Nothing brings your family closer together than sharing one-of-a-kind experiences. And that is exactly what you will find at The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe. Reminiscent of the grand western lodges of the past, yet with a contemporary Northern California feel, our resort offers unique year-round experiences in North Lake Tahoe. Which means, during the summer you can enjoy everything from boating to kayaking, hiking to picking a flower or two. And when it’s time to just relax, indulge in any number of rejuvenating self to the innovative cuisine of Manzanita, created by James Beard award-winning chef Traci Des Jardins. For reservations, contact your travel professional, call The Ritz-Carlton at 800-241-3333 or visit us at ritzcarlton.com/laketahoe.
life
A
Matter of Degrees
Dominican University’s “first-gen” students.
story jacoba charles photos tim porter
fashion Glamour Makes a Comeback
Shot on the campus of Dominican University in San Rafael.
editor somer fl aherty photos frank gaglione
journey How High, Dubai?
Visitors’ impressions from the ground up.
story jim and nikki wood
Departments
letters
Readers respond to Marin Magazine.
Causes: North Bay Children’s Center. by m. l. lathan 20 24 26 28 36 40 43
travel buzz
Sojourn news, tidbits and deals. by mimi towle
appellation
Wine country special events and taste treats. by mimi towle
currents
Tours, local tomes and cupcakes. by somer flaherty
fashion trends
A new crop of jewelry making. by somer flaherty
marinterview
Marin clothing designer Lily Samii. by mimi towle
fyi
People: Marin’s new guard of young designers. by somer flaherty
BANANA REPUBLIC
KATE SPADE
MICHAEL STARS
SUNDANCE
TRUE RELIGION BRAND JEANS
Oxford. Knit Dress. Secrets. Some things are just essential.
The Cover
Dominican Beauty by photographer
Frank Gaglione, who shot the fall fashion spread starting on page 58 at Dominican University. To see more of his work visit frankgaglione.com. And to purchase a print of the cover, go to marinmagazine.com/coverart.
Departments
conversation
San Rafael’s Mayor Al Boro. by jim wood
go
Five-star Hawaiian—the best of island cooking. by mimi towle
calendar
A roundup of what to do in Marin and beyond.
snapshots
Out and about in Marin and San Francisco.
flavor
Get Naked Fast, Diane Stobo’s new book on raw food. by mimi towle
dine out
An insider’s guide to Bay Area eateries.
microclimate
Paradise Cay living near a dock on the bay. by daniel jewett
looking back
Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Running Fence. by jim wood
Columns
A victim’s dilemma. by jim wood 18
view from mount tam
The founders of Marin Magazine welcome you to share their vision.
pov
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nikki Wood ext 105 | nwood@marinmagazine.com
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jim Wood ext 106 | jwood@marinmagazine.com
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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MIX high fashion with higher education? Well, if you have fashion editor Somer Flaherty’s discerning sense of style, photographer Frank Gaglione’s talent for making stunning images and the park-like campus of Dominican University of California as a backdrop, the combination produces our fall fashion feature, “Glamour Makes a Comeback.” Accessorizing this spread is Flaherty’s report in FYI People on three local designers (including current Project Runway hopeful Christopher Collins), who reveal what it takes to succeed in fashion; a separate Marinterview Q&A with Novato couture designer Lily Samii; and, in Fashion Trends, a sparkly bouquet of floral-themed jewelry.
Lest you think Dominican University is just a pretty face, Jacoba Charles toured the campus and found that nearly one in seven of its students are the fi rst in their families to enroll in a four-year college. Her story on three of these “first-gen” graduates, “A Matter of Degrees”, brims with hopefulness and affirmation.
If your kids aren’t yet ready for college—even if they’re still working on their first few words—you may be interested in our first annual Bay Area Private School Guide. In addition to an extensive catalog, we provide information on the application process, getting the right fit and how to handle the financial challenges.
Finally, our travel stories take us to opposite sides of the planet. Mimi Towle—sacrificing for all of us—dines at Hawai‘i’s immense buffet table and guides us to the best barstools, sunset tables and places to get your fill of lomi lomi salmon, ahi poke and mai tais. Journey heads east to Dubai, where the experience is not about food, but about the bustle, the boom and the sheer audacity of Dubai itself.
As always, our wish is for your good reading. Enjoy Marin Magazine , as we continue to celebrate this extraordinary place!
Lisa Shanower, Publisher Nikki Wood, Editorial Director Jim Wood, Executive Editor
Fabulous Vintage Treasures
Readers respond
❯❯ Twi er?
My kids have been trying to get me to join Twitter for months now, to no avail. However, after reading cofounder Biz Stone is now living in Corte Madera (Conversation, August), how could I not support a fellow Marinite? Plus, I love that he’s a dedicated WildCare supporter.
Janice Hon, San Rafael
❯❯
Waste Not Want Not
I read with interest Jim Wood’s August POV regarding food waste composting laws passed by Marin’s government that tell citizens how to live their lives. It is a stupid law, one that takes us backwards. So no more garbage disposals, right? Instead, we take our buckets of uneaten, unpleasant food we could easily get rid of down this marvelous invention and put them into the compost pile. Let’s see how many rodents and other animals we can attract with this practice. Don’t you leftist people ever give up? Of course we are doing this for the billions-of-yearsold planet that just can’t get along without our “taking care” of it.
Nannette Rothe, Santa Rosa
Editors’ note: Food waste composting is strictly a voluntary program in several southern Marin communities. It is not a law; there are no fines for noncompliance.
Jim Wood’s August POV mentions that 14,000 households in southern Marin will be putting food scraps in the garbage can, not the disposal. I’ve long been a proponent of composting, but isn’t this going a bit far? Will there be a czar in my kitchen in case I toss the wrong item down the sink? Talk about Big Brother! And I would like to know more about Helen and Bill Lindqvist, who were mentioned in the article as being “among Marin’s handful of residents who studiously and consistently debunk
global warming.” An interview with them would demonstrate how open-minded our local media is. After all, Marin is known for being liberal and welcoming different points of view.
Barbara Patton, Tiburon
We were mentioned in August’s POV as being “among Marin’s handful of residents who studiously and consistently debunk global warming theories” and especially that recent global warming is unprecedented and irrefutably human-caused, and responsible for weather extremes and accelerating sea level rise. All this (human-caused global warming theory) is simply untrue; the only thing accelerating is the manipulation of data to support the alarmists’ scare which, in turn, serves to secure more research funding. Marin, unfortunately, is burdened with agenda-driven politicians claiming an “overwhelming number of the world’s scientists” as “conclusive” proof that man is behind this “dangerous” warming. Better they read books such as Climate: The Counter Consensus by Robert Carter, and watch a video at climateclips.com/archives/132 that clearly demonstrate recent warming is nothing out of the ordinary. Thanks to Marin Magazine for opening the discussion—hopefully more will follow.
Bill and Helen Lindqvist, Tiburon
❯❯ Editors’ Choice
I really loved the details in the A to Z layout of this year’s Editors’ Choice. You guys just keep getting better and better. It’s also been fun to hear people around town talk about all those interesting facts, like the population in Marin.
Mary Boon, Mill Valley
Letters to the editor may be edited for clarity and brevity. Send letters to Marin Magazine , One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965. Or e-mail jwood@marinmagazine.com.
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A Victim’s Dilemma
With a tragic story’s violent end—is it time to forgive? BY JIM WOOD
“TRAGIC STORY CONTINUES,” read the headline in the Marin I.J. on July 28. The accompanying article referred to the May 2009 death of nine-year-old Melody Osheroff, who was struck down in a Novato crosswalk by a drunken motorcycle driver. The story’s latest chapter occurred on July 26, when that driver, Edward Schaefer, 44, was stabbed to death by a fellow inmate at San Quentin State Prison, where he had been sent 10 days earlier on a conviction of second-degree murder.
Schaefer, who had several previous DUI convictions, had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit when he ran a stop sign at 60 mph and struck Melody and her father, Aaron Osheroff, 41. It was dusk and the father and daughter never knew what hit them. “All I recall,” says Osheroff, “was a lady standing over me asking, ‘May I pray for you?’” The impact mangled Osheroff’s legs. One has been amputated; the other will never be normal.
In a recent interview, I asked Osheroff how he felt when informed his daughter’s murder-
er had been murdered in prison. “I thought spending most of his remaining years in prison was going to be Schaefer’s retribution—I just think he got off easy,” he told me.
So does death qualify as “getting off easy”? Osheroff’s answer was yes: he believed it would have been harder for Schaefer to live out his life in prison than to have been murdered. “My wife, Kimberly, and I don’t in any way condone his murder in prison,” he says. “However, I know what it’s like to nearly die. I had lost my daughter and effectively the use of my legs. In the hospital, I was in pain— both physical and emotional pain. Now I have much to live for ... my wife, eight-year-old daughter, and myself, too. But I’ve been in a place where I learned that to go on, to live, can be more difficult than slipping away.” Osheroff’s summary thought on this matter: “Yes, it can be harder to live than to die.”
I asked why he wanted his daughter’s murderer to live, rather than die. Was it that Schaefer’s feelings of guilt would slowly drive him mad? “No,” Osheroff said, “I don’t think he had a conscience, especially not when drinking which, apparently, was much of the time.” He wanted Schaefer to live in prison as punishment. “I wanted him to be denied his freedoms, his ability to ride his Harley and drink his drinks, whatever he drank.”
Will Osheroff ever be able to forgive Schaefer for the recklessness that resulted in his daughter’s death? “I understand forgiveness,” Osheroff said, “but I wanted him to pay for what he did … I really don’t know if that is vengeance.”
As we talked about forgiveness, Osheroff brought up Eva Kor, an Auschwitz survivor who said she forgave the Nazis for the horror they inflicted on her and others. “I do under-
stand forgiving is for yourself,” Osheroff said, “not the other person.” He recognizes the other person does not have to be aware that he or she has been forgiven and, that, in his case, the person is no longer living. “I’m trying to be the best person I can be,” Osheroff said, “and maybe sometime I’ll be able to explore forgiving. Believe me, I’m leaving that door open, but I don’t know if I ever can.”
What Osheroff wants for now is “to stop thinking about Edward Schaefer. He is not here anymore. I want to stop thinking about him.”
This is where Osheroff appears conflicted. His insurance has covered and will continue to cover all his medical expenses, but he and his wife have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Schaefer, his mother, her business and the city of Novato, alleging negligence.
The Osheroffs filed the suit after Schaefer’s conviction—in which the judge also ordered Schaefer to pay $1.8 million in restitution— but before Schaefer’s prison yard murder. “Believe me, we thought long and hard before filing that lawsuit,” Osheroff said.
Some observers of the story say the lawsuit is justified, that many were negligent in the tragedy. Others say the Novato police, fire and civic personnel who helped the Osheroffs in their time of need may ironically lose their jobs if the city, already in dire financial straits, becomes enmeshed in a costly lawsuit.
I say now is time for the Osheroffs to begin “to explore forgiving,” and a giant—and extremely difficult—first step would be to drop their lawsuit. An extended and costly legal battle will only serve to prolong the agony for everyone involved in this dreadful tragedy. That’s my point of view. What is yours?
E-mail jwood@marinmagazine.com.
Tahoe Golf
In honor of its debut summer season, the Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe has combined lodging at Tahoe’s first luxury resort with two rounds of golf, one at Gray’s Crossing and one at Old Greenwood. The “Gray’s and Greenwood” golf package, available now through October 24 at rates from $449 per night, includes two nights (minimum stay) with overnight valet parking and one 18-hole round of golf per day at each course, including golf cart and practice balls. ritzcarlton.com/laketahoe
Animals Abroad
RETIRING FROM HER 21-YEAR UNPAID STAFF POSITION (mainly as Cat Fund chair) at Marin Humane Society, Julie Kaye of Greenbrae knew she wanted to keep working for the welfare of animals. So when the opportunity arose to travel to Chengdu, China, with Alice Ng, U.S. director of Animals Asia Foundation, she pounced. “One of the highlights was watching rescued bears play together like toddlers, splashing in the pool, playing on a swing and sleeping in their beds,” she says. “I never dreamed that they would capture so much of my heart.” It turned out she knew one of the vets at the clinic, Monica Bando, from her days of working at MHS. “At MHS we did surgery on an eight-pound cat; at Animals Asia, I helped her with surgery on a 300-pound bear,” Kaye recounts. “The logistics of just getting the bear on the surgery table were mind-boggling. I even got to trim her nails—think paws the size of a kitten. It was thrilling just being that close to one of these charming bears. The surgery went on for hours but we kept checking back (in afterwards). It really was a trip of a lifetime, and I am looking forward to spending my time helping the bears that have touched my heart.” For more on Kaye’s adventure, or to learn how you can help Animals Asia, go to marinmagazine.com/travel.
NEW IN NAPA
The ever-evolving Napa waterfront district is popping with culinary newcomers. Industrialchic Morimoto Napa recently opened with a fish market, followed by an expansive dining area and microbrewery. And stay tuned for the forthcoming Tyler Florence Shop and Tyler Florence’s Rotisserie and Wine.
Swiss Trip Planning a trip to Switzerland?
Swiss International Airlines’ new flight on an Airbus A340 leaves SFO for Zurich six times a week.
Da kine grindz
HEADING TO THE ISLANDS? This month’s Go (page 76) features the latest from the Hawaiian dining scene. We have also compiled an extensive list of “it” eateries, available online. Here’s a peek.
21 Degrees North Chef Hector Morales, executive chef at Turtle Bay Resort, takes pride in the fact that 100 percent of the ingredients he uses are fresh from producers on the North Shore—from the fresh fish unloaded at the piers of Haleiwa to the shrimp and prawns raised in the Kahuku shrimp farms to the pineapple and chocolate farmed in Wailua. turtlebayresort.com
Lahaina Grill Voted “Best in Maui” by Honolulu magazine readers’ for the past 17 years, owned and run by Jung Munch, with executive chef Amulfo Gonzalez in the kitchen. Gonzalez is an avid customer of Hana Fresh Farm in East Maui as well as Olowalu Nui tomato farm in West Maui. lahainagrill.com
Azure in the recently renovated Royal Hawaiian hotel features executive chef Jon Matsubara, who graduated from the French Culinary Institute and worked for David Bouley and Jean-Georges Vongerichten in New York (photo below). royal-hawaiian.com
WINE PLAYER
Unlike many star athletes, golf Hall-of-Famer Annika Sorenstam has bypassed the front of the Wheaties box and gone straight to her own signature wine label. “After meeting with Carolyn and Karl Wente, learning about their incredible family history, trying their wines, and seeing their beautiful course, I knew that I wanted to partner with them,” she says. At a recent golf clinic on the sunny East Bay Wente greens, Sorenstam shared tips on putting: “Go forward [with your putter] as far as you go back, eyes over the ball and, most importantly, relax.” Advice on enjoying her wine? “That part’s easy. Just drink it with a good meal and with good friends.” annikavineyards.com
Cheese, please
Turophiles and oenophiles unite!
Healdsburg’s C. Donatiello Winery now offers a new tasting experience— pairing four select cheeses from three Sonoma County creameries with a flight of its single-vineyard estate chardonnays and pinot noirs. Each cheese plate comes with locally produced accoutrements and fresh cuttings from the winery’s organic garden. $20 per person; reservations required. 707.431.4442, cdonatiello.com
Anniversary Party
This fall, to celebrate its 25th year, Auberge du Soleil is hosting a few exclusive soirees (limited to 50 people), in partnership with wineries that are also celebrating big anniversaries this year. Far Niente is toasting its 125th, while award-winning Swanson Winery is enjoying its 25th year in business. Party-goers are eligible for a special Auberge room rate September 11 and October 30. aubergedusoleil.com
IT’S OPEN! For the first time, SonomaCutrer Winery has opened its doors to the public. Features include a newly renovated tasting room and tours. sonomacutrer.com
Introducing the Marin Wine Club
Marin County is the gateway to the Northern California Wine Country. MarinWineClub.com brings you the finest selection of wines, gifts and tasting room experiences from local vintners.
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Try our wine club and receive a copy of Organic Marin: Recipes from Land to Table. Featuring over 50 organic recipes contributed by the Bay Area’s most popular restaurants, these dishes pair perfectly with your wine club selections. A $29.99 value.
For latest selections, exclusive offers and limited production wines, go to:
Rising Like a Phoenix
Have you spotted the new art in downtown San Rafael? Through Thick and Thin by Mark Grieve and Ilana Spector was created from burned-out bicycle forks that were salvaged from a warehouse fire at the San Rafael nonprofit Bike for Kids program, and Gemantic Compass by Martin Munson is a kinetic sculpture created from recycled materials. Both are part of ArtReach, an ongoing public art project funded through Art Works Downtown and the City of San Rafael. The pieces are stationed in front of the San Rafael Community Center at 618 B Street and aren’t permanent fixtures, so see them before they’re gone! 415.451.8119, artworksdowntown.org
Still Time to Take a Mammal Tour
You still have until September 11 to take advantage of the Marine Mammal Center’s docent tours. During these guided excursions, visitors observe the areas that overlook animal care pens and pools, food preparations and laboratories, all while docents give background and insight on the center and the animals it treats. Book your tour online at marinemammalcenter.com
GOT JAVA?
Lili Shahabi of Lili S Salon in Sausalito has created the Give Back to Your Children’s School program. Parents of southern Marin students can enjoy services at her salon while earning points that will add up to donations Lili
Go ahead, wake up early—Weaver’s Coffee and Tea has opened its first retail store and coffee-roasting facility in San Rafael. The store will serve and sell a full line of hand-crafted artisan coffees and teas, and customers will be able to watch master coffee roaster John Weaver hand-roast controlled batches of beans. 40 Louise Street, 800.328.1178,weaverscoffee.com
PHOTO:
Christopher Home
Christopher Downs is already outfitting Marin with beautiful hair, so it was only natural he spruced up our homes (and closets), too. His new shop, Christopher Home, is connected to his fashionable Ark Row destination Christopher Salon. The new venture provides all things to decorate your abode: Neely Mack leather handbags, LAFCO candles, handmade shell boxes, batik pillows and Big Sur outdoor lanterns. Plus, Christopher Salon just started offering manicures and pedicures. Looking good was never this easy. 415.435.0111, christopher-salon.com
CONGRATS
Hats off to Greenbrae’s Jean Larette! Her interior design firm just completed a project featured in an issue of House Beautiful . The home, a Napa Valley ranchstyle cottage, was a collaboration between architect Marshall Schneider, landscape designer Robert Trachtenberg and contractor Nathan Herrera.
HAY DAY
Have the kids bring a new or gently used book and join more than 2,000 people for pony rides, relay races, cow milking, mechanical bull rides, steer roping and more at this year’s fifth annual Blackie’s Hay Day on September 25. Volunteers are still needed and proceeds from the event go to the Belvedere-Tiburon public library. blackieshayday.com
New Local Tomes
Mill Valley’s Eva Beale, whom we featured in the December 2008 issue, has just released her newest Grey Gardens Collections book, I Only Mark the Hours That Shine, the 1929 diary of her famous aunt, Edith Beale, who took the spotlight in the 1975 documentary Grey Gardens. Eva spent years transcribing the diary from Edith’s handwriting and the tome gives insight into Edith’s then-12-year-old self. Eva has also added a new fabric collection to her Grey Gardens Collection with textile designs inspired by the East Hamptons landscape of her aunt’s former home. greygardenscollections.com
Mill Valley’s Karen Benke is getting kids excited about writing with her new book Rip the Page!
The inspiring tome includes word lists to help with writer’s block, words of encouragement from professional authors, writing exercises and more.
More Than Your Average Cupcake
Marin native Devin Glasser Alper’s new American Cupcake restaurant is serving more than buttercream frosting and sprinkles. Drop in and fall back in time as you take in the all-white interior, modern soda fountain and patent leather banquettes, and savor some good
old cotton candy. In addition to a wide variety of cupcakes, Alper has an all-day dining menu featuring pulled pork sliders, mac ’n’ cheese, and a selection of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches—including choices with homemade peanut, almond and hazelnut butters. Stay for dinner or stop in to pair a cupcake with a beverage from the extensive champagne cocktail menu. 1919 Union Street, San Francisco, 415.896.4217, americancupcake.com
Sausalito Artists @ Work
Don’t miss a viewing presented by the local art collective Sausalito Artists @ Work, as they welcome visitors, demonstrate techniques and display their finished pieces in their ICB studios on Labor Day weekend. The event complements the Sausalito Art Festival held that same weekend. sausalitoartists.com
Corner Books Comes Alive
Now in its third month, Corner Books on the Boardwalk at 1550 Tiburon Boulevard is, according to co-manager Kay Smith, “on track to raise over $40,000 for the Belvedere-Tiburon library.” Since it’s smartly designed and features only “pristine” editions donated by local readers, “most customers don’t realize we’re a used bookstore,” she adds. Bestselling novels, nonfiction and children’s books, along with cooking and gardening books, run $1 to $9; top-quality coffeetable books start at $20. 415.789.5000.
Bookmobile
Mill Valley resident Tom Corwin’s newest project, Behind the Wheel of the Bookmobile, is set to be a documentary film that follows a classic bookmobile across America, with local authors like Michael Pollan, Michael Chabon, Paul Hawken, Amy Tan, Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida taking the wheel and inviting people to come on board, take a book and be interviewed about titles that changed their lives. The bookmobile takes off this fall, following the Lincoln Highway coast to coast. bookmobiletravels.com
“Some call it paradise. At The Tamalpais we are within minutes of a wide range of world class cultural events including symphonies, museums, a renowned opera, theater, ballet and all sports.”
Resident Judge Wonder, View from his home at The Tamalpais
Your future begins with the decisions you make today.
To fi nd out how you can gain the peace of mind shared by Judge Wonder and all our Life Care residents, call Nancy Martin at 415.464.1754, and ask about our new contract options.
501 Via Casitas, Greenbrae, CA 94904
Tel: 415.461.2300 | www.thetam.org
The Tamalpais is an accredited continuing
Tamalpais
FALL TRENDS WE LOVE
FASHION TRENDS
a new crop of jewelry making
With subtle leaf details, cheerful daisy inspirations and just the right amount of diamonds, these jewelers are producing pieces that are more than accessories.
1. Rose gold diamond daisy chain by Janet Deleuse. 18-karat rose gold on a platinum chain with 1.87 karats of diamonds, $9,625 at deleuse jewelers (Tiburon). 415.435.2484, deleusejewelers.com 2. Daisy earrings with 5.07 karats of fancy colored diamonds set in 18-karat white gold, $15,800 at kathleen dughi jeweler (Mill Valley). 415.383.0462, kathleendughi.com 3. Necklace and earrings at julianna’s fine jewelry (Corte Madera). 415.924.9711, juliannasfinejewelry.com 4. Diamond brooch at cartier (SF). 415.397.3180, cartier.com
5. Vintage Buccellapi flower brooch, circa 1950s, $6,750 at lang antiques (SF). 415.982.2213, langantiques.com 6. Sterling silver necklace with .45 karats of chocolate diamonds by Raymond Hak, $525 and sterling silver earrings with .40 karats of chocolate diamonds, $565 at meadowlark gallery (Corte Madera). 415.924.2210, meadowlarkgalleries.com 7. Garden bracelet by Janet Alix, $42,000 available at alix and company (Mill Valley). 415.380.0880, alixandcompany.com 8. White and rose gold necklace with .72 karats of diamonds, $6,575, at elliott chandler (SF). 800.786.8822, elliottchandler.com 9. Ingrid Bergman La Diva pen available at montblanc (SF). 415.403.4000, montblanc.com 10. Mikimoto Milano Eden Collection ring, $8,100 at shreve and company (SF). 415.421.2600, shreve.com
Lily Samii
This being our fashion issue, we thought it apropos to profile Lily Samii of Novato, now celebrating her 40th year as a fashion designer. Starting as an apprentice to costume designer Edith Head in Hollywood, Samii eventually moved to Marin with her husband and in 1969 opened a 500-squarefoot studio in Larkspur called L.Y.Z. “The rest is history,” as she says. This year also marks her first as a sponsor of the San Francisco Opera, and she looks forward to seeing her designs (on many Marin patrons) out in full force this season. —M. T.
