Lifestyle Resources Magazine 2014 Winter

AT HOME RESOURCES

Products, services, articles, and related events.

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Photo: Frank Paul Perez Builder: Paul Conrado

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LIFESTYLE RESOURCES

CONTENTS

The Magazine for Silicon Valley, the Peninsula + San Francisco

DEPARTMENTS At Home 1 – 35 Publisher’s Letter 12 Contributors 14 – 15 Dine, Wine + Lodge 36 – 39

WINTER | SPRING 2014

The Wine Chick 40 – 41 Calendar 47 Business Resources 48 – 55 Test Drive 57 Surreal Estate 67 – 73

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Photo: Frank Paul Perez

FEATURE ARTICLES Paul Conrado 28 – 33 Cantor Arts Center 42 – 46

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50 Photo: Joel Simon Images

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San Jose McEnery Convention Center 50 – 52 Destination Lake Tahoe 58 – 66

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58 Photo: SFMP Media

Photo: Edgewood Golf Tahoe

C CHELSEA COURT D E S I G NS

LOS GATOS, CA| 408 399 7720 SAN FRANCISCO, CA | 415 431 4965 WWW.CHELSEACOURTDESIGNS.COM

FOUNDER / PUBLISHER’S LETTER

O

nce again, I find myself at the eleventh hour adding the last piece to the puzzle, the final page before going to press. Pondering my words and organizing my thoughts, I hope they take shape and reflect and deliver a proper introduction to the pages within. And I sit looking at a tidy stack of pages; those prior to transformation into the finished product you are reading now. They have replaced the many Post-it notes, informational sheets, schedules, and dozens of creative mock-ups that have dominated my space for months, and are the payoff, the reward, following the hard work and long days. No longer resembling a scene from A Beautiful Mind, my desk is nearly clear; now I can enjoy the finished

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product and hope you the reader find as much interest in the pages as I did in putting them together.

In this issue, get to know Paul Conrado, a custom-home builder based in Saratoga.

Paul has many talents beyond his fine craft of home building and embraces life and all he does with great vigor. Explore the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University. Stroll through the Sculpture Gardens that display Rodin bronzes, or explore the 24 galleries in which extraordinary hidden treasures from all over the world reside. In “Destination Lake Tahoe,” we discuss a thumbnail version of the many things to do and enjoy there year-round.

Also read about the newly improved San Jose McEnery Convention Center.

In addition, this issue will be the first with two new departments. Wine and food writer, Liza Zimmerman “The Wine Chick,” will be an ongoing contributor to Lifestyle Resources Magazine. And in SURREAL ESTATE, we will be showcasing a variety of California real estate for purchase.

To all—best for 2014.

Linda Almini, Founder/Publisher

CONTRIBUTORS

WHERE TO FIND In addition to in-home distribution and its online presence, Lifestyle Resources is available at:

In this issue, Cindie Farley writes about custom-home builder Paul Conrado, a local Renaissance man who is passionate about his business and life. She also writes about a hidden treasure to discover at Stanford University: the Cantor Arts Center. Cindie, a long-time resident of Pacific Grove, is a freelance writer and editor and also teaches digital storytelling. She writes feature articles for Coastal Canine magazine and contributes on a regular basis to Lifestyle Resources as a writer. She is also our copy editor.

“There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing,” says leonel calara about the visual arts. He was led into his career through a curiosity about illustration and photography. After earning a BFA in Graphic Design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and freelancing for years, he has evolved into Art Director for Lifestyle Resources. With a love for all things visual, Leonel tells stories and captures moments as a freelance photographer.

