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The Grateful Dead is an iconic band that decided to call Marin home. In honor of the group’s 50th anniversary we chose this cover image, which exudes the kind of youthful freedom the Dead always represented.
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WE KICK THINGS off this month with a look at the Grateful Dead at 50. The band has a rich history here and Novato photographer Bob Minkin has followed the Dead since the 1970s to document it. His photo essay marks highlights through the decades right up to the present day. Can anyone spare a miracle ticket?
Next up, writer Ann Wycoff ooks at how Marin County’s top minds from places like the Buck Institute are weighing in on the important topic of healthy living and longevity. It is part one of a two-part series, so be sure to look for the second installment in the August issue.
When it comes to health, most agree that light summer meals taste even better when you cook on the grill. Food writer Lynda Balslev shares five festive recipes great for entertaining. We wind up features with writer Carrie Kirby’s look at opportunities and pitfalls in the improved economy.
Up front, we’ve got all you need to know about bridge tolls, places to see wildlife and buggy “bites.” We also introduce you to artist Tom Killion, promoter Bob Ayres, Congressman Jared Huffman and other local players.
Destinations presents a roundup of nearby waterfront destinations ideal for your next staycation. And Appellations provides tips for getting the most from your next wine country adventure.
It’s a jam-packed issue with information to help you stay healthy and have a great summer. And whether it is you r fi rst or your 50th, we hope you have a great time if you decide to attend any of the Grateful Dead’s fi nal shows.
To shoot this month’s feature on grilling and alfresco dining, we needed one thing above everything else: a good-looking grill. For that, we turned to Executive Editor Mimi Towle’s parents-in-law. Sally and Mike Gallagher of Kentfield were thrilled to see their daughterin-law and our staff in action. Afterward, everyone enjoyed the delicious results.
The band has a rich history here and Novato photographer Bob Minkin has followed the Dead since the 1970s.Marin Magazine Staff Editors Above, from left: Mimi Towle, Nikki Wood, Dan Jewett
Doing right starts right here. Community banking is at the heart of what we do. From giving customers more convenient access to their money to financing their home in the neighborhood, Union Bank® believes in acting locally.1 We also believe that investing in local businesses helps everyone. For over 150 years, Union Bank has grown strong, one community at a time. We live here. We do business here. And we’re here, for you.
Experience the strength of Union Bank. Stop by your local Marin County branch today. unionbank.com
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1 Loans subject to credit and collateral approval. Financing available for collateral located in CA, OR, or WA. Restrictions may apply. Terms and conditions subject to change.
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Denys
McCutcheon, “but Marin residents send us pretty clean stuff — lack plastic bags are our nemesis; we pick them out by hand.”
Every weekday about 300 tons of residential green waste, including food scraps, is dumped in the Redwood Landfill.
Recycling your garbage pays many dividends.
BY JIM WOODOF ALL MY household chores, the yuckiest is scraping food scraps into the pail I keep under the sink. It’s always messy. Twice a week, I dump that bucket in our yard waste bin. By then, the chicken bones (some with meat still on them), brown and gooey banana peels and uneaten Thai food are smelly. And once the bin is wheeled to the curb, things are really rank.
Last week, I scraped scrambled eggs, soggy toast and an apple core into that bucket beneath our sink. As I looked at the chewed-up apple I thought: “Where will this core go?” I knew it would become compost (a mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer), but how? When? And for whom?
Three days later I was at the Redwood Land fill, which is on the right as you’re about to leave Marin on Highway 101 heading north. I was talking to Alisha McCutcheon, who runs the composting program for Waste Management, the folks who operate the county dump. We were on a hillside, overlooking tall rows of recently deposited hedge clippings, leaves, weeds and, here and there, collections of rotting apples, pieces of pizza (some still in a box) and decaying bones (again, some with meat on them). I told McCutcheon that I live in Tiburon and about my apple core and she pointed at a row and said, “It could be right there, because every weekday about 300 tons of Southern and Central Marin’s and Novato’s residential green waste, including food scraps, is dumped in the Redwood Land fill.”
Within two days of being dumped, green waste and garbage (including my now-rotting apple core) are loaded into a large machine that grinds them into pieces smaller than six inches. “The grinder senses when a boulder or a lead pipe is coming through and automatically shuts down,” explains
The 10-foot-tall piles of six-inch particles then get a dousing of storm water and are left to sit, or cure, for about a month as the composting process begins. During this period the piles are aerated by air blown into them, rather than being turned over by a tractor. “This is when the compost’s temperature reaches 131 degrees Fahrenheit,” notes McCutcheon, “which destroys all the pathogens, weed seeds and pesticides in the mix.” Once this process starts, it takes 30 days for my apple core to be dissolved by bacteria, fungi and other biological means (in comparison, it takes a plastic bag 10 to 20 years, a plastic water bottle 100 years, and a hard plastic bottle cap 400 years to dissolve).
After sitting in those covered aerated static piles for a month, the green waste looks like pretty good compost, but McCutcheon isn’t satisfied. “Next, we’ll run it through a screener that only lets through particles three-eighths of an inch or smaller,” she says. “Then those piles of fi ne compost will sit and mature for at least 90 days.” From there, the loamy-looking material is sold in bulk to wine country vintners or put in bags that are purchased by weekend gardeners like me. (I kid you not: I used my bag of “WM EarthCare Homegrown Compost Made from 100 Percent Recycled Food Scraps and Yard Trimmings” when I planted a new honey crisp apple tree.)
When you’re composting, you’re recycling waste that would otherwise sit for years in a land fi ll emitting greenhouse gases. You are also saving water and power by not running your garbage disposal. In addition, compost saves additional water by retaining moisture and enriches your soil by returning nutrients to it. Some gardeners say the stuff ven smells sweet. So if you’re already composting, keep on doing it; if not, it’s time to start. It’s good for your soul, as well as Planet Earth. That’s my point of view. What’s yours?
Email pov@marinmagazine.com.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Marin Magazine and its staff.
IDAHO is known as the Gem State, and Whitetail Club is its crown jewel. Here life brims over with adventure. The snow-capped mountains, glacier-carved lakes and ancient forests set the stage for a life of exploration and tranquility. HERE, YOUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT.
Obtain a Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Warning, the California Bureau of Real Estate has not inspected, examined or qualified this offering. Whitetail Club is represented by Whitetail Club Realty. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. Scenes and views may be of a location not on or related to the property.
Thank you for the article “Are We Having Fun Yet?” (April). Beyond the issues that you raise, of tantamount importance to me is who the people are who are running these organizations. Are they people I want my child to learn from, look up to and become like? Do they foster the same work ethic, sportsmanship and general sense of fair play over winning, success and fi nancial rewards? After being involved in basketball in the county in the Rec, CYO and AAU arenas, I’ve seen instances where the child’s needs are subsumed to the needs of the owner of the organization or the program’s record. We’ve been lucky to fi nd a great AAU basketball program, however, that matches our family’s values of sportsmanship, respect, responsibility, teamwork and hard work fi rst. It has been a wonderful program for our son. E.P., VIA WEBSITE
One thing is clear from seeing 10 years of Marin Magazine covers (“Marin at 10,” June): regardless of the theme, the covers with original art are far superior to and more engaging and inspiring than any fashion or real estate promos, and they tell a much more interesting story of our incredible county. Keep ’em coming. KATY KUHN, MILL VALLEY, VIA EMAIL
Thank you for featuring Elaine Petrocelli and Book Passage, a local treasure, in the May edition (Conversation). I’m sure you didn’t have the room to list Book Passage’s many community contributions, but I wanted to take the opportunity to thank Elaine and the store for hosting an annual poetry reading for the school my son attended from kindergarten throug h fi fth grade. Every year, the store has provided the space and time to host each and every kid in our school who wanted to write and read a poem of his or her own creation. It is a truly magical event and as a parent, I am so grateful to Book Passage for hosting it every year. Local businesses like Elaine’s are what makes Marin an amazing place to live. JANET MYERS, MOTHER OF LUC LEBLANC, VIA EMAIL
Jim, since you asked (POV, April) for my point of view, I’ll tell you. I could not disagree more with your “Small Change” view. Two simple reasons the county supervisor slush fund should be eliminated : fi rst, our county government has accumulated massive debts for unfunded pension and health care liabilities, so it shouldn’t be playing Santa Claus with what is, in essence, borrowed money. Second, the Marin Community Foundation is a wonderful, Marin-centric private foundation with $1.5 billion in assets and a professional staff ocused on vetting grants for deserving Marin organizations. The supervisors’ fund is a pathetic sideshow by comparison. Kudos to Supervisor Damon Connolly for breaking ranks with the status quo. KEN BROAD, MILL VALLEY, VIA EMAIL
Thank you for “exploring the untold story of an iconic Marin building” (“New Details, Old Controversy,” November). It brought back many memories. Reading your quote from Frank Lloyd Wright — saying a good building “is one that makes the landscape more beautiful than it was before the building was built” — one may wonder what Wright’s comments might have been if focused on the Buck Center in Novato.
CHARLOTTE SCHMID, GREENBRAE, VIA EMAIL
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July 12, 3–6 p.m.
Cavallo Point, 601 Murray Circle, Sausalito
Add more heat to your summer. Put on your best summer whites and join Marin Magazine at Cavallo Point for the White-Hot Party. This cool annual event not only celebrates the season’s long, warm days, but is also the launch party for the magazine’s special publication Marin Summer: The Ultimate 2015 Guide to Activities and Events. Admission includes a sumptuous array of hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, entertainment by the celebrated nine-piece David Martin’s House Party band, and white-hot dancing.
$120 per person
866.651.2003, cavallopoint. com/whiteparty
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In addition to contributing to Marin Magazine, Hershon is senior manager for Naming and Verbal Identity at Landor, an international branding company. He has created many memorable brand names during his career, including BlackBerry, Swiffer and Dasani while working at Lexicon Branding in Sausalito, and has written several made-for-TV movies for the Hallmark Channel. Hershon also hosts the comedy podcast Succotash, which features interviews and clips from other comedy podcasts. When he isn’t busy doing all that, he draws an award-winning editorial cartoon for the weekly Half Moon Bay Review.
Writer, “The New Economy” (p. 64)
Carrie Kirby spends a lot of time asking people about something they think about but rarely talk about: money. Her work on personal fi nance, business and technology has appeared in San Francisco Magazine, Consumers Digest, Wise Bread and more. Kirby’s most recent work about her other love, travel, appears in The Best Women’s Travel Writing: Volume 10. Kirby lives on an island (Alameda) with her husband and three kids, and she blogs about getting them all where they need to go without a car at carfreemom.com.
Ann Wycoff Writer, “Science of Aging” (p. 50)
Ann Wycoff s a travel and lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in San Diego Magazine, Coastal Living, Westways, Sip Northwest and many more. When she’s not blogging for her travel website wandermelon. com or writing stories, she’s eating and sipping her way through Baja’s wine region or exploring the backcountry of the Anza Borrego Desert. Wycoff ives in Solana Beach with her husband, their 12-year-old daughter, three cats and one perpetually happy Bernese mountain dog named Max.
It’s a fact that during the 2008 catastrophic stock market downturn, most investors lost significant wealth – and faith – in financial markets. Many never fully recovered – financially or psychologically. Strangely, most investors are poised to make the very same mistake during the next big market decline. Unfortunately, this is a result of Wall Street’s “set it and forget it” approach to investing. Here at Main Street Research we see things differently. Our Active Risk Management process mitigates the risk of catastrophic decline, as was the case in 2008, while at the same time allowing investors to participate in today’s rising market. If you are interested in avoiding past mistakes, we should talk. Call or visit www.ms-research.com. Minimum relationship $1 million.
Paragon Real Estate Group, specializing in residential, commercial, luxury and international properties, opened up its fifth — and first in Marin — real estate office in Greenbrae; paragon-re.com. With its Marin County client base growing, 1 Zephyr Real Estate, primarily located in San Francisco, has opened its first North Bay residential real estate office, at Bon Air Center in Greenbrae; zephyrsf.com.
Love great shoes? 2 Freda Salvador, whose shoe design studio is here in Sausalito, has moved the flagship store to Fillmore Street in San Francisco; fredasalvador. com. The next time you find yourself on Throckmorton in Mill Valley, check out newly opened 3 Branded Boutique , with women’s fashion by designers Soludos, Simone Camille, Ulla Johnson and many others; facebook.com/ brandedboutiques
» Marin is already a great place to live, and these new businesses are making it even more fun. Check out what’s new (or just getting better).
Not only have Julie Zener and Tara Schon of Zener Schon Contemporary Art in Mill Valley been creating buzz with their parties and fi ne art, they also curate rock concerts like Bottle Rock in Napa; zenerschongallery.com.
4 Studio 4 Art , owned by Kebby McInroy, now has a new permanent location in downtown Novato, and the studio just purchased The Little Art Studio in Mill Valley; studio4art.net.
5 Julie Tuton, now with her namesake jewelry studio in downtown Mill Valley, draws her inspiration from the Italian Renaissance by using gold, thick coins and geometric rings in her handmade pieces; julietuton.com If you’re into organic facial products and you’re looking for a new line, 6 Laurel Wellness Studio, offering face balms, serums, elixirs and more, has opened it s fi rst retail space in Sausalito; laurelskin.com
Looking to be an official Marin hot tubber? Head over to Creative Energy ’s new location at The Village at Corte Madera near Macy’s and pick out your favorite tub; creativeenergy.com. Time to renovate those kitchen cabinets? Michele Dugan just opened Marin Cabinet Studio on Magnolia Avenue in Larkspur; marincabinetstudio.com
New in Town is an ongoing bulletin on new businesses throughout the Bay Area. To be considered for future listings, email lwalker@marinmagazine.com.
BY KASIA PAWLOWSKA
MANY OF US drive across the Golden Gate Bridge on a regular basis without thinking much about the toll — until we get our FasTrak invoice, that is. But without human toll collectors (this system of collection was eliminated in 2013) there are some tollbooth scenarios that raise questions. What happens when you get a new car? What if you are using a rental car? We’ve gathered some information to provide you with smoothest crossing possible. goldengate.org
• Talk to a rental agent about enrolling in the company’s tolling program if you anticipate crossing the bridge in your temporary ride. Most major companies offer a few different options depending on your needs.
• Do you enjoy discounted tolls and automatic deductions? So do other drivers, making FasTrak the most popular and convenient option for daily commuters.
• The pay-by-plate option allows drivers to have their card charged per crossing without a transponder or the prepaid toll balance that FasTrak requires, but unfortunately drivers won’t receive the $1 off per crossing that FasTrak offers.
• One-time payments are great for visitors who don’t live in the area. Payments can be made 30 days before crossing, or within 48 hours after.
• If you haven’t set up any payments or enrolled in any of the available programs, make sure your car registration information contains your correct address, because a toll invoice will be sent there. Unpaid tolls will incur an additional $25 penalty and out-of-state defaulters are taken to collection.
• New car? No toll. Yes, you can set up a FasTrak account, or make a one-time payment, or simply take advantage of toll-free crossings until you register your vehicle with the DMV.
Enriching Lives Through Music (ELM) began in 2008 when founder Jane Kramer purchased 15 soprano recorders and began offering music lessons for elementary school students in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood. Today, ELM reaches more than 120 Canal-area students, but Kramer’s mission remains the same: to promote con fidence, resilience and community inclusion through music. ELM was founded in the image of Venezuela’s El Sistema, a free classical music initiative created in 1975 by conductor Jose Antonio Abreu to benefit children in impoverished communities. “When children learn that they can be really good at music, they transfer this knowledge — they realize they can be good at anything they want,” Kramer says. Students ages 4–15 can partake in ELM’s Saturday classes (organized by skill level), instructive summer camp, after-school program and family music workshops. Whether a child gravitates toward choral, orchestral, chamber music or jazz, ELM provides an environment for mastering skills that extend far beyond the music room. Kramer is quick to quote Abreu as the visionary behind this approach: “ ‘If you teach the children the beauty of music, the music will teach them the beauty of life.’ ” elmprogram.org CALIN VAN PARIS
Ecstasy, the drug first popularized during the late ’80s and early ’90s rave scene, has made a resurgence in Marin County and no, we’re not referring to a new electronic dance festival. A team of therapists led by San Anselmo–based psychiatrist Dr. Philip Wolfson has been granted permission to use MDMA in an 18-person study that will take place over the next year. The research will be largely funded by money from the late Tim Butcher. Butcher, who was the son of Precious Moments figurines founder Sam Butcher, was a supporter of MDMA therapy and left $1.9 million in his will to the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, the group who is sponsoring the sessions. Recruitment is currently underway for the project that is designed to reduce anxiety for people with life-threatening diseases. K.P.
On November 14, indulge your passion for food and luxury on an exclusive 7-night Caribbean getaway on Celebrity Reflection®. As part of Celebrity’s Top Chef at Sea experience, participate in interactive Quickfire Challenges on board. Savor Top Chef-inspired dishes. And, take a cooking class—or even a Celebrity Shore Excursion—with popular cheftestants from Bravo’s Emmy® Award-winning show.* Book today and prepare for a vacation that will leave you relaxed, renewed, and hungry for more.
Visit celebritycruises.com/sf, call 1-888-456-7887 or contact your travel agent
Top Chef at Sea activities and cheftestant participation varies by ship and itinerary and are subject to change. The Top Chef at Sea experience is not available on Celebrity Xpedition® or on sailings of up to four nights. *Guests are required to pay an extra fee to participate in these activities. ©2015 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador.
Between the Caribbean breeze and the Top Chef-inspired cuisine, the experience was simply tantalizing.BY THE NUMBERS
The Marin County Fire Department, in partnership with Firesafe Marin (one of California’s first fire safety councils) and PG&E, installed fire detection cameras that monitor smoke and fire danger on Mount Tamalpais, Mount Barnabe, Big Rock Ridge and Point Reyes Hill last fall. The images are updated every 10 to 15 minutes online for the public. Here are the specs for our county’s cams. firesafemarin.org K.P.
From foxes and bobcats to seals and owls — here’s where to find Marin’s animal nature. C.V.P.
If you spend more tha n five minutes in one of Marin’s many outdoor settings, it is immediately evident that a very special animal community also calls the county home. Looking out for this unique population is San Rafael’s WildCare, an organization advocating for wildlife protection, caring for sick and injured creatures (more than 3,000 per year) and helping Marin residents coexist with our untamed neighbors. Here, WildCare communications manager Alison Hermance shares some of the best places to view local nonhumans in their natural habitat. But first, a few quick tips. “Summer viewing is always a bit more challenging, as animals tend to hide during the heat of the day,” says Hermance. “For more frequent sighting of four-leggeds and songbirds alike, head out in the early morning or evening. And for a day of guaranteed animal encounters, there’s no place like West Marin.”
BALTIMORE CANYON This shady walk provides glimpses of screech owls and even the occasional fox.
BOLINAS LAGOON “This is absolutely the best place to see harbor seals at any time of the year,” says Hermance, who advises scanning the sandbars.
LAKE LAGUNITAS Waterfowl like pelicans, cormorants, egrets, gulls and herons share this body of water with the woodpecker and the western pond turtle.
LAS GALLINAS PONDS In addition to waterfowl and a family of black-shouldered kites — which Hermance describes as “truly beautiful raptors” — visitors will see kestrels, river otters, and barn owls at dusk.
MARIN HEADLANDS The Headlands are ideal for spotting great horned owls — there’s a nest near Rodeo Beach, Hermance says — as well as hawks. Rodeo Lagoon is also home to waterfowl and river otters.
RING MOUNTAIN Ring Mountain’s varied landscape attracts myriad birds: red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks circle overhead, as do turkey vultures. Wrens, warblers and spotted towhees inhabit the scrub areas.
TENNESSEE VALLEY “Tennessee Valley is the best place to get a glimpse of a bobcat — the population here is just not as nervous around humans,” says Hermance. Coyotes also appear on the paths from time to time.
TOMALES POINT In addition to sauntering coyotes, a large population of tule elk reside directly off-trail. Hermance suggests visiting during mating season (late August and early September) for an impressive display.
BUG BITES Summertime is synonymous with warmer temperatures, vacations and thoughts of dieting. Whether it’s going gluten free, doing a juice cleanse, eating only raw foods or giving Paleo a shot, people are willing to try all kinds of things if it equals weight loss. But for those who are a little more adventurous and forward thinking, we have a suggestion: cricket flour. That’s right, cricket flour. Not only are crickets packed with micronutrients and healthy fats, but they’re also one of the most sustainable and water-efficient sources of protein on the planet. Still not sold on the idea? The people at Bitty Foods have made the concept a little easier to digest. The insects are roasted and then milled into flour, which is used to make high-protein cookies and baking mixes, and it all started here. “Our business partner, Tyler Florence, is based up in Marin and so the Tyler Florence Test Kitchen is where we actually do all of our recipe development,” says co-founder Leslie Zeigler. The products are grain-free, made with coconut oil instead of dairy, and contain no processed sugars. They’re also a great choice for another specific group, says Zeigler: “We actually have a lot of vegetarian customers, simply because they have such a hard time getting protein in their diets.” It’s for reasons like these that many feel insect-powered foods could be the next big trend. According to a recent report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, edible insects may be the key to stabilizing the global food supply. If you’re up for the challenge, Bitty Foods products are now available at Woodlands Market in Tiburon and Kentfield. K.P.
