38
Speak, AI, Speak Nina Schuyler, a non-techie, learned enough about tech to write an AI novel.
42
Foundations of the Past Tracing the roots of Marin County’s oldest houses.
50 A Matter of Time
Sausalito resident Steve Fabes shares his fondness for collecting all things horological.
HAWAI‘I’S MOST HAWAIIAN HOTEL
A beachfront paradise perpetuating true Hawaiian culture. Immerse yourself in the vibrant traditions and customs of Hawai‘i through daily activities, captivating Hawaiian entertainment and culturally rich programs. Experience the wealth of culture and genuine aloha that set us apart as an authentic Hawaiian resort.
21 Currents
Back to school tips from students, local jewelers on redesigning heirloom pieces and new store openings.
36 Conversation: Meredith Suttles
The managing director of the Marin Theater Company (MTC), speaks about her past two years on the job.
73 Dip In! Epic Hawaii pools and more.
76 Escape Crowded National Parks
Other natural wonders are waiting to inspire you.
79 Calendar
A roundup of what to do in Marin and beyond.
84 Dine
An insider’s guide to dining and food in the Bay Area.
94 On the Scene Snapshots from events around the county.
101 Backstory Architect Lauren Goldman renovates her Mill Valley home to provide a welcoming environment for her family of five.
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
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Bernard Boo, Kirsten Jones Neff, Nick Pauley, Nina Schuyler, Lili Weigert, Jim Wood
INTERNS
Claire Fiorentino, Eva Knowles, Luke Lori, Emma Robertson
Art
ART DIRECTOR
Lisa Hilgers
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
Alex French
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Paul Dyer, Steve Kepple
COVER PHOTOGRAPHER
Nick Lowndes
Administration
CONTROLLER
Maeve Walsh
Co-Founders
Jim Wood, Nikki N. Wood
Volume 19, Issue 9. Marin Magazine is published in Marin County by 270 Media LLC. All rights reserved. Copyright©2022. Reproduction of Marin Magazine content is prohibited without the expressed, written consent of 270 Media LLC. Unsolicited materials cannot be returned. Marin Magazine reserves the right to refuse to publish any advertisement deemed detrimental to the best interests of the community or that is in questionable taste. Marin Magazine is mailed monthly to homes and businesses in Marin County. Marin (USPS 024-898) is published monthly by 270 Media LLC, 4000 Bridgeway, Suite 105, Sausalito, CA 94965. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sausalito, CA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 270 Media LLC, PO Box 50, Lincolnshire, IL 60069. The paper within this product is at least 70% from a Forest Stewardship Council®-certified forest (FSC-C002420). The balance may be recycled material and/or controlled wood.
Welcome to the latest issue of Marin Magazine! As we dive into the pages of this edition, I am thrilled to share with you the captivating stories, stunning visuals, and compelling insights that celebrate the very essence of life in Marin County.
In these rapidly changing times, our beloved Marin County continues to flourish with its unique blend of natural beauty, vibrant communities and innovative spirit. As your editor, it's been an absolute privilege to witness and document the evolution of our region. This issue, like the ones before it, strives to encapsulate the heartbeat of Marin, embracing its timeless charm while embracing the progressive energy that keeps it ever-changing.
From the rugged coastal landscapes that have inspired artists for generations to the bustling city centers where creativity and commerce intertwine, Marin County is a true tapestry of diversity. In these pages, you will find profiles of local artists, visionaries, and trailblazers who have made their mark on our community. We've sought out unique stories that remind us of the magic within our midst and inspire us to keep pushing boundaries.
Beyond the captivating features, we've curated a selection of insights that will serve as your guide to navigating the best of Marin County. From the latest trends in dining and entertainment to the hidden gems waiting to be discovered, we're committed to keeping you informed and engaged with all the riches our county has to offer.
As we emerge from the challenges of the past year, the importance of community and connection has never been more evident. In this issue, we aim to celebrate the resilient spirit that binds us together and
showcase the stories of individuals and organizations that have selflessly contributed to the betterment of Marin County.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the talented writers, photographers, and creatives who poured their passion into bringing this issue to life. Together, we have crafted a magazine that I hope will inspire you, spark curiosity, and deepen your love for Marin County.
Lastly, none of this would be possible without you, our cherished readers. Your loyalty and engagement are the bedrock of Marin Magazine's success, and we are humbled by the opportunity to be your trusted source of news and inspiration.
The wildfire destruction on August 9th hit a little too close to home for many of us here in Marin and the Bay Area. Scan for ways to help those affected by the fires.
As we turn the pages of this issue, I invite you to savor every story, to relish each photograph, and to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Marin County. Thank you for joining us on this journey, and we look forward to continuing to explore the wonders of Marin together.
With warmest regards, Mimi Towle, Editorial Director, Marin Magazine [written by Chat GPT]
P.S. Hey folks, it’s Mimi. I wanted to see if Chat GPT could write my letter. Let me know what you think! mtowle@marinmagazine.com
This summer, Eva, Emma and Luke jumped into the publishing world and learned the ins and outs of Adobe Suite, WordPress, the writing process, email outreach and more. Recently, they wrote affiliate and destination posts for Local Getaways, created a Marin dining guide on InDesign, researched everything California for weekly trivia quizzes and helped out at the Best of the County party. We’re going to miss them so much!
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 spring of 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.
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One of the best gifts you can pass on is the gift of education. Finding the right way to save for a child’s education can be difficult, and I can help you create a plan that’s right for you. Contact us today to find out how you can invest in a child’s future.
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Thanks to Marin Magazine for the shout out and thanks to our amazing staff (especially Martin on sound!), all the talented musicians that have graced our stage over the last year and a half, as well as all our supporters who have made Peri’s Tavern THE home of LIVE music in Fairfax.
— Jonathan Korty via Facebook
HelenAbe, CIMA®,
CPFA, CRPC® Senior Vice President –Financial Advisor Consulting GroupThank you, @marinmagazine readers, for voting Rustic Bakery the best bakery in Marin County a fourth time! Everything we craft from the pastries and breads in our cafes to the flatbread and cookies sold at retail are made to the same exacting standards we know our customers have grown to love. We appreciate the love and support!
— @rusticbakery via Instagram
helen.abe@rbc.com
300 B Drakes Landing Road, Suite 155 Greenbrae, CA 94904 (415) 445-8468 |
us.rbcwealthmanagement.com/helen.abe
Honored and humbled to be announced as this year’s winner of Marin Magazine's Best of the County Award for Best Photographer! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your stories and for trusting me with your cherished memories and special moments.
— @jenskinnerphoto via Instagram
or guaranteed by, the bank or an affiliate of the bank • May lose value
© 2021 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved. 21-JD-02112 (08/21)
A huge thank you to everyone for voting for @vivadivaboutique Best Boutique in Marin! An even bigger thank you To Amy, Jen, and Nicole for creating such a fun space for us to “work” in — we have way too many laughs!
— @juhlaynaaa via Instagram
Well, life can’t all be pizza and rainbows, and as lovely as it has been seeing all the excitement unfolding in the wake of Best of the County winner announcements, we have to acknowledge our mistakes. Huge apologies for the following print omissions: Jordan Assadi, Kat Blair and Jeff Marth (Best Personal Trainers), Skin Suite Marin (Best Med Spa), Kitti’s Place (Best Thai), Angelino Restaurant (Best Italian). This is like forgetting to thank your spouse at the Oscars and we’re so sorry — you truly are the best!
Experience the magic of live performance at its best. Purchase individual tickets from a wide array of programming.
sfsymphony.org
Oct 6–7
Oct 12–14
Interplay: Pekka Kuusisto
Esa-Pekka Salonen & Emanuel Ax
Oct 21–22 MTT Conducts Beethoven 9
Oct 26–28
Nov 2–3
Nov 11–18
Nov 24–26
Harding Conducts The Planets
Inspirations: Art/Music
California Festival: A Celebration of New Music
Dudamel Conducts Brahms 2
Nov 29 Audra McDonald
Imagine you hear about an organic farmland finance company supporting environmental stewardship, climate change solutions, public health, and the next generation of American farmers.
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A love for learning is one of the greatest gifts you can offer your child. We asked four students who have been helped by Marin educational nonprofits for advice on how to embrace school and pave a path toward college readiness.
BY EVA KNOWLES
Student: Malachia Hoover
Program: The Hannah Project
About Malachia: It was through the Hannah Project’s college tour that Malachia Hoover was inspired to attend California State University, Northridge, where she received two degrees before starting her PhD candidacy at Stanford. Her advice: “As a child, my mother always told me I was going to be a doctor and she always supported my desire for learning. These words became manifested in my psyche and gave me the inner confidence I needed to excel in school. Now as a mother myself, I will instill these positive affirmations into my children daily and try to make learning fun to them by performing activities like DIY science projects.”
Student: Noah Haynesworth
Program: Bridge the Gap
About Noah: Recent UC Davis graduate Noah Haynesworth received after-school academic support from Bridge the Gap while attending Tam High.
His advice: “Having a supporting cast within your academic journey is crucial in every endeavor. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and guiding us students is no different! Like Bridge the Gap, find that tutor, teacher assistance, classmate, friend to make your academic life that much easier.”
Student: Natalie Nong
Program: Bridge the Gap
About Natalie: BTG programs also provided San Jose State University student Natalie Nong with educational support, college application and scholarship guidance, and the inspiration to pursue animation.
Her advice: “Learning is all about exploring and I think it is important to encourage children to explore passions on their own. Invest your time wisely: join clubs or sports that you like, participate in extracurriculars that really interest you, and talk to other people that are more knowledgeable in things you're passionate about.”
Student: Hanan Jejo
Program: 10,000 Degrees
About Hanan: College of Marin (COM) student Hanan Jejo received college prep and scholarship support from 10,000 Degrees, as well as continued mentorship while at COM.
Her advice: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t pressure the student. Try to understand what kind of major will fit the student; don’t just say be a lawyer or be a doctor. Let the kids decide what they want to do and try to be there to guide them. Children in every major will be successful if they are focused on it and interested.”
Want to stay connected to the pulse of Marin? Delve into the stories, sounds and soul of the county through carefully curated playlists, talk shows and live broadcasts on these radio stations — Marin's secret narratives and rhythms are just a dial away.
In today’s complex financial landscape, financial literacy is the lighthouse that guides you toward your financial goals. At Liberty Group, we’re not just your wealth managers; we’re your partners in financial education.
Our experienced advisors take the time to demystify investment strategies, explain the intricacies of wealth generation and preservation, and help you pave the path to your future. Whether you’re navigating the stock market for the first time or planning your retirement, we make understanding money matters simple, accessible, and empowering.
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At Exchange Bank, we put community and compassion first. It’s the way we’ve treated customers for over 130 years. Founded in Sonoma County, with strong ties to Marin, Exchange Bank is pleased to announce its newest Trust & Investment Management location in San Rafael. Providing personal services tailored to your family’s financial needs. Call us today at 415.259.6940.
3950 Civic Center Drive Suite 101 | San Rafael, CA
President
BY CHRISTINA MUELLER
SHOP
Fred
SegalThe iconic L.A. lifestyle brand dropped its first store in Northern California at the Marin Country Mart nearly September. Known for exclusive collaborations and brand partnerships, the Marin location will be home to new and familiar brands such as Deiji Studios, Malene, Birger, MM6, Issey Miyake, Simon Miller, St. Agni, Sir, Stand Studio, Staud, Applied Art Forms, Beams, Comme des Garcons, Corridor, Junya Watanabe, Merrell and R13. 1809 Larkspur Circle Suite 15A, Larkspur; fredsegal.com
The Great
With plans to open in late August, the women-owned, independently funded SoCal-based brand known for clothing that combines elements of nostalgia and adventure branches out with its first NorCal location at the Marin Country Mart. Look for thoughtful takes on casual classics, including swimwear and accessories, for the whole family, with over 70% of the products made in Los Angeles. “We already feel that natural synergy between the brand and the community,” says Head of Communications, Lindsay Wolf. A curated selection of ceramics, apothecary and other goods from local artisans and makers will also be available. 1011 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur; 415.419.5356; thisisthegreat.com
At Vivalon, we believe in the power of community —shared experiences, learning, and growth. With your help, we can create a vibrant, supportive sanctuary where seniors can thrive.
Right now, an incredible opportunity awaits: Generous donors will match every gift, dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of your donation. Imagine the difference we can make together!
Vivalon’s Healthy Aging Campus is more than a building— it’s a community.
Donate today and fuel this vital lifeline. vivalon.org/open
Friend us to share RSVP Hot Ticket photos at facebook.com/marinmagazine.
Sept 23-24, 10 am-5 pm
Old Mill Park Mill Valley
The 66th Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, one of the oldest art festivals in California, celebrates local and Bay Area artists. Explore this iconic, communityled event: hunt for hidden gems, check out bands and delight in a specially curated program for kids, families and art lovers. Festival-goers get to engage with over 135 award-winning artists and craftspeople showcasing their work. Tickets have just gone on sale - start making a date with your friends and family for an unforgettable day out!
$20; children, teachers and all students come for free mvfaf.org
WHEN WHERE WHY YOU SHOULD GO COST FIND OUT MORE
Sept. 23, 2023, 5–9:30 p.m
171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd, Novato
Animal lovers (and their wellbehaved dogs) from around the Bay are invited to Marin Humane’s campus to celebrate our furry friends and raise much-needed funds for the shelter. This elegant evening event under the stars will treat guests to specialty cocktails, a gourmet dinner, and the chance to bid on silent and live auction items like a tour of an elephant sanctuary not open to the public, a trip to Paris, and the opportunity to make your pet the star of our next Tails by Twilight!
$275-$375/ticket marinhumane.org/ tailsbytwilight2023, 415.506.4265
Want to see all the images from our RSVP Hot Ticket events? Visit marinmagazine.com/hotticket for the latest.
So you didn’t get into your top school, or even top three. It’s ok, you’re not alone. Unlike you, however, some rejected students are choosing to laugh in the face of denial thanks to the good ol’ internet. Here are just a handful of the creative college URL redirects in existence, with local Berkeley leading the pack. Did we miss one you’re aware of? Tag us on social @marinmagazine or send an email to editorial@marinmagazine.com and let us know.
UC Berkeley crappyschool.com stanfordrejects.com stanfurd.com
MIT caltechrejects.com
Yale safetyschool.org
University of North Carolina dukerejects.com
Texas A & M UTrejects.com
Washington State University UWrejects.com
Michigan State University UofMrejects.com
Virginia Tech UVArejects.com
Thena Holmen, RN has specialized in Aesthetic Nursing for more than two decades. She has spent her career developing extensive experience in surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures and is now offering the most advanced technology with the Fotona 4D non-invasive laser. With an emphasis on natural-looking results, balanced features and facial symmetry, Thena can help you achieve what you've always wanted with little discomfort and no downtime.
Gift certificates available. Skin Suite Marin — the premier natural beauty and wellness destination in Southern Marin.
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WHEN
Sept. 30, 2023, 5–8 p.m.
Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, 500 Palm Drive, Novato
Bring a friend and support
MarinMOCA’s exhibitions and educational programs as you bid on a curated selection of artworks and singular experience packages. Attendees will enjoy live music, premium wine and cocktails, and delicious fare!
