The City of San Rafael recently approved a renewed agreement with the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce to continue managing and supporting the Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District (BID). Under this one-year agreement, the Chamber will receive $140,000. The City’s $140,000 agreement with the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce (including approximately $65,000 from BID assessments)…

The San Rafael Chamber has released new updates on major housing projects across the city, highlighting progress on developments from Irwin Street to Northgate, Merrydale, Civic Center Drive, and more. Many of these projects are moving through demolition, construction, or City review processes, with several receiving Chamber endorsement. Together, these developments represent hundreds of new…

Welcome, Deekora! We’re excited to announce that Deekora, a decor and event-planning company, is now part of the downtown San Rafael scene. Whether you’re planning a party, a wedding, or just want to explore their creative gallery, Deekora is ready to inspire with beautiful styling and thoughtful event design. Visit them to see what they’ve…

Humbowl gets the spotlight! The local fast-casual eatery Humbowl, that clever mash-up of “humble” and “bowl”, was featured in a recent piece by The Marin Dish. They call Humbowl the healthy newcomer winning over both vegetarians and carnivores alike with fast, flavorful, nutritious bowls built from whole ingredients in downtown San Rafael.  Check out the…

The Second and Fourth Street Intersection Improvements Project has made updates to the website regarding the anticipated timeline of the Project: The Project timeline has been pushed back approximately 3 months.  Timeline Final Design November/December 2025 Construction Bid Opens for Project December 2025/January 2026 Construction Bid Closes for Project January/February 2026 Project Awarded to Contractor…

American Express and Main Street America have launched the new Amex Shop Small Grants Program, offering 250 grants of $20,000 to small businesses nationwide. An initial $5 million will fund the program, with additional contributions added every time an Amex Card Member shops at a qualifying small business on Small Business Saturday, November 29, 2025.…

KTVU segment: “Could San Rafael Become a New High-Rise Headquarters?” Bay Area news outlet KTVU recently aired a segment looking at planned high-rise developments in San Rafael, CA – exploring whether the city is ready to handle a residential/office-tower boom, and what that could mean for traffic, community character, and growth. Big thanks to KTVU…

We’re excited to welcome Freewheel Brewing to our Downtown! Their brand-new San Rafael taproom officially opens Friday, November 14th. Join them for their Grand Opening Celebration from 4:00pm – 10:00pm at 924 B St. Enjoy fresh beer, good times, and delicious food provided by their neighborhood partners. Stop by, raise a glass, and help us…

We’re thrilled to welcome Perform for Golf, now open in Downtown San Rafael at 1328 4th Street. This cutting-edge performance training studio helps golfers of all levels “Play Longer, Hit Farther, Golf Longer.” They officially opened their doors in San Rafael late fall and we’re excited to have them join our downtown business community. Please…

Glaze & Confused is back in Downtown San Rafael with a brand-new location at 1321 4th Street, opened their doors on November 1, 2025! They offer pottery lessons for all ages, including wheel throwing and hand-building, plus private group events and custom creations upon request. Their shelves are stocked with beautiful, made-in-house ceramic pieces, and…

We’re happy to announce that FRATM pizzeria opened the doors on Thursday October 30th!!  Join them at 901 4th Street San Rafael for authentic Neapolitan pizza and Southern Italian small plates. “Fratm” isa Neapolitan word for “my brother”. Brought to you by Angelo Sannino, co-founder of the award-winning Doppio Zero Restaurant Group, a staple in…

Beautifying Downtown One Corner at a Time! The Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District (BID) is excited to launch a new Adopt-A-Planter program to help improve our downtown intersections. For years, our corner planters have provided much-needed greenery, but many have overgrown trees or limited water sources that make beautification a challenge. So, we’re starting…

The Downtown San Rafael Arts District (DSRAD) and the City of San Rafael has launched a new Public Art Program to enhance Downtown vitality and celebrate our city’s cultural identity. This exciting program will bring five new public art installations – including murals, mosaics, and sculptures- to highly visible locations throughout Downtown in Spring/Summer 2026.…

After more than 12 years of serving our unhoused neighbors in Marin, Downtown Streets Team (DST) Marin will conclude its local programs on Friday, October 24. Unfortunately, the current financial and political environment has greatly impacted their ability to sustain programs across the organization. Since launching in 2013, DST Marin has helped 249 individuals find…