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MM: This is certainly not your first book, nor is it your first book in partnership with Gary. What makes this one unique? TK: California’s Wild Edge is what I would call a poetic history of the California coast. It combines my images with Gary’s ideas about nature, the wild and the poetry of place. We included some of his coast-centric poems, as well as journal entries from the 1950s, and poetry from several other writers, Bay Area locals Jane Hirshfield and Robert Hass among them. We also dug up work from historical poets like Robinson Jeffers, who lived in Carmel in a stone tower in the teens of the last century and wrote an immense body of poetry, all with the coast as the landscape.
MM: Did you learn anything entirely new through the creation of this book? TK: I learned a lot about a number of poets and writers who spent time on the coast. One in particular — Jaime de Angulo, an eccentric and controversial character in his day — caught my interest. He lived in Big Sur on a little homestead that
he started up during the First World War, and he was a pioneer of the bohemian lifestyle. His poems and writings about Big Sur are very evocative of what it was like to live in that area before the road went through.
MM: What is it about woodcut printmaking that best communicates the spirit of a place for you?
TK: The process frees you from this difficulty that artists have: when you draw, and paint, or do anything, you see exactly what you’re doing. With the printmaking process, you don’t at all. You’re using a different medium, and doing everything in reverse to eventually lead to a picture, and it sort of takes on its own life. Even though I’ve been doing it for more than 40 years, and have done well over 500 prints, I still am always surprised at how things come out.
MM: What is your all-time favorite coastal viewpoint in Marin?
TK: Probably the most magical place in Marin is up on Bolinas Ridge. But there are a lot of other wonderful places, too. CALIN VAN PARIS
California’s Wild Edge: The Coast in Prints, Poetry, and History by Tom Killion (Point Reyes Station) with Gary Snyder, Heyday Books, $50. Through his intricate, colorful prints, woodcut artist Tom Killion allows Bay Area residents to experience the profound natural beauty of their surroundings in a new way. Interspersed with poetry and prose by Pulitzer Prize winner Gary Snyder and a number of others, this breathtaking volume will take you on a visceral, multidimensional tour of the California coast. Appearing at Book Passage Corte Madera July 10, 7 p.m.
The Rainman’s Third Cure: An Irregular Education by Peter Coyote (Mill Valley), Counterpoint LLC, $26. In the follow-up to his 2009 memoir, acclaimed actor and political activist Peter Coyote opens up about the individuals and experiences that shaped him, ultimately leading him to explore Zen Buddhism. A captivating blend of eccentric anecdotes and philosophical contemplations, The Rainman’s Third Cure both entertains and enlightens. Appearing at Book Passage Corte Madera July 26, 5 p.m.
The Circle of Thirteen by William Petrocelli (Mill Valley), Turner, $16.95. It is the year 2082. Following a series of attempted bombings and acts of violence against women, a devastating explosion at the dedication ceremony of the new U.N. in New York City launches Security Director Julia Moro’s search for the leader of Patria, a formerly defunct terrorist group now on the rise. Book Passage co-owner William Petrocelli fluidly transports readers forward and backward in time. Appearing at Book Passage Corte Madera’s Mystery Writers Conference, July 23–26.
A Master Plan for Rescue by Janis Cooke Newman (San Francisco), Riverhead Books, $27.95. In 1942, a child from New York attempts to move on with life after losing his beloved parents. Meanwhile, in Berlin, a young Jewish man must walk away from the woman he loves. When their grief-ridden paths merge, the boy and the man discover the magnitude of memory and the spirit preserved in stories. A member of Book Passage’s Travel Writers & Photographers Conference faculty, Newman writes with enchanting compassion and tenderness. Appearing at Book Passage Corte Madera July 14, 7 p.m. and at the Travel Writers & Photographers Conference, August 13–16.
Book picks by Book Passage Events Coordinator Aliza Goldberg.
We sat down with Point Reyes Station’s Tom Killion to discuss his new book created with Gary Snyder, California’s Wild Edge: The Coast in Prints, Poetry, and History.
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Do you like your entertainers funny or smart? Marin resident Bob Ayres likes it best when he can find them together, which he was able to do often as former proprietor of The Other Cafe, one of San Francisco’s landmark early comedy clubs, in the stand-up heyday of the 1980s. Starting with owning a Haight-Ashbury ice cream store in the ’70s that didn’t actually make any ice cream, Ayres has led a colorful but mostly quiet existence just out of the spotlight of the Bay Area comedy, dance and lecture scenes. More comfortable backstage, he reluctantly agreed to be put in the spotlight this month. MARC
Booker/ Promoter FAIRFAX HERSHONWhen did The Other Cafe open? It was a coffeehouse with one night of folk music a week when I bought it in 1976. At that time, I had quit college and opened an ice cream store in the Haight. When the owner asked, “Would you ever want to buy this place?” I said, “Yeah, I think I would.”
When did comedy start to come into the lineup?
Within a few weeks of owning the cafe, I went to look for a band at The Palms on Polk Street. Before the band played, this guy, Mark Miller, was doing comedy and no one was listening to him. I thought he was funny. So I told him I had a little coffeehouse and he asked me if I’d like to do a comedy night. He knew who the comedians were in town at that time, and it included Robin (Williams) and Dana (Carvey), (Bob) Sarlatte, Lorenzo (Matawaran) and Gil Christner.
Did you lose any clients to bigger agents?
I have a good story on that one. We signed Whoopi Goldberg to do a one-woman show based on her characterization of Moms Mabley. She goes to L.A. She gets hot. We get a call from some big-shot agency. “You’re not going to be representing Whoopi anymore.” Forget the contract we had; their team of lawyers were ready to crush us. Despite our friendship, Whoopi never called us to close the loop by saying, “I got signed by a big agency — they can do way more for me. So, of course, I had to do that. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.” There was none of that.
Post comedy boom? I struggled at first. Then
Dana Carvey was always an Other guy. What do you remember about him from those early years? When he first moved to San Francisco, I had to promise him that we would hire him enough to make his $750-a-month rent. He had just won the [San Francisco International Stand-Up] Comedy Competition and it was a real surprise because he was such a kid. And he looked like he was 12.
I started throwing these salons at my house. I basically would ask my favorite people to invite two or three of their favorite people — b eloved friends of beloved friends. It was fabulous. I didn’t know what else to do other than invite really interesting, cool people to my house for a cocktail party. It was called Last Saturdays and it was held on the last Saturday of the month. Ziff Davis eventually funded it as a lecture series for three years. This eventually led to me being a licensee for TEDx with TEDxMarin.
Any favorite memories about being a club owner? My favorite thing about owning a comedy club back in the day was standing at the exit on a sold-out, packed night. And I would thank everybody for coming and I would say, “If you like what you saw tonight, in three weeks we have somebody you’re going to dig because just vibe-wise and attitudewise, it’s a very similar show.” You had to do that because there was no Internet. But they would come back because they trusted us and it was great.
7
Where do you live in Marin? I have a lovely home in the hills of Fairfax and I have a beautiful dog I love more than life itself. I came back here about six or seven years ago.
8
What do you like best about it? Marin is different than Fairfax. Fairfax I love because it’s like a hippie town but without the attitude or the ungroundedness of a Haight-Ashbury. I like Marin because it’s so open and progressive in its politics. And it’s beautiful here — there’s that And that’s not nothing. m
BY TIM PORTER
AS A GIRL in Ethiopia, Emebet Bellingham Korn made herbal concoctions out of pickings from her mother’s garden. As a university student in San Francisco, she studied fashion. Now, as a businesswoman and Marin mother of three, she runs an organic tea company that is also a tea shop/art gallery in downtown San Anselmo. Desta is a pretty name. It means joy in my native language. How did you get into the tea business? Quite serendipitously, actually. After working as a fashion designer, I started a nonprofit and I began to import tea and Ethiopian coffee to raise money, but my heart was always with the tea. When the nonprofit ended, I dropped the coffee and focused on tea. Why a shop and a gallery? I missed the art part of my life. I could have expanded my wholesale tea business, but I wanted to bring my two passions together. I still have my wholesale business, but this is ou r flagship store and gallery. Flagship? Are more on the way? That’s a hope. Is the world divided into coffee people and tea people? Yes and no. The good news is that now a lot of coffee drinkers are open to tea. They might do their coffee in the morning and in midday they might do green tea and in the evening they might go herbal. What do you
tell a coffee drinker who’s thinking of switching? Try as many teas as you can until you fi nd the one that makes you happy. Tea is like wine. The choice is endless. You need to try it. Do you drink coffee? Once in a while in the morning. I love the smell of coffee. It’s lovely. But tea doesn’t make you so jittery. What if you really want that jolt? What tea do you recommend? Pu-erh can give you that, but most people may not be ready for pu-erh because it’s a Chinese fermented tea. It has a lot of zing, but it comes with a woodsy, earthy taste. What’s popular? Matcha, a high-end, powdered green Japanese tea, is very fashionable. The monks would drink it before meditation. It is concentrated, it has more antioxidants, but it is expensive. I enjoy putting a scoop of matcha on almond milk and drinking it. Do your children drink tea? They love it. They drink tea in the morning and they drink tea before they go to bed. And your husband? He’s German. He drinks coffee. m
A local shop combines the twin passions of its owner without all the jitters.
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Marin’s congressman (formerly our assemblyman) discusses his increased workload, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and playing basketball with President Barack Obama.
IN COLLEGE, JARED Hu ff man was an allAmerican volleyball player; now, in his free time, he plays guitar and sings in a country and western band. Whatever 51-year-old Hu ff man does he seems to do well — and often he does it in front of a crowd. Now in his second term as the representative from California’s 2nd Congressional District, Hu ff man, a Democrat, is playing before his biggest crowd ever, and from all accounts he’s doing it quite well.
Representing his district’s 685,000 people in Congress is no easy task. Stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge clear to the Oregon border, a distance of more than 300 miles,
California’s 2nd District includes not only Marin, but also all of Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity and Del Norte counties, plus much of Sonoma County. Hu ff man certainly seems up to the task; in his previous job in the California Assembly (2006–2012) he authored more than 60 pieces of legislation and gained a rare reputation for forging bipartisan consensus on challenging issues.
Hu ff man graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Santa Barbara (that’s where he played volleyball), and cum laude from Boston College Law School. He and his wife, Susan, live in San Rafael with their two children, Abby, 15, and Nate, 12.
How do you compare serving in the California Assembly with serving in the U.S. House of Representatives? It’s similar to the di fference between minor and major league baseball. I am now in the arena on a much broader range of issues and at the highest level — and along with that comes a faster pace and a more intense set of challenges, as well as some amazing experiences and opportunities.
Is the increased workload, at times, overwhelming? Actually, I’ve found a second wind because there’s adrenaline that comes with this job. You are constantly in motion, whether it’s traveling coast-to-coast or, whatever coast
you are on, the constant whirlwind of meetings and speeches and appearances. And, if something like that works for you, that’s the greatness of the job. I like that I just came from a town hall meeting in Corte Madera where, in an hour and 15 minutes, I answered more than 25 questions ranging from dog control policies in the GGNRA to Israeli-Palestinian conflict issues to international trade agreements and much, much more. You finish a discussion like that and, for me at least, you feel revved up. You’re exhilarated.
If there is a typical week for you, what’s it like? On Monday morning I’ll leave SFO early and arrive in Washington around three, in time for a few meetings. Most of the work in the nation’s capital gets done on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; then on Thursdays we usually vote and I’l l fly home in time to see the kids off to bed. Friday is my day to work in the district and weekends could easily be fi lled up with parades and politicking. But that’s where I try to keep a balance and spend time with my family as much as possible.
How do you handle the wide range of subjects? Are you a fast reader? I’m not a quick reader. Six years ago, I took a speed-reading course because I wanted to improve my reading skills. I needed to assimilate so much information and my deliberate reading pace was, and still is, a constraint on my bandwidth. But the good news is that I’m a good retainer. When I do read, or hear, or observe something, it tends to stick with me. Then, maybe six months later, I can usually pull it out of my mental archive and usually it will be in pretty good shape.
What has been your biggest surprise with Congress? I’m surprised at the slowness and the inertia of Congress as an institution. Especially after serving in the California Assembly. In my six years there, I was a prolific legislator. I passed over 60 pieces of law. It would take more years than I have to live to do that in Congress.
Any surprises regarding fellow congressmen? If I formed my judgments regarding my colleagues by watching cable news, I would really dislike a lot of them. But I form my judgments by how I encounter
The congressman plays a few tunes at an event at Lagunitas Brewing Company in Petaluma.
them personally. So probably some of the Republicans most reviled by people in my district are colleagues with whom many times, on a personal level, I get along with quite well. An example is Trey Gowdy, the Republican congressman from South Carolina who’s chairman of the Select Committee on Benghazi. He’s the point person going after Hillary Clinton, continuing what Darrell Issa started in this witch-hunt. But I think if you follow that issue you’ll see he’s going about it in a much more professional and responsible way than did Congressman Issa. I still don’t think the investigation should even be happening. But there’s a lot more to Trey Gowdy than meets the eye. He’s a very interesting and colorful character. I may not agree with him on a heck of a lot, but I respect him as a person; he’s a straight shooter.
So far, what is your biggest accomplishment in Congress? Helping create a new coastal national monument on the Mendocino coast. It’s permanent, forever and I feel really good about it. It was also a great experience for me, as a new member of Congress, to be in the Oval Office with the president at a signing ceremony. And now I’ll be able to take my kids to the Point Arena–Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument and let them know I did something big — it’s 1,665 acres of coastline, estuaries and beaches — and permanent. And I did it during my first term.
What have you done for Marin County lately?
Well, I got $20 million put into the president’s budget for SMART to extend its rail line from San Rafael to Larkspur. We’ve got a lot more work to do, but I’m cautiously optimistic that eventually it will happen. Also, last week we got a bill out of committee that will allow Marin County and local a ffordable housing advocates to purchase the surplus Coast Guard property in Point Reyes Station that just about everybody wants to see remain as workforce housing rather than be sold to the highest-bidding developer. As for Highway 101 going through the Novato Narrows, I’m working very hard to keep federal transportation programs funded. In California, 48 percent of transportation funding comes from the Federal Highway Trust Fund and, if we don’t get it reauthorized, all that funding will dry up and that would defi nitely a ffect the Novato Narrows. So I’m working very hard on that.
Your biggest controversy to date seems to be attending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress. Do you regret doing that? I’d do it over again exactly the same way; I think I struck the right balance. This was a situation where I was never going to please everyone. Some of my constituents urged me to boycott the talk; others asked that I not only attend the talk, but also agree with Mr. Netanyahu. Some even supported the idea that we move forward with military
action against Iran. So I received all kinds of opinions on this very hot-button issue. In cases like this, you have to be true to your own judgments and sensibilities.
How are you and President Obama progressing? Do you mean have I played basketball with him? Not yet, but he promised me a game and we’re working on that. I’ve met President Obama a number of times and that’s a special experience. He’s doing some great things, but I can’t say I’m 100 percent with him on everything; we have our di fferences on trade right now and I don’t agree with every aspect of his energy policy. But I give him high marks on a number of things; his presidency is very good and will look even better in the eyes of history.
What about President Obama as a person?
As a human being, he has to be one of the most impressive people we’ve ever had in the White House. He is extremely cerebral and thoughtful and, when he wants to be, convivial. But no one is perfect. In some ways, the president’s leadership style is limiting when it comes to getting things done because he can also be aloof. He is much less interested in schmoozing with Congress than he is in having a quiet dinner with his wife and family. That speaks to the depth of him in a very good way. But for the chief executive of the United States of America, those relationships with Congress really matter, and he’s really never been very interested in them.
It sounds like you have concerns about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. First are my environmental concerns. If we are going to grant favored trading status to 14 or more di fferent countries — Vietnam, Singapore, Chile, Brunei and Japan among them — I think we have to be sure that our high environmental standards are not threatened, and that hopefully we’re going to lift some of the bad actors up to our standards. So far, I don’t see either of these things happening with the TransPaci fic Partnership. And our environmental standards are in jeopardy of being deemed in restraint of trade in one of the international tribunals being set up by the TPP. Also, the standards we are asking of other TPP signatories, save for two or three matters, are very weak, to the point of being meaningless.
What about global climate change? The TPP agreement is completely silent on climate change, the biggest issue of our times. I’ve been told earlier drafts had some restraints, but House Republicans and fossil fuel company executives in the room during negotiations didn’t like them and they’re now gone. So we are missing opportunities to use these trade negotiations to make progress on all sorts of international environmental issues. Frankly, I think the environmental aspects of TTP, as few as they are, are being grossly oversold.
As a congressman not directly involved with trade, how do you get your information regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership? That’s a problem too. Not only can the public not even see this document, but for all intents and purposes, I can’t see it either. They’ll tell you that I can, but I’ve been in classi fied briefings regarding TPP and, believe me, all I see are PowerPoint presentations, not the full document. And the sad thing is that hundreds of corporate executives throughout the country are not only seeing the document, they’re working on it. So it’s a ver y flawed process that promises to be one heck of a fight.
How are Democrats opposing President Obama regarding the TPP? There’s a very active group of my Democratic colleagues that regularly have trade experts come in and talk with us. I recently had a brown bag lunch where Robert Reich, the former secretary of labor in the Clinton administration who helped negotiate and pass the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA, was warning us not to pass the TPP. Another person knowledgeable in these matters is Rosa DeLauro, congresswoman from Connecticut, who hosts informal dinners at her house where we discuss the trade agreement. We had a dinner a couple of weeks ago with Senator Elizabeth Warren. She’s fantastic; she’s spot on regarding these issues.
Any final thoughts? To my constituents, I’d like to convey that I’m working very hard on their behalf. I hope that I am accessible to everyone. I don’t want them to think of their congressman as some distant figure in Washington. I want to be thought of as a friend and neighbor who wants to help them any way I can. m
A Novato photographer has built a career around photographing bands like the Grateful Dead.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY BOB MINKIN
A Novato photographer has built a career around photographing bands like the Grateful Dead.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY BOB MINKIN
WHAT IS IT about the Grateful Dead?
Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, as a young Dead Head, I saw San Francisco and Marin County as mythical places. They were home to many of my favorite bands and musicians — the Jefferson Airplane, John Cipollina and Quicksilver Messenger Service, Janis Joplin, Santana, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and of course, Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.
The music of the Grateful Dead inspired a sense of adventure in me and opened my mind to possibilities. After reading antiestablishment classics like Jack Kerouac’s On the Road and Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, I was determined to visit the Bay Area
Cementing my resolve was this announcement that appeared on the sleeve of the Grateful Dead’s Skull and Roses album:
DEAD FREAKS UNITE
Who are you? Where are you? How are you? Send us your name and address and we’ll keep you informed. Dead Heads, P.O. Box 1065, San Rafael, California 94901
In 1977, just out of high school, I made my pilgrimage to the promised land, the San Francisco Bay Area. While there, I lucked out and caught a Jerry Garcia Band show and met a lot of great people. I couldn’t resist coming back later that year for the Grateful Dead’s New Year’s run at Winterland.
It was after these trips and subsequent ones (I couldn’t stay away) that I knew someday I would live in Marin.
Marin County had fascinated the Grateful Dead as well. They were living in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury, and in 1966 they spent the summer at Rancho Olompali on Mount Burdell in Novato, close to where I now live. Finally, in 1968, all of the band members made the move north to Marin.
They set up band headquarters in 1970 in San Rafael, in a classic Victorian on the corner of Fifth and Lincoln avenues. Over the ensuing years they had various recording studios, homes and offices throughout Marin.
Back in 1965, I’m sure, none of the band members could have imagined that the music they were creating would become a lasting force in American culture, one that has reached this 50-year milestone. To celebrate, the Dead performed two shows in Santa Clara last month, leading up to the big fi nal concerts for the band at Chicago’s Soldier Field this month.
We are fortunate they continue their legacy in Marin County with Phil Lesh’s Terrapin Crossroads, the revived Sweetwater Music Hall, Bob Weir’s Tamalpais Research Institute and a host of other venues. These exciting spaces feature not only Grateful Dead music, but also original music from many young musicians and artists in fluenced by the Dead in some way, who are carving out their own style and contributing to the renaissanc e of live music in Marin County.
Middle: The Palladium, formally the Academy of Music, was a theater turned concert hall in Manhattan. This iteration of the Jerry Garcia Band featured the Grateful Dead’s Keith and Donna Godchaux along with Maria Muldaur on vocals, John Kahn and Buzz Buchanan.
