Marin Magazine May 2009

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60 stories of unprecedented luxury. Michael Mina’s RN74 restaurant. A 20,000-square-foot Club Level featuring Sports Club/LA. 3 unique residential living experiences. Living in the city is changing. See for yourself. Special pricing is available for a limited time. Inquire today. IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY

think A Shining Icon on a Hill

As the Buck Institute turns 10, we

home Gardenmaker

Brandon Tyson—an alchemist’s approach.

story p. j. bremier photos barbara ries

journey Lost Horizon, Found

A far-off spot in China is its own kind of Shangri-La.

story & photos david bartfuff

Departments

18 22 24 28 30 32 35 40

letters

Readers respond to Marin Magazine.

at a glance

Hot tips day by day for the Bay Area.

currents

Bay Area news, books, openings, people and events. by somer flahery

news from the north

Wine Country tastings and happenings. by mimi towle

life style

Marin’s Pamela Westfall Bochte on personal style. by somer flaherty

trends

All that’s green and gold. by somer flaherty

fyi

Garden: Teaching kids to grow. by p. j. bremier

Home Decor: Outdoor art. by somer flaherty

People: Logan and Noah Miller. by somer flaherty

The Cover

44 68 72 76 80 90 92 107 130

Departments

conversation

Mill Valley’s Shawn Marshall. by jim wood

go

Tahoe on foot. by grant griffith

looking back

History of a highway. by jim wood

galleries

Exploring local venues. by anne crump ray

calendar

A roundup of performing arts, events, galleries and more.

snap

Out and about, in and around Marin.

dine

An insider’s guide to Bay Area eateries.

microclimate

Larkspur—local jewel turns 100. by daniel jewett

dialogue

Melba Pattillo Beals. by mimi towle

Columns

view from mount tam

16 20

Pick Me, by Marin artist Helen Steele, winner of Marin Magazine’s Fourth Annual Get Covered Contest. To see more of her work go to helensteele.net. 110 110

The creators of Marin Magazine welcome you to share their vision.

pov

West Marin—an organic success story. by jim wood

SPRING SALE GOING ON NOW!

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nikki Wood ext 105 | nwood@marinmagazine.com

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jim Wood ext 106 | jwood@marinmagazine.com

SENIOR EDITOR Mimi Towle ext 101 | mtowle@marinmagazine.com

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Tim Porter tporter@marinmagazine.com

DEPARTMENTS EDITOR Somer Flaherty ext 103 | sflaherty@marinmagazine.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Daniel Jewett ext 116 | djewett@marinmagazine.com

COPY EDITOR/PROOFREADER Cynthia Rubin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dave Bartruff, P. J. Bremier, Ian Charles, Grant Griffith, Anne Ray

ART

ART DIRECTOR Anne Walzer

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

PRODUCTION ARTIST Stephen Spoja

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Drew Altizer, Brandon Davis John Merkl, Sheri Montgomery, Barbara Ries

ADMINISTRATION

CONTROLLER Maeve Walsh ext 104 | mwalsh@marinmagazine.com

OFFICE MANAGER Linda Reid ext 100 | lreid@marinmagazine.com

WEB

WEB EDITOR Daniel Jewett ext 116 | djewett@marinmagazine.com

Volume 5, Issue 5. Marin Magazine is published in Marin County by Marin Magazine LLC. All rights reserved. Copyright©2009. Reproduction of Marin Magazine content is prohibited without the expressed, written consent of Marin Magazine LLC. Unsolicited materials cannot be returned. Marin Magazine reserves the right to refuse to publish any advertisement deemed detrimental to the best interests of the community or that is in questionable taste. Marin Magazine is mailed monthly to homes and businesses in Marin County. Subscription rates are $12 per year. Marin Magazine, One Harbor Drive, Sausalito, CA 94965. Phone 415.332.4800, fax 415.332.3048, e-mail editorial@ marinmagazine.com, website marinmagazine.com.

PUBLISHER Lisa Shanower ext 107 | lshanower@marinmagazine.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Michele Geoffrion Johnson ext 110 | mjohnson@marinmagazine.com ACCOUNT MANAGER Leah Bronson ext 109 | lbronson@marinmagazine.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER Stephanie Ericson ext 108 | sericson@marinmagazine.com

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THE BUCK INSTITUTE IS ONE OF THOSE MARIN ICONS that most everyone recognizes, but few understand. As the institute turns 10 years old this spring, we hope to change that with Tim Porter’s visual profiles of some of the scientists whose work makes the Buck one of the nation’s premier research centers on aging and disease.

In Home, P . J. Bremier finds that the approach behind renowned garden maker Brandon Tyson’s magical creations is closer to the art of alchemy than the science of landscaping. FYI Home Decor looks at another garden element, outdoor sculpture, from the abstract to the prehistoric, and FYI Garden tells us how to productively match up kids and dirt.

Journey heads to Yunnan Province in southern China in search of a Shangri-La hidden deep among the Himalayan foothills. For a paradise closer to home, Go provides a guide to discovering Tahoe by foot.

In FYI People, Somer Flaherty profiles Logan and Noah Miller, the persistent and talented West Marin brothers who turned their story of baseball dreams and a dying dad into a movie and a new book.

Also in this issue, Dialogue questions longtime Bay Area news reporter Melba Pattillo Beals about her days confronting segregation as one of the Little Rock Nine and her current life in Marin; Conversation talks with former Mill Valley mayor Shawn Marshall about community politics; Looking Back details the beginnings and growth of Highway 101, Microclimate meanders the leafy lanes of Larkspur; and Trends showcases green and gold as the colors of spring.

And last but not least, note the colorful painting on the front cover by Marin artist Helen Steele winner of our cover contest. Come celebrate the arts with us at the Fourth Annual Marin Arts Salon on May 7 at California Closets in San Rafael. See the Calendar for details.

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

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Readers respond

❯❯ Home inspiration

In “Un-Extreme Makeover” (April), I fi nally got the inspiration I needed to start my own home remodel. Although I’ll be forgoing plans to do the total overhaul I’ve dreamed of, the article was a good reminder that the deals I can get during the recession might make doing a smaller home makeover and back-tobasics maintenance possible.

Jeff Georges, San Rafael

❯❯ I want it now!

You said that Violet Beauregarde says “I want it now!” (“Un-Extreme Makeover”) but Veruca Salt says that. Violet Beauregarde only chews gum. I watched that movie a lot and I’ve read the book twice, once in preschool and once this year in kindergarten.

Greta Cifarelli, Mill Valley, age 5

❯❯

About the tree wars

Thanks to time out of the country, I am a tad behind the times, and the trees. Regarding tree issues in Marin (“Tree Wars,” February), I simply have to register my concern. As far as I am concerned, if your tree blocks someone’s view, trim it or cut it down. Simple. Divine views surely overrule most trees in the Bay Area. Any other point of view seems churlish. Of course trees are wonderful, amazing, awe-inspiring, life-giving, etc. However, the Bay Area offers unique and highly expensive views. Those who have them are lucky, and do not deserve loss of said views, especially due to once-cheap, and now unruly (read ugly) pines, and eucalyptus now deemed dangerous. Replace them with small, civil trees or shrubs. Be a good neighbor: cut those darn trees. How can you possibly charge someone else to cut your tree(s) if it has grown into

their view? Consider the reverse situation. The stories of citizens having to go to court to get neighbors to be neighborly should not be part of life here in Marin.

Anne Hosking, Tiburon

❯❯ Affordable Marin

I wanted to respond to Greg Miller’s April letter, “Too Much Elitism.” As a young person living in Marin on a less than six-figure income, I echo his concerns about Marin Magazine’s exclusive subject matter. Each month I open this gorgeous publication to browse that which is unreachable to me and a great many other county residents: multimillion dollar real estate ads, precious boutiques and vacation suggestions where the nightly accommodation rate is more than my monthly rent. In these times when even many affluent Marinites are reconsidering unnecessary spending and consumption, it would be refreshing to see our namesake magazine feature some aspects of this extraordinary place that are accessible to all its citizens.

Mike Orlando, Sausalito

❯❯ Great chefs in Marin

As a self-described foodie, I was excited to see that Michael Mina lives in Marin and read his take on our county in the Dialogue section of the April issue. It was also great to learn I have something in common with the celebrity chef: apparently we both can’t get enough of Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur! Now, I’ll be waiting for that “quaint family-style Italian restaurant” he said his wife Diane has always dreamed of opening and running.

Sheila Frank, Sausalito

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.

Fresh is Best West Marin—an organic success story

“PEOPLE APPRECIATE THE QUALITY of our products, so business overall is good.” You don’t hear those words often these days. Yet that’s what Helge Hellberg says is happening at Marin Organic, the agricultural association representing 40 certified organic ranchers and farmers working more than 20,000 acres of fertile West Marin soil.

“Almost all of the vegetables coming out of West Marin are certified organic,” says Hellberg, executive director of the organization. “They’re sold at Woodlands Market in Kentfield, Good Earth in Fairfax, and outdoor farmers’ markets throughout Marin and served at restaurants like Frantoio in Mill Valley and Murray Circle at Cavallo Point.”

To discover which farmers are producing what fresh foods and where you can buy them locally, Google “Marin organic” and it’s all there before your eyes in a user-friendly format. You might also find an invitation to visit the West Marin farm where the food is grown or the cattle and chicken are tended.

Organic produce and dairy products must meet demanding standards. Hellberg says

BY JIM WOOD

U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines allow processed foods to contain some 3,000 additives such as colorings and preservatives, most involving chemicals. “But less than 100 additives, and all of them natural, are allowed in organic foods,” he says. In addition, no non-organic synthetic pesticides and only a few non-organic fertilizers are allowed in the raising of organic produce (livestock must be raised without growth hormones and fed a natural diet). The result is that organically grown vegetables, organically raised meats and chickens and organic dairy products (such as Straus Family Creamery in Marshall) are recognized by nutritionists, chefs and physicians as being healthier and more flavorful.

Historically, organic growers have been relatively small family-run farms, and West Marin reflects this tradition. Big Oak Farms, in business for 64 years—now run by a fourth generation of ranchers—features organic goat meat as a specialty. Point Reyes Station’s Robert Giacomini Dairy—established 100 years ago and now run by Giacomini ’s daughters—sells organic milk to Clover Stornetta Farms and cheeses through its website, pointreyescheeses. com. Peter Martinelli’s Fresh Run Farm grows organic artichokes, arugula, broccoli and 50 other row crops on 23 acres off Horseshoe Hill Road in Bolinas. He sells his vegetables at farmers’ markets throughout Marin.

Farmers’ markets, especially in Marin, are themselves a phenomenon. “Sunday morning at the Civic Center is the third-largest market in the state,” says Brigitte Moran, executive director of Marin Farmers Markets, a nonprofit that employs 17 people and oversees seven weekly markets throughout the Bay Area. “Each Sunday we have over 250 booths; for many it’s a family ritual.”

Moran says that five years ago only 5 percent of the produce sold directly to consumers at the Civic Center market was organic. “Now it’s over 40 percent,” she says. Moran’s organization coordinates farmers’ markets in Novato (Tuesday evenings), Fairfax (Wednesday evenings) and Marin Civic Center (Thursdays and Sundays). “Hopefully, we’ll soon have a Saturday morning market in Marin City.” Local open-air markets also take place in Corte Madera’s Town Center (Wednesday midday), Point Reyes Station (Saturday mornings), downtown San Rafael (Thursday evenings) and Tennessee Valley (Tuesday afternoons).

Patricia Furlong, a Sausalito management consultant, has been shopping farmers’ markets weekly for six years because she prefers the flavor and purity of fresh vegetables. “I arrive a little past noon,” she says. “That’s when farmers begin making deals.” Furlong, who was born in Ireland and lived in Portugal before coming to Marin, favors the Civic Center’s Sunday morning market. “It’s like a festival,” she says, “Besides produce, there are locally grown flowers, handmade soaps, and all kinds of sauces, breads and candies. After buying their week’s food, many people sit and enjoy a fresh-from-the-farm lunch.”

Whether you are buying West Marin’s organic produce, meats and dairy products at an outdoor market, your local grocery or a favorite restaurant, the benefits far outweigh any slight increase in price. Besides the added flavor and nutritional value, you’ll be supporting the Marin economy and reducing the carbon emissions required to transport food long distances before it reaches your plate. The phrase, “we’re all in this thing together” truly applies here. That’s my point of view. What’s yours? E-mail jwood@marinmagazine.com

Save big. Live large.

YOUR AAA MEMBERSHIP EQUALS VALUE

The same AAA card that’s in your wallet for roadside assistance and local discounts is your passport to savings and value for travel all around the world. An attentive, knowledgeable AAA Vacation Specialist is on hand at your local AAA branch to help you plan a vacation that’s perfectly tailored to your personality and your budget. For no extra cost, you’ll have a dedicated professional searching out the best values for your next vacation. Why waste time and effort trying to arrange travel on your own?

SAVING MONEY, REDUCING STRESS

AAA Members’ travel dollars go farther because of the moneysaving discounts and exclusive Member Benefits offered on shopping, dining, attraction tickets, cruises, escorted tours and more. We’ll also save you from worry: AAA Travel Vacation Specialists give you confidence that every detail has been arranged—from a private cooking lesson in Santa Fe to trip cancellation insurance. Members know that when it comes to service and peace of mind, AAA delivers.

DECADES OF EXPERIENCE

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TRAVEL: ONE OF LIFE’S MOST VALUABLE EXPERIENCES

A vacation isn’t just a break from work. It’s a time to connect with family and make lasting memories. It’s a time to learn about the people and places close to home or across the globe. Travel is an important investment in the best experiences that life has to offer. You’re spending your precious time and money on your vacation. AAA Travel shares your values and our Vacation Specialists attend to the details that assure your next vacation is the experience you deserve.

EVENTS IN MARIN & BEYOND

MAY 2-3 & 9-10

Marin Arts Council

Open Studios

This 16th annual event offers the public a chance to take a free self-guided tour of hundreds of artists’ studios throughout Marin County. 415.499.8350, marinarts.org

MAY 15

Bike to Work Today

Put the pedal to the metal and bike to work today. The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is sponsoring 18 energizer stations to help keep you moving. marinbike.org

MAY 25

Memorial Day Services

This day of observance features music, flag displays and wreath-laying ceremonies. Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). marincenter.org

THRU MAY 17

Warhol Live

Deborah Harry, Elvis Presley, Grace Jones, Michael Jackson, The Velvet Underground and more, all seen through the eyes of Andy Warhol. de Young (SF). 415.863.3330, thinker.org

MAY 9

Marin Human Race

Join 5,000 of your friends and neighbors for a 5-K race benefiting local nonprofits and schools. Fairgrounds and Lagoon Park (San Rafael). 415.479.5710, marinhumanrace.org

MAY 30–JULY 5

Mutations at MOCA

Alchemy: Transmutation from the Base to the Precious features art made from reclaimed items. Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.com

MAY 1

Chris Cornell

The former leader of the grunge rock band Soundgarden comes to San Francisco. Grand Ballroom (SF). 415.421.8497, goldenvoice.com

MAY 3–5

Marin Symphony

The music of Araon Copland is celebrated with an all-Copland program conducted by Alasdair Neale. Marin Center (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marinsymphony.org

MAY 10

Mother’s Day

The idea was imported from the British by social activist Julia Ward Howe shortly after the American Civil War. Take the most important woman in your life to dinner or send some flowers.

MAY 16

The Crystal Ball

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Buck Institute for Age Research with cocktails and dinner. The Buck Institute (Novato). 415.209.2000, buckinstitute.org

MAY 7

Marin Arts Salon

Enjoy art, music and dance, while browsing walls filled with paintings, photography and other forms of visual art at this event celebrating Marin and art. marinmagazine.com /marinartssalon

MAY 17

Marin-Sonoma Concours

See more than 200 classic automobiles from every era at this new, world-class Bay Area event. The event benefits Hospice by the Bay. Fairgrounds (San Rafael). 415.479.7727, marinsonomaconcours.org

CAPTIVATING CERAMICS

Sausalito’s Heath Ceramics has unveiled a new limited-edition summer ’09 collection that utilizes a two-part glaze achieved through an experimental pottery technique. The company is also celebrating the launch of the Celadon teacup collection, which comes from a collaboration with clothing and housewares designer Christina Kim of Dosa. Heath Ceramics (Sausalito). 415.332.3732, ext. 13, heathceramics.com

Quick Read

TArtist at Work

PAINTER KAY CARLSON BELIEVED ARTISTS could make a living selling their works from their studios. With the help of fellow artists Tim Rose and Molly Blauvelt, and the support of the Marin Arts Council, that idea 15 years ago lead to creation of Marin Open Studios, the countywide event that takes place this year May 2-3, 9-10. Visit Carlson in her studio in the ICB Building in Sausalito. A complete Open Studios guide begins after page 98.

WO THINGS NEW PARENTS TEND TO BE SHORT ON are time and money. Lucky for them, Larkspur residents Pam and Jack McLaughlin have launched Parents Digest. Editors provide concise synopsis on the key aspects of various parenting books with topics ranging from raising gifted children to dealing with picky eaters. Each summary is put into an eight-page e-mailed document and 150 new summaries are added each year. Subscriptions are $68 a year. parentsdigest.com

Get Informed

blue skies ahead

You may have heard of husband-andwife team Jessie and Laurent Boucher from their successful meal delivery service Jessie et Laurent, but the Marinbased culinary duo is now providing food for the Blue Skies Café at the Marin Health and Wellness Center. The new cafe is Buckelew Program’s latest addition and serves as a work training program for those with mental illness.

Blue Skies Café, 3240 Kerner Blvd., San Rafael, jessieetlaurent.com

CBS Marketwatch and Dow Jones reporter and local Stacey Delo’s DIVA discussion group for smart and informed women to discuss current events, has gone from the living room to the online world. The Weekly DIVA, put out with the help of Stacey’s sister Carrice Delo and consulting from Mill Valley resident Brittany Olsen, is a free subscription e-mail for women who want to be informed but might not have time to sift through the news all week. Each e-mail breaks down one news topic and gives the basic information with a backgrounder and how it pertains to the big picture. It’s delivered every Friday, which as creator and San Francisco resident Stacey Delo says is just in time for you to survive a cocktail party or dinner with friends and wow them with what you know. Sign up at discussiondivas.com

BON VIVANTS, REJOICE!

Sample the daily selection of wine and aperitifs, consult with the staff on unique wines for an upcoming dinner party, or simply stop by for a bottle of vino and imported cheese at Brooke Tognazzini and Cate Hughes’s (of A16 and ORA) new Ark Row gourmet shop Prima Palate, 84 Main St. (Tiburon), 415.889.8998

Mother’s Day Reading

Looking for a literary twist for a Mother’s Day gift this year? Check out Because I Love Her, edited by San Rafael’s Andrea N. Richesin, who calls the book a moving and funny collection with essays on the mother-daughter relationship.

news from the north

Drink to That

With wine country so close, most of us already have our favorite tasting spots. For a look at a few under-the-radar options, pick up the new Back Lane Wineries of Sonoma (The Little Bookroom, $20) guide. Author Tilar Mazzeo arranged the chapters into five primary areas: Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Healdsburg, Russian River Valley and Sonoma. She also includes suggestions for nearby restaurants or local attractions to work into your itinerary at the end of each section.

DUDE, IT’S NECTAR

Mill Valley’s Jeffrey Grava and his team at Longboard Vineyards in Healdsburg have been busy getting the word out on their award-winning wines. A bottle of Longboard 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon appeared on the set of Two and a Half Men; in January the San Francisco Chronicle gave its top-level award to Longboard’s 2007 pinot noir and 2007 sauvignon blanc, and their 2007 merlot brought home a gold medal from the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition in March 2009. Care to sample these award winners for yourself? The Healdsburg tasting room is open Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m–6 p.m.; feel free to call ahead (707.433.3473) or check the website for upcoming winemaker dinners and other events here in Marin. longboardvineyards.com

The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association (AVWA) will hold the 12th annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival May 15-17, 2009. avwines.com

Calling All Cultists

Grape guru Philippe Melka, who oversees winemaking for Dana Estates’ trio of collector cabernets, will be offering 440 cases of the 2005 Helms Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($275/ bottle), the winery’s first release, in winter 2009.

SERVING UP NAPA

Cindy Pawlcyn’s latest book, Appetizers, published by Ten Speed Press, offers over 40 recipes collected from her repertoire of favorites including 10 new ones. Now, who throws the best parties?

Temp-tation Budem! This Russian toast could catch on in our northern neighbor-city. Local restaurateur Graziano Perozzi and his daughter Sonia have opened Northern California’s first temperaturecontrolled (28 degrees) tavern, Graziano’s Vodika Lounge, featuring specialty martinis and hard-to-find designer vodkas, at 170 Petaluma Boulevard North. 707.762.5997, grazianosristorante.com

Wine Reading

Just in time for the longer lazier days of spring, Wine House Press has published the fourth edition of The California Directory of Fine Wines , which includes 24 new entries and a total of 69 wineries throughout Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Of special interest to Marinites are the images in the book by awardwinning photographer Robert Holmes of Mill Valley. “Considering California wineries are my favorite photography subject,” says Holmes, “I consider myself lucky to have been able to work on every edition of this directory.” He credits his fortune to Jennifer Barry Designs in Fairfax, who employed him to photograph for the first edition of the series.

