Archive for the ‘Things to do in Marin’ Category
Looking for something to do this weekend? Film is the ticket this weekend in Marin County as the Sausalito Film Festival rolls in to town. The event takes place this weekend at Cavallo Point at Fort Baker in Sausalito.
If you haven’t been to Cavallo Point, the setting alone is well worth the visit. It has some of the most breathtaking views in all of Marin. Cavallo Point sits at the southern tip of Marin County at Fort Baker. It overlooks the San Francisco skyline and a gaze up reveals the Golden Gate Bridge.
The film festival takes place today and tomorrow. I love the description of the film festival from their website:
In the heart of an artist’s community, with the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco across the water, lies the ideal backdrop for a premiere film festival experience.People around the world are drawn to Sausalito, certainly for its picturesque beauty, but possibly because it is so uniquely different from anywhere else. Creatives, nonconformists, the famous (and infamous) have felt its gravitational pull. Artists, writers, philosophers, rock legends and film stars have made it their home, in the company of boat-builders, bootleggers and ex-madams.
Films that speak to our naturally rebellious nature, our creative soul, our passion for cultural understanding. Films of all lengths and genres are presented – features, shorts, animation, and documentaries from around the globe. Coupled with conversations and presentations that will stimulate, and provoke the senses. Because this is no mere picture show.
The event features 13 exclusive bay area premiers and a total of thirty films, both full length and short film. The centerpiece film is the award winning documentary, Climate Refugees which explains the growing reality of displaced populations due to environmental disasters. Be aware, some of the shows are already sold out.
- What: Sausalito Film Festival
- When: August 13, 14, & 15th
- Where: Cavallo Point, 601 Murray Circle, Fort Baker, Sausalito, CA 94965 at Cavallo Point
- More Information
Enjoy!
If you are up for a good day hike, the Matt Davis/Steep Ravine loop is one of the best in Marin. The half way point is Stinson Beach, where you can relax for the day at the beach or grab lunch at one of the quaint cafes in town. I did this hike over the weekend and had forgotten how beautiful the redwoods and mossy trees can be. The single track trail hugs the creek so that you hear the trickling of water as you walk. There are fallen trees that you’ll need to duck under and a ladder to climb makes it fun, especially if you have kids with you. Although there are many people on the trail, it’s very relaxing and at times you’ll find yourself completely alone. The quiet and tranquility are amazing.
I can’t stress enough the importance of dressing in layers because it can be very cool under the shade of the redwoods (which is 60% of the hike) and then can become very warm once you get into the open and closer to Stinson Beach. You also never know what you will get once you get to Stinson, as the restaurant was sunny when we arrived there but the beach was foggy–only a couple hundred yard difference. The trail to Stinson is mainly downhill so also be prepared for the hike back up. For those who just want to go downhill, you can always take the bus back.
We saw a wide variety of people on the trail, from kids to grandparents, so don’t miss out on an unforgettable hike. It’s a great outing any time of the year and really under any weather conditions. The water level is higher in winter and spring but during the summer the creek is still active.
- Where to start: Park at Pantoll parking area (there is a fee of $8)
- How to get there: From Hwy 101 exit W on Hwy 1 for 3.3 miles, right on Panoramic Hwy for 4.9 miles to the Pantoll parking area. From Mill Valley, go up Miller and take a left on Montford to Molino to Edgewood to Panoramic Hwy then 4.9 miles to the Pantoll parking area.
- Distance: 7.0 round trip (it takes about an hour downhill and hour and half up)
- Difficulty: Steep in some places and one area has a ladder to climb
Peace, sustainability, reggae, and fire dancing will all be in the mix at the Good Festival, happening this Saturday in downtown Fairfax. Sounds like a great opportunity to channel your inner hippie and see a side of Marin that sometimes gets lost amid the Range Rovers these days. It’s on from 11-6 on Saturday, August 7th at Bolinas Park.
To beat the heat this summer try heading out to Heart’s Desire Beach at Tomales Bay State Park, just North of Inverness. It’s about 40 minutes from San Anselmo and well worth the drive, which in itself is quite relaxing and beautiful. Since it’s located on Tomales Bay and sheltered from the ocean the water is usually calm, making it one of the best beaches in Marin for families with small children. We also found that the shallow water in the summer is fairly warm, so swimming is much more pleasant than most beaches in the Bay Area. Bring your buckets and build a sand castle or bring your favorite book and just relax.
We went on a weekend and found a great place to set up our blanket and umbrella and stayed for more than three hours. It’s a good idea to bring a picnic and just make a day of it, with BBQ areas and a nice bathroom facility with showers, perfect to wash off the sand before you leave. The lower parking lot is really close to the beach so you don’t have to trek too far, but if it gets full there’s another overflow lot which is a bit more of a trek.