Why Marin? I have been living in Marin most of my life and have dressed second and third generations of Marin women. I have lived in Larkspur, Kentfield and now Novato. When I met my second husband, the only problem was that he lived in the Oakland hills. It took some convincing, but I got him to cross the bay to live in Marin.
Who inspired you to become a designer? As a young woman I admired Hollywood beauties such as Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly and I always wanted to dress women like them. Today, the women who are a source of inspiration for my line are real women who lead dynamic lives. They are multidimensional, prepared to transition from the boardroom to a luncheon, from their child’s school to a gala opening.
Do you remember the first dress you designed? I designed a wedding gown when I was 11 years old and I have never stopped.
Do you have a favorite memory of seeing one of your dresses on a client and thinking “Wow!”? I designed the gown that Joan Blondell wore to the Golden Globes when she won Best Supporting Actress for The Cincinnati Kid. I was 19 years of age and this was my first experience seeing my gown on television. It left a huge impression on me.
PHOTO: TIM PORTER
How would you describe Marin style? Marin style is very casual and outdoorsy.
Do you have a favorite fashion decade? Every decade with the exception of the ’80s.
What are the colors to look for this year? This year our collection focuses on colors that range from copper and burnt sienna to pewter and steel to patent and matte black.
Which color is always in fashion? Black, of course, but we always like to show this staple in a collection with color options.
Where do you like to shop in Marin? Since I work in the city and commute every day, I haven’t had the opportunity to check out stores in Marin recently, and I do most of my shopping in the city (purely for convenience).
Do you have a favorite restaurant? Buckeye is one of my favorites. We also like Boca in Novato and their new addition, Boca Pizzeria, is great too. And then we also love going to Panama Hotel and Vino Antica in San Rafael.
What is your favorite drink, and where do you like to drink it? Cosmos at Buckeye.
Favorite shoes for formal dresses?
Rene Caovilla, because of the amazing combinations of color and texture, for the graceful heel lines, for the careful placement of straps and closures and finally because the ornamentation is such a perfect complement to our designs.
Is there a theme that you have maintained throughout your work? Feminine, timeless and effortless styles are a constant that we are known for. But with all things, we too are influenced by our surroundings: the changes in the art world, architecture, technology and even current events. We are constantly evolving, which is what keeps our design fresh.
F O R Y OU R INF O RMATI O N
Marin’s New Guard of Young Designers
BY SOMER FLAHERTY PHOTOS TIM PORTER
It takes chutzpah, creative chops and business acumen to launch a fashion collection. In Marin, we caught up with three young designers who are rising through the fashion ranks one collection at a time. The lines conceived by San Rafael’s Christopher Collins, Mill Valley’s Catherine Fitzsimmons and Tiburon’s Anyi Lu couldn’t be more different from one another, but each hopes to parlay a personal aesthetic into the
Rag trade reality: Christopher Collins at work in his Sutter Street design studio.
fashion world’s next obsession.
With the economy still not hospitable to seekers of success, the question is, what does it take to make it with your own label far away from Los Angeles and New York’s fashion glitterati and have staying power in a world where you’re only as good as your last collection?
CHRISTOPHER COLLINS isn’t exactly new to the fashion world; in fact, he has over a decade of experience in the industry, with previous stints at Neiman Marcus, Tadashi and Dina Bar-el. However, the 30-yearold designer not only recently launched his own contemporary couture collection with his business partner and creative director, Erica Filanc Tanamachi, but is a contestant in the eighth season of Project Runway
Best friends for nearly their whole lives, Collins and Tanamachi traveled through South America and visited Machu Picchu together in their 20s. After a four-day hike to the end of the Inca Trail, covered in dirt, they made a pact to someday run a business together.
“Everything I’m not, she is — it’s the perfect union,” says Collins. Almost a decade later, after he showed at Bryant Park with the designer Tadashi and had learned the real ins and outs of design— sketching, conference calls and dealing with production overseas— Collins knew it was time to design his own line. His eponymous collection has an attention to detail, is perfectly tailored and includes fabrics that (shock!) actually
Catherine Fitzsimmons says, “Start your business with the goal to sell one piece. If you start with lofty expectations you will be let down and then your momentum stops. It’s all about the momentum.”
feel good on the skin. Goals for the future of the line include continuing to build brand awareness and getting items into major department stores. “Our mission statement and goal is to provide wearable fashion for the everyday woman,” says Collins. “We dress real women in every shape.” Christopher Collins, 415.440.2464, christophercollinscollection.com
ANYI LU is one of the most talented new additions to the footwear market, although seemingly unlikely for that role. The former chemical engineer and competitive ballroom dancer started designing footwear after noticing a lack of shoes that look good but still feel good. When her husband, David, succeeded in convincing Lu she could give up a stable job at Chevron to pursue a design career, she jumped feetfirst, taking illustration classes at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, then moved to Los Angeles to work with the well-known shoe designer and former orthopedic surgeon Taryn Rose. Lu says her collections can be inspired by just about anything. The ideas for her spring 2010 line came from the Philippine coral reef at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco; other pieces have come to pass after days spent just peoplewatching in Marin.
With a hectic travel schedule (she flew eight times to Florence last year to work with shoe factories), jet lag is one of the hardest parts of
The wonderful world of color: Catherine Fitzsimmons in her Mill Valley studio.
Shoe paradise: Anyi Lu in her Tiburon design space.
her job, but the time investment seems to be paying off. The brand is on target for a 50 percent growth in revenue in 2010, and Lu says she hopes to expand from two to possibly four collections each year. She also has thoughts of stepping into the bridal and wedding market. Anyi Lu, 415.789.8891, anyilu.com
CATHERINE
FITZSIMMONS is one of those rare types who after years of skimming the perimeter, has finally found not only what she’s great at but what she really loves. Her brand Rikshaw Design started after Fitzsimmons left jobs as a visual merchandiser for Ralph Lauren, a textile buyer for Pottery Barn and a stint in interior design to create her own line.
Always passionate about beautiful fabrics and bringing a complete look to life, Fitzsimmons wanted to bring a line to the market that had a “different flair.” From her Mill Valley studio, she creates women’s kurtas, baby hats and bloomers and crib bedding, all with Indian-inspired fabrics that feature blockprinting and exciting color combinations.
The self-taught Fitzsimmons admits she isn’t a technical designer by any stretch, but she instinctively knows what she likes and what she doesn’t, which lends her designs a specific aesthetic — one that her clients can’t get enough of.
For the future, Fitzsimmons hopes to expand the line to create more adult offerings, accessories and older children’s clothing. Rikshaw Design, 877.474.5742, rikshawdesign.com
For future designers, Marin’s up-and-coming have advice you can only get from experience. Christopher Collins suggests never losing focus on “who your customer is, where she is and what makes you so perfect for her.” Anyi Lu recalls Thomas Edison’s sage advice: “Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 90 percent perspiration.” And Catherine Fitzsimmons says, “Start your business with the goal to sell one piece. If you start with lofty expectations you will be let down and then your momentum stops. It’s all about the momentum.”
Garden of Eatin’
North Bay Children’s Center garden gains national attention
BY M. L. LATHAN
This month, school gardens throughout the county are in full bloom. One in particular, the Garden of Eatin’ at the North Bay Children’s Center in Novato, is providing food for both table and thought. A USDA-approved curriculum based on this environmental teaching space for preschoolers is now a model for schools in the rest of the state.
Executive director and founder Susan Gilmore at NBCC, a nonprofit early education program with additional sites in Petaluma and Santa Rosa, saw an opportunity to make a difference back in 2003. “I looked around the kitchen and saw cans and boxes of food that would eventually be served to the children and thought, this isn’t right.” She also noticed teachers coming in with bags of fast food for lunch. Surely, she thought, the kids noticed this too. As noted in a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, “childhood obesity continues to be
Children eating the fruits and vegetables of their labor; Susan Gilmore and David Haskell in the garden. Gilmore recieved the Jefferson Award in 2009—a national recognition honoring community service in America.
PHOTO: TIM PORTER
PHOTOS: PETER LEABO
a leading public health concern that disproportionately affects low-income and minority children…Children who are obese in their preschool years are more likely to be obese in adolescence and adulthood and to develop diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma, and sleep apnea.” Gilmore thought about the many kids from low-income families NBCC served and reasoned that if she could teach them the right way to eat before they developed bad habits, it would help prevent disease later on.
Working with nutritionist Chris Berman, Gilmore applied for financial help to create a garden on the Novato campus. “We came up with the name Garden of Eatin’ at 1 a.m. when we were (completing applications) for a grant from the First Five Marin,” she recalls. “We didn’t expect it to become a national model and the name to stick.” Once they had funding, the pair went online to find ideas. There were none. They brought in expert David Haskell (who’s now garden program director) to build the garden and went to work creating a new curriculum based on nutrition and teaching sustainable practices. Kids learn to work in the garden and harvest the plants, which are later used for preparing meals. Equally important, all fast food is banned from campus. “Part of the plan is to train our teachers to become advocates of local, sustainable eating practices, and coming in with a bag from McDonald’s doesn’t fit our model,” Berman observes.
While NBCC is actively seeking funding to improve its aging facilities and continue these programs, directors are pleased with the curriculum’s first crop of graduates, who are now taking its life lessons with them into kindergarten and beyond. “We know we’re doing the right thing,” says Berman, “when I hear from the parents that our kids are walking through the produce aisle at the market, pointing to the broccoli and asking their mom to get some for dinner.”
Robert H. Byers, MD
Lisa M. Elvin, NP
Jon R. Goff, MD
David H. Goltz, MD
John C. Keohane, MD
Michael J. Oechsel, MD
Ernest H. Sponzilli, MD
Michael S. Stock, MD
Charles A. Stuart, MD
Brian W. Su, MD
AL BORO
Quite possibly, he’s Marin’s most powerful politician
BY JIM WOOD
As most Marinites know, Al Boro is the mayor of San Rafael. It is Marin’s county seat and largest city (in 2009, est. pop. 55,901). However, many do not realize that San Rafael is the county’s only city that publicly elects its mayor. Nowadays, most mayors are elected by their city councils. Moreover, Mayor Boro has been San Rafael’s mayor for almost 19 years. (Except for the state legislature, term limits don’t apply to Marin’s officeholders.)
And serving as mayor is not Boro’s only power position. “I’m now in my second year as president of the Golden Gate Bridge District’s board of directors,” he says. Chairing that district’s board is no walk in the park. “Our board has 19 members,” Boro adds in his low-key voice. “Nine from the City of San Francisco, four from Marin and six from throughout Northern California—our meetings can get intense.” The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District—the organization’s full title—not only oversees one of the world’s most strategic transportation links; its 800 employees also steer and maintain nearly 300 Bay Area buses and seven ferry vessels, all of which annually transport some nine million passengers.
In addition to the above, Mayor/Chairman Boro also serves on SMART—the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit—12-member board of directors. In this role, he is part of the team working to build a 70-mile commuter rail line and biking/hiking trail from Marin’s Larkspur Landing to Cloverdale in north Sonoma County. “I’ve been on that board since the very beginning,” he says in a voice that’s barely above a whisper. “That’s been what? Almost 10 years now.”
Boro, 75, a registered Republican and married over 50 years, may be a politician—with all the positives and negatives that term suggests—yet he
His simple and steadfast demeanor fits that of a mid-range executive for a large corporation, which he indeed was. “After 35 years, I retired from Pacific Bell,” he reminisces, “and at age 55, didn’t have a clear idea of what I was going to do.”
is hardly flamboyant; his charisma doesn’t jump out at you. Rather, his simple and steadfast demeanor fits that of a mid-range executive for a large corporation, which he indeed was. “After 35 years, I retired from Pacific Bell,” he reminisces, “and at age 55, didn’t have a clear idea of what I was going to do.”
After he’d served 16 years on the then politically tepid San Rafael planning commission, a friend asked if he’d run to fill a vacancy on the city council. “I felt what the heck, I’ve lived in the area since 1960, I love the place and I just knew I could get something done,” Boro recalls. Soon after, he confidently stepped up and ran for mayor.
Almost two decades later, he is still at it—working back-to-back days that start early in the morning and last long into the night. His pay? “As mayor, I get $702 a month,” he says in that soft, confident voice. “And the bridge district pays $50 a day—for the days when we meet. And that’s it.” His other involvements, include not only SMART, but vice-chairman of the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), chair of the San Rafael Sanitary District board of directors, and active roles with the Marin County Fair and the Marin Sonoma Concours d’ Elegance.
“California is already a minority state—meaning there is no majority ethnic group. . . this can make people fearful and fear can turn to prejudice and worse if the immigration issue is not addressed.
So why does he do it? “I enjoy it,” he says, his eyes brightening and his voice finally lifting. “I really enjoy it.”
Over the past two decades, you have played a role in the redevelopment of downtown San Rafael and Fourth Street; the widening of the 101 freeway; SMART; the Canal’s $9 million Pickleweed Recreation Center; and Northgate’s $75 million renovation. Which accomplishment gives you the greatest satisfaction? You know, San Rafael has dozens of neighborhoods; there’s about 60 different homeowner groups. This is a city where you can walk the precincts—and we do. We try to include the neighborhoods and stay connected and listen carefully so that everything stays local. The big projects are great but, for the most part, they’re not where people live. I think we have a San Rafael community that is proud of what we are and who we are. Sure there is some contentiousness, but every two years we do a customer satisfaction survey and usually the police and fire department,
and the city services—even the city council—consistently come up with high scores. That’s what gives me great satisfaction.
On the other hand, what concerns you the most—not only in San Rafael but also throughout Marin? First, we have to realistically look at consolidating some of the county’s numerous governmental agencies. Not just look at them, but begin taking action.
In June, a Marin County grand jury report said we have 130 different governing agencies, in addition to the eleven cities and the board of supervisors, for a county of only 250,000 people. That’s way too much. I believe the role of a public agency is to ensure its fiscal viability so that the services the community expects can be provided. In these difficult economic times, elected officials should review all options including consolidation. Of all the years I have served as mayor, the current economic climate has been both historic and the most severe. In San Rafael we have reduced our workforce through attrition and layoffs. All of our non-safety employees and elected officials have taken a five percent pay cut last year and again in our current fiscal year. Everyone in Marin needs to continue to reinvent how we provide services to our communities in the most cost effective way possible.
My second concern is the problem of immigration. The state and the country are changing. California is already a minority state—meaning there is no majority ethnic group—and it has been projected that the nation will be there by 2035. This can make people fearful and can turn to prejudice and worse if the immigration issue is not addressed. I believe immigration reform and the protection of borders must come from the federal government. State governments must ensure that employers hire people with valid identification. As an example, those immigrants who are already here receive a computerized ID card, one as secure as an ATM card, that would allow them to work. Those immigrants who arrive after a policy of this type is implemented and do not come here legally, will not have access to these cards, and will not be able to work through the enforcement of the employers. By the way, I challenge anyone to do the job the guy standing on a street corner wants to do. Therefore, it’s not a case of someone taking someone else’s job. Let’s be honest, we all need to be more tolerant, understanding and adapt to the changes and challenges that are affecting our cities, states and country.
A M A T T E R O F MATTER OF
D E G R E E S DEGREES
DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY’S
“FIRST-GEN” STUDENTS
BY JACOBA CHARLES PHOTOS TIM PORTER
Smack in the middle of a leafy residential San Rafael neighborhood, Dominican University seems a sudden enclave of academia. The main campus is only a few blocks long, but to a new visitor it is unexpectedly collegiate. Here are the old and dignified stone buildings; there is the newly remodeled cafeteria. Even in summer, students lounge on benches and gather on lawns.
A full quarter of those students are the first in their families to go to college. This is well over the national average, as only 13 percent of America’s “first gens” enroll in private four-year colleges, says Linda DeAngelo of UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute.
“What we offer at the front door is not just hope and opportunity, but also actual on-the-ground experience,” says Pat Coleman, vice president of admissions. “We emphasize application of theory.”
The historically significant Magnolia House serves as the admissions office for Dominican University.
Students as well as employees are quick to take pride in their school, pointing to quality classes, intimate size and high diversity. “The thing about Dominican is that it’s so small, you can’t help but make connections,” says senior Amiya Powell-Hodge. “I know my deans personally; I can call them on the phone and talk with them.”
Professors and administrators seem to thrive on stepping up to help kids who might not get much support from their families. “You get to know them; you get to know where they come from,” says Sibdas Ghosh, science and mathematics department chair, who is known for being a dedicated mentor to his students.
“For example, some kids learn in high school that reading is a habit,” he adds. “But some kids never learn, because nobody at home ever told them, ‘Read a book, read a story.’ So the reading is not there. If they don’t have that concept, what do you do? We have to adapt our style.”
To help students reach their potential, for instance, faculty members might join them for lunch in the cafeteria or take a group out for dinner once a month. Students are matched up with hands-on projects, paid to spend time in research labs, and encouraged to publish and present their work.
“By the time they finish their freshman year, if you’re not engaging them, they are dropping out,” Ghosh explains. “We believe that the research itself is a teaching tool. Here they are actually doing it, and so they get curious.”
Here’s how three Dominican “first gens” paved their way to higher learning:
Victoria Rivera
After four years at Dominican, 22-year-old Victoria Rivera feels like this is where her life is. She shares a house in San Rafael with her boyfriend and their new puppy, and she has a solid community of friends who share similar goals and interests.
Occasionally, she goes back to Los Angeles to visit her large family, who still live there, but in some ways those trips are difficult. “I’ve always been the black sheep of the family, and it’s something I still struggle with,” she explains as her 11-week-old husky puppy romps on the neatly mowed lawn outside Rebecca Crown Library. “I honestly don’t have any family support at all.”
Though her mother is proud that Victoria is in college and taking graduate-level classes, she has suffered a long battle with illness and doesn’t have much energy left over to offer her daughter. And the rest of Victoria’s sprawling Mexican-American family doesn’t understand her choice to move north and invest so much time and money in her education.
“When I go home my little brother and my cousins say things to me that make it seem like I don’t want to be part of the family,” she says. “They make it seem like, ‘Oh you’re too good for us, oh you’re too good—stop acting this way.’”
For Victoria, college has always been a goal and school a priority. Her home life was tough as her mother struggled to raise two kids on her own with medical problems taking her in and out of the hospital, and in many ways school was a sanctuary: “I’ve always been the student who loved getting As and 100 percents and stickers on all my work.”
She’s now a student in an occupational therapy program that lets her earn both an undergraduate and a master’s degree in five years. She also works for the admissions office and for a student travel company and is involved in student government. When she graduates, she may start a business that combines occupational therapy with travel—or she may join the military, which would pay for her to get a Ph.D.
“I’ve always had really good teachers who eventually became my mentors,” she adds. “And I guess I just realized that for what I wanted to do, and who I wanted to be, you needed that college degree. I wanted that—for myself, not for anybody else.”
Teddy Morrow
Sitting on a shady bench outside the Science Center building, Teddy Morrow admits he’s been academically driven from a young age. The cheerful 21-year-old has been up since 4:30 a.m. and just finished taking a five-hour practice version of the medical school entrance exam. “Nobody had to push me to study. I’ve always enjoyed it, as sick as that
VICTORIA RIVERA:
“WHEN I GO HOME MY LITTLE BROTHER AND MY COUSINS SAY, ‘OH,YOU’RE TOO GOOD FOR US— STOP ACTING THIS WAY.’”
may sound,” he says. “I’ve always been the student talking to the professors and the teachers and so on.”
Teddy was fast-tracked into advanced learning programs early on. Math and science weren’t his only interests: an enthusiastic, creative kid, he also played tennis, loved art and made the local paper at age 10 because of his collection of Elvis memorabilia.
“I sort of had a mild obsession,” he concedes. “My family even had to take a family trip to Graceland for Thanksgiving.” Being in the paper only fanned the flames. “I wound up becoming friends with one
woman who read the article and wrote me into her will for all of her Elvis stuff because no one in her family wanted it. I had an unbelievable amount of stuff. It’s still in our attic.”
Today Teddy keeps only a few Elvis items on display in his dorm room. A typical summer outfit may feature flip-flops, shorts, and RayBans tucked into the collar of a chaotic T-shirt featuring a turquoise cat with laser-beam eyes. The shirt is from a more recent obsessional phase, he admits. “I went through this stage where I wanted to wear stuff that nobody has seen before, so I went online and found artist and
TEDDY MORROW ADMITS HE’S BEEN ACADEMICALLY DRIVEN FROM A YOUNG AGE … “NOBODY HAD TO PUSH ME TO STUDY. I’VE ALWAYS ENJOYED IT, AS SICK AS THAT MAY SOUND,” HE SAYS.
designer T-shirts. I went all-out for a while. I get a lot of flak for it, but whatever.”
The career choice of medicine over more artistic pursuits stems from both practicality and personal experience. When he was a teenager, his life was changed by an endocrinologist. Today, he plans to go into the same field.
“But who knows,” he adds. “I said I wanted to be an artist too, and look where that ended up. I might change from endocrinology, but going to medical school definitely won’t change.”
Amiya Powell-Hodge
Amiya Powell-Hodge grew up in a rough neighborhood on the edge of a rougher neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. Her childhood home had iron bars over the windows, and her mother wouldn’t let her play in the front yard. From the time she got jumped by a gang in junior high, Amiya knew she wanted a different life.
AMIYA
POWELL-HODGE HOPES
THAT BEFORE GRADUATING SHE CAN ATTEND THE SEMESTER AT SEA STUDY-ABROAD PROGRAM
…“ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN, ANYTHING,” SHE REFLECTS. “I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE THIS EARTH HAVING ONLY SEEN CALIFORNIA.”
“My mom really wanted me to go to a school that was local so she could be close if anything happened, but I’d grown up in the ghetto all my life, and I wanted a new experience,” Amiya says. She begged her mother to enroll her in private high school, saying that if she didn’t get in, she wanted to be home-schooled.
“I didn’t even know that (the school she chose) was a college prep school,” she adds. “I just knew that it was far away and they had people who didn’t look like me.”
For college, Amiya chose Dominican partly because it seemed a good overall fit and partly because it suited her ongoing quest to expand her horizons.
“I got into Hampton, which is one of the top ‘historically black colleges,’ but I was like, ‘No, I just can’t see myself here,’” she recalls. “It’s true that there’s diversity among people of the same race—that’s very true. There’s diversity in talents and interests and education level, but that’s not enough for me. I’m a humanities and cultural studies major, so I read about a lot of people, but I also want to be able to talk to them.”
Though she plans to go to grad school, Amiya is already looking forward to finding a job where she can help connect kids with opportunity. “I’ve always been interested in helping students who are part of a minority group get into school. And I’m not talking about minority as in black or Mexican or what you’d think of as a minority, but I’m talking about all people who are demographically underrepresented.”
Now 21 and entering her senior year, Amiya is president of the Black Student Union and has just stepped down as student body president. She also just got a position as a resident adviser in the dorms. In between all that, she’s finishing her degree in humanities and cultural studies with a minor in business, and she hopes that before graduating she can attend the Semester at Sea study-abroad program, which includes travel to 15 different countries by boat.
“Anything could happen, anything,” she reflects. “I don’t want to leave this earth having only seen California.”
Glamour
MAKES A COMEBACK
(did it ever really leave?)
dFall fashion is all about poise and polish—with a modern edge.
