Any hopes that we could avoid a Public Safety Power Shutoff during another horrific fire season AND amidst the COVID-19 pandemic have been dashed. Due to expected severe weather conditions, PG&E plans a PSPS from Sunday evening 6-8pm through at least Monday evening, depending on conditions.
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What that means: As of this moment, PG&E's Future Power Outages Map indicates that the commercial district in Tam Junction, Alto and Strawberry will be largely spared, as will most of Miller Avenue until you get beyond the Mill Valley Lumber Yard as you come into Downtown, which will be almost entirely impacted by the PSPS.

PG&E has indicated that they would deploy backup diesel power generators at the Alto Substation on Roque Moraes to provide backup power to those impacted, BUT they cannot do so for those businesses and homes located within the High-Fire-Threat District, as determined by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Most of Downtown is within that High Fire Threat Map.

GO HERE TO LOOK UP YOUR ADDRESS TO SEE IF YOU WILL BE BE IMPACTED BY THE PSPS.
GO HERE to look up your address here to see if your business is located within the High Fire Threat Map. 
GO HERE FOR REGULAR UPDATES ON PSPS.
AND HERE'S A REMINDER FROM 2019 ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO BE READY.

As part of the Red Flag warning, parking restrictions on Miller Ave. will also be in effect during this time period in the Residential and Employee Permit areas. For emergencies, call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance. For non-emergencies call 415.389.4100.

MORE INFO.

RESIDENTS: As stated above, PG&E's Future Power Outages Map indicates that the commercial districts in Tam Junction, Alto and Strawberry will be largely spared, as will most of Miller Avenue. The Mill Valley Lumber Yard was initially within the affected area but that impact was reversed by PG&E. Downtown will be almost entirely impacted by the PSPS.

Within affected area but open:
Mountain Home Inn
Bungalow 44
Piazza D'Angelo: Open for lunch
Mill Valley Market: Open as normal – will have charging station starting Monday morning.

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The COVID-19 crisis has ravaged every sector of Mill Valley's economy over the past seven months, but few industries have faced as many whiplash-inducing fits and starts as restaurants and food-serving businesses.

But as we begin to inch our way toward the orange tier 3 within the statewide Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework as soon as Oct. 27 – such a move would allow several business sectors to move from 25% to 50% density indoors – it's time to seize some momentum.

Given the multi-layered positive impact that restaurants have on all types of nearby businesses, the Marin Council of Chambers and the Marin Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCVB) are teaming up for "Marin County Cares ~ Restaurant Appreciation," a more than two-month-long, Restaurant Week-style promotion in partnership with local chambers in Corte Madera, Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausailto, Tiburon, West Marin and the Hispanic Chamber.

“We encourage residents to keep dining at their favorite restaurants while also trying someplace new," says Corte Madera Chamber Executive Director Julie Kritzberger. "Your business and support will make a difference to our restaurant community, many of whom are family-owned businesses that have contribute greatly to their respected communities and enhance the overall tapestry of what makes Marin County so special."

“Marin County Cares – Restaurant Appreciation” kicks off October 22 and runs through the end of the year. Each participating restaurant is either showcasing a special offer or an existing menu feature to welcome guests back to their establishments. There are no tickets or passes required and although most restaurants are open on a first come, first serve basis, many do appreciate a reservation for outdoor dining, and indoor dining if available.

Most importantly, if there is a special offer, such as a discount or free item with purchase, customers must mention “Marin County Cares” to their server to receive special offer. The best way to view this promotion is to check out the “Marin County Cares – Restaurant Appreciation” website, which lives on the Visit Marin website.

Important Highlights:

• Participating restaurants are offering take-out, outdoor dining and some have limited indoor dining available. Most restaurants do offer outdoor dining on a first come, first serve basis, however, reservations are always encouraged, especially if a reservation platform is available.
• Participating restaurants had a choice on what to showcase for this promotion. Many are showcasing a special offer, such as a discount off or a free item with purchase. For restaurants who cannot give a discount or a free item, a special menu item is featured instead, such as a happy hour with discounted food and beverages, or a favorite menu item.
• To access the restaurant’s special offer, please read the special offer or feature carefully; it’s very important to tell your cashier, server or bartender that you are at the restaurant for “Marin County Cares” promotion to ensure that restaurant honors the special offer. If the special offer is on take-out or online orders, please use specific codes on the offer or tell the restaurant that you are calling for the "Marin County Cares" online offer.

