Marin Magazine November 2008 by 270 Media

MARI N E X T R A O R D I N A R Y

NOVEMBER 2008

L I V I N G

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CONTENTS

Features 76 life

Virtual Magic in Motion

Mill Valley’s Patrick Connolly spreads the word on Obscura Digital. story mandy behbehani photos tim porter

84 think

The Oyster War

The battle over the future of Drakes Estero. story p. j. bremier photos tim porter

92 home

Less Is More

A restored bungalow recalls a quintessential Mill Valley style. story p. j. bremier photos john merkl

100 journey

Norway

Epic beauty and simple pleasures. story augusto andres photos john roden

Marin (USPS 024-898) is published monthly by Marin Magazine, LLC, One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sausalito, CA and at additional mailing ofﬁces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Marin, One Harbor Drive, Suite 208 Sausalito, CA 94965

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

CONTENTS

Departments 24 letters Readers respond to Marin Magazine.

28 at a glance Hot tips day by day for the Bay Area.

30 album Legendary sail. by tim porter

32 currents Bay Area news, books, openings, people and events.

38 snap Out and about, in and around Marin.

46 fashion trends When the lights go down. by somer ﬂaherty

48 life style Kentﬁeld’s Ghazaleh Khalifeh shares her thoughts on fashion. by mimi towle

51 fyi Travel: Winter beaches. by samantha bronson Community: Grace Hughes. by jim wood Home Decor: Chefs’ kitchens. by somer ﬂaherty Food: Trufﬂe gathering in Italy with Peter McNee. by mimi towle People: Hopeful news. by eve pell 10

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

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BE JEWELED NOVEMBER 1 5 – 22 CELEBRATE THE RENOWNED AND NEWLY DISCOVERED PERSONALITIES IN DESIGNER JEWELRY AND THE PRECIOUS JEWELS SALON.

CONTENTS

186

Departments 72

conversation Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey. by jim wood

108 go

Luxe accommodations in Cabo. by somer ﬂaherty

114 looking back

Bad Blood: a local murder. by jim wood

118 books

Fresh new cookbooks. by samantha berry

122 calendar

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

136 flavor

Recipes from Marin Magazine’s Organic Marin in local restaurants. Dine Out, an insider’s guide to Bay Area eateries.

158 microclimate

Peacock Gap in San Rafael. by jim wood

186

dialogue Marin chef Tyler Florence. by mimi towle

Columns The Cover Moon Over Tam by Marin photographer

view from mount tam

pov

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

Jerry Downs. To view more of his work visit jerrydownsphoto.com, or to purchase go to marinmagazine.com/coverart 12

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

The November 4 Ballot. by jim wood

michaelstars.com 100% american Corte Madera Glendale Las Vegas Los Angeles Manhattan Beach Santa Barbara Santa Monica

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Nikki Wood

ext 105 | nwood@marinmagazine.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Jim Wood

ext 106 | jwood@marinmagazine.com SENIOR EDITOR

Mimi Towle

ext 101 | mtowle@marinmagazine.com EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Tim Porter

tporter@marinmagazine.com DEPARTMENTS EDITOR

Somer Flaherty

ext 103 | sflaherty@marinmagazine.com WEB EDITOR

Daniel Jewett

ext 116 | djewett@marinmagazine.com COPY EDITOR/PROOFREADER

Cynthia Rubin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Augusto Andres, Mandy Behbehani, Samantha Berry, P. J. Bremier, Samantha Bronson, Eve Pell

ART ART DIRECTOR

Anne Walzer

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Alex French

ext 111 | production@marinmagazine.com PRODUCTION ARTIST

Stephen Spoja

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Drew Altizer, John Merkl, Sheri Montgomery, Barbara Ries, John Roden

A D M I N I S T R AT I O N CONTROLLER

Maeve Walsh

ext 104 | mwalsh@marinmagazine.com OFFICE MANAGER

Linda Reid

ext 100 | lreid@marinmagazine.com

MARIN MAGAZINE ONE HARBOR DR, STE 208, SAUSALITO, CA 94965 PH 415.332.4800 FAX 415.332.3048 MARINMAGAZINE.COM EDITORIAL@MARINMAGAZINE.COM

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

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Courtney Q. Roberts

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

ext 108 | croberts@marinmagazine.com ACCOUNT MANAGER

Michele Johnson

ext 110 | mjohnson@marinmagazine.com ACCOUNT MANAGER

Leah Bronson

ext 109 | lbronson@marinmagazine.com ACCOUNT MANAGER

Rebecca A. Novack

ext 113 | rnovack@marinmagazine.com ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR

Alex French

ext 111 | production@marinmagazine.com

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MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

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V I E W F R O M M O U N T TA M

MARIN

YOU’LL RECOGNIZE P J BREMIER’S regular byline on our

way via train, ferry and bus through the craggy beauty of

Home story, Less Is More, a look at a vintage Mill Valley bun-

Norway’s fjord country. Next, in Go, Somer Flaherty has

galow whose new owners brought its past to life with a mod-

the rough duty of sampling the new luxe hotels in Cabo,

ern renovation, but P. J. was busier than usual this month.

where the vista is as magnifico as the service. Finally, in

She changed hats (and boots, too) for a visit to Drakes Bay

FYI Travel, several Marin travel agents recommend their

Oyster Farm on the Point Reyes National Seashore and re-

go-to winter beaches, from Bora Bora to the Yucatán.

turned with an in-depth story about the ongoing battle be-

Also in this issue, FYI Community profiles Grace Hughes,

tween the National Park Service and cattle rancher Kevin

FYI Home Decor peeks inside the kitchens of local chefs,

Lunny over the fate of the West Marin landmark.

Conversation engages with Rep. Lynn Woolsey, Microclimate

Obscura Digital, which creates virtual visual worlds

meanders through Peacock Gap in San Rafael, Looking Back

for Google, General Motors and the build-it-and-they-will-

recalls one of Marin’s most gruesome crimes, and Dialogue

come country of Dubai, is about as far philosophically

questions celebrity chef Tyler Florence.

from Point Reyes as one can travel, but Mandy Behbehani

As always, our wish is for your good reading. Enjoy

made the trip in order to tell the tale of Patrick Connolly,

Marin Magazine, as we continue to celebrate this

the Mill Valley man behind the high-tech magic.

extraordinary place!

Our travels this month are all about water—some of

Lisa Shanower, Publisher

it cold, most of it quite warm. First, in Journey, writer

Nikki Wood, Editorial Director

Augusto Andres and photographer John Roden make their

Jim Wood, Executive Editor

NOVEMBER 2008

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

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L E TTE R S

TRIPADVISOR’S MOST HONORED

Thanks for the POV on 101 litter. It is disturb-

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Readers respond

ing that while we live, work and play in one of the world’s most picturesque destinations,

❯❯ Fellow li er haters

that picture increasingly includes weeds and

Bravo! Somebody else has noticed the blight.

litter. While we know where the weeds are

I drive down to Tiburon and admire the

coming from, your article leaves out a criti-

roadside flowers and plantings and wonder

cal element—how is the trash getting into the

what Mill Valley is thinking. Are we trying to

picture? I want to believe that most motorists

hide that we are a great place to live? I am

don’t knowingly litter. I do believe that prima-

a 57-year-old who hates gardening and grew

ry contributors to this problem are open-bed

up in the Midwest, so I know very little about

pickup trucks. Plastic bags, food wrappers,

what to plant—but I can sweep and bag trash.

lawn and garden clippings, all kinds of con-

I will volunteer to do something toward this

struction jetsam and flotsam carelessly left

effort. Thank you for your critical eye.

unsecured in the back of pickups easily takes

Mary Alice Kirincic, Mill Valley

flight. How do we make unknowing offending drivers more aware of their airborne lit-

Thank goodness someone else feels as

tering ways? Maybe some of your readers can

outraged as I do about the amount of garbage

suggest solutions? If the views are valued, we

on our Marin roads. It’s an embarrassment

can find a way to keep them pristine. Michael Scippa, via e-mail

to our beautiful landscape. We had relatives

beach life. urban vibe.

visiting from Atlanta not long ago and both commented on the amount of trash they

I want you to know that you are not alone,

could see lining Highway 101 and along Sir

but, more important, how do we, as con-

Francis Drake Boulevard. I see Caltrans’s

cerned citizens, fix the ongoing problem? Rachel, Tiburon

large orange bags piled along the road about every two months and can’t believe that much trash can accumulate in such a short

❯❯ Pet Grooming contact

amount of time. I believe part of the problem

Thank you very much for the recent spotlight

is debris that flies out of the open trucks in

on our new mobile pet grooming services in

our neighborhoods. How about some “NO

the Currents section of the October issue. We

LITTERING” signs? or “Keep Marin Clean

look forward to bringing our premier Aussie

and Beautiful”? What about having Caltrans

Pet Mobile dog and cat grooming services to

cut down all the dead pine trees near Cost

the homes of our clients in Marin County.

Plus Plaza and on behind Izzy’s? Unsightly!

I would like to correct the phone number

I’ve taken to carrying a plastic bag with me

listed in the article. Prospective clients can

and picking up trash whenever I see it in

reach Aussie Pet Mobile at 800.738.6624 or

Unique boutique...lifestyle amenities without the luxury price tag

parking lots and on my walks. If everyone

415.686.4306.

Best Rates at aquaresorts.com toll free 1.866.406.2782 (aqua)

better. Let’s clean up our own backyards.

did a little more to help, things would look

Thanks for printing your article. Hopefully

Letters to the editor may be edited for clarity and

your Marin readers will now be more aware

brevity. Send letters to Marin Magazine, One

of the problem.

Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965. Katie Jarman, Kentfield

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

Dave Ely, via e-mail

Or e-mail jwood@marinmagazine.com.

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

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POV

The November 4 Ballot It will deﬁne America . . . and Marin County

BY JIM WOOD

to be made abundantly clear. Never have the

SMART, the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit,

differences been so pronounced, nor the par-

will be built. SMART is a 70-mile mass tran-

ticipation so great. On Tuesday, November 4,

sit system, including a hiking and biking trail,

the real America will step forward.

connecting Larkspur, in southern Marin, with

Likewise, two items on the local ballot

Cloverdale, in northern Sonoma County. In our

will help define Marin. The first is the Marin

interview, Woolsey states, “It’s critical we get

Healthcare District board, which has two seats

as many cars off the road as possible.” Woolsey

up. If Marin General Hospital is to have a hope

also points out that Highway 101, Marin’s only

of surviving, incumbent Sharon Jackson and

north-south route, “has reached its capacity.”

San Rafael ob-gyn Dr. Harris “Hank” Simmonds

Making SMART additionally attractive is

must be elected. Both are committed to getting

that it already owns the 70 miles of railroad

the Healthcare District out of the business of

right-of-way. Measure Q requires a two-thirds

managing Marin General, thereby ending 25

voter approval and will add a quarter cent to

years of political acrimony.

Marin’s sales tax for the next 20 years. “This

“In today’s competitive health care environ-

will generate an estimated $890 million,” says

ment, a hospital can’t succeed when it’s con-

Charles McGlashan, president of the Board

trolled by whomever can mount a winning

of Supervisors and the chairman of SMART.

lot of voters make quick decisions

campaign based on unsubstantiated accusations

“About $540 million of this would construct

based on personalities and sound

and innuendos,” says Jackson, who’s served for

the system, the balance going for operational

bites,” Marin Congresswoman Lynn

the past four years. “A hospital is best governed

and maintenance costs.”

Woolsey says in Conversation (page 72).

by an appointed board of people knowledgeable

“I don’t care if everyone thinks exactly as I, or

in health care, management and finance.”

“A

the residents of my district, do—I just want them to think, to analyze, to question.”

Along with Woolsey and McGlashan, others endorsing Measure Q are Marin Assemblyman

If Marin voters choose candidates other than

Jared Huffman, assumed state Senator-elect

Jackson and Dr. Simmonds, then they apparent-

Mark Leno, the Marin County Bicycle Coalition

This November, whether voters nationwide

ly want more of the negativity that has brought

and several environmental groups. Opposition

analyze and question (which I think most will)

Marin General to its present perilous position.

comes from anti-taxation groups and the

or make snap decisions based on a person-

Considerable detail could bolster this stance,

Marin Audubon Society who is concerned that

ality (you know who I’m talking about), the

but space does not allow it. Suffice to say that

SMART will disrupt wetlands of the light-foot-

presidential election will tell us what kind of

by early October, nearly 700 Marin residents,

ed clapper rail and initiate too much growth.

a country we really are. One ideology endur-

including more than 300 doctors and 62 former

In 2006, SMART was approved by 65.3

ing three election defeats in a row—no matter

and current local mayors, council members and

percent of the voters, most of the positive re-

how questionably decided or closely contest-

supervisors, all reached by the Alliance to Save

sponse coming from Sonoma County. This time

ed—will tell us who we Americans truly are.

Our Hospital, had endorsed Jackson and Dr.

it is Marin County’s turn to show we truly care

Are we motivated by fear? Or hope? Must we

Simmonds. On November 4, voters will weigh in.

about alleviating Highway 101 traffic and re-

remain in Iraq awaiting an ill-defined “victo-

After decades of inconclusive elections, the elec-

ducing our carbon footprint. And if you want

ry” or face reality and spend the $10 billion a

torate will tell us what kind of a county we are:

to save Marin General Hospital, vote for Jackson

month the war costs on rebuilding America?

progressive and positive—or adversarial and

and Dr. Simmonds.

How this nation feels about education, health

accusatory.

care and the environment—as well as gun con-

The other issue that will identify Marin

trol, abortion and the death penalty—is about

County is Measure Q—which will determine if

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

That’s my point of view. Be sure to express yours on November 4. E-mail jwood@marinmagazine.com

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

My family has been in the investment business for the better part of the last century. My grandfather, Henri de la Chapelle, was an early partner at Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis. My grandfather, Rudolph Eichler, founded Bateman Eichler & Co. in 1929. My father, Peter Eichler Sr., became chief executive of Bateman Eichler in the 1970s. I worked on the floor of the NYSE, developed investment products for E.F. Hutton and launched a money management division for Bear Stearns. To say that I have worked in this business my entire life is not an overstatement. My forbears taught me that to be a successful investor one must be an independent thinker. At Aletheia, we have always done our own research. Another important family trait I have incorporated is common sense in terms of valuation, risk and return expectations. I also believe common sense guides the amount of effort needed to achieve superior results. It takes an incredible amount of time and effort to add value in today’s challenging financial markets. At Aletheia we have combined a rich heritage, creative thinking and a tireless work ethic. We look forward to hearing from you. Peter J. Eichler, Jr. Founder, Chairman, CEO

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AT A G LANC E

THRU 16 Intersections 4 An exhibit and sale of 90 juried works from more than 40 artists in the Bay Area and beyond. Herbst International Exhibition Hall (SF). 415.419.5316, fiberdimensions.com

THRU JANUARY 25 Contemporary Jewish Museum Warhol’s Jews: Ten Portraits Reconsidered features a complete series of Andy Warhol paintings, CJM (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org

THRU JANUARY 25 Asian Art Museum Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, see treasures that were thought to have been stolen or destroyed. Asian Art Museum (SF). 415.581.3500, asianart.org

NOVEMBER 2–4 Marin Symphony

NOVEMBER 4 Election Day

NOVEMBER 11 Veterans’ Day

Pianist Orion Weiss returns to Marin to perform pieces from Beethoven, Mozart and Mendelssohn. Marin Center (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

Let your voice be heard and take part in this historic moment in history. The United States presidential election takes place today. Cast your vote!

Honor the men and women who have served our country, with a day of music, military exercises and a brief address. Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

NOVEMBER 11–14 White Truffle Season

NOVEMBER 13 Nicole Grey & Co.

It’s white truffle season at Sausalito’s Poggio Trattoria. To learn more go to page 64. To make a reservation call 415.332.7771, poggiotrattoria.com

Help celebrate the ﬁrst anniversary of this ﬁne luxury goods and gifts purveyor and win a gift from Juliska. Nicole Grey & Co. (Mill Valley). 415.383.4500, nicolegreyandco.com

NOVEMBER 20 Quit Smoking

NOVEMBER 27 Be Thankful

The American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout encourages smokers to quit for a day in the hope they may quit for good.

Whether you choose a Tofurky or opt for the traditional turkey, grab family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving.

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO C REDIT: M ARIN SYM PHONY/L ES LIE VA N STE LTEN; ANDY WARH OL/ANDY WAR H O L F O U N DAT I O N F O R T H E V I S UA L A RT S ; A S I A N A RT/ T H I E R RY O L L IV I E R , MU SÉ E G U I ME T

EVE NT S I N MAR IN & B EYO ND

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M A R I N ALBUM

Legendary Sail ”I couldn’t be fonder of you if you were my own son. But, well, if you lose a son, it’s possible to get another. There’s only one Maltese Falcon.” — SIDN E Y GR EE NST R EET, SPE A KING

BY TIM PORTER

THE FIRST MALTESE FALCON, of course, was the celebrated—and elusive—black bird that

Joel Cairo offered to buy off Sam Spade for $5,000. The second is what a newspaper writer called “one of the world’s greatest examples of conspicuous consumption”—the 289-foot Maltese Falcon yacht, less cinematically enduring than the original no doubt, but certainly more expensive: in the $150 million to $300 million neighborhood. The man who paid the bill is legendary venture capitalist Tom Perkins, ex-husband of mega-novelist Danielle Steel and part-time Belvedere resident. Immodestly trumpeted as “the world’s greatest sailing yacht,” the boat visited Marin in September for a fundraising event hosted by the San Francisco Yacht Club.

TO H U MPH R E Y BOGA RT, I N

As one might expect of a vessel conceived by one of Silicon Valley’s premier en-

THE M A LTESE FA LCON

trepreneurs, the Maltese Falcon is exceedingly high-tech—15 sails that emerge from can be sailed by a single person. It’s also over-the-top lush—room for 12 guests (plus crew of 20), several gyms and a three-story atrium. And it could be yours if you have $169 million lying around. That’s what Perkins was asking for it earlier this year. Too steep? Then rent. The Maltese Falcon can be leased for $550,000 a week.

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO: RON HELOW

three rotating carbon-ﬁber masts and so computer controlled its football-ﬁeld length

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C U R R E NT S

Wear your support for either candidate with Hidalgo’s limited-edition rings and don’t forget to vote. Find your local polling place at marinvotes.org and get your rings at hidalgojewelry.com

TOYS TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT an ethically produced line of toys and

Art for Homeward Bound

accessories as well as gifts for home.

This month Homeward Bound opens the Next

Sciarillo wanted to provide an alterna-

Key Center, which will include a public art

Marin resident Hillary Sciarillo founded San Rafael–based Yellow Label Kids as

installation by Berkeley artist Mildred Howard.

tive to mass-produced products while

The artist used donated silverware, which she

beneﬁting primarily female artisans in

embedded in the kitchen’s counter. Howard’s

developing countries. Each Yellow Label

sculpture will also take the form of a series of

Kids item is made following fair trade

freestanding bronze keys in shapes progressing from bent to straight, designed to mirror

practices and is handmade by an arti-

the progress envisioned for formerly homeless

san who is paid a living wage. Products

residents in the center’s 32 studio apartments.

include knit toys, party banners, pup-

For more information, visit hbofm.org

pets, clothing and blankets. Yellow Label Kids will be at the Marin Babes and Babies event on November 9 at the

Skirting It

Mill Valley Community Center. Mention

Mill Valley resident Stacey Fleece, along

Marin Magazine to receive a 15 percent

with two former colleagues, has written

discount. Products can also be found in

Skirtworking: How to Network Using SKIRT,

Whole Foods and Pharmaca locations

based on the tools and lessons she learned

or at yellowlabelkids.com

starting an all-women’s networking group. skirtworking.com

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

C U R R E NT S

MOTHER’S DAY SURPRISE FOR SALE San Rafael resident Lucille Campilongo was shocked when her daughter and son-inlaw surprised her on Mother’s Day this year with a published version of a manuscript she prepared for her daughter

Viva Volute!

back in 1980. Now everyone can read the cookbook

San Anselmo–based Volute Wine has found an answer to bans

28 years in the making—

on glass at local outdoor venues—a new shatterproof aluminum,

Lucia’s Survival Guide and

single-serving wine bottle. The eco-friendly and recyclable

Cookbook—featuring over

design is lightweight and the wine is made from Bordeaux’s

30 authentic Italian recipes.

choice grapes. Volute comes in three varieties: a white sauvi-

Find it on amazon.com

gnon, a rose cabernet and a red merlot. volutewine.com

SOLAR SYSTEM — A BRIGHT IDEA It used to be people drove their cars to the drive-in theater; now the theater is again taking cars off the road in a whole new way—180 to be exact. The emissions from that number of vehicles will be offset over the next 30 years by the installation of a new solar system at the Fairfax 5 Theatres. The historic theater, built in 1952, is the ﬁrst major multiplex in the United States to go solar. 415.453.5444, northbaymovies.com/fairfax.html

Not Your Average Soda Nutrisoda has been touring up and down the West Coast with its Good Life Tour, including a stop at the San Rafael Wine and Food Festival and the Sausalito Art Festival. The tour included an interactive virtual tree-planting booth. Each tree that

For What It’s Worth

is virtually “planted” will beneﬁt the non-

Do you feel the $140 million David Geffen paid

proﬁt organization Trees for the Future.

for a Jackson Pollock in 2006 was too much? How

Nutrisoda comes in ﬁve ﬂavors includ-

much would you pay? Well, on November 15

ing Immune (tangerine and lime), Calm (wild berry and citron), Focus (mango and

Studio 333 in Sausalito is inviting you to be an

peach), Radiant (pomegranate and black-

art appraiser and name your own price. Fifteen

berry) and Energize (mandarin and mint).

percent of all proceeds go to Hospice of Marin.

The drink is offered at a special price of 98 cents during November at United

415.331.8272, studio333.info

Markets in San Rafael and San Anselmo. 34

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

FIND YOURSELF IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

If world travelers made a list of must-see destinations in the Mediterranean, it may include anything from the beaches of Monte Cruises® are now oﬀering a trip that will multiply your mustports of call, will take you to places you’ve only dreamt about. Travel the waters aboard the Ruby Princess , which feat ures ﬁne SM

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* Prices are per person based on double occupancy, are subject to availability at time of booking, and may change without notice. Single supplement may apply. Unless stated otherwise, airfare, taxes and government fees are not included. Offers valid for new bookings only. Member benefit is per person and applies to first and second traveler only. Member benefits are available only with advertised fare and are subject to change without notice. Your travel arrangements may be modified or cancelled subject to the travel providers policies. Black out dates and other restrictions may apply. Fares may not reflect additional fuel supplement and vary by provider. We make every effort for accuracy at time of printing, but reserve the right to correct errors. AAA Travel strongly recommends the purchase of trip protection insurance. Ask your AAA Vacation Specialist for details. Ship’s registry: Bermuda. CST # 1003968-80. Registration as seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. © 2008 California State Automobile Association. All rights reserved. Promo Code AAA-P105

news from the north TEA TIME

onoma can now call itself home to the largest solar-powered

tea company on earth. Last month Traditional Medicinals, along with Akeena Solar, flipped the switch on the 1,450-solar-panel system, cutting the corporate headquarters’ and tea production facilities’ electricity bill by 80 percent and generating over 430,000 kilowatt hours per year.

Not Your Typical Wine Country W I T H W I N E CO U N T RY S O C LO S E to Marin it can be easy to get stuck in the same

wine tasting rut; however, the launch of Napa Valley Adventure Tours in the area’s Oxbow Public Market aims to change that. Bringing together active and experiential travel, the company can set up hot air balloon tours or hiking, biking, climbing and kayaking tours while still incorporating all the food, wine and history that brought you to Napa in the ﬁrst place. Napa Valley Adventure Tours (Napa). 707.259.1833, napavalleyadventuretours.com

ARTFUL APPETIZERS G O O D A R T, G O O D F O O D A N D G O O D W I N E S E E M M A D E F O R E AC H OT H E R .

Ready for the Holidays

At the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, art history sem-

Santa Rosa’s award-winning Marizco

inars were once complemented by wine and cheese.

Landscape Management is now bringing green landscape design to Marin.

Over time, the accompaniments grew to even bigger

The company specializes in green prac-

appetizers and the valley’s best wines. Members of

tices including hybrid vehicles and al-

the group thought it was time to share their original

ternative powered machinery, which

recipes and art with the community — thus creating

saves clients up to 65 percent on water

the Sonoma Palette Appetizers cookbook. From crab

and maintenance costs. Owner Pierre Marizco started the company with one

mousse to bourbon chipotle wings, each recipe sug-

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

truck and one lawn mower, and now,

gests a wine pairing and is adjacent to an illustration

only a few years later, the landscaping

by a member artist. $20 at Sonoma Valley Museum of

business has more than 50 employees.

Art (Sonoma). 707.939.7862

707.546.9100, marizco.com MARINMAGAZINE.COM

Awaken to your life’s higher purpose– you know, finding stuff. Consider this a new definition of happiness: always finding exactly what you seek. In the garage, this means beautiful wood, steel and aluminum cabinetry, infinitely adjustable wall storage and striking floor finishes. We do affordable and insanely deluxe and yes, the design proposal is always complimentary. When you eliminate chaos, you quickly locate two important things in your life: your gear and your sanity.

800.755.7704

garagesolutions.com

Calm. Cool. Very Collected.

SNAP SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Thomas Keller,Oscar NorahdeStone Tamara Fritz, la Renta, Barbara Brown

SYMPHONIX

de Lone Terri Tiffany, Rachel LevinCaroline Madeline McCarthy, Marielena Lotz, Lauren Barulich

Marinites Mingle

CHOPARD

Saks Fifth Avenue sponsored the Oscar de la Renta fashion show to beneﬁt the League to Save Lake Tahoe at the Fritz family home in Lake Tahoe. Oscar were in attendance along with Saks Fifth Avenue vice president Cheryl Fordham and a few Marinites. Members of the Symphonix League mingled and sipped VeeV cocktails with over 150 other guests at Servino’s in Tiburon to celebrate new members. In Oakville,

Jose Nazar, Maria Manetti Farrow

Maria Manetti Farrow held a celebration in honor of Chopard co-president and artistic director Caroline GruosiGeorge Choe, Carissa Coaklin, Krista Anderson

Scheufele. The event continued with a lunch at Auberge du Soleil.

Jocelyn Adasek, Emily Uridel, Courtney Wilson

MARIN NOVEMBER 2008

Michelle Curtis, Nicole Ancelovici-Lenihan, Doreen Connell

Bill Fisher, Wes Carrol

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO CREDIT: SAKS FIFTH AVENUE/DREW ALTIZER; SYMPHONIX/HEATHER WILEY FOR DREW ALTIZER; CHOPARD/DREW ALTIZER

de la Renta and his CEO Alex Bolen Angelo Servino, Jen Turner, Natale Servino

“The Fine Art of Fine Property” Tracy McLaughlin Named Marin’s top producing agent for 2007 with 100 million sold. Specializing in Marin County Properties since 1997.

Tracy McLaughlin 415/464-8686 www.marinfinehomes.com tracy@marinfinehomes.com

SNAP BOUTIQUE BLISS

Lawrie Webb, Nancy Riess

Shelly Mosby, Cassia Oblack

Kathy Kamei, Marti Murphy

Melissa Stengle

Boutique Bliss Marin Magazine teamed up with the Marin Abused Women’s Services for an evening of shopping, fundraising and socializing at the ﬁrst annual Boutique Bliss in Sausalito. Hundreds of attendees perused summer and fall collections from over 20 local boutiques at the two-day event. Maureen Vogel

Gail Ann, Jennifer Grunebach

Julia Sanchez

Kenlynn Wilson

Ele Mamayek, Sabina Ferrand

Isabella Picasso

MARIN NOVEMBER 2008

Diane Barrett, Cori Van Allen, Suzanne McCormac

Hannah Walsh

Elisa Reitch, Susan Hohmann, Katie Fredricksen

Missy Zech

Kim Forcina, Shawna Perloff

Kimberly and Judy Wesch

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO CREDIT: BOUTIQUE BLISS/SHERI MONTGOMERY

Darla Fisher, Paula Figone

paciﬁcfertilitycenter.com

SNAP MUSIC CHEST

Alma Tomlinson, Hugo Rinaldi, Faith France

PAINTERS PLACE

Mariko Wyrick

Camilla Romo Wolfe, John Rando, Helen Blakeslee

Crowd Pleasing

FINE ART

The Marin Music Chest, which has been awarding music scholarships to students of classical music since 1933, celebrated its 75th anniversary with a gala at the Marin Art & Garden Center in Ross, hosted by president John Rando. The afternoon event included performances by 2008 Marin Music Chest scholarship Laura Sharp, Carol Painter, Kelly Painter

winners Mayumi Wyrick, Mariko Wyrick, Rieko Tuschida

Mari Marks, Robert Allen

and Toki Migimatsu and past winners Steve Bergman, Mark Jordan and Claudia Colburne Cummings. Also in Marin, neighbors came out for the Corinthian Island block party. Attendees included Sharon Barr, a future Corinthian Yacht Club commodore; Bob and Lani Valentine, who provided their own 2005 vintage cabernet for the party; and even the neighborhood’s mailman, who has been delivering in the area for 25 years. exhibit by Christin Coy at their Painters Place gallery. At Robert Allen Fine Art in Sausalito, owner Robert Matt Painter, Krystal Allen, Christin Coy

Allen held a reception for the new Mari Marks exhibit. Oonagh Kavanagh

CORINTHIAN BLOCK PARTY

Bob and Lani Valentine, Michael Jackson

MARIN NOVEMBER 2008

Barbara and George Gnoss

Jerry Kuderna

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO CREDIT: MARIN MUSIC CHEST/ELLIOT KARLAN; CORINTHIAN/JOAN LINN BEKINS

In Larkspur, Matt and Carol Painter celebrated a new

SNAP MARIN DENTAL WELLNESS

MARIN COUNTRY CLUB

Jacqueline Chan, Charlotte Massey, Brian Smith, Mark Cunningham

Gayle Peterson, Marty Rubino, Steven Hodgdon and Stacy Lynch

Mark and Lorraine Ross

Hit Parties Marin Dental Wellness opened its doors to patients, colleagues, friends and family for a grand opening party. The evening was a great success, introducing the company’s unique holistic approach to dentistry. Over 250 people attended Marin Country Club’s 50-year-anniversary black tie gala. Lisa Smith, Caroline Boucier

Stacy King, Cory Reddish

President of the Board Alan Gregson introduced and welcomed Gordon Walker and Marianne Walker, who were instrumental in building the golf

PEDRAS LAUNCH

course and the ﬁrst clubhouse. A 50-year timeline was on display showing the early days of the club and surrounding areas. In Napa, guests joined Cecilia and Wil Harris in celebration of the premiere release from Pedras Wine Company, crafted by winemaker Jamey Whetstone. Only 500 cases of the 2005 Pedras Cabernet Sauvignon were produced. Also in wine country, more than 400 art enthusiasts ﬁlled the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art for a night of music, cocktails and interactive art. Roshambo Winery provided all the wine, and signature mixed drinks were courtesy of Sake2me,

Kate Harbin, Allison Speer, Penelope Murray

Bluecoat gin, and Lotus vodka. Michelle Bordin of Droga chocolates provided delectable treats and the party continued into the early morning at Maya Restaurant in downtown Sonoma. And in San Francisco, Ashley Berman, whose jewelry line Ashley Morgan can be found at Blanc in Sam Anselmo, held a trunk show for her fall collection.

