SEASONAL ADVENTURES
A LETTER FROM OUR EDITOR The North Bay’s in-between season 6
HEALDSBURG’S NEW ART HOUSE How True West found its North Star 8
‘RUN AWAY WITH ME’ WEDDINGS Kalika Casady turns elopements into memories 14
WELLSPRING OF CALM A 200-acre sanctuary in the Mayacamas 26
WHEN IN ROME A half-century of Calistoga’s landmark Roman Spa Hot Springs 34
SURF & SOUL Nicki Clark’s Marin Outdoor Adventure 40
MALLS, MEALS & MARIN MOMENTS An edible tour of bucolic bites 22
PUBLISHER
Rosemary Olson
EDITOR
Daedalus Howell
COPY EDITOR
Suzanne Michel
PRODUCTION OPERATIONS MANAGER
Zk Bradley
CREATIVE SERVICES
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Deb Fisher
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Jennifer Meyer, Jackie Mujica
Elena Razganov, Rowdy Tomkins
EDITORIAL GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Phaedra Strecher Heinen
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Lisa Marie Santos
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Erin Hanson
Danielle McCoy
Lynda Rael
Dianna Stone
CEO & EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Dan Pulcrano
DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICES
Cindy Couling
HOMEWARD
BOUND
As the autumnal light gives way to winter, it’s time to hunker down in a blissful retreat from the world.
LIMINAL LIGHT
The in-between time
It always starts with the light. That long, low winter glow that gilds the vines, flares across the hills and makes a boot print in the mud look like the portentous future fossil of some dude’s last stand.
This time of year marks a melancholic summoning back to the nest as the daylight narrows in the North Bay. The looming solstice will soon leave a mere nine hours and seven minutes before darkness falls again. That said, there will be 14 hours and 53 minutes of dark when our vampire community can safely
cavort enveloped in the night.
Meanwhile, the air is perfumed with woodsmoke and the faint smell of wet leaves—the kind of scent that says, “Hey, there’s probably a 50 cent word for this.” And—cha-ching—there is… petrichor Though it sounds like something a Brontë would jot in her notebook, the term wasn’t actually coined until 1964 when a pair of scientists researching what had theretofore been called an “argillaceous odour” got a better idea.
This time of year isn’t so much the end of a season as a slow dissolve—the long fade between scenes in which one is
superimposed on the other like a ghost. It’s when we retreat to kitchens and cafes, the conversation idles in a low hum, and books and recipes are traded like Soviet era samizdat. Old friends show up and halo your couch with bottles before sleeping there.
By now, we North Bay types have learned to thrive in this in-between. Harvest is over; the tourists have fled; the town exhales. Now we rest. So pour a glass of something local, light a candle and settle into the moment.
— Daedalus Howell, Editor
PHOTO BY MAX
board
HEALDSBURG’S ART HOUSE
True West Film Center finds its North Star
BY DON R. LEWIS
Late October marked the grand opening of Healdsburg’s newest cultural hub—the True West Film Center. It’s cliché to call a new building a “gem,” but this one earns it: modest, sparkling and perfectly set into the golden band of downtown Healdsburg.
True West began life in 2014 as the Alexander Valley Film Festival, founded by Kathryn Philip, who also owned and operated the Clover Theater in Cloverdale. The fledgling organization’s
mission was to create “a local film society that would focus on educational outreach, screenings during the year and an annual film festival” in Northern Sonoma County.
Before long, the name was shortened to AVFest—a clever nod to the old AV Clubs that launched generations of cinephiles—but it never quite captured the organization’s expanding vision. In a 2024 interview with The Healdsburg Tribune, Philip explained, “Alexander Valley wasn’t the name anymore; it was AVFilm. But people weren’t able to
really connect with that. We heard from stakeholders; they didn’t know what it meant and who it represented. Was it geographic? Was it audio visual?”
After months of debate, the nonprofit’s board approved a rebrand in July 2024, adopting True West Film Center as its public name (legally it remains the Alexander Valley Film Festival).
A CHANGING CINEMATIC LANDSCAPE
Launching a film organization in 2014 placed True West squarely amid »»
CELEBRATE (From left) Board vice-chair Lisa Rhodes, executive director Kathryn Philip, board chair Hillary Kambour and former
chair Jenny Gomez celebrate the opening of True West Film Center.
cinema’s ongoing turbulence: the rise of streaming, higher living costs and a perceived lack of must-see theatrical releases. Then came the Covid shutdown, which hit an already fragile industry hard. Box-office totals have rebounded, but audiences haven’t fully returned to theaters.
Fortunately, True West found its North Star in a local newcomer with serious indie-film credentials.
