A Refreshed 66th Edition of MVFAF Seeks to Elevate the Next Generation of Young Artists
Sept. 23-24, 12-5pm, Old Mill Park

Over 6,500 attendees every year explore this iconic, community-led event to hunt for hidden gems, check out bands that play both days every hour from 12pm – 5pm, and delight in a specially curated program for kids, families and art lovers. 
Full Story.

MTC Dives Into 2023-24 Season With ‘Odyssey,’ Written and Directed by Lisa Peterson – Runs Thru Sept. 24
Set in a present-day relocation center for refugees on the Isle of Lesbos, four young women fleeing conflict in Middle Eastern, North African, and Eastern European countries await the next step of their quest for home and family. Full Story.

Don't Miss It! Here's an Excellent Review.

City, County Deliver Great Info on Green Biz Program & Foodware Ordinance For Those Who Couldn't Attend
The Foodware Ordinance is now in effect and enforcement begins Nov. 10th. This week's free seminar featured Green Business Coordinator Mark Chhabria and Danielle Staude, the City of MV's sustainability coordinator. Full Story.

Go Here To View Full Video And A Series Of Informative Slides.

Bring on the Gypsy Jazz: DjangoFest Returns to the Throckmorton – Sept. 28-Oct. 1

The return of one of the most exciting and innovative musical events in Mill Valley is almost upon us. DjangoFest, the longstanding event inspired by the late gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, returns to the Throckmorton Theatre Sept. 28-Oct. 2 for multiple concerts, workshops and parties. DjangoFest, which regularly attracts legions of fans of the “hot” jazz sound Reinhardt pioneered as well as guitarists from all over the Bay Area, has long been one of the landmark local venue’s most popular events. Full Story.

Larry the Hat’s Community Block Party Returns With a ‘Celebration of Women in Music'
This year’s event is a special one, as longtime Bay Area bassist Angeline Saris, whose career boasts a who’s who of legendary collaborators, has pulled together her “Celebration of Women in Music” to Mill Valley. 1-5:30pm. Full Story.

Larry the Hat’s Community Block Party Returns With a ‘Celebration of Women in Music'
This year’s event is a special one, as longtime Bay Area bassist Angeline Saris, whose career boasts a who’s who of legendary collaborators, has pulled together her “Celebration of Women in Music” to Mill Valley. 1-5:30pm. Full Story.

After a 4-Year Hiatus, The Redwoods Revives the Annual Bazaar Pop-Up Boutique to Support Programs and Activities – Oct. 6-7
New to the bazaar this year is a Pop-up Boutique featuring works of art, vintage jewelry, fashion accessories, plants, handcrafted items and much more unique treasures. Full Story.

Chamber Music Marin Kicks Off 2023-24 Concert Series With Pianist Iliya Yakushev – Oct. 8th, 5pm
“Chamber music concerts are an intimate way to experience music. We can’t wait for our audience to connect with each performance, and experience how the musicians work to weave their harmonies together.” Full Story.

Amidst Industry Turbulence, 46th MVFF Unveils a Whopping 148 Films Representing 41 Countries and Much More – Oct. 5-15
With pandemic turbulence in the rearview mirror, MVFF has been navigating the impact of strikes starting in May by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and joined by the approximately 11,500 members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) because of long-stalled contract negotiations. Full Story.

Poet and/the Bench Shines a Light on Hometown Hero Amanda Rowan’s ‘Place Setting’ Exhibit and MVFF
Rowan grew up in Mill Valley, and the exhibition at Poet and/the Bench and screenings at MVFF are a homecoming for the artist who graduated Tam High School and is the daughter of Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductee Peter Rowan. Full Story.

With Continued Progress on the Historic Engine No. 9’s Location, Restoration Continues
Jeff and Don Millerick, lifelong metal workers and rail fans, have done much of the No. 9 restoration at their business in Sebastopol, according to the Times Standard. Full Story.

MV Friends of Parks & Rec, Which Has Raised More Than $375k to Support Parks and Rec Projects, Hosts 2023 Fundraiser to Do Even More – Oct. 13
Since 2016, community support has driven donations of more than $375,000 to support Parks and Rec projects in Mill Valley. To continue its mission to advocate and provide funding for programs and improvement of facilities, they are hosting a fundraiser at the Community Center on October 12th, 5:30 – 9:30pm. Full Story.

Mill Valley’s Church of Our Saviour Unveils ‘Godly Play in the Season of Creation’ for Children Pre-K to 4th Grade – Sundays at 9:45am 
Full Story.

