Celebrate Spring On Ring Mountain

Quick question: Which flower calls Ring Mountain Preserve its only home?

Answer: The Tiburon Mariposa Lily.

It's OK if you didn't know that, a lot of people don't. That's why the Green Gorillas, Marin Montessori, and Marin Country Day School are sponsoring a hands-on, fun-filled, educational outing focused on the plants of Marin County.

Meet at the Ring Mountain Preserve near Paradise Drive on Saturday, March 31, at 9 a.m. The trailhead is at the end of Taylor Road.

Students at local schools have been studying the preserve that neighbors their campuses and making maps and drawings of the native flowers to help other visitors to Ring Mountain.

Naturalist David Herlocker and student educators will lead groups on short nature walks; volunteers will work with staff to remove invasive weeds. The terrain is uneven and the work is strenuous. Lunch will be served at noon.

Here are a few other things to enjoy this weekend:

• The Dance Department at College of Marin presents the Spring dance concert Shift. Alan Scofield’s "Ven a Bailar" is a jazz piece with a Latin flair and his "Limon Tribute," a tribute to Jose Limon for his contributions to the splendor and spirit of the art of dance. Sandra Tanner’s "The Absinthe Hour" is where patrons meet to partake of the green elixir’s promised effects of inspiration and a freer state of mind; and to escape into the sanctuary of the surreal. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students and seniors. Contact the box office at (415) 485-9385 for more information.

• A divinely decadent experience! Running through April 15, Independent Cabaret Productions and Shakespeare at Stinson will present a startling rendition of Tony-award-winning musical Cabaret, directed by Hector Correa. In the Larkspur Cafe Theatre, the production will use an intimate space much like what Christopher Isherwood saw in pre-World-War-II Berlin. The curtain goes up on Friday's performance at 8 p.m.

• Learn how to move those feet and shimmy those hips at the Mt. Tam Racquet Club. National champion Kelly Casanova is ready to introduce you to the West Coast Swing on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The fee is $15.

• OK, this movie always creeped me out a little bit, but this is the season for chocolate and candy, so why not head to the Lark Theater for a showing of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder. The movie starts at 3 p.m.

• Get ready for the Spring holidays by making contacts with local farmers, ranchers and chefs at Saturday's Larkspur farmers market at Marin Country Mart, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.