48th Annual Mill Valley Film Festival
“Highly recommend. You get a full service team. Can’t thank Bowman Real Estate Group enough for the help with our cross country move and then sale of our home. Went above and beyond. Very thankful for the team and their valuable relationships.”
James Manno
The value of our business is measured in the quality of the relationships we build.
36
When Death is a Part of Life
Doulas help navigate the final chapter for both those who are dying and their loved ones.
42
SPACES Rebuilding a Dream in Healdsburg
After their second home succumbed to the Kincade fire, the Battle family rebuilt with a vision of welcoming family and friends.
48
SPACES Rural Retreat
A new ADU evokes Novato’s agrarian past while fostering future family memories.
57
+Mill Valley Film Festival
We celebrate this iconic film fest in its 48th year — including personal picks from Founder and Executive Director Mark Fishkin.
23 Currents
Modoc, North Bay Childrens Center, Canal District, New in Town and more.
69 Travel
In the company of giants in Punta de Piedra.
OUT & ABOUT
74 Calendar
A roundup of what to do in Marin and beyond.
78 Dine
An insider’s guide to dining and food in the Bay Area.
86 On the Scene
Snapshots from events around the county.
MARIN HOME
93 Backstory
A thoughtful renovation of a craftsman home in Mill Valley reflects a modern touch.
We
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IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE , but we are dipping our toes into the 2025 consumer season (aka the holidays), which for me brings up a new unease regarding online shopping. Sitting in my pjs, clicking for deals from all over the planet, it’s just so easy “click,” wait for the item to arrive in days, sometimes hours. But this presents me with a big question: how is all of this impacting our local businesses, and most importantly, the character of our downtowns?
I often think about the bygone days where you only had the option to shop in brick-and-mortars. The long gone Ideal Stationary in Strawberry immediately comes to mind. It served so many needs, for so many people. Having a party? Get your invites, decoration and goody bags. School project? There you would find aisles of supplies for students and teachers. As soon as my girls could walk, I’d lose them as I browsed the birthday cards, only to find them in the Beanie Babies section. Ideal was a destination filled with neighbors and solutions. (This is just one of the businesses I miss that have
shuttered, either due to the fierce competition of the giant online shopping retail brands, or COVID). And when it came to Halloween, we’d often head to the Safeway that was ’round the corner from our home on Plymouth Ave in Sycamore Park. There we would easily spend over $200 on York Peppermint Patties, to pass out, and keep a few bags in the freezer for ourselves. And while this is a big business, Safeway has deep roots here in Marin, with their first store opening in 1930 in downtown Mill Valley. While Safeway is a big business, it has deep roots here in Marin, with their first store opening in 1930 in downtown Mill Valley, today, there are at least eight throughout the county. Kudos to them for their website, that allows for easy shopping with pick up or delivery options (as in immediate gratification), keeping the cash flowing through our community – not a faceless giant distribution site.
Fast forward to last week, when I was attempting to buy an optimistic, scent free, blue crystal refillable kitty litter for a sweet tabby that I'm fostering. I started to type in Amazon.com, then stopped and instead went to Marin Magazine’s Best Pet Stores article. And why not? These lists are vetted by our readers and updated every year. My first attempt offered only one delivery app option, which luckily, I have, but the product was $20 more than Amazon. This would have been a perfect moment for a wealthy-too-busy-to-care Marinite portrayed on the parody newsletter, Marin Lately. Sadly, that’s not my
bank account, so I tried a couple more options and realized most of the websites are basically just online road signs. I even called a few, chatted with a nice store owner from one shop (who seemed to have a negative opinion about these “blue crystals”) and got a couple voicemails, though I didn’t leave a message. Thirty minutes later, Petco, which is a large company based in San Diego, with a storefront in San Rafael, was my solution. Not only do they offer a discount if I ordered online and picked up in the store, but better yet, a deep discount if I signed up for repeat delivery. My guess is people don’t decide to own a pet store because they love e-commerce, so I understand why most of these businesses haven’t invested in online shopping. It does, however, beg the question of how to navigate this conundrum of running to big online shopping sites every time we need something versus supporting your local stores. As we approach the holidays, and consumer season, we are interested in how you plan to shop. Do you think we should just lean into the ease and convenience of running to the big shopping retailers online or make the effort to support our local brick and mortar? If you’re looking to get started early and need some inspiration, check out our online shopping pages. And if you have a favorite holiday shopping hack that you want to share with us, get in touch at editorial@marinmagazine.com.
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“It might be interesting to do an article on curly hair specialists. They are rare and undervalued. There are many focuses. Rezo cuts, curly girl cuts and more, including a lot of education. I am often stopped and asked about my curly hair as most just pull theirs back in a ponytail as they don’t know what to do. They see mine and have hope.”
— Amannda Schneider
“Per my naval history aficionado brother who specializes in naval reconnaissance re: A Battle about Battleships page in the August issue:
The five newest battleships of the US Navy in 1935 had so-called “cage masts” — long, tall, spindly affairs. The next three in age were all being rebuilt. The next four had already been rebuilt, had tripod masts, and like the rest of the Battle Force were based in San Pedro, making regular visits up and down the coast.
While it’s not easy to be sure, the four here all seem to have tripod masts. In which case they are the USS Pennsylvania, the USS Arizona, the USS Nevada and the USS Oklahoma. It would make sense for the Pennsylvania to be in the lead as it was fleet flagship for much of the period and had two forward triple turrets. While the photo is tough to read, that seems to be the case. Two of the four, Arizona and Oklahoma, were sunk at Pearl Harbor with the death of more than 1,500 men.’”
— Nora Burgess
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IN TOWN
Whether you’re looking to spice up a commercial space, your business or your own home, Mill Valley Murals has been turning once-bland spaces into artistic and colorful ones. The di erent tiers of their service options range from “Oh, cool” to “Whoa!” — both valid reactions when seeing their stunning murals. millvalleymurals.com
BY EMMA ROBERTSON Shop
San Rafael’s recently opened North & Golden was founded by Marin local Kristina Buer, with the intention of being a modern women’s boutique where you’ll find a curated selection of fashion, accessories and gifts. 1327 4th St, San Rafael, @northandgolden on Instagram
Founded by Olia Rosenblatt in 2018, luxury dog cake brand MISHKA has recently opened a second location in the Ferry Building. Adorable yet mighty, these cakes are created with the intention of being nutritious for furry family members, but with the charm and indulgence that daily kibble typically lacks. Ferry Bldg, 1 Sausalito, San Francisco, mishkacakes.com
Highlow Larder is one of Tiburon’s new shopping hotspots, with a combination of all tabletop and kitchen lifestyle needs. Find everything from pantry staples and curated gifts to bookable cooking classes and seasonal workshops. 32 Main St, Tiburon, highlowlarder.com
Food & Drink
This fall, popular local restaurant Floodwater reopened with a new vibe, menu and name, Tam Tavern , thanks to the team behind East Brother Beer Co. They’ll have 10–15 rotating beers on tap, cocktails and a menu designed by Chef Michael Siegel with options like smashburgers, beer-battered fish and chips, and more. 152 Shoreline Hwy, Mill Valley, tamtavernmv.com
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World-class care. Closer than you think.
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Nationally recognized nonprofit Enriching Lives through Music (ELM) may have been founded in 2011, but they officially moved into a permanent facility in San Rafael this August. The facility will have dedicated rehearsal spaces, teaching studios, administrative offices and community gathering areas. 2960 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, elmprogram.org
Founder/CEO of Firebird Healing, clinical psychologist and empowerment coach Dr. Adriana Popescu already has an office in SF, but has also started an online practice out of Mill Valley recently and is the Chief Clinical Officer at Avery Lane, a women’s drug, alcohol and mental health rehab in Novato. 2252 Fillmore St Ste 402, San Francisco, firebird-healing.com
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BY EMMA ROBERTSON
Hello! Marin is the hot new way to interact with local businesses, and boy do they have great deals for you. Looking for somewhere to eat? Get a free calamari appetizer at Nick’s Cove, or a free dessert to round out a meal at La Gastronomia di Porchetta. Self-care somehow can get even better too, when you know you can get 50% off of a service at Marin Medical Aesthetics or a complimentary SoundBed Session at Dalini Skin care Spa. But these are just a few of many perks — download Hello! Marin to see what else there is.
And don’t forget to also look for events in Marin, now found on the app as well. Plus, get inspiration from fellow Marinites to see what their recommendations are.
One state, two counties and a seat that could tip the house.
BY NATHAN BALLARD
n this corner of California, grassland stretches to the horizon, bright with the flare of orange poppies. Hawks circle above country roads. Cattle graze beside old barns. Weathered oaks dot the hills. Life in this part of the state moves to the ancient rhythm of soil and season.
This could describe West Marin. It could also be the far northeast county of Modoc. Though separated by a seven-hour drive, the two regions share a similar landscape. Soon they may be represented by the same member of Congress.
As of August 21, California leaders approved a plan to boost Democratic representation by redrawing congressional districts, countering the Texas map Republicans advanced to preserve President Donald Trump’s edge in the House. Gov. Gavin Newsom set a November 4 special election for voters to ratify the new districts in California. Proposition 50, which will be on the ballot, could yield up to five more Democratic seats in 2026.
Newsom’s aim is not partisan advantage, but structural fairness. Trump is not playing by the rules, he says. Supporters of Newsom’s move, including President Barack Obama, see Proposition 50 as adaptation, not escalation. The governor makes a powerful argument that restraint is no longer an option.
“We’re responding to what occurred in Texas,” Newsom says. “We’re neutralizing what occurred, and we’re giving the American people a fair chance.”
Opponents call it shortsighted and cynical. They claim that weakening a respected, nonpartisan process risks corroding California’s credibility.
If Proposition 50 wins, an altered congressional district would stretch from the Oregon border to the Golden Gate. It would span diverse geography, from the Nevada state line over to the Pacific, then all the way down the coast into the land of hot yoga and EVs.
Its territory also encompasses counties as politically dissimilar as Modoc and Marin.
Modoc, hemmed in by Oregon and Nevada on two sides, is sparsely populated and rural. It is represented in Congress by Doug LaMalfa, a rice farmer with a fondness for federal subsidies and a dismissive view of climate science.
Marin is wealthy, coastal and liberal. It is represented by Jared Huffman, a progressive with deep ties to environmental groups.
Under the newly proposed map, the district would lean Democratic. Modoc would likely lose its ideological match in Congress. Marin would likely keep a Democrat, though one who must answer to a more politically moderate constituency.
The new district would be improbable but not implausible. California is often viewed through the lens of its big cities, but its soul lies in small towns like Alturas and Tomales. Each has a main street lined with simple brick and wooden buildings, reflecting frontier roots. They may be far apart, but the two towns rhyme. One smells of sagebrush and juniper, the other of salt and grass.
The line from Modoc to Marin, drawn in the shadow of Trump, does more than redraw districts. It rewrites the rules of political survival. Proposition 50 forces candidates to master a new political language, one that must connect with tech innovators and highdesert cattle ranchers, with Marin environmentalists and Modoc MAGA voters. This election is poised to reshape not only how district races are won, but how political power is wielded by the nation’s most populous state.
BY EMMA ROBERTSON
After 18 years in-the-making, North Bay Children’s Center (NBCC) – which offers high-quality and accessible early childhood education – has revitalized its Bright Futures Campus in Novato. The 20,000 square-foot campus has a few highlights, including the Garden of Eatin’ with its outdoor classroom and demonstration kitchen, and a dedicated therapeutic space to ensure that every child’s learning and socio-emotional needs are met.
Visit @marinmagazine on Instagram to get a closer look at the new campus on their Aug. 27 launch day, and read more in our On The Scene section on page 86.
39 years of experience across the North Bay
10,300 children who have gone through the NBCC since its inception in 1986 14 locations, extending from Novato to Healdsburg
600+ children and families of diverse backgrounds served annually
$11.5 million in funds raised for their new 20,000-square-foot facility
BY EMMA ROBERTSON
San Rafael’s Canal District is known for its devoted community, so when last month’s tragic fire tore through an apartment complex here, it’s no surprise that people rallied in support of those affected. But support can expand to the wider Canal District neighborhood’s success, too — consider shopping or eating at these local businesses.
