September 17th: Weekend Events, Play Date Idea, Restaurant of the Week & Weeky Calendar

Welcome to this week's edition of 'The Marin Scoop'. If you want to travel a little further afield for a play date or a family outing at the weekend then head over to Tilden Park in Berkeley which has so many great fun things to do. The Restaurant of the Week is a great place in Larkspur that allows you to enjoy the woodland outside, inside their period building.
It would be great to make this blog more interactive by letting me know your thoughts on the events and ideas posted each week. If you attend any the activities, what you thought of them or have any questions or suggestions then please let me know by adding comments below the post. Thank you and enjoy!

Weekend Events

Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th

Family Day Kite Festival, from 11- 4.00 pm, Marina Green, San Francisco, between Scott & Webster St.
Watch the spectacular kites flown high above the Bay from acrobatic moves by world champions to the hand-made entries of amateurs. The festival will not only feature kite-flying but kite-boarding, kite-boating and other examples of wind power entertainment. Free kites provided for all ages at the ABC Make a Kite Pavilion. http://www.fdkf.org/ 

'Magic Circus' at Belrose Theatre, Sat from 8.00 - 10.00 pm, 1415 Fifth Street, San Rafael, $20
Benny Bendini's 'Incredible Magic Hat Show' and Germar's 'Comedy Magic with a Twist. http://www.magiccircus.com/

Sunday 19th

'The 3Bs', from 2.00 - 7.00 pm, Dickson Ranch, 182 San Geronimo Valley Drive, free
Neighbourhood events with live music, children's activities, bubbles and live music. http://www.dicksonranch.net/

'Oktober/Kinderfest', from 12 - 6.00 pm, German Tourist Club, 30 Ridge Avenue,  Mill Valley, $15
Annual German culture festival featuring a polka band, traditional group dances in traditional dress, and a menu of German food and beer. http://www.touristcllubsf.org/ 

Sunday Morning Story Time, Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, at 11 - 11.30 am
Join the wonderful Christopher Smith for an uplifting sing song and story time

'JAMband Family Festival' from 3.00 pm, The Park Chalet/Beach Chalet, San Francisco
The last show of the summer season on the lawn of The Park Chalet at the end of Golden Gate Park, nestled between the forest and the ocean. 'The Hipwaders' at 3.00 pm & 'Charity and the Jamband' at 3.45 pm. http://www.jamjamjam.com/ 

Play Date Idea

Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley
If you feel like taking a little outing outside Marin then head over to Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley for a fun day out! It features the Regional Parks Botanic Garden of California native plants, an 18 hole golf course, and the nature area is 740-acre preserve with 10+ miles of hiking trails.

The park has fun features for kids such as the beautifully restored Herschell-Spillman merry-go-round which is open at weekends from 11.00 - 5.00 pm. The Redwood Valley Railway with miniature trains running at weekends from 11.00 - 6.00 pm. Also The Little Farm featuring cows, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, rabbits and ducks. The sheep and goats appreciate a good munch, so remember to bring celery and lettuce for them!

The park's gem is a small sandy beach at Lake Anza surrounded by beautiful scenery and wildlife, the perfect setting for a picnic. Refreshments such as sandwiches, hot dogs and ice cream are also available from the Lake Anza Beach Club.
http://www.ebparks.org/

Restaurant of the Week
Tavern at Lark Creek, 234 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur

The real feature of this restaurant is the building, an 1888 Victorian Murphy House that has great character and ambiance. The main dining room has a huge glass central skylight so you feel like you are eating inside a conservatory, which allows you to enjoy the trees and beautiful woodland surroundings outside. It also has a large dining table in the middle of the restaurant which is great for large family gatherings and group bookings. It also has a garden patio for alfresco dining.
We have found the service to be friendly and efficient and they make kids very welcome, which adds to the warm cozy atmosphere, something you want as the temperature cools down   The Tavern is great for weekend brunch, my husband likes either the Corn Beef Hash with caramelized onions, peppers, and two poached eggs, or the Spanish Chorizo Scramble with onion, spinach and pecorino cheese. I like both the Country and Pacific Benedict with Smoked Salmon and asparagus. You can also build your own Tavern Burger with sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onion, Applewood bacon and more. My son likes their Mac & cheese or scrambled egg with sausage and an English muffin.

