Marin Magazine March 2017

JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT of WRONG TM

A unique luxury resort & casino

44 In Bloom

flowery look at 2017 spring fashion.

Sharing the Road

con fl ict between riders and drivers.

Go Native

rich plant groupings and habitats.

Falling Through the Cracks The state of homelessness in Marin. 66 Summer Camps Guide 156 ideas for fun and learning.

For this year’s spring fashion shoot the team grabbed some coffees and joined photographer Maria Del Rio at Lola Creative Agency in Emeryville for a full day of work. Kate Cage of Kate’s Blossoms hand-made the intricate headpieces seen in the photos.

LENNY GONZALEZ (TOP LEFT); DEBRA TARRANT (TOP RIGHT);

ART BY JOSHUA JENSEN-NAGLE (MIDDLE)

Caldwell Snyder Gallery

PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Nikki Wood

Editorial

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Mimi Towle

MANAGING EDITOR

Daniel Jewett

FASHION EDITOR

Leah-Marie

SENIOR WRITER Jim Wood

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kasia Pawlowska

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Leela Lindner

COPY EDITOR Cynthia Rubin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Peter Fish, Marc Hershon, Laura Lovett, Dawn Margolis Denberg, Austin Murphy, Charlotte Torgovitsky, Calin Van Paris

Art

ART DIRECTOR Rachel Gr iffiths

PRODUCTION MANAGER Alex French

ILLUSTRATORS

Brian Stau ffer, Dave Urban

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Maria del Rio, Mo DeLong, Lenny Gonzalez, Saxon Holt, Debra Tarrant Administration / Web CONTROLLER Maeve Walsh WEB/IT MANAGER Peter Thomas DIGITAL MARKETING ASSOCIATE Max Weinberg OFFICE MANAGER Kirstie Martinelli

Advertising

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I’m a Libra; I can’t decide on lunch, let alone commit to registering my kids for camp months in advance.

Calling All Kids

The time to register your child for summer camp is much sooner than you think.

PARENTS OF MARIN — what are your children doing? Or shall I say, exactly what will they be doing the week of July 10 through 14? I just heard there’s a spot open at the Richardson Audubon Center day camp. Some kid dropped out, didn’t pay the deposit, or something, but the point is: there’s an opening.

While summer is traditionally a time for beach vacations and lazy days, the reality is many adults still have weekday obligations. For me as a mom of young ones, the month of March often meant I needed to make quick decisions and pay deposits for dates way too far in the future. I’m a Libra; I can’t decide on lunch, let alone commit to registering my kids for camp months in advance.

I learned the hard way. After a blissfully adorable preschool graduation — yes, there is a ceremony for completing the rigors of preschool — reality set in. What memo did I miss? Why were all the camps fi lled? That fi rst year, I optimistically hired a local tween to watch my two girls. The three of them would be safe in my house: plenty of healthy snacks and games — what could go wrong?

“I accept the consequences,” my toddler mumbled into the phone, choked up with tears. “What?” I asked, holding my breath. “What happened?” Next I heard footsteps and an anxious voice. “Who are you talking to? Why are you in the closet?” And then, “Hello Mrs. Towle, everything is OK, Natalie was just climbing ... well, she fell, but she’s fine. But the shelf broke and I’m trying to fi x it.” It turns out, after assessing the weakness in her likely distracted minder, my 4-year-old decided to scale the kitchen cabinets in search of the coveted chocolate chips, the only refined sugar in the house.

Eventually I learned to follow the lead of my friends. Lisa had the gymnastics camps wired

and her kids will forever have sculpted muscles as a result. Susan, an early adapter of coding classes, is now figuring out how to pay for her daughter’s Ivy League education, while another friend, Dyer, clued me in to the Stinson Beach Junior Lifeguard program, a free summer-long course offered by the GGNRA. Her strapping son Dea will return this year from college in Scotland to take a post in one of the lifeguard stands for the summer. Camps are not only a great way to explore new interests; they can inspire a lifelong passion.

That happened for my oldest daughter, Grace. At 7 she was finally old enough to attend Miwok Stables summer camp, and by 14 she was a counselor, although for some reason we continued to pay a weekly fee. She’s still a passionate equestrian at 18; riding has opened many doors for her and it looks like she will stay with it in college.

Browsing through the summer camp guide we include in this month’s issue, I saw some familiar names: Steve and Kate’s, the Marine Mammal Center and the Bay Area Discovery Museum, where Grace insisted on being a squawking eagle in a play about ocean creatures. I look at a coveted tiny painting of a tree every morning, created by Natalie at Masterworks art camp. Somewhere, I have all the T-shirts that came home with each camp (free advertising). I was planning to make a quilt out of them for the kids to take to college.

I may have complained about the hassle of committing at the time, or about the expense, but with that stage of life in the rearview mirror, I am so grateful for those creative educators and businesses’ dedicated efforts to keep summers fun. Now I just need to fi nd a summer camp for grown-ups.

Mimi Towle, Executive Editor

AT MARIN MAGAZIN E, March means it’s time to think about spring fashion. Fashion editor Leah-Marie and photographer Maria Del Rio got the team together for this fun shoot showing off he light and breezy looks you’ll be wearing this season. And for an added twist, Kate Cage of Kate’s Blossoms hand-made the stunning headpieces you see throughout.

Next up, Austin Murphy draws from personal experience and writes about the tension between car drivers and bike riders that is a daily factor on Marin’s roads. He asks why we can’t all get along and points to the next generation of cyclists as ones who are embracing

a more positive approach. We follow that with a look at California’s native plants — rich habitats are formed when natives group together.

We wrap up features with a timely story by associate editor Kasia Pawlowska. She joins in on a national biennial homeless count and comes back with personal stories from those living without permanent housing.

You’ll also want to be sure and browse through our 156 summer camp listings. From art to science and tech to music, it’s all there. And as Mimi Towle points out in her editor’s note, now is the time to book those spots.

Up front, we tell you how to enjoy Marin’s parks for free and introduce you to a local linens purveyor as well as the new leaders of both the Marin Symphony and the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco.

In Destinations we highlight what’s new in Yosemite and, for adventure a little farther from home, tell you the best way to celebrate your 50th birthday (or any birthday, for that matter) in the 50th state.

It’s a big issue full of great ideas for things to do this spring and summer. Once the rain stops, we hope to see you out and about in this great county.

Daniel Jewett, Managing Editor

DRAWING BOARD

After contributor Austin Murphy turned in his piece on the conflicts between bike-riders and drivers, we knew we needed some fun illustrations to bring the story to life. We turned to one of our favorite local illustrators, Dave Urban, and started tossing around some ideas. Here are some concepts that didn’t make the final cut.

March means it’s time to think about spring fashion.

Beauty Style Performance

CUSTOM MADE ELEGANCE

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Bay Area events you’ll want to attend

20TH ANNUAL SONOMA INTERNATIONAL

FILM FESTIVAL

WHEN WHERE WHY YOU SHOULD GO COST

March 29–April 2

Opening reception 5 p.m. Films 9 a.m.–11 p.m.

SIFF Village, Sonoma Plaza off First Street East

SIFF is recognized by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the nation’s 10 coolest film festivals. The blend of captivating films, premium wines and delicious cuisine at seven screening venues in and around Sonoma Plaza and multiple hospitality areas featuring live music and DJs all make for a memorable experience.

Cinema Pass $275

Cinema Soiree Pass $725 Film Punch Card $75 707.933.2600, sonomafilmfest.org

Friend us to share and view RSVP Hot Ticket photos at facebook.com/marinmagazine

Want to see all the images from our RSVP Hot Ticket events? marinmagazine.com/hotticket

Dawn Margolis Denberg Writer, “Change of Plans” (p. 115)

Dawn Margolis Denberg is a San Francisco–area freelance writer who has spent many of her working years writing about health, wellness and parenting. Denberg’s work has appeared in numerous publications, including Fit Pregnancy, Wired and Health. However, her true passion has always been home design. She and her husband, Josh, have rehabbed six homes and are currently on the hunt for a seventh project. So she was delighted when she was offered the chance to take over the Backstory department in the real estate section.

Austin Murphy Writer, “Sharing the Road” (p. 52)

San Anselmo resident Austin Murphy is a senior writer at Sports Illustrated in his 33rd year at that magazine. His beats have included the NFL, the NHL, college football, the Olympics and cycling. He has covered the Tour de France eight times and enjoys schlepping his road bike to that race, “to grind up some of the Alps and Pyrenees before the real riders arrive.” Murphy notes, with envy, that drivers in Europe are more comfortable sharing the road with cyclists than in this country — a fraught topic he explores in this issue.

Lenny Gonzalez

Photographer, Conversation (p. 40)

Like a jazz musician who practices the art of improvisation, Lenny Gonzalez has been honing a spontaneous approach to portraiture for two decades. “I use what’s at hand,” he says. “Preparation is necessary, but I like to fi nd inspiration in the moment.” When Gonzalez is not working for clients like eBay, Glassdoor and Stanford Medicine, he can be found taking in the local music scene by photographing its players and attending as many performances as humanly possible. He lives in Alameda with his wife, Suzy Clement, and their kids, Mielle and Lucien.

POV Your Letters

Political Uncertainty

Jim Wood, while it pains me to no end to disagree with your optimistic perspective (POV, “An Optimist’s Outlook,” February) about the presidency of Donald Trump, I must for several reasons. My take is decidedly dystopian. He could, for instance, issue executive orders that could cut off ederal funding to all designated sanctuary cities. He will, presumably, nominate someone for the Supreme Court who will tip the balance and become part of a panel that overturns much of the progress that has been made over five decades. If he is to implement his promises for the fi rst 100 days, I would expect that they will include rescinding most, if not all, of President Obama’s executive orders. Bottom line, this is not a new administration, it is a new regime, with all the potential threats that an authoritarian brings to the table. He will not be bored because his ambitions don’t really have much to do with change as much as they do ensuring that he is the constant center of attention.

GARY TOBIN, VIA EMAIL

I’ve been doing a lot of reading since the election, trying to make sense of the forces that led to Trump’s victory. Few of the articles I’ve read have offered as much insight as yours. You also made your points in a fairly pithy fashion. Well done on both scores. While the point of view you espouse can hardly be considered optimistic (“I see the Trump presidency as four years of stalemate”), it is less defeatist than many I’ve been hearing and consistent with my own hard-won perceptions. I want to congratulate you on a thoughtful piece that has expanded my view of Marin Magazine. CLARK OMHOLT, VIA EMAIL

I read with interest your article about President Trump. It is very optimistic. But we are in for four years of radical activism and the “altright.” As we have seen in just the fi rst few days, all the legislation and moves will be to increase corporate profits cloaked under the cape of creating more jobs. Regulations and controls will fall by the wayside. President Trump should not be underestimated as he was this last year. It is up to all of us to unite and defend our democracy and our land, like 3 million women did on Saturday [January 20].

My optimism and hope is that the women’s movement will continue and grow to include men and children. ARTHUR CURELY, VIA EMAIL

Relax and Breathe

Just read the January edition of Marin Magazine and I really enjoyed the opening bit (Editor’s Note) titled “Finding Clarity.” Nice work. You asked at the end if you missed anything, and I wanted to let you know about a meditation group that meets at Dominican University in San Rafael on Wednesday evenings and is led by Rick Hanson. I’ve been many times, and I really enjoy his straightforward talks. JANICE MOCK, TIBURON

Eds.: Other readers shared their favorite meditation classes. We received positive words about Prem Rawat, O’Hanlon Center’s Friday Zen sangha, Stephanie Noble on Thursday and Mind Body Awareness in Larkspur.

Food Security

Great job on the SF-Marin Food Bank (“Feeding the Hungry,” November) article. The entire piece is amazing, from the pictures to the layout, etc. Thank you all for putting this together and giving us an opportunity to spread our message through words and photos to your readers. I can’t tell you how much an article like this helps, in terms of drumming up support that ultimately helps us feed more of our neighbors in need. One update: the annual distribution of food in Marin has nearly tripled from 2.2 million pounds five years ago to 6.4 million pounds now.

MARK SEELIG, FOOD BANK PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER

Correction

In Jim Wood’s POV column “An Optimist’s Outlook” (February), Republican Sen. Mark Kirk was mentioned as someone who might oppose Donald Trump. Kirk was defeated in the last election by Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Your comments may be edited for clarity and brevity. Send letters to Marin Magazine , One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965, or email us at letters@marinmagazine com . Please include the town where you live and a daytime phone number.

New in Town

Mill Valley. Created by local designer and polo player Elizabeth Wellborn, the brand features luxury lifestyle items inspired by the sport of polo; stickandballco.com.

› Local jewelry designer Renee Sheppard has launched her first retail store in Larkspur featuring exquisitely made jewelry that is both casual and sophisticated; reneesheppard.com.

› Deleuse Jewelers has expanded and relocated

San Anselmo

Business is thriving in this quaint town. Here are a few places not to miss

› BREEZE MODERN WARDROBE is your go-to for all things consignment and chic; breezewardrobe.com, 621 San Anselmo Ave

› CARPETS OF THE INNER CIRCLE , a textile gallery established in 1978 that features tribal-, village- and urban-inspired carpets, has relocated to San Anselmo; c-innercircle.com, 15 Ross Ave

› The nonprofit maker-space and tech lab CYBER GARAGE is accepting kids ages 8–108 into its imagination incubator; thecybergarage.com, 14 Ross Ave

ON THE GO

› San Rafael–based Two Chicks Beef Jerky has recentlry released “Two Hot Chicks,” a spicy version of its signature product, with habanero and California chile peppers; twochicksbeefjerky.com.

› Mill Valley’s Salt Point will now be distributing its popular Moscow Mules in select Whole Foods as well as Woodlands Market, Mollie Stone’s and

Nugget Markets. The company launched last July and has made a splash with these portable mules made with a blend of ginger, lime, American vodka and a hint of pineapple; saltpoint.co

EATS

› Ben and Vicki Barrios from Napa just opened Incavo Wine Bar on Fourth Street in San Rafael; incavowine.com.

› Gia , the newest venture by S.F. restaurateur Fabrizio Laudati, has opened on Magnolia Ave in Larkspur. The trattoria serves authentic Italian fare with a modern twist; giarestaurant.net.

› The owners of BeerWorks have opened Joinery, a new waterfront beer hall and rotisserie in Sausalito featuring exceptional local brews and hearty seasonal fare; joineryca.com.

SHOPS

› Equestrian lifestyle brand Stick & Ball has opened its first retail store and design studio in downtown

to Fairfax. The spacious gallery features jewelry designed exclusively by owner Janet Deleuse; deleusejewelers.com

THE OFFICE

› After purchasing 700–1100 Larkspur Landing Circle for about $82 million, Jamestown L.P. has announced a refresh and new name, The Exchange at Larkspur Landing ; jamestownlp.com.

