Reed Schools & More, Belvedere & Tiburon Kids with Books

October 23, 2009

Filed under: Marin Schools — Dave DuPont @ 10:54 am

Belvedere and Tiburon Education Facilities Focus on Younger Children

Beginning with nursery schools, and on to Pre-Kindergarten and on up to 8th grade, the City of Belvedere and the Town of Tiburon offer educational institutions geared to 3 to 14 year-olds.

Why this younger concentration exists in these areas isn’t clear, since the demographics indicate that older people reside in these municipalities. The median age of residents of Tiburon is 48 and Belvedere is 56. But clearly, the distribution of educational facilities throughout the southern Marin County municipalities has been designed to fulfill the requirements for excellence through its varied, respected and often award-winning schools.

The Reed Union School District (RUSD) is the public elementary district that serves Belvedere and Tiburon. Its three school sites are located in Tiburon. They are Reed Elementary School, 1199 Tiburon Blvd., 415-435-7840, Elementary school for grades K-2; Bel Aire School, 277 Karen Way, 415-388-7100, Elementary school for grades 3-5; and Del Mar Intermediate School, 105 Avenida Miraflores, 415-435-1468, Middle school with grades 6-8.

District enrollment is approximately 1,035 students, with class size averaging approximately 22 students.  RUSD graduates attend high school in the Tamalpais Union High School District, as well as private schools in Marin County and San Francisco.

Ring Mountain Day School is an independent, co-ed preschool and elementary school. The preschool of Ring Mountain Day School is located in Tiburon, in an idyllic sunny setting surrounded by eucalyptus groves at the foot of Ring Mountain.

Completely renovated in 2000, the Ring Mountain campus includes 6 spacious classrooms, 2 outdoor play areas, office space and a faculty work area. Ring Mountain Day School, Preschool Campus is at 445 Greenwood Beach Road, 415-381-8181.

St. Hilary School is a Catholic day school located at 764 Hilary Dr. in Belvedere completed a multi-million dollar renovation in 2004. St. Hilary is a Primary Kindergarten through 8th Grade school.

Approximately 80% of the 270 students who attend St. Hilary are Catholic and the other remaining 20% come from other Christian and non-Christian faiths. The ratio of teacher to student is 1 teacher to every 8 students.

The Belvedere-Tiburon Child Care Center has three locations and a program that offers preschool programs, before & after school care, and summer camp. Locations include preschool site, St. Stephen’s Church, 3 Bayview Avenue, Belvedere, 415-435-4501; Reed Elementary School, 1199 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon, 415-435-4366; and Bel Aire School, 277 Karen Way, Tiburon, 415-381-2243. Fees and schedules and contact information is at http://btccc.org/.

Also serving preschoolers in both Belvedere and Tiburon is Strawberry Preschool, located on 240 Tiburon Blvd. 415-388-4437.

Also located in Belvedere are Belvedere Nursery School and the Hawthorne Nursery School. Belvedere Nursery School is located at 15 Cove Road Place, 415-435-1661. It accepts 2 to 5 year olds. Also located in Tiburon is Hawthorne Nursery School at 145 Rock Hill Dr., 415-435-9757.

To those lucky enough to live in Tiburon or Belvedere, many fine educational opportunities exist. For those below the age of 14, many of these opportunities are close to home.


Kentfield: Warmer in Summer with Better Schools

Filed under: Marin Schools — Dave DuPont @ 10:51 am

The CDP (Census Designated Place) of Kentfield has a population of fewer than 7,000, yet offers fine educational facilities for kindergarten through 12th grade. It does this very well with two public schools and one private school.

The highly-regarded Kentfield School District at 750 College Ave., Telephone: 415-458-5130 comprises two schools with a total enrollment of approximately 1,000 students. They are the Anthony G. Bacich Elementary School and the Adaline E. Kent Middle School.  The District Superintendent is Mary Jo Pettegrew.

