What an absolutely dreamy spot for a wedding…read more San Rafael Community Center proved this weekend - to be the most picturesque location for a gathering of beaming friends and family - all coming together to celebrate a special union. As an event space it is phenomenal. It has a plethora of parking out front and nearby. I loved that it was right next door to the Marin Bocce court (bringing back lovely memories). The security personnel out front were welcoming and friendly and we were able to walk right in for the festivities. Once inside - we were greeted by kind staff. As we entered the main auditorium we all let out a big gasp at the same time. The space is awe inspiring. The ceilings are tall and majestic - with beautiful wood beams and strategically placed skylights. The stage was big and perfect for the incredible band. - and the main room easily accommodated a plethora of tables - elegantly adorned with stunning flower arrangements. The best part of the venue - was that it opened up to an absolutely gorgeous patio area - complete with an historic fountain, and lined with magical trees and flowers. The whole afternoon was a dream. Everything flowed beautifully. You could tell from every aspect of this wondrous building, and the hired staff that made the event run smoothly - that a lot of love and pride has been instilled in this building. If you enjoy celebrating community spaces in an authentic way - I recommend staying up to date with the different community events happening at this remarkable spot. Be sure to also potentially keep it in mind for your own special event down the road. Trust.

This is a very nice Community center. It's located in the heart of San Rafael with a good size…read moreparking lot. For big events the parking lot is often full. The center has a very large ballroom and smaller rooms that expand to accommodate smaller functions. I've attended events in the ballroom such as the Chinese New Years event with performers using the full stage. Other events include Goldenaires bingo, armed Cross blood drives, and the Mull Valley Film festival party. Even Jared Huffman has used the ballroom for his in person events. The smaller rooms are terrific for trainings by the Women's Pilitical Action Committee and lunches or parties. There is a full kitchen and custodian on staff. It is also a good value.

This is a hidden gem!!! Gorgeous venue, hardly needs decorating at all. I had my wedding here and…read moreeveryone I dealt with was beyond wonderful. Janette, the event space director, is super sweet and flexible. My wedding guests kept raving about the breathtaking views. There is plenty of parking too!

I have attended some events and meetings here over the past year, but last week I decided to…read moreventure in to their regularly scheduled "religious" service on a Sunday. The greeting was beautiful, everyone had name tags, they were smiling, jubilant and welcoming. I filled out a form, put on a name tag, and was given a cute little gift bag with some Hershey Kisses and Andes candy in it, along with a bookmark, notepad, pen and information about UU. I've been on a spiritual journey/quest for a while, trying to find a new church home, a more open, accepting and welcoming place. I have been a member of another church (and still am) for going on fifteen years, leaving hasn't been easy, and as I visit other churches, I'm learning that I'm right where I need to be. It gets very warm in the room where they have their service, and frankly it felt more like a political rally of sorts rather than a spiritual experience. They music is interesting, they have a pianist, and a group of people who sing, a choir actually, it's solemn type music, almost put me to sleep, but not in a bad way, in a peaceful way, sort of like meditation. They have a time where you can write your joy and/or sorrows on a slip of paper, and say they reverend will read them (I did not expect what happened next), so, after a reading from a Dr. Suess book, they congregation was to hold up these slips and the ushers would come to get them, well, the Reverend; Joy took mine, and the others were brought up to her. SHE READ THEM ALL ALOUD to the entire room, the entire congregation, and it felt like a horrible violation as I misunderstood - I did not see or read or hear anyone say Reverend Joy was going to read them aloud, right then and there for all to hear. GOODNESS I was blown away, just in awe and shocked to hear what was written said out in public for all those people to hear. It felt like a huge violation of trust! Fast forward to the end of the "sermon" on earth day, they have some coffee, and water, with snacks after out by the beautiful fountain, and several people chatted with me, which made me feel more at ease after hearing what I'd written read to so many strangers. The warmth, love and comfort I received from complete strangers was more than I've received from any member, staff or pastor (current or past) at the church I've been part of and a member of for many years. Although I was hoping for more of a spiritual teaching, and not such a religious feel, in the end, UU was exactly what I needed on that day. It's different ... It's special ... It's a gem!

