Joan Baez performing at the Kidzstock Music Festival in Fairfax, June 19, 2010 Photo by Colleen Proppe

Decades ago, people recalled a larger-than-life personality – none other than Janis Joplin – playing acoustic guitar for nursery school-aged children. Or so the legend goes. Many longtime residents of the North Bay have their favorite music “celeb” encounter stories. Whether experienced firsthand, heard from a friend of a friend, or urban legend, hundreds of locals have stories about running into Carlos Santana, Sammy Hagar, James Hetfield or Huey Lewis at the neighborhood hardwood store, market or coffee shop. Others recount sightings of Grace Slick, Van Morrison, David Grisman, Tom Waits or Jerry Garcia, all legends that have walked amongst us here in the North Bay. 

You may not think of the North Bay as being a hotbed for great music acts or the artists behind them. Of course there are wonderful venues like 142 Throckmorton, George’s and 19 Broadway that give us the opportunity to enjoy the local music vibe without crossing a bridge. But a close examination shows there is a rich music history ingrained in the fabric of the area: the Grateful Dead, Journey, Jefferson Airplane and Starship, Steve Miller, Bonnie Raitt and many others have contributed to the musical culture in Marin. Otis Redding is said to have written “Sitting On the Dock of the Bay” while renting a houseboat in Sausalito in 1967; concert promoter Bill Graham resided in Corte Madera and hosted guests like Eric Clapton and Jim Morrison. Other musical luminaries such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Dave Mathews Band, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder and Prince have come from around the world as visitors or temporary residents to record or mix music at one of Marin’s many recording studios, including The Plant Studios in Sausalito and Tarpan Studios in San Rafael. San Rafael is also home to Metallica’s studio, HQ, where they recorded pieces of their latest album Death Magnetic, as well as the Grateful Dead’s legendary Front Street studio, Club Le Front, which was made famous by the album Shakedown Street.

All of which begs the question, “How did all of these famous musicians find their way to the North Bay?”

The Marin History Museum Music Center in downtown San Rafael soon hopes to provide the answer. A project that has been in the works for several years (the museum was projected to open in fall, 2010, but the date has been delayed), this state-of-the-art music exhibition, performance and educational space will explore and pay tribute to the county’s musical heritage. The overarching theme of the museum is “Marin as an inspirational place,” and as Chief Curator Dawn Laurant told the Marin Independent Journal, “We’re looking at what drew musicians here, why so many made Marin their home…Why they saw it as a place to write, record and play their music.”

The Music Center will kick off with the long-anticipated Marin Rocks as the inaugural exhibit and will proceed to offer a variety of exhibitions, educational programs, workshops, film screenings, special presentations, and live shows.

We’ve opined many times that Marin is truly a beautiful place. The number and variety of artists who have made it their home and found inspiration within are a testament to that.

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

On Friday night a group of REAL Californians … guys who have been in a local calendar for decades …. Three of us guys got together to cheer on the Giants … who could’ve clinched the division BUT since two of us were going to the Saturday game we had mixed emotions … hey, I want to be there for the put away.

As we watched we got California history from Claudia ‘I don’t get British humor’ Lewis, a 5^th generation Californian (whose grandmother Jane Hollister Wheelwright wrote The Ranch Papers, the intriguing story of her year riding the family ranch, which ranged from Hollister through to the coast and included 14 miles of Santa Barbara coastline, then the story continues as she’s in charge of the breaking up the huge land grant) … and our sports commentary flowed from Bob “Grand Marshal’ Lewis, who says guys don’t listen … not sure if that’s ‘we don’t’ or ‘real men don’t’ … but let’s not get into the Lewis humor discussions … and there was Guy Mac, an ex-LA sort of guy who cheered in the bottom of the 5^th when the Giants did their double switch and Rowand hit a pinch hit homer …

Me? Early in the season I wondered if the Giants had a real jinx with the Padres … a jinx that might yield 18 wins to them Padres … but I only predicted 12 to 15 wins for the mad men of the south and sat on Friday night wondering whether this would be a four game series …. Hope not but then again, I’m now planning to be at the game Saturday and watch them clinch, which would be dandy. Great weather. Fabulous excitement … then, as a homer yesterday splashed into McCovey Cove I segued to thoughts of San Rafael’s San Pedro Cove.  Four homes available in that tight community on the bay … views, a fine club house and lots of great weather and air … totally wonderful opportunity my friends.

