Marin Magazine February 2025

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School Desegregation — Then and Now

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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Marin City Schools Today Striving for integration and achievement.

30

Ripples Through Time Exploring the enduring community of rowers in Marin County.

Sustainable Packaging

New wine and spirits packaging is here. Will consumers buy it? 38 Rescue Me A Valentine for shelter dogs and how they are ultimately a gift to their owners.

IN MARIN

15 Currents Marriage tips, Author Talk, a first-person account and more.

18 New in Town Art gallery in Sausalito, new pub in San Rafael and home decor in Corte Madera’s Town Center.

OUT & ABOUT

60 Calendar A roundup of what to do in Marin and beyond.

65 Dine An insider’s guide to dining and food in the Bay Area.

70 On the Scene Snapshots from events around the county.

MARIN HOME

73 Backstory

A studio ADU within a 1908 Craftsman home in Mill Valley is transformed.

WAIKIKI’S NEWEST MODERN CRAFT HOTEL

Immerse yourself in the paradise garden inspired OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Paradise Hotel. Dive into an art-rich experience awaiting you from the new pool to the breath-taking open-air lobby. Indulge in craft food & cocktails at Appetito or Japanese teppanyaki at Tanaka of Tokyo. Welcome to Paradise.

PRESIDENT / OPERATIONS

Nikki N. Wood nwood@marinmagazine.com

Editorial

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Mimi Towle

DIGITAL EDITOR

Jessica Gliddon

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Mimi Pinson

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Emma Robertson

DEPARTMENT EDITORS

Lotus Abrams, Donna Berry Glass

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jeanne Cooper, Kirsten Jones Neff, Danna Lewis, Jessette Long, Kate McMillan, Christina Mueller, Megan Stewart, Jim Wood

Art

ART DIRECTOR

Ryan Mastalerz

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Alex French

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Bethie Martin, Leslie Williamson

COVER

Phiz Mozesson, courtesy of Sausalito Marin City School District

Administration

CONTROLLER

Maeve Walsh

Co-Founders

Jim Wood, Nikki N. Wood

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L O O K U P

ECLIPSE, MOON, AND MARS ECLIPSE, MOON, AND MARS

Turn your eyes to the skies this spring. Feel the awe of a total solar eclipse, meet NASA’s Mars rovers and orbiters, and get ready to be amazed by the stunning natural phenomena in outer space.

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UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

WHILE FEBRUARY IS USUALLY RESERVED FOR ROMANCE we have chosen to celebrate pets and wellness, because as we all know — pets offer true unconditional love.

Frequent contributor Jeanne Cooper, a former travel editor for the San Francisco Chronicle, who usually writes about travel for us, is instead focusing on her other passion: rescue animals, and dogs in particular. As a Facebook friend of hers I am constantly entertained by the adventures of Scallywag, a deaf Catahoula leopard dog, his hearing support dog Buddy Kai and their feline bestie Kalani. As the new president of the Hawaii Island Humane Society (yes, you can adopt a pup while on vacation, or just take one on a field trip), Jeanne was thrilled to take on an assignment focused on the topic, and by sheer coincidence, she assured me, two of the five rescued humans have ties to Hawaii. I got a little teary reading the beautiful stories of these five beautiful canine-human bonds and look forward to adopting a little fido soon too.

February is also synonymous with Black History Month, a topic we have championed for many years. Kirsten Jones Neff has earned awards for her articles on real estate redlining, Marin City’s history as well as its peaceful yet powerful reaction to George Floyd back in 2020. Her latest feature in this issue has been a long time coming. The Sausalito Marin City School District is under the spotlight once again for their desegregation efforts, and Neff talks to the people working hard behind the scenes to make it happen.

Speaking of behind the scenes in Marin City, Felecia Gaston has been serving her beloved community since moving there in the ’80s. Besides offering a platform for young artists (various art forms) via her nonprofit, Performing Stars of Marin, she’s written books on Marin City’s history, soul food cookbooks with recipes gathered from grandmothers. She also curated a traveling exhibit on the history of Marin City, highlighting how the ongoing redlining has impacted these families. This month we are thrilled to collaborate with Gaston on Feb. 11, at 2330 Marinship Way, suite 100, for a showing of a 1968 BBC documentary called The Mood of America , which followed the aftermath of the voluntary desegregation plan in 1965. I watched it a couple months ago and was inspired by the then principal Sidney Walton’s efforts to instill confidence and community within the student body, and just like today, some of it worked, some didn’t. Sixty years later, we are going to present the film along with a panel of speakers to discuss how the city’s efforts of late might succeed. The admission is free, please RSVP to 270media.com/events, to ensure space.

As I mentioned in the last issue, we are getting excited about our 20th anniversary celebration on March 9, 3–6 p.m. at the Marin Art and Garden Center. Early Bird tickets are on sale through Jan. 31. Hope to see you there.

CURRENTS

“ Trust in and care for each other...”
And more love lessons from our featured wedding couples.

Achieving Happily Ever After

Marriage tips from couples who were featured in previous Marin Magazine wedding issues.

Veronica Sooley & Matthew Pugh, married 2012.

Veronica’s tip:

“As cliché as it may be to say, communication really is key — as well as airing grievances before they fester and turn into larger arguments. And make time to connect with each other, especially once children enter the picture. Setting aside just five minutes a day to catch up really makes a difference.”

Matt’s tip:

“Minimize the lows: Be there and provide a listening ear when your partner’s hit a rough patch, whether it’s personal or professional. Be attentive and try to notice when there could be something bothering them, as many times it may not be obvious.”

Eva Claiborne & Keith Bartel, married 2005.

Eva’s secret for a long, happy marriage after five marriages:

“Keep your heart open; love is the most important thing in life. Do not give up on your dreams or try to give up yourself just to be in a relationship. After you choose someone, accept your partner. Don’t try to fix the other person; work on yourself.”

Keith’s advice for one happy marriage:

“Respect your spouse and be best friends. Acknowledge the other person, who they are, and their values and beliefs; don’t try to change them. Spend time together: Talk in the mornings and evenings, walk together, and take fun vacations. Grow together, ride the waves with grace, and accept change.”

Christina Hansen & Peter Scott, married 2011.

Christina’s tip:

“Trust in and care for each other, and encourage each other to grow as individuals, because change is the only constant. If you both embrace changes and stay rooted in care, you’ll be lucky in living an adventurous and loving life together.”

Peter’s tip:

“I believe that listening is the most important thing. To hear the value of a different thought can bring enlightenment. I don’t need to hear my own thoughts. It’s the thoughts I don’t have that I need to hear. Thank you Christina.”

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NEW IN TOWN

Marin’s happenings in the arts, retail and dining — plus, a new career technical education initiative.

MEILI ORIGINAL ART GALLERY

Artist Meili Zhao cut the ribbon to a gallery in downtown Sausalito this past December. “My artwork celebrates the vibrant landscapes and inspiring environment that surrounds us,” says Zhao. meilizhaopaints.com

THE BURREN HOUSE

For a pint of Guinness and a football match (that’s soccer for you Yankees), The Burren House is San Rafael’s new Irish pub, open for lunch, dinner and late-night libations. theburrenhouse.com

ARHAUS

Lovingly made furniture built to last: Home decor retailer Arhaus added a location in Corte Madera’s Town Center to its list of stores nationwide. arhaus.com

NEW WORKFORCE INITIATIVE

By the Bay Health, Northern California’s largest nonprofit hospice provider, has teamed up with Novato Unified School District on a new approach to address healthcare workforce shortages. An elective class at San Marin High School will introduce upperclassmen to healthcare careers through technical education — meaning handson skills building, field trips, certification opportunities and more. bythebayhealth.org

Talking to Marin Open Studios’ new executive director

We chatted with new Marin Open Studios Executive Director Kina Lamblin to learn more about her transition and her vision for MOS, from continuing existing initiatives such as the diversity program to creating new ones.

MM: What drew you to this position?

KL: The arts. It just feels like art right now is part of what the world needs. And the opportunity to be involved in a nonprofit that’s helping artists get their work out there and helping the public see their work and doing more and more of that, is what drew me to this job.

MM: As a sculptor, how will your own work and passion in the arts influence what you do here?

KL: I appreciate how much the work is internal. You and your art and your studio, if you have one, and your home if you don’t, it’s such a personal, internal experience and then that step of bringing it out into the world is a big one. And [MOS] really helps people make that step.

Farmers Market Find

Taming chicory, plus using it for balsamic braised radicchio.

MEILI
ZHAO, STUART
BASS

My name is Chris Catalano and I am a cosmetic dentist in Marin County. My passion is helping people feel beautiful when they smile. I spent half of my career in Southern California learning and teaching cosmetic dentistry. The other half I have spent in Marin County. Living in these two distinct regions has allowed me to see and deliver the full spectrum of veneers. From the Hollywood bright smile to natural subtle beauty, I know how to deliver your personalized smile.

AUTHOR TALK

Kevin Fagan, an award-winning journalist and recently retired San Francisco Chronicle reporter, brings decades of experience and empathy to his new book, The Lost and the Found. In a riveting conversation at Book Passage, Fagan will discuss powerful, true stories of homelessness, addiction and resilience through the lives of Rita and Tyson — two individuals navigating life on the streets of San Francisco amidst its wealth and inequities.

What inspired you to write The Lost and the Found, and how did your personal experience facing and reporting on homelessness influence the narrative structure of the book?

I think my own experiences with homelessness and poverty gave me extra empathy for what Rita and Tyson went through in their rocky journeys, and I wanted to use that to bring extra depth into showing readers the remarkable qualities of these two people, what their struggles involved and how a guy like me goes about trying to tell this kind of story.

As the book focuses on San Francisco, one of the wealthiest cities in America, how do you address the paradox of extreme wealth and pervasive homelessness? I approach homelessness as a human tragedy that a lot of sincere people in San Francisco leadership and citizenry try to alleviate, with a mixture of failure and success. I want people to understand that this tragedy, especially for the most chronically homeless, involves severely broken people who need massive aid to become stable. I hope readers see how hard that is to achieve, and how our nation’s failure to prevent poverty perpetuates the problem.

What do you hope readers will take away from this book? Are there specific policies or social changes you hope it inspires?

I hope readers understand that the most hopeless-looking people sprawled out on the sidewalk, taking drugs or living among mounds of garbage are desperate, hurting people who need our help. Everyone was somebody’s innocent baby at some point; we all have worth. I also want readers to hear me say that I believe the roots of homelessness in our have-or-havenot era of awful economic inequality are national policies of greed, neglect and political indifference that perpetuate poverty in ways not seen in other developed countries. We need better health care, living wages and affordable housing just as a start.

The Lost and the Found: A True Story of Homelessness, Found Family and Second Chances

Kevin Fagan offers a deeply moving and incisive look at homelessness through the lives of Rita and Tyson, two unhoused individuals navigating addiction and recovery. Fagan, a Pulitzer Prizenominated journalist, draws on his extensive reporting to shed light on the systemic and personal struggles of homelessness. From tragedy to hope, this compelling narrative challenges readers to rethink their perceptions and inspires action.

Fagan will have an event at Book Passage, San Francisco on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 6:00 p.m. More information at bookpassage.com

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A BOOK THAT I HAD TO WRITE ABOUT MEN AND DATING

How I Ditched the Corporate World and Husband to Embrace a New Spirituality and Heal Childhood Trauma

SOME LIVES TRAVEL WITH A SWIFTNESS and sureness like commuters in the express lane. Others navigate with a pre-determined map with all off-ramps and exits planned and accounted for. I would say my life has journeyed like a West Marin road — windows rolled down, the air rich with pine and eucalyptus, radio blaring, sunroof open to light filtering through the redwoods — slowing for the curves, stopping occasionally to let deer cross. I know, with unparalleled certainty, that if my life was meant to follow the GPS “shortest route to destination,” that route would have (most likely) dead-ended me into multiple difficult relationships, harboring deep resentment (for men), unmetaled and precarious from the origin story shown to me in my first years. I chose the title of my book, The Indisputable Gift of Men, to be both evocative and illustrative so that I and we can have our viewpoints confidently and clearly without interference from anyone else. While I have definitely had mixed feelings about men based on early experiences, there was also always a place in my heart and mind that knew they were a gift without having the words for it.

Overcoming Childhood Trauma

Imagine your spouse goes into the kitchen and there’s dishes in the sink. You're sitting on the couch and an instantaneous trigger reaction begins, and your whole body begins to pump adrenaline. Then you take a breath, then another deeper one and remind yourself that this is now. That the trigger reaction, locked deep within your molecules, comes from living with a man whose reaction to dishes in the sink very likely could have been screaming anger, a rage of dishes being broken or a fury of physical violence… afflicted against your mother for any interpreted wrongness someone in the house may have created. I lived with that man, my father, for the first 11 years of my life.

My house was more a war zone than a nurturing nest. Going to sleep at night, regardless of bedtime stories and snuggles, could mean being awoken to the toxic sounds of rage. But, there’s a brightness to me that I am forever grateful was powerful enough to illuminate those dark nights from within.

My Backstory and My Life’s Plot Twist

For 16 years, my career was focused in investment banking firms, including three years living and working in Manhattan. After being over-saturated from NYC vibes, I returned to Tampa, where I’m from, (re)met the man who would become my husband and settled into a very up-the-ladder way of life in the suburbs.

That life and those choices began to reverberate against my soul, and I found myself being pulled to make that sharp left turn to California. The spirit and beauty of Northern California fueled me across 3,000 miles to start anew, guided by my favorite memories as a teenager spending school breaks in Marin with my brothers, the oldest having lived here since the ’80s. So, at the end of 2007 I climbed down from the ladder — got divorced, quit my job, moved — and began traversing the jungle gym that has been my career and life since I arrived.

My biggest blessing during the last few years has been my job as a program manager at The Shift Network, an education technology company producing personal and spiritual growth courses. I have managed over 100 courses under the topics of dreamwork, Shamanism, energy medicine, energy psychology, mediumship, breathwork, somatic movement and more. In all of these teachings that come from every corner of the world, some around for thousands of years and some with scientific research backing them, the constant is that love is the gravity and provides the space for healing. And in that space we can find the gifts of the old wounds and

scars; in that space we can create something greater than what currently exists. I’m often asked if I checked in with the men who have chapters in my book — that would be a big yes! One I couldn’t locate, the others read their chapters and gave me a joyful, appreciative thumbsup. And, my ex-husband simply said he trusted me implicitly without needing to read a word. This reciprocity of gratitude has been my truest north, fueling my journey to light the way for others.

Letting Go and Letting the Universe Step in

While writing my book, I thought, “Holy shit this is a lot of information to be sharing with people.” A lot of personal bits and pieces and details about me that I generally reserve for my small inner circle of friends. But for me, the term that I call leading lusciously starts from within, from our stories, the wounds and the memories that we love into new forms. My hope is for this book to ignite a revolution of grace. Grace in discovering and acknowledging the gifts you’ve received, praise for yourself in digging deep to find those gifts and gratitude.