Both of my kids went to West Marin Montessori before entering elementary school. Our whole family…read morecould not be happier with the choice to attend WMM. The social, emotional and academic education in a fun, engaging environment was just perfect. The school used to be located in Woodacre, but recently moved onto the campus of the Lagunitas School District. The move is ideal since most of the preschool kids will go on to one of the elementary schools of the Lagunitas District and the transition will be almost seamless.

My son is finishing his last year at West Marin Montessori, and we have been so thrilled with…read moreabsolutely everything about this preschool. Both teachers are true pros: attentive, humorous, friendly, firm, creative, always brimming with positivity even on days when I so tired that I can barely speak during drop offs, and devoted to the children. They know how to bring the best out in the kids. The school is beautiful, surrounded by hills and nature, and a hiking trail is right outside that they are able to use often. My son enjoys this school so much that he always asks to stay for aftercare so he will have more time there. The community of other families we have met through the school has also been great and we've heard nothing but positive feedback about other families experiences with this preschool.

Affordable enjoyable dance - with several great teachers who make ya laugh while knowing their…read moresomatic stuff. Come shake yer bootie. Love it at BodyVibe!

An absolute gem!!! I have been using the studio with my Latin Pulse Team girls for years now and we…read morelove the space! The owner is so incredibly kind and helpful, the space is big, light and has an incredible energy about it. Our team even has picnics at the studio because we love it so much! Highly recommend

The Ross Preschool (TRP) is a place that any child and family is blessed to have in their memory…read morebook. I know I'm not alone when I say we were sold within the first seconds of entry when greeted by the incredibly dedicated and enthusiastic teachers and head of school, David Allen-Hughes. Not only is the school environment -both in and outside- truly magical and inviting, but it is also extremely clean and well cared for, updated with well-organized, child-accessible, and aesthetically pleasing everything (think beautiful natural wood and beyond!) David and staff are constantly mindful and proactive about improving their school, so it is ever-evolving with new and exciting teaching tools and beautifying additions (ie outdoor garden and climbing wall, sensory projects, water table exploration, interesting visitors and programs from the community, etc, etc). David and teachers communicate with parents thoughtfully, often, and well in advance, so you always feel in the know. My child feels loved and at home at TRP. His mind is inspired to think creatively and independently and he's given the tools and encouragement to thrive. He calls it his 'happy place.'

This preschool is truly one-of-a-kind. Our son attended for two years and had the most wonderful…read moreexperience in every way. The teaching staff is the best of the best, the play-based curriculum includes everything from art and music to math and science. The emphasis on social/emotional development is very strong and the sense of community among the families is wonderful!!

This thanksgiving, there are many things to be thankful for, one of them is to recognize this…read moreestablishment! "The Edna maguire Mustangs are racing in the right direction " I would like to express my appreciation for the Edna Maguire elementary school of Mill Valley . It is a great thing to observe that the educators care about each other in the challenging time of the Pandemic . A well organized and professional environment, Mr Leo Kostelnik the Principal's daily announcements are educative and brainstorming for kids , by which he oversees a highly talented and dedicated people! It is a product of team efforts , skills and talent ! Some with 20 years experience in education , The Teachers produce high quality work ! Teachers like Mrs Ordonez, Mrs scholtz are fantastic without forgetting other teachers , like Lisa Monge , Mrs Jen ( Calm and relaxation expert )Mrs Bremer , Lindsay Caruso, Miekley Leslie , la lanne Jackie , Jennifer Ferrer , Fielder Leslie, Mr Mares and Mr Tong , They are very patient , enthusiastic and love their job ! The zoom link distance- learning is successful . Kids seem to be happy , learning and following along well ! As the teachers and kids are preparing to go back to school for in person learning when it's the right time ! The school is well prepared. Masks and hand sanitizers are used frequently! The classrooms are kept clean and health precautions are observed! Keep up the good work and happy thanksgiving!

