Marin Magazine June 2024

Stylish Summer Entertaining

“We

~ John and Maureen Herr

Extraordinary wines are waiting for you at J Vineyards and Winery — just three miles from Downtown Healdsburg.

Designer: Jennifer Corteville

Photography: Kathleen Harrison

30 Music to His Ears San Anselmo resident Jeff Wells shares highlights from his Austin-Marie collection of rare, historical guitars.

34 Natural Phenomena Mill Valley-based photographer Jay Tamang shares the stories behind his stunning shots.

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IN MARIN

19 Currents Fashions through the decades, new business openings, pet wedding witnesses and more.

26 Reading List

Marin author Isabel Allende talks about her first children’s picture book, Perla The Mighty Dog

SPACES

44 Happy Place

With a new party barn and elevated pool area, a weekend home in Healdsburg is primed for entertaining.

50 Modern Heart, Old Soul

Architect Monica Sanga renovates her own 1886 San Francisco home for contemporary living while preserving its Victorian-era charm.

56 Cool Summer

Say goodbye to “June Gloom” and hello to these mood enhancers for your outdoor spaces.

OUT & ABOUT

61 Calendar

A roundup of what to do in Marin and beyond.

70 Dine

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

80 On the Scene

Snapshots from events around the county.

MARIN

HOME

87 Backstory

A dark, dated home is transformed into an airy, elegant oasis with timeless appeal for a retired couple in Kentfield.

GREEN SEAL CERTIFIED

Stay sustainably at the Green Seal Certified OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort.With stunning ocean views and green sea turtles fronting the resort, all rooms come with OUTRIGGER Zone re-usable metal water bottles. Enjoy complimentary reef-safe sunscreen at the pool and check out Ethan Estess’ 30-foot mural of iconic Diamond Head, made from reclaimed plastic fishing industry rope that washed up on the shores of Hawai‘i.

Build a balanced portfolio that works for you

With today’s changing markets and interest rate concerns, it’s important your portfolio has the right mix of investments to help preserve assets, generate cash and minimize risk. I can provide a thorough review of your existing portfolio to identify opportunities to help you feel more confident about your financial future. Contact me today for a complimentary consultation.

Helen Abe, CIMA®, CPFA™, CRPC®

Senior Vice President – Financial Advisor Senior Consulting Group 300B Drakes Landing Road, Suite 155 Greenbrae, CA 94904

(415)445-8468

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Investment and insurance products: • Not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency • Not a deposit of, or guaranteed by, the bank or an affiliate of the bank • May lose value

Asset allocation and diversification do not assure a profit or protect against loss. Bond investors should carefully consider risks such as interest rate, credit, repurchase and reverse repurchase transaction risks. © 2023 RBC

PRESIDENT / OPERATIONS

Nikki N. Wood nwood@marinmagazine.com

Editorial

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Mimi Towle

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Kasia Pawlowska

DIGITAL EDITOR

Jessica Gliddon

SENIOR WRITER

Christina Mueller

DEPARTMENT EDITORS

Lotus Abrams, Donna Berry Glass

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Mimi Pinson

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lotus Abrams, Lisa Boquiren, Jessette Long, Jay Tamang, Victor Volta, Jim Wood

Art

ART DIRECTORS

Rachel Griffiths, Lisa Hilgers

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Alex French

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Joe Fletcher, Sylvia Hardy, John Merkl, Adam Potts, Jay Tamang, Victor Volta

COVER Joe Fletcher

Administration

CONTROLLER

Maeve Walsh

Co-Founders

Jim Wood, Nikki N. Wood

GROUP PUBLISHER

Nikki C. Wood

DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING Leah Bronson lbronson@marinmagazine.com

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Lesley Cesare lcesare@marinmagazine.com

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER

Sharon Coleman scoleman@marinmagazine.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER Carolyn Ware carolyn@270-media.com

ADVERTISING ART MANAGER

Alex French

SALES COORDINATOR Nicole Peyton

MARKETING ASSOCIATE

Helena Grant

Regional Sales Offices

TAHOE Leah Bronson lbronson@marinmagazine.com

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YOUR WINE COUNTRY RETREAT

Canopy is the first collection of luxury residences available at Mill District, featuring 43 condominiums by world-renowned architects Olson Kundig. Scheduled for completion in 2024, Canopy is situated within a preserved grove of redwood trees in the heart of Mill District’s 10-acre neighborhood in downtown Healdsburg. A boutique hotel, retail experiences, a private pool house, and an array of resident amenities are just steps from Healdsburg’s galleries, tasting rooms, boutique shops, bakeries, and Michelin-starred restaurants.

1-BEDROOMS $1.8M | 1-BEDROOM + DEN FROM $2.85M | 2- AND 3-BEDROOMS FROM $3.5M | PENTHOUSES FROM $7.5M

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Summer plans? What? Not yet. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. This special flip book features all the usual community-minded Marin Magazine content in the front, and the party (travel) in the back. As summer draws residents to other parts of the world and brings tourists to our county's hiking trails, beaches, restaurants and unique shops. We shine the light on a few local milestones like Station House Café in Point Reyes Station — which turns 60 and Gene Hiller Menswear in Sausalito is 39 (again). We're also showcasing the ubertalented photographer, Jay Tamang, who is having a show at the Mill Valley Community Center June 4th. In this photo essay, you’ll learn just how dedicated photographers can be to get the right shot. Our cover showcases yet another inspirational dream home. I love how the home owners collaborated with their architect, Malcom Davis, who had worked with them on their home in San Francisco, to create the ultimate party barn. They make it look so easy! And then, just for fun, we have evolved our Summer Guide into a Local Getaways flip book.

Open Studios — this is just the beginning of what we hope will be your “sushi near me” go-to when you are home or traveling in California or Hawaii. In the flip book we offer up a variety of things to do in a three-month summer calendar, as well as California getaways including photographer Victor Volta’s inspiring solo journey hiking the John Muir Trail. And then, closer to home, we celebrate (with a box of Kleenex), our longtime editor Kasia Pawlowska’s new adventure (whatever it may be) with her husband Mac by her side. Kasia has been with us for nearly ten years and is basically running the place, so please excuse the upcoming typos as we get used to our new normal. Wearing her writer hat, Kasia foraged for fungi, explored the wild world of cannabis via her “High Life” column, interviewed hundreds of Marin’s most interesting residents, and if you weren’t “interesting” she knew the right questions to ask to find the story. So with a heavy heart, we force a smile and cheer her onto her next chapter(s).

If you are on our newsletter list, you might have noticed us sprinkling in articles about the best tasting rooms in Napa, dog-friendly restaurants in Tahoe or the best clam chowder in Carmel. One could say Local Getaways (LG) is our pandemic baby, and she is now walking and ready for prime time. Our LG motto is "Travel Like a Local,” and to make sure our audience gets the best insider tips, we work with seasoned regional editors up and down the California coast and in Hawaii. This month you might have also noticed our new LG app partnership with Marin

Speaking of next chapters, next month we’ll be exploring the tips and tricks to aging well from the inside out, and then August is all about Best in the County — the votes are in and readers’ choice winners will be announced.

As always we love hearing from you, connect at @marinmagazine and editorial@marinmagazine.com.

“The difficult we do first, the impossible takes slightly longer.”

Celebrating Women

“Incredible issue! Thanks for the amazing article!” @careyclahan via Instagram in response to our May feature article, Powerful Pool Artistry

“Amazing!!! It’s beautiful,” @jbluxurywine via Instagram in response to our May issue cover reveal.

Design Love

“We couldn’t have asked for a better article. Thank you most kindly @lotusabrams_writes and @marinmagazine,” @sawyers_design via Instagram in response to our April Backstory article, A Colorful Personality

CORRECTIONS

In our May article, The Best Person for the Job, Joan Linn Bekins’ name was spelled incorrectly.

In our May calendar section we erroneously conveyed that Etel Adnan was still alive when, in fact, she had passed away in November 2021.

Letters to the editor

Have something to say? Email us at editorial@marinmagazine.com and be sure to include the town you live in. Your comments may be edited for clarity and brevity.

Thena Holmen, RN has specialized in Aesthetic Nursing for over three decades and has performed over 1000 Fotona4D® laser treatments. As the leading Fotona4D® provider in Marin, she has been privately trained by Fotona’s top European Physician. She continues to build on her advanced skills and knowledge in an industry that is rapidly changing. With her expertise she has been published nationally and internationally including Tatler of London.

Skin Suite Marin offers the most advanced technology with the Fotona4D® non-invasive laser combined with the Hydrafacial and PRX Peel. With an emphasis on natural-looking beauty and collagen remodeling, Thena can help you achieve the best version of you with little discomfort and no down time.

Skin Suite Marin — the premier natural beauty and wellness destination in Southern Marin. Dr. Beth McDougall — Medical Director | Thena Holmen, RN — Aesthetic Nurse

Tailor-Made Philanthropy

YOU’VE GOT A VISION.

WE’VE GOT JUST THE RIGHT TEAM TO FIT YOU.

For decades, the Marin Community Foundation has been a philanthropic force, partnering with individuals and families to maximize their giving in ways that create a positive impact in the community and in the world.

Our Family Office of Philanthropy provides customized, comprehensive services that enable donors with significant assets to turn their philanthropic ambitions into reality.

CURRENTS

Pawfect Wedding Witness

BY KASIA PAWLOWSKA

For pet owners it may sound too good to be true, but in California and 22 other states (and Washington D.C.), your beloved dog — or cat, or cockatiel, or turtle — can serve as a witness at your wedding. Well-behaved pets can be the sole witness or part of a mix of canine/ feline/reptile and human witnesses. This tradition has been in existence for decades in the U.S. and is a result of selfsolemnizing, a legal provision that lets couples marry without an officiant or traditional witnesses. Some of the other states where pets can act as witnesses include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii and New York.

Do’s and Don’ts Over the Decades

Talking the best and worst of fashion with Gene Hiller Menswear.

EDITED BY MIMI PINSON

It’s hard to keep up with the latest fashion trends of the past year. It’s even harder to keep up for 70 years.

Since the dawn of khaki, fashion trends have gone through epic highs and lows: high tops and low rises, small sunglasses and big disasters. But to achieve a timeless look that ascends to the title of “fashionable,” you might need to talk to someone who’s been through the ever-changing cycle of style. Enter Gene Hiller Menswear, Sausalito’s long-standing, award-winning luxury menswear boutique.