City Hall After Hours Had It All!
Emergency Preparedness Month events are rarely this much fun! The City of Mill Valley – namely Community Engagement Coordinator Michelle Terrell, Dee Wagner's Roux Catering and a fantastic group of first responders, City Councilmembers, Chamber staff, Ambassadors and much more made it informative AND an absolute blast outside City Hall! We're back it again soon, on Tues., Oct. 10th at the Homestead Valley Community Center, 350 Montford Ave., 5:30-7pm.
In the meantime, do your preparedness homework!

Check Out Gary Ferber's Photos Of The Evening Here.

Longtime MV Resident Todd Lieman Unveil ‘Dinner at God’s House,’ a Book 25 Years in the Making Capturing His Personal Healing Story Thru a Fictional and Metaphysical Lens
“Even with complicated themes, my hope is that you will find yourself within the pages—laughing and crying as you become inspired to discover your own path,” Lieman writes. Full Story.

The Milley Awards Return
Oct. 22 at MV Community Center

Milley Awards Return on 10/22 to Honor a Quintet of Creatives
The Milley Awards for Creative Achievement are back! The in-person annual gala returns to the MV Community Center to honor those who have distinguished themselves in their creative field or have contributed to the MV creative life. The honorees include... Full Story.

Milley Awards to Honor the Legacy of Prized Statuette’s Creative Sculptor John Libberton, Who Passed Away in 2022 at the Age of 96
Mill Valley’s Milley Awards on October 22 will be the first without the creator of the Milley bronze statuette, sculptor John Libberton, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 96. He will be fondly remembered. Full Story.

Milley Awards Are Honoring the Late John Libberton and Reed Fromer at Their Upcoming Gala on Oct. 22nd
Libberton, the sculptor of Milley bronze statuette, and Fromer, an inspiring, enthusiastic and devoted teacher, musician, composer, activist, writer, humorist and more, will be honored. 
Full Story.

2023-24 EMV Guide Has Arrived – Let's Celebrate Our Amazing People, Places & Connections!
In recognition of the path we’ve traveled and the road ahead, we chose “connectivity” as the overarching theme of the 2023-24 Enjoy Mill Valley Guide that recently arrived on your doorstep and in your inbox. The Guide’s content emphasizes the bonds we developed, the lessons we learned, and, perhaps most importantly, the patterns we changed for the better, as many residents set aside the rat race commutes in favor of more time spent with family and friends in the 94941, engaging with our incredible restaurants, dynamite boutiques, nonprofit orgs and amazing service businesses.

Go Here For The Full 2023-24 Emv Guide.

Lib at Large: The Women Behind the ‘Mini Music Festival Inside the MV Film Festival’
Clare Wasserman and Stephanie Clarke have been producing live music shows for the Mill Valley Film Festival for more than 30 years, working with a galaxy of major stars, from Jerry Garcia and Rickie Lee Jones to Aaron Neville, Bonnie Raitt and Carlos Santana. Full Story.

Free Movies in the Park Series Continues With ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ – Oct. 13 at Old Mill Park @ Sundown
Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) arrives at Port Royal in the Caribbean without a ship or crew. His timing is inopportune, however, because later that evening the town is besieged by a pirate ship. The pirates kidnap the governor's daughter, Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), who's in possession of a valuable coin that is linked to a curse that has transformed the pirates into the undead. A gallant blacksmith (Orlando Bloom) in love with Elizabeth allies with Sparrow in pursuit of the pirates. Here's The Trailer.

Seager Gray Gallery Shows Marin Sculptor Joe Brubaker’s Famously Whimsical Characters – Thru Oct. 1
Since his 1997 exhibition at Susan Cummins’ MV gallery, Brubaker sculptures have been populating collections from coast to coast. He's enjoyed an enviable exhibition history and remains ever fascinated with the creative process. Full Story.

Marin SBDC Unveils Fall Workshops for Your Biz

Digital Marketing Fundamentals

Learn the best channels for your business to increase your results and understand how to track data and build campaigns. Thurs, Sept 28 | 12:00pm - 1:30pm | Register Here

How To Leverage Ai For Better Digital Marketing Results

Learn how to integrate machine learning with tools to save time and develop targeted campaigns. Practical tips and strategies for leveraging AI tools to achieve better results.

Thur, Oct 19 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm; optional Q&A 1:00pm - 1:30pm | Register Here

Full Story.

Jeff Burkhart: Margaritaville Might Not Have Happened Without Mill Valley
“I was deathly depressed. I was in a Howard Johnson’s under Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, living there and playing in San Anselmo. It was awful. I wrote this song and it hit, and the rest is history.” Full Story.