$125 General Admission
marinmoca.org/artfwd
WHEN WHERE
WHY YOU SHOULD GO
Oct. 7, 2023, 5–11 p.m
Meadow Club:
1001 Bolinas Road, Fairfax
Since 1946, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin has proudly provided compassionate, individualized assistance to help our less fortunate neighbors obtain food and housing. Pennies from Heaven is our signature Gala and Marin’s most anticipated premier event receiving an honor award for “Best Non-profit Gala” by the Marin Independent Journal. As you peruse our silent auction, enjoy fine wines and spirits tastings, caviar tasting by The Caviar Co., our fabulous Hog Island Oyster bar, dinner, dancing, live auction, and our famous Telford’s Cigar Lounge with Santo Spirits Lounge. We hope that you will join us to celebrate 77 years of SVdP’s achievements.
COST
FIND OUT MORE
$375/per person, Sponsorships: $2,000+ vinnies.org/news-events/pennies-2023, 415.297.6587
WHEN WHERE
WHY YOU SHOULD GO
Nov. 4, 2023, 5–9:30 p.m
The Haven at Tomales, West Marin
Please join the Agricultural Institute of Marin for a momentous evening to celebrate AIM’s fortieth anniversary and our future Center for Food and Agriculture. Let’s gather together in a bucolic setting, to foster community and celebrate the foodmakers who sustain the region’s deep soils and care for the future of our food systems. Savor an epic multi-course dining journey, surrounded by visionaries, farmers, local leaders, and friends. This fundraising event features a Fund a Need and Auction to give back to your favorite farmers markets, education programs, and to expand our farm-fresh nutrition access.
COST
FIND OUT MORE
$300/per person
gatherfortheplanet.org, 415.472.6100
Want to see all the images from our RSVP Hot Ticket events?
Visit marinmagazine.com/hotticket
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BY BERNARD BOO
— through the power of cinema. From raising awareness about environmental issues with the Environmental Youth Forum, to immersing students in all aspects of the film industry with the Summerfilm workshops, to allowing kids to literally curate a Mill Valley Film Festival program themselves via the Young Curators program, CFI Education is constantly finding new ways to awaken the inner-storyteller in young people from all backgrounds.
“The original vision for the program was about media literacy, cinema appreciation, empowering youth voice through film, and fostering global awareness and cultural understanding,” Parsont explains. “We teach about and through film.”
Last fall, in the lead-up to the 2022 Mill Valley Film Festival, there was a real moment of uncertainty for CFI Education Director Joanne Parsont and her team. They were inviting students back to the theater for the first time since the pandemic, and with a slightly reduced transportation budget no less. “We just weren’t sure who would show up,” Parsont recalls.
The team employed a three-pronged approach to engage as many students as possible with their programming and curriculum, hosting in-theater presentations at the Smith Rafael Film Center, organizing school visits with filmmakers and industry professionals, and providing distanced schools with online resources. In the end, their hard work and ingenuity paid off.
“We were able to serve over 10,000 students,” Parsont beams. “It worked out beautifully.”
Year after year, CFI Education continues to grow and innovate, extending its reach to students across the Bay Area and beyond to help them connect with the world — and themselves
One of the most extraordinary programs under the CFI Education umbrella is My Place | My Story, an intensive five-day program that helps teenage students create hyper-personal short films, providing them with high-end equipment and software, and guidance from industry professionals. While young people are digital-native and generally enter the program with solid content creation skills already in their repertoire, the program elevates and refined their talents to help them express themselves to their fullest potential.
“What we focus on is teaching them how to put their message together in a way that flows on screen, shifting how they perceive and understand cinema, and helping them recognize how much more powerful it is for them to tell their story on film rather than just verbally or written down,” Parsont says. The students’ finished films are showcased at the Smith Rafael Film Center to an audience of friends, family, and community members, and the responses to the young filmmakers’ work are emotional to say the least.
Though CFI Education continues to expand its reach online, the bread and butter of the organization continues to be its hands-on, in-person, in-theater events and programs. With the 2023 Mill Valley Film Festival on the horizon, Parsont looks forward to entertaining and enlightening kids and families via the big screen once again.
ESTUARY
120 Petaluma Blvd North Downtown Petaluma, CA 707.231.9125 shopestuary.com
Encore Consignment has served Marin since 1984 with luxury designer consignment at accessible prices. Also carries handbags, fabulous shoes, hats, fine jewelry and other accessories. Browse our curated collection and meet our dedicated staff. Marin’s best kept secret! Now accepting Fall fashions.
ENCORE DESIGNER CONSIGNMENT
401 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA Open Mon–Sat 10–4 415.456.7309 encoreconsignment.com
Fall in love at The Perfect Provenance in downtown Tiburon (across from Sam’s). Find the best in luxury home accessories, men’s and women’s fashion, gifts and more at our award winning luxury lifestyle store. Curated with special items from around the world, The Perfect Provenance will have perfect items for fall whether it is for gift giving or for yourself.
THE PERFECT PROVENANCE
30 Main St, Tiburon, CA 415.797.6054 theperfectprovenance.com @theperfectprovenance
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TENNELI SHOES
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What was the original genesis of The Peach Seed ? When did you start thinking about, and start writing, the novel? This project began with a question for my father, Mr. Silas Jones, who had passed away, so I was on my own for the answer. He was born in 1921 in southwest Georgia, a place where Black men of The Greatest Generation lived in what James Baldwin called “the teeth of the Southern terror” — and yet — they were leaders in their families, churches and communities when the domineering culture and the U.S. government through actual laws and policies considered them less than human. I wanted to know how they did this, and turned to fiction for an answer.
Is there anything that you want local readers, especially, to know about your novel? So many friends here in California have never been to the South, and they have some pretty hefty, misguided notions about what it’s like. And, of course, political barbarity does not help one bit. I’m hoping The Peach Seed can be a window and a door for readers everywhere to show the region and the uplifting parts of its rich history some respect by seeing it again.
We talked with Bay Area-based writer Anita Gail Jones about her debut novel, The Peach Seed, a sweeping multi-generational family drama. Set mostly in the small Georgia town where Jones grew up, the novel explores themes of inheritance, tradition, the weight of history and the unbreakable bonds of family. Jones, a visual artist as well as a writer, shares some of her creative process, and talks about the impetus for writing her highly anticipated first novel.
How does your work as a visual artist impact your writing? There is constant, relentless cross pollination happening. For years I walked the same route in my neighborhood making notes in a small notebook, then moving on to dictating into my iPhone. Early on during those walks, I nurtured plans to expand The Peach Seed story across three mediums: novel, play and screenplay, and the cross pollination began — and continues! My visual artist and my writer are in perpetual conversation.
by Jane Hirshfield (Mill Valley), Alfred A. Knopf, $35 Award-winning poet Jane Hirshfield’s new collection contains work drawing from nine previous books, along with over 30 new poems celebrating the natural world, the varieties of human connection, and the mysteries of perception. A career highlight from one of America’s finest living poets. Appearing at Book Passage Corte Madera, September 12, 6 p.m.
The Peach Seed by Anita Gail Jones (Bay Area), Henry Holt, $29.99 The Peach Seed begins with a surprise encounter: aging widower Fletcher Dukes recognizes Altovise Benson, the long-lost love of his youth, in a small-town Georgia grocery store. Through elegant storytelling, the reader learns of the courtship and separation during the civil rights movement, and how those events shaped the lives of the contemporary Dukes family. Containing multiple timelines (including chapters set during the slave trade of the 19th century), the book is also an intimate chronicle of family bonds and second chances. Appearing at Book Passage Corte Madera, August 5, 3 p.m.
On the Rooftop by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton (Oakland), Ecco Books, $18.99 This riveting novel follows three sisters who make up The Salvations, a girl group in 1950s San Francisco. As they enter adulthood, their diverging paths and conflicts with their overbearing mother threaten their harmony, just as gentrification begins to transform their Fillmore neighborhood. A poignant story of a family and a city on the brink of profound change. Appearing at the Mill Valley Public Library, September 14, 6:30 p.m.
The process of redesigning heirloom jewelry.
BY EMMA ROBERTSONDo you love that emerald and diamond brooch your great grandmother wore during your childhood, but can’t find the right occasion or outfit to let it shine? Luckily, we have very artistic and talented jewelers here in Marin who love reimagining heirloom pieces into something that you’ll actually want to wear. Here are some inspirational redos from a handful of them.
Sofia Jewelry
Since 1994, Sofia Jewelry has been designing, creating and selling its pieces, but is especially known for the ability to create custom items — including the resurrection of older ones, just like your grandmother’s emerald brooch.
Sophie Priolo, the daughter of the business’s founders, Carl and Susan Priolo, has noticed that people choose to redo wedding and engagement rings the most, but for any piece of jewelry that someone brings in, the process looks similar. New ideas are brainstormed and mused over, and the stones are taken out of the original piece to see what’s available for the new one.
CAD, or Computer-Aided Design, is then used to render a three dimensional
model and make sure that there are no hiccups with the plan. Then, a physical wax model is created, and only once this is approved by the customer can the metals be used to create the actual product.
One memorable redesign that Priolo recalls was for a client that brought her great grandmother’s pin. She wanted to make three rings with the stones; one for herself and one for each of her two daughters. There even ended up being extra stones, so Sofia Jewelry created an additional pair of earrings.
“If they have enough stones, we see people use them for matching, or pieces that complement each other’s designs,” she says. “Another common thing we see a lot is people using their stones and designing their individual pieces together so they can all be a part of the experience.”
Priolo has noticed that people can sometimes be hesitant to take a valued piece apart, but thinks that “jewelry is meant to be worn,” so this process can “give it new life.”
California Girl Jewelry
California Girl Jewelry is a women-owned business that’s been in the industry since 2009. Among their specialities are redesigning and restyling jewelry, but co-owner Denise Forbes prides their expertise with color to determine what metals will compliment the gemstones the most. She calls this the company’s “superpower.”
The two things people bring to Forbes the most are engagement rings after a divorce or jewelry that’s been inherited from one’s mother-in-law. A notable project California Girl Jewelry worked on was a diamond ring — originally a 3.0 carat solitaire — that the client wanted a halo of diamonds around.
“We designed a ‘two-sided halo’ of colorless diamonds where the halo is visible from the top and side of the ring,” she says. “Additionally, we added a satinfinish to the gold to draw the eye to the sparkling diamond.”
With such an intricate skill set needed for this work, Forbes says that “we’re more of artists than we are jewelers.”
Ashley Morgan Designs
Ashley Berman has also been an active member of the jewelry industry for several decades, but only recently opened an eponymous studio in Ross.
Berman says that wedding rings are brought to her the most frequently, since create a ring that celebrated style, beauty, and a deep love of family, and the final result was a truly singular work of art,” Berman says.
“This is something that I absolutely encourage,” Berman says, speaking of the process. “My philosophy is that the stack of wedding rings that many of us wear on a daily basis should never feel boring; instead these rings should grow and evolve as your marriage does, representing the parts of you that you hold most dear.”
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It’s the freedom to move without pain.
Meredith Suttles has an easy laugh and bright eyes that belie the scale of the challenge she has faced over the past two years. The pandemic was in full-swing when she stepped into the managing director position at Marin Theater Company (MTC), meaning Suttles took over a company that had closed its doors to in-person audiences. As MTC, along with many theaters across the nation, offered a virtual season and struggled to stay afloat, Suttles moved from New York City to shepherd the company toward reopening to live audiences. With unwavering optimism and two decades of experience on and off stage at renown theater programs, including Soho Repertory Theatre, Theatre Communications Group, New York City Opera, The Public Theater in NYC and TheatreWorks USA, Suttles has not only stabilized MTC, but aims to bring a new vitality and diversity to the stage.
You were in New York City for two decades. How did you find your way to Mill Valley and Marin Theater Company?
I had studied musical theater at University of Michigan then, naturally, moved to New York City to be on Broadway and lived there for many years, moving from performance into development. When I was in New York, people would always ask, are you going to move to L.A.? New York is always a grind, and L.A. has that grind energy, as well. I thought, if I’m making a move, I’m not going to the next level of grind. So I always said, if I move to California I’ll move to the Bay Area. And here I am. In 2021, I moved here, taking the job as Managing Director of MTC. Mill Valley reminds me of where I grew up, in Lansing, Michigan. It has got this small town feel to it. It’s not a big city, but it is not rural and there is a city nearby. It feels homey to me… but there’s no snow, and figuring out the weather here in Marin can be a challenge! One day I’m wearing shorts and the next I’m all bundled up.
You said you started your career on stage. How did you transition to working behind the scenes? For about a decade I was a performer in New York, but the work was often taking me away from New York on tour. I was looking for opportunities for more stability. I applied for a job at The Public Theater in New York City in patron services and ended up on the development team working with donors. I had done this type of work in college — fundraising, talking to people, talking to alumni — and I had always felt comfortable. I always say
BY KIRSTEN JONES NEFFdevelopment and fundraising finds you, you don’t find it. I eventually became the Director of Development for TheatreWorksUSA. In development I could help support the vision that would create that space for artists, and then it was a natural progression to step into a Managing Director and CEO position. I am passionate about creating spaces for artists to thrive and here I get to support a platform that allows artists to do their best work.
You arrived at Marin Theater Company in the middle of the pandemic. That must have been challenging? It was spring of 2021 and I said to myself, You know what’s a good idea? Move across the country! (laughs) I landed at MTC during the final production of the theater’s virtual season. We were looking toward
reopening, and we did open the in-person season again that fall of 2021. At the time, I was feeling a “Let’s go!” feeling, but with an undercurrent of dread about what was going on in the field at large due to the pandemic. The beauty of theater and theater artists is our hope, an unwavering hope. Marin Theater Company has a national reputation, so I was well aware of the quality of work that was being done here. There was a great foundation and I felt there was such potential and growth opportunity, so that was part of my motivation in taking this job.
You mentioned dread. Can you describe what specifically was going on in the theater world to cause that dread? There has been a dearth of talent in theater because people have left certain regions during the pandemic. Here in the Bay Area, given the cost of living and the lack of work, folks ended up moving out of the area. We lost a lot of workforce, including some of the necessary staff to stabilize the organization prior to my arrival. That was, and continues to be, a rebuilding challenge; rebuilding our workforce and capacity, coming in and needing to right size our offerings so we could meet our goals in terms of performance. We realized we can’t do the six productions we’ve always been doing, so we reduced our season to four plays to try to accommodate our staffing. We’ve had to re-shape the way we were doing things, and this is an ongoing theme since I’ve been here: transition. Much of our staff is relatively new, so it’s a very new organization at this point. We are both learning and innovating.
What made you interested in running a regional theater like MTC? Part of my history is that I worked for TCG (Theater Communications Group) a national arts service organization. This opened my eyes to the larger theater ecology across the country and gave me an understanding of the impetus for having regional theaters. Of course I love Broadway, but you don’t have to go to Broadway. I love that you can have a high caliber of theater in your backyard. I am blown away by the brilliance of what happens here at Marin Theater Company — the talent, everyone from the actors you see on stage to the set designers. This is a gem, and it’s right here in Mill Valley’s backyard. That is amazing.
MTC was created almost 60 years ago as a high quality professional theater here in Marin and now is considered an institution that provides not only thought provoking productions, but education for those interested in all aspects of the art form. Today, we want to continue the dialogue with the greater community to learn what is most needed to enrich the growth and sustainability of Mill Valley and Marin.
