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| June 3, 2005
SUMMER FESTIVALS: Tiburon beckons Bobbing boats, bay races and dining in the streets BY JACOB SHAFER Upscale, serene and situated in one of the best bayside locations imaginable, Tiburon is the kind of place that’s an outing unto itself. Simply strolling around this tranquil seaside town—taking in the view, poking into the various shops and eateries—could constitute a fulfilling summer outing. But there’s more going on than just sightseeing this season. If you’re looking to get out on the water, you can’t do much better than the Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry, the Bay Area’s only remaining family-owned ferry and sightseeing service. Sunset Cruises depart every Friday and Saturday through mid-October. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating is provided, and voyagers are encouraged to pack a picnic for a little aquatic dining. Snacks and sippables are also available for purchase on-board. If you choose to make the trip to Angel Island by day, you’ll find fun waiting for you in the form of Bike Tours that are regularly scheduled between June and September. Bring a bag lunch, water and a helmet. To experience an Independence Day you won’t soon forget, catch the special Fourth of July Cruise and watch those bombs bursting in air over the shimmering waters of the bay. For athletic types, there’s the Tiburon Triathlon, now entering its 15th year of existence. As ever, the event will be held the last Sunday in July and will feature a half-mile swim, a nine-mile bike ride and a two-mile run that’ll have participants crisscrossing all over town. A helmet is required for the biking portion of the race. Money raised from the Triathlon goes toward the Tiburon Volunteer Fire Department, so you’ll be sweating for a good cause. If that doesn’t quench your thirst for high-endurance activities, check out the Tiburon Mile, an annual race that sends swimmers into the frigid waters of the bay to paddle the nautical mile between Angel Island and the shores of downtown Tiburon. Several levels of competition are available (with cash and prizes offered), meaning you needn’t be an Olympian to give it a go—though Olympians have been known to dive in as part of the elite division. Money from the swim benefits the Special Olympics of Northern California. Shifting gears from muscle-working to music, the American Bach Soloists will present their annual Summerfest at St. Stephen’s Church in Belvedere, featuring six aurally sensuous evenings with the works of Bach, Brahms, Vivaldi, Mozart, Muffat, Dvorak and Mendelssohn. The candle-lit concerts will be capped off by meet-the-artists events and delicious food. Keep the good times rolling each week through September 30 with Friday Nights on Main. Tiburon’s Main Street will be closed off to accommodate live music and outdoor dining, with restaurants from all over town setting up sidewalk cafés. The wide array of fine cuisine will be complemented nicely by tunes from numerous bands plus other special entertainment and festivities. The series will culminate with an “Octoberfest” celebration on the last Friday in September. For the kiddies, there’s the Belvedere-Tiburon Library, offering up a range of youngster-friendly happenings. Through August 11, the library invites children to participate in the “Dragons, Dreams & Daring Deeds” summer reading program. Through August 8, wee ones age 2 and under can bop to Baby Bounce, a smile-inducing mélange of songs and finger-plays. Through August 10, there’s the Lemonade Hour Read-Along for kids 7 and up, with a weekly out-loud chapter followed by discussion and, you guessed it, lemonade. Registration for all the aforementioned activities—and many of the others that are also going on—is required. Finally, for you history buffs, back on Angel Island there’ll be a Civil War Days & Artillery Battle June 11-12. Head over to Camp Reynolds for an authentic cannon exchange and a chance to visit with some soldiers from both sides of the Mason-Dixon line. You can also learn about baking army bread, tin punching, rope making, battlefield surgery (bite the bullet!) and more. After the battle on June 11, there’ll be merriment aplenty at a period dance party under the stars. So there you have it. From the little ones on up, there’s something for everyone this season in Tiburon. What are you waiting for? SUMMER FESTIVALS BY CITY Corte Madera |
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Bike Tours, June 4 & 18, July 2, 30, August 13 & 27 and September 10 & 24. Tours begin at 10:30am at the Angel Island Gift Shop. Info: 415/435-3522 or www.angelisland.org. Fourth of July Cruise, July 4; boarding begins at 7:30pm, departs at 8pm and returns at 11pm from the Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry Dock, 21 Main St. $30-$40. Info: 415/435-2131 or www.angelislandferry.com. Tiburon Triathlon, July 31; 6:30am check-in begins in Belvedere Community Park, course closed at 9:30am. $60 for individuals, $90 for relay groups. Preregistration required (only 500 spots available, so acting early is recommended), get registration forms and info at www.tiburonfire.org. Tiburon Mile, tentatively scheduled for September 25. Visit www.rcptiburonmile.com or call 415/721-9990 for updates. American Bach Soloists’ Summerfest, July 12-17 at St. Stephen’s Church, 3 Bayview Ave., Belvedere. $18-$37, food and other events extra. Info: 415/621-7900 or www.americanbach.org. Friday Nights on Main, 5-11pm every Friday through September 30 in downtown Tiburon. Info: 415/435-5633. Belvedere-Tiburon Library, 1501 Tiburon Blvd.; various kid-oriented programs run throughout the summer, registration is required for most, many are free. Info: 415/789-BOOK. Civil War Days & Artillery Battle, June11-12 at Camp Reynolds, Angel Island. Daytime activities free, gala dance party $20. Info: 415/435-5390 or www.angelisland.org. SUMMER FESTIVALS BY CITY Corte Madera |
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