For customers who love to take pictures of their food and drink while dining, Marin CVB will be hosting social media contests with Marin CVB swag gifts to lucky winners; please take pictures and include #marincountycares and #visitMarin on all posts.

Here are the participating restaurants in Mill Valley. Click on their image below to get more details on their special offer and/or featured item:

AND GO HERE FOR THE FULL LIST OF ALL OF THE PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS IN MARIN.

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Dan Malugani Sr. opened Malugani Tire Shop 72 years ago. It's safe to say that none of those 72 trips around the sun have matched 2020 for pandemic-induced stress.

But like so many Mill Valley business owners, Malugani’s third-generation owner Kendal Savelli, along with her husband John and her cousins Ken Monge and Michael Monge, all of whom run the business as partners, have hung in there through the massive ebbs and flows of the past seven month, leaning on resiliency and innovation.

And from Nov. 11-13, the quartet is turning to a tried-and-true tradition: the Annual Malugani Tire Center Customer Appreciation Sale, which serves up the shop's best tire prices of the year and a $50 coupon for wheel alignments with purchase of tires.

"This year we couldn’t be more appreciative of the support we have received," Kendal Savelli says. "We have always known how lucky we are to be in business here and it has never been more apparent!"

​"Malugani has done this annual sale since the late 1990s with a focus on great service and the lowest prices of the year," she adds. "We usually do food all day (we are Italian!) but this year we will keep it simple and safe – just tires. We are so appreciative of the support we received while we were closed and also that our customers waited for us to return and even kept in touch with supportive emails while we were closed. This is our way of saying thank you and keeping the business local while offering a discount that is meaningful. Customers start asking about the sale in September and this year is no different." 

The 411: Malugani’s Tire Shop hosts its Annual Malugani Tire Center Customer Appreciation Sale Nov. 11-13. Savelli recommends calling ahead to schedule. "We fill up fast," she says. 493 Miller Ave. 415.388.1800. MORE INFO.

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While every crumb of good news comes with a cascade of caveats during the COVID-19 era, it sure does look like Marin is on the verge of advancing from the red tier 2 to the orange tier 3 within the statewide Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework as soon as Oct. 27. Such a move would allow several business sectors to move from 25% to 50% density indoors.

“We’ve all made sacrifices to reduce COVID-19 transmission in Marin, and it’s encouraging to see progress,” Marin County Department of Health and Human Services Officer Dr. Matt Willis said this week. “At the same time, we’re seeing new surges across the nation. As hard as it is to reduce case rates, it’s just as hard to hang on and not slide backward. It’s not time to let up on those measures that protect ourselves and our community.” 

​Willis said his office was notified Oct. 20 by California Department of Public Health that Marin’s data has improved, qualifying the county to move advance to the less restrictive Tier 3 or “moderate risk” (“orange”) level based on its COVID-19 coronavirus case statistics. To do so, Marin must have been in the current tier for a minimum of three weeks (it's been in red tier 2 for five weeks), and meet criteria for the next tier for two consecutive weeks. As of Oct. 22, Marin is nine days into that 14-day span.   

If the state approves Marin's move into the orange tier on October 27, several business sectors would be able to increase their indoor density, particularly retail, restaurants and fitness facilities. Here's a breakdown of the improved conditions for businesses in the orange tier. The change with perhaps the biggest economic impact might be that offices can now open, with modifications. According to a Marketing Charts report, office workers spend $200/week on local purchases in the office neighborhood.

To advance to tier 3, Marin must have a daily case rate of 3.9 or lower and 4.9% test positivity rate or lower, and achieved an adjusted daily case rate of 3.6 and 1.8% test positivity. A recently added third indicator is the health equity metric, which compares a county’s COVID-19 percent positivity rate across low-income neighborhoods like the Canal and Marin City to more affluent neighborhoods and ensure that Marin's lowest income, most marginalized communities aren’t left behind as counties move up in the tier system. As of Oct. 20, Marin had to achieve a health equity metric of 5.2% or lower and achieved  a health equity metric of 2.7%. 

Stay tuned for updates about Marin's continued progress through the statewide Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework.

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Like just about every business owner on the planet, Mill Valley Music shop owner Gary Scheuenstuhl's past six months have been about adaptation to conditions beyond his control. 

