Point Reyes Weekend

You Mon Tsang August 5th, 2008

Point Reyes is a great place to end the summer, whether you are visiting locally or in town for the Slow Food Nation confab in San Francisco.  Besides the trails, beaches, camps and food, here are some things you can also do for Labor Day Weekend:

• Sand Castle / Sand Sculpture Contest at Drake’s Beach on Sunday, Aug 31.  Fun to do or to watch.  For details, check out the Point Reyes calendar of events for more information.
• Box Show at Gallery Route One in Point Reyes Station: 150 artists are each given a plain wood box; each donates time, materials and talent to create a unique art object. You’ll find every imaginable creation, from the sublime to the silly, from cleverly humorous to beautifully breathtaking, and each one started from an identical wood box.
• Farmers Market: Sat 9a to 1p at Point Reyes Station.  A small but terrific farmer’s market featuring local produce and entertainment.

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You Mon Tsang July 2nd, 2008

The July 4th weekend is a great time to come to the Point Reyes area.  The Point Reyes weather is generally more comfortable than the rest of the Bay Area.  The food in the area is fresh as the local farms is producing their bounty.  And, if you are interested, there are many local events that give you a flavor of the different towns in the area. 

• Bolinas-Stinson Beach Tug-of-War: Every Fourth of July, the towns of Stinson and Bolinas have a tug of war over the channel that separates the two towns.  Click for more.
• Woodacre 4th of July Parade and Celebration
• Inverness Fourth of July Party
• Bolinas Summer Fair

For more details, head over to the Point Reyes calendar.

harder! Pull! Originally uploaded by Luiza

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You Mon Tsang June 21st, 2008

Today was the first day of the 2008 season of the Point Reyes Farmers’ Market.  This market is the all local, all certified organic produce market.  If you passing through the area, definitely stop and pickup some produce for home and lunch for a beach picnic.  You will find many local farms and artisans represented as well as a nice mix of local flavor and international visitors.

The 2008 Point Reyes Farmers’ Market takes place every Saturday (June 21 - November 1, 2008) from 9AM to 1PM (rain or shine).

Location: Toby’s Feed Barn, 11315 Highway One, Point Reyes Station, CA.  Click for a map with a photo of Toby’s.

Here is the calendar of the Point Reyes Farmers’ Market’s events for 2008.

• Food , Summer
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You Mon Tsang June 5th, 2008

[UPDATED: June 5]

Western Weekend takes the ranching history of the area and adds a bit of the quirkiness of the residents of the area. Take a look at my previous post on Western Weekend. Head to the parade, which will start at noon on Sunday, June 8th.

The schedule is further below…

Photo by David Wasley

Photo by David Wasley

Photo by David Wasley

Western Weekend Parade, Pt Reyes Station, originally uploaded by CommandZed.

Friday, June 6
9:00 pm
Western Weekend Kick-off Party
at the Old Western Saloon, PRS. Pink Sabbath, Conjoined Twins Reunion Burlesque Review and Tinsletown Rebellion. $5-8, care to come clad in cowboy costume? or wearing your western threads? receive admission discount.

Saturday, June 7
10:00 am
Western Weekend Historic Tour with Dewey Livingston – registration required: 663-1158
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Synchrony In Motion ballroom lessons ,Dance Palace – dancers incorporate styles of Ballroom and Latin Dance. Swing dance lesson/demonstration at 3 pm. free
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Synchrony In Motion performance , Dance Palace
7:00 pm
My Friend, My Horse
a documentary by John Korty. Two dozen riders of all ages share their experience and insight into the relationships possible between animals and humans at Take 2 Cinema, 54 B Street, PRS, 663-1932
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Country/Western dance lessons, Dance Palace
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Western Weekend Queen’s Dance , Dance Palace – Music by Jenny Kerr multi-instrumentalist, a native of Northern California, known for her roots in traditional Americana: country, blues, folk and rock, will begin at 8 pm, following a Western County Dance lesson at 7 pm. The crowning of Western Weekend Queen, Lianne Nunes’ is scheduled for 9 pm. General admission is ($15, teens are $5, seniors and under 12 are free.