“The District has a strong academic program. Other programs include rich visual and performing arts, physical education, Spanish language, computer program and character education. Student achievement as measured by the 2005 STAR assessment places the District in the top 10% in Reading, Math, Language Arts and Spelling.”

“The average student teacher ratio in grades K-3 is under 20:1, and 23:1 at grades 4-8. The District enjoys the generous support of its active PTA, School Site Council, and the Kentfield Schools Foundation, a non-profit organization with a $1,000,000 annual goal.”

The Bacich Elementary School serves Kindergarten through 4th grade with an enrollment of approximately 500 students. It is located at 25 McAllister Ave., Telephone: 415-925-2220. According to its Web site, Bacich is known for “its strong instructional program and core academics as well as visual and performing arts, health and physical education, and computer education.”

“Highly qualified teachers work together to develop curriculum and improve professional skills. Teachers are selected at each grade level to be a part of a site-based instructional decision making team. Student responsibilities are emphasized through a strong character education program.”

The Kent Middle School serves grade levels 5 through 8, with an enrollment of approximately 500 students. It is located at 800 College Ave., Telephone: 415- 458-5970. Like Bacich, Kent Middle School is known for its strong instructional program and rich offerings in the visual and performing arts, computers. It is also particularly strong in foreign languages.

The other school in Kentfield is Marin Catholic High School, at 675 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Tel: 415-464-3800. It serves students from 8th to 12th grades and is a college preparatory school.

The school’s Web site announces with pride that 99% of its graduating class in 2009 are attending college (including junior colleges) with 92% matriculating at four-year colleges and universities.

Some of Marin Catholic High School’s accomplishments include:

  • Over 250 academic and leadership certificates, awards and medals were earned by 2009 graduates.
  • Appointments to the US Naval Academy, West Point and the US Coast Guard. 
  • Community service totaling more than 30,000 hours, with 21% of its graduates contributing double the number of required hours.

There is a rich student life at Marin Catholic High School beyond the academic and community services achievements. Students travel to foreign countries, serve on Student Government, or participate in one of over 18 different clubs that both keep students busy in meaningful activities, and also equip them for their future endeavors.

While Kentfield is a small community, clearly its residents have high standards for its students, whose accomplishments at its three educational facilities are quite extraordinary.


Mill Valley’s Schools: Shelter & Learning

Filed under: Marin Schools — Dave DuPont @ 10:50 am

Mill Valley, California Offers a Plethora of Prime Educational Opportunities

There is no shortage of excellent educational choices – both public and private – to be found in the Town of Mill Valley, California, which is one of the most sought-after towns in which to live within affluent Marin County.

Public Elementary Schools: Mill Valley’s five public elementary schools include: Edna Maguire School, 80 Lomita Dr., 415-389-7733; Old Mill School, 352 Throckmorton Ave., 415 -389-7727; Park School, 360 East Blithedale Ave., 415-389-7735; Strawberry Point School, 117 E. Strawberry Dr., 415-389-7660; and Tam Valley School, 350 Bell Lane, 415-389-7731.

Attendance at the various public elementary and middle schools is determined by where the student lives. There are also four private schools that serve pre-kindergarten or kindergarten to 5th grade students in Mill Valley. Each of them is discussed below.

Public Middle School: The only public middle school in Mill Valley is the Mill Valley Middle School, 425 Sycamore Ave., 415-389-7711. This school and the five public elementary schools above are administered by the Mill Valley School District, 415-389-7700. While there is only one public middle school, there are four private schools that serve middle school students.

Private Elementary/Middle Schools: The amazingly varied private elementary, combined with middle school offerings in Mill Valley include the Greenwood School, 17 Buena Vista Avenue, 415-388-0495, Grades: K-8; Marin Horizon School, 305 Montford Avenue, 415-388-8408, Grades: PK-8, Montessori school;  Mount Tamalpais School, 100 Harvard Avenue, 415-383-9434; Grades: K-8 and the Ring Mountain Day School, 70 Lomita Drive, Grades: K-8, 415-381-8183. Please note that the preschool campus of Ring Mountain Day is in Tiburon.

