Pints, Parades & Packed Venues: Your Marin Week Feb 24–Mar 2

🎭 Events This Week

🍺 4th Annual FeBREWary – Downtown San Rafael

🗓️ February 1 to February 29, 2026 | All Month Long

📍 Downtown San Rafael | Lincoln Ave to the West End

🎟️ Admission Free to participate | Pay as you go at each location

Why go: This is Downtown San Rafael in its element. FeBREWary is the city’s official month-long celebration of local craft beer, and it turns every brewery, tap room, and pub into part of one big neighborhood crawl. You are not stuck in one venue. You move block by block, pint by pint.

The idea is simple. Try something new from a local craft brewer or revisit a favorite you have not ordered in years. West Coast IPAs, barrel-aged pours, crisp lagers, dark winter stouts. It is all in rotation. From Lincoln Ave to the West End, there is a reason to stop in somewhere you normally walk past.

🏃‍♂️ Thursday 2/19 | 6:00 pm
Beer Club Run. A social run followed by well-earned pours.

🍻 Friday 2/28 to Sunday 3/1
Barrel-Aged Bonanza including a BA Lucy Vertical featuring five years of releases. If you care about depth, aging, and side-by-side tasting, this is the weekend to show up.

👉 Pro tip Start earlier in the evening and map your stops. Check the official FeBREWary page for live music schedules and special deals before heading out so you do not miss limited pours or pop-up sets.

Downtown San Rafael Website→ More Info

🎶 Lera Lynn with Peter Bradley Adams at HopMonk Tavern Novato, Novato

🗓️ Thursday, February 26, 2026 | Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm

📍 HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato

🎟️ Admission $36.79 to $48.18 | 21+ | Partially seated

Why go: This is a listen-in-close kind of night. Lera Lynn’s writing has that calm, sharp edge, and the Session Room setup puts every lyric right in front of you. If you know her from True Detective, this is the intimate version. 

Peter Bradley Adams brings the quiet warmth. It’s a pairing built for people who like melody, restraint, and a room that actually pays attention.

👉 Pro tip Bring ID, get there at doors, and settle in early. Partially seated means the early arrivals get the easy sightlines.

Eventim Website→ 🎟️ Get Tickets

🎙️ The Itals with DJ Sep at Sweetwater Music Hall

🗓️ Friday, February 27, 2026 | Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm

📍 Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley

🎟️ Admission $39.66

Why go: Sweetwater on a Friday is a full reset, and this one is for people who actually want reggae in a close room. The Itals bring roots energy, steady grooves, and the classic message-forward style that works best when you can feel the bass hit the floor. 

DJ Sep sets the tone so the night starts moving early, not halfway through the first set.

👉 Pro tip Dinner first, then get in at doors. Dance nights pack in fast and the best spots go before 8.

Sweetwater Website→ 🎟️ Get Tickets

🎸 Illeagles with Rhonda Lindstadt performing a Linda Ronstadt tribute at Sweetwater

🗓️ Saturday, February 28, 2026 | Doors 7:00 pm | Show 8:00 pm

📍 Sweetwater Music Hall, 19 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley

🎟️ Admission $33.48

Why go: This is peak Marin Saturday night energy. A tight venue, a crowd that knows the words, and a setlist built around Eagles harmonies and clean guitar lines. It’s the kind of show where the room starts singing early and stays with it. 

The Linda Ronstadt tribute adds a second gear. Big songs, big chorus moments, and a vibe that feels more personal here than it ever did in an arena.

👉 Pro tip Plan to be there early. If you want a seat, claim it before the first chord. 

Sweetwater Website→ 🎟️ Get Tickets

🧵 Marin Arts and Crafts Show at Marin Center Exhibit Hall, San Rafael

🗓️ Friday, February 27 to Sunday, March 1, 2026 | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily

📍 20 Ave of the Flags, San Rafael

🎟️ Admission Free Admission | Free Parking

Why go: If you want a weekend outing that feels productive and fun, this is it. It’s a big, curated hall of handmade work, fine art, jewelry, ceramics, textiles, furniture, and the kind of specialty pieces that do not look like everyone else’s. 

There are 200+ artisan exhibits, plus complimentary wine tastings and workshop energy that breaks up the browsing. You can do a quick lap and leave with something great, or stay and make it your whole afternoon.

👉 Pro tip Go earlier in the day for calmer aisles and the best selection. It’s an easy in-and-out if you keep it to a morning window.

Arts & Crafts Show Website→ Register Online

🧧 Lunar New Year Lion Dance – Fairfax

🗓️ Saturday, February 28, 2026 | 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

📍 2097 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930

🎟️ Admission Free

Why go: This is one of those daytime community moments that feels simple and joyful. The Marin Chinese Cultural Association Lion Dance Team brings drums, movement, and tradition to Fairfax in celebration of the Lunar New Year. It is loud in the best way. The rhythm pulls you in before you even see the lions.

Expect vibrant costumes, coordinated choreography, and that classic lion dance energy meant to bring good luck and drive away negative spirits. Kids stay wide-eyed. Adults end up smiling without realizing it. It is cultural, celebratory, and completely approachable.

You do not need to know the traditions to enjoy it. Just show up and let the drums set the tone.

👉 Pro tip Arrive a few minutes early to grab a good viewing spot. This is a tight one-hour performance and it moves fast once it begins.