John Cooper—beloved in festival circles as a long-time programmer and eventual director of the Sundance Film Festival—joined the True West board soon after retiring to Sonoma County. Cooper spent more than three decades at the Sundance Institute, serving as festival director from 2010 to 2020 and spearheading initiatives such as the Art House Convergence and the festival’s expansion to satellite cities.
Naturally, a film lover freshly transplanted from Los Angeles sought a local cinematic outlet—and AVFest fit the bill. After meeting Philip, Cooper was persuaded to join the board. But, to borrow a line from The Godfather II, “Just when he thought he was out, they pulled him back in.” Soon he was named artistic director.
“There was an upset in the original team at a crucial moment when we
needed to be gaining momentum,” Cooper recalled via email. “Kathryn asked me to step in and guide the artistic development. I was flattered. I was newly single. My mom had just passed away, [and] after my serious year of eldercare duties, it seemed like an exciting proposition. On top of that, I had already planned a move to Healdsburg from Sebastopol, so the stars aligned.”
CINEMATIC SANCTUARY ON THE PLAZA
On a crisp autumn Friday, a screening of Bugonia, Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest meditation on the human condition, found the True West Film Center alive with color and anticipation.
Occupying the former home of Bear Republic Brewing Company on the Healdsburg Plaza, the center sits just off the main pedestrian flow. Visitors entered through a walkway festooned with fluttering red, yellow and blue crepe-paper streamers leading to a spacious patio of wine-barrel tables and commemorative veladoras—votive candles honoring recently departed cinema icons Robert Redford, Diane Keaton and Val Kilmer.
Inside, the theater is deliberately small to preserve intimacy without overwhelming the plaza’s charm. The
grand opening of True West Film Center in downtown Healdsburg was the toast of the town.
scent of popcorn is still new, the décor freshly hung, and a few finishing tools rest unobtrusively along the walls. Guests settled into plush seats for trailers and a recorded greeting from Philip, thanking them for attending.
PROGRAMMING WITH PURPOSE
How does True West fit into Northern California’s already vibrant film scene? Cooper sees collaboration, not competition.
“I am close friends with (directors of) local festivals, especially Sonoma International, Sebastopol Doc and Mendocino. We need to help each other,” he said. “Fitting into a crowded calendar of events is a challenge. Music, wine, culture and art events fill Sonoma County calendars, especially in the summer.”
To balance art and accessibility, Cooper describes the center’s slate as “hybrid, with basically two-thirds first-run and one-third repertory,” bolstered by a series of themed programs already underway.
Education remains central. “I want to build film education for adults too,” he said. “We are doing a monthly program called Film 10 where I will lead a threeday class every month devoted to a director. For example, in December, I will explore Mike Nichols.”
SEE Local audiences are happy to be back in a real cinema.
ARRIVE The red carpeted
We use fresh ingredients and make our own pizza dough from scratch everyday! We also offer generous portions at affordable prices. We take always look into quality, and consistency of delicious, homemade Italian cuisine. So enjoy the flavors of Italy without packing your suitcase… and experience some of the classic tastes of Rocco’s Marin.
LOVE ‘A wedding is very much like putting on a theater production,’ says Kalika Casady.
ELEGANT ELOPEMENTS
How Kalika Casady turns Wine Country weddings into works of art
BY DAEDALUS HOWELL
There’s a moment at every wedding when the air shifts. The lights are right, the music swells and everyone in the room—whether they realize it or not—is caught inside a scene that feels utterly cinematic. It’s no accident. At Run Away With Me, that moment is designed, rehearsed and fine-tuned by Kalika Casady, the company’s COO and senior coordinator, who approaches weddings with the sensibility of a stage director and the soul of an artist.
Casady came to the wedding world through the performing arts, and it shows. Before orchestrating elopements in Napa and Sonoma’s sun-washed vineyards, she was directing teenagers and teaching dance—corralling chaos into choreography.
“I figured if I could run an event with 500 teenagers and kids in a weekend, I would have no problem with weddings,” she says with a laugh. “In truth, I have always been a very visual person. I like understanding what the guests see, what the photographer needs to see in order to create such beautiful
memories and art. I also think my dance teaching background helped me have the confidence to direct a wedding.”
In Casady’s hands, a wedding becomes more than an event—it’s a live production. “A wedding is very much like putting on a theater production,” she says. “The rentals, florals, spacing, signage and even where the couple will be standing on the day for key moments are all a part of the design. The music for key moments, the preparation that goes into each event. There is so much that goes into creating a wedding, and it only actually exists for a part of a day and then it’s all over. It’s so
BY FREDDY
PHOTO
IRRA
much like a live performance or even a movie, except the couple and their guests along with the vendors get to experience and live in it.”
