Marin Magazine December 2011

Marin

Features

42 The Magic of Mount Tam In this photo essay, a photographer’s subjects are approached with a beginner’s mind and a poet’s heart.

48 Getting on Board Gliding, surfi ng or striking a tree pose — Marin embraces stand-up paddleboarding.

THE COVER City Christmas , one in a series of photographs of the San Francisco skyline taken from Tiburon at differing times and in differing weather conditions. The photographer, Jim Wood, can be reached at jwood@marinmagazine. com. To purchase a print, visit marinmagazine.com/coverart

JOHN W. WALL

DECEMBER

In Marin

25 FYI Marin’s dynamic music scene is well on its way to a revival.

28 Currents Help for the owls, our Cutest Pet Photo Contest winners and more.

36 Conversation For more than 50 years, garbage collection has been Joe Garbarino’s business.

Destinations

55 Go A visit to The Ranch at Rock Creek in Big Sky Country, plus the latest updates on ski resorts in the West.

62 Travel Buzz

A Marinite travels with purpose to Guatemala; an update on Big Island properties damaged by the the March 2011 tsunami and more.

64 Journey The Fijian respite of Turtle Island offers guests a warm welcome.

Out & About

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

81 On the Scene

Snapshots from special events in Marin and San Francisco.

86 Dine An insider’s guide to restaurants and tidbits in the Bay Area.

Marin Home

107 Backstory

An East Bay entrepreneur and his family are sold on the coastal charm of Bolinas.

110 Details

A home’s entrance can make quite a statement, as these Marin County front doors illustrate.

COLUMNS

16 View From Marin

18 Letter From the Publisher 20 POV

130 Looking Back

Editorial

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nikki Wood

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jim Wood

MANAGING EDITOR Julie Sinclair

SENIOR EDITOR Mimi Towle

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Daniel Jewett

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Tim Porter

COPY EDITOR Cynthia Rubin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PJ Bremier, Dawn Margolis Denberg, Somer Flaherty, Austin Murphy

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Logan Link

CONTACT editorial@marinmagazine.com

Art

ART DIRECTOR Veronica Sooley

PRODUCTION MANAGER Alex French ext 111 | production@marinmagazine.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Drew Altizer, Mo DeLong, Nike Van Der Molen, John W. Wall

Administration

CONTROLLER Maeve Walsh ext 104 | mwalsh@marinmagazine.com

OFFICE MANAGER Danielle Detrick ext 100 | ddetrick@marinmagazine.com

Web

WEB EDITOR Daniel Jewett

Magazine

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Regional Sales Offices

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MARIN MAGAZINE One Harbor Dr, Suite 208, Sausalito, California 94965 PH 415.332.4800 FAX 415.332.3048 WEB marinmagazine.com

OF THE BPA

OOUR GIFT TO you this holiday is sharing a beautiful micro-perspective of Mount Tam through the lens of Bay Area photographer and poet John W. Wall. Wall’s photos — such as his incredible close-up of hundreds of dewdrops resting on a spiderweb — capture a moment of time on our beloved mountain that could have passed, as millions do, without witness. For his inspiring feature, turn to page 42.

We are also thrilled to include county resident and Sports Illustrated writer Austin Murphy’s take on the stand-up paddleboading (SUP) craze here in Marin. In “Getting on Board” (beginning on page 48), which was beautifully photographed by editor-at-large Tim Porter, Murphy takes you from the glassy waters of the bay to the rollers of the Bolinas Coast. For those who haven’t yet tried the sport but might like to, the article includes handy charts detailing what type of board to rent and where you can do so in the area. One fun tidbit: We can claim Marin as the birthplace of SUP yoga, thanks to Sausalito’s OnBoardSUP owner Leigh Claxton, who pioneered the practice.

For our Q&A column this month (page 28), we ventured out to West Marin to meet the newish

executive director of the Dance Palace, Dan Mankin. A self-deemed “minister of fun” who can list circus director, juggler and trained clown on his résumé, Mankin is thrilled to be leading this community institution — which is celebrating its 40th anniversary — into the future.

Got mice? Get an owl box. This month in our community news section (beginning on page 30) we talk to the Hungry Owl Project, based in San Anselmo, about how easy it is to put up an owl box in your backyard or town — the best natural way to get rid of unwanted rodents. We also reveal the winners of our online Cutest Pet Photo Contest, who won some luxurious gifts.

It’s been a busy 2011, so you might be in need of some R&R. In the Destinations section this month (beginning on page 55), you’ll fi nd reports from a journey 5,000 miles west to the luxe Turtle Island Resort in Fiji — where the Blue Lagoon movies were fi lmed; a shorter but no less luxurious respite at Rock Creek Ranch, a new resort in Montana; and an informative update from skier extraordinaire, county resident and regular contributor Dawn Margolis Denberg on the latest and greatest in ski resorts this side of the Mississippi.

As we publish this final issue of 2011, we are also winding down the partnership formed by the three of us to create this magazine. As of the

As

we publish this final issue of 2011, we are also winding down the partnership formed by the three of us to create this magazine. As of the January 2012 issue, Marin Magazine will have new owners.

January 2012 issue, Marin Magazine will have new owners. One of us will be moving on (see page 18), but the rest of the staff will be remaining in place and look forward to many more years of publishing your stories, achievements and inspirations each month.

As always, our wish is for your good reading. Enjoy Marin Magazine, as we continue to celebrate this extraordinary place!

Lisa Shanower, Publisher

Nikki Wood, Editorial Director

Jim Wood, Executive Editor

Farewell

A short good-bye that holds long memories of good work, great joy and lasting community.

MY FATHER KEPT a plaque on his desk that held this quote by Evelyn Waugh: “Change is the only evidence of life.” As a girl, I would sit in his overstuffed chair, look up at that desk — a massive mahogany slab that made me feel smaller than I was — and wonder what those words meant. It was too much to figure out then, but I did know this: My father liked to make things happen. In that respect, we are much the same.

I know now that change provides the punctuating moments in our lives. This column, my fi rst (and last) to you, is one of those times — my fi nal act as co-founder/ publisher of Marin Magazine. The day our December issue goes to print marks the day when Open Sky Media purchases our small, successful magazine company.

Nikki and Jim Wood and I launched this magazine in April 2005 with the goal of creating a publication that surpassed other regional products. We envisioned success as the creation of a magazine that was not only readable, enjoyable and connected to Marin’s many communities but also one that would help build local businesses. We believe we’ve done that, and our nomination as Best Regional Magazine in the country three of the last seven years provides an outside measure validating that belief. Success is always about people, and ours lies with local business owners, dedicated staff and, especially, our loyal and passionate readers.

It is because of the support of many visionary and fearless small-business owners that Marin Magazine exists today. They worked with our sales team and found the budgets to advertise during the darkest of the economy’s days, helping their businesses thrive and allowing Marin Magazine the honor each month of spotlighting the amazing people who make up our community. It has been a phenomenal privilege to be part of this scrappy world where business people lead by example. I hold them all in the highest regard and am honored to call many of them friend.

As for the magazine’s team, it has been like family. We have celebrated the joyful times — launching the magazine, writing books, celebrating marriages and children — and we have dried each other’s tears when losses, both professional and personal, entered our lives. Mostly, though, we showed up for each other, our clients and our readers to create a magazine that makes us proud. Taking my place in this team as publisher is one of our own, Stephanie Ericson. Please join me in celebrating her promotion.

Finally, I wish to thank our loyal and passionate readership. It is because of you that local businesses thrive, including Marin Magazine

It has been my pleasure to stand beside Nikki and Jim Wood. Nikki will remain at the editorial helm and is committed to the future of Marin Magazine, and Jim will continue on with his many editorial contributions. I will be cheering the loudest from the sidelines.

As for me, my joy comes from building products and leading teams — a classic entrepreneur. This magazine, and this community, has given me joy in immeasurable amounts. I look forward to a world of infinite possibilities for all of us.

I started with Evelyn Waugh (thanks, Dad), and I’ll end with Shakespeare: And whether we shall meet again I know not. Therefore our everlasting farewell take: For ever, and for ever, farewell, friends! If we do meet again, why, we shall smile; If not, why, then this parting was well made. But, then again, the Bard did not have Twitter. Follow me: @lshanower. Farewell, friends. Lisa Shanower, Publisher

I know now that change provides the punctuating moments in our lives. This column, my first (and last) to you, is one of those times — my final act as co-founder/ publisher of Marin Magazine

Your Letters

Marin Cancer Institute Update

Excellent advice from Dr. Francine Halberg in the October 2011 issue’s Conversation column. As a breast cancer survivor who has had the benefit of her advice over the past 21 years, I learn something new from her each year — and the last paragraph is particularly relevant! CATHIE BENNETT WARNER, SAN ANSELMO

Good News on San Quentin

Something wonderful has happened as a result of Jim Wood’s article about my work at San Quentin (Conversation, November 2010). A venture capitalist contacted me to see how he could be helpful to the incarcerated men I work with. After a number of meetings we came up with a project that will create a bridge between the penal system and the vibrant technology sector. We then met with the warden and administrative staff , worked out the details, and happily launched the program called The Last Mile on September

1. We are very excited about the program’s existence, which I owe to you for having the courage and foresight to write about the people, both incarcerated and free, who are involved with San Quentin. I send this letter in gratitude for your confidence in me and the work that I do. KATHLEEN JACKSON, SAN ANSELMO

Private School Guide

Your special section on private schooling (“Bay Area Private School Guide,” September 2011) was disappointing because it told only part of the story. The foundation of the article was that private schools are better. This is simply not true. Some are a better fit for some students, some are worse. Public schools, ideally, serve as a social equalizer. If one thinks about just two goals of education — preparing students to be active citizens in a democracy and preparing them to compete in a global marketplace — going to a public school with a broader

ONLINE, WE ASKED YOU

If Marin Had a Theme Song, What Would It Be?

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Alexa Chipman, San Rafael

“Mill Valley, by Rita Abrams and the Strawberry Elementary School third grade class.”

Lisa Tomasi, Mill Valley

“Beautiful People, by Chris Brown.”

Debbie Wade Carney, Mill Valley

“Standing on the Moon.”

Will Cannell, Mill Valley

“I still love the old Jesse Colin Young song about Highway 1.”

Katherine Prodger, Mill Valley

Bay Area events you may want to attend

ICB’S OPEN STUDIOS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 mix of students is advantageous. I am one of thousands of parents in Marin who can attest that Marin public schools do a terrific job preparing our children for college, graduate school, professional school, work and their responsibilities as engaged citizens. RUTH DELL, KENTFIELD

Sir Francis Drake’s Landing

FIND OUT MORE

415.331.2222; icbartists.com WHEN WHERE

Saturday and Sunday December 3 and 4 11 a.m.– 6 p.m., both days

ICB Art Center, 480 Gate 5 Road, Sausalito

Walk in an artist’s shoes at the 43rd anniversary of ICB’s Open Studios. More than 80 emerging and established artists open their doors to let the public, galleries and collectors experience the magic of the ICB. Artists of all media share their art, stories and works for sale.

This is an opportunity to tour the historic ICB and explore and purchase a wide array of fine art.

Free

Friend us to share RSVP Hot Ticket photos at facebook.com/marinmagazine

Want to see all the images from our RSVP Hot Ticket events? marinmagazine.com/hotticket

I really enjoyed Jim Wood’s article on Sir Francis Drake (“Did Drake Really Do It?”) in the October 2011 issue. On a historical side note, the ship that Drake left England on was actually named the Pelican; the name was changed to Golden Hind during the trip. I mention this, as we have here locally another celebration of Drake’s accomplishment in the naming of a British pub in Muir Beach, not far from Drake’s landing site. Its name: the Pelican. The builder, a British gentleman named Charles Felix, was also a scholar of Drake and named his pub after Drake’s ship. JOHN DE ANGELO, SONOMA

I arrived in San Anselmo from New Jersey in September of 1961 to attend San Francisco Theological Seminary. That fall, Clifford M. Drury, the church history professor, led a caravan of students out Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to Point Reyes, where we ended up on the beach. Drury was fascinated by the story of Sir Francis Drake and told us that Drake’s chaplain was the first to administer communion on the North American continent, at Drakes Bay. The controversy over the site of Drake’s landing was not settled at that time — but Drury told us that a brass plate had been found years earlier by some hikers who had picked it up and then discarded it near San Quentin. I believe he reported that the plate resided in the library at UC Berkeley. Your article said the plate had not been found. So, is it at Berkeley or not? Was it the brass plate left by Drake — or was it a fake? Perhaps you can finish the story. JOHN SHELLENBERGER, BOZEMAN, MT

Talk on Public Works

Regarding Jim Wood’s editorial in the September 2011 issue, “Marin Dreaming,” I would like to see a round table come together for the arts. Marin has many arts

organizations, and in order to keep our creative culture thriving, we must come together. Two members from each organization could attend and provide a forum for creative thinking on how to enhance awareness about the local art community. Support could come from citizens, cities and towns for development and promotion. For all who want to get involved please email me at kay@kaycarlson.com. KAY CARLSON, SAUSALITO

More on Panhandlers in Marin

The poor will always be with us. My general rule is if someone is so in need that they are willing to beg, then I will help with a smile, let them know where a meal is available and give them a little cash to get through their day. If that person begging were my child, brother or parent, wouldn’t I do the same? Wouldn’t you? MARY

MUSALO, TIBURON

We couldn’t agree with you more — and can’t believe this is the fi rst piece we’ve seen regarding the recent panhandling situation. We’re in Mill Valley and have tried to reach out to the town numerous times on the issue (the intersection of Camino Alto and Blithedale can sometimes maintain four panhandlers at a time!). Discouraging to note that the town has put its head in the sand and won’t respond to numerous inquiries on a means to address this issue; they directed us to the chief of police. Cities as close as San Francisco (a bit more bureaucratic than Mill Valley), have been able to curb panhandling by simply banning it. The fact that our local officials — some of whom get paid north of $300,000 a year — can’t solve this simple issue is very disturbing. It’s frustrating to note that while St. Vincent is very open to those in need, we still have these individuals on the streets. CAROLINE PREZZANO, MILL VALLEY

Traveling south during mid-morning hours on 101 awhile back I took the 580 ramp and exited immediately to Bellam. When I hit the signal at the bottom of the off-ramp on the left corner stood a sign-bearing indigent begging for “HELP.” Gathered near the right corner stood a half-dozen Latino day-workers looking for a day’s wages. The juxtaposition and contrast said a lot in a

visual second about who was making an effort. Might our roadside panhandlers be offered the opportunity to help clean the roadsides? The accumulation of trash along 101 in Marin is appalling. Are we out of business sponsors to pay for cleanup? I recently read that Caltrans had only two people now for the whole county. We need people to do it, and roadside panhandlers look as if they’re available.

D.W. SINGER, SAN RAFAEL

Enjoyed reading your article in the October issue. Could you tell me whether you inquired with local police departments whether such regular roadside panhandling, especially at busy intersections such as Camino Alto and Blithedale in Mill Valley, is legal? And if it is not legal, why are the local departments failing to crack down on such hazardous infractions of the law?

EDWARD L. TAYLOR, MILL VALLEY

I found it interesting that we, on the Tiburon Peninsula, have recognition and compassion for the few lost souls in our midst. A drive through the Tenderloin elicits no such personal reaction. But, as you say, the few dollars one gives here and there have no effect on the person’s well-being. As my dear father used to say, “If you have a million dollars you can produce results. If you have a million dollars and give one dollar each to a million people, it is worthless.” I, for one, now only stop when there is a loyal dog by the person’s side and hand over a bag of dog food. Suggestions for helping these desperate, lost people? I don’t have a clue. But I admire your sensitive regard for the problem. J. FREYERMUTH, TIBURON

Handing out a 3 x 5 card with St. Vincent de Paul’s information is a great idea. I think I’ll start doing it, with one difference — I’ll attach a dollar or two. Plato’s words guide me: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” CELESTE PERRY, MILL VALLEY

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Your comments may be edited for clarity and brevity. Send letters to Marin Magazine , One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965, or email us at letters@marinmagazine com . Please include the town where you live and a daytime phone number.

ALTERATIONS TO GO ARCH RIVAL

BANK OF AMERICA BANK OF MARIN

THE BAR METHOD BEN & JERRY’S

BISTRO VIS À VIS BON AIR HEALTH

BON AIR SALON & SPA CALICO CORNERS

CITIBANK, N.A. COLDWELL BANKER

COMPUTER CONNECTION CVS/PHARMACY

DAVID M. BRIAN FIFI’S DINER

FINGERS & TOES, FACES & PLACES

FIRST AMERICAN TITLE CO.

FRAMECRAFTERS GALLERY

HUNAN FIRST RESTAURANT JAMBA JUICE

JOHANN PAUL JEWELERS

JP MORGAN CHASE LINDISIMA

LUXTON OPTICAL MAIL BOXES, ETC.

MEADERS CLEANERS MOLLIE STONE’S MARKET

NOAH’S BAGELS PAPA MURPHY’S PIZZA

PAPER CRUSH PEET’S COFFEE & TEA

THE RANCH OF BON AIR

ROADRUNNER BURRITO SANDBOX

SECRET GARDEN SHOES AT BON AIR

SPRINT PCS STITCHBIRDS NEEDLEPOINT

THE STYLE BAR SUBWAY SUSIECAKES

VICTORIA PASTRY CO THE WATER STORE

WELLS FARGO BANK WIPEOUT BAR & GRILL

WOODLANDS PET FOOD & TREATS

Just off Highway 101 on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Greenbrae

CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND CAUSES OF THIS

NIGHTLIFE

In Marin STRIKE UP THE BAND

Marin’s dynamic music scene is well on its way to a revival.

BY DANIEL JEWETT • PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

UNIQUE COUNTY

The Cream tribute band Cream of Clapton entertains guests at the Southern Pacific Smokehouse.

MARIN NIGHTCLUBS THAT gave bands and musicians like Chris Isaak, Huey Lewis and the News, John Lee Hooker, Elvis Costello, Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead a place to play and made the county a destination for live music fans are — after a long drought and many closures — once again taking center stage.

E Open Just Over a Year: George’s in San Rafael

After walking past the shuttered New George’s one too many times, Todd Ghanizadeh fi nally decided that if nobody else would reopen the nightclub — which has entertained locals in one way or another since 1927 and enjoyed a heyday as a live music venue in the ’80s and ’90s — he would. “I wanted to go back to the original idea: a place where people could come have a good time and dance,” Ghanizadeh says about his club, which dropped the “new” and is now once again just George’s.

Ghanizadeh gave the interior a new look with a stylish 1940s theme, two bars, blue neon and stainless steel tables and began booking acts such as the Roy Rodgers Band, Pride and Joy, the Monophonics and Vinyl. He scheduled comedy, too, with Will Durst, Arj Barker and Scott Capurro. Ghanizadeh survived the fi rst year — which included a small fi re and flood and even a personal battle with cancer — and says the club is doing very well, attracting some 100 to 150 people a night. So well, in fact, he just added jazz and salsa Thursday evenings to the weekend schedule. “We are building slowly; it takes time,” he says. “But people are thrilled to have the club back.”

smoked in a 2,000-pound Ole Hickory smoker while listening to live rock, jazz, blues and country music three or four nights a week in a room with a state-of-the-art sound system and stage lighting. The experience rounds out with a grand bar specializing in Manhattans.

“We are overwhelmed by the positive response from Novato and Marin; people here want live music,” Rimedio says. “Everyone in Marin is used to driving over the bridge for live music; it is nice to draw people the other way.”

