Caledonia Spring Faire Sunday in Sausalito

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Ginger Wilcox

The Caledonia Street Spring Faire takes place this Sunday in downtown Sausalito, bringing in over 100 fine arts and crafts vendors, food and entertainment for a celebration of spring and community.

For the first time, the Sausalito Nursery School and the City of Sausalito are partnering together to combine the Spring Faire and the are the Caledonia Street Fair.

There will be three stages of live entertainment with a focus on music and dance performances with international flair.

Festival organizers say, “This will be a historic event in our picturesque seaside town. This enchanting festival will bring together all the bay area communities celebrating spring, our children, our families, our neighbors and the renewal of our earth through Art, Music, Dance, Delectable Fare, and a Fun & Festive children’s Area.”

  • When: Saturday, May 30, 2010, 11:00 am -6:00 pm (rain or shine)
  • Where: 420 Litho (Caledonia Steet/City Hall)
  • Benefits: Sausalito Nursery School
  • More Information

Entertainment

MAIN STAGE

  • Whiskey Pills 11:15am- 12:45pm
  • Belly Dance 1pm- 1:45pm
  • Hands on Fire 2pm- 2:30pm
  • Eugene Huggins 4pm- 5:30pm

CHILDREN’S STAGE

  • House of Samba Kids Concert 11am- 12:15pm
  • Little Gym Demo 12:30pm- 1pm
  • Tim Cain 1pm- 1:45pm
  • Terry/ Ballet 2pm- 2:45pm
  • Crunchy Frog 3:15pm- 4:45pm

Looks like a great lineup of events and gorgeous weather predicted for the weekend!

52nd Annual Pixie Park Spring Fair in Ross

Posted on May 22, 2010 by Ginger Wilcox

The Pixie Park Spring Fair takes place in Ross today. This is the 52nd annual occurrence of this popular  event features music, food, games & rides for children up to age six. Admission is free. Games, rides, and food do require purchased tickets.  Get there early, it looks like possible afternoon rain.

The event features children’s pony rides, a petting zoo, bouncy houses, bathtub races, a vintage train and more. Tim Cain, The Bubble Lady, The Lizard Lady and and Budderball the Clown will provide entertainment for the kids and the Wronglers will provide more adult music.

  • What: 52nd Annual Pixie Park Spring Fair
  • When: Today! Saturday, May 22, 9am-3pm
  • Where: Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross (map)
  • Parking: Parking available at College of Marin (free shuttle), Ross Common, $10 parking at the Marin Art & Garden Center
  • Admission: Free admission, Games & Rides require paid tickets
  • More info: Pixie Park website

Have a great weekend!

Hiking in Marin from Baltimore Canyon

Posted on May 21, 2010 by Ginger Wilcox

One of the reasons I love living in Marin County is the access to “the great outdoors”. I love being able to experience all that the city has to offer, yet escape to what I consider true beauty and serentity almost in my backyard. This morning I hiked one of my favorite Marin County hikes. We departed off Crown road and headed into Baltimore Canyon along the fire road and on up (and up!). Here are a few pictures and a map from my hike.  They are a little fuzzy as I only had my iphone, but still well worth a look!

Mount Tamalpais

Mount Tamalpais

San Francisco Bay between King Mountain & Christmas Tree Hill

View Map

Novato Farmer’s Market Opens Today

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Ginger Wilcox

After last week’s rain, it finally feels like summertime with warm weather and the return of sunshine.   One of my favorite parts of summer is fresh produce and of course, the community atmosphere of farmers’ markets.

The Novato Farmer’s Market kicks off this Tuesday.  The downtown farmer’s market will be open on Tuesday evenings  from 4 to 8 pm.  The market runs from May through September in historic downtown Novato on Grant Avenue between Machin and Reichert.

The Novato’s farmer’s market is a true community market with local Novato merchants like Flourchylde Bakery, Mediterranean Delight, J & T Jams, Kettle Thai, and the Ultimate Souvlaki.

Local residents come out to enjoy great fresh produce, dinner from downtown merchants and live local music.  It is a great weekly event for adults and children.

Worried About Earthquakes? Here’s How To Protect Your Household

Posted on April 5, 2010 by Ginger Wilcox

Baja California was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake Sunday, a tremor felt as far away as Yuma, Arizona.  It reminds us that natural disaster can strike anywhere, at anytime and we are particularly susceptible living in the San Francisco Bay Area.

You can’t stop Mother Nature, so your best defense is to be prepared.

A terrific resource for families in San Francisco and around the country is the Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov, a website aimed at family, business and community disaster readiness. This includes defense against physical attacks, and as well as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods.

The Ready.gov website contains tips, notes and checklists, including the 3-minute “It Takes Just Three Steps To Get Ready For An Emergency” video featured above.

If you’ve never watched it, do it now.  Then, test your home’s disaster readiness with this 10-question quiz.  There’s no “passing grade” on the test but, via your own answers, you’ll see where your home has room for readiness improvement.

Disasters are unpredictable and most of us will face them at least once in our lives. Be prepared in advance, therefore.  Protecting your household is simpler than you think.