That sense of staging—of creating a fleeting but immersive world—is what sets Run Away With Me apart. For Casady, it’s about emotional architecture as much as visual design. “I feel very comfortable guiding a couple to what will be the best experience for them,” she says. “It’s about finding the right words, the right way to speak with someone, and then bring that feeling and vision both to life.”
THE ART OF THE INTIMATE
Not every production needs a cast of hundreds. Wine Country, with its vineyard vistas and luminous light, lends itself to something smaller, quieter and often more meaningful.
“We hope [our couples] are in line with us that it is about a beautiful experience where you get to make memories with
your closest friends and family,” Casady says. “It’s about the experience in a beautiful natural setting. Great food, great views and time together. We are less about the production and more about the feeling we want you to walk away with.”
That’s not to say she can’t stage a fullscale production when needed (“We can totally rock a 200-person wedding to the max for the right couple,” she notes). But Run Away With Me has always specialized in the smaller side of the spectrum.
“We didn’t feel that we needed to adapt [to the micro-wedding trend] because this is what we have done since the founding of the company,” she says. “We have always specialized in small events and elopements. As the trend has grown, especially post-2020, we have felt ahead of all of it and that it was our second nature already.”
That foresight—combined with years of local relationships—means her team
can deliver boutique-level experiences in sought-after venues that might otherwise shy away from small bookings. “Because we bring a lot of business and we streamline the communication to these venues, they know that if it’s a Run Away With Me wedding that they want to bring their A game and offer a great level of service,” she says. “It’s so different than if a couple reaches out to a venue directly for a small event.”
CALM IN THE CHAOS
Anyone who’s worked in live events knows the one law that governs them all: Something will go wrong. Casady’s superpower, as she calls it, is making sure the couple never notices.
“Oh yes. So many things come up behind the scenes, and we always tackle it before worrying the couple whenever possible,” she says. “We had a wedding a few years back; the beautiful three-tier cake fell because of a heat wave, and the AC went out in the van. I was not
PHOTO BY JOSH WITHERS
Te Dua Studios
Michelle Torres
working the wedding, but my team called me (with an) SOS.”
Her response? Classic producer mode: “I got on the phone with every pastry chef I knew and was able to have one come through. She used some of the extra cakes she had frozen and showed up before the reception to build a new cake on the spot. We still served the collapsed cake to the guests, so they had the right flavor, and our newlyweds were able to have a gorgeous cake-cutting photo.”
That blend of resourcefulness and grace under pressure is the hallmark of her leadership. For Casady, it’s not about perfection—it’s about presence.
THE TRUST FACTOR
When couples consider hiring Run Away With Me, Casady hopes they’ll begin with three questions.
“Are you willing to give us your trust?” she begins. “We know it’s a big ask, but we truly want to do a great job, and it works best with couples who are going to trust that we have their backs and want to give them the best day possible. We want them to know that because we have all-inclusive packages that we put our name on everything and we truly care.”
The second question: “What are your biggest priorities for your wedding day?” she says, echoing her earlier philosophy, which is experience over excess. “We hope they are in line with us that it is about a beautiful experience where you get to make memories with your closest friends and family.”
And the third, quintessentially practical: “How do you feel about flexible weather?” she asks. “While we don’t get extremes like other parts of the country, it certainly (was) a bit less predictable the past few years. There is a risk of rain from September through May. For intimate weddings, we like to have venues with a backup option if needed, and we can make those calls on shorter notice.”
Her goal isn’t just logistics—it’s alignment. “I like to know if a bride will be super upset if her hair gets a drop of water on it or if they are up for an adventure and will stand in the rain with a bunch of clear umbrellas for their ceremony,” she says. “That way, we can support them in having the best day, with their priorities and comfort in mind.”
‘Are you willing to give us your trust? We know it’s a big ask, but we truly want to do a great job, and it works best with couples who are going to trust that we have their backs and want to give them the best day possible.’
— KALIKA CASADY
A TASTE OF PLACE
Wine Country weddings, almost by definition, are rooted in terroir. The land itself—the rolling hills, the late-afternoon light—becomes part of the narrative. Casady leans into that authenticity.
“Just being in the setting is a lot of it,” she says. “We have some wonderful biodynamic wineries that hold elopements. We help couples set up group tastings before or after the wedding days (sometimes replacing a typical rehearsal dinner or welcome party), and our chefs source from local farmers and local floral farms as well.”
And then there are the details that make the experience feel personal, poetic and lasting. “We also love special elements like a wine box ceremony (replacing the older unity candle or sand blending ceremonies). The couple chooses a great bottle of wine and puts that along with love letters into a special wine box and seals it as a romantic time capsule during their ceremony,” she says.
“They get to open it usually on a fiveyear anniversary, drink the wine and read the letters. Some couples have even
done this for their guests as a favor or do a new bottle of wine and letters every five years to continue adding to it.”
