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Holiday Fun for Everyone at Bon Air
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: Bon Air’s magical holiday season begins December 1st with Bon Air and the Larkspur Chamber of Commerce’s Sip, Shop and Stroll the annual, free Christmas Tree lighting party and Holiday Stroll that features special treats, merchant parties and classic carolers.
Santa Claus will arrive on a fire truck at Bon Air on the first three Saturdays of December. Free photos with Santa for children, families and furry friends, printed while you wait. Visit Santa in his cheerily decorated house to whisper wishes in his ear. Children are also invited to write letters to Santa and place them in a special mailbox.
The holiday season continues with Latkes and Lights, a free Hanukkah celebration with Chabad of Marin and Mollie Stone’s that includes menorah lighting, and seasonal treats on December 19th.
Full schedule with dates and times follows:
Mollie Stone’s continues their food drive by offering tax-deductible “Grab and Give Grocery Bags” priced at $30 – $60 per bag and discounted by 10% to benefit the San Francisco-Marin Foodbank
November 26th – December 24th, Pronzini’s Christmas Tree lot celebrates its 55th year at Bon Air, offering fragrant Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands and more. Find them under the big oak in the west parking lot 9 am – 9 pm daily
December 1st, Sip, Shop, Stroll together with the Larkspur Chamber of Commerce from 5:30 – 6:30 pm with Christmas Tree lighting at 5:30 pm, Santa Claus, strolling carolers and dancers from Marin Ballet’s, Sophie’s Enchanted Toy Box and trunk shows at participating Bon Air merchants
December 3rd, 10th and 17th, Saturdays with Santa, noon – 3 pm at his workshop outside of Mollie Stone’s. On December 3rd, dancers from Marin Ballet’s Sophie’s enchanted Toybox will perform
December 19th, Latkes and Lights – 5:15 pm The Menorah will be lit nightly through December 26th. Chabad of Marin will be serving up latkes and hot cocoa courtesy of Mollie Stone’s Market
Admission: Free
Where: Bon Air – Just off Highway 101, on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae
Bon Air’s Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: Bon Air’s annual Food Drive – Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat-begins Saturday, October 29th. Bring non-perishable food items to fill the SF-Marin Food Drive bins located in front of Mollie Stone’s Market in exchange for a trick-or-treat bag. Families then trick-or treat along the promenade at Bon Air shops and restaurants.
This annual, free Halloween Bash invites fairies, goblins, superheroes, ghosts, cowboys and other costumed characters for a day of family fun, even dressed-up pets are welcome. Highlights include performances by Dance With E.N.A., face painting and balloon twisting, and pumpkin decorating at Bank of Marin. Don’t miss Woodland’s costumed Pet Parade and special treats for furry friends.
When: Halloween Bash – Saturday, October 29th, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
• 11:15 am – Performance by Dance with E.N.A. – under the Bon Air tent adjacent to Gott’s.
• 11:30 am and 12:30 pm – Learn a “scary Halloween dance” with Dance with E.N.A.
• 12:30 pm – Woodland’s Pet Parade and Costume Contest; $10 entry fee includes a gift bag with
• 1:30 pm – Judging and announcement of the grand prize winner
Admission: Free
Where: Bon Air – Just off Highway 101, on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae
Bon Air Invitational Car Show
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: The Bon Air Invitational Car Show celebrates vintage American cars with this free, daylong festival showcasing more than 100 vintage American vehicles – classic coupes, roadsters, trucks, family and muscle cars from Chevy, Ford, Cadillac, Pontiac, LaSalle, Mercury and more.
A history of American cars, each car is in pristine condition thanks to decades of meticulous care and maintenance. Meet vehicle owners and swap car stories; go back in time with these amazing autos and trucks from the past 100 years! Refuel with fun for the whole family; music, food and sidewalk specials along the promenade.
Featured vehicles: 1922 award-winning Stutz Fire Engine, 1929 Stearns-Knight seven passenger sedan, 1930 Nash 480 Twin Six, 1931 Cadillac 355A convertible, 1937 Cadillac convertible formerly owned by Esther Williams who signed the glove box, 1953 Hudson Super Wasp 6-cyl., and 1956 Oldsmobile Starfire 156 convertible
When: Saturday, October 8, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Admission: Free
Where: The Car Show takes place in the west end of Bon Air’s expansive parking lot under the towering oak tree.