Lights, cameras, San Rafael! Over the past week, our downtown streets turned into a red-carpet runway as Hollywood’s biggest names descended for the 48th Annual Mill Valley Film Festival. From intimate meet-and-greets to surprise walk-bys, here’s a peek at who showed up in our backyard: Joel Edgerton, Zoey Deutch, Rose Byrne (more info) Spike Lee…

If you see an issue downtown – like trash, graffiti, broken meters, potholes, or trip hazards – don’t wait for someone else to report it! The City of San Rafael uses SeeClickFix, an easy online tool where you can report problems directly to the right department. Report an issue here: https://www.cityofsanrafael.org/seeclickfix/ Or we added it…

Did you know that the City provides some great, low-cost parking options downtown that make it easy for your customers (and you!) to park stress-free? Here’s a quick guide: Monthly Parking Passes Full-time visitors = $73 Free weekend parking in the A & C Street Garages (all day Saturday & Sunday) First hour free in…

The BID Annual Report for 2025 and Plan for 2026 will be presented to the City Council in December – It will highlight the prior year’s activities of the BID and the projected activities for the next year.  Please review and let us know hat you would like to see the BID focus on in…

The Chamber is excited to share the highlights from the Sip & Bite Café Ribbon Cutting – a joyful celebration filled with community spirit, smiles, and great food! Watch the video here: Sip & Bite Ribbon Cutting

The Downtown San Rafael Arts District (DSRAD) and the City of San Rafael has launched a new Public Art Program to enhance Downtown vitality and celebrate our city’s cultural identity. This exciting program will bring five new public art installations – including murals, mosaics, and sculptures- to highly visible locations throughout Downtown in Spring/Summer 2026.…

The Major Planning Projects portal highlights significant development proposals currently under review in San Rafael. The City’s role is to evaluate each proposal for consistency with local, regional, and state regulations while ensuring opportunities for public input throughout the process. Projects listed here are in the review pipeline and are not approved unless otherwise noted. Explore projects on the…

San Rafael Library and Recreation is excited to announce the return of Movies in the Park! The series kicks off on Friday, September 12, and movies will continue every other Friday through October 24. Each film begins at sunset and is free for all ages. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, family, and friends, and enjoy…

The Marin IJ reports that San Rafael’s City Council has approved new e-bike safety regulations. Riders must now be 16 or older to use throttle-powered (Class 2) e-bikes, helmets are required for all riders, and younger riders should stick to pedal-assist (Class 1) e-bikes or traditional bikes. Read the full story in the Marin IJ:…

Streamline Social Media with Meta Business SuiteLearn to schedule posts, track analytics, and manage Instagram/Facebook in one place.Thu, Sept 18 | 12-1:30 PM Turn Your Content into VideosUse AI to quickly transform text and images into dynamic video content.Thu, Sept 25 | 12-1:30 PM Closing the Deal: From Networking to SalesPractical strategies for building authentic…

The San Rafael Chamber is hosting the LEVEL UP Employment Expo on September 25, 2025. This event connects local businesses with job seekers and offers a chance to share open positions and build visibility in the community. Businesses can apply to participate as employers or attend to network. LEARN MORE HERE

Emergency Go Bag Crossword Game! September is National Preparedness Month! For the entire month of September, the San Rafael Fire Department is hosting a fun Emergency Go Bag Crossword Game in Downtown San Rafael! Explore downtown businesses, solve the crossword puzzle, and learn about some of the items you might pack in an emergency go…

The program for MVFF48 (October 2-12) is now live! Join CAFILM for 11 days of world-class cinema, with screenings at the Smith Rafael Film Center (San Rafael), Sequoia Cinema (Mill Valley), the Lark Theater (Larkspur), and BAMPFA (Berkeley). This year’s highlights include a Tribute to Spike Lee, featuring a special clips & conversation event with…

San Rafael artist Adrienne Biggs is turning rescued books into art in her “Bookagami” practice, folding and transforming discarded volumes into whimsical, sculptural pieces that breathe new life into forgotten pages. Her show Black, White and Read All Over is now on view at Marelli Bros., with free public demonstrations and a hands-on workshop coming…

When you stroll through downtown San Rafael, you may notice fewer eyesores like graffiti and stickers compared to most other cities.  That’s thanks to the tireless work of Tom Harrison. Since 2015, Tom has volunteered countless hours to help the City with litter abatement, and in 2022 he added a new “hobby”: removing graffiti and…

