All of the 9 Sloat Garden locations in the Bay Area will be featuring the Orchid this month.  Visit a location today for great prices on Orchids and learn more about how to raise them with their demonstrations.

Visit Sloat’s website here for more information and locations.

Happy Anniversary To The SFMOMA From All Of Us At Alive Marin!!!

Wondering what this new Presidio Parkway is all about?

It’s the replacement for the dangerous stretch of roadway connecting the Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco called Doyle Drive.

In 2013 and $1 billion later, San Francisco will unveil Presidio Parkway.   Shown below, this new roadway will be earthquake-safe and accommodate wider lanes.

Thankfully, the impact on traffic will be minimal.  However, effective Sunday, January 10, 2010, the Northbound Doyle Drive to Southbound Park Presidio/Hwy 1 ramp will close til 2013.  Click HERE for more information.

For more information about this entire project, a thorough website for this project has been released and be accessed by clicking HERE.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has declared a Spare The Air Day for Tuesday, January 5, 2010, banning indoor and outdoor burning.  The 24-hour ban, which takes effect at midnight, covers all open fires that burn wood, manufactured fire logs or other solid fuel. It applies to fireplaces, woodstoves, pellet stoves and outdoor fire pits. First-time violators get a warning; repeat offenders are subject to $400 fines.  The burning ban is in effect for Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, along with southern Sonoma and southwestern Solano counties.
For More Information on Spare The Air:  CLICK HERE.

Residents and businesses can report wood smoke concerns in their area by completing the online wood burning complaint form or calling the wood burning complaint line: 1-877-4NO-BURN (1-877-466-2876).

The Sierra Club has posted an interesting blog entry about fireplaces.  Check it out HERE.

The 18th Annual Winter Wineland is two glorious days along the wine road, northern Sonoma County of tasting and winery tours.

January 16-17, 2010
11:00-4:00 both days
120 Wineries-50 Lodgings

This is a great opportunity to meet winemakers, taste limited production wines, new releases or library wines.  Some wineries will offer food pairings and others will have tours.

Ticket price will include wine tasting at all of the participating wineries for the weekend.
Advance Online Ticket Prices Are: $40 Weekend,  $30 Sunday Only, $10 for Designated Drivers
At the door prices will be $50 Weekend, $40 Sunday Only, $10 for Designated Drivers
TICKET SALES ARE FINAL AND NON-REFUNDABLE

REMEMBER TO ATTEND THIS EVENT INCLUDING AS A DESIGNATED DRIVER WHERE YOU WILL NOT BE SERVED ANY ALCOHOL YOU MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER!!!

To purchase tickets and for more information including a detailed program to see exactly what each winery will offer for the weekend please click on the following link.

WineRoad.com

Happy Zoo Year!!!

Due to the generosity of the The Bernard Osher Foundation, the San Francisco Zoo will offer free admission throughout the month of January to all children between the ages of 4 and 14 who are accompanied by a paying adult.  Entitled, “Happy Zoo Year,” this program hopes to assist families during difficult times as well as introduce new generations to the Zoo’s amazing animals!  Happy New Year from the Oshers and the San Francisco Zoo!

To Learn More About The San Francisco Zoo And For Ticket Information CLICK HERE!!!

More than 3,000 years after his reign, and 30 years after the original exhibition opened in San Francisco, Tutankhamun, ancient Egypt’s celebrated “boy king,” returns to the de Young Museum. In the summer of 2009 the de Young presents Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, a glorious exhibition of over 130 outstanding works from the tomb of Tutankhamun, as well as those of his royal predecessors, his family, and court officials.

On view from June 27, 2009, through March 28, 2010 at the de Young, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs provides insight into the life of Tutankhamun and other royals of the 18th Dynasty (1555–1305 BC). All of the treasures in the exhibition are more than 3,000 years old.

Click HERE to purchase Tickets.

Make sure to use the password NATGEO in the Promotions and Special Offers box.

We Hope You Enjoy Your Visit!!!

The San Rafael Police Department is planning a traffic checkpoint this weekend to check for intoxicated and unlicensed drivers.

The checkpoint will begin about 6 p.m. Friday and operate until about 2 p.m. Saturday. The location was not disclosed.

The enforcement effort, which is conducted periodically in the city, is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Dont End Up Like This Guy!!!  Drive Safe Not Drunk Or Buzzed!!!

Friday, November 27th Downtown San Rafael will once again host its annual holiday Parade & Winter Wonderland. In its 31st year, the event features a Holiday Marketplace with arts and crafts, live entertainment, children’s activities, free snow sledding, and one of the largest Holiday Parades in the Bay Area.

The event starts at noon with free snow sledding and kids’ activities, then is followed by the Holiday Marketplace at 2 pm and the Parade at 5:30 pm.  The event is located on Fourth Street ~ A Street to Lootens San Rafael, CA.

Following the Parade, Santa, Ms. Claus and other costumed characters arrive with the Mayor of San Rafael to the center of town in the City Plaza to light the official Holiday Tree. Following the Tree Lighting Ceremony, Santa and friends are available for a meet and greet with the kids.

The entire event is FREE to the public and occurs the day after Thanksgiving, one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Don’t miss this great opportunity to take advantage of the Holiday shopping season. Due to the time of year, we recommend that all exhibitors provide your own battery powered lights for your booth.

Click HERE for the events website.

The Marin Triathlon is this coming Sunday, November 1st.  Preparation events and ceremony’s will be held on Friday and Saturday.  Full Schedule is available by clicking the link below.   RememberALL Proceeds from this event benefit charitable organizations including Sunny Hills Services and Jenny’s Light.

Full Triathlon Details Are Available By Clicking HERE!!!

This is a gorgeous and challenging Olympic distance Triathlon; a 1.5 K swim, 22 Mile bike and 10 K run along San Pablo Bay, County of Marin, City of San Rafael and China Camp State Park.