We rode the SMART train into town for fun one day. We didn't have a plan other than to walk around…read more We happened upon Art Works after visiting Riley Street. Both my kiddos are very artistic and were absolutely thrilled to tour this studio/gallery space. The front desk attendant was very welcoming, and we all really enjoyed being surrounded with so much creativity. There was something to see at almost every turn, and even a few interactive pieces. It really was a treat to see my kids soak it all in and to be in their element for a change. It will be our go-to destination on all future jaunts to San Rafael.

On my first visit I found a community of artists ready to invite me into their studios and share…read moretheir meaningful works of art. Barbara, one of the artists there, even gave me a tour of the space, galleries and filled me in on the history and mission of the building and community. As a non-profit organization they work to keep the costs low for renting studio space and allow artists to rent gallery space for exhibitions. And I'm very much looking forward to the next art walk which occurs every 2nd Friday of the month. If you're looking to find an artistic community in Marin County, or just enjoy speaking with passionate artists, then you've found the right spot.

Upon a utility box at this corner is a depiction of a great white egret standing and one that's…read moreabout to take flight. These depictions are bigger and better drawn than any I've seen in the east bay. Creator: unknown. Notation "A114A11" at top unknown purpose..

This place is magical! They have a huge selection of Buddhas…read morethat will bring peace to your home or garden!

A Gem!! Routes…read moreGallery has become one of my absolute favorite places--not just to shop, but to be inspired. Nearly every room in my world is touched by the beauty I've found there: my Skin Care Spa is filled with serene Buddha statues, shimmering geodes, and soulful objects that have helped create a sanctuary-like atmosphere for my clients. It's more than decor--it's energy. A feeling of peace, presence, and reverence that people feel the moment they walk through the door. My home and garden are equally graced by their treasures: a majestic Balinese water goddess by the fountain, a large Buddha watching over my deck, and a meditation room filled with meaningful, handpicked items--all from Routes Gallery. What truly makes this place extraordinary is the owner, Richard Routher. Richard is a gem--kind, thoughtful, full of creative ideas, and genuinely loves his work and is always so helpful to me.. He always goes above and beyond, and it shows in every interaction that I have had over the years. Whether you're looking to infuse your space with sacred beauty or searching for that perfect meaningful gift, Routes Gallery is a place of wonder and heart. I'm forever grateful I found it. Dalini

This is a really fun and unique oral history project. Lift the reciever and dial for a story! It's…read moredefinitely a do-not-miss on Bridgeway.

I love cool stuff. Here is a very cool idea brought to life. I ended up spending an hour on this…read morehistory entertainment as my family found more of Sausalito's charm, history and entertainment elsewhere. I was so charmed by 415 Bridgeway Pay Phone Project, I did some research. According to Larry Clinton, Sausalito Historical Society (Thank you Larry!), "When Alfredo and Tera Ancona opened their second Sausalito restaurant, Cibo, at 1201 Bridgeway, they noticed a decommissioned phone booth out front by the sidewalk. Tera decided to repurpose the old payphone to "present our great community in a unique way."  Her dream was to offer a quarterly audio magazine with short talks by or about Sausalito locals, which people could hear over the phone. For help, she turned to friends Philip and Tonya Wood at San Francisco-based Sound Made Public, a creative agency focusing on audio experiences, large and small, that change the way we hear the world.  They arranged to have a receiver installed in the old phone, so it could play back recorded messages. Today, passersby can step up to the booth, check out a menu of current messages, and select one or more using the touchtone keypad. Carie Meier and Kourosh Ghadishah of the Caledonia St. firm LondonMeier created the visuals behind the payphone. The selection of recordings is eclectic, ranging from an old timer recalling Sausalito during the Summer of Love to a poem by Naiomi Shihab Nye performed by voice over professional Joe Paulino.  A fellow named Jeremey describes living aboard a 26-foot sailboat for 18 years.  A segment called "Salty & Sound" presents a one-minute immersive audio postcard of Sausalito sounds. There's a 4-minute biography of Sally Stanford, the ex-Madam who became mayor of Sausalito. The group El Cajon performs the song "Captain" from their album "Meteor."  Various locals share what they like most about Sausalito.  And there's a search and find game with various riddles which must be solved to uncover a surprise. Tera even gets into the act herself, offering her recipe for the perfect pie shell. The plan is to change the menu quarterly, so repeat visits are recommended.  And the best part? There's never a busy signal."