› The recently relocated boutique J UNCTION SHOES showcases a seasonally culled collection of shoes, sandals and boots. junctionshoes.com, 518 San Anselmo Ave

› For the inner minimalist, Sophia Wood’s boutique MUSE offers a collection of home accessories, small furniture, and custom-made handbags and jewelry; musecalifornia.com, 566 San Anselmo Ave

› Quality clothing and provisions for both men and women can be found at TUMBLEWEED ; tumbleweedcalifornia.com , 570 San Anselmo Ave

› Men’s accessory store UTILITY GOODS focuses on things for the modern man with a nod to functionality and simplicity; utility-goods.com , 568 San Anselmo Ave

› VINES has wine from local and international vineyards, cheese and charcuterie plates, and $5 flight tastings; vineswine shopandbar.com, 906 Sir Francis Drake Blvd

New in Town is an ongoing bulletin on new businesses throughout the Bay Area. To be considered for future listings, email llindner@marinmagazine.com.

Stick & Ball

Renee Sheppard

THE “OFF-SHOULDER”

TOP is this season’s most on-trend style. Just-in at Palette Boutique: offshoulder loveliness by Ella Moss. Pair with our hottest denim (Current Elliot, Paige Denim) for the perfect Spring look. Mention “Marin Magazine” for 20% Offyour purchase!

PALETTE BOUTIQUE

34 Sunnyside Avenue Mill Valley, CA 415.217.9628 @paletteboutique

the LOOK

MEET TODD REED.

Todd Reed is an American artisanal luxury jeweler renowned for creating works of art using recycled metals and sustainably-sourced raw and fancy-cut diamonds. We invite you to meet Todd Reed and view his one-of-a-kind, handforged creations at SofiaJewelry March 24th and 25th.

SOFIA JEWELRY

80 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 415.388.8776 sofiajewelry.com

BOSSA NOVAFASHION CONCEPTS:

Located just offthe square in Sonoma, Bossa Nova specializing in Inspiring apparel for daily life. Dresses by Lilla P and 3 dot, sweaters by REPEAT, jeans by DL1961 and shoes by Eileen Fisher. Curate your style at Bossa Nova.

BOSSA NOVA

Sonoma Court Shops 524 Broadway, Sonoma CA 707.343.1228 bossanovaclothing.com

MILVALI’S EXPERIENCED

ESTHETICIANS are addicted to Eminence Organic Skincare from Hungary. “We love using all natural and organically active Skincare! Personally I love it and in our facial room it’s outstanding!! It’s satisfying, shows results and smells heavenly!!” Come try it out or book a Custom Facial with us today.

MILVALI SALON San Francisco I Mill Valley, CA 415.409.1500 I 415.388.0988 milvali.com

THERE ARE NO LANGUAGE BARRIERS. ONLY A LOSS FOR WORDS.

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To learn about our latest offers, visit celebritycruises.com, call 800 CELEBRITY, or contact your travel agent.

©2017 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador.

the LOOK

ANOTHER AMAZING FIND from In Her Shoes in San Rafael. This statement piece is not only perfect for the season, but with the lovely detail and craftsmanship you expect from Ron White shoes, it’s comfortable enough to wear all summer long with both jeans and dresses.

IN HER SHOES MARIN

1344 4th Street, San Rafael, CA 415.306.7157 InHerShoesMarin.com

INDEPENDENT EYEWEAR 101: From organic materials to 100 year-old Kimono hand stitched to perfection. Exclusively made by independent eyewear designers. Whether you are new to eyewear, or a lifelong aficionado– Rims & Goggles of Marin has the most exciting eyewear the world has to offer.

RIMS & GOGGLES

606 Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, CA 415.383.9480 RIMSandGOGGLES.com

KLOZET, A WOMEN’S

BOUTIQUE brings elevated style to Sausalito and captures the flwy, free-spirited vibe of California and mixes it with international and local designers. The boutique is highly curated with designer denim and lines such as L’Agence, Iro, and Smythe.

KLOZET BOUTIQUE

30 Princess Street, Ste C, Sausalito, CA 415.331.5598 shopklozet.com

MEADOWLARK FINE JEWELRY. Faceted teal quartz, Dana Kellin, elongated briolettes are framed in 14 karat gold settings with delicate details for this stellar necklace and earring pairing. You’ll findan amazing selection of great designers come in and see us.

MEADOWLARK FINE JEWELRY Across from REI Corte Madera Town Center 415.924.2210 meadowlarkgalleries.com

When you find the right wealth manager, something magical happens. The clock turns back. Suddenly, you look, feel and act like a different person. Don’t stay stuck in a loveless relationship. Play the field. Learn what we have to offer — download our Practical Guide to Finding Happiness at www.privateocean.com/guide

Marin

CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND CAUSES OF THIS UNIQUE COUNTY

READING REWARDS

Outdoors unlocked for library members

BY KASIA PAWLOWSKA

ACCORDING TO THE American Library Association, 58 percent of adults in the United States have a library card — are you one of them? If so, chances are you already reap the many benefits this membership provides, and they’re even better now. The directors of the Marin County Free Library and Marin County Parks teamed up and created a program that allows library patrons to visit parks free of charge. At 10 MCFL branches and the traveling Bookmobile, library card holders can check out passes to McNears Beach in San Rafael, Paradise Beach in Tiburon, Miller boat launch in Tomales, Sta fford Lake Park in Novato and Black Point boat launch. The passes may also be placed on hold, making it a breeze to grab a book and head outside this spring. marinlibrary.org

WHAT’S IN A NAME

Marincello

Imagine an alternate reality that features a di fferent Marin, one that resembles Manhattan Beach. That almost came to be. With suburbs sprouting up throughout the United States in the 1960s, developers were eyeing any potential site for the next planned paradise. One of those developers was Thomas Frouge, who deemed the Marin Headlands “the most beautiful location in the United States for a new community.” With Gulf Oil, he purchased the 2,000 acres of land and made plans for Marincello. The community was set to include 50 apartment towers, hundreds of homes and townhouses, a mall and a hotel. Activists calling themselves the Golden Gate Headlands Committee unsuccessfully challenged the project and in November 1965 the County of Marin approved the Marincello plans. However, lawsuits and skyrocketing budgets led to disputes between Frouge and Gulf Oil. The turmoil gave three Sausalito lawyers a chance to sue Marin County, Frouge and Gulf Oil for improper zoning, which also exposed other inaccuracies in the plan. Eventually the court ruled against the Marincello project and Marin’s board of supervisors also rescinded support. Finally in 1972 the land was sold to the Nature Conservancy for $6.5 million and was transferred to the newly formed Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Four years later, the Marincello gates were torn down and removed. Currently, the only remaining trace of the community is a sign with a trail that follows the route where planned roads were graded. K.P.

SECURE YOUR SAVINGS

It starts with a phone call. Next, you’re frantically running to the bank, withdrawing funds, and transferring them to a forceful agent over the phone. It’s only after you hang up that you realize you’ve been bamboozled. This has been the reality for thousands of individuals across the country that have fallen for an ongoing fake-IRS scam. Late last year federal authorities arrested dozens of people across the country and abroad who have been linked to the fraud. These IRS impersonators have used fear-mongering tactics to swindle innocent people out of millions of dollars over the past few years. Here are five tips to help ensure your money stays where it should — with you. tigta.gov LEELA LINDNER

• The IRS will never call to demand immediate payment. Period. It will also never call about taxes owed without sending you a bill first.

• If you do owe taxes, you will always be given a chance to question or appeal the amount.

• Agents will never ask you to use a specific payment method like a prepaid debit or gift card.

• Agents won’t ask for your debit or credit card number over the phone.

• Agents will never threaten to send police or other law-enforcers to have you arrested.

ANNE T. KENT CALIFORNIA ROOM, MARIN COUNTY FREE LIBRARY (MARINCELLO HISTORICAL)

BRIDGING THE GAP FROM SERVICE TO SUCCESS

Buying or selling a home is a complex transaction—financially, practically, and often emotionally—and Mark Millstein has extensive experience helping clients navigate this process. His advice about what it takes to prepare a home for sale saves his clients from doing unnecessary work that won’t pay out. Mark’s deep understanding of a property’s physical condition is game changing; he takes pride in his ability to save his sellers and buyers both money and headaches down the road. Even beyond superior service, the key to selecting a broker is results, and Mark Millstein’s results are exceptional.

Mark A Millstein 415.601.9240 mark.millstein@sothebysrealty.com marinpremierhomes.com

COMIN’ IN HOT It’s no secret the hip-hop Broadway musical Hamilton is making its way to San Francisco this spring and summer. The Tony Award–winning sensation portraying the life of Alexander Hamilton, one of this nation’s founders (and the guy on the $10 bill) through rap music has been a hot ticket since its debut in July 2015. As seats went on sale this past December, tens of thousands of hopeful S.F. theatergoers logged in to a virtual queue, hoping to snag a coveted spot, while hundreds more lined up at the door of the Orpheum Theatre. Hours later, tickets were proclaimed sold out, leaving thousands with not much to sing about. Here are some historically big numbers. shnsf.com L.L.

BY THE NUMBERS

9 QUESTIONS FOR

Tod Brody

Executive Director

PETALUMA

Following a three-month national search to fill the position of executive director, the Marin Symphony Association found Tod Brody in its own backyard. A resident of Petaluma, Brody had been holding down a similar post at Opera Parallèle, a San Francisco contemporary opera company. In addition to his decade-and-a-half of administrative experience, Brody is no stranger to classical music on the stage itself, having been a professional flutist for most of his life and music lecturer at UC Davis. He’s excited to bring his energy and new ideas to Marin Symphony, our own 64-yearold regional symphony orchestra. MARC HERSHON

1Does the position of executive director for a symphony require a pretty specific skill set? There’s definitely a shortage of people who know how to run a symphony orchestra operation.

2

Before stepping into an administrative role, were you originally aiming at a career as a professional musician? Like so many of my kind, I had hoped to land a big orchestra job. It’s almost unbelievable how competitive it is. In the San Francisco Symphony there are four flute positions. My main teacher in college, an amazing guy named Paul Renzi, won the job as principal flutist when he was 18 years old and he retired some 60 years later. That’s an unusually long career but when people get one of those jobs, they tend to stay. The opportunities are very slight.

produced a large-scale outdoor concert called Waterfront Pops over at Waterfront Park. It was quite successful in terms of attracting a large audience. We’re looking to bring it back in 2017 bigger and better and to put it on sound footing so it can be a regular yearly event for us that will be successful.

7

So you decided to diversify your career interests? Out of economic necessity I developed some chops for running a business.

3

What are some of the ways that Marin Symphony connects to the community? We have strong, well-developed outreach and education programs. Those include our youth orchestra programs and a program called Adopt-A-School, where we have musicians visit a selection of schools on a regular basis. And then we also have both visiting and resident artists who come, spend time with us and go out into the community. Midori, the great violinist, came for five days at the end of January to do concerts with the Marin Symphony but mainly she came to go out into the schools and work with kids and to work with our youth orchestras.

4

How did you get the chance to marry your administrative skill with the world of music? The opportunity came up to run the American Composers Forum chapter, and I had that skill set. That’s really when I ended up becoming an arts administrator.

5

What is your role in terms of what programs the symphony is going to be producing? I work in partnership with Alasdair Neale, the musical director, to make the programs. There’s an overall structure: how many concerts can we do, when are they scheduled, and what other non-strictly classical events are we going to do. I think for him that’s one of the advantages of having a musician in this chair — we speak the same language. 6

Is there an example of some of the things you’ll be looking to change at Marin Symphony? For the last three years, until 2016, Marin Symphony

8

What is the major focus of your position? One of the main challenges of my job is to create fiscal sustainability for the organization. That’s all about developing and enhancing our donor base — finding people who are willing to support this organization and this mission with their dollars.

9

In terms of getting new people to give the symphony a try, what would you tell someone who hadn’t had much exposure to classical music in their life? First I’d say, “Don’t be scared — it will be over in a couple hours!” This is music that I’d say puts a much higher burden on the listener. It’s more challenging. It’s not familiar. So it’s really about taking that first plunge.m

MADE BY MARIN

Rough Linen

IF THE RIGHT idea and passion are present, training is secondary — at least, that was the case for San Rafael’s Tricia Rose, founder of Rough Linen. Inspired by a homespun pillow slip passed down from her Scottish grandmother, Rose decided to bring the handcrafted, elemental linens of yesteryear into the present day. She launched her company in 2009 with no formal design background. PHILOSOPHY “I started with one fabric and one product and made it exactly the way I wanted it to be,” Rose says. “Sheets were logical [as a starting point] and the company has been growing in a harmonious and logical way ever since.” Before linen was associated with luxury, flax was a staple domestic crop, and even small farms set aside a field of plants homemakers could harvest, spin and weave for their own use. The company draws on this tradition, and according to Rose, rustic or fi nely woven linen is the best fiber for the home. THE SCOOP Rough Linen offers bed, table and window linens, sewn in a small, recently expanded workroom in San Rafael. The entire team is female and well taken care of — each employee has a 401(k) and health benefits. BEYOND MARIN Rough Linen custom ers span the world: Australia, Ireland, England, Mexico, Canada and even Singapore. “Most business is on the East and West Coast, though,” says Rose. WHAT THEY SAY Linen’s luster, easy care, stability, strength, straight grain and texture are such that it doesn’t elicit many complaints, yet Rose appreciates feedback and stays very hands on. “I answer a lot of customer emails personally,” she says. “I want to keep in touch with what’s going on.” roughlinen.com KASIA PAWLOWSKA

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Richard Rubin

The new chairman of the Commonwealth Club went from fan to administrator.

BY MARC HERSHON • PHOTO BY LENNY GONZALEZ

THE NEWLY APPOINTED chair of the Commonwealth Club of California brings a wealth of political and public a ffairs experience to the 114-year-old San Francisco–based organization.

And that’s not the only change at the club. After more than a century of being a tenant, the Commonwealth Club is on the verge of moving into its own brand-new building in San Francisco. Strawberry’s Richard Rubin was recently named the chair of the nation’s oldest public a ffairs forum. Considering that he only served the club in an administrative capacity for two years before moving into the new position, one might think that Rubin is a little apprehensive. But when we sat down with him to talk about the club, as well as its past, present and future, we found a very

con fident and experienced man who is taking his duties very seriously, while ready to embrace the challenge of his chairmanship.

Before being appointed chair of the Commonwealth Club of California, you served as vice chair for two years. How long have you been involved in the administration of the club altogether? Only for those two years. I’ve been a participant and an avid follower of its activities for a long time. The appointment to vice chair is a two-year term, and it always proceeds a chairmanship. I had no idea at all that this was ever going to happen. And no expectations. I knew about the club. I liked the club. That had drawn my interest, so I joined a long time ago. But I had no idea that at one time I would be holding a gavel.

Where did your interest in politics and government come about? I’ve been involved in public a ffairs throughout my career in one manner or another, working for people in various levels of government. I was in Washington, D.C. for a long time — 10 years — working in a couple of senatorial offices, including for a fellow from California: John Tunney. I joined his staff n Washington years ago after I’d already served in an office of another senator, Harrison Williams, my fi rst boss and a Democrat from New Jersey, which was my native home state. Politics and government have not merely been vocational for me; they’ve become almost a hobby as well.