First off there’s 544 San Pedro Cove, listed by Marlys Hooper, now reduced $300,000 to $1,590,000 this four bedroom home, listed at $369 per square foot, sold for $1,385,000 in ‘03.

Right next door, at 546 San Pedro Cove, is a beautiful contemporary four bedroom home, slightly smaller, listed at $1,349,000 or $546 per square foot by Darlene Hanley and Sharon Luce …  this is a home that breathes  … it has great energetic flow .. wonderful views and vaulted ceilings … was listed sold for $1,325,000 in ’04 and started the sales process at $1,699,000. This is my favorite for the money.

My favorite in the cove is Michael Sommer’s listing at 574 San Pedro Cove … a newer three bedroom home … a sanctuary …. An alive home … full of weather and change … offered at $805 per square foot or $2.9M and worth ?? What will you offer??

The most recent Cove sale, by Rosalie Weigle was 520 San Pedro Cove, a newer waterfront four bedroom home on ¼ acre that was listed in ’08 for $3,795,000 and sold for $1M less at $639 per square foot.

If you’re truly a fan of the game of real estate, if you care about trends, this little bit about San Pedro Cove is a ton of information to process … sort of like a double switch in baseball. So call me with questions, email me with observations … and know hearing from you makes my day. That a Giant wins!

Okay, it’s now Monday morning –I was too excited by the final game of the San Diego series … and having an east bay sort of weekend … so there was not time to blog until now. Here’s a small bit added to what I wrote before the Giants CLINCHED the playoff spot …

This was shot from the marvelous seats I shared with now guy Caren Cascio (replacing Alan who had to work on Saturday) … YES this win brings back fond memories of the decade of Bill Walsh 9ers … a sweet victory in what portends to be a somewhat playoff starved Bay Area year. Go GIANTS!

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Photo taken by Bruno Furnari

As we mentioned in a previous post (Reason #26), there’s a rich movie culture in the North Bay. In addition to the numerous film festivals, movies-in-the-park events, and movie-making businesses, Marin County alone is home to two independent, non-profit art house theaters: the Smith Rafael Film Center and the Lark Theater. 

Photo taken by Eddie Dickey

The Lark Theater, also a historic art deco landmark, has done a tremendous job, on a non-profit budget, of providing us with an amazing array of film experiences and really has become a community cultural center. Located in the heart of downtown Larkspur, the Lark offers such innovative programs as: Live at the Met (Opera from the Met in HD), National Theatre London (London’s most acclaimed theater via satellite feed), Sunday Salon (“Brunch, Movie and a Chat”), Family Films, a Youth Film Festival, CinéMama (special screenings of current films for moms, dads, and other caregivers with newborns/infants in tow), and Sports on Screen.

Few communities are willing and able to support this caliber of programming. The North Bay is fortunate to have such a thriving movie scene, one with options for all styles, tastes and ages – from the large multi-plex showing the latest blockbuster to the smaller art houses showing lesser-known gems.

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Scenic Overlook

Marin Civic Center Skylight Photo taken by Chris Willis

Marin Civic Center Roof Photo taken by Leef Smith

While not everyone finds Jury Duty a treat, it’s a bit more appealing when you get to go to the fantastic Marin County Civic Center to pay your civic duty. A national- and state-designated historic landmark designed by internationally acclaimed US architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Civic Center is an amazing monument to his vision of blending the indoor and outdoor worlds with organic architecture. (One example: the long horizontal buildings are meant to link the “crowns” of the three surrounding hills; the distinctive bright blue roof blends into the sky.)

While most people don’t go to the Civic Center to linger, there is actually a lot to see and do there – not to mention just simply admiring the building inside and out. Each month, on the third floor and in the lobby of the administration building, the Marin Arts Council exhibits works by a variety of local artists; and the Civic Center library, built under an 80-foot diameter dome, offers all the amenities of other branch libraries, and in particular is a wonderful resource for those interested in California history (especially the history and culture of Marin County) and Frank Lloyd Wright himself. A little-known way to appreciate the exterior of the structure is by visiting the Scenic Overlook, located outside the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers. To access the overlook from outside the building, follow the path that leads to a rooftop area. From there you have a fine view of the unique roofline and an up-close view of the spire; you can also see out to San Pablo Bay and Santa Venetia as well.

