Enjoy Mill Valley Blog

Joy is one of the themes of this Guide, so we’re celebrating some joyful experiences and the joyful people who make them happen. Support local organizations and businesses who make these experiences possible.​By Susan Lopes Our beloved Mount TamWhat sparks joy? Organizations and volunteersdevoting their time and resources to the stewardshipand protection of our mountain &…

The quintessential workers who keep Mill Valley going. From world famous musicians to the workers who are the backbone of Mill Valley, the late local photographer Suki Hill documented the famous and the overlooked.We all got a much-needed, striking reminder of the importance of those in the latter category during the COVID-19 crisis, and we’d be wise not to forget it.…

We all know the feeling: you spot someone walking towards you and you get a little rush, an extra spring in your step that comes from an impending interaction with a person who surely will brighten your day through words, deeds or an all-knowing look that brings that joyful jolt of adrenaline you needed. Here are a…

You’ll find this story and an array of other inspiring, practical content, from bits of wisdom to recipes and events (some day soon, we hope), in our 2020-21 EMV Guide, which appears within the August 2020 issue of Marin Magazine. Depot Bookstore & Cafe, circa Feb. 2020. Eldon Beck, author, “Edges: Mountains, Forests and Creeks.”…

Muir Woods photos by Kirke Wrench and Hans Roenau. Muir Woods National Monument, the 558-acre preserve of towering redwood trees, right in our backyard, is the biggest tourist attraction in Marin and the crown jewel of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, drawing visitors for more than 100 years, including more than 900,000 in 2019. But…

[Update 7.29.20] In the coming weeks, City Council will also likely consider a proposal to replace the building’s roof and fund a fire sprinkler system connection. [Update 7.29.20]: The Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposed paint color changes and the removal of the balloon awnings demo the Depot building.​Since being deemed essential construction in May, the longstanding efforts to renovate the…

City of Mill Valley’s public art installation at Camino Alto and East Blithedale states simply: “Black Lives Matter.” Amidst a historic moment when the words Black Lives Matter need to be uttered, repeatedly, out loud, City of Mill Valley officials last week unveiled a new public art installation that declared just that, along with “Mill Valley…

In recent weeks, as Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed heightened interest in enforcement of businesses regarding health and safety protocols and the Marin County Board of Supervisors’ unanimous approval of an emergency ordinance allowing Marin’s county, city and town government workers to cite violators, tensions have run high for Mill Valley restaurant owners, tensions have risen for restaurant owners in Mill Valley…

As previously reported, many Mill Valley restaurants have chosen transparency in recent weeks when it comes to positive coronavirus cases among their staff.  According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “these restaurant owners thought they were doing everything right: requiring employees to wear masks, keeping them as far apart as possible, putting hand sanitizer everywhere. Now they are starting…

SF Bay Adventure’s Schooner Freda B on the bay. Courtesy image. For more than a decade, Marina O’Neill has honored the adventurous spirit of grandmother Freda Marie Been in thrilling fashion, naming the flagship boat of her Sausalito-based SF Bay Adventures – an 80-foot, gaff-rigged tall ship available for private tours for up to 49 people and public…

Outdoor dining at the Mill Valley Lumber Yard. The folks at the Mill Valley Lumber Yard are always brimming with new ideas, and the weirdest summer in memory is no different. They’ve launched Lunchtime at the Lumber Yard, a live music music series on Saturdays from 12-2pm. “After grabbing lunch at one of our restaurants, safely sit outdoors and…