SONOMA VALLEY MUSEUM

ASHLEY MORGAN

Cecilia and Wil Harris

MARIN NOVEMBER 2008

Jessica Rege, Lia Transue

Stephanie Motl, Ashley and Noa Berman

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO CREDIT: PEDRAS LAUNCH/DREW ALTIZER

Shannon Bavaro, Consuelo Lataliste, Erin Lowenberg

0QXUST` UZ `TQ 0MffXQ [R

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It’s our most celebrated collection of holiday gift wraps, ribbons, totes, bows and more. Choose from hundreds of styles to suit every taste. You’ll also ﬁnd simply spectacular stocking stuffers for everyone on your list and holiday storage ideas that make wrapping up the holidays organized and stress-free.

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Corte Madera Corte Madera Town Center (Hwy. 101 at Tamalpais Dr.) (415) 945-9755 45 locations nationwide. For store hours and other store locations, visit containerstore.com or call 1.800.733.3532 Don’t miss our fabulous in-store Gift Wrap and Bow Demonstrations every Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm and 3 pm, beginning November 8th through December 21st. ©2008 The Container Store® Inc. All rights reserved. Product availability subject to change. 08-268 9/08

FA S H I O N TRENDS

2 3

when the lights go down 4

November ushers in holiday festivities, charity galas and dinner parties with friends. The jovial atmosphere makes evening dress de rigueur. If your event doesn’t call for sequins and ruffles try a patent tote to add shine to a simple look, or if your style is already over-the-top, opt for a subtle navy blue clutch to keep all eyes on you. Take a peek at these top choices from designer’s fall and winter collections and be inspired. — somer flaherty 1. Clutch by Kim White Handbags, $220 at Arboretum (Healdsburg). 707.433.7033, arboretumapparel.com 2. Tate Wrinkled Patent by Kale, $611 at Kismet (San Anselmo). 415.454.2629, shopkismet.com 3. Victoria Clutch by Christine B. Handbags, $435 at Christine B. Handbags. 650.278.3258, christinebhandbags.com 4. The Matelasse Slip with Horsehair Hem by Chado. Price upon request at select Neiman Marcus stores. 415.362.3900, neimanmarcus.com 5. Taupe Silk Chiffon Ruffle Sleeveless Dress by Moschino. $3,735 at Saks Fifth Avenue (SF). 415.986.4300, saksfifthavenue.com

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

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FA S H I O N

lifestyle Name: Ghazaleh Khalifeh Home: Kentfield Occupation: Fashion design student, Academy of Art University Describe your personal style. My personal style I would say is an eclectic cross-cultural This Thanksgiving,

mélange of both past and present.

Marin native Ghazaleh Khalifeh

What are you wearing? A dress by

will be away from

Manoush over a black unitard, high-heeled

home for the first

black oxfords and old jewelry, including an

time. As recipient

antique bracelet.

of her school’s French exchange

Who are your fashion influences? French

scholarship, she’ll

couturiers, Björk, Erte, geishas, Rei

be spending the

Kawakubo, mimes, my mother and more.

school year studying her craft at Ecole

Where do you love to shop in Marin? The

de la Chambre

Dance Shop in San Rafael. It is an incred-

Syndicale de la

ibly small store and yet packed with won-

Couture Parisienne,

derful things such as black jersey leotards,

one of the top

opaque tights, black patent tap shoes, ball-

fashion schools in

room dancing T-strap pumps, knitted pants

Paris. Last June she

and nude-colored bodysuits.

was also named grand prize winner

What is always in your bag/pockets?

of the $25,000

Telephone, wallet, camera, journal, ballet

Geoffrey Beene

slippers, letters to be mailed, an antique

Design Scholarship

hand mirror, a box of bobby pins and

by the Council of

Smith’s Rosebud Salve. (Sometimes my toy

Fashion Designers

poodle likes to sit in my purse too with her

of America in New

head out and go on adventures with me.)

shared the stage

What is your best cheapo secret? Finding

with Carolina

very affordable and very beautiful robes,

Herrera, Diane von

shirts, embroidered slippers and more at

Furstenberg and

hidden stores in Chinatown.

former Marinite Peter Som.

What’s your fashion pet peeve? Individuals who lack personal style. What is your view of Marin style? Well,

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

P H OTO: BARBA RA RIES

York, where she

speaking of the individuals here whose style I admire, the word I must use to describe it is intelligent. There are a lot of people who have moved to Marin from around the world, and a lot of native Marin residents who have traveled all around the world. I

OLD GOLD

think open-minded appreciation for other

w w w.oldgoldjewelr y.co m

cultures brings a lot of substance and depth to their style. Where do you love to eat in Marin?

One of the many places is the Left Bank restaurant in Larkspur. I love everything

1 8 K y e l l o w g o l d L i o n B ro o c h

about it, from the ambience to the food. I

and matching earrings

order my favorites, “les profiteroles” and

exclusively at Old Gold

the champagne-and-cognac blend “April in Paris.” It is a wonderful and lively place! How do you spend your weekends? I love to spend my time going to places like the farmers’ market and the antiques stores of San Anselmo; seeing foreign films in Mill Valley; going for walks through Chinatown; walking the streets and stairwells of Sausalito; driving to the beaches; making art; spending time with people I love; spending time alone. Where do you go to pamper yourself? Aside from getting an occasional facial at Evo Spa or an occasional massage at the Bay Club Sanctuary Spa, I most like to pamper myself in the comfort of my own home. Equipped with a view of Mount Tam and the sound of birds chirping outside, my house is my own sanctuary of sorts. What was the last book you read and why? Madeline and the Gypsies, by the inspiring Ludwig Bemelmans, who always writes and illustrates such lighthearted, colorful and lively tales! How would your friends describe you? Passionate, dramatic, imaginative and in

Mendocino

the exact words of my good friend Felix,

707 937-5005

Tiburon 415 789-9583

“crazy, inspired, the very definition of unique…regular comparisons don’t fully describe the strangeness of her mind.” MARINMAGAZINE.COM

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

FYI

FOR YOUR INFORMATION TRAVEL

Warm Winter Beaches PH OTO: TI M PORTER

Travel agents reveal their top picks BY SAMANTHA BRONSON LOOKING FOR A NEW STRETCH OF SAND BY THE SEA? Three Marin-based travel agents tap their exper-

tise to suggest the perfect antidote to winter. Whether your focus is romance, peaceful solitude or family fun, there’s a special place for you in the sun. Happy beaching.

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

ABOVE : de Lone

playing for fans last summer at the Porretta Soul Festival in Italy. RIGHT : Elvis Costello with Richard, 2004. FAR RIGHT : de Lone family Christmas 2007.

CLOCKWISE : Three gen-

PHOTO: D E LONE PERFO RM ING/ADVERSI IVANO; FA M ILY PH OTO/ BARBARA BUROS

erations enjoy a sunset stroll at the Club Med Punta Cana in the Domincan Republic; aerial view of Bora Bora; bedroom at Fiji’s Vatulele Island Resort; gentle tropical breezes ease a windsurfer along the protected bay at Punta Cana.

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

Kathy Kerns REDWOOD SKYTOURS A leisure travel specialist since 1984, Kathy Kerns is known as the “beach go-to” agent at San Rafael’s Redwood Skytours, Marin’s oldest travel agency.

Romantic getaway “Fiji’s Vatulele Island Resort is the perfect spot for honeymooners and others looking for a romantic beach vacation,” says Kerns. Set in a lush jungle, the bures (thatched roof bungalows) are separated from each other by more than 20 meters, with easy access to the water. Best of all, “it’s not hard to find a private beach for an entire day to yourselves.”

All in the family Castaway Island, another Fiji locale, tops Kerns’s list for getaways with kids. There, “spacious bures can easily accommodate parents and children, and the island’s beaches are wellsuited for playing and swimming. It’s just the best place for families,” she adds. “Any time I have sent families there, they say they never want to go home. Fiji just has the nicest, kindest, most genuine, family-loving people.”

Get away from it all To truly disconnect, Kerns recommends the atoll of Tikehau, part of the Tuamoto collection of islands in French Polynesia. You’ll find long stretches of secluded white- and pink-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters where the fish are said to outnumber humans by a billion to one.“The only place to stay,” Kerns adds, “is the small Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort.” Island activities revolve around the spectacular setting: reading, sunning, snorkeling. Last year a client who’d just passed his medical exams asked Kerns to find “remote”; she sent him here with his wife; and “when he came home,” Kerns recounts, “he told me,

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

‘You sent me to Gilligan’s island. There was absolutely nothing there. It was perfect.’”

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Romantic getaway “The Yucatan Peninsula’s Maroma Beach often finds its way onto top 10 lists for romantic beaches—and with good reason,” says agent Carol Farnworth. “The sand is like white sugar and the water is crystal clear. The beach itself is quite secluded, about 30 minutes south of the Cancun airport, and you have to ride over a very bumpy dirt road to get to it, so that helps keep it from being overcrowded.” Nearby Maroma Resort and Spa is a romantic lodging option, with a spa and a beachfront Jacuzzi.

All in the family “Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic tops the list for traveling with children of all ages,” says agent Winnie Coleman. “A seven-mile-long private beach bordered by palm trees is the perfect setting for a range of activities, including snorkeling, sailing and sipping cocktails.” Specialized children’s programs are available for ages four months and up. Factor in amenities like freshly puréed baby food and a dizzying array of activities for older children and adults, and “it is beyond belief for a family,” Coleman attests.

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Get away from it all “It’s not far from Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island, but Green Sand beach is a world apart,” says Saint James. The beach isn’t easy to get

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small amounts of these olivine- or peridot-

2 ½-mile hike—but the reward is a stunning swath of olive green sand, rocky yet private in-

grained sands can be found around the islands,

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

here the entire beach is covered in it; hence its name. Isolated at the southernmost tip of the island (and of the United States), this destination requires some planning and caution: wear good walking shoes, and don’t leave valuables in the car. But once you get there, Saint James says, “look across the horizon, and you can’t help but

seasonal !

sense that you’re somewhere significant.”

Bill Wiess EYES OF THE WORLD TRAVEL Wiess, who has 16 years of experience in the travel business, owns Mill Valley–based Eyes of the World.

Romantic getaway Any of the five-star resorts on Bora Bora is perfect for a romantic beach vacation, Wiess says. White-sand beaches laden with palm trees lead to the emerald waters of the surrounding

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“Barbados’s west coast has numerous beauti-

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those on the east coast and offer excellent

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people are warm, friendly and eager to share their love of the island with vacationers.”

Get away from it all With its 3.5-mile coast, Whitehaven Beach is Wiess’s pick for a remote getaway. Located on Whitsunday Island off the coast of Australia,

Wishing you and your loved ones the very best of the holiday season! -With love and appreciation, Darla, Jolie, Paula & Mery

crystal clear, warm and ideal for snorkeling;

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however, the main draw here is the superfine

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white sand.”

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MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

F Y I COMMUNIT Y

Amazing Grace

“GRACE HUGHES IS A GREAT MARIN CITIZEN,” says

Bob Derzon, a longtime Marin resident and former director of UCSF Hospitals and Clinics.

get treatment thanks to

“First she spearheaded raising $9.5 million and now that the Marin Community Clinics in San Rafael is open, she’s working overtime to

Marin Community Clinics’

launch their new facility in Novato.”

Grace Hughes BY JIM WOOD

tured above with clinic visitor Tina Alvarez)

Some would say Grace Hughes (pic-

never quits. The recently retired CEO of Marin Airporter (the Larkspur-based provid-

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

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P H OTO: TIM P ORTER

Medically “underserved”

D I S C O V E R M A R I N ’S M O S T E XTRAORDINARY MARKET!

er of transit to and from SFO) now chairs Marin Community Clinics’ Capital Campaign

full service catering

Cabinet. At press time that committee had upped the ante from $9.5 million to $10.8 million in order to complete a new Novato

local floral delivery

health care clinic by December 31.. Why the rush? Because the federal government considers Novato (thriving local economy notwithstanding) a “medically underserved” community. And finishing by year’s end qualifies the facility for an annual $600,000 in federal operating funds, starting in 2009. “It will happen,” the ever-optimistic Hughes declares. “We’re going to make it happen.” Though clinics for the underserved have existed in Marin in various guises since the early 1970s, only in the ’90s did they become a businesslike operation, with trailers that opened near Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae;

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these became the original Marin Community

Open Monday—Saturday • 8am–8pm • Espresso & Pastries at 7am

Clinics location. “By 1995 we were accommo-

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NOVEMBER 2008

Clinic services are available to Marin’s estimated 42,000 low-income people who are “uninsured, uninsurable or, at best, underinsured,” also sometimes referred to as “Marin’s hardworking poor.” According to recent surveys, 85 percent of the clinic’s

Building for

the Future

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patients hold jobs, but cannot afford health insurance. dating 31,000 patient visits a year,” Hughes recalls. “And the name Marin Community Clinics was adopted in 2001 to reflect our three sites— Greenbrae, San Rafael and Novato.” “I want to make this clear,” she adds. “Marin Community Clinics are not free clinics. Our patients pay either through Medicare or Medical, their insurance provider, or on a sliding-scale cash basis.” Clinic services are available to Marin’s estimated 42,000 low-income people who are “uninsured, uninsurable or, at best, underinsured,” also sometimes referred to as “Marin’s hardworking poor.” According to recent surveys, 85 percent of the clinic’s patients hold jobs, but cannot afford health insurance. (Other stats: A third of patients are children; $15,430 is the average annual family income; 60 percent are Latino and 20 percent Caucasian.) Such patients pay a minimum of $30 per visit for treat-

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ment that costs approximately $150 to deliver. But no one is denied care for lack of funds, stresses Hughes. The recently opened 11,000-square-foot

S A N

F R AN C I S C O

N O R T H

B A Y

S AC R AM EN TO

SI LI C O N

VALLEY

San Rafael facility at 3110 Kerner Boulevard near the Canal area has 18 exam rooms and a

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NOVEMBER 2008

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

state-of-the-art dental clinic—all done in subtle hues with tasteful signage that seems to inspire respect and appreciation on the part of all who enter. “We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out,” Hughes says with a bright smile on her face. Staff includes 20 primary care physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners, administrative staff and numerous specialists who volunteer their time. Formerly an office building for George Lucas’s Industrial Light and Magic, the space cost $5.6 million to reconfigure, a project funded by a cross section of Marin donors including Sutter Health, Kaiser Permanente, the Marin Community Foundation and numerous family foundations and individuals such as the Cahill Family Foundation, Dr. Melvin Grais, and Louis Greissberger, DDS. “The generosity of so many Marin residents fills my heart with gratitude—it really does,” Hughes says. The forthcoming Novato facility, at 6100 Redwood Boulevard near Rowland Boulevard, will have 14 examining rooms, four counseling rooms, a laboratory and a dental clinic. “At 9,500 square feet, it’s over twice as big as the (San Rafael) facility—and will be more accessible to our patients,” Hughes says. “But we still need over a million dollars to open the doors to this very worthwhile project.” The Novato location is expected to see 15,000 patients a year. In all, including the original Greenbrae clinic (which will become a facility for specialized treatments), Marin Community Clinics will serve an estimated 30,000-plus patients making over 100,000 visits to the three locations by 2010. In the year she’s been chair of the Capital Campaign, $10 million in contributions have come in from every level and corner of the community. “For the past 25 years, the Marin community has supported my business,” notes Hughes. “Now, working like this in support of the Marin Community Clinics is my way of, well, balancing the books.”

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MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

F Y I HOME DECOR

How Local Chefs

Entertain

3 1

THE REMODEL With the help of Marin architect Michael Pettit, Fairfax resident and Kuleto’s executive chef Robert Helstrom recently remodeled his kitchen into a gourmand’s dream. Helstrom, who has also written a contemporary Italian cookbook, included extra counter space, a large granite island and double of most appliances to make his space an entertainer’s fantasy. —S.F.

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NOVEMBER 2008

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hen designing your kitchen did you take any ideas from the commercial kitchen you

use at work? Yes, I separated the dish area from the cooking area and included a spray hose faucet in between the dishwashers. I also integrated deep stainless steel sinks, a stainless steel exhaust hood with a lot of power, a walk-in pantry with metro shelving and a rolling sheet pan rack. If a kitchen is going to be used mostly for entertaining, what type of features should people keep in mind? Lots of counter space for people to belly up to. We entertain quite a bit and everyone loves to congregate in the kitchen. With a peninsula counter and an island guests can feel like they are a part of what’s going on without being in the way. Lighting is also critical. You need good lighting so that you can see what you’re doing without it being so bright that there is a harsh glare. Adjustable under-cabinet task lighting and over-cabinet lighting works well. Music is also a key element of a good party; multiple speakers with zone control give you the ability to hear the music evenly through the rooms. Are there any features in your kitchen that you added specifically to help you to entertain for large parties? I added multiple sinks, dishwashers and fridges plus a separate beverage cooler for beer and wine in the home’s bar area. Now that your kitchen is complete, would you have added anything or changed anything? We changed the lighting several times and might change it a little bit still, but other than that we are very happy with the design. In designing a kitchen on a budget what’s the most important thing to add? I’m a pretty big fan of cooking with gas. You need to pay attention to the sink, stove and fridge triangle. If money is no object, what luxe feature should be added in a kitchen? Gas rotisserie and a wood-burning or gas pizza oven.

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MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

F Y I HOME DECOR

MAXIMIZE SPACE Mill Valley’s Pizza Antica executive chef and partner Gordon Drysdale has nearly everything on his menu handmade—including the mozzarella cheese that tops the restaurant’s signature pizzas. In his own home in Mill Valley, Drysdale doesn’t have the luxury of a huge commercial kitchen, but he still has been known to barbecue for up to 100 people. Read on for his tips on maximizing your kitchen space—no matter what the size.

4 1. Microplane Salt Grater, $28 at NapaStyle (Corte Madera). 415.945.9137, napastyle.com 2. OXO Mandoline, $70 at Sur La Table (Corte Madera). 415.945.0112, surlatable.com 3. All-Clad Gourmet Ovenware Jelly Roll Pan, $120 at Sur La Table (Corte Madera). 415.945.0112, surlatable.com 4. Pizza Stone, $40 at Williams-Sonoma (Corte Madera). 415.924.6799, williams-sonoma.com

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NOVEMBER 2008

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Furniture Made from Recycled Wood

re any items in your kitchen inspired by the commercial kitchens you use at work?

Absolutely. The must-haves of a well-stocked kitchen are as follows: All-Clad pots and pans (as many as you can afford), a variety of cast iron pans, a Cuisinart, a good simple blender, pizza stones for the oven, a Dualit toaster, a box grater, a mandoline, a microplane grater, various strainers, ladles and ramekins. How do you entertain in a smaller kitchen space? We always cook in courses and do a buffet of sorts. Our friends enjoy watching the chef cook as much as the food. So we try to include the guests in the process and it’s always a wonderful party. Any tips for optimizing space? When we entertain we always clear the decks. By that I mean take away any clutter so that we can use every inch of space. We often grill outside and have an extra table set up out there for the extra space that we need. Do you use an outdoor entertaining space? We do; we have a small quaint space, a patio, and we’ve done a sit-down dinner for 12 and a barbecue for 100. If you were designing a kitchen on a budget, what would be the most important things to add? Counter space! And a good gas stove, a nice refrigerator; it doesn’t have to be a Sub-Zero. There are some nice ones out there for a fraction of the price. If you could design your own kitchen (space and money not being an issue), what would be your dream features? An island, a wood-burning oven (for pizzas, bread, whole fish, etc.), a rotisserie attached to a large grill, and one of those cool setups to be able to slow cook/smoke whole

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pigs or lamb.

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MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

F Y I FOOD

TRUFFLE

HUNTER*

Chef Peter McNee on the white trufﬂe’s special appeal BY MIMI TOWLE

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

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P H OTOS : PETER M C NEE

(*trifulau)

ome claim California doesn’t have any seasons. Of course we do. Summer means tomatoes and strawberries; winter is kale and blood oranges; spring, asparagus and artichokes; and

fall brings treasures like butternut squash… and white truffles from Italy. The Tuber magnatum is mostly found in specific northern and central Italy locales, growing on the roots of oak, hazel and beech trees. For centuries people have used sows and dogs to find and dig up these earthy gems deemed a condiment worthy of the gods. Today the sows are out of favor (they tend to eat the booty), and people have turned to the highly developed snouts of trained canines. Once unearthed, these

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OPPOSITE : Trifulau Mario Bacino of Lazio shows his day’s bounty. ABOVE TOP : Luigi

walking throught a forest in Piemonte, BOTTOM : Mario’s dogs in Lazio. NEXT PAGE ACROSS THE TOP : McNee about to enjoy tajarin with ragu. Luigi and McNee in the ﬁeld. Chestnuts roasting on an open ﬁre.

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

Field Notes

normally golf-ball-size fungi make their way to

A TYPICAL DAY FOR AN AMERICAN TRIFULAU

high-end restaurants around the world. A quick Google search for “white truffle

BREAKFAST “I (normally) don’t really drink that much coffee, but I drink coffee the

bay area” brings up Sausalito’s Poggio res-

entire time I’m in Italy,” says McNee. “I meet up with Paolo for an espresso at Grappolo

taurant, just below gotampa.com (the “oth-

d’Oro in Monforte d’Alba. After a while, we’ll hop in his car and drive through the hills of

er” bay area). Why? Peter McNee, executive

Barolo country on our way to taste some wine and cheese and do some wine tastings (we

chef at the Bridgeway trattoria, holds a week-

buy a lot of his wines for Poggio) and then we go to the trufﬂe market.”

long truffle celebration to bring the authentic

LUNCH “This meal means a couple bottles of wine, and a couple dishes of antipasti,

taste of Italy to his customers. Prior to serving

primi, followed by a cheese cart. We usually eat too much and then we go to the grappa

them, he flies to Italy to find them. Having

distillery. At that point, I like to just smell and not taste.”

lived in Toscana, another region known for

TRUFFLE HUNT “It is because of my friendships that I have been invited to come truf-

truffles, McNee has almost earned his own

ﬂe hunting. The trifulau do not like to share their secret trufﬂe locations with anyone. Last

trifulau (truffle hunter) stripes. For the past

year we went with a trifulau named Luigi, who was Paolo’s business partner’s father-in-

few years he has been meeting with wine-

law. The trifulau (we go with) is usually related to someone we’ve met along the way. The

maker Paolo Sartirano to continue the search

hunt can take hours, and it’s basically a game of chasing the dogs. The trifulau grunts,

for the best truffles overseas.

yells and whistles as the dogs run around. When a dog ﬁnds one, the trifulau will carefully

What he doesn’t find in the field, McNee

excavate it, show it to me and put it in his pocket. Luigi was so funny with his dogs: he

shops for at the truffle market that opens every

would just yell at them, ‘cane, cane’ (dog in Italian) and slap a stick on the ground.”

year in September through November in the

“After a while, I felt pretty ridiculous chasing the dog’s every whim at top speed. I

Italian southern Piedmont town of Alba. “For a

didn’t understand any other word Luigi said since he speaks just the local dialect. But

single euro entry fee you are treated to a view

through Paolo, I asked why he had two dogs, and he said that there is always one dog

of salumi, cheeses and thousands of fresh-dug

leading and one dog training, so when the older dog passes away he has trained the

truffles…you can smell their sweet earthy aro-

younger dog. That’s so Italian.”

ma as soon as you walk into the fair,” McNee

DINNER “Here’s a typical experience: I had a meal at a friends’ house where they

says. “Once the trifulau sees that you’re seri-

had a coal-burning open ﬁreplace in the middle of the living room. We all sat around the

ous, he’ll reach down below the crate and pull

ﬁreplace and watched a soccer match on television. After we ate some pasta, someone

out a big handkerchief and show you the ones

pulled out chestnuts and roasted them on a grate over the ﬁre. Then my hosts proceeded

they just found that morning.” Despite McNee’s

to argue about the best way to cook chestnuts—adding water to steam them or cooking

fluency in Italian, Sartirano usually does the fi-

them hot and fast. We ate chestnuts with our hands, breaking them and sharing them

nal bargaining to get the best deal.

with one another. This is what I love about Italian culture—food is a way of bringing people together, not just sustenance.”

“You can’t compare it to anything else,” says McNee regarding the taste of white truf-

DOES HE GAIN WEIGHT? “Always. Every year I have high hopes that before I go, I’ll

fles. “It’s garlicky, with hints of honey and hay;

do a detox, go to the gym, not drink wine, only eat at home before the trip. And I don’t.”

even chestnuts. The aroma of truffles is said

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NOVEMBER 2008

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Fava Bean Bruschetta MarketBar, San Francisco This tapas-style appetizer is a simple and delicious start to a spring meal. MarketBar uses Marin Star Route Farm’s young, tender fava beans. Because of the simplicity of this dish, use a good-quality sea salt and extra-virgin olive oil.

1 pound fava beans, shelled

Organic Marin

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Blanch the fava beans for 5 minutes, then drain and plunge into an ice-water bath. Once the beans

Fava beans, also called broad beans, have

are cool, peel them by pinching off the skin.

been cultivated in Southwest Asia and the

Put the beans in a food processor. Add the garlic, lemon

beans are eaten fresh when picked early in

juice, and thyme and pulse for several seconds until the

the season, or as a dried bean when allowed

lemon juice 1⁄ 2 tablespoon minced fresh thyme 1⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus

2 tablespoons 1⁄ 2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more

for sprinkling 1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground

Mediterranean for thousands of years. The

beans are coarsely chopped. With the machine running,

to mature on the vine. To cook fresh favas,

add the 1⁄4 cup olive oil until well combined. Stir in the

shell the beans from the spongy pods. Bring

1⁄ 2 teaspoon salt and the pepper. Set aside.

a large pot of salted water to a boil and

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Cut the baguette into 1⁄4 -inch

beans and refresh with cold water. Peel the

diagonal slices. Using a pastry brush, coat both sides of

beans by pinching the dark green ridge on

pepper 1 sweet or sourdough baguette

recipes from land to table

blanch the favas for 3 minutes. Drain the

the bread slices with the 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place the

the round side of the bean and pulling open

bread in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast in

the skin. Slip out the bright green bean and

the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until light golden brown.

discard the skin. One pound of fava bean

Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Using

pods will yield 1 cup of shelled beans.

a butter knife, spread 1 teaspoon fava bean puree on each toast. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and serve at room temperature. Makes 30 to 35 bruschetta

Written and photographed by Tim Porter and Farina Wong Kingsley, and produced by Marin Magazine, this seasonal cookbook celebrates the organic farmers and ranchers of Marin County, and the local restaurants who have provided over 40 delicious recipes that use these organic ingredients. The book can be purchased for $29.99 at local bookstores or by going to marinmagazine.com/organicmarin

“Organic Marin gives you a taste of what has become one of America’s most vibrant local food scenes; indeed, this beautiful book is the next best thing to eating there.” —Michael Pollan, author of Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food

1 Peeling Fava Beans 3

1 clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed

“ I am a person who lives in the moment, and the moment I saw The Tamalpais, I knew it was the right place for me. The people here are truly interested in life, and in each other.” to take possession of the soul.” Regarding its rumored status as an aphrodisiac, he explains, “when you smell the truffles, the aroma gets your mind racing, then your heart. The aphrodisiac qualities have been written about since ancient times; in fact the Romans dedicated truffles to Aphrodite. Perhaps it’s when truffles are paired with food and wine (drunk in much quantity), that the rumor holds true.” The Italian view of this delicacy is that when you have a truffle with a meal, the truffle makes it perfect. However, there are certain foods that go with truffles and some that don’t. “You don’t just shave truffles on a steak,” McNee says. Resident T–Y Shen – Retired economics professor and avid hiker

Instead, “you shave truffles on eggs, on perfectly prepared risotto, ravioli or tagliolini. The im-

Total freedom to be in the moment with my future secure.

portant thing is that the flavor of the food does

Life Care at The Tamalpais gives you the freedom to live the life you deserve while enjoying a world of inspiring choices. Here, everything you need is close at hand: a wealth of activities and services tailored for your independent lifestyle, plus onsite access to expert medical care, assisted living, and skilled nursing—all available without a change in monthly fees. The Tamalpais is the only fully accredited Life Care community in Marin County. Peace of mind is closer than you think. Control future health care costs for your lifetime and make this liberating choice.

dollars a pound. The priciest specimen to date

not overwhelm the aroma of the truffle.” Reputedly one of the most expensive food items around, truffles can cost thousands of

was reported in Tuscany in 2007, when a dog named Rocco unearthed a three-and-a-halfpound specimen that sold for $330,000. Since white truffles are not easy to come by for the Marin home chef, restaurants are the easiest place to sample them. In years past Mill Valley Market and Woodlands Market have carried them, but they are just too expensive and fragile to stock, say both Mill Valley’s Dave Cannapa and Woodlands’ Jennifer DeBonis. The last year Woodlands offered them, they’d gone up to $3,000 a pound, meaning a single

white truffle would cost nearly $400. Not even Marin shoppers will pay that price. “We shave five grams per serving, which costs the customer about $35,” explains SM

True to Life.

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McNee. “We want the customer to get enough to really understand what all the excitement is about. It’s not about having truffles in every course—it’s about getting truffles where they fit best.” In other words, this is a taste to be savored; “supersize me” addicts need not apply.

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

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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.

Dining in Trufﬂe Country “During my trips to PIEMONTE, speciﬁcally Langhe, I have eaten at Da Felicin in Monforte and Da Cesare, both wonderful traditional trattoria, serving really excellent Piemontese cui-

MARI N

sine including trufﬂes when in season

E X T R A O R D I N A R Y

L I V I N G

and having sought-after wine lists.“ SOUTHERN TOSCANA “Il Falconiere (the Falconer) in Cortona is a world-renowned Relais NOVEMBER 2008

& Châteaux ‘ristorante moderno’ in Carru, (a region that) specializes in bollito misto.” “In SERRALUNGA, there is a wonderful grappa distillery named Marolo where you can see the old-style grap-

MARI N

MARI N E X T R A O R D I N A R Y

E X T R A O R D I N A R Y

L I V I N G

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L I V I N G

pa production and taste several ages. Really great.” Movimento del Turismo de Vino: JUNE 2008

JANUARY 2008

“The organization, which has been around since 1993, is truly committed

FEBRUARY 2008

DECEMBER 2007

MARI N E X T R A O R D I N A R Y

L I V I N G

MARI N E X T R A O R D I N A R Y

L I V I N G

MARI N E X T R A O R D I N A R Y

L I V I N G

JULY 2008

MARI N E X T R A O R D I N A R Y

L I V I N G

to sharing the authentic methods of Italian wine production and enjoyment of wines and food.” OCTOBER 2008

movimentoturismovino.it

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FEBRUARY 2007 MAY 2007

SEPTEMBER 2008

APRIL 2007

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

F Y I PEO P LE

Hopeful News Local retailer shares her daughter’s experience to save others BY EVE PELL

awful,” says Soraya, a former teacher in the school at Marin County Juvenile Hall. “I was throwing up almost all day long. I was way too tired to work.” Her parents accompanied her to each treatment. “We saw what most families don’t see,” Joan said. “People curled up on Barcaloungers getting sicker and sicker.” Many dialysis patients live only two to five years, though some survive for longer. Both Joan and Soraya’s father, Davood Kohanzadeh (who owned Davood’s Restaurant on Miller Avenue some years ago), offered to donate one of their kidneys to their daugh-

and you may discover a very odd display at

ter. But that wouldn’t work, her doctor said: because of all

Lando, a store where fashionable trousers and

the transfusions Soraya had received, her body had devel-

blouses share space with blown-up pages of information

oped such a high level of antibodies that it would reject a

about, of all things, kidney transplants. The owner, Joan

kidney even from her mother, the closest match. Joan felt

Lando, is a woman on a mission to save lives, and she’s us-

that her daughter was dying and she was desperate.

ing every means available.

