Skip This At Your Own Peril – New Foodware Enforcement Begins Very Soon – Free Seminar Tuesday, Sept. 19, 12-1pm via Zoom. Register Below

When it comes to sustainability, there's the carrot and the stick. The carrot is a series of cost-saving steps you can take for your business, while the stick is avoiding sustainability consequences – the Foodware Ordinance is now in effect and enforcement begins Nov. 10th. The free seminar features Green Business Coordinator Mark Chhabria and Danielle Staude, the City of MV's sustainability coordinator. Full Story. 
Register Here.
More Info.

This EMV After Hours Had It All!

Emergency Preparedness Month events are rarely this much fun! But lucky for all of us, 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.

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.

Week-Long Restaurant Rally
Runs Thru Sept. 17!
To celebrate downtown Mill Valley’s recent makeover, restaurants around the plaza are uniting to host a one-week Restaurant Rally. The promotion encourages diners to discover restaurants along the square and revisit their old favorites. Restaurants will offer diners a special 3-course prix fixe menu for $55 (September 10-17), as well as an $8 specialty cocktail to complement their meal. Full Story.

Stop, Collaborate & Listen: The Depot Is Teaming Up with Club Evexia for Free Yoga on the Plaza – Coming Soon!
Few things warm our hearts more than seeing Mill Valley businesses collaborate with one another. The Depot Café and Bookstore has been among the most prolific collaborators in 2023. “We’re hoping to bring more people down to the square, chill at the Depot Cafe and learn more about Evexia,” says Depot co-owner Mark Martini. Full Story.

Mamahuhu Celebrates One Year in Mill Valley With a Giveaway of Asian Flavors of Dairy-Free Soft Serve – Sept. 16, 11:30am – 4pm
Customers who dine in, order takeout or even stop by to get to know Mamahuhu can enjoy the flavors and paper coloring at Mamahuhu’s kids’ table and more. Full Story.

Sofia Jewelry to Host Special Trunk Show feat. the World-Renowned Designs of Alex Sepkus – Sept. 20, 11am-5pm
“His collection of timeless, everyday pieces are perfectly paired with one-of-a-kind, handpicked gemstones that cannot be missed,” says Sophie Priolo, the shop’s co-owner.  Full Story.

OAC Hosts Exec Coach Lisa Lord For Free Webinar Exploring Unconscious Bias & How It Thwarts Genuine Human Connections – Sept. 21
With a little bit of knowledge and a genuine desire to foster human connection, we can all improve our ability to consciously include others. 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.

Aerena Galleries Hosts ‘Words of Water’ Poetry Reading Featuring Patricia Nelson & Bonnie Thomas
Sept. 20, 5:30-7pm
The event, set for Wednesday September 20, features wine from 5:30-6pm and poetry from 6-7pm. Full Story.

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.

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.
(click on the images below to go individual pages)

Larry the Hat’s Community Block Party Returns With a ‘Celebration of Women in Music' – Oct. 1 (1-5:30pm)
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. 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.

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.

Bob Hemstock, Whose Gorgeous Photo of the Downtown Clock Tower Graces the Cover of the Guide, Is Our Spotlight Artist Thru Sept. 30 
"Just like the iconic Clocktower on the Ferry Building in San Francisco, Mill Valley’s Clocktower is at the heart of the action then and now." 
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.

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.

Co-Powered by MV Residents’ Firm, a 250-Unit Affordable Apt. Project Near San Quentin For Teachers & County Employees Moves Forward
The project, dubbed Oak Hill, aims to make a substantial dent in the dearth of housing, with a building of 115 affordable apartments for low-income and extremely low-income families. Full Story.

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

Storytelling Marketing Through Video And Image

Learn what it takes to create an image or video that has impact, draw and pull so that your clients want to connect and follow you on platforms. Tues, Sept 21 | 12:00pm - 1:30pm | Register Here

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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. 11
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.

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!

Click Here to view the Mill Valley Chamber Of Commerce Newsletter - September 15, 2023