On the Scene

SNAPSHOTS FROM SPECIAL EVENTS IN MARIN AND SAN FRANCISCO EDITED BY DANIEL JEWETT

Nancy Pelosi, Helgi Tomasson and Paul Pelosi Debbie Messemer, Mark Conrad and Laura Stein

Sobia Shaikh, Alan Morrell and Mary Beth Shimmon

• SAN FRANCISCO BALLET GALA Guests enjoyed cocktails and dinner at city hall and a gala ballet performance at the War Memorial Opera House followed by an after-party back at City Hall at the January 22 black-tie event.

Liam Mayclem, Randy Fry, Vince Repetto, Vicki Liviakis and Michael Molesky

• THE MARIN PROJECT A silent auction, wine and hors d’oeuvres were followed by a live concert by the musicians on The Marin Project album benefiting Homeward Bound and the Salvation Army’s Children’s Music Program. • S.F. CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC Amy Schwartz Moretti, a conservatory alumnus, returned to the Caroline H. Hume concert hall to perform for donors whose contributions help launch student careers at the 11th annual event.

Maura Morey, Gretchen Kimball and Marianne Peterson

Oscar Isaac, Mark Fishkin and T Bone Burnett Jennifer MacCready, David Bergad and Drusie and Jim Davis

• STARS AT THE RAFAEL FILM CENTER Musician and producer T Bone Burnett and actor Oscar Isaac appeared in conversation with Mark Fishkin at the Smith Rafael Film Center in November to discuss the new Coen brothers’ film Inside Llewyn Davis.

• ICB WINTER OPEN STUDIOS The ICB Winter Open Studios celebrated its 45th year with more than 80 visual artists opening their studios to the public in Sausalito December 6–8. The event played off the theme made famous by Andy Warhol’s screen test.

The Artist Hines

Linda Hothem and Stephanie Schreiber Christine Kelly and Raquel Baldocchi

DINE out DEALS˜ON ˜MEALS Deals on Meals

Enjoy local restaurants and save 30 percent on meals. Check out

the participating restaurants in our “Deals on Meals” section and experience big

savings. Spend only $35 for a dining certificate worth $50. Simply go to marinmagazine.com/dineout to

purchase a dining certificate from a restaurant in this section and we will mail it to you. Try a new restaurant or purchase

a certificate for an old favorite. A perfect gift for any occasion. Limited supply each month.

Dine local — save big time!

We’ve got game! March Madness menu highlights at the bar: Applewood smoked pulled pork sliders with house-made buns, Spicy honey-glazed chicken wings, Pacific oysters Chipotle-style, and Happy Hour specials. Intimate dining room now open. Enjoy seasonal and signature dishes. Catering available.

Brick & Bottle 55 Tamal Vista Blvd Corte Madera, CA 415.924.3366 brickandbottle.com

Consistently rated “Best of Marin,” Comforts offers fine city and homestyle food. Join us for breakfast or lunch in our cafe, or take home lunch or dinner from our vast array of dishes in our take-out. Easter and Passover are fast approaching and we’ll have a fantastic menu filled with our classic and favorite dishes for the holidays. Contact catering for more details!

Comforts Cafe 335 San Anselmo Ave San Anselmo, CA

415.454.9840 comfortscafe.com The historic Cliff House offers awesome views from every angle and one of nature’s best shows every day. Dine in the casual Bistro Restaurant or the elegant Sutro’s at the Cliff House. Sunday Brunch in the Terrace Room is a Bay Area tradition with free-fl owing champagne and a delicious buffet.

Cliff House 1090 Point Lobos San Francisco, CA 415.386.3330 cliffhouse.com

Specialties include mesquite-grilled steaks and fish, house-made pastas, fresh salads and soups, a wide variety of desserts, and fresh baked bread along with artisan cocktails and a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. Each month, a special regional dinner menu is featured. Groups of all sizes are welcome!

Il Fornaio 223 Corte Madera Town Ctr Corte Madera, CA 415.927.4400 ilfornaio.com

Visit the Seafood Peddler for the freshest seafood Marin has to offer shipped in daily from the east coast to west! Enjoy the view indoors or enjoy our beautiful flower lined patio. Book our private Harbor View banquet room for any occasions.

Seafood Peddler 303 Johnson Street Sausalito, CA 415.332.1492 seafoodpeddler.com

The Tavern at Lark Creek appeals to diners looking for seasonally driven cuisine and an incomparable historical ambiance. Chef Wright’s menu is approachable and highlights our farm-to-table sensibilities. Oak tables fill the cozy bar, with artisanal cocktails and wines on tap. Join us nightly for dinner and weekend brunch.