Holmes is also celebrating another book launch he contributed to, Passion for Pinot, written by Jorday Mackay. Does he have tips for amateur wine country photographers?

“Besides being aware of how the property is situated in regards to the sun,” he says, “keep drinking— it loosens the vision.” Both books are available at Book Passages, and other local bookstores.

lifestyle

Name: Pamela Westfall Bochte Home: Mill Valley Occupation: Writer, producer and philanthropist

Pamela Westfall Bochte will be busy this Mother’s Day. She’ll be celebrating stepdaughter Captain Dee Bochte’s safe return from Afghanistan, as well as welcoming visitors to WildCare’s Mother’s Day open house, where they will have a chance to see the care and feeding of orphaned baby animal patients. You may have seen Bochte at various fundraisers throughout Marin (she’s been involved with the California Academy of Sciences, the Marine Mammal Center and NPR’s New Voices Radio), but her passion is fostering a healthier relationship between people and the natural world. She says that people want to do the right thing when it comes to wild animals, but often they don’t know what that is. As the director of development at WildCare she helps raise the funds to support the group’s many programs, including a wild animal hospital, the Wildlife Hotline and nature education programs that reach over 40,000 children and adults each year.

What are you wearing?

A vintage dress from the ’40s, something I would wear to the WildCare Mother’s Day Open House or lunch with a donor. The antique amethyst pin and deco bracelet are gifts from my mother and the Indonesian silk wrap is from a boutique in Sausalito. My earrings are from the Mill Valley Arts Festival, and the shoes are Ann Taylor Loft.

Who are your fashion influences?

My friend Patricia Ziegler—she has a great sense of style—and my mother, who loves beauty in all its forms. I’m a big fan of Armani as well, from suits to ball gowns.

Where do you love to shop in Marin?

I like Millie K in Mill Valley; the owner always has something exuberant to recommend. If I’m pressed for time, Cindy Sandner at Nordstrom; she’s always helpful, no matter what your budget.

What is always in your bag/pockets?

A lip gloss by Burt’s Bees and WildCare’s Living with Wildlife hotline number (415.456.SAVE) because it seems that I’m always rescuing something; last time it was a cormorant from Stinson Beach! Oh, and a blank journal for quick notes for my novel.

What is your best cheapo secret?

I like Diamonds in the Rough, a consignment store in Mill Valley; she has lovely, fun and affordable items.

What’s your fashion pet peeve?

I think there’s room for style and eccentricity, and that we do well to appreciate other people’s quirkiness—it’s good practice for citizens in a democracy.

PHOTO: BARBARA RIES

What is your view of Marin style?

Sometimes I think women are a bit timid to really dress beautifully, to enhance their own personal beauty and expression, like it’s not PC or something. The universe worked hard to create all this beauty and diversity—we would do well to express it!

Where do you love to eat in Marin?

My favorite spot is at home with my husband, Bruce; he’s an amazing cook. When we go out, we like Sushi Ran in Sausalito, or the Olema Farmhouse Inn after a hike at the National Seashore.

I host a lot of donor lunches and the Panama Hotel in San Rafael and Insalata’s in San Anselmo are great places for lunch—not too noisy, and good vegetarian choices.

How do you spend your weekends?

Writing! Or hiking in the Headlands, doing yoga, reading an inspiring book.

Where do you go to pamper yourself?

To the sea; horizons are so healing. I also love Evo Spa and couldn’t do without my acupuncturist, Dr. Marty Rossman; he works wonders for my health.

What was the last book you read and why?

The Great Work by Thomas Berry. He’s a brilliant thinker regarding how we humans can reinvent ourselves and live in harmony with the life support systems of the planet.

If your life were a movie, what would be your theme song?

I truly love the “Flying Theme” from E.T., and any horn concerto. Music that celebrates the wonder of life.

us help you pare it down & pull

all that’s green and gold

Green, considered one of the most energizing colors, symbolizes renewal, springtime growth and health; mix it with gold, the color of success, and you have the perfect combination for this season’s wardrobe additions. — somer flaherty

1. Babylon Talisman Medal by Debeers, $20,000 at Debeers (SF). 415.391.1400, debeers.com

2. Penelope Op Art North South Tote by Coach, $548 at Coach (Corte Madera). 415.924.5046, coach.com

3. Floral print dress by Nanette Lepore, $595 at Kismet (San Anselmo). 415.454.2629, nanettelepore.com

4. Studded belt by Tory Burch, $295 at Tory Burch (SF). 415.398.1525

5. Stephanie Medium Bag in Gold by Diane von Furstenberg, $875 at M Clothing (Corte Madera). 415.924.8891, martymclothing.com

6. Drop earrings by Kathleen Dughi Jeweler, available at Kathleen Dughi Jeweler (Mill Valley). 415.383.0462, kathleendughi.com

California Closets and Marin Magazine present

4TH ANNUAL MARIN ARTS SALON

A Celebration of Local Art and Design

Thursday, May 7, 2009 • 6:00 pm–9:00 pm

FREE Admission • Wine & Appetizers

California Closets Showroom

610 DuBois St., San Rafael

EVENT DETAILS

MUSIC

6:30pm • Strange Creek, Bluegrass Americana

8:00pm • Cole Tate and Eugene Huggins, Rock, Blues and Vocals

VISUAL ARTS

Helen Steele Winner, Marin Magazine Get Covered Contest

The Artist Hines / Robert Allen Fine Art

FASHION / JEWELRY / ACCESSORIES

Koze Boutique

Kathy Kamei

Green Apples

20/20 Optical

Swing

DESIGN

Greg Nelson, Guitar Designer

MARIN ARTS COUNCIL ARTISTS

Leslie Lawton, Jewelry

Danny Dastrup, Pottery

WINE SPONSOR

Sequoia Grove

For event details, visit www.marinmagazine.com/marinartssalon

ART

FO R Y OU R INF O RMATI O N

Let It Grow

BY P. J. BREMIER

THE CHILDREN’S GARDEN COMPANY CULTIVATES CURIOSITY IN KIDS

DIRT, WORMS AND SPIDERS may be the perceived domain of little boys, and flowers and butterflies the purview of girls, but the singular act of gardening holds enough enchantment to entice them both.

“You never know what you’ll find when you turn over a spade in the dirt,” says Louise Hassen, a children’s docent at the San Francisco Botanical Garden and the founder of two-year-old Children’s Garden Co. in San Anselmo. “It’s like being a nature detective.”

The constant discoveries capture the interest and imagination of a curious child, she says. “I find it fascinating that (kids) have a longer attention span when they’re working in the garden. I’ve worked with children from 10 in the morning until 1 in the afternoon and not once did they say, ‘I’m bored.’ They were completely into what they were doing.”

That’s the effect of a well-designed children’s garden, she adds. “It should be a place where kids really want to go out and explore all the interesting components—the flowers and berries

GA G R RD D EN N E

PAGE:

TOP: Alle

Whitney plants fava beans in her garden.

BELOW: Stinson Beach garden.

THE CHILDREN’S GARDEN CO.

862 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., #298 San Anselmo 415.454.1121

childrensgardenco.com

and butterflies. Every day in a garden should be different. It keeps it exciting.”

From simple raised vegetable beds (starting at $855) to enclosed ones ($3,555 and up), from elaborately themed (think Princess, Cowkid Corral, Pirate’s Hideout) to custom designed, Hassen creates distinctly child-friendly gardens. They’re filled with easy-to-grow flowers and vegetables, often embellished with colorful hand-painted backdrops and play structures and enclosed to give young gardeners a sense of privacy and place.

Hassen was born in England but reared in South Africa, where her parents were avid gardeners. She recalls coming home from school and “walking around and checking on every single plant. My favorite thing was hanging out in the garden. It’s like being on a merrygo-round; you sit there and the seasons come and go so quickly and you see the scenery change in your own backyard.”

Regrettably, she notes, “unlike (in) England, where everyone is a gardener, Americans often think of a garden as work and just one more thing that they have to maintain.” And today’s parents, she gently suggests, “feel they have to constantly entertain their children, which is exhausting, but they just have to open the back door and tell the children to ‘go outside and see what you can discover.’”

Every Children’s Garden Co. garden comes with a simple maintenance schedule and a free introductory gardening session for the children. Hassen also offers a variety of optional maintenance assistance packages to help children manage their gardens, as well as customized at-home gardening classes.

Chase Whitney, 11, and his sister, Alle, 8, have been nurturing their San Anselmo gar-

PREVIOUS

San Anselmo garden.

den for two seasons now, ever since their parents, John and Jenny Whitney, asked Hassen to install an eight-by-eight-foot enclosed raised vegetable bed in their yard. “I really wanted them to experience what it’s like to plant things and see them grow and spend time outdoors and in nature,” Jenny Whitney says. “They go in the garden all the time to pick things—strawberries, edible flowers, radishes, broccoli, snap peas, lemon cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, even the big tomatoes. They eat those like they’re apples.” The garden has even become the main attraction for playdates: the kids and their friends gather there to sample fruits and vegetables, pick flowers and play games.

That happens also in the Stinson Beach garden of Gardner Robinson and interior designer Kendall Wilkinson, who have two young boys, Parker and Spencer. “It truly is a fantasy place for them,” Wilkinson says. “Our neighbors’ children come to play pirates and tag and build incredible fortresses in the garden.”

The family collaborated with Hassen to create a beach house garden that satisfied everyone—for the parents, a low-maintenance, aesthetically pleasing space that was authentic to the setting; for the boys, a surf-shack theme complete with a capacious playhouse, an old rowboat to hold toys, and a garden bursting with beans, strawberries, carrots, herbs, sunflowers, cosmos and dahlias. The boys “feel ownership over their vegetable garden and the surf shack and a sense of responsibility in maintaining it,” Wilkinson says.

She credits Hassen with creating “one of the most rewarding experiences” for her family. “The boys have taken to her; she has such a way with children.”

Hassen’s newest program, launching this spring, is a children’s gardening club at her five-acre Sonoma farm. It will have Marin kids tending their own plots, picking olives, learning about beehives and engaging in other garden activities. When they’re ready to go home, tired and happy, she’ll send them off with the fruits and vegetables of their labor, along with such seasonal goodies as a bottle of olive oil, a jar of honey or a lavender sachet.

BY SOMER FLAHERTY

2. Warren Simmonds of Simmonds and Associates helped pick out the sculpture High by artist Bret Price for his Kentfield client’s home. 714.744.4480, bretprice.com 3. and 4. Marin resident Noreen Nieder literally stopped our editors in the middle of the street to tell us her two favorite front yard sculptures in Marin. The giraffes are in Tiburon and the Tyrannosaurus Rex can be found in Mill Valley.

“A space goes beyond functional to fun with the addition of an unusual element,” says Warren Simmonds of San Anselmo based landscape architecture firm Simmonds and Associates. “It could be a gauzy, romantic cabana, which becomes a piece of sculpture in its own right, or it could be a whimsically placed piece. One client has a pair of very large bronze figures by Fernando Botero that look like they are about to jump into his lap pool!”

If you’re looking to turn your own backyard into a setting for art, Simmonds says it’s “important to find a piece or pieces that speak to you, stir a deep emotion within you,” adding that some of his favorite resources for outdoor sculptures include Donna Seager Gallery, I. Wolk Sculpture Gallery, New Leaf Garden Gallery and local artists like Jim Brubaker, Archie Held and Karen Shay. As a landscape architect, Simmonds also advises that when planning an outdoor setting for sculptures, you should keep your backyard plant palette a little more subdued than normal, so as not to compete with the art, unless a great plant is the art, or an intentional counterpoint. He also says that if the art is to be placed in an up-front foreground location, it should usually be of a smallish scale, with more interesting detail. If it will be seen from a distance, it needs to be large, and generally have more space around it. Pieces that you will pass in transitional spaces can be a range of sizes, but “should delight the person passing by, evoking humor or interest in their play of light, shapes, or possibly water.” Simmonds and Associates (San Anselmo). 415.460.0460, simmonds-associates.com

5. Screen fountains available at Sausalito’s McCloud Design Studio. 415.331.2178, mcclouddesign.com

Field of Dreams

BY

How two local “boys of summer” wound up in a whole new game

SOMER FLAHERTY PHOTO TIM PORTER

Check out their website at inorintheway.com

FOR NOAH AND LOGAN MILLER, the dream was always baseball. The identical twins grew up in Fairfax, Forest Knolls and the redwoods of Lagunitas, spending their early years shuttling between their mother’s one-bedroom home they called “the Shack” and the corrugated aluminum shed where their alcoholic father, Daniel, lived before becoming homeless for the last 15 years of his life. They knew they weren’t going to get anywhere through privilege or relying on other people. Baseball was their ticket out of a life otherwise limited to pounding nails like their dad.

After graduating from Drake High School, the twins chased their baseball dreams. But success never came. Logan made it to the minors, but was released. Noah played college ball, but flunked out. No team picked them up at the annual tryouts in Arizona. The dream died and they had no contingency plan.

A friend offered his apartment in Los Angeles for a few weeks so they could sort out their lives. With a couple hundred dollars, baseball gear and a few pairs of jeans, they headed to Hollywood. The weeks turned into months. On weekends, the brothers drove home to Marin, where they parked cars at the Spinnaker in Sausalito and worked roofing jobs with their father. Part of their dream endured, though—to make a living at something they loved.

Over time, an idea emerged, to write a movie about their experience—the quest to play in the majors, their father’s struggle with alcoholism. The notion was as bold as it was rash. They had no experience in writing and, in fact, very little even in reading. “We didn’t read. And when I say we didn’t read I mean we didn’t read,” says Noah, who adds, half-jokingly, that their reading level hovered at around fifth grade.

The brothers took to books with the same diligence they once applied to hitting curveballs, reading up to 12 hours at a stretch. “We got a list of books from this professor that smart people read but we thought we’d start out with the easier stuff—Jack London, The Alchemist, The Outsiders, Great Expectations,” says Noah.

Noah and Logan didn’t have a computer, so they started writing in their “office”—a Los Angeles park, where they drank coffee out of mason jars and played catch in between bouts of scribbling on a legal pad. The outcome was their first script, which eventually became Touching Home, a movie starring Ed Harris as their dad that premiered last year at the San Francisco International Film Festival.

“When we wrote the first one we figured okay, we wrote a screenplay, someone’s going to buy it and we’d be on our way,” says Noah. When that didn’t happen, the brothers fell into a familiar Hollywood lifestyle, scraping by with modeling and odd jobs (working at a bingo hall, for one) while writing as much as possible and producing a dozen more screenplays. They also collected rejections by the hundreds. Perhaps they would have continued to limp through L.A. had not a tragic event set off a string of occurrences that led to having their Hollywood dream realized.

Over time, an idea emerged, to write a movie about their experience…The notion was as bold as it was rash. They had no experience in writing and, in fact, very little even in reading.

On January 5, 2006, their dad died in the Marin County jail, where police had taken him after he was found drunk outside a liquor store. The brothers’ relationship with their father was complex. They describe him as a man of great but unutilized talents. The last time they visited him in jail, shortly before he died, he asked, “When are you gonna make our movie?” The three imagined actors who might play their father. They thought Ed Harris was a good fit. “I’ll give him permission to be me,” Daniel said. “The sheriff will negotiate on my behalf.”

At the morgue while saying goodbye to their father, Noah and Logan vowed they would do anything they could to make the movie that year. They returned to L.A. and buried themselves in the Guerrilla Filmmaker’s Handbook, where they found the name of Lorette Bayle, a Kodak film representative. They pitched their

Logan and Noah Miller in Nicasio.

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

project to her; she recommended they see Ric Halpern, manager of the Education and New Filmmaker Program at Panavision. They called Halpern on the day he returned from vacation and met with him that afternoon; he agreed to give them one of the company’s new-filmmaker grants to cover the cost of expensive camera equipment.

The brothers took their gear to Arizona for spring training and used their baseball connections to shoot a few scenes. Then it was off to San Francisco, where Ed Harris was being given an award at the San Francisco International Film Festival in April. They showed him the footage, pitched the movie and generally hounded him until he signed to play their father during a two-week opening he had in December.

That summer a family friend introduced them to an investor who financed the few million dollars they needed for the movie. They shot scenes around Marin including in the San Geronimo Valley, Point Reyes and Samuel P. Taylor park, and in December, they wrapped, shooting the last scene, an aerial shot coming into the town of Nicasio from above.

They had kept their promise to themselves and their vow to their dad—and within a year of his death.

While editing the movie, the twins lived with their mother in Fairfax. They would run into people on the street and get asked where they had been, what had been going on in their lives. “When we started telling our story people said we should write a book,” says Noah.

“We started writing our tails off and hitting the keys every morning. I don’t even remember how it got written,” says Logan.

In only a few months they had finished Either You’re In or You’re In the Way, the story of their path to make their first feature film with no experience and no real money. Producing partner Jeromy Zajonc and friend Jason Holthe read the draft and made suggestions. They gave the rewrite to Jason’s wife, Tess, a best-selling author, who sent it to her agent, Mary Ann Naples, in New York.

“Her agent read it right away, probably because it had been vetted by Tess, and we could tell by her voice and her enthusiasm for it that

she liked it. After we addressed her notes she sent it off to publishers and told us not to expect to hear anything for six to eight weeks,” says Noah. Actually, the wait turned out to be more like six to eight hours. By that afternoon about a dozen editors were e-mailing Naples telling her how much they liked it.

Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, made an offer and the brothers signed a contract.

“We wrote a memoir about two nobodies,” Logan says of the finished piece. “Nobody knows who the hell we are.”

“The big part is that you’re writing this memoir, right, and you may give information that you haven’t told most of your friends,” adds Noah.

“And you haven’t consciously thought, how is that going to be perceived,” says Logan.

“You’re just trying to tell the truth and as much of it as the story can contain. I think it happened a couple of months ago that we thought, ‘Shit, our lives are going public,’ ” says Noah. “It’s an awkward feeling. It’s different when you’re with people you trust and love. But now, out of the gate you’re asking people to care about you. We’re saying here we are.”

The future for the brothers is uncertain. They want to continue to write, direct and produce because “it’s nice to stay in control of your vision, the vision you had since page one,” says Noah. In their book, they write that if they had something to fall back on after baseball they would have never started writing and wouldn’t have made the movie. Now still living in Fairfax, they’re on the brink of releases of both their first book, which comes out April 28, and their first movie, which will have a screening at the Rafael Film Center May 6 and at Bookstock 2009 at AT&T Park June 6.

With their success in the entertainment industry, there’s also the possibility of a return move to L.A. “I wouldn’t mind having an apartment down there, but this is home,” says Noah. “So many guys who live in Marin have tables (full) of Academy Awards. The dream would be to stay here and have a whole entertainment company. Lucas and Coppola have done it. Nobody of our generation, but…”

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SHAWN MARSHALL

This 43-year-old former Mill Valley mayor has only just begun BY

JIM WOOD

Think Reese Witherspoon chatting about her breakout role in the hit movie Legally Blonde . That’s Shawn Marshall discussing Mill Valley politics. “I just love it,” she says, “It’s really community politics; it’s imperfect, sometimes difficult, but it’s almost always done in a neighborly spirit where people care about one another and seek to obtain consensus.”

Like Witherspoon’s character in Legally Blonde, Marshall is a blend of lively enthusiasm and focused business acumen. She is a third-generation Marinite, a twin born at Marin General and a mother to twin 7-year-old boys. She went to Marin Catholic High School, graduated from UC Davis, and then held staff positions at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C., and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. After returning to her Marin roots, she was launched into politics through Leadership Mill Valley, a Chamber of Commerce seminar that dealt with the workings of city and county governance. “It really intrigued me; I was totally hooked,” she admits.

After chairing the creation of the scholarship fund at the Mill Valley Community Center, Marshall served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, then was elected to the city council in 2005. “In early 2008, I was named mayor by a new council just after the lid blew off over the Miller Avenue Precise Plan,” she continues. “There was backlash, backstabbing and some really nasty behavior; we had to back off without losing the vision. We also had to bring peace to the city—and I think we’ve done both.”

Currently, along with serving on the Mill Valley City Council (she’ll run for reelection in November), Marshall is president of the League of California Cities North Bay Division (four

counties, 31 cities), a legislative committee member of the Marin County Council of Mayors and Councilmembers and vice chair of the newly formed Marin Energy Authority.

Let’s imagine you have omnipotent powers: In 10 years, what three objectives would you like to see having been accomplished in Marin County?

Objective #1: With Marin Energy Authority’s guidance, I’d like to see the county leading the state—and possibly the nation—in weaning ourselves from an addiction to oil and fossil fuels. From a practical perspective that means we’ll have sustainable growth and land use policies in place, as well as transportation networks that are both convenient and cost-effective.

Objective #2: I would like to see a county that is more diverse, both ethnically and economically. When I grew up here, Mill Valley was full

makes public transportation the more convenient and timely choice because in the end, I believe, that’s the only thing that will ever get people out of their cars. I love the idea of Larkspur Landing as Marin’s transportation hub; we’re already halfway there, and if we could somehow deal with the San Quentin issue and buy some of that land, I think that would be phenomenal. The SMART train is a step in the right direction; ultimately, I would like to see more stops along that line and know that will be controversial. From there, the answer will be better bus routes—if SMART is the spine, shuttles and buses will be the spokes. That will include movement around the county for shoppers, seniors, and school kids.

