The closet where a little girl once borrowed shoes to play dress-up and a young woman now borrows them for the dance where years melt away and Kim Daugs realizes her little girl isn’t so little anymore.
Schedule a complimentary in-home consultation today.
California Closet Company, Inc.
LIFE IS IN THE DETAILS. California Closets worked closely with the Daugs family to create storage solutions that fit their home and their life to a tee. Kim’s master closet includes a slide-out valet hook, display spaces for mementos, multiple hanging areas and in-drawer dividers to help keep everything organized.
32
18 22 24 26 28 30 32 35
Departments
letters
Readers respond to Marin Magazine.
travel buzz
Sojourn news, tidbits and deals. by mimi towle
appellation
Wine country special events and taste treats. by mimi towle
currents
Snoopy license plates, biking for charity and more. by somer flaherty
city streets
Cool town: summer nights in SoMa. by somer flaherty
beauty
Skin care tips for the season. by somer flaherty
marinterview
Mill Valley’s Danielle Hirsch, colorist and designer. by mimi towle
fyi
People: Shattering the silence. by daniel jewett
Home Away: Big Island time. by m. l. lathan
40
The Cover
Having Swum by Ross painter Elizabeth Gorek. To see more of her work, visit elizabethgorek.com. To purchase a print go to marinmagazine.com/coverart.
Departments
conversation
Farmers’ market Executive Director Brigitte Moran. by jim wood
go
Three summer tank-of-gas getaways. by m. l. lathan
calendar
A roundup of what to do in Marin and beyond.
flavor
Memories and recipes from a stellar Marin chef. by mimi towle
dine out
Dine Out, an insider’s guide to Bay Area eateries.
snapshots
Out and about in Marin and San Francisco.
microclimate
Dillon Beach, a best-kept secret. by jim wood
looking back
The Trident, Sausalito’s legendary waterfront restaurant. by jim wood 40 64 68 76 81 88 94 130
Columns
view from mount tam
The founders of Marin Magazine welcome you to share their vision.
pov
There’s hope for the future. by jim wood
pacificfertilitycenter.com
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nikki Wood ext 105 | nwood@marinmagazine.com
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jim Wood ext 106 | jwood@marinmagazine.com
ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Alex French ext 111 | production@marinmagazine.com
REGIONAL SALES OFFICES
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA carolyn ware & associates | Carolyn Ware 415.601.0192
WINE COUNTRY tognetti & associates | Wendy Tognetti 707.544.3643
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA sjl media, llc. | Shana Wong 808-386-0872
NEW YORK couture marketing | Karen Couture 917.821.4429
HAWAII destination marketing | Debbie Joseph 808.739.2200
THE MARIN STORE
CONTACT: CATALOG DIRECTOR Lora Dinga ext 120 | ldinga@themarinstore.com
MARIN CUSTOM MEDIA
CONTACT: PUBLISHER Lisa Shanower ext 107 | lshanower@marinmagazine.com member of the bpa worldwide
By the Sea Salad Plates (Set of 4) CABANA HOME
SUMMER SOIREES IS LOCAL ARTISANS
AND PRODUCERS
Laguna Tank Top
DOIE DESIGNS • $64
Dakota Sandal
KLUB NICO • $170
Shield Necklace
ZINA KAO • $90
IS MARIN SUCH A YUMMY PLACE to live that it has its own flavor? Absolutely! But here’s the tougher question: Is Marin’s flavor that of the Oysters Bingo at the Buckeye Roadhouse or is it the strawberry ice cream at the Fairfax Scoop? Or maybe it’s the poached eggs at Cibo or the vegetarian plate at Marinitas? Answer: it’s all of them—as you’ll find out in “Quintessential Tastes of Marin,” a guide to 10 classic Marin culinary treats and 10 noteworthy newcomers compiled by Marcia Gagliardi, author of the popular food e-column The Tablehopper.
Another first-time contributor this month is Inverness writer Jacoba Charles, whose Think story, “The Wildfire Next Time,” reports on what’s possibly the biggest threat facing Marin County residents and their homes—fire. It’s not a matter of whether a big blaze will come, say officials, only a matter of when. Local fire crews say they’re ready for it. Are you?
In Journey, Suzi Eszterhas, one of the world’s most prominent wildlife photographers, graces our pages with her mar-
velous photographs of African cheetahs and gorillas and Antarctic penguins. The Redwood High grad, now 33, says she knew from age eight that her life’s work would involve wildlife. We’re thrilled she followed her childhood dreams.
Also in this issue, GO goes to three tank-of-gas getaways, from the Santa Cruz Mountains past Half Moon Bay to Napa; Conversation chats with Brigitte Moran, who manages the farmers’ markets in Marin; FYI People profiles singer Kathryn Keats, who has emerged from a life in hiding from a violent boyfriend to begin a flourishing new career; Marinterview questions Mill Valley designer and color consultant Danielle Hirsch; and Microclimate meanders out to Dillon Beach.
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
LETTERS
Readers respond
❯❯ Objection
Simple SimpleTastefulTastefulElegant Elegant
Dr. Brotman states in his interview (June) with Marin Magazine, “I do not think there would have been an uprising of objectors stating, ‘Don’t you dare bring any money from San Francisco or Sacramento to build a hospital here in Marin.”’ This assertion is misleading in the extreme. Sutter had no need to bring money to Marin to finance its plans. Marin General Hospital has been a cash cow for Sutter. Witness Sutter’s appropriation of over $180 million in “excess cash” (plus millions in management and other fees) during its tenure. In effect Sutter’s “gift” of a new facility would have been paid for by profits on services provided to Marin’s patients. Had Sutter’s offer been accepted, it would have received a new facility paid for by the people of Marin. Now that’s worth objecting to!
Tim Sowerby, M.D. Chair, Department of Medicine, MGH, Greenbrae
❯❯
Microclimates
Thank you for your lovely article on Inverness. There are an incredible number of activities in West Marin, but as you wrote, there are wonderful things to do right in the Inverness area. We opened the Inverness Secret Garden Cottage five years ago and many of our guests come to enjoy wandering the trails through our gardens, taking a long soak in the outdoor clawfoot bathtub or just relaxing on the deck. We would be happy to offer a 10 percent discount to any of your readers who mention Marin Magazine when they call to make a reservation.
Patsy
Faulkner and Phil Jonik
Correction: In “Summer Reading” (June) we misspelled Dan Fost’s name. Our apologies to Dan Fost, author of Giants Past and Present
Letters to the editor may be edited for clarity and brevity. Send letters to Marin Magazine , One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965. Or e-mail jwood@marinmagazine.com.
PaperCrush Arch Rival
Bon
Luxton
Sandbox
Woodlands
Sidewalk
Saturday, July 24, 10 am to 3 pm
Live Music Savory Food Bites
Special Offer
Spend $150 and recieve a beach tote, towel and gifts from Bon Air merchants. While supply lasts.
There’s Hope
Three young people whose tales inspire BY
JIM WOOD
DOES THE DAILY NEWS have you down? The following accountings of three local young people might pick you up.
Vincent “Vinny” Fausone lives in Petaluma and last month graduated from Casa Grande High. At first glance, his record looks good, but nothing great. He maintained a B average; he was on the junior varsity football, swimming and cross-country teams; and his SAT scores were in the 85th percentile and above.
Yet, there’s more to Vinny. For four years in a row, he’s made varsity wrestling. Then, as a senior, he worked hard to qualify for the state championships and—despite a broken hand and torn shoulder—he made it. For fun, Vinny has run the grueling Dipsea—from Mill Valley 7.4 miles to Stinson Beach—every year since he was 10. And to help with family expenses, he works at a Petaluma restaurant. “Vinny is a very hard worker and an extremely personable young man,” says Jim Selvitella, the grill’s owner.
Last summer, Vinny went to the Dominican Republic to build homes and deliver food to impoverished neighborhoods. At 18, he has a passion for writing and recently he placed first in a Copperfield’s Books writing contest.
Vinny’s English teacher, Lynne Moquete, says this about him: “He has a tender soul and an outstanding work ethic. His life accomplishments will be amazing, as he was made for greatness.” This fall, Vinny enrolls at Long Beach State University—helped by scholarships from the Dipsea Race Foundation and the Olympic Club.
Four years ago, at age 14, Xochitl (pronounced “zoe-chee”) Fierros arrived from Mexico to attend Tamalpais High School. Her older sister, who lives in Strawberry, was her legal guardian and Xochitl was on a student visa. “Her English was extremely limited,” says counselor Priscilla Gordon. “Yet I could see she was motivated, very determined; she had a confident, but not cocky, smile.”
Within a year, says Gordon, Xochitl’s English improved dramatically as she entered into the school’s social fabric. “She surrounded herself with the right kids,” Gordon says, “and she really blossomed.” So confi dent is Xochitl—now fluent in English—that she held a leadership position in Link Crew, an activity that assists incoming students; she has also taken several college-level courses and earned an overall 3.45 GPA.
“Xochitl is a remarkable young woman,” says Traci Lanier of 10,000 Degrees (formerly the Marin Education Fund), a nonprofit that provides guidance and assistance to hundreds of similarly determined students from all walks of life. “First-generation college students, like her, pursue a dream and, in doing so, change the surrounding community for generations to come.” This fall, Xochitl Fierros will attend College of Marin, and then she will transfer to Dominican University of California, where a scholarship awaits her. After not seeing her daughter for four years,
Xochitl’s mother was in Marin and witnessed her graduate from Tam High.
“When his mother, Anne-Marie, and I divorced, it hit Chris really hard,” is how George Adams recalls the time five years ago when his oldest boy started getting in fights, avoiding schoolwork and swearing at his parents and teachers. Equally important, Chris played sports. “He was a stocky little guy,” says his dad, “good, but not the greatest.”
Chris was enrolled at Redwood High, where his problems continued. “He got Fs in English and math,” says his dad, “so we transferred him to Drake High where he had friends, hoping that would help.” It did not. Then in 2007, Chris asked his father, who’d long been involved in local athletics, if he could help him get into Marin Catholic High School. As a favor to his dad, Chris was accepted—provided he got As in summer school (he did). Also, his parents, though still divorced, had to pool resources to meet the hefty tuition fees (they did).
In his junior year, after a summer of grueling workouts with his dad—along with constant tutoring from San Geronimo’s Kathy Franks—Chris made All League as a linebacker and a place on Marin Catholic’s academic honor roll. As a senior, Chris, a 6-foot-one-inch, 215-pound running back, scored 30 touchdowns, led his team to the state championship, made All State and was ESPN’s Bay Area Athlete of the Year. He also became a lifetime member of Marin Catholic’s Honor Society. This fall, Chris will attend an East Coast prep school and he hopes to earn a scholarship to Stanford, Cal or a similar-caliber East Coast university.
These days, a little good news goes a long way. That’s my point of view. What’s yours?
E-mail jwood@marinmagazine.com.
Saturdays 9 am-1 pm, June-September, at the Gateway Shopping Center
Join us to celebrate the opening of Agricultural Institute’s first farmers market in Southern Marin! The market will run June through September for a four-month trial period. Our farmers, food purveyors, and artisans look forward to creating, with your support, a vibrant community hub for all of Southern Marin. Visit agriculturalinstitute.org to learn more about the beginnings of the Marin City Farmers Market. See you at the market!
Marin Civic Center (Sun & Thurs, 8-1, ALL YEAR)
Marin City (sat, 9-1, June-September)
Novato (Tues, 4-8, May-september)
Fairfax (Wed, 4-8, May-september)
stonestown — San Francisco (Sun, 9-1, ALL YEAR)
Newark (Sun, 9-1, ALL YEAR)
Grand Lake — OAKLAND (Sat, 9-2, ALL YEAR)
Hayward (Sat, 9-1, ALL YEAR)
Let the Good Times Roll!
FIREWORKS OVER LAKE TAHOE!
As the Fourth of July approaches (on a weekend, no less), hundreds, make that thousands, of us fun-seeking Bay Area folks will be descending upon Lake Tahoe. Activities like mountain biking (now open in parts of Squaw and introduced at the Ritz-Carlton Highlands), water sports (kayaks, rafting, SUPs and waterskiing), fishing, hiking and general recreating have made Independence Day in Lake Tahoe a family tradition for generations. For a listing of last-minute travel deals and fireworks check out gotahoenorth.com and tahoesouth.com
South Lake: If you can’t get a spot on a boat, sign up for the annual Edgewood Beach barbecue or bring your own picnic to Regan or Nevada Beach. Fireworks start at 9:45 p.m..
North Lake: Nine thirtyish is the approximate start time for both Incline Beach’s annual fireworks display (sponsored by Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe) and Tahoe City’s fireworks, which can be viewed from Commons Beach. Kings Beach will be celebrating a day early, with fireworks at 6:30 p.m. on the beach.
Heading south this summer? Consider the Joie de Vivre “California Road Trippin’” package. There are over 30 hotels to choose from; the nightly rate starts at $99 and goes up to $375, depending on the property. Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles, Hotel Erwin in Venice Beach, Hotel Maya in Long Beach, and Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach are also offering one-night packages that include two cocktails, free parking and a continental breakfast for two. New to the JDV family is oceanfront Pacific Edge Hotel on Laguna Beach (photo above, “Road Trippin’” rate $275). The packages are good through September 15. roadtrippingcalifornia.com
NEW HOTEL IN TOWN Hotel Healdsburg welcomes sister property h2hotel, a 36-room, LEED-registered boutique hotel. The property will also include the restaurant spoonbar, with executive chef Rudy Mihal as well as master mixer Scott Beattie (previously from Cyrus) as bar manager. Among the guest rooms are six junior suites and two rooms large enough to include entertaining. Summer rates vary from $195 to $495. h2hotel.com
Travel for Education
This month our Travel with Purpose feature highlights Barry Hoffner’s 50th birthday present to himself–a “bucket-list” trip to Timbuktu, Mali–which then turned into a continuing effort to help bring educational opportunities to the southern Sahara. Hoffner’s solo journey was arranged by the travel company Mali Experience. Upon returning to Marin he founded Caravan to Class, a nonprofit, whose first project, in the village of Tedeini, will renovate the interior of the existing school building, build three new classrooms, hire and pay for teachers, feed the students lunch and repair the water well. Through Caravan to Class, you can arrange to spend time in the village and help build schools in the Timbuktu area. For more on Hoffner’s experience as well as Mali Experience’s travel packages, go to marinmagazine.come/travel
WINE ROOTS
BELTANE RANCH’S YELLOW VICTORIAN, perched above Highway 12 between Glen Ellen and Kenwood, is not only a valley landmark but a former turn-ofthe-century working ranch and family home. Today it’s a popular B&B and home base for Beltane Ranch Vineyards estate-grown wine. While the ranch has been known for its grass-fed beef, olive oil and fruit, grapes have been grown here too for over a century. “Some of the soils of the ranch were planted as early as the 1870s by pioneer viticulturalist John H. Drummond, and then our family planted again in the 1970s,” says Lauren Benward, who launched this newest wine venture along with her brother Alex (both are grandchildren of longtime ranch proprietor Rosemary Wood). “After years of dreaming, in 2007 we decided to reserve seven tons of our sauvignon blanc fruit for our first 100 percent estate-grown private-label wine and it was harvested September 9, 2009.” Bottles can be purchased at beltaneranchwine.com
Class Action
GRAPE DOINGS : Events North & South
North : SONOMA, JULY 4, CHARITY CAR CLASSIC . This Independence Day
tor
Bruce Cohn, proprietor of the B. R. Cohn Winery of Sonoma Valley and classic car collector, is hosting the second annual B. R. Cohn Winery Charity Car Classic at the winery. While the exhibit is free, the event is a fundraiser for the Salvation Army. brcohn.com
South: HALF MOON BAY, JULY 17, PASSPORT DAY. This quarterly event features exclusive wine and barrel tastings at numerous wineries, some otherwise not open to the public. Participating restaurants offer perks such as waived corkage on Santa Cruz Mountains wines, 10 percent off dinner and more. scmwa.com
IN A ONE-DAY SEMINAR JULY 18 at Stonestreet Winery’s Summit School in Healdsburg, Gilian
Handelman, former director of marketing and education for Wine & Spirits magazine, will conduct a blind tasting and discussion of old and new world wines. You’ll learn about differences between the chardonnays and cabernets from the Burgundy and Bordeaux regions and those from locales like California, Australia, Washington and Chile. $25, stonestreetwines.com
SIGN UP FOR A DAY OF
COOKING, IMBIBING
AND
EATING
with executive chef Austin Gallion (photo, left) at Napa’s Vineyard 29. The day commences with handmade charcuterie and cheese paired with Vineyard 29’s 2007 Cru Cabernet Sauvignon. Gallion’s only rule is “a glass of wine in one hand and a knife in the other.” After some chopping, seasoning, sipping and swirling, he’ll lead guests on an in-depth behindthe-scenes tour of the estate. Returning to the kitchen, guests will finish preparing their meal, which they’ll enjoy in Vineyard 29’s Wine Library surrounded by the winery’s bottled heritage. $500 per person, vineyard29.com
Creative Licenses
CONGRATS!
Kentfield’s Ghazaleh Khalifeh will be spending the summer in New York working at Diane von Furstenberg. The Academy of Art Student was chosen for the internship after her collection (photo, right) was shown on the Academy of Art graduation fashion show runway. Novato’s Andrew Wedge, who has been named a Visionary Fashion Designer by the S.F. Fashion Awards, also showed his women’s wear collection on the runway.
The California Associations of Museums are hoping the required number of 7,500 people will come forward to express interest in a special state license plate featuring Snoopy. If the plates, graced with a reproduction of an original Snoopy drawing by Charles Schulz, are approved, the proceeds from sales will establish a grant program to support California museums. Show your interest in the plates by signing up at snoopyplate.com
Paper Source in Corte Madera
Quirky gifts, artisanal papers, invitations and creative classes are now available at the new Paper Source in Corte Madera. The Town Center location is the first in Marin for the company. 327 Corte Madera Town Center, paper-source.com
New Bike in Town
Marin’s Steven Ascher has created the Bikergo. He says it has an enclosed chain, a more comfortable seat and a higher, closer handlebar than traditional bikes. It’s available at 3 Ring Cycles in San Anselmo. bikergo.com
Ride for Care
Starting July 1, people from around the world, including Marin’s Eric Harr, will take part in the Care Challenge. The four-day fundraising bike ride will have participants cycling 240 miles from London to Paris and ending with a victory lap around the Arc de Triomphe. Care is a humanitarian organization that works to fight poverty. Riders will each raise a minimum of $2,500, which is enough to provide more than a dozen tricycle ambulances used to bring highrisk expectant mothers in the developing world to local hospitals. care.org
Now Showing
Marin’s Elisabeth Laurence and her daughter Erin, a former producer for Diane Sawyer, have paired to launch a new television show focusing on fashion, beauty, style and lifestyle. The feel-good aspect? They’ll donate 5 percent of net profits to charity. Episodes air at 8 p.m. on Sundays on KRON-4 television. Watch clips from the show at livesofstyle.com.
Robert H. Byers, MD
Lisa M. Elvin, NP
Jon R. Goff, MD
David H. Goltz, MD
John C. Keohane, MD
Michael J. Oechsel, MD
Ernest H. Sponzilli, MD
Michael S. Stock, MD
Charles A. Stuart, MD
Brian W. Su, MD
Cool Town: Summer Nights in SoMa
BY SOMER FLAHERTY
PHOTOS TIM PORTER
If the only things you remember about San Francisco’s SoMa district are its loft apartments and nightclubs, it’s time for a revisit. In recent years the area, which spans from the Embarcadero to 11th Street between Market and Townsend streets, has become a culinary hub, showered with approval from some of the top food critics around. Plus, the summer season is the perfect opportunity to catch a ball game and support fellow Marinite Tim Lincecum as he pitches for the Giants.
On Townsend, chef Jennifer Puccio brings the skills she wowed diners with at Cortez to the new Marlowe. The menu’s emphasis is clearly meat—the restaurant’s moniker is even a reference to owner Anna Weinberg’s greatgrandfather’s Boston butcher shop of the same name. Can’t-miss items are the grilled lamb with crispy parmesan and ricotta dumplings and the Marlowe burger, a caramelized onion, cheddar and bacon masterpiece S.F. Chronicle food critic Michael Bauer recently called one of the best in the Bay Area. However, the
menu’s vegetarian items are what can only be described as weird genius. Both the bourbon and smoked salt toasted pistachios (served in a mason jar, naturally) and the crispy Brussels sprout chips coated with Meyer lemon and sea salt are under $6 and among the most inventive pre-ballpark snacks around.
Still on Townsend toward Third Street, secure a spot on the sofa at District for a pregame glass and happy hour dollar-priced oysters. If bivalves don’t please your palate, opt for the wine bar’s cheese selection: three-, fiveand seven-cheese assortments from California stars like Cypress Grove Creamery, Red Wood Hill Farm and Fiscalini Farm.
