Down to Business: Dimensions in Travel Takes a Short Trip to a New Location

is moving to a brand new office. But clients won’t have to look too far; the Novato company is moving less than a block away to 350 Ignacio Blvd., Suite 201.

Owner Diana Saint James said that the lease is up at their former site but they are taking advantage of the relocation by upgrading computer systems and work stations for their 12 employees and 18 independent contractor agents.

Dimensions in Travel has been in business more than 33 years, according to Saint James, and she and co-owner Jill Romano purchased the business in 2007.

Although the industry has changed significantly with online booking, Saint James said that the travel industry is seeing a resurgance of people coming back to agencies.

“They don’t like giving money to online strangers,” Saint James said.

Skills in arranging group travel is another reason that travel agents are still in demand, she said.

“We arrange all types of specialty cruises — knitting, bridge, women’s groups and family reunions,” Saint James said.

According to Saint James, people seek professional travel help to avoid spending hours looking for good deals online or running up against a problem while you’re on vacation.  She said the fees an agent charges are offset because agents save clients all that research time and can help clients deal with emergency situations such as lost passports or luggage.

“Once you’ve made a travel mistake, you realize it’s nice to have someone who is going to go to bat for you,” Saint James said.

Stemmer is New President of DNBA

Randy Stemmer, webmaster of MarinMarket.com, is the new interim president of the Downtown Novato Business Association.  He will be serving the remainder of the third term of Don Cliver of , who stepped down for personal reasons. 

Board member Phillip Schlenker of said Cliver was an integral force behind the Downtown Rewards Card and his hands-on leadership will be missed. Stemmer will serve as interim president until new board elections in December.

Stemmer has served on the DNBA for nearly three years and said the next eight months will be focused on continuing the programs and events that are in place for the remainder of the year.

“We’ll have a booth at Novato’s Festival of Art, Wine & Music but our primary event is Nostalgia Days in August,” Stemmer said. “We also have a 'Safe Trick or Treat'  event in October and a holiday celebration in December.”

Additionally the group has a revitalization committee focused on the restoration of the Novato Theater.

Try Southern Pacific Smokehouse for a Good Cause

Southern Pacific Smokehouse, which opened earlier this week, is holding a special opening benefit on May 14 for the . The $50 ticket price includes food, wine, a selection of beers on tap and live music, featuring Phillip Claypool and the Smokehouse Band and other special guests. A no-host full bar is also available.

The restaurant is a spicy new addition to Novato and is located at 224 Vintage Way in the .

To purchase your ticket online today, please click here or mail a check to the Novato Youth Center, Attention: Development Department, 680 Wilson Ave., Novato, CA 94947. Call 415-892-1632, ext 250, for questions.

Of the $50 ticket price, $30 is tax deductible. Close to half of the 110 tickets are already sold, so register early for this exclusive night.

Boca Pizzeria & Pacheco Plaza Start Friday Night Live Music

Boca Pizzeria and Wine Bar will have live music beginning May 6 on the first three Fridays of every month through September. This Friday’s band is the Greg Cross Band with original blues, rockabilly, jazz and funk.  According to Boca's general manager, Greg Eddings, it will be light entertainment on Boca's patio to kick off the weekend.

The last Friday of each month will be reserved for the .  On those nights, the plaza will be closed to traffic for people to bring their own lawn chairs and picnics to enjoy the free entertainment. Nearby restaurants Boca Pizzeria and will be serving food on their outdoor patios and will be offering barbecued foods to go. 

The Summer Music Series starts May 27 at 6:30 p.m. with Steve Lucky & the Rhumba Bums featuring Miss Carmen Getit.

Ben Franklin Closes in May

The staff at is now saying that the store's last day is May 27. Most items are now marked down 60 percent with Christmas and Halloween items marked down 80%; but the shelves are getting bare.

Novato Patch business columnist Nancy O'Neill is on hiatus, so Tracey Ruiz is filling in. Future story tips can be e-mailed to Tracey by clicking on her byline.