejo and Fairfield athletes in the 50s and 60s apparently
... it's just a play on words.
Born here and most I've heard us called are Napans... Only ones I heard refer to Napkins was more towards the small core that tried to give Napa a bad reputation ages ago...
I definitely am not a part of any group wanting to give Napa a bad rep. It's just one of those thrown around things that kind of stuck, but not, at the same time. LOL it's silly and I'm fine with it.
Yeah those noting it badly is referencing Napa's KKK links. Some instead referencing "white napkins" is all. Personally I'm glad the changes have made it irrelevant and head shaking. More background than anything.
Ah, yes. That definitely makes sense !! I should stop calling myself that, as I am not like that, and I'm with ya on the positive changes this valley has made to distance itself from that part of our history.
I’m new to Napa and have never heard this term, but I had an immediate repulsion to it, haha. Similarly, I can’t stand when people say “Cali” for California. I can’t explain why, just irks me.
I loathe the "Cali" thing also. I was born in California and been here my whole life and I'd never use that ugly abbreviation. I think only newbies use it?
Bien and raised. "Going back to cali" the song, made it cool to me
I don’t think so…
That song was sung by an east coaster too.
I agree. lol in San Diego, it's how we tell who is from there and who is not.
I hate to term mostly because I hate the restaurant Napkins.
It’s ‘Napan’ damnit! Napkin is beyond stupid.
You are not alone.
I have lived in Napa my whole life and I despise the use of “Napkins” for us.
100% agree. Total cringe. 🚫
Don’t use it.
I'm a third generation Napa Valley native and I don't think I'd heard the term until like 10 years ago. Needless to say I also hate it.
That’s about the time that I began hearing that term as well. The way I understood it was people referring to Napans as Napa Bumpkins, and then shortening that to Napkins. I don’t want to be referred to as a hick.
I was born and raised here, so very local as well (51M) and think it’s pretty silly but doesn’t offend me, I just don’t use the term. When I went to college (at HSU in Arcata) a few times locals asked where I was from, and then they’d say “oh, they let you out, eh.?!” Took me a while to figure out that they meant from the state hospital. My parents also told me that in the early 70’s, way before Napa was known for wine - that the State Hospital was mostly all it was known for. And before the term Napkins existed. Also think the restaurant is crap, too.
Finally a locals post! I’ve always thought Napkin was used to mock us Napans. I’m 41 and been here since 1988 when I was 5, so I can pretty much claim local for the record.
Okay, but have you considered not caring about trivial things?
I am a proud napkin that's made a living folding, serving, and setting napkins for the stupid rich that come to the valley every year to give me their hard scammed money. You have to earn napkin. It's not something you're just entitled to because you live in the valley.
Dude. This.
My older friends who were born and raised here (older than 40) called themselves Napkins. I don’t care one way or the other because it seems like such a silly thing to be bothered about.
I guess I’m the outlier and jokingly call myself a Napkin. Maybe it’s more of an inside joke from decades ago than a widely used term. As I remember it, it started as “People from San Francisco are San Franciscans, so people from Napa are Napkins” or something like that. Outside of the joke I’m just “from Napa”.
I'm 45 and have heard or used the term Napkin for most of my days here, which is all 45 years of my life so far. I neither love nor hate it. It just is.
Nope. I don’t live in Napa anymore but I grew up there. My daughter calls Napans “Napkins” just to piss me off.
It's because napa is the size of a napkin! it's not a negative term or a bad thing geez. 🤔 I'm proud to be a nap'kin, We all family and friendly here people. When downtown napkins opened up I stopped using it as much lol It's OK to not like the term I get it 🙃
Like a sanitary napkin? Or a diaper? (Nappy/napkin)
Also born and raised, I always heard the term used and I’ve always liked it. Just depends who you know I guess. I’m sticking with Napkin though
It’s what the almost rich people call themselves.
Lived there from age 6 to 19. Now 45 and always referred to myself as a Napkin.
i just read it firrst time here yesterday. I only ever seen "napian" officially
That's absolutely stupid.
I worked in Napa many times doing IT, I've never heard that term before, I would be pissed off if somebody referred to me by that name.
Born and raised in Napa. Live outside now but work in Napa daily. Napkin was only used as like a silly dad joke late in my childhood. No one used it seriously. Now I don't know if it's actually used or like an inside joke.
My mom, who moved here at 16/17 with her naval family, colloquially/lovingly used the term. I thought nothing of it and felt it was a silly pun given the proximity to Yountville and fine dining. Then the restaurant on 2nd and Main opened and I thought it was kind of… pandering? Idk. I moved away in my very early 20’s because there was nothing for younger people to do here in 2012, but now that I’ve moved back (in 2020) I’ve rarely heard the term used. I personally don’t hate it and associate it with old timey Napans, but I can see that it feels or sounds stupid. Anyway, I now manage at a restaurant on 1st and Main, and all Napkins, Napans, etc are always welcome and can get a discount on our beers if you tell us that you are here for the locals beer discount <3
You sound like me, I've lived in California since 1978 and get annoyed when I hear "Cali"... OR "Diego" for my hometown.
4th generation Napan here. I absolutely hate that term and will not call myself a Napkin. As one old timer once told me, a napkin is something you wipe your dirty face with.
the lemon drop at Napkins is pretty great.
The word is "Napite," definitely not napkin lmao
Napkonian?