Marin Magazine May 2011

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The Cover

Congratulations to Jeffrey Beauchamp — the winner of our 2011 Get Covered contest — for his winning entry, The Comfort of Your Inner Vivaldi. To see more of his work, visit jeffreybeauchamp.com. To purchase a print of this cover, go to marinmagazine.com/coverart.

34 66 70 80 85

CONVERSATION

Marin’s 5th District supervisor, Judy Arnold by Jim Wood

GO

Following California’s largest river from spring to sea by Mimi Towle

CALENDAR

A roundup of what to do in Marin and beyond

SNAPSHOTS Out and about in Marin and San Francisco

FLAVOR

Lightening up with a juice fast by Mimi Towle

86 100 130 16 20

DINE OUT

An insider’s guide to Bay Area eateries

MICROCLIMATE

Bolinas: two miles off the main road and a world away by Daniel Jewett

LOOKING BACK

Are you in this 1968 photo? by Jim Wood

VIEW FROM MOUNT TAM

The founders of Marin Magazine welcome you to share their vision

POV

There’s vibrant local TV in Marin by Jim Wood COLUMNS

EDITORIAL

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

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

MANAGING EDITOR Julie Sinclair ext 120 | jsinclair@marinmagazine.com

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

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

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

STYLE EDITOR-AT-LARGE Somer Flaherty sflaherty@marinmagazine.com

COPY EDITOR/PROOFREADER Cynthia Rubin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PJ Bremier, Alissa Everett, Erika Lenkert

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Monica Grant, Logan Link

ART

ART DIRECTOR Anne Walzer

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

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Drew Altizer, Nike van der Molen

ADMINISTRATION

CONTROLLER Maeve Walsh ext 104 | mwalsh@marinmagazine.com

OFFICE MANAGER Danielle Grant ext 100 | dgrant@marinmagazine.com

WEB

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

Volume 7, Issue 5. Marin Magazine is published in Marin County by Marin Magazine LLC. All rights reserved. Copyright©2011. 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, email editorial@ marinmagazine.com, website marinmagazine.com.

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What’s Online

Whether you live in Marin or are just visiting, our iPhone app can be your convenient, go-to source for where to eat, where to stay and where to play. And, it’s free. You’ll

BEHIND THE SCENES WEEKEND 101 CALENDAR

What does it really take to create a Marin Magazine fashion shoot? Come along with us to the Romberg Tiburon Center as we celebrate the colors of spring via the latest fashion trends. marinmagazine.com

Are you wondering what to do this weekend? Join more than 10,000 Weekend 101 subscribers and get our top picks on Bay Area happenings — from the latest play at A.C.T. to taking in the local talent at 142 Throckmorton Theatre. Every Wednesday you’ll receive the hot to-do list curated by our Calendar editor. Sign up at marinmagazine.com

If you have a Bay Area event and want to get the word out, submit it at marinmagazine. com/calendar

Join us in conversation about all things Marin and follow @marinmagazine on Twitter.

+ 35 studios

+ 3 galleries + events + art classes + housing + outreach

+ join us

+ every tues-sat | 10am-5pm

+ 2nd fridays art walk | san rafael

+ marin arts open studios | may 7-8 + may 14-15

+ holiday open studios | dec 10-11

AS MOTHER’S DAY APPROACHES AND FLOWERS

bloom on the hills around us, this month we celebrate the bounty of spring — and all of Marin’s varied and rich offerings, from the people who make the county what it is to the good food that feeds our souls.

In Flavor and FYI People, we feature two businesses that help others look and feel better — Benefit Cosmetics and Evo Spa — where Marin-based sisters, mothers and daughters work side-by-side to grow and evolve their companies.

Interested in getting the inside scoop on the America’s Cup? In Q&A, Mimi Towle talks with San Rafael’s John Craig, the event’s principal race officer, who shares his thoughts on the best vantage points for watching the race, which racers locally we should be keeping our eye on, and more.

Speaking of the outdoors, we check in with four people who regularly pedal across the Golden Gate Bridge on their way to work — three from Marin to S.F. and one doing the reverse — to find out how they will celebrate Bike to Work Day. (Hint: One of them will make a 76-mile round-trip trek from Novato.)

In Life, Erika Lenkert highlights 12 restaurants in the county where the food is not only scrumptious but also comes in under $10 per person for lunch or $20 for dinner — and often for less than that. Our roving editor-at-large, Tim Porter, snapped the mouthwatering photos.

And, in Get Covered, we take you behind the easel to meet this year’s cover contest winner, Jeffrey Beauchamp, and show you the submissions of our 10 runners-up.

Also in this issue was a story we considered not running due to the ever-changing situation in the Middle East: the Journey article on Damascus written and photographed by photojournalist Alissa Everett. We ran it, however, because it offers firsthand timely perspective on what life was like for Syrians before the strife began.

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

Lisa Shanower, Publisher

Nikki Wood, Editorial Director

Jim Wood, Executive Editor

LETTERS

Readers respond

❯❯ Issues of race

Regarding “No Place Like Home” (April 2011), a reader wrote in to say: “Only in Marin County could an increase in Asian population from 2 percent to 3 percent and an increase in black population from 3 percent to 6 percent be seen as a “dramatic … changing population.” Anonymous, via email

The article’s writer, Nate Seltenrich, responds: “Granted, 3 percent is still a very small proportion, and so is 6 percent. The full extent of the change is best illustrated by the fact that between 2000 and 2010, Novato’s Asian population increased by nearly 40 percent, its black population by 50 and its Hispanic population by 75. Meanwhile, in this same period — during which Novato grew by a greater rate than any other jurisdiction in Marin — the city’s white population decreased by 6 percent, to a total of 66 percent. In sum, these trends represent a significant shift in Novato’s demographics.”

❯❯ More input on meters

After reading “Smart Meters, Dumb Idea?” (January 2011) and hearing that the Marin County supervisors approved a one-year moratorium on the installation of the SmartMeters, I called PG&E and asked them to please hold off on installing a smart meter on my home. I told them I was concerned about the health risks and the higher bills associated with the smart meters, among other things, and that I wanted to do more research and also attend a meeting in my community regarding these issues. PG&E promised me that they would hold off until the end of February and after that they would send me a letter advising me approximately when they would want to plan on installing the SmartMeter. I came home from work in early January, and a SmartMeter

had been installed on my house. I checked with some other neighbors, and they did not have the SmartMeter. I feel so personally violated by PG&E, and now I absolutely understand why the town of Bolinas described PG&E as waging war on them. This is all very scary to say the least.

Name withheld, Larkspur

❯❯ A new political landscape?

While I agree that the new election law will have some interesting outcomes (POV, April 2011), I disagree with your assumption that liberals here in Marin will by default choose Norman Solomon. Many of us progressives support Jared Huffman because he has a track record of getting things done and is a proven environmental champion in ways that other candidates are not. Huffman is a strong liberal. While a Solomon candidacy will appeal to some progressives, I think many progressives will vote for a solid liberal who they believe can help solve the difficult problems our country faces.

Geraldine Caldarola, Kentfield

❯❯ Corrections

In “Third Annual Home Renovation Guide” (April 2011), Alliance Custom Builders should have been listed in the Kitchen/Bath section, and the contact information for Nest Design Co., Inc., is 415.294.2554, nestdesignco.com.

In “Guide to Bay Area Summer Camps” (March 2011), the correct email address for Camp Edmo is campedmo.org, and for Camp EdTech it is campedtech.org. The contact information for both is Hall Middle School, 200 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA 94939, 415.282.6673. We regret the errors.

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 email letters@marinmagazine.com.

Our covers.

Your walls

Now you can buy Marin Magazine covers for your home or office. Available in various sizes, framed or unframed, with or without the Marin Magazine logo, these professional quality prints are a beautiful addition to any wall. Visit marinmagazine.com/coverart today.

Cable with vision

The vibrant local programming right under our nose

BY JIM WOOD

WHEN I THINK OF WAYS to make Marin even better, I think about improving communications. A way to convey the thinking of Marin’s many creative minds and let us witness live debate over such issues as the SMART commuter rail line, the proposed Target store in San Rafael and where to locate workforce housing. Wouldn’t it be great if Marin had its own cable television station? News flash: Marin County already has its own cable television station. For two years, Marin TV — or the Community Media Center of Marin (CMCM) — has operated from a nondescript San Rafael storefront at 817 A Street. Mike Eisenmenger, a respected community Cablevision veteran, is the executive director. His staff, paid and volunteers, numbers 15. Marin TV operates on three channels: 26, 27 and 30. Channel 26, the flagship channel, runs 24/7 and shows topical news from Al Jazeera English World News , the Thom Hartmann Program and Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman. It also runs documentaries submitted by Marin residents (more on that later)

and locally produced programs such as Norman Solomon’s Making a Difference in Marin and Peter B. Collins’ Marin Voices and Views

Channel 27 is Marin TV’s government channel. It’s on the air maybe 18 hours a day and offers live, multiple camera coverage of county board of supervisor meetings and those of the Mill Valley and San Rafael city councils. It also runs delayed videos of meetings of the Marin Planning Commission and the Marin Energy Authority and could soon be showing board meetings of SMART. Channel 30, Marin’s education channel, runs University of California TV programming and cablecasts of Dominican University classes and its “Leadership Lecture” series.

Sounds good, right? Sorry, but now things get complicated. Marin TV is available only to subscribers of Comcast cable television (that’s some 62,000 homes). It is not available if you live in Novato (try Novato TV, it’s quite good) nor in West Marin (by summer, this might change), and not if AT&T is your cable provider (try Channel 99, but it’s a slog). Making matters even more complex, for a schedule of programs type “Marin TV” or “cmcm” into your Internet browser. This will bring up “Community Media Center of Marin,” where you’ll find plenty of information about Marin’s three cable television channels.

“Let’s face it: all communications, even network television, are complicated these days,” notes Marin TV’s Eisenmenger, However, like Eisenmenger, I feel Marin TV — especially Channel 26 — is well worth the effort. Sure there are the innocuous community bulletin boards where senior housing opportunities and Easter Seals benefits are announced while smooth jazz plays in the background. However, there are also trea-

sures like Al Jazeera English World News and Marin Views and Voices

Other examples: Last month I saw Marin’s Board of Supervisors live on Channel 27 as they paid tribute to their colleague Charles McGlashan just days following his tragic death. On Channel 26, I am hooked on the Third World Traveler series of documentaries offered up by Steve Fine, a retired Mill Valley oral surgeon. The films Orwell Rolls in His Grave and Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media helped confirm suspicions I’ve acquired regarding America’s mainstream media, and The Hidden Wars of Desert Storm answered questions I had about that period in our nation’s history.

By insisting that such programs be available to Marin viewers, Mill Valley’s Fine exemplifies an important purpose of Marin TV. “In America, we don’t get the information we need to run a democracy,” he says. “I’m just trying to help people find the truth.”

According to Eisenmenger, Channel 26 programming is a result of what Marin residents want on their community cable channel. “They either produce it themselves or secure it and make it available it to us for telecasting, as Steve Fine does,” he says. “And if they want to produce content — we have the classes, cameras and processes to make that possible.” Marin TV can be reached at 415.721.0636 or cmcm.tv.

Currently, due to numerous factors, Marin’s public-access cable TV station unfortunately faces a dubious financial future. However, its potential for fostering and enhancing communication in Marin County is unlimited. That’s my point of view. What’s yours?

Email pov@marinmagazine.com.

WE EARNED THE AWARDS.

WE ALL REAP THE REWARDS.

THANKS FOR SUPPORTING AWARD-WINNING HEALTH CARE IN MARIN.

As your community hospital, we’ve been focused on maintaining and building on our high standard of patient care. With your support, we are succeeding.

In the past year, Marin General Hospital was recognized by several national organizations for our stroke care, chest pain, and breast imaging programs.

We thank all the dedicated staff and physicians who have made these achievements possible, and for their endless dedication to delivering the highest quality care. We will continue raising the bar even higher in 2011—to deliver the health care experience Marin County deserves.

Society of Chest Pain Centers Accreditation

The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recognize this hospital for achieving at least one year of 85% or higher adherence to all Get With The GuidelinesSM program quality indicators to improve quality of patient care and outcomes. Accredited Breast Imaging Center of Excellence

The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for the hospital, behavioral health services, as well as advanced certification as a Primary Stroke Center.

THE POLISHED PATIO

A few touches make a world of difference

Decorating a patio adds infinite interest, giving us an extra nudge to meander outside and relax. March a trio of sweet owls down an outdoor dining table, plant a succulent box for an instant vertical garden, or tuck a lacy foliage plant in a gorgeous new pot. There, you’re done! Now, settle in by a crackling outdoor fire pit as the sun goes down and the sound of trickling water washes away your worries. Oh, the luxury of summertime. — P.J. BREMIER

1. Lava Rock Propane Fire Bowl, $1,195 at Restoration Hardware (available online only). 800.910.9836, restorationhardware.com

2. Serenity Fountain by A. Silvestri Co., $615 at West End Nursery (San Rafael). 415.454.4175, asilvestri.com 3. Chiseled Planter by Planters by a Sculptor, $575 at Ecco Mi Design (Petaluma). 707.291.8703, monidesigns.com 4. Handcrafted Stone Owls by Pottery Land, $4 to $50 at Garden Essential (Sonoma). 707.526.7235, potterylandusa.com

5. Vertical Living Picture kit with succulents by Robin Stockwell, $70 at Succulent Gardens (Castroville). 831.632.0482, sgplants.com

The Great Rebate

A statewide rebate program to improve energy efficiency is heading to Marin, so take note: With Energy Upgrade California, you’ll have until December 2012 to qualify — by taking steps like sealing ducts, repairing furnaces or getting solar–power systems analysis completed.

Already successful in Sacramento and Los Angeles, the program has many experts excited, including Marin County sustainability planner Dana Armanino, who is encouraging homeowners to act sooner rather than later. “It’s always good to jump on these opportunities when they happen,” she says.

“This is an exciting and timely project, because we can now leverage building science in our homes,” adds Alex Burnham, a certified building performance specialist who works with Harney Home Performance in San Rafael. “In the end, these improvements result in healthier and safer homes that are also better for the planet.” For more information on the program, visit energyupgradeca.org.

Calling all CUTE PUPS

SNACK WAGON

Forget ice cream trucks — there’s now a hot dog cart in town. Serving up organic snacks and hot dogs, Joan Miller’s Hot Diggity hot dog cart is back just in time for warmer weather. This summer, stop by the Strawberry Recreation Center on Fridays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or head over to the Ross Valley Farmers’ Market on Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. for a snack to go. For up-to-date info about Miller’s whereabouts, follow @digitdogs on Twitter.

Marin Country Mart at Larkspur Landing has officially gone canine crazy with the opening of George pet shop. Known for offering everything from leashes to treats to doggie sweaters, George has been a popular dog supply destination for 20 years in San Francisco and Berkeley. To celebrate the June 4 opening, owner Bobby Wise will host a Pup Parade beginning at 11 a.m., with a few four-pawed participants winning their human companions a $50 coupon for use at the store. Categories include most huggable, most handsome and most likely to win the coveted Westminster. Also on opening day in the store, Andrew Grant will hold the first of two casting calls for the second edition of his glossy coffee-table book Rover. And Poppy Store, a children’s boutique nearby, will offer portrait sittings for pets and children.

New Nightspot

Looking for a place to catch comedy or live rock music, bluegrass or R&B? The Southern Pacific Smokehouse is opening in Novato; follow @SPSmokehouse on Twitter.

John Craig

In two years, four months and a few hours, John Craig will be under the gun. Actually, he’ll most likely be pulling the trigger — as the principal race officer for the 34th America’s Cup. And working with his boss, Regatta Director Iain Murray, Craig will coordinate an international circuit of racing events even before the starting gun goes off on September 7, 2013.

There will be plenty of racing on the road to the America’s Cup. While the America’s Cup match itself is a head-tohead race between the challenger and the defender, a field of international contenders will have taken part in the competition leading up to the main event. First is an America’s Cup World Series (ACWS) this year with the smaller AC45 wing-sailed catamarans. Then, starting in San Francisco in the summer of 2012, the ACWS events will feature the larger and faster America’s Cup racing yachts, the AC72s. These high-tech 72-foot catamarans with wing sails are currently being designed by the teams and will first be raced in San Francisco.

Following those ACWS events, the challenging teams will then all compete in San Francisco for the Louis Vuitton Cup, the challenger series for the America’s Cup. Entries are open until the end of March 2013, and a field of eight to 10 international teams are expected to compete.

Craig’s first order of business is to hire an on-the-water team of about 40 people. Who’s he looking for? “We need a varied array of skill sets with a deep understanding of the sport, from engine mechanics to divers, and especially people with a background in technology,” he says. We caught up with Craig the morning of his last day as race manager for the St. Francis Yacht Club to discuss his exciting new position.

Q Who are the local guys to watch?

A John Kostecki, who has a home in Marin, will be a tactician on the Oracle Racing team, and Paul Cayard, longtime Bay Area sailor and resident, is the CEO of Swedish challenger Artemis Racing.

Q What are your reflections on the past 11 years at the yacht club?

A St. Francis has always been a really strong club, known for its commitment to racing. Throughout my time there, the club has enabled me to experiment with innovations such as boat tracking and new technologies that wouldn’t have been available at other clubs.

Q Is this a job you wanted as a kid?

A I’ve always wanted to be involved in the America’s Cup. I grew up sailing in Victoria, British Columbia, and as a coach for the Canadian Olympic team for 12 years, I was fortunate to be exposed to world-class competitive sailing. The America’s Cup, the oldest trophy in any international sport, is the pinnacle of sailing, so I have always aspired to be part of it.

Q Best vantage points?

AQduring the 45 minutes of racing. Spectators on and off the water will also pose a challenge: We expect our audience to be six times bigger than Fleet Week.

Q How did you end up in Marinwood?

A I had visions of living in the Marina District and walking to the St. Francis Yacht Club to work. Our daughter, Danielle, was one year old, and the need for a backyard and spare rooms for family and friends and a good school district pulled us across the Golden Gate Bridge. After lots of driving around, my wife, Despina, came across Marinwood, and that became home.