So politics, government and policy get discussed quite a bit at the Commonwealth Club

as a matter of course? They interact all the time. And we are an advocacy organization with a nonpartisan stance. We do not take sides ideologically. Our principal interest is in giving organizations and individuals a chance to talk about themselves and what they do. The basic thing for us is, how interesting are they going to be to the public? We want to shine a light on subject matter that’s relevant. And there is always going to be something that’s worth talking about. We facilitate those discussions as well as or better than most organizations in the country and have done it for longer than any in the country.

How many talks and other events does the club put on? We do 450 programs a year, about two-and-a-half per week on average, which is extraordinary. I don’t know another organization that puts on that many events. And they’re well attended. More than 70,000 people attend our events annually.

What might a fundraising project look like for the club? We are just in the process of completing a $28 million capital campaign, the fi rst ever in the history of the organization, to restore and move into a new building at 110 Embarcadero in San Francisco. This particular campaign is now approaching its closing chapter, and it was very much the work of the last chair, John Farmer. He and I came onto the board about the same time, and we put together an organizing committee that could identify individuals and organizations that wanted to be benefactors.

What was the story behind deciding to finally stop being a tenant after more than a century of paying rent? You may be familiar with the name Shirley Temple Black. Ambassador Black was one of my predecessors as president of the board. Her vision was to have a building of our own for the club someday and now, these many years later, she’s gone but her vision is coming true.

Are there other people you regard as truly key to the Commonwealth Club? One of the people I want to mention is Gloria Du ff y. She’s our president and CEO. She does a phenomenal job of running the organization. She’s been

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there through all of the major events that have occurred over the past 20 years. She is the chief manager for the organization.

She was really behind the effort spearheading the new building, right? Very much so. Gloria had been working on that well before I arrived, and we bought the building over five years ago when the plans were just beginning to be formulated for how it was going to be utilized. We had plenty of ideas, but none of them could come to fruition until we had bricks and mortar in place. Now we have that. Gloria has contributed immensely to the concepts that are going to underlie the building once it’s standing and open.

Is the club developing a healthy social media presence? Very much. We’re on podcasts — 1 million podcasts are downloaded annually. We broadcast through TV and radio stations. We do video productions of the speeches and talks given by our speakers, which can be seen live, as they’re speaking. In the past four years we’ve had 5 million video views.

How difficult is it for people to join the club?

Not at all. They can go online or they ca n fi ll out a little form and send it in. They can get on the telephone and talk to somebody. There are any number of ways they can sign up. We make it as easy as possible for them to do that.

You don’t need to be sponsored by a member like some organizations insist upon? No, you do not. It’s a wide-open membership opportunity. All you have to do is be interested in what we do and take advantage of it. There are di fferent levels of participation available to members. Those who want to come to programs and not get more involved can do so. They can pick the lectures they want to hear and, with 450 programs to choose from, that’s quite a smorgasbord. I have yet to meet anybody who’s come away and said, “Gee, that wasn’t worth it.”

What do you see as your major areas of focus as your run as chair starts to really take hold? In addition to the usual duties of conducting our meetings, formulating our agenda for the coming year in conjunction with Gloria Du ff y, expanding our network of donors, and

working closely with our committee chairs, I really am hoping to participate in offering strategic direction to meet our goals as one of the nation’s leading communication forums in a rapidly changing world.

How did you nurture your interest in politics? I studied political science when I went to college. I was fortunate enough to have a professor at Columbia University whose name was Richard Neustadt — he was a very famous professor at the time; he ran the John Kennedy Institute. He was one of my teachers in one

We want to shine a light on subject matter that’s relevant. And there is always going to be something that’s worth talking about.

of my foreign policy seminars, and a brilliant human being whom I miss today. He wrote a book in 1960 called Presidential Power. It’s a small book but very important. In it he talks very much about the limitations on the power of the president, whoever he may be and whatever party he may be in.

What do you think when you look at the world of politics today through that lens that Neustadt helped to temper? I’ve always been very interested in how, even in the worst of times in this country, things have a way of balancing themselves out when sensible people apply themselves to fi nding solutions. I can’t say that’s entirely the case today. I think we’ve gone astray. We have to bring dialogue back, civil dialogue. And that is one of the things that the Commonwealth Club prides itself on doing. Sponsoring civil dialogue.

Through the years, have there been favorite places where you and the family enjoyed hanging out in Marin? The Discovery Museum has always been very high on our list. For many years we never missed it. Now my grandchildren are being taken when they visit. They [my kids] always loved hiking in the woods and we did a lot of that. They have really flourished in Marin County. m

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Road Sharing

theIn the wake of increasing tension between drivers and riders, and more distracted driving, the best hope might be the next generation and a firm “howdy.”

BY AUSTIN MURPHY • ILLUSTRATIONS BY DAVE URBAN

The judge entered the courtroom; the jurors were seated.

“The people call James O’Connor,” intoned Kendra Rudolph, the prosecuting attorney.

It was a June morning in 2015 in Marin County Superior Court. O’Connor, a firefighter and paramedic with the Southern Marin Fire Protection District, was sworn in, then asked to recount the events of April 16, 2014. Working with an ambulance crew that day, he responded to a reported assault in Mill Valley, at the busy intersection of East Blithedale and Camino Alto.

There, they found Roman Laskowski, a 55-year-old carpenter, “leaning up against a concrete wall,” recalled O’Connor. “He was bleeding from a laceration on the bridge of his nose,” which appeared to be “deformed.”

“When you say his nose was deformed …,” asked Rudolph, nudging the witness to provide jurors with a more graphic description.

“It was pushed over to one side.”

Seated nearby in the courtroom, listening impassively, was Jeffrey Smock, the 41-year-old tech executive who’d rearranged Laskowski’s face for him. Handsomely tanned, impeccably groomed, Smock also bore the slightly ascetic aspect of a serious endurance athlete. Indeed, he’d been near the end of a three-hour ride when he was passed — much too closely — by a pickup truck. After clipping Smock with his side mirror, Laskowski kept going. (He later told O’Connor that he’d put away three beers with his lunch, several hours earlier.) While ensuing events remain in dispute, this much is not: after overtaking the truck, which was stopped at a

signi ficant miles on my mountain and road bikes. It is the exception rather than the rule, on my long road rides, when my safety is not endangered — at least once, often more than once — by a motorist pulling out or turning left in front of me or by passing too close. (On September 16, 2014 — five months after Laskowski buzzed Smock — California passed a law requiring drivers to stay three feet away from cyclists.)

Sometimes, the offending driver is oblivious — texting, daydreaming, reaching toward the cup holder for a skinny vanilla latte. And sometimes he or she is flat-out hostile, buzzing or cursing me out the window because, well who knows why? Maybe that person had a crappy day, or is a chronic misanthrope, or simply dislikes the idea of sharing the road with bicyclists. True confession: when I heard that a cyclist had punched out the driver of a pickup truck who’d clipped him with his mirror and then failed to stop, a small part of me applauded.

That was wrongheaded, I admit. Violence, unless practiced in self-defense, is never the answer. As Judge Simmons admonished Smock, “This was a vicious beating and Mr. Laskowski did not deserve it.”

What is the answer, then? We can continue to raise awareness that we have a right to be on the road, that in a country where automobile tra ffic and obesity are at all-time highs, bikes are part of the solution.

red light, Smock beat the 190-pound Laskowski senseless — despite giving away 25-or-so pounds to the contractor. Say what you will about Smock, the man punches well above his weight class.

This feat failed to make a good impression on the jury, which eventually convicted him of felony battery (Smock was found innocent of a more serious charge: assault likely to cause great bodily injury). Even with his lack of a criminal record and the fact that no weapons were involved, Judge Kelly Viera Simmons sentenced him to 90 days in the county jail. While far more lenient than the nine months the prosecutor sought, it was still a harsh toke for a man who’d already su ffered a great deal, according to Smock’s lawyer, Gerald Schwartzbach, who lamented, “He’s become a poster boy for everyone who hates bicyclists and resents rich people.”

I regarded Smock not so much as a poster boy but as a Rorschach test: what you think of him tells us something about where you come down on the matter of bikes vs. cars. Because this is an issue that hits close to home for me, I attended that trial for a couple of days. I ride a lot, running errands around town on a cruiser bike and logging

And we can look in the mirror. While I’m convinced that cyclists are, like King Lear, more sinned against than sinning, I also know I can do more to ride safely, obey tra ffic laws, and promote more goodwill between motorist and cyclist. I can stop extending one-finger salutes to drivers who tick me off . (Maybe just sort of shrug at them, as if to say, “really?” and hope they notice in their rearview mirror.) I can, in short, embrace the Spirit of Howdy, the warm ethos of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, the body governing high school mountain biking. That spirit calls upon team members to ride with courtesy and consideration — to obey posted signs and, upon encountering someone else on the trail, to “slow down enough so you can say hello, and they can say hello back,” in the words of NICA founder Matt Fritzinger. “Work to have a friendly interaction. Add to their day with kindness.”

“I know it sounds cheesy,” says Rob Reed, a co-head coach of the defending California state high school champion Drake Pirates mountain biking team, “but the ‘howdy’ thing really works. You’ll see an elderly woman walking her dog on the trail; here come what she’s thinking are some punk mountain bikers, and they all slow down, smile and say hello. I’m a skeptic but I’m telling you, it works every time.”

I’ve had similarly cordial encounters with riders from Branson, San Domenico, and two-time state champion Redwood, whose mountain biking team director, Julia

It is the exception rather than the rule, on my long road rides, when my safety is not endangered.

Violich, agrees that “a couple bad eggs can ruin it for all.” Every year, early in the mountain biking season, she drives home a message to team members. “I tell them they are ambassadors for their sport the second they throw their leg over the top tube They are now part of a larger community and their actions have a ripple effect throughout the sport.”

Around these parts, high school riders are made to understand that when they clip in and start grinding up Eldridge Grade or take on the technical challenges of the Tamarancho loop, they are standing on the shoulders of the pioneers whose advocacy earned the right to ride in Marin’s transcendent open spaces. Before joining their teams, high school riders must sign a form agreeing to follow rules that include riding safely, and on legal trails. Poaching illegal trails, warns the Pirates website, “puts all local mountain biking at risk. Riders caught riding illegal trails will immediately lose team riding privileges.”

How to transplant that sense of shared purpose and goodwill to the pavement? How to get that message to the adults? That is one of the central missions of Marin County Bicycle Coalition, whose executive director, Jim Elias, told me, “I cringe when riding with others and someone ignores the rules of the road. Because, fairly or unfairly, their behavior reflects on all of us. So it’s imperative that we conduct ourselves in a way that we’d be proud to put in front of our kids.”

MCBC’s programs include Safe Routes to School (which last year alone taught 9,000 elementary and middle-schoolers how to ride safely), Basic Street Skills classes (taught primarily to bikers who’ve been ticketed, in exchange for reduced citations), and Share the Path, developed to educate

Mill Valley–Sausalito Pathway users about riding at safe speeds and passing predictably.

We can wear stridently colored clothes and bedeck our bikes with blinking lights. We can slow down, ride defensively, use hand signals, smile brightly and dispense countless howdies. It won’t matter if the folks driving the cars don’t make a corresponding effort to start seeing bicycles, to get “woke” to the idea that they don’t own the roads.

And let’s not fall prey to false equivalence: operating a 20-pound bike like a jerk and operating a half-ton car like a jerk — these actions have very different consequences. “There’s no excuse for cyclists ignoring the rules of the road,” Elias says. “But when motorists do the same, it’s far more likely to end in tragedy.”

Dave Zabriskie emerged from a morphine-induced stupor in 2003 and saw a woman sitting beside his hospital bed. “She was sewing my nail beds back together,” recalls Zabriskie, a Tour de France stage winner and five-time U.S. National time trial champion. He’d been on a training ride in Utah, on a swift descent, when an SUV turned left in front of him. In addition to the multiple fractures he incurred in the collision, the fi ngernails in his left hand were torn out when “my fi ngers got stuck in the headlight.”

Zabriskie, who retired from bike racing in 2013, has endured “four or five” collisions with cars. He did not warm immediately to the question: what are our responsibilities, in the velo tribe, to foster more goodwill between cyclists and motorists?

“We’re so outnumbered,” he says. “It’s just really a hard fight to [wage]. Just stand on an overpass or at a red light someday and look around: everybody’s on their phone. The drivers of the cars are oblivious to other drivers,” he adds. His implication: good luck if you’re on a bike. “That’s why I’m pretty excited about these new self-driving cars.”

I laughed, but he was serious. “The beautiful thing about robot drivers is: one robot makes a mistake, and they all learn from it.”

Yes, it helps to conspicuously obey the rules of the road, he allows. But how much good is it really doing? “I’ll stop at a red light, and hope that some people at the intersection take note,” he says. “I’m only a ffecting a handful of drivers, but I guess it’s better than nothing.”

Of course it’s better than nothing! To increase the effect, deepen the goodwill, Dave Z might consider making eye contact with one or two of those drivers, then smiling and saying, “Howdy!” m

I tell them they are ambassadors for their sport the second they throw their leg over the top tube.

These plants naturally group together to form rich habitats. Discover what flourishes in your corner of the county.

BY CHARLOTTE TORGOVITSKY AND LAURA LOVETT • PHOTOS BY SAXON HOLT

PEOPLE COME TO THIS COUNTY from all over the world to stand in awe under the towering redwoods of Muir Woods, hike the trails along the seashore, and enjoy the views from the Marin Headlands. Many of us have chosen to live here for the same reasons. It’s a place where coyotes still sing at night, deer meander peacefully through woodlands, and red-tailed hawks float on thermals over urban landscapes.

We can credit volcanoes, earthquakes, ocean currents and seasonal winds for giving us a county of great natural diversity. Massive moving plates folded the earth into Mount Tamalpais and Bolinas Ridge, creating a fog barrier and surprising climate variations from west to east. The creation of the Point Reyes peninsula extended the county to the west, adding different soil compositions and further biological complexity. Mountains, cliffs, dunes, and ravines all provided microclimates, each sheltering a unique array of life.

In this bountiful county, there are almost 1,800 species of native plants, including 17 that grow nowhere else. Marin is home to three unique species of jewelflower, tiny plants with stalks bearing delicate purple, cupped blossoms. When walking the trails atop Ring Mountain, you may be lucky enough to spot the endemic and rare Tiburon mariposa lily in bloom. Point Reyes is home to two unique species of native lilac as well as a tiny chocolate-colored checker lily that survives on rocky slopes.

RIPARIAN

Pinkflowering currant

(RIBES SANGUINEUM)

These are not the heroes of Marin’s native plant world, however. That distinction belongs to the plants that anchor its soils, feed its pollinators and wild creatures, and create the landscapes that we all cherish. These plants have had millennia to adapt to the region’s local climate and soils, coevolving with insects, fungi and microbes to form complex networks of relationships that create the foundation of the region’s natural communities. If you look closely, you’ll notice that certain groups of plants tend to appear together wherever the climate, soil and temperature are suitable for them. These familiar groupings create distinctive habitats, each nourishing its own ecosystem of plants, insects and animals. In addition to evergreen forests, some of the predominant habitats in Marin include riparian, oak woodlands, chaparral and grasslands.