330 Bellam Blvd
This grocery store has locations throughout California, Nevada and Arizona, with both authentic Hispanic food and traditional grocery finds. They also run the Cardenas Markets Foundation, a nonprofit scholarship program that aims to make a positive impact in the communities of which they’re located — students native to San Rafael can apply, and some have even won in the program before.
1 Vivian St
This nostalgic eatery has been a longstanding member of the Bay Area community for over 60 years, with its first location born right in San Francisco. San Rafael’s location opened in 1971, and has since carried on the reputation as a valuable part of the San Rafael community, with home-style cooking and family ownership.
130 Alto St
Wacla Sports has supported athletes since 2011, with a focus on soccer and basketball that stems from their Latinx roots, their website says. While they sell equipment, they also sponsor youth sports teams, donate equipment to schools and hold free clinics in alignment with their mission to serve the community and uplift the Latinx sector especially.
48 Elena Cir
Iris Flowers & Gifts was launched in 2022 and offers a number of flower-related products, including floral arrangements and gift baskets. Business owner Iris had lived in the Canal District herself when she first moved to San Rafael.
Translated in English as “Day of the Dead,” some of these businesses are also great to turn to when you’re looking to celebrate this Mexican holiday.
Cardenas Market has a guide for making ofrendas (altars) on their website, and you can visit their San Rafael store before the holiday to look for altar-building needs like candles and Pan de Muerto (bread of the dead).
The City of San Rafael is also hosting their 37th annual Día de los Muertos Celebration on November 1 in the Canal District. Come for music, activities, authentic food and altar viewing, as well as a walking procession in the evening.
Sutter’s Novato Community Hospital is recognized as one of America’s 50 best hospitals for joint replacement and 100 best hospitals for orthopedic surgery. We never stop striving for excellence, and we use the latest innovations and minimally invasive procedures to help you feel better faster. sutterhealth.org/orthopedics
Death doulas help both the individual and their loved ones navigate the final chapter of life. We look at how love, ritual and courage reshape the way we say goodbye.
BY TERESA RODRIGUEZ
In my Mexican family, as in so many others, death has always been a natural part of life. The veil between this world and the next is thin, woven with mystery, ritual and love. Popular films like Coco and The Book of Life offer a glimpse of how we honor and remember our ancestors. What is often overlooked, however, even in these traditions, is the tender and difficult process of dying itself — both for the individual and their loved ones.
When my sister Penny died at age 11, neither she nor my family and I had the support of an end-of-life doula to guide us through her final weeks and days. For her short life, Penny was nonverbal, endured daily seizures and lived with pain. Because of a brain infection at four months old, she suffered from spasticity, her muscles perpetually locked into tight fists. Seeing them relaxed for the first time, her face peaceful, I smiled through tears.
At the time I was 18 and unequipped for the uncomfortable feelings that veered recklessly through me at her funeral. When she was alive I was impatient and resentful. But now that she was dead a bitter mix of guilt, relief and remorse took over.
Penny’s death was not the end of her story, but rather it was the end of her suffering. Yet, even today, I wonder whether a death doula could have helped not just me, but my family and Penny, navigate what was to come.
A death doula is a guide and companion — someone who helps individuals and families navigate the final chapter of life with presence, compassion and care. These practitioners provide individuals and families with holistic support — emotional, practical, and spiritual. They may guide end-of-life planning, sit vigil, help create legacy projects, or offer a listening ear. They support not just the one who is dying, but also the circle of loved ones who grieve.
The practice of “death doula” — a phrase popularized by psychologist and end-of-life educator Dr. Stephen Jenkinson — is an ancient one that was considered a “natural part of life.” The movement only began to gain modern traction in North America and Europe in the early 2000s. At this point, international and national training programs and organizations such as International Endof-Life Doula Association (INELDA) and National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA) began to shape professional standards. Communal care started to
take on a more recognized role in modern healthcare.
While there are “no firm statistics on how many end-of-life doulas exist,” according to a Fortune magazine article from 2024, the publication reported that, as of January of the same year, NEDA membership was 1,545, up from 250 in 2019. The same article cited that INELDA also saw its membership nearly double from 648 to 1,162, between 2018 to 2023.
This rise of interest in death doulas may reflect a longing many of us feel: to bring death back into the realm of human connection, ritual and meaning. In choosing a doula, families are choosing to honor death as part of life itself.
Diane Button’s relationship with death began early. At 15, she volunteered as a caregiver in a convalescent home, where she learned the quiet power of sitting with people at the end of their lives. Later, she worked in a hospital emergency room, volunteered in hospice care and earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology. These experiences at the border of life and
death shaped her path toward becoming an end-of-life doula, a vocation she has now embraced for nearly two decades. Throughout the years, Button found her own life transformed by the words of the dying, and their reflections inspired her to share their voices more widely. In 2022, she published her essay 10 Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living in Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper. Her piece went viral and became the foundation for her recently-published book, What Matters Most
“Death and dying can sound frightening,” Button says, “but these stories are uplifting, joyful and deeply human. They teach us more about life than about death.”
Today, she is a founding partner of the Bay Area End-of-Life Doula Alliance and teaches in the University of Vermont’s Endof-Life Doula Professional Certificate Program.
Her work is guided by presence, deep listening and a belief that death is not an ending to dread, but a sacred passage to honor.
For Christine Comaford, her path to becoming a death doula began not at a bedside, but on her own hospital gurney. Twice — in 1991 and 1995 — she faced possible cancer diagnoses. Years of Buddhist practice allowed her to ask: If this is my time, have I lived as I wanted? Though the scares were benign, the questions endured.
By 1998 she began hospice training at Jerry Jampolsky’s Center for Attitudinal Healing, and later expanded her expertise through Hospice of Napa Valley, By the Bay Health, and obtained an INELDA certification.
Comaford’s approach is both practical and profoundly human. Pain management comes first so families can be present, not overwhelmed. Beyond the physical, she guides clients through her FRUGS process — Forgiveness, Regrets, Unfinished Business, Guilt and Shame — helping them release burdens and find peace. One of her earliest clients, a retired officer with AIDS, reconciled with his estranged son before death, leaving behind words of love Comaford was able to deliver.
Today, Comaford is a sought-after doula in Marin. She has led Death Cafés, assisted the Dalai Lama, and coached world leaders, yet remains devoted to the sacred intimacy of the deathbed. “Dying,” she says, “is the last act of living. It can be the most conscious, loving experience of a lifetime — if we allow it.”
What unites the work that practitioners like Button and Comaford do is the belief that dying is not merely a medical event, but a deeply human experience. At the heart of their work are ritual, creating space and honoring feelings — tools that allow both the dying and their loved ones to move through the process with dignity.
“Over and over, the dying tell me: love is most important,” says Button. Her words echo the countless stories gathered at the bedside, where grief and beauty are often intertwined.
The cruel deception about death is that even though we know it’s inevitable, when it arrives, we’re not always ready for it. That was the case with my sister. While we all knew that she would die one day, when that day came, it was tough. I was bombarded with guilt for not wanting to spend more time with her, regret for my resentment of her neediness and with sadness that she never got to live a full and complete life.
This is where the guidance of a death doula could have made a difference. With her support, my family and I might have been more prepared for the emotional terrain of her dying. I could have shared my conflicted feelings openly, gained perspective on the meaning of her life and received reassurance that my love had been enough. Without that presence, I carried the weight of her life and her death alone for years.
Whether in a pediatric hospice, a quiet living room or a flower-filled bedroom, the lesson repeats: life is fragile, grief is layered and love endures. Death doulas remind us that the final chapter is not only about dying, but about living fully and consciously until the very last breath.
GEORGE MARK CHILDREN'S HOUSE (GMCH)
This non-profit, palliative care facility is located in Alameda and provides medical care for children and their families. Patients at GMCH range from children to young adults.
GMCH was founded in 2004 by Dr. Kathleen Nicholson Hull. After working at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland for more than 25 years, Dr. Hull wanted to offer something different to children with serious medical conditions.
Named after Dr. Hull’s late brothers, George and Mark, the facility officially opened in 2004 and became the country’s first free standing pediatric palliative care centers. Since opening, GMCH has cared for more than 1,100 children and their families (according to its website).
Today, the facility continues to serve those with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones.
A WINE COUNTRY RETREAT IN HEALDSBURG, A NEW AGRARIAN ADU IN NOVATO AND A VIBRANT GALLERY OF MUST HAVES FOR YOUR SPACE.
AFTER THEIR SECOND HOME IN HEALDSBURG SUCCUMBED TO THE KINCADE FIRE, THE BATTLE FAMILY REBUILT IT WITH THE VISION OF ONCE AGAIN WELCOMING FAMILY AND FRIENDS .
BY LOTUS ABRAMS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM POTTS
WHEN THE KINCADE FIRE
tore through Sonoma County in 2019, it torched nearly 78,000 acres, including the Battle family’s weekend retreat in Healdsburg. The family’s patriarch, A. George “Skip” Battle, purchased the property in 2008, and built the original home soon after. In subsequent years, the accomplished Bay Area business leader realized his dream of one day owning a vineyard when he purchased two contiguous properties that were planted with vines, and he expanded the house. Today, the 280-acre Battle Family Vineyards
property is planted with nearly 48 of vineyards, primarily Bordeaux varietals, which the family sells to a number of local wineries.
“The entire property was my dad’s brainchild,” says Dan Battle, Skip’s son and the family manager of Battle Family Vineyards. “He originally came to California to go to business school at Stanford University and would go up to Napa to go wine tasting. California wines became a real passion for him.”
After the fire, there was no question that the family would want to rebuild the
home, or whom they would tap to design it: architect David Stark Wilson, principal at Berkeley-based WA Design Architects.
“We consider David a family friend,” Dan says.
Wilson has known the Battle family for many years, having designed Skip’s Berkeley residence, as well as the extension on the original Healdsburg home, which was designed by a different architect. “I believe I was the first person Skip called after the house burned down,” Wilson says. “He hadn’t even been to the site, and he said, ‘Will you help us build
another one?’ Skip always wanted to have a vineyard, but more than anything, he wanted to have a magnet property for his son and daughter, their partners and his eventual grandchildren to spend time there together.”
The new multigenerational retreat was designed and built with equal input from Skip, Dan and Skip’s daughter, Emily Battle. “Everyone was in charge, and anybody had veto power over any idea, but we have such a good relationship that I knew that we would make it work,” Wilson says.
The result is a 7,300-square-foot home
that comfortably accommodates all three family members, plus guests, with eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms located in the main house and guest house.
The swimming pool, flanked by the guest house and the main house, offers a dramatically framed view of Mount Saint Helena.
With its peaked roof forms, the home’s design takes a cue from the region’s agrarian structures yet remains decidedly modern in its interpretation. The gabled roofline above the great room, for example, extends outward and
is supported by posts to form a covered outdoor area adjacent to the pool. Meanwhile, two sides of the structure open to the outdoors via glass accordion and pocketing doors.
Wilson took a modern approach when it came to exterior material choice as well, combining standing seam metal roofs, cement board siding, board-formed concrete, shingle metal siding and stone veneer to create a collage of textures and colors that serve to break down the mass of the buildings. Random lengths and depths of Douglas fir boards form the
underside of the rooflines and continue indoors, adding further textural interest and color variation to each space. Polished, stained concrete flooring adds another contemporary touch, while steel trusses are also employed throughout the house.
“The truss idea came out of the desire to bring the scale of the ceilings down and add an interesting layer, and they also gave us the ability to add lighting directed onto the ceiling plate,” Wilson says.
Oriented to capture panoramic views of the rolling hills, the great room is primed for entertaining. The kitchen island seats seven with room for stools on either end,
and behind the dining room table, a DJ booth is concealed within the wall of custom California oak cabinetry with pocketing doors — a special request from Dan. “I spent a chunk of my life DJing in Shanghai and in Barcelona, so it’s such a fun feature,” he says. “It has turntables and crates that you can pull out of the drawers that store something like 1,000 records.”