Danna Lewis’s book, The Indisputable Gift of Men , is available on Amazon in soft cover, Kindle and Audible versions.

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THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES

The Sausalito Marin City District’s Desegregated TK-8 School Strives for Integration and Achievement

Sunshine has replaced the coastal morning fog as Principal David Finnane steps out of his office into a bright day at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy TK-8 school. The school sits on a hill above Richardson Bay in Sausalito, and visitors are afforded an idyllic view of Tiburon and sailboats dotting the still waters below. A group of children laugh and run on a grassy knoll below the school office, and, beyond that, bulldozers chug away, constructing the foundation for state-of-the-art buildings that in early 2026 will house the new classrooms of Dr. MLK Jr. Academy.

As Principal Finnane describes the progress of the construction project, a girl calls out to him — “Mr. Finnane!” The student and principal chat for a minute, then she walks away to join her class, munching on an apple from one of the many fruit baskets placed strategically around the campus. Finnane says she is a student who was recently moved up a grade level because she needed more intellectual challenge. Despite having a tumultuous family life, she is thriving in school. This girl is exactly the type of at-risk student Finnane hopes the school will serve. “This is so important,” he says. “It is a matter of the trajectory of these students’ whole lives.”

Mid-morning, mid-week, Dr. MLK Jr. Academy buzzes along happily, seeming like the prototypical high-functioning multi-cultural educational institution it aims to be. With small class sizes, an exquisite setting, highly qualified teachers, educational support from multiple nonprofit entities and a diverse student body, this little school serving 270 students, the only elementary and middle school in the Sausalito Marin City School District, strives to be a model of successful desegregation. In 2019, after an investigation of the district, then California State Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the first desegregation order in California in 50 years. There were two public schools in the district at the time. The regular public school, Bayside MLK Jr. Academy in Marin City, served almost entirely students of color. The other school, a charter school called Willow Creek Academy, operated on the Nevada Street campus in Sausalito where Dr. MLK Jr. Academy is today. Willow Creek was a fairly diverse charter school, but served almost all the district’s white students. And Willow Creek’s resources and achievement markers were significantly higher than that of Bayside

MLK Jr. Academy, a disparity that caught the state attorney general’s attention. “The attorney general said to the school district: You can’t have a school in 94965 that does not look like 94965,” Finnane explains. “Now the school looks absolutely positively like 94965. We are one-third Black, one-third white, one-third Latino and ten percent other races. Our school looks like our community.”

Today Dr. MLK Jr. Academy is perhaps the most socioeconomically, culturally and ethnically diverse campus in the county, and everyone involved — from Superintendent LaResha Huffman to administrators, teachers, parents and educational support staff — seems optimistic about what the future holds. Make that cautiously optimistic. It’s as if everybody in the communities the school serves, especially those from Marin City, are holding their breath… acknowledging the positive direction of the school, but not daring to hope.

To understand this reserve, it is essential to recognize the demographic and historical context of the school district. Sausalito and Marin City are two of the most segregated and economically disparate communities in California, and the school district reflects that. If the word trauma is overused in our modern vernacular, that is not the case when it comes to the Marin City families the Sausalito Marin City School District serves. The students of Marin City have been chronically underserved for decades. On top of that, a previous voluntary desegregation effort in the mid-1960s was an unequivocal mess.

Last November, the district and Dr. MLK Jr. Academy’s parent committee on diversity, equity and inclusion education hosted a community screening of a BBC documentary made about the

Second grade class, led by Jennifer Kelly

1965 attempt at desegregation. In attendance was David Duncan, a Ph.D. candidate in history at UC Santa Cruz who is writing a thesis on California’s historical desegregation efforts. Duncan pointed out that Marin City, home to Marinship Shipyard workers during World War II, was originally a racially integrated community, and the school was one of a few in the nation that was fully desegregated. After the war, while people of other races were able to purchase real estate elsewhere in Marin, redlining and racist real estate covenants prevented Black workers from doing the same, and Marin City became a segregated community. In the 1960s, the kids in Marin City were “forgotten,” said Duncan, and recognizing that “there was something wrong in the district,” progressive parents from Sausalito fueled a voluntary desegregation effort by combining the Sausalito and Marin City schools.

The 1968 BBC documentary, entitled The Mood of America , follows what happened when the district hired Sidney F. Walton, a Black principal who was aligned with the Black Power movement. At the desegregated school, called Richardson Bay School, Walton’s motto was “Education for humanization and social responsibility,” and he educated Black and white children about more than what many white parents were comfortable with. Walton taught students difficult truths, such as the fact that George Washington was a slave owner, and that Black soldiers were not afforded some of the rights in their own country that they fought for overseas.

While, according to the documentary, students of all races responded well to Principal Walton, and Black Marin City families were resoundingly happy with

the school, a certain segment of white parents thought Walton was “turning the children into revolutionaries.” By 1968, this group of parents gained control of the school board and fired Walton. Marin City resident and “elder” Royce McLemore, an educator and executive director of the nonprofit Women Helping All People, was a parent of Richardson Bay School students at the time. She was interviewed in the documentary, and was in attendance at the film’s screening in Marin City in November.

“For generations, the Sausalito School District miseducated Black children,” said McLemore. “When Sid Walton became

the principal, it was different. Black students were interested in going to school. Students started feeling good about being Black.” McLemore and Bettie Hodges, the executive director of The Hannah Project, a Marin City nonprofit that promotes achievement among low-income Black and brown youth and their families, represent a generation of Marin City community leaders and educators who do not trust the district to do what is best for the Marin City students. “We are having the same conversation now that we had back then. The power dynamic here is the same. The status of Black children and Black families is the same,” said Hodges during a panel discussion after the film. “We just want a good school district for our kids. I’m holding onto a thread of an idea that we can make our public school what it needs to be.”

Superintendent Huffman is one of the people on the other end of that metaphorical thread. Huffman stepped into her role in 2023, replacing Itoco Garcia who was the first superintendent after the desegregation order. As the new superintendent, Huffman found herself running a school district that had only recently transitioned back to in-person schooling after being ordered to desegregate just as COVID-19 struck. She also stepped into the middle of labor negotiations, budget issues, diminished enrollment and an ambient air of mistrust on both sides of the 101 freeway overpass that separates Sausalito and Marin City. Huffman says she avoids the term “white flight” because the indication is that the district will not thrive if white families leave. “In fact, we have lost white families and we have lost Black families. Our middle school, which was previously at the Phillips Street

Richardson Bay School students, 1968

campus in Marin City (and is now at the Nevada Street campus), was at just 70 or 80 students,” she adds.

In 2023 Huffman asked the Sausalito Marin City School Board to make a

controversial decision about whether to merge the elementary and middle school campuses by moving the middle school to the Sausalito campus in order to save money. Now, with the merging of the campuses, all TK-8 Marin City students take the school bus to the Nevada Street campus in Sausalito. According to Huffman, this was an unpopular decision, especially for Marin City families whose students and parents were accustomed to walking to and from school. But since the 2024 school year began, she has not personally received complaints about the merger from families or community members, which she sees as “a positive,” adding that despite the tumult and difficult decisions, the district is heading in the right direction. “Change takes time. It just doesn’t happen overnight.”

Both Superintendent Huffman and Principal Finnane speak openly about the fact that the current middle school students, especially the seventh and eighth graders at Dr. MLK Jr. Academy, have not had the consistency or resources that they deserve over the past years, and it shows in their test scores. The 2023–24 CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress) test

scores showed an improvement in grades three through five, with sixth grade mixed and seventh and eighth grade declining. “Those 70–80 middle school students had three principals in two years, and a lot of teacher turnover, so the middle school is much rockier and remains a work in progress,” says Finnane. In November, the district allocated $30,000 to hire a specialist to focus specifically on math scores.

“It is important to say that while we have created a beautiful, diverse, strong, joyful elementary school, we are in the early stages of doing that for the middle school. We are not seeing the academic achievement we need to see, especially with our Black and brown kids,” says Finnane.

“But we have a lot of hope about what the middle school will look like in two years. It will be a different school.”

“Schools mirror problems in society. Schools are not in a vacuum,” says Lisa Raffel, executive director of Bridge the Gap, a nonprofit organization that brings educational, social and emotional resources to underserved students in Marin County. At Dr. MLK Jr. Academy, Bridge the Gap provides both in-school tutoring for under grade-level students and an after-school program for all students.

“These achievement gaps exist across the country — lower resource families find that school is harder,” says Raffel. As someone with a front row seat to the evolution of the desegregated school, Raffel sees in-person school as critical to the development of Dr. MLK Jr.’s culture.

“The first couple of years after the desegregation order it was still the pandemic,” she says. “But to build community, you actually have to be together — at potlucks, at awards ceremonies, at soccer games…”

One popular program that Bridge the Gap helps fund is SCORES, a no-cost soccer program for the younger grades.

Dr. MLK Jr. Academy students practice on Tuesdays after school then play games on Saturdays, bringing students and their families together for a bonding experience outside of school. While the concrete

Rendering of plans for new school
Staff and community members welcome students for first day of school, 2023

educational pieces are coming into place at Dr. MLK Jr. Academy, it is the intangibles that will create a cohesive culture, the engagement and “buy in” of the extended community that boosts a school to the next level of success. “We need these enrichment opportunities, programs like the SCORES soccer program,” says Raffel. “We need places kids can feel proud, and where families can feel proud.”

For over 30 years Marin City’s Felecia Gaston has been providing exactly that: a place outside of school where children and their parents can feel proud. Gaston founded a nonprofit program called Performing Stars that offers children enrichment opportunities in dance, music, drama, the visual arts and history, as well as providing socioeconomic support and stability — help with food, jobs and housing for local low-income families. As a community elder and an unofficial godmother to generations of children in Marin City, Gaston is highly aware of the barriers to academic success that low-income families face. Performing Stars staff recognize the logistical obstacles for working families — everything from transportation to communication — and Gaston’s organization always takes this into consideration when scheduling events, and always offers a meal to those in attendance. Gaston has also worked with the school district to provide breakfast to each student who takes the bus from Marin City once they arrive at school. When she reflects on the low attendance of Black families at the screening of the BBC documentary on desegregation, which she co-hosted with the district (and made arrangements for a meal to be served), she is not surprised. “It’s not that parents don’t care about being involved at the school, or coming to meetings or events at night,” she says emphatically, “They have to work!”

Dr. MLK Jr. Academy parent Herman Mazariegos has three children in the school, in third, fifth and sixth grade. His children take the bus to school and, according to Mazariegos, “They are doing great and love everything about the school.” As a parent, he sees that his children are thriving and are getting the academic support they need. At the same time, he and his wife are not able to participate in parent activities or committees because of their long work hours.

Kim Robertson also lives in Marin City and has a fourth grader at the school. “My oldest son is 21, so I have been doing this for a long time,” says Robertson. “And I

am not going to lie: We have had nothing but good experiences with the school. My daughter loves school, the academics are good and she is outgoing.” Robertson herself went through the Oakland Unified School District before moving to Marin, and has five older children who have gone to public school. “When I have gone in and bumped heads, I get results,” she adds. “So my personal experience is that I have not had issues with the school, and I thank God.” Yet, Robertson does face one significant drawback for her family now that Dr. MLK Jr. Academy is in Sausalito: a lack of transportation that can affect tardiness or attendance. Robertson does not have a car so if her daughter misses the bus, it is too far to walk to school.

Awareness of these obstacles that working families face may hold the key to the success of the school. If parent Kirstin Thomas’s experience teaches us anything, it is that connection is key to that awareness. Thomas, a white parent from Sausalito, enrolled her son at Bayside MLK Jr. Academy in Marin City when he was in kindergarten, before the attorney general’s desegregation order. “It was an amazing environment, and my son and our family were welcomed with open arms,” she says. “But the perception was ‘people from Sausalito don’t really go there.’” Thomas’s older son was one of a small handful of white students attending Bayside MLK Jr. Academy, and is now in fourth grade at Dr. MLK Jr. Academy. Thomas and her husband had no question that their family would stay in the district through the desegregation transition, and they enrolled their second son who is in first grade at the school. Thomas is now on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and is grateful that her sons are exposed to teachers and people of color in positions of authority. She says her family has worked to “decentralize whiteness” by doing things like reading books with nonwhite main characters. “If more privileged parents could understand the history and the cycle we have been in, and we could actively agree to do more to end the cycle, all kids can get a quality education,” said Thomas. “It cannot just be about our own kids getting the best of everything.”

Another Sausalito parent of two, Natasha LaBelle, echoes Thomas in her appreciation of the school, where she says her kids have friends from different backgrounds, who speak different languages at home, are from different cultures and include immigrants from all over the world. “It’s how you talk about diversity and differences at home,” says LaBelle.

Richardson Bay School students, 1968

“I don’t think that if I sent my kids to a private school they would have a better experience, a better education. The rich diversity of backgrounds are invaluable for children.”

Both LaBelle and Thomas describe the growing engagement of the school’s parent community, including the parent and guardian “Dream Team” which sets up events like playdates to welcome new families, parent mixers, outdoor movie night, karaoke, a garden fair and a school float in the Sausalito Fourth of July parade. A Room Parent Network newsletter offers parenting advice on things like sleep and screen time. The school’s Rise Up! 94965 Foundation raises money for enrichment programs beyond standard academics, including music, gardening, art programs and field trips. “I’m very excited about our school. Especially for the students who need and deserve a good education,” says LaBelle. “I truly believe in public schools and I believe every child has a right to equal education. The Sausalito Marin City District deserves an excellent public school.”

When asked about what she sees as the key elements of an “excellent public school,” Superintendent Huffman has a clear vision for what she hopes to see at Dr. MLK Jr. Academy over the next five years: enrollment increases, the school becomes a California Distinguished School, test scores improve, a “culture of inclusivity” means there is no division between Sausalito and Marin City students and parent involvement comes in equal measure from both sides of the overpass.

Back on the Dr. MLK Jr. Academy campus, Principal Finnane continues his campus tour. In Quynh Nguyen’s third grade classroom, the students stand up straight, gaze ahead and proudly sing the weekly assembly song, written by a local musician especially for the school. It is a long song that the students have memorized. “We are responsible, respectful and safe…” the kids croon, showing off for their principal and a classroom visitor.

While Finnane’s hopeful outlook is informed by his days on campus with students, watching the progress in the

classrooms, the joy and increasing engagement of students, he has also worked in the Sausalito Marin City District long enough to understand ongoing concerns. When asked about the doubting perspective Royce McLemore and Bettie Hodges voiced at the documentary film screening, he is entirely empathetic. “Royce and Bettie’s mistrust is not unfair. Marin County is the most disparately inequitable place in the whole state of California. We need to take a long look in the mirror and ask ourselves, What do we need to adjust? How do we reconnect with families of color? How do we build relationships, and bridge and educate kids with different lived experiences?” he says. “And, what we really need to do now is show, not tell.”

