Marin Magazine December 2022

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Features

44 Holiday Cheer, Delivered Marin restau rateurs from all over the county showcase their most popular dishes for group dining that you can order during the holidays.

50 Seasons of Life Four Marin families share stories of caring for their elderly parents at home.

56 Nature Nurture

Designers Marie Leonard and Jill McCrae revamp a mid-century ranch home in Napa for a couple of empty nesters.

66 Marin Gives Back These 43 groups need your help this holiday season.

Cover image by Jacquelyn Warner

CLEARSHOTCREATIONS (HOME); LORI MOGAN/NORTH BAY CHILDREN’S CENTER

In Marin

20

New in Town

Sausalito’s Cavallo Point refreshes its three dining con cepts, Perry’s Deli puts down new roots in San Rafael, Marche aux Fleurs reopens with new owners and a new name and more.

27 Currents Prepping for king tides and seasonal flooding, pet-friendly airlines, poisonous mush rooms to be aware of, a local nonprofit celebrates its crystal anniversary and holi day ephemera.

32 FYI

Marin Community Clinics started in church basements 50 years ago and became the county’s largest healthcare provider for uninsured and low-income residents.

40 Conversation

Sammy Hagar talks about his new cocktail recipe book and the importance of volunteering.

Out & About

Calendar

A roundup of what to do in Marin and beyond. 86 Dine

An insider’s guide to restaurants and food in the Bay Area. 92 On the Scene Snapshots from events around the county. Marin Home 95 Backstory

A young San Francisco couple fi nds the perfect home to start a family amongst the trees in Mill Valley.

SAUSALITO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (GINGERBREAD HOUSE); AUBRIE PICK (CAVALLO POINT); PHILLIP FARAONE (HAGAR)

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do all the things you’ve dreamed about. From creating retirement income, to managing your investments and protecting what you’ve earned, I can help guide you toward a successful and secure retirement. Strengthening your financial securitySM Let’s talk—contact me today. Helen Abe, CIMA®, CPFA™, CRPC®

PRESIDENT / OPERATIONS

Nikki N. Wood nwood@marinmagazine.com Editorial

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Mimi Towle

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Kasia Pawlowska

DIGITAL EDITOR Jessica Gliddon

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Paula Phommounivong

DINING, CALENDAR AND FEATURE WRITER Christina Mueller

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lotus Abrams, Robin Breuner, Donna Berry Glass, Theresa Gonzalez, Kevin Morrison, Kirsten Jones Neff, Andy Sand, Jim Wood

Send address changes to Marin Magazine, 4000 Bridgeway, Suite 105, Sausalito, CA 94965. The paper within this product is at least 70% from a Forest Stewardship Council®-certified forest (FSC-C002420). The balance may be recycled material and/or controlled wood.

GROUP PUBLISHER

Nikki C. Wood

MARIN MAGAZINE PUBLISHER

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Freedom from Want

Ready set go — the holidays are here! This past October, still on a high from regain ing ownership of the magazine, our edit team contemplated how to have some good old fashioned holiday fun for our December cover. Snowglobe, did that; wreath using heirloom ornaments, done; reflection in an ornament, did that, too. My mother, who we call Nikki N. Wood at the office, had an idea I think was inspired by a set of Norman Rockwell commemorative plates that hung in her mother’s dining room. “Let’s recreate Norman Rockwell’s Thanksgiving por trait,” she said.

A little backstory on this piece of history: inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s call out for paintings — Instagram of the era — depicting the concept of freedom in 1941’s State of the Union during WWII, Rockwell created this image, officially called Freedom From Want, as one of four pieces he hoped the U.S. Army would commission. They turned him down because he wasn’t considered a fi ne artist. Fast forward to March 6, 1943, the image was used in Saturday Evening Post and became so popular that the government asked permission to use it in a war bond campaign translating as millions of posters distributed across the country, posted in schools, libraries, and post offices that would ultimately garner over $132 million in bonds and stamps. Today, it is one of the most parodied images, and don’t we all love a good artist-triumphs-over-institution-forthe-good-of-the-country story.

To make the photo happen we sent out an email on Wednesday, to see if we could gather enough people the following Tuesday. Once the

responses looked favorable we set out to find a location and turkey. Shout out to Woodlands for carrying frozen turkeys throughout the year, and then an extra big shout out to our group publisher, who we call Nikki C. Wood at the office, and her husband Vic for cooking it up to create the central prop. We had a few itera tions — and a lot of fun recreating this famous cover. To accommodate the group, we created a new position of “druncle” standing on the left.

Speaking of home, holidays and family meals, Kirsten Jones Neff ooks at how four Marin families have been caring for their loved ones. Thank you to the Cohn, Keane, Lakritz and Minutoli fami lies for sharing your stories, we hope they inspire others in similar situations.

In reading through this month’s giving back feature, it’s hard to imagine that it took us a few years to get this concept going, as in, “Hey, Marin’s most important nonprofits ‘help us, help you!’” For the past decade we’ve asked our nonprofits how various levels of donations can help them out — and this year Kasia Pawlowska gathered responses for 43 charities. Check out pages 66 to 74 to see how you can make our community thrive.

Back to the cover image, considering it’s one of the most parodied images in history, we’d love to see your attempts at recreating this famous scene — and we’ve even got an incentive for the best parody. Tag us @marinmagazine on Instagram and the photo with the most likes by December 23 will win $200 to take their loved ones out to Floodwater in Mill Valley.

Cheers, Mimi Towle, Editor

JACQUELYN WARNER (HOLIDAY); MO DE LONG (MIMI TOWLE)

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‘Tis the Season for Science

Celebrate the season with falling snow, festive activities, and more!

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Your Letters

Enough Mill Valley

We receive and always enjoy Marin Magazine In the recent issue I especially liked the article on Mary Jane Burke as I know her and believe she deserves every tribute available. However, in your “Home for the Holidays” article I noticed that you interviewed 6 students from Mill Valley and 1 student from Fairfax. This is not the fi rst time I have felt this way but decided to ask you if you realize there are other towns in Marin other than Mill Valley. I well know Mill Valley is high end. I used to live there and am actually glad I no longer do as it is not the Mill Valley I knew and loved. But the point is that your slick magazine never seems to fi nd points of interest in other towns in Marin and there are so many towns with people and events that are interesting and admirable. — THE REV. JAN HEGLUND, FAIRFAX

Puppy Love

Thank you so much for your November article about Marin Humane (“Wet Nose, Warm Heart”). I live right near them and have admired all the work they do for years. We, and most of our neighbors, have adopted our beloved dogs from them. They are such a fi ne organization and I want to commend you for highlighting them in your magazine.

— KRISTEN ADDICKS, NOVATO

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Your comments could be edited for clarity and brevity. Email us at editorial@marinmagazine. com. Please include the town where you live.

AL FRESCO SHOPPING & DINING

FR O M

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EXPLORE • FOOD & DRINK • HOMES • HEALTH & WELLNESS • ARTS & EVENTS • STYLE • TRAVEL • COMMUNITY • GUIDES

Top Gram Shaun Samuels is a part-time Bay Area photographer who enjoys capturing photos for special occasions and headshots for small businesses. He explains how he got this beautiful shot: “I took this two weekends ago while waiting for a photography client — I call Dillon Beach my home away from home. My mom and stepdad have been taking my siblings and me here since we were little kids, and every time we go, it feels like the first time all over again! The sound of waves, toes in the sand, and the views are soothing for both my personal and creative soul. In a perfect world, I would live in one of the houses on the cliff and be able to walk down to the beach each and every day. Dillon Beach is my first choice when I need a place to go to regroup, reflect, relax, or a beach background for a portrait photoshoot.” To see more of Shaun’s work, follow him on Instagram @shaunsamuelsphotography. Want to see your photo in print? Tag us @marinmagazine with your best shot!

RIGHT: COURTESY OF TONY TUTTO PIZZA; COPYRIGHT STANOVISION.COM (STAN PECHNER)

Meet the Man Behind Our November Cover

We’ve received so much positive feedback from last month’s cover that we would be remiss to not recognize the photographer who captured the image — Stan Pechner, who first caught our eye on Instagram, and was featured in our November 2018 issue as the Top Gram of the month. A Marin native, Pechner’s passion for photography began at age 13 when his uncle gave him a 35mm film camera. After studying photojournalism at College of Marin, he freelanced at the Marin IJ, SF Examiner and the San Francisco Chronicle. For the past 22 years, Pechner has worked in television as a Director of Photography. He enjoys shooting on shows ranging from the Food Network to covering Bay Area teams for ESPN. You can find Stan’s work at stanovision.com or Instagram @stanovision.

Pizza near me?

Check out our updated Restaurant posts for every town in Marin. Since they are by far our most popular search items, we zhushed them up a bit by adding best pizza, burgers (all our best ofs) plus we’ll let you know what’s new!

Stan Pechner

Tony Tutto Pizza

Home for the HOLIDAYS

Puppy Therapy

What’s Old is New Again

Sausalito’s Cavallo Point refreshes its three dining concepts, Perry’s Deli puts down new roots in San Rafael, Marche aux Fleurs reopens with new owners and a new name and other newness around Marin. BY

EAT & DRINK › Cavallo Point Dining

After a multi-year refresh of its dining concepts, Cavallo Point reopened three culinary concepts in October at the historic hotel. Sula, the resort’s signature dining room, is helmed by Executive Chef Michael Garcia, where he blends Mediterranean fla vors with Californian flair. The opening menu includes a notto-be-missed Fuyu persimmon salad, beets with shiitake mushroom blini, por cini-crusted Wagyu fi let, and gluten-free black sesame choco late decadence cake developed with chef

Monique Feybesse. The adjacent Sula Lounge boasts one of the resort’s eight fi replaces and plen tiful couches from which to enjoy a glass of bubbles with Tsar Nicoulai caviar ser vice, or small plates of grilled uni butter oysters and lobster profiteroles. Across the foyer, Farley continues its all-day meal service where sipping an Early Girl Old Fashioned in front of the fi replace before dinner on a fog-whipped day or savoring a breakfast of vanilla bean doughnuts or short rib hash with a cup of nitro cold brew and that incomparable

Golden Gate Bridge view is oh-so-very Marin. 602 Murray Circle, Sausalito; 415.339.4700; cavallopoint.com

› Perry’s Deli Taking over a 100 year-old business is no small feat, but Kaity Galvez is up to the task, recently completing a remodel of the building — enclosing the patio and adding bi-fold doors for an indooroutdoor feel — among other changes. “We are honored to take over a business with such history,” said Galvez, a San Rafael native and owner of 50+ year-old business, LJ’s Deli, in

Terra Linda. Galvez’s connections to the business run deep — Bob Schilling, who purchased the business in 1958, went to San Rafael High with Galvez’s grandparents, Tom and Donna McGrath. “Bob’s children went to San Rafael High with my parents, and I went there with Bob’s grandchildren,” Galvez said. “You cannot get more San Rafael than that!”

The story continues but for now, Galvez plans a menu of mainstays and sea sonal sandwiches like Perry’s Ranch with chicken, bacon, Jack cheese, and ranch dressing and a

Fig Apple Brie with caramelized onions. A brunch menu and happy hour is in the works for spring. 909 Lincoln Ave, San Rafael; perrysdelisanrafael. com

› Marché

Before they reopened the former Marche aux Fleurs in Ross as Marché in October, owners Darren and Alicia Banks ran SandBar restaurant on the Caribbean island of Anguilla for eight and a half years. Their Marin story, however, goes back to 1995, when Darren, who grew up in Marin, first met Alicia at a café in Larkspur while attending col lege. “We are excited to be back in Marin and work with fam ily run farms, wine purveyors and local fisheries,” the Banks’ said. “We’d like to cre ate an earth to table experience using sea sonal ingredients.” If the opening menu is any indication (avo cado toast with Urfa chile, shishito pep pers with togarashi, house made gnocchi with shiitakes, and corn and duck con fit with green lentils), its Californian all the way. 23 Ross Common, Ross; 415.925.9200; marchemarin.com

› Teaspoon

A boba shop from Terra Linda native Jennifer Davis and her husband, Chris, bega n fi lling Marin’s need for sweet, tapioca-infused teas late August in Corte Madera. The seventh location of the Bay Area-based brand highlights tradi tional boba culture and seasonal drinks like Matcha Royal or Guava Sunset alongside organic coffee drinks (I’m looking at you, Dirty Ube) and macarons. 132 Corte Madera Town Center; 415.758.7001; teaspoonlife.com

SHOP

› Anthem Interiors

Jewelry, clothing and accessories for men and women, furniture and bedding are just a few of the home goods at the newest store in Corte Madera Town Center from owners Janelle and Kirk Loevner, who also have four other storefronts in the Bay Area. “Your home should be your sanctuary and it should be a direct reflection of your lifestyle,” said the Loevners. “We want to help make that possible.” 425 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera; 415.780.9600; anthemsf.online

CHRISTINA MUELLER

Cavallo Point Dining, Sula Lounge

IRG + MAHYA SALEHI STUDIO

the LOOK

…..STEPHAN-HILL JEWELRY DESIGNERS

is proud to feature wide bands from Award Winning Yael Designs! Like tiny stained glass windows in frosty 18K white gold, these lavish rings feature pastel sapphires, diamonds and beaded milgrain border details.

STEPHAN-HILL JEWELRY DESIGNERS

1226 Fourth Street, San Rafael, 415.459.5808, stephanhill.com

TUESDAY DECEMBER 6TH, 4:00pm - 7:30pm. MOONSTRUCK FINE JEWELRY 11 Bernard Street, Downtown Mill Valley 415.383.0462, @moonstruckfinejewelry

VISIT BELINDA WICKWIRE JEWELRY for a magical holiday shopping experience. Here you will discover two stores nestled side-by-side in the heart of historic San Anselmo. Both stores are filledwith antique and contemporary jewels and unique gifts perfect for your holiday shopping experience.

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NOW FEATURING HOLIDAY AND WINTER FASHIONS.

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No Bows Needed

The parties are coming! The parties are coming! But thankfully in Marin, you don’t have to be dressed like a gift to celebrate the holidays.

BY KASIA PAWLOWSKA

Dijon bodysuit by Paige , $169; Kismet, San Anselmo. Featuring dolman sleeves, this satin, thong bodysuit is designed with a faux-wrap that drapes beautifully and stays in place from morning til night. shopkismet.net 2 Aria necklace , $260; Lulu Designs, Mill Valley. Delicate yet statement-worthy, the 14k gold fill hammer links are interspersed by dangling gemstone drops — choose between labradorite, moonstone, and luludesignsjewelry.com. 3 Black leather crinkle skirt , $435; The Perfect Provenance, Tiburon. Featuring an unfinished hem for a not-too-done-up look, this faux leather stretch skirt is lightwear and functional thanks to side pockets. theperfectprovenance.com. 4 Star Bag by Golden Goose , $630; Pavilion, Larkspur. A classic camera bag design with an edge. Made of leopard-print calf hair, there’s a contrasting logo on the front, a side pocket for a phone and a mini sneaker-shaped key openpavilion.com. 5 Bethany boot by Cordani, $454; The Store, Mill Valley. Fitting for the office and the company party after, these pull on Italian-made boots have a suede upper with stretch panel, padded leather footbed and leather lining, making them extra comfy. thestoremillvalley.com.

Their lives change.

Housing situations improve. Enrollment in higher education occurs. Savings accounts are opened. Child care is accessed. Bills are paid. On time.

And stress levels go way down.

How do we know? They told us.

If you want to help Moms in Marin move from survival mode to a place of strength, visit www.marinmomentum.org.

a guaranteed income pilot in Marin County

What happens when 125 low-income Moms of color in Marin are given $1,000 a month with no conditions?

CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND CAUSES OF THIS UNIQUE COUNTY

In Marin HIGH WATER

The tides, they are a rising — be prepared.

BY KASIA PAWLOWSKA

Even though this has been a historically dry year, Marin residents are encouraged to take action on their own property prior to the rainy season and during king tides — projected to hit December 23 and 24 — to help reduce the risk of flooding.

Clear dead leaves from driveway pipes, rooftop gutters, and storm drains. If you live in a flood-prone area, test your sump pumps, stock up on sandbags and learn how to properly use them prior to storms.

