Live Music, Moonlight Hikes & Local Buzz

🎭 Cool Events This Week

🎵 Summer Concerts at Marin Art & Garden Center

🗓️ Thursday, July 10, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm (gates open 4:00 pm)

📍 Marin Art & Garden Center, Ross (30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.)

When Thursday evening rolls around, the Marin Art & Garden Center transforms into a laid-back music festival on the lawn. This week’s concert features Makuru, a dynamic Afro-fusion group led by Peter Warren and fronted by Ousseynou Kouyate — a renowned singer and dancer from the National Ballet of Senegal who also toured with Senegalese superstar Youssou N’Dour (yep, that voice on Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes”). The band blends rich West African rhythms with guitar, bass, drums, and traditional instruments, all delivered by top Bay Area world musicians.

Families lay out picnic blankets, kids dart between redwood trees, and couples sip wine as the sun dips low. You can bring your own picnic (or pre-order a gourmet basket) and there’s local beer, wine, and even gelato for sale on-site. With a KidZone play area and Pixie Park nearby, it’s a community jam that’s as family-friendly as it is soul-stirring.

🎟️ Admission $20 adults in advance ($25 at gate); kids under 17 free. Parking on-site is $10 in advance ($15 at gate). Space is limited, so snag tickets early.

👉 Pro tip Arrive right when gates open to claim a prime spot on the lawn and let the kids play before showtime. Bring low chairs or a blanket – you’ll be dining al fresco and dancing barefoot in the grass by concert’s end. Also, save room for dessert: the on-site gelato cart is hard to resist on a warm summer night.

Marin Art & Garden Center Website→ 🎟️ Get Tickets

🌕 Full Moon Hike – Buck Moon at China Camp

🗓️ Thursday, July 10, 7:45 pm – 10:15 pm

📍 China Camp State Park, San Rafael

Looking for a little midweek magic? China Camp is hosting a full moon hike under July’s glowing Buck Moon, and it’s pure Marin serenity. You’ll wind along peaceful bay-side trails as the moon rises over the water, with city lights in the distance and the scent of sagebrush in the air. Rangers and volunteers lead the way, sharing local lore and pointing out nocturnal critters as they emerge under the moonlight. It’s a quiet, grounding way to reconnect with nature — no boat, no crowds, just the rhythm of your footsteps and the rustle of nighttime breezes through the trees. Difficulty: moderate 3.5-mile round-trip hike with 500-foot ascent. Ages: 10 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.

🎟️ Admission Free hike, $10 per vehicle for parking. No RSVP required.

👉 Pro tip Pack layers (coastal nights cool off fast) and bring a flashlight or headlamp for the return. Water and sturdy shoes are a must. Want a better view? Show up a little early to let your eyes adjust and take in that moonrise over the Bay. It’s something special.

Friends of China Camp Website→ More Info

🎨 2nd Friday Art Walk – Downtown San Rafael

🗓️ Friday, July 11, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

📍 Downtown San Rafael (4th Street Arts District), San Rafael

On Friday evening, downtown San Rafael turns into an open-air art gallery. The monthly 2nd Friday Art Walk invites you to stroll Fourth Street and pop into dozens of galleries, studios, and shops hosting local art. Start at Art Works Downtown (the hub of the event) and follow the trail of paintings, sculpture, photography and more on display. You’ll meet artists in their element – many studios host open houses – and enjoy that special creative buzz as live music or street performers add to the scene. It’s a casual, come-as-you-are community night where inspiration and neighborly vibes fill the sidewalks.

🎟️ Admission Totally free. Just wander in and enjoy. (No tickets or rsvp required.)

👉 Pro tip Make an evening of it – grab dinner or a drink at one of downtown’s many restaurants and pubs as you explore the art walk. Many galleries offer light refreshments, and the later it gets, the livelier the scene. Parking can fill up quickly; the city garage on C Street or the lot by the West End Village are good bets if street parking is scarce. Comfortable shoes recommended for those historic San Rafael sidewalks!

Visit Marin Website→ More Info

🤘 Flamin’ Groovies 60th Anniversary Show (with The Minks)

🗓️ Friday, July 11, 8:00 pm (doors 7:00 pm)

📍 Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley

Ready to rock with some Bay Area music legends? The Flamin’ Groovies, the seminal San Francisco rock band formed in 1965, are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year – and they’re hitting the intimate Sweetwater Music Hall stage for a rare Marin appearance. Expect a genre-blending journey through the Groovies’ cult classics (“Shake Some Action,” anyone?) delivered with the raw, garage-rock energy that made them underground icons. Their fanbase spans young and old, so you’ll be rubbing elbows with original fans and new converts alike. Kicking off the night is The Minks, an all-female Kinks tribute band that will transport you straight to the swinging ’60s with hits like “You Really Got Me” and “Lola”. It’s a one-two punch of rock ’n’ roll history that’ll have the Sweetwater’s walls shaking (in the best way).

