Just can't resist the buffet line? Here's one you can really dive into. Restaurants and food vendors will line up Saturday for the third annual Taste of Town Center on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the central courtyard next to the Elephant Fountain. Samplings include everything from sweet potato fries, cookies, ice tea and chili, pizza and brownie bites, gelatos and ice cream, assorted cheeses, bruschetta al pomodoro, taquitos, Baja shrimp and ceviche, spring rolls and salads, energy performance snacks, and a new Frappuccino blended beverage. Activities for children include free face …

Bill Bradley discusses We Can All Do Better at Book Passage in Corte Madera on Thursday at 7 p.m. In response to the financial meltdown and intensifying political gridlock which have overtaken the country, this widely admired former United States Senator, Presidential candidate and NBA athlete offers his own concise, personal review of the state of the nation. We can do better, he says, and here’s how. Bill Bradley served in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1997 representing the state of New Jersey. In 2000, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. He …

Popular children's author Mac Barnett will visit the Larkspur Library on Thursday at 4 p.m. The author of many children's books including Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem, Extra Yarn, and the Brixton Brothers will share stories and tales from his adventures as a children's writer.  Space is limited, please RSVP to library@cityoflarkspur.org, or phone 927-5005. Children ages 5 and older please. If you're looking for more entertainment, try these: • London's National Theatre brings One Man, Two Guvnors back to the stage and the Lark Theater brings it to the local screen Thursday at 7:…

San Francisco celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge with the Golden Gate Festival on Sunday May 27. Gear up for the festival with a quick review of the history, legend and trivia that have made the Golden Gate Bridge one of the modern manmade wonders of the world. The Corte Madera Library on Wednesday at 7 p.m. hosts an illustrated lecture of how this beloved, iconic landmark was conceived and built, presented by a docent from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Or, check out some of these events: • The Lark Theater continues its celebration of Richard Wagner's Ring …

Here are some featured events to help you get your week started. Check out these ideas, or our Announcements and Events listings for more. Have something to add to the calendar? You can easily post your announcements and events for free. Have fun! • Writer Ben Fountain reads from Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk at Book Passage in Corte Madera on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Both poignant and funny, this new novel has been described as “the Catch-22 of the Iraq War.” Fountain follows Bravo Company, the eight survivors of a savage clash with Iraqi insurgents, on the last leg of a government-sponsored “…

Bread & Roses is helping to bring music into people's lives and you can help them while enjoying some cool tunes and good food. Max's Cafe is hosting local students in a musical benefit for Bread & Roses, which brings live music to people in isolated situations. "We bring musicians to Marin General Hospital, the mental health unit there, senior facilities, lots of places around the area," said Marian Hubler of Bread & Roses. Redwood High School students and Youth Music Cares will perform at Max's Cafe on Saturday, from 7-10 p.m. A portion of diners' bills, plus donations, will go to help …

Jennifer Siebel Newsom is one half of one of California's most powerful and glamorous couples, and she has a message she wants to deliver directly to all of us. Mainstream media bombards children and adults alike with distorted images of how we should look and act to be popular and successful. These messages limit children's ideas of what is possible in the world and can have damaging effects on their self-esteem, health, and the way they treat others. That is the message behind Siebel Newsom's new documentary MissRepresentation, which will be shown at The Lark Theater on Thursday at 7:30 p.m…

We all have days when cooking a healthy meal from scratch is simply not feasible. But you don't have the time or money to go one of our fabulous local restaurants. And, if you're a serious label reader, it can be intimidating and scary to go to the grocery store freezer aisle or the local drive-thru. What to do?  Join registered dietician Jeannine Vitali-Schultz at the Marin Cancer Institute as she shares tips for eating healthy despite a busy lifestyle. She will review anti-cancer diet concepts, and present ways to put these guidelines into practice, including healthy packaged and take out …

The Lark Theater is embarking on a glorious celebration of Richard Wagner and his most famous operatic work, the four-part Ring Cycle. It starts Monday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m. with Wagner's Dream, a dramatic look at the pressure as the Metropolitan Opera prepares to stage a monumental production of the entire cycle. The Lark follows up through May 19 with presentations of Das Rheingold (May 9), Die Walkure (May 12), Siegfried (May 16) and Gotterdammerung (May 19). Here are a few facts you might not have known about one of the most famous names in opera. • Rumors suggest Wagner's mother Johanna …

Whether for business or for fun, it's all about connections. Just kidding ... and kids are what Saturday's Community Based Playgroup event is all about. Meet other parents in the neighborhood, while the kids play together at Hal Brown Park on Bon Air Road, from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is sponsored by the Ross Valley Mothers Club, which is dedicated to bringing children and families together, in a fun, friendly community based setting. Each new member sign up will be given a RVMC tote bag and treats! Sponsors Marin Coffee Roasters, Sugar Mama Cookies and Fat Angel Bakery have graciously …

