Your Letters, 8/13

Board-Dumb

Abolish Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board, Art in Public Places Committee, Community Advisory Board, Community Engagement Department and other costly ineffective bodies. With the city in financial difficulties again with a very large unfunded pension liability in the future, now is the time to cut costs.

The marketing and outreach employees in various departments should do the work of the abolished bodies while saving city funds for services WE all need. Repair the roads and parks citywide while holding off on city council raises. The council only meets half the time and does less now, as the city zoning administrator handles many housing and development issues.

Most affordable housing projects are now “by right,” so now is the time to cut back on the size of the bloated bureaucracy of upper management. Offer incentives to those bureaucrats for retirement now and use less costly younger employees for a pared back management team. This would allow for more parks and roads workers to help where the need is now greater than ever.

Taxpayers, please vote against tax increases as the city learns to steward what it has without asking for more money which might be squandered without good oversight.

Duane De Witt

Santa Rosa

Eat, Sip and See

0

Ross

Edible Garden

Marin Art and Garden Center is celebrating Marin’s culinary event of the season, the much anticipated second annual Edible Garden adventure. Foodies of the North Bay should save the date, because there is nothing that can compare with an evening of eating one’s way through an idyllic garden in Marin. From beginning to end, this Edible Garden event is a never ending stream of wines to sip and bites to enjoy whilst strolling through the garden. And if that isn’t enough wine and dine action, there’s also a collection of vendors at the end offering plates stacked high with local food fare. Tickets for the Marin Art and Garden Center’s Edible Garden are on sale now. The edible event itself will take place from 5 to 8pm on Sunday, Sept. 15. To learn more and/or purchase tickets, visit maringarden.org/ediblegarden.

Fulton

Falling Skies

The sky is falling! Or at least it is in Fulton’s Crossing Art Gallery from Friday, Aug. 30 to Sunday, Dec. 1. That’s right; career-artist Gale S. McKee is set to present an exhibition in Fulton entitled The Sky is Falling, and it’s not an event any local artist will want to miss. This 11-part multimedia (acrylic, glass and aluminum) painting series was inspired by the volcanic eruptions in Iceland from the years 2010, 2023 and 2024. A free-to-attend opening reception is set for 1 to 4pm on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 1220 River Rd. in Fulton. To learn more about The Sky is Falling exhibition and its artist, visit galesmckee.com.

Napa Valley

Trail Blazers

Come out and join the community in celebrating the newly completed 8.2-mile stretch of the Vine Trail spanning from St. Helena to Calistoga. Partake in the party at any point along the new stretch of trail for a morning of movement, music, meet up rides and exploration. This addition makes for a total of 47 miles of connected trails all through the Napa Valley. The path spans from Vallejo to Calistoga, connecting the valley in one continuous, eco-friendly commute. To date, the grand total of Vine Trail users has reached 3,223,650, and the year-to-date number is 396,873. The Vine Trail celebration is set to take place from 8am to noon on Saturday, Aug. 17. To learn more about the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition’s Vine Trail, visit vinetrail.org.

Sebastopol

Film vs. AI

Sebastopol Film Society is presenting an intriguing new themed movie event, Does Film Survive AI, at the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival. For anyone looking for answers in a world rife with questions about AI technology, this is the perfect place to ask some questions (and get some answers that haven’t been generated by AI). Come see Quinn Halleck’s film, Sigma_001, and enjoy a conversation with its entirely human director, Quinn Halleck. Sundance film festival director emeritus John Cooper will attend and join in on the AI discussion as well. Does Film Survive AI takes place on Aug. 24, with the presentation and film from 6 to 7pm and a moderated Q&A from 7 to 7:30pm. Tickets are $20. For more information, visit sebastopolfilmfestival.org.

Best Way to Get High on Centrifugal Force

Pole Dancing at Entangle & Sway, Novato

A recent study suggests that dance is among the most effective ways to treat those lingering, gloomy feelings that come around for all of us from time to time. That’s right—before medication and even other forms of exercise like running or visiting the gym, one method for boosting one’s mood allegedly won out in the end: to wiggle, move, groove and otherwise shake it in time to some sort of musical tune.

Here in Marin, many residents are already well ahead of the curve when it comes to discovering the powerful effects of dance on the human psyche. While other places continue to extol the benefits of Crossfit and rock climbing … Marin County is already rife with opportunities to dance the night or day away, and it really shows in the grinning local faces.