Opener: The Grateful Dead in Binghamton, N.Y., Nov. 6, 1977.
Bottom: When I was 18, I took a bus cross-country, solo, from Brooklyn, N.Y., to San Francisco to attend this 1977 New Year’s run at Winterland. I made my way up to the stage to photograph the band with my new Minolta SRT-101 camera. At the time I was beginning to get my work published in Relix magazine.
Top: Jerry Garcia during the legendary 1977 Winterland run in San Francisco.
Top: Just after the balloon drop at Winterland, the Grateful Dead breaks into “Sugar Magnolia;” a nod to promoter and impresario Bill Graham, it was his favorite Grateful Dead song. Middle: The show in Binghamton was possibly my favorite Grateful Dead show that I attended. The band was on fire that night.
Bottom: There’s no place like Red Rocks, one of the nicest outdoor venues in the country. After hearing about the Dead’s shows there the previous year, I made up my mind to go for this three-night run during the summer of ‘79. Unfortunately it rained like crazy after this show, forcing the remaining two concerts to be moved indoors to Denver’s McNichols Arena. In this era of the Dead, the drummers Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart had a massive percussion and drum ensemble known as “The Beast.”
Top: A show at Laguna Seca in Monterey in 1981. Middle: I followed the Dead’s 1981 Europe tour. On this stop at a hashish bar in Amsterdam, they played an unannounced show in this tiny venue. I was very lucky to be there as the band played songs they’d never played before. Bottom: The social aspects of a Grateful Dead show were often as meaningful as the concert itself (1983).
Top: Situated on the grounds of Stanford University, the beautiful Frost Amphitheatre (1987) is one of my favorite venues. Left: Resplendent in a “Dancing Bear” tie-dye, Lesh drops the bass bombs at Frost in 1988.
Right: Dead Heads doing what they do best at a show, dancing and having a great time (Giants Stadium, N.Y., 1987).
In
1990, my wife and I finally made the big move to Marin County. Within weeks of being here, I was getting into the groove and photographed this Grateful Dead show at Cal Expo in Sacramento.
Top: Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View on June 15, 1990. Capturing the peak moments of a show is what I strive for — here’s Jerry ending the song with aplomb.
Bottom: This December 1994 Oakland Coliseum show was one of the last Grateful Dead concerts I photographed before Jerry passed in 1995.
Opposite page from top: This “Move Me Brightly” performance, which celebrated Jerry Garcia’s 70th birthday, was at Weir’s Tamalpais Research Institute in San Rafael and featured Neal Casal, Donna Godchaux, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh; Bob Minkin and Bob Weir.
This page, top to bottom: Bob Weir and Phil Lesh were special guests at this Jackie Greene show at the Great American Music Hall in 2009; Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Stu Allen perform at Lesh’s Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael in 2013; In 2012 the beloved Sweetwater reopened a few blocks away from its original Mill Valley location. Here’s Bob Weir performing with Ratdog in 2013.
LIFE THROUGH THE LENS Bob Minkin discovered rock ’n’ roll music (Hendrix, Cream and of course the Grateful Dead) at age 13 and started photographing concerts two years later.
By the time he was 18 he was getting paid for his photography and shooting professionally. After connecting with Relix magazine (a Brooklynbased Grateful Dead fanzine) he made contacts and friends within the Dead’s organization that afforded him great access to the band, including being invited by band members to photograph them in their homes. With the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s formation looming on the horizon, he began thinking about making a book of his photographs and stories about the iconic
band. The Kickstarter campaign he created was extremely successful, with almost 800 people giving their support, yielding a publishing deal from San Rafael’s Insight Editions, which published his 224-page coffee-table book Live Dead and distributed it worldwide.
Minkin continues to document the Bay Area music scene at various venues throughout the county and at San Rafael’s Terrapin Crossroads, in addition to being the house photographer at Mill Valley’s Sweetwater Music Hall. He has been living in Novato with his wife and two children for almost 25 years. You can purchase his book and get a signed copy at minkinphoto graphy.com/livedead. KASIA PAWLOWSKA
BY ANN WYCOFF • ILLUSTRATION BY TRINA DALZIEL
PART 1 OF 2
Kale. Coconut oil. Matcha. Probiotics. Vitamin D. Strength training. Sleep. Each day, we are bombarded with information on ways to stay healthy — lists of new superfoods, elixirs for longevity, the latest vitamins or supplements, miracle antidotes — but sorting through the research and information on aging and health can be daunting. How do we know what’s snake oil or what might be truly good for us? Thankfully, Marin County is home to a wealth of experts on nutrition, exercise, brain health, food as medicine and more. In particular, the savvy scientists at the renowned Buck Institute for Research on Aging are devoted to geroscience, studying the mechanisms of aging and the connection between normal aging and chronic disease, in the institute’s Novato labs.
Considering that the mission statement of the Buck Institute is to “increase the healthy years of life,” we
checked in with scientists there to see what knowledge we might be able to glean from all their hard work. “This is a really exciting time. The science of aging research is supporting commonsense lifestyle and nutritional changes that can give people a good shot at extending their feel-good years,” says Brian Kennedy, the institute’s president and CEO. “I think that those lifestyle changes, coupled with treatments that are being developed in the lab, will enable us to forestall or even prevent a whole host of conditions that all of us now dread — including Alzheimer’s, cancer, Parkinson’s and Type 2 diabetes.”
While we may be preaching to the choir here in Marin — known for having one of the most healthminded populations in the country — we’ve broken down the latest research on healthy aging and asked local practitioners for everyday health care advice.
“The relationship between food and longevity and brain health does not rely on speculation, but rather on thousands of published scientific studies,” says Rebecca Katz, a Marin-based author, cook and Buck Institute lecturer, who has a master’s in nutrition. Katz, who calls herself a culinary translator, delivering “nutritional science to the plate, seasoned by wisdom and the alchemy of flavor,” explores the benefits of good food in two cookbooks, The Longevity Kitchen and The Healthy Mind Cookbook. She encourages people to look to their pantries, spice racks and farmers’ markets as sources for their own personal culinary Rx: “Eating the right foods will keep your cellular energy high and immune system strong, helping stave off the inevitable decline of these systems due to the aging process.” Basically, she adds, “food can alter your genetic expression.”
For longevity, Katz spotlights the Super 16, foods rich in antioxidants and sources of omega-3 fats, probiotics, phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals, including asparagus, avocado, basil, blueberries, coffee, dark chocolate, garlic, green tea, kale, olive oil, pomegranate, sweet potato, thyme, walnuts, wild salmon and yogurt. While both chia and matcha were not on most people’s minds while she was writing her books, she says she would alter her list to add them. Matcha is a fi nely powdered green tea that’s chock-full of powerful antioxidants, boosts metabolism, enhances mood and aids concentration, she says. Matcha is to green teas as Dom Pérignon is to champagne; Marin-based matcha master Eric Gower’s company Breakaway Matcha offers “some of the best matcha I’ve ever tasted,” Katz adds. Chia seeds are another wonderful food that’s high in omega-3 fatty acids and a great source of fiber.
Katz also calls for ditching unhealthy damaging fats (trans fats, corn oil, cottonseed oil, etc.) and replacing them with foods that contain good ones like avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, seeds and whole eggs. And yes, she says it’s fi ne to cook with olive oil, despite the ongoing debates, as most home stoves won’t heat the oil to a smoking point where it breaks down and forms toxins. (Restaurant kitchens are another story, she concedes.)
Another superstar ingredient that has people talking these days is turmeric, India’s golden spice. Think yellow curries popular in Indian, Thai or Vietnamese dishes. Buck Institute researcher Ram Rao, Ph.D., champions turmeric as being able to help with “degeneration, immunity, in flammation and infection.” Rao, who advised Marin’s Whole Foods to carry fresh turmeric root, contends that it’s best in that form and can be added to soups, curries and vegetable dishes. The curcumin in turmeric acts as a multifaceted anti-in flammatory agent, Rao says, and myriad studies have shown its potential to stave offarthritis, cancer and even Alzheimer’s. Turmeric boasts an astonishing array of antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral and antibiotic properties, and as an immune system booster, it’s stronger than vitamins C and E. Curcumin is better absorbed with piperine, an active component in black pepper. So if you’re taking turmeric or curcumin supplements, be sure they contain piperine or black pepper extract.
TIP: Educated shopping. Nearly two-thirds of produce samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and analyzed by the Washington, D.C–based EWG for the 2015 “Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce” contained pesticide residues. “The bottom line is people do not want to eat agricultural chemicals with their fruits and vegetables,” says Ken Cook, EWG’s president and cofounder and a San Anselmo resident. “That is why we will continue publishing our Shopper’s Guide to help consumers figure out which produce items carry the most and least pesticide residues.” Shoppers can opt for items on EWG’s Clean 15 list, like avocados, cabbage and asparagus, and buy the organic versions of the produce on EWG’s Dirty Dozen list to reduce their exposure to pesticides in their diet. “The information we provide is incredibly valuable because pesticides have been linked to a number of health problems, including cancer and lower IQ in children,” Cook says.
“There’s a lot of research around intermittent fasting right now,” says the Buck’s Brian Kennedy, who is also a Ph.D., “and I think most of it is suggesting it’s very good for you.” Scientists have known for a long time that caloric restriction extends life span for yeast, worms, mice and probably primates. But while this concept also has positive implications for humans, most people do not want to sustain themselves on minimal calories. To study the effects of intermittent fasting, scientists gave mice as much food as they wanted one day, then starved them the next day, in a continuous cycle, and compared them to mice on restricted-calorie diets. The “fasting” mice lived almost as long as the mice on restricted diets, yet they ate plenty of food. So the good news is that you may not have to endure intense caloric restriction to reap similar benefits from short-term fasting. Some diets, like the 5/2, call for five days of eating and two of fasting each week, but an easier method may be to wait 12 to 14 hours after your evening meal before eating again the next day. More research is needed, but the current data looks promising. Kennedy also believes that our bodies are already adapted to deal with fasting, as our ancestors who were hunters and gatherers ate when food was at hand and fasted when hunting for new sources.
TIP: Eat well. To optimize your period of fasting, Caitlin Beale, a clinical dietitian at Marin General Hospital, recommends focusing on nutrient-dense foods prior to fasting to ensure your body has what it needs. “Studies of intermittent fasting that do exist in both mice and human subjects are promising and exciting with regards to beneficial changes in insulin resistance, blood lipids, gene expression, mental clarity and even reproductivity,” she says. However, she notes, “as we are still in early stages, more research is needed, especially in human subjects with regards to gender, age and body composition. For instance, right now the benefit appears to be seen more in men than women.” A juice fast would not qualify as intermittent fasting, she adds, because juice contains calories; for it to be a true fast, no calories can be consumed.
Controversies continue to swirl around supplements, yet the promise of health via a pill is a lure few can resist. Basically, supplements are not meant to replace healthy whole foods, but they can complement a basically good diet that has a deficiency. Dosage and efficacy are key. “Unfortunately it’s an unregulated market, and some companies are getting away with selling nonsense,” says Buck Institute researcher Dr. Gordon Lithgow. “Some supplements for sale at health food stores don’t even contain any of the items said to be in the bottle. And that’s a problem.”
Ingesting certain supplements may also contribute to the aging process and chronic disease. For example, researchers have known for decades that some metals, including high levels of iron, have been linked to neurologic diseases such as Parkinson’s and possibly to Alzheimer’s. Lithgow’s recent work at the Buck Institute with the nematode C. elegans (a type of worm) has shown how iron accumulation can accelerate the aging process. He urges people considering iron supplementation, especially postmenopausal women, to talk to their physician s fi rst.
Dr. Dale Bredesen, a Buck faculty member who has developed a comprehensive program to reverse memory loss, agrees. Consumers should make sure to get supplements from a trusted source, he adds, since there is “a lot of garbage out there. For herbs, good examples [for brands] include Metagenics, Banyan or Gaia.”
The typical modern processed-food diet leaves many of us low in omega-3s, Bredesen says, so fish or krill oil from a trusted source is a good idea. And then there’s buzz-worthy vitamin D, which is vital in regulating the absorption of calcium for healthy bones and facilitating function
of the immune system. Mounting evidence suggests low D levels may be linked to an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and cancers, while raising D levels may reduce heart disease and more. Most of us are not getting enough Vitamin D from the sun or food sources like salmon, sardines, egg yolks or forti fied milks and cereals.
TIP: Food first, then supplements. Dr. Elson Haas of San Rafael has recently published his 10th book on health and nutrition, Ultimate Immunity, which includes a breakdown of the hot topic of cooling down inflammation through diet, mind and body exercises and supplements. He has been guiding his patients on supplement intake for more than three decades from his Preventive Medical Center of Marin in San Rafael. “I look at deficiencies to our cells and tissues as a primary underlying issue for many health problems,” he says. “I counsel my patients to get as much of their nutrients from quality foods as possible, and supplements can then add to [promote] optimal function.” Patients commonly test low for vitamin D, he confirms: “I usually suggest 2,000–5,000 IUs daily.” Other nutrients insufficient in most diets include magnesium and potassium, B12, other Bs and good oils. At the top of his list of sources for anti-inflammatory nutrients are turmeric, boswellia herb and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), as well as fish oils and probiotics. To test the ease of absorption (bioavailability) of your tableted vitamins, especially calcium-containing supplements, he suggests placing a couple pills into warm water; if they do not dissolve within 20 to 30 minutes, chances are they are not being absorbed into your body.
Moving the body is crucial to good health and aging well, but in the United States it seems we have “engineered exercise out of our lives, as we hardly walk anywhere,” Kennedy says. “Exercise has turned into something we have to find time for rather than incorporating daily. This may be one reason why the Japanese tend to live longer than us — they walk regularly.”
Buck Institute’s Simon Melov, a Ph.D. and professor, agrees: “People who are more active are healthier for longer. There’s an overwhelming body of data that directly relates exercise to overall health.” That includes Melov’s own study of seniors that revealed strength training exercise reverses aging in human skeletal tissue.
“About six or seven years ago we recruited a group of elderly folk who had done no resistance training,” he recalls. “In collaboration with our Canadian colleagues at McMaster University Medical Center, we did muscle biopsies on those individuals, and then put them on a six-month strength-training program. We took a second muscle biopsy to see what happened to their individual gene expression profile, which is a genetic portrait of gene activity. When compared to young people, it showed that the gene expression profile, after resistance training for six months, was reversed back to that of a more youthful state. In a very real sense, the resistance training had reversed certain aspects of the aging process at a genetic level. And that was a pretty impressive result.” Many studies have since backed up those results. Bottom line: age-related disease is reduced if you are a regular exerciser. “It’s a really powerful anti-disease mechanism,” Melov says.
TIP: Stay light. Given the high activity level here in Marin, the word athlete no longer has an age association, says Dave Goltz, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist who works in Larkspur at Mt. Tam Orthopedics as well as in Park City, Utah, as the head team physician for the U.S. freestyle Olympic ski team. “Patients ask me all the time how they can keep their bodies in the best shape possible,” he says. “The key is moderating exercise, choosing low-impact activities and keeping the routine varied. One of the top concerns for older athletes seems to be knee arthritis, and for this I tell my clients to not gain weight. Losing weight saves your knees.” His tips for staying on the trails for as long as possible? Low-impact activities like hiking, biking and swimming, when combined with body-weight core strengthening, such as Pilates or in some types of yoga, can be a lifelong strategy for fitness. Bone mass is especially helped by low-impact choices like hiking.
We all know about the importance of REM, but don’t discount slow-wave sleep. Slow-wave sleep is when the heart rate lowers, bones and tissues have a chance to regenerate, energy stores recharge and the immune system strengthens. According to Dr. Mehrdad Razavi, medical director of the Marin Memory and Sleep Center, the three cornerstones of optimal health are nutrition, exercise and sleep. “While most folks know the importance of exercise and nutrition, sleep has been somewhat neglected by both the public and medical community,” he says.
“Slow wave (deep) sleep seems to be more important for physical regeneration, while REM sleep is more critical for emotional regeneration. Therefore, sleep disturbance could result in impairment in any or all of those systems, i.e., increased cardiovascular risk, hormonal imbalance, weight gain, pain, increased infection and premature death.” On the other hand, improving the quality of sleep has been shown to have positive effects on all of the above. “It is critical that the public and medical community look at sleep health the way we look at exercise and nutrition, as the impact and reward could be great,” Razavi says.
Ideally, restorative sleep is made up of five stages that take place during 90- to 120-minute cycles throughout the night. During these stages, growth hormones and melatonin levels (which are important for muscle maintenance and repair) increase, while the stress hormone cortisol decreases. It’s no surprise that daytime sleepiness makes people more accident prone and impatient, but recent research suggests far more alarming consequences: one recent study found non-restorative sleep can take a toll on the nervous and endocrine system and raise risk for stroke, diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Continual lack of sleep also a ffects the outside of your body, exacerbating fi ne lines and leading to under-eye circles and drab skin.
Sleep trackers now on the market can help us track our z’s, but do these devices work? Kind of, but not in the way you may expect, Razavi says: “While none of these sleep trackers (such as Fitbit) have been scienti fically validated or endorsed by AASM (American Academy of Sleep Medicine) or can tell about the underlying cause and diagnoses of a lack of sleep, they are still useful as far as increasing the sleep awareness and engagement of the public.”
TIP: Can’t sleep? Rest. Michael Feldman of Mike’s Body Shop in Mill Valley has been working with clients for 28 years on optimizing and balancing/aligning the body through strength training and the movement/manipulation technique called structural integration. When it comes to healthy aging, he says, “five to 10 minutes of a restorative pose is the new apple a day.” Why? According to Feldman, the intent is to quiet the mind and support the diaphragm, which will in turn oxygenate the blood and connective tissue where stress accumulates and is stored, as well as activate the parasympathetic nervous system that governs bodily functions. One helpful pose is savasana, propping the legs up against a wall as you lie on your back with support from pillows or yoga blocks. “Support is critical,” Feldman says. “We live in a ‘go and do’ culture, which heightens the sympathetic nervous system. But when the body is supported the parasympathetic [system] can heal all of [the body’s] systems, including metabolism, nervous and digestion.” What does this have to do with aging gracefully? A lot, says Feldman. When the body’s internal connective tissue fails, the aging process accelerates and you start to see wrinkly skin, poor vision, bad muscle coordination and other problems.
In our next issue, we delve deeper into the topic of aging and health, this time focusing on the brain and gut.
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Here is a list of everyday foods with beneficial qualities as outlined in The Healthy Mind Cookbook by Rebecca Katz.
BEETS Blood flow. Cognitive functioning. Mood. Beets have lots of folate, which can help stave off dementia, and they’re also high in nitrates, associated with executive functioning in the brain. Additionally, they are rich in betalains, which may keep depression at bay.
CASHEWS Healthy sleep. Learning. Memory. Mental energy. Mood. Packed with zinc, magnesium, thiamin and more, cashews are quite the little powerhouses. Studies have shown that magnesium may regulate sleeping patterns, while zinc boosts memory. In women, thiamin is associated with improved mood as well as mental vitality.
ONIONS Cognitive functioning. Energy. Focus. Memory. Neuronal health. Onions are a good source of B vitamins and have proved to help fight depression in animals. They are also rich in antioxidant flavonoids that protect neurons from injury. Remember to not over-peel your onion; the antioxidants are concentrated near the surface.
POMEGRANATES Cognitive functioning. Memory. Mood. The high level of antioxidant polyphenols is one of the reasons pomegranates have been hailed as super fruits, but the benefits go far beyond that. A recent study found that pomegranate juice stopped lapses in memory that normally occur after heart surgery, and the fruit’s vitamin K and folate protect against loss of brain function.
COCONUT MILK Cognitive functioning. Focus. Mental energy. Mood. One of the assets that makes coconut milk so special is its wealth of medium-chain triglycerides. After only a single serving, these triglycerides have been shown to help cognitive performance in Alzheimer’s patients. Coconut milk also contains vitamin C and other minerals that help mood and energy.
KALE Learning. Memory. Mood. It’s the hot food of the moment for good reason — it’s one of the healthiest you can eat. Rich in vitamins A and K, kale helps boost memory and facilitates learning. Additionally, it has 45 different antioxidant flavonoids and contains minerals that help prevent cognitive decline.
QUINOA Cognitive functioning. Memory. Mood. The ancient grain that’s in everyone’s bowl these days is a great source of zinc and loaded with nutrients considered better for your heart than wheat. Quinoa also has plenty of folate, which helps prevent dementia.
SAFFRON Cognitive functioning. Mood. Healthy sleep. Learning. Memory. A great source of iron, saffron is especially useful for women during their childbearing years when iron deficiencies can cause many cognitive problems. Saffron also has a good amount of magnesium, which is connected to better sleep.