On Fourth Street at the Fifth Floor, Gordon Ramsey–trained chef Jennie Lorenzo is breathing new life into the iconic restaurant. With a surgeon’s attention to detail and an artist’s eye, she crafts dishes that are some of the most beautiful in the city. Choices include à la carte options and a six-course tasting menu for around $70. Among single dishes, opt for the
above: Diners relax with a pre–Giants game meal at Marlowe. opposite: Marlowe’s grilled lamb with English peas and asparagus.
THE DETAILS
AT&T Park 24 Willie Mays Plaza
415.972.2000, sanfrancisco.giants. mlb.com
District Wine Bar 216 Townsend Street
415.896.2120, districtsf.com
Fifth Floor 12 Fourth Street 415.348.1555, fifthfloorrestaurant.com
Isda & Co. Outlet 21 South Park 415.512.0313, isda-and-co.com
Jeremy’s 2 South Park, 415.882.4929, jeremys.com
Marlowe 330 Townsend Street 415.974.5599, marlowesf.com
halibut presented with black trumpet mushrooms and baby leeks. Start with a Grapefruit Vesper cocktail from mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout and end the meal with the signature sundae made with chocolate pudding cake, popcorn ice cream and malted foam.
If you can spare time in between bites, some of the best designer discount shopping can be found in SoMa. On South Park stop in at Jeremy’s, which has been called a “mecca for fashion hounds” by Frommer’s and one of the “top ten coolest places to shop in America” by MSN. The place has deals on Prada, Zegna and Valentino, but the selection of shoes, including Christian Louboutin and Chanel finds, is where the discoveries are. Also on South Park, Isda & Co. has an outlet where shoppers can score simple dresses for about $10. Look out for the store’s occasional 25 percent off sales where even the sale items get the additional markdown. Beware: the outlet is closed on Sundays and shutters before 6 p.m. most days.
The SoMa district is larger than most in San Francisco, but with a full stomach, shopping bags in hand and a break for a Giants game, wandering the urban terrain could be just the staycation you were looking for.
PARKING Although SoMa is easier to park in than some other districts, take these tips anyway — you never know There are two parking lots on Brannan Street that offer a $10 rate for the evening, as well as Safeway’s Beacon garage on Townsend and Fourth, charging $3 for 20 minutes. If you’re willing to search, street parking on Brannan is free after 6 p.m. When heading to the ballpark you can find parking at UCSF’s Mission Bay garage on Owens and Third for $3 an hour or Impark at Pier 30/32 for $5 an hour. If you’re up for a good 15- to 20-minute walk you can find free parking at 16th and Third or on Townsend between Fifth and Seventh.
summer skin care
Backyard barbecues, lounging at Stinson Beach and hiking Mount Tamalpais— summer in Marin is all about outdoor living. But higher temperatures and extra time in the sun can leave your skin less than perfect, which is why we’ve assembled a tool kit to help even the most sensitive of complexions enjoy the outdoors all summer long. — SOMER FLAHERTY
1. Shield From the Sun According to the American Academy of Dermatology, only 30 percent of adults use sunscreen. Keep a travel-size bottle with you for easy on-the-go applications. We like local company Kinesys. One-ounce, SPF 30 alcohol-free sunscreen spray, $6.99. Kinesys (San Rafael), 877.546.3797, kinesys.com 2. Moisturize Cleanse, repair and moisturize with the Irido-Radiant Micellar Lotion by Apot.care, available at SpaceNK, $60. Space NK boutique in Bloomingdale’s (SF), 415.856.5300, spacenk. com 3. Repair Vitamin C supplement by local skin care line Marie Veronique Organics soothes and calms inflamed skin and repairs sun damage, $140. Marie Veronique Organics, 866.695.6983, mvorganics.com 4. Redness Relief Lessen redness with this anti-inflammatory Redness Rehab Rosacea Relief by Dermelect, $42, dermelect.com 5. Tone One hundred percent of the net proceeds from this limitededition series of the brand’s Acai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist benefits the Rainforest Alliance. It’s also the first skin care range to ever receive gold standard Cradle-to-Cradle Certification. $26 at Kiehl’s, 415.359.9260, kiehls.com 6. Get Bare Do-it-yourself waxing has never been easier with the new Bliss Poetic Waxing kit. The wax is prefilled in a microwaveable cup and the kit comes complete with pre- and post-waxing oil, tools to apply the wax and a handy set of directions. $45 at Bliss Spa (SF), 877.862.5477, blissworld.com
7. Clarify Corte Madera’s Stellar Spa skin care line’s Clarifying AHA Serum is a blend of natural botanicals that work to dissolve impurities and decongest pores to prevent acne, $36 at The Marin Store, 888.408.2105, themarinstore.com
Our covers.
Your walls
Now you can buy Marin Magazine covers for your home or office. Available in various sizes, framed or unframed, with or without the Marin Magazine logo, these professional quality prints are a beautiful addition to any wall. Visit marinmagazine.com/coverart today.
Danielle Hirsch.
OCCUPATION COLORIST, DESIGNER
When you meet Danielle Hirsch it’s not hard to imagine how she charmed the HGTV producers with her homemade audition tape. Her enthusiasm for color and design and all things pretty is contagious. In addition to demystifying the world of hues to home viewers via the shows Design Remix and Color Splash, she has also been a consultant for Marin homeowners and Bay Area hotels. This summer Hirsch is busy with her new business Danielle Hirsch Painting, as well as updating her daily blog and making sure daughters Madison and Kiele make it to the soccer field or RoCo dance studio on time. —M.T.
Why Marin? I am a Jersey girl. When my husband (then boyfriend) started his company On Board Entertainment (focusing on extreme sporting events), most of what he was shooting was happening on the West Coast. We packed up a 25-foot moving truck and drove crosscountry. We ended up in Sausalito and fell in love with Marin.
Still in Sausalito? Nope, now we are in Cascade Canyon in Mill Valley. Our house is literally built around the redwoods; it’s like living in a tree house. In fact, when three had to come down for safety reasons, we sent the large stumps up to Ukiah and had them milled into siding for our remodel. It was probably more expensive to use this wood, but it just seemed like it was the right thing to do.
How did you get the gig with HGTV? I answered an ad on craigslist. A local production company was looking for a painter who also knew carpentry. A friend of mine filmed a video. It was really, really cheesy, and we took some head shots and submitted them. As it turned out I was the only female they auditioned, I got the job and I became the painter on the show Design Remix.
PHOTO: TIM PORTER
What were you doing prior to being a designer? When I first moved here, I was an assistant sales rep for Rusty apparel, and I had a short stint (waiting tables) at Sushi Ran. Now every time I go into Sushi Ran I thank Yoshi for firing me because if he didn’t, my life wouldn’t have taken the turn it did.
Did you have a mentor?
Beatrice van der Voort, a faux finisher, took me under her wing and taught me so much about decorative finishes.
Do you have a favorite dining room color?
Orange and shades of peach are said to stimulate your appetite and aid in digestion. And red; it is the most emotionally intense color. It stimulates conversation and gives the impression of hospitality.
What colors will define 2010?
Going green has become the way of life rather than a trend. Repurposing items and living sensibly are reflected in earthy elements: rich soil, brilliant fruit and plants, and sumptuous minerals paired with unbiased neutral colors.
Colors for 2011?
The color trends gear toward appreciating the old and the new. For instance, rust represents a deep warmth and seeing beauty in the passage of time. Escapism can be reflected in bright red and deep blues, balanced by nature-inspired green. A sense of nature can be attained by looking into the depths and layers of the environment. Texture is important and plays a major role. Colors are soft and faded, windswept and washed, and monochromatically layered. And there’s technology: colors are neutral and grey.
Thank You, Marin!
For the Opportunity to Serve Our Community
Marin General Hospital has been a treasured community asset since it was founded in 1952. A new, communitybased volunteer board of trustees was put in place to oversee operations when the hospital affiliated with Sutter Health in 1996. For more than a decade, we have worked tirelessly and collaboratively with hospital management and a firstclass medical staff to improve the overall quality of the hospital and to increase the services we offer to our patients. Many of us are life-long Marin residents. We share the community’s passion and love for this hospital and are grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to its improvement. Among the accomplishments we are most proud of at MGH:
w In 2009, MGH was recognized as one of only 36 hospitals statewide to receive the prestigious Certificate of Excellence for quality from the California Hospital Assessment and Reporting Task Force.
w The Marin Cancer Institute has evolved to become one of the premier cancer diagnostic and treatment centers in the country. In 2009, it received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Cancer.
w The Haynes Cardiovascular Institute ranks among the top tier of cardiac programs nationwide for timely and successful cardiac outcomes. It routinely exceeds national standards for opening up the clogged arteries of heart attack victims.
w In 2009, our Emergency Department gave medical assistance to over 34,000 patients; 88.4% of the patients who responded to a survey gave us high scores for patient satisfaction.
w We established Marin County’s Trauma Center and became the first Level III Trauma Program in the state to be verified by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.
w We created a Family Birth Center that provides comprehensive maternity services to Marin families, delivering more than 2,000 babies each year. Our Lactation Center has received an award from the State of California for its breastfeeding services.
w And, finally, we are proud of the over 1,400 employees, 570 physician members of our Medical Staff and 360 volunteers who, day in and day out, provide expert and compassionate care to the community.
And Help Position MGH for a Bright Future
On June 29, 2010, Marin General Hospital will transition to the Marin Healthcare District and be overseen by new management and a new operating Board of Directors. We are proud to be returning the hospital in solid clinical and financial shape. We are optimistic that MGH’s future will be as bright as its past.
Shattering the Silence
AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS, A MARIN MUSICIAN RECLAIMS
HER LIFE BY DANIEL JEWETT
Kathyrn Keats with percussionist Joe Venegoni at 142 Throckmorton Theatre.
When Ellen Munger’s boyfriend and musical partner left the room for a break during a therapy session in 1983 the psychologist turned to the young girl and said, “He is going to kill you.”
But Munger didn’t listen. She remained convinced she could help Ken Ford (1982 photo at right), the musical genius 13 years her senior. “I had no idea what was going on with him,” she recalls. “He would plead with me to help him stop. He was having a nervous breakdown and the music in his head turned to voices.”
Eventually the breakdown turned into a full bipolar psychotic episode, and Munger found herself far away from the hopes and dreams she’d had for herself as an 18-year-old Indiana singer/songwriter new to New York. Although music was still part of their life together, gone were the off-Broadway shows and rock opera material the two had been writing. In their place were a growing isolation and a constant fear. “He had seven personalities, all of which wanted to dismember me,” she says.
thing. “It was 54 days of battery, torture and rape,” she says. “I was within seconds of being killed. I still can’t comprehend it.”
Munger’s sister soon realized the couple were not touring, but holed up in the apartment, and called the police. The responding officers found a cool and collected Ford, but were
A NEW IDENTITY
After the hold expired, Munger’s family paid to send Ford back to his hometown of Philadelphia, but he soon contacted Munger and told her he was coming to kill her. At that time, in 1983, domestic violence language was not written into the law, and it took an unprecedented court case before Ford could be committed for inpatient treatment by the California Department of Mental Health. But his commitment was only for six months.
In what would prove to be a fortuitous move, Munger and Ford came to Oakland and rented an apartment just a few blocks from Munger’s sister. Soon came an experience so horrible, she still doesn’t remember every-
startled to see mad writing and drawings of Jesus all over the walls. They soon restrained him, led him out of the house in a straitjacket and put him on a 72-hour psychiatric hold.
“I wasn’t even in my body then,” Munger says of the rescue.
Finally, Munger recognized that the only way to survive was to go underground. “By then, I was putty; I was gone,” she says. “I was just doing what people told me to do.”
She was persuaded to join a pilot program of the Alameda County district attorney’s victim/witness assistance program, in its first year of operation. Before Ford could gain release, Ellen Munger had become Kathryn (the name of her grandmother) Keats (the name of her favorite poet) and disappeared from the public eye, and from the stage.
Although she no longer performed in public, she worked behind the scenes in film and in 1989 met her husband, actor Richard Conti. They married and moved to Marin a few years later and had two children.
FINALLY, FREEDOM
Then in 2005, everything changed. Ken Ford was dead, and Kathryn Keats could begin to connect her past to her present and her future: “The minute I found out Ken was dead, I did music again.”
BEFORE FORD COULD GAIN RELEASE, ELLEN MUNGER HAD BECOME KATHRYN KEATS (THE NAMES OF HER GRANDMOTHER AND HER FAVORITE POET). SHE DISAPPEARED FROM THE PUBLIC EYE AND FROM THE STAGE.
But first, she had to tell her husband and her kids who she really was.
“I had an idea, but had never got the specifics,” Conti says. “I knew she had a traumatic past. But then she started singing and I had never seen her like that; it was amazing to watch.”
Keats released an album in 2007 called After the Silence. It was therapeutic to work on, but didn’t quite capture the sound she was after. This was when longtime friend and Marin percussionist Joe Venegoni stepped in.
“I said, ‘Come on, Kathryn, let me put a real band around you,’” recalls Venegoni, who also had been unaware of Keats’ past. “But when she did come out I was impressed with the material, the songs. The potential in them is incredible.” The band he assembled included himself and notable musicians Michael Manring on bass, Celso Alberti on drums, Jeff Oster on flugelhorn, Kelly Park on piano, Barbara Else on flute and Tom Lattanand on guitar. The band is booked to play Yoshi’s July 8, and an album featuring their mix of jazz, blues and pop is in the works.
“All these people have helped me catch up [as a vocalist],” Keats says. “You can’t know what it is like to have music back.”
Keats is also working with local producer Narada Michael Walden on a song to help launch a public awareness campaign about domestic violence and child neglect, and she’s talking with the YWCA about extending the campaign’s reach. “We need to commit to saying, ‘Let’s end this,’” she says. “We have to take the shame out of this [for the victim].”
Keats admits it’s a little strange to go from always being in hiding to the phone ringing off the hook, but she’s enjoying her new life and never turns down an opportunity to tell her story if she thinks it will help someone escape abuse. As Venegoni tells her, “You’ve lost all these creative years, but now let’s go. You can’t keep a good spirit down.”
Focusing
The UCSF Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology provides superlative care for the complex ear, nose, and throat disorders that affect children. Staffed by some of the best fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologists on the West Coast, and backed by one of America’s best hospitals, we strive to make your child's experience with us as positive, safe and comfortable as possible.
Kristina W. Rosbe, MD, FAAP, FACS, Associate Professor and Director, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Anna K. Meyer, MD, FAAP, Assistant Professor
Laura Kirk, PA-C, Physician Assistant, Twinkle Fernandez, LVN
BIG ISLAND TIME
For two Marin educators, “school’s out” means time to head to their other home in Hawai‘i BY M. L. LATHAN
This month, as educators around the county seek out much-needed R&R, Kate and Andy Mecca of Tiburon return to their home at the Hualalai Resort on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. Kate is founder and director of Mount Tamalpais School in Mill Valley; Andy is president of the California Mentor Foundation, chief inspiration officer of the nonprofit foundation Lifeplan Institute and author of the book Lifeplan: Tools Every Teenager Needs to Thrive, Not Merely Survive. But once school’s out, the Meccas try to be on one of the first flights out of SFO to Kona, with the goal of having their toes in the sand before lunch.
Why the Big Island?
ANDY: The Big Island is unique in that it is, first of all, so big, larger than all the other islands combined. It also encompasses almost every ecosystem on the planet. From volcano to desert to rain forest to ocean to pasturelands, it is all so varied and beautiful, each (area) in its own way.
Why Hualalai Resort?
KATE: We have been traveling to Hawai‘i together for more than 40 years, visiting every island. We did the Honolulu marathon 20-plus years in a row, and we spent many holidays in Hana, Maui. Hana is “Old Hawai‘i” in many ways, and we loved that connectedness to the people, the stories, the music, the traditions, the culture of the islands. But Hana can be a little wet, and there is no golf, so when Andy started to learn to play golf we gravitated toward an area that is consistently sunnier and drier, and where there is plenty of golf for Andy. We had visited the Big Island many times, and had stayed at most of the resorts. They were all great in different ways, but they never really felt like “home” the way Hualalai did from the very beginning.
Why buy?
KATE: Maybe because we had many friends with homes there, maybe because it was a particular season in our lives. We found just the perfect spot for us at just the right
time. We had no intention of buying a home and, in fact, found our home when we were looking for a place to rent for a month one summer. We took one look, went home, put our own (recently remodeled) home on the market, downsized in Tiburon to a home just down the street and bought our home at Hualalai. It has been a wonderful journey.
How do you spend time there?
KATE: We love to horseback-ride up in the Parker Ranch area and enjoy the zipline through the rain forest, (as well as) hiking in Waipio Valley and riding our beach cruisers around the resort. We find the Keck Observatory [near the summit of Mauna Kea] fascinating and thoroughly enjoy attending lectures and slide shows with the brilliant scientists who work there, hearing about their discoveries, trying to imagine what else they will find. I am enamored of Hawaiian mythology and I am trying to learn the lyrically beautiful Hawaiian language. Andy is learning ukulele from Uncle Earl at the cultural center and I am beginning to explore ancient hula. We also love our little Hualalai Trading Company and Hualalai Coffee Company where we go for morning coffee and to pick up our newspapers. But I guess what we love most of all is the time we have together just sitting on our lanai with a book, listening to the birds, looking at the ocean and watching the sunset. And the chance to slow down for a bit and actually finish a sentence.
What do you bring home to Tiburon?
ANDY: One of our favorite activities (on the island) is the sunrise outrigger paddle. It is the most amazing experience just to paddle straight out into the ocean for a few miles and be surrounded by dolphins and turtles and mantas and all sorts of marine life, including whales in the winter. It’s magical. At the end of each paddle, the members of our canoe club gather together and share a mele, a blessing, that is a one-word reminder: Imua, imua, imua, which means to go forth and do your best. We try to remember to hold that thought for as long as possible.
OPPOSITE : The Meccas photographed in their Tiburon home.
ABOVE : The Meccas’ Hawaii home with views of the golf course at Hualalai.
BRIGITTE MORAN
Marin’s farmers’ market maven
BY JIM WOOD
Part of what makes Marin great is its many farmers’ markets … and Brigitte Moran’s job is to make those farmers’ markets first rate. “Right now, about 5 percent of Marin residents shop at a farmers’ market,” says the San Rafael–Dominican resident. “Our goal is to get 10 percent of Marin shopping at farmers’ markets.” Moran is the executive director of Agricultural Institute of Marin, formerly Marin Farmers’ Markets, the nonprofit that sets up markets at the Marin County Civic Center (Thursdays and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., year-round), on Novato’s Grant Avenue (Tuesdays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., May to September) and in Fairfax’s Bolinas Park (Wednesdays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., May to September).
“And on June 5, after five years of planning, we opened our fifth farmers’ market in Marin County; it’s the first market we’ve opened in over 15 years,” Moran says.
“It’s in Marin City at the Gateway Shopping Center and open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., June through September.” Why shop at a farmers’ market? Moran clicks off the reasons: “Food is fresher and tastier, no more than 24 hours from being picked to being sold.” Also, according to state requirements, the person selling the product is the person (or closely aligned with the person) who raised, caught or grew what you are
market at the Civic Center, now in its 27th year, nearly 200 purveyors—farmers to bakers to candlestick makers—show up; it’s the state’s third largest market and draws as many as 12,000 shoppers every Sunday morning.
What controls are placed on farmers and/or purveyors wishing to sell their product(s) at one of your markets? The person doing the selling must either be the farmer, a member of his or her family, or someone regularly employed by the farmer. This idea of “direct from the producer” also applies to prepared food and art. In addition, we’re working closely with our local ranchers and fishermen to develop clear guidelines for meat and fish. We want unparalleled transparency regarding the food being sold at our farmers’ markets.
“We do everything possible to ensure that the fruits and vegetables were harvested within 24 hours of coming to our markets — sometimes that means sending a person to a particular farm to get proof that’s where the product originated.”
buying, or an employee of that farmer. “So you know, on a first name basis if you wish, exactly who grew your lettuce or strawberries or veal or oysters and where they are coming from,” she says. “And if you appreciate local family farms, the best way to support them is to shop at a farmers’ market—it eliminates the middleman.”
Moran, who immigrated from France’s Brittany and Pyrenees regions to Marin as a youngster, directs a staff of 14 full-time and six part-time team members at the Agricultural Institute of Marin, a 501(c)3 organization. “We also operate markets in Hayward, Fremont, Newark and San Francisco’s Stonestown Galleria,” she says. Other Marin markets, which Moran is not associated with, are at Tam Valley on Tuesday evenings; Corte Madera’s Town Center on Wednesday afternoons; Ross Valley and downtown San Rafael on Thursday evenings; Mill Valley at midday on Fridays and in Point Reyes Station on Saturday mornings.