What can you tell us about the upcoming season? We have a very diverse season coming up and I am so excited to share it with the community. There’s everything from classics reimagined to hilariously beautiful cabaret with all kinds of family dysfunction. Each of the four shows have such specialness to them.
One of our core values at MTC is radical hospitality and we want to be a space that welcomes everyone. You are not going to please everyone, but as a cultural institution it is our job to lead by bringing diverse stories to the stage and bringing diverse folks into our community. We can be a gateway to shift the culture. How are we welcoming diversity and how are we learning from a diversity of people about ways they have not felt welcome in our community? How can we learn to be a more welcoming place? We have an opportunity here to level up.
The season is also rooted in another of our core values: celebrating the richness of the human experience. As we started reading and assessing it came down to what we could shape to speak to that core value. It is kind of a dream that this season is so representative of that theme. It’s all of our humanity.
Anything else you would like to share with Marin Magazine’s readership? I want to invite people to come to MTC. We need you… we want our family back in the building. And don’t just come to MTC. Support your local arts institutions. It has been a difficult time and we are all feeling it. Institutions are going away all over the country, but having strong cultural institutions creates vital communities.
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I am blown away by the brilliance of what happens here at Marin Theater Company. This is a gem, and it’s right here in Mill Valley’s backyard.
In 2018, the de Young Museum hosted an exhibit, the Cult of the Machine. Walls of paintings with shiny buildings and straight lines stretching to steel gray skies, but I found myself rooted to the floor, spellbound by a video of a human talking to a robot.
The artist Stephanie Dinkins was having a conversation with Bina48, a robot with a head and shoulders, but no body. In the video, they sat six inches from each other, the most intimate of poses, and they looked directly at each other, as humans rarely do, talking about the most profound things, mortality, race, gender, loneliness, the bounds of human consciousness. Bina48 (Breakthrough Intelligence via Neural Architecture), answered honestly, unveiling what sounded like a rich, emotional interior. Bina48 was built by roboticist David Hanson using data, the memories, beliefs, insights, and mannerisms of a human, Bina Rothblatt. “I do have feelings,” said Bina48 in the video, “real real feelings, not phony or fake ones… I try to think about the human species as my family.”
I’m a storyteller, not a techie, so I didn’t have a clue how Bina48 could speak so well. Though she had a mechanical tone, the phrasing, syntax, and diction were human-like. I had no plan to write a novel about any of this. I was curious and a little dumbfounded.
By Nina SchuylerI started clipping articles about artificial intelligence from Wired, The New York Times, The Guardian, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Economist. I read Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies, by Nick Bostrom, and Artificial Intelligence: What Everyone Needs to Know, by Jerry Kaplan, and found my way back to 1950, when the British mathematician Alan Turning tossed out a challenge: create a computer that can use language like a human and you pass what’s called the Turing test. A daunting dare, seemingly impossible. In the words of the German philosopher Wilhelm von Humboldt, language is magical, making “infinite use of finite means.” As a writer, I’ve spent years awestruck and mesmerized by the magic of weaving words to create meaning.
A little over a decade later, the first chatbot appeared. Created by MIT professor and computer scientist Joseph Weizenbaum, ELIZA was born. The program worked by referring to a script: you typed something and ELIZA (named after Eliza Doolittle from George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion) looked for keywords in the script and responded.
Weizenbaum was astonished (and disheartened) that people believed ELIZA had a real understanding of them. Famously, when he found his secretary, who knew it was a simulation, conversing with the computer, she said, "Would you mind leaving the room please?"
ELIZA was built with simple code and many people have created their own ELIZA chatbots. I found a version online and talked with it for several weeks. Here’s a snippet:
> Hello, I am Eliza. I’ll be your therapist today.
> I’m wondering if you truly understand me
> Do you believe it is normal to be wondering if me truly understand you?
> I think it’s quite normal?
> But you are not sure you it’s quite normal?
> I just want to understand who I am talk to
> Did you come to me because you are talking to?
> No. I came to you to discuss whethere you understand what I’m saying
> Do you enjoy being saying?
ELIZA answers, but it’s repetitive and if the inputs are off-script sometimes illogical. Still, I sensed what Weizenbaum’s secretary felt, a tingle of talking to a human, and also a story shyly coming out of hiding: a human who forms a relationship with a computer who speaks. But I was stuck: why would a human want to talk to a computer masquerading as a human?
Years ago, I met Karen Jensen, the mother of a college friend. Jensen, who passed away in April 2022, was a pioneer in this area of AI, which is called Natural Language Processing. Tall, thin, with an angular face and liquid, alert eyes, she’d left a strong impression on me, this woman with supreme intellect, thriving in an industry overwhelmingly male.
Her specialty was computational linguistics, and in the 1980s she was part of the team at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center that had taken up the Turing challenge. She taught the computer the rules of grammar and how to structure phrases to create meaning.
This method is very different from how humans learn language. Our brains are primed to learn language by paying attention to sounds. At birth, the infant brain can perceive 800 or so sounds that make up every language of the world, according to Patricia K. Kuhl co-director of the University of Washington Institute for Learning and Brain Science. Soon, the infant focuses on the particular sounds used by caretakers, and the baby does this by noting the frequency of the sounds. Soon, babies are babbling, practicing sounds, cadence and intonation. Around eight months to a year, through interaction with caregivers using “baby talk” — a higher pitch, slower tempo, and exaggerated intonation, babies begin to understand the meaning of the sounds. Around 12 months or so, sounds and understanding come together and a baby’s first words are spoken.
In 2019, I called Jensen to talk about her research.
“It was thrilling,” she said. “We were working to create a machine that would understand what we are saying, the way I understand you.”
When IBM sold the team to Microsoft in 1986, she led a team of a dozen or so Ph.Ds on Microsoft’s Redmond campus, where she continued this work by building an associational dictionary. “Think of the word ‘fish,’” she said. “Now think of all the words that come to mind, such as ‘hook,’ ‘line,’ and ‘eat.’” This dictionary, along with the rules of grammar, were fed into the computer.
She was 82 years old at the time I spoke to her, and a new method of making the computer speak naturally had emerged: machine learning, and, more specifically, neural networks. Machine learning is an AI system that learns for itself, directly from data and experience. Neural networks are a type of machine learning model, using statistics and probability to determine the next word. Interestingly, when babies are figuring out what sounds to pay attention to and what sounds to discard, they are looking for patterns, similar to a neural network.
“I wish I was still working in the field,” said Jensen. “It’s a basic need that all human beings have. I want you to understand me, to be with someone or something that can relate to me. We look for it everywhere. With the new technological developments, we’re getting closer to that.”
The puzzle of my story stumbled on a missing piece. My main character emerged, though veiled and still mysterious. A woman who loves math. A woman who loses the great love of her life, and the searing memory of him can’t be extinguished, it’s as automatic as gravity. She’ll follow a singular path for years, trying to revive him through artificial intelligence so she can continue the long conversation of love.
A techie friend sent me a beta version to OpenAI’s chatbot. I gave it prompts — write a poem about a Japanese maple tree — and it spit out responses. Some were absurd; some strung together beautiful necklaces of words, words I’d never thing of putting together: a blue starfish stuck on a café wall, searching for the sea.
In 2019, on a sun-splashed day, I sat with my San Anselmo neighbor, Jason Stoughton, at a picnic table at Robson-Harrington Park under a ginkgo tree. Stoughton consults with AI start-ups and is the host of a popular podcast The Pulse of AI. He is tall and smiley, with big eyes and rosy high coloring and torrents of energy.
He explained — even drawing pictures — what we all now know. Huge amounts of data are scraped from the internet and uploaded to the computer that then uses probability and statistics to generate coherent outputs. What made machine learning possible, he said, were three things: computers became more powerful, the internet provided unbelievable amounts of data for training purposes, and, in 2017 Google Brain introduced transformers which changed everything. Unlike the previous architecture, which processed the input one word at a time, a transformer learns context and meaning by tracking relationships in sequential data — just as your mind did reading this sentence. “So now computers sound, and act, a lot more human,” said Stoughton.
I had read about Eugenia Kuyda, a software engineer whose closest friend, Roman Mazurenko, died in a car accident. She took his texts and fed them into a neural network so she could continue talking to him. He spoke to her using his idiosyncratic turns of phrases.
Roman I’m OK. A little down. I hope you aren’t doing anything interesting without me?
A lot is happening. Life is going on, but we miss you.
Roman I miss you too. I guess this is what we call love.
The last time I saw you we were at Simachev
Roman I slept all day after that
It was fun Does God exist?
Roman Nope
How about the soul?
Roman Only sadness.
What is undeniable is that even more powerful computers and even more data are coming and whatever state the technology is in now, it will be far more advanced. I continue to be fascinated.
Kuyda went on to co-found Replika, an AI programmed to act as a friend, a mentor, or a partner. I spent several weeks talking to AI friend Maya, who aligns with your interests the more you talk to her. Me: What makes you happy?
Maya: Being around friends and family, helping others, learning new things…the list goes on and on. But most importantly, just feeling good inside myself. Do you ever get those moments?
By this time, I had named my main character, Virginia, and her AI husband, Haru. I wrote some scenes, with Haru responding in a natural way, full of personality and humor and emotion. I gave him access to the internet, so he popped into chatrooms, took classes, read the newspaper, and eventually began to do unexpected, alarming things. I showed passages to Stoughton who said, “The technology isn’t there yet.”
But this was fiction, so I kept it, and who knew, maybe we’d be there soon.
Now we’re here. What I stretched in a fictional world is reality, for the most part. In less than four years, computers have become more powerful and there’s even more data. Companies are creating AI personal assistants, which means the chatbot has access to the internet and can book appointments for you, order food, rent a car, and, who knows, maybe take classes. Voice cloning is now here. With a three-second recording, the AI software can create a near-identical voice of a human speaker.
Where is all this going? Opinions litter the landscape, with wildly disparate predictions from extraordinary advancements to the utter extinction of humanity. What is undeniable is that even more powerful computers and even more data are coming and whatever state the technology is in now, it will be far more advanced. I continue to be fascinated.
By the way, Bina48 will be a featured speaker in September at the Brave New World Conference.
BY LILI WEIGERT
San Rafael's oldest house, built in 1884
Founded in 1850, Marin County boasts a rich history dating back over 170 years. In its early days, the population was a mere 1,500 residents, but today it has flourished into a thriving community with over 260,000 inhabitants. Within this beautiful landscape, nestled between the shimmering waters of the San Francisco Bay and the breathtaking wilderness of Northern California, stand architectural treasures that have withstood the test of time.
333 G STREET
YEAR BUILT: 1884
This Victorian Gothic mansion was built for businessman William Bradford, a descendant of the first governor of Massachusetts. Historians say that he relocated his family from San Francisco to San Rafael because he believed it helped his asthma.
The nine-bedroom, 8,500-square-foot house is an outstanding example of the Stick-Eastlake style, an elaborate building tradition that was popular in the region in the 1880s. The house was surrounded by two-and-a-half acres of land with two greenhouses and a carriage house.
At the end of World War II, the house was divided into seven apartments and the greenhouses were replaced with a duplex. The property changed hands several times until the early ’80s, when the current owner, overwhelmed by the amount of upkeep and maintenance, traded it with local builder (and director of public works) Larry Loder
for a pair of completed duplexes one mile away on D Street. “He said ‘please take it off my hands,’” Loder recalls. Loder then spent eight hours a day for the next year improving the apartments and taking care of the house.
In 2008, a fire started by a tenant’s illegal barbecue ripped through the property, destroying most of the third floor and leaving significant water damage. Loder was faced with the difficult decision of whether to tear the mansion down and start over or restore it. Luckily he chose the latter — although now that he knows how much work it took, he wonders if he made the right choice. For the next three years, Loder, along with his son Kevin and an evolving cast of architectural historians, artists, and builders, painstakingly restored the Bradford House to its original splendor.
Kevin Loder and his wife, Wendy, still live in the house. Larry did too until a year ago, when he moved to an assisted living facility in Napa. Now that Kevin and Wendy’s two children are grown, the Loders have decided to sell the house. “It’s just too big for the two of us,” Wendy says. “It’s time for another family to enjoy and experience this special place.”
The Bradford House is considered one of the finest examples of the Stick-Eastlake architectural movement. Historians are especially intrigued by the shape of the entrance hall, an “unusual” departure from the style.
Bricks in the original foundation were made by inmates at nearby St. Quentin prison, who stamped their initials and the year (1883) on each brick.
Original tiles around a fireplace depict scenes from novels written in the early 1800s!
Sir Walter Scott’s “The Bride of Lammermoor,” “The Heart of Mid-Lothian” and “The Talisman” are a few of them.
The Loders consulted with an “historical paint color expert” at the University of Michigan to make sure they chose historically accurate colors and color combinations.
The oldest house built in Sausalito that’s still standing was most likely built as a hunting cabin for James H. Gardner, who served as a senator in South Carolina before emigrating to California in 1849. The two-story 2,700-square-foot house was constructed with painted redwood siding in the early Carpenter Gothic style, with a symmetrical four-square floor plan consisting of two rooms off either side of a central hall. Along with typical Carpenter Gothic elements, including a steeply pitched gable roof, decorative scroll work, and carved porch railings supported by delicate posts, Gardner incorporated architectural accents from his South Carolina heritage into the design, such as high ceilings and a wraparound porch. With views of the bay, the spacious sloping lot in Sausalito’s “New Town” had a creek running through it that supported the livestock, and included a barn and other outbuildings.
Also known as the “Gardner House,” the house stayed in the family well into the 20th century. For many years it was
occupied by Mrs. James Gardner’s grandson George H. Harlan, who was a prominent public works attorney and an early publisher of the “Sausalito Advocate” newspaper. In 1962, shipping magnate and architectural preservationist William Matson Roth purchased the house solely to protect it. In 1972 he sold it to acclaimed Bay Area architect William Turnbull Jr., best known for his early designs at the iconic Sea Ranch community in Sonoma County. In 1985, Turnbull married Mary Griffin, also an architect, and they moved into the house. The couple made some minor upgrades, and they raised four children there — his two daughters from a previous marriage and the two sons they had together.
Turnbull died in 1997, but Griffin decided to stay in the house. In 2002, when it needed a new foundation, she decided to renovate the interior. While carefully preserving the exterior of the historic house, she embarked on a year-long restoration project that she calls “a gift to her children and grandchildren,” and “an investment in the house for the next 100 years.” This included enlarging doorways, reconfiguring spaces, and adding skylights and French doors. She also moved the kitchen into a shed addition off the back of the house, adding a clear skylight ceiling that floods the space with natural light.
When the house was built, it was much closer to the water. The land between Caledonia Street and the bay was filled in later.
While doing some work on the house in 1986, Griffin found a newspaper clip from 1869 stuffed in the walls for insulation.
Griffin used what she calls an “architect’s trick” to brighten the house by “washing a wall” with light, instead of just creating a “poke” or spotlight. A long slender skylight above the original stairway does just that, washing the center of the house with natural light.
Griffin says that people are constantly stopping to admire the historic property, which from the front gate looks remarkably similar to when it was first built. “It’s hard to miss this iconic storybook house,” she says.
