Depot Plaza
Mill Valley Winterfest Is Coming Soon on Sunday, Dec. 7th, With Lots of Performances, the Amazing Electric Train Around Lytton Square, Incredible Ginger Bread Houses And Much More to Come!
Winterfest, the 94941’s annual holiday celebration produced by the Mill Valley Chamber and supported by the City of Mill Valley, returns to the Downtown Plaza on December 7th, drawing another massive outpouring of residents, participants and friends to celebrate the holidays! We’ll be unveiling all of the amazing local holiday performances in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, there’s plenty of excitement to chew on, including the return of the beautiful Electric Train that kept kiddos and their families busy and happy throughout the day last year.
Read MoreOn the Heels of a Successful Measure L to Address Infrastructure Needs, City Pivots to Implement an Extension of the Municipal Service Tax for Another Decade to Continue Repairing Roads & Clearing Flammable Brush
Now the City Council and staff are pivoting to an extension of its Municipal Service Tax for another decade to continue repairing roads and clearing flammable brush. That assessment came after City Manager Todd Cusimano reported on the tax, known as the MST, at the City Council meeting on Oct. 20 as part of a strategic discussion that looked at future street repairs and local revenue streams. “We will have to continue with the MST,” he said. “If we do this right over the next 10 years, we’ll be talking about potentially not having to have one of these taxes.” “This is not a forever tax,” added Councilmember Urban Carmel. “This is really the end game, I think, for the next round.”
Read MoreTwo of the Most Widely Influential Businesses in All of Mill Valley – The Store & Proof Lab – Were Honored at the Spirit of Marin Awards in Late Sept. – We Celebrate Them and Our Entire Business Community!!
Two of the Most Widely Influential Businesses in All of Mill Valley – The Store & Proof Lab – Were Honored at the Spirit of Marin Awards in Late Sept. – We Celebrate Them and Our Entire Business Community!!
Read MoreMarin IJ: Mill Valley Moves to Modernize Parking Payment System
“During the kiosk trial period, staff collected and responded to approximately 25 complaints,” a staff report said. “Complaints ranged from not understanding how to use the kiosk, not liking the kiosk, lack of ease of use, expressing that the kiosk was positioned too far away from their vehicle, frustration there was a line to use the kiosk, and that it was less convenient than individual meters.” The Police Department said it acknowledged and understood these concerns, but also noted the advantages of kiosks over the meters. They required less maintenance, had more payment options and were more environmentally friendly.
Read MoreNYTimes: Outsiders Love Mocking Marin. It’s Been Laughing at Itself For Decades – In February, ‘Marin Lately’ Began Satirizing the Wealthy, Idyllic Swath of the Bay Area. The Author Was a Mystery, Until Now
Every king needs a court jester, and one has finally arrived here in the form of Marin Lately, a satirical online publication. It’s like The Onion, but filled with inside jokes that only Bay Area residents might appreciate. Or “Portlandia,” the television series about Portland, the Oregon city similar in spirit to Marin. Add to it a dash of mystery reminiscent of the television series “Bridgerton,” in which the townspeople pore over Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers while speculating about who among them is dishing their dirt. At yard parties and around the Marin Country Mart, everyone seems to be asking the same question: Who is behind Marin Lately? If anyone knew, they weren’t telling. Until now. The answer, dear readers? Scroll on. It all started in February with a simple headline: “Tiburon Still Boring.”
Read MoreMill Valley Friends of Parks & Recreation Gather Again to Raise Thousands to Support Parks and Rec Projects Since 2016 – This Fantastic Event Is Set for Thursday, Sept. 25th, 5:30-9:30pm, at the Sweetwater Music Hall!
