Marin Section
TO COME IS TO ENJOY!
By Rob Franco, Executive Director of
Sausalito Chamber of Commerce.
GIVE ME A REASON!
If you need a reason to come to Sausalito, I can provide you with a list
as long as both our arms. Or, you can make a list of your own. And, you
no doubt will, once you have spent some time here. So, what do you want
to do? Where do you want to go? There is much to choose from. In
addition to a yearlong calendar of events that happen all over the City,
there are things you can do any day or night of the week,
throughout the year. Sausalito is also said to be the best beginning or
end to any day excursion to Muir Woods or up to the wine
country of Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.
First-time visitors usually take in some
of the main points of interest, probably covered elsewhere in this
issue. Newcomers may want to visit some of the many fine art
galleries and boutiques along Bridgeway and Princess Street,
a historic walking tour of Sausalito. They may travel up to the
Army Corps working Bay Model, peruse the houseboat/floating
home community or hike in the Headlands.
But, after a busy work week, who wants to
think too much about anything. Let’s take a Friday evening stroll.
Work up a good appetite. And then eat at one of Sausalito’s many fine
restaurants. The hardest work there may be, is having to choose one.
Where will you eat? There is every kind of cuisine in Sausalito. If you
want delicious Italian food, there are a number of restaurants that
feature dishes from almost every province of Italy. You can go to Angelino’s
at 621 Bridgeway or stroll up to Vicino, which is at the corner
of 2nd and Valley. There are also many fine fish and continental style
dinner houses in Sausalito. There is the famed Scoma’s, which
has a fine selection of fresh fish every night as does the Spinnaker
Restaurant. Both restaurants are right over the Bay with spectacular
views of San Francisco. Winships on Bridgeway is a classic with
excellent food fare and a full bar. The four-star Ondine and Horizons
are two more fine restaurants located right on the water, just off
Bridgeway. If you’re in the mood for Sushi or other fine Japanese
dishes, Sushi Ran at 107 Caledonia is as good as it gets anywhere
on the planet…better! There are several other excellent Japanese
restaurants as well.
You can also get a terrific steak, or
burger, at a number of places, if you want something less formal. And,
if you are looking for a lighter more casual atmosphere, there are
several great cafes and laid back eateries in Sausalito from which to
choose. At Caffe Trieste you can get the best pizza or panini
sandwiches in the North Bay. They have a great selection of beer and
wine and the best Cappucino east of Bridgeway. The Trieste also has
entertainment on weekend evenings. On warm nights, they fold back the
windows so that patrons can sit inside or outside and enjoy your meal
while you listen to the music. Then there is Caffe Tutti on El
Portal. Or, you can stroll over to Caffe Divino on Caledonia.
They have the best cappuccino West of Bridgeway and several mouth
watering dishes and desserts. There is even a Starbucks at the corner of
Bridgeway and Princess Street, if you’re not willing to venture away
from what you can find almost anywhere. The Venice Gourmet deli
is a landmark on Bridgeway and has an excellent selection of sandwiches,
salads, meats, cheeses, and breads and wines if you are thinking picnic,
hike or nosh.
There are other fine cafes and restaurants
as you travel north along Bridgeway. You can grab a taxi, use Golden
Gate Transit busses, or you can take SALLY (Sausalito Area
Local Land Yacht), a cute little shuttle bus which runs in 15 minute
loops around town, seven days a week during the summer and weekends from
October to May. The Kiosk, which is located at the Ferry Terminal
and the Visitor Center, which is located another half a block up
Bridgeway, have ferry schedule information, SALLY schedules and a wealth
of brochures and maps available.
If you don’t have a plan in mind, you
just might want to catch a movie or take in some of the great
entertainment that is available around town. The Marin Theater on
Caledonia is a triplex and always has three great first run movies to
choose from. They often run International award winning hits. But, they
have lighter movies as well. Or, if you want to be more adventurous, you
can stroll over to The Bar With No Name (referred to as simply
The No Name) and catch the best jazz in the North Bay. Michael Aragon is
one of the Bay Area’s finest jazz drummers and he has a hot band that
plays the No Name just about every Friday night. The Water Street
Grill, which has quite an extensive menu of delicious dishes, has
music on weekends. It’s always cooking at Water Street and they are
thinking of extending the entertainment throughout the week. Gatsby’s,
a landmark restaurant in Sausalito, also on Caledonia Street, has music
on weekends. Let it all hang out, and slide over to Smitty’s, a
colorful locals bar at 214 Caledonia, where just the people watching is
entertaining enough. Or, you can play some pool one of Smitty’s three
regulation pool tables. Further North on Bridgeway and down at the end
of Harbor Drive, you can find Saylor’s Landing. Saylor’s is
also a favorite for locals and has a hefty food menu and full bar. They
also have entertainment on weekends and you can sit outside, weather
permitting. For further information about all of the above, feel free to
contact the Chamber at (415) 331-7262 or go to our website at
www.sausalito.org.
Whatever you do in Sausalito, you are
bound to be satisfied and take with you a most memorable experience.
There is no place on the planet quite like Sausalito. Just ask any local
resident. By and large, we are a happy and fun loving people. We
encourage you to visit. Bring your significant other…your kids…aunts
and uncles…grandparents. Bring your dog. Just clean up any souvenirs
your dog may attempt to share with our local pet population. Most of
all, bring yourself and mix it up a little…introduce yourselves.
Engage! We look forward to meeting you. Until then, hang in there…