You have the option of building your own Prix Fixe Dinner by selecting a starter or salad, an entree and a dessert for $28.95. Highlights from the menu include Alaskan Halibut, mushrooms, farro, English peas and radish salad, or Chicken Breast with Spanish Chorizo, savoy cabbage, crushed potatoes and spring onion broth, or the Mole Pork Shank with garbanzo beans, onion and peppers. 
The dessert menu matches the restaurant's cozy setting by offering homemade comfort food like the Rhubarb Crisp, oat streusel with vanilla ice cream, or the Butterscotch Pudding with chantilly cream and cookie or my favorite the Chocolate Bread Pudding with candied cocoa nibs and chocolate espresso ice cream, delicious!http://www.tavernatlarkcreek.com/

A Weekly Calendar of Toddler Friendly Activities Around Marin

Monday10 .00 - 10.30 am - Kid's Story Time Club, Pharmaca, 7514 Redwood Blvd, Novato
10.30 – 11.15 am – ‘Music Together of Marin’, The Parent’s Place, 600 Fifth Ave, San Rafael
10.30 - 12.00 pm - Jumping Jacks, 118 Strawberry Drive, 2nd Floor Gym, Mill Valley
10.30 & 11.00 am - Baby Bounce for 2 yrs & under, Tiburon Library, 1501 Tiburon Blvd (Register)
3.00 – 5.00 pm – Crawlers Camp (up to 23 months) at Stretch the Imagination, 47 Tamal Vista Blvd

Tuesday10.00 – 10.30 am - ‘Baby Bounce’ Story time at Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd
10.00 – 11.30 am - ‘Jumping Jacks’ at the San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael
10.00 – 11.30 am - ‘Drop in Play’ at The Parent’s Place, 600 Fifth Ave, San Rafael
10.15 - 10.45 am - 'Music Circle' & stay for 'Play Date' until 1.15 pm at The Parents Center, Heller's Store, 514 4th Street, San Rafael (for children under 3 years old)
11.00 - 11.30 am – ‘Book Club Story Time’ at ‘Pottery Barns Kids’ store, Corte Madera Village
4.00 – 8.00 pm - Farmer’s market, Grant Avenue, Novato
Wednesday9.30 - 12.00 pm - 'Power Play' at Cal Star Gym is back! Digital Drive, Ignacio
10.15 – 10.45 am - ‘Music Circle’ at The Parents Center, Heller’s store, 514 4th St, San Rafael
10.30 – 10.50 am – ‘Story Time with Miss Kitty', Civic Center Library
10.30 - 11.30 am - Drop in Play, MLK Gym, 610 Colma Street, Sausalito
11.00 - 11.30 am – Story Time at Giggle Store, Corte Madera Village
3.00 – 5.00 pm – Crawlers Camp (up to 23 months) at Stretch the Imagination, Corte Madera
4.00 – 8.00 pm - Farmer’s Market, Bolinas Park, Bolinas Road, Fairfax
6.30 pm - Sep 22nd musician Tim Cain will be performing at the Novato Library, 1720 Novato Blvd

Thursday8.00 – 1.00 pm – Farmers Market, The Civic Center (Puppet Show and balloon lady by Jumpy Houses)
9.30 - 12.00 pm - 'Power Play' at Cal Star Gym, Digital Drive, Ignacio, Novato
9.30 – 10.30 am – ‘Jumping Jacks’, San Rafael Community Center, 618 B Street, San Rafael
10.30 – 11.00 am – Story Time at San Rafael Library, 618 B Street, San Rafael
11.00 - 11.30 am - Story Time at Barnes & Noble, 313 Corte Madera Center
3.30 - 4.00 pm - 'Stories with Phil Sheridan', Sausalito Library, 420 Litho Street
3.00 – 7.00 pm – Farmers Market, Marin Art & Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross
6.00 – 9.00 pm - Farmers Market, 4th St, between Lincoln and B St, San Rafael

Friday
10.30 - 11.30 am - Story Time with Sarah Bonnett, San Rafael Library, 618 B Street, San Rafael (until Oct 1st)
10.30 - 11.30 am - Tot's Club, City Hall Parks & Recreation, 420 Litho Street, Exercise Room, Sausalito
9.00 – 2.00 pm – Farmers Market, Alto Shopping Center, Mill Valley
9.00 am – 2.00 pm – Farmers Market, Bank of America parking lot, Downtown Sausalito