On Jason Suit jacket, $1,097, available at Gene Hiller (Sausalito) 415.332.3636. Shirt available at Gene Hiller. Pants by Canali, available at Gene Hiller. Tie, $97 available at Gene Hiller. Shoes by Santoni, $625 at Gene Hiller. Belt, $395 at Gene Hiller. On Merrill Dress by Karen Caldwell, $2,500 at Karen Caldwell (SF) 415.531.6755. Obi belt by Karen Caldwell, $300 at Karen Caldwell. French velvet cuffs with vintage jewels, $325 each at Grey Gardens Collections. Oppositeon Merrill Dress by Hermès, $3,050 at Hermès (SF) 415.391.7200. Leggings by Hermès, $275 at Hermès. Belt by Hermès. Bricklane ankle boots by Hermès. The Laurelton bag in natural ring lizard by Tiffany & Co., $4800 at Tiffany & Co. (SF) 415.781.7000.
dOn Merrill Dress by Academy of Art University graduate Stephanie
Tan, $800, 415.816.6610. Shoes, $230 at Mara (Novato) 415.892.3732. Hairpiece by Elisa Gonsalves Designs, at Mara. Loop leather gloves in onyx by Tiffany & Co., $225 at Tiffany & Co.
Top left, on Merrill Tulip Top by Christopher Collins, $145 at Christopher Collins (SF) 415.440.2464. Katya hot pants by Leftover Green Beans, $245 at Leftover Green Beans (Mill Valley) leftovergreenbeans. com. Camel Suede Flat Boot by Michael Kors, $1,895 at Michael Kors (SF) 415.227.0800. Marcello Saddle Bag by Cartier, $1,500 at Cartier (SF) 415.397.3180. Bottom left, on Merrill Top by Anne Fontaine, available at Anne Fontaine (SF) 415.677.0911. Brown tweed culottes by Paul Smith, $690 at Paul Smith (SF) 415.352.3520. Heart Suede Heel by Anyi Lu, $395 at Arthur Beren Shoes, berenshoes.com. Katherine Handbag by Helen de Natalio, $242 at Item Shoes (Larkspur) 415.925.0109. Little Edie Brooch, $350 at Grey Gardens Collections. On Jason Gray wool pants by Paul Smith, available at Paul Smith. Blue striped shirt by Paul Smith, available at Paul Smith. Tan long camel cardigan by Paul Smith, available at Paul Smith. Icer Walk Suede and Fur shoes by Loro Piana, $2,295 at Loro Piana (SF) 415.593.3303.
This page, on Jason Vest by Tehama, $94 at Linkworks (Corte Madera) 415.927.9009. Shirt by Gythamander, $150 at Joi Boutique (Sausalito) 415.332.3044. Jacket, $2,297 at Gene Hiller. Pants by Zanella, available at Gene Hiller. This page, on Merrill Dress by MaxMara, available at MaxMara (SF) 415.981.0900. Vintage cameo, $275 available at Grey Gardens Collections.
On Merrill Bottle Green Viscose Trench Coat by Prabal Gurung, the 2010 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award nominee, available by personal request at prabalgurung.com and select styles at Saks Fifth Avenue, 877.551.7257. Vintage leaf brooch, $95 at Grey Gardens Collections. Opposite page, on Jason Shirt by Façonnable, $175 at Façonnable (SF) 415.951.0115. Sweater by Façonnable, $125 at Façonnable. Pants by Façonnable, $250 at Façonnable.
On Merrill Liquid Matte Dress by Graham and Spencer, available at Carolina (Mill Valley) 415.888.8796. Jacket by Tory Burch, available at Tory Burch (SF) 415.398.1525. Little Edie Brooch, $350 at Grey Gardens Collections. Feather hairpiece by Elisa Gonsalves Designs, available at Mara Shoes. On Jason Shirt by Zegna, $385 at Wilkes Bashford (SF) 415.986.4380.Tie by Zegna, $185 at Wilkes Bashford. Suit by Zegna, $1,995 at Wilkes Bashford.
JOURNEY
H O W HOW HIGH, DUBAI?
Visitors’ impressions of the Dubai phenomenon — from the ground up. BY
JIM & NIKKI WOOD
It was 1985.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, age 36, was assuming a role in the governing of Dubai. His father, the reigning ruler Sheikh Rashid, had suffered a stroke, and Dubai’s political leadership was changing. In a meeting of Arabian Gulf leaders, discussion centered on troublesome issues in the Palestinian territories and Iran. “I was keen to change the subject,” recounts Sheikh Mohammed in his book My Vision. “So I asked the ministers, ‘Why don’t we develop this region, particularly Dubai, as a tourist destination to attract people from all over the world?’”
“What is in Dubai to make it a tourist destination?” one official scoffed. “You have nothing but humidity, red-hot sun, burning sand and barren desert.”
Now, 25 years after that dismissal, Sheikh Mohammed is the driving force behind the mind-boggling phenomenon that is Dubai. This spring, we traveled there and had an opportu-
nity to see to what extent the sheikh’s grandiose vision remained intact in the wake of the global economic meltdown.
We left San Francisco at five in the afternoon aboard an Emirates Airline Boeing 777. The plane was full except for a few seats in first class; most passengers were headed for India, Pakistan or Afghanistan, using Dubai as a stopover. Dubai is the hub for Emirates and services flights throughout the world with over 100 destinations across six continents. Our nonstop fl ight was as enjoyable as nearly 16 hours on a plane can be—cushy business-class leather seats that reclined into a bed encapsulated in a pod for privacy; delicious meals, a fine selection of wines, individual movie screens with over 100 choices of current films.
Our steward, Matteo, fluent in Italian, English, French and “a little bit of Japanese,“ explained that the government of Dubai owns Emirates airlines. According to Matteo, thought was given to the name Dubai Air, but officials decided on Emirates at the last minute.
RIGHT : A three-story waterscape, one of several works of art, welcomes shoppers and tourists to Dubai Mall’s 1,100 shops and cafes, saltwater aquarium and NHL-size skating rink.
BELOW : Inside the 12million-square-foot Dubai Mall, a multilevel fashion runway automatically rises from the floor while an overhead circular LED screen telecasts the show.
LAY OF THE LAND
Ironically, Dubai, which might safely be deemed the ultimate shrine to Western excess, sits at the geographic crossroads of Islamic culture. Oman and Saudi Arabia are to the south and east, while Iran is just 90 miles across the gulf. One of seven Persian Gulf states in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is about the size of Rhode Island and has few natural resources, only minimal oil reserves. Of its reported population of 1.7 million, 85 percent or more are foreign workers— from laborers to top management—drawn to this capitalist mecca in search of jobs.
The Maktoum sheikhdom has run Dubai since the 1800s, but modernization began when Sheikh Mohammed’s father, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al-Maktoum, became ruler in 1958. Under his direction telephone systems were built, offshore oil fields developed and Dubai Creek dredged to create the world’s largest man-made deepwater port.
After Sheikh Mohammed became Crown Prince of Dubai in 1995, one of his first decisions was to open up real estate investment to all foreigners, an offering made especially enticing by the lack of property and income taxes.
Dubai’s famed transformation from sleepy desert outpost to glitzy global mega-resort is captured by two aerial photos in the book City of Gold: Dubai and the Dream of Capitalism by Jim Krane (St. Martin’s Press, 2009). A 1990 image shows two-lane Abu Dhabi-Dubai Highway, with four high-rise apartment buildings on one side, a flat desert with camels grazing on the other. A second shot, 19 years later, shows the same highway 10 lanes wide, crammed with cars and bordered, jungle-like, by dozens upon dozens of towering office buildings and condominiums.
BURJ-EONING GROWTH
On the ground, Dubai seems bigger than its statistics. When driving, you’d think the population was 10.7 million, not 1.7 million. The city stretches 40 miles along the Persian Gulf coast; our first stop was to check in at The Address Hotel, which faces the new $1.5 billion Burj (tower) Khalifa. The tallest building in the world, it rises more than half a mile; designed by Chicago’s Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, it resembles a slender silver rocket poised for launch. Burj Khalifa boasts staggering specifications: 900 luxury condos; 54 elevators that travel at 40 miles an hour, a 76th-
floor swimming pool, the world’s highest; a 124thfloor observation deck, also the world’s highest; and a 158th-floor mosque—yep, the world’s highest.
The area surrounding Burj Khalifa epitomizes modern Dubai: thousands of high-rise offices, apartments and condominiums sprouting from the ground in all directions. Amid this urban uprising is the Dubai Mall, billed as the “world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination.” That seems an apt superlative for a complex that contains more than 1,100 shops and restaurants (Prada, Gucci, Diesel, Quiksilver, CPK, they’re all there), a 2.6-million-gallon saltwater aquarium and an NHL-size ice rink. The surrounding 500-acre area, dubbed downtown Dubai, also consists of greenbelts, a man-made lake and a lagoon that holds—here’s another superlative—“the grandest, most complex fountain ever built,” says Mark Fuller, who designed the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and Lincoln Center in New York.
UPPER LEFT : Rows of high-rise condominiums and pristine yachts dominate the view from the Dubai Marina Yacht Club.
RIGHT : Dubai Marina’s four-mile inland waterway. INSET : A poster image of Sheikh Mohammed, the 60-year-old publicity shy visionary behind Dubai’s astonishing growth.
After a few days we transferred to another Address Hotel, 20 miles down bustling Sheikh Zayed Road, passing en route the enormous Mall of the Emirates, famous for its 800-meter indoor ski slope. Our room overlooked a four-mile waterway carved out of the desert, part of a project called Dubai Marina; hundreds of gleaming white yachts (no sailboats) were berthed below. It brought to mind the Chicago River as it winds through downtown Chicago—only on a much larger scale.
Dubai still appears to be growing, although, as best we could determine, not at the feverish pre-crisis pace that required tens of thousands of laborers imported from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh to work day and night. Many of those laborers are gone now, most reportedly disgruntled because dreams of employment at good wages did not pan out.
In November 2009, Dubai received a cash infusion of $25 billion from Abu Dhabi to help restructure its own enormous debts. Yet on our visit, almost everywhere buildings were under construction, and traffic—on the streets and in the mammoth malls—appeared robust. Indeed, official reports this spring claimed citywide hotel occupancy rates had risen to 80 percent, up from 50 percent the year before.
Sales of Dubai’s seemingly endless supply of commercial and residential real estate, however, are another matter. Even though ostensibly 90 percent of Burj Khalifa’s condos are sold, citywide prices for condos and office space have fallen dramatically and, even from a tourist’s perspective, many high-rise buildings appear vacant. One evening, at dinner in the Dubai Marina Yacht Club, we asked the manager, “How many of the surrounding towers are occupied?” With a laugh he answered, “Not as many as we’d like.”
It is not uncommon, he explained, for a sheikh to purchase a building and leave it unoccupied. The government does not release
FAR LEFT : Burj Khalifa, designed by Chicago’s Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, took three years and $1.5 billion to build and rises 2,717 feet into the air.
LEFT : From Burj Khalifa’s 124th-floor observation deck, nearby freeways (foreground: the 10lane Sheikh Zayed Road) and massive high-rises appear diminutive.
economic statistics and forbids the state-controlled press from publishing negative business stories, so it is diffi cult to determine the truth about Dubai’s financial condition.
VISIONS AND HORSES
We missed by days the Dubai World Cup, a horse race with a $10 million purse. Sheikh Mohammed, now 60, is an equine enthusiast who says a “love for the horse runs in my blood.” He breeds horses and competes in day-long journeys on horseback across 100 miles of desert. According to the official story, the Sheikh met his junior and most public wife, Princess Haya, during one such event.
He’s also channeled this personal passion for horses into a business venture—Meydan City, the world’s most ambitious racetrack. Begun in 2007, Meydan boasts a mile-long grandstand with seating for 60,000; a 100-yard LED screen (the world’s longest) that allows fans to view races from a rooftop pool; and, for the purebred Arabian horses, air-conditioned stables with 30-foot ceilings and floors covered with pine bark chips. Islam forbids gambling, so spectators are given a free racing form from which they can pick favorites and win thousands in prize money.
Dubai is betting part of its future on the three massive man-made “islands.” Development of the first, Palm Jumeirah, is mostly completed, with 4,000 beachfront mansions anchored by the 1,539-room Atlantis hotel. The seven other luxury hotels include the 1,000-foottall Burj al-Arab, whose billowing sail profile has become Dubai’s icon. Unfinished is Donald Trump’s 61-story $500 million hotel, stalled because of the economic crisis.
A second island (actually, they’re not islands because you drive onto them) is Palm Jebel Ali. Half again as large as Palm Jumeirah, it extends more than 10 miles into the water. Palm Jebel Ali was about half done— 78 miles of roads intended for an eventual 70,000 residents, several more hotels and a Busch Gardens Sea World—when the financial meltdown
stopped construction. A third faux island, Palm Diera, is the biggest yet, designed to have a surface equal to Manhattan’s and a population of one million, but land reclamation is only half finished.
Dubai’s most ambitious offshore project is The World, a 15-square-mile archipelago of 300 man-made actual islands, each at least three acres in size. “These will be purchased by the world’s mega-wealthy,” says Sultan bin Sulayem, Sheikh Mohammed’s point man for reconfiguring the coastline of Dubai. The World is only partially completed and only one island is inhabited—by Princess Haya. Reportedly, rock star Rod Stewart has bought another island, named Britain, for $33 million.
As if creating a project named The World isn’t enough, Dubai is also creating Dubailand, billed, of course, as “the most ambitious tourism destination ever created.” As designed, it’s a 110-square-mile project (for reference, San Francisco is 49 square miles) comprising six Disneyland-scale theme parks — from replicas of the Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal to a sports complex featuring a $272 million indoor ski mountain to the Dubai Autodrome, a Grand Prix racing circuit with grandstand seating for 7,000. At the time of our visit, little development had taken place. We saw hints of construction of the Autodrome, but the rest of Dubailand was still desert.
DREAM WORKS
As much as Dubai’s explosive growth bubble seems to have burst, its inspiration should not be summarily denied. Despite the halted construction and unfi nished projects, the persistent, dare-to-be-great desert dream of Sheikh Mohammed burns bright. In fact, perpendicular to those soaring towers, we found an immensely practical example right along the ground—a commuter train.
In 2003, Sheikh Mohammed announced plans for a $4.2 billion electronic light rail system to service the city. The trains would stop at air-conditioned terminals and be controlled by computers, silently moving people by the thousands above freeways and under waterways on 45 miles of strategically laid track. The system is mostly built and we rode it, marveling at the sleek trains and futuristic terminals. From our perspective, Dubai Metro seemed a spectacular success.
In his book, Sheikh Mohammed explains how in Dubai so much was accomplished so quickly: “It’s simply because we never drowned ourselves in detail; the key is to not allow details to cloud your basic goals.” Statements like that offer much to think about — especially for dreamers in more bureaucratic places around the globe.
Meanwhile, Dubai, like Shanghai, is truly a 21st century city—a monstrous and fascinating work in progress—and a visit there is a rare opportunity to witness history in the making.
Out of Control, Dubai style
Be wary of Desert Safaris: After having our brains boggled by Dubai’s countless off-the-charts attractions, our afternoon activity sounded, well, boring. “A Desert Safari,” is how they described it. Therefore, after finishing a sushi lunch at the poolside restaurant at The Address Hotel in downtown Dubai, I ordered a second glass of wine. “This time, make it a red,” I remember saying.
Ten minutes later, eight of us were ushered into two spanking new (and hulking) Toyota Land Cruisers. “Spiffy wheels,” I thought to myself while settling into the shotgun seat. About then, I noticed a series of roll bars lining the Land Cruiser’s roof. “Hah,” I joked to our driver safari guide Jamil Sammour of Gulf Ventures, “aren’t roll bars a little overkill for a Desert Safari in Dubai?”
About an hour later, I received my answer. It seems “Desert Safari” is code for a rollicking Dubai pastime more commonly called dune bashing. You know how sand dunes can be carved by the wind until they resemble ocean waves that are about to break?
Well, we were going surfing—in Land Cruisers! I swear, going up the face of one dune my head was lower than my butt. And screaming didn’t bring things into balance. Then our driver—we called him Evel Knievel —decided to drive off the lip of a wave-shaped sand dune. Heading up the dune’s backside, all I saw was blue sky; all I heard were screams. After that, I am certain we caught air.
After a dozen similar stunts, my barely digested sushi and red wine…oh, you don’t want to hear about it. Just remember this: when in Dubai, if “A Desert Safari” is your afternoon activity — go for it! My only advice: make a mad dash for the shotgun seat and enjoy your lunch after the ride. gulfventures.ae —J.W.
Five-Star Hawaiian
THE BEST OF WHAT’S COOKING ON THE ISLANDS BY MIMI TOWLE
Let’s face it: in an average week of vacation, you only have 21 opportunities for epicurean bliss. And since breakfast and lunch might be skipped a few times, that really means about 10 chances, max, to find that meal of a lifetime. Ten or 15 years ago, when mainlanders returned from Hawai‘i with their photos and water-cooler stories, food was rarely what they raved about. A perfect mai tai savored at sunset, perhaps; stellar entrées by celebrity chefs, not likely.
A ward-winning cuisine at Sheraton Poipu, BELOW : ahi musubi is one of Hoku's (at the Kahala) signature dish.
These days, though, reservations at the latest “it” spot can be a key part of the itinerary. With star chefs like Bev Gannon, Peter Merriman and Alan Wong proudly turning out their own distinct brands of island cuisine and other exciting cooks and eateries fast entering the spotlight, you may need help narrowing down the choices.
Without question, one of the first players in this transformation was Roy Yamaguchi, who introduced his signature Pacific Rim “Hawaiian fusion” cooking in the restaurant Roy’s (now with six locations in the islands and 25 others worldwide). In the early 1990s, he and 11 other chefs decided to emphasize the islands’ local bounty and various ethnic cooking styles by coining the term Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine (HRC). “We really had two goals,” says Alan Wong, who has two namesake restaurants in Hawai‘i
and one in Japan. “The first was to put Hawai‘i on the culinary map; the second was to create an agricultural network—to share our resources.”
Up to that point, most of Hawai‘i’s produce and meats were shipped in from the mainland; the chefs’ new network brought island farmers and ranchers more customers, hence more incentive to produce larger crops. “It took a little while for the system to work,” Wong recounts. “At first the market was flooded with lettuce and tomatoes. Eventually the farmers started asking chefs what they wanted.”
A quick look in restaurant freezers and pantries provided the answers: farmers started growing leeks, artichokes, asparagus and corn. The new crop choices benefited not only restaurants but residents, and weekend farmers’ markets began drawing shoppers by the thousands.
A lowdown on the kau-kau (food)
WHAT’S ON THAT LUAU BUFFET? Hawaiian cuisine is a literal chop suey (mixture) of cultural influences including Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, Samoan, Thai, Vietnamese and others. While most dishes are recognizable, here’s a translation for few traditional favorites.
Lau lau (rhymes with now-now) Traditionally steamed butterfish (or chicken or pork) wrapped in a ti leaf.
Don’t eat the wrapping.
“Above all, for me it’s important for our customers to ‘taste’ Hawai‘i,” says Wong. “And the fact that we are able to grow and harvest our crops and create our recipes using local ingredients is an important part of the experience.”
Poke (po-key) While there are hundreds of types, poke is basically cubed raw fish mixed with spices, served as an appetizer or side dish. Most luaus will serve ahi (tuna) or salmon.
Kalua pork Traditional Kalua pork is cooked for hours in an imu, a subterranean oven of hot stones, but many chefs just add spices (Hawaiian salt, liquid smoke) to roasted pork.
Lomi Lomi salmon A basic ceviche made with salmon, tomatoes, onions and salt.
Poi (rhymes with roy) is mashed taro root with a texture like mashed potatoes, served as a bland starch side with spicier food. Go native and eat it with your fingers (pointer and middle).
Chicken long rice Chinese long rice noodles cooked with chicken, spices and soy sauce.
Haupia (how-pee-ah) A coconut pudding, usually cut into squares.
Kulolo (Koo-low-low) A dense, very moist banana bread made with coconut.
“At
first the market was flooded with lettuce and tomatoes. Eventually the farmers started asking chefs what they wanted.”
ALAN WONG
Award-winning Napa chef Peter Pahk grew up on Oahu and started out on the prep lines in Waikiki institutions like Michel’s at the Colony Surf, Rex’s and Nick’s Fish Market. A member of the sustainably minded nonprofit Chefs Collaborative, he often travels to the islands and even more often is asked where to eat on Oahu by friends and colleagues alike.
“I’ve got my short list,” he says. “If they land in the morning (they should) head straight to Leonard’s on Kapahulu and buy a dozen or so malasadas (traditional Portuguese doughnuts); for lunch or dinner, the Kapahulu Poi Shop will give you a great
POI
CENTER : Kekela Farms in Waimea RIGHT : Chef Peter Merriman chooses locally grown artichokes.
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duction to true Hawaiian food, like kalua pig, lau lau, lomi lomi salmon, beef stew, poi or rice. On the north shore, you gotta get shave ice at Matsamato and lunch at Giovanni’s Shrimp Wagon.” Pahk’s longer list of greatest-restaurant hits keeps growing, starting with Ed Kenney’s Town and Downtown restaurants, Alan Wong’s and 3660 on the Rise. “It’s great to see the abundance of fresh, locally grown options available now, compared to when I was a new chef in the islands,” he says. “Today the challenge is coming up with a consistent source of meats—because of how isolated the islands are, it’s hard to get a really good breed of cattle, pig or chicken on a consistent basis.”
Sustainable meat production has long been a cherished cause for chef Peter Merriman, who was even able to introduce wild boar on menus thanks to a serendipitous turn of events. (He’s also long dreamed of opening a restaurant in Sausalito). When his executive chef’s fatherin-law, foreman of a macadamia nut farm, noticed that grazing wild boars were rooting up his irrigation lines, the farm began to trap the wild pigs and bring them to the local slaughterhouse to be inspected by the USDA. At the time Hawai‘i restaurants weren’t allowed to serve wild boar, since most were caught and killed by local hunters and not properly inspected.
“Most chefs will opt to order a clean rack of chops, as working with whole animals is difficult,” says Hess. (But) “we have been proud locavores since 1988; our knowledge of how to use the entire animal reflects that…We utilize the entire animal and waste nothing.” That includes making homemade sausage and bacon cured with local lehua-flower honey, using the hooves for gelatin and the head for headcheese, and crafting a country pâté with meat scraps. One of the restaurant’s most popular dishes is a grilled French toast appetizer with wild boar bacon in a coffee barbecue sauce; the caramelized Portuguese sweet bread and salty bacon make for a tasty blend.
Alongside these master chefs, a new crop of up-and-comers are launching eateries of their own. We’ve asked foodies from each island (see right column) to share their top picks to help you get the most from your Hawaiian vacation.
Inside Scoops
LOCAL FOOD MAVENS ON WHERE AND WHAT TO EAT
Island by island, we asked the “experts,” to reveal their top picks. Left to right: Edie Hafdahl, Kaui; Melanie Kosaka, Oahu; Carla Tracy, Maui; Audrey Wilson, Big Island.
OAHU
melanie kosaka is owner of First Daughter Mediaworks, creator of James Beard Award–winning TV series The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter, Hawai‘i Cooks with Roy Yamaguchi and New American Cuisine as well as the websites shareyourtable.com and GetHealthyNowHawaii.com.
Where do you take visitors for an authentic Hawaiian meal? Helena’s Hawaiian Food. It’s the place to go for authentic Hawaiian; chefs Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi—(they) all eat at Helena’s. Many of Hawai‘i’s top chefs come here for Helena’s famous squid luau dish.
Your “yeah it’s pricey but you gotta try it once” spot? Azure at the Royal Hawaiian. Talk about living in your own private Idaho. Dining oceanside in your private cabana eating uberfresh seafood prepared by Azure chef Jon Matsubara with the ocean literally a few barefoot steps away is amazing.