Of course, classic genres of dance lessons and groups exist here in Marin. Ballet, ballroom, modern and so on. But alongside these more well-known forms of dance lessons serving to enrich Marinites and their mental states of mind, a few surprising curveballs keep locals feeling uplifted—sometimes literally.

One such form of dance therapy is, well, a little more exotic than the others. And yes, I do mean the exotic kind of dancing that involves a pole at the center of the dancing equation. To be even more specific, the North Bay’s pole dancing opportunities. Something about feeling that centrifugal force as one spins round and round becomes more than uplifting and lifts one straight into euphoria.

For those interested in pole dancing lessons here in Marin, consider reaching out to Entangle & Sway. This local dance studio teaches the art of the pole in an empowering environment, focused on providing a safe, sexy space to move and express oneself and dance one’s way to mental health.

Entangle & Sway is located at 1553E on South Novato Blvd., Novato. To learn more about the many classes offered, visit entangleandsway.com or call 415.494.7220.

Best Way to Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change With Saltwater

Dillon Beach Resort

Every day, I check the weather app on my phone to ascertain where it’s least hellish in terms of the temperature. Then I drive there. Typically, this involves making some kind of withdrawal from the coastal fog bank on the county’s western flank. 

One of the coolest places in this regard—per my limited and completely unscientific experience—is Dillon Beach, which consistently boasts a luxuriant fog duvée that lasts through morning hours before giving way to azure blue skies. 

This aligns perfectly with my most productive hours. And since most of us creative professionals are no longer tethered to our desks, why not work from the beach? I’ll risk a meta moment and admit that is precisely where I’m presently sitting.

Mike Goebel, a familiar face in San Anselmo with a footprint in San Francisco’s dining scene and Petaluma’s beloved Brewsters Beer Garden, took the helm of Dillon Beach Resort a few years back. With an eye for detail, he distilled the resort’s classic coastal allure and infused it with a refined elegance. The result? A seamless blend of timeless seaside charm and sophisticated offerings that elevate the entire experience.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: “Dillon Beach has long confounded me. It starts with its spelling, which defies my cultural touchstones of both Bob, blowing in the wind and Thomas raging against the dying of the light. Then there’s the fact that the beach is ostensibly in Marin County, but has the distinctly Sonoma County area code 707.” 

I bring this up because it serves to remind that when visiting any resort town, let alone one in Marin, it’s probably best to leave one’s expectations at the door and instead embrace the place on its own terms.

A coastal breeze, a sip of wine, a view of the beach—it’s more than enough accompaniment to happily knock out 300 or so words. Now, imagine being off the clock with nothing to do but contemplate the sands of time—the ones between your toes.

Visit dillonbeachresort.com.

Best Way to Check Out (and Make) Marin County’s Arts and Culture

Our local libraries

Everyone knows that libraries offer book clubs, a range of kids’ art and story activities, and of course, all the books one could ever read. But some may not know that they also offer plenty of creative and cultural activities, events and resources for adults and teens, too, allowing those who don’t yet have access to resources and support a way to make a creative beginning.

Begin with the latest exhibit on display now across all 10 libraries: “The Legacy of Marin City: A California Black History Story,” where many aspects of Marin County’s Black history are explored, including the legacy of Marin’s shipyard workers during World War II. Viewers can find a different aspect of this exhibit at each library.

Next, check out the new Alexander Street Performing Arts Video Collection. Library cardholders receive free access to a wide range of music, dance and theater performances, and instructional material from Alexander Street, funded by the California State Library, including performances by the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, among many more.

When it’s time to get hands-on, there are many options, including the Fabric and Makers Club at the Fairfax branch, where quilters, sewers, knitters and crocheters alike can work and socialize together. Or try collaging at the Stinson Beach Library, or even a special form of “Memento Mori” collage with East Bay artist and Hospice nurse Susan Oppie in Fairfax, where participants create a unique memorial piece for a loved one or pet.

Literary folks can join a community poetry group in Fairfax, where poets learn how to write poems or refine existing work, collaborating with other writers in a friendly, supportive atmosphere.

But one of the county’s best creative resources is The Lab Makerspace + Studio at the Marin City Library branch. Anyone with a library card can use the facility, which includes 3D printers, a laser cutter, a podcast studio, video-production equipment, VHS-to-digital conversion equipment and more. Related is The Shop, located next to the South Novato Library, where the public can access a variety of tools, and learn woodworking and other crafts.

