During the holidays, there's nothing like meeting up with friends in a happening part of town. You send texts on where to rendezvous. You say, “Let's just meet downtown.” But then you struggle when you try to get more specific.

Where, exactly, is downtown these days? In some cities and towns in Marin, it's an identity crisis of epic proportions.

Take, for example, Corte Madera. Where's downtown?

Technically and traditionally, it's where Tamalpais Avenue meets Corte Madera Avenue. There's a quaint little bandstand in a park and lots of sweet little shops there.

But ask folks who don't live in Corte Madera to meet you there, they're going to say one of two malls — The Village or Corte Madera Town Center.

In Covered, here reporter Jim Welte contemplates the small-town charm of Bedford Falls from film's “It's a Wonderful Life” and pounds the pavement to find out how people in Marin cities define “downtown.”

And Barfly can't help thinking of the guardian angel Clarence when he hears bells ring during the holidays.

Any thoughts? E-mail editor.here@gmail.com. And happy holidays from all of us at here.

— Vicki Larson, here editor