E Coming Soon: Sweetwater in Mill Valley

While details are hard to come by, it is clear that Mill Valley’s Sweetwater — a venue that many considered the heart of the Marin music scene before it closed in 2007 — is going to reopen, maybe as soon as this month.

The classic club with the nationally known name is set to reopen in the 107-year-old Masonic Lodge on Corte Madera Avenue. The venue was being operated by Ged Robertson (also the owner of Mill Valley’s Small Shed Flatbreads) as The Woods Music Hall until it closed for renovations earlier this year.

E Open Just

Under a Year:

Southern Pacific Smokehouse in Novato When general manager Nick Rimedio and his partners began looking for a place to open their new restaurant and live music venue, they weren’t thinking as big as 9,100 square feet with 100 seats for dining and 120 seats for live music — but that’s what they got. “We were looking all over Marin, and the shopping center [Vintage Oaks] approached us with a totally gutted blank canvas,” he says. “It was a little bigger than we originally intended.”

But the partners — who include PlumpJack CEO Rick Reese and Nashville recording artist Philip Claypool — quickly embraced the idea. Now, guests can enjoy food

It now appears that major renovations, including a state-of-the-art audio upgrade, are under way in the 311-seat hall, and a new ownership group with rights to the Sweetwater name is in place. Robertson, who will remain involved, would only say that the club is going to be “awesome.” In what looks like another good sign for the new venue, local KR Holt will be handling the booking and management, and — with her years of experience at Goldenvoice, Slim’s and Bill Graham Presents — she could make the club a stopping point for nationally touring acts.

E Not To Be? Terrapin Crossroads in Fairfax

It appears a plan by Grateful Dead and Furthur bassist Phil Lesh to build an 8,250-square-foot music barn in Fairfax has been put on hold. Lesh and his wife, Jill, submitted the plan for the 500-person-capacity venue on August 1, which is also Jerry Garica’s birthday. But it appears that Lesh and his project manager Bruce Burman got cold feet after public opposition was raised at a forum in Fairfax and realizing what the approval process might entail. At press time, Fairfax town manager Michael Rock confi rmed that no application has been submitted.

Even without Terrapin Crossroads, Marin’s live music scene seems to be heading in an exciting direction, and for Bay Area music fans it is certainly an encore worth waiting for. m

Above right: At George’s, Petty Theft plays the songs of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Below:

A cocktail from the Southern Pacific Smokehouse.

10 QUESTIONS FOR

Dan Mankin

Executive Director

DANCE PALACE

Local Kim Labeau recalls of the Dance Palace in Point Reyes: “One morning I took a yoga class there, that afternoon I attended a memorial for a friend, and that night I went to see a comedy performance and laughed my ass off.” According to Dan Mankin — who’s been the executive director of this solar-powered community center for the past three years — that about sums up its appeal. A former circus director, trained clown, juggler and minister of fun, Mankin has had to drawn upon all of his skills to helm this West Marin institution. With the recent publicity on the center’s 40th anniversary, we took a moment to learn more about the man in charge. MIMI TOWLE

1

What was your fi rst experience with the Dance Palace? Attending Carol Friedman’s retirement party after she ran the institution for 37 years. She handed me a toilet plunger, and I balanced it on my nose. It’s been uphill from there, and, yes, I have used the plunger a few times.

2 How long do you expect to stay? Thirty-seven years and three months.

3

Highlight thus far? Our 40th anniversary “Hats Off to the Dance Palace” party. We had more than 300 people, a potluck, a hatmaking workshop, tap dancers, a juggler, great music and dancing to Los Compas. The whole community helped set it up and clean it up.

4 Do you draw a regular crowd? We have an irregular regular crowd. And then we have Bolinas.

5 Where were you born? Chicago, Illinois, in 1955. My middle name is Adlai. I was born during Mr. Stevenson’s second unsuccessful campaign attempt to unseat Ike. So from an early age I was used to being part of the good fight, however tough the odds.

6 Have we seen you on the screen? A walk-on part for Nash Bridges , and I am the jester juggling Ping-Pong balls out of my mouth at the opening of the movie Jack with Robin Williams.

7 Why circuses, juggling, clown suits? To steal a line: Insanity doesn’t run in my family — it practically gallops.

8 Do you think that some people just can’t juggle? Really anyone can juggle. I have taught hundreds of people, everyone from fi ve-year-olds to 70-plus.

9 You have a lot of “fun” jobs on your bio — did you ever have a “boring” offi ce job? I was the graveyard dishwasher at Zim’s in San Francisco. I did learn to be diligent about cleaning, so you always get something from whatever you do.

10 Was it hard to step into Carol Friedman’s shoes? Quite a pair of shoes they were. Oh, and she is a dancer and I have two left feet, so my toes got a little pinched. m

Helping the Owls

Talk about nature doing its job. In four months, a family of barn owls can eradicate up to 5,000 rodents. Hence, according to the Hungry Owl Project (HOP), using poison to eliminate rats, gophers and the like is actually counterproductive because rodent poison will kill not only owlets but quite possibly the entire owl family.

While there are a few factors that contribute to a decline in the barn owl population nationwide, rodenticide is one of the top killers. Other reasons include loss of habitat. In an effort to help maintain the healthy population of our Marin-based feathered friends, the San Anselmo–based HOP has created a program that promotes owl boxes.

“Owl-nesting boxes can be installed any time of year, but fall is the best — and being cavity nesters, the owls very readily accept a nest box,” explains Alex Godbe, HOP director. “The nesting boxes we provide, which are designed by HOP and installed in trees, on posts or on the side of barns, are field-tested and found to be safe, long lasting, convenient and successful.”

Barn owls like open terrain away from dense, wooded areas, such as open grassy hillsides, marshland and farmland. For helping to control gopher

populations, HOP recommends installing boxes in vineyards, golf courses, farms, parks and ranches. For helping to control rats and mice around buildings, HOP has also had success installing owl boxes in cities and in open spaces or communal gardens and parks near suburban areas.

Want to learn more about HOP and installing and ordering an owl nesting box? Go to hungryowl.org. MIMI TOWLE

CALLING ALL FUTURE FELLINIS

The Lark Theater is accepting entries for the Seventh Annual Youth Film Festival through March 9, 2012. Entries are broken down by ages 10–13 and 14–18, and by categories: narrative, documentary, music and green. Last year’s winners include 13-year-old Joseph Osborn from Davidson Middle School, who won Best Documentary for Chinese Invention Express , as well as 14-year-old Alex Herz of Hall Middle School, who won an honorable mention in the Best Narrative category for his fi lm Roadkill. The festival is April 29, 2012. Entry forms can be downloaded at larktheater.net. M.T.

WINNERS

Ruff Competition

While our Cutest Pet Photo Contest, which ran online from August 23 to October 7, was open to all sorts of pets (winged, gilled, pawed and more), it was man’s best friend that took all three prizes. And the winners are …

Bliss, the 1K-year-old Maltese owned by Terry-Lynn Cousley of Mill Valley, works as a therapy dog with children and adults.

PRIZE: An Out-N-In Pet Custom Dog Bed, a $500 Pet Food Express certifi cate and two nights at Hotel Cheval in Paso Robles

Looking cute as a button, Baby Valentine — owned by Melinda Bach of San Rafael — was dressed up to participate in a parade.

PRIZE: An Out-N-In Pet Custom Dog Bed, a $250 Pet Food Express certifi cate and one night at h2hotel in Healdsburg

Tweek , a Chihuahua owned by Davil Law of San Rafael, was snapped in her usual pose — basking in the sun.

PRIZE: An Out-N-In Pet Custom Dog Bed and a $250 Pet Food Express certifi cate

Experience Marin Country Club

ON THE STREET

Steve Ward, a painter who can be seen nearly every day in Mill Valley’s Lytton Square — the 100-foot-long island of chess tables, benches and redwood trees on Throckmorton Avenue

When did you fi rst come to Mill Valley? I was 10. The whole family — my mother, my father, my sister, my brother and myself (I’m the youngest) — we drove our brand-new ’59 Ford Country Sedan from Maine. We saw 37 states and visited my uncle here in Mill Valley. Did it make an impression on you? When we were leaving, I said to my mother, “You know, Mom, I’m going to move to Mill Valley.” And she said, “Sure you are, dear.” What’s the connection between you and this island? I call it my ship. And you’re the captain? Yes, I’m the captain of the ship, always pointed east for some reason. It’s a great place, and the people here are fabulous. Very often people stop, and we have good conversations. Why do you paint? My uncle, Dick Ward, who just passed away this past spring at the age of 94, was quite infl uential. He was a realtor here for years, but his passion was Zen gardening, the opera and Jungian analysis. So, long story short, he said to me, “You need to paint.” What else do you do? I also build custom cabinets. I’ve always been creative. I build things, and I paint. It’s all I’ve ever done. PHOTO AND INTERVIEW BY TIM PORTER

S Duarteau Boutique

The new kid on the street for this fashionable block; it just relocated north from Fourth Street in San Rafael. Upscale looks at down-home prices. 826 Grant, duarteau boutique.com

N Morris & Company

Grant Avenue, Novato

WANDERINGS

Long before Novato had a mall, back in the (really not-so-long-ago) day when Highway 101 shrank to two lanes at the city limit, locals who wanted to be anybody (and that meant everybody) went to Grant Avenue to shop, socialize and sip. Today, the big mall’s got those big-box names, but Grant Avenue’s still got what it always had — stores that charm and that personal, small-town personality that wakens your inner Norman Rockwell. TIM PORTER

You’ll fi nd stylish gifts, whimsical self-indulgences and precious accessories in this fun store. Ask for Jan — her last name is over the front door. 701 Grant, morrisand company.biz

Five Little Monkeys

Classic toys and games stacked floorto-ceiling, wall-to-wall and on most of the floor. Also: A library of children’s books. Go be a kid, or go and be good to one. 852 Grant, 5littlemonkeys.com

Mara Specialty boutique where shoes that shine are the stars, and creamy leather bags and belts are the supporting cast. Get your glam on. 824 Grant, 415.892.3732

N Sentimental Journey

Antiques of much value or little, shabby chic furnishings, figurines of every imaginable kind and colorful glassware. It’s a big place with room to wander — and you will. 902 Grant, 415.892.0640

S Pinnacles Dive Center

Oxygen — don’t leave home without it! A

veritable neoprene boutique, plus tanks, goggles, underwater cams and scuba classes out back in Grant Avenue’s only 12-footdeep pool. 875 Grant, pinnaclesdive.com

Marin Trophies

Want to feel like a winner? This is your place. Loving cups, trophies, medallions and plaques — for companies, teams or just yourself. The newest thing: laser painting on tile or glass. A 37-year family business. 932 Grant, 415.897.8055

S Mili

Don’t walk in here unless you’re prepared to walk out looking fabulous. It’s the northern Marin branch of the popular Mill Valley boutique. Racks and racks of this-just-in European and American styles. 817 Grant, shopmili.blog spot.com

E Watts Music

Here are the numbers: 30,000 LPs and 45s (that’s vinyl, dude), 7,000 CDs and 1,000s of cassettes. Here’s the story: Open since 1979 (“My Sharona” was

No. 1 for six weeks), great parking (forget Amoeba in the Haight) and no counter-guy attitude (just friendly knowledge). 1211 Grant, 415.897.2892 m

Left: Marin Trophies. Below: Mara.

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Ka-‘anapali Beach, Maui

Joe Garbarino

For more than 50 years, garbage collection has been his business. Today, what he collects is considered a commodity.

BY JIM WOOD • PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

JOE GARBARINO HAS been around trash since he was 16 years old, living in San Francisco and working with his dad, an Italian immigrant. “We never considered ourselves garbagemen,” he says of those early years. “We were scavengers.” Garbarino and his bride, Sally, moved to San Rafael in 1955. In 1956, he opened Marin Sanitary Service with seven other partners in downtown San Rafael.

In the 1970s, Garbarino relocated the business to an industrial area of town and started Marin Recycling, fi nally launching Marin Resource Recovery Center’s indoor dump in the 1980s. Throughout the years, the business has stayed in the family: Garbarino’s oldest daughter, Patty, is president of Marin Sanitary; he is the company’s chairman; and three generations of Garbarinos work at Marin Sanitary Service.

Marin Sanitary Service’s Resource Recovery Center, an indoor dump the size of three football fields, where solid waste materials are sorted.

Below: Joe Garbarino.

I could see the less waste I took to the dump, the less I had to charge customers and the better my business would become.

The 100-acre site of Marin Sanitary Service, located on Jacoby Drive off Andersen Drive in San Rafael, is also home to Garbarino’s vast Military Vehicle Museum, as well as dozens of pigs, chickens and colorful peacocks — the latter of which roam freely about the facility during the day.

But the business isn’t just large in size; it is now a $30 million a year company with 242 employees and more than 90 trucks, some costing more than $300,000 apiece. The company serves about 30,000 residences and 3,000 businesses, recycling almost 75 percent of what it collects — a statistic that according to Garbarino makes Marin one of the nation’s best counties when it comes to sustainability.

In Marin, trash is collected in three containers — why? It is important to understand this, so let’s make it simple: One container is for recyclable materials — newspapers, cardboard and magazines; glass bottles, metal and aluminum cans and numbered plastic packaging that’s clean with no food in it. Then there’s a bin for garden waste — weeds, tree trimmings and

grass clippings — and, on a volunteer basis, this now includes food scraps such as potato peels, chicken bones and spoiled fruit; that kind of stuff. All this material is recycled into compost for farmers. Finally, there’s a bin for garbage. Ideally, this is for empty ice cream, soup, juice and milk cartons, plastic-coated paper and plastic with food on it, dirty plastic utensils and Styrofoam.

Why did you say ideally ? Because some people still put food scraps in their garbage. Better it goes into a pail under the sink and then in the bin with garden trimmings. People shouldn’t waste power and water using their garbage disposal. Like I said, food scraps can all be recycled into soil-enriching compost. As more and more people do this, they can downsize from 32-gallon bins to 20-gallon bins for garbage. Garbage is now mostly dirty food containers. And that’s good, because we can’t do anything with the waxy paper and food-soiled plastic containers that we collect as garbage; that all goes straight to the dump. Only if it’s rinsed out can it go into the recycling bin.

What about unwanted items not suitable for curbside pickup? Things like paint, oil, even electronic devices have to be handled separately. Those items go in the Hazardous Waste Disposal Site just before the dump’s entrance — a service that’s free to most Marin residents. [Novato has its own location for hazardous wastes.]

Clockwise from above right: Sorting materials at the Resource Recovery Center; workers sort plastic containers at the Marin Recycling Center; one of Joe Garbarino’s on-site chickens.

In Marin

What do you do with the recyclable materials? Once they’re sorted and cleaned, I sell them. One example is beer and wine glass bottles. They’re trucked to the East Bay where they’re melted down and made into new glass bottles of all shapes and sizes and colors, millions of them every year. Glass is 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled repeatedly without losing quality. However, I can’t send plate glass with my glass bottles — that creates imperfections in the new glass bottles. Another recycling example is paper. Once it is sorted and free of contaminates, it’s baled into 1,700pound cubes and sent on container ships to Taiwan. There it’s blended with water to create a fiber that’s used to make new paper. We do the same with magazines, although they are only 10 percent of the paper we process. Aluminum cans? They’re sorted by a machine, baled into 1,500-pound bales, put in an 18-wheeler and taken to places like Troy, Alabama, where they’re melted down and pressed into sheets of new aluminum. This is pure aluminum, so it’s made into new beer and soda cans.

Other examples? Every day, building contractors drop off about 10 tons of Sheetrock. We sort this out, bundle it up and truck it over to Zamora. There’s a plant there that crushes it up, puts it in a big boiler that separates the paper from the gypsum. Then the paper is dried, fluffed up and sold to veterinarians and animal hospitals that use it in their kennels. The gypsum is sold to farmers; it helps break up their soil. Another example is old carpet; we get lots of that. Again, we sort it, bundle it into bales and give it to recyclers around the Bay Area. They separate the fiber from the backing; the backing is often made into dashboards for cars, and the fiber is used for insulation and different kinds of safety padding.

People think of Marin Sanitary Service as being in the trash business, but you sound like an environmentalist. I am absolutely an environmentalist — and proud of it — but it didn’t start that way. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, when we had open trucks, four guys would park under a streetlight and, as three guys hauled the trash in burlap bags and dumped it in the truck, a fourth guy would put paper here, rags there, cardboard over here and tin cans

A welder cuts precious metals before they are compacted for recycling.

there; you know what I mean? And we would go from streetlight to streetlight until the sun came up. We got the job done, but not very well. Then the recycling movement began and I started working with wonderful people like Gloria Duncan of Fairfax and Ted Wellman, a remarkable conservationist, and I could see the less waste I took to the dump, the less I had to charge customers and the better my business would become. So you could say I started recycling because I didn’t own the dump. But now I am absolutely an environmentalist.

Do the people of Marin respond in kind? Are your customers good environmentalists? You mean do they always put the right waste material in the right bin? For the most part, yes. Sure, there will always be the guy who puts dog poop in a tin can and throws it in the recycling bin — I’ve seen it myself. However, that doesn’t happen very often. Ninety-nine percent of the people we deal with in Marin are great people. To be honest, I can’t see many big problems regarding they way people in Marin recycle. The materials we get in — and ship out — are, most of the time, clean as a whistle.

What should be done with plastic bags and chunks of Styrofoam? First, both should be outlawed, worldwide. Clean Styrofoam in large amounts can be recycled into picture frames, but it’s a difficult process and can only

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Sure, there will always be the guy who puts dog poop in a tin can and throws it in the recycling bin. However, that doesn’t happen very often. Ninety-nine percent of the people we deal with in Marin are great people.

be done once. Most Styrofoam gets soiled — and it is garbage, pure and simple. It should go with the dirty plastics and waxy paper food containers in the garbage bin.

Plastic bags? Again, it is garbage. It gums up all our sorters and causes all sorts of problems. Take plastic bags to Safeway, United Markets or Rite-Aid. People like TREX pick them up there and recycle them into composite lumber. Instead of using plastic bags — or even paper bags — we should all shop with reusable cloth bags.

Plastic bags with dog poop? Personally, I pick up dog poop with a Kleenex and flush it down our john. Short of that, it goes in with the

The Details

E MARIN SANITARY SERVICE Provides weekly residential and commercial waste collection, street sweeping and recyclables pickup services. 1050 Andersen Drive, San Rafael, 415.456.2601; open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 noon

E MARIN RECYCLING CENTER Accepts and processes collected recyclables including glass bottles and jars, aluminum and tin cans, plastic containers No. 1–7, waste papers, cardboard and hazardous waste. The center also provides community education through the Environmental Classroom. 535 Jacoby Street, San Rafael, 415.453.1404; open Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays

E MARIN RESOURCE RECOVERY CENTER Accepts and processes nonhazardous materials through a customized system of screens, conveyors, blowers,

garbage and straight to the dump. It does not go in with garden waste.

Chunks of concrete and unwanted lumber? Both items can go to the dump, either Redwood Landfi ll north of Novato or here at Marin Resource Recovery Center. We crush the concrete back into gravel and sell it to contractors who use it on roadbeds and as a base for sewer lines. Wood is ground down and turned into mulch; trees are cut up and sold as fi rewood. Some of these recycled materials we donate to good causes.

Dry cleaner hangers, black plastic nursery pots and Styrofoam “popcorn” packaging? Take ’em back where you got them; they’ll be reused. Take the “popcorn” to your local packaging store; they’ll use it again.