Other touches—custom corkscrews, Napa Valley Soap Company gifts, Woodhouse Chocolates—round out the sense of place. “They’re all special and lovely,” Casady says.
STAYING SANE (AND ON BUDGET)
If the pandemic taught the industry anything, it’s that wedding planning can be emotionally exhausting—and financially perilous—without a guide. Casady has strong opinions on how couples can stay present and avoid budget creep.
“It’s a real thing. The internet is a very overwhelming place to plan a wedding, and it’s even worse with TikTok trends and social media,” she says. “Choose the things that are important to you early on and stay focused. Don’t get caught up in all the ideas and trends; just choose what works for you.”
Her strategy? Lock it down early. “The budget is so important, and this
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Photo by Gabriel Harber Photography
is why we flip it and like to book the full wedding day package from the start, so everything is locked in and you know what you are spending,” she says. “With a package, the only additions would be if you decide to add on, and then you have more control.”
The add-ons, she notes, should be manageable and intentional. “Most add-ons are manageable, like additional guests … or an extra food station, for example,” she says. “We really like to start with a package that you could book and say, there—I’ve planned my wedding.”
She also cautions couples about the hidden costs of “DIY dreams.” “People think a backyard wedding or a food truck will save money, but they really don’t
because you have so many additional expenses that can come up and surprise you,” she says. “Most of your event budget will go towards the venue and reception. You don’t save money by doing a quick ceremony, as many people think, so just have the ceremony that feels right for you.”
And for vendors? Referrals over reels.
“If you have a planner or photographer you love to start with, ask them who shows up and is great to work with on the wedding day,” Casady says. “Instagram profiles don’t showcase everything, but experience does. I’ve had videographers who have great products, but they leave their stand in the middle of the aisle or ride a hoverboard around the ceremony.
That’s why I have my favorites and my not-favorites to work with on site.”
At the end of the day—or the dance floor—Casady’s ethos is simple: Let the pros do what they do best, so couples can be fully present in their own story “Vendors want the day to run smoothly for you as much as for themselves, so they are extremely knowledgeable,” she says.
It’s the same reason she left the stage for the vineyard: to give couples that spotlight moment, that shared breath of wonder, before the final cue fades and the memory remains.
Run Away With Me offers curated elopements and intimate wedding packages across Napa and Sonoma. More at runawaywithme.com.
«« PLACE Wine Country, with its vineyard vistas and luminous light, lends itself to something smaller, quieter and often more meaningful.
PHOTO BY
OF MALLS & MEALS
Marin’s shopping friendly dining destinations
As Daylight Saving Time compounds the early gloaming hours, dining outdoors might not be at the top of one’s to-do list this month. Atmospheric rivers notwithstanding, there are plenty of outdoor mall or mall-like settings to grab a bite at on the way to a Marin Headlands hike.
Start at the Marin Country Mart. About a decade ago, this outdoor mall was a dead zone—not much more than an office park anchored by a Bed Bath & Beyond. When the Bay Area started its upward trend toward incomparable incomes, the mart slowly became a
hangout and hub for the happy denizens of Marin.
The shift in tone must have initially been helped along by the Saturday Farmers’ Market, which capitalized on the advent of the food truck revolution. But the presence of a Rustic Bakery location, with its grouping of clean white tables, umbrellas and benches, fixed the idea that the sleepy mall was a sunny go-to brunch and lunch destination. Without fail, there’s a line out the door at Rustic—stick with it. Many of us have a weakness for bakeries that serve sandwiches, baked goods and coffee—the essential food groups. Their menu items are especially suitable for filling up picnic
SHOP Marin County Mart’s farmers’ market offers organic produce, meat, seafood, baked goods, music and food from local purveyors.
EAT Madrona Bakery offers delectable croissants and cappuccinos, and (according to their website) ‘what someone in a dog park once said is the best coffee in Mill Valley.’ baskets (or feverishly eating in one’s car).
Consistent crowds at Rustic enticed other retailers to shoo away the ghosts and sweep up the cobwebs. Napa’s Loveski Deli opened a second location there at the end of 2023. Their “made with love” slogan is emblazoned across the front entrance in ketchup red. It can be done, but it’s hard to get an order for one out the door for less than $20. Less likely for a party of two.
Buvette du Marais opened last year from the French folks behind San Francisco’s Le Marais Bakery. Located on the opposite side of the mall, this second spot for laminated baked goods also takes pride in serving authentic crêpes.
PHOTO BY KARY HESS
PHOTO
BAKE Brickmaiden Breads has provided artisan sourdough bread and pastry in Point Reyes Station since 2000.
Le Marais had previously opened a chic and peaceful Mill Valley location, an excellent place to calm one’s nerves away from the hubbub.
