AlterTheatre keeps the edginess intact with North Bay theatrical events. They are based in downtown…read moreSan Rafael and will perform at a different local venue for each production they produce. Most recently this was 888 Fourth Street on the eastern side of downtown San Rafael. Prior to that, they could more often be found in a venue on the west side of town. AlterTheatre is an ensemble place, which means that strong attention is placed on casting, design and script choices. This past year, they expanded their season to three plays, and intend to continue with three for the foreseeable future. I appreciate how they often mix bold new plays in with something more known. With this past season, that meant re-introducing INTIMATE APPAREL by Lynn Nottage, world premiering a new workshop piece by Bob Ernst, and local premiering TWO SISTERS AND A PIANO by Nilo Cruz.

Dedication, passion and provocative…read more No, this isn't a personal ad. This is AlterTheater Ensemble. Performances here are thought-provoking,well performered at various locations for a great and reasonable price. Concessions are all by done by donation (but much deserved for all their effort!) Being a theatre goer AND doer...I know that it's hard to get funding even if you do all of the above--so I highly HIGHLY recommend checking out their website and dropping in for a show. You won't regret it. www.altertheater.org

It's fair to say that Marin is no hotbed of nightlife but lately, the rain and early sunsets have…read moreme nesting a bit more than in past years. It's in the midst of this nesting that I've discovered the joys of what the Throckmorton Theatre is laying down. The free, monthly noontime concerts are great as is the always popular weekly comedy night but more recently I've been enjoying the other events offered. In so doing I've come to see the Throckmorton as an essential community asset; they save me a drive to the City while providing right-sized entertainment close to home. When I attend events here I leave feeling thankful for their offerings. In recent months I've enjoyed a Jonathan Richman concert (fab... bring him back!), a concert by a local band, and A Chorus Line, teen edition. That last one left me sorry that I'd missed the previous one-time Broadway shows showcased here and with resolve not to miss another. For a little above the cost of your ticket you can pay to enjoy reserved seats but if you fail to do that you'll find equally satisfying seating on the main floor (they also have balcony seating) if you arrive early enough to snag it. I find myself checking the Throckmorton's calendar with a frequency, these days, that I'd not have anticipated even one year earlier. They've not disappointed yet.

I had not been to this charming theatre in many, many years. It is just as lovely as I remember…read more The art work in the lobby is so interesting. And the interior of the performance hall is exquisite with such detailed woodwork, gorgeous light fixtures and murals. We attended a free musical concert with an outstanding local violinist who featured art on the screen to accompany the music he played. I've honestly not heard a violin played with such versatility. What a treat this show and venue was!

Wow!! Why didn't I discover this place sooner? It is GREAT for kids!!…read more Not too many places offer camps during August, or drop in/drop off activities five days per week for kids. Studio 4 art offers both. We signed our daughter up for one of the weekly camps and she loved every day of it! It was "clay week", so every day they've been doing activities with clay - the wheel, braiding clay into basket forms, and making all kinds of things. The studio will fire them in the kiln and you can then take them home the next week. Outside of the camps during school breaks, you can do the drop in/drop off option and the kids can pick the activity they'd like to do. It's about the same cost as paying a sitter/nanny, so it seems a great option for a few hours when needed between 10a.m. and 5:30 p,m, M - F. Apparently they also do kids birthday parties on the weekends and some Fridays. What a great, artistic option for kids!

We had a wonderful birthday party for our kids and their friends at the San Rafael DoArt space. The…read morepet adoption project was perfect, and the teacher adapted it when storm related traffic led to late arrivals. The back area was perfect for having an after project treat. We recommend this highly!

My husband and I went to their first Wednesday of the month free beginner intro and had a great…read moretime. Friendly welcoming people and a good activity for both body and mind. Name tags for everyone and they indicate who is new vs experience which is helpful. You can come with a partner or alone. They are relaxed about outfits and footwear which is nice compared to other dance environments. Plus there was easy parking, free snacks, and an epic view of the Bay. Highly recommend. We'll be back for sure!

I have been dancing with the Tam Twirler Square Dancers club for nearly five years, and I wanted to…read moreshare how much I enjoy the experience. I'm always looking forward to attending to the Wednesday night club dance. It is a fantastic environment for learning square dance while socializing with a kind and supportive group of dancers. Additionally, our caller, Eric Henerlau, is one of the best in the country; it is truly an honor to dance to his calls. Come to join the club and start to enjoy the fun!!

I devoted ten years to studying voice with Rebecca Jones. More, if you count the summers I…read morereturned to Marin from college and begged for a lesson or two to brush up. Rebecca not only transformed my voice, but she helped me find my sense of self, guided me through my troublesome adolescent years, championed my successes, and mourned my losses. Calling her a mentor is an understatement, but it's the word that comes to mind. Today, I am a working actor in New York. I still use Rebecca's techniques and continue to contact her with news of my life, both personal and professional. Go schedule a lesson before her calendar fills up. Samantha C.

Rebecca is the best voice coach I could have ever hoped for! She is a talented, consistent, kind,…read morecompassionate, patient, and generous human being. I love working with Rebecca as she has coached out my inner singer / songwriter and fueled my creative endeavors. I have passionately re-engaged in music after decades of hiatus and just released a single on iTunes and Spotify. Rock on Rebecca!