MARIN

Then a nurse told Soraya and her mother that some

A tall, slim, intense woman with long dark hair, Joan

existing medical techniques might help. Going online,

has a 31-year-old daughter, Soraya, who was born with

they learned about a procedure developed at Cedars-Sinai

a congenital heart defect. In 2003, an operation to fix

Medical Center in Los Angeles wherein certain drugs and

Soraya’s heart went terribly wrong and she required many

immunoglobulin are employed to modify a recipient’s re-

blood transfusions. Immediately, her kidneys began to fail.

jection mechanism, making it easier for them to accept

Soon she had to rely on dialysis to stay alive. “Dialysis was

kidneys from donors. Soraya found out that Medicare

NOVEMBER 2008

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

P H OTO: TIM P ORTER

o window-shopping in downtown Mill Valley

would pay for the procedure. They called, they registered, and in two weeks, mother and daughter were undergoing testing. Joan could be a donor. The rest was easy. On May 16, 2006, a surgeon snipped a healthy kidney from Joan’s body and in five minutes another surgeon sutured it into Soraya’s. “Right away it was making urine; it was working,” Joan says. Both women are healthy and well.

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After the transplant, Soraya’s Bay Area kidney doctor insisted he had not known about the Cedars protocol, known as IVIG or intravenous immunoglobulin. The story doesn’t end there. Both Joan and Soraya want dialysis patients to know a kidney transplant might succeed even if their doctors have told them it won’t. Get in touch with

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Cedars-Sinai or Stanford, they advise, or visit their website, sevenluckystars.com Dr. Dolly Tyan, codeveloper of the IVIG protocol and now at Stanford University School of Medicine, estimates that of the 70,000 people in the United States waiting for a kidney donor, perhaps 20,000 could be eligible for a transplant. There are currently 159 dialysis patients in Marin County, according to Allison Kregness of the Western Pacific Renal Network. About 1,600 Marinites are on disability because they suffer from end-stage renal disease. Joan and Soraya have a theory as to the

“Winner’s Circle Top Bay Area Independant Wealth Advisors”

reason more patients are not told about the transplant: money. Since 1972, Congress has required Medicare to pay for dialysis for anyone in the U.S. who needs it—a per-patient expense of roughly $80,000 a year. Some kidney specialists have invested in dialysis clinics; others get

Caring for Your Wealth and Well-Being

fees for referring patients to clinics. While dialysis is necessary for some patients, transplants are usually a better option. “The great financial incentive is to discourage people from getting a transplant,” says Joan. “Doctors don’t want to talk about this conflict of interest. When they

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tell me about it, they say, ‘Don’t quote me.’” While Soraya is well, Joan’s campaign to tell the world about IVIG continues. “There is so much unnecessary suffering and death,” she says. “If a nurse had not told us, Soraya

Friedman & Associates and its employees are independent of and are not employees or agents of Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. (“Schwab”). Schwab does not prepare, verify or endorse information distributed by Friedman & Associates. The IMPACT Award is not an endorsement, testimonial endorsement, recommendation or referral to Friedman & Associates with respect to its investment advisory and other services.

would not be here.”

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MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

C O N V ERSAT ION

Lynn Woolsey Marin’s eight-term congresswoman speaks about SMART, Nancy Pelosi, Iraq and retirement BY J I M WO O D

“advanced years,” best to look closer to home. “I’m 70,” says Marin County’s eight- soon to be nine- term congressperson, Lynn Woolsey, with an engaging youthful smile. “I’ll soon be 71.” (For the record, McCain was born August 29, 1936; Woolsey on November 3, 1937.) That said, two thoughts come to mind: 1. Never underestimate Lynn Woolsey; hers is a compelling story of a mom of four, once on welfare, who 16 years ago jumped from the Petaluma City Council to the hallowed halls of the U.S. House of Representatives.

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NOVEMBER 2008

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P H OTO: TIM P ORTER

B E F O R E H A R P I N G O N R E P U B L I CA N P R E S I D E N T I A L CA N D I DAT E J O H N M C CA I N ’ S , H OW TO S AY T H I S P O L I T E LY,

Her toughest test since came in 2006 when pop-

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Petaluma street where she’s lived, when not

ular Marin Assemblyman Joe Nation challenged

(0SHA) regulations protecting workers and

in the nation’s capital, for the past 30 years.

her in the Democratic primary. “And I beat him

“fixing” the president’s No Child Left Behind

“When I was vice president of my girls’ club in

70 to 30,” she calmly states. Thought 2. Other

program. As for local projects, Congresswoman

junior high, did I think someday I’d be a politi-

than being septuagenarians, Senator John

Woolsey was instrumental in getting federal

cian? Heavens no! It’s just that when I get in-

McCain and Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey

funding for the huge wetlands project adjacent

terested in something, I tend to get involved.

have next to nothing in common.

to the North Marin community of Hamilton; se-

I’m a team player and if there’s a need for lead-

Woolsey—whose Sixth Congressional District

curing $11 million for repairs necessary to bring

ership, I usually get elected to run it.”

has 650,000 constituents living in all of Marin

Fort Baker, south of Sausalito, into the national

As for retiring after presumably being elect-

and most of Sonoma counties — is one of the

parks system; obtaining $45 million for widen-

ed this November for her ninth two-year term

most progressive, some will say liberal, mem-

ing the section of Highway 101 known as the

in Congress, Woolsey is succinct: “No,” she

bers of the U.S. Congress. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, she believes

“As for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney,

that ending the Iraq war should be just the be-

there was a feeling that it would have sucked all the oxygen out of everything else we wanted to do. I didn’t agree. Once we were in the majority, I signed on to the impeachment. But it didn’t happen.”

ginning of a thorough reevaluation of all U.S. national security policies. Of our 435 Congress members, on October 10, 2002, Woolsey was among the 133 to vote against the use of force in Iraq. Then in January

“Novato Narrows”; and playing a critical role in

answers, then adds: “My health is good and I

of 2005 she was the first member of either house

$25 million being awarded Marin County for a

have more energy than 99 percent of the peo-

to call for President Bush to withdraw all U.S.

network of hiking and biking paths.

ple living on the earth.” Next, comes insight

troops from Iraq. Since that time, she has de-

Lynn Woolsey was born in Washington State

into Lynn Woolsey’s many successes: “Let me

livered 282 speeches on the floor of the House

and moved to the Bay Area in the early 1960s

add that I have a very positive energy—I al-

demanding an immediate end to the Iraq war. “I

when her then-husband was a San Francisco

ways have and I always will.”

have pledged that I will not rest,” she declared

stockbroker and she was a stay-at-home mom.

last February, “I will not pause, I will not lower

After 10 years, her husband suffered a mental

Presently, what Marin-speciﬁc projects

my voice, until all American troops are out of

collapse and left her with three children, all un-

are you working on?

Iraq and home safely with their families.”

der five years of age. It was then that Woolsey

Each part of the Sixth District has its spe-

Along with Congresswomen Maxine Waters

moved to Novato and took a personnel job at

cific needs; an example would be the Ross

(D–L.A.) and Barbara Lee (D–Oakland),

an engineering firm but was forced into wel-

Valley, where it’s certainly important that the

Woolsey chairs the 72-member Progressive

fare in order to make ends meet.

flood control project gets finished—and in a

Congressional Caucus, the largest partisan cau-

In the 1970s, she married the single father

thoughtful way. So far, it seems like the Army

cus in Congress. A review of its principles re-

of one (the marriage dissolved amicably af-

Corps of Engineers is working well with the

flects a portion of what Woolsey consistently

ter 20 years), earned a B.A. degree from USF,

community. Then there’s a good chance that

works for: affordable quality health care; liv-

started a personnel consulting business, and,

this year we’ll get the Cordell Banks National

ing wage laws; the legalization of gay marriage;

by the early 1980s, began involving herself in

Marine Sanctuary extended from northern

campaign finance reform; increased taxes on the

local politics. In 1992, after serving eight years

Marin clear up to Mendocino County.

wealthy and tax cuts for the poor; and a pullout

on the Petaluma City Council, Woolsey defeat-

Also, in the Point Reyes National Seashore,

of all American forces from Iraq.

ed a field of 10 seasoned politicians vying for

I’ve asked that management find as humane

the congressional seat Barbara Boxer was va-

a way as possible to eliminate the nonnative

cating to make a run for the U.S. Senate.

deer. I’ve signed a letter with my Bay Area col-

In addition, Woolsey is chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor, where she advocates for special education programs and

Was a seat in Congress the realization of

leagues requesting that ways other than just

greater emphasis on vocational training. Her

Woolsey’s lifelong ambition? “Gosh no,” she an-

shooting them be found. So far, I think that’s

other involvements include the tightening of

swers in the patio of her home on a tree-lined

happening.

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

Hi. My name is Brigitte. I’m the 2nd from the left; the one having a bad hair day. I’d like to introduce you to a few of my friends. Meet Stacy Carlsen from Marin County Department of Agriculture, then there’s me, Brigitte Moran from Marin Farmers Markets, Dominic Grossi from Marin County Farm Bureau, Ellie Rilla from University of California Cooperative Extension, Helge Hellberg from Marin Organic, Nancy Scolari from Marin Resource Conservation District, Bob Berner from Marin Agricultural Land Trust, and most importantly, Daisy, who represents Marin’s 10,000 strong dairy cow population. There are thousands of farmers, ranchers, animals, and people who work on behalf of agriculture, each playing a part in bringing you your food. But the creation of a local food system depends on you, the villager. Celebrating what’s in season, eating locally grown food, and buying direct from farmers are steps we can all take. Together we can keep small family farms alive, minimize the miles our food travels, and enjoy the freshest, most ﬂavorful produce available. Join our village in a local food revolution. It’s a feel-good experience for your mind, your body, and your taste buds. Go ahead. Make Daisy proud. For more information and links to each organization’s website please visit marinfarmersmarket.org.

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

1 - 8 0 0 - 8 9 7 - FA R M

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

M A R I N FA R M E R S M A R K E T S . O R G

As a congresswoman, how do you know you’re

hand, I wouldn’t have Nancy’s job for anything.

we’ll just be going back to where we are

representing your Marin constituents?

I can’t imagine the stress and anxiety. It’s a hor-

now—self-destructing.

Lucky me, I get to vote my conscience,

rible job, yet she wears it beautifully. As for me,

which is mostly the conscience of the great

I don’t want to be compromising. I want to be

Why does our country seem to be, as you say,

majority of the people living in my dis-

bold. I wanted us out of Iraq and we should

“self-destructing”?

trict. How do I know? First of all, every two

have been. I think if we’d been leading boldly

A lot of America is not educated enough

years for the past 16 years I’ve run for re-

from the start, we would be out of there now.

to analyze and evaluate what’s good for them.

election—and won. The voters in my dis-

As for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney,

They seem to make quick decisions based on

trict realize when a leader in Congress isn’t

there was a feeling that it would have sucked all

personalities and sound bites. Now that’s not

expressing their thoughts and they let me

the oxygen out of everything else we wanted to

true for the Sixth Congressional District. We

know. I get a thousand or more communica-

do. I didn’t agree. Once we were in the major-

must realize that, with few exceptions, we’re

tions every week; sometimes it’s a thousand a

ity, I signed on to the impeachment. But it didn’t

different from the rest of the county; the excep-

day. It’s mostly e-mails now, but any call, letter, postcard or e-mail is effective in conveying

“Will Obama win? I sure hope so. Not just America,

thoughts. Most of the time, I’d say ten to one,

but the entire world depends on his winning. Otherwise, we’ll just be going back to where we are now—self-destructing.”

it’s what I would have voted anyway.

Is there another project you’d like to discuss with Marin County? I’m a strong supporter of the SMART rail initiative. I think it’s critical we get as many

happen. In hindsight, however, we didn’t accom-

tions being New York, Chicago, California and

plish that much anyway. So maybe we should

possibly Florida. We are well educated, abso-

have gone forward with the impeachment.

lutely involved, and able to analyze and question. A lot of citizens can’t, or won’t, do that.

cars off the road as quickly as possible. We have only one north-south route through this district

You supported Hillary Clinton over Barack

They can’t because we’ve dumbed down our

and — even with “Novato Narrows” expansion

Obama; now Obama is advocating oﬀshore

education. I don’t care if people don’t think ex-

and completing San Rafael’s “Gap Closure”—

drilling and sending more U.S. troops into

actly like I, or residents of the Sixth District,

it’s reached its capacity. We must take advan-

Afghanistan. Any comments?

do. I just want them to think, to analyze, and

tage of the railroad right-of-way we already

First of all, because I supported Clinton

to question. And you know if you do, you usu-

own. I think this time we will, especially with

doesn’t mean I opposed Obama. As for his re-

ally come up on the humane side of the issue.

gas approaching five dollars a gallon. But it’s

cent stances, I’m sure that if he pleased the

going to be up to Marin to make it happen — in

people in the Sixth District 100 percent of

Let’s close with any regrets you have and

2006, we lost by just a few votes.

the time, he’d never get elected. He’d be con-

your proudest accomplishment to date.

sidered way too progressive. So maybe he is

Regrets? As far as actual issues, I have no

Your colleague Speaker Nancy Pelosi is be-

taking these stances to get votes. But rest as-

regrets. Oh sure, I wish I’d been more elo-

ing challenged by your antiwar ally Cindy

sured, the Woolsey-Waters-Lee “Triad,” the

quent in my speaking; maybe less confronta-

Sheehan. Whom are you supporting? And

Congressional Progressive Caucus, will hold his

tional. But you learn as you go along. As for

how do you think Madame Speaker is doing?

feet to the fire. We’re not going to say, “Oh well,

an accomplishment, it’s being the first person

No, I won’t be supporting Cindy Sheehan in

he wants to go into Afghanistan now.” There

to ask the president—and having a vote on the

her challenge against Nancy Pelosi. And yes, I

will be some strength in bringing him back to

floor of the House—to bring U.S. troops home

wanted my House leadership to be bolder. Once

his roots, because that’s why people love him—

from Iraq. That was very unpopular in many

we were in the majority, we had to remember

because of the positive pictures he paints. We’ll

parts of the country. Then pulling together the

we got elected to get us out of Iraq. However,

help him remember that.

“out-of-Iraq” coalition and that now we have

we had to be bold from day one—and we

Now the question is, will he win? I sure

91 members of Congress who’ve signed a let-

weren’t. I’m not criticizing Speaker Pelosi; I’m

hope so. Not just for America, but the entire

ter stating no more funding for Iraq except to

criticizing all of us. I am part of it. On the other

world depends on his winning. Otherwise,

bring our troops home.

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

LI F E

VIRTUAL

MAGIC

IN MOTION 76

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NOVEMBER 2008

MILL VALLEY’S PATRICK CONNOLLY SPREADS THE WORD ON OBSCURA DIGITAL B Y M A N DY B E H B E H A N I P H OTO S TIM PO RTER

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NOVEMBER 2008

ay you’re in the market for some investment property.

ing technology that puts the w in wow. The company’s

Or you just want to buy a second home, maybe on the

proprietary software makes it possible to create hi-defini-

water in Dubai, the destination of the moment, where

tion visual events based on video mapping, motion graph-

tourism is burgeoning so fast that even Donald Trump is

ics, holograms and multitouch video walls. Instead of

getting into the act, building a Trump International Hotel

viewing products, customers experience them.

& Tower with panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf. You buy your $2,500 ticket, sit on a plane for 16 long

tion video to all surfaces a projector can reach, controls

hours with your knees at your nose and arrive at Dubai

it in real time and covers 360 degrees distortion free.

International looking like wilted arugula. You go to the

Images are combined seamlessly so they can be projected

sales office, where all they can show you is the future site

onto irregular screening surfaces. The company can create

of the development and some plans. You plunk down your

the illusion that water is running down a wall and onto

money and buy the apartment sight unseen. Right?

the floor, that grass is growing as you walk by it and that

Wrong. At least, not if Patrick Connolly has anything

to do with it.

walkie. It’s an acid trip without the acid.

The Marin-born and -raised technology entrepreneur

“What we do reflects the changing face of marketing,” says Connolly, who lives in Mill Valley and peppers his

ogy firm in San Francisco that specializes in immersive

conversation with the phrases “Isn’t that cool?” and “How

and interactive video content, displays and experiences

cool is that?” and “This is cool!” Tall and slim and poured

using sci-fi-like visuals.

into some very tight jeans, Connolly is feisty and kinetic,

Employing the latest surround video technology,

his mind and eyes always on several things at once: his

Obscura designs and builds commercial video installations

iPhone, his computer, his visitor, the 15 current projects

for a blue-chip client list that runs from Oracle and AOL to

he’s overseeing, the three current projects he’s shooting

HP, GM, Google and Dubai’s mammoth real estate developer

himself. (A sheik in Dubai lent him a helicopter so he

Nakheel. Sit down in Connolly’s 30-foot video dome (think

could gather local images and video.)

planetarium)—and with one push of a button on his iPhone

“New technology is pushing marketing to be about

he will transport you to a huge, currently nonexistent devel-

experience,” says Connolly. “Television and radio and

opment and marina planned by Nakheel on the Dubai wa-

other media currently used to get the message out are

terfront. The water seemed so real I nearly jumped in.

in dramatic decline in effectiveness. What this business

Obscura’s clients look to Connolly and his team of en-

MARIN

the virtual dog on your real-life couch needs to be taken

is CEO of Obscura Digital, a creative digital video technol-

gineers and computer artists to market their messages us-

Obscura’s core technology maps high-resolution mo-

NOVEMBER 2008

is about is the integration of the creative, technology and business worlds.”

The original creative spark came from Obscura found-

In 1998, he moved back to San Francisco and two

er and president Travis Threlkel, a former guitarist and

years later founded Obscura. “We were musicians who did

founding member of the early 1990s neo-psychedelic band

visuals to make environments, which was kind of a ’60s

Brian Jonestown Massacre. Threlkel, who at 35 looks like

thing,” he says. “But for us in the 21st century, we have

he could still land a paper route, had already been experi-

the tools to really do these things digitally, in all these

menting with projection techniques to create visuals for

brand new ways. So we’re just opening up the box of the

the band.

beginnings of what will be the future. We can’t live in a

In the mid-1990s, while living in Cincinnati, Threlkel

rectangular world. Movies, computer screens, cell phone

began scouring the area’s wealth of inexpensive flea mar-

displays, televisions are all rectangular. Maybe there’s an-

kets and thrift shops.

other shape that might be used. Call me crazy.”

“I was piling up over a hundred projectors,” he says,

Threlkel, Connolly and the Obscura crew now work out

“collecting them for $5 apiece, and I would take them

of a 30,000-square-foot warehouse that takes up a quar-

back to my warehouse and turn them all on at the same

ter of a city block. Inside are interactive, multitouch video

time and create these massive projection collages. That

walls, holograms of gremlin-like creatures and dragons, a

was all on film. Then I started to buy video projectors and

metal shop, wood shop, dark studio, and light studio.

the first thing I did was project video games. And then I started realizing there was a possibility of doing surround video. Then I started looking at doing real time rendering

L igh ting u p Th e U niver se

of an environment. And then I thought, why can’t we proj-

In the case of Nakheel, the Dubai developer wanted a raz-

ect all the angles all around you? It turned out the things I

zle-dazzle way to communicate the size and scope of The

was thinking about were new technologies.”

Universe, a multibillion-dollar residential, commercial and

MARIN

OPENING SPREAD : Obscura Digital’s Patrick Connolly demonstrates manipulating virtual images. ABOVE , OPPOSITE FROM LEFT : Interior ofﬁce space takes up 30,000 square feet; Connolly with interactive video display. ABOVE : Obscura founder and president Travis Threlkel holds the 6mm Nikon lens purchased from eBay that can capture a 220-degree ﬁeld of view.

NOVEMBER 2008

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

tourist project being built in the Arabian Gulf on an archi-

Connolly and Goodby came up with the Saturn

pelago of man-made islands shaped like the sun, the moon

SKYdome, 23 feet tall and 44 feet in diameter. The dome’s

and the planets.

ceilings became a massive screen onto which were pro-

Nakheel wanted a dramatic way to impress 500

jected images of clouds, trees, stars and birds. A powerful

VIP guests at a launch event at its sales office in Dubai.

sound system provided music and audio effects. The road-

Obscura created the world’s largest surround video dome

ster was enclosed in the dome and visitors could experi-

(90 feet wide and 19,000 square feet of video surface)

ence — while standing still — the feeling of putting the top

and projected high-resolution images onto it so buyers

down and going fast.

could experience looking at the future luxury waterfront

Saturn also wanted a way to demonstrate the car’s engineering, so Obscura used a new technology that takes

real estate. The task wasn’t easy. “We thought, ‘How can we pro-

two-dimensional CAD animations and maps them to a three-dimensional surface.

duce something with high resolu-

“THE FIRST THING PEOPLE

When that technology was

DID WAS TO WALK UP TO THE

was distorted so that the vid-

tion that these people have never seen before?’” says Connolly. The solution? “We put a state-of-the-art piece of technology that came out about a year

OPPOSITE :

Obscura projected 250,000 square feet of moving images of artwork onto the facades of buildings in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District to promote Google’s new artist themes for iGoogle.

CAR AND STARE AT IT TO SEE

ago, the Red One 4k digital cam-

IF IT WAS REALLY THERE.”

applied to the SKY, the car

eo was mapped to its every curve. The result gave the illusion that observers were seeing an X-ray of the car.

era, with a piece of technology

SKYdome debuted at

from 1973 — a lens the size of a football helmet,” says Connolly. “There are very few in the

Wired NextFest, an annual exhibition of new technologies,

world and we bought it off eBay. We outbid MIT’s Media

and was taken to three auto shows by GM. Consumer re-

Lab for it. Cool, huh?”

action was positive.

How did he know it would work? “We didn’t,” says

“The first thing people did is to walk up to the car

Connolly. “We hoped it would. It’s the only lens that can

and stare at it to see if it was really there,” says Scott

capture a 220-degree field of view. It’s made for astrono-

McLaren, a GM marketing executive. “So it was wonder-

my and is very high powered. The lens and the camera

ful. I heard as much comment about the technology as

existed but we pioneered how to build a relay system be-

I did about the vehicle, which is exactly what you want

tween them to make it work.”

in marketing, something that excites the consumer and

All the effort was worth it.

gives them an interactive experience. People would walk

“We had about 500 sheiks there,” says Connolly. “Jaws

around the car just fascinated. At the time, there were

were dropping everywhere. Oh my God! It was the re-

only four SKY Roadsters in existence. The problem we

sponse we wanted. So cool! We put these people into an

brought before Patrick was, ‘I want people to know it’s

environment that doesn’t even exist yet.”

coming but they can’t touch it or get into it so how do I tell them about the car without actually giving them the

C r e a t i n g New R e al ities Obscura’s technology has seemingly limitless applica-

opportunity to drive it?’” Following SKYdome, GM worked with Obscura on projects for its two hybrids, Aura and Vue.

tions. In 2006, to launch its then-unbuilt peppy new

“With our hybrids, we were again pre-production so

SKY roadster, General Motors–owned Saturn and its ad-

we used those projections on them but now we could also

vertising agency, Goodby, Silverstein & Partners of San

add color and actually show how the hybrid worked,” says

Francisco, wanted an environmental display that would

McLaren. “Patrick put a five-foot-tall hologram consultant

reflect the idea that driving a SKY roadster is an experi-

that was in front of the display. You could engage with

ence that engages all the senses.

him to talk to you about how the hybrid works and what it

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

does. Behind all of this was a beautiful green wall 40 feet

ings were brick, glass, steel and cobblestone. Phew! Using

long with interactive grass blades. Consumers would go

16 30,000-lumen projectors, Obscura worked around the

and type questions in and it would grow another inch. It

problems and the event stopped traffic.

was incredibly engaging.”

MARIN

“What they do is magical,” says Andy Berndt, man-

With so much competition today for the consumer dol-

aging director of Google’s Creative Lab. “It’s truly Willy

lar, this kind of marketing is the future, says McLaren. “TV

Wonka’s chocolate factory for adults. We wanted to take

doesn’t have the breakthrough or delivery or attention it

these great pieces of art and make them available to ev-

used to have. So how do you go out and get consumers

eryone. We had seen what Obscura had being doing in

to allow you to talk to them? We can put a car out there

display and we thought how can we do this on a bigger

and someone to talk to consumers about it — but we want

scale? So we came up with this idea that we would take

them to experience our product.”

this art, whose whole purpose was to be shared anyway,

Google is another satisfied customer. In May, for an

and then share it in another way, with New Yorkers. People

event to promote the company’s new artist themes for

were just walking by saying, ‘What is this? You mean I can

iGoogle—the customizable home page for Google us-

put this on my computer? Great!’ It was exactly the way

ers—Obscura projected 250,000-square feet of mov-

we wanted people to respond.”

ing images of artwork by Michael Graves, Mark Morris,

Berndt says that although there are other companies

Marc Ecko and Jeff Koons onto the facades of buildings

who do facets of this kind of work, Obscura stands out be-

in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. The challenge was

cause it does everything.

huge. Obscura could not project onto the windows of the

“What’s really amazing about them is that they are

buildings in case nearby hotel patrons were disturbed,

into everything from holograms to multitouch screens to

it was raining, there were no cranes to move equipment

stitched video,” Berndt says. “And they are so involved in

onto the roofs, the roofs had no power and the build-

the hard-core manipulation of data that they are really

NOVEMBER 2008

doing the whole thing from the top level of creative down to the programming and technology. People have been projecting slides since before I was born and watching TV for all that time, too, but what Patrick is doing is taking all these things and pushing them and seeing where they can go.” ABOVE : The Dubai developer Nakheel communicated the scope of a multibillion-dollar residential and commercial development being built in the Arabian Gulf during an event held in Dubai. ABOVE RIGHT : One of the domes in the Obscura Digital ofﬁces used to test projecting images in a 360-degree format.

Star ting with Stock s Connolly started his entrepreneurial career while a senior at UCLA, when he founded Stockpoint.com, one of the first companies to bring stock tickers online. When the technology bubble burst and financing dried up, a college friend introduced him to Threlkel and his colleague Chris LeJeune and soon he was on board at Obscura. “The creativity was there but not the business part,” Connolly says. “I thought these guys had a great idea, but no idea how to sell it.” That has changed, due partly to Connolly’s can-do-everything ethic, which he attributes in part to having grown up in Marin. “I’m a Marin public school kid and growing up here there was lots of creativity around,” he says. “We weren’t taught that this won’t work and that won’t work.” Settling me on a couch in the dome, Connolly presses his iPhone, setting off a compilation show of some of the company’s projects. There are Nakheel’s nonexistent Dubai buildings again; there’s that nonexistent Dubai marina. “Look at that building!” Connolly cries, pointing to a split linked tower with a modern core design. “The Trump Tower doesn’t even exist yet. Yet there it is! Isn’t that cool?”

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

H OME THINK

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

The

Oyster War

The National Park Service and an organic rancher ba le over the future of Drakes Estero BY P. J . B R E M I ER P H OTO S T I M P O RT ER

Bags of oysters belonging to the Drakes Bay Oyster Company hang from racks in Drakes Estero.

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

W H AT STA R T E D A S A FAVO R between two Point Reyes farmers has turned into a

briny brawl that has spilled out of the backwaters of West Marin into the offices of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, triggered one federal investigation into accusations of scientific malfeasance and launched another into the environmental health of one of California’s most treasured bodies of water, Drakes Estero on the Point Reyes National Seashore. The National Park Service and wilderness advocates

enough homework to be reasonably sure that he could,”

are at loggerheads with rancher Kevin Lunny over the

Lunny says. “I thought if we proved that we could solve all

long-term fate of his Drakes Bay Oyster Co. The park

the environmental problems the park would issue a spe-

wants to shut it down in 2012 when its lease runs out;

cial permit to allow oyster farming beyond 2012.”

Lunny, the latest in 80 years of oyster farmers on the site, wants to keep it going after that. At the core is a double-barreled debate as tangled as the life-sustaining eelgrass in Drakes Estero both sides say they

The Lunny family borrowed a million dollars to clean up the site and improve oyster production. They changed the name to Drakes Bay Oyster Co. “We were really excited,” Lunny says.

seek to protect. One issue involves congressional intent, the other allegations that Lunny is doing environmental harm, assertions Lunny and his scientific backers refute.

Boots and a BlackBerry

Lunny didn’t see all this fuss coming when Tom

Lunny and his three children are the third and fourth gen-

Johnson, a longtime friend, approached him and his

erations of his family to live on the 1,400-acre G Ranch,

brothers for help in mid-2004. Johnson had inherited

one of 15 historic livestock ranches inside the Point Reyes

Johnson’s Oyster Company from his father, Charlie, who

National Seashore. His father and grandfather raised

was as much of a West Marin landmark as his well-weath-

dairy cows before switching to organic beef. His parents

ered oyster shack.

live there still.

“Tom had a good heart, but the walls were caving in

Lunny’s a modern farmer. He has a BlackBerry, a degree

on him and the regulations were driving him into finan-

in animal sciences from University of California, Davis, an

cial ruin,” Lunny says. Johnson needed the equipment the

engineering contractor’s license and seats on the boards of

Lunnys owned for its Nicasio grading and paving company

Marin Organic and the Marin Farmers Market Association.

to clean up the site. “He wasn’t able to pay, but we said,

Lunny doesn’t use electric cattle prods, one reason why

‘let’s not sweat the small stuff,’ ” Lunny says.

his family was awarded California’s first Animal Welfare

A short time later, Johnson asked the Lunnys if they

Institute certification for humane treatment of farm ani-

wanted to take over the remainder of the oyster com-

mals. They also received California’s first salmon-safe cer-

pany’s 40-year agreement with the park service, called a

tification for pasture and watershed stewardship.

Reservation of Use and Occupancy (RUO). It was a provocative challenge. “Frankly, we knew the oyster farm was Don’s biggest headache before we purchased the balance of the RUO,”

“They’re very progressive, very sustainable and organic,” says Dominic Grossi, president of the Marin County Farm Bureau. “They have been known for that within the local farming community for the last few generations.”