WALNUTS Cognitive functioning. Focus. Healthy sleep. Memory. Vascular health. Walnuts help keep the cardiovascular system healthy, which is important for the brain, as studies show that people with low risk factors for heart disease do better on cognitive tests. To get the most out of your walnut, leave the skin (the waxy outermost part of shelled walnuts) on — that’s where most of its antioxidant phenols live.
Invite friends over for a complete meal made right on the grill.
BY LYNDA BALSLEV
WITH THESE SUMMER grill recipes, you can get out of the kitchen and still make a great dinner for your family and friends. Cooking and entertaining are simple with a grill, and we are not just talking burgers and steak. You can whip up a complete meal, including appetizers, salads and desserts in your backyard — an appealing idea in Marin, where most of us move our activity outdoors for the summer anyway. The following menu is 100 percent grill friendly and each recipe may easily be doubled for a larger party. So go on, get cooking.
{Dressing}
½ cup finely grated Parmesan
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2 anchovy fillets
1 large garlic clove
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
V teaspoon salt
Pinch of sugar
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
{Croutons}
½ baguette, cut crosswise into ¼-inch slices
1 garlic clove, crushed but still intact
{Salad}
6 to 8 baby gems, depending on size
Extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup Parmesan shavings
Assorted microgreens for garnish
Freshly ground black pepper
Make the dressing: Combine all of the ingredients, except the oil, in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to blend. With the motor running, add the oil in a steady stream to emulsify. Croutons: Prepare the grill for direct cooking over medium heat. Brush the baguette slices with oil. Grill over direct heat until crisp and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, turning as needed. Remove from the grill and rub with the garlic clove. Break into bite-size pieces. Salad: Lightly brush the baby gems with olive oil. Grill over direct heat until slightly charred but not wilted, 2 to 4 minutes, turning once. Transfer the wedges to a serving platter. Drizzle half the dressing over and turn to coat, then add more dressing to your taste. Scatter the croutons and Parmesan shavings over the lettuce. Garnish with microgreens and freshly ground black pepper. {SERVES 4}
Plump baby gems hold their shape while grilling. Leave them on the grill just long enough to get a light char, but not too long or they will wilt.
Brick chicken is a butterflied whole chicken traditionally cooked — you guessed it — under a brick. In this case we use a cast iron skillet (for the weight) on top. The key is to weigh down the flattened bird while it grills, which ensures quick and even cooking with crispy charred results. Ask your butcher to butterfly the chicken.
{Marinade}
L cup whole milk yogurt
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (3½-to-4-pound) whole chicken, butterflied Lemon wedges and Italian parsley sprigs for garnish
WITH
Grilling the fingerlings over indirect heat allows them the time to slow-cook and crisp without burning. You can either grill the potatoes directly on the grates or in a preheated grill pan.
2 pounds fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons salt, divided
¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
¼ cup chopped mint
1 small clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Prepare the grill for indirect cooking over medium heat (about 375°F). If you are using a grill pan, preheat the grill pan for about 10 minutes. Combine the potatoes, 2 tablespoons oil and 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and toss to coat. Arrange the potatoes, cut-side down, on the grill, perpendicular to the grates (or cut-side down in the grill pan). Grill over indirect heat, with the lid closed, until the potatoes are tender, slightly flattened, and golden crisp on the cut sides, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon oil, 1 teaspoon salt, the parsley, mint, garlic, lemon zest and pepper. Toss to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature. {SERVES 4}
Marinade: Whisk the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Place the chicken in a baking dish. Rub the marinade all over the chicken, including between the breast skin and meat. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before grilling. Grill: Prepare the grill for indirect cooking over medium-high heat (about 400°F). Place the chicken, skin side down, over indirect heat. Place a large cast-iron skillet (or two foil-wrapped bricks) on top of the chicken. Close the grill lid and grill until the skin is golden brown and releases easily from the grates, about 25 minutes, checking from time to time to avoid burning. Using oven mitts, remove the skillet and carefully turn the chicken over with a spatula. Replace the skillet or bricks. Close the grill and cook until the chicken is thoroughly cooked through and the juices run clear when pierced with a knife, 20 to 30 minutes more, depending on the size of the bird. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes before carving. Serve with lemon wedges and fresh Italian parsley. {SERVES 4}
The rosemary sprigs will infuse the shrimp with flavor while grilling. They will also char, so before serving, remove the grilled rosemary sprigs and replace with fresh sprigs.
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon sweet paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
16 large (16/20) shrimp, shelled and deveined, tails left intact 8 thin slices prosciutto, each slice cut in half lengthwise 16 (1½-to-2-inch) rosemary sprigs, plus 16 for garnish
Whisk the oil, paprika, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Lightly brush the shrimp with the oil. Wrap a piece of prosciutto around each shrimp. Thread a piece of rosemary through the prosciutto and shrimp to secure. Prepare the grill for direct cooking over medium heat. Grill the shrimp skewers over direct heat until the shrimp turn pink and the prosciutto begins to crisp, 5 to 7 minutes, turning as needed. Transfer to a plate. Remove the grilled rosemary sprigs and replace with a fresh sprig. Serve warm. {SERVES 4}
{Streusel}
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup lightly toasted almonds
½ cup dark brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, chilled
6 large, ripe, but not too soft, nectarines, pitted, cut into 1-inch chunks
6 ounces fresh blackberries
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
Streusel: Combine all the streusel ingredients, except the butter, in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to blend and to coarsely chop the almonds. Add the butter and pulse until the streusel resembles coarse meal. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until use. Grill and Fill: Prepare the grill for indirect cooking over medium heat (about 350°F). Butter an 8-by-8-inch gratin or grill-proof baking dish. Combine the filling ingredients in a large bowl and gently stir to coat. Pour the filling into the baking dish and spoon the streusel evenly over the top. Grill over indirect heat, with the grill lid closed, until the crisp is bubbling and the streusel is golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove and cool slightly. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. {SERVES 6}
Feel free to mix and match your favorite stone fruit and berries, such as peaches, plums, raspberries and blueberries, to your taste.
Now that things are looking better, how should you be handling your investments and what should you watch out for?
BY CARRIE KIRBYAT 52, LESLIE has a clear view of her retirement, and it doesn’t involve drawing on a 401(k). It involves 1,100 sun-drenched square feet surrounded by fruit trees, walking distance to Mill Valley shops and restaurants, plus a guest cottage.
“All I have is my house,” says Leslie, a mother of two who operates two home businesses.
In a climate of soaring property values and rents, and with the advent of Airbnb, Leslie is one of many Marin residents looking to her house to play a strong supporting role in the retirement plan.
In years past, the house meant security to Leslie; when she lost her job in 2009, she says, “I was able to sleep at night because I knew if things got bad I could always go live in my rental unit and rent out my house.”
Moving the unit from the long-term residential market to Airbnb increased her rental income to about $3,200 a month — enough to pay her mortgage, insurance and property taxes. That frees up her other income to invest in the future — which for Leslie means adding to her main house an extra room with a separate entrance, which she plans to rent on Airbnb as well.
Leslie’s story illustrates how several years of strong economic growth have inspired more Marin residents to shift thei r fi nancial thinking from just getting along to planning for the future.
“I’m having more conversations [with clients] about retirement,” says Kathleen Nemetz, a certi fied financial planner with McClurg Capital in San Rafael.
With the strong U.S. dollar and the flexibility brought by the sharing economy, Nemetz says she is seeing more clients and friends consider spending all or some of their time abroad.
Attorney Julie Gar field, 62, plans to tap the earning potential of her four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath San Rafael ranch home as she transitions from part-time work to full retirement over the next seven years.
“My retirement plan calls for me to move as often as every three to five months between three home bases I have already established, in Nice, France; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; and Marin. That revolving change of scene, personalities, activities, languages and regional travel options promises to keep things interesting for me for so long as I am able to move about freely,” Gar field says. When she’s not in Mexico, her condo there can generate income via Airbnb competitor VRBO. Not wanting to give up her foothold in Marin, Gar field prefers to rent bedrooms to roommates instead of converting her whole home into a rental property, giving her the flexibility to move back full time when she wants to.
Hedging your bets like this gets Nemetz’s approval.
“If you’re making a long-term commitment to living abroad, try renting first before you buy that property in Tuscany,” Nemetz suggests. You may have loved Tuscany on vacation, but will you love living there year round? What will you do for medical care while you live there? Do you understand the local real estate laws? These are all questions would-be expats can address during a trial stay, Nemetz says.
Planners say they are also having conversations with clients about another issue: buying property. Soaring home prices are great for those thinking of cashing in, but a towering barrier for those who want to become homeowners or landlords. That’s not to say that no one should consider buying a home at current prices, says Evan Oliver, of Sausalito’s Verity Wealth Advisors. Buying property in Marin just shouldn’t be considered an investment at this point.
“You’ve just got to forget about any potential appreciation. Not that it won’t be there, but you can’t let that be the driver behind buying a house,” Oliver says. People should buy a home
The unavailability of local real estate as a viable investment is tough, as it coincides with continuing low interest rates, uninspiring bond performance and a long run-up in stock prices. Where to put investment funds?
For Dino Wilson, an agent with Paragon Real Estate Group in Greenbrae, the answer is Sonoma. He’s helped more than half a dozen clients acquire rental properties at “still very a ffordable” rates in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and Boyes Hot Springs, and he’s a landlord there himself. While you would be hard-pressed to recoup the purchase price for a Mill Valley condo in rents, that’s still feasible in Sonoma, he says.
“I still do a great deal of my work in Marin, but I’m seeing the next 10 years of growth in Sonoma. And with the (Larkspur to Cloverdale) SMART train up and running, that’s going to open the door for commuters to feel they can live in Sonoma County and not have to sit on the freeway,” Wilson says.
Marin residents’ income has been growing, with median household income approaching $91,000 as of 2013, up 15 percent from 2011, and forecast to keep growing, according to the Marin Economic Forum. When folks are earning more, the perpetual desire to minimize the tax burden intensi fies. We are often told to put as much of our earnings as possible into tax-deferred retirement accounts, and advisers say many clients ask about opportunities beyond the 401(k) or IRA to defer taxes, such as setting up defi ned benefit plans, for those that are self-employed.
But Oliver warns that putting all your investments into plans that will be taxed later could be a mistake, because it’s quite possible that you will face higher tax rates after you retire.
“If you think taxes are bad now, there are scenarios where they could get much worse. If you’re focusing all your tax planning on today, you could make mistakes that could cost you down the road,” Oliver says. Besides the taxes you’ll pay on your retirement benefits, you also need to think about Medicare, which might hit you with surcharges if your income from deferred-tax accounts is great enough to push you into the a ffluent category.
if the pleasure they’ll derive from living in their own home outweighs the pleasure they might derive if they invested elsewhere the considerable funds they’ll pay, he says.
One thing Oliver advises against for most people: taking the down payment from your 401(k).
“When you start to see people tap into retirement plans, 90 percent of the time or maybe more they’re doing it because they have no other way to buy it, which means that the purchase is a bit of a stretch anyway, and it may not be the thing to do,” Oliver says.
“What we try to do is talk about tax diversi fication,” Oliver says. That means that in addition to contributing to a 401(k) or IRA, he advises clients who qualify to put money into a Roth IRA, plus maintain a taxable investment account. That way you are paying some taxes at today’s rate and some at the unknown future rate. Another advantage of a Roth is that unlike with a regular IRA or 401(k), withdrawals don’t count toward Medicare’s income limits.
Bob Goldman of Bob Goldman Financial Planning, also in Sausalito, offers another good reason for parking some earnings in a taxable investment account: liquidity.
“If you need money for cash flow, you won’t have to turn to your retirement accounts, where every dollar will be taxed at ordinary income-tax rates — plus, a 10 percent penalty if you’re under 59.5 years of age,” Goldman says. “If you have that
If you think taxes are bad now, there are scenarios where they could get much worse. If you’re focusing all your tax planning on today, you could make mistakes that could cost you down the road.
taxable investment account, you can handle your cash flow needs from those assets, pay lower cap gains rates and no penalties, and leave your retirement accounts to grow, tax deferred.”
In fact, a recent report from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College warned that withdrawals from retirement accounts — such as cash-outs when you change jobs or withdrawals to pay for a home purchase or emergency expense — shrink Americans’ wealth in retirement by an average of 25 percent.
Overall, many Marin residents are reaping the benefits of a growing economy and looking to their wealth managers or financial advisers to help them make the most of it. The best managers help their clients enjoy the good times without getting carried away.
“Things are better and people are more optimistic,”
Nemetz says. “The thing I would say to them is, ‘Don’t forget your business discipline. If you’re making decisions based on feeling good today, don’t forget to look at the numbers.’ ”
Kenneth Maring, senior portfolio manager with the Maring Financial Strategies Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in San Rafael, suggests being realistic about the stock market, where the bulls can’t run forever.
He fi nds safety in stocks that pay good dividends, and he favors an “absolute return strategy,” a hedge fund approach designed to make money every year, whether the market is trending up or down. Maring handles portfolios of $250,000 or more, but smaller investors can seek out absolute return mutual funds, he says.
“This is a time in history that you need to be extremely cautious with your investments. Slow down — the curve is coming,” he warns. m
Moving the unit from the longterm residential market to Airbnb increased her rental income to about $3,200 a month — enough to pay her mortgage, insurance and property taxes.
you include:
• The co-author of the fi nancial planning industry’s fi rst code of ethics
• In vestment committee co-chairs with rock-solid judgment, based on decades of experience navigating market cycles
• An i nnovator in persona l fi nancial planning
• Two recipients of prestigious Schwab IMPACT® Awards
• An i ndustry veteran who managed a $30 billion portfolio on Wall Street
These aren’t figureheads or just names on a web site. They’re some of the top minds in wealth management. They listen closely to you, plan with you, develop investment strategy with you and monitor all your portfolio activity, complemented by a tight-knit team of seasoned specialists.
We’ve structured our firm so it’s large enough to deliver highly sophisticated planning and investments. We’ve kept it small enough to take extraordinary care of our clients at all times. Our goal is to introduce a ffluent investors to a place where the experience is deeply personal, and the resources and opportunities are immense. Learn more at www.privateocean.com.
To start a conversation, please contact COO Susan Dickson: susan@privateocean.com
100 Smith Ranch Road, Suite 300 San Rafael, CA 415.526.2900 privateocean.com
The Private Ocean team — 24-people strong — features experts in financial planning, investing, insurance, philanthropy, business succession planning and more.
MERITAS WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC is an independent, fee-only financial planning and wealth management firm. Our aim is to provide our clients with the proper guidance, sound fi nancial planning, and prudent investment advice required to fully realize their fi nancial goals and life aspirations. The fundamental foundation of our practice is a disciplined approach to our investment philosophy and the academic principles that support it, and our stringent dedication to a fiduciary standard of placing our clients and their interest s fi rst.
At Meritas, our core purposes are to:
• Inspire our clients to strive for what’s important in their lives;
• Educate our clients on how to best achieve thei r fi nancial goals; and
• Gu ide our clients on their path towards satisfaction and success.
Insightful and comprehensive financial planning, and a continued commitment to the long-term visions of our clients, is at the heart of our practice. Contact our office to begin your personal journey towards fi nancial well-being.
Pictured (left to right):
Sarah Burke, Paraplanner
Gregg Clarke, CFP®, Founder
Jackie Kendall, Administrative Assistant
Tiffani Clarke, Chief Compliance Officer
Phyllis Garratt, CFP®, MBA
Nancy Millar, Client Services Administrator
DO
EXPERIENCE? WE THINK YOU DO. Relevant Wealth Advisors was founded with the vision of providing a unique wealth management experience for a select number of Bay Area families and private foundations.
Our seasoned team collaborates with our clients in a most personal way. This results in a strategy that addresses not only investment consulting, but also advanced planning. By coordinating with our clients’ tax, estate planning, insurance, and philanthropic experts, we are able to magnify their value by ensuring your expert team operates as just that – a team –and not as a series of uncoordinated silos as is often the case.
If you have between $10M and $200M of investable assets, and would be open to an experience that exceeds your expectations, we encourage you to call us to schedule a con fidential discovery meeting.
Accumulating significant wealth does not happen by accident. Neither does managing it in a fashion that achieves all that is important to you. There has never been a better time to take charge of you r fi nancial life.
Since very few of us actually live near bay or ocean, here are a few waterfront options to consider for your next staycation.
BY MIMI TOWLEBACK IN THE 1960s, William “Bill” McDevitt, an entrepreneur and bon vivant who counted then–Sausalito mayor Sally Stanford among his circle of good friends, had a feeling the town was changing from working class to world-class.
At that time, the waterfront was home to budding rock legends and characters like the aforementioned Stanford, famously a former madam and businesswoman who held court on her favorite barstool at her Sausalito restaurant Valhalla. Seizing the opportunity, McDevitt purchased a local garage/storage facility and built a high-end apartment complex. Later, heading into his seventh decade, he had the idea to turn the apartments into a luxury boutique hotel, The Inn Above Tide, which opened in 1995.
For the opening, McDevitt brought on a young hotelier, Mark Flaherty, who remembers seeing the same qualities in his new boss that he respected in his dad: “He and my father were nearly the same age, and they shared similar interests in music, wine, spirits, food and an appreciation for hard work.” Today there is still a nightly wine and cheese reception at the hotel, complete with views of the Sausalito ferry, and 20 years later Flaherty is still at the helm. “The constant challenges involved in improving the property and enhancing our guests’ experience of Sausalito have kept the job exciting,” he says.
The property has undergone three major remodels, the latest completed in 2013. Each of the 26 guest rooms has a water view, and there are five additional great room–style suites for larger groups (or longer stays). Flaherty’s favorite room? “You simply cannot go wrong with the penthouse and its bathtub overlooking the bay and San Francisco’s skyline,” he says.
Flaherty works with McDevitt’s children Kass, Mike and Willie, who now own the
hotel and love carrying on their father’s legacy. “My dad was such a big part of The Inn Above Tide that working with my brothers and Mark and his staff on the hotel makes me feel like he is with me still,” Kass says. “His vision permeates throughout the hotel, especially in the attention to detail, from the perfect morning fruit and delicious orange juice to the scrumptious beds and the decor in each room.” As an added perk for guests, she has created detailed maps that include nearby landmarks and attractions such as the secret steps. Even longtime locals might learn a thing or two on one of her Sausalito walking tours. Rooms start at $375, innabovetide.com.
The first iteration of this historic destination situated on Tomales Bay in Marshall began when Henry W. Hallock, President Abraham Lincoln’s chief of staff during the Civil War, purchased the property in 1850. Throughout the decades various owners have added on. The name came from Nick Kojich, a rumored bootlegger from Yugoslavia. He and his family opened a seafood restaurant and built several houses atop wooden pilings near the beach. Today it’s known as a rustic yet chic getaway with a really good restaurant and if you’re lucky, live music. Cabins start at $449, nickscove.com.
Looking for an idyllic getaway on the bay?
The Poet’s Loft in Marshall features two rooms, private deck, hot tub and lots of space to relax. After hunting and gathering at the surrounding ranches and farms, bring the goods back to the fully equipped kitchen and enjoy your meal with views of Tomales Bay. Starting at $275, poetsloft.com.
The property opened in 1950 as the Golden Hinde, a nod to Sir Francis Drake’s ship, and has gone through a few iterations throughout the decades, the latest being a major renovation in 2010, accompanied by the name
change to Tomales Bay Resort. Situated on fi ve acres, the property has a pool and is close to the little town of Inverness. Rooms start at $135, tomalesbayresort.com.
Built on a dock behind Tiburon’s Main Street and facing San Francisco Bay, the Waters Edge Hotel has a communal back deck, ideal for a cup of coffee and paper in the morning or a glass of wine as the sun sets. This property also offers guests evening wine and cheese. And since it’s right next to both the Tiburon and the Angel Island ferry, it can be launching pad for a city or island adventure. Rooms start at $269, marinhotels.com/waters-edge-hotel. m
Opposite from top: Nick’s Cove from the water; Nick’s Cove beckons travelers from the road at dusk. This page, clockwise from top left: Penthouse tub at Inn Above Tide; view from the deck at Waters Edge; view from the Poet’s Loft, which was built in 1979 for the chair of the poetry department at S.F. State University; dock near the Poet’s Loft; right on the water at Tomales Bay Resort.