For Scheuenstuhl and record shop owners all over the country, the October 24th arrival of the third of three chapters of Record Store Day – the world’s largest single-day music event to support independent record stores in an increasingly digital streaming-driven music business – provides a respite from the economic tumult of 2020. But it brings with it an oddity of the COVID-19 era: RSD occurs over three days over three months, designed to allow for social distancing by reducing the usual volume of music-obsessed customers crowding the shop.

You can view the list of the all of the 2020 RSD records on sale, along with which of the three drop dates records will be on sale, here. 

"As in the previous two months for RSD, we'll open early and will practice social distancing by moving RSD product to different parts of the store and will limit the number of people allowed in the store to 4 or 5 with a time limit if there are people waiting," Scheuenstuhl says. "Masks will be mandatory and if you don't have one we have masks supplied by the Mill Valley Chamber should you need one. Hope to see you here!"

Thirteen years ago, on the heels of John Goddard's decision to close his legendary Village Music shop downtown, longtime Village employee Scheuenstuhl decided to venture out on his own, opening his Mill Valley Music shop at 320 Miller Avenue. Through never-ending changes in the music industry, the 18-month Miller Avenue Streetscape Project and the COVID-19 crisis, Scheuenstuhl has persisted. 

Record Store Day started as a grassroots campaign in 2007 to support independent record stores that were facing extinction in an increasingly digital music business. The event features hundreds of musicians appearing and performing at independent stores across the country, and issuing special vinyl and CD releases to mark the occasion.

The 411: Record Store Day 2020 spans three days over three months with special, properly distanced release dates. The third edition is set for Saturday, Oct. 24. 
​
​MORE INFO ON MILL VALLEY MUSIC.
MORE INFO ON 2020 RSD AND FULL LIST OF RECORDS FOR SALE AND RELEASE DATES.
RSD ALSO INCLUDES ITS TYPICAL BLACK FRIDAY DAY – MORE INFO ON THAT HERE.

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The 43rd Mill Valley Film Festival wrapped Sunday night after 11 days of virtual and drive-in screenings, panels, and special events, as did its conjoined DocLands Documentary Film Festival, which was postponed due to COVID-19 in May. Through the course of 11 days, MVFF featured virtual tributes to luminaries like Viola Davis, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sophia Loren, and Kate Winslet, as well as Festival Spotlights on Delroy Lindo, Clare Dunne, Regina King, and Aaron Sorkin with cast members from The Trial of the Chicago 7. 

Organizers touted the success of Mind the Gap, MVFF’s gender equity initiative that pledged to reach 50/50 women director representation by 2020 and surpassed that goal by reaching 57% women directors or co-directors represented across the entire festival.

“One could make the case that the 43rd MVFF was smaller — fewer films, no receptions — yet in fact, it felt grander, in a multitude of surprising ways,” Mill Valley Film Festival and California Film Institute Founder/Director Mark Fishkin. “Larger certainly in spirit, with ideas plucked from our board, staff, and community. Initially, the most common answer to any question asked of us was, 'I don’t know.' As staff settled on the concept of a virtual festival as well as a drive-In, trust never played a more important role than this year, a year of unknowns.”

“With no defined road map, together with our partners and supporters, the Mill Valley Film Festival was able to create a model that was needed during these challenging times, a program that would resonate with our community and audiences around the world," Fishkin continued. "Smaller, bigger – who can say? What we can say is this: It was a model we can be proud of and continue to build upon as we move forward.”

“We’ve entered a new era for film festivals—and creating an online, drive-in festival reinforced the way we bring communities together, even in this socially distant time," added MVFF Director of Programming Zoë Elton. "I never thought I’d be programming films for a drive-in, but experiencing a film like Nomadland outdoors, by a lagoon, under the stars, was amazing.”

Here are the winners of MVFF43's AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARDS:
 
Audience Favorite – Drive-In - NOMADLAND
Audience Favorite – Online - THE FATHER and ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (tie)
Audience Favorite – US - UNCLE FRANK
Audience Favorite – World - MASTER CHENG
Audience Favorite – Valley of the Docs - THE BOYS WHO SAID NO!
Audience Favorite – Family - SISTERS: THE SUMMER WE FOUND OUR SUPERPOWERS
Audience Favorite – DocLands - LAUREL CANYON: A PLACE IN TIME
Audience Favorite – Mind the Gap - NOMADLAND
Audience Favorite – ¡Viva el Cine! - THE HEIST OF THE CENTURY

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As lovers of our renowned Marin Theatre Company know all too well, 2020 has not been kind to theater organizations given our inability to gather in a room and immerse ourselves in theatrical performances.

