New Doughnut Food Truck, Beer Specials at Friday's West End Culture Crawl

 Editor’s note: Johnny Doughnuts won't be formally opening their shop on Friday as we previously reported, but the bakers will be at the event serving doughnuts out of their food truck. The shop will be opening soon. We regret the error.

A new gourmet doughnut food truck as well as specials at local bars, restaurants and shops will mark the second-annual West End Village Cultural Crawl, set for this Friday, July 19. 

The free event, from 5 to 8 p.m., features a variety of specials — including live music, food tastings and product demos — at several businesses (scroll down for the complete list) in San Rafael’s West End, the neighborhood on Fourth Street west of E Street.

Event coordinator Joel Eis, owner of Rebound Bookstore, said last year’s Culture Crawl included 18 businesses and more than 400 attendants. 

“This year we have a new pet store and the grand opening of Johnny Doughnuts, the North Bay’s first and only gourmet donut shop, and other new comers,” he said. 

According to the Johnny Doughnuts website and social media, the bake shop is linked to a new Bay Area Doughnut Truck that has made appearances at the Marin Country Mart Farmers Market. 

Other new businesses at the West End include the Red Hill Pet Center, which moved to San Rafael last summer from San Anselmo.

The Culture Crawl will also be the last time it includes the West End’s Starbase Arcade, which has been in the West End for more than 30 years but will close at the end of August. 

San Rafael’s newly reorganized Downtown Business Improvement District awarded a development grant to Culture Crawl organizers for the event, according to Eis.

 “We’re proud to support this event, it’s grass-roots developed and very popular. This is just the beginning of what is going to happen down there,” said Business Improvement District Executive Director Carol Thompson. “It’s going to become a destination area.”

Participating businesses include:

Johnny Doughnuts: Grand Opening

Bananas At Large: Live music, wine and cheese, in-store specials

Mayflower Pub: Beer specials

Lily’s Cleaners: Cambodian clothing and gifts

Starbase Arcade: Old time and modern video games

Red Hill Pet Center: Pet Care/Product Demos

Bohemia: Custom Fabrics/Antiques

PinUp Hair Emporium & Unique Boutique: Sales, live music

Lotus Chaat and Spice Restaurant: discounts, food tasting

Rebound Bookstore: Surprise event

Whipper Snapper Restaurant: In-store Special/live music

Red Dragon Yoga: Open after hours, demo class

Hanna’s Restaurant: Live Jazz in the Gazebo

Pint Size Lounge: Open

Pirates Cove gifts/smoke shop: Sales

Malabar Indian Market: Food tasting, Indian clothing

DSC Digital design Studio: Open house

Floor Coverings Of Marin