GOLDEN TRIANGLE TIMES

MARIN YMCA ADULT REC NEWSLETTER             MAY, 2008

EDITOR: LLOYD LICHER, ADULT REC COORDINATOR

 

FORMAT AND POLICY EXPLANATION

      Information on activities for the next three months is given, with a few lines of information on each.  Events beyond this three-month period are listed if they require the purchase of tickets, with a payment deadline early enough that the tickets can be purchased only for those who have paid by the specified deadline.  There will be no refunds for tickets, unless they are sold to someone on the waiting list. Reservations are made only by registration and payment at the Member Services Counter, either directly or by phone/mail (call first to see if space is available).  Events are open to YMCA members and their guests, and to members of the surrounding community (CM’s).  Fees for CM’s are $5-$10 more than those for PM’s.  Program Member dues are $50 for 12 months.  Facility Seniors Member dues are $67/mo.  Guests of members pay the same fees as Program Members.

 

MARIN YMCA ADULT REC PROGRAMS, 3-MONTH SCHEDULE

 (Figures for hikes, in parentheses, indicate degree of difficulty, on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0.)

 

MAY

Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Fitness Walking, at Northgate Mall, 8 AM, $6-$7.67/mo.

 

Each Tuesday, Mind Exercise Class, 2 PM in Club Room, no charge. 

 

Each Wednesday, Bridge Playing, intermediate, 9 AM in Club Room, no charge. Call 479-8068.

 

Thurs., May 1st, Trip, San Francisco Symphony.  A subscription series, with a wait list for filling vacancies.

 

Friday, May 2nd, Trip, Rosicrucian Museum and Santana Row.  VARIABLE FEE TRIP OF THE MONTH.   The Museum is Egyptian, of course, and is worth seeing.  The buildings are styled “Egyptian” and there is a replica of a Pharaoh’s tomb.  After that, on to Santana Row for lunch and shopping.  The map says there is another large shopping center across the street from Santana Row, so you should not run out of places to spend money or just enjoy looking.  Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 5 PM.  Fees:  Variable, whatever each person thinks it was worth, after the trip.  (Museum admission is $7.00.)

 

Wednesday, May 7th, Hike, Crown Road (1.5). This fire road in the Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve west of Larkspur is fairly level, following the 500-foot contour and is about 2-1/2 miles long, which we will hike both ways. Bring a picnic lunch to eat at some scenic spot. Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4:00 PM.  Fees: $6 Facility Members, $11 Program Members, $16 Community Members.

 

Thursday, May 8th, Computer Club.  Noon to 1:30 PM in the Club Room.  Bring a lunch.

 

Friday, May 9th, Trip, Duck Tour, San Francisco.  The Duck is a 6-wheel-drive amphibious vehicle used in WWII in both Europe and the Pacific.  These have been refurbished for a tour of the city and Bay which takes about 90 minutes and goes through neighborhoods such as North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown, then into the Bay for a cruise.  Bring a lunch and we’ll drive up to Coit Tower to enjoy the view and have a picnic. Dress warmly.  Depart at 8:30 AM, return about 3:00 PM.  Fees:  $42 Facility Members, $52 Program Members, $62 Community Members.  Deadline for registration and payment is April 7th.

 

Tuesday, May 13th, Bike Ride.  Site to be announced.  No fee.  Call Fred Gluska, 479-9114.

 

Wednesday, May 14th, Hike, Baltimore Canyon and Corte Madera Marsh (2.0).   A nice, close-in getaway, about a mile in with less than a 100-foot gain, then a 200-foot climb to see Dawn Falls, followed by a return the way we came.  We will then eat our picnic lunches in a nearby park before doing a 2-mile afternoon hike on levees in the Corte Madera Marsh. looking for birds and flowers that might be about, with good views from this part of the Bay shoreline.  Bring a picnic lunch.  Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4 PM.  Fees  $6 Facility Members, $11 Program Members, $16 Community Members.

 

Thursday, May 15th, Trip, Culinary Academy Lunch, Hamilton AFB.  This Culinary Academy is part of Homeward Bound, a program aimed at getting homeless people off the street and into jobs and housing.  They have WONDERFUL food at the “White Tablecloth Luncheon.”  The menu sounds scrumptious and our experience with dining at these kinds of programs has been universally first class.  After lunch we’ll have a tour of the facility and learn about their plans for the future.  Depart at 11:30 AM,  return about 2:30 PM.  Fees:  $21 Facility members, $26 Program Members, $31 Community Members (includes cost of lunch).