Behind the Bon Air Mural - A Collaboration with the Canal Arts
DOWNLOAD PDFWe are proud to unveil the beautiful, new mural at Bon Air Greenbrae, a joint collaboration with The Canal Arts. Our team at Bon Air envisioned a wall mural that would draw people to the back of the center to enjoy the amenities this common area offers, such as a bocce court, sitting areas, and gardens with stunning views of Mt. Tam. Our desire was to create a space that would invite people to gather and enjoy Bon Air.
Celebrating Bon Air’s 70th Birthday in 2022 was the ideal time to bring that vision to fruition. Under the recommendation of our partners at Marin Open Studios, we reached out to Rich Storek of Storek Studio/Architecture. Having collaborated with Rich on other successful ventures, he was eager to join us in the mural project and introduced us to The Canal Arts. We recently sat down with Rich, who served as project lead on this first-ever collaboration between The Canal Arts and a for-profit organization outside of San Rafael’s Canal District. Here, we share our conversation about the inspiration, process and people behind the mural, and the important work The Canal Arts is bringing to local artists and communities.
Bon Air: We’re thrilled with how the mural turned out and we’ve received so many compliments and comments. Can you share with us the inspiration behind the design and a bit about the process in making it come to life?
Rich Storek: It’s a terrific example of how a non-profit organization can collaborate with a for-profit entity to create a beautiful display of public art for the entire community to enjoy. We understood that the mural should tell the story of Bon Air’s beginnings in 1952 and celebrate the 70th Anniversary, its present and future. The beginning of the mural near Peet’s reflects the Center’s origins in 1952; the middle is an homage to the natural beauty of Marin and of course a colorful Mt. Tamalpais. The farthest end, 70 years later, is more opaque to suggest an unknown, yet wide-open future.
We selected four Canal Arts artists to collaborate on the design, Yuan Chen, Isidoro Angeles, Kathleen Edwards, Glenn Case, along with members from the Canal Families Art Saturdays. We collaborated with Center ownership to add details to bring the history of the Bon Air to life, wanting to create something that could live well beyond 2022 and Bon Air’s 70th Birthday. We first created a small-scale image that was photographed and projected at night to transfer the design to the wall. Then the painting began, with discussions of details and a color palette to create the vibrant scene. In all, it took a month for the Bon Air mural to come to life. Under the window, you can find a QR code that links to a timeline that tells the history of Bon Air and the Schultz family in Greenbrae, and one that connects to thecanalarts.org.
Bon Air: You’re very passionate about San Rafael’s Canal District, its community, and the work of The Canal Alliance. Can you share more about how you became involved and how The Canal Arts came to be?
Rich Storek: Marin is a small, affluent, county, that depends on the Canal community workforce, yet so many residents are unaware of San Rafael’s Canal District’s underserved, but very lively, community. Living conditions are difficult, and overcrowded. The Canal Alliance’s heroic efforts promote improvements in healthcare, legal, social services, living conditions and education. I began working with Canal Alliance as an architect, designing and constructing their buildings, and it’s these buildings that inspired our first mural projects and ultimately The Canal Arts several years ago. The Canal Arts, together with the community leadership group Voces del Canal, helps provide Canal families educational opportunities through monthly “Art Saturdays”, gatherings where we create art together. The Canal Arts provides a creative outlet for this immigrant-rich community and ensures that they are also paid well for their artwork. The Canal Arts is a coalition of fourteen Marin County organizations: educational, social and community service, arts and business, all supporting the creation of lively, inspiring public art, primarily in East San Rafael and the Canal.
Bon Air: How can people get involved or support The Canal Arts?
Rich Storek: We do receive some funding from the California Arts Council, Marin County and the City of San Rafael, but we rely heavily on volunteers, donations and private fundraising as well. I invite everyone to visit our website – thecanalarts.org – for more information on all our projects and opportunities to get involved with The Canal Arts, and to donate.
Bon Air Welcomes MGs by the Bay
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: Visit Bon Air to see a beautiful collection of classic MG cars from another era. The MG Owners Club of Northern California’s MGs by the Bay car show returns to Bon Air with dozens of classic cars from all over Northern California. Some have been driven daily and others rarely seen, lovingly restored and carefully customized. Meet vehicle owners and swap car stories. At the west end of the parking lot, under the large oak tree.
When: Saturday, July 16th, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Admission: Free
Where: MGs by the Bay takes place in the west end of Bon Air’s parking lot under the large oak tree.
About the MG Owners Club of Northern California: The MG Owners Club, formed in 1957, is the Northern California Centre (Chapter) of the MG Car Club formed in England in 1930. For more information, please visit www.mgocsf.org
Thirst Third Thursdays Returns to Bon Air
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: Bon Air’s popular Thirsty Third Thursdays of Summer returns to Bon Air in July and August. The free, family-friendly evening of craft beer tasting, live bluegrass, kid-friendly beverages and activities at Bon Air benefits Wildcare and music partner Bread & Roses. Ambassador animals will make special appearances and donations are encouraged.