Lunny says, referring to Don Neubacher, superintendent

Lunny considers oysters to be a net benefit to the

of the Point Reyes National Seashore. Lunny recalls telling

environment—a regionally appropriate, healthy food that

his wife, Nancy, and his brothers, “The only way we can

requires no feed, fertilizer, hormones, antibiotics or pesti-

explore the idea is if Don supports it. If he’s against it, it’d

cides and produces more than 10 times per acre the pro-

be an uphill battle and we’ll never do it.”

tein of a typical grass-based livestock farm. “I fell in love

Neubacher, he says, was supportive, “but told me he didn’t plan to extend the RUO. By then we had done

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NOVEMBER 2008

with this oyster farm,” he says. “It’s this unsung hero of sustainable farming.”

Kevin Lunny, owner of Drakes Bay Oyster Farm, aboard a raft in Drakes Estero near a row of oyster racks with his terrier, Pippin.

unny considers oysters to be a net beneﬁt to the environment—a regionally appropriate, healthy food that requires no feed, fertilizer, hormones, antibiotics or pesticides and produces more than 10 times per acre the protein of a typical grass-based livestock farm. “I fell in love with this oyster farm,” he says. “It’s this unsung hero of sustainable farming.”

Last year, Lunny harvested 466,000 pounds of oysters, but he laughs

Myriad laws and policies govern the Point Reyes National Seashore.

when asked if the operation is profitable. “You can check our income

Neubacher and other opponents of continued operation of the oyster

statements,” he says. “The park service has made it impossible to make

farm routinely cite two of them as a basis for their position—the Point

a profit. Nancy and I don’t take a nickel from the oyster farm; neither

Reyes Wilderness Act of 1976, also known as Public Law 94-544, and

do my brothers.”

House Report 94-1680, a nonbinding congressional document accompanying the act. When first asked to state his main arguments against the farm,

The Beginnings

Neubacher says in an e-mail interview that Public Law 94-544 man-

The National Park Service established the Point Reyes National Seashore

dates its closure: “The eastern portion of the estero is a congres-

in 1962. The Point Reyes Wilderness Act designated 25,370 acres of the

sionally designated Wilderness Area and the rest of the estuary is

park as wilderness in 1976. It also identified 8,003 more acres as “po-

designated potential wilderness and reverts to full wilderness in 2012

tential wilderness” that would be converted to full wilderness once cer-

(Public Law 94-544).”

tain impediments were removed.

Interestingly, though, Public Law 94-544 never mentions the year

When the park was created, existing ranchers were “bought out”

2012. “The act is only a page long,” says Laura Watt, an assistant profes-

and given one-time leases, usually for 20 or 30 years. In 1972, after a

sor of environmental studies and planning at Sonoma State University

decade of negotiation, Johnson obtained the only 40-year Reservation

who has studied working landscapes in the National Park Service and the

of Use and Occupancy.

Point Reyes National Seashore for 10 years. “There’s no reference to any

The last RUOs expired during the 1990s and ranchers now oper-

date and no definition of potential wilderness. It’s simply not there.”

ate under renewable five-year “special use permits.” Johnson’s RUO,

Later, when Neubacher is told the law doesn’t mention 2012 or

on land that was designated “potential wilderness” four years after he

any other date, he says, “We are sorry about the confusion.” In fact,

signed, expires in 2012.

says Neubacher, the park service has concluded after “review of (the)

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NOVEMBER 2008

OPPOSITE TOP : Drakes Bay Oyster Farm sits on a cove on the western end of Drakes Estero. BOTTOM , LEFT TO RIGHT : bags of oysters, workers prepare shucked oysters shells for reseeding,

oystermen balance on wooden oyster racks as they pull racks of mature mollusks from the water.

Point Reyes legislation, the Wilderness Act, and (its own) management

Oyster farm opponents contend, however, that the more restrictive

policies” that the oyster farm’s portion of the estero “reverts to full

provisions of the Point Reyes Wilderness Act, passed four years after

wilderness as soon as the nonconforming use can be eliminated.”

the Lunny’s RUO was written, take precedence.

Doing so, Neubacher says, would fulfill what lawmakers wanted when they passed the Point Reyes legislation, a purpose he says is indicated in House Report 94-1680, which states:

A War of Words and Papers

“… it is the intention that those lands and waters designed as potential wilderness additions will be essentially managed as wilderness,

Before Lunny took over the oyster farm, the park had allowed Johnson

to the extent possible, with efforts to steadily continue to remove all

to operate without one of three required operating permits. Lunny says

obstacles to the eventual conversion of these lands and waters to wil-

Neubacher assured him he’d receive all three.

derness status.” (Emphasis added.)

When the permits arrived, Lunny says, one came with a stipulation:

The words “intention” and “steadily continue to remove” are key.

Agree to close the oyster farm in 2012. He refused to sign. “I told Don

Do they mean at the end of Lunny’s RUO in 2012 or at some later date

a lot can happen in seven years. We’re heading toward a food crisis and

if the oyster company closes of its own accord? That interpretation is

I disagree that the farm should be gone. I didn’t know that those would

open to endless debate.

be fighting words.”

The reports and hearings that shaped the legislation contain “no

By the end of 2005, Lunny still hadn’t resolved the permit issue, so

discussion of an end date,” says Watt, “nor any discussion of any speed

he appealed to Marin Supervisor Steve Kinsey. It took until April 2007

with which nonconforming uses must be removed. To the contrary,

for Neubacher and Kinsey to meet.

there’s a lot of specific language in the testimony supporting the continuation of the oyster farm.”

During their conversation at park headquarters in Olema, Kinsey says, Neubacher accused Drakes Bay Oyster Co. of egregious environ-

Wilderness advocates disagree. “I don’t see any place in the legis-

mental violations, including the disturbance of harbor seals, a felony.

lative history that would allow for this to continue past 2012 or even

Lunny says he was “frantic” when Kinsey relayed Neubacher’s charges.

signal that intent. Everything points the other way,” says Neal Desai,

“I know we follow the (government) protocols. I couldn’t understand

a senior program manager with the National Parks Conservation

how this was happening.”

Association.

Lunny filed a complaint with the Department of the Interior, which

John Burton, the former state legislator who represented Northern

oversees the National Park Service. He contended the park service was

California in the House of Representatives in the mid-1970s and was a

“undermining” his business, using “selective science” to support false

primary sponsor of the Point Reyes Wilderness Act, says the oyster farm

environmental charges and portraying him as a “bad actor.”

was a nonissue at the time. “I have no recollection upside down or side-

The Interior Department sent a team to Marin from its Inspector

ways of the oyster company,” he says. “I don’t remember any mention

General’s office to investigate. An ensuing report recounted Kinsey’s

of the oyster farm coming up in the bill at all.”

meeting with Neubacher. Kinsey described a “war room” atmosphere

What about the “steadily removing” clause in the House report?

and said Neubacher was “obsessed” with proving that the oyster farm

“The committee wrote that,” he says. “I don’t know anything about it.”

was doing harm. When Kinsey suggested convening an independent

Lunny argues that not only is there no law mandating closure of the

scientific panel, Neubacher disagreed, saying his proof was aerial pho-

oyster farm in 2012, but his agreement with the park service allows for

tographs showing damage from the farm’s boats. Neubacher, according

the option of a special use permit after that.

to Kinsey, said he was “done” working with Lunny.

Neubacher insists the oyster farm RUO doesn’t contain that

Neubacher was “holding (Lunny) hostage until he signed a docu-

option. “There wasn’t a conversion clause in the RUOs,” he

ment agreeing to leave the park in 2012,” says Kinsey, and was “throw-

says. Nonetheless, language in the oyster farm’s RUO certain-

ing down a gauntlet of obstacles.”

ly seems to support Lunny’s argument: “Upon expiration of the

For his part, Neubacher told investigators that any remark he made

reserved term, a special use permit may be issued for the contin-

to Kinsey about a “war” against Lunny referred to how environmental

ued occupancy of the property for the herein describe purposes.”

groups might “go to war” in order to, as the report put it, “ensure that

(Emphasis added.)

Drakes Estero becomes wilderness in 2012.”

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NOVEMBER 2008

After the meeting, Kinsey scheduled a hearing with the Board of Supervisors for May 8, 2007, seeking a unanimous letter of support for the oyster farm addressed to Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

said she saw the boat later frighten another, smaller group of seals as well. Lunny says Allen’s report is incorrect. He says his records prove the farm’s “white boat” was in for repairs that day and that workers had clocked out by the time Allen

The ‘White Boat’ Incident

he most damning charge the park leveled against the oyster farm was that it was causing a reduction in the local harbor seal population. Lunny says he talked to his workers. “I said, ‘If you can even see a seal, you’re too close; turn around, don’t go there.’ That’s far more cautious than the protocols require.”

Of all the charges the park leveled against the oyster farm—

said she saw them.

that it was responsible for increased sedimentation, eelgrass

Science v. Science

damage, and a loss of fish biodiversity in Drakes Estero—

If Lunny was praying for divine intervention, it arrived

the most damning was that it was causing a reduction in

with Corey Goodman, a Marshall biologist and an elect-

the local harbor seal population.

ed member of the National Academy of Sciences. In the

“The fact is by April 5, 2007, (when Kinsey met with

spring of 2007, Goodman was hearing from friends suspi-

Neubacher) roughly 2,000 seal flushes (seals frightened

cious of the park’s scientific data being reported in local

into the water) were recorded by (volunteer) park moni-

newspapers. They urged him to investigate.

tors since 2005,” Lunny says, “but they were caused by

Goodman did, and he subsequently disagreed with the

kayakers, clammers, birds, predators and park visitors, not

park’s findings. At the May 8, 2007, supervisors’ meeting, he

us. According to the park’s own database, the oyster farm

made a detailed presentation that refuted many of the scien-

had caused zero disturbances.”

tific conclusions offered by the park.

Lunny says he talked to his workers. “I said, ‘If you can

Lunny and Goodman met afterward for the first time.

even see a seal, you’re too close; turn around.’ That’s far

Lunny thanked him, but Goodman said he “wasn’t doing

more cautious than the protocols require.”

it for him, only for the truth, and if he (Lunny) was in-

On April 26, though, 12 days before the Marin supervisors’ meeting at which both the park service and Lunny

deed causing environmental degradation or harming harbor seals, I was going to call it like I saw it.”

would make their cases, Sarah Allen, the park’s senior sci-

In an interview, Goodman says he believes “the park is

ence adviser, said she saw the oyster farm’s crew disrupt a

cooking the books and trying to deceive the public. I be-

group of seals.

lieve it’s intentional because there’s been a pattern of mis-

Allen wrote in a “trip report” that she saw two people

quoting the science.”

aboard a “white boat” in the estero with its motor off near

“The park has retracted every major claim it’s made

a large group of seals. When the boat’s motor was turned

that I’ve pointed out—about oyster feces in the sedimenta-

on, she said, 14 of the seals jumped into the water. Allen

tion, changes in fish communities, and eelgrass degradation,” Goodman says. “It backed off the harbor seal claim, but didn’t fully retract it. Before this is over, I believe it’ll retract that one, too.” Goodman’s presentation convinced Feinstein to get involved and in July 2007 she met with National Park Service officials in Olema. The result was the removal from the park’s website of an inaccurate environmental report written by Allen, a posting of corrections and an agreement for an independent investigation. The National Academy of Sciences began that inquiry in April. The first part of its report is due out in December. “I believe the science on which the Park Service made

A National of Academy of Sciences team visits the oyster farm.

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NOVEMBER 2008

its assessment may well have been flawed,” Feinstein says.

Sarah Allen, left, senior science adviser at the Point Reyes National Seashore, and Don Neubacher, superintendent of the park, during a visit to Drakes Bay Oyster Farm.

“And the Inspector General’s report raised serious questions about the sci-

she reasons, so if the oysters leave and the water quality drops, the

ence of the park service.”

park service may have a reason to evict the ranchers, who have revo-

Indeed it did—but the report, released in July, also did not sustain

cable five-year leases.

many of Lunny’s claims. It concluded, for example, that Neubacher had

Indeed, ranchers may have reason to worry if the park’s decisions

not treated the Lunny family unfairly and found no indication he was

are being influenced by scientists such as James “Jeb” Byers of the

trying to close the oyster farm before its RUO expired.

University of New Hampshire.

However, in a victory for Lunny, the report found that Neubacher

The park tapped Byers to review Goodman’s claims of scientif-

and Allen exaggerated and misinterpreted the science they used to ac-

ic misconduct. Among notes Byers sent to Allen—later obtained by

cuse Lunny of causing environmental damage and disturbing harbor

Goodman—is this comment regarding the oyster farm: “Would seem

seals—both in written documents and in testimony before supervisors.

important to me that if (sic) area goes to wilderness, that the ranch-

Finally, the report offered no conclusion about the veracity of Allen’s “trip report” on the harbor seals or about Lunny’s rebuttal.

ing should go as well.” That’s the type of thinking that makes Henry Grossi fret. “I see the park as against ‘everyone else’,” says Grossi, a longtime Marshall

The Bigger Picture

rancher and former president of the Marin County Farm Bureau. “The signs have been there all along. Their intention is to eventually

When the National Academy of Sciences team met in Mill Valley in

take over the ranches. They started with Merv McDonald’s ranch and

September, Jonathan Jarvis, park service regional director, told them

you can see them evicting people right down the line—the people at

the fight over the oyster farm had “larger implications.”

Tocoloma, Bear Valley Ranch, the Tiscornia ranch, the Horicks. And

“The type of research and monitoring you will review here, the protocols, peer review, and standards used are fairly typical within the national park system,” Jarvis said.

the park has time. If it’s 20 years or 40, they’ve got time on their side.” Neubacher says any concern by the ranchers is baseless. They are

If that’s the case, and it’s determined that the Point Reyes National

in a “pastoral zone not designated wilderness,” he says. “The National

Seashore’s science is flawed, what about the science behind the park’s

Park Service has signed agreements and is very supportive of continu-

extermination program of the nonnative axis and fallow deer? And if

ing the historic dairy and beef ranches.”

the standards in Point Reyes extend to all national parks, what is the

An underlying question behind the whole hullabaloo, says Watt, is

public to believe about the science that supports both environmental

this: What does the public want in a national park? “Our expectation

and commercial policy in those locations?

of a national park is shaped by an ideal of pristine nature, but then

Moreover, some park observers worry that closing the oyster farm could affect other ranches in the park.

we also want trails, postcards, and T-shirts,” she says. “The idea of pristine nature has never existed in Point Reyes because people have

“The ranchers are nervous,” says Watt, the environmental studies

been living and working on that land since the Miwoks. But if we

professor. “Is the oyster farm the first domino? If it goes, will ranchers

want pristine wilderness, let’s be clear. Let’s not tell the ranchers one

be next?” Oysters filter contaminants from the water in Drakes Estero,

thing and do another.”

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H OME

LESS

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IS MORE A restored bungalow evokes a quintessential Mill Valley style BY P. J . B R E M I ER

P H OTO S J O H N M ER K L

Rachel Cleaveland Riedy had at least three good reasons not to go househunting four years ago. The Mill Valley native was nine months pregnant, was already involved in remodeling her Fairfax home and was sure that the Mill Valley of her youth had changed. That was before a realtor friend showed her an 1880s bungalow listed for sale. Afterward, none of those reasons mattered anymore. “I just loved it, “ she says. “No one had taken out any walls or touched anything in it.” It had the same feel of the home she’d grown up in just a few blocks away. MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

Her husband, Mark Riedy, a partner

tage flush-mount schoolhouse light fixtures

in the Marin-based marketing firm TRUE

and natural zinc sconces; and swapped the

Communications, liked it too. “He saw the

location of the bathroom with the kitchen.

potential in it right away.”

CLOCKWISE FROM LOWER LEFT: Mark Riedy mans

the barbecue; daughter Rio Riedy makes her entrance at the garden party; dining room is located adjacent to the kitchen. OPPOSITE: Kitchen has the view of the garden.

the center of the house, a view of the newly

a two-bedroom in-law unit below, two bed-

renovated garden. Shane Kennedy of Shane

rooms on the top floor and common rooms

Kennedy Design of Mill Valley up-lighted the

on the middle floor. It was the home’s ar-

existing old oaks and planted deer-resistant

chitectural integrity that resonated with the

shrubs in new rock-walled garden beds.

couple, especially the living room with its

As a busy photo stylist for catalogs and

clinker-brick fireplace, stained old-growth

magazines and a principal in Cleaveland and

redwood wainscoting and box-beam ceiling.

Kennedy Interior Design, Cleaveland Riedy is

“The whole house is summed up in the living

familiar with big homes. “Something scares

room,” she says.

me about them,” she says. “They all look

They refinished the Douglas fir floors;

MARIN

NOVEMBER 2008

This gave the kitchen, which had been in

The three-story brown-shingled home has

alike. There’s no funk, no creativity.”

transformed a small bedroom adjacent to the

She finds her funk, very often, at the

dining room into a family room; installed vin-

Alameda Flea Market and at Roost, a

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NOVEMBER 2008

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NOVEMBER 2008

Sausalito home store. Some of her more unusual items include collections of oversize glass jugs, a wooden deer head, wood stumps and bundles of twigs. “But it’s ever-changing,” she says. “If you come next week, it’ll be different. Practicality freaks me out,” she adds. “If I love something, that’s far more important than it being practical.” Smaller homes do require some practicality, she admits. “You have to keep scale in mind and find furniture that isn’t oversize.” She’s true to a basic color scheme of white, cream and gray and uses slipcovers liberally to introduce color accents that change a room’s mood. She chose the Ditte sofa, slipcovered in linen, from Anthropologie for the living room not only for its modest size but because “it has a timeless line.” The classic all-white kitchen with Shaker cabinets and butcher drawer pulls may be small, too, but it doesn’t lack for luxury with its honed Carrara marble countertops, a Wolf stove and a hard-to-

OPPOSITE : The Riedy home is ideal for backyard garden parties. ABOVE LEFT: Rachel Cleaveland Riedy takes a break as guests mingle and socialize.

find Chicago Faucets farm sink. There’s also practicality in the space-saving built-in furniture that came with the home. Cleaveland Riedy is a fan of the built-in china cabinet and window seat with hidden storage in the dining room; the window seat, also with hidden storage, in the master bedroom; and a wall cabinet in the smaller bedroom.

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NOVEMBER 2008

ABOVE FROM LEFT: Cleaveland Riedy ﬁnds her artifacts at ﬂea markets and specialty shops througout the Bay Area; living room color tones are warm and neutral. OPPOSITE: Sitting room features comfy sofa with slipcover in white linen.

In fact, she wanted more. She insisted on a window seat in the new kitchen and, in lieu of a space-consuming

Berkeley’s Tail of the Yak representing each year of Rio’s life thus far.

vanity, had recessed shelves added in the bathroom. For

The femininely styled master bedroom is eclectic too,

the office niche, the household hub, she commissioned a

with an old pine dresser, a pink Persian rug, a Louis-style

narrow shelf for a desk and a wall of cubbyholes for bills,

chair, a window seat covered in striped pillow ticking, a gilt

keys and design magazines. An oversize calendar and

mirror over a sleek Parsons table and scalloped-edge white

painted chalkboard wall keeps the family organized.

bedding from the Martha Stewart Collection. She chuckles.

Upstairs, four-year-old daughter Rio’s bedroom, swathed in green, purple and turquoise, is a tribute to

“I always appreciate someone who dedicates themselves to one style—it’s so disciplined—but I have no discipline.”

her mother’s talent for finding artful bargains. A vin-

There are challenges to living in a bungalow. “It looks

tage iron bed, dressed in English bedding from Designer

big from the outside, but the rooms inside are cut up and

Guild, is a friend’s hand-me-down; a slipcovered chair

small, so we’ve had to get used to that.” Her husband likes

came from Crate & Barrel; an antique dresser is from a

it, though, and jokes that the only thing he would change

Berkeley shop. On the walls are framed calendars from

is making “the mortgage payment disappear.”

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JOURNEY

EPIC BEAUTY AND SIMPLE PLEASURES S TO RY AU G U STO AN D R E S

100

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P H OTO S J O H N R O D EN

MAP C REATED BY TIM REED

N O R

W A Y OPPOSITE : A dancer’s bright smile and sparkling costume light up a party in Cartagena; THIS PAGE : Reproductions of paintings by Colombian artist Fernando Botero hang on the wall of a gift shop.

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101

PREVIOUS PAGE : Village

of Solvorn, which looks across the small Lustrafjord in Sogne to Urnes, Norway’s oldest stave church (1135 A.D.) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. THIS PAGE: At the exit of the Bakli tunnel the Flåm train stops at the mighty Kjos waterfall, which feeds the power station providing electricity for the railway. OPPOSITE TOP: The Bergen-Oslo Railway meets the Flåm Railway at the mountain station of Myrdal, where excited tourists eagerly await the arrival of the Flåm train. OPPOSITE BOTTOM: The legendary seafood buffet at the historic Kvikne’s Hotel in Balestrand.

102

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NOVEMBER 2008

y Norwegian dreams began when I was a boy. I followed the adventures of the mighty Thor

in Marvel Comics, played Edvard Grieg’s piano music and read mythical tales about gnomes and trolls. I long envisioned standing atop a granite peak, staring out over icy waters straight into the midnight sun, so when I arrived in Oslo in mid-July for a journey to the fantastic western fjords it was more than just a summer vacation—it was a melding of fantasy into reality.

Norway is a land of epic beauty and simple pleasures. Glaciers sculpted the

terrain over millennia into a majestic convergence of ice, water, mountain and sky. With such a wilderness as their backyard, it’s no surprise that Norwegians are great outdoor enthusiasts. Summer offers ample opportunity to join their migration across this staggeringly beautiful landscape.

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103

A popular route for cyclists and walkers is the route from Myrdal on the 20km track down the Flåm Valley—with glimpses of the railway and of the river valley surrounded by peaks studded with waterfalls.

To find my way through the country, I opted for the alliteratively named “Norway in a Nutshell” excursion, a self-guided tour via train, ferry and bus into fjord country. The highlight of the route is the Flam Railway, a train ride that drops 3,000 feet in 12 miles. My inner child imagined a careening ride down the mountain at breakneck speed, but the train’s five braking systems ensured a measured pace and the ride itself wasn’t as thrilling as the scenery we passed—secluded valleys, steep mountains, waterfalls gushing in balletic free fall from dizzying heights. At Flam, I left my fellow passengers and headed for Balestrand, located near the midway point of the Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord. Spread out on a promontory beneath a panorama of glaciated mountains, Balestrand is a laid-back artist and farming village whose friendly residents appreciate any attempt by a visitor to speak Norwegian (a simple takk, or thank you, goes a long way). Sights worth seeing include the dragon-winged St. Olaf’s stave (medieval postand-beam) church, a set of 900-year-old Viking burial mounds, and Kviknes Hotel, a grand “Swiss-style” bed-and-breakfast resort. Balestrand’s main allure, though, is its setting and the lingering summer light that blurs the distinction between day and night and lends a dreamlike quality to everything you see. Mill Valley resident Unni Marie Kvikne and her husband, Eric Palmer, have an interest in Kviknes, which has been in Unni’s family since 1877. “It’s different every day,” she

104

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ABOVE FROM LEFT :

Crumbling, ivy-covered mausoleums mark the ﬁnal resting place for several notable Argentines at La Recoleta Cemetery; the cemetary’s skyline.

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105

Tjugum Church, dating from 1863, is one of three Church of Norway churches within the municipality of Balestrand.

says. “There’s something about the way the light changes or when a

flow; up close, it was alive—melting, dripping, in constant motion. The

storm passes and sunlight beams through the clouds and leaves behind

three-hour guided ice walk I booked started with an admonition: one

a rainbow. You never get sick of it.”

false move and the tethered 10 of us would plummet into the glacier-

Over four days I savored the sun-burnished land from above and be-

fed lake below. The warning, sobering as it was, didn’t dampen our

low, meandered about boggy, blueberry-lined trails for postcard views,

giddiness as we crunched ever higher over the glistening surface and

boated across the fjord or lolled near shore. The Gulf Stream keeps the

through narrow caverns, all the while marveling at the shifting shades

water temperature in the upper 60s, hardly balmy, but warm enough for a

of blue in every crack and crevasse.

refreshing swim. I also cycled to leafy Dragsvik peninsula, which juts into

After Balestrand, I backtracked to Aurland and set out on a stren-

Fjaerlandsfjord, a brooding gorge, then idled near the village of Ese, star-

uous two-hour hike to the Aurland Lookout, an architecturally stun-

ing into glassy waters that reflected the pyramid-shaped Vindreken peak.

ning wooden platform built in 2006 that protrudes out 100 feet over

Jostedalsbreen glacier, continental Europe’s largest at more than 300

a spectacular wooded gorge with nothing but an angled sheet of glass

square miles in area, was an easy day trip. From afar, the Nigardsbreen

to keep the overly curious from falling into the teal-blue waters of the

arm of the glacier stood immobile, a primordial, frozen, blue-flecked

Aurlandsfjord far below.

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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT : ‘Viksdal-

spainting’ or rose-painting on traditional wooden objects; Vigeland Sculpure Park, Oslo, features 212 bronze and granite sculptures of men, women, and children in various poses, created by Gustav Vigeland in the 1920s; the sign on Balestrand quayside points to the historic Kvikne’s Hotel.

Next came tiny Undredal, wedged in a fertile valley across from Aurland and famous for its church and its cheese. Parts of the 40-seat, red-roofed stave church date back to 1147. Undredal’s residents, outnumbered by goats nearly four to one, still use ancient methods and goat’s milk to produce geitost, Norway’s popular brown cheese, which looks like a block of peanut butter but has a sweet, caramel-tinged flavor. I then rejoined the ferry leg of the Nutshell tour for a cruise down the Naeroyfjord, a World Heritage geographic site and Norway’s narrowest fjord, with some passages less than 1,000 feet across and cliffs towering more than 5,000 feet. The boat disembarked at Gudvangen, where I rented a kayak and paddled into the fjord, inwardly humming Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” and imagining bearded trolls watching from hidden caves high above. A final train ride took me to Bergen, a gem of a city with a lively fish market, bustling cafes and another World Heritage Site, Bryggen, the old wharf. This cobbled medieval quarter with colorful wooden harborside houses reflects Bergen’s days as a maritime center in the erstwhile trade alliance called the Hanseatic League. The infamous rain that Norwegians warned would greet me here never came. On a near-cloudless day, I rode the city’s glass-roofed funicular up to Mount Floyen, where a platform 1,000 feet above Bergen provided the perfect place for a final view of Norway’s marvelously serrated shore.

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Cabo San Lucas

LUXURY A dream vacation can be had south of the border BY SOMER FLAHERTY

T WA S O N LY A F E W M I N U T E S PA ST N O O N O N W H AT S E E M E D L I K E T H E H OT T E ST

day in Cabo San Lucas history—well actually rumor has it that record was set at 108 degrees, but in all fairness it was set in September, the same month we were visiting—and Guadalupe, our hired driver, was lifting our bags into his shuttle to start the bumpy 45-minute journey from the airport to the hotel. Seeing as Guadalupe has lived in the area for over 20 years, I assumed he would be accustomed to the heat, but in some way it was reassuring to see him wiping the sweat from his brow; at least I wasn’t the only one with my face melting. “La vista es magnifica,” Guadalupe boasted, while pointing to the turquoise wind-swept ocean. The view certainly was magnificent, and only interrupted by the construction crews and tractors that littered the downtown area. Los Cabos — which includes the coastal towns of Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the 20-mile oceanfront corridor separating the two, was once a sleepy fishing town before it went through a transformation back in the 1970s when the Transpeninsular Highway, which runs the length of the Baja California Peninsula from Cabo San Lucas to Tijuana, was completed. Then in 1990, development was finally widely granted in the area, causing a re-

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UPPER LEFT : Entrance to Esperanza. NEXT PAGE : View from the pool at the One and Only Palmilla.

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : Cabo Azul’s massive pool and bar. TOP RIGHT : The pool at Las Ventanas. BOTTOM RIGHT :

Top-ﬂoor casita view at Esperanza. BOTTOM LEFT : The view from a room at Pueblo Bonito Paciﬁca Holistic Retreat and Spa. MIDDLE LEFT : Ceviche from the Las Ventanas ceviche and tequila bar.

sort, golf course and nightclub boom—also the

The adults-only Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Holistic

treatment rooms available in private beach-

same year that Marin’s Sammy Hagar opened

Retreat and Spa is sprawled along a pristine

front cabanas. My travel companion and I

up his now famous Cabo Wabo Cantina. Due

beach on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja

agreed that if we were celebrities or anyone

to the high demand from tourists, the area has

Peninsula, where its soon-to-be-new neighbor

important for that matter, the Pacifica would

recently seen hotel and home developments

the Ritz-Carlton has recently started construc-

be our first choice for discreet accommoda-

spreading themselves out not only along the

tion (although during my visit there was no

tions. Simply put, everyone’s relaxing too

coastline but even high up into the bluffs.

renovation noise). The desert atmosphere of-

much to care whom his or her remote neigh-

As Guadalupe turned onto a curvy road, an

fers some of the most private surroundings in

bor is. The hotel’s barren landscape is peace-

endless vista of white sand and a behemoth

all of Cabo with chaise lounges and restaurant

fully broken with fountains and small rivers

of modern architecture were there to greet us.

tables separated by feet not inches and spa

of water crisscrossing paths and even the lob-

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by. Small but well-appointed rooms are sleek with flat-screen televisions, dark-onyx-accented bathrooms and serene white sheets. Most visitors come to Pacifica to take advantage of the total wellness philosophy (smoking is prohibited on the grounds) and the Armonia Spa, which is hidden deep within an underground passage, offers treatments like watsu, a soothing massage that takes place in a warm, deep body of water where the massage therapist literally cradles and twirls your body, interspersing a series of stretches and twists for a womblike sensation. Because a nice glass of wine has been known to aid in the relaxation process, we took part in one of the resort’s daily gratis activities before dinner at the hotel’s Siempre restaurant: the wine-and-cheese tasting introduced us to a Mexican wine, Monte Xanic, a CheninColombard with a rich, buttery taste. It was so good that we proceeded to order it at every hotel we visited, as in: I have no use for your

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expensive American imports, we’ll take Baja’s

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finest and at a fraction of the cost. Now fortified, we had the rest of Cabo to explore.

