It’s a short month so make it count

Make every day count this month both on and off Chestnut Street. With some of the best restaurants in town spread throughout our neighborhood, plenty of choice shopping opportunities, and countless service providers to choose from, there may be little reason to ever leave the Marina! But if you have to – we all have to visit our friends or family across the bay sometimes – take along a gift that will remind them what they are missing here.

A great little shop is due to open Feb. 16 in the former AMA Clothing Accessories location on Chestnut near Scott Street. David’s Tea, a fast growing company based out of Canada, offers more than 150 teas on-site, including black, green, mate, and herbal selections from the familiar to the exotic. They also have hundreds of tea accessories, from mugs and teapots to kettles and frothers. And for the perfect guest gift, they have a variety of gift cards and tea samplers, including “The Cold Survival Kit” – because ’tis the season, and being sick stinks! Store hours will be Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
David’s Tea: 2276 Chestnut Street, www.davidstea.com

Just down Chestnut Street near Mallorca, in the short-lived Bubble Tea spot (formerly Jamba Juice), Le Marais Bakery is still moving forward slowly with its remodel project. Previously slated to open in fall 2012, there is no word on when this intimate French bakery will finally be opening, but we will keep you posted as things develop.
Le Marais Bakery: 2066 Chestnut, www.facebook.com/LeMaraisBakery

Speaking of service providers: Though we have a number of major banks represented in the neighborhood, a new alternative to the usual financial services has just opened on the corner of Pierce and Lombard, in the former AAA office location. Golden 1 Credit Union offers free checking account options, low-rate credit cards, low-rate mortgage loans (including jumbo loans – and in the Marina, aren’t they all jumbo loans?), and convenient online account access.

You may be picking up this copy of the Marina Times too late to make it over to their new location in time, but they are hosting an open house through Saturday, Feb. 2. You can still stop by anytime to discover the benefits of a credit union membership and how it could save you time and money. Branch hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Golden 1 Credit Union: 2298 Lombard, 877-465-3361, www.golden1.com

Here’s wishing everyone a happy Valentine’s Day.