With the Challenger of Record being Club Nautico di Roma, how did the 34th America’s Cup end up in San Francisco?

Larry Ellison’s Oracle Racing, the team representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club in the 33rd America’s Cup, defeated the Swiss Alinghi team in February 2010. That victory gave the Golden Gate Yacht Club the opportunity to decide with the America’s Cup Event Authority where and when to stage the next America’s Cup competition. San Francisco was selected following a review of international bids from cities seeking to host the prestigious competition.

A Since the AC72s aren’t even built yet and we’ll need to see how they perform due to the space being needed for tacking and gybing, we haven’t determined the specific race course configurations yet. Suggestions include finishing downwind off Pier 39 or under the Golden Gate Bridge. However, what we do know is that we will try to utilize the entire bay.

Q What is the biggest challenge?

A Since the bay is an active port busy with freighters, tugs and ferries, working with commercial traffic will be our biggest challenge. Our goal is to try to control the area as best we can

The Cup

Q Is your family involved in sailing?

A My wife currently works at the Bar Method in Greenbrae, though she did work for a sailing center in Vancouver for 13 years. Our kids, Dante (in fifth grade) and Danielle (in seventh grade) love being on the water but do need some sailing lessons, which we plan on sorting out this summer.

Q Are you nervous?

A No, I’m excited. Sure, it’s going to be a challenge. But being involved with the America’s Cup has always been a dream.

On February 20, 2010, the all-silver America’s Cup was on display at San Francisco’s City Hall. Here’s a bit more about the oldest trophy in international sport: Made in 1848 for England’s Royal Yacht Squadron by R. & G. Garrard, Queen’s jewelers, London, it cost 100 guineas (about £100) and for awhile was called the 100 Guinea Cup. It is 26 5/8 inches tall, including a seven-inch base that was added in 1958 to allow for additional winners’ names. It’s made of 134 ounces of silver-plated Britannia metal, an alloy similar to pewter.

Spring Sampler

Fifi’s Diner • Bistro Vis à Vis

• Wipeout Bar & Grill •

Victoria Pastry • Susie Cakes

Bon Air Salon & Spa

Lindisima PaperCrush

Arch Rival

Luxton Optical

Johann Paul Jewelers

Woodlands

Pet Food & Treats

Sandbox

FrameCrafters

Faith Ako

Halau Hula Na Pua O Ka La’akea

Bike to Work Day Is Almost Here

BY JIM WOOD

When you’re a kid, you can’t wait until Christmas. That’s how some adults feel about Bike to Work Day, which this year happens on Thursday, May 12.

For 47-year-old Mike Wallenfels, president and CEO of backpack and messenger-bag maker Timbuk2 Designs, celebrating means biking a longer distance. “I’ll be doing a round-trip commute,” he says with a straight face, “not just my usual oneway ride.” However, for Wallenfels that means — hold on to your handlebars — a two-way trip of 76 miles on his durable LeMond Buenos Aires, a holdover from the 1990s.

Wallenfels’ “usual” one-way commute is 38 miles from his home in Novato to his office in the Mission District. “Depending on the weather and traffic, it takes about two and a half hours,” he says. “It’s exhilarating; going to work I get a great workout. Then, on the way home, I hang

Mike Wallenfels will pedal 76 miles on Bike to Work Day.

Counseling Psychology, MS

Nursing, MS

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my bike on a Golden Gate Transit bus and have time to catch up on emails.”

For Patrick Seidler, president of Wilderness Trail Bikes (WTB), a 12-mile regular commute — from Lucas Valley down to the office in Mill Valley — is a way to catch up with his childhood. “Growing up in Corte Madera, we’d race our Sting-Ray bikes on the railroad tracks through the old Cal Park Tunnel,” he recalls. The tunnel, built in 1884, was sealed shut at both ends in 1978; then, in 1998, Seidler’s Transportation Alternatives for Marin and the Marin County Bicycle Coalition began a campaign to reopen it as a pedestrian and biking trail as well as someday to accommodate SMART, the commuter rail line.

“There is something so heartening about being able to get yourself

to work via your own muscle, especially along a route that is arguably one of the most scenic bike commutes in the country, if not the world.”

Twelve years and $27 million later, with Seidler’s shoulder to the wheel, Cal Park Tunnel was indeed reopened. Combined with the pedestrian and bike trail, it stretches a mile and a half from Bellam Boulevard in San Rafael almost to the Larkspur Landing Ferry Terminal. “It takes at least 12 minutes off the ride between north and south county,” says Seidler with justifiable pride, “and every time I take it, it feels like I’m riding downhill both ways.”

Biking is hardly all downhill for 43-yearold Amy Marr, who lives in Mill Valley and works as an editor at Weldon Owen Publishing

14 miles away in San Francisco’s Jackson Square district. She notes that bike commuting from Marin provides a perfect bookend to the workday, because no matter what happens at work, “you had two great rides.” Marr’s route to work cuts through marshlands on the Mill Valley–Sausalito bike path, travels Sausalito’s waterfront, goes up and over the Golden Gate, passes through Crissy Field and Fisherman’s Wharf and finishes with a mile on the Embarcadero.

Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge can be the dodgiest part. “It’s often slick, especially as you round the towers and hit those steel grates,” Marr notes. “And gusts off the Pacific, on the ride home, can be incredibly heady.”

Yet the Boston transplant isn’t complaining. “There is something so heartening about being able to get yourself to work via your own muscle,” she reflects, “especially along a route that is arguably one of the most scenic bike commutes in the country, if not the world.”

And how will she celebrate Bike to Work Day? “Maybe a post-ride glass of wine or two; I hear there’s a party brewing.”

Chris Schierholtz, a 38-year-old marketing manager at WTB, will also join the celebration. “That afternoon there’ll be a party and vendor expo at Marin Brewing Company,” he says. “Everyone riding his or her bike to work is invited.”

This will be his kind of celebration: bikes, beers, buddies and burgers. And that’s not the only way he’ll mark the occasion. “I’ll probably take my ‘super commute’ on the way into work,” Schierholtz says. Instead of his customary 14-mile bike commute from San Francisco’s Cole Valley to his Miller Avenue office, he’ll do a scenic 23-mile route from the city over the Golden Gate Bridge and out to Point Bonita on the western tip of the Marin Headlands before heading east and starting his workday. “I go from dense traffi c into a dense forest,” he adds with a smile.

TIBURON’S QUEENS OF BEAUTY

How the Benefit Cosmetics beauty duo keeps the laughs going BY SOMER FLAHERTY

ABOVE : Jean and Jane Ford in the ’70s. RIGHT : The Ford sisters today with Jean’s daughters, Maggie and Annie Ford Danielson.

It was a simple coin flip that changed the lives of twins Jean and Jane Ford and the faces of millions of women thereafter. Thirty-five years ago, they sat on the corner of San Francisco’s 23rd and Nellie streets deciding between a career in cosmetics or casseroles — the two things the women knew best. With the lucky coin leading the way, the Fords combined their business acumen and beauty backgrounds to open a 455-square-foot store called the Face Place in the city’s Mission District. In 1990 they changed the company name to the now-well-known Benefit Cosmetics.

The six-foot-one sisters, who live across the street from each other in Tiburon, originally pursued modeling after completing their studies at Indiana University. “We really had no idea what we wanted to do after we graduated college,” says Jean. “I had studied art education, and Jane had studied marketing and finance. New York City was an exciting place with lots of opportunity. The city just lured us in.”

In Manhattan, they lived in a tiny apartment in an artsy neighborhood where everyone around was a struggling artist of some sort. “Every day we would go out on audition after audition and get turned away,” says Jean. “Our big break came two years later when we booked a series of national commercials for Calgon bath beads. We were so excited. It was our dream come true.”

But even with the success from the Calgon ads, they knew they wouldn’t be able to model forever. With the money from the ad campaign, they packed up their old station wagon, drove out west to San Francisco and let fate decide where they would invest their earnings.

Opening their makeup store, they focused on making problem-solving products that target particular beauty dilemmas. For instance, their top seller (over 10 million bottles), Benetint, a rosehued stain for lips and cheeks, was originally invented for an exotic dancer who wanted something to make her nipples appear pinker.

Benefit Cosmetics is known for its quirky packaging and whimsical attitude — its motto, “Laughter is the best cosmetic … so grin and wear it” borne out by cleverly named basics like Dr. Feelgood (a mattifying complexion balm) and BADgal Lash (a rich black mascara). The

creative approach is still going strong: Every new Benefit product moniker is vetted during candy-fueled weekly naming sessions, and unanimous approval is required.

As the Ford twins’ prowess at facial fixes grew, so did their company. Today Benefit Cosmetics can be found at 2,000 makeup counters and freestanding stores in almost 40 countries — including a flagship boutique in Mill Valley. And even as a $500 million–plus company that in 1999 was acquired by LVMH, it still feels like a small, family-run operation, in part because it is. Jean and Jane travel from their Marin home to Benefit’s San Francisco offices each day, and Jean’s daughters — Maggie Ford Danielson and Annie Ford Danielson — now work for the brand.

The younger Fords grew up in Marin watching their mom and aunt build their beauty business. “It’s really special, because it’s the same company it’s always been,” Maggie says. “But it’s grown into something so powerful and special, yet still retains that same vibe when I was three or four years old — which can’t be said for a lot of global makeup brands.”

While Jean and Jane most days are immersed in product development, packaging and customer relations, Annie and Maggie head up the Home Shopping Network part of the business; they also travel the world to attend meetings, store openings and press events. Annie says seeing her mom and aunt in action is one of the best parts of her job. “I get to see how Jean and Jane really have created this massive empire based on their personalities,” she says. “They walk into a room, and everyone is floored with their energy and creativity.”

The casserole idea may have been shelved, but the Fords aren’t looking back. “People always ask us how long we’re planning to work for Benefit, and we knew the minute we started we were in it for life,” Annie says.

“If we don’t have healthy businesses, we can’t do anything for the environment and poor people.”

Marin’s 5th District supervisor was inspired by JFK, John Burton and Gary Giacomini

BY JIM WOOD

JUDY ARNOLD

“You were born to be a politician,” Judy Arnold’s dad told her in the hospital just before he passed away. Arnold, who has worked in government-related positions all her adult life, is the county supervisor for Marin’s 5th District, which encompasses most of Novato and the nearby communities of Bel Marin Keys, Indian Valley and Black Point.

“Dad was a staunch Kansas City Republican,” Arnold notes with a wistful smile. “And I’m a dedicated Democrat,” she adds, breaking the tension with a hearty laugh and an engaging smile. To Arnold, being a Democrat clearly does not mean being anti-business. “If we don’t have healthy businesses,” she’s quick to say, “we can’t do anything for the environment and poor people.” In her 2006 campaign speeches, she stated, “Marin doesn’t deal with its economy; in past years it hasn’t had to.” Then, following the 2008 economic crisis, a countywide survey showed jobs and the economy second only to traffic congestion as concerns for residents of Marin. So the 70-year-old mother of three and grandmother of five, who’s been married to singer-songwriter Bruce Arnold for 37 years, knew it was time to act.

Last year Arnold was instrumental in forming the Marin Economic Forum, a public-private partnership dedicated to enhancing Marin’s economic vitality. “The county pledged $150,000 to fund the forum, conditional on the business community raising a similar amount,” Arnold says. “And inside of four months it was done. Following a year of operating, we’re now looking for a CEO. I’m really proud of that.”

Supervisor Arnold’s political history is replete with people who accomplish things. After graduating from college in the early 1960s, she was

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T-Y Shen, Retired economics professor and avid hiker

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lured by JFK’s visionary charisma and spent two years working for the late Sargent Shriver. “I wrote pamphlets trying to get professional people to join the Peace Corps,” she recalls.

A decade later, she managed the campaign of legendary Marin politician Gary Giacomini, who was running for supervisor in Marin’s 4th District. “I was the first woman to be officially called a campaign manager,” she remembers. “And after that, I served as Gary’s administrative aide, which was another first for Marin.” It was here, Arnold admits, that she began to imagine someday being a supervisor.

In 1996, when Supervisor Giacomini retired, Arnold took an administrative position with Marin’s powerful (and colorful) state senator John Burton. “I saw the power and how to use that power to legislate effectively,” she says. “I learned so much from John.” And when Burton became president pro tem of the state Senate, Arnold got her political baptism by fire. “It happened during the Gray Davis recall,” she remembers, “and John was essentially running the state. So in Marin and Sonoma counties, I had to take on many of the senator’s duties.”

After working with Burton for eight years, Judy Arnold was elected to the Novato City Council, where she served two years before being elected supervisor.

Who were your political influences? For a 22-year-old college graduate, the Kennedy era was magical. And working for Sargent Shriver was a thrill; he so believed in the Peace Corps, and his passion trickled down to everyone there. We thought we were going to save the world, that everything was going to be all right. Then when JFK died, it was heartbreaking — I couldn’t believe it. I stared at the television for three days.

From John Kennedy — and from Gary Giacomini — I learned the power of being able to speak on your feet and be almost poetic about what you say. They were both amazing and, of course, Gary still is. However, John Burton influenced me the most. He gets right to the point, straight to the issue, and I liked that. He also taught me about deal-

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ing with constituents, which led me to run for Novato’s city council. Both John Burton and Gary Giacomini are very passionate yet straight-talking politicians. I’d also like to say that about my friend and fellow county supervisor Charles McGlashan. Charles was a true visionary, and we miss him every day.

Please discuss SMART, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit. I’ve been on the SMART board for three years, so I know it’s a huge challenge. It is the biggest capital project ever for both Marin and Sonoma counties. I think it has great potential, and more people than projected will ride it. There are people who still want its funding repealed. However, I feel encouraged; the board is working together now, and there’s no longer the “bunker mentality” we had in the past. The die will be cast in late April when SMART goes to the market for bond funding.

What, in your mind, are the biggest challenges facing the nation, the state and Marin County? Nationally, it is the emergence of almost a third political party, the tea party, which is only causing more polarization, and I fear everything will come to a standstill in Washington; they can barely get a budget together. The moderate Republicans are increasingly moving to the right. In California, the biggest problems are the budget and the economy. I admire Governor Brown for not being tempted to craft the budget with swamp gas and mirrors, as previous governors have done. However, he’s promised to deliver a balanced budget, and if he can’t get a vote of the people regarding tax extensions, the cuts affecting the poor are going to be draconian. Marin’s safety net will collapse. We get 36 percent of our budget from the state, and if that money disappears, we could see soup lines. As for the county’s biggest challenge, I think it’s traffic congestion. One way we can deal with that is through developing workforce housing so people will not have to commute in and out of the county. A second challenge is getting our businesses healthy. Without a healthy economy we can’t do much of anything.

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Color Splash

We’re gaga for the vibrant, celebratory tropical colors of summer 2011 — rich reds, hot oranges, sea greens and bold yellows — as well as the beckoning of warmer, more carefree days. We’re booking our own little trip to paradise without leaving home with vivid floral home accents, tribal-inspired statement jewelry, print dresses and plumeria scented baths (and garnering plenty of great gift ideas for mom while we’re at it).

KLUB NICO | LA SELVA BEACH

jada sandal

A perfectly summery sandal with an edge, Klub Nico’s Jada features a slinky hand-braided leather strap, toe ring and 1/2” flat heel. Available in mustard yellow (shown) or black. US SIZES 6-10 • 1973 $85

| SAN FRANCISCO

the classic pillow

Treat yourself to a relaxing spa-like experience anywhere and anytime with Mette Vangso’s Classic Pillow in Orange Blossom. Filled with organic buckwheat and natural lavender flowers, the Classic neck pillow can be warmed in the microwave for a minute or two for a moist, fragrant heat, or cooled in the freezer to use as a cold pack. • 1783 $44

star pillows

Bring summer’s bold palate into your living room with Out-N-In’s Star Pillows, featuring a graphic print of a geometric embroidery pattern. Made of Out-N-In’s signature outdoor-ready polyester, these pillows are 100% machine washable. Available in a 24” orange version or 18” purple version. PURPLE (18” SQ) • 1846 $65 ORANGE (24” SQ) • 1846 $100

elegant spring centerpiece

Liven up your spring table with Terri Jaffe’s gorgeous centerpiece of seasonal berries and vines, orchids, exotic greens, hydrangeas, roses, peonies and tulips (when available), all in a 5.5” square clear glass cube. • 1887 $125

KRIS

NATIONS | HALF

squash blossom mobile earrings

Inspired by a traditional Navajo Squash Blossom necklace worn by Kris Nations’ mother, these earrings add a channel of vintage crystals and a hematite claw bead. Shown in reclaimed 14k gold filled with lemon yellow stones; more options available online.

3” L X 1.5” W • 1977 $127

MOON BAY

bath bombs

Drop one of Pretty Girl Makeup’s Bath Bombs in your tub and watch it fizz and fill your bath with softness. Shea butter and palm oils wrap you in moisture, and rich scents like citrus, coconut/banana, plumeria and lavender give you a custom aromatherapy experience. Sold separately. • 1978 $6

apron dress

This vintage style girl's dress is one size fi everyone. Cut apron style, this dress can fi little lady as early as three months, and when it gets too short for the sandbox, it makes a fabulous tunic over a tee with jeans, up to age three. Shown in Mocca print; more options available online. • 1836 $61

ava necklace

A statement piece with a rich palette of pinks, reds and turquoise, Gold & Citrus’ chunky yet feminine Ava Necklace features layers of stainless steel chain, gold-plated box chain, crystal coral chain, crystal turquoise chain, and pink marble beads and is finished with a gold-plated lobster clasp. 17”-18” L • 1979 $239

MYRRHIA | OAKLAND

graphic cowl scarf

Add a pop of color and personality to any ensemble with Myrrhia’s Graphic Cowl. Handmade in the Bay Area, this unisex circle scarf is made from organic merino wool. Shown in steps pattern; more colors and patterns available online. 24” X 8” • 1981 $67

carolyn coat

Juleselin’s Carolyn Coat is a true classic. Made of organic cotton, this piece features a flattering band at the waist, side pockets, hook-and-eye closure, oversized buttons and a wide sweep for a beautiful and elegant swing. Pair it with leggings and a cami to convert to a dress. Shown in martini olive green; more colors available US SIZES XS-L $226

simone girls pleat dress

Named after Petit Couture’s first born, the Simone Dress is the life of the party. Made of a cotton twill and sateen blend, the Simone is appropriately form-fitting with generous arm holes, an exposed chunky zipper, diamond mesh flutter sleeves and a red-and-white floral pattern. Sizes available from 12 months and up. Shown in classic red; more options available online.