With the support of the Marin Libraries, one may not need a room of one’s own anymore.

Best Way to Show Kids That the World Can Be a Kind Place … With Art

DrawBridge, San Rafael

Since 1989, San Rafael-based DrawBridge has brought joy and creativity to Bay Area families through its free expressive arts programs. 

These programs, available in shelters, affordable housing facilities and community centers across the Bay Area, cater to children ages five and up, fostering community connections and playful creativity essential for healthy development. Expressive arts, a process of healing through artistic expression, lies at the heart of the DrawBridge mission.

DrawBridge’s impact is remarkable. It hosts more than 1,000 art groups annually in Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, Sonoma, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. Its approach lies in its mission statement: “DrawBridge provides children with the opportunity to tap into their creativity and build self-confidence through expressive art.” The organization dedicates itself to making the benefits of expressive arts accessible to all children.

“For over 35 years, DrawBridge has provided free expressive arts programs for more than 40,000 Bay Area children and their families,” says executive director Tracy Bays-Boothe, who is currently transitioning out of her leadership role. 

Sarah Yazdani, the program manager since 2019, has been named interim executive director while the board of directors conducts an executive search. Bays-Boothe adds, “I am honored to have contributed to this legacy and look forward to celebrating the continued success of DrawBridge programs.”

Under Bays-Boothe’s guidance, DrawBridge flourished, launching initiatives such as the DrawBridge Community Artist Program in collaboration with the California Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts. This year, for example, poet, artist and commercial letterpress printer Katie Nealon is working with DrawBridge youth artists at Marin County Free Library branches in Marin County.

DrawBridge programs create a safe and supportive environment for children’s self-expression and exploration of the creative process. By offering child-focused art experiences, DrawBridge allows participants to set their own direction, pace and depth of self-exploration. Programs are always free and provided directly within the communities served, eliminating financial and transportation barriers for families.

Through its dedicated efforts, DrawBridge continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and their families, nurturing creativity and confidence that lasts a lifetime.

DrawBridge, P.O. Box 2698, San Rafael. 415.444.0930. email in**@********ge.org or visit drawbridge.org.

Best Way to Have a Spiritual Experience With Potatoes and Hops

Dirty Reuben Fries at Tap Room, Inverness

Marin County’s restaurant scene is vast and geographically expansive. But one West Marin location proves itself worth the drive time and time again, no matter the distance, the weather or the season. 

What is the reason for this culinary pilgrimage? Well … it’s all about those Dirty Reuben Fries at Tap Room. These fries are top-tier and just so happen to pair perfectly with a beer and a post-adventure appetite, so much so that it could make a Marin County foodie weep.

Tap Room, a quintessential microbrasserie, delights diners with a diverse array of locally sourced menu items, including sandwiches, oysters and exceptional specials, all accompanied by a comprehensive beverage selection featuring beer, sake, soda and more. The staffs’ warm and welcoming energy makes the experience all the more pleasant. These components amalgamate to make any guest feel right at home and very hungry as soon as they enter the premises.

But back to the main topic at hand—those fries that haunt my dreams at night like Sugar Plum Fairies during Christmas. The Dirty Reuben Fries are exactly as tasty as they sound. After all, can anything go wrong with house-brined and smoked pastrami, sauerkraut, Point Reyes Farmstead Toma cheese and an irresistible house dressing one could fantasize about taking a delicious swim in? 

So, for those who don’t want to miss out on a California national treasure, be sure to swing by Tap Room and try out those Dirty Ruben Fries. And try the fish tacos, too—I promise they’re worth it.

Tap Room is located in West Marin at 12301 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Suite B in Inverness. To learn more about Tap Room, visit the website at invernessparkmarket.com/tap-room-menu. Tap Room is open Monday through Friday, 4-9pm, and Saturday from noon to 9pm. Please note that Tap Room does not accept reservations, so it’s best to show up in ravenous spontaneity.

The Best Bar With a Permanent Identity Crisis

No Name Bar, Sausalito

Sometimes a weary scribe just wants a cold beer without any analysis paralysis in the way of ordering it. The selection on draft at Sausalito’s No Name Bar features a quintet of the usual suspects, which eliminates at least one of the many aggravations I try to avoid when “working in the field.” 