Public High School: The only public high school in Mill Valley is the Tamalpais High School, 700 Miller Ave., 415-388-3292. The school received the California Distinguished School award in 1999, 2005 and 2009 and has been ranked in the top five percent of American high schools since 2005 by the Washington Post. There are no private high schools within the municipality of Mill Valley.

Among the numerous famous graduates of Tamalpais High are Courtney Thorne-Smith, class of 1985, actress (Melrose Place, Ally McBeal, According to Jim); Kathleen Quinlan, class of 1972, actress (American Graffiti, Apollo 13, Oliver Stone’s The Doors, Breach) and Mario Cipollina, class of 1972, musician (Copperhead, Soundhole, Huey Lewis and the News, Terry and the Pirates).

Some of the famous athletes who graduated from Tamalpais High include Sam Chapman, class of 1934, (high school & college all star, California Golden Bears; Philadelphia Athletics & Cleveland Indians); Art Schallock, class of 1943, MLB pitcher: Yankees (1953 World Series), Orioles and Joe DeMaestri 1946‡ – MLB shortstop: A’s, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Yankees, 1957 All Star, 1960 World Series.

Other notable Tamalpais High graduates include Peter Shor, class of 1977, mathematician, MIT, MacArthur Fellow; Montgomery McFate, class of 1984, anthropologist, defense analyst; and Sarah Austin, class of 2004, Manhattan-based Internet personality, and founder of Pop17.

Among the honors received by Tamalpais High School in 2009, was the Mock Trial Team, which placed sixth in the nation at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. Over 2,000 mock trial teams competed and 40 states had championship teams.


To Learn in Ross: Schools and Such

Filed under: Marin Schools — Dave DuPont @ 10:49 am

While there are only two educational institutions in the small Town of Ross, California – one public and one private – much can be said about their quality. For a town of only 1.6 square miles and fewer than 2,500 people, this speaks volumes about the expectations of affluent residents of Ross and the surrounding areas.

The public educational institution in Ross is its K-8 Ross School, which has received the designation, “California Distinguished School” for three of its academic years – 1989, 1993 and, most recently, 2008. The student teacher ratio at the Ross School is 13 to 5. Even more impressive, the school recently ranked 26th out of 873 elementary public schools in California.

The mission of The Ross School is, “to build a solid educational foundation for all students while inspiring, guiding, and challenging them to learn and reach out to the world with compassion, integrity and courage.” The educators, administrators and board are dedicated to excellence and regard “education as a respectful partnership: student, home, school, community.”

The Ross School is currently undergoing extensive construction projects to improve and update its facilities by making “significant alternations to existing spaces, including renovation and demolition as well as new construction.”  Serving under 400 students, the Ross School is at 9 Lagunitas Road in Ross, CA, which is located in affluent and sought-after Marin County. The school telephone number is 415-457-2705.

The other school located within the borders of Ross is the private Branson School, which was officially established in 1920, with roots that go back to 1916. Perhaps Branson’s most famous alumna is Julia Child, the celebrated “French chef.” According to Woody Price, the head of the school, “Branson is committed to encouraging students to engage in a life of purpose, passion, and fulfillment.”

“The School strives to help young people develop the moral imagination to be open and responsive to the struggles of fellow human beings; to develop passions that enlarge their souls; to develop a love for the truth, and a desire and a conscience that drives all of us to try our best to make our community, our nation, and our world better.”

Branson is a co-ed, independent, college-prep day school. There are 320 boys and girls enrolled in grades 9-12. Branson’s faculty has 50 teachers, half of whom hold advanced degrees. The student faculty ratio is 8 to 1 with an average class size of 16.