Santana Row - San Jose America Italiana Windows & Doors - San Jose Courtside Club - Los Gatos Los Gatos Athletic Club Sereno Real Estate - Los Gatos The Pool Guys - Saratoga Bally Fitness - San Jose University Electric Showroom Santa Clara Mezcal Resturant Downtown San Jose Argonaut Window & Door Showroom - Cupertino SERAPI RUGS - LOS GATOS Precision Cabinets & Trim Showroom - Brentwood Scott’s Seafood - San Jose, Mt. View & Palo Alto San Pedro Square - San Jose Reach Fitness - Palo Alto San Francisco Design Center Union Square NewsStand San Francisco Reid Hillview Airport Palo Alto Airport South County Airport San Jose Aviation Center Architectural Facades - Gilroy SGK Home Solutions - San Jose Draeger’s market - Los Altos Carmel Plaza Carmel-by-the-sea Coldwell Banker - Pebble Beach DACOR DESIGN & CULINARY CENTER SO. SOUTH FRANCISCO REAL ESTATE OFFICES THROUGOUT SILICON VALLEY, SAN FRANCISCO, THE PENINSULA For a complete list on where to find Lifestyle Resources, call 408.398.1068

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CONTRIBUTORS

Photo: Cristina Taccone Steve Natale is a writer for

examiner.com on vintage automotive subjects, as well as a partner at GM Sports in San Jose, providing parts and restoration for vintage GM cars. Steve is also a contributing writer for Test Drive in Lifestyle Resources. His articles and photographs have been published by many classic car publications and web sites. Steve has been attending vintage car, airplane, wooden boat, and motorcyle events for more than 35 years.

Check out Steve’s regular column on classic cars at http://www.examiner.com/ classic-car-in-oakland/steve-natale

is a graduate of the University of California at Davis with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a creative writing emphasis. He joins Lifestyle Resources Magazine in a research and writing capacity. He has long had a deep passion for the written word, and hopes to one day break into the field of screenwriting.

He enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring the Bay Area.

Tyler Fahr

L I Z A B . ZI MME RMAN ,

“The Wine Chick,” has been writing and consulting about wine and food for two decades. She has worked on staff and freelance at national magazines such as Wine Enthusiast, La Cucina Italiana, Wine Spectator, Where SF and the Examiner.

Zimmerman focuses on demystifying wine and transforming it into a business tool, with a focus on Silicon Valley. She has visited the world’s major wine regions and is one of the few in the U.S. to hold the Diploma of Wine & Spirits, the three-year precursor to the Master of Wine. http://www.lizathewinechick.com

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LIFESTYLE RESOURCES The Magazine for Silicon Valley, the Peninsula + San Francisco PUBLISHED BY PHONE

ADDRESS

FOUNDER | PUBLISHER

WRITER + COPY EDITOR ART DIRECTOR

CIRCULATION MANAGED BY

SFMP Media 408.398.1068 Silicon Valley 415.837.8145 San Francisco 831.402.3915 Carmel 88 South 3rd St. Suite 230 San Jose, CA 95113 Linda Almini lindaalmini@aol.com Cindie Farley cindiefarley@gmail.com Leonel Calara nelcalara@gmail.com SFMP Media

LIFESTYLE RESOURCES magazine is published biannually, with 25,000 copies in June and in December. All information and requests including editorial submissions and advertising may be submitted to publisher at lindaalmini@aol.com.

Reproduction of contents in part or in whole is prohibited without publisher’s permission. www.lifestyleresourcesmag.com

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COVER PHOTO

Adrian Schulz

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EVENT University Electric in Santa Clara hosted a joint meeting with NKBA Northern California Chapter and the NARI Silicon Valley Chapter.

In addition to Chapter news and updates the evening’s event included a panel discussion on how to get published. Panel participants included Linda Almini, Lifestyle Resources Magazine; Mary Jo Bolling, California Home + Design; Stefanie Lingle Beasley, Gentry Magazine; and Deb Wandell, San Francisco Chronicle. Moderator: Alf Nucifora Luxury Marketing Council SF. Sponsors for the evening’s events: University Electric and GE Monogram.