Another plus is the working exterior electrical jack just over one’s shoulder when sitting against the southside wall of the backdoor garden. There’s nothing worse than being on deadline with a deader laptop. Add to the above a copious amount of legit literary history and it’s understandable why I’m canceling my co-working space.

A mere two blocks from the ferry terminal, the No Name Bar is one of the last vestiges of southern Marin’s bygone days as a bohemian enclave. Its storied history includes hang-time with such Beat-era marquee names as poet-and-publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti and poet Allen Ginsberg, holy scroller Jack Kerouac and controversy-courting comedian Lenny Bruce. Look no further than jazzman Charles Mingus for a soundtrack, or if you prefer something a little more Boomer-friendly, Jefferson Airplane, Bob Dylan or Alice Cooper.

Not all of No Name’s visiting luminaries have been writers and musicians, however—local eccentrics have likewise bellied up to the bar for its famous Irish Coffee. As Theodore Carl Soderberg recalled in his memoir, The Summer of ’72, “The No Name, in addition to its name, or lack thereof, was an unusual place, and terrific for meeting and watching people… to my amazement I found I was seated next to W.C. Fields.” 

The man in top hat, tails and spats was not the real Fields—he died in 1946—but a functioning facsimile. But I have faith that the No Name still rates as a character study. Or, to quote Fields himself, “Everybody’s got to believe in something. I believe I’ll have another beer.”

No Name Bar, 757 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.332.1392. thenonamebar.com.

Best Way to Soak and Sweat One’s Way to Wellness

Almonte Spa, Mill Valley

Marin County seems to offer countless opportunities for beauty, health and wellness. But if one has to choose only one place to go for the most relaxing, on-brand-for-Marin experience, Almonte Spa is it.

Tucked neatly into the idyllic, soul-soothing expanse of redwoods in Tamalpais Valley, this all-inclusive gem of a spa lies only eight miles away from iconic Muir Woods. Something about the energy of Almonte Spa is synonymous with wellness, and the beauty of the surrounding nature and the exceptional vibes of the staff have a lot to do with it. Oh, and the crystals, of course. So. Many. Crystals.

Locals who seek to experience the bliss of Almonte Spa are in for a triple-threat treatment including an outdoor hot tub, a massage and a sauna—infrared or otherwise. Almonte Spa is Marin County’s only location where customers can indulge in all three quintessential health-and-wellness staples in one seamless experience.

Upon arriving at Almonte, one is greeted warmly and then sent to take a quick rinse in the outdoor shower before slipping into one of the two outdoor spas. There, the experience begins with a long soak out underneath the redwoods and the open sky. Once all worries have been properly soaked away, customers are beckoned to a massage so good it could change one’s life … or at least set a new standard for what a massage should feel like. After that, it’s time to sweat it all out in either the classic cedarwood sauna or the high-tech infrared sauna that looks more futuristic than most spaceships.

For nearly 50 years, Almonte Spa has soothed the stress and worries out of Marin County’s residents. And with any luck, these services will be available for at least 50 more. So, come on out to soak, massage and sweat.

To learn more about Almonte Spa and its services, visit the website at almontespa.com, send an email to in**@********pa.com or call 415.383.8260. Almonte Spa is open daily from 10am to 9pm and is located at 158 Almonte Blvd. in Mill Valley.

