Aerena Galleries & Gardens, Mill Valley

Contemporary-leaning AERENA Mill Valley opened a year ago in a bright, 1,000-square-foot space in downtown Mill Valley, immediately proving itself in step with today’s world.

It features a strong stable of contemporary landscape artists, such as Alison Haley Paul; some true abstract expressionist work, with standout pieces by hyper-local artist Katy Kuhn; intricate blown and hot-sculpted glass vessels from David Patchen; sculpture, like a crane atop a ladder, from Kevin Box, an origami artist who casts his work in bronze; and process-oriented art from Mirang Wonne, an artist who uses a blowtorch to paint her designs onto metal mesh, and from James Armstrong, who repurposes sheet metal to paint distressed landscapes with an industrial ambience.

The art all hangs together in eclectic coherence, without being super-tightly curated. Says gallery leader Gabrielle Miller, “I genuinely believe art inspires, and in the presence of beauty we take deeper breaths.”

Just don’t hesitate to buy what one loves, because there’s a 50%-or-greater reset rate every few weeks. Artworks range from $250 to $35,000. Who’s buying? Mostly locals. aerenagalleries.com —WS

San Anselmo’s hanging flower baskets

All along San Anselmo Avenue near Town Hall, they are visible flourishing in lush hanging flower baskets: the vibrant reds, purples and oranges of petunias, geraniums, ivy, fuchsias and marigolds.

“The biggest hurdle is the watering,” says volunteer curator Nancy Altman, who found painter/muralist Ed Healy for that job. He waters daily from a cart-mounted 20-gallon watering tank with an electric pump and hook. The project relies on donations.

Visit instagram.com/saflowerbaskets. —WS

The (new) downtown San Anselmo art scene

Sure, San Francisco is an art town. From large-scale installations to world-class museums and performances, the city bursts with creativity. In Marin, Mill Valley and Sausalito also have growing reputations for both music and the fine arts. And let’s not forget San Anselmo.

Wait, what? Yes, that’s right; downtown San Anselmo is quietly becoming a thriving art hub. In recent years, the town welcomed The Image Flow Photography Center and not one, but two, San Francisco-worthy art galleries. Opening barely a block apart, Garvey|Simon Gallery and Julie Zener Gallery are livening up Ross Valley, with compelling art receptions attracting audiences from all over the Bay Area.

Both galleries seem to draw energy from each other, with visitors often hopping from one space to another, especially on weekends when the town’s “Live on the Avenue” is happening.

Michael Feldman’s gallery, the wonderful Artist Within—a gallery tied into the non-profit Cedars—and Wendy Gold Studios round out this nascent art tour, all within a 10-minute walk from each other. —NN

Cinelounge Tiburon

Looking for a next-level theater experience? Look no further than the three-screen, first-run Cinelounge in Tiburon.

In Cinelounge’s Lagoon Room, patrons will watch the movie in a wine lounge/living room-style setting. And if one isn’t interested in cleaning the house for movie night, or cleaning up after it for that matter, one can rent the Lagoon Room for a private party. It can also be rented for gaming, silent disco or Karaoke events.

The popcorn is next level, too. Theater-owner and creator of the signature house popcorn, Christian Meoli, says, “We’re the only theater in the country offering eight different blends of popcorn.” One may try theatrically themed flavors like: A-pop-olypse Now (jalepeño), Some Like it Popped (sea salt) or Once Upon a Time in Popcorn (mesquite smoked cheddar). The experience may be completed with a bottle of wine or Champagne to share with a date.

Waiting isn’t suggested, as it’s an offer that can’t be refused.

Cinelounge Tiburon is located at 40 Main St., Tiburon. Cineloungefilm.com. —KH

The recently restored 1936 art deco Lark Theater

These days, so many theaters are in a mall and have six screens. Gone are the days of red velvet curtains and seats, gold filigree trim and art deco glass light fixtures that formerly graced the movie houses of old.

But in downtown Larkspur, patrons can step inside the historic Lark Theater and go back in time to the elegant experience that used to be the movies. It’s as if it’s actually 1936, when the theater was new. Because in a way, it is.

In 2004, in a classic Cinderella story, Bernice Baeza, Heidi Hillenbrand and a determined group of volunteers saved the crumbling Lark Theater from demolition. They restored the theater to its original 1936 majesty—red velvet curtains, art deco details, lighted marquee and all.

They made the theater even better with behind-the-scenes upgrades, including state-of-the-art sound and visuals. And, in 2012, Ellie Mednick took the reins as manager and modernized the business side of it, professionalizing the staff, expanding the programming and even bringing in the Mill Valley Film Festival.

The theater website notes, “Our success is an example for small towns everywhere to save their rapidly disappearing local historic theaters, and with them, a unique neighborhood experience.”

And the programming at the Lark is stellar. From first-run to independent, and foreign to classic, the Lark features a wide variety of films. Add to this the unique live broadcasts that include the Met Opera, the Australian Ballet and Masters of Broadway, and it’s apparent Larkspur has a cultural resource that really can’t be matched anywhere else.

Programming coming up in August includes: National Theater Live presents Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing; David Hockey at the Royal Academy of Arts; and Frida Khalo, a film exploring the life and art of the beloved icon.

So get some popcorn and enjoy the show!

The Lark Theater is located at 549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. 415.924-5111. Larktheater.net.