With the name Fuzed, I literally that it was Millennial Fusion Restaurant. Thank goodness it…read morewasn't. Fuzed is a place where you can craft with glass. I went there with my company to do a group project. We had 3 hours to finish. We were given a 4 x 4 clear glass sheet and our project was to use different types of glass to design a picture of a house utilizing different types of glass. At the end of the design, they fired up our glass pieces so that the glass pieces all melt together or how they like to say," Things get Fuzed." The learning curve is really easy. The only difficult part, as a first timer, was trying to figure out how each glass piece react to the heat. It's more science that I thought there would be in an art project. At first glance, working on a 4 x 4 glass piece may seem small, but once I started working with the glue, cutting glass, resetting, glueing and then repeat, all 3 hours went away in a heart beat. This was a real great place to build my team. It also gave me great insight in their personality. Everyone was so detailed oriented and wanted their art piece to be super perfect. So if you're in San Rafael, and are looking for something to do, check this place out.

This a great place for kids and adults alike. Do you have an inner muse crying for you to explore…read moreyour artistic talents? Or do you just want to try something fun that you take away with you. You can do both here. With the Wonderful help of all the ladies that are there to assist you day after day, it is so easy. My girlfriend (BGE) surprised me with this for fathers day, and I found and made something I actually needed, and now its also beautiful. She made me very happy. So what is the big deal. Well. You can create your own personalized piece of art glass. You assemble the project and they fire it for you. Earrings, special tableware, jewelry, paperweights, all sorts of things. If you can imagine it, you can probably make it. You start with a base of your choosing, then you select from hundreds of types of colored glass pieces and start decorating. When your masterpiece is finished, you give it to them and they melt your glass pieces into your base. BAM ! ! ! Art is returned to you in just a few days. For what you get, it's not just art, but a memory. What great fun I had. Maddy the store manager was a great help, as were ALL the ladies that work there. And they explain the process and make it effortless. I prize my creation. Bravo. We shall return.

We have our two daughters in this program and we love it (and so does the girls). The instructurs…read moreare very professional and they are also professional singers themselves. They do lots of performances at elderly homes etc. They normally practice once a week in San Anselmo. The instructor for our girls is Katie Gerber. She's fantastic.

This organization is a hidden gem in Marin. The instructors are so passionate and talented, the…read moremusic they choose is so beautiful, and you can tell the girls are having the time of their lives.

Shana Kenney is a skilled educator and has filled one of the greatest needs in Marin and beyond, a…read moreschool that promotes social skills as much as it does learning. My son is in a classroom of 5 children, with one full time teacher, and a teacher's aid. They also have a science teacher, a behavioral therapist, an OT room and two beautiful playgrounds that the kids can use for body breaks and physical movement. Shana and the teachers understand how to teach kids who are often task avoidant due to ADHD, ASD, and other behavioral and learning differences. They incorporate social skill practice and nurture the kids to build self confidence in their abilities to thrive, learn, succeed, and build friendships-- the public school system simply cannot meet those needs, and instead end up stigmatizing children with differences. Finally there is a place where children with differences can get the attention and academic help they need, without exclusionary punishment or being made to feel different or bad. My son couldn't read after two years at public school and after two months at ACA, he's reading at 1st grade level and is showing advanced math skills. Equally, if not more important, now he loves going to school and is learning social skills and making friends. His self confidence is climbing steadily. Kudos to you Shana for creating this oasis of learning for these kids. So lucky we found you!

ACA is dreadful…read more.. Just before my son got into ACA, his camp behavioral therapist said to me she believed he was being coached by the other parent to alienate him from me. And she was willing to work with me to ensure my relationship with my son remained healthy. Later, she started working at ACA and said her director Shana had told her she could no longer communicate with me. Dismayed, I reached out to Shana to resolve the issue, but she wouldn't respond. I then contacted the teacher again who emailed me stating my son hates me and the sooner I'm out of his life the better ... unreal. She did a complete 180 on me. Her response was probably due to her worrying about her job more than anything, which shows the power toxic people have over others. Regardless, teachers should never speak to any parent like that. After that, I show up to pick up my son and see Shana approaching my car with a stern look on her face. She then leans into my car window and demands I pay her. I told her to step away from my car, she then threatened to call the police and record me (she did neither -- essentially manipulating the situation), and all this happened in front of my son and his classmates. To say this behavior was out of line and unprofessional is an understatement. After the altercation Shana emails me (and for some reason, my ex-wife) threatening that I can't go on her property again ... the result? I must pick up my son from the adjacent church. On top of all that, the school accused me of stealing the papers my son brings home, which is asinine -- don't you keep copies?! Even worse, when speaking with the San Rafael school district they communicated to me the information received from ACA is unreliable, in other words my son isn't getting the education he deserves. And here's the real kicker, if you have any issues with this school you'll have to go to court. Why? Because it's a non-accredited school that answers to no one. Children should be in environments where there's structure and kindness, not toxicity. If you're thinking of having your child in this school, I highly recommend you do your homework to help with your decision making. I'm not the only parent who has had trouble with Shana.