Coverage: Linda Almini Photos: SFMP Media

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Design • Build • Finish • Deliver • Install

EVENT Peter Mondavi Jr.’s former private residence was the site of the Napa Valley Showhouse at Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena.

This was Traditional Home’s second annual Napa Valley Showhouse benefiting Napa Valley Film Festival.

Photos by SFMP Media

Laureen Tapper, NV Design, Charlene Rouspil, Dacor, Christina Teicheira, NV Design Siena Mondavi O’Connell and Patty Grantham

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By Cindie Farley

As Paul Conrado will tell you, there is a difference between a house and a home. “A house is shown; a home is lived in. I believe we build homes.” This belief is, no doubt, why he doesn’t necessarily identify himself as a builder. Rather, Conrado defines himself on a 28

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broader basis: by all there is to learn, experience, and share in life.

He approaches everything with the same zeal, and that includes the business of building fine homes for his clients to surround themselves with what matters in their lives.

Conrado has been passionately building his business since 1988, when he established The Conrado Company, Inc. The company, which has a staff of 17, has been at its current location in Saratoga since 1992. Since that time, the highly skilled and organized team Photo: Frank Paul Perez

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Photo: Frank Paul Perez

Photo: Frank Paul Perez

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Photo: Adrian Schulz

at Conrado has built and remodeled over 80 custom luxury estates and homes for entrepreneurs and executives, from Atherton to Almaden. True to form, Conrado’s company reflects the way he incorporates the loves of his life; his wife, Libby, is the CFO, and daughter, Colleen, is a project coordinator.

(His son, Rob, works for a start-up in Chicago.) Conrado, himself, is a licensed civil engineer, having received that degree, as well as an MBA, from Santa Clara University. With his engineering mindset and business acumen, method and organization come easily to him and are central to his success. He loves running a business and considers himself “a businessman who just happens to build.”

You would not guess by looking at any one of Conrado’s projects, however, that he just happened to build it. The superb quality and execution of design are clearly evident. When the Conrado team builds a home, he’s certain its quality will withstand the test of time and remain as beautiful as when the team first completed the build or remodel.

Although The Conrado Company’s role in a project is purely in the construction end, Conrado himself does attend

all design meetings and gives the design team his input and ideas, which can frequently be “out of the box.” He also personally goes to project sites every week and is present at every client meeting—to make sure they’re smiling. “We respect our clients’ desires, budgets, and time,” he says. “And we listen.”

The company has approximately 300 subcontractors who work on its projects.

These are the best in the industry, and with The Conrado Company as their largest client, they are at the ready for the company and its own clients.

Photo: ???

Although new home and wholehouse remodels make up over 90 percent of the company’s overall business, the remaining percent for maintenance is something Conrado also prides himself on. Having built a relationship with, and home for, a client, the company is then in a position to best meet the client’s needs, from the most minor repairs and projects to remodels.

Conrado has seen many changes in style trends over the years. He notes that even though more contemporary homes are now being built, most are still some form of Mediterranean architecture, which has many looks. The company has done everything from Tuscan villas to LIFESTYLE RESOURCES

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Photo: Frank Paul Perez

French manors to a Raj-inspired estate, as well as farmhouse and historical renovations. One of its current projects is a net zero energy Craftsman style. Ultimately, it is about the client’s vision. “We’re not building our home, we’re building our client’s home,” Conrado says.

And whatever that may include, he is up for it. It’s all part of the adventure.

His most challenging project was to build an 85-foot disappearing-edge pool on top of a 110-foot-tall repaired landslide.

For water to flow over an edge, the surface must be perfectly flat. The pool and site

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took six months to engineer and build— and have remained flat.

As for as his own home, Conrado says it is truly his favorite—an original California adobe built in Saratoga in 1948, and one that he’s spent 10 years restoring. Ironically, even though he builds to perfection for clients, he embraces the imperfections in his home’s character and authenticity.