In order to continue our mission to advocate and provide funding for Parks & Recreation programs and improvement of facilities, we need your help. If you aren’t already a supporter of the Mill Valley Friends of Parks and Recreation, don’t miss this opportunity to become one now! “Join us at the iconic Sweetwater for music, fun, drinks, appetizers, as well as meeting new Friends, on Thursday, September 25th from 5:30pm to 9:30pm at 5:30 pm,” says Joan Murray, one of the many board members associated with the Mill Valley Friends. There will be drinks, appetizers, music, auctions and more. 100% of all proceeds will go towards Parks & Recreation projects.
Read MoreArts Commission’s 2025 Free Concerts in the Plaza Are Almost Here!! Los Mendoza y Friends @ 11am, IrieFuse @1pm, Nancy Fawson & Corner Pocket Band, 3pm-4:30pm, Mark Karan’s Buds: 5pm-6:30pm & Soji and the Afrobeat, 7pm-8:30pm!
Mill Valley also showcases thrilling live music at long-cherished festivals like the Homestead Valley Music, which returns to Homestead Meadow, as well as the Creekside Fridays at the Tam Valley Community Center, with Fog Burners on August 22nd and Marble Party on Sept. 5th! And don’t get us started on the venerable nonprofit Sweetwater Music Hall, which has top-notch live music just about every night of the week, as often does the Throckmorton Theatre. While the buskers and bands keep playin’ year-round, one of the most exciting live music events returns this month, on August 31st, with CONCERTS ON THE PLAZA! Concerts in the Plaza returns in 2025 on Sunday, August 31st from 11am to 8:30pm. This year’s concerts are a special Mill Valley 125th Anniversary Showcase as a part of the Labor Day Weekend-long celebration.
Read MoreBest Way to Find One’s ‘Why’ at Work: The Always Creative Grace Kraaijvanger, Founder of The Hivery Co-Working Space, Garners Kudos From Pacific Sun!
The Pacific Sun just spotlighted The Hivery among the Best of Marin 2025! Named Best Co-Working Office Space by Pacific Sun readers, The Hivery in Mill Valley is more than just a place to work—it’s a movement. A hub for creativity, mentorship and meaningful connection, The Hivery provides women with the space and support they need to build the next chapter of their lives. Founder Grace Kraaijvanger built The Hivery on three guiding values: kindness, creativity and community. Her goal? To create a metaphorical—and literal—space where the creative and collaborative process is embraced not just by artists, but by anyone seeking purpose-driven work and a life that matters. “It’s a movement about working in an entirely different way,” says Kraaijvanger on her site. “We hug, we belong, we learn, we mentor and we elevate.” In Marin, where the line between work and purpose is often beautifully blurred, The Hivery proves that success doesn’t have to come at the expense of one’s soul.
Read MoreMarin IJ: Mill Valley Aims to Loosen Business Permit Requirements
Brian Foster, a commercial real estate broker, told the officials they were “on the right path.” He urged them to be open-minded about filling vacancies. “You want to have a staff that has some agency … where they can look at a use and go, all right, you’re going from a real estate office to a lighting store. It’s pretty benign,” he said. “And if you can check some boxes we can make it work.” The commissioners instructed city staff to revise their proposed changes based on their suggestions and present them to the City Council for feedback. Once the council weighs in, the process of formally revising the city code would return to the Planning Commission and council for final approval. City officials hope to amend the city’s commercial codes and parking ordinances by this fall.
Read MoreMarin IJ: Mill Valley Speeds Green Building Code Update
The council directed Cusimano and city planners to move forward. “Mill Valley has had a history … of going above and beyond when it comes to climate action,” said Vice Mayor Max Perrey. “I was just so impressed with our climate action plan and our community members that contributed to such a significant and thoughtful report,” said Councilmember Caroline Joachim. “We have the opportunity to really take advantage of this time and make the most of it before that six-year moratorium hits.” AB 306 has some exemptions that city staff believe Mill Valley could qualify for, Cusimano said. “But we want to leave no stone unturned and we don’t want to be sitting here a year from now regretting or assuming something that’s not the case,” he said.
Read More