Your favorite table to watch the sunset? The original Roy’s in Hawai‘i Kai. Ask for one of the booths in the downstairs bar; you can order the full menu as you look out over Maunalua Bay and watch the sunset. Dinner at ground zero of the Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine movement—what could be better?
Favorite barstool? Mai tai and Hawai‘i vacation are synonymous. The outdoor Mai
Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian is where the (drink) was first introduced in the islands; they still serve the original recipe, made with fresh squeezed pineapple and orange juices. Modern interpretations are also available, along with innovative cocktails like the chi— coconut, crushed fresh basil and pineapple, pineapple juice and organic vodka from Maui.
Most romantic table? La Mer restaurant at the Halekulani Hotel. Ask for the corner table with the double windows overlooking Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach. (It’s) one of the few places in Hawai‘i to require jackets for male guests; waiters are in white jackets—you get the picture.
Best family spot? It may be in an office complex between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, but Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas offers incredible, highly refined East-West cuisine at family-friendly prices.
Your go-to to-go? A great grab-andgo lunch can be found at Diamond Head Market and Grill. Like having your grand-
OAHU
MAI TAI BAR , ROYAL HAWAIIAN
mother pack your lunch. (The place stocks) lots of local favorites: musubi (rice balls with teriyaki meat or salmon), sushi rolls, salads and sandwiches fill the deli case.
The best brunch? Not really a brunch place in the classic sense, but Boots & Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen in Kailua is well worth the scenic drive over the Pali Highway. Their
macadamia nut and coconut pancakes are legendary. Japanese tourists arrive by the busload for these pancakes. They are delicious and worth the wait.
Most inventive cocktail? Chi (see Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai Bar, above) is hands down my favorite cocktail.
Where to find hot malasadas? Classic choice is Leonard’s Bakery on Kapahulu Avenue, close to Waikiki. This is my recommendation as I prefer a light and fluffy doughnut. Others prefer Champion Malasadas (in Honolulu) or Agnes Portuguese Bake Shop in Kailua. Their versions tend to be heavier, but both have a nice rich egg flavor.
Favorite shave ice? Shimazu Store, on North School Street in Honolulu. A master sommelier recommended this place because he liked the homemade syrups. Enough said.
Value-priced outdoor lunch spot? The Pavilion Cafe at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Order the piadina sandwich.
Gorgeous setting, relaxed atmosphere and world-class Asian art collection.
MAUI
carla tracy writes about food and restaurants for the Maui News. “I must be having too much fun living on Maui to blog,” she adds. “So you can only find me at my day job—mauinews.com; search for ‘Carla Tracy’ or the dining section. Also,” she adds, “my opinion changes depending on who I’m dining with, the occasion, and my whim. These are not my set-in-stone favorites as I do not and cannot endorse any one restaurant.”
Where do you take visitors for an authentic Hawaiian meal? Old Lahaina Luau sets the perfect stage, transporting you into the heart of Hawai‘i with its oceanfront setting, thatched-roof village, lively Polynesian show and authentic buffet foods.
The “yeah it’s pricey but you gotta try it once” spot? I don’t think I’ve ever seen
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a “must-do on Maui” restaurant list with Mama’s Fish House excluded. It’s always there, right at the top. You have to try it at least once— no ifs, ands or buts. But I also adore Capische at Hotel Wailea and Gerard’s at the Plantation Inn and Lahaina Grill both in Lahaina.
Your favorite table to watch the sunset? Who can resist the “two-tops” at Spago in the Four Seasons Resort Maui in Wailea?
Couples sit on the same side of the table facing the views. It’s romantic, and the seating arrangement makes it easy to hold hands and/or play footsie.
Favorite barstool? Duke’s Beach House in Ka‘anapali, when (musician) Henry Kapono is playing. And the Point at Merriman’s in Kapalua has a bar that’s situated at the tip of a black-lava finger of a peninsula that juts into the ocean.
Most romantic? The baked oysters appetizer at the Waterfront in Ma‘alaea. I love the cushy banquettes (the second one from the window is my favorite) and the tuxedoshirt clad service. It really makes you feel as if you are “out on a date.”
Best family spot? The new Sharkey’s in Kihei is pretty cool for keiki, with a mock-up of a ship for them to climb and all manner of games and food for the knee-high set.
Your go-to to-go? I live in central Maui with my husband, Mark Tracy (originally from Novato). I am a repeat customer at Ichiban
Okazuya on Kaohu Street in Wailuku, and Mark enjoys vegetarian fare at Down to Earth in Kahului.
The best brunch? Wake up to one of Maui’s best breakfast buffets at Fairmont Kea Lani Maui in Wailea. Or head to Ka'anapali Beach Hotel for an elaborate local spread with everything from kiawe-roasted lamb to house-made poi.
Most inventive cocktail? Everybody seems to be “muddling” these days. But Mala Ocean Tavern in Lahaina makes one of the meanest mojitos.
Where to find hot malasadas? Home Maid Bakery on Lower Main Street in Wailuku deep-fries them by the dozen if you call ahead.
Most hyped spot that is worth going to? Lahaina Grill really does live up to its outstanding and award-winning reputation.
Favorite sushi? Contemporary and cutting-edge sushi rocks at Sansei locations and Wow-Wee Maui’s Kava Bar & Grill in Kahului.
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Favorite shave ice? Tom’s Mini Mart in Paukukalo hand-shaves it fine, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the bottom and fun flavors such as green tea and piña colada.
Value-priced outdoor lunch spot? Aloha Mixed Plate in Lahaina dishes up local-style lunches that are monstrous in size and easy on the pocketbook. Plus you can get an ocean view.
Value-priced outdoor dinner spot? The new 808 Bistro in Kihei boasts owners who used to work at the Four Seasons and Ruth’s Chris and the courtyard is delightful. You get fine dining fare for a fraction of the cost
THE BIG ISLAND (HAWAI‘I)
audrey wilson is author of What the Big Island Likes to Eat ( Mutual Publishing, 2008). Her new book, Aunty Audrey’s Big Island Eats, comes out this October. Wilson also owns the vacation rental AJ’s Volcano Cottage and runs a catering company with her sons.
Authentic Hawaiian meal? The Big Island has some great luaus. Kona Village (Fridays), Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (Tuesdays), Fairmont Orchid (Tuesdays and Saturdays), Sheraton Keauhou Bay (Mondays), King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel (Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday)…this should cover every day.
Pricey, but gotta go? Pahu‘i at the Four Seasons Hualalai. The setting is superb; the walls open onto the expansive ocean views. Executive chef James Babian has created a farm-to-table menu showcasing the best of the Big Island.
Favorite table to watch the sunset? Reserve a table at the Canoe House at Mauna Lani Bay Resort, a longtime tourist and local favorite spot to (savor the)
day’s end. Or pick up a glass of wine at the Pavilion Wine Bar at the Mauna Kea and grab one of the roomy sculpted lounge chairs along the path to the water.
Favorite barstool? Choose any at Huggo's expansive open-air bar in Kailua Kona. Huggo's has been the go-to hangout since 1969. Oh, and then who can beat the round bar at Mauna Kea’s Hau Tree?
Most romantic table? It takes some planning—as in 48 hours advance reserva-
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Best family spot? There is always a party at Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill; it is familyfriendly and usually loud enough to absorb any rowdy keiki squeals.
Go-to to-go? For great seafood sandwiches, check out Honokahau Boat Harbor Restaurant in Kona.
Best brunch? Daniel Thiebaut in Kamuela. Or the Sunday brunch at the Kona Village or Mauna Kea Beach Resort.
Inventive cocktail? OK, we are back to the Four Seasons for a lychee martini at the Beach Tree bar. To enhance the experience, opt for an overstuffed sofa facing the ocean. Hot malasada? Tex Drive-In in Honokaa.
KAUA‘I
Anyone who knows visitor information maven edie hafdahl knows that when it comes to local dining, she knows her stuff.
Where do you take visitors for an authentic Hawaiian meal? Smith’s Lu‘au, located on Kaua‘i’s east side. Also, Lu‘au Kalamaku, located at Kilohana Plantation (a state-of-the-art luau pavilion where the meal and show are in a beautiful garden setting.) Then there’s Hanalei Juice and Taro, run by the Haraguchi family for three generations. Poi is made fresh daily from the family taro farm across the street. Try the pork lau lau plate; it comes with lomi lomi salmon, poi (or rice), taro mac salad and taro mochi.
Your favorite table to watch the sunset? Summer: Kaua‘i Grill at the St. Regis (Princeville). The view without the sunset is amazing, with Bali Hai in the background; add the sunset and wow! In winter: the Beach House (Poipu). When the sun starts to set, it’s like a mass exodus from the restaurant as everyone leaves their table to watch the sun go down.
Favorite barstool ? Wintertime: the Point, at the Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort. Summertime: the lobby bar at the St. Regis. I hope I don’t
appear to be favoring the St. Regis. It’s just that where they are located at Princeville is the perfect setting.
Most romantic table? The ambience at Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa just speaks romance! Ask for the table at the end of one of the walkways, situated all by itself, not another table around within 20 yards—great spot to pop the question.
Best family spot? The Bullshed Restaurant, located on the east side. Great food, great view, great prices, right on the water.
Your go-to to-go? Plate lunches are the local favorite. Mark’s Place, in the industrial area in Puhi, is my place to go. A diverse menu that offers healthy foods as well. The best brunch? Ilima Terrace at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i or the Naupaka Terrance at Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
Most inventive cocktail? The Killer Bee Caipirinha at the Beach House includes fresh Kaua‘i honeycomb right in the glass and is mixed with Leblon Cachaça (rum).
Also, Kalapaki Grill at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Beach offers the Signature Kalapaki Krush cocktail, a refreshing float made with Midori, ice cream, coconut syrup, pineapple, mango purée and Chambord.
Where to find hot malasadas? Kaua‘i Bakery, in Kukui Grove Shopping Center.
Favorite shave ice? Jo Jo’s, in Waimea town. One time I waited in line for 45 minutes; it was worth it.
Value-priced outdoor lunch spot? J.J.’s Broiler at Anchor Cove, Lihu‘e. Great selections, good prices.
SEPTEMBER ARTS & EVENTS GUIDE
17
THEATER
Thru September 5 Peter Pan This state-of-the-art production experience brings J. M. Barrie’s classic story to life. Ferry Park (SF). 888.772.6849, peterpantheshow.com
Thru September 5 Wicked The cultural phenomenon that got its start in San Francisco is back for an extended stay. There is still time to see the untold story of the witches of Oz. This popular show is in its final month and has entertained more than one million patrons. Orpheum Theatre (SF). 415.512.7770, shnsf.com
Thru September 5 Into the Woods
The Marin Youth Performers perform this fractured fairy tale written by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim. 142 Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmortontheatre.com
Thru September 19 Posibilidad The San Francisco Mime Troupe opens its 51st season with a modern song and tango with a unique take on politics in the workplace; numerous free North Bay Performances in various locations. 415.285.1717, sfmt.org
Thru September 25 Antony and Cleopatra A word leader is seduced
by an Egyptian queen. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre (San Rafael). 415.499.4488, marinshakespeare.org
Thru September 26 The Taming of the Shrew A swashbuckling seafaring version of the Shakespeare classic. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre (San Rafael). 415.499.4488, marinshakespeare.org
Thru September 26 Dreamgirls The trials and tribulations of a 1960s all-girl singing group trying to achieve fame and hit it big. The show features music by Henry Krieger with lyrics by Tom Eyen. Curran (SF). 415.512.7770, shnsf.com
Bill Irwin stars in and directs Scapic at A.C.T. September 16–October
PHOTO: SANTOS IRWIN
9–October 3 In The Red and Brown Water The story of a young girl forced to choose between dreams of escape and helping her dying mother. This is part one of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s The Brother/Sister Plays trilogy. Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley). 415.388.5208, marintheatre.org
16–October 17 Scapin Two-time Tony Award winner Bill Irwin returns to the Bay Area in a lively comedy about mayhem, mischief and love. American Conservatory Theater (SF). 415.749.2228, act-sf.org
17–October 17 November This play by David Mamet tells the tale of a U.S. president who wants a second term and finds allies in strange places. Barn Theatre (Ross). 415.456.9555, rossvalleyplayers.com
COMEDY
Tuesdays Mark Pitta and Friends The comic hosts an evening for up-and-comers and established headliners to work on new material. 142 Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmortontheatre.com
10 Last Comic Standing Who will be the last comic standing? Find out at this laugh-a-minute event. The Warfield (SF). 415.345.0900, thewarfieldtheatre.com
11 Craig Ferguson The star of CBS’s The Late Late Show talks about television and his new novel. Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 866.448.7849, goldenvoice.com
28 35th Annual Comedy Competition
The funniest show in town is hosted by Mo Mandel and features 10 top comedians. Jewish Community Center (SF). 415.292.1233, jccsf.org
DANCE
Saturdays Boomercize Classes This low-impact fitness program features
dance steps and music from the American Bandstand hit parade. Marcie Judelson leads the one-hour workout. Presidio Dance Theater (SF). 415.608.4503, boomercize.com
MUSIC
Mondays Open Mic with Austin de Lone The popular singer/songwriter hosts an open mic. Public address system and piano are provided. Masonic Lodge (Mill Valley). 415.389.6637, woodsmv.com
Tuesdays Swing Fever The band pays tribute to jazz artists and composers, playing selections from its roster of over 1,000 tunes. Panama Hotel (San Rafael). 415.457.3993, panamahotel.com
Fridays Friday Night Fusion Free music and $15 wine tastings get the weekend started right. September acts include Mas Cabeza, Pamela Rose, Misa Malone and Interplay. The Village (Corte Madera). 415.924.8557, villageatcortemadera.com
10 Mark Kozelek The former Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon singer/songwriter takes the stage. Palace of Fine Arts (SF). 415.255.0333, slimstickets.com
12 Sexy Sunday A musicians’ showcase featuring female artists who rock. Peri’s Silver Dollar (Fairfax). 415.459.9910, krickie.com
14 Primus The Bay Area favorites are back with their brand of irreverent music. The Warfield (SF). 415.345.0900, thewarfieldtheatre.com
16 The Beth Custer Ensemble The Bay Area treasure will be singing and playing clarinets with her long-standing septet. Custer will perform works from past projects including her My Grandmother silent film score. 142 Throckmorton (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmortontheatre.com
24 Petty Theft It’s all about the music when it comes to this Tom Petty tribute band as the Concerts Under the Oak series concludes. Northgate (San Rafael). 415.479.3212, shopatnorthgate.com
24 SF Symphony Michael Tilson Thomas conducts a free outdoor noontime concert. Justin Herman Plaza (SF). 415.864.6000, sfsymphony.org
GALLERIES
MARIN
Acacia Gallery Shadow box jewelry from Christine Charter Moorhead. 4162 Redwood Hwy, San Rafael. 415.479.3238, acaciagallery.net
Art Abloom Studio and Gallery Artwork on display and classes. 1527 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo. 415.256.1112, artabloom. com
Art Bar—Molinar Gallery Work from artists based in California, New York and Italy. 46 Main St, Tiburon. 415.435.5999, theartbar.us
Art Works Downtown American Peasantry: Life and Labor in the Fields of California Work by Pulitzer Prize–nominated photogra-
Primus at the Warfield September 14
BLACKIE’S HAY DAY
September
25
Enjoy pony rides, relay races, toy tractor rides, jump houses, a climbing wall, live entertainment and more at this fifth annual event. Bring a gently used book for free admission. Blackie’s Pasture (Tiburon). blackieshayday.com
pher Richard Steven Street. 1337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119, artworksdowntown.org
Barefoot Art Gallery Works by Roy Gover and iconic landscapes by Peter Lee Brownlee, thru October. 20 Sunnyside Avenue, Mill Valley. 415.384.0104, barefootartgallery.com
Claudia Chapline Gallery Contemporary art from Northern California. 3445 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach. 415.868.2308, cchapline.com
Donna Seager Gallery Abstract paintings from California native and technology enthusiast Jylian Gustlin. 851 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.454.4229, donnaseagergallery.com
Gallery 111 Work from ICB artists. 480 Gate Five Road (Sausalito). 415.331.2222, icbartists.com
Gallery 34 Collective of Bay Area artists’ work featuring jewelry, glass and paintings. 34 Main St, Tiburon. 415.435.3999, gallery34.com
Gallery at Cavallo Point From Kehoe to Cavallo—the Mystery in the Mess A suite of archival pigment prints by Judith Selby Lang and Richard Lang displayed in a beautiful setting, thru October 22. Cavallo Point Lodge (Sausalito). 415.339.4741
Gallery Bergelli Flight Within Color New paintings by Greg Ragland, thru September 9. 483 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.945.9454, bergelli.com
Gallery Route One The Box Show Work from 150 artists at this annual show, thru September 12. 11101 Hwy One, Point Reyes Station. 415.663.1347, galleryrouteone.org
Marin Society of Artists Fall rental event. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.454.9561, marinsocietyofartists.org
Mona Lease Gallery Sudden Intended Exhilaration—Art to Recall Extended thru September 15. 39 Greenbrae Boardwalk, Greenbrae. 415.461.3718, monalease.net
O’Hanlon Center for the Arts Bay Area Men Artists The complement to the juried women’s show. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331, ohanloncenter.org
Robert Allen Fine Art Northern California Landscapes Drawing and photography, thru September 30. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.2800, robertallenfineart.com
Robert Beck Gallery Early California and contemporary plein air paintings on display. 222 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.456.7898, beckgallery.org
Robert Green Fine Arts New paintings by Charlotte Bernström, thru November 7. 154 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.381.8776, rgfinearts.com
Rock Hill Gallery Watercolors by the Marin County Watercolor Society, thru October 13. 145 Rock Hill Dr, Tiburon. 415.383.9018, ccctiburon.org
Sam the Butcher Work from Leon Rosenblatt. 19 Ross Common, Ross. 415.902.1019, samthebutcherart.org
Smith Andersen North Vintage black-andwhite photography. 20 Greenfield Ave, San Anselmo. 415.455.9733, smithandersennorth.com
Studio 333 “Why There Are Words,” literary series on the second Thursday of the month;
“Sunset Poetry by the Bay” every third Wednesday. 333A Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.8272, studio333.info
Studio 4 Art Work by local artists at this gallery and workshop offering materials and classes. 1133 Grant Ave, Novato. 415.596.5546, studio4art.net
The Image Flow Photography by local artists. 401 Miller Ave, Ste F, Mill Valley. 415.388.3569, theimageflow.com
Tomales Fine Art Contemporary art including landscapes, classic still lifes and figurative work. 27050 Maine St, Tomales. 707.878.2525, tomalesfineart.com
SAN FRANCISCO
ArtHaus The Backyard Chromeogenic prints by Chris Schiav, thru September 30. 411 Brannan St, 415.977.0223, arthaus-sf.com
Berggruen Gallery Figurative painting from Christopher Brown. 228 Grant Ave, 415.781.4629, berggruen.com
Cain Schulte Gallery Summer group show, thru September 3. 251 Post St, 415.543.1550, cainschulte.com
Caldwell Snyder Gallery Solo show and/or work by artists Melissa Chandon. 341 Sutter St, 415.296.7896, caldwellsnyder.com
Elins Eagles-Smith Gallery Work by New York–native and Boston Univeristy Graduate School of Fine Arts alumnus. Gary Komarin. 49 Geary St, 415.981.1080, eesgallery.com
George Krevsky Gallery Summer Reading A group exhibition featuring works in various media by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Helen Berggruen, Barry Gifford, Ken Kalman, Clifford Odets, Raymond Pettibon, Man Ray, Raymond Saunders, Ben Shahn and others, thru October 2. 77 Geary St, 415.397.9748, georgekrevskygallery.com
Gregory Lind Gallery Der Glasraum Painings and drawings by Eamon O’Kane, thru October 16. 49 Geary St, 415.296.9661, gregorylindgallery.com
FALL READING
BY JIM WOOD
Sustainable World SourceBook: Critical Issues–Viable Solutions–Resources for Action foreword by Paul Hawken, Sustainable World Coalition, $11.95. Thirteen researchers, eight writers and four editors worked 18 months to compile this all-encompassing, 100page guide. Articulates problems and solutions for the entire earth. To purchase, go to swsourcebook.org.
The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T. J. Stiles, Vintage, $19.95 (paperback). A 736-page book set on an enormous stage about a larger-than-life personality. Vanderbilt (1794-1877) controlled railroads, shipping lines and canals; he helped establish America’s fervor for business. This book won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in biography for the San Francisco author.
Josh Hardy Galleries Early California and American fine art on display. 3350 Sacramento St, 415.345.1832, hardygalleries.com
Meyerovich Gallery Recent works form Donald Baechler, famous for his noted for childlike imagery and thematics. 251 Post St, 415.421.7171, meyerovich.com
Paul Mahder Gallery Mixed media by Nikolai Atanassov, a Bulgarian artist who has been working and living in San Francisco since 1998. 3378 Sacramento St, 415.474.7707, paulmahdergallery.com
Rena Bransten Gallery Reconstructed photographs by Vik Muniz, thru October 23. 77 Geary St, 415.982.3292, renabranstengallery.com
Weinstein Gallery Abstraction by Jimmy Ernst. Ernst was born in Germany and is the son of surrealist painter Max Ernst, he passed away in 1984. 301 Geary St, 415.362.8151, weinstein.com
MUSEUMS
MARIN
Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman, Doubleday, $25.95. Novel about two families, one outgoing from upscale Manhattan, the other stern and living in Maine. At the marriage of their children, a tragedy ensues and the families are united forever. Berkeley-based author writes skillfully about class differences, music, woodworking and Maine’s quirky lifestyle.