Felecia Gaston with students of Performing Stars of Marin
Principal Finnane looks at construction
Fruit baskets around school

Surrounded by water,

RIPPLES THROUGH TIME

Marin’s residents have found ways to integrate water travel for fun or utility since they first arrived. Around as many as a couple thousand years ago, the Coast Miwok were the first people to live here, including what we now call Angel Island. They reached this spot of land using their own handcrafted boats, made from tule reeds and steered using long poles or double-ended paddles, according to Angel Island Conservancy. Fast forward to 2025: It’s not unusual to hear the sound of an alarm going off at 5:00 a.m. To many this is early, but to the vast community of rowers in Marin, this is the prime time to be on the water in their craft of choice.

What is open water rowing?

Contemporary carbon fiber boats, aka “shells,” come in two varieties; crew boats and scull boats. The difference

between the two reflects the difference in styles of rowing: sculling and sweep rowing. Sculling means the athlete has two oars with one in each hand, and sweep rowing means using both hands for only one oar, EZ Dock reads. Crew boats are used by the sweep rowers and scull boats are used by the (you guessed it) scullers. Typically, crew boats are operated by more rowers — ranging from two rowers to eight or more — while scull boats can be operated by just one rower, a pair or a quad.

In the modern era, some might associate the sport’s name with the machines they see in their local gym — maybe not to a fault, since the mechanics are designed to mimic the real deal — but rowing as an activity and a sport generally involves being out on the water.

But not all water is the same. Rowers generally prefer one

U19 Boys Practice, MRA

environment over another, but sometimes they mix it up. Do they want to best the power of the open ocean? Or would they prefer the softer ripples of a much calmer creek?

This leads to four key options: coastal, indoor, flat water and open water rowing. Overall technique tends to look the same across all four, but each still comes with its own nuances and specialities that complement the given environment.

What kind of open water rowing can be found in Marin?

In Marin, there are two rowing clubs, both with a passion for the sport and its community, but each with unique characteristics. Based in Greenbrae, Marin Rowing Association (MRA) has operated since 1968 and mainly takes its rowers on the Corte Madera Creek, while the Open Water Rowing Center (OWRC) has operated on the bay in Sausalito since 1985.

Like with any sport, the rowing community is diverse in its participants, ranging from every age, skill level and gender identity. MRA has as many as 125 junior members and 200 adult members, the youngest being around 11 or 12 years

old and the oldest being 91, says Coach Sandy Armstrong, who also is Executive Director of MRA and head coach of its U19 girls team. Armstrong says the adult members have a positive influence on the junior rowers that sticks with them for life.

“These rowers become great team members at work where they know how to work hard, but they’re not looking for a pat on the back,” she says. “It’s only successful if the team is successful.”

The OWRC has over 150 members of their own, ranging from ages 24 to 85 years old and with over half being women, President of OWRC Wayne Aleshire says.

As the organization’s name implies, OWRC members almost exclusively participate in rowing on the open San Francisco Bay, and sometimes even beyond it. Open water rowing requires a lot of special training and caution, Aleshire says, including — but not limited to — focus on balance and rhythm and learning how to read the water and wind.

MRA’s type of rowing focuses on a slightly different goal that reflects that

of flat water rowing: speed. The boats are made to be as light as possible, and the rowers train to cover certain distances as fast as they can.

But even though rowing opportunities might look different throughout Marin, they all share a universal passion and a common goal, Armstrong says. “We generally support one another, we have no reason to compete, we just are trying to grow the sport of rowing. And I think that, if there's a partnership, I think that we would love to offer rowing to a more diverse community. Rowing is a sport that is seemingly cut off from a general population, and we're trying to grow that.”

Why do they do it?

As people scramble to keep up their New Year’s resolutions, two boxes typically made to be checked off are being happier and healthier. Luckily, rowing can do both.

“Rowing is a human-powered, nonpolluting activity, and it enriches the individual personal fitness with an outstanding meditating feeling while on the water,” says Aleshire. “Watching an

FEEL THE BURN

HOW MANY CALORIES DOES ROWING BURN?

OWRC rower is like watching a very talented ballet dancer.”

Individually, rowers need to be strong, both physically and mentally, in order to be on the water for long periods of time, push past discomfort and consistently contribute to the team’s overall goal.

“We would work together to be on the same page. Your technique, my technique, I give to you, you give to me,” Armstrong says. “We work together for this entity to go fast, which is the boat. And you’re on the water — it’s beautiful. It’s fast. There’s nothing like it, really.”

For younger rowers in particular, the sport teaches discipline and time management skills, in needing to adopt a work-life balance as early as high school, when they’re trying to keep up on schoolwork while also coming to every practice, Armstrong says.

“I think that it's community, I think it’s recreation, and those are the things that we are all in the county to be doing, all of us. We’re here to participate in living a good life and being on the water,” Armstrong says. “For a lot of people — not just for in rowing — but for a lot of people, it’s part of it.”

A combination of grace, strength and endurance, it’s no secret that rowing is a labor-intensive sport. Here’s a look into just how many calories rowers can actually expect to burn while on the water.

10 minutes — 133 calories

30 minutes — 398 calories

60 minutes — 797 calories

Note: Estimates pertain to high intensity training and are provided by nutracheck.co.

Coach Sandy Armstrong
U19 Marin at Henley Royal, MRA

Would you drink wine from a plastic bottle? How about a paper bottle? Aluminum? In California and beyond, vintners and distillers are staring straight at a tough reality: glass bottles, for wine, spirits and other products, are responsible for more than 30% of a beverage’s carbon footprint. “Glass bottles are the single largest contributor to wines’ carbon footprint,” says CEO and Founder of Packamama, Santiago Navarro. Add in packaging transit and transport for finished goods, and the percentage nudges over 50. In their search for solutions, wine and spirits innovators are embracing new packaging technologies: aluminum, paper and plastic bottles that negate the significant harmful environmental impacts of glass, without sacrificing taste.

rPET Leads the Way in New Plastics

Based in the United Kingdom, Packamama’s mission is “to provide innovative, climate-friendly packaging for the drinks industry.”

Bee Lightly Wines, imported from France to the United States by Marin-based WX Brands, sells chardonnay and rosé packaged in Packamama’s rPET plastic bottle. It’s made with 100% recycled plastic and lined with a proprietary gas barrier and UV inhibitor, ensuring the wine inside makes no contact with the plastic, and its flavor stays stable.

The carbon reduction of using rPET adds up quickly. The angular bottle is 86% lighter than glass and its flat-pack design allows 79% more bottles per pallet and 44% fewer pallets, reducing transportation emissions.

No Taste Compromise

Sold at Safeway in Marin and Albertsons Companies around the United States, Bee Lightly launched in the U.S. market in August 2024. Ron Rubin’s Blue Bin Wines came to market a year earlier, in June 2023. Rubin is owner of Larkspur’s The Republic of Tea and a

vintner with Sonoma’s River Road Family Vineyards and Winery, a certified B Corp business and producer for Blue Bin. “Our bottle is 100% recycled plastic that can endlessly be made into another bottle,” Rubin says. Lined with an ultra-thin layer of glass known as Plasmax, Blue Bin’s rPET bottles are designed to ensure the wine’s taste and quality are unaltered.

“The wine does not touch the plastic bottle,” Rubin says. “There’s no difference in taste.” The difference is shelf life. Wine in plastic bottles lasts anywhere from 12 to 18 months. Prompt selling is key. According to a study by Sonoma State University, “20% of consumers drink within 24 hours,” Rubin told me. “31% within two or three days, and another 39% within three weeks.” That is, more than 90% of wine sold in the United States is drunk within a month of purchase. This quick turn of product from shelf to consumption gave the vintners and bottlers I spoke with confidence that alternative vessels are not only appropriate for wine, but could be marketed as a quality product.

Bee Lightly Wines

California Wine Drinkers Diss Plastic

Bumps in consumer behavior buffet any new product in the marketplace. The word “plastic” is a detractor for some wine consumers who may not yet understand the distinction between Plasmax-lined rPET used for Blue Bin’s rosé, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio and chardonnay. Or perhaps consumers are aware that the Department of Energy reports that, on average, only about 5% to 6% of plastic in the United States is recycled, and don’t want to add more to the trash pile. Yet products like Blue Bin and Bee Lightly are addressing the plastic trash issue, utilizing only recycled plastics to make bottles again and again. The most hesitant plastic bottle purchasers? “California,” says Rubin. “Retailers don’t quite understand that it’s made from recyclable plastic.” Blue Bin is selling well in Florida and Texas. Could the issue be the wine industry here and perceived quality of wine in plastic versus glass bottles? It’s too soon to tell.

Do California wine consumers feel the same way about wine packaged in aluminum bottles? Like Rubin, Jody Bogle, vice president of consumer relations at Bogle Family Wine Collection in Clarksburg, California, noted the information gap in getting

the low carbon message to the consumer. “People in the industry are micro-dialed into these issues,” Bogle says. While looking for ways to reduce the company’s carbon footprint, Bogle used internal research that consumers want to make small changes that add up to big differences. External research pointed to aluminum’s infinite reuse and low energy profile. “It requires only 5% of the original energy to create the next generation,” Bogle says. And, unlike plastic, aluminum is highly recycled. As a result, around 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today. The shift from glass to aluminum was obvious. Element(AL), a new brand in the Bogle family, launched in 2024 with pinot noir, pinot grigio, chardonnay and rosé.

Like Bee Lightly’s flatter bottle design, Element(AL)’s bottle was custom-built, the package design printed directly onto the bottle. Slimmer with narrower shoulders than most glass bottles, Element(AL)’s lined bottle is fitted with a standard 28 mm screw cap fitted with a foam liner. “We wanted no wine in contact with aluminum at the very top,” Bogle says. A year’s worth of internal triangle tasting in search of differentiation between wines packaged in glass and wines packaged in the new aluminum bottle led

River Road Winery owner Ron Rubin holding all varietals of Blue Bin wines.

to a clear result: No differentiation in taste. “We’re challenging the notion that wine in cans has to be simple,” Bogle says. “You don’t have to sacrifice quality just because you want to drink wine by the pool or on a hike.”

A Packaging Machine to Reduce Sticky Carbon Footprints

Distillers are getting in on the low carbon packaging options, too. When sustainability-driven Half Shell Vodka co-founder Harrison Holditch sought out a glass alternative for his vodka, he was shocked to find few options other than glass. With more than 75% of glass bottles used for wine and spirits packaging in the United States sourced from India, Mexico and elsewhere and the high environmental cost of making and shipping recycled glass, Holditch began a search for alternatives. That led him to the United Kingdom’s Frugalpac.

Malcolm Waugh, CEO of Frugalpac, develops low-carbon packaging innovations for the food and drinks market. They’ve developed a paper bottle for the wine and spirits industry, a bottle that unfolds flat and can be placed in the recycle bin with paper. With a commitment to low carbon at all points of the supply chain, Frugalpac sells the machines that make the bottles, placing the manufacture of the bottle as close as possible to where it is filled to lower or eliminate the carbon footprint of packaging and filling. Since paper also acts as an insulator, Waugh’s bottle will stay cooler for 25% longer than a glass bottle, reducing the need for energy-hogging ice and ice buckets. Ice buckets are old-fashioned and less common than in years past yet, Waugh admits, “our bottle is inelegant if placed in an ice bucket.” He recommends a stainless-steel sleeve instead.

The soggy factor may be paper bottles’ only downside; they prevent light absorption, they are five times lighter than a glass bottle and paper, like aluminum, is highly recycled. (The paper recycling

CLIMATE CHANGE INPUTS

rate in the United States is steady at about 68%, according to data from the American Forest and Paper Association.) When I received a sample of Florida’s Half Shell Vodka packed in Frugalpac’s bottle, I noticed another flaw: the neck ripped when I unscrewed the cap. “There is an openability issue if the distiller or vintner puts the cap on too tight,” Waugh confirmed. No vodka spilled out,

however. Inside the paper was a pure polyethylene bag, fitted to the cap neck. Made from a fairly even split of HDPE (#2) and LDPE (#4), the bag can be recycled (dry, of course!) with plastic grocery bags.

A New Way of Thinking, With Some Glitches

Holditch admits there are some glitches with the new bottles. “Imagine the first

iPhone,” he says. “It was bulky, but it revolutionized the business. We joke that this version of the bottle is the iPhone 1.”

Half Shell, the first U.S.-filled spirit sold in a 100% recyclable bottle, continues to lead the carbon reduction charge. The Florida company will soon sell Californiadistilled Half Shell, packed using a Frugalpac bottle using a machine based in California. Their carbon footprint will shrink even further.

“It’s a new way of thinking,” Bogle says. “Really. None of us is saying get rid of glass. But we’re excited to create alternatives.”

Frugalpac bottle machine
Frugalpac client bottle ripped apart for a product demo of two parts of bottle and how to recycle.
Bonny Doon's Carbon..nay! in a paper bottle

Rescue Me: A Valentine to Shelter Dogs

Canines whose lives got off to a rocky start teach their owners about patience, trust and love

MIMI PINSON

et’s get one thing clear right away: All dogs do indeed go to heaven, whether you purchased yours from a breeder or adopted from a rescue organization. But knowing your pet may have gone through some kind of hell can add a special layer to the bond you share. Below, seven people who opened up their hearts and homes in Marin to rescued dogs share snippets of their love stories.

SHARING ALOHA

Leader of the pack: Shawna Alapa‘i, a kumu hula (hula expert) originally from Kailua, Oahu. A longtime resident of Lucas Valley, Alapa‘i recently moved to Sonoma, where she works at Pet Food Express when not teaching hula, including weekly classes in Greenbrae.

Current companions: Nani Roo, a 9-year-old Australian cattle/border collie mix, and senior cats Ramsey Ikaika, Sylvan Kolohe and George Kealoha. Nani Roo “is absolutely low-key and the perfect dog that I could ask for when I have three cats,” Alapa‘i notes.

Previous loves: Alapa‘i didn’t grow up with pets, so her very first pet was a puppy adopted from Marin Humane in 1996, whom she named Hapa Boy, after his half-Dalmatian, half-German shorthaired pointer appearance. Although Alapa‘i quickly realized she didn’t know how to take care of him, his gentle nature made it easy. “A first pet owner could never ask for a better teacher — I called him my kumu aloha, my love teacher,” she says. He was “a little needy,” though, so Alapa‘i later adopted a cattle dog/pointer mix puppy from Marin Humane and named her Ipo

Girl. Years later, after both Hapa Boy and Ipo Girl had died, “I felt like my life was just empty,” Alapa‘i says. “They had gone everywhere with me. I was really lost.”