To get there just head out Sir Francis Drake past the town of Inverness and hang a right on Pierce Point Road until you see the sign for Tomales Bay State Park. Turn right into the park, pay the $6 fee and head down the hill to the parking lot. This is a great place to bring friends or have a playdate for the kids. We brought an extra layer of clothes just in case the fogged rolled in, which turned out to be a good idea.
Did you know that 15 miles west of San Rafael is an awesome place to camp deep in the redwoods and next to a river? Samuel P. Taylor State park is the perfect thing to do on a weekday during the summer. The weekends are usually booked by now but there are campsites available for weekdays.
We parked the car, opened the door and the kids vanished into the wilderness. The many trails throughout the park are absolutely magical. Giant redwood trees standing next to a 3 year old girl is quite a site. We had friends come out and visit for both days and the kids went wild. They made forts in the carved out tree stumps, collected caterpillars, watched for Racoons with flashlights, went swimming in the river, built a small house out of sticks, roasted marshmallows by the fire and just felt free.
I can’t believe Samuel P. Taylor is only 20 minutes from San Anselmo. Our favorite sites are sites 42 and 43 but you have to book those in advanced. They have a 3 mile long paved road perfect for riding bikes or just strolling around. It’s also a great place to go out for the day and have a picnic or BBQ by the river. There are a lot of picnic sites so feel confident you will find a place if you go out at the last minute.
We are so lucky to live in Marin near so much nature and great places for the family to unwind and truly spend quality time together.
If you are unable to see the slideshow in your browser, click here.
It is not often you get to peek into some of the nation’s most beautiful (and expensive!) gardens. The residents of the Town of Ross will open its arms and gardens next weekend to benefit the Ross School.
Highlights of the tour include:
- a remarkable and resplendent rose garden with over 400 rose bushes
- a European inspired villa with an unparalleled bird’s eye view of the heart of Ross
- a timeless garden that harkens back to an era of elegant garden parties
- a romantic Victorian estate that is steeped in tradition yet updated with chic and sublime garden design.
This is one of my favorite local tours. It is fun to be a voyeur for the day and look into the backyards of stunning Ross residences. The gardens are always splendid and the weather is usually typical Marin bliss. Make it a day and enjoy an alfresco lunch (available from 11am-2:30 pm, order ahead to guarantee availability and afternoon tea from 3-5pm.
An all new Marketplace will be featured this year with vendors and educators coming together to create a delightful outdoor destination. The Marketplace is open from 9am-5pm.
- What: Ross Garden Tour
- When: Saturday, May 8, 2010, 9:00-3:00 pm
- Where: Shuttle service begins at the Marin Art and Garden Center
- FAQs
- Purchase Tickets
- Benefits the Fine Arts Program at Ross School
- More Info
~Ginger
Exploring by the Bay
Next stop: Fun events with kids!
The Bay is brimming with fun events for kids this weekend. Here are just a few. Feel free to add additional events in the comments!
San Francisco
The 19th Annual Union Street Spring Celebration & Easter Parade takes place on Sunday April 4, 2010 from 10:00am – 5:00pm on Union Street between Gough & Steiner. The event is a fun and eclectic San Francisco tradition. The promo even mentioned roller blading cows!! The celebration features some of Union Street’s best restaurants serving attendees in an outdoor bistro setting along with a variety of activities including large inflatable bounces, kids’ rides and games, a climbing wall, a hands-on children’s activities area, costumed characters, a petting zoo, a pony ride and musical entertainment.Spring Eggstravaganza takes place on Sunday, April 4, 2010 from 11 am – 3 pm at Stern Grove. San Francisco throws a giant Easter celebration that’s kid-friendly but open to all ages. Egg hunts, carnival rides, arts and crafts, entertainment, food and giant inflatables will keep you busy. At Stern Grove, 19th Ave. and Sloat Blvd. $5 admission. For tickets or more information, call (415) 831-2700 during business hours.
Big Bunny’s Spring Fling at the San Francisco Zoo takes place every day from now until April 4th from 11am to 3pm. All activities are free with paid Zoo admission and include live entertainment, bunnies to see and learn about from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (weather permitting), photo opportunities with a costumed bunny, crafts, and games to play. Additionally, the Zoo will offer one FREE child’s admission with one paid adult for kids ages 4 to 14 who bring along their favorite plush bunny.
Marin
Belvedere- Join the Easter bunny at the Belvedere Community Center’s Easter Bunny Brunch on Saturday, April 3, 2010 from 10 am-noon. The event includes brunch, crafts, face painting, music and of course, an Easter egg hunt! To purchase tickets, call the recreation office at (415) 435-4355 or visit the Belvedere Community Center website.
Corte Madera- The Corte Madera Parks & Recreation will be hosting a Children’s Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 3, 2010 at the Corte Madera Town Park. The hunt starts at 10am. For more info, call (415) 927-5073.