Bay Area Discovery Museum Enjoy a free day at the museum designed specifically to encourage children’s creativity, September 1 (Sausalito). 415.339.3958, baykidsmuseum.org
Bolinas Museum A preview of the annual art auction featuring coastal Marin and Bay Area artists, thru September 18 (Bolinas). 415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org
Falkirk Cultural Center See examples of painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, photography, ceramics and mixed media at the first Falkirk juried exhibition, September 10–November 20 (San Rafael). 415.485.3438, falkirkculturalcenter.org
Marin History Museum The exhibit Growing the Future: Farming Families of Marin tells the history of farming in Marin,
California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It by Joe Mathews and Mark Paul, University of California Press, $19.95. A concise (240 pages), objective and at times humorous (if that’s possible) analysis of how California grew dysfunctional and what will make it functional again. This new release is getting solid reviews from critics and readers alike.
thru October. Also on display is the new exhibit Ranching and Rockin’ at Olompali, thru December (Boyd Gate House). 415.454.8538, marinhistory.org
Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Speaking of Solitude Sixth annual national juried exhibition, September 4–October 3 (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.com
Marin Museum of the American Indian
The Hoopa Valley Tribe: People, Place and Culture, 1930-1960 This exhibit features photography by Hoopa Valley Tribe member Ernest Marshall, thru September (Novato). 415.897.4064, marinindian.com
BAY AREA
Asian Art Museum Shanghai The exhibit features more than 130 oil paintings, Shanghai deco furniture and rugs, revolutionary posters, works of fashion, movie clips, and contemporary installations that tell the tale and history of one of Asia’s most dynamic and cosmopolitan cities, thru
September 5 (SF). 415.581.3500, asianart.org
California Academy of Sciences Extreme Mammals Learn about the biggest, smallest, fastest, slowest and most amazing mammals at this new exhibit, thru September 12 (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org
Conservatory of Flowers Chomp 2 Enter a garden of deadly delights with the return of the hit exhibition of carnivorous plants, thru October 31 (SF). 415.831.2090, conservatoryofflowers.org
Contemporary Jewish Museum Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World) Enjoy nearly 30 years’ worth of original paintings, drawings, notebooks and sketchbooks from the popular humorist and miniaturist, thru October 26 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org
de Young Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay This exhibit focuses on nearly 100 works painted in France during the mid-19th century that helped give birth to the artistic style known as Impressionism. Works from Bouguereau, Courbet, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Sisley and Degas will be shown, thru September 6 (SF). 415.750.3600, thinker.org
di Rosa Preserve Pomp Computergenerated art from New Jersey native Deborah Oropallo, thru September 18 (Napa). 707.226.5991, dirosapreserve.org
Exploratorium Geometry Playground Use your hands, your body and your brain as you experience geometry in a whole new way. Put away those textbooks; this exhibit allows attendees to experience geometry by climbing inside 3-D shapes, watching themselves in a giant curved mirror and more, thru September 6 (SF). 415.397.5673, exploratorium.edu
Legion of Honor Very Postmortem: Mummies and Medicine Irethorrou, the Fine Arts Museums’ mummy who has been on loan since 1944, returns for this exhibit taking a modern and scientific look at mummies. Medical scans provide a unique depth and scientific background to the exhibition, thru October 31 (SF). 415.750.3600, legionofhonor.org
San Francisco Museum of Craft and Folk Art Clare Rojas: We They, We They The San Francisco–based artist explores the boundaries between neo-folk and contemporary art, thru September 12 (SF). 415.227.4888, mocfa.org
SFMOMA Calder to Warhol More than 160 works by iconic 20th century artists from the collection of Gap founders Doris and Donald Fisher will be on display in anticipation of a larger exhibit planned as part of a new museum expansion which will eventually include more than 1,100 works by artists such as Alexander Calder, Chuck Close, Anselm Kiefer, Roy Lichtenstein, Agnes Martin, Gerhard Richter, Cy Twombly and Andy Warhol, thru September 19 (SF). 415.357.4000, sfmoma.org
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts TechnoCRAFT This new exhibit, curated by designer Yves Behar, explores how the boundary between the role of the designer and the consumer is disappearing, thru Oct. 3 (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org
EVENTS
Ongoing Film Night in the Park Bring your blankets, chairs and family for film night in the park at various Marin and S.F. locations. Check the website to confirm show times and locations. 415.272.2756, filmnight.org
Sundays Knitting Group Join the Mill Valley Unity (EweKnitty) group and learn knitting tips and tricks. Starbucks on Camino Alto (Mill Valley). ravelry.com
4–6 Sausalito Art Festival More than 20,000 original works of art will be on display in this 58th annual art event. The festival also features food and drink as well as music from the Bangles, the Fixx, the Tubes, Modern English and more. Downtown (Sausalito). 415.331.3757, sausalitoartfestival.org
4–6 Shamanism and Alternative Healing Conference Meet shamans from around the world who are currently working with Bay Area physicians and enjoy presenta-
FOR ONE DAY, THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BLOOD CANCER WILL BE A STRONG WIND, A BOAT AND OPEN WATER.
Raise a sail to find a cure. The fifth annual Leukemia Cup Regatta benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is October 2nd and 3rd at The San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere, CA. VIP dinner featuring America’s Cup champion, Russell Coutts. Register at: leukemiacup.org/sf
tions, panels and healing sessions. Dominican University (San Rafael). 415.383.3017, shamanismconference.org
6-7 Festa del Libro Bring the family and peruse more than 400 books from Italian children’s literature publishers. Book Passage (SF). papiliobooks.com
10–12 The Ceramics Annual of America
Enjoy an exhibit of some of the nation’s top ceramic artists including the work of four Marin artists. Fort Mason (SF). 877.459.9222, ceramicsannual.org
16 Annual Golf Tournament Support local business and enjoy a great day of golf at this Corte Madera and San Anselmo chambers of commerce event. Golf Course (San Geronimo). 415.454.2510, sananselmochamber.org
22 A Taste of Downtown San Rafael Savor hors d’oeuvres and wine samples from local merchants followed by a free outdoor film. Downtown (San Rafael). 800.310.6563, sresproductions.com
23–26 Oktoberfest by the Bay The spirit of Munich, Germany, is alive and well at the 11th annual Oktoberfest festival by the bay— the largest festival of its kind in California. Pier 48 (SF). 888.746.7522, oktoberfestbythebay.com
24 Spirit of Marin This annual luncheon honors local business leaders. St. Vincent’s School for Boys (San Rafael). 415.884.5360, bankofmarin.com
25 Costal Cleanup Day Join thousands of volunteers in an effort to clean North Bay beaches. 415.332.3871, coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html
25 Stepping Out to Celebrate Life This Paris-themed fundraising event features delicious food and drink as well as a fashion show featuring more than 30 breast cancer survivors. Exhibit Hall (San Rafael). 415.455.5882, tocelebratelife.org
25 Floating Homes Tour See unique floating homes and meet the people who live
GEOMETRY PLAYGROUND
Exploratorium
Use your hands, your body and your brain as you experience geometry in a whole new way. Put away those textbooks; this exhibit allows attendees to experience geometry by climbing inside 3-D shapes, watching themselves in a giant curved mirror and more, thru September 6.
3601 Lyon Street (SF) 415.397.5673, exploratorium.edu
in them. Kappas Marina Green (Sausalito). floatinghomes.org
25-26 Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival The 54th annual juried event attracts some 7,000 art lovers and more than 140 artists from far away and close to home. Old Mill Park (Mill Valley). 415.381.8090, mvfaf.org
26 Fall Free for All Cal Performances launches its new season with a day of free music from more than a dozen companies and artists including Kronos Quartet, Pacific Mozart Ensemble, John Santos Sextet and Mark Morris Dance Group. UC Berkeley Campus (Berkeley). 510.642.9121, calperformances.org
28 Manners in Motion A unique program that teaches children partner dancing, social skills and dining etiquette. Recreation Center (Corte Madera). 415.485.5500, mannersinmotion.net
29 Tam Valley Speaker Series Producer James Swan discusses the making of the documentary Endangered Species:
California Fish and Game Wardens. Tam Valley Community Center (Mill Valley). 415.388.6393, tcsd.us
NATURE WALKS/TALKS
Ongoing Sonoma History Local actor George Webber morphs into Mariano G. Vallejo as he retells the history of Sonoma (Sonoma). 707.694.5097, georgewebber.com
4, 18 Sunset Hike and Dine Join this local club for a monthly two-hour hike on moderate to steep trails on Mount Tamalpais with a mid-hike wine and cheese break. Reservations required. Meet other avid Marin hikers. Mountain Home Inn (Mill Valley). 415.331.0100, meetup.com/sunsethike
15 Marin Scuba Club Larry Clinton reads from the new book There’s a Cockroach in My Regulator. The Flatiron Saloon (San Rafael). 415.453.9556, marinscuba.org
24 Moonlight Hike Join the Marin Moonshiners for a monthly three-mile hike to
experience the sunset, moonrise and a picnic. Reservations required. Meet other people interested in the great outdoors. Pelican Inn Pub (Muir Beach). 415.331.0100, meetup.com/moonshinershike
25 WildCare Family Adventures Enjoy a day at the beach and search for shells, beach hoppers, egrets, killdeer, brown pelicans and even elusive river otters. Rodeo Beach parking lot (Sausalito). 415.453.1000, wildcarebayarea.org
RETAIL THERAPY
Carolina Boutique Allie G is now Carolina Boutique. Join the new store for a grand opening weekend featuring contemporary women’s clothing from Theory, Rebecca Taylor, J Brand, Sendra Boots, Vince, American Vintage, M.Z. Wallace, Citizens of Humanity, Riller & Fount, MiH Jeans, Burning Torch, James Perse, Stitch’s, Bloch London, Minnie Rose Cashmere, Fluxus and more, September 10–12. 76 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley, 415.381.2554, carolinaboutique.com
Around Town
Recently, guests indulged in champagne and spring styling tips with Tim Gunn at Corte Madera’s Kate Spade Shoppers gathered to see the latest fashion trends and have a photo taken with Tim himself. Left, Kate Bach, Tim Gunn; below, Sarah Seltsam, Patty Kwan, Ave Seltsam.
During the 2010 Marin Sonoma Concours d’ Elegance, a benefit for Hospice by the Bay, guests viewed a variety of classic cars, hot rods, antique commercial vehicles and more. Above, Charlie Goodman, Lynn Asher, Barbara Goodman.
Whistlestop, a service for older adults in Marin County, held its first-ever Silver Express Poetry Contest for Marin residents age 60 or older. Guests were treated to readings of the winning poems at a celebration lunch. Left, Terry and Denise Scussel.
Local product line Juice Beauty has teamed up with former Marinite Jennifer Siebel Newsom to introduce its newest skin care line: Organics to Clear Skin in 30 Days. Right, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Karen Behnke.
A the recent Huckleberry Wine Tasting fundraiser, locals sipped wines for a good cause. Huckleberry Youth Programs help underserved youth by supporting them in healthy life choices. Above, Betsy Hausman, Jodi and Gary Grossfeld.
At the recent Kapalua Food and Wine Festival in Hawaii, locals Elizabeth and Branton Cole flew to Maui for a quick weekend getaway to enjoy the festival’s Grand Seafood Tasting at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. The event featured food from the area’s top restaurants, including Banyan Tree, Kai Sushi Bar, Merriman’s Kapalua and the Plantation House Restaurant, along with wine tastings from around the world. The fourday culinary festival, which includes celebrity chefs and America’s top sommeliers, celebrates its 30th anniversary next June.
250 guests attended the Legal Aid of Marin’s annual dinner dance to launch the Marin Justice League and honor several generous citizens. The gala took place at the Mill Valley Community center, where guests posed with life-size Batman and Superman mannequins. Right, Janet Kloenhamer, Sally Packman, Renee Schmitz, Superman, Mary Eaton.
This spring, Amy Tara Koch celebrated her new book, Bump It Up, at the San Francisco W Hotel with a book-signing event. Bump It Up shows moms-to-be how to stay stylish throughout their pregnancy, complete with fashion advice from top designers such as Donna Karan and Nicole Miller. Left, Megan Calhoun, Catherine Clifford.
This spring, Zero Breast Cancer hosted its 11th annual Honor Thy Healer breast cancer awards program at the Mill Valley Community Center. All proceeds will support ZBC’s research and education programs. Left, Janice Barlow, Joe Gray.
Frantoio tantalizes your taste buds with it’s authentic Italian cuisine. Serving locally produced fruit, vegetables, seafoods and meats the restaurant supports the local economy wherever possible whilst remaining loyal to its Tuscan roots. Enjoy fantastic salads, pasta, pizza and entrees in an elegant yet relaxed setting.
Frantoio Ristorante
152 Shoreline Highway
Visit the Seafood Peddler for the freshest seafood Marin has to offer, shipped in daily from the east coast! Dine indoors or enjoy our beautiful waterfront patio. Catch live music in our Palm Ballroom! Book one of our banquet rooms for a private party, perfect for any occasion.
Seafood Peddler
415.289.5777 Mill Valley, CA frantoio.com
Il Fornaio offers an authentic Italian dining experience Specialties include artisan cocktails, an award-winning wine list, housemade pastas, fresh salads and soups, a wide variety of desserts, and fresh baked bread. Each month, a special regional dinner menu is featured. Groups of all sizes are welcome!
Il Fornaio
223CorteMaderaTownCtr
100 Yacht Club Drive
415.460.6669 San Rafael, CA seafoodpeddler.com
The Club Restaurant offers fine dining in an atmosphere of casual elegance and friendly
415.927.4400
CorteMadera,CA cortemadera@ilfo.com
THE TRUTH ABOUT TUITION CHOOSING THE RIGHT SCHOOL
PREPARING FOR THE SHADOW DAY MORE THAN 150 SCHOOL LISTINGS
Private School Guide Bay Area
welcome
Few decisions are more important than those parents make about their child’s education. Bay Area families are especially fortunate to have an abundance of private school choices with a broad spectrum of programs geared to meeting a child's specific needs and learning style. The first annual Bay Area Private School Guide, produced by Marin Magazine, is designed to help parents decide on a private school that best suits the needs of their child. This publication includes stories on how to select a school, how to prepare your child for the all-important “shadow day,” and how to cope with tuition shock, as well as a catalog of more than 150 private school listings. The Bay Area Private School Guide is presented in time for parents to have access to information that will prepare them in making choices for the 2011-2012 school year.
Since 1895, Sunny Hills Services has believed in the value and potential of all youth.
We help kids with learning challenges and mental health concerns. We work with foster youth and those who are aging out of the child welfare system. We have therapeutic education programs and serve boys and girls in the juvenile justice system as well as grandparents and other caregivers who open their homes to children.
We welcome moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, friends, relatives and other caring adults. We know kids need connection.
We believe in treating the whole child – mentally, physically and emotionally. We help children heal.
We believe that the strength of our community is rooted in compassion and commitment to those in need.
To learn more about us, please visit www.SunnyHillsServices.org
choosing a private school
BY DAWN MARGOLIS
CURRICULUM, CLASS SIZE, COST ARE ALL FACTORS TO CONSIDER
When Lorin Costolo and her family moved from the Midwest to Marin last year, they enrolled their children in public school. “Our son adapted quickly. But our daughter’s transition didn’t go quite so well,” Costolo recalls. Although she and her husband had never considered private school in the past, they decided that if the public school wasn’t a good fit for their daughter, they ought at least to consider other options.
“I started asking around, trying to get a consensus about which was the best private school,” Costolo says. “It didn’t take long to realize that there wasn’t one best school. Every parent I spoke with had a list of reasons why they thought their child’s school was best. I began to realize that when it comes down to it, every child is different, so the perfect school for my daughter might not be the perfect school for someone else’s kid.”
According to local education experts, Costolo’s observations are spot on. So if that’s the case, how are parents supposed to find that one best place for their child?
Some schools emphasize projectbased learning; some stress creative thinking or analytical reasoning. If your child has a specific learning style, teaching approach can make all the difference for academic success.
For starters, if you’re even toying with the idea of private school, begin your research immediately. You’ll need time to tour all the prospects and have your child “shadow” (see story on page 16) at schools whose programs are most appealing. “It’s helpful to attend open houses or even do drive-bys so you can get a sense of a place,” suggests Stacie Grant, director of high school admissions at San Domenico School in San Anselmo. Likewise, you’ll want to ask school administrators for names of currently enrolled families you can contact for insight. Talking with other parents, you’re likely to get honest appraisals that are free of the requisite PR spin.
You’ll also want to carefully consider each school’s educational philosophy. Some schools, for example, emphasize project-based learning; some stress creative thinking or analytical reasoning. If your child has a specific learning style, teaching approach can
make all the difference for academic success. Also, private schools aren’t legally restricted on how they handle religion, so you need to consider what if any role spirituality plays in a school’s day-to-day. “Our school community includes families of all faiths,” say Bryan Clement, principal for Saint Hilary School. “But parents should know that our curriculum does investigate morality and character development through the study of Catholic beliefs.” Likewise, Brandeis Hillel Day School welcomes students of any religious denomination, but the curriculum does include Judaic studies and Hebrew language. Class size is another factor to keep on the radar. It stands to reason that the lower the staff-to-student ratio, the more individualized attention a child will receive. But for some kids, having only a dozen kids in class (or possibly even the whole grade level) can be socially stifling. Conversely, a shy child might thrive in a small class, but feel lost in a bigger sea of new faces.
Finally, be sure to give proper weight to your child’s opinions.
“The shadow day helps us decide whether a child is a good fit in our school, but it’s just as important that the child walk away from the day feeling good about us,” says Donna Fanfelle, co-director of admissions for Marin Primary and Middle School.
Saint Hilary’s Bryan Clement concurs. “I usually ask to talk to the student without their parent in the room,” he says. “I want to know whether this is something that the child wants or something his parents want for him.” If it’s the latter, that “doesn’t mean that the school won’t work, but it’s something I need to know ahead of time.”
Of course, few experts would advocate giving a child the final say on a matter as important as education. But if you really want to find the right school for your child, your child’s voice needs to be heard.
Once you’ve gathered and sifted through all this information, choosing the right private school for your child won’t be quite so daunting. Not, at least, till it’s time to pull out the checkbook.
Marin Waldorf School
AWAKENING THE JOY OF LEARNING
At Marin Waldorf, we celebrate academic excellence, cultivate creative expression, and help students develop lifelong skills. As Marin’s only accredited Waldorf school, we’ve been educating preschool to eighth grade since 1972. Our beautiful 12-acre campus includes a library, music room, playgrounds and playing fields, woods, organic gardens, wood shop and open-air amphitheater. We are a small school, so children receive individual attention each step of the way.
Everything here is designed to help students thrive and grow into exceptional human beings. Younger
children enjoy a carefully balanced mix of indoor and outdoor activities that promote hands-on ability and curiosity about life. Each grade school subject—math and science, history and social studies, languages, woodworking and sports—is taught in a way that fosters imagination. Middle school students are challenged with biology, chemistry and physics. Educational field trips teach botany in Big Sur, geology at Mount Lassen, and California history at Fort Ross.
Above all, our academics promote critical thinking and the emotional intelligence needed to become
confident, fulfilled citizens of the world. Practical pursuits like organic gardening and community service equip kids to both face and embrace life’s challenges.
Transformation is a big idea, but that’s what we do—we transform lives. Our graduates love learning and are ready to succeed wherever their unique talents take them.
We’re gratified by the glowing word-of-mouth we receive from parents and are proud, most of all, of our wonderfully engaged, vibrant, amazing students. To see for yourself what makes Marin Waldorf stand apart, call to set up a personal tour.
755 Idylberry Road 415.479.8190, ext. 102 San Rafael, CA marinwaldorf.org
Jewish Community High School of the Bay
CHALLENGE. DISCOVER. IMAGINE.
A great high school education is a journey that builds character as much as knowledge. Come take that journey at JCHS.
Whether engaging in arts, athletics, or community service, our students participate in a rigorous college preparatory program enriched by thought-provoking Jewish studies. JCHS offers a seven to one student to faculty ratio and an average class size of fourteen - making our classes small enough that everyone can be heard, but large enough that a diversity of opinion is possible.
JCHS is a community of inquisitive, creative and motivated individuals who want to explore diverse perspectives and imagine their own unique path. JCHS’ beautiful campus is conveniently located in the heart of San Francisco. Marin bus transportation provided.
Convent & Stuart Hall
WHY CHOOSE THE HALL AND THE HEART?
You want to see your son or daughter in a fine hall of learning. You want to see her alongside other bright students who brim with potential. You want to see him begin to master the great subjects. At Convent & Stuart Hall, this is only the beginning. In our sibling, single-sex high schools, you find small classes of lively, rigorous, college prep education, based on the 123-year tradition of Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco.
And you find something more. You find students learning how to think critically and reflect thoughtfully on the big questions in life, like who they are and what they believe. You find them becoming well-informed, confident, and caring. And what do they find? The launching pad for a life bursting with potential, meaning, and purpose.
To schedule a tour please call:
Convent High School (Broadway) 415.292.3125
Stuart Hall High School (Octavia) 415.345.5812
2222 Broadway 1715 Octavia Street San Francisco, CA theHallandtheHeart.org
Lycée Français la Pérouse
THE FRENCH IMMERSION SCHOOL
Lycée Français la Pérouse, The French immersion school offers an exceptional and well-rounded academic French education to students from preschool “maternelle” through 12th grade “terminale”. A strong English program complements the curriculum established by the French Ministry of Education. The Lycée provides a challenging educational environment for its international student body. Our students become multi-lingual world citizens taking them to international destinations for advanced study and careers.
All classes are taught in French, except for English courses in American literature, American history, U.S. math and ESL. Extracurricular activities, theater arts, sports, and music balance the academic workload.
Preparation of the rigorous French Baccalauréat examination, but also PSAT, SAT and AP exams. All graduates are very well prepared to enter both European and the best American universities.
330 Golden Hind Passage 415.661.5232
The Marin School
PERSONALIZED EDUCATION AT ITS BEST.
The Marin School attracts smart kids who want something different in their education. We honor each student’s unique learning style and act in accordance with an unshakeable belief in the potential of each and every student.
The Marin School Faculty is made up of passionate, skilled, motivated teachers who love what they do. They wholeheartedly believe in each student’s unique potential and are equipped with the talent, tools, skill and enthusiasm to meet the needs of multiple learning styles.
Small class sizes naturally encourage more one-to-one teaching, experiential learning, innovative lessons and nontraditional, yet effective, learning opportunities. We offer a challenging, thought-provoking curriculum that effectively prepares graduates for college and life beyond.
100 Ebbtide Avenue #300 415.339.9336 Sausalito, CA themarinschool.org
Drew School
SINCE 1908
For over 100 years, Drew School has served the Bay Area as a co-educational college preparatory school, grades 9 through 12. Our 250 students follow a rigorous academic curriculum that exceeds UC requirements. Accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, our program is strengthened by a variety of electives, honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Drew’s student to fulltime faculty ratio is eight to one and our academic program is enhanced by our athletic and arts programs. Our awardwinning facility, built in 2001, is located on Broderick at California Street in San Francisco. Our new theater building will include a living roof and vertical garden. Bus service is available from Marin.
Ring Mountain Day School
EDUCATION TO LAST A LIFETIME
Ring Mountain has developed an experiential learning community, built on the progressive philosophies of John Dewey and Edward Harkness. As you walk the halls of Ring Mountain Day School, it quickly becomes apparent that things are done differently here. There are no separate playgrounds or meal areas restricting one age group from another. RMDS students coexist without boundaries. Here is a child-centered approach that enhances a deeper sense of self worth and fosters a life-long passion for learning.
Intelligent, passionate, supportive teachers mentor students as they develop their analytical and creative voice around an oval rug in kindergarten, at a project table in an elementary classroom, or sitting around one of our 12-student Harkness Tables for middle school–aged children.
We are a community of learners—parents, students and teachers—drawn together by the same mission: our children.
70 Lomita Drive
415.381.8183 Mill Valley, CA ringmountain.org
Mount Tamalpais School
Founded in 1976 by Kathleen M. Mecca, Ph.D, Ed.D, Mount Tamalpais School is an independent, non-profit, coeducational day school serving students in grades K-8. The spacious Mill Valley campus includes a sports field, playground, cypress grove, organic garden, computer lab, art studio, library, gymnasium, performing arts studios and theatre, tutorial rooms, science laboratories, and an observatory.
The school’s program has been designed to encourage the development of the whole child, with an emphasis on strong academic preparation, personal growth, social skills, values and problem solving capabilities, with attention to individual strengths and diversity. The departmentalized curriculum focuses on concepts and research skills, and permits each teacher to use a variety of methods and materials to strengthen individual learning. Small group instruction maximizes the potential of each child and fosters respect for each student’s interests and abilities.
Greenwood School
AN INDEPENDENT PRESCHOOL AND K THROUGH 8TH COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF MILL VALLEY EMPHASIZING EDUCATION OF THE WHOLE PERSON.
Greenwood School offers a rich, innovative, Waldorf-inspired curriculum that includes one day a week outdoors in nature’s classroom. Our Waldorf-trained teachers are committed to academic excellence and to addressing the emotional, intellectual, and physical needs and capabilities of children at each stage of their development. Students emerge from their years at Greenwood prepared, aware of their own capabilities, happy, and fully engaged with the world in which they live.
Come see us. Call to schedule a tour.
17 Buena Vista Avenue 415.388.0495 Mill Valley, CA greenwoodschool.org
Sonoma Academy
A 21ST CENTURY, COLLEGE PREPARATORY EDUCATION
Founded in 2001, Sonoma Academy (SA) has achieved an exemplary position among Bay Area schools in ten short years. Drawing from five surrounding counties, SA attracts students and families seeking a rigorous collegepreparatory education with a 21st century perspective. Along with high-level subject material, students learn critical skills like collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving and use of digital technology and media.
Having students be creative, cross-culturally aware, engaged in their communities, and able to become leaders in a changing world are goals of the school’s mission that are manifest today throughout SA’s program and culture. Half of SA students participate in the school’s awardwinning travel/service program, and students can pursue a “concentration” (like a college minor) in environmental leadership or global citizenship. Tuition is “flex,” and based on family means.