When he and Libby remodeled it, they kept all the adobe exposed. One wall is two inches out of plumb, but it doesn’t bother him. “I’m just the shepherd of my home,” he says with an air of respect.

Photo: Adrian Schulz

And although the Conrados are enthusiastic travelers—from annual hikes in the rain at Point Reyes to trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro or around the Alps—home is full of its own adventures, with a large garden, olive orchard, and wine cave. Conrado enjoys growing vegetables seasonally for a local restaurant, as well as crafting artisan foods such as sourdough bread and salami. He is also an accomplished amateur winemaker, having won over 250 regional and national medals.

And it seems appropriate that, living in

an original adobe, he’s learning Spanish, getting up even earlier each morning to study.

It’s easy to see how Conrado, whose home and lifestyle are so enjoyably woven together, has a tremendous appreciation for the home and environment he builds for each client’s lifestyle.

In the end, however, it is the client, not the project, that is most memorable to Conrado. “My hope on a project is that I get to have dinner in the dining room when I’m done,” he says. “That means I’ve taken care of the client.”

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EVENT America Italiana Custom Window and Doors open house for their newly remodeled showroom in San Jose on Brokaw Road.

A variety of handcrafted WoodClad, steel, Cor-Ten, bronze, and aluminum products are displayed.

Custom furniture, reclaimed Tuscan products and building materials are available as well. Guests enjoyed fine home-cooked Italian foods, and wines provided by Perrucci Family Vineyard while strolling through the 3,500-square-foot showroom.

Photos: SFMP Media

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DINE, WINE + LODGE RESOURCES

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By Liza B. Zimmerman

T

he world of wine can be intimidating. Wine geeks throw around words like “tobacco” and “leather,” and there are more confusing regions, winemakers, and vintages to keep track of these days than ever before.

I have covered the wine industry for more than two decades and visited many of the most exciting wine regions of the world. So I have come up with a few pointers to help you sort out what to order and buy, whether you are dining in or out.

Trust your own taste buds and make friends with others whose palates

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Photo: Cristina Taccone

you respect. Let your local wine shop and restaurant owners know what you like and trust their advice. Many of their favorites may not be front and center in their shops or on their wine lists.

Also, learning a little ”winespeak” will go a long way (i.e., that “fruity” means more than simply “sweet”).

Sorting out what you like to drink—and what you want to spend on it—doesn’t need to be challenging.

Most restaurants list their wines on their sites, and many sommeliers will happily take calls to help you to plan a corporate dinner or an intimate celebration.

Many will open bottles with a two-glass commitment or have your sparkling wines chilling on the table before your guests even arrive. Silicon Valley stores K&L and Beltramo’s both offer comprehensive wine tastings on a regular basis, where a small fee will gain you access to potentially dozens of wines.

Ask a member of the staff at a store to put together a mixed case for you.

Many retailers will offer a 10 percent discount. You can specify the types of wines (i.e., heavy-bodied reds), regions (i.e., lesser-known Bordeaux), or price points.

In this economy, a reasonable invest-

ment should get you a solid case of wine.

You can then taste and compare the wines in the comfort of your home and try a new selection the next time you return.

Explore your local restaurants and see what kinds of tastings, wine dinners and pairings they offer. The Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay offers a fall tasting schedule that features Beauregard Vineyards and Duckhorn. The San Francisco Wine School also holds a variety of classes in South San Francisco.

Wherever you choose to seek out wines, have fun, trust your palate, and ask questions.

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By CINDIE FARLEY

Photo: Joel Simon Images

Cantor Arts Center

When Leland and Jane Stanford decided to establish a university in Palo Alto in memory of their son, their decision included the building of a museum. They had traveled the world collecting artifacts and objects of art with their only child, Leland, Jr., who tragically died of typhoid fever at the age of 15. His interest in anthropology and 42

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antiquities was the inspiration that moved the Stanfords to found the Leland Stanford Junior Museum on the university’s campus in 1891 as a showcase for the family’s extensive collection.