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THE CORRIDOR Cabo San Lucas’s boisterous party atmosphere

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and San Jose’s easygoing colonial tone are bridged by a golf course-and resort-studded Tourist Corridor that stretches between the two towns in miles of beaches and coves. The area includes not only Mexico’s most luxurious and expensive resorts but some of North and South America’s as well. The three big players in the area—Esperanza, Las Ventanas al Paraíso and the One and Only Palmilla—are constantly exchanging number one, two and three spots on “best of” lists in international travel magazines. Our first stop in the Corridor was at

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Esperanza. The Auberge property, sister to Auberge du Soleil in Napa, is stunning. In fact, the first words I uttered when arriving

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question was where would I start? I could take a dip in the room’s private balcony spa, lie out

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by the public infinity pool while waiting my turn for one of the staff to travel to my chaise to

LAS VENTANAS AL PARAÍSO

by the director of romance Maria Jose Garcia and her staff. On my stay, I even witnessed

give a shoulder massage, or perhaps stop by the

If you haven’t been to Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a

Garcia in action getting details ready for a secret

outdoor lounge to listen to a live duet perform

Rosewood Resort, it’s easy to miss. The 71-suite

proposal under the guise of a photo shoot for a

“Cielito Lindo,” while I sip a handmade marga-

“window to paradise” property has no sign and

magazine—the recipient said “yes!”

rita and enjoy the warm breeze from the sea.

is even more protected by a large wall that sits

Km 19.5 Carretera Transpeninsular;

All before falling asleep to the sound of crash-

in front of the entrance. Originally developed by

888.767.3966, lasventanas.com

ing waves. Esperanza recently completed a five-

Belvedere-resident Javier Burillo, the all-suite

month renovation, unveiling larger rooms, new

property’s rooms have pebble-inlaid headboards,

interiors and an expanded spa. The 57-room

wood-burning fireplaces, generous porches and

ONE & ONLY PALMILLA

resort includes 24-hour butler service, casitas

balconies and even rooftop decks for the top-

After a thorough $80 million renovation about

with pocket doors that transform interiors into

level rooms. Don’t leave without dinner at the

five years ago, the Palmilla has once again been

indoor-outdoor living spaces, deep soaking tubs

grande dame property’s Sea Grill restaurant—

crowned the “it” destination for celebrities and

and two-, three-, and four-bedroom villas with

one of the best “barbecues” in Mexico. Choices

Hollywood A-listers. In fact, depending on how

gourmet kitchens. The property’s three-bedroom

include huachinango, parrot fish, tuna, flank

you look at it, my accidental choice of a pool-

luxury casita also includes a private entrance for

steak and more—all grilled. Although the res-

side lounge chair next to the current cast of the

one of the rooms (in case you’re traveling with

taurant is the more casual of the two on prop-

Victoria’s Secret catalog was fortunate or un-

security or an assistant, natch). During the win-

erty, it rivals that of any Michelin-starred eatery

fortunate. The resort’s rooms are cloaked in a

ter months, the Punta Ballena, or Whale Point,

I’ve visited. Ventanas also sets itself apart from

series of white buildings flanked by towering

location even lives up to its name as it offers

the other luxury players with inventive roman-

bougainvillea and include private decks, rain

views of migrating humpbacks.

tic touches such as a videotaped mini-movie pro-

showers and telescopes for viewing the starry

Km 7 Carretera Transpeninsular;

posal or a ring delivery by a man on horseback

sky. After a full day of fishing off the Sea of

866.311.2226, esperanzaresort.com

in full Mexican cowboy regalia, all put together

Cortez, my catch of tuna was even freshly pre-

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aboard the seven seas mariner • The world’s only all - balcony, all - suite vessels • Award-winning menus including Le Cordon Bleu® Signatures Restaurants, and open - seating dining

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• Personalized experiences with The Regent Travel ConciergeSM • 6 - time winner of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler Awards

exclusive onboard amenities on most departures: • Shoreside excursion by private car • Shipboard credits • Complimentary shore events in select port cities 835 Fifth Ave San Rafael, CA 94901 • Free Air on select segments www.Froschvacations.com • Experienced FROSCH Travel Host 800-949-0630 or 877-743-7810 CST#2079194-50 • Complimentary hosted cocktail parties Ships’ Registries: Bahamas and Bermuda. © 2008 Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

SOUTH AMERICA

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•

PACIFIC RIM

•

NEW ZEALAND

•

SOUTH PACIFIC

•

ASIA

•

ALASKA

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pared into sushi, sashimi and tartare options at that night’s dinner in the resort’s 110-seat Charlie Trotter C restaurant.

Golfers Take Up Residence In the bluffs on the Corridor, serious golfers now have a home development to call

Km 7.5 Carretera Transpeninsular;

their own. Querencia has sprouted as competition for the area’s other luxury hotels

800.637.2226, oneandonlypalmilla.com

that are offering their own home sites. With sites ranging from half acre to almost one acre, and prices starting at $1.9 million and $3.65 million for custom residences,

CABO AZUL

Querencia’s prices aren’t for the casual Baja traveler—in fact, the community even has

One of the newest hotels in town is the mas-

ers who stay for entire seasons.

sive (in comparison to the other properties

General manager Andre Boersma

mentioned) 332-room Cabo Azul. A favorite for

says most owners choose the

families traveling together, guests can convene

community over other luxe op-

at one of the three oversize pools or at trendy

tions in Cabo (including Palmilla,

Javier’s restaurant. The one-, two- and three-

Esperanza, Quivira Los Cabos

bedroom villas all come with tasteful modern

and Hacienda) because of the pri-

accents, large kitchens (there’s even a market

vate golf access, which includes

in the hotel) and separate sitting areas. A pop-

a cliff-top 320-acre Tom Fazio-

ular spot for weddings, the outdoor chapel is

designed 18-hole golf course, a

a must visit for incredible views. For a retreat

12-acre practice facility and a

from the frenetic pool head to the cave-like Paz

putting green. A second course is also in the works. However, home ownership doesn’t

spa, which appropriately translates to “peace”.

guarantee full access to the amenities. A private golf membership is $150,000 and en-

a few full-time residents and oth-

Paseo Malecon S/N, Lote 11 Fonatur;

Querencia offers a luxury home option for the serious golfer.

titles you and your family access to both golf courses and all club amenities.

877.216.2226, caboazulresort.com

Enjoy your

5th Night Free with our compliments

+ $200 resort credit Available in all room categories 1/5/09 - 12/20/09

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

Enjoy a longer stretch of beach. Our little beach cove on the Kohala Coast promises pleasure for days on end. May we stretch your stay an extra day? For reservations call 1-800-845-9905 or www.fairmont.com/orchid Make your special day unforgettable – ask about our wedding or honeymoon specials.

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LO O K I N G BACK

A LOCAL MURDER Terra Linda was the setting for a real-life 1975 crime

ABOVE : Headlines from the

San Francisco Chronicle in 1982. RIGHT : Cover from Bad Blood, a book written about the murder in 1982 by Richard Levine.

BY JIM WOOD

ruman Capote’s In Cold Blood is about parolees Richard “Dick” Hickock and Perry Smith, who murdered four members of a Kansas farming family with shotgun blasts to the head. Two movies on the subject were released in 2005. Another true-crime classic, Normal Mailer’s 1980 Pulitzer-winning Executioner’s Song, tells of Gary Gilmore and

teenage lover Nicole Baker, his murder of two innocent men and his execution by firing squad. It was made into a movie in 1982. Locally, we have our own compelling if lesser-known counterpart. Richard M. Levine’s Bad Blood: A Family Murder in Marin County tells of 16-year-old Marlene Olive and 19-year-old Charles “Chuck” David Riley, who casually talked about and then carried out the brutal murder of Marlene’s adoptive parents, James and Naomi Olive. The killings took place in June 1975 in a quiet and conventional Terra Linda neighborhood. The two teenagers disposed of the bodies by wrapping them in rugs, dousing them with gasoline and burning them beyond recognition in an abandoned cistern at China Camp State Park. The Marin IJ and San Francisco Chronicle dubbed

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LO O K I N G BACK

A LOCAL MURDER Terra Linda was the setting for a real-life 1975 crime

ABOVE : Headlines from the

San Francisco Chronicle in 1982. RIGHT : Cover from Bad Blood, a book written about the murder in 1982 by Richard Levine.

BY JIM WOOD

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these “the barbecue murders.” The case drew worldwide attention. Attorney Peter Mitchell, now practicing business law in San Rafael, was 33 at the time. He had represented Marlene Olive when she was arrested for shoplifting at the Northgate mall; in the process, he met her parents, the murder victims. The mother Naomi “was unusual,” he recalls. “Jim, the father, seemed the more stable parent.” After the murder, hearing only that Marlene was “in some kind of trouble and her parents were missing,” Mitchell contacted San Rafael police, met with the teenager, and successfully argued that she should be tried in juvenile court rather than in superior court as an adult. “Both Marlene and Chuck were heavily involved in drugs and bizarre sex, and she fantasized about lots of things, “ Mitchell recalls, “possibly even killing her parents. But Chuck carried it out. He killed them both.” By all accounts, Chuck Riley was an overweight high school graduate when he met Marlene Olive, who that day was hallucinating in her first LSD experience on the front lawn of Terra Linda High School. Chuck was sexually innocent and somewhat shy; selling drugs, mostly marijuana, was his attempt to win acceptance from peers. Marlene, adopted at birth, had lived in Latin America most of her life and was upset when the family moved to Marin in 1973. And so “began an excursion into the sexually permissive, drug-oriented, occult-fascinated teenage culture of Marin County,” as the flyleaf of Bad Blood recounts, “which Marlene Olive could not handle and her parents could never understand.” The girl also wrote thoughtful poems—many expressing love for her parents—that are reprinted in the book. On October 30, 1975, only four months after he’d been arrested, Chuck Riley’s jury trial began in Marin County superior court. Since Riley gave an explicit confession on tape at the time of his arrest, he primarily had one factor put forth in his defense: a susceptibility to being hypnotized, notably by Marlene. In the courtroom, tapes of hypnotists casting a spell on Riley were played and replayed, prompting some jury members to occasionally nod off.

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One local who was there at the time is

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Jill Weissich, daughter of the late William Weissich, a famed criminal attorney who was Riley’s court-appointed lawyer. “I’d just passed the bar and wanted to see Dad in action,” Jill Weissich recounts. “Marlene was definitely not your perky blonde cheerleader type. I had a chance to look into her eyes; she could’ve cast a spell on a lot of men.” Opposing counsel was Marin prosecuting attorney Josh Thomas, a no-nonsense 48-yearold veteran of the Korean War. “If I’d had the slightest doubt of Chuck Riley’s guilt, I never would have taken the case,” he sternly recalls today. With an astonishingly clear memory, the now 78-year-old Novato resident remembers

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finding an expert witness who quickly refuted testimony from the three hypnotists presented by the defense. “Under hypnosis, a subject talks in the present when recalling accurately,” Thomas says. “My expert pointed out that in critical testimony, Riley talked only in the past tense; therefore he was lying.” In late 1975, after a seven-week trial, Chuck Riley was found guilty of bludgeoning Naomi Olive to death with a hammer, then shooting James Olive at close range. In early 1976, he arrived at San Quentin State Prison to await execution—a sentence that would be commuted to life in prison when the death penalty was ruled unconstitutional in 1978. Marlene, after a short hearing in Marin County juvenile court, was ordered to serve three years at Ventura School, the California

Robert H. Byers, MD Lisa M. Elvin, NP Jon R. Goff, MD David H. Goltz, MD John C. Keohane, MD Michael J. Oechsel, MD Ernest H. Sponzilli, MD Michael S. Stock, MD Charles A. Stuart, MD

Youth Authority’s comparatively cozy facility an hour’s drive north of Los Angeles. Thirty-three years after the crime, what

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are Marlene and Chuck doing now? Marlene Olive didn’t wait for her light sentence to expire before returning to a life of crime, Bad Blood’s epilogue reports. With only weeks to go, she escaped from a holding cell in Los

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came a high-priced prostitute while resuming her heavy drug habit. In the 1990s, between serving jail time for

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cashing bad checks and credit card fraud, she was admitted to UCLA through her Ventura School community-college equivalency degree,

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but soon dropped out. In 2003, according to the Marin IJ, she “was arrested in Bakersfield on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs and possessing stolen property, counterfeit checks and drug paraphernalia.” She is now serving a nine-year term in a Kern County women’s prison. Following the 1978 decision nullifying the death penalty (later reinstated by California voters), Chuck Riley was transferred to the Men’s Correctional Facility at San Luis Obispo. In 1980, as his parents pursued an appeal, Bad Blood author Levine arranged to have him hypnotized once again as a way of assessing his

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guilt or innocence. Both efforts proved futile. (As of last July a 12th bid for parole has been denied.) Meanwhile, he’d trimmed himself to a buff 190 pounds and earned the equivalent

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of a college degree. Through all of this, New York–based author Levine kept in touch with both Marlene and Chuck. He visited Riley when magazine assignments brought him to the West Coast; when Olive found herself broke and strung out

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in the Big Apple, he provided small amounts of cash and a listening ear. Then, in 1981, five years after the teens had last seen each other, Levine drove Marlene north from Los Angeles to visit her onetime lover at the San Luis Obispo prison. The visit lasted five hours. “At first it was

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awkward,” Levine writes. “Chuck did all the talking.” Marlene “seemed ashamed she’d deteriorated while, in comparison, Chuck

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had progressed. Then, after a pause, Chuck

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(asked), ’What are you thinking?’” According

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to the author, Marlene replied, “I’m thinking

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about all that has gone down. I guess we just

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lost our marbles.”

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Both Marlene, now 49, and Chuck, now

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53, remain in jail today. As for Levine, his publisher, Random House, has no knowledge of his whereabouts. His provocative 1982 book, evidently the only one he ever had published, is out of print, but available through Marin County’s public library system and used-book sites online. Though praised by the likes of Alan Dershowitz, Mike Wallace and Norman

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Lear, Bad Blood hasn’t become a movie.

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B O O KS

Books for Cooks In the Bay Area, epicenter of foodiness, cookbooks are just part of the bounty of riches BY SAMANTHA BERRY

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N OV E M B E R M A R K S T H E B E G I N N I N G O F

cooking season. Family will visit. Holidays will be celebrated. Many, many calories will be consumed. Luckily, ‘tis the season for great cookbooks too, and the Bay Area produces more than its share of good ones. Here’s a selection from famous chefs, local food writers and hot restaurants. Bon appétit.

Under Pressure: Cooking Sous Vide BY THOMAS KELLER ( $75, Artisan)

Sous vide has been called a “foolproof technique.” In the new cookbook by French Laundry chef Thomas Keller, he explains why the process, which involves cooking at precise temperatures below simmering, produces tenderness and flavor that other techniques cannot compete with. This is cooking at the highest level — here’s your chance to imagine yourself in front of the stove at French Laundry or Per Se in New York. If the actual kitchen work seems beyond you, fear not. With photographs by Deborah Jones, who also did the French Laundry Cookbook, it’s coffee-table-worthy as well.

Artisanal Cocktails BY SCOTT BEATTIE ($25, Ten Speed Press)

Why make a boring old gin and tonic when you can whip up a Hot Indian Date or a Grapes of Roth? Inspired by the stunning array of local produce, herbs, fruits and flowers, Beattie, the bar manager at Cyrus in Healdsburg, has created a cocktail book worthy of a chef. Like any good cook, Beattie is all about the core ingredients—top-shelf spirits, fresh-squeezed juices and just-picked herbs. You just might be able to skip dinner altogether.

Brittles, Barks and Bonbons BY CHARITY FERREIRA

($17, Chronicle Books) Picture your living room. Now picture a little side table in that room. On that side table is

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the dainty cut-glass bowl you inherited from your grandmother. And in that bowl is a selection of delectable fancy candies you made yourself, things like vanilla sea-salt caramels and chai-spiced truffles and buttery almond toffee. See? You are starting to understand the appeal of this lovely little book.

Fresh from the Farmers’ Market BY JANET FLETCHER ($20, Chronicle Books)

If there was ever a place where a good farmers’ market cookbook would come in handy, it is here in the Bay Area, where we get an array of amazing fresh produce all year round. Janet Fletcher guides readers through the

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market and then creates whole meals—appetizer to dessert—from whatever is in season. Especially handy are the tips on storing produce: did you know carrots last longer if you cut off their greens before refrigerating?

Field Guide to Cookies BY ANITA CHU ($16, Chronicle Books)

What puts the snap in ginger snaps? Why oh why are they called snickerdoodles? And how do you make the perfect pinwheel or the foolproof friand? This handy pocket reference answers these and many other burning cookie questions. It includes more than 100 recipes (some for exotic cookies from around the world), helpful baking notes, beautiful photos and tons of cook-

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ie trivia (impress your friends!).

A Platter of Figs BY DAVID TANIS ($35, Artisan Books)

Forget back to the land. Davis Tanis wants to get us back in the kitchen. For six months a year Tanis is the head chef at Chez Panisse. For the other six months he lives in Paris, where he hosts intimate dinner parties for friends and a few paying guests, preparing food with noth415.927.1793

125 Corte Madera Town Center

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ing more than an old stove, limited counter Corte Madera, CA

space, and a handful of decidedly unfancy pots and pans. This is cooking at its most elemental

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and its most enjoyable. It’s not about showing off with complicated techniques or obscure ingredients. It’s about gathering around the table with good friends for fine conversation and simple, delicious food. Think warm asparagus vinaigrette, carrot and coriander salad, chicken

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new book and companion volume to

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Thompson’s groundbreaking 1975

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Biographical Dictionary of Film is like a master class in movies. Written with passion, humor and insight, it aims to answer the age-old question: “What should I watch?”

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives: An All-American Road Trip . . . with Recipes! By Guy Fiery ($20, William Morrow) A new book from Food Network star and guy’s-guy/Sonoma County chef Guy Fieri, owner of Johnny Garlic’s and Tex Wasabi’s (yes, that’s a “Rock ‘n’ Roll Sushi BBQ” restaurant).

The Sin Eaters by Andrew Beahrs ($25, Toby Press) This companion novel to Berkeley author Andrew Beahrs’ novel Strange Saint is a dark and absorbing road story set in Jacobean England.

One Bite at a Time by Rebecca Katz ($22, Celestial Arts) The updated second edition contains nourishing recipes for cancer survivors and their friends.

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Art, Gifts & Accessories Mon. - Sat. 10:30 am - 6:00 pm

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CAL E N DA R

NOVEMBER ARTS & EVENTS GUIDE THEATER Thru November 16 42nd Street Moon Chaos ensues when a New York playboy relocates to Arizona in the classic Girl Crazy. Eureka Theatre (SF). 415.255.8207, 42ndstreetmoon.org Thru December 7 Ross Valley Players The season continues with Sabrina Fair, a modern version of Cinderella set in the 1950s. Barn Theatre (Ross). 415.456.9555, rossvalleyplayers.com

Thru January 11 Disco Diva Thelma Houston The Grammy Award winner is back at Teatro ZinZanni. Experience Houston’s passionate vocal delivery along with special guests El Vez, the Mexican Elvis, and Christine Deaver as the outrageous chef. Pier 29 (SF). 415.438.2668, zinzanni.org

8–22 Live at the Met The Lark Theater hosts the entire Metropolitan Opera season live in high deﬁnition. In November see Doctor Atomic (Nov. 8) and La Damnation de Faust (Nov. 22). Lark Theater (Larkspur). 415.924.5111, larktheater.net

13–December 7 Marin Theatre Company The stakes of a card game are raised with the arrival of a stranger in Conor McPherson’s The Seafarer. Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley). 415.388.5208, marintheatre.org 22 Mark Twain Tonight! Since 1959 actor Hal Holbrook has performed this classic one-man show. Hear him as he offers Mark Twain’s observations on politics, culture and the world. Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

San Francisco’s Post Street Theatre presents Luis Bravo’s Forever Tango November 5–16.

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26–January 4 The Phantom of the Opera Gaston Leroux’s classic novel comes to life in this Andrew Lloyd Webber classic. Orpheum Theatre (SF). 415.512.7770, shnsf.com MARINMAGAZINE.COM

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

Marin Symphony Alasdair Neale, Music Director

| 09 56 SUBSCRIPTION SEASON TH

The Wind Beneath the Wings

DANCE 5–16 Forever Tango Luis Bravo’s interna-

Back by popular demand!

tionally acclaimed dance spectacular is in San Francisco and hotter than ever. Post Street Theatre (SF). 415.771.6900, poststreettheatre.com

6 Fifth Book of Peace Maxine Hong Kingston’s work of the same name is the inspiration for this Danse Lumiere production featuring the dancers of the LINES ballet. Angelico Hall (San Rafael). 510.233.5550, dlkdance.com

Orion Weiss performs Beethoven Sunday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 7:30pm Alasdair Neale, conductor Orion Weiss, piano

6–8 The Builders Association These Bay Area favorites are back with the multimedia extravaganza Continuous City, focusing on life in the 21st century. Novellus Theater at YBCA (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

Mendelssohn Excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

14–16 Dance Continuum SF Directors José Ivan Ibarra and Peter Litwinowicz persent new choreography in Forging Ahead. CounterPULSE (SF). 415.626.2060, counterpulse.org

Mozart

Symphony No. 36 in C Major, “Linz”

Beethoven

Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major

Marin Center, San Rafael Tickets $27 / $50 / $65 (students half price) at 415.499.6800

MUSIC

Concerts made possible by Wells Fargo and Montecito Plaza Shopping Center

Tuesdays Open Mic Night Erin Hines hosts an evening of beat boxers, accordions, blues players and more. Sweetwater Station (Larkspur). 415.706.1164

www.marinsymphony.org

Tuesdays Swing Fever The band gives tribute to jazz artists and composers, playing selections from its roster of over 1,000 tunes. Panama Hotel (San Rafael). 415.457.3993, panamahotel.com

Thru 26 San Francisco Opera The Gaetano Donizetti comedy The Elixir of Love gets an update and is now set in an Italian-American community in Napa Valley in 1915. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.565.3204, sfopera.com MARINMAGAZINE.COM

08 | 09 up close and

Personal

Julia Adam on choreography Sunday, November 2, 6-7:30pm Marin Center Wine and hors dʼoeuvres reception and lecture free to concert ticket holders with advance registration. For information and reservations, click www.marinsymphony.org or call 415.479.8100.

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Images from photographer Wing Young Huie at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.

2–4 Marin Symphony Pianist Orion Weiss returns to Marin to perform pieces from Beethoven, Mozart and Mendelssohn. Marin Center (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

21 AlmaNova Hear this classically trained

15 Joe Satriani The guitar virtuoso is back

22 Jon Hendricks The jazz legend performs

and playing tracks from his breakout album, Surﬁng with the Alien. The Warﬁeld (SF). 415.421.8497, goldenvoice.com

with his daughter Aria and Jackie Ryan. Lark Theater (Larkspur). 415.924.5111, larktheater.net

15 Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet

28–30 Yoshi’s San Francisco Tuck & Patti

Lickers Hear the sultry sounds of Lavay Smith backed by her all-star eight-piece band. Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael). 415.444.8000, marinjcc.org

take the stage this month. Yoshi’s (SF). 415.655.5600, yoshis.com

GALLERIES

19–23 San Francisco Symphony Michael

MARIN

Tilson Thomas conducts the Symphony of a Thousand, a tale of damnation and salvation by Gustav Mahler. Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 415.864.6000, sfsymphony.org

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

20 GWAR See the satirical thrash metal band in all their costumed glory. The Grand Ballroom (SF). 415.421.8497, goldenvoice.com 124

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ﬂute duo play a mix of music from the Balkans, Spain, Latin America and the British Isles. Old St. Hilary’s (Tiburon). 415.435.1853, landmarks-society.org

Artisans Art Gallery Life in Motion. 853 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.460.5208, artisansartgallery.com

Art Works Downtown The State of Painting, juried exhibit, thru November 14. 1337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119, artworksdowntown.org Claudia Chapline Gallery Oil paintings by Marsha Connell, November 2–November 30. 3445 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach. 415.868.2308, cchapline.com College of Marin Art Gallery Ongoing work. 835 College Ave, Kentﬁeld. 415.485.9493, marin.cc.ca.us di Rosa Preserve: Art & Nature After the Age of Reason New drawings and sculpture by Maria Porges, thru January 3. 5200 Carneros Hwy, Napa. 707.226.5991, ext. 34, dirosapreserve.org Gallery Bergelli New work by Chilean artists. 483 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.945.9454, gallerybergelli.com Gallery Route One Elementals Work by Paula Fava, thru December 7. 11101 MARINMAGAZINE.COM

Hwy One, Point Reyes Station. 415.663.1347, galleryrouteone.org Marin MOCA Art by the Inch fundraiser and Small Treasures, November 8–November 22. 500 Palm Drive, Novato. 415.506.0137, marinmoca.com Marin Society of Artists The nonproﬁt arts organization presents its 81st annual members’ show, thru November 16. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.454.9561, marinsocietyofartists.org Milk and Honey Art Gallery Installations by Jesse Schlesinger. 384 Miller Ave, Mill Valley. 415.383.7580 Northbay ArtWorks Northbay ArtWorks Members’ ongoing work. 7049 Redwood Blvd, suite 208, Novato. 415.892.8188, northbayartworks.com

Pink Chicken Egg & Avocado • Bóboli

O’Hanlon Center for the Arts Turnaround, photography by Wayne Heldt and Quiltscapes, work by Anabelle Wasserman, both November 4–November 26. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331, ohanloncenter.org Robert Allen Fine Art Abstract Works on Paper and Canvas Group show, November 3–November 28. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.2800, robertallenﬁneart.com Robert Beck Gallery Early California and contemporary plein air paintings on display. 222 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.456.7898, beckgallery.org Robert Green Fine Arts Contemporary paintings and other nonobjectionable work. 154 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.381.8776, rgﬁnearts.com Sam the Butcher Photography by Mick Laska, November 14–January. 19 Ross Common, Ross. 415.902.1019, samthebutcherart.org Smith Andersen North American history photographs by French-born, San Francisco–based photographer Michelle Vignes, thru November 22. 2240 A Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.455.9733, smithandersennorth.com. MARINMAGAZINE.COM

Poesia • Jean Bourget Miss Grant, and more . . . 467 magnolia avenue, larkspur, ca 94939 415.924.2500

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(415) 380-9111 • 1 Blackﬁeld Dr., Tiburon (Cove Shopping Center) www.champagnesalonanddayspa.com UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP ~ OPEN MONDAY THRU SATURDAY MARIN

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I N 1 9 8 1 M AYA L I N ’ S F A M O U S V I E T N A M V E T E R A N S MEMORIAL forever changed the world of sculpture with its min-

imalism and raw emotional power. Now the de Young features a major exhibition of new sculptures, drawings and installations from the renowned artist. Systematic Landscapes, Lin’s second nationally traveling exhibition in 10 years, examines society’s fragile

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connection to the environment and reconsiders the ever-changing landscape with unexpected views of the natural world. 2x4 Landscape (above left) is a vast hill built of 65,000 boards set on end rising from the gallery ﬂoor and is part of a trio of largescale sculptural installations created for the exhibit, thru January 18 (SF). 415.863.3330, thinker.org

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

P H OTO : CO L L E E N CH A RT I E R

Tension and Change

Studio 333 Art event beneﬁting Hospice of Marin, November 15. 333A Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.8272, studio333.info Studio 4 Art Work by local artists at this brand-new gallery and workshop. 1133 Grant Ave, Novato. 415.596.5546, studio4art.net The Art Bar Ongoing work. 46 Main St, Tiburon. 415.435.5999, theartbar.us The Painters Place New work from Ross artist Zenaida Mott, thru November 29. 1139 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.461.0351, thepaintersplace.com

Cain Schulte Gallery Time Being A 15-year retrospective of artist Linda Karshan, thru November 8. 101 Townsend St, 415.543.1550, cainschulte.com

Meyerovich Gallery Flowers, Butterﬂies and Smoke Rings New work from Donald Sultan, thru November 18. 251 Post St, 415.421.7171, meyerovich.com

Caldwell Snyder Gallery Recent paintings by Ross Penhall. 341 Sutter St, 415.296.7896, caldwellsnyder.com

Rena Bransten Gallery Photographs by Vik Muniz, thru November 29. 77 Geary St, 415.982.3292, renabranstengallery.com

Elins Eagles Smith Gallery Recent paintings by Wade Hoefer, thru November 15. 49 Geary St, 415.981.1080, eesgallery.com

MUSEUMS MARIN

ArtHaus Paintings by Bay Area artist Maxine Solomon, thru December 23. 411 Brannan St, 415.977.0223, arthaus-sf.com

Gregory Lind Gallery Landlord White By Sarah Bostwick, thru November 29. 49 Geary St, 415.296.9661, gregorylindgallery.com

Berggruen Gallery William T. Wiley, November 3–December 6. 228 Grant Ave, 415.781.4629, berggruen.com

Hackett-Freedman Gallery Work by Roland Petersen, November 6–December 24. 250 Sutter St, 415.362.7152, hackettfreedman.com

Bay Area Discovery Museum The Time Outs Sing and dance along with Jim, Lev, Tom and Greg as they get kids and adults rockin’. Free days have been been moved to the ﬁrst Wednesday of the month. November 15 (Sausalito). 415.339.3958, baykidsmuseum.org Bolinas Museum Bolinas in the ’70s: The Oral History Project on the Water Moratorium and the Community Plan, thru November 16 (Bolinas). 415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org

Allen Wynn Object of Desire 83 x 35 x 24 inches Mixed Media

SAN FRANCISCO

George Krevsky Gallery 77 The Casino Paintings by Lisa Esherick, thru November 22. Geary St, 415.397.9748, georgekrevskygallery.com

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Falkirk Cultural Center Dan Neuharth offers help for adults raised in narcissistic families, November 5 (San Rafael). 415.485.3438, falkirkculturalcenter.org

BAY AREA Asian Art Museum Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul In 2003, artifacts long thought stolen or destroyed were uncovered in Afghanistan. See these treasures as they make their only West Coast appearance, thru January 25 (SF). 415.581.3500, asianart.org Contemporary Jewish Museum Warhol’s Jews: Ten Portraits Reconsidered This exhibition is the ﬁrst West Coast showing of the complete set of paintings Andy Warhol made in this series, thru January 25 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org Exploratorium The Exploratorium invites you to experience the inner workings of the mind at the ongoing Mind Exhibition. November 5 is a free day (SF). 415.561.0377, exploratorium.edu Legion of Honor The State Museums of Berlin and the Legacy of James Simon See more than 100 works from the State Museums of Berlin, all from patron James Simon, whose cultural legacy will also be examined, thru January 18 (SF). 415.863.3330, legionofhonor.org SFMOMA 246 and Counting: Recent Architecture + Design Acquisitions See more than 246 objects acquired by SFMOMA’s Architecture and Design Department, thru January 4 (SF). 415.357.4000, sfmoma.org

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

Thru November 16 Intersections 4 The ﬁber/DIMENSIONS group is showing and selling 90 juried works from more than 40 artists in the Bay Area and beyond. 128

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Herbst International Exhibition Hall (SF). 415.419.5316, ﬁberdimensions.com

Thru November 17 Capturing Angel Island Come away with a beautiful landscape painting by the BayWood Artists and help keep the Angel Island State Park’s shoreline clean and beautiful. Bay Model (Sausalito). 415.332.3871, baywoodartists.com Through November 30 Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Images from photographer Wing Young Huie will be on display throughout November. Wing captured 1,500 images of the Sonoma Valley Springs area and selected 78 of the best. SVMA (Sonoma). 707.939.7862, www.svma.org 1 Hospice by the Bay’s Annual Ball Dinner, dancing and a live and silent auction are the featured attractions at this annual black-tie gala emceed by Bay Area Backroads host Doug McConnell. Marin Civic Center (San Rafael). 415.526.5500, hospicebythebay.org 5–7 Web Meets World Help beneﬁt three charities and learn how the World Wide Web can offer solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems at this unique conference. Palace Hotel (San Francisco). web2summit.com

6–7 X-Men Gary Douglas and Dr. Dain Heer discuss what is possible for children with autism, ADHD, OCD and dyslexia, children they call X-Men. Mill Valley Community Center (Mill Valley). 415.235.2807, accessconsciousness.com 7 Holiday Craft Fair Handmade crafts from more than 60 vendors. San Rafael Community Center (San Rafael). 415.485.3348, cityofsanrafael.org