Marin Catholic
FAITH. KNOWLEDGE. SERVICE.
Our mission is more than just preparing your son or daughter for college. At Marin Catholic, we work with you to continue the development of your son or daughter to become leaders in our community and in life. Upon graduation, the Class of 2010 contributed a combined total of 29,314 hours of Christian service to the Bay Area.
Whether it’s working in the kitchen at St. Anthony’s in San Francisco or building homes in Guatemala with Habitat for Humanity, our Christian service projects take us from our local community to those around the world.
We don’t just talk about making a difference our students make the difference. Experience what sets us apart. Experience Marin Catholic.
Faith. Knowledge. Service. It’s more than a mission, it’s a way of life.
San Domenico School
TODAY’S STUDENTS — TOMORROW’S LEADERS
Set among 500 acres in Marin County, the beauty and calm of San Domenico’s campus helps your student concentrate and delve deeply into his or her emerging academic interests. Our school buildings occupy distinct areas of campus, but are only a courtyard’s walk away from each other.
Heritage:
Founded in 1850, San Domenico holds the distinction of being California’s oldest independent school. Our Dominican Catholic heritage continues today as evidenced by the spirit of tolerance, mutual respect, compassion, and global awareness that permeates every aspect of our culture.
Philosophy:
Surround students with dedicated teachers and ethical mentors, treat them with respect and compassion, and before you know it, they’ll take offtrying new activities, discovering new interests, excelling in subjects never considered.
Experience:
During their years at San Domenico, students will have competed as Mathletes (San Domenico boasts one of the largest clubs in the county), served dinner at homeless shelters, shared cultural rituals, researched local history, rebuilt their watershed, excelled at musical instruments (we’ve been named best high school orchestra in the nation, three times!),
won volleyball games, mentored a younger student, challenged themselves on wilderness trips, learned new languages, investigated scientific theories, painted and sculpted, helped each other revise personal essays, cheered for each other at basketball games, and developed deep friendships.
And now they’re ready. For everything that’s next.
San Domenico School offers a day school program for boys and girls, pre-kindergarten through grade 8, and an all girls day and boarding program in the high school.
1500 Butterfield Road 415.258.1900
San Anselmo, CA sandomenico.org
preparing for the “shadow day”
Choosing the right private program is only half the battle. The second hurdle is getting the school to choose you. The school will base its admission decision on a number of factors, including teacher recommendations, tests scores and, sometimes, an application essay. However, administrators recognize that what looks like a good fit on paper might not be so ideal in real life. That’s why many schools require prospective pupils to come in for a “test” day at the school, commonly referred to as a shadow day. In addition, teens applying to high school will be asked in for an on-site interview. We asked private school education experts for their best advice on how to make sure these later steps in the application process go smoothly. Here’s what we learned:
A shadow day is not like a job interview. Transparency is key.
1
Don’t coach your child to do or say certain things to impress the staff. A shadow day is not like a job interview. Transparency is key. If the teachers don’t get a true sense of the child’s disposition, they won’t know how the child will fare in the classroom. “We are not necessarily looking for the kid with the strongest academic record,” says Donna Fanfelle, admissions co-director for Marin Primary and Middle School in Larkspur. “Some of the greatest kids are somewhat complicated and have an uneven developmental profile. We just want to make sure the child’s personality will ‘mesh’ in the classroom.”
2
Your child will feel more comfortable if he blends in with the other students. And dressing the part will help. So if, for example, the school requires kids to wear a uniform, you should encourage your child to wear clothing of the same color.
3
For a timid child, the idea of spending an entire day with a roomful of strangers can be overwhelming. If you think
a full day of “shadowing” may be too much for your child, talk to the admissions director about other options. “We understand that it’s a hard thing to do, so we’re flexible,” says Fanfelle. “If you think your child would do better coming for two half-days, we can work with you.”
4
Explain to your child that the main objective of the day is to observe and absorb. It’s important the child understand that no one expects that she have all the answers in class. The staff recognizes that different schools teach different curricular units at different times.
5
Make sure you allow at least a week between each school visit. Even for the most outgoing children, spending the day at an unfamiliar school can be stressful. If you schedule these visits too close together, your child may not always feel at the top of his game. Spacing them apart also helps make sure he doesn’t fall behind in studies at his current school. —D.M.
the special needs child
Dash Seerly has dyslexia and ADD, as well as some social cognition deficits. These learning issues made life in the public schools an absolute nightmare. “He was reading at a thirdgrade level in sixth grade, and being bullied constantly,” recalls his mother, Holly Seerly. “By seventh grade his self-esteem was in tatters. He was so anxious that he stopped eating and lost 20 percent of his body weight. His doctors were going to hospitalize him, thinking he was anorexic,” she adds. “Before taking that step, I told his doctor I was going to try taking him out of school for a week and see what happened.”
Sure enough, Dash started eating again. Within a week, he’d gained three pounds. Though Seerly wasn’t in a financial position to afford private school, she came to the sobering realization that she could no longer afford not to send him. So she cashed in her retirement fund and enrolled her son at the Star Academy in San Rafael, a private school that offers in-
tensive, individualized academic programs for students with multiple learning differences.
The maneuver proved life-changing. “Within a week of starting, he stopped complaining about having to go to school,” Seerly says. “He used to beg me to let him drop out or at least home-school him.” Over the next several years, Dash
made considerable progress, both socially and academically. When he reached his junior year in high school, he felt ready to re-matriculate into the public school system.
The decision to put a child in a special-needs school isn’t always easy. For some, like Seerly, it’s a question of finances. For others, it’s about grieving and then accepting that a child has needs that can’t be met in a school for typically developing children.
“I just wish I’d have switched him sooner.”
“Parents need to get to the point where they accept that their child may not have the same school experience as they had, and that that’s OK,” says Roberta Havens, admissions director and high school adviser for the Laurel School in San Francisco, which has a program allowing students with learning differences to work at their own pace. “A lot of our families need to circle the block a few times before they come to peace with the decision.”
So, finances and emotions aside, how do you know when to make the move? After all, the public schools are obligated by law to provide services for children with ADD and other learning issues. At what point do you conclude the programs at your school won’t cut it? A number of red flags might point the way.
Certainly, the most important consideration is your child’s self-esteem. “Children with learning differences figure out very quickly that they are different from their peers, and if they come to believe these differences mean they are stupid, it can have devastating effects,” Havens says. Of course, such kids may not come out and tell you they’re feeling inadequate; more than likely they’ll show it by acting out.
“They may become a behavior problem in the classroom, or simply make poor social choices in a misguided effort to fit in,” Havens says. Other children may develop physical symptoms such as headaches and stomachaches. If getting your child to go to school each day has become a monumental chore, it’s likely the program is just too taxing. Or, some kids “may hold it together fine at school, but after returning home they just plain lose it,” Havens notes. Another sign of trouble: standardized test scores that are totally out of sync with your child’s in-class performance. The child may do well in class, but bomb on the tests — or vice versa.
While looking into special-needs learning can require some soulsearching, if you do decide that’s best for your child, the benefits can be immeasurable. They were for Holly Seerly’s son, who graduated from Tam High this past June with a 3.8 grade point average. Her only regret: “I just wish I’d have switched him sooner.” —D.M.
The Bay Area has numerous school choices for special needs children that deal with both learning and emotional issues. Listed below are several alternative schools in Marin County and San Francisco. To learn more about these schools visit their websites.
The Laurel School | thelaurelschool.com, 415.752.3567. K–8 grade, coed, ADD, ADHD, dyslexia
Timothy Murphy School | timothymurphyschool.org 415.499.7616. 7–18 years old, boys, SLD, SED
Sunny Hills Services | sunnyhillsservices.org 415.457.3200. K–12 grade, coed, serves students with severe emotional and behavioral challenges
the tuition factor
SCHOLARSHIPS CAN HELP EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN
In today’s economic climate, a private school education may seem more out of reach than ever. But that’s not necessarily the case. Despite the stereotype of elitism and privilege, private school administrators have come to recognize the benefits of a diverse student body. That’s why nearly all Bay Area private schools offer scholarships as a way to attract pupils whose parents aren’t real estate moguls or Fortune 500 CEOs.
“Financial aid is a tool we use to build the strongest possible class,” says Phil Gutierrez, director of admission at the Branson School in Ross. “Each year about 20 percent of our students receive financial aid that typically covers around 70 percent of tuition costs.”
Just how much money is set aside for aid and exactly which candidates receive it can be a complicated equation. But to try and make sure they’re awarding the dollars on a logical and fair basis, schools strive to keep admissions separate from the aid process. “We try to keep the application process ‘need blind,’” says Donna Fanfelle, admissions director for Marin Primary and Middle School. “We accept the children first and then decide whether or not they qualify for financial aid.”
To make such funding as objective as possible, Marin Primary and many other Bay Area schools channel all requests for financial aid through a nonprofit called School & Student Services (SSS). The organization, which helps schools assess these requests, receives about 140,000 applications a year from 2,200 private schools. Families submit their financial particulars to SSS, filling out a form on its website with information similar to what you’d declare on a tax return. SSS then runs the data through its proprietary software system and sends a report to the schools where the family has applied.
“Financial aid is a tool we use to build the strongest possible class,” says Phil Gutierrez, director of admission at the Branson School in Ross.
If you were hoping to get a full ride, well, that’s a little harder to come by; most schools require families to pay at least some portion of the tuition themselves. But a number of local organizations do award additional scholarship money. “We are currently supporting 5,000 students at 300 Bay Area schools,” says Rachel Elginsmith, executive director of the Basic Fund, a privately funded program seeking to help low-income families afford the cost of Bay Area private schools.
Other scenarios exist: for example, some schools offer children of staff members a full or partial tuition break. If a job change for you isn’t realistic right now, you might offer professional services in exchange for a discount. And if you’ve been squirreling away a college fund, consider the fact that financial aid is easier to come by at the university level, and grants and scholarships more plentiful, so dipping into that kitty is at least worth a thought. —D.M.
MARIN
SCHOOL
Brandeis Hillel Day School bhds.org, 415.472.1833
Cascade Elementary School cascadecanyon.org, 415.459.3464
Dunham Academy giftedschool.org, 415.491.4700
Good Shepherd Lutheran School goodshepherdlutheran.org, 415.897.2510
Greenwood School greenwoodschool.org, 415.388.0495
Lycee Francais International School lelycee.org, 415.924.1737
Marin Academy ma.org, 415.453.4550
Marin Catholic High School marincatholic.org, 415.464.3800
Marin Christian Academy visitmca.org, 415.892.5713
GRADES / GENDERINFO / AFFILIATION
Marin Country Day School mcds.org, 415.927.5900 K–8,
Marin Horizon School marinhorizon.org, 415.388.8408
Summerfield Waldorf School and Farm summerfieldws.org, 707.575.7194
The Healdsburg School thehealdsburgschool.org, 707.433.4847
The Presentation School Presentationschool.com, 707.935.0122
Ursuline High School ursulinehs.org, 707.524.1130
Willow Spring School willowspringschool.com, 707.823.1705
Windsor Christian Academy windsorchristianacademy.com, 707.838.3757
NAPA
Blue Oak School blueoakschool.org, 707.261.4500
Calvary Baptist Christian Academy cbcac.org, 707.642.1142
First Christian School firstchristianschool.schools.officelive.com, 707.253.7226
Foothills Adventist School foothillselementary.adventistfaith.org, 707.963.3546
Justin Siena High School justin-siena.org, 707.255.0950
Kolbe Academy Home School kolbe.org, 707.255.6499
Kolbe Academy and Trinity Prep School kolbetrinity.org, 707.258.9030
Napa Christian Campus of Education napachristian.com, 707.255.5233
Pacific Union College Elementary School pucelementary.org, 707.965.2459
Pacific Union College Preparatory School pucPrep.org, 707.965.7272 9–12, COEDPrivate13:1$8,000
SCHOOL GRADES / GENDERINFO / AFFILIATION
Pacific Union College Preparatory School pucPrep.org, 707.965.7272
St. Apollinaris School stapollinaris.com, 707.224.6525
St. Helena Catholic School sthelenacatholicschool.org, 707.963.4677
St. Helena Montessori School sthms.org, 707.963.1527
9–12, COEDPrivate13:1$8,000
K–8, COEDCatholic24:1$4,800-$6,000NCEA, WASC
COEDCatholic15:1$5,200
Pre K–9, COEDMontessori9:1$6,000-$13,500AMI
St. John’s Lutheran School stjohnslutheran.net, 707.226.7970 Pre K–8, COEDChristian7:1 (varies)$5,800
St. John’s School school.stjohnscatholic.org, 707.224.8388 K–8, COEDCatholic30:1$4,870-$5,560 NCEA,
Sunrise Montessori of Napa Valley sunrisemontessorinapa.com, 707.253.1105 Pre K–6, COEDMontessori7:1$3,150-$9,700AMS
The Oxbow School oxbowschool.org, 707.255.6000 11–12 & Post Grad, COED Academic and Visual Arts, Boarding 6:1$20,300/semester
The Young School theyoungschool.org, 707.967.9909 1–6, COEDPrivate12:1$7,500 AMS
Accreditations and Memberships
AACS | American Association of Christian Schools
ACSI | Association of Christian Schools International
AMS | American Montessori Society
AMI | Association Montessori Internationale
AWSNA | Association of Waldorf Schools of North America
CAIS | California Association of Independent Schools
CITA | Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation
ELEA | Evangelical Lutheran Education Association
FCE | Friends Council on Education
GCSDAC | General Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church
JSEA | Jesuit Secondary Education Association
NADSDA | North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist
NAIS | National Association of Independent Schools
NAPCIS | National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools
NCEA | National Catholic Educational Association
NCSA | National Christian School Association
NLSA | National Lutheran School Accreditation
SACS CASI | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement
WASC | Western Association of Schools and Colleges
WCEA | Western Catholic Educational Association
Get Naked Mill Valley’s Diana Stobo makes it easy to love your birthday suit
We’ve all heard it: the best diet is, raw, raw, raw! A raw diet will reportedly make us healthier and (equally important) more beautiful. Sounds good, until lunchtime when that burger beckons. Mill Valley’s Diana Stobo, however, has created an easy way to integrate this uncooked cuisine into our lives.
It wasn’t until Stobo, who had a background in food science and catering, tipped the scales at 250 pounds as a mother of twin toddlers that she chose to look at food differently. After nearly 15 years of studying the nutritional value of various foods, she discovered what she describes as the “magical world of raw/live food” and hasn’t looked back. Stobo offers demos and cooking classes (see the schedule on her website, dianastobo.com) and has written a recipe book called Get Naked Fast! A Guide to Stripping Away the Foods That Weigh You Down (Bree Noa Publishing, 2010).
What convinced you to begin helping people make dietary changes? My struggles with food and health led me to be a teacher for those who weren’t as in touch with their physical bodies. My girlfriends always refer to me as a “transformational coach,” because anybody I befriend seems to make drastic changes that lead them toward better health, greater beauty and an overall happier life.
Do you have an office? No. I present at various events and venues— the Tyler Florence Shop, Bay Club Marin, Whole Foods Markets, Good Earth Natural Foods and Lululemon, to name a few. But my office is my kitchen, where I play and discover easy ways to make healthy foods that meet the standards of a discerning palate. For me, to sauté, steam, braise or barbecue, all (done) with the love of butters, creams, and oils, is (still) easy and (the results) delicious. But to (come up with) a healthier version of the most delicious thing you have ever had takes a bit more creativity. I am constantly striving for that. I am constantly in the process of developing recipes for my upcoming books. So many ideas, so little time!
Get Naked Fast—great title. What was the inspiration? Naked is a term I use instead of raw, because raw can be scary and limiting. Say the word vegan and watch people cringe. Talk “naked” and eyes widen with curiosity. I created
“naked nourishment”—delicious foods that have none of the ingredients that can cause you bodily harm.
This book started as a 14-page pamphlet to give out at my presentations for those who wanted to get started right away. That is why there is a grocery list and pantry makeover in the book. Another of my books, still in progress, is My Body Naked , based on my experiences in life, my transformation and the psychology behind food
and love, (which) added to the double meaning of “naked.” I found myself in my writing referring to the ideal of feeling comfortable with “my body naked.” This notion rung in my ears over and over again; isn’t that what everybody wants to feel?
Are you working on yet another book? My next book is going to (involve) pairing with the makers of Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss nondairy ice cream (made with coconut milk and agave) to create delicious “healthy” milk shakes that can be eaten like a meal. This is great for people who would rather have dessert above all foods. It will be called “Naked Bliss, Naughty and Nutritious, Just How We Like It!”—or something like that.
Should we really opt for the raw almond instead of the roasted one? Why? Absolutely. Always eat your nuts raw! Imagine a raw nut planted in the ground: with moisture, it begins to sprout and grow and turn into a beautiful blossoming tree. Now imagine a roasted nut planted in the ground. Water it all you want, there is no life; it is but a buried corpse. If we truly are what we eat, then placing live food into our bodies will regenerate and enliven us.
What are some easy “raw” options people can incorporate into their lives? It’s funny you ask that, because “raw” is uncooked and unprocessed food, (and) what could be easier than grabbing fresh fruit or greens? The most important thing I can tell anyone, at any time, is “have a green juice.” We are so conditioned to think our food should be complicated, so we have turned to complicated foods made quick and easy, called “fast food,” and there is absolutely no nutritional value in that.
At stores like Whole Foods, the label on the sushi says “raw,” but the rice is cooked. Is rice okay in a raw food diet? On a “naked” diet it is. On a raw/vegan diet, it is not. But let’s look at that lovely and delicious sushi roll for a moment. Nori is a highly nutritious sea vegetable, but most nori is toasted, so it no longer carries
S ANDRA B IRD D ESIGNS
the same nutrients as sun-dried nori (available in markets). The white rice is high in gluten and is basically a mini carb-bomb that could create a glue-like reaction in your digestion. And do we really know the origins of the “raw” fish, where it came from? Raw fish is known for its high parasite level. I‘m not saying don’t eat it; I’m just saying be aware of what you’re eating. Only then will we be able to create balance in our lives.
You say a raw food diet is alkalizing. Why is this good? Alkalizing our body is good because disease cannot grow in an alkaline environment. Our bodies are naturally striving for health every day, and if we aid it by placing highly alkalizing foods in our system to counterbalance the highly acidic lifestyles we have created, we are again creating balance. Alkalizing the body promotes healing, reducing pain, disease and discomfort. Raw/live foods enable pure health and beauty on a cellular level, naturally reducing excess weight and turning back the hands of time. A pH-balanced body is a happy one!
What percentage of your diet is raw? I have played with so many degrees of living raw and find that I am most content at the 80 percent stage. It is very easy to live 100 percent raw in the summer, but during the colder months, soups and warm grains make me happy.
What would you suggest for someone who can’t give up the pasta and steak—would a 50-50 diet still help? Or does the pasta and steak negate any good done with a raw diet? I love this question, because it is real. Yes, absolutely, if you love your pasta and steak, eat it, love it and it will love you right back. Any form of live food you place in your body will do your body good. Try eating “raw” until dinner time. Eventually, you will find that the pasta and steak, while still tasting good, doesn’t feel so good. Your body will let you know what it wants.
Raw Marinated Mushroom Steaks with Rosemary Mashed Cauliflower
This is a true raw meal, and the mashed cauliflower is going to blow your mind with its rich and creamy taste. Don’t be alarmed if you can’t eat it all —on a raw diet, your body needs less food.
Raw Marinated Mushroom Steaks
4 portobello mushrooms, washed, stem and gills removed 1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon ume (plum) vinegar
1 teaspoon nama shoyu (raw, unpasteurized soy sauce)
1/2 teaspoon garlic, freshly grated
Directions: Fold ingredients together in a bowl or resealable plastic bag. Let marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes, tossing and basting every few minutes. Reserve extra marinade for serving. Mashed Cauliflower
1 head cauliflower, chopped or broken 1/2 cup macadamia nut butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced 1/2 teaspoon garlic, peeled and grated 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
4 sprigs rosemary for garnish (optional)
directions: Lightly steam cauliflower, or blanch in hot water for 3 to 5 minutes. Drain and place in food processor fitted with an S-blade. Process the cauliflower until it is grainy or reaches the texture of rice. Add macadamia butter, olive oil, herbs and spices, and process until mixture is light and fluffy, scraping sides frequently. This could take up to 5 minutes for the desired consistency.
to serve: Mound Rosemary Mashed Cauliflower onto serving plate, lay portobello steak over top and drizzle with reserved marinade. Garnish each serving with a fresh sprig of rosemary. If you would prefer a cooked version of this recipe, gently grill the mushroom steaks. Makes 4 servings. Prep time: 30 minutes.
