FAIRFAX, CALIFORNIA

AN UNOFFICIAL WEB SITE FOR THE TOWN AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.

This page spotlights the town of Fairfax, California, some of the local music venues, merchants and things to do and see in Fairfax. Keep scrolling, there's lots of stuff here!

*******************

A BIT ABOUT....

Fairfax is located in Marin County, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. A small town of approximately 7500 folks, it is the last 'suburb' before the 'wilds' of the San Geronimo Valley and beyond to the Pacific Ocean (the largest on the West Coast), and the Golden Gate National Seashore. Fairfax is laid out in several valleys and many hills. It's a pretty cool little town, friendly and nice to look at. There is much about the history of Fairfax at the FAIRFAX HISTORICAL SOCIETY website. You can also find out about the town government, etc. by visiting the official town site at TOWN OF FAIRFAX OFFICIAL SITE.

Each June the town hosts the FAIRFAX FESTIVAL, a two-day town celebration. This year it will start on June 14th.... It begins on Saturday with the Fairfax Parade at 10 or so.. the Festival starts at noon, and Rudy C. came up with a great lineup for the Main stage, and of course music at the Ecofest At the Pavillion, and on the Redwood Stage in Peri Park. You can see some Fairfax Parade video here on the Gordy94930 Youtube.com site, along with lots of other video.

 

MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT

There are clubs in town featuring live music pretty much 7 days a week, and there are many very talented musicians to play. The clubs that present live music are, PERI'S and 19 BROADWAY . The IRON SPRINGS BREWERY offers music on Wednesdays.The BOOKBEAT offers music several times a month, and they all have open mics, usually on Monday nights.. The Fairfax Theater has five screens, and there are occasional dances and activities at the Fairfax Pavilion. ...To read about some of the local musicians check out our MARIN MUSIC. If you would like to see some local video, check out my page on YouTube at YOUTUBE. There are highlights of this year's Parade, as well as some music clips and the incredible bathrooms at Peri's Saloon, designed by town custodian Rudy Contratti.

FAIRFAX MERCHANTS

These are the people I give my business to locally! If they have a web site, their name will be underlined.

RESTAURANTS

SORELLA'S CAFFE at 120 Bolinas Rd, serving great Italian with tasty sauces and fine ingredients and family-style service.

KOFFEE KLATCH---57 Broadway....serving great home-made style breakfasts and lunches. The front window is a great tourist attraction. Open Monday thru Saturday 6:30 AM to 3 PM, Sundays 7-3. Food to go. Call 454-4784

FAIRFIX--Mediterranean food and sandwiches, great soup, lots of mid-Eastern style plates and combos, espresso, back patio, great vibes. 33 Broadway Call 459-6404

SIAM LOTUS Thai Cuisine 25 Broadway great Thai food, eat there, or take it home. 453-5967

RED BOY PIZZA--2404 Sir Francis Drake Blvd...undoubtedly the best pizza available in Fairfax, Try the Veggie Garden Delight...nummy! Delivery or in store....call 453-3138

CASA MANANA---85 Bolinas...great Mexican food to eat on their patio or take home...fresh ingredients, friendly staff. Call 454-2384

FRADELIZIO'S-- 35 Broadway great Italian food...mmm, mmmm...alright wine list, great servers. 459-1618

PANCHO VILLA'S---1625 Sir Francis Drake...New Mexican style Mexican food....the fajita plates are a fave, with guacamole made right at your table, 459-0975

THE IRON SPRINGS BREWERY is a great place to stop by for dinner and a pint or two of very excellent and prize-winning brews. This year they won gold at the 'Beer Cup' for their Sless's Stout. They also present music, and their website shows their menu and schedule and more.and more. 722 Center Blvd.

THE BAREFOOT CAFE---a new restraurant in an old location, on the north side of Sir Francis Drake. Great breakfasts, lunch and dinner.

FAIRFAX COFFEE ROASTERY---on the corner of Bolinas and Broadway, fresh-roasted coffee and lots of pastries, recently re-decorated.

RETAIL SHOPS

YEAH, BABY! Quality used and new women's and childrens' clothing and toys, consignment, great deals. Located at 1790 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.....call Val for more information. (415) 459-4493

BOOK BEAT ...28 Bolinas ... a cafe/bookstore with a great vibe, , a great morning place with a fine group of regulars, good cafe food and staff, acoustic jams sometimes week-end mornings, , jazz on Sunday nights, new and used books, etc. Call for more info..(415) 256 9060

FAIRFAX LUMBER--109 Broadway...

all the stuff for the home, lumber, hardware, etc. Good nursery, great help for your projects. Employee owned and operated. 453-4410

GOOD EARTH--organic groceries, one of the best in the bay area, great meeting place for locals, deli, helpful employees, informative web site. Sir Francis Drake at Claus in downtown Fairfax ...call (415) 454-0123

 

O'DONNELL'S FAIRFAX NURSERY--1700 Sir Francis Drake...THE source for organic and native plants and landscaping. native habitat restoration, brush removal, and a wide variety of indoor and outdoor plants and trees, design and service. A part of Fairfax for over 30 years. Call Paul at 453-0372

 

rAINBOW FABRICS----everything you need for sewing and hobby. Rose will treat you right. On Bolinas Ave.