Do Marin farmers’ markets, the ones you organize, sell mostly fresh produce and products that have been raised, caught, and/or produced in Marin? Namely West Marin? Unfortunately, not—Marin is mostly a dairy county. Of the 169,000 acres in agriculture production in Marin, only 1,500 are in row crops—all of them organic. And that’s where we get our fresh leafy vegetables, strawberries, carrots and potatoes—in addition to our great West Marin cheeses and sweet butter. Also, at most of our markets, you’ll find McEvoy’s olive oil, Allstar Organics’ spices, and meats from Marin Sun Farms. Other farmers drive in from 26 different counties—Mendocino to Santa Barbara. Many come from Sonoma County and several from California’s Central Valley. At our
Who are the sellers shoppers can expect to see at a Marin farmers’ market?
Let’s see, in addition to the ones already named, there’s Bellwether Farms; Amber Oaks Raspberries; Fabriques Delices, (pâtés and sausages) Kashiwase Farms; Hales Apple Farm; Marshall’s Honey; and Full Belly Farm. That’s just a few. Don’t forget, these people have to work on their farms as well as sell what they produce; so the same ones aren’t at every market.
Do they make money? Some make several hundred, some make well over a thousand dollars at a single market. It is a huge benefit to these small family farms to take home the full retail dollar. Ours isn’t a percentage operation; they each pay us $40 for their space and we provide the organizational and administrative support, insurance and facilities, as well as signage, advertising and the music that always makes for a family-friendly environment. In addition, we offer educational outreach at schools and hospitals regarding the value of eating healthy local foods purchased direct from the producer. Don’t forget, these small farmers, food purveyors and artisans work hard; we want to do what we can to support them. Our goal is their success.
Who are the customers of Marin farmers’ markets? Many local chefs are the first to arrive. Comforts in San Anselmo, Fish in Sausalito, Marché aux Fleurs in Ross and Whipper Snapper in San Rafael are a few of our Marin regulars. You could say our farmers’ markets are where “eaters” from all walks of life come together, chefs meet farmers, farmers meet consumers and, assuming they meet our requirements, entrepreneurs can grow their businesses. Sol Food, the favorite of everyone in San Rafael, got their start at our farmers’ market; so did Flourchylde Bakery in Novato, as wells as Souley Vegan and Phat Matt’s BBQ in Oakland. Mostly, our customers are families, seniors and singles—by that I mean … everyone who eats!
Each market is pretty much a reflection of the community where it’s located. Our farmers’ markets are buzzing with activity; they’re fun to experience firsthand. People can always go to marinfarmersmarket.org to get an idea of what we do.
The Wildfire Next Time
Firefighters are ready for the big blaze that’s sure to come. Are you?
BY JACOBA CHARLES
PHOTOS TIM PORTER
The thin plume of smoke quickly grew into a wall of fire fanned by hot summer winds blowing in from the Central Valley. Flames devoured the tinder-dry feast of grass and shrubs covering Mount Tamalpais and raced into Mill Valley. Bells and sirens sounded. Fire leapt from house to house, tree to tree. The wind carried embers up hillsides and across valleys. The sky blackened as the air filled with a sound that was half crackle and half roar. For more than a day, fire crews from over half a dozen cities battled the blaze.
Firefighter-paramedic
OPPOSITE
“The whole ridge was nothing but a red mass of fire. You’d be downtown and hear someone say, ‘There goes my house,’ and he’d just stand there like a statue, staring. When you see 50, 75 or more houses going up at once, it is quite a spectacle,” one eyewitness said.
This disaster happened in 1929, and nearly 120 homes in Mill Valley were lost. Today, the same fire would consume at least seven times that number. But in the more than 80 years since the Mount Tam fire, Marin has been lucky—the only other catastrophic wildfire we’ve had was the 1995 Vision
Chris Lawrence, left, Mill Valley Battalion Chief Scott Barnes and firefighter Pat Costello on the Blithedale Summit fire road.
: The gated entrance to the fire road from Mill Valley.
Fire, which destroyed nearly 50 homes in Inverness Park.
Yet the danger persists.
“The most significant life safety threat in Marin is wildland fire,” says Chris Godley, manager of the county Emergency Services Office. “In the worst-case scenario, we could see a repeat of the Oakland Hills fire.” That fire started on a hot July morning in 1991 and killed 25 people, injured 150 and destroyed almost 4,000 homes.
Marin is even more vulnerable than Oakland in many ways, Godley says. The iconic open space here commingles with nearly every town in the county. Most communities are dominated by nature; overgrown one-lane roads twist and turn up hills. In a fire, overhanging trees and bushes could create tunnels of flame. The narrow roads would quickly clog with traffic in a chaotic collision of residents fleeing the flames and firefighters trying to get to them.
sion. “This is nature’s process for removing the dead of the forest family and bettering the conditions of the living.”
Worse, Marin’s complicated topography gives fire plenty of places to spread; the many hills and ravines offer fresh fodder for the flames with every shift in the wind. “When there are certain conditions, and a hot dry wind that comes out of the valley, it’s nearly impossible to stop a fire until the weather changes,” says Kent Julin, forester with the Marin County Fire Department.
A Land Made for Fire
Homes surrounded by natural beauty come with a price: California’s landscape was designed to burn. Small fires once smoldered across Mount Tamalpais once or twice a decade, and native plants adapted to that cycle of burn and rebirth. Some, like shrubby chamise, are full of volatile oils and small, dry branches that speed flames along— perhaps so the burn will pass through faster. Bishop pine and some manzanita need fire for their seeds to open. And significantly, small fires have cleaned out the underbrush that can fuel a larger fire if allowed to accumulate.
“Fires to the forests are as necessary as crematories and cemeteries to our cities and towns,” forester G. L. Hoxie wrote in an article in Sunset magazine in 1910 protesting the government’s then-young policy of fire suppres-
As self-evident as the wisdom of those words might seem, fire suppression as public policy has long been commonplace. Fires of any size are routinely stifled on public lands, an approach that fire experts now say has greatly increased the odds of a catastrophic blaze. Fallen limbs and dry underbrush have accumulated for more than a century. In some places, such as Yosemite National Park, the policy of suppression has cautiously been reversed and certain wildfires are now allowed to burn—a move scientists say will improve forest health and reduce the chance of future conflagrations. But in developed places like Marin, that is not an option. “There’s too much at stake,” says Julin. “People’s lives and livelihoods are at risk so we’re going to fight every fire very aggressively.”
Instead, city, county and other agencies that manage Marin’s large swaths of public land work to lower the risk in other ways. In many places they clear out the underbrush in much the same way that a burn would. Mowers and chain saws nibble away at overgrown thickets and dead limbs on branches. When weather conditions are right, intentional fires are lit to clear out invasive plants, dead brush and other fuel. A network of fire roads provides access to firefighting equipment, and trees and shrubs
Homes surrounded by natural beauty come with a price: California’s landscape was designed to burn. Small fires once smoldered across Mount Tamalp ais once or twice a decade, and native plants adapted to that cycle of burn and rebirth.
The many narrow roads in Marin County are a big concern of firefighters. Here, a sign restricts parking along West Blithedale Road in Mill Valley.
OPPOSITE : Homes climb a steep, forested hill in Kent Woodlands.
have been cleared from strips of land to form “fuel breaks” designed to slow or stop a blaze.
Yet the threat continues to grow, and the efforts of public land managers are hampered by the limits of time, money and public opinion. Prescribed burns are an effective tool, but they are expensive and unpopular because they fill residential neighborhoods with smoke. A rising tide of invasive plants makes the looming fire danger even larger. Broom, eucalyptus and other flammable species from different parts of the globe now cover thousands of acres in Marin. Vast numbers of trees have been killed off by the exotic fungus causing sudden oak death syndrome. Today, there is more than twice as much fuel on Mount Tamalpais as there was in 1929—about 25 tons of burnable vegetation per acre, according to a 2003 Marin grand jury report. Fire hazard on the mountain and in many other parts of Marin is ranked among the highest in the state, Godley says.
Fighting Fire at Your Doorstep
The threat continues to grow, and the efforts of public land managers are hampered by the limits of time, money and public opinion.
Still, most homeowners in Marin don’t protect their homes adequately, Julin says. Fire departments do inspections and write notices to homeowners, but many rules and recommendations aren’t followed. “I want the glass to be half full, and it’s not,” he says. “We’re not anywhere near complete compliance. I think people have a false sense of security (assuming) that the fire department will come in and protect their home when these big fires sweep in.”
When the big fire does come, what is done closer to home will make all the difference, Julin says. “What’s most important is what is happening right around your house, in the first 10 feet or so,” he says. “Embers can travel a quarter mile from the flaming front of a fire and land on your doorstep—and literally at your doorstep you might have a straw mat.”
Roof gutters clogged with dried leaves are the nemesis of firefighters. So are firewood stacked against the wall and bushy plants growing close to the house. Fire experts see all this as just so much kindling. And if one house burns, then maybe the whole neighborhood is lost.
“The embers tend to coalesce, and the wind jams them under roof crevasses and into inside corners in your house,” says Carol Rice, a wildfire expert and consultant with Wildland Resource Management. “Imagine a blowtorch of wind blowing all those little embers until they get to a place where they can’t move any more.”
State and local laws, as well as insurance companies, have standards requiring fire-resistant building materials and other protections for new homes near wildland areas. Also, homeowners in these areas are instructed to create a “defensible space” by trimming trees, clearing brush and cutting weeds within 100 feet of the house.
Experts agree that all this can make a real difference. One survey conducted after the 1990 Paint Fire in Santa Barbara found that 86 percent of homes equipped with both a non-flammable roof and 30 or more feet of defensible space survived. By stark contrast, only 4 percent of homes that had wood shake roofs and no defensible space survived.
While sometimes that can happen, Julin says, homeowners bear the primary responsibility for saving their houses. Firefighters won’t try to save a house that is a long shot or a danger to the crew. And when a burning neighborhood is full of hundreds of homes, there is simply no way for an engine to come and park at each one.
When the Worst Does Happen
When the big fire happens, a vast machine of crisis control will be ready to go into action. This system is designed to get people out, get firefighters in and save as many houses as possible. On a sunny April morning in Mill Valley, the fire department ran a drill in the Warner Canyon neighborhood to test the system. Long, piercing ululations from sirens sounded evacuation warnings. Home phones rang through a reverse 911 database, delivering an automated message. Sheriff deputies and police trolled the streets, knocking on doors and issuing warnings over loudspeakers. A helicopter whirled overhead, its amplified announcements unintelligible amid the noise of the rotors.
Fire engines from nine agencies rolled into town. As residents filtered toward the emergency center at Park Elementary School, firefighters laid out and connected hoses, filled portable staging tanks with water, and navigated neighborhoods where many had never been before. The drill was practice for an expandable chain of command that most of the firefighters have participated in when they have shipped out to help efforts against large wildfires in other parts of the state and country.
Mill Valley Fire Captain Brent Chadwick, left, and firefighter Sal Martinovich clear grass along the Blithdedale Summit fire road.
“A real fire is windy, loud, dark, hectic; it’s controlled chaos,” says Mill Valley Battalion Chief Scott Barnes. “We’re driving into an environment that is erratic, but we have a system in place so we can continue with our job under really lousy conditions.”
As a blaze approaches, the firefighters do what they can to protect individual houses, Barnes says. They cut trees away from walls, move potted plants, and may let themselves in to close windows and blinds. Once when Barnes did this he found a cage with two rabbits in it, which he put in his truck and took to an animal shelter. Sometimes, the fight eventually comes down to an engine taking a stand at a particular house that the crew thinks they can save. But when the fire comes up fast, they sometimes have to cut their hoses and run, Julin says.
“In the Vision Fire, the firemen couldn’t see where the road was because there was so much fire and smoke,” he says. “They basically just shot for the area that wasn’t burning, and that was the road.”
A Voice of Experience Says, Be Ready
Despite the firefighters’ efforts, it’s important for people to be alert, be prepared and assume the worst can happen to them. Fires can move incredibly fast; the Oakland Hills fire burned nearly 800 buildings in the first hour, and at its apex it devoured a house every 11 seconds. “You have to think about what you’re going to do before-
hand,” says Robert Harpster, a geologist who barely escaped when his home burned in the Oakland fire. “Some people can think when a crisis is happening, and other people have to go with what they have preplanned. It would help to think of the things you cannot live without— medical supplies, insurance documents, wills, and so forth.”
Harpster earned the right to give this advice the hard way. Like many others, he had no plan for evacuating his home before the fire. He watched a plume of smoke on the nearby hillside turn into a pillar of flame when out for a morning walk around his neighborhood.
“By the time I got home and we got in the car, we were completely surrounded by flames,” Harpster says. “We followed the road out. It was a like dark tunnel I had to drive down, and the flames would just burst up, 50 or 60 feet high. I think it was when they hit gas heaters or something that they would just send these bright orange flames straight up into the air.”
Harpster escaped, along with his wife and his dog. In their panic, he grabbed some of her jewelry and she grabbed a box of bills. Everything else—photographs, art, a lifetime of documents and possessions—was lost. A witness later told them that their house was destroyed just minutes after their car pulled out of the driveway.
“Of course most people like pictures and art items,” Harpster says. “Those are good, but they’re not your life.”
Quintessential
10 OF THE AREA’S CULINARY CLASSICS AND
BY MARCIA GAGLIARDI PHOTOS BARBARA RIES
After speaking with numerous long-term (and food-loving)
Marin County residents, we compiled a list of 10 of the area’s classic trademark dishes—the favorites that any county dweller has tasted at least once and likely much more often. (So if you haven’t tried them all, you better get to it, before we revoke your “I’m a proud local!” card.) And to keep things current, we’ve also highlighted 10 dishes that are a bit newer to the culinary scene, but well poised to become classics soon enough—just give them a couple more years.
THE ORIGINAL CLASSIC TEN
Oysters Bingo at the Buckeye Roadhouse
1
This decadent appetizer has been on the menu since the Buckeye opened in 1991, and you’ll probably see “Bingos” on almost every table. Six plump oysters rest on half-shell nests of spinach spiked with brandy and garlic, topped with a golden soufflé-like mix of aioli and asiago. The final flourish: dipping your bread in the remaining juice in the shell. Bingo! (The meaty baby back ribs are no slouch either.)
15 Shoreline Hwy., Mill Valley, 415.331.2600, buckeyeroadhouse.com
The tableside Caesar at Marin Joe’s
2
A true classic (since 1954). Take a seat in one of the old-school booths and wait your turn for a jacketed waiter to wheel the salad cart on over. In a world where tableside service is on the wane, the experience completely delights. And if you have a problem with raw egg or anchovies, hey, don’t order a Caesar. The servers here make a countless number of them each day (our server, Pete, confessed that in six years, he only had one day when he didn’t make a Caesar). And if you’re nice, you just may get a little chocolate with your handwritten check.
1585 Casa Buena Dr., Corte Madera, 415.924.2081, marinjoesrestaurant.com
OYSTERS BINGO
Tastes of Marin
SAIGON SALMON SANDWICH
The Saigon salmon sandwich at Fish
3
When a sandwich is $21, and you have to pay cash (only) for it, it better deliver. And this one really does. East meets west in a spin on the Vietnamese bánh mì: marinated and grilled wild salmon is served in an Acme torpedo roll stuffed with carrot, jalapeño, cilantro and housemade Vietnamese ginger-scallion sauce. Sure, the fries on the side sound good, but pssst, here’s a tip: it’s all about the chililime purple coleslaw.
This is one of those salads you could eat weekly and never get tired of. The tangy lemony dressing, the classic trinity of cucumber-tomato-red-onion, the salty feta and kalamata olives, bright cilantro and mint, a whisper of cumin and garlic, and crunch of toasted pita chips and romaine lettuce conspire to crown chef Heidi Krahling the queen of Mediterranean salad-making.
120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, 415.457.7700, insalatas.com
Polpettone meat loaf at Poggio
5
The name means “big meatball,” and the tender, almost-fluffy texture is certainly not like the meat loaf you grew up with. It’s baked and then braised to order, so you get two big juicy slices on top of a smooth potato puree, with arugula on the side. Chef Peter McNee slathers the slices with a bright tomato sauce and, of course, plenty of grated cheese. You (might) even
have enough left over for a sandwich the next day. Maybe.
Indian burrito: yes, it sounds like a funky fusion creation to be skeptical about, but if something like that has been
FATTOUSH SALAD
INDIAN BURRITO
POLPETTONE MEATLOAF
STRAUS SOFT SERVE WITH DAVERO OLIVE OIL AND SEA SALT
around for 13 years, it has to be good. Get the curried lamb and pumpkin curry burrito, which comes loaded with garbanzo beans, potatoes, saffron rice, herb salsa, chutney, pickled carrot, nonfat yogurt and tamarind sauce, all wrapped up in chapati. (Cut it in half first or you’ll have a mess.) And a mango lassi hits the spot.
15 Madrona St., Mill Valley, 415.381.8293, enjoyavatars.com
Straus soft serve with DaVero olive oil and sea salt at Pizzeria Picco
7
Salt and olive oil on ice cream may not be as shocking of an ice cream topping as they used to be, but when chef Bruce Hill first put this dessert on the menu in 2005, it definitely took some coaxing for people to try it. Creamy and rich Straus Family Creamery soft-serve ice cream (a custom house mix) is drizzled with feisty DaVero extra-virgin olive oil, plus the crucial sprinkling of sea salt. Yup, it’s love.
This cult-like salad features sliced and barbecued chicken, toasted almonds, sesame seeds, deep-fried rice noodles, and a mix of iceberg and romaine lettuces, with a notable sesame–rice vinegar dressing (they even sell bottles of it). Tip: you can get a light version of the salad, or swap out the chicken for tofu or sun-dried tomatoes. There’s also a refrigerator packed with the salad in Chinese take-out containers (available in two sizes); it’s that in demand.
335 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo, 415.454.9840, comfortscafe.com
Pollo al horno at Sol Food
9
This Puerto Rican favorite has two locations (the “big place” and the “small
place”), feeding legions of fans willing to line up for one of the finest chicken dishes in the county. The boneless/skinless/freerange thighs (one for $8.50, two for $10.25 or three for $12.50) are baked in marinade full of oregano and garlic, and the side of beans (pink or black), rice, lemony salad, and plantains (sweet maduros or savory tostones) add up to quite the affordable feast.
732 4th St., 415.451.4765, 901 Lincoln Ave., 415.256.8900, San Rafael, solfoodrestaurant.com
Ice cream at Fairfax Scoop
10
It’s not just children clamoring for a scoop from this popular ice creamery—and while the little ones may opt for simple strawberry, adults can go a bit more gourmet with the famed honeyvanilla-lavender. It’s oh-so-creamy, and everything is made on site, with fresh and organic produce. (Go ahead, get two scoops.) And no prefab cones here: you get a freshly made waffle cone.
63 Broadway Blvd., Fairfax, 415.453.3130
CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD
FAIRFAX ICE CREAM CONE
POLLO AL HORNO
PLATO VEGETARIANO
SPICY TUNA MAKI ROLL
HEIRLOOM POTATO, CARAMELIZED ONION & WHITE TRUFFLE OIL PIZZA
TEN NEW CLASSICS
Poached
eggs at Cibo
1
What a welcome newcomer to the breakfast scene. Prick the perfectly poached eggs from Clark Summit Farm so the bright yolk can soak into the herbed goat cheese and polenta cake underneath. It’s a satisfying and savory start to the day, with a seasonally inspired salad on the side (in the springtime, the salad came loaded with asparagus, favas and crisp bits of pancetta).
Heirloom potato, caramelized onion & white truffle oil pizza at Pizza Antica
2
While the kids have their pepperoni, adults are gravitating to this white pizza topped with thinly sliced potato, a flavorful combination of cheeses, caramelized onions and white truffle oil. Now, I personally have an anti–truffle oil policy
(it’s synthetic), but even I can appreciate the flavor of this pizza. (Nice array of beers, too.)
800 Redwood Hwy., Suite 705, Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, 415.383.0600, pizzaantica.com
Warm brussels sprouts at Bungalow 44
3
There are good-for-you salads, and then there’s this kind: brussels sprout leaves are the base of a warm salad loaded with wedges of creamy soft-boiled egg, little pieces of bacon and sweet caramelized onion. Yeah, you can see why it’s winning a popularity contest at the restaurant.
44 East Blithedale Ave., Mill Valley, 415.381.2500, bungalow44.com
The “new” spicy tuna maki roll at Sushi Ran
4
Some locals may request the original (and off-the-menu) spicy tuna maki
roll, sauced up with miso aioli, avocado and sriracha, but the new version is where it’s at, with a fresh hit of shiso and sprinkled with seven types of Japanese spice (shichimi) and sesame seeds.
Vegetarians often get short shrift on dinner menus, but this five-item platter is one that even carne asada lovers could pass up the meat for. It includes a chile relleno stuffed with grilled corn and queso Oaxaca, a savory quinoa pilaf, chard with rich raja crema, sautéed trumpet mushrooms, and chipotle-glazed butternut squash. (The chips and salsas are also primo.)