BLUESTONE MAIN
DINE OUT
ONE-NIGHT ONLY TABLE TO GET
Just in time for the weather to warm up, on September 7, Sausalito resident and celebrity chef Mourad Lahlou is teaming up with Joshua Skenes, one of San Francisco’s most talked-about chefs, for a collaborative “fire dinner” at Saison. The eight-course meal will be cooked in the outdoor hearth on Saison’s terrace with an optional rare wine pairing by sommelier Mark Bright. Skenes and Lahlou may alternate cooking the courses, and some dishes may fuse the ideas of both chefs. For reservations, call 415.828.7990 or visit saisonsf.com
CORTE MADERA
BRICK & BOTTLE California Sourcing local and artisan ingredients, executive chef Scott Howard brings simple California cuisine to Corte Madera’s Brick & Bottle, opened May 2010. With a cheerful vibe that resonates in the restaurant’s comfortable design, Brick & Bottle features a large bar area, beautiful outdoor patio and family-friendly dining. 55 Tamal Vista Blvd, 415.9243366, brickandbottle.com
PACIFIC CATCH Pan-Asian This well-priced fresh grill eatery offers a bounty of Pacific Rim —inspired small or main plates, like the generously portioned wasabi bowls filled with rice (white or brown), veggies and your choice of cooked or raw fish, chicken or beef. Modeled after the Paia Fish House on Maui down to the chalk board menu and Hawaiian music. Easy place to bring kids. 223 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.3474, pacificcatch.com
RICK’S WINE CELLAR California This one-room bar and wine shop is located in the same spot where Marin’s first wine bar opened back in 1988. Now it’s owned and operated by Marin natives Rick and Candy Mendell, whose customers call it the “Cheers of Corte Madera.” Offerings include a glass, a flight or a bottle, all of which pair nicely with the cheeses, salami and hot paninis. 207 Corte Madera Ave, 415.927.9466, rickswinecellar.com
FAIRFAX
CHAD’S GARDEN & GRILL CAFE Italian Pop in for a fennel-apple-and-walnut salad on the deck or one of the savory paninis or wraps. Menu includes lots of healthy vegetarian selections. 85 Bolinas Rd, 415.454.7864, chadscafe.com
IRON SPRINGS PUB & BREWERY American Grab a beer and a grilled portobello mushroom sandwich—which one Chronicle reviewer calls “the best mushroom dish I have ever tasted” —at the former Ross Valley Brewing Company. 765-A Center Blvd, 415.485.1005, ironspringspub.com
SORELLA CAFFÉ Italian Open for over six years, and run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella, which means “sisters” serves up fresh Italian food with a northern influence. Customer favorites include cioppino, butternut ravioli, and eggplant parmesan. Another highlight is the giant wheel of Grana Padana cheese, which is passed around the tables. Easy place to bring the kids. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520, sorellacaffe.com
GREENBRAE
JASON’S Italian The restaurant’s Greenbrae location (it was formerly on Andersen Drive in San Rafael) fills the space that was formerly Giorgio’s. A crowd of regulars enjoys creative seafood dishes with Italian flair. Enjoy the ceviche, crab cakes or blackened salmon on the large outdoor covered patio. 300 Drakes Landing Rd, 415.925.0808, jasonsrestaurant.com
WIPEOUT BAR & GRILL American Who says you can’t go back to being a carefree teenager for a night? This family-friendly hot spot has surfboards hanging from the ceiling, fun-in-the-sun music, a full bar and large televisions displaying surfers riding waves. The only thing missing is the sand at this surf-style, upbeat eatery. 302 Bon Air Center, 415.461.7400, wipeoutbarandgrill.com
KENTFIELD
HALF DAY CAFE American A tucked-away setting of intertwining ivy and large open windows makes the perfect breakfast nook. This family run gem serves breakfast, brunch and lunch, the setting is casual and can get crowded on the weekends. The menu includes lattes, exceptional pastries and much more. Dine on the outdoor patio or inside. 848 College Ave, 415.459.0291, halfdaycafe.com
LARKSPUR
TABLE CAFÉ Indian/American Indian-inspired cafe offers a unique menu featuring entirely organic ingredients. Dishes include seasonal salads, incredible soups and fresh juices. The specialty of the house is dosa, filled with a variety of ingredients and served with savory homemade chutneys. You can also take home a choice of three or four gourmet dinners freshly packed daily. 1167 Magnolia Ave, 415.461.6787
TAVERN AT LARK CREEK American The next chapter in the 1888 Victorian Murphy House is being written by chef Randy Lewis and culinary director Adrian Hoffman. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7766, tavernatlarkcreek.com
YANKEE PIER American This family-friendly casual clam shack is harbored in a quaint house built in 1924 as a private residence. Though known for beer-battered fish ‘n’ chips, clam chowder and tasty salads, Yankee Pier serves fresh seafood delivered daily from both coasts with special dishes by chef Chris Ball. 286 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7676, yankeepier.com
MILL VALLEY
BEERWORKS BREWERY AND BEER CAFE
American With a beverage menu of handcrafted beers made on site, imported and local microbrews and housemade kombucha and rootbeer, this Mill Valley brewery is set to keep the local palate satiated. Don’t miss the small beer hall selection of pretzels, salumis and cheeses. 173 Throckmorton Ave, 415.336.3596, millvalleybeerworks.com
BUNGALOW 44 American Much like sister restaurant Buckeye Roadhouse, Bungalow 44 offers a mean dose of homey carbo- and lipidladen dishes, such as the burger, fried chicken and truffle fries, as well as a few lighter items. The bar is a neighborhood favorite, known for tasty spirits and eye candy. 44 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500, bungalow44.com
DISH California Sit inside or out at this hip casual eatery on Miller Avenue. The result of a vision of Mill Valley locals including Peter Schumacher and Mike House, DISH was created as an all-day gathering spot serving healthy, organic food and drinks. Start the morning with a cappuccino, or stop in after midday yoga for a salad or sandwich and end the day with a glass of wine (free corkage) on the outdoor patio watching the sunset behind Mount Tamalpais. 507 Miller, 415.388.3013, dishmillvalley.com
PIATTI RISTORANTE AND BAR Italian The staff prides itself on capturing the warm and welcoming atmosphere of a traditional Italian trattoria. Try for a table at the window for a truly exceptional view right on the water. Take a peek at the impressive collection of Italian wines to go with your rustic seasonal Italian meal. 625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525, piatti.com
SMALL SHED FLATBREADS California As a slow food chef, Ged Robertson uses only local, mostly organic ingredients. Crowd favorites include the mt. tamal-pie, a delicious fresh salad atop a flatbread. 17 Madrona St, 415.383.4200, smallshed.com
THEP LELA Thai This popular eat-in or take out (enjoy a cocktail at the bar while you wait) spot is tucked away in the back of the new Strawberry Village. Diners come for the tasty kee mao noodles, pad thai, fresh rolls and extensive
bar menu. It’s also a great place for lunch. 615 Strawberry Village, 415.383.3444, theplela.com
TONY TUTTO PIZZA Italian Tony has been pouring his passion for pizza into his cooking for two decades and is now sharing his family recipes: “It’s all about excellence in pizza, sprinkled with musical flavors and kissed with colorful passion. We feature creative artisan-style pizza using the best imported, natural and local organic ingredients.” Mostly outdoor seating, so dress accordingly. Stop by or take out. 246 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.383.8646, tonytuttopizza.com
TSUKIJI SUSHI Japanese Named for the largest fish market in world, Tsukiji is owned by Roy and Chanel Liu. The couple earned their sushi stripes operating Morpho in San Francisco and Akira in San Rafael. Helping them behind the sushi bar is former Sushi Ran head sushi chef Haruo Komatsu. The Tokyo Tsukiji fish market is where all the fish is sourced. 24 Sunnyside Ave., 415.383.1382.
VASCO Italian Whether you’re at a table, the bar or the back counter, you can expect an intimate and tasty dining experience at this one-room trattoria. 106 Throckmorton Ave, 415.381.3343
NOVATO
BOCA STEAK & SEAFOOD South American
Bring a date or celebrate a special event at this classic steakhouse, which celebrates chef George Morrone’s (Aqua, Fifth Floor) Argentinean heritage. The grass- and grain- fed steaks are cooked over oak and almond. 340 Ignacio Blvd, 415.883.0901, bocasteak.com
EXTREME PIZZA American Pizza by the slice or pie. Come up with your own creation or choose one of the restaurant’s favorites like the Mr. Pestato Head: homemade pesto sauce, potatoes, red onions, feta, fresh basil and mozzarella. 104 Vintage Way, 415.898.6575, extremepizza.com
GRAZIE Italian Locals love this family-owned and -run Grant Avenue restaurant for delicious paninis, salads and the unbeatable homemade cookies. Enjoy good weather on the outside patio or people watch in this always-bustling restaurant. 823 Grant Ave, Ste E, 415.878.0202
JENNIE LOW’S CHINESE CUISINE Chinese Traditional dishes including Cantonese, Mandarin, Szechuan and Hunan delicacies. If you don’t see your favorite dish, let the restaurant know, whenever possible, they’re happy to try and prepare new items not on the menu. 120 Vintage Way, 415.892.8838, jennielow.com
TUSCANY COUNTRY GRILL Italian The Chicken Pesto Panini and Eggplant Parmigiano are among many of the favorites at this charming and spacious Italian eatery. The menu is eclectic, prices are fair and the portions are enormous, so be prepared for leftovers throughout the week. It brings in a bit of traffic during lunchtime so make reservations or arrive early. 1516 Grant Ave, 415. 998.2800
You, Younger for Fall
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Legs: fade away unsightly veins.
Unwanted Hair: whisk it away, long term. shine beam glow scintillate call. All treatments by MD. No charge consult.
www.newskinclinic.com
The Bay Area’s premier cosmetic medical clinic specializes exclusively in correcting age and sun-damaged skin. Treatments include Botox, Dysport and dermal fillers. 415.945.9555.
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PHOTO BY TRINA TURK
CAFE ON THE COMMON French A quaint oneroom coffeehouse centrally situated near Ross Common. Get there early for the full selection of pastries to enjoy with fresh-squeezed orange juice. 22 Ross Common, 415.461.2205
MARCHÉ AUX FLEURS French This gem of a restaurant serves up locally farmed produce, wild and fresh seafood and free-range meats prepared with an artisan’s touch. The wine and beer list is extensive. 23 Ross Common, 415.925.9200, marcheauxfleursrestaurant.com
TRATTORIA FRESCO Italian Every neighborhood deserves a one-room trattoria like this one. The service is friendly and the farmers’-market-fresh food is fabulous—especially the gnocchi. 13 Ross Common, 415.464.0915, frescotrattoria.com
SAN ANSELMO
COMFORTS Cafe This cozy spot features local ingredients and serves breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. Be sure to try the Philly cheesesteak and Chinese chicken salad, both classics. 335 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.9840, comfortscafe.com
CUCINA RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR Italian Proprietors Donna and Jack Krietzman (of Pacific Heights’ Jackson Fillmore) has brought Milan to Marin with his 42-seat family restaurant. Relax with a glass of wine and have a slice from the to-die-for thin pizzas, topped with items like truffle oil and fontina cheese. 510 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.2942, cucinarestaurantandwinebar.com
DREAM FARM California As the website claims, a taste of rural Marin in downtown San Anselmo, showcasing the bounty of our area’s awardwinning farms, dairies, and fisheries. Best yet is the price point: dishes range from under $6 to nothing over $20. 198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.453.9898, dreamfarmmarin.com
INSALATA’S Mediterranean Award-winning chef Heidi Insalata Krahling offers Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes prepared with local organic produce and artisan meats. 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.457.7700, insalatas.com
L’APPART RESTO French It’s the second (and highly anticipated) Marin restaurant for the team behind Le Garage Bistro. In the former AVA spot, owners Bruno Denis and Olivier Souvestre have created a menu most Francophiles would be proud of, complete with items like smoked herring, bone marrow and cassoulet de legumes. 636 San Anselmo Ave, 415.256.9884, lappartresto.com
LOCOCO’S PIZZERIA Italian Worth driving to from all over Marin, and it’s an easy place to meet up with friends. The pizza crust is divine as is the house salad. Good spot to come with the entire family. Closed Mondays. 638 San Anselmo Ave, 415.453.1238, lococossananselmo.com
MARINITAS Mexican The sister restaurant of Insalata’s, Marinitas continues to flourish as it
brings Latin flair home to Marin. It may not be as cheap as most Mexican restaurants in the area, but this is not your typical south-of-theborder spot. The festive atmosphere and funky decor complement the excellent food for a classy, lively experience. Finish strong with the rich Tres Leches Cake. This place gets packed, so make reservations. 218 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.454.8900, marinitas.net
ORCHID THAI Thai Owners Peggy and Tom Thongnopneua create an inviting atmosphere with their warm smiles and helpful menu suggestions. The fare here has won “Best of Marin” awards many times over. 726 San Anselmo Ave, 415.457.9470, orchidthairestaurant.com
TACO JANE’S Mexican Named after the owner’s mother, this casual but colorful place welcomes the whole family. Don’t miss out on Jane’s handmade agave margarita or griddled plantains with crema. 21 Tamalpais Ave, 415.454.6562, tacojanes.com
SAN GERONIMO
RED TAIL BAR & GRILL California The beautiful views overlooking the San Geronimo Valley redwoods and wildlife will captivate you while you indulge in the new menu featuring West Marin meats, cheeses and produce. 5800 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.488.4030
TWO BIRD CAFÉ California This roadside cafe has it all, including fresh fish and goodies from the garden. These guys were doing local and sustainable even before it was so popular. 625 San Geronimo Valley Dr, 415.488.0105, twobirdcafe.com
SAN RAFAEL
AMICI’S EAST COAST PIZZERIA California
With a bevy of pizza options including gluten-free crust and the new Siciliano, an enticing mix of mozzarella, slow-roasted garlic, sausage, broccoli and crushed red pepper flakes sans the tomato sauce. 1242 Fourth St, 415.455.9777, amicis.com
BOMBAY GARDEN Indian The restaurant offers a large menu of richly flavored Northern and Southern Indian Cuisine. There are often Bollywood movies or videos playing on a flat-screen TV to add a little entertainment to the meal. 909 Fourth St, 415.459.9555, dinebombaygarden.com
CALGANG KITCHEN Owned and operated by the family that used to run Jhan Thong of Northgate food court fame, Calgang Kitchen recently made its debut in the new Northgate shopping center in Terra Linda, much to the joy of its devoted regulars. Now a sit-down restaurant that includes a bar serving organic beers and wines, it’s a place where you can stay and enjoy the stylish décor or step right up to the steam table for delicious take-out in eco-friendly containers. 194 Northgate One 415.499.3501
CAFE GRATITUDE Raw The waiters might push the affirmations theme a bit too much, but the
tasty (and healthy) food is worth it. Besides the knowledge you’re supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture, the raw food and vegan samosas are hard to resist. Best to bring a group and sample lots of items on the menu. 2200 Fourth St, 415.824.4652, withthecurrent.com
CHALET BASQUE French This family-style restaurant serves dishes inspired by the Basque regions of France and Spain, including frog legs in a garlic butter and lemon sauce, a veal calf liver sauté and rack of lamb. On warm Marin night enjoy alfresco dining on the outdoor patio. 405 North San Pedro Rd, 415.479.1070, chaletbasquemarin.com
CREPEVINE American Bistro/Creperie Casual dining, outdoor seating and a diverse menu of savory crepes (such as the Italian crepe filled with roasted peppers, eggplant, onions, artichoke hearts, tomato sauce and mozzarella). Sweet and savory crepes are available all day long, as is breakfast. 908 Fourth St, 415.257.8822, crepevine.com
IL DAVIDE Italian A large selection of both Italian and Californian wines by the glass along with the dolci menu’s tiramisu have kept locals coming back for years. Don’t leave without sampling the limoncello. 901 A St, 415.454.8080, ildavide.net
MIKADO SUSHI This beautifully decorated, family -owned sushi spot has been open for about two years in its Terra Linda location. Serving both raw and cooked dishes, and 20 different choices of sake. Dine in or stay home and get it delivered. 248 Northgate One, 415.446.5543
MULBERRY STREET PIZZERIA Italian Chef Ted Rowe won first place in the Food Network Television Pizza Challenge with his Mushroom Lover’s Pizza—sautéed mushrooms in a creamy garlic sauce atop a fresh pizza crust. Located across from the Smith Ranch Road movie theaters, it’s a great place to grab dinner and a movie. 101 Smith Ranch Rd, 415.472.7272, mulberry-street-pizzeria.com
NAPOLI Italian Napoli Italian is a family owned and run restaurant with a unique craft-beer program. “Our wine list is not priced like the usual restaurant wine list, but at about store retail pricing,” says David Amet, son-in-law of the owner, and wine director, “wine was meant to be enjoyed, shared and consumed, not just praised in the bottle on the wall like a trophy.” So, they keep the prices down and the libations flowing. About 45 wines and 25 beers (including some from Marin) are on the list at any given time. The food (Pizza and Pasta) is the result of taking East Coast style Italian fair and merging it with Marin and the bay area. 869 4th St, 415.459.3315
PANAMA HOTEL RESTAURANT American The tropical garden is a must-dine-at location for people-watching and for taking advantage of San Rafael’s warm weather. The Sunday brunch menu is a hit with kids, who can’t get enough of the Panama Waffle served with bananas, warm chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
4 Bayview St, 415.457.3993, panamahotel.com
SABOR OF SPAIN Spanish Named Best Tapas/ Small Dishes restaurant in Marin by the Pacific Sun in 2006, this Spanish wine bar is a great place for a date or a big party. The gazpacho is world class here and a must-try. 1301 Fourth St, 415.457.8466, saborofspain.com
SAN RAFAEL JOE’S Italian Guido and Theresa Farina are now running this Marin institution, which has been famous for serving up sophisticated yet casual Italian fare since 1947. Great for large parties, the dining room holds 240. The Pacific red snapper meunière and roast sirloin of beef are standouts. 931 Fourth St, 415.456.2425, srjoes.com
SOL FOOD Puerto Rican With south-of-theborder treats like yellow rice, beans, plantains and authentic Puerto Rican dishes, this tiny oneroom eatery on Fourth Street just off Highway 101 can be hard to get into, but worth the wait. 732 Fourth St, and 901 Lincoln Ave, 415.451.4765, solfoodrestaurant.com
THERESA & JOHNNY’S COMFORT FOOD
American Cooking like Mom used to make. Drop by for eggs Benedict, tuna melts, coffee and some of the best milk shakes around. 817 Fourth St, 415.259.0182, theresa-and-johnnys.com
WHIPPER SNAPPER RESTAURANT California
Caribbean Owner and chef Bill Higgins serves reasonably priced and delicious tapas. Save room for delicious fish tacos and yummy chocolate bread pudding. On Sundays they offer $3 glasses of sangria. 1613 Fourth St, 415.256.1818, whipsnap.biz
YET WAH Chinese Named after the founder’s wife (Yet refers to the moon, Wah to brightness), this beloved mainstay offers dim sum daily along with the traditional Chinese menu. Groove to live music in the Kung Fu Lounge 1238 Fourth St, 415.460.9883, yetwahsanrafael.com
SAUSALITO
ANGELINO RESTAURANT Italian Father-andson chefs Pasquale and Alfredo Ancona offer handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti at this authentic Italian restaurant, which has been serving food from the Campania region for the past 24 years. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225, angelinorestaurant.com
ARAWAN THAI RESTAURANT Thai Known for its consistently tasty Thai food and efficient, gracious service. For light fare try the imperial or Siamese rolls (vegetarian), or dig into the delicious pad thai noodles or garlic and pepper prawns. Arawan Thai has been a local favorite for over nine years. 47 Caledonia St, 415.332.0882, arawan.com
CIBO Cafe Husband-and-wife team Alfredo and Tera Ancona offer a menu filled with tarts, croissants, cookies, paninis and soups. Every dish is made from scratch with local and seasonal products. And now Marinites no longer have to drive over the bridge to get famous Blue Bottle coffee. Or opt for homemade organic dark hot
PATRICK
CARNEY
PHOTOGRAPHY
chocolate. Located in the historic brick building at 1201 Bridgeway, 415.331.CIBO. cibosausalito.com
FENG NIAN Chinese Busy at lunch and dinner, this spacious hangout has been a popular spot for wonton soup, potstickers and daily specials for nearly two decades. For an indulgent treat order the Szechwan crispy calamari or honey-glazed walnut prawn. Free delivery. 2650 Bridgeway, 415.331.5300, fengnian.com
FISH Seafood It is all about the fresh fish here. You can dine at one of the picnic tables or purchase fresh fish to cook at home. Casual and bring cash (and lots of it!). 350 Harbor Dr, 415.331.3474, 331fish.com
HORIZONS Seafood/American There isn’t a better place for waterfront deck dining with stunning views of Angel Island, Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline. Horizons is a favorite with locals and visitors. Enjoy lunch, dinner and brunch daily, featuring fresh seafood, salads, sandwiches, pasta and steak. Deck dining, valet parking and docking facilities available. A full bar serves draft beers and specialty cocktails and has an extensive wine selection. 558 Bridgeway, 415.331.3232, horizonssausalito.com
LE GARAGE French Escape the touristy Sausalito spots and grab brunch right on the water at this cherished site. The atmosphere is animated with light French music playing in the background (think Amélie). The Kobe Burger, though not as Parisian as the other menu items, is to die for. Also consider the much-adored croque-monsieur for under $10. Opt for indoor or outdoor seating. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625, legaragebistrosausalito.com
MURRAY CIRCLE American Enjoy the sun on the deck of this Cavallo Point restaurant. Locals say they come back for the fresh seasonal ingredients like wild sturgeon and Wolfe Ranch quail that chef Joseph Humphrey cooks up. 601 Murray Circle, 415.339.4750, cavallopoint.com
PICCOLO TEATRO Italian Translating into “Little Theater” in Italian, Piccolo Teatro used to be a theater before it became the exquisite restaurant it is today. Executive chef Travis Flood spends weeks refining each dish. Customers seem unanimous in finding the food quality, service, and ambience phenomenal. 739 Bridgeway Blvd. 415.332.0739, piccoloteatrodisausalito.com
POGGIO Italian A great place to celebrate a special occasion or simply enjoy a night out. Executive chef Peter McNee cooks up delicious Northern Italian cuisine using fresh and local ingredients, including produce from the nearby Poggio chef garden. 777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771, poggiotratoria.com
SUSHI RAN Japanese Fresh, innovative small plates are just big enough to share, the traditional sushi is melt-in-your-mouth good and the wine, cocktail and sake lists keep the pickiest barfly well satisfied. Even the prices don’t deter the herd of sushi enthusiasts, who line up nightly to partake; reservations required in main room. 107 Caledonia St, 415.332.3620, sushiran.com
WINSHIPS RESTAURANT American The morethan-four-decades-old nautical-themed restaurant is luring locals and tourists with hearty breakfasts and lunch options like tender fried calamari, clam strips, mussels and a giant prawn cocktail. 670 Bridgeway, 415.332.1454, winships.com
TIBURON
CAPRICE California Book the private party room for large groups or just relax in what one Yelp reviewer called “the perfect romantic dinner spot.” Midweek take advantage of the restaurant’s well-priced three-course dinners for less than $25. 2000 Paradise Dr, 415.435.3400, thecaprice.com
GINZA Japanese Whether you simply go for the volcano roll or indulge in the eight-course Omakase meal, the fresh ingredients coupled with the tremendous view of San Francisco keep this place busy, so make reservations or get there early. 41 Main St, 415.789.5123, ginzasushi-tiburon. com
GUAYMAS Mexican Situated right next to the Tiburon ferry terminal on the waterfront. The touch-it-you’re-so-close city views and outdoor seating make it a great place to bring visitors on a warm summer night. Menu includes specialties like puerco macho—pork loin chop with grilled plantain, topped with an ancho chile, garlic and onion sauce. 5 Main St, 415.435.6300, guaymasrestaurant.com
SAM’S ANCHOR CAFE American Everyone knows Sam’s deck is the prime spot for brunch on a lazy sunny Sunday, and its bar is the town’s historic watering hole, but Sam’s is also a great place for lunch or dinner. Enjoy trans-fat-free calamari, fresh fish, seasonal salads and pastas. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527, samscafe.com
SERVINO RISTORANTE Italian With people like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates raving about his pizza, Angelo Servino is doing something right. Some people come for the spacious and popular bar; some people come for the great food and friendly service; the titans of industry, it seems, opt for the pepperoni. Spacious bar, and weekend music is also a big draw. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676, servino.com
TIBURON GRILL California The atmosphere here is truly enchanting with two outdoor patios, two indoor fireplaces, and candlelit tables during the evening. No item is more than $20, including the steak, with entrées falling in the $14 to $18 range. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.5996, thelodgeattiburon.com
WEST MARIN
BLUE HERON INN Local A daily changing chalkboard menu features the fresh seasonal bounty of nearby organic farms. An outstanding staff creates a friendly and comfortable atmosphere, right by the wharf. 11 Wharf Rd, 415.868.1102
NICK’S COVE American This collaboration of famed restaurateurs Pat Kuleto and Mark Franz has attracted visitors (and accolades) nationwide. Large windows open the 130-seat eatery to the picturesque Tomales Bay and Hog Island. Menu consists of the freshest available local seafood, oysters and bounty from nearby West Marin farms, including Bodega Bay Dungeness crab cake and Tomales Bay clam chowder (Marshall). 23240 Hwy 1, 415.663.1033, nickscove.com
OLEMA INN California One of the most charming settings around, this inn and restaurant is a great destination lunch spot for a Sunday drive, or dinner every night. The menu includes imaginative combinations using regional and organic greens, while the bar features a full wine list (Olema). 10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.663.9559, theolemainn.com
OSTERIO STELLINA California Whether you’re strolling in from a day of hiking or celebrating a romantic anniversary, Osterio Stellina accommodates any occasion. The menu is Italian-inspired with organic, local ingredients. If you’re looking for something unusual try the goat shoulder, a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Don’t leave without indulging in the standout lemon ice cream sandwich (Point Reyes). 11285 Hwy 1, 415.663.9988, steriastellina.com
PARKSIDE CAFE American Most people know it as the ultimate breakfast spot (think Guatemalan scramble or waffle with blood orange–strawberry compote and whipped cream, alfresco) but lunch and dinners are great here too. Choose from an array of organic locally grown produce and artisan meats and wild seafood. The grilled quail, the Hawaiian butterfish and the rib-eye steak are standouts (Stinson). 43 Arenal Ave, 415.868.1272, parksidecafe.com
PINE CONE DINER American Just off the main road, Joannie Kwit has re-created the ultimate neighborhood diner. Vintage china and homemade curtains complement the eclectic but homey menu featuring local fare. A favorite with locals as well as tourists, bicyclists and motorcyclists (Point Reyes Station). 60 Fourth St, 415.663.1536, thepineconediner.com
SAND DOLLAR American Originally built from three barges in Tiburon in 1921, the Sand Dollar Restaurant was floated to Stinson that same year and still thrives today. Enjoy live music along with local barbecued oysters and New England clam chowder. (Stinson). 3458 Shoreline Hwy, 415.868.0434, stinsonbeachrestaurant.com
STATION HOUSE CAFE American Fresh local homegrown foods, served as available, are showcased on the chef’s menu. Stop in on weekends for the live music and enticing wine and beer lists. 11180 State Route One, 415.663.1515, stationhousecafe.com
SURFERS GRILL American The view doesn’t get better than this—nor does the surf salad. Built right out on Stinson Beach, this casual lunch spot offers up tasty fresh organic salads alongside corn dogs, burgers and fries (Stinson). Stinson Beach Park, Hwy 1, 415.868.1777, surfersgrill.com
The Merchants of San Anselmo . . .
