McNears Block Party and More this Weekend

Check out what's happening in San Rafael this weekend.

McNears Beach Block Party Marin County Parks wants to celebrate this Friday. Summer is just around the corner, school is nearly out, the busy season has started and they're turning 40. So, join them for the 1st annual McNears Beach block party. There will be food, music, a sand castle contest, swimming and plenty of fun for the whole family. This is a great chance to meet the rangers and your Marin County neighbors. For more information, contact Dan Sauter at dsauter@marincounty.org. Entrance fee is waived. Swimming fee is $5 per person. Festivities start at 4p.m. 680 Trail Grand Opening The grand opening of the 680 Trail will take place on Saturday at 9:30a.m. Join volunteers and county officials for a brief morning ceremony, including …

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Dunn the Music Man Set for Last Mountain Play Hurrah

Stalwart director preps his biggest cast ever, which includes San Rafael's Susan Zelinsky, for Sunday’s opening of his final season.

Outdoor theatrical productions of any stripe invite a bevy of potential pitfalls. But when the theater is tucked into a 2,500-foot-high mountain just off the Pacific Ocean, it brings an element that not even the most stalwart director can circumvent. As he helms his 30th consecutive Mountain Play this year with his second stab at The Music Man, director James Dunn knows that all too well. Dunn, who’s wrapping up his legendary Mountain Play run just months before his 80th birthday and one year before the Mountain Play celebrates its centennial, helmed dress rehearsals Sunday at Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre in advance of opening day on Sunday, May 20. But Mother Nature had another idea. The beautiful weather of the week prior gave way to a …

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Local Talent Floods Pacifics' National Anthem Auditions

See some of the local singers who will be performing at the games.

Check out some of the local talent that earned spots singing the National Anthem for the Pacifics' summer schedule.   See the full schedule of singers here. Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter

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Nicole Ely

4:46 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Love all the amazing voices! Can't wait to hear you guys at the games!   more ›

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25th Anniversary of May Madness this Weekend

Check out what's happening in San Rafael this weekend.

  Into the Woods Opening Gala Friday is the opening gala for Into the Woods performed by San Rafael Young Performers Theatre. Over 40 young people and 30 adults show their talents in this musical production. Performances will be held at the San Rafael Community Center at 618 B Street. Doors open at 7p.m. If you purchase tickets online you must bring your receipt to 'will call' at the San Rafael Community Center to attend the performance. 25th Annual May Madness Classic Car Show The streets of downtown San Rafael will come alive once again as the tradition of  “cruising” and 50s and 60s nostalgia as one of the North Bay’s largest car displays and parade comes to Fourth Street for the 25th anniversary year on Saturday.  May Madness, the …

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Music, Laughes and Art this Weekend

Check out what's happening this weekend in San Rafael.

So, what do you have planned this weekend? Looking for some ideas? Take a look at what's on the San Rafael Patch Events Calendar. Five-Time Grammy Nominee John Santos & his Sextet John Santos is one of the foremost exponents of Afro-Latin music in the world today. He is known for his innovative use of traditional forms and instruments in combination with contemporary music. Santos has performed, recorded and studied with masters such as Cachao, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Lazaro Ros, Armando Peraza, Eddie Palmieri, Max Roach and more. The five-time Grammy nominee will be playing at George's nightclub at 842 Fourth Street on Friday night. Marin Open Studios  Marin Open Studios spans the first two weekends in May. More than 250 artists’ …

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Uncovering Art In Our Community

Marin Open Studios holds its Preview Gala on Saturday at the Town Center with more than 260 artists' work on display.

The story of Marin County is being written — or more accurately drawn — by today's youth, and you can see it Saturday when Marin Open Studios holds its Preview Gala at the Town Center in Corte Madera. Marin's art community is well-known for producing some of the most talented painters, photographers, sculptors and ceramicists the world has ever seen. Some of the best and brightest will be on display Saturday with 260 artists showing samples of their work. They'll also open their doors for two weekends — May 5-6 and May 12-13 — during the annual Open Studio tour. Central and North Marin, including San Rafael, will take the spotlight the first weekend, with Southern Marin opening its doors and garages the second weekend. "The preview is a …

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Pancakes, Garage Sales and Tea Time with the Mad Hatter

Check out activities in San Rafael this weekend.

So, what do you have planned this weekend? Looking for some ideas? Well then, take a look at what's on the San Rafael Patch Events Calendar. Show a little Bulldog pride with their 6th Annual Bulldag Family Pancake Breakfast this Saturday. Eat some great food and participate in their silent auctions. All proceeds go to San Rafael High School Athletics. Looking for a garge sale? Santa Venetia Neighbors Helping Neighbors is holding a garage sale on Satruday that will raise funds to benefit people and projects directly connected to their neighborhood. All the proceeds from the bi-annual garage sales go to support local scholarships, shelter for the homeless, homebound seniors and similar community-based needs. Want to enjoy teatime with the …

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Debbie Reynolds to Perform at Marin Center

Check out what's happening in San Rafael this weekend.

So, what do you have planned this weekend? Looking for some ideas? Well then, take a look at what's on the San Rafael Patch Events Calendar. Does your kid have musical talent? Auditions for the musical Grease willbe held on Friday, April 20, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the San Rafael Community Center. Children from age 8 to 18 are welcome and should be prepared to sing a song! Celebrate the earth this Saturday at the Civic Center Lagoon Park. The Earth Day Marin Festival is a fun, free event for all ages with the goal of galvanizing a greater level of community action on environmental issues. The event includes music, speakers, workshops, a teen-led TeenSpot & stage, a kid zone and the leading organizations, businesses, agencies and …

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Marin's Pechner Contributes to Rock Hall's Grateful Dead Exhibit

Image of the Dead's wildly creative Wall of Sound system will be on display through December 2012 at the museum in Cleveland.

Richard Pechner, a Novato native and Terra Linda resident, is now a rock star in Cleveland. In a way. An original Deadhead, Pechner has his image of the famed Wall of Sound speaker system featured in a new Grateful Dead exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and it was installed just in time for the latest hall induction ceremonies April 12 through 14. Pechner, a Novato High grad, finalized a license agreement with the Rock and Roll Hall in February to donate his image of Owsley “Bear” Stanley's massive creation for use as a stage background for the new exhibit. Pechner attended the pre-opening with his son, Toby, and his brother Stan and received the VIP treatment from curator Howard Kramer. "Walking into the exhibit room…

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Grow Business Revenue, Sexy Vocals and More this Weekend

Check out what's happening in San Rafael this weekend.

So, what do you have planned this weekend? Looking for some ideas? Well then, take a look at what's on the San Rafael Patch Events Calendar. --Marin Wisdom Series is a monthly workshop for serious entrepreneurs who want rapid revenue growth in 2012. On the second Saturday of each month, they bring in three experts to share their top money making secrets with you. You go home with nine practical, no-nonsense ways to make your business more profitable in today's economy. --Oakland native Lenny Williams possesses one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music. Experience a sexy and soulful experience with the man himself in the classy supper-club environment of George's Nightclub this Saturday. --Don't forget the Marin Civic Center …

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