People have different ideas about where “the magic happens.” Often you hear that it’s in the bedroom, or sometimes that it’s in the kitchen, but in the Bay Area the magic often happens in the garage. Besides being a hallmark of the classic Silicon Valley start-up story, the garage is also a key component of a successful venture in Marin. You can trace Hale Mary’s humble roots back to 2003, when Mary, Anthony and Sean Bourke began making pinot noir in their garage. The self-described garagistes have been through a lot since then — Mary battled and survived cancer, and the mighty trio made their way to Freeman Winery in Sebastopol, where the wine is now produced. These devoted oenophiles use only grapes grown in the Russian River Valley, which they believe is what gives their wine its sensuous quality. Hale Mary 2012 is the fourth and most recent of their vintages to be available to the public. You can find this rich and complex pinot at Woodlands Market in Kentfield. halemarywine.com
For some of us, sustainable sipping is best. Here are a few local wineries doing well by the planet and our palate. MIMI TOWLE
This Mendocino vineyard has been producing wine from 100 percent organically grown grapes since 1993, yet its holistic approach to winemaking started in the ’80s. As it ’s a biodynamic vineyard, lavender, olives and many other plants grow on the property, which is also home to roaming sheep and chickens. Grapes are grown on various sites. Currently the winery does not offer tours, but it does offer affordable pricing for chardonnay ($14), zinfandel ($16) and pinot noir ($18). bonterra.com
W hile the Calistoga-based property, first constructed as Larkmead Winery (the third oldest winery in Napa), produces vintages that have been wowing oenophiles for decades, Frank Family has just received certi fication for both Napa Green Certi fied Winery and Napa Green Certi fied Land programs. The Napa Valley chardonnay ($35), pinot noir ($35), zinfandel ($37) and cabernet sauvignon ($50) are distributed nationally. Open daily for tastings. frankfamilyvineyards.com
Through the years various groups have honored the Healdsburg winery’s sustainable growing practices, including Fish, Ranch and Bee Friendly Farming and EverGreen Sonoma Clean Power. This year’s goal is the California Certified Sustainable Winegrowing designation. Ranch manager Brent Young says these undertakings do take a bit more time and human effort but reap a worthy result. Jordan Winery produces cabernet sauvignon ($53) and chardonnay ($30) and olive oil. jordanwinery.com
FUN There’s something for kids in wine country — just ask Novato’s Kimberly DesJardine. The story of Gabby was inspired by a walk through DesJardine’s hobby vineyard in Healdsburg, where she and her husband (as well as their vintner neighbors) make zinfandel. On this walk, her daughter noticed a green grape in the middle of a purple bunch and commented on how it didn’t want to be like the rest. “It’s really a story of individuality and about being comfortable in your own skin,” says DesJardine. You can find the Gabby the Green Grape book and plush toys in many local winery gift shops. gabbythegreengrape.com K.P.
Experience Wine Country as it’s meant to be experienced. Find the right deal and make this getaway your best!
St. Francis Wines are recognized globally for outstanding quality. Come explore their Certified Sustainable, family-owned Winery and sip their hand-crafted fruit forward wines from the superior mountain and valley vineyards in Sonoma County’s best appellations. 888.675.Wine, Santa Rosa, StFrancisWinery.com
Sonoma Country Antiques has been traveling to Europe for over three decades, hand selecting one of a kind antiques and accessories to enhance today’s interiors. Explore and be inspired by their elegantly designed showrooms. Bring the beauty and grace of classic style into your home. Open Daily. 707.938.8315, Sonoma, SonomaCountryAntiques.com
MacPhail Tasting Lounge@The Barlow is a unique new twist on wine tasting, in an artistic setting in the heart of Sebastopol’s Barlow complex. Come explore unique Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast. 707.824.8400, Sebastopol, macphailwines.com
Add more heat to your summer! Put on your summer whites and join us at Cavallo Point for the White Hot Party with Marin Magazine. This cool event not only celebrates the season’s long, warm days, it’s also the launch party for Marin Magazine’s special publication, Marin Summer: The Ultimate 2015 Guide to Activities and Events. Admission includes a sumptuous array of hors d’oeuvres, beer & wine, entertainment by the celebrated David Martin’s House Party—a 9-piece musical experience, and white hot dancing! $120 / person CALL 1.888.651.2003 VISIT cavallopoint.com/whiteparty 601 MURRAY CIRCLE FORT BAKER SAUSALITO, CA 94965 RESERVATIONS: 1.888.651.2003 cavallopoint.com
A nonprofit transforming the school food system at Marin City’s MLK Jr. Academy
JUL 8–12 SPF8 SAFEhouse Arts — a nonprofit organization that seeks to foster growth in new performing artists — presents its eighth annual Summer Performance Festival, featuring 10 unique programs scheduled over fie days. ODC Theater (SF). 415.863.9834, odcdance.org
THRU JUL 11
Stereotypo: Rants and Rumblings at the DMV
In this solo show, Don Reeds takes on nine characters who experience various instances of stereotyping based on race, class, gender and more, all set at the DMV. The Marsh (Berkeley). 415.282.3055, themarsh.org
THRU JUL 26
Cymbeline Marin Shakespeare Company opens its 2015 season with one of the Bard’s many romantic comedies, this one following a pair of lovers on a passionate journey that includes war, magic, disguises and revelation. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre (San Rafael). 415.499.4488, marinshakespeare.org
JUL 17–AUG 16 Pirates of Penzance Bring the whole family to enjoy this comic opera, performed in community theaters since its debut in 1880. The Barn Theatre (Ross). 415.456.9555, rossvalleyplayers.com
JUL 7–11 Inkboat’s 95 Rituals for Anna Halprin This free, sitespeci fic performance brings Dancers’ Group and Bay Area physical theater group inkBoat together in honor of dance pioneer Anna Halprin’s 95th birthday. Shinichi Iova-Koga, Halprin’s longtime
collaborator, directs. 2905 Hyde St (SF). 95rituals.org
TUESDAYS Tuesday Night Comedy Funnies
Enjoy an evening of hilarity featuring comedians that make us laugh and think. Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, throck mortontheatre.org
SUNDAYS Traditional Irish Session Head to Fairfax for an open, Irish-pub-style jam session. The Sleeping Lady (Fairfax). 415.485.1182, sleepinglady fairfax.com
THRU JUL 1 The Trojans San Francisco Opera presents this rarely staged epic for the fi rst time in 47 years. The show features two operas, The Fall of Troy and The Trojans at Carthage, in one opulent evening. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.864.3330, sfopera.com
THRU JUL 5 The Marriage of Figaro A countess and her servant team up to get revenge on her aristocratic philandering husband in this comedy, which is also one of Mozart’s most graceful operas. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.864.3330, sfopera.com
JUL 3–5 Grateful Dead
Fare Thee Well Live Stream Head to the Sweetwater, homeaway-from-home to former Dead members Bob Weir and more, and enjoy the band’s fi nal tour live from Chicago. Sweetwater Music Hall (Mill Valley). 415.388.1100, sweet watermusichall.com
JUL 6 Morgan Heritage
The roots reggae quintet composed of five siblings brings its authentic brand of organic sound to the Mill Valley stage, performing classic favorites as well as selections from the recently released Strictly Roots Sweetwater Music Hall (Mill Valley). 415.388.1100, sweet watermusichall.com
JUL 10 Con Brio
Marinwood’s Music in the Park series welcomes funky soul group Con Brio, to be enjoyed alfresco along with barbecue from Marin Country Mart, and a bar for adult attendees. Marinwood Park (San Rafael). 415.479.0775, marinwood.org
JUL 10 Melissa Manchester Grammy Award–winning singer/ songwriter Melissa Manchester makes her Feinstein's at the Nikko debut performing songs from her acclaimed new album You Gotta Love the Life as well as her most beloved hits.
Feinstein's at the Nikko (SF). 866.777.8932
JUL 10 Steep Ravine
This San Francisco–based band, which takes its name from the famous Mount Tamalpais campground, performs a bevy of soulful rhythms supplemented by poetic lyrics.
142 Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, throck mortontheatre.org
JUL 11 Hot Buttered
Rum Don’t miss the opening night of Osher Marin JCC’s summer concert series, featuring bluegrass group Hot Buttered Rum as well as on-site meals from Big Jim’s BBQ, kids’ activities and more. Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael). marinjcc.org
JUL 11 Ramblin’ Jack Elliot The Nell Robinson and Jim Nunally Band will kick off heir new country sound and will then be joined by Ramblin’ Jack Elliot for a night of story and folk songs. Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, throck mortontheatre.org
JUL 12 Rue ’66 Bastille Day Celebration San Francisco’s only authentic 1960s French yé yé band brings its vocal harmonies to Marin in celebration of Bastille Day. Sweetwater Music Hall (Mill Valley). 415.388.1100, sweet watermusichall.com
JUL
lesson for beginners. Sweetwater Music Hall (Mill Valley). 415.388.1100, sweet watermusichall.com
JUL 17 Ryan McCaffrey of Go By Ocean Go By Ocean front man and songwriter Ryan McCa ff rey heads to San Francisco for an evening of unplugged acoustic jams. The Lost Church (SF). thelostchurch.com
JUL 24 Rickie Lee Jones
Singer/songwriter Rickie Lee Jones has been performing for more than three decades, building a repertoire that spans musical genres and stylings. Join her for an evening of favorites. The Regency Ballroom (SF). theregency ballroom.com
JUL 25 Multicultural Music From Around the World In lieu of Saturday morning story time, children ages 3 and up are invited to enjoy live music from around the world, with instruments including an Australian didgeridoo, Navajo Indian flute, Trinidad steel drum and plenty of percussion instruments for kids to play. Public Library (Fairfax). 415.457.5629
This swing-centric evening features a concert from Mood Swing, as well as swing dancing and a free preconcert introductory dance
JUL 25 The Lady Crooners Enjoy an outdoor concert featuring The Lady Crooners, a danceable combination of folk and pop, which the members term “almost country,” along with dinner, cocktails and a kid zone.
Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael). marinjcc.org
fun-filled, feel-good benefit comes to Marin.
THERE ARE SO many things we take for granted every day — food, a safe place to sleep, the Internet — so it makes sense these are the everyday essentials charities provide. But what about the things that feed the soul? The idea for San Rafael Rocks began with a conversation about human need, between the executive director of DrawBridge, a Bay Area nonprofit providing art programs for homeless and underserved children, and San Rafael marketing expert Bruce Burtch. Believing there’s a connection between art, creativity and personal growth, and aware of San Rafael’s legendary music scene, Burtch saw an opportunity to help the nonprofit right in his backyard. “You gotta start with a cause. Unlike philanthropy, partnerships really work because they create engagement,” he says. And so San Rafael Rocks was born. Five festive highlights are scheduled for the event, which runs from June to July. An exhibition, The Art of Rock Legends, will feature work by iconic ’60s artists, musicians and photographers, plus more than 45 pieces for sale to benefit DrawBridge, both on site and online.
The centerpiece of the event is the San Rafael Rocks Block Party on July 11, when 30 of the world’s top poster artists present their work. Fourth Street between C and E streets will be closed so people attending can enjoy music, food trucks, drinks and more. sanrafaelrocks.com KASIA PAWLOWSKA
Art Abloom Studio and Gallery Classes for artists. 751 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.256.1112, artabloom.com
Art Works Downtown The Art of Rock Legends A benefit exhibition feturing artwork by iconic 1960s musicians, artists and photographers, through July 24. 1337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119, artworks downtown.org
Bubble Street Featuring genres of fantastic art, imaginary realism, neo-Victorian and steampunk. 565 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.339.0506
Claudia Chapline Gallery and Sculpture Garden A collection of contemporary works in various mediums by Claudia Chapline, Jim Garmhausen, Elly Simmons and many more. 3445 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach. 415.868.2308, cchapline.com
di Rosa The Fallibility of Intent Works by Richard T. Walker. 5200 Carneros Hwy, Napa. 707.226.5991, dirosaart.org
Fine Art Etc. Featuring a collection of sculptures and paintings by artists from Northern California and around the world. 686 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.332.1107, finearttc.com
Gallery Route One Art Works! An annual artist members’ exhibition, through July 19. 11101 Hwy One, Point Reyes. 415.663.1347, galleryrouteone.org
Headlands Center for the Arts Summer Open House Roam the buildings of the Headlands campus while engaging with artists and taking in work, readings and performances, July 26. 944 Simmonds Rd, Sausalito. 415.331.2787, headlands.org
Marin Society of Artists Artists’ View of the News A juried show open to artists in Marin
and Sonoma counties, as well as readers of the Marin Independent Journal, through July 3. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.454.9561, marinsocietyof artists.org
Mine Gallery Original contemporary art. 1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax. 415.755.4472, gallerymine.com
O’Hanlon Center for the Arts Texture: Can You Feel It? A juried exhibition, July 2–23. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331, ohanloncenter.org
Petri’s Fine Arts Featuring contemporary works in various mediums. 690 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.332.2626, petrisfineart.com
Robert Allen Fine Art Realism: Architecture and Landscape Group exhibition, through July 30. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.2800, robertallenfineart.co
Robert Beck Gallery
Early California and contemporary plein
air paintings. 222 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.456.7898, beckgallery.org
Robert Green Fine Arts Abstract art. 154 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.381.8776, rgfineart.com
Roberta English Art by Cheung Lee, Mayumi Oda, Li Huayi, Ju Ming and Toko Shinoda. 1615 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.331.2975, robertaenglish.com
Rock Hill Gallery CCC
Member Mixed Media Art Show, through August 13. 145 Rock Hill Drive, Tiburon. 415.435.9108, ccctiburon.net
Works by both Bay Area artists and major masters, housing the largest collection of Picasso, Chagall and others in Marin County. 86 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.380.7940, roomartgallery.com
Terra Cognita. 108 Throckmorton Ave, Mill
AMarin County Fair at Marin Center Fairgrounds, San Rafael
Valley. 415.384.8288, seagergray.com
Smith Andersen North Ongoing work. 20 Greenfield ve, San Anselmo. 415.455.9733, smithandersen north.com
Studio 333 Why There
Are Words Literary series featuring New York Times best-selling authors and other award-winning writers. 333A Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.8272, studio333.info
Studio 4 Art Art by local artists, classes and workshops with materials included. 1133 Grant Ave, Novato. 415.596.5546, studio4art.net
The Blissful Gallery Oils, watercolors and prints by painter Emmeline Craig. 3415 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach, 415.868.2787, emmelinecraig.com
Zener Schon Contemporary Art Contemporary works in various mediums from Eric Zener, Paige Smith, JD Wilson and more. 23 Sunnyside Ave, 415.738.8505, zener schongallery.com
SAN FRANCISCO
ArtHaus San Francisco–New York (Nonstop) Works by Marin artist Carolyn Meyer. 411 Brannan St, 415.977.0223, arthaus-sf.com
Fouladi Projects The Prieto Family Show, through July 10. 1803 Market St, 415.621.2535, fouladiprojects.com
George Lawson Gallery Six Paintings: Sentence Works by Jacob Melchi, through July 18. 315 Potrero
Ave, 415.703.4400, georgelawson gallery.com
Gregory Lind Gallery
The Perfect Copy Art by Phillip Maisel, through July 11. 49 Geary St, 415.296.9661, gregorylindgallery.com
Hackett-Mill Ongoing works. 201 Post St, 415.362.3377, hackettmill.com
Paintings and Works on Paper Art by Julie Mehretu. 228 Grant Ave, 415.781.4629, berggruen.com
Meyerovich Gallery
Grisha Bruskin: Paintings and Sculptures. 251 Post St, 415.421.7171, meyerovich.com
Pier 24 Photography
Art from the Pilara Foundation collection. Pier 24, 415.512.7424, pier24.org
John Bankston: The Explorer, through July 3. 1639 Market St, 415.982.3292, rena branstengallery.com
Thomas Reynolds Gallery Pieces by contemporary painters, most exploring the intersection of realism and abstraction. 2291 Pine St, 415.441.4093, thomasreynolds.com
MARIN
Bay Area Discovery Museum Curious George: Let’s Get Curious, through September 6 (Sausalito). 415.339.3900, baykidsmuseum.org
Bolinas Museum
Historic and important local works (Bolinas).
415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org
Marin Museum of the American Indian The First Ambassadors A look at the long-forgotten history told through rare lithographs depicting courageous and distinguished tribal leaders (Novato). 415.897.4064, marinindian.com
Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Summer National Juried Exhibition Open to all U.S. residents 18 and older, through July 5 (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.org
Tiburon Railroad and Ferry Depot Museum
Learn the history of the NPRR terminus that occupied all of downtown Tiburon from 1884 to 1968, through October (Tiburon). 415.435.1853, land markssociety.com
BAY AREA
Asian Art Museum 28 Chinese A curated collection of 48 artworks from 28 contemporary Chinese artists, through August 16 (SF). 415.581.3711, asianart.org
California Academy of Sciences Enjoy an adults-only experience after 6 p.m. every Thursday. (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org
Conservatory of Flowers Stranded!
Tropical Island Survival Visitors “wash up” on an uncharted shore to learn about plant-based island survival, through October 18 (SF).
415.831.2090, conserv atoryofflowers.org
Contemporary Jewish Museum Night Begins
the Day: Rethinking Space, Time, and Beauty
An international exhibition including work in varied mediums by 25 artists, through September 20 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org
de Young J.M.W. Turner: Painting Set Free Works by 19th-century British artist Joseph Mallord William Turner, through September 20 (SF). 415.750.3600, deyoung.famsf.org
Legion of Honor High Style: The Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection, through July 19 (SF). 415.750.3600, legionofhonor.org
Museum of Craft and Design Hands O ff: New Dutch Design at the Conference of Technology and Craft An exhibit that promotes Dutch design and its in fluence on the future of contemporary art, through September 13 (SF). 415.773.0303, sfmcd.org
Oakland Museum of California Who Is Oakland? An exploration of Oakland through works created by artists who live and work in the city, through July 12 (Oakland). 510.318.8400, museumca.org
San Francisco Botanical Garden Wild Flowers
An ever-changing show of weird and wonderful blossoms, through August 31 (SF). sfb otanicalgarden.org
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art The Intimate Diebenkorn Works by Richard Diebenkorn, through August 23 (Sonoma). svma.org
The Walt Disney Family Museum Disney and Dali: Architects of Imagination Works depicting the creative trajectory of this unlikely alliance, July 10–January 3 (SF). 415.345.6800, waltdisney.org
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Shana Multon: Picture Puzzle Pattern Door Video, performance and installation that investigates the relationship between American consumer culture and the New Age movement, through August 2 (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org
JUL 1–5 Marin County Fair Marin’s award-winning county fair is back
with a menu of rides, games, food, events, live music, Fourth of July fi reworks and much more. This year’s fair is themed On With the Show. Marin Center Fairgrounds (San Rafael). marinfair.org
JUL 11 San Rafael Rocks Block Party Hit the streets with more than 25 of the world’s renowned rock artists from the Rock Poster Society and enjoy rock bands, children’s activities, food trucks and beverages. Downtown (San Rafael). trps.org
JUL 12 White-Hot Party Join Marin Magazine at Cavallo Point for the White-Hot Party, celebrating the season’s long, warm days, as well as the launch of the magazine’s special
publication Marin Summer: The Ultimate 2015 Guide to Activities and Events. Admission includes an array of hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, live entertainment and, of course, dancing. Cavallo Point (Sausalito). 866.651.2003, cavallopoint.com
JUL 18 Breastfest Beer Festival
Oakland’s Charlotte Maxwell Clinic teams up with 39 of Northern California’s best craft brewers for the 15th annual Breastfest Beer Festival. Entry includes food, a tasting glass, live music and craft beer, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the award-winning women’s health clinic. Fairground Island (San Rafael). breastfest.org
JUL 25 Pedalfest
Celebrate all things bicycling at this thematic festival featuring live music, two-wheeled stunts by pro riders, pedal-powered food, a kids’ cycling parade, a collection of vintage and handmade bikes and more. Jack London Square (Oakland). pedalfestjack london.com
JUL 31–AUG
612.206.3100, craftcouncil.org
The American Craft Council partners with four Bay Area designers for this unique showcase, which this year draws inspiration from the four elements — earth, air, fi re and water — with each designer creating a thematic vignette. Fort Mason Center (SF).