Free Will Astrology: Week of Aug. 14

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Years ago, when I worked as a postal delivery person in Santa Cruz, California, I mastered my route quickly. The time allotted to complete it was six hours, but I could easily finish in four. Soon I began to goof off two hours a day, six days a week. Many great works of literature and music entertained me during that time. I joined a softball team and was able to play an entire game each Saturday while officially on the job. Was what I did unethical? I don’t think so, since I always did my work thoroughly and precisely. Is there any comparable possibility in your life, Aries? An ethical loophole? A workaround that has full integrity? An escape clause that causes no harm?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): From an astronomer’s perspective, Uranus is huge. Sixty-three Earths could fit inside of it. It’s also weirdly unique because it rotates sideways compared to the other planets. From an astrologer’s point of view, Uranus symbolizes the talents and gifts we possess that can be beneficial to others. If we fully develop these potentials, they will express our unique genius and be useful to our fellow humans. It so happens that Uranus has been cruising through Taurus since 2018 and will mostly continue there until 2026. I regard these years as your best chance in this lifetime to fulfill the opportunities I described. The coming weeks will be especially pregnant with possibilities.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Mountaineer Edmund Hillary is renowned as the first person to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest. It happened in 1953. Less famous was his companion in the ascent, Gemini mountaineer Tenzing Norgay. Why did Hillary get more acclaim than Norgay, even though they were equal partners in the monumental accomplishment? Was it because one was a white New Zealander and the other a brown Nepalese? In any case, I’m happy to speculate that if there’s a situation in your life that resembles Norgay’s, you will get remediation in the coming months. You will receive more of the credit you deserve. You will garner the acknowledgment and recognition that had previously been unavailable. And it all starts soon.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): As an American, I’m embarrassed by the fact that my fellow citizens and I comprise just 4% of the world’s population but generate 20% of its garbage. How is that possible? In any case, I vow that during the next five weeks, I will decrease the volume of trash I produce and increase the amount of dross I recycle. I encourage you, my fellow Cancerians, to make a similar promise. In ways that may not be immediately imaginable, attending to these matters will improve your mental health and maybe even inspire you to generate an array of fresh insights about how to live your life with flair and joy.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The coming weeks will be a wonderful time to waste time on the internet. If you are properly aligned with cosmic rhythms, you will spend long hours watching silly videos, interacting with friends and strangers on social media and shopping for products you don’t really need. JUST KIDDING!! Everything I just said was a dirty lie. It was designed to test your power to resist distracting influences and mediocre advice. Here’s my authentic counsel, Leo. The coming weeks will be a fantastic phase to waste as little time as possible as you intensify your focus on the few things that matter to you most.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Scientific research suggests that brushing and flossing your teeth not only boosts the health of your gums, but also protects your heart’s health. Other studies show that if you maintain robust microbiota in your gut, you’re more likely to avoid anxiety and depression as you nurture your mental health. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to focus on big-picture thoughts like these, Virgo. You will be wise to meditate on how each part of your life affects every other part. You will generate good fortune as you become more vividly aware and appreciative of the intimate interconnectedness that underlies all you do.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The official term for the shape of a single piece of M&M candy is “oblate spheroid.” It’s rounded but not perfectly round. It looks like a partially squashed sphere. An Iraqi man named Ibrahim Sadeq decided to try the difficult task of arranging as many M&M’s as possible in a vertical stack. He is now the world’s record holder in that art, with seven M&M’s. I am imagining that sometime soon, Libra, you could achieve a comparable feat in your own domain. What’s challenging but not impossible?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I’ve heard many people brag about their hangovers. The stories they tell are often entertaining and humorous. One of my best laughs emerged in response to two friends describing the time they jumped on the roof of a parked Mercedes Benz at 3am and sang songs from Verdi’s opera Falstaff until the cops came and threw them in a jail cell with nothing to eat or drink for 10 hours. In accordance with astrological omens, Scorpio, I ask you to not get a hangover in the coming weeks, even an amusing one. Instead, I encourage you to studiously pursue extreme amounts of pleasurable experiences that have only good side effects.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Most famous musicians demand that their dressing rooms be furnished with specific amenities. Beyoncé needs rose-scented candles. Rihanna expects her preparatory sanctuary to have dark blue or black drapes topped with icy blue chiffon. Eminem insists on a set of 25-pound dumbbells, and the hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd wants Super Soaker water guns. Since the coming weeks may be as close to a rock star phase of your cycle as you’ve ever had, I recommend you create a list of your required luxuries. This imaginative exercise will hopefully get you in the mood to ask for exactly what you need everywhere you go.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sleep deprivation is widespread. I see it as a pandemic. According to some studies, over half the people in the world suffer from insomnia, don’t get enough sleep or have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Most research on this subject doesn’t mention an equally important problem: That many people aren’t dreaming enough. And the fact is that dreaming is key to our psychological well-being. I bring this to your attention, Capricorn, because the coming weeks will be a favorable time to enhance your relationship with sleep and dreams. I encourage you to learn all you can and do all you can to make your time in bed deeply rejuvenating.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Only 47 people live on the volcanic Pitcairn Islands, which are located in the middle of nowhere in the South Pacific Ocean. Pollution is virtually non-existent, which is why the honey made by local bees is the purest on the planet. In accordance with astrological omens, I’d love for you to get honey like that in the coming weeks. I hope you will also seek the best and purest of everything. More than ever, you need to associate with influences that are potent, clear, genuine, raw, vibrant, natural and full-strength.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Many Indigenous people in North America picked and ate wild cranberries. But farm-grown cranberries available for commercial use didn’t appear until 1816. Here’s how it happened. In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a farmer discovered a secret about the wild cranberry bog on his land. Whenever big storms dumped sand on the bog, the fruit grew with more lush vigor. He tinkered with this revelation from nature and figured out how to cultivate cranberries. I recommend this as a teaching story, Pisces. Your assignment is to harness the power and wisdom provided by a metaphorical storm or disturbance. Use it to generate a practical innovation in your life.