A big thank you to Tobi Lessem from Bodywise Massage, Adam Dawson from Mike’s Bikes, and all the wonderful volunteers who joined us on July 11th for Phase 2 of our annual BID mulching project. The before and after photos speak for themselves and help makes our Downtown shine! Your hard work is helping to…

The Downtown San Rafael Arts District (DSRAD) Steering Committee application and related materials are now open! The application period is August 1 – 29, 2025. The Downtown San Rafael Arts District (DSRAD) collaborates with local arts leaders, businesses, city officials, and community members to create a vibrant and engaging environment that promotes well-being, equity, and inclusivity…

Join the Emergency Go Bag Crossword Hunt! This September, for National Preparedness Month, SR Fire is inviting 15 local businesses in the downtown area to take part in a community-wide Emergency Go Bag Crossword Hunt. They will give you one crossword clue to post in your store. This can be near your register or on…

Join us in welcoming two exciting new restaurants to our vibrant downtown community! Come show your support, enjoy some great food, and help us celebrate the growing energy in Downtown San Rafael. HOT ITALIAN – Grand Opening & Ribbon CuttingThursday, July 24, 20255:00 PM – 6:00 PM909 Lincoln Ave https://www.hotitalian.net/ Celebrate the arrival of HOT…

Join the BID for Phase 2 of the BID Downtown Mulching Project 2025! Date: Friday, July 11, 2025 Time: 10:00a-12:30p Meeting Location: E Street & 4th Street Intersection Beautify Our Downtown Together What’s Happening: Phase 2 of the BID’s Mulching Project is here, and we need your help to make it a success! We’ll be…

Date: 07/15/2025 Time: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Location: San Rafael Chamber Conference Room, 817 Mission Ave. Employers across all industries-nonprofit and for-profit alike-face complex and sometimes unclear responsibilities when it comes to compliance with immigration requirements. Making sure employees know their rights, have access to resources, and aren’t exposed to unnecessary risks helps build…

Couple opens cafe in San Rafael – Marin IJ Article By Leanne Battelle | ij.lbattelle@gmail.com | IJ correspondent PUBLISHED: July 1, 2025 at 5:45 PM PDT Sip & Bite Cafe has been quietly operating in downtown San Rafael since May and will celebrate its grand opening on July 12. Owned by Point Richmond husband-and-wife-team Ruchir “Rich” Dave and Samantha…

The Downtown San Rafael Arts District is excited to announce a call for artists for five public art opportunities in the Downtown San Rafael Arts District for installation in 2026. Artists and artist teams are invited to apply, including mural opportunities for California-based artists and sculpture opportunities for all US-based artists. Applications are coordinated through…

CCORRECTION: 7.15.25 The City Council may consider updating the fee structure for Streetary permits at an August or September City Council meeting. (Not “have considered” like in the previous post.) Key changes may include: Application Fee reduced from $2,047 per space to $1,758 One-time Removal Deposit eliminated (previously $2,000) New Annual Fee of $310 for…

Planning a Special Event in San Rafael? Starting this July, the City’s Special Events Permit Program will be managed by the Community and Economic Development Department (CED) – previously handled by the San Rafael Police Department. If you’re organizing a parade, festival, farmers market, athletic event, or block party that takes place in the public…

The San Rafael Chamber of Commerce is conducting this survey to better understand the experiences, priorities, and needs of our local business community. Your feedback will directly inform the Chamber’s advocacy efforts with city leaders, help shape our programming, and guide our focus on economic vitality initiatives that matter most to you. The Chamber is…

On Monday, June 2, the San Rafael City Council and staff gathered at City Hall to raise the Pride Flag and officially kick off LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The event featured remarks from Mayor Kate Colin and Rev. Dr. Janie Spahr, a longtime advocate, former SF Pride Parade Grand Marshal, and co-founder of Marin’s LGBTQ+ Community…

On May 13, the San Rafael Planning Commission approved a proposal for a new 8-story, 210-unit apartment building at 930 Irwin Street (corner of 4th & Irwin). The project by Mill Creek Residential will replace three commercial buildings and include 18 affordable units, a rooftop terrace, pool, coworking space, and parking for 222 cars and…

CLICK HERE FOR EVENT WEBSITE Second Friday of the month June 13, July 11, August 8 5-9pm Downtown San Rafael 4th Street between Lootens Place and A Street, including the San Rafael City Plaza San Rafael, CA, June 2, 2025 – The beloved Downtown San Rafael Summer Market is back for 2025 with a fresh…