JUL 9 Journey in Sensuality: Anna Halprin and Rodin The dance pioneer and the fi lmmaker Ruedi Gerber present their latest collaboration, centering on outdoor dances surrounded by Auguste Rodin’s sculptures. Smith Rafael (San Rafael). 415.454.1222, rafael fi lm.ca fi lm.org
In celebration of 100 years since the fi rst 3-D motion picture, the 3-D Film Archive presents a unique and rare collection of shorts and more. Smith Rafael (San Rafael). 415.454.1222, rafael fi lm.ca fi lm.org
JUL 16 Dirty Dancing As part of Smith Rafael’s “Dancin’ in the Seats” series, the theater presents the classic 1980s fi lm Dirty Dancing, which centers on a movement-fi lled love a ffair at a family resort. Smith Rafael (San Rafael). 415.454.1222, rafael fi lm.ca fi lm.org
JUL 17 Family Movie Night Bring the whole family and enjoy an outdoor screening of How to Train Your Dragon 2 accompanied by a picnic-worthy atmosphere and some summer barbecue. Sta fford Lake Park (Novato). marincounty.org
JUL 18 Casablanca St. Francis Winery and Vineyards invites you to “Stars Under the Stars,” an opportunity
to enjoy an alfresco fi lm preceded by a concert and wine reception. This week, the classic Casablanca is on view. St. Francis Winery (Santa Rosa). 888.675.9463, stfranciswinery.com
ONGOING First Tuesday ArtWalk Join the Mill Valley Arts Commission each month for a stroll through town to view exhibits by local artists. Various locations (Mill Valley). cityofmill valley.org
ONGOING Free First Wednesdays Visit the Bay Area Discovery Museum on the fi rst Wednesday of every month for an
exploration fi lled with fun and creativity. Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito). 415.339.3900, baykidsmuseum.org
ONGOING Sunday Hikes on Mount Tam Cap off our weekend with a three- to fivemile group hike up Mount Tamalpais. Each trek is led by a Friends of Mount Tam volunteer. Various locations (Mill Valley). 415.258.2410, friendsofmttam.org
JUL 6 Dragonflies! Learn to identify the di fferent species of dragon fly in hand and i n fl ight, and discuss behavior as they perform aerial acrobatics. Lake Lagunitas (Fairfax). 415.893.9508, marincounty.org
JUL 9 Rock ’n’ Roll, The First Decade: From Elvis to the Beatles Join rock historian Richie Unterberger as he revisits the beginnings of rock music. Public Library (Corte Madera). marincounty.org
JUL 10 Kent Island Restoration Help restore Kent Island in the Bolinas Lagoon by learning how to protect it and how to identify and remove the invasive species that threaten it. Public Dock (Bolinas). 415.473.3778, marincounty.org
JUL 11 California Poets in Schools Work with a poet to create poetry inspired by the California Academy of Sciences’ Color of Life exhibit. California Academy of Sciences
(San Francisco). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org
JUL 12 The French Market Savor the atmosphere of a French street market with antiques, books, vintage furniture, jewelry and much more, all in an outdoor setting featuring music, food and drink. Veterans’ Auditorium parking lot (San Rafael). goldengateshows.com
JUL 13–17 Darkroom for Kids Kids ages 11 to 14 are invited to experiment and create photographs without using a camera, beginning with paper negatives and photograms followed by cyanotypes and image transfers. Image Flow (Mill Valley).
415.388.3569, theimageflo.com
JUL 17–19 Nature Journaling: Land, Sea and Sky Take in the cli ffs, blu ffs, cloud and fog formations and dramatic shorelines of Point Reyes through the mediums of pencil and paint. This workshop is designed to be a safe space for beginners and experienced journalmakers alike. Various locations (Point Reyes). 415.663.1200, ptreyes.org
JUL 18 McEvoy Ranch Tour Walk through the olive orchards that yield McEvoy Ranch’s wellloved oils. Observe the process of oil extraction in the frantoio (milling room), concluding with a sensory evaluation of the oil. McEvoy
Ranch (Petaluma). 707.778.2307, mcevoyranch.com
JUL 18 Encaustic Art Learn about the unique art of encaustics, an approach using photographs, magazine clippings, tissue papers and other objects that can be embedded into wax. Image Flow (Mill Valley). 415.388.3569, theimageflo.com
JUL 19 Marine Mammal Center Tour and Rodeo Beach Walk
Check out the Marine Mammal Center with this guided tour of its Marin Headlands facility, followed by a walk down to Rodeo Beach in search of seabirds and porpoises. Marine Mammal Center (Sausalito).
415.456.7283, wildcarebayarea.org
JUL 25 Creekside Restoration with Save the Bay Marin County Parks and Save the Bay combine forces for this community effort to restore areas of Hal Brown Park through general cleanup and the removal of invasive species. Hal Brown Park (Greenbrae). 415.763.2977, marincounty.org
JUL 25 The Outer Space from Open Space Enjoy an evening under the stars as rangers discuss the major constellations and the legends behind them, beginning with a short hike up Mount Burdell. San Andreas Dr (Novato). 415.473.2816, marincounty.org
JUL 25 Ring Mountain Grassland Restoration
Partake in this monthly drop-in volunteer workday and help restore the grasslands of Ring Mountain through invasive species removal, seed collection and planting, all while learning about native plant and animal life. Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve (Tiburon). 415.473.5058, marin countyparks.org
JUL 25–26 Treasure Island Flea Peruse goods from more than 400 vendors of art, antiques, vintage apparel and more accompanied by more than 25 food trucks and booths, local beer, wine and spirits, a DIY makers fair and a kid zone. Treasure Island (San
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Francisco). ansanelli productions.com
JUL 26 Anthony
Bourdain: Close to the Bone Internationally renowned author and television host Anthony Bourdain brings his brutally honest brand of discussion to the stage with a monologue that reflects on culture, street cuisine and his travels. Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com
JUL 26 Rangeland
Paddle Tour MALT and Blue Waters Kayaking invite paddlers to West Marin for a morning on Tomales Bay, offering a unique perspective on the MALT-protected ranches that border the waters. Blue Waters
Kayaking (Inverness). 415.663.1338, malt.org
JUL 26 San Francisco
Marathon Opt for a full marathon, halfmarathon, 5K or ultramarathon on the streets and bridges of San Francisco, beginning at the Ferry Building and culminating at the Golden Gate Bridge. Various locations (San Francisco). 888.958.6668, thesfmarathon.com
JUL 31 Blue Full Moon
Tour Enjoy a leisurely full moon paddle to observe the light of the blue moon, a rare 13th full moon in the lunar cycle. Various locations (Point Reyes). 415.663.1200, ptreyes.org
• NAMU GAJI Korean A clean and natural design in a streamlined setting, where a shiitake mushroom dumpling and an eight-ounce Korean-accented burger are among the many options to discover.
499 Dolores St, 415.431.6268, namusf.com
BRICK & BOTTLE
California From private parties to catered events, chef Bob Simontacchi’s menu offers seasonal selections made with local ingredients. Enjoy signature dishes like orzo mac ‘n’ cheese with smoked Gouda and local favorites like petrale sole and tomato braised short ribs. The restaurant also hosts one of the best happy hours in town. 55 Tamal Vista Blvd, 415.924.3366, brickandbottle.com
IL FORNAIO Italian Sausalito’s Larry Mindel hit a home run with this upscale Italian restaurant franchise. Aside from the pizzas and pastas, the menu offers a variety of salads and carb-free entrées. 223 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.4400, ilfornaio.com
MARIN JOE’S Italian
This Marin mainstay has been around for over 50 years. Choose from a menu of soups, salads, seafood, mesquite-grilled or sautéed meats and a plethora of pasta options guaranteed to satisfy. For a fun addition to your dining experience, order the Caesar salad — the server will prepare the dressing at your
table. Not looking for a meal? Enjoy a drink and hear local musicians at the well-known piano bar. 1585 Casa Buena Dr, 415.924.2081, marinjoesrestaurant.com
The folks at the Counter have taken the “have it your way” motto to a whole new level. Known for all-natural Angus beef, turkey, chicken and veggie burgers, the restaurant also offers a burger bowl (all the ingredients without the bun). And if you want a martini with your burger, no problem—there’s a full bar. 201 Corte Madera Town Ctr 415.924.7000, thecounterburger.com
This Fairfax spot was created by four friends who aimed to showcase seasonal fare in a relaxing, intimate environment. Enjoy locally brewed beer, small-production wines and one of the many cheese boards as you take in the view of Bolinas Park through the floor-to-ceiling windows. 123 Bolinas Rd, 415.488.5123, 123bolinas.
Traditional dishes like pollo relleno (stu ffed with cream cheese, sautéed spinach and red peppers) and grilled fi sh tacos with chipotle, have made this a mouthwatering stop since 1976.
1625 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.459.0975, panchosfairfax.com
SORELLA CAFFE Italian
Run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella — which means “sister” in Italian — serves up fresh Italian food with a northern in fluence.
Customer favorites include the cioppino, butternut squash ravioli and Pollo alla Sorella. Another highlight is the giant wheel of Grana Padana cheese, which is passed around from table to table. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520, sorellacaffe.co
FIFI’S DINER American
Enjoy a classic homestyle breakfast at this diner-inspired joint know for its pancakes and low prices. Mickey Mouse pancakes are available for the kids.
284 Bon Air Shopping Ctr, 415.461.3247, fifisdiner.co
JASON’S California
Head to Jason’s for seafood dishes with an Asian and Italian fl air. Try the fi sherman stew or, miso-glazed Chilean sea bass.
300 Drakes Landing Rd, 415.925.0808, jasonsrestaurant.com
AMBROSIA Italian Owner Mark Leslie brings his passion for good food and wine to
Kent field with this family-friendly Italian joint that serves traditional pizzas and homemade pastas, supplemented by one of the best wineby-the-glass programs in Marin. 800 College Ave, 415.454.9292
THE HALF DAY CAFE American Tucked away in a setting of intertwining ivy and large open windows, this cafe is the perfect breakfast nook and is also open for brunch and lunch. The menu includes coffee drinks, pastries and much more. Enjoy a casual meal inside or on the outdoor patio. 848 College Ave, 415.459.0291, halfdaycafe.com
FARM HOUSE LOCAL California This downtown Larkspur gem is sure to please with simple, healthy food in a warm, cozy atmosphere — both inside, and outside on their covered patio. With a seasonal menu that follows what is fresh and local, chef David Monson creates dishes such a s fl omelets stu ffed with local meats, cheeses and vegetables, and made with Glaum eggs from the South Bay. Ward St, 415.891.8577, farmhouselocal.com
FARMSHOP California
Originally based in L.A., Farmshop Marin has customers clamor ing for cocktails and a delicious assortment of California-centric cuisine. Call ahead for a reservation — this place is always packed.
Marin Country Mart, 2233 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.755.6700, farmshopca.com
RESTAURANT French
Known for awardwinning French cuisine and a lively brasserie ambience, this corner spot on Magnolia Avenue rates high with locals. Those with a small appetite (or budget) can opt for happy hour (4 to 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close, M–F) appetizers, most priced under $6. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331, leftbank.com
CO American Grab a cold beer made on site and pair it wit h fi sh ‘n’ chips — fresh cod dipped in Mt. Tam pale ale batter, served with steak fries and homemade tartar sauce — or another item from the all-American menu.
Marin Country Mart, 1809 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.461.4677, marinbrewing.com
PICCO California
Popular since its inception, details from the seasonally driven menu items to the risotto,
made every half hour, keep patrons coming back. The Picco Pizzeria and Wine Bar next door is cozy (not many seats) and famous for its wood-fi red pizzas, great wine selection and soft-serve Straus Family Creamery ice cream. 320 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0300, restaurantpicco.com
RUSTIC BAKERY California Try a large house-made pastry, an artisanal salad or a mouthwatering sandwich at this Marin favorite. Two Larkspur locations: Marin Country Mart, 415.461.9900; 1139 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.1556, rusticbakery.com
The San Francisco institution has become a place to see and be seen in Mill Valley, especially after the 142 Throckmorton comedy nights. Menu items
• NICK’S COVE American Large windows provide picturesque views of Tomales Bay and Hog Island. The 130-seat eatery’s menu consists of fresh local seafood, oysters and bounty from nearby West Marin farms (Marshall). 23240 Hwy 1, 415.663.1033, nickscove.com
include Niman Ranch fl at iron steak, braised beef brisket risotto and classic burgers. 38 Miller Ave, 415.381.7321, balboacafe.com
BOO KOO Asian Authentic Asian street food is now available for $10 or less. The restaurant offers options for every eater—vegans, gluten-frees, vegetarians and carnivores alike. Menu items include chicken pho, vegan summer rolls, pad thai and five-spice pork satay, all made with organic, locally sourced veggies and proteins. 25 Miller Ave, 415.888.8303, eatbookoo.com
This Marin chophouse continues to impress as the years pass — the restaurant itself has been around since 1947. The menu speaks to the restaurant’s elegance, with offerings like roasted bone marrow, crispy duck wings and the El Paseo short rib. 17 Throckmorton
Ave, 415.388.0741, elpaseomillvalley.com
Enjoy a lighter take on Chinese at this restaurant, nestled in the Strawberry Village. The barbecue pork bun is fi lled with housemade roasted meat in a savory sauce, and fresh mussels are accented with red chili and Thai basil. Pair your pick with wine, beer or tea. Be sure to check out the weekday lunch special for an excellent deal. Strawberry Village, 415.381.5300, harmonyrestaurant group.com
A favorite family spot for over 30 years; getting a table or booth here can take awhile. While this old-school Italian eatery is known for traditional pastas, veal dishes, pizzas and dry martinis, the familiar waitstaff s also part of the attraction. 127 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0224, laginestramv.com
PIAZZA D’ANGELO
Italian It’s always a party at this longstanding hot spot. A great place to meet up with friends for a fresh plate of pasta, or to make some new friends at the bar. Chef Andrea Guilini, originally from Venice, is known for his creative, seasonal dishes like the stu ffed veal loin with wild mushrooms and house-made mozzarella. 22 Miller Ave, 415.388.2000, piazzadangelo.com
PIATTI RISTORANTE AND BAR Italian The staff rides itself on capturing the warm and welcoming atmosphere of a traditional Italian trattoria. Get a table by the window or on the outdoor deck for a truly exceptional view right on the water. Peruse the impressive selection of Italian wines to accompany your rustic seasonal meal. 625 Redwood Hwy, 415.380.2525, piatti.com
PIZZA ANTICA Italian
This Strawberry Shopping Center spot boasts amazing thincrust pizza along with an array of antipasti and hearty salads. Wine is served by the glass, half carafe or bottle. 800 Redwood Hwy, 415.383.0600, pizzaantica.com
KITCHEN Indian Owned and operated by the Singh family, this restaurant is dedicated to serving healthy, organic and sustainable food with gluten-free and vegan options. Dishes include chicken pakora, vegetable biryani and basil garlic naan. Try the Thali menu (offered at lunch), a selection of several
Indian dishes served at once. 24 Sunnyside Ave, 415.384.8241, prabh indiankitchen.com
SWEETWATER MUSIC HALL CAFE American Located at the entrance of Sweetwater Music Hall, the cafe is a small oasis of calm, dedicated to the F.L.O.S.S. philosophy: Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal and Sustainable. O ffering breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, the menu includes brown-butter scrambled eggs on avocado toast, crispy chicken sliders with gingery cabbage slaw and vegan Thai spring rolls with sweet and sour sauce. 19 Corte Madera Ave, 415.388.3850, sweet watermusichall.com
BOCA TAVERN American Bring a date or celebrate a special event at this classic steak house, which features wholesome American fare. Favorites include the mac & cheese croquettes, hanger steak and duckfat fries. 340 Ignacio Blvd, 415.883.0901, bocasteak.com
HILLTOP 1892 California Situated on a historic estate in Novato with sweeping views, Hilltop 1892 offers classic favorites with a California flair. Open lunch through dinner, as well as Sunday brunch. 850 Lamont Ave, 415.893.1892, hilltop1892.com
LEFT COAST DEPOT American Located in Old Town Novato, this eatery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared by chef Mike Garcia,
formerly of Toast. Menu items include sticky ribs, roasted beet and cauli flower salad and old-fashioned meatloaf. Ask your server about the nightly three-course Depot Dinner Meal. 807 Grant Ave, 415.897.7707, leftcoastdepot.com
RESTAURANT
FLOUR CRAFT BAKERY
American Besides a full-service restaurant and bar (with banquet and meeting rooms), this comfort food bastion offers poolside dining and a garden patio overlooking green lawns. Visit during the summer from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. for live jazz to accompany your meal. 250 Entrada Dr, 415.883.9477, rickeysrestaurant.com
RUSTIC BAKERY
California Organic mouthwatering pastries, breads and sandwiches are on the menu here. Try the Marin Melt — Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam and Point Reyes’ Toma cheeses grilled on honey whole wheat bread, served with dressed baby greens and crisp apple slices. 1407 Grant Ave, 415.878.4952, rusticbakery.com
American This cozy spot features local favorites made with local ingredients. Stop in for breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch and offerings from the delicious deli selection. Be sure to try the Philly cheesesteak and Chinese chicken salad, both classics. 335 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.9840, comfortscafe.com
California Flour Craft is San Anselmo’s answer to local gluten-free needs: Artisan pastries, fresh bread, desserts, special occasion cakes and lunch items are all gluten- and peanutfree. Customer favorites include the Earl Grey Chocolate Tea Cake and Flourless Hazelnut Fudge. 702 San Anselmo Ave, 415.453.3100, flourcraftbakery.co
VALENTI
This bright and cozy space is the ideal environment for a sampling of authentic Italian cuisine from Chef Valenti, a Milanese transplant. Though Valenti sticks to his culinary roots, the dishes at his Marin restaurant make use of local ingredients. A seat at the vinobar offers a prime view of the open kitchen. 337 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.7800, valentico.com
GRILL American O ffering a wide array of eats, handcrafted and local beers and live music, the Broken Drum is a hot spot for Rafael Theater patrons (10 percent off entire bill with your ticket stub), passersby and regulars. You’ll fi nd live music Friday and Saturday nights, tacos on Tuesdays and Bloody Marys all day on Sundays. 1132 Fourth St, 415.456.4677, brokendrum.com
PIZZERIA Italian Chef
Ted Rowe won fi rst place in the Food Network Television Pizza Challenge with his For the Love of
Mushroom pizza — sautéed mushrooms in a creamy garlic sauce and a red wine reduction atop a fresh pizza crust. Be sure to try other unique pies, like the spicy Three Beer pizza and the clam and garlic pizza, as well. 101 Smith Ranch Rd, 415.472.7272, mulberrystreet pizzasanrafael.com
SUSHI TO DAI FOR Japanese Snagging a seat in this popular Fourth Street sushi spot can be a challenge, but patience is rewarded with tasty and fresh sashimi, unique sushi rolls and great prices. 816 Fourth St, 415.721.0392, sushi todaifor.net
American This waterfront restaurant and music venue — opened by local musician Phil Lesh — houses fresh food and local talent. The menu includes salads, savory dishes and wood-fi red pizzas to go with a wide selection of beers, wines and cocktails. Come for the
food, stay for the music. 100 Yacht Club Dr, 415.524.2773, terrapin crossroads.net
American A favorite of everyone from kids to the foodie set, this charming eatery serves up food like Mom used to make. Drop by for eggs Benedict, tuna melts, coffee and some of the best milk shakes around. 817 Fourth St, 415.259.0182, theresa-and-johnnys.com
VIN ANTICO American
This resurrected restaurant offers seasonal market-inspired cuisine like stone oven-baked fl atbreads, handmade pasta and organic salads. The kitchen is open to the dining room, so try to snag a seat at the chef’s counter. 881 Fourth St, 415.721.0600, vinantico.com
Owner and chef Bill Higgins serves reasonably priced and delicious tapas. Save
room for deliciou s fi sh tacos and yummy chocolate bread pudding. On Sundays, try the $3 glasses of sangria. 1613 Fourth St, 415.256.1818, whipsnap.biz
YET WAH Chinese Named for the founder’s wife (“Yet” refers to the moon, “Wah” to brightness), this beloved mainstay offers a traditional Chinese menu accompanied by daily dim sum. Expect live music in the Kung Fu Lounge. 1238 Fourth St, 415.460.9883, yetwahsanrafael.com
ANGELINO RESTAURANT Italian Father-and-son chefs Pasquale and Alfredo Ancona offer handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti at this authentic Italian restaurant, which has been showcasing cuisine of the Campania region for over 20 years. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225, angelinorestaurant.com
AURORA RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA Italian Novato’s Auror a fi nally has a counterpart in southern Marin. Aurora offers traditional Italian food, a full bar and friendly service, making it a great option for families, groups, dates and sports enthusiasts, who can keep up to date on the game via large fl at-screen TV. 300 Valley St, 415.339.8930, aurora-sausalito.com
AVATAR’S Indian If you’re on the hunt for innovative Indian fare, head straight to Avatar’s and let owner Ashok Kumar order for you. Sip Masala Chiar sweetened with brown sugar in this casual, one-room restaurant, perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. 2656 Bridgeway, 415.332.8083, enjoyavatars.com
BARREL HOUSE TAVERN California Stop by Barrel House for great local food enhanced by fantastic bay and city views. The relaxed urban envrionment is ideal for enjoying one of the restaurant’s barrel-aged cocktails. 660 Bridgeway, 415.729.9593, barrelhousetavern.com
CIBO Cafe Located in a historic brick building on Sausalito’s main drag, Cibo is a great place to a sip a quick cup of coffee outdoors. Husband-and-wife team Alfredo and Tera Ancona offer a menu of tarts, croissants, cookies, paninis and soups. Every dish is made from scratch with local and seasonal products. 1201 Bridgeway, 415.331.2426, cibosausalito.com
COPITA Mexican Chef Joanne Weir serves up fresh Mexican fare in the heart of downtown Sausalito. The ever-changing menu is always 100% gluten-free, and the in-house tequila bar offers over 30 varieties, available blanco, reposado or añejo. Enjoy your meal at the bar or on the outdoor patio. 739 Bridgeway, 415.331.7400, copita restaurant.com
DAVEY JONES DELI
American Stationed in the New Bait Shop Market, Davey Jones Deli boasts houseroasted sandwich meats, healthy condiments and local, organic vegetables. The deli offers sandwiches, veggiewiches, wraps and salads with vegetarian, vegan and meat-lover options. 1 Gate 6 Rd, 415.331.2282, daveyjonesdeli.com
FAST FOOD FRANCAIS
French Owned and operated by the owners of Le Garage and L’Appart Resto, F3 serves brunch, lunch and dinner, all featuring “Frenchi fied” American comfort food. Sample a rotating menu including items like the Luxe burger (Diestel turkey, brie, lettuce and a fried egg topped with tru ffle aioli). Enjoy with a side of Brussels sprout chips or pomme dauphines (tater tots). 39 Caledonia St, 415.887.9047, eatf3.com
FENG NIAN Chinese This spacious hangout has been a popular spot for wonton soup, pot stickers and daily specials for nearly two decades. For an indulgent treat, order the Szechwan crispy calamari, honey-glazed
walnut prawn or lemon chicken. Staying in?