RIPARIAN The riparian community that flourishes wherever there are waterways is populated by plants that not only require somewhat regular water, but can survive inundation — some for as much as two months at a time. This habitat is rich with places of refuge and diverse resources for a multitude of visitors, many of which are temporary migrants. Here, willows, rushes and horsetails help anchor the streambed, while ferns, thimbleberry and sedges stabilize the banks and create tangles of vegetation.

Western azalea

(RHODODENDRON OCCIDENTALE)

A little farther from the stream banks, deciduous valley oaks and buckeyes and evergreen redwoods, bays and madrones help cool the waters in summer and allow more light in winter, both conditions vital to the creek’s life support systems. Natural sloping banks, fallen logs, and dense overhanging vegetation create dappled shade and resting places for salmon and steelhead. A walk along Devil’s Gulch to Stairstep Falls or from Cataract Creek to Cataract Falls will cross waterways where giant elk clover and huge chain ferns dominate the banks, creating the atmosphere of ancient forests. Mount Tam’s Rock Spring Trail leads to a meadow traversed by a stream along which fragrant native azaleas bloom in late spring. Thanks to the mountain, the county is crisscrossed with streams and riparian habitats, yours for the exploring.

Spring waterfall at Cataract Falls, Mount Tamalpais State Park.

OAK WOODLAND Most plant communities in Marin contain various species of native oaks, but an open-canopy oak woodland is a very distinctive plant habitat, rich with biodiversity and supporting more species than any other habitat type in the state. Oak woodlands primarily become established at lower elevations and in soils too dry to support a forest. Meadow grasses and wildflowers thrive along with oaks in more open sites. The show begins early in January with fragrant white milkmaids, followed soon by the golden glow of buttercups, until the blues of hound’s tongue and ground iris become predominant. Autumn brings a show of golds and reds as leaves turn color, coffeeberry and toyon bushes hang heavy with fruit, and clouds of creamy cotton-like flower pu ffs cover the stands of coyote brush.

An oak woodland is alive with life in all seasons. Mule deer browse the understory plants but depend on the acorn harvest for a major component of their fall diet. Acorn woodpeckers create stores of the oak nuts in communal granary trees and excavate nesting cavities that will be repurposed by other residents. As many as four thousand species of insects are associated with oaks, including the California Sister and Mournful Duskywing butter fl ies. Native bees collect oak pollen, and Anna’s hummingbirds forage for small insects among the growing tips. The best examples of true oak woodlands occur in Novato, with exceptionally beautiful walks along the Bahia Ridge Trail at Rush Creek Open Space Preserve. Here, deciduous blue oaks predominate but mingle with coast live oaks and magni ficent large old specimens of common manzanitas with deep red bark and gnarled limbs.

Hairy honeysuckle

(LONICERA HISPIDULA)

California buckeye tree

OAK WOODLAND

(AESCULUS CALIFORNICA)

Native oak trees backlit at sunset, Mount Burdell State Park .

CHAPARRAL

California wild lilac

Silver bush lupine

(LUPINUS ALBIFRONS)

CHAPARRAL At the sunnier edges of the woodland, California sagebrush, sticky monkey flower and California bee plant may be seen growing together. This same trio is also at home in the chaparral, a plant community prevalent throughout Marin, mostly on south-facing slopes with thin, rocky soils. Chaparral shrubs have evolved to thrive in the resulting nutrient-poor soil where other types of vegetation struggle. Many of the plants are evergreen and have thick, leathery or resinous leaves that enable them to survive the summer drought. Marin’s chaparral habitats are in good shape due to their dense growth on thin soils, two factors that make it hard for nonnative species to get a foothold.

From the chaparral community, we get two of Marin’s most iconic plants: wild lilac and manzanita. In bloom together on the slopes of Mount Tam, one intense royal blue and the other bright pink, they are showstoppers. All this display is not for our benefit, however, but to attract the early pollinators that depend on them for food and that, in turn, ensure the shrubs are pollinated. When the native lupines flower, mounds of purple spears top tall bushes in the Marin Headlands and yellow ones brighten the chaparral on the Point Reyes Seashore. The county’s native lupines are the only host plants for the larvae of the endangered Mission Blue butter fly.

GRASSLANDS Chaparral shrubs sometimes blend themselves into the edges of grasslands, one of the area’s most threatened habitats. The lack of rain all summer keeps the forest from encroaching; grasslands appear in areas that can’t support trees. Native meadows are often dominated by purple needlegrass, a plant that deserves far more respect than what it has seen through decades of plough blades and trampling cattle. Some clumps of this native bunchgrass are believed to be as much as 100 years old. One particularly beautiful meadow is situated at the top of Deer Island Preserve in

(CEANOTHUS)

Trail at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Novato where, in good rainfall years, thousands of mariposa lilies create a golden carpet among the grasses, while bulbs of purple Ithuriel’s spear light up the edges of the woodland canopy.

When winter rains green up protected meadows on Mount Tam and Mount Burdell, native treasures hidden during the dry season come to life as interwoven species of geophytes, perennials and annual wild flowers burst into a riot of color. The show starts with poppies, creamcups, and blue dicks in spring, then slowly segues to blue-eyed grass, yarrow, lupines and shooting stars, until late summer when soap lilies and tarweeds perfume the warm air. Many locals enjoy hiking during this time to witness a field of wild flowers, alive with pollinators intent on making the most of the floral bounty. At dusk, hawks, coyote and gray fox hunt for dinner, reducing the rodent population while fi lling their stomachs for the night.

Close to the coast, another type of grassland occurs at Chimney Rock overlooking Drakes Estero, where huge drifts of purple Douglas iris can be spotted. On your walk there, stop and look closely; there are more than 60 species of other wild flowers also growing on that exposed stretch of coast. Many dedicated nature-lovers make an annual trek to the serpentine outcrops on Mount Burdell, where the large, pink, cactus-like flowers of bitterroot almost smother the tiny plants when in bloom. Here also, sharp eyes can spot the purple-flowered stalks of western larkspur among the grasses.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of a group of far-sighted individuals, 75 percent of Marin County has been preserved as open space. To enjoy these habitats, we need only take one of the many trails throughout the county. So lace up your hiking shoes and head out the door — it’s time to see what beauties you can spot. m

Red ribbons

(CLARKIA CONCINNA)

Narrowleaf mule’s ears

(WYETHIA ANGUSTIFOLIA)

GRASSLANDS

Purple needlegrass, the state grass of California, at Mount Tamalpais State Park.

TFallinghrough theCrack

s“I CAN SEE YOU’RE EAGER TO MARK THAT FORM,” Adam says, taking a swift drag of his cigarette as he leads another volunteer and me down Bridgeway in Sausalito hours before dawn. “I know every single homeless person in this city; I could fi ll that whole thing out in three minutes.”

BY KASIA PAWLOWSKA ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN STAUFFER

The form in question is part of the Point-in-Time Count (PIT), a biennial event that attempts to account for all the homeless individuals nationwide. Taking place during the last 10 days of January, the count is required of all counties receiving federal funding allocated toward homelessness by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Carried out by Applied Survey Research, a social research firm that conducts impact evaluations and assessments, the count focuses on individuals or families with primary nighttime residences that are not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations for human beings. This criterion includes cars, parks, abandoned buildings, buses or train stations, airports, camping grounds and — something pretty unique to Marin — anchor-outs in Richardson Bay. After the tally, about 300 individuals, representing a broad spectrum of the population, complete an in-depth survey. When it comes to getting a snapshot of the current status of homelessness locally, this is the tool.

To help with the count, 15 volunteers gather at the Marin City Health and Wellness Center in Sausalito at 5 in the morning on January 27, carrying fl ashlights and wearing heavy jackets and athletic shoes. Similar groups of people also congregate in San Rafael and Novato. Before deployment — in order to get counters to the right spots — volunteers are paired up with guides who either currently are or have been homeless in the past.

A look at the state of homelessness in the county.

Adam, whose house for the past three years has been an anchor-out in Richardson Bay, is one of the guides present the morning of the count. Late 30s with an average build, he wears a fleece-lined bomber hat and jacket, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle socks and Italian leather brown lace-ups. “I go through a pair of these a week,” he says, gesturing at the shoes. “The things people get rid of around here are unbelievable.” There are many reasons people end up without a home. For Adam, who holds a college degree, comes from a well-to-do family and has a Facebook account, untreated mental illness played a role. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 18, he self-medicated with alcohol for the next 20 years of his life. That led to multiple public intoxication arrests, and it wasn’t until a few years ago that rehab and proper treatment fi nally got him straight. “Now I just take a pill once a day,” he says. The county covers the cost of his medication.

As we walk past Dunphy Park, Adam recounts tales of other homeless Sausalito residents. One has been a dancer and did a stint in pornography before pursuing painting. Skeptical, I later research this story and, astonishingly, it checks out. Yet despite the variety of stories, the 2015 PIT survey revealed an undeniable fact about Marin’s homeless population — 71 percent were residents of the county prior to losing their housing, and 39 percent of that group had lived here more than

10 years. In such a wealthy county, how is it possible that so many moved from housing stability to instability? A look at the di fferent stages of homelessness helps explain.

TRANSITIONALLY HOMELESS

People in this group make up 50 percent of Marin’s homeless population. These are people who have lost a job, had an unstable family situation, or got saddled with large hospital bills they were unable to pay, among other reasons. They generally go without a home anywhere between a month and a year. Robert* was recently utilizing the county’s Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (REST) program. Created to supplement the county’s shelter system, the REST program consists of about 40 local congregations that provide volunteers, meals, companionship and a place to sleep for up to 40 men and 20 women on a nightly basis when the weather is most severe — between November and April.

Robert shares his story over a REST dinner at St. Hilary’s Church in Tiburon. Already precariously housed, he was assaulted near the Canal Area of San Rafael, leaving his leg burned and him unable to work. While drug-free and mentally fit, Robert is divorced and his grown daughter lives out of state. Lacking a family support system, he has been relying on county services such as REST periodically until he gets well enough to work again.

EPISODICALLY HOMELESS

The second group comprises about 40 percent of the homeless population. Many of these people have been homeless for one to five years, though for some it has been far longer. Mental health issues and substance abuse often play a role, and while a lot of people in this group are functional and taking medication, they are struggling nonetheless.

With leading-man looks and a dazzling smile, Chase* also takes advantage of the REST program. After a tumultuous childhood that played out in his adult relationships, he eventually drank himself onto the streets: “I was involved in a toxic relationship that I didn’t realize was one when I became homeless,” he says, eyes downcast, muttering the fi nal words. “I know what kind of people to avoid now and am seeing a counselor; they’re trying to set me up with a job.” While his progress looks promising, it still may not immediately get him off the streets — 28 percent of Marin’s homeless population is employed in some capacity, according to the 2015 PIT survey. Aside from getting a job, Chase wants to rent an apartment, which in Marin can be a challenge for even the well-adjusted: in 2016 the county had the fourth highest level of income inequality in California, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and median home prices were hovering around $1 million.

CHRONICALLY HOMELESS

The remaining 10 percent of Marin’s homeless population, its smallest contingent, is often the most problematic and visible — the chronically homeless. Largely the public face of homelessness locally, these are chronic inebriates who have been on the streets for many years, using alcohol, methamphetamines, crack, heroin or other hard drugs, often to deal with mental health problems like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Many don’t realize they have a problem. Describing some of the anchor-outs, Adam likens their situation to The Hunger Games, with rival factions that include a group of tweakers who steal from other anchor-outs. “It’s a rough life out there,” he says. “I get by, keeping to myself, but it’s not for everyone.”

PREVENTION AND DIVERSION

helping struggling households maintain a stable living situation. This approach has been successful in Sonoma and Santa Clara counties. Shelter diversion programs find people housing outside the shelter system, providing services to stabilize their situation or help them move into permanent housing. With half the county’s homeless population in the transitional stage, bolstering these kinds of efforts means fewer people entering the shelter system or seeking help with other basic needs. Organizations like Ritter Center, Adopt A Family and County of Marin Health and Human Services aid individuals in these situations.

MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND DRUG COUNSELING SERVICES

As of the 2015 PIT survey, there were 66 homeless veterans in Marin. Unfortunately, for a large number of them, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders did not recognize post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a legitimate illness until 1980, leaving symptoms untreated for years and vets to their own devices.

The reality is that approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States — almost 44 million — suffer from mental illness in a given year. These are the reported numbers; they are likely higher. Destigmatizing mental health issues is integral to ending the problems that can lead to homelessness.

Operating under this principle, the County of Marin Health and Human Services, with its Meaningful Mental Health TV series, is aiming to increase public awareness on the subject and encouraging intervention before a crisis develops. Additionally, the city of San Rafael, which has the biggest homeless population in the county, created a Mental Health Resource Officer position in the police department to provide a specialized approach to those in need.

But you can’t talk about mental health issues and not discuss the role that drugs play. The war on drugs is widely seen as a loss, and an opioid epidemic is destroying communities across the country: when it comes to addiction, no one is immune. Instead of criminalizing addiction and funneling drug users to the streets and into prison, experts say, comprehensive rehab and recovery programs can get people the help they need. Providing drug-counseling and detox

services outside of the emergency room can be a lot more cost effective: detoxing at a hospital in Marin comes to about $2,000 per day, or about 10 times the cost of care for a night at a detox center such as Helen Vine, the only nonmedical detox center in the county.

HOUSING FIRST

Salt Lake City, Utah, is often pointed to as the city that cured homelessness, getting 91 percent of people offthe streets by providing them with housing. Utah discovered that like drug counseling, providing housing can actually save the public money.

Relying on emergency services is not cheap — the worst-offchronic inebriates cost Marin County $60,000 a year in emergency room visits, disturbance calls and use of other resources. Housing this same person would cost about half that and eliminate a lot of the stressful aspects of homelessness that exacerbate the existing conditions.

Of course, between Marin’s famed open spaces and NIMBYism, there is the issue of where to house individuals. “In order to enact large-scale change there needs to be cooperation on an executive level,” says San Rafael’s fi rst-ever director of homeless planning and outreach hired last year, Andrew Hening. “This includes partnerships between county services and businesses.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. What works for Utah may not work for Marin. Business owners and residents’ feelings on the issue run the gamut; many are both frustrated and concerned about the people lying on the street. Results from this year’s count will be available in May and should give a clearer picture of the current situation. But looking further out, what can be done to fix an ineffective system that’s allowing homelessness to happen?

The federal appointment of Ben Carson to head HUD and the planned dismantling of the A ffordable Care Act has many experts in the field worried. But Hening thinks much can be accomplished at the local level before the situation get truly dire: “Oftentimes in life, it’s a crisis that mobilizes us into action.” m

*Names have been changed to protect privacy.

