Skip to content

Planting the Future: The Outdoor Art Club Gets Ready for Its Next Century

Planting the Future

If you’ve walked past the shingled building tucked behind the wisteria-covered gate at 1 West Blithedale Avenue lately, you may have noticed something: the Outdoor Art Club has been busy. In fact, over the past three years, the Club — one of the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce’s longtime members — has quietly undertaken a once-in-a-century effort to preserve and renew one of downtown’s architectural gems. The club has hosted generations of civic gatherings, performances, celebrations, and community conversations – but few people remember that in the 1930s it narrowly escaped demolition when the City proposed turning the site into a parking lot. Now, the Club’s members have once again rolled up their sleeves to care for this landmark — this time by ensuring it meets modern safety and health standards while preserving its historic character.

Read More

On the Heels of Multiple Planning Commission Study Sessions, City Council Will Dictate the Road Ahead for Loosening the Rules on Land Use

Key Issues Discussion

In prior hearings, food and beverage service remained focused on the possibility of Food Trucks. The updated code provides specific regulations that would apply to all food and beverage service businesses, even those without a use permit. These regulations codify the ā€œgood neighbor policyā€ that is often required as a CUP condition of approval for restaurants. By codifying these regulations, the intention is to reduce the need for CUPs and also provide clear guidance to businesses and staff. City Staff recommended 5,000 square-foot threshold for larger spaces like the former Rite Aid space, but not setting it too high. The Planning Commission felt that the size threshold should be 3,000 in downtown downtown commercial districts.Ā Mill Valley Chamber: “There remains interest in and discussion of food trucks, though none more than Zorba’s at Goodman’s. Mill Valley currently has two very large, very empty historic restaurants, and maybe there is a business that might be interested in giving a food truck a shot and potentially eyeing it for a future brick & mortar business. Maybe that’s backwards thinking…but we should be thoughtful and not restrictive and keep our options open.”

Read More

Councilmembers, Planning Commissioners, Staff and Residents Continue Their Efforts to Dive Deeply Into a Reconsidering of Up Dated Parking Regulations – MV Will Eliminate Parking Requirements for New Businesses Downtown

Councilmember Joachim mentioned possible underutilized parking lots, particularly the private lot adjacent to the Depot Plaza. “Requires a willing property owner,” she noted. “We do have these private lots that are underutilized.Ā The discussion concluded until later in the fall, but teased the possibility of dealing with formula businesses by identifying businesses above the 5,000 foot threshold, which applies to the larger buildings that are part of the downtown core area – not Miller, not Safeway. You could apply for a conditional use permit to have no parking if you are doing a non-expansion renovation or change of use to a building that was more than 5000 sq feet.

Read More

One Year After Its Mill Valley Comeback, The Hivery Thrives as a Women-Fueled Hub for Community, Creativity, and Growth!

The Hivery

ā€œThis space is our comeback kid and a testament to the resilience of women-owned business. We fought for years to bring this concept back into a brick-and-mortar offering, and it took tenacity and courage to make that happen. We did this because of our belief in the impact of women supporting women and spaces that celebrate women’s brilliance,ā€ says Grace Kraaijvanger, Founder of The Hivery. The light-filled space includes open coworking and inspiration areas, private nooks, dedicated event space, and a sunlit backyard lounge. Built largely with upcycled and curated materials, the design reflects The Hivery’s commitment to sustainability and intentional beauty. Over the past twelve months, The Hivery has welcomed hundreds of women from across Marin, San Francisco, and the greater Bay Area for weekly community lunch and discussion gatherings, creativity sessions, professional development workshops, restorative retreats, mentorship circles, networking events, coworking, and its signature 12-week Incubator Program.

Read More

PAAM, the Performing Arts Academy of Marin, Presents ‘Annie The Musical’ – March 21st & 22nd, 2026!

Performing Arts Academy of Marin Unveils this year’s MainStage production of Annie: The Musical, on March 21 & 22 at the Marin Center Showcase Theatre

Performing Arts Academy of Marin is delighted to present the beloved musical Annie! With the book and score by Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin, this Tony Award winning show brings friendship, adventure, and family to the stage. Directed and choreographed by PAAM’s own Matthew McCoy, with featured choreography by CEO & Artistic Director Annie Leese. Join the big city adventure as the charming little orphan Annie sets off to find her parents who left her at the orphanage run by the cruel and scheming Miss Hannigan. With help from her friends along the way, Annie finds a new home and discovers the true love of friendship and family.

Read More

The Outdoor Art Club Hosts an Extraordinary Season of Deep Dives into the Arts, Local Politics & the Natural World, From Grammy-Nominated Legends to World-Class Climate Scientists!

Outdoor Art Club: 2026 Speakers

The OAC’s public speaker programs for 2025-2026 begin in September. We hope you will join us for an engaging year of speaker programs and public events. Be sure to note the location for each program. Our Clubhouse will be closed from January through May as our kitchen undergoes a major renovation. Programs during that period will be at various locations.

Read More

Makers Market at The Lumber Mill Valley Lumber Yard Remains One of the Stalwart Businesses in Town – Now They’re Offering 10% Off for any Mill Valley Chamber Members – Thursday, Dec. 18th, 9am to11am!!

Bianca Wallace runs the original Mill Valley location, and she, like all of our amazing retailers in the 94941, is excited to engage to meet and meet more people in the community.Ā It’s all happening on Thursday, December 18th! To that end, Wallace is hosting an exciting event from 9am-11am at Makers Market, offering 10% off to any Mill Valley Chamber Members. Shop cute and unique goods from Northern Cali’s most talented Makers, while you enjoy the gorgeous view of Mt. Tam, listen to live music, and grab a bite to eat at our monthly outdoor marketplace!Ā 

Read More

Whether It Be Immersive Beauty Indoors or Outdoors, Art is Deep in the 94941 – Let’s Connect With Our Abundance of Creativity and spread More Art, Murals and More in 2026!!

When people think of murals, they often picture large public artworks on commercial buildings—and Mill Valley has a few. But with Mill Valley Murals, co-founders Alex Fong and Lynsey Vera, are expanding that vision, bringing vibrant, personalized art not only to businesses but to homes as well. A local artist and mom, Lynsey’s public works include familiar local favorites such as the red-tailed hawk at BooKoo, the Tam Valley meets Palm Springs scene at the B-Lounge/Tam Junction, and the cool birds of Upside Coffee. Beyond public spaces, Lynsey has also created many private murals in homes across the community—building lasting friendships with neighbors while delivering one-of-a-kind works of art that are as unique as the people who live there.

Read More

Sweetwater Music Hall Fall Lineup: From Pink Talking Fish to Zepparella, Reggae, Bluegrass, and Beyond!

Sweetwater Music Hall Fall Lineup

Sweetwater Music Hall, the storied Mill Valley nonprofit venue that has been a home to the counterculture and beyond since 1972, keeps the fall calendar packed with music for Deadheads, hippies, and fans of every genre. Jam fans will zero in onĀ Pink Talking Fish, the beloved fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and Phish, performing November 1 and 2. For those who live in the Allman Brothers’ zone,Ā Freestone PeachesĀ hit the stage October 4, while Zeppelin devotees will be thunderstruck byĀ Zepparella, bringing two nights of classic rock fire October 17–18.

Read More