By Tanya Henry
The much-needed rain either has you jumping for joy in the puddles or retreating to cozy spaces with a book and a warm drink. If it’s the latter, we’ve got you covered with this roundup.
Copperfield’s Books on Fourth Street in downtown San Rafael has a new café. Owners Rochelle Edwards and Lorenzo Jones of TASTE Kitchen & Table in Fairfax have brought their special brand of savory and sweet baked pastries to the spacious front section of the bookstore. It’s still a work in progress and not all of the items are available yet, but they will be eventually. In addition, for those who enjoyed the previous tenant’s coffee—Sebastopol-based Taylor Maid Farms—it’s still on the menu.
TASTE Kitchen & Table (inside Copperfield’s Books), 850 Fourth St., San Rafael; (415) 455-9040; tastekitchenandtable.com.
Coffee lovers take note—Philz Coffee is coming back to Marin. Next year the San Francisco coffeehouse chain, which opened its first shop in the Mission District in 2002, will add another location in the Corte Madera Town Center. Phil Jaber founded the hugely popular coffee shop with his son Jacob, and now has outlets in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and soon Boston. Philz is going into a space across from Umpqua Bank and AT&T at the south end of the shopping center. Plenty of outdoor seating is planned.
Philz Coffee; philzcoffee.com.
While we’re on the subject of the Town Center and hot beverages, another notable tenant is planning to set up shop in Corte Madera. Known for its exotic teas, unique gifts and cool accessories, DAVIDsTEA will open next year. The store is going in directly across from REI on the north end of the shopping center. DAVIDsTEA offers more than 150 loose-leaf teas filled with unexpected ingredients like mulberry leaves, hot chiles, dragon fruit and caramel pieces.
DAVIDsTEA; davidstea.com.
Hot beverages aren’t just for adults, though. Here are two opportunities for kids to sip yummy drinks at the family-friendly Marin Country Mart in Larkspur Landing: On Thursday, December 15, from 3pm to 6pm, holiday music, complimentary hot cider and a gingerbread cookie-decorating project will all be offered. And on Friday, December 16, the Country Mart will feature hot chocolate and a class that teaches children how to make orange pomander balls.
Marin Country Mart; 2257 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur; 415/461-5700; marincountrymart.com.
