marin living october 2023

changemakers issue

Nick Svenson is proud to support the Mill Valley Film Festival.

Presented by the California Film Institute (CAFILM), the 46th Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF46) promises to be an extraordinary celebration of cinema, creating a vibrant space that brings together filmmakers, artists and audiences to immerse themselves in the art of storytelling through the lens of diverse cultures and perspectives. This year’s lineup of films, panel discussions and musical performances will inspire, entertain and leave a lasting impact on all who attend.

MVFF is presented in-theater at the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, CinéArts Sequoia in Mill Valley, the Lark Theater in Larkspur, the Berkeley Art Music & Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) in Berkeley and The Roxie Theater in San Francisco. The Festival will also offer a limited selection of online screenings through the CAFILM streaming platform.

Drew Altizer

Marco Starr

Copywriting

Photography

“Very happy. Both Jennifer & Elliott followed up and kept us informed through the entire process.”

The

~ Chris Markrud

JESSICA CLINE

CO-FOUNDER, CEO jessica@marinlivingmagazine.com  707.302.0850

DINA GRANT

CO-FOUNDER

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR dina@marinlivingmagazine.com  707.238.2030

ADVERTISING

Marketing Strategy Consultant & Wine Country Specialist

Chet Klingensmith chet@marinlivingmagazine.com, 707.216.1780

Marketing Strategy Consultant, Hawaii Meredith Low meredith@marinlivingmagazine.com, 808.388.2644

Marketing Strategy Consultant Kim McGinnis kim@marinlivingmagazine.com, 415.640.4504

Marketing Strategy Consultant & Local Business Specialist

Carrie Moler carrie@marinlivingmagazine.com, 415.271.3080

Marketing Strategy Consultant Courtney Roberts courtney@marinlivingmagazine.com, 415.720.3752

CASEY GILLESPIE

CO-FOUNDER

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

casey@marinlivingmagazine.com

DANIEL JEWETT

CO-FOUNDER

EDITORIAL AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

dan@marinlivingmagazine.com

EDITORIAL

Editor

Caitlin Hamer

Contributing Designers

Roberto Avalos, Madeleine Hannes, Gregory Odendahl, Kathryn Saffell, Ronald Sequeira, Britney Trezzo

Contributing Writers

Nick Czap, Casey Hatfield-Chiotti, Annie Geiser, Amber Turpin

Copy Editor

Cynthia Rubin

Client Services Director

Lauren Winsett lauren@marinlivingmagazine.com, 415.300.0908

Exceptional and Rarely Available

At The Torri House, architectural brilliance meets nature’s splendor. Nestled on a lush and sunny three-quarter-acre lot in the heart of Mill Valley, this newly constructed property offers the ultimate NorCal lifestyle.

Step beyond a century-old Torii Gate and enter Mill Valley’s pinnacle of luxury. Minutes from downtown yet surrounded by nature, The Torii House is a sanctuary spanning 4,470 square feet with an additional 630-squarefoot guest house and 675-square-foot garage.

Main House

5 Bedrooms

4.5 Bathrooms

Guest House

1 Bedroom

1 Bathroom

78

spotlight marin.

18 news. Blues and Brews, Sausalito Boat Show, a new exhibition at Marin Art and Garden Center, the Mill Valley Film Festival returns and so much more!

32 local splurges. Furniture finds you can feel good about.

34 eat & drink. Finless Foods is making seafood more sustainable.

38 local getaways. The start of the holiday season is the ideal time for a spa staycation.

42 take note. A first-time filmmaker is making a big debut.

46 game changers. Jump Aero is helping first responders fly to the rescue.

80

18

going places.

78 land & sea. Electric boat maker Candela has partnered with Polestar and the results are making waves.

80 voyager. Fly-fishing has gotten a serious makeover and is drawing unexpected fans.

88 about last night. Events and happenings in the community.

96 drawn together. Marin Foster Care Association is home to many unsung heroes and they need your help. from the team.

14 from the ceo.

16 from the creative director.

Top to bottom: courtesy of Candela; Mike Larson; courtesy of Shore Lodge

48

Be the Change

Volunteering with one of Marin’s nonprofits is an excellent way to help make a difference in our community.

52

A New Kind of Kick

The Bay Area is getting its very own women’s soccer team — meet the founders.

56

An Eye for the Future

Three local startups that are tackling climate change in innovative ways.

On the Cover

Melissa Stafford at D+G Design

Photograph by Saketh Garuda. Local startups are coming up with innovative ways to combat climate change and EVs are changing the landscape in more ways than one.

from the

CEO

content. One recent message that deeply resonated with us was from a dedicated business owner in the fitness sector. In her words, our work provided a “peek into her soul,” reflecting her core values and beliefs with genuine precision. She commented not just on the final product, but on the entire process, noting that she felt “seen, heard, validated and respected” in every interaction with our team. It’s such sincere feedback that reminds us of the impact our work has. For a closer look at our agency’s offerings, visit www.five19brandstudio.com or reach out to me directly.

As October unfolds, we’re reminded of the community, collaborations and shared moments that shape Marin Living. To everyone who’s been part of our journey, and to my remarkable co-founders and team members: here’s to another year of growth, discovery and joy. Cheers to another rotation around the sun!

JESSICA CLINE, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

CELEBRATING SUCCESS

AUTUMN, WITH ITS GOLDEN hues and cool breezes, holds a special significance for the team behind Marin Living Born within a tight six-week window (albeit in different years) starting in October, co-founders Dan, Dina, Casey and I share more than just a vision for our brand. We’re bound by shared milestones and birthday festivities, making this season one of reflection and gratitude.

This year has been marked by memorable events, including our celebration of Visionaries at AvantSpace in San Rafael (page 88). The camaraderie and excitement at the gathering underscored the mission of our magazine and its commitment to the community. As our company grows, events are more important than ever. There’s nothing like meeting and connecting with people face to face.

The year also marked the evolution of our creative marketing agency, Five19 Brand Studio. There’s a genuine thrill in discovering the heart of a brand and watching it reach the public through smart messaging and dynamic

Portrait by Becca Teal Batista; www.stock.adobe.com/svittlana (below)

The Twin Sister Team

Julia Bernardini & Victoria Clemons

Marin & San Francisco Luxury Estates team@juliaandvictoria.com

415.225.0468 | 415.827.6552

JuliaandVictoria.com

DRE #01895525 ; #01972746

Sausalito’s Original Estate

161 Harrison Ave, Sausalito $6,850,000

• 3BR/4BA main house

• 1BR/1BA cottage

• Pool & spa

• Thomas Church gardens

• Charm & Privacy

SausalitoOriginalEstate.com

Yosemite-Like Estate in the Middle Ridge

8 Ralston Ave, Mill Valley $6,995,000

• 4BR/4BA main house

• 1BR/1BA ADU

• Pool & spa

• ~1/2 acre lot

• Views & Privacy

8Ralston.com

from the

creative DIRECTOR

and neighbors are constantly leaving me in awe. I also have to mention how very excited we are that the Bay Area now has its own women’s soccer team, and we were lucky enough to speak with the ladies behind Bay FC. And if you are looking for a way to give back to the community, we have rounded up some really exceptional nonprofits that can always use a hand. If this issue doesn’t make you love where we live, I am not sure what will. I raise my pumpkin spice latte and toast the season and everyone in this issue. The future looks bright.

CASEY GILLESPIE CO-FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR

CUE THE PUMPKIN SPICE

I LOVE OCTOBER It’s the official start of the holiday season (I am looking at you, mass retailers — Halloween decorations in August are so not cool). And while I am not pulling out anything Christmasrelated yet, I am unpacking all my favorite fall sweaters and buying everything pumpkin flavored that I can get my hands on. I also found this incredible cocktail recipe last year that is like a fancy whiskey sour with vanilla and cinnamon and I can’t wait to start shaking those up again (email me and I’ll send you the recipe). But we aren’t all cozy socks and crackling fireplaces over here. October is also the perfect month to talk about changemakers. And just like in years past, we have found some incredible people and businesses that are changing our community — and the world — for the better. From the inspiring people at the Marin Foster Care Association to the lifesaving startup Jump Aero to climate change heroes, our friends

Bay FC’s Founding Four

Portrait by Becca Teal Batista; courtesy of Bay FC (below)

DISCOVER. NURTURE. CHALLENGE.

spotlight marin.

Courtesy of SFMOMA

YayoiKusama:InfiniteLove opens October 14 at SFMOMA

FRANCISCO SAN SAVE FOR DATE THE

Off the Grid’s (www.offthegrid.com)

Friday night food parties continue to draw crowds to Fort Mason Center. This month’s themes include Taco Takeover on October 6 and Kimchi + K-Pop on October 27. The 2023 San Francisco Fall Show (sffallshow.org) takes place October 12 to 15 at Fort Mason Center, with an Opening Night Gala on October 11. This year’s theme is La Dolce Vita. Art lovers in the Bay Area can experience YayoiKusama:InfiniteLove beginning October 14 at SFMOMA (www.sfmoma.org), and the presentation will include two Infinity Mirror Rooms. Kusama’s sculpture “Aspiring to Pumpkin’s Love, the Love in My Heart” (2023) will also be on display. “We are thrilled that Kusama’s new immersive artwork will have its West Coast premiere at SFMOMA, exciting and inspiring new audiences and longtime fans alike,” says Christopher Bedford,

the Helen and Charles Schwab Director at SFMOMA. Tony Award winner Alan Cumming is bringing AlanCummingIs NotActingHisAge to the Curran Theater (www.sfcurran.com) for one night on November 2. The cabaret show explores the topic of aging.

Francis Hulls (above); courtesy of San Francisco Fall Show and Chris Howard Antiques & Modern

Alan Cumming is performing in San Francisco for one night only (left); Gio Ponti model 803 midcentury Italian lounge chair, available at Chris Howard Antiques & Modern, during the S.F. Fall Show (below)

FLORALS AND FOOD

Marin Art and Garden Center’s (www.maringarden.org) showcase of contemporary botanical art continues this month. The 26th Annual International American Society of Botanical Artists exhibition is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays all October and features the work of established and emerging botanical artists. On October 12, Petite Left Bank (www.petiteleftbanktiburon.com) is hosting a Frank Family Vineyards Wine Dinner. Reservations are required for the evening, which features a six-course wine-paired menu.

SAY HELLO TO HARVEST SEASON

The Sonoma County Harvest Fair Grand Tasting (www.harvestfair.org)

returns on October 14 for an afternoon of the best of the county’s wine and food. Held at the Tasting Pavilion at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, the celebration of culinary delights also includes a classic car show, art exhibit and the World Championship Grape Stomp.