ReadyMarin.org provides a variety of detailed resources, including emergency “go-bag” packing checklists, that can help residents to prepare for the unexpected.

Alert Marin is another important notification system in emergency situa tions. The service, provided by the Marin County Sheriff ’s Office, gives the public time-sensitive alerts targeted toward spe cific addresses or neighborhoods.

If you’re already registered make sure your contact information is up to date. Keep in mind that Alert Marin is different from the Nixle, which provides general safety announcements and/or post-disaster information. marincounty.gov

Catch Flights With Fido: A Guide to Safe Pet Travel

Whether you’re looking for flights to Aspen, Colorado to hit the snowy slopes, or to spend Christmas with your relatives on the East Coast, you don’t have to leave your pooch behind. Let your furry — or feathered, or scaled — friend fly high and see the sights on your next trip. Before you pack your bags, make sure to do ample research, so you can ensure a safe flight for you and your pet.

In recent years, airlines have been more accommodating to travelers with pets. However, not all share the same pet policies and procedures, which makes it difficult to guarantee your pet will have a stress-free experience. As of 2021, these are the top five domestic airlines that accounted for 84% of transported pets in the U.S. — PAULA PHOMMOUNIVONG

ALASKA AIRLINES

Animals transported 107,042

Pets accepted Cats, dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, household birds, nonpoisonous reptiles, pot-bellied pigs, rabbits, and tropical fish. Incident rate Zero reported incidents Fee $100 each way

AMERICAN AIRLINES

Animals transported 80,817

Pets accepted Dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, pot-belly pigs, primates, rabbits, rodents, zoo animals and many cold-blooded animals.

Incident rate 0.71 (out of a total of 405,719) Fee $125 per kennel Note AA will not transport ferrets to or from California.

HORIZON AIR Animals transported 38,813

Pets accepted Small pets (dogs, cats, rab bits, and household birds) in cabin as well as checked cargo (cats, dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, household birds, nonpoisonous reptiles, pot bellied pigs, rabbits, and tropical fish) if the pet and carrier do not weigh more than 150 pounds. Incident rate Zero reported incidents. Fee $100 each way Note Emotional support animals will no longer be accepted as of January 2021.

DELTA AIRLINES

Animals transported 18,934

Pets accepted Small dogs, cats and house hold birds can travel

HELPFUL TIPS FOR PET PARENTS:

• Schedule an appointment with your vet to see if your pet is healthy enough to fly and to determine what documentation you’ll need for check-in.

• Check the breed restriction list on the airline’s website to make sure your pet can fly with you.

in the cabin. Incident rate 1.05 (out of a total of 371,689 animals transported) Fee $95 each way

dogs, cats and household birds can travel in the cabin

Incident rate Zero reported incidents

Fee Please contact

SKYWEST AIRLINES

Animals transported 16,805

Pets accepted Small

Skywest Airlines for more information.

Courtesy of veterinarians.org

• Purchase an airline-compliant travel carrier and let your pet become accustomed to it in advance.

• Bring your pet’s health and vaccination records.

• Search up pet relief areas at the airports you’ll be departing from/arriving at.

MITCHELL SAM ROSSI (TIDES); ROBERTO NICKSON (UNSPLASH) (PET)

Holidays Through the Decades

We asked our friends — Carol Acquaviva and Jennifer Christensen — at the Anne T. Kent California Room to gather some of their favorite seasonal mementos from our county’s past. Here are their top picks. KP

Beware of Deadly Death Caps

Clean Air Crystal Anniversary

WILD MARIN

The death cap and its cousin, the destroying angel, are names coined for two of the world’s most poisonous mushrooms — the Amanita Phalloides and the Amanita Ocreata. A serious concern for dog lovers and mushroom foragers, these mushrooms are proli Marin County, Northern California and beyond. The nonnative death cap is thought to have been brought to California’s Central Coast in the 1930s by Spaniards importing cork oaks for the early wine industry.

The spores of speci mushrooms are symbiotic with live oaks, coastal oaks, tanoaks and pine trees. They thrive on tree roots, particularly those of the oaks in Marin. Most often they appear during the rainy season, but can grow year-round in irrigated gardens and damp, decaying matter such as mulch and compost. These mushrooms will

sprout overnight and are capable of eluding even the most diligent eye. Because dogs are attracted to the fi shy scent of these mushrooms, it is important to keep them on leash on wooded trails and check lawns and gardens regularly.

According to Kevin Sadlier, a mushroom expert and owner of Green Jeans Nursery in Mill Valley, “There is no way to get rid of the mushrooms. Learn to identify them and then physically remove them if nd something. The other option is to periodically check underneath the soil in your gardens. The mushrooms look like small eggs before they mature and appear above ground releasing their attractant odor.” If your pet becomes sick for unknown reasons, don’t hesitate to take him or her straight to the vet and ask to check for signs of mushroom poisoning.

— ROBIN BREUNER

In 2007, Carleen Cullen and her husband co-founded Cool the Earth, a Marin-based nonprofit that encouraged students nationwide to keep track of and reduce their carbon footprint. Fifteen years later, Cool the Earth celebrates its crystal anniversary. The organization has mobilized over 500,000 people worldwide and put more than 10,000 households on the path to electric vehicles through their collaborative campaign, Ride and Drive Clean. Founded in 2019, Ride and Drive Clean is now the nation’s largest collaborative EV educa tion campaign. “I believe in organizing from the ground up, and Marin County is the perfect launching pad,” says Cullen. “We started to hear of some problems with public EV charging stations, so we developed the Reliable Electric Transportation Initiative, and collaborated with a Professor Emeritus from UC Berkeley to test stations in the Bay Area,” she adds. The study found that about one-quarter of the stations had functionality issues, and Cullen is now working with state and federal leaders to

ensure new standards include stringent rules for uptime, field testing and maintenance. Want to help? Cool the Earth is the backbone of Ride and Drive Clean — donations support the work to reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality.

— KEVIN MORRISON

Donate here:

Caring for the Community

For 50 years, Marin Community Clinics has provided care for the county’s most vulnerable

Dr. Carolyn Shore has always been enamored with bikes. As a young internist fresh off her residency at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in 1991, the East Coast transplant decided to stay put and took a public health job working part-time at a small healthcare clinic run by Marin County, just so she could live and ride in the area and commute to her job via two wheels. But one day, Shore’s boss at the county clinic approached her about another small health clinic, housed in double-wide trailers behind Marin General (now MarinHealth), which needed additional help. This clinic only had one doctor and one physician’s assistant and was overwhelmed with patients. So, Shore hopped on her bike and the rest was history, as the saying goes.

It was the beginning of Shore’s 31-year involvement with Marin Community Clinics, and she’s now its longest-serving primary care doctor.

Marin Community Clinics had humble beginnings, first operating in 1972 in the basement of Fairfax Community Church and later at an Episcopal church in Mill Valley. In those early days, it was bootstrapped by a group of volunteer doctors and nurses offering free healthcare. Originally known as Medical Contact Services of Marin,

the organization officially became Marin Community Clinics in 1987.

Today, the organization operates six medi cal clinics — in Novato, Larkspur, Greenbrae, and three in San Rafael, with the addition of its newest clinic on Second Street earlier this year. It offers dental and mental health services, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, optometry and other specialty services.

Nearly one out of every five Marin residents are Marin Community Clinics patients, making it the largest nonprofit community healthcare provider in the county — many are uninsured or qualify for services through Medi-Cal. A significant number require translation or interpreter services, which the clinics provide.

Beyond Basic Care

Marin Community Clinics’ healthcare hubs form the core of their operations; each patient is assigned a primary care physician who then brings in other specialists and partner organizations as required. Many specialists, like Dr. Patrick Bennett, the sole urologist on staff, has been working with the nonprofit for years. In Bennett’s case, he volunteered for the first 20 of his 25 years of service, but he now receives a monetary stipend. He sees patients one Friday per month, handling as many as 25 in-person and phone appointments during a shift.

“People should realize that Marin Community Clinics is the best healthcare value in Marin for primary care, bar none,” Bennett says. “It’s really a high value proposition

residents. BY DONNA BERRY GLASS

and professionally run, with best practices in place. Plus, it’s better for me to take care of an uninsured patient versus that person having to navigate [complex] systems like UCSF.”

When a patient needs additional help outside the scope of what’s offered by Marin Community Clinics, they are referred to one of its many partner organizations for tests, surgical procedures, diagnostics and a variety of other services.

For uninsured patients, there’s Operation Access, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that helps with services such as surgeries and other specialty medical care. In 2021, Operation Access’s medical volunteers and hospital partners provided 361 free surgical procedures and diagnostic services to patients from Marin Community Clinics, representing more than $4 million in free specialty healthcare.

Making Their Way Through a Pandemic

Being a leading nonprofit healthcare provider in the county came with the responsibility of playing a starring role in mitigating Covid-19, especially for those underserved communities where the disease hit particularly hard. “During the pandemic, I handled call center triage and telemedicine from home,” recalls Dr. Kenneth Korr, a cardiologist who is the sole Spanishspeaking heart specialist on the team. While Korr is now back to consulting in the clinics one day a week, he still does telemedicine on his other scheduled day. “Being largely a working class, telemedicine works well for [the Latinx community], as they don’t have to take off work for appointments.”

A Growth Trajectory

Plans for Marin Community Clinics include an expansion of dental services, more specialized care for older adults, and greater mental and behavioral health resources.

“I believe that the work we’re doing and the level of exceptional care we’re providing has challenged the very idea of the medically underserved in Marin County,” says Dr. Mitesh Popat, the organization’s CEO. “Our work isn’t finished — as the need for services has grown exponentially — but we’re fully committed to providing a solution and continuing to level the playing field for our patients and their families.”

Bitte Kai Rand is a long featured line at Excellence. BKR is innovative and able to embrace the many facets of a woman’s life. Creative design, natural fabrics and original use of color celebrates your individual Excellence. 415.927.9009, 483 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur

Award-Winning Vodka and Gin Distilled and Bottled in Marin County. Alamere Spirits takes a traditional approach to distilling spirits. Using a French alembic copper still and incorporating local produce into their handcrafted innovative spirits, Alamere produces gold medal winning gin and vodka that are the perfect holiday gift. hello@alamerespirits.com, alamerespirits.com

From the surreal to the bizarre, Daniel Merriam’s Bubble Street Gallery showcases original artworks, limited edition prints, books, puzzles, jewelry and more. If it’s magically sublime, it’s at home in the fantastical brainchild of artist Daniel Merriam. Treat yourself and loved ones to unique gifts from this one-of-a-kind salon, located on Sausalito’s waterfront at 565 Bridgeway Blvd. 415.339.0506, bubblestreetgallery.com

Floramye offers thoughtful products and services for thoughtful people. Mind > Body > Beauty that is natural and effective. From their own unique CBD line to oneof-a-kind fine vintage jewelry, they will help you select (and wrap) the perfect gift for your loved ones. Gift cards are also available. Larkspur, floramye.com, @floramye

Johann Paul Fine Jewelry has something special for everyone on your list. Featuring classic and contemporary jewelry, specializing in bridal, couture creations and fashion pieces, we welcome you back to our updated space located in the vibrant Bon Air shopping center. Follow us @johannpaulfinejewelry to keep up with all our holiday specials! 415.461.1866, Greenbrae, johannpaulfinejewelry.com

The Ultimate Gift for Beautiful Skin. All natural, pure ingredients for the skin. A spectacular gift set that provides the experience of a spa treatment in the comfort of your home. Holistic skin care for those who care about what they put on their face and their body.

KiViOrganics.com/ultimateholiday-gift

Get a head-start on MERRY: Unheated neon violet sapphire and diamond 18K ring. For those that take gifting very seriously. Rare colored gemstone jewelry by women for women. 650.504.0646, Mill Valley, californiagirljewelry.com, @californiagirljewelry

Flourish, the artisan boutique of hand-crafted succulent, floral and orchid arrangements. Choose from our in-store selection or we can custom design for you. An array of contemporary gifts from home decor, candles, vases and more. Come in and visit us and experience our beautiful, nature-inspired vibe. 415.300.5730, Tiburon, flourishsucculents.com

Wendy Gold Studios Give them the World this Holiday with our customizable Push Pin Maps and Travel Globes, Marin County collage map art vignettes, Marin ornaments and more. Order online or visit our gallery for personalized service and help with choosing the perfect gift for any travel lover. 415.491.9619, San Anselmo, wendygold.com

North Bay Candleworks Locally-made and handcrafted right here in Marin. Our candles make the best gift for everyone on your list (and yourself!) Plus our minis make the perfect stocking stuffers. Choose from over 25+ scents or select from our Marin and San Francisco Landmark lines. Order just in time for the holidays! 615.540.9331, San Rafael, northbaycandleworks.com

La Belle Fifi has a little something for everyone this holiday season. Beautiful cashmere accessories for everyone on your list along with fragrances, jewelry and unique accessories from across the globe. This will be our last year, so stop in to see all the specials and markdowns from your favorite swim and resort brands. Larkspur, fiona@labellefifi.com, @labellefificalifornia

Cast brings wonderment to fine jewelry with chic, unexpected and timeless pieces. With an emphasis on craft and deep storytelling, it’s a place to discover pieces you won’t find anywhere else. Come visit our first boutique in Marin, and find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. 888.969.4795, The Village at Corte Madera, castjewelry.com

Golden bronze finishes with burlap impressions give the design accessories in the Ruth Livingston Studio Metal Linen series a uniquely refined look, ideal for both gift giving and decor. Shop online or in-store to discover more from Ruth Livingston, including: Interior Design • Custom Furniture • Unique Globally Sourced Gifts and Accessories 415.435.5264, Tiburon, ruthlivingston.com

International Orange (io) Spa + Shop, located at Marin Country Mart, offers facials and massages with steam rooms, saunas, and a relaxing lounge. Shop our body care, skincare, and lifestyle products - perfect wellness gifts for holiday giving. Gift Certificates are also available. 415.563.5000, Larkspur, internationalorange.com

Matching Family PJs at Village Child! Village Child is your one stop shop for the most festive holiday pajama sets for the whole family. Made of buttery soft bamboo, these whimsical sets will leave everyone feeling the magic that only this special time of year brings. Make those chilly mornings a little bit more cozy with our broad selection of prints and styles. 415.493.6924, Novato, shopvillagechild.com

Socks for Everyone! Featuring Gumball Poodle, Solmate Socks, Stance, Socksmith, Hot Sox, Funatic and more! Sox for all feet and ages. You’re sure to find the perfect stocking stuffer at SOXalito! 415.332.3336, 771 Bridgeway, Sausalito, soxalito.com

Stephan-Hill Jewelry Designers – “California Collection” These iconic pendants in 14k gold with diamond accents remind us of the places and landmarks that are so special and dear to us. Mt. Tamalpais, California Poppy & Golden Gate Bridge to name a few. Why not collect them all? 415.459.5808, San Rafael, stephanhill.com

The Trading Post at the Marin Country Mart is an unexpected riff on your local post office: Yes, it’s a USPS Contract Postal Unit, but mail is just the beginning. You’ll also find a thoughtful edit of locally and internationally sourced necessities and gifts. It’s how the Marin Country Mart does a neighborhood essential, with a generous dose of razzle dazzle. 415.448.5043, Larkspur, Marin Country Mart

Gallery Sausalito represents a curated collection of 2D and 3D works by 9 contemporary artists. Prices range from $45. to $45,000. Looking for that special gift? Several of our artists work on commission. Come by the gallery for an immersive, art experience and take home a new treasure! 415.887.9238, Sausalito, gallerysausalito.com

Perfect Holiday Gifts The Perfect Provenance is an award-winning, luxury lifestyle store based in Tiburon, California. Founded by Lisa Lori in Greenwich, CT in 2016, we invite you to visit us at 30 Main Street in Tiburon or online. We travel the world in search of unique items that inspire and thrill us. Barbara 18k Diamond Earrings $1,950. 415.797.6054, Tiburon, theperfectprovenance.com, @theperfectprovenance

The Marine Mammal Center Adopt-a-Seal® is a perfect gift for the animal lover in your life. Each symbolic adoption includes a photo and certificate, or add a plush! An eco-friendly gift that gives back to this Marin-based nonprofit. 415.289.7339, Marin Headlands, MarineMammalCenter.org/AdoptMe

The Gift of Smarter Networking. Mobilo is the perfect gift for savvy professionals this Holiday season. Bring physical and digital networking together with a Mobilo smart business card. Share contact info, gather leads, and connect with apps and CRM tools. With just one card, the opportunities are endless. Mobilo cards come in multiple material options, like plastic, wood and metal. They can be endlessly customizable and designed to perfection with your logo and brand. Modern networking is just one tap away. Network smarter, with Mobilo. mobilocard.com

Holiday spirit abounds at West End Nursery. Find the perfect ornamanents and unique decorations for your friends, family, and especially yourself. Get inspired! 415.454.4175, San Rafael, westendnursery.com

Sofia Jewelry offers you a one stop shop for all the jewelry lovers in your life. From stacking rings to colored gemstones to silver jewelry, come in and find the perfect gift to celebrate the season. Follow us @ sofiajewelry for all things holiday sparkle! 415.388.8776, Mill Valley, sofiajewelry.com

The Caviar Co. believes there’s a caviar for every day of the week. Indulge your wildest caviar dreams with our “12 Days of Caviar” special and expand your palate with an expertly curated holiday set featuring 12 caviar and roes, perfectly paired recipes, and accoutrements. This is a swoon-worthy gift! 415.889.5168, Tiburon, thecaviarco.com, @thecaviarco

Sammy Hagar

Longtime Marin tastemaker reflects on what’s important.