Anything else? Yes, in 10 years I would really love to see that Marin has continued its dedication to open space and our agricultural past. I think what we’re doing with Marin Organic and

“When I grew up here, Mill Valley was full of artists, plumbers; there was an affordable kids shoe store and a person who made a living selling candles at Old Brown’s store. For the most part these folks aren’t able to live here anymore. I think that is tragic. “

of artists, plumbers; there was an affordable kids shoe store and a person who made a living selling candles at Old Brown’s store. For the most part these folks aren’t able to live here anymore. I think that is tragic. From a public policy perspective, we owe it to ourselves to work hard on economic and ethnic diversity. And you start by providing housing choices that allow people of low income— even middle income—to live here. I think it is sad we’ve become a wealthy enclave. I believe there’s a role here for government to play.

Objective #3: I would like to see a robust transportation system in our county that does not urbanize our county. Basically, one that

supporting our farmers in West Marin is wonderful. In doing so, in order to keep our 85 percent beautiful park-like open space that people love—which is why we pay the big bucks to live here—it’s important to understand the value of Marin’s city-centered corridor approach to sustainable development along Highway 101. That’s a reality check people don’t want to hear about today. Yet, in order to have a sustainable lifestyle Marin has to have diverse housing stock and a viable transportation network. We have to have an infrastructure that will make all of Marin County work for those living here now and future generations to come.

THERE IT SITS, PERCHED MAJESTICALLY

above Highway 101 in Novato, presenting its unadorned, angular facade to passing motorists as gleaming testament to the spare aesthetic of its designer, the great modernist architect I. M. Pei.

Inside though, beyond the airiness of its soaring, welcoming foyer, this inspirational form yields to quotidian function and long hallways extend into colorful, cluttered labs where scientists of all stripes perform the multitude of small tasks necessary to answer life’s largest questions.

This is the Buck Institute for Aging Research— or more simply, the Buck, as the scientists call it—a monument to the confluence of art and science. The institute, founded with funds from the substantial trust of Ross philanthropists Leonard and Beryl Buck, turns 10 this year, celebrating a decade begun with a noble building and an ennobling goal— helping us all age better—and punctuated by work on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other debilitating illnesses that have earned the Buck solid standing among its institutional peers.

In the coming decade, the Buck will break new ground—figuratively and literally. Using a $25 million federal grant, it is creating a new discipline, geroscience, that extracts scientists from their intellectual silos and forms collaborative teams bent on common problem-solving. Worm workers, meet the protein mechanics. Another big grant, $20.5 million from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, will underwrite a new stem cell research facility once matching funds are found.

Behind these ideas are many people—188 to be precise (half of whom hold Ph.D.s)—who work in or support the Buck’s 15 research labs. The problems they address are immense, but their daily tasks can be quite small—moving fruit flies from vial to vial, peering at nematodes through six-figure microscopes, taking apart cells.

Science might be described as curiosity, rigorously applied. The Buck is a building, yes, and an amazing one at that, but—and sorry, Mr. Pei—the building is just a pretty face. The heart of the Buck is its people. Meet 11 of them in the next eight pages.

A SHINING ICON ON A HILL

As the Buck Institute turns 10 years old, we celebrate the people inside the architecture

STORY & PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

JIM “DOC” KOVACH PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Bio: Parma Heights, Ohio; M.D., J.D. Age 52.

What I do: I oversee administrative activities at the institute.

Career path: I was a middle linebacker with the New Orleans Saints for eight years. During the offseasons I attended medical school (hence the “Doc” nickname). I was also drawn to law. Since law school, I worked for a law firm representing biotech companies, worked in academic medicine and helped run a biotechnology company.

Biggest challenge: Finding sufficient financial support for the great science our researchers conduct. Many

people still think the institute is financed by the Buck Trust and that we’re a “fat cat” organization. Truth is, the trust provides just 20 percent of our budget—most of our funding comes from hard-earned grants.

Biggest joy: Being on the ground floor in an area of research that can change the fate of humanity.

Guiding principles: There are three:

1. "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" —Dad, supporting the principle of developing multiple approaches to complex issues;

2. "Success is peace of mind that is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable." —John Wooden, supporting the principle of success as a journey;

3. "I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work…I want to achieve it through not dying."

Woody Allen, supporting the principles of humor and longevity.

My vision: That we can help stem the personal, financial and societal costs associated with our current approach to aging in time to help deal with the upcoming “silver tsunami” of aging baby boomers.

How I see science in society: Science challenges people to become engaged and develop intellectual honesty. At the Buck Institute, our science provides compelling evidence that the greatest power we have in healthy aging lies within our own bodies—through what we do (exercise and nutrition) and the decisions we make.

GARY SCOTT SENIOR STAFF SCIENTIST

Bio: New Haven, Conn.; Ph.D. physics. Age 63.

What I do: I work with tumor samples to identify novel markers on the estrogen receptor from breast cancer patients. These markers will distinguish who will respond to hormonal therapy from those who are likely to need a different treatment.

Why I became a scientist: I always enjoyed science and received a Ph.D. in physics before becoming involved in the molecular biology revolution.

My biggest goal as a scientist: Making the big breakthrough.

How I see science in society: The innovations of science provide the technologies needed to lift society to higher standards of health and well-being.

“Our science provides compelling evidence that the greatest power we have in healthy aging lies within our own bodies.” —Jim Kovach

JULIE ANDERSEN PROFESSOR

Bio: Moscow, Idaho; B.S. biochemistry, Ph.D. biological chemistry. Age 47.

What I do: I am the head of the Andersen lab. My research involves understanding the specific causes of cell death associated with Parkinson’s disease and developing novel therapies for the disorder. Parkinson’s affects one in every 100 Americans older than 65, and one in 30 by the age of 85. It is the most prevalent neurological disorder impacting on motor movement, resulting in slowed movement, rigidity and problems with balance. While there are drug and surgical therapies to deal with the symptoms, there is no cure. Parkinson’s appears to involve a combination of genetics and environmental exposures. We are trying to work toward understanding the role of both of these factors.

Why I became a scientist: My mother was a nurse, so by the time I was 11 or 12 I knew I wanted to be involved in this medical process, in making it work more effectively. I considered going to medical school to become a country doc, but realized that I would likely make a larger impact via basic scientific

research. My first lab job was in high school. From there, I never looked back.

My biggest goal as a scientist: Of course, my “pie in the sky” goal would be to cure all age-related disease. I at least want to make major contributions toward that dream.

How I see science in society:

Scientists have not only a responsibility toward furthering cures of agerelated disease, but also toward conveying our work to the public (since it is largely funded by taxpayer dollars) and educating the next generation of scientists to ensure that this ongoing research continues.

“Scientists have not only a responsibility toward furthering cures of age-related disease, but also

toward conveying our work to

the public (since it is largely funded by taxpayer dollars).”—Julie Andersen

SUBHASH KATEWA

STAFF RESEARCH INVESTIGATOR

Bio: Ahmedabad, India; Ph.D. biochemistry. Age 35.

What I do: Diet plays an important role in healthy aging. I am trying to understand how diet influences mitochondria, which convert food into the energy (ATP) a cell uses. Mitochondria also generate toxic byproducts called ROS. With age, ATP goes down and ROS goes up. Dietary restriction has increased life span and reduced age-related diseases in various species, including mammals.

Why I became a scientist: I remember when I first realized that the movement of my hand or leg is not a simple process of just moving it from here to there. It involves a complex set of events that starts from the brain, involves different neurons, complex signaling, muscle contraction and finally the movement of my hand and leg. This information came from the lifelong work of scientists who showed us how things work. That motivated me to become one.

My biggest goal as a scientist: I work on the fruit fly and we can extend life-span of these flies by about 50 percent. The eventual goal is to see if these similar conditions could improve the length and quality of life in mammals.

How I see science in society: Advancements in sciences have changed our way of life. Science explained phenomena we thought were unexplainable. We still face many problems whose answer we don’t have. Could you age without complication or disease? Can oceans be used for renewable energy? Could we ask for a fresh pair of kidneys or a heart (grown from our own skin cells) in next 15 days? These things are not possible now, but my grandfather never thought anybody could go to the moon.

AKOS GERENCSER STAFF SCIENTIST

Bio: Budapest, Hungary; M.D., M.Sc. biomedical engineering, Ph.D. neurosciences. Age 34.

What I do: I focus on mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics, which means I study those parts of the cell that are in charge of energy production. One theory of aging is that tissues and organs fail due to a decayed capability for energy production. In neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases this decay leads to the demise of neurons in the brain and mental disability. I am working on techniques we can use to detect subtle differences in energy production, which will hopefully lead to identification of age- and disease-related alterations.

Why I became a scientist: I was playing in the sand when I was about 3 and someone asked me what I wanted to be I grew up. I replied “researcher.” And what are you going to research? For water. Where will you research? In the bucket. Of course, it was said in Hungarian so it did not alliterate to the Buck originally.

My biggest goal as a scientist: Revealing the unknown. I’m not working on actual cures, so I cannot say it's to cure Alzheimer’s or diabetes. But a relevant goal could be to pinpoint an important detail that could lead to further therapy development.

How I see science in society: Many people are thirsty to learn about the cutting edge of science and technology. Many others reject certain branches of life sciences such as embryonic stem cell research. Scientists have a teaching role to disseminate knowledge and fight myth and fear.

"When I was very young I liked mixing liquids from my parents' medicine cabinet in the bathroom sink. This likely contributed to my receiving a chemistry set for Christmas." —John Miller

JOHN MILLER

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Bio: Louisville, Ky.; B.S. biochemistry, Ph.D. genetics. Age 34.

What I do: I am looking for therapeutic targets for Huntington’s disease. The disease is caused by a toxic protein, huntingtin, that causes certain brain cells to die. The huntingtin protein kills cells by causing other proteins to have harmful activities. We inhibit those other proteins and see if we can prevent the cells from dying.

Why I became a scientist: When I was very young I liked mixing liquids from my parents' medicine cabinet in the bathroom sink. This likely contributed to my receiving a chemistry set for Christmas, and in later years a microscope and telescope. I’ve always been interested in trying to figure out how things work.

My biggest goal as a scientist: That my work will contribute to curing as many diseases as possible, starting with Huntington’s disease.

How I see science in society: Science is critical both in helping us understand our world and in our coexisting with it. Specific to what we do here at the Buck Institute, science will help us learn how to understand and hopefully prevent the detrimental effects and diseases that affect many of us as we age.

ART ORJALO

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Bio: Los Angeles; Ph.D. biology. Age 32.

What I do: My daily work revolves around the idea of stopping cancer cell development through cellular senescence, which causes cells to stop dividing.

Why I became a scientist: I’ve always been fascinated by puzzles. Biology to me is a giant puzzle. I enjoy finding a missing piece and adding to the big picture. Getting my Ph.D. in biology was also a compromise with my parents, who groomed me for a career in medicine. They still have a “Dr.” in the family, although not quite one they envisioned.

My biggest goal as a scientist: I want my work to make a difference in a person’s life. It is important to understand why society is preoccupied

with staying young. Is it just to maintain smooth skin or to live to 100? It is becoming more and more apparent to me, especially here in Marin County, that it’s not for vanity’s sake. People want to spend more time with their families. They want to see their children having children. They want to play ball or jump in a pool without the trepidation that accompanies aging. I strive not to be the architect of the fountain of youth; I endeavor to erase the fear of getting old.

How I see science in society: Science is what allows someone who is HIV-positive to participate in the Olympics. It allows a businessman to take two puffs from an inhaler and breathe comfortably as he makes a presentation. It allows a 12-year-old to have chemotherapy one day and swing from the monkey bars the next. Science is a way for us to enjoy life to its fullest.

VICTORIA LUNYAK ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Bio: St. Petersburg, Russia; B.S., M.Sc. biophysics, Ph.D. molecular biology. Age 42.

What I do: My specialty is epigenetics, the study of any inheritable influence on gene activity that does not involve a change in the actual DNA sequence. My work focuses on mapping epigenetic blueprints for healthy cells and diseased cells. The hope is that such blueprints will allow doctors to target drugs so they alter only that section of the epigenetic program that is causing a problem. It will be a big job. Different types of cells—skin, eyes, teeth, hair—have unique epigenetic blueprints. I work with stem cells due to their unique ability to transform into many different cell types in the body. My initial project could take five years.

Why I became a scientist: My father was a physicist and pushed me to become a scientist. Otherwise, I would have become a ballerina. That is what my mother wanted.

My biggest goal as a scientist: I love puzzles and I’m very curious. I would love to solve the puzzle of how epigenetics influences the aging process.

How I see science in society: Science plays a huge role in practically every aspect of society—the environment, food, clothing, business (everything from the explosion of biotechnology companies to insurance companies that use science when participating in health care).

PATRICIA RENAUT SPILMAN

SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Bio: Fresno, Calif.; B.S. physiology, M.S. physiology and cell biology. Age 49.

What I do: Our objective is to find an effective treatment or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease by understanding the biology of neuronal cell death. We study specific proteins that help neurons survive and function well. Neurons are the cells that allow us to hear, see, move, feel, remember and solve problems. Our focus is on identifying proteins or compounds that can be used to either pre-

vent or treat Alzheimer’s. My expertise is in brain anatomy and physiology, as well as the function of individual cell types, particularly neurons.

Why I became a scientist: I was always fascinated by nature and biology, and the function of the brain in particular. I did well in math and science and found it endlessly interesting. I had a seminal moment when I met a friend’s grandmother whose husband, his grandfather, was suffering from Alzheimer’s. It was devastating to the family. She said, “The man I love is gone, but he is sitting beside me.” I knew I wanted to help.

My biggest goal as a scientist: To find a cure, or at least an effective treatment, for Alzheimer’s.

How I see science in society: Science allows our individual and communal intellect to grow and appreciate nature for its reality. In the best case, it should lead modern societies to greater compassion and respect for individuals and the greater world. It is an international discipline—there are people from all over the world working at the Buck Institute. For that reason, the study of science should be a shared endeavor that unites different cultures of the world.

JULIE MANGADA LAMBERT

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

Bio: Petaluma; B.S. microbiology, Ph.D. molecular medicine. Age 37.

What I do: I focus on potential therapeutic applications of human embryonic stem cells for age-related diseases of the nervous system. There are no current cures for these devastating disorders. A promising approach to the treatment is cell therapy, or transplantation of nerve cells into the brain or spinal cord to replace lost cells and restore function. I am developing an MRI-based test that will allow us

to assess the progress of transplanted embryonic stem cell-derived neurons in a Parkinson’s disease model.

Why I became a scientist: My mother was diagnosed with systemic scleroderma in 1987. At support group meetings, guest scientists seemed to speak in a foreign language I never really understood until I became a pre-veterinary major. In 1996, I read about the first stem cell transplant for a scleroderma patient. I knew then that I wanted to be a scientist and contribute to this field. After seven years studying transplantation and auto-immunity for my Ph.D., I switched disciplines and found a postdoctoral fellowship to allow me to study stem cells. My mother is still my inspiration!

My biggest goal as a scientist: To present my work in a way that is accessible to everybody. I want people to understand the breadth and scope of the research being done here. Science is not scary and intimidating.

How I see science in society: Science permeates all aspects of our culture, whether it polarizes theological beliefs as stem cells have, promises to cure devastating diseases or prompts us to ask pertinent questions about the future of our environment. Science is the golden thread that weaves together all these diverse fabrics of our society.

SILVESTRE ALAVEZ STAFF RESEARCH INVESTIGATOR

Bio: Tehuacan, Mexico; Ph.D. biochemistry. Age 40.

What I do: I am working on several projects. One involves exploring the interplay between stress response and aging. I am also interested in how the overexpression of chaperones (proteins) could have a role in the onset and development of several diseases. I also have a particular interest in finding compounds that increase life span.

In these efforts, I work with a simple and primitive organism, a microscopic soil worm, the nematode Caenorhaditis elegans, which during the last 10 years has become one of the

most important animal models used to study aging.

Why I became a scientist: I am a night person, curious and interested in love, truth, freedom and self-command. What else could I be but a scientist?

My biggest goal as a scientist: To start a strong program directed at exploring the mechanisms underlying aging in my country and help to build strong collaborative networks, nationally and internationally. I hope someday to contribute to find-

ing a strategy to help people to age healthier and gracefully.

How I see science in society: Science is an intellectual activity that implies creativity and progress. Most scientific knowledge is generated in public institutions with the use of public funding. I consider that scientists have a responsibility to clearly and intelligently explain their work and the methods inherent to scientific research, as well as to stimulate a general scientific culture at all levels of education.

GARDENMAKER

BRANDON TYSON

STORY P. J. BREMIER PHOTOS BARBARA RIES

“He’s the best-kept secret in garden design because there are only two ways to see a garden — in person or in a publication — and you are lucky to have seen Brandon’s gardens by either of these means,” Flora Grubb says definitively. “They are not often on tours and almost never in books or magazines. That only seems to add to his mystique.”

Grubb, founder of the acclaimed Flora Grubb Gardens in San Francisco, has a keen eye for good plants and high praise for her friend, fellow Southerner and frequent customer Brandon Tyson.

This spring, she and a small group of other Tyson-garden enthusiasts, on a tour organized by the San Francisco Botanical Garden, visited five of his Marin gardens. Collectively, these gardens spanned Tyson’s 26-year career and reflected an arc of his artistic range.

“In my opinion, Brandon’s plantsmanship is profound,” Grubb offers. “He mixes plants from other Mediterranean climates, Australia and South Africa for instance, with gems from the American deserts and trees from the tropics. It all works together like magic.”

Tyson’s apparent magic, and his unquenchable fascination with flowers and form, stem from a childhood immersed in the landscape. His grandmothers both tended large Georgia gardens and the men in his family logged the Everglades. “I told them that because they cut down so many trees, I’d have to replant them all and sometimes I think I am,” he says only half-jokingly.

His journey to a career in garden design, enhanced by a fine arts background and detoured by a foray into retail fashion, was serendipitous. He was debating his future while working in his sister’s Ross garden when a car pulled over and the driver, impressed with his

work, asked Tyson to landscape her two-and a-half Tiburon acres. “That’s when it started happening for me,” he says. “I wouldn’t do a 9-to-5 job, and painting was stagnant for me, but painting with living things is so perfect.”

Today, Tyson has cultivated a body of work that includes more than a hundred gardens throughout the country; the bulk of them are in Marin.

Of exotic gardens and fanciful landscapes

“Although his gardens are beautiful even to the uneducated eye, most people don’t realize just how innovative his planting plans are on a horticultural level,” Grubb says. “His dense, plant-driven collector’s gardens are as perfectly executed as his sparse, modern architectural ones.” And he “gets these amazing commissions that are the type of projects most garden designers only dream of getting, truly creative projects with clients who are more like patrons.”

Linda Hothem is one. She hired Tyson to design first her garden in Kent Woodlands and, more recently, her garden in the warm banana belt of Sausalito. “He’s so creative, he’s impossible to match,” she says. “He’s a cross between a modern artist, a botanist and a landscaper. It’s like commissioning an artist to paint a painting for you.”

Her hillside garden overlooking San Francisco Bay is gracefully terraced and, at her request, lushly bedded with edible plants and fragrant flowers, a refined blend of old-fash-

The Hotham garden in Sausalito features turtle topiaries and an abundance of edible plants and fragrant flowers.

THIS PHOTO AND OPPOSITE PHOTOS: Brandon Tyson created the ultimate "lady garden" for Greg and Aimee Price in Tiburon with many showy florals.

Brandon Tyson worked his wonders on the Mandin garden in Kentfield and was inspired by the property's close proximity to Mount Tam. This garden is also shown on the opening spread, pages 56 and 57.

ioned favorites: fuchsias, daphne, iris, Japanese maples, roses, citrus, camellias, lilies, abutilon, and campanula, along with yuccas and grasses that are relative newcomers to cultivated spaces. Fanciful ornaments by local artist Marcia Donahue, a new element for Tyson, mingle among the plants.

“The one thing Linda wanted was to be able to pick armloads of flowers, so I created a fantasy garden," he says. "It’s all about color and form and textures.” And, consistent with all of his gardens, it’s also about balance. “You can’t have everything blooming or ‘singing’ at the same time. You’d be overwhelmed. You’ve got to have your chorus and your backup.”

The Hothem garden is vastly different from the small, minimalist design he just completed in a walled Sea Cliff garden in San Francisco (“it’s the most wonderful thing; it’s very spare but it showed me what feelings you can create in a very small space”) or the intriguing Moroccan modern garden he fashioned in Sonoma. A New York Times feature four years ago extolled its enclosed resplendency of mosaic tiles, sleek water runnel, artichoke fountain, and theatrical plantings of succulents, banana trees and slender palms.

There are none of these elements in the blousy Tiburon garden Tyson created for Greg and Aimee Price. Here, box-shaped oaks, lean cypress trees, balled boxwood and the exuberant white bearded iris Frequent Flyer, a particular favorite with the designer, line the driveway. “I always know this variety will put on a great show. It hardly ever stops blooming,” he says.