Courtesy of Mary Dillon and Connie Scanlon (above); www.stock.adobe.com/Elena (below)

“ ‘Go Lovely Rose,’ Rosa Ville de Roeulx” by Mary Dillon (left) and “Two Raspberries” by Connie Scanlon.

What is the number one thing that stops people from dating and how do you help them overcome it?

There are many reasons why people claim they have little interest in dating. The excuses range anywhere from the effort it takes to the expense (time and money), and includes everything in between. You name it, I’ve already heard it. But once you scratch the surface, the reason usually comes down to one — fear. Once I open my clients’ eyes to what’s at the root of their hesitation, we get to work on facing what’s scaring them most. Then, instead of fear, they have hope.

Why does one develop a fear of dating?

The biggest reason I’ve found why my clients fear dating is the likelihood of being rejected. Because of online dating, there is a much stronger emphasis on what a person looks like when choosing matches. Also, there appear to be so many more options, the idea that if you don’t like one match, you can just swipe and get another. But it’s an illusion. I’ve had so many clients still say to me there’s no one out there to date. I help my clients limit the pool by helping them make

informed choices. I help them pick people who would likely also pick them and who they may not pick themselves.

Do some people have a fear of dating?

I admit dating can be daunting at first, which is why people fear it. It can be hard to put yourself out there, be scrutinized and judged by others, and risk being hurt, especially if you’ve been hurt before. It’s not easy. And I get why some people would want to avoid it. But what I remind my clients is that the reward can far exceed the risk.

How can one overcome a fear of dating?

The best way to overcome a fear of dating is to get to the root of what’s making you afraid. I like to get to know my clients. We talk. Really talk. We discuss whatever they’re comfortable with that will give me added insight into not only who they’re looking for but, even more importantly, who they are. These discussions can include their past relationships, childhood, whatever makes them tick. Often, my clients learn something new about themselves in the process.

Founder Cassie Zampa-Keim believes you can overcome your fear of dating.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

This October, Bricoleur Vineyards (www.bricoleurvineyards.com) is donating $5 for each bottle purchased of Isla Rose Brut Rosé to the V Foundation for Cancer Research, and for every case of it purchased, Bricoleur’s owners will match the $60 donation. Bricoleur co-founder Sarah Hanson Citron was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year, making this a cause close to their hearts. Over at Harvest Table (www.harvesttablenapa.com), a J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines dinner will be held on October 20 in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. J. Lohr co-owner Cynthia Lohr will be hosting the evening event.

Bricoleur Vinyards’ Saran Hanson Citron and family; Isla Rose Brut Rosé; Sarah Hanson Citron

Mike Larson (above); courtesy of Bricoleur Vineyards

The 46th edition of the Mill Valley Film Festival (www.mvff. com) runs October 5 to October 15. This year’s program features workshops, panels, live musical performances and in-person appearances by filmmakers. The lineup includes West Coast, U.S. and world premieres of feature films and documentaries. Screenings take place in Mill Valley, San Rafael, Larkspur, San Francisco and Berkeley.

NEVER LEARNING STOP

On October 14, the Emeritus Students College of Marin (escom.marin.edu) is commemorating its 50th anniversary at Novato’s Jonas Center. The event’s keynote speaker is Ken Dychtwald, one of the world’s foremost experts on aging and longevity. “Based on my newly updated memoir, Radical Curiosity: My Life on the Age Wave, I’ll focus on why maintaining lifelong curiosity in today’s ever-changing world is such an important element of continual growth,” says Dychtwald.

Courtesy of Mill Valley Film Festival (above);

Zlochin (below)

OUT AND ABOUT IN

MARIN

On October 6 and 7, Marin Foster Care (www.marinfostercare.org) is hosting Blues & Brews at Pacheco Ranch Winery in Novato, with food, libations and live music. If you can’t make the event but still want to support local foster children, an online auction runs from October 6 to 9. The Sausalito Boat Show (www.sausalitoboatshow.com) debuts at Clipper Yacht Harbor October 13 to 15. The inaugural family-friendly event includes all things nautical, like yachts, sailboats, powerboats, gear and accessories, as well as food and live music. Bon Air’s annual Invitational Car Show (www.bonair.com) takes place on October 14. More than 100 American-made vintage restored cars will be on display at this free day of family fun, and there will be music and food, too.

MENTAL HEALTH PROGRESS IN MARIN

A former fire station in San Rafael will be converted into a shortterm residential facility for people with substance use and mental health conditions. The project will be funded by a $7.9 million dollar grant from the state and will be managed and operated by Buckelew Programs (www.buckelew.org). The fourth annual issue of the Let’s Talk and Let’s Start Talking booklets (www.letstalkmarin.org) have been sent out to the families of Marin County sixth and ninth graders. “This essential tool kit empowers families with proven tips and guidance to discuss difficult topics facing today’s youth, while fostering understanding, compassion and mutual growth — one conversation at a time,” says Kathy Koblick, public health division director of Marin HHS.

Courtesy of the Sausalito Boat Show; Let’s Talk Marin

A Stunning Setting for Elevated Events

the LIST

A look at special offers and new products from some of Marin’s favorite businesses.

By Caitlin Hamer

1 2 3

ADVANCED HYPERBARIC RECOVERY

Many people are turning to medical-grade hyperbaric oxygen therapy to boost their body’s healing process for conditions such as long COVID, anemia and burns. Soon, San Rafael’s Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery will be partnering with its sister entity, the HOPE for Healing Institute, to show the difference in cognitive function in patients before and after treatments. www.hyperbaricoxygentherapy.com

ALFRESCO HEATING

Just because the temperatures are cooling doesn’t mean you need to stop entertaining outside. Your outdoor heating needs are ready to be readily addressed by Alfresco Heating, which offers gas and electric permanent patio heaters as well as high-quality portable propane patio heaters. Start with a consultation to find the perfect product to warm your nights. www.alfresco-heating.com

SKYLAKE YOSEMITE CAMP

Since 1945, Skylake Yosemite Camp has been welcoming children to come together and enjoy classic camp activities like swimming, horseback riding and more. The sleepaway summer camp, which is located above Bass Lake in the Sierra National Forest, also hosts family camps on select summer weekends. Registration for 2024 is open now. www.skylake.com

studios (top); images courtesy of the brands

Double Your Impact.

Help Open the Doors: Generous donors will match every donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to an impressive $1M and growing.

You can turn a day spent in solitude into a day spent in laughter, learning, and companionship.

The Vivalon Healthy Aging Campus in downtown San Rafael at 999 Third Avenue caters to seniors’ essential needs: connections, affordable meals, and housing. It offers learning, activities, nutritious food, and 66 affordable homes, along with a medical clinic, all dedicated to Marin’s seniors.

We are deeply grateful to the following supporters for contributing to the matching fund: Dennis and Susan Gilardi, Marin Community Foundation, The Nancy P. and Richard K. Robbins Family Foundation, Rosenberger Family Fund, Muriel Harris, Jerry Cahill and Kathy King, The Kenneth and Joan Gosliner Foundation, Douglas Reilly and Rose Estrada, J. Patrick and Frankie Hunt, Destino Fund, Tom and Darby Bonomi, Charles and Barbara Goodman, Bill and Linda Tichy, Allan and Sydne Bortel, Grace Hughes and Family, and Dennis Fisco and Pam Polite.

Vivalon Healthy Aging Campus

BETTER BY DESIGN

Responsibly sourced and sustainably made furniture is no longer a far-fetched hope and these pieces are easier to find than you think. Here are updates to your decor you can feel good about.

By Casey Gillespie

Nicaraguan artisans. The pattern is inspired by the ornate tile work of Spanish Colonial architecture found throughout the Central American country. Available at MasayaCo Berkeley (1911 Fourth Street, Ste. 104, Berkeley) or www.masaya company.com, $1,335

The Linie Design Eternal Eye Rug by Urd Moll Gundermann is made of a luxuriously soft wool that meets the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), which means that the sheep farmers abide by thorough animal welfare and land management requirements. Definitely something to feel positive about. Available at DWR (Marin Country Mart) and www.dwr.com, $2,195

Jamie Young Co’s Jute Macrame Chandelier brings the outdoors in with its nautically inspired design. Jute is a renewable resource that can be farmed without harmful fertilizers and pesticides and is an eye-catching sustainable lighting upgrade. Available for order at Sunrise Home (831 B Street, San Rafael), $851

MasayaCo’s Masaya Rocking Chair is made from sustainably sourced wood and handcrafted by

Medium Small’s Lojai Side Table comes in Walnut with an oil-based, zero percent VOC and a

choice of three powder coat options (shown here in matte). All of the brand’s pieces are made in small batches in its San Francisco studio. The furniture is created to stand the test of time — truly an heirloom in the making. Available at www. medium-small.com, $2,550

Created by Sean Connors for Roche Bobois, the OISEAU Table Lamp was eco-designed and meets Bobois’ Eco8 criteria for eco-consciousness. We love the architecture of this lamp (shown here in Canaletto walnut) — a conversation starter if we ever saw one. Available at Roche Bobois (701 Eighth Street, San Francisco) and www.roche-bobois.com, $2,020

The Luba Armchair by Philippe Starck for Andreu World is a modern, sustainable take on the classic club chair. Not only does this product have a minimal carbon footprint, the FSC certification means it comes from reforested forests and with a Chain of Custody. Available at Andreu World (85 Second Street, San Francisco) and www.andreuworld.com, starts at $1,500

Outdoor Warmth, All Year Round

Outdoor Warmth, All Year Round

It’s evening. Guests are socializing in your outdoor living area. The cold fog is coming in, yet your visitors remain warm, thanks to expertly-selected and optimally-placed permanent outdoor heaters.

It’s evening Guests are socializing in your outdoor living area. The cold fog is coming in, yet your visitors remain warm, thanks to expertly-selected and optimally-placed permanent outdoor heaters

Alfresco Heating is Marin County's national patio-heating specialty company. They provide expert advice, high-quality permanent and portable gas and electric patio heaters, installation, and repair services. They would love to bring warmth to your outdoor living area!

Alfresco Heating is Marin County's national patio-heating specialty company. They provide expert advice, high-quality permanent and portable gas and electric patio heaters, installation, and repair services. They would love to bring warmth to your outdoor living area!

For a free phone consultation contact: 415-884-2880 | glow@alfresco-heating.com

For a free phone consultation contact: 415-884-2880 | glow@alfresco-heating.com

Recent 24-Gas-Patio-Heater Installation at Lagunitas Brewing, Petaluma

Recent 24-Gas-Patio-Heater Installation at Lagunitas Brewing, Petaluma

MAKING

Demystifying lab-born eats with a look at Finless Foods’ cell-cultured tuna.