Also of note, the Civic Center was used in the George Lucas sci-fi movieTHX-1138 in 1969 and Gattaca in 1997. Both movies used this building of distinctive architecture, built in the late ‘50s/early 60s, to represent the future.
 
To learn more about the Civic Center, there are docent-led tours of the facility every Wednesday at 10:30 am. You can also travel through a virtual tour online: Introduction and First Floor Orientation.

For architecture buffs, San Rafael boasts another example of modern works through the work of Joseph Eichler and his “Eichler-style” homes. 

Eager for more historic landmarks? Here’s a list of historic sites in Marin County.

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

Golf is a sport that both the skilled and the novice can enjoy, as so much is about having a way to relax, unwind, socialize and relieve stress – all while enjoying nature in a beautiful environment. Which is why golf courses cover some of the most exquisite landscapes in the world, and Marin is no exception. With eight courses within our county lines, there are plenty of places to sneak away for a round of golf and a break from our busy schedules.   

Much like our cities, Marin County golf courses are varied and all have a unique character. McInnis Park Golf Center in San Rafael is perfect for beginners and those looking to work on their short game. Tucked away in San Rafael and abutting a marsh on San Pablo Bay, it’s not uncommon to encounter pelicans, geese and red-tail hawks along the course. In Mill Valley, the Mill Valley Golf Course is a local institution, having been in place since 1919. Unlike the marsh setting of McGinnis, this course is characterized by majestic redwoods, which make for a more difficult game. However, Mill Valley provides a gorgeous backdrop and you’ll be rewarded with scenic views from atop the second and fourth tees, as well as a view of Mt. Tam from the fourth green. Out in West Marin along Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Geronimo Golf Course is a local favorite. The ridge location offers two faces to the course: the front nine is a sprawling terrain made up of straight, flat holes, while the back nine is hilly and wooded. Accolades for this course include acknowledgement as “Best Places to Play” by Golf Digest, “#1 Golf Course in Marin County” by both the Pacific Sun and the San Francisco Chronicle and “Best Golf Course in the North Bay” by the North Bay Bohemian. 

Other courses in Marin include Peacock Gap Golf and Country Club, Indian Valley Golf Club, StoneTree Golf Club and the private clubs Marin Country Club and Meadow Club.

For young golfers looking to get started in the sport – or hone their skills – there are plenty of youth programs and activities throughout Marin. For kids aged 5-17, there’s the Mill Valley Junior Golf Club, with many benefits including discounted green fees, an introductory golf education and etiquette course, tournaments and free clinics. During the summer months there are several camp programs for kids starting as young as pre-K. If the whole family wants to get involved, San Geronimo has year-round family events like Sunday Family Supper. And for those who just want to play around, you can always visit the family fun center at McGinnis, an elaborate 18-hole miniature golf course, complete with water hazards, gardens and artist designed obstacles, all of which blend naturally into the hillside.

Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

… Coming Shortly to arriving today!

Oh my god, the value of the network meetings – we all learn so much about homes coming to the market – this morning a Frank Howard Allen network, tomorrow the Marin Real Tours bus with top agents from all the big name brokerages … next week two other big meetings!

From today’s meeting, coming soon … Three homes in San Anselmo and two in San Rafael …

First San Rafael …

305 Highland … owners paid $3.85M and are getting ready to go on the market at $2.7M … wow of a home with huge water views!

Then a home in Fairhills … four bedrooms, three baths with a piece of land to die for … nearly an acre of land that was used as an organic farm!!!! Less than a million, a few weeks off.

Then San Anselmo …

There’s a totally charming, large two bedroom plus in Yolanda Park due to the market in a few weeks. Great home, level lot, real quality in the low 700,000s.

Nearby, on Karl, Gary Fisher’s five bedroom home, probably in the $1.1M range.

And then there’s 84 Oak Knoll, just showing up on the market for $465,000.

After all is said and done, my office in San Rafael is sky high … Jeff Sterley is coming to town to be our assistant manager. We’ll miss the years with Matt MacPhee, but he’ll still be here, selling and getting married and …., what a guy! And now the forces gather.

What would Artie say?

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Photo taken by Ingrid Taylor

When you see the Giant Wheel spring up along Highway 101 it can only mean one thing – it’s time for the Marin County Fair.

Marin is not your average county, so fittingly, this is not your average county fair. Yes, there are the traditional fair classics we all know and love – pig races, petting zoo, carnival rides, ring-toss games, and baking competitions. However, only here will you also find a solar powered carousel, Storm Troopers escorting R2D2, Shangri-La Chinese acrobats and a kinetic structure made out of over 100,000 toothpicks.