More upscale restaurants like Farmshop and Hog Island Oyster Co. have refined their indoor and outdoor spaces. There’s also a Shake Shack disconnected from and behind the main isthmus of retail shops.
Though not technically a mall, the whole Mill Valley might be considered an upscale menagerie of boutique shops. To that end, a mandatory pitstop is Madrona, a bakery that is, in fact, on Madrona Street, a quiet side street just outside the center of town.
Inside, the barnyard-chic aesthetic is grounded by a warm French blue paint paired with white honeycomb tiles affixed to the front of the kitchen wall. The word “artisanal” applies to just about everything inside this café.
Consider the vegetarian sandwich which smashes chickpeas into something remarkably close to egg salad. Creamy and filled with a crunchy, unidentifiable vegetable that was probably celery, it comes on a slice of focaccia, made with onions embedded in the crust, slightly charred and crispy on the outside and delectable on the inside. Also, the lemon scone will conjure Proustian memories of one’s favorite scones of seasons past.
Traveling further afield to Point Reyes Station is worth a day trip just to sample the goods inside and nearby The West Marin Culture Shop. And, yes, it’s true; WMCS does make fine grilled cheese sandwiches, but don’t let that distract from the myriad cheeses themselves. On the opposite side of the courtyard, the vitrine at Brickmaiden Breads is stocked with a Thursday to Monday (self-described as artisanal) bread schedule—perfect companions for WMCS cheeses—and an ever changing array of quiches, scones, cookies, muffins and croissants.
— Weeklys Staff
Marin Country Mart marincountrymart.com
The West Marin Country Shop wildwestferments.com
Brickmaiden Breads brickmaidenbreads.com
Madrona Bakery madronabakery.com
FERMENT Marin County Mart’s Wild West Ferments creates their fermented products from organic ingredients using ceramic crocks.
Best Ice Cream
Over the years, Fairfax Scoop has found its place in the rhythm of our community life in Fairfax. We’ve seen children grow, milestones celebrated by favorite flavor combinations, and passing interactions that turn into real connections.
Behind the counter, our hope is to be present with each customer and offer kindness without pretense. Our great team is being fully themselves, which means customers are met with real smiles, a spontaneous spirit that helps shape the experience at the Scoop.
Many of our flavors follow the seasons, inspired by what’s grown nearby, including vegan flavors with gluten-free cones as an option. We use organic ingredients and work with local suppliers as much as we can. Everything we serve comes in compostable packaging which is part of our mission to increase community joy while minimizing any potential negative impact on our environment.
One customer once said of the Scoop, “This place feels like a hug.” This meaningful sentiment has stuck with us, and our hope is that we can continue to offer the same familiar welcome and warm feeling to all of our customers and greater community. community joy while minimizing any potential negative impact on our environment. with us, and our hope is that we can continue to offer the same familiar welcome and warm feeling to all of our
“If that joy is shared that joy is multiplied.” Amine (Owner)
Fairfax Scoop, 64 Broadway Blvd Fairfax, CA 94930 415-453-3130 | IG @fairfaxscoop
WELLSPRING
Relax, reflect and reconnect at Mandala Springs Retreat Center
BY KARY HESS
Long before “digital detox” became a buzzword, Mandala Springs Wellness Retreat Center refined the art of turning down the noise. Only two hours from San Francisco, and one hour from Wine Country, what this hidden local sanctuary offers isn’t escape exactly, but a reset button carved into 200 acres of forested calm.
After driving past Cobb and into Mandala’s winding approach, one gets the sense they’re leaving the algorithm behind. The road gives way to stillness, the air sharpens, and the sky expands into a cathedral of green. When one arrives, high in the Mayacamas Mountains north of Napa Valley, they’ll find a getaway dedicated to clarity of both mind and body. There’s Wi-Fi, sure, but one won’t care. The signal they’ll be chasing here is their own.
Mandala Springs is a vegetarian, substance-free retreat center, ideal for gaining that inner and outer alignment. It offers event hosting for corporate retreats, group events, weddings, festivals, and even individual getaways or creative weekends when one just wants a little reset. It’s close enough to get to easily, and far enough away to feel like one has gone somewhere completely new.
NATURE Mandala Springs encourages visitors to re-awake to their own senses by steeping in the natural environs.
Cucina Rustica
The accommodations favor simplicity over spectacle. It’s less of a ‘luxury resort’ and more ‘luxurious quiet.’
RELAX Mandala Springs is far enough from our urban centers to feel truly ‘elsewhere’ but close enough to be reachable within a couple of hours.