When it came to furnishing the spacious house, the family originally thought they might tackle the task themselves. They soon realized just how daunting it would be, however, and reached out to interior designer Shirin
Richens, owner of Nomadika Design Studio in Emeryville, for help. “Given that this is an eight-bedroom house with a variety of community spaces, there were a lot of individual requests and needs to consider,” Richens says. “My goal was to embrace the family members’ personal tastes while ensuring the spaces feel effortless and inviting for everyone who gathers there.”
Richens looked to the surrounding landscape for inspiration when creating the palette: Warm, earthy tones combine with soft textures and sinuous shapes, seamlessly connecting the indoors with the outdoors. In the great room,
for example, the curved Gogan sofa by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso and U Turn chairs by Bensen are complemented by a custom Nanimarquina rug, Konekt Armor floor lamp and several wood tables. “Each table has a different wood species or stain – just like nature,” Richens says.
Much like the great room, the outside spaces were furnished with entertaining in mind. Richens’ selections include a custom live-edge black walnut table and bench, rattan lounge chairs from Feelgood Designs, loveseat swings from CB2 and a swing bed from the Porch Swing Company. Meanwhile, WA Design Architects focused on the landscape.
A series of cobble, stone and poured concrete pathways with an orthogonal line design connect the multiple entertaining zones. A 13-foot-tall silo-inspired structure crafted from steel pipes wrapped in cedarwood strips stands adjacent to the pool, softening the hard edges of the architecture as well as housing one of three fire pits on the property. “When someone is sitting inside with the firepit on, the way the light comes through the slats of the silo is gorgeous,” Dan says. From the property’s extensive views and seamless indoor-outdoor access, to its spacious and welcoming interior spaces, the Battle family’s wine country retreat encourages time spent together. “The silver lining of the fire was that we got to rebuild in this cohesive way with all family members involved,” Dan says. “It’s the sort of place that’s hard to leave.”
A NEW ADU EVOKES NOVATO’S AGRARIAN PAST WHILE FOSTERING FUTURE FAMILY MEMORIES.
BY LOTUS ABRAMS
SET AMONG ROLLING HILLS DOTTED WITH OAK TREES in the far reaches of Novato on 13 acres of farmland, a new ADU appears easily at home with its neighbor — the property’s 100-year-old farmhouse. With a silhouette dominated by a standing seam metal roof and generous wrap-around porch, the 1,200-square-foot structure feels much larger than it actually is.
“The property is large, so we wanted to make sure it wouldn’t get lost on the site,” says architect Dan Garber, a partner at Fergus Garber Architects (FGA), the Palo Alto firm that designed the ADU. “We also wanted it to reflect the rural character of the area — what we could have imagined it was like when the original house was built.”
The project came to fruition when a retired Palo Alto couple decided to move to Novato to be closer to their eldest son and his family, who were already living in the farmhouse, and they put a call in to Garber. “We’ve actually known each other for a long time because their younger son, Peter Dolkas, is the same age as my older son,” Garber says. Dolkas, now an interior designer and cofounder of Brooklyn, New York, firm Studio Dorian,
was on tap to design the interior spaces, while contractor Michael Arruda and Roth/LaMotte Landscape Architecture rounded out the team.
Material choice played a big part in lending authenticity to the design. The exterior of the ADU is clad in cedar (painted in a creamy off-white shade), which also forms the undersides of the roof overhang and supporting posts. The patio is paved in brick that continues into
the entryway, and Douglas fir features prominently in the interiors, including on the floors. “We intentionally used lumber that would have been available back then,” Garber says. “The house is located in a wildland-urban interface (WUI), so everything had to be up to WUI standards. The exterior lumber is all heavy timber — no 2-by-4s — which also helps to make the house feel older than it is.” Window design balances modern
aesthetics and functionality with period references: Lower windows outfitted with retractable screens feature fewer panes for better visibility, while transom windows feature a greater number of panes, recalling an earlier era. Push-button light switches also hark back to bygone times.
The homeowners’ requests regarding the interior program were straightforward: They asked for a primary bedroom; kitchen, living and dining area; two bathrooms; a guest bedroom, space permitting; and areas for gathering outside. “They wanted to be able entertain the whole family and their friends,” Dolkas says.
Separating the private spaces from the gathering area with a window-flanked hallway helped make the home feel larger. An unfinished basement provides extra space for storage. “Novato allows larger ADUs than Palo Alto and some of the
other municipalities, and we were also allowed to put the basement underneath, which isn’t counted against the square footage,” Garber says.
In the living, kitchen and dining area of the ADU, exposed wood ceilings create a sense of volume. A dropped light shelf around the perimeter — a nod to work of Frank Lloyd Wright — allows light to bounce off the ground and helps unify the space. The simple yet functional kitchen design features open upper shelving, a built-in pantry and black granite countertops; a vintage farmhouse dining table replaces the ubiquitous kitchen island, which wouldn’t have been common in older houses. Additional built-ins maximize the storage and functionality of the living room, including a media cabinet, bookcase, desk and bench.
In the private areas of the home, a
picture rail runs around the perimeter of the walls, breaking up the height of the ceiling. “It was a common design feature in California craftsman homes,” Dolkas explains. “It’s great because it allows you to hang art without having to nail into the beautiful wood walls.”
When it came to outfitting the spaces, Dolkas paired many antique furnishings with simple, vibrant checked cotton and wool textiles. “My strategy was to bring in a lot of color and vibrancy with the fabrics since the interior was all clad in wood,” he says. “Patterned fabrics also have the added benefit of being durable because they hide stains, which was important to my family, since there are grandkids and dogs to consider.”
Space-saving features include underbed storage in the guest bedroom, which
also houses a washer and dryer, and an upholstered headboard attached directly to the wall in the primary bedroom. One element where Dolkas’ parents didn’t want to compromise with space-saving measures, however, was in the primary bathroom. “They really wanted a double sink, because they never had one in their 40 years of marriage,” he says. “A proper bathtub was another dream of my mom’s.”
Outside under the protected roof overhang, zones for dining and relaxing extend the compact ADU’s living space. A screened-in porch houses an antique trestle dining table that seats 12, large enough for the whole family; outdoor seating areas furnished with new and vintage finds invite lingering on warm afternoons; and an outdoor shower in the back is a refreshing spot to clean up after
tending to the property’s goats and garden.
Now the couple’s daughter and her family live nearby in Novato as well, so the ADU is often filled with laughter and activity. “My parents are so happy,” Dolkas says. “I really think we succeeded, because they use the home in all the ways they wanted to, from entertaining large groups to times when it’s just the two of them. It can feel big, and it can also feel cozy and small.”
WELCOME THIS VISUALLY VIBRANT SEASON BY GOING AUTUMNAL AT HOME. THESE FURNISHINGS
BY LISA BOQUIREN
NEBLINA SOFA BY NEIL ZULETA FOR QUINTUS
MULHOLLAND ACCENT CHAIR FROM CRATE & BARREL
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This furniture piece's dogleg angle, length and luxurious cushions enhance a range of activities — from conversations, chilling or thinking about your next golf game (“tee” what we did there). Inquire at desousahughes.com
BLOM AMBER GLASS CLOCHE GRAND PENDANT BY JONATHAN BROWNING FOR RH
This contemporary take on Scandinavian designs from the late 19th-century abstracts flwers in bloom with concentric layers of molded glass domes flame-polishedby hand, and a frame of hand-finishedsolid steel. Starting at $3,095 Member and $4,425 Regular at RH Marin or at rh.com.
ANAM TABLE BY FEDERICO PERI FOR SABA
Designed to be visually and physically at Serene and inviting, this piece was inspired by the columns of an ancient temple and circular colonnades. Shown here with a round top in Eucalyptus finish(also available with an oval top, and in Velvet Rose or Sand finish) Inquire at Summer House Mill Valley or sabaitalia.com.
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BY BERNARD BOO
Even dating back to the silent film days, music has been a crucial element of the moviegoing experience. Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) always goes the extra mile to celebrate music in film by providing festivalgoers with entertainment on the big screen and on stage.
This year, the festival will showcase a lineup of films that tell deeply personal stories through musicians, and a selection of documentaries that examine the impact legendary musicians have had on their fans’ lives.
Legendary indie auteur Richard Linklater is in one of the most prolific phases of his career. He’s got one film in development, two films currently in production and two films — Nouvelle Vague and Blue Moon — set for release in the near future, both of which will be screened at MVFF48.
Blue Moon follows Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke, Training Day) on the opening night of Oklahoma!, the new musical written by his former writing partner Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott, Sherlock), who is now writing musicals with a new partner, Oscar Hammerstein
II. The film largely takes place in New York bar Sardi’s, where the closeted Hart, wrestling with depression and alcoholism, laments his former working relationship with Rodgers after slipping out in the middle of Oklahoma! ’s opening night festivities. The film also stars Bobby Cannavale (The Watcher) and Margaret Qualley (Maid ). Linklater’s mastery of dialogue-driven cinema makes Blue Moon a can’t-miss affair.
Shot on the streets of North Beach in one continuous shot, Brother Versus Brother is a spectacular rarity in that it wasn’t only filmed in San Francisco (a near-impossible feat nowadays), but dared to do it all in one go, without a safety net.
Director Ari Gold (The Song of Sway Lake) stars in the film with his twin brother and musician Ethan, who, along with the rest of the cast, play versions of themselves. The brothers embark on a musical odyssey in North Beach, strumming guitars and singing songs as they walk through recognizable North Beach locales like Jack Kerouac Alley, City Lights Bookstore, Vesuvio Cafe, Kearny
Street and more. They’re in search of their father, literary icon Herbert Gold, who may be dying.
The extraordinary thing about a film like this is that it sticks out like a sore thumb amid the deluge of “content” we’re incessantly bombarded with on streaming services. This is real cinema, an unforgettable hangout movie and a loving ode to the artsiest neighborhood in, historically, one of the artsiest cities in the world.
World War I looms over a Yorkshire community as they find solace and unity through music in The Choral , a film about music’s unique ability to soothe the soul in the face of danger.
Set in 1916 in the fictional town of Ramsden, Yorkshire, the film revolves around the town’s choral society, whose male members enlist in the war, thereby requiring the recruitment of teenage boys and girls to replenish their numbers.
Ralph Fiennes (Conclave) stars as the society’s new director, with British director Nicholas Hytner (The Madness of King George, The Crucible) at the helm.
Even dating back to the silent film days, music has been a crucial element of the moviegoing experience. Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) always goes the extra mile to celebrate music in film by providing festivalgoers with entertainment on the big screen and on stage.
This year, the festival will showcase a lineup of films that tell deeply personal stories through musicians, and a selection of documentaries that examine the impact legendary musicians have had on their fans’ lives.
Everywhere Man: The Lives and Times of Peter Asher
Peter Asher has lived many lives indeed. The English musician, record producer, and record company executive has done it all. His hit song “A World Without Love” with his group Peter and Gordon was written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon (no big deal). He went on to sign a then-unknown James Taylor to his first record deal and produced countless classic records with Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, JD Souther and more. Oh yeah, and he became the Senior Vice President of Sony Music Entertainment.
All of that merely scratches the surface of Asher’s storied life and career, which is chronicled in vivid detail in Everywhere Man: The Lives and Times of Peter Asher There are few figures in the music industry who have had as big an impact, and yet Asher’s legacy in music remains underappreciated — it’s high time we give the living legend his due flowers.
There are few artists with fanbases as loyal, rabid and enormous as Metallica’s. The band has amassed legions of fans through metal music, a genre once deemed divisive and death-obsessed but has now proven to be unifying and cathartic for generations of fans.
Metallica Saved My Life isn’t a documentary about a band and its music — it’s a celebration of the impact of Metallica’s music on not just its fans, but on the band members themselves. Interviews with superfans like Pete, who recovered from a near-fatal motorcycle accident with the help of Metallica’s music, and Shinji, who runs a Metallica-themed bar out of Japan, illustrate just how monumental music’s influence can be. For as hard as Metallica rocks, their music has always been about touching the soul, and that connection is on full display in this heartfelt documentary.