Closer to the house, sweeping terraces of lawn and borders of perennial beds upstage the competing backdrop of San Francisco bay and the East Bay hills. Bird-shaped topiaries charmingly flank the staircase and Meyer lemon trees are potted up in English orangerie boxes.

It is, as Prices quotes Tyson, “the ULG–the ultimate lady garden.” A mother of four, she

says she has little time to linger in her garden, “but when I do, it always takes my breath away. I’m sure another designer could have done something beautiful, but there’s not another Brandon Tyson out there. He brings his own recipe for magic.”

A passion for palms

He worked his wonders on Elena Mills Mandin’s hilltop Kentfield garden, too. She had eyed his progress on a small English-style garden down the hill from her home 25 years ago and dreamed of doing something just as delicate in her own garden. That dream quickly evaporated, though, when “Brandon took one look at my garden and said, ‘Oh, no, no, no,’” she recalls.

For his part, Tyson remembers being “blown away by the scale of her garden. It’s so big and so close to Mount Tam that you get this floating sensation, but the elevation really works. The views are spectacular.” The elevation also does a number on plants. “Elena’s garden is the first thing hit by any storm and nothing frail was going to work there–only something as tough as nails and dramatic enough to hold up with the scenery.”

She agreed then, and still agrees, with all of his decisions, even if she doesn’t understand them. “He’s the boss of the garden,” she says. “He has the ability to see the big picture and he uses plants I would never dream of using. My privet hedge is balls: big balls, little balls. I don’t know where he comes up with these ideas. My only influence is that I wanted palms.”

Fortunately, so did Tyson. “We agreed 150 percent on palms,” he says, and now the landscape is punctuated with a magnificent collection of spectacular palm trees (there are almost 50 specimen trees alone) and splendid cycads, an ancient plant family that has outlived the dinosaurs. “These trees are like garden sculpture,” he muses. “And, once they’re

established, you hardly have to do anything. It’s like buying a piece of art.”

Past the patio, across the lawn and through a grove of Japanese maples that gently shade a soft carpet of volunteer maple sprouts, a lower sun-exposed hillside trail is lined with natives, cacti and South African bulbs. It’s a surprise for some. “People always expect exotics in my gardens, but I use a lot of natives,” Tyson says.

Even though his maintenance team is largely responsible for taking care of the garden, he still visits twice a month. “These gardens are like family members. Just because you plant things doesn’t mean that it’s over, because it’s really just the beginning. When these trees get to be 100 years or older, they’ll be even more amazing. Just like with people, it takes a lot of time for their true personalities to come out.”

Time has also had its way with Tyson. The designer, who once swore he’d “never go back to the South,” has, with his longtime partner Noel Gieleghem, purchased an 1870 coastal cottage in Southern Georgia as a second home. “It has a tin roof and 14-foot-high ceilings, original pine floors, and fireplaces in each bedroom,” he says. “And the only things growing on the property are an enormous oak and two palm trees. It’s a clean slate!”

JOURNEY

A FAR-OFF SPOT IN CHINA IS ITS OWN KIND OF SHANGRI-LA

STORY & PHOTOS BY DAVE BARTRUFF

LOST HORIZON , THAT CLASSIC 1933 NOVEL AND MOVIE OF THE SAME NAME, captivated the public with the notion of a far-off utopia removed from the struggles of everyday life. I, too, fell under the spell of the book when I first read it, but I never imagined experiencing any such place. It was, after all, make-believe. Then the opportunity arose to visit a remote corner of China, a valley beyond Lijiang in Yunnan Province among the foothills of the Himalayas. While preparing for the trip, I reread parts of Lost Horizon and came upon the following passage: “But it was to the head of the valley that his eyes were led irresistibly, for there, soaring into the gap, and magnificent in the full shimmer of moonlight, appeared what he took to be the loveliest mountain on earth. It was so radiant, so serenely poised that he wondered for a moment if it were real at all.”

CLOCKWISE FROM LOWER LEFT: Naxi elder adorned in badger furs; classic Dongba pictogram brush painter; villa suite bedroom, Banyan Tree Resort outside Lijiang; view above gray tile roofs of Dayan Old Town, Lijiang.

Inspired again by the vision of a magical place, I was determined to see if there wasn’t at least a glimmer of ShangriLa hidden somewhere in China. Coincidentally, enterprising Chinese businessmen in another part of Yunnan had recently gotten government approval to rename their scenic town Xianggelila, a Chinese form of the name Shangri-La.

I was headed elsewhere, though. Lijiang is some 1,200 miles southwest of Beijing and was settled centuries ago by nomadic Tibetan tribes, whose descendants still maintain their traditional customs, language and dress. Realistically, I didn’t expect to find a modern-day Shangri-La here, but I did hope for a sense of tranquility and natural harmony.

My first morning in Lijiang, I woke at dawn, groggy from my late arrival the previous evening. I shuffled to the bedroom suite’s sliding glass doors and was greeted by the soft light of the rising sun illuminating the jagged peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The 18,500-foot massif might not have been Hilton’s “loveliest mountain on earth,” but it was impressive enough to quicken my desire to explore Lijiang.

The old town of Lijiang, known as Dayan, dates back more than 800 years, one reason it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site a decade ago. The neighborhood is a labyrinth of tile-roofed row houses, shops and cafes that line cobbled streets. My first stop was the Museum of Naxi Culture. The museum is rich with displays of Naxi art and crafts and offers the opportunity to see local artisans at work in traditional dress. From a brush painter copying classic Dongba religious scrolls, I learned that this ancient form of the Naxi language, also called Dongba, is the only remaining world language that is rendered in pictographs instead of characters or alphabetic letters.

A stroll to the center of Lijiang took me to the Black Dragon Pool in Jade Spring Park, where exquisite Naxistyle architecture with its ancient Tibetan and Mahayana Buddhist influences is exemplified in the expert exterior and interior Tibetan carpentry of the many gray tileroofed pagodas and pavilions. Naxi homes, meanwhile,

CLOCKWISE FROM LOWER LEFT: Sidewalk take-away chef, Dayan Old Town, Lijiang; valley home of eccentric Naxiophile Joseph Rock, 1922–1949; Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Naxi-style pagoda in valley below; stone monument, Tiger Leaping Gorge; renowned 85-year-old Dr. Ho displays his Chinese medicinal herbs; inquisitive Naxi “best friends.”

are topped off with menacing fanged guardian creatures to fend off evil spirits from the Buddhist underworld.

Outside town, tucked away from the usual tourist paths, I explored the tranquil valley settlement of Nguluko and found the home of eccentric Austrian linguist, anthropologist, botanist and photographer Joseph Rock, who arrived here in 1922 in search of his own Shangri-La. By the time Rock left in 1949, he had compiled the first Naxi dictionary, collected more than 80,000 plant specimens and led the first field expeditions into the Himalayas for the National Geographic Society, treks he never made without the accompaniment of his bathtub and gold dinner service, which were carried on the backs of porters.

The next day I made a daylong overland journey from Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge, where the mighty Yangtze River makes a sudden, nearly 180-degree turn. I hiked along a trail blasted and tunneled out of the perpendicular walls of the 10-mile-long gorge, a jagged crevasse that reached a depth of 13,000 feet in some sections. Legend says that at the gorge’s narrowest section (just 33 yards wide) a tiger used a large rock in midstream as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other.

On my last day in the valley, I visited Baisha Village, the capital of the Naxi Kingdom until 1271. It no longer looked like a place of any importance. In fact, its dusty lanes were all but deserted. As I turned a corner, though, a handwritten sign on a shop front caught my eye. It read, in English, “The Most Admired Man.”

I slid open the door and was greeted with a handshake and a cheery “welcome” in English by a slight, white-bearded Naxi elder. He apologized for his “poor English” (although I considered it quite refined), which he said he learned as a teenager from American airmen who flew with the famed World War II volunteer unit Flying Tigers, which had one of its bases in Lijiang. He wore a black wool sailor’s cap and a white lab coat. He introduced himself as Dr. Ho Shi-Xiu, age 85, a native of Lijiang and a physician. This building was his Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Chinese Herbal Medical Clinic.

Dr. Ho served tea and spoke of his background. After graduating from Nanjing University, he became afflicted with an ailment Western medicine could not treat. He returned home and delved into the study of Chinese medicinal herbs. Eventually, he not only cured himself, but began treating others with natural remedies. Through the years, he said, patients from more than 100 countries have visited him, and medical institutions such as the Mayo Clinic consult with him about his herbal treatment of leukemia.

As I was about to leave, Dr. Ho took his calligraphy brush and with four bold strokes created a single Chinese character on parchment paper—a remembrance of our visit. I asked its meaning. “Kindness,” he said. “My best prescription for good health.”

With the doctor’s parting benediction tucked in my pack, I left Lijiang assured that I had found just what I’d sought in this faraway Shangri-La — not perpetual youth or profound wisdom, but contentment and peace in being more of a blessing to others.

TAHOE on FOOT

Explore the region trail by trail

BY GRANT GRIFFITH

TAHOE LOCALS’ RECOMMENDATIONS:

VIEWS

Pacific Crest Trail, Donner Summit to Squaw Valley Plan for a pickup in Squaw Valley and gear up for challenge. This 15-mile one-way hike pays off with panoramic views of the entire area, including the American River Canyon, as you pass by Anderson Peak and Tinker’s Knob. The trek begins on the rugged ridges of the Sierra Crest near Donner Summit’s Old Highway 40. Get there: The trailhead is located off Old Hwy. 40, four miles west of Donner Lake’s west end. Mount Rose One of the highest peaks near Lake Tahoe, Mount Rose gives spectacular views of the lake, Reno and the Tahoe Basin. Follow a

For outdoorsy Marinites who relish exploring our area’s abundance of open space, finding exciting new terrain to tackle is rare. Overseas, there’s Mount Everest; closer to home are Mounts Shasta and Whitney…and closer still, there’s the Tahoe Rim Trail, a 165-mile single track (wide enough for horses) that passes through two states, six counties, one state park, three national forests and three wilderness areas. The trail, conceived of by a handful of dedicated hikers in 1984, is now maintained by an active board and volunteers, as well as through fundraising events like the Tahoe Rim Trail Association’s Annual Thru-Hike, an entry-level two-week backpacking adventure. The trail itself can be hiked either in part or in entirety, with a TRTA-organized group or on your own, as retired yachting journalist Robert Moore of Mill Valley and a few other hikers did last fall. “It is relatively easy hiking on well-groomed trails with altitudes ranging between 6,500 and 10,000 feet,” he says. “The TRT has everything going for it: jaw-dropping scenery, benign weather (we slept under the stars), good re-supply options (Tahoe City, Echo Lake, South Lake Tahoe), virtually no bear problems (they seem to prefer raiding campsites at lake level), and not many people (except on weekends near roads).”

After completing the trek and getting his name listed in the trail association’s 165 Mile Club log book, he was relieved it was over and ready for a beer. “The hardest part of any long hike is more mental than physical,” Moore says. “I also remember wishing I could linger in the mountains longer.” If he had to recommend one section of the 165 miles, he’d pick the Pacific Crest Trail. “No bikes allowed, great scenery, lots of water. It’s a lunar landscape, more like the High Sierra than Lake Tahoe.”

For those who spring for the Thru-Hike (the 2009 fee is $1,750), the trip comes with a CPR/first aid–certified guide and “Trail Angels” who bring in personal supplies and treats along the way. To learn more about the Tahoe Rim Trail, check out tahoerimtrail.org or pick up a copy of Tahoe Rim Trail, by Truckee’s Tim Hauserman.

:

THIS PAGE : A hiker takes in the view.

dirt road for three miles through a forest full of lodgepole pines, mule ears and sagebrush. The last two miles follow slippery switchbacks to the ridgeline. Don’t forget to sign the log book at the top. Get there: Take Hwy. 431 (Mount Rose Hwy.) north from Incline Village. Park at the trailhead one mile before (south of) the summit.

Rubicon Trail Opt for either 4.5 miles (to Emerald Point) or 6.5 miles (to Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay) on this lakeside trail, which meanders up and down along the shore, with dazzling views. Many coves offer secluded spots where you can swim or picnic. No dogs. Get there: Take Hwy. 89 South from Tahoe City approximately 16 miles to D. L. Bliss State Park. Park in the fee lot.

Northstar-at-Tahoe Start at the village, take a free gondola ride up to midmountain or the top of the mountain, and hop on the Zephyr chairlift to explore the miles of terrain near the resort and views of the Tahoe Basin, as well as the lake. Get there: Park in the lot near the village.

EASY STROLLS

Donner Memorial State Park Interpretive Trail A gentle self-guided nature trail starts near the museum and loops through the forest. Also, an educational one-mile lakeside interpretive trail begins in the lagoon portion of the dayuse area and continues along the lake. Printed trail guides are available at the park’s entrance station. Get there: The park is just west of downtown Truckee on the south side of the freeway.

High Camp at Squaw Valley Pick a trail— there are six hike options, ranging from easy to strenuous, one to four miles. Take the cable-car tram up to High Camp from the base of Squaw Valley. Best part of this experience is perhaps the large Swimming Lagoon pool, along with restaurant facilities open year round. Dogs

OPPOSITE

Echo Lake; view from Christopher Loop looking down at Sand Harbor, Incline Village.

Try the fabulous dessert teas!

are allowed on the cable car and welcome on all trails. Also for the night owls, Squaw Valley offers guided sunset (weekends) and full moon (July and August) hikes. Get there: Start at the Squaw Valley parking lot.

Martis Creek/Tompkins Memorial Trail Over 14 miles of trails, with maps displayed throughout the park. Hikes run along a pristine creek and range from 40 minutes to half a day; many have trailside picnic tables. Get there: From Kings Beach take Rte. 267 past Northstar until you see a small brown sign on the right reading “Martis Creek Wildlife Area.” Park in the lot at the end of the dirt road. Martis Ranger Station, 530.587.8113.

GO FOR A DIP

Loch Leven Lakes This trail on Donner Summit features four different alpine lakes within the first few miles. Hike a bit more (two miles) for Upper Loch Leven Lake; a little more effort gets you to High Loch Leven Lake, a mile and a half farther up the trail. Locals recommend swimming at the far end of the second lake. Get there: Off I-80, the trailhead begins 1/8 mile east of the Big Bend Visitor Center. Five Lakes Trailhead Start on the Powderhorn Trail and go four miles to Diamond Crossing, where Five Lakes Creek Trail begins. That trail winds along and across Five Lakes Creek to Whiskey Creek. Or, from the Five Lakes trailhead, follow a well-manicured path up through the valley between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows to get to the five serene lakes, which are open to fishing and swimming. Get there: Trailhead is about two miles down the Alpine Meadows access road, on the right-hand side. Look for a small sign just off the road.

Meeks Bay Trail After approximately 1.3 miles, the trail passes a small spring, parallels Meeks Creek and continues upward into a forested valley. The trail ascends 1,000 feet up a series of switchbacks leading to Phipps Pass. Trail is 4.5 miles to Lake Genevieve, 5 to Crag, 5.7 to Hidden, 5.9 to Shadow, 6.3 miles to Stony Ridge, and 8 miles to Rubicon. This hike is part of the unofficial Tahoe-Yosemite Trail. Get there: Take Hwy. 89 South from Tahoe City about 11 miles to the Meeks Bay Resort. Park in a small lot across the highway from the resort. A wilderness permit is required.

Prey Meadow/Skunk Harbor This is an easy 1.5-mile stroll through a mixed conifer forest with views of the lake en route. Look for the remains of an 1870s railroad grade built as a timber-supply route to Virginia. At the fork in the road, bear left toward wildflower-laden Prey Meadows or right to a small picturesque swimming cove called Skunk Harbor. Get there: Take Hwy. 28 South along the East Shore and look for an iron gate on the lake side of the road, about two miles north of the Hwy. 50 turnoff. Park in one of the turnouts along the highway; do not block the gate.

CLICK HERE

Truckee Trails Foundation truckeetrails.org

Tahoe Adventure Company tahoeadventurecompany.com

North Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureaus gotahoenorth.com

Northstar-at-Tahoe northstarattahoe.com

Squaw Valley squaw.com/summer-squaw

HISTORY OF A HIGHWAY

Marin’s 101 was first established in 1909 BY

JIM WOOD

WHAT’S A HISTORY LESSON WITHOUT AN EXAM?

This is an open book test—the answers are in the story that follows.

1. In 1909, what was the original “State Highway” route through Marin County?

2. Were billboards ever allowed along U.S. Highway 101 in Marin? Why are there none now?

3. The Golden Gate Bridge and the original Waldo Tunnel were completed in 1937; both significantly impacted Highway 101. Who was Waldo?

The four-lane U. S. Highway 101 as it appeared on May 26, 1937, the day before the Golden Gate Bridge opened. BELOW: Crews laying Highway 101’s roadbed across the pastures of Meadowsweet Dairy in Corte Madera in 1929.

“Someday, someone should write a book about Highway 101 in Marin,” says local historian Barry Spitz. “No aspect of the county’s infrastructure plays a bigger role in our daily lives.” According to Spitz’s Marin, a History, the original “State Highway,” as it was designated in Marin in 1909, was a collection of Miwok trails and county roads that started at the ferry terminal in Sausalito and traveled a westerly course around Richardson Bay.

After passing just-completed Tamalpais Union High School, it bypassed downtown Mill Valley and followed today’s Camino Alto over

The original “State Highway,” as it was designated in Marin in 1909, was a collection of Miwok trails and county roads.

the hill into Corte Madera. From there, it went through Larkspur, Ross, and San Anselmo, before turning east onto what’s now San Rafael’s Miracle Mile. The original “State Highway” then traveled down Fourth Street and turned north at today’s Lincoln Avenue before going through what would become Novato (today’s Redwood Highway), into the California redwoods and eventually on to Oregon.

That circuitous route through Marin was four miles longer than what the current six- and eight-lane 101 travels between Sausalito and San Rafael. Thus, in 1925 the U.S. government authorized construction of U.S. Highway 101, the nation’s westernmost federally owned highway. By 1929, work on a direct passage through Marin had begun. “They constructed the Redwood Highway right across the marshland,” reads A History of Corte Madera, edited by Jana Haehl. “After it was finished, tidal waters sometimes rose on both sides of the highway, giving motorists a sense of trepidation as they drove atop the dike that formed the roadbed.” Today,

The Ultimate SKI PASS

that roadway is eight-lanes wide, and Town Center and the Village at Corte Madera shopping centers occupy those marshlands.

According to Caltrans historian Alicia Whitten, the conversion to a direct route through Marin culminated with the November 1931 completion of the Redwood Bridge, a quarter-mile span over Richardson Bay. “It was built of redwood timbers, supposedly to last hundreds of years,” Whitten adds. “But just 25 years later, in 1956, it was replaced with a much wider steel and concrete structure.”

In 1935—even before the Golden Gate Bridge opened—Marin County moved to ban billboards along its stretch of Highway 101. “This was sore subject number one for Sepha Evers, a cofounder of today’s Marin Conservation League,” says historian Spitz.

According to Currie, blissful hippies did not paint the rainbows on the southern portals. “In the ’70s, Alan Hart, a Caltrans engineer, came up with that concept,” she states, “and Caltrans has maintained them ever since.”

Her efforts resulted in passage of County Ordinance 226, which, Spitz says, “required architectural approval of all signs within 500 feet of the highway. Eventually, Marin’s billboards disappeared—and never reappeared.”

Traffic-wise, the most significant impact on Highway 101 in Marin was the May 27, 1937, opening of the Golden Gate Bridge. Before the bridge, the highway handled approximately 1.5 million cars annually. Within 10 years of the bridge’s opening, 7.8 million vehicles crossed it in a year and traveled some part of Highway 101 in Marin.

“Now, 60 years later,” says Mary Currie, public affairs director for the Golden Gate Bridge District, “39.3 million bridge crossings were made in 2008.” This equates to roughly 115,000 cars a day traveling somewhere on Highway 101 in Marin.

The Waldo Tunnel also opened in 1937. The original 1,000-foot bore was four lanes wide, handled two-way traffic and cost $630,346. In the mid-’50s, a second tunnel opened to handle southbound traffic (northbound uses the original tunnel). It cost $1.75 million. As for local color, according to Currie, blissful hippies did not paint the rainbows on the southern portals. “In the ’70s, Alan Hart, a Caltrans engineer, came up with that concept,” she states, “and Caltrans has maintained them ever since.”

The explanation for the name Waldo is less precise. According to Louise Teather’s Place Names of Marin, “During the 1849 Gold Rush, William Waldo heroically delivered food and supplies to snowbound immigrants in the Sierra Nevada.” A few years later, he ran unsuccessfully for governor of California, and, according to several accounts, spent time campaigning in a mining camp named Sailor’s Diggings, which, unfortunately for Waldo, was in Oregon. (In tribute, the village later changed its name to Waldo; it is now a ghost town.) Waldo did leave his mark on Marin, though—Marin City has a Waldo Court, Sausalito has Waldo Point Harbor, and Highway 101 has Waldo Grade and its rainbow-emblazoned tunnel.