TVs, computers, printers, cell phones, fluorescent lightbulbs, dead batteries, old paint, used brake fluid and old motor oil? All those can go to our Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

For more information visit marinsanitary. com. To arrange a group tour, call Devi Peri at 415.458.5539. m

magnets and hand sorting. 565 Jacoby Street, San Rafael, 415.485.5646; open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

E HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY Available for free to any Marin County household excluding Novato; bring proof of residency, such as a driver’s license, tax documents or utility bill. 565 Jacoby Street (look for the signs by the indoor dump entrance), San Rafael, 415.485.6806; open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., closed Sundays and Mondays

THEMagicMount Tam OF

In this photo essay, a photographer’s subjects are approached with a beginner’s mind and a poet’s heart.

Poems and photos by John W. Wall

Razor fog

Slicing through the fir trees Cuts away my cares

Elegant brodiaea

Such fair summer fare

Among grasses so dry and prickly

If the wind stops And I listen real hard Do I hear the monarch eat

Concentric eccentricity Elaborate geometry Fog at rest

Rufous wildcat

At home on the mountain

You make my day

Twelve-spotted skimmer, High Marsh dragon

Please rest a moment longer

Bare feet in cold water, I wade closer

Golden paper wasp What brings you to this rock On a late January day

The future is bright

Pixie cups hold Crystal balls

The science of diffraction Poetry in the grass

Getting ON BOARD

Gliding, surfing or striking a tree pose — Marin embraces stand-up paddleboarding.

BY AUSTIN MURPHY • PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

A late afternoon paddleboarder at Schoonmaker Beach in Sausalito. Opposite: A stack of paddleboards at Sausalito’s Sea Trek.

THEY ALL DID double takes — the dog walkers and yacht people, the kayakers and pedestrians, the straw-hatted septuagenarian rowing a dinghy to his sloop. On a fi ne October Sunday morning in Sausalito, passersby gawked at a peculiar flotilla moored just off the beach at Sea Trek, the venerable kayak outfitter that has recently expanded its repertoire.

In a voice at once calming and commanding, yoga instructor Abria Joseph told his students, “High plank through low plank … exhale, breathe … now downward-facing dog.” There’s nothing out of the ordinary about yoga in Marin, of course. Distinguishing this class was the fact that it took place on the water. Joseph has students move through their asanas on stand-up paddle (or SUP) boards, the popularity of which is on the rise not just in this county but around the world.

“For the first five minutes, you’re kind of figuring out where you are on the board, navigating the space,” says Sienna Harris at the end of her floating yoga class, offered by a Bay Area–based outfit called OnBoardSUP. “And then it’s just … magical. It was crazy.”

On-the-water yoga is but one manifestation of the SUP craze, now five-or-so years old and showing no signs of abating. “The sport has grown incredibly,” says Brian Hughes, a rep for Tahoe SUP. “The number of people doing it seems to almost double every year.”

That tracks with estimates made by David Meyler, a Tiburon native who two years ago founded Boga Stand Up Paddle Boards and is now selling them in Europe, South America and the American heartland. “We definitely caught a wave,” says Meyler (who did not, we think, intend the pun). “This is the fastest-growing aquatic sport on the planet. Demand is greater than supply and seems to double about every six months.”

Some prefer the serenity of fl at water; others, the lure of the open ocean. And some of those seafaring SUPers can be seen paddling into waves. Meyler explains that fl at-water boards tend to have displacement hulls, with a prow similar to a canoe or kayak. Seafaring SUP boards — especially those used for surfi ng — feature wider, fl atter planing hulls, like those of a surfb oard.

Even if you’re not quite up to paddling into a wave, there’s plenty to see out there. “When you’re kayaking, you can’t really see what’s under you,” says Hughes. Standing gives paddlers a superior vantage point from which to view reefs, rays, rocks and fish. “It’s an entirely new vista, a new adventure.”

How was SUPing born? “It’s been going on forever,” says Meyler, noting that Duke Kahanamoku was doing it in Hawaii in the middle of the last century. A decade or so ago, a group of Hawaiian surfers — Laird Hamilton among them — embraced the sport anew as a way to train when the surf was small. It wasn’t long before they were

For the first five minutes, you’re kind of figuring out where you are on the board, navigating the space. And then it’s just … magical.

then entering outrigger races, competing in their own separate SUP division.

More and more SUPers of all levels are entering such races, such as the Battle of the Bay, held off McNears Beach last October by Sausalito’s Bluerush Boardsports and sponsored by Boga Boards. For those who prefer a bit of wave action, Live Water Surf Shop in Stinson Beach has sponsored the Shore to Shore Paddle Race for the past four summers to benefit the town’s Junior Lifeguard Program. In its first year, the race drew 26 paddlers. This year’s event, on June 18, will easily exceed 100. Says Live Water Surf Shop’s co-owner Brenna Gubbins: “Everyone has a blast; there are lots of prizes, and there’s a great barbecue afterward.”

Sea Trek, looking out on spectacularly picturesque Richardson Bay, caters to the flat-water crowd, whose converts include kayaker Bob Licht. (Licht is the guy, as it happens, who founded Sea Trek three decades ago.) “There’s just something about it,” he says. “I’ve been paddling SUPs more than I’ve been kayaking recently, because it’s so much simpler. Kayaking has a much more serious tradition. You’ve got your life jacket on, and your spray skirt. You have to be trained in self-rescue.” It’s also a different workout. “Balancing on a board, you’re constantly making all these micro-adjustments — it’s an amazing workout for your core,” Licht says. “Kayaking is also a great workout, but I think you feel it faster on a paddleboard.”

The vast majority of SUPers to whom Sea Trek rents aren’t converted kayakers. “They’re new people,” says Licht, who stocked eight stand-up boards two years ago and now has 40-plus. “We’re getting an entirely new demographic.”

Many of them are women, drawn to this sport because it is neither time- nor logistics-intensive. To get on the water for a SUP, Licht says, “You pick up your board, go down to the water’s edge, get on and go.” What if you’re brand-new? “We can get people up to speed in 10 to 15 minutes,” says Licht.

Leigh Claxton is the founder of OnBoardSUP, which certifies instructors for her increasingly popular floating yoga classes. She is also, as far as she knows, the James Naismith (inventor of basketball) of SUP yoga. She first practiced a few poses on one of her son’s boards in early 2009 and was intrigued. A physical therapist, she was rehabbing a head-injury patient and saw the benefits of him being able to “feel” his balance versus being weightless in the pool. Afterward, Claxton began working with private clients doing yoga on boards. “I put a few pictures on the web and got some response. Mostly, people thought I was crazy.”

While her classes get great word-of-mouth exposure, Claxton has also welcomed locals who’ve simply seen the classes while walking past or looking out the windows of their homes and became intrigued. Says Claxton: “You’d be surprised how many people live here but have never been on the water.”

Above: A morning yoga class on stand-up paddleboards led by Leigh Claxton in Richardson Bay.

yoga teacher Leigh Claxton does a headstand during class. Opposite: Paddleboards at Bluerush Boardsports in Sausalito awaiting their next riders.

Stand-up paddling is an unthreatening way for the water-uninitiated to get their toes wet. Claxton uses custom-made “Boga Yoga” boards — specially designed by Meyler — that are both lighter and more stable than typical stand-up boards, which are quite stable to begin with. “You pretty much have to work to fl ip ’em,” she says. “Part of my desire with the program is to educate people about water, to learn and see and what’s around them.” While Claxton was prepared to mothball the classes over the winter, demand was such that she kept them going. “They kept filling up, so we kept teaching them,” she says. “It was pretty special, because it seemed like we had different bird migrations, different birdsong, every week. A lot of people came just for that.” The number-one comment she gets from first-timers? “I had no idea it was going to be so much fun.”

For local SUPers intent on paddling into waves, it’s tough to beat the Patch at Bolinas. Instead of walking left toward

the jetty when you get to the beach, you take a right toward the Patch, which breaks over Duxbury Reef, yielding long, slow rollers. On small-wave days, SUPers are often the only people there catching waves — which does not necessarily endear them to traditional, prone surfers, some of whom resent how easy it is for SUPers to paddle into waves that roll right under their shorter boards. “It’s a total advantage,” complains one Bolinas local, a wiry 20-something who asked that his name not be used. “And it doesn’t even surf the wave that well.”

Still, there’s very little friction at the Patch, which has a reputation as offering a mellow, learner’s wave. SUPers “get away with it out here,” says the local. “But if you’re in SoCal, in a crowded spot like Rincon or something, people will boo you off the waves.” Having made his point, he then made an admission: “I wouldn’t mind trying it myself,” he says. “I wanna take one in the lagoon and see some stingrays.” m

Above left: A paddleboarder and boater chat in Richardson Bay. Above right: Stand-up paddleboard

When it comes to choosing a paddleboard, beside the fact that it needs to fit into or on top of your car, features such as size, weight and type come into play. Stephen Pugh, owner of Bluerush Boardsports in Sausalito, breaks down the differences between the various boards. M.T.

1 Touring Board (12’–14’; $1,000–$2,500)

— While these boards are similar in shape to a race board, they are designed to be more stable and thus wider with more volume. They are used primarily for longer distance cruising without the need to be nimble around a race course like a race board. Many offer the ability to carry gear.

2 Race Board (12.6’–20’; $1,200–$3,000)

— Most race board shapes are distinguished by a sharper displacement bow making it easier and faster to cut through the water. The longer water lines and narrower shape can make these boards more challenging for beginners. However, as with most stand-up paddleboarding experiences, the learning curve is relatively short, and most serious enthusiasts ultimately get the competitive itch and invest in a race board.

3 Paddlesurf All Around Board (9’–12’; $850–$1,900) — These boards are traditionally shaped much like a longboard surfboard and designed for use in waves as well as casual fl at water paddling. They are usually the most stable for beginners and often used for on-the-water yoga and other fi tness workouts.

* Paddles ($100–$400) — The less expensive paddles are made with aluminum, while those made from fi berglass and carbon fi ber are lighter and more expensive. There are also adjustable paddles popular with families.

Destinations

THE LATEST LOCAL TRAVEL DEALS AND GETAWAYS PLUS JOURNEYS AROUND THE GLOBE

RUSTIC LUXURY

The Ranch at Rock Creek is the latest — and by some reports greatest — backcountry escape in Big Sky Country.

BY JIM AND NIKKI WOOD

WITH AN ABUNDANCE of dude and resort ranches in the state of Montana, one in particular — The Ranch at Rock Creek — has been getting a fair amount of attention, including the 2010 Andrew Harper Grand Award. Hence, as our Marin summer continued to slog through foggy cold days that turned into weeks, we booked a long weekend to experience the warmth and expanse of Montana’s Big Sky Country. In doing so, we learned the difference between a dude ranch and a luxury guest resort ranch. “The difference is subtle,” explains Colleen Hodson of the Dude Ranchers’ Association. “They both offer horseback riding, fly-fishing and various other western activities. However, a resort ranch also offers fine dining and higher-end amenities.”

The Ranch at Rock Creek, a 6,400-acre property located less than two hours from the Missoula airport, defi nitely qualifies as a resort ranch. The property includes a highseason staff of 75 and a variety of lodging options, such as the nine-room Granite Lodge

that also houses a saloon-style bar and dining room dominated by a massive stone fi replace. For those who want to sleep near a rushing creek, it doesn’t get any better than slumbering in one of the ranch’s luxury canvas cabins. Sizes vary, with some large enough to accommodate up to six, and all have an indoor camping toilet as well as a full private bathroom in a separate building just a few steps away. Four expansive freestanding log homes are also available — and are especially popular for multigenerational reunions.

Upon our arrival, the property’s backdrop of green, wildflower-fi lled rolling hills and snow-capped mountains took our breath away. Ranch owner Jim Manley, founder and owner of Atlantic and Pacific Capital (a worldwide private equity placement fi rm), purchased the property in 2007 after, he says, “obsessing with owning a property like this for nearly 50 years” and scouting the American West for a quarter century in search of this dream.

Located in an alpine valley more than 5,000 feet above sea level, The Ranch at Rock

Creek has year-round rainfall that allows pines, aspens and green grasses to dominate the landscape and water to flow abundantly in the iconic creek.

The stable, complete with wranglers and located a short walk from the lodge, houses more than three dozen horses. Another

Hiking the ranch’s trails provided the opportunity to learn why Montana is called Big Sky Country.

amenity we really enjoyed was the Ralph Lauren–esque Mercantile Store (where we were tempted to buy some of the fancy western boots it stocked).

And what Western ranch would be complete without a saloon? The Silver Dollar, a popular hangout for adults and kids alike, lured us every night after dinner.

For us, a typical day at the ranch began with waking up in one of the Granite Lodge’s comfy ranch-inspired rooms and then heading down to the dining room for a hearty breakfast — pancakes, eggs, yogurt, toast or oatmeal. Because we’re avid hikers, our activity of choice was to explore the area on foot. There are literally miles of well-marked hiking trails throughout the ranch’s 6,400 acres with spectacular vistas around every corner. A cherished memory was when we came upon a herd of free-roaming horses high on a plateau that reminded us of a scene from Bonanza.

After the hike, it was back to the dining room for lunch (organic greens and grilledcheese sandwiches were one of our favorites), then out again for horseback riding or flyfishing lessons. As the sun set, we’d sip wine on the flagstone terrace, chat with fellow guests about our day’s activities and then enjoy dinner

in the Granite Lodge. Chef Josh Drage, who’s passionate about providing the freshest products possible, served up delicious meals featuring organic beef, free-range chicken, organic eggs, fresh fish and seasonal local fruits.

Sore muscles from a day of outdoor fun? No problem — a deluxe five-room spa with a full range of treatments is available to work out the kinks. There’s also a heated pool and hot tub just outside Granite Lodge with views of the surrounding mountains.

As of 2010, the ranch has been open during the winter months. Guests can take a short drive to the nearby resort Discovery Basin for downhill skiing or enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice-skating, which are all available right on the property.

An added bonus to our experience was visiting Philipsburg, an 1880s sapphire mining town of 908 people about 20 minutes east of the ranch, where we browsed intriguing antique shops and its one rather famous candy store — the Sweet Palace, known for its handdipped fi ne chocolates and saltwater taff y.

All in all, a visit to The Ranch at Rock Creek exposed us to activities very different than hiking the hills of Marin, offering a landscape to rival our own hallowed county. We found that “Big Sky Country” certainly lived up to its name. m

From $900 per person per day, all-inclusive; theranchatrockcreek.com. Price includes accommodations, meals, libations and all daily activities. Outdoor activities include hiking, flyfishing, archery, horseback riding, mountain-bike riding, skeet shooting and swimming. Bowling, pool, movies, and karaoke are available indoors.

Clockwise from left: The Silver Dollar Saloon beckons bar-goers to saddle up; the luxury canvas cabins feature ceiling fans and comfy beds; the ranch’s creek.

What’s New This Ski Season

From heated lifts to Nobu on ice, Western ski resorts are stepping it up in 2012.

BY DAWN MARGOLIS DENBERG

SKI SEASON IS upon us, and despite a sluggish economy, resorts have been quietly pouring millions into updates and additions at locations throughout the West. And it appears those investments are paying off Last year, according to the National Ski Areas Association, lift ticket sales exceeded $60 million, shattering the old record set in the 2007–2008 ski season. What this means for skiers this season is more lifts, more terrain and more places to put up your tired feet after the ski day. Here’s what you can expect.

E Tahoe

The most striking changes are taking place here. Most recently, Squaw Valley (squaw. com) divulged that the resort is joining forces with neighboring Alpine Meadows (skialpine.com), meaning both mountains will be accessible on one lift ticket or season pass. This announcement came on the heels of

last year’s news that KSL Capital Partners, a private equity fi rm, had purchased Squaw from its founding owners. The good news for Squaw regulars (and homeowners), is that the acquisition triggered a five-year, $50 million commitment to capital improvements.

For this year’s ski season, the investment translates to a new on-mountain terrain park and the renovation of Squaw Valley’s Olympic House base lodge. Its ground floor has been transformed into a day lodge and family recreation center, which will provide a cozy place for families and friends to change into their equipment or relax before or after spending time on the mountain. In addition, the sundeck at the base of the KT-22 bar will be enhanced with outdoor fire pits, live music and on-mountain cabanas for a more intimate

après-ski experience. “We’ve listened to our guests and learned that the very caliber of this mountain may have kept some visitors away,” says Andy Wirth, Squaw’s president and CEO. “Although we are aware that many locals love the mountain as is, we are confident they will appreciate the improvements as well.”

Around the same time that Squaw was purchased, Northstar (northstarattahoe .com) got snapped up by Vail Resorts, which also operates Heavenly in South Lake Tahoe and four other ski resorts in Colorado — Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone and Beaver Creek. The new company committed $30 million to improve the resort, already viewed as having one of the region’s most modern facilities. A few of those improvements: a new chairlift and an additional 170 acres of skiable terrain.

The Northstar acquisition also means that guests can now take advantage of the company’s popular Epic Ski Pass, which includes seven resorts, as well as a new smart phone app, Epic Mix. In addition to tracking the number of vertical feet skied daily, the app includes a new feature that allows photographers to tag users who mug for on-mountain professional photographs and then have an unlimited number of those shots delivered free to their Facebook or Twitter accounts.

E Colorado

Refi nements are under way east of the Sierras as well. Vail Resort ’s (vail.com) namesake mountain, for example, replaced an old triple chairlift with a high-speed quad that ferries guests to the top in half the time. And this month, Vail will open The 10th, a 60-seat, 13,000-square-foot high-end restaurant at its mid-mountain facility. Down at the base village, visitors can tempt their taste buds with gourmet Japanese seafood and sushi at Matsuhisa, named for its proprietor Nobu Matsuhisa (the chef known more widely for his restaurants that go by his fi rst name.) And just last month, Elway’s, the signature restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton in Denver, opened in Vail Village.

Down the road, Aspen Skiing Company (aspensnowmass.com) invested over $26 million in on-mountain improvements this season.

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The new Washington School House Hotel in Park City, Utah. Left: Squaw Valley’s scenic Cable Car provides a 2,000-vertical-foot ride to High Camp.

Notable projects include a high-speed quad on Buttermilk, a remodel of the Merry-Go-Round restaurant on Aspen Highlands, and the first phase of the new Elk Camp Restaurant at Snowmass, slated to open in 2013. Meanwhile, in town, several new restaurants opened, including Steakhouse 316. Styled to feel like a 1920s boudoir, this boutique eatery brings a New York vibe to the mountain dining scene. And the St. Regis Hotel (stregisaspen.com) debuted its $40 million property renovation that includes redesigned guest rooms, a renovated pool area and outdoor dining.

E Utah

Later this month, Park City will add yet another luxury hotel to its growing list of upscale accommodations. As its name implies, the Washington School House Hotel (washingtonschoolhouse.com) originally functioned as a school. Built in 1889 with locally

Last year, lift ticket sales exceeded 60 million. What this means for skiers this season is more lifts, more terrain and more places to put up your tired feet after the ski day.

quarried limestone, the 12-room inn two blocks from the Park City Mountain lift will appeal to folks who crave luxury but prefer the intimacy of a boutique hotel. And just last year, Montage Deer Valley (montagedeervalley. com) and Escala Hyatt Lodge (escalalodge. hyatt.com), at the neighboring Canyons Resort, opened for business.

Meanwhile, there’ve been upgrades galore at the Canyons Resort . The resort stepped up its mountain capabilities, too, with a new gourmet restaurant called The Farm. It features seasonal, modern American cuisine showcasing ingredients sourced largely from local farms. The restaurant sits at the base of the mountain in a new area dubbed Ski Beach,

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Bella Vita Spa Experience ~ Join us for a rejuvenating retreat that includes a two night stay, a food and wine flight per person, and two, 50 -minute body treatments each.

