I've been hearing great things about Nothing Bundt Cakes, the recently opened Corte Madera bakery specializing in—what else?—bundt cakes, so we decided to go check them out ourselves. Of course my kids were thrilled to go somewhere to try new kinds of cake, so I didn't have to do much to get them excited to go.

Bundt cakes, as you probably know, are those cakes baked in a ring-shaped pan. Your mom or grandma probably made them when you were a kid, but, as Nothing Bundt Cakes points out, "These ain't your grandma's bundt cakes." These bundt cakes have developed something of a cult following, and after tasting them, we know why.

Nothing Bundt Cakes carries bundt cakes in a variety of sizes, from the little bundtinis to 10-inch tiered bundt cakes suitable for special occasions. Ten regular flavors are offered, including red velvet, chocolate chocolate chip, lemon, white chocolate raspberry, carrot, and more, as well a special flavor of the month—on our visit it was lemon raspberry.

Marin Mommies presents this week's guest recipe from Nicole Cibellis, Marin mom and author of the blog A Family that Eats Together, where she shares meal plans and recipes that will please foodies and children alike. Nicole is also the creator of the new Little Froglet line of children's activewear.

Nicole's recipe for this week is this lamb ragù with pappardelle noodles.

I found this recipe years ago after I had surgery. While in recovery I read endless cookbooks and magazines and found this recipe in Food and Wine from 2005. It was the first meal I ate when I came home and I was blown away. My mom made it for me at that time but this time I made it and it was just as good. My family went wild for it, especially my son who cleaned his bowl, which almost never happens. We also had it for lunch today, and a day later it is even better.

One of our wonderful readers told me about the new Cafe du Cirque, a child-friendly coffee house in downtown San Rafael that opened last week, so I had to go check it out. Cafe du Cirque was opened by Marin mom Kerstin Fleischer and her husband Tom Coleman, and features food made from fresh local organic ingredients, locally roasted coffee, and a play area for little ones near the back of the cafe. Relax with a cup of coffee or tea and a salad or sandwich while your kids play safely.

Kerstin is the mom of a three-year-old, and added the play room to the cafe because she was more than aware of the need to have a space like this in Marin. The cafe itself is clean and modern and occupies a long narrow space with lots of natural light.

My children both enjoyed Cafe du Cirque's kids' hot chocolate and fresh muffins, and my daughter liked the play area. Designed for younger children, the small carpeted play area includes toys like a play kitchen, a kids' table and chairs, a chalkboard, and a soft crawling area for babies. You can sip your coffee or eat lunch or breakfast and watch the kids while they play under the play room's festive red-and-white-striped awning.

This is the second in our series of "Day Out" articles profiling family-friendly shopping, dining, and activities in Marin's communities. Read our first article in the series: Day Out in Point Reyes Station.

While Novato doesn't have the upscale cachet of its southern neighbors like Mill Valley or Tiburon, you'll find that there's more to Marin's northernmost town than just Target and Costco. Look beyond the suburban sprawl and big-box stores and you'll find a charming family-friendly community with a small-town atmosphere that belies its large size.

Novato has much to offer for families, from its parks and open space areas to locally-run family-friendly restaurants and shops. Novato also boasts great weather—giving it its nickname of "Valley of the Gentle Seasons"—so if you wish is to escape the summer fog of southern Marin, Novato is the place to go for a little sunshine.

A great place to see what Novato is all about is in its downtown in and around Grant Avenue. Start in the Old Town neighborhood at Grant and Reichert Avenues, home to Novato's iconic city hall (housed in a a red 1890s Carpenter Gothic church), the Novato History Museum, and a number of locally run businesses and restaurants.

Powell's Sweet Shoppe has been a fixture in Novato's Old Town neighborhood for years. For a while, it looked like it was ready to close its doors, but with a new owner on board Powell's back, restocked and better than ever! If you've haven't been in for a while, or if you're never visited at all, now's the time to check it out.

You know that phrase "Like a kid in a candy store"? Whenever I walk into Powell’s Sweet Shoppe I feel like I'm re-living my childhood. It's a nostalgic, old-time candy wonderland—wander the jam-packed aisles and explore different varities of candy bars licorice, chewing gum, chocolate, hard candy, gummies, suckers, and more. You name it—they probably have it. You'll probably run across something you haven't seen, or tasted, in years.

Powell's also has a variety of regional favorite candies and chocolates, such as Moon Pies and GooGoo Clusters from the South, our own local Jelly Bellies, and even candy from Britain and Europe. If you're looking for something a little fancier, try one of the hand-made chocolate truffles they offer.