The history of Highway 101’s 29 miles in Marin is one of steady expansion. In 1942, the elevated roadbed through San Rafael was completed and 10 years later came the first versions of “cloverleaf” turnouts at Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and North San Pedro Road. Through the 1970s and 1980s, numerous projects transformed 101 into the veritable freeway it is today. Obviously, the evolution has continued. Beginning in 2002, from Greenbrae to Terra Linda, a major project upgraded the interchange with Interstate 580 and widened Highway 101 to create continuous carpool lanes from Highway 37 in Novato to the Richardson Bay Bridge approaching Sausalito. Within weeks, this $132 million project will be completed.

As Marin changes in the future, so will Highway 101. Or should it now be referred to as the 101 Freeway? Whatever it is called, it is—for better or for worse—the county’s major artery, and its evolution will continue to influence how we live.

Some Things Old, Some Things New

A Chinese artist and local crafters-at-work are just some of the intriguing talent on view this month

BY ANNE RAY

ABOVE: Wish Bottle, 2008, by Zhu Hai at Frey Norris

Gallery. RIGHT: Holy Mother of God That’s Alot of Baseballs, 2008, by Randy Hussong at Kala Art Institute Gallery.

LATELY IT SEEMS THE WESTERN APPETITE for contemporary Chinese art is insatiable, with numerous Bay Area arts organizations doing their part to keep audiences hungry. From major institutions to independent galleries, a host of venues have been bringing both familiar and still-unknown Chinese artists our way in recent months, and San Francisco’s Frey Norris Gallery has a terrific addition to the lineup beginning May 7.

Zhu Hai: Climbing Gold Mountain marks the American debut of Zhu, a young teacher at the prestigious Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts in Chongqing. Zhu’s signature motif is a rather scientifically rendered disembodied eye, which he inserts in a broad variety of settings, from a scrambled pile of gelatin pills to billowing clouds. The paintings are beautiful, as is the somewhat unsettling eye: his colors are vivid and his draftsmanship accomplished. As a result, Zhu pulls viewers in and gives them an empathetic sense of the eye’s vulnerability.

The show’s title refers to the legendary Chinese depiction of San Francisco as a golden mountain, ripe with unparalleled opportunity—a depiction designed to lure cheap labor during the California Gold Rush, and one that was unsubstantiated for most who came. Zhu has created six new paintings that explore aspects of this mythic San Francisco, as well as hanging sculptures and a video work, for Frey Norris’s presentation.

Zhu Hai: Climbing Gold Mountain will be on view through June 14, with a catalog by Bay Area poet Paul Hoover. The gallery hosts a public reception for the artist on May 7 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Frey Norris Gallery, 456 Geary St., San Francisco, 415.346.7812, freynorris.com; 11–7 Tue–Sat, 11–5 Sun, closed Mon

FROM MAY 21 THROUGH JUNE 26 at the San Rafael–based Art Works Downtown, visitors can witness the spectrum of Bay Area fine craft as the Baulines Craft Guild temporarily takes over the gallery. The nearly 40-year-old nonprofit, headquartered in the Art Works building, hosts a master craft show each year to highlight the talents of its members. The 45 pieces in this year’s show, titled Friends Along the Way, reflect a full array of fine craft media, including metal, clay, wood, fiber and glass.

“Each show with the guild is dramatically different,” says Art Works Downtown’s Shari Byrnes, and the variety of artists, media and aesthetics ensures a high level of visual intrigue.

On May 14 and 15, some of the participating artists will be working in the gallery, offering public demonstrations of their craft. The public is also invited to an opening reception for the artists on May 22 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Art Works Downtown, 1325-1337 Fourth St., San Rafael, 415.451.8119, artworksdowntown.org; 10–5 Tue–Sat, closed Sun–Mon

KALA ART INSTITUTE, one of the East Bay’s most venerated art spaces, turns 35 this year, and its anniversary celebration is set to be suitably grand. The centerpiece of the festivities is the unveiling of an impressive new expansion adjacent to the existing facilities, which adds a whopping 6,700 square feet of gallery, studio, educational and administrative space.

Kala was founded in 1974 as a resource for working artists, providing not only studio and exhibition spaces but also specialized equipment and access to invaluable expertise from more established artists as well as those who know the business side of art. Since 1979 the former Heinz 57 plant in Berkeley has been Kala’s home, offering 8,500 square feet where artists could create and showcase their work. The new facilities give Kala room to expand upon its mission; more physical space makes possible more programming, such as larger exhibitions, artist’s talks, a lecture series, performances and screenings.

The inaugural exhibition in the new space, titled re:con-figure, opens May 1 and showcases 11 artists who have been affiliated with Kala’s awards and fellowship programs in recent years: Adriane Colburn, Midori Harima, Randy Hussong, Packard Jennings, Jeff Kao, Scott Kildall and Victoria Scott, Srdjan Loncar, Gary Nakamoto, Leslie Shows, and Bayeté Ross Smith. The artists work in a diverse sampling of media but are united here by their interest in “boundary-blurring experiences” in the hyper-paced 21st century. The public is invited to an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on May 1.

Kala Art Institute Gallery, 2990 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley, 510.549.2977, kala.org; 12–5:30 Tue–Fri, 12–4:30 Sat, closed Sun–Mon

GEORGE KREVSKY GALLERY in San Francisco has two treats on tap this spring: a rare glimpse of a German-American maverick and an ode to America’s favorite pastime.

The former is a presentation of works by Richard Lindner, guestcurated by art historian Peter Selz, which runs through May 2. Lindner, who died in 1978, was revered for his ability to fuse influences from a number of different movements—including cubism, expressionism, pop art and surrealism—to create his own unique style. This new show is the first display of his work on the West Coast in more than 30 years. Former chief curator of painting and sculp-

ture at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and founding director of the Berkeley Art Museum, Selz is also something of a Lindner scholar, having helped organize the last major U.S. exhibition of the artist’s work at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in 1996.

Next, George Krevsky’s famous Art of Baseball show returns on May 7 for its 12th year. Born out of owner Krevsky’s love of the game, the exhibition assembles dozens of baseball-themed works by artists who have shown at the gallery in the past as well as some new to its roster; this year the pieces are grouped around the theme “Everything Old Is New Again.” The gallery hosts an opening reception on May 7 from 5:30 to 7:30; the show continues through June 6.

George Krevsky Gallery, 77 Geary St., San Francisco, 415.397.9748, georgekrevskygallery.com; 11–5:30 Tue–Sat, closed Sun–Mon

LEFT: Couple 1, 1970, by Richard Lindner at George Krevsky Gallery. BELOW: Fields of Salt, by Linda Gass at Art Works Downtown.

Sanjay Vora June Field, 60x84 inches Oil and acrylic on canvas, 2008

MAY ARTS & EVENTS GUIDE

THEATER

Thru May 17 Marin Theatre Company

Magic Forest Farm is the story of a young woman’s desperate search for knowledge about her past written by one of America’s hottest young playwrights. Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley). 415.388.5208, marintheatre.org

Thru June 27 Wicked The cultural phenomenon that got its start in San Francisco is back for an extended stay. Orpheum Theatre (SF). 415.512.7770, shnsf.com

7–24 Wildcat The year is 1912 and Wildcat Jackson and her foreman Joe Dynamite are living large and prospecting for oil. The Eureka Theatre (SF). 415.255.8207, 42ndstmoon.org

15–June 21 A View from the Bridge Playwright Arthur Miller tells the tale of a man who betrays his most prized possession, his family. Barn Theatre (Ross). 415.456.9555, rossvalleyplayers.com

22–July 5 Spamalot The outrageous comedy inspired by the classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail film comes to San Francisco. Golden Gate Theatre (SF). 415.512.7770, shnsf.com

24–June 21 Man of La Mancha Mountain Play presents Don Quixote’s quest to right the wrongs of the world. Mount Tamalpais Amphitheatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.1100, mountainplay.org

29–31 Marin Youth Performers Fasttalking salesman Harold Hill gets more than

he bargained for when he tries to con the residents of River City in the classic play The Music Man. 142 Throckmorton (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmortontheatre.org

COMEDY

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

DANCE

Thru May 8 SF Ballet Program eight features work from 21st-century dance makers including choreographers Yuri

Spamalot comes to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre May 22.

Possokhov, Alexei Ratmansky and Jorma Elo. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.865.2000, sfballet.org

MUSIC

1 Chris Cornell The former leader of the grunge rock band Soundgarden comes to San Francisco. Grand Ballroom (SF). 415.421.8497, goldenvoice.com

1 In the Spirit of Lennon Local singer/songwriter Drew Harrison evokes John Lennon to great effect. Cameo Cinema (St. Helena). 707.963.9779, cameocinema.com

2 Laura Love and Orville Johnson Vocalist and bassist Laura Love is joined by Orville Johnson on dobro. 142 Throckmorton (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmortontheatre.org

3 Marin Music Chest See award winning students prefrom classical music at this free concert honoring conductor Hugo Rinaldi of San Rafael. San Domenico School (San Anselmo). 415.479.2314, marinmusicchest.org

3–5 Marin Symphony The music of Araon Copland is celebrated with an all-Copland program. Marin Center (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marinsymphony.org

7-8 San Francisco Symphony Bernard Labadie conducts Mozart’s Gran Partita Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 415.864.6000, sfsymphony.org

9 Kathleen Battle Five-time Grammy winner Kathleen Battle sings classical standards as well as spirituals and jazz. Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6400, marincenter.org

10 Sleepytime Gorilla Museum The avantgarde band SGM shares the bill with Fred Frith and Khi Darag!. Great American Music Hall (SF). 888.233.0449, gamh.com

23 Yoshi’s San Francisco Hear Grammywinning producer Roy Rogers and his band the Delta Rhythm Kings. Yoshi’s (SF). 415.655.5600, yoshis.com

24 Music for Kids The Marin League of the SF Symphony presents a free concert

It’s time that meat eaters start asking a whole new set of questions. Where’s the beef from? Was the cow raised humanely? Were the ranchers good stewards of the land? Was the animal’s life taken with respect?

As you’re grilling up your Sirloin Steak, these may be hard questions to stomach, but they are necessary first steps toward creating a more transparent, trustworthy, and healthy meat industry. We believe it’s just as important to know your rancher as it is to know your farmer.

Doug and David are happy to answer any questions you have about how their animals are raised. They’ll even invite you out to see the ranch. Now that’s transparency you won’t see anywhere else.

Marin Civic Center (Sun & Thurs, 8-1, ALL YEAR) Novato (Tues, 4-8, May-SEptember) Fairfax (Wed, 4-8, May-September)

Newark (Sun, 9-1, ALL YEAR) OAKLAND — Grand Lake (Sat, 9-2, ALL YEAR) Hayward (Sat, 9-1, All Year)

Meet Doug StoneBreaker of Prather RAnch MEat Co. & David Evans of Marin Sun Farms

Photo by Scott Ellison

for kids. Mill Valley Community Center (Mill Valley). 415.383.1370, sfsymphony.org

25 Let the Sunshine In Sting, Bob Weir, Kathleen Battle and others join Narda Michael Walden for a special concert benefiting Christopher Rodriguez, the 11-year-old Oakland boy hit by a stray bullet while at a piano lesson. Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 415.392.4400, cityboxoffice.com

29 SF Opera Enjoy a one-night-only performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem conducted by Donald Runnicles. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.864.3330, sfopera.com

29 The Hollyhocks The guitar- and vocal-driven band makes its debut. Ultralash opens. The Make-Out Room (SF). 415.647.2888, makeoutroom.com

GALLERIES

MARIN

Aperture F/64 Fine art and black-and-white photography 635 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo. 415.482.0480

Art Abloom Studio and Gallery Artwork on display and classes. 1527 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo. 415.256.1112, artabloom.com

Art Bar Work from Adam Miller, thru May 6. 46 Main St, Tiburon. 415.435.5999, theartbar.us

Artisans Art Gallery Annual high school show, thru May. 853 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.460.5208, artisansartgallery.com

Art Works Downtown The Tenants Show An exhibit of art by AWD’s own apartment residents curated by Stephanie Jucker, thru May 10. 1337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119, artworksdowntown.org

Claudia Chapline Gallery East/West Fusion Harold Schwarm and Janette MacKinlay, thru May 25. 3445 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach. 415.868.2308, cchapline.com

Community Congregational Church of Tiburon Photographs by Ernest Braun and paintings by Ted Allen, thru June 18. 145 Rock Hill Dr, Tiburon. 415.435.9108, ccctiburon.org

Donna Seager Gallery The Art of the Book Show of artists’ books from all over the country, thru May. 851 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.454.4229, donnaseagergallery.com

Gallery Bergelli Paintings by James Leonard, thru May. 483 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.945.9454, gallerybergelli.com

Gallery Route One Andrew Romanoff, Pauline Greenfield, Mardi Burnham and Will Thoms, May 15–June 21 11101 Hwy One, Point Reyes Station. 415.663.1347, galleryrouteone.org

Marin Society of Artists Water Works, thru May 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.454.9561, marinsocietyofartists.org

Mayne Gallery Work by Linda Mayne. 1544 Redwood Hwy, Corte Madera. 415.847.1346, themaynegallery.com

Milk and Honey Art Gallery Work from Michael Mersereau and Melanie Barna, May 8–June 16. 384 Miller Ave, Mill Valley. 415.383.7580, milkandhoneyartgallery.com

Mona Lease Gallery Paintings from Pt. Reyes artist Helen S. Cohen, thru May 15. 39 Greenbrae Boardwalk, Greenbrae. 415.461.3718, monalease.net

Northbay ArtWorks The work of six different artists will be on display, May 2-3. 7049 Redwood Blvd, Ste 208, Novato. 415.892.8188, northbayartworks.com

O’Hanlon Center for the Arts

Contemporary sculpture and assemblage, thru May. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331, ohanloncenter.org

Robert Allen Fine Art Group show featuring abstract works on canvas, thru May. 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 paintings from Oakland artist Mark Erickson, thru May. 154 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.381.8776, rgfinearts.com

Sam the Butcher Monotypes Work by Mary Lee Rybar. 19 Ross Common, Ross. 415.902.1019, samthebutcherart.org

Smith Andersen North TransFORM

Photographs by Ruth Bernhard, thru May 9. 2240 A Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.455.9733, smithandersennorth.com.

Studio 4 Art Work by local artists at this brand-new gallery and workshop offering materials and classes. 1133 Grant Ave, Novato. 415.596.5546, studio4art.net

The Painters Place Oils and watercolors from gallery artists. 1139 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.461.0351, thepaintersplace.com

Tomales Fine Art Local artists and their support of MALT, thru May. 27050 Maine St, Tomales. 707.878.2525, tomalesfineart.com

SAN FRANCISCO

ArtHaus In Black and White Carolyn Meyer and Kenney Mencher, thru June 27. 411 Brannan St, 415.977.0223, arthaus-sf.com

Berggruen Gallery Mark di Suvero, thru May 16. 228 Grant Ave, 415.781.4629, berggruen.com

Cain Schulte Gallery French New Wave Mixed media work from Aaron White, thru June 5. 714 Guerrero St, 415.543.1550, cainschulte.com

Caldwell Snyder Gallery Recent work from Greg Miller, thru May. 341 Sutter St, 415.296.7896, caldwellsnyder.com

Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery Figurative painter and UC Berkeley graduate Theophilus Brown at 90, thru May. 49 Geary St, 415.981.1080, eesgallery.com

George Krevsky Gallery Annual baseball exhibition, thru June 15. 77 Geary St, 415.397.9748, georgekrevskygallery.com

Gregory Lind Gallery Bob Matthews, thru June. 49 Geary St, 415.296.9661, gregorylindgallery.com

Meyerovich Gallery Picasso & Motherwell: Representation & Abstraction, thru May 15. 251 Post St, 415.421.7171, meyerovich.com

taste transform tease

Sample and purchase over 300 fine wines from five continents, enjoy fresh Mediterranean tapas and encounter the world of wine and food during complimentary weekend wine and culinary classes.

Call 440-0772 or visit www.cellar360.com for schedule of events.

Relax with one-hour free parking, enter on Beach Street, just east of Polk.

SPRING READING

Dancing With Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering by Phillip Moffitt, Rodale Books, 2008, 309 pages, $24.95

Ready to take your basic Buddhism up a notch? Using everyday terms and examples, Moffitt, a Belvedere resident and former editor of Esquire magazine, does just that.

We Used to Own the Bronx: Memoirs of a Former Debutante by Eve Pell, SUNY Press, 2009, 225 pages, $23

Eve Pell, a popular Marin journalist and 1989 Dipsea winner, writes about her colorful and contrasting lifestyle—society darling to social activist. A firsthand glimpse of America’s cultural and political history is included in Pell’s journey.

Rena Bransten Gallery Marci Washington works on paper, thru May 16. 77 Geary St, 415.982.3292, renabranstengallery.com

MUSEUMS

MARIN

Bay Area Discovery Museum Use your ears at the special Play It By Ear traveling exhibition created by BADM. The event features creations by Bay Area sound artists and ends May 31 (Sausalito). 415.339.3958, baykidsmuseum.org

Bolinas Museum Contemporary watercolorists exhibit, May 2–June 14. Also enjoy a spring wine tasting in Sally Robertson’s garden, May 31 (Bolinas). 415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org

Falkirk Cultural Center The historic Queen Anne Victorian and art gallery is located in the heart of San Rafael and open to the public (San Rafael). 415.485.3438, falkirkculturalcenter.org

Super Natural Home: Improve Your Health, Home, and Planet—One Room at a Time by Beth Greer, Rodale Books, 2009, 256 pages, $15.95

Among others, Ralph Nader, Deepak Chopra, and Peter Coyote praise Greer’s road map to a super-healthy lifestyle. She’s a former co-owner of The Learning Annex and lives in San Rafael.

Marin History Museum The new exhibit, Growing the Future: Farming Families of Marin, tells the history of farming in Marin and runs all year (San Rafael Council Chambers). 415.454.8538, marinhistory.org

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Alchemy: Transmutation from the Base to the Precious features art made from reclaimed items, May 30–July 5 (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.com

BAY AREA

Asian Art Museum The Dragon’s Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan Explore rare and sacred Buddhist art from the nation of Bhutan in the Himalayas, thru May 10 (SF). 415.581.3500, asianart.org

California Academy of Sciences In celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, the academy presents From Earth to the Universe: A Visible Journey Through the Wonders of the Universe, opening in May. (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org

Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Viking, 2009, 262 pages, $16.99

This San Rafael resident’s first novel is for young adults (12 and up). Can Savannah maintain her dream of attending a prestigious university and her romance with Jackson, an earnest 17-year-old who, among other things, seems to keep her asthma at bay?

Contemporary Jewish Museum New Works/ Old Story: 80 Artists at the Passover Table The Passover plate is re-examined by 80 artists, thru June 2 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org

de Young Warhol Live Deborah Harry, Elvis Presley, Grace Jones, Michael Jackson and more, all seen through the eyes of Andy Warhol, thru May 17 (SF). 415.863.3330, thinker.org

di Rosa Preserve (un)Natural Work by emerging Bay Area artists, thru May. 5200 Carneros Hwy (Napa). 707.226.5991, ext. 34, dirosapreserve.org

Exploratorium Outdoor Exploratorium Get outside more and learn about your environment with this brand-new collection of innovative experiments. Waterfront/Ft. Mason (SF). 415.397.5673, exploratorium.edu/outdoor

Legion of Honor Artistic Luxury: Fabergé, Tiffany, Lalique The first comparative study

—JIM WOOD

of the work of three of the greatest jewelry and decorative arts designers from the turn of the 20th century, thru May 31 (SF). 415.863.3330, legionofhonor.org

SFMOMA Free Mother’s Day admission and a chance to see the museum’s new rooftop sculpture garden, May 10 (SF). 415.357.4000, sfmoma.org

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Meet Me at the Center of the Earth The Chicagobased artist Nick Cave presents the largest display of his multilayered, mixed-media and wearable sound suits, thru July 5 (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

EVENTS

Sundays Boomercize Classes This low-impact fitness program features dance steps and music from the American Bandstand hit parade. Marci Judelson leads the onehour workout. Presidio Dance Theater (SF). 415.608.4503, boomercize.com

Thru May 29 Women’s Art The work of 18 local artists ranging in age from 50 to 90 is featured in the Five Decades of Women’s Art exhibit. The event is sponsored by the Marin Arts Council. Marin Civic Center (San Rafael).

