Free 20-Minute Photo Coaching Session with Camera or Lens

Looking Glass Photographic Outfitters

Here in Berkeley, Looking Glass Photo is where gear, guidance, and community come together—since 1971. We’re a boutique-style camera shop that outfits photographers with exactly what they need and nothing they don’t. That means real conversations, hands-on help, and curated solutions across top brands like Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Sony and more. We carry new gear, offer a thoughtful selection of preowned and consignment cameras and lenses, and place special orders when the perfect fit isn’t on the shelf. Learning is at the heart of what we do. Join our small-group classes and workshops, sign up for photo adventures in the wild (from tide pools to elk rut season), or dig into image reviews and practical technique sessions. Our Rentals program makes it easy to test drive the latest bodies, lenses, lighting and accessories—perfect for a weekend project or a big assignment—while our “Try Before You Buy” and paid Gear Outfitting service help you make confident choices. What makes us unique? Personalized coaching before and after a purchase, community-driven events (including our Photo Friends network), and a values-driven approach that puts longevity and stewardship first. We stand behind the gear we sell, keep darkroom and printing essentials flowing, and cheer on your growth every step of the way. Whether you’re brand-new to photography or a seasoned pro, Looking Glass is your trusted partner for classes, adventures, rentals, consignment and used gear, and a welcoming community that lifts each other up.

Alameda County

Fernando Haro

Bay Area

Berkeley

California

Here in Berkeley, Looking Glass Photo is where gear, guidance, and community come together—since 1971. We’re a boutique-style camera shop that...

Gaspare's Pizzeria Ristorante & Bar

Gaspare’s Pizzeria Ristorante &amp; Bar is a family-owned Italian restaurant proudly serving the community since 2008. We offer a full menu of classic Italian dishes, handcrafted pizzas, and comforting favorites made with quality ingredients. Whether you're joining us for a relaxed dinner, meeting friends for drinks, or catching the game at the bar, you can expect great food and genuine hospitality every time. Visit us and experience the difference.

Marin County

Albert Gregory

San Rafael

Gaspare’s Pizzeria Ristorante & Bar is a family-owned Italian restaurant proudly serving the community since 2008. We offer a full menu of classic...

Smog checks available now—always ready when you are

Hamilton's Smog

Grab a coupon or to book online: https://sites.google.com/view/hamiltons-smog/home?pli=1 We test all vehicle, all ages 1976-2026. Experience quick and convenient service at Hamilton's STAR Smog Check, your local Novato inspection station. Since 2021, we've been serving the community with efficient smog checks for all types of vehicles, including gasoline, diesel, and hybrid cars, as well as large trucks and RVs. Our certified technicians perform both STAR and non-STAR inspections, ensuring your vehicle meets all state requirements. Simply drive in for a hassle-free inspection, with most vehicles completed in under 30 minutes.

Novato

Grab a coupon or to book online: https://sites.google.com/view/hamiltons-smog/home?pli=1 We test all vehicle, all ages 1976-2026. Experience quick...

SAN RAFAEL, CA – A car fire is diverting traffic Friday evening in downtown San Rafael. The car fire is on eastbound Fourth Street at Greenfield Avenue, according to the San Rafael Police Department. Traffic is being diverted to Sequoia and Greenfield.Police advised motorists to avoid the area until further notice. Image via Patch

SAN RAFAEL, CA – A car fire is diverting traffic Friday evening in downtown San Rafael.

The car fire is on eastbound Fourth Street at Greenfield Avenue, according to the San Rafael Police Department. Traffic is being diverted to Sequoia and Greenfield.Police advised motorists to avoid the area until further notice.

Car Fire Diverts Traffic In San Rafael

Police advised motorists to avoid the area until further notice. 