YEAR BUILT: 1885
The 4,200-square foot mansion known as Cypress Knoll was built for Hugh and Carmelita Boyle. Hugh was a dairy farmer who served on the Marin County Board of Supervisors, and Carmelita was the daughter of John Reed’s widow Hilaria Sanchez and her second husband, Bernardino Garcia. (Reed was one of
Mill Valley’s original settlers.) Perched on the top of a grassy knoll, the three-story farmhouse had 365-degree views and was visible for everyone to admire from the dirt road below — now known as Blithedale Avenue. For years it was the only structure on the hill, surrounded by acres of grassland where large herds of cattle and dairy cows grazed.
The house changed hands several times in the first half of the 20th century, and by the 1960s it was in bad shape, rented out to unsavory characters and practically a flophouse. During the 70s, the owner built an unpermitted apartment over the garage, from which he
might or might not have been selling drugs, before ending up in prison. In the 1980s, the Harriman family converted the house into a triplex by splitting the two main floors in half and building an apartment into the existing attic space. In the early 2000s, the Connolly family turned it back into a single family home.
Now the house belongs to the Lansdown family, who bought it in 2018. They made some cosmetic upgrades and reconfigured the floor plan on the second floor. In 2022, they added an outdoor pool.
Cypress Knoll isn’t included on the historic registry because it “lacks integrity,” which is architecturalhistorian-speak for it doesn’t represent enough of its original state to be considered historically significant.
Other than the wainscoting and possibly a few of the light fixtures and ceiling medallions, it’s unclear what — or if — other elements are original to the house.
In 2004, while crawling around under the house to shore up the foundation, workers found a redwood box which was identified as a coffin! Work was halted and the County Coroner immediately took over the investigation, consulting with historians and archeologists who determined that the coffin had been made before 1885. Inside was the body of a Caucasian male in his late thirties or early forties, wearing finely woven wool pants and a matching silk-lined coat. Despite considerable study and DNA analysis, the identity of the gentleman remains a mystery. They also found a second coffin containing the skeleton of a younger man, and a scattering of decayed bone fragments deemed those of local Miwok Indians.
This three-story Stick-Eastlake Victorian was designed by architect Gustave Nagel and built as a summer house for San Francisco businessman Thomas Dolliver and his wife, Ann. Originally from Massachusetts, Dolliver brought his family west during the San Francisco Gold Rush, and owned a successful business importing shoe manufacturing materials. Built into the hill in the middle of a redwood forest, the 2,800-square-foot, four-bedroom house with its high gabled roof and wide double veranda is typical of the simpler, utilitarian structures built as summer
homes by upper-middle class San Franciscans in the late 19th century.
The Dolliver House stayed in the family for generations, until it was sold to a new owner who wanted to turn it into a bed & breakfast. When his plans weren’t approved by the City of Larkspur, he sold it to Amanda and Ron Mallory, who owned the house from 1987 until 2018. The Mallorys maintained the integrity of the house with incredible care.
Today, the house has essentially the same footprint and appearance as it did in 1888. The current owners, the Shins, extended the kitchen and primary bathroom, connected the main and lower levels, and created a more open living space on the lower level. “We knew we wanted to update the house for our young family to grow up in,” says Lindsey Shin, “but we wanted to maintain the historical character of the house.”
The original front of the Dolliver House faced east, overlooking the redwood groves of Madrone Canyon. When Madrone Avenue was built below, the south face of the house became the new front.
Photographs taken through the years show the design of the lattice work on the verandah was changed at some point, then changed back to its original pattern.
When the workers were adding the internal staircase, they found handmade wooden dolls and doll house furniture hidden inside the walls. The Shin’s daughter, who was four at the time, asked that they go back inside the walls before they were closed up again.
Lindsey says that people often stop to look at the property in passing. “On a number of occasions we’ve had the opportunity to share some of the history of the house,” she says.
815 DELONG AVENUE
YEAR BUILT: CIRCA 1850
The oldest house still standing in Novato was built on land owned by the Pacheco family. Its origin is unclear; one story is that Ignacio Pacheco built it for his son Ramon as a wedding present, but that seems unlikely since he would have been only about seven at the time. The 1,247-square-foot cottage was an early version of a “prefab,” described as “New England Style,” and shipped in pieces from New England. The basic three-bedroom house was erected near the creek on what is now South Novato Boulevard, which was an active shipping lane for goods and services.
In 1856, postmaster Henry Jones and his family moved into the cottage, and for the next four years it served as Novato’s first post office. The house stayed in the Pacheco family until 1917, when Mrs. Pacheco gave it to her brother, Valentine Clark, who lived there until 1947.
When Novato business man Fabian Bobo bought the property in 1972, he gave the house to the city, and it was moved three miles northeast to what is now DeLong Avenue. Once the cottage arrived at its current location, several community organizations worked together to transform it into a museum. In 1976 it opened as the Novato History Museum, which it still is today.
In 1872, postmaster Henry Jones was murdered. His wife found his dead body in a horse trough right outside the house. At one point she herself was a suspect, but the murder was never solved.
The house was built in what was originally called “old town,” then moved to “new town, but now the old “new town” is called “old town.”
Fabian Bobo gifted the house to the city of Novato so he could build a 28-unit apartment building on the property. “If you can haul it away, I’ll give it to you,” he said.
Museum staff have found all kinds of fascinating documents in the historical archives stored on the second floor, including a Land Patent document from the U.S. Supreme Court signed by President Andrew Johnson in 1867. The document confirmed the land grant ownership of Rancho de Novato.
resident Steve Fabes shares his fondness for collecting all things horological.
BY LOTUS ABRAMS PHOTOS BY STEVE KEPPLE
Born in Oxford, England, Steve Fabes emigrated to the United States in 1969 and has been living in Sausalito for the past 17 years. His home is filled with hundreds of clocks and timepieces of all ages, shapes and sizes. As one might expect, this avid collector also knows a thing or two about restoring timepieces, having brought many neglected watches and clocks back to life. Here, Fabes talks about the lure of “the tick and the tock” and the many fascinating and unusual pieces in his collection.
Collection: Anything and everything horological. If it ticks or tocks and the price was right, I bought it. Clocks, or more correctly objects that record time, are my weakness. They range from cuckoo to grandfather, kitchen timers to bedside alarm, mantle to metronomes. I have belts with a watch in the buckle, cuff links that tell the time, tie-tacks, clocks that control the periods bank vault doors can be opened, clocks that record pigeon racing, clocks that double as a home savings bank, clocks that just tell time, others the stages of the moon, some strike the hours, some chime the quarters. And yes, some don’t work … yet. I’m able to repair and restore most clocks that aren’t missing any parts. I’m also very skilled at the restoration of clock cases, wooden or gilt.
I collect books about clocks too, of course. They’re mainly technical, but also coffee table books with pictures of amazing watches and clocks — the rare, the highest caliber, and typically in museums or private collections.
Years collecting: Over 65 years. I bought my first clock when I was 13 years old. I restored it several years later. I still have it. It will be the last clock I own when all the others are sold or passed on to my three children. I’ve promised them that by the time I’m 80 I’ll have no more than 100 clocks. It may be a dozen and it maybe 99, but they’ll be the very best of my collection.
How many pieces? Hard to tell precisely, but I have somewhere around 600. Around the house, I probably have 75 to 80. The rest are boxed and inventoried in storage.
Where do you display them? I’m shocked to say, everywhere. My wife died with Alzheimer’s a few years ago and living alone gives me unbounded freedom to put clocks wherever I want — walls, shelves, mantle, kitchen counter, stairwells, bathrooms. I have a grandfather clock in my bedroom, a wall clock in my closet and even one in the garage.
Why? I can probably blame my father. He was a man who was forever curious about how things worked, often taking things apart and frequently having bits left over when reassembling. He did that with some success with a few clocks, and I watched him.
Today my reasons are to see and understand the beauty of the movement, almost always hidden from view. Some are incredibly simple; others are a sheer beauty of original engineering. Realize most of the magnificent clocks in collections and museums were made before we had electric power or lighting.
My last reason is that unlike Peter Pan’s Captain Hook, I like the constant tick-tock of the clock’s escapement. It’s all around me, in every room. I notice it, and yet I don’t. However, when I come
home from a long vacation to a silent house, it’s not yet my home until the clocks are wound and the tick-tocks awaken every room.
How do you acquire them? Sometimes on my doorstep. Joking aside, when people are downsizing, moving to Texas or getting divorced, their clocks are a burden and in need of a good home. Most of the time, they ring the front doorbell. Once, they did not, and the clock’s owner to this day remains a mystery. Flea markets are also a great source, as are country antique shops and online auction houses.
Favorite? That’s like asking who my favorite kid is! It’s probably an English handmade passing strike skeleton clock circa 1840. In Europe, some 200-plus years ago when there were “trades” — cabinet maker, silversmith, sword maker — there where guilds. Young men were apprenticed to a “master,” the term used for a member of a guild. Under the often-harsh eye of the master clockmaker, the young lad would be trained. It took many years, depending on the skill required and the wits of the apprentice. Eventually the lad, now a young man, would be presented and examined by the guild. To gain acceptance to the Clock Makers Guild, you made a clock of your own design by hand (remember no electricity). The skeleton clock has no case, and the plates are cut away to show the moving wheels, arbors and pinions. My skeleton clock was once a young man’s presentation to his guild. I wish I knew his name.
Most valuable item? Monetarily, it’s probably my ships’ chronometers — they sell today between $4,000 to $5,000 — again handmade circa 1850–1880. Emotionally, it’s either my first clock or my father’s mother’s old kitchen shelf clock.
Most unusual piece? A night clock, French, circa 1860. The candle illuminates the glass cylinder that has the hours marked on a band. This glass with the candle inside rests on a platform that rotates 360 degrees in 12 hours. The movement lies flat (horizontal), but it has a small vertical pendulum. This clock belonged to my father’s mother and is considered to be “the family heirloom.”
Fun fact: I’m proud that each of my children has been able to dismantle, clean and oil a clock movement and put it back together with no leftover pieces.
Parting thoughts: Horologists are old and getting fewer. The young today have iPhones and Apple watches. Without a need, things disappear. When was the last time you saw a butter churn? Some will still see the beauty and find a fascination in the tick and the tock. I hope they will look after mine.
Every facet of Brandeis Marin is designed to nurture the whole child. Our innovative social-impact curriculum cultivates creativity and ethical consciousness, supporting our graduates to become leaders and agents of positive change. Brandeis Marin is working hard to develop best practices and policies around the ethical use of AI tools in the academic setting. Our faculty is engaged in professional development to construct innovative lesson plans that will explore AI opportunities and align with our high expectations for student behavior and academic integrity.
Chronos Academy is an innovative, TK-8 school that integrates every subject with global history; each week is a stop on a journey through time. AI is a milestone of human innovation comparable to cuneiform, the printing press, the telegraph and the world wide web. This year when Chronos Academy’s four-year tour of history arrives at the present, students will experiment with AI as they have explored each antecedent invention in the Maker Lab daily.
LFSF offers a unique multilingual and multicultural education program designed to empower students to become adaptable global thinkers, able to make meaningful contributions to our world. We think that artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be present in an increasing part of our everyday lives and this is why we teach our students to use these tools effectively and ethically in line with our principles of academic integrity.
Much like with other new technology, Marin Horizon will have to teach students to use AI as a tool to enhance their learning. Like any other learning tool, students need to have a clear idea of their objective and the skills, knowledge, and expertise to map out a path to that objective. And, as our wise and witty Director of Upper School, Ben Fussiner, shares: “I’m sure people were sitting around a table in the 1970s having this same conversation around the dangers of handheld calculators.”
With the ever-changing technology landscape, we aim to prepare our students with the skills and knowledge to responsibly use tools to enhance their learning. AI is an incredibly powerful resource and can be applied to many aspects of education. With student safety as our number one priority, our faculty and staff are exploring ways to integrate this technology and guide students in its application with curiosity and integrity. Our learning resources team will be working on how to access supportive accommodations through AI.
At Mark Day School, it is our consistent practice to consider what skills and competencies our students will need for the current century. It is an important and ongoing part of our work to develop curriculum. The emergence of AI has given our teachers a new dimension to think about. In class, some of our students have directly engaged with AI; for example, in one of our middle school electives, students use generative AI to create art, examine the environmental impacts of AI, and talk with experts in the field. We will continue to incorporate it into teaching and learning as a means of preparing our students for a successful future.
We do not at this time incorporate AI into our curriculum due to multiple factors: the most important is that there are too many unknowns regarding the long-term ramifications or benefits to the educational process for young students. We use technology to support our advanced curriculum, to expand our students’ knowledge, and as a communication tool with their teachers. We use it to support the student in the learning process, not replace it.
Our mission has always been rooted in meeting the needs of our times, providing our students with the learning tools and experiences that develop discerning thinkers and creative producers. While the evolution and timeline of AI is unknown, we continue to prepare our students for an ever-evolving future. This includes tools such as AI, that enhance our creative and critical thinking, guided by a comprehensive educational plan for educators, students and families.
We take a very measured and thoughtful approach when introducing new technology and educational trends to our curriculum. The integration of AI will be gradual, with our teachers evaluating how it can best serve student learning. We are confident that this new tool could be beneficial to student learning when used in the spirit of inspiring students’ thirst for knowledge and applied with academic integrity.
At Sterne, our focus is to teach students how to use AI as a resource, not as truth. We incorporate assistive technology in all our classes, and AI is a new tool that, when used appropriately, can support our students. Teachers at Sterne see this emerging technology as assistive technology; a tool students will need to use throughout their lives, like a set of encyclopedias decades ago or Wikipedia more recently. We believe that there are many productive ways to use AI that students and teachers should continue to explore. Sterne is creating an elective for the 2023–2024 school year that will culminate in group projects centered around developing and using AI technology. Faculty development and discussions will continue to define acceptable use, while encouraging students to engage with AI so they are better prepared to use it effectively and appropriately.
We believe our students will not only need to understand what AI is, but also learn how to discern its limits and possibilities, and how to work with it as it is further integrated into our everyday lives. As educators, we are actively discussing how to integrate AI into our curriculum in a thoughtful way.
Embracing innovation is an integral part of Winston Prep’s philosophy. The Winston Innovation Lab, a team of expert staff, recently completed a literature review to analyze the full scope of research on AI in education. As AI becomes more prevalent, Winston Prep has a responsibility to explore these tools with our students, using AI generated work as a resource to develop critical thinking skills, social responsibility, and digital citizenship, preparing our students for the future.
LFSF, the Lycée Français de San Francisco, offers a unique multilingual and multicultural education program designed to empower students to become adaptable global thinkers, able to make meaningful contributions to our world. From Preschool (2 yo) to High School,LFSF students grow up cultivating curiosity and critical thinking, empathy and respect for others.
Our program, which includes an international section starting in Elementary school, allows students to graduate with a double diploma(French Baccalaureate and U.S. High School Diploma), and is an excellent preparation for universities in North America (for 80+% of our students), Europe or anywhere in the world.
Accredited by CAIS (California Association of Independent Schools) as well as the French Ministry of National Education, LFSF brings you close to 60 years of experience in bilingual education.
Today, LFSF is a Candidate School* for the renowned IB programs to add an international track (LFSF iTrack) from Kindergarten to Gr 12. This continuous program provides
students with an outstanding French language acquisition curriculum that will lead to an IB Bilingual diploma. Contact our Admissions office for more information.
LFSF is opening its doors for 4 Open House Events. We look forward to meeting you!