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Aspen in the morning light.

because it features a lifeguard tower and plenty of lounge chairs for soaking up mountain sun. In addition, the Canyons added 300 skiable acres and debuted North America’s fi rst heated chairlift.

E Idaho

Finally, even laid-back Sun Valley (visitsun valley.com) has made some notable tweaks, including six new themed adventure trails for beginner tree skiers and boarders. The trails are intended to pique the interest of children but can also be enjoyed by the young at heart. The faint of heart, on the other hand, may want to steer clear of the 20 new rails and 18-foot half-pipe in Sun Valley’s wicked Terrain Park.

With all these new incentives, why sit home and complain about the cold and rain? Instead, wax up the skis, dust off the tire chains, and pray for snow, pray for snow, pray for snow. m

A skiier gets vertical at Northstar-at-Tahoe.

Travel With Purpose

Last November, 13-year-old Chloe Bohannon of Tiburon and her family traveled to Guatemala for a life-changing experience. Working with From Houses to Homes, a Guatemala-based nonprofi t, the Bohannons built a house for a family in the town of Antigua. “On my last day building the house, I asked the 12-year-old boy, Luis, what was the best part about his new home, and he responded, ‘To know people think and care about us,’ ” Bohannon recalls. Now back at home and in her regular school routine, Bohannon still refl ects on what she calls her special Guatemalan family. “Sleeping in their new home, they have the security of a locking door, the safety of a solid roof over their heads and the assurance that there are four Americans in Marin who will always be their friends,” she says. Bohannon documented the experience through a series of photographs on sale that she snapped during her time in Guatemala, with proceeds going to From Houses to Homes. For more on the Bohannon family adventure, go to marintravelswithpurpose.wordpress. com ; for Bohannon’s photographs, visit guatemalanexpressions.com LOGAN LINK

Tsunami Update, Big Island

The aftermath of the March 2011 Japanese earthquake that also caused a tsunami left three Big Island hotels particularly soggy and picking up the pieces from the damage. Two of the three have reopened, and the third should be open by 2013.

MIMI TOWLE

1

Four Seasons Hualalai

In addition to repairing the damaged areas of the property that consisted of 12 rooms, a kitchen and landscaping, the resort took advantage of the closure to build new pool experiences that offer adults a quiet sanctuary (with a swim-up bar), introduce a new lawn (along with a program for kids) and conduct extensive staff service training. fourseasons.com/hualalai

2

Kona Beach Hotel

After a $34 million renovation in late 2010, the water from the tsunami covered the hotel’s entire ground floor, causing extensive damage; fortunately, none of the guest rooms were affected. Posttsunami enhancements include the main restaurant (formerly an indoor venue), which now offers both indoor and outdoor dining complete with fire pits; new luau grounds; new landscaping throughout the property; and even a new white-sand beach. konabeachhotel.com

3

Kona Village

This iconic hotel was very hard hit. Due to its already fragile ’60s-built infrastructure, the property was devastated by the rushing waters that came as far inland as 80 feet. As a result, the buildings were deemed unsafe, the longtime staff let go and expectant guests waited for news of reopening. As of last month, there was a glimmer of hope when CEO Patrick Fitzgerald was quoted as saying that he is 99.9 percent sure the property will reopen in 2013; updates can be found on the website. konavillage.com

✽ AMENITY ALERT

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is a destination famous for artists as well as collectors, and the town’s new Rosewood resort is catering to that crowd with its Instituto Allende Arts Academy. The program will offer seminars by renowned artists and classes on Zen drawing, painting, sculpture, jewelry making, photography, knitting and crocheting, dance, circus art, cooking and more. Best of all, if guests want to ship their own art or something they have picked up in their travels home, a hotel concierge will handle the details. rosewoodsanmiguel.com M.T.

La Dolce Vita

your door to personal fitness amidst the serenity of our 3,000-acre spa/fitness resort near San Diego. Stays of 3-, 4-, and 7 nights now available.

spa value.

stays. Individual garden casitas. Organic cuisine.

Heading to Italy? Hotel Castello di Casole, a luxurious five-star hotel in Tuscany and the centerpiece of a historic 4,200-acre estate, has just opened its doors to visitors. The 41-suite boutique hotel features a world-class spa and wellness center as well as a pizzeria, stylish bar and visionary fi ne-dining restaurant. The estate is also home to a game preserve, 88 acres of vineyards, 13 acres of olive groves and an expansive trail system. Rooms from $895 per a night; castellodicasole.com M.T.

An aerial shot of Turtle Island shows its pristine allure.

Opposite: Blue Lagoon Beach.

An Island ESCA PE

The Fijian respite of Turtle Island offers guests a warm welcome. BY LISA SHANOWER

FROM THE MOMENT I stepped off the 747 in Nadi (direct from Los Angeles on Air Pacific) and onto a Turtle Airways De Havilland Beaver floatplane for the 30-minute hop to Turtle Island, my familiar mode of transportation — and sense of rhythm — changed. As the drone of the engine drowned out the electronic hum of daily life and warm, salty air funneled onto my face through an open cockpit window, I said good-bye cars, trains, buses and traffic and hello seaplanes, skiffs and fl ip-flops.

Clusters of islands 1,000 transformative feet below interrupted the seamlessness of the sea, and around them the turquoise shallows of their coral reefs shimmered in contrast to the azure of the deeper water. As the plane landed and glided to shore, two fit (and very fi ne-looking) Fijian men clad in ceremonial grass skirts waded through the warm surf and offered to carry the ladies to the beach.

After just one look at Turtle Island’s white-sand coastline and aqua-blue waters, it’s easy to understand why Richard Evanson, an American businessman who made a fortune in the cable television industry, bought Turtle Island (then named Nanuya Levu) in 1970, intent on moving there. At the time, however, the 500-acre island was

uninhabitable and overrun with wild goats. Evanson began a restoration by planting more than 500,000 trees and getting rid of the goats (local villagers captured them and took them to neighboring islands for food) but never planned to build the world-class resort Turtle Island is today. That vision began in 1980 when Columbia Pictures told Evanson it wanted to use the island to shoot a remake of Blue Lagoon. (The original, starring Jean Simmons, was fi lmed on the island in 1948.)

Evanson agreed to the project, and Columbia built three traditional Fijian thatched homes, called bures, for the producer, the

Visitors are rewarded with a spectacular rainbow of marine color, from the fire red of the coral to the azure blue of the starfish.

director, and actor Brooke Shields and her mom. When the fi lming was fi nished, Evanson converted the bures into a resort and rechristened the island with its current name. It took him another decade to fi nish all the bures and create the all-inclusive resort that Travel+Leisure called “one of the top 10 best Pacific hotels in 2000.” Today’s bures are large (1,200 square feet) — triple the size of my old Gramercy Park apartment in New York — and elegantly appointed with cabinetry and countertops crafted in the island workshop from mahogany trees Evanston planted decades ago.

The Fijian staff at Turtle Island is lighthearted and playful, quick to grin or shout a warm bula

bula (hello).

This page: Scenes from the island, including singing staffers, a sunset celebration, a list of the day’s activities and the accommodations. Opposite: A gorgeous Fijian Sunset.

If love, romance and plenty of cake are Turtle Island’s signature characteristics, then its soul is the sea, a healing tonic of 78-degree water that incubates the surrounding coral reefs and nourishes teeming tropical fish habitats.

Turtle Island’s Long Beach. Opposite: A dockside farewell from the staff.

TURTLE ISLAND, WITH A maximum capacity of 14 couples, is designed for intimacy and romance and accepts children only a few weeks a year. During our stay, we met one couple who had a seaside wedding on the island, two sets of honeymooners, three couples celebrating an engagement or recent marriage and at least four couples marking anniversaries that spanned from two to 32 years. Each received a customized cake and personalized serenades from the staff.

One of these couples, Sam and Kim from Los Angeles, honeymooned on Turtle Island 25 years ago and had returned for their silver anniversary. They leapt off the seaplane clad in the same Turtle Island T-shirts they bought a quarter-century earlier. On the day of their anniversary, Shakira, a spirited staffer, jumped out of a hand-crafted papier-mâché cake with sparklers and champagne.

If love, romance and plenty of cake are Turtle Island’s signature characteristics, then its soul is the sea, a healing tonic of 78-degree water that incubates the surrounding coral reefs and nourishes teeming tropical fish habitats, an accessible paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers. Turtle Island is part of the Yasawa chain in the Fijian archipelago, home to one of world’s most extensive coral reef systems that, thankfully, has escaped the catastrophic bleaching caused by global warming that has devastated so many other coral reefs. Visitors are rewarded with a spectacular rainbow of marine color, from the fi re red of the coral to the azure blue of the starfish.

Turtle Island’s focus on romance extends to those who have a love affair with the sea. Available dalliances and underwater trysts included hour-long snorkel trips led by Dara, who knows the reefs intimately, and zippy skiff jaunts to a neighboring island for a daily complimentary dive with PADI-certified West Side Water Sports on its cool custom dive boats. Divemaster Mo (try saying that out loud; it’s fun) is a patient and kind escort into the submarine world.

THE FIJIAN STAFF AT Turtle Island is lighthearted and playful, quick to grin or shout a warm bula bula (hello). It seems as if everyone plays an instrument. Music and song are heard throughout the day, providing an enjoyable soundtrack that punctuates special celebrations like anniversaries or serves as a soothing companion to the already soporific ceremony of the nightly Kava Bowl — an event that takes place after dinner.

Each evening staff and guests congregate around the ceremonial Tanoa Kava Bowl, hand-carved on the island and decorated with local seashells. As we gather in a ragged circle under the warm evening breeze, the kava is brewed, stories of the day told and laughs shared. Kava, I must say, is a terrible-tasting concoction — muddy, peppery and possessing the texture of grainy wood — but produces a miraculous effect. As it numbs the tip of your tongue, you can feel your body begin to relax. Whatever pain there was in the tasting was well worth it — I slept soundly each evening.

For anyone not deep-sea fishing, diving or sleeping late, morning begins with breakfast around the community table where Arthur Naisali, the resort’s activities director and the son of Evanson’s fi rst employee, presents the turtle-shaped Bula Board, which outlines the plan for the day. It is a festive time of singing, practicing Fijian words,

receiving the all-important private beach assignments for the day and learning about the day’s meal plan.

Nearly all of Turtle Island’s food is locally produced, much of it coming from the property’s four acres of organic farmland. Typically, only items like beef, cheese and wine are flown in. In addition to the communal breakfasts and dinners, guests receive picnic lunches presented at their personal beaches. Specialty chocolates and other sweet treats are baked on premises; I am now addicted to chocolate toffee coconut crunch.

Of all the staff, the most personal relationship you develop is with your bure mama, a cross between a personal concierge and your grandmother. Our bure mama, Mama Nani, was a daily blessing. She cared attentively to attend to our interests and, of course, was always ready with a song or an art project.

On the day we left, Arthur gathered the staff for song; Mama Nani gave us a scrapbook she put together and a handmade lei. Once we were aboard the seaplane, our pilot indulged us with one last pass over the island, flying low so that as he dipped his wings in a good-bye wave we saw clearly the smiling faces of our new friends and Fijian family, still singing on the dock below. m

Out & About

CALENDAR / ON THE SCENE / DINE

GALLERIES

O’Hanlon

Center for the Arts

Spirit Show: Animalia

LISTING ON PAGE 75

Jeremy Thornton's Pixie

Calendar

THEATER

/ COMEDY / MUSIC / GALLERIES / MUSEUMS / EVENTS / FILM EDITED BY

DANIEL JEWETT

THEATER

1-24

A Christmas Carol This presentation of the well-known Charles Dickens story is a music-filled holiday favorite. ACT (SF). 415.749.2228, act-sf.org

W THEATER

THROUGH DECEMBER 11 To Kill a Mockingbird This recent adaptation of the classic story set in the mid-1930s was an acclaimed part of the 2010 season of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater. Barn Theatre (Ross). 415.456.9555, rossvalleyplayers.com

THROUGH DECEMBER 11 Fela! The true tale of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. Curran Theatre (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com

THROUGH 17 A Christmas Carol The famous Dickens’ novel has been re-imagined by Blanca Florido with music by Andrew Klein. Novato Theater Company Playhouse (Novato). 415.883.4498, novatotheater company.org

THROUGH DECEMBER 18 The Glass Menagerie Celebrate the centennial of Tennessee Williams' birth with the play that marked the playwright’s fi rst great Broadway success. Marin Theater Company (Mill Valley). 415.388.5208, marintheatre.org

THROUGH DECEMBER

18 Three Sisters This restoration of Kern and Hammerstein’s lost London musical is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts. Eureka Theater (SF). 415.255.8207, 42ndstmoon.org

14–JANUARY 7 Bring It On A comedy, this play takes a humorous look into the sometimes cutthroat world of competitive cheerleading. Orpheum (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com

21–31 How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Dr. Seuss classic returns for the holidays. Golden Gate Theatre (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com

COMEDY

TUESDAYS Mark Pitta and Friends The comic hosts an evening for up-and-comers and established headliners to work on new material. 142 Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmorton theatre.com

31 The Best of the San Francisco Comedy Competition Begin the year with lots of laughs at this comedy showcase event. Showcase Theater (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

E DANCE

THROUGH DECEMBER 3 Hover Space Dancers suspended from a “hover floor” investigate what takes place in life’s in-between spaces. Theater Artaud (San Francisco). 415.927.3253, printzdance.org

KEVIN

A Christmas Carol at ACT

3 Just Dance Academy

Enjoy jazz, tap and hip-hop numbers from the junior and senior dance programs as well as a dance team performance.

Showcase Theater (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

3–4 Stapleton Ballet

Nutcracker

Begin the holiday season with a Marin favorite of 23 years. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

9–27 S.F. Ballet’s

Nutcracker See the holiday classic performed by the company that fi rst brought it to America. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.865.2000, sfballet.org

10–11 Marin

Ballet’s Nutcracker

Choreographer Julia Adam has revitalized this classic ballet that features dancer Robert Dekker. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

14–24 Smuin’s Christmas Ballet

Traditional Christmas performances get a humorous and sexy edge. Yerba Buena Center (SF). 415.556.5000, smuinballet.org

17 Marin Dance Theater

More than 150 dancers participate in a performance of Sophie and the Enchanted Toy Shop. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

17 Dance with Sherry

The Tapcracker returns for a 12th year in this wacky version of a holiday classic. Showcase Theater (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

MUSIC

TUESDAYS Swing

Fever The band pays tribute to jazz artists and composers, playing selections from its roster of over 1,000 tunes every fi rst and third Tuesday. Panama Hotel (San Rafael). 415.457.3993, panamahotel.com

Smuin's Christmas Ballet at Yerba Buena Center

TUESDAYS Kortuzday

Jonathan Korty and Danny Uzilevsky host a weekly invitational jam that often attracts some big-name players and always produces great music. 19 Broadway (Fairfax). 415.459.1091, 19broadway.com

THROUGH DECEMBER

4 S.F. Opera Carmen for Families offers the perfect introduction to opera. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.864.3330, sfopera.com

1 Left Coast Chamber

Ensemble The ensemble introduces audiences to Werther and the English Cat. 142 Throckmorton (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmorton theatre.com

2 Beady Eye Liam

Gallagher, the former Oasis singer and front man, is joined by his new band. The Warfield (SF). 800.745.3000, thewarfieldtheatre.com

3 Jake Shimabukuro

The ukulele virtuoso brings his unique style of playing the instrument to San Francisco. The Warfield (SF). 800.745.3000, thewarfieldtheatre.com

3–4 Marin Symphony Holiday ensemble music from the Symphony Chamber Chorus. Church of Saint Raphael (San Rafael). 415.479.8100, marinsymphony.org

4 Mill Valley

Philharmonic Join the philharmonic for a free Christmas sing-along concert. Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (Mill Valley). millvalley philharmonic.org

9 Musae This local women’s vocal ensemble will perform music from Norway, Latvia, Russia and Canada. Old St. Hilary’s (Tiburon). 415.435.1853, landmarks-society.org

9–10 Mayfl ower Community Chorus

The 45-voice chorus plays everything from heritage gospel and blues and jazz pieces to seasonal and contemporary songs. Showcase Theater (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

10–11 Marin Oratorio

Celebrate 50 years of choral music with these special holiday performances featuring pieces by Bach, Mozart and more. College of Marin (Kentfield). 415.485.9385, marinoratorio.org

11 The Joyful Sounds of Christmas Enjoy an evening of Christmas music with the St. Stephen’s Choir, directed by John Karl Hirten. St. Stephen’s Church (Belvedere). 415.435.4501, ststephenschurch.org

16–18 S.F. Symphony

Ragnar Bohlin conducts Handel’s Messiah, composed in 1741.