In honor of the shop’s platinum anniversary, the stylists at Gene Hiller are parsing the “hots” from the “nots” across seven decades. So before you get a style transformation from them, or invite them over to reorganize your closet, sample their services with a bit of a throwback. Here are the bests and worsts of men’s fashion through the years, courtesy of those who have seen it all, Gene Hiller’s owners Tove Hiller, Tom Gangitano and Wayne Kaleck.

1950s

Hit: The longest lasting fashion hit of the 1950s was James Dean in his leather jacket and t-shirt look, which is

still popular today.

Bust: In the 1950s, the teddy boy suit was the fashion disaster of the decade, along with its bird beak, or croissant-style hairdo. You needed a lot of hair product to pull this style off.

1960s Winner: suits with Chelsea boots. This

style of suit and shoe is very popular today, as it was in the ’60s. Not so groovy: Psychedelic bell bottom pants! Need I say more?

1970s

Off he hook: The Pierre Cardin & Yves Saint Laurent three-piece suits of the 1970s were a big fashion hit in menswear.

Still today men wear three-piece suits. Not so fab: Two of the biggest disasters in fashion of the 1970s were the polyester leisure suit, and platform shoes. Never to be seen again!

1980s

The tubular: The biggest fashion hit in menswear in the 1980s was Giorgio Armani style. He started the Italian revolution in

menswear around the world. To date, the Italians are still the leading men’s fashion producers in the world. The gnarly: The big padded-shoulder, loose-fitting suit. This made every guy look like he was swallowed up by his suit. Not a flattering look. Also, the mullet-style hairdo was a disaster, never to return in good taste.

NEW IN TOWN

BY KASIA PAWLOWSKA

MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN | NOVATO

The Museum of the American Indian (MAI) recently reopened, marking over 55 years of preserving and promoting Native American and Indigenous cultures. Situated within the serene landscape of Miwok Park, MAI took the opportunity during the pandemic to revitalize its physical space and enhance its programming. The museum's renewed commitment to incorporating traditional ecological knowledge reects its dedication to addressing contemporary issues through the lens of indigenous wisdom. marinindian.com

ESQUELETO | MILL VALLEY

Esqueleto features handcrafted ne jewelry, artwork and objects. The shop is also:

• Committed to ethical sourcing

• Supports sustainable practices

THE COUNTY COLLECTIVE FAIRFAX

Anchored by California Cowboy, The County Collective is a retail shop and event space formed by a group of Marin-based brands, including:

• Tommy Breeze

• High Camp Flasks

• Mount Tam Apparel

Special bonus: you'll be oered a free beer when you walk in! californiacowboy.com

• Supports creative and talented independent designers and makers. shopesqueleto.com

LIMITLESS BODY STUDIO | SAUSALITO

Owner Erin Burch’s vision for this studio was her own body journey and development of her highest values: Alignment, Attunement and Assembly combined together create a complete path to healing and freedom. “Our body is our most valuable asset. I’ve developed a unique system for eliminating pain, reversing aging and peak performance,” says Burch. theburchmethod.com

Enter for a chance to WIN!

Enter our giveaway for a chance to win two VIP tickets to the Healdsburg Jazz Festival's concert featuring multiGrammy Award winner Samara Joy on June 16, a signed album, plus a complimentary one-night stay at Hotel Trio!

How to Enter

Scan the QR code below and follow the instructions on the page, and tag a friend on our giveaway post pinned at the top of our @localgetaways Instagram! A lucky winner will be randomly selected and announced on Monday, June 3, 2024.

AUTHOR TALK

BY JESSETTE LONG

Isabel Allende, the critically acclaimed author of bestselling works like Violeta, A Long Petal of the Sea, The House of the Spirits, Of Love and Shadows, Eva Luna and Paula,  has sold over 74 million copies of her translated novels in 42 languages. In 2014, President Barack Obama awarded Allende the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She calls Marin home.

Both The Wind Knows My Name and Perla the Mighty Dog are being published in late May. How does your process change when writing for adults versus children? A story for little kids (three to six years old) is linear, simple, memorable and preferably about something that matters to the child. Good fiction for adults is complex, detailed, layered, nuanced, erotic. I prefer to write a long historical novel rather than fourteen pages for a toddler. The playful and charming illustrations of Sandy Rodriguez made my task easy.

Despite the dierence in genre and target audience for each of these stories, do the characters exhibit similar emotional responses to challenges? Anita in The Wind Knows My Name and Nico Rico in the kids’ book experience fear. Anita is separated from her mother, her situation is tragic. Nico is bullied at school. Different circumstances but a similar emotion. They both use fantasy to cope with reality. Anita invents the planet Azabahar and Nico uses magic dust.

What lessons have you learned from your dog Perla along the way that you wanted to share with young readers? Size, looks and gender don’t matter. What matters is courage and attitude. And my Perla has a lot of both.

Do you have plans to write more children’s books in the future? I have written two more Perla adventures with Sandy’s illustrations: Perla and the Pirate, and Perla and the Princess They will be published in the next couple of years.

Book Passage will celebrate both of these books with Isabel in-person at its Corte Madera store and online on June 1 at 11 a.m. Tickets at bookpassage.com.

The Wind Knows My Name The paperback release of The Wind Knows My Name follows young Samuel as he fles Nazi-occupied Austria, and Anita, as she escapes violence in modern-day El Salvador. Generations apart, both carry the weight of lost family and seek home.

Perla the Mighty Dog

In Isabel’s rst children’s picture book, Perla The Mighty Dog, Perla teaches her human brother, Nico Rico, how to use his superpowers to stand up to a bully. This book is available for purchase in Spanish and English.

The Comfort of Ghosts

Jacqueline Winspear releases the nale of her award-winning Maisie Dobbs series, where the psychologist and investigator unravels a mystery from her past in a war-torn London grappling with its future. Jacqueline Winspear will be at Book Passage in Corte Madera on June 5 at 6 p.m. for an in-person and online event. Tickets at bookpassage.com.

Marin’s Premier Cabinetry Showroom

Discover luxury at Lamperti Contracting & Design. Elevate your space with our range of interior and outdoor kitchen, and bath remodeling solutions. Visit our showroom or call for an appointment today.

In Partnership with Book Passage

Farewell, Amethystine: An Easy Rawlins Mystery Award-winning author Walter Mosley brings Black 1970s L.A. detective Easy Rawlins back to tackle a missing person case that turns deadly, forcing him to confront his own past and navigate a changing world lled with racial tension. Walter Mosley will be at Book Passage in Corte Madera on June 22 at 4 p.m. for a free in-person and virtual event. 1241 Andersen Drive, San Rafael, CA 415/454-1623 lampertikitchens.com

A New Hope. A New Home.

After 44 years on Ritter Street, Ritter Center is poised to make a transformative move to a new home at 800 A Street, San Rafael, in late 2024.

"This new building will enable Ritter Center to expand their services to reach many more people and to have a remarkable place that can serve as a beacon of hope and dignity."

—Rhea Suh, President & CEO, Marin Community Foundation

Discover how you can get involved in our Capital Campaign and create a lasting legacy of hope and healing in our community. RitterBuildsHope.org

Contact Annie Everett aeverett@RitterCenter.org / (415) 847-8043 to book a tour with Ritter Center CEO, Mark Shotwell.

Station House Café Turns 60

BY MIMI PINSON

A Point Reyes staple has entered its seventh decade. Station House Café celebrates 60 years this June. It all started in 1964, when the Rehbein family opened Station House Café, decorating its exterior with the now defunct signage: FOOD TO GO. HAMBURGER.

In the years since, various owners have come through, but some things stayed the same. The hamburger remains a lunchtime favorite (perhaps owing to the sign), and polenta has been another big seller. The key to keeping business fresh? For owner Sheryl Cahill, it’s striking the balance between continuity and change for a loving clientele that can say, “Never change… But what’s new?”

After a recent move to a new building (actually the restaurant’s original location), Station House looks poised for another 60 years. What does 60 years at Station House look like? Well that means…

500,000 burgers grilled

125,000 dozen oysters shucked 2,000 live music shows

1,250,000 popovers baked

Honoring D-Day on a Ship from Its Armada

BY MIMI PINSON

The SS Jeremiah O’Brien is a ship that’s used to being one of a kind:

Of the 2,710 Liberty cargo ships massproduced during World War II, the O’Brien is the only one that still exists in its original operating condition.

It’s the only ship to have sailed on its own power out of the Navy reserve fleet of retired ships (the “mothball” fleet).

And in 1994, it was the only ship that was part of the D-Day armada to return to Normandy for the 50th anniversary of the Allied invasion that began June 6, 1944.

Now the ship stands as a living memorial to the merchant marines and servicemen who operated it during the war. The original triple-expansion steam piston engine still runs; it even made a cameo in the 1997 film Titanic. On June 1, O’Brien will hold a day of festivities to honor the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Fisherman’s Wharf. From 1–3 p.m., visitors can expect a 1940s-style band, a Rosie the Riveter lookalike contest and a series of speakers to talk about the ship and its history. O’Brien is also open to the public seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ssjeremiahobrien.org

Coming back stronger never stops.

At Novato Community Hospital, orthopedic excellence isn’t just our mission—it’s our achievement. Recognized as one of the top 50 U.S. hospitals for orthopedics, we never stop striving for better. When you choose Novato, you get outstanding care from the moment you enter our doors through recovery and beyond. We never stop working to get you back in action.

Learn more at sutterhealth.org/novato-orthopedics.

COLLECTORS {} music

Left: 1829 Fabricatore

front; Center: c. 1890

Lamy rosette+label;

Above: c. 1890 Lamy rosette+label

BY LOTUS ABRAMS

PHOTOS BY STEVE

San Anselmo resident

BY LOTUS ABRAMS

PHOTOS BY STEVE KEPPLE

After studying classical guitar as a child, Jeff Wells went on to become an avid collector of historical guitars in later years. Now the San Anselmo resident owns more than 60 rare and historical guitars from across Europe and the United States in his Austin-Marie Collection, which is showcased on his website, austinmarieguitars.com, and book series. On October 5, the Austin-Marie Collection will be presented at the Marin Art and Garden Center, along with performances by guitarists playing period-appropriate pieces on several instruments in the collection from different eras. Here, Wells shares how he got into collecting, along with some of the most notable guitars in his collection.

Collector : Jeff Wells

Collection: I’m the owner of the Austin-Marie Collection of historical guitars dating from the early 17th century to the end of the 19th century.

Years collecting: I’ve been collecting for many years, but as for seriously assembling a “collection” of the leading and most representative makers of their time and region, about 20 years.

How many pieces? Presently, there are 65 guitars in the collection.