Sunday, June 8
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Parade entry sign-in C street at Hwy 1
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Silent Auction, Dance Palace
Over 200 items will be auctioned off including overnights stays at Pelican Inn, Sorenson’s Resort, Vichy Springs, Terri’s Homestaymeals, tickets to events, fine arts, crafts, expert services, gift certificates, and local wares.
12:00 pm - 1:00 ish
59th Western Weekend Parade on Main Street
1:00 ish - 3:00 pm
Marin Farm Bureau & Organics BBQ At Toby’s – sponsored by Marin County Farm Bureau and Marin Organic
1:00 pm - 3:00 ish
Kevin Russell and Moonlight Rodeo – a well-known Sonoma county picker, singer and songwriter is joined by one of his many bands, a five piece acoustic-electric band that plays western swing, alt-country, blues & rock music. Our thanks to music sponsors: Marin Farm Bureau, WM Chamber of Commerce, WM Lions Foundation, and WM Rotary Club
1:00 ish
West Marin Senior Services 9th Annual Chili-Cornbread/Pie Cook-off at Toby’s
2:00 ish
Raffle Winners Announced, Parade Prizes Awarded at Toby’s
the Halleck Creek Cow Flop Drop at Toby’s
7:00
My Friend, My Horse: a documentary by John Korty. Two dozen riders of all ages share their experience and insight into the relationships possible between animals and humans at Take 2 Cinema, 54 B Street, PRS, 663-1932

Sunday, June 8
Music at the Old Western Saloon:
1:00 - 5:00 pm – Billy Boys
5:00 - 6:30 ish – Tony MeGee
7:00 – Sweet Baby J

Updated Schedule courtesy of Bodega Bay Navigator via Kelly at Olema Cottages

• Kids , Local Scene , Summer
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You Mon Tsang May 28th, 2008

rod&reel Originally uploaded by helti

Twice a year, anyone can fish without a license in California. It’s an easy and hassle-free way to give fishing a try. This year, the days are June 7 and Sept 27.

From the CA Dept of Fish and Game web site:

The Department of Fish and Game offers two Free Fishing Days each year. On these days, you can fish without having to buy a sport fishing license. Free Fishing Days provide a great, low-cost way to give fishing a try. Some Department offices offer a Fishing in the City program where you can go fishing in the middle of major metropolitan areas – perhaps just a few blocks from your home. Fishing in the City and free fishing day clinics are designed to educate people just like you about fish habits, proven methods of catching fish, and tackle you’ll need. You can even learn how to clean and prepare your catch so you can enjoy it for dinner that night.

More at the CA Department of Fish & Game.

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You Mon Tsang May 14th, 2008

Open Studios is here again. Combine a trip to the beach with a visit to one of the many local studios in the area. Some information from the official web site.

Point Reyes Open Studios (PROS) invites art lovers from around the Bay Area to tour the studios of nineteen West Marin artists Memorial Day weekend, May 24, 25 and 26. Artists will be showing their work in their studios and homes from Saturday the 24th through Monday the 26th, 11 AM to 5 PM each day. …

Visitors will be able to meet the artists and see new original work, as well as explore the studios and workshops in which the art is created. Several artists plan demonstrations of their complex craft techniques, and at least one studio will allow visitors to pull their own keepsake prints. …

Visitors can pick up a free brochure/map at Toby’s Feed Barn, The Station House Café and many other local shops and inns. The tour’s street signs make artists’ studios easy to find.

painting by Nancy Stein

• Art , Summer
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You Mon Tsang August 11th, 2007

Want to be inspired by other people’s sand sculptures?  Better yet, want to give it a try yourself?

Every year on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, the National Park Service hosts at Drake Beach a Sand Sculpture Contest.  It is really fun.  If you want to give it a go, I would advise that you bring tools to (1) move sand, (2) move water and (3) finely tune sand. 

Facts:

• Event occurs on Sunday, Sept 2, 2007.
• Anyone can enter.
• Prizes awarded in each of several age and group catagories.
• Free to participants and spectators.
• Registration begins at 9:00 am at the Ken Patrick Visitor Center.
• Judging begins at 12:00 pm.
• Prizes awarded at 3:30 pm.