218 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, 415.454.8900, marinitas.net
WARM BRUSSELS SPROUTS POACHED EGGS
The oyster pizza at Osteria Stellina
6
There are all kinds of pizzas out there, but this one’s definitely as unique as it is local: chef Christian Caiazzo puts briny Drakes Bay Oyster Farm oysters on this blistered pie, comingling them with a base of rich and vegetal-green leeks braised in Straus dairy cream, finished with lemon thyme, parsley and a few chili flakes. 11285 Hwy. 1, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.9988, osteriastellina.com
The Thursday night rabbit dish at Piazza D’Angelo
7
This just might be the dish to get people eating more rabbit. A juicy and hearty portion of local Devil’s Gulch Ranch rabbit is braised and served with buttery celery and carrot, on a bed of wild rice. It’s homey, rustic and simply delicious, like your mamma would make, if she were Italian. (Chef Massimo Covello’s homemade cavatelli are also hard to pass up.)
22 Miller Ave., Mill Valley, 415.388.2000, piazzadangelo.com
The Ida del Diablo at the Tavern at Lark Creek
8
Since the Lark Creek Inn was recently renovated, it only made sense for the bar menu to get updated as well. The can’t-miss cocktail is this spiffed-up margarita, with reposado tequila and tamarind syrup (you can really taste some cinnamon, too), with lemon and lime both in the glass and as sliced wheels on the spiced sugar rim. It goes down far too easily: cuidado. 234 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur, 415.924.7766 tavernatlarkcreek.com
Crème fraîche gelato at Gelateria Cici
9
Looking for a palate refresher? This little shop’s artisanal and organic gelato is made from scratch and with local ingredients. While it isn’t as thick and rich
as you’d find in Italy, the nimble freshness of the tangy flavor will surely make you say, “Delicioso!”
17 East Blithedale Ave., Mill Valley, 415.388.2423, gelateriacici.com
Butterscotch soufflé at Murray Circle
10
This stellar dessert from chef Joseph Humphrey is worth every darned calorie. I mean, really, why have butterscotch pudding when you can have a butterscotch soufflé? Actually, it’s a bit like a love child between the two since it has a creamy pudding-like interior and a soufflélike airiness on top. Brilliant. Your spoon will take on a life of its own—watch.
Some of your favorites, new and old, may well be missing from this list, so please feel free to drop us a line at editorial@marinmagazine.com.
OYSTER PIZZA TH URSDAY NIGHT RABBIT
CRÈME FRAÎCHE GELATO
IDA DEL DIABLO BUTTERSCOTCH SOUFFLÉ
F A R A N D FAR
How a Marin-born wildlife photographer gets her best shots
AND WILD
STORY JIM WOOD PHOTOS SUZI ESZTERHAS
Can you recall your career’s happiest moment? Its saddest time? Can’t do it? Tiburon’s Suzi Eszterhas can. And both instances involve animals she was photographing in the wilds of Africa.
“One day while I was working in the Masai Mara, the park rangers brought me a serval kitten. He couldn’t have been more than two weeks old,” Eszterhas says, “and he was an orphan.” She named the cat Moto, and for the next six months she fed and cared for the long-legged spotted animal before returning it to the open grasslands. “Several weeks later, when I was shooting in the same area, I spotted this wild young cat.” The cat walked toward her jeep and the two stared at each other for nearly a minute. “I just knew it was Moto,” she says. “I was so happy; I felt like a very proud mom.”
The saddest moment in the prizewinning wildlife photographer’s career also took place in Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve and involved five cheetah cubs. “I worked closely with several cheetah families for over two years and fell in love with all of them,” Eszterhas says. She grew especially attached to a litter of five cubs she spent several hours a day with for nearly three weeks. “This was so we could get to know each other. I would photograph them later.” On each visit, she would roll down the windows of her small Suzuki and stand up through the roof hatch. “The cheetahs were several feet away,” she says. “They’re not in-
credibly difficult to work with; they’re very trusting and definitely they accepted me being there.”
The cheetah is an endangered species, “and cubs are especially threatened,” says Eszterhas, “with a 95 percent chance of not living beyond three months.” After shooting a series of photos, she was devastated to find that three of the cubs had been killed by birds of prey and jackals possibly had carried two off. “Having that beautiful litter disappear before my eyes really affected me,” she says. “And for two days afterward, I heard the mother cheetah crying out for her babies. That was probably the saddest thing in nature I’ve ever experienced.”
Eszterhas, 33, says she knew from age 8 that her life’s work would involve wildlife. “Back then, we lived in San Rafael in an area with forested hills and I was a strange kid. I’d be in my own world feeding skunks and raccoons, then reading about Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall.”
After attending Redwood High, she graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 1999 and set out to become a wildlife photographer. “For years, I had a day job at an animal shelter in Santa Cruz,” Eszterhas says. “Then I quit, drained my savings account, flew to Kenya, gained reasonable fluency in Swahili, lived mostly in a tent and wound up staying four years.”
These days Eszterhas travels about seven months of every year but still considers Marin County home. Her photographs regularly appear in such publications as Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, Scientific American, Ranger Rick and National Geographic Kids . She was named 2008 Wildlife Photographer of the Year by Ranger Rick and has been honored in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition sponsored by BBC Wildlife and London’s Natural History Museum.
Cheetahs
Eszterhas had a subsequent encounter with cheetahs that had a more positive outcome. This time it was a mother and her three cubs, which Eszterhas estimated to be 21 months old. “Cheetahs lead a mostly solitary life,” she says. “The male and female are together only for mating. After the cubs are born, the mother stays with them for nearly two years.” During that time the mother teaches her offspring survival techniques. “For example, a mother will capture a baby gazelle, injure but not kill it, then bring it back to her cubs, so they can kill it and learn to survive.”
In the photo below, the mother cheetah is third from left, looking away from the camera. “I know at first glance it’s hard to tell mother from her cubs,” Eszterhas says, “but just look at the scruff on the backs of their necks. This mom is middleaged, probably seven years old.” Cheetahs may appear menacing, she adds, but they would run from an intruder rather than attack. The world’s fastest land mammals, cheetahs have been clocked at 65 miles an hour. “A predator on the run is incredibly difficult to photograph,” Eszterhas says. “It took me almost two weeks before I could successfully capture on film a cheetah running down a gazelle.”
Workshops
in the Wild Eszterhas plans to lead these instructional photography trips in the months ahead:
India tigers: November 2010 (one space available)
Botswana predators: July 2011
Mountain gorillas: August 2011
Madagascar lemurs: October 2011
For dates, itineraries and pricing, go to suzieszterhas.com
Gorillas
In Rwanda and Uganda, Eszterhas has photographed mountain gorillas, which are the rarest of gorilla subspecies. Found at elevations of 7,000 to 13,000 feet, they live in groups of as many as 40, with a male silverback (named for a distinctive patch of silver hair on its back) acting as group leader. “A silverback can weigh 500 pounds upon reaching maturity at the age of 12 years,” Eszterhas says.
Shooting gorillas is an intimate wildlife experience, she adds. “After you hike in and finally locate a group, gorillas seem to act as if you’re not even there—they pay no attention to photographers. Gorillas are the ideal photo subjects. No long-distance lenses are needed because they’re very mellow; they simply eat, groom each other and sleep.” The biggest worry is keeping at least 20 feet away from the animals to avoid transmitting disease—from you to them.
Penguins
Although Eszterhas works primarily in Africa, she has taken assignments and led instructional photography tours and workshops in the Arctic and Antarctica. In Antarctica, she photographed a lone Adelie penguin that appeared on the cover of Time magazine’s April 9, 2007, special issue on climate change. However, solitary penguins are an exception, not the rule. “There can be 500,000 penguins in one colony and the noise is deafening while the smells are really intense,” Eszterhas says. “The challenge is to get one penguin off all by itself.”
In a typical Antarctic workshop, Eszterhas and her group travel there by boat from Chile or Argentina and spend a couple of days touring places where penguins gather. “Once we’re there, eight or 10 of us will head out in a Zodiac, get within several feet of a colony and be shooting for most of the day.” Back on the ship, laptop editing and discussions occupy the evenings.
Wildlife photography is mostly about shooting fast and developing a sense for what the animals’ reactions will be, says Eszterhas. “It’s not rocket science,” she adds, laughing. “Anticipating what the animal is likely to do next is key.” Of late, her camera of choice has been a Canon EOS 1D Mark III.
summer escapes
With summertime upon us, we’ve asked our writers to share some of their favorite one-tank-of-gas getaways. And if they could dig up some deals – all the better!
3
1. Fore! for under $500
by M. L. Lathan My passion for golf came on as a complete surprise. After years of looking at this sport as a waste of a perfectly good day, I suddenly couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time. This turn of events started innocently on a weekend away with the girls at the CordeValle Resort in the Santa Cruz Mountains. And now I’m hooked on both golf and CordeValle.
While golf is the raison d’être of this 1,700-acre property, originally built as a private golfing club, the remote setting is also exceptional. It was built in the late ’90s to accommodate the Silicon Valley’s growing appetite for high-end golfing clubs; a clubhouse and then bungalows were added later. Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the 7,169-yard, par 72 course to extend through the coastal mountain canyons and hillsides. Golf.com rated the course number four in the Bay Area; Golfweek ranked it seventh in California.
As space is not an issue here, the rooms are generous and well-appointed, with original artwork, wireless access and flat-screen TVs; some have private outdoor whirlpool tubs with views of the surrounding hills. The spa, only open to club members and resort guests, is popular as well, equipped with a steam room, fitness center and indoor whirlpool. While all meals are on property—unless you want to lose the zen vibe and drive into Gilroy—Clos LaChance, a family winery, is an easy golf cart ride away. As a sort of siren call, a complimentary bottle from the winery awaits every guest on arrival.
In light of my newish hobby, we are soon heading down once again to CordeValle. This time I booked the Golf Getaway package, which includes overnight accommodations and two rounds of golf, including cart rental per day, and a generous breakfast for two, all starting at $495. Considering a round of golf costs at CordeValle generally costs $360 a pop, the girls and I couldn’t pass up this deal.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT : CordeValle Resort in the Santa Cruz Mountains; Villagio Inn & Spa in Yountville; the Beach House in Half Moon Bay.
2. A Shore Thing
by Mimi Towle Half Moon Bay, 40 minutes south of Marin by car, has my two favorite elements for an escape: great fresh local food and water activities along wild, remote beaches. When I had the chance to get away for the night, I booked a room at the oceanfront Beach House. This Cape Cod-esque hotel is on Highway One just north of downtown and a five-minute walk to the Pillar Point Harbor. Oh, and it’s right next to Sam’s Chowder House, home of the lobster roll—voted one of the top five sandwiches in America by NBC’s Today Show. Pillar Point Harbor is an active commercial fishing hub featuring restaurants and a retail center, where offerings range from kayak rentals to a new day spa called Oceana.
Perched on a bluff just above the beach, the Beach House has 54 suites, each designed as an open studio with sitting area, fireplace, minikitchen and wireless access. It also sits at the beginning of the mostly paved eight-mile coastal path that ends at the Ritz-Carlton. Fridays and Saturdays there’s wine tasting in the lobby, and continental breakfast service starts every morning at 7:30. Considering the location, the $185 to $415 rates are pretty reasonable. A $275 Seaside Escape Package includes a standard suite on weekdays (Sunday included) with a complimentary bottle of signature Half Moon Bay wine, a $75 gift certificate toward dinner at Sam’s Chowder House and two complimentary glasses of California chardonnay. Our agenda for the weekend was simple: relax and be near the ocean as much as possible. This was easy to achieve. Sea Horse Ranch and sister stable Friendly Acres have been offering a beach riding experience for over 40 years. The rides last for an hour and a half and cost $75; we opted for the 8 a.m. early bird special for $45. The next beach adventure was an at-least two-mile barefoot stroll spent looking for that elusive great white shark fin. None spotted. Another way to explore the ocean is via Half Moon Bay Kayak Co., a quick walk or drive from the hotel. The owners, veteran kayakers, offer rentals, classes and three-hour harbor
FROM LEFT: Horseback riding is a favorite activity
tours, full-moon paddles, kayak surfing, stand-up paddleboarding and more. Given the proximity to organic and family farms and a commercial fishing port, field- or boat-to-fork cuisine is prevalent throughout town. Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, our choice for lunch, reminds me of Tiburon’s Sam’s Anchor Cafe.
On sunny days a table on the deck is coveted by locals and tourists alike; inside seating offers sweeping water views and a respite from UV rays. For dinner we met up with friends who came up from Santa Cruz at It’s Italia! on Main Street. We sat at an outdoor table (with its own fireplace) and enjoyed the local award-winning pizza and Italian fare made with local produce, cheese, meats and seafood, as well as a sampling of the locally produced wine.
at Half Moon Bay; the deck at It's Italia; soaking tubs at Villagio Inn & Spa.
3. Unwind in Wine Country
by Grant Griffith
For most of us, earning a living in Marin is hectic but luckily, serious R&R is only a quick drive away. Last month, I booked a room at our favorite spot in Yountville, Villagio Inn & Spa, which is offering a 25 percent off best rate special through July. There are a few other lodging options in town, but this has become our go-to spot, because of the great beds, private rooms with balconies, wireless access (including in the cabanas by the pool) and breakfast buffet. It’s centrally located in town, has a 13,000-square-foot spa, and did I mention the web specials?
Yountville’s present-day acclaim as culinary capital of Napa shouldn’t be too surprising considering its namesake, George Yount, is credited with establishing the first vineyard in the valley. Yount came to Sonoma in 1831 as a contractor for General Vallejo, and as the first white settler he received a large land grant, which he named Caymus Ranchero after a neighboring Indian tribe. Signs of these pioneering days are visible
throughout the 1.6-square-mile town. One hard to miss is the stately V Marketplace, originally built in 1870 by German-born vintner Gottlieb Groezinger as the base for his family winery. Today’s renowned French Laundry, nearby, was built as a saloon in the 1900s, and after Prohibition and new ownership it became a French steam laundry; hence the name. And for even more history on the town and beyond, the Napa Valley Museum is just across Highway 29.
One of the quickest roads to relaxation is via the Spa Villagio’s newish spa suites. The Tuscan-style rooms include an indoor/outdoor fireplace, oversize sunken jetted soaking tubs, steam showers, wet bars, flat-screen TVs, state-of-the-art surround sound and private terraces. Best yet, lunch or dinner can be served in the suite. Menu items include salads, chicken lollipops (not exactly low calorie but delicious), chili verde with braised pork shoulder and fruit cobbler.
Choosing a place for dinner in Yountville is like choosing which friend’s 50th birthday party to attend. This trip we made late reservations at Bardessono so we could enjoy oysters and the dwindling sunlight on the rooftop bar. Rested, relaxed and recharged, we savored the sunset and decided that these weekends can easily be rationalized as therapy, therefore important for survival.
JULY ARTS & EVENTS GUIDE
of Impressionism:
THEATER
Thru July 3 Bone to Pick and Diadem
Two new plays with a modern twist on the Greek myth of the Minotaur and Ariadne. Cutting Ball Theater (SF). 800.838.3006, cuttingball.com
Thru July 25 Young Frankenstein Mel Brooks turns the classic Mary Shelley story upside down in this audience favorite. Tony Award–winning actors Roger Bart and Shuler Hensley reprise their roles as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein and the Monster. Golden Gate Theatre (SF). 415.512.7770, shnsf.com
Thru August 29 Peter Pan This stateof-the-art immersive production experience brings J. M. Barrie’s classic story to life. Ferry Park (SF). 888.772.6849, peterpantheshow.com
Thru September 5 Wicked The cultural phenomenon that got its start in San Francisco is back for an extended stay. There is still time to see the untold story of the witches of Oz. Orpheum Theatre (SF). 415.512.7770, shnsf.com
9–August 15 Travesties A funny and thought-provoking farce about art and society by Tom Stoppard. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre (San Rafael). 415.499.4488, marinshakespeare.org
14–September 19 Posibilidad The San Francisco Mime Troupe opens its 51st season with a modern song tango and take on politics in the workplace with numerous free North Bay Performances in various locations. 415.285.1717, sfmt.org
16–August 15 The Middle Ages A. R. Gurney’s comedic tale illustrates the
conflict between the status quo and the need for change. Barn Theatre (Ross). 415.456.9555, rossvalleyplayers.com
24–September 26 The Taming of the Shrew A swashbuckling seafaring version of the Shakespeare classic. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre (San Rafael). 415.499.4488, marinshakespeare.org
30-31 Into the Woods The Marin Youth Performers preview this fractured fairy tale written by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim. 142 Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmortontheatre.com
COMEDY
17 A Night of Standup Comedy Jeff Applebaum hosts this night of laughs fea-
Birth
Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay at the de Young thru September 6
turing up and coming comedians “Chicago Steve” Barkley and Stephen B. Showcase Theater (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincomedyshow.com
MUSIC
Mondays Open Mic with Austin de Lone The popular singer/songwriter hosts an open mic. Public address system and piano are provided. Masonic Lodge (Mill Valley). 415.389.6637, woodsmv.com
Fridays Creekside Fridays Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy good food, drink and live music every Friday thru August 13. The Cabin (Mill Valley). 415.388.6393, tcsd.us
Saturdays Summer Nights Outdoor Concerts Enjoy live music, movies, popcorn and a playground this July at the Osher Marin JCC. Acts include Sambaguru and Geno Delafose. Swig Field (San Rafael). 415.444.8000, marinjcc.org
Thru August 22 Stern Grove Festival
Enjoy a variety of free performances every Sunday in one of San Francisco’s most beautiful and unique locations as part of the 73rd outdoor concert season. Stern Grove (SF). sterngrove.org
1 Summer Crushes Tour The tour features Mates of State with special guests. Great American Music Hall (SF). 888.233.0449, gamh.com
10 Paul McCartney The legendary singer/ songwriter hasn’t played San Francisco since the Beatles performed their final live concert at Candlestick Park on August 29, 1966. See his return to the city by the bay. AT&T Park (SF). 866.448.7849, goldenvoice.com
10–13 SF Symphony Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. After the performance enjoy a special after-hours “avant-cabaret” performance from Amy X Neuburg and the Cello ChiXtet. Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 415.864.6000, sfsymphony.org
11 Sexy Sunday A musicians’ showcase featuring female artists who rock. Peri’s Silver Dollar (Fairfax). 415.459.9910, krickie.com
Transform Yourself. Transform Business. Transform the World.
Dominican’s GreenMBA , the first of its kind in the nation, is an engaged learning community that seeks to promote financial viability, ecological sustainability, and social justice in all types of organizations. You will be prepared to innovate, communicate, and lead in the face of global challenges.
Program Features:
Two-year full-time, three-year part-time, and weekend structures to accommodate life/work balance
Small classes taught by faculty experienced in sustainability Collaborative, project-oriented learning Supportive mentorship program
Become a force for positive change in today’s complex world.
Apply now for Fall 2010!