By 1900, the Stanford Museum was the largest privately held museum in the world and, by 1905 it was recognized for its collection of Asian art. The museum was severely damaged in both the historic 1906 earthquake and the Loma Prieta quake in 1989. As a result, over the years it has experienced extended closures and undergone major renovations and seismic upgrades.

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n the 1980s, benefactors B. Gerald and Iris Cantor endowed the museum with a number of works from their vast collection of Auguste Rodin sculptures. The museum dedicated its Rodin Sculpture Garden to the Cantors in 1985, and in 1999, after a period of closure, it reopened in their name.

Today, as the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts (known as the Cantor Arts Center), the museum carries on the great tradition of making its collection available to both the university’s students and the general public.

The Cantor boasts one of the largest collections of Rodin works in the world.

Most are cast bronze sculpture, but there are also works in wax, plaster, and terra-cotta. Twenty major bronze works are installed in the Sculpture Garden, which was designed to evoke the spirit of the original Parisian gardens where Rodin himself exhibited his work publicly. The garden is open at all times and has lighting for nighttime viewing. Beyond the garden, Stanford is home to a distinguished collection of abstract and figurative works in a range of media by artists from the late nineteenth century to the present.

In 2009, after expanding its Rodin galleries, the Cantor opened its ongoing “Rodin! The Complete Stanford Collection.” In addition to the bronzes in the Sculpture Garden, approximately 200 works including the artist’s monumental work The Thinker are on view in three galleries. In keeping with the original

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collaborators’ intent to create an effective teaching collection, the display is organized to highlight Rodin’s working processes and his influence on the art world entering the 20th century.

Although the Rodins are a focal point at the Cantor Arts Center, they are only a small part of its overall collection.

The Center has 24 galleries that present selections and over twenty special exhibitions each year, some of which draw from the museum’s collection, which includes 32,000 artworks and spans 5,000 years.

The collections range from classical to contemporary and take the visitor on a journey around the world and across time, from Europe and Africa to the Americas to Oceania to Asia.

The Cantor’s African art collection includes nearly 2500 objects that date from ancient Egypt to the present day.

Its Asian art collection spans from 3000 BCE to the late 1900s and includes over 5,000 objects. The Oceania collection features over 300 objects from the cultures of that region. And the Native Americas collection has nearly 1500 objects from throughout the Americas. All four collections offer a vast array of diverse and eclectic works. In addition, there is a Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden, which holds 40 wood and stone carvings.

Also on display is European and American art before 1900, with artifacts from ancient Greece and Rome and a range of European paintings and sculpture dating back to the fifteenth-century.

The Robert Mondavi Family Gallery is Photo: Stephen Gladfelter

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Photo: Jim Gasperini

devoted to the nineteenth century and includes monumental California landscapes, such as William Keith’s magnificent Sunset on Mt. Diablo.

In addition, the Cantor collects and exhibits works on paper from the late 1400s to the present, from masters such as Albrecht Dürer and Eugène Delacroix to notable contemporary artists such as Richard Diebenkorn, Jasper Johns, and Roy Lichtenstein. It also devotes several galleries and outdoor space to modern and contemporary art.

In 2001, a major installation was added permanently to the University’s outdoor art collection when British artist Andy Goldsworthy completed his 320-foot sculpture, Stone River, on the campus. This monumental work was

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constructed using sandstone from university buildings destroyed in the earthquakes of 1906 and 1989.

Looking forward, Stanford University is opening a new building in 2014 to house the core of the Anderson Collection of twentieth-century American art. The Bay Area family is donating the highly valuable collection that took over 50 years to build.