Where do you keep them? Many of the instruments are displayed on my website. They are physically kept in an offsite storage facility in Marin County.

Why? I began studying classical guitar at age 12 and went on to receive my master’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. I was accepted to the Peabody Institute at John Hopkins University for the Ph. D. program but declined to attend just before the fall semester began. Through a turn of circumstances, I became involved in finance but kept performing and recording for some years. On a trip to Switzerland in the late 1980s, I purchased my first historic guitar, an 1820 Joseph Rieger from Mittenwald, Germany. I was hooked.

How do you acquire the guitars?

I find them in various locations, primarily in England and Europe. I have a contact at the University of Cambridge, Dr. James Westbrook, who is a leading organolo -

Je Wells

gist and knows where many of the treasures are buried! Sometimes, however, the instruments have been sourced in the unlikeliest of places. For example, Pierre René Lacote was the premier builder of fine guitars in Paris in the first half of the 19th century. The 1834 Lacote in my collection, which was owned by wealthy 19th-century musical instrument collector Andrew Fontaine (he owned the Strad violin still known today as Le Fontaine), was sourced in Napa by a woman whose husband had died. How he got it, no one knows. It’s arguably the finest Lacote to survive and has been featured in collection books.

Favorite guitar? That’s very tough to answer. Likely, it would be my 1834 Lacote, 1812 Furnielas (the only one), or maybe my 1834 C.F. Martin (only 12 have survived from Martin’s first year of making guitars in America).

Most valuable? Likely, it’s the 1652 Alexandre Voboam (only four extant), or maybe the 1785 Giovanni Battista Fabricatore (the earliest extant six single-string guitar in the world), my circa 1625 Matteo Sellas or my 1834 Martin.

Most unusual? Unusual would have to go to either one of my Laprevottes for their oval sound holes, or maybe to the presentation guitar by Aubry-Maire made in Mirecourt, France, for an American buyer.

Fun fact: My circa 1890 Jerome Thibouville-Lamy was used by actor Colin Firth in 2002’s The Importance of Being Earnest, which had an all-star cast that included Reese Witherspoon, Rupert Everett and Judi Dench. Firth actually damaged the guitar, but thankfully, it wasn’t serious (the subsequent repair shows no trace of the damage). Fortunately, it wasn’t damaged to the extent that Kurt Russell destroyed a priceless Martin in 2015’s The Hateful Eight Martin & Co. Museum stopped loaning out guitars after that incident.

Are you still adding to the collection? being added to the collection regularly and at the moment, there are four guitars in the queue to be posted on the website, including an Italian five single-string transition guitar from 1760 and a guitar owned by one of Napoleon’s generals, Bacheville, who in turn gifted the instrument to Ferdinand Pelzer, the famous 19th-century teacher and impresario who was the father of the even more famous, Madame Sidney Pratten, who went from child prodigy to becoming the foremost guitar personality in London during the Victorian era.

Above: 1839

Laprevotte Right: c. 1785 Pagés angle

STUNNING

PHOTOGRAPHY THAT WILL MAKE YOU GO,

"WOW!"

Jay Tamang is a photographer who lives in Mill Valley. At the core of his photography, Tamang conveys a reverence for the beautiful phenomena of nature. In the following pages, he shares his method for capturing those fleting moments in time that result in an interesting photo. Tamang’s photography will be on display throughout June at the Mill Valley Community Center, where he’ll also hold a reception from 5:30–7:30 p.m. on June 4. A portion of all sales will be donated to support children’s education in Nepal.

Bristlecone Pine

Bristlecone Pine

(previous page)

One of the oldest trees, about forty minutes from Bishop, the town. The astronauts are there, training and studying the stars. There’s nothing there. You need to take food from the city. I go in the night, sit until midnight and wait for the perfect moment, for stars to glow, for the Milky Way. I open up my shutter so you can see the star trails. I’ll spend a whole night up there by myself. If you’re brave enough to stay by yourself or with friends, it’s quiet. It’s beautiful. You hear the wind. Being in nature, it’s phenomenal. The trees are not dead. They’re actually smooth. So beautiful and smooth.

Bolinas

Around sunset. I love Bolinas Ridge because I’m above the ocean. And when the fog flws above the oceans, and the sunlight hits the curvy hills, the light is so beautiful. It feels like I’m above the heavens.

Mono lake - Tufas (opposite)

From the outside, if you look at Mono Lake while driving through Highway 395, you see the big lake but not the tufas. They form sandstone. I go around twelve or one in the morning, walk down by these tufas, sit with them and look. Billions of stars cover the tufas, and you feel like you’re covered in the stars. On top of that, you get the beautiful hues of the Milky Way.

People ask me, “Is that real?” You have to be there the time that I was there. If it’s cloudy, you won’t be able to see it. If you go during the night, and it’s clear, midnight, a day when there’s a Milky Way — then yes, you will be able to see it. Nature will do.

Horseshoe bend

This was a difficult tripor me. I hiked the day before in Marin Headlands. I got poison oak! This was in summer, and it was 100 degrees there as we drove to these places — Zion, Lake Powell, Grand Canyon. When we got to the Grand Canyon, I started to get itchy in my hands, legs, all over.

When you go out to walk to Horseshoe Bend, you walk through this heat. I felt like I was gonna die there, or go crazy. But I got patient and watched the sunset. At that time, there were no steel bars. I could walk to the edge and start taking photos of it. When the lights come through the holes in the canyon, it’s amazing — a beautiful shine through the walls of the canyon.

Rodeo beach sunset

Being a photographer, I can capture the things that have environmentally impacted our world. In 2020, when we had a big wildfie, for a few days the sky was blacked out. Everyone was inside, but for me I wanted to go outside to see how things were happening. I went outside during sunrise and sunset. When the smoke cover blocked the light, a red sun was just sitting above the ocean. It’s incredible to see that moment that you won’t see again — unless there’s another smoke. The red colored light refleting on the ocean. Even though the environment is impacted, you can still see some beauty. Scan for the full story

Kashima. Michel Ducaroy Made in France

A HEALDSBURG HOME IS PRIMED FOR OUTDOOR

ENTERTAINING, A SAN FRANCISCO VICTORIAN GETS A THOUGHTFUL MAKEOVER AND MORE

New hardscaping and landscaping transform a pool area in Healdsburg.

HAPPY PLACE

With a new party barn and elevated pool area, a weekend home in Healdsburg is primed for entertaining.

BY LOTUS ABRAMS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE FLETCHER

Surrounded by rolling hills planted with acre upon acre of vineyards, the town of Healdsburg , with its historic town square lined with chic restaurants, boutiques and tasting rooms, is a go-to wine country getaway destination for many Bay Area residents. For San Francisco couple Thomas Ranese and Brian Jackson, Healdsburg has officially become a home away from home since they found their dream weekend property there a few years ago: a 1,950-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath farmhouse-style home with a pool on the outskirts of town.

“We purchased the property in 2017, after looking persistently for almost two years,” Ranese says. “We fell in love with the expansive vista and infinite view of vineyards throughout Dry Creek Valley, yet it’s located only 12 minutes from everything downtown Healdsburg offers.”

When Ranese and Jackson purchased the house, they knew that they would eventually like to make changes, however. For one thing, they wanted more space to entertain family and friends. And, while the previous owner of the property had put in a pool, it was located at the edge of the property line and awkwardly aligned with the house, making it feel disconnected.

It took the couple several years to decide how to proceed, and their vision evolved over time. “We had originally wanted to expand the footprint of the main house, but it was proving difficult given the boundaries with the road and a creek that runs through the property,” Ranese says. “But as we spent more time there, we realized our desire was actually to be outdoors.”

To help them decide on the best approach, Ranese and Jackson turned to San Francisco-based Malcolm Davis Architecture

From left: The new “party barn” features an outdoor kitchen with fans and heaters to regulate the temperature year-round; the drivethrough parking spot is positioned between the outdoor kitchen and guest quarters; a new walkway and landscaping connect the pool with the rest of the property.

(MDa), the firm that had transformed their San Francisco home a decade earlier, and Healdsburg landscape architecture firm Lucas & Lucas. “MDa inspired us to see that we could create a more integrated indoor-outdoor experience with a communal space outdoors connected to indoor areas,” Jackson says.

Together, the team landed on a plan. Rather than enlarging the existing home, they would build a new structure on the property devoted to indoor-outdoor entertaining, while making only small changes to the existing home, including carving out space for an additional bathroom.

The new “party barn” complex encompasses a 600-square-foot covered outdoor kitchen and dining area, a 300-square-foot drive-through parking space, a 600-square-foot guest suite with bathroom, an expansive patio lounge area with a fire pit overlooking the vineyards and a courtyard that connects the new structure to the existing house. All told, the new solution provides more usable square footage than the original expansion plan.

“Now the compound has four bedrooms and four bathrooms, so it works really well for entertaining and provides a wider range of living experiences as opposed to just a big house,” says founding principal of MDa Malcolm Davis. “We also aligned the new structure with the existing swimming pool, so they speak to each other along a clear line; it’s almost like we reverse engineered it.”

The new structure is intentionally simple in form, built with redwood siding harvested locally from a managed forest and a corrugated copper gable roof. “It’s pretty low-key and plays off the vernacular barns of the area,” Davis says. “It looks like a simple dogtrot barn from the street, so when you drive by you don’t even really notice it.”

At the same time, MDa added thoughtful design details that elevate the spaces and speak to the couple’s aesthetic — a blend of modern sophistication and rustic charm.

“On the guesthouse portion of the structure, we used a board and batten motif, because that’s very common on barns, but we did it in reverse, so you see the board, and the battens are behind the boards to fill the gaps,” Davis says. “But on the outdoor kitchen portion, we left the batten off, so when you go around the corner you get this surprise that it’s not only an open space with this exposed steel moment frame, but you also see light coming through the gaps in the boards.” Corrugated polycarbonate

skylights above the outdoor kitchen and covered parking area illuminate the spaces further with dappled light that streams through the trees overhead.

Primed for entertaining, the outdoor kitchen features a barbecue, beverage refrigerator and dishwasher set against a wall of Heath Ceramics tile, as well as under-counter cabinetry and hidden storage in the walls. Ceiling fans and heaters hung beneath the exposed corrugated copper roof ensure the space remains equally comfortable on hot days and cool evenings, and builder Shawn P. Bettega Construction managed hide to the necessary wiring to maintain a seamless appearance.