Branson’s 17-acre campus includes 31 classrooms, a science center, a writing center, a computer lab, a theater, a family center, an art gallery and a library with 12,000 volumes. The athletic center, a learning center and music, art and dance studios complete the physical plant. In addition, Branson is linked throughout its campus with a fully integrated fiber optic and wireless network. Its athletic facilities also include access to fields and a gym at the College of Marin.

Branson’s address is P.O. Box 887, 39 Fernhill Avenue, Ross, CA. Its telephone is 415-454-3612.

For a top-notch education that includes both public and private institutions, Ross, California’s highly-regarded Ross School and Branson School are both winners.


Farmers Markets: Fresh Everything– But Don’t expect a bargain

Filed under: Marin Living — Dave DuPont @ 10:47 am

Farmers Markets in Marin County – Direct from Local Fields to Your Table

For many people in Marin, a trip to the local farmers market is a weekly must on their schedule. With ample opportunities to purchase and eat fresh and often organic produce, grown by local farmers, why not make time to visit your local farmers market?

The largest farmers market in Marin County also operates year-round at the Civic Center in San Rafael each Sunday from 8 am to 1 pm. The third largest farmers market in California, attracts nearly 200 farmers, specialty food purveyors and artisans to sell their goods to local residents. Location: 10 Avenue of the Flags, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael.

The area’s premier chefs come together to shop for their weekend fruit and vegetables at a farmers market, also held at the Civic Center in San Rafael each Thursday from 8 am to 1 pm, year-round, which features 100 local farmers, specialty food purveyors and artisans. Location: 10 Avenue of the Flags, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael.

During the summer season, the Novato Farmers Market is held every Tuesday evening in the renovated part of town called Old Town, where locals shop for fruit and vegetables, treat their children to pony rides, face painting and balloon sculptures. Location: Grant Ave between Machin & Reichert, Novato.

Also a summertime phenomenon, the Fairfax Farmers Market is staged in a beautiful setting every Wednesday from 4 pm to 8 pm. Fairfax has banned single use plastic bags, so don’t forget to take your tote bags! Location: Bolinas Rd & Elsie Lane, Fairfax.

The mission of the Marin Farmers Markets is to promote a viable food system, to educate the public about the benefits of buying fresh and locally grown food, and to bring farmers and communities together.

Fruits and Vegetables Likely to be Found at Marin County Farmers Markets:

Apples, Apricots, Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Beans, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Cherries, Chicory, Coconuts, Collard Greens, Corn,

Crabapples, Cranberries, Cucumbers, Dates, Eggplants, Elderberries, Figs,

Gooseberries, Gourds, Grapefruit, Grapes, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kale, Kiwi Fruit, Kohlrabi, Kumquats, Leeks, Lemons, Lettuce, Limes, Lychee Nuts, Mandarin Oranges, Mangoes, Melons, Mushrooms, Nectarines, Okra,

Olives, Onions, Oranges, Papayas, Parsnips, Passion Fruit, Peaches, 

Pears, Peas, Peppers, Pineapples, Plums, Pomegranate, Potatoes, Pumpkins,

Radicchio, Radishes, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Rutabaga, Shallots, Spinach, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet potatoes, Tangerines, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Watermelon, Yams.

This list doesn’t include the many types of nuts for sale at the Farmers Markets or the many kinds of lettuce, peppers, onions or olives, all sold direct from local farmers.

It’s interesting to note that there are certain fruits that enjoy particular favor among the foodie community. Fruits in greater favor nowadays include Pomegranate and Heirloom Tomatoes. Pomegranate is cultivated in California mainly for its juice and is rich in Vitamins C and B5, as well as antioxidants. Heirloom Tomatoes are treasured each summer for their multiple colors, shapes and sizes and their unique and delicate flavors.

Popular seasonal vegetables and fruit that are commonly eaten in California include Artichokes and Avocados. Artichokes are a spiny vegetable that grows in California’s Central Valley area and Avocados are a pear-shaped fruit, also known as Alligator Pears, that are mainly cultivated in countries with tropical climates. Many avocados, mainly the Hass type, are also grown in Southern California.