Feng Nian offers free delivery. Free delivery. 2650 Bridgeway, 415.331.5300, fengnian.com
FISH. Seafood The ultimate place to head for freshly caught fare. Order the fi sh tacos, ceviche and a bottle of wine and take in bay views and air on the deck. Casual; bring cash (lots of it!). 350 Harbor Dr, 415.331.3474, 331fish.co
KITTI’S PLACE Thai/ California Owner Kitti Suthipipiat was the cook at Comforts in San Anselmo for many years and brings a certain knack for delicious Chinese chicken salad to her own endeavor. The regular menu items are sure to please, but try the weekly specials as well. 3001 Bridgeway, 415.331.0390, kittisplace.com
LE GARAGE French Escape tourist-fi lled Sausalito for an indulgent brunch right on the water. The atmosphere is animated with light French music (á la Amélie), and the much-adored croquemonsieur is under $10. Opt for indoor or outdoor seating. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625, legaragebistro sausalito.com
LIGHTHOUSE American
A great spot to grab a classic breakfast — the fruit pancakes, omelettes and Danishin fluenced dishes will make you a return customer. This is a small but popular space, so arrive early or be prepared for a wait. 1311 Bridgeway, 415.331.3034, light house-restaurants.com
American Cavallo Point’s acclaimed restaurant, features local seasonal fare by executive chef Justin Everett, with pairings from an extensive wine list and tempting desserts. Don’t forget to visit Farley Bar for cocktails with a view. 601 Murray Circle, 415.339.4750, cavallopoint.com
NAPA VALLEY BURGER COMPANY American Incorporating local, all-natural and organic produce and meats, this burger joint serves up classic and inventive gourmet patties (gluten-free buns available), fries, root beer floats and more. With outdoor and indoor tables, the space can accommodate up to 100 people. 670 Bridgeway, 415.332.1454, napavalley burgercompany.com
OSTERIA DIVINO
Tuscan Locals come for the live music, tasty pastas and coffee drinks, all served in a funky one-room setting. Stop by for their Sunday brunch that features more music and creative breakfast plates. 37 Caledonia St, 415.331.9355, osteriadivino.com
POGGIO Italian A classic trattoria with comfortable neighborhood charm and destination-caliber cuisine. Executive chef Benjamin Balesteri creates delicious Northern Italian fare using fresh and local ingredients, including produce from the nearby Poggio chef garden. 777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771, poggiotratoria.com
SAYLOR’S RESTAURANT AND BAR Mexican Marin’s fi rst tequila bar offers more than 100 varieties. Enjoy the festive atmosphere with a margarita, grilled snapper tacos or an avocado stu ffed with Dungeness crab salad. Happy hour M-F from 4 to 7 p.m. 2009 Bridgeway, 415.332.1512, saylorsrestaurant andbar.com
SEAFOOD PEDDLER Seafood A great place to seek out fresh seafood in a warm and inviting environment. East and West Coast fi sh are flown in daily, and the recipes are adjusted to accommodate the freshest options. 303 Johnson St, 415.332.1492, seafoodpeddler.com
SEAHORSE Italian The spacious dining area, accompanied by a dance floor and stage, make Seahorse ideal for both small and large celebrations. Enjoy a modern twist on classic Tuscan coastal cuisine while grooving to the nightly live music and entertainment. 305 Harbor Dr, 415.331.2899, sausalitoseahorse.com
SPINNAKER Seafood Chef Phil Collins excels at preparing seafood, and it shows in the beautifully plated presentations. Set right on the water with sweeping views of San Francisco, this romantic spot is great for an evening occasion. 100 Spinnaker Dr, 415.332.1500, thespinnaker.com
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
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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 bar fly satisfied. Reservations are required in the main room. 107 Caledonia St, 415.332.3620, sushiran.com
SWEET GINGER
Japanese Owners and chefs Edna and Wayne Ching know their way around good sushi. Try fresh sashimi, the classic dragon roll, 49ers Roll or Rock ’N’ Roll, or be adventurous and have Wayne whip you up something off he menu. Good sake and a comfortable setting round out the reasonably priced meal. 400 Caledonia St, 415.332.1683, sweet gingersausalito.com
TASTE OF ROME Italian
This local landmark has evolved from a cafe into a full-service
restaurant offering pasta, pizza, sandwiches and salad in an authentic Italian atmosphere — just fi nd the green, white and red awning and you’re there. Enjoy live music most Fridays and Saturdays. 1000 Bridgeway, 415.332.7660, taste-of-rome.com
TASTE OF THE HIMALAYAS Himalayan
Born in the foothills of the Himalayas, siblings Pemba, Dawa and Pasang serve up favorites from Nepal, Tibet and India. The restaurant focuses on blending di fferent cultures and cuisines: spices from India, spirituality from Tibet, hospitality from Nepal and the freshness of ingredients from California. 2633 Bridgeway, 415.331.1335, sausalitotaste ofthehimalayas.com
American Food just tastes better when you’re dining on a bayside patio with fire pits and a bocce ball court. Order one of the sourdough bread pizzas and a glass of wine, and you’ll see why this casual eatery, overseen by Robert Price of Buckeye and Bungalow 44, has become a local favorite. 1250 Bridgeway, 415.331.0555, barbocce.com
Chinese Scrupulously fresh ingredients, free-range chicken and traditional dishes make Tommy’s Wok a top contender for ful fi lling your next Chinese food craving with a nice atmosphere for dining in and the perfect takeout for a night at home. 3001 Bridgeway, 415.332.5818, tommyswok.com
THE TRIDENT Seafood Set in a turn-of-thecentury building constructed for the San Francisco Yacht Club, this waterfront restaurant is a shoe-in for date night. The restaurant features chef Seiji Wakabayashi — known for supporting local farmers, fi shermen and organic food producers — prepares dishes like Trident Cioppino. 558 Bridgeway, 415.331.3232, thetridentsausalito.com
CAPRICE California Book the private party room for large groups, or just relax in this romantic dinner spot. Take advantage of the restaurant’s well-priced three-course dinners for less than $25, and don’t miss Prime Rib Mondays. 2000 Paradise Dr, 415.435.3400, thecaprice.com
Located in Tiburon’s historic Ark Row, this trattoria offers authentic Italian cuisine in a quaint setting. The menu includes traditional courses with selections such as chicken piccata, organic roasted rack of lamb and housemade pesto. 114 Main St, 415.435.0400, donantoniotrattoria.com
TANOSHI SUSHI Japanese Whether you go for the volcano roll or indulge in the eight-course Omakase meal, the fresh ingredients coupled with the tremendous view of San Francisco keep this place busy, so make reservations or arrive early. 41 Main St, 415.789.5123, ginzasushi-tiburon.com
GUAYMAS Mexican Situated right next to the Tiburon ferry terminal on the waterfront, the touchit-you’re-so-close city views and outdoor seating make it a great place to bring visitors on a warm summer night. Happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m. M-F. 5 Main St, 415.435.6300, guaymasrestaurant.com
MILANO Italian Located in the Cove Shopping Center, this familyowned neighborhood spot is known for its pasta and friendly service. Favorites like the cheesy garlic bread and pesto pasta keep customers coming back. 1 Blackfield Dr, 415.388.9100
SALT & PEPPER
American This sunfi lled, one-room restaurant, featuring hardwood floors and blue-checkered tablecloths, is a local favorite. Popular items include scallops, ribeye steak, a beef burger and traditional crab cakes with jalapeño dipping sauce. 38 Main St, 415.435.3594
SAM’S ANCHOR CAFE
American Everyone knows Sam’s deck is the prime spot for brunch on a lazy sunny Sunday, and its bar is the town’s historic watering hole, but Sam’s is also a
great place for lunch or dinner. Enjoy transfat-free calamari, fresh fi sh, seasonal salads and pastas. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527, samscafe.com
SERVINO RISTORANTE
Italian Executive Chef Massimo Covello comes to the kitchen via Frantoio and Piazza D’Angelo; here, he cooks up an array of rustic Italian dishes, including house-made pastas, wood oven pizzas and seasonal specialties. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676, servino.com
TIBURON TAVERN
California The atmosphere here is truly enchanting, with two outdoor patios, two indoor fi replaces and candlelit tables at dinner. Happy hour is 4 to 6:30 p.m. everyday. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.5996, tiburontavern.com
THE LUNCH BOX
American Spending the day on the coast? Stop by this modern day mom and pop deli for some beach bites. In addition to deli offerings, Lunch Box offers a full Mexican menu on Thursday and Friday evenings, with recipes from the chef’s hometown of Colima (Stinson). 15 Calle del Mar, Ste 2, 415.868.8884, lunchboxmarin.com
OSTERIA STELLINA
California Whether it’s to cap off a ay of hiking or celebrate a romantic anniversary, Osteria Stellina suits any occasion. The menu is Italian-inspired and features local, organic ingredients. If you’re looking for something
unusual try the goat shoulder, a favorite of tourists and locals alike (Point Reyes). 11285 Hwy 1, 415.663.9988, osteriastellina.com
American Perfect for a sit down, alfresco meal or for grabbing a burger to enjoy on the beach. Choose from an array of organic, locally grown produce, artisan meats and wild seafood (Stinson). 43 Arenal Ave, 415.868.1272, parksidecafe.com
American You ca n fi nd this ultimate neighborhood diner just off he main road. Vintage china and homemade curtains complement the eclectic but homey menu featuring local fare. A favorite for locals as well as tourists (Point Reyes Station). 60 Fourth St, 415.663.1536, pineconediner.com
American Known for live music and an extensive menu featuring everything from Dungeness crab cakes to the Garlic and Rosemary Lamb Medallions dish, Rancho Nicasio is open seven days a week. Be sure to stop by for happy hour, 4 to 6 p.m. M–F. 1 Old Rancheria (Nicasio) Rd, 415.662.2219, ranchonicasio.com
American Originally built from three barges in Tiburon in 1921, the Sand Dollar Restaurant wa s floated to Stinson that same year. Enjoy live music along with barbecued local oysters and New England clam chowder. The sunny deck is great in the
afternoon (Stinson). 3458 Shoreline Hwy, 415.868.0434, stinson beachrestaurant.com
American Fresh local homegrown foods, served when available, are showcased on the chef’s menu. Stop in on weekends for live music and enticing wine and beer lists (Point Reyes Station). 11180 State Rte One, 415.663.1515, stationhousecafe.com
AQ RESTAURANT & BAR California AQ takes seasonal to a new level, not only adapting the menu but also transforming the decor of the entire venue to match the weather outside. This summer the warmly lit space parallels the dishes made with fresh veggies, nuts and fi sh. 1085 Mission St, 415.341.9000, aq-sf.com
BOULI BAR American/ Mediterranean Head to Boulettes Larder’s new bar and dining room for the savor y fl avors of spicy lamb, feta and mint or the bittersweetness of salad topped with barberries, bulgur and pomegranate, all in a setting of handsome wood tables and an open kitchen. 1 Ferry Building, 415.399.1155, bouletteslarder.com
BUN MEE Vietnamese
The Southern comfort A fun and casual lunch spot that put s a fl avorful twist on classic Vietnamese. Sit back in this playful space with a salad, bowl or sandwich and enjoy the stylish San Francisco vibes. 2015 Fillmore St, 415.800.7696, bunmee.co
Fish’s chef creates a last-minute menu based on freshness.
PERFECTLY POSITIONED NEAR the bayfront, Fish provides an idyllic atmosphere — sunny picnic tables, salty air, a seemingly endless array of sailboats — for sampling fresh, in-season seafood alfresco. With the welcome inclusions of draft beer, wine and a kids’ menu — yeah, they’ve got one — it comes as no surprise that the cash-only eatery has long been a hot spot for locals and visitors alike (pro tip: call in your order if you’re planning to swing by during lunch hour). For the last three years, chef Douglas Berstein has been leading the kitchen, an enterprise that is at times extremely challenging, considering that more often than not, Bernstein does not know what will be available until the night before service. “As we purchase only in-season, responsibly caught fi sh, selected from healthy fi shing stocks, planning a menu for a busy restaurant can be tough,” Bernstein says. “But it’s one of the most exciting and creative parts of my job.” The chef is forced to be flexible, utilizing often disregarded cuts and bits to create delicious dishes that are at times unique and at times wonderfully classic (the crab roll and the fi sh taco plate never disappoint). Before joining Fish, Bernstein honed his skills at San Francisco eateries like Farallon and Acquerello as well as Eccolo and Disco Volante in the East Bay, where he worked as executive chef. Here, the seasoned chef shares a recipe for an equally seasoned Jerk Grilled California King Salmon Belly Salad, a dish that is representative of Fish’s contemporary coastal menu — and a delicious summer salad to prepare at home for friends and family. 331fish.com CALIN VAN PARIS
SERVES 4
Ingredients
2 teaspoons ground allspice
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
6 whole garlic cloves
1-inch piece of ginger
4 green onions with tops
¼ cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
1 Scotch bonnet chile
2 teaspoons brown sugar
4 salmon bellies, cleaned (skin on)
1 cup Greek yogurt
3 lemons (zest and juice)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 head of little gem
1 cucumber, sliced
1 half jicama, skinned and sliced Lime wedges
For salmon 1 Combine spices, garlic, ginger, green onions, soy sauce, thyme, chile and brown sugar until smooth to create your marinade. 2 Place salmon bellies and jerk marinade in large ziplock bag, ensuring fish is well coated. 3 Refrigerate for 4 hours. 4 Working over a medium-hot grill, lay bellies skin side down. 5 Rotate once after 4 minutes, and flip once after another 4. 6 After a total of 10 minutes, remove bellies from grill (unlike the fillet, salmon bellies benefit from being cooked through; it breaks down the collagen and starts to render some of the fat). For dressing Mix yogurt with lemon zest and juice, adding salt and pepper to taste; set aside. To serve 1 Lay the bellies on a platter or individual plates, placing a simple salad of little gems, cucumber and jicama alongside. 2 Finish the salad with dressing and fresh lime wedges before serving.
CHURRASCARIA
Brazilian This steakhouse boasts a tasting menu of 14 meat courses grilled in the traditional Brazilian method. Patrons control the pace of the pri x fi xe experience with colored signal cards. 1686 Market St, 415.552.8792, espetus.com
The sleek, streamlined design is in sync with the delicate composition of the dishes, making this a grand S.F. destination. The rich-fl avored slowbraised beef and the hot-and-sour soup are essentials. 1 Kearny St, 415.829.8148, hakkasan.com
LOLÓ Mexican
Fashionable San Francisco–style Mexican cuisine fuses market-fresh ingredients with traditional dishes. The whole atmosphere is bright, colorful and festive, a reflection of Loló’s fl avor-blasted menu. 974 Valencia St, 415.643.5656, lolosf.com
MICHAEL MINA Japanese/French
Michael Mina has clearly mastered the fi ne line between award-winning art and Alaskan halibut. Each brilliantly crafted dish gives diners a delicate blend of fl avors that add up to a distinctive, luxurious dining experience. 252 California St, 415.397.9222, michaelmina.net
NOPA California The easy California menu shows off oasted chicken and pork chops, with a bouquet of appetizers to set the mood. Although this S.F. destination is busy almost every night (a good sign), the wait at the legendary bar is half the fun. 560 Divisadero St, 415.864.8643, nopasf.com
PADRECITO Mexican
Authentic Mexican cooking with the variety and individuality of San Francisco. The tacos feature meat from the likes of Mary’s, Marin Sun Farms and Niman and Meyer ranch that go perfect with the spicy and original cocktails. 901 Cole St, 415.742.5505, padrecitosf.com
Vietnamese Don’t be fooled by the casual setting in this Vietnamese pop-up cafe — the grilled steak bahn mi is five-star-worthy. Take a seat on one of the bright red stools on Mission Street and stay warm with a pot of jasmine tea. 1710 Mission St, 415.878.6657, ricepaperscissors.com
With an overwhelming variety of choices, from seafood to spicy kimchi to pancakes, not to mention a full range of poultry, this uncommon dim sum–style setup features a little bit of everything. 1529 Fillmore St, 415.795.1272, statebirdsf.com
For even more local restaurant listings, vistit us online at marinmagazine.com
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Enjoy
Barrel House Tavern, nestled in historic downtown Sausalito offers a northern California vibe, attentive hospitality, and a locally sourced seasonal menu. Overlooking the Bay with breathtaking views, Barrel House Tavern is a lively destination fit for an intimate dinner for two, or a celebratory venue for large groups.
Barrel House Tavern 660 Bridgeway 415.729.9593 Sausalito, CA barrelhousetavern.com
123 Bolinas, Artisan Wine, Beer and Food, located in Fairfax and offering farm-to-table dishes of the freshest seasonal, organic and locally farmed products. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for specials. Photo credit Stacy Ventura.
123 Bolinas Artisan Wine and Food 123 Bolinas Rd. 415.488.5123 Fairfax, CA 123bolinas.com
L’Appart Resto serves a French-inspired seasonal menu. We also offer a $35 prix fixe option daily and live music on the patio twice a month. L’Appart is available for private events. Open for lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and dinner 7 nights a week.
L’Appart Resto
636 San Anselmo Ave 415.256.9884 San Anselmo, CA lappartresto.com
Il Fornaio award-winning specialties include housemade pastas, wood-fired pizza, authentic risotto, and rotisserie meats, along with artisan cocktails and a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. Recently awarded the “Marchio Q” by the Italian Chambers of Commerce in Italy, Il Fornaio provides you with the best Italian dining experience outside of Italy.
Il Fornaio 223 Corte Madera Town Ctr 415.927.4400 Corte Madera, CA ilfornaio.com
Perched on the Sausalito waterfront, the renowned Trident honors its original founding philosophy, showcasing quality organic and sustainablyprodued local fare. Whether seated indoors or on one of our two decks, spectacular bay views make dining here a feast for all the senses.
The Trident - Best Deck Dining 558 Bridgeway 415.331.3232 Sausalito, CA thetrident.net
• 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Marin Magazine celebrated 10 years of publication May 31 with a special party at Cavallo Point in Sausalito featuring cocktails, appetizers and DJ music.
• KIDDO! GALA More than 650 enjoyed dinner, drinks and live music and helped to raise over $225,000 at the March 7 gala held at the Mill Valley Community Center.
• STUDENTS AND TEACHERS RESTORING A WATERSHED Students, teachers and partners implemented STRAW’s 500th habitat restoration on March 19. The organization has planted some 35,000 native plants and restored approximately 32 miles of habitat.
The
A couple discovers that in Marin, a view, a garden and a fantastic kitchen are not that hard to find.
BY LAURA HILGERS • PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER
WHEN BARRY LACK and Jeff Wainstein’s Mill Valley home was built in 1947, the original owner added a sentimental touch: he planted three Monterey pines in the backyard, one for each of his daughters.
It’s a fitting legacy for Lack and Wainstein, whose reason for moving here was family. The longtime couple had lived in Atlanta for years, most recently in an industrial-style loft, when Wainstein, a medical director for a health care organization, was given a job transfer. The employer’s marching orders for Wainstein? Move any place west. They chose San Francisco because two of Lack’s three sons live in Cow Hollow.
After a brief stay in the city, they created a checklist of what they wanted in a home, including a view, a garden, a kitchen that works for two, access to BART and
proximity to the kids. “Mid-century modern” was not on the list. Neither was Marin.
When searches in the city and East Bay proved fruitless (thus taking BART off the list), they started to look in Marin, where — they guessed — they’d have to compromise on the view to find a house they could afford. Then their agent, Anna Pennington Boucher, found this home.
The house was hand-built by the original owner and had much of what makes California mid-century so appealing, including flor-to-ceiling windows that face southeast with views of Alcatraz, Treasure Island and the Bay Bridge. Beamed ceilings reminiscent of Eichler. A sun-drenched, workable kitchen. “It had almost everything on the checklist,” says Boucher.