Local Resources

These are just some of the many organizations helping to put an end to homelessness throughout the county. If you know someone in need of behavioral, recovery or social services, direct them to Marin Health and Human Services. marinhhs.org

Adopt A Family of Marin Adopt A Family prevents homelessness and provides stability for families in crisis with subsidies for rental assistance, security deposits, utility payments, food vouchers and auto repair. adoptafamily.org

Buckelew Programs Includes Marin’s only nonmedical detox center, Helen Vine, and Family Service Agency of Marin, which provides accessible mental health services to children, adults and families. buckelew.org

Homeward Bound of Marin Homeward Bound of Marin is the county’s primary provider of shelters and services for homeless families and individuals. hbofm.org

Ritter Center Each year Ritter Center assists more than 4,000 low-income and no-income individuals and families who are without a home or at risk of becoming homeless in Marin. rittercenter.org

St. Vincent de Paul Society The Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Marin provides essential services to meet the needs of the local homeless and working poor, including food, housing, crisis assistance and the REST program. vinnies.org

Sunny Hills Services The mission of Sunny Hills Services is to help vulnerable children, youth and their families use their strengths to develop healthy relationships and fulfilling lives. sunnyhillsservices.org

Warm Wishes Warm Wishes distributes backpacks stuffed with warm gloves, scarves, hats, wool socks and rain ponchos to homeless men, women and children living on the streets. warmwishes.org

Marin Magazine’s SEVENTH ANNUAL SUMMER CAMPS GUIDE

Day camps, overnight camps, arts camps and adventure camps. They all have one thing in common: they are filling up fast. Be sure to peruse the many great options in the following listings and make your plans soon — summer will be here before you know it. To find additional choices — searchable by town, price range and specialty — visit marinmagazine.com/camps.

SUMMER CAMP LISTINGS 2017

Day Camps

MARIN

142 Throckmorton, Mill Valley Theater, ages 8-18 415.383.9613 throckmortontheatre.org

2023Place Learning Studios, Corte Madera Academic, Arts, Music, ages 7-12 415.470.4821 2023place.org

Academy Deturk Performing Arts Workshops, San Rafael Theater, ages 8-16 415.456.4297 academy-deturk.com

Angel Island Day Camp, Tiburon General, Nature, Outdoor, ages 4-14 415.435.4355 theranchtoday.org

Art & Garden Day Camp, Tiburon Art, Garden, Outdoor, ages 4-14 415.435.4355 theranchtoday.org

Art Reactor, San Rafael Art, Technology, ages 12-18 415.948.5482 theartreactor.com

Audubon Summer Adventure Camp, Tiburon Nature, ages 4-17 415.388.2524 richardsonbay.audubon.org

Avid4 Adventure, Mill Valley Adventure, Nature, Sports, ages 4-13 800.977.9873 avid4.com

Azzi Basketball Camp, Mill Valley Sports, ages 8-14 415.426.9706 azzicamp.com

Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito Academic, Art, Science, ages 3-16 415.339.3927 baykidsmuseum.org

Belvedere Tennis Camp, Tiburon Sports, ages 4-8 415.435.4792 belvederetennisclub.com

Blaster Camp, Mill Valley Sports, ages 7-14 415.816.0529 nerfcamp.com

Bolinas Surf Camp, Bolinas Sports, ages 6+ 415.868.0264 surfbolina.com

Bombers Baseball Club, Kentfiel Sports, ages 8-13 415.464.3800 bombersbaseballclub.com

Branson Summer Session, Ross Sports, Academic, Art, Technology, ages 6-17 415.455.7171 branson.org

Camp and Teen Travel Consultants, San Rafael General, ages 7-16 415.258.0817 campandteenconsultants.com

Camp Create, Belvedere Art, Music, ages 6-11 415.435.4501 ststephenschurch.org

Camp Doodles, Mill Valley General, ages 3-15 415.388.4386 campdoodles.com

Camp EDMO, Larkspur Makers, Tech, Nature, Science, ages 4-13 415.282.6673 campedmo.org

Camp Funderblast, Mill Valley General, ages 4-11 415.843.1730 funderblast.com

Canon Kids Sports Camp, Fairfax Sports, ages 5-13 415.234.1056 maaquatics.com

Caren Horstmeyer Girls Basketball Camp, Larkspur Sports, ages 8-14 415.794.4311 horstmeyerhoops.com

CEC Makerspace, Novato Coding, Digital Media, Technology, ages 11-14 415.493.4678 cecmake.com

Champions Soccer Camp, Mill Valley Sports, ages 5-14 415.482.8813 championsoccercamp.com

dancing at marin dance theatre summer programs for 3-10 year olds

To search by town, age or specialty, visit marinmagazine.com/camps

Let’s Imagine: The ballet world is one of imagination, pantomime and fantasy. Today’s world is full of electronics (video games, text messages, and apps). In Marin Dance Theatre’s “Let’s Imagine” class, dancers will tap into their imagination skills. They will create an original story, then bring it to life through dance and fantasy. They will dance away from this class with new ways to move and an enhanced ability to express their imagination. For dancers age 3-4 and 5-6. This is a 4 class series.

Dance Arts Camps: Come dance, create, and make new friends in our one-week programs that include ballet, jazz/contemporary, crafts, creating your own choreography, and more! Each week will have a fun theme such as The Sea, The Forest, The Toyshop, and The Seasons. There will be a studio performance on the last day of class. For dancers age 5-7 and 7-10. These are one-week camps (M-F).

Students do not need to have prior ballet experience to participate, but they should be prepared for a lot of twirling, crafts and imaginative adventures!

Go to www.MDT.org for camp dates, times, fees and to print a registration form. For questions, please call Marin Dance Theatre at (415) 499-8891

Photo: Lawrence Luk Photography

SUMMER CAMP LISTINGS 2017

Children’s Cottage Co-Op, Larkspur Young Child, ages 2.5-5 415.461.0822 cccmarin.com

Coastal Camp at NatureBridge, Sausalito Nature, Outdoor, Science, ages 5-14 415.331.1548 coastalcamp.org

College of Marin Community Education, Kentfiel Sports, ages 5-13 415.485.9318 marin.edu

Corte Madera Montessori, Corte Madera Academic, ages Pre-K-K 415.927.0919 cortemaderamontessori.com

Cyber Garage, San Anselmo Technology, Academic, Makerspace, ages 5-12 415.785.7660 thecybergarage.com

Dance Palace Camp, Point Reyes Station Dance, ages 6-12 415.663.1075 dancepalace.org

Dance with Sherry Camp, San Rafael Dance, ages 4+ 415.499.1986 dancewithsherrystudio.com Danielle Rosa Music Jam Camp, San Rafael Music, ages 7+ 415.416.5935 musicjamcamp.com

Dauth Hobbies, San Anselmo General, ages 6-12 415.454.3087 marinhobby.com

Dave Fromer’s Annual Marin Soccer Camps, Mill Valley Sports, ages 5-14 415.383.0320 davefromersoccer.com

Davidson Clubhouse Program, San Rafael General, ages 6-12 415.485.3790 petaluma-marinbgc.org

Dominican Summer Sports Camps, San Rafael Sports, ages 7-12 415.482.3543 dominicansportscamps.com

Enriching U, Novato Art, Film, Science, Technology, ages 10-14 415.506.0282 enrichingu.com

Fantastical Adventures Day Camp, Tiburon General, Art, ages 4-14 415.435.4355 theranchtoday.org

Fashion Camp with Western Bonime, Larkspur Fashion, ages 8-18 415.887.8391 marinfashionacademy.com

Fast Forward Adventure Reporters Camp, San Rafael Writing, Film, Video, ages 11-18 415.272.3569 fastforwardweb.com

Golden Gate Learning Center, San Anselmo Academic, Art, Makers, ages 5-14 415.383.2283 goldengatetutoring.com

Higgins Summer Tennis Camps, Mill Valley Sports, ages 5-18 415.963.2549 higginstennis.com

Hola Panama, Mill Valley Language, Travel, ages 12-16 415.388.8408 hola-panama.com

Katia & Company, San Rafael Dance, Theater, ages 7-14 415.305.2153 katiaandcompany.com

Luis Quezada’s Soccer Camp, San Anselmo Sports, ages 5-15 415.302.6779 usasoccercamp.org

Marin Ballet, San Rafael Dance, ages 3-18 415.453.6705 marinballet.org

Marin Christian Academy Summer Day Camp, Novato General, Music, Religion, Art, ages 6-11, 415.892.5713 summercamp.visitmca.org

To search by town, age or specialty, visit marinmagazine.com/camps

Marin Dance Theatre, San Rafael Dance, ages 3-10 415.499.8891 mdt.org

Marin GreenPlay Camp, Mill Valley Adventure, Nature, ages 5-18 415.264.2828 maringreenplay.com

Marin Horizon Outdoor Adventures Camp, Mill Valley Cooking, Nature, Science, ages 3-15 415.388.8408 marinhorizon.org

Marin Idol Performance Camp, Mill Valley Music, Theater, ages 10+ 415.383.5395 chaikenmusic.com

Marin JCC Summer Camp, San Rafael General, Traditional, Specialty, ages 2.5-16 415.444.8055 marinjcc.org

Marin Primary and Middle School Summer Day Camp, Larkspur Young Child, ages 2-6 415.924.2608 mpms.org

Marin Rowing, Greenbrae Sports, ages 11-18 415.461.1431 marinrowing.org

Marin Shakespeare Company, San Rafael Theater, Tennis, Swimming, ages 5-18 415.499.4487 marinshakespeare.org

Marin Sports Academy - Wildcat Camp, Kentfiel Sports, ages 8-14 415.464.3800 wildcatcamp.org

Marin Theatre Company Summer Camp, Mill Valley Theater, ages 5-18 415.322.6026 marintheatre.org

Marin Treks Science Camp, Novato Science, Nature, ages 7-14 415.250.0988 marintreks.com

Marine Mammal Center’s Camp Sea Quest, Sausalito Nature, Science, ages 3-13 415.289.7367 marinemammalcenter.org

Marinwood Camp, San Rafael General, ages 3-13 415.479.0775 marinwood.org

Mark Day School, San Rafael Arts, Chinese, Sports, Technology, ages 6-15 415.472.8000 markdayschool.org

Masterworks Summer Art Camps, Corte Madera Academic, Art, ages 6-14 415.945.7945 masterworkskidsart.com

Mathnasium, Mill Valley Academic, ages 5-14 415.384.8272 mathnasium.com

Mega Gymnastics, San Rafael Gymnastics, ages 5+ 415.257.6342 megagymnastics.com

Mill Valley Potter’s Studio Summer Camp, Mill Valley Art, ages 7-10 415.888.8906 millvalleypottersstudio.com

Mill Valley Recreation Summer Camps, Mill Valley Arts, General, Sports, ages 3-14 415.383.1370 cityofmillvalley.org

Miracle Girls Camp, Fairfax Yoga, Art, Nature, ages 7-12 707.472.8256 sarahschaaf5.wixsite.com/ miraclegirlscamp

Miwok Livery Summer Camps, Mill Valley Horse, ages 7+ 415.383.8048 miwokstables.com

Morning Star Farm Horse Camps, Novato Horse, ages 8-15 415.897.1633 morningstarfarm.info

Mt Tam Bikes Camp, Mill Valley Sports, ages 8-14 415.377.9075 mttambikescamp.com

Multi Sport Kids Camp, Larkspur Sports, ages 5-15 415.924.6226 mttamrc.com

Musical Theatre Camp, San Anselmo Theater, ages 8-18 415.453.0199 marilynizdebskiproductions.com

MV Code Camps, Mill Valley Academic, Coding, Technology, ages 7-14 415.569.2112 mvcodeclub.com

NatureBridge Coastal Camp, Sausalito Nature, ages 5-15 415.332.5771 naturebridge.org

Ninja Camps, Corte Madera Sports, ages 4-16 415.927.0899 practicalmartialarts.net

No Limits Sports Camp, Corte Madera Sports, ages 5-12 415.717.6925 nolimitssportscamp.com

O’Sullivan Soccer Academy, Fairfax Sports, ages 5-16 415.497.8164 osullivansocceracademy.com

Otis Guy Mt Bike Camp, Fairfax Sports, ages 7-13 415.250.2585 otisguymountainbikecamp.com

Own The Mic, Novato Music, ages 11-18 415.218.7688 ownthemic.org

Performing Arts Academy of Marin, Mill Valley Dance, Theater, ages 4-18 415.380.0887 paamarin.com

Piano Band Camp!, Mill Valley Music, ages 10+ 415.383.5395 chaikenmusic.com

Pine Point Cooking School, Sausalito Cooking, ages 9-17 415.332.4352 pinepointcooking.com

Play-Well Engineering

FUNdamentals, San Anselmo Science, Technology, ages 5-12 415.460.5210 play-well.org

Point Reyes Summer Camp, Point Reyes National Seashore Adventure, Nature, Science, ages 7-17 415.663.1200 ptreyes.org

Pyramid Gymnastics, San Rafael Gymnastics, ages 3.5-18 415.927.1240 thepyramidgym.com

Roco Dance, Mill Valley Dance, ages 7-18 415.388.6786 rocodance.com

Rolling Hills Club, Novato Sports, ages 3-14 415.897.2185 rollinghillsclub.com

SUMMER CAMP LISTINGS 2017

Ross Academy Montessori School, Mill Valley General, ages 2-5 415.383.5777 rossacademymontessori.com

Ross Recreation, Ross Academic, General, ages 3-15 415.453.6020 rossrecreation.org

Sage Educators, Mill Valley Academic, ages 8-18 415.388.7243 sageeducators.com

Sail Camp, Sausalito Sports, ages 8-16 415.775.8779 sailsea.org

San Anselmo Recreation Department Camps, San Anselmo General, ages 3+ 415.258.4640 townofsananselmo.org

San Anselmo Tennis Camp, San Anselmo Sports, ages 7-14 415.258.4640 tennisinmarin.com

San Domenico School, San Anselmo Art, General, Sports, Theater, ages 5+ 415.258.1900 sandomenico.org

San Francisco Yacht Club (SFYC Youth Sailing), Belvedere Sports, ages 7-16 415.435.9133 sfyc.org

Scuba Camp, Novato Sports, ages 8+ 415.897.9962 pinnaclesdive.com

Sea Trek Kayak Camp, Sausalito Sports, ages 9-15 415.332.8494 seatrek.com

Slide Ranch Summer Day Camps, Muir Beach General, Nature, Animal, Cooking, ages 5-18 415.381.6155 slideranch.org

Spaulding Wooden Boat Center, Sausalito Arts, Nature, Science, ages 12-18 415.332.3721 spauldingcenter.org

SRD Athletic X Training Camps, Mill Valley Sports, ages 8-17 415.383.6494 apm.activecommunities.com

SRD Camp Strawberry, Mill Valley General, ages 4-15 415.383.6494 strawberry.marin.org

Steve and Kate’s Camp, Sausalito General, ages 4-13 415.389.5437 steveandkatescamp.com

Studio 4 Art, Mill Valley Art, ages 3-6 415.596.5546 studio4art.net

Studio 4 Art, Novato Art, ages 4-16 415.596.5546 studio4art.net

Summer Day Camp - San Geronimo Valley Community Center, San Geronimo General, ages 5-10 415.488.8888 sgvcc.org

Summer Odyssey at Dominican, San Rafael Academic, Creative, ages 7-15 415.485.3255 dominican.edu

Summer Playground - Town Park Location, Corte Madera General, ages 5-12 415.927.5072 ci.corte-madera.ca.us

Summer Sailing Program, Sausalito Sports, ages 6-18 415.332.7400 sausalitoyachtclub.org