Homework: What do you want, but think you’re not supposed to want? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Your Letters, 8/13

Board-Dumb Abolish Santa Rosa Cultural Heritage Board, Art in Public Places Committee, Community Advisory Board, Community Engagement Department and other costly ineffective bodies. With the city in financial difficulties again with a very large unfunded pension liability in the future, now is the time to cut costs. The marketing and outreach employees in various departments should do the work of the...

Eat, Sip and See

Ross Edible Garden Marin Art and Garden Center is celebrating Marin’s culinary event of the season, the much anticipated second annual Edible Garden adventure. Foodies of the North Bay should save the date, because there is nothing that can compare with an evening of eating one’s way through an idyllic garden in Marin. From beginning to end, this Edible Garden event...

Best Way to Get High on Centrifugal Force

Pole Dancing at Entangle & Sway, Novato A recent study suggests that dance is among the most effective ways to treat those lingering, gloomy feelings that come around for all of us from time to time. That’s right—before medication and even other forms of exercise like running or visiting the gym, one method for boosting one’s mood allegedly won out...

Best Way to Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change With Saltwater

Dillon Beach Resort Every day, I check the weather app on my phone to ascertain where it’s least hellish in terms of the temperature. Then I drive there. Typically, this involves making some kind of withdrawal from the coastal fog bank on the county’s western flank.  One of the coolest places in this regard—per my limited and completely unscientific experience—is Dillon...

Best Way to Check Out (and Make) Marin County’s Arts and Culture

Our local libraries Everyone knows that libraries offer book clubs, a range of kids’ art and story activities, and of course, all the books one could ever read. But some may not know that they also offer plenty of creative and cultural activities, events and resources for adults and teens, too, allowing those who don’t yet have access to resources...

Best Way to Show Kids That the World Can Be a Kind Place … With Art

DrawBridge, San Rafael Since 1989, San Rafael-based DrawBridge has brought joy and creativity to Bay Area families through its free expressive arts programs.  These programs, available in shelters, affordable housing facilities and community centers across the Bay Area, cater to children ages five and up, fostering community connections and playful creativity essential for healthy development. Expressive arts, a process of healing...

Best Way to Have a Spiritual Experience With Potatoes and Hops

Dirty Reuben Fries at Tap Room, Inverness Marin County’s restaurant scene is vast and geographically expansive. But one West Marin location proves itself worth the drive time and time again, no matter the distance, the weather or the season.  What is the reason for this culinary pilgrimage? Well … it’s all about those Dirty Reuben Fries at Tap Room. These fries...

The Best Bar With a Permanent Identity Crisis

No Name Bar, Sausalito Sometimes a weary scribe just wants a cold beer without any analysis paralysis in the way of ordering it. The selection on draft at Sausalito’s No Name Bar features a quintet of the usual suspects, which eliminates at least one of the many aggravations I try to avoid when “working in the field.”  Another plus is the...

Best Way to Soak and Sweat One’s Way to Wellness

Almonte Spa, Mill Valley Marin County seems to offer countless opportunities for beauty, health and wellness. But if one has to choose only one place to go for the most relaxing, on-brand-for-Marin experience, Almonte Spa is it. Tucked neatly into the idyllic, soul-soothing expanse of redwoods in Tamalpais Valley, this all-inclusive gem of a spa lies only eight miles away from...

Free Will Astrology: Week of Aug. 14

Free Will Astrology: Week of Aug. 14
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Years ago, when I worked as a postal delivery person in Santa Cruz, California, I mastered my route quickly. The time allotted to complete it was six hours, but I could easily finish in four. Soon I began to goof off two hours a day, six days a week. Many great works of literature and...
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