WAVES

EVERYONE KNOWS THE saying about teaching a man to fish and you’ll feed him for a lifetime, but what if someone was taught to make fish instead? These days, that’s far from an outlandish idea.

In recent years, lab-grown meats have become a hot topic, being touted as an eco-friendly alternative to animal

agriculture, but it’s something that many diners have been hesitant to try. That’s not stopping Finless Foods (www.finlessfoods.com) from getting into the game, though; the Emeryvillebased company was founded in 2017 by Michael Selden and Brian Wyrwas with the intention of creating healthy,

sustainable and accessible cell-cultured seafood alternatives.

“To address the climate, sustainability and global challenges we face, and given the tight timeline we have, we need big swings and wildly innovative ideas,” says Shannon Cosentino-Roush, chief strategy officer at Finless Foods.

All images by Christina Schmidhofer

“Alternative seafood provides an additional source of supply that can be leveraged to meet the evergrowing demand for seafood without placing additional pressure on the ocean — especially given that we can’t take much more fish from the sea sustainably and in support of a thriving ocean.”

Creating a cell-based tuna was the clear way forward for Finless Foods as it embarked upon its mission. Per a UN report, tuna is the most consumed fish in the world; the unyielding demand on global stocks of this fish creates a challenge for sustainability, so it seemed like a good place to start. The company had its first cell-cultured seafood tasting in 2017, and since then they’ve been working on a cell-cultured bluefin tuna prototype.

Finless Foods’ cell-cultured bluefin tuna sashimi is made of 51 percent cell material (as in real bluefin tuna cells) and 49 percent plant-based materials, the latter of which are used to suspend the cell material so that it resembles, tastes and has the mouthfeel you expect from conventional sashimi. Just like its freshly caught counterpart, it’s intended to be prepared and served in the same way you would conventional seafood. To ensure there are no questions about the safety of consuming

their cell-based products, the company is fully transparent about the process of how the tuna gets made.

“We isolate the cells, grow them out in bioreactors (large steel drums like you would see in a microbrewery), and feed the components of the cell that it needs to grow (true even in our bodies), including salts, sugars and amino acids,” says Cosentino-Roush. “We then harvest the cells and use similar techniques found in traditional food production to create the prototypes or final products.”

As the company looks to commercialize the prototype, the team has been working on scale-up and optimization to drop the costs, and they’re in the process of undergoing regulatory approval, which would allow consumption and sale of the

tuna in the United States. Looking toward the future, there’s not necessarily an assumption that people will completely make the switch to seafood substitutes.

“We often say ‘and’ not ‘or’,” says Cosentino-Roush: the company aims to present plant and cellbased creations as complementary to our diets, giving consumers more choices while reducing stress on the ocean’s seafood supply. And the team is hopeful that the breakthroughs they make will further the conversation around the rapidly evolving food tech industry.

“We need to redesign and rethink so many of our systems, including the food system,” says Cosentino-Roush. “Now is the time for big ideas.”

All images by Christina Schmidhofer

Finless Foods creates cell-based tuna as a sustainable answer to overfished oceans.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

The holiday season — when things really start to get hectic — is the perfect time to plan a spa staycation. Whether it is for yourself or a holiday gift for someone special, here are a few of our favorite local retreats.

By Casey Gillespie

CAVALLO POINT LODGE

601 Murray Circle, Sausalito www.cavallopoint.com

If you are looking for a resort-type spa experience where you can spend some quality time relaxing and then partake in the other on-site amenities (namely the highly touted restaurant Farley or the cozy lounge for drinks and bites, Sula), then this is your place. We love the facials at Cavallo Point, but it is the entire experience that makes this spot a winner. Start your spa day with a soak in the hot tub or steam in the sauna (men’s and women’s facilities are separate), then make time to sip tea and nibble on healthy snacks in the relaxation area before being whisked away to your private treatment room. Cavallo Point uses a variety of products, but all of them contain sustainably harvested ingredients and all avoid petroleum-based components, harsh surfactants and parabens. If you want to delve a little deeper, then explore the spa’s healing arts services, which include experiences like energy work, hypnotherapy and meditation, among other modalities. It truly is a local escape like no other.

9 CORNERS MED-CRYO-SPA

208 Vintage Way, Ste. K29, Novato www.9corners.com

Imagine a spa that offers not only pampering treatments like facials and massages, but also healing modalities like acupuncture and cryotherapy. Well, no need to fantasize — this is a

reality at 9 Corners in Novato. Often referred to as a “health-style galleria,” the space is a respite from the hustle and bustle that lies just beyond its doors. Why not spoil yourself and pair your treatments? Our favorite duo is the whole-body cryotherapy chamber (shown to reduce inflammation, improve workout recovery times, encourage lean body mass and help

Courtesy of Cavallo Point Lodge

with chronic pain) followed by a visit to the full-spectrum infrared sauna (good for detoxing, improving circulation, burning calories, reducing pain and boosting mood). Ask about the Fire & Ice pain relief plan — available in five or 10 session packages — and benefit from biocode testing before and after the series of treatments. This might just be your best holiday investment yet.

HALEHOUSE SPA AT STANLY RANCH

200 Stanley Crossroad, Napa www.aubergeresorts.com

Not only is Halehouse one of our favorite hotel spas to splash out at, the luxury day spa offers a facial featuring one of our favorite local beauty brands, Botnia Skincare. Grown, formulated and produced in Sausalito, the Botnia line is touted for its highly effective cold-pressed organic products (if you haven’t tried them yet, this is a sign that it’s time). Stanly Ranch’s spa experience is immersive, so make time to enjoy the amenities and opt for the Halehouse Facial. It is customized exclusively for you at the time of your treatment with Botnia products and can change from season to season depending on your skin’s needs. Available either as a 60- or 90-minute treatment.

Courtesy of Botnia Skincare

Experience Botnia Skincare in the luxurious Halehouse Spa.

The outdoor relaxation area at Cavallo Point is like no other.

BELLE MARIN AESTHETIC MEDICINE

250 E. Blithedale Avenue

Ste. B, Mill Valley

www.bellemarin.com

Microneedling has been the minimally invasive go-to skin care trend for a few years now — and for good reason. So what is it? In a nutshell, very small needles are used to cause microtrauma to skin, stimulating the skin’s healing process, giving it a glowing, plumper, more gorgeous appearance. For the best results, a series of treatments is done with four to six weeks between each one. Belle Marin is our favorite spot for microneedling because it offers a number of treatments under this umbrella — you can opt for a traditional microneedling session (it can help reduce acne scars, minimize fine lines, help to firm skin,

address uneven tone) or depending on your aesthetic goals, try one of the more intensive treatments: Vivace Micro Needle RF (combines microneedling with fractional radio frequency and LED light therapy), Secret RF (pairs microneedles with radio frequency) or Secret PRO skin resurfacing (state-of-the-art technology that uses fractional CO2 laser energy with radio frequency microneedling to deliver noticeable improvements both on the skin’s surface and deep within the dermis). Be sure and ask about downtime; some treatments require more than others.

RESONANCE MARIN

26 Tamalpais Drive

Corte Madera

www.resonancemarin.com

Tucked away behind an unassuming storefront lies a vast space that transports you to a place of tranquility and healing. Word on the street is you can find the best massages in Marin at Resonance, but we have also been seriously eyeing one of the full body treatments as well (please Santa, a gift certificate would be divine). Included with your 60- or 90-minute session are amethyst infrared heating mats, tuning fork therapy and aromatherapy oils, as well as heavenly CBD creams, balms and serums and more. We love that the spa formulates its own line of clean products on site. And if you haven’t perused the retail space yet, we highly recommend doing so. Whether you are gifting yourself a little something post-treatment or doing some early holiday shopping, you are sure to find unique treasures here.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

- Winston Churchill

Vanguard Volunteers at Halleck Creek Ranch in Nicasio.

Halleck Creek Ranch - Inviting people with disabilities to live life without barriers through therapeutic horseback riding. halleckcreekranch.org

ALL IN

This Marinite — with no moviemaking experience — is debuting a feature film about one man’s escape from Auschwitz and how he finally learned to overcome his trauma and share his story.

By Daniel Jewett

JEANINE THOMAS, who splits her time between Maine and Marin, has done many things in life: opened a restaurant, worked with internet technology and in finance, had four kids and earned a master’s in psychology. But now she has two new titles to add to her resume — producer and filmmaker. And it all started at the poker table.

Thomas, who got into the card game as a way to bond with her then-husband who loved poker, found herself at a table in San Rafael in 2014 with a man who had an interesting story to tell: he said his grandfather had escaped Auschwitz.

“I said, ‘Nobody escaped Auschwitz, tell me the story,’ ” Thomas recounts. The man replied, “I’ll let him tell you himself.” After that, Thomas began speaking frequently with Herbert Heller in his San Rafael home, eventually bringing in cameras to record three years’ worth of conversation.

Although that footage was not used, the idea for a drama based on his life took hold and eventually resulted in the new movie Avenue of the Giants (www. avenueofthegiants.film), debuting at film festivals around the country this month, including at the Mill Valley Film Festival on October 11 and 12.

It took a health scare to convince Heller to finally talk about his past. “He had not told his story for 60 years because he didn’t want his family to look at him differently,” Thomas says. “He has three daughters and he told me, ‘I love

Elsie Fisher (above) plays a teenager in Marin, while Luke Blumm (below) plays a young Heller in Prague.

that they looked at me like their dad. I didn’t want them to look at me with pity.’ ”

Thomas joined forces with a consultant and started looking for screenwriters and capital. She went to another friend she had met while playing poker for philanthropic causes, Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander, who basically told her, “The Holocaust has been so overdone. We don’t want to see another Holocaust film.” That’s when Thomas decided to put a new spin on it, connecting the inability to let go of trauma in past generations with the malaise this young generation is feeling today.

“How do I give my children perspective on how good they have it?” Thomas asks. “The World War II generation doesn’t talk about anything that’s not fun or nice to talk about. And if we don’t do that, I think it just keeps adding up and getting passed down.”

The second screenwriter Thomas talked to, Oakland-born Finn Taylor, wound up being a perfect fit — he would go on to write and direct the film. But Covid and Thomas’ own cancer health scare nearly derailed the project … nearly. “They said I needed surgery and we don’t know what your life will be like after that,” Thomas says, adding that it was at that point that she gave up on trying to secure financing and decided to self-fund. “I said, ‘Well, I’ve got a film to make. So I’m going to make it through the surgery, and I’m going to make this damn film.’ ”

The movie was shot partly in Prague, focusing on Heller’s childhood there, with the young Heller played by Luke Blumm (Where the Crawdads Sing). The other half was shot in Marin, diving into Heller’s life in old age where, as a local toy store owner played by Stephen Lang (Avatar), he meets a young teenager, played by Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade), whose own brush with pain and death inspires him to talk and heal.