Studio Home
14 Ross Avenue
415.457.0560
StudioHomeDesigns.com
Specializing in Residential Interior Design - Call us for a consultation today about remodeling your kitchen or bathroom or just sprucing up what you already have!
Grasshopper Pilates
141 Tunstead Avenue
415.419.5871
grasshopperpilatesofmarin.com
Pilates is the perfect workout to reshape, define, strengthen and align your body. Classically trained and certified instructors offer group, private or duet equipment and mat classes.
In-house physical therapist specializes in injury prevention and rehabilitation.
NeneShoes
518 San Anselmo Avenue
415.464.9102
neneshoes.com
At NeneShoes we specialize in quality European clothing and shoes for kids and teenagers. We carry unique European designs in fun colors and fabrics. We are very passionate about our product and providing great customer service.
Primo Regali
417 San Anselmo Avenue
415.456.1200
primoregali.com
Experience a slice of Italy when entering Primo Regali on San Anselmo Avenue – which houses the largest inventory of HandCrafted and Hand-Painted Majolica Ceramics in the Bay Area.
Paradigm Cycles
702 San Anselmo Avenue
415.454.9534
paradigmcycles.com
Come see us at 702 San Anselmo Avenue or check out our new store at 3001 Steiner Street in San Francisco! All 2010 bikes on sale! Mention this ad for a free tube!
Rockflowerpaper
145 Tunstead Avenue
415.462.0001
rockflowerpaper.com
Rockflowerpaper is a hot new wholesaler of gifts and home accessories, and this is its design studio/offices/company store.
Unique, beautiful products at fabulous prices - bargain hunters will love the seconds and sample room. Marin design at it’s best!
Sunglass City
623 San Anselmo Avenue
415.456.7297
sunglasscity.com
Serving Marin County since 1987. Now offering the latest options in single vision and progressive eyewear. Licensed opticians on site. Introducing Vuarnet and the largest selection of Maui Jim and Kaenon in Marin.
Spend an hour, a day or the entire weekend enjoying all that San Anselmo has to offer!
MARIN ADVERTISERS SPEAK UP
ad lib
David G. Behrs, Ph.D. San Domenico School, San Anselmo
“Founded in 1850 by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, San Domenico School is the oldest independent Catholic school in California,” says Head of School David G. Behrs, Ph.D. The school is located on 500 acres in San Anselmo and enrolls approximately 500 students in three divisions: primary, middle and high school. “The school offers exceptional educational opportunities for all students in drama, music, art, and athletics with a distinctive riding program,” says Behrs.
What is your business philosophy?
San Domenico accepts students from all faith traditions and operates with an educational philosophy rooted in the Dominican values of seeking truth, practicing compassion, exercising justice, building community, and promoting partnerships and alliances.
What is your competitive edge?
San Domenico celebrates diversity and is committed to excellence in education for students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. We believe in a holistic approach to developing students’ minds by inspiring inquiry and providing a strong academic foundation for lifelong intellectual and personal growth.
What is the funniest thing that recently happened at San Domenico School?
Walking onto the soccer field one morning and being surrounded by wild turkeys!
What were you going to be when you grew up?
A professional baseball player.
DAVID G. BEHRS, PH.D., SAN DOMENICO SCHOOL, 1500 BUTTERFIELD ROAD, 415.258.1900, SANDOMENICO.ORG
1/2 HORIZONAL
Harold Lustig California Estate and Elder Planning Center, San Rafael
“We help seniors and their families maintain financial security through estate planning, long-term care planning and wealth management,” says company President Harold Lustig. “We help local Marin families who are dealing with parent elder care issues maintain financial security and peace of mind.
What part of your business drives you crazy?
ADVERTISER
People who say they want to take care of important planning issues and then either do not or put it off until it is too late.
Five years from now, what changes will your business experience? I want people to know they can come to Harold Lustig when they are faced with critical financial issues or if they want to avoid critical long-term care issues as they age.
Who or what were you going to be when you grew up?
Horatio Hornblower. He was my hero growing up and I was certain I would be a captain of a sailing ship.
Your thoughts regarding working with a spouse?
Working with my spouse has been absolutely essential to my success and overall well-being.
Describe your dream client.
Women business owners with elderly parents who want to preserve their wealth while providing for their charitable goals.
HAROLD LUSTIG, CALIFORNIA ESTATE AND ELDER PLANNING CENTER, 70 MITCHELL BLVD., SUITE 104, SAN RAFAEL, 415.472.1396, HAROLDLUSTIG.COM
The answer to a breathable vacuum type hairpiece, worn by our client pictured below. Designed by Charlē to look as natural as a vacuum wig with the benefit of being cooler and more comfortable.
Sensitive solutions for hair loss due to: Alopecia Areata/female hereditary thinning/ Chemotherapy/radiation treatments/Trichotillomania
Toll Free: (888) 680-HAIR (4247) (Northern CA) San Rafael (415) 472-6369 (Southern CA) San Diego (760) 753-9060 chdewitt@aol.com www.charle.com
Offering human hairpieces for women, men and children . . . a hair studio Open Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm Consignments taken from Tuesday thru Saturday 10 am-3 pm 415 456-7309 11 Mary Street, San Rafael Next to Whole Foods & Peet’s Coffee
Birthday Parties:
Only $195 for 2-hours
• Invite up to eight (8) friends
• Free party supplies (plates, cups, forks
• & napkins)
Includes party set-up and clean-up
•
• No outside food or drinks allowed except for cake and ice cream
General Info:
ALL JUMPERS AND PARENTS MUST HAVE SOCKS. NO EXCEPTIONS. Parents must be present at ALL times except for Play”Date” Nights. Arrive early to sign a waiver and receive a Safety Presentation. We are located at 718 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960. Our telephone # is 415.459.8978.
Hope to see you soon!
PARADISE CAY
Livin’ near a dock on the bay
BY DANIEL JEWETT PHOTOS TIM PORTER
Everybody wants to carve out a nice place to live and raise a family, but one Marin resident took the idea literally, removing part of a small mountain and blasting canals into the landscape to create his dream community.
Tim, known as T. I., Moseley made his fortune inventing nautical instruments and in 1956 used some of that money to buy Ring Point at the foot of the Tiburon Peninsula where, after removing the earth that stood in his way, he began digging out canals like those he had seen and admired in Newport Beach. By the early 1960s some of the first homes were ready to be occupied in a new waterfront community called Paradise Cay.
“The name was inspired by the Caribbean,” says Tim’s grandson Jeff, who also enjoys life in one of the 200 homes in the unincorporated area of Marin and even sells real estate there through his company Anchor Realty. “We love living on the water and getting the chance to kayak, windsurf, paddle board, kite surf and sail.”
In a community where almost every resident has a dock or a bay view and a majority have boats, a love of activity isn’t unusual, but what is less common is how far the Moseleys have gone with their enthusiasm for sports: one of Jeff’s two
brothers is Jonny, who won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1998 as part of the U.S. Ski Team.
Currently Jeff and Jonny, their parents and even Jeff’s parents-in-law all have homes in Paradise Cay. “It’s a real blessing having our family here; we do stuff together all the time,” Jeff says. “And we get free babysitting.
“There is a real active waterfront community revolving around waterfront living,” he adds. His favorite events range from Friday night sailboat racing at the Tiburon Yacht Club to fishing for salmon and halibut off his back deck, which opens right into the bay with the Richmond Bridge just beyond. “You get a big bang for your buck here.”
Local resident and youth sailing instructor Pat Lopez also loves the Friday night races. “It is so cool to sail right out of your backyard to the race,” he says. About three years ago Lopez took on the task of teaching local kids to sail, through a summer program at the yacht club. The program teaches youth be-
tween the ages of 8 and 13 to sail on eightfoot Optimist dinghies; they start in the safety of the Paradise Cay Yacht Harbor and move out to the bay when the winds and their skill levels are right. “It is great to see the kids riding their bikes to lessons in their life jackets and wet suits,” Lopez adds.
Living in a waterfront community has another advantage for some like Lopez. “In the summer I commute by boat to work,” says Lopez, also the harbormaster for Loch Lomond Marina in San Rafael. “I can make it to work in 10 to 15 minutes and I might even do a little trolling on the way home.”
Pacific Union realtor Penny WrightMulligan has lived in Paradise Cay for 27 years and, although she has moved within the community three times, wouldn’t dream of living anywhere else. “We have the boating and social life here,” she says. “And it is a great place to raise kids.” Wright-Mulligan says the flat streets full of children, the safe neighborhood
(there is only one way in and one way out of Paradise Cay) and the Halloween and Fourth of July parades remind her of the lifestyle she enjoyed growing up in Connecticut. Indeed, she says many of her clients are couples from San Francisco with young children who are “looking for a community lifestyle and a great school district.”
Although the market is tight for Paradise Cay real estate, Wright-Mulligan has seen homes sell for a low $998,000 this year and a high of $3.8 million. There is even a $6.3 million home on the market right now.
In terms of inventory, there are 10 homes currently on the market including five rare brand-new homes right on the water that were just finished. These homes include 60foot deepwater docks and upgraded finishes and are priced from $1.825 to $2.495 million. It seems that for those enamored with with waterfront living, Paradise Cay is a popular place to drop anchor.
As one of Marin’s long standing top producers, Jimmy is known for:
• 24/7 Communication
• A skilled interpretation of market stats
• Straight talk about your position and your property
• Developing creative strategies to close complex negotiations
• His seasoned team of “best in class” professionals
Whether buying or selling— you’ll find success in working with JimmyMarin.
Nan Allen and Link Allen
Present P r ese n t
1 Mariposa, Tiburon
Located in a beautiful upscale residential enclave of newer homes this five bedroom, five bath home offers a perfect blend of traditional refinement and modern day convenience. Pleasing proportions characterize this residence featuring breathtaking style and comfort. Vivid bay and city views provide a splendid backdrop for most rooms. Fresh breezes and generous natural light produce an ambience of total tranquility. www.1mariposa.com Exclusively Offered at $3,950,000
2480 Mar East, Tiburon 3 Bellevue, Belvedere
WELCOME TO "COVE EDGE" This 2BR, 2.5BA plus private guesthouse architectural treasure is perched right on the waters edge. A wonder place to come to reboot your soul, this home smoothly integrates indoor and outdoor living with elegance and rusticity. www.2480MarEastSt.com Exclusively Offered at $2,900,000
Located on coveted Corinthian Island and directly on the Belvedere waterfront, this 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath shingled residence features fabulous San Francisco to Mt. Tamalpais views, a huge waterfront entertaining deck and dock and is close to town and yacht clubs. www.3Bellevue.com Exclusively Offered at $2,650,000
5 Golden Gate, Belvedere
2305 Paradise Drive, Tiburon
One of Belvedere's best locations! Spectacular lagoon views from every Y
room within this charming four bedroom, three bath house. Enjoy the recently remodeled eat-in kitchen, master suite with en suite, bathrooms and laundry room, all featuring exquisite details, high-end appliances and top of the line finishes. Multiple decks for entertaining and fun, and a generous level yard too. Minutes from Belvedere Park and the Tiburon Ferry. Tiburon schools too! Price Upon Request. Additional details at www.5GoldenGateAvenue.com
You just won't believe the views! One of the best locations in Old Town Tiburon, with panoramic views from the Golden Gate Bridge to the East Bay. Close proximity to downtown and the Tiburon Ferry, as well as minutes away from walking trails and open space. Add to this a spacious house with five bedrooms and four full baths, plus an expansive outdoor space for entertaining and fun. Level yard area, complete with a play structure. Multiple parking areas and a private lane way entrance (gated) to the rear of the house. Tiburon schools too! Price Upon Request. Additional details at www.2305ParadiseDrive.com
You won't believethe views! Oneofthe bestlocations in Old Town
5 BARNER LANE
TIBURON
Why spend two years of your life fighting with your spouse and eating take-out when you can have the perfect house?
This stunning, approximately 5200 square foot, four bedroom, three full and two half bath house has a panoramic San Francisco Bay view. The landscaping on the one acre, oak-filled site is a labor of love with lavender fields, rose and dahlia gardens, dramatic hedges, a splash pool and a fabulous view site for a guest cottage. Ownersupervised construction ensured the highest standards, combining modern amenities with traditional design elements. Just two minutes to Marin’s finest independent schools. At any time of the day, it is only twelve minutes to the Golden Gate bridge.
Offered at $6,750,000 www.5BarnerLane.com
Mill Valley • $1,895,000 10Egret.com
Gracious, Mediterranean-style 4BR/4.5BA home located on a waterfront, level lot. French doors open to indoor/outdoor living.
Judy LeMarr 415.793.5030
jlemarr@fhallen.com MarinDreamHome.com
Alva Falla & Associates Present
Alva Falla 415-518-1930 afalla@fhallen.com
Stinson Beach • $2,395,000 29Dipsea.com Enjoy the privacy of this beach retreat located in the gated community of Seadrift. Easy coastal living with an open floor plan.
Jennifer Falla-Firkins 415-602-5768
jfirkins@fhallen.com
Janice Guehring 415-717-9636
jguehring@fhallen.com
A Better Way to Search
View the information you want without the frustrations of having to continuously jump from page to page! Integrated with Google Mapping Technologies*, the property search function gives you the ability to view properties photos and details without ever having to leave your search result page.
Mobile Search
Search every listed home on the MLS from a web-enabled phone
The mobile search features include: Search homes for sale near you
Want to know more about a specific property? The property detail page provides you with detailed MLS data as well as useful tools .
Quick house look up
Also on the home page of the mobile search there is Quick House Number Lookup, which allows someone sitting in front of a house to that property.
Access your online account
Go to: www.BradleyRealEstate.com/mobile or sign up on our website and we will text message you the link.
1751 TIBURON B OULEVARD
Neighbors make the neighborhood - We are proud to be your new neighbor. We are proud to announce that Alain Pinel Realtors is coming to Tiburon. Located in Point Tiburon Plaza, this will be the fifth APR office to open in Marin County since January of 2009, and our second in Southern Marin. This state-of-the-art location will reflect APR’s core belief that real estate is about people, and thus, local. The new office will be a friendly, high-tech facility with an abundance of free parking for our clients. It will be home to some of the county’s top real estate professionals, many of whom you already know. If you’re not already familiar with us, we look forward to meeting you in the near future. For a list of all Marin properties, including Tiburon: call 415.755.1111 or visit open.apr.com
Price Reduced! Wonderful Woodlands! Gorgeous architectural remodel. Grand scale, light-filled rooms, gourmet kitchen, spacious 5 bedrooms, 4 baths. Sweeping views, sun, pool, and a huge level lawn. Coveted flat cul-de-sac! Offered at $2,995,000 Stephanie Lamarre
9 West Street, San Rafael
Santa Barbara in Marin! Magnificent restoration of a 1932 masterpiece. Architecturally significant, Casa Linda Vista boasts stunning details: gracious arches, vaulted beamed ceilings, massive fireplaces, and grand living areas. Renovated with all the modern amenities. Marble baths, dazzling kitchen with stainless appliances, patios, terraces, gardens, and a level lawn. 4bd/3ba. Close to shopping, restaurants, and Marin Academy. Sun Valley school! Offered at $1,395,000
1940 Straits View, Tiburon
Located towards the end of a cul-de-sac, this large, multi-level home sits on a .5+/-acre lot offering one of the finest views available in Tiburon. Powerful vistas from the East Bay to the Marin Headlands. Offered at $2,195,000 www.groupmarin.com
200-29th Street, San Francisco
Luxury, 3 bedroom plus den Noe Valley residence with top of the line views from private roof deck. Gourmet kitchen, custom lighting and plantation shutters throughout, master suite with Jacuzzi tub, secure 2-car parking. Offered at $2,495,000 www.200twentyninthstreetnumber8.com
ISLAND
This architecturally significant residence, privately situated on 8/10 of an acre, is located near the top of Belvedere Island overlooking San Francisco Bay and was designed by the prominent San Francisco architect Joseph Esherick. This modern residence is one of the finest examples of this era of Esherick’s work. Recognized by experts in regional architecture, the home is filled with well balanced natural light and composed of tall expanding spaces. Large windows capture views and orchestrate changes in illumination throughout the day. Five view decks and seven skylights compliment numerous living spaces. Four plus bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a high-end professional style kitchen and an office. Occupied until now by one of the original owners, the home has been cared for and preserved in its original form and remains timeless and exceptional to this day, perfectly exemplifying Esherick's simple elegance.
$4,495,000 www.11Crest.com
www.marinpremierhomes.com
Greenpoint, Novato For sale at
Novato
Mill Valley Bright, sunny home with incredible views & energy ef fi ciency. 3 beds/3 baths.
Architecturally acclaimed residence on 667 acres bordering Walker Creek.
Chic California Contemporary KENTFIELD
Located in the highly-desired fl ats of Kent field, this very special four bedroom, two and one-half bath home offers a lifestyle of elegance and ease. Walk to award winning Bacich Elementary School and the idyllic Priory Tennis Club. This professionally landscaped, fully fenced, private property boasts all day sun, large pool, hot tub, fl agstone patios, and beautiful gardens. Dramatic interiors have been remodeled with an artist’s eye and attention to detail. Cathedral ceilings, walls of windows, and lavish use of of marble, granite and limestone in living room, of fice, bathrooms and the state-of-the art kitchen create a grand sense of scale, beauty, and warmth. Eat-in kitchen, family media room and the open plan living and dining rooms enjoy an easy connection to the outdoors. Bonus studio and large garage with storage complete the offering.
Offered at $2,275,000
www.9MannDrive.com
Tammy Wilks Kornfeld
Providing Skilled, Discreet and Diligent Representation
415.279.9362
t.kornfeld@deckerbullocksir.com
201 Lagunitas, Ross $3,795,000 Represented Buyer
22 Acacia, Larkspur $1,140,000 Represented Buyer
California Contemporary Living
A rare opportunity to own this architecturally significant, 2006, contemporary, 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath residence on nearly 8 acres on the fl ank of Mount Tamalpais, that provides an extraordinary, private refuge from the stress of modern urban life. Boasting panoramic views of the mountain and canyon, a 12-minute drive is all it takes to reach Highway 101, Stinson Beach, Muir Woods or downtown Mill Valley. Access to some of the best hiking and mountain biking trails in Southern Marin are at the doorstep. Mill Valley’s excellent school system is another major attraction to this area. Soaring 18 foot ceilings, bright and light interiors, large scale room sizes, folding glass doors that open to merge the indoors with the outdoors, a spacious enclosed courtyard designed for entertaining large groups, and deck, pool and spa areas facing the grandeur of the mountain are just some of the features that make this over 4000 square foot home uniquely desirable. 840 Edgewood.com Offered at $3,997,000
Randi Deutsch
415.699.9224
r.deutsch@deckerbullocksir.com
RandiD.com
Private bay-front retreat with over 7 acres of beautiful grounds and sunny tidelands, sparkling pool and level lawn.
Approximately 3,800 square foot country cottage-style home with large living and dining areas, relaxing family room with fireplace and adjacent waterside deck, and upper-level master suite with beautifully paneled library with fireplace and long screened-in porch overlooking the bay and tidewater. Boat dock with two lifts, boat garage and ramp, separate guest quarters and office suite with half-bath. Four bedrooms and four and one-half baths, and the reminiscence of the old fishing camp and brick plant days on the bay… $7,795,000
St. Barth’s on the Bay - luxury waterfront living at its finest!
This brand new interior design by Martin Kobus embodies the artful transformation of the four-bedroom, four-bath home into the masterful integration of indoor-outdoor living, from the boat dock and boat lift, to the expansive waterfront decks with two living areas to embrace the 180-degree views from the Golden Gate Bridge to Mount Tam, through the equally stunning great room with tall windows and massive skylight that bring the outside in, to a peaceful, enclosed, private courtyard for quiet reflection. Beautiful finishes, gourmet chef kitchen, interior and exterior surround sound system, lutron lighting system and radiant heat throughout. New master suite with stunning spa bath. Four bedrooms, four beautiful baths… $5,800,000
San Francisco Bay-front Italianate, designed by Andrew Skurman, with pier, floating dock and lift, with totally unobstructed views from Mt. Tamalpais to the west, through Sausalito, Golden Gate Bridge and the entire San Francisco skyline to the south. Large, formal living and dining rooms, gourmetequipped kitchen with large island, and sunny water-side terrace with fireplace and barbecue adjacent the kitchen/family room. Wonderful master suite with lavish bath and adjacent water-side terrace and three stunning en-suite guest rooms, all with captivating bay views. Separate staff quarters and office, gated security with video surveillance, gym room with fridge and half bath, and interior elevator from the foyer to the master suite and dock-access levels. Four en-suite bedrooms and three half baths… $24,000,000
On the Island’s west side, with its dazzling views and stunning sunsets. Two separate parcels totaling approximately one acre, mostly level and at water’s edge, with existing boat house & dock, and water-level views from Mt Tam through the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco financial district. Rare potential for grand, gated bayfront estate, entirely private and secluded, and accessed by water or land. Magical place, captivating views, irresistible possibilities… $11,950,000
Stunning
CHRISTO AND JEANNE-CLAUDE’S RUNNING FENCE
For two weeks in 1976, it cut across a corner of Marin County
AFTER FOUR AGONIZING YEARS OF CAJOLING and bureaucratic wrangling, environmental artists Christo and JeanneClaude began installing their masterpiece (of that era) Running Fence: a Project for Sonoma and Marin Counties, State of California. Once up, it stood for two weeks in 1976, September 11 through 25. Beginning at Highway 101, in the Sonoma County town of Cotati, it snaked 24.5 miles over rolling ranch land (59 ranches in all), passing through Valley Ford on Highway 1, then crossing the northwest corner of Marin and descending into the Pacific Ocean at Bodega Bay. Thousands came to witness the artistic spectacle. Running Fence consisted of 2,050 panels of woven white nylon held 18 feet aloft by steel poles embedded three feet into the ground and secured by 14,000 anchors. “It is a celebration of the landscape,” Christo declared once Running Fence was up. “The fabric is a conductor for sunlight and gives shape
BY JIM WOOD
to the wind. It goes over the landscape and into the sea like a ribbon of light.” Once it was dismantled, the materials used in Running Fence were given to the ranchers who’d agreed, some reluctantly, to allow the project to cross over their property.
Subsequent and similar Christo and Jeanne-Claude art installations (16 of them) include the Umbrellas (1991)—1,340 blue and 1,760 yellow umbrellas erected, respectively, in Ibarki, Japan and Tejon Ranch, California; and The Gates (2005)—7,503 rectangular passageways, draped with a saffron-colored fabric, that stood for two weeks in New York’s Central Park. Christo and wife Jeanne-Claude were born on the same day in 1935; Jeanne-Claude passed away last November. Christo’s next project will cover a stretch of Colorado’s Arkansas River with a silver fabric. Ideally, it will exist for two weeks in 2013.