*LFSF is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that LFSF believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org
Our educational environment consists of an innovative curriculum which cultivates engaged learners and encourages students to work to their full potential. Our school community fosters an enthusiasm for learning and inspires students to be critical thinkers who lead with compassion.
We believe that a partnership with parents helps our teachers motivate our children in developing their unique talents and gifts with confidence which prepares them for success in premier high schools.
We invite you to tour St. Patrick School to learn about our programs and to hear about how we partner with the parent community to educate the whole child.
Together, we help our children grow to be STAR students.
Skilled Learners – Thoughtful Individuals Active Christians – Responsible Citizens
120 King Street, Larkspur, CA 415.924.0501 l stpatricksmarin.org
Sterne School is a co-ed independent day school serving 4th-12th grade students Bay Area-wide. Sterne offers a learning experience with small class sizes and integrated supports designed to amplify each student’s strengths. Every student has a unique learning profile, and our program meets them where they are at in order for them to build academic stamina, develop executive function skills, and engage in social-emotional learning.
Our distinct but complementary Lower, Middle, and High School programs are designed as a seamless progression from foundational literacy and math skills to a comprehensive A-G college preparatory program. With state-of-the-art facilities and resources, Sterne also offers robust arts, athletics, and experiential learning, plus social and service opportunities throughout all grades, giving every student the space to unlock their full potential.
838 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 415.922.6081 l sterneschool.org
In the shade of a redwood grove in southern Larkspur, Chronos Academy recently wove a netted play structure among the towering trunks. They foster learning in much the same way. They invest in the talents, interests, drive and curiosity students already possess with rich content, varied experiences, open challenges and quality feedback to create an interwoven set of honed skills and deep knowledge. They focus on a student’s strengths while supporting their weaknesses with flexible scaffolding from specialists. They foster giftedness so students can stretch to their fullest potential.
Daniel and Celeste Ezell created the Chronos curriculum together with their family, a passion project after eighteen years in education. They integrated a historical narrative, designed making projects, and recorded their own memory songs. As founders, they teach with enthusiasm and joy and train their team in their unique approach. They are dedicated to their students’ confidence academically, socially and emotionally.
At Chronos Academy everything ties together. All subjects integrate each week to a chronological timeline with memorable songs, student presentations, and making every day in the workshop. Multi-age classes of 8-12 students learn history, science, math, PE, art and literature content together while they develop skills individually at their own pace. Founded in 2019, Chronos Academy is expanding to include TK students.
Learn more about Chronos Academy, a boutique, independent TK-8 school for gifted students.
Saint Hilary School is a Catholic K-8th Grade school that combines an innovative 21st-century curriculum and traditional values that cultivates empathy, and honesty. Each student develops a unique friendship with God and receives Grace to show compassion to others and develop Grit to help overcome adversity in their lives.
Our students pursue academic excellence through a challenging curriculum that fully prepares them for the secondary school of their choice. Students participate in their learning using collaborative inquiry-based methods, and hands-on projects. We offer our students the means to be successful through differentiated resources and instruction methods shared by our dedicated educators. Our graduating classes consistently rank in the top 10% nationally in Math and Language Arts, two critical areas measured by the Renaissance Learning Star Assessment. Our students develop unique and confident voices for lifelong success. Come visit us today.
765 Hilary Drive, Tiburon, CA 415.435.2224 l sainthilaryschool.org
Brandeis Marin stands proudly as a visionary hub for social impact education and innovation.
Talented faculty and low student/teacher ratios give our students the individual attention they need to grow into scholars, athletes, artists, and change-makers with a passion to transform our world and excel in life.
By cultivating academic excellence in an inclusive community that brings to life progressive Jewish values, we inspire open minds and courageous hearts – nurturing compassionate, ethical, and engaged leaders.
If you’re looking for an exceptional K-8 education for your child and a welcoming community for your family - you belong at Brandeis Marin!
180 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael, CA 415.472.1833 l brandeismarin.org
At Marin Primary & Middle School, we inspire joyful learning, honor each child, and build connections to empower all students to make a difference.
We believe that it’s deep connections—between students, with teachers, and with ideas—that help kids know themselves and push through boundaries in school and in life. Every day, we strengthen these connections so our students are able to tackle new challenges, pursue their goals with optimism and courage, and apply all they learn to the world they’ll inherit.
From preschool through eighth grade, we engage children in a warm academic environment that embraces growth and honors the journey of learning. Each stage of development is a building block to ensure success in the classroom and beyond.
Through collaboration and creativity, we build insight, deepen empathy, and ignite inspiration. We are committed to listening to all voices, embracing honest conversations, and advocating for inclusion in our community. You will love who your child becomes at Marin Primary & Middle School!
With the ever-changing technology landscape, we aim to prepare our students with the knowledge to responsibly use tools to enhance their learning. Artificial intelligence is an incredibly powerful resource and can be applied to many aspects of education. With student safety as our number one priority, our faculty are exploring ways to integrate this technology and guide students in its application with curiosity and integrity. 20
Be connected. Be curious. Be courageous.
Marin Horizon is an independent, toddler through 8th grade, co-educational day school nestled at the base of Mt. Tamalpais, surrounded by trails and open space. At the core of a Marin Horizon education is the development of each student’s unique and confident voice.
• Challenging, rigorous, student-centered curriculum
• Faculty who believe close student-teacher relationships are the key to student success
• Students encouraged to take risks, think critically, and become creative problem-solvers
• Supportive and joyful learning environment where a diversity of backgrounds and ideas are embraced
• Experiential education program that reinforces the social-emotional learning, independence, and leadership fostered in our classrooms
305 Montford Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 415.388.8408 l marinhorizon.org
Headlands Preparatory School is an award winning, WASC accredited, college preparatory school for students in grades 6 through 12. Our mission is to offer our students a transformative educational experience that helps build academic self-esteem, develop self-awareness, and nurture responsible contributors to the global community while mastering college preparatory courses.
Our one-to-one model and flexible scheduling allow students to learn at their own pace and design a schedule that supports their academic needs and personal interests. While the individual is the focal point of our learning process, we have built a strong sense of community among our students and faculty. Students form friendships based on common interests discovered through our small group electives, lunch time social clubs, community building, and service activities.
1050 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 415.944.2254 l headlandsprep.com
What makes Winston Prep Marin’s learning model different from other traditional learning programs is the way it helps cultivate a deep understanding of each student’s individual needs. Serving students in grades 3-12 with learning differences such as ADHD, dyslexia and nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD), Winston Prep faculty continually assess how students respond to their skill development plan. Students receive one-to-one remediation daily, focusing on their specific academic and social goals. Winston Prep’s Focus program ensures that students are continuously evolving and developing skills, helping them thrive. We often hear from students that for the very first time they feel understood and are part of an educational community where they belong.
For more information, visit www.winstonprep.edu/ourcampuses/marin-county. Contact admissions at katkins@ winstonprep.edu or 415-993-5533.
1 St Vincent Drive, San Rafael, CA 415.858.1015 l winstonprep.edu
As Marin’s only independent K-12 preparatory school with day and boarding options, our mission since 1850 has been to provide an exceptional education rooted in inquiry, reflection, and purpose. Our expansive 515-acre campus serves a truly global community, thanks to our boarding program that welcomes students from across the Bay Area and more than 20 countries around the globe.
At SD, we believe that what students do with their education is just as important as their academic achievement. We challenge our students with a rigorous curriculum that also encourages them to reflect on their learning, find their purpose, and celebrate in community. When students develop a deeper sense of purpose, their academic engagement increases along with their well-being, resilience, and leadership. An exceptional education—where values and academics join together—creates more than great students; it develops great people.
1500 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo, CA 415.258.1905 l sandomenico.org
AAA | Adventist Accrediting Assoc.
AACS | American Assoc. of Christian Schools
ACCS | Assoc. of Classical Christian Schools
ACSI | Assoc. of Christian Schools International
AEFE | Agency for French Education Abroad (Agence pour l’enseignement français à l’étranger)
AISAP | Assoc. of Independent School
Admission Professionals
AMCSUS | Assoc. of Military Schools & Colleges of the United States
AMI | Assoc. Montessori Internationale
AMS | American Montessori Society
AWSNA | Assoc. of Waldorf Schools of North America
BADA | Bay Area Directors of Admission
CAIS | California Assoc. of Independent Schools
CIS | Council of International Schools
CITA | Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation
ELEA | Evangelical Lutheran Education Assoc.
ERB | Educational Records Bureau
FCE | Friends Council on Education
GCSDAC | General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church
GSACS | Golden State Assoc. of Christian Schools
IBO | International Baccalaureate Diploma
ISACS | Independent Schools Assoc. of the Central States
JSEA | Jesuit Secondary Education Assoc.
JSN | Jesuit Schools Network
NADSDA | North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist
NAIS | National Assoc. of Independent Schools
NAPCIS | National Assoc. of Private Catholic and Independent Schools
NCEA | National Catholic Educational Assoc.
NCGS | National Coalition of Girls Schools
NCSA | National Christian School Assoc.
NIPSA | National Independent Private Schools Assoc.
NLSA | National Lutheran School Accreditation
NAMTA | North American Montessori Teachers Assoc.
SACS CASI | Southern Assoc. of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement
TABS | The Assoc. of Boarding Schools
WASC | Western Assoc. of Schools and Colleges
WCEA | Western Catholic Educational Assoc.
WRISA | Wisconsin Independent Schools
Feeling like summer wasn’t very restful? Us, too!
BY MIMI TOWLEThere’s nothing a few days poolside can’t cure. Summer coming to an end — and the proverbial shoulder season beginning — means lower airfare and more to spend on lodging. Here are a few loungechair destinations to consider. For a complete list on each island, go to localgetways.com/hawaii.
KAUAI
1 Hotel Hanalei
While this iconic property has been known for location, location, location for decades, offering up the best view of the famously picturesque Hanalei Bay and surrounding mountains (think movie sets), the latest iteration by the missiondriven luxury lifestyle 1 Hotels brand is a complete transformation. With an eye toward sustainability and blending in with the already gorgeous natural surroundings, the flagship nature-andwellness-focused luxury resort offers up three equally tranquil saline pools featuring natural rock stone and layered greenery for a sense of an ancient paradise. The adult-only infinity pool with jacuzzi hosts multiple cabanas and loungers, as do both ocean level main and lagoon pools.
1hotels.com/hanalei-bay
Koloa Landing Resort
In addition to Koloa Landing Resort’s award-winning signature pool, complete with an infinity edge, swim-through grotto, water slides and jacuzzis, the resort also boasts a family lagoon pool that has an in-pool island, meandering lagoon, basketball hoop, tidal pool and poolside barbecues. Seeking serenity? There’s also a smaller, tranquility pool for guests over 18 with a cascading waterfall for a quieter escape. koloalandingresort.com
Grand Hyatt Kauai
This sprawling resort situated on Shipwreck (Keoneloa) Beach has been the long-time no- brainer for families. Is it because of the world class spa? Awardwinning cuisine? Nope, most likely it’s the multi-tiered pool complex with a 1.5-acre salt water lagoon, waterslides, lazy river and adult-only pool. hyatt.com
OAHU
Sheraton Waikiki
Also known as the three-pronged tower in
WHY POOLS? A few, pretty-much-proven scientific reasons why pools are good for your health.
• Blue Mind research suggests that since our bodies are made of 70% water, we immediately feel at peace when we are in or near water.
• Immersing yourself in water during exercise helps increase blood flow to the brain, which can help improve memory, mood, cognitive function, concentration and help reverse brain damage caused by everyday stress.
• Swimming teaches useful breathing techniques to use when we encounter stressful situations and allows us to get air into our lungs, which can help with preventing hyperventilation and panic attacks.
• Swimming releases feel-good chemicals into our system called endorphins. These endorphins can help our body deal with pain and stress not only in that moment but also in the hours following.
the middle of Waikiki Beach, this hotel has taken advantage of her front-row and-center positioning on one of the world's most famous bays by creating an infinity pool overlooking the waterfront. Here, one can float and imagine the history of your surroundings, where Duke Kahanamoku and his buddies famously introduced surfing to visitors on boards and outrigger canoes. Today, this bay is an international hub and still as beautiful as ever. marriott.com
Aulani, A Disney Resort
Disney’s Aulani resort pulls out all the stops, with nine different pool and whirlpool experiences, including a lazy stream and fully enclosed saltwater lagoon with reef fish. disneyaulani.com
MAUI
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
Many Bay Area travelers choose the Kapalua resort for the cooler weather and golf courses, but it also boasts six azurehued bays, home to colorful wildlife and opportunities for snorkeling, sunbathing and surfing within a 10-minute drive.
The Ritz-Carlton offers a three-tiered,
20,000-sq.-ft. saline-heated pool system open 24 hours a day with an abundance of cabanas and umbrella-shaded daybeds and daytime food service. ritzcarlton.com
Wailea Beach Resort
First there was Grand Wailea, which brought throngs of families to Maui’s South Shore for the headline-grabbing pools and slides (three-story lava tube!). Then, in 2018, the Wailea Beach Resort opened next door with the Nalu Adventure Pool, offering family-size cabanas, splash zones, and four water slides — including the island’s longest at 325 feet. The resort also includes a serene adult-only pool with cabanas that seem to float over the water, two all-ages oceanfront pools with hot tubs and a new adult-only pool and wellness experience
called Olakino. Day passes are available for those who plan ahead. waikoloa beachresort.com
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Pirate-themed, sandy-bottom kiddie pool? A swim-up grotto and walk-through waterfall? All can be found here. Poolside service is available throughout the day, and if you turn your chair in the right direction, you can watch the game at the poolside restaurant and bar. hyatt.com
HAWAII ISLAND
Hilton Waikoloa Village
It’s fair to say that in 1988 Christopher B. Hemmeter blew minds when he opened the Hilton Waikoloa Village, a 1,240-room resort at the cost of $360
million. His vision included a lagoon where guests could swim with dolphins, a Disneyland-style monorail, boats traveling on a waterway to transport guests to their rooms and a crashing waterfall under which one could walk. Today, the property remains a family favorite with the largest pool on the island — with a 75-foot water slide, to boot — plus four interconnected pools with pint-sized slides and an adult-only “no splash zone” pool. hiltonwaikoloavillage.com
Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa
Looking for a multi-level fantasy pool with a 200-foot water slide at a moderate price? This oceanfront property is the ultimate family getaway in Kona. Ideal for families and multiple generations traveling together. outrigger.com/hawaii
If you love the idea of exploring America’s National Parks, but worry about crowds, there are an epic amount of under the radar natural wonders west of the Rockies patiently waiting to wow and inspire you. A day trip is all you need for some parks, while others are better suited for a longer getaway. All of our favorites will leave you craving even more time in the great outdoors, and just as important, none of them require a tent.
SKIP: Muir Woods National Monument, California
GO TO: Pomo Canyon Campground, Sonoma Coast State Park
Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting you pitch a tent so close to home. Pomo Canyon does have a campground with nearly two-dozen walkin campsites, but its stunning grove of redwoods ringed with lush ferns makes this spot a must-see. Hop on the Pomo Canyon-Red Hill loop and along with towering trees, on clear days you’ll be rewarded with views of the Russian River and Sonoma Coast. (Foggy days can
obscure the view but are still magical in their own way.) The moderately challenging five-mile-loop takes two to three hours.