BY CHRISTINA MUELLER

Known as the Red Rocker for at least four decades, Sammy Hagar has owned a home in Mill Valley for at least as long, moving to Marin when he was in the San Francisco-based band in the 1970s, well before his time as the lead singer of Van Halen. More recently, Hagar’s passion for good food and wine has lead him into the spirits and restaurant businesses. Earlier this year, he launched a new line of canned cocktails and a cocktail recipe book.

Marin Magazine (MM): You’ve been living in Mill Valley since 1972. What do people in Marin recognize you for?

Sammy Hagar (SH): I think the younger generation probably knows me more for Cabo Wabo Cantina because it has been in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for some 30 years. The Cabo Wabo Cantina has been in Vegas on the strip for 11 years. People also know my restaurants — Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grill is in Honolulu and Maui, Cleveland, and Las Vegas. They come in for a great cocktail and a salad. My music isn’t that current. Van Halen was up to

1995. Music nowadays… people program what they want to hear. They are not listening to the radio and hearing your hit. Some of them still come to my concerts.

MM: And you were also involved in el Paseo for a while.

SH: El Paseo was a bittersweet situation for me. After I bought El Paseo in 2009, I had to

Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar

invest 10 times the cost just into renovations because it was so outdated. As much as I loved and enjoyed that restaurant when I was home in Mill Valley, with my schedule it became impossible to give it the love and attention that it deserved. All in all, it was a learning experience and, like everything else, I have no regrets. El Paseo is still a gorgeous piece of old-world Europe tucked in the middle of downtown Mill Valley.

MM: How did you first get into the restaurant and spirits businesses?

SH: I wrote the song in 1988 [“Cabo Wabo,” when part of Van Halen]. I was living down there and discovered 100% agave tequila. One hundred percent agave tequila was not avail able in the USA then. When I went to shop for my fi rst home in Mexico, I was invited to Tequila to taste the real deal. I tasted from a farmer family, who sold to Sauza and Cuervo and Herradura and I went “wow, this is frig gin great, I am going to build a bar in this town and serve this tequila.” The original Cabo Wabo tequila was made by [master distiller] Juan Eduardo Nuñez, a thirdgeneration distiller from El Viejito distillery in Jalisco. He made the fi rst Cabo Wabo in a blue hand-blown bottle. Cabo Wabo tequila and Patron were released at the same time, in 1997. Cabo Wabo Cantina opened in 1990.

MM: In the introduction to your new cocktail recipe book, Sammy Hagar’s Cocktail Hits , Guy Fieri says he sold a lot of Cabo Wabo and “next thing he knew, he was hanging out backstage.” How do you know Guy Fieri?

SH: This was before he got famous and after I was out of Van Halen, so 1999 or 2000. Cabo Wabo was running a sales contest. He won up here in NorCal [when he was running Johnny Garlic’s in Santa Rosa]. He put my premium Cabo Wabo tequila in his well at his restaurant. He sold a ton and won an autographed guitar. He got his chef to make some sushi and bring it to me and I put the sushi on his guitar and that started our friendship for life.

MM: What tequila do you make with Guy?

SH: I sold Cabo Wabo to Gruppo Campari in 2007. For Santo Spirits, my latest brand of mezquila and tequilas, I went back to El

Viejito. I wanted it to be the best, not the biggest. The team there trims the agave very close. There is no smashing with a rock wheel, just gentle cooking, cooling, and extraction, so there is no bitterness. We add nothing — no glycerin, no syrup, nothing. Guy joined me right after I started — he called and said, “I thought I told you if you ever do this again, I want to be your partner.”

MM: Are all the recipes in Sammy Hagar’s Cocktail Hits yours?

SH: I’ll say 90%. Over the years, I have created a lot of cocktails and I spend a lot of time pairing things. And I take notes, tweaking the stan dards to my unique style. But I do not measure. For the book, (co-author James O.) Fraioli mea sured every single one of them. If you follow the recipe, every single drink is phenomenal. The only recipe you have to be careful with is the Sunrise — with blue curacao, orange juice, my Beach Bar Rum and grenadine — don’t shake it! It looks beautiful. I developed the flavors for the canned cocktails, too.

MM: Those are under the Sammy’s Beach bar label. Which flavor is your favorite?

SH: Pineapple Splash goes so good with Mexican food. It kills. Try it with al pastor tacos — you will think you died and went to Mexico. I put my Beach Bar Rum in there and kicked up the effervescence a bit. The smell and taste are far superior to anything else. Good ingredients make all the dif ference. Can’t put bad stuff n and expect something great.

MM: What were your goals when you set up the Hagar Family Foundation in 2008?

SH: I wanted to help families with terminally ill children and I wanted to give 100% of the money away and not give half to the government. Families with terminally ill children often run out of money, even with good health care coverage. My heart is so dear to it, to make the last few years on this planet as well as they can possibly be.

MM: And you support food banks, too?

SH: Every city I have played since I started the Foundation, I write a check between $2,500 to $10,000 to the local food bank. Food banks

are mostly volunteer so most of the money goes right to the families. They’re really effective. Sometimes on days off, I hand out food so I can meet families. At the food bank in San Francisco, I’ve seen families of four there and I ask what are they doing in this line? The answer? “I am a gardener and my wife is a housekeeper and I need tires for my trucks and my kids need gear and the food bank helps us make ends meet.” That family said they come a few times a month. It helps people make it through.

MM: Are you bringing back Acoustic-4ACure in 2022, benefitting the pediatric cancer program at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital?

SH: The goal was to do it 10 years in a row to provide funding to families of children who could come and get surgery for brain tumor treatment or removal, then pay for families to stay in San Francisco. In 2021, we had 50 people at a private philanthropist’s house, but no one could commit to doing it this year. We are going to get it going again in 2023.

MM: What other local causes or organizations are you passionate about?

SH: Philanthropy is something you do out of the goodness of your heart and I don’t like to talk about, but I like bringing awareness to it. No one should go hungry in this country. I’m also involved with Ambassadors of Youth who help house and feed homeless teenagers. I’ve been there and see these kids and they go to school and they are living in the park and it is heartbreaking. I can’t just sit and watch that happen. As you can tell, I think about what is most necessary in my heart and if your heart feels you should help someone, then go do it. Everyone should support something. Go volunteer your time. We all need a few extra hours a day.

MM: When you are at your Mill Valley home, where do you go out for a cocktail?

SH: I like the Sweetwater, Sushi Ran, Poggio, and Saylor’s — are you kidding me? That one is a given. One of my favorite new res taurants is Michael Mina’s [The Bungalow Kitchen] in Tiburon. That mother is good, but bring your wallet.

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Holiday Cheer

Delivered

EDITED BY MIMI TOWLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACQUELYN WARNER

Whilewealllovehomecookedmeals— sharedwithourlovedones—sometimes, asinnowadays,take-outcanequallove,too. HereareafewMarinrestaurateursshowcasingtheirmostpopulardishesforgroupdining thatcanbeorderedduringtheholidays.

THE BAAN THAI CUISINE SAN ANSELMO

The Baan Thai Cuisine has been serving up fresh locally sourced Thai food since 2013, and offers a healthy alterna tive to traditional holiday fare. Just before the pandemic, Jukreewat Suthon stepped in as the new owner along with head chef Nina Simma (pictured above) bringing his own traditional Thai family recipes to the mix.

q

CAFE ARRIVEDERCI SAN RAFAEL

In 2020, Fatima and Ricardo Lopez bought Cafe Arrivederci from its original owners Carlos and Aurora Scatena, looking to continue the tradition of providing the community with great Italian food. O ffering indoor and outdoor dining, sometimes with live jazz music on the patio.

[From Fatima]

Dish featured and what makes it special. Bread pudding. Our special Italian bread is what separates our bread pudding from others, along side that, our figs and apples provide a distinctive taste that our customers love.

What are popular holiday take-out dishes? Popular take-out dishes for the holidays are the ravioli Arrivederci, which is stuffed with butternut squash and pome granate seeds for garnish. We also have the brasato, our beef short ribs braised in Barolo wine; and our stinco di Agnelo (braised lamb shanks), are another popular dish.

[From Jukreewat ] Dish featured and what makes it special. The Baan Thai salad. It’s a popular and tasty fresh salad made with minced chicken and prawns topped with our secret dressing — a perfect plate and healthy meal.

What are popular holiday take-out dishes? A papaya salad is a great fit for holiday entertaining. It’s refreshing and healthy and is in line with the Thai traditional eating style.

What are you looking forward to this holiday season? Gathering with friends and family, with traditional Thai BBQ, which we make here.

What are you looking forward to this holiday season? I want to ensure these upcoming holidays are special for every family that dines here; that every time they visit they leave with an enjoyable experience. I look forward to seeing the satisfied look on the customer's faces when they’re eating our food, made with love.

Favorite holiday dishes you love to eat? Personally, I love to eat crab cakes, brasato and pumpkin pie.

THE CAPRICE TIBURON

A longtime favorite, special occasion spot, since Kirby Atterbury, a Hemingwayesque bon vivant opened it in 1956, the latest iteration lead by Jerry and Jennifer Dal Bozzo, has put it on the “bucket list” map.

[From Jennifer]

Dish featured and what makes it special. Our Italian potsticker, made with savory sausage, ginger and vegetables. It’s so unique and also the perfect takeout dish — just plate it, pour the sauce over it, and voila!

Besides what you brought, what are your most popular take out items for holiday entertaining? Asparagus soup, crab and smoked salmon crostini, toybox tomato salad, Caesar salad, farro arugula salad, foggy wharf crab salad, gnocchi with crab and spinach fondue.

What are you looking forward to this holiday season? Enjoying time with close friends and family, eating seasonal soups and hearty meals, and decorating The Caprice in Christmas fashion.

Fatima

Jennifer

Nina

CREEKSIDE PIZZA & TAPROOM

SAN ANSELMO

In 2016, a year before opening their popular San Anselmo eatery, veteran foodies Pat Townsley and Janet Abrahamson started working on their unique pizza dough starter. Today, the mother (starter) is still going strong, attracting locals and visitors alike.

[From Pat] Dish(es) featured and what makes them special. One hundred percent angus beef, hand-rolled daily with panko and Chef Janet's blend of sea soning, a.k.a. "Our Meatballs, Our Sauce" on the menu. I also brought our Bald Hill pizza; red peppadews and wild arugula on a white sopra ffina base sauce. It's a yearround pizza, but I thought the colors were nice for a holiday picture.

is popular for indoor dining, and everyone loves our garlic parmesan pu ffs, our version of garlic knots.

What are you looking forward to this holiday season? Downtown San Anselmo is a magical place during the holidays, a truly unique Rockwellian avenue with quaint shops, passionate merchants and an ever-expanding food destination. We love to see the community gather for the annual Tree Lighting festival in Imagination Park.

Favorite holiday dishes you love to eat and serve?

q

What are popular holiday take-out dishes? Our most popular pizzas are the Perfect Storm (our combination pizza) and Geronimo (topped with baby lettuces and a premium hand-tied ball of burrata cheese). Our Lion's Share vegetable platter

At Creekside, we have over 50 "California-only" wines, so I love to celebrate with family and guests with a great glass of Pinot Noir from our friends at Skywalker Vineyard, Kosta-Browne or GoGi Wines. For me, My own personal favorite fall/ winter at-home dish to cook is a hearty country-style pork rib sweet and spicy goulash over mashed potatoes or extra wide egg noodles. It's an all-day cook that fi lls the house with mouth watering aromas. Now I'm hungry. I'm going to the store now to get the ingredients.

CUCINA S|A

SAN ANSELMO

Cucina s|a has been a popular neighborhood spot for over 24 years serving award-winning Southern and Central Italian cuisine. Owner Donna Seymour added a parklet and expanded the space to include a full bar with a selection of spirits and craft cocktails.

[From Donna]

Dish featured and what makes it special. The dish I brought is our popular kale and Brussels sprout salad with toasted almonds and parmi giana. Simply toss with the dressing and it is ready to go!

What are popular holiday take-out dishes? Brussels sprout chips with honey, sriracha, and lime; our bombolotti al sugo; and contadino misto — a lovely pan roast of chicken, sausage, potatoes, garlic and mushrooms.

What are you looking forward to this holiday season? I am looking forward to having groups come in to share some meals and make great memories as we enjoy meals like my favorite holiday dish, Feast of the Seven Fishes.

Favorite holiday dishes you love to eat? I love eating seafood during the holidays!

Pat

Donna

FLOODWATER

MILL VALLEY

Opened in 2019 by renowned Marin restaurateur Bill Higgins (Buckeye Roadhouse, Picco, Bar Bocce, Bungalow 44) his sons Tyler and Henry Higgins, and executive chef Michael Siegel, Floodwater turns out elevated bar fare and fresh pizzas in front of your eyes, courtesy of a wood-fi red pizza oven.

{From Michael}

Dish featured and what makes it special. Potato latkes with chive sour cream and applesauce. They can be reheated in the oven on a sheet tray or pan fried crispy as I love to cook them.

The smell of fresh frying latkes wafting through the house is wonderful — brings me back to childhood.

What are popular holiday take-out dishes? The matzah ball soup and Reuben are regulars on the menu and are usually popular around any Jewish holiday.

What are you looking forward to this holiday season? My nephew is turning 21 this year and the whole family will be gathering around Hannukah to celebrate with him — in New Orleans!

Favorite holiday dishes you love to eat? My favorite overall meal of the year is a traditional Thanksgiving feast.

POGGIO SAUSALITO

Larry Mindel, Proprietor of Poggio

Trattoria, set out in 2003 to create a res taurant that reflected all of who he is. With more than 30 Italian restaurants under his belt, Mindel crafted Poggio with a clear eye on the tenants of Italian hospitality and cooking, bringing in Amy Svendberg as managing partner and Ben Balesteri as executive chef to actualize a menu that is grounded in northern Italy but reflects classics of the broader Italian culinary canon.

[From Ben] Dish featured and what makes it spe cial? The dish I brought was the burrata with honey con fit cranberries, baby kale, delicata squash, candied pecans and crostini — this dish is ready to serve and enjoy!

What are popular holiday take-out dishes? One of Poggio's most popular take-out items for holiday entertaining is our grilled porterhouse steak. It's for two or three people and comes with two side dishes. Our arancini — fried risotto balls — veal and pork meatballs and our tuna tartare are also very popular appetizers.

What are you looking forward to this holiday season? Restaurant-wise, I am looking forward to white tru ffles coming up, and then hopefully a nice break.

Ben

Michael

WATERSHED MILL VALLEY

Nestled in the quaint Mill Valley Lumberyard, Watershed was opened in July 2019 by local restauranter Ged Robertson to much fanfare. Head chef, Kyle Swain, has been involved since the beginning with design, concept and the menu.

[From Kyle] Dish featured and what makes it special? Our polenta is from Anson Mills, an organic grain collective from the Carolinas, the corn is ground fresh from heirloom varieties. We finish the polenta with milk, parmesan, butter and our secret ingredient of extra virgin lemon oil.