CHAMPAGNE MPAGNE

&CHOCOLATES WEEKEND WEEK

11 Veterans’ Day Services Honor the men and women who have served our country, with music, military exercises and a brief address. Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marincenter.org

20% OFF

ALL PURCHASES

15 Marin Bonsai Club Attend this annual show and see work by artist Marco Invernizzi. Marin Art & Garden Center (Ross). 415.945.9930, marinbonsai.org MARINMAGAZINE.COM

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17 Save a Turkey Trot 5K Get out and run this Thanksgiving and you could save a turkey—winners in each age group will have a turkey adopted in their name. Analy High School (Sebastopol). 707.823.8802, organicathlete.org

for the holidays and meet owners Cathy Bailey and Robin Petravic. Items include dinner, glass and ﬂatware, books, food items and linens. Gate 5 Road (Sausalito). 415.332.3732, heathceramics.com

30 Christopher Plummer Actor 19 Conservatory of Flowers G Gauge trains wind through plants and model San Francisco landscapes at this special event. Conservatory of Flowers (SF). 415.831.2090, conservatoryofﬂowers.org

Christopher Plummer joins author and ﬁlm critic David Thomson to discuss his new book In Spite of Myself: A Memoir. Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael). 415.444.8000, marinjcc.org

8 Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society Enjoy a trip into history. The Landmarks Society is hosting a cruise aboard Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s historic yacht the USS Potomac. San Francisco Yacht Club (Belvedere). 415.435.1853, landmarks-society.org

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

19 Tam Valley Arts Connection Terry Seligman lectures on pop art. Tamalpais Valley Community Center (Mill Valley). 415.388.6393

20 Dine Out to End Hunger Enjoy a night out at select restaurants and help beneﬁt Homeward Bound of Marin. Visit the website for a list of participating restaurants. 415.457.2114, hbofm.org

22–30 Heath Ceramics Sale and Open Studio Save 20 percent on great gifts

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

19 Marin Scuba Club Connect with other members of the scuba and free diving community to share stories and exchange information. See Bryant Austin’s life-size whale images at the November meeting. Seafood Peddler Restaurant (San Rafael). 415.453.9556, marinscuba.org

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

22 Winter Birds Learn about birds and migration. Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sancuary (Tiburon). 415.388.2524, richardsonbay.audubon.org

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

RETAIL THERAPY

Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Blommingdales. jomalone.com

from BART, Amtrak or Caltrain will receive 20 percent off accommodations until December 31. 800.546.7866, kimptonhotels.com

Viva La Juicy The latest launch from the always-hot Juicy Couture product line is another winner. The fragrance features the scent of mandarin orange, wild berries, honeysuckle, gardenia and creamy amber. Juicy Couture (Corte Madera). 415.927.2797, juicycouture.com

TRAVEL BUZZ

Nicole Grey & Co Help celebrate the first anniversary of this fine luxury goods and gifts purveyor. Enter to win a raffle and receive a uniquely crafted gift from Juliska, November 13. Nicole Grey & Co. (Mill Valley). 415.383.4500, nicolegreyandco.com

Island Hotel Newport Beach Enjoy all that Newport Beach has to offer—or just stay in and enjoy breakfast in bed with the Bed and Breakfast Package. Package includes breakfast for two in the privacy of your room and complimentary valet parking. $279 per night. 888.321.4752, islandhotel.com

La Quinta Resort & Club Join thousands of other culinary enthusiasts and wine aﬁcionados for four days of extravagance in the Palm Desert during the Art of Food & Wine Festival. Experience it all with a special package that includes deluxe accommodations, event passes and a special chef’s welcome. This year’s event features James Beard award–winning chef Rick Tramonto and up-and-coming chef Ben Ford. November 6–9. Package is $850 or $1,116 for two. 800.598.3828, laquintaresort.com

Kimpton Hotels The Argonaut Hotel, Harbor Court Hotel, Hotel Monaco San Francisco, Hotel Triton, Hotel Palomar San Francisco, Prescott Hotel, Serrano Hotel and Sir Francis Drake invite you to travel to San Francisco by train and save on hotel costs. Guests presenting a ticket stub

Larkspur Hotel Union Square Enjoy Union Square shopping, dining and entertainment as part of the “Park and Play” package, which includes accommodations for two, valet parking, continental breakfast and cable car day passes. $239. 800.553.1900, hotelunionsquare.com

Junbesi Group Studio European shoes and Neely Mack handbags on sale, Nov. 15-23. Junbesi Group Studio (Sausalito). 415.332.6833, neelymack.com Sweet Lime and Cedar A new exotic scent inspired by the ﬂavors of Thai cuisine from the World of Jo Malone, available at

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

Acqua di Roma Gian-Paolo Veronese has opened a sanctuary spa in the Italian tradition. The spa offers tradition European-style treatment combined with an emphasis on wellness. 415.434.2100, acquadiroma.com

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Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa Have the perfect wedding at this hotel perched above Monterey Bay. The package includes an officiated ceremony on one of the hotel’s terraces, professional wedding assistance, wedding bouquet and boutonnière, photography and dinner at the Duck Club Grill. Afterward the couple will return to a room filled with roses and candles. $1,700. 831.646.1700, montereyplazahotel.com Ojai Valley Inn and Spa This Southern California AAA Five Diamond resort offers the Spa Ojai Discovery Package, which includes choice of room type and a 50-minute classic spa treatment in the 31,000-squarefoot spa village. Package starts at $535 a night. 800.422.6524, ojairesort.com Rancho Las Palmas The resort now features Kidtopia, a kids’ camp to complement Splashtopia, the resort’s new two-acre water complex. The complex features 100-foot waterslides, a lazy river, sandy beach and cliffside Jacuzzi. Other new features include an adult tranquility pool and a refurbished spa. The “Kidtopia Package” includes accommodations, a full-day admission to Kidtopia and a camp shirt. Package starts at $169. 800.422.6524, ojairesort.com Scheid Vineyards Scheid Vinyards Great Wine Escape Winemaker Dinner brings together food prepared by celebrity chefs of Monterey and great wine, November 8. 831.375.4155, scheidwines.com Squaw Valley Institute Filmmaking legend Warren Miller will host local Olympians and star athletes at a special “A Toast to Tahoe Skiing” event kicking off the winter season. The event, featuring a fashion show, gourmet food and a live auction, benefits the Squaw Valley Institute, a nonprofit organization bringing cultural and education events to the Lake Tahoe region, November 15. Tickets to the gala are $85, 530.581.4138, squawvalleyinstitute. com. Special $129 room rates are available. 800.401.9501, visitsquawcreek.com Taj Boston Enjoy brunch on the roof and take in dramatic views of the Boston skyline this autumn. The roof is only open to the public at special times during the year, so now is the perfect time to take advantage MARINMAGAZINE.COM

of the Boston Brunch on the Roof Package including rooftop brunch and a deluxe room for two. $499. 877.482.5267, tajhotels.com

Original Vintage Jewelry from the 18th, 19th & 20th Centuries

The Grand Del Mar Prepare for the holiday season in San Diego with executive chef Jason McLeod as he reveals his favorite tips and tricks for preparing turkey, baked ham and duck, cranberry sauce and gravies, November 12, $100 per person. Festivities continue on November 27 with special holiday meals at three Grand Del Mar restaurants; prices vary. 888.314.2030, thegranddelmar.com The Resort at Pelican Hill Bring your family together with two unique “Togethering” packages from Pelican Hill on the California coast. Choose the Christmas or Hanukkah package and treat the family to accommodations in a two-bedroom villa, a family portrait, special holiday meals and more, December 21–30. Packages are $1,750 per night for a family of four. 800.315.8214, pelicanhill.com

415-982-2213 www.langantiques.com 323 Sutter Street, San Francisco

Villa Florence This Union Square hot spot is reopening this month with a new look and design. To celebrate the hotel is offering an exclusive Italian getaway package, which includes a welcome bottle of Italian wine, breadsticks and charcuterie from Kuleto’s, two signature cocktails from Bar Norcini, a tour of San Francisco for two and a gift of Kuleto’s olive oil and balsamic vinegar. $369, promotion code PBVF. 415.397.7700, villaﬂorence.com Westin San Francisco Market Street The hotel’s new California Wine Country Experience includes a two-night stay, chauffeured travel for as many as six people through Napa and Sonoma, a picnic provided by Ducca restaurant and four bottles of your choice of wine from the Westin list. Package starts at $934. 415.974.6400, westinsf.com Westin St. Francis The San Francisco hotel has recently introduced Nintendo’s Wii console and Brainbody Fitness program. Westin Hotels is the ﬁrst hotel company to partner with Nintendo to create a custom-designed console. 415.397.7000, westinstfrancis.com MARINMAGAZINE.COM

Facials • Massage • Body Polishes & Wraps • Waxing Natural Face-Lifting • Detox/Wellness Programs • Airbrush Tanning Acupuncture • THERMOGRAPHY • SPA BOUTIQUE • GIFT CARDS 216 Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, CA 94941 • www.evo-spa.com Call for Reservations 415.383.3223 Monday – Saturday 9am – 9pm • Sunday 10am – 7pm

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G I V I N G BACK

volunteermatch.org

Volunteers at the Marine Mammal Center tend to injured seals.

Volunteers for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

City of San Rafael

quirements. About 25 volunteers are need-

MARIN MAGAZINE is in partnership

Help the City of San Rafael get the word

ed. Contact Debbie Lynch, 415.869.1500,

with volunteermatch.org to bring

out about the harmful effects of litter.

ext. 102, habitatgsf.org

awareness of the numerous local volunteer opportunities to our readers.

Learn how to conduct a presentation and use PowerPoint. Contact Cory Bytof,

Marin Child Care Council

415.485.3407, sanrafaelvolunteers.org

A committed volunteer with strong orga-

To start giving back, ﬁnd a complete

nizational skills is needed to help with ad-

Fair Housing of Marin

ministrative duties one speciﬁc day each

A self-starter with strong ofﬁce skills is

month. The council’s mission is to improve

needed in San Rafael to help the homeless,

the availability of affordable child care.

Canal Alliance

immigrants and refugees. Volunteer will

Contact Cathy, 415.472.1092, mc3.org

This ﬁve-person San Rafael team is re-

assist with direct mail campaign, data en-

sponsible for raising $2.2 million annually.

try and research. Contact James Zazueta,

Marin Conservation Corps

Volunteers will learn the basics of nonproﬁt

415.457.5025, fairhousingmarin.com

A charter school academic mentor is need-

list at marinmagazine.com/volunteer

ed to educate members of the corps as

fundraising and how to cultivate long-term relationships with donors. This is a résumé

Habitat for Humanity

they attempt to gain proﬁciency in English

builder for an eager volunteer. Contact Anna

Learn about the application process for

and obtain their high school diploma.

Lindgren, 415.454.2640, canalalliance.org

families in need and explain program re-

Contact 415.454.4554, marincc.org

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Marin Headlands Visitor Center The center is seeking a volunteer to provide information about the area and assist in the day-to-day operation of the center. Contact

MASTER OF ARTS IN HUMANITIES

Terry Kreidler, 415.561.4755, nps.gov

Marin Literacy Program The program provides Marin County adults with free, student-centered instruction in reading, writing and speaking. Volunteers are needed for tutoring at various sites throughout the county, on board the mobile preschool and in the county jail and state prison. Contact 415.485.3318, marinliteracy.org

Marin Municipal Water District Help protect the foothill yellow-legged frog by volunteering to educate the public about this federally listed species of special concern. There are also many other volunteer opportunities, from building bridges to restoring habitat, available to match your skills, interests and time commitment. Contact Janet Klein, 415.945.1169; marinwater.org

Neighborhood Parks Council Volunteers who are passionate about parks and playgrounds are needed. Learn how to create outreach materials, update a website and contact members. Contact Chloe Good, 415.621.3260, sfnpc.org

Explore the humanities while gaining career and life enrichment.

SingersMarin This nonproﬁt arts organization is seeking a volunteer to help with general administrative tasks. It could use help on weekday mornings; volunteers can sign up for as little as one day or or as many as multiple days per week. Contact Jan Pedersen Schiff, 415.383.3712, singersmarin.org

Trips for Kids The San Rafael group is seeking volunteers to teach environmental education in a fun, exciting way to kids on mountain bike rides and at the group’s after-school earna-bike program. Contact Marilyn Price, 415.458.2986, tripsforkids.org MARINMAGAZINE.COM

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

—D.J. MARIN

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Organic Marin RECIPES FROM LAND TO TABLE Written and photographed by Tim Porter and Farina Wong Kingsley, and produced by Marin Magazine, this is a seasonal cookbook that celebrates the organic farmers and ranchers of Marin County. Flavor will feature a recipe from Organic Marin each month. The book can be purchased at local bookstores or by going to marinmagazine.com /organicmarin.

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FL AVOR

Greens Butternut Squash Gratin Annie Sommerville’s rustic gratin is a delightful side dish for an autumn supper. The crisp topping gives way to a tender buttery squash beneath. A great choice for a holiday meal, you can make the gratin ahead of time and reheat the last minute. PARMESAN BREAD CRUMBS

To make the parmesan bread crumbs,

into a buttered baking dish and pour

B c cup bread crumbs

melt the butter in a small sauté pan

the half-and-half on top. Cover the

B d cup grated Parmesan cheese

over medium heat. Stir in the bread

pan with foil and bake in the oven

1 B c tablespoons unsalted butter

crumbs and toast until golden brown,

for 30 minutes. Remove the pan

4 to 5 minutes. Allow the bread

from the oven and sprinkle the

5 cups butternut squash, peeled and

crumbs to cool and toss in a small

butternut squash with the Parmesan

cut into D e-inch cubes

bowl with the Parmesan cheese. Set

bread crumbs.

2 cloves garlic, minced

aside.

Continue to bake the squash uncovered until the top is golden brown

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 tablespoon all-purpose ﬂour

Preheat an oven to 375° F. Place the

and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve the

B c teaspoon salt

squash in a large bowl and mix to-

gratin warm.

B i teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

gether with the garlic, butter, ﬂour,

B c cup half-and-half

salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture

P H OTO: TIM P ORTER

Serves 4 to 6

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INSIDER’S GUIDE

DINE OUT CORTE MADERA BENISSIMO Italian Benissimo means “really really good” in Italian. From margherita pizza to veal parmigiana to mocha mud pie, Benissimo serves a taste of Italy in a casual neighborhood venue. 18 Tamalpais Dr, 415.927.2316, benissimos.com CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN Cal/Eclectic Be prepared for chaos. Easy place to meet with kids; Mom/Dad can enjoy a tasty Thai crunch salad and decent glass of wine while the little ones feast on basic kid-size portions of pasta and pizza. 347 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.945.0401 IL FORNAIO Italian Sausalito’s Larry Mindel hit a home run with this upscale Italian 23-restaurant franchise. Besides the award-winning breads, pizzas and pastas, the menu boasts a variety of salads and noncarb entrées. 223 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.4400, ilfornaio.com IZZY’S STEAKS & CHOP HOUSE American The legendary San Francisco steak house has moved north. Known for great steaks and seafood as well as its fine wine selection, this is a great spot for a group or intimate dinner for two. 55 Tamal Vista, 415.924.3366, izzysrestaurant.com LA MAISON DE LA REINE Vietnamese A refreshing change amid the plethora of Italian, Mexican and Chinese options. The crunchy cabbage chicken salad with peanuts, fresh spring rolls, and combinations of pho are delicious. 346 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.0288 MARIN JOE’S Italian Pasta and other Italian dishes have been served up here for over 50 years. Pick from soup, salad, seafood mesquitegrilled or sautéed meats and over 10 pasta options guaranteed to satisfy. Have a drink and hear local musicians at the well-known piano bar. 1585 Casa Buena Dr, 415.924.2081, marinjoesrestaurant.com MAX’S CAFE American Located across from Town Center, Max’s is renowned for casual ambience and large portions. The menu changes with the season but features year-round favorites like matzo ball soup and BLTs. Besides decadent portions or comfort food and desserts, the menu also offers seasonable local produce and healthy items too. 60 Madera Blvd, 415.924.6297, maxsworld.com PACIFIC CATCH Pan-Asian This well-priced fresh grill eatery offers a bounty of Pacific Rim—inspired small or main plates, like the generously portioned wasabi bowls filled with rice (white or brown), veggies and your choice of fresh or raw fish, chicken or beef. 223 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.3474, pacificcatch.com

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P. F. CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO Chinese As of 2008, Marin diners don’t have to travel in order to enjoy the famed orange chicken, salt-and-pepper calamari or Mongolian beef. The restaurant serves lunch, dinner and takeout. 301 Corte Madera Town Center. 415.413.9890. pfchangs.com RICK’S WINE CELLAR California This one room, bar and wine shop is located at the same spot as Marin’s first wine bar, which opened back in 1988. Now owned and operated by Marin natives Rick and Candy Mendell, whose customers call it the “Cheers of Corte Madera.” Offerings include a glass, a ﬂight or a bottle–all of which pair nicely with the cheeses, salami and hot paninis. 207 Corte Madera Ave, 415.927.9466 rickswinecellar.com

FAIRFAX DEER PARK VILLA Italian This “best place for a party” (Paciﬁc Sun) sits on four garden acres; the Ghiringhelli family has been turning out Italian favorites here since 1937. Come for the famous veal parmesan—or your next big celebration. 367 Bolinas Rd, 415.456.8084, deerparkvilla.com IRON SPRINGS PUB & BREWERY American Grab a beer and a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich—which one Chronicle reviewer calls “the best mushroom dish I have ever tasted”—at the former Ross Valley Brewing Company. 765-A Center Blvd, 415.485.1005, ironspringspub.com 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 CAFÉ Italian Not only is the food satisfying and tasty; the service is friendly and the ambience is warm and inviting. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520

GREENBRAE CAFE Z American A pleasant surprise in the Bon Air shopping mall. Dishes like grilled chicken pesto panini and savory crepes have quickly made this intimate spot a local favorite, and inventive meals keep people coming back for more. 282 Bon Air Center, 415.461.9444, cafez.com JASON’S Italian The restaurant’s new Greenbrae location (it was formerly on Andersen Drive in San Rafael), ﬁlls the space that was formerly Giorgio’s. A crowd of regulars enjoy creative seafood dishes with Italian ﬂair. Enjoy the ceviche, crab cakes or blackened salmon on the large outdoor covered patio. 300 Drakes Landing Rd, 415.925.0808, jasonsrestaurant.com WIPEOUT BAR & GRILL American Belvedere residents Nancy and Scooter Simmons, known for the popular Chevy’s chain, have brought their San Francisco location of the surf-themed Wipeout

Bar & Grill to the Bon Air Center. The restaurant features a full bar, outdoor patio and familyfriendly items like sandwiches, burgers and pizza in a T-shirt-and-sandals atmosphere. 302 Bon Air Center. 415.461.7400, wipeoutbarandgrill.com

KENTFIELD HALF DAY CAFE American A tucked-away setting of intertwining ivy and great white windows makes the perfect breakfast nook. The setting is casual but elegant; the menu includes lattes, exceptional pastries and much more. Dine on the outdoor patio or inside where the view is just as divine. 848 College Ave, 415.459.0291 WILLIE’S CAFE American Stop here for down-toearth atmosphere and reasonable prices. This cozy spot offers breakfast, lunch and dinner; favorites include corn pancakes and veggie frittata. 799 College Ave, 415.455.9455

LARKSPUR CJ CHINESE CUISINE Chinese Great spot to satisfy a craving for wonton soup before catching a show at the Lark Theater; lunch and takeout are popular too. 435 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0717 E & 0 TRADING COMPANY Southeast Asian Chef Edwin Cabriloa-Torres is keeping the restaurant’s innovative plates like Indonesian corn fritters and Thai seafood clay pot as tasty as ever. Without reservations, try a spot at the large communal table. 2231 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.925.0303, eotrading.com EMPORIO RULLI Italian Pastry chef Gary Rulli is renowned for his Northern Italian specialties and treats. The Larkspur location (there are three others) is a popular spot for lunch as well as coffee and a sweet. 464 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7478, rulli.com FABRIZIO RISTORANTE Italian Traditional Italian dishes with an extensive wine list from regions all over Italy; outside seating makes the experience even more special. 455 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.3332 LARK CREEK INN American This ﬂagship eatery for the Lark Creek Restaurant Group opened back in 1989 and was hailed by the New York Times as having “the best home cooking you can imagine.” It remains a perennial special occasion spot and is still known for inventive country cooking—as well as a cozy bar scene. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7766, larkcreek.com LEFT BANK RESTAURANT French Known for award-winning French cuisine and its lively brasserie ambience, this popular corner spot has rated high with locals for well over a decade and the Monday night lobster is always a favorite. Those with a petite appetite/budget can opt for happy hour (4–6 M–F) and enjoy appetizers, all priced under three dollars. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331, leftbank.com

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MARIN BREWING CO American Grab a cold beer made right on site and pair it with fish and chips—fresh cod dipped in Mt. Tam pale ale batter, served with steak fries and homemade tartar sauce. 1809 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.461.4677, marinbrewing.com PICCO California Chef and celebrated restaurateur Bruce Hill deserves the accolades he has received for this eclectic shared-plate heaven. Dishes like mini-burgers and seasonally driven menu items, along with risotto made every half hour, keep people coming back. The Picco Pizzeria and Wine Bar next door is cozy (not many seats) but already famous for its wood-fired pizzas, great wine selection and soft-serve Straus Family Creamery ice cream. 320 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0300, restaurantpicco.com RUSTIC BAKERY California Organic mouthwatering pastries, breads, and sandwiches are on the menu here. The Meyer lemon mascarpone danish and the bacon, avocado and heirloom tomato sandwich with mesclun are perennial temptations. 1139 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.1556, rusticbakery.com TABLE CAFÉ Indian/American Indian-inspired cafe offers a unique menu featuring entirely organic ingredients. Dishes include seasonal salads, incredible soups and fresh juices. The specialty of the house is dosa, filled with a variety of ingredients and served with savory homemade chutneys. You can also take home a choice of three or four gourmet dinners freshly packed daily. 1167 Magnolia Ave, 415.461.6787

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THE MELTING POT French Just across the street from the Larkspur Ferry terminal is a round red-brick haven for fondue fans. Share the “Big Night Out” feast featuring chef’s specialties, or design your own spread with cheese fondue, salad, choice of meat entrée and chocolate fondue dessert. 125 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.461.6358, themeltingpot.com YANKEE PIER American This family-friendly casual clam shack is harbored in a quaint house built in 1924 as a private residence. Though known for beer-battered ﬁsh’n’ chips, clam chowder and tasty salads, Yankee Pier serves fresh seafood delivered daily from both coasts with special dishes by new chef Brian Beach. 286 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7676, yankeepier.com

MILL VALLEY

BUCKEYE ROADHOUSE American Oysters Bingo, baby back ribs and chili-lime “brick” chicken are a few of the satisfying, comfort-food-type menu items that have made this classic roadhouse a favorite since the ’30s. 15 Shoreline Hwy, 415.331.2600, buckeyeroadhouse.com

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www.kitchensplusdesign.com 901 A Street Suite D San Rafael CA 94901 Telephone: 415/453-9589 Fax: 415/257-4332

MARIN NOVEMBER 2008

BALBOA CAFE MILL VALLEY California The San Francisco institution makes its debut in Mill Valley. Come for the pan-roasted Alaskan halibut or risotto but stay for the amazing burgers. 38 Miller Ave, 415.381.7321, balboacafe.com

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How do well ow n k you in? a M r

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

BUNGALOW 44 American Much like sister restaurant Buckeye Roadhouse, Bungalow 44 offers a mean dose of homey carbo- and lipidladen dishes, such as the burger, fried chicken and trufﬂe fries, as well as a few lighter items. The bar is a neighborhood favorite, serving up tasty spirits and eye candy. 44 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500, bungalow44.com CACTUS CAFE AND TAQUERIA Mexican Recently under new management; the food is better than ever. They still offer the lunchtime bargain burrito, as well as ﬁsh tacos and Caesar salads with grilled chicken or shrimp. Be sure to opt for the diablo sauce on enchiladas and burritos. 393 Miller Ave, 415.388.8226 CAFE DEL SOUL California Beware of addiction. Once you stop in for the deliciously fresh Hummus Yummus wrap, you’ll have to come back to sample the chipotle Sunrise Rice Bowl; then it will be the Thai It Up wrap with peanut sauce washed down with ginger limeade that brings you back, and so on. Casual lunch spot, great for takeout. 247 Shoreline Hwy, 415.388.1852, cafedelsoul.net 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

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To win, you must be speciﬁc. Sure, it’s a bridge, but what city is it in? Even better, give us the name of the road it is on. Hint: You may see this bridge as you head out to Point Reyes. Here’s how to play: Go to marinmagazine.com, agree to the rules and submit your answer. Simple. We’ll choose the winner randomly from all the correct answers. Good luck! And the winner is:

Tiffany Donohue of Mill Valley won September’s Call the Shot by identifying the elephant statue at Vina del Mar park in Sausalito.

EL PASEO French Keiko Takahashi, a prominent Tokyo chef known for her modern French cuisine, transports her ﬂair to Mill Valley. With a cottagelike feeling, this fine dining restaurant serves meals that are nothing less than exquisite. Reservations recommended. 17 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0741, elpaseorestaurant.com FRANTOIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO Italian Known for its in-house olive press, superior olive oil and excellent Italian cuisine, this is a great location for large groups. Ask to sit in the press room for private parties. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.289.5777, frantoio.com INDIA PALACE Indian Known as “that great restaurant in the Travelodge,” India Palace is a favorite among the takeout crowd; however, eating on site is a treat too. 707 Redwood Hwy, 415.388.3350 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. Colorful interior and (usually) quick service makes this a fun, easy stop. And if there are too many unsupervised kids for a peaceful meal, takeout is easy too. Alone? Grab a magazine and seat at the counter and enjoy the action. 382 Miller, 415.383.8164 LA GINESTRA Italian A favorite family spot for over 30 years; getting a table or booth can take a while. While this old-school Italian eatery is known

for traditional pastas, veal dishes, pizzas and dry martinis, the familiar wait staff is also part of the attraction. 127 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0224 LUCINDA’S MEXICAN FOOD Mexico Singled out for “best burrito” by the Paciﬁc Sun in 2005, this is a prime place to grab lunch and head back to the ofﬁce. 930 Redwood Highway, 415.388.0754 MAMA’S ROYAL CAFE American No one should miss this fabulous kitsch-decorated spot. Appetizing crepes, brioche French toast and other breakfast treats are served all day; stay awhile and try the sandwiches for lunch. 387 Miller Ave, 415.388.3261 MILL VALLEY COFFEE SHOP American Sure, it could use a steam clean, but the regulars keep coming back for the pancakes and eggs. Great place to bring the kids. 4 Locust Ave, 415.388.6958 PIAZZA D’ANGELO Italian It’s always a party at this long-standing hot spot. A great place to meet up with friends for a fresh plate of pasta, zuppa di pesce or pollo novello, or make some new friends at the bar. 22 Miller Ave, 415.388.2000, piazzadangelo.com PIATTI RISTORANTE AND BAR Italian Reopened, after an extensive remodel, with chef Chris Fernandez on board leading the kitchen with a menu with seasonal food from local producers. The crudo and pizza are not to be missed. 625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525, piatti.com RAIN TREE CAFÉ American/Homestyle In the newly remodeled Strawberry Village shopping center, wonderful American fare: soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches and gourmet crepes. Savor the Mill Valley Crepe: smoked salmon, capers, spinach, and Dijon in a fresh warm wrap. Breakfast is served all day. 610 Strawberry Village, 415.380.8886, caferaintree.com SMALL SHED FLATBREADS California As a slow food chef, Ged Robertson uses only local, mostly organic ingredients. Crowd favorites include the Mt. Tamal-Pie, a delicious fresh salad atop a flatbread. 17 Madrona St, 415.383.4200, smallshed.com THEP LELA Thai This jewel is tucked away in the back of the new Strawberry Village. Diners come for the tasty kee mao noodles, pad thai, fresh rolls and extensive bar menu. It’s also a great place for lunch. 615 Strawberry Village, 415.383.3444 VASCO Italian Whether you’re at a table, the bar or the back counter, you can expect an intimate and tasty dining experience at this one-room trattoria. Don’t miss trying one of the restaurant’s pasta dishes or thin-crust pizzas. 106 Throckmorton Ave, 415.381.3343

NOVATO AURORA RISTORANTE ITALIANO Italian Locals have already discovered this cheery and bright new Italian restaurant serving large portions of

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traditional food. Enjoy your meal on the large outdoor deck. 8 Commercial Blvd, 415.382.8488

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BOCA STEAK & SEAFOOD South American Serving up an Argentinean-inspired menu in Novato with much ado, House specialties include provolenta, gambas al ajillo, and empanadas, as well as hand-cut (grass- and grain-fed) steaks. 340 Ignacio Blvd, 415.883.0901, bocasteak.com

With a holistic approach.

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

Create

a healthy mouth with the body in mind.