Summer Sing with Singers Marin, Mill Valley Music, ages 6-13 415.383.3712 singersmarin.org

SummerAde, Corte Madera Special Needs, Counselors, ages 5-18 415.381.3255 summerade.org

Super Summer Adventure Camp, San Anselmo General, Academic, Art, ages 5-9 415.453.3181 supersummeradventurecamp.org

SUMMER CAMP LISTINGS 2017

Tennis and Swim Camp, San Rafael Sports, ages 5-12 415.456.2700 marinyachtclub.com

The Image Flow, Mill Valley Arts, Digital Media, Photography, ages 11-19 415.388.3569 theimageflw.com

ThinkMarin, Corte Madera Academic, ages 9-18 415.461.2454 thinkmarin.net

Tiburon Adventure Camp, Tiburon Adventure, Art, ages 2-8 415.435.4366 tiburonadventurecamp.org

Tiburon Yacht Club (TYC Junior Sailing), Tiburon Sports, ages 8-13 415.789.9294 tyc.org

Trackers Camps, Novato Adventure, Outdoor Education, ages 4-16 510.575.9444 trackersbay.com

Trapeze & Dance Camps, Fairfax Dance, ages 6-18 415.755.3775 soullovesthebody.com

Tutu School, Larkspur Dance, ages 3-8 415.419.5610 tutuschool.com

Walker Creek Music Camp, Marshall Music, All ages 415.663.6030 walkercreekmusiccamp.org

Walker Creek Ranch, Petaluma General, Nature, ages 9-14 415.491.6600 walkercreekranch.org

West America Tae Kwon Do, Mill Valley Sports, ages 4+ 415.383.4755 westamericatkd.com

WildCare Summer Nature Camp, San Rafael Animal, Nature, ages 3.5-12 415.456.7283 wildcarebayarea.org

Willow Tree Stables Riding Lessons, Novato Horse, All ages 415.897.8212 willowtreestables.com

Y Camp at Devil’s Gulch Ranch, Nicasio Nature, ages 6-14 415.662.1099 ymcasf.org

Y Camp at Indian Valley Campus (IVC), San Rafael General, Sports, ages 5-14 415.492.9622 ymcasf.org

Youth Tennis Programs, San Rafael Sports, ages 4+ 415.456.1837 rafaelracquetclub.com

GREATER BAY AREA

Camp Unalayee, Palo Alto Adventure, Nature, ages 10-17 650.969.6313 unalayee-summer-camp.com

COOK! Culinary Programs, Emeryville Cooking, ages 8-18 510.594.1104 pauldingandco.com

Dickson Ranch Horse Activity Camp, Woodacre Horse, ages 7-14 415.488.0454 dicksonranch.net

embARC Summer Design Academy, Berkeley Academic, ages 16-18 510.643.1188 ced.berkeley.edu

SAN FRANCISCO

Sterne School, San Francisco Academic, ages 9-18 415.922.6081 sterneschool.org

House of Air, San Francisco Gymnastics, Specialty, Sports, ages 7-12 415.345.9675 www.houseofair.com

TAHOE

Birkholm’s Water Ski School, South Lake Tahoe Sports, All ages 530.573.1928 birkholmswatersports.com

To search by town, age or specialty, visit marinmagazine.com/camps

SUMMER CAMP LISTINGS 2017

Lake Tahoe Sitters, Lake Tahoe General, ages 0-14 530.545.1217 laketahoesitters.com

Tahoe Summer Camps - Tahoe Expedition Academy, Kings Beach Art, Music, Outdoor, Technology, ages 4-14 530.546.5253 tahoesummercamps.com

Wolf Pack Sports camps, Reno Sports, ages 5-18 775.784.4046 unr.edu

Overnight Camps MARIN

Call of the Sea - Voyage Seaward, Sausalito Adventure, Science, Nature, ages 12-17 415.331.3214 callofthesea.org

GREATER BAY AREA

Camp Chrysalis, Berkeley General, ages 8-17 510.843.6157 campchrysalis.com

Gold Arrow Camp, Lakeshore General, ages 6-14 800.554.2267 goldarrowcamp.com

Marin County 4-H, Angwin General, ages 9-19 707.996.0354 cemarin.ucanr.edu

Plantation Farm Camp, Cazadero General, Nature, Family, ages 8-15 707.847.3494 plantationcamp.com

River Way Ranch Camp, Sanger Adventure, ages 7-17 800.821.2801 riverwayranchcamp.com

Walton’s Grizzly Lodge Summer Camps, Portola General, ages 7-14 530.832.4834 grizzlylodge.com

Wonder Valley Family Camp, Sanger General, Family, All ages 800.821.2801 riverwayranchcamp.com

TAHOE

American Dance Training Camps’ Ultimate Sierra Mountains Dance Camp, Squaw Valley Dance, ages 8-17 415.666.2312 americandancetrainingcamp.com

Camp Concord, South Lake Tahoe General, All ages 925.671.2267 campconcord.org

Camp Lotsafun, Reno Special Needs, ages 7+ 775.827.3866 camplotsafun.com

Camp Noel Porter, Tahoe City Religious, ages 6-18 916.985.2495 campnoelporter.org

Camp Wasiu II, Reno Girl Scouts, ages 5-17 775.322.0642 gssn.org

Echo Lake Youth Camp, Echo Lake General, ages 7-15 510.981.5140 ci.berkeley.ca.us

Lake Tahoe Music Camp, Stateline Music, ages 10-18 800.233.8928 unr.edu

Lake Tahoe Nike Tennis Camps Granlibakken Resort, Tahoe City Sports, ages 10-18 800.645.3226 ussportscamps.com

Shaffe’s High Sierra Summer Camp, Sattley General, Adventure, ages 8-17 866.597.6617 highsierracamp.com

Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) Youth Backcountry Camp & Backcountry Camp Squared, Stateline Sports, Nature, Adventure, ages 11-17 775.298.4485 tahoerimtrail.org m

To search by town, age or specialty, visit marinmagazine.com/camps

ALWAYS SERENE, NEVER TAME.

Close to home but a world away from the everyday, the iconic Mauna Kea Beach Hotel invites you to experience true relaxation or dive into adventure. It’s all waiting for you here on beautiful Kauna‘oa Bay.

Make your Mauna Kea moment now at OnlyMaunaKea.com or by calling 866.977.4589.

JACK WOLFORD

Destinations

THE LATEST LOCAL TRAVEL DEALS AND GETAWAYS PLUS JOURNEYS AROUND THE GLOBE

THE BIG 5-0

EDITED BY MIMI TOWLE

state.

OAHU

TURNING 50 WASN’T a big deal for me, as I was more focused on getting my daughter ready for college. Even so, I knew I wanted to plan something just for me with a few girlfriends. This trip would be about doing what we love: sur fing, dancing and dining with good friends. The Outrigger Reef was an obvious choice. I grew up in a large family in the Bay Area and especially enjoyed time with my grandmother, Margie. She loved the beach and Hawaii in particular. Every year Margie would take one or two cousins to Waikiki to stay at her favorite hotel, Outrigger Waikiki. When it came time to plan my 50th, I asked a couple of friends to join me in a whirlwind weekend. Once we booked the rooms, we worked with the concierge to create the

celebration. I was serenaded by two of the most famous musicians in the state (they both play at the hotel) and met and had a surf lesson from former pro surfer Tony Muniz, whose sons have also become pros. We love to stand-up paddle here in Marin, and in Waikiki we took boards far offshore, where we jumped into the ocean to cool off. Highlights included a show at Blue Note, which felt like a little slice of Vegas but had better food than I remembered. Because of the time difference, we were up before dawn and walked the entire length of the beach every morning. We were only there three days and two nights, but we started the party on the flight over. On a tip from the concierge, we paid a little extra to be part of the Voyager Club 47, which gave us access to a nice outdoor patio for breakfast and a happy hour — it was totally worth it. KRISTEN

ADDICKS

Toasting on the eighth floor of the Outriggier Reef with a view of Diamond Head.

Follow four Marinites who chose to take their party to Hawaii, our 50th

• Outrigger Reef The Outrigger Hawaii

“5-0 Celebration” room package includes a deluxe three-night oceanfront suite, private VIP transportation to and from the airport, in-suite sunset champagne celebration with appetizers for up to 10 people at an Outrigger restaurant, and access to the Voyager 47 Club Lounge ($50 value, per person). Packages start at $2,500. outrigger.com

• Four Seasons Ko Olina Appropriate for a big birthday, the “wahine getaway” package includes a n ocean-view suite, access to a pool cabana, a spa treatment, and/or activities i ncluding outrigger canoeing, hiking, SUPing and more. Rates start at $645. fourseasons.com/oahu

• Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa

The “Suites Set Sail”  is ideal for celebrating a milestone birthday in style. The presidential suite overlooking Kalakaua Avenue, on the 40th floor, features six lanais, a gourmet kitchen and elegant dining room. The package features two nights, as well as a private sunset yacht cruise and round-trip transportation in a private Bentley from the resort to the yacht launching site, all starting at $5,600 per night. hyatt/waikiki.com

• Royal Hawaiian For your birthday take advantage of the Royal Hawaiian’s “90th Anniversary” package, which includes three

nights (minimum), commemorative swag and a $90 resort credit to be used for dining, pool cabana or spa. Plan ahead and pair this adventure with one of four two-day epicurean events for the ultimate beach foodie experience. Rates start at $430 per night. royalhawaiian.com

• The Kahala Resort This iconic resort is the go-to destination when you want to be near Waikiki, but not in Waikiki. The “Celebration” package includes a daily breakfast bu ffet for two ($96 value), $100 resort credit and all of the regular amenities, as well as a 45-minute beach portrait session, are included. Rates start at $475 per night. kahalaresort.com

• Hilton Hawaiian Village The resort is encouraging visitors to have their own “Hawaii Five-O” experience with a new five-night package in an ocean-view or highercategory room, which includes a $50 dining credit at Tropics Bar & Grill and two signature Hawaii Five-0 cocktails. Starting at $300 per night. hiltonhawaiianvillage.com

• Coconut Waikiki Recently refreshed by award-winning Sa n Francisco–based designer A nthony Laurino, this familyfriendly offering is a vetted value spot in Waikiki. The “Kids Rule” package includes an island-themed art contest, as well as choice of a visit to the Discovery Children’s Museum or a ukulele, lei-making or sur fi ng lesson, all

starting at $908 for a four-night-minimum stay. coconutwaikikihotel.com

• likai Hotel and Luxury Suites Fans of Hawaii Five-O can celebrate the big 5-0 at the Ilikai Hotel (pictured in every opening scene of the famous TV show). The waterfront property is offering a 10 percent discount for those who have ID verifying they are 50 or older upon check-in. Rates start at $219 per night. illikaihotel.com

• The Lotus Honolulu Hotel For a budgetfriendly option wit h a fitness twist, this 50-room property offers guests sunrise yoga classes, unlimited beach cruiser use or a private workout session. In addition, a daily wine reception in the lobby makes for a free daily birthday happy hour. Rates start at $197 per night. lotushonoluluhotel.com

• Turtle Bay Resort Looking for a surf safari? The “Hans Hedemann Surf and Stay” package includes unlimited board rentals daily for guests at the newly renovated North Shore favorite. Rates start at $299 per night. turtlebayresort.com

HAWAII ISLAND

WHEN IT CAME to planning my 50th birthday, I knew I wanted to return to the place I was born. I’m sure if I was born in Fresno, this would not have been as

Surfing Waikiki and enjoying the live music featured every Sunday at Outrigger Waikiki.

much of a reason to travel. Most of all, I wanted to share my old stomping grounds with my friends and family. The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was the backdrop to much of my childhood, and when I saw its fall specials, I jumped on the opportunity to go. The itinerary unfolded naturally: we would summit Mauna Kea, swim with dolphins at Kealakekua bay, get massages from Autumn Johnson (an amazing therapist based in Kona), listen to live music at Lava Lava Beach Club, plant Koa Legacy trees near Waipio Valley and spend hours sifting the sun-bleached white sand through our toes. To say Kaunaoa, the beach fronting Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, is special is like saying Stephen Curry is a decent basketball player. Kaunaoa Bay has long gotten the vote for having the islands’ most beautiful beach in publications around the planet. For me it feels like home. Forty years ago, my grandmother and I would swog (swim jog) the beach to earn our lunch. This trip I did that with my friends and even made a few new ones — a new friend is taking the practice home to Canada and promises to send photos. The long weekend

exceeded expectations, as our corner suite provided entertaining space as well as a place for Autumn to set up shop. My husband planned a beautiful dinner, where he read letters from relatives, and Danny Akaka (this was a big deal!) sang happy birthday to me. We did swim with dolphins in South Kona and had amazing poke bowls on the way back to the hotel. The only thing we didn’t accomplish was the Mauna Kea summit. It turns out my friends didn’t consider a hike through snow at 13,803 feet part of an ideal weekend on the Big Island. Not a problem; I’ll save that one for my 60th. MIMI TOWLE

• The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel The hotel opened in 1965 and has hosted many family events and milestone moments. The big news here is the new view decks, a renovated Manta restaurant and new Discovery Center. The “Family Plan,” ideal for milestone celebrations, includes a golf vista guest room with a large furnished balcony, breakfast for two ($70 value) and rental car for the day, all starting at $575. maunakeabeachhotel.com

• Four Seasons Hualalai Arrange a “Barefoot Dinner” with 22 of your closest friends and family. Enjoy a family-style customized meal on the beach, cooked tableside, for $150 per person (including wine pairings). Combine this with the “Experience More” package and receive up to $200 resort credit per night. Rates start at $735 per night. fourseasons.com/hualalai

• Puakea Ranch Staff t this award-winning intimate estate will create a package just for you and yours, whether that means close girlfriends or family. Enjoy horseback riding, massage, a painting class, and a private chef or just a kitchen stocked with delicious treats from local purveyors. Stay in historic

bungalows with access to hiking and swimming. A full buyout of the property is available, accommodating up to 20 guests (four cottages) for a private birthday getaway starting at $7,600. puakearanch.com

• Holualoa Inn Celebrate your big birthday in the heart of the Kona coffee belt on the slopes of Hualalai. Combine your stay with one of many adventure options, including evening snorkeling with manta rays, a helicopter trip to Kona coffee country, or a tour of the volcano. Buy out the entire inn (four guest rooms, two suites and one historic cottage) starting at $4,190. holualoainn.com

• Kalaekilohana Inn and Retreat Looking to go beyond the resorts? This four-room property makes a great centrally located destination between Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park. Up to eight guests can schedule a day at each park, a hike out to the Papakolea green-sand beach, or a visit to the nearby Kahuku area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, all starting at $972 for the group. kau-hawaii.com

