The (almost) perfect little town of Tiburon, CA just got a little more Norman Rockwellesque this holiday season.

On Friday, December 2nd – for one magical, fun-filled night only – Tiburon Holiday Festival 2011 will feature an OUTDOOR ICE SKATING RINK for families, couples, ice skating enthusiasts, and everyone to delight!

So grab your coziest scarf and hat and get ready for a once in a lifetime opportunity to ice skate along the shores of the San Francisco Bay with the most breathtaking backdrop of the twinkling, present-wrapped San Francisco skyline.

The evening’s festivities will include: the traditional Fountain Plaza Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6pm with classic holiday carolers, costumed characters strolling along magical Main Street, wonderful holiday treats, yummy gingerbread house decorating, Winterland Snow Globe Making/Photo Shop for kids, and more!

In addition, the town’s eclectic shops and tasty restaurants will be offering specials to while away the hours. With spectacular views of the SF skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, and Angel Island (plus ice skating too), only a Scrooge would dare miss this memorable San Francisco Bay Area holiday event!

See more details below…

When: 12/2/11
Where: downtown Tiburon (from Main St. to end of Historic Upper Ark Row)
Time: 5:30pm
Price: FREE! *(see below for Ice Skating and Gingerbread House fees)
Sponsored by: Tiburon Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

For more info: call 415-435-5633 or email hello@shoptiburon.info

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING DETAILS:

Where: Sam’s Anchor Cafe – 27 Main St, Tiburon CA 94920
Time: there will be three seatings – 4:30pm, 5:30 and 6:30pm 
Price: $30 per house
**The houses are already built so kids will be able to do the best part – decorate with all the goodies! All proceeds for the event benefit Kids Believe Achieve, a non-profit created by local kids with the mission of fundraising kid-focused non-profit organizations. Space is limited – reservations highly recommended: hello@shoptiburon.info

ICE SKATING DETAILS:
Where: downtown Tiburon on Main Street/Tiburon Blvd. (by the fountain)
Time: opens to public at 3pm (sessions run every half hour)
Session Price: $10 per person
Skate Rental Price: $5 per person

You may make a reservation for your skating sessions.  The reserved tickets are $25 per person for a half hour session which includes skate rental.  You may also reserve an entire 1/2 hour session for your party for $500 which includes exclusive use of the rink and skate rental for 20 people.

Reservations will be taken starting Tuesday, November 1st via email only to hello@shoptiburon.info.  Reservations will be taken in the order of email receipt.   This is a popular event that sell out fast.

**Emails received prior to November 1st will be disregarded.

Grab your coziest scarf and hat and get ready for a once in a lifetime opportunity to ice skate along the shores of the San Francisco Bay with the most breathtaking backdrop of the twinkling, present-wrapped San Francisco skyline.

Don’t let an uncertain forecast hold you back.  Come on down.  Bring an umbrella and stroll in and out of the many fun venues.  At the mouth of Main Street, adjacent to Fountain Plaza, is the first year of ice skating in Tiburon.  The Tree Lighting Ceremony will be kicked off at 6pm with SingersMarin caroling and the little ones of Belvedere Nursery School passing out hot chocolate and goodies from their Gingerbread House.  Pop into Caffe Acri for face painting and wine tasting, a winning combination for the young and old.

Continue to stroll through town with Rudolph, Frosty and other lively characters.  The merchants are ready with delights.  Swing into Sam’s for jazz, holiday beverages and gingerbread decorating festivities.

Head up Upper Ark Row for chestnut roasting, wine sipping and the Winterland PhotoShop and Snowglobe Making at Prima Palate.  Your next stop is the Ark Row Center, at the end of Main Street, for cookie decorating and holiday crafts.

We are hoping for clear skies, but rain will not dampen the fun-filled evening.

Happy Holidays!

#11 Hidden Stairways

There are more than 200 such step paths — 175-plus in Mill Valley, two dozen in Sausalito, 18 in Belvedere, and a smattering in Larkspur and Corte Madera. Many are mapped. Many have historic markers. Many trace their origins back to the 1890s.

#12 Tiburon Bike Path

It’s hard to beat the world-class views or the cool bay breezes of the popular waterfront path. It’s plied daily by joggers, moms with strollers, friends, bikers and dog walkers. Start at Blackie’s Pasture for free parking.

#35 Tempting Take Out The crowded deli aisle at Woodlands Market in Kentfield easily attests to its appeal as a go-to for chef-prepared takeout meals for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Tiburon now has its own Woodlands Market!

#40 Tiburon Highlands Walk up from sea level past the historic Old St. Hilary’s Church or just park at the top of Lyford Drive and walk the last few peaks to enjoy the 360-degree view.

#44 Sam’s Anchor Cafe Few Marin residents would disagree that Sam’s expansive — and mostly sunny — deck has been the “gateway moment” for them. As in, “I could live here?” From breakfast until cocktail hour, this landmark has been a favorite for both locals and visitors since opening in the 1920s. samscafe.com

#64  Main Street, USA It’s hard for most Marin residents to consider themselves suburban — mostly because each of the towns in our county has a unique and viable mini-downtown consisting of apedestrian-friendly main street or town square. MillValley’s Depot Plaza, for instance, could be any remote mountain town USA. The foot traffic on Tiburon’s bustling Main Street and Sausalito’s busy Bridgeway expands and contracts with the crowds from the ferries.