• 1860 $87

polki leather bracelets

You’ll love the high-low sensibility of Isharya’s Polki Bracelets. These bracelets feature braided leather adorned with mirrored glass and 18k gold plated accents. Perfect for layering, the Polki is available with turquoise, red or brown leather. Sold separately

• 1822 $225

assorted gift box

Beautifully gift packaged in an elegant dark brown box with Thai paper and hand-tied satin ribbon, these assorted chocolate boxes from Coco Delice offer some of their most popular and enticing flavors, including Salty Caramel, Framboise and Merlot. Available in 6, 12 and 24 piece varieties.

6 PIECE SET • 1704 $11.50

12 PIECE SET • 1705 $21

24 PIECE SET • 1706 $37

CHEAPER by the DOZEN

Even if you already have a favorite place for a quick, inexpensive bite in Marin, you’ll want to cut out this list and put it in your glove box (or keep it handy with our iPhone app). Why? Because we’ve unearthed 12 exceptionally tasty places to dine out at a fraction of what you’re used to paying. Destinations in their own right, the following restaurants offer lunch for under $10 per person and dinner for under $20 — and often way less than that! Better yet, they give you good reason to go beyond your go-to slice or burrito and explore the diverse flavors and neighborhoods of our exceptional county.

TIBURON GRILL

The happy-hour menu and seating options at the restaurant within the relaxed-chic Lodge at Tiburon are so enticing and expansive that it’s impossible not to rationalize making the scenic drive to the eastern part of our county. First there’s the half-price menu featuring many of the usual “contemporary grill” suspects, including a hefty cheeseburger with Parmesan fries for $6.75 and a Flintstone-size portion of fish tacos for $6. Add $6 featured wines by the glass or $6.50 well cocktails and you’ve got dinner and drinks for around $13, plus tax and tip. What’s more, you can make reservations for the sunny dogfriendly and family-friendly front and back patios, the masculine-feeling dining room, or the living-room-like lounge complete with couches fronting a roaring fire. Even better, happy hour extends to all day on Sunday.

DEAL HOURS Weekdays 4 to 7 p.m. and all day Sunday

WHERE 1651 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, 415.435.5996, tiburongrill.com

$5.50

2 BOCA STEAKHOUSE

Happy hour

Resident and restaurateur George Morrone gained fame as one of San Francisco’s “it” chefs of the ’90s. But he garnered popularity here for expanding Novato’s dining scene with Boca, his Argentinean steakhouse — and for offering a good portion of its bar menu at half price during happy hour. The deals go down in the bar area on weekdays between 4 and 6:30 p.m. That’s when you can join the crowd to load up on the likes of oven-roasted clams and mussels in white wine sauce for $5.50, a crisp Caesar salad for $4, and a respectable burger for $5. If the savings justify it, splurge on butterscotch pudding — a fullpriced but worthy indulgence.

DEAL HOURS Monday through Friday 4 to 6:30 p.m.

WHERE 340 Ignacio Boulevard, Novato, 415.883.0901, bocasteak.com

3 SOL FOOD Pollo al horno

One of San Rafael’s worst-kept secrets, this eternally loud and casual dining hot spot draws crowds nightly for its flavorful, inexpensive Puerto Rican food and festive environs. The center of the frenzy is often the pollo al horno plate — one or two boneless oregano-and-garlic-marinated chicken thighs with organic salad, rice, beans and fried plantains for $8.50 or $10.25 respectively. But the bistec sandwich and vegetarian plate have legions of fans as well. Don’t worry about the line out the door. Fast counter service and quick turnover in the newly remodeled, tropically inspired dining area promises you’ll have a table before you’ve thrown back your first limonada fresca.

DEAL HOURS Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to midnight; Friday 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. to midnight

WHERE 901 Lincoln Avenue, San Rafael, 415.451.4765, solfoodrestaurant.com

4

LOTUS CUISINE OF INDIA

The lunch buffet

The Indian cuisine at Lotus is so good it can easily become an addiction — and an expensive one at that. Prices on the menu featuring antibiotic-free meat, vegan and gluten-free dishes range from $11 to $14 on up, meaning takeout for two can set you back $40 or more. Not so with the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet special. Every weekday you’ll fi nd a veritable smorgasbord of Indian cuisine’s greatest hits — including spectacular renditions of saag paneer and chicken tikka masala — all for $8.95 plus tax and tip. Add the atmospheric setting, complete with babbling fountains and paintings of Ganesh and Buddha, and you’ve got one of the best deals in town.

DEAL HOURS Monday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

WHERE 704 Fourth Street, San Rafael, 415.456.5808, lotusrestaurant.com

5 LA MAISON DE LA REINE Pho

A Chinese-influenced Vietnamese restaurant, this casual spot in the Corte Madera Town Center mall covers various Asian-food favorites, from pot stickers to Mongolian beef to Thai iced tea. But the star here is classic Vietnamese pho. Layered with complex, well-integrated flavors, the homemade beef broth gently spiced with star anise and clove brims with rice noodles and chicken (or shrimp, pork or beef) and is accompanied by the expected cilantro, Thai basil, bean sprouts, jalapeños and lime garnish. Large enough to feed two, approachable to little ones and served in a relaxed family-friendly dining room or on a heated covered patio facing the parking lot, it’s all yours for a reasonable $7.50 at lunch and $9.95 during dinner.

DEAL HOURS Monday through Thursday and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

WHERE 346 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, 415.927.0288, shoptowncenter.com

6 TABLE CAFE Dosa with curried cauliflower

This gem of a cafe, aptly located next to a stress-management center and yoga studio, offers exceptional salads and soups, all made from organically farmed and sustainably produced ingredients. But the real draw is the glorious Western interpretation of India’s classic dosa, or Indian-style crepe, accompanied by various fillings. Fluffier than traditional options; stuffed with health-minded combos like curried cauliflower, wilted greens and pickled vegetables; graced with a side of pear chutney; and served like an open-ended burrito for $9.75, it’s a meal that more than justifies the price and the drive. Owneroperator Suzanne McGoldrick continually exceeds expectations with her deliciously dynamic menu.

DEAL HOURS Tuesday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

WHERE 1167 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, 415.461.6787, table-cafe.com

7 SURFERS GRILL Surf Salad

Yes, this beach shack serving the expected fare of burgers, fish and chips, sandwiches, and nuggets isn’t much cheaper than other establishments baiting day-tripper dollars at Stinson Beach. However, its unparalleled beachfront views and the size and quality of the Garden Salad — a mélange of locally grown organic greens, tomatoes, avocado and house-made garlic vinaigrette for $8.95 — increase the value of the offerings. Add a wind-blocked, shaded patio perched on the sand and it’s about as good as it gets in these parts without having to put on a pair of shoes.

DEAL HOURS Daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer; in winter, weekends and holidays only, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE Stinson Beach Park, Highway 1, Stinson Beach, 415.868.1777, surfersgrill.com

8 ARIZMENDI

Pizza lunch special

With flour-dusted floors, bustling bakers and massive ovens and racks visible behind the counter, this cooperative cafe is clearly as much a working bakery as a place to enjoy the daily $5 lunch special: a wholesome slice of artisan vegetarian sourdough pizza with a side salad. The ingredients of the seasonally inspired pies (which can also be bought and baked later) change daily, as do the breads and other irresistible goodies. But inspired combinations such as arugula, carrots, roasted garlic and balsamic vinegar atop a thin, moist trademark sourdough crust — which can be enjoyed at cafe tables overlooking Fourth Street — reminds us there’s much more to pizza than pepperoni.

DEAL HOURS Daily 11:30 a.m. to closing (or until pizza runs out)

WHERE 1002 Fourth Street, San Rafael, 415.456.4093, fourthstreet.arizmendi.coop

9 WEEZY’S

Kid-friendly portions

A cute name for a cute concept, Weezy’s is Terra Linda families’ standby for kid-size portions of grass-fed burgers and fries. The covered patio’s few tall-backed barstools are kid magnets for sure, but because most of the seating is outdoors along the side of the building or in a small corralled patio, the roadside shack strategically located across from the neighborhood recreation center and pool is more of a fair-weather attraction. Still, one-eighth pound burgers for $3, burger-fries combos starting at $5, and alternatives like garden burgers and sweet-potato fries make this local favorite a year-round bargain and best bet.

DEAL HOURS Daily noon to 7 p.m.

WHERE Suite 621-A Del Ganado, Terra Linda, 415.479.7433, weezys-shed.com

10

MI PUEBLO FOOD CENTER

The food court

Anchored in an enormous, vibrant supermarket in the heart of San Rafael’s Canal area, Mi Pueblo’s food court serves the real deal, from to-die-for tacos al pastor (marinated pork cooked on a classic vertical spit, $1.35 each) to mole that’ll inspire tears of joy — and everything in between, all made in-house and offered at embarrassingly low prices. Order from the counter; grab a Mexican Coke (made with sugar, not corn syrup) and a decadent 85-cent empanada de crema dessert; sit at any of the brightly colored tables; and savor the flavor of Mexico — and the fact that you can feed a family of four for around $15 (less than $4 per person).

DEAL HOURS Daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

WHERE 30 Bellam Boulevard, San Rafael, 415.578.3971, mipueblofoods.com

11

CHARLIE HONG KONG

Spicy Dan’s Peanut

Delight bowl

Presenting a contemporary spin on Asian street food, this colorful shoe box of a restaurant in downtown Mill Valley appeals to the healthminded and hungry. The draw is simple: organic “signature bowls” of rice or wheat noodles topped with your choice of curry or sauce and optional exotic preparations of meat, fish or tofu — priced starting at $6.95. Rounding out the menu are salads, soups, rice bowls and bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwiches), $4.95 “kid bowls,” and deliciously refreshing homemade sodas — any of which can be enjoyed at one of the quick-turnover tables or packed to go.

DEAL HOURS Daily 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

WHERE 25 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, 415.888.8303, charliehongkong.com

12

SUSHI KO

Lunch specials

The words “sushi” and “cheap” are rarely used in the same sentence, let alone a bargain dining guide. But the weekday lunch specials at this reliable Japanese restaurant in Larkspur Landing makes scratching the raw-fish or deep-fried itch a relatively inexpensive endeavor. Of the two daily changing specials showcased at the front door, the “cooked” option might include tempura, fried calamari, pot stickers, teriyaki chicken, soup, rice and salad for $9.95. The sushi box is a selection of nigiri and rolls — also with soup, rice and salad — for $10.25. Meanwhile, a lunch specials menu has 10 additional choices, all under $12 and served in aptly atmospheric Japanese-restaurant surroundings.

DEAL HOURS Monday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE 819 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur, 415.461.8400, sushi-ko.com

Jeffrey Beauchamp

The Comfort of Your Inner Vivaldi 26" x 32", oil on canvas jeffreybeauchamp.com

RANKING AMONG MARIN’S MANY ATTRIBUTES IS the bevy of talented artists who call the county home and tap into the landscapes and people as creative inspiration. And for Jeffrey Beauchamp, our 2011 cover contest winner, Marin is both home and muse. We recently stopped in at his Fairfax studio and were delighted to see his winning piece in person, as well as check out the portraits and landscapes that compose his body of work.

Beauchamp describes his style as “subpastoral expressionism,” which he came up with first as a joke for a show in San Francisco a few years ago but then began to like. “It sounds disapproving, like ‘subhuman,’ as if it’s below anything really pastoral but makes sense if you imagine my earlier, Monet- and Turner-inspired works exploded a bit with the color turned up,” he explains. His influences range from Rubens and Titian to early Bugs Bunny cartoons. “They’re like Goya meets Puccini in Oz,” he says of the Warner Brothers productions. His contemporary heroes include John Currin, Neo Rauch and local woodcut-meister Tom Killion: “They’ve each got the courage of their convictions coupled with fierce creative chops and produce some very different and beautiful things.”

As for his winning piece and its inspiration, Beauchamp says it evolved over many weeks and months, as with all his landscapes. “The inspiration would come around occasionally as I’d catch glimpses of an enticingly believable space among the chaos of brushstrokes,” he recalls. “That elusive state, where the imagination recognizes something timeless, a story you’d like to be part of or a view you’d happily lose yourself in, has been inspiring from early on and is a feeling I’ve always had with certain literature and music that encourages a sense of humanity, like works by Dickens and Vivaldi.”

You can view Beauchamp’s work during his upcoming open studio May 7, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 2096 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Fairfax. You can also visit his website at jeffreybeauchamp.com. Prints of his work are available through artbrokersinc.com.

ARTISTS

This year, we had more than 200 entries in our cover our winner, share the inspiration behind his work and

TIM PORTER

IN OUR MIDST

contest — and the competition was stiff. Here, we take you behind the easel of introduce you to the 10 runners-up (in no particular order).

Eric Engstrom

Building SW4, Gate 5, Sausalito

Illustration artbrokersinc.com

ERIC ENGSTROM, WHO LIVES AND WORKS IN FAIRFAX, RECEIVED A BFA IN illustration from Rhode Island School of Design almost 50 years ago. After graduation, he worked as a book illustrator and in museums for a few years before taking a job as a graphic designer for a Boston architecture firm. Upon his retirement from design, he decided to go back to doing what he originally planned — to make art.

“I have a fascination with abandoned or repurposed agricultural and industrial buildings. In this case, the quickly constructed World War II buildings at Marinship and Gate 5 in Sausalito have served many purposes, most never what the builders intended. How people adapt these buildings to new uses interests me — and the fact that architects were probably never involved. I’m also fascinated by the abandonment of those buildings considered no longer useful.”

Monika Steiner

Stillness

40" x 40", oil on panel monikasteiner.com

SWITZERLAND-BORN MONIKA STEINER FIRST WENT TO COLLEGE INTENDING to become a schoolteacher, taking courses in pottery making, silk painting, jewelry design and oil painting but wasn’t able to indulge her passion for art until she moved to the United States and entered Sonoma State University’s BFA program. Since graduating in 2005, she has been a working fine artist, making abstract oil paintings and bronze sculptures and also teaching abstract art to private school students in Marin. Steiner, a Marin resident, was chosen to do one of the large hearts for the San Francisco General Hospital’s Heroes & Hearts fundraiser. She is represented by Stephanie Breitband Fine Arts.

“Ever since breaking my back in 2005 and having an ‘out-of-body’ experience on the way to the hospital, I have been profoundly interested in the unseen aspects of life — reading a lot about metaphysics and meditating, becoming fascinated by how abstract art expresses what can’t be understood by the eyes and mind yet can be clearly felt. I am attracted to spheres because they are nature’s most efficient shape, and to me the most perfect and elegant three-dimensional object — conjuring entities as massive as planets all the way down to the shape of subatomic particles.”

Gary Yost

Bowling Ball Beach Photography garyyost.com

GARY YOST BEGAN TAKING BLACK-AND-WHITE photographs in his childhood, on the streets of New York City. In 1985, he stopped and began creating computer graphics software for 15 years, then picked up photography again in 2001 after he sold his computer graphics business and went to China to adopt a second child. The Mill Valley resident now shoots almost every day and is currently working on a portfolio featuring waterfalls in Marin.

“I’ve been to Bowling Ball Beach up in Point Arena, Mendocino, a few times because the solid rock concretions are such an unusual contrast to the constantly moving ocean around them. To me, the scene represents how time affects everything differently. In this case the ocean appears to be ethereal while the spherical rocks are a constant element. It’s a metaphor for how we are here for just a moment, but the earth abides throughout the millennia.”

Gina Jacupke

Golden Matrix

4' x 5', oil on canvas ginajacupke.com

MILL VALLEY ARTIST GINA JACUPKE has been painting since she was a child and working with oils for 25 years. In addition to obtaining a fashion degree from New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology and studying traditional Balinese painting in Bali, Jacupke studied microbiology for three-anda-half years at University of Florida, Gainsville, before changing her major and earning a bachelor of arts degree in art. Her work has been exhibited in several Marin galleries, such as Robert Allen Fine Art, where she will be part of a group exhibit in June.

“My oil painting was inspired by the golden illumination of meditative light, the radiance of the sun, the balance of the grid, the perfection of the square and the shimmering golden beauty of the textiles and robes used in Buddhist ceremonies. This work was also inspired by my abundant time spent in nature and the forces there that invoke a feeling of energy, movement, warmth, mystery and awe.”

Robert Evans

The Reader 16" x 20", oil on canvas evansgallery.net

ROBERT EVANS, WHO LIVES IN MILL VALLEY, HAS BEEN PAINTING SINCE his early teens and drawing since the age of seven. He has exhibited traditional oil paintings in galleries on the East and West Coasts, where he has held one-man shows. He also exhibits at the Sausalito Art Festival, and his paintings are shown at Arata Fine Art Gallery in San Francisco.

“I like to paint people in cafes and out in the city enjoying themselves, though of course sometimes a crowded city can be lonely. I’m intrigued by what people may be thinking and what their lives are like. I also have a painting entitled The Writer, which shows a young man sitting on the sidewalk writing, as crowds of feet walk by. I like to think the two paintings are related.”

Andrea Coish And Ever 3' x 4', oil on canvas andreacoish.com

ANDREA COISH HAS BEEN PAINTING FOR 20 years, beginning at the University of New Hampshire, where she minored in studio art. She has painted large-scale murals for the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet scenery, and specializes in faux finishing, designing and painting projects ranging from simple handpainted borders to detailed trompe l’oeil murals. She lives in Sausalito.