MAUI

LAURA AND I have been together a long time, and as Joe Walsh once sang, life’s been good to us so far. When it came time to figure out where we would celebrate her 50th, we didn’t have to think too hard: the Manele Bay Hotel on Lanai [in Maui county, a short boat ride away]. Our first unofficial date was on her 15th birthday at Ciao, her dad’s restaurant in San Francisco, and a quick 35 years later we were hardly the near-strangers to each other we had been back then. The island of Lanai and this particular resort weren’t new to us either — we’d returned every year since we fell in love with the place on our honeymoon in 1993. We didn’t know what to expect from the new Manele Bay Hotel, now officially the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, which had been closed for renovations for quite some time after Larry Ellison bought it. We hoped that it would be as peaceful and beautiful as ever and that longtime sta ffers who had grown to be friends, like Josh at the beach and Gerald at the pool, would still be there. Once we arrived at the property I heaved an immediate sigh of relief — there were a bunch of nice physical changes, like the new adults-only serenity pool and the handsome,

From top: Kaunaoa Bay at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel; enjoying poke at Umeke’s after swimming with dolphins.

super-smart rooms, but there were also many warm and familiar faces at every turn. Things were spiffier, which was nice, but thankfully the island’s heart and soul — its peace, beauty and people — remained unchanged. We can’t wait to return. STEVE AND LAURA REINERTSEN

• Four Seasons Resort Lanai The news here is the opening of the exclusive Four Seasons Lounge at the Honolulu Airport and the expanded on-site Hawanawana Spa. The “Love Lanai” package includes a 60-minute spa treatment, access to championship golf, Polaris off-road adventures, horseback riding, snorkel sail and more, all starting at $1,375. fourseasons.com/lanai

• Fairmont Kea Lani The newly renovated luxury beach villas are ideal for a group celebration. Choose from two- or three-bedroom villas featuring a f ull gourmet kitchen with dining space for six, two master bedrooms, and a private furnished courtyard with plunge pool and barbecue grill. Packages include luxury oceanfront or ocean-view villa accommodations and a bu ffet breakfast for four or six people in Kea Lani Restaurant, all starting at $1,675. fairmont.com

• The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas Take advantage of the introductory offer from Kaanapali’s newest property. The “Discover Nanea” package includes a complimentary activity as well as a $250 resort and spa

treatment credit. Four nights (minimum) start at $779. westinvillas.com

• Kaanapali Alii This beachfront property is one of the value spots on the island. Book a Kaanapali Alii condo with a den and you get the privacy of a master bedroom and fully enclosed den, which sleeps two additional guests at no charge. Rates start at $600 per night. kaanapalialii.com

KAUAI

EVER SINCE MY parents brought our family to Hanalei for a week when I was in middle school, Kauai has been our family’s go-to destination. For my 50th birthday, my family of four and my sister’s family of five all stayed together at the Westin in Princeville and then it was off o the Hyatt for three nights in Poipu. The kids ranged in age from 7 to 20, and I would describe the adults as athletic foodies. Usually we rent a house, but this time we wanted to be in a hotel where someone else would come in and clean our rooms daily and we would have access to a multitude of activities. I made a list of what we had to do, which included at least one dinner at Dolphin in Hanalei, hike the first part of the Kalalau trail on the Na Pali coast, surf and SUP in Hanalei Bay, and try new restaurants. We did all this and more. We hadn’t stayed in Poipu for a few years and loved the new food options. We ended up having breakfast at Living Foods in the Kukuiula shops a few times. We had one sushi dinner at Stevenson’s at the Hyatt, made it to Sheraton’s Rum Fire to sample the goods from chef Michael Young (we saw him on the television show Cutthroat Kitchen last year) and were thrilled to finally try Eating House

1849, Roy Yamaguchi’s latest. All exceeded expectations. As a special treat and nod to my next 50, my wife made appointments for all the adults to experience the new flotation pods at the Hyatt spa. She said it was to give us all an hour to meditate on milestone birthdays. This might have been a highlight, but it’s hard to choose just one. On the way home, my daughter declared that for the next big family event we’d be doing the same things at the same exact places — I’d say it was a success. TIM JONES

• Kauai Marriott Create your own outdoor adventure at Kauai Marriott Resort on Kalapaki Bay with the “Experience Kauai Outdoors” package, which includes accommodations and four activity vouchers including a zip line adventure, three-hour ATV tour, Na Pali snorkel sail or a backcountry tubing adventure. Rates start at $374 per night. kauaimarriott.com

• The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas Nestled 200 feet above the Kauai coastline, the Westin is offering a “Stay Connected” package. Book a deluxe island-view one-bedroom villa (including a fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette, full-size refrigerator, washer/ dryers and access to barbecue grills) at full price and get a connecting studio villa with bedding for up to eight people, all starting at $648 per night. westinprinceville.com

• Koloa Landing After completing a $100 million expansion and joining the Autograph Collection by Marriott, Koloa Landing can boast the largest accommodations on the island. And to help you celebrate your milestone stay, the resort is offering a $100 resort credit if you mention that it’s your 50th birthday upon check-in. Rates start at $220 per night. koloalandingresort.com m

Clockwise from top left: Laura and Steve Reinertsen enjoying a Four Seasons Resort lanai; the new villas at Fairmont Kea Lani; the pier at Hanalei Bay on Kauai is a popular destination.

The Grandest Temple

Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, Yosemite can change your life. Here’s where to go in 2017. BY

PETER FISH

MY SON, JOE, is the perfect kid: smart, funny, and so relentlessly health-minded that when I want to eat a peanut butter cup I have to do it in the closet, in the dark. Still, a couple of years ago he was mired in that early teen stage where nothing impressed him. Certainly not his father. And not anything else, because being impressed would not be cool.

So I took him to Yosemite. I figured that if any place in the world might knock the cool out of him, it would be the park John Muir called “the grandest of all the special temples of Nature.” Ou r fi rst day there, we took the bus from Yosemite Valley up to Glacier Point, then hiked the cli ff-clinging trail back down.

As we trudged down the switchbacks Joe was, initially, scared. He’d never been anyplace where in theory one could stumble on the trail and fall 1,000 feet. Then he forgot to be scared. He was too busy being awed. So awed that he let me take a picture of him with my iPhone — not, believe me, something he normally agreed to — with the valley luminous behind him.

That’s Yosemite. For well over a century, it’s dispensed guaranteed grandeur to millions of visitors — even hard-to-impress teens. Its magic demands strategy, however. With 1,169 square miles and 4 million annual visitors, you need to know where to go, and when. Here are the top five Yosemite experiences for 2017.

• Celebrate Mariposa Grove

Yosemite’s biggest news is that iconic Mariposa Grove is set to reopen after a two-year, multimillion-dollar restoration. The park’s largest stand of giant sequoias, Mariposa contains 500 redwoods that include 1,800-year-old Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree, remnant of that era when park visitors thought they should be able to drive through anything. Funded by the park service and the Yosemite Conservancy, the project benefits both visitors and trees. Paved roads have been replaced by trails, a parking lot by restored sequoia habitat. A new shuttle service will take visitors to the grove from the park’s south entrance. Mariposa is set to reopen this summer: check the park website (nps.gov/yose) for updates.

Opposite: Hiking the Mist Trail. This page, clockwise from left: The Majestic Yosemite; Half Dome; the park has many giant sequoias, which can be seen at the restored Mariposa Grove this summer.

Yosemite Essentials

WHEN TO GO It’s the fourth busiest park in the country, and it’s most crowded in July and August. Go before Memorial Day or after Labor Day if you can. If you can’t, don’t despair. Spend less time in the valley and more time elsewhere, in Hetch Hetchy or in Tuolumne Meadows and other destinations along Tioga Road.

WHERE TO STAY Hotels inside the park are the luxurious Majestic Yosemite (formerly the Ahwahnee) from $388; motel-like but attractive Yosemite Valley Lodge (formerly Yosemite Lodge at the Falls) from $223; the tent cabins at Half Dome Village (formerly Camp Curry aka Curry Village) from $129; and, near Mariposa Grove, sweetly Victorian Big Trees Lodge (formerly the Wawona) from $128. Other options are in the high country: White Wolf Lodge and Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (both from $130). All can be reserved at travelyosemite.com.

• See a Waterfall

After years of drought, Northern California finally got the kind of winter storms that blanket the Sierra Nevada with snow. That means spring snowmelt should enable Yosemite’s waterfalls to put on their most spectacular shows in years. In the valley, Yosemite Falls is easiest to see — a 1-mile trail leads to its base, and the ambitious can take a steep 7.2-mile (round-trip) trail to its top and back down again. Falls are at their splashy best in May and June.

• Have Breakfast at the Majestic Yosemite

Last year, a fracas between park concessionaires removed the hotel’s historic name (that would be the Ahwahnee) and replaced it with the more generic Majestic Yosemite. But the 1927-vintage hotel remains as grand as ever, and its timbered dining room is among the most beautiful public spaces in the world. Weekend brunches are famous, but we like the simpler weekday breakfasts even more. Arrive when the dining room opens and you’ll have the morning majesty mostly to yourself. (If you’re

the cautious type, you can make reservations through OpenTable or at 209.372.1489.)

• Explore Hetch Hetchy

At the park’s western edge is its other great valley — Hetch Hetchy, described by John Muir as “a wonderfully exact counterpart of the great Yosemite.” In 1923 O’Shaughnessy Da m flooded much of it to supply water for San Francisco. But Hetch Hetchy remains worth exploring, and it’s relatively uncrowded. One good destination: 1,400foot Wapama Falls. Take Hetch Hetchy Road to its end at the dam; from here, a 5-mile (round-trip) trail leads to the falls.

• Hike to Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point

That trail my son and I hiked remains among Yosemite’s classic treks. Take the hikers’ bus to Glacier Point ($25 for adults; reserve at any park lodging Tour & Activity Desk). Then hike back down to the valley — either on our route, known as the Four-Mile Trail (actually 4.8), or the 8.5-mile Panorama Trail. m

Outside the park, in Groveland, near Yosemite’s western entrance, Evergreen Lodge (from $100) has 80-plus attractive cabins and cottages and a good program of guided excursions. Its sister property, Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite (from $390), is high-end, with luxurious rooms and a saltwater swimming pool; evergreenlodge. com, rushcreeklodge.com. Near the park’s south entrance, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite (from $209) is attractive and has a spa; tenayalodge.com

Big Trees Lodge

Rachael Hairston Photography

Saxon Holt/PhotoBotanic

Thomas J. Story / Sunset Publishing Thomas J. Story / Sunset Publishing

CALENDAR / ON THE SCENE / DINE

Mexican French Fry Nachos

DANCE

Calendar

in the foundation of their relationship begin to reveal themselves. Strand Theater (SF). 415.749.2228, act-sf.org

MAR 3–5 Annie This Mill Valley Middle School drama production — featuring more than 100 students — proudly presents the beloved story of a plucky orphan who fi nds a home with an unexpected family. Mill Valley Middle School (Mill Valley).

MAR 3–APR 8 Holding the Edge Elaine Magree’s solo show takes audiences to 1986, when Magree was a hospice nurse and Cub Scout mom at the center of the AIDS epidemic. The Marsh (SF). 415.282.3055, themarsh.org

relationships in brutal conditions during Liberian civil war. Curran Theatre (SF). 415.358.1220, sfcurran.com

MAR 9–APR 2 Peerless

This dark comedy centers on two overachieving sisters who, when their academic future is threatened, resort to bloody means to secure the success they’ve earned. Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley). 415.388.5208, marintheatre.org

MAR 10–AUG 5

THEATER

THRU MAR 11 The Christians A live choir furthers this show, which offers an honest look at faith in America.

Pastor Paul has enjoyed a sizable increase in his congregation over the years, but as he begins to question his faith, he brings forth

a foundation-shaking sermon. Kensington Park Hotel (SF). 415.677.9596, sfplayhouse.org

THRU MAR 11 Eat, Pray, Laugh! Alice Dattner presents a solo show about a woman who attempts to follow in the footsteps of author Elizabeth Gilbert, seeking an Indian guru

for a one-life stand. The Marsh (Berkeley). 415.282.3055, themarsh.org

THRU MAR 18 FlimFlam: A Comedy of Thespians Three desperate actors take to the road to search for roles — but the comedy, of course, happens along the way. A world premiere written and

directed by John Fisher. Eureka Theatre (SF). 1.800.838.3006, therhino.org

THRU APR 23 John A.C.T. presents the latest play from Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Baker. The story follows 20-something couple Jenny and Elias as they visit a Civil War–era house — and the cracks

MAR 4 Cinderella: Gone to the Dogs! Masque Unit Theatre of Marin presents a fun one-hour interactive musical that’s an introduction to theater for children ages 3 and up. Showcase Theatre (San Rafael).

MAR 7–19 Eclipsed

The story of five women forming close

Hamilton: An American Musical The smashhit Broadway musical comes to the Bay Area for a limited run. The story of American founder Alexander Hamilton is retold with a lyrical hip-hop score. Orpheum Theatre (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com

MAR 21–MAY 15 Noises

Off This backstage farce tells the behindthe-scenes story of putting on a comedy, with a cast of manic, offkilter actors and many slammed doors. San Francisco Playhouse (SF). 415.677.9596, sfplayhouse.org

THEATER / COMEDY / MUSIC / GALLERIES / MUSEUMS / EVENTS / FILM EDITED BY CALIN VAN PARIS

MAR 30–APR 23

Needles and Opium

Follow the separate but parallel journeys of jazz legend Miles Davis and French fi lmmaker Jean Cocteau as they travel to new cities (Paris and New York, respectively) and navigate the art scenes there — along with the drug use that colors them.