Inside the guesthouse portion of the structure, a bay window overlooks the vineyard in the spacious bedroom, which has enough room to accommodate a small table and chairs and sitting area. The bathroom is easily accessible from the entryway without the need to pass through the bedroom, making it well-suited for pool-time use.

“Since the renovation, we spend as much, if not more, time outside than inside, including the winter, given the use of ceiling heaters and the fire pit,” Jackson says. “We practically live in the outdoor barn, sipping coffee in the morning on the patio facing the valley vineyards and cooking meals in the outdoor kitchen, whether it’s just the two of us or we’re hosting a group of friends. And, Thomas uses the guest suite as an office when working from home, which helps separate work from play.”

The pool area has also been vastly improved, not only because it’s now aligned with the new entertaining structure, but also through cohesive landscaping and hardscaping designed by Lucas & Lucas.

“While set apart from the house, the pool now feels like part of the overall experience, as it’s an easy walk over the creek with the addition of a concrete bridge,” Ranese says. “We now have this wonderful wine country complex where every element is seamlessly interconnected by stunning landscaping and thoughtful sightlines. It’s a space that we truly cherish and enjoy.”

Clockwise, from top: A bay window in the guest suite overlooks the vineyards; an expansive patio with a

From left: A custom millwork structure, “the monolith,” divides the dining room and living room from the kitchen; from the exterior, the home looks like a simple one-story cottage.

MODERN HEART, OLD SOUL

Architect Monica Sanga renovates her own 1886 San Francisco home for contemporary living while preserving its Victorian-era charm.

BY LOTUS ABRAMS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SYLVIA HARDY

San Francisco architect Monica Sanga and her husband saw many houses in the city when searching for a home to purchase but ultimately, it was an 1886 Victorian that won their hearts. Perched on a dramatic hillside above the Castro in San Francisco, the Corona Heights home looks like a simple one-story cottage from the front. After stepping inside, however, the threestory home unfolds over the hillside, and the panoramic view of the city and East Bay reveals itself. Despite the home’s modest size and narrow footprint — a mere 1,320 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms and only 20 feet wide — they knew immediately it was “the one.”

“My husband is a software engineer, so he’s very methodical, and he had made a spreadsheet ranking all the different qualities that we wanted in a new home,” Sanga says. “But as soon as we walked in, the spreadsheet was forgotten.”

Smitten, the couple made the leap, knowing that some serious work lay ahead to make the house work for their needs. “The biggest pain point was that the kitchen was very small and closed off from the rest of the house,” Sanga says. “Also, a lot of infrastructure was problematic, like there wasn’t any overhead lighting in the second bathroom, and it had a really old toilet with a pull chain — we used to joke that every flush of the toilet cost $8 because it used so much water.” In addition, the primary bathroom was cramped and had an odd layout, while the primary closet was dark and overly large. The outdated plumbing, heating and insulation all required updating as well.

Rather than immediately diving into the renovation, however, Sanga and her husband decided to live in the house for a year to better understand the space and plan the design. “We needed to adapt the home to make it work for modern life, but at the same time, we didn’t want to lose the charm of the house and everything that we had fallen in love with in the first place,” Sanga says. She also took time to assemble her team for the project, favoring local craftspeople and women- and minority-owned businesses.

The task of reimagining the tight, Victorian-era spaces for contemporary living may best be likened to solving a puzzle, and post-renovation, the most important piece is undoubtedly “the monolith,” as Sanga describes it. Crafted from locally salvaged timber by San Francisco-based Kaimade Woodworking, the 10-foot-long, multifunctional custom millwork structure spans the reconfigured kitchen, dining area and living room. The side

facing the kitchen houses a pantry, refrigerator, oven and microwave; the dining room side features cabinets and shelves bookended by a freestanding Jøtul gas fireplace; and the balcony-facing side accommodates a coffee bar. “It was quite complicated for our millworker to put together because there are actually different depths inside depending upon which side you’re looking at,” Sanga says. “He did such a beautiful job of matching up all of the grain patterns and really making it look like a piece of art, yet it’s highly functional at the same time.”

In addition to optimizing the layout, the monolith also serves to define the spaces. “I didn’t want to have a completely open floor plan,” Sanga says. “I like having the kitchen off to the side so that I don’t have to look at the dishes. And, because it’s a relatively compact footprint, having distinct spaces helps provide a sense of spaciousness

Clockwise, from right: The balcony-facing side of the monolith features a built-in coee bar; the kitchen features a grey fume limestone countertop and waterproof polished plaster backsplash; the primary bath is inspired by Japanese onsens.

From

top: A freestanding Jøtul gas fieplace warms the living room; an outdoor balcony oers a panoramic view of the city and the East Bay.

since you have different areas to occupy.”

The kitchen, which features a grey fume limestone countertop and waterproof polished plaster backsplash, also benefits from several other organizational design details: A small pantry opens to reveal storage space as well as additional countertop workspace, and drawers are precisely dimensioned according to use. “The spice drawer is my pride and joy,” Sanga says.

Like the kitchen, Sanga reconfigured the primary bathroom and adjoining closet to improve functionality, in this case increasing the size of the bathroom while decreasing the area devoted to the closet. The spaces were also dark, as the closet is located deep within the house with no windows. Rather than lament the lack of natural light, however, Sanga decided to lean into it. The dark, moody, intimate Japanese onsen-inspired bathroom features black walls, custom hickory millwork, brass fixtures, natural stone tile in the shower, radiant heating and a honed concrete slab countertop. Likewise, the closet features black walls that provide a dramatic backdrop for the custom millwork. “Creating these deep shadows actually gives you an illusion of more space,” Sanga says.

Expanding the sense of space even further in the home, multiple sets of French doors on each floor open to outdoor decks furnished with lushly potted plants and a garden where Sanga and her husband enjoy taking in the view. The doors and brass hardware are original to the house, a conscious nod to its Victorian heritage. Where possible, Sanga also preserved baseboards and trim, and did a custom run to match them in areas where they needed to be replaced.

Bringing the home up to the present, however, are its high-tech automation systems that control everything from lighting, shades and temperature to door locks and music via voice, phone or tablet. Sanga’s husband was instrumental in researching the home-tech systems, and the couple ended up choosing consumer-grade solutions rather than the hard-wired proprietary systems typically installed in many high-end renovations. “What’s great about off-the-shelf tech is that it can be replaced and adapted when things change, it’s easy to install and it’s really user friendly,” Sanga says.

In the end, the painstaking attention to detail the couple put into the renovation has paid off, resulting in a home that manages to achieve a thoughtful balance between old and new. Says Sanga, “It was definitely a lot of work, but I’m so thrilled with how everything turned out.”

#4 BY

TAKAYAMA for Heath Ceramics: Made by the self-taught sculptor in his home workshop located in a mountainous countryside outside of Tokyo, this exquisitely crafted stool is at once sculptural and functional. $1,400 at heathceramics.com

COOL SUMMER

SAY GOODBYE TO “JUNE GLOOM” AND HELLO TO THESE MOOD ENHANCERS FOR YOUR OUTDOOR SPACES. TURN UP THE STYLE FACTOR, NO MATTER THE TEMPERATURE.

DRAGNET SWING by Kenneth Cobonpue: Inspired by the single motion of a fishermanthrowing his net into the sea for the daily catch, this inventive lounger features a cocoon-shaped steel frame with an eye-catching mesh made from twisted polycotton. $5,220 at kennethcobonpue.com

MULTI-STEM VASES from Heath Ceramics: With or without flwers, these versatile vases add understated style to any room. $123 each at heathceramics.com

EVIA LOUNGE by Galanter & Jones: From the pioneering heated furniture company comes this refinedtwo-seater to keep you warm in all seasons, thanks to energy-efficienradiant heat. Features a powder-coated stainless steel frame. $5,900 at galanterandjones.com

BY LISA BOQUIREN

OCEAN MASTER M1 POLYNESIAN by Tuuci: This parasol's performance features — double stitched ballistic fabric, joint reinforced ribs and corrosion-proof strength resin connector pieces — do all the heavy lifting, so you can focus on perfecting poolside lounging or beachfront relaxing. To the trade at dunkirksf.com and retail at tuuci.com

STOOL

HIDEKI

Photos: Paul Dyer Photography

DAWN FROM MANOS by Concreteworks: The cornerstone of many outdoor spaces is a fie feature: this hand-cast, fiber-einforced concrete minimalist piece delivers maximum warmth. Starts at $6,599 (for match light options) at manos-made.com

EMMET SOFA from Room & Board: Featuring a lower seat height for modern lounging, this outdoor sofa is a circular product — it's made from high-density polyethylene, sourced partially from recycled plastics, which can be used over and over again. $2,149 at roomandboard.com

E008 EMBRACE OUTDOOR DINING CHAIR by EOOS at Carl Hansen & Søn: Crafted from untreated, FSC-certifiedteak, which patinas over time, this cozy chair is stackable and comes with an optional soft outdoor cushion. $705 at carlhansen.com

PLEXI WOOD OUTDOOR DINING TABLE

by Antoine Fritsch & Vivien Durisotti for Roche Bobois: Arboreal and airy, this piece features a solid oak base, created by hand. The transparent top — made with Altuglass, a premium cast-acrylic with light-transmitting properties — is delicately engraved to resemble the veining of a cut log. Price upon request at roche-bobois.com

PASEO® UMBRELLA

from Santa Barbara Designs: This sun shade may feature non-traditional vertical stripes (unlike the patterns of market umbrellas along the Mediterranean coast), but you can still put in as much horizontal time as you want. Contact for pricing santabarbaradesigns.com

Largest and Best Selection of Stone and Quartz Material in the North Bay

OUT ABOUT AND

Festivals and fairs, neighborhood concerts and more excellent events.