What are popular holiday take-out dishes? Besides the polenta, I would say a great holiday take out dish is our pappardelle with a pork sugo. Housemade pasta, pork braised with madeira, stock, sofrito and thyme.

What are you looking forward to this holiday season? One of my favorite things about the fall season and the holidays is the abundance of wild mushrooms that come through our kitchen. Porcinis, chante relles, black trumpets, yellowfoot mushroom s fi nd their way into pastas and entrees. It is the perfect time of year to enjoy slow braises and drink great wines accompanied by friends and family.

SIDE STREET KITCHEN POINT REYES STATION

Owner Sheryl Cahill and Chef Aaron Wright developed a menu that is centered on a modern rotisserie and smoker, featuring slow-cooked meats, organic vegetables and cold-smoked seafood.

[From Aaron] Dish featured and what makes it special? Chicken liver pate. We fi nish the dish with an apple cider gelee which adds a nice flavor with the creamy pate.

What are popular holiday take-out dishes? We make extra side dishes for the holidays, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and our crispy Brussels sprouts are always popular along with our mac and cheese.

What are you looking forward to this holiday season? We don't have a lot of people over for the holidays so larger classic dishes don't make sense. I really enjoy making red wine braised short ribs or duck con fit with roasted duck breast.

q Kyle

Aaron

BORMAN T/ADOBE STOCK

of life seasons

Four Marinfamiliessharestoriesofcaringfor their parents athome.

BY KIRSTEN JONES NEFF

Caring for a parent or loved one with demen tia can be a lonely experience, yet according to the Alzheimer's Association, today 11 million Americans provide home care for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias. Modern medical breakthroughs have extended life expectancy, but as we live longer, the prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer’s are increasing. In 2022, 1 in 9 people ages 65 and older (10.7%) had Alzheimer's, which means an estimated 6.5 million older Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. The price of memory care is daunting as full-time nursing home care

ranges from $56,000 to $112,000 per year (or higher, depending on the region), which is prohibitively expensive for many families. In addition to the fi nancial considerations, some families feel that their loved one will be most comfortable and well-cared for at home.

Family caretakers often feel isolated as they navigate the complexities of dementia, and this has been especially true during the pandemic. Below, four Marin County residents share their family’s experiences — the good, the bad, the touching, the dif ficult, and everything in between — of caring for an elderly parent with dementia or Alzheimer’s at home.

Zachary Cohn

Janet Cohn of Tiburon was in her late 60s when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. That was 17 years ago and, until just five year ago, her husband Bruce Cohn was her primary caretaker. “My dad is 83 now,” says Zachary Cohn, a real estate agent based in Mill Valley. “From age 68 to almost 80 he cared for my mother in their home on his own. I lived in Sausalito, just ten minutes from their house, so I always supported them anyway I could, but even tually it became too physically challenging for my father. I realized it would not be a great ending for

him. In fact, caregivers often pass away first.”

Three and a half years ago the younger Cohn rented out his Sausalito home and moved in with his parents to become their primary caretaker. “I had never been a caregiver, so it was trial by error, learn as you go,” says Cohn. “There have been a lot of chal lenges along the way, from incontinence to irritability, and other issues. And health issues develop in addition to Alzheimer’s, so you have to find the right food, sleep routines. I have had to learn and find a routine.”

The Cohns had researched senior care facilities, but found the costs for Janet’s needs to be extremely high. Because Zachary was single and lived nearby — his other two siblings live out of state — he was in a position to move in with parents. “I did it full time for several years before I sought outside support. I real ized we needed to build a caregiving team.”

Janet Cohn’s neurologist at Dolby Brain Health Center in San Francisco referred the Cohns to a social worker who became an essential point per son. They also turned to the Jewish Family and Children’s Services in San Rafael which has a Seniors at Home division offering non-medical homecare, skilled nursing care, counseling services and more. Zachary Cohn’s words of advice for others in the same position? “Look to outside resources for caregiving assistance. Build a caretaking village, because a care giver will run out of steam.”

Now Bruce Cohn, a retired dermatologist, has his son’s companionship and is able to relax and enjoy himself more. And although Zachary’s mother does not know who her son is, she appreciates his pres ence. “With Alzheimer’s, even though your loved one doesn’t remember you, when they are comfortable with their environment and the people around them, it keeps them more relaxed,” says Cohn. Now Cohn tucks his mother into bed every evening, describing the experience as a role reversal — as if he is now the parent. “For me, I will always look back and be grate ful for this experience. This is the greatest thing I can provide for my parents as their son. I recognize I am fortunate to be in a position to do this and my perspective is that it is the least I can do.”

Megan Keane Tuggle

Megan Keane Tuggle’s father, John Keane, was just 72 when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and passed last August at the age of 76. “He had been very healthy, and then had a very rapid decline,” says Tuggle. With family support and resources for caretaking help, John Keane was able to stay at home with his wife, Tuggle’s stepmother, through the end of his life.

“My father had a rare sce nario where he lost his speech early on, so he was limited to a handful of words, just two or three words,” says Tuggle. “One phrase was ‘thank you,’ because he was always so polite. Another was ‘forty-nin ers’ — he was a lifelong fan. He used these words to commu nicate along with nonverbal cues. It was remarkable.”

The Keane family lived in Sleepy Hollow for 44 years. John Keane’s first wife, Sandy, Megan Tuggle’s mother, passed away at a young age, and Keane finished raising his four kids on his own. As adults, the chil dren remained in the area, less than an hour away from their father, which meant they were able to be involved in supporting him and their stepmother through his illness.

When John Keane was fi rst diagnosed, the fam ily turned to the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association in Terra Linda. The association pro vided contacts for resources like field trips, but then Covid struck and those options disappeared. “We didn’t want him to be isolated, so there were lots of regular visits, and all of our family events were at his house,” says Tuggle. "We had him at mostly all my son's sporting events. My father could feel all the love; we kept him going to mass, and he was a lifelong musician so he would sing along to all the songs. He couldn’t speak, so it was amazing to hear him sing.”

John Keane had enough savings so that he was able to stay at home with as much caretaking as was needed at each stage of the disease progression. “We found caretakers through word of mouth,” says Tuggle. “At fi rst it was three-hour shifts, then six-hour shifts and eventually it became 24-hour care. The caretakers taught us a lot and became part of the family — we couldn't have done it with out them.”

For Tuggle, one of the most beautiful parts of

being with her father as he declined was watching his relationship with her children and how comfort able they were spending time with their grandfather, despite his illness. “My five-year- old daughter would climb all over him. My nine-year-old son had a special bond with him,” says Tuggle. “It was inspiring to see how his grandkids rose to the occasion. They had no judgment and no fear when they were with him.”

Tuggle describes her father as “a man of grace” who took his diagnosis in stride, and says she tried to follow his lead. “You can either think, this is so sad, or you can be in it and give them what they gave to you,” she says. “Of course it was alarming, and hard to watch and process, but at the same time, it was just part of our journey. He was an out standing man.”

Randy Lakritz

In 1984, CPA Herb Lakritz bought the Novato Toyota dealership. In the years that followed he expanded the business and moved from Redwood Boulevard to a larger spot on Vintage Way across from Vintage Shopping Center. Novato Toyota was a family run business and Lakritz’s sons — Randy, Barry and Geoff — spent summers working for their father. “Growing up, I washed cars, drove the parts van, jobs like that, all summer long,” says Randy Lakritz, who went to college at UC Davis and graduated in 1992 in the midst of a recession. “When I graduated the job mar ket was not great,” says Randy. “My father said to me, ‘If you want a job, show up Monday morning,’ and the rest was history.” Randy Lakritz took a job in sales at Novato Toyota and is now the General Manager, while his brother Barry runs the adjacent KIA dealer ship, also part of the family business, and Geoffruns Parts and Service for both Toyota and Kia.

According to Randy Lakritz, his father Herb had always been especially sharp. As someone who moved from accounting into the car business, he was detail-oriented and great with numbers. “In his

70s he began to miss things and would say, ‘My brain doesn’t work like it used to,’” says Lakritz. “He still knew what was happening every day, but at the same time he was actively integrating us into key decision making more and more. He’d say ‘XYZ is happening, what do you think?’” In his early 80s, Herb Lakritz’s memory declined further and he was diagnosed with full-fledged Alzheimer’s disease.

Joyce Lakritz, Randy’s mother, was determined to care for her husband at home. Because of her strength (Randy describes his mother as the strongest per son her age he’s ever known), and because all three of her sons live nearby to support her, she was able to manage Herb’s care at home. “My mother is an unbe lievable person. She would not leave his side,” says Randy Lakritz.

As the disease progressed, Herb Lakritz started sleeping more and more, sometimes 18 hours a day, and Joyce would never leave his side. Eventually the family hired a caretaker to help give Joyce four hour breaks. As bathroom and night time care issues increased, the family made the di ffic ult decision to move Herb into memory care at Oakmont of Novato this past fall. “It was very di fficult for all of us,” says Randy. “And still, my mom felt guilty leaving my father. She brought him food every day. We wanted her to not feel that way. It was too much for her.”

When Herb moved to Oakmont, he had the addi tional support of hospice for palliative care, and the brothers focused on giving their mother comfort. “My brothers are so supportive,” says Randy Lakritz. “I realized the best thing I could do for my mom was just listen to her.” Herb Lakritz passed away in October, a great loss for the family and the community, and also, Randy Lakritz says, a relief because his father was no longer su ffering. “I know that us being there gave my mother comfort,” says Randy. “Watching this up close was very difficult for all of us.”

Marianne Hill

Marianne Hill and her husband Craig were also for tunate, in that their Novato property had room for a second unit for Marianne’s parents, Ray and Katsuko Minutoli, both 79. “We started talking with my par ents ten years ago, but honestly, we had kicked the can down the road. Then it reached a state of crisis.”

Ray Minutoli had developed signs of dementia and the adult children realized that their mother could no lon ger care for their father alone. “It became clear what we had to do,” Hill says. “We sold their home and used the proceeds to build a place for my parents. We did it out of necessity, but it was met with some resistance.”

When he was 59, Ray Minutoli had an accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. From that point on he had short term memory and balance issues, and his successful business su ffered. In 2016, in his early 70s, his health deteriorated significantly. “My father had the signs of dementia, but my mother always felt optimistic. She thought that there was more to do — she didn’t want to leave their home,” says Hill. “Even after the sale of their house my par ents didn’t have much money, so their choices were extremely limited. A retirement community was not an option.”

Now that her parents have moved into the one bedroom second unit the family built, Marianne Hill says they are all working to set up routines and a care schedule. Her father has aged more rapidly than her mother, and they must balance her mother’s desire for independence and privacy with the need to manage her father’s pressing health issues, espe cially after a recent stroke. One issue is that the elder Minutolis moved out of a large home and Katsuko wants to have the books and other family heirlooms she is attached to in their new home. “These are items that make her feel like she is at home, someplace she belongs,” says Hill. But the place is too small for these things, says Hill, especially because her father has a wheelchair and a walker. She is working with her mother to clear more space. “In a sense, I’ve become the bad guy who makes things happen. When your parents go to a facility, you can relieve yourself of some of that responsibility,” says Hill. “It is not easy to navigate day by day, and it can be hard to always be as good-natured as I would like to be.”

At the same time, Hill says, she and her close-knit extended family would not have it any other way. She and her siblings are grateful that the grandchil dren spend time with their grandparents. “There is so much good about them spending time with their grandparents,” says Hill. “And now my parents have a home they will never have to leave.”

Alzheimer’s Association North Bay

Provides information and referral, care, consulta tion, support groups and education for those living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia and their family members. It also has a 24/7 Helpline with reliable informa tion and support. 4340 Redwood Hwy, Ste D314, San Rafael; alz.org/norcal

Seniors At Home, a division of Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) Seniors At Home provides comprehensive services to seniors and their families who live in Marin and beyond. It serves people of all

LOCAL RESOURCES

faiths, socioeconomic backgrounds and offers non-medical homecare, geriatric care manage ment, skilled nursing care, palliative care, dementia care, fiduciary services, conservatorship, counseling services, and more. 600 Fifth Ave, San Rafael; seniorsathome.jfcs.org

Family Caregiver Alliance

Provides services to those caring for a loved one with an adultonset neurological impairment including stroke, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. It supports and assists caregivers through education, research,

services including care planning, legal/finan cial consultations and respite assistance. 235 Montgomery St, Ste 950, San Francisco; caregiver.org

By the Bay Health

Provides hospice, home health care, and palliative care services necessary for obtaining quality of life, including practical and emotional support to their families and caregiv ers. Founded in 1975 as Hospice of Marin, the organization was the first hospice in California, and only the second in the U.S. 17 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Larkspur; bythebayhealth.org

NATURE NURTURE

DESIGNERS MARIE LEONARD AND JILL MCCRAE REVAMP A MID-CENTURY RANCH HOME IN NAPA FOR A COUPLE OF EMPTY NESTERS.

WRITTEN BY THERESA GONZALEZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLEARSHOTCREATIONS

Twin Kravet sofas welcome guests with an unobstructed view to the outdoors.

WITH THREE CHILDREN FULLY launched, Bay Area couple Luanne and Tim went in search of a forever home for two in Napa Valley. Tim, a realtor, soon stumbled upon a mid-century ranch-style home along one of the original streets of the Silverado Country Club. The view out back faced west toward the nature-fi lled Milliken Creek while the golf course sat east on the entry side. It was the perfect location, but

the 2,500-square-feet three-bedroom home needed a complete renovation to modernize it and make it feel like home. Napa-based designer Marie Leonard stepped in to execute an interior and exterior refresh. Busy from a post-pandemic rush, she called in Mill Valley-based designer Jill McCrae to curate the furnishings and accessories.

It was the fi rst project together for the design duo, who have been friends for 25

years. “I totally admire her talents and the sparkle she brings,” says Leonard of McCrae. “We think the same, we have the same virtues, and we know how to work with many, many layers.”

The process started with a design interview. Leonard learned that the couple have a love for the beach and Southern California despite settling into Wine Country. “He's a surfer, so I figured, let's give them that

Circa Lighting pendants highlight custom cabinetry designed by Leonard.

Top: A Worlds Away entry table comple ments an existing mirror; Bottom: The master bedroom opens up to a sanctuary surrounded by lush trees.

Santa Barbara beach vibe,” says Leonard. Temperate Napa weather lends itself to outdoor living year-round, which was a key part of the design.

“I really wanted it to feel like you could pick up the pillows and furniture inside and bring it outside and vice versa,” added McCrae. Natural textures and tones like caning, Lampakanai rope, rattan, hide, and seashells echo inside while iron and bronze details make their way outside too. Two Calligaris club chairs in the family room, for example, swivel to face outside toward the olive, redwood, and oak trees that frame the patio.

Abundant light, one of the home’s best fea tures, floods in through three sets of French doors that each connect the living room, fam ily room, and master bedroom to the outdoor area via modern concrete porches. Leonard and McCrae took full advantage of this focal point that extends from the main entry to the outside with two Kravet sofas that leave the view unobstructed. Overhead, two existing

“I wanted to make a space where the sofas are large enough, but are not going to stop you from entering the room,” says McCrae. “That brought me to the slope arm, where you get to look in and through and continue looking outside.” A Palecek coffee table in the center establishes some of the mixed mate rials you’ll find throughout the house. “I'm obsessed with this coffee table,” says McCrae.

The outdoor living room seamlessly connects to the family room, where swivel chairs look out or in.

“It's wood with caning in the center.” Two hand-twisted Lampakanai rope ottomans, also from Palecek, hint at additional texture and tone of the design.

Leonard and McCrae went a step further to brighten the space with fresh coats of new paint, like Benjamin Moore Simply White and Swiss Coffee, and sanding and refi nishing the hardwood floors. The California coastal design uses seashell art, like a Palecek piece in the living room, made of seashells and coco beads hand-stitched on linen, with restraint. “There is defi nitely a continuation of some feeling of a love of water,” says McCrae. The homeowner's sur fboard, a piece of art handmade by a friend, hangs mounted on the wall in the family room.

Outside, Leonard designed three distinct entertaining spaces, a coz y fi re pit living area, a formal dining space that seats 10 comfortably, and the star of the show: a bar area with pizza oven that was refaced with white stucco. “I threw a beautiful party for them as a thank you,” says Leonard. “One of my friends is an Italian pizza chef and came in and made a lovely array of pizzas on a warm, beautiful night.”

skylights accentuate the dreamy feature.