For information , call 415-485-3280, e-mail graduateprograms@dominican.edu, or visit www.greenmba.com
50 Acacia Avenue San Rafael, California 94901 www.dominican.edu
17 Halford The heavy-metal icon plays the songs of Halford, Fight and Judas Priest. Regency Ballroom (SF). 800.745.3000, theregencyballroom.com
23, 25 Adam Lambert The American Idol season 8 runner-up takes the stage. The Warfield (SF). 415.345.0900, thewarfieldtheatre.com
24 Sleepytime Gorilla Museum The experimental rockers from Oakland mix a little of everything into their dynamic performances, including many homemade devices suggestive of the avant-garde. Great American Music Hall (SF). 888.233.0449, gamh.com
30 Zydeco Flames Northgate mall brings the sounds of one of the West Coast’s premier zydeco bands to San Rafael as part of the “Concerts Under the Oak” summer music series. Northgate (San Rafael). 415.479.3212, shopatnorthgate.com
30 Level 42 The 1980s English band brings its funk, pop and jazz sound back
to San Francisco. Regency Ballroom (SF). 800.745.3000, theregencyballroom.com
GALLERIES
MARIN
Acacia Gallery Work from Kathleen Lipinsky, Steve Emory, Lenona Winter and Laura Culver. 4162 Redwood Hwy, San Rafael. 415.479.3238, acaciagallery.net
Art Abloom Studio and Gallery Artwork on display and classes. 1527 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo. 415.256.1112, artabloom.com
Art Bar—Molinar Gallery Figurative sculptures and realism. 46 Main St, Tiburon. 415.435.5999, theartbar.us
Art Works Downtown Second Fridays art walk. This is a great vchance to get out and experience new works from local artists, July 9. 1337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119, artworksdowntown.org
Claudia Chapline Gallery Art Night
Out Art salon and catered dinner, July 24. 3445 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach. 415.868.2308, cchapline.com
Donna Seager Gallery The Art of the Book
Fifth annual exhibition of handmade artist books, altered books and book-related works, thru July. 851 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.454.4229, donnaseagergallery.com
Gallery 111 Surface/Tension: H20 Bay Area artists are featured at Gallery 111 and the Bay Model Visitor Center, thru July 11. 480 Gate Five Road (Sausalito). 415.331.2222, icbartists.com
Gallery 34 Collective of Bay Area artists’ work featuring jewelry, glass and paintings. 34 Main St, Tiburon. 415.435.3999, gallery34.com
Gallery Bergelli Summer Group Show Work from local artists. Come view and enjoy this summer exhibition. 483 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.945.9454, bergelli.com
Gallery Route One Something I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You See work from gallery members at this annual show. 11101 Hwy One, Point Reyes Station. 415.663.1347, galleryrouteone.org
Marin Arts Council Gallery Adding On: Repetition with Variation A special exhibit installation where a variety of objects are repeated for dramatic and artistic effect. 906 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.459.4440, marinarts.org
Marin Society of Artists Portrait and Figures New work thru July 11. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.454.9561, marinsocietyofartists.org
Mona Lease Gallery Sudden Intended Exhilaration … Art to Recall, thru July 18. 39 Greenbrae Boardwalk, Greenbrae. 415.461.3718, monalease.net
O’Hanlon Center for the Arts Mixed Media Portraits A juried exhibition. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331, ohanloncenter.org
Robert Allen Fine Art Through the Lens Group show. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.2800, robertallenfineart.com
Robert Beck Gallery Early California and contemporary plein air paintings on display. 222 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.456.7898, beckgallery.org
Robert Green Fine Arts New works of acrylic on canvas by Ed Moses, thru August. 154 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.381.8776, rgfinearts.com
Rock Hill Gallery Paintings by Donna Solin, thru August 18. 145 Rock Hill Dr, Tiburon. 415.383.9018, ccctiburon.org
Sam the Butcher Work from Leon Rosenblatt. 19 Ross Common, Ross. 415.902.1019, samthebutcherart.org
Smith Andersen North Vintage black-andwhite photography. 20 Greenfield Ave, San Anselmo. 415.455.9733, smithandersennorth.com
Studio 333 Why There Are Words, literary series on the second Thursday of the month; Sunset Poetry by the Bay every third Wednesday. 333A Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.8272, studio333.info
Studio 4 Art Work by local artists at this gallery and workshop offering materials and classes. 1133 Grant Ave, Novato. 415.596.5546, studio4art.net
Tomales Fine Art Contemporary art including landscapes, classic still lifes and figurative work. 27050 Maine St, Tomales. 707.878.2525, tomalesfineart.com
SAN FRANCISCO
ArtHaus The Backyard Work by New York artist Chris Schiavo. 411 Brannan St, 415.977.0223, arthaus-sf.com
Berggruen Gallery They Knew What They Wanted Art from Robert Bechtle, Shannon Ebner, Katy Grannan and Jordan Kantor. 228 Grant Ave, 415.781.4629, berggruen.com
Cain Schulte Gallery Summer group show, thru September 3. 251 Post St, 415.543.1550, cainschulte.com
Caldwell Snyder Gallery Rusted Roses Work by Michael Kalish. 341 Sutter St, 415.296.7896, caldwellsnyder.com
George Krevsky Gallery Highlights from the Gallery Collection Work from Thomas Hart Benton, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Ruth Gikow, Maury Lapp, Jack Levine and Mary Robertson. 77 Geary St, 415.397.9748, georgekrevskygallery.com
Gregory Lind Gallery You Would If You Loved Me Work by Reed Anderson, thru July 10. 49 Geary St, 415.296.9661, gregorylindgallery.com
Meyerovich Gallery Rare Picassos Includes works on paper from the artist’s collection, thru August 9. 251 Post St, 415.421.7171, meyerovich.com
Paul Mahder Gallery Contemplation Walls Solo exhibit by Cynthia Jarvis, thru July. 3378 Sacramento St, 415.474.7707, paulmahdergallery.com
Rena Bransten Gallery John Waters, thru July 9. 77 Geary St, 415.982.3292, renabranstengallery.com
Weinstein Gallery Work from contemporary masters. 301 Geary St, 415.362.8151, weinstein.com
Bolinas Museum An installation from Barry McGee and Clare Rojas (Bolinas). 415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org
Falkirk Cultural Center The historic Queen Anne Victorian in the heart of San Rafael is open to the public and features changing exhibitions work by Bay Area artists in its upstairs art galleries (San Rafael). 415.485.3438, falkirkculturalcenter.org
Marin History Museum The exhibit Growing the Future: Farming Families of Marin tells the history of farming in Marin, thru October. Also on display is the new exhibit Ranching and Rockin’ at Olompali, thru December (Boyd Gate House). 415.454.8538, marinhistory.org
Marin Museum of Contemporary Art The Fifth Summer National Juried Exhibition Juried by Andrea Schwartz of the Andrea Scwartz Gallery in San Francisco (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.com
Marin Museum of the American Indian The Hoopa Valley Tribe: People, Place and Culture, 1930-1960 This exhibit features photography by Hoopa Valley Tribe member Ernest Marshall, thru September (Novato). 415.897.4064, marinindian.com
BAY AREA
Asian Art Museum Shanghai The exhibit features more than 130 oil paintings, Shanghai deco furniture and rugs, revolutionary posters, works of fashion, movie clips, and contemporary installations that tell the tale and history of one of Asia’s most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities, thru September 5 (SF). 415.581.3500, asianart.org
MUSEUMS
Bay Area Discovery Museum Clap, jump, wiggle and sing along with Miss Kitty every Wednesday and Thursday (Sausalito). 415.339.3958, baykidsmuseum.org
California Academy of Sciences Extreme Mammals Learn about the biggest, smallest, fastest, slowest and most amazing mammals at this new exhibit showcasing the wonder of nature, thru September 12 (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org
Conservatory of Flowers Chomp 2 Enter a garden of deadly delights with the return of the hit exhibition of carnivorous plants, thru October 31 (SF). 415.831.2090, conservatoryofflowers.org
Contemporary Jewish Museum Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World) Enjoy nearly 30 years’ worth of original paintings, drawings, notebooks and sketchbooks from the popular humorist and miniaturist, thru October 26 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org
de Young Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay This exhibit focuses on nearly 100 works painted in France during the mid-19th century that helped give birth to the artistic style known as Impressionism. Works from Bouguereau, Courbet, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Sisley and Degas will be shown, thru September 6 (SF). 415.750.3600, thinker.org
di Rosa Preserve Pomp Computergenerated art from New Jersey native Deborah Oropallo, thru September 18 (Napa). 707.226.5991, dirosapreserve.org
Exploratorium Geometry Playground Use your hands, your body and your brain as you experience geometry in a whole new way. Put away those textbooks; this exhibit allows attendees to experience geometry by climbing inside 3-D shapes, watching themselves in a giant curved mirror and more, thru September 6 (SF). 415.397.5673, exploratorium.edu
Legion of Honor Very Postmortem: Mummies and Medicine Irethorrou, the Fine Arts Museums’ mummy who has been on loan since 1944, returns for this exhibit taking a modern and scientific look at mummies, thru August 15 (SF). 415.750.3600, legionofhonor.org
San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art Clare Rojas: We They, We They The San Francisco–based artist explores the boundaries between neo-folk and contemporary art in her first solo exhibit featuring new works, thru August 22 (SF). 415.227.4888, mocfa.org
SFMOMA Calder to Warhol More than 160 works by iconic 20th century artists from the collection of Gap founders Doris and Donald Fisher will be on display in anticipation of a larger exhibit planned as part of a new museum expansion, thru September 19 (SF). 415.357.4000, sfmoma.org
Luxury Retirement Living in Marin County
In the natural splendor of Marin County there is a 30-acre community for people of independent minds who require homes reflecting their own expressed wishes and active lifestyles. Where distinctive quality, attention to detail, access to health care providers and the abundance of services provide a truly remarkable value.
MORE SUMMER READING
BY JIM WOOD
The Islands of San Francisco Bay by James A. Martin, designed by Michael T Lee, $55. Treat yourself, this self-published work, by two Marin men, consumed 10 years and $100,000. It includes not just Angel and Alcatraz islands, but Brooks, Drawbridge and Rat islands as well. Martin, a pilot, did all the aerial photography.
A California Bestiary by Rebecca Solnit and Mona Caron, Heyday Books, $12.95. Inspired by medieval bestiaries. Snippets of 12 local animals—California condor, Monarch butterfly, chinook salmon, mountain lion, etc.—as seen through wondrous eyes. Each animal is beautifully illustrated. Great gift for those new to the area.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Contemporary art, film and performance from the Bay Area and around the world (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org
EVENTS
Ongoing Film Night in the Park Bring your blankets, chairs and family for film night in the park at various Marin and S.F. locations. Check the website to confirm show times and locations. 415.272.2756, filmnight.org
Sundays Knitting Group Join the Mill Valley Unity (EweKnitty) group and learn knitting tips and tricks. Starbucks on Camino Alto (Mill Valley). ravelry.com
1 Marin/Scapes Gala Enjoy an auction, raffle and a sit-down dinner, meet more than 65 artists and see their work at this annual gala. The regular exhibit and a special new video documentary run July 2–4. Escalle Winery (Larkspur). 415.457.6964, buckelew.org
Kingdom of Simplicity by Holly Payne, Skywriter Books, $16.95 Beautifully written novel by Mill Valley author. Based on personal experiences, one of them tragic, it deals with forgiveness, Amish culture and finding meaning in life. Won rave reviews and recently named best fiction from a new publisher— Sausalito’s Skywriter Books.
1–5 Marin County Fair More than 50 different cultures will be represented this year as the fair celebrates “Going Global: Connecting Cultures” as a theme. Visitors will also enjoy acrobats, carnival rides, 3-D shows, fireworks, farm animals and multicultural music and dance. Fairgrounds (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marinfair.org
4 Parade and Picnic The Goat Island Griddlepoppers provide the music for a day of fun celebrating the nation’s independence. Ross Common (Ross). 415.453.1453, townofross.org
4 Parade and Festival The popular Corte Madera/Larkspur Fourth of July drew more than 15,000 people last year and is one of the biggest holiday events in Marin. Corte Madera Town Park (Corte Madera). cortemadera.org
4 Novato Fourth of July Parade This year’s parade celebrates Novato’s 50th birthday and features parades, floats, classic cars and, yes, Sherman tanks. Grant Avenue (Novato). 415.899.8900, novatoparade.com
North Bay Farmers Markets
Cookbook by Brigitte Moran with Amelia Spilger, Gibbs Smith, $24.99. Not just recipes, but a history, background and user’s guide regarding nearby farmers’ markets (see Conversation on page 40). Invaluable in navigating the road from fast foods back to slow foods— soups to nuts, literally.
11 Open House Get a glimpse into the new art being created by Headlands’ artists. Fort Barry (Sausalito). 415.331.2787, headlands.org
11 Art and Garden Festival The ninth annual Petaluma festival celebrates all things floral. Downtown (Petaluma). 707.762.9348, petalumadowntown.com
13–16 Senior Week It’s all about seniors and this event features a senior fair on July 13. Library (Belvedere-Tiburon). 415.789.2665, bel-tib-lib.org
16–18 Free Family Weekend Bring the family and visit the de Young Museum, Asian Art Museum, SFMOMA, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Museum of the Africa Diaspora, Zeum and the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival for free. target.com/arts
17-18 San Anselmo Art and Wine Festival
The Sun Kings headline this 1970s-inspired weekend of food, wine and music. Downtown (San Anselmo). 415.454.2510, sananselmochamber.org
18 Presidio Concours d’Elegance See rare and classic cars and benefit the Presidio Historical Society. Presidio (SF). 916.635.2445, sfconcours.com
28 Tam Valley Speaker Series An interactive talk about the modern and contemporary masters whose work SFMOMA has acquired over the years. Tam Valley Community Center (Mill Valley). 415.388.6393, tcsd.us
29 Flora and Fauna Dinner Max La RivièreHedrick and Julio César Morales provide tastes inspired by the elements. Fort Barry (Sausalito). 415.331.2787, headlands.org
NATURE WALKS/TALKS
Ongoing Sonoma History Local actor George Webber morphs into Mariano G. Vallejo as he retells the history of Sonoma (Sonoma). 707.694.5097, georgewebber.com
3 Sunset Hike and Dine Join this local club for a monthly two-hour hike on moderate to steep trails on Mount Tamalpais with a mid-hike wine and cheese break. Reservations required. Meet other avid Marin hikers. Mountain Home Inn (Mill Valley). 415.331.0100, meetup.com/sunsethike
5 Marin Master Gardeners Chris Borjian discusses water conservation in the garden and basic irrigation techniques. Public Library (Novato). 415.454.7234
17 Sunset Hike and Dine Join this local club for a monthly two-hour hike on moderate to steep trails on Mount Tamalpais. Mountain Home Inn (Mill Valley). 415.331.0100, meetup.com/sunsethike
21 Marin Scuba Club Leslie Moyer of Mill Valley discusses the discovery of an Atlantic garbage patch similar to the notorious Pacific gyre. The Flatiron Saloon (San Rafael). 415.453.9556, marinscuba.org
25 Moonlight Hike Join the Marin Moonshiners for a monthly three-mile hike to experience the sunset, moonrise and a picnic. Reservations required. Meet other people interested in the great outdoors. Pelican Inn Pub (Muir Beach). 415.331.0100, meetup.com/moonshinershike
Insalata’s Kitchen
MEMORIES AND RECIPES FROM A STELLAR MARIN CHEF
For the past 13 years Marin has enjoyed Heidi Insalata Krahling’s cuis ine via her restaurant Insalata’s and her catering at many fine parties countywide. So it’s no surprise her cookbook Insalata’s Mediterranean Table has been flying off the shelves since its debut last fall. This month, she shares highlights from her own path to becoming a chef—along with a signature recipe. —M. T.
Did you go to restaurants as a child? Living in Pasadena and then Ventura, our family never ever went out to eat. Except for a few Bob’s Big Boy fun summer runs with our grandmother, the first time we all went out to eat as a family was my high school graduation. The seventies were not exactly in an epic culinary period, and I think my parents felt the food was better, and cheaper, at home!
Where did you learn to cook? My mom did the cooking for our big brood until I got to high school and then my dad retired and spent the entire day cooking…every day. Besides my parents’ help with big food events for the school and church, the cooking and food experiences I remember the most are the afternoons in the summer when we had to peel the skin off the hot peaches or tomatoes for canning. Or
a weekend in the fall, cracking walnuts at a dinner table that was spread out with newspaper. I really did not start to seriously cook or even care about cooking until college. When I was the chef at my first restaurant in Bass Lake, my dad came up and whipped up some of his specialties. I will never forget one Sunday morning my dad got so backed up making his “eggs in a nest”— a very fancy whipped egg white dish—that we had to close temporarily so we could all jump in and get him out of the weeds.
What do you cook at home? Does cereal count? I am somewhat of an all-or-nothing home cook. Either I am cooking for a feast or it is takeout from Insalata’s or Marinitas. I do make a mean stir-fry and epic tacos that my family enjoys.
Have you learned any life lessons as a restaurateur? I bought my first restaurant in 1978 right after I graduated from college. The Hells Angels came the first weekend I had the restaurant, which was Fourth of July. When I did the ordering for that weekend, I ordered 27 loaves of wheat bread and three loaves of white bread. I was out of white bread in the first hour. So what did I learn: that the customer is always right…especially if his tattoos are bigger than your face!
Did you have formal training? I went to Tante Marie’s Cooking School in the eighties and then immediately worked at Square One as an opening line cook. Now that was training. Describe your perfect night. It has many layers. First, no major blunders—ha! That perfect balance of super-busy, not too crazy, great food execution. Happy customers, especially those who tell you about their love of our restaurants. Going home and not having to ice my knees.
Do you have favorite customers? That is like asking who your favorite child is. I do love the story of the customer who came to the back kitchen door on Thanksgiving with his gravy boat asking to buy some giblet gravy because he burned his.
What essential ingredients should be in every kitchen? Good cooks with great taste buds…and salt, lemons, and good olive oil and…a husband who will happily do the dishes.
Next cookbook? I would love to write a cookbook about the luscious foods of Marinitas—in a few years!
Insalata’s Mediterranean Table
Heidi Insalata Krahling Drawings by Laura Parker
CATAPLANA
Cataplana is a seafood sauté from Portugal composed of clams, chorizo sausage and tomatoes. It is also the Portuguese name for the copper vessel in which the clams are traditionally cooked.
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 ounces skinned Portuguese or Spanish chorizo, cut into B/e-inch-thick diagonal slices
B/c cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon minced garlic
B/e teaspoon red chile flakes
3 pounds Manila clams, scrubbed
2 cups marinara sauce
crispy prosciutto gremolata (Italian condiment of parsley, lemon and garlic with prosciutto)*
rustic bread, grilled or toasted, for serving rouille (Provençal sauce) for serving
In a medium sauté pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chorizo; cook, turning once, until browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate; set aside. In the same pan, combine the wine, garlic and chile flakes; cook, over medium heat, 15 seconds. Add the clams and marinara sauce; bring to a boil over medium heat. Cover and cook until clams have opened, discarding any that do not open. Stir in the chorizo. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve immediately, topped with prosciutto gremolata and accompanied by toasted slices of rustic bread and the rouille. tips: I prefer to use Manila clams but you can also use littlenecks. Be sure to scrub and rinse the clams in cold water prior to using them. The clams should remain shut after rinsing and any open ones should be discarded. The opposite is true after cooking—the clams should be open after cooking and the closed ones should be discarded.
* For the complete recipe, including crispy prosciutto gremolata, marinara sauce, and rouille, go to our staff blogs at marinmagazine.com
DEALS ON MEALS
Deals on Meals
Enjoy local restaurants and save 30 percent on meals. Check out the participating restaurants in our “Deals on Meals” section and experience big savings. Spend only $35 for a dining certificate worth $50. Simply go to marinmagazine.com/dineout
to purchase a dining certificate from a restaurant in this section and we will mail it to you. Try a new restaurant or purchase a certificate for an old favorite. A perfect gift for any occasion. Limited supply each month.
Dine local — save big time!
Il Fornaio offers an authentic Italian dining experience Specialties include artisan cocktails, an award-winning wine list, housemade pastas, fresh salads and soups, a wide variety of desserts, and fresh baked bread. Each month, a special regional dinner menu is featured. Groups of all sizes are welcome!
Il Fornaio
223CorteMaderaTownCtr
A fun, vibrant neighborhood restaurant featuring delicious tapas, sangria and reasonably priced organic specials. The California-Caribbean cuisine blends local farm fresh ingredients with Latin flavors. Open for lunch and dinner, great for parties, catering and carryout. Enjoy the back patio - it’s a tropical oasis!
415.927.4400 CorteMadera,CA cortemadera@ilfo.com
Whipper Snapper 1613 4th St (at “F” & “G”)
415.256.1818 San Rafael, CA whipsnap.biz
and
and
items including
Visit the upbeat eatery to watch sporting events on numerous giant TVs and enjoy live music every Friday. Wipeout is family-friendly and supports the local community.
Emporio Rulli
464 Magnolia Avenue
415.924.7478
Larkspur, CA rulli.com
Wipeout Bar & Grill 302
415.461.7400
PHOTO: LISA FARRER PHOTOGRAPHY
Celebrating over 20 years in historic downtown Larkspur , Emporio Rulli boasts Italian foods including Italian style pastries, cakes, coffees, sandwiches, beer and wine. Cool down this summer with a scoop of gelato or one of many specialty drinks such as frappe or café glace.
This family-owned restaurant features a full bar, outdoor patio
delicious menu
sandwiches, salads, burgers
pizzas.
The Club Restaurant offers fine dining in an atmosphere of casual elegance and friendly hospitality. Enjoy light fare, full course lunches and dinners, with brunch served on weekends, in our spacious dining room or garden terrace. Our 4 star cuisine is expertly orchestrated by executive chef Tim Harmon.
The Club Restaurant 350SmithRanchRoad
Located on Tiburon’s charming waterfront, Servino Ristorante has delighted locals and visitors for over 30 years. Come enjoy wonderful views of the San Francisco Bay and experience “la dolce vita”! Visit us online for the weekly live music schedule and information about our Banquet Room.
Frantoio tantalizes your taste buds with it’s authentic Italian cuisine. Serving locally produced fruit, vegetables, seafoods and meats the restaurant supports the local economy wherever possible whilst remaining loyal to its Tuscan roots. Enjoy fantastic salads, pasta, pizza and entrees in an elegant yet relaxed setting.
Frantoio Ristorante 152ShorelineHighway
Servino Ristorante 9MainStreet
415.435.2676 Tiburon,CA servino.com
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
415.289.5777 MillValley,CA frantoio.com
inside and out side
Cibo 1201Bridgeway
1090PointLobos
415.386.3330 SanFrancisco,CA cliffhouse.com
Whether you eat at Extreme, have a piping hot pie delivered to your doorstep, or try one of our “take-n-bake” pizzas that you cook at home, you’ll need to gear up for an eating adventure. Are you ready to get extreme?
spend only $35 for a $50 dining certificate from participating restaurants
Cibo = Food We are open breakfast, lunch and dinner serving seasonally inspired food sourced locally from farmers and purveyors whom dedicate themselves to their products’ quality. Cibo serves Blue bottle coffee, house made Panini, Savories, Pastries and Desserts in a contemporary dining environment with
seating.