SF Pride Parade

EDITED BY MIMI PINSON

CALENDAR

No June gloom here! Summer has begun in Marin, and residents have their pick of outdoor concerts, plus celebrations for Juneteenth and LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

June Festival and Fairs

JUNE 8–9 Festival of Art, Wine and Music

Get a commemorative pint glass from the yearly party on Novato’s Grant Avenue, featuring booze, live music and plenty of shopping. What more could you need? novatochamber.com

JUNE 8–9 Fairfax Festival Another favorite summer festival, Fairfax’s weekend of activities includes a Friday family movie night, parade on Saturday morning and after-parties that go well into the night. fairfaxfestival.com

JUNE 20–23 Sonoma-Marin Fair

This annual fair bridges the North Bay’s best two coastal counties with goats, rides and funnel cake. Only here can you enjoy the wonderfully ridiculous World’s Ugliest Dog competition — a famous contest which champions animal rescue. sonomamarinfair.org

JUNE 22 Marin City Juneteenth Festival

Say hello to the Good News Bear, the mascot of Marin City’s annual Juneteenth community festival. This day honors African American history and the end of slavery — all while having a great time with music, food, a market of African goods and tons of family fun. juneteenthcommunityfestival.info

Phoenix Kingdoms, Asian Art Museum

ARTS, THEATER AND LECTURES

JUNE 2, 8, 9, 16 The Mountain Play You never quite know someone until you walk a day in their sparkly, red, thigh-high boots. From the top of Mount Tam, you can have a theatrical experience like no other by watching Kinky Boots from a forest with bay views. mountainplay.org

JUNE 5 “Live Better Longer” Seminar Series Worm is the word at this community seminar by the Buck Institute. Join Dr. Gordon Lithgow in a discussion on what worms can teach us about living longer, and how just a few genetic tweaks and drugs can increase their lifespan by 50–100%. buckinstitute.org

JUNE 5–29 Company An award-winning revival of the Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical is touring (tearing?) through the country. This production swaps the original male protagonist for the feminine Bobbie, along with some other updates for a 21st-century story that just happens to be 50 years old. broadwaysf.com

JUNE 20 Comedy in the Plaza Kick back and get ready to laugh at the Mill Valley Downtown Plaza during this free comedy event. Five standups will rotate while attendees can soak up the long summer evening. millvalleyrecreation.org

JUNE 25 Dr. Anthony Fauci at Dominican University Dr. Fauci, of course, was America’s top doctor through the pandemic, as well as a leader during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the ’80s. Hear his perspective and get his new book On Call at this event presented by Book Passage. bookpassage.com

JUNE 28 THROUGH JULY 28 Much

LEGACY ARCHIVING

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Ado About Nothing Marin’s beloved Shakespeare company returns to its outdoor performance space, kicking off summer with a production of the hilarious Much Ado About Nothing. lightsourcesf.com

Witness love, deceit and plenty of verbal sparring in the park at Forest Meadows Amphitheatre. marinshakespeare.org

MUSIC

JUNE 7 Queer Chorus of San Francisco

To give you an idea of how fun this concert will be: the choral program ranges from Handel to Björk. Celebrate Pride Month at this free concert, with an even freer wine reception for pre-registered guests, at the beautiful Mill Valley Public Library. millvalleylibrary.org

Summer Concert Series in Your Neighborhood

Can you hit them all? These concerts run throughout the summer, so you might as well keep that waterproof blanket in the trunk for a while. Tag us @marinmagazine and use the hashtag #MarinSummerConcerts. If you’ve been to all of them, you’re in the running to win free tickets!

(Just kidding… Nearly all of them are free. How about a $100 Visa card?)

STERN GROVE FESTIVAL

CONCERTS-IN-THEPARK

CORTE MADERA SUMMER CONCERTS

CONCERTS ON THE CIVIC GREEN

HOT AMPHITHEATER NIGHTS

San Francisco / Online

Belvedere

Corte Madera

Okay, it’s not technically Marin, but Stern Grove Festival streams all their concerts online, so you can enjoy

Bee Gees covers from You Should Be Dancing in Belvedere’s Community Park. cityoelvedere.org

Jam out to the Zydeco Flames, theCorte Madera Town Band and moreat Menke Park. cortemaderacommunityfoundation.org

Fridays starting June 7.

Sundays starting June 23.

Monthly on select Sundays, starting June 16.

Sundays starting June 9.

Novato

Novato

MUSIC IN THE PARK San Rafael

SUMMER NIGHTS AT FILOLI

Woodside

Local group Wreckless Strangers play one show, followed by songwriter Matt Jae in front of old Novato City Hall. novato.org/ events

The Hamilton neighborhood will hear rocksteady and reggae from Dan Martin and the Noma Rocksteady Band for Hot Amphitheater Nights. novato.org/events

Marinwood Park hosts the neighborhood for live music, BBQ from Marinwood Market and even a bar for those 21+. marinwood.org

Down the Peninsula, you can enjoy a dreamy evening in the Filoli Historic House and Gardens, complete with pleasant acoustic music and refreshments. loli.org

Every other Friday starting June 7 ( except July 5).

Final Saturdays of the month starting June 29.

Select Sundays starting June 28.

Wednesdays & Thursdays starting June 12.

SAUSALITO JAZZ AND BLUES BY THE BAY

Sausalito at Gabrielson Park

There are too many spectacular groups to list coming to Jazz and Blues by the Bay. sausalito.gov

Sausailto Jazz and Blues by the Bay

JUNE 8 Mozart on Fortepiano Daniel

Adam Maltz plays Mozart and Haydn as they were originally intended, performing not on a grand piano but the instrument’s predecessor, the fortepiano. Catch this show at the Sausalito Center for the Arts. sausalitocenterforthearts.org

JUNE 14–16 Country Summer Music

Festival Giddy up, cowboy. The North Bay is going country with this three-day fest featuring acts like Little Big Town and Jordan Davis. You can even camp out after the shows, staying on site at the Sonoma Fairgrounds. countrysummer.com

THROUGH JUNE 30 The Magic Flute Even more Mozart awaits you at SF Opera, with the composer’s final opera hitting the War Memorial Opera House for a month of performance. Watch the princess get rescued and learn some German in the meantime. sfopera.com

FILM

MAY 30–JUNE 9 San Francisco DocFest

Documentaries don’t have to be dry narration from the History Channel. DocFest pushes the bounds of documentary filmmaking, with a lineup of over 90 compelling, daring and sometimes weird shorts and features. sfdocfest2024.eventive.org

JUNE 13 Gattaca Screening and Discussion Dissect this science fiction film — much of it filmed in Marin and the Civic Center — as part of the Smith Rafael Film Center’s “Science on Screen” series. After the film, Dr. Katie Hasson of the Center for Genetics and Society will share her expertise on gene editing and human biotechnology. rafaelfilm.cafilm.org

JUNE 19–29 SF International LGBTQ+ Film Festival See stories from all around the world and through a variety of media at this long-running and widely recognized film festival for queer art. With yearly attendance hovering around

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60,000, this festival might be the city’s most well attended LGBTQ+ arts event. frameline.org

MUSEUMS

THROUGH JULY 22 Phoenix Kingdoms

A multisensory experience through lesser known kingdoms of Southern China, this exhibit at the Asian Art Museum presents recent groundbreaking archaeological finds, many of which have never been displayed in the United States. asianart.org

JUNE 4–9 Bouquets to Art This annual exhibit at the de Young invites floral designers to create arrangements that pay homage to museum masterworks. Open for just five days, this exhibit is your chance to see the museum’s galleries in a new way. You might also walk away with your own bouquet from the flower cart. famsf.org

JUNE 12–JULY 7 Pride Not Prejudice

Now two years running, this exhibit at Sausalito Center for the Arts marries the themes of Jane Austen’s novel with LGBTQ+ pride and identity. Art from 20 different artists will explore love, choice and acceptance, with a reception in coordination with Sausalito Pride on June 21. sausalitocenterforthearts.org

EVENTS

JUNE 1 Mill Valley Pride in the Plaza

Mill Valley kicks off its month of Pride celebrations with this pride flag raising at Lytton Square, followed by a party in Depot Plaza. Expect live music, a fashion show and more to ignite this new Mill Valley festival. millvalleypride.org

JUNE 1–2 Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley Attention literature lovers: Hundreds of authors will hold panels, readings and workshops during this weekend dedicated to the written word. Activities culminate in a free outdoor fair on June 2 at Berkeley’s Martin Luther

King, Jr. Civic Center Park, complete with food, a family fun zone and books on books on books. baybookfest.org

JUNE 2 The 41st Annual Union Street Festival It’s all happening on Union Street between Fillmore and Octavia on June’s first weekend. You can shop the wares of dozens of local vendors, listen to back-to-back live music or join the “Waiters Race” to see how far you can run with a drink tray. unionstfestival.com

JUNE 9 The 113th Annual Dipsea Race

Over a hundred years of history are baked into this race, which goes from Mill Valley’s town center, then up and down many hills until runners hit Stinson Beach. dipsea.org

JUNE 15 San Francisco Juneteenth The city’s historic Fillmore District fills up with carnival games, a classic car show, activities and vendors of all sorts at this celebration of freedom and the Black community. juneteenth-sf.org

JUNE 20 Rock the Block Novato: Kick O Summer School’s out, and downtown Novato’s summertime happenings won an A+ from me. Rock the Block is Novato’s summer block party, happening from 6–9 p.m. in downtown Novato. Stay tuned for the summer send-off concert coming in September. downtownnovato.com

JUNE 20–22 Sausalito Pride Now in its second year running, Sausalito Pride packs the weekend with events for Pride Month. The events lineup promises a Town Night Out, a reception and celebration at Jazz and Blues by the Bay and a ticketed drag event on the final night at Gene Hiller Menswear. sausalitopride.org

JUNE 22 Soy and Tofu Festival Celebrate the mighty soybean and its many iterations at this community event in Japantown. Cooking demonstrations, free samples and dancing tofu mascots fill the schedule of this too fun tofu extravaganza. soyandtofufest.org

Reta A. Haynes

A.J. & Melissa Rohde

Heffernan Family Foundation

Kate & Yaz Krehbiel

Marie Boylan & Jeffrey Freedman

Bruce Braden

Jeanne Sciutti Capurro & Family

Miranda & Justin Chen

Dr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Dietz

Jinnie K. Simonsen & John V. Carbone Foundation Chartreuse

Peridot

Betsy & Ed McDermott

Doug Dossey & Kathrin Dellago

Erin & Alex Earls

Sharon A. Early

Chris & Bob Feibusch

Tiffany & Brandon Gantus

Lindsey & Robert Burmeister

Marianne & Gino Canori

Ann Ehmann Crump

Heather Kay

Susan Kay & Jeffrey Rudsten

The Brockman Family

Sally Buehler

Stone Coxhead

Robia & Dave Crisp

Dr. Susan Cumming & Mr. Alastair Cumming

Edie & Bill Dagley

Hadley Mullin & Dan Kalafatas

Stephanie & Mark Robinson

Susan & Dennis Gilardi

Catherine & Rob Hale

Sally & Bill Held

Nancy & Skip Kniesche

MarinHealth Urology

Julie & Ian McGuire

Jamie O’Hara & Cynthia Weldon

Tucky & John Pogue

Nancy P. & Richard K.