A chance encounter with Sherri Franklin, founder of Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco, led to Alapa‘i caring for the first of six senior dogs in hospice care, Roxie Mama. “She was with me for almost 11 months. I wanted her to have a lot of love in her life and so I took her to every hula class and she knew she was loved at the end,” Alapa‘i says. Nani Roo has served as a nurse for all the hospice dogs. “She watched over them all, loved them all and was just amazing,” says Alapa‘i.

Love lessons: Adopting rescued animals has taught Alapa‘i “what love really is — coming from me and coming to me,” she says.

“I had a difficult childhood with a lot of abuse and that just creates all kinds of stuff, like a lack of self-worth and selflove. My mission became to love all these discarded and mistreated animals. They’ve really taught me how to be loved and to be present and I am filled with that kind of love to give. That to me is aloha.”

AMBASSADORS OF JOY

Leader of the pack: Lisa Kirsten, a retired advertising account executive who lives with husband Doug in Mill Valley. Current companions: Poodle mixes Chloe, 10, and Riley, “a little tougher to age because she’s older.” Both came from the Kern Project, a rescue organization founded by the owners of Tamalpais Dog Grooming in Corte Madera and

Doggie Styles in Mill Valley that helps Kern County’s many abandoned animals find homes in the Bay Area. Chloe was adopted first, as a similarly nonshedding companion to the Kirstens’ then 10-yearold female goldendoodle Razzle. “She was about 6 months old and very sweet from the get-go,” Kirsten recalls.

When Razzle died, Kirsten says, “it became very apparent that Chloe had never been alone… you heard this pathetic, lamenting howl if she didn’t think you were home. We said we need another dog for Chloe and not just for us.” Enter Riley, who may have been part of a backyard breeding program and showed signs of trauma. “She was a learning curve for me: very skittish, extremely nervous, and if you went to pick her up quickly, she screamed,” Kirsten says. “I think it was PTSD — someone had been rough with her, but now she’s fine. She turned into the happiest little thing.”

Now, when the Kirstens walk both Chloe and Riley, their fluffy white tails busily wagging, "People just smile,” she says. “I call them ambassadors of joy.”

Rewards of rescue: “You can get one that doesn’t shed. It’s a big commitment, but it’s very gratifying that we have a dog who really had a hard time,” Kirsten says. “When you start to see a glimmer the dog is feeling better, you know you’re having a direct impact. I’m going to rescue forever, assuming I get more dogs.”

Nani and Waiwai
Chloe and Riley

A SENSE OF FAMILY

Leader of the pack: Kristin Ahlquist, who raised three children with husband David Kirn in Mill Valley and now also spends time at their ranch in Glen Ellen. Current companions: Pit mixes Olive, 6, and Watson, 5, plus tabby cat Berkeley, four miniature donkeys “that are exactly like dogs,” three goats and 10 chickens.

Olive joined the family when Ahlquist’s dog Zeus was “16 or 17, and on his way out,” and Ahlquist was volunteering for Hopalong Animal Rescue (now part of Marin Humane). At a foster event at the San Anselmo Pet Food Express, Ahlquist spotted Olive, “this stoic yearold dog who looked so calm and I thought that’s just what I want. She’s the love of my life.” Initially, though, Olive was extremely timid and wouldn’t let the family touch her. “It took a lot of patience and working with her, and now she’s just everybody’s favorite. She’s just a love bug,” Ahlquist says.

A LEARNING JOURNEY

Watson — “the most photographed dog and the most snuggled dog that I’ve ever seen,” Ahlquist says — was adopted as a puppy two years later when she volunteered at a similar event at the Pet Food Express in Mill Valley.

Advice for the lovelorn: “Having any kind of pet gives you a sense of family and purpose and responsibility,” says Ahlquist. “For me, I can’t imagine living by myself. To have pets around you, it just brightens your life.”

Still, adopting a rescue animal might require some education first. “If you don’t have any experience with animals, it’s definitely worth researching how to raise a dog and what you need to prepare; it’s not something you can wing,” she notes. And once you’ve done your homework, Alhquist asks, “Why go to a breeder and pay that kind of money when there’s a dog out there who’s a wonderful pet you can have and save their life?”

Leader of the pack: Alisa Moore, board member of consulting firm Environmental Science Associates, who lives with partner John Lessard in Marinwood.

Current companion: Duke Kahanamoku, a 6-year-old boxer/pit bull mix they adopted as a 9- to 10-week-old puppy through the Petfinder app, which sources animals solely from rescue organizations. That was critical to Moore, who explains, “There are so many dogs that are in need and are at risk every day, so it doesn’t make sense to pursue a breeder dog.”

Duke came from a foster family in Chico, who had treated him for worms and house-trained him after buying him in a grocery store parking lot, according to Moore. “We got a puppy that was pretty great to go and pretty easy for us.”

Named for the Hawaiian surfing and swimming legend, Duke loves to swim

in the pool and likes the beach, too. He wants to play with every dog and bonds quickly with housesitters, but can also be “pretty feisty,” Moore says. “He’s protective of our house, protective of women in particular. He tends to bark a lot at people he doesn’t know who come to our house, but he’s quite a baby. The one time somebody tried to break into our house, he barked really loudly and then peed on himself and hid in the corner.”

Parental love: Moore says they’ve introduced Duke to “trainers and discipline and probably made some mistakes along the way. … It’s been a learning journey.”

It’s also been a somewhat expensive journey, including allergy medications. “We’ve really invested in him. Having the professions we have, we’re really fortunate to offer him all the time and attention and resources we can,” Moore says. “We don’t have kids, so this is the first time we’re raising something that needs and deserves a lot of attention. This is basically our parenting. It’s a lot of work, but it’s really fulfilling because it makes us really happy.”

THE GENTLE TOUCH

Leaders of the pack: John Pinson, a freelance tech marketing writer who works from home in Novato, and Andrea, a kindergarten teacher at Hamilton Meadow Park TK-8 School.

Current companions: None. After the loss of their third rescued dog, Daisy, at age 17 in September, “we’re taking a break for now,” John Pinson says. “We really loved Daisy a lot and it’s going to be a while before we adopt again.”

Previous loves: Amber, a fully grown Carolina dog adopted from Second Chance Animal Rescue (now part of Marin Humane), enjoyed chasing after deer and running up Mount Olompais. The Pinsons had three school-age children when they adopted her and “we had to train the kids how to interact with her because she was a bit different,” he recalls. “She was kind of a wild dog.”

The Pinsons had Amber only four years before she died unexpectedly from Addison’s disease. A year later, they adopted first Pepper and then Daisy from a Rocket Dog Rescue foster in West Marin. A small black shepherd-type

dog, Pepper was “completely neurotic, especially when we first got her… a real character,” John Pinson says. Daisy, however, “was so low-energy. She was pretty bereft. We had to learn how to behave around her and what she would respond to. She was more terrified than anything.” Eventually, Daisy came out of her shell, especially when daughter Mimi and friends came home for lunch in high school. “Everybody just loved her so much,” Andrea Pinson says. “She’d be so happy to see them, and they’d be so happy to see her.”

Love lessons: Gaining Daisy’s trust took time, but “it was a very good experience for the kids to take care of this creature that had been abused and needed a lot of care and patience,” Andrea Pinson observes. “They learned gentleness and being thoughtful.”

Pepper and Daisy Pepper

Cheers!

To our furry friends who make our lives happy and relaxed. What could be better than that daily walk with your best friend?

Discover local pet businesses with our comprehensive directory of top-quality companies. From veterinarians and groomers to animal rescues services and organic dog treats, this curated list caters to your pet’s every need.

Animal Shelter and/or Rescue

Andrea's Dream Rescue, andreasdreamrescue.org

Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue, labrescue.org

Little Trooper Ranch, littletrooperranch.org

Marin Humane, marinhumane.org

Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, muttville.org

North Bay Animal Services, northbayanimalservices.org

Persian & Himalayan Cat Rescue, persiancats.org

Rocket Dog Rescue, rocketdogrescue.org

SaveABunny, saveabunny.org

The Kern Project, thekernproject.org

Toni's Kitty Rescue, toniskittyrescue.org

Farm Sanctuary/Wildlife Rescue

American Made Miniatures Farm Sanctuary, americanmademiniatures.org

Rancho Compasión, ranchocompasion.org

Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, scwildliferescue.org

Daycare, Boarding, Training and/or Walking

A Happy Cat & Dog Pet Sitting Services of Marin, petsittingmarin.com

A Member of the Family, amemberofthefamily.com

AlphaDog Lodging, alphadoglodging.com

B-B's Dog Boarding Service, bbsdogboarding.com

Bark Avenue Doggy Daycare, barkavesf.com

Bark Busters, barkbusters.com

Bark to Breakers, 415.994.6860

Barking About Town, barkingabouttown.com

Blue Aussie Pet Services, 415.323.8349

Camp K-9 of Marin, campk-9ofmarin.com

Cat's Cradle Boarding & Grooming, catboardingmarin.com

Dairydell Canine, dairydell.com

Dog Boarding Sausalito, dogboardingsausalito.net

Dog Pile Dogs, dogpiledogs2018@icloud.com

Dog Trotters / One Heart Pet Care, dogtrotters.com

Doggie Business, thesanfranciscodogwalker.com

EmBARKadero Social Club, embarkaderosocialclub.com

Fit 'N' Furry Pet Resort & Training Center, fitnfurry.com

FUReverFUN Dog Care Services, fureverfun.com

Good Time Pet Care, goodtimepetcare.com

Having a Ball!, havingaballpetcare.com

High Tail Hotel, hightailhotel.com

Houndsville Grooming & Day Care, 510.829.0529

K9 Country Club & Kitty Spa, k9countryclubpetaluma.net

Kay9, 415.519.7354

Kitty Charm School, kittycharmschool.com

Kitty Chateau, kittychateau.com

Little Dog Chateaux, littledogchateaux.com

Marin Pet Care Pros, marinpetcarepros.com

Mr. Muggles' Dogs, mrmugglesdogs.com

Park-A-Pup, parkapup.com

Penny and the Jets, vinceandpennywalks.com

Pet Camp, petcamp.com

Pet Sitting Professionals, petsitpro.org

Planet Canine, planetcanine.com

Postmore Kennels, 415.897.5892

Precious Pets Animal Care of Marin, preciouspetsofmarin.com

Pupsnwhiskers, 415.269.2918

Purrific Pet Sitting, purrificpetsitting.com

SF Puppy Love LLC, sfpuppylove.com

Sniff San Francisco, sniffsf.com

Strutt Your Mutt, struttyourmuttpetcare.com

Tails of Terra Linda Pet Resort, tailsofterralinda.com

Tefani & So., tefanisodogcare.com

The Doog Walker, sausalitodogwalking.com

The Grateful Dog, gdogmarin.com

The Tiburon Dog Butler, tiburondogbutler.com

Tiburon Kennel Club, 415.987.8852

Two Rock Dog Ranch, tworockdogranch.com

Wag Hotels, waghotels.com

Walk This Way, walkthiswayca.com

Who Let the Dogs Out!, dogsoutsf.com

Grooming

All Aboard Dog Grooming, allaboarddoggrooming.com

Bed and Biscuits of Marin, bedandbiscuitsmarin.com

Canine Design by Gadi, petgroomersanrafael.com

Classic Tails, 707.762.1701

Cotati Dog Grooming, 707.795.4900

Cove Grooming, covegrooming.com

Dawg Groomer, 707.763.2144

Dog Gone Cute, 415.601.9470

Doggie Styles, 415.381.1777

Drooly Dogue Pet Grooming, droolydogue.com

Flo's Grooming & Spa, flosgrooming.weebly.com

Fur Cat's Sake, furcatssake.com

Groombuggy, groombuggy.com

Henry Pet Groomer, 415.408.3339

Houndsville Grooming & Day Care, 510.829.0529

House of Dog, houseofdog.dog

Pampered Pups Salon and Spa, pamperedpupsgrooming.com

Paw Palace Grooming, pawspalacegrooming.com

Penngrove Pets Grooming, penngrovepets.com

Pride & Groom/Aqua Doggie, 415.482.9274

PuppyLux Mobile Spa, 650.866.9516

Rucci's Pet Grooming, 415.479.1573

Scenthound Petaluma, scenthound.com

Shampooch Dog Salon, greenshampooch.com

Spot Pet Care, spotpetcare.com

Stars Mobile Grooming, starsmobilegrooming.com

Taly Grooming, talygrooming.com

Tamalpais Dog Grooming, 415.924.2700

The Tail Haven, thetailhaven.com

Pet-Assisted Therapy for Hospice, Dementia, Crisis

Buddha and Me, buddhaandme.com

Pet Store/Pet Supplies

Barlas Feed, barlasfeed.com

Best Friends Pet Supplies, bestfriendspetsupplies.com

Brownie's Pet Boutique, browniespetboutique.com

Remembering Ziggy

July 2010 – December 23rd, 2024

Anyone who worked at Nice Guys Delivery or was part of Adam and Monica’s world would have known Ziggy. He wasn’t just a dog—he was family. A beloved companion, guardian of the office, and a furry source of constant joy, Ziggy was a staple in every sense of the word.

At Nice Guys, there was a special protocol for hiring; the final interview wasn’t with Adam or Monica—it was with Ziggy. If you wanted to work there, you had to pass “The Ziggy Test.” And believe us, it wasn’t about experience or references—it was about heart. If Ziggy liked you, your job was practically guaranteed.

Ziggy came into Adam’s life as a tiny puppy, and their bond was unshakable.

Adam named him after Ziggy Stardust, the David Bowie persona, because of his strikingly beautiful, mismatched eyes—one brown, one golden. Ziggy had a way of making people feel special. He didn’t greet just anyone with his signature “Ooooo.” Those were reserved for the lucky ones, and they came from a place of pure excitement. Paired with his enthusiastic booty wag, Ziggy’s “Ooooo” could brighten even the darkest day.

Ziggy was more than just a dog; he was Adam’s best friend, Monica’s fur baby, and the heart of the Nice Guys family. Rest in peace, dear Zig. You’ll always be in our hearts, sweet angel—and your “Ooooo” will echo in our memories forever.