From Nowhere
1982’s Nebraska was a dramatic artistic departure for Bruce Springsteen, eschewing the electric, raucous energy The Boss had become famous for. It was a stark, contemplative, startlingly intimate portrait of blue collar America recorded in the style of folk, stripped down and pure. It marked a period in Springsteen’s life when he yearned to return to his roots and shed the anxiety and excesses of fame. This formative season of Springsteen’s life is the setting for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart) and starring Jeremy
Allen White (The Bear) as Springsteen. The film follows his personal and creative journey writing Nebraska and navigating life in the spotlight. Biopics can often feel like slogs, but more focused snapshots in time, like this film tend to hit just the right chord.
Sun Ra: Do the Impossible
There was, and never will be, anyone quite like Sun Ra. The jazz experimentalist, bandleader and cosmic philosopher broke boundaries and exhibited some of the most unbridled, free-thinking works of music ever put on wax over his near 60-year career.
Sun Ra: Do the Impossible chronicles Sun Ra’s extraordinary, extraterrestrial career as one of the most prolific and influential musicians of his time, covering the free-form jazz revolution he spearheaded with his band the Arkestra, to his life-long mission to advance Afrofuturism into prominence beyond his lifetime (mission accomplished — see Erykah Badu, Flying Lotus, Outkast, Black Panther and more). Sun Ra never quite garnered the recognition he deserved, but Sun Ra: Do the Impossible aims to remedy that by painting a vibrant, interstellar image of the icon’s incomparable legacy.
BY BERNARD BOO
Movies are a form of entertainment, but at their most powerful, they are empathy machines capable of bridging gaps across borders, continents and cultures.
This year’s World Cinema offerings at MVFF48 feature humanistic stories that at once educate us on ways of life from countries across the globe, while illuminating universal issues and experiences that bind us all.
From Chloé Zhao, Academy Awardwinning director of Nomadland, comes MVFF48 opening night film Hamnet (UK), the story of Agnes (Jessie Buckley, Women Talking), the wife of William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal, Gladiator II ).
The story follows Agnes as she mourns the death of her only son, Hamnet, whose loss inspires the creation of Shakespeare’s masterpiece, Hamlet.
Taiwanese family drama Left-Handed Girl follows a single mother and her two young daughters as they move to the bustling city of Taipei. The characters find their familial bond is challenged amid the upheaval of their personal and professional lives. Produced and co-written by Academy Award-winning director Sean Baker (Anora), the film is directed by Baker’s frequent collaborator Shih-Ching
Tsou (Take Out) and features a breakout performance by Taiwanese child star Nina Ye (Ren Sheng quing li yuan).
From one of the most eccentric, oneof-one filmmakers on the planet comes Bugonia (Ireland, South Korea), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things). Starring Alicia Silverstone (Clueless), Emma Stone (La La Land ), and Jesse Plemons (Civil War), the film follows two young conspiracy theorists (Plemons and Aidan Delbis) who kidnap the CEO of a powerful company (who they believe to be an alien in disguise) to save humanity… and bees. If you’ve never seen a Lanthimos film before, buckle up and expect the unexpected.
In Polish production Mama , Mila (Evgenia Dodina, One Week and a Day) has sacrificed 15 years of her life away from her husband and daughter to support them from afar, but has to reckon with years of built-up tension and resentment when she returns to her small home village.
Once Upon a Time in Gaza offers a poignant, enthralling thriller set in the Gaza Strip. Yahya (Nader Abd Alhay, The Turkish Detective) is out for revenge after he witnesses the murder of his friend Osama (Majd Eid, Inheritance). The tightening grip of Hamas on the people of Gaza, and the daily threat Israel’s occupation poses, looms over the film’s blend of genre elements.
Jodie Foster (The Silence of the Lambs) plays Lilian Steiner, a psychiatrist who launches an amateur sleuth investigation into the murder of one of her patients in A Private Life. The genre-blending French production comes to us from French filmmaker Rebecca Zlotowski
(Other People’s Children), with Foster comfortably leading the cast as a fluent French speaker herself.
MVFF closing night film Rental
Family stars Brendan Fraser (The Mummy) as an American actor in Tokyo who finds himself working for a Japanese “rental family” service, which sees him filling “roles” in the families of strangers. The film is directed by emerging filmmaker Hikari and could see Fraser vying for yet another Best Actor Academy Award following his career-defining win in 2022 for The Whale. The film also features the phenomenal Takehiro Hira (Shōgun), who has been making waves in film and TV of late.
Here are even more terrific films from around the globe playing at MVFF48: Happy Birthday (Egypt)
It Was Just An Accident (Iran)
La Grazia (Italy)
Living the Land (China)
The Love That Remains (Iceland)
A Luminous Life (Portugal)
The Message (Argentina)
My Father’s Shadow (Nigeria)
The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo (Chile)
No Other Choice (South Korea)
Nouvelle Vague (France)
Orphan (Hungary)
Perpetual Adolescent (Mexico)
The Plague (Romania)
The President’s Cake (Iraq)
Promised Sky (Tunisia)
The Secret Agent (Brazil)
Sentimental Value (Norway)
Sirât (Morocco)
Sound of Falling (Germany)
Summer Beats (France)
BY BERNARD BOO
The MVFF’s programming is always stellar, from top to bottom. Whether you get gussied up and walk the red carpet on your way to one of the festival’s star-studded “big nights,” or you pop into a smaller screening on a whim only to have your mind blown by a film you’d never heard of, the films are always meticulously curated and high quality, through and through.
There is no better proof of the festival programmers’ immaculate taste than the fact that in its 48-year history, films featured at MVFF have won over 175 Academy Awards in major categories. The festival has earned the reputation of being an awards season predictor of sorts, featuring films that go on to win big at the Oscars.
Last year, for example, MVFF spotlighted Mikey Madison’s breakthrough performance in Sean Baker’s Anora , which went on to win a whopping five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress. While some didn’t see the film’s domination at the Oscars coming, MVFF festivalgoers were anything but surprised.
Odds are, if you attend MVFF48, you’re going to be watching the films everyone will be buzzing about during awards season — just months ahead of everyone else. And ahead of this year’s festival, here’s a quick reminder of MVFF’s winning record for featuring films, actors, actresses and directors who go on to win big at the Oscars.
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
The King’s Speech (2010)
The Artist (2011)
Argo (2012)
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Spotlight (2015)
Moonlight (2016)
The Shape of Water (2017)
Green Book (2018)
Parasite (2019)
Nomadland (2020)
Anora (2024)
Jodie Foster, The Accused (1988)
Holly Hunter, The Piano (1993)
Helen Mirren, The Queen, (2006)
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Brie Larson, Room (2015)
Emma Stone, La La Land (2016)
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards
Outside Ebbing, Missouri, 2017
Olivia Colman, The Favorite, (2018)
Frances McDormand, Nomadland (2020)
Mikey Madison, Anora (2024)
Daniel Day-Lewis, My Left Foot (1989)
Jeremy Irons, Reversal of Fortune (1990)
Geoffrey Rush, Shine (1996)
Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech (2010)
Jean Dujardin, The Artist (2011)
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything (2014)
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour (2017)
Anthony Hopkins, The Father (2020)
Brendan Fraser, The Whale (2022)
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech (2010)
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist, (2011)
Ang Lee, Life of Pi (2012)
Damien Chazelle, La La Land (2016)
Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water (2017)
Alfonso Cuarón, Roma (2018)
Bong Joon Ho, Parasite (2019)
Chloé Zhao, Nomadland (2020)
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog (2021)
Sean Baker, Anora (2024)
BY BERNARD BOO
A decade ago, MVFF launched its Mind the Gap initiative. The aim was to achieve gender equity across all sectors of the film industry by breaking boundaries and challenging social norms through representation and insightful discussion rooted in the art and craft of filmmaking.
MVFF and Mind the Gap committed to having 50 percent of the festival’s films directed by women by 2020, and they exceeded that goal, with 57 percent of the festival’s features helmed by women that year. In the subsequent years, the initiative continued
to reach, or nearly reach, that 50 percent goal.
This year, the festival is honoring two surging talents: Eva Victor, star, writer, and director of A24 film Sorry, Baby, and Kristen Stewart (Twilight), who will be presenting her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water. Both will be presented with the Mind the Gap Award for their artistry and impact on the industry.
Mind the Gap has become a cornerstone of MVFF, and the films and filmmakers it champions continue to pave the way for and empower the next generation of women in film.
BY BERNARD BOO
We checked in with MVFF Executive Director and Founder Mark Fishkin to shed light on what we can expect from this year’s festival and what advice he has for attendees.
MM: Zoë Elton is moving aside from her role as Director of Programming for MVFF. How has this shaped this year’s film festival?
MF: Zoë and the team have gone all out to create one of the most memorable festivals in our 48 years. I do my part with the programming, but it’s really thanks to the team and Zoë’s leadership that this year’s program is so strong.
MM: What are some of the titles that stand out to you in this year’s lineup?
MF: Well, our opening night film is Hamnet, and what I’ll say is, make sure you bring your hanky with you. I had one of the most powerful emotional reactions I’ve had to a film in a long time. It’s about Shakespeare’s wife, Agnes, and the loss of their son. It’s based on a book, but it will be a fantastic experience whether you know it or not.
Then we have our closing night film, Rental Family, which stars Brendan Fraser and is directed by Hikari. This film is so moving, but in a different way than Hamnet. It’s about how we’re flawed
human beings, but we love, and we do our best to live in this world and do the right thing.
MM: What do you have in store for Mind the Gap’s 10th year at the festival?
MF: This year, we’re giving a Mind the Gap Award to Kristen Stewart (Twilight, Snow White and the Huntsman) for her film The Chronology of Water. It’s a profound and amazing directorial debut! It carries emotion and stretches the boundaries of filmmaking.
MM: Do you have a message for those planning on attending the festival this year?
MF: Take a chance. Take a chance on the small film, the documentary, the international film you’ve never heard of. I guarantee you, 99 percent of the time, you won’t regret going. Sometimes you don’t get to go to all of your first-choice screenings at the festival, but you can always find a film you’ll love, even if it’s not one of the Big Nights.
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BY ANN WYCOFF
I AM SITTING AT THE EDGE OF BAJA’S SAN IGNACIO Lagoon, on a rocky outcrop — Punta de Piedra — at sunset. Swaths of tangerine and blood orange streak the deep blue sky. The only sound is that of gray whales frolicking in the shallow waters before us, the thunderous spray and whoosh of their exhales and percussive crashing from their breaches. It is a spectacle like no other. The silhouettes of the Sierra San Francisco mountains rise to the north, a giant sand dune draws the eye, illuminated by the fading yellow sunlight and a vast sea stretches out before me. Undoubtedly, this is my favorite place on earth — I’ve been coming to San Ignacio Lagoon each February for years to commune with the grays, always drawn by the promise of their return.
Each year, I lead a group here with WILDCOAST, a Del Marbased ocean conservation group dedicated to protecting wild places such as San Ignacio Lagoon. This five-day trip is in partnership with Baja Discovery — a tent camp at the edge of the lagoon — and begins with a drive from Old Town San Diego, to the Cross Border Xpress Bridge that drops you into the Tijuana Airport, before boarding a 2-hour charter flight. Once in San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California, Mexico, home for the next four nights is the Baja Discovery base camp, which offers a front row seat to the magic of the whale lagoon.
This area of the Baja Peninsula plays an integral part in ensuring the continuation of these giants. Gray whale mothers travel to this sanctuary to give birth and teach their calves, while other females and males congregate looking for mates. Their presence here is the culmination of one of the longest mammal migrations on Earth — a monumental journey of some 12,000 miles. From their feeding grounds in the frigid seas of Alaska, the gray whales travel south along the Pacific coast of North America. They navigate by a deep, ancient instinct, following the coastline into the warmth of the Baja lagoons.
Back in 2000, WILDCOAST played a pivotal role in
safeguarding this area when the Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi planned to construct the world's largest industrial salt plant, right on the shores of the lagoon. The project would have poisoned these pristine waters, turning a vital whale nursery into an industrial wasteland.
Fortunately, a small but determined and vocal group of people, including WILDCOAST co-founder Serge Dedina, PhD, stepped in to stop this potential travesty, and the project was halted. To ensure the lagoon would never be developed, WILDCOAST helped create 483 miles of conservation concessions around the gray whale breeding lagoons in Baja California. Though a victory, it stood as a reminder that the fragile beauty of places like San Ignacio Lagoon requires constant vigilance and that protection is a shared responsibility.