Robbins Family Foundation

The Schultz Foundation

Jay & Katie Kern

Taylor & Sean Kramer

Debbie Matthies

Nancy Mattson

Jeannie & Ken Perry

Susan & Michael Schwartz

Eric Schwartz & Magda Wesslund

Ken & Judy Siebel

Holly Tate & Scott Clark

Lois & Mel Tukman

Stephanie & Arthur Young Kelly

Laura & David Perry

Kiki Pescatello

Henry Timnick

Marc Watrous & Kim Kraemer

Julie & Timothy Van Voris Jade Laurel

The Grey Family Foundation

James Griffith & Jay Masunaga

Francine Halberg & Terry Kessler

Wyman & Gay Harris

Jack & Jan Lapidos

Denise Lucy & Francoise Lepage

Teresa & Mitchell Nilsen

Bill & Mary Poland

Sarah & Tom Poser

Margaret & Andy Sabin

Dennis Whipp

Don & Susan Young

reflects sponsor support as of April 15, 2024.

Benefiting MarinHealth Cancer Care

through the purchase of the Eclipse™ Radiation Treatment Planning System

Our community gems shined brightly, contributing over $1.2M through our annual gala, held on April 20, 2024.

DINE

WHAT’S HOT? THE TEMPERATURE BY

KASIA PAWLOWSKA

After a wet winter, warm summer days are treasured all the more. Get your dose of vitamin D while enjoying everything from sustainably sourced seafood tacos to bountiful eggs Benedict on one of these excellent outdoor dining spots throughout the county.

NORTHERN

• Boca Pizzeria, Novato

• Beso Bistro, Novato

• Finnegan’s Marin, Novato

• HopMonk Tavern, Novato

• Mi Pueblo Taqueria, Novato

• Moylan’s Brewing Company, Novato

• Rustic Bakery Cafe, Novato

• Trailhead, Novato

SOUTHERN

• Bungalow 44, Mill Valley

• Depot Cafe, Mill Valley

• Fish, Sausalito

• Hook Fish Co., Mill Valley

• The Junction, Mill Valley

• Malibu Farm, Tiburon

• Piatti, Mill Valley

• Piazza D’Angelo, Mill Valley

• Playa, Mill Valley

• Poggio, Sausalito

• Salt & Pepper, Tiburon

• Sam’s Anchor Cafe, Tiburon

• Tiburon Tavern, Tiburon

• The Trident, Sausalito

• Watershed, Mill Valley

CE NTRAL

• Cucina sa, San Anselmo

• Kientz Hall, San Anselmo

• Perry’s on Magnolia, Larkspur

• RangeCafe, San Rafael

• RH Marin, Corte Madera

• Rustic Bakery Cafe, Larkspur

• RangeCafe, San Rafael

• Tam Commons, San Rafael

• Valenti & Co, San Anselmo

Hook Fish Co.

HopMonk Tavern

Kientz Hall

Alfresco Dining

Cucina sa is open for lunch and dinner 6 days a week! Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday 11:30AM to 3 PM, brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11:30AM to 3 PM, and dinner is Tuesday through Sunday from 5PM to 9 PM. Outside dining on our bridge and 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

FAIRFAX 720 CENTER BLVD. MILL VALLEY 201 FLAMINGO RD. GENATURAL.COM

CORTE MADERA

Burmatown Asian

Ave, 415.985.5060; burmatown.com

$ BB

Though the menu remains largely the same (that tea leaf salad! Those bao!) at the new location down the street from the original, the addition of a grill boosts the menu with dishes like kalbi ribs or smoked salmon collars. A long bar on one side of the room serves wine and beer and the front windows slide open for easy access to a large patio. 18 Tamalpais

Flores Mexican

With an emphasis on regional Mexican dishes and avors sourced from family recipes, the menu is based on California seasonality and revolves around gluten-free masa. The daily-made tortillas are a highlight. 301 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.500.5145; oressf.com

HH BB

Marin Joe’s Italian

A mainstay for over 50 years 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; marinjoesrestaurant. com

Zinz Wine Bar

Californian

Locals pop by the petite wine bar for

its cozy atmosphere and an eclectic array of boutique wines and craft beer, all available for takeout. A short menu of prosciutto-wrapped dates, charcuterie and cheese boards is perfect for enjoying during a Friday night tasting event. 207 Corte Madera Ave, 415.927.9466; zinzwinebar.com

HH$

FAIRFAX

Fradelizio’s Italian

A perennial

neighborhood gem, the cozy space welcomes all with daily specials (salmon, line-caught in Bolinas, with a golden beet and arugula salad, house made Meyer lemon fettuccine with salmon and asparagus) and a wine by the barrel program. 35 Broadway Blvd, 415.459.1618; fradelizios.com

Sorella Cae Italian

Run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella serves fresh Italian with a northern influnce. Favorites include the cioppino, butternut squash ravioli, pollo alla Sorella and the garlic bread. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520; sorellacae.com

HH $ HH $ BB

GREENBRAE KENTFIELD

Guesthouse

Californian

Jared Rogers, the former executive chef of Picco, heads up the kitchen, partnering with restaurateur Dustin Sullivan on this 110-seat space. Look for well-executed California cuisine with weekly specials like Prime Rib on Mondays and fried chicken on Sundays. 850 College Ave, Kenteld, 415.419.5101; guesthousemarin.com

HH

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 coee drinks, pastries and much

more. Enjoy a casual daytime meal inside or out on the patio. 848 College Ave, Kenteld, 415.459.0291; halfdaycafe.net

$BB

LARKSPUR

Left Bank Restaurant

French

This Parisian-style 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 replace, 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 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. Its bar is a perennial best of the county winner. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.1877; perryssf.com

BB

Pizzeria Picco Pizza

This family-friendly parlor next door to Picco oers Californiainuenced Neapolitan pizzas cooked in a wood-burning oven. Fresh mozzarella is pulled in-house and the menu also features organic salads, antipasti and Straus Dairy soft-serve ice cream. Heated outdoor seating is available. 316 Magnolia Ave,

Burmatown

415.945.8900; pizzeriapicco.com

$

R’noh Thai Thai

This cozy place with a patio by the Corte Madera Creek has a reputation for fresh avors. It’s all here, from curries and Thai barbecue to noodle dishes and the classic tom kha (coconut lemongrass soup). For an indulgent treat, try the fried sweet potato appetizer. 1000 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.0599; rnohthai.com

$ Rustic Bakery Californian

The Marin-grown bakery is known and loved the world over:

Pope Francis famously requested Rustic Bakery atbread and crostini when he visited the U.S. in 2015. Organic bread and pastries baked fresh each morning and salads, sandwiches, and soups make this a staple. 2017 Larkspur

Landing Circle, 415.461.9900 and 1139 Magnolia Ave; 415.925.1556; rusticbakery.com

$

MILL VALLEY

Bungalow 44 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

Floodwater Californian

Order a handcrafted “Gold Rush” (Old Forester bourbon, local honey, lemon) at the long 20 seat bar and watch the game on ve huge 4K TVs

while noshing on pork belly steamed buns, or dive into Shorty’s Tall Reuben. The patio features multiple re pits. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.843.4545; flodwatermv.com

HH $ Gravity Tavern

American

With ingredients suited to reflet modern tastes, American classics

like grilled chicken Waldorf salad with pickled grapes, lobster roll with toasted challah and veggie slaw, and a land and sea pasta with housemade egg pasta,

pork belly and crab, may have also been familiar fare for passengers of the Mt. Tam gravity car for which this saloon was named. 38 Miller Ave, 415.888.2108; gravitytavern.com BB HH

Harmony Chinese

A warm, inviting place to enjoy classical and innovative Cantonese fare with the house specialty, hand crafted dim sum. Local favorites include savory Peking duck with steamed tea buns, juicy Shanghai dumplings and unique bites like minced lamb with radicchio cups.

The famous signature beef is a denite must. 401 Strawberry Village, 415.381.5300; harmonyrestaurant group.com

Hook Fish Co Seafood

The wood-ceilinged dining room feels like a boat’s galley and

Bungalow 44

Poggio Trattoria

the spot’s popular outdoor beer garden adjacent to Mill Valley’s Proof Lab at Tam Junction has 13 taps, but the draw at this counter-service joint is the seafood. The transparent supply chain means you can enjoy the poke, sh and chips or sh tacos knowing where and on what boat your meal came from.

254 Shoreline Hwy; hookshco.com

Piatti Ristorante and Bar Italian

A replace 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 true oil or roasted salmon with artichokes and Calabrian chili.

625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525; piatti.com

Tamalpie Italian

With views of Mt. Tam from the covered, heated patio, this spot known for its local sourcing also features two replaces and a full bar serving craft cocktails, wine and beer. The dierence is in the dough, small batch, housemade and gluten-free.

477 Miller Ave, 415.388.7437; tamalpiepizzeria.com

Watershed

Californian Gather ’round the wre pit in front of the restaurant at the

Lumber Yard or hang out at the long bar for a predinner glass of wine before sampling one of the many dishes curated to reflet the bounty of Marin. The Stemple Creek Ranch burger and fresh pastas are matched with a bevy of simply prepared, easy to share dishes.