415.855.5914 I niceguysdelivery.com

C & D Pet Products, cdpets.com

Dogville, dogvillesananselmo.com

Elektra's Dog Treats, elektrasdogtreats.com

Fideaux, fideaux.net

For Paws, 415.456.4685

George, georgesf.com

Just Food for Dogs, justfoodfordogs.com

Marin Raw, marinraw.com

Our Best Friends, obfpetaluma.com

Pet Club Food & Supplies, petclubstores.com

Pet Cottage, yelp.com/biz/pet-cottage-san-anselmo

Pet Food Express, petfood.express

Pet-Pro, pet-pro.weebly.com

Red Hill Pet Center, redhillpet.com

Rivertown Feed & Pet Country Store, rivertownfeed.com

Shinto's Pet Food Kitchen & Store, shintospetfood.com

Wagster Treats, wagsterdogtreats.com

Wilco Farm Store, farmstore.com

Wild Birds Unlimited, marin.wbu.com

Woodlands Pet Food & Treats, woodlands.pet

Vet/Hospital/Health Care

A.E.Z.R Pet Hospital, aezrpet.com

Adobe Animal Hospital, aahpetaluma.com

Aggie Animal Dental Center, aggievetdentist.com

Alto Tiburon Veterinary Hospital, altotiburon.com

Animal Medical Center, sanrafaelvet.com

Artaurus Equine Clinic, artvetclinic.com

Bel Marin Animal Hospital, belmarinanimalhospital.com

Bodega Bay Veterinary Hospital, bodegabayveterinary.com

Brandner Veterinary Hospital, brandnervet.com

Camino Alto Veterinary Hospital & Wellness Center, caminoaltovet.com

Cat Clinic, catclinicofmillvalley.com

Cat Hospital of Petaluma, 707.778.7859

Center Veterinary Clinic, novatovetclinic.com

Central Animal Hospital, centralanimalhosp.com

Cotati Small Animal Hospital, cotatismallanimal.com

Country Care Animal Clinic, countrycareanimalclinic.com

Dogtor Calls, dogtorcalls.com

East Petaluma Animal Hospital, epah.net

East San Rafael Veterinary Clinic, thrivepetcare.com

Fairfax Veterinary Clinic, fairfaxvet.com

Golden Gate Veterinary Specialists, ggvets.com

Happy Pets, happypetshealth.com

Holistic Animal Clinic, holisticanimal.clinic

Marin Holistic Vet Housecalls, marinholisticvet.com

Marin Pet Hospital, marinpethospital.com

Mill Valley Pet Clinic, millvalleypetclinic.com

Modern Animal, modernanimal.com

NorCal Veterinary Surgical, norcalvetsurg.com

Novato Veterinary Hospital, novatoveterinaryhospital.com

Pet Emergency & Specialty Center of Marin, 415.456.7372

Petaluma Veterinary Hospital, petvethosp.com

Redwood Pet Clinic, redwoodpetclinic.com

Ross Valley Veterinary Hospital, rossvalleyvet.com

San Anselmo Animal Hospital, sananselmo.vet

San Marin Animal Hospital, sanmarinanimalhospital.com

San Rafael Animal Hospital, sanrafaelanimalhospital.com

Sonoma Marin Veterinary Service, sonomamarinvet.com

South Novato Animal Hospital, southnovatoanimalhospital.com

Terra Linda Veterinary Hospital, terralindavet.com

The Country Vet, thrivepetcare.com

The Sams Clinic, Veterinary Specialists, thesamsclinic.com

TruVet Specialty & Emergency Hospital, truvetspecialty.com

Twin Cities Veterinary Hospital, twincitiesvethospital.com

VCA Tamalpais Animal Hospital, vcahospitals.com

Veterinary Cardiology Partners, veterinarycardiologypartners.com

Washington Square Veterinary Clinic, wsvcpets.com

West End Animal Center, westendanimalcenter.com

West Marin Pet Hospital, westmarinpethospital.com

Whiskers Animal Dentistry & Oral Surgery, whiskersvetdental.com

Mindfully Matching People and Pets

SaveABunny, Inc.

Discover the spiritual connection you didn’t know you needed. Rescuing an indoor house rabbit is more than adopting a pet— it’s embracing a journey of love, patience, and joy. As smart as a dog and litter-trained like a cat, rabbits bring daily smiles with their playful high jinx, while offering the most eco-friendly, sustainable way to welcome unconditional companionship into your life.

415.388.2790 saveabunny.org

Mill Valley, CA

PAWSOME News!

The Grateful Dog

“My dog turned to me and said, ‘Let’s get back to The Grateful Dog, dad!’” – Bob Weir.

Grateful Planet LLC, the holding company of The Grateful Dog Marin, is acquiring the commercial real estate and expanding its services. The Grateful Dog now cares for a variety of domesticated pets, including dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, fish, and non-venomous reptiles!

415.945.WOOF (9663) thegratefuldogmarin.com 2094 Redwood Hwy, Greenbrae, CA

Leigh and Casper

City Carpets: Family Owned, Pet Approved

Leigh Bakhtiari, proud owner and animal advocate, found her perfect companion at the Milo Foundation. City Carpets understands the unique bond between pet owners and their furry friends, offering a range of pet-friendly carpet and hardwood flooring options. Transform your home into a haven for both style and four-legged joy with our durable and stylish solutions.

415.454.4200 city-carpets.com 555 E. Francisco Blvd, San Rafael, CA

LIVING WELL

is one of the healthiest places to live in the country — thanks to the talented health and wellness pros featured on the following pages.

HEALING BEYOND BREAST CANCER

Carol Lourie, Naturopath, Licensed Acupuncturist, Homeopath

510.526.2028, ALBANY, CA CAROLLOURIE.COM

A breast cancer diagnosis may be beyond your control, but the choices you make moving forward can shape your path to wellness.

And that’s where Carol Lourie comes in. As a Naturopath, Acupuncturist and Homeopath, she’s been providing natural and holistic health care to the Bay Area’s discerning community for over 35 years, and is a trusted resource for those seeking exceptional integrative care.

Working with your medical oncology treatments, every care plan is uniquely tailored to meet an individual’s needs – reducing the impact of treatments and minimizing the challenges of hormonal therapy to support health and vitality.

This blend of science and intuition offers unparalleled support for your long-term wellness.

SARVENAZ ZAND MD, PICTURED WITH ACTRESS NAOMI WATTS

Zand Dermatology

655 REDWOOD HIGHWAY FRONTAGE RD, SUITE 246, MILL VALLEY, CA ZANDDERMATOLOGY.COM I 415.301.5000

Conservative. Scientific. Beautiful. Loving. Zand Dermatology is Marin’s leading boutique dermatology practice, specializing in aesthetic, holistic, and medical dermatology. We excel in treating skin cancer, acne, rashes, and performing cosmetic procedures like fillers, liquid facelifts, Botox, Xeomin, Daxxify, Ultherapy, and lasers. With degrees from Harvard, MIT, Johns Hopkins, and UC Davis, we are natural educators who love to listen to our patients’ concerns and explain all treatment options in depth. Sisters Dr. Sarv Zand and Dr. Paula Zand believes in a ‘less is more’ approach to facial beauty, achieving natural age-appropriate results without an overdone appearance. Our patients often comment that our loving providers treat them like family, with honest impactful advice on maximizing beauty through nutrition, hormones, fitness, self-care, and purposeful living.

Oscar-nominated actress Naomi Watts (King Kong, The Impossible) chose our own Dr. Zand as Dermatologist Advisor for her beauty and wellness brand, Stripes. Naomi and Dr. Zand are on a mission to empower and educate women transitioning through menopause to reclaim their beauty and best skin health. Explore Dr. Zand’s articles in Forbes, Glamour, Elle, Washington Post, and Women’s Health, and see why Zand Derm has earned over 600 five-star reviews! Thank you for awarding us “Best Cosmetic Dermatologist” in 2022 and 2024!

BEST PILATES IN MARIN

Fitwise Pilates and Gyrotonic®

38 MILLER AVE, UPSTAIRS #19, MILL VALLEY, CA 415.326.5130 I FITWISEPILATES.COM

FitWise Pilates offers modern, athletic small group Reformer classes, private training, and duets led by expert Master Trainers. Specializing in GYROTONIC® and postural correction, FitWise blends biomechanics, rehabilitation, and athletic performance to help you strengthen, recover, and move better. Experience a results-driven approach designed to enhance your wellness and achieve your goals.

EXPLORE CONCIERGE CARE AT PANORAMIC MEDICINE Panoramic Medicine

279 MILLER AVE, MILL VALLEY, CA 415.388.2801 I PANORAMICMEDICINE.COM

Curtis Robinson, MD (UCLA, 1992), and Diana Saylor, PA (Yale, 1983), have provided healthcare for over 20 years, establishing themselves as pillars of Marin County’s medical community. Together, they offer an innovative Concierge Care model blending the “old school” approach of attentive, unhurried primary care with new approaches to prevention and longevity. Visit www.panoramicmedicine.com to join Concierge Care today!

LAURA BELLUOMINI, RN, MSN, CCM Marin Home Care

1640 TIBURON BLVD, SUITE 16, TIBURON, CA 415.712.1917 I MARINHOMECARE.COM

Laura Belluomini, a graduate of the University of San Francisco with a Master of Science in Nursing and Clinical Systems Management, founded Marin Home Care in 2016. Drawing on her extensive experience at UCSF Medical Center, Laura has transformed eldercare in Marin County with her award-winning team, providing everything from personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s support.

Marin Home Care’s success is reflected in accolades like “Best Senior Home Care” by the Marin Independent Journal, “Best Home Healthcare Provider” by Pacific Sun and “Best Elder Care Service” by Marin Magazine.

Marin Home Care offers a comprehensive range of concierge services, including matched caregivers, personal assistants, foot care, and home health services such as nursing, physical therapy, and nutrition counseling. Families trust Marin Home Care for unparalleled support and care.

LINDA BEHLA, CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF NURSING

Hayes Valley Medical Esthetics (HVME)

265 MAGNOLIA AVENUE, LARKSPUR, CA HAYESVALLEYMED.COM I 415.464.8801

Hayes Valley Medical Esthetics (HVME) is a boutique, owner-operated medical spa specializing in advanced skincare and non-surgical esthetic treatments, including weight loss and body contouring. We offer over 30 carefully curated and FDA-approved medical devices and a wide range of injectables to address skin conditions such as pigmentation, uneven texture, and skin laxity for both the face and body. Our team of highly trained practitioners includes many who have experience training with industry leaders like Allergan, Merz, and Galderma, ensuring exceptional patient care. Whether seeking a luminous, subtle glow or a bold transformation, HVME provides personalized guidance at every step, empowering you to embrace confidence like never before.

With conveniently located clinics in Larkspur, Cow Hollow, and Hayes Valley, HVME makes prioritizing skin health both accessible and effortless. Discover why HVME is setting a new standard for beauty and wellness in the Bay Area. Schedule your complimentary consultation today!

- Your Beauty, Our Secret

DR. JOAN STEIDINGER

Clinical, Sport and Performance Psychology

ONLINE & LOCAL TEENS IN-PERSON, MILL VALLEY, CA 415.288.4252 I DOCTORJOANSTEIDINGER.COM

Dr. Joan Steidinger (CA Psy12505), CMPC@Emeritus and Fellow - Association of Applied Sport Psychology, Member – USOPC Foundation “Women’s Circle”, has worked as a clinical and sport psychologist for over 30 years. Her clientele includes teens, men, and women individually and in groups/ teams. She is an award-winning author of two books on female athletes. Her specialties: performance, depression/ anxiety, sports injuries, life transitions, PTSD, police, fire and executive personnel.

THE RITUAL, WHERE HEALTH IS YOUR WEALTH. The Ritual Spa and Wellness 1207 BRIDGEWAY SUITE B SAUSALITO, CA 415.942.3951

At The Ritual, we believe in more than just relaxation - we believe in holistic healing, longevity and lifestyle medicine. Our holistic approach combines the best of ancient traditions and modern techniques to enhance your wellbeing, nurture your body and uplift your spirit. Whether you seek relief from stress, recovery from pain, or simply a moment to rejuvenate, our therapies offer a path to lasting wellness and harmonious lifestyle.

EXPERIENCE LUXURY AT BELLE MARIN

Belle Marin Aesthetic Medicine

250 E. BLITHEDALE AVE, SUITE B, MILL VALLEY, CA 415.886.1179 I IG: @BELLEMARIN_MEDSPA

At Belle Marin Aesthetic Medicine, we believe you deserve to look and feel your absolute best at every stage of life. Located in the heart of Mill Valley, Dr. Faye Jamali and her team deliver premium, personalized care in a luxurious setting.

Belle Marin offers a competitive service menu of leading non-surgical facial and body treatments that enhance your natural beauty. From injectables to laser skin rejuvenation to body contouring, our expertise ensures results that look and feel effortless.

Experience the confidence that comes with feeling radiant and refreshed. Our team can’t wait to serve you!

SOLVING HAIR LOSS WITH MARIN HAIR TRANSPLANT: Marin Hair Transplant

1028 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD, KENTFIELD, CA

MARINHAIRTRANSPLANT.COM I 415.651.2208

Marin County welcomes a groundbreaking addition: Marin Hair Transplant. Nestled in beautiful Kentfield, CA, this premier clinic is the vision of Dr. Piers Barry and Nina Barry. Dr. Barry, a fellowship-trained surgeon with over a decade of expertise in soft tissue regeneration, brings a wealth of knowledge in regenerative medicine, including PRP, mesenchymal stem cells, and soft tissue surgery. Nina Barry complements his expertise with her background in health, wellness, and leadership. Together, they are redefining confidence and self-care for their patients.

Marin Hair Transplant specializes exclusively in incisionless FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction), a technique that ensures minimal discomfort, rapid recovery, and exceptional cosmetic results. Backed by technicians who have completed over 6,000 cases, the clinic delivers unparalleled expertise. “Hair loss goes beyond the surface—it shapes confidence, self-esteem, and how people connect with others,” explains Dr. Barry. With concierge-level experience and cutting-edge regenerative techniques, Marin Hair Transplant is setting a new standard in hair restoration. For more information, visit www.marinhairtransplant.com

SCIENCE-BACKED FITNESS, REAL RESULTS

Orangetheory® Fitness Greenbrae 230 BON AIR CENTER, GREENBRAE, CA 415.481.0876 I ORANGETHEORY.COM

Orangetheory® Fitness is a science-backed technologytracked group fitness program designed to energize members and promote longer, vibrant lives. Multi-level strength and cardio workouts boost metabolism, burn calories, and build muscle, all while fostering a supportive and inclusive community. OTconnect, the brand’s proprietary technology, allows members to track real-time performance, monitor results, and celebrate milestones.

NORCAL MEDICAL RESEARCH

Leaders in Community Clinical Research 900 S. ELISIO DRIVE, GREENBRAE, CA 415.461.1585 I NORCALMEDICALRESEARCH.COM

NorCal Medical Research celebrates conducting clinical research in Greenbrae, North SF Bay Area, for almost four decades! We’re currently focusing on the latest GLP1 and other weight loss and type 2 diabetes trials, actively enrolling for these and others in neuropathy and hypothyroidism in 2025. We prioritize individualized patient care, safety and efficacy.

Linda M. Gaudiani MD, Medical Director

EVA E CLAIBORNE BEAUTY AND WELLNESS

Eva Claiborne

86 B MAIN ST, HISTORIC ARK ROW, TIBURON CA 415.497.3635 I TIBURONSKINCARE.COM

Eva Claiborne is a Master Aesthetician and Perioperative Aesthetic Specialist helps clients achieve their beauty and wellness goals. She owns and operates a boutique spa in downtown Tiburon with her daughter, Eva Temby, specializing in Hungarian facials, microneedling, chemical peels, manual lymphatic drainage, and preand postoperative care. By collaborating with local dermatologists and plastic surgeons, Eva ensures clients receive personalized skincare consultations and effective non-medical treatments tailored to their unique needs.