Mornings on the trip start off with breakfast before boarding a panga boat, located steps from the camp, to seek out these gentle giants in their winter calving and mating grounds. On some days, the sunlit teal water is smooth as glass. Others, it’s fleece, ski hats, wool socks and wind with a slight chop. Before venturing out, we check in with the local steward overseeing the various boats’ takeoff times, a shining example of controlled ecotourism, designed to protect the animals. We then head out in exhilarated anticipation.
Every whale excursion is unique — a floating mystery box of encounters with wildlife, whether you’re watching a trio of grays in a thunderous mating ritual or lucky enough to have a mother and a young calf approach the panga. Sometimes the young calves play like puppies with the boats and humans, eager for a pat or kiss on their soft rubbery skin. Other times, 30-ton mothers pass, blowing giant bubble blasts to the surface or swimming right under the boat, their shadows, size and power take the breath away. The boat captains, all from the local community, are masters at navigating these whale-filled waters and interacting with the part-time cetacean residents.
The whales’ desire to seek out human contact is honestly hard to understand. These magnificent creatures were once hunted to the brink of extinction in the 1800s by whaling captains who deemed them “devil fish” for their aggressive defense of their young. Thankfully, the species survived, and some “friendlies” interact with the very species that once hunted them. It’s a miracle they trust us at all.
When not communing with whales, time can be spent kayaking or cruising through the beautiful mangrove forests or on nature walks along pristine beaches dotted with time-worn whale bones, shiny shells, and sand dollars the size of pancakes. Evenings mean hearty meals and slideshow lectures from the affable staff, along with talks from NOAA scientists and local whale researchers. With a 24-guest max, myriad bonding moments arise between our small group, from intimate dinners and grilled-oyster-and-margarita happy hours to the dopamine-infused experiences of seeing these creatures in the wild.
Sadly, these animals are under extreme threat due to changing weather patterns, warming seas, ship strikes and food-chain
collapse. In the past few years, the numbers have dwindled at the lagoon, and we are greatly concerned about the vulnerability of these gentle giants as their annual return is no longer guaranteed.
When people ask what they can do, my answer is this: Take action, use your voice and your vote. Support groups that are fighting to preserve nature and its wildlife. Travel with WILDCOAST to witness the majesty of this species to understand how crucial it is to save them.
As WILDCOAST’s Executive Director Serge Dedina, PhD says, “As a result of climate change, gray whales are literally canaries in the dramatically changing ocean coal mine. We can’t afford to let these wondrous symbols of California and Baja’s coastal waters vanish before our eyes. We have to do everything we can to protect these magnificent whales right now and far into the future.”
Tucked away in the middle of San Francisco’s Presidio National Park, the Presidio Theatre Performing Arts Center, built in 1939, was brought back to life in 2019 through the vision and generosity of the Margaret E. Haas Fund run by Rossresident Peggy Haas. Now, in 2025, the state-of-the-art and all-ages venue has established itself as one of the region’s most impactful entertainment destinations under the leadership of Executive and Artistic Director Lilly Schwartz. “We are thrilled that Bay Area audiences and critics are responding so enthusiastically to what we are doing,” says Schwartz. “With our close proximity to the Golden Gate Bridge and our location near all of the family-friendly activities in the Presidio, we are able to present a wide range of a ffordable events with worldclass artists that cross theater, dance, and musical genres and span artistic disciplines. We are on a journey of discovery and we hope Marin County residents wil l fi nd their way to join this journey with us.”
The Presidio Theatre’s current 2025-26 season is the Theatre’s most ambitious ever and honors the Theatre’s founding by bringing back audience favorites and looking to the future by presenting new
artists and cutting-edge organizations. From October to May, the Theatre will present over 80 shows that are in fluenced by Schwartz’s four pillars of programming - Art, Dance, Music, and Theatre. The Presidio Theatre has a Membership Program to help support the artistic programs and to help maintain the almost 100-year-old historic building. The membership perks range from waived ticket fees, members-only shows, a pre-sale period to purchase tickets for your favorite seats, exclusive artist meet and greets, and access to the Theatre’s very popular Members Lounge.
The new season features a wide-range of musicians and groups across multiple genres and styles. Musical highlights include banjo master Noam Pikelny on October 15, jazz from Brad Mehldau and Christian McBride on October 16 and 17, Valentine’s week of love featuring a collection of singers from February 12 to 15, Ukrainian group DakhaBrakha on February 21 and 22, South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo on March 1, Sweet Honey In The Rock on May 9 and 10, and more.
Dance is a major component of the new season with special and exclusive
performances from Giordano Dance Chicago on October 25, Paul Taylor Dance on March 20, and Flamenco Arts International on May 23.
Theater is a mainstay of the upcoming season as the Presidio Theatre welcomes back the beloved holiday tradition of Panto in the Presidio and the return of last year’s sold-out Peter Pan for a new production and over two dozen performances from November 29 to December 28. Broadway legend Cheyenne Jackson appears January 30, Piaf! The Show, on February 5, celebrates her 110th birthday, and the modern circus group Cirque Mechanics and their show Tilt! performs on March 21 and 22.
For the new season, the Presidio Theatre welcomes five resident companies for a two-season partnership with the Presidio Theatre. The companies are New Orleansbased Preservation Hall Jazz Band, San Francisco Arts Education Project, Chamber Music SF, Children’s Theater Association of San Francisco, and New Century Chamber Orchestra. Each company will present exclusive performances and interactive events.
San Francisco and the Bay Area have a new home for entertainment - The Presidio Theatre in the historic Presidio National Park.
99 Moraga Avenue, San Francisco 415.960.3949 | presidiotheatre.org
Fairs, fests, performances and other excellent events.
EDITED BY DAVID SASON
Pumpkins, parades and plenty of fun in the autumn sun for Marin’s October events.
OCT. 2–12 Mill Valley Film Festival Our local theaters draw an international audience during these 10 days featuring screenings, discussions and tributes to silver screen icons. Venues include theaters in Mill Valley, Larkspur, San Rafael and Berkeley. mvff.com
OCT. 3–5 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass A darling of Bay Area music fests returns for its 25th season with a weekend of free music in San Francisco — really good music. See big names like Emmylou Harris, Courtney Barnett, Texas “psychobilly” trio Reverend Horton Heat and more. hardlystrictlybluegrass.com
OCT. 5–13 Fleet Week Ahoy, sailors. Fleet week in San Francisco doesn’t just consist of the spectacular airshows by flyers like the Blue Angels (on Oct. 10–12). There are also concerts by Navy and Marine Corps bands, a veterans art exhibit and the parade of ships through the bay. fleetweeksf.org
OCT. 16–19 San Francisco Fall Show With over 40 top dealers displaying all mediums of art, ranging from furniture and rugs to paintings and ceramics, the SF Fall Show is an impressive name in the game. There’s also an Opening Night Gala not to miss on Oct. 15. sffallshow.org
SEPT. 28–OCT. 31 Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch Don’t miss this classic pumpkin patch with farm animals, hayrides and plenty of round, orange gourds — all in the heart of Marin County. nicasiovalleypumpkinpatch.net
OCT. 2–NOV. 1 Hexed Dive into the “Terror Vault” at the SF Mint and enjoy this immersive, campy theater-meetshaunted house experience. The story centers on three witches seeking to turn the world toward eternal darkness, plus the heroes who rise to challenge them. intothedarksf.com
OCT. 25 Halloween Paint and Sip The ticket price will get you paint materials, plus drinks and snacks for this familyfriendly art event in the Fairfax Pavilion. townoffairfax.org
OCT. 25 Safe Trick or Treat It’s all treat and no trick at this community Halloween event, when families can go door to door for candy at shops and businesses in downtown Novato. downtownnovato.com
OCT. 26 Howl-o-Ween Supermutts, Halloweenies and spooky pups of all sizes are invited to Mill Valley Lumber Yard for its second annual doggy costume contest. Owners can come too. millvalleylumberyard.com
OCT. 31 Masquerade Ball Grab your costume and celebrate this year’s Halloween in style, and for a good cause — this ball is part of the fun to honor Performing Stars of Marin’s 35th anniversary. performingstars.org
OCT. 1–NOV. 2 Vivre en Couleur! Mill Valley’s Robert Green Fine Arts is exhibiting a never-seen-before body of large format watercolors by noted Abstract Expressionist Paul Jenkins (1923–2012). His paintings have come to represent the spirit of post World War II American abstraction. robertgreenfinearts.com
OCT. 4 Diane Button What Matters Most in Corte Madera For the latest free event at Book Passage in Corte Madera, the author presents her new book, What Matters Most: Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living!, followed by a signing and meet-and-greet. Read more about end of life doulas on page 36. bookpassage.com
OCT. 8–12 Oakland Style Oakland’s looking good at this style-themed week of fashion shows, gastronomy and art events. Make a trip out of it: Some Oakland hotels are offering deals and discounts in conjunction with Oakland Style. visitoakland.com
OCT. 30–NOV. 23 Sally & Tom This piece from Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks presents a theatre company rehearsing a play about Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. marintheatre.org
OCT. 12–13 Schubert’s Trout Quintet Marin Symphony opens its season with Grażyna Bacewicz’s astonishing Quartet for Violins, before Marin Symphony
all-stars perform Franz Schubert’s masterful Trout quintet. Two performances are split between Novato’s Marin Country Club and Mill Valley’s Mount Tam Methodist Church. marinsymphony.org
OCT. 17–18 Zepparella A powerhouse Led Zeppelin tribute band made up entirely of women musicians, this San Francisco group crosses the bridge to bring their headbanging covers to Sweetwater Music Hall. sweetwatermusichall.com
OCT. 19 Esmé Quartet New resident of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Esmé Quartet takes its name from the old French word for “beloved.” Formed in 2016 in Cologne, Germany, the Quartet has performed worldwide and won the prestigious Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition in London. chambermusicmarin.org
OCT. 25 Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers This internationally recognized band will be performing classic American jazz, swing, blues, R&B and New Orleans music from the mid 20th century. marinjazz.com
OCT. 1–5 Nexus: SF/Bay Area Black Art Week Organized by Museum of the African Diaspora, this inaugural week of Black art will unite galleries, institutions and artists for discussions, community
building and a culminating Afropolitan Ball. nexus-sfbay.com
OCT. 1–JAN. 2026 Printing Color: Chiaroscuro to Screenprint From 18thcentury etchings to experimental works by contemporary artists Kiki Smith and Alicia McCarthy, this exhibition highlights printmaking across time and technique. famsf.org
OCT. 1–MAY 2026 Leilah Babirye: We Have a History This Legion of Honor exhibit focuses on Uganda-born (and New York-based) Leilah Babirye, who is known for her highly expressive, ambiguously gendered sculptures in ceramic, wood and discarded objects. famsf.org
OCT. 12 Italian Heritage Parade North Beach will be even more red, white and green than usual for this annual celebration of Italian American culture — the oldest parade of its kind in America. sfitalianheritage.org
OCT. 13 San Francisco Indigenous People’s Day Before it was San Francisco, the land was called Yelamu, home to the Ramaytush Ohlone people. On Indigenous People’s Day, Yerba Buena Gardens hosts an afternoon celebration with Native American art, music and vendors for the holiday. ybgfestival.org
OCT. 4 Marin Fashion Night Gerry Kelly of SONAS in Fairfax is behind this exciting display of fashion, partnered with Charlston Pierce. Kelly’s show debuted last year with great success, so be sure not to miss this year’s display. marinfashionnight.org
OCT. 10–11 Nostalgia Days for more coupes, Cadillacs and cars from decades past at the 29th annual show of classic autos in downtown Novato. Stroll amongst the vehicles in a street fair, and don’t miss Friday’s Hot Rod Cruise. nostalgiadays.com
OCT. 25 The Kelly Brush Ride sion of this ride is to inspire and empower people with spinal cord injuries to lead active and engaged lives. Options include a family-friendly 7-mile ride; scenic 25 and 50-mile routes; a metric century for road riders; and mountain bike options spanning 13 or 23 miles. give.kellybrushfoundation.org
BY LYNDA BALSLEV
MOVE OVER STONE FRUIT; it’s time to make room for pears. As the temperatures inch lower and summer produce wanes, hardy pears step into the spotlight. Pears are one of fall’s most versatile fruits. Depending on the variety, they can hold their texture when baked, or soften and meld into a dish when cooked. Pears shine in both sweet and savory dishes — baked into crisps and tarts, poached in wine or sliced raw into salads. Their sweet perfumed flavor pairs beautifully with warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg, as well as rich ingredients like caramel, prosciutto and creamy cheeses.