 

Tuesday, May 20th, Financial Workshop.  1 PM in the Club Room.  Speaker and subject to be announced.

 

Wednesday, May 21st, Hike, Cataract/Coastal Trail (2.5).   We do this one one-way, from Rock Spring, at 2000 feet, to Pan Toll, at 1500 feet, taking the upper part of Cataract Trail a mile, almost to Laurel Dell, climbing 200 feet or so to get over the coast ridge, where we eat our picnic lunches with a grand panoramic view of the ocean and Bolinas, then take the Coastal trail along fairly level contours back a few miles to Pan Toll. Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4:00 PM.  Fees: $6 Facility Mem., $11 Program Mem., $16 CM’s.

 

Thursday, May 22nd, YMCA Association (All Branches) Picnic.  Golden Gate Park.  An opportunity for older adults from all of the YMCA branches to get together for a good time in the Park.  Food, games, entertainment and camaraderie.  We’ll make it a Variable-Fee Trip, so each participant can pay what they think it was worth to them, after the trip.  Details about food will be forthcoming.

 

Sunday, May 25th, Trip, Niles Canyon RR and Silent Movie House.  The Pacific Locomotive Association runs the trains and a railroad museum out of the town of Sunol.  The trip is about 1 hour and 15 minutes on antique equipment, and apparently runs into the coastal hills towards the Central Valley.  Bring a picnic lunch.  After lunch, we’ll head to the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum.  Visitors are welcomed by the Grand Lobby, which houses the  gift store.  The museum includes an original tin-lined projection booth with a hand-cranked 35mm Powers Cameragraph 6B projector, and a bounty of books, documents and artifacts relevant to the Silent Movie Age.  Depart at 8:00 AM, return about 4 PM.  Fees: $30 Facility Members, $40 Program Members, $50 Community Members (includes train ride).

 

Tuesday, May 27th, Bike Ride.  Site to be announced.  No fee.  Call Fred Gluska, 479-9114.

 

Wednesday, May 28th, Hike, Mount Tamalpais Triangle (2.5).  Lloyd’s favorite hike, from Rock Springs,  with turns at Rifle Camp and Laurel Dell.  Bring a lunch to eat at Barth’s Retreat.  About 4 miles total, with gains of about 300 feet. Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4 PM.  Fees  $6 Facility Members, $11 Program Members, $16 Community Members.

 

JUNE

Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Fitness Walking, at Northgate Mall, 8 AM, $6-$7.67/mo.

 

Each Tuesday, Mind Exercise Class, 2 PM in Club Room, no charge. 

 

Each Wednesday, Bridge Playing, intermediate, 9 AM in Club Room, no charge. Call 479-8068.

 

Wednesday, June 4th, Hike, Lafayette Reservoir (1.5). This reservoir in the East Bay has a paved, multiuse path around its 3-mile perimeter with several mild ups and downs.  Along the path are numbered plants which we will stop to identify from a printed Nature Trail Guide.  Bring a picnic lunch to eat at an appropriate spot.  Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4 PM. Fees  $6 Facility Mem., $11 Program Mem., $16 Community Mem.

 

Thurs., June 5th.  Trip, San Francisco Symphony.  A subscription series, with a wait list for filling vacancies.

 

Thursday, June 5th, Trip, Marin Theatre Co. Play.  “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well & Living in Paris.”  A subscription series, with a wait list for filling vacancies.

 

Friday, June 6th, Trip, Matanzas Creek Winery & Lavender Gardens, and Sonoma Plaza.  Located in the hills between Santa Rosa and Glen Ellen, this winery features a large garden of lavender, which should be in full bloom in June.  There is also a tasting room and shop.  After our visit, we’ll move on to Sonoma Plaza, with its great shops and restaurants.  Bring a lunch to eat in Sonoma Plaza or plan to eat out.  Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4:00 PM.  Fees:  $14 Facility Members, $19 Program Members, $24 Community Members.

 

Tuesday, June 10th, Bike Ride.  Site to be announced.  No fee.  Call Fred Gluska, 479-9114.

 

Wednesday, June 11th, Hike, Pt. Bonita Headlands (2.0).  We’ll do a 3-to-4-mile loop, starting at the YMCA Conference Center there, to include Bird Rock Overlook, the Lighthouse Overlook, the fortification sites, Visitor Center and Rodeo Beach.  There’s a 200-foot climb to get back to the van, but those not desiring to do that could be picked up at the beach.  Bring a lunch.  Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4 PM.  Fees  $6 Facility Members, $11 Program Members, $16 Community Members.