🎟️ Admission $35.58 in advance / $40.72 day-of (general admission). Tickets available online and likely at the door if not sold out, but this show could pack out fast.

👉 Pro tip Sweetwater is a cozy venue, so arrive early for a good spot — a limited number of tables are available for early diners, and standing room will fill up quick. The venue has a full bar and kitchen; grab a burger or craft beer when you arrive so you’re set for the night. Parking in downtown Mill Valley can be tricky on a Friday, so consider ridesharing or give yourself extra time to find street parking (there’s a public lot on Sunnyside Ave a short walk away). Rock on!

Sweetwater Website→ 🎟️ Get Tickets

🚗 Marin Motor Social – Cars & Coffee

🗓️ Saturday, July 12, 8:00 am – 10:00 am

📍 Strawberry Village Shopping Center, Mill Valley

Calling all car enthusiasts and early birds – Marin’s coolest new cars & coffee meetup is revving up this Saturday morning. Marin Motor Social (every 2nd Saturday of the month) turns the parking area at Strawberry Village into a casual car show brimming with classics, exotics, and specialty cars. Roll up at 8am and you’ll find vintage roadsters and modern supercars parked side by side, hoods popped and owners ready to chat about what’s under the hood. Porsche Marin helps host the gathering, so expect a few head-turning Porsches in the mix, along with muscle cars, quirky collector favorites, and more. It’s a relaxed, family-friendly scene – stroll with your coffee (yes, Starbucks and local cafes are open early) and take in the automotive eye candy as the morning fog burns off. By 10am, engines roar to life and the convoy disperses, so don’t sleep in or you’ll miss it.

🎟️ Admission Free for all. If you’ve got a sweet ride, bring it down to show off – no registration required. Otherwise, just show up and enjoy.

👉 Pro Tip Arrive on time (or even a bit before 8:00) if you want to see the most impressive line-up and grab a parking spot in the show. After drooling over dream cars, treat yourself to breakfast at one of Strawberry Village’s eateries – a bagel from New York Bagels or a breakfast burrito from High Tech Burrito makes a perfect post-car-show snack. And if you’re not a morning person, set that alarm anyway – the Marin Motor Social wraps up by 10am sharp, so the earlier the better for peak car-spotting.

Visit Marin Website→ More Info

🎶 Corte Madera Summer Concert in Menke Park (Bubba’s Taxi)

🗓️ Sunday, July 13, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

📍 Menke Park, Corte Madera

Sunday afternoons in Corte Madera just got an upgrade with a free summer concert series at Menke Park. This weekend’s headliner is Bubba’s Taxi — a local Marin band made up of hometown musicians who just love to jam. They serve up rock and blues covers with a laid-back vibe that fits the park setting perfectly. It’s the kind of music you can tap your toes to while lounging on a blanket or dancing barefoot in the grass. Bring a picnic and your favorite people for live music in the heart of town. The atmosphere is neighborly and mellow. Kids running around, friends catching up under the trees, and that sweet summer soundtrack playing in the background. With cafes and shops nearby at Town Center, it’s easy to stretch the afternoon into a full-day hang.

🎟️ Admission Free

👉 Pro Tip Show up a little early to snag your favorite patch of lawn. If you forget snacks, grab a sandwich or iced coffee from a nearby cafe before settling in — this is peak easy Marin living.

Corte Madera Community Foundation Website→ More Info

🍴Foodie Find

🍲 Comforts Family Café & Marketplace

📍 San Anselmo (Redwood Highway)

Tucked off the beaten path in San Anselmo, Comforts Café & Marketplace is the kind of spot you’ll visit once, then find yourself going back again and again. This hybrid café and market serves breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch in a warm, herb-filled dining room, complete with deli-style marketplace offerings to take home. The menu rotates with the seasons, featuring comfort dishes ranging from Korean-style ham and cheese sandwiches to spring vegetable frittatas — always fresh, flavorful, and made with care. Yelp reviewers rave about the fried chicken and buttermilk pancakes, calling the service “super amazing” and the food “really fresh and delicious.” It’s local, casual, and downright satisfying without the pretension. Expect to spend around $12 to $18 per plate.

👉 Pro tip Swing by on a weekday morning to catch the café at its sunniest and calmest. Don’t miss the ever-changing deli case, where you can grab a jar of seasonal soup or a ready-to-go entree for later. And if you see Korean-style street toast on the menu, dive in. It’s comfort food with culinary flair.

