Welcome to Mill Valley

Mill Valley is known in Marin County and throughout the
Bay Area for its small-town charm, high quality of life,
and proximity to both San Francisco and vast wilderness
areas.

Mill Valley is more than just a place; it’s a community
driven by passion and innovation. Our dedicated
nonprofits, businesses, and engaged citizens are
constantly working to enhance and preserve the town’s
unique character.

Discover our Enjoy Mill Valley Guide, explore Mill Valley through the eyes of our local experts – the residents and
business owners who make the town a special place. From hidden neighborhood gems to must-try eateries, from exhilarating outdoor treks to chic boutique finds, we’ve got you covered.

Winterfest December 7th 2025

2025 Winterfest, Gingerbread Decorating Party and More

Enjoy Mill Valley

The Enjoy Mill Valley Blog is created by the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce and is the most comprehensive source for local coverage. From local business news to community events to new business announcements – this is your one stop shop for Mill Valley news.

City of Mill Valley Councilman Max Perrey Ascends to the Top Perch as Mayor – “Each of You Have Taught Me Through Your Example,” Perrey said.

“It’s rare in life that you get to witness a boyhood dream come true,” Mayor Stephen Burke told the audience. “And tonight, we have the opportunity to do that. I’m so proud to be here for this moment. I know how much Max loves public service. While this is not the culmination of Max’s career, it’s certainly an important step in his career. And I’m proud to be here at this moment.” “Each of you have taught me through your example,” Perrey said. ” “Our council treats each other with civility. When we disagree, we model how to respect alternate use. I couldn’t be more grateful to each of you that I get to serve with,” and to our City Manager, Todd Cusimano, “your service to our community is profound. The dedication you give to our city is what moves us forward. We couldn’t do anything we do without you.”

E-Bikes Continue to Surge, With Concern For Kids, Parental Opinions, Safety, All Within the Context of a Shocking Crash That Led a Marin Student to County to Reckon With the Dangers of E-Bikes, Prompting Supes to Bar Kids Under 16 From Riding Throttle-Powered Vehicles

“There was a recent incident where a juvenile was riding, crashed, suffered some injuries, and the parent was issued a citation for him riding that vehicle without a license because of the type of vehicle … which was like riding an e-motorcycle, essentially,” Duenas said. McCracken said, “We continue to administer an e-bike safety course for juveniles who are cited on an e-bike for the first time. Our goal in developing this course was to continue offering education to youth in our city while keeping these violations from entering the justice system by avoiding a referral to traffic court.”

Heather Soicher Ceramics Hosts a Studio Show and Sale! Saturday, Dec. 13th, 11am-4pm at 28 Reed Street!

Heather Soicher Ceramics Hosts a Studio Show and Sale! Saturday, Dec. 13th, 11am-4pm at 28 Reed Street! Heather Soicher is a ceramic artist in the San Francisco Bay Area and has a passion for nature, cooking, and gathering friends and family together. She has a degree in Anthropology and early on was drawn to the way clay plays an elemental role in human culture – both functional and sacred. Heather enjoys making functional ceramic pieces for the kitchen and table, and also more whimsical work including her “Birds of Wisdom.”

A Legendary Restaurant With a Phenomenal Pedigree in a Historic Space, Is Set to Close After Five Years – Thank the Staff Before They Shut Down on December 20th!

With a heavy heart amidst the holiday season, Paseo Bistro, which opened five years ago with lots of excitement, has decided to close on December 20th. Here’s a reminder: “In the case of longtime Mill Valley resident Ki Yong Choi, the wait in the midst of a global pandemic was interminable at times, but it sure was great to be the one to re-open one of Mill Valley’s iconic restaurants, set in the historic El Paseo space at 17 Throckmorton Avenue. Following legendary Mill Valley musician Sammy “the Red Rocker” Hagar’s decision to close his El Paseo restaurant in the space, citing his need to tend to his myriad business, media and musical interests, Choi’s group took over in 2019 and was very much on track to open Paseo: A California Bistro, featuring “locally sourced, naturally harvested New American cuisine.”

On the Heels of a Blockbuster 2025 Winterfest, Clifford Waldeck Has a Lot to Be Excited About, Particularly Dec. 14th, Which Will Be the Second Biggest Day of My Life at Episcopal Church of our Savior!

“December 14 at 5pm will be the second biggest day of my life at Episcopal Church of our Savior; the biggest being my wedding 22 years ago” declared Waldeck, who is obviously excited about the churches upcoming concert featuring Lorin Rowan and the Deep Blue Jam playing classic holiday songs reimagined with a fresh, modern twist—blending melodies with contemporary rhythms and warm vibrant textures for a nostalgic yet new seasonal sound. A year ago, Cliff joined the Vestry at COS while the congregation was engaging with several other Bay Area Episcopal churches engaging their respective communities in a program called Vital + Thriving https://www.vitalthriving.org/about/. Cliff, a frequent attendee of musical events at the Sweetwater, the Depot and the Throckmorton suggested “let’s have concert!” and with any volunteer organization, you suggest it, you do it.

Meet Chabad Mill Valley’s Rabbi Hillel and Chana Scop: What is Chabad? There are over 6,000 Chabad Houses around the World — “Wherever You Can Find Coca-Cola, You can find Chabad!”