Admission: Free
When: Thursday, July 21st and Thursday, August 18th from 5:00-7:00 pm
Who: July’s craft beer by Headlands Brewing with music by Festival Speed Bluegrass, August’s craft beer by East Brother Beer Co., music by Wakefield Mountain
Where: On the Promenade adjacent to the fire pit with Adirondack chairs, market tables and chairs shaded by umbrellas, children’s play area and nearby bocce.
About Wildcare: Headquartered in San Rafael, WildCare’s mission is to advocate for wildlife for a sustainable world, pursuing this mission through nature education, wildlife medicine, advocacy and community outreach. Through partnerships with schools, collaborations with other organizations, educational programs and activities, internships and volunteer opportunities, they make a positive difference in the community.
About Bread & Roses: Bread & Roses Presents is a nonprofit arts organization with a human services mission that brings hope, healing and joy through live music and the performing arts to people who are disadvantaged, marginalized, or otherwise isolated in diverse institutional settings in the San Francisco Bay Area. They produce over 600 concerts a year for youth, adults and seniors who need uplifting most.
Music Time for Little Ones at Bon Air
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: Bon Air invites little ones and their caregivers to free Summer Thursday Music Time with Megan in June and July – a fun morning of singing, dancing, and wiggling. Children are welcome to bring their own shakers and instruments to jam along with Megan Schoenbohm, a Bay Area award winning singer-songwriter and musical artist.
When: Thursday mornings, 11:30 am to lunchtime (approximately 12:15 pm) June 16th, 23rd and 30th, July 14th and 21st
Admission: Free
Where: Under the Bon Air tent next to the Little House playground at the west end of the center.
Bon Air Celebrates 70th Birthday!
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: Bon Air is partnering with the Kentfield Greenbrae Historical Society for a 70th Birthday Bash celebrating community at its best! An open invitation for local residents to enjoy a day of appreciation and commemoration beginning with a proclamation of Bon Air Day from the City of Larkspur, and kicking-off with centerwide participation and entertainment, including merchant specials, samples, trunk shows, treats and more. Live music by Bread & Roses Presents, a cornhole tournament hosted by Gott’s Roadside and the Larkspur Chamber of Commerce (register to play here), and live painting of a new mural showcasing the past, present and future of Bon Air created in partnership with Canal Arts are just some of the highlights of the day. The Marin Rose Society will exhibit inside space #110, featuring a special Bon Air rose variety that grows well in the region. Enjoy hands-on activities with community organizations from across Marin celebrating with booths along the promenade. See local fire trucks and vintage cars dating back to 1952 on display under the oak tree.
When: Saturday, May 7th, 11 am to 2 pm
Admission: Free
Where: Just off Highway 101 on Sir Francis Drake Blvd, center-wide along the Bon Air promenade Gott’s and Larkspur Chamber Cornhole Tournament at the Bocce Court Canal Arts mural painting adjacent to the Bocce Court
History: To learn more about Bon Air, Greenbrae’s downtown, through the past 70 years and view historic images, please visit: Our Story
Easter Bunny Hippity Hops into Bon Air
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: It’s Bon Air’s 70th Birthday! Families and friends are invited to hop into Bon Air for an Easter celebration. Put on free floppy Bunny ears and pose for a photo with the Easter Bunny in its sweetly decorated Bunny Burrow. Free 70th Birthday balloons and jelly beans for all children. Merchants and restaurants will offer demos and sidewalk specials. Pets are welcome too, Woodland’s Pet Food & Treats will be hosting a pet event.
When: Saturday, April 16th, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Look for the Bunny Burrow in front of Mollie Stone’s Market, just off Highway 101 on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae. For more information, visit www.bonair.com, or call (415) 461-0200.
Time for Tomatoes
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: Heralding spring with the promise of a sweet summer crop, Marin’s annual Tomato Market at Bon Air is back! Tomato fans and gardeners will choose from a curated selection of nearly 3,000 tomato starts from the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program. Six heirloom and ten hybrid tomato varieties have been selected for their exceptional taste, superior growth habits, disease resistance and performance in Marin’s microclimates. The Tomato Market is later in the season, allowing growers to plant their tomatoes immediately, yielding strong, healthy, productive plants. Grown from seed by Marin Master Gardeners at San Rafael’s Falkirk greenhouse, the ready-to-plant tomato starts are $4 each. Tomato experts and Marin Master Gardeners will be on-hand to answer questions and offer Marin-specific watering and growing tips. The tomato starts go quickly, so early arrival is recommended.