129 Miller Ave, 415.888.2406; watershed.com

NOVATO

Perry’s American Epic burgers and cocktails, excellent service, signature blue-and-white 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 Speakeasy American

In addition to the 10 beers on tap, cocktails range from the 1920s to the 2020s. A shareable, tapas-style menu includes grilled maitake mushrooms, escargot and mini street tacos. 504 Alameda del Prado, 415.883.7793; thespeakeasy novato.com HH$

Toast American

With outdoor dining and spacious inside seating at Hamilton Marketplace, large parties, families and everyone else dives in on comfort food favorites like corned

beef hash, buttermilk pancakes and at dinner, chicken schnitzel and shrimp scampi. 5800 Nave Dr, 415.382.1144; toastnovato.com

$ Trailhead American Order breakfast, shareable snacks, paninis, salads, and Equator coee drinks at the counter before grabbing a seat on the all-day café’s shaded patio. The baked goat cheese is a standout and pairs with the 10 local beers and two wines available on tap or from the craft can program. 127 San Marin Dr, 415.493.6902; trailheadnovato.com

$

SAN ANSELMO ROSS

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 avors and just the right amount of sweet heat. 726 San Anselmo Ave, 415.457.9470; baanthaimarin.com

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 stued pecan-crusted French toast, chicken Okasan (nicknamed “Crack Chicken” by fans), Korean BBQ ank steak and Wor Won Ton soup. 335 San Anselmo Ave,

Creekside Pizza & Tap Room American

A perennial Best of the County winner known for their artisan pizzas, hearty sandwiches, avorful pastas and fresh salads, Creekside oers 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

Cucina sa Italian Open for lunch, weekend brunch, and dinner six nights a week, come by for homemade pastas, seasonal salads, and wood-red 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

BB BB

this petite cafe serves a lunch menu of so-called fancy toast and big green salads with seasonal air. 702 San Anselmo Ave, 415.453.3100; florcraftbakery.com

$BB

Madcap

Californian

Chef Ron Siegel’s contemporary art-lled space is known for its urban edge. The vegetablecentric menu, available as a tasting menu, incorporates seafood and Japanese techniques in colorful dishes like trout with baby bok choy, purple daikon and dashi that are bold, balanced and bright. 198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.453.9898; madcapmarin.com

Marché Californian

415.454.9840; comfortscafe.com

$ BB

Flour Craft Bakery

American

Along with artisan glutenfree and an assortment of vegan pastries, breads and special-occasion cakes,

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;

The Spinnaker

The Caprice

415.925.9200; marchemarin.com

N

Marinitas Mexican

This sister restaurant of Insalata’s continues to ourish as a bastion of creative Mexican and Central and South American cuisine. Not your typical south-ofthe-border spot, they serve up top-notch margaritas and Latin lusciousness. 218 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.454.8900; marinitas.com

HH $ BB

Taco Jane’s

Mexican

The full bar features plentiful tequila and mezcal selections and its regional Mexican cuisine includes Oaxacan mole, sh tacos and vegetarian options. Black Gold salsa arrives with complimentary chips and is created from charred blackened tomatoes and roasted chilis.

Enclosed patio seating is available year round. 21 Tamalpais Ave, 415.454.6562; tacojanes.com

HH $ BB

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 Arrivederci

Italian

Located in the heart of San Rafael for the past 27 years! Chef Tito is proud to serve fresh homemade pastas and dishes from all over Italy. Visit the expansive dining room, full bar, garden patio and private rooms for par ties and events. 11 G St, 415.453.6427; cafearrivederci.com

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 $

Red Rooster Brick

Oven American Roasted in the brick oven, then brushed with sweet and spicy garlic sauce, Red Rooster wings are a must-order at an allday Italian American restaurant with a sprinkling of Asian avors. A thin crust pizza pulled from the brick oven is available at breakfast, too (glutenfree crust is available), and a changing menu of daily oerings. The buttermilk-fried chicken sandwich with house made chipotle aioli has a dedicated following and the Boston clam chowder might just convince a few New Englanders to relocate. 901 B St., 415.234.8414; redroosterbrick oven.com

Vin Antico American Vin Antico, “where passion meets the plate,” serves seasonal market-inspired cuisine like stone-oven-baked atbreads, handmade pastas and organic salads, all innovatively prepared. Black sesame-crusted tuna is classic, even better with an Il Capo negroni. 881 Fourth St, 415.721.0600; vinantico.com

BB N

SAUSALITO

Angelino Restaurant

Italian

Multiple generations of the Ancona family create an authentic Italian eatery with handmade pastas and

seasonal antipasti that has showcased the cuisine of the Campania regionfor more than 20 years. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225; angelino restaurant.com

Fish Seafood

It has been said that this restaurant and sh market launched the sustainable seafood movement, making it the ultimate place for freshly caught, unobjectionable fare. Order any of the day’s oerings, the menu changes daily, but usually has a variation of sh tacos, ceviche and grilled sh. 350 Harbor Dr, 415.331.3474; 331sh.com

Kitti’s Place Thai

This home-style family-run restaurant has been in town for over 20 years. It features Californiainspired favorites like lettuce cups stued with chicken and almonds, soft spring rolls and a curried turkey burger. A patio out front gets midday sun. 3001 Bridgeway, 415.331.0390; kittisplace.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

Seafood Peddler Restaurant and Fish Market Seafood

The sh is bought daily and is on display in the Market from local shers, who are also restaurant patrons. The happy hour bar scene — Monday to Thursday specials that are well worth the visit — is one of the best in town. Enjoy cioppino, local petrale sole and fresh Monterey Bay calamari, crab cakes and clam chowder. Great views from every table and awesome patio dining when weather permits! Recipes are adjusted to incorporate the freshest sustainable

catch. 303 Johnson St, 415.332.1492; seafoodpeddler sausalito.com

HH 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

The Bungalow Kitchen Californian

A lively social lounge and restaurant from chef Michael Mina and Brent Bolthouse boasts epic views and a menu of seasonal California fare executed by chef Harrison Chernick. The upstairs lounge boasts late-night service (until 12 a.m.), a billiards table, a gas-powered replace, and a live DJ on weekends. 5 Main St, 415.366.4088; bungalowkitchen.com BB BB BB BB HH BB

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 let mignon, Colorado lamb chops) and sea (gnocchi with crab, abalone dore).

2000 Paradise Dr, 415.435.3400; thecaprice.com

HH BB

Malibu Farm

Californian

The latest SoCal-to-NorCal culinary import to Tiburon features a home-grown and sustainable ethos, in dishes like fennel-rubbed boneless half chicken and soyginger hanger

steak. The menu leans into seafood — there are ample choices for caviar, salmon, oysters and other ocean treats — as well as vegan or glutenfree reimaginings. Look for a pork belly taco with a jicama wrap and the more famliar lobster roll on a hot dog bun.

9 Main St, malibu-farm.com

BB BB

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. 1696 Tiburon Blvd, 415.910.1010; p etiteleftbank tiburon.com

$ N

Salt & Pepper

American

A locals favorite for classic American fare. From morning’s Bloody Mary and eggs Benedict through lunch’s clams bouillabaisse and hamburger to dinner’s crab cakes with jalapeño dipping sauce and skirt steak tacos. 38 Main St, 415.435.3594;

saltandpepper tiburon.com

BB

Tiburon Tavern Californian Food service at the Lodge at Tiburon is in the hands of Luna Blu’s Renzo and Crystal Azzarello who run the Tiburon Tavern bar, restaurant and other on-site eating opportunities. Executive chef Selvin Vicente is on board to handle the ow from breakfast and brunch through dinner. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.3133; lodgeattiburon. com

WEST MARIN

Side Street Kitchen

American

The ne-casual eatery led by chef Aaron Wright (formerly of Tavern at Lark Creek) 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; sidestreet-prs.com

$BB

Station House

Cafe American

Known for their house made popovers, this cozy cafe is also recognized for fresh oysters, grass-fed burgers, and an “everything fresh, local and homegrown” ethos. Dining in the garden is as popular on weekdays as on the weekends. 11285 CA-1, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.1515; stationhousecafe. com

$BB

Get your outdoor space ready for summer with our motorized screen shades. Enhance your beautiful views of Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a member of our design team and experience the Hartley difference.

BY DONNA BERRY GLASS

ON SCENE THE

Play Marin’s Players Night Supports Marin Youth

Play Marin’s second annual Players’ Night on April 27 at the Sausalito Portuguese Cultural Hall gave grownups a chance to unleash their inner child-like selves by playing board and arcade games, taking silly photo booth shots and dancing the night away — all in support of the nonprofits mission to empower Marin County’s youth and bridge the cultural divide in sports and play activities.

1 Angela Kriens, Kenya Curry, Antonae Holly; 2 Tenisha Tate-Austin, Paul Austin, Katy Foster; 3 Felecia Gaston and Vern Glenn; 4 Lilly Bragg, Doreen Gounard, Juanita Edwards.

2

St. Vinnies Luncheon Spotlights Fashion and Fundraising

On April 11, the St. Vincent de Paul Auxiliary Board hosted its third annual ladies’ boutique, luncheon and fashion show at the Meadow Club. The fete featured the designs of Trina Turk on the runway and plenty of opportunities to scoop up jewelry, accessories and other baubles during an onsite shopping soiree. The sold-out affair was attended by 210 women, who opened their hearts and pocketbooks to raise $100,000 by the afternoon’s conclusion — all in support of Vinnie’s mission to lend a hand up to those in need.

MarinHealth Foundation Gala Raises

$1.2 Million for Cancer Care

Friends of MarinHealth gathered at San Rafael’s Peacock Gap Golf Club on April 20 for the foundation’s annual black tie gala, An Emerald Evening. More than $1.2M was raised in support of MarinHealth’s nationally recognized cancer care program while physician champions, Drs. Alex Metzger and Lloyd Miyawaki, shared words of profound gratitude for the support of the community.

Were You On the Scene?

Check out our new page to nd out! Marin had no shortage of events supporting our amazing county. If we missed yours — or if you have an upcoming event — please ll out our form for consideration.

1 Bryna Holland, Ramona Mays and Carla Daro-Kaliski; 2 Christine Paquette, Kathleen Woodcock, Cyndi Weingard and Marci Rinko; 3 Samantha Leung, Soraya Aughney, Kathleen Woodcock, Lori Frugoli, Anne Russell and Petra Higby.

1 Kate Krehbiel, Andrea Schultz, Yaz Krehbiel; 2 Lloyd Miyazaki, MD, David Klein, MD, Melissa Rohde, A.J Rohde and Alex Metzger, MD; 3 Sarah Cason, Kristen Sperling, Tiany Gantus, Laurie Carrade.

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.

Celebrating Marin’s Women at Casa Madrona

More than 100 women filled the Alxandrite Suite at Casa Madrona on May 2 for Marin Magazine’s Celebrating Women event, in honor of the magazine’s annual issue that highlights the county’s finest movers and shaers. Guests enjoyed wine provided by J Vineyards and Rodney Strong, cocktails by Local Motion, plus tasty nibbles and desserts by Poggio. Lucky raffle winners received generous gifts fromorsche Marin and the event’s title sponsor, Skin Suite Marin, which also gifted each attendee with a generous portion of Alastin skin care products.

STEVEN GREGORY PHOTOGRAPHY

1 Marin Magazine team; 2 Casa Madrona Sta: Monica Cruz-Hernandez, Bernadette Alejo, Suzanne Cullen; 3 Maureen "Mp" De-Nieva, Mimi Towle, Leah Bronson, Christine Christiansen.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Skin Suite Marin • Porsche Marin

J Vineyards and Winery

Rodney Strong Vineyards

Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa

Poggio • Local Motion

4 Sharon Coleman, Nikki N. Wood, Kyle Festog, Nikki C. Wood Nikki C. Wood; 5 Eva Temby and Eva Claiborne; 6 Marcia Skall, Barbara Chambers and Jennifer Glassman.