 

Thursday, June 12th, Computer Club Meeting.  Noon to 1:30 PM in the Club Room.  Bring a lunch.

 

Friday, June 13th, Trip, “Brooklyn Boy”, Ross Valley Players.  A wonderfully funny and moving tale of a Jewish novelist thrust into the limelight when his book becomes a bestseller and is about to be made into a Hollywood Movie.  But when his father’s health brings him back to Brooklyn he’s forced to reconcile his past and discovers you can take the boy out of Brooklyn, but you can’t take the Brooklyn out of the boy.  Depart at 7:30 PM, return about 11:30 PM.  Fees:  $25 Facility Mem., $30 Program Mem., $35 Community Mem.

 

Tuesday, June 16th, Financial Workshop.  1:00 PM in the Club Room.  Subject and speaker to be announced.

 

Wednesday, June 18th, Hike, Crissy Field (1.5).  We will do a perimeter hike around Crissy Field, admiring the beautiful views and the historic buildings, including a visit to the Visitor Center.  It’s flat, about 2 miles total.  Bring a lunch to eat at some scenic spot. Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4 PM.  Fees  $6 Facility Members, $11 Program Members, $16 Community Members.

 

Friday, June 20th, Trip, Boudin Bakery, Fisherman’s Wharf.  This bakery is still using a “mother dough” that is more than 150 years old and has been carefully maintained in order to give the bread its signature flavor.  There is a self-guided tour through the Museum and the Bakery with interactive exhibits and a chance to watch the bakers at work.  There is also a café for soup, salad and sandwiches (the sit down restaurant is very expensive).  Bring a lunch or plan to eat out.  Before and/or after the tour, there will be a chance to play tourist on the Wharf and visit Levi Plaza.  Depart at 10:00 AM, return about 4:00 PM.  Fees:  $14 Facility Members, $19 Program Members,  $24 Community Members (meal extra).

 

Tuesday, June 24th, Bike Ride.  Site to be announced.  No fee.  Call Fred Gluska, 479-9114.

 

Wednesday, June 25th, Hike, Tule Elk Preserve (2.5).  The preserve is on the Tomales Peninsula and has lovely views in every direction.  It has a fire-road trail along the top of the mesa, ranging from 300 to 400 feet high and descending to 137 feet after several miles.  It’s an out-and-return trip that we’ll tailor to those present.  There is always good a chance that we will see some elk, which have thrived there since being reintroduced years ago.  Bring a bag lunch. Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4:00 PM.  Fees:  $6 Facility Members, $11 Program Members, $16 Community Members.

 

Friday, June 27th, Trip, Picnic, Mt. Tam Summit and Scenic Drive.  We’ll do a scenic drive through beautiful Marin, timing our lunch stop to be on top of Mount Tamalpais and enjoy wonderful views while and after we eat. Bring a picnic lunch.  Depart at 10:00 AM, return about 4:00 PM.  Fees:  $14 Facility Members, $19 Program Members, $24 Community Members.

 

JULY

Each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Fitness Walking, at Northgate Mall, 8 AM, $6-$7.67/mo.

 

Each Tuesday, Mind Exercise Class, 2 PM in Club Room, no charge. 

 

Each Wednesday, Bridge Playing, intermediate, 9 AM in Club Room, no charge. Call 479-8068.

 

Wednesday, July 2nd, Hike, Limantour/Drakes Estero (1.5).  We’ll walk on the beach all the way to Drake’s Estero and back again, stopping by the Estero entrance to eat our picnic lunches.  About 4 miles total, all level.  There is always wildlife to enjoy, usually including ducks and the endangered snowy plover.  There may be harbor seals in the water offshore or on the beach, also.  Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4:00 PM.  Fees:  $8 Facility Members, $13 Program Members, $18 Community Members.

 

Friday, July 4th, Holiday.  No Older Adult activities scheduled.

 

Tuesday, July 8th  Bike Ride.   Site to be announced.  No fee.  Call Fred Gluska, 479-9114.

 

Wednesday, July 9th, Hike, Muir Woods to Muir Beach (1.5).  We will hike from the Woods to the Beach on the Redwood Trail, one way, a distance of about 3 miles.  Bring a picnic lunch to eat at the beach, and then we’ll hike into the Green Gulch Farm area before heading home.  Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4:00 PM.  Fees:  $8 Facility Members, $13 Program Members, $18 Community Members.