2 American Folk Art Festival Antique and contemporary folk art is on display to view or purchase. Laird Family Estate Winery (Napa). 707.253.1092, hallidayhouseantiques.com

2 The Yes Gala Ross Valley Schools presents a night of music, cocktails and fun featuring the Unauthorized Rolling Stones. Marin Center (San Rafael). 415.721.1555, yestokids.org

2 Sausalito Spring Faire Enjoy fine art, jewelry and crafts from more than 100 local artists as well as food, drink and live music at this free event. Gabrielson Park (Sausalito). 415.332.0904, sausalitonurseryschool.org

3 Awareness Walk The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation are hosting a 5K awareness walk. End the day with food and music from local bands. Crissy Field (SF). 415.269.8910, aneurysmfoundation.org

AESTHETIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE PLASTIC SURGERY

Diplomate: American Board of Plastic Surgery

American Board of Surgery

American College of Surgeons, Fellow

Harvard College, A.B., 1961, cum laude

Harvard Medical School, 1965, cum laude

Massachusetts General Hospital

Internship and Residency in General Surgery

The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Chief Residency in Plastic Surgery

United States Air Force Regional Hospital

Chief of Surgery

Houston Society of Plastic Surgeons, Past President

Mt. Tam Laser and Skin Care, Kent eld and Petaluma

Medical Director

3 Gravity Car Barn Experience the grand reopening of the Mount Tamalpais gravity car barn and exhibit. Mount Tamalpais State Park. 415.258.2410, mttam.net

6 Film Debut See the Miller brothers’ new film Touching Home, starring Ed Harris. Smith Rafael Film Center (San Rafael). 415.383.5256, cafilm.org

7 Marin Arts Salon Enjoy music, dance and literary readings, while browsing walls filled with paintings, photography and other forms of visual art at this event celebrating Marin and art. Also see great work from local designers while you enjoy free wine and appetizers. marinmagazine.com/marinartssalon

8 Mother’s Day Luncheon Celebrate mothers everywhere at the sixth annual Marin Abused Women’s Services luncheon featuring keynote speaker Catherine Coulter. Embassy Suites (San Rafael). 415.526.2541, maws.org

9 White Nights, City Lights Sunny Hills Services Council presents an evening of music, food and dancing benefiting children and families. Hosted by Dana King. Four Seasons (SF). 415.457.3200, sunnyhillsservices.org

9 Marin Human Race Join 5,000 of your friends and neighbors for a 5K race benefiting local nonprofits and schools. Fairgrounds and Lagoon Park (San Rafael). 415.479.5710, marinhumanrace.org

9 Ross School Garden Tour Go “Beyond the Garden Gate” at this 13th annual fundraising event. Marin Art & Garden Center (Ross). 415.482.7983, ext. 401, rossgardentour.org

10 Walk to Empower Join more than 1,000 walkers on Mother’s Day and show support for breast cancer victims. Justin Herman Plaza (SF). 877.963.7223, networkofstrength.org

12 Marin County Heroes The American Red Cross Bay Area honors local heroes. Seafood Peddler Restaurant (San Rafael). 415.427.8000, bayarea-redcross.org

14 Marin County Fair Deadline May 14 is the last day to enter most contests

for this year’s Marin County Fair in July. 415.499.7048, marinfair.org

14 Annual Benefit Dinner Senators Diane Feinstein and Mark Leno, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and Supervisor Harold Brown join Grammy nominee Maria Muldaur for the annual Marin Services for Women benefit dinner. Mill Valley Community Center (Mill Valley). 415.924.5995, marinservicesforwomen.org

15 Bike to Work Day Put the pedal to the metal in a different way and bike to work today. The Marin County Bicycle Coalition is sponsoring 18 energizer stations to help keep you moving. marinbike.org

15 The Green Ball Friends of the Earth, along with celebrity hosts Chevy Chase and Ed Begley Jr., present the sixth annual Green Ball. The Conservatory of Flowers (SF). 415.544.0790, foe.org

16 Flappers & Fedoras This 1920s-themed reception benefits Hospice by the Bay and kicks off the Concours d’Elegance. Embassy Suites (San Rafael). 415.526.5500, hospicebythebay.org

16 The Crystal Ball Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Buck Institute for Age Research with cocktails and dinner. The Buck Institute (Novato). 415.209.2000, buckinstitute.org

16-17 Ranches & Rolling Hills Benefit the Marin Agricultural Land Trust and pick up some great landscapes at this annual sale. Druid’s Hall (Nicasio). 415.663.1158, malt.org

17 Marin-Sonoma Concours d’Elegance

See more than 200 classic automobiles from every era at this new, world-class Bay Area event. The event benefits Hospice by the Bay. Fairgrounds and Lagoon Park (San Rafael). 415.479.7727, marinsonomaconcours.org

21 Ballet Student Showcase The SF Ballet hosts its 16th annual student showcase. St. Regis (SF). 415.865.6766, sfballet.org

23 Hofbrauhaus Beer Garden San Geronimo Golf Course and Marin Cyclists are opening a new beer garden, May 23–October 4. 5800 Sir Francis Drake Blvd

(San Geronimo). 415.488.4030, sangeronimogc.com

24 Carnaval Parade Performers, dancers and musicians take to the streets in this classic Mission District event. 24th and Harrison sts (SF). carnavalsf.com

25 Memorial Day Services This day of observance features music, flag displays and wreath-laying ceremonies. Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). marincenter.org

25 Kid Lit Salon Beginning and established children’s book authors and illustrators are invited to the monthly salon. Book Passage (Corte Madera). 415.927.0960, bookpassage.com

29 Friday Forums The monthly luncheon offers discussions of Marin issues. Jason’s Restaurant (Greenbrae). friday.forums@gmail.com

30–31 Marin Home Show and Benefit Jazz Fest More than 350 exhibits with ideas for your home and garden will be featured at this 33rd annual event, including many green products and services. This year’s headliner is Pride & Joy. Marin Center (San Rafael). 415.499.6900, marinhomeshow.com

31 The Tamalpais Turns 40 Enjoy tea at the Tam while enjoying panoramic views of the bay and mountains. The Tamalpais (Greenbrae). 415.464.1754

31 Larkspur Flower & Food Festival One of the longest-running festivals of its kind is a great chance to sample the best of nature and local chefs. Magnolia Ave (Larkspur). 415.924.3803, teamproevent.com

NATURE WALKS/TALKS

Ongoing Sonoma History Local actor George Webber morphs into Mark Twain, as he retells the history of Sonoma (Sonoma). 707.694.5097, georgewebber.com

2 Sunset Hike and Dine Join this local club for a monthly two-hour hike on moderate to steep trails on Mount Tamalpais with a midhike wine and cheese break. Reservations required. Mountain Home Inn (Mill Valley). 415.331.0100

Marin Arts Council Open Studios

2-3 & 9-10 This 16th annual event offers the public a chance to take a free selfguided tour of hundreds of artists’ studios throughout Marin County and purchase art directly from the artists. Plan your own route and get a sneak peek at all the great art produced in Marin. Weekend one features studios in north and west Marin while weekend two covers central and south Marin. 415.499.8350, marinarts.org

2 Marin Art & Garden Center The Spring Garden Festival celebrates the traditions of the MAGC. Marin Art & Garden Center (Ross). 415.455.5261, magc.org

9 Moonlight Hike Join the Marin Moonshiners for a monthly three-mile hike to experience the sunset, moonrise and a picnic. Reservations required. Pelican Inn Pub (Muir Beach). 415.331.0100, whatshappeningcalendars.com

18 Marin Sierra Club A moderately paced walk around Mount Tamalpais. Meet at Mountain Home on Panoramic Highway. 415.461.9255, sanfranciscobay.sierraclub.org

20 Marin Scuba Club Jennifer Stock of the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary will speak. Seafood Peddler Restaurant (San Rafael). 415.453.9556, marinscuba.org

23 Welcome Summer Birds Kerry Wilcox leads a bird walk and invites the public

to learn about the waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds that visit Richardson Bay in the spring and summer. Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary (Tiburon). 415.388.2524, tiburonaudubon.org

RETAIL THERAPY

M Clothing Marin Magazine readers can take 20 percent off any one item when shopping at M Clothing in May and enjoy a glass of wine at the store. 8 Tamalpais Dr (Corte Madera). 415.924.8891, martymclothing.com

Swing: A Kid’s Store Enjoy refreshments and a chance to win an outfit at the May Day Trunk Show featuring designer Beth Miles of Ses Petites Mains, May 1. 467 Magnolia Ave (Larkspur). 415.924.2500

The Melting Pot Take Mom out for a special celebration at the Melting Pot. Enjoy decadent fondue and dessert, wine or a Mother’s

Day cocktail, May 10. 125 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd (Larkspur). 415.461.6358, meltingpot.com

TRAVEL BUZZ

Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association

The 12th annual Pinot Noir Festival is your chance to learn about, taste and purchase some of the amazing wine grown in the region, May 15–17. 707.895.9463, avwines.com

Aqua Hotels & Resorts Visit any of the Aqua properties and ask for the “Obamarama” special, thru June. 866.406.2782, aquaresorts.com

Auberge du Soleil Make a break for Napa Valley and enjoy a special “Night to Remember” package featuring champagne, oysters, a four-course tasting menu from La Pagode and solo guitar music. $895. 707.963.1211, aubergedusoleil.com

Bear Valley Inn This traditional West Marin bed-and-breakfast was built in 1910 and is located close to San Francisco and Napa. The inn is a great spot to relax and explore the Point Reyes area. Arrive on foot or by bicycle and receive 15 percent off your stay. Those who arrive on the West Marin Stagecoach enjoy a 10 percent discount. 415.663.1777, bearvinn.com

Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort Worldrenowned yoga instructor Noah Mazé offers lessons, workshops and private consultations at this unique resort, April 7–14. Use promo code YOGA RETREAT, spmhotels.com

Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant Experience a Saturday night getaway at the Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant in the Russian River Valley region of Sonoma County’s wine country. The 24-hour locals’ getaway package features a 1 p.m. check-in and -out, spa treatments, a $150 dinner certificate, bottle of wine, tasting pass, breakfast and more. $599. 707.887.3300, farmhouseinn.com

Hotel del Coronado Make your break for the beach with this package that includes accommodations, welcome gift, boogie board rentals and day passes to San Diego attractions. $395, four-night stay required. 800.468.3533, hoteldel.com

Joie de Vivre Book a night at any of Joie de Vivre’s Bay Area hotels and receive two VIP tickets to the new Warhol Live exhibit at the de Young Museum, thru May 17. $99–$269, depending on the hotel. 800.738.7477, jdvhotels.com

McEvoy Ranch Visit the largest U.S. producer of estate-grown, certified organic extra virgin olive oil and take an orchard or garden tour, May 23. 707.778.2307, mcevoyranch.com

Napa Valley Inn Stay in the Napa Valley Inn, a National Registered Landmark built in 1884, and enjoy a complimentary historic walking tour led by local expert George Webber. 877.251.8500, napariverinn.com

Peninsula Beverly Hills Do you love hearing the word “free”? Now guests who book two days get a free night—even better, arrive at 10 a.m. and check out at 10 p.m. $495 per night. 800.462.7899, peninsula.com

Pura Vida Adventures The surf and yoga specialists for women announce a new beachfront location at the Hotel Tropico Latino, located on a local surf break in Malpais, Costa Rica. Pura Vida is now offering $100 off for Marin Magazine readers who book a trip through August 2009. 415.465.2162, puravidaadventures.com

Seven Gables Inn One of California’s most romantic inns wants to put travel getaways back in the budget for 2009. This Victorianera inn is built on the Monterey Bay oceanfront and has special packages available this spring. 831.372.4341, sevengablesinn.com

The Claremont Resort & Spa Everyone knows “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”; now the Claremont is offering a special package for the girls, including accommodations for two, parking, pedicure, massage, cocktails, robes and breakfast. $669. 800.551.7266, claremontresort.com

Trisara Resort Escape to Southeast Asia’s most intimate resort during Phuket’s high season and enjoy an ocean view pool room and breakfast, thru April. In Sanskrit, Trisara means the “Third Garden in Heaven.” Starting at $590 per night. 66.76.310100, trisara.com

DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LEADERSHIP LECTURE SERIES

Angelico Hall, Dominican Campus

415-485-3202

www.dominican.edu/leadership

BLUESTONE MAIN

Get Together

The Green Chamber of Commerce held its first Marin County business mixer, hosted by Crome Architecture and Tortoise Shell Design Systems. Community members got together to learn about green products, meet others in the environmental field and talk to other eco-conscious people. At right: Karen and Matt Berg.

The authors of Ross, California: the People, the Places, the History, photographed above with Nancy Vernon, gave Vernon a check for $10,000 (a portion of the proceeds from their book) for the general support of the Marin Art & Garden Center. Above: Bob Battersby, Susan Nielsen, A. Preston Maginis, Gary Scales, Nancy Vernon, Richard Torney, Ed Wynne.

Guests were out in Ross to celebrate the opening of Neneshoes, Veronica Plasencia’s new kids’ shoe store, which also stocks clothing for the whole family. Left: Veronica Plasencia, Sebastian Guedez-Plasencia, Elise and Luca Kushner.

More than 400 guests attended the American Red Cross Paint the Town Red Gala at San Francisco City Hall. Guests enjoyed the live auction with items such as a private dance lesson with MC Hammer and silent auction items including “celebrity survival kits” donated by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Harry Denton, Gary Danko and others. Above: Kara Aborn, Kelly Bryson Murphy, Betsy Wright. Above left: Martha Crawford, Philip Claypool.

PHOTO:

At the kickoff event for the Buck Institute for Age Research’s upcoming fundraiser, guests were treated to a sneak peek at the environment, to be designed by Obscura Digital, that they’ll encounter at the May 16 Crystal Ball. From right: Patrick Connolly, Mary Poland. Below: Melissa Lasky, Roxanne Richards.

Valley Players teamed up for a benefit at the Marin Art & Garden Center. More than 100 guests were treated to the wit and wisdom of Oscar Wilde with a performance of A Wild Wilde Night, created and directed by Ann Brebner and featuring actor members of the Porchlight Theatre Company. Right: Jane Winter, Bronwen Shears, Marjorie Rose Taylor.

Around Town

At the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA) guests socialized at the Mix, an event featuring the exhibition Gord Peteran: Furniture Meets Its Maker and Donald Fortescue: Genius Loci. The event included an interactive art project modeled after signature pieces by Gord Peteran. Above: George Bevan, Rob Gemmell, Blaine Transue.

VIEW MORE SNAP SHOT PHOTOS ONLINE AT

Marinites celebrated the Oscars at the California Film Institute’s fundraiser for their education program at the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center. Above: Mark Fishkin, Jennifer MacCready, Kenneth Brooks.

DINE OUT

CORTE MADERA

BENISSIMO Italian Benissimo means “really really good” in Italian. From margherita pizza to veal parmigiana to mocha mud pie, Benissimo serves a taste of Italy in a casual neighborhood venue. 18 Tamalpais Dr, 415.927.2316, benissimos.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

MARIN JOE’S Italian Pasta and other Italian dishes have been served up 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 renowned 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

BITES

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 fresh or raw fish, chicken or beef. 223 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.3474, pacificcatch.com

RICK’S WINE CELLAR California This favorite one-room bar and wine shop is located at the same spot as Marin’s first wine bar, which 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

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

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

Iron Springs Pub: Owners Mike and Anne Altman have created “Give Back Tuesdays,” wherein local schools/environmental organizations receive a portion of proceeds each Tuesday, as well as a Youth Music Showcase, which will be held in addition to their regular music schedule. On the food front, the triplethreat team of owner Mike Altman, head brewer Christian Kazakoff and chef Luis Carillo (photo above) are pairing their handcrafted ales with the best locally produced oysters, cheeses, and more, competing with wine for the role of nosh-accompaniment of choice. 415.485.1005, ironspringspub.com

Three Degrees is now Tiburon Grill—new name, new style and new menu. The bar space at Three Degrees was so popular it’s been opened up to create a more loungy seating area. Chef Bruce Bowers, formerly of Real Restaurants, together with Fred Lam, the chef de cuisine, have redesigned the menu to offer more, casual, seasonal California pub fare. No item is more than $20 except for a steak, with entrées falling in the $14 to $18 range. Happy hour will be Monday through Friday from 4 to 7p.m. and will feature $4 appetizers, $3 draft beers and $3 wine-bythe-glass specials. –MT

SORELLA CAFÉ Italian Not only is the food satisfying and tasty; the service is friendly and the ambience is warm and inviting. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520

GREENBRAE

JASON’S Italian The restaurant’s new 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 Belvedere residents Nancy and Scooter Simmons, known for the popular Chevy’s chain, have brought their surfthemed Wipeout Bar & Grill to the Bon Air Center. The restaurant features a full bar, outdoor patio and a family-friendly menu in a T-shirt-and-sandals atmosphere. Speaking of T-shirts and sandals, their retail shop has the latest in surf fashion. 302 Bon Air Center. 415.461.7400, wipeoutbarandgrill.com

KENTFIELD

HALF DAY CAFE American A tucked-away setting of intertwining ivy and great white windows makes the perfect breakfast nook. The setting is casual but elegant; the menu includes lattes, exceptional pastries and much more. Dine on the outdoor patio or inside where the view is just as divine. 848 College Ave, 415.459.0291

LARKSPUR

E & 0 TRADING COMPANY Southeast Asian New chef Arnold Eric Wong is keeping the restaurant’s innovative plates as tasty as ever. Without reservations, try a spot at the large communal table. 2231 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.925.0303, eotrading.com

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

LARK CREEK INN American This flagship eatery for the Lark Creek Restaurant Group opened back in 1989 and was hailed by the New York Times as having “the best home cooking you can imagine.” It remains a perennial special occasion spot and is still known for inventive country cooking—as well as a cozy bar scene. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7766, larkcreek.com

LEFT BANK RESTAURANT French Known for award-winning French cuisine and its lively brasserie ambience, this corner spot has rated high with locals for well over a decade. Those with a petite appetite/budget can opt for happy hour (4–6 M–F) and enjoy appetizers, all priced under three dollars. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331, leftbank.com

PICCO California Chef and celebrated restaurateur Bruce Hill deserves the accolades he has received for this eclectic shared-plate 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. The Meyer lemon mascarpone danish and the bacon, avocado and heirloom tomato sandwich with mesclun are perennial temptations. 1139 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.1556, rusticbakery.com

TABLE CAFÉ Indian/American Indian-inspired cafe offers a unique menu featuring entirely organic ingredients. Dishes include seasonal salads, incredible soups and fresh juices. The specialty of the house is dosa, filled with a variety of ingredients and served with savory homemade chutneys. You can also take home a choice of three or four gourmet dinners freshly packed daily. 1167 Magnolia Ave, 415.461.6787

TAM CELLARS Wine bar This wine shop includes an elegant bar with seating for up to 36 people, 30 wines by the glass and tasting flights. Tam Cellars specializes in hard-to-find wines and smallproduction wineries. Enjoy a glass or bottle to pair with the selection of appetizers. Live music on Thursdays. 1803 Larkspur Landing, 415.461.9463, tamcellars.com

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 new chef Chris Ball. 286 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7676, yankeepier.com

MILL VALLEY

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

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, serving up tasty spirits and eye candy. 44 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500, bungalow44.com

CACTUS CAFE AND TAQUERIA Mexican Known best for lunchtime bargain burritos, as well as fish tacos and Caesar salads with grilled chicken or shrimp. Be sure to try the diablo sauce on enchiladas and burritos. 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 chocolatedipped strawberries for your next 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

EL PASEO French Keiko Takahashi, a prominent Tokyo chef known for her modern French cuisine, transports her flair to Mill Valley. With a cottagelike feeling, this fine dining restaurant serves meals that are nothing less than exquisite. Reservations recommended. 17 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0741, elpaseorestaurant.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

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 Reopened, after an extensive remodel, with chef Chris Fernandez on board leading the kitchen with a menu coinciding with seasonal food from local producers. The crudo and pizza are not to be missed. 625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525, piatti. 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

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

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 East Blithedale Ave, 415.383.8646

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

NOVATO

AURORA RISTORANTE ITALIANO Italian Locals have already discovered this cheery and bright new Italian restaurant serving large portions of traditional food. Enjoy your meal on the large outdoor deck. 8 Commercial Blvd, 415.382.8488

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 a three-course prix-fixe dinner. 340 Ignacio Blvd, 415.883.0901, bocasteak.com

CACTI GRILL American Grill A former bell tower church, the family-friendly restaurant now boasts a covered patio and serves a 21-day dry-aged steak and filet mignon enchiladas. 1200 Grant Ave, 415.898.2234, cactigrill.com

CHEZ PIERRE French No need to book a flight to Paris. Owners Peter and Isabelle Awad serve up traditional French fare in this oversized Novato restaurant. Try the baked brie, escargots en coquille or a simple cheese plate. 7330 Redwood Blvd, 415.898.4233, chezpierremarin.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

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

PORTELLI ROSSI Italian The owners of Kitchen at 868 Grant have reopened the space as Portelli Rossi, which means red door in Italian. This casual cafe offers huge portions (most priced under $20), a garden patio and a family-friendly environment. 868 Grant Ave, 415.892.6100, portellirossi.com

SONOMA LATINA GRILL Mexican Healthy dining has a new home in Novato. Head to this grill for handmade tortillas, fresh fl atbread, and preservative-, trans fat-, high fructose corn syrup-, synthetic additives-, and rBST growth hormone-free menu items. 5800 Nave Dr, Ste D, 415.883.2662, sonomalatinagrill.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-to-bemissed destination. 5800 Nave Drive, 415.382.1144, toastnovato.com

ROSS

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

MARCHÉ AUX FLEURS French This gem of a restaurant 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

SAN ANSELMO

AVA California Chef Dan Baker, of Marché aux Fleurs in Ross, has another winner with AVA, which features a California-only wine list and a menu where nearly all the ingredients come from within 100 miles—if not the Marin County Farmers’ Market. The small menu includes seasonal flatbreads, pasta and six seasonal main dishes. 636 San Anselmo Ave, 415.453.3407