The fire table from Terra in Mill Valley also topped the wish list. “I loved having it wide enough that you could even put down platters, you could really serve on it,” says McCrae. Side tables around the fire pit can be repurposed as stools for bigger parties. The spa beyond this area, outside the master bedroom, serves as a peaceful retreat, where the couple can listen to the calming sounds of nature along the creek, where beavers, otters, and deer roam.

Not expecting her husband to find their perfect home so quickly, Luanne had ordered custom Ethan Allen dining chairs just before the purchase of the house. Leonard used the fabric on the chairs as her first cue. “Those din ing room chairs were my vision for the palette for the entire house,” she says. “For example, I took the colors right out of the fabric and incor porated it into the floors.” McCrae completed the room with a Robert James oval dining room table, Circa Lighting lamps over a bu ffet table made of wood, concrete, and seeded glass.

The master bedroom embraces the ivory and cream palette throughout with a Bernhardt bed and dresser, and a bone star burst mirror. “I really love playing with sand tones, creams, things that are in nature, and then mixing in some deeper colors that will ground it,” says McCrae. Hand-twisted baca rope stools, for example, anchor the room at the foot of the bed.

The result? An indoor-outdoor oasis for the couple to live, rest, and entertain. “I think we achieved a lot with textures. It is very warm, inviting and a place you'd want to stay and relax,” says McCrae. Leonard’s housewarming party for the couple was the first test. “That night, everybody said exactly what I wanted to accomplish,” she recalls. “They complimented the flow, the vibe of elegance but still feeling casual and livable, and the welcoming aes thetic. They were especially excited about the indoor/outdoor infusion. I definitely accom plished what I set out to do.”

And working together with her bestie proved to be the right decision. “Jill had that same feel ing and passion and vision that I did. We made it fun. This was not a job, this was fun.”

HEAD TURNERS

BOLD AND PLAYFUL MUST-HAVES SURE TO LEAVE AN IMPRESSION. BY

ANDY SAND

Whether it be from color, texture, or form, these home accents are just the ticket to add a punch of vibrancy to any space.

MEKONG COCKTAIL TABLE With a strikingly animated profi le, Coup Studio wows with this fantastical cocktail table made from hand-forged brass and silicon bronze. Price upon request, available at Coup D'Etat. coupdetatsf.com

designed by artist and designer Luke Edward Hall is made from linen and features a water color portrait inspired by Greek mythology. Available for $176 at Svenskt Tenn. svenskttenn.com

CUCUTA SIDE TABLES

Giving an added edge to his trademark rattan, artist Chris Wolston has conjured up these playful sides table with an enchanting cast aluminum top. To the trade, available at The Future Perfect. thefutureperfect.com

AZURE RUBBER SPADE CHAIR Minimalist but impactful, this vibrant rubber chair designer by Faye Toogood is her fun take on a traditional milking stool. Available for $3,400 at March. marchsf.com

COURTESY OF COUP STUDIO (TABLE); CHRIS WOLSTON (SIDE TABLES); LAUREN COLEMAN (LESCAZE CHAIR); COURTESY OF FAY TOGOOD/MARCHSF.COM; COURTESY OF SVENSKTTENN.COM (PILLOW)

Altman Siegel, San Francisco, CA

Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York, NY /

Casemore Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Anthony Meier, Mill Valley, CA

Berggruen Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Crown Point Press, San Francisco, CA

David Zwirner, New York, NY

Demisch Danant, New York, NY

Fergus McCa rey, New York, NY

Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Friends Indeed Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Galerie Chantal Crousel, Paris, France Gallery FUMI, London, UK

Gladstone Gallery, New York, NY

Haines Gallery, San Francisco, CA Hauser & Wirth, Los Angeles, CA

JANUARY 19-22, 2023

FORT MASON CENTER fogfair.com

January 18, 2023

Preview Gala Benefiting the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Hosfelt Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Hostler Burrows, New York, NY

James Cohan, New York, NY

Jenkins Johnson Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Jessica Silverman, San Francisco, CA KARMA, New York, NY

kurimanzutto, Mexico City, Mexico Lebreton, Monte Carlo, MC

Lehmann Maupin, New York, NY

Luhring Augustine, New York, NY

Magen H Gallery, New York, NY

Marc Selwyn Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA / gió Marconi gallery, Milan, Italy

Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, NY

Matthew Marks Gallery, New York, NY

Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, New York, NY

Modern Art, London, UK

Nathalie Karg Gallery, New York, NY

Night Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Nilufar Gallery, Milan, Italy

Pace Gallery, New York, NY

pt.2 Gallery, Oakland, CA

R & Company, New York, NY

Ratio 3, San Francisco, CA /

Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles, CA

Rebecca Camacho Presents, San Francisco, CA

Salon 94 Design, New York, NY

Sarah Myerscough Gallery, London, UK

Sprüth Magers, New York, NY

Talwar Gallery, New York, NY

Tina Kim Gallery, New York, NY

Volume Gallery, Chicago, IL

HUXLEY LAMPIN OXBLOOD

Designed by Elyse Graham, this lamp was inspired by microorganisms and is made from hand-cast plaster and resin. Available for $1,440 at Elyse Graham. elysegraham.com

Designed by Max Rollitt, this pair of chairs bring a modern twist to a regency silhouette with fetchingly vibrant painted legs. Available for $10,487 at Max Rollitt. maxrollitt.com

MATCH CLOCHE Why not showcase your matches?

This colorful cloche is the perfect functional acces sory. Available for $34 at Black and Gold. shopblackandgold.com

COLT NIGHTSTAND

Wendel Castle evokes a sense of whimsy with this nightstand, thanks to its unique profile and playful hoof feet. To the trade, Available at Dennis Miller New York. dennismiller.com

DIAMONDS DRINK

TABLE A high-gloss lacquer finish and bronze hardware make this martini table, designed by Miles Redd, a standout addition. Starting at $1,250 at The Lacquer Company. thelacquer company.com

COURTESY OF ELYSEGRAHAM.COM (LAMP); COURTESY OF MAXROLLITT.COM (CHAIRS); COURTESY OF THELACQUERCOMPANY.COM (DRINKS TABLE); COURTESY OF DENNISMILLER.COM (NIGHTSTAND); COURTESY OF SHOPBLACKANDGOLD.COM (MATCHES)

It’s

Kids Cooking for Life ExtraFood

The Marine Mammal Center North Bay Children’s Center

MA N GIVES BACK

BY KASIA PAWLOWSKA

For this holiday season, we asked local organizations making a difference in the community exactly how your contribution could help them. The r espons e we got was overwhelming — 43 groups answered, detailing where a total of $853,600 would be allocated. The requests for funding covered a broad span: 2 insulated food delivery bags, 5 high-quality, bilingual children’s books, a series of workshops for 25 parents, 1 week of summer camp and numerous bids for supplies ranging from new sheets and blankets , a violin , specialty vitamins , native plant seeds , a pair of shoes and other items that could dramatically change the lives of many people. What follows is just a sample of what’s needed — see the complete wish list online.

LARA RAJNINGER (COOKING); BILL HUNNEWELL (MAMMAL CENTER); MANDY WILLIAN (EXTRAFOOD); LORI MOGAN (CHILDREN’S CENTER)

$50

Conservation Corps North Bay Provides breakfast for four crews of corps members, preparing them for a day of gaining paid work experience reducing fire fuels, maintaining trails, and restoring habitat throughout Marin’s public lands. ccnorthbay.org

Kids Cooking For Life

Covers the cost of fresh, nutritious groceries to be used in recipes for two classes, serving 30 young chefs in the county. kidscookingforlife.org

Vivalon Provides two insulated food delivery bags to keep the over 11,000 meals delivered each month

to homebound older adults and chronically ill residents fresh during delivery. vivalon.org

Marin County Bicycle Coalition Helps host a meal for students from under-resourced communities during bicycle education classes. marinbike.org

$100

Canal Alliance Pays for a child’s backpack filled with a year’s worth of school supplies so that they will have the materials needed to complete homework and classwork assignments for an entire year. canalalliance.org

San Francisco-Marin Food Bank Would

provide neighbors with enough food for 200 meals. sfmfoodbank.org

Slide Ranch Brings one child from a Title I school (schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families) to experience Slide Ranch. slideranch.org

Parent Services Project Purchases a Raising A Reader book bag and five high quality, bilingual children’s books for a child in preschool, transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, or first grade. Raising A Reader is an early literacy, family engagement program aimed at engaging caregivers in a routine

$50 Conservation Corps North Bay

Conservation Corps North Bay is the oldest local nonprofit youth conservation corps in the country. Serving Marin and Sonoma Counties since 1982, CCNB has helped thousands of young people achieve their goals through education and job skills, while serving the environment and community. CCNB surrounds corpsmembers with support so they can build positive relationships and play active roles in improving the com

munities where they live, work, and serve and fosters environmental stewards who will con tribute to the creation of an ecologically sound, socially just society.

$100 Canal Alliance Canal Alliance exists to break the generational cycle of poverty for Latino immigrants and their families by lifting barriers to their success. It believes everyone has the right to achieve their dream and champions immigrants who are challenged by a lack of resources and an unfamiliar environment.

Every day, Canal Alliance educates, empowers, supports, and partners with motivated immigrants and their families to best meet all their unique needs — from putting food on the table, to becoming U.S. citizens, to learning English, to graduating from college.

$250 North Bay Children’s Center

North Bay Children Center ensures that all children, especially the most vulner able, have access to critical early learning ex periences that build the foundation for life-long

Community Action Marin

MARGOT SEGAL

of book sharing with their children to foster healthy brain development, healthy relationships, a love of reading, and the literacy skills critical for school success. parentservices.org

$250

North Bay Children’s Center Grows a season of vegetable starts in NBCC’s Garden of Eatin’ where children of all ages can learn and explore through the planting and harvesting process. nbcc.net

Sparkle Foundation Inc. Buys a child a bike, warm jacket and a pair of shoes this Christmas. sparklenow.org

Marin CASA Helps bridge educational gaps for children in foster care by supporting individualized educational advocacy, tutoring services, and school supplies and books. marincasa.org

Cedars Funds a year’s worth of medical

appointments for four participants. cedarslife.org

WildCare Provides a visit full of fun and fascinating nature and wildlife facts and activities from WildCare’s Nature Van for a classroom at any Bay Area school. discoverwildcare.org

Horizon Community School Funds healthy meals for all students for one day. Horizon Community School provides a high-quality, culturally competent, Montessori-inspired preschool program for Marin City families with two- to five-year-old children. marinhorizon.org

$500

ExtraFood Provides healthy snacks, fresh breakfast and lunch foods for out of school times, and nourishing meals for 40 food-insecure children for one month, distributed through school and after-school care partners. extrafood.org

North Bay Children’s Center

success. For nearly three decades, its pro grams have provided safety net services for thousands of struggling families. NBCC was one of the first early childhood education pro viders to recognize that nutrition education has a place in the daily curriculum of a child care environment. By providing high-quality early education that integrates health, nutri tion, and family support, NBCC has proven its ability to significantly improve the outcomes for many disadvantaged children.

For 33 years NBCC has helped thousands of families give their kids the very best start during the most critical and formative years of development. NBCC designs and delivers highquality child development programs that focus on school-readiness, foster self-sufficiency, and promote health and wellness. Its innovative programs offer affordable childcare and the highest quality learning experiences giving children, particularly our most vulnerable, a foundation for a lifetime of success.

NBCC took a leadership role in responding to the shelter-in-place orders and subsequent childcare challenges brought on by the pandemic. NBCC partnered with the Marin County Emergency Command Center to serve medical first responders and later essential workers. And while other providers made the difficult decision to close their doors, NBCC took on three

additional childcare sites in Novato saving 75 families from falling through the cracks.

This past year the organization was presented with a strategic opportunity to take their Garden of Eatin’® nutrition education program to the next level and reach thousands more children by licensing their nutrition education curriculum to be used by other childcare providers.

Despite the impact of the pandemic, NBCC has been moving forward with its Bright Futures Renovation project which will increase child care capacity for its main campus in Novato by 57% enabling 96 additional children and their families to access vital services.

932 C Street, Novato, CA 415.883.6222 • nbcc.net

10,000 Degrees Provides a college student from a low-income background with books and supplies for a semester at college. Over 80% of 10,000 Degrees fouryear college students earn bachelor’s degrees, compared to 31% of their peers nationally. 10000degrees.org

The Marine Mammal Center By choosing to Adopt-a-Seal, readers get a beautiful Certificate of Adoption (printed or downloadable for last minute gifts) as well as a card that shares the story

of a patient that would not have survived in the wild if it hadn’t been rescued by the Center. marinemammalcenter.org

Lifehouse Provides groceries for one of the Lifehouse group homes for the week. lifehouseagency.org

Little Wishes Helps fund five little wishes for seriously ill hospitalized children and replace anxiety and fear with hope and joy (comfort items, cherished toys, wigs and hats for hair loss, musical instruments, birthday

celebrations and more. All wishes take place in the hospital, and a child may make a little wish every fourteen days giving them something to look forward to. Some children spend hours searching online for their wish providing a sense of control and healing distraction from pain. littlewishes.org

$1,000

Community Action Marin Makes it possible for the CARE mobile outreach teams to provide case management to unhoused people, or offer

a day of on-site services at one of the agency’s safety net hubs in Marin City or San Rafael. camarin.org

SchoolsRule-Marin Buys a 3D printer for a STEAM class which introduces students to the engineering and design process. schoolsrule.org

Enriching Lives Through Music Pays for one week of sleep-away music camp during the summer. elmprogram.org

$500 ExtraFood

ExtraFood’s mission is to end hunger and wasted food in the North Bay through its food recovery program. It rescues excess fresh food from businesses and schools and delivers it to people facing food inse curity. It reaches over 8,500 people every week, has delivered over 6 million pounds of food, and prevented 487,000 pounds of methane from warming the planet — the equivalent to removing the emissions from 12 million driving miles.

$1,000 Community Action Marin

Community Action Marin makes it possible for people in Marin to achieve well-being by providing the education, mental health, and vital services they need. It acts to rectify historic patterns of racial, class, and gender marginaliza tion, ensuring that all see themselves reflected in decision making and that all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. The group does

Enriching Lives Through Music

TIM PORTER

Community Institute for Psychotherapy Provides assessment and weekly counseling for four students at imminent risk of school failure, suffering from depression and engaging in self-harm. cipmarin.org

Okizu Provides a weeklong summer camp experience at Camp Okizu. All Northern California kids with cancer and their siblings are invited to attend free of charge and are given the opportunity to build confidence, develop lasting friendships, and find support and joy among true peers as they navigate childhood cancer. Transportation, food, lodging, and priceless memories are included. okizu.org

$2,500

Ritter Center Gives the gift of health by supporting 10 health visits for uninsured or underinsured individuals. rittercenter.org

Marin Girls Chorus

Pays for one upper division girl to enroll in a full year of classes, purchase a formal uniform, attend the off-site retreat and sing in our summer tour. marinchorus.org

Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery Funds one year of monthly Caregiver Support and Education Groups, helping family members adapt to significant life changes after a brain injury or stroke. schurigcenter.org

Friends of China Camp Brings new trail signage to many trail locations throughout China Camp. friendsofchinacamp.org

Halleck Creek Ranch Covers the costs of caring for a therapy horse for a year including; shoeing, stabling, feed and routine veterinary care. halleckcreekranch.org

$5,000

Richardson Bay Audubon Provides a stipend for teens to

things like cover unexpected financial emergencies so people can keep a roof over their heads and the lights on at home. Aside from these kinds of key stabilization services, Community Action Marin also provides high-touch career coaching and job training, supporting individuals with attaining employer-recognized certificates and credentials, and obtaining employment in high-demand professions.

10,000 Degrees COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO CHANGE

THE WORLD

10,000 Degrees supports students from low-income backgrounds to and through college, and beyond. Since 1981, the organization has helped over 20,000 students graduate from college and awarded more than $90 million in scholarships.

10,000 Degrees believes in the potential of all students and there is no GPA requirement to participate. 100% of their students are from low-income backgrounds, 93% are BIPOC, and 92% are first-gen.