Come visit us at Comforts Cafe where we serve breakfast and lunch daily. Menus change weekly, featuring only the finest and freshest from local and organic farms. Homemade pastries and granola, Pecan-crusted Challah French Toast, Huevos Rancheros, and Chinese Chicken Salad are among our delicious specialties.
Comforts Cafe & Take-out
35SanAnselmoAvenue
415.454.9840 SanAnselmo,CA comfortscafe.com
Serving a fusion of modern and traditional French cuisine since 1987, Champagne French Bakery Café emulates the authentic, yet cozy feeling of true café dining in France. With multiple cafes in California, including two in Marin County, we offer breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and catering!
Champagne Bakery
415.380.0410 champagnebakery.com
and
Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria 1242FourthStreet
well as delivery of
Serving home-style Chinese food since 1987 and voted Best of Marin for more than two decades! Jennie Low’s uses fresh ingredients, local produce, and NO MSG! Heart healthy and Gluten Free cooking available. Marin Favorites: Homemade Pot Stickers, Lemon Chicken, and Hong Kong Walnut Prawns.
Jennie Low’s VintageOaksShoppingCtr 120VintageWay
415.892.8838 Novato,CA jennielow.com
Perched on the Sausalito waterfront , Horizons offers diners spectacular views and a classic Northern California menu featuring fresh seafood, steaks, pasta and seasonal specialties. Deck dining, a full bar and an extensive wine list also make Horizons a favorite destination for bayside cocktails and aperitifs.
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
takeout as
their entire menu to local homes and businesses. A Gluten Free menu is also available at the San Rafael location.
Cucina Restaurant & Wine Bar specializes in Roman and Southern Italian cuisine, relying heavily on seasonal produce, fresh herbs,
olive oil. We have a wood-burning pizza oven in our front dining room, and a small wine bar in back. Outside tables are available in the Summer.
DINE OUT
CORTE MADERA
BRICK & BOTTLE California Sourcing local and artisan ingredients, Executive Chef Scott Howard brings simple California cuisine to Corte Madera’s Brick & Bottle, opened May 2010. With a cheerful vibe that resonates in the restaurant’s comfortable design, Brick & Bottle features a large bar area, beautiful outdoor patio and family-friendly dining. 55 Tamal Vista Boulevard, 415.924.3366, brickandbottle.com
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN California Be prepared for chaos. Easy place to meet with kids; Mom/Dad can enjoy a tasty Thai crunch salad and decent glass of wine while the little ones feast on basic kid-size portions of pasta and pizza. 347 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.945.0401, cpk.com
CHAMPAGNE BAKERY French This casual bakery displays fresh-made pastries, croissants, tarts, cookies and cakes, to be enjoyed indoors or out on the patio. Brioche French toast and the 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 23-restaurant franchise. Besides the award-winning breads, pizzas and pastas, the menu boasts a variety of salads and noncarb entrées. 223 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.4400, ilfornaio.com
LA MAISON DE LA REINE Vietnamese A refreshing change amid the plethora of Italian, Mexican and Chinese options. The crunchy cabbage chicken salad with peanuts, fresh spring rolls, and combinations of pho are delicious. 346 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.0288, lmvietnamese-cuisine.com
MARIN JOE’S Italian Pasta and other Italian dishes have been served here for over 50 years. Pick from soup, salad, seafood mesquitegrilled or sautéed meats and over 10 pasta options guaranteed to satisfy. Have a drink and hear local musicians at the well-known piano bar. 1585 Casa Buena Dr, 415.924.2081, marinjoesrestaurant.com
MAX’S CAFE American Located across from Town Center, Max’s is known for casual ambience and large portions. The menu changes with the season but features year-round favorites like matzo ball soup and BLTs. Besides decadent portions or comfort food and desserts, the menu also offers seasonable local produce and healthy items too. 60 Madera Blvd, 415.924.6297, maxsworld.com
PACIFIC CATCH Pan-Asian This well-priced fresh grill eatery offers a bounty of Pacific Rim —inspired small or main plates, like the generously portioned wasabi bowls filled with rice (white or brown), veggies and your choice of cooked or raw fish, chicken or beef. Modeled after the Paia Fish House on Maui down to the chalk board menu and Hawaiian music. 223 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.3474, pacificcatch.com
P.F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO Chinese The combination of an attentive staff, lively atmosphere and consistently delicious meals makes for a solid dining experience. Items like the lettuce wraps and Mongolian beef keep the customers loyal. 301 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.413.9890, pfchangs.com
RICK’S WINE CELLAR California This oneroom bar and wine shop is located in the same spot where Marin’s first wine bar opened back in 1988. Now it’s owned and operated by Marin natives Rick and Candy Mendell, whose customers call it the “Cheers of Corte Madera.” Offerings include a glass, a flight or a bottle, all of which pair nicely with the cheeses, salami and hot paninis. 207 Corte Madera Ave, 415.927.9466, rickswinecellar.com
FAIRFAX
CHAD’S GARDEN & GRILL CAFE Italian Pop in for a fennel-apple-and-walnut salad on the deck or one of the savory paninis or wraps. Menu includes lots of healthy vegetarian selections. 85 Bolinas Rd, 415.454.7864, chadscafe.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”—at the former Ross Valley Brewing Company. 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 enchiladas topped with a mild tomatillo sauce and sour cream. 1625 Sir Frances Drake Blvd, 415.456.4331, panchovillasresturant.com
SORELLA CAFFÉ Italian Open for over six years, and run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella, which means ‘sisters’ serves up fresh Italian food with a Northern influence. Customer favorites include ciopino, butternut ravioli, and eggplant parmesan. Another highlight is the giant wheel of Grana Padana cheese, which is passed around the tables.Easy place to bring the kids. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520, sorellacaffe.com
GREENBRAE
JASON’S Italian The restaurant’s Greenbrae location (it was formerly on Andersen Drive in San Rafael) fills the space that was formerly Giorgio’s. A crowd of regulars enjoys creative seafood dishes with Italian flair. Enjoy the ceviche, crab cakes or blackened salmon on the large outdoor covered patio. 300 Drakes Landing Rd, 415.925.0808, jasonsrestaurant.com
WIPEOUT BAR & GRILL American Who says you can’t go back to being a carefree teenager for a night? This family-friendly hot spot has surfboards hanging from the ceiling, fun-in-the-sun music, a full bar and large televisions displaying surfers riding waves. 302 Bon Air Center, 415.461.7400, wipeoutbarandgrill.com
KENTFIELD
HALF DAY CAFE American A tucked-away setting of intertwining ivy and large open windows makes the perfect breakfast nook. Serving breakfast, brunch and lunch, the setting is casual and can get crowded on the weekends. The menu includes lattes, exceptional pastries and much more. Dine on the outdoor patio or inside. 848 College Ave, 415.459.0291, halfdaycafe.com
LARKSPUR
DJ CHINESE CUISINE Chinese A great place to satisfy a craving for wonton soup before catching a show at the Lark Theater. Lunch and takeout are popular too, but the outdoor patio steals the show. 435 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0717
EMPORIO RULLI Italian Pastry chef Gary Rulli is renowned for his Northern Italian specialties and treats. The Larkspur location is a popular spot for lunch as well as coffee and a sweet. 464 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7478, rulli.com
FABRIZIO RISTORANTE Italian Traditional Italian dishes with an extensive wine list from regions all over Italy; outside seating makes the experience even more special. 455 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.3332, fabriziorestaurant.com
LEFT BANK RESTAURANT French Known for award-winning French cuisine and its lively brasserie ambience, this corner spot rates high with locals. Those with a petite appetite/budget can opt for happy hour (4–6:30 M–F) and enjoy appetizers, all priced under three dollars. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331, leftbank.com
MARIN BREWING CO American Grab a cold beer made right on site and pair it with fish 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
PICCO California Chef and celebrated restaurateur Bruce Hill deserves the accolades he has received for this eclectic shared-plate
Call the Shot!
heaven. Dishes like mini-burgers and seasonally driven menu items, along with risotto made every half hour, keep people coming back. The Picco Pizzeria and Wine Bar next door is cozy (not many seats) but already famous for its wood-fired pizzas, great wine selection and soft-serve Straus Family Creamery ice cream. 320 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0300, restaurantpicco.com
RUSTIC BAKERY California Organic mouthwatering pastries, breads, and sandwiches are on the menu here including Meyer lemon mascarpone danishes and bacon, avocado and heirloom tomato sandwich with mesclun. 1139 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.1556, rusticbakery.com
TAVERN AT LARK CREEK American The next chapter in the 1888 Victorian Murphy House is being written by chef Randy Lewis and culinary director Adrian Hoffman. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7766, tavernatlarkcreek.com
THE MELTING POT French Just across the street from the Larkspur Ferry terminal is a round red-brick haven for fondue fans. Share the “Big Night Out” feast featuring chef’s specialties, or design your own spread with cheese fondue, salad, meat entrée and chocolate fondue dessert. 125 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.461.6358, themeltingpot.com
and housemade kombucha and rootbeer, this Mill Valley brewery is set to keep the local palate satiated. Don’t miss the small beer hall selection of pretzels, salumis and cheeses. 173 Throckmorton Ave, 415.336.3596, millvalleybeerworks.com
Call the Shot has a simple premise: tell us what this is a picture of and win a gift certificate for dining at a local restaurant.
ot mple wellHow do youknow Marin?
To win, you must be specific. What city is this gazebo in and, for extra credit, what is the name of the center that houses it?
Here’s how to play: Go to marinmagazine.com/shot, agree to the rules and submit your answer. Simple. We’ll choose the winner randomly from all the correct answers. Good luck!
And the winner is: Catherine MacDonald of San Rafael won May’s Call the Shot by identifying the Red Barn Center in Point Reyes.
YANKEE PIER American This family-friendly casual clam shack is harbored in a quaint house built in 1924 as a private residence. Though known for beer-battered fish’n’ chips, clam chowder and tasty salads, Yankee Pier serves fresh seafood delivered daily from both coasts with special dishes by chef Chris Ball. 286 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7676, yankeepier.com
MILL VALLEY
AVATAR’S PUNJABI BURRITOS Indian A small and friendly place with only a few tables but myriad Indian-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
BALBOA CAFE MILL VALLEY California The San Francisco institution has already become a place to see and be seen in Mill Valley, especially after the 142 Throckmorton Comedy nights. Come for the pan-roasted Alaskan halibut or risotto but stay for the amazing burgers. 38 Miller Ave, 415.381.7321, balboacafe.com
BEERWORKS BREWERY AND BEER CAFE American With a beverage menu of handcrafted beers made on site, imported and local microbrews
BUCKEYE ROADHOUSE American Oysters Bingo, baby back ribs and chili-lime “brick” chicken are a few of the satisfying, comfort-food-type menu items that have made this classic roadhouse a favorite since the ’30s. The warm dark-wooded bar with red leather booths is a popular spot for cocktails, conversations or a light meal. 15 Shoreline Hwy, 415.331.2600, buckeyeroadhouse.com
BUNGALOW 44 American Much like sister restaurant Buckeye Roadhouse, Bungalow 44 offers a mean dose of homey carbo- and lipidladen dishes, such as the burger, fried chicken and truffle fries, as well as a few lighter items. The bar is a neighborhood favorite, known for tasty spirits and eye candy. 44 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500, bungalow44.com
CACTUS CAFE AND TAQUERIA Mexican Tucked in a little nook across from Whole Foods, this is the perfect spot to sit down with the family or grab burritos to go. The burritos themselves are enormous and the tacos are out of this world. Their signature creamy Diablo sauce has a spicy kick to it and is favored by the locals. 393 Miller Ave, 415.388.8226
CAFE DEL SOUL California Beware of addiction. Once you stop in for the deliciously fresh Hummus Yummus wrap, you’ll have to come back to sample the chipotle Sunrise Rice Bowl; then it will be the Thai It Up wrap with peanut sauce washed down with ginger limeade that brings you back, and so on. Casual lunch spot, great for takeout. 247 Shoreline Hwy, 415.388.1852, cafedelsoul.net
CHAMPAGNE French Enjoy a croque monsieur alfresco, linger over a flaky, buttery croissant with a cappuccino, or pick up chocolate-dipped strawberries for your dinner party. All that and more at this French bakery cafe. 41 Throckmorton Avenue, 415.380.0410, millvalley.champagnebakery.com
DIPSEA CAFE Comfort One word: biscuits. This longtime breakfast spot has been serving up tasty pancakes and egg dishes with homemade biscuits since 1986. Try a biscuit with a poached egg, a biscuit with sausage—or just plain butter. Lunch specialties include BLTs and tuna melts and generous Cobb salads. Now serving dinner. 200 Shoreline Hwy, 415.381.0298, dipseacafe.com
DISH California Sit inside or out at this hip (décor by Dixon Design Studio) casual eatery on Miller Avenue. The result of a vision by Mill Valley local’s including Peter Schumacher and Mike House, DISH was created as an all-day gathering spot serving healthy, organic food and drinks. Start the morning with a cappuccino, or stop in after midday yoga for a salad or sandwich and end the day with a glass of wine (free corkage) on the outdoor patio watching the sunset behind Mt. Tamalpais. 507 Miller, 415.388.3013, dishmillvalley.com
FRANTOIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO Italian Known for its in-house olive press, superior olive
oil and excellent Italian cuisine, this is a great location for an intimate dinner, large groups and anything in between. Happy hour starts at 4:30 in the sizable, comfortable bar area, where you can snack on antipasti or order your whole meal. Owned by Roberto Zecca and Chef Duilio Valenti, both from Milano; the kitchen uses local and organic ingredients—it’s the Italian way. For special occasions and private parties, reserve the olive-press room. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.289.5777, frantoio.com
INDIA PALACE Indian Known as “that great restaurant in the Travelodge,” India Palace is a favorite among the takeout crowd; however, eating on site is a treat too. 707 Redwood Hwy, 415.388.3350
GIRA POLLI Italian Not in the mood to cook? Pick up a wood-fired rotisserie chicken or family dinner from this hot spot, or stick around for the specialty pasta and a glass of wine. 590 East Blithedale Ave, 415.383.6040
LA BOULANGE BAKERY Take your pastries and coffee in a bowl and lounge on the patio for a relaxing morning as you’re practically transported to Paris at this adorable bakery. The staff is professional and friendly. Be sure to try their outstanding breads, as they’ll put your standard sandwich bread to shame. 800 Redwood Hwy, 415.381.1260, baybread.com
LA GINESTRA Italian A favorite family spot for over 30 years; getting a table or booth can take a
while. While this old-school Italian eatery is known for traditional pastas, veal dishes, pizzas and dry martinis, the familiar wait staff is also part of the attraction. 127 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0224
PIAZZA D’ANGELO Italian It’s always a party at this long-standing 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 American Although a recent Yelp reviewer called it, “by far the best thin crust pizzas in Marin,” this Mill Valley spot also serves up antipasti selections 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 fireside”; fittingly, food here can be cooked on an open fire and served in appetizer-size portions to pass around the table. Or simply order your own sushi or entree fron the menu. 591 Redwood Hwy, 415.381.8400, robatagrill.com
SMALL SHED FLATBREADS California As a slow food chef, Ged Robertson uses only local, mostly organic ingredients. Crowd favorites include the mt. tamal-pie, a delicious fresh salad atop a flatbread. 17 Madrona St, 415.383.4200, smallshed.com
TONY TUTTO PIZZA Italian Tony has been pouring his passion for pizza into his cooking for two decades and is now sharing his family recipes: “It’s all about excellence in pizza, sprinkled with musical flavors and kissed with colorful passion. We feature creative artisan-style pizza using the best imported, natural and local organic ingredients.” Mostly outdoor seating, so dress accordingly. Stop by or take out. 246 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.383.8646, tonytuttopizza.com
TSUKIJI SUSHI Japanese Named for the largest fish market in world, Tsukiji is owned by Roy and Chanel Liu. The couple earned their sushi stripes operating Morpho in San Francisco and Akira in San Rafael. Helping then behind the sushi bar is former Sushi Ran head sushi chef, Haruo Komatsu. The Tokyo Tsukiji fish market is where all the fish is sourced. 24 Sunnyside Ave. 415.383.1382
NOVATO
BOCA STEAK & SEAFOOD South American Bring a date or celebrate a special event at this classic steakhouse, which celebrates chef George Morrone’s (Aqua, Fifth Floor) Argentinean heritage. The grass- and grain- fed steaks are cooked over oak and almond. Head to the restaurant early for
u Board-Certified Specialists In:
Cardiac Ablations: Atrial Fibrillation, Endocardial and Epicardial
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Cardiac Defibrillator and Pacemaker Implants
u Most Insurances Accepted sutterpacific.org
a three-course prix-fixe dinner. 340 Ignacio Blvd, 415.883.0901, bocasteak.com
EXTREME PIZZA American Pizza by the slice or pie. Come up with your own creation or choose one of the restaurant’s favorites like the Mr Pestato Head: homemade pesto sauce, potatoes, red onions, feta, fresh basil and mozzarella. 104 Vintage Way, 415.898.6575, extremepizza.com
FINNEGAN’S MARIN American This pub-style restaurant features tasty appetizers, grilled flatbread pizzas and entrées, including New York steak, garlic herb chicken and a braised beef and pork ragu that will really stick to your ribs. Wine, beer and cocktails are available. 877 Grant Ave, 415.899.1516, finnegansmarin.com
JENNIE LOW’S CHINESE CUISINE Chinese Traditional dishes including Cantonese, Mandarin, Szechuan and Hunan delicacies. Check out the menu’s new Light Creations section for lower fat recipe modifications of the restaurant’s popular items. If you don’t see your favorite dish, let the restaurant know, whenever possible, they’re happy to try and prepare new items not on the menu. 120 Vintage Way, 415.892.8838, jennielow.com
TOAST American Sister to the popular Mill Valley location, Toast Novato features outdoor dining and architecture by Stanley Saitowitz and still has the great dishes by executive chef Michael Garcia that have made the southern Marin spot a not-tobe-missed destination. 5800 Nave Dr, 415.382.1144, toastnovato.com
WILDFOX American Perched on the hillside off Highway 101, this rustic mesquite grill offers a menu full of comfort food and drinks, like the smooth cosmos, and seafood risotto, with bits of butternut squash. In the mood for a cigar? The restaurant has an extensive list. 225 Alameda del Prado, 415.883.9125, wildfoxrestaurant.com
ROSS
CAFE ON THE COMMON French A quaint oneroom 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 serves up 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, marcheauxfleursrestaurant.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
BUBBA’S DINER American Kids will be begging for seconds and so will adults at this hopping local hangout. Burgers, shakes and fries and homemade
apple pie. 566 San Anselmo Ave, 415.459.6862, bubbas-diner.net
COMFORTS Cafe This cozy spot features local 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 Proprietor Jack Krietzman (of Pacific Heights’ Jackson Fillmore) has brought Milan to Marin with his 42-seat family restaurant. 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, cucinarestaurantandwinebar.com
DREAM FARM California As the website claims, a taste of rural Marin in downtown San Anselmo, showcasing the bounty of our area’s awardwinning farms, dairies, and fisheries. Best yet is the price point: dishes range from under $6 to nothing over $20. 198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.453.9898, dreamfarmmarin.com
INSALATA’S Mediterranean Award-winning 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 (and highly anticipated) Marin restaurant for the team behind Le Garage Bistro. Set in the former AVA spot, Owners Bruno Denis and Olivier Souvestre have created 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 family. Closed Mondays. 638 San Anselmo Ave, 415.453.1238, lococossananselmo.com
MARINITAS Mexican The sister restaurant of Insalata’s, Marinitas continues to flourish as it brings Latin flair home to Marin. It may not be as cheap as most Mexican restaurants in the area, but this is not your typical south-of-the-border spot. The festive atmosphere and funky decor complement the excellent food for a classy, lively experience. Finish strong with the rich Tres Leches Cake. This place gets packed, so make reservations. 218 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.454.8900, marinitas.net
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 griddled plantains with crema. 21 Tamalpais Ave, 415.454.6562, tacojanes.com
SAN GERONIMO
RED TAIL BAR & GRILL California The beautiful views overlooking the San Geronimo Valley redwoods and wildlife will captivate you while you indulge in the new menu featuring West Marin meats, cheeses and produce. 5800 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.488.4030
TWO BIRD CAFÉ California This roadside cafe has it all, including fresh fish and goodies from the garden. These guys were doing local and sustainable even before it was so popular. 625 San Geronimo Valley Dr, 415.488.0105, twobirdcafe.com
SAN RAFAEL
AMICI’S EAST COAST PIZZERIA California
With a bevy of pizza options including glutenfree crust and the new Siciliano, an enticing mix of mozzarella, slow roasted garlic, sausage, broccoli and crushed red pepper flakes sans the tomato sauce; Amici’s is set to curb any pizza craving. 1242 Fourth St, 415.455.9777, amicis.com
CAFE GRATITUDE Raw The waiters might push the affirmations theme a bit too much, but the tasty (and healthy) food is worth it. Besides the knowledge you’re supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture, the raw food and vegan samosas are hard to resist. Best to bring a group and sample lots of items on the menu. 2200 Fourth St, 415.824.4652, withthecurrent.com
CHALET BASQUE French This family style 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 saute and rack of lamb. On warm Marin nights take advantage of dining on the outdoor patio. 405 North San Pedro Rd, 415.479.1070, chaletbasquemarin.com
CREPEVINE American Bistro/Creperie Casual dining, outdoor seating and a diverse menu of savory crepes (such as the Italian crepe filled with roasted peppers, eggplant, onions, artichoke hearts, tomato sauce and mozzarella). Sweet and savory crepes are available all day long, as is breakfast. 908 Fourth St, 415.257.8822, crepevine.com
IL DAVIDE Italian A large selection of both Italian and Californian wines by the glass along with the dolci menu’s tiramisu, have kept locals coming back. Don’t leave without sampling the limoncello. 901 A St, 415.454.8080, ildavide.net
PANAMA HOTEL RESTAURANT American The tropical garden is a must dine at location for people watching and taking advantage of San Rafael’s warm weather. The Sunday brunch menu is a hit with the kids who can’t get enough of the Panama Waffle served with bananas, warm chocolate sauce and whipped cream. 4 Bayview St, 415.457.3993, panamahotel.com
SABOR OF SPAIN Spanish Named Best Tapas/ Small Dishes restaurant in Marin by the Pacific Sun in 2006, this Spanish wine bar is a great place for a date or a big party. The gazpacho is world class
here and a must-try. 1301 Fourth St, 415.457.8466, saborofspain.com
SAN RAFAEL JOE’S Italian Guido and Theresa Farina are now running this Marin institution, which has been famous for serving up sophisticated yet casual Italian fare since 1947. Great for large parties, the dining room holds 240. The Pacific red snapper meuniére and roast sirloin of beef are standouts. 931 Fourth St, 415.456.2425, srjoes.com
SOL FOOD Puerto Rican With south-of-theborder treats like yellow rice, beans, plantains and authentic Puerto Rican dishes, this tiny oneroom eatery on Fourth Street just off Highway 101 can be hard to get into, but worth the wait. 732 Fourth St, and 901 Lincoln Ave, 415.451.4765, solfoodrestaurant.com
SUSHI TO DAI FOR Japanese Snagging a seat in this popular sushi spot can be a challenge, but patience will be rewarded with tasty and fresh sashimi, unique sushi rolls and great prices. 869 Fourth St, 415.721.0392
THERESA & JOHNNY’S COMFORT FOOD
American Cooking like Mom used to make. Drop by for eggs Benedict, tuna melts, coffee and some of the best milk shakes around. 817 Fourth St, 415.259.0182, theresa-and-johnnys.com
WHIPPER SNAPPER RESTAURANT American Owner and chef Bill Higgins serves reasonably priced and delicious tapas. Save room for what locals call, “delicious fish tacos and yummy chocolate bread pudding.” On Sundays the restaurant has $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-andson chefs Pasquale and Alfredo Ancona offer handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti at this authentic Italian restaurant, which has been serving food from the Campania region for the past 24 years. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225, angelinorestaurant.com
ARAWAN THAI RESTAURANT Thai Known for its consistently tasty Thai food and efficient, gracious service. For light fare try the imperial or Siamese rolls (vegetarian), or dig into the delicious pad thai noodles or garlic and pepper prawns. Arawan Thai has been a local favorite for over nine years. 47 Caledonia St, 415.332.0882, arawan.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
CAFFÉ DIVINO Tuscan Locals come for the tasty pastas and salads, as well as coffee
BITES
Have you been?