Some of the earliest and still greatest adventure stories, full of passion, action and fantasy, come from early Greek and Roman history. These tales have entertained children for centuries — not to mention all the Hollywood blockbusters. Children are invited to hear Madeline Miller discuss The Song of Achilles, an epic retelling of the Trojan War on Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. Miller presents a thrilling and unique spin on the legend of Achilles: a tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart—a dazzling feat of the imagination that is sure to be one of the most unusual debuts of the …

Do you remember the railroad that used to run through Kentfield? Or any of the landmarks that used to be part of the area? County librarian Laurie Thompson will speak about the origins of Kentfield from 7 to 8 p.m., May 3 at the Corte Madera Library. The event is free and open to the public. Here are a few other ideas to start your week:  • The Great Broadway Sing-Along mixes performance with audience participation in an evening of classic show tunes at the Lark Theater at 7:30 p.m. Full lyrics will be provided. • Marin Catholic's boys volleyball team hosts San Marin on Wednesday. • Redwood …

What's your favorite kind of pizza? Pepperoni? Salami? Vegetarian? Hawaiian? Whether you like olives, artichoke hearts, or Spam on your pizza doesn't matter. It all helps the Marin County Free Library in a fundraiser for the Children's Summer Reading Program on May 1 at California Pizza Kitchen in the Corte Madera Town Center. Present a flyer with  your order and 20 percent of your check will be donated to the program. The flyer is available at library branches, or online at http://marinlibraryfriends.marin.org. Eligible purchases include dine-in, take-out and catering, and online orders are …

The family of Larkspur's Alexis Busch, one of the victims of the deadly yacht crash near the Farallon Islands earlier this month, is holding a public memorial for the former San Francisco Giants bat girl at AT&T Park on Monday afternoon. Busch's brother, Chris Busch, said in a statement, "Every member of our family extends our heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of all those who died with my sister and we will continue to hold them in our hearts." He thanked the Giants and the team's CEO and president Larry Baer for their support. Alexis Busch, 26, the daughter of former Giants …

When I first showed this music video to a DJ friend of mine, he said, amazed, "A high school student did that?!" For the past few days, we've been featuring some of the area's top local talent entered in the Larkspur Youth Film Festival, scheduled for Sunday, April 29, at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $10. Proceeds benefit the Lark Theater. Keep looking for more featured local artists throughout the weekend. I'll be there to help honor the winners. Categories include: documentary, music, narrative and green. Here are a few other things to do this weekend: • Love hunting through garage sales? Then …

• Children and teens are invited to join the annual "Tunnel and Treats" bike field trip Wednesday. This year's ride features "geocashing" — an online treasure hunt that uses GPS, along with cryptic "hints" in additional to the normal ride through the recently opened CalPark Tunnel and ice cream treats. Due to high demand, we will be doing two rides this year broken down by grade. Participants need to supply their own bike. This ride is for 5th and 6th graders. Pre-registration is required. • The Corte Madera Planning Commission meets Tuesday, April 24. Check the Town's website for the agenda…

It's a brand new week, which means more brand new opportunities to get out there and be part of your community. Here are a few things on the calendar around the Twin Cities this week. Check our Events and Announcements listings for more ideas. • Richie Unterberger will return with “The British Invasion – Part 3” as part of the Larkspur Library Music History Series on Monday, from 6:30-9 p.m. at the library. This presentation carries the British rock musicians into the early 1970’s, featuring The Rolling Stones, The Who, David Bowie and many others. Unterberger will present two hours of rare …

Here's a list of ideas if you're looking for a way to get involved in the community for Earth Day weekend, but there are other opportunities. Check ED2012 for more cleanup events in your neighborhood. Then again, conservation isn't all about hard work. It can involve lots of giggles and smiles. Drop by Saturday's farmers market at Marin Country Mart in Larkspur, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Look for the Larkspur-Corte Madera Patch banner and I'll be there handing out free seeds and helping you plant them. The farmers market is really getting into the Earth Day swing with music, games, an …

The police are here to protect and serve, but part of that is teaching us how to protect ourselves. The Marin Sheriffs Department will be at the Town Center Community Room at noon Wednesday to show residents how to avoid becoming victims of burglars, purse snatchers, fraud and other crimes that are on the rise. Look at the weekly Twin Cities Police Log and you'll see a disturbing number of home burglaries, bicycle thefts and auto break-ins. Now you have a chance to learn how to fight back with this free seminar. OK, so what else is there to do? • While, you're at the Town Center, visit the …

Go ahead and spice up your plate, it tastes good and it can even help save your life. Get some healthy kitchen tips from nutritionist Sharon Meyer during Wednesday's presentation "Spring Cleansing: The Myths & Facts About Detoxification." She'll offer recipes for salads, dressings and smoothies that can boost your immune system and help fight diseases. Meet at the atrium of the Center for Integrative Health & Wellness on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. The fee is $35. Pre-Registration is required.  Call 1-888-996-9644 for more information and to register. And a few more things to do: • In the literary…