“This painting has had an interesting life, and has taken many forms. It sat in my studio abandoned yet within sight for almost two years. One day I saw the path and put the dreamers in. They turned the piece into an eternity of love more than anything else. After seeing them there, the painting surprised even me with its lovely contemplation.”

Bill Russell

Peter B. Sells Fruits & Nuts up by Mt. Tam

Illustration profilereportage.com

BILL RUSSELL, WHO LIVES IN SAN Rafael and graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1976, has been a freelance illustrator for magazines, books and newspapers for more than 30 years. For the San Francisco Chronicle, he illustrated a weekly panel of sketchbook journalism called “Bay Folk.”

“This illustration was created in my sketchbook drawing style; it took about two days to complete. During its composition, I was thinking about what a great job and what a great view my friend Peter has from his fruit-and-nut stand, which is on Panoramic Highway.”

John Klingel

Nicasio Land Office

Photography klingelphotos.shutterfly.com

A MEMBER OF THE MARIN PHOTO CLUB, JOHN KLINGEL

—a retired magazine executive and San Anselmo resident — first picked up a camera at age 12 but didn’t get very serious about it until two years ago, when he started to take courses and workshops and devote a lot of time to improving his work.

“I liked the composition, but it was 7 a.m., foggy and dark, and in those conditions I knew a regular photo would have muted, dull colors and flat tones. But shooting with ‘raw’ image settings (essentially the raw data from the camera’s sensor) and using HDR (high dynamic range imaging), I knew I would be able to bring out the colors. Seven photos were shot with a Nikon D90 digital camera and then merged using the image software program Photomatix

3.0. Often people ask if this is a painting when they see a print of it. That affect is again due to HDR processing.”

The Artist Hines

Palaces

4' x 5', acrylic on canvas theartisthines.com

THE ARTIST HINES, BORN IN NEW York, has his studio at Sausalito’s historic ICB Building. Graphite was originally his medium of choice, but in 1994 he began to teach himself oil painting and eventually began experimenting with abstraction using acrylic paints. A Sausalito resident, Hines teaches an “Intuitive Abstract Painting in Acrylics” class throughout the year, leads private workshops and performs abstract painting demonstrations both locally and nationally. He currently has a show going on through May 2 at Sonoma’s Terra Firma.

“I do what I call intuitive abstract painting, a form of action painting where I do not plan my paintings but rather go with my feelings at the moment. I love the process because the experience is symbiotic and always gives birth to new and beautiful ideas. For this painting, I wanted to produce a large-scale painting that had a feeling of light and joy. I used bright colors and broad brushstrokes that produced a billowy look. The end effect reminded me of palaces in the sky, hence the title for the painting.”

Devorah Jacoby

Letting Go

5' x 6', oil on canvas

donnaseagergallery.com

HAVING ALWAYS LOVED TO DRAW AND PAINT, DEVORAH JACOBY STARTED TO DO IT professionally about 15 years ago. She describes her work as abstract figurative painting with surfaces that are textural, sensual, raw and interesting rather than refined or intellectualized. Jacoby is represented by the Donna Seager Gallery.

“At first glance, Letting Go can seem innocent, idyllic, but for me a deep psychological and emotional truth underlies this work. My aim is to suggest that there is always more than meets the eye. This painting addresses the realm of the internal/ interior world. I want my work to evoke personal association and meaning. In this sense, though I ‘finished’ this piece, I invite the viewer to complete it. My sources of inspiration for this piece are my experiences with bike riding, of keeping a childlike spirit, of being in nature and of the process of emotionally and physically letting go/setting oneself free. The feeling of closing one’s eyes while riding a bike can be both exhilarating and terrifying … just like life. It is the balance and discipline of staying conscious, alert and connected while also allowing oneself a sense of inner stillness and release.”

ANCIENT SPLENDOR

DAMASCUS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE “ETERNAL CITY,” IS THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY INHABITED CITY IN THE WORLD WITH A MYSTIQUE THAT TRANSCENDS TIME. HERE’S A SNAPSHOT OF ITS RECENT PAST.

BY ALISSA EVERETT

STORY AND PHOTOS

EDITOR’S NOTE: Leading up to publication of this issue, things changed radically in Syria. The State Department issued a warning, advising against nonessential travel to the country due to the potential for ongoing political and civil unrest. Our writer visited the city when the situation was much different. Following is an account of her journey and experiences before the recent strife broke out.

The muzzein’s call drifts across the slowly brightening skies, and the morning sun crests the horizon. Hues of ocher and taupe are warming to a golden glow. I quietly navigate the twisting alleyways and dark, covered markets that make up the old city of Damascus, my footsteps echoing on the cobblestone streets.

At the end of the marketplace, Roman arches open to a courtyard and my destination: the spiritual and historical heart of the old city, Umayyad Mosque. At this hour, I am alone in the presence of Syria’s most important religious structure, one of the oldest places of continuous worship in the world.

Ancient Damascus was a beautiful sight on the Arabian Peninsula, a shimmering walled city of white and golden domes surrounded by verdant groves of orange and olive trees. Even the Prophet Muhammad, on first approach, is said to have turned away, saying, “Man should only enter Paradise once, and that is upon his death.”

Damascus has maintained this mystique for more than 6,000 years, and modern travelers from all over the world have long flocked here to discover its inner beauty. ››

A dancer performs a traditional Sufi dance in a restaurant in old city. OPPOSITE : A minaret of Umayyad Mosque shines at twilight.

I

venture onward through the Hamiddiya souk. The scene is vibrant with horsedrawn carts, brightly colored candies, pomegranate juice vendors, aromatic spices and luxurious textiles. I feel like I have been transported back into the Middle Ages.

An Unexpected Guide

FAR LEFT: A shop owner discusses business with a friend in the souk, in old city. LEFT: Baklava is piled high in a storefront. BELOW: Visitors rest and relax in the courtyard of the mosque of Ruqqaya in the old city. OPPOSITE: Women pray at Ruqqaya’s tomb.

Only one man is in the mosque. He wears a flowing Islamic robe and carefully tied turban. His beard is wispy and black. I feel a bit anxious as he approaches, looking me dead in the eye. “Hello, my name is Mohammed,” he says with an Oxford-perfect British accent.

“I am from Britain and moved here last year to study Arabic and the ways of the Sufi,” he later explains as we walk outside. “I will show you a beautiful place to photograph. Most visitors never get beyond the Great Mosque and the souk; there is much more to see. Come with me.”

I’m slightly nervous, but the intrigue of the city — the possibility of discovering what lies beyond its brightly lit markets, tourist attractions and busy city streets — overcomes my reservations, and I set off with him.

The two of us weave around the mosque into the tiny, dark alleys of the Arab quarter, speaking in whispers so as not to disturb the stillness. Several women appear, covered in head to foot with black robes.

Mohammed explains that women who wear these black abayas and hijabs might be either villagers or tourists. (Damascus is popular with Arab travelers, as well.)

We turn another corner, and a golden dome appears above the rooftops. It’s the mosque of Ruqqaya, the daughter of Muhammad, and a throng of veiled and cloaked women crowds the blue-and-white-tiled arched entrance. The attendant hands me a similar garment. I put it on and disappear into voluminous folds of black fabric. I remove my shoes, cross

a marble courtyard and glimpse the creamy ivory dome and minaret of the mosque glowing in the morning sun.

Beyond, the interior dazzles, lit with the gleam of what seem to be a million lights that beam through artfully crafted windows and reflect off fragments of beveled mirror attached to dozens of chandeliers. The mirrored mosaic continues across beams, columns and vaulted ceilings, leading to Ruqqaya’s tomb. Women weep and wail, sobbing the grief of centuries.

A Jew in Damascus

Mohammed and I part company, and I venture onward through the Hamiddiya souk. The scene is vibrant with horse-drawn carts, brightly colored candies, pomegranate juice vendors, aromatic spices and luxurious textiles. I feel like I have been transported back into the Middle Ages. A quick left leads me into a small cul-de-sac with several high-end antique stores. I enter one of them. Ancient lamps hang overhead, carpets line the floors and walls, and the interior is crowded with cases of antique silver and Damascene knives, elaborate pottery and dark wooden

furniture intricately inlaid with mother-of-pearl. A group of men sits on piles of carpets in the back, smoking cigarettes and drinking tea.

Selim is the owner and one of the last remaining Jews in Damascus. He offers me tea and shares a story. Once a community of more than 100,000 people here in the city, Jews prospered as gold and textile merchants lived in harmony with Christians and Muslims until 1948, when war broke out between Israel and the Arab world. Life in Syria changed for the Jews; privileges given to them as a financial elite class were revoked, travel visas were denied and Jewish people suddenly felt watched. Slowly, they began to leave.

“Today we are only about 40 left,” Selim says with a sigh. “When I grew up, we had over 45 synagogues, but now we have only two, closed except for special days of worship.”

“Can I see one?” I ask, having heard of these clandestine places.

Selim pauses and then makes a call: “You can go. Now. My driver will take you.”

After a 20-minute ride through the labyrinthine alleys of the old Jewish neighborhoods, the driver stops by a small door in a towering

cement wall. There is a tiny sign that reads: “Kinise Jobar–Eliahou Nabil” (synagogue Eliahou Nabil).

My driver knocks loudly, and the door opens. An old man, Edmund, a caretaker, greets him with a warm hug, smiles at me, shakes my hand and welcomes me in Arabic. Once in the courtyard, he unlocks a large door and leads me inside.

With the flip of single switch, the synagogue transforms. A thousand lamps glow and illuminate the tomb of Eliahou before me. Beyond are pulpits, ancient tomes, carpeted floors and framed documents. At the far end, Edmund pushes back thick velvet drapes that hide an ornate door. A final lock is undone, and he reveals the synagogue’s Torah scrolls. As I photograph and wander, I think of my Jewish friends at home and what it would mean to them to view these particular scrolls.

A Family Visit

Places of powerful faith fill every corner of Damascus. In a small street in Bab Touma, the Christian quarter of the old city, I find the Church of Ananias, the man believed to have cured St. Paul of his blindness

FAR LEFT : A veiled woman walks with her daughter and stroller through the Hammidiya Market in the old city.

LEFT : One of the last Jews in the city opens an interior Temple door to reveal a Torah.

and baptized him into Christianity. The sanctuary is empty save for a few handwritten notes from visitors stuck between the stones. “If you open your heart, God will come in and fill it,” reads one in English.

After not too long, a woman approaches and, as we chat, warmly invites me to her home for coffee. We make our way to where she lives. The street outside her home is higher than the entrance due to centuries of buildup, and we have to step down to reach the doorway. A long hallway leads to an open living room, where a family of eight sits on couches, working. Pictures of Jesus, saints and crosses decorate the walls. Everyone stares at me, likely because my light skin and blonde hair are a rarity in their home. I smile and shake each person’s hand.

One younger woman says hello confidently in English. She is Caroline and is 28. She is dressed in Western clothing and works for the Pepsi marketing team in Damascus. Her father also speaks some English. He reaches behind his chair for a picture of Jesus and says, “This picture is very important to me. Sometimes I can’t see in the eyes, but when my heart is open, I can see in his eyes and I talk to him — for more than 30 minutes sometimes.” The mother brings me coffee and biscuits, insisting I stay for dinner. But as much as I would like to stay and enjoy their company, I don’t want to take advantage of their hospitality, and I make my leave.

As I head back to my hotel, nighttime in the old city is announced by the final call to prayer. The air cools as I wander the streets from busy Bab Touma to the less hectic Muslim quarter. Tourists and local families fill the sidewalks. Older men crowd the cafes, where they while away the evening sipping tea and smoking nargileh (water pipes). The popular streets are packed, so I choose the emptier ones.

I walk and savor all that is around me. As I do so, I can’t help but think of a passage from Mark Twain’s travel book Innocents Abroad: “Go back as far as you will into the vague past, there was always a Damascus. … To Damascus, years are only moments, decades are only flitting trifles of time. She measures time, not by days and months and years, but by the empires she has seen rise, and prosper and crumble to ruin. She is a type of immortality.” Soaking in the history and depth of this beautiful ancient city, I know someday I’ll return.

Winding Down

Follow California’s largest river from spring to sea BY

SUTTER BUTTES

MIMI TOWLE

MT. SHASTA

SHASTA DAM SPILLWAY

SUNDIAL BRIDGE

SACRAMENTO RIVER HEADWATERS

With summer road trip season just around the corner, we tapped Corte Madera’s Doug McConnell — for nearly two decades the host of Bay Area Backroads, exploring the nooks and crannies of our state — for suggestions on close-to-home jaunts. Given last winter’s tremendous snowfall and McConnell’s recent alliance with Marin-based Bay Institute, a protector of our watershed, he focused on favorite stops along the route the Sacramento River takes as it winds from its mountainous origins to the Pacific.

“The 400-mile course from the slopes of Mount Shasta down through the Central Valley, the Delta and the bay, and out into the oceanic wilderness of the Gulf of the Farallones is a wonderful place for families to see a cross section of California’s rich and diverse human and natural history,” he says, “and hopefully come away recognizing the beauty and vulnerability of this precious resource.” While most of Marin’s tap water flows from the Mount Tamalpais watershed, nearly 7 million Bay Area residents and millions of acres of California crops rely on the San Francisco Bay Delta watershed, a significant portion of which comes from the snowmelt atop Mount Shasta and nearby peaks. Want to follow McConnell’s path with a trip of your own? We’ve mapped out one option.

START HEADWATERS OF THE SACRAMENTO

Begin in Mount Shasta City, where the Sacramento River bubbles to the surface in the town’s namesake park. An imposing volcanic presence at over 14,000 feet, Mount Shasta looms high. Associated with the southern Cascade Range, which includes Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier, Shasta has the potential to erupt as did its cousins — Lassen Peak, which blew in the teens and early ’20s of the last century, and St. Helens, which erupted in 1980.

WHEN THERE, CONSIDER: Word has it a hidden civilization of superior beings, called Lemurians, lives within Mount Shasta. To the believer, they can be seen walking the mountain in white robes.

STOP 1 DUNSMUIR

Just south of Shasta along the Sacramento River lies the town of Dunsmuir, with world-class fishing. “Dunsmuir and the Upper Sac is to fly-fishing what the Louvre is to art lovers,” the town's website boasts. Railway buffs also flock here from all over the state to snap photos of trains winding through scenic canyons nearby, especially during the Dunsmuir Railway Days festival, this year happening June 10 to 12.

WHEN THERE, CONSIDER: In 1991 a toxic chemical spill from a train derailment killed everything in the river for 40 miles, including the wild trout population. The spill was contained just before it reached Lake Shasta, 43 miles south. Fortunately, the river has since completely recovered.

STOP 2 SHASTA LAKE

Driving south on I-5 takes you past Shasta Lake, created by Shasta Dam, beloved in the summer for houseboating, water-skiing, wakeboarding, fishing and just plain relaxing in the heat. (The average

temperature in late July is in the high 80s.)

The dam was built in the early 1940s, creating electricity that is distributed to 15 states, and has dramatically transformed the watershed. Boats can be rented for the day or longer.

WHEN THERE, CONSIDER: According to Peter Vorster of the Bay Institute, by this April the lake was at full capacity, with well over 4,552,000 acre-feet of water.

STOP 3 SUNDIAL BRIDGE

Just below the dam are the city of Redding and the Sundial Bridge, which crosses the Sacramento River and connects the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. This bridge-to-somewhere is a cable-stayed structure with an inclined 217foot pylon constructed of 580 tons of steel. The deck, made of 200 tons of glass and granite, is supported by more than 4,300 feet of cable. Oh, and it’s visually stunning.

main attraction, however, is about 20 miles east of Colusa — at the Sutter Buttes, said to be the smallest mountain range on the planet with an elevation of just 2,000 feet. Coincidentally, McConnell went to high school in nearby Gridley, and his great-grandfather founded the town of Live Oak on the eastern flanks of the Buttes in the 1870s. While most of the Buttes are on private land, McConnell suggests contacting the Middle Mountain Foundation for access to this geologic phenom.

WHEN THERE, CONSIDER: The Buttes, named after John Sutter, extend about 10 miles from north to south as well as east to west and can be seen from I-80 just after Vacaville.

STOP 5 SACRAMENTO

What educational trip is complete without a tour of our state capital? The good news is it won’t be crowded this time of year; the bad news is why. Temperatures can reach into the hundreds during the summer in Sacramento; fortunately, both of the must-stops — the capitol building and the California State Railroad Museum — have air-conditioning. Thanks to the city’s location at the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers, you’ll also find plenty of cooling riverside activity —

community of Locke, founded about 100 years ago. “It’s been a while since I visited, but I think you can still grab a bite to eat at Al the Wop’s,” he says. “Built in 1915 as a Chinese food restaurant, today they serve steak and pasta.” Locke found its way into the history books (and onto the National Register of Historic Places) as the first town founded by Chinese people for Chinese people. And yes, Al the Wop’s (located right on Main Street) is still in business.

WHEN THERE, CONSIDER: Today the population of Locke is around 80, only 10 of whom are Chinese.

STOP 7 RESTORATION IN ACTION

As long as you’re on Highway 160, continue southwest to the stunning Antioch Bridge. It rises 135 feet from the banks of the surging Sacramento River, which here has just been joined by the newly restored San Joaquin River. Until last year, 94 percent of the San Joaquin’s waters were diverted for agriculture and urban use; now, thanks to restoration efforts of people from all points on the political spectrum, the water is slowly coming back and will flow once again into the bay. On the other side of the delta, consider a stop in Martinez, which has a surprising number of Wikipediaworthy highlights. It is the birthplace of Joe DiMaggio and home to the John Muir National Historic Site, where Muir lived for many years and is buried. And according to cocktail lore, Martinez is the birthplace of the martini.

WHEN THERE, CONSIDER: The Sundial Bridge (which is, in fact, a giant sundial) was completed in 2004. It cost $23.5 million to build, and most of the funds were from the Redding-based McConnell Foundation (no relation to Doug McConnell).

STOP 4 COLUSA

Continuing south, the river flows down through the valley past the towns of Red Bluff and Corning. To beat the summer heat, McConnell suggests making a stop to swim in the Colusa–Sacramento River State Recreation Area. The

try a stroll along the water in Old Sacramento.