The Cantor is open to the public free of charge, and offers both public and private tours. It plays a significant role in art education for Bay Area students of all ages. This vibrant Cantor, with its historic and contemporary architecture, gardens, and café, is also a beautiful venue for hosting events. The Cantor Arts Center is truly a hidden treasure to discover.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS WINTER | SPRING 2014 2014 Silicon Valley International Auto Show January 9th – 12th, 2014 San Jose McEnery Convention Center www.motortrendautoshows.com/sanjose Cirque Du Soleil: Amaluna January 22nd – February 9th, 2014 Taylor Street Bridge Lot E, San Jose www.cirquedusoleil.com/amaluna AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am February 3rd – 9th, 2014 Pebble Beach Golf Links www.pebblebeach.com Ballet San Jose Repertory Program: Neoclassical to Now February 14th – 16th, 2014 San Jose Center for the Performing Arts www.balletsj.org Ballet San Jose Repertory Program: Popular Music, Transcendent Dancing March 21st – 23rd, 2014 San Jose Center for the Performing Arts www.balletsj.org

Cantor Arts Center: Inside Rodin’s Hands: Teaching Surgery through Art and Anatomy April 9th – August 3rd, 2014 Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University www.museum.stanford.edu Pebble Beach Food & Wine April 10th – 13th, 2014 Various locations throughout Pebble Beach www.pbfw.com Symphony Silicon Valley: Nakamatsu Plays Rachmaninoff May 16th – 18th, 2014 The California Theatre, San Jose www.symphonysiliconvalley.org Auction Napa Valley June 5th – 7th, 2014 Various wineries throughout Napa Valley www.auctionnapavalley.org San Francisco Opera: Madame Butterfly June 15th – July 9th, 2014 War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco www.sfopera.com

San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art: The Tag Project March 1st – May 24th, 2014 San Jose ICA www.sjica.org

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BUSINESS RESOURCES

Photo: SFMP Media

San Jose McEnery Convention Center

Business articles, events, and services 48

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By LINDA ALMINI

SAN JOSE McENERY CONVENTION CENTER

Following two and a half years of dust-flying, concrete-smashing construction at a cost of $130 million, the newly renovated and expanded San Jose McEnery Convention Center was completed in October 2013. Originally constructed in 1989, the Convention Center, located on San Carlos Street in downtown San Jose, has increased in size from 425,000 to 550,000 square feet— 50

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Photo: SFMP Media

305,000 of which is exhibition space. The increase comes with more efficient options, including breakout rooms, flexible meeting space, and a newly expanded grand ballroom where the city’s old main library once stood. Smart design allows for city views and natural incoming light but also includes blackout window coverings for events and presentations when needed.

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Photo: SFMP Media

Although the original red, black, and white tile facade remains on the Center’s exterior, the outdoor plaza has been completely redesigned and freshly landscaped. One notable addition is the installation of a uniquely innovative contemporary sculpture at the main entrance. Idea Tree, by artist Soo-in Yang, is made of six interlocking steel rings held in tension by steel cables, with translucent polycarbonate “leaves” covering the canopy. The structure provides shade and is interactive for the public. Crucial to Yang’s own idea for his Idea Tree is for it to gather visitors’ spoken thoughts by inviting them to leave messages in a “sound booth,” which then reassembles the messages into a haiku-like whisper.

Now that the dust has settled and the ribbon has been cut, the city is looking forward. “As a result of the new expanded and renovated San Jose Convention Center, Team San Jose is on pace to exceed the total number of events for

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the facilities we manage, when compared to last year,” says Meghan Horrigan of Team San Jose. “We are thrilled with the interest seen so far. As of today [November 11, 2013], for the first quarter of 2014 there are 10 confirmed bookings and 12 additional events the team is working to solidify using the expanded space.”

This outlook from the City of San Jose’s promotional team should bring confidence to all involved.

The Convention Center is ideally located just four miles from San Jose International Airport and near a number of hotels, two of which are adjoined and accessible through the main concourse: the San Jose Marriott and the Hilton San Jose. Theater, arts, sporting events, restaurants, and entertainment—all the accoutrements to blend business with lifestyle in an urban setting—are just a stone’s throw away.