Her experience in postoperative care led to the creation of TITOK NATURALS® skincare line designed for all skin types, including post-surgical skin. By combining unique treatments, specialized products, global training, and years of expertise, Eva’s approach emphasizes overall well-being.

Contact Eva today to schedule your skincare consultation and begin your journey to a healthier skin at www. tiburonskincare.com.

At Plastic Surgery Specialty Group & MedSpa, we combine health, wellness, and aesthetic care. Our safe, effective, credentialed solutions help individuals achieve their healthiest selves, prioritizing purity, efficacy, and long-term success.

Science-Backed Weight Management: With 12 years of experience, we offer a full-circle approach to weight management. We provide FDA-approved Wegovy and Semaglutide, ensuring quality. Care includes a consultation with Dr. Yngvar Hvistendahl, lab work, and InBody 580 analysis to track fat loss, muscle retention, and hydration.

Long-Term Success: Our program focuses on sustainable, healthy lifestyles, with actionable steps and advanced treatments like EmSculpt and B12 injections.

Expanding Wellness Services: We’re launching an IV clinic to offer tailored infusions for hydration, immunity, energy, and overall wellness.

Redefining Wellness: At PSSG, we’re committed to clean, credentialed care that delivers real results.

BACK ROW: DR. CHRISTOPHER COX, DR. KEITH CHAN, DR. KEITH DONATTO, DR. JOSH SAMPSON, DR. MARK SCHRUMPF, DR. FRANK VALONE, DR. JAMES KELLY, DR. PHIL KAISER, FRONT ROW: DR. SCOTT GREEN, DR. ROBERT MAYLE, DR. PETER CALLANDER, DR. LINDSEY VALONE, DR. JOHN BELZER, NOT PICTURED: DR. HENRY GUAN. California Pacific Orthopaedics 1099 D ST, SUITE 105, SAN RAFAEL, CA I 3838 CALIFORNIA ST, SUITES 108, 516, 715, 707, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 415.582.1831 I CALPACORTHO.COM

When it comes to Orthopaedic and Sports-Related Injuries, there’s only one name you can trust – California Pacific Orthopaedics. Whether you’re a weekend warrior, seasoned professional athlete, or suffer from everyday joint pain, our experienced team is here to get you feeling like new. After all, it’s what we’ve been doing for nearly 50 years.

At California Pacific Orthopaedics, we want our patients to get back to enjoying normal life as quickly as possible. That’s why we have in-house X-ray and MRI – including a state-of-the-art wide-bore 3 Tesla MRI. Our wide-bore MRI allows for a quicker scan and a roomier experience for patients. And, we are now offering evening and weekend appointments! Our goal is to provide patients with the care that they need as soon as possible. That’s why we’ve opened a new clinic in San Francisco along with an urgent walk in clinic, and have partnered with the HURT app so that patients can triage injuries after-hours with live clinical support. We look forward to serving you at one of our four offices. Visit Calpacortho.com for more information.

FRANCISCO

A leading expert in dermatology and the founder of Pacific Skin and Cosmetic Dermatology, Tracy Evans MD caters to patients in the heart of San Francisco and Marin County. Her belief is that “just like snowflakes, no two individuals are alike- your skin is one of a kind. That is why every skincare regimen and treatment plan should be as unique as you are.”

Though incredibly skilled in a multitude of dermatologic services, Dr. Evans is especially known and respected for her work in diagnosing and treating skin cancers. Her practice offers Mohs surgery, reversing sun damage with lasers, Botox, collagen boosting treatments and advanced care for psoriasis, rosacea, pigmentation and other skin disorders. She and her team understand the harmony of the skin’s medical and aesthetic properties.

As a proud Marin resident, Dr. Evans is deeply connected to her community and is passionate about helping patients achieve healthy, confident skin. With two convenient locations and a simple online appointment system, Pacific Skin and Cosmetic Dermatology makes it easy to prioritize the health of your hair, skin and nails. Call your preferred location today to confirm your health insurance network coverage.

AND

OUT ABOUT

Chinese New Year

CALENDAR

February's Happenings

The shortest month of the year is full of events, with Lunar New Year celebrations, Black History Month events and more. Whether you could use a laugh from a standup show or for a taste of Bay Area theater, art and culture, here are some activities to occupy your time and imagination.

FEB 4 Without Borders Acclaimed New York City dancers and San Francisco musicians come together at the Sausalito Center for the Arts, featuring Evan Kahn, principal cellist of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, along with Max Barker and Paloma Livellara from the ABT Studio Company in New York. sausalitocenterforthearts.org

FEB 8 Lunar New Year Celebration

In a tradition of 25 years, the San Francisco Symphony celebrates Lunar New Year with a concert and a banquet, drawing upon vibrant Asian traditions, past and present. sfsymphony.org

FEB 11 The Mood in America Join Marin Magazine for a showing of this 1968 BBC documentary filmed in Sausalito capturing the aftermath of the 1965 desegregation plan in Marin City. Followed by a panel discussion. RSVP at 270media.com/events.

FEB 15 Chinese New Year Parade San Francisco’s world-famous Chinese New Year Parade lights up the city with lion dancers, firecrackers and thousands of attendees. The Year of the Snake festivities also include a community street fair Feb. 14 and 15; plus in the weeks leading up to and after the parade, there's a flower market fair, a basketball jamboree, a Miss Chinatown USA pageant and more. chineseparade.com

FEB 22 AND 23 Marin Symphony Plays the Music of John Williams Composer John Williams brought blockbuster movies like Star Wars, E.T., Harry Potter, Schindler’s List and Jaws to life with his remarkable ability to give films a musical voice. Revel in this Academy Award winner, played by the Marin Symphony under its pops conductor Stuart Chafet. marinsymphony.org

ARTS, LECTURES & THEATER

THROUGH FEB 23 Nicky Nodjoumi: The Personal is Political and Nahid Hagigat: Etched in Time The HBO documentary, A Revolution on Canvas, which centered on the international controversy of 120 missing artworks in Iran, inspired this Iranian husband and wife duo exhibition at The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. ybca.org

THROUGH MARCH 2 Waste Marin Theatre Company's production of this politically charged drama, written in 1906 (and immediately banned due to its provocative material about a politician's illicit affair) offers surprising relevance to today's headlines. marintheatre.org

FEB 12 TO MARCH 9 Back to the Future: The Musical Here's one for the Gen Xers: Take a ride with Marty McFly in a timealtered DeLorean as he travels back to 1955 and unwittingly changes the course of history and his own family, only to speed against the clock to travel back a second time and make things right again. broadwaysf.com

FEB 13 TO 15 Cool Brittania Explore British dance through three provocative performances: Chroma by Sir Wayne McGregor, merging choreography with a rock-inspired score; Within the Golden Hour by Christopher Wheeldon, a visually atmospheric ballet; and Dust by Akram Khan, a one-act ballet offering an exploration of the human experience. sfballet.org

PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY AND EVAN ZIMMERMAN

FEB 14 Second Friday Art Walk in Downtown San Rafael This free-to-thepublic event features open-door galleries, open studios, art exhibits and more on the second Friday of each month in downtown San Rafael. artworksdowntown.org

FEB 28 The Soul of Us This theatrical and musical presentation by MC Arts and Culture features traditional work songs and poetry in honor of Black History Month. mcartsandculture.com

MUSIC

FEB 1 Raise Our Voices The Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley is hosting a fundraising event to support its accessible youth theater programs that include shows, afterschool programs, scholarships and workshops. The evening is a mix of student performances, a silent auction, raffle prizes and a dessert spread. throckmortontheatre.org

FEB 20 TO MARCH 5 Noise Pop Festival

Hear the best in indie music at SF’s Noise Pop Festival, now in its 32nd year. This multi-day, multi-venue festival spans 10 days, 25 venues and more than 160 different bands and performers, all accessible with a single pass. Get to know emerging artists that you never knew before (but wish you did) while exploring the frontiers of contemporary music. noisepop.com

COMEDY

FEB 13 The Spouse Whisperer Mark Cordes, aka the Spouse Whisperer, takes audiences on a comedic journey at the Marin Center Showcase Theatre that starts with “love at first sight” to “til death do us part” and all of the funny stuff happening in between during the course of matrimony. marincenter.org

A CASE FOR GIVING®

DONATE a gently used rolling bag

RECEIVE up to $100 off a new Briggs & Riley rolling bag

Let’s put gently used bags into the hands of those in need.

Berkeley Luggage 2221 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704 510-345-2728

Marin Luggage 1732 Redwood Hwy. Corte Madera, CA 94925 628-243-7070

www.SanRafaelLuggage.com

FILM

FEB 6 TO 13 Mostly British Film Festival

Curated by Ruthe Stein, who covered movies for 50 years for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Mostly British Film Festival offers 26 films for Anglophiles during its eight-day run at the vintage Vogue Theater in San Francisco. Opening night's heartwarming film is The Penguin Lessons, based on a true story. mostlybritish.org

FEB 6 TO 16 San Francisco Independent Film Festival Sundance who? For the experimenters and film fanatics among us, SF Indie presents the cutting edge of independent cinema at its annual festival in the Mission District’s Roxie Theater. sfindie.com

MUSEUMS

OPEN NOW Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs Revealed This newly refreshed exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences features touchable coral models, specialized dive gear and some stunning species you won’t see anywhere else. calacademy.org

EVENTS

ALL FEBRUARY Third Annual San Rafael Feb-BREW-ary Downtown San Rafael celebrates local craft beer throughout February. Participating local breweries and restaurants are hosting deals, events and special menus to promote local business and showcase the best of Marin’s beer scene. downtownsanrafael.org

FEB 1 AND 15 Guide Dogs for the Blind Graduation Events Twice a month, the Guide Dogs for the Blind holds graduation ceremonies at its national

headquarters campus in San Rafael. These ceremonies are open to the public, but be forewarned: They are touching events that often bring tears of joy to the eyes of the toughest audience members as the graduating guide dog teams proudly take the stage. Luckily, Kleenex is provided. guidedogs.com

FEB 8 Marin Valentine’s Ball The county’s hottest annual Valentine’s celebration returns to the Marin Civic Center. This heart-studded event raises support for three Marin charities — North Bay Children’s Center, Godmothers of

Catholic Charities St. Vincent’s School for Boys and Side by Side — all of which provide critical safety-net services to help ensure Marin children and youth have the chance to thrive, regardless of their circumstances in life. sidebysideyouth.org

FEB 8 Sausalito’s Soup-er Bowl Sausalito is heating up for the Super Bowl with Marin’s soup event par excellence. A ticket to this walking tour/cook-off gets you access to a dozen Sausalito eateries and their specialty soups. After you've tasted them all, vote on your favorite. sausalito.gov

Ann Ulibarri and Woon, Guide Dogs for the Blind
Steve Coogan in The Penguin Lessons

FEB 14 Valentine’s Day Pillow Fight

Not up for the traditional flowers and chocolates? February's pinkest holiday comes with a twist and a cloud of feathers in San Francisco with a massive public pillow fight happening on Valentine's Day. This event is not formally organized, but word on the street says to show up at the Embarcadero Plaza at 5:50 p.m.

FEB 15 Festival of Olives Celebrate the gem of the Mediterranean at The Festival of Olives, previously known as An Olive Odyssey, at the Jacuzzi Family Vineyards in Sonoma. Sample an array of olive oils, ponder olive-related art and enjoy the fruit of the hour, the olive! jacuzziwines.com

FEB 21 TO MARCH 2 SF Beer Week

Lagers, ales and all things hoppy and frothy are coming to San Francisco’s Pier 35. The craft beer community returns with SF Beer Week, where attendees can enjoy brewery booths, tasting experiences, food pairings and more. Entrance is free, though tickets are available for the kickoff Opening Gala. sfbeerweek.org

FEB 23 Black Joy Parade Celebrate Black History Month with a parade of joy and community at the 8th Annual Black Joy Parade in Downtown Oakland. A festival with live music will follow the parade, and attendees can support Black businesses and artists by checking out crafts, food and more from hundreds of local vendors. blackjoyparade.org

Mill Valley Philharmonic's Silver Anniversary

Nurses playing violin, teachers on timpani: Mill Valley Philharmonic is a volunteer orchestra driven by the love of music and composed of players from many backgrounds. We asked conductor Dana Sadava about MVP in honor of its 25th anniversary season.

What works do the Philharmonic play?

The Philharmonic plays great music of all kinds, from the most famous symphonies ever written to 21st-century gems. In recent years we’ve enjoyed performing (free) family concerts with repertoire like Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. In February we’re performing some fun music from films like Star Wars and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Proudest performances during your time?

Last season, the Philharmonic played Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, which is very tuneful and accessible but a beast for any orchestra to play. The players rose to the occasion and delivered a really spectacular performance. A very kind attendee told me how much she enjoyed it and added, “I love the San Francisco Symphony but it’s such a hassle to get there sometimes. I’ll just come to your concerts from now on!”

MVP performs Feb. 7 & 9 at Mount Tam United Methodist Church. Learn more: millvalleyphilharmonic.org.

HOME CHEF

A Spectacular Winter Salad at Valenti & Co

Delicate and hearty all at once.

February showers make us long for bright flavors and creative combos. At San Anselmo’s cozy Valenti & Co, Chef Duilio Valenti serves a delicious butter bean and salt-cured Meyer lemon salad that hits all the high notes in both flavor and texture. It’s a dish that is as beautiful as it is healthful: Creamy beans cooked just right.

Zingy lemons for a big, bold pop of flavor. And edible flowers for a beautiful finish. Enjoy this with warm crusty bread to soak up every perfect drop.

BUTTER BEAN AND SALT-CURED MEYER LEMON SALAD

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 cup dried butter beans

1 Meyer lemon, thinly sliced, seeded

Sea salt

1 carrot, diced

1 heart of celery, diced

1 small sweet onion, diced

1 tomato, diced

Ground black pepper

Mixed greens, frisée or hearts of escarole

Extra virgin olive oil

Edible flowers

Directions:

Soak the beans in cold water with a pinch of baking soda and let them sit on the counter overnight. Also the day before, slice the Meyer lemon as thin as possible. Lay the slices on a plate and cover in sea salt. Cover the plate and let sit on the counter, overnight.

Rinse the beans in cold water and cook them on medium heat with plenty of salted water until you can pierce them with a toothpick without any resistance, 30–45 minutes. Do not drain the beans while they are hot. Let them cool completely in the water; this will keep them plump and moist. Once cooled, drain the beans and set aside.

Rinse the lemon slices to eliminate excess salt. Pat them dry, cut into quarters and set aside.

