Holidays and Seasonal

Here are our picks for great events and activities for children and families this Labor Day weekend. Find more events for the whole week in Marin and beyond in our Family Events Calendar.

Friday, September 3

• Sacramento's 11th Annual Gold Rush Days will take place over the Labor Day weekend on, Friday 9 am–4 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 11 am–7 pm. Gold Rush Days is a free, fun and exciting event for the whole family! Old Sacramento will "turn back the clock" and transform into a unique historic experience with costumed re-enactors, Wild West gun fights, musicians and much more of the Gold Rush era over the four-day event. For more info, go to www.sacramentogoldrushdays.com.
• The Pacheco Plaza's Summer Music Series presents The Dan Goldfus Project (jazz, latin and folk). Dine al fresco at the new Boca Pizzeria or Taki Japanese Restaurant. Performance starts at 6 pm. Pacheco Plaza is located off 101 on Ignacio Boulevard in Novato. More info: www.pachecoplaza.com.
• The 142 Throckmorton Theatre and Marin Youth Performers presents Into the Woods on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sun at 2pm. An ambivalent Cinderella, a blood-thirsty Little Red Riding hood, a Prince Charming with a roving eye, and a witch who raps are all among the cockeyed characters in James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's fractured fairy tale, Into the Woods. Cost: Adults $18; Students $14; Reserved seating $30. The 142 Throckmorton Avenue is in Mill Valley. For more info, call 415-383-9600 or go to www.142throckmortontheatre.org.
• Film Night in the Park presents 16 Candles on Saturday evening at 8 pm at San Anselmo's Creek Park. Suggested donation $6 for adults and $3 for children. For more info, call (415) 453-4333 or visit www.filmnight.org.
• Marin Shakespeare Company presents The Taming of the Shrew, Friday at 8 pm. Adults $30, seniors $25, youth $20. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre at Dominican University of California, San Rafael. More information and tickets: www.marinshakespeare.org.

Saturday, September 4

• The Sausalito Art Festival, the West Coast's ultimate art experience, returns this Labor Day weekend. Hours: Saturday and Sunday from 10 am–6 pm and  Monday from 10 am–5 pm. This years event will showcase more than 20,000 works of fine art, live music, food and drinks and many fun options for kids with live performances by Tim Cain on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 2 pm. Some of the headlining bands include The Bangles, Pablo Cruise, Jefferson Starship, Mavis Staples and Sons of Champlin. Proceeds from the Festival support local arts and community non-profits. $20 general ages 13–61, $15 seniors 62+, $5 for children 6-12. For more info, go to www.sausalitoartfestival.org.
• The Curtain Theatre Company presents As You Like It on Satuday and Sunday at 2 pm. in Mill Valley's Old Mill Park. Free and family friendly! No reservations. For more info, go to www.curtaintheatre.org. Old Mill Park (behind the Mill Valley Library) is located at 350 Throckmorton Ave. in Mill Valley.
• Marin Shakespeare Company presents The Taming of the Shrew, Saturday at 8 pm. Adults $30, seniors $25, youth $20. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre at Dominican University of California, San Rafael. More information and tickets: www.marinshakespeare.org.
• Film Night in the Park presents Pixar's Up on Saturday evening at 8 pm at San Anselmo's Creek Park. Suggested donation $6 for adults and $3 for children. For more info, call (415) 453-4333 or visit www.filmnight.org.

About the end of July you start to see people stopped by the side of the road, poking around in the bushes. No, they're not doing anything strange or unseemly; they're picking wild blackberries! Late summer is definitely blackberry season in Northern California. And what's best is that these sweet little fruits can be had for free just about anywhere, if you're willing to risk stained clothing from all that blackberry juice, as well as the occasional wound from the blackberry's thorns.

There is a native variety of wild blackberry, the California or Pacific blackberry (rubus ursinus), but that's relatively hard to find these days, being supplanted by a non-native species, the domesticated Himalayan or Armenian blackberry (rubus armeniacus). This variety, fast-growing, invasive, and considered a pest by many, was introduced as a commercial cultivar in California in the late 19th century, but like so many non-native species prevalent in the state today, it got loose and spread all over the place. An easy way to tell the difference is to look on the underside of the leaves. The California variety is green, whereas the Himalayan is white.

Father's Day is nearly here! We asked Kebby McInroy, Marin mom and owner of Novato's Studio 4 Art, for some ideas for unique handmade gifts for Dad. Studio 4 Art offers drop-in art making sessions, art classes, summer camps, and more. Look for their booth at this weekend's (June 12 and 13) Novato Festival of Art, Wine and Music.