For more information on the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, go to www.sanjose.org.

The Magazine for Silicon Valley + Beyond

SUMMER | FALL 2013

LOS GATOS

CHELSEA COURT DESIGNS THE LIVING DANCE

SMUIN BALLET DESTINATION

SOUTH AFRICA BUSINESS

SOLAR IMPULSE HOME

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T H E A RTS

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B U S I N ES S

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R E TA I L

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DINING

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E V EN TS

EVENT Danville Concours d’Elegance “Tour” and “Thrill Ride” began at the Lafayette Park Hotel with 60 vehicle entrants from vintage Porsche, Aston Martin, and Alfa Romeo icons to current exotic Jags, Ferraris and Lamborghinis - all driving to benefit Parkinson’s Research and Patient Care.

Lunch was served at Napa’s Cardinale Winery.

For more event coverage visit lifestyleresourcesmag.com/events Photos: Leonel Calara

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BY Steve Natale

T

he Jaguar name has been associated with some of the greatest sports cars of all time. The elegant and powerful XK120 and XK150 of the 1950s, as well as the legendary XKE of the 1960s, planted Jaguar’s paw print firmly in sports car and racing history. For the last four decades Jaguars have been more of a well-mannered, sporty touring car.

With the introduction of the new F-Type, Jaguar has awakened the lounge cat, and is posed to leap back into the sports car market. Available in two powerful V-6s, as well as a roaring 495hp V-8 (all three motors are supercharged) and a standard 8-speed ZF automatic transmission,

TEST DRIVE Jaguar F-Type

this cat really growls. Especially so when you flip the Active Sport Exhaust switch, allowing the exhaust to breathe more freely, and be more audible. With a switch like this, who wants to listen to the stereo! A modern, well-appointed interior looks and feels great, but the ride and handling characteristics make this car a Porsche chaser. The ride is firm, and the steering is precise. A plethora of available wheel and trim packages allow the F-Type to be personalized from mild to wild.

The F-Type is priced between $70,000 and $100,000 depending on options.

Make no mistake, this is a true high-performance sports car. The cat is back!

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The allure of Lake Tahoe is many things to many people. From stunning mountain peaks to open valley floors below, its beauty is undeniable.

Fresh air, crystal clear waters, snow-capped peaks, and pristine beaches provide visitors with a sense of wellness while in this majestic place.

With over a half dozen world-class ski resorts such as Northstar and Heavenly, Lake Tahoe is a premiere ski destination and winter 58

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Photo: Edgewood Golf Tahoe

DESTINATION

LAKE TAHOE

BY LINDA ALMINI

wonderland for those near and far. If you’re looking for a five-star ski resort, check into and check out The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe in Truckee. Poised mid-mountain at Northstar, this all-season luxury resort boasting chic mountain design and decor should fill the wants and needs of any guest. A striking 55-foot-high granite fireplace emulating a tree is the centerpiece of both the open lobby and upper levels.

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pon entering the main lobby, located on the second level of the resort. there is a smooth ascension Or take the gondola that connects the up a spiral staircase to the hotel directly to the Village at Northstar for second level, where guests are received dining, as well as shopping; it is accessible by the stunning views visible through to the public as well as guests.

When the snow begins to melt, kick off floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Martis Valley and the ski slopes that dot your ski boots, step into your hiking shoes, the forest. Guest rooms feel more like or grab your golf clubs, because Lake Tahoe a home setting than a hotel environ- is abundant with activities to do year-round.

Hundreds of trails ment—spacious offer incredible and comfortable, views of lakes and with large deepmountains, as well soaking tubs. as explorations of There is a ski valley meadows. For valet service at golf enthusiasts, one the resort’s “ski of the most scenic beach,” and the skigolf courses in the in/ski-out feature world is Edgewood is highly desirable Tahoe, set along the for all ski levels.

Nevada side of the But the Ritzlake’s south shore.

