The San Anselmo JAR Event
ProjectHERE in San Anselmo held its first event Friday at Marin Coffee Roasters.
On display were 39 Mason Jars, each filled by local businesses to represent their
contribution to the community. An eclectic group of people turned out to view
and celebrate the varied ingredients that form our town’s rich cultural tapestry.
Shelved near the front window of the venerable San Anselmo coffee shop, the jars proved to be a fun and fascinating exhibit. They ranged from the elaborate and creative, to the modest and symbolic. Local merchants like restaurants, galleries, and gift shops were represented, as well as “off the street” businesses like illustrators, a yoga instructor, handyman, and electric car builder.
Special thanks to Coffee Roasters for housing the exhibit, hosting the event, and providing a tasty selection of snacks, and to Ross Valley Winery for discounting the libations. And, of course, thanks to all those who participated by creating jars, particularly those who handed them out and followed up to make the event a tremendous success.
Project HERE was created to explore what it means to live here. In that spirit, as beautiful and interesting as the jars were, those in attendance were most impressed by the spirit of kinship and camaraderie that makes San Anselmo such a unique an enriching community.
The ProjectHERE jars will remain on display at Coffee Roasters throughout the next few weeks.
Be sure to drop by and check them out.
If you’d like to contribute a jar of your own, email tomk@theideacooperative.com.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Project Here being all about exploring what it means to live here…
Here’s what I learned:
- My suspicions have been confirmed. There are a whole bunch of really cool, kind people in this town who value the community and want to be a part of making it even more connected, both socially and commercially.
- There are a whole bunch of fascinating small businesses tucked away in the nooks and crannies of SA. People doing amazing work who you’d never know about because they don’t have a big window on SA Ave. I hope Project HERE continues to reveal those businesses and celebrates the people behind them.
- Being a downtown merchant here is hard work. I owe a special debt of gratitude to all the local shop owners who, despite the long hours, thin margins and countless other responsibilities, made the effort to fill their jars and be a part of Project HERE.
- Related…we’re lucky to have a true “town.” I grew up in a suburb with no local gathering place. Malls just don’t cut it. We shouldn’t take our town for granted. SA is a very vibrant and fun place to shop, eat, meet up with friends and family or just stroll around and hang out. I hope the jar project helps everyone Here appreciate that even more. It has for me.