There’s a flock of new restaurants landing in Marin, most debuting with local stars at the helm. In Corte Madera, the former Izzy’s space has been transformed by Scott Howard into Brick and Bottle (pictured, right). Marinites last tasted Howard’s food in the county lines when he was manning the kitchen at Larkpur’s Left Bank. The menu features his signature smoked gouda mac and cheese (Corte Madera). 415.924.3366, brickandbottle.com
In Mill Valley, locals have another spot for suds at Beerworks Brewery and Beer Café. The housemade brews, kombucha and rootbeer wash down the restaurant’s salumi and cheese plate (Mill Valley). 415.336.3596, millvalleybeerworks.com. At the new Miller Avenue all-day-gathering spot Dish choose from a morning espresso selection and housemade granola, move on to an afternoon snack of french fries with Manchego cheese and then settle in for dinner with the restaurant’s free corkage (Mill Valley). 415.388.3474, dishmillvalley.com
Owners of the popular Le Garage will try and hit Francophile gold again with L’Appart Resto. The French-inspired restaurant serves a daily cheese selection, roasted bone marrow and a foie gras au torchon brioche sandwich (San Anselmo). 415.256.9884, lappartresto.com –SF
drinks, in a funky one-room setting. Free delivery in Sausalito. 37 Caledonia St, 415.331.9355, caffedivinosausalito.com
CIBO Cafe Husband and wife team Alfredo and Tera Ancona, offer a menu filled with 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, or opt for homemade organic dark hot chocolate. Located in the historic brick building at 1201 Bridgeway, 415.331.CIBO. cibosausalito.com
FENG NIAN Chinese Busy at lunch and dinner, this spacious hangout has been a popular spot for wonton soup, potstickers 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
HORIZONS Seafood/American There isn’t a better 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. Deck dining, valet parking and docking facilities available. A full bar serves draft beers and specialty cocktails and has an extensive wine selection. 558 Bridgeway, 415.331.3232, horizonssausalito.com
LE GARAGE French Escape the touristy Sausalito spots and grab brunch right on the water at this cherished site. The atmosphere is animated with light French music playing in the background (think Amélie). The Kobe Burger, though not as Parisian as the other menu items, is to die for. Also consider the much-adored croque-monsieur for under $10. Opt for indoor or outdoor seating. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625, legaragebistrosausalito.com
LIGHTHOUSE American Blueberry pancakes, omelets and Danish-influenced dishes are the draw here. It’s a small space, so be prepared to wait. 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 ingredients like wild sturgeon and Wolfe Ranch quail that chef Joseph Humphrey cooks up. 601 Murray Circle, 415.339.4750, cavallopoint.com
PARADISE BAY American Enjoy the sun or dine under the stars at this waterfront restaurant. Patrons’ favorites are the organic beef sandwiches and fresh Maine lobster clubs. 1200 Bridgeway, 415.331.3226, paradisebaysausalito.com
PICCOLO TEATRO Italian Translating into “Little Theater” in Italian, Piccolo Teatro used to be a theater before it became the restaurant it is today. New Executive Chef Amey Shaw, formerly of the Claremont Resort and Spa, and new General Manager Hal Russek, formerly of Enrico’s
are still giving customers, “simple and delicious foods” plus al fresco dining options and views of the water. 739 Bridgeway Blvd. 415.332.0739, piccoloteatrodisausalito.com
SCOMA’S Seafood Whether it’s for the view of San Francisco or the historical background, visitors flock to this location and its romantic setting. The array of fresh seafood and meat dishes are as appetizing as the Italian pasta dishes. 588 Bridgeway, 415.332.9551, scomassausalito.com
TASTE OF ROME Italian This local landmark has evolved from a cafe into a full-service restaurant offering pasta, pizza, sandwiches and salad in an authentic Italian ambience. Find the green, white and red awning and you’re there. 1000 Bridgeway, 415.332.7660, taste-of-rome.com
SPINNAKER Seafood Chef Phil Collins excels at preparing seafood, and it shows in the beautiful plate presentations. Set right on the water, this romantic spot is great for an evening occasion. 100 Spinnaker Dr, 415.332.1500, thespinnaker.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 required in main room. 107 Caledonia St, 415.332.3620, sushiran.com
WINSHIPS RESTAURANT American The more-than-four-decades-old nautical-themed restaurant is luring locals and tourists with hearty breakfasts and lunch options like tender fried calamari, clam strips, mussels and a giant prawn cocktail. 670 Bridgeway, 415.332.1454, winships.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 well-priced three-course dinners for less than $25. 2000 Paradise Dr, 415.435.3400, thecaprice.com
DYNASTY CHINESE Mu shu pork and pot stickers are among the menu choices; located near the point of Tiburon. 1801 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.6766, tiburondynasty.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
GUAYMAS Mexican Situated right next to the Tiburon ferry terminal on the waterfront. The touchit-you’re-so-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
ROONEY’S CAFÉ & GRILL American If you’re old enough to remember Cheers on prime time, here is your dinner spot. There’s not a long bar, nor a bartender named Sam (he’s across the street); however, there is an undeniable neighborhood feeling in this one-room cottage dining room. 38 Main St, 415.435.1911
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 historic watering hole, but Sam’s is also a great place for lunch or dinner. Enjoy trans-fat-free calamari, fresh fish, seasonal salads and pastas. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527, samscafe.com
SERVINO RISTORANTE Italian With people like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates raving about his pizza, Angelo Servino is doing something right. Some people come for the spacious and popular bar; some people come for the great food and friendly service; the titans of industry, it seems, opt for the pepperoni. Spacious bar, and weekend music is also a big draw. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676, servino.com
TIBURON GRILL California The atmosphere here is truly enchanting with two outdoor patios, two indoor fireplaces, and candlelit tables during the evening. 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
DRAKES BEACH CAFE American If you’re OK with the long drive, you can’t beat the view and the fresh local ingredients used to make the burgers, salads and soups at this casual spot (Inverness). Walk on the beach after lunch. 1 Drakes Beach Rd, 415.669.1297, drakesbeachcafe.com
NICK’S COVE American This collaboration of famed restaurateurs Pat Kuleto and Mark Franz has attracted visitors (and accolades) nationwide. Large windows open the 130-seat eatery to the picturesque Tomales Bay and Hog Island. Menu consists of the freshest available local seafood, oysters and bounty from nearby West Marin farms including Bodega Bay Dungeness crab cake and Tomales Bay clam chowder (Marshall). 23240 Hwy 1, 415.663.1033, nickscove.com
OLEMA INN California One of the most charming settings around, this inn and restaurant is a great destination lunch spot for a Sunday drive, or dinner every night. The menu includes imaginative combinations using regional and organic greens while the bar features a full wine list (Olema).
10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.663.9559, theolemainn.com
OSTERIO STELLINA California Whether strolling in from a day of hiking or celebrating a romantic anniversary, Osterio Stellina accommodates any occasion. The menu is Italian-inspired using organic, local ingredients. If you’re looking for something unusual try the goat shoulder, a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Don’t leave without indulging in the standout lemon ice cream sandwich (Point Reyes). 11285 Hwy 1, 415.663.9988, steriastellina. com
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, alfresco) but lunch and dinners are great here too. Choose from an array of organic locally grown produce and artisan meats and wild seafood. The grilled quail, the Hawaiian butterfish and the rib-eye steak are standouts (Stinson). 43 Arenal Ave, 415.868.1272, parksidecafe.com
PINE CONE DINER American Just off the main road, Joannie Kwit has recreated 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, bicyclists and motorcyclists (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 still exists today. Enjoy live music along with local barbecued oysters and New England clam chowder. Sunny deck is great in the afternoon (Stinson). 3458 Shoreline Hwy, 415.868.0434, stinsonbeachrestaurant.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). Stinson Beach Park, Hwy 1, 415.868.1777, surfersgrill.com
SAN FRANCISCO
CLIFF HOUSE California Part of the historic Sutro Landscape District, the Cliff House has both a casual bistro dining experience on the main level and the elegant Sutro at the Cliff House on the lower level. Don’t miss the Sunday buffet brunch. 1090 Point Lobos, 415.386.3330, cliffhouse.com
PERBACCO Italian The seasonal Italian menu focuses on the northern Piemontese region, featuring handcrafted charcuterie, homemade pastas and regional dishes such as quail with persimmon and apple salad. 230 California St, 415.955.0663, perbaccosf.com
YOSHI’S Japanese The 28,000-square foot, twostory restaurant and jazz club features robata and shabu shabu cooking by executive chef Shotaro Kamio. 1330 Fillmore St, 415.655.5600, yoshis.com
MARIN ADVERTISERS SPEAK UP
ad lib
Tessa ten Tusscher, Ph.D. and Doris Bersing, Ph.D.
Living Well Assisted Living at
Home, Sausalito
“Living Well combines smart use of technology with exceptional customer service to deliver personalized and comprehensive care to seniors who feel safe, supported and comfortable in their own homes, while enjoying a fulfilling lifestyle,” say Living Well Founders Doris Bersing, Ph.D. and Tessa ten Tusscher, Ph.D.. “Living Well offers elders a choice and provides peace of mind to families and friends.”
What is your business philosophy?
We believe seniors deserve a choice for aging their way and family members need peace of mind about the care of their loved ones. Our mission is to provide both.
Alexandra Ray
Five Senses Art Consultancy, San Rafael
“Five Senses Art Consultancy is a one-stop contemporary art consultancy to help both art collectors and novices navigate their way through the art world to find the perfect art piece, whether it’s an investment piece or not,” says founder Alexandra Ray.
Briefly describe your business philosophy.
What is your competitive edge?
Our five-star services (learned from the best players in the hospitality industry) the use of cutting-edge technology, the comprehensiveness of our services, and our ability to execute, really, are truly unique.
What makes your work worthwhile?
A 2009 AARP survey stated that 90 percent of people do not want to leave their homes. We provide a choice that allows people to keep their homes and use their homes to age in place. It is like having the cake and eating the cake too!
Your thoughts regarding working with a spouse, family, or partner?
People do not exist in a vacuum. Spouses, family and friends are a vital part of people’s lives and they support our clients when making life-changing decisions.
What makes you excel at what you do?
Knowing that our work really makes a positive difference for people in our community and having an amazing team of colleagues who are constantly striving for excellence.
Which product or service (that you offer) is your favorite?
Safety monitoring, including the GPS shoes for people with dementia, and the wide array of wellness and social activities we provide in the community and at home set us apart.
1/2 HORIZONAL
DORIS BERSING, PH.D., PRESIDENT AND TESSA TEN TUSSCHER, PH.D., CEO, 202 DONAHUE ST, SAUSALITO, 800.805.7104, LIVINGWELLALAH.COM
ADVERTISER
I love to stimulate my clients’ senses through art and great design. Whether the budget is $300 or $30,000, I work to source the perfect piece and broker the best deal.
What is your competitive edge?
I draw from local relationships and from very influential British and European galleries currently moving the art world. My interior design experience sensitively works art into the overall scheme.
What is a favorite service that you offer?
I so enjoy the intellectually stimulating world of the artist and buyer, taking clients to the International Art Fairs and walking them through the dross to get to the gem.
What makes your work worthwhile?
Watching Marin grow into a more passionate, art-savvy pocket of the world! Helping someone who has never bought art before is my greatest triumph, because living with art enhances the quality of one’s life.
ALEXANDRA RAY, FIVE SENSES ART CONSULTANCY, 93 TERRACE AVE, SAN RAFAEL, 415.816.5235, FIVESENSESART.COM
Out and About
More than 260 people attended More Than Just Puppy Love at the Mill Valley Community Center. The Marin Humane Society fundraiser’s highlight was a fashion show featuring Gene Hiller and Lindisima designs, where shelter animals accompanied models down the runway. Above, Felipe Santiago, Linda Page, David Kliman, Lars Yocken.
At the In Defense of Animals benefit at Bacchus and Venus Wine Bar in Sausalito, guests gathered to raise money for the group, which is dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights, welfare and habitats. Above, Glenn Meyers, Dayna Meyers, Sibelle Oskarsson, Bob Trevelyan, Connie Newhall.
More than 50 local restaurants and wineries and 500 guests came together for the 20th annual Lifehouse Great Chefs and Wineries event at the Fireman’s Fund headquarters in Novato. Proceeds from the event support Lifehouse, which provides residential and support services for more than 300 individuals with developmental disabilities in Marin, Sonoma, and San Francisco. Top, Cathy Pitzak, Master of Ceremonies Bud E. Luv; bottom, Darryl and Irene Page.
At the Larkspur Hotel Mill Valley opening party guests were treated to a performance by a fire dancer, toured the new hotel’s rooms and devoured s’mores made by regional director of sales and marketing Joey Miranda. Above, Guysell Jeter, Jim Hansen, James Langston.
• Learn a New Language This Summer at Jump N Bounce!
• Ages 5+
• Monday – Friday from 1-5 PM
• July 12 – 30: Chinese (Mandarin)
• Only $199 per week (Includes materials and daily snack)
• Limited to eight (8) children so please RSVP
• Everyone MUST have socks on at all times
DILLON BEACH AND LAWSON’S LANDING
Marin’s very most northwestern corner is beckoning
If you think tiny Tomales, in the northwest corner of Marin County, is a bit out of the way — consider Dillon Beach. When you are in Dillon Beach, Tomales is “in town.” Here’s the deal: Go north on Highway 101 to Petaluma, turn off on East Washington and go west 20 miles into downtown Tomales, then left again on Dillon Beach Road and 20 minutes later, viola, you’re in Dillon Beach.
Fair warning: your choices will be limited. For firewood, cases of Bud Light, funny T-shirts and Styrofoam surfboards, there’s the Dillon Beach General Store. For good food—breakfast, lunch or dinner—there’s the Dillon Beach Cafe. And for a cozy place to stay—like a cabin for a night, the weekend or even a month—there’s the Dillon Beach Resort (dillonbeachresort.com). And all are owned by the same person: Fred Kline of Kline Vineyards in Sonoma.
BY JIM WOOD PHOTOS TIM PORTER
Dillon Beach will either grab you or you can’t wait to leave. Often people arrive, drive down to the beach and around funky-to-the-extreme Lawson’s Landing, and do one of two things: head straight out of town or fall in love with the place. If it is the latter, many go to Dillon Beach Cafe, order a glass of wine and talk about moving there. Okay, maybe they’ll do something between those two extremes.
Where will you fit in? Why not give it a try? Dillon Beach — including Lawson’s Landing — offers world-class beach walking (great for dogs), clamming (strict limits), surfing (gentle swells), camping (mixed reviews) and RV parking (no hook-ups). And if you want to do nothing, as in “just hanging out,” you might seriously look into Dillon Beach.
Gina Kindlespire was born in nearby Valley Ford and has lived in the area all her life. She might well be Dillon Beach’s one-person cham-
ber of commerce. “I love everything about this place,” she declares. It’s the last beach where dogs can run free, the perfect place to really extend your four-legged friends.” Kindlespire, with Dillon Beach Resort, is happy to rent you one of three clean knotty-pine cabins located just steps from the wide sandy beach. “In the summer, they’re $250 a night and ideal for a honeymoon—or for sleeping a family of six,” she says, “Whatever.” Kindlespire also rents out ocean-view trailer spaces. “However, we have an eight-year waiting list,” she adds.
George Dillon settled Dillon Beach back in the 1880s. Then it mostly bumped along until the Roaring Twenties when Howard Lawson— he of Lawson’s Landing fame—appeared on the scene and promoted this seaside area as, “the Family Playground of Marvelous Marin County.” Many maintain it still is: on summer weekends, Dillon Beach gets downright crowded. “A lot of people from the Sacramento Valley come here,” says Pacific Union realtor Karen Karlow. “They come here because years ago they came here as kids.”
Karlow and her contractor husband, Tom, built their home in Dillon Beach in 2005. As a result, she keeps close tabs on the local real estate market. “Right now,” she says, “there are ten Dillon Beach properties on the market.”
First and foremost, of course, are two properties she has listed. “In ‘the Village,’” Karlow says, “there’s a really nice one-bedroom, onebath cottage with spectacular white-water views from a large deck for $585,000.” Karlow stresses that at 720- square- feet this may be small for a home, but that the lot, at 4,500- square- feet, is “extra-large” for “the Village” area of Dillon Beach and some “really nice garden areas.”
Meanwhile, in Oceana Marin, a collection of larger homes on a hillside above town, Karlow’s listing (shared with realtor Sharon Vallejo, also of Pacific Union) is a four bedroom, four bath, two-story home in “really nice” condition. Again, captivating ocean views are a feature and, according to Karlow, this home has been a popular item in the Oceana Marin rental pool. “So a family can have it both as a source of income,” she says, “and a weekend or week-long getaway.”
South Sausalito Waterfront with City View! Class A Business Space for Lease
HIGH VISIBILITY!
• Extensive Use of Glass
Street Level Intercom Entry
• Shower Room for Bike Commuters
• One Block from Golden Gate Ferry
• 5250 sf / $3.50 sf
• Call Owner for Pricing and Terms 415-435-3856. 599Bridgeway.com
Mill Valley Gated Spanish Estate
Exclusive Middle Ridge Level Section of Magee 1.23 Private Acres
This 5,200 sf elegant home wraps around a spacious interior courtyard. There are 5 generous bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms which include 2 master suites. Dining, media, family, computer & “jungle” room make for good living. 3-car garage ~ ample parking.