My wife toured this daycare and did not like it. The baby room was tucked in a small room and…read morevery cramped, it's awful for babies to be in a claustrophobic surrounding. She also discovered that the building the school is in now was a mortuary for 60 years. Search online the keywords "guidepost mill valley mortuary" I was dismayed that they did not tell us this information during the tour. We the parents should be told so we can decide if it's good for our babies or not. you can also search "mill valley mortuary 270 Miller Ave" and it will show the building was a mortuary.

We started our son at Guidepost in December 2019 and we're so happy we picked this school! There…read moreare a lot of wonderful schools in the area (we looked at 3 preschools on Miller, all within a quarter mile of each other) so in my experience it's all about fit. I'm a big believer that preschool should: 1. Be convenient for parents. Pick up and drop off should work for everyone's schedule and ideally it's an easy "on the way" location. 2. Be the right cultural fit for your family and kid. If your kid needs a lot of outdoor play - great make that a priority! If your kid loves socializing, art, quiet time etc...make sure you talk about those things. My friends had given me a list of 2,464 questions to ask every preschool...which started to overwhelm me a bit. I landed on (after convenience boxes were checked) figuring out how they managed food, play and conflict. So with that in mind we toured all the nearby preschools, looked at pricing and availability, and decided on Guidepost. I knew very little about Montessori going into it, but it turns out it to a perfect fit for our toddler. He's very independent spirited and wants to do things on his own, and the Montessori environment has allowed him to practice all the "grown up" skills and helped him feel so confident and independent. We even changed a bit of our home set up (toy areas, kitchen area) to emulate and support the Montessori approach and it's been wonderful. The staff at Guidepost has been great. Ilsa, the school director, is so responsive and kind. The two main teachers in the toddler room (Currently Brittany and Ellen) are so tender and caring and they have truly taken the time to get to know my son and the things that make him tick. They feed him a healthy snack each day and give him lots of activities, indoor and outdoor, to choose from. My toddler completely adapted in a matter of days and basically shoos me away when he arrives because he's so happy to be at school. Communication from the school is fabulous. I get photos and updates every day with activities and events. Because Guidepost is a venture backed brand the operations are next level. I pay tuition and sign in/out all through an ap to keep things super organized. I can communicate with teachers and administrators over email or through the Transparent Classroom ap, and enrolling required no manual paperwork, posting things in the mail, paper checks or any of the other antiquated systems that many preschools still use. They are well built for the "millennial parent" and they offer amazing hours for working parents. We are extremely happy with Guidepost and plan to send our daughter there starting this summer. I'm thrilled with our decision to go with Guidepost, and am thrilled to have them as another option amongst the many wonderful preschools in and around Mill Valley.

What a gorgeous spot to stop on a bike ride. Venture down to the little beach and take a breather.read more

My husband and I had our green wedding here in late June and couldn't have been more pleased…read more We're water and nature lovers so we wanted to marry next to water (check!) and among California native plants and wildlife (check!). We were married on the tidal beach down the stairs and had our reception at the Lyford House. We had our photographer take some photos of us on the neat trail up behind the house. We loved the fact that guests didn't have to drive anywhere between our ceremony and reception. We also really liked marrying and celebrating within a bird Sanctuary. The rays in the water just offshore seemed to flip their tails on cue during our ceremony too - cool! The Lyford House facilities were great (patio, kitchen, parking, dressing room, etc). Thankfully there was enough room inside for our ~55 guests because people went inside when they got cold from the afternoon foggy winds (do plan for this!). The employees at the Richardson Bay National Audubon Center and Sanctuary were terrific to work with and even accommodated our desire to use an organic/local caterer not on their list of caterers. The only downside is we thought the fees were a bit steep but we reasoned that at least it was going to the Audubon Center. Overall, a really peaceful place to have an event.