Crime & Safety

San Anselmo-Fairfax

Larkspur-Corte Madera

Mill Valley

Contra Costa County

El Cerrito

Pinole-Hercules

Albany

San Francisco

San Francisco County

Rockridge

Marin Theatre

From the Mill Valley Historical Society, our 47th Annual Walk Into History is Sunday, May 24.Explore 200 years of habitation and landscape transformation in Mill Valley's baylands with guided tours through the Sycamore area. Discover the story of the Coast Miwoks, the Reed Family Rancho, early farmers, and the post-WWII community on this family-friendly walk.Tickets are $25 for MVHS members, $30 for non-members, and free for those 18 and under. Reserve your place on one of 17 walks between 9 am and 3 pm at mvhistory.org/annual-walk-into-historyIn conjunction with the Walk, kid-oriented activities related to the Walk into History are planned in Sycamore Park from 10 am to 1 pm. This activity is FREE but sign-ups are recommended at mvhistory.org/annual-walk-into-history.

Local Event: Sloughs To Streets: 47th Annual MVHS Walk Into History

Sloughs To Streets: 47th Annual MVHS Walk Into...

From the Mill Valley Historical Society, our 47th Annual Walk Into History is Sunday, May 24.Explore 200 years of habitation...

Sloughs To Streets: 47th Annual MVHS Walk Into History

Deep Improv by Bay Area Playback Theater Through the transformative lens of Playback Theater actors and musicians will bring your true experiences to life using movement, music, metaphor and spoken word. Relationships are vital to our lives; every life is woven from them. They are fun, difficult, amazing, inspiring, satisfying, or challenging. We have people we love, avoid, and put up with. We have them with animals, objects, places, ideas, money, and society. What relationships shaped you, elated you, irritated you, pushed you, made you grow, laugh and cry?

Local Event: Deep Improv - Exploring Stories of Relationships 

Deep Improv - Exploring Stories of Relationships 

Deep Improv by Bay Area Playback Theater Through the transformative lens of Playback Theater actors and musicians will bring...

Join us to experience the joy and power of music. This concert is our middle school and high school intermediate and advanced ensembles. It will feature music by Smetana, Marquez, Glière, Faure, and Beethoven.

Local Event: ELM Spring Concert

ELM Spring Concert

Join us to experience the joy and power of music. This concert is our middle school and high school intermediate and advanced...

If you are searching for a staffing agency in the San Francisco Bay Area, you will find no shortage of options ranging from global staffing giants to boutique local firms. The Bay Area job market spans wildly different communities: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Silicon Valley, the East Bay, and the North Bay including Marin County and Sonoma County. Each submarket has its own hiring culture, salary norms, and employer base.
Not every staffing agency serves every Bay Area market equally. Some are national chains with Bay Area offices. Some are San Francisco-focused firms with limited reach across the bridge. A select few are genuinely rooted in specific Bay Area communities. This guide breaks down the top staffing firms across the full Bay Area, compares their strengths and limitations, and helps both employers and job seekers find the right partner for their situation.
Quick comparison: Bay Area staffing agencies at a glance
Bay Area Focus Locally rooted Bay Area firm SF / Bay HQ Bay Area headquartered National National chain, Bay Area office Agency Founded Bay Area Presence Temp Staffing Direct Hire Govt / Nonprofit Perfect Timing Personnel Services	1988	Bay Area Focus	Yes	Yes	Yes Nelson Connects	~1970	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Yes	Limited Certified Employment Group	~1980s	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Yes	Limited Scion Staffing	2006	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Yes	Nonprofit McCall Staffing	~1980s	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Yes	Nonprofit Career Group Companies	~1981	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Yes	Limited Star Staffing	1995	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Limited	No Robert Half	1948	National	Yes	Yes	No Insight Global	2001	National	Yes	Yes	No 
Agency-by-agency breakdown
Perfect Timing Personnel Services Best for the San Francisco Bay Area, Locally Owned
San Rafael, CA | Founded 1988 | North Bay HQ
Perfect Timing Personnel Services is the only staffing agency headquartered in San Rafael with a primary focus on the broader Bay Area region. It's been recognized as one of the top Bay Area Staffing firms by the Marin Independent Journal for the past 10+ years. Founded in 1988, the firm has operated continuously in the Bay Area for over 35 years, making it one of the most tenured locally owned staffing companies in the entire Bay Area.
Perfect Timing specializes in temp, temp-to-hire, and direct hire placements across administrative support, accounting, finance, healthcare, government, and nonprofit sectors. The firm holds long-standing institutional contracts with some of the region's most respected employers, including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (a client since 2011). That kind of deep institutional trust is rare in the staffing industry and speaks directly to the quality and consistency of the firm's placements.
Perfect Timing brings a people-first philosophy to recruiting. Candidates are not treated as transactions. The firm's recruiters build real relationships with both employers and job seekers throughout the Bay Area.
Strengths
<ul><li>35+ years serving Bay Area employers</li><li>Deep government and nonprofit expertise</li><li>Institutional contracts with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</li><li>Community-rooted, boutique firm</li><li>Covers the full Bay Area</li><li>HQ'd in San Rafael</li></ul>
Limitations
<ul><li>Not focused on tech or engineering roles &zwj;</li></ul>
<a href="www.perfecttiming.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">www.perfecttiming.com</a>