Although the film will soon make its debut, one man will never see it — Heller passed away two years ago. “Once I got the clearance from my doctors to travel, I flew right away to see Herbert,” says Thomas, who was recovering from her own medical trauma and still had no hair. “I spent a few days with him and said, ‘Herbert, I’m going to make this film and you will be known forever.’ ” It seems Thomas was right all along — the best way to heal from trauma is to tell your story.

Gabriela Hasbun

Producer and filmmaker Jeanine Thomas

By Annie Gieser

JUMP TO IT

LIFE IS ABOUT TO GET one step closer to being like an action-packed comic book. Superheroes can now literally fly to an emergency and save the day.

“Qualified superheroes — that’s what we call them because they truly are,” says Carl Dietrich, founder and president of Jump Aero (www.jump aero.com), a company bringing electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVOTLs) to first responders, cutting emergency response time in half.

In American suburbs and urban areas, the emergency response time is an average of 7.5 to 8 minutes. But in rural areas, that time doubles to an average of 15 minutes. “It really can mean the difference between life and death,” says Dietrich.

Jump Aero is aiming to target rural America and Dietrich estimates that the system will save 100,000 lives each year. It will make a big difference to people impacted by time-critical emergencies, including

heart attacks, strokes, car accidents or allergic reactions, where every second counts.

The response time for rural areas is so long because of the long distance to local hospitals, where many ambulances are based. To make matters worse, many of these local hospitals around the country are closing down, creating ambulance deserts: locations where on average it takes over 25 minutes for an emergency vehicle to arrive on the scene.

According to Dietrich, “4.2 million Americans live in ambulance deserts. It’s a problem that is bad today and getting worse.”

With Jump Aero, trained pilots and paramedics or EMTs will be based out of non-towered airports. eVOTLs are faster than a driven ambulance and quicker to fly than a helicopter, which has a thermal engine that needs time to heat up before takeoff.

This, of course, is exciting news for members of a rural community, but they shouldn’t expect it to be implemented just yet. Since it is an entirely new technology, Jump Aero has to prove the benefits are worth the cost before counties sign the service into their budgets. Dietrich’s plan is to approach the private market first by creating a subscription service for members of rural communities. Jump Aero also has plans to sell aircraft to firstresponse organizations that already have a flight department.

“Our goal is to get this technology out there saving lives, as soon as possible,” says Dietrich. And starting out privately is the way to introduce the service on a beta level. As rural communities see the benefits to Jump Aero from private customers, superheroes could soon be flying to the rescue throughout the country.

Courtesy of Jump Aero

Jump Aero is targeting rural areas and is estimating 100,000 lives will be saved as a result.

Now first responders can literally fly to the scene — saving precious minutes in emergencies.

We are searching for passionate sales executives like you who value the ability to express their professional opinion and enjoy working in a positive, transparent company culture. At MarinLiving you will have boundless room for professional growth and will benefit from an unrivaled commission structure. We function from a place of individual strengths and team support where goals are clearly identified and celebrated. Our CRM system is state-of-the-art and we have an open-territory structure — not to mention our casual work-from-home environment, ability to create your own schedule and unlimited vacation time. And most important, you have a love for creating marketing strategies for clients across multiple platforms and a passion for print. If this sounds like a perfect fit, send your resume to Jessica Cline and tell us how you can contribute to our success. jessica@marinlivingmagazine.com, 707.302.0850

YOU CAN START HAVING AN IMPACT ON A LOCAL LEVEL BY LENDING YOUR TIME TO ONE OF THESE NONPROFITS.

By Caitlin Hamer

AngE be the

be the change.

ADOPT A FAMILY OF MARIN

Since 1989, Adopt A Family has provided basic, short-term financial assistance to families to help them stabilize their lives and prevent homelessness. Volunteers are always needed, but the nonprofit’s annual Holiday Program is when the group needs the most aid. To start helping on a more immediate scale, go to the website to find the list of donation items that are needed, which range from new toys to kitchen, bath, personal and household items. www.adoptafamily.org

BREAD & ROSES PRESENTS

Just a year shy of its 50th anniversary, this nonprofit produces free, live music and entertainment for Bay Area children, adults and seniors who are disadvantaged, marginalized or otherwise isolated, providing them with the opportunity to experience the healing power of the arts. While volunteer musicians and program hosts are a constant need, Bread & Roses is also seeking volunteer hosts for the ongoing Adopt a Facility Initiative, which pairs volunteers with a particular facility audience. www.breadandroses.org

CANAL ALLIANCE

As a champion of immigrants who find themselves challenged by a lack of resources and a new, unfamiliar environment, Canal Alliance educates, empowers and supports

Latino immigrants and their families, helping them put food on the table, become U.S. citizens, learn English and graduate from college, breaking the cycle of generational poverty. Volunteers are sought for food pantry distribution in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood on Tuesdays and as ESL teacher’s aides and citizenship teacher’s aides. www.canalalliance.org

HALLECK CREEK RANCH

Located in the Nicasio valley, this nonprofit helps people with disabilities and their families live a life without barriers through equine-assisted activities and therapeutic horseback riding. With the addition of a new property, RockRose Ranch, landscaping volunteers are needed, but Halleck Creek Ranch provides a variety of other hands-on, long-term volunteer opportunities, like leading horses and doing horse paddock upkeep. No previous horse experience is necessary; you’ll receive training and education once you’re enrolled. www.halleckcreekranch.org

HOMEWARD BOUND OF MARIN

The main provider of shelter and services for homeless families and individuals in Marin,

Homeward Bound is working to end homelessness and create pathways to housing. There are multiple ways to get involved, but the biggest need at the moment is for meal providers at Jonathan’s Place shelter in San Rafael, the county’s only year-round emergency shelter for adults. Other volunteer positions include hairstylists, barbers and teams for cleaning. www.hbofm.org

LIFEHOUSE AGENCY

For almost 70 years, Lifehouse has been serving people with developmental disabilities, operating group homes and providing support to those who live and work independently. To help ensure these individuals have lasting care and a place in the community, Lifehouse relies on fundraising events like Great Chefs and Wineries, which will be held in April; sign up to volunteer at one of its events or consider making a donation. www.lifehouseagency.org

NORTH MARIN COMMUNITY SERVICES

This Novato-based nonprofit provides for those in need by offering critical resources and comprehensive services such as emergency rental assistance and child care. Its weekly food pantry serves 250 households in North Marin every Tuesday, and volunteers are sought for morning or afternoon shifts. This December, volunteers can also

participate in the annual Holiday Share program by collecting and distributing gifts to the community’s low-income families or by purchasing a gift from a child’s wish list. www.northmarincs.org

SAVE THE BAY

For more than six decades, this nonprofit has gathered community members to protect the San Francisco Bay. Through projects like transplanting native seedlings and removing invasive species, Save The Bay has preserved and restored thousands of acres of wetlands for the benefit of humans and wildlife alike. Volunteer opportunities can be found online; spend a day at one of the shoreline restoration sites or lend a hand at a plant nursery event. www.savesfbay.org

SF NEW DEAL

Building on a vision of a more vibrant San Francisco, SF New Deal was launched to help strengthen the city’s neighborhoods by making it easier for under-resourced small business owners to succeed. This fall, its focus is on the Vacant to Vibrant program, which activates community-driven pop-ups in vacant downtown storefronts. To get involved, lend your specialized skills like bookkeeping and financial literacy to help keep things running, or simply shop at the pop-ups to show your support. www.sfnewdeal.org

BY ANNIE GIESER

A NEW KIND

THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE BRINGS A TEAM TO THE BAY AREA AND SOCCER FANS ARE ALREADY CHEERING

THE BAY AREA HAS SCORED — AND SCORED BIG

don’t often get a chance to do,” Stewart says. “We have nine counties, 101 cities — it’s a huge area. Our goal is to bring the whole of the Bay Area together as fans of Bay FC.”

Bay FC is already making a name for itself, months before the team even starts kicking. “It’s hard to go to a sports park in the Bay Area right now and not see someone in Bay FC gear or see the sticker on the cars,” says Brady Stewart, the CEO of Bay FC, who came to the team after a long career in the brand industry, including a 14-year run at Levi Strauss & Co. Her switch to sports is all rooted in Bay Area pride.

“It feels like an opportunity to build a legacy, and that’s something in your career you

The new team started with an idea conjured by four old soccer friends: Danielle Slaton, Brandi Chastain, Aly Wagner and Leslie Osborne. Slaton and Wagner met as girls playing soccer together while growing up in San Jose. The four of them all joined forces at Santa Clara University — Slaton, Wagner and Osborne playing together with Chastain as a coach.

Inspired by L.A.’s now-famous team, Angel City FC (co-founded by Natalie Portman), the Founding Football Four chased the idea of bringing a team like never before to the Bay Area. The partnership, with investment firm Sixth Street, is bringing that dream to fruition.

“Sixth Street came into the picture and said, ‘Yes, we support your vision. We love this vision. And we want to do it right,’ ” says Slaton. And from there the ball started rolling.

Women’s soccer has been all the buzz lately, from Megan Rapinoe’s long fight for equal pay for women players to the viral French ad that deep-faked men’s bodies and faces over a women’s soccer team, highlighting that women players are just as incredible to watch as their male counterparts.

“It’s great to feel like we’re at this inflection point in women’s sports and that people are recognizing the value of this product that is women’s soccer,” says Slaton.

Bay FC joins in on the buzz, but aims for a higher goal: to unite the entire Bay Area with one outstanding team. This is seen in their logo: with a capital “B” that pays tribute to the Golden Gate Bridge. A team like this needs a home stadium — and that’s PayPal Park in San Jose, where they are investing more than $3 million in a facility for locker rooms, offices, training rooms and more.

“Hopefully we’re creating a world where 5-year-olds are not going to know a world that doesn’t include women’s sports and where female athletes are

IT WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT THE BAY AREA WILL BE GETTING ITS OWN TEAM IN THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE — BAY FC — AND IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF IT YET, COME OUT FROM UNDER THE ROCK YOU’RE UNDER

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023

being given the resources, the backing and the support that they deserve,” Slaton says. “Having little girls see that, but also having little boys see that, I think is incredibly important and empowering for all of us.”

The inaugural season starts in March 2024, but you can buy merch and sign up for tickets at www.bayfc.com — these are going to be the games you won’t want to miss out on.

“Our goal is to create a truly world-class fan experience in the stadium,” Stewart says. “We want that stadium to be full every time we play, and we want people to walk away truly feeling like they have had an incredible experience.”

From Los Gatos to Livermore to San Rafael — and every street in between — get ready to scream GOOOOOAL! for Bay FC.

