Memorial Day BBQs, Michael Mina’s Tuna Party & Bioluminescence

🎭 Cool Events This Week

🥘 Anders Osborne Cookout Concert

🗓️ Friday, May 23, 6:00 – 9:30pm

📍 Novato (HopMonk Tavern Beer Garden)

New Orleans blues-rock guitar legend Anders Osborne brings serious soul to Novato in an early-evening outdoor show. Part of KC Turner’s “Cookout Concert” series, this gig pairs sizzling guitar riffs with actual BBQ grill sizzle. Grab a craft beer, stake out a picnic table, and groove to Osborne’s fiery tunes as the sun sets, a family-friendly rock show where dancing on the lawn with a pulled-pork slider in hand is totally encouraged.

Visit HopMonk Website→ More Info

🎹 John Carroll Kirby Live

🗓️ Friday, May 23, 8:00 pm

📍 Mill Valley (Sweetwater Music Hall)

Genre-blending keyboardist/composer John Carroll Kirby (known for collaborations with Solange and Frank Ocean) lights up Mill Valley’s iconic Sweetwater Music Hall. His sound is a jazzy cocktail of grooves, think ambient funk meets cosmic lounge. It’s the kind of intimate show where serious music nerds and casual Friday-night beer sippers alike will be nodding along. Kirby’s virtuoso solos and chill vibes promise a sonic trip that’s uniquely Marin (cool, eclectic, and just a little bit quirky).

Sweetwater Website→ More Info

🌾 Marin Country Mart Farmers’ Market

🗓️ Saturday, May 24, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

📍 Larkspur (Marin Country Mart Plaza)

A lively outdoor market where upscale Marin meets down-home farm fresh. Browse organic produce, artisanal breads, local cheeses and more, all to the tune of live folk music and happy kids dancing. This isn’t your ordinary farmers’ market, expect gourmet food trucks and perhaps more designer strollers and doodle dogs than actual farmers (it’s Marin, after all).

• Mart Littles Music: 9:30 am to 10:40 am
• Mart Littles Crafts: 10:30 am to 1:30 pm
• Music for All: 11 am to 2 pm

Marin Country Mart Website → More Info

⚾️ San Rafael Pacifics Baseball

🗓️ Saturday, May 24, 6:00 pm

📍 San Rafael (Albert Park)

Nothing says community like a night at the ballpark with the San Rafael Pacifics, our own independent league baseball team. It’s small-town Americana in action: the crack of the bat, the smell of popcorn and freshly cut grass, kids dancing for foul balls – all set against an oak tree backdrop. Tickets are just $10, hot dogs and local craft brews are flowing, and the mascot Sir Francis the Drake might even high-five you. Come for the love of the game and stay for the between-innings shenanigans (think dizzy bat races and maybe a dog parade). It’s minor-league baseball with major Marin charm.

San Rafael Pacifics Website → 🎟️ Get Tickets

🚒 Muir Beach Volunteer Firemen’s BBQ

🗓️ Sunday, May 25, 12:00 – 5:00 pm

📍 Muir Beach (Santos Meadow)

A 51-year Marin Memorial Day weekend tradition! The volunteer firefighters of pint-sized Muir Beach host this legendary annual BBQ picnic and fundraiserthemarindish.com. Expect finger-lickin’ BBQ chicken, veggie tamales, and homemade desserts served under towering redwoods. Local bands (reggae and rock) keep the meadow grooving all afternoon. It’s a family-friendly hoedown, there’s face-painting for kids, cold beer and premium wine for grown-ups, and a raffle with prizes from surfboards to gift baskets. All proceeds support the Muir Beach Volunteer Fire Dept., so you can justify that second slice of pie as “charitable giving.” This is quintessential Marin community spirit (with extra BBQ sauce on top).

Muir Beach Fire Website → More Info

🍣 The Art of Tuna: A Culinary Celebration with Chef Michael Mina

🗓️ Sunday, May 25, 5:30 – 9:00pm

📍 The Bungalow Kitchen (Tiburon)

Chef Michael Mina is teaming up with Chef Yama for a Tuna Carving Party at The Bungalow Kitchen. Expect sake flowing, music bumping, and the freshest Pacific bluefin carved live in a traditional Japanese ceremony. Enjoy hand-rolled sushi, signature cocktails, live Taiko drummers, and curated giveaways throughout the night. Mingle with Chef Mina and get ready for an unforgettable experience, Bungalow Kitchen style. $149/Person + Tax

Bungalow Kitchen Website → 🎟️ Book Now

🇺🇸 Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade

🗓️ Monday, May 26, 9:45 am – 12:00 pm

📍 Mill Valley (Downtown & Lytton Square)

Mill Valley’s biggest annual event returns with a full morning of hometown pride. The festivities kick off at 9:45 am with a Veterans Ceremony at Lytton Square, featuring a student essay contest on “What Memorial Day Means to Me.” At 10:30 am, the beloved parade rolls through downtown, showcasing local bands, vintage cars, scout troops, and community floats. It’s a heartwarming blend of tradition and togetherness. Bring your lawn chair, wave a flag, and celebrate the spirit of Marin.