In a sauté pan over low heat, cook the carrot, celery and onion with 2–3 tablespoons of olive oil for 4–5 minutes. Add the diced tomato and sauté for two more minutes. Turn off the heat and add the drained beans. Lightly season with salt and pepper, mix well and arrange the beans on a serving plate.

Add the mixed greens and salt-cured lemon slices to a mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to combine and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pile the greens on top of the beans and garnish with colorful edible flowers.

PHOTOS

DINE

CORTE MADERA

Marin Joe’s Italian

A mainstay for a reason: the menu calls to you with garlic bread, a calamari sandwich and mesquite-grilled prime rib. Sautéed classics of the ItalianAmerican canon as well as oysters doré and pastas have withstood the test of time.

1585 Casa Buena Dr, 415.924.2081; marinjoes restaurant.com

FAIRFAX

Fradelizio’s Italian

A perennial neighborhood gem, the cozy space welcomes all with daily specials (fresh local fish, housemade Meyer lemon fettuccine with salmon, cioppino, a Becker Lane organic pork cannelloni) and a Napa Valley wine from the barrel program. 35 Broadway Blvd, 415.459.1618; fradelizios.com

La Gastronomia

Italian Like the town it’s situated in, La Gastronomia is a lively and cozy restaurant best known for its authentic cuisine, fresh ingredients and warm atmosphere. Originally from a coastal town in Italy, owners Elena and her husband Gustavo curate a taste of the Italian coast in the

California sun. 123 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax, 415.419.5465; lagastronomiadi porchetta.com

BB $

GREENBRAE / KENTFIELD

Half Day Cafe

American Tucked away in a setting of intertwining ivy and large open windows, this cafe is the quintessential breakfast nook and is also open for brunch and lunch, including coffee drinks, pastries and much more. 848 College Ave, Kentfield, 415.459.0291; halfdaycafe.net

BB $

Rio Rock Açai Café

Smoothies

Açai bowls, like the Carmen Miranda with cacao nibs and peanut butter, and smoothies (don’t miss the Popeye with almond butter and spinach) are at the heart of an all-day café that serves up sandwiches (chicken pesto panini, lox bagel) and pastas, too. Boba and espresso drinks are coming soon. 860 College Ave, Kentfield; 415.747.8668; riorock acaicafe.com

$

LARKSPUR

Left Bank Restaurant

French This Parisianstyle brasserie by Chef Roland Passot has been serving the

community for more than two decades. Whether on the patio, bar or in the elegant main dining room with a huge fireplace, it’s a fun experience. The menu features authentic French cuisine utilizing seasonal, local and organic ingredients.

507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331; leftbank.com

Perry’s on Magnolia American Perry’s on Magnolia has the same classic American cuisine, bustling bar and warm service and personality the San Francisco original has always been famous for. Plentiful outdoor dining options. It’s bar is a perennial best of the county winner. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.1877; perryssf.com

BB

World Green Açai Bowl & Juice Brazilian Come for the bowls — with real açai sourced from Belém, Brazil — and stay for the authentic Brazilian bites, blended juices and friendly faces. Try the popular Yanomami bowl, or the Barry Bonds special (named after a favorite customer). Gluten-free options abound, like tapioca crepes and pão de queijo cheese bread. 546a Magnolia Ave, 415.886.8476; worldgreenacai.com

Bungalow 44

Buckeye Roadhouse

American Oysters Bingo, baby back ribs, and chili-lime “brick” chicken are a few of the satisfying comfortfood menu items that have made this classic roadhouse a favorite since the ’30s. The warm dark-wood bar with red leather booths is a popular spot for cocktails or a light meal. Heated patio seating offers a moment’s respite with a fresh espresso and breakfast burrito from the weekday Buckeye Joe Coffee Kiosk out front. 15 Shoreline Hwy, 415.331.2600; buckeyeroad house.com

BB HH

American The bustling bar is ideal for savoring a seasonal cocktail or an order of the house’s famous kickin’ fried chicken. The one-dollar happy hour oyster program still operates from 5–6 p.m., Monday–Thursday and the heated outdoor patio is a town hot spot. 44 E Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500; bungalow44.com

Corner Bar

Mediterranean

Corner Bar is downtown Mill Valley’s first cocktail lounge… ever! Bring a date or simply come to unwind in the sleek interior, which

features two bars plus plenty of window space overlooking the town square. A menu of Mediterranean bites created by Chef Michael Siegel complements Corner Bar’s artfully crafted cocktails. 106 Throckmorton Ave, 415.888.8001; cornerbarmv.com

HH

Floodwater

Californian Order a handcrafted “Gold Rush” (Old Forester bourbon, local honey, lemon) at the long 20 seat bar and watch the game on five huge 4K TVs while noshing on pork belly steamed buns, or dive into Shorty’s Tall Reuben.

MILL VALLEY
Side Street Kitchen, Point Reyes Station

The patio features multiple fire pits. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.843.4545; floodwatermv.com

HH $

Paseo Bistro

Californian

The bistro along ‘el paseo’ exudes the same charm as its predecessors with a French-inflected menu from executive chef Sylvain Montassier. That translates into dishes of tuna tartare with chicharron and shiitakes, squid ink linguini with local crab and mussels or a Devil’s Gulch pork chop with crispy spaetzle and cabbage. Sip a classic cocktail in the Paseo bar or savor chocolate fondant with salted caramel ganache in one of the inviting exposed brick and

wood dining rooms. 17 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley; 415.888.3907; paseobistro.com

HH

Piatti Ristorante and Bar Italian A fireplace lounge and open format concept invites lingering over refreshed menu items such as house made ravioli with lemon cream and citrus gremolata, roasted mushroom pizza with taleggio fonduta and black truffle oil or roasted salmon with artichokes and Calabrian chili. 625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525; piatti.com

Playa Mexican

With a chef from Mexico City, Playa’s

bustling bar. Enjoy a variety of housemade pastas, meat and seafood dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and gluten-free offerings with organic and locally sourced ingredients. A back patio and newer front patio provide ample outdoor dining space. 22 Miller Ave, 415.388.2000; piazzadangelo.com

BB

Sweetwater Music Hall’s Rock & Rye

American

NOVATO

Perry’s Novato American Epic burgers and cocktails, excellent service, signature blue-andwhite gingham tablecloths — expect all of those and more here at Perry’s northernmost location. 224 Alameda Del Prado, 415.506.4212; perryssf.com

BB

The Village Italian Restaurant Italian

Creekside Pizza & Tap Room American

A perennial Best of the County winner known for their artisan pizzas, hearty sandwiches, flavorful pastas and fresh salads, Creekside offers plentiful gluten-free and vegan options too. Their copper bar with a 40-handle selection of craft beer (including gluten-free beer), plus wine and kombucha on tap. 638 San Anselmo Ave, 415.785.4450; creeksidesa.com

food offers traditional dishes with modern flavors and presentations. A Little Gem salad sparkles with tomatillo dressing and enchiladas shine from a glossy coating of house made black mole and micro greens. The bar highlights exceptional tequilas and mezcals but the el Slushie and house margarita have legions of fans and are perfect for sipping on the large, heated back patio. Weekend lunch is available.

41 Throckmorton Ave, 415.384.8871; playamv.com

BB HH

Piazza D’Angelo

Italian Family owned for over 40 years, Piazza D’Angelo evokes a traditional trattoria dining experience, including the

Bay Area chef Rick Hackett (Bocanova, Florio) redesigned the menu to feature South American and New Orleans-inspired dishes with a seasonal focus at Sweetwater Music Hall’s refreshed restaurant. An extensive collection of whiskeys and craft cocktails pays tribute to independent music venues and the 50-seat outdoor patio was redone to reflect how we dine today.

19 Corte Madera Ave, 415.388.3850; sweetwatermusichall.com

BB

Tamalpie Italian

With views of Mt. Tam from the covered, heated patio, this spot known for its local sourcing also features two fireplaces and a full bar serving craft cocktails, wine and beer. The difference is in the dough, small batch, housemade and gluten-free. 477 Miller Ave, 415.388.7437; tamalpiepizzeria.com

A Novato staple for any occasion, the Village captures hearts with comforting Italian fare served in its spacious downtown locale. They’ve got something for everybody, with ample options for pasta, pizza, salad and entrees like chicken parm or piccata. Don’t miss the puffy, pillowy “pasta bread” — best eaten dripping in garlic butter. 1200 Grant Ave, 415.898.2234; the villageitalian restaurant.com

BB

SAN ANSELMO / ROSS

Comforts Cafe

American Established in 1986, Comforts has a cozy sit-down cafe, serving breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. Besides the famous Chinese chicken salad, other winners are the stuffed pecan-crusted French toast, chicken Okasa, Korean BBQ flank steak and Wor Won Ton soup. 335 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.9840; comfortscafe.com

BB $

Cucina sa Italian Open for lunch, weekend brunch, and dinner six nights a week, come by for homemade pastas, seasonal salads, and wood-fired pizzas that strike a balance between southern Italy and Northern California. Don’t skip the happy hour from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, either! 510 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.2942; cucina-sa.com

Insalata’s Mediterranean Dinner favorites include cataplana with mussels and chorizo, Middle Easterninspired vegetarian platter, Moroccan lamb flatbread, house made pastas and of course, the fattoush salad. An takeout counter offers a wide range of selections for family meals, celebrations or a quick lunch. 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.457.7700; insalatas.com

Servino Ristorante, Tiburon

Cucina sa is open for lunch and dinner 6 days a week, with private and semi-private rooms available for your Holiday parties! Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday 11:30am to 3pm, with Happy Hour 3-5pm. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11:30am to 3pm, and dinner is Tuesday through Sunday from 5-9pm. Outside dining on our parklet. Hope that you can join us soon! Please call for larger parties or special requests.

CUCINA SA 510 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, CA 415.454.2942 cucina-sa.com

Kuro Nami Japanese Kitchen Japanese Kuro Nami, which means “black wave,” is a new restaurant from the team behind The Baan Thai Cuisine. There, you’ll find inventive sushi rolls, premium sake and a menu of signature dishes that explore the depth of Japanese cuisine. It’s not just sushi — you can try picks like kani miso (grilled miso paste with crab), or their creamy pasta with tempura softshell crab. 69 Center Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.459.6969; kuro namimarin.com

Marché Californian

Into the former Marche aux Fleurs space, Marché’s owners Darren and Alicia Banks focus on seasonal ingredients in plates of avocado toast with Urfa chile, shishito peppers with togarashi, and house made gnocchi with shiitakes is Californian all the way. 23 Ross Common, Ross; 415.925.9200; marchemarin.com

The Baan Thai Cuisine Thai

Known for its mango sticky rice, crispy corn cakes and The Baan Thai salad, new menu items like fresh spring rolls and steamed dumplings and old favorites such as the tom kha soup entice with fresh flavors and just the right amount of sweet heat. 726 San Anselmo Ave, 415.457.9470; baanthaimarin.com

Valenti & Co.

Italian The bright yet cozy indoor space and warmly lit back patio are ideal environments for authentic Italian dishes made with local ingredients. The menu changes daily but look for the carpaccio of beef, the pan-seared Pekin duck and chef Valenti’s famous tower of triple chocolate love at dessert. 337 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.7800; valentico.com

SAN RAFAEL

Cafe del Soul Californian

Healthy options become addictive at this eatery that now has locations in Tam Junction and San Rafael. Once you stop in for the deliciously fresh quinoa wrap, you’ll want to return to try the chipotle rice bowl. 1408 Fourth St, 415.457.5400; cafedelsoul.net

$

La Toscana

Ristorante & Bar

Italian Family owned and operated since 1985, La Toscana completed an extensive interior and exterior renovation, transforming an already popular San Rafael gathering spot into a place for any occasion. The menu features daily specials and classics like gnocchi and carbonara and an ample selection of wine. 3751 Redwood Hwy, 415.492.9100; ristorantelas toscana.com

Sol Food Caribbean/Puerto Rican Fast becoming a Marin legend, Sol Food whips up traditional Puerto Rican dishes with fresh ingredients, just like the ones owner Sol Hernandez grew up eating. All day favorites include the bistec sandwich, mofongo and other fried plantain dishes, but anything tastes good with a dash of “pique” their signature hot pepper sauce, also for sale by the bottle (as is the lemon-garlic salad dressing). They also have a special menu from “Victor’s Crispy Tacos.” 901 Lincoln Ave, 415.451.4765; solfoodrestaurant.com

$

SAUSALITO

Copita Mexican Co-owner Joanne Weir, along with Chef Aaron Sabido, presents fresh Mexican fare in the heart of Bridgeway. The everchanging menu is 100 percent gluten-free, masa is prepared and pressed in house for each and every tortilla, and the in-house tequila bar serves over 100 varieties, ideal for crafting your own margarita. Dine at the bar or on the outdoor patio for great people-watching. 739 Bridgeway, 415.331.7400; copitarestaurant.com

BB $ HH

Fish Seafood

It has been said that this restaurant and fish market launched the sustainable seafood movement, making it the ultimate place

for freshly caught, unobjectionable fare. Order any of the day’s offerings — the menu changes — daily but usually has a variation of fish tacos, ceviche and grilled fish. 350 Harbor Dr, 415.331.3474; 331fish.com

Poggio Italian Vitello sliced excruciatingly thin and topped with lemon and tonnato sauce is a singular dish in the hands of executive chef Benjamin Balesteri who creates Northern Italian fare using local and Italian ingrdients.

777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771; poggiotrattoria.com

BB

The Spinnaker Seafood

Chef Phil Collins excels at preparing seafood, and it shows in the beautifully plated presentations like a classic shrimp Louie salad or linguini with clams. Set right on the water with sweeping views of San Francisco.

100 Spinnaker Dr, 415.332.1500; spinnakersa sausalito.us

TIBURON

Petite Left Bank

French A smaller version of the Larkspur original features an all-day menu of French bistro classics. A notable wine list, artisan craft cocktail menu, and spirit-free beverages round out the lively experience. Open daily for

Top Picks for DogFriendly Restaurants in Marin

There’s no denying Marin is a dog-friendly place for eating out. From shaded patios to provided water bowls, and sometimes even a gifted “good boy” treat, Marin restaurants go all out for canine companions. Here’s my go-to list for where you can have an enjoyable time with you and your pup, no matter which part of Marin you might be spending time in.