A Checklist for Homebuyers: Process, Process, Process

Filed under: Marin Living — Dave DuPont @ 10:43 am

A Foolproof Homebuyer’s Checklist

When looking for a homebuyer’s checklist online, it’s important to be aware that there are different types of checklists. There’s the type of checklist that provides you with every detail of information that you should get when searching for just the right home. This kind of list won’t allow you to overlook a single thing or make a mistake in this important process.

For example, it guides you to determine whether a house has a practical floor plan and adequate storage space. These lists are similar to those utilized by an appraiser, who goes through a property with a fine tooth comb and determines its condition and compares it to others in the same market at comparable values.

Here are the important steps to guide you through the process of buying a house.

1. Become Informed

In becoming familiar with the individual steps involved in the actual process of purchasing a home, the first step is to become informed about buying a house. In this marketplace, that means to become well informed about the steps involved, but also to become informed about who the reputable professionals are, how the market is performing, the prices in your desired market and much more.

2. Hire Reputable Professionals

Of course, you must do some serious homework before buying a house because you don’t want to leave anything to chance. This means you should hire the best real estate professionals you can find to protect your interests. So, item two on your checklist should be to find a sophisticated real estate person, who knows your market and has listings of properties in your price range. That person will hold your hand and guide you through the process step by step.

3. Become Pre-Approved for Financing

Obviously, you don’t want to begin shopping and find just the house and learn that you cannot make an offer because you aren’t pre-approved. If you have a financial statement of your assets and liabilities that helps too.

4. Determine What Type of Property You are Going to Buy and for How Much

Once you know what kind of property you want, tell your real estate professional all about it so he or she won’t waste your time showing you the wrong properties in the wrong price range.

5. Make an Offer

Once your real estate pro has educated you on the art of the deal, you will find a property and make an offer. This also requires that you sign a contract to buy. When or if you offer is accepted, you may need to put down a deposit. If your offer is not accepted, you might want to negotiate the sale (with the help of your real estate professional).

6. Make an Application for a Mortgage

Often your real estate pro will direct you to a reputable mortgage company that he likes to use. Be prepared to fill out applications and much more.

7. Make Arrangements for Home Inspection

Your real estate pro will help with this step too.

8. Check for Existing Warranties

If the seller offers warranties on appliances or air conditioning systems and the like, you should determine why. Is the air conditioning system on its last legs? If so, what will it cost to replace? And what is covered by the warranty; is it just labor?

9. Arrange for Homeowners’ Insurance

Get the best deal you can because this item is for the long haul.

10. Prepare for the closing

Make arrangements to hire a closing agent or attorney. Make all final preparations for closing with the help of your real estate professional.

11. Make Moving Arrangements

Make comparisons of prices and services and make reservations.

12. Secure final loan approval from lending institution.

13. Hold final walk-through of the home.

14. Hold final closing and settlement.


Origin of Man & Bike = Marin County Offroad

Filed under: Marin Living — Dave DuPont @ 10:40 am

Biking is Thriving Where Mountain Biking Began

Whether you’re into BMX, Mountain or Road bicycling, Marin is a great place to do it. Established biking trails, paved bike pathways and the terrain popular with BMXers are all found throughout the County. It also happens that Marin County was the birthplace of Mountain biking. But, perhaps the most popular form of biking nowadays is Road bicycling.

Let’s begin with some history. BMX, as a category, isn’t as common in Marin as the other types of biking, but it’s interesting to know that well-known BMX biker Billy Savage lived and biked in Marin from 1976 to 1983.

Designed for stunts, tricks, and racing on hilly dirt BMX tracks, BMX bicycles have a have a single gear ratio with a freewheel and are built with smaller frames and wheels with wider, treaded tires. They have to be extremely sturdy machines because they take a beating during some extreme sporting events!

It was clear that BMX had finally arrived when BMX events were part of the Summer Olympics in China in 2008 in four different venues, which was a first for the sport. U.S. cyclists took half of the first six medals in BMX racing ever awarded in the history of the Olympics.