WHEN THERE, CONSIDER: You can bike part or all of the 23-mile American River Parkway, beginning just behind the state railroad museum in Old Sacramento and ending in the town of Fulton. The semi-wild river (with wild salmon) makes a beautiful backdrop.

STOP 6 LOCKE

From Sacramento, take I-5 to Highway 160 to get back to the river. While the Delta area is full of natural and historical gems, McConnell strongly suggests a stop in the historic Chinese

WHEN THERE, CONSIDER: The Delta outflow into the bay recorded in late March 2011 was 200,000 cubic feet per second (CFS), which is about 150 percent of average to date. Late March 2010, the CFS was 8,000. For a mental picture, consider that a cubic foot holds about 7.5 gallons of water. Envision a 15-inch-diameter beach ball, which can hold one cubic foot. Then, standing near the Antioch Bridge, imagine 200,000 beach balls going past you in one second.

STOP 8 LAND’S EDGE

End your trip with a drive out to the Marin Headlands and see exactly where the rivers and the bay meet the sea. From here, the ad-

An ideal spot to end the trip is at the end of Bunker Road in the Marin Headlands, where the waters from the Delta have merged with the Pacific.

venturous might envision hopping aboard a whale-watching boat, but McConnell suggests stopping in the parking lot at the end of Bunker Road, just past the path to the Point Bonita Lighthouse. “It’s the last perch before the continent falls into the ocean and a good end point for the journey from Shasta to the sea,” he says. “While it is quite a journey for us, just imagine being a salmon.”

RIVER BEDS

MOUNT SHASTA

McCloud Hotel, $120–$235, 800.964.2823, mccloudhotel. com; McCloud River Inn, $115–$199, 800.261.7831, riverinn.com; Stoney Brook Inn, $65–$156, 800.369.6118, stoneybrookinn.com

SHASTA LAKE

Houseboats rentals: Antlers Resort & Marina, 530.238.2553, shastalakevacations.com; Bridge Bay Resort, 530.275.3021, sevencrown.com; Jones Valley Resort, 530.275.7950, houseboats.com; Packers Bay Marina, 800.331.3137, packersbay.com; Shasta Marina Resort, 530.238.2284, shastalake.net; Silverthorn Resort, 530.275.1571, silverthornresort.com; Seven Crown Resorts, 800.752.9669 sevencrown.com

SACRAMENTO

Citizen Hotel, $149–$299, 916.447.2700, jdvhotels.com; Embassy Suites Sacramento, $139–$289, 916.326.5000, embassysuites.hilton. com; Le Rivage Hotel, $129–$839, 916.443.8400, lerivagehotel.com

BAY (MARIN)

Spend the night on an island in a rustic lighthouse that has been active for 130 years. It’s a 10-minute ferry ride from Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor in Marin. East Brother Light Station, 510.233.2385, ebls.org

MAY ARTS & EVENTS GUIDE

THEATER

1 The Tiffany Box A story about dying told through emails between a mother and daughter. This special fundraising performance is written and performed by Kathleen Buckstaff. Enjoy hors d’oeuvers in the garden before the show. Barn Theatre (Ross). 415.456.9555, rossvalleyplayers.com

3–15 Hugh Jackman in Performance The actor performs his favorite Broadway and Hollywood musical numbers backed by a 17-piece orchestra. Curran Theatre (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com

2–22 Silk Stockings Classic music and lyrics make Cole Porter’s final Broadway musical one to be remembered. Eureka Theatre (SF). 415.255.8207, 42ndstmoon.org

5–15 Cats See the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that has become one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history. Orpheum Theatre (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com

13–June 12 Rabbit Hole A couple emerges with a new life after a tragic accident. Barn Theatre (Ross). 415.456.9555, rossvalleyplayers.com

13–June 25 Risk Is This Experimental works that push the boundaries of what theater can be. Exit Theatre (SF). 415.419.3584, cuttingball.com

18–July 10 Tales of the City A Midwestern girl finds a new home in 1970s San Francisco in this play based on Armistead Maupin’s newspaper column. American Conservatory Theater (SF). 415.749.2228, act-sf.org

22, 29 Hairspray Big hair and lots of dancing are in store with this Tony Award–winning musical, presented in a unique outdoor theater as Mountain Play gets under way. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.1100, mountainplay.org

24–June 19 Blue Man Group Without any spoken language, the Blue Man Group combines comedy, music and technology into a one-of-a-kind show. Golden Gate Theatre (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com

26–June 19 Picasso at the Lapin Agile A fictional 1904 meeting between Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein as only Steve Martin can imagine it. Company Playhouse (Novato). 415.883.4498, novatotheatercompany.org

27–June 5 Singin’ in the Rain The Marin Youth Performers present the classic tale of an actor’s struggle to make the transition to sound in films. 142 Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmortontheatre.com

DANCE

Thru May 8 S.F. Ballet John Neumeier’s hit The Little Mermaid returns with a score by Lera Auerbach. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.865.2000, sfballet.org

6–15 Smuin Ballet The ballet presents three new works, including a tribute to the Beatles choreographed by Michael Smuin.

Blue Man Group at the Golden Gate Theatre, May 24–June 19

FIRST FUSION: BOB WEIR

MAY 7

Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir invites a few friends along for this unique concert with the Marin Symphony and Quartet San Francisco. Proceeds from the concert benefit Marin Symphony education, outreach and performance programs. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marinsymphony.org

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SF). 415.978.2787, smuinballet.org

15 Just Dance Academy This spring performance features everything from ballet to hip-hop. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

21 Dance With Sherry Celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Dance With Sherry studio with dance styles ranging from the 1950s to the present. Showcase Theater (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

28 Love2Dance More than 200 local dancers perform to a mix of popular songs. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

MUSIC

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

Thru June 25 S.F. Jazz Spring Season

Jake Shimabukuro, Randy Newman and Buddy Guy are just a few of the many acts

scheduled to play during the five-month concert series. 415.398.5655, sfjazz.org

1, 3 Marin Symphony An eclectic evening of music closes out the 2011 season including a magnum opus commission, Antonin Dvorak’s Cello Concerto featuring cellist Zuill Bailey and Johannes Brahms’ First Symphony. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marinsymphony.org

5–7, 13-14 Rhubarb Music Review Enjoy music, theater, comedy and rhubarb pie. Bring a picnic basket. Community Center (Mill Valley). tcsd.us

5–8 S.F. Symphony Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 415.864.6000, sfsymphony.org

7 Enriching Lives Through Music This special concert benefits youth music programs. ELM provides group and individual music instruction for elementary age students. Hillside Gardens (Mill Valley). 415.847.8540, enrichinglivesthroughmusic.com

10 Benefit Concert Taj Mahal and Maria Muldaur headline a concert benefiting three Bay Area women, including Camilla

Barry of Mill Valley, using science to make a difference in the world. Freight and Salvage (Berkeley). 510.644.2020, freightandsalvage.org

13-14 Mayflower Community Chorus Catch island fever with a special performance featuring the Hawaiian choir Na Leo Nahenahe. Showcase Theater (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marinsymphony.org

14 Harmony Sweepstakes Winners from eight regional competitions sing everything from doo-wop to barbershop. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marinsymphony.org

14-15 Marin Oratorio The chorus and orchestra perform works by Franz Schubert. College of Marin (Kenfield). 415.485.9687, marinoratorio.org

19 Echo & The Bunnymen The English postpunk band that got its start in 1978 comes to San Francisco. Kelley Stoltz opens the show. The Warfield (SF). 415.345.0900, thewarfieldtheatre.com

20–22 Sonoma Jazz Festival John Fogerty, Sheryl Crow and the Gipsy Kings are featured. Downtown (Sonoma). 888.512.7469, sonomajazz.org

24 The Moody Blues This classic rock ’n’ roll band promises a night in white satin. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marinsymphony.org

GALLERIES

MARIN

Barefoot Art Gallery Synesthesia Work from Beat poet, painter and musician Toby Lurie, with a special live performance May 3. 20 Sunnyside Ave, Mill Valley. 415.384.0104, barefootartgallery.com

Donna Seager Gallery Kay Bradner Paintings on aluminum with a reception May 14. 851 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.454.4229, donnaseagergallery.com

Falkirk Cultural Center Annual Juried Exhibition Various works juried by Virginia Breier, thru May 28. 1408 Mission Ave, San

Rafael. 415.485.3438, =falkirkculturalcenter.org

Gallery Bergelli Recent Paintings Work from Daniel Tousignant, May 13–June 15. Reception and artist talk on May 13. 483 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.945.9454, bergelli.com

Gallery Route One The Left Coast: California on the Edge Photographic work from New York photographer Alex Fradkin, May 20–June 26. 11101 Hwy One, Point Reyes Station. 415.663.1347, galleryrouteone.org

Marin County Watercolor Society Hills of Marin Work from society members, thru May 8. 5800 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Geronimo. marincountywatercolorsociety.com

Marin Society of Artists High School Show Work from local students, May 8–29. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.454.9561, marinsocietyofartists.org

Robert Allen Fine Art Works on Paper Works on paper and canvas featuring seven artists and limited-edition prints, thru May 27. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.2800, robertallenfineart.com

Robert Beck Gallery Wanda Westberg, one of the Bay Area’s fine traditional plein-air landscape painters displays new landscape oil paintings. 222 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.456.7898, beckgallery.org

Robert Green Fine Arts John Grillo Abstract expressionist paintings from the 1940s and 1950s. 154 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.381.8776, rgfinearts.com

Rock Hill Gallery Watercolors by Michael Moyer, thru June 22. Reception May 22 noon–2 p.m. 145 Rock Hill Dr, Tiburon. 415.935.9108, ccctiburon.org

Sam the Butcher Animal Portraits Paintings by Deborah Bertola. 19 Ross Common, Ross. 415.902.1019, samthebutcherart.org

Sujaro: Gallery of African Art A large collection of antique and ancient artifacts. 11 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.362.6601, sujaro.com

place in Marin for Arts, Gifts and Accessories

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

Corte

(415) 945-8863

S ANDRA B IRD D ESIGNS

The Image Flow A series of abstract photographs and mixed-media art is on display as part of the Marin Open Art Studios. 401 Miller Ave, Ste F, Mill Valley. 415.388.3569, theimageflow.com

NAPA

Blue Heron Gallery Wine country art by local artists Charles Beresford, Michael Fitzpatrick, Dennis Hogan, Betty Jo March, Monique Rutherford and Susan Shoger. 6525 Washington St, Yountville, 707.944.2044, blueheronofnapa.com

Gallery 1870 Contemporary frescoes on canvas by Cary Henrie. 6525 Washington St, Yountville, 707.944.9670, gallery1870.com

I. Wolk Gallery Photos by Greg Gorman and sculpture by Greg Lauren. 1354 Main St, St. Helena, 707.963.8800, iwolkgallery.com

Jessel Gallery Oil paintings by Susan Hoehn, best known for her vibrant hues re-

flecting the beauty of the landscapes she paints. 1019 Atlas Peak Rd, Napa, 707.257.2350, jesselgallery.com

Quent Cordair Fine Art Mixed-media romantic realism by various artists. 1301 First St, Napa, 707.255.2242, cordair.com

SAN FRANCISCO

Caldwell Snyder Gallery Paintings by modern-day pop artist Greg Miller, whose works document the disappearing cultural landscape of America.

341 Sutter St, 415.296.7896, caldwellsnyder.com

Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery Selection of gallery artists as part of the Art Market Fair. 49 Geary St, 415.981.1080, eesgallery.com

George Krevsky Gallery The Art of Baseball: 14th Annual Artists capture the highs and lows of the Great American Pastime in mixed media, thru May 28. 77 Geary St, 415.397.9748, georgekrevskygallery.com

Rena Bransten Gallery Paintings by Marci Washington and Luis Aguilera. 77 Geary St, 415.982.3292, renabranstengallery.com

SONOMA

Arts Guild of Sonoma Showing works from art guild members. The Guild was founded to exhibit and advance local and Bay Area artists. 140 East Napa St, Sonoma, 707.996.3115, artsguildofsonoma.org

Changing Season Gallery-Gifts Fine art, pottery and art glass by local and international artists. 103 West Napa St, Sonoma, 707.935.8646, changingseasonsgallery.com

Fairmont Gallery Wine country oil paintings, watercolors and pastels by artists such as Manette Fairmont and Jim McVicker. 447 First St West, Sonoma, 707.996.2667, fairmontgallery.com

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Eco Chic: Towards Sustainable Swedish Fashion Work by various designers at the Swedish Institute. 551 Broadway, Sonoma, 707.939.7862, svma.org

Terra Firma Gallery Contemporary abstracts by The Artist Hines, thru May 2. 452 First St East, Ste A, Sonoma, 707.938.2200, terrafirmagallery.com

MUSEUMS

MARIN

Bay Area Discovery Museum Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with music, dance and traditional crafts, May 7 (Sausalito). 415.339.3958, baykidsmuseum.org

Bolinas Museum His Bolinas Life Work from Arthur Okamura, thru June 5 (Bolinas). 415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org

Marin History Museum Come see examples of local history from the museum’s 75 years of collecting community artifacts. The museum is located right in the heart of downtown San Rafael (Boyd Gate House). 415.454.8538, marinhistory.org

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Altered Book Show and Auction Get a

chance to own one of the modified books from more than 50 artists and help benefit the museum, thru May 21 (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.com

Marin Museum of the American Indian Silver, Stone, Shell An exhibit of jewelry from California and the Southwest, thru Jan 15, 2012 (Novato). 415.897.4064, marinindian.com

BAY AREA

Asian Art Museum Bali: Art, Ritual, Performance Find out why the Indonesian island is widely known as one of the most vibrant centers of both visual and performing arts in the world, thru September 11 (SF). 415.581.3500, asianart.org

California Academy of Sciences Snakes and Lizards: The Summer of Slither Learn about snakes and lizards with more than 60 examples from around the world, thru September 5. Also, enjoy drinks, desserts, music and special performances as part of the Academy’s Big Bang: Party After Dark

fundraiser, May 5. (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org

Conservatory of Flowers Wicked Plants

A garden of sinister delights inspired by Amy Stewart’s 2009 best-seller features types of poisonous plants, thru October 30 (SF). 415.831.2090, conservatoryofflowers.org

Contemporary Jewish Museum Gertrude Stein: Five Stories A look at one of the most influential Americans of the 20th century. The exhibit looks at Stein’s many identities and is based on new scholarship with material from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The exhibition provides an intimate look at Stein’s complex relationship to her identity, culture and history, thru September 6 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org

de Young Olmec: Colossal Masterworks of Ancient Mexico The Olmec, the Americas’ oldest civilization, developed an iconic and sophisticated artistic style that included the creation of colossal heads carved from giant boulders. See more than 100

examples of this style, thru May 8 (SF). 415.750.3600, thinker.org

di Rosa Preserve Reconstructed World Artists use animated video, assemblage and constructed photographs to bring the world into view, thru June 4 (Napa). 707.226.5991, dirosapreserve.org

Exploratorium After Dark Seven artists present their work at this special adultsonly evening event featuring science, art, cocktails and conversation, May 5 (SF). 415.397.5673, exploratorium.edu

Legion of Honor Britweek 2011 The Magna Carta, one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy, is on display. The document, first published in 1215, contains direct challenges to the monarchy’s authority, thru June 5 (SF). 415.750.3600, legionofhonor.org

Museum of the African Diaspora From Process to Print: Graphic Works by Romare Bearden An exhibition of over 75 lithographs, etchings, collagraphs, collagraph plates, screen prints, drypoints,

monoprints and engravings representing three decades of graphic work, May 5–July 3 (SF). 415.358.7200, moadsf.org

San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art E Is for Everyone: Celebrating Sister Corita A selection of work from the legendary pop artist and teacher Sister Corita Kent who revolutionized graphic design and created an innovative art education system, thru June 5 (SF). 415.227.4888, mocfa.org

SFMOMA New Work: Anna Parkina The artist’s new work draws on mass-culture imagery to reflect on the changes in Moscow since the collapse of the Soviet Union, thru May 22 (SF). 415.357.4000, sfmoma.org

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Song Dong: Dad and Mom, Don’t Worry About Us, We Are All Well Song Dong’s large-scale installation is composed of items that his mother and grandmother collected over five decades, thru June 12 (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

EVENTS

1 Aneurysm and AVM Awareness Walk Enioy a scenic walk followed by music and food, all benefiting the Aneurysm and AVM Foundation. Fort Mason (SF). 415.269.8910, taafonline.org

1 Marin Home Tours Dwell and Marin magazines come together for a first-ever Marin home tour event. See beautiful homes ranging from a classic Lucas Valley Eichler to a hand-built Sausalito houseboat. Various locations. 415.332.4800, marinmodernhometour.com

1 Fibershed Fashion Show Experience how local organic fibers and natural dye plants can be made into beautiful garments. Meet the farmers, artisans and animals responsible for bioregional attire. Toby’s Feed Barn (Point Reyes Station). 415.259.5849, fibershed.com

4 Image for Success Featured speaker Kim Johnson Gross will share her fashion secrets while IFS volunteers present a fashion show at this annual fundraising event.