Marin Library Website→ More Info

❤️ Local Favorite

🥖 Salt & Pepper (Tiburon)

🕒 Monday to Sunday 8 am to 3 pm | Monday to Sunday 5 pm to 9 pm

📍 38 Main Street, Tiburon, CA 94920

Salt & Pepper sits right along Tiburon’s Main Street stretch, just steps from the water and ferry traffic. It works as an easy breakfast stop, a relaxed lunch, or a low-key dinner after a Bay walk. The room feels polished but not precious. Locals blend with day-trippers and nobody looks out of place.

Mornings lean classic and satisfying. Thoughtful egg plates, solid scrambles, and pastries that pair well with strong coffee. Lunch keeps things fresh and coastal. Salads are bright, sandwiches feel composed, and portions land in that sweet spot where you are full but not weighed down.

Dinner shifts the tone slightly. A little more candlelight, a little more linger. Simple plates done cleanly. It is the kind of place you can bring out-of-town friends without overthinking it.

What makes it stick is consistency. Friendly service, steady quality, and a location that makes you want to take the long way home along the waterfront.

💡 Insider tip Grab an earlier dinner reservation on weekends and walk the shoreline after. Sunset along Tiburon’s path makes the whole outing feel intentional.

Salt & Pepper Website→ More Info

📢 Local Buzz

🏥 MarinHealth Nurses and Workers Strike

MarinHealth nurses and health care workers walked off the job this week, citing rising health care premiums and contract delays that they say do not reflect Marin’s cost of living. Union representatives claim proposed increases in monthly family health plans could jump hundreds of dollars, with some PPO plans rising by more than $1,000 per month under the hospital’s latest offer.

“We are all locked out for an additional two days. This is an outrage,” said Lynn Warner, a nurse and chief representative of the nurses’ association, pointing to what she described as higher executive compensation alongside stalled contract negotiations.

Online reaction across Marin forums has been intense. Some residents argue that six-figure wages should be sufficient, referencing posted hourly pay ranges between $80 and $110 depending on specialty and shift. Others counter that median income statistics do not reflect today’s housing costs, childcare expenses, and long commutes many nurses face from outside Marin.

The larger concern from workers centers on retention. Experienced nurses say that without competitive contracts, turnover increases and institutional knowledge fades. Hospital administrators have emphasized their responsibility to maintain uninterrupted patient care during negotiations.

The situation remains active, with contract talks ongoing and community opinion split.

Reddit Website→ Read the post

🌴 SoCal Transplants Ask: Where’s the LA-Style Mexican in Marin?

A lively thread lit up this week with a simple question from a Southern California transplant. Where in Marin can you find Mexican food that tastes like home in LA or Orange County?

The answers came fast and opinionated.

Manny’s Taco Truck in downtown Novato earned early praise, with burritos that one commenter said reminded them of Pinches on Sunset. Tucán Tacos picked up multiple nods for Baja-style tacos and strong vegetarian options. Kito’s in Corte Madera got love for SoCal-style burritos stuffed with fries. Yes, fries inside the burrito. That detail matters to people who know.

Taqueria Mi Pueblo was called the most consistent option, especially for escabeche that feels true to SoCal roots. Picante Taqueria in the Canal, Taqueria Bahai in San Rafael, and Mi Familia also landed on the shortlist.

Not everyone agreed. A few longtime residents said Marin leans more Mission-style than SoCal, and that the real LA flavor might still require a drive south. One commenter summed it up bluntly. “We never found a good substitute and tried at least a dozen places.”

Still, the takeaway is clear. If you are craving that LA taco stand feel, the community has opinions and they are strong.

Reddit Website→ Read the post

🍳 Breakfast in Sausalito. Locals Weigh In.

A simple question sparked a strong consensus this week. Where should you actually go for breakfast in Sausalito?

The overwhelming answer was Fred’s Coffee Shop. Multiple locals called it the only answer. Huge portions. Fluffy eggs that are blended before scrambling. Solid coffee. Zero pretense. It is tucked near the 7-Eleven and has that old-school diner feel people clearly protect. If you want protein, pancakes, and refills without ceremony, Fred’s wins the room.

Bayside Cafe came in right behind it. Family owned for decades, reliable portions, friendly service. Not fancy, just steady. Anchorage 5 also got repeat mentions, especially for its breakfast quesadilla and slightly off-the-beaten-path vibe.

Lighthouse Cafe drew mixed reviews. Some love it for classic diner energy and banana pancakes. Others flagged the Marin pricing reality. As one commenter put it, the “Marin surcharge” is real.

Equator earned a few nods for fast casual breakfast with strong coffee. Suzette was mentioned for something a little more polished.

Reddit Website→ Read the post

💎 Hidden Gem

🌲 Dawn Falls Trail (Larkspur)

🕒 Open daily from sunrise to sunset

📍 End of Madrone Avenue, Larkspur

Dawn Falls is the kind of trail you hear about from one friend and then quietly keep to yourself. Tucked into a Larkspur neighborhood, the entrance feels almost residential. No dramatic trailhead. Just a path that slips into the trees.

Within minutes, you are under redwoods. The air cools. The sound of the creek builds as you climb. The trail rises steadily but never brutally, weaving through ferns, mossy rocks, and shaded switchbacks. In late winter and early spring, the payoff shows up. A seasonal waterfall spills down smooth stone, framed by dense green.

It is not a long hike. That is part of the appeal. You can be in and out in under an hour or stretch it into a longer loop if you want more elevation. The setting feels secluded even though you are minutes from downtown Larkspur and Highway 101.

After a week of noise and screens, this one resets you fast.

💡 Insider tip: Go after a good rain for the strongest waterfall flow. Weekday mornings are quietest. Street parking is limited, so be respectful of neighbors and keep voices low on your way in.

World of Waterfalls Website→ More Info

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