10,000 Degrees connects students with recently graduated, near-peer Fellows, who share lived experiences and provide deep content expertise, resources, and 1:1 wraparound support. Their strong community college program provides broad transfer support.

10,000 Degrees’ alumni are transforming the world as doctors, lawyers, educators, social activists, entrepreneurs, and more. Many come full circle as 10,000 Degrees Fellows, employers, internship providers, or volunteers and mentors through their Career Success program. If you believe in the power of education, support students in Marin and throughout the Bay Area at 10000degrees.org/marin-gives

participate in a con servation leadership internship. richardsonbay. audubon.org

Gilead House Covers attorney fees for a mom seeking full custody of her children. gileadhouse.org

Marin Foster Care Association Provides mental health support for 10 Resource (Foster) Families for 6 months. This would support resource parents and, in turn, foster children by assisting parents as they navigate trying behaviors, uncertainties, and loss with the goal of fostering safety and security. marinfostercare.org

Bridge the Gap Helps provide 20 students evening literacy tutoring for the year. btgcollegeprep.org

MarinArts Funds an entire episode of MarinArts Presents! showcasing art related nonprofits in Marin. marinarts.org

$10,000

St. Vincent de Paul Provides case management for three seniors to move from living in their cars into safe housing. vinnies.org

RISE Scholars

Empowers Hamilton School students to realize their full personal and academic potential by

$2,500 Ritter Center

Ritter Center provides housing, food, med ical and other services to struggling and homeless Marin residents. Evolving from a grass-roots organization, today Ritter Center’s staff of over 60 provides many services to the most vulnerable. Over 65% of clients are low-income Marin County families and individuals who are housed, but need help to remain in their homes, and 35% of clients have experienced some form of homelessness. It serves more than 2,570 clients annually.

$5,000 Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary

The Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary is ground zero for waterbirds and herring in the bay. The 900 acre sanctuary provides vital habitat for migratory waterbirds and other wildlife, and is visited by research ers focused on restoring the eelgrass ecosystem. The center connects the community to with the Bay through youth conservation leadership programs and numerous volunteer opportunities.

JOCELYN CORBETT (CHOIR); LENA STRICKLING (FOSTER CARE)

Bels and Chantons

Marin Foster Care

Nice Guys in Our Community

Nice Guys Delivery is beyond thankful to have served our local community here in Marin for the last six years. They have been able to support a number of local non-Profits and causes they deeply care about. Most recently, they teamed up with Zero Breast Cancer to hike the Dipsea trail, helping to raise over $100,000 for breast cancer research in late September. Another organization dear to Nice Guys is Marin’s Center for Domestic Peace (C4DP), for whom the Founder, Monica Gray, sits on the board of directors. C4DP’s comprehensive community effort to end domestic violence in Marin County has played a pivotal role in keeping our community safe.

Nice Guys Delivery’s longest partnership has been with The Pacific Pediatric Neuro-oncology Consortium Foundation (PNOC). The PNOC Foundation is determined to improve outcomes for children with brain cancer. “Raising more funds for more research means we can help in the fight for more innovative therapy. That’s what this is all about at the end of the day. Helping as many children as we can.” — Monica Gray, COO Nice Guys Delivery

Pictured: Monica Gray, COO and Adam Fong, CEO, both of Nice Guys Delivery 415.855.5914, niceguysdelivery.com, Marin County

Marin Community Clinics

providing them with an array of targeted and thoughtful curricu lar and co-curricular opportunities that sup port the development of a growth mindset, a positive attitude, and high achievement. riseforthekids.org

Make it Home Provides fullyfurnished, beautifully-curated households for 13 fami lies transitioning out of crisis. makeithome bayarea.org

community in Novato for 24 homeless veter ans. hbofm.org

Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership Funds will be used to purchase supplies and equip ment specific to each Day of Service, includ ing personal protective gear as necessary.

Funds will also cover CVNL staffing to plan, market, and facilitate volunteer opportunities for Days of Service.

Marin Community Clinics is the largest nonprofit community health center in Marin, providing compassionate care for nearly 40,000 people. They take great pride in caring for Marin’s most vulnerable and anyone that needs them – regardless of their ability to pay.

“We are committed to a team-based care model and are constantly working to increase and expand our service lines,” says Dr. Melanie Thompson, Chief Medical Officer. “The more we can bring to our clinics, the more accessible we make needed care to those we serve – we’re reducing barriers to care.”

For the organization’s diverse patient community (including young children, teens, older adults, and entire families), the comprehensive care provided is invaluable and life changing. The Clinics

offers a full range of integrated primary health care, dentistry, behavioral health, obstetrics and gynecology, optometry, and many more important specialty services.

Marin Community Clinics is not simply responding – they’re taking action to address the needs of our community for years to come. Health care is empowering. Your support boosts access to care and changes lives for the better. Each gift to the Clinics has a tremendous impact on health equity in Marin County. Learn more at marinclinic.org and scan the code to give today.

Marin Humane Pays for two community free clinics to vaccinate and microchip the pets of those who are finan cially struggling. marinhumane.org

Homeward Bound of Marin Supports construction of a new apartment housing

Marin-based Days of Service, often coincid ing with National Days of Service, are oppor tunities for individuals, families, and organiza tions to improve their communities through volunteer service. cvnl.org

SPOTLIGHT

P.O. Box 5008, Novato, CA • marinclinic.org

$10,000

St. Vincent de Paul St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin provides compassionate, individualized assistance to help the most vulner able neighbors so they can obtain nutritious food, affordable housing, meaningful employment and a voice in the community.

MIKE FERNANDEZ/CASEY ARNDT

Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary

Dutra Museum Foundation Supports NBCC’s Bright Futures Project

In Marin, there is a widening gap between children growing up in strong, economically secure families — within thriving communities — and children who are not. Our economic future depends on developing a highly educated, skilled workforce. Early childhood education is the most efficient way to accomplish this goal, yet so many children are being left out of this system. The Bright Futures project will enable NBCC to double the number of children served at this site, provide meeting space for the broader community, a community garden for neighboring residents and training to countless ECE professionals in our Garden of Eatin’® Learning Lab. Honoring the work and wishes of Edward and Deolinda Dutra, The Dutra Museum Foundation is passionately committed

to education, supporting programs like the North Bay Children’s Center, and investing in our children’s future potential. Whether its raising funds through their annual golf tournament, giving scholarships to deserving high school students, or providing in-kind materials for community projects, their support is making an impact and helping kids get the tools they need for academic success.

Pictured: Susan Gilmore, CEO North Bay Children’s Center, Janet Bennett, Dutra Museum Director, Shannon Pasquan and Patty Dutra of The Dutra Group with NBCC preschool children 415.258.6876, dutramuseum.org, Marin County

Marin resident Kirsten Stein came to Bay Area Lyme Foundation while looking for a community that understood her journey to a diagnosis. As a very active CrossFitter, mountain biker and trail runner, when she became ill, she knew something was seriously wrong; she wasn’t “just a stressed-out mom or someone that was allergic to spinach.”

Eventually diagnosed with Lyme, bartonella, ehriclia and babesia, she wanted to find a way to make sure no one else she knew would ever have to su ffer from the debilitating bite of a tick. Once she understood how a defective ELISA blood test could have changed how her disease progressed, she wanted to find hope and inspiration with an organization that was also looking for answers: an accurate diagnostic test that makes the disease easy to diagnose, and eventually a treatment that makes it simple to cure. Not enough doctors

are looking for Lyme disease in California. Most, if not all, are using an antiquated test to look for the disease. Several doctors told her: “It doesn’t exist in our state.”

Never one to shy away from solving a problem, Kirsten became an advocate and a resource, spreading awareness through social media, bringing Bay Area Lyme speaker events to Marin and educating schoolteachers and doctors, even if only one conversation at a time. Because of her efforts, Kirsten now serves on the advisory board of the foundation. She lives in Greenbrae with her husband, two children and their dog Cruz.

Pictured: Kirsten with husband Josh, Katherine and Andrew 650.530.2439, bayarealyme.org, Marin County

Kirsten Stein - Lyme Warrior & Prevention Advocate

Great care for every part of you in every part of the North Bay.

Northern California is renowned for its natural beauty, active lifestyle, and health-conscious community. To

MarinHealth ®  |  UCSF Health Clinics offer access to expert specialists

SANTA ROSA ENT, Head & Neck Surgery Vascular Medicine

PETALUMA Cardiovascular Medicine Internal Medicine Orthopedic Care Urology SONOMA Cardiovascular Medicine Orthopedic Care Pediatric Care Primary Care Vascular Medicine NAPA Cardiovascular Medicine Urology

NOVATO

Cardiovascular Medicine Cardiovascular Performance Endocrine & Diabetes Care Family Medicine Gastroenterology General Surgery Internal Medicine Neurology OB/GYN & Midwifery Pediatric Care Primary Care Psychiatry Rheumatology Urogynecology Urology Vascular Medicine

SAN RAFAEL

Orthopedic Care Pediatric Care Primary Care Urgent Care

GREENBRAE

Breast Surgery, Breastfeeding Medicine Endocrine & Diabetes Care Gynecologic Surgery Internal Medicine OB/GYN & Midwifery Orthopedic Care Rheumatology Supportive Care Urogynecology Urology Vascular Medicine

LARKSPUR Cardiovascular Medicine Critical Care General & Colorectal Surgery Infectious Disease Pediatric After-Hours Care Pulmonology Primary Care

CORTE MADERA Gastroenterology

MILL VALLEY Internal Medicine

SAUSALITO Neurology Primary Care

Out & About

CALENDAR / ON THE SCENE / DINE

EVENT

The Christmas Ballet at Smuin LISTING ON PAGE 76

Dancer Tessa Lane

10 Things to do With Your Kids This Holiday Season in SF

Lifetime memories don’t have to cost a lot of money — check out these festive family outings.

1 NOV 26-27, DEC 3-4, 10-11, 17-23 Teddy

Bear Tea Known as the party where guests ages 2-11 leave with a teddy bear, elves, teddy bear treats and fi nger sandwiches, set in a room bedecked with an extreme sort of holid ay fi nery. Also part of the fun is knowing that wrapped, new toys donated to the Ritz’s Toy Drive will be gifted to patients at UCSF Benioff hildren’s Hospitals. ritzcarlton.com

2 DEC 10, 11, 17, 18, AND 23 A Cathedral

Christmas True traditionalists can hear music throughout December at historic Grace Cathedral atop Nob Hill, when the Choir of Men and Boys and other s fi ll the Gothic space with favorite carols, sacred masterpieces and yuletide songs. Tickets $17-80; gracecathedral.org

3

DEC 8-27 San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker

A ticket to the Nutcracker production need not cost a bundle; pick seats a little farther from the

COURTESY OF RITZ CARLTON (TEA); COURTESY OF THE FAIRMONT SAN FRANCISCO (GINGERBREAD HOUSE)

CHRISTINA MUELLER

Ritz Carlton Teddy Bear Tea

Fairmont San Francisco Hotel

stage for as little as $20 to see the production the New York Times has deemed “striking, elegant and beautiful.” sfbllet.org/nutcracker

4

THRU DEC 24 "A Christmas Carol" Introduce your child to the timeless tale of grumpy old Scrooge for as little as $15. American Conservatory Theater’s A Christmas Carol is a classic that resurrects true holiday spirit year after year. Tickets from $15; act-sf.org

5

THRU DEC 18 Great Dickens Christmas Fair

In its full return to the Cow Palace, a maze of Victorian streets is laden with shops bedecked in holid ay fi nery and bursting with handmade treasures, plus music halls, dance parties, singalongs and era-speci fic what-not. dickensfair.com

6

THROUGH JAN 8 HapPier Holidays Celebration Enjoy the holidays and get into the spirit of the season with your family at Pier 39. This year’s live tree is a 60 foot tall white fi r that will transform into a kaleidoscope of swirling colors, adorned with thousands of specialty lights and ornaments. pier39.com

7

THRU JAN 1 Life-Sized Gingerbread House if your holiday tastes skew a little sweeter, the Fairmont San Francisco hotel has resumed the tradition of building a two-story, life-size gingerbread house that is 22 feet high, 23 feet wide and full of thousands of bricks, a ton of royal icing and candy décor. fairmont.com/san-francisco

8

THRU JAN 2 Westin Sugar Castle Created by executive pastry chef Jean-Francois Houdré, the massive rotating display is considered one of the country’s largest sugar castles. At 12 feet tall, the castle weighs more than 1,200 pounds and features more than 20 circular towers. marriott.com

9

THRU DEC 24 Meet Santa Saint Nick has arrived at Stonestown Galleria. While you finish up your holiday shopping, don’t forget to stop by and capture a memorable holiday photo with Santa — it’s a magical sight for all the kids to see. Reservations are strongly encouraged. stonestowngalleria.com

10

Holiday ice skating is now happening in two city venues — including a fi rst-time-ever rink in Union Square from November 2 to January 16. Yerba Buena’s year-round rink is open too — go early to avoid the big crowds. unionsquareicerink. com, skatebowl.com

space’s architecture and Rio’s Filipinx-American lens. 500cappstreet.org

DEC 10–11 Nutcracker

Marin Ballet Lavish Victorian sets and cos tumes for 125 dancers are just part of a classic ballet production which promises to feature an airborne surprise at final curtain. Lie piano entertainment and a holiday boutique will enliven intermission. marinballet.org

DEC 17 Rachel Kushner & Ottessa Moshfegh Two contemporary fictio heavyweights — a San Francisco “Sunset girl” who sets many of her books in the city (The Hard Crowd, The Mars Room) and the author of Lapvona and My Year of Rest and Relaxation — discuss contemporary fiction and what writin captures the spirit of our unique cultural moment. cityarts.net

MUSIC

DEC 1 Andrea Bocelli The internationally renowned Italian tenor is slated to perform pieces from his 2020 album, “Believe,” a selection of famed arias and love songs and a few holiday season treats dur ing a performance in San Francisco. chasecenter.com

DEC 2, 3, 11, 17, 24

Holiday Spectacular Of course there will

ARTS & LECTURES

THROUGH DEC 18

Gypsy Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics, including for “Everything is Coming Up Roses” are just a part of the endur ing appeal of a musical fable that follows the efforts of Rose — th ultimate show business mother — to raise her daughters to be perform ers. rossvalleyplayers.com

NOV 30–DEC 24 A Christmas Carol Who says ghosts are only for fall? Charles Dickens’ classic tale of redemption is larded with specters of the otherworldly and nagging sort in an

adaptation by Paul Walsh and Carey Perloff act-sf.org

DEC 1–4, 14–24 The Christmas Ballet A signature mix of ballet, contemporary, charac ter, Broadway jazz, and tap from Smuin keeps the energ y flowing at shows in San Francisco and Mountain View. smuinballet.org

DEC 3–FEB 25, 2023

As Above So Below

Interdisciplinary artist Sherwin Rio’s site-spe cific works are visua metaphors addressing colonization, histori cal public amnesia, and intergenerational sto rytelling framed by the

COURTESY OF GOOCH (SFGMC); COURTESY OF MARIN MOCA (FELT BALLS); COURTESY OF ICB (LOVE)

SFGMC Holiday Spectacular

Katie Korotzer, ICB

be a holiday-themed Cher medley along with holiday favorites, including “Jingle Bells” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and classical choral works like “Sure on this Shining Night” as San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus updates its seasonal soirée with performances around the bay. sfgmc.org

DEC 4 Musae A musical collective that takes its name from the original "ladies of song" sings in the choral tradition but is not bound by it, stretch ing the boundaries of traditional repertoire for women's voices. landmarkssociety.com

DEC

with Principal Pops

Conductor Stuart Chafetz celebrates the holidays with songs of the season at the Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium. marincounty.org

DEC 14 Proteus Trio The

Noon Concert Series at the Throckmorton Theatre showcases twotime Grammy winner and Mill Valley resident Evan Price on violin, Lewis Patzner on cello and Jonathan Alford on piano performing original clas sical compositions and their take on standards from Latin America and the jazz repertoire. throckmortontheatre.org

DEC 18 John Denver

7 Three’s Company

Joined by two special guests, pianist Ian Scarfe performs classi cal chamber music to a live Zoom audience with Romantic works by Antonin Dvorak (includ ing his “Dumky” Trio), and a cycle of Ukrainian musical elegies, followed by a Q&A with the artist. marinjcc.org