I like this community art gallery. Membership opportunities and studio space is offered at the…read moreMarin Art Society. The gallery offers a gallery with rotating art shows plus members get to display their artwork on dedicated wall space. This gallery is large and austere as you can see from the video. The day I visited the gallery there was a juried show. I had a nice conversation with a volunteer who also has a studio downstairs. Each month the members draw to select their wall space for the following month or quarter. Membership to the Society requires one to sit the gallery and pay regular dues. This location is the best kept secret in Marin. Every time I dove by I made a mental note to stop by. It took me 2 yrs a very sunny day and balloons and flags out front that I finally stopped by. I hope you visit this gallery and enjoy the many talented works from local artisans. I understand the Society takes part in the San Rafael Friday Night Art Walk as well.

Marin Society of Artists has moved from a rental gallery tucked away in Ross to a working…read morestudio/gallery located on third street and participating in the San Rafael second Friday ArtWalks. Shows are both local and national. Please join us, to nosh and enjoy the shows and even consider renting a reasonably priced studio for your own creative pursuits.

Fascinating for history students...rare finds...travel far...in Bay Area...house museum with Maple…read moreLawn building...Elk's Lodge? Downtown San Rafael has a main street with shops and restaurants...like old times...fun...anytime really...it's not hard to visit some parts of outer Bay Area counties...this area has access with the transit center buses that go out of the bridge area...nice adventure...some people are ignorant of buses...sometimes buses are a better to way to transport...house museums are in all directions NWSE...etc...this one is different...it says that the daughter was a polar photographer, geographer, and went on expeditions...related to Canada etc...really wonderful time to visit the history house...quiet community...scholarly...athletic...

MHM has some excellent programs, both over zoom and in person. I attended Jo Haraf's discussion of…read moreher book Murder, Marriage, and Betrayal, set mostly in Marin--Novato, San Rafael, Olompali--and learned so much about the founders of Marin County and it's early history. Marcy's walking tours sound fantastic, and since they are outside, they should be within covid protocols. Now that part of the collection is back in it's beautiful home in downtown San Rafael, it's more accessible. Reach out.

the Redwood Trees are an exhibit within the confines of Marin Country Mart. MCM's owners…read morecommissioned S. & S. to create same. the exhibit is part playground, part education, part exhibit, part preservation. the 3 large sections of a redwood tree lying flat, standing up are testimony to the immense size of redwood trees in their native habitats. some children enjoy playing around them. per Linkedin website re: J.S. Rosenfeld & Co. ..."is a privately-held real estate company driven by the art of preservation, modernization, and community building in order to create open-air, unanchored villages characteristic of the original California country mart phenomenon of the past". creator: Smith & Smith sponsor: J. S. Rosenfeld & Co.

I don't ever bother going into this library. I enjoy the outside grounds. It is very green on the…read moreproperty where the library sits. Looking thru the windows it kind of appears to be stuffy inside and there doesn't appear it is a comfortable place to study.

Although I didn't attend DU, I came here frequently when I was a college student living in Marin…read moreCounty to study. I was always impressed by how quiet it was- other students and patrons were always respectful and mostly silent. Making everyone check in and present their IDs made me feel safe and secure, which is always appreciated when studying in a public location. I loved the tables that faced outwards because there were some great views to take in while hitting the books. One thing to be aware of if you're not a student- the library does not offer guest WiFi, so plan ahead by setting up a mobile hotspot or preloading things on your device.