MEET THE FOUNDING FOOTBALL FOUR

BRANDI CHASTAIN

Chastain played soccer at and graduated from Santa Clara University in 1990, is a two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a 2019 inductee into the California Hall of Fame. Chastain was born and raised in San Jose. “More than anything, Bay FC is meant for the fans and especially our young fans. Our commitment to community engagement and giving back will underscore the idea that soccer is not just about personal achievements, but also about making a positive impact.”

LESLIE OSBORNE

Osborne played soccer at and graduated from Santa Clara University in 2005, was a midfielder in the 2007 U.S. FIFA Women’s World Cup and is an NCAA national champion. Born in Wisconsin, Osborne moved out to the Bay Area to attend Santa Clara. “We want to sell out the games, connect with fans, and celebrate this significant milestone in the history of women’s soccer in the U.S.! This inaugural season is more than wins and losses — it’s building a foundation of excellence, sportsmanship and growth that will define Bay FC’s journey for years to come.”

FROM LEFT: CO-FOUNDERS BRANDI CHASTAIN, LESLIE OSBORNE, ALY WAGNER AND DANIELLE SLATON

ALY WAGNER

Wagner played soccer and graduated from Santa Clara University in 2002, is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a NCAA national champion and was the first female broadcaster to call a FIFA Men’s World Cup match on U.S. English-language television. Wagner was born and raised in San Jose. “We want Bay FC to be more than just a soccer club, and we hope to build a community where passion and camaraderie thrive. Seeing this team take the pitch in 2024 will be a true dream come true.”

DANIELLE SLATON

Slaton played soccer at and graduated from Santa Clara University in 2002. She is an Olympic silver medalist, NCAA national champion, 2003 U.S. FIFA Women’s World Cup defender and chair of the U.S. Soccer Yates Implementation Committee. Slaton was born and raised in San Jose. “Whether you’re in Marin, or whether you’re in Oakland, or San Jose or San Francisco, this team can be for you. We want it to be a part of you. And we want everyone to build this with us.”

“OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A TRULY WORLDCLASS FAN EXPERIENCE IN THE STADIUM.”

BRADY STEWART

THE FOUR BAY FC FOUNDERS ALL COME FROM IMPRESSIVE PROFESSIONAL SOCCER BACKGROUNDS.

an for future

Eye

the

These local changemakers are making advances in everyday consumer technology that could have big implications for slowing climate change.

By Amber Turpin

Here in the Bay Area, we are situated in a unique time and place. We are a community that is at the forefront of social and technological change in many ways, but whose physical location fosters a deep reverence for nature, for adventure and for awareness. In this Changemakers issue, we are spotlighting three local businesses that are engaged in environmental work and the ways in which they are making leaps and bounds.

CHANGEMAKER 01. lightship

Ben Parker and Toby Kraus were not co-workers at Tesla. But they both worked for the pioneering company during different generations of the vehicle and are now bringing those lessons to the forefront of their own company, Lightship RV (www. lightshiprv.com). Parker’s work as a battery engineer led him to a side project envisioning electric food trucks. And Kraus found himself at Tesla after a career in investment banking in New York ended during the financial crisis of 2007-08. Parker’s food truck idea morphed into a new concept after he took a road trip: What if the classic American hobby of taking an RV on the road could be sustainable? In 2021, Kraus heard about the idea and was sold. The two set out on a long RV trip (towing the RV behind a Tesla) and the rest is history.

The Lightship L1 concept was launched in March 2023: a solar-powered, electric RV that goes against all of our previous concepts of heavy, road-hogging vehicles. And while the co-founders think a lot about the

RV

mission and vision of Lightship, Kraus explains that it’s more interesting to think about the why. “The why is that there is an opportunity to bring electrification to a new demographic of people. The RV market is not your super typical early adopter electrification market. And the same goes for a typical RVer,” he says. Parker adds, “We both come from Tesla and we really believe in this idea that to sell sustainable products you must sell better products. In the case of RVing, we want to make a great electric RV and address a group of people who may not have exposure to that. It is sustainability by Trojan horse, the idea that once you buy this great electric RV it unlocks many other types of electrification in your life … so this can be a first point of use.”

The company is headquartered in the Bay Area as well as Colorado, both places where people have appreciation for nature. But the Bay Area is particularly well suited to this launch, as California is the largest RV market in the country. Like the first Tesla, which was sold in Marin County, the Lightship L1 is a premium vehicle in its first iteration. The co-founders see an opportunity for an entire industry to go electric, and

smart vehicle purchases are a way in which individuals can have an impact on climate. In addition, the L1 may be eligible for solar residential tax credits, and if you have a place to park it you can use it as a backup home generator (or to charge your EV from) while it charges from the sun. Kraus explains that this is “the nexus of electrification and the outdoors; there are few places more geographically relevant than the Bay Area for that.”

“We both come from Tesla and we really believe in this idea that to sell sustainable products you must sell better products.”

Courtesy of Lightship

CHANGEMAKER 02.

Rubi Laboratories

Leila and Neeka Mashouf are not only sisters, they are also the co-founders of a groundbreaking company that makes textiles from carbon emissions. Growing up in Northern California, surrounded by redwood forests, in an immigrant family who fled their home country of Iran during the 1979 revolution, the sisters became enamored of nature and the science of it. They also had direct experience with fashion through their family-owned brand, Bebe Stores. Neeka says that they spent summers learning from merchants, designers, production experts and manufacturers, magnetized by the beauty of fashion, but then later realized how devastating the environmental impact of this industry can be. Rubi Laboratories (www.rubi.earth) was born in 2021, the culmination of careers in research,

technology and bioengineering, as the sisters saw the opportunity to merge these inspirations and passions to make products that are better for the planet.

The ultimate aim of Rubi is to reinvent supply chains to be symbiotic with the planet. “We’re starting with fashion, but the entire manufacturing industry needs to be reinvented if we are to meet net-zero climate goals by 2050. More than many other industries, fashion is a big culprit speeding us toward further environmental catastrophe,” Neeka explains. “It is currently the third most CO2-polluting supply chain on the planet, mainly from textile production. It urgently needs affordable and scalable solutions rooted in cutting-edge science and technology to reinvent the way it operates.”

In simple terms, Rubi is converting CO2 into carbon-negative textiles. The input is CO2, and the output is cellulose, which is turned into textiles and eventually much-needed building materials and packaging. So instead of cutting down trees to get wood pulp — how man-made cellulosic fibers like rayon/viscose are made — they skip the need for trees entirely.

Fashion is just the beginning. “Our ambition is to scale our technology to become a plug-in to supply chains worldwide, not just within the textile space, but to any CO2-producing manufacturing facility,” Neeka says. “We really see ourselves as building the future of decarbonized supply chains and moving away from the detrimental supply chains we’ve had in the past to ones that can be planet positive and symbiotic.”

Courtesy of Rubi Laboratories

Rubi Labratories co-founders Neeka (left) and Leila (right) Mashouf

The name says it all, even if the concept is hard to grasp. In laymen’s terms, WeaveGrid is a software platform that helps connect electric vehicles to the electric grid and ensure they are charging at the right time for drivers and for the grid. This saves drivers money on users’ electricity bills and helps guarantee EV charging isn’t overloading the grid in any one location.

Co-founders CEO Apoorv Bhargava and CTO John Taggart raised their Series B funding in November of 2022 and have since watched the San Francisco–based WeaveGrid (www.weavegrid.com) grow to more than 80 employees. Bhargava explains that the power and the mobility industries have been separated until now. “We are at that moment where these two physical sectors are rapidly becoming integrated. Our mission is focusing on that integration effort, and to keep everyone paying the lowest cost possible and keeping things as green as possible,” he says. “The way that our company works is that we are able to use the batteries inside of every electric vehicle to help balance the amount of renewable energy on the grid and reduce the cost of electrification. If you think about the evolution of a zero emissions future, we have to find ways to bring down that cost, to make it an easier decision for consumers.”

It is not a coincidence that WeaveGrid is based here in the Bay Area — the co-founders are Stanford

grads, Taggard with a Ph.D. and Bhargava with an MBA. In school, Taggart focused on policy before moving to clean mobility and automotives after graduation, while Bhargava was in the clean energy field. Bhargava says that the Bay Area is at the center of electric vehicle use in the state, with one in five new cars sold here being electric, and one in three in San Francisco. “We are literally seeing the S curve, the inflection, happening here first,” Taggart says. “We are also living through a more fragile electric grid here with fires, etc. It has real consequences. So, we are hoping to scale the solutions, to prove out at this ground zero that you really can do this.”

Courtesy of WeaveGrid (above); Melissa Stafford/DG+Design (below)

Weavegrid

co-founder Apoorv Bhargava (above)

Community Minded

Nick Svenson Supports His Community

As someone who is out in the community every day, interacting with clients, businesses and other residents, I know how important and unique our slice of the Bay Area is. I also see firsthand the overwhelmingly positive impact that results from the work of our various county nonprofits. Inspired by their efforts, I have pledged to donate the bulk of my ad space this year to uplifting the efforts of groups like Lifehouse Marin, Halleck Creek, Homeward Bound, Great Expectations and the California Film Institute. Keep an eye for these ads and how you can help make Marin and even better place to live.

Nick Svenson | Compass nick@marinsfhomes.com | www.marinsfhomes.com | 415.505.7674 | DRE #01918616

Organic to the Core Since 1969

Good Earth is an independent natural and organic grocer, proudly serving Marin since 1969. From our early days at 123 Bolinas Road to today, we’ve remained committed to advocating for a healthier and more sustainable food system, and providing our community with the highest quality organic food available. With locations in both Fairfax and Mill Valley, Good Earth offers the largest selection of organic takeout in Marin, as well as a carefully curated mix of products from pantry staples and bulk goods, to artisan cheese and 100 percent organic produce.

www.genatural.com | questions@genatural.com

Fairfax | 720 Center Boulevard, Fairfax, CA 94930 | 415.454.0123 Mill Valley | 210 Flamingo Road, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415.383.0123

Making a Difference in Marin

The Bowman Real Estate Group had the opportunity to work alongside Vanguard Properties Marin to help Halleck Creek Ranch complete some important ranch maintenance activities. Halleck Creek Ranch is an amazing Marin County nonprofit that provides Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) and therapeutic horseback riding for people all over the Bay Area. After cleaning out water troughs and harvesting fruit from the many fruit trees at the ranch, we left with a true appreciation for all that Halleck Creek does for our community. We will be featuring them on our next episode of American Dream TV

Bowman Real Estate Group Vanguard Properties | team@bowmanrealestategroup.com www.bowmanrealestategroup.com

Bay Area Design

Marin Living is thrilled to honor the Bay Area’s top designers, architects, realtors and home-goods providers. In the pages that follow we will provide you with an inside look at the Bay Area’s design industry leaders. Discover what sets them apart from their competitors as we spotlight their unique talents, projects, services and products.