Carlton Tahoe Photo: Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe Edgewood Tahoe does not leave the impression that this is solely a winter has hosted many major golf events, and destination by any means. Two pools for the last 24 years has been the home grace the property (one for adults only), of the American Century Celebrity Golf and bocce ball, nature hikes, and biking Championship, and will host its 25th in are just some of the outdoor pursuits. July, 2014. The course is challenging but For après ski or other activity , the resort manageable for most skill levels.

Following a captivating weekend stay, offers a 17,000-square-foot, state-ofthe-art fitness center and spa, with 17 or after years of family vacations, now may treatment rooms themed around natural be the time for you to purchase that second elements such as water and wood. It is the home or primary residence at Lake Tahoe. perfect way to calm the mind and body. Sales are “validating the resiliency of Lake There are also areas to just sit and relax or Tahoe real estate, and affordability is back and being enjoyed at all price points” dine outdoors.

For an exceptional dining experience according to Yvette Shipman, realtor at with a vast wine selection, visit Manzanita, both Boice O’Neal Realty in Tahoe City,

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Photo: Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

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Photo: Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

California and Lakeshore Realty in Incline Village, Nevada. “Tahoe enthusiasts are seizing this opportunity to sell low, borrow low, then buy low, thereby saving money and savoring this remarkable playground that is Lake Tahoe. In all my years of real estate, I have never seen such a win-win real estate environment. It is refreshing.”

Or look into Martis Camp, a 2,177-acre private luxury community in Truckee

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with 671 lots. “One hundred twenty-six of those have homes already built, and 127 are under construction, with several more in the design stage,” says Brian Hull, general manager, adding, “Seventy percent of our homeowners are from the Bay Area.”

Vivian Soliemani, designer and creative director of Silicon Valley’s Bethe Cohen Design Associates, can attest to that statement. Vivian took on

Photo: Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

her first design project in Martis Camp in 2009 for an existing client from Silicon Valley. “The client was pleased with the design we brought into their primary residence as well as our services, and hired us for their second home in Martis Camp,” Vivian says. “And projects have taken off from there.” Since then, she has completed five design projects in Martis Camp, with another currently

underway—all second homes.

Regardless of the season or reason for visiting Lake Tahoe, in a matter of a few hours’ drive time, Bay Area residents find themselves an emotional world away. With the many uncertainties in life, one thing is for sure: Tahoe’s natural beauty has stood the test of time. If it doesn’t take your breath away, you may not have one.

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YVETTE SHIPMAN 866.279.9988 www.YourTahoeHome.com Yvette@YourTahoeHome.com

Get to know Yvette Shipman a bit. See her video résumé at YourTahoeHome.com. Call 866-279-9988 to start brainstorming about Your Tahoe Home.

CA 01099340 NV S0066464

Edgewood Golf Course Lake Tahoe 100 Lake Parkway Lake Tahoe, NV www.edgewoodtahoe.com

Yvette Shipman – Boice O’Neal Realty 660 North Lake Blvd.

Tahoe City, CA www.yourtahoehome.com

Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe 13031 Ritz-Carlton Highlands Court Truckee, CA www.ritz-carltontahoe.com

Yvette Shipman – Lakeshore Realty 954 Lakeshore Blvd.

Incline Village, NV www.yourtahoehome.com

The Village at Northstar 3001 Northstar Dr. Truckee, CA www.northstar.com

Vivian Soliemani Bethe Cohen Design Associates 150 E. Campbell Ave. Campbell, CA www.bethecohen.com

Martis Camp 12000 Lodgetrail Drive Truckee, CA www.martiscamp.com

Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

South Lake Tahoe, CA www.skiheavenly.com

Photo: Courtesy of Heavenly Mountain Resort / Corey Rich

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SURREAL ESTATE

In this section, “Surreal Estate,” Lifestyle Resources showcases some of California’s finest real estate available for purchase of your primary or second home. California has much to offer. Enter.

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