Lush grounds include verdant lawns, rare tulip elm, Asian pear, espaliered fig, ginkgo and mature oak trees. Expansive flagstone patios with pool & hot tub are ideal for entertaining. Offered at $5,250,000 410MageeAvenue.com
Over 40 years experience in Marin County Real Estate 4
As one of Marin’s long standing top producers, Jimmy is known for:
• 24/7 Communication
• A skilled interpretation of market stats
• Straight talk about your position and your property
• Developing creative strategies to close complex negotiations
• His seasoned team of “best in class” professionals
Whether buying or selling— you’ll find success in working with JimmyMarin.
Tiburon View Estate
Never before on the market! Outstanding and impressive six bedroom, five and one half bath home with European flair, custom built by Diego Bros. in 2002. Unparalleled quality of design, workmanship, and finishes for those who want the very best. Grand scale, yet with a feeling of intimacy and comfort. Care was taken to position this French-style home on its approximately .71 acre parcel to maximize stunning 360 degree views of SF Bay, Mt. Tam and Ring Mountain Open Space. Two potential master suites on main level. A rare find!
Offered at $5,995,000
Tradit onal n V in 2009, ebo kfl d ifitdtilthhtSitd btifl
Lind
Linda Tull
24 Allen, Ross - New Listing ality Vintage Craftsman - Gated 3BR, 2BA single level home in the veted flats of Ross. Wainscoted
Traditional yet edgy 5BR, 4BA quality home in sunny Scott Valley, completed in 2009, enjoys an open layout, soaring ceilings, ebonized oak floors and magnificent details throughout. Sited on a beautiful ½ lot, this approximately 3729 square foot home is blocks away from Top Mill Valley Schools, boasts a quick SF commute.True Wow Factor! www.10StantonWay.com | Exclusively Offered at $2,295,000
½ lot, T
sliders to the lush yard planted with roses and fruit trees. 1-car garage. Just steps to Ross Common and award-winning Ross schools. www.24Allen.com | Exclusively Offered at $1,725,000
Linda.Tull@pacunion.com • 60 Belvedere Dr. Mill Valley, CA 94941 • MyMarinHomes.com LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALIST PacUnion.com Linda Tull 415.233.0125 • DRE #01703883
LindaTullRealtor
Locally Owned, Nationally Known
According to the REAL Trends Top 500 Brokers List, APR moved up two positions in 2009 to become the 6th most productive brokerage in the Nation (based on sales volume). As a local, family-owned business, based in the Bay Area, we are proud of how much our agents have accomplished during this challenging economy.
Alain Pinel Realtors not only continues to lead the Bay Area in home sales, but we also rank as the largest, privately-owned, independent residential real estate company in California—and second largest in the United States.
In a day when real estate companies proliferate, merge, morph and disappear, Alain Pinel Realtors thrives.
Here is the perfect opportunity to own one of Mill Valley’s finest properties on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais, with a large level lawn and breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay. This unique, gated home on close to half an acre is nearly 4900sf and situated on a quiet cul-de-sac with easy access to all that Mill Valley has to offer.
This grand, 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath home has been extensively remodeled using timeless materials throughout. The graceful floor plan is ideal for entertaining with a custom wet bar, open kitchen/family room, generous formal living room and large covered deck. Other elegant features include a spacious office, a large bonus room, an incredible master suite, charming outdoor spaces and a roomy 3-car garage.
An outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, you’ll find yourself close to hiking trails, national parks and beaches. This is simply a one-of-a-kind piece of property in a tranquil and private setting, yet so close to town.
Don’t miss this remarkable opportunity to own one of Mill Valley’s most desirable properties. Start enjoying the coveted Mill Valley lifestyle today! Offered at $3,395,000 Featured on: theREALhomeTOUR.com
10 Peninsula Road, Belvedere • $3,300,000
Stunning Belvedere Lagoon home. Single level featuring the best of contemporary style. Vaulted ceilings and an abundance of windows capture excellent light and expansive views of the Lagoon. Great indoor/outdoor flow - courtyard, lawn and patio. Boat dock and hot tub. One of the best locations to reach all of Tiburon’s coveted amenities within minutes.
Janet Williamson 415.789.7725
jwilliamson@fhallen.com
JanetWilliamson.com
5 Egret Court, Tiburon • $2,649,000
Spacious home with an expansive deck to enjoy stunning views of San Francisco, Belvedere, Lagoon and hills of Sausalito. Master suite, dining room, kitchen, two living rooms and half bath on entry level; 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, family room, laundry room and wine closet downstairs. Easy access to town, schools and multi-use path. A beautiful garden abounds with roses and fruit trees. Patio and lawn areas for easy entertaining.
14 Place Moulin, Tiburon • $3,495,000
Sitting atop prestigious Mount Tiburon, this newer sophisticated home features jaw-dropping sweeping views from Richardson Bay to the San Rafael Bridge and beyond. The gated courtyard with slate and stone finishes is an introduction to the quality and special architectural details throughout the home – barrel ceiling, curved stairway, sleek European kitchen, cherry wood floors, three fireplaces, luxurious master suite, three en suite guest rooms and an office.
Sally Williamson Charles 415.713.3348
scharles@fhallen.com
JanetWilliamson.com
207 Beach Road, Belvedere • $3,150,000
One of Belvedere’s first homes, this romantic, sophisticated property surrounded by lush gardens is situated to enjoy spectacular views of the Bay and San Francisco yacht club. The charm of yesteryear blends perfectly with modern conveniences providing space and function for today’s lifestyle; gracious formal public rooms, updated kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and a separate guest or au pair suite. Decks, patios or lawn area are perfect for casual or formal entertaining.
2 West Shore, Belvedere • $3,195,000
2WestShore.com
If you love to entertain and your life is a buzz of activity filled with people of all ages, then you owe it to yourself to explore the opportunity presented by this delightful home located close to Belvedere Park and the village of Tiburon. A spacious living room is adjacent to the formal dining room. You will find a kitchen designed for gracious entertaining, a light-filled breakfast area with a view of Richardson Bay, and a breakfast bar that separates the kitchen from the family room accented by a fireplace and French doors to the yard. One wing offers three bedrooms with a newly-remodeled bath, a laundry room, and access to the two-car attached garage. The opposite wing offers an elegant master suite retreat and an inviting guest room with adjacent bath. The level backyard is easily accessed from the master suite, living, dining and family rooms, providing the perfect flow for indoor/outdoor living. There is also a spacious upper-level bonus room. A rare find in this location, this tastefully upgraded home is not to be missed!
San Anselmo • $1,795,000 95HillsideAve.com
Timeless, classic 1908 home with 7300+ sf. Sweeping, awe-inspiring views of the Seminary, blocks to coveted downtown. Also two legal rental apartments on a street-to-street lot.
Ross • $1,978,000
The jewel of Ross! 1903 masterpiece graced with seven fireplaces and period details. Gated, level .30 acre, three blocks to Ross school. Level lawn with flagstone path, waterfall and pond.
Larkspur • $2,500,000 11RedwoodAvenue.com
The design of the 100-year-old bungalow once here was carefully followed when totally rebuilding it into a fabulous new home in 1999 (Hank Taylor, AIA). Exquisite finishes, dream kitchen, pyramid ceilings, hardwood floors, office, glorious Master bedroom and bath. Custom paned windows, lush gardens and a flat sunny large lot! Downstairs is a huge room with separate entrance; divide for your personal use.
Golda Boeck 415.435.3666
gboeck@fhallen.com
Mill Valley • $2,500,000 305EastStrawberryDrive.com
Waterfront! 30 ft floating boat dock along a deep water channel to S.F. Bay. Spectacular San Francisco views from every room. Three bedrooms, three baths, plus office/studio with separate entrance; granite kitchen. Hot tub and gorgeous lush front patio. Vineyard of 148 vines professionally planted and maintained. Move-in condition! Lot approx. 1.5 acre. One of a spectacular kind.
Belvedere • $1,650,000 New Price
19WestShore.com
WATERFRONT! Ramp to boat dock. Master bedroom and den on main level. Three bedrooms on second level, with high ceilings and clerestory windows. Attached separate office with full bath, high ceilings, and soaring windows. French doors open from dining room and kitchen to protected lush patio with covered loggia. Large waterside deck off living room. Exquisite master bedroom. Mount Tamalpais views from nearly every room. Hardwood floors. Paned windows. Flat lot. This is a glorious property! Land lease, but there is a recorded option to purchase the land.
Only the Best!
Picturing perfection isn’t easy. Plato had no trouble, for the rest of us perfection is now within our grasp in this stunning Almonte Boulevard home in Mill Valley. Everything here from the gated grounds to the unbelievable outdoor kitchen present a welcoming aspect displayed in perfect harmony. Framed by magnifi cent landscaping and expanses of level green lawn, this shingle clad 4+ bedroom home captures the very essence of life in this sought-after community called Mill Valley. Offered at $2,300,000
KENTFIELD ESTATE OPPORTUNITY
This spectacular Kentfield property offers just under one acre located on a prime level corner lot in the coveted lower Woodland s. Excellent opportunity to create an estate. Original owner, first time on the market, this older home is approx. 3,000 square fee t with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and pool and can be renovated and/or expanded or a new estate can be built. Surrounded by multimillion dollar homes, this expansive property is seldom availabl e. Located just blocks to Kentfield award winning schools, many shops, and famed hiking and biking trails, this location provides privacy yet convenience. A trophy property for the right buye r.
Shown by appointment only ~ $2,995,000 www.121goodhill.com
EXQUISITE BELVEDERE HOME
Beautifully appointed, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, approx. 3600 sq. ft. Wonderful views of Belvedere Cove, Tiburon and the Bay. Completely remodeled, designed by Hank Bruce, expansive picture windows, chef’s kitchen showcased with dramatic vaulted ceiling, spectacular indoor/outdoor space, luxurious master bath, separate entrance for guests or au-pair, no detail missed.
Shown by appointment only ~ $3,595,000 www.138madrona.com
$2,950,000 4883Paradise.com
Mill Valley Refined
Sophisticated Tiburon Estate
Understated elegance and timeless design combined with world class views define this unique property. Bordered by open space, this large, 7,000± square foot, private estate is situated on one of the most desirable view streets in Tiburon. An entertainer’s dream, the home features a custom gourmet kitchen, elegant dining room, refined living spaces and a handsome executive office. The expansive master suite boasts a spa-worthy bath and serene views of the bay and beyond. With five bedrooms, five full and two half baths, even the most discerning buyer would agree this is a rare find. The views, decks and beautiful gardens create an outdoor living experience like none other. Privacy, views, location… this is Tiburon at its best!
Offered at $4,485,000 www.152Hacienda.com
Spacious, sunny, 3,500± sq. ft., contemporary, Mt Tam view, beautiful kitchen, large master with fireplace, pool, spa, lawn, 4bd, 3.5 ba... $1,995,000
±.5 acre vacant lot in multi- $ million home location with approved plans for 4,500± sf home with San Francisco views… $1,950,000
1-story condo, 6-unit complex, beaut remod w/ views of Mt Tam/GGB/SF skyline, study with fireplace, large master with sitting area, 2 bd, 2 ba . . . $1,595,000
$3,295,000
Beautiful New England-style luxury with timber frame construction, San Francisco Bay views, 5 years old, ±1 acre, level lawn, 4 bd, 4.5 ba...
West Shore waterfront, panoramic views from Golden Gate Bridge to Mt Tam, ±4000 sf, huge master, decks, dock, 4 bd, 4.5 ba…
Represented Buyer. 667 ac ranch bordering Walker Creek. Home is constructed of galvanized steel, concrete and birch. 3 bd, 4 ba… $3,499,000
$2,395,000
.6 acre, west-side development potential with views from Mt Tam through Golden Gate Bridge & SF. Existing home is 3 bd, 2 ba …
±3500 sf contemporary with beam ceiling, hardwood floors, San Francisco Skyline & Bay views, 5 bd, 3 full & 2 half ba…
$2,300,000
Quiet, private & level 1 ac (-), top-of-the-Woodlands, pool, lawn, Mt Tam, beautiful contemporary with commercial kit, 5 bd, 3.5 ba…
$3,495,000
1 bd au pair, office, large level lawn,
3 Waterfront lots, west side, Mt Tam through San Francisco skyline views... $4,500,000 - $5,000,000
Rare vacant lot in the Woodlands. Mostly level 2.8 acres, gated, bay view, approved plans for 9,300± sf house and pool… $4,500,000
7+ acres, beautiful grounds and tidelands, pool, dock, boat garage, separate guest house and office, 4 bd, 5.5 ba… $7,995,000
San Francisco skyline, Golden Gate Bridge & Mt. Tam views, stunning ±1400 sf master suite, 5bd (4 en suite), 5.5 ba… $7,500,000
Rare gated family compound with 2 separate homes, ±10,000 square feet, huge patio & 60' lap pool, 10 bd, 13.5 ba… $19,500,000
Barry Levinson Estate. ±10,000 sf on ±2 level acres, pool, guest quarters, separate studio, 7 bd, 8 full & 3 half ba… $14,850,000 Extraordinary 6.8 ac compound, deeded & tideland waterfront, tennis, pool, gardens, walking trails, mostly level grounds, patios, decks, 5 bd, 5 full baths... $9,992,000 Stun renovation. Eleg indooroutdoor living betw main hse/pool house. Over half ac. Pool, spa. 4 bd, 3.5 ba + 1 bd, 1 ba pool house… $4,475,000
4,000+ sf on Lagoon waterfront, gorgeous remodel, wonderful indoor-outdoor living, top-floor master suite, 5 bd, 4 ba… $4,150,000
6000± sf best-in-its-class contemporary on nearly 1.2 acres with salt water pool and spa, walls of glass, SF bay views, level lawn, 3-car garage. 5 bd, 5 ba…… $7,485,000
New interior design, grt rm with tall windows & massive skylight, expansive vws GGB to Mt Tam, new master w/ spa bath, 4 bd, 4 ba… $5,800,000
Blazing sunrises, golden sunsets and perfect moonrises reflecting on the Bay waters, the calls of the seals and sea gulls, the graceful, eye-level pelicans gliding by your windows, and the ever-changing living-mural of sea life for your living room, this private and stunning contemporary, designed by award-winning architects generations apart, in its park-like resort setting, and sited on possibly the best water-level parcel in Belvedere, embodies everything you imagined about waterfront living. 1.2 acres, nearly 8,000 sf of exquisitely finished and view-oriented interior, over 200 water-level frontage feet and up close, riveting views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the entire San Francisco skyline. The main residence comprises five large bedrooms and five and one-half baths, and the separate guest house offers an additional two bedrooms and one bath. Once this lifetime…
$28,850,000
Sited on the western-most promontory of Belvedere Island with the Bay directly below and unobstructed views from Mount Tam through Sausalito, the Golden Gate Bridge and the entire San Francisco skyline, this property truly exemplifies the “belvedere.” Warren Callister designed, west-side waterfront with 5 bedrooms, 4 full and 3 half-baths in the main residence and separate 1-bedroom, 1-bath guest apartment with kitchen & living room. Large formal living & dining rooms with French door access to view-side terraces and 3 level lawn areas, intimate library with fireplace, office with built-ins and Mt. Tam and water views, and topfloor master suite with his and her baths and dressing areas and private view-side terrace. Five fireplaces, 3-car enclosed garage and additional parking for 7 cars, & gated access. Approx. 9,500 sq. ft. of covered space, including the main residence, garage & guest quarters, and six bedrooms, five full & three half-baths, Belvedere prominence and worldcoveted views…
$27,500,000
On the Island’s west side, with its dazzling views and stunning sunsets. Two separate parcels totaling approximately one acre, mostly level and at water’s edge, with existing boat house & dock, and water-level views from Mt Tam through the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco financial district. Rare potential for grand, gated bayfront estate, entirely private and secluded, and accessed by water or land. Magical place, captivating views, irresistible possibilities… $11,950,000
At last, the ultimate modern home on Belvedere Island’s west side. Embracing the Marin landscape as its foundation, this home, designed by Sutton Suzuki Architects and Andra Martens Design Studio, incorporates sustainability in every application. With the highest design and construction quality, this architecturally significant and published, showcase home has over 6,000 squar e feet with commanding views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito and Mt. Tam. The home features Honduran Mahogany and limestone surfaces, sands tone and brick fireplaces, Montana Ledge Stone, veneer plasters, organic wool carpets and SubZero, Miele and Wolf appliances. Biomimicry was used to deter mine interior colors based on the Marin Headlands landscape. This incomparable Belvedere home offers communal family spaces and many entertaining areas with private locations for quiet reflection. Interior spaces are remarkable with a mezzanine office overlooking the living/dining area, a light-drenched kitchen and breakfast nook with views to the Golden Gate Bridge, a library/media room, master suite with large dressing area and glassed-in bath, and a centrally located family area adjacent to the pool, the guest suite and the bedrooms. A studio looks out to a birch and fern garden. The ultimate in indoor-outdoor living, this home features view-side terraces, an outdoor fireplace, barbecue kitchens, solar-heated salt water pool and spa, level lawn, play spaces and gardens with drought-tolerant plants and an edible garden. All combined, this is the quintessential family-style resort. Five bedrooms (four en-suite), four full baths and two ha lf baths… $12,995,000
Distinct Cascade Homes
277 Cascade Drive, Mill Valley
Gracious 3,800+ square foot home plus 600 square foot cottage on 1.6+ acres in Cascade Canyon within a stone’s throw to the village. The sumptuous, private grounds welcome you with mature landscaping, majestic redwoods and a year round creek. Sweeping, open layout of the main home is perfect for indooroutdoor living.
Offered at $3,895,000
Sales Price Changes in Marin
310 Cascade Drive, Mill Valley
Gorgeous Costigan-Built home, situated beyond a private bridge over the Cascade Canyon Creek on over a half acre of property only a stone’s throw from town. Well appointed 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms with gourmet kitchen, family room, and cathedral ceiling living room. Maple flooring and Berber-style wool carpet throughout. One of a kind home in Mill Valley. Offered at $2,345,000
HANDSOME MEDITERRANEAN RESIDENCE BUILT IN 1927 and beautifully maintained in its original state. The low-pitched tile roof, thick stucco walls and decorative wrought iron are in keeping with its architectural integrity. The textured stucco walls continue to the interior with generous use of mahogany in the trim of the arched doorways, beams, handrails and doors.
• Spacious living room with high ceilings with mahogany beams, fireplace with a carved travertine mantel imported from Italy, and ached recessed bookshelves trimmed in mahogany, and large enough to hold a grand piano.
• Library/den adjacent to the living room with French doors that open to a lovely garden.
• Kitchen overlooking the garden with adjacent powder room and laundry room.
• Four spacious bedrooms and two full bathrooms on the second level.
• Level lot with a flagstone deck surrounded by a garden.
• Two-car detached garage.
• Short walking distance to the Ross School and Ross Commons.
THEY SAY IF YOU CAN REMEMBER THE 1960s AND ’70s, YOU WEREN’T THERE. Not always. In 1974, Tiburon’s Mark Lomas worked at the Trident Restaurant in Sausalito, the erstwhile gathering place for, literally sex, drugs and rock and roll. Featuring psychedelic-colored menus, tasty organic dishes, Ramos gin fizzes, candles in bowls, Boston ferns throughout and, most notable of all, enticingly attired waitresses, the Trident reigned supreme at 558 Bridgeway between 1966 and 1976 (it’s now Horizons, a popular bayfront restaurant whose interior has barely changed over the past 34 years). And Lomas, now a Marin realtor, recalls those times surprisingly well. “Each day I came to work wondering what was going to happen next,” he says. “I started as a dishwasher and Robin Williams, a busboy at the time, showed me how to operate the dish-washing machine.” Lomas also recalls encounters with Trident diners Pink Floyd (“Nicest guys you’d ever want to meet”) and Walter Matthau (“‘You’re standing on my foot,’ he informed me when I cleared his table”). Surprising to many, the Trident was owned and developed by that clean-cut singing group of the 1950s the Kingston Trio and their entrepreneurial manager Frank Werber. As for the Trident’s legendary waitresses, Lomas puts it this way: “They were really sexy, intelligent and very creative; they dressed and acted as they pleased and many were respected artists in their own right—they were like goddesses.” The list of Trident customers is also legendary: Janis Joplin had a favorite table; rock impresario Bill Graham hosted two post-concert parties here for the Rolling Stones; Woody Allen staged a scene from Play It Again Sam there; other regulars included David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh, Groucho Marx, Clint Eastwood, Joan Baez and Tommy and Dickie Smothers.
“In the late ’60s and early ’70s, it was the place to be in Northern California,” concludes Lomas. “Now, those of us who were once there gather occasionally on a website—tridentrestaurant.com.”