J Vineyard's Kristen Cropper

Porsche Marin

Casa Madrona

Thena Holmen of Skin Suite Marin

Rodney Strong Vineyards

MARIN HOME

Modern Mediterranean

A dark, dated home is transformed into an airy, elegant oasis with timeless appeal for a retired couple in Kenteld.

BY LOTUS ABRAMS

EXTERIOR

INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MERKL

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM POTTS

The gracious backyard overlooks Mt. Tam.

With its majestic location adjacent to Mt. Tam, sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay, gracious pool deck and bright interior punctuated by azure accents and artisan tilework, a house belonging to a retired couple in Kentfield evokes the breezy feeling of the Mediterranean coast. It would have been hard to envision this modern Mediterranean oasis, however, when the couple first purchased the property. Before Rossbased interior designer Susan Skornicka of Skornicka Designs & Construction and her team renovated the home, the interiors were dark, the lighting fixtures and hardware were heavy and dated and the pool deck looked barren due to all of the hardscaping.

complemented the limestone outside. These changes made it possible to preserve the “bones” of the home rather than reconfiguring the spaces, saving time, manpower and budget. “At first we were thinking of doing a much bigger renovation where we would take out the arches, but the limewash made it all more elegant,” Skornicka says.

INTERIOR DESIGN

Susan Skornicka

CONSTRUCTION

“It was already Mediterranean, but it felt very dark, loud and masculine, and there were arches everywhere,” Skornicka says. “The homeowners wanted it to feel more quiet and peaceful. And from the pool deck, you could see the incredible views of Mt. Tam, but it just didn’t feel like part of the landscape.”

Gubbins Building Co.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Susan Skornicka and The Backyard Farm Co.

When it came to transforming individual rooms, some required more reworking than others. Rather than completely overhauling the kitchen, for example, Skornicka brought new life to the space by painting the island in Benjamin Moore teal to anchor the roomand echo the blue tones seen through the window; painting the cabinets; softening the hood by sheathing it in plaster; and replacing all of the tile, surfaces and hardware. “It was probably the least reconfiguring I’ve done on any project, yet it feels fresh,” Skornicka says.

The property’s outdoor areas have also been reimagined to better complement the beauty of their natural surroundings. Skornicka collaborated with The Backyard Farm Co. to plant a kitchen garden for homegrown produce, and Skornicka’s daughter, Maia Skornicka Mazur, planted a native flower garden. An outdoor fireplace and multiple seating areas provide plenty of opportunities to appreciate the view. Potted olives and flowing grasses soften the hard edges of the pool area, and a giant Buddha sculpture sits peacefully beneath a native coast live oak tree.

The transformation complete, the property is now a refined, modern Mediterranean retreat where the homeowners enjoy spending time together and with their children and grandchildren. Says Skornicka, “This was a magical project because it turned out so much better than I had ever planned when we first walked into the home.” Details WHERE Kenteld WHAT 6,300 square-foot Mediterranean remodel

Transforming a home of this grand scale — 6,300 square feet with nine bedrooms, six full bathrooms and three partial baths — was no small feat. Skornicka’s first priority was to lighten and brighten the overall spaces, taking inspiration from the whitewashed, artfilled homes along the coast of Greece and Italy, where Skornicka and her assistant designer, Jennifer Kimpe, visited while working on the project. Echoing this Mediterranean feeling, the team painted the walls white using an eco-friendly limewash finish for texture and movement. They also replaced the patchwork of different flooring with light, wideplank hardwood floors throughout that

The master bath, however, required a complete remodel, with all materials replaced. Featuring a custom sink cabinet, shower bench, Ann Sacks tile and large Lindye Galloway hutch, the bathroom now displays a level of sophistication seen in the rest of the home.

Throughout, thoughtful details evoke classic Mediterranean style with a modern Californian flair. Moroccan tile adds interest to the stairway risers, and zellige tilework embellishes the kitchen and primary bath. New furniture, rugs and textiles from SummerHouse in Mill Valley are complemented by custom pieces from Mitchel Berman Cabinetmakers and vintage rugs and French cabinets filled with objets d’art. Custom drapery elegantly frames the views, and large-scale artwork by Suzanne Onodera purchased at Seager Gray Gallery in Mill Valley provides a focal point in the living room and dining room.

Clockwise, from left: An eco-friendly limewash fiish on the walls amplies the Mediterranean feeling of the home; furniture, rugs and textiles were sourced from SummerHouse in Mill Valley; potted plants and outdoor lounge furniture embellish the pool deck.

Megan Pomponio

415.827.9229

meganpomponio@gmail.com megansellsmarin.com DRE 01884035 Congratulations Megan Pomponio for being recognized as one of 2024 WSJ RealTrends America's Best Real Estate Professionals Top 1.5% of Realtors Nationwide 8 Pleasant View Road, Novato 6 Bed 3.5 Bath 3,656 Sq Ft $1,850,000 2 Penny Lane, Novato 5 Bed 3 Bath 3027 Sq Ft $1,549,000 Multiple offers on both properties!

A RARE FIND: STUNNING ARCHITECT-DESIGNED BRAND NEW HOME IN THE FLATS OF MILL VALLEY

649 Northern Avenue, Mill Valley I $4,390,000 I 4 Beds, 3 Baths

Step into 649 Northern Avenue and prepare to be wowed by a stunning new home and an experience for the senses. This just-completed four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence is new from foundation to roof, but It is also a meeting of form, function and beauty. The entry level features jaw-dropping double-height ceilings and the kitchen of your dreams, with Thermador appliances, sleek wood and glass cabinetry, rich, durable stone countertops, and a 10-foot island for entertaining. An ensuite bedroom with plenty of closet space doubles as a great study or space to relax. The living room with fieplace opens to the green, lush, flat backyad with its majestic redwood tree and seasonal creek. The home’s second level offers a generously-sized primary suite, two additional bedrooms, shared bathroom and a laundry room. The cedar-sided two-car garage leads to a handy mudroom and utility closet, also great for wine storage. The neighborhood’s flat steets are great for socializing with neighbors and walking dogs. Play pickleball or tennis at nearby Eastwood Park, which also features a children’s play area. Gorgeous hiking trails and top-rated public schools are minutes away.

Whether maximizing the value of your home or finding the home of your dreams, our Marin agents provide incomparable service at all price points. We’re locally rooted, globally connected, and leading our industry.

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415.407.2151

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j.zeiter@ggsir.com

MarinFineProperty.com Lic.# 01325942

Experience the allure of this idyllic single story retreat, showcasing outstanding outdoor living spaces, an inviting floor plan, and mesmerizing views of the bay, Sausalito, Strawberry Point, and the rolling hills of Marin. Enriched by a seamless blend of Santa Barbara and Montecito influences, this residence exudes timeless beauty and embodies the coastal ambiance synonymous with the seaside lifestyle of the Tiburon Peninsula.

• This enchanting residence blends indoor and outdoor living to create a serene setting for daily life, offering endless opportunities for relaxation and entertainment, the picturesque grounds feature a new pool and spa, two entertainment terraces, a turf lawn, pristine landscaping, and a gated front courtyard with lush-level lawns

• Arched doorways and windows, high ceilings, columns with intricate millwork, Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring, and exposed wood-beamed ceilings

• Bathed in natural light, the elegant and grand-scale living room accentuates the incredible architectural elements and high-quality craftsmanship found consistently throughout the residence; a beautiful bay window captures picturesque views and lends a sense of grandeur to the Montecito style

• The formal dining room, adjacent to the living room, features vaulted ceilings, a peninsula with built-in cabinetry, and oversized picture windows framing views of the bay and the resort-like backyard

• Elevating the art of entertaining, the stunning chef’s kitchen features a large center island with a sink, an extended breakfast bar with seating for multiple guests, Danae ceramic slab countertops, two stylish lighting pendants, a built-in desk with shelving, a skylight, an oversized bay window with intricate millwork, stainless steel appliances, and light wood vaulted ceilings that create a warm and inviting atmosphere

• The light and bright family room features open beamed ceilings, built-in cabinetry and shelving, a large gas fireplace with stone surround, clerestory windows, incredible views, and sliding glass doors opening to the pool and private backyard

• Nestled in a private wing, the primary suite boasts a walk-in closet with a custom wardrobe system, vaulted ceilings, a chic chandelier, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to the outdoors

• The opposite bedroom wing features two ensuite bedrooms, a recreation room (or 4th bedroom), a bonus room with a full bathroom, and a dual office nook

• Magical resort-like grounds offer year-round outdoor living; featuring turf lawn, a large built-in stone bench, entertainment terraces, a new pool with spa, modern glass railings, a dedicated gas line for outdoor grilling, lush front lawns, and mature landscaping

• Situated within an exclusive enclave of custom homes in one of Tiburon’s most coveted neighborhoods, this special residence offers great privacy and only minutes away from all your conveniences 4RollingHills.com

LOOKING BACK

From Abraham and Isaac to Kinky Boots

It’s been 111 years since the first Mountain Play was staged at the 2,000-foot level on Mount Tamalpais. “The very first one, in 1913, was a 15th-century drama titled Abraham and Isaac,” says Eileen Grady, executive director of the Mountain Play Association, the year-round, San Rafael-based nonprofit that stages the long-running summertime productions (note accompanying poster promoting 1913’s Isaac and Abraham). “Back then, the audience just sat on the grassy hillside as there were no seats,” adds Grady. According to her, to reach the site in those early days playgoers either hiked eight miles up from downtown Mill Valley or rode the Mount Tamalpais Scenic Railroad, aka “the World’s Crookedest Railroad,” to its terminus then walked down to the amphitheater. By the 1930s, cars had replaced the railroad and the Civilian Conservation Corps had set more than 5,000 serpentine boulders, some weighing up to 2,500

BY JIM WOOD

lbs, into 40 rows of seats resembling a classic Greek open-air theater with a capacity of 4,000. At that time, the Mount Tam treasure was named the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheater, honoring a Scenic Railroad executive who was highly supportive of the annual event. Plays were suspended during World War II as well as during the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Even worse, Mountain Plays nearly died due to lack of interest in the 1970s. That’s when the play’s board of directors replaced heavy dramas with popular musicals such as My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, Hair and Grease. Adhering to that policy, this year’s selection is Kinky Boots, a Broadway musical based on a Harvey Fierstein book about the travails of a familyowned shoe factory and featuring a Tony- and Grammy-award winning score by Cyndi Lauper. All performances start at 2 p.m. on June 2,8, 9 and 16 — tickets are available at mountainplay.org.

Marin’s Mountain Play is a summertime staple.