This cake is inspired by a German cake, Versunkener Apfelkuchen, or sunken apple cake. As the name implies, it’s traditionally made with another fall favorite — apples — but it can also be made with pears. It’s a simple cake, not overly sweet and modestly dusted with warm spices, which provides a gentle canvas to showcase the subtle flavors of the pear. Choose a firm pear, such as Bartlett or Anjou, which will hold its shape while baking. This is an all-day cake, meant to be enjoyed with coffee and tea, as a dessert or even for breakfast.
Makes one (9-inch) cake
1 cup all-purpose our
1/2 cup almond our
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
3 medium pears, such as Bartlett or Anjou
Fresh lemon juice for brushing
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon nely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup whole milk
Powdered sugar, for sprinkling
1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Butter the sides of a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment.
2. Whisk the our, baking powder, salt and cardamom in a bowl.
3. Peel and core the pears. Thinly slice, keeping the shape of the pear intact, as much as possible. Brush with lemon juice to prevent discoloring.
4. Beat the sugar and butter, in the bowl of an electric mixer tted with a paddle attachment, until light and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing to thoroughly incorporate before the next addition. Mix in the lemon zest and the vanilla and almond extracts.
5. Add half of the dry ingredients and mix on low speed to incorporate. Mix in the milk, then add the remaining dry ingredients. Mix to combine, without overmixing.
6. Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Arrange the pear slices in the batter, slightly fanning the slices and gently pressing to slightly submerge. (The dough will rise around the pears as the cake bakes, so there is no need to fully submerge the pear.)
7. Bake in the oven until the cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes clean with a few crumbs sticking, about 50 minutes. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then release the sides. Cool the cake to slightly warm or room temperature.
8. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve as is or with whipped cream. The cake can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Burmatown Asian
Though the menu remains largely the same (that tea leaf salad! Those bao!) at this location down the street from the original, the addition of a grill boosts the menu with dishes like kalbi ribs or smoked salmon collars. A long bar on one side of the room serves wine and beer and the front windows slide open for easy access to a large patio. 18 Tamalpais Ave, 415.985.5060; burmatown.com
$
Flores Mexican
With an emphasis on regional Mexican dishes and avors sourced from family recipes, the menu is based on California seasonality and revolves around gluten-free masa. The daily-made tortillas are a highlight. 301 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.500.5145; oressf.com
BB HH
Marin Joe’s Italian
A mainstay for a reason: the menu calls to you with garlic bread, a calamari sandwich and mesquite-grilled prime rib. Sautéed classics of the ItalianAmerican canon as well as oysters doré and pastas have withstood the test of time. 1585 Casa Buena Dr,
415.924.2081; marinjoes restaurant.com
RH Marin American
Ride up the goldenhued elevator to the top oor restaurant bedecked in RH style and linger over a shaved vegetable salad, a tru ed grilled cheese sandwich on Panorama Bakery sourdough or a namesake RH Burger. This rooftop sunroom and outdoor lounge boasts glass ceilings and walls for an epic view of Mount Tam and a feeling of oating above it all. 1750 Redwood Highway at The Village, 628.266.2040; rh.com
BB
Barefoot Cafe
American Chef Tony Senehi’s all-day cafe is known for California-inspired dishes made from local, organic ingredients. Pear almond pancakes and eggs Benedict (ask for “the Brady” to get lox) are popular at breakfast, while a BBQ pulled pork sandwich is a hot seller at lunch. 1900 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.460.2160; barefootcafe.com
BB $
Fradelizio’s Italian
A perennial neighborhood gem, the cozy space welcomes all
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1226 Fourth Street • Downtown San Rafael • 415-459-5808 • stephanhill.com
with daily specials (fresh local sh, housemade Meyer lemon fettuccine with salmon, cioppino, a Becker Lane organic pork cannelloni) and a Napa Valley wine from the barrel program. 35 Broadway Blvd, 415.459.1618; fradelizios.com
La Gastronomia
Italian Like the town it’s situated in, La Gastronomia is a lively and cozy restaurant best known for its authentic cuisine, fresh ingredients and warm atmosphere. Originally from a coastal town in Italy, owners Elena and her husband Gustavo curate a taste of the Italian coast in the California sun. 123 Bolinas Rd, Fairfax, 415.419.5465; lagastronomiadi porchetta.com
BB $
Sorella Ca e Italian Run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella serves fresh Italian with a northern influnce. Favorites include the cioppino, butternut squash ravioli, pollo alla Sorella and the garlic bread. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520; sorellaca e.com
$
Left Bank Restaurant
French This Parisianstyle brasserie by Chef Roland Passot has been serving the community for more than two decades. Whether on the patio, bar or in the elegant main dining room with a huge replace, it’s a fun experience. The menu features authentic French cuisine utilizing seasonal, local and organic ingredients. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331; leftbank.com
and chili-lime “brick” chicken are a few of the comfort-food menu items that have made this classic roadhouse a favorite since the ’30s. The dark-wood bar with red leather booths is a popular spot for cocktails, conversations or a light meal. Heated patio seating o ers a moment’s respite with a fresh espresso and breakfast burrito from the weekday Buckeye Joe Co ee Kiosk. 15 Shoreline Hwy, 415.331.2600; buck eyeroadhouse.com
BB HH
Bungalow 44
Perry’s on Magnolia American Perry’s on Magnolia has the same classic American cuisine, bustling bar and warm service and personality the San Francisco original has always been famous for. Plentiful outdoor dining options. Its bar is a perennial Best of the County winner. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.1877; perryssf.com
BB
Rustic Bakery
Californian Organic bread and pastries baked fresh each morning and salads, sandwiches, and soups make this a staple. 2017 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.461.9900 and 1139 Magnolia Ave; 415.925.1556; rusticbakery.com
$
Buckeye Roadhouse
American Oysters Bingo, baby back ribs,
Gravity Tavern
American With ingredients suited to re ect modern tastes, American classics like grilled chicken Waldorf salad with pickled grapes, lobster roll with toasted challah and veggie slaw, and a land and sea pasta with housemade egg pasta, pork belly and crab, may have also been familiar fare for passengers of the Mt. Tam gravity car for which this saloon was named. 38 Miller Ave, 415.888.2108; gravitytavern.com
BB HH
American The bustling bar is ideal for savoring a seasonal cocktail or an order of the house’s famous kickin’ fried chicken. The one-dollar happy hour oyster program still operates from 5–6 p.m., Monday–Thursday and the heated outdoor patio is a town hot spot. 44 E Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500; bungalow44.com
Corner Bar
Mediterranean Corner Bar is downtown Mill Valley’s rst cocktail lounge… ever! Bring a date or simply come to unwind in the sleek interior, which features two bars plus plenty of window space overlooking the town square. A menu of Mediterranean bites complement Corner Bar’s artfully crafted cocktails.106 Throckmorton Ave, 415.888.8001; cornerbarmv.com
HH
cream and citrus gremolata, roasted mushroom pizza with taleggio fonduta and black tru e oil or roasted salmon with artichokes and Calabrian chili. 625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525; piatti.com
Paseo Bistro
Californian
The bistro along ‘el paseo’ exudes the same charm as its predecessors with a French-in ected menu from executive chef Sylvain Montassier. That translates into dishes of tuna tartare with chicharron and shiitakes, squid ink linguini with local crab and mussels or a Devil’s Gulch pork chop with crispy spaetzle and cabbage. Sip a classic cocktail in the Paseo bar or savor chocolate fondant with salted caramel ganache in one of the inviting exposed brick and wood dining rooms. 17 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley; 415.888.3907; paseobistro.com
HH
Piatti Ristorante and Bar Italian A replace lounge and open format concept invites lingering over refreshed menu items such as house made ravioli with lemon
With a chef from Mexico City, Playa’s food o ers traditional dishes with modern avors and presentations. A Little Gem salad sparkles with tomatillo dressing and enchiladas shine from a glossy coating of house made black mole and micro greens. The bar highlights exceptional tequilas and mezcals but the el Slushie and house margarita have legions of fans and are perfect for sipping on the large, heated back patio. Weekend lunch is available.
41 Throckmorton Ave, 415.384.8871; playamv.com
BB HH
Sweetwater Music Hall’s Rock & Rye American Bay Area chef Rick Hackett redesigned the menu to feature South American and New Orleans-inspired dishes with a seasonal focus at Sweetwater Music Hall’s refreshed restaurant. An extensive collection of whiskeys and craft cocktails pays tribute to independent music venues and the 50-seat outdoor patio was redone.
19 Corte Madera Ave, 415.388.3850; sweetwatermusichall.com
BB
BEST
Lunch service begins at Creekside daily at 12 noon with delicious salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes, gourmet pizzas, plus vegan and gluten free options.
Creekside is your destination for Marin’s best craft beer selection, with over 25 breweries on 40 taps, plus our curated California-focused wine list. Happy Hour every day, seven days a week at 4PM. We invite you to visit downtown San Anselmo for great shopping, award winning restaurants, and enjoy our family friendly town here in the Heart of Marin.
638 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo, CA 415.785.4450 www.CreeksideSA.com
Tam Tavern American Previously known as Floodwater, this local favorite has been reinvented to deliver homely bites and a variety of beers on tap. There will even be some beer-infused cocktails for a unique twist on some classic drinks. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.843.4545; tamtavernmv.com
HH $
Perry’s Novato
American Epic burgers and cocktails, excellent service, signature blue-andwhite gingham tablecloths — expect all of those and more here at Perry’s northernmost location. 224 Alameda Del Prado, 415.506.4212; perryssf.com
BB
downtown restaurant features soulful Mediterranean fare for 25+ years. Dinner favorites include cataplana with mussels and chorizo, Middle Eastern-inspired vegetarian platter, Moroccan lamb atbread, house made pastas and of course, the fattoush salad. An expansive takeout counter o ers a wide range of selections for family meals, celebrations or a quick lunch option.
120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.457.7700; insalatas.com
Comforts Cafe
American Established in 1986, Comforts has a cozy sit-down cafe, serving breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. Besides the famous Chinese chicken salad, other winners are the stu ed pecan-crusted French toast, chicken Okasan (nicknamed “Crack Chicken” by fans), Korean BBQ ank steak and Wor Won Ton soup. 335 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.9840; comfortscafe.com
BB $
Creekside Pizza & Tap Room American
A perennial Best of the County winner known for their artisan pizzas, hearty sandwiches, avorful pastas and fresh salads, Creekside o ers plentiful gluten-free and vegan options
too. Their copper bar with a 40-handle selection of craft beer (including gluten-free beer), plus wine and kombucha on tap. 638 San Anselmo Ave, 415.785.4450; creeksidesa.com
Cucina sa Italian Open for lunch, weekend brunch, and dinner six nights a week, come by for homemade pastas, seasonal salads, and wood- red pizzas that strike a balance between southern Italy and Northern California. Don’t skip the happy hour from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, either! 510 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.2942; cucina-sa.com
Insalata’s Mediterranean Award-winning chef Heidi Krahling’s
amount of sweet heat. 726 San Anselmo Ave, 415.457.9470; thebaanthai cuisine.com
Valenti & Co.