The accommodations favor simplicity over spectacle. It’s less of a “luxury resort” and more “luxurious quiet.” A variety of accommodations fit any style, from shared lodges and festival camping to the comfortable, modern, tiny-house-style cabins complete with a kitchen (which includes an array of flavorful spices and teas), a porch and a little library of wellness books for one to peruse during their stay. Here, one can resonate with nature comfortably without foregoing the amenities they require, and it turns out to be not the escape they thought they needed, but rather, a return to one’s senses.
Writers or creatives in need of a creative restart may find their solace here. In-between restorative yoga sessions or while sipping herbal tea on one’s own tiny house porch overlooking the grounds, ideas unspool at their own pace. It’s a place where drafts might finally finish themselves—or where one might realize that finishing them isn’t the point at all.
It’s also an ideal location for wellness festivals and events, local destination weddings and company retreats, where businesses can promote teamwork and reward their employees with some healthy, relaxing time away from the office. The center has plenty of spaces for workshops, group dining with onsite catering and short hiking trails to contemplative lookout spots.
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Mandala’s guiding principle seems to be that wellness isn’t about perfection; it’s a practice.
CABINS The modern, tiny-house-style cabins are outfitted with kitchens, which include an array of flavorful spices and teas, a porch and a little library of wellness books to peruse.
«« a Michelin kitchen—vibrant, seasonal and created with intention. The kitchen gardens supply much of the produce, and visiting chefs like Katie Reicher of San Francisco’s Greens Restaurant have brought their own interpretations of “farm-driven and world-inspired” cuisine to the table.
Mandala’s guiding principle seems to be that wellness isn’t about perfection; it’s a practice. The retreat’s programming reflects that: morning yoga, afternoon workshops and ample unscheduled time to simply be. It’s less about optimization and more about integration, the art of remembering that one is not separate from the world they’re trying to fix or flee.
The retreat center offers gourmet vegetarian catering for events, but one is also welcome to bring in their own vegetarian chef. Meals are crafted with the same care one might expect from
EARTH DAY SUMMIT
During Mandala’s 2025 inaugural Earth Day Summit, Reicher hosted a threecourse dinner inspired by her cookbook, Seasons of Greens, each dish a meditation in flavor and form.
But Mandala isn’t only about the palate—it’s about the senses as a whole. During this year’s summit, guests woke to yoga and the scent of pine, spent the day in forest bathing with naturalist Ben Page and reclined in all-encompassing sound baths led by Eliza Maroney. Art therapy sessions, guided by Erin Partridge, Ph.D., reminded participants that creation is its own kind of restoration. Evenings brought live music, s’mores, storytelling and that rarest of commodities—authentic connection around food, activities or a fire under an unpolluted sky.
It’s a state of mind.
CREATE
Writers and artists in need of a creative restart may find their solace here.
A weekend here doesn’t just recharge one’s batteries; it changes the current.
SENSE OF PLACE
If this all sounds utopian, that’s by design. Founder of Roots of Peace, Heidi Kühn, whose humanitarian efforts have transformed minefields into farmland across the globe, brought her perspective on healing and sustainability to Mandala’s Earth Day Summit, bridging the personal and the planetary in one conversation. Kühn, a keynote speaker at the event, described her work as “regenerative,” a philosophy that extends well beyond agriculture, and is mirrored by Mandala Springs, where wellness
is cultivated like one cultivates soil: carefully, patiently and with reverence for what is slowly and steadily growing. Mandala’s landscape makes that connection feel inevitable. It’s impossible to ignore how the landscape’s quiet power seeps into visitors. Trails wind through oak groves and creeks, offering ample metaphors for whatever inner journey they’re on. The weekend we were there, there was an earthquake. And it was the perfect place to be, feeling the power of the earth, while safe and comfortable in a natural landscape, a potent feeling to have in these times.
A weekend here doesn’t just recharge one’s batteries; it changes the current. One returns to their life with the same challenges, perhaps, but they feel reframed—as if seen from a higher elevation, with more oxygen and a little more grace.
Mandala Springs may bill itself as a wellness retreat, but it’s closer to a secular sanctuary—a reminder that restoration isn’t found in retreating from the world, but in rediscovering one’s place within it.
For more information or upcoming retreats, visit mandala.org
50 YEARS IN THE FLOW
Calistoga’s Roman Spa Hot Springs
BY DAEDALUS HOWELL
Second only to time traveling to ancient Rome, the best way to enjoy the mineral-rich hot springs of a Roman bath is to visit Calistoga’s Roman Spa Hot Springs.
Now celebrating five decades of family ownership, the landmark resort is attracting a whole new generation of wellness enthusiasts, interested in the ancient tradition of a good, hot soak.
“Fifty years is quite a milestone that, as a family-operated business, we are proud to have achieved,” says co-owner
Kathy Quast, who, along with her husband, Michael, has shepherded the Roman Spa into its golden era.
“Numerous changes have occurred over the years, beginning in the mid-1970s and continuing through the 1990s.”