Chabad Mill Valley, the local chapter of one of the largest Hasidic groups and Jewish religious organizations in the world, has been in Mill Valley for more than a decade. In that time, Chabad Mill Valley founders Rabbi Hillel and Chana Scop have put down deep roots in the community, raising their children near Mill Valley and offering an array of programs and services. The organization previously ran a popular brock-n-mortar retail shop and an event-laden educational component in the row of shops near the Depot Plaza that also included Boo Koo and Postal Annex. Many people have wondered: What exactly is Chabad? There are over 6,000 Chabad Houses around the world — it’s often said that “wherever you can find Coca-Cola, you can find Chabad!”

Marin Magazine & the Hello! Marin App Are Celebrating the Hometown Magic Across Marin & Give Local Businesses Extra Cheer Along the Way – It’s the Perfect Moment to Help Our Communities Show Their Holiday Spirit!

We’d love your chamber’s support in sharing our countywide Holiday Photo Contest with your members. It’s a fun, easy way for businesses and residents to join in and a great opportunity for storefronts to upload photos of their holiday décor and encourage customers to do the same. Holiday Photo Contest: How It Works: • Download the Hello! Marin app, Create a profile and set it to public, • Open the Holiday Photo Contest tile, Upload a holiday photo from your town; tree lightings, lights, decorated storefronts, harbor nights, holiday treats, window displays, anything festive! There’s no limit to the number of photos a user can submit. All entries go into a drawing for one Grand Prize: a $250 gift card. The winning photo will also be featured in an upcoming issue of Marin Magazine.

From Pam Keon and All the Amazing People Who Took on the Herculean Task of the 125th Celebration: Join the Dedication of the 125th Time Capsule – Dec. 8th, 5pm at City Hall!

Pam Keon: On Monday, December 8th, I hope you can attend these events at Mill Valley’s City Hall. At 5pm we will dedicate the 2025 Mill Valley Time Capsule. This ceremony marks the celebration of Mill Valley’s 125th anniversary year with the placement of a time capsule capturing daily life in 2025 and documenting the three-day 125th Anniversary Celebration over Labor Day Weekend. The 2025 time capsule will be placed inside the 12+ ton red jasper boulder that sits in front of City Hall, and replaces the 1953 time capsule that was removed from the boulder earlier this year. The new time capsule is to be opened on September 1, 2100 – so mark your calendars, or your children’s or grandchildren’s calendars!

New California Law Means a Big Change for Grocery Shoppers in 2026

In 2021, Californians threw away 230,000 tons of plastic grocery bags, according to CalRecycle. Toxic chemicals leach from plastic bags into our waterways and our food, and Americans consume a credit card’s worth of plastic each week. These chemicals can have negative impacts on brain development and our reproductive health. Californians voted to ban single-use plastic bags in 2016, but a loophole allows grocery stores to provide thicker plastic bags at checkout and label them “reusable.” Now plastic bag waste is at an all-time high. Two bills in the Legislature, SB1053 and AB2236, would close the loophole and finally ban plastic grocery bags in California. The issue of plastic bags goes back 2013, when the City of Mill Valley began enforcing them.

SF Chronicle: Here are 15 New Laws that Californians Must Start Following in 2026 – Gov. Gavin Newsom Approved more than 900 New Laws This Year, Lowering Drug Costs, Ban Police and ICE Masks & More

“For the past six years, through boom, bust and pandemic, California’s Legislature has ended each session with a blitz of new laws that aim to make housing more plentiful and affordable. SF Chronicle: Here are 15 New Laws that Californians Must Start Following in 2026 – Gov. Gavin Newsom Approved more than 900 New Laws This Year, Lowering Drug Costs & Much More

Holiday Craft Fair Featuring Dozens of Artists Returns to Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto – Dec. 6th, 10am-4pm

Join us for this festive event and enjoy some unique holiday shopping. The fair features many new and returning artists selling their fine handmade arts and crafts. There will be a wide variety of items to choose from that may include: woodwork, jewelry, glass work, ceramics, decorations, knitwear, fiber arts, plants and much more. Our beautiful venue and great southern Marin location, as well as ample parking, will contribute to making this a great fair!

IJ: Mill Valley’s Jennifer Foster Places 10th in a field of 59 runners (50-54) in Sprint Distance Championships in 1 hour, 18 minutes, 11 seconds at at the World Triathlon Championships in Wollongong, Australia

“As I was heading toward the finish line I had an idea of how I was doing. I told people I just didn’t want to get last,” Foster said. “When I got out of water, I heard my dad say I was 16th out of the water. When I got finished with the bike and I was in the transition area, I heard the announcer say ‘Foster is 2nd for the USA.’ I thought I didn’t crash, I didn’t drown and said ‘Oh, I might have a chance to do well.’ There was a couple we met in the airport and she was racing for New Zealand in her age group, but he was cheering for me. The run was great because there were three laps so the fans could see us more than once. It was a lot of fun.”

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THE MISSION OF THE MILL VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

To foster a vibrant community, we promote, inform, engage, and advocate for our members. We do this by creating events and content, championing vitality and equity, coaching and connecting members to spark opportunity and continuously improve our organization.