Makers Market’s Open Air Markets Continue @ MVLY – Oct. 14
The free markets, take place surrounded by the beautiful boutiques and eateries of ‘the Yard,’ offering a stroll around the gorgeous MVLY with great food and drinks from Watershed, Eddy Bar & Bottle, Millie’s Crepe et Creme and Flour Craft Bakery. Full Story.

Solstice Gallery to Show the Visual Art Work of Renowned Musician Daniel Lanois – Oct. 14 
“Lanois’ stunning imagery transports viewers through time and space,” says Julie Greene. “Taking a cue from nature and often overlooked details of everyday life, Daniel creates stimulating, thought-provoking images that tap into the deeper aspects of man’s relationship with himself and the world around him." Full Story.

29th Annual Winterfest Already? You Know It – This One's Gonna Be Bigger Than Ever! Plaza Tree Lighting Celebration Dec. 3, 4-5:30pm, Multi-Faceted Holiday Event Sunday, Dec. 17 at Community Center – Be a Sponsor!
This beloved family event draws thousands and provides a unique opportunity to promote your business or organization. Only a handful of Custom Engagement Zones and Branded Signage sponsorships remain.
Explore Winterfest Sponsorship Opportunities Here.

Equity

SF Chronicle Digs Into City of Mill Valley’s Affordable Housing Efforts and Friends of Hauke Park’s Lawsuit That Cites ‘Continued Discrimination’ Against Residents in Eastern Part of Town

The San Francisco Chronicle is the most recent news organization to take notice, with reporter Emily Hoeven quoting Jenny Silva, a YIMBY watchdog and board chair for the Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative, as saying “it’s disingenuous to claim a fair housing violation when the area in question is 70% white and has a median household income of about $124,000. This is not a poor neighborhood by any stretch of the imagination.” Full Story.

Speaking of Equity: City, MVFREE and MVPD Continue With Anti-Bias Campaign, Showcase Bias-By-Proxy Video
MVFREE’s greatest work in recent months has been an anti-bias campaign involving educational flyers being mailed to homeowners containing three steps that teach white people how to curb the over-policing of Black people. Full Story & Video.

MVMF Simply Does Not Happen Without Our Sponsors & Vendors – Please Continue To Support Them!!

Some of the best coverage we've seen so far. (Amazing photos by Jon Bauer)

Didn't Get Enough Of That Lineup?
Listen To The 2023 Mvmf Spotify Playlist Here.

More Info

Reminder: All requests for promotion must be made by Monday at 12pm for inclusion in that week's Friday Flash and EMV Blog. Thank you!. 
Questions? We're Happy To Chat.

Discounts Abound With the Chamber Saver Card for Businesses & Consumers!
Our Chamber Saver Discount program an easy, effective way to encourage our Chamber Members to support other Members, Shop Local and save money while doing so, is now 7 years old! It's this simple: Members offer other members discounts at whatever level they choose. Email us if you want to participate and offer a discount; email us if you have questions; and email us if you need a new card. More Info.

Curated News You Can Use

Curated News From Mill Valley & Beyond – Week of Sept. 18
We hope you agree that we’re one of the best sources of news and information in Marin, a communications pipeline that directly connects to the broader 94941 and Bay Area via maps, magazines and the Enjoy Mill Valley Blog.
Full List Of Stories.

EMV Film Series

Our EMV Films series highlights some of the myriad creative businesses, organizations and people in Mill Valley. Thanks to filmmaker Norm Hunter and his team. To date, we've put the spotlight on historic family businesses, inspiring chefs, nightlife, MV Lumber Yard, health & wellness and the family-centric spaces of Miller Ave. – more to come!
Go Here To Check Out The Films We've Released To Date.

Wondering What Our Members Think Of Our Work?
Watch This Video.

Member Spotlights

Monthly Membership Plans!
For your convenience, we offer monthly, subscription-style billing for our Mill Valley Chamber members through Stripe. Email us with questions, and let us know if you'd like to switch over to a monthly plan when you're up for renewal!

Sign Up for City's New MV Connect E-Newsletter
Looking to catch up on what's happening with the City of Mill Valley? The MV Connect e-newsletter has it all. Click here to sign up for it. If that doesn't satiate your thirst for City news, the E-Notification program has dozens of topics about which you can sign up to receive email blasts. Click here to read the latest edition. 

Click Here to view the Mill Valley Chamber Of Commerce Newsletter - September 22, 2023