Photos of past winners at the National Park Service web site:
http://www.nps.gov/pore/photosmultimedia/photogallery_sandsculpture2006.htm?eid=138527&root_aId=232

• Beach , Kids , Summer
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You Mon Tsang June 27th, 2007

I have not yet been to this, but I must must go.  Every Fourth of July, the towns of Stinson and Bolinas have a tug of war over the channel that separates the two towns.  Despite being yards away from each other, the towns have very different feels (to say the least).  That is what makes this event that much more fun.

harder! Pull!, originally uploaded by Luiza.

A good writeup of the 2006 event at the Marin Independent Journal; some highlights:

At the beach, a reputed 200-pound weight requirement for Bolinas tuggers may have made the difference, but Stinson partisans complained that a celebrant was offering free food stamps, whale blubber steaks and intoxicants to energize the Bolinas tugging team. Race officials said it was a case of sour grapes. “It was a fair match,” said Mike Bagley, an official who monitored fruitless efforts by both the Stinson men and women teams.

Read the entire article…

And from the Point Reyes Light:

Every year the tug-of-war provides a chance for the two towns to symbolically spar. Bolinas has a reputation for tapping into its population of hardy, outdoorsy hippies, while Stinson is known for unabashedly using power and influence to recruit outside help.
…
According to local lore, Stinson has imported brute pulling strength in the form of 500 pound Samoans, the Berekely rowing team and, one year, a jeep, which resulted in a broken arm and the suspension of the contest for several years. This year, seven members of the Golden Gate rugby team, collectively weighing in at more than two tons, tossed a rugby ball around on the sidelines, keeping warm while awaiting their chance to pull Stinson to glory.

Read the entire article…

And great photos by Luiza…

The rope comes in, originally uploaded by Luiza.

Stinson, originally uploaded by Luiza.

Go!, originally uploaded by Luiza.

• Beach , July , Local Scene , Summer
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You Mon Tsang June 14th, 2007

Read the 2008 Point Reyes Farmers’ Market Update

Point Reyes Outing.,
originally uploaded by _e.t.

Saturday mornings in the summer are special at Point Reyes Station. The Farmers’ Market is an intimate market of local farmers and merchants displaying their lovely and delicious wares. Live music plays in the background. Locals say hi to each other and visitors take easy strolls through the stalls of delicios vegetables and produce. Every few weeks, a local chef is featured at the market and produces some great bite-sized tastes of their food.

Point Reyes Outing., originally uploaded by _e.t.

organic food fit for a prince, originally uploaded by billmelater.

Notes:
Schedule of music and chefs at Marin Organic
Great Tastes
Local Food

• Food , Summer
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You Mon Tsang June 6th, 2007

Twice already this year, we have taken trips to Audubon Canyon Ranch. In the mix were boys between the ages of 6 and 8. During the spring and summer seasons, the highlight is watching the snowy egrets and great blue herons nest high up in the trees.

Photo by Michael Harrold

The birds are a beautiful sight: impossibly white against the lush green. They swoop from their nests every so often and it is a wonder that these gangly creatures can fly.

Later in the season (July if I remember from last year), the chicks also attempt to take flight.

The preserve is well run, with well-marked paths, places to picnic, lots of friendly and knowledgeable volunteer docents, and several well-equipped lookouts.

Photo by Michael Harrold

Photo by Michael Fitzhugh

The boys really enjoyed the ponds, where they can take nets and fish newts, tadpoles and bugs out of the pond water into buckets where they can take a closer look. The hunter instinct is strong in boys; they could have stayed at the ponds for hours.

Photo by Michael Harrold

Photo by Michael Harrold

For those interested in birds, a nice quiet hike or have some kids to distract, this is a recommended stop in West Marin.

Map of Location | Web Site for Audubon Canyon Ranch

Notes:
Good for Kids
Birding
Hiking
Hands-On
No Fee, but Donation Request

• Hiking , Kids , Spring , Summer , Wildlife
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