Those changes mirror Calistoga’s evolution itself—from a sleepy spa town beloved by European émigrés for its healing waters into a wellness destination that still manages to feel approachable amid Napa Valley’s relentless pursuit of luxury. The Roman Spa, in particular, has held fast to a
philosophy that hospitality and healing should never feel exclusive. This is no small feat in a region where a single night’s stay can sometimes feel like a down payment on a small car.
“Our commitment, as we have from the beginning, is to provide 100% natural geothermal mineral water in each of our pools—never diluted—delivering exceptional customer service with warmth and friendliness that fosters trust, and allowing for a relaxed, casual and unpretentious experience,” says Quast.
PHOTOS BY TYLER CHARTIER
VISIT The grounds of Calistoga’s Roman Spa Hot Springs recall the charm of a Mediterranean villa.
Left: Jason, Manager – Right: Mark, Owner
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THE SPIRIT OF CALISTOGA
Set on two lush, landscaped acres framed by the Palisades Mountains, Roman Spa has long been a local landmark. It’s home to three mineral-fed pools, a full-service spa offering private volcanic ash mud baths (one of only two properties in town to do so) and flower-filled courtyards that suggest the charm of a Mediterranean villa.
Hot springs soaking has long been celebrated for its therapeutic benefits: improving circulation, soothing muscles and supporting overall respiratory health. For guests managing chronic conditions like asthma or simply seeking gentler self-care, mineral water therapy is as relevant as ever.
“Countless individuals throughout the years have shared personal stories of health benefits from soaking in the waters,” Quast notes. “We know it helps relieve arthritic pain, softens the skin, enhances respiratory circulation, and elevates mood and overall well-being, as well as improves sleep.”
‘Countless individuals throughout the years have shared personal stories of health benefits from soaking in the waters. We know it helps relieve arthritic pain, softens the skin, enhances respiratory circulation, and elevates mood and overall well-being, as well as improves sleep.’
— KATHY QUAST
MUD Roman Spa Hot Springs’ full-service spa offers private volcanic ash mud baths.
«« Moreover, Quast is adamant about keeping the experience affordable for tourists and locals alike.
“Soaking in and absorbing geothermal waters, or experiencing the benefits of a mud bath, should not be considered indulgent,” Quast says. “We strive to make the experience affordable to as many as possible, despite the high price tag of geothermal water levied by the City and the daily costs of running a business.”
Affordability, in Napa Valley, is itself a radical act. Roman Spa’s model of approachable, restorative hospitality means returning guests—some of whom have been loyal for decades.
THE NEXT GENERATION OF WELLNESS TRAVELERS
As the Roman Spa turns 50, its gaze is firmly forward. “The next generation is interested in their well-being and seeking out wellness experiences,” says Quast. “We are the perfect fit.”
That next generation—millennials and Gen Z—tends to see wellness not as an indulgence but as part of a complete, healthy lifestyle. They use mindfulness apps, favor functional beverages and seek “experiences” over possessions. For many, a weekend soaking in hot springs
has replaced the shopping spree or wine tasting.
Helping younger travelers understand the benefits of both the waters and the mud, Quast notes, “adds to their collection of resources for personal growth and improvement.”
But perhaps what best reflects Roman Spa’s contemporary sensibility is its partnership with Kind Traveler, an initiative that channels $1 per night from each room toward local causes. “Since August, we have donated $675,” Quast says proudly. The funds go directly to the Calistoga Food Bank, a simple but powerful way to ensure the resort’s wellness mission extends beyond its walls.
“It is through these types of efforts,” she adds, “that the Roman Spa can continue into the next generation and beyond.”
After half a century, the Quast family’s philosophy remains as simple as the waters are deep. Wellness isn’t a trend. It’s a tradition. And in Calistoga, that tradition still bubbles up from the earth, one mineral-rich moment at a time.
Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort is located at 1300 Washington St., Calistoga. For information or reservations, visit romanspahotsprings.com.
CALM The spa boasts a friendly atmosphere underscored by a healthy respect for personal space.
Wellness isn’t a trend. It’s a tradition. And in Calistoga, that tradition still bubbles up from the earth, one mineral-rich moment at a time.
SURF’S UP
Marin Outdoor Adventure connects to nature
BY DON R. LEWIS
It’s a chilly, foggy, autumn morning in Marin County and even more so out at Stinson Beach as the eyeline between sea and air blends into a seamless blue and gray mirage.
While some may prefer a warmer day at the beach, Marin Outdoor Adventure
owner and instructor Nicki Clark has a full day of adventurers already scheduled for surf lessons.
Clark’s company not only offers surf lessons but also local excursions featuring mindfulness in nature, breath awareness workshops, guided plant walks and more, with an ever-evolving group of offerings and instructors for individuals
and groups, as well as team building for businesses big and small.