31 New Year’s Eve Concert Celebrate the new year with Hot Buttered Rum and New Monsoon. Palm Ballroom (San Rafael). 415.389.5072, murphy productions.com

W GALLERIES

MARIN

Acacia Gallery New oil paintings from Laura Culver. 4162 Redwood Hwy, San Rafael. 415.479.3238, acaciagallery.net

Art Abloom Studio and Gallery Faces and Places Oil paintings on canvas and handmade surfaces by Gabriella Spina Drake, through December. 415.256.1112, artabloom.com

Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 415.864.6000, sfsymphony.org

17 In the Spirit of Lennon Local rocker and leader of the Beatles tribute band the Sun Kings performs an evening of John Lennon music. George’s (San Rafael). 415.226.0262, georgesnightclub.com

18 SingersMarin

Jan Pedersen Schiff leads seven youth and adult choral ensembles in seasonal favorites, Hanukkah songs and traditional winter standards. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

28 Woody Allen The fi lmmaker and clarinetist is joined by his New Orleans Jazz Band. Regency Ballroom (SF). 800.745.3000, there gencyballroom.com

Claudia Chapline Gallery Small works show. 3445 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach. 415.868.2308, cchapline.com

Community Congregational Church

The Zimbabwe Project Multimedia wall hangings handmade by local village women. 145 Rockhill Dr, Tiburon. 415.435.9108, ccctiburon.net

Falkirk Cultural Center

Falkirk’s 100 One hundred artists who have exhibited at Falkirk, through December 9, with silent auction on the last day. 1408 Mission Ave, San Rafael. 415.485.3328, falkirkcultural center.org

Art Works Downtown Small Works Show Through January 6, 2012; Holiday Open Studios December 10–11. 337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119, artworksdowntown.org

Gallery Bergelli Group Show New work by gallery artists. 483 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.945.9454, bergelli.com

Gallery Route One

Candace Loheed exhibit, December 16–January 22, 2012. 11101 Hwy One, Point Reyes Station. 415.663.1347, galleryrouteone.org

E The Painters Place Local Lands Landscapes of Marin and the North Bay by Marin County plein air painters Christin Coy and Richard Lindenberg. 1139 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.461.0351, thepaintersplace.com

A Carol Peek painting in Holiday Open Studios at Art Works Downtown

Marin Arts Ongoing work. 906 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.666.2442, marinarts.org

Marin Society of Artists Small Treasures Holiday exhibit, through December 17. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.454.9561, marinsociety ofartists.org

Marine Mammal Center

Home for the Holidays Activities and tours for the whole family. 2000 Bunker Road, Sausalito, 415.289.7325, marine mammalcenter.org

Mona Lease Gallery Gallery artists and a gift sale. 39 Greenbrae Boardwalk, Greenbrae. 415.461.3718, monalease.net

Northbay ArtWorks

Annual holiday showcase with a variety of artists. 7049 Redwood Blvd, Ste 208, Novato. 415.892.8188, northbayartworks.com

O’Hanlon Center for the Arts Spirit Show: Animalia A

juried exhibit. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331, ohanloncenter.org

Robert Allen Fine Art Seasonal Landscapes Paintings and drawings by Leslie Allen, Peter Loftus, John Maxon, Victoria Ryan, Richard Schloss, Wendy Schwartz and Connie Smith Siegel, through January 31. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.2800, robertallenfi neart.com

Robert Beck Gallery Early California plein air landscape show. 222 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.456.7898, beckgallery.org

Robert Green Fine Arts Paintings by Bay Area–born postwar painter and printmaker Sam Francis. 154 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.381.8776, rgfi nearts.com

A Christin Coy painting in Local Lands at The Painters Place

what’s online

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Keeping Tabs on Facebook

Next time you’re online, stop by and take a look at the new tabs in the lefthand column of our page. Right now you can peruse our videos, join our Weekend 101 e-news list, get a great dining deal and find a restaurant. Stay tuned; more options are coming. facebook. com/marinmagazine

Explore Marin

The Complete Collection

Seager Gray Gallery

You may not have known it, but Marin Magazine has been documenting its spring and fall fashion shoots for a few years now. Head on over to our Vimeo video channel to see the complete collection of fashion videos as well as a few other visual treats. marinmagazine.com/videos

We know we live in one of the most beautiful places in California, but sometimes we forget why. Our Marin Magazine Visitor’s Guide offers great tips on where to camp, hike, bike, stay and explore. marinmagazine.com/visitorsguide

New work by Leslie Allen, through January 14. 23 Sunnyside Ave, Mill Valley. 415.384.8288, seagergray.com

Smith Andersen North India ink on paper exhibit by Robert Percy. 20 Greenfield Ave, San Anselmo. 415.455.9733, smithandersen north.com

Studio 333 Ongoing exhibition featuring more than 40 Bay Area artists working in a variety of mediums. 333A Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.8272, studio333.info

Studio 4 Art Work by local artists and workshops offering materials and classes. 1133 Grant Ave, Novato. 415.596.5546, studio4art.net

Terra Firma A gallery featuring paintings, stone sculpture, ceramic, bronze and glass. 1130 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.455.9200, terrafi rmagallery.com

The Image Flow A group show featuring photography. 401 Miller Ave, Ste F, Mill Valley. 415.388.3569, theimageflow.com

Tomales Fine Art Fine art oil paintings by Timothy Horn. 27050 Maine St, Tomales. 707.878.2525, tomalesfi neart.com

SAN FRANCISCO

ArtHaus New paintings from Gioi Tran, through December 23. 411 Brannan St, 415.977.0223, arthaus-sf.com

Berggruen Gallery Selected works. 228 Grant Ave, 415.781.4629, berggruen.com

Cain Schulte Gallery Directors' Choice A new exhibit. 251 Post St, 415.543.1550, cainschulte.com

Caldwell Snyder Gallery Douglas Schneider, new paintings. 341 Sutter St, 415.296.7896, caldwellsnyder.com

A Douglas Schneider painting at Caldwell Snyder Gallery

Elins Eagles-Smith

Gallery Paintings and works on paper by Gustavo Rivera. 49 Geary St, 415.981.1080, eesgallery.com

Gallery 291 European Battlefields Work by Peter Hebeisen. 291 Geary St, 415.291.9001, gallery291.net

George Krevsky Gallery

Tapestries, Scribblings and Prints Work by

Alan Magee. 77 Geary St, 415.397.9748, georgekrevsky gallery.com

Gregory Lind Gallery

Work by Ed Loftus, through January 20. 49 Geary St, 415.296.9661, gregorylindgallery.com

Meyerovich Gallery

New Acquisitions

Collection of works on paper by Frank Stella and Donald Sultan. 251 Post St, 415.421.7171, meyerovich.com

Paul Mahder Gallery

Holiday Mixed Show 3378 Sacramento St, 415.474.7707, paulmahdergallery.com

Rena Bransten Gallery

If Wishes Were Horses… Work by Tara Tucke and John Bankston, through January 28. 77 Geary St, 415.982.3292, renabransten gallery.com

Weinstein Gallery

Surrealism New World Paintings, sculptures and works on paper from a variety of artists. 301 Geary St, 415.362.8151, weinstein.com

E MUSEUMS

MARIN

Bay Area Discovery Museum Kids who love to rock out will enjoy Rubinoos December

3, Alphabet Rockers December 10 and Dream Circle Holiday Concert December 17 (Sausalito). 415.339.3958, baykidsmuseum.org

Bolinas Museum

See the 23rd annual invitational mini show, through December 31 (Bolinas). 415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org

Marin History Museum

Come explore examples of local history from the museum’s 75 years of collecting community artifacts (San Rafael). 415.454.8538, marinhistory.org

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art The annual Small Treasures exhibit is on view through December with a special “Art by the Inch” fundraising event December 3–4. Also on display is a special exhibition of work by Bay Area artist Mary Tuthill Lindheim, with a book-signing by Abby Wasserman December 10 (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.org

Marin Museum of the American Indian Silver Stone Shell Jewelry of California and the Southwest, including a look at the tools, materials and methods that artists have used over the centuries, through Jan 15, 2012 (Novato). 415.897.4064, marinindian.com

BAY AREA

Asian Art Museum Museum Maharaja: The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts See paintings, photography, textiles and dress,

jewelry, jeweled objects, metalwork and furniture from princely India, through April 8, 2012 (SF). 415.581.3500, asianart.org

California Academy of Sciences NightLife

Enjoy music, creatures and cocktails for adults only and take some time to explore the exhibits and aquarium displays every Thursday night.

Also, learn about and meet live reindeer every day in December (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org

Conservatory of Flowers This unique living museum features rare and exotic plants and flowers (SF). 415.831.2090, conservatoryofflowers.org

Contemporary Jewish

Museum Houdini: Art and Magic The fi rst major exhibition to examine Houdini’s life, legend and influence includes more than 160 objects, fi lms and photographs, through January 16, 2012 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org

de Young Masters of Venice: Renaissance Painters of Passion and Power from the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna See 50 paintings by 16thcentury Venetian

painters Titian, Giorgione, Veronese, Tintoretto, Mantegna and more, through February 12, 2012 (SF). 415.750.3600, thinker.org

di Rosa Preserve

Looking At You Looking At Me Photography, video, sculpture, painting, and electronic constructions that examine the way we look at each other, through February 18, 2012 (Napa). 707.226.5991, dirosapreserve.org

Exploratorium

Examine the science and art of human perception through interactive exhibits (SF). 415.397.5673, exploratorium.edu

Legion of Honor Pissarro's People

More than 100 images highlighting Camille Pissarro’s unique and lifelong interest in the human figure are on display, through January 22, 2012 (SF). 415.750.3600, legionofhonor.org

Museum of the African Diaspora Exhibitions that blend art and innovative technology with the African tradition of storytelling are the focus at this unique museum (SF). 415.358.7200, moadsf.org

Napa Valley Museum

Dreams of Toyland

One of the largest and most comprehensive 19th- and 20thcentury collections

How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Golden Gate Theatre

of Christmas toys, games, decorations and Victorian ornaments is on display, through January 31 (Yountville).

707.944.0500, napavalleymuseum.org

San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art

Fiat Lux: Randy Colosky New Works Colosky uses a wide range of materials, including aluminum, concrete, engineered ceramic honeycomb, brick and reclaimed wood, as well as wall drawing, video and photography to alter the look of the gallery, facade and outdoor space of the museum, through February 25, 2012 (SF). 415.227.4888, mocfa.org

SFMOMA Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams See work by one of the most influential industrial designers of our time whose “less but better” ethos was built into products made by the German household appliance company Braun and served as inspiration for products like Apple computers, through February 20, 2012 (SF). 415.357.4000, sfmoma.org

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Imagecity: Selections from Video Cubano, a project of the 8th Floor, New York Recent videos from established and emerging artists based in Cuba, through January 22, 2012 (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

EVENTS

1 Angel Lights Enjoy live music, wine and food, an auction and the lighting of the Angel Lights. Corinthian

Sutter Pacific’s primary care and specialty doctors offer expert, personal care. You can benefit from online access to your health – from medical records and lab results to appointment booking and doctor messaging. And as part of the Sutter Health network, you’ll receive the highest quality care at a location near you.

Yacht Club (Tiburon). 415.435.3972, angelisland.org

1 Jingle and Mingle

Bid on handmade wreaths to benefit

Children of Shelters. Golden Gate Club (SF). 925.935.9938, cos-sf.org

3–4 ICB Winter Open

Studios The popular ICB open studios event features a chance to see more than 80 artists' studios. The event also honors the life and art of Frances Galli, who passed away this year at the age of 92. ICB Building (Sausalito). 415.331.2222, icbartists.com

3–4 Muir Beach

Quilters Find one-of-akind gifts made by local artisans. Community Center (Muir Beach). 415.383.6762, muirbeach.com

10 Holiday Bake Sale

There are homemade cookies, cakes,

brownies, candies and gingerbread houses for sale at this annual Pixie Park event. Marin Art and Garden Center (Ross). 415.455.5260, pixiepark.org

10–11 Marin County Antique Christmas Show Shop at more than 70 booths featuring antique, vintage and retro holiday items. Exhibit Hall (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

11 The Gathering of the Forces of Light

Increased UFO sightings, crop circles — this talk and video addresses what they might mean. Showcase Theater (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

Primary care and specialty doctors throughout Marin

Same day appointments available

Most health plans accepted

Katy Davis MD Pediatrics

Tareq Elqousy MD Internal Medicine Pediatrics

Rebecca Li MD Internal Medicine

Jake Shimabukuro at The Warfield

11–17 Marin County Arbor Week Trees planted in late fall through early winter have the best opportunity to expand their root systems. 415.721.4374, marinreleaf.org

12 Sample Sale Just in time for Christmas, save on clothing, jewelry, food, children's items and more — all made locally — at The Marin Store's sample sale from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Town Center Corte Madera, between Crate & Barrel and Paper Source. 325 Corte Madera Town Center (Corte Madera). 415.332.4800, themarinstore.com

12 City Arts and Lectures Anita Hill is in conversation with Robert Reich.

Herbst Theatre (SF). 415.392.4400, cityarts.net

15 Sausalito Historical Society Lutenist Eric Kjorlien plays music of the Renaissance. Ice House Exhibit Center (Sausalito). 415.289.4117, sausalito historicalsociety.com

31 Masquerade Ball

Grab your best mask and formal wear for a night of dancing, champagne and music from the San Francisco Symphony and the Martini Brothers. Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 415.864.6000, sfsymphony.org

W FILM

5–6 Lark Theater

Live at the Met features Handel’s Rodelinda live in high defi nition. The Lark Theater (Larkspur).

415.924.5111, larktheater.net

1, 4 Rafael Film Center

The fi lms of John Korty are celebrated. Korty, who turned 75 this year, lives in Marin and has enjoyed a 50-year career making independent fi lms that encompass a wide range of genres. Rafael Film Center (San Rafael). 415.454.1222, cafi lm.org

NATURE WALKS & TALKS

3 Sunset Hike and Wine

Join this local club for a monthly two-hour hike on moderate to steep trails on Mount Tamalpais with a midhike wine-and-cheese break. Reservations required. Mountain

Home Inn (Mill Valley). 415.331.0100, meetup.com/sunsethike

10 WildCare Family Adventures Walk along a creek, step inside an redwood tree, discover trap-door spiders and visit a waterfall during this Devil’s Gulch hike. 415.453.1000, wildcarebayarea.org

10 Moonlight Hike and Picnic Take part in the Marin Moonshiners’ monthly four-mile hike to experience the sunset, moonrise and a picnic. Reservations required. Pelican Inn Pub (Muir Beach). 415.331.0100, meetup. com/moonshinershike

join the inner peace movement

John Korty

On the Scene

SNAPSHOTS FROM SPECIAL EVENTS IN MARIN AND SAN FRANCISCO EDITED BY SOMER FLAHERTY

E MARIN SYMPHONY

GALA After enjoying an allTchaikovsky concert opening the Marin Symphony’s 59th season, guests headed out to the big tent to enjoy farm-to-table cuisine and celebrate Maestro Alasdair Neale’s 10th season.

N ANGELS BY THE BAY Benefiting the Marin Center for Independent Living, more than 250 guests enjoyed wine, jazz, lunch, a silent and live auction and a gourmet lunch, raising more than $120,000 at the 4th annual event at Tiburon’s Corinthian Yacht Club.

S CS FOUNDATION Guests enjoyed drinks and dinner as well as “Bollywood” dancers at San Francisco’s New Delhi Restaurant, all benefiting the CS Foundation, which brings medical care to the people of South India.

Alasdair Neale, Judith Walker and Orion Weiss

Graciela and Bob Placak

Jim and Patricia Lazor

Julie and Nick Kunst

Andrea Schultz, Judy Dick, and Lila and Chris Hillard

Maya Cresalia and Brent Thomson

Wynette Brecher, Susan Cobulsky, Sarah Daly and Nicole Holmes

N

W TOMMY BAHAMA STORE PREVIEW

Live music and island-inspired appetizers and drinks greeted guests at this sneak peek of Tommy Bahama’s newest location in The Village at Corte Madera.

FESTIVAL

From finding an array of art from local artists and craftspeople to great music and food, there was plenty to enjoy at the 55th annual Mill Valley Arts Festival in the redwoods.

S MARIN CHARITABLE Attendees boarded the San Francisco Belle for a New Orleans–themed event featuring drinks, dinner, auctions, casino gaming and Dixieland jazz — all to benefit Marin Charitable, a nonprofit that helps disadvantaged youth in the county.

Emily Dvorin, Erma Murphy, Daniel Patrick, Susan Nelson Kendall and Joshua Rodine

Thomas Roedoc and Lizi Cruz

MILL VALLEY ARTS

Heather Ricketts, Bill Weatherford, Celeste Larson

Bill and Janice Hackett

Marta and Lucio Della Gasperina

Kristen Donlon and Annie Longley

Charlotte and Rob Goldberg

Andrew and Kate Lesher

CALL for ENTRIES

ATTENTION ARTISTS:

Enter the Sixth Annual Cover Art Contest.

WINNERS:

A winner from one of the following categories: painting, photography and illustration.

EXPOSURE:

The winner will be featured on the cover of the May 2012 issue.

ENTER NOW AT:

inspired choices for amazing gift giving

Find the right gift for your special someone. We’ve uncovered the best and latest for everyone in your life from moms and dads, to pets, kids and co-workers. Make this holiday season your best.

• Stellar Spa Give the gift of relaxation! Stellar Spa gift cards, spa packages, and luxurious bath and body care products always make ideal gifts. We offer complimentary holiday wrapping and can process gift card orders over the phone so they are ready when you arrive! 415.924.7300, Corte Madera, stellarspa.com

• OSKA-Mill Valley is proud to host a trunk show for local jewelry designer Mashka. If you missed her work at the De Young Museums Holiday Artisan Fair you will have a chance to not only see her designs but meet her in person. She will bring pieces created especially for the trunk making this an event you won’t want to miss. 415.381.1144, info@oska-millvalley.com

• Union Street Goldsmith

The Client + The Design Team + The Craftsman. It all happens here. This collaboration facilitates the creative atmosphere. The result is evident in our work. 415.776.8048, San Francisco, unionstreetgoldsmith.com

• Koze is more than gorgeous sweaters and sumptuous wraps, we offer beautiful accessories too! Great gifts for the amazing women in your life. Call, click or come by today. Open Daily 10-6. As always, free gift wrapping! 415.435.1916, Tiburon, getkoze.com

• EVO Spa The perfect gift to show you care. An Evo Spa Gift Card Renews, Rejuvenates and Nurtures Body, Mind and Spirit. Gift cards available for purchase at spa, by phone, or online. 415.383.3223, Mill Valley, evo-spa.com

• Pine Street Papery Holiday cards, gifts and amusements. Calendars, journals, party favors and more. Find a little something for almost anyone on your list and find the wrappings too! 415.332.0650, Sausalito

• Tutu School. Have visions of sugar plum fairies been dancing through your head? Give the gift of dance and introduce a little person in your life to Tutu School in Larkspur. Gift certificates available upon request. Andrew Weeks Photography. 415.734.8840, tutuschool.com

• At Alix & Company, the gallery and workshop of jewelry designer Janet Alix, perfection can be a treasure out of Aladdin’s trove or a classic and affordable gift. 415.380.0880, alixandcompany.com

• Haute Jewels. Hottest Trend: Layered Bangles. Gifts for the celebrities in your life. Including leather wraps & bracelets from Chan Luu, Melinda Maria, Sophia & Chloe, Ted Rossi and Crislu. Designer pieces for every budget. 415.927.3939, Corte Madera, hautejewelscm.com

AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO RESTAURANTS AND TIDBITS IN THE BAY AREA EDITED BY MIMI TOWLE

N SOL FOOD Puerto Rican With south-ofthe-border treats like yellow rice, beans and plantains and authentic Puerto Rican specialties, this tiny one-room San Rafael eatery on Fourth Street just off Highway 101 can be hard to get into, but it’s worth the wait. 732 Fourth St, and 901 Lincoln Ave, 415.451.4765, solfoodrestaurant.com

CORTE MADERA

BENISSIMO Italian Benissimo means “really really good” in Italian. Besides the daily 4-to-7 happy hour when drinks are $3 to $5 and small plates $5 to $7, specials include happy hour all day on Monday, free corkage on Tuesday, martini night on Wednesday, and live jazz on Thursday. 18 Tamalpais Dr, 415.927.2316, benissimos.com

CHAMPAGNE BAKERY

French This casual bakery displays freshly made pastries, croissants, tarts, cookies and cakes, to be enjoyed indoors or out on the patio. Brioche French toast and French dip sandwich with Swiss cheese are among the many menu options. Catering is also available. 103 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.5470, champagnebakery.com

IL FORNAIO Italian Sausalito’s Larry Mindel hit a home run with this upscale Italian restaurant franchise. Besides the award-winning breads, pizzas and pastas, the menu offers a variety of salads and noncarb entrées. 223 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.4400, ilfornaio.com

PACIFIC CATCH Pan-

Asian The well-priced menu here offers a bounty of fresh-grilled items and Pacific Rim— inspired small or main

plates, including generously portioned wasabi bowls fi lled with rice (white or brown), veggies and your choice of chicken, beef, or cooked or raw fi sh. It’s modeled after the Paia Fish House on Maui, down to the chalkboard menu and Hawaiian music.

223 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.3474, pacificcatch.com

P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO Chinese

The combination of attentive staff, lively atmosphere and consistently delicious meals makes for a reliably nice dining experience. Favorites like the lettuce wraps, Mongolian beef, and gluten-free choices keep the customers loyal. 301 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.413.9890, pfchangs.com

THE COUNTER

California/American

The folks at the Counter have taken the “have it your way” motto to a new level. Mostly known for all-natural Angus beef, turkey, chicken or veggie burgers, the restaurant also offers options like a bowl (all the ingredients without the bun) or salads. And if you want a martini with your burger, no problem; there’s a full bar.