Enjoy Mill Valley Website → More info

🍽️ Foodie Find

🍣 Kuro Nami Japanese Kitchen | San Anselmo

“Best New Restaurant in Marin 2025”

This stylish new sushi spot, opened in 2024, just snagged the title of “Best New Restaurant in Marin 2025” (yelp.com). Helmed by a team of passionate Japanese food aficionados, Kuro Nami has been wowing diners with super fresh sashimi and creative rolls. It’s a sign that even sleepy San Anselmo is stepping up its culinary game. If you haven’t tried their omakase or house-made tofu, add it to your to-do list. The locals are already in on the secret.

View Menu → Kuro Nami

📢 Local Buzz

🚲 E-Bike Showdown

Marin’s impending ban on throttle e-bikes for kids under 16 has local forums in a frenzy. Safety advocates are cheering (“About time those teen speed-demons slow down!”), but many parents and teens are grumbling that the fun police have arrived. One Marin dad’s crusade against reckless e-bikers made headlines, turning him into the poster parent for the cause. Cue heated online debates over helmets, speed limits, and whether a $25 fine will really deter a 15-year-old on a $3,000 electric bike. The only thing everyone agrees on? In true Marin fashion, opinions are flying faster than an Ultranet e-bike on a downhill.

SF Gate Website → More Info

🚫 “No New Friends” in Marin

A Reddit post lamenting how hard it is to make friends in Marin struck a nerve. Residents chimed in to basically say “same here” – apparently our beautiful bubble can feel a tad isolating. The OP (original poster) even launched a new Bay Area friend-finder subreddit to help connect lonely locals. From Tam Valley to Novato, people are swapping stories of social drought: “Is it just me, or do playgroup invites feel like dating?” The takeaway: even in paradise, you might have to work a bit to find your tribe (or at least join a hiking club).

Reddit.com → More Info

🤔 Where’s the Nightlife?

After this year’s foodie awards, an online commenter roasted Marin’s dining scene: “I just will never understand Marin and why there aren’t better and more copious opportunities to spend their wealth on [fun]…”. Translation: We’re rich in scenery and salaries, but when it comes to late-night eats and entertainment, the struggle is real. The thread lit up with locals agreeing that by 9pm, Marin can be sleepier than a Sunday in Ross. It’s a familiar refrain, many of us cross the bridge to San Francisco when we want real action. Consider it a cheeky call-to-arms for Marin’s next entrepreneur: please, someone open a cool music venue or midnight cookie joint here (we promise to show up… by 8:30pm).

Reddit.com → More Info

💎 Hidden Gem

⛰️ King Mountain Loop

📍 Larkspur (King Mountain Open Space Preserve)

Tucked just behind downtown Larkspur is a mellow 3.3-mile trail locals love, and tourists rarely find. The King Mountain Loop at King Mountain Open Space Preserve circles a wooded hilltop that was once slated for development but mercifully preserved. This hike is beginner-friendly: no massive hills, just a meandering path under madrone and oak canopies with peekaboo views of Mt. Tam. You’ll share the trail with woodpeckers and the occasional trail-running mom, but notably no bikes (it’s hikers-only, adding to the serenity). In spring, wildflowers and mushrooms pop up trailside. It’s the perfect hidden gem for a quick escape – shady, peaceful, and just minutes from Larkspur’s coffee shops.

👉 Pro tip: park at the end of Magnolia Ave, take the Citron Fire Road up, and enjoy a tranquil loop that feels worlds away from any Marin mansions.

All Trails Website → More Info

🥾 Mini Field Trip

🛶 Tomales Bay Adventure

Embark on a delightful day trip to Tomales Bay, blending culinary delights with natural beauty:

🌅 Morning Start with a farm-to-table breakfast at Estero Café in Valley Ford, renowned for its comfort food made from locally sourced ingredients.

☀️ Midday Visit Heidrun Meadery in Point Reyes Station to sample unique sparkling meads crafted from local honey, offering a refreshing twist to traditional wine tasting.

🌊 Afternoon Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Nick’s Cove in Marshall, savoring dishes like smoked black cod dip while overlooking the serene bay.

🌓 Evening Conclude your day with a magical bioluminescent kayaking tour on Tomales Bay, witnessing the water come alive with light as you paddle through the night. This night time tour is recommended for experienced kayakers only. Not for beginners. Paddling Magazine calls it one of the 5 Best Places on Earth to experience this rare phenomenon.

Experience Enchanting Bioluminescence Kayaking in Tomales Bay.

DEPARTS FROM
Miller Boat Ramp at Nick’s Cove
23240 CA-1, Marshall, Ca  94940
Napa Valley Paddle Website → More Info

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