But as MTC Artistic Director Jasson Minadakis has shown, one positive out of the COVID-19 mess is that theater heavyweights have had more time to engage with their local and regional communities.

With that in mind, the Outdoor Art Club is bringing in Johanna Pfaelzer, former Artistic Director of New York Stage and Film and current Artistic Director of Berkeley Repertory Theater, to talk about her life and work in American musical theater, and how one woman’s creative vision helped shape some of America’s best loved shows, including Hadestown, Hamilton, The Humans, and Green Day’s American Idiot.

This event will be held on Zoom. GO HERE TO REGISTER.

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After launching Terra Marin Micro-Schools in August and drawing media coverage from the likes of NBC Bay Area and the Marin Independent Journal for its use of 12-student cohorts that visited  locations throughout the Bay Area and conducted school in nature five days a week, Terra  Marin Schools, Wendy Xa continues to innovate through the COVID-19 crisis.

Xa, who opened Terra Marin School and the Terra Mandarin Preschool in late 2018 in the former Ring Mountain Day School space on Lomita Drive in Mill Valley, says Terra Marin received its waiver from the state giving the schools its blessing to open under its extensive safety plan.

Xa says Terra Marin now has all of its students back on campus preschool through 8th grade and "we are operating successfully with new safety guidelines and protocols for all including parents when they are off campus." Terra Marin has rolling admissions so they are accepting applications for both the current school year and the 2021-22 school year.

With that in mind, Terra Marin Schools are hosting Open Houses Oct. 25 and Nov 14, one for the Mandarin Preschool & TK and one for the K-8th grade program (Virtual & On-Campus).

"The events will be virtual, interactive and fun, with "the goal of truly giving the parents and their children a feel for the programs and why they are so unique.”  Xa says. The open houses for each of the above dates are set for:

Terra Mandarin Preschool - 9:30am- 10:30am
Terra Marin K-8 Core Program (Virtual and on campus instruction) - 1:30pm-2:30pm

If you are interested in the Outdoor Micro-School or can not make the scheduled Open Houses, inquire about a tour at admissions@terramarin.org; 415-906-2220.

MORE INFO & REGISTER.

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From his presence at – and sponsorship of – some of Mill Valley's major events, as well as his multi-faceted marketing and community engagement, Compass real estate agent Dana Williams has long been a ubiquitous presence in Mill Valley.

Spurred on by the desire for connection during the pandemic, Williams has launched "Community Spotlight," a video series shining a light on some of the key people in our community who will share what makes Mill Valley such a special place to call home," Williams says. "Living and working in Mill Valley, I have been inspired by the resiliency of so many people, so many of whom graciously contribute and serve others and share a common belief of 'supporting local community’ to make Mill Valley the special place that it is."

In the debut episode, Williams sat down with Equator Coffees co-founder Helen Russell, who launched the company in 1995 and has grown in steadily into one of the most respect coffee brands in California. The pair chatted about their community, the Equator brand, their personal and professional relationship and support for one another, as well as the pandemic's impact on business.

"We have been visited upon by things in the past six months by things that have happened to us over the past 100 years," Russell says. "It's been very challenging for us. We have a amazing team. We've been in business for 25 years, so we will come out the other side, but unfortunately a lot of small businesses will not. We can't thank the community for enough for bearing with is through this ordeal."

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

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A citywide review this month of an array of options to potentially create an affordable housing development in town for the first time since 1986 quickly became largely a neighborhood’s defense of a pair of City-owned vacant lots near Scott Highlands Park. City officials backed off the park-adjacent lots as a possible location of, or as a funding source for, affordable housing but pledged their continued commitment to create affordable housing in Mill Valley.

At a meeting earlier this month, the City’s Housing Advisory Committee called for a review of all of the 71 city-owned parcels and the various ways they could be used, either as a possible site for an affordable housing development, like the current Public Safety Building on Hamilton Drive, or land that could be sold to generate revenue to support affordable housing or donated as part of a larger affordable housing development.

