Point Reyes Light - August 30, 2001
Labor Day activities set in West Marin
By Gregory Foley
West Marin residents and visitors will have the chance to celebrate the last days of summer this Labor Day weekend at a variety of festivities, barbecues, and exhibitions. The biggest event is scheduled in Tomales.
Tomales Founders’ Day
Tomales will be the center for many of the weekend’s activities. Townspeople have scheduled their 8th annual Founders’ Day on Sunday, Sept. 2, to celebrate an 1863 US Supreme Court victory that gave a band of squatters title to the town despite claims by holders of a bogus Mexican land grant.
• The celebration will kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, in Tomales Town Hall with an Open Microphone Night for musicians, singers, and comedians to test their material on a live audience.
• Sunday’s activities will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the Tomales Presbyterian Church, followed by services at both the Presbyterian and Catholic churches.
The Founders’ Day parade will begin at the south end of the main street at noon. It will be followed by a chicken barbecue in the town park, with live music, games, and concessions.
• Tomales Regional History Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in its parking lot will hold its annual Founders Day Book Sale, offering hardcovers and paperbacks of all genres at reasonable prices. A collection of antique gasoline engines will be on display all day along the main street between the History Center and the William Tell House restaurant and bar.
Sandcastle contest
Point Reyes National Seashore will host its 20th annual sand sculpture contest at Drakes Beach on Sunday, Sept. 2. starting at 9 a.m. Judges for the National Seashore will offer prizes in four categories: children 14 and under, families, individual adults, and adult groups. Judging will begin at 1 p.m., and prizes will be awarded at 3:30 p.m.
Point Reyes Station
The Dance Palace will hold its annual rummage sale fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, in the parking lot of Toby’s Feed Barn. Rummage items for donation can be dropped off Saturday during the sale.
The Dance Palace gallery from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, will present a show and sale of watercolor works by Thursday’s Children, a local group of plein air artists, some of whom have been painting together for 20 years.
Artists’ open studios
Work by some of the Tomales Bay Area’s finest artists will be on display from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, Sept. 1, 2, and 3, in the artists’ workshops during "Point Reyes Open Studios." Artists residing in the Point Reyes Station area will offer special exhibitions and sales of photographs, etchings, textiles, and paintings. Signs will be posted to lead visitors from Highway 1 and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to participating studios. Those with questions can call 663-1457 for directions.
To the south, Bolinas artist Birgit O’Connor from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1 and 2, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3, will open her studio at 165 Mesa Rd. to show her collection of original watercolors.
Other art exhibits
Also in Point Reyes Station, the Bovine Bakery will exhibit paintings by Cotati artist Pamela Borne through Aug. 25, and the William Lester Gallery from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, will hold a reception for Chileno Valley artist Dana Hooper.
Bolinas
Bolinas Community Center will hold a Labor Day street party, barbecue, and silent auction, starting at noon Monday downtown. The event will be a fundraiser for the community center. The silent auction inside the community center from noon to 5 p.m. will offer bidders hundreds of items and services, including home-repair work, bodywork, meals at local restaurants, weekend getaways, fine wines, and a bay cruise on a performance yacht from the Presentation Sisters Convent in San Francisco.
Featured bands playing from noon to 6 p.m. on the outdoor stage include Chrome Johnson, Mother Truckers, and Hambone. The barbecue menu will include grilled chicken, local organic sausages and veggie burgers, garden salads, and home-baked desserts.
Because Wharf Road will be closed for the event, parking will be made available at Mesa Park for a small fee.
Clothesline show in Bobo
Bolinas artists Peter Lee Brownlee and StuArt from noon until dusk Saturday, Sept. 1, and Sunday, Sept. 2, at 12 Wharf Rd. will present paintings by Stinson Beach and Bolinas residents in the "Bolinas Painters Clothesline Show." Paintings and sculpture will be exhibited on a "fence of art" between the community center and Bolinas Garage.
Nicasio
Rancho Nicasio has scheduled a special set of Labor Day weekend dinner shows and outdoor concert barbecues. Dinner shows at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, will feature The Rancho Allstars with Dallis Craft and Mike Duke, and at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, will present Swing Society.
Two weekend concerts with barbecues on the Rancho’s lawn Sunday, Sept. 2, and Monday Sept. 3, will begin at 4 p.m. The Sunday entertainment will feature The Angela Strehli Band, and Monday’s event will feature 70s country rockers New Riders of the Purple Sage. Barbecued oysters, tri-tip, chicken, ribs, and hot links will be available. Those interested can call 662-2219 for information and ticket prices.
Woodacre
The Woodacre Improvement Club from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3, will open its swimming pool to the public during its annual Labor Day Pool Party. For a small fee visitors can use the club’s pool, snack bar, and barbecue grill while they enjoy the summer’s last holiday. For more information call 488-0708.
Fireworks
West Marin residents that enjoy pyrotechnics can see the county’s only high-level fireworks display at Stafford Lake outside Novato from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2. The reservoir is owned by North Marin Water District, which operates the Point Reyes water system and the Oceana Marin sewer system. The event will also feature music by The Rhythm and Blues All-Stars and special activities for children.