FINNEGAN’S MARIN American This pub-style restaurant features tasty appetizers, grilled ﬂatbread pizzas and entrees including New York steak, garlic herb chicken and a braised beef and pork ragu that will really stick to your ribs. Wine, beer and cocktails are available. 877 Grant Ave, 415.899.1516, ﬁnnegansmarin.com PORTELLI ROSSI Italian The owners of Kitchen at 868 Grant have reopened as Portelli Rossi—which means red door in Italian. This casual cafe offers huge portions (most priced under $20), a garden patio and a family-friendly environment. 868 Grant Ave, 415.892.6100, portellirossi.com WILDFOX American Perched on the hillside off Highway 101, this rustic mesquite grill offers a menu full of comfort food and drinks, like the smooth cosmos, and seafood risotto, with bits of butternut squash. In the mood for a cigar? The restaurant has an extensive list. 225 Alameda del Prado, 415.883.9125, wildfoxrestaurant.com

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ROSS CAFE MARMALADE French This quaint oneroom coffeehouse is centrally situated near Ross Common. Get there early for the full selection of pastries to enjoy with fresh-squeezed orange juice. 22 Ross Common, 415.461.2205 MARCHÉ AUX FLEURS French This gem of a restaurant serves up locally farmed produce, wild and fresh seafood and free-range meats prepared with an artisan’s touch. The wine and beer listS are extensive. 23 Ross Common, 415.925.9200, marcheauxﬂeursrestaurant.com TRATTORIA FRESCO Italian Every neighborhood deserves a one-room trattoria like this one. The service is friendly and the farmers’-market-fresh food is fabulous—especially the gnocchi. 13 Ross Common, 415.464.0915

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

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flatbreads, pasta and six seasonal main dishes. 636 San Anselmo Ave, 415.453.3407

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CUCINA RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR Italian Proprietor Jack Krietzman (of Pacific Heights’ Jackson Fillmore) has brought Milan to Marin with his 42-seat family restaurant. Relax with a glass of wine and have a slice from the to-die-for thin pizzas, topped with items like trufﬂe oil and fontina cheese. 510 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.2942

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DEBBIE DOES DESSERT Bakery Besides sweets, the menu offers tapas on weekends and savory dishes such as grilled duck aux pêche with lavender honey sauce on galette de mais. 556 San Anselmo Ave, 415.721.2901, debbiedoesdessert.com FORK California This intimate spot was awarded “Top Food in the Bay Area” by Zagat for 2007. Opt for the ﬁve-course tasting menu or seasonal à la carte options. The three-course special for $20 is available during the ﬁrst seating. 198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.453.9898, marinfork.com INSALATA’S Mediterranean Award-winning chef Heidi Insalata Krahling offers Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes prepared with local organic produce and artisan meats. 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.457.7700, insalatas.com LOCOCO’S PIZZERIA Italian Worth driving to from all over Marin, and it’s an easy place to meet with friends and family. The pizza crust is divine as is the house salad. Easy spot to come with the entire family. Closed Mondays. 638 San Anselmo Ave, 415.453.1238, lococossananselmo.com PLAYDATE CAFE American Parents on the run love to stop in for a sandwich while the kids toss and tumble. 101 San Anselmo Ave, 415.459.7529, playdate-cafe.com TACO JANE’S Mexican Named after the owner’s mother, this casual but colorful place welcomes the whole family. Don’t miss out on Jane’s handmade agave margarita or griddled plantains with Jane’s crema. 21 Tamalpais Ave, 415.454.6562, tacojanes.com

SAN GERONIMO TWO BIRD CAFE California This roadside cafe has it all, including fresh ﬁsh and goodies from the garden. These guys were doing local and sustainable before it was so popular. 625 San Geronimo Valley Dr, 415.488.0105, twobirdcafe.com

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

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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

Celebrate the Holidays

CREPEVINE American Bistro/Creperie Offering casual dining, outdoor seating and a diverse menu of savory crepes (such as the Italian crepe filled with roasted peppers, eggplant, onions, artichoke hearts, tomato sauce and mozzarella). Sweet and savory crepes are available all day long, as is breakfast. 908 Fourth St, 415.257.8822 MULBERRY STREET PIZZERIA Italian Chef Ted Rowe won first place in the Food Network Television Pizza Challenge with his Mushroom Lover’s Pizza—sautéed mushrooms in a creamy garlic sauce atop a fresh pizza crust. Located across from the Smith Ranch Road movie theaters, it’s a great place to grab dinner and a movie. 101 Smith Ranch Rd, 415.472.7272, mulberry-streetpizzeria.com SABOR OF SPAIN Spanish Named Best Tapas/ Small Dishes restaurant in Marin by the Pacific Sun in 2006, this Spanish-wine bar is a great place for a date or a big party. The gazpacho is world class here and a must-try. 1301 Fourth St, 415.457.8466, saborofspain.com SAN RAFAEL JOE’S Italian Guido and Theresa Farina are now running this Marin institution, which has been famous for serving up sophisticated yet casual Italian fare since 1947. The Pacific red snapper meuniere and roast sirloin of beef are standouts. 931 Fourth St, 415.456.2425, srjoes.com SEAFOOD PEDDLER Seafood A great place to seek out fresh seafood in a warm and inviting environment. Varieties of East and West Coast fish flown in daily. Dine indoors or out, or better yet, rent out the banquet room for a party. 100 Yacht Club Dr, 415.460.6669, seafoodpeddler.com SOL FOOD Puerto Rican With south-of-theborder treats like yellow rice, beans, plantains and authentic Puerto Rican dishes, this tiny one-room eatery on Fourth Street just off Highway 101 can be hard to get into, but worth the wait. 732 Fourth St, and 901 Lincoln Ave, 415.451.4765 SUSHI TO DAI FOR Japanese Snagging a seat in this popular sushi spot can be a challenge, but patience will be rewarded with tasty and fresh sashimi, unique sushi rolls and great prices. 869 Fourth St, 415.721.0392 THERESA & JOHNNY’S COMFORT FOOD American Cooking like Mom used to make. Stop in for eggs Benedict, tuna melts, coffee and some of the best milk shakes around. Breakfast and lunch are both served all day long. 817 Fourth St, 415.259.0182, theresa-and-johnnys.com

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Toast the season with authentic Italian cuisine and plenty of good cheer. Our experienced event staff looks forward to providing you with an unforgettable Holiday Party.

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Presentation is everything.

SAUSALITO ANGELINO RESTAURANT Italian Father-andson chefs Pasquale and Alfredo Ancona offer handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti at this authentic Italian restaurant, which has been serving food from the Campania region for the past 24 years. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225, angelinorestaurant.com ARAWAN THAI RESTAURANT Thai Known for its consistently tasty Thai food and efﬁcient, gracious service. For light fare try the imperial or Siamese rolls (vegetarian), or dig into the delicious pad thai noodles or garlic and pepper prawns. Arawan Thai has been a local favorite for over nine years. 47 Caledonia St, 415.332.0882 arawan.com

In France, they call it the onglet. In Italy, the lombatello. In Spain, the solomillo de pulmo. In Corte Madera, the oh momma. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Hanger Steak. I’m pretty sure you could serve this on a hubcap, garnish it with some lug nuts and still catch your guests rubbing their tummies and patting their heads when they thought you weren’t looking. Imagine how good it would be to eat one off a plate? Crazy. Anyway, take it from me, Bryan. Hanger Steak. Out of the closet and off the hook. Come buy everything.

Bryan’s Fine Foods

CAFFÉ DIVINO Tuscan Locals come for the tasty pastas and salads, as well as coffee drinks in a funky one-room setting. Free delivery in Sausalito. 37 Caledonia St, 415.331.9355, caffedivinosausalito.com

www.bryansﬁnefoods.com

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PARADISE BAY American Enjoy the sun or dine under the stars at this waterfront restaurant. Locals say their favorites are the organic beef sandwiches and fresh Maine lobster clubs. 1200 Bridgeway, 415.331.3226, paradisebaysausalito.com POGGIO Italian A great place to celebrate a special occasion or simply enjoy a night out. Executive chef Peter McNee cooks up delicious Northern Italian cuisine using fresh and local ingredients, including produce from the nearby Poggio chef garden. 777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771, poggiotratoria.com SAYLOR’S RESTAURANT AND BAR California/ Mexican Owner and chef Sean Saylor has created a new menu, keeping some traditional favorites and has moved the restaurant to a new location. The large menu is impressive but the bar’s selection of over 100 tequilas is hard to beat. 2009 Bridgeway, 415.332.1512, saylorsrestaurantandbar.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, 415.331.4500, fredscoffeeshop.com

SCOMA’S Seafood Whether it’s for the view of San Francisco or the historical background, visitors ﬂock to this location for a romantic setting. The array of fresh seafood and meat dishes are appetizing as the Italian pasta dishes. 588 Bridgeway, 415.332.9551, scomassausalito.com

FRED’S Coffee Shop A local hot spot for over 40 years. Don’t miss the famous deepfried French toast or the traditional Swedish breakfast. Not a breakfast person? The bacon bleu cheeseburger on a sourdough roll with fries is delicious too. Open daily 7 to 3. Breakfast served until 2. 1917 Bridgeway, 415.332.4575, fredscoffeeshop.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

GAYLORD INDIA Indian Rated a “Restaurant of Excellence” by Zagat, Gaylord’s new location in Sausalito also features million-dollar views of San Francisco and the bay. All the dishes including samosas, curries and tandoori are made with fresh local produce, seafood and artisan meats. 201 Bridgeway, 415.339.0172, gaylord.com

WELLINGTON’S California British transport Jeremy John and his wife Jill have created an expansive (2,400-square-foot) wine bar with a homey feel, board games, views of the bay and a worldly cellar featuring affordable bottles and special reserves. The menu offers wines by the glass for $5 to $20 and tasting flights of any three wines for $12. 300 Turney St (Sausalito). 415.331.9463, wellingtonswine.com

KITTI’S PLACE Pan-Asian Watch out Comforts (aka the best chicken salad in town): Kitty’s serves up a delicious crunchy fresh chicken salad, as well as light tasty spring rolls too. Popular with the lunch and take-out dinner crowd. 3001 Bridgeway, 415.331.0390 LE GARAGE French Olivier Souvestre left his position at executive chef at San Francisco’s Chez Papa Bistro to open his new waterfront cafe in Sausalito with partner Bruno Denis. Le Garage features standard French bistro fare like croque monsieur and brunch items like eggs Benedict with an emphasis on fresh seafood and a large selection of charcuterie. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625

Corte Madera Town Center

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Joseph Humphrey cooks up. 601 Murray Circle, 415.339.4750, cavallopoint.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

WINSHIPS RESTAURANT American The more than four decades old nautical-themed restaurant is luring locals and tourists with hearty breakfasts and lunch options like tender fried calamari, clam strips, mussels and a giant prawn cocktail. 670 Bridgeway, 415.332.1454, winships.com

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

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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 makes 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

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GINZA Japanese The old Tiburon Tommie’s space on Main Street has been buffed and polished and reopened as a sleek, upscale sushi spot with the famous waterfront San Francisco views. This intimate setting offers menu items like sliced yellowtail, avocado, radish sprout, tobiko and spicy Ponzu sauce as well as a variety of tempura and terriyaki dishes. The double hamachi roll is not to be missed. 41 Main St, 415.789.5123, ginzasushi-tiburon.com

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COTTAGE EATERY California This one-room, recently remodeled eatery is the latest restaurant addition to Tiburon’s Ark Row. Having opened to rave reviews, owners Edward Carew and Jennifer Rebman, both formerly of New York—each with stints cooking at Gramercy Tavern—are attracting regulars with seasonal entrées like grilled branzino served with boulanger potatoes, watercress and a taggiasca olive vinaigrette and crispy suckling pig with Umbrian lentils, braised romaine, tomato and saba. Open Thursday through Sunday. 114 Main St, 415.789.5636, thecottageeatery.com

MILANO Italian Located in the Cove Shopping Center, this family-owned neighborhood spot is known for its pasta and friendly service. A good place to take the kids—or catering option for your next birthday party. 1 Blackﬁeld Dr, 415.388.9100 NEW MORNING CAFE American Sit outside or indoors, casual cafe. On a sunny morning, tables will be filled with locals enjoying the sun and extensive breakfast menu; lunch served as well. 1696 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.4315 ROONEY’S CAFE & GRILL American If you’re old enough to remember Cheers on prime time, here is your dinner spot. There’s not a long bar, nor a bartender named Sam (he’s across the street); however, there is an undeniable neighborhood feeling in this one-room cottage dining room. 38 Main St, 415.435.1911 SAM’S ANCHOR CAFE American Everyone knows Sam’s deck is the prime spot for brunch on a lazy sunny Sunday, and its bar is the town’s historic watering hole, but Sam’s is also a great place for lunch or dinner. Enjoy trans-fat-free calamari, fresh ﬁsh, seasonal salads and pastas. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527, samscafe.com SERVINO RISTORANTE Italian With people like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates raving about his pizza, Angelo Servino is doing something right. Some people come for the spacious and popular bar, others for the great food and friendly service. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676, servino.com

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Give the gift that’s made with the Aloha spirit. Treat someone special to an assortment of sweets including our signature chocolate covered macadamias, Maui Caramacs,® MacNut Crunch,® and our decadent dark chocolate. Find Hawaiian Host at a retailer near you.

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SWEDEN HOUSE BAKERY Swedish A cozy spot and local favorite; the blue storefront opens into bay front windows with sweeping views of Racoon Straits and Angel Island. The menu is straight from Stockholm with Swedish and Danish pastries in the morning and open-faced sandwiches, Swedish meat loaf and light salads for lunch. 35 Main St, 415.435.9767 THREE DEGREES California Opt for the outside patio, white tablecloths in the dining room, or the swank modern setting of the bar, and enjoy the local, seasonal menu options like grilled Niman Ranch New York “cowboy” strip steak or seasonal risotto. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.5996, threedegreesrestaurant.com

O N LY

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WEST MARIN DRAKES BEACH CAFE Local If you’re OK with the long drive, you can’t beat the view and the fresh local ingredients used to make the burgers, salads and soups at this casual spot (Inverness). Walk on the beach after lunch. 1 Drakes Beach Rd, 415.669.1297, drakesbeachcafe.com OLEMA INN California One of the most charming settings around, this inn and restaurant is a great destination lunch spot for a Sunday drive, or dinner Wednesday through Sunday. The menu includes imaginative combinations using regional and organic greens while the bar features a full wine list (Olema). 10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.663.9559, theolemainn.com

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PARKSIDE CAFE American Most people know it as the ultimate breakfast spot (think Guatemalan scramble or wafﬂe with blood orange-strawberry compote and whipped cream, alfresco) but lunch and dinners are great here too. Choose from an array of organic locally grown produce and artisan meats and wild seafood. The grilled quail, Hawaiian butterfish and the rib-eye steak are standouts (Stinson). 43 Arenal Ave, 415.868.1272, parksidecafe.com PINE CONE DINER American Just off the main road, Joannie Kwit has re-created the ultimate neighborhood diner. Vintage china and homemade curtains complement the eclectic but homey menu featuring local fare. A favorite for locals as well as tourists, bicyclists and motorcyclists (Point Reyes Station). 60 Fourth St, 415.663.1536, thepineconediner.com SAND DOLLAR American Originally built from three barges in Tiburon in 1921, the 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 for afternoon enjoyment (Stinson). 3458 Shoreline Hwy, 415.868.0434, stinsonbeachrestaurant.com

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

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SAN FRANCISCO AME Pan-Asian On the ground floor of the St. Regis Hotel, Ame Restaurant was designated “Best New Restaurant in 2007” by the Zagat guide. Known for raw treatments such as sashimi, crudo, tartare and carpaccio. Dinner only, reservations recommended. 689 Mission St, 415.284.4040, amerestaurant.com BOBOQUIVARI’S THE STEAK Steak/Seafood In the mood for surf and turf? Head out to Bobo’s and be sure to order the iron skillet-roasted mussels, Dungeness crab, and of course, the steak dry-aged for four to six weeks. The proprietors (also of the Stinking Rose) claim it’s the only one of its kind on the West Coast. 1450 Lombard St, 415.441.8880, boboquivaris.com BONG SU Vietnamese Brainchild of Tammy Huynh, executive chef and co-owner of the popular Tamarine in Palo Alto. The interior is a mix of the modern and traditional; silk, wood and steel elements such as a giant bong su (plumeria), and ﬂoating orchids in towering glass vases. Recently voted one of Esquire magazine’s top 20 in 2006. 311 Third St, 415.536.5800, bongsu.com

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CANTEEN Cali/French It’s not easy to get a seat in this nationally noted California-French restaurant, partly because of its reputation and partly because there aren’t many. Ever since the former Rubicon chef Dennis Leary turned a run-down downtown coffee shop into one of the best spots in the city, people have been lining up to sample the goods. 817 Sutter St, 415.928.8870 HARRIS’ RESTAURANT Steak house A San Francisco institution for nearly a century. Wine Spectator ranked Harris’ as one of the nation’s top ten steak houses. 2100 Van Ness Ave, 415.673.1888, harrisrestaurant.com JONES RESTAURANT Comfort If you’re thinking of crossing the bridge, check out the brand new Jones Restaurant in the spot formerly occupied by the Marina Sports Bar. The bar manager, Tony Devencenzi, has created a menu featuring fresh ingredients and inventive takes on the classics. Don’t miss the muddled CucumberBasil Gimlet or the freshly squeezed 2400 Greyhound. 2400 Lombard, 415.440.2000, jones-sf.com MAMACITA Mexican Located in the former Cafe Marimba space, chef Sam Josi has made Mamacita a dining destination, drawing in locals with authentic Mexican cuisine and 100 percent pure agave tequila margaritas. The menu features a large number of small plates but save room for the churro dessert, served with a cup of Mexican hot chocolate. 2317 Chestnut St, 415.376.1629, mamacitasf.com MYTH Cali/French Innovative cuisine has made this one of the most popular spots in town. Located in Jackson Square, the space was home to failed restaurant MC2 before Myth’s original owner Tom Duffy scored a hit. 470 Paciﬁc Ave, 415.677.8986, mythsf.com

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Holiday Gift Guide

ADVERTIS IN G PROMOTI O N

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

pinestreet papery Fine wrappings and embellishments. Holiday cards, gifts and amusements. Calendars, journals, party favors and more. Find a little something for almost anyone on your list and ﬁnd the wrappings too!

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Swing a kid’s store - This holiday season join us at Swing and step into a magical winter wonderland with clothes, toys and accessories in downtown Larkspur. Our knowledgeable staff will help you select the perfect holiday gifts.

Join Koze as we celebrate the Season of Giving. A beautiful holi-

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day collection awaits, including a fabulous selection of winter accessories. Gifts starting at $49, FREE Gift Wrapping and lots of holiday cheer. Gift Cards available. 415.435.1916 getkoze.com

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The Sanctuary Spa - Reward yourself with the gift of relaxation and renewal. Ease into the holidays with a luxurious massage, body wrap and facial. The Sanctuary Spa at Bay Club Marin. Pamper yourself, you deserve it.

Champagne Salon & Day Spa is Marin’s Premier Full Service Luxury Day Spa. Hair, Nails, Facials, Air Brush Spray Tanning, Skin Rejuvenation, Massage, Wax and Tint, Hair Extensions.

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1 Blackﬁeld Drive (Cove Shopping Center) 415.380.9111 Tiburon, CA champagnesalonanddayspa.com

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Ruth Livingston Studio - is located in Tiburon’s Ark Row. On Dazzle with diamonds! It is the season to sparkle. An alternative to the malls, we offer an extensive collection of carefully chosen designer jewelry from Europe, as well as One-Of-A-Kind pieces designed “in house”. 1226 Fourth Street San Rafael, CA

415.459.5808 stephanhill.com

EVO Spa • Give a gift that shows you really care. An EVO Spa Gift Card Renews, Rejuvenates and Nurtures Body, Mind and Spirit. Gift cards available for purchase at spa, by phone or online.

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415.383.3223 evo-spa.com

display there are items from our award winning furniture collection, unique decorative objects, gifts, and jewelry by international and Bay Area artists.

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Old Gold Featuring classic hand fabricated and die struck jewelry, as well as the work of contemporary masters in jewelry design and technique......two romantic locations. www.oldgoldjewelry.com 17 Main Street Tiburon, CA 415.789.9583

6 Albion Street Mendocino, CA 707.937.5005

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Holiday Gift Guide

ADVE RT IS I N G P R OMOTI ON

ADVE RT IS IN G P R OMOT ION

adl i b

MARIN ADVERTISERS SPEAK UP

Patrick Lee, DDS

Maggie Champagne

Sausalito Dentistry, Sausalito

Champagne Day Spa, Tiburon

Greg Nelson and Sean Kelly

“We are a community-based, high-quality cosmetic

“Expect the royal treatment when you go to Cham-

and family dental practice,” says owner and Terra

pagne Salon and Day Spa,” says owner Maggie

Linda High School graduate Patrick Lee. “We have

Champagne. Formerly Salon One, the business has

served southern Marin for over 15 years and have a

changed ownership twice in the last two years but

beautiful office that serves to provide both a relaxing

current owner, Champagne has made dramatic

environment and the latest in technology.”

changes, including remodeling and renaming the business. “Everything, from the services and prod-

What is your competitive edge?

ucts to the ambience and customer service, has

Experienced dental care, exceptional service in a

been elevated to a level one might expect to find at

beautiful and relaxing environment.

a destination or resort spa.”

Describe your dream client.

Brieﬂy describe your business philosophy.

A patient highly motivated to improve his or her

Treat each client like he or she would expect to be

quality of life with the best dental care available.

treated at an upscale salon and day spa. We cater with higher expectations than other salons, and we

my life.

must consistently meet or exceed those expectations. Our success depends on what clients think when they leave here. Whoever you are, while you are here you will be treated like royalty.

What were you going to be when you grew up?

Our two newest additions, SkinCeuticals and Bare

What is the funniest thing that’s happened recently in your business? I can remember once when we had to extract part of a “dragon roll” from a patient’s bridge—we’re right next to Sushi Ran.

What makes you excel at what you do?

Escentuals. After 26 years in the beauty supply business, I’ve tried a lot of makeup and skin care prod-

Lee,

DDS,

Sausalito

Dentistry,

107

Caledonia Street, Suite I, Sausalito, 415.331.5656,

years of experience to help you build the kitchen or bathroom of your dreams.” Whether it is a single vanity or an entire project Lamperti Contracting project and transform your home.

Describe your business philosophy. To provide a positive remodel experience for our clients, one they will talk about for years to come.

What is your competitive edge? One-stop shopping. From concept to completion we handle the entire project seamlessly.

An involved client who understands the project and has a vision of how it will enhance his or her life in the future.

What makes you excel at what you do?

amazing results after using SkinCeuticals for only

Experience—nothing else can take its place. Both

two days. It’s not inexpensive but it is an excellent

our design and construction staff have years of

skin care line for all skin types and all ages.

training and practical experience that only a seasoned professional can bring to the job, giving con-

My staff. Every staff member is an expert in his or Patrick

innovative staff of design professionals bring their

ucts and both of these really impressed me! I saw

What is your competitive edge?

Curiosity.

ficer Greg Nelson and President Sean Kelly. “Our

Describe your dream client.

Which product is your favorite?

A dentist—since I was six!

kitchen design showroom,” say Chief Financial Of-

her own field. They love what they do and they take pride in providing exceptional service.

Champagne,

Blackfield

Drive,

Champagne Tiburon,

champagnesalonanddayspa.com

with ease and proficiency. Greg Nelson and Sean Kelly, Lamperti Contracting

sausalitodentistry.com Maggie

fidence to our clients that their job will be handled

Day

Spa,

415.380.9111,

and Design, Inc., 1241 Andersen Drive, San Rafael, 415.454.1623, lampertikitchens.com

PHOTOS: SHERI MONTGOMERY

It makes being part of a team apply to all areas of

“Lamperti is Marin’s oldest and most respected

and Design will help maximize your remodeling

to a more exclusive, more discriminating clientele

Your thoughts regarding working with a family member?

Lamperti Contracting and Design, Inc., San Rafael

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Encore Marin’s Finest Consignment Shop

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G ive Yourself the G ift of Beautiful Skin Relax and renew while your skin’s youthful glow and natural beauty are artfully restored with a personal touch. • Designer Facials • Clinical Peels • Diamond Microdermabrasion • Dermaplaning • Endermologie Body Contouring • Facial Waxing • Acne Management

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BRAND NEW ON THE MARKET! The answer to a breathable vacuum hairpiece, worn by our client pictured below. Designed by Charle to look as natural as a vacuum piece with the benefit of being cooler and more comfortable. Sensitive solutions for hair loss due to: Alopecia Areata/female hereditary thinning/Chemotherapy/radiation treatments/Trichotillomania Offering human hairpieces for women, men and children Toll Free: (888) 680-HAIR (4247) (Northern CA) San Rafael

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COUNTRY GARDENS GIFT SHOPPE Now Celebrating 27 Years in Marin . . . Always Providing Excellent Service.

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415 455.1575 548 DuBois St

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MIC ROC L IMATE

PEACOCK GAP Friendly families, golf and lots of level lots are the appeals BY JIM WOOD PHOTOS TIM PORTER

heck this out: there is Peacock Drive, Peacock Court, Peacock

possibly distinguishing Peacock Gap from the peacock-feather-swishing

Estates and Peacock Park—all in the San Rafael community of,

swingers of the 1970s—is Glenwood Elementary. “The family support

here we go again, Peacock Gap. So where did all these Peacocks

that school receives is phenomenal,” adds Nelson. “I guess it’s because the

come from? Maybe, just maybe, it’s a leftover from Marin’s 1970s rep as the “hot tub and peacock feather” capital of the Western world?

teachers, staff, parents and students are all just outstanding.” That said, let’s drop all references to peacock feathers and talk about

Certainly not if you ask Marin native Caroline Nelson. “Ours is a very

nine irons. “The Peacock Gap Golf and Country Club on Biscayne Drive

family-oriented neighborhood,” declares the upbeat mother of three, ages

is big and soon to become bigger,” says Ed Peplinski, the club’s director

6, 4 and 2. “We love it because of that; plus, we’re the one of the sunniest

of golf. What Peplinski is referring to is the upcoming complete refur-

areas in Marin yet get cool breezes off San Pablo Bay.” Another amenity—

bishing of Peacock Gap’s 1960s-era clubhouse, including the addition of

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a swimming pool, luxurious spa and extensive point-of-arrival improvements and landscaping. “We’ve just finished a multimillion-dollar year-long revamping of the championship golf course,” he adds. “This will complete the package and provide Peacock Gap with a truly first-class golf, entertainment and recreational experience.” Speaking of experiences, for the past 11 years Catherine Wallace has lived in Knollwood, a cluster of townhouses overlooking the 10th green of the Peacock Gap golf course. “And I love it,” declares the financial services consultant before even being asked. “On one side I enjoy the serenity of a beautiful golf course,” the single divorcee adds, “In the other direction is China Camp State Park, where I love to go hiking and mountain biking.” Also enjoying life in Peacock Gap are Guilia Welch and Ernesto Diaz and their threeyear-old twin daughters. Diaz teaches math at Larkspur’s Redwood High School and Welch is an associate business professor at nearby Dominican University; they’re both recent refugees from the corporate world—she from Lucent Technologies; he from Autodesk. “We have fabulous neighbors here in Peacock Gap,” says Welch, “Whether it’s Christmas, Halloween or the Fourth of July, there’s always an open house or a party of some kind.” Welch, Diaz and their girls also enjoy the nearby (and picture-perfect) Peacock Park. “But,” Welch adds reluctantly, “the rock quarry is a bit of a bummer.” The San Rafael Rock Quarry is across North Point San Pedro Road and half a mile toward the bay from Peacock Gap. Historically speaking, it was there first—as in 1929. Due to a series of bureaucratic oversights plus a recent surge in the demand for levee-building rock in the Sacramento Delta, it is still going full bore, although under a raft of environmental and noise abatement regulations.

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A similar level-lot listing belongs to Morgan Lane’s Kathleen Clifford. “This is an architecturally unique 2,400-square-foot, four-bedroom, two-bath home,” she says. “Years ago, it was the sales office for the entire Peacock Gap development.” As a result, it features a dramatic vaulted ceiling, extensive use of sliding glass doors and a massive stone fireplace. This property is priced at $945,000 and, to date, has attracted two offers. All of which, on close examination, does not

Moving up in price range, a Peacock Gap list-

seem to have greatly affected real estate values

ing by Joey DiBono of Bradley Real Estate is set on

within Peacock Gap. Besides family-friendly neigh-

two thirds of an acre on Chapel Cove Drive, which

borhoods and the soon-to-be-refurbished Peacock

has the area’s newest homes. “It is the biggest lot

Gap Country Club, the area’s appeals appear to be

on the block,” DiBono boasts, “and this two-story,

an out-of-the-rat-race countrylike atmosphere and a

five-bedroom home has over 4,300 square feet, all

surfeit of large level lots—as in backyards where kids can play. One such

of which are in perfect condition.” Adding to its attraction, says DiBono,

property is listed with David Pfeiffer and Jan Gregg of Pacific Union’s

are dramatic views of San Pablo Bay, two Bay Area bridges, and nearby

Strawberry Village office for $1,125,000. “It has a 9,000-square-foot lot,”

mountains. The price of this Hamptons-style home: $2,229,000.

says Pfeiffer, “and it’s level land.” According to him, the 1,900-squarefoot single-story home is “in topnotch condition including all the upgrades” with four bedrooms and two baths.

In case you’re wondering, in recent years some Peacock Gap homes have sold as high as $5 and $6 million. So who cares where the name came from.

*UST A FEW MINUTE MINUTES NORTH OF THE 'OLDEN 'ATE YET A MILLION MILES AWAY IS 3TINSON "EACH &OR OVER YEARS 3EADRIFT #OMPANY HAS BEEN THE EXPERT IN 2EAL %STATE SALES AND PREMIUM VACATION RENTALS IN 3TINSON "EACH AND THE PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITY OF 3EADRIFT #ALL US TODAY TO WE 256 Seadrift Road: Available for the Àrst time in over 20 years, this classic Stinson Beach House with three bedrooms and two baths is located in the prime central section of the Seadrift Beach. Walls of glass allow wide views of the ocean and the Mt. Tamalpais ridge. A private gated garden patio provides a wonderful, sunny retreat. Offered at $5,300,000 6)%7 /52 02/0%24)%3 /.,).% !4 777 3%!$2)&42%!,49 #/- !.$ #!,, 53 !4

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Forecast Your Financial Future

Current Situation

But WHAT IF...

Call us to review your “what ifs” in life.

SOLD $3,850,000 | 305 HIGHLAND AVENUE, SAN RAFAEL

PENDING $1,750,000 | 15 EUTERPE STREET, MILL VALLEY

WE HAVE A KEEN EYE for finding unique opportunities and knowing how and when to implement a closing strategy that will put you in a winning position. When it comes to entering and closing complex negotiations, you will be happy you have Jimmy Marin on your side.

SOLD $1,150,000 | 311 SAUSALITO STREET, CORTE MADERA

WE TAKE GREAT CARE to help you maximize the sale of your property. From the beginning, our team of “best in class” professionals will assess your property and implement a plan to maximize its sale and make it “market ready” before you list. SOLD $2,775,000 | 125 MARION AVENUE, MILL VALLEY

24 / 7 R E A L E S TAT E K N O W L E D G E YO U C A N T R U S T Jimmy Wanninger | TEL 415.990.8990 24/7 | w w w.JimmyMarin.com

SOLD $1,450,000 | 11 FAIRVIEW DRIVE, CORTE MADERA

WE PRIDE OURSELVES on offering our clients complete, up-to-the-minute details on all aspects of a home purchase or sale. We’ll keep you informed with executive summaries of current market trends and competitive market analysis unique to your situation. We make it a habit to clear the clutter of information surrounding real estate and give you the straight talk and concise information you need to successfully navigate through today’s market. SOLD $1,750,000 | 11 MADRONO AVENUE, CORTE MADERA

SOLD $2,299,000 | 459 REDWOOD AVENUE, CORTE MADERA

SOLD $1,212,500 | 146 GRANADA DRIVE, CORTE MADERA

24 / 7 R E A L E S TAT E K N O W L E D G E YO U C A N T R U S T Jimmy Wanninger | TEL 415.990.8990 24/7 | w w w.JimmyMarin.com

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San Rafael 130 PALM AVENUE

urreted 1894 Queen Anne in exquisite condition mixing modern convenience with historic architectural detail and mystique. Five bedrooms, three full and two half baths, beautifully remodeled gourmet kitchen with professional-grade appliances and limestone countertops. Additional features include an expansive living room, ten foot ceilings, six foot windows, original wood floors, carved wood fireplaces, sweeping curved stairway, elegant wraparound porch, solar heated pool with pool room and beautifully landscaped gardens with fruit trees, Japanese maples, hydrangeas and roses. Offered at $3,500,000

Offered exclusively by

For additional information, please call:

Susan Bowman The Fine Art of Fine Property

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Morgan Lane Marin, Inc. 901 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Kentfield, CA 94904 415/448-1111 sbowman@morganlane.com www.morganlanemarin.com

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

TIBURON MASTERPIECE - Listen to the sounds of the waves and enjoy the ever-changing mural of the Bay. This exquisite modern, custom home enjoys four bedrooms, five and one-half baths, family room, game room, library/office and more. Breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island and San Francisco. Located minutes from downtown Tiburon, the ferry and recreational areas. Price Upon Request. www.7LindaVista.com

Marilyn Rich

#l in All Pacific Union Marin Offices

415.464.3741 www.MarilynRich.com

Our global luxury connection Real estate is local, but the importance of national and international exposure is undeniable, especially for luxury properties. Frank Howard Allen is a member ® of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and ® Luxury Portfolio Fine Property Collection. This powerful affiliation allows us to: • Deliver national and international exposure for our clients’ luxury properties with luxuryportfolio.com, the only luxury real estate website that is translated into nine languages and displays property values in 22 currencies, drawing traffic from over 150 countries

NAPA

• Offer unparalleled marketing resources, including regional and international editions of the Wall Street Journal, Unique Homes magazine, the duPont Registry, and vast web exposure • Connect to an overall network which includes 700 firms with 5,500 offices and 170,000 associates producing nearly $370 billion in annual home sales in 38 countries

SAN RAFAEL

When you’re ready, contact us. We’ll apply 98 years of service and the power of our entire team to make your experience a rewarding one.