Tavern at Lark Creek 234 Magnolia Ave Larkspur, CA 415.924.7766 tavernatlarkcreek.com

Dining in? Try one of the great recipes in Organic Marin. Produced by Marin Magazine, this seasonal cookbook celebrates the organic farmers of Marin County and over 40 delicious recipes from local restaurants. Go to marinmagazine.com/organicmarin

The Lunch Box offers unique and intriguing sandwiches, salads and soups, perfect for a bite on the go or lunch on the beach. Reserve your Picnic Lunch in the Park with refreshments and homemade desserts for $21 per person. Catering and special orders available seven days a week at catering@lunchboxmarin.com

The Lunch Box 15 Calle Del Mar Stinson Beach, CA 415.868.8884 lunchboxmarin.com

The Counter offers all-natural, humanely-raised beef and 312,120+ combinations to build your own burger. The Counter is a great place for family, friends, great music and a full bar. Voted best burger in Bay Area by SFGate.com readers on Bay Area A-List 2010-2014. ‘LIKE’ us on www.facebook.com/TheCounterCorteMadera !

The Counter 201 Town Center Corte Madera, CA 415.924.7000 thecounterburger.com

A block away from the Rafael, Vin Antico is the spot for pre movie oysters, or small bites after the movie. Our chef’s counter is specifically designed for dinner and a show. San Rafael’s only Farm to Table restaurant. Open Lunch and dinner. Happy Hour Tues-Fri.

Vin Antico 881 4th Street San Rafael, CA 415.721.0600 vinantico.com

adlib MARIN ADVERTISERS SPEAK UP

Mark Hanf,

president and broker for Pacific Private Money Inc.

Pacific Private Money specializes in providing high-quality, mortgagebacked investments that reliably pay annualized yields of 8 percent and higher. Pacific’s loan programs specifically target real estate investors who, since 2008, have been largely ignored by the banks. The private lending industry has seen tremendous growth over the last five years.

Briefly describe your business philosophy.

A dedication to authenticity and transparency are key for success in this industry. We’re committed to operating in a very friendly, openbook manner and it comes across in the way we communicate.

Karron Power, MD, MPH, The Laser Center of Marin

The Laser Center of Marin provides state-of-the-art laser and aesthetic procedures that help patients look and feel their best. Locally owned and operated, The Laser Center has been providing Fraxel resurfacing, IPL PhotoFacials, Botox, dermal fillers, laser hair removal, skintightening treatments and numerous other aesthetic services in Marin County for more than 10 years.

Briefly describe your practice philosophy.

We pride ourselves on our high level of customer service. Our experienced staff members evaluate each client’s needs and customize a specific plan to provide optimal results with minimal downtime. We strive to keep our technology current with the latest advancements in laser and aesthetic treatments. Our practitioners are highly trained specialists with years of experience in laser treatments, injectables and the science of skin care. Combining these aspects with a results-driven approach means we can deliver a great experience.

What is your competitive edge?

While offering our patients the latest technologies is a key strength, being locally owned and operated is also important. We are tied to the community and plan to be here for the long term. I believe a number of competitors have come and gone because they are not vested in Marin like we are. In addition, we employ highly trained practitioners with years of experience in the field.

What is your competitive edge?

Because we have advertised and marketed our loan product very aggressively to real estate investors over the years, we enjoy a constant flow of very high quality loan applications. This makes our investors very happy, as they are attracted to our conservatively underwritten loan products, which are made to surprisingly well-qualified borrowers.

What makes you excel at what you do?

Real estate is the only career I have ever had. And my father and his brother were both builders in the Bay Area. When it comes to quickly assessing value and viability in a proposed real estate transaction, I think we clearly have an advantage.

Five years from now, what changes will your business experience?

I believe the Fed is likely to keep interest rates low for a few years to come. That presents a challenge for growing and earning from your retirement savings. I believe mortgage-backed investments will continue to grow in popularity, just as they have in the last five years.

PACIFIC PRIVATE MONEY INC., 1604 GRANT AVENUE, NOVATO, 415.883.2150, MARK@PACIFICPRIVATEMONEY.COM, PACIFICPRIVATEMONEY.COM

Which product or service that you offer is your favorite?

That is hard to answer as there a number of different modalities that are targeted at different conditions. However, I would have to say the Fraxel is one of my favorites as it delivers very impressive results consistently and for a broad array of skin conditions. From acne scars to sun damage, the Fraxel is a wonderful device.

THE LASER CENTER OF MARIN, 770 TAMALPAIS DRIVE, SUITE 301, CORTE MADERA, 415.945.9314, INFO@MARINLASER.COM, MARINLASER.COM