Currents

In Marin

CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND CAUSES OF THIS UNIQUE COUNTY

WINNERS IN THE WILD

WildCare, the wildlife rescue and recovery organization based in San Rafael, wrapped its eighth annual “Living With Wildlife” photography contest in mid-October, selecting winning imagery from a pool of more than 200 amateur entries. “The judges [who included Marin Magazine’s own Tim Porter] based their decisions on suitability of subject matter, composition, lighting and technique,” says WildCare Communications Manager Alison Hermance. “They had a real challenge judging all the amazing California photographs we received.” Twenty-one finalists were selected, with winners in categories like “California Birds in Their Natural Settings,” “General Nature” and the namesake “Living With Wildlife.” wildcarebayarea.org CALIN VAN PARIS

For the Birds

According to Audubon scientists, global warming threatens the very existence of nearly half of all bird species in the United States and Canada. And of these 314 climatethreatened and climate-endangered species, many are California favorites. Get involved with your local Audubon chapter and check out these five simple ways to create a more bird-friendly backyard.

audubon.org JORDAN WELLWOOD

DRINK Not only is a birdbath a pretty addition to any yard, it provides necessary drinking and bathing water.

FEED Join the 54 million others in the U.S.

who feed birds around their home.

GROW Install native plants that have different sizes. Varying sizes and types mimic a natural area and allow birds to

use layers for different purposes. Also, curb growth of invasive plants.

WATCH Help protect wildlife by keeping an eye on your cat — the domestic predators kill millions of U.S. birds and small

animals each year.

FORAGE Allow your yard to get a little cluttered. So-called “leaf litter” provides foraging opportunities for ground-feeding birds.

Made in the West

West Coast Craft is back for its second year, bringing a bevy of designers, artists and makers — each with aesthetics inspired by the Golden State — together for a weekend of creative appreciation. Here, we ask three of the participating Marin-based companies what the “West Coast lifestyle” means to them when it comes to their craft. Check out West Coast Craft December 6–7 at Fort Mason Center. westcoastcraft.com C.V.P.

1Mineral Workshop “I like the stories that lie within creative work, so my aim is to have my heart and hands animated by the heartbreak and beauty of the land and all of us upon it — West Coast lifestyle to me is feeling that, and honoring it.” — Carrie Crawford, founder of Mineral Workshop. mineralworkshop.com 2 Native Textile “The West Coast is a place where creativity can flourish. There is a sense of lightness, both in nature and in the people, and an opportunity to draw endless inspiration from the natural beauty that surrounds us.” — Meghan Bogden Shimek, founder of Native Textile. meghanshimek.com 3 Winston Made “West Coast makers are healthy, whimsical, inventive go-getters who won’t take no for an answer and I think that is reflected in the kinds of businesses and products produced here. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, and we don’t give up when we feel passionate about something.” — Sam Kraus, founder of Winston Made. winstonmade.com

USE YOUR IMAGINATION The Presidio Trust is in talks with five

hyper-creative design teams (CMG Landscape Architecture’s concept is shown) to conceptualize and bring about the New Presidio Parklands Project, with a shared goal of maximizing the space and bringing attention to the surrounding beauty. “The response of these internationally acclaimed design teams is a testament to the potential of this site, which is one of the most iconic and beautiful in the world,” says Presidio Trust Executive Director Craig Middleton. The Imagine stage of the project will continue into next year, with design and building taking place from 2015 to 2018. Visit the website to share your ideas and opinions. newpresidioparklands.org C.V.P.

I heard the bells ring and thought to myself: remember this.

Remember being the last ones to leave the dance floo. Thinking that a massage truly might be Sweden’s greatest contribution to the modern world. Perfecting my left-handed coin toss at the Trevi Fountain. And, listening to the sounds of Venice slowly fade behind the ship’s wake.

It’s funny; I don’t remember a single thing from our Celebrity cruise—I remember everything.

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