14,000

MORE $1 MILLION-PLUS LISTINGS

12,000

TIBURON

10,000

fhallen.com/luxury

11,844

8,000 7,432

6,000

6,025

4,000 2,000 0

Luxury Portfolio

Sotheby’s

Christie’s Great Estates

Data compiled by Luxury Portfolio Fine Property Collection.® Certified by Trendgraphix, Inc., 2008

Cloverdale* │ Glen Ellen* │ Greenbrae │ Guerneville* │ Healdsburg* │ Kenwood* │ Mill Valley │ Napa* │ Novato │ Petaluma │ San Anselmo San Francisco* │ San Rafael │ Santa Rosa │ St. Helena* │ Sausalito* │ The Sea Ranch/Gualala* │ Sebastopol* │ Sonoma* │ Tiburon © 2008 Frank Howard Allen. All rights reserved. *Independently owned and operated brokerages.

3910 Paradise Drive, Tiburon Paradise Cove

www.ParadiseByTheBay.com

The only private estate on the exclusive Tiburon-Belvedere Peninsula with: Extensive waterfrontage, Championship tennis court and Mediterranean pool. Once in a lifetime a historic property of this beauty and magnitude becomes available on the Tiburon peninsula. Situated on approximately 6.8 acres of tidelands and waterfront, this luxury estate has been in the same family since 1926. The private compound, which feels like a boutique resort, is comprised of a California-style five bedroom main house, three outbuildings, wine room, playground, and magnificent waterfront providing the ultimate private retreat ideal for quiet personal use or grand scale entertaining.

Offered at: $22,600,000

Brent Thomson 415.789.7761 415.845.5442 bthomson@fhallen.com

fhallen.com

9 Wildflower Court, Corte Madera Charming Cape Cod-style Home

www.9WildﬂowerCourt.com

Custom finishes make this among the best homes in Madera del Presidio. Enjoy cathedral ceilings in the living room plus a formal dining room. The air conditioned home features a newly remodeled kitchen with granite slab counters, stainless steel appliances and eat-in area. A breakfast bar adjoins the family room, which features bookshelves that surround the fireplace. The back yard boasts a large, level lawn and patio area with a natural gas barbecue hook-up. All of the floors in the downstairs living space are oak hardwood. New Baldwin hardware has been added throughout the house.

Offered at: $1,149,000

Judy LeMarr 415.793.5030 jlemarr@fhallen.com www.marindreamhome.com

fhallen.com

Belvedere Charming French Country Estate This beautiful home built in 1938 is sited on Belvedere Island’s sunny west side and boasts breathtaking sweeping views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito, and Mt. Tamalpais. Sited on a 30,000 +/- sq. ft. parcel, the extremely private and gated property is reminiscent of the south of France, with lush gardens, brick and stone terraces, and large entertaining patios and decks. The living room features a vaulted beam and truss ceiling and massive stone fireplace. A separate dining room with hand-leaded glass windows overlooks gardens and Richardson Bay. A handsome custom-crafted kitchen and family room with fireplace lead through a brick archway to a charming and secluded dining terrace. Visit BelvedereFrenchTudor.com for more information, or call Bill for a private showing.

Offered at: $8,295,000

Bill Smith 415.902.4456 415.789.7754 wsmith@fhallen.com

fhallen.com

Kentfield Prime Kent Woodlands Location Fabulous opportunity to live comfortably now, remodel or build your own custom home on approximately 1.2 acre site in the heart of Kent Woodlands. Ideally located in the flats with full day sun and a direct Mt. Tam view, the existing house has a 4 bedroom, 3 bath open floor plan with a country kitchen, living room with picture windows and a large downstairs family room. Private setting with great outdoor living all within easy access of great schools, shopping and restaurants. For those who want to build, plans have been developed for a 5,800 sq. ft. brown shingle craftsman home. The proposed floor plan was designed to take advantage of the sun exposure and Mt. Tam views with a majority of the entertaining and living space on one floor. The plans have been developed to include a pool and pool house which orient to a sunny, flat and private backyard.

Offered at: $2,650,000 ®

Patricia Oxman 415.461.4100 poxman@fhallen.com www.RealEstateInMarin.com

fhallen.com

27 Dowitcher Way, San Rafael Waterfront Property Breathtaking views of the Bay! Spacious home is situated on a private cul-de-sac surrounded by a 20 acre wildlife preserve. Large master suite has dramatic views.

Offered at: $919,000

4 Blackstone Lane, San Rafael Own a Little Bit of Heaven Situated on over 1 acre, this 4000 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath custom home offers peace and tranquility in a park-like setting. Wake up to spectacular views and endless open space reflected through many glass doors and windows.

Offered at: $1,599,000 ®

Lori Saia Odisio 415.258.4101 415.747.6707 lodisio@fhallen.com

fhallen.com

Alva Falla & Associates Experience Counts

249 Sea View, San Rafael – Active

1404 Grand Avenue, San Rafael – Pending

Alva Falla

Jennifer Falla Firkins

Janice Guehring

415.518.1930 afalla@fhallen.com

415.602.5768 jfirkins@fhallen.com

415.717.9636 jguehring@fhallen.com

Buying, Selling or Investing? Allow us to put our knowledge of Marin’s marketplace and over 60 years combined experience to work for you. Call for a free market analysis - 415.257.2069

www.AlvaFalla.com

10 Silk Oak Circle, San Rafael – Sold

fhallen.com

THE FRIENDLIEST AGENTS IN TOWN!

Belvedere

$7,500,000

Tiburon

$7,100,000

Breathtaking WATERFRONT property that boasts nearly 5,500 sq. ft. of living space and over 5,000 sq. ft. decks. Melissa Bradley (415) 531-3567

At the top of Mt. Tiburon is a spectacular ridge of homes, standing out among them is this distinctive property. Bruce Berlinger (415) 269-1666

Kentfield

Tiburon

$5,895,000

$3,290,000

A rare opportunity to own in one of the most coveted locations in Tiburon. Magnificent views of San Francisco.

San Rafael

$6,500,000

Approx. 10,000 sq. ft. home on approx. 10 acres. Amazing bay views. Melissa Bradley (415) 531-3567

Tiburon

$2,795,000

Gorgeous Craftsman (nearly new home) in upper Kent Woodlands on nearly 8 acres of land. Melissa Bradley (415) 531-3567

Lyndasue Johnson (415) 515-7010

Breathtaking Views of the GG Bridge, Angel Island & the Bay. Lyndasue Johnson (415) 435-2705

San Rafael

Sausalito

San Rafael

$2,600,000

Beautiful Country Club Estate with Tennis Court and Pool. 6BD/5BA, one level home on approx. 1 acre.

Melissa Bradley

(415) 531-3567

Tiburon

$2,395,000

Expanded and extensively remodeled, located in the Reedlands, this home is ready to move in.

Ida Baugh

$2,599,000

Dramatic architecture, fabulous lot, stunning views, desirable location! Minutes to San Francisco! Deborah Solvason (415) 519-3555

(415) 435-2705

$2,295,000

Remodeled approx. 3,150 sq. ft. home, all on one level! 60 ft. boat dock. Melissa Bradley (415) 531-3567

$2,595,000

New construction, approx. 1 acre in Los Ranchitos. Views of the bay and hills to the east.

Suzanne Ferrari

(415) 302-8171

San Rafael

$2,229,000

Hampton’s-style 5BR/4BA extraordinary residence with classic lines & a dramatic circular foyer that is open & elegant. Joey DiBono (415) 279-1184

See thousands of listings in Marin County and beyond: www.BradleyRealEstate.com

THE FRIENDLIEST AGENTS IN TOWN!

Tiburon

$2,150,000

San Rafael

$1,999,000

Mill Valley

$1,925,000

Stunning views from almost every room, featuring 3BD/2.5 BA. Excellent floor plan. Lyndasue Johnson (415) 435-2705

Nearly new Estate! Over 4,000 sq. ft. estate on nearly 1/2 acre with Bay views, near Peacock Gap Golf Course. Robert Bradley (415) 314-1314

3 parcels, approx. one acre estate. This stunning home boasts commanding views across the Bay. 4BD/2.5BA. Rose De Angelo (415) 686-1380

Sausalito

Novato

Sausalito

$1,799,000

Dramatic 3+BD/3.5BA Bay view home offers sophisticated living & was built by the developer of Post Ranch Inn/Cavallo Pt Lodge.

Camara Scremin

(415) 902-7183

$1,499,000

Classic 1924 home nestled in the heart of the sunny Sausalito Banana Belt, a highly-sought after neighborhood. Camara Scremin (415) 902-7183

Mill Valley

Tiburon

$1,200,000

$1,499,000

Custom 5BD/4BA with elevator and wheelchair accessibility throughout. Beautiful private setting on approx. 3 acres. Dale Faust (415) 298-4484

$1,195,000

$1,450,000

Vintage Charm and Character. Old Tiburon, charming 1905 Victorian with period charm, 3BD/2BA offers wonderful views. Lyndasue Johnson (415) 515-7010

4BD/3BA beautiful bay view home w/ in-law set up. Approx. 13,875 sq. ft. lot. Remodeled with high end amenities. Lou Broderick (415) 297-3575

Magical one-acre street to street property in Blithedale Canyon. Park-like setting --redwoods, stream, and terraced garden. Carol Adler (415) 987-1969

Mill Valley

San Anselmo

Larkspur

$1,100,000

Coveted Tamalpais Park. Main house: 2BD/1BA w/attic area, bedroom and storage. Spacious backyard w/legal Studio. Carol Adler (415) 987-1969

$1,059,000

The One You’ve Been Waiting For…Spacious, private and updated home in the desirable Sequoia park neighborhood of San Anselmo.

Eric Gelman

(415) 686-1855

$869,000

Charming & Desirable ~In the coveted Heather Gardens area. 2+BD/1+BAcottage with expansion potential. Level, sun-drenched lot. Melissa Hardiman (415) 847-7651

See thousands of listings in Marin County and beyond: www.BradleyRealEstate.com

Heidi Ellyn & Pat Skipper - Featured Listings -

133 Ward St., Larkspur Vintage Victorian built in 1897 just steps from Downtown Larkspur. 5 bedrooms/3 baths with new gourmet kitchen.

5025Paradise.IsNowOffered.com $1,549,000

133wardst.IsNowOffered.com $1,800,000

lti

ple

rs!

5025 Paradise, Tiburon Coastal Living Style Panoramic Waterview Home 4 bedrooms/2 baths on nearly 1/2 acre lot.

1 Via San Fernando, Tiburon Monterey Colonial 4 bedrooms/2.5 baths with level lawn on 1/3 acre.

68 Madrone, Larkspur Vintage Home in Historic Downtown Larkspur 3 bedrooms/2.5 baths.

1ViaSanFernando.IsNowOffered.com $1,699,000

68Madrone.IsNowOffered.com $1,675,000

Top-Producing Team - We Sell Marin! Call us for more details about these fine properties. Also, be sure to inquire about our professional staging program.

Heidi Ellyn, Esq. Top Producer 2004, 2005 & 2007 (415) 786-6807 • heidiellyn@comcast.net

Pat Skipper (415) 823-3099 pskipper@comcast.net

THE FRIENDLIEST AGENTS IN TOWN!

Larkspur • Brand New Luxury Estates

Entertaining will be easy in these designer homes that offer fabulous views of the Bay & Mt. Tam. Gourmet kitchens with Caesarstone, Marble or Granite counters, Viking appliances including 6 burner Gas Range/oven/refrigerator & wine coolers. The bedrooms are commodious and the bathrooms are luxurious. White-oak floors, high-end lighting, 3 fireplaces and many patios for enjoying the sun and view. 2-car garages. Excellent location, pop down to the landing for shopping & fine dining and then across the way to catch the ferry to the city for work or a Giant’s baseball game! Right next to open space, a park with trees and a lake. This is the lifestyle you’ve been waiting for. Eco friendly designs. 23 Luxury estates in all, built by the local and highly respected MONAHAN PACIFIC. 2 are sold and occupied and 2 are ready to move into today!

First Phase Starting at:

$1,995,000

Models Open Saturdays & Sundays 1-4 & Wednesdays 4:30-6:30 or Call for a Private Showing:

Melissa Bradley (415) 531-3567

Heidi Ellyn

(415) 786-6807

Andy Falk

(415) 250-8025

Eric Gelman

(415) 686-1855

Pat Skipper

(415) 823-3099

www.DrakesCoveEstates.com

Lee Parkhurst

(415) 302-5548

30 Lee Street, Mill Valley

RECENT SALES 30 Prospect Avenue, San Anselmo 1011 Erica Road, Mill Valley Buyer Representation 570 Oak Avenue, San Anselmo Buyer Representation

ACTIVE LISTINGS 277 Cascade Drive, Mill Valley $3,895,000 402 Eldridge, Mill Valley $2,295,000 945 Greenhill Road, Mill Valley $999,000 65 Marguerite Avenue, Mill Valley Please Call for Price 30 Lee Street, Mill Valley 1,795,000

Spacious, light filled 4 Bedroom, 2 ½ Bathroom home situated on a sunny lot in beautiful Blithedale canyon. This large home is an absolute retreat, surrounded by the canyon and Mt. Tam, while only minutes from charming downtown Mill Valley. The property boasts a contemporary style, with three levels of impressive living space. Vaulted ceiling in the main living room, kitchen opening to a breakfast nook and formal dining area, as well as multiple fireplaces and private decks create a sense of modern luxury. The home also includes a large master suite, private study, workout room, built-in hot tub, a 2 car attached garage and tons of storage. Oﬀered at $1,795,000 Co-listed with Patricia Gross, Vision Real Estate 415.328.0763 Patricia@GoMarinRealEstate.com

Ron Parks CPA/Broker/Founder 415.297.9000 • rparks@visionrealtors.com

Today’s market demands a Realtor who can navigate the nuances of Marin

Consistent Results… Marin

Sonoma

John Zeiter Broker Associate/Realtor 415.470.151 • jzeiter@visionrealtors.com |

San Francisco

www.visionrealtors.com www.visionrealestate.com

Victor Fisher and Vision Real Estate Present Sunny Blithedale Canyon Home

316 Eldrige Ave

Mill Valley

Ocean Oasis

40 Issaquah Dock

Your Dream Home Awaits

Sausalito

7 Via Vandyke

Mill Valley

Vintage charm shines through in this 3+ bedroom, 2 bath home that has mature landscaping on a sunny lot with outdoor retreats and sweeping views of Mt. Tam. A separate artists studio and 2 car garage completes the package in this home that awaits your personal touch.

Enjoy the Aquatic Lifestyle and all that Sausalito has to oﬀer. Imagine sipping your morning coﬀee and watching the sunrise from the deck of this tastefully updated 3 bedroom, 2 bath floating home with gourmet kitchen. With convenient access from San Francisco, your minutes away from relaxation.

This majestic lot is now available for those who dream of building their own custom home. Adjacent to the hiking trails of Blithedale Summit and close to all the amenities that Mill Valley has to oﬀer, this 20,000 sq. ft. lot is located on an exclusive gated street in the coveted County Club area.

Please call for price

Oﬀered at $799,000

Oﬀered at $899,000

Deep Water Refuge

47 Liberty Dock

Convenience and Comfort

Sausalito

224 California Ave

Mill Valley

On a highly coveted dock in a premier deep water corner berth. This house boat contains tranquility, sunshine, great neighbors, stunning views and only 10 minutes from SF. One of Sausalito’s finest internationally renowned Floating Homes. This contemporary jewel is bright and sunny with an open floor plan and amazing views of Mt Tam and the Lagoon. Kitchen newly updated with granite counters. (Co-listed with Liz McCarthy)

This lovingly maintained home is conveniently located near the amenities of Mill Valley and the commute to San Francisco. Two stories with multiple decks and water views. The home has 4 bedrooms with one currently being used as an oﬃce and another as a studio. There are 2 bathrooms and a large utility room with laundry facilities. Oﬀ-street parking with a driveway and carport. Move right in and feel the comforts of home.

Oﬀered at $599,000

Oﬀered at 999,000

Victor Fisher Founding Partner 415.720.6100 • victor@visionrealtors.com www.MarinHomeSale.com Marin

Sonoma

San Francisco

www.visionrealtors.com www.visionrealestate.com

Extraordinary Waterfront Homes Tiburon This is a unique stretch of land where you can live on the beach and have views across the bay to San Francisco, Angel Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. This extraordinary duplex is quite unlike anything else. Nearly every room boasts endless views, tons of light, and the constant reminder of nature at your doorstep. In addition to the spacious units there is a new state of the art incline elevator, an enclosed four car garage and built-out storage areas. Many upgrades have been made and the homes have been impeccably maintained. A wonderful opportunity for condo conversion or the ultimate single family home. Top unit: 3 bedrooms/2.5 baths approx. 2,600 square feet. Bottom unit: 3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms approx. 2,100 square feet. Beach included. Offered at $3,500,000

Presented by: COREY GRAHAM 415-971-0167 • c.graham@deckerbullocksir.com CRAIG SWANSON 415-717-0607 • c.swanson@deckerbullocksir.com

Stunning New Home Mill Valley Stunning new home designed by renowned architect Jerry Kler. Soaring 30 foot high ceilings, elevator servicing all three levels, master suite plus two en suite bedrooms, over 3000 square feet of decks, guest house, Bisazza tiled pool with spa. This home looks as if it belongs in the Hollywood Hills but is nestled behind an enormous row of eucalyptus along the 101 corridor at Tiburon Boulevard. This estate home has sweeping southwest views of Mount Tam and allows its owners to live comfortably in the middle of life’s hustle and bustle, yet enjoy privacy, Marin’s best weather, striking architecture and easy access to San Francisco. • Main house with 3 bedrooms/3.5 baths • Over 5,500 square foot home on .96 acre lot • Guest house, pool and spa Price Upon Request

Presented by: CRAIG SWANSON 415-717-0607 c.swanson@deckerbullocksir.com

Since the founding of Sotheby’s Auction House in 1744, the Sotheby’s name has earned renown as a marketer for many of the world’s most valuable and prestigious possessions… LI ST ED JU ST

JU ST

LI ST ED

Today, Alix Builds on the Sotheby’s Tradition

UI 4USFFU t 4BVTBMJUP Listed at $1,750,000, Representing Seller

8FTU 4QBJO 4USFFU t 4POPNB Listed at $885,000, Representing Seller

8PPEMBOE "WF t 4BO 3BGBFM Listed at $649,000, Representing Seller

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7JTUB 3FBM t .JMM 7BMMFZ SOLD for $2,025,000, Represented Buyer

3JDBSEP 3PBE t .JMM 7BMMFZ SOLD for $1,535,000, Represented Seller

Alix’s 2008 Year-to-Date Results

5BSUBO 3PBE t .JMM 7BMMFZ SOLD for $2,520,000, Represented Seller

$MPVEWJFX t 4BVTBMJUP SOLD for $3,390,000, Represented Seller

SO (SFBU $JSDMF %SJWF t .JMM 7BMMFZ SOLD for $3,750,000, Represented Seller

4PVUI ,OPMM t .JMM 7BMMFZ Listed at 1,250,000, Representing Seller

"MDBUSB[ t 5JCVSPO Listed at $1,350,000, Representing Seller

4BJOU ćPNBT 8BZ t 5JCVSPO Listed at $2,950,000, Representing Seller

8JMEĘPXFS $PVSU t $PSUF .BEFSB SOLD for $1,112,000, Represented Buyer

-PSJOH "WFOVF t .JMM 7BMMFZ SOLD for $749,000, Represented Buyer & Seller

Alix Fagersten 415.596.6231 www.teamalix.com a.fagersten@deckerbullocksir.com

Mill Valley Rare, gated and fenced family compound, with over 10,000 square feet of interior space in two lavishly appointed homes, on approximately one acre in the heart of downtown Mill Valley. The main residence is exquisitely detailed, with huge patio, 60-foot lap pool, Koi pond, second kitchen, movie theater, private well and six bedrooms and nine and one-half-baths. The second home, all on one level, features four bedrooms and four full baths and is configured to accommodate two occupants in entirely separate living arrangements. Total of ten bedrooms, thirteen and one-half-baths, and seven enclosed garages. Offered at $19,500,000

Tiburon Over 6,500 square feet of wonderfully finished interiors of Venetian plaster and hand-painted murals, beautiful large, sunlit rooms, perfect scale and masterful blend of formal and informal living. Formal gallery entry with mosaic floor, formal living room, formal and informal dining areas, stunning kitchen with adjacent family area and terrace, beautiful fireplace surrounds, pecan floors and San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge views. Library and office suites, and six en-suite bedrooms, including the luxurious master suite with sitting area, fireplace and private terrace. Large level lawns and gardens on .85 acre and three-car garage. Six bedrooms (all en-suite), six full and one half-bath. Offered at $5,995,000

For more information, visit globalestates.com

LYDIA SARKISSIAN

BILL BULLOCK

(415) 258-8381

(415) 258-2400

Ross Originally built ca. 1902, now elegantly & superbly renovated & enlarged to create a family compound of over 10,000 sq. ft. of exquisitely designed living space, with stateof-the-art communications & entertainment technology, & situated on 2± level acres of secured privacy in Ross’ premier location. Features a stunning, 2,500± sq. ft., 3-room master suite occupying the entire top floor, with large bedroom, retreat, study, his-&hers baths/dressing areas, & 2 fireplaces. The children’s wing comprises the child’s study with built-in computer & network wiring, & 2 bedrooms, each with full bath. Spectacular kitchen with chef’s sink & refrigerator & walk-in butler’s pantries. Private guest room with fireplace & full bath, a separate, 800± sq. ft. studio with full bath & a luxurious, 1,500± sq. ft., 2-story, 3-room guest house with full bath, kitchen & fireplace. 7 bedrooms, 8 full & 3 half-baths. Offered at $17,500,000

Ross Majestic, parklike private estate with 9,500± sq. ft. European-style residence & Mt. Tam views on 1.42± acres. 2-story, gr& entry & staircase of Italian marble designed & installed by European artisans. Kitchen with center isle, lapis countertops, Brazilian granite pantry & informal dining area. Formal living room with fireplace, tall windows & French doors to terrace overlooking the pool, spa & grounds. The balance of entry level includes the family room with fireplace & tall windows, guest suite with marble bath, study & powder room. Upper level comprises 2 en-suite bedrooms & master suite with fireplace, his-&-hers closets, balcony & luxurious marble bath. Pool level includes wine cellar, cabana with bath, second kitchen & pantry. The grounds are fenced & private with patio, pool, spa & beautiful level lawns, gardens & fruit trees. Total of 4 bedrooms, 5 full & 3 half-baths. Offered at $12,750,000

For more information, visit globalestates.com

LYDIA SARKISSIAN

BILL BULLOCK

(415) 258-8381

(415) 258-2400

Tiburon The most prominent structure on Mt.Tiburon, gated and entirely private, this world-class contemporary offers approximately 7,500 sq. ft. of glass-walled interior space and absolute unsurpassable views of the entire San Francisco Bay area. Enormous living room with twostory ceilings and walls of glass, large, formal dining room and stunning kitchen, family room with fireplace and separate breakfast area. Top-floor master suite with his and her baths, lavish dressing areas and covered view-side balcony. Two guest suites, au pair quarters, indoor and outdoor spas, courtyard pool and secured parking for seven cars. Four bedrooms, five full and two half-baths. Offered at $9,950,000

Tiburon Romantic view property. Hilltop living at its absolute best. Approximately 5,300 square feet of recently-completed, new construction with view-side level lawn area and riveting views from the east bay through the entire San Francisco skyline and financial district, Golden Gate Bridge and Mt.Tam. Striking wrought iron entry doors open to the gallery vestibule with view-side balcony. High ceilinged living room with fireplace and Brazilian cherry floors, formal dining room with French doors to view-side balcony, and stunning kitchen/family room with fireplace and long onyx-finished center island and counter tops. Master suite with fireplace, view-side balcony, large walk-in closet and lavish bath. Entry-level guest suite with bath and adjacent patio. Five bedrooms (all en-suite), five and one-half-baths. Offered at $7,995,000

For more information, visit globalestates.com

LYDIA SARKISSIAN

BILL BULLOCK

(415) 258-8381

(415) 258-2400

Bill and Lydia's SEPTEMBER SALES

Resort-like waterfront villa, crtyard pool, top-flr mstr, huge waterfront deck & dock, 3 bd, 4.5 ba. Represented Buyer & Seller… $7,495,000

OT L 2

O SS

New constr. Med. Villa, Mt Tam vws, ±.58 acre lot, ±3,465 sf, grand foyer, elegant details, 4 en suite bd + ofc/fam rm, 5 ba… $2,250,000

±1.3 acre waterfront parcel with pier, boat house, beautiful sandy beach & $5,000,000 Marin County/BCDC-approved plans…

D L

L SO

±9,000 sf, ±2.2 acres, stunning pool/guest house/office complex, SF $13,900,000 & GGB vws, 5 bd, 5.5 ba.…

L SO

Lvl, park-like estate w/ beaut lawns & gardens, sparkling pool & exquisite $3,795,000 gst hse/cabana. Represented Buyer…

L SO

Waterfront lots , west side , Mt Tam through San Francisco skyline views...

$12,000,000

Bill and Lydia's JUST LISTED

Ultra-contemp, 3-level, ±3,813 sf, w/ stainless steel & glass thruout. $3,995,000 Kappe+Du arch. 5 bd, 4.5 ba...

Riveting San Francisco and Bay views, stunning kitchen/family room, 5 en suite bd, 5.5 ba…

$7,995,000

Former estate of Barry Levinson. ±10,000 sf on ±2 level ac, pool, guest qtrs, sep $17,500,000 studio, 7 bd, 8 full & 3 half ba…

For more information, visit globalestates.com

LYDIA SARKISSIAN (415) 258-8381

BILL BULLOCK New constr, gated, modern, 1 story, ±3,929 sf, ±1.25 ac, chef ’s kit, pano $3,695,000 bay vws, 3-car gar, 5 bd, 5.5 ba…

(415) 258-2400

Majestic parklike estate w/Mt. Tam vws, ±9500 sf on ±1.42 ac, mstr w/balcony, terr, pool, lvl lawn, 4 bd, 5 full & 3 half ba… $12,750,000

D I A LO G UE

You could live anywhere. Why Marin? Luckily for me, my wife, Tolan, is from Marin and she introduced me to the area and the lifestyle. I’ve been all over the world and have yet to find any place as beautiful and with such a high quality of life. I’m just a stone’s throw from the city and we are still able to raise our family in a safe and positive environment. And don’t get me started on the food…the farm-fresh produce. The meats, cheese, you name it. I like to say that this is the American Provence. What makes you happy in Marin? My 1920s cottage on the creek in Mill Valley and of course, sharing it with my family. What bothers you here? Long lines for coffee. What do you value every day? Every day, I think about how lucky I am to have found the path that I’ve taken. What is your personal idea of luxury? Truffle salt on my popcorn… make that truffle salt on just about anything. What person has influenced you the most? There have been quite a few, both personally and professionally, but overall, I’d have to say my father, Winston Florence. What has been the most fulfilling moment in your work? Honestly, each and every day I go to work I have moments of fulfillment. As a chef,

TYLER FLORENCE

(I’d say) my goal is to make great food and share it with as many people

BY MI MI TOWL E | Since his recent move to Marin, Tyler Florence,

What’s your desert-island favorite book or album? I’m a huge music

television chef, author and retailer, has been busy. Besides set-

fan so it depends on the day. Today, it’s probably “Saturday Night and

tling into a new home, his wife, Tolan, gave birth to baby Dorothy

Sunday Morning” from the Counting Crows.

as possible. And through television, books, restaurants, appearances, radio, et cetera, I have a lot of opportunities to feed people in one way or another. Every day I hear from people about how I’ve helped them get dinner on the table and make their friends and family happy. I love to hear from them and I really do find it fulfilling.

Tyler in August; he opened his kitchen/cooking shop (Tyler Florence Mill Valley); and he negotiated his new position as dean

What’s your favorite place to unwind? My house or anywhere other

of culinary studies, responsible for all food education and culi-

than an airplane.

nary instruction, at Copia in Napa. Oh, and he still found some breakfast. Tyler has also jumped feetﬁrst into local school fundraising, with an October 20 event at his store to beneﬁt Kiddo! and celebrate the launch of two new books: Tyler’s Ultimate:

Do you have a favorite Marin view? The view from the East Peak of Mount Tam is about as good as it gets. What do you like about yourself? I can’t answer that. You should talk to my dog, Jake, because he seems to like me as much as anybody.

Dinner at My Place and Tyler’s Ultimate: Stirring the Pot. We caught up with him (barely) to ask what he thinks of life in Marin.

186

MARIN NOVEMBER 2008

How do you want to be remembered? As a family man and a chef.

MARINMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO: BARBA RA RIES

time to flip a few flapjacks at the Mill Valley firefighters ‘ pancake

Luxury Estates and Properties in Li e C fe o st un yl tr e y

SONOMA

$5,700,000

S A G E C R E E K , S T. H E L E N A

di Co vi nt du ac al t m lo e t p fo ric r in g.

Your source for luxury listings and exclusive properties privately offered.

S A N R A FA E L

$7,250,000

Double gated private 8+ acre estate surrounded by open space Huge single level home custom home completed in 1998.

Private gated estate in Sobre Vista. 5BD 5.5 BA w/views, 50’ pool, spa, vineyard and wine room. New construction – not MLS.

C o M nte as m te p rp or ie ar ce y

w Sol ith d m for ul li tip st le pr of ice fe rs .

$17 million (approx. 530 acres) Or $28.5 million (approx. 950 acres)

S A N R A FA E L

$1,700,000

Impeccable design with unparalleled quality makes this property a true piece of art. Not on MLS.

I specialize in Exclusive Luxury Properties not listed on the Multiple Listing Service and that are discreetly offered for sale. Detailed property descriptions, market information, and featured listings may be viewed at www.worldclassproperties.com.

Anna K. Pennington-Boucher Luxury Home Specialist

415.860.1399 a.boucher@deckerbullocksir.com www.worldclassproperties.com

MARIA SHARAPOVA AND HER AQUARACER DIAMOND WATCH www.tagheuer.com