The Fair outdoes itself each year, but our favorite attraction is still the Giant Wheel. The pace is fairly slow and it takes you nearly 100 ft. up for an aerial view of the entire Fair, Civic Center lagoon and San Rafael Hills – making for one Marin tradition that can’t be missed.

The fair runs annually over the Fourth of July holiday with fireworks nightly.

With so much to do at the Fair – and so many new attractions added each year – what are you most excited for this Fourth of July?

Follow along as the full list unfolds – 100 Reasons Why We Love Where We Live

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Posted by:  Frank Howard Allen Realtors

The most noteworthy fair of the Bay Area is coming soon: The 65th edition of the Marin County Fair will celebrate the theme Going Global: Connecting Cultures complete with rides, exhibits, contests, fireworks, and concerts starting on Thursday, July 1, through Monday, July 5 in San Rafael. This year’s edition celebrates Marin County and the Bay Area’s global cultures, bringing our varied backgrounds of life and vitality to Marin.

The concert lineup starts on July 1 at 7:30 with Wilson Phillips, daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas. You may remember a few of their hits “Hold On,” “Impulsive,” and “Release Me,” that were really terrific hits in the 80s. On Friday July 2, you have an opportunity to see two concerts for the price of one when The Wailers from Jamaica’s reggae tradition play at 5:00 and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot plays at 7:30. The Wailers played alongside Bob Marley back in the 70s and Jack Elliot is a spiritual heir to Woodie Guthrie’s and Bob Dylan’s fledgling folk style. 

Saturday, July 3, you have another double treat with Tea Leaf Green at 3:00 and Little Feat at 7:30. Tea Leaf Green conjures up the spirit of bands like Tom Petty and the Grateful Dead, taking classic sounds and giving them a present day feeling. Little Feat has been billed as one of the best live rock n’ roll bands ever, and has collaborated with such bands as Brian Wilson, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Plant and John Lee Hooker. Hopefully soon Little Feat will get their proper recognition and be in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of fame. Sunday’s ticket will include a double-double feature as The Del McCoury Band and Preservation Hall Jazz Band play at both 2:00 and 4:00, and the Masters of Hawaiian Music: George Kahumoku Jr., Dennis Kamakahi, Uncle Richard Ho’opi’i and Bobby Black bring their special style of Hawaiian music back at 6:00 and 8:00. Having another home on the island of Kauai, this brings a special flavor of slack key and down home Hawaiian music to Marin that I love and adore.

Finally, on Monday, July 5, you can enjoy a triple feature of concerts with Tiempo Libre at 1:00 and 3:00, The Four Tops at 6:00, and the fabulous Temptations at 8:00. Tiempo Libre’s seven-piece band brings a special tempo of Cuban and salsa, with a lot of jazz. The Four Tops have been dazzling their audiences with fabulous favorites such as “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Reach Out,” and “Standing in the Shadow of Love” for decades. Then get ready to spend an evening with The Temptations as they bring on their classic Motown hits like “My Girl,” “Papa was a Rolling Stone” and “Just My Imagination” to the stage.

This concert lineup is only part of the action as The Marin County Fair will also have the Kenya Safari Acrobats, which will perform each day at 3:00 and 5:00. You will also have one of the leading stereoscopic photographers, Robert Bloomberg, bring a selection of his most stunning and acclaimed 3-D shows to the Fair. Featured programs are The Day of the Dead, Portrait of Tuscany, The Lost Temples of Angkor, and Wish You Were Here: 3-D Postcards From Somewhere Else.

What would the Fair be without all the great menu items from throughout the world? Fare includes the new Niman Ranch Grill offering Guatemalan Mixta, Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad, Hong Kong Grilled Chicken Skewers, Texas Frito Pies, and Italian Spicy Sausage Baguettes. All the meats from the grill are gourmet, natural meats from Niman Ranch.

Finally, each night is capped off with a nightly Fireworks show. I am told that this will be the biggest, most elaborate fireworks spectacular ever staged over the lagoon. Using the clear Marin skies as its canvas, this truly impressive experience will be one not to miss as it fills the skies every night of the Fair at 9:30.

Whew! With all this happening, I think I’ll need to take a vacation from all the excitement of this truly spectacular Marin County Fair.