Alas, says Wainstein, “it was also a mess.” The master bedroom was painted deep burgundy and had black carpet. The dining room was painted bright yellow, even on the
ceilings. But the Atlanta transplants could see it had good bones. Before they moved in in May 2014, they replaced the carpet with wirebrushed oa k floors and painted the entire home in a neutral palette.
They found their existing furnishings — including a couple of Eames-style chairs from IKEA — worked well, despite the relocation from a loft. And they’ve covered the walls with period-perfect paintings by abstract expressionist Ary Stillman, who was one of the New York School artists and was Lack’s great-uncle.
Wainstein and Lack, a business consultant, have fi lled the home with family whenever possible, hosting a seder for 27 this spring. When they’re alone, they spend time restoring the home’s garden, creating a patch of succulents and tending the orchids left behind. So when Lack’s sons asked what they wanted as a housewarming gift, they didn’t hesitate, asking only for symmetry: three fruit trees. One for each of the boys. m
WHERE THEY PURCHASED The Almonte neighborhood of Mill Valley
WHAT THEY BOUGHT A two-story mid-century home
LISTING AGENT Robert Craig, Decker Bullock Sotheby’s International Realty
SELLING AGENT Anna Pennington Boucher, Sotheby’s International Realty
STATS Price per square foot for homes in the neighborhood: $725
Opposite page: Floor-toceiling windows frame the dining room. This page, clockwise from top left: The kitchen and breakfast nook, on right; the sunny master bedroom; the side yard and hot tub; Tyson, the family mutt, guarding the hot tub; dining room vases and a view of the breakfast nook; Wainstein (left) and Lack.
STINSON BEACH | web: 0087202 | $18,000,000
Extraordinary and rare Seadrift offering with 5 bedrooms and 4.5 baths on a 4-parcel lot. SeadriftHome.com
G. Smith, J. Taylor 415.722.2812
ROSS | web: 0086863 | $10,500,000
Coveted location, 6bd/6.5ba villa near village, school, tennis club. Flat acre. RossGoldCoast.com
I. Wiener, D. Chavanon 415.730.5556
WINDSOR | web: 0243839 | $9,900,000
Pinot Noir vineyard view estate. Residence, guest house, approx. 20 acres. WineCountryContemporary.com
Tina Shone 707.933.1515
TIBURON | web: 0087324 | $6,495,000
Gated 7bd/8.5ba Paradise Cove residence. Deeded access to sandy beach. 3636Paradise.com
I. Wiener, D. Chavanon 415.730.5556
SANTA ROSA | web: 0087236 | $3,750,000
Main home, guest casita, pool/spa, cabana/outdoor kitchen, bocce, wine cave, views. ShilohCanyon.com
Sheri Morgensen 707.431.0777
KENWOOD | web: 0243783 | $2,695,000
Two homes, studio, barn, approx. 3.4 acres. Serene wine country compound. ModernFrenchCountry.com
Tina Shone 707.933.1515
SAN RAFAEL | web: 0086917 | $2,495,000
Modern approx. 5,200 sq.ft. 4bd/ 3.5ba estate set among rolling hills. Artists loft, pool. 20Westgate.com
Craig Swanson 415.901.1751
KENTFIELD | web: 0087246 | $2,350,000
Sunny, architecturally stunning 4bd/4ba house. Approx. 1.5 acres, 2 car garage. 170 Rancheria.com I. Wiener, D. Chavanon 415.730.5556
SONOMA | web: 0243840 | $1,435,000
Easy access to 2 destinations: Sonoma Plaza and minutes to the Fairmont and Glen Ellen. VineyardValleyView.com
Christine Krenos 707.227.8661
SAN RAFAEL | web: 0087382| $1,195,000
Iconic Mid-Century Eichler design. Bright, serene, 5bd/2ba, remodeled and expanded. Community pool, horse paddocks. Craig Swanson 415.901.1751
SONOMA | web: 0243835 | $1,072,000
Stunning Eastside panoramic view parcel near Plaza. Approx. 1.92 acres with water, 5bd septic. Build your Wine Country dream. Christine Krenos 707.227.8661
NAPA | web: 0243825 | $709,000
Beautiful Browns Valley home, chef’s kitchen, spacious master, 9-foot ceilings, 3bd/2.5ba.
Christine Krenos 707.227.8661
San Francisco Brokerage 117 Greenwich Street, San Francisco, CA 415.901.1700 JEFFREY G. GIBSON | Senior Vice President & Managing Broker Wine Country Brokerages 25 East Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 707.935.2288 JONATHAN SOH | Brokerage Manager sothebyshomes.com/norcal
Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.
For the discriminating buyer – an extraordinary residence! Gated, private, and hidden – a luxurious and peaceful sanctuary in the heart of Belvedere Island. Beautifully manicured gardens, large level lawn, private patios, gazebo with spa, and a large sparkling pool. This newly updated residence has a gracious living area, which comprises the living room adjacent to a romantic patio with stone fireplace, the study (fifth bedroom) with a full bath and expansive terrace, the dining room with Angel Island and Belvedere Lagoon views, and the kitchen/family room with fireplace, informal dining, stone counter-tops, powder room and all-day sun. The upper level has the master suite with seating area, fireplace, Angel Island and Belvedere Lagoon views, and a lavish limestone bath with jetted tub and stall shower. The guest wing has two en-suite bedrooms, one of which features a custom, built-in computer workstation for two. The downstairs level has the au-pair suite with separate entrance, huge wine cellar and large two car garage. Five en-suite bedrooms, five and one-half baths and wonderful privacy in this luxurious estate…
Sunny, gated, Keil Cove waterfront sanctuary, with every-room views over Raccoon Strait, Ayala Cove and beyond. Like beach-house living, with indoor-outdoor lifestyle and incomparable views of the ever-changing, living mural of sailboats, ferries, seals, water birds and lapping tides – all drenched in sun and moon light. Entry-level great room with floor to ceiling view-side windows, fireplace and beautifully-finished hardwood floors. Kitchen with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and adjacent sun/breakfast room which opens to the view-side patio. Additionally on the entry level is the master suite with view-side sitting area and adjacent terrace, and the guest bedroom and bath. Garden level has two bedrooms, bath and large family room with fireplace, wet bar and French-door access to the large, view-side terrace with sunny spa, spring-fed fountain and steps to the waterfront. Shoreline hoist for small craft, or kayak to Angel Island or downtown Tiburon. Four bedrooms, three baths, gated, two-car garage – and won’t last…
This one of a kind gated compound enjoys magnificent views from its expansive grounds. 4 BD/3.5 BA, with 1 BD/1 BA guest cottage. Large pool, hot tub, cabana, sports court and lush gardens. Dixie School District. 14oakview.com
Idyllic gated home. Relax in this sunny, private setting next to the pool that is just off the family room terrace. This 4 bedroom home with an open floor plan was completely renovated in 2007.
Abby Kagan 415.450.0060 abby.kagan@sothebysrealty.com
Patricia Montag 415.519.4818 pat.montag@sothebysrealty.com
$3,295,000
Waterfront 3 BD, 3.5 BA home with panoramic views of the SF skyline over the Bay. Level garden plus a large covered patio. Gracious living, dining and family rooms. Full floor luxury master suite. Chef’s kitchen. 23egretway.com
To view the video go to: https://vimeo.com/122660602
David Gilbert 415.272.7524 d.gilbert@deckerbullocksir.com
503 Palma Way, Mill Valley Fabulous updated one level 3BD/2BA home with stunning central courtyard and large backyard. Home features vaulted ceiling in the living room and hardwood floors. Pride of ownership and attention to detail throughout. 503Palma.com
Lori Saia Odisio 415.747.6707 lori.odisio@sothebysrealty.com
For more than 80 years, Coldwell Banker Previews International ® has built a leading reputation for marketing the world’s most extraordinary homes.
With over 86,000 Independent Sales Associates in 43 countries, the sun never sets on our world — or your home. Discover the exceptional service and proven results that come from listing with a seasoned Previews ® Property Specialist.
The world renowned Sonoma Mountain Estate and Studio is a six-building, gated estate facing the Pacific Ocean 1,800 feet up Sonoma Mountain. The estate has been featured on MTV Cribs, NBC national television and in over 20 magazines worldwide. Situated on approximately 8.5 acres, this compound boasts nine fireplaces, nine bathrooms and gardens galore accented by award-winning landscape design.The three-story main house has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and seven fireplaces. There are also two guest houses, an outdoor kitchen, a gym, tennis court, gazebo, green house, separate theater and entertainment suite, swimming pool, spa, pool cabana and a one-of-akind Platinum and Gold award-winning recording studio. Turnkey purchase includes furnishings, art, appliances, studio equipment, pianos, electronics and more.
What Joshua’s clients say. . .
Josh is a true expert in Mill Valley - he is exceptionally well connected and knows not only what is on the market now but what is likely to come up. He is tireless at finding the right house for his clients. Josh also distinguishes himself by his willingness to do what is necessary to get a property sold. I cannot think of many agents who would go to that level of effort. If you are looking for a house in Marin, I highly recommend Josh. –Seller in Mill Valley
Josh’s knowledge of the market and how to navigate the process is at the top of the game; but the most important assets he brings to the table are his honesty and his ability to hear you. Josh listens well, which results in an outcome that is uniquely fitting for each individual buyer (or seller as in addition to serving as my buying agent, he then sold our home in Strawberry after masterfully developing a vision, project managing various vendors to deliver on the outcome, and managing a full-on marketing effort). –Seller in Larkspur
Find out why Joshua is ranked the #1 realtor in Mill Valley and how he can help you make selling your home for top dollar easy and fast. Source: BAREIS MLS, January 1-May 31
Custom built 4BR/ 2.5BA Sleepy Hollow home on approx. 5 acres. Spectacular views of the hills and Mt. Tam. Open living area with beamed ceilings, flagstone fireplace, overlooks the natural setting and vast views. Cozy library. Kitchen features a Wolf range and granite counters. Private master suite with fireplace, built-in cabinets and two walk-in closets. Three bedrooms open onto a family room. Private outdoor patio, lawn and decks. Backs up to an open space. Attached two-car garage plus a separate garage. Walk-in wine cellar. One level living—ideal for those looking for privacy and comfort in a natural setting with stunning vistas. 84Irving.com
Rebecca Celli 707.592.9488 rebecca@rebeccacelli.com rebeccacellirealtor.com CalBRE #01296121
10 LAVENDER TERRACE, PETALUMA Offered at $1,500,000
Built by the owner, this custom beauty offers 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, spacious kitchen and great room plus formal living and dining rooms. Appreciation for fine details abounds with smooth wall plaster, striking iron crafted hand railings and balcony, alder wood doors, and stunning master suite.
Expansive Homestead Valley home in prime, central location close to Whole Foods Market, the Homestead Valley Rec Center, and downtown Mill Valley. Designed by Kelly Haegglund, this 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath modern farmhouse encompasses a casual elegance combined with an indoor/outdoor flow to an enormous, south-west facing backyard and patio.
Stylish interior with many custom details and finishes including Carrara tiles and slab countertops, barn doors, two fireplaces, great-room open to kitchen with additional formal living. Chef’s kitchen with 48” range and 48” refrigerator. Views of Mt. Tam. Large one-car garage plus two additional parking spaces, separate laundry room. Construction complete late July 2015. 35LockeLane.com Price TBD
Heidi Hjorth 415.209.3236 heidi.hjorth@sothebysrealty.com
23 Central Drive, Mill Valley
2283 Turk Boulevard #3, San Francisco
Kathleen Brady & Bryan Beaver Luxury Property Specialists
415.847.1491, 415.987.9967 kathleen.brady@pacunion.com bryan.beaver@pacunion.com License #00958832, 01023448
Belvedere Island gem. Five bedroom two bath home nestled on nearly .25 acre in premier location. Newly remodeled kitchen boasts a pool view, Viking appliances, and Caeserstone countertops. Formal dining room. Living room opens to a private deck with views of a level sprawling lawn, Belvedere Lagoon, and the lovely Tiburon hills. New hardwood floors throughout the main level accentuate the freshly painted interior. Walking distance to parks, schools, and downtown.
30BellaVista.com Offered at $2,485,000
A Bay Area native, I have lived in Marin County for 25 years. I know Marin’s schools, neighborhoods, microclimates and commute times to San Francisco. I lived in Mill Valley, Sausalito and Belvedere before my husband and I bought our home in the Ross Valley over 15 years ago.
The expectation of my buyers and sellers is rapidly changing. Keeping ahead of the curve requires me to align with a company who recognizes change, embraces innovation, and provides me with tools to exceed expectations. I found Paragon. Paragon is the champion of innovation and practices forward thinking, soaring by the complacent while never loosing sight of agents and clients. The formula isn’t complicated; it’s listening, having a passion to serve internally and externally, and the ability to execute. This resonates with me.
I began my career as a contract lawyer, representing public entities in high-stakes negotiations. Thus commenced the development of the strategic acumen that gives my clients an edge in this highly competitive real estate market.
At Paragon, we do not strive to be the biggest. We focus on being the best. When you are ready to make a move in Marin, I am here to give you the advantage over the competition that will make the difference in your success.
I’ve been providing my clients with award winning representation for a decade. Teaming up with Paragon gives me the ability to bring it to the next level. With the power of Paragon behind me I’m excited to provide the service and results you deserve.
You can trust me for up-to-the-minute knowledge of inventory and market trends as well as responsive and personalized client care. I am a Paragon agent of change. Call me today to get the Paragon advantage.
MICHAEL BELLUOMINI
REALTOR © 415.589.0175 mbelluomini@paragon-re.com BRE# 01766774
Relax and enjoy the San Francisco skyline from this 4BR/6BA masterpiece just minutes from the Golden Gate Bridge. Designed by prominent San Francisco architects, Porter & Steinwedell. This elegant property sits on two hill side parcels providing unobstructed, breathtaking vistas from almost every room. The gardens were custom designed by the renowned landscape architect Fred Warnecke. Luxurious master suite features his and her master-baths & three walk-in closets. 2700 bottle wine cellar, gym, secluded patio, terrace, 4 car garage+ detached house with kitchen & half bath. www.54LowerCrescent.com
offered at $4,999,999
Julia Bernardini (415) 225-0468
This home has been fully remodeled to its original splendor with period features and the latest amenities. Renovated from the ground up, enjoy living in this restored classic with today’s ultimate features including chef’s kitchen, beautiful pool, expansive outdoor entertaining area and wine cellar. This flat, sunny property is two blocks from Ross School, close to unique shops, excellent restaurants and Mt. Tam trails. The home is surrounded by gorgeous gardens designed by famous landscape architect Brandon Tyson.
offered at $4,995,000
ray BaKowSKi (415) 608-7806
Prestigious south facing custom home in the highly sought-after Tiburon with breathtaking panoramic views of San Francisco, Sausalito, Belvedere Island and the serene Ring Mountain. This stunning home is in a very private setting and features high-end materials and designer fixtures with an open, flowing floor plan, high ceilings. Recently chosen and filmed for international “House Hunters” HGTV. www.2Mariposa.com
offered at $4,700,000
ladan Mazhari (415) 816-1524
Custom private estate located in the prestigious George Ranch community with views of the entire Sonoma Valley & Bay. This retreat features 5,400± square feet of living space on 3.29± acres; including 4BR/4BA, a gourmet kitchen, travertine entry, rich hardwood floors, a great room with an entertainer’s bar and rich white cedar ceilings, formal living area and three fireplaces. The large French doors that bring abundant light to the living space lead to expansive decks, an outdoor kitchen, a show case pool and spa surrounded by waterfalls and impeccable grounds. www.GeorgeRanchEstate.com
offered at $3,595,000
Kendall SKolniK (707) 695-0889
Pacific Heights Style Residence in Sausalito
Wine Country Resort Living at its Best!
Prestigious Ross 1930’s Spanish Colonial Revival
Prestigious Custom Home In Tiburon
The ultimate indoor/outdoor living experience. Tuscan style villa perched on 5 sunny acres, close to downtown MV. Water & Tam views. Updated four bedroom, three bath home w/ spacious chef’s kitchen, living & family rooms with fireplaces, beautiful dining room, large master suite & three car garage. White oak hardwood throughout. Back patio with built in DCS bbq. Mature landscaping, paths, seating areas & usable land. Walk to highly rated MV schools. A rare opportunity.
offered at $2,725,000
Eric GElman (415) 686-1855
Stunning panoramic views of Mt.Tam in this elegant remodel! Exquisite attention to details and quality finishes throughout this spacious, light-filled home. Gourmet Chef’s Kitchen, Full bar, designer high-end finishes, marble counter tops, two master suites, legal in-law unit with separate entrance, massive deck. Close to the heart of Historic Mill Valley, parks, hiking trails and award-winning schools. Super Easy Commute!
offered at $2,459,000
Pat SkiPPEr (415) 823-3099
Experience the views of San Francisco, Alcatraz and the bay bridge, all from this recently remodeled three bedroom, three bath multi-level home. Top floor features private master suite with adjoining bath. Sliding door leads to spacious upper deck with incredible views of city and bay. Main living area offers same gorgeous views.
offered at $2,295,000
(415) 722-7851
The quaint cottage with 2BR/1BA, and 788± square feet is a darling, popular rental. The charming guest unit has 1BR with a great kitchen and dining area. There is an enclosed patio with lots of room to entertain, and there is plenty of space outside for barbecue, tables and chairs so you can enjoy the breathtaking sunsets. The fields are planted with hay currently, but agriculture zoning allows for many other uses and crops as well. This is a special property for the client who is looking for land and a getaway that could be developed into much more.
offered at $1,080,000
nicki colEman (707) 326-3006
29.82± Acres of Kelseyville Pano View Property
Mill Valley Splendor
GEorGE DE Salvo
Spectacular Bay & San Francisco Views from Sausalito
Perfect opportunity to create your mountainside dream retreat. A rare site where you can see the stars at night, get great sun all day, and enjoy uninterrupted views of Mt. Tam and the Bay. Steps from the most spectacular hiking trails Marin has to offer, to Muir Woods, Stinson Beach, Mt Tamapais, or downtown Mill Valley. Very peaceful and private, yet just an 8 minute drive to town. Tucked away in a quiet enclave of multi-million-dollar homes known for having the warmest microclimate on the mountain.
The current owners hired well-known architect Geoffrey Butler for a major luxury remodel and expansion. The plans are somewhat adaptable- it’s not too late to make it your own. Currently in the planning approval process at the Town of Mill Valley, for a classic shingle-style design and expansion to include an in-law unit over the garagefor over 4300 s.f. of living space. Level access from driveway and garage—no entry stairs.
*Top two photos are architect’s renderings of the proposed remodel. Bottom two photos are of the existing house as is. Call for more information.
Sharon Faccinto
Top Producer McGuire Partner™ 415.272.3799 sfaccinto@mcguire.com
This beautiful family home, custom designed in 1998 in a U-shape around the large terrace, offers an easy indoor/outdoor lifestyle and a straight on view of Mt. Tamalpais. Mediterranean inspired old world elegance and modern conveniences combine in this great home located on one of the most prestigious streets in the sunny flats of Kentfield. Furthermore it’s practically single level with only two bedrooms and a bath upstairs. This home has a versatile layout that works for all the stages in life from families with children of all ages to an elegant adult house. The heart of the home is the great room that contains a large kitchen, breakfast area and cozy hang out anchored by a custom fireplace and built in shelves and storage.
The lushly landscaped garden, lawns, olive trees, gracious fountain and raised garden beds for vegetable or cut flowers are a gardener’s delight. Private, sunny and fully fenced. This is the perfect ‘Forever House’.
Jeanne Shenna Moe 415.846.9538 shenna.moe@mcguire.com
Mia Zambrano Michel 415.299.9171 miaz@mcguire.com
The Richmond–San Rafael Bridge has also been called Hunchback and Swayback.
BY JIM WOOD
IF YOU’RE A bridge, it could be tough living in the shadow of the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. And when you’re called Swayback or Hunchback, being labeled Marin’s roller coaster is considered a compliment. Here’s how the distinctive curve in the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge happened: in the late 1940s, union strikes beached the ferries that daily transported cars and commuters from Marin to the East Bay and back. Reliability was needed. So in June 1951, $62 million in state bonds were approved and it was decided “cost savings were more important than aesthetic values.” That, according to Marin Independent Journal reporter Mark Prado, “resulted in a critical design decision.” As Prado wrote in his December 31, 1999, story, “Rather than design two distinctive cantilevered sections, a single element was drawn, then duplicated — and that created a dip where the two downward slopes met.” The 5.5-mile (including approaches)
double-decked bridge took three-and-a-half years to complete and, at its opening in September 1956, was one of the longest bridges in the world. Of current interest: originally each deck — one heading east, the other west — had three lanes. But eventually Caltrans closed one lane on each deck to allow for “emergencies and maintenance.” And that twolane status is still a matter of contention. m