Embassy Suites (San Rafael). 415.482.6077, imageforsuccess.org

5 Honor Thy Healer Pay homage to those in the community who have helped woman and families affected by breast cancer. Community Center (Mill Valley). 415.507.1949, zerobreastcancer.org

7 May Madness The streets of San Rafael come alive with one of the North Bay’s largest car displays and a parade. Downtown (San Rafael). downtownsanrafael.org

7 Marin Human Race Join more than 5,000 runners and walkers in a 5K race benefiting local nonprofits and schools. Lagoon Park (San Rafael). 415.479.5710, marinhumanrace.org

7 Blue Jean Ball An evening of music, silent and live auctions and games, this Integrated Community Services event benefits individuals with disabilities in Marin County. Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael). 415.455.8481, connectics.org

7 Beyond the Garden Gate Enjoy selfguided tours of five Ross gardens ranging from modern to intimate to dramatic. Shuttle buses and maps are provided. 415.482.7983, rossgardentour.org

7 Marin Noir: Search for Justice A night of live music, fine food and drink and gumshoe-era costumes, celebrating the work of a group that fights for those who feel lost in the legal system. 415.492.0230, legalaidmarin.org

7-8 Vintage Jewelry and Antique Show

More than 30 dealers, with jewelry ranging from Victorian to 1950s cocktail. IDESST Hall (Sausalito). 415.383.2252, goldengateshows.com

7-8, 14-15 Marin Arts Open Grab a map and tour the studios of more than 250 artists throughout Marin. Two weekends, various locations. 415.666.2442, marinarts.org

10 Speak to Me Enjoy food and wine tastings while listening to presentations by successful Bay Area women. Community

Center (Mill Valley). 415.888.2329, speaktomeevents.com

12 Bike to Work Day Get out of your car and onto your bike for a day. Check the MCBC website for energizer station locations to help riders prepare for the day. A total of 16 stations will be active in Marin. 415.456.3469, marinbike.org

14 A Night in Monte Carlo - Annual

Auction An evening of food, music and gaming to benefit St. Hilary School. St. Hilary School (Tiburon). 415.435.2224, sainthilary-school.org

14 Wavy Gravy’s 75th Birthday Bay Area cultural icon Wavy Gravy turns 75 and is throwing a party featuring music legends to benefit Seva Foundation, which works to prevent blindness in poor countries. Craneway Pavilion (Richmond). 510.845.7382, seva.org

14 Storyland Festival An afternoon of entertainment benefiting the San Geronimo Preschool. School grounds (San Geronimo). 415.488.4655, storylandfestival.com

THE SAN FRANCISCO VEIN CENTER AT ST. MARY’S

Because varicose veins aren’t sexy.

FOR QUESTIONS, OR TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, PLEASE CALL THE VEIN CENTER AT 415.750.5545. stmarysmedicalcenter.org

14-15, 25 Live from the Met Experience works from the Metropolitan Opera House live in high definition. This month, Die Walkure by Richard Wagner. Lark Theater (Larkspur). 415.924.5111, larktheater.net

15 Marin Music Chest A concert featuring young performers. United Methodist Church (Mill Valley). 415.381.4453, chambermusicmillvalley.org

15 Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance

More than 180 unique vehicles will be on display. The event also celebrates the 100th anniversary of both the Indianapolis 500 and Chevrolet. Lagoon Park (San Rafael). 415.479.7727, marinsonomaconcours.org

15 A Walk in the Garden An afternoon to help provide dance scholarships. Domincan University (San Rafael). 415.453.6705, marinballet.org

15 Storybook Ball Benefit the Mill Valley Library Foundation and enjoy dancing, food, music and live entertainment. Community Center (Mill Valley). 415.389.4292, millvalleylibrary.org

15 Bay to Breakers The annual, always wacky 12K footrace is back for its 100th running with an all new sponsor. Embarcadero (SF). 415.359.2800, zazzlebaytobreakers.com

18 Marin Scuba Club Mai Maheigan from the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association is the featured speaker. The Flatiron Saloon (San Rafael). 415.456.5628, marinscuba.org

21 Pixie Park’s Spring Fair The park’s largest fundraiser celebrates its 53rd year with train and pony rides, a petting zoo, bounce houses, and prizes and games for kids. Marin Art and Garden Center (Ross). pixiepark.org

21-22 Ranches and Rolling Hills The 14th annual landscape art show and sale benefits the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. Druid’s Hall (Nicasio). 415.663.1158, malt.org

25 Tam Valley Speaker Series Barry Spitz discusses the 101st running of the Dipsea race, one of the oldest races of

its kind. Community Center (Mill Valley). 415.388.6393, tcsd.us

28-29 Treasure Island Flea A new openair market, hosting everything from new and indie designs to vintage clothing and antique furniture. Treasure Island (SF). 415.898.0245, treasureislandflea.com

29 Volunteer Fireman’s Barbecue Enjoy live music, dancing and a picnic in support of those that keep Muir Beach safe. Picnic grounds (Muir Beach). 415.898.0245, muirbeachfire.com

29 Larkspur Flower and Food Festival Kick off summer with this popular family festival featuring gourmet food and unique flower- and food-related gifts and crafts. Magnolia Ave (Larkspur). 415.924.3803, teamproevent.com

30 Memorial Day Enjoy music, a remembrance program, flag displays and wreath-laying ceremonies in tribute to military veterans. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

Looking for a fun night out that will also contribute to the good of all? Check out these upcoming events you won’t want to miss.

SUPPORT MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL’S CANCER INSTITUTE

WHAT A Night in Marin Gardens

WHEN Saturday, June 11, 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE The Lagoon at The Village at Corte Madera.

WHAT TO EXPECT An eco-conscious, black-tie evening under a tent with organic local cuisine by Taste Catering and toe-tapping music by the Dick Bright Orchestra. “It’s going to be about coming together and having a formal evening and honoring a wonderful institution in Marin,” says Ann Otter, gala co-chair and chair of the Marin General Foundation Board. WHY YOU SHOULD GO Your support will ensure the hospital’s ability to continue providing the best care for the community through the Marin Cancer Institute.

COST $500 per ticket; $5,000 for table of 10

FIND OUT MORE Contact Joann Rossi, 415.925.7770 or rossij@maringeneral.org.

REACH OUT TO MALAWI AT GAIA’S GARDEN PARTY

WHAT Village by Village: A Garden Party for GAIA (Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance)

WHEN Sunday, May 15, 4 p.m.

WHERE A spectacular private Kentfield home garden.

WHAT TO EXPECT GAIA’s Village by Village Garden Party will feature co-founder Dr. William Rankin, KQED’s Michael Krasny and special speakers from Malawi. Guests will enjoy tasting South African wine from Cape Ardor as well as enjoy music and dance performed by Samba, Samba Back to Africa. Popular Marin market Paradise Foods is catering the party. “We are excited to bring this event to Marin’s backyard, where GAIA was launched and continues to grow,” says Amy RankinWilliams, GAIA development director.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO GAIA’s programs are focused on caring for more than half a million orphans, building health care capacity in rural areas and empowering women on whose shoulders the future of their country rests. Funds raised at this event will support GAIA’s programs in Malawi.

COST $250 per person

FIND OUT MORE Call 415.461.7196 or visit thegaia.org.

UPCOMING RSVP HOT TICKET

Mark your calendars for June 30, Marin/Scapes’ Opening Night Gala to kick off its weekend fine art exhibit and sale benefiting Buckelew Programs, which creates homes, jobs and hope in Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties. Look in our June issue’s RSVP Hot Ticket for details.

Visit marinmagazine.com/hotticket for the latest RSVP Hot Ticket events.

Friend us to tag and share RSVP Hot Ticket photos and join the conversation on local happenings at facebook.com/ marinmagazine.

Around Town

Art patrons and leaders saluted the upcoming de Young exhibit Olmec: Colossal Masterworks of Ancient Mexico at the annual Fine Arts Museums Midwinter Gala. Hundreds of locals turned out for the event, which was sponsored by First Republic, Bulgari, Sotheby’s, Porsche Design and Nordstrom. Pictured: Connie Nielsen, Lars Ulrich.

Locals toasted the SFMOMA Art Auction at the official launch party, which took place at the Wilkes Bashford San Francisco store. When not shopping for bidding-appropriate attire, guests chatted about the more than 70 artworks that were on the auction block. Pictured above: Ariane Trimuschat, Jill Barnett, Annie Woods. Right: Randee and Jeff Binstock, Stephanie Pugash.

At the annual Marin Catholic fashion show and fundraiser 1,100 guests helped raise $250,000 for the local high school. Student models walked the catwalk with clothes donated by Marin boutiques.

Kathleen

The Girl Scouts of Northern California honored local celebrity chef and Girl Scout alumna Cindy Pawlcyn at the Woman of Distinction Awards. Pawlcyn, who earned her Girl Scout cooking badge at age 8, is the creator of Mustards Grill and Go Fish restaurants and has appeared on the Bravo television show Top Chef. The event raised over $15,000 for the nonprofit organization.

Pictured: Marina Park, Cindy Pawlcyn, Sara Cakebread, Woody Shackleton.

Pictured:

Woodcock, Susan Conroy, Father Thomas Daly, Marilyn Rooney, Kathy Ryan.

Haute Jewels (formerly Mirage Jewels) celebrated its new location in Town Center with a grand opening gala. Pictured above: Cynthia Van Every, Carla Giustino. Right: Leslie Muela, Josh Kalkhorst, Tom Malvino, Susan Murray, Mayor Alexandra Cock, Stan Hoffman.

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

Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria

1242FourthStreet

Inspired by the fresh food served on the bustling streets of cities across Southeast Asia, Charlie Hong Kong offers organic Asian street fare in downtown Mill Valley. Think noodle and rice bowls, banh mi, soups and salads, beer and wine. Love your body, eat organic!

415.455.9777 SanRafael,CA amicis.com

Cibo = Food We are open breakfast and lunch serving seasonally inspired food sourced locally from farmers and purveyors. Cibo serves Blue Bottle Coffee, House Made Panini, Savories, Pastries, Desserts, and now Straus organic soft serve ice cream in a contemporary dining environment with indoor and outdoor seating.

Cibo

1201Bridgeway

Thank you for voting for DISH as one of the top three new restaurants to open in Marin in 2010. Join Dish for Dinner to taste our new chef’s delicious, affordable Californian comfort food. We have a great breakfast and lunch menu as well.

415.331.2426

Sausalito,CA cibosausalito.com

dish Mill Valley

507MillerAvenue

415.388.DISH(3474) MillValley,CA dishmillvalley.com

PHOTO: ENLUCE PHOTOGRAPHY

Drakes Beach Café …Almost

Secret… Open

Marin Magazine. (A concession of the Point Reyes National Seashore.)

PHOTO: LEE RUE, INTELITE-DESIGN.COM

Frantoio tantalizes your taste buds with it’s authentic Italian cuisine. Serving locally produced fruit, vegetables, seafoods and meats the restaurant supports the local economy wherever possible whilst remaining loyal to its Tuscan roots. Enjoy fantastic salads, pasta, pizza and entrees in an elegant yet relaxed setting.

Frantoio Ristorante

152ShorelineHighway

Specialties include mesquite-grilled steaks and fish , housemade pastas, fresh salads and soups, a wide variety of desserts, and fresh baked bread along with artisan cocktails and a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. Each month, a special regional dinner menu is featured. Groups of all sizes are welcome!

Il Fornaio

415.289.5777 MillValley,CA frantoio.com

Casual French bistro in the heart of San Anselmo. We offer simple and delicious French fare for lunch and dinner. Come and enjoy our beautiful terrace for outdoor seating or a glass of wine and a bite to eat at our bar. Bon Appétit!

L’appart Resto

636SanAnselmoAve

415.256.9884 SanAnselmo,CA lappartresto.com

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

Robata Grill & Sushi

591RedwoodHwy.

415.381.8400 MillValley,CA robatagrill.com

223CorteMaderaTownCtr

415.927.4400 CorteMadera,CA ilfornaio.com

Dining in? Try one of the great recipes in Organic Marin. Produced by Marin Magazine, this seasonal cookbook celebrates the organic farmers of Marin County and over 40 delicious recipes from local restaurants. 35% off with the code DINEIN. Go to themarinstore.com/organicmarin

Saylor’s Restaurant is a local favorite with fantastic food. Award winning Chef Sean Saylor’s flavorful menu includes fresh seafood, quality steaks, pastas, fresh tossed salads, and Mexican favorites, not to mention specials that change daily. Enjoy Marin’s best Margarita with 175+ tequilas to choose from.

Saylor’s Restaurant and Bar 2009Bridgeway

415.332.1512 Sausalito,CA saylorsrestaurantandbar.com

Visit the Seafood Peddler for the freshest seafood Marin has to offer, shipped in daily from the east and west coast! Dine indoors or enjoy our beautiful waterfront patio. Catch live music in our Palm Ballroom! Book one of our banquet rooms for a private party, perfect for any occasion.

Seafood Peddler

100YachtClubDrive

415.460.6669 SanRafael,CA seafoodpeddler.com

Sweet Ginger has served the community since 2001. Enjoy the freshest sashimi, delicious rolls made to order, good sake, and a variety of traditional Japanese favorites including Tonkatsu and Udon. Don’t feel like driving? We do deliveries every night starting at 5:30pm. See you at Sweet Ginger!

Sweet Ginger

400CaledoniaSt.

SEA Thai Bistro in Corte Madera. Flavors of Thai and neighboring countries infused in each dish using organic and local sustainable products. Chef Tony Ounpamornchai creates each plate with pride of his native Thai at heart.

SantaRosa,CA

Petaluma,CA

707.528.8333

707.766.6633

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

415.332.1683 Sausalito,CA sweetgingersausalito.com

The Counter offers all-natural, humanely-raised beef and 312,120+ combinations to build your own burger. The Counter is a great place for family, friends, great music and a full bar. Voted best burger in Bay Area by SFGate.com readers on Baylist 2010. ‘LIKE’ us on www.facebook.com/TheCounterCorteMadera!

The Counter 201TownCenter

415.924.7000 CorteMadera,CA thecounterburger.com

Taj of Marin 9094thStreet

415.459.9555 SanRafael,CA tajofmarin.com

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

Wipeout Bar & Grill 302BonAirCenter 415.461.7400 Greenbrae,CA wipeoutbarandgrill.com

Spring Cleaning

Lighten up (in more ways than one) with a juice fast

BY MIMI TOWLE

SPRING LIVER TONIC

This juice contains dandelion greens, which gently detoxify the liver while promoting optimal liver function. It also creates a more alkaline (anti-cancer, immunity-boosted) body.

INGREDIENTS (ALL ORGANIC):

B/c bunch dandelion greens

4 cups spinach

4 carrots

B/c cucumber

5 stalks celery

B/c lemon, peeled

Feed bunched-up dandelion greens and spinach into a juicer, and blend. Next, add 3 of the carrots, cucumber, celery and lemon, adding the final carrot at the end to push the last of the ingredients through the juicer.

Like changing the oil regularly in a car, giving the body’s internal organs a chance to clear out what doesn’t belong there is a maintenance program with proven results. “Spring is the time for growth and renewal, and according to traditional Chinese medicine it is the season that corresponds to the liver, the master cleansing organ,” says Neka Pasquale, an herbalist, statelicensed acupuncturist and certified traditional Chinese nutritionist. Pasquale, who has co-owned Evo Spa in Strawberry Village with her mother for nearly seven years, has just introduced a juice cleanse regimen available through her new business, Urban Remedy. “I wanted to create a cleanse that was effective and that tastes delicious — a cleanse for foodies utilizing only organic produce,” she explains. Interested? You can start the program — which offers cleanses of one to seven days that begin at $70 per day — by stopping in at Evo Spa or visiting urbanremedy.com.

How did you become interested in nutrition?

Being good Marin hippies, my parents exposed me to all kinds of herbal remedies and alternative healing. When my skin broke out for the first time, I read that burdock root was good for skin. I bought some, and it worked. It’s a great blood purifier and a remedy I still use with my patients today.

How many different flavors of juices do you offer? Our most popular cleanse offers six different daily juices and shakes. We also offer seasonal juices. Right now, we have a pink lemonade made from red cabbage, apple, ginger and lemon juice — and it’s delicious.

What are the specific functions for each juice? The first is green and alkalizes the body, boosts energy and cleanses the cells. The second is a purple antioxidant-rich spicy acai lemonade that stimulates the metabolism. Third is a cucumber-mint-cilantro elixir, which flushes excess water and pulls heavy metals from the body. The fourth is a mix of apple, carrot, beet

and greens, with lemon and ginger juice added to cleanse the liver. That’s followed by an organic berry–chia seed shake, which is great for raising energy levels. It’s high in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, plus it contains protein. The last drink of the day is a vanillacinnamon nut milk made with either cashews or almonds. It’s a soothing, calming dessertstyle drink rich in minerals that tastes divine.

What is your recommended duration for a juice cleanse? One day, once a month is a great introduction, as well as a great way to maintain the benefits of a longer cleanse.

How often do you make the juices? Three days a week, on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

How long do the juices last? Three to four days. We use a method of extraction that guarantees minimal mixing with air, resulting in very slow oxidation and the preservation of three to five times the vitamins and minerals of juices pressed in other machines.

Urban Remedy’s juices are available at Evo Spa or can be delivered in Marin and San Francisco.

