Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Hike the Sunny and "Dark" Side of Bon Tempe Lake

This 4.1 mile hike is perfectly designed for all age groups and temperament. Being a moderate hike offering both shade and sun, stunning lake views and overhead Osprey sightings, it is reminiscent of a high Sierra-Nevada location.




Begin clockwise around the lake on the wide-open Sunny-side Trail with fantastic views of Mt. Tam; finish on the Shady-side Trail hiking through madrones, Douglas fir, and plenty of ferns. The trail is also dog friendly!



To get there from Hwy 101 in Marin, exit onto Sir Francis Drake Blvd. toward San Anselmo and follow it west 6 miles to Fairfax. Turn left on Pastori, immediately right on Broadway, then left on Bolinas-Fairfax Rd. Go 1.5 miles to Sky Oaks Rd.; turn left. This takes you into the park. Make your first right after the entrance toward Bon Tempe and drive .5 mile and park.  There is a day use fee of $8.
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Friday, August 27, 2010

New Farmers Market in Marin City

There's a new Saturday farmers market which opened in June at the Gateway Shopping Center!
Operated by the Agricultural Institute of Marin, which already runs five markets in the county including the Civic Center location, this new one has about 20 farmers and 10 specialty and prepared food vendors.

In addition to Marin City residents, the market hopes to draw people from throughout Southern Marin with its location near Highway 101 and plentiful parking.
The new farmers market in Marin City runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through September at the Gateway Shopping Center, in the 100 block of Donahue Street. For more information, visit www.agriculturalinstitute.org.
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Monday, August 9, 2010

Have you noticed more four-legged friends eating out(side) lately?
Dogs are now welcome in Marin County's outdoor dining areas, thanks to the Marin County Department of Environmental Health.
Marin changed their policy on July First to now allow dogs to legally sit with owners at restaurants with outdoor seating.

The MCVB had the pleasure recently of dining at the Panama Hotel in San Rafael during their "Yappy Hour" with our four-legged staff members! Joining us was owner Dan Miller and his staff for some shared doggie fun and a real happy hour.

Pets are now allowed to dine out with their owners, but only when the dining area has access from an outside area. Animals will not be allowed to go through the food facility since the health and safety code prohibits them from coming inside, unless they are guide animals, signal animals or security animals.

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Highlight Community of the Month

Mill Valley


Nestled below majestic Mt. Tamalpais, Mill Valley is reminiscent of a charming European village. Surrounded by national parks, including Muir Woods, an ancient coast redwood forest, Mill Valley's lush landscape of hills and canyons is a favorite place for visitors who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, golf and running. Two national financial magazines, MONEY and CNN/Money, recently named Mill Valley as one of the 10 top cities in America in which to live. They noted that millionaires and well-known names in the film and music industries, like Bonnie Raitt, Bob Weir and Sammy Hagar, make their homes in this quaint community.

Downtown activities center around Lytton Square, where people gather for coffee at the Book Depot Cafe or for a game of chess while conducting some serious people-watching. Fashionable boutiques and restaurants fill the downtown. The Sweetwater Music Hall, one of the top roots music clubs in the nation, is well-known for its live musical performances and famous guest musicians who occasionally drop in for an evening to improvise.

Mill Valley is host to a range of cultural activities. The Mill Valley Film Festival is an internationally recognized festival that has attracted leading filmmakers and movie aficionados for the past 28 years. The Mountain Play, produced in June in an outdoor amphitheatre, attracts thousands of theater-goers to the top of Mt. Tamalpais to watch Broadway musicals performed by talented local actors. The Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club, a state historical landmark, was designed in 1904 by internationally known architect, Bernard Maybeck. Particularly notable for its unusual roof truss system, the Arts and Crafts style building exemplifies Maybeck's creative use of natural materials.

Mill Valley, home of the Marin Mountain Bike, hosts the annual Dipsea Race, the second oldest footrace in the United States. The race takes runners over a 7.1 mile course up and over Mt. Tamalpais to one of the most beautiful California beaches on the Pacific Ocean. Whether it's for cultural events, dining, shopping or recreation, Mill Valley is a draw for both visitors and residents alike.