I grew up in Marin, but for some reason never visited the Bay Model in Sausalito until last Thursday. With their grand re-opening taking place this week, and with the kids having mid-winter break, I thought it would be a great time to check it out. It's also free to the public, so it's an inexpensive place for a fun and educational family outing. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but as it turns out we all really enjoyed our visit—it's definitely one of Marin's hidden treasures.

The Bay Model has been a Sausalito fixture since the 1950s, when it was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers to allow scientists and researchers to study how water flows through San Francisco Bay and the Delta. The Bay Model has functioned solely as an educational facility since 2000, and visitors can marvel at the giant model itself, which is the size of two football fields, learn about the local ecosystem, and explore the history of the World War II-era Marinship shipyard that was once on the site.

The Bay Model has just undergone $15.5 million dollars worth of renovations and improvements, including a new roof with 2,500 solar panels, seismic retrofitting, and upgrades to the visitor center. They'll be holding a grand re-opening celebration today, Saturday, February 25, from 11 am to 4 pm.

Congratulations to Gunda S., winner of our California Academy of Sciences giveaway! Gunda won a set of four guest passes to the Academy. Thanks for helping us celebrate our fifth birthday!

The weather is supposed to be beautiful the next few days and I'm ready to take advantage of it. One of our favorite things to do on a beautiful day is to have a picnic and play outside in the sun. Here is our list of favorite places to enjoy a picnic, hiking and some fun with your family. Enjoy!

• Bear Valley in the Point Reyes National Seashore is home to the park's visitor center as well as a large picnic area complete with tables, restrooms, and drinking water. Have a leisurely lunch outdoors, and then take a hike—there are a number of different hikes and walks you can do here that are suitable for everyone in the family, including the Earthquake Trail, the Bear Valley Trail, and the trail leading to the Morgan horse ranch. Read more about Bear Valley in our article here.
• The Marin French Cheese Company, otherwise known as the Cheese Factory, is a wonderful spot for families and a picnic. Located on Point Reyes–Petaluma Road, between Novato and Nicasio, the Cheese Factory is a great spot where the kids can run and play on their expansive lawn and you can relax on your picnic blanket in a nice shady spot. Bring your own picnic or buy food at their cheese store and deli, which stocks sandwiches, ice cream, a multitude of different cheeses (of course), coffee wine, and soft drinks. Read more about the Cheese Factory in our article here.
• McNear's Beach in San Rafael is a 55-acre county park located on the shores of San Pablo Bay. It's the perfect place to go on a warm day to wade in the bay, picnic, fish, take in spectacular views of the Bay Area, and more. There are acres of lush rolling lawn here with plenty of shade, perfect for spreading out picnic blankets and relaxing or playing games. There is a $10 parking fee, so make sure you bring exact change to leave in the parking fee machine. Hours: 8 am-5 pm. Read more about our last visit here.
• The Sonoma Plaza is an expansive park in the heart of Sonoma, with lush green lawns, two playgrounds, fountains, a pond with ducks, and plenty of shade. It’s the perfect place for families to relax and play. We generally bring along our picnic lunch from home, or we stop on the way at Angelo’s Wine Country Deli, our favorite place to grab sandwiches, salads, drinks, and chips. Make sure to bring your picnic blanket and enjoy the town square. Read more about our last visit there.

Looking for a fun and creative birthday idea to have at your home? How about a mobile paint party? The Social Palette, a local at-home art party business, offers creativity-filled birthday parties for kids ages 7–13.

Partygoers will receive a 9"x12" canvas and a variety of paint colors to create their very own masterpiece. The Social Palette brings and set up everything that partygoers need to create their own unique works of art. Paint parties are for all levels of artist, from beginners to experts.

The Social Palette is owned by Angelina Popov, who has been working with youth and in the non-profit sector for over ten years. Her experience has allowed her to observe how effectively activities like art can bring people together, as well as create a fun environment. She started by throwing art parties for friends and family, which eventually led to the opening of The Social Palette.

Marin Mommies presents this week's guest recipe from Nicole Cibellis, Marin mom and author of the blog A Family that Eats Together, where she shares meal plans and recipes that will please foodies and children alike. Nicole is also the creator of the new Little Froglet line of children's activewear.

Nicole's meal plan for this week features slow-cooker Mexican chicken, lamb burgers with garlicky spinach, potato and leek soup with homemade croutons, braised chicken with artichokes, and these Indian-inspired curreid meatballs with homemade naan.