Geary Theater (SF). 415.749.2228, act-sf.org

DANCE

THRU MAR 4 Lightning Strikes Anonymous and Fortune’s Fool: A Monster’s Odyssey

The 13th Floor Dance company shares the story of a group of Lightning Strikes Anonymous attendees, each hooked on the thrill of storm-born electricity. Presented on a shared bill with Twisted Oak’s premiere of Fortune’s Fool: A Monster’s Odyssey. ODC Theater (SF). 13th floortheater.org

MAR 10–11 Smuin’s 2017 Choreography Showcase Smuin company dancers present a selection of memberchoreographed original pieces, resulting in a variety of works infused with a dash of humor. ODC Theater (SF). 415.863.9834, odcdance.org

MAR 10–12 Satin and Swing The Dance Mission Theater is transformed into a glitzy 1920s venue for a performance featuring raucous jazz and fl apper girls. Dance Mission Theatre (SF). soulskindance.org

MAR 23–APR 2 2017

Dance Downtown Season ODC/Dance presents a series featuring two world

premieres, live music and reprises of two well-loved shows from Brenda Way and Kate Weare. YBCA Theater (SF). 415.863.9834, odc.dance

COMEDY

TUESDAYS Tuesday Night Comedy Funnies

An evening of hilarity with comedians who make us laugh and think. Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, throck mortontheatre.org

THRU MAR 25

Daughter of a Garbage Man Radio host and stand-up comedian Maureen Langan presents a one-woman show about her 1970s upbringing by an Irish mother and hardworking father, and the frustrations of wondering if you were raised correctly. The Marsh (SF). 415.282.3055, themarsh.org

MAR 3 Jerry Seinfeld

American comedic mainstay Jerry Seinfeld brings his signature brand of on-the-nose commentary about life’s little annoyances to the Bay Area. Paramount Theatre (Oakland). 1.800.745.3000

MAR 19 Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science

A combination of comedy, multimedia presentations, puppets, songs and experiments makes for a truly memorable evening of food and science. Nourse Theater (SF). altonbrowntour.com

MUSIC

THRU MAR 3 The

Source Four singers dissect the media storm surrounding Chelsea Manning, leaker of

SPOTLIGHT

Jam Band and More

ALTHOUGH IT MAY spiritually be a jam band with several sets a night and improvising aplenty, Umphrey’s McGee’s prog rock in fluence is undeniable. Formed in 1997, the band has since amassed a large, dedicated fan base thanks to endless touring — read: over 100 nights a year on the road. With a sprawling collection of originals and covers, Umphrey’s McGee’s live shows keep even the most restless listeners’ interest piqued. Check out the band’s famous Zappa-inspired hand signals firsthand when they perform

52 Wharf Road, Bolinas. 415.868.0782, bolinasgallery.com

Bubble Street Fantastical works by Daniel Merriam, Evan Chambers and Jeffrey Steorts shown alongside sculptural ceramics by Marge Margulie. 565 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.339.0506, bubble streetgallery.com

Claudia Chapline Gallery and Sculpture Garden Works by Claudia Chapline, Jim Garmhausen, Etta Deikman and others. 3445 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach. 415.868.2308, cchapline.com

Desta Gallery A medley of contemporary fine art in various mediums. 417 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo. 415.524.8932, destagallery.com

worrisome artifacts created by Dora P, a character based on Freud’s patient Dora, February 24–April 2. 11101 Hwy One, Point Reyes. 415.663.1347, galleryrouteone.org

Marin Art and Garden Center Work from New Orleans–based artists David Sullivan and Courtney Egan. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.455.5260, magc.org

Marin Center’s Bartolini Gallery Works by Tom Killion, March 16–April 28. 10 Ave of the Flags, San Rafael. 415.473.6400, marincounty.org

Petri’s Fine Arts Featuring contemporary works in various mediums. 690 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.332.2626, petrisfineart.com

Robert Allen Fine Art Group Exhibition Prints, drawings and mixedmedia works on paper, through March 31. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.2800, robert allenfineart.co

Robert Beck Gallery

Early California and contemporary plein air paintings. 222 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.456.7898, beckgallery.org

hundreds of classi fied documents. Enjoy musical takes on Twitter feeds and news reports. Taube Atrium Theater (SF). 415.864.3330, sfopera.com

MAR 5–7 Masterworks

3: Songs of Destiny

The Marin Symphony presents a program of works by Brahms and Edward Elgar. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.473.6800, marincenter.org

MAR 10–11 The 1889 Paris World’s Fair Explore the in fluence of Javanese gamelan instruments on European composers. Mount Tamalpais United Methodist Church (Mill Valley). 415.383.0930, millvalley philharmonic.org

MAR 11 Charlie Wilson Soul performer Charlie Wilson brings his “In It to Win It” tour — accompanied by Fantasia and Johnny Gill — to Oakland. Oracle Arena (Oakland). 844.854.1450, arenaoakland.com

MAR 12 Quartet San Francisco The citybased quartet offers a new take on chamber music. Old St. Hilary’s (Tiburon). 415.435.1853, land markssociety.com

MAR 17 Red Hot Chili Peppers Enjoy a Californication with rock ’n’ roll favorite the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Anthony Kiedis, Flea and the rest reconvene for a night of classic West Coast funk.

Oracle Arena (Oakland). 844.854.1450, arenaoakland.com

MAR 27 An Evening with Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett: Songs and Stories Classic songs in a concert by two storied singers. Marin Center (San Rafael). 415.473.6800, marincenter.org

GALLERIES

MARIN

Art Works Downtown Works by Lara Myers, through March 4. 1337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119, artworks downtown.org

Bolinas Gallery An eclectic collection of contemporary art from established and emerging artists.

di Rosa Based on a True Story: Highlights from the di Rosa Collection Art and encounters from the center’s own history, through May 28. 5200 Carneros Hwy, Napa. 707.226.5991, dirosaart.org

Falkirk Cultural Center

A changing selection of contemporary works. 1408 Mission Ave, San Rafael. 415.485.3328, falkirkcultural center.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

Dorothy Nissen: Dora P. and Other Stories An installation of found photos and the

Marin Center’s Redwood Foyer Gallery Animalia Musicale: A Chorus of Critters A collection of 75 images of both domestic and wild animals, many of them painted on sheet music, by Marin artist Leslie Lakes. 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 415.473.6400, marincounty.org

Marin Society of Artists Two of a Kind Works centering on the synergy of duos, through March 4. 1515 Third St, San Rafael. 415.454.9561, marinsocietyof artists.org

Masterworks Kids’ Art Studio Youth art classes. 305B Montecito Drive, Corte Madera. 415.945.7945, master workskidsart.com

O’Hanlon Center for the Arts Printmaking: Impressions, through March. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331, ohanloncenter.org

Robert Green Fine Arts Abstract expressionist works by John Grillo, Paul Jenkins, Ed Moses and more. 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, roberta english.com

Rock Hill Gallery Edge Works by fiber arists, through March 2. 145 Rock Hill Drive, Tiburon. 415.435.9108, ccctiburon.net

Room Art Gallery Works by both Bay Area artists and major masters; the largest collection of Picasso, Chagall and others in Marin County. 86 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.380.7940, roomart gallery.com

Seager Gray Gallery New works. 108 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.384.8288, seagergray.com

Umphrey’s McGee plays at Terrapin Crossroads.

on the Grate Room stage at Terrapin Crossroads on March 12. terrapincrossroads.net KASIA PAWLOWSKA

Smith Andersen North Works by established and emerging artists. 20 Greenfield ve, San Anselmo. 415.455.9733, smithandersen north.com

Studio 333 A co-op gallery specializing in fine art and events. 333A Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.8272, studio333.info

The Blissful Gallery Oils, watercolors and prints by painter Emmeline Craig. 3415 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach, 415.868.2787, emmeline craig.com

Zener Schon Contemporary Art Contemporary works in various mediums by Eric Zener, Paige Smith, JD Wilson and others. 23 Sunnyside Ave, 415.738.8505, zener schongallery.com

SAN FRANCISCO

ArtHaus Size Small Precious works in various media by gallery and guest artists. 411 Brannan St, 415.977.0223, arthaus-sf.com

Caldwell Snyder Gallery

Endless Summer Works by Joshua JensenNagle, March 2–31. 341 Sutter St, 415.392.2299, caldwellsnyder.com

California Historical Society Vintage: Wine, Beer, and Spirits Labels from the Kemble Collections on Western Printing and Publishing A series of labels produced by the era-defining Lehmann Printing and Lithographing Company of San Francisco, through April 16. 678 Mission St, 415.357.1848, californiahistorical society.org

Fouladi Projects

Ongoing work. 1803 Market St, 415.621.2535, fouladiprojects.com

George Lawson Gallery Works by Jacob Melchi, Alan Ebnother and others. 315 Potrero Ave, 415.703.4400, georgelawson gallery.com

Gregory Lind Gallery Studio Tan Works by Bob Matthews, through March. 49 Geary St, 415.296.9661, gregory lindgallery.com

Hackett-Mill An eclectic medley of original fine art. 21 Post St, 415.362.3377, hackettmill.com

John Berggruen Gallery

The Human Form An inaugural exhibition, through March 4. 10 Hawthorne St, 415.781.4629, berggruen.com

Meyerovich Gallery

New York Pop Art Works on paper. 251 Post St, 415.421.7171, meyerovich.com

Rena Bransten Projects Unknown Voices Works by Leiko Ikemura, through March 11. 1639 Market St, 415.982.3292, renabransten gallery.com

San Francisco Art Institute Ghosts of the Tower An exhibition of 150 years of archival works housed in a lookout tower designed by Arthur Bell, through April 8. 800 Chestnut St, 415.771.7020, sfai.edu

The Midway Gallery

Rhizosphere An exhibit celebrating West Marin’s artists and creative legacy from 1960 to today, March 24–April 9. 900 Marin St, themidwaygallery.com

Thomas Reynolds Gallery Pieces by contemporary painters, most addressing the intersection of realism and abstraction. 2291 Pine St, 415.441.4093, thomasreynolds.com

MUSEUMS

MARIN Bay Area Discovery Museum Imagine, create and transform while exploring the unique museum’s ongoing exhibits (Sausalito). 415.339.3900, baykids museum.org

Bolinas Museum A mix of contemporary art and historic pieces by local artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. (Bolinas). 415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org

Marin Museum of the American Indian A museum celebrating Native American art (Novato). 415.897.4064, fouladiprojects.com

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art This Is for You Works by Raymond Saunders, through April 2 (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.org

BAY AREA Asian Art Museum Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from China’s Han Dynasty See 160 rare selections from recent excavations, through May 28 (SF). 415.581.3711, asianart.org

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

Hippie Modernism: The Struggle for Utopia A celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, featuring radical art, design and more, through

May 21 (Berkeley). 510.642.0808, bampfa.org

California Academy of Sciences Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs Revealed Explore the unknown expanses of the coral reefs alongside scientists who show off new and rare species, many of which have never been displayed in a public aquarium. (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org

Conservatory of Flowers Butterflies and Blooms A beautiful and intimate cottage garden a flutter with hundreds of butter fl ies, through June 7 (SF). 415.831.2090, conser vatoryofflowers.org

Contemporary Jewish Museum Cary Leibowitz: Museum Show The fi rst comprehensive exhibit of Leibowitz’s work, through June 25 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org

de Young Frank Stella’s Prints Highlights from the American artist’s experimental printmaking over a 25-year period, through June 25 (SF). 415.750.3600, deyoung.famsf.org

Exploratorium Ongoing interactive exhibits exploring science (SF). 415.397.5673, exploratorium.edu

Legion of Honor Monet: The Early Years The fi rst major U.S. exhibition devoted to the initial

phase of Claude Monet’s career, through May 29 (SF). 415.750.3600, legionofhonor.famsf.org

Museum of Craft and Design Chris Eckert: Mixed Messages An installation of 24 telegraph machines, each tapping out a Morse code Twitter feed for a di fferent news organization, through November 17 (SF). 415.773.0303, sfmcd.org

Oakland Museum of California Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture An exploration of the signi ficance, design history and evolution of sneakers, through April 2 (Oakland). 510.318.8400, museumca.org

Jerry Seinfeld at The Paramount Theatre, Oakland

San Francisco Botanical Garden Magnolia Bloom Watch as nature defies winter’s gloom with an impressive display of more than 100 rare and historic magnolia blooms, through March 31 (SF). 415.661.1316, sfb otanicalgarden.org

SFMOMA Japanese Photography from Postwar to Now An exhibition highlighting SFMOMA’s collection of nearly 200 Japanese photographs, through March 12 (SF). 415.357.4000, sfmoma.org

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Graphic Knowledge: The Prints of Karl Katsen A collection of works ranging from early representational prints through a multitude of styles

and processes, through April 2 (Sonoma). svma.org

The Walt Disney Family Museum A unique look at the life and works of Walt Disney (SF). 415.345.6800, waltdisney.org

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Logjam Café A site-speci fic installation/coffee cart by artist Tom Sachs, through March 19 (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

EVENTS

MAR 3–10 Wine Road Barrel Tasting Choose one of two weekends to take a drive to northern Sonoma County, where several members of the Wine Road will welcome you into their

wineries for special barrel tastings. Various locations (Sonoma County). wineroad.com

MAR 4 Marin Humane Society Gala: Jumping for Joy Hundreds of animal enthusiasts will enjoy one of the Bay Area’s most beloved events, including the popular puppy and kitten photo booth, a gourmet dinner, and a live auction that will provide opportunities for helping to save the lives of animals in Marin. The Clubhouse at Peacock Gap (San Rafael). 415.506.6208, marinhumane society.org

MAR 19 Smuin’s Annual Gala Dancers, arts enthusiasts and civic leaders converge for an evening of celebration

Tennessee Cove by Tom Killion at Marin Center's Bartolini Gallery, San Rafael

and support. Enjoy a cocktail reception, live auction, dinner, dancing and of course a performance by Smuin’s dancers. Galleria (SF). 415.556.5000, smuinballet.org

MAR 24 Dance

Downtown Gala Celebrate Women on the Move and a new season of movement and artistry with a dinner followed by a special program of performances and an after-party where attendees can mingle with dancers and choreographers. St. Regis Hotel and YBCA (SF). 415.863.9834, odc.dance

MAR 24–26 California’s Artisan Cheese Festival

Celebrate the 11th anniversary of this delicious dairy-centric festival, which showcases local cheese, wine and beer. Meet and learn from California’s top artisan cheese makers, authors, chefs, winemakers and brewers through seminars, classes, tours and much more. Sheraton Sonoma (Petaluma). artisancheese festival.com

MAR 30 Marin Women’s Hall of Fame 2017 Induction and Gala Honor the 2016 inductees who have impacted the county’s environment, public a ffairs and community. The Clubhouse at Peacock Gap (San Rafael). 415.696.0319, ywcasf-marin.org

FILM

MAR 29–APR 4 Sonoma International Film Festival The storied fi lm festival celebrates its 20th year with more than 90 curated fi lms, including documentaries, world cinema and shorts, along with local cuisine and appearances by fi lmmakers and stars. Various locations (Sonoma County). 707.933.2600, sonoma fi lmfest.org

NATURE WALKS & TALKS

MAR 7 Cultivating Creativity: Music and the Brain with Charles Limb and Indré Viskontas Charles Limb (an otologist) and Indré Viskontas (a neuroscientist and classically

trained soprano) get together for a discussion about music and how we interpret it. Nourse Theater (SF). 415.392.4400, cityarts.net

MAR 7–APR 8 Collage and Photography Workshops These hands-on photo collage workshops will introduce you to strategies and techniques for enhancing self-expression and creating new meaning in your work. The Image Flow (Mill Valley). 415.383.3560, theimageflo.com

MAR 9 Judy Collins Folk music icon Judy Collins joins Michael Krasny to discuss her new book, Cravings: How I Conquered Food, a personal story about

Collins’ relationship with overeating — and how it almost derailed her career. Nourse Theater (SF). 415.392.4400, cityarts.net

MAR 13 A Taste of Russia Katia of Katia’s Russian Tea Room in San Francisco will share her knowledge of Russian cuisine and provide a delicious sampling of sweets and savories. Part of One Book One Marin 2017. Public Library (Point Reyes). 415.663.8375, onebookonemarin.org

MAR 18 Sunrise Hike at King Mountain Start your Saturday with a sunrise hike for all ages. Join Ranger Blain Thompson on a walk through your local

forest to watch the sun rise from the beautiful King Mountain Loop trail. Ridgecrest Road (Kent field). 415.473-6381, marincountyparks.org

MAR 26 Rock ’n’ Roll Half Marathon More than 10,000 running enthusiasts head to San Francisco for a 13.1-mile course highlighting some of the city’s most scenic spots, with live performances by local bands along the way. Various locations (SF). runrocknroll.com

Maker.

A town built by inspired craftspeople and visionaries. The perfect blend of agricultural heritage and trend-setting experiences. Join us in Healdsburg and dig into our roots, enjoy the fruits of our labor, and discover why