The Web site www.klunkerz.com provides complete information about each of the individuals who participated in mountain biking in Marin during the 1970s to make it the world-class sport that it is today. Mountain biking is rough and tough going and a good day isn’t complete without getting at least some mud in your teeth.

Mountain biking pioneers did a lot of their biking on downhill trails they carved out around Mount Tamalpais in the 1970s. This was when Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher and others converted cruisers and balloon-tire bicycles into machines that could weather any type of road conditions.

Billy Savage recently directed a film about the early days of mountain biking in Marin called “Klunkerz.” In the process of making his film, what he found “fascinating is that all the pioneers are very committed to the bicycle as transportation, and to the ecological and physical benefits of cycling to this day. They gave those old Klunkerz a new life, rescuing them out of trashcans and junkyards. They were reducing, reusing, and recycling long before it was hip to be green. They all continue to live this way in all aspects of their lives.”

Road bicycling has become very popular in recent years as the county establishes more bike paths where serious road cyclists can do some serious biking.  The Marin County Bicycling Coalition (www.marinbike.org) “promotes safe bicycling for everyday transportation and recreation.” Marin County is one of only four counties nationwide that are engaged in a federal Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Program that promotes road bicycling, particularly commuting. The goal of The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is for 20% of trips in Marin County to be made by walking or bicycling.

The MCBC Web site offers all the latest about this and other initiatives underway under the umbrella of this ambitious organization. One of their Web pages has links to a wonderful array of informative pages, including the following:

  • (More than) 50 Good Reasons to Bicycle
  • Benefits of Bicycle Commuting
  • The Marin Bicycle Map (free upon joining the Marin County Bicycling Coalition)
  • Riding directions via the North-South Greenway from San Francisco to Petaluma
  • Riding directions via Highway 1 to the Golden Gate Bridge
  • Basic Cycling Essentials
  • Cycling for Fun
  • Bicycle Etiquette

Belvedere Tiburon Churches, Synagogues, & Temples

Filed under: Marin Living — Dave DuPont @ 10:38 am

A Plethora of Choices for Worship:

The affluent contiguous California municipalities of Belvedere and Tiburon are rich in more than per capita income. With a total of nearly 16 square miles between them and seven churches and one synagogue, they have one house of worship for every two square miles!

The synagogue is Conservative and the churches cover most major Christian sects, including Catholic and a range of Protestant churches, as well as a Christian Science Church. There is certainly no shortage of places to go to worship each week and participate in many additional activities in addition to worship.

The following is a list of places of worship located specifically in Belvedere and Tiburon:

 Community Congregational Church is a United Church of Christ (ccctiburon.org) located at 145 Rock Hill Drive, Tel: (415) 435-9108. There are two services each Sunday; 7:30 am Contemplative Service, 10:00 am Celebratory Service.

The Congregation Kol Shofar (kolshofar.org) is a Conservative Jewish Synagogue that is in the process of renovations. Call (415) 388-1818 for information regarding locations of its offices, activities and worship. Rabbi: Lavey Derby, Senior Rabbi. Friday Shabbat at 6:15 pm and Saturday Shabbat at 9:15 am at the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 240 Tiburon Boulevard in Tiburon.

The Christian Science Church (tfccs.org) is located at 501 San Rafael Avenue, Tel: (415) 435-0248. Call for service times. The nearest Christian Science Reading Room is at 1649 Polk St. in San Francisco, Tel: (415) 673-0532.‎ The Reading Room schedule is Monday through Friday 3 pm to 6 pm; Saturday 1 pm to 6 pm; and Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm.

St. Hilary’s Church is a Catholic Church at 761 Hilary Drive, Tel: (415) 435-1122; Pastor: Rev. James J. Tarantino. Masses are held Monday through Friday at 8:15 am; Saturday at 9 am and 5 pm; and Sunday at 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11 am and 5 pm.