DEC

Christmas Rick Schuler’s Rocky Mountain High Experience weaves together heartwarm ing inspirational carols and holiday classics like “Sunshine On My Shoulders,” “Take Me Home Country Roads,” as well as “Aspenglow,” and “Away In A Manger.” marincenter.org

DEC 29–JAN 1 Monsieur

3, 9 Wintersongs

Women’s vocal ensem ble, Kitka, kicks off performance series of seasonal music from Ukraine and a range of Eastern European ethnic and spiritual traditions with a virtual commu nity sing on Dec 3 and an in-person performance in Belvedere on Dec 9. kitka.org

DEC

Periné The singular name of the group (please Google it) is an internal joke but the jazz, pop and swing stylists, led by singer Catalina García who sings in Spanish and French, won the 2015 Latin Grammy for Best New Artist. sfjaz.org

COMEDY

DEC 9–10

13 Holiday Pops

Concert The Marin Symphony Orchestra

Brother

Shawn Wayans

of Marlon and Keenen Ivory is known for his work on the Emmy

Award winning comedy series, “In Living Color” and “The Wayans Bros.” sitcom but is perhaps less well-known for his standup. cobbscomedy.com

FILM

DEC 1–17 Another Hole in the Head A film fe tival dedicated to the realms of science fiction fantasy, horror, and other genres showcases new independent film from around the world with dozens of feature films and hundreds o shorts shown at theaters around the bay and on Zoom. ahith.org

DEC 16–17 How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The Ron Howard film from Y2K will b screened while conduc tor Joshua Gerson leads the symphony in live performance featuring music by James Horner. sfsymhony.org

MUSEUMS

THROUGH DEC 23 Follow the String Developed in partner ship with Cedars of Marin Textile Arts Collaborative (TAC) and NIAD Art Center, two Bay Area-based progres sive studio programs for adults with develop mental disabilities, an exhibition explores how fiber arts prvide agency for artists and com munity members of all backgrounds and abili ties. marinmoca.org

THROUGH DEC 31

Pacific Rise The wonder of the marine world and our current age of destructive human impact on the planet along with ideas that can empower us as individuals to take responsibility for our daily choices are at the heart of an exhibi tion on Ocean Health. bolinasmuseum.org

NOV 17–MARCH 19, 2023 Spirit of the Season The Walt Disney Family Museum’s crowd-sourced showcase celebrates nature and the importance of the natural world in each artist’s own holiday tra ditions. waltdisney.org

NOV 19–MARCH 12, 2023 Joan Brown A retrospective of the Bay Area artist’s paintings and sculptures considers her body of work that merges autobiography and fantasy with meta physical and spiritual imagery and themes. sfmoma.org

DEC 17–APRIL 2, 2023

Bernd & Hilla Becher

The renowned German artists and couple photographed blast furnaces, winding towers, cooling towers, gas tanks and other industrial architecture that fueled the modern era, changing the course of late 20th-century photography with a rigorous practice of formal arrangements they called “typologies.” sfmoma.org

EVENTS

THROUGH JAN 16, 2023

Union Square Ice Rink

The Safeway Holiday Ice Rink at San Francisco’s Union Square kicks of the season with an open ing party, hosts weekend learn to skate sessions, “Let it Go” Wednesdays with Disney’s Frozen, and more events throughout the holiday season. unionsquareicerink.com

DEC 2–4 Holiday Spectacular A cozy vibe with plenty of holiday cheer reminis cent of Judy Garland’s holiday special is the aim of a seasonal extravaganza from the Broadway performers at Transcendence Theatre. bestnightever.org

DEC 3–4 Muir Beach

Holiday Arts Fair Locally hand-made jewelry, fash ion accessories, wreaths, and ornaments crafted of glass and wood are just a few of the options at a fair famous for stand appearances by the Muir Beach Quilters and the Muir Beach Volunteer Fire Department. muirbeachartsfair.com

DEC 3–4 Winter Open Studios

The ICB building in Sausalito hosts 100+ artists — sculptors, painters, photographers, fiber artits, jewelers, sound installation and more — who open their studios to share the booming creative energy with guests. icbartists.com

DEC 10 Lighted Boat Parade

Among a month of events in Sausalito, including a gingerbread house tour (Dec 1–31) and a Jingle Bell 5K and Brunch (Dec 11), brightly decorated boats cruise the Sausalito harbor, followed by a fireworks shw in keeping with the spirit of the season. destinationsausalito.com

DEC 17–18 Porcini &

Chanterelle Camp

Join Sausalito’s Maria Finn on a wild food adventure in Jenner locating and identifying local mushrooms and then cooking and eating them over a live fire along the California coast. floaandfungi adventures.com

SAN DOMENICO SCHOOL

Lighted Boat Parade, Sausalito

K-12 Independent, Day and Boarding

Dine

INSIDER’S GUIDE TO RESTAURANTS AND GOOD FOOD IN THE BAY AREA

‘Tis the Season

Marin knows how to party. This year, more than ever, restaurants are throwing open their doors to welcome the season of group dining with indoor and outdoor spaces, new menus and custom offerings that make each space unique. From Mexican and Italian, to kitschy and refi ned, these are just a few of the restaurants that are ringing in the season of celebrating with extra cheer.

CORTE MADERA

Blue Barn Gourmet

American The first Marin outpost of the S.F.-based eatery has proven very popular.

The menu includes customizable salads,

toasted sandwiches, soups and more, prepared with locally harvested produce and proteins. A group order takeout menu is available. 335 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.1104

Boca Pizzeria Italian

The Italian-inspired pizzeria with a covered outdoor patio at The Village utilizes Northern California’s bounty of seasonal ingredients and showcases local microbreweries and wine country’s boutique

varietals. 1544 Redwood Hwy, 415.924.3021

Cafe Verde Californian

This revamped cafe offers Neapolitan pizza, pasta, risotto and salads nearly all day long. Enjoy any of these items inside or out on the patio along

with local and international wines and beers.

502 Tamalpais Drive, 415.927.1060

Flores Mexican With an emphasis on regional Mexican dishes and flavors sourced from family recipes, the menu

is based on California seasonality and revolves around gluten-free masa. There’s a full bar to boot and everything is easily enjoyed on their large, heated patio.

301 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.500.5145

COURTESY OF FLOODWATER; MICHELLE MIN (PIATTI); BOGDAN KURYLO/ISTOCK PHOTO (CHEERING)

What’s Hot

Floodwater

Piatti

AN

EDITED BY CHRISTINA MUELLER

ELEGANCE HAMILTON HILL HISTORIC LUXURY SENIOR

LIVING

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“We’re thrilled to welcome Marin families to our community. Call 415.906.3467 to schedule a personal tour today.”

– Kevin Hogan, Executive Director

Where Together Is Better.

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RH Marin American Ride up the golden-hued elevator to the top floor to a restaurant bedecked in RH style and linger over a shaved vegetable salad, a truffled grilled cheese sandwich on Panorama Bakery sour dough or a namesake RH Burger. 1750 Redwood Highway at The Village, 628.266.2040

FAIRFAX

Amelie French Stop in for a French breakfast of coffee and a croissant at this outpost of the origi nal San Francisco wine bar. A petite street-side patio features dining atop wine barrels. 71 Broadway, 628.253.5161

Sorella Caffe Italian Run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella, which means “sister” in Italian, serves fresh Italian with a northern influence. Customer favorites include the cioppino, butternut squash ravioli and Pollo alla Sorella. Another highlight is the giant wheel of Grana Padano cheese. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520

Stillwater Californian Fairfax native Margaret Ruiz and her life and business partner, David, joined forces with chef Cameron Myers to bring the bounty of the county to the table. Two patios provide ample outdoor eating space. 23 Broadway, 415.524.8478

GREENBRAE AND KENTFIELD

Guesthouse Californian Jared Rogers, the former executive chef of Picco, heads up the kitchen, partnering with mixolo gist Dustin Sullivan on this 110-seat space. Look for well-executed California cuisine, such as mini lobster rolls or

kurobuta pork chops with crispy potatoes, or savor a Slingshot at the bustling bar. 850 College Ave, Kentfield, 415.419.5101

Half Day Cafe American Tucked away in a setting of ivy and large open windows, this cafe is the quintessential breakfast nook and is also open for brunch and lunch, including coffee drinks, pastries and much more. Enjoy a casual daytime meal inside or out on the patio. 848 College Ave, Kentfield, 415.459.0291

LARKSPUR

Backstage Californian The U-shaped bar makes a comfortable, sociable setting for wine tasting, light appetizers (warmed nuts, artichoke dip) and small plates (avocado toast, charcuterie boards) in downtown Larkspur. 295 Magnolia Ave, 415.898.6778

Farm House Local Californian A downtown Larkspur gem that is sure to please with simple, healthy food in a warm, cozy atmosphere, both indoors and on the covered patio. The seasonal menu, inspired by American classics, includes biscuits and gravy; a “BLAT” (with avocado) sandwich. 25 Ward St, 415.891.8577

Hog Island Oyster Co. Seafood The fullservice Marin Country Mart location features a full bar with seasonal cocktails, beer and wine and the same bay-tobar philosophy as the Tomales Bay original. 2401 Larkspur Landing Circle, 628.253.5905

Left Bank Restaurant French This authenti cally classic brasserie has been serving the

Larkspur community for more than two decades. Whether on the patio, at the European-style bar or in the casually elegant main dining room with a huge fireplace, it’s a fun and French downtown experience. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331

Perry’s American Perry’s on Magnolia has the quintessentially American fare, bustling bar and warm personal ity the San Francisco original has always been famous for. Along with three separate din ing rooms in a historic building, there’s outdoor dining under the twin kling lights on the patio and in the redwood grove. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.1877

Picco Californian Popular since its inception, Picco has a seasonally driven menu featuring items such as risotto (made every half hour), mesquite octopus tostada and butterscotch pot de creme that keep attracting return visits. The warm wood and brick interior is fronted by a popular, six seat bar. 320 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0300

Rustic Bakery Californian The Maringrown bakery is known and loved the world over: Pope Francis famously requested Rustic Bakery flatbread and crostini when he visited the U.S. in 2015. Organic bread, crois sants and pastries baked fresh each morning and salads, sandwiches, and soups for lunch make Rustic a local staple. Marin Country Mart, 2017 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.461.9900

MILL VALLEY

Bootjack Wood Fired Californian A transition back to a bakery means hearth-style breads (apple walnut), breakfast sandwiches and pastries (cinna mon buns) from baker Cameron Esaryk are pulled daily from the built-in Alan Scott bread oven. 17 Madrona St, 415.383.4200

Buckeye Roadhouse American Oysters bingo, baby back ribs and chili-lime “brick” chicken are a few of the satisfying comfort-food menu items that have made this classic roadhouse a favorite since the ’30s. 15 Shoreline Hwy, 415.331.2600

Bungalow 44 American

The normally bustling bar is one of Mill Valley’s hot spots, ideal for savoring a seasonal cocktail or an order for their famous kickin’ fried chicken. The $1 happy hour oyster program still operates from 5-6 p.m., Monday–Thursday and the heated outdoor patio remains a town hot spot. 44 E Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500

Cafe Del Soul Californian Healthy options become addic tive at this eatery that has locations in both Tam Junction and San Rafael. Once you stop in for the deliciously fresh quinoa wrap, you’ll want to return to try the chipotle rice bowl. 247 Shoreline Hwy, 415.388.1852

The Cantina Mexican

The popular family restaurant serves tra ditional Mexican fare including soups, salads, sandwiches and sizzling fajitas in dinner-size portions at lunch-size

prices. Stop by for a margarita — they are known throughout Marin. 651 E Blithedale, 415.381.1070

Floodwater Californian Sip a “Gold Rush” (Old Forester bourbon, local honey, lemon) at the room-length bar while noshing on pork belly steamed buns or dive into Shorty’s Tall Reuben in the TV-free front room. The patio features fire pits. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.843.4545

Gravity Tavern American With ingredients suited to reflect modern tastes, American classics like grilled chicken Waldorf salad with pickled grapes; lobster roll with toasted challah and veggie slaw. Enjoy them on the popular patio. 38 Miller Ave, 415.888.2108

Harmony Chinese Enjoy a lighter, fresher take on Chinese at this restaurant in Strawberry Village. The barbecue pork bun is filled with house-made roasted meat in a savory sauce and signature prawns are wok-seared with scallions. 401 Strawberry Village, 415.381.5300

Hook Fish Co Seafood

The indoor, woodceilinged dining room feels like a boat’s galley, and the spot’s popular outdoor beer garden adjacent to Mill Valley’s Proof Lab at Tam Junction has 13 taps, but the draw at this counter-service joint is the seafood. The transparent supply chain means you can enjoy the poke, fish and chips or fish tacos secure in the knowledge of exactly where and on what boat your meal came from. 254 Shoreline Hwy

India Palace Indian Known as “that great restaurant in the Travelodge,” India Palace is a favorite with the takeout crowd; eating on-site is also a treat for its well-regarded North Indian fare. 707 Redwood Hwy, 415.388.3350

Piatti Ristorante and Bar Italian A new fireplace lounge and open-concept format invites lingering over refreshed menu items, such as house-made ravioli with lemon cream and citrus gremolata, roasted mushroom pizza. 625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525

Piazza D’Angelo Italian Family owned for over 35 years, Piazza D’Angelo evokes a traditional trattoria din ing experience. Enjoy a variety of pastas, meat and seafood dishes, wood-fired pizzas and gluten-free offerings, all house-made with organic and locally sourced ingredients. 22 Miller Ave, 415.388.2000

Playa Mexican With a chef from Mexico City, Playa’s food offers traditional dishes with modern flavors and presentations. A little gem salad sparkles with tomatillo dressing and enchiladas shine from a glossy coating of house made black mole and micro greens. 41 Throckmorton Ave, 415.384.8871

Shoreline Coffee Shop

American Hidden behind Good Earth in a parking lot at Tam Junction, this coffee shop is a vintage diner with a small-town feel. Featuring a mix of Mexican and traditional breakfast fare hits, the comfort food spot is gussied up with organic

Let Comforts provide you with a delicious and easy holiday meal with all the trimmings! Whether it’s a cocktail party, office luncheon, or family gathering, we have a menu to please all! And while you’re out doing your holiday shopping, stop by and enjoy breakfast or lunch in our cafe, or take home one of our popular family meals for an easy dinner. Let Comforts be your one-stop holiday shop! Happy Holidays! COMFORTS

and local goodies like eggs from Tennessee Valley neighbor Woolley Egg Ranch. Try them in the roto–soft eggs and house-made chorizo with French fries — or a classic diner dish, two eggs your way. You can get gluten-free bread from Green Gulch, too. 221 Shoreline Hwy, 415.388.9085

Watershed Californian Gather around the fire pit in front of the restaurant at the Lumber Yard or hang out at the long bar for a pre-dinner glass of wine before sampling one of the many dishes curated to reflect the bounty of Marin. The Stemple Creek Ranch burger and fresh pastas are matched with a bevy of simply prepared, easyto-share dishes (like spicy rock cod lettuce cups or lamb riblets) that reflect chef Kyle Swain’s careful sourc ing and focus on local flavor. 129 Miller Ave, 415.888.2406

SAN ANSELMO AND ROSS

Comforts Cafe American Established in 1986, Comforts has a cozy sit-down patio and serves breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. A large takeout section Besides the famous Chinese chicken salad, other winners are the stuffed pecan-crusted French toast, chicken okasan (nicknamed “Crack Chicken” by fans) and roast chicken enchiladas. 335 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, 415.454.9840

Creekside Pizza & Tap Room American A perennial Best of the County winner known for their artisan pizzas, hearty sandwiches,

and flavorful pastas and salads, Creekside offers plentiful glutenfree and vegan options, too. Their copper, 40-handle selection of craft beers makes a beloved local pizza joint a destination for fresh beer in equal measure. There’s even gluten-free beer and kombucha pulled straight from the taps. 638 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, 415.785.4450

Cucina sa Italian Open for lunch Wednesday–Saturday and six nights a week for dinner, takeout or delivery. Homemade pastas, seasonal salads and wood-fired pizzas strike a balance between southern Italy and northern California. Full bar and cocktails are available to go or enjoy a tipple on premise inside or at the new heated parklet. 510 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, 415.454.2942