AVATAR COMMUNITY BUSINESS CENTER 769 Center Blvd. 457-5773 mailing services, computer stations, much more

S&N AUTOMOTIVE---Bob and Sam can fix your car or sell you the parts so you can do it yourself. 64 Bolinas Rd. Give them a call at 457-1830

OBJECTS OF PLEASURE---42 A Bolinas Rd., with a full line of smoking accessories, posters, and the personable Rick Lavine to help you get what you need.

FAIRFAX VARIETY 71 Broadway The last 5 and Dime store in marin, full of useful and not so useful stuff, cards, gifts, silliness, and much more! And they got the funk!

JONATHAN'S LEATHER CRAFT ---great leather workers, lots of custom work as well as repairs and stock items. Visit their web site or come by at 42-D Bolinas, in Harry's Arcade.

FOUR PAWS- a place for your pets. Great selection of foods and accessories, with your pet and our earth in mind. 69 Bolinas Rd, 456-4685

CULTURE SHOCK--Lori keeps the store stocked with a beautiful selection of hand-picked clothes from Thailand and many other Asian countries. A fabulous place for a unique look. 7 Bolinas Rd, 456-8138

FAIRFAX BARBER SHOP - a Fairfax tradition, come on by and let Mike cut your hair. 258-0178

RYAN MURPHY REAL ESTATE- If you are interested in Fairfax real estate, Ryan is your guy. 41 Bolinas

FAIRFAX CYCLERY- As mentioned below, Fairfax is the home of the mountain bike, and a great selection can be found here. Repairs and adjustments, too! Across Sir Francis Drake from the Parkade, 1822 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.

 

Fairfax is recognized around the world as the birthplace of the mountain bike. The area is surrounded by great hills to ride in and on, and a large bicycle contingent is present in town around the year. For more on the history of mountain biking and associated people and organizations see the web site of Charlie Kelly, recognized as the 'father' of mountain biking, or the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame web site. The MARIN BICYCLE COALITION has an informative site. If you'd like to see some pictures of 'modern' classic clunkers, go to Alan Bonds' site featuring some of his bikes. The site also includes a great bike map of Mt. Tam here. Saturdays and Sundays the streets are filled with bikers passing through and stopping by for coffee, rest, or just to hang out with other bikers. There are several bike festivals and events that take place. Check the MBC site for details and links. If you'd like to see some pictures of 'modern' classic clunkers, go to Alan Bonds' site featuring some of his bikes.

 

***********WHAT TO DO IN FAIRFAX?***********

Most people visit the town to hike and bike in the surrounding open space. Some of the more popular hiking areas include the MMWD lands and lakes on Sky Oaks Rd. with miles and miles of trails for riding and hiking, the lakes are a popular fishing area and are stocked with fish. For fishing info see MMWD rules. Deer Park, an entryway for hikers and bikers to the roads and trails of Mt. Tamalpais, and the Elliot Open Space Preserve at the end of Cascade that leads to Cascade Falls and the world-famous Repack Road, site of the first mountain bike races.There's a country club up the hill with the usual golf course that has a plethora of Bambis, and a swim club behind some condos in west Fairfax. There is picnicing at Deer Park School at the end of Porteous, as well as tables and BBQs and a great kid's playground and picnic area at Andy Peri Park next to the Fire Station, and many wonderful and beautiful views and little unmarked areas to explore.

*******************

WHAT GOES ON IN FAIRFAX?

Fairfax is a politically active and progressive town, and has taken many steps that have been adopted by other cities and towns across the US. Innovations include zoning rights, pesticide control, speaking up to the state and national leaders about policies and actions, and other actions to benefit all. There is, of course, a coalition of builders, contractors, business people, and self-proclaimed 'civic leaders' who attempt to change the political and economic climate in Fairfax.

It is always interesting to follow the action, and watch the different groups try to pull the town one way or another. But in the end, Fairfax remains just what is always has been...a small town, with many people choosing not to follow the 'mainstream' of life in the USA, and setting up in Fairfax, where they are surrounded by like-minded people, including many reknown artists, musicians, philosophers, and activists. it's not like most towns.

LOCAL ACTIONS

SUSTAINABLE FAIRFAX--making sure our resources are around for years to come. Visit their web site, give them a call and volunteer, and make sure Fairfax remains Fairfax.

FAIRFAX VOLUNTEERS helps keep the town clean with creek cleanups, helping with the Fairfax Festival, and is a great community organization..

PUBLIC FACILITIES

There are two town-run facilities for rent, the Fairfax Women's Club, and the Fairfax Pavilion. For rental information, call Town Hall at 453-1584. The Fairfax police have their own web site now you can visit at fairfaxpd.org ........The Ross Valley Fire Department also has a web site at RSVD.

ACTIVITIES AROUND FAIRFAX

Each June the town hosts the FAIRFAX FESTIVAL, a two-day town celebration. There are also many events around the area, and the trails in the MMWD, as well as the roads in West Marin, are a magnet to bikers and hikers. There are a couple bike events, a couple Chamber of Commerce things, and other annual and semi-occasional events and activities.

This page is created and maintained by Gordy of Gordyo Productions, who is solely responsible for all contents and that kind of stuff. E-mail to gordy(nospam)@gordyo.com. To see other web sites by Gordyo, please go to

GORDYO WORLD HEADQUARTERS.

Site Meter starting on Feb. 5, 2002

 

FAIRFAX, CA