Jennifer Wundrow

Interior Design, Inc.

Jennifer Wundrow

Dare to dream of a home you never thought possible.

What is it about your projects that make them a great choice for clients? Designing your home is a personal process and one that should be entered into with someone you feel like you can trust to always have your best interest in mind. For me, it is not about the size of the project or trying to push an agenda to require clients to spend a ton of money. It is about creating a home that you love.

Why is good design important? Your home is your sanctuary. It is the place where you raise your family and entertain friends and it is the

Jennifer Wundrow Interior Design, Inc. 534 Belle Avenue, San Rafael, California 94901 415.294.2554 | design@jenniferwundrow.com www.jenniferwundrow.com | /@jenniferwundrow

place where you should feel the most comfortable. Working with a professional to establish what this means for you and bringing it to life in a way you never dreamt possible is why we do what we do. Good design comes in many different forms, but all good design has a positive impact on those who surround themselves with it.

What sets your business apart from the pack?

I like to think that we can design for anything and anyone. I don’t pigeonhole myself or my team to design homes that only appeal to one particular style.

bay area design

The Werner Group

A

What is it about your business that makes it a great choice for clients?

Our team approach centers on the understanding that every client’s needs are unique. We create a marketing approach that precisely aligns with our clients’ individual real estate goals. At times, we facilitate property sales, while on other occasions, we provide valuable guidance. Our clients appreciate our genuine commitment to their best interests.

Why is good design important?

In my view, good design is synonymous with flow. A thoughtfully laid-out house exudes a positive atmosphere and evokes a pleasant feeling that tends to resonate with everyone. When

preparing a home for sale, the artful selection of elements like flooring, paint palette, light fixtures, hardware and beautiful staging can profoundly enhance the space, creating a heightened sense of flow and overall appeal.

What do you want people to know about your business?

Our business is relationship-based. The transaction itself represents just a fraction of our broader commitment to our clients. We advise our clients throughout their homeownership journey to maximize their return on investment when it comes time to sell. Our ultimate objective is to empower our clients to achieve their financial real estate goals.

Lei Ann Werner | The Werner Group | Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty 415.710.0117 | l.werner@ggsir.com | DRE #00994572

Lei Ann Werner

unique approach helps clients achieve their real estate goals.

bay area design

System Pavers

Beautiful outdoor spaces you can share with friends and family for years to come.

What is it about your business that makes it a great choice for clients?

As one of the nation’s leading outdoor remodeling companies, System Pavers has been transforming outdoor spaces for more than 30 years. Over those three decades, we’ve perfected our design, craftsmanship and commitment to homeowner satisfaction. Our specialties include everything from paving stone driveways, walkways and patios to outdoor kitchens, fire pits, artificial turf, outdoor elements, lighting and more.

What sets your business apart from the pack?

Because we’re a full-service outdoor remodeling company, we do it all from product selection and design to project management, installation and cleanup. However, it’s our dedication to meeting and exceeding expectations that sets us apart. We work hard to ensure every homeowner has an outdoor remodeling experience that feels professional and goes smoothly from start to finish.

How are you thinking outside the box?

Our award-winning work combines timeless craftsmanship and a focus on durability with forward-thinking innovation to ensure we are continuously staying ahead of the curve. We incorporate cutting-edge technology into our design process to enhance the homeowner experience as we help bring their outdoor living dreams to life.

System Pavers

www.systempavers.com

877.728.3778

bay area design

Sutton Suzuki Architects

Ron Sutton and Elizabeth Suzuki

A well-designed space has many positive impacts.

Why is good design important?

Design influences what we think and the way we feel. A well-designed space is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it tends to feel more cohesive and can have a positive psychological effect on the user.

What is it about your team that makes it a great choice for clients?

With a diverse team of highly experienced passionate people, we can tackle various aspects of architecture comprehensively. Client-centric and adaptable, we enjoy working collaboratively to achieve solutions.

What sets your design approach apart when it comes to improving a property?

We always offer our clients design options and carefully review the pros and cons of each. Not only does this allow us to explore the possibilities of their unique site, making sure we are capturing the best views, etc., but it also helps us better understand our clients and allows them to consider their own needs and wants more thoughtfully.

What unique services do you offer clients?

Our clients have always benefited from our proactive, and free, initial consultation. We come prepared with the location, of course, the property itself (size of property, slope, adjacencies as well as size of house, if existing) and applicable zoning code. We confirm the jurisdiction and all related zoning info to know as much about the property as we can before meeting with folks.

Sutton Suzuki Architects

39 Forrest Street, Ste. 101 Mill Valley, CA 94941 415.383.3139

www.suttonsuzuki.com

bay area design

bay area design

Paulina Perrault Interiors

Paulina Perrault

Creating beautiful and joyful living spaces.

What is it about your business that makes it a great choice for clients?

I have been in the business of interior design for over 25 years. In that time, I have accumulated the knowledge and experience to create beauty that exists in parallel with feasibility, constructability and usability. We call it practical luxury — the ability to envision and create beautiful and joyful living spaces that meet our clients’ needs and budgets, while expertly guiding them through the often complex journey of design and construction.

What sets your business apart from the pack?

There are two things that really set us apart — our communication skills and our deep understanding of construction. Professional, communicative and deeply invested in each and every project, we are wired for relationships. We are also highly collaborative, committed to process and masters of detail. We are an architect’s designer and we forge trusting and synergistic relationships with the architects and contractors we work with.

How can your business approach help clients have a better experience?

We are consummate listeners. We take the time to know and understand our clients’ vision and dream for their home.

Paulina Perrault Interiors

85 Liberty Ship Way, Ste. 112, Sausalito, CA 94965 | 415.941.4222 info@paulinaperrault.com www.paulinaperrault.com @paulinaperraultinteriors

©Laura Reoch

Lauren’s Interiors

Lauren Hosmer

Interior design and decorating services tailored for your needs.

What unique services do you provide to help your clients enjoy beautiful living?

I provide high quality California modern/eclectic interior design and decorating services for your home remodel, home refresh as well as commercial spaces at an hourly rate that is flexible to your needs. There’s no project too small or too large for me so even if you’re looking for a quick consultation to get your project started, I’m the one you’re looking for. I work on new builds, renovations, color consultations and interior furnishings in the Bay Area.

How are you helping clients feel good about themselves?

I will make sure to organize your project as much as possible to make your design process and selections clear to navigate. I work well with everyone involved in your new upgrades; tradespeople, vendors, contractors, architects and developers. Good relationships with all parties involved is super important for the process to work smoothly.

How are you disrupting your industry and thinking outside the box?

Some interior design companies markup furnishings but I don’t like that process. Since I started in this industry in 2011, I have actually given a discount to my clients so that they can make back some of my service cost. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Lauren’s Interiors

East Bay, California

707.367.3211

laurensinteriors.info@gmail.com

www.laurensinteriors.com

/@laurensinteriors

bay area design

Infinity Vans

Hasan Sume and Cemil Hope

Live your best van life with these easy and affordable conversion kits.

What is it about your products that makes them a great choice for clients?

What sets us apart at Infinity Vans is our commitment to revolutionizing van conversions. We provide innovative solutions that make van conversion accessible, efficient and affordable, all without compromising quality. Our focus is on simplifying the conversion process through a comprehensive kit that streamlines every step from design to installation.

Why is good design important?

Good design is paramount in all that we do. Our commitment to exceptional design is influenced by Scandinavian principles of simplicity, functionality and aesthetic appeal. We’ve blended the best of both worlds from Apple’s innovation and Ikea’s practicality to create a unique approach to van customization. Our products embody stylish aesthetics with smart functionality, making van conversions quicker, easier and more cost effective without compromising quality.

What sets Infinity Vans apart from the pack?

What sets Infinity Vans apart is our dedication to innovation and quality. We’re not just van builders; we’re designers, creators and trailblazers committed to transforming van life with ingenuity and excellence. Plus, my bother and I are Marin natives.

Infinity Vans

335 Ohair Court, Ste. B, Santa Rosa, CA 94904 707.216.1761

info@infinityvans.com

www.infinityvans.com

@infinity.vans

bay area design

Dorman Associates, Inc.

Chris Dorman AIA

Inspirational spaces created with meticulous attention to detail.

What is it about your projects that makes them a great choice for clients?

We are a medium-sized firm with a small-firm feel. With Dorman Associates you will always get the optimism of creativity and the wisdom of experience. Our projects reflect the uniqueness of each client and site, with timeless appeal to a broad audience.

Why is good design important?

We enhance design by considering the sun, wind and the setting to create architecture with indoor/ outdoor flow, generous, functional and light-filled gathering spaces, and attention to detail like built-in storage and cozy nooks.

What sets your business apart?

Dorman Associates stands out in offering both architectural and interior design services, allowing us to create inspirational spaces not only through the manipulation of space and light, but through color, texture and furnishings, too. The finished product is harmonious, reflecting the client’s personal taste, enhanced by the guidance of an experienced architect.

How are you thinking outside the box?

We use state-of-the-art three-dimensional computer software that allows our clients to virtually walk through the design long before construction starts, ensuring no surprises or expensive design changes.

Dorman Associates, Inc.

229 Flamingo Road, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415.380.7914 | cd@dormanassociates.com

www.dormanassociates.com

bay area design

City Ventures

Andrea Duff

Choose from options that will make your home the sustainable house of your dreams.

What is it about your projects that make them a great choice for clients?

At City Ventures we create vibrant new neighborhoods in a variety of locations across California. Our options are tailored to buyers’ interests and specific to each engaging neighborhood. Our sales team works with each homebuyer to pick a package that fits their budget and their style.

Why is good design important?

First impressions are important and good design can make or break our potential homebuyers’ idea of what we do and who we are. It is the essential of what makes a property a home and with good design we have a huge opportunity to enhance our buyers’ perception and capture them from the very start. We use design to express ourselves. We use design to innovate. Most important, we use design to make a home “your” home.

What sets your business apart?

We place a high value on the integration of industry leading green and renewable energy technologies. We know this is important to buyers too and City Ventures believes we can make a difference together. These innovative energy efficient homes are solar powered, good for a green earth and a green wallet. And these aren’t costly add-ons, we make these features attainable by including them in the price of the home. Our solar panel systems are included and owned, no additional cost and no lease payments.

www.cityventures.com

andrea@cityventures.com

/cityventures | city_ventures

bay area design

Archive Modern Homes

Neil Henk and Todd Fischer

Discover the unique benefits of a design-build project.