Italian The bright space and warmly lit back patio are ideal for Italian dishes made with local ingredients. Look for the carpaccio of beef, the pan-seared Pekin duck and chef Valenti’s famous tower of triple chocolate love at dessert. 337 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.7800; valentico.com
Kuro Nami Japanese Kitchen Japanese Kuro Nami, which means “black wave,” is a restaurant from the team behind The Baan Thai Cuisine. There, you’ll nd inventive sushi rolls, premium sake and a menu of signature dishes that explore the depth of Japanese cuisine. It’s not just sushi — you can try picks like kani miso (grilled miso paste with crab), or their creamy pasta with tempura softshell crab. 69 Center Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.459.6969; kuro namimarin.com
The Baan Thai Cuisine Thai Known for their mango sticky rice, crispy corn cakes and eponymous salad, The Baan Thai also features new menu items like fresh spring rolls and steamed dumplings and old favorites such as the tom kha soup entice with fresh avors and just the right
made chipotle aioli has a dedicated following. 901 B St., 415.234.8414; redroosterbrick oven.com
La Toscana
Ristorante & Bar
Italian Family owned and operated, La Toscana completed an extensive interior and exterior renovation, transforming an already popular San Rafael gathering spot into a place for any occasion. The menu features daily specials and classics like gnocchi and carbonara and an ample selection of wine. 3751 Redwood Hwy, 415.492.9100; ristorantelas toscana.com
Red Rooster Brick
Oven American Roasted in the brick oven, then brushed with sweet and spicy garlic sauce, Red Rooster wings are a must-order at an allday Italian American restaurant with a sprinkling of Asian avors. The buttermilk-fried chicken sandwich with house
$ Sol Food Caribbean/Puerto Rican Sol Food whips up traditional Puerto Rican dishes with fresh ingredients. All day favorites include the bistec sandwich, mofongo and other fried plantain dishes, but anything tastes good with a dash of “pique” their signature hot pepper sauce, also for sale by the bottle (as is the lemon-garlic salad dressing). They also have a special menu from “Victor’s Crispy Tacos.” 901 Lincoln Ave, 415.451.4765; solfoodrestaurant.com $
Angelino Restaurant Italian Multiple generations of the Ancona family create an authentic Italian eatery with handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti that has showcased the cuisine of the Campania regionfor more than 20 years. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225; angelino restaurant.com
Copita Mexican Co-owner Joanne Weir, along with Chef Aaron Sabido, presents fresh Mexican fare in the heart of Bridgeway. The everchanging menu is 100 percent gluten-free,
STYLE CAFÉ AND WINE BAR
Each dish has a story!
Café Zoetrope is located in the majestic Sentinel Building, a San Francisco historic landmark in the heart of North Beach, and the home to Francis Ford Coppola’s American Zoetrope Studio (film production company where the origin of the Café name comes from).
CAFEZOETROPE.COM • (415) 291-1700 916 KEARNY STREET, SAN FRANCISCO
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masa is prepared and pressed in house for each and every tortilla, and the in-house tequila bar serves over 100 varieties, ideal for crafting your own margarita. Dine at the bar or on the outdoor patio for great people-watching.
739 Bridgeway, 415.331.7400; copitarestaurant.com
BB $ HH
Fish Seafood
It has been said that this restaurant and sh market launched the sustainable seafood movement, making it the ultimate place for freshly caught, unobjectionable fare. Order any of the day’s o erings — the menu changes — daily but usually has a variation of sh tacos, ceviche and grilled sh. 350 Harbor Dr, 415.331.3474; 331 sh.com
Poggio Italian Vitello sliced excruciatingly thin and topped with lemon and tonnato sauce is a singular dish in the hands of executive chef Benjamin Balesteri who creates Northern Italian fare using local and Italian ingrdients. 777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771; poggiotrattoria.com
BB
The Joinery American
This waterfront restaurant features a patio whose big salads and shareable plates make it a destination for families and groups. Order at the front, then grab a seat to enjoy the craft beer, Joinery or Impossible burger, rotisserie chicken and seasonal fare. 300 Turney St, 415.766.8999; joineryca.com
$
touch. The seasonal menu incorporates fresh and organic produce, local naturally grown meat and poultry from small farms. The restaurant complies with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, so all the seafood is sustainable. A recent expansion tripled the size of the patio to accommodate more diners. In 2014, diners voted Luna Blu one of the Top 100 Neighborhood Gem restaurants in America. 35 Main St, 415.789.5844; luna blurestaurant.com
BB
Petite Left Bank
The Trident Seafood Set in a turn-of-thecentury building constructed for the San Francisco Yacht Club, this waterfront restaurant is a shoo-in for date night where every seat has a water view. Famous for musician sightings in the 1970s, the room with the great vibe is now known for supporting local farmers, shers and organic food producers in everything from its well-regarded cioppino to a Louie salad with crab or prawns and beerbattered sh and chips. 558 Bridgeway, 415.331.3232; thetrident.net
HH
Luna Blu Italian Executive chef Renzo Azzarello serves Sicilian seafood and homemade pastas with a Californian
roaming oyster cart, and a raw bar re ect the menu’s enduring seafood focus. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527; samscafe.com
BB HH
Servino Ristorante
Italian
French A smaller version of the Larkspur original features an all-day menu of French bistro classics. A notable wine list, artisan craft cocktail menu, and spirit-free beverages round out the lively experience. Open daily for lunch and dinner, with weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday, and daily morning co ee and pastry service coming soon. 1696 Tiburon Blvd, Tiburon; 415.910.1010; petiteleftbank tiburon.com $
Sam’s Anchor Cafe
American Sam’s boathouse feel and boat tie-ups with boatside service are part of its charm but most come for the spi y white umbrellas and deck chairs on the expansive waterfront patio. All-day cocktails remain a xture as does the signature cioppino, while o erings like crab toast, a
Chef and owner Angelo Servino highlights organic ingredients in an array of rustic Italian dishes, including house-made pastas, wood-oven pizzas, and seasonal specialties. Located on Ark Row, Servino also prides itself on its extensive sustainable seafood program and deep Italian wine list. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676; servino.com
BB HH
The Bungalow Kitchen Californian
A lively social lounge and restaurant from chef Michael Mina and Brent Bolthouse boasts epic views and a menu of seasonal California fare executed by chef Harrison Chernick — crispy Liberty duck wings glazed with Grand Marnier and black pepper, cavatelli cacio e pepe with black truf es, jalapeño shrimp toast. Brunch cocktails pair with sweet potato pancakes and hot chicken and wa es on weekends. 5 Main St, 415.366.4088; bungalowkitchen.com
BB HH
The Caprice Californian
Enjoy the expansive bay views from every seat and a menu of well-crafted comfort food from land (bone-in let mignon,
Colorado lamb chops) and sea (gnocchi with crab, abalone dore), also features classic cocktails and a wine list that leans towards American, Italian and French o erings. Complimentary evening valet provided. 2000 Paradise Drive, 415.435.3400; the caprice.com
BB HH
The Caviar Co American Belvedere resident Petra Bergstein expanded her San Franciscobased business with a downtown shop and restaurant dedicated to the briny delicacy. Caviar ights, along with Champagne by the glass or bottle and small plates like grilled cheese with tru es, are available to enjoy in their tasting room or to take home. 46A Main Street, Tiburon; 415.889.5168; info.the caviarco.com
BY DONNA BERRY GLASS
30 Years of Racing and Outrigger Community
Tamalpais Outrigger Canoe Club celebrated the 30th anniversary of its annual race, Kula Anela, on August 24. More than 500 paddlers from the Northern California Canoe Association and beyond (fueled by Jambars) showed up at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge to enjoy racing, camaraderie and ukulele tunes from UFOhana. Sponsors included Autofocus, The Trident and Local Getaways. Raffle prizes were provided b Outrigger Hospitality, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, Hotel Castro, Inn Above Tide and many other local restaurants and retailers.
Marin City Proudly Unveils New Legacy Banners
On August 13, the Marin City community showed up to celebrate the Marin City Legacy Banners — offering tributes to the Black shipbuilders of WWII and inviting people to discover stories of civil rights, labor and the Great Migration often overlooked by textbooks. The event, which was covered by KGO-TV, included a selfguided tour and relics from the Marin City History Exhibit curated by Felecia Gaston.
Poolside Party at Phoenix Hotel for a Purpose
The iconic rock-and-roll Phoenix Hotel set the stage for the 17th Annual Glide Summer Gala on August 22. It was a party full of energy — and plenty of poolside dancing thanks to sets by DJ King Most — to support Glide’s mission to break the cycles of poverty and advance equity. The evening also recognized youth advocate Teresa Goines, founder and CEO of Old Skool Cafe, with the Janice Mirikitani Legacy Award, and SF Carnival CEO Roberto Hernandez, who has dedicated his life to organizing grassroots movements in San Francisco’s Mission District, with the Reverend Cecil Williams Legacy Award.
1 Sasha Sommer; 2 Damian and Susie Bass; 3 Glide
After 18 years in-the-making, North Bay Children’s Center (NBCC) – which offers early childhood care and education – has officially opened its Brigh Futures campus in Novato. A member of the Marin Magazine editorial team had the opportunity to tour the campus at its official opening last month, which include remarks from NBCC CEO Susan Gilmore and First Partner of California Jennifer Siebel Newsom. Food Network celebrity chef Curtis Aikens (who will serve as Chef in Residence and Garden of Eatin’ Ambassador) was also present to host a live cooking demonstration. Read more on page 32 and watch the day’s events @marinmagazine on Instagram.
Sausalito.gov/Toast Sausalito.gov/Toast
October 18, 2025 1:00pm - 5:00pm
3 stages with all day entertainment
3 stages with all day entertainment
100 art & craft merchants
100 art & craft merchants
Local food, games, music
Local food, games, music
Live and interactive art
Live and interactive art
Beer, Wine & Spirit Festival with 50+ beverage vendors
Beer, Wine & Spirit Festival with 50+ beverage vendors
FREE TO ATTEND!
FREE TO ATTEND!
Purchase your beverage sampling wristband today for Early Bird discount!
Purchase your beverage sampling wristband today for Early Bird discount!
The Helix Adult Academy is a new nonprofit that extends the mission of The Helix School by creating lifelong learning and community for neurodivergent adults who have “aged out” of the school system.
The Academy is now seeking founding board members with a passion for education and inclusion to help shape its future. Contact Marjorie McMorris, Founder of The Helix School, at marjorie@thehelixschool.org
The Helix School is a Private Marin school serving neurodivergent students, specializing in autism, from ages 5 to 22.
Marjorie McMorris | Founder & Trustee marjorie@thehelixschool.org 650-353-6972 I thehelixschool.org
Marin Magazine Rings In 2025 Best of the County Winners at Annual Celebration 350 winners and fans of Marin Magazine’s annual and highly anticipated Best of the County awards floced to the Mill Valley Community Center on August 28 to celebrate all the incredible businesses located throughout the county. The lively crowd mingled, savored delicious bites by Stacy Scott Catering, Playa and Corner Bar, and enjoyed libations from Sausalito Liquor Co., Batiste Rhum, J Vineyards & Winery, Orin Swift Cellars, Louis M. Martini Winery and East Brother Beer Co., as well as designer mocktails by 2717 Bar Service. Along with lots of lively chatter, music filled the air thanks to DJ Airsun and a live performance by Marin native Alicia Furst.
Jyzen, Porsche Marin and Hayes Valley Medical Aesthetics stepped up as the event’s lead sponsors while group publisher Nikki C. Wood and editorial director Mimi Towle gave out thousands of dollars worth of raffle prizes to the evenins luckiest guests. A portion of the event’s proceeds went to Habitat for Humanity, the magazine’s nonprofit partner in this years Best of the County awards.
1
Carla
Scott
8
Scott,
Liz
Thank you, Andy and Troy, for your vision and generosity. You’ve created more than a market – you’ve built a true gathering place.
From neighbors connecting over food and wine to dancing under the stars with Pride & Joy — this series has been unforgettable.
BY LOTUS ABRAMS | PHOTOGRAPHY
The thoughtful renovation of a Mill Valley craftsman pairs historical references with modern sensibility.
OFTENTIMES, RESIDENTIAL RENOVATIONS
focus on making older homes look more modern. When two surgeons moved into a 1925-era home in Mill Valley with their three children, however, they asked interior designer Corine Maggio to restore its craftsman charm. “They wanted all the creature comforts and necessities of modern life, but they also wanted to bring back the personality and authentic details from the time,” says Maggio, principal at Mill Valley-based CM Natural Designs.