 

Thursday, July 10th, Computer Club Meeting.  Noon to 1:30 PM in the Club Room.  Bring a lunch.

 

Friday, July 11th,  Trip, Dead Sea Scrolls, Palace of the Legion of Honor.  This exhibition includes rotating examples of the rare and precious Dead Sea Scroll fragments, plus artifacts spanning over 5000 years, from the Chalcolithic Age (4,000 BC) to the Fatimid Period (11th Century AD).  From the description, this exhibit is well worth seeing.  Bring a lunch or plan to eat out in the Museum cafeteria. Depart at 10:00 AM, return about 4:00 PM. Fees:  $25 Facility Members, $30 Program Members, $35 Community Members (includes admission, but not Annie Liebowitz photos).

 

Tuesday, July 15th, Financial Workshop.  1:00 PM in the Club Room.  Speaker and subject to be announced.

 

Wednesday, July 16rd, Dinner Hike, Stinson Beach (1.5).  As always, a pleasant hike along the sand at the water’s edge as far as each person wants to go.  One way is large boulders fallen from the cliff, the other way is to the inlet into the Bolinas Lagoon.  The distance is about 4 miles round trip.  After working up an appetite, we will dine at the Sand Dollar Restaurant.  Depart at 1:00 PM, return about 9:00 PM.  Fees:  $8 Facility Members, $13 Program Members, $18 Community Members (meal extra).

 

Saturday, July 19th, Trip, Pocket Opera, La Boheme, Palace of the Legion of Honor.  Four roommates share life in a garret on the Left Bank in Paris.  This is the most ebullient, romantic and beloved of Puccini’s operas and one of the most heartbreaking.  Bring a lunch or plan to eat in the Museum Cafeteria before the performance. Depart at 11:00 AM, return about 6:00 PM.  Fees:  $50 Facility Members, $60 Program Members, $70 Community Members (includes entrance and performance, meal extra).

 

Tuesday, July 22, Bike Ride.  Site to be announced.  No fee.  Call Fred Gluska, 479-9114.

 

Wednesday – Friday, July 23rd – 25th, Trip, Solvang.  The town of Solvang, near Santa Barbara, was settled by Danish farmers/ranchers and they have worked hard at keeping the architecture and culture alive as much as possible.  The cookies are delicious, the smorgasbord is wonderful, the town is quaint and pleasant to walk through, and one of the California Missions is at the eastern end of the town.  There are also a few interesting museums in the town and the surrounding area.  We will spend Wednesday getting there, with a stop to eat our picnic lunch on the first day.  On day two, we’ll explore, with plenty of time for shopping and seeing the various attractions.  Friday, day three, we’ll return home.  Depart at 9:00 AM, return about 6:00 PM.  Fees: $96 Facility Members, $116 Program Members, $136 Community Members (plus motel and meals).

 

Wednesday, July 30th, Hike, Muir Woods, Fern Canyon (2.5).  This trail starts after hiking back into the woods about 0.8 miles and it gradually climbs 400 feet to Camp Alice Eastwood, where we will eat our lunches, then take another trail down and end up returning by the Hillside Trail.  Bring a picnic lunch.  Depart at 9:30 AM, return about 4 PM.  Fees:  $8 Facility Members, $13 Program Members, $18 CM’s.

 

Thursday, July 31st, Trip, Buck Institute Tour.  VARIABLE FEE TRIP OF THE MONTH.  We will have a 10:30 AM tour of this famous Institute for Aging, in Novato, and learn about the latest research in the field of aging, including Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and cancer.  After the tour it will be lunch time.  Rather than specify something here, give Lloyd your idea on what to do, eat out (where?), picnic in a Novato park, or return to the YMCA before lunch.  Depart at 9:45 AM, return about 2:00 PM.  Fees:  Variable, whatever each person thinks it was worth, after the trip.

 

MARIN THEATRE CO PLAY SERIES OPEN FOR NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS

            We are now open for new subscribers as we solicit renewals for the 2008-2009 season, with a deadline of May 28th for registering and paying at the Member Services Counter.  There are five plays, to be Thursday matinees at 1 PM, with preplay talks at noon (bring a lunch), dates set as 9-25, 12-4, 1-29, 4-2 and 6-18.  Fees for the series are $160 for center seats, or $135 for side seats.  Names of the plays and information about each is available upon request.  Leave a message at 446-2132.

 

YMCA of San Francisco

Marin YMCA

 

 
1500 Los Gamos Drive

San Rafael, CA 94903

(415) 492-9622