Senior Planner Danielle Staude and councilmembers framed the discussion: “This effort is about better documentation of city-owned land.” 

In addition to the two parcels adjacent to Scott Highlands Park and the aforementioned Public Safety Building, which could potentially be repurposed if city officials decide to expand on a shared services agreement, the sites also included the lot containing the Mill Valley Golf Course clubhouse, as well as the commuter parking lot near Marin Theatre Company on Miller Avenue, among others. 

Although there was no proposal to sell parks, or even park-adjacent land, most of the community input on the issue of the identified sites focused on the possible sale of the park itself.

“In my estimation, selling parks should be one of the last ways we should be looking at to raise funds,” said Randall Smith, encouraging the City to establish a transfer tax levied on the transfer of ownership or title to property from one individual or entity to another, as exists in the County of Marin and other jurisdictions. “We have to think more broadly in ways that involve the entire community to build housing rather than target a specific community.”

“The problem is that the situation has been very narrowly defined and it’s a false decision – you can be very much for affordable housing and very much not for selling off parks or public spaces,” said Adam Bain. “I’m surprised we're here selling off parks."

Vice Mayor John McCauley sought to bring the conversation back to the issue at hand: “We are not asking to approve any lists or any action plan. All we are asking for is the ability to fill in our knowledge base. There are a lot of questions that need to get answered. We are in a contest to get money to get these (affordable) projects built. Are we going to be one of those cities that will have that commitment? There’s a lot of stuff out there that we don’t know – all we’re trying to do is learn. This is worth doing. And if we’re able to build something, you could fill it with people who work in Mill Valley.”

"I’m ready to take parks off the table," Councilmember Urban Carmel said after dozens of Scott Highlands residents vehemently expressed their opposition to as-yet-theoretical sales off the park-adjacent lots to generate revenue to support affordable housing efforts. "By the time you get through litigation, there won’t be any money left."

Carmel added that the lack of affordable housing and the lack of diversity in Mill Valley negatively impact the community's economic vitality and sustainability.

“The General Plan talks about the value of small town character and diversity in our community,” he said. “We have really not put as much effort as we need to into the diversity part by a long shot, and the two are linked. And you wonder why it costs $8 dollars to get a cup of coffee, because that person traveled two hours coming to Mill Valley and then leaving Mill Valley in order to serve coffee or to clean your garden and to do everything else. That’s why we have the economy we have. Businesses downtown will tell you that they will not survive past the next 10 years unless we get more local workers.”
​
A number of residents that live outside of the Scott Highlands neighborhood spoke up on behalf of the city's ongoing affordable housing efforts.

“I hear what you don’t want,” resident Zoe Fry said of the Scott Highlands residents. “I hear ‘not in my neighborhood,’ but what I want to hear from you is what you are proposing what you are willing to put on the line and advocate for and make happen.”

Naima Dean, the chair of the City’s DEI Task Force, urged city officials to “focus on making sure that affordable housing happens here. We’ve been working on this for years and we’ve had no movement in terms of actualizing affordable housing in our community.”

Carmel defended the Scott Highlands residents. “The Scott Highlands community is a fantastic neighborhood – I appreciate what they've done,” Carmel said. “They’ve worked constructively with us on issues around the golf course and that path, so when they say they want to work with us to achieve affordable housing, I believe them.”

To that point, Scott Highlands resident Charlie Wilmoth launched a fundraising effort called “House Mill Valley” to support the city's affordable housing plans. It raised nearly $275,000 within 48 hours of its creation, he said. 

Wilmoth told the Marin Independent Journal that the organization’s goal is $5 million by December 2022. “There were passionate people expressing concern that privileged people are not doing enough, and to some degree they’re right. Why should we keep the parks if there are people on the streets?” Wilmoth told the IJ. “We can be on the same side of the table, keep our park and get people into affordable places to live in our city.”

​Missed the meeting? You can watch it here. 

Mark Fong needs – and has long deserved – a vacation that extends beyond a quick weekend camping jaunt.

"It’s been a long run – it’s time to hang it up," Fong says.