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

DEBBIE DOES DESSERT Bakery Besides sweets, the menu offers tapas on weekends and savory dishes such as grilled duck aux pêche with lavender honey sauce on galette de mais. 556 San Anselmo Ave, 415.721.2901, debbiedoesdessert.com

DREAM FARM California As their website claims, a taste of rural Marin in downtown San Anselmo. Showcasing the bounty of our areas’ award-winning farms, dairies, and fisheries. Best yet is their 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

LOCOCO’S PIZZERIA Italian Worth driving to from all over Marin, and it’s an easy place to meet with friends and family. The pizza crust is divine as is the house salad. Easy spot to come with the entire family. Closed Mondays. 638 San Anselmo Ave, 415.453.1238, lococossananselmo.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 Jane’s 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

BOMBAY GARDEN Indian The restaurant offers a large menu of richly flavored Northern and Southern Indian Cuisine. There are often Bollywood movies or videos playing on a flat-screen TV to add a little entertainment to the meal. 909 Fourth St, 415.459.9555, dinebombaygarden.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

MULBERRY STREET PIZZERIA Italian Chef Ted Rowe won first place in the Food Network Television Pizza Challenge with his Mushroom Lover’s Pizza— sautéed mushrooms in a creamy garlic sauce atop a fresh pizza crust. Located across from the Smith Ranch Road movie theaters, it’s a great place to grab dinner and a movie. 101 Smith Ranch Rd, 415.472.7272, mulberry-street-pizzeria.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. The Pacific red snapper meuniere and roast sirloin of beef are standouts. 931 Fourth St, 415.456.2425, srjoes.com

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

SOL FOOD Puerto Rican With south-of-theborder treats like yellow rice, beans, plantains and authentic Puerto Rican dishes, this tiny one-room

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

THERESA & JOHNNY’S COMFORT FOOD

American Cooking like Mom used to make. Stop in for eggs Benedict, tuna melts, coffee and some of the best milk shakes around. 817 Fourth St, 415.259.0182, theresa-and-johnnys.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

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 Olivier Souvestre left his position at executive chef as San Francisco’s Chez Papa Bistro to open his new waterfront cafe in Sausalito with partner Bruno Denis. Le Garage features standard French bistro fare like croque monsieur and brunch items like eggs Benedict with an emphasis on fresh seafood and a large selection of charcuterie Opt for indoor or outdoor seating. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625, legaragebistrosausalito.com

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 Travis Flood takes over as executive chef and brings breakfast, finger foods, main courses and wine to the table. 739 Bridgeway Blvd, 415.332.0739, piccoloteatrodisausalito.com

POGGIO Italian A great place to celebrate a special occasion or simply enjoy a night out. Executive chef Peter McNee cooks up delicious Northern Italian cuisine using fresh and local ingredients, including produce from the nearby Poggio chef garden. 777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771, poggiotratoria.com

SAYLOR’S RESTAURANT AND BAR California/ Mexican Owner and chef Sean Saylor has created a new menu, keeping some traditional favorites, and has moved the restaurant to a new location. The large menu is impressive and the bar’s selection of more than 100 tequilas is hard to beat. 2009 Bridgeway, 415.332.1512, saylorsrestaurantandbar.com

SCOMA’S Seafood Whether it’s for the view of San Francisco or the historical background, visitors flock to this location for a 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

Bay Area filmmakers Logan and Noah Miller will present a special screening of Touching Home, followed by a discussion and signing of their new book Either You’re In or You’re in the Way, available for sale at the Rafael. Touching Home is the inspirational coming-of-age story of twin brothers Lane and Clint Winston (Logan Miller, Noah Miller), who pursue professional baseball careers while trying to save their homeless, alcoholic father Charlie (an extraordinary performance by Ed Harris). $12 (CFI members $9)

Wednesday, May 6, 7:00

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 morethan-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

THE CAPRICE California Expansive Angel Island and San Francisco skyline views and an intimate atmosphere make this waterfront restaurant a top pick for romance. Beyond these attractions, locals like it for the food, including a three- to five- course menu created by executive chef Gregg Sessler —who according to Michael Bauer “has crafted a menu that can stand up to the big boys.” 2000 Paradise Dr, 415.435.3400, thecaprice.com

COTTAGE EATERY California This one-room, recently remodeled eatery is the latest restaurant addition to Tiburon’s Ark Row. Having opened to rave reviews, owners Edward Carew and Jennifer

Rebman, both formerly of New York—each with stints cooking at Gramercy Tavern—are attracting regulars with seasonal entrées like grilled branzino served with boulanger potatoes, watercress and a taggiasca olive vinaigrette and crispy suckling pig with Umbrian lentils, braised romaine, tomato and saba. Closed Mondays. 114 Main St, 415.789.5636, thecottageeatery.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

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

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

SWEDEN HOUSE BAKERY Swedish A cozy spot and local favorite; the blue storefront opens into bayfront windows with sweeping views of Racoon Straits and Angel Island. The menu is straight from Stockholm with Swedish and Danish pastries in the morning and open-faced sandwiches, Swedish meat loaf and light salads for lunch. 35 Main St, 415.435.9767

TIBURON GRILL California Come check out the newly redesigned space formlery known as Three Degrees. Bigger bar area with cozy seating areas and tasty new menu crafted by Bruce Bowers, as well as Fred Lam, the chef de cuisine. The menu has been redesigned to offer more casual, seasonal California pub fare. No item is more than $20 except for a steak, with entrée falling in the $14 to 18 range. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.5996, threedegreesrestaurant.com

SAN FRANCISCO

How welldo youknow Marin?

CALL THE SHOT!

CALL THE SHOT has a simple premise: Tell us what this is a picture of and win a $100 gift certificate for E & O Trading in Larkspur Landing.

To win, you must be specific. Sure, it’s a great place to “ask Alice” but what city is it in? Even better, give us its name. Hint: You might find this colorful Victorian on a nearby Mission.

WEST MARIN

DRAKES BEACH CAFE Local 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

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 Wednesday through Sunday. 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 Celebrated chef Christian Caizzo has opened Osterio Stellina in the space formerly occupied by the taqueria on Main Street. Caizzo has earned his chef stripes in a few San Francisco top spots such as Globe, and Postrio. He also started Toby’s Coffeebar. I his words, “I opened Stellina to reflect and focus on the incredible bounty that West Marin has to offer. We are all-organic, or local, and/ or sustainable, and not just ‘whenever possible.’” Look for menu items such as Point Reyes broccoli, baby greens, linguine with Paradise Valley kale and Dungeness crab and Devil’s Gulch pork leg (Point Reyes). 11285 Hwy 1, 415.663.9988, osteriastellina.com

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: Jean Musgrave of Greenbrae who won March’s Call the Shot by identifying Century Cinema in Corte Madera.

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 re-created the ultimate neighborhood diner. Vintage china and homemade curtains complement the eclectic but homey menu featuring local fare. A favorite for locals as well as tourists, 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 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 for afternoon enjoyment (Stinson). 3458 Shoreline Hwy, 415.868.0434, stinsonbeachrestaurant.com

SURFER’S 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

AME Pan-Asian On the ground floor of the St. Regis Hotel, Ame Restaurant was designated “Best New Restaurant in 2007” by the Zagat guide. Known for raw treatments such as sashimi, crudo, tartare and carpaccio. Dinner only, reservations recommended. 689 Mission St, 415.284.4040, amerestaurant.com

BOBOQUIVARI’S THE STEAK Steak/Seafood In the mood for surf and turf? Head out to Bobo’s and be sure to order the iron skillet-roasted mussels, Dungeness crab, and of course, the steak dry-aged for four to six weeks. The proprietors (also of the Stinking Rose) claim it’s the only one of its kind on the West Coast. 1450 Lombard St, 415.441.8880, boboquivaris.com

CANTEEN Cali/French It’s not easy to get a seat in this nationally noted California-French restaurant, partly because of its reputation and partly because there aren’t many. Ever since the former Rubicon chef Dennis Leary turned a run-down downtown coffee shop into one of the best spots in the city, people have been lining up to sample the goods. 817 Sutter St, 415.928.8870

HARRIS’ RESTAURANT Steak house A San Francisco institution for nearly a century. Wine Spectator ranked Harris’ as one of the nation’s top ten steak houses. 2100 Van Ness Ave, 415.673.1888, harrisrestaurant.com

MAMACITA Mexican Located in the former Cafe Marimba space, chef Sam Josi has made Mamacita a dining destination, drawing in locals with authentic Mexican cuisine and 100 percent pure agave tequila margaritas. The menu features a large number of small plates but save room for the churro dessert, served with a cup of Mexican hot chocolate. 2317 Chestnut St, 415.376.1629, mamacitasf.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

PERRY’S American The San Francisco classic is back with Perry’s on the Embarcadero. The new location features beautiful views and classics like Cobb salad, French onion soup, cheesburgers and ribeye steak. 155 Steuart St, 415.495.6500, perryssf.com

PRES À VI International/Small plates Known for a wine list that’s sure to please any oenophile, including a large selection of flights to pair with chef Kelly Degala’s shared small plates menu. One Letterman Dr, Building D, Ste 150, 415.409.3000, presavi.com

PRESIDIO SOCIAL CLUB California Originally the barracks for enlisted men; menu features steaks, pork chops and fresh oysters. Throwing a party? Try the private room, which can accommodate 30 people. 563 Ruger St, 415.885.1888, presidosocialclub.com

Carol Smith Myer

Novato 415.898.1799

carolmyer.com

Open Studios: May 2-3, 11am to 6pm oil on canvas, 6” x 8”

Carol, a native of Marin County, paints beautiful colorist/ impressionist portraits on commission, as well as still lifes and plein air landscapes - using brush and palette knife – in a unique style, which she has honed through years of study with acknowledged contemporary Masters. Offering group and individual instruction.

Emily Dvorin

The ICB, 480 Gate 5 Road, Studio 205, Sausalito 415.602.0131, emilydvorin.com

Open Studios: May 9-10, 11am to 6pm fly swatter tops, straws, cable ties, 10” x 25” x 25”

In an effort to challenge the original definition of basketry, I explore contemporary interpretations of this traditional craft by utilizing non-traditional materials. I incorporate common, urban materials in uncommon ways, while maintaining my deep commitment to the vessel form. My goal is to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Walter Kuhlman

The ICB, 480 Gate 5 Road, Studio 335, Sausalito Amy Zwicker: 415.699.7669 walterkuhlmanart.com

Open Studios: May 9-10, 11am to 6pm Monotype, 2000, 19.25” x 13.5”

Walter Kuhlman, Abstract Expressionist 1918-2009

Primarily a painter, Kuhlman devoted much of the last twenty years to his work with monotypes. Integrating the abstract expressionist vocabulary with his own European heritage and upbringing, mythological, literary and psychological themes suggest themselves. Images seem to spontaneously emerge from fields of color resulting in dramatic, magical and sometimes surreal effects. Text by permission: George Krevsky Gallery.

Victoria Mimiaga

142 Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley vlmimiaga@yahoo.com victoriamimiaga.com

Open Studios: May 9-10, 11am to 6pm oil on canvas, 12” x 12”

Victoria Mimiaga will be exhibiting in the upstairs gallery at the Throckmorton Theatre. Her latest series, “Food in Plastic” reflects the needless proliferation of plastic in the food industry.

Tabitha Warren, Night Sky Brushworks

15 San Pablo Court, Novato 415.342.1780

Open Studios: May 2-3, 10am to 6pm acrylic and gouache on canvas, 28” x 78”

Art, artifice, the smell of turpentine, any opportunity to use my hands, and a chance to fool my friends, are just a few of my greatest joys in life. If I were to make a list of all the things that inspire me as an artist, it would be never ending. I am like a magpie, the world is full of treasures. But if you were to pin me down I would have to say ancient history. And if I fool you with my art, I have succeeded as an artist.

Leslie Lawton

251 Clorinda Avenue, San Rafael 415.456.0930

leslielawton.com

Open Studios: May 9-10, 11am to 6pm art jewelry

I make limited edition jewelry for one-of-a-kind women, searching out unusual stones and vintage materials and reinventing them into unique, imaginative pieces. I feel that I’m a catalyst in helping women express their beauty and authenticity, that it’s a creative act to wear something that will light you up. Photo attribution: Photography by George Post.

Susan Landor Keegin

26 Miller Avenue Sausalito 415.332.3093

susanlandorkeegin.blogspot.com

Open Studios: May 9-10, 11am to 6pm oil on canvas, 24” x 12” room after room (partial view)

Cows, boats, birds, beach, glass, water, windows, rooms. And most recently, a new series of paintings emerging from visits to museums. “Changing the Subject.” Small, intimate paintings to be approached as windows, providing a glimpse into an overheard conversation or illuminating a private moment that wasn’t meant to be recorded. Art imitates Art. Preview them all at susanlandorkeegin.blogspot.com.

Terry Lockman

101 Garden Ave., San Rafael 415.507.0851

terrylockman.com

Open Studios: May 2-3, 11am to 6pm oil on canvas, 18” x 24”

I paint on location, direct from the landscape. My plein aire paintings are done in a direct manner responding to the warmth and stillness of the air, the rush of the wind, the quietness of the coastal mist, or the brightness of the sunburnt hills. In my work, I capture a moment in time, the mysterious beauty of nature that we often miss in the rush of our lives. I want to give the viewer a place to rest and enjoy.

Nancy Pollock

47 Bret Harte Road San Rafael 415.721.7752

nancypollackart.com

Open Studios: May 2-3, 11am to 6pm encaustic, 12” x 12”

I work with various types of media, but the common ground is encaustics – an ancient medium using beeswax, dammar crystals and oil-based pigment. The process of melting, applying, carving and fusing translucent and opaque layers is physical, focusing and intense. Each piece reflects this, inviting a close and intimate art experience.

Robert Gantt Steele

25 Monte Vista Avenue Larkspur 415.927.9714

robertgsteele.com

Open Studios: May 9-10, 11am to 6pm oil on panel, 9” x 12”

“I love to paint western landscapes in the context of man’s creations. Bridges, boats, and trails are compelling subjects because they are shaped by man’s needs. They can also be beautiful because they often seem delicate and tenuous in the clear western air.”

~ Robert Gantt Steele

Melanie Barna

Milk and Honey Art Gallery

384 Miller Ave, Mill Valley 415.383.7580 milkandhoneyartgallery.com

Open Studios: May 9-10, 11am to 6pm sculptural installations

Modern Design, Interior and Environmental Sculptural Installations.

National Association of the Remodeling Industry www.northbaynari.org

CONTRACTORS

Barkley Builders Inc. (415) 893-9098 www.barkleybuilders.com

Dan LeVine Mellion G. C. (415) 435-5611 DLMellion@gmail.com

Design Build Alliance (415) 488-4582 www.designbuildalliance.com

Kasten Builders (415) 897-4500 www.kastenbuilders.com

Leff Construction (707) 823-4899 www.leffconstruction.com

Pennypacker /Drake Home Building Inc. (415) 488-0647 www.pennypackerdrake.com Plath & Company (415) 460-1575 www.plathco.com

Rempe Construction (415) 897-9126 www.rempe.com

Tim Walsh Builders Inc. (415) 381-9806 www.timwalshbuilders.com

DESIGNERS

Beryn Hammil Designs (415) 924-5509 www.berynhammil.com

Sonoma Kitchen + Bath (707) 526-3535 www.sonomakitchenandbath.com

Spacial Design (415) 457-3195 www.spacialdesign.com

ARCHITECTS

Michael J. Harlock A.I.A. (415) 924-5714 www.harlockarch.com

SPECIALTY TRADES

Closets Van Go (415) 456-8264 www.closetsvango.com

GPZ Electric Inc. (415) 861-6051 www.gpzelectric.com

Kemper York Co. Stone Preservation and Restoration (707) 556-3368 www.kemperyorkco.com

Michael Craven Painting (415) 272-6343 www.michaelcravenpainting.com

Segale Brothers

Wood Products - Cabinets (800) 286-2915

www.segalebros.com

Show your mother your love with the Triplicity Pendant.

272 Bon Air Center Greenbrae, CA 94904 (415) 461-1866 www.JohannPaulJeweler.com

Open Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm Consignments taken from Tuesday thru Saturday 10 am-3 pm 415 456-7309

11 Mary Street, San Rafael Next to Whole Foods & Peet’s Coffee

A customized approach.

Each organizing project, no matter how daunting, is like a puzzle. At Organize for Joy, we fit the pieces together in a way that suits the individual’s temperament, lifestyle, and work habits. This customized approach helps our clients adjust easily to changes in their environment and to continue to enjoy the order, clarity and balance an organized space brings.

TIP A definite on your daily “to-do” list. Schedule at least 10 minutes of “me” time, and listen to your heartbeat!

www.organizeforjoy.com

at: Ambrosia Pizza and Pasta, United Markets, Scotty’s Market, Boardwalk Market, Andy’s Local Market, Mini’s Market and Deli.

The Annemarte by Tori Burch

•

•

LARKSPUR A local jewel turns 100

BY DANIEL JEWETT PHOTOS TIM PORTER

The city of Larkspur is toasting not one but two major milestones: Celebrations have been going on for the last year marking 100 years since the town’s incorporation in 1909, and in addition, Redwood High School celebrated its 50th year last month. That’s a lot of candles to blow out.

According to Heritage Preservation Board and former city council member Richard Cunningham, interest in the city’s history was reignited during the 1976 U.S. bicentennial when a group of local women took on the task of preserving, uncovering and teaching people about the city’s past.

“We fell into these roles,” Cunningham says about the historical walking tours he and his wife now lead twice each year as well as their work on the board. “We are merely the latest to take this on.”

As part of the 100-year celebration, the board is updating the book Larkspur Past & Present originally published in 1991. Cunningham will write a chapter, while primary authorship goes to planning commission and heritage board member Helen Heitkamp. “The task is mammoth,” councilwoman Kathy Hartzell says of the book, which will be released this year.

The book is full of all kinds of interesting information about history in the area, including how the city was put on the map in 1849 after the Baltimore and Frederick Mining and Trading Company established a sawmill in the area that later, in 1866, became Patrick King’s farm and finally how, in 1877, the name “Larkspur” was coined after early developer Charles W. Wright and friends saw pretty blue flowers during a picnic. The name Larkspur

The Blue Rock Inn (top), built in 1895, and the classic art deco Lark Theater, built in 1936 (above).

stuck as did the names Baltimore (Baltimore Canyon) and Patrick King (King Street and, indirectly, St. Patrick’s Church).

Cunningham says he loves to share the city’s rich history with those who take his tours. “It has been interesting; many people have a fierce identity with the city,” he adds. “There is endless talk about small-town character, but mostly, it is just a nice place to live.”

Councilman Larry Chu agrees and adds that living near the charming downtown district that runs along Magnolia Avenue is a real plus. “This town still has so many elements of its history,” Chu says. “Buildings are in their original state; city hall looks like it did in the early 1900s.”

Chu also enjoys the fact that he can send his children to what he calls one of the best school districts in the state—the Larkspur School District, which, like the police department, is shared with neighboring Corte Madera. “There is a real strong sense of community in the district,” says the second-term councilman. “You cross paths with just about every family at some point.”

Councilman Ron Arlas is glad to see new faces like Chu and Hartzell on the council and invites other residents to “go to a few meetings.” In the fall of this year, Arlas is stepping down after 20 years on the council and made the announcement last year to give new residents the chance to get up to speed. “My 20 years have been a very pleasant experience,” the four-time mayor says. “The votes weren’t all 5-0, not everything went my way, but I didn’t let it get me down.”

Arlas says the city staff and council are very stable, have controlled debt and have a great working relationship.

“We all have a love for the city,” he adds. It may be these personal connections as much as the physical characteristics of the city that create the “old town charm” that Bradley Real Estate agent Heidi Ellyn says is a big selling point in Larkspur.

“The homes aren’t extravagant, but are well made and the city has that cute downtown village,” the Larkspur specialist says. “You’ve got the natural environment, Magnolia

120 Upper Toyon, Kentfield | $1,850,000

Coming Soon — Situated on over 2+ acres, this distinctive custombuilt home has breathtaking views from nearly every window. This expansive and airy property features 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, including master suite and au-pair suite, hardwood oors, eat-in kitchen that extends into a large family room and luscious landscaped gardens. Perfect for large scale entertaining and comfortable indoor/outdoor lifestyle in an extremely private setting against nature’s backdrop. This home provides a peaceful sanctuary for all to enjoy.

Avenue and the great weather.” Buyers looking to get a piece of that charm can expect to pay $700,000 on the low end, $379,000 for a condo, or as much as $2.4 million on the high end. She says there is more variety this year, with about 30 homes, including condos, currently on the market. Although home prices may be a little higher than they were in 1909, it appears Larkspur’s charms are worth the price.

CHECK OUT LARKSPUR’S CHARMS

The Larkspur Flower & Food Festival on May 31 is a great chance to spend a day getting a sense of what the city is all about. The 16th version of one of the longest-running festivals of its kind is an opportunity to see more than 60 arts and crafts and flower and plant exhibits and sample food from gourmet chefs. The festival is held on Magnolia Avenue; 415.924.3803.