Learn more at <a href="www.perfecttiming.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">www.perfecttiming.com</a>

The Best Staffing Agencies in the San Francisco...

If you are searching for a staffing agency in the San Francisco Bay Area, you will find no shortage of options ranging from global staffing giants...

The Best Staffing Agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area: An Honest Comparison for 2026

Orange County

Chemical Tanks Rapidly Overheat Despite...

Roughly 40,000 people remained under evacuation orders in Garden Grove and surrounding areas Saturday.

Chemical Tanks Rapidly Overheat Despite Dangerous Overnight Mission In Orange County

Napa County

Napa Valley

Judgment Of Paris: Wine's Power Shift 50 Years...

The "Judgment of Paris" was a geopolitical event in food culture that still reverberates 50 years later. 

Judgment Of Paris: Wine's Power Shift 50 Years Later 

Community Corner

Video Shows Driver Possibly Sleeping Behind The...

Video of driver slumped behind the wheel of a moving Cybertruck, raising questions about self-driving technology and driver responsibility. 

Video Shows Driver Possibly Sleeping Behind The Wheel Of Tesla In Marin County

Across California

Memorial Day Travel: How To Beat Traffic, Avoid...

From the best times to drive to less-congested destinations and fuel-saving tips, here’s how to navigate the busy holiday weekend.

Memorial Day Travel: How To Beat Traffic, Avoid Crowds And Save Money At CA Destinations

Seasonal & Holidays

Across America

The Right And Wrong Way To Fly The Flag On...

More flags than usual will fly this Memorial Day Weekend as America gears up for its 250th anniversary. How to display the flag matters.

The Right And Wrong Way To Fly The Flag On Memorial Day 2026

Memorial Day Flag Etiquette: How To Get It Right

Memorial Day Flag Etiquette: The Right And Wrong Way To Display Old Glory At Half-Mast

CA Has 3 Of The 10 Healthiest Counties In The U...

MarketWatch ranked 576 U.S. counties across multiple health measures. See which CA county is No. 1 in the nation.

CA Has 3 Of The 10 Healthiest Counties In The U.S., New Study Says

Health & Fitness

Emily Rahhal 

Larkspur Restaurant On 2022 Wine Spectator List

A glass of wine is nice with dinner but this Marin restaurant goes above and beyond with its extensive lists and service. 

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Crime & Safety

Car Fire Diverts Traffic In San Rafael

Police advised motorists to avoid the area until further notice.

Kristina Houck, Patch Staff

Find out what's happening in San Rafaelfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

More from San Rafael

Teacher Arrested For Illegal Relationship With Student In Marin County: Police

From Federal Health Policy To County Jail Oversight: Marin's New Justice Executive Has Done It All

Celebrate Memorial Day In Marin County For America’s 250th

Sloughs To Streets: 47th Annual MVHS Walk Into History

Deep Improv - Exploring Stories of Relationships

ELM Spring Concert

The Best Staffing Agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area: An Honest Comparison for 2026

Gaspare's Pizzeria Ristorante & Bar

Hamilton's Smog

Looking Glass Photographic Outfitters

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Car Fire Diverts Traffic In San Rafael

Police advised motorists to avoid the area until further notice.

Kristina Houck, Patch Staff<img alt="Verified Patch Staff Badge" class="styles_Badge__np_hU" src="https://patch.com/img/cdn/assets/layout/badges/verified-patch-staff.svg"/>

Find out what's happening in San Rafaelfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Kristina Houck, Patch Staff