INSIDER’S GUIDE

DINE OUT

CANTINA MILL VALLEY Mexican

The popular Mill Valley restaurant, originally opened in 1980 and reestablished in October 2010 after a brief stint as Maria Maria, is now open every day for lunch in addition to cocktails and dinner. Original owner Thomas Wilson and new business partner John Burns have revamped the outdoor eating areas to include two fireplaces and circular cushioned seating. The traditional Mexican fare reflects the original menu: soups, salads, sandwiches and sizzling fajitas at lunch portions and prices. Happy Hour remains popular with drinks and appetizers for $5 and under. Dinner: 4–10:00 p.m., Sunday Brunch: 11:00 a.m.–3 p.m. 651 E. Blithedale, 415.381.1070, thecantina.com

CORTE MADERA

BENISSIMO Italian Benissimo means “really really good” in Italian. Besides their daily 4–7 happy hour where drinks range from $3–$5 and small plates $5–$7, this popular family-style (and familyrun) eatery has something happening every night of the week. Monday: happy hour all day. Tuesday: free corkage. Wednesday: Martini night. Thursday: live jazz. 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

BRICK & BOTTLE California Sourcing local and artisan ingredients, executive chef Scott Howard brings simple California cuisine to Corte Madera’s Brick & Bottle, opened May 2010. With a cheerful vibe that resonates with the restaurant’s comfortable design, Brick & Bottle features a large bar area, beautiful outdoor patio and family-friendly dining. 55 Tamal Vista Blvd, 415.924.3366, brickandbottle.com

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

IL FORNAIO Italian Sausalito’s Larry Mindel hit a home run with this upscale Italian 22-restaurant franchise. Besides the award-winning breads, pizzas and pastas, the menu offers a variety of salads and noncarb entrées. 223 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.4400, ilfornaio.com

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 Ctr, 415.927.0288, lm-vietnamesecuisine.com

MARIN JOE’S Italian Authentic Italian dishes have been served here for over 50 years. Pick from soup, salad, seafood, mesquite-grilled 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

PACIFIC CATCH Pan-Asian This well-priced fresh grill eatery offers a bounty of Pacific Riminspired small or main plates, like the generously portioned wasabi bowls filled with rice (white or brown), veggies and your choice of chicken or beef or cooked or raw fish. Heated outdoor patio makes this a great spot for lunch or dinner, especially in the summer. It’s modeled after the Paia Fish House on Maui, down to the chalkboard menu and Hawaiian music. 223 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.3474, pacificcatch.com

P. F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO Chinese

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

RICK’S WINE CELLAR California This one-room bar and wine shop is located in the same spot where Marin’s first wine bar opened 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, flight or bottle, all of which pair nicely with the cheeses, salami and hot paninis. 207 Corte Madera Ave, 415.927.9466, rickswinecellar.com

SEA THAI BISTRO Asian SEA stands for Southeast Asian, and co-owner and executive chef Tony Ounpamornchai works to infuse Thai and other Asian flavors with American tastes to create innovative dishes. The eatery, which uses sustainable and local ingredients when possible, also offers an extensive wine list. 60 Corte Madera, 415.927.8333, seathaibistro.com

THE COUNTER California/American The folks at The Counter have taken the “have it your way” motto to a new level. Mostly known for all-natural Angus beef (humanely raised and handled, of course), turkey, chicken or veggie burgers, the menu offers options like a bowl (all the ingredients without the bun) or salads with an array of unique toppings. Cheeses range from an herb goat spread, gruyère to plain ol’ cheddar. And if you want a martini with your burger, no problem; they have a full bar. 201 Corte Madera Town Center 415.924.700, thecounterburger.com

FAIRFAX

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

PANCHO VILLA’S Mexican A Fairfax favorite for over 30 years. Since 1976, head chef Francisco has been turning out treats like chile relleno stuffed with jack cheese, cilantro and onion and crab enchiladas topped with a mild tomatillo sauce and sour cream. 1625 Sir Frances Drake Blvd, 415.456.4331, panchosfairfax.com

SORELLA CAFFE Italian Open for over six years, and run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella, which means “sisters,” serves up fresh Italian food with a northern influence. Customer favorites include cioppino, butternut ravioli and eggplant parmesan. Another highlight is the giant wheel of Grana Padana cheese, which is passed around the tables. Easy place to bring the kids. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520, sorellacaffe.com

GREENBRAE

BISTRO VIS A VIS California Bon Air Shopping Center welcomes Bistro Vis à Vis with chef Mike Fredsall, who was with the Campton Place when it earned a four-star rating from the Chronicle, with Aqua when it earned its second Michelin star and Madera—yep, a Michelin star appeared here too during his time. Menu items include seared sea scallops and celery root “ravioli” with gala apple salad and celery root puree, and Creekstone Farms New York steak with portobello-shiitake bread pudding, broccoli rabe and natural jus and truffled risotto cakes. 282 Bon air Ctr, 415.925.4370 bistrovisavis.com

WIPEOUT BAR & GRILL American Who says you can’t go back to being a carefree teenager for a night? This family-friendly hot spot has surfboards hanging from the ceiling, fun-in-the-sun music, a full bar and large televisions displaying surfers riding waves. The only thing missing is the sand at this surf-style, upbeat eatery. 302 Bon Air Ctr, 415.461.7400, wipeoutbarandgrill.com

LARKSPUR

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

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 (4–6:30 M–F) and enjoy appetizers, all priced under three dollars. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331, leftbank.com

PICCO California This has been a popular spot ever since opening in 2005 . Dishes like miniburgers and seasonally driven menu items, along with risotto made every half hour, keep people coming back. The Picco Pizzeria and Wine Bar next door is cozy (not many seats) but already famous for its wood-fired pizzas, great wine selection and soft-serve Straus Family Creamery ice cream. 320 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0300, restaurantpicco.com

RUSTIC BAKERY California Organic mouthwatering pastries, breads, and sandwiches are on the menu here, including Meyer lemon mascarpone danishes and bacon, avocado and heirloom tomato sandwich with mesclun. 1139 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.1556, rusticbakery.com

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

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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

TAVERN AT LARK CREEK American The next chapter in the 1888 Victorian Murphy House is being written by chef Aaron Wright and culinary director Adrian Hoffman. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7766, tavernatlarkcreek.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 chef August Schuchman. Easy place to bring toddlers. 286 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7676, yankeepier.com

MILL VALLEY

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BALBOA CAFE MILL VALLEY California The San Francisco institution has already become a place to see and be seen in Mill Valley, especially after the 142 Throckmorton Comedy nights. Come for the pan-roasted Alaskan halibut or risotto but stay for the amazing burgers. 38 Miller Ave, 415.381.7321, balboacafe.com

BEERWORKS BREWERY AND BEER CAFE

American This one room quaint storefront offers a beverage menu of handcrafted beers made on site, imported and local microbrews and housemade kombucha and root beer. Don’t miss the small beer hall selection of pretzels, salumis and cheeses. 173 Throckmorton Ave, 415.336.3596, millvalleybeerworks.com

BUCKEYE ROADHOUSE American Oysters

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

BUNGALOW 44 American Much like sister restaurant Buckeye Roadhouse, Bungalow 44 offers a mean dose of homey carbo- and lipidladen dishes, such as the burger, fried chicken and truffle fries, as well as a few lighter items. The bar is a neighborhood favorite, known for tasty spirits and eye candy. 44 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500, bungalow44.com

CHARLIE HONG KONG Asian Finally Mill Valley has an Asian street food restaurant and best of all, dishes are $10 and less. In downtown (near Baskin Robbins) Charlie Hong Kong offers something for every eater; vegan, wheatfree, vegetarian and carnivore. Menu items include chicken pho, vegan vegetable medley or vegan summer rolls, pad thai, chow mein and gado gado—all made with organic, locally produced veggies and all-natural, vegetarianfed, sustainably raised proteins. 25 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, 415.888.8303, charliehongkong.com

DIPSEA CAFE Comfort One word: biscuits. This longtime breakfast spot has been serving up tasty pancakes and egg dishes with homemade biscuits since 1986. Try a biscuit with a poached egg, a biscuit with sausage—or just plain butter. Lunch specialties include BLTs and tuna melts and generous Cobb salads. Now serving dinner. 200 Shoreline Hwy, 415.381.0298, dipseacafe.com

DISH California Sit inside or out at this hip casual eatery on Miller Avenue. The result of a vision of Mill Valley locals including Peter Schumacher and Mike House, DISH was created as an all-day gathering spot serving healthy, organic food and drinks. Start the morning with a cappuccino, or stop in after midday yoga for a salad or sandwich and end the day with a glass of wine (free corkage) on the outdoor patio watching the sun set behind Mount Tamalpais. 507 Miller, 415.388.3013, dishmillvalley.com

FRANTOIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO Italian Known for its in-house olive press, superior olive oil and excellent Italian cuisine, this spot is a great location for an intimate dinner, large groups and anything in between. Happy hour starts at 4:30 in the sizable, comfortable bar area, where you can snack on antipasti or order your whole meal. Owned by Roberto Zecca and Chef Duilio Valenti, both from Milano; the kitchen uses local and organic ingredients—it’s the Italian way. For special occasions and private parties, reserve the olive-press room. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.289.5777, frantoio.com

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

JOE’S TACO LOUNGE Mexican A longtime local favorite, Joe’s serves up regular fare such as tasty fish tacos, burritos and enchiladas as well as more unusual items like Mexican pizza, tofu salad, and crab tostados. 382 Miller, 415.383.8164

MAMA’S ROYAL CAFE American Old-timers love this fabulous kitsch-decorated breakfast spot. The menu offers crepes, brioche French toast and other a.m. specialties served all day; stay awhile and try the sandwiches for lunch. 87 Miller Ave, 415.388.3261

PEARL’S PHAT BURGERS American Deemed by the New York Times, as a silver-spoon alternative to a greasy spoon diner, Pearl’s has a “hipster denizen” (another NYT phrasing) following loyal to the big juicy all-natural patties (vegetarian, turkey, beef, buffalo or grilled chicken) served up with tasty sides such as garlic or sweet potato fries, shakes and seasonal smoothies. Eat-in if you can get a seat, or take it home for dinner. 8 East Blithedale Ave, 415.381.6010

PIATTI RISTORANTE AND BAR Italian The staff prides itself on capturing the warm and welcoming atmosphere of a traditional Italian trattoria. Try for a table at the window for a truly exceptional view right on the water. Take a

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peek at the impressive collection of Italian wines to go with your rustic seasonal Italian meal. 625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525, piatti.com

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

TOAST American Take the kids for an omelet or pancake breakfast at this cozy venue; lunch and dinner, too. 31 Sunnyside Ave, 415.388.2500, toastmillvalley.com

TONY TUTTO PIZZA Italian Tony has been pouring his passion for pizza into his cooking for two decades and is now sharing his family recipes: “It’s all about excellence in pizza, sprinkled with musical flavors and kissed with colorful passion.” Mostly outdoor seating, so dress accordingly. Stop by or take out. 246 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.383.8646, tonytuttopizza.com

TSUKIJI SUSHI Japanese Named for the largest fish market in world, Tsukiji is owned by Roy and Chanel Liu. The couple earned their sushi stripes operating Morpho in San Francisco and Akira in San Rafael. Helping them behind the sushi bar is former Sushi Ran head sushi chef Haruo Komatsu. 24 Sunnyside Ave., 415.383.1382.

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 oneroom trattoria. Try one of the restaurant’s pasta dishes or thin-crust pizzas. 106 Throckmorton Ave, 415.381.3343

NOVATO

BOCA STEAK & SEAFOOD South American

Bring a date or celebrate a special event at this classic steak house, 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

EXTREME PIZZA American Pizza by the slice or pie. Come up with your own creation or choose one of the restaurant’s favorites like the Mr. Pestato Head: homemade pesto sauce, potatoes, red onions, feta, fresh basil and mozzarella. 104 Vintage Way, 415.898.6575, extremepizza.com

GOLDEN EGG OMELET HOUSE American

Previously called the Old Town Bistro, this Novato favorite is back by popular demand with its original name and menu. Open for breakfast and lunch, the Golden Egg Omelet house offers an assortment of organic and locally grown foods, and 101 different types of omelets. 807 Grant Ave, 415.897.7707, goldeneggnovato.com

GRAZIE Italian Locals love this family-owned and -run Grant Avenue restaurant for delicious paninis, salads and the unbeatable homemade cookies. Enjoy good weather on the outside

patio or people-watch in this always-bustling restaurant. 823 Grant Ave, Ste E, 415.878.0202

HILLTOP 1892 California Situated in a historic estate in Novato, with sweeping views, Hilltop 1892 offers traditional favorites with a California flare. Open from breakfast through dinner, including Sunday Brunch. 850 Lamont Ave, 415.893.1892, hilltop1892.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-be-missed destination. 5800 Nave Dr, 415.382.1144, toastnovato.com

ROSS

MARCHÉ AUX FLEURS French This gem of a restaurant serves up locally farmed produce, wild and fresh seafood and free-range meats prepared with an artisan’s touch. The wine and beer list is extensive. 23 Ross Common, 415.925.9200, marcheauxfleursrestaurant.com

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

SAN ANSELMO

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 Proprietors Donna and Jack Krietzman (of Pacific Heights’ Jackson Fillmore) have brought Milan to Marin with their 42-seat family restaurant. 510 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.2942, cucinarestaurantandwinebar.com

DREAM FARM California As the website claims, a taste of rural Marin in downtown San Anselmo, showcasing the bounty of our area’s awardwinning farms, dairies, and fisheries. Best yet is the price point: dishes range from under $6 to nothing over $20. 198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.453.9898, dreamfarmmarin.com

L’APPART RESTO French It’s the second (and highly anticipated) Marin restaurant for the team behind Le Garage Bistro. In the former AVA spot, owners Bruno Denis and Olivier Souvestre have created a menu most Francophiles would be proud of, complete with items like smoked herring, bone marrow and cassoulet de legumes. 636 San Anselmo Ave, 415.256.9884, lappartresto.com

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

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

MARINITAS Mexican It may not be as low-priced as most Mexican restaurants in the area, but this is not your typical south-of-the-border spot. The festive atmosphere and funky decor complement the excellent food for a classy, lively experience. Finish with the rich Tres Leches Cake. This place gets packed, so make reservations. 218 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.454.8900, marinitas.net

SAN RAFAEL

AMICI’S EAST COAST PIZZERIA California

A bevy of pizza options include gluten-free crust and the new Siciliano, an enticing mix of mozzarella, slow-roasted garlic, sausage, broccoli and crushed red pepper flakes sans the tomato sauce. 1242 Fourth St, 415.455.9777, amicis.com

CALGANG KITCHEN Thai Owned and operated by the family that used to run Jhan Thong of Northgate food court fame, Calgang Kitchen is now a sit-down restaurant that includes a bar serving organic beers and wines. Eat there or enjoy takeout in eco-friendly containers. 194 Northgate One, 415.499.3501

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CAFE GRATITUDE Raw The waiters might push the affirmations theme a bit too much, but the tasty (and healthy) food is worth it. Besides the knowledge you’re supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture, the raw food and vegan samosas are hard to resist. Best to bring a group and sample lots of items on the menu. 2200 Fourth St, 415.824.4652, withthecurrent.com

LOTUS RESTAURANT American Bistro/Creperie Lotus Restaurant has earned Hall of Fame kudos from Pacific Sun readers for nearly a decade. Family owned and operated, it serves up North Indian cuisine with vegan and vegetarian options in a casual pink-tablecloth setting. 704 Fourth St, 415.456.5808, lotusrestaurant.com

MCINNIS PARK GOLF CLUB RESTAURANT American Chef Tim Harmon has created an eclectic menu for brunch, lunch and dinner. Outdoor seating is popular, as well as the full bar with a selection of premium Scotches, small-batch bourbons and over 50 wines from California’s finest vineyards. McInnis Park, 415.491.5990, mcinnisparkgolfcenter.com/restaurant.html

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, mulberrystreet-pizzeria.com

SAN RAFAEL JOE’S Italian Guido and Theresa Farina are now running this Marin institution, which has been famous for serving up sophisticated yet casual Italian fare since 1947. Great for large parties, the dining room holds 240. 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 oneroom eatery on Fourth Street just off Highway 101 can be hard to get into, but worth the wait. 732 Fourth St, and 901 Lincoln Ave, 415.451.4765, solfoodrestaurant.com

THERESA & JOHNNY’S COMFORT FOOD

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

WHIPPER SNAPPER RESTAURANT California

Owner and chef Bill Higgins serves reasonably priced and delicious tapas. Save room for delicious fish tacos and yummy chocolate bread pudding. 1613 Fourth St, 415.256.1818, whipsnap.biz

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

SAUSALITO

ANGELINO RESTAURANT Italian Fatherand-son chefs Pasquale and Alfredo Ancona offer handmade pastas 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

AVATAR’S Indian Looking for “the best meal of your life”? Let owner Ashok Kumar order for you. One-room casual dining for lunch and dinner. 2656 Bridgeway, 415.332.8083, eatavatar.com

CIBO Cafe Husband-and-wife team Alfredo and Tera Ancona offer a menu filled with tarts, croissants, cookies, paninis and soups. Every dish is made from scratch with local and seasonal products. And now Marinites no longer have to drive over the bridge to get famous Blue Bottle coffee. Or opt for homemade organic dark hot chocolate. Located in the historic brick building at 1201 Bridgeway, 415.331.CIBO, cibosausalito.com

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

FISH Seafood It is all about the fresh fish here. You can dine at one of the picnic tables or purchase fresh fish to cook at home. Casual and bring cash (and lots of it!). 350 Harbor Dr, 415.331.3474, 331fish.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, especially for locals to bring visitors. To truly appreciate your experience do a quick google check on the history of this rock ‘n roll institution. Outdoor dining, valet parking and docking facilities available. 558 Bridgeway, 415.331.3232, horizonssausalito.com

LE GARAGE French Escape the touristy Sausalito spots and grab brunch right on the water at this cherished site. The atmosphere is animated with light French music playing in the background (think Amélie). The Kobe Burger, though not as Parisian as the other menu items, is to die for. Also consider the much-adored croque-monsieur for under $10. Opt for indoor or outdoor seating. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625, legaragebistrosausalito.com

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

SAYLOR’S RESTAURANT AND BAR California/ Mexican Marin’s first tequila bar offers over 100 tequila options. Nightly meal specials include chicken pot pie, roasted salmon, baby back ribs, and traditional meatloaf. If you’re in for a wild night of entertainment there are frequent events like margarita night and flight night tequilatasting parties. The private dining room is perfect for large parties. 2009 Bridgeway, 415.332.1512, saylorsrestaurantandbar.com

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

SWEET GINGER Japanese Owners-and chefs Edna and Wayne Chiang know their way around good sushi. Try fresh sashimi, classic rolls--such as the Dragon Roll, 49er’s Roll and the Rock ‘N Roll--or be adventurous and have Wayne whip you up somethig off-the-menu Good Sake, reasonable prices, and a comfortable setting complete the meal. 400 Caledonia St, 415.332.1683, sweetgingersausalito.com

TOMMY’S WOK Chinese Scrupulously fresh ingredients and free-range chicken make the yellow coconut milk curry here divine. Nice atmosphere and good takeout. 3001 Bridgeway, 415.332.5818, tommyswok.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

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

DON ANTONIO TRATTORIA Italian; Set in Tiburon’s historic Ark Row, this trattoria offers authentic Italian cuisine in a quaint setting. The menu includes traditional courses with selections such as chicken picatta, organic roasted rack of lamb, and house-made pesto. 111 Main St., 415.435.0400, donantoniotrattoria.com