Saia Odisio

Warm Contemporary Style

Tahoe Lifestyle with Contemporary Flair Kentfield

Contemporary home ideally located in the fl ats of Kent Woodlands on approximately half acre mostly level lot with pool & cabana. Features of this well appointed home include:

• Level lawn and private well for irrigation

• Separate 1 bedroom guest house

• Large sky lit kitchen with walk-in pantry, huge center island with sit-down breakfast counter, built-in desk and adjacent patio fountain & gardens

• Formal living room with fireplace

• Dining room with built-ins & double French doors

• Separate study & family room with adjacent patio & pool area

• Top-floor master with sitting area & pool access.. Exclusively Offered at $3,150,000

Mill Valley

Experience the Tahoe lifestyle with contemporary fl air in this premier Mill Valley location. This home boasts soaring ceilings, an abundance of natural light, & magnificently stylized interiors. Architecturally designed to capture unparalleled views from every angle, elegant and artistic interior design makes this one of the most memorable homes in Marin. From the Ferrari inspired gourmet kitchen to the gracious family room, custom climate controlled wine cellar, Lutron light system & multi-level outdoor decks, this home has been designed with the highest grade, custom materials. The master retreat features programmable window shades, stylish master bath, & light-filled library. The lower level adds three bedrooms, two full baths. Well priced for today’s market. Offered at $2,800,000

Tiburon’s Gold Coast. Spectacular views and sophisticated European elegance describe this prominent estate. Over 7,000 square feet on meticulous, private grounds with ultra-modern amenities. www.tiburongoldcoast.com. $8,500,000

to consider this property is so close to town.

$900K PRICE REDUCTION

Magnificent, one-level home on the Bay side of

Views of the GG

SF Bay,

$2,995,000

Across from Belvedere Park, this ultra-charming Cape Cod style home enjoys access to the lagoon. 5 bedrooms, 2 family rooms & pool surrounded by the park-like backyard complete this immaculate property.

& the

Private master

with

& “Her” baths, walk-in closets, fireplace, private garden. Dramatic large scale living area, 2 additional en-suite bedrooms, family/media room, custom

$100K PRICE REDUCTION

$3,995,000

Belvedere. Spectacular Portofino-type views of Belvedere Cove, SF Yacht Harbor, Raccoon Straits & Angel Island.This sophisticated home of 4000± sq. ft. shows impeccably. High vaulted ceilings, chef’s kitchen, view living/dining room, phenomenal master suite with its own theatre system & fireplace, & more.

your certified

This premier Turtle Rock home is located on the uphill side of the sought-after cul-de-sac, & offers water views from most every room. Fabulous floor plan includes formal dining & living rooms, kitchen/family room, master suite with office/gym, 4 more bedrooms, and on the ground floor, a separate 1 bedroom, 1 bath unit. Backs to Ring Mountain Nature Preserve. $3,350,000

$1,900,000

views. Too big? Plans can easily be modified.

Belvedere.

Tiburon’s Gold Coast. Just pull the permit. Construction is ready to begin on

green luxury home of 5500 sf. Expansive flat grounds and gorgeous water

Mill Valley – Country Club. Magnificent 3+acre, knoll top estate with panoramic views including SF. The Adirondack lodge style home of ±5,000 sf is ideal for this private, country setting. Amazing

$6,500,000

Belvedere.

Britton Avenue.

Bridge,

Sausalito

headlands.

wing

“His”

library and Snaidero kitchen. $5,800,000

Tiburon.

Tiburon’s Gold Coast. Rarely do opportunities to acquire 10 private acres of So. Marin’s pristine landscape come along. Gently rolling topography & expansive water views complete this majestic setting. Possible 2-3 lot split. $6,500,000

Dramatic San Francisco Bay and City Views

This graceful Sausalito masterpiece blends old style luxury and elegance with dramatic San Francisco Bay, Raccoon Straits and City views. Lovely landscaped grounds lead you to a warm and spacious, beautifully remodeled home complete with a four car garage. The orientation captures all day sunshine in this coveted Sausalito location. The home offers exquisite details of ornate crown moldings, hooded casings, and coffered ceilings. Richly stained white oak hardwood floors throughout blend comfortably with mahogany accents. There are three levels in this inviting home. The entry-level foyer area greets you with a dramatic two story elliptical staircase with custom wrought iron balusters. The living space is comprised of the library, a formal living room, a family room, and a grand dining room. The kitchen and breakfast nook lead out to a lovely and private fl agstone patio and fenced yard. The second level is comprised of a master bedroom complete with sitting room, fireplace, dual master bathrooms, and closets. In addition, there are two ensuite bedrooms. The upper level fourth bedroom is currently used as an of fice/playroom and has straight-on views of San Francisco. Offered at $4,695,000

California Coastal Living

Star of the Sea

Sausalito

Enjoy spectacular views of the Bay, Angel Island and San Francisco skyline from this truly magnificent custom Mediterranean style four-bedroom, four-bath estate home which offers the finest in architectural details and features throughout. A spacious rotunda greets you as one enters this stunning home. The living room features custom hardwood floors, beautiful fireplace and hand hewn wood-trussed beam ceiling. Attention to classic details is evident as you stroll through this property. The gourmet kitchen has top of the line stainless steel appliances and French limestone slab counter tops. Ideal for entertaining, the family room features a fireplace and 50-inch Pioneer plasma TV with surround sound and easy access to spacious patio and gardens. In addition to the outstanding master bedroom suite there are three guest bedrooms, one en-suite. On the lower level there is a handsome library which opens to a mosaic spa tub allowing you to soak up the majestic views. Elaborate and tropical landscaping, gated and fully fenced grounds, two car garage, and a large motor court complete this fine property.

Offered at $7,500,000

Sausalito

The 19th century old Star of the Sea Church was converted into a single family residence a few decades ago and it is magnificent! This spacious four-bedroom, three and one-half bath residence is approximately 6,200 square feet and offers dramatic views from Mt. Tamalpais, to San Francisco Bay overlooking Sausalito Harbor to the Tiburon Peninsula. Two towers housing bedroom suites, soaring ceilings, exuberant proportions, and a dramatic entry are part of the building’s heritage. Over a third of an acre of manicured tropical gardens and fl agstone terraces embrace the residence. Ideal “bananabelt” location, just a few blocks from award-winning restaurants, shops and the ferry. Just minutes away from the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco.

Offered at $5,200,000

One of the best and largest custom homes on the Belvedere Lagoon, completely remodeled in 2006, with ±4,100 square feet of luxurious contemporary design. Pivotal steel and glass entry gate welcomes you to a private, beautifully landscaped walkway to the main entrance. Stunning kitchen by Johnny Grey, with honed Zimbabwe granite counters, warming and cooling drawers, artisan glass, exotic wood and imported marble/stone flooring and counters. Large adjacent family room and dining area with NanaWall opening to huge waterside deck and spa. Upstairs master suite with Mt. Tamalpais and lagoon views, steam shower, jetted tub and lavishly designed and decorated closet/dressing area with huge, drawered, center isle and marble-top vanity and sink. Limestone and Cumaru-wood floor s, skylights, radiant heating, great open floor plan with wide halls and doors, and beautiful lagoon views. Five bedrooms and four full baths… $5,875,000

For more information, visit globalestates.com

sf of dramatic interior, gorgeous kit/ fam, library, level lawn, 3-car gar, 6 en suite bd, 6.5 ba…

5 bd, 4.5 ba… $5,650,000

Waterfront Living at its Finest

This 2006 architecturally stunning 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath main residence & 2-bedroom guest house showcases truly the finest materials in over 6,300 sf. Magnificent entry hall, formal living room, dining room, family room, gourmet kitchen, & master suite. Pool & two spas. 154-foot boat dock. $6,599,000

Penny Wright-Mulligan 415.601.8191

p.mulligan@deckerbullocksir.com www.12StLuciaPlace.com

Views, Garden, Open Space

This 3,600+ sf, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath contemporary home located near Ring Mountain open space, captures the views of Richardson Bay, Sausalito & SF. Living room with fireplace, chef’s kitchen, family room, formal dining, of fice, private master suite, den/family/media room. $2,895,000

Penny Wright-Mulligan 415.601.8191

p.mulligan@deckerbullocksir.com www.4IndianRockCourt.com

Stylish Craftsman Craftsman-style 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath recently remodeled with fine finishes throughout. Dramatic living room, family room with fireplace, formal dining room and exquisite kitchen. Great home for entertaining, quiet cul-de-sac location.

David Grega 415.515.2218

d.grega@deckerbullocksir.com www.ExpectGreatRealEstate.com Dramatic Duplex This outstanding duplex offers views from almost every room. Both units feature 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, wrap around decks, wood floors & open floor plan. There is an attached 2-car garage & large unfinished bonus room. Close to GG Bridge & SF. $1,150,000

$1,295,000

Sage Creek

14-parcel fi nal mapped and approved subdivision on approximately 950 acres. Call for individual lot pricing. $17 million (approx. 530 acres) Or $28.5 million (approx. 950 acres)

Anna Pennington-Boucher 415.860.1399

a.boucher@deckerbullocksir.com www.WorldClassProperties.com

David Grega 415.515.2218

d.grega@deckerbullocksir.com www.ExpectGreatRealEstate.com

Captivating Setting

Spacious 1 level, 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath Mill Valley home. Open floor plan, 2 fireplaces, dining area, hardwood floors, large 2 car garage. Fully approved 2-story ±3,400 sf remodel plans, sizeable ±10,864 square foot lot, and the much acclaimed Mill Valley Schools. $1,450,000 Sherry Ramzi 415.902.7344

s.ramzi@deckerbullocksir.com www.224RicardoCourt.com

Tranquil Blithedale Canyon Home Classic Blithedale canyon 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, ±3049 sq. ft. home on private street-to-street lot overlooking Corte Madera Creek and close to town and open space. Cathedral ceilings, stone mantle, hardwood floors, eat-in kitchen, huge master suite, 2 decks. $1,749,000

Melissa Crawford 415.302.0057

m.crawford@deckerbullocksir.com

Fabulous Waterfront Property Unique opportunity to own a beautiful duplex on the beach or convert to condos (city has approved) or single family home. Approx 4800 sq. ft. of living space with views from nearly every room. Tasteful upgrades, glass enclosed decks and four car garage. $3,150,000 Corey Graham 415.971.0167

Craig Swanson 415.717.0607

Germana Fabbri & Coldwell Banker

4 Golden Gate Avenue, Belvedere

Sophisticated Nantucket style shingled home in the ideal location: This traditional three-level home was recently remodeled to perfection. Located on the premier street in the flats of Belvedere, this three bedroom/three bathroom home boasts water views of Richardson Bay and the lagoon from the light and airy upstairs master suite and yet is conveniently located near the bike path, park and town. Features include great room with floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace with two pairs of French doors leading to backyard of stone patios, flat yard and rose garden. Open floor plan with great room open to both the dining room and gourmet chef’s kitchen. Sliding barn doors separate great room and Calcutta marble kitchen with stainless, top-of-the-line appliances, designer finishes and a large marble island with bar seating. This elegant home also has wideplank hardwood floors throughout and a library on the main floor with custom built-ins as well as a laundry room. A spacious family room, bluestone mudroom and bluestone wine room are on the lower level. The Master suite is upstairs featuring custom builtins, French doors leading to a bluestone patio with water views and a Calcutta marble master bath with free-standing Waterworks tub and walk-in closet. Private, estate-like setting for the most discriminating buyer.

Price Upon Request

Germana Fabbri

2 Tamalpais, Mill Valley | $3,125,000

This dramatic home on Middle Ridge in Mill Valley exudes style and elegance and features 3 bedrooms, plus an office/den. The traditional exterior disguises the contemporary finishes inside including a high tech kitchen, beautiful hardwood floors throughout, and stunning bathroom fixtures. The home was rebuilt in 2007 to the latest standards and technology with radiant heat and multiple water filtration systems. Full San Francisco views can be seen from the front decks; the yard is secluded and has a flat area ready for croquet, bocce ball or a lap pool. Just above the Bernard Street Steps, this location is ideal for a trip to downtown Mill Valley. 2Tamalpais.com

321 Summit Avenue, Mill Valley | $5,700,000

Completed in 2001, this beautiful gated estate combines quality craftsmanship with a comfortable, well-designed 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath floor plan. Situated on a south-facing lot with spectacular San Francisco views, the home features a formal living room, dining room, family room, TV room, of fi ce and solarium. Vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, cherry wood and limestone fl oors, mahogany cabinetry, Venetian plaster walls, and custom mosaic tile are only a few of the many dramatic features found in this awe-inspiring home. 321SummitAvenue.com

fhallen.com/luxury fhallen.com/luxury

The Lodge in Ross | Price available upon request

Unlike any other…private gated one+ level acre…a spacious, magical log style home with a great floor plan and an incredibly private yard off the family room and kitchen. The lawn is large enough for soccer games and is surrounded by a beautiful pool & spa area, rose gardens and so much more. Originally built circa 1920, this is a house with a history…offering the style and craftsmanship of yesteryear updated with the amenities and conveniences of today. Relax on the wraparound porch and within there are 5BR/4.5BA, formal living & dining rooms, chef style kitchen, breakfast area, library, & family room. A work out room is above the 3 car garage. Enjoy the premiere convenient location, close to school and trails.

For the fi rst time in over a decade real estate prices are soft, providing quali fi ed buyers with a great opportunity to purchase in Marin. Take advantage of the current low prices and interest rates to own in one of the premier real estate markets in the country. Contact Jim King for your free Marin Buyer’s Guide providing detailed information on Marin

fi

and more.

Mill Valley: Sold Mill Valley: Sold

his is a classic south facing brown shingle home with extraordinary views of the Ross Valley, Mt. Tam and Mt. Baldy. There is a formal entry, living and dining room, kitchen with of ce space, 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths, large of ce on lower level, bonus room, family room and garage. View decks on both levels plus patio and lawn. Move in condition. This is a must see!

Offered at $2,998,750

istoric Ross craftsman style home that was the original hunting lodge for the Winship Park estate. Located on a gated, south facing hillside with incredible views of Mt. Tam, Mt. Baldy and the Seminary, this spacious home of 5 bedrooms and 5 baths has a versatile oor plan and indoor/outdoor access with a screened in porch, sunny balconies, several terraced outdoor areas, replaces and a hot tub!

Offered at $2,925,000

www.MorganLaneMarin.com

Morgan Lane Marin, Inc. 901 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Kent eld, CA 94904 415/710-0208 sbowman@morganlane.com

This stunning Craftsman home situated on approx 1.15 acres (per the tax records) in one of the most private and serene locations in Ross offers the best in quality and elements of design. An extensive expansion and remodel provides approximately 5,300 square feet (per the plans) of living space featuring exquisite architectural elements and a classic European style. Clean lines, volume and height are accented by the finest craftsmanship and finishes. Terraces and decks focus on breathtaking views over the Ross Valley all the way to Mt. Diablo. The kitchen is a chef’s delight and features a center island and breakfast bar, doors to an expansive deck and a wall of windows focused on the view. The adjacent family room is spacious and welcoming with a wood burning fireplace and doors to the deck. This level is completed with a dining area overlooking gardens, formal living room and powder room. The luxurious master suite will make you feel as if you are living in a fine resort. On a separate level, there are three more bedrooms with a marble accented bath. On the lower level a newly added entertaining area offers high ceilings, a stunning artisan fireplace and doors to the rear yard with access to the pool and spa. This second family room is perfect for a media room, recreation room or place to hang out near the pool. There is another bedroom and designer bath on this level. The laundry room with extra refrigerator is elegantly tucked away on this level. Out your front door you will find the Mt. Baldy trail with access to Phoenix Lake. Pull through the gate of this exquisite property and know you are home. Offered at $4,750,000.

5 Bedrooms ♦ 3.5 Bathrooms ♦ Pool & Spa ♦ Views ♦ Decks

• 3 Bedrooms, 3 baths

• Open floor plan

• Vaulted ceilings

• Hardwood flooring

• Small den/studio or playroom

• Quiet & private

• 2-car attached garage

• Lots of extra storage space

• Lovely natural setting with oaks and redwoods

• Great Mill Valley schools

Offered at $1,375,000

• 3 bedrooms, 2 baths plus

• Separate studio — 2 rooms & ½ bath

• Level fenced lot with great sun exposure

• Beautiful remodeled kitchen

• Vintage charm with impeccable upgrades

• Hardwood flooring

• Located in the heart of Ross

• Top-ranked Ross schools

• Parks, hiking, biking nearby

Offered at $1,695,000

A Larkspur Classic

• Inviting and comfortable home

• 2 bedrooms plus office/nursery

• Vaulted ceilings

• Lots of built-ins

• Close to town/parks/hiking/biking

• Level lawn off living areas

• Beautiful landscaped yard

• 2-car attached garage

• Excellent Larkspur schools

Offered at $995,000

MELBA PATTILLO BEALS

BY MIMI TOWLE

| Back in May 13, 1955, a young Melba Pattillo Beals volunteered for a chance to go to a better school. However, Beals quickly learned that some in her community were not ready to give her that chance. Not only was she spat upon, pushed and shoved, but she had acid poured into her eyes. In her first year at Central High the governor of her state, Orval Faubus, ordered the Arkansas National Guard to block her entry (and eight others’) to school.

The Little Rock Nine, as these students have been labeled by history, took the brunt of racial hatred back in 1957. They made it through the school year with the help of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 101st Airborne Division, personal bodyguards (Melba’s was named Danny) and the bravery of reporters at the time, who spent nights with these children’s families ready to shine the light on any after-dark attacks. After a year, she and her eight counterparts were quietly disbanded. To escape the threats of segregationists, Beals was relocated to California—a place she dreamed of living as a child. The McCabes, a white Quaker family in Sonoma, adopted her. “My dad, Dr. George McCabe, helped to found Sonoma State University and my mom, Kay McCabe, was an incredible civil rights marcher and protester,” she says. “I immediately fell in love with them.” She credits their support for her success as a reporter, author and academic. Why does this nationally revered symbol of change and progress call Marin County home? Read on.

You could live anywhere. Why Marin? Because of the eye candy. Often I say, “Sausalito is where God sends people when space runs out in heaven.”

Do your children understand your place in history? My adult daughter understands. But for the most part my boys think of me as Mom the money machine who gives out allowances, or the smother mother who requires them to follow the rules. However, the other day a national CBS TV show was shooting an interview at my home. My boys walked into the room and you could see them think, “Oh yes, that’s who she is.” They have never lived through an era of oppression as grave as mine. So, they don’t get it.

What makes you happy in Marin? My work teaching at Dominican. While I have been offered teaching positions at some of the country’s most prestigious universities, I prefer to remain here, where we are small enough that we get to know everyone’s name.

What bothers you here in Marin? Perhaps I’m jealous! I see all those beautiful people in Sausalito and Tiburon sitting outdoors in the sun, eating and relaxing and I want to ask them, “Why are you there and who do you work for? Or, do you work?” Sometimes I want to be one of those people. Quite honestly, it is hard to be too bothered when you are in Marin. It is so beautiful here.

What is your personal idea of luxury? A day at home in my furry slippers where I get to write and watch soaps and then go to Il Fornaio for dinner, preferably a seat near the fireplace on a blustery evening.

What person has influenced you the most? My mother was great about insisting I focus on my own education. She would say never, never stop learning. You’re going to get older anyway, so you might as well be old with a few doctorate degrees stashed in your head. She used to say “Education, that’s the key to everything.” I have had the privilege to meet many wonderful people, first as a child and then later as a journalist, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I will never forget his humility and the time he took with us (the Little Rock Nine) to look each one of us in the eye. His insistence that he connect with us on a human level impressed me.

How do you want to be remembered? As a good mother, and as a child of God who struggles hard daily to qualify. I also would like to be remembered as someone who was kind and friendly and who merely wanted what was due to her: equality and the right to be the best I can be.

MEET THE THREE TOP AGENTS FROM CALIFORNIA’S BEST AGENCY

Warren Mullen #1 Agent 2008 warrenmullen.com

Howard Wynn #2 Agent 2008 howardwynn.com

Pacific Union Real Estate is proud to recognize Warren Mullen, Howard Wynn and Nan Allen as our top three Marin agents in 2008.

It’s an award based on sales, and it means that they are the best at matching buyers with sellers and getting the deal done.

Year after year, Warren, Howard and Nan are among Marin’s most experienced, sophisticated and successful real estate advocates. And when the right buyer meets the right property, they have the experience to smoothly transition their client from search through negotiation to successful closing.

Of course, they’re the first to admit, as all the great ones do, that it takes a team.

The team of agents at Pacific Union in Marin is the most seasoned and professional in the business. Each is supported with technical and marketing resources that earned Paci fi c Union BEST Real Estate Agency in California in 2008 at the CNBC Americas Property Awards. And our exclusive af fi liation with Christie’s Great Estates translates to global marketing power unequalled in the Bay Area.

Without question, Howard, Warren and Nan would be top agents at any agency. But there is a reason you find them at Paci fi c Union.

Check them out at their web sites and you’ll understand why.

Nan Allen #3 Agent 2008 nanallen.com

18K yellow gold 42 mm case and bracelet. Self-winding mechanical movement, Cartier calibre 049 (21 jewels, 28'800 vibrations per hour), date aperture. Blue sapphire cabochon set on a fluted crown. Silvered opaline guilloché dial. Rounded scratchproof sapphire crystal. Also exists in steel and 18K yellow gold.