Twin Cities, separated at mirth When it comes to summer fun, two towns are better than one! by J u l i e Vad e r
C
orte Madera and Larkspur have long been a good reason to exit 101, but in the summertime the Twin Cities offer more than shopping malls and ferries—and food, glorious Marin food, has a lot to do with everything. Summer hasn’t even ofďŹ cially started yet, but this weekend you can get the season off to a delicious beginning at the Taste of Town Center. It’s the third year for this event, which features face painting and lots of “tasty bitesâ€? from the Town Center’s food purveyors and restaurants. Wander around, do a little shopping, a little noshing and consider the “Tasteâ€? an appetizer course for a delicious season to come. On Saturday, June 23, a celebration of local food and wines coalesces at the Escalle Winery in Larkspur. The eighth annual Marin County Wine Celebration is designed to highlight well-known Marin labels and promising new ones, including vintages from Dutton-GoldďŹ eld, Pacheco and Skywalker Ranches, Sean Thackrey, Couloir, Pey-Marin, Point Reyes Vineyards and Stubbs Vineyards. Of course, bottles (and cases!) will be available at discounted prices, and pre-regisration is suggested. It’s a beneďŹ t for the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, which makes this the one day each year wine is considered a MALT beverage. What is perhaps Marin’s old-timey-est, home-towny-est Fourth of July celebration starts at 10:30am at Redwood High School in Larkspur and wends its way to the Corte Madera Town Center. This year the parade’s grand marshal is Jackie Branch, and the theme is “Marvelous Marin Moments.â€? The Corte Madera Town Band, McIntosh Pipe Band, Cheer SF, Princes Charles Pipe Band and the Freedom Band are expected to march and play, and other artists will strum, strut and showcase their stuff at festivities all day long in Corte Madera Town Park, where there will be art booths (ďŹ ne art, photography, pottery, Larkspur Food and Flower Festival It’s only natural that a town with a oral name (and it sounds better than “Delphiniumâ€?) would host a festival celebrating owers as well as what many lucky blooms eventually become: food. On Sunday, May 27, the 23rd annual Larkspur Flower and Food Festival in downtown Larkspur entertains with music (the Marin Community Chorus, 11:15am-noon; the Doc Kraft Band, 12:30-2pm; and the San Francisco Music Club, 2:30-4pm), ower-related crafts, displays, kids’ activities and, for the ďŹ rst time, a Marin Salsa Tasting Competition—where you can taste and then cast a ballot for your favorite red,
candles, clothing, jewelry, glassware, etc.) and a stage for performers. As well as, of course, plenty of patriotic Marin food—hot dogs, hamburgers and all—which should provide you with a few marvelous moments of your own. Of course, there’s no need for Twin Cities food lovers to wait for special events or even summer—there are delicious opportunities here every week—they’re called farmers markets. On Saturdays, 9am-2pm in Larkspur, the farmers market offers the best local produce, seafood, artisan cheeses, baked goods, pasta, confections, oils, pickles and owers a local foodie could ask for. On Wednesdays, noon-5pm, the farmers market comes to Corte Madera Town Center. Both markets are open rain or shine. When you’re really more interested in the end product (food to eat now) than the healthy beginnings, the Off the Grid Food Truck Extravaganza is a mobile gourmet
The ‘grid’ ends here every Sunday at Marin Country Mart.
food market every Sunday at Marin Country Mart at Larkspur Landing, when food trucks from all over come to tempt you with their offerings. < s Taste of Town Center Saturday, May 19, 11am-2pm. Free. Info: Shoptowncenter. com. s -ARIN #OUNTY 7INE #ELEBRATION Saturday, June 23, 3-7pm, Escalle Winery, 771 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. $55, includes local food and wine tasting, valet parking and wine glass. 415/663-1158 or MALT.org. s &OURTH OF *ULY FESTIVITIES. Free. Pa-
rade starts at 10:30am at Redwood High on Doherty Dr. and wends its way to the Corte Madera Town Park; entertainment, food and art booths open 9am-5pm. Call 415/924-0441 or visit cortemadera.org for information. s &ARMERS -ARKETS Larkspur Landing, year-round, Saturdays, 9am-2pm, rain or shine. Corte Madera Town Center, yearround, Wednesdays, noon-5pm, rain or shine. s /FF THE 'RID &OOD 4RUCK %XTRAVAGANZA Sundays, 11am-3pm, Marin Country Mart, Larkspur Landing.
Heal your spirit through the soul of a horse New 6-Week Group for Mental Health Practitioners June 4 (9:30-11:30) 1-Day Worshop in Harnessing the Healing Power of a Horse June 10 (10-4)
Ongoing Psychotherapy for Individuals and Families
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Equine Insight offering equine facilitated psychotherapy. Come partner with a horse to heal issues of grief, trauma loss or depression.
The always tasty Town Center gets even tastier on May 19. green and/or fruit salsa. Salsa-slinging restaurants as well as home cooks with their special secret recipes are expected to compete, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;professionalâ&#x20AC;? judges (including the Sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Carol Inkellis) will lend their discerning palates and expertise. Plenty of chips will be provided by Casa Sanchez. And you can always dance to (of course) salsa music played by Tito y su son de Cuba (4:30-6pm) while enjoying a cold beverage.
All Groups Held at Willow Tree Stables in Novato | No riding skills necessary. equineinsight.net | 415-457-3800 | equineinsight@aol.com Judy Weston-Thompson, MFT Certified Equine Interaction Professional | Lic. #MFC23268 & Provider #PCE4871
Expert bra Âżtters for over 30 years
s ,ARKSPUR &OOD AND &LOWER &ESTIVAL Sunday, May 27, 11am-6pm, Magnolia Avenue between Ward and King streets. Free. For more information, call the Larkspur Community Association: 415/924-3803.
www.ShopTheLingerieShoppe.com .BHOPMJB "WF -BSLTQVS r MAY 18 - MAY 24, 2012 PACIFIC SUN 25