201 Corte Madera Town Center 415.924.700, thecounterburger.com

FAIRFAX

123 BOLINAS California

Known for farm-fresh, organic cuisine, 123 Bolinas was created by four friends who aimed to showcase seasonal fare in a relaxing, intimate environment. Enjoy locally brewed beer and smallproduction wines as you take in the view of Bolinas Park through the floor-to-ceiling windows. 123 Bolinas St, 415.488.5123, 123bolinas.com

DEER PARK VILLA

Italian This “best place for a party” (Pacific Sun) sits on four garden acres; the Ghiringhelli family has been turning out Italian favorites here since 1937. Come for the famous veal parmesan — or your next big celebration. 367 Bolinas Rd, 415.456.8084, deerparkvilla.com

IRON SPRINGS PUB & BREWERY American Grab a beer and a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich — which one Chronicle reviewer calls “the best mushroom dish I have ever tasted.” 765-A Center Blvd, 415.485.1005, ironspringspub.com

PANCHO VILLA’S

Mexican A Fairfax favorite for over 30 years. Since 1976, head chef Francisco has been turning out treats like chile relleno stuffed with jack cheese, cilantro and onion and crab

Sol Food

enchiladas topped with a mild tomatillo sauce and sour cream. 1625 Sir Frances Drake Blvd, 415.456.4331, panchosfairfax.com

GREENBRAE

BISTRO VIS À VIS

California This Bon Air Shopping Center eatery features the cooking of Michelinstar-rated chef Mike Fredsall. 282 Bon air Ctr, 415.925.4370, bistrovisavis.com

WIPEOUT BAR &

GRILL American The family-friendly hot spot has surfb oards hanging from the ceiling, fun-in-the-sun music, a full bar and large televisions displaying surfers riding waves. Menu includes fi sh tacos, salads and burgers.The only thing missing is the sand at this surf-style, upbeat eatery. Kids eat free on Tuesdays with each purchase of an adult entrée. 302 Bon Air Ctr, 415.461.7400, wipeoutbarandgrill.com

LARKSPUR

LEFT BANK

RESTAURANT French

Known for award-winning French cuisine and a lively brasserie ambience, this corner spot on Magnolia Avenue has rated high with locals for well over a decade. Those with a petite appetite or budget can opt for happy hour (4–6:30 p.m., M–F) for appetizers, most of which are priced under $6. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331, leftbank.com

MARIN BREWING CO

American Grab a cold beer made right on site and pair it with fi sh and chips — fresh cod dipped in Mt. Tam pale ale batter, served with steak fries and homemade tartar sauce. 1809 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.461.4677, marinbrewing.com

RUSTIC BAKERY

California Organic mouthwatering pastries, breads and sandwiches are on the menu here, including Meyer lemon mascarpone danishes and a bacon, avocado

COMING SOON

Yogurt and Homemade Bread

Locals keep the slow food revolution active in Marin County. LOGAN LINK

E Magnolia Avenue is getting a sweet addition this month with the opening of Mag’s Local Yogurt Mag’s, a self-serve yogurt shop owned by husband and wife Elliott Magnuson and Katie Miller, will offer everything from organic, gluten-free and nondairy options to soft-serve gelato. “We’re loving getting more involved with the community,” says Elliott, whose children are fifth-generation Larkspur. 415.686.4865

and heirloom tomato sandwich with mesclun. 1139 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.1556, rusticbakery.com

TABLE CAFÉ Indian/ American This Indiainspired café’s unique menu features entirely organic ingredients. Dishes include seasonal salads, incredible soups and fresh juices. The specialty of the house is dosa, fi lled with a variety of ingredients and served with savory homemade chutneys. 1167 Magnolia Ave, 415.461.6787, table-cafe.com

THE TAVERN AT LARK CREEK American The next chapter in the 1888 Victorian Murphy House, formerly known as Lark Creek Inn, is being written by chef Aaron Wright and culinary director Adrian Hoff man. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7766, tavernatlarkcreek.com

MILL VALLEY

AVATAR’S PUNJABI

BURRITOS Indian A small and friendly place with only a few tables but myriad Indian-

E At Marin Country Mart, Rustic Bakery is celebrating the opening of its third location. “The organic, local menu will stay the same, but what we’re really excited about is our European bread oven," says owner Carol LeValley. "The expanded bread menu will feature whole-wheat, sourdough, rye and more, all baked on-site." We can almost smell the bread baking now. rusticbakery.com

inspired burrito dishes to choose from. Try the curry chicken or Jamaican jerk wrapped in warm naan. Cash only, but worth the trip to the ATM. 15 Madrona St, 415.381.8293, enjoyavatars.com

BEERWORKS BREWERY AND BEER CAFE American With a beverage menu of handcrafted beers made on site, imported and local microbrews and house-made kombucha and root beer, this Mill Valley brewery is set to keep the local palate pleased. Don’t miss the small beer hall selection of pretzels, salumis and cheeses. 173 Throckmorton Ave, 415.336.3596, millvalleybeerworks.com

BOO KOO Asian Finally Mill Valley has an Asian street food restaurant and best of all, dishes are $10 and less. The menu offers something for every eater — vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, carnivore. Menu items include chicken pho, vegan summer rolls, pad thai and five-spice pork satay — all made

eating areas to include two fireplaces and circular cushioned seating. The traditional Mexican fare honors the original menu: soups, salads, sandwiches and sizzling fajitas at lunch portions and prices. Happy hour drinks and appetizers are $5 and under. 651 E. Blithedale, 415.381.1070, thecantina.com

CHAMPAGNE

with organic, locally produced veggies and proteins from vegetarian-fed, sustainably raised sources. 25 Miller Ave, 415.888.8303, eatbookoo.com

BUCKEYE

ROADHOUSE American Oysters Bingo, baby back ribs and chili-lime “brick” chicken are a few of the satisfying, comfort-food menu items that have made this classic roadhouse a favorite since the ’30s. The warm dark-wood bar with red leather booths is a popular spot for cocktails, conversations or a light meal. 15 Shoreline Hwy, 415.331.2600, buckeyeroadhouse.com

CANTINA Mexican The popular Mill Valley restaurant, originally opened in 1980 and reestablished in October 2010 after a brief stint as Maria Maria, is now open every day for lunch, cocktails, and dinner and also for Sunday brunch. Original owner Thomas Wilson and new business partner John Burns have revamped the outdoor

and organic ingredients. For special occasions and private parties, reserve the olive-press room. The popular happy hour starts at 4:30. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.289.5777, frantoio.com

HARMONY Chinese

French Enjoy a croque-monsieur alfresco, linger over a fl aky, buttery croissant with a cappuccino, or pick up chocolatedipped strawberries for your dinner party. 41 Throckmorton Ave, 415.380.0410, millvalley.champagne bakery.com

EL PASEO HOUSE OF CHOPS American The award-winning dining destination has been purchased and revamped (with House of Chops added to its name) by Mill Valley musician/restaurateur Sammy Hagar and celebrity chef Tyler Florence. Defi nitely making a splash in the local restaurant scene; word is both service and prices are over the top. 17 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0741, elpaseomillvalley.com

FRANTOIO

RISTORANTE

ITALIANO Italian

Known for its in-house olive press, superior olive oil and excellent Italian cuisine, this spot is a great location for an intimate dinner, large groups and anything in between. Owned by Roberto Zecca and chef Duilio Valenti, both from Milano; the kitchen uses local

Dishes here are an infusion of many fl avors. The barbecue pork bun is fi lled with house-made roasted meat in a savory sauce; fresh mussels are accented with red chili and Thai basil. Pair your pick with wine, beer or tea. Strawberry Village, 415.381.5300, harmonyrestaurant group.com

PIAZZA D’ANGELO

Italian It’s always a party at this longstanding hot spot. A great place to meet

up with friends for a fresh plate of pasta, zuppa di pesce or pollo novello, or make some new friends at the bar. 22 Miller Ave, 415.388.2000, piazzadangelo.com

PIATTI RISTORANTE AND BAR Italian The staff prides itself on capturing the warm and welcoming atmosphere of a traditional Italian trattoria. Try for a table at the window for a truly exceptional view right on the water. Take a peek at the impressive collection of Italian wines to go with your rustic seasonal Italian meal. 625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525, piatti.com

PIZZA ANTICA Italian

Although a recent Yelp reviewer praised it for having “by far the best thin-crust

Brick & Bottle

pizzas in Marin,” this Strawberry shopping center spot also offers antipasti and hearty salads. Wine is served by the glass, half carafe or bottle. 800 Redwood Hwy, 415.383.0600, pizzaantica.com

ROBATA GRILL AND SUSHI Japanese Robata translates as “by the fi reside”; fittingly, food here can be cooked on an open fi re and served in appetizer-size portions to pass around the table. Or simply order your own sushi or entrée from the menu. 591 Redwood Hwy, 415.381.8400, robatagrill.com

SMALL SHED

FLATBREADS California

Slow food chef Ged Robertson uses only local, mostly organic ingredients. Crowd favorites include the Mt. Tamal-pie, a delicious fresh salad atop a fl atbread. 17 Madrona St, 415.383.4200, smallshed.com

THEP LELA Thai This jewel is tucked away in the back of Strawberry Village. Diners come for the tasty kee mao noodles, pad thai, fresh rolls and extensive bar menu. It’s also a great place for lunch. 615 Strawberry Village, 415.383.3444, theplela.com

TSUKIJI SUSHI

Japanese Owners Roy and Chanel Liu earned their sushi stripes operating Morpho in San Francisco and Akira in San Rafael. Helping them behind the sushi bar is former Sushi Ran head sushi chef Haruo Komatsu. 24 Sunnyside Ave, 415.383.1382, tsukijisushimv.com

VASCO Italian Whether you’re at a table, the bar or the back counter, you can expect an intimate and tasty dining experience at this one-room trattoria. Try one of the restaurant’s pasta dishes or thin-crust pizzas. 106 Throckmorton Ave, 415.381.3343

W BRICK & BOTTLE California

Sourcing local and artisan ingredients, executive chef Scott Howard brings simple California cuisine to Corte Madera’s Brick & Bottle. The restaurant features a large bar area, an outdoor patio and family-friendly dining. 55 Tamal Vista Blvd, 415.924.3366, brickandbottle.com

Something Different Mon. - Sat. 10:30 am - 6:00 pm www.fancythatgiftshop.com

NOVATO

BOCA STEAK & SEAFOOD South

American Bring a date or celebrate a special event at this classic steak house, which features chef George Morrone’s (Aqua, Fifth Floor) Argentinean heritage. The grass- and grain-fed steaks are cooked over oak and almond. 340 Ignacio Blvd, 415.883.0901, bocasteak.com

CHIANTI CUCINA

Italian This cozy eatery features an array of Italian and American choices, including a penne pesto described by one Yelp contributor as a “hot creamy bowl of heaven.” Another standout menu item is the house-made ravioli cooked up by Chris Harman, former owner and chef of Capra. 7416 Redwood

Hwy, 415.878.0314, chiantinovato.com

GRAZIE Italian Locals love this family-owned and -run Grant Avenue restaurant for delicious paninis, salads and the unbeatable homemade cookies. Enjoy good weather on the outside patio or people-watch in this always-bustling restaurant. 823 Grant Ave, Ste E, 415.878.0202

HILLTOP 1892

California Situated in a historic estate in Novato, with sweeping views, Hilltop 1892 offers traditional favorites with a California flair. Open from breakfast through dinner, as well as Sunday brunch. 850 Lamont Ave, 415.893.1892, hilltop1892.com

ingredients and serves breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. Be sure to try the Philly cheesesteak and Chinese chicken salad, both classics. 335 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.9840, comfortscafe.com

CUCINA RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR Italian

W

EMPORIO RULLI Italian

Pastry chef Gary Rulli is renowned for his Northern Italian specialties and treats. The Larkspur location (there are three others) is a favored spot for lunch as well as coffee and a sweet. 464 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7478, rulli.com

SOUTHERN PACIFIC SMOKEHOUSE

American Aside from nightly live music by locally and nationally known artists, this family-friendly eatery in the Vintage Oaks shopping center features wood-fi red dishes such as dry-rub baby back ribs, as well as fresh, organic produce and an extensive wine list. 224 Vintage Way, 415.899.9600, thesouthernpacific.com

TOAST American

Sister to the popular Mill Valley location, Toast Novato features outdoor dining and architecture by Stanley Saitowitz as well as great dishes by executive chef Michael Garcia. 5800 Nave Dr, 415.382.1144, toastnovato.com

TUSCANY COUNTRY

GRILL Italian The chicken pesto panini and eggplant parmigiano are among the favorites at this spacious Italian eatery. The menu is eclectic, prices are fair and the portions are enormous, so be prepared for leftovers throughout the week. There’s a bit of a rush at lunch, so make reservations or arrive early. 1516 Grant Ave, 415.998.2800

ROSS

CAFE ON THE COMMON French A quaint one-room coffeehouse centrally situated near Ross Common. Get there early for the full selection of pastries to enjoy with fresh-squeezed orange juice. 22 Ross Common, 415.461.2205

MARCHÉ AUX

FLEURS French This gem of a restaurant is known for cuisine showcasing locally farmed produce, wild and fresh seafood and free-range meats prepared with an artisan’s touch. The wine and beer list is extensive. 23 Ross Common, 415.925.9200, marcheauxfleurs restaurant.com

TRATTORIA FRESCO

Italian Every neighborhood deserves a one-room trattoria like this one. The service is friendly and the farmers’-market-fresh food is fabulous — especially the gnocchi. 13 Ross Common, 415.464.0915, frescotrattoria.com

SAN ANSELMO

COMFORTS CAFE

American This cozy spot features local

Relax with a glass of wine and have a slice from the to-die-for thin pizzas, topped with items like truffle oil and fontina cheese. 510 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.2942, cucina restaurantandwinebar.com

INSALATA’S Mediterranean Awardwinning chef Heidi Insalata Krahling offers Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes prepared with local organic produce and artisan meats. 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.457.7700, insalatas.com

L’APPART RESTO

French It’s the second Marin restaurant for the team behind Le Garage Bistro in Sausalito. Owners Bruno Denis and Olivier Souvestre are offering a menu most Francophiles would be proud of, complete with items like smoked herring, bone marrow and cassoulet de legumes. 636 San Anselmo Ave, 415.256.9884, lappartresto.com

LOCOCO’S PIZZERIA

Italian Worth driving to from all over Marin, and it’s an easy place to meet up with friends. The pizza crust is divine, as is the house salad. Good spot to come with the entire

Emporio Rulli

family. Closed Mondays . 638 San Anselmo Ave, 415.453.1238, lococossananselmo.com

ORCHID THAI Thai

Owners Peggy and Tom Thongnopneua create an inviting atmosphere with their warm smiles and helpful menu suggestions. The fare here has won “Best of Marin” awards many times over. 726 San Anselmo Ave, 415.457.9470, orchidthairestaurant.com

TACO JANE’S Mexican

Named after the owner’s mother, this casual but colorful place welcomes the whole family. Don’t miss out on Jane’s handmade agave margarita or grilled plantains with crema. 21 Tamalpais Ave, 415.454.6562, tacojanes.com

SAN RAFAEL

AMICI’S EAST COAST

PIZZERIA California

The array of pizzas includes gluten-free crust options and the new Siciliano, an enticing mix of mozzarella, slow-roasted garlic, sausage, broccoli and crushed red pepper fl akes, sans tomato sauce. 1242 Fourth St, 415.455.9777, amicis.com

ARIZMENDI California

A worker-owned bakery, Arzimendi prides itself on using the freshest, most local ingredients available. Known for the famous wolverines and cheese rolls, it also cooks up an assortment of muffi ns, pastries and sourdough bread pizzas . 1002 Fourth St, 415. 456.4093, arizmendibakery.org

BOMBAY GARDEN

Indian Here you’ll fi nd a large menu showcasing richly fl avored Northern and Southern Indian cuisine. There are often Bollywood movies or videos showing on a fl at-screen TV to add a little entertainment to the meal. 909 Fourth St, 415.459.9555, dinebombaygarden.com

CHALET BASQUE

French This familystyle restaurant serves dishes inspired by the Basque regions of France and Spain, including frog legs in a garlic butter and lemon sauce, a veal calf liver sauté and rack of lamb. On a warm Marin night enjoy alfresco dining on the outdoor patio. 405 North San Pedro Rd, 415.479.1070, chaletbasquemarin.com

IL DAVIDE Italian A large selection of both Italian and California wines by the glass along with the dolci menu’s tiramisu have kept locals coming back for years. Don’t leave without sampling the limoncello. 901 A St, 415.454.8080, ildavide.net

MIKEY’S Cuban New chef Freddy Caamel has added a Cuban menu to the mix in this casual restaurant. Try “Mikey’s special” for breakfast, nachos for lunch, or the ropa vieja from the new Cuban menu for dinner. 783 Anderson Dr, 415.454.6453, eatatmikeys.com

MULBERRY STREET

PIZZERIA Italian

Chef Ted Rowe won fi rst place in the Food Network Television

Pizza Challenge with his Mushroom Lover’s

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE

OLLI at Dominican provides intellectually stimulating opportunities for adults 50 years of age and older.

Winter Session: January 9 – April 6, 2012

Upcoming Classes include:

Debating Terrorism

Exploring Opera

Memoir Writing

The Art of Alfred Hitchcock

Open House

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Angelico Hall, Dominican campus

50 Acacia Avenue San Rafael, California 94901 www.dominican.edu/osher

For more information, call 415-458-3763 or visit www.dominican.edu/osher

Amici’s offers a taste of the Northeast’s distinctive Italian fare, including authentic thin-crust pizzas, and freshly made pastas and salads. Amici’s offers dine-in and takeout as well as delivery of their entire menu to local homes and businesses. A Gluten Free menu is also available at the San Rafael location.

Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria

1242FourthStreet

Our new coffees and rich espresso are sourced and roasted by Martin Diedrich, one of California’s pioneering roasters of specialty coffee. Come try a silky cappuccino with a warm chocolate croissant, or our favorite brioche French toast. Bon Appetite!

415.455.9777

SanRafael,CA amicis.com

Consistently rated “Best of Marin,” Comforts offers fine city and homestyle food. Our menus change regularly to reflect what is fresh and in season, using only the best quality ingredients. Enjoy breakfast or lunch in our café, or choose from a wide range of take-out items. Catering available. Open 7 days.

Comforts Cafe

335SanAnselmoAvenue

415.454.9840

SanAnselmo,CA comfortscafe.com

Servino Ristorante, located on Tiburon’s charming waterfront, is proud to welcome Wesley Shaw as our executive chef. Enjoy locally farmed produce and seafood prepared with Italian passion. Find information online about our Upstairs Banquet Room.

Servino Ristorante

9MainStreet

415.435.2676

Tiburon,CA servino.com

Champagne Bakery champagnebakery.com

MillValley

CorteMadera

415.380.0410

415.927.5470

French

and

We are open for lunch/brunch on Friday, Saturday & Sunday and dinner Wednesday through Monday. Try our “Nuits Savoyardes” every Monday night all winter long. Bon Appétit!

L’appart Resto 636SanAnselmoAve

415.256.9884 SanAnselmo,CA lappartresto.com

Taj of Marin offers exquisite North and South Indian cuisine in a luxurious setting. The menu includes meat, seafood, vegetarian, glutenfree, and vegan options. We carry a wide selection of beer, fine wine, and traditional Indian drinks. Live music Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings. Certificate for dinner only.

Taj of Marin 9094thStreet

415.459.9555 SanRafael,CA tajofmarin.com

Casual

bistro in the heart of San Anselmo. The sister restaurant of Le Garage Bistro in Sausalito offers simple

delicious French fare.