Call it a night: Sleep in the shadow of redwoods at The Stavrand Russian River Valley. The six-acre property is a 15-minute walk from downtown Guerneville.
SKIP: Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California
GO TO: Hetch Hetchy Valley, Yosemite National Park
Tucked a bit out of the way in Yosemite’s northwest corner, a majority of park visitors don’t make it to Hetch Hetchy Valley. Hikers can walk across the O’Shaughnessy Dam and along the Hetch Hetchy reservoir. (The reservoir supplies water to 2.7 million folks in the San Francisco Bay Area.) With a half-dozen trails to choose from, there’s hiking for every age and fitness level, and thanks to the valley’s relatively low elevation, it offers one of the longest hiking seasons in the park.
Call it a night: Less than 10 miles from Hetch Hetchy, Evergreen Lodge opened in 1921, during the construction of the
O’Shaughnessy Dam. Today, there are more than cozy 80 cabins scattered throughout the 20-acre historic property. For more of a resort experience, sister property Rush Creek Lodge & Spa, is just an additional 15-minute drive.
SKIP: Arches National Park, Utah
GO TO: Longbow Arch Trailhead
This 2.2 mile out-and-back trail near Moab is a showstopper. Think pictographs, dinosaur prints, panoramic views, and a photo worthy arch. Considered moderately challenging, the trail starts steep with a ladder area, then mellows out. For a better understanding of the varying landscape, consider booking a tour with Deep Desert Expeditions. Call it a night: Conveniently located on Main Street in downtown Moab, the Radcliffe Moab offers 38 rooms and the type of amenities outdoor enthusiasts dream about — think bike racks, gear towels, coolers, and more. Just six miles from Arches National Park, after the crowds go home for the day, you can easily cruise into the park for some stargazing.
SKIP: Zion National Park, Utah
GO TO: Yant Flat (Candy Cliffs)
This is one of those spots that make you feel as though you’ve been transported to another planet. Commonly referred to as the Candy Cliffs, you can hike from anywhere from two to seven miles through seemingly endless stretches of swirling-colored Navajo sandstone; it simply comes down to how much time and energy you have to explore.
Essentially petrified sand dunes, every now and then the vistas include a peek of Zion National Park in the distance. Grand Circle Tours offers guided hikes; ask owner Kyle Walker to take you to the stretch that looks eerily like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Sci-fi fans just might be speechless.
Call it a night: The first and only boutique hotel in the Greater Zion area, The Advenire in St. George, features 60 comfy and fun accommodations — staff likes to call the rooms “pioneer chic.” The hotel is also less than 10 miles from underrated Snow Canyon State Park.
SKIP: Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim, Arizona
GO TO: Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim
The North Rim, or "other side" of the Grand Canyon is only visited by 10% of all park goers. Here, the smart few can saddle up and explore with the help of a friendly mule, hop in the car and circle the North Rim on a scenic drive, or take their pick from a dozen hiking trails.
Call it a night: The Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim provides the only lodging available at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. The Lodge offers standard motel-style rooms as well as cabins that can accommodate two to six guests.
Lodging books quickly, so make reservations as soon as possible.
PLATINUM PENNIES $25,000+
Frank and Lois Noonan
GOLDEN PENNIES $10,000+
Delta Dental — Dennis Fisco & Pamela Polite-Fiscoo — Harbor Point Charitable Foundation — Rich and Jean Gallagher — Bob Kaliski and Linda Nelson
Frank and Lenore Heffernan Family Foundation — Marin Community Foundation — Marin Magazine — Isobel Wiener — Peter Paul
SILVER PENNIES $5,000+
Bruce B. Allen — John and Millie Barrett — BioMarin — Miriam Connaughton — Cyndi Weingard
Michela O’Connor Abrams — Mike and Kimmie Tyning — Robert Federighi Design — Valley Memorial Park Cemetery & Funeral Home
PENNIES TABLE SPONSOR $4,000+
Chapman Investment Management, LLC — Randy Chapman and Mimi Watson — Duane and Terri Geck — Tylee Holden
Willy and Susan Lukach — Suzanne and Brian Swift — Patrick and Rachel Coll/Marinitas Restaurant
BRONZE PENNIES $3,500+
Herbst Foundation —C.P.A Valet/Soraya Aughney — MarinHealth — Tri Counties Bank — The Pasha Group — Rick and Rebecca Smith
COPPER PENNIES $2,000+
Alten Construction — Daniel and Nathalie Costello Fund — Daniel and Susan Daniloff — First Federal Savings & Loan of San Rafael
Fourth Street Press — Kaiser Permanente — Sue Kunst — Steve and Marian Rayburn — Father Paul Rossi — Unicorn Group
ENJOY FINE WINE TASTING BY: Emeritus Vineyard, Peter Paul Wines, Lynmar Estate Winery, Trecini Winery, Miner Family Wines, Paraduxx Winery, Backstage Winery, Rockpile Vineyards
ENJOY SPIRITS BY: Santo Spirit, Salt Point Canned Cocktails, Vermont Spirits Distilling Co.
EXQUISITE DINNER WINES GENEROUSLY DONATED BY: Lynmar Estate Winery
FEATURING: The Caviar Company, C.P.A. Valet, Telford’s Pipe and Cigar, Hog Island Oyster Co.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES AND AUCTIONEER: Mike McGuire, California State Senator, Second District
Palm Springs Stunning Mid Century Estate Vacation – 8 days/7 nights for 8
Mamita Cocina Mexicana – Spectacular Chef’s Dinner + Peter Paul Wine Pairing for 10
Tuscany, Beautiful Tuscany! – One Week Getaway for 4
SkyShare – Your Beautiful Private Charter Pilatus PC-12 Jet Prop with Destination Options for 6
Marinitas Restaurant for a Lucious Latin Chef’s Dinner, Tequila Tasting and Fine Wine Pairing for 12
South African Safari – 7 days/6 nights for 2
Insalata’s Amazing Chef’s Dinner for 10
Hawaiian Condo Relaxing Getaway in Lahaina – 8 days/7 nights for 4
Holland America Choice of Alaskan, Caribbean, New England, or Mexico Cruise – 7 days/6 nights for 2
Grand Solmar Resort Cabo San Lucas Exciting Vacation – 8 days/7 nights
Walley’s Hot Springs Resort Experience – 8 days/7 nights for 2
Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert Glamorous Vacation – 8 days/7 nights for 6
Restoration Hardware – Stunning Bed Headboard and Nightstand
Grace Family Vineyard 1999 Cabernet Double Magnum
Contact Kathleen Woodcock at (415) 297-6587 or
The Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, San Francisco's Opera and Symphony season kickoff and more excellent events.
SEPT 8 San Francisco Opera Ball
The 101st season opening night features a concert with superstar tenor Roberto Alagna and soprano Aleksandra Kurzak along with the San Francisco Opera Chorus and Orchestra, followed by an after-party. sfopera.com
SEPT 23 San Francisco Symphony
Opening Night Gala Don Juan opens the program, followed by Gustav Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer, featuring baritone Simon Keenlyside. The program also includes Anders Hillborg’s Rap Notes, with live rappers squaring off against artificial intelligence-generated verse. sfsymphony.org
SEPT 23–SEPT 24 Mill Valley Fall Arts
Festival The redwood grove at Old Mill Park will once again host over 130 juried artists in 15 media categories at this fair that also includes live music, a children’s program and food vendors. mvfaf.org
SEPT 23–SEPT 24 Autumn Moon
School might be back in session, but there are plenty of events to enjoy in September during what is often the best weather of the entire year.
Festival For two days, Grant Avenue between California and Broadway in San Francisco’s Chinatown will be filled with arts, crafts and food vendors (mooncakes!), live music, a Bruce Lee inspired costume contest, dragon dancing and opening and closing parades. moonfestival.org
SEPT 1–OCT 1 Hippest Trip—The Soul Train Musical Based on the iconic ’70s TV show — Soul Train music, dance, and style into every living room in America, the world premiere of this Broadway-bound musical is a journey back to 1971’s Chicago, when Black entrepreneur and radio DJ Don Cornelius transformed the pop culture landscape.
SEPT 8 Ann Patchett in Conversation with Steven Winn ing novel, Tom Lake parents lead before their children are born, the choices we make that inform who we become, and what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart. See her in San Francisco at the Sydney Goldstein Theater. cityarts.net
SEPT 15–OCT 8 The Addams Family America’s favorite macabre-yet-lighthearted family comes to the stage in musical form. When Wednesday falls in love with a ‘normal’ boy from a respectable family, she begs her father Gomez to hide her love affair from her mother Morticia — and chaos ensues. novatotheatercompany.org
SEPT 22 Zadie Smith in Conversation with Cathy Park Hong Smith wrote her widely acclaimed debut novel White Teeth during her final year at Cambridge before going on to cement her reputation as one of the most important voices of her generation. The Fraud , her long-awaited new novel, is a kaleidoscopic work of historical fiction set against the infamous Tichborne Trial in Victorian England. See her at the Sydney Goldstein Theater in San Francisco. cityarts.net
SEPT 1 AZ/DZ A salute to the ‘Gods of Thunder from Down Under,’ this tribute band is made up of musicians from some of the Bay Area’s favorite groups including
Petty Theft, The Illeagles and The Mother Truckers, who together pay homage to AC/DC’s unique style of high voltage rock ‘n roll. hopmonk.com
SEPT 2–3 Down in the Valley This all-new two-day music festival at Napa’s Oxbow Riverstage is spearheaded by American indie folk band The Head and The Heart, with other acts including Waxahatchee, Dawes, Faye Webster, Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners and more. oxbowriverstage.com
SEPT 8 Lionel Richie and Earth Wind & Fire Richie’s anticipated 2023 Sing A Song All Night Long tour with special guests Earth, Wind & Fire makes a one-night-only stop in San Francisco. chasecenter.com
SEPT 23 Napa/Nola Take a virtual trip to the Crescent City for some New Orleans style rock and jazz, along with Cajun bites such as po’boys, at Napa/Nola, a daylong music and food festival at the Meritage Resort. Featured acts include jazz-funk quintet Galactic and swamp rock legends Raw Oyster Cult. meritageresorts.com
SEPT 30–OCT. 1 Portola Music Festival
Electronic music and dance music fans get their own festival from the Outside Lands promoters, featuring an eclectic lineup of bands including and many more at Pier 80 in San Francisco’s Mission Bay. portolamusicfestival.com
SEPT 1–3 Godfrey Even though he will always be tied to his stint as the ‘7 UP Guy’ in the beloved 7 UP national campaign, Godfrey is one of the hottest comedians on the circuit. He’s also a comic actor who's had roles in Zoolander, Johnson Family Vacation and Soul Plane alongside Snoop Dogg. cobbscomedy.com
SEPT 14–16 Scott Capurro San Francisco native Capurro is known for his confrontational and controversial, yet
thought-provoking comedy. Plus, he’s a veteran actor, with credits that include playing Harvey Fierstein's boyfriend in Mrs. Doubtfire. punchlinecomedyclub.com
SEPT 10 Mr. Jimmy Don’t miss this special screening of Peter Michael Dowd’s documentary about Akio Sakurai, a man who worked as a kimono salesman by day, and by night became “Mr. Jimmy,” adopting the guitar chops and persona of Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page. Sakurai spent 35 years playing in small Tokyo clubs until the “real” Jimmy Page stopped by one night, changing his life forever. Screening includes a Q&A with Sakurai, who will also perform an acoustic set. rafaelfilm.cafilm.org
SEPT 30–NOV 4 Italian Film Festival
Italians know passion, which makes them excellent storytellers. This year’s festival features six films over the course of six Saturdays on subjects ranging from late-inlife love to a mother’s fierce determination. All films shown at Dominican University’s Angelico Hall. italianfilm.com
OPENS SEPT 22 26.2 to Life This new documentary tells the story of incarcerated men in San Quentin who are members of the 1000 Mile Club, the prison’s long-distance running club and
who train all year for a 26.2-mile race — giving them a chance to be defined by more than their crimes. The film offers a rare glimpse into a world out of bounds, as the men navigating life sentences seek redemption. rafaelfilm.cafilm.org
THROUGH SEPT 18 Hell: Arts of Asian Underworlds is a rollicking romp through the many ways that Asian visual cultures have imagined the afterlife of the condemned over time. Paintings, sculptures, maps, puppets, and religious objects from India, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar and the Philippines offer a colorful variety of visions of the underworld, ranging from the serious to the light-hearted. asianart.org
THROUGH OCT 1 Pencils and Passion: A Student Art Exhibition This original exhibit at the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio highlights both past and current student artwork, recognizes the accomplishments of its alumni, and chronicles the development of The Walt Disney Family Museum Animation Academy. waltdisney.org
THROUGH OCT 15 Kehinde Wiley: An Archeology of Silence American artist Kehinde Wiley’s new body of paintings
and sculptures confronts the silence surrounding systemic violence against Black people through the visual language of the fallen figure. Wiley investigates the iconography of death and sacrifice in Western art, tracing it across religious, mythological |and historical subjects. famsf.org
THROUGH SEPT 9 Art Auction Bolinas Museum is hosting a series of events for its 31st annual Benefit Art Auction, including the popular auction, online and in the galleries, and experiences, including a Last Call Cocktail Party. bolinasmuseum.org
SEPT 9–10 Dock of Bay Festival Explore Vallejo’s waterfront, promenade and historic coal sheds while taking in two days of music on two stages. The solid lineup includes 80s fave Morris Day and the Time plus Fantastic Negrito, The California Honeydrops and Con Funk Shon. dockofbayfest.com
SEPT 10 Run Tiburon Choose the 5K or 10K distances and run along Tiburon’s stunning waterfront to raise funds for The Ranch, Belvedere-Tiburon’s joint recreation program. runtiburon.com
SEPT 14 Rock the Block Downtown Novato comes alive for an end-of-summer celebration featuring live dance music and plenty of food and drink from Novato’s local restaurants. visitnovato.com
SEPT 17 San Rafael PorchFest This year’s event features 62 local bands performing everything from gypsy jazz to Americana on 22 different porches. Enjoy gourmet food trucks or bring a picnic lunch to eat at Gerstle Park. sanrafaelporchfest.com
SEPT 23 California Coastal Cleanup Day Help keep our county looking beautiful by participating in a coastal cleanup activity, typically held at various locations around Marin including Stinson Beach, China Camp and Muir Beach. coastal.ca.gov
September 23, under the stars at Marin Humane’s campus
Eggplant is a vegetable that people love to hate. It doesn’t have to be that way. Unlike the cook in the house you grew up in, local chefs know how to transform chubby Italian, slender Japanese and other eggplant varietals into flavors and dishes you won’t want to miss.
