March 5th, 2010 By Ginger Wilcox

This gorgeous Magnolia Tree sits along Magnolia Avenue in Larkspur, just across from Marin Primary School. The tree is in stunning full bloom right now! The story I have been told is that a dentist lived in the home and in lieu of payment, a gardener client planted the tree. It may have originally been two magnolia trees together.

If you know the real story about this Larkspur beauty, I would love to hear it!

~Ginger

March 2nd, 2010 By Ginger Wilcox

There are 15 active homes for sale in Larkspur and six homes under contact.  Four Larkspur homes have sold this year.  The average list price for a single family home is $1,252,067.  The average Larkspur home has been on the market 100+ days.  The table below shows the trends for the month of January over December 2010, for 1 year and for 15 months.  Keep in mind that Larkspur is a very small community and the statistics are easily skewed because of the small number of homes sold each month and year.

Larkspur Home Sales Year to Date

• 34 Diane Lane $628,000
• 60 Diane Lane $775,000
• 135 Tulane Drive $975,000
• 362 Madrone Ave $1,391,000

Notice the price point of homes sold in 2010 in Larkspur.  The lower end of our real estate market continues to move, albeit slower than in the past.

Larkspur Real Estate Market Data effective as of March 1, 2010. Data provided by Bay Area Real Estate Information Services. Are you a Marin real estate junkie? Sign up to receive very detailed real-time market reports in your email. Just register and let me know which neighborhoods you are interested in.

March 1st, 2010 By Ginger Wilcox

On this day 102 years ago, the City of Larkspur officially incorporated. Larkspur earned its name in 1886.  Downtown Larkspur is only three blocks long and has retained its historic charm.  Larkspur gained a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.  Downtown Larkspur remains the central business district today and is lined with small boutiques and restaurants.   Larkspur is primarily a residential community with 12,014 residents according to the 2000 U.S. census.

Larkspur is nestled at the base of King Mountain, under Blithedale Ridge and Mt Tam.  It is known for its perfect weather, majestic redwood trees and beautiful magnolia trees which line Magnolia Road, Larkspur’s main thoroughfare.

I am proud to call Larkspur my home!  Happy Birthday Larkspur!

~Ginger

December 29th, 2008 By Ginger Wilcox

I snapped this early this morning- a breathe taking sight to see the fog swirling around Mt. Tamalpais. 

November 11th, 2008 By Ginger Wilcox

One of my favorite local spots is the Left Bank restaurant in the historic Blue Rock Inn building in downtown Larkspur.  The Blue Rock Inn (originally called Hotel Merwin) was built in 1895.  During the railroad era, Larkspur was a popular weekend destination where San Franciscans would come to dance and picnic under the stars.  During Prohibition, the Blue Rock Inn was one of many speakeasies operating in Larkspur.  The local landmark now houses the popular Left Bank restaurant.

September 29th, 2008 By Ginger Wilcox

Yes, there I said it.  I really love living in Marin County.  Anytime I leave the area and return home,  as I cross back over the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin County, I find a smile lights up on my face.  I could have been vacationing on the Mexican Riviera, and I still smile when I come home.  I think that says a lot.

I love the view coming through the Waldo Tunnel- the lights twinkling in the Sausalito harbor at night, crystal blue water during the day, Mt. Tam majestic in the distance.  Oh, sometimes we are socked in fog, but often, I leave a foggy San Francisco and can see the skies open up in to glorious sunshine.  Marin County truly has some of the best weather in the country- never too hot or too cold.  Despite living in such an affluent community, I find most Marin residents are very friendly. I  love all of the quaint downtown areas in places like Larkspur and Mill Valley.  Sometimes I feel like I have stepped back in time- “quaint” downtown areas are non-existent in the suburbs of Arizona where I grew up.

If you are lucky enough to live here, you probably know how special it is.  Sure, Marin housing prices are ridiculous.  Part of the reason they are is because we live in such a special place- close proximity to San Francisco, easy commute, tons of outdoor activities year around,

Marin, glorious Marin.  I am happy to call you my home.

August 4th, 2008 By Ginger Wilcox

According to Marin 101, the town of Larkspur could have been called Lupine.

The city’s developer, Charles W. Wright was looking for a name for the town he was building.  His wife Georgiana saw a hillside covered in blue flowers and thought they were Larkspur, a flower she remembered from England.  The flowers were actually native Lupine.

The other option was Graystone, a local rock.  Thankfully Larkspur won out!

Image courtesy of Buttersweet

February 28th, 2008 By Ginger Wilcox

Many people are surprised to find out I live in Larkspur when they thought I lived in Greenbrae but I have a Kentfield zip code. Did I confuse you?

Our little cities in Marin County are so close together, I think it is confusing to everyone. So how does this whole city/town/county thing work in Marin?

Part of Greenbrae is unincorporated, meaning it is not part of a city or town with its own government. Another part of Greenbrae is incorporated into Larkspur. Need a building permit and you live in that half of Greenbrae? You go to the City of Larkspur. Live in the unincorporated are of Greenbrae? Permits and other services fall under the domain of Marin County.

The zip code for Greenbrae is 94904. 94904 is also the Kentfield zip code. Like Greenbrae, Kentfield is also unincorporated.

The school district for Greenbrae is not the Corte Madera -Larkspur School District, it is in the Kentfield School District. Go figure.

Got it?

February 27th, 2008 By Ginger Wilcox

The city of Larkspur celebrates 100 years on Saturday.  Festivities kick off at 1pm with a parade in downtown Larkspur. 

The City of Larkspur was founded on March 1, 1908.

Get the scoop on Larkspur’s birthday here or visit Larkspur’s centennial calendar.

Larkspur’s centennial theme is "Meet me in Larkspur".  I will meet you anytime in one of my favorite cities!

Happy Birthday Larkspur!