Roaring MARIN
BEST BEST PET GROOMER
Steve Villa Rafael Floors
Ron Leach Rafael Floors
Benta Mirow Rileystreet Art Supply
Gary Scheuenstuhl Mill Valley Music
‘Life is a lot like jazz.. it’s best when you improvise’—George Gershwin
the kids themselves choose from a wide array of ultra-fun activities. At 18 Bay Area locations (four in Marin), youngsters can try their hand at filmmaking, cooking, performing, sewing or throwing pottery, or (if they’re feeling more exuberant) cavorting on a bungee trampoline, sliding down a 90-foot water chute, racing a bathtub go-kart and lots more. (Traditional day camp activities like soccer, baseball and hockey are offered as well.) A lunch program with seven freshly made organic options is included in the fee, and the logistics are simplicity itself: “Once you’ve registered, show up anytime,” whether it’s just for one day or for the whole midJune to mid-August season. ----------------------------------------------Steve and Kate’s Camp
Bacich Elementary, 699 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Kentfield; Ring Mountain Day School, 70 Lomita Dr., Mill Valley; Olive Elementary, 629 Plum St., Novato 389.5437 steveandkate.com 2ND Canon Kids Sports Camp, Fairfax 3RD Camp Tamarancho, Fairfax
BEST KID-FRIENDLY, NON-CHAIN RESTAURANT Kids 10 and under can choose from the ubiquitous kid-menu favorites—hot dog, chicken tenders or grilled cheese—at Max’s Cafe of Corte Madera. But for those kids with a more sophisticated palate who do eat “grown-up” food, Max’s offers more— like a turkey club or barbecue pulled pork sandwich, broiled salmon or BBQ chicken breast, all served with chopped salad, fries or Mandarin oranges. Every item from the kids’ menu comes with milk or a soft drink and a scoop of ice cream for dessert. Rather than settle for a mere scoop of ice cream, children with bigger appetites may favor the flower pot sundae—chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream, gummy worms, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and a cherry—a reasonable
$2.50. Booths are large enough to hold a good-sized family without being squished together. Meanwhile, the rest of the party can enjoy big portions of an amazing variety of dishes—the restaurant’s motto: Everything you’ve always wanted to eat— and those old enough can relax with an adult beverage from the full bar. ----------------------------------------------Max’s Cafe of Corte Madera
60 Madera Blvd., Corte Madera 924.MAXS maxsworld.com 2ND Toast, Mill Valley and Novato 3RD Wipeout Bar & Grill, Greenbrae
BEST OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMP Camp Soulajoule, the residential summer camp at Walker Creek Ranch in West Marin, is a place that kids return to again and again. Campers aged 8-12 are treated to a special learning experience that emphasizes environmental education through idyllic outdoor activities, such as swimming, canoeing, hiking, nature crafts, volleyball, archery and a trip to the beach. Nighttime activities include campfires, dusk hikes and a Barn Boogie. The camp offers a unique leadership program for 13-15-yearolds called Junior Counselor in Training. All counselors, naturalists and staff at Camp Soulajoule hold the place dear to their hearts and work closely together. By fostering that sense of community, campers feel as if they are coming home when they pull into the entrance. ----------------------------------------------Camp Soulajoule at Walker Creek Ranch
A good groomer is an asset to a dog’s owner. The customers at Doggie Styles feel this in spades. Run by twin sisters Janine and Melinda Schengel, Doggie Styles is THE place for dog grooming. The sisters had years of training as animal hospital health technicians, which gave them the intuitive knowledge and confidence to make dogs feel at ease. Not only do they wash and fluff your mutt, but they also clip nails, clean ears and check eyes. No need for an appointment for a bath or brush-out for your pooch, but do call for a haircut. The two women love what they do and are in awe of their customers, who have repeatedly voted Doggie Styles Best Pet Groomer. ----------------------------------------------Doggie Styles
401 Miller Ave., Mill Valley 381.1777 2ND Pet-Agree, San Rafael 3RD Boulevard Dogs, San Anselmo
BEST PET STORE Recent evolutionary theory holds that about 15,000 years ago dogs evolved from wild beasts by feeding off food left behind by humans—the braver (and tamer) canines got more scraps and garbage and thus self-selected to help create the modern dog. Of course Marin’s mutts would never settle for garbage—their owners are evolved enough to know that Pet Club in Corte Madera is the place to go for high-quality pet food at very good prices, as well as leashes, collars, bouncy balls and squeaky toys. Pet Club has all you need for kitty-cats, too, as well as for friends with scales, feathers or a propensity to squeak. ----------------------------------------------Pet Club
508 Tamalpais Dr., Corte Madera 927.2862 petclubstores.com
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2nd Woodlands Pets, Greenbrae and Mill Valley 3rd Pet Arcade, San Rafael
BEST PLACE FOR A KID’S PARTY (HALL OF FAME: DISCOVERY MUSEUM) Creativity can be messy. Birthdays can be messy. But both are to be encouraged. No wonder Marin parents love Doodlebug when their tots need to stick another candle on the cake. Doodlebug has a private room especially for parties for anywhere from eight to 20 guests—guests who can celebrate by having a pottery-painting party or many other options described on DoodlebugMarin. com, including “Mirror, Mirror” (decorate a mirror); “Clay Play”; “Bling-a-thon” (jewelry making); “Mermaid Party” (paint a mermaid); “Beautiful Birdhouses” and “Design a Pet,” which, we assure you, does not involve a poodle and a Labrador retriever, but cloth and stuffing. Doodlebug is also happy to supply cakes and other goodies. With all this, not surprisingly, a creative Doodlebug party for adults is not unheard of either. ----------------------------------------------Doodlebug
641 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo, 456.5989 DoodlebugMarin.com 2nd Country Club Bowl, San Rafael 3rd Novato Gymnastics, Novato
BEST TOY STORE (HALL OF FAME: DISCOVERY MUSEUM) Kind of like that little toy store many of us grew up with, Five Little Monkeys is indeed a throwback to the days before malls when stores weren’t so big and crammed full of stuff as to be overwhelming, service was courteous and helpful, staff was knowledgeable about what’s appropriate for children of different ages, high-quality 75 >
Marnie Delaney Doodlebug
Mario Batz Johnson & Daly
1700 Marshall-Petaluma Road, Petaluma 491.6602 2ND Camp Tamarancho, Fairfax 3RD Camp Bothin Girl Scout Camp, Fairfax ‘Prohibition has made nothing but trouble’—Al Capone
MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2010 PACIFIC SUN 73