As Father’s Day quickly approaches, it’s time to think about that “something special” to give that special dad. Studio 4 Art has many last minute handmade options available to you. These are all created in the studio with instructors that are there to assist you along the way.
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Memorial Day- Monday, May 31

• The Mill Valley Volunteer Firefighters are holding their annual pancake breakfast on Memorial Day from 7–11 am in front of City Hall at 26 Corte Madera Avenue. In addition to pancakes, scambled eggs and sausage will be served. This a  popular event in Mill Valley and the money raised goes to some great causes. Most of the proceeds from the pancake breakfast are given to local charities. For more info, go to their website.
• The Mill Valley Memorial Day Parade, themed "Doing Our Park," begins at 10:30 am in Old Mill Park and winds through downtown and Miller Avenue. Holiday events will conclude with a program of live music and family entertainment from noon–5 pm at the Mill Valley Community Center, 180 Camino Alto. For more info, go to their website.
• The 33rd annual Marin Memorial Day Races will take place at the College of Marin on Monday at 8 am. Some of the events include a 2.5-mile race and 10-kilometer race, with youth track races for children beginning at 10 am. For more information or to register online, visit www.marinraces.com.
• The Marin County Memorial Day Observance takes place on Monday at 9 am at the Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium in San Rafael. The event features music, a remembrance program, flag displays and wreath-laying ceremonies. Admission to this event is free; no tickets or reservations are required. For more info, go to their website.
• The Presidio's Memorial Day Commemoration begins on Monday at 10:30 am at the Presidio Main Post Parade Ground. The event starts with a parade led by the 191st Division Army Band and proceeds to the nearby National Cemetery. Formal ceremony begins at 11 am with wreath laying, remarks, a reading of the Gettysburg address, and a 21-gun salute. Rangers and volunteers, some in costume, will lead tours of the cemetery and highlight the lives of noteworthy soldiers. Park near the Presidio Officers’ Club at 50 Moraga Avenue. More information: (415) 561-5500 or www.presidio.gov.

Brunch is a popular option for celebrating Mother’s Day. Here are a few unique options that are family friendly:

• The Club at McInnis Park hosts a Mother's Day brunch buffet from 10 am to 2 pm. Enjoy brunch right on the golf course and then play a game or some mini golf. The menu includes eggs benedict, eggs Florentine with smoked salmon, waffles, French toast, omelette station, carving station, salads, and desserts. The cost is $29.95; children 10 and under are $14.95. They are located at 350 Smith Ranch Road; (415) 491-5959.
• Deer Park Villa in Fairfax has a Mother's Day brunch buffet from 10 am to 3 pm. The buffet includes eggs benedict, honey-baked ham, salmon, chicken and crepes, salads, fruit, pastries, and desserts. The cost is $29.95 for adults, $14.95 for children between 6 to 12, and $7.95 for toddlers ages 3 to 5. Call (415) 456-8084 for reservations.
• Cacti in Novato offers a Mother's Day brunch from 10:30 am to 2 pm, featuring complimentary champagne for all mothers, eggs benedict, roast beef hash with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, filet mignon enchiladas, BBQ tri tip, and more. Cost: $26.95. Reservations: (415) 898-2234.
• Mountain Home Inn is having a Mother's Day Sunday brunch from 11:30 am  to 3 pm. The three-course brunch includes champagne mimosas, spring pea soup, vegtable fritatta, BBQ chicken, and strawberry shortcake. The cost is $34 for adults and $20 for children under if they eat from the Mother's Day menu (otherwise kids can order from the regular children's menu, $4–$9).The Mountain Home Inn is located at 810 Panoramic Highway and the phone numer is (415) 381-9000. Reservations advised.
• Rancho Nicasio on the Nicasio Town Square is having a Mother's Day brunch buffet from 10 am to 3 pm.  Some of the dishes offered include poached coho salmon with champagne sauce, roast beef, baked Petaluma ham, potato latkes with sour cream and applesauce, and locally grown vegetables. Adults $26.95, seniors 65+ $22.95; children under 10 $14.95. For more info and reservations call (415) 662-2219.
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Earth Day is Thursday, April 22. It’s a great time to celebrate and teach our children the importance of preserving our planet’s resources. Teaching our children a few simple habits will help them to grow up preserving the environment through their daily activities. There are so many small things your kids can do every day to keep the world cleaner and greener.

Earth Day ideas and activities

• Plant a tree or flowers in the garden. Take your children to a local nursery and pick out a small tree or some flowers that you can plant in your yard or garden. Explain to your children that trees and plants reduce the greenhouse gases and give us cleaner air.
• Use both sides of paper when coloring. Teach your children that when they are doing art projects, like coloring, to use both sides of the paper. Explain to them that using the paper more than once will help save trees.
• Reuse & Recycle. Get the children involved when it comes to recycling and explain to them why it is important. Show them the different types of items that can be recycled and have them help separate trash from recyclables.
• Conserve water. Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth. As much as 2 gallons of water is wasted when the water is left running while you are brushing your teeth. Also, limit the amount of time when washing hands or in the shower. The best way to teach your kids is by being a good example. Just because we've had plenty of rain this season doesn't mean water is a limitless resource.
• Turn off the lights. Explain to your children that lights, computers, and televisions use energy, and that energy is in short supply, so turning off the lights or TV when they are not in the room is important.

This Thursday, April 22, is Earth Day! At Marin Mommies, we've decided to make it "Earth Week" and focus on conservation, green living, and the environment every day this week. Look for environmentally-themed posts here through Friday, as well as a calendar of Earth Day events for families throughout Marin and the Bay Area.

One of the most immediate and simplist things you can do for the environment is to recycle. But sometimes the task of recycling becomes a little more difficult than just sorting the plastic bottles from the glass and flattening those cardboard boxes. What do you do with batteries? Old worn out Crocs? Flourescent bulbs? Real Simple magazine has a handy online article that literally tells you how to recycle or reuse anything, aptly named "How to Recycle Anything."