St. Stephen’s Church is an Episcopal Church at 3 Bay View Avenue, Tel: (415) 435-4501; Rector: Rev. Jim Ward. Services are held as follows: Sunday, 8 am Holy Eucharist Rite 1; 10 am Holy Eucharist Rite 2; Wednesday, 10 am Holy Eucharist; Thursday, 8 am Contemplative Prayer Group. Children are welcome to all services. There is nursery care at 9 am on Sunday.

Shepherd of the Hills is a Lutheran Church at 9 Shepherd Way, Tel: (415) 435-1528. Services are Sunday at 10:30 am.

Tiburon Baptist Church (tiburonbaptist.org) is located at 445 Greenwood Beach Road, Tel: (415) 388-3900; Lead Pastor: John Shouse. Service Schedule: Sunday 8:30 am and 11:00 am; Sunday School is at 9:40; Wednesday Prayer Meeting is at 6:30 pm.

Tiburon Westminster Presbyterian Church (wpctiburon.org) is located at 240 Tiburon Boulevard, Tel: (415) 383-5272; Head Pastor: Douglas Huneke. Service Schedule is 8:30 am and 10:00 am on Sunday; Sunday School at 10:15 am.

To locate the church on a map, just enter the address into Google or refer to each entity’s Web site (where available) for directions. Please note that the foregoing information is accurate as of July 2009. So, it’s a good idea to check with each individual church to verify.


Kids Dreams: Fairs & Parks

Filed under: Marin Living — Dave DuPont @ 10:28 am

Marin County Fairs and Festivals – the Biggest and the Best
Marin County is blessed in the number and quality of fairs and festivals that it enjoys throughout the summer season. The following is just a sampling of those events, most of which are held in southern Marin County.

 In 2009, the Mountain Play celebrated its 96th year with a musical called Man of La Mancha. The schedule began at the end of May and ran weekly through June 21. The play is held at the Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre at Mount Tamalpais State Park in Mill Valley. Tickets were $23 to $40. While some hike or bike to the venue, shuttle buses are provided and driving is discouraged since parking is limited. www.mountainplay.org, Tel: (415) 383-1100.

 The Italian Street Painting Festival is held annually from 9 am to 7 pm on two days in mid-June in downtown San Rafael. Chalk is the medium. The event is free. www.youthinarts.org, Tel: (415) 457-4878, ext. 15

 The Marin Arts Festival is held on two days in the latter part of June at the Marin Center Lagoon at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael. More than 250 artists display their work and many kinds of music are performed. www.marinartsfestival.com, Tel: (415) 388-0151.

 The Tiburon Music Festival is held over the course of 5 days in June at St. Hilary Church in Tiburon. It celebrates chamber music and chamber opera with performances by Marin classical musicians. Tickets are $10 and $20. www.tiburonmusicfestival.org, Tel: (415) 457-5226.

 The San Anselmo Art and Wine Festival is held for two days in late June on San Anselmo Avenue. 200 artists also display their wares.  www.sananselmochamber.org, Tel: (415) 454-2510.

 The biggest county event held every year is the Marin County Fair, running from 11 am to 11 pm for five days in the beginning of July. The location is the Marin County Fairgrounds on Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. In 2010, the Fair will be 65 years old and it’s a blast from the past and the future with the typical pie baking and dairy cattle competitions and so much more. Concerts, fireworks, carnival rides and amusements galore. www.marinfair.org, Tickets are $12-$14.

 The Tiburon Art Festival is held over the course of two days in the latter part of August along “Art Row” in Tiburon. www.tiburon-artfestival.com.

 Arias in the Park is held towards the end of August at Gabrielson Park, Anchor and Bridgeway, Sausalito. www.ci.sausalito.ca.us, Tel: (415) 289-4152.