Local resources:

Beauty & the Beast Comes Alive for Bay Area Children

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Ginger Wilcox

CTSA-Beauty-and-the-beastOne of my favorite annual events is back and I almost missed it!  The Children’s Theatre Association of San Francisco (CTSA) brings Beauty and the Beast to life for bay area children this month and next.  CTSA is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers who dedicate their time to bring live performances to school age children.  During the month of December, CTSA performs for school children, many who would not otherwise have the opportunity to see live theater.  The funds raised from the Saturday paid performances in January and February are used to offset production costs.

  • What: The Tale of the Beauty and the Beast performed by the Children’s Theatre Association of San Francisco.
  • When: Saturdays at 10:30 am and 1:00 pm.  The final performance will be on February 13th.
  • Where: California Palace of the Legion of Honor
  • Tickets: Tickets are $12.00 + $1.80 processing fee for online & telephone orders.  Click here for more information about buying tickets.

This has been an annual tradition that I started with my children.  The actresses are adult volunteers. Don’t be surprised- the program doesn’t have children in it!  The volunteers make the costumes and the set.  It is definitely “home grown” in a delightful way.  The performance are always very sweet and tailored specifically for elementary aged children. I hope you enjoy it!

Marin Art & Garden Center Holiday Festival

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Ginger Wilcox

holiday-kissing-ball-marin-art-garden-holiday-festivalLooking for holiday decorations?  Wreaths?  Or my personal favorite- the kissing ball?  Don’t miss the Marin Art & Garden Center’s annual holiday festival.

This event is a great holiday tradition in Marin.  Get in the holiday spirit, buy your holiday goodies and support the Marin Art & Garden Center.  Buy tasty baked goods at the Pixie Park Bake Sale, get your holiday greenery (and those fabulous kissing balls!) from the Decorations Guild and much more.  Children will enjoy festivites throughout the day including a live sing-along from 9:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m.

Bring a gently used coat of any size for the coat drive to help those in need. Hope to see you there!

Spare the Air- Don’t light those fireplaces in Marin!

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Ginger Wilcox

spare-the-airIt is unusually cold in the San Francisco.  I was excited about cuddling up next to the fire with a blanket but poor air quality has triggered an alert to Spare the Air in Marin.   News reports indicate the alert is on until noon Thursday.  What this means?  No fires (not even a Duraflame) in those bay area fireplaces.  The daily burn status can be found at www.sparetheair.org or by signing up for phone alerts at 1-800-430-1515.  Penalties for spare the air violations can be stiff – heed the alert.


Marin Eichler Home Tour -Open Hearts, Open Homes 2009

Posted on September 5, 2009 by Ginger Wilcox

The 2009 Eichler Home Tour, Open Hearts, Open Homes is almost here!  Take a self-guided tour of approximately 10 Eichler homes in the Lucas Valley area of San Rafael in Marin County, California on Saturday, September 19th.  The Home Tour benefits Hospice by the Bay.  Reservation deadline for tickets is September 10.  Remaining tickets will be available at the door.

Eichler homes were designed in California Modern style by Joseph Eichler, famous for his modern architecture and open floorplans.

According to Wikipedia,

One of Eichler’s signature concepts was to “Bring the Outside In,” achieved via skylights and floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking out on protected gardens, patios, and pools. The homes had numerous unorthodox features, including post-and-beam construction, concrete slab floors with integral radiant heating, sliding doors and cabinets, and a standard second bathroom. Later models introduced the famous Eichler atriums, an entrance foyer designed to further advance the Eichler concept of integrating outdoor and indoor spaces.

Open Hearts, Open Home Marin Eicheler Home Tour Details:

  • When: Saturday, September 19th, 11-4pm
  • Where: Lucas Valley, San Rafael, CA.  Registration at 1201 Idylberry Road, San Rafael
  • Tickets: $50 each, includes tour, book signing and entertainment.  Luncheon Buffet $25
  • Benefits: Hospice by the Bay.  Hospice By The Bay provides hospice and palliative care services for patients and their caregivers needing care and support during the final stages of life. Our team of compassionate and expertly trained professionals is dedicated to promoting wellness at the end of life, as well as preventing and treating distressing symptoms or conditions that might otherwise threaten the quality of life for patients and families
  • More Information

Warm Wishes Bocce Ball Invitational

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Ginger Wilcox
Image courtesy of TracyShaun on Flickr

Image courtesy of TracyShaun on Flickr

The Warm Wishes Bocce Ball Invitational is coming up on September 19th in Marin County.  The event benefits Warm Wishes, a San Rafael non-profit organization which creates street packs to keep bay area homeless keep warm during winter.  Warm Wishes volunteers distribute 5,000 “StreetPacks” or backpacks stuffed with new, warm gloves, scarves, hats, wool socks and rain ponchos to homeless men and women and children, living on the streets of the Bay Area.

Never played Bocce Ball? That is ok!  It is fun and it is easy.  Wikipedia has a definition that makes it all sound very complicated, it is not!  You pick your team of four, and you throw these fun round little balls down a lane.   There is even a practice session for those who want to get their game on!  Every time I play, I think I should play more.  Teams for the event must be picked by September 11th, so go ahead and register!

Warm Wishes Bocce Ball Invitational Details

Warm Wishes Bocce Ball Practice Date is Sunday, September 13, 12:00-2:00, refreshments will be served, Albert park, 5 – “B” Street, San Rafael.