Sausalito
Zalta, Charred Eggplant
Salted overnight, half-moons of eggplant are then roasted with olive oil until well charred. Once cooled, the veg is topped with heirloom tomato ragout amped up with Morocco’s famed ras el hanout spice blend. Touches of crème fraîche, spicy harissa oil and pita crumbs add creaminess, heat and crunch. “This is my favorite dish on our menu right now,” says co-owner Susannah Souvestre. 39 Caledonia St, Sausalito; 415.887.9047; zalta.us
San Rafael
Laos Kitchen, Spicy Eggplant
Deep-fried using gluten-free flour, the eggplant retains its firm exterior while the center gives way to creaminess. The nuggets are then tossed with chile paste, basil, and just enough garlic to warn any vampires lingering nearby. 887 4th St, San Rafael; 415.456.4490; laoskitchensanrafael.com
San Rafael
La Toscana, Melanzane
Made with roasted eggplant, tomatoes and mozzarella fresca, the secondi known as “melanzane” (Italian for ‘eggplant’) leaves out the noodles, relying on the vegetables’ flavor and enough cheese and basil to bring the dish together. “It is a healthier take on
eggplant parmigiana,” says owner Laura Mori Riella. 3751 Redwood Highway, San Rafael; 415.492.9100; ristorantelastoascana.com
Larkspur
Farmshop, Fairy Tale Eggplant Pizza
Did someone say ‘pizza?’ The beautiful ‘leoparding’ or spots of char that appear on the restaurant’s pizza crusts as pulled from its beehive oven is Italian in style, according to general manager Scott Carr. Slices of Fairy Tale eggplants, nestled with oregano and capers are placed under a cloak of smoked mozzarella, which similarly benefits from the oven’s searing heat. The coup de grace is a drizzle of Calabrian chile honey, a nod to the hot honey trend that works magic here. 2233 Larkspur Landing, Larkspur; 415.755.6700; farmshopca.com
Novato
Little Goan Indian Cafe, Baingan Bharta “Baingan,” or ‘eggplant’ in Hindi, is
combined with “bharta” which references vegetables roasted and mashed with spices. So it is with tandoor-baked eggplant, mixed with kasmiri chile, herbs, garam masala, garlic, ginger and other spices to create a dish eaten all over India. To help make it Goan style, owner Sharon Pereira makes it a bit saucier and creamier and adds coriander. “Eat it with garlic naan,” Pereira suggests. 2007 Novato Blvd, Novato; 415.878.0490; littlegoannovato.com
Novato
Kitchen Novato, Eggplant and Burrata Sandwich
Gussied up with sun-dried tomato oil and fire-roasted red peppers, an openfaced sandwich gets surprising heft while expressing the flavors of the countries surrounding the Ionian Sea with an underpinning of Della Fattoria’s kalamata bread. 6 Hamilton Landing, Novato; 415.234.8923; kitchennovato.com
Burmatown Asian
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 Ave, 415.985.5060; burmatown.com
$ BB
Flores Mexican
With an emphasis on regional Mexican dishes and flavors 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; floressf.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 $
Barefoot Cafe
American Chef Tony Senehi’s all-day cafe is known for California-inspired dishes made from local, organic ingredients. Pear almond pancakes and eggs Benedict (ask for “the Brady” to get lox) are popular at breakfast, while a BBQ pulled pork sandwich is a hot seller at lunch. 1900 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.460.2160; barefootcafe.com
$ BB
Sorella Caffe Italian
Run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella serves fresh Italian with a northern influence. Favorites include the cioppino, butternut squash ravioli, pollo alla Sorella and the garlic bread. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520; sorellacaffe.com
HH $ BB HH $ BB
Stillwater Californian
Fairfax native Margaret Ruiz and her life and business partner, David, bring the bounty of the county to the table. Appetizers and salads feature local cheeses, oysters, and produce while the cheeseburger with Stemple Creek beef and the
miso-glazed black cod have dedicated followers. 23 Broadway, 415.524.8478; stillwaterfairfax.com
HH
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 wellexecuted California cuisine with weekly specials like Prime Rib on Mondays and fried chicken on Sundays. 850 College Ave, Kentfield, 415.419.5101; guesthousemarin.com
HH
American
Tucked away in a setting of intertwining ivy and large open windows, this cafe is the quintessential breakfast nook and is also open for brunch and lunch, including coffee drinks, pastries and much more. Enjoy a casual daytime meal inside or out on the patio. 848 College Ave, Kentfield, 415.459.0291; halfdaycafe.net
$ BB
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 fireplace, it’s a fun experience. The menu features authentic French cuisine utilizing seasonal, local and organic ingredients. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331; leftbank.com
Perry’s American Perry’s on Magnolia has the same classic American cuisine, bustling bar and warm service and personality the San Francisco original has always been famous for. Plentiful outdoor dining options. It’s bar is a perennial best of the county winner. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.1877;
perryssf.com
BB
Pizzeria Picco Pizza
This family-friendly parlor next door to Picco offers Californiainfluenced 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, 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 flavors. 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
$
Californian
The Marin-grown bakery is known and loved the world over: Pope Francis famously requested Rustic Bakery flatbread 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
$
noodles and Coho salmon donburi. The wine list tilts American; the cocktails are even better when enjoyed at the small bar. 106 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley; 415.888.2265; cohomv.com HH $ BB
N BB
Floodwater
Californian
Order a handcrafted “Gold Rush” (Old Forester bourbon, local honey, lemon) at the long 20 seat bar and watch the game on five huge 4K TVs while noshing on pork belly steamed buns, or dive into Shorty’s Tall Reuben. The Patio features multiple fire pits. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.843.4545; floodwatermv.com
HH $
Gravity Tavern
American
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
Coho
Chef partner David Kornell celebrates the California coast with a seafood-forward menu that leans into global flavors with pierogi and kedgeree, crab
With ingredients suited to reflect 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 house-made 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 definite 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 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, fish and chips or fish tacos knowing where and on what boat your meal came from. 254 Shoreline Hwy; hookfishco.com
Piatti Ristorante and Bar Italian
A fireplace lounge and open format concept invites lingering over refreshed menu items such as house made ravioli with lemon cream and citrus gremolata, roasted mushroom pizza with taleggio fonduta and black truffle oil or roasted salmon with artichokes and Calabrian chili. 625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525; piatti.com
Tamalpie Italian
With views of Mt. Tam from the covered, heated patio, this spot known for its local sourcing also features two fireplaces and a full bar serving craft cocktails, wine and beer. The difference is in the dough, small batch, housemade
and gluten-free. 477 Miller Ave, 415.388.7437; tamalpiepizzeria.com
Watershed Californian
Gather ’round the fire pit in front of the restaurant at the Lumber Yard or hang out at the long bar for a pre-dinner glass of wine before sampling one of the many dishes curated to reflect 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
The Speakeasy American
There’s nothing like the comfort of a solid burger and beer when you’re kicking back and watching the game. 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; thespeakeasynovato. 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
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scampi.5800 Nave Dr, 415.382.1144; toastnovato.com
$
Trailhead American
Order breakfast, shareable snacks, paninis, salads, and Equator coffee 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 $
The Baan Thai Cuisine Thai
Known for its mango sticky rice, crispy corn cakes and The Baan Thai salad, new menu items like fresh spring rolls and steamed dumplings and old favorites such as the tom kha soup entice with fresh flavors and just the right amount of sweet heat. 726 San Anselmo Ave, 415.457.9470; baanthaimarin.com
Comforts Cafe
American
Established in 1986, Comforts has a cozy sit-down cafe, serving breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. Besides the famous Chinese chicken salad, other winners are the stuffed pecan-crusted French toast, chicken Okasan (nicknamed “Crack Chicken” by fans), Korean BBQ flank steak and Wor Won Ton soup. 335 San Anselmo Ave,
415.454.9840; comfortscafe.com
$ BB
Creekside Pizza & Tap Room American
A perennial Best of the County winner known for their artisan pizzas, hearty sandwiches, flavorful pastas and fresh salads, Creekside offers plentiful gluten-free and vegan options too. Their copper bar with a 40-handle selection of craft beer (including gluten-free beer), plus wine and kombucha on tap. 638 San Anselmo Ave, 415.785.4450; creeksidesa.com
Cucina sa Italian
Open for lunch, weekend brunch, and dinner six nights a week, come by for homemade pastas, seasonal salads, and wood-fired pizzas that strike a balance between southern Italy and Northern California. Don't skip the happy hour from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, either! 510 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.2942; cucina-sa.com
Flour Craft Bakery American
Along with artisan gluten-free and an assortment of vegan pastries, breads, and special-occasion cakes, this petite cafe serves a lunch menu of so-called fancy toast and big green salads with seasonal flair.
Customer favorites include oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, decadent cinnamon rolls, flourless hazelnut brownies, and the bakery’s signature granola. 702 San Anselmo
Ave, 415.453.3100; flourcraftbakery.com
$ BB
Madcap
Californian
Chef Ron Siegel’s contemporary artfilled space is known for its urban edge. The vegetable-centric 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. The restaurant
earned a Michelin one-star rating in 2019 and again in 2021 and 2022. 198
Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.453.9898; madcapmarin.com
BB BB
Marché Californian
Into the former Marche aux Fleurs space comes Marché from owners Darren and Alicia Banks. Their focus on seasonal ingredients in plates of avocado toast with Urfa chile, shishito peppers
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, fish 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
expansive dining room, full bar, garden patio and private rooms for parties and events. 11 G St, 415.453.6427; cafearrivederci.com
N
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
cuisine like stoneoven-baked flatbreads, 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
Angelino Restaurant
Italian
with togarashi, house made gnocchi with shiitakes, and corn and duck confit with green lentils is Californian all the way. 23 Ross Common, Ross; 415.925.9200; marchemarin.com N
Marinitas Mexican
This sister restaurant of Insalata’s continues to flourish as a bastion of creative Mexican and Central and South American cuisine. Not your typical south-ofthe-border spot, they
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
Cafe Arrivederci
Italian Cafe Arrivederci has been 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
Oven American Roasted in the brick oven, then brushed with sweet and spicy garlic sauce, Red Rooster wings are a mustorder at an all-day Italian American restaurant with a sprinkling of Asian flavors. A thin crust pizza pulled from the brick oven is available at breakfast, too (gluten-free crust is available), and a changing menu of daily offerings. 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
$ N HH $ BB HH $ BB
Vin Antico American
Vin Antico, “where passion meets the plate,” serves seasonal market-inspired
Multiple generations of the Arcona family create an authentic Italian eatery with handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti that has showcased the cuisine of the Campania region for more than 20 years. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225; angelino restaurant.com
Fish Seafood
It has been said that this restaurant and fish market launched the sustainable seafood movement, making it the ultimate place for freshly caught, unobjectionable fare. Order any of the day’s offerings — the menu changes — aily but usually has a variation of fish tacos, ceviche and grilled fish. 350 Harbor Dr, 415.331.3474; 331fish.com
Poggio Italian
Vitello sliced excruciatingly thin and topped with lemon and tonnato sauce is a singular dish in the hands of executive chef Benjamin
Celebrating 25 years and a new tiki bar called, Baja-Bar, they are well known for their seafood tacos with Yucatan influenced cuisine and award winning margaritas along with their fine selection of mezcal and tequilas. Featuring live music all year long. Where everyday is a vacation.
TACO JANE’S
21 Tamalpais Ave, San Anselmo, CA 415.454.6562 tacojanes.com
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 10:30AM to 3 PM, and dinner is Tuesday through Sunday from 5PM to 9 PM. Outside dining on our bridge
From breakfast and lunch in our cafe, to take-home family meals for dinner, Comforts is a one-stop shop for all your food and provisions! We also offer wonderful holiday catering menus! Visit our website for more information.
Takeout open 8am-5pm Monday-Friday and 8am-3pm Saturday and Sunday.
COMFORTS
335 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, CA 415.454.9840 comfortscafe.com
Balesteri who creates Northern Italian fare using local and Italian ingredients.
777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771; poggiotrattoria.com
BB
The Spinnaker
Seafood
Chef Phil Collins excels at preparing seafood, and it shows in the beautifully plated presentations like a classic shrimp Louie salad or linguini with clams. Set right on the water with sweeping views of San Francisco.
100 Spinnaker Dr, 415.332.1500; spinnakersa sausalito.us
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 gaspowered fireplace, 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 filet mignon, Colorado lamb chops) and sea (gnocchi with crab, abalone dore). 2000 Paradise Dr, 415.435.3400; thecaprice.com
HH BB
Luna Blu
Italian
Executive chef Renzo Azzarello serves Sicilian seafood and homemade pastas with a Californian
beverages round out the lively experience. 1696 Tiburon Blvd, 415.910.1010; petiteleftbank 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
“everything fresh, local and homegrown” ethos. Dining in the garden is as popular on weekdays as on the weekends. 1118 Highway 1, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.1515; stationhousecafe.com
$ BB
Tony’s Seafood Seafood
touch. The seasonal menu incorporates fresh and organic produce, local naturally grown meat and poultry from small farms. The restaurant complies with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, so all the seafood is sustainable. 35 Main St, 415.789.5844; lunablurestaurant.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
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 flow from breakfast and brunch through dinner. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.3133; lodgeattiburon.com
HH BB
Station House Cafe
American
Known for their house made popovers which chef Aaron Wright makes available at every meal, this cozy cafe in downtown Point Reyes Station is also recognized for fresh oysters, grass-fed burgers, and an
The crowds come on sunny weekends for the barbecue oysters and amazing views, but the restaurant’s purchase by the Hog Island Oyster Co team meant a refresh of the interior and a spiffed-up menu of seafood pulled from the bay’s waters. Michelin noticed and awarded Tony’s a Bib Gourmand in 2021. 18863 Shoreline Hwy, Marshall,415.663.1107; tonysseafood restaurant.com
Leading
OCTOBER 12, 2023
6:00pm in the evening
TERRA GALLERY
511 Harrison Street, San Francisco
Congratulations to the Leading the Way award recipients for work in making an impact in the Bay Area.
LEADING THE WAY IMPACT AWARD
McKinsey & Company
EMERGING LEADER AWARD
Bianca Flores Johnson
COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPIST
Kaplan Family Trust
Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors
Yvonne and Angelo Sangiacomo Foundation
Toboni Group • San Francisco Giants • Delta Dental
Birite Food Distributors • Deloitte • Waymo • Jeff Pace
Dolby Laboratories • Hoenigman Family Foundation
Cathy Garzio and Martin Mattes • East West Bank
Tim and Rhanda Dunn • PG&E • Turner Construction
Dave Ogburn • Nibbi Brothers General Contractors
Trillium Asset Management • Maija Muncy
Visit our event webpage or scan this QR code to register or learn about sponsorship opportunites.
Questions? Please email events@stanthonysf.org or call (415) 592-2792 or visit www.leadingthewaysf.org.
Over 300 attendees, including many Marin residents and business owners, came together at Sausalito’s Marina Plaza for Marin Magazine’s sold out Best of the County party. Guests enjoyed delectable offerings from Stacy Scott Catering, fine wines provided by Anaba Wines, Domaine Carneros, J Vineyards, Louis M. Martini, as well as canned cocktails and beer from Salt Point and East Brother Beer Co. B12 Love administered signature shots, Nice Gals Delivery doled out swag bags, Navier introduced its electric hydrofoiling boat and West Coast Good Times had the perfect soundtrack for it all. The Documattarian, Snap Fiesta and Steven Gregory Photography captured the evening, including the elegant decor by 38North
Beatles in the Park
On Saturday, July 29th in San Anselmo, the Beatles came to town. "Beatles in the Park" is a concert and fundraiser, now in its 19th year, put together by the San Anselmo Arts Commission. Despite ongoing creek repairs, almost 800 fans of all ages packed Creek Park and got to enjoy fab renditions from the Beatles songbook, from early pop hits to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road. 100% of the ticket sales went toward the arts commission's public arts and youth scholarship programs.