 In September, a particularly important event is the Sausalito Art Festival, held over four days along Bridgeway and Marinship Park. The annual Labor Day weekend outdoor event features fine art and sculpture, delicious food and beverages and big name musical entertainment. Tickets are $5 to $20; $30 for a three-day pass. www.sausalitoartfestival.org, Tel: (415) 332-3555 or (415) 331-3757.

 The Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival is held in the latter part of September for two days at the Old Mill Park on Throckmorton Avenue at Cascade. It highlights over 100 craftspeople from around the country with work in 15 categories. There is also live music and entertainment for children with magic, puppets and marionettes, stories and songs. Tickets are $5 to $8, children under 12 free. www.mvfaf.org, Tel: (415) 381-8090.


Meet for a Drink… in Marin?

Filed under: Marin Living — Dave DuPont @ 10:18 am

There are a number of places in Marin County where you can eat dinner, have drinks and hear live music, and in some cases, you’ll have to eat dinner before going, but get ready. Live music is alive and well in Marin County! In fact, quite a few towns have more than one place that’s their claim to fame. Fairfax is perhaps best known for its line up of nightclubs on Broadway, including their 19 Broadway, The Sleeping Lady and Peri’s Silver Dollar. These places rock almost every night of the week.

 For the slightly more sedate of us, there’s Sausalito, which features several places with live music. These include the No Name Bar, which jumps with live music every night of the week; Saylor’s, which used to be Sailor’s Landing; and Taste of Rome, which used to be Cafe Trieste. Both Saylor’s and Taste of Rome feature live music on the weekends.

 The following are listings of Marin Venues with live music.

 Bolinas

Smiley’s Schooner Saloon, 41 Wharf Road, Bolinas, Tel: (415) 868-1311.

Full menu and bar. Bands every night of the week, including reggae. Web: coastalpost.com.

Fairfax

 The Sleeping Lady, 23 Broadway, Fairfax, Tel: (415) 485-1182. Live music nightly. Web: sleepingladyfairfax.com.

 Peri’s Silver Dollar, 29 Broadway, Fairfax, Tel: (415) 459-9910. Features virtually every kind of music, except hip hop and reggae, nightly. Monday is open mike night.

 Nineteen Broadway, 19 Broadway, Fairfax, Tel: (415) 459-1091. Full bar. This place bills itself as “the hottest nightclub in the North Bay.” Live music most nights – jazz, blues and rock.

 Mill Valley

The legendary Sweetwater, New Address: 32 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, Tel: (415) 388-2820. Music nightly.

Nicasio

 Rancho Nicasio, Town Square, Nicasio, Tel: (415) 662-2219. Well-known entertainment venue with restaurant. Music like Zydeco, blues, rock, rockabilly, jazz and more.

 Point Reyes Station

 Station House Cafe, Main Street, Point Reyes Station, Tel: (415) 663-1515.

Full menu and bar. Music on Sunday nights. Folk, Americana.

San Rafael

 Fourth Street Tavern, 711 Fourth St., San Rafael, Tel: (415) 454-4044. Full bar. Live music most nights. Eclectic, many kinds of music.

 Panama Hotel, 4 Bayview St., San Rafael, Tel: (415) 457-3993.

Live Jazz music and restaurant, Bed & Breakfast in San Rafael.

Full menu and bar. Music Tuesday and Thursday and every other Wednesday.
Pete’s 881, 721 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael, Tel: (415) 453-5888. Ask for Randy.

Full menu and bar. Jazz band every other Tuesday.

Sausalito

 No Name Bar, 757 Bridgeway, Sausalito, Tel: (415) 332-1392. There’s a band 5 nights a week, Tuesday through Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Saylor’s (was Sailor’s Landing) Restaurant & Bar – 2009 Bridgeway, Sausalito, Tel: (415) 332-1512. Friday and Saturday – light music, including soft jazz, blues.

Taste of Rome, Italian food, coffee and tea. 1000 Bridgeway, Sausalito, Tel: (415) 332-7660. Music Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Jazz and other types of music.

Because these kinds of listings change with time, it’s important to telephone the venue to verify this information.


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