The Junction Beer Garden, Mill Valley Le Marais Bakery, Mill Valley Fish., Sausalito

Kuro Nami, San Anselmo

Marin Country Mart’s many restaurants, Larkspur Kitchen, Novato

Boca Pizzeria, Novato

Marin French Cheese Co., Petaluma

Tony’s Seafood, Marshall

lunch and dinner, with weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday, and daily morning coffee and pastry service coming soon. 1696 Tiburon Blvd, Tiburon; 415.910.1010; petiteleftbank tiburon.com

$

Servino Ristorante

Italian Chef and owner Angelo Servino highlights organic ingredients in an array of rustic Italian dishes, including house-made pastas, wood-oven pizzas, and seasonal specialties. Located on Ark Row, Servino also prides itself on its extensive sustainable seafood program and deep Italian wine list. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676; servino. com

BB HH

The Caprice Californian Expansive bay views from every seat are just one of many charms after an extensive remodel. The revamped menu of well-crafted comfort food from land (bone-in filet mignon, Colorado lamb chops) and sea (gnocchi with crab, abalone dore), also features classic cocktails and a wine list that leans towards American, Italian and French offerings. Complimentary evening valet provided. 2000 Paradise Drive, 415.435.3400; the caprice.com

BB HH

The Caviar Co American Belvedere resident Petra Bergstein expanded her San Franciscobased business with a downtown shop and restaurant dedicated to the briny delicacy. Caviar flights, along with Champagne by the glass or bottle and small plates like grilled cheese with truffles, are available to enjoy in their tasting room or to take home. 46A Main Street, Tiburon; 415.889.5168; info.the caviarco.com

WEST MARIN

Nick’s Cove American

This historic, beloved escape and its cozy cottages recently underwent a refresh to maximize enjoyment of the pic turesque views from its perch on Tomales Bay. Take a seat out side along the pier, at the boat shack over the water or in the waterfront lounge and enjoy barbecued local oysters, Dungeness crab mac ’n’ cheese and cocktails incor porating homegrown ingredients. The cozy bar and fireplace in the main dining room makes the most of fog-whipped and rainy days. 23240 Highway 1, Marshall, 415.663.1033; nickscove.com

Rancho Nicasio

American Known for live music and an extensive menu featuring everything from crispy calamari to braised lamb shanks, Rancho Nicasio is open seven days

a week, including brunch. Whatever you choose, the outdoor space welcomes all with plenty of shade and space between tables. 1 Old Rancheria Road, Nicasio, 415.662.2219; ranchonicasio.com

BB

Side Street

Kitchen American

The fine-casual eatery led by chef Aaron Wright serves favorites like rotisserie chicken, and porkbelly BLTs as well as wholesome vegetarian fare. This is one of the few spots in West Marin that serves gluten-free beer. The cozy patio is shaded and dog-friendly. 60 Fourth St, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.0303;

MONDAY - SUNDAY

LUNCH 11:30AM - 2PM | DINNER 5PM - 8:30PM (415) 459-6969

ON SCENE THE

Marin City Health and Wellness Center Holds Inaugural Gala

On Dec. 7, Marin City Health and Wellness Center held its first-ever fundraising gala at Peacock Gap in San Rafael. The nonprofit’s board chair Nancy Johnson and CEO Harold Wallace spoke about the critical impact of its community clinics and health centers in Marin City, Bayview Hunters Point and San Rafael in working toward African American health equity. Guests enjoyed catering by Peacock Gap, dancing to the music of The Dans of Steel and participating in a robust live auction as well as a silent auction.

1 Harold Wallace and Joe Burton; 2 Connie SharksKnight, Chantel Walker, James Dixon and Nancy Johnson; 3 Felecia Gaston, Alan Sankin and Teveia Barnes

Marin City’s Toy Drive Makes Spirits Bright Performing Stars of Marin, along with the Mill Valley Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire District, Marin County Sheriff’s Office, CHP, Mill Valley School District and Sausalito Marin City School District delighted good girls and boys throughout the county with donated toys, games and bikes galore in December, thanks to its annual longstanding holiday toy drive supported by the community. Uniformed firefighters, along with numerous volunteers, handed out goodies to nearly 400 children up to age 11 and cheerily distributed nearly 200 Target gift cards to pre-teens and teens.

1 Scott Pedersen from the Marin County Fire Department with young gift recipient; 2 Senior Fire Captain Keith Wallace with young gift recipient

ICB’s Winter Studios Thrills Art Lovers

ICB ART celebrated its 56th Annual Winter Open Studios on Dec. 7 and 8, giving more than 2,000 visitors a rare chance to connect with more than 100 cutting-edge artists in their working studios within the historic, World War II-era ICB Building in Sausalito. Known for showcasing artists with national, international and museum exhibitions, Winter Open Studios is a premier Bay Area event for collectors, curators and art enthusiasts.

Gingerbread Houses Enchant Sausalito Shoppers

From Dec. 8–31, the Sausalito Chamber of Commerce hosted its 18th Annual Sausalito Gingerbread House Tour and Competition, with record participation from 29 Sausalitobased businesses. The enchanting and highly creative gingerbread houses ranged from whimsical cottages and nautical-inspired designs to displays honoring global traditions. Top judging honors went to the displays at Suzette Café & Bistro, Amour Vert, Soxalito and Tyreus Design Studio. Sausalito Optometry’s elaborate Palazzo Ducale, transformed into a Venetian “dog’s palace” complete with a gondola, captured both a judging category win plus the highly coveted People’s Choice award.

Puppy Parade Tops Off Guide Dogs’ Holiday Luncheon

Bells were ringing and tails were wagging at the Guide Dogs for the Blind annual holiday luncheon at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on Dec. 13. Heartwarming stories filled the day, including one by featured speaker Randy Pierce on his life and journey with his guide dog, Swirl. A highlight was the Santa Paws puppy parade with trainers and their canine friends on the runway. The event raised a record-breaking $840,000.

1 People’s Choice Award winner, “Palazzo Ducale,” designed by Sausalito Optometry
1 Erma Murphy and Kate Zimmer; 2 Peggy Curran and Josh Sale taking home "Switcheroo" by Christopher Chaffin
1 Randy Pierce with guide dog Swirl; 2 Jennifer Boyce and canine friend in the GDB Puppy Parade

Christine Christiansen Joins Compass!

Christine has found her new home at Compass and is

With over 20 years of experience in Marin’s competitive real estate market, Christine combines her deep local knowledge and exceptional service with Compass’s innovative technology and unmatched resources. This powerful combination ensures clients receive a seamless, intelligent, and highly personalized real estate experience.

Whether buying or selling, Christine is committed to achieving outstanding results tailored to each client’s unique goals.

MARIN HOME

Light Touch

Creative design brightens an underfloor studio in a Mill Valley house.

BY LOTUS ABRAMS PHOTOGRAPHY BY LESLIE WILLIAMSON

SOME HOME RENOVATION

PROJECTS are completed in a matter of months, while others can take years. A 1908 Craftsman in the Blithedale Canyon neighborhood of Mill Valley is decidedly an example of the latter. The 2,700-squarefoot home’s renovation has spanned more than two decades, completed in multiple phases by two different owners — all overseen by architect Andrew Fischer. “I’ve been involved with this house for most of my architectural life,” says Andrew, who completed the first phase of the renovations early in his career before launching Fischer Architecture in Berkeley in 2006. When the first owner eventually sold the home, the new owners called back Fischer Architecture, now a husband-and-wife firm with architect Kerstin Fischer, to

complete the last step of the renovation: transforming an unconditioned potting shed located beneath a wood deck into a flexible-use ADU with its own entrance that could serve as guest suite as well as a home office.

The first order of business was to rebuild and seal the existing deck to ensure it would be watertight. Then, the team set to work building the 650-square-foot structure, configuring the open-concept interior to accommodate an office, living room, kitchen, sleeping area and bathroom, and carving away a wall underneath a cedar archway to make way for the exterior entrance.

When designing the structure, the Fischers came up with a creative plan to brighten the entire studio, including the

“I’ve been involved with this house for most of my architectural life.”

windowless back corner where the sleeping area and bathroom are located. At the front of the studio, 11-foot-wide, floorto-ceiling steel sash windows flood the combined living room and kitchen area with sunlight, and a steel-framed glass partition and folding door allow light to pass through into the office, which also features a large window. A track curtain cordons off the sleeping area when in use from the workspace, and a transom window brings natural light into the bathroom. “In what is very much an underfloor space far from the perimeter of the house, we managed to get as much natural light in as we possibly could while still creating separate spaces,” Kerstin says.

In contrast to the upper level of the home, which features warm, natural wood finishes, the guest suite is designed with

A Murphy bed provides flexibility and saves space in the sleeping area.
A steel-framed glass partition allows light to pass from the front of the studio to the office space in the back, which also features a large window.

a lighter palette and industrial elements. Unifying the space, the Fischers salvaged and reused the Douglas fir flooring from the original potting shed and patched it where needed for continuity. Walls and ceilings are paneled in beadboard, echoing the material used on the underside of the exterior porch. To brighten the space, the walls, ceiling and kitchen cabinetry are all painted in the same shade of full-spectrum paint, an icy, smoky blue that appears to change with the light. “It’s kind of like the Marin County fog when the sun shines through — it’s not a gray fog but kind of that happy, blue fog we have,” Kerstin says. Each space is designed with utility in mind — as well as aesthetics. The compact yet fully functional kitchen is outfitted with a sink; two-burner cooktop; convection oven; a small, concealed refrigerator and dishwasher; and painted-wood cabinetry. Carrara marble countertops and glass doors on the upper cabinetry elevate the design. The office features a jib door to the main living area upstairs that cleverly blends in

650-square-foot studio ADU

ARCHITECTURE Fischer Architecture

with the beadboard wall paneling. In the sleeping area, a space-saving Murphy bed pulls down from the wall to reveal a recessed walnut-paneled “headboard” with niches for books and devices, as well as magnetic reading lights, and a TV on the opposite wall pivots to be visible from the desk in the office. The bathroom leans modern with unglazed, dimpled, large-format porcelain Pico tiles from Mutina on the walls and floors, creating the unexpected impression of making the room feel larger. A steam shower, Dornbracht plumbing and a custom mirror with storage and a walnut frame complete the design. Adding warmth and personality to each room, the studio is decorated with the owners’ family heirlooms, antiques and collectibles gathered during their many travels.

“Fighting against any notion that this studio would feel like a basement was really germane to the initial program, and I think it’s quite an accomplishment to see just how bright and cheery it is down there,” Kerstin says.

Above: At the front of the studio, 11-foot-wide, floor-toceiling steel sash windows flood the combined living room and kitchen area with sunlight.
Below: The studio is located under the deck on the lower level of the home.

Located in the picturesque and historical city of Belvedere, this home exemplifies indooroutdoor living at its finest. Effortlessly lounge, dine and entertain on your bay-view terraces or open-concept interiors. Enjoy invigorating sunrises, romantic moonrises and the twinkling lights of Corinthian Island, evoking the coastal charm of Portofino. Situated in Belvedere’s best weather pocket, relish sunshine and blue skies as you meander the secret steps to downtown Tiburon’s boutiques, restaurants and Yacht Club. A spacious two-car garage and additional two-car parking pad provide the rare convenience of

Belvedere, exemplifies indoortwinkling Portofino. Situated in Belvedere’s best Tiburon’s boutiques, restaurants and Yacht Club. A ample parking on the island.

Thank you to all my clients for a successful 2024!

Whether you are buying or selling, I welcome the opportunity to help you maximize your investment. Now, more than ever, is a good time to leverage my market expertise.

“Your understanding of the business, your professionalism, your ability to future forecast, your connections, and the hard work you did to sell my home are deeply appreciated. I count it a privilege to have worked with you.”

The Sarkissian Bullock Team is extremely proud to have represented the Reed family in the sale of this legendary property to the Trust for Public Land, thereby ensuring its open space in perpetuity. Congratulations and thank you to all the contributors – in time and money – who finally succeeded in preserving this inestimable property for current and future generations.

$42,100,000

CHARMING HOME AT THE CROSSROADS OF KENTFIELD, ROSS, AND SAN ANSELMO

821 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BOULEVARD | KENTFIELD OFFERED AT $1,295,000 | 3 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHROOMS

Charming & refreshed 3 bed, 2 bath home at the crossroads of Kentfield, San Anselmo, & Ross, each offering appealing amenities. Front deck with tree-top views stretching to the horizon. Seamless social spaces for effortless daily living. New flooring & fresh white paint create a harmonious aesthetic. Living room’s fireplace adds an inviting ambience. Dining area guests are easily served via open kitchen with breakfast bar, quartz counters, white cabinetry, marble/glass backsplash, stainless appliances & laundry closet. Access backyard from main space to seamlessly entertain outdoors. Primary en suite has 2 closets, shower/tub, & new flooring. 2nd en suite boasts updated bath with marble-inspired shower & new floors. Generous backyard has pergola-covered deck, turf lawn for play & pets and a large upper yard.

821SIRFRANCISDRAKE.COM

Raquel Newman | 415.450.8544 raquel@vanguardmarin.com

LOOKING BACK

One Crooked Railroad

For 33 years it was a Marin tourist attraction. BY

the late 1890s Marin wanted a tourist attraction. One answer was a train from Mill Valley that would snake up Mount Tam pulling carloads of tourists. For the return trip, the train’s engine would get out of the way and tourists in smaller cars relied on gravity to propell them back to Mill Valley. That began to happen in 1896, and it continued happening for the next 33 years, attracting over a million people from all over the world to Marin County. It was the Mill Valley and Mount Tamalpais Scenic Railway, but was also known as “The Crookedest Railroad in the World.” The 8.2-mile route had 281 tight curves with the notorious “Double Bow Knot” coming at the track’s halfway point. “Actually,” says rail historian Fred Runner, “the engine would push not pull the tourist cars up the hill, that way the engine’s exhaust wouldn’t cause tourists to choke and ruin their scenic views.” The 1923 photo on the left shows Engine No. 9 after it had backed its way to the top of Mount Tam. For the trip down, tourists had the choice of a “Gravity Car” or letting the steam engine take them back to Mill Valley. As for Engine No. 9, after the attraction halted business in

1929, it traveled to Northern California where it became a logging train then a landmark for the tiny town of Scotia. Decades passed, and in 2018 “Friends of No. 9” was organized as a nonprofit to purchase No. 9 at auction, then restore and return the 28-ton steam locomotive to its Marin roots. “Right now, No. 9 is in Sebastopol going through final stages of its restoration,” says historian Runner, “and there’s great interest as to what comes next.” According to him,

the California State Railroad Museum is considering exhibiting Engine No. 9 in its highly respected Sacramento location. “While that’s great recognition of what we’ve accomplished, it’s only a short-term solution,” says Runner. “What we need is a permanent and protected Marin site for this relic of Marin’s past.” Over the past six years Friends of No. 9 has raised nearly $500,000 to purchase the engine, relocate it and restore it. More information is available at friendsofno9.com

ED MOSES

1926-2018

I n a career that spanned seven decades, Ed Moses is known for his restless intensity and ever evolving style and considered one of the foremost postwar abstract expressionist painters.

Come into our creative environ. Take a break from "the rest of the world," to see, to feel and to connect.

Rober t Green Fine Ar ts, established 1969, exhibits primarily painterly, abstract expressive work by painters that thoroughly take advantage of the sensually evocative nature of color and form.

Bob Green & Charlotte Bernstrom, co-directors. Photography Douglas Sandberg © 2025

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