Born and raised in San Anselmo, Clark laughs as she recalls her high school days, where she may have been one of the last people expected to start her own business. While always an avid surfer and mountain biker, she admits, “I was a very poor student, so I struggled through »»
PHOTOS BY ZACH
MORE Nicki Clark’s company offers more than surf lessons—it leads naturemindfulness excursions, breathwork sessions, guided plant walks and more.
MINDFUL Friend and colleague Barbara Juniper (left) and Nicki Clark teach mindfulness in nature together.
«« high school. I barely graduated. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to even get into college, but I had a very supportive father who helped me find a counselor who helped me find a great school, Fort Lewis in Durango, Colorado.”
While certainly a much different landscape than the Mt. Tam centerpiece she was used to, the college experience was a transformative one, as “it was there that my love of the outdoors and adventure really blossomed,” she says. “I studied humanities, but really going to school there for me was this integrative experience that led to my career path. It wasn’t the education in terms of the classes; it was the experience of being in such an outdoorsy place that really sort of was the catalyst for my career.”
‘I studied humanities, but really going to school there for me was this integrative experience that led to my career path. It wasn’t the education in terms of the classes; it was the experience of being in such an outdoorsy place that really sort of was the catalyst for my career.’
—NICKI
CLARK
CAMP Among other offerings, Marin Outdoor Adventure provides a summer surfing camp for girls.
HIGH FIVE Spirits are often high when amongst the waves.
«« Yet even the adventure business trajectory wasn’t an immediate one, as the notion to start a company that caters to those wanting to experience the outdoors in a more meaningful, grounded way “wasn’t occurring to me at all in college. I was just working as a raft guide and a snowboard instructor and a mountain bike guide,” Clark notes. She returned home to San Anselmo and started a family. And then, like the winding trail that is life, a sudden fork in the road was reason for another route to be taken.
“I would say 10 or 12 years ago, I went through a divorce, and I had been just working as a personal trainer and raising my kids, and I really hadn’t been doing anything in the adventure world for
MENTOR ‘A huge part of my decision to start a business was just to model for my kids working hard and doing good things in the world,’ says Clark.
Come
and stay a while!
GIACO’S VALLEY ROADHOUSE AND INN offers five unique private suites, featuring bespoke interior design, each one with its own unique aesthetic experience including private outside spaces with fire pits.
Conveniently located adjacent to our restaurant, our suites are designed to fit any type of traveler from groups, to couples to an adventurous individual.
In the Roadhouse, we are proud to work with world-class artisans and local purveyors bringing their passions to the table along with craft cocktails and live music on Saturday nights.
Lunch 11:30am–3:00pm (Wed–Fri) • Brunch 8:00am–2:30pm (Sat–Sun) Dinner 5:00pm–8:30pm (Wed–Sat) • Dinner 5:00pm–8:00pm (Sunday) info@giacosroadhouse.com • 415.488.0105 • giacosroadhouse.com
LEARN Nicki Clark offers surf lessons year-round.
a while,” says Clark. Her interest and experience in the outdoors, as well as with connecting with people through personal training, opened a door as an adventure guide for Airbnb, which was in the nascent stages of offering guided excursions in areas that supported them. Also at the time, Clark was challenged to find financial stability while her kids were still young. “I was very focused on, ‘How am I going to work and take care of my kids?’ They were little, five and six years old, and so I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to get a job that was going to afford me enough to actually also have a nanny or something,” she says.
Yet, as if borrowing a quote from fellow Marinite John Muir, Clark realized, “The mountains are calling, and I must go,” and a new business venture
was formed. She also makes an important addendum to this, saying, “A huge part of my decision to start a business was just to model for my kids working hard and doing good things in the world. And with this sort of hope and sort of intuitive sense that by doing that, it was teaching them how to be in the world professionally and with a lens of being of service as well.”
Perusing the Marin Outdoor Adventure website really drives home this notion, as diversity, equity and outreach to communities who may have previously been under-exposed to the amazing range of outdoor beauty in Northern California are highlighted. Marin Outdoor Adventure includes a partnership with Marin City’s “Play Marin” nonprofit that helps young people
from that community learn to surf. An eye opening part of this partnership for Clark was that many of the young people who participate don’t know how to swim. She also highlights a summer surfing camp for girls that was previously supported by a grant which, frustratingly, due to the current political climate, recently lost funding. Yet, as becomes evident while speaking with Clark, even that may not spell the end of the classes. Hope springs eternal that a benefactor who sees the importance of nature for young people steps in to keep the program going, and she is “actively seeking donors” to do so.
Marin Outdoor Adventure is open year-round and open to all ages. More information can be found at marinoutdooradventure.com.