Posted by:  Rick Smith

How often do we hear this phrase? But really, how lucky are we to live in such a wonderful community where we can explore so much open space? If you are looking for something to do outside this summer with your family, friends or sweetie, Summer Newsletter from the Marin County Department of Parks and Open Space has some great programs planned. Oh and what’s even better? Many of them are FREE!

In perusing the Summer Newsletter, I am amazed at all of the beautiful and wonderful walks, hikes, sites and things to do in our area. What little boy or girl could pass up the opportunity to view:

Butterflies in Cascade Canyon in Fairfax, June 9 from 10am – 2pm
or
Blooms and Birds at Deer Park, June 30 from 9am – 2 pm

And check out these really cool “Ranger Events”

Beach BBQ & Kayak Event at Paradise Beach Park, Tiburon
Full Moon Stroll at Stafford Lake Park, Novato
Dog Day at the Park, McInnis Park, San Rafael
A Horseback Ride on Horse Hill in Mill Valley

Again, check the attached guide for dates, times and details and enjoy your summer!

What area attraction are you looking most forward to this summer?

Posted by:  Adrienne Murphy

There are a number of incredible gourmet-style food markets in Marin County. Off the top of my head I can rattle off Andronico’s, Paradise Market, Whole Foods, Good Earth, Mill Valley Market, United Market…not to mention the more usual staples like Safeway, Lucky and Albertson’s. But none of them really cater to our growing Latino community. Nor do they cater to Marinites who are looking for more diverse textures and flavors. One new market has sprung up – Mi Pueblo Food Center at 333 Bellam in San Rafael. 333 Bellam is where the old Circuit City store was located, so this is a huge building. And Mi Pueblo is unlike any other grocery store in the area.

We had some guests over to the house last weekend and my wife wanted to serve Mexican food, so we took a ride to Mi Pueblo. This was my first experience shopping there. The first thing that hits you when you walk in is the size of the building. Think of a really large Safeway and you’ll get it. Next is the cleanliness. Bright lights reflect on the sparkling glass and spotless floor. The best part of shopping at Mi Pueblo is the friendliness of the staff. Everybody is extremely personable and helpful, especially to those of us who don’t look accustomed to shopping in a Mexican market.

From the meat counter we ordered three pounds of pork and three pounds of chicken al pastor. The meat is prepared and marinated so it is extremely easy to fix. We bought freshly made warm tortillas in addition to a collection of different salsas, sauces, beans, rice and all the fixings for a great Mexican meal. Behind the meat counter there are long links of an array of different types of sausage. Additionally, the prepared food section is incredible. And better yet, the produce, bread and meats are all extremely fresh. You can view photos of all the departments here.

Take a ride down to Mi Pueblo for a different food shopping experience!

Mi Pueblo Food Center is a widely popular store, with 18 locations throughout the Bay Area. For more information, including Weekly Specials, visit: www.mipueblofoods.com

Posted by:Mark Machado

Our dear friend Carola Detrick, the executive director and chief bottle washer of Meals of Marin, an organization that for the past seventeen years has served meals to homeless people with life-threatening disease, is requesting our help.

Meals of Marin needs help from you and me, who hopefully have homes and who hopefully aren’t suffering AIDS, breast cancer or other malaise of the BIG threat ‘end-of-life’ variety.

What Carola has cut:

· nearly half of their income
· days of kitchen time from 7 to 3
· Meals of Marin still provides 7 days of meals per week per person.

Please open your heart and wallet to this great organization … please.

Meals of Marin
3095 Kerner, Suite Q
San Rafael, CA 94901
http://mealsofmarin.net 

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen

Whether you are a San Rafael native or new to the area, there is always something to learn about the city. Now there is a community events online newsletter which provides information about local resources, events and news all in one convenient place.

Whether you are looking for a toddler story-time group, a volunteer organization or a restaurant guide, this handy site can help you in your search. And if you have an event to promote, it offers a great forum. The site provides free promotion for community organizations.

So take a look and discover all that San Rafael has to offer: www.americantowns.com/ca/sanrafael

Posted by:  Alva Falla and Associates

Whew! It feels like Marin Monsoon Season is almost behind us and that can only mean one thing as we approach summer: It’s Festival Season!

Summer in Marin is one of the most beautiful seasons on earth with our warm days and cool nights, and the protection our hills provide from that cold fog that San Francisco receives. It’s a great time to get outside and enjoy the great weather and beautiful surroundings that Marin has to offer.