Comforts Family Website→ More Info

📢 Local Buzz

🤑 “Marin County Elected Official Absolutely Milking the System”

A fired-up r/Marin post from this week shone a spotlight on Assessor Shelly Scott, who’s reportedly pulling a $185,000 annual pension on top of a $239,000 salary as Marin County Assessor—totaling $424K+ in public money every year. The post hit a nerve, and the comment section spilled with a mix of outrage, curiosity, and defense:

• “That’s nuts for working the same job twice.” echoed one fed-up local
• Others warned there’s no law against it, the pensions are legal, and she’s not breaking rules
• A few came to her defense, pointing out the experience she’s bringing and noting that pension-plus-pay structures aren’t unique to Marin County

What it means for Marin: This thread taps into a deeper question: Transparency versus perks. Many feel public servants should be paid fairly, but not layering pensions on top of full salaries. It’s fueling conversations about how we fund local government, and whether it’s time to revisit perks that feel outdated in today’s budget climate.

Reddit Website → Read the Post

🔥 Prescribed Burn on Mount Tam Was a Hit

Over on Marin County’s official Nextdoor, the fire department followed up on a prescribed burn near Bon Tempe Lake (Mt Tam watershed). The post, issued just days ago, shared that the burn went smoothly and crews are still ‘mopping up’ to prevent flare-ups. Local neighbors responded with appreciation for the transparency and reassurance it brought. A few mentioned they saw drifting smoke but understood its wildfire-prevention value. Others asked when access to Sunnyside Trail would reopen.

What it tells us: Locals want to know what’s happening, how it impacts public trails, and whether it’s being handled responsibly. It’s a reminder that safety in Marin isn’t just about action behind the scenes — it’s about keeping the community informed, involved, and confident in the process.

Nextdoor Website → Read the Post

🚌 Marin + Sonoma Propose Highway 101 Transit Overhaul

A lively thread on r/Marin kicked off this week with a jab at bureaucracy:
“Six transit operators and three funding agencies and nobody proposed not having nine different ‘public’ groups all trying to solve the same problem.”

The post was in response to early news that Marin and Sonoma counties are exploring a major transit upgrade along Highway 101. Ideas on the table include express bus lanes, improved rail service, and smoother connections between the two counties. And locals had thoughts.

Some were skeptical about investing more in the SMART train:
“What if we give people less options for their commute in favor of a train that was poorly conceived?”

Others dreamed bigger:
“SMART will never be what it wants to be until there’s a higher-speed train that crosses the Golden Gate Bridge and links to Embarcadero.”

That kicked off a passionate side convo about whether trains could ever cross the bridge. One user noted engineering constraints. Another pushed back, calling the original “can’t-happen” study a political move. A few floated alternatives like pairing SMART with faster ferries and RORO access, calling the current ferry system criminally underutilized.

Amid the debate, some pointed to real signs of progress. “There were hundreds of people using SMART to get home from the Marin County Fair,” one commenter wrote. “People are seeing the utility.”

What it tells us: Marin residents aren’t just venting about gridlock. They’re weighing big ideas, challenging inefficiency, and wondering if nine overlapping agencies are too many cooks in the transit kitchen. Whether it’s faster trains or better buses, people clearly want change that actually connects the region.

Reddit Website → Read the Post

💎 Hidden Gem

📚 Rebound Bookstore

📍 West End Village, San Rafael

Rebound Bookstore is a charming little hideaway tucked in San Rafael’s West End Village, where time seems to slow down and book lovers of all ages feel right at home. Owned for nearly two decades by local couple Toni and Joel Eis, this mom-and-pop shop houses some 35,000 used books, records and quirky treasures. On Saturday mornings the place can look like a daycare center, with neighborhood kids curled up in reading nooks while parents chat with the owners. Every nook hides a potential discovery – from out-of-print curiosities to beloved classics – and the cozy atmosphere practically begs you to linger. Off the tourist trail yet beloved by locals, Rebound Bookstore radiates a warm, whimsical soul that you’ll be itching to share with friends.

Why it’s a hidden gem:
This mom-and-pop shop feels like stumbling into someone’s living room full of stories and soul. It’s been named Marin’s best used bookstore again and again, yet it remains delightfully under-the-radar. It’s the kind of place you want to whisper about over coffee.

👉 Pro Tip On a sunny day, check for their outdoor bargain table. Rebound sometimes sets up one by the entrance with surprise finds like kids’ books, coffee-table volumes, and eclectic gems at bargain prices. That’s where the real treasure-hunt magic happens! Chat with Joel Eis, co-owner and one of the friendly faces behind Rebound’s counter—he often recommends offbeat, surprising titles from their eclectic 35,000+ collection, from UFO lore to foreign-language finds .

Rebound Bookstore Website → More Info

⛺️ Marin Summer Camps 2025

⚽ Marin Summer Camps 2025 Guide is Here!

Just in time for the final week of school—your go-to list of 40+ Marin summer camps is now live! From art to science to outdoor adventure, it’s organized by age, category, and location. Whether you’re still scrambling for a few weeks of coverage or mapping out the full summer, we’ve got you.

Rank Marin Website → View the Guide

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