Faced with bland white-on-white interiors devoid of many original accents, as well as a limited construction budget, Maggio certainly had her work cut out for her. Fortunately, the home was in good structural condition. Embracing solutions centered around furniture, paint, wallpaper, textiles and window treatments, Maggio was able to transform the
3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom, fourbath home, improving the functionality while honoring its history.
In the kitchen, which is separate from the dining room, Maggio created a breakfast nook for the kids to eat while the parents prep meals, complete with a vintage French bistro table and chair, a built-in bench and a Sutro Bath print procured at the French Market Marin. Maggio also repainted the existing allwhite cabinetry, selecting a charcoal shade for the lower cabinets and an ivory shade for the upper cabinets, walls and trim.
“Back when the house was built, bright white paint wouldn’t have been available,” she says. Craftsman-style hardware and an antique runner further enhanced the space.
To bring additional light into the dining room and open it to views of the surrounding landscape, Maggio removed
“Back when the house was built, bright white paint wouldn’t have been available.”
some built-in upper cabinetry on the wall facing the home’s entryway, enlivened with botanical Zak+Fox wallpaper. A black-andwhite triptych, gilded French-style mirror from Anthropologie, marble-topped RH table, antique hutch, Crystorama Lighting chandelier and large fiddle leaf fig embellish the room.
The neighboring living room features a blend of modern and vintage-inspired pieces in neutral tones. Here, Maggio complemented a contemporary RH sofa, Crate & Barrel coffee table and Arhaus leather chairs with vintage-inspired elements, including a velvet Global Views armchair, small bistro table from World Market and plug-in sconce from Cedar & Moss tucked into a niche by the window. “That helped us layer more of the traditional elements into the room to make it cohesive with the
rest of the house without it being the main focus,” Maggio says.
In contrast, the cozy charcoalpaneled den displays a hint of whimsy, with portraits of an Elizabethanattired ostrich and moose from Lightology displayed above the leather RH couch. “I wanted to add just a little sprinkling of Wes Anderson in there,” Maggio laughs. “The clients ended up loving them. They’re fun people, and they have an underlying sense of humor.”
The dark wainscoting continues into the guest bathroom, formerly all white, where Maggio added character with William Morris wallpaper that extends onto the ceiling, a beveled mirror and brass sconces. The existing white vessel sink complements the design.
Moving into the private spaces, highlights include the son’s bedroom — one of Maggio’s biggest design challenges on the project. To maximize storage in the tiny room, which had a sharp-angled cutout in the layout and no closet, she
paired a leather-upholstered twin bed featuring a pullout drawer with a large dresser that doubles as a side table. Opposite the bed in the tight corner, she managed to fit open shelving that can one day be converted to a closet, as well as a large armchair for nighttime reading sessions. A natural jute rug, classic plaid-pattern wallpaper and charcoal-painted ceilings complete the design. The lowered crown molding makes the ceiling look taller, because “you can’t really differentiate between where the wall starts and the ceiling begins,” Maggio explains.
Meanwhile, the twin daughters’ bedroom is feminine and timeless, designed with botanical-print wallpaper from Etsy, rusty orange-hued velvet curtains, vintage-inspired beds and a chest that also serves as a shared nightstand. Says Maggio, “It was really vital to me that the kids’ rooms could grow with them, and I’m so proud of how well I think they will do that.”
“Without
“Extraordinarily knowledgeable, competent and well connected to her community...What a refreshing experience.”
Imagine waking up each day in Marin’s most affordable waterfront community, where the boating lifestyle and bay access is right outside your door. With only 34 residences, this cul-de-sac community is a true retreat. Residents enjoy a community swimming pool and patio, a large boat dock for kayaks or waterside enjoyment, and the unique option of private boat slips for those who want their vessel steps away from their door. Whether you’re retired or balancing a packed schedule, coming home to Porto Bello provides a respite from your busy day. Conveniently located near Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, yacht clubs, Hwy 101 access, golf, and open space trails.
29 PORTO BELLO DRVE
2 Beds | 2.5 Baths | Open-concept with seamless flow. Upstairs, spacious bedrooms feature vaulted ceilings, private balconies, and individual bathrooms. Enjoy a fenced garden patio, and the convenience of an attached garage with laundry. 29portobello.com
9 PORTO BELLO DRVE
2 Beds | 2.5 Baths | Chef’s kitchen and a sunlit living room that opens to a garden patio oasis. Upstairs, vaulted ceilings enhance the bedrooms, complemented by two remodeled bathrooms. Includes air conditioning. Attached garage with laundry. 9portobello.com
2 Beds | 2 Baths | Waterfront Unit with gated entry! Single-level open floor plan with expansive views. Oak floors, remodeled kitchen and baths, laundry. Large deck with hot tub and covered dining space. Private, fenced garden patio. Garage.
Contact Agent for Details
RECENTLY SOLD | 40 PORTO BELLO DRIVE
2 Beds | 2 Baths | Indoor-outdoor waterfront living with big deck and private boat dock. Sold for $1,350,000
Whether maximizing the value of your home or finding the home of your dreams, our Marin agents provide incomparable service at all price points. We’re locally rooted, globally connected, and leading our industry.
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Upon Request
THIS STUNNING FLOATING HOME was custom built in 2000 by renowned Sausalito builder Aquamaison. Nestled in one of a select few premium private end berths, the home offers sweeping, unobstructed views of Richardson Bay, Strawberry Point, Tiburon, Belvedere, and beyond. This two-level residence features a covered upper main entrance that opens into a dramatic great room with soaring ceilings, a well-appointed kitchen, front hall closet, dedicated office with custom cabinetry, and a full bathroom with shower and tub. Downstairs, you’ll find three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, including a primary suite with a jetted tub, separate shower, and a stone-surround evening-glow fireplace, including a hall storage closet and a separate laundry room.
From nearly every room, enjoy captivating views and everchanging vistas of nature, including front-row seats to daily waterfowl activity at your water’s edge. This is a rare opportunity to own a truly one-of-a-kind floating home in a coveted location. Don’t miss your chance to make it yours.
PAUL E. BERGERON Broker
$6,488,000
Located in the very heart of Silicon Valley with outstanding Los Gatos schools, this artistically curated and designed home by Native Elements evokes the historical rancho days of California. And yes! You can keep your horses and chickens here too. Lovingly and attentively redesigned for maximum comfort, utility, versatility, and aesthetics, this single-story home with its flowing open concept design comes complete with modern touches and conveniences, including gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, generous prep space, and abundant cabinetry, seamlessly integrating with the adjacent dining area for effortless entertaining. The rustic and charming living room is poised to host your special memories. Family room area has fluid tranquility that ofers space to create. Five well-appointed bedrooms, one of which offers added privacy for guests or home office use. Master has lovely views, spacious walk-closet and access to side yard. This home also features a butler’s pantry, mudroom, spacious workshop, freestanding toolshed, hobby room, and a delightful ADU. Morning coffee awaits in the private front yard with views to the east. Exit out back to discover the outdoor oasis, with a courtyard, an inviting dipping pool, and adjacent seating area. Enjoy idyllic, memorable evenings and romantic western views while dining al fresco: vintage redwood grape stake fencing and native plants complement the beautiful oaks that frame the spectacular sunset. Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the outdoor shower, spacious equipment storage and ample parking for a trailer/boat.
M: 408.348.8303
NATHERA MAWLA
nmawla@cbnorcal.com
M: 408.348.8303
NATHERA MAWLA
M: 408.348.8303
nmawla@cbnorcal.com
CalRE #00786544
nmawla@cbnorcal.com
CalRE #00786544
CalRE #00786544
Heather Kornberg, REALTOR®
Luxe Places International Realty
DRE #02247063
707.888.8632 I heather@luxeplaces.com heatherkornberg.luxeagent.net
Whether I’m helping you find your dream home or preparing a Marin-to-Humboldt getaway, I bring a personal touch and a commitment to making your real estate journey not just successful, but genuinely enjoyable. I love being a Rotarian, volunteering for the Women’s Leadership and Philanthropy Council and the Porsche Club of America.
760 Stagecoach, Trinidad, Humboldt County | $4,600,000 18 acres of one of a kind ocean front property near Arcata–Eureka Airport and Cal Poly Humboldt.
Butternut, San Rafael | $2,095,000
$1,750,000 | 1701 Etter Ranch Road, Garberville
$1,095,000 | 2520 French Road, Miranda
$750,000 | 478 Redway Drive, Redway
$599,000 | 3761 E Blue Rock, Garberville
$545,000 | 79005 Highway 271, Piercy
$250,000 | 969 Willow Glen Road, Whitethorn
$130,000 | 1684 Toth Road, Whitethorn
$70,000/$70,000/$70,000 | Muskrat Circle, Whitethorn (3 parcels)
$44,000 | 566 Redwood Road, Whitethorn
PRIVATE PARADISE IN SUNNY SAN RAFAEL | 31 Indian Road, San Rafael | $2,999,000 | 31IndianRoad.com
Brand new and beautifully remodeled 4 BD / 3 BA home complete with all the amenities and high-end finishes: Ann Sacks tile, wide plank oak fl oors, chef’s kitchen, luxury appliances, huge walk-in primary closet, brand new AC and heat. Indoor / outdoor living on over an acre of gated private land, 3 car garage, your own vineyard, seasonal creek, pool and sauna. Soak in the sun and serenity in your backyard oasis, perfect for entertaining. Located in the highly sought after Los Ranchitos neighborhood and just minutes from great restaurants, hiking and biking trails, a quick commute to SF, beaches, and more.
Steve Hanson Coldwell Banker CalRE #02000922 steve.hanson@cbnorcal.com 415.342.2599
#01989016
150-year-old remnants of railroads still dot the landscape.
BY JIM WOOD
his picture, taken in the 1930s, shows one of two, still operating Marin railroad tunnels that were built nearly 150-years ago. That’s an electric-powered interurban railcar exiting the 1,200-foot Cal Park Tunnel, which was constructed in 1884. It was rebuilt in 2010 and is now being used by SMART (Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit) running between Larkspur and numerous northern destinations — the billboard advertising paint is on today’s Highway 101. The other tunnel that is still operational was also rebuilt by SMART, and burrowed into the hill between downtown San Rafael and the Marin County Civic Center. When driving Highway 101 and nearing North San Pedro Road, you’re near this tunnel, the Porto Suello Tunnel.
According to historian Richard Torney, though Marin is one of the smallest counties in California (per area), it once had an astounding 10 railroad tunnels open and operating. Other tunnels include two created in 1884 for the Northwestern Pacific Railroad line that connected Tiburon and San Rafael, the Reed Tunnel near Tiburon’s Blackie’s Pasture where trestle timbers are still standing, and the Meadowsweet Tunnel in Corte Madera where no remnants are visible today. Finally, there’s the much-discussed Alto Tunnel on the Mill Valley–Corte Madera border. Its 2,200-feet length was bored in 1884 (Marin’s banner year for boring), and was operational until 1971. It was then sealed shut with pea gravel and concrete.
A group called Friends of Alto Tunnel would now like to reopen it, and create a greenway path for bikes and hikes that would connect southern and northern Marin — its estimated cost is somewhere north of $50 million. Be that as it may, Alto Tunnel was once part of the North Pacific Coast Railroad’s coastal route connecting Sausalito through San Geronimo Valley with Point Reyes Station, Tomales and points as far north as the Russian River. All totaled, that line had six tunnels in Marin, one being Bothin Tunnel, which is near today’s Sir Francis Drake Boulevard as you leave Fairfax heading west. And with a length of 3,190 feet, Bothin is the Granddaddy of Marin’s historic tunnel network.
(1923-2012)
An exhibition in conjunction with The Paul & Suzanne Jenkins Foundation “Vivre en Couleur!” Radiant, Powerful, Never Exhibited Before
Over more than seven decades, Paul Jenkins’ paintings have been widely exhibited around the world. He has had seven major retrospectives at American and European museums Jenkins is known for pouring paint onto canvas and creating veils of translucent and luminous color which have characterized his work since the 1950s. The paintings of Jenkins have come to represent the spirit, vitality, and invention of post World War II American abstraction.
Robert Green Fine Arts, established 1969, exhibits primarily painterly, abstract expressive work by painters that thoroughly take advantage of the sensually evocative nature of color and form.