Some of my favorite local festivals include the Caledonia Street Spring Faire in Sausalito on May 27. It’s just fun to stroll around artsy Sausalito and check out all the street vendors. There will be over 120 vendors this year, so aside from people watching, there should be something for everyone.

I’ve always enjoyed the Larkspur Flower and Food Festival, May 30. Maybe it’s because they block off Magnolia Avenue and set up tables to enjoy the downtown area of “Mayberry USA” like an old-fashioned picnic. They also have very good jazz, blues, and swing sounds for dancing, and if you get bored with that, you can always check out the Silver Peso for more entertaining ideas.

The Fairfax Festival, June 11-13, is always a fun psychedelic sort of time. When you want to know where all the hippies from the 60s went, look no further than Fairfax. They have two great stages with local music, arts, crafts and a flea market, so bring a blanket to spread on the ground and enjoy the sounds.

For art lovers and children alike, the Italian Street Painting Festival, June 12-13, is always a great time. For 17 years running, they have been painting the streets of San Rafael, and you will see some of the best street art in the country all benefiting Youth in Arts. Grab your hat and come on down.

The highlight of the entire summer is the Marin County Fair. For five fabulous days, July 1-5, you’ll not only be able to view great exhibits, shows and enjoy the rides on the midway, but you’ll be entertained this year by Wilson Phillips, The Wailers, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Four Tops and The Temptations. All for one low admission price, a good time is had by all, and you get fireworks every night for a grand finale!

San Anselmo always puts on a great festival, the San Anselmo Art & Wine Festival, July 17-18, right on San Anselmo Avenue. Besides the 225 artisans, they always have two Rockin’ stages from light classics to rock n’ roll…and check out the barbecue, it’s some of the best I’ve tasted in Marin.

My favorite festival that sort of says farewell to summer is the Sausalito Art Festival, held over Labor Day Weekend, September 3-6. This festival began in 1952 and always offers the best art and sculptures for sale for the serious art lover. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate a three-day weekend, with fine food, wine, and great entertainment.

These are just a few of my favorites, but there is much, much more to choose from, no matter your taste in art and entertainment.

The summer festivals are just another great reason for living in this awesome, beautiful county of ours, and that’s why I always call it Magical Marin!

Posted by:  Rick Smith

When we think of ‘downtown’ many of us instinctively think of San Francisco with its exciting music and theater venues, restaurants and shopping. However, there is a vibrant downtown right here in Marin and that is San Rafael’s Fourth Street. This downtown area has undergone a transformation over the past few years and now offers many diverse restaurants, coffee houses, boutiques, shops and the popular Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center.

During the year many activities take place along Fourth Street. Now that spring has arrived the Downtown San Rafael Farmer’s Market is held on Thursday evenings, featuring five entertainment stages and over 200 vendors. This event is fun for all ages with its entertainment, music, crafts and wonderful, fresh produce and flowers and runs April through September. So treat yourself to an evening in downtown San Rafael. You’ll be glad you did!


Upcoming Downtown San Rafael Events:

May 8: May Madness Classic Car Parade
The longest running street rod show and parade in Northern California.

June 12-13: Youth in Arts Italian Street Painting Festival
A celebration of art, music and cuisine.

July 10: San Rafael Twilight Criterium
Professional cycling event featuring short, fast-paced American brand of cycling with an Expo, Pro Athlete Village and Kids Race.

August 14: San Rafael Food & Wine Festival
Held at the Falkirk Center, enjoy food from area restaurants and sample wines from 25 of the region’s outstanding boutique wineries.

September 11: Great American Blues & BBQ
Blues performances by local and national blues artists are featured on multiple stages with barbeque food concessions and competitions.

September 22: A Taste of Downtown San Rafael
Tasting event and outdoor movie screening

October 7-17: Mill Valley Film Festival
The San Rafael Film Center serves as one of the venues for this renowned Festival.

October 30: Trick or Treat
A free and safe Trick or Treating experience for kids along Fourth Street.

November 26-27: Parade of Lights & Winter Wonderland
Holiday Marketplace with arts and crafts, live entertainment, children’s activities, free snow sledding, and one of the largest Holiday Parades in the Bay Area.