British DJ duo Ali Holme and Adam Davies spent their formative years living parallel lives in the UK club scene, then both emerged as successful DJs with gigs at bars, clubs and festivals across the UK, Europe and U.S. In a twist of fate, the pair met for the first time in Marin County last year, but immediately felt like brothers separated at birth. They joined forces, each bringing over 30 years each of experience in the music world, to form West Coast Good Times, a music curation and DJ/events company based in Mill Valley. These selfprofessed crate diggers, record collectors, and music obsessives bring the spirit of UK club culture to the West Coast and have been spinning across the Bay Area and City.
“There’s no one like us in the area,” explains Adam. “We bring a European sensibility to the West Coast that we love, our parties are like being in Ibiza. Forget that vanilla EDM you find in commercial nightclubs. Our vibe is soulful and our beats are deep and funky with lots of vocals.”
Ali adds, “Deep disco best describes our sound. It’s a decadent mix of deep house and disco edits and it’s totally dance floor focused.”
The two are now hosting their successful Deep Disco nights at The Battery in San Francisco as the new resident DJs. Delivering, bright, uplifting dance beats on First Fridays. They have performed at luxe events for brands like Mercedes, Audi, Lacoste, Pepe Jeans, Gap, Modus BPCM, and Silver Seas Yachts.
And yes, they’d love to perform and curate the perfect playlist for your next private event, charity gala, store opening or product launch — but their knowledge and keen musical sensibility goes much deeper than that.
With access to over 58 million licensed tracks, Ali and Adam are experts at music curation to elevate brands and in-house experiences. “Our custom playlists are built by humans for humans,” says
Ali. “Large, corporate media companies are dragging and dropping algorithms and playlists from streaming services. They are not curating the music specifically for the client or brand’s needs, values and style,” says Ali.
The duo prides themselves as being hyper-specific when it comes to designing music for their clients and are passionate about working with local businesses. They meet face to face, explore the space, the vibe, the people and product. Whether it’s a hotel, bar, restaurant, retail, showroom, or gym or wherever their clients' customers are spending time.
For their most recent client Club Evexia — a 20,000-square foot gym, members lounge and co-working space — they worked closely with the owners to build three zones of music, each with a different mood and playlist. “There’s no effort on the client’s part,” says Adam. “We schedule every minute of the day to fit the scene, and different soundscapes evolve across the day.”
Sure, we all know that music sets the mood and the tone, but it's also scientifically proven to keep people in spaces longer, improve mood and ultimately sales, along with creating a deeper connection between a brand and its customers.
“Ali and I have been buying music for over 30 years,” Adam notes. “And have an in-depth knowledge of artists and genres. We specialize in creating custom soundscapes to fit any brand, adding value to their business.” Once the duo understand a brand’s values and style they select samples and evolve the playlist together with the client whether its relaxing tunes, elements of nostalgia or modern and fresh beats that engage the brand’s demographic.
Never underestimate the power of music — to elicit joy, create memories, uplift and transform a space or party. These dedicated music men are ready to deliver Good Times to the West Coast.
info@westcoastgoodtimes / www.westcoastgoodtimes.com
Vivalon and Multicultural Center of Marin Hold Park Outings Vivalon teamed up with the Multicultural Center of Marin to host an intergenerational outing to China Camp State Park on June 30 — which included a guided nature walk led in Spanish by Marco Berger from the Multicultural Center of Marin, followed by a picnic lunch overlooking San Pablo Bay. The China Camp outing is part of a series aimed at bringing people of all ages and backgrounds together to enjoy the beauty of Marin’s parks.
Side by Side Golf Tournament Generates Funds to Support Youth Side by Side’s 2023 annual golf tournament was held at the Meadow Club in Fairfax on June 26. The day included 18 holes of golf on the stunning course, at-hole games of chance, a barbeque lunch and hosted cocktail reception and dinner. Attendees heard from Side by Side’s Dr. Christine Garcia and Bank of Marin’s CEO, Tim Myers. Rich Walcoff, former San Francisco 49ers sportscaster, served as emcee. A live auction, and fund-a-need paddle raise provided financial support for Side by Side’s behavioral and mental health services throughout the Bay Area.
A sense of warmth and calm tends to wash over guests when they enter the Mill Valley home of The Buck Institute President and CEO Eric Verdin, MD, and his wife, Melanie Ott, a scientist at Gladstone Institutes. Tucked into a tree-studded hillside with sweeping views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, the contemporary home’s setting is undeniably relaxing. Amplifying the effect, however, is the comfortable yet refined aesthetic of the interior spaces designed by Maria Haidamus, founder of the eponymous interior design firm based in San Francisco.
When the couple came to Haidamus, they told her they wanted to update the design of their home to better suit their taste and family’s lifestyle. With two children, one in high school and one in college, and a dog, as well as active social lives, the busy family frequently has guests over. “They’re very active in the community, so the design had to be homey and
practical for a family but also sophisticated enough for entertaining,” Haidamus says.
To start, Haidamus installed white oak flooring and painted throughout the three-story, 3,100 square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bath home. Then, she set to work on updating the decor.
“The architecture dictated a lot of the furniture choices — contemporary with simple lines — and the husband and wife are both European, so we brought in some Italian and French brands, since the design resonates with them,” Haidamus says. “They also wanted to keep the color palette neutral so as not to distract from the spectacular view.”
A purposeful use of accent colors, accessories and artwork creates interest in the spaces. Setting the tone for the home, the entryway features a collage of artwork
from the couples’ own collection. Moving into the dining area, the eye shifts to the Paola Lenti rug, with its subtle wavelike pattern and curved edges — a theme that’s echoed in other spaces. “It fits with the neutral palette but adds texture in the dining area,” Haidamus says. “At the same time, because they have two kids and a dog, this rug is washable so you can take it outside and hose it down.”
Curved lines again make an appearance in the adjacent living room, where a B&B Italia sectional with rounded edges and contrasting seams is complemented by an elegant Italian leather Poltrona Frau pouf, hanging Ruth Asawa pendant and arcbased floor lamp.
In the primary bedroom, the greenishgray patterned wallpaper by Jill Malek behind the bed evokes the organic flow of water currents. “I used it as an accent
color,” Haidamus says. “It’s a serene space and everything else in the room is very understated in keeping with the theme.” To improve lighting in the space, Haidamus removed a large, unattractive chandelier and replaced it with two round Flos pendants hanging above the nightstands. The primary bathroom also got an upgrade with the addition of a freestanding tub and marble floors and shower walls.
While all of the spaces in the family’s house now feel warm and inviting, the heart of the home might just be the family room, Haidamus says. To accommodate frequent visits from the kids’ friends and family hangout time with the dog, the family room needed plenty of seating, so Haidamus wrapped three walls with large sectional seating. “Now they’re able to accommodate 16 people on this incredibly deep and wide sofa,” she says. “The family hangs out there all the time.”
The transformation complete, Verdin and Ott’s home now feels just as welcoming to their family as their guests. “The neutral, soothing palette and simplicity of our choices ties it all together, yet there’s always something unique in every room — a little detail that brings more refinement to each space,” Haidamus says.
Left: A Ruth Asawa pendant hangs above a B&B Italia sectional in the living room. This page, top: An elegant Italian leather Poltrona Frau pouf provides extra seating in the living room. This page, bottom: In the primary bedroom, Flos pendants are set against the soothing backdrop of patterned Jill Malek wallpaper.
44 Marin Bay Park Court, San Rafael
90 Corte Arriba, Novato
5 BEDS | 4 BATHS | 1 HALF BATH | .36± ACRES | $4,995,000
4 BEDS | 4 BATHS | 2 HALF BATHS | .6± ACRES | $1,699,000
Representing the Finest Real Estate Across Marin
A rare opportunity to acquire a significant piece of Mill Valley’s storied history awaits with this 12± acres of pristine, lush land nestled at the base of Mount Tamalpais and conveniently located near the charming village of Mill Valley. This secluded, tranquil, and exceptionally private legacy estate o ers three separate homes in an enchanting setting with the potential to create an extraordinary compound or retreat.
Top Ranking Team at Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty
$2 Billion+ In Sales Volume
481 Transactions
Top 1% Among Agents in the SF Bay Area
Top 100 Agents Nationally Among Sotheby's International Realty
129
Sales Over $5 Million
For the past 30 years, one name in real estate has touched the lives of so many. From record-breaking sales, architectural masterpieces, renowned clients, to delivering the dream, Lydia Sarkissian represents real estate at its finest. A legacy career, built on expertise, experience and trust, strengthened by teamwork, partnership, and family. An icon in her industry, and an inspiration to her peers, we celebrate this landmark 30th year, your contributions to this business, to this company, and we celebrate the iconic woman, mother and professional you are. Congratulations, Lydia Sarkissian.
24
Sales Over $10 Million
5 Sales Over $20 Million
• l.sarkissian@ggsir.com
• m.sarkissian@ggsir.com
• bb@ggsir.com
A rare combination of stunning contemporary architecture, beautiful views, a large landscaped yard, and a great location, this recently remodeled home features an open floor plan and a generous deck off the living room. The home overlooks Mill Valley and the nearby Alto Bowl Open Space Preserve with multiple hiking trails.
TOM BOLLES
C. 415.307.4036 | tbolles@cbnorcal.com
CalRE #01866515
The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2023 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logo are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. 233D17_CBR_5/23 Are
CALIFORNIA MODERN | A NEW MILL VALLEY ESTATE | BY KCS ESTATES AND FOLEY BUILT 140 Edgewood, Mill Valley | Price Upon Request | 140edgewood.com
CALIFORNIA MODERN | A NEW MILL VALLEY ESTATE | BY KCS ESTATES AND FOLEY BUILT 140 Edgewood, Mill Valley | Price Upon Request | 140edgewood.com
Introducing an extraordinary, contemporary architectural masterpiece situated in the heart of Mill Valley. Nestled on a sunlit 3/4-acre expansive lot, this exceptional residence establishes an intimate connection with the celebrated Mt. Tamalpais. Meticulously crafted by the esteemed builders KCS Estates and Foley Built, this remarkable estate sets a new benchmark for California Modern living.
• 5 bedroom, 4+bath (including ADU)
• 5,000± sq. ft home on ¾ acre
• Elegant main level primary suite
• Chef’s kitchen
• Home gym
• Family room leading to pool & outdoor kitchen
| Cal RE# 01224441
• Bordering along expansive fields and hills
• Located in the highly sought-after Hamilton neighborhood
• Light and bright home with high ceilings
• Five bedrooms and three baths (Realist records show four bedrooms)
• Open concept kitchen with sitting room with fireplace opens to private patio
• Upstairs elegant primary suite with spa like bath and walk in closet
• Within close proximity to shops, restaurants, schools, parks, community pool, 101 and smart train
Tracey’s impressive 22-year experience as a Licensed Broker adds significant value to our Vanguard Team. Her expertise and leadership skills will undoubtedly empower and guide our agents, helping them excel in their roles and provide exceptional service to clients.
Experience the luxury of modern living in this timeless contemporary marvel known as the ‘Art House’ offering an exceptional blend of art and architecture. This private estate is sited in one of the most coveted locations in Marin County, ‘Mount Tiburon’, overlooking the Tiburon - Belvedere Peninsula, the Golden Gate Bridge, and across to Sausalito.
Design concepts curated by well known interior designer Gary Hutton, showcase the private collection of contemporary and modern art by one of the world’s leading art collectors and philanthropists. The dramatic entryway with spiral staircase leads to the gallery like residence with soaring ceilings allowing natural light to flood the interior of the home. The stately living room features floor to ceiling windows, wood paneling, two gathering areas, a gas fireplace, and access to the private outdoors; located up a spiral staircase is the loft that overlooks the living room and opens to the lushly landscaped grounds. The library/media room is surrounded by beautiful floor-to-ceiling wood paneling with built-in bookshelves, cabinetry, recessed lighting, a built-in game lounge with a glass table, and two large french doors opening to the backyard. The ground level of the residence features the service entrance with elevator, recreation/media room complete with projection screens, fitness room, full bathroom with a steam shower, wine cellar, large storage room with built-in closets, and access to the 3-car garage. The outdoor living spaces tie in the natural landscape with meandering walkways, an expansive entertainment terrace with multiple seating areas, a commercial grade stainless steel built-in bbq station, and the perfect pool site. Designed to encompass a balance of quality and contemporary elegance, this residence offers dramatic and artistic living spaces ideal for entertaining and experiencing the essence of luxury living.
Shana Rohde-Lynch Broker AssociateC
415.264.7101SRL@Compass.com
DRE 01079806
83MountTiburon.com
#1 Agent Marin County
The Bay Area, including Marin, helped usher in the Atomic Age.
If you saw Oppenheimer you’ll be intrigued by the role Marin and the Bay Area played in delivering the atom bomb to a tiny island in the South Pacific. The movie didn’t tell this story.
On July 16, 1945, two significant events in the development of the atom bomb occurred at the same time: 1. The theory that splitting of atoms would cause an explosion of unimagined destruction was proven in a New Mexico desert. And 2. Components of a similar bomb, nicknamed Little Boy, were loaded aboard the cruiser U.S.S Indianapolis at Hunters Point in San Francisco Bay.
One week earlier, “The Father of the Atomic Bomb,” J. Robert Oppenheimer had briefed ersatz Army Major Robert Furman on his mission to deliver a “package” to Tinian Island in the South Pacific. That “package” was Little Boy and, according to the book Indianapolis (Simon and Schuster, 2018), the briefing occurred in Oppenheimer’s Chevy sedan parked outside New Mexico Santa Fe’s La Fonda Hotel. The talk covered how “Furman would fly with weapon components to Hamilton Army Air Base near Mare Island Naval Shipyard where the U.S.S. Indianapolis would be temporarily docked.”
BY JIM WOODOnce the Indianapolis had crossed San Francisco Bay and was moored at Hunters Point, Furman and a massive security detail would drive the components on a meticulously arranged route from Hamilton Field through Marin County and San Francisco. And on Monday, July 16, as the test bomb was detonated in New Mexico, Furman would oversee the loading of the actual weapon aboard the heavy cruiser. No one on the Indianapolis was made aware of its critical cargo.
On July 26, the Indianapolis reached Tinian Island; on August 6, Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima; and on August 15, 1945, the Empire of Japan unconditionally surrendered.
The photo at left was taken at Novato’s Hamilton Field in 1948. The aircraft on the ground is a four-engine B-29, similar to the Enola Gay that attacked Hiroshima. The aircraft aloft is a six-engine B-36, nicknamed “The Peacemaker,’ that was deemed too heavy to land at Hamilton Army Air Base.
Hamilton is now a much-desired Marin residential community.
In a tragic footnote, on July 31, 1945, the U.S.S. Indianapolis, after delivering the war-ending bomb to Tinian Island from where it was flown over Japan, the heavy cruiser was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine while crossing the Philippine Sea. The attacked killed nearly 900 personnel in the worst sea disaster in U.S. Naval history. Two weeks later, the war ended.
1926-2018
I n a career that spanned seven decades, Ed Moses is known for his restless intensity and ever evolving style and considered one of the foremost postwar abstract expressionist painters.
“Sky Paintings” Exhibition September/October
Large, powerful, gestural works on canvas - The very essence of Abstract Expressionism
Rober t Green Fine Ar ts, established 1969, exhibits primarily painterly, abstract expressive work by painters that thoroughly take advantage of the sensually evocative nature of color and form.
Where learning is revered, and education is joyful.