The historic Cliff House offers awesome views from every angle and one of nature’s best shows every day. Dine in the casual Bistro Restaurant or the elegant Sutro’s at the Cliff House. Sunday Brunch in the Terrace Room is a Bay Area tradition with free-flowing champagne and a delicious buffet.

Cliff House 1090PointLobos

Chianti Cucina, a family friendly Italian restaurant in Novato, welcomes you to our family, where great food, service and atmosphere await you. We invite you to our table, offering a casual and memorable experience. At Chianti Cucina, you’ll feel like a neighborhood regular. OpenTable.com Diner’s Choice Winner 2011.

415.386.3330 SanFrancisco,CA cliffhouse.com

LoCoco’s Pizzeria has been a favorite in Marin for over 40 years. Our antique family recipe is the secret to our success, and our authentic pasta sauces reflect the traditional Sicilian style. Dishes such as cannelloni, seafood, and salads complete a picture-perfect comforting meal.

LoCoco’s Pizzeria

638SanAnselmoAve.

Chianti Cucina 7416RedwoodBlvd.

415.878.0314 Novato,CA chiantinovato.com

In Japanese, Robata means “by the fireside” and refers to the grill-style cooking of northern Japanese fishermen. Our menu offers traditional as well as contemporary fare. Over 25 premium sakes. Come see why we’ve been Mill Valley’s favorite Japanese restaurant for over 27 years.

415.453.1238 SanAnselmo,CA lococossananselmo.com

The Tiburon Grill serves delicious, contemporary grill cuisine. With two outdoor patios and two indoor fireplaces, Tiburon Grill is the ideal place to relax and enjoy an evening with family and friends. Open daily, featuring a popular happy hour, from 4–7pm and ALL DAY Sunday with a 50% off selected menu.

Tiburon Grill

1651TiburonBlvd.

Robata Grill & Sushi 591RedwoodHwy.

415.381.8400 MillValley,CA robatagrill.com

This locally-owned bar and grill features natural Angus burgers, killer fish tacos, hand-tossed pizzas, fresh seafood, salads and sandwiches. Dine on the outdoor patio, enjoy drinks from the full bar and watch sporting events on numerous giant screens. Wipeout is proud to be a Green Certified Business. Specials like $5 Pizza Wednesdays listed online.

Wipeout Bar & Grill

415.435.5996

Tiburon tiburongrill.com

415.461.7400

Holiday Duck

Entertain guests this season (or year-round) with this tasty dish by chef Sondra Bernstein.

Just in time for the holidays, Sonoma-based restaurateur Sondra Bernstein is celebrating the publication of her second cookbook, Plats du Jour, the Girl & the Fig’s Journey Through the Seasons in Wine County. Sondra and her partner, executive chef John Toulze, tell the story of Sonoma’s farmers, ranchers, cheese makers and vintners through 100 recipes and wine pairings. The majority of this duck recipe, ideal for entertaining, can be completed up to two days ahead of time. MIMI TOWLE

RECIPE

Pan-Seared Duck Breast, Honey-Roasted Root Vegetables and Red Wine

Gastrique

SERVES 6

Ingredients

6 duck breasts

For the vegetables:

7 tablespoons blended oil

2 small celery root, peeled and cut into N -inch batons

2 small rutabagas, peeled and cut into N -inch batons

2 small parsnips, peeled and cut into N -inch batons

6 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

For the gastrique:

K medium yellow onion, cut in small dice

1 celery stalk, cut in small dice

1 large carrot, cut in small dice

6 garlic cloves, peeled

1 bay leaf

4 sprigs fresh thyme

6 whole black peppercorns

N cup sugar

N cup red wine vinegar

4 cups duck stock or chicken stock

1 cup veal demi-glace

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

To prepare the vegetables:

1 Preheat the oven to 400°F.

In a medium ovenproof sauté pan heat 3 tablespoons of blended oil over high heat and sauté the celery root, rutabagas, and parsnips for about 6 to 8 minutes until they start to turn golden brown. 2 Add the honey and toss the vegetables well to coat. Place the vegetables in the oven and roast until they are soft and caramelized, about fi ve minutes. 3 Add the butter, and stir to combine. Cover the vegetables with foil and keep warm.

To prepare the gastrique:

1 In a medium sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons blended oil and sauté the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic over medium-high for about 5 to 7 minutes or until the vegetables are caramelized. 2 Spread the sugar evenly over the vegetables. Stir constantly to make a dark caramel, about 5 to 7 minutes. 3 Deglaze the pan with the red wine vinegar. (The sugar will seize up but will melt again after a few minutes.) 4 Add the bay leaf, thyme, and peppercorns. 5 Let the vinegar reduce until almost dry, about 3 to 5 minutes, and add the duck stock. Bring to a boil and reduce by half. 6 Add the demi-glace, and reduce until the sauce holds a nice line on a plate, about 5 to 7 minutes. 7 Strain the gastrique through a fi ne-mesh sieve, whisk in the butter, and set aside in a warm spot.

To prepare the duck:

1 Score the fat side of the duck breasts, making crisscross marks with a paring knife and being careful not to cut all the way through to the fl esh. 2 Lightly coat a sauté pan with the remaining 2 tablespoons blended oil and place the duck breasts skin side down on low heat to render out the fat. (Do not overcrowd the pan; you may have to render the duck in two separate batches.) 3 Continue to render until the skin is golden and crispy, about 10 to 15 minutes. 4 Flip the duck breasts over and sear the fl esh side, increasing the heat to medium-high and basting the skin using a spoon and the rendered duck fat. Cook the duck to desired doneness (135°F for medium rare). 5 Remove the duck breasts from the pan and let them rest for about 5 minutes.

To plate:

Arrange the root vegetables in the center of 6 large, warm plates. Spoon the gastrique around the vegetables. Slice the duck breasts into 4 slices lengthwise, place the slices on top of the vegetables and serve.

Pizza — sautéed mushrooms in a creamy garlic sauce atop a fresh pizza crust. Located across from the Smith Ranch Road movie theaters, it’s a great place to grab dinner and a movie. 101 Smith Ranch Rd, 415.472.7272, mulberry-streetpizzeria.com

SABOR OF SPAIN

Spanish Opened in 2003, this tapas and wine bar is a great place for a romantic date or a big party (catering available). Old-world values and a healthy olive oil–based Mediterranean diet have preserved the authentic flavors found throughout Spain’s history. Enjoy wine tasting, eating and shopping for fi ne wines all under one roof. 1301 Fourth St, 415.457.8466, saborofspain.com

SEAFOOD PEDDLER

Seafood A great place to seek out fresh seafood in a warm and inviting environment. Varieties of East and West Coast fi sh are flown in daily. Dine indoors or out, or better yet, rent the banquet room for a party. 100 Yacht Club Dr, 415.460.6669, seafoodpeddler.com

TAJ OF MARIN Indian

Delicious North and South Indian cuisine, from the $8.95 lunch special to dinners that include goat curry, spinach, lentils and tandoori. Gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options available. 909 4th Street, 415.459.9555, tajofmarin.com

WHIPPER SNAPPER RESTAURANT

California/Caribbean Owner and chef Bill Higgins serves reasonably priced and

delicious tapas. Save room for delicious fi sh tacos and yummy chocolate bread pudding. On Sundays, try the $3 glasses of sangria. 1613 Fourth St, 415.256.1818, whipsnap.biz

YET WAH Chinese

Named after the founder’s wife (Yet refers to the moon, Wah to brightness), this beloved mainstay offers dim sum daily along with the traditional Chinese menu. Groove to live music in the Kung Fu Lounge. 1238 Fourth St, 415.460.9883, yetwahsanrafael.com

SAUSALITO

ANGELINO RESTAURANT Italian Father-and-son chefs Pasquale and Alfredo Ancona offer handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti at this authentic Italian restaurant, which has been featuring cuisine of the Campania region for the past 24 years. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225, angelinorestaurant.com

AVATAR’S Indian

Looking for “the best meal of your life”?

Let owner Ashok Kumar order for you. One-room casual dining for lunch and dinner. 2656 Bridgeway, 415.332.8083, eatavatar.com

BAR BOCCE American

Food tastes better, your company becomes funnier and issues of the day seem trivial when you’re dining on a bayside patio with fi re pits and a bocce ball court. Throw in sourdough bread pizzas and a glass of wine and you’ll see

why this casual eatery, whose co-owner and executive chef is Robert Price of Buckeye and Bungalow 44, has become a local favorite. 1250 Bridgeway, 415.331.0555, barbocce.com

CIBO Cafe Husbandand-wife team Alfredo and Tera Ancona offer a menu of tarts, croissants, cookies, paninis and soups. Every dish is made from scratch with local and seasonal products. And now Marinites no longer have to drive over the bridge to get famous Blue Bottle coffee. Located in the historic brick building at 1201 Bridgeway. 415.331.2426, cibosausalito.com

FENG NIAN Chinese Busy at lunch and dinner, this spacious hangout has been a popular spot for wonton soup, pot stickers and daily specials for nearly two decades. For an indulgent treat order the Szechwan crispy calamari or honey-glazed walnut prawn. Free delivery. 2650 Bridgeway, 415.331.5300, fengnian.com

FISH Seafood It is all about the fresh catch here. You can dine at one of the picnic tables or purchase fi sh to cook at home. Casual, and bring cash (lots of it!). 350 Harbor Dr, 415.331.3474, 331fish.com

HORIZONS Seafood/ American A great place for waterfront deck dining with stunning views of Angel Island, Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline. Horizons is a favorite with locals and visitors.

Enjoy lunch, dinner and brunch daily, featuring fresh seafood, salads, sandwiches, pasta and steak. A full bar offers draft beers, specialty cocktails, and an extensive wine selection. Valet parking and docking facilities available. 558 Bridgeway, 415.331.3232, horizonssausalito.com

KITTI’S PLACE Thai/ California Known for the tasty Chinese chicken salad and spring rolls. Owner Kitti Suthipipiat was the cook at Comforts in San Anselmo for many years. Try weekly specials like the Thai Toast: crispy sliced baguette topped with shrimp and chicken. 3001 Bridgeway #D, 415.331.0390, kittisplace.com

LE GARAGE French

Escape the touristy Sausalito spots and grab brunch right on the water. The Kobe

Burger, though not as Parisian as the other menu items, is to die for. And the much-adored croque-monsieur is under $10. Opt for indoor or outdoor seating. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625, legaragebistro sausalito.com

LIGHTHOUSE

American Blueberry pancakes, omelets and Danish-influenced dishes are the draw here. It’s a small space, so be prepared to wait or get there early. 1311 Bridgeway, 415.331.3034

MURRAY CIRCLE

American Enjoy the sun on the deck of this Cavallo Point restaurant. Locals say they come back for the fresh seasonal specials like wild sturgeon and Wolfe Ranch quail.

601 Murray Circle, 415.339.4750, cavallopoint.com

PLATE SHOP California

If the seasonal menu and 14 large vegetable beds outside the kitchen door aren’t telltale signs, the menu is — the Plate Shop is all about fresh, local and all-organic cuisine. Choose from an extensive wine list and an assortment of cocktails. 39 Caledonia St, 415.887.9047, plateshop.net

SAYLOR’S RESTAURANT AND BAR California/ Mexican Marin’s fi rst tequila bar offers over 100 tequila options. Nightly meal specials include chicken potpie, roasted salmon, baby back ribs, and traditional meat loaf. If you’re up for wilder entertainment there are frequent events like margarita night and

Boo Koo

fl ight night tequilatasting parties. The private dining room is perfect for large parties. 2009 Bridgeway, 415.332.1512, saylorsrestaurant andbar.com

SUSHI RAN Japanese

Fresh, innovative small plates are just big enough to share, the traditional sushi is melt-in-your-mouth good, and the wine, cocktail and sake lists keep the pickiest barfly well satisfied. Even the prices don’t deter the herd of sushi enthusiasts who line up nightly to partake; reservations are required in the main room. 107 Caledonia St, 415.332.3620, sushiran.com

SWEET GINGER

Japanese Owner and chef Edna and Wayne Chiang know their way around good sushi.

Try fresh sashimi, the classic Dragon Roll, 49er’s Roll or Rock ’N Roll, or be adventurous and have Wayne whip you up something off the menu. Good sake and a comfortable setting round out the reasonably priced meal. 400 Caledonia St, 415.332.1683, sweet gingersausalito.com

TIBURON

CAPRICE California

Book the private party room for large groups or just relax in what one Yelp reviewer called “the perfect romantic dinner spot.” Midweek take advantage of the restaurant’s wellpriced three-course dinners for less than $25. 2000 Paradise Dr, 415.435.3400, thecaprice.com

GUAYMAS Mexican

The touch-it-you’reso-close city views and outdoor seating make it a great place to bring visitors on a warm summer night. Happy hour is 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Menu includes specialties like puerco macho — pork loin chop with grilled plantain, topped with an ancho chile, garlic and onion sauce. 5 Main St, 415.435.6300, guaymasrestaurant.com

MILANO Italian

Located in the Cove Shopping Center, this family-owned neighborhood spot is known for its pasta and friendly service. A good place to take the kids — or catering option for your next birthday party. 1 Blackfield Dr, 415.388.9100, tiburonmilano.com

DON ANTONIO

TRATTORIA Italian

Located in Tiburon’s historic Ark Row, this trattoria offers authentic Italian cuisine in a quaint setting. The menu includes traditional courses with selections such as chicken piccata, organic roasted rack of lamb, and housemade pesto. 111 Main St, 415.435.0400, donantoniotrattoria.com

GINZA Japanese

Whether you simply go for the volcano roll or indulge in the eight-course Omakase meal, the fresh ingredients coupled with the tremendous view of San Francisco keep this place busy, so make reservations or get there early. 41 Main St, 415.789.5123, ginzasushi-tiburon.com

historic watering hole, but Sam’s is also a great place for lunch or dinner. Enjoy transfat-free calamari, fresh fi sh, seasonal salads and pastas. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527, samscafe.com

SERVINO RISTORANTE

Italian Executive Chef Wesley Shaw cooks up an array of rustic Italian dishes, including house-made pastas, wood oven pizzas and seasonal specialties. A member of Marin Organic and one of Marin’s fi rst eateries to become certified as a green business, Servino uses fresh, local and organic ingredients whenever possible. Check the website for the live music schedule. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676, servino.com

TIBURON GRILL

NEW MORNING CAFE

American Sit outside or indoors at this casual cafe. On a sunny morning, tables will be fi lled with locals enjoying the sun and extensive breakfast menu; lunch served as well. 1696 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.4315

SALT & PEPPER

American This sun-fi lled, hardwoodfloored one room restaurant with bluecheckered tablecloths is a local favorite. Popular items on chef Abraham Monterroso’s menu include scallops, rib-eye steak, a beef burger and traditional crab cakes with jalapeno dipping sauce. 38 Main Street, 415.435.3594

SAM’S ANCHOR CAFE

American Everyone knows Sam’s deck is the prime spot for brunch on a lazy sunny Sunday, and its bar is the town’s

PARKSIDE CAFE

American Most people know it as the ultimate breakfast spot (think Guatemalan scramble or waffle with blood orange–strawberry compote and whipped cream — served alfresco) but lunch and dinners are popular here too. Choose from an array of organic locally grown produce and artisan meats and wild seafood (Stinson). 43 Arenal Ave, 415.868.1272, parksidecafe.com

PINE CONE DINER

California The atmosphere here is truly enchanting, with two outdoor patios, two indoor fi replaces, and candlelit tables at dinner. No item is more than $20, including the steak, with entrées falling in the $14 to $18 range. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.5996, thelodgeattiburon.com

WEST MARIN

OSTERIA STELLINA

California Whether it’s to cap off a day of hiking or celebrate a romantic anniversary, Osteria Stellina suits any occasion. The menu is Italianinspired using organic, local ingredients (Point Reyes). 11285 Hwy 1, 415.663.9988, osteriastellina.com

American Just off the main road, Joannie Kwit has re-created the ultimate neighborhood diner. Vintage china and homemade curtains complement the eclectic but homey menu featuring local fare. A favorite for locals as well as tourists (Point Reyes Station). 60 Fourth St, 415.663.1536, thepineconediner.com

SAND DOLLAR

American Originally built from three barges in Tiburon in 1921, the Sand Dollar Restaurant was floated to Stinson that same year and it’s still there today (Stinson). 3458 Shoreline Hwy, 415.868.0434, stinson beachrestaurant.com

SURFERS GRILL

American The view doesn’t get better than this — nor does the surf salad. Built right out on Stinson Beach, this casual lunch spot offers up tasty fresh organic salads alongside corn dogs, burgers and fries. Stinson Beach Park, Hwy 1, 415.868.1777, surfersgrill.com

Osteria Stellina

Bob Hodas, Owner, Acoustic

Analysis

Using specialized computer analysis, acoustic problems in listening rooms and home theaters are identified and treated. Acoustic consulting is performed on existing rooms or at the design stage. Sound systems are optimized with acoustical treatments and/or equalization. Audiophile-grade sound systems are sold and installed, featuring Focal Utopia.

MARIN ADVERTISERS SPEAK UP

ad lib

Briefly describe your business philosophy.

I want to give my consumer clients an accurate and emotional connection to the artist’s musical vision. I also want to provide the best musical experience possible within the client’s budget. It’s similar to what I do for my studio clients, where I create an accurate listening environment so that the producer/ engineer/musician’s vision translates to the consumer’s audio system.

Jill D. Hollander, President, Financial Connections Group

Financial Connections is a team of knowledgeable professionals who take an integrated approach to helping clients — individuals, families, samesex couples, trusts and small businesses — connect their finances with their future, offering fee-only services (no commissions) for investment management, financial planning and establishment of 401(k)s.

Briefly describe your business philosophy.

We strive to maintain a relationship of trust by promoting open, two-way communication leading to a plan of action in the best interest of our clients. Being fee-only, no commissions, we have a no-nonsense approach to problem solving.

Describe your dream client/customer.

Individuals or couples approaching retirement who want help putting their finances in order and preparing for the next phase of their life. We like to create a financial plan and, once done, manage the investments in tandem with the plan. Important to this discussion is addressing not just the numbers, but what people are going to do with the extra 2,080 hours that will offer fulfillment and purpose to their life.

How can your services help families?

Sometimes meeting with an impartial third party can help spouses, partners

What is your competitive edge?

I use some of the most sophisticated acoustic analysis tools on the planet and am recognized worldwide because of my room-tuning work for hundreds of studios, such as Abbey Road and Lucasfilm. Also, my background is rooted in music. I was a musician and a recording/mixing engineer for many successful artists so I know what music is supposed to sound like when reproduced in a small room.

Which product or service (that you offer) is your favorite?

Of course speaker/room optimizing is what I love to do but I also love putting the exceptional Focal Utopia speakers into someone’s home.

What makes you excel at what you do?

Music and sound has been a passion since I was 6 years old. I want my rooms/systems to connect people with their music so that they have a pleasurable emotional experience.

What makes your work worthwhile?

When my client turns to me with a huge smile and says, “I never dreamed it could sound this good.”

ACOUSTIC ANALYSIS, 1384 QUEENS ROAD, BERKELEY, 510.649.9254, BOBHODAS@BOBHODAS.COM

and families to generate the momentum they need to focus on their finances. Over time, the relationship grows and we become part of our clients’ lives.

What makes you excel at what you do?

I have the ability to look at the detail but also see the larger tapestry. I know that life is more than financial numbers. Being able to view life from both perspectives allows me to help clients link their view of the future with their financial resources.

