While indoor gatherings are still strongly discouraged, Marin County recently lifted some restrictions on events and outings as the county moved from the purple tier to the slightly better red tier in California’s Covid color wheel.
This week, several distanced and online events engage locals with arts, shopping, readings and more on deck for the next seven days. Here’s a rundown of what’s coming up.
Distanced Event
Marin County nonprofit organization Cedars, which has supported individuals with developmental disabilities since 1919, recently unveiled a new collaborative art exhibit, “Heroes and Heroines,” at its gallery in San Anselmo that features work from Cedars artists and students from the Branson School. Now, Cedars artists are teaming up with local agency Age-Friendly San Anselmo for a public art installation in San Anselmo’s Imagination Park.
The new inspirational project–called Let’s Wish upon a Star!–features wooden stars decorated by Cedars artists with expressions of hope, resilience, unity, or encouragement. San Anselmo residents of all ages, business owners and anyone with an expression of hope, resilience, or encouragement are being invited to decorate and hang a star alongside the Cedars stars. The stars will be hung in the trees in Imagination Park on the one-year anniversary of Marin’s first shelter in place order; Wednesday, March 17, at 1pm. 535 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo. Cedarslife.org.
Distanced Dining
Thanks to the overwhelming support of the local community in maintaining safe distances and wearing masks, San Rafael’s Dining Under the Lights program returns this spring with outdoor offerings from several downtown and West End Village restaurants. Alfresco dining takes over the town every Thursday and Friday, from 5pm to 9pm. Several restaurants and bars are also serving daily meals outside on their sunny sidewalks or patios and inside during their usual business hours and offering take-out and delivery; and Marin residents and business owners are encouraged to enjoy and support these restaurants often, but especially on Thursday and Friday nights. Find a list of participating restaurants and get more details on Dining Under the Lights at downtownsanrafael.org.
Distanced Shopping
Right now, Marin art lovers can see art works from two very different artists–San Anselmo’s Katherine Warinner and Fort Bragg’s Nick Taylor–as part of the “Abstract Nature” exhibit on display at the Marin Art and Garden Center. This weekend, local crafts and plants accompany the art when the center hosts a Spring Equinox Pop Up Marketplace and Plant Sale. Offerings include original art from local painter Bonnie Case and ceramicist Jill Whitten, jewelry from emerging designers, unique planters, and more. The sale benefits the Marin Art and Garden Center, which is complying with a health guidelines indoors and out during the pop-up event on Saturday, March 20, 10am to 3pm. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. Maringarden.org/shop.
Virtual Fundraiser
The Playhouse in San Anselmo has served the community as a performing arts center for more than 50 years. Now, a community of performers gives back in the two-night event, “Marilyn’s Kids Love the Playhouse.” Led by Playhouse Board President Marilyn Izdebski, the virtual showcase boasts songs and dance numbers from performers all over the country and even Europe, streaming from their homes in support of the Playhouse. The two-night event is split into different generations of performers who’ve come through the playhouse. Last week, artists from the Playhouse’s early years appeared online Saturday, March 13, for the event’s Act I showcase; and viewers can still watch that showcase on Youtube now. This weekend, “Marilyn’s Kids Love the Playhouse” presents it’s Act II showcase, featuring performers from the Playhouse’s recent past performing online on Saturday, March 20, at 7pm. Watch for free and donate to support the Playhouse at Playhousesananselmo.org.
Virtual Art Reception and Reading
Point Reyes Station’s Dance Palace community and cultural center hosts two online events in the next week.
Point Reyes Station artist Sue Gonzalez stays true to West Marin’s light and color in her paintings, but she is “most interested in conveying mood and exploring the boundaries between realism and abstraction” in her art. This month, Gonzalez’s works can be seen in Dance Palace’s virtual gallery; and Gonzalez appears online this weekend for an artist reception and discussion on Sunday, March 21, at 5pm. Free. Registration required at Eventbrite.com.
San Francisco physicist, speaker, author and musician Sky Nelson-Isaacs weaves together cutting-edge ideas about the nature of space and time in his new book, Leap to Wholeness. As part of his ongoing mission to find his own sense of purpose, Nelson-Isaacs examines how the human experience is filtered through thoughts and feelings in the same way that light is filtered through glass while remaining unbroken. Nelson-Isaacs also theorizes that humanity can become a greater part of the fundamental wholeness found in nature. The Dance Palace hosts Nelson-Isaacs in an online discussion about Leap to Wholeness on Wednesday, March 24, at 7:30pm. Free. Registration required at Eventbrite.com. Get details on both of these events at Dancepalace.org.
