ALICE in Marinland
BEST of 2010 tention are what turns on the power for Martin & Harris—and you, according to the polls—with over 50 years of successful service and supplying appliances in Marin. Buying a household fixture is generally more necessity than sport and the M&H sales team aims for quick-and-easy fulfillment, even going as far as prompt, free delivery and the recycling of your old goods. Knowing that no machine is a perfect vessel forever, owner Paul Berry takes pride in his experienced technicians (some of whom have been on staff for over 25 years) who are on-site to care for your shiny, new, energy-efficient, stainless steel frontload washer from the very first cycle to the last. With a 3,500-square-foot showroom, top name brands from Amana to Whirlpool, and every imaginable cooking, cleaning or refrigerating apparatus you’d need, why not plug in? ----------------------------Martin & Harris Appliances
+ Mary Rathbun Great Acorn
+ Judy Morris Great Acorn
‘No, no!’ said the Queen. ‘Sentence first--verdict afterwards.’
< 63 Best of Marin 2010 keep up with customers’ needs. From little old ladies to high-end contractors, customers can count on getting quality products at the right price. With the largest selection of green paints and products in the area— including paint removers and cleaning supplies—more goods at lower prices for the budget-conscious, expertise in matching as well as mixing colors, Marin Color strives to stock everything a painter might want or need. And Marin Color is there to help with the process from start to finish: The in-house color consultant is available Monday through Saturday and the guys behind the counter will advise on the best materials for specific tasks. So forget the big chains, and let these pros color your world. ----------------------------Marin Color Service
770 Second St. San Rafael 453.4065; 703 Grant Ave. Novato, 897.9411 2ND Tamalpais Paint & Color, Corte Madera and Mill Valley 3RD Jackson’s Hardware, San Rafael
BEST PATIO FURNITURE “Why should I have to give my reasons for sitting in the midday sun?” Ray Davies of the Kinks famously asked in one of the band’s hit songs--and we don’t think he should. That’s why we recommend he check out Frellen’s Casual and Outdoor patio furniture for those upcoming sunny middays of 2010. Whether you’re a British Invasion icon who prefers cast aluminum and wrought iron or a value-seeking Marinite dreaming of afternoons in wicker and teak, Frellen’s will have you outdoors and casual at 64 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 26 – APRIL 1, 2010
card, spooky Halloween greetings, handmade Valentines, a dizzying array of Christmas cards and hilarious, outrageous, sappy, sociopolitical, transcendental or simply beautiful cards for no particular occasion. (That Muir Woods snapshot should satisfy the A. Day conundrum.) Two Neat also sells cards by local artists and photographers as well as a unique selection of CDs, DVDs, gift wrap, T-shirts, postcards and goofy, avant-garde or otherwise cutting-edge toys and memorabilia (Sigmund Freud action figure, anyone?). ----------------------------Two Neat
111 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley 381.4222
2158 Fourth St., San Rafael 454.2021 2ND Standards of Excellence, San Rafael 3RD Rafael Appliance Co., San Rafael
a great price. Pass the lemonade, please. ---------------------------Frellen’s Casual and Outdoor
530 Francisco Blvd., W., San Rafael 459.6144 2ND Jackson’s Hardware, San Rafael 3RD West End Nursery, San Rafael
BEST PLACE TO BUY APPLIANCES Longevity, low prices and personal at-
“IT WAS MUCH PLEASANTER AT HOME, WHEN ONE WASN’T ALWAYS GROWING LARGER AND SMALLER, AND BEING ORDERED ABOUT BY MICE AND RABBITS.”
Staff pick
—ALICE
BEST PLACE TO FIND AN ARBOR DAY CARD Arbor Day’s coming up April 30, and if you’re worried about finding the perfect card for your favorite Druid, head to Two Neat, where you’re bound to find something suitable among the wide array of greetings, guffaws and gimcracks. This is the place to come for a sweet or sassy birthday
+ Sharon Nelson Sol Food
‘Alice put down her flamingo, and began an account of the game’
BEST PLUMBER Entering its 26th year of business in Marin, it’s easy to see why O’Connell Plumbing has earned the loyalty of its customers. “Tak-
+ + Robin Wechsler A Dove Place
Wayne Wechsler A Dove Place