Fairfax- Fairfax hosts it’s annual Easter Egg Hunt at Bolinas Park Saturday, April 3, 2010 from 10:00 am-12:00. Call 415-456-5652 for more information.
Mill Valley- The Strawberry Recreation District will be holding their Spring Faire on Saturday, April 3, 2010 from 11:30am to 4pm at the Strawberry Recreation Center at 118 E. Strawberry Drive. The event features activities for children ages 1 to 8 and will include carnival games, prizes and an egg hunt. $5 admission per child. Call 383-6494 for more information.
Sausalito hosts their 30th Annual Easter Parade and Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, 2010 from 10am -2pm at Dunphy Park located on Caledonia Street and Bridgeway. The schedule of events includes:
- 10:00am – Parade led by the Easter bunny!
- 10:15am – Egg Hunt
- 10:30am – Live Music
- 11am – Easter Bonnet Contest- bring your craziest, creative and beautiful Easter bonnets.
San Anselmo- The San Anselmo Parks and Recreation holds an egg hunt on Friday, April 2 from 7:50 pm (don’t be late) for kids ages 8 and older at Memorial Park in San Anselmo. For kids under 7, check out the Children’s Egg Hunt at 11am on Saturday, April 3, 2010 at Memorial Park in San Anselmo. Call (415) 258-4640 for more information.
Santa Cruz Area
Time for a Sunday drive? Consider heading down to Felton in the Santa Cruz Mountains for the Eggstraordinary Egg Hunt III on Sunday April 4, 2010 at 2:00pm at Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton. Kids take the steam train to Bear Mountain to hunt for thousands of chocolate candy eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny in a redwood forest and win prizes. Special Easter crafts and games for families and kids. Sounds like a blast!
Looking to get a sneak a peak at some of Belvedere and Tiburon’s finest kitchen? Don’t miss the annual Belvedere-Hawthorne Nursery Schools Kitchen Tour coming up next week. The tour generally features five to six kitchens, often with gourmet treat along the way. I am very sad that I will be flying on a plane to Wichita, Kansaas, so I will miss it for the first time in years. In addition to the tour, there is always a great boutique and a lunch option at the San Francisco Yacht Club. Transportation is provided between each of the homes.
- What: Belvedere-Hawthorne Nursery Schools Kitchen Tour
- When: Tuesday, February 9 , 9:30am – 2pm
- Tour Tickets: $40 in advance, $45 at the door.
- Raffle Tickets: $5 each, 6 for $25. Luncheon: $30.
- More information: www.belvedere-hawthorne.com or (415) 721-3204.
Please go and tell me all about it!
One of my favorite annual events is back and I almost missed it! The Children’s Theatre Association of San Francisco (CTSA) brings Beauty and the Beast to life for bay area children this month and next. CTSA is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers who dedicate their time to bring live performances to school age children. During the month of December, CTSA performs for school children, many who would not otherwise have the opportunity to see live theater. The funds raised from the Saturday paid performances in January and February are used to offset production costs.
- What: The Tale of the Beauty and the Beast performed by the Children’s Theatre Association of San Francisco.
- When: Saturdays at 10:30 am and 1:00 pm. The final performance will be on February 13th.
- Where: California Palace of the Legion of Honor
- Tickets: Tickets are $12.00 + $1.80 processing fee for online & telephone orders. Click here for more information about buying tickets.
This has been an annual tradition that I started with my children. The actresses are adult volunteers. Don’t be surprised- the program doesn’t have children in it! The volunteers make the costumes and the set. It is definitely “home grown” in a delightful way. The performance are always very sweet and tailored specifically for elementary aged children. I hope you enjoy it!
The Mill Valley Film Festival is back for it’s 32nd year October 8–18, 2009. The internationally acclaimed Mill Valley Film Festival celebrates the best of independent and world cinema with 143 films from 41 countries. The event is greatly anticipated by cinema fans and film industry veterans and is considered by many to be a launching pad for the Oscar campaign. The 11-day Festival sells over 40,000 tickets and welcomes more than 200 filmmakers from around the world. Festival sections include: Active Cinema, World Cinema, US Cinema, Valley of the Docs, Children’s FilmFest, and 5@5 (daily shorts programs).
Opening Night debuts with two feature films – The Boys Are Back, directed by Scott Hicks at CinéArts at Sequoia in downtown Mill Valley on Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 pm and 7:15 pm. Director Scott Hicks and actor Clive Owen will be in
attendance. Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire, from director Lee Daniels (Shadowboxer) will be shown at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in downtown San Rafael on Thursday, October 8 at 7:00 pm. Director Lee Daniels and actresses Gabourey Sibide and Paula Patton are expected to attend. After the screenings the Opening Night Gala will be held at the Mill Valley Community Center starting at 9:30 pm.
Tickets:
$12.50 General Admission
$11 Seniors (65+)
$10 Children’s FilmFest (kids and adults)
$10 Members
$5 5@5 Programs
Purchase Tickets