Tomato selection:
- New Offerings: Japanese Trifele, Jetsetter, Russian Big Roma
- A Rainbow of Cherries: Chocolate Cherry, Rapunzel, Sun Gold and Sweet 100
- Coastal/Cool Weather Varieties: Black & Brown Boar, Blush Cherry, Chocolate Cherry, Carmello, Early Girl, Japanese Black Trifele, Jaune Flamme, Jetsetter, Oaxacan Jewel, Paul Robeson, Sun Gold and Sweet 100
- Container Varieties: Carmello, Blush Cherry, Cherokee Purple, Jetsetter, Chocolate Cherry, Early Girl, Jaune Flamme, Sun Gold and Sweet 100
- Beefsteak Tomatoes: Black Beauty, Brandywine, Carmello, Chef’s Choice Orange, Early Girl, Cherokee Purple, Green Giant, Oaxacan Jewel and Paul Robeson
When: Saturday, April 23rd, 9 a.m. until sold out.
Admission: Free
Where: Along the western end of the promenade near Wells Fargo Bank.
One Stop for Holiday Fun at Bon Air
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: Bon Air’s magical holiday season begins December 1st with Dreidels and Lights, a free Hanukkah celebration that includes menorah lighting, dreidel kits for guests and seasonal treats. Then on Thursday, December 2nd, Bon Air partners with the Larkspur Chamber of Commerce for Sip, Shop, Stroll – the annual, free Christmas Tree Lighting party that features special treats, merchant parties and costumed carolers. The season continues the first three Saturdays of December when children are invited to write letters to Santa and place them in a special mailbox as the Man of the Season watches and waves from his cheerily decorated Santa House. Children of all ages will receive a free Bon Air Santa Letter Kit, including stationery and boxed crayons to write, draw, and color their letters. While dropping their letters in Santa’s mailbox, families can take socially distanced photos with the Jolly Old Elf. Carolers will sing their way through Bon Air.
Give: Mollie Stone’s is continuing their food drive and offering tax-deductible “Grab and Give Grocery Bags” priced at $18 – $33 per bag and discounted by 10% to benefit the San Francisco-Marin Foodbank.
Decorate: Pronzini’s Christmas Tree lot celebrates its 54th year at Bon Air, offering fragrant Christmas trees, wreaths, garland and more. Find them under the big oak in the west parking lot.
When:
• Dreidels and Lights – December 1st, 5:00 p.m. The Menorah will be lit nightly through December 6th.
• Sip, Shop, Stroll – December 2nd, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
• Saturdays with Santa – December 4th, 11th and 18th, noon – 3 p.m.
• Pronzini’s Christmas Lot – Open November 26th – December 24th; daily, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Admission: Free
Where: Bon Air – just off Highway 101, on Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Greenbrae – adjacent to Mollie Stone’s Market
Bon Air’s Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat Halloween Bash
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: Bon Air’s yearly Food Drive – Trick-or-Treat So Others Can Eat -begins Saturday, October 30h. Bring non-perishable food items to fill the SF-Marin Food Drive bins located in front of Mollie Stone’s Market in exchange for a trick-or-treat bag. Then trick-or treat at Bon Air shops and restaurants. This annual, free Halloween Bash welcomes fairies, goblins, superheroes, ghosts, cowboys and other costumed characters, families and even dressed-up pets are welcome. Guests can showcase their Halloween moves by learning the famous Thriller Dance or join a ghostly themed Music Time with Megan and then pick up a pumpkin decorating kit at Bank of Marin and take a photo with their Halloween backdrop.
When:
• 11 am: Halloween Bash – Saturday, October 30th, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
• 11 am: Thriller Dance performed by Dance with E.N.A. – under the Bon Air tent adjacent to Gott’s.
• 11:15 – 2pm: Pumpkin decorating kits and Halloween photos – Bank of Marin
• 11:30: Music Time with Megan – Under the Bon Air tent adjacent to Gott’s
• 12:30 & 1:30pm: Thriller Dance Lessons taught by Dance with E.N.A
Admission: Free
Where: Bon Air – Just off Highway 101, on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae
Saturdays With Santa – Magical Season at Bon Air
DOWNLOAD PDFSocially Distanced Santa Visits – Deliver Letters to Santa
Pronzini Christmas Tree Lot celebrates 53 years at Bon Air
Who: Children are invited to write letters to Santa and place them in a special mailbox as the Man of the Season watches and waves from his cheerily decorated Santa House on the first three Saturdays of December. While waiting on “6ft. closer to Santa” floor markers, children of all ages will receive a Bon Air Santa Letter Kit, including stationery and boxed crayons to write, draw, and color their letter. While dropping their letters in Santa’s mailbox, families can take socially distanced photos with the Jolly Old Elf.
