Food, Music, and Bocce at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Stephen Pringle

I stopped by former Grateful Dead member Phil Lesh’s new Terrapin Crossroads restaurant and music venue with the family recently, and what a great place. We sat outside and had dinner on the water with the kids, sipping beer and margaritas while they played bocce. Locals pulled up in their boats while we ate, and after dinner we headed into the bar for some live music.  The food was tasty, with a nice selection of small plates and entrees to choose from. Looks like they have private lounge rooms to rent as well. The ambiance is super cool and this is one of our new favorite spots! We’re looking forward to checking out a good bluegrass show coming up on August 3rd and 4th.

Terrapin Crossroads
100 Yacht Club Dr.
San Rafael, CA 94901
415.524-2773

 

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Kim Baskind

You may not have heard about Outstanding in the Field, but it’s an exciting culinary adventure that I am just itching to experience. The creators have a mission to reconnect people with the food they eat. They call them restaurants without walls and set up long farm tables in unique places, like in the middle of a vineyard, on a ranch, in a cave, or right by the ocean. We just discovered this but it’s been going on for 20 years. The aim is to bring people as close as possible to the ingredients on their plate–literally so close that they may be grown just a few feet away.

Take a look at the schedule and see if there’s an event for you.  Tickets run in the $200 price range and they have been selling out fast.  If you missed the one you want (we missed the Michael Minna event at Devils Gulch – bummer!) then sign up on the email list so you are sure not to miss out next year.

Outstanding in the Field does many events here in California, but they also travel. How about dining in a vineyard in the Rioja region of Spain? Or sampling some Mahi Mahi, taro, and starfruit at an organic farm on the island of Hawaii? Honey, I think it’s time to plan a vacation!

The New Good Earth is Now Open in Fairfax!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Stephen Pringle

The wait is over and Fairfax has its fancy new natural foods store, with the Good Earth location at 720 Center Blvd. having its grand opening yesterday. We stopped by this afternoon to take a look and it’s impressive. They did a really nice job and the place is huge, especially compared to the old spot, and it was packed– both with shoppers and those just curious to check it all out.

While it’s a great addition to Fairfax and it’s very cool to have such a nice, big market in town, it’ll be interesting to see how it affects the vibe of the area. With all the traffic and cars in the parking lot it sure looks like it’s not going to be the same for the many cyclists who’ve been accustomed to having a mellow and convenient place to meet up, with easy parking. We’re wondering what happens when people want to keep parking there while they go on rides. Will the market have to end up monitoring the lot, and citing those who aren’t shopping?

Celebrate Thanksgiving with the Fairfax Turkey Ride

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Stephen Pringle

Mountain bikers won’t want to miss this year’s annual Turkey Ride in Fairfax. It’s a 3-4 hour Thanksgiving Day ride out along the Pine Mountain Loop. Started in 1975 and celebrating the birthplace of mountain biking, this ride is an epic way to work up an appetite before you stuff yourself with all that turkey and mashed potatoes. Meet at Java Hut between 8-9 am for the start, and then end the ride at the Gestault Haus and top it off with a frosty pint of German beer. Last year we had something like 1,000 riders. Gobble, gobble!

Marinwood gets its own high-end market

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Stephen Pringle

It’s been a great year for neighborhood markets in Marin. We stopped in the new Marinwood Market this week and were impressed to find a stylish grocery store with a nice deli, produce section, and meat department in the old Bell Market space…a much needed service for the neighborhood. They’re having their grand opening this weekend, complete with a bounce house for the kids, so we were told. Stop by if you’re in the area!

Hal Brown Park in Greenbrae, one of our new favorites

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Stephen Pringle

I know it reopened in February, but we just finally took the kids by Hal Brown Park (formerly Creekside Park), across from Marin General, and the renovation is impressive.  It has great play structures, a large grassy area for playing soccer, an awesome loop for kids to ride their bikes around, and really sweet views of the lagoon and Mt. Tam. Great spot to picnic or have a kids birthday party. If you haven’t made it by it’s worth checking out while the weather is still nice.

“Style Swap” for a good cause this Saturday in San Anselmo

Posted on September 16, 2011 by George Crowe

From the Style Swap press release:

Marin County women will be swapping their jewelry and scarves to raise money to help less fortunate women re-enter the workplace at the first annual Style Swap this Saturday, September 17, in the parking lot next to the The Great Acorn Company located at 800 San Anselmo Avenue in downtown San Anselmo from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Sales and donations of jewelry and scarves will go to benefit Image for Success, a not-for-profit organization that provides two-week wardrobes to disenfranchised people in Marin County who are transitioning toward self-reliance. Image for Success not only provides the suit for the interview, but also clothes for everyday use – a critical need when someone is making the effort to change their life by re-entering the workplace.

How To Participate

There are three ways people can participate in this weekend’s Style Swap:

1. Bring jewelry and scarves that ‘just aren’t you’ anymore to The Great Acorn this week, or the day of the event on September 17, to redeem tickets that can be used to shop for other items at the event;

2.  Donate jewelry and scarves to receive a tax deduction;

3.  Just stop by and shop.

Additionally, Image for Success will accept other clothing donations during the Style Swap event.

“One woman’s fashion past can be another’s fabulous future,” said event co-organizer Laura Adler of Women of Inventions.  “We all have things in our wardrobes that we just don’t wear anymore.  We loved them at the time we got them.  Now, instead of collecting dust, why not pass on the love to others.”

Our favorite spot in Marin for a kid’s birthday party

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Stephen Pringle

Trying to find the perfect place for a kid’s birthday party can be a challenge if you want to avoid the crowds or the cost of an indoor space. Our favorite outdoor spot is at Marinwood Park in San Rafael. It has a large open lawn area to throw a football or frisbee around and there’s a small grassy hill that the kids love to roll down. Talk about instant entertainment! The play structure area is nice and has a separate section for smaller kids, and there’s a concrete path that surrounds the park which makes a perfect loop for little ones to ride their bikes around.

You can reserve a spot near the play structure area for a private party, but we like to be out in the grassy area, which has picnic tables and BBQs. Bring your hot dogs and burgers (or tofu dogs), start up the grill and make it an adult party too. In the summer they have a great community pool which you can also make part of the party for a fee. The best part is the secret path along the side of the play structure area that leads to a year round creek. Kids love playing in it, especially when the weather’s hot. One important tip: get there around 9:00 am to claim your table with a cooler and table cloth so when the party starts later in the day you will have a primo spot.

Sun Valley Market Now Open!

Posted on August 24, 2011 by George Crowe

It took a while but it was worth the wait. We stopped by the new Andy’s Sun Valley Market the other day to check it out and it’s a really nice addition to the neighborhood. It’s been given a complete makeover, with a great looking deli and a nice wine selection, and tables outside.  They’re having a grand opening block party BBQ on Labor Day.  It’s at 2202 5th Ave at California in San Rafael.