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

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

SAM’S ANCHOR CAFE American Everyone knows Sam’s deck is the prime spot for brunch on a lazy sunny Sunday, and its bar is the town’s historic watering hole, but Sam’s is also a great place for lunch or dinner. Enjoy trans-fat-free calamari, fresh fish, seasonal salads and pastas. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527, samscafe.com

SERVINO RISTORANTE Italian With people like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates raving about his pizza, Angelo Servino is doing something right. Some people come for the spacious and popular bar; some people come for the great food and friendly service; the titans of industry, it seems, opt for the pepperoni. Spacious bar, and weekend music is also a big draw. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676, servino.com

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

WEST MARIN

DRAKES BEACH CAFE American If you’re OK with the long drive, you can’t beat the view and the fresh local ingredients used to make the burgers, salads and soups at this casual spot (Inverness). Walk on the beach after lunch. 1 Drakes Beach Rd, 415.669.1297, drakesbeachcafe.com

NICK’S COVE American This collaboration of famed restaurateurs Pat Kuleto and Mark Franz has attracted visitors (and accolades) nationwide. Large windows open the 130-seat eatery to the picturesque Tomales Bay and Hog Island. Menu consists of the freshest available local seafood, oysters and bounty from nearby West Marin farms including Bodega Bay Dungeness crab cake and Tomales Bay clam chowder (Marshall). 23240 Hwy 1, 415.663.1033, nickscove.com

OLEMA INN California One of the most charming settings around, this inn and restaurant is a great destination lunch spot for a Sunday drive, or dinner every night. The menu includes imaginative combinations using regional and organic greens while the bar features a full wine list (Olema). 10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.663.9559, theolemainn.com

OSTERIO STELLINA California Whether strolling in from a day of hiking or celebrating a romantic anniversary, Osterio Stellina accommodates any occasion. The menu is Italian-inspired using organic, local ingredients. If you’re looking for something unusual try the goat shoulder, a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Don’t leave without indulging in the standout lemon ice cream sandwich (Point Reyes). 11285 Hwy 1, 415.663.9988, osteriastellina.com

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

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

SAND DOLLAR American Originally built from three barges in Tiburon in 1921, the Sand Dollar Restaurant was floated to Stinson that same year and still exists today. Enjoy live music along with local barbecued oysters and New England clam chowder. Sunny deck is great in the afternoon (Stinson). 3458 Shoreline Hwy, 415.868.0434, stinsonbeachrestaurant.com

STATION HOUSE CAFE American Fresh local homegrown foods, served as available, are showcased on the chef’s menu. Stop in on weekends for the live music and enticing wine and beer lists. 11180 State Route One, 415.663.1515, stationhousecafe.com

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

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BOLINAS

Two miles off the main road and a world away

BY DANIEL JEWETT

PHOTOS TIM PORTER

Patrons of Smiley’s Schooner Saloon and Hotel are enjoying some downtime.

BELOW : The bar’s exterior. OPPOSITE : Catching some waves at Bolinas Beach.

BOLINAS RESIDENTS, FAMOUS IN THE 1960S for tearing down the road sign that pointed the way to their community, haven’t changed much. They still value the privacy of their West Marin peninsula, shy away from tourists and, as far as we’ve noticed, still haven’t put back the sign that Caltrans long ago gave up trying to repost.

They are aware, of course, that with modern inventions such as GPS and travel websites, their charming town of just over 1,200 residents (as well as its beaches and national and state parks) are easier to find than ever. Still, if somebody misses the unmarked turn off of Highway 1 just past Stinson Beach, nobody there seems to lose much sleep.

“It’s not 1964 anymore, but still people pass us by and end up in Point Reyes,” says Drew Reinstein, an owner of 2 Mile Surf Shop, whose moniker pays homage to the infamous sign and the navigation challenges posed by its absence. “When they phone, I tell them, ‘Enjoy Point Reyes, because you are already there.’ ”

Indeed, the Petaluma resident had to give up a corporate marine biologist position to find his way to Bolinas. He took early retirement from his job at Chevron in 2008 and bought the High Tide (later renamed Sonoma Coast) Surf Shop in Petaluma; a year later he also co-purchased 2 Mile, located just 522 steps from the beach. “I couldn’t have worked another day,” he says of the life change. “And this is way more rewarding, although not always that easy.”

Reinstein says 2 Mile is a different kind of shop than the one in Petaluma, geared more toward surfing than surf fashion. “We have water dripping off of wet suits and sand on the floor; it’s a real surf shop,” he says. “This is a real good spot for beginners. People come from all over the world to take lessons and learn to surf here.” ››

Just down Bolinas’ other main street, Wharf Road, stands the Bolinas Museum. Located in a beautiful 1900 historic corner building complex that has seen many uses in the past, it’s now a surprisingly metropolitan museum that houses five galleries showcasing local and contemporary art; West Marin history exhibits; and fine art photography, as well as a courtyard where occasional live music draws locals and curious travelers alike.

“My job is very quiet and very involving,” says museum executive director and longtime Bolinas resident Lucy Van Sands Seeburg, known affectionately as Vandy. “I love it here in Bolinas, and with my job, I really have my finger on the pulse of the community.”

Although Bolinas is an unincorporated area of Marin County and has no mayor, one man, Don Deane, probably comes closest to fitting that bill. Deane is at once a hotel and saloon owner who doesn’t drink, a foster parent to at-risk youth, and a former publisher of the recently closed Coastal Post newspaper.

“I was marked, very suspect,” Deane says of his arrival in Bolinas in 1971 as a new resident and county probation officer. “You’re not an old-timer until you’ve been here forever; you don’t have any standing as the new guy.

“Then, just when they thought they had me figured out,” he adds, “I bought the bar.” Smiley’s Schooner Saloon is housed in a Bolinas landmark, built by Captain Isaac Morgan in 1851, that contains eight hotel rooms, the bar area, and Deane’s upstairs office (from which he

once published the left-leaning newspaper) with a window overlooking just about all of downtown. The California Historical Society lists it as one of only 14 bars in the state that’s been in continuous existence more than 100 years.

Deane says he loves Bolinas for the beautiful views, the peace and quiet and the community. “Some people have lived here 30, 40 or 50 years,” he notes. “We all are growing old together; that’s a unique thing.”

But a new crop of people are finding their way to Bolinas and into the limited housing market. “There has been an influx of families with children,” says Terry Donohue, a Bolinas real estate agent, mother and longtime resident. “They want their children to grow up closer to nature and in a good community.”

For those interested in the coastal small-town lifestyle, six homes are currently on the market, not including a $30,000 corner lot that can’t be built on (Bolinas is under a freshwater moratorium preventing new hookups), ranging in price from $749,000 to around $1.5 million. Last year, eight homes sold for a low of $415,000 and a high of just over $2.2 million.

But Bolinas home-seekers should be patient — because, as Donohue says, “people don’t like to sell their places here unless they really have to.” And if you’re one of the lucky ones, just be sure to give your friends good directions to the housewarming; the road sign for this well-hidden enclave isn’t likely to return anytime soon.

At Alain Pinel Realtors, we believe that actions speak louder than words. We are privately owned and committed to sustainable growth, seeking out markets that meet our standards for dynamic expansion, quality real estate, and strong community. This has made us not only the #1 privately-owned and independent

To experience the difference, visit one of our 32 offices throughout the Bay Area, from Carmel to Sonoma, Silicon Valley to San Francisco.

MILL VALLEY. Located in the desirable middle ridge of Mill Valley this lovely 3,000 sq. ft. modernist home has a sweeping view that reaches across the bay to San Francisco and beyond. This warm and inviting, 3 bedroom, 3 bath house, with large windows and glass throughout, offers the truly California experience of indoor/outdoor living nearby famed downtown Mill Valley. 141Tamalpais.com Offered at $2,400,000

MILL VALLEY. Amid Mill Valley’s bucolic idyll renowned builder Klyce built a classic French country style residence with unfettered views of the Bay and most of San Francisco in 1935. This 3 bedroom, 3 bath home has been tastefully updated and provides privacy, beauty and style and yet is just minutes from downtown Mill Valley. Offered at $2,195,000

Tiburon

$12,950,000

This premiere estate is located in one of Tiburon’s most exclusive neighborhoods and boasts lavish interiors, spectacular gardens, and awe-inspiring 360- degree views of the entire Bay Area. 6 BD, 7.5 BA

Gazzi Vineyard Estate

$4,900,000

Tiburon

$5,950,000

Extraordinary residence atop Tiburon’s exclusive Ring Mountain. Park-like open space surrounds this 8,000 sf custom home providing unparalleled serenity & privacy. 6 BD, 6 full & 2 half BA. 204Taylor.com

Kentfield

Kentfield

$2,495,000

Stunning Mediterranean home offers sweeping views of the Bay, 3,234± sf of remodeled living space, and 4 Beds/3.5 baths. Outdoor entertaining area provides for the best in indoor/outdoor living. 90UpperToyon.com

Sausalito

$2,400,000

The ultimate Northern California view property. Walls of glass overlooking the Bay. 3 Beds/3.5 Baths. Watch America’s Cup 2013 in the comfort and beauty of your new home. 7 Wolfback.com

Nicasio

$5,500,000

Represented Buyers. This gracious old world home was rebuilt 4 years ago. Now a smart house with pool, steam room, & gourmet kitchen. The attention to detail is superior to anything in this price point by far. 4 BD/2.5 BA SOLD

Equestrian Property

A rare opportunity to own an ultra-luxurious 5 BD, 5.5 BA custom home offering the finest craftsmanship, distinctive architectural details, spacious outdoor entertaining areas, and a revenue producing 6.5 acre vineyard. Mill Valley

Tiburon

$1,995,000

Panoramic views spanning the Golden Gate Bridge to downtown SF from this 33,000+ sf lot. In one of Tiburon’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Rare opportunity to build your 5000+ sf dream home. 24Venado.com

$2,300,000

This charming country property offers a modern home, a vintage cottage, two creeks – each with its own engineered bridge, indoor stables, outdoor stables, ring, arena, and an artist's studio on ±23 acres. 595DeerCreek.com

$1,995,000

This 3,259± sf, 4 BD, 3.5 BA Strawberry home features an open floor plan, stunning water views, a chef’s kitchen,

and

at

bedroom. 151GreatCircle.com

and a

$1,695,000

Represented buyers (B.G. Bates, listing agent). Period Arts & Crafts Design on 6+ acres. Featuring 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 2 courtyards. Impeccable details and built by a master craftsman. SOLD

Mill Valley

$1,595,000

This gorgeous custom home in Cascade Canyon was designed by its architect-owner. Completed in 2008 this lovely. 2,222 sf, 3 BD, 2.5 BA home backs up to open space & offers incredible privacy & serenity. 90Evelyn.com

Greenbrae

$1,275,000

This lovely 4 BD, 2.5 BA waterfront home in Cape Marin offers the ultimate access to Marin outdoor activities. Panoramic water & Mt. Tam views, renovated in 2009, & in the Kent field School District. 19Gretchen.com

Sophisticated Tiburon Estate

Understated elegance and timeless design combined with world class views define this unique property. Bordered by open space, this large, 7,000± square foot, private estate is situated on one of the most desirable view streets in Tiburon. An entertainer’s dream, the home features a custom gourmet kitchen, elegant dining room, refined living spaces and a handsome executive office. The expansive master suite boasts a spa-worthy bath and serene views of the bay and beyond. With five bedrooms, five full and two half baths, even the most discerning buyer would agree this is a rare find. The views, decks and beautiful gardens create an outdoor living experience like none other. Privacy, views, location… this is Tiburon at its best!

Offered at $3,695,000 www.152Hacienda.com

Majestic, parklike and private estate with approx. 9,500 square foot European-style residence and Mt. Tam views on approx. 1.42 acres.

Two-story, grand entry and staircase of Italian marble designed and installed by European artisans. Kitchen with center isle, lapis countertops, Brazilian granite pantry and informal dining area. Formal living room with fireplace, tall windows and French doors to large terrace overlooking the pool, spa and grounds. The balance of entry level includes the family room with fireplace and tall windows, guest suite with marble bath, study and powder room. Upper level comprises two en-suite bedrooms and master suite with fireplace, his and her closets, balcony with Mt. Tam view and luxur ious marble bath. Pool level includes wine cellar, cabana with bath, second kitchen and pantry. The grounds are fenced and private with patio, pool, spa and beautiful level lawns, gardens and producing fruit trees. Total of four bedrooms, five full and three half baths… $9,250,000

This enchanting Mediterranean estate rests on a majestic site with dramatic views of Mt Tamalpais, Phoenix Lake and the coastal hills of Marin.

Located in the exclusive town of Ross, on 5 acres, the approximately 7,000 square-foot family home is grand in scale – with 5 bedrooms and 6 baths in the main house, and a large bedroom and bath in the separate guest house. The pool house features a large multi-purpos e room with a full bath. Authentic Italian design blends with an awe-inspiring California landscape to provide a sophisticated and gracious indoor-outdoor lifestyle, with formal rooms opening onto stone terraces, sprawling lawns and manicured gardens. A grand loggia, outdoor fireplace with terrace dining and a resort-like pool, all share the spectacular surrounding views. Meticulously constructed with the finest finishes and a masterful design, the gated property provides the ut most privacy and a truly incomparable lifestyle. Five-bedroom, six bath main residence, separate one bedroom, one bath quest house and separate pool house with full bath… $12,900,000

Originally built circa 1902, now elegantly and superbly renovated and enlarged to create a family compound of over 10,000 sq. f t. of exquisitely designed and appointed living space, with state-of-the-art communications and entertainment technology, and situate d on approximately two level acres of secured privacy in Ross’ premier location. Features a stunning, approximately 2,500 square foot, three-room master suite occupying the entire top floor, with large bedroom, retreat, study, his-and-her baths and dressing areas, and two fireplaces. The children’s wing comprises the child’s study with built-in computer and network wiring, and two bedrooms, each with full bath. Spectacular kitchen with chef’s sink and refrigerator and walk-in butler's pantries. Private guest room with fireplace and full bath, a separate, approximately 800 square foot studio with full bath, and a luxurious, approximately 1,500 square foot, two-story, three-room guest house with full bath, kitchen and fireplace. Seven bedrooms, eight full and two half baths… $14,850,000

One of Marin’s most exceptional estates, with nearly 9,000 sq. ft. of masterfully designed interiors on over 2.2 acres of park-like grounds and level lawns. Beautiful and grand step-down living room with bay window focal point, high beamed ceiling, fireplace, and grand terrace/lawn access. Formal dining with two sets of double-door openings and views over the grand terrace, pool and lawn areas. Stunning kitchen/family area with large stone and wood island, breakfast bar and pantry, informal dining, and TV/entertainment areas as well as separate homework and kitchen-office areas. Top-floor master suite with huge his and her walk-in dressing rooms and lavish marble bath. Exquisite outdoor living with sparking swimming/diving pool, enormous level lawn and turf sports-field and the private, trellised grand terrace overlooking the pool and lawn area, with built-in barbecue and spacious seating and dining areas. Four bedrooms and three and one-half baths in the main residence and separate two-bedroom, two-bath guest house with fireplace and kitchen, three-car garage and additional motorcourt parking… $16,500,000

Classical Charisma in Cascade Canyon • $2,250,000

310CascadeDrive.com Cross the bridge and follow the brick path through ferns and flowers to the front door of this magical retreat and enter into the warmth and charm of this lovely home. A spacious living room is graced by a significant used-brick fireplace and peaked ceilings. A confection of a kitchen with granite counters, a six-burner Wolf cook top, Sub-Zero refrigerator, and two Gaggenau ovens. Just beyond is a spacious family room. Upstairs you will find four spacious bedrooms, including a master suite. The rear of the house looks out to the natural setting of a little over 1/2 acre (per tax records). The property is studded with a variety of wild flowers, trees and plants, among them Dawn redwoods, bracken ferns, elk clover, and wild azaleas. This home was featured in the book Visions of Marin, as the quintessential Mill Valley home. Be prepared to fall in love.

Karen Z. Hardesty 415.265.3344

kzhardesty@fhallen.com

KarenZHardesty.com

Committed to Extraordinary Service Chelsea E. Hardesty 415.300.6881 chardesty@fhallen.com ChelseaEHardesty.com

Service in Real Estate

ROSS SPANISH COLONIAL ON .6 ACRES

This Santa Barbara-style estate was constructed in 2006 in the “flats” of Old Ross with such attention to detail that many ask if it’s a renovation of a 1930’s residence, not knowing it was recently built. This 5 bed/5 bath home is close-in to the Ross School, bustling downtown San Anselmo, and it sits on a large lot with a saltwater pool.

Offered at $4,450,000 Visit:

ARE YOU IN THIS PHOTO?

Where was this 1960s shot taken?

BY JIM WOOD

LONG-HAIRED GUYS, GIRLS IN LONG DRESSES, VW VANS AND FLOWER power–themed painted trucks — they are all in this photograph taken in 1968. “When I took that shot, I was standing on top of a car somewhere in Marin,” says Zoe Brown (née Lowenthal), “but I don’t remember exactly where it was.” At the time, Brown was living in Bolinas and enrolled in an advanced photography class organized by Ansel Adams and taught by Minor White at the San Francisco Art Institute. Some maintain the above photo is the memorable Marin City Flea Market that ran from the late ’60s until the Gateway Shopping Center displaced it in the mid-1990s. Others, including Brown, say it was a Gathering of the Tribes musical event that first occurred in Golden Gate Park during 1967’s Summer of Love and was repeated the following year in Marin. Historians are stumped as to its precise location and need to hear from someone who was there. (Email editorial@marinmagazine.com if you were.) Meanwhile, similar photos taken by Pirkle Jones (Mill Valley), John Bertolino (Fairfax) and other Marin photographers are currently on display at the Murray Circle Restaurant in Sausalito’s Cavallo Point resort. The exhibit, “From The Golden Years,” includes prints titled Gate 5, Sausalito; Peter Coyote, Bolinas; and Millerton Point, Tomales Bay and will continue through the end of May.

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