Posted by: Alva Falla and Associates

These days, most families need to watch their budget when it comes to eating out. My family is certainly one of those. We don’t eat out often, maybe once a week, and generally we will go to a restaurant that has great value and great food. One of our favorites is CREPEVINE, located at 908 Fourth Street, in downtown San Rafael. 

CREPEVINE is a casual restaurant where one orders at the counter and the wait person delivers the food to your table. Yes, they specialize in crepes, savory and sweet, but they do many other dishes and they do them well. The menu has a Mediterranean flair with healthy and flavorful choices. 

Our favorites include the EL PASO. The EL PASO is sautéed corned beef hash with bell peppers and onions served over potatoes with melted cheddar and topped with two eggs and a side of toast. If you’re ordering on your own, you can get a “to go” box beforehand because the portions are sizable. Better yet, share it – believe me, it’s enough.  At $9.95 you can feed two people!

Another favorite is the CANCUN salad. The CANCUN is romaine lettuce, corn, black beans and red onions tossed with chipotle vinaigrette, served on a flour tortilla and topped with a charbroiled chicken breast. Again, it’s definitely a shared item. As a family of four (two adults, a 16 year old and 10 year old) we can have a nice meal out for $30.00 to $40.00, depending on what we’ve ordered. It is more expensive, of course, if you enjoy beer or wine with your meal.

CREPEVINE also does sandwiches, pastas, scrambles, omelets, pancakes and French toast and a kids’ menu is available. Breakfast is served all day – so breakfast for dinner is always a treat for the kids. The food is fresh, tasty and reasonable. Next time you’re out and about in San Rafael, try CREPEVINE!  You won’t be sorry.

Find locations and the complete menu on their website: crepevine.com.

Posted by:Mark Machado

A week ago, I had the opportunity to work at the San Rafael High School Christmas Tree Lot. What a blast! This is my third year participating and my job was to give the tree a fresh cut – I got to operate the chainsaw – attach the tree stand and secure the tree to the car. The experience really put me in the holiday spirit and I got to meet a lot of people who were in that wonderful, Christmas-giving mood!

This student and parent-operated lot is a great fundraiser for the San Rafael High. All the classes, clubs and athletic teams participate.Each of the four classes raises funds for their Senior Year Sober Grad Night and Prom, the athletic teams raise money for uniforms and training, and the different clubs raise money in order to support their interests. This year the lot opened on Friday, November 27, and closed Saturday, December 19. In this time period, the school sold 1400 Christmas trees and raised just around $23,000. All the trees came from Casella’s Trees, who has been supporting San Rafael High since 1990, with all of the proceeds going directly back to the school.

Next year, plan on helping the kids during the Christmas season and purchase your tree at the San Rafael High School Christmas Tree Lot – the students will be thankful!

Posted by:Mark Machado

I was standing outside an open house yesterday when I overheard an elderly gentleman tell another couple, “Sun Valley Elementary does a pretty decent job, but when you get to middle school, you better watch out. The middle school and high school are not good.” Wow, what a statement. Unfortunately, this man is grossly misinformed.

You see, I have two boys. The oldest is Charlie who is 16. He is a junior at San Rafael High School; he also attended Davidson Middle School. Daniel is 10. He is in fifth grade at Sun Valley Elementary School and will be attending Davidson next year. Both of these kids are well balanced, bright children. If you ask Charlie (4.1 g.p.a.) when the lights went on regarding academics, he will tell you, “6th grade math.” Ask him who is favorite teacher is and he’ll say, “Mr. Kordick, 6th grade Social Studies.” Yes, there are a slew of highly respected high school teachers that he likes now, but his middle school teachers held the keys that unlocked his academic vault.

Two weeks ago, I attended a function at Davidson Middle School. I was able to “shadow” a student through her morning classes. I am truly impressed by the mutual respect that the students and teachers hold for each other. The classrooms are clean and decorated with projects the students are working to finish. I was able to experience some great intellectual exchanges between student and instructor. The kids are not disruptive nor are they disrespectful. There seems to be a lot of learning going on at Davidson Middle School!

There is a large population of diverse ethnicities that attend the San Rafael City Schools. Our family looks at this cultural and ethnic diversity as a huge “plus.” One “gets” to experience different languages, different viewpoints and different cultures. This is real life! Take a look at California, where our children will one day work and co-exist with so many vastly different people. California is a conglomeration of ethnicities from all over this planet and our San Rafael City Schools reflect the melting pot that is California.