FINANCIAL CONNECTIONS GROUP, INC., 21 TAMAL VISTA BLVD., SUITE 105, CORTE MADERA, CA, 415.924.1091, INQUIRY@FINANCIALCONNECTIONS.COM

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Diamond Grace Earrings

Coin Purse

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Custom Dog Bed

Bamboo Lounge Dog Bed

Shield Necklace

Pop Tab Purse

Squishy Sushi

Dogwood Dessert Plates

each, Whitney Smith Pottery

Crystal Bullet Rings

Sarah Swell Jewelry

Holiday Gifts for Every Budget

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Tahitian Gardenia Sugar Scrub

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Personalized Silverplate

Spoon Hot Chocolate

$37, The Ticket Kitchen

Caramel Collection

$52, 479° Popcorn

Candy Cane Onesie

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Dorado Ring

$70, Meagan Reelitz Designs

MARCH 20, 2012 BEVERLY HILLS LIVE & ONLINE

CONSIGNMENT DEADLINE: JANUARY 17

Charles Reiffel, Eucalyptus Grove, 20 x 24 in.

Signed lower right and titled and signed on the reverse, Oil on board, HA.com/5103-13001

Inquiries: 800-872-6467

Beverly Hills

Deborah Solon ext. 1843

DeborahS@HA.com

San Francisco Alissa Ford ext. 1926 AlissaF@HA.com For a free auction catalog in any category, plus a copy of The Collector’s Handbook (combined value $6), visit HA.com/ OTH22704 or call 866-835-3243 and reference code OTH22704.

3500 Maple Avenue | Dallas, Texas 75219 | 800-872-6467 | HA.com Annual Sales Exceed $750 Million | 600,000+ Online Bidder-Members

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TX & NY Auctioneer license: Samuel Foose 11727 & 0952360. Heritage Auction Galleries CA Bond #RSB2004175; CA Auctioneer Bond: Alissa Ford #RSB2005920. These auctions subject to a 19.5% buyer’s premium.

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FROM TOURS AND MAKEOVERS TO DECORATIVE DETAILS AND REALTOR INSIGHTS

BUYING INTO BOLINAS

An East Bay entrepreneur and his family are sold on the coastal charm of Bolinas.

BY PJ BREMIER • PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

CHRISTIAN STORM HAS surfed the waters off West Marin for the past 15 years, but the East Bay resident and cofounder of Turnitin, an online plagiarism detection and grading service, wasn’t seriously looking to buy a second home there until he and his wife, Sage, discovered an 1890s Victorian known as Captain Edward’s Flats. “We were loosely looking for a house in Bolinas for a couple of years, but I didn’t want just any place; I wanted one that felt right,” Storm says. “This house has that quintessential East Coast beach house feel to it and was big enough to share with our family and friends.”

And, it was also almost move-in ready. “The whole point was to enjoy the house and not have a huge project,” he says. “This house has old bones but with modern updates that were done creatively and with good taste.”

We were loosely looking for a house in Bolinas for a couple of years, but I didn’t want just any place; I wanted one that felt right.

The stately single-family residence that had been, at one point, divided into two separate homes features a full kitchen, a living room, three bedrooms, a bathroom and laundry on each of its two floors.

Outside, the country garden is simple, with a rustic cottage nestled in the back. A local master gardener has been hired to fi ll the terraced beds with a mix of flowers, edible plants and fruit trees.

Storm says he and his wife appreciate Bolinas’ diverse population “of musicians, poets, scientists, retired people and young children — who all have a good love for the town.” With such wide appeal and the 1971 water meter moratorium that inhibits new building , the couple was prepared to wait. But, says Storm, “I grew up in a small town by the water where you could walk everywhere, and I wanted our children to have that experience, too. This is a dream come true.” m

Above left: A child’s swing hangs in the country garden. Above right: A chic Italian Bertazzoni stove in the upstairs kitchen.

THE DETAILS

WHAT THEY BOUGHT A sixbedroom Victorian house

LISTING AGENT Tom Wredberg, Oceanic Realty

SELLING AGENT Terry Donohue, Bolinas Real Estate

STATS Average cost per square foot for homes in neighborhood: $483

Clockwise from top left: Sage and Christian Storm in front of their 1890s Victorian home; a five-burner French La Cornue range in the family kitchen; a view from the light-filled upstairs hallway; a chandelier adds feminine charm to the young daughter’s room; the large bathroom tub is perfect for soaking.

All Welcome

A home’s entrance can make quite a statement, as these Marin County front doors illustrate.

Email a photo of yourself standing by your door to letters@marinmagazine. com (please include your phone number and address), and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a $50 gift certificate for Horizons in Sausalito.

PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

1 North Point Circle, Belvedere

Located on a flat street with no through traffic, in a neighborhood with many children, this mostly level home boasts sunny living & entertaining options. Spacious interiors have a seamless connection to the outdoors. A comfortable residence & is conducive to a casual lifestyle. Splashes of color add to this home along with a great floor plan.

1NorthPointCircle.com

$2,695,000

2480 Mar East, Tiburon

WELCOME TO “COVE EDGE”.

An architectural treasure on the water’s edge. Fresh breezes & natural light produce an ambiance of tranquility. This home integrates indoor & outdoor living with elegance & rusticity. Catch a glimpses of seals & waterfowl while enjoying sweeping views of an intimate cove, Angel Island & the East Bay. 2480MarEast.com

$2,595,000

54 Terrace Lane, San Rafael

Flanked by gorgeous rock walls, this stunning home is set against a romantic backdrop of stately trees, long countrified walking paths, & glistening waterfalls. This three-level residence boasts a plethora of stunning living & entertaining options. A unique property that offers a haven of peace & tranquility merged with breathtaking style & comfort.

54Terrace.com

$1,995,000

146 Rock Hill Drive, Tiburon

Up a long drive, lined with a rock wall, sits an understated elegant home. Sophisticated, comfortable & irrepressibly functional. Sensational views of San Francisco to the Golden Gate bridge & on to Mt Tam are breathtaking. Approach through an iron gate & stone pillars with a pleasing introduction to the heart of this residence.

146RockHillDrive.com

$2,375,000

00823366

85 Eastview Avenue, Tiburon

Corinthian island: A Miles Berger contemporary “Green” design 4BR/3.5BA home with walls of glass, allow for sensational views of Mt. Tam to Belvedere Lagoon. This design is sophisticated & irrepressibly functional which includes an elevators and is conveniently located near town & ferries. Plans, renderings and permits available upon request. 85Eastview.com

$750,000

3344 Paradise Drive, Tiburon

Travel down a private drive to this beautifully designed retreat with privacy in a breathtaking setting. A display of extraordinary materials & unrivaled craftsmanship describes this architectural treasure. Bay views provide a backdrop for most rooms, patios, decks & gardens. This is truly a wonder place to come and reboot your soul.

Chaunceypoint.com

$4,495,000

Mary & Diane

LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALISTS

415.846.7530 DRE# 01387083

Mary@maryanddiane.com

Matthew Pouliot

LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALIST

415.265-7020 DRE# 01393281

Matthew.Pouliot@pacunion.com

3 Emerson Drive Mill Valley

Shelter Ridge townhome with great pride of ownership 2Br/1.5Ba, hardwood flooring, newer appliances, laundry room, & 2-car carport. 3EmersonDrive.com

Offered at $440,000

877 Marin Drive Mill Valley

3Br/2Ba renovated cottage, family room w/soaring ceilings, 3 fireplaces, 2-car detached garage, deck, patios, lush gardens, spa & more.

PouliotProperties.com

Offered at $1,399,000

Mary & Diane

LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALISTS

415.846.7530 DRE# 01387083

Mary@maryanddiane.com

13 Lincoln Mill Valley

Wonderful vintage home in the heart of downtown Mill Valley. Sunny, private, charming. Combine levels for a fabulous 4Br/4Ba home. 13Lincoln.com Offered at $1,695,000

Kyle Frazier

LUXURY

415.350.9440 DRE# 01405738

Kyle@ImagineMarin.com

Sean Solway

LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALIST

415.971.0385 DRE# 01362146

Sean@SFMarinHomes.com

18 Audubon Way Novato

NEW CONSTRUCTION. Move-in ready 3,000+ sf with upgrades: wood flooring, cabinets, 6 burner range & more. 5Br/3Ba (1Br/Ba down). TheLandingNovato.com

Offered at $839,000

31 Catskill Ct San Anselmo

Located on a quiet cul-de-sac, gated California indoor/ outdoor living at its best. 5Br/3Ba, updated kitchen, fireplace, pool/spa, & built-in BBQ. www.CatskillCourt.com

Offered at $1,249,000

Kyle Frazier

LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALIST

415.350.9440 DRE# 01405738

Kyle@ImagineMarin.com

2825 Vineyard Road Novato

This legacy estate sits on a private, lofty ridge-top with incredible jet-liner views. The extensive gated grounds cover approx. 138 acres. NovatoEstate.com

Offered at $2,499,000

Luxury

is a part of who we are.

Selling a luxury property takes more than local expertise — it requires global connections and powerful marketing.

As an af fi liate of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® and Luxury Portfolio International, Frank Howard Allen has the resources to market your home to the highest possible number of potential buyers. By tapping into the network of 140,000 talented sales associates in 30 countries around the world, we expose our homes to buyers on six continents, ensuring there are more eyes on every property.

Local Market Leadership • Global Connections • 100+ Years of Expertise

Discover more at fhallen.com.

15 Belvedere Avenue, Belvedere

93 Dipsea Road, Stinson Beach • $2,150,000 93Dipsea.com

Enjoy beautiful sunsets, days of entertaining, swimming and boating all from your own dock in this wonderful waterfront home on the Seadrift Lagoon. Open floor plan, secluded garden and patio, waterside decks and views from both sides of home. An ideal coastal retreat.

Judy LeMarr Luxury Home Marketing Specialist® Director, Marin Association of REALTORS 415.793.5030 • jlemarr@fhallen.com www.MarinDreamHome.com

149 Dipsea Road, Stinson Beach Coming Soon Beautiful, contemporary 3 bedroom, 2 bath waterfront home in Seadrift. Features include concrete floors, large kitchen with granite counters and private dock. Spectacular views of Bolinas Lagoon and Seadrift Lagoon make this home a perfect beach getaway.

Best Wishes for a Joyous and Healthy Holiday Season

54 Seacape Drive, Muir Beach • $1,879,000

Cape Cod charm in the Mill Valley school district! Built in the 1990s as an architect’s own home with wainscoting, 7 sets of French doors, 40 ft. long covered porch, diagonal oak floors, round windows and clever alcoves. Over 2500 sq. ft. in the main house, separate billiard room over the garage, 1/2 acre, lawns and ocean/SF views!

Debra Allen, Realtor 415.279.3751 deballen@deballen.com www.muirbeach.com DRE #01002768

250 Morningside Drive, Corte Madera • Offered at $1,295,000

250MorningsideDrive.com Grace and sophistication await you in this elegant, Corte Madera Craftsman. On the lower level you will find a guest bedroom, office, and laundry room. The main level features a dream kitchen with everything the most discriminating chef would desire as well as a breakfast nook and access to the deck, hot tub, and level lawn area. Across from the kitchen you will find an enchanting dining room with built-ins and views of the lush setting. You won’t want to leave the spacious living room which features a marble fireplace, gorgeous cabinetry, a window seat and plenty of room for entertaining. All of these rooms flow seamlessly and create a wonderful living space. The upper level features an expansive master suite that also has access to the deck, hot tub, and lawn area. An additional bedroom and full bathroom complete this level. There are also plans available to add a fourth bedroom on the upper level. A two-car garage and an outstanding natural setting complete this very special property.

$2,200,000

Located on approximately one acre in the highly-desirable seminary area of San Anselmo, this gated, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home with stunning views of Mt. Tam and the seminary is a rare entertaining and features high ceilings, natural light, hardwood garage with lots of storage complete the level. The middle level features a large bedroom, full bath, a spacious master suite with steam room, and a large laundry area. There is separate access to that could be perfect for a guest or nanny. Lavish gardens, fruit the charming town of San Anselmo.

www.677RedwoodRoad.com

$6,200,000

Located atop Belvedere Island and tucked behind private gates, this world-class estate boasts 6,000± sq. ft. of grand interiors, 28,000± sq. ft. of park-like grounds and unobstructed 270-degree showcase views spanning the San Francisco bay, Bay Bridge, San Francisco Skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito and Mount Tamalpais.

warmth, wealth and beauty of the best of Belvedere living and entertaining.The interiors boast all modern amenities yet pay homage to timeless turn-of-the-century elegance. A grand staircase leads to

Alix Fagersten

a master bedroom and four additional bedrooms, all on one level.

A formal living room, grand dining room, family room and commercial grade gourmet kitchen round out the entertaining space. A gym, guest suite, wine cellar and staff quarters with separate kitchen completes this gorgeous family home.

The grounds evoke the serenity of the world’s most exclusive villas with immaculate level lawns and gardens, swimming pool, pool house and romantic paths.

A rare and truly spectacular Belvedere Island gem.

Qualifying for a mortgage does not take into account your financial ambition.

Mortgage lenders do not ask:

• When would you like to retire?

• Would you like to pay for your children’s college education?

• Will you be able to live comfortably after you stop working?

These are affordability questions and we ask them.

At Opes Advisors, we have the experience and expertise to help you make an effective decision about your mortgage and how it fits into your entire financial life. Is your mortgage affordable? Ask us.

415.464.9500

1100 Larkspur Landing Circle, Suite 108 Larkspur, CA 94939

(BACK ROW from left to right: Melanie Victor-Smith and Jeffrey Smith Branch Manager. FRONT ROW: Marian Jung, Judy Stern and Karen Burrous.)

Your Donation Center for Food Bank and Ritter Center Coat Drive

Nobody can do Everything, but Everyone can do Something

Did You Know?

■ One in four Marin County children and one in five Marin County adults are at risk of hunger. 90% of these people have at least one employed adult in the family.

■ Approximately 23% of Marin County households live below the basic self-sufficiency level, equating to approximately 40,000 Marin County residents.

Now through December 31st, all Alain Pinel Realtors of Marin County will be accepting donations of non perishable food, as well as new or gently-used coats and other clothing items in support of the Marin Community Food Bank, The Ritter Center and our neighbors in need this holiday season. Donations can be made during business hours at any of our APR Marin County offices in Corte Madera, Ross, Novato, Tiburon, or Downtown Mill Valley, and at any of our Sunday Open Houses across the county.

For more information about this program, please call 415.755.1111 or email our Marin office manager, Steve Dickason, at sdickason@apr.com.

Upper Toyon, Kentfield Ross schools! 5-6bd/4full, 2half ba. 5500+/-sf, gorgeous home amid luscious gardens with amazing views from Mt Tam to the Bay Bridge. Extensively remodeled and an incredible value.

$4,375,000

Alyssa Taubman 415.518.1558

Toyon Lane, Sausalito

Reduced! Architectural masterpiece re-built from the ground up. 4bd/3ba home features views from Mt Tam to Angel Island, two master suites, bamboo floors, clerestory windows, and a landscaped flat yard.

77ToyonLane.com

$2,349,000

Christa Hertzka 415.717.7781

Butterfield Road, San Anselmo

Simply remarkable. Incredible setting and home with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, pool, hot tub, vegetable gardens, multiple patios, huge lawn & a sport court. Complete privacy and terrific schools.

BestOfASleepyHollow.com

$2,300,000

Bayview Avenue, Belvedere

Don't miss this beautiful, stylish home on a fabulous lot in a close to town location. Four bedrooms, three-and-one-half baths, family room and office, quality finishes and great light.

19Bayview.com

$3,350,000

Carol Olrich 415.971.0332

Culloden Park Road, San Rafael

Grand, private, gated estate in a coveted enclave of exclusive residences. 6bd/4ba, architecturally significant, 1907 showplace. Impeccably renovated. Mt. Tam views in a peaceful, park-like setting.

88CullodenPark.com

$2,250,000

Stephanie Lamarre 415.806.3176

Lowell Avenue, Mill Valley

Magnificent, gated, 4bd/4ba, mid-century masterpiece hidden down a quiet country lane. Extensively remodeled with innovative and artful design features throughout.

378LowellAve.com

$1,995,000

Kristine Tiret 415.310.0269

Edwards Avenue, Sausalito Beautiful, high-end, remodeled home with period features and stunning views across the water to Angel Island and Belvedere. Front deck and lovely garden at rear. 2-car garage, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths.

133Edwards.com

$1,659,000

Toni Abruzzo-Ramirez 415.827.8280

West California Avenue, Mill Valley Exceptional, panoramic views. Outstanding quality. Dramatic, sunny, 5bd/4.5ba, 3500+sf home in immaculate condition. Gourmet kitchen, exquisite master suite, soaring ceilings and a separate au-pair suite.

948WestCalifornia.com

$1,875,000

Suzanne Shelhart 415.613.0100

Tulane Drive, Larkspur 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, including a guest suite. Ideal home, with all the spaces right for comfortable living. Hardwood floors and a lush backyard on a cul-de-sac. Remodeled throughout with high-quality finishes.

281Tulane.com

$1,495,000

Carolyn Svenson

415.720.4773

Leona Drive, San Rafael Elegant living! Built in 1999, this custom, 4bd/3.5ba, 4100+sf villa on .75+acre offers a resort lifestyle with a private pool, spa with waterfall, gazebo, level lawn, gardens, media room and surround-sound inside and out.

6LeonaDr.com

$1,795,000

Lindy Emrich 415.717.4005

Lagoon Vista, Tiburon

Reduced! Beautiful Point Tiburon Lagoon. Corner ground floor condo with 2bd/2ba, gated entry, newly painted, sunny tile patio, lovely, spacious master bedroom with fireplace and patio with lagoon views.

13LagoonVista.com

$1,199,000 The Stewarts 415.898.1244

As

Recent Sales

8 Woodland Place, Kentfield, $3,925,000

51 Frances, Larkspur, $1,475,000

415 Golden Gate, Belvedere, $2,500,000

5 Pine Court, Kentfield, $2,305,000 (multiple offers)

41 Sir Francis Drake, Ross, $1,800,000 (multiple offers)

27 Evergreen, Kentfield, $1,350,000

9 West, San Rafael, $1,200,000

125 Crane, San Anselmo, $870,000

Hitting a High Note

The College of Marin’s community chorus, Marin Oratorio, celebrates its 50th anniversary.

BY JIM WOOD

WHEN MARGARET DEEDY

(shown in the above photo second from the left in the front row) drove her car into the College of Marin parking lot in 1961 for rehearsal, Chubby Checker’s “Let’s Twist Again” was a hit on the radio, and John F. Kennedy was in his first year of office. Deedy, still active in the college, was a member of what was then the newly formed College of Marin Community Chorus. Now, still going today at more than 100 voices strong, the chorus is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Coming a long way since its humble beginnings, the chorus in recent years has performed with the Berlin-based Camerata Vocale, the Russian Chamber Orchestra and the Marin Symphony. The group also sang at music festivals in Italy, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Hungary. In 2004, maestro Boyd Jarrell, formerly the associate choirmaster of San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, became conductor/ director of the choir, and in 2008 the name of the chorus was officially changed to Marin Oratorio.

Interested in experiencing the sounds of Marin’s musical history fi rsthand? An anniversary concert, featuring the choir and orchestra performing the works of Bach, Mozart, Gabrieli and Randall Thompson, will be held this month at the College of Marin’s Kentfield campus. See page 74 in our Calendar section for details. m

Top: The College of Marin Community Chorus back in the early 1960s. Above: Marin Oratorio, as the choir is called today, in rehearsal.

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