#82 Tiburon Grill It’s inside the Lodge at Tiburon, so it has what all lodges must — a fireplace in the bar. Combo to try: Big Daddy IPA and an apple-bacon burger.tiburongrill.com

#94  Angel Island Campers on Angel Island not only get the whole island to themselves but also have the best views in town, so to speak. Choose campsite numbers 1, 2 or 3 to watch the sunrise or numbers 4, 5 or 6 to see it set behind the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s open year-round, but go in September and October when the weather is best. angelisland.org

Oracle AC45s on the Bay!

The testing will run June 13^th – 17^th and 20^th.  The Race Committee team will meet at the Golden Gate Yacht Club at 1200 each day, leave the dock at 1230, and conduct testing from 1330-1530 across the Bay.  The Corinthian Yacht Club and the San Francisco Yacht Club will be providing critical support of mark setting, marshaling and media.

Friday Nights on Main kicks off June 17^th.  Come down early to view the AC45s and stay for an evening of fun.

Going to the 2011 Wine Festival? Get your tickets now at the Chamber of Commerce Office! Located in one of the most picturesque waterfront communities in the world, the Tiburon Wine Festival is considered one of the Bay Area’s premiere wine events! Breathtaking views, world-class wines (vintages from over 60 premium wineries), with many of the wines being tasted by the public for the first time. Complementary cuisine from over 20 restaurants and chefs, a fabulous silent auction, and live entertainment.

Remember, last year the event sold out nearly 3 weeks in advance – so, get your tickets now – $65 per person.

For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 435-5633 or visit the Wine Festival website -

Tiburon Wine Festival

AND TIBURON FOR WALK YOUR HISTORY 2011

Walks begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, in Belvedere Community Park

The entire community is invited to come and Walk Their History!

Walk Your History, a special bi-annual community celebration, is a FREE event designed to educate the community about the fascinating history of Belvedere and Tiburon.  Over 1,000 people attended the 2009 Walk Your History event and this year’s the event is expected to bring out even more!

This year’s event will feature over 100 volunteer and Living History docents that will bring history to life on two, 2-mile walking loops.  The loops, different from the 2009 event, will be dotted with costumed characters from the early 1900s and feature the Belvedere Golf Club & Course, Belvedere Boat Works, Belvedere Land Company Barn and special China Cabin festivities.  Walkers will enter the homes and gardens of historic houses along the walks, enjoying astounding views along the way.

The self-guided walking loops begin and end at Belvedere Community Park.  Delicious BBQ lunches will be available while participants listen to a fabulous jazzy band and browse through local community group featured booths.

As with the first year, sponsors (“History Makers”) for this event include the City of Belvedere, Town of Tiburon, Belvedere Tiburon Landmarks Society, Tiburon Peninsula Foundation, Belvedere Community Foundation, and Belvedere Tiburon Recreation.

Polish up your walking shoes and save the date!  Bring the kids. Bring the dog!

For more information contact Leslie Doyle.  415-847-4209  or email: lesliedoyle@sbcglobal.net

Her passion for her art is apparent in her pieces–each with a different and unique flare. Mary Mar co-owned and operated Verdigris Clay Studio and Gallery from 1999-2007. There she worked in her own studio space as well as showcased the work of many other bay area ceramics artists. Currently she can be found in her own studio in Hayes Valley and continues to reach new creative levels with each collection . She has studied to perfect her art for many years, including an intense ceramics program in Florence, Italy. Her pottery is used in many of San Francisco’s finest restaurants.

She also runs her own company, Purple Bird Designs, an online business specializing in customized baby plates and bowls. Be sure to check it out the next time you need a special gift for a new little one. http://www.purplebirddesigns.com/

I am super excited to offer her pieces here in Tiburon!

Just in time for the holidays the witty aprons, napkins, and notepads made by Tiburon local Stephanie Orma of She’s SO Creative have been added to their store shelves. The whimsical products were all conceived, illustrated, and designed by Stephanie herself (including the packaging too). The fun gifts are perfect for the holidays or anytime of year so be sure to stop by May Madison soon and support our Tiburon locals!

May Madison, Tiburon CA

She's SO Creative aprons, napkins, notepads

She's SO Creative aprons, napkins, notepads

The Tiburon Thrift shop is a great place for the community to recycle and purchase quality items at affordable prices. Be Eco Friendly and support the recycling of clothes, house wares, books and other gently used items.

The Tiburon Thrift Shop was created as a vehicle to raise funds to support local non-profits. All of the profits are distributed back to the local community benefiting: The Belvedere Tiburon Landmarks Society, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, St. Hilary Catholic Church and the Community Congregational Church.

We rely entirely upon donations to stock its shelves. Whether you are furnishing your first apartment, or doing your annual spring-cleaning, the Tiburon Thrift shop can help. Come browse and see what treasures you can find!

The Tiburon Thrift Shop is located in lower Ark Row in Tiburon (Marin County). To access the lower Ark Row shops you need to enter the parking lot that is located at the bend in Main Street in Tiburon.

96 Main Street
Tiburon, CA 94920
415-435-7605

Open Hours:

10 to 4 pm (Monday thru Saturday)

Donations can be brought in during any of the open hours.