Next time you or someone you know wants information regarding San Rafael City Schools, I highly recommend making an appointment with the principal to see and experience the school firsthand. I promise you will be impressed beyond your wildest dreams. You can contact the school district through its website at www.srcs.org .

Posted by:Mark Machado

For many years, 15 – 20 guests would descend upon my home on Easter Sunday for a great family gathering. Although a wonderful occasion, it was always work to put it on (cleaning), work to pull it off (cooking and entertaining), and work to finish it off (more cleaning). Five years ago, we received an invitation from Cecile, the mother of a large Italian San Rafael family. We are fortunate to be part of her extended clan. She invited us to play Bocce Ball at the Albert’s Park courts next to the B Street Community Center in San Rafael. The invitation asked for each family to bring a side dish and beverages; everything else would be handled.

You guessed it! For the past 5 years we’ve been part of Cecile’s party and Bocce tournament. There are generally upwards of 50 – 60 guests (kids and adults). Joe, Cecile’s son, barbeques the hot dogs and hamburgers. This year, in addition to the burgers, dogs and appetizers, the buffet included smoked salmon, pasta di pesto, taco salad, shrimp dip, chicken chow mein, Chinese chicken salad, deviled eggs (3 platters), Caesar salad and assorted cookies, cakes, desserts and chocolate. There were plenty of beverages including beer and Italian wine.

4 courts are going at once and Cecile makes it her business to get everyone playing and understanding the rules. I played with and against my family much of the time but in years past I’ve played with folks I didn’t know until that day. Things get quite competitive after a few beers and everybody gets the Bocce hand signals down. We all think we know what we’re doing. Then we play one of the regulars and they put us in our place!

Do what the Italians do. Take time out and have some fun! Play Bocce Ball, it does a body and soul, good!

Posted By: Mark Machado

I’ve been coaching youth soccer in Marin County for the past 10 years. At the recreational level, in San Rafael; at the competitive level, for Central Marin. Currently, I coach a U11 boy’s competitive team and I manage a U15 boy’s Marin FC team. This past weekend, the U15 boy’s team traveled to Rio Linda for the CYSA – North, State Cup.

We arrived, Saturday, April 4th at 11 a.m. The Cherry Island facility in Rio Linda is pretty amazing. There are 8 immaculately groomed fields, a large parking area and various concessions. This tournament hosts 60 teams in 15 divisions from all across the North State. Our division consisted of Marin FC, Clovis Odyssey (ranked #5 in the state), Ballistic United and Delta Elite. Odyssey had beaten us 7 – 0 in the US Club Regional tournament last year. Our first game was against Odyssey.

The Good: It’s amazing, the resilient spirit of sport and that on any given day good things can happen. The boys played Odyssey (Clovis) tough, were down only 1 – 0 with 5 minutes to go. Unfortunately, the game ended 2 – 0 for them. Our boys could hold their heads high in that they seemed to have closed the gap. Their coach remarked that this game thoroughly tested their technical and tactical abilities. A great compliment from a high caliber team.

The Bad: Game #1 on Sunday, 8:30 a.m. Okay, resiliency flexes both ways. Here we are playing a good team but a team we can beat. Ballistic draws from the Tri-Valley area of Pleasanton, San Ramon and Dublin. Yes, a soccer hot bed yet we’ve always played them competitively and beaten them on occasion. But, not this occasion. A hard fought matched ended in a 0 – 0 draw. Not so bad but a win would’ve been nice.

The Ugly: Game #2 on Sunday, 1:45 p.m. Delta Elite hails from Antioch and they showed up with just 11 players (we had 15). They were ahead 2 – 0 at the end of the first half. A fairly well contested game turned into an ugly, frightening match when their boys incessantly fouled and taunted our players. One of our boys was red carded for retaliation. So, we’re down to 10 with less than a half to go. While the opposing coach threw gas on the flames by allowing his players to persistently foul, our boys continued to play hard. Marin FC scored 3 goals in the second half. Yes, we won. A deserved win? Again, yes. But it was an ugly match that did not have to be so. In youth sports, we are always talking about honoring the spirit of the game. Unfortunately, there was no honor on the opposing sideline.

Let’s put the “HONOR” back into our game and teach our kids that trying to “win at any cost,” is just not worth it!

After the match, we drove home and celebrated my wife’s birthday at Napoli Pizza and Pasta in San Rafael. We can talk about that another time!

Posted By: Mark Machado