The Baan Thai Thai Known for its mango sticky rice, crispy corn cakes and The Baan Thai salad, this restaurant reopened in 2020 with a new owner, a new menu and a new heated outdoor seating area. Warm up with new menu items like fresh spring rolls and steamed dumplings, or old favorites such as the tom kha soup. The commitment to serving fresh, local and seasonal food is unchanged. 726 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, 415.457.9470

Valenti & Co. Italian The bright yet cozy indoor space and warmly lit back patio are ideal environments for authentic Italian dishes made with local ingredients. The menu changes daily but look for the carpaccio of beef, the pan-seared Pekin duck and chef

Valenti’s famous tower of triple chocolate love at dessert. 337 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, 415.454.7800

SAN RAFAEL

Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria Californian A wide array of thin-crust pizzas, freshly made pastas and salads are the ticket here, along with flame-roasted lemon chicken wings (they are “atomic”). Gluten-free pizza crust is available. 1242 Fourth St, 415.455.9777

Cafe Arrivederci Italian Pizza, pasta and fresh fish grace the menu in this warm and comfort able environment. Fettucini Carbonara and Pappardelle Bolognese are among the most favorite dishes. 11 G St, 415.453.6427

SAUSALITO

Angelino Restaurant Italian Multiple gen erations of the Arcona family create an authentic Italian eatery with handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti that has showcased the cuisine of the Campania region for more than 20 years. The newer Angelino Pastry Bar features classic croissants, focaccia and a raspberry-polenta pop tart, among other treats, with pickup from 8 a.m. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225

Bar Bocce American Food just tastes better on a bayside patio with fire pits and a bocce ball court. Order one of the sourdough bread pizzas, a shredded kale salad and a glass of wine and you’ll see why this casual, beachy eatery, overseen by Robert Price of Mill Valley’s

Buckeye and Bungalow 44, has become a local favorite. 1250 Bridgeway, 415.331.0555

Barrel House Tavern Californian Stop by Barrel House for a feel ing of rising above it all (it’s on the second floor) where the soaring ceiling work reflects the restaurant’s name. The barrel-aged cocktails are worth a visit (try the Negroni) but dishes like maitake mushroom flat bread and tartare tacos reflect a locally focused ethos that is enhanced by the cool setting and fantastic bay and city views. 660 Bridgeway, 415.729.9593

Fish Seafood It has been said that this restaurant and fish market launched the sustainable seafood movement, making it the ultimate place for freshly caught, unobjectionable fare. Order any of the day’s offerings — the menu changes daily but usually has a variation of fish tacos, ceviche and grilled fish of the day — then take in the bay views on the open-air deck. Though cash is still king, credit cards are now accepted. 350 Harbor Drive, 415.331.3474

Murray Circle American Cavallo Point’s acclaimed restaurant features local, seasonal fare from chef Mike Garcia at lunch and dinner. Cocktails with a view and the same locally focused ethos. 601 Murray Circle, 415.339.4750

Poggio Italian Vitello sliced excruciatingly thin and topped with lemon and tonnato sauce is a singular dish in the hands of executive chef Benjamin Balesteri,

who creates Northern Italian fare using local and Italian ingredients. Private dining rooms available. 777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771

Sushi Ran Japanese Sample innovative small plates just big enough to share before enjoying some of the best sushi the Bay Area has to offer; the prices don’t deter the herd of enthusiasts who line up nightly to partake. Just stopping by? The wine, cocktail and sake lists keep even the pickiest barfly satisfied. Reservations are a must for the main room. 107 Caledonia St, 415.332.3620

Zalta Mediterranean

The menu — with a wine and cocktail list to match¬ — reflects influences from Greece, Italy, Spain, the Middle East and France. The mezze plate is filled with muhammara, dolmas and an eggplant spread known as mutabal, while the kofta burger is topped with tzatziki and green zhug on a focaccia bun. All the share size plates can also be enjoyed at the bright blue and white bar. 39 Caledonia St, Sausalito, 415.887.9047

TIBURON

Luna Blu Italian Executive chef Renzo Azzarello serves Sicilian seafood and homemade pastas with a Californian touch. The seasonal menu incorporates fresh and organic produce, local naturally grown meat and poultry from small farms. 35 Main St, 415.789.5844

Salt & Pepper American With its hardwood floors and blue-check ered tablecloths, the sun-filled, one-room

restaurant is an area favorite. Scallops, ribeye steak, a beef burger and traditional crab cakes with jalapeño dipping sauce are some of the popular choices on the patio. 38 Main St, 415.435.3594

Sam’s Anchor Cafe American Reopened after an extensive remodel, Sam’s boat house feel and boat tie-ups remain intact, and spiffy white umbrellas and deck chairs line the expansive waterfront patio. All-day cocktails remain a fixture and a raw bar reflect the menu’s enduring sea food focus. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527

The Caprice Italian Enhanced bay views from every seat are just one of many charms after an extensive remodel reworked the entire space. The revamped menu features well-crafted comfort food from land and sea options. 2000 Paradise Drive, 415.435.3400

Tiburon Tavern American Renzo and Crystal Azzarello of nearby Luna Blu took the reins in August for the Tiburon Tavern bar and restaurant with Chef Babak Nasser on board to handle the flow from breakfast and brunch through dinner. The same wide patio is back in service, too. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.3133

WEST MARIN

Due West at Olema House Californian The dark blue walls accented with recessed golden light give the refreshed restaurant-cum-saloon at Olema House a modern feel. The menu, including a burger,

linguini and clams, and a chopped salad, skews all-day casual and speaks to the inn and restaurant’s crossroads locale. 10005 Highway 1, Olema, 415.663.1264

Point

Reyes Roadhouse

American Executive chef Christofer Gutierrez has plans for a bakery program and a backyard beer garden, but for now, look for California cuisine with Latin American flair for three meals a day (Heart’s Desire mussels, Chimney Rock ribeye) and lighter options (Miwok veggie hash, vegan udon, Olema halibut), plus wine and beer, while sitting on one of the cozy, sheepskin-draped chairs inside or at a picnic table out front. 10905 State Route One, Point Reyes Station

Saltwater Oyster Depot Seafood A seat at the room-length bar or on the patio at this snug spot on Tomales Bay’s west shore can be tough to snag on a busy summer weekend, but oysters pulled straight from the bay moments before, served broiled and on the half shell, are worth the wait. Locally sourced ingredients get equal billing in dishes like halibut crudo and a lamb burger. 12781 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Inverness, 415.669.1244

Side Street Kitchen

American The fastcasual eatery led by chef Aaron Wright (formerly of Tavern at Lark Creek and Canlis) serves favorites like rotisserie chicken, smoked oysters and pork-belly BLTs, as well as wholesome vegetarian fare. This is one of the few spots in West Marin that serves gluten-free beer. The cozy patio is dog-friendly.

60 Fourth St, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.0303

Station House Cafe

American Known for their house-made pop overs, which chef Aaron Wright makes available at every meal, this cozy cafe is also recognized for fresh oysters, grassfed burgers, and an “everything fresh, local and homegrown” ethos. Dining in the garden is as popular on weekdays as on the weekends. 11180 Highway 1, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.1515

Tony’s Seafood Seafood

The crowds still come on sunny weekends for the barbecue oysters and amazing views of Tomales Bay, but the restaurant’s purchase by the Hog Island Oyster Co team meant a refresh of the interior and a spiffed-up menu of salads and seafood pulled from the bay’s waters. Michelin noticed and awarded Tony’s a Bib Gourmand for 2021. 18863 Shoreline Hwy, Marshall, 415.663.1107

William Tell House

American The oldest continuously operat ing saloon in Marin makes a mean apple brandy cocktail aptly named for the Swiss folk hero, William Tell (who famously shot an arrow off his son’s head), but the revamped restaurant strives to make its name around food with a seafood chowder made with local cod, a Cobb salad with applewood bacon, and a butcher’s cut of the day sourced from nearby Stemple Creek Ranch and grilled to order. 26955 Highway 1, Tomales, 707.879.2002

On the Scene

ROSS VALLEY WOMEN’S LEAGUE FUNDS ADOPT A FAMILY Since 1965, Ross Valley Women’s League has been devoted to financially supporting Adopt A Family of Marin, which helps families in crisis living in the county obtain a better sense of stability. This year, the passionate group of ladies raised $300,000 at its annual fundraising gala at Peacock Gap, which will benefit their non profit of choice.

SNAPSHOTS FROM SPECIAL EVENTS IN MARIN AND SAN FRANCISCO EDITED DONNA BERRY GLASS

Maureen Tierney, Noel Stubblefield, Roxanne Najafi, Lisa Roth Wasden, and Sylvie Zolezzi

Ross Valley Women’s League

MARINHEALTH FOUNDATION BOOTS AND BLING GALA RAISES

NEARLY $1 MILLION MarinHealth Foundation held its annual black-tie gala, “Boots and Bling,” on Saturday, October 8, attracting a crowd of more than 450 supporters. The fundraising event exceeded financial expectations by raising nearly $1M, which will support MarinHealth Medical Center’s ‘ouchless’ pediatric emergency department with childfriendly protocols that help take the pain and anxiety out of a visit to the emergency room.

DREW

David Klein, MD, Patrick Bennett, MD, Andrea Schultz, and Paul Violich

John and Tucky Pogue

Amy Gin, MD, Vivek Iyer, MD, and Robert Sperling, MD

Susie Sarlo, Julia Violich, and Christine Chu

Marin Home

FROM TOURS AND MAKEOVERS TO DECORATIVE DETAILS AND REALTOR INSIGHTS

A TREETOP AERIE

BY LOTUS ABRAMS PHOTOS BY STEVE KEPPLE

Young professionals Susan and Jimmy recently moved from San Francisco to Mill Valley, where they found the perfect home to start a family.

The

IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, Jimmy and Susan knew they were outgrow ing their two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood. Seeking a home where they could start a fam ily, they found themselves torn at first about whether to stay in the city or move to Marin County. “We were looking for a bigger place, something that would be more permanent, in the Marina or Pacific Heights, as well as Mill Valley,” Jimmy says. “One of the reasons that we like those neighborhoods in the city is because there are a lot of great restaurants and places to walk to, but we found ourselves in Marin every weekend, hiking, playing golf and doing things outside.”

The couple initially started their search on their own, but soon found the market intimi dating. “This was the summer of 2021, and places were going so fast and for ridiculous

amounts above asking price,” Jimmy says.

A friend referred the couple to Compass Real Estate Agent Cara Mia Lembi, who showed them properties in both San Francisco and Marin County and helped them navigate the market. “It was incredibly competitive in both areas, and multiple offers were quite com mon,” Lembi says.

It didn’t take much to convince the couple that Mill Valley, with its bounteous open spaces, great schools and reasonable com mute to Jimmy’s work in downtown San Francisco, was where they wanted to buy a home. “Mill Valley has a nice downtown that’s very walkable and you can also go down to Richardson Bay,” Jimmy says. “We also knew that we could get much more square footage there than we could get in the city. Ultimately, I think not having to share a building with other people and getting the extra bedroom

and a little bit of outdoor space and more privacy is what won us over.”

After seeing about eight houses over a two-week period, Jimmy and Susan found the ideal house to suit their needs in Mill Valley, a move-in ready three-bedroom, two-bath home, but it was at the top of their budget. When Lembi talked to the listing agent, however, she learned that the sellers were highly motivated to close, as they were in Southeast Asia trying to relocate to Australia before Covid-19 travel restrictions were put in place. Lembi moved quickly to get an offer in place and close the deal. “There was an offer date set for it, but I worked with the agent, and I preempted the offer date,” she says. “We were able to bring a compelling offer that was all buttoned up, and they accepted it and didn't go forward with the offer date.”

Built in the 1960s, the recently remodeled

1960s-era mid-century modern home features a vaulted ceiling and was beautifully renovated, so it was move-in ready for the couple.

mid-century modern home boasts a vaulted ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows in the liv ing room, providing plenty of light, and a yard and deck surrounded by trees. “It almost feels like a treehouse,” Susan says. “We love enter taining, and the yard has great landscaping.” Susan now has room for a home office, and the couple can already envision starting a family in their new home. “In the master bedroom, there's a window seat, and when I first saw it, I could just imagine reading books to my kids there,” Susan says. Already fans of mid-century modern design, Susan and Jimmy found that much of their existing furniture worked well in their new home, although they did replace their small apartment-sized couch with a new, larger leather couch.

The couple is already settling into their new lifestyle in Mill Valley, too. “We love getting pizza and beers at The Junction and taking

THE DETAILS

WHERE THEY PURCHASED Mill Valley

WHAT THEY BOUGHT 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom mid-century modern

LISTING AGENT Chelsea Lindman, Compass

BUYERS AGENT Cara Mia Lembi, Compass

late afternoon walks along the water, both of which are just down the hill from us,” Susan says. “And we love how Mill Valley feels like a small town. I grew up in a small town in Texas, and I had the run of the neighborhood with my friends. I'm so glad that we're going to be able to raise our kids in an environment like that, too.”

Floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room look out onto the surrounding trees and provide plenty of natural light to the kitchen and dining area as well.

Cover

Represented by STEPHANIE BREIER The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2022 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Advisors LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.

GERSTLE PARK VINTAGE CHARM AND OPPORTUNITY

Located in a gorgeous area of Gerstle Park, this immaculate property offers so much to get excited about. The upper sun-filled home features a stylish kitchen opening to the huge deck and yard. New wood-look embossed floors throughout, solid wood closet doors and plentiful ceiling lights throughout. Newer electrical, plumbing, furnace and AC, wiring, roof, and structural reframing. Potential galore downstairs, which is so close to being ready for additional living space or a spectacular second unit. This is a super unique opportunity for a buyer. Also, behind the one-car garage is plentiful room for a workshop or storage, and a rear shed nearby a magnificent lone redwood tree in the large, flat backyard.

Photo by Adam Potts Photography

Mill Valley’s Sequoia Theater

After 93 years, it’s about to get a second life. BY JIM WOOD

In the early 1900s, the Hub Theater at 142 Throckmorton Avenue in Mill Valley was the place for vaudeville acts and silent movies. Then in 1929, the Sequoia Theater opened just blocks away and soon thereafter The Hub was history. According to the Mill Valley Historical Society, Sequoia’s opening night was a runaway success. All of its 1,200 seats were filled for both the showings of a “talkie.” There were short films, vaudeville acts and rous ing music from a Wurlitzer organ. And for nearly 50 years, nothing much changed (well, over time, the vaudeville and the organ disappeared). Then in 1975, the Sequoia’s owners “twinned” the theater, making two cinemas out of one. At the time, they also sought to update the Sequoia’s exterior appear ance until the town’s Architectural Advisory Committee said, “Not so fast, Art Deco is coming back.” And in a 1999 million dollar remodeling, plush seats replaced the originals, soundproofing between theaters was upgraded

and the lobby area and snack bar were rearranged. So good, so far. But then in August of 2004, the Sequoia came crashing down, literally. Some 40 people were enjoying a Monday matinee of “Garden State” when a 600-square-foot section of roof caved in. As a result, 33 people were banged up and covered in dust; with three of them being hospitalized. Yet Mill Valley’s historic Sequoia Theater not only survived, but thrived. Four years later, Mark Fishkin, founder of the Mill Valley Film Festival announced that the California Film Institute, its governing organization, was purchasing the Sequoia for $2.5 million. The sellers were heirs to Blumenfeld Theaters, the family that built the theater back in 1929. CFI is planning to convert the Sequoia from a twoscreen cinema into a cinema and education center with four screens seating up to 500 and with an expanded lobby and a rooftop pavilion. As for altering the historic Art Deco façade? Plans call for it to be retained intact.

Sequoia Theater, 1953

PAUL JENKINS

1923-2012

Robert Green Fine Arts, established 1969, exhibits primarily painterly, abstract expressive work by painters that thoroughly take advantage of the sensually evocative nature of color and form.

Abstract Expressionist painter Paul Jenkins is recognized for the owing color of his work. Combining gestural abstraction with alternating opacity and transparency to both emanate and capture light. Over more than seven decades, his paintings have been widely exhibited around the world. Jenkins has had seven major retrospectives at American and European museums.