Give: Mollie Stone’s is offering tax deductible “Grab and Give Grocery Bags” priced at $18 – $33 per bag and discounted by 10% to benefit the San Francisco-Marin Foodbank.
Decorate: Pronzini’s Christmas Tree lot celebrates its 53rd year at Bon Air, offering fragrant Christmas trees, wreaths, garland and more. Find them under the big oak in the west parking lot.
When: Saturday, December 5, 12 and 19, noon – 3 p.m.
Pronzini’s Christmas Lot open November 27 – December 24; daily, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Admission: Free
Where: Bon Air – just off Highway 101, on Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Greenbrae – adjacent to Mollie Stone’s Market
Drive-In to the Movies at Bon Air
DOWNLOAD PDFBon Air and The Lark Theater team up for Drive-In movie nights
What: Drive-in to the Movies at Bon Air – Bon Air and The Lark Theatre have teamed up to present a free, summer drive-in movie series for the community. Sing along to toe-tapping, 80’s summer dance classics including Footloose, Dirty Dancing and Flashdance. Delicious box dinners are available for purchase from Bon Air’s popular restaurants. Movie audio via an FM station, provided upon arrival, and through the vehicle’s Bluetooth. Social distancing requirements will be followed and masks, when guests are outside personal vehicles, are required.
When: Thursdays, June 18, 8:30 p.m. – Footloose, Thursday, July 16, 8:30 p.m. – Dirty Dancing and Thursday, August 20, 8:30 p.m. – Flashdance
Gates open at 7:30 p.m.
Admission: Advanced tickets only. Free @Larktheater.net. Generous donations
to The Lark Theater, a non-profit, are highly encouraged.
Where: Large inflatable screen and vehicle parking under the large oak tree in the west parking lot; space is limited, and large vehicles will be parked in the back of the viewing area. Bon Air is just off Highway 101 on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae. For more information, visit www.bonair.com, or call (415) 461-0200.
Easter Bunny Hippity Hops into Bon Air
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: Families and friends are invited to hop into Bon Air for an Easter celebration. Put on free floppy Bunny ears and visit with the Easter Bunny in its sweetly decorated Bunny Burrow. Free balloons for all children. Merchants and restaurants will offer demos and sidewalk specials. Time for a new kitten or puppy? Woodland’s Pet Food & Treats will be hosting a pet adoption fair.
When: Saturday, April 11, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: Look for the Bunny Burrow in front of Mollie Stone’s Market, just off Highway 101 on Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae. For more information, visit www.bonair.com, or call (415) 461-0200.
TomatoPalooza
DOWNLOAD PDFWhat: Calling all tomato fans and gardeners! The annual Tomato Market at Bon Air features a curated selection of 2,500 tomato starts from the UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program. Nine heirloom and eight hybrid tomato varieties have been selected for their exceptional taste, superior growth habits, disease resistance and performance in Marin’s microclimates. Grown from seed by Marin Master Gardeners at San Rafael’s Falkirk greenhouse, the ready-to-plant tomato starts are $4 each. Tomato experts and Marin Master Gardeners will be on-hand to answer questions and offer Marin-specific watering and growing tips. The tomato starts go quickly, so early arrival is recommended.
Tomato selection:
- New Offerings: Juliet Grape Tomato and Toma Verde Tomatillo
- A Rainbow of Cherries: Blush Cherry, Chocolate Cherry, Rapunzel, Sun Gold and Super Sweet 100.
- Coastal/Cool Weather Varieties: Black & Brown Boar, Blush Cherry, Chocolate Cherry, Carmello, Early Girl, Japanese Black Trifele, Jaune Flamme, Jetsetter, Juliet, Oaxacan Jewel, Sun Gold and Super Sweet 100.
- Container Varieties: Blush Cherry, Carmello ,Cherokee Purple, Jetsetter, Chocolate Cherry, Early Girl, Jaune Flamme, Juliet, Russian Big Roma, Sun Gold and Super Sweet 100.
- Beefsteak Tomatoes: Black Beauty, Brandywine, Chef’s Choice Orange, Early Girl, Cherokee Purple, Green Giant, and Oaxacan Jewel.
When: Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. until sold out.
Admission: Free
Where: Along the western end of the promenade near Wells Fargo Bank.