What do you want people to know about your business?

Archive Modern Homes is set on shifting the design and construction industry to an integrated approach. It took me a good decade to understand how design-build could work better, and I figured out how to operate most effectively. I am a graduate of SCIArc and have been designing for 20 years. Todd has been building for over 30 years in a variety of environments.

What makes your approach unique?

We can design or build, or designand-build. If not hired for the design, we can come in early with the project architect and engineer. With our in-field expertise, we support the integrity of the architectural plan and help balance schedules and budgets. With design-build, the project can evolve with the client. We get the ball rolling with a permit set, start the work and continue designing as we go. At least 10 percent of design calls that take the project from good to great are made in the field. This organic process allows us to create beauty that is inherent to the client’s function and environment.

How do you offer your clients the ultimate in customer service?

We are always available and focused on communication. We like to build relationships — we interview clients as much as they interview us, so we know it will be a good partnership.

Archive Modern Homes

415.309.7314

www.archivemodern.com

Lic. #977993

bay area design

Clipper Yacht Harbor

KC Pedersen

Constant design innovation keeps this harbor at the top.

How are you implementing great design at the harbor?

We are now in the process of replacing our existing wood docks with a state-of-the-art docking system through Bellingham Marine. We are installing the second electric boat charger in the Bay Area, wanting to be a leader and encourager for that industry. We realize that if you remain stagnant, you are going to fall behind.

What unique products do you offer?

We pride ourselves as being a one-stop shop. On site we have over 600 wet and dry berths, a boat yard, marine mechanics, rigging shop, fuel dock, bait shop, yacht sales, boating school, fishing charters, divers, boat cleaners, a restaurant and the list keeps going.

Clipper Yacht Harbor | 310 Harbor Drive, Sausalito, Ca 94965 415.332.3500 | info@clipperyacht.com | www.clipperyacht.com

Stroub Construction

Stephen Stroub and Jordan Guthrie

Building beautiful, functional and longlasting homes.

What is it about your business that makes it a great choice for clients?

We provide a personalized construction experience tailored to each client’s individual needs and aesthetic. Our standards are high and we work with the client to provide a fair price. Our team is dedicated to you and your remodeling experience.

Why is good design important?

A good design is the foundation of any building. It’s what makes someone stop and take a moment to absorb something that is not only a building, but a piece of well-thought-out architecture.

Stroub Construction | s.stroub@stroubconstruction.com j.guthrie@stroubconstruction.com www.stroubconstruction.com | @stroubconstruction

300 Main Street, Sausalito, CA 94965 415.331.0621 | CSLB Lic. #489037

bay area design

Alfresco Heating

Eric Kahn, Founder Outdoor Warmth, All Year Round

What is it about you, your business that makes it a great choice for clients?

Alfresco Heating helps you to create your patio haven, which offers an inviting, safe, open-air visiting space, and expands your living area all year round. We offer phone and on-site consultations, sales, installations and service. Tell us what you have in mind, send photos and measurements of your space, and give us a budget. We will help you plan a warm, comfortable outdoor-entertainment area, provide patio heaters and can competently install them, too.

Why is good design important?

Placement of patio heaters is just as important as selecting the appropriate ones.

going places.

Courtesy of Keswick Hall

FALL BREEZES AND AUTUMN LEAVES

From fly-fishing to getting out on the water with Sausalitobased electric boat company Candela, fall is made for adventure.

Keswick Hall, located in Virginia, has just undergone a major renovation and offers a bevy of activities to guests, including a fly-fishing program.

LIKE A FISH TO WATER

EV giant Polestar has partnered with Swedish electric boat maker Candela and the result is nothing short of spectacular.

By Nick Czap

EVERY GAME-CHANGING COMPANY has an origin myth. In the case of Candela (www.candela.com), the Swedish electric boat manufacturer that opened a test drive center in Sausalito in April 2022, it began with an ice cream run. While vacationing in the Stockholm archipelago in 2013, Gustav Hasselskog, a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur, set off for the local fuel dock in a Bertram V8 powerboat to buy ice cream for his sons. While his sons enjoyed the treat, Hasselskog mused that thanks to the inherent inefficiencies of internal combustion engines and traditional motorboat design he’d just burned $50 in fuel to buy $5 worth of frozen desserts. Furthermore, he calculated, a 28-foot powerboat consumed 15 times more energy than a car.

As with automobiles, the solution to this imbalance lay in electrification, but a high-speed electric boat would only have sufficient range if the friction generated by a conventional hull were drastically reduced. In 2014, to that end, Hasselskog founded Candela, hiring a team of engineers with expertise in structural composite engineering, hydrodynamics, dynamic modeling, drone control systems and fighter jet flight control electronics, the latter especially pertinent, for the only way to significantly reduce drag was to build a boat that could fly. In 2016, Candela’s prototype achieved a target of more than 50 nautical miles at a speed of 22 knots on a single charge. Its secret weapon? Two hydrofoils, one near the craft’s center of gravity and a second,

All images courtesy of Candela

smaller one in the aft, which removed 50 percent of the drag compared to a conventional, planing boat.

In 2018, Candela began building its first series production boat, the C-7, powered by a 40 kWh lithium ion NMC battery pack and propelled by a pivoting, aft-mounted electric motor. A computer-controlled foil system that adjusted the angle of attack 100 times per second delivered an uncannily smooth ride, even in choppy waves of the sort you frequently encounter in San Francisco Bay. The first C-7 was sold in Sausalito, followed by several more to buyers from the Silicon Valley tech industry. A total of 32 units were sold worldwide.

Candela’s current model, the C-8, which is available in daycruiser and center console variants, is as striking as the

technology that drives it — the minimalistically sleek carbonfiber hull and radically efficient dual-motor twin-propeller propulsion unit called the C-POD, both designed and manufactured entirely in-house in the firm’s Stockholm facility. The C-8’s 69 kWh battery, meanwhile, is the same one that powers the all-electric Polestar 2 car. Candela chose batteries from Polestar — headquartered in nearby Gothenburg — because of the unmatched safety and reliability testing that automotive batteries undergo and because they would give the C-8 and future models access to marine DC chargers, enabling owners in Sweden and the Mediterranean to travel several hundred nautical miles in a single day.

Incidentally, the partnership between Candela and the famously design-focused Polestar didn’t end with electrons. Maximilian Missoni, Polestar’s head of design, is a boat aficionado, and when the idea of a collaboration arose, he was thrilled. The result: the Candela C-8 Polestar edition, whose bespoke solid gray exterior and lighter gray interior colors and matching upholstery impart a cloud-like lightness. And when the $450,000 limited-edition craft rises from the surface, it reveals a pair of hydrofoils in the same Swedish gold color that highlights the performance details of Polestar’s cars.

As with its predecessor, local interest in the Candela C-8 is intense. Because for a flying electric boat and an audience of tech-loving aesthetes, could there ever be a better rendezvous than Sausalito and the endlessly inviting waters of San Francisco Bay?

Candela’s newest model, the C-8, uses the same battery as the allelectric Polestar 2 car.

CASTAWAY

Hotels and resorts in the U.S. are bringing the sport of fly-fishing new fans through programs catering to women, couples and wellness seekers.

By Casey Hatfield-Chiotti

I NEVER THOUGHT I was the type of person who would enjoy fishing. I love the outdoors, but I like my adventures with a dose of adrenaline and cardio. Fishing sounded too slow-paced, like the type of activity men did lazily with their buddies while drinking cans of cold beer. When we began spending more time in Central Oregon in 2020, my husband

The adults-only green o in Montana offers a long list of adventurous activities, fly-fishing among them.

took up fly-fishing, an angling technique that uses a lightweight lure and artificial bait resembling a fly or other insects to attract and catch fish. He told me about the beautiful scenery, solitude and quiet that came with every excursion. Last year, we booked a fall trip to the green o, the adults-only retreat at The Resort at Paws

Stuart Thurlkill

Up (from $2,140 per night for two people; www. pawsup.com) in Montana. The resort is on a 37,000-acre working cattle ranch, 45 minutes east of Missoula, and is known for its long list of adventurous activities that immerse guests in the Western lifestyle glamorized in shows like Yellowstone . I was more excited about doing a cattle drive and other horseback riding activities,

but I still signed up for a fly-fishing excursion to appease my husband. The free-flowing Blackfoot River (where the novel A River Runs Through It is set) snakes its way through the resort. If there were anywhere to try fly-fishing, this would be it.

Our guide, Greg Stohrer, met us at the resort’s Wilderness Outpost one afternoon. He had just graduated from college and was enjoying one last fall season working at The Resort at Paws Up before starting a job in finance on the East Coast. We jumped in the back of an SUV hauling a 13-foot-long gray fishing raft with a center frame and drove for 10 minutes until we reached the put-in. Greg swiftly backed the boat into the water. The leaves on the cottonwood and aspen trees lining the river were beginning to change from bright green to yellow, and the afternoon sun turned the surface of the blue-green river pale gold. Greg, who sat in the boat’s center while we sat in elevated seats on either end, set up our fly lines and gave us a quick tutorial.

I loved the rhythmic motion of casting the rod and gently flicking it — known as mending — so the fly looked natural on the moving current. The beauty of the landscape instantly put me at ease and I was surprised by how badly I wanted to catch a fish. It was not so easy. While the Blackfoot teems with rainbow cutthroat and brown trout and Rocky Mountain whitefish, I found it mentally challenging to go through the steps, detect a bite and then raise my arm to hook the fish at just the right time with the right amount of force. Greg asked if we had ever fished in a whirlpool. “No, definitely not,” my husband and I both said with a laugh. Greg maneuvered the boat into a pool of bubbling white water, the boat bobbing side to side, and told us where to cast our lines. Within

seconds, I had a bite; I pulled back firmly, just hard enough to set the hook, and began reeling in. I had caught a large brown trout. I was genuinely elated as my husband snapped a picture of me holding it — auburn scales glistening in the sun. Greg helped me gently slide the fish back into the river.

“There’s a primal aspect to hunting and fishing as a way to survive. I think we’re connected spiritually to those activities,” Ben Pepe, the manager of activities and fishing at The Resort at Paws Up, explained to me later in an interview.

Pepe grew up fly-fishing with his father in Montana. He has seen an uptick in participation in recent years and the sport’s culture change dramatically. While it used to be a “country club sport” that primarily appealed to older men, he believes there’s a new “cool” factor.

Guests get a taste of cowboy life at The Resort at Paws Up (above); the resort’s tranquil cabins (below).

He sees college kids, young families and women fishing regularly. The resort also has two female fishing guides on staff for the first time this year. The appeal lies more in the rugged exposure to nature and the “wellness and spiritual” aspect rather than being catered to on a luxury fishing trip.