That's Mark's take on his decision to close his Critterland Pets, the shop he's owned in Mill Valley since 1981, with the first few years at 365 Miller Ave. and the rest at 336 Miller adjacent to Tamalpais Paint & Color, which is set to expand into the Critterland space in early 2021. Fong and his brother Curtis are already contemplating the various specialty Bay Area pet shops they'll reach out to unload specific products after their planned "retirement sale," which begins after Thanksgiving.
​
Retiring and closing Critterland is a move that Fong says he's been contemplating for quite a while, as the pet supply business has come to be dominated over the years by major chains, as well as customers prioritizing their convenience over the multi-faceted impact of supporting local businesses and generating sales tax revenue and community vitality in your hometown.

"I'm a dinosaur," Fong says with a laugh.

After graduating from UC-Davis and a stint bagging groceries at Mill Valley Market, Fong joined his brothers in working at Wilton Pet Supplies at 76 Throckmorton Ave. in the late 1970s. In a fun twist decades later, Fong's son Tommy has been working part-time at Mill Valley Market as well. 

As much as macro-level industry changes and customer behavior has driven his decision to retire, Fong, who turns 67 in January, has also envied many of his longtime Mill Valley and Bay Area friends who have been enjoying the extra leisure time that comes retirement. He says he's looking forward to visiting friends and joining pals on camping trips and outdoor excursions he's had to miss in the past to run the shop. 

"It'll fun to be able to say 'yes' to these trips – and stay more than a night or two," says Fong, whose shop has been an ardent supporter of Kiddo!, Mill Valley Little League, the tam High Foundation, Outdoor Art and myriad other local nonprofits over the years.

While Critterland has long been known for the breadth of its inventory – from vivariums to crickets and everything in between – in-depth customer service about the needs of your furry, feathered, or scaled friend has been its hallmark. They also earned a reputation for going beyond traditional customer service.

In nominating Critterland for its inclusion in our  Profiles in Kindness in 2017-18 EMV Winter Guide, longtime customer Claire McAuliffe said the Fongs remember her (and all of her dogs over the years) every time she walks in the door, regardless of how long it’s been since she’s visited. “They cheerfully schlep the 40-pound bags out to my car," she says. "Their actions are good business practice, but it’s their caring kindness that keeps me coming back.”

As word spread in recent days about Critterland's closure, neighbors have expressed an outpouring of support on neighborhood platform Nextdoor.

"Critterland has been a treasure," longtime Mill Valley resident Suz Lipman posted on Nextdoor. "When our last cat died after 18 years, we still stopped in for bird food, and hay for our compost, and just to say hi and see the new animals. The store was always a friendly place to visit, and I seem to recall the owners buying Girl Scout cookies when my daughter came around, too. Thanks for helping make Miller Ave. a main street. Best of luck to Mark, Curtis and the family!"

While there will be plenty of pet shops in the 94941 after Critterland's closure, few could match its broad range of products, "Well, here’s a new market need for anyone who wants a job: live crickets, live cat food, homemade hamster food, hand-taming birdies and on and on," Barbara Hockman posted on Nextdoor. 

As for Fong, he's not sure what exactly to expect over the next many weeks.

"I've never actually ever closed, so I have no idea how it's going to go. We've already had a lot of longtime customers stopping by – it will be great to see so many customers and friends over the next six weeks or so."

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Thirteen months ago, Kelly Scott opened Sundry, her second retail shop in downtown Mill Valley, a kitchen- and garden-focused complement to The Goods, her shop around the corner laden with "unique gifts, vintage finds, locally sourced treasures and lots of cashmere" at 6 Miller.

Scott, the former owner of the Alpha Dog shop, plans to close Sundry in mid-November, but in the meantime, she's unveiling a massive cashmere sale in the Sundry space at 118 Throckmorton Ave. – the former home of Branded Boutique, the Mill Valley Hat Box, a laundromat and a fledgling version of Mill Valley Market before that – from Oct. 14-18 and Oct. 21-25 (11am-5pm).

"I sell a ton of cashmere in The Goods, and it's so hard to find with minimal deliveries out of Nepal that I'm having a sale on cashmere with up to 60 percent off," Scott says. "Scarves, mufflers, wraps, ponchos and blankets (but no clothing)."

The 411: Kelly Scott's The Goods shop is having a massive cashmere sale of up to 60 percent off in her Sundry space at 118 Throckmorton Ave. from Oct. 14-18 and Oct. 21-25 (11am-5pm).

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​

Desta Gallery, the Emebet Korn's recently relocated art gallery from San Anselmo to downtown Mill Valley, is set to officially celebrate its arrival with an "Inaugural Opening Reception" on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2-4:30pm in a reserved space just outside her gallery at 100 Throckmorton Avenue.

The event will feature Katheryn Holt and John Wood, two of the contemporary artists whose work Korn is currently showcasing. Korn will have live music and refreshments within a designated outdoor area at the event.

"We kindly ask everyone to practice social distancing and to wear a mask," Korn says. "Only five people at a time will be allowed inside the gallery. There will be a designated area outside for refreshments.

Korn was born in Ethiopia, and Desta Gallery draws its moniker from the Amharic language's word for joy. Korn opened earlier this month, saying she was drawn to Mill Valley's current and historic arts-centric culture, from the First Tuesday Artwalk and the already great galleries here to the fall arts and film festivals.

RSVP required at info@destagallery.com.

The 411: Desta Gallery celebrates its "Inaugural Opening Reception" on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2-4:30pm in a reserved space just outside her gallery at 100 Throckmorton Avenue. Regular hours are Tues.-Sat., 11am-5pm and Sun., 12-4pm. Face masks are required. MORE INFO. 

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Art once again took center stage this weekend in downtown Mill Valley, as a bevy of local business owners and residents who love creativity and local steps being taken to improve racial and economy equity in the 94941 gathered to celebrate a temporary home for a celebrated mural from local artist Wesley Cabral.

The mural, dubbed "Heroes," celebrates the late Rep. John Lewis and actor Chadwick Boseman. "I'm interested in celebrating icons from other cultures," Cabral said.

Vasco and Depot Bookstore & Cafe owner Paul Lazzareschi initially allowed Cabral to keep the mural within the fence line of his space, but Equator Coffees co-founder Helen Russell created a path to have the mural placed on the wall of 34 Miller Ave. containing Urban Remedy, the back half of which serves as the commissary for Equator. It now sits alongside the historic, billboard-size Mt. Tamalpais Hikers Trail map.

​Russell was joined at the event by Equator co-founder Brooke McDonnell, as well as Gravity Tavern co-owner Lara Trupelli, whose restaurant sits on the other side of the lane from 34 Miller. Mill Valley Lumber Yard co-owner Jan Mathews attended, and Russell said "Heroes" will make its way eventually to MVLY and later to Proof Lab in Tam Junction in an effort to make sure as many members of the community see it as possible. 

Zoe Fry was on hand to expand on the group art project she led featuring a trio of free-standing doors in the Depot Plaza as a way to promote racial justice, with each door built around a timeline of racial inequity and systemic racism.
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The mural celebration comes amidst an absolute surge of conscious activism and artistic energy in Mill Valley that has galvanized the community, from youth-fueled long overdue conversations on racial equity and policing in Mill Valley to a blossoming of inspired art. Cabral continued his work on the heels of the news that a Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the March 13th death of Breonna Taylor, who was gunned down in her home during a no-knock raid connected to an ex-boyfriend. Cabral's Taylor mural remains in the plaza area.

Check out a video of the celebration below:

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As we've all become accustomed to in the COVID-19 era, Halloween 2020 is, in the words of the legendary Monty Python Troupe, an "And Now for Something Completely Different" moment.

To allow for social distancing,​ Mill Valley Recreation is transforming its annual "Trunk of Treat" event, in which local businesses set up decorated displays in their car trunks or in parking spaces to the delight of trick-or-treaters, into a COVID-friendly "Spooky Street" drive-thru event that mimics the same concept. 

MV Recreation officials are looking for local businesses to participate in "Spooky Street" by setting up their decorated displays by 2:45pm on Friday, Oct. 30 in fun and engaging ways and greet passers-by from 3-6:30pm. Participants will remain in their cars, so this year requires extra care and creativity, MV Rec officials say.

Some guidelines: "Each business will have a designated parking spot where they will spook the cars as they slowly drive by. Please try to be as visible as possible to all the occupants of the car so they can share in the scare. At the end of the "street" they will be given a Boo! bag filled will treats, activities and surprises. We are limiting participation to 12 cars every 25 mins, for a total of 80 cars. Advanced reservations will be required. Participating businesses will be required to contribute some kind of trick or treat to our 80 BOO! bags."

Businesses: CLICK HERE for the Spooky Street application. Deadline is Wednesday, October 14 at 5pm. Email completed applications to Elizabeth Oku: eoku@cityofmillvalley.org.

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