Across the U.S., resorts and outfitters are diversifying fly-fishing offerings to attract more people to the sport. Land of Enchantment Guides (www.loeflyfishing. com), an Orvis-endorsed outfitter in New Mexico, offers fly-fishing experiences like Spirituality Through Fly-Fishing, a trip geared toward finding inner peace and harmony with the natural world. Also in Montana, Montage Big Sky (www. montage.com/bigsky) offers a meditative fly-tying workshop more like an art class, where guests craft intricate and lifelike flies.

At Paws Up, the Cowgirl Spring Roundup, a women’s-only weekend with fly-fishing, was so popular that the resort added a fall weekend in 2020. Expert angler Mindy Marcum, the resort’s director of special projects, teaches women the art of fly-fishing during a half-day excursion. “I think women are realizing this is a sport we can stand next to the men in. The line, the rod, the flies don’t care who you are as long as you are presenting them to the fish on the water with finesse,” says Marcum. The resort is also making fishing accessible year-round. There’s a new fly-fishing demonstration program where guests, from families to avid fishermen, can learn casting from shore. A new ice-fishing program will debut this winter.

Stuart Thurlkill

voyager.

Fall, when the water temperatures cool — resulting in happy fish — and the mayflies are hatching, is a stunningly beautiful time to fish and visit Montana. The secluded green o is about half a mile from the resort’s main village. At a higher elevation than the other accommodations and including glamping tents and cabins that are big enough for families, it’s the only place on the property where slender tamarack pine trees grow. Their needles drop in autumn, creating yellow brick road–like pathways through the stand-alone accommodations, contemporary “hauses” in different configurations. Ours, a Tree Haus, had a spiral

staircase leading up to two stories of indoor-outdoor living space.

After our fishing trip, we hurried back to our room to change and then went to dinner at the clean-lined Social Haus. The restaurant and lounge exclusive to guests of the green o, has floor-to-ceiling glass on three sides. We sat near the cylindrical glass fireplace at the center of the restaurant and devoured a tasting menu that included a dish of wagyu beef served alongside a Blackfoot River rock. While we certainly had not fished or hunted for our meal, we were tasked with searing the perfectly marbled slices of meat on the sizzling rock. The mineral smell brought me back to the river.

Whereas fly-fishing used to be a seasonal endeavor, it’s now a yearround activity.

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

These hotels and resorts in the U.S. also have fly-fishing programs with a wellness bent.

Outside Park City, The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection (from $1,899 per night; www.aubergeresorts.com), has seasonal, guided fly-fishing trips on mountain lakes and challenging mountain streams. Guests can learn the etymology of fly selection and be still and reflective in nature.

The Chatwal Lodge (from $1,200 per night; www.thechatwallodge.com), inspired by the golden era of Catskills lodges, is in the heart of East Coast fly-fishing country. Complimentary fly-fishing and fly-tying classes are offered twice a week, and more advanced anglers can go on guided “away from all distractions” excursions to famous trout streams such as the Beaver Kill and Willowemoc.

Keswick Hall (from $463 per night; www.keswick.com) in Charlottesville, Virginia, recently reopened after a four-year closure and top-to-bottom renovation, debuting an awardwinning golf course, spa, infinity pool, culinary program overseen by Jean-Georges and many outdoor adventures, including guided naturefilled fly-fishing outings.

The lakefront resort Shore Lodge (from $260 per night; www.shorelodge.com) in McCall, Idaho, 2.5 hours outside Boise, offers abundant bait- and fly-fishing. McCall has more than 200 lakes within a 30-mile radius. The resort’s concierge provides guests with the best uncrowded spots for catching cutthroat trout, chinook salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and more, with rugged mountains as the backdrop.

Clockwise from top: courtesy of The Lodge at Blue Sky; Shore Lodge; Keswick Hall

voyager.

The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection (above); Keswick Hall (left); Shore Lodge (below).

Lucas Mancini

The financial well-being of a non-profit like Lifehouse is intricate. It takes high level tools, technologies, and teamwork to provide security and confidence for an organization with a $33 million budget that continues to grow with each year. The Finance Team collaborates closely with the leadership team to fine tune systems and protocols to provide scalability and most importantly, stability to the services and programs that Lifehouse provides.

Lucas Mancini graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. When Lucas was looking for his first job after college, he knew that he wanted to work close to home and apply his degree to assist a business in his own community. He quickly became invested in helping Lifehouse reach the best possible outcomes for the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) they support. He’s seen many changes in the organization over the past two years and consistently looks for opportunities to improve and create better systems to empower Lifehouse employees to run programs smoothly.

“Lifehouse is a place of great culture and love for the people that we support. You can feel that energy permeating through everyone here. Not only do I get to support people with I/DD in leading full lives but Lifehouse motivates me to do the same for myself,” says Lucas. He has been inspired to go the extra mile, volunteering at Lifehouse events like Great Chefs and Wineries or the Annual Awards Banquet. It has allowed him to explore the community and fundraising side of the organization, helping him understand the agency better as a whole.

The intangible ‘it factor’ that Lucas feels working for Lifehouse provides a foundation of respect and purpose for it’s employees and for the people with I/DD they support alike. It is perhaps the greatest gift that Lifehouse gives to the community.

For almost 70 years Lifehouse has been dedicated to ensuring that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are accepted, have a place in our community and are able to lead full lives.

‘A Career That Motivates’

ABOUT LAST NIGHT.

On August 24, we partnered with Tri Counties Bank to celebrate the Bay Area’s influential leaders at the newly opened co-working space AvantSpace in San Rafael. While Todd Maltbie was on hand pouring Patz & Hall wines, The Caviar Co. was serving up caviar bumps for guests. The night was a huge success, all in honor of local Visionaries.

01. Dane Moler and Mark Machado 02. Bonnie Campbell and Leah Wilson 03. The Caviar Co. 04. Tri Counties Bank’s Charlie Clifford 05. Susan Hewitt and C.J. Nakagawa 06. Brianne Rhodes and Benjie Upcher 07. Evelyne Michaut, Neil Henk, Katrina Southard and Bronwyn Wrobel 08. Todd Maltbie

ABOUT LAST

Katie Ravas and Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography

Jay Pritzer, Annie Gaia, Kosha Dillz, Greg Lupus and Adam Swig 02. Mary Zhu and Amay Agarwal

An attendee at the Sosie Wines stall

Picnic bites

The colorful offerings 06. Phil Ginsburg, Emily Ginsburg, S.F. Mayor London Breed and Matthew Goldman 07. The Flaming Lips 08. Lisa Goldman and Doug Goldman

Return to a time when attention to detail mattered, pieces were hand crafted by master artisans and people embraced their individuality.

Embrace your individual style at Belinda Wickwire Jewelry. A curation of fine antique jewelry and old world gifts.

Did you know?

37% of households in Marin do not earn enough income to make ends meet.

As the largest anti-poverty agency in Marin County, Community Action Marin breaks down the barriers that get in the way of fair and lasting change. Together, we:

➜ Build power with people

➜ Strengthen access to services

➜ Shift the narrative on poverty

➜ Advocate for laws and policies that increase well-being for all

Since 1966, we have been assisting individuals and families of low income to achieve well-being by providing the vital services they need to thrive.

Join the movement to end poverty in Marin.

Learn More: camarin.org

415.526.7500

526 & 528 San Anselmo Ave. San Anselmo, CA 94960 415.785.7519

A Place for Uniquely Rewarding

Events

We offer the perfect ingredients for your next event! Choose our space for a morning seminar, all-day meeting, team-building activities in our kitchen or a special occasion. You’ll enjoy a memorable experience with welcoming service and exceptional food. The Key Room also helps fulfill a larger purpose in the community as a social enterprise of Homeward Bound of Marin.

Reserve dates and learn more at thekeyroom.com

1385 N. Hamilton Parkway, Novato, CA 94994 (415) 382-3363 x214

“

” Their caring and attentive service made us feel like royalty...

Our guests couldn’t stop raving about the scrumptious offerings.

— MATT R.

By Daniel Jewett

COMMUNITY KIDS

IT WAS MIDNIGHT when Ashley Hurd and her husband got the call.

The voice on the phone said, “We have a warrant to detain this child and she’ll be at your house in three hours. Will you say yes?” recalls Hurd, executive director of the Marin Foster Care Association (www. marinfostercare.org), describing how their first foster child appeared in their lives. “I asked my husband what he thought and we said yes.”

That was the first of eight more kids the San Rafael couple, who also have a biological son now age 10, would foster. And that experience gives Hurd a keen insight into the struggles and rewards of being a foster parent.

The organization got started in 2003 as a chapter of the California State Foster Parent Association and served mainly as a support group for

foster families. In 2015, it broke away and started to carve a new, more inclusive and comprehensive path that is beginning to be emulated by the state.

“People think that we exaggerate when we say that kids are coming into foster care with just a trash bag full of stuff. I will say that in fact that is what actually happens. A lot of our babies have come literally in just a diaper,” Hurd says. “When they leave us they have a wardrobe and they have all their toys and they have their memories — we always make a memory book for them from when they lived with us. We’re setting them up for success.”

A big part of how that is accomplished is through the association’s unique resource center in its Terra Linda facility. “There is nothing like it in the Bay Area,” Hurd says.

But it’s more than that: the center also now offers on-site therapy for

foster families (now called resource families), relatives, kids and more. And the reasoning for a resource center is twofold: to support the kids and families but also to encourage foster parents to want to do it again for another child — 50 percent only wind up taking one placement.

The need in Marin is particularly great, as some 40 percent of foster youth from here are sent to families out of the area. “These are our community’s kids and I think it’s our community’s responsibility to support them — everyone should be jumping in and supporting the future,” Hurd says.

She explains that one powerful way to do that is to join a monthly webinar training held in partnership with the county and become a licensed and background-checked “friends of the family” member. “It’s a really unique program,” she says. “Again, it’s something that we need because we can’t always lean on other resource families because we all get burned out — so we can lean on other community members.”

In the end it’s all about giving kids a chance to have a better life no matter how badly it started. “One of the most surprising things for me is that there is a lot of beauty in it. Even in this really troubled system,” Hurd says. “And we’ve been able to grow our family in such a unique and special way.”

The Marin Foster Care Association is a one-of-akind resource and support agency for families and children facing deep challenges.

A 10-month-old Marin little guy (above) enjoying his first camping trip while in foster care.

From Handshakes to High Returns

Leveraging

A visit to Patz & Hall is more than a wine tasting.

It’s a journey through California’s top family-owned vineyards. The grit of our grower partners, plus our winemaker’s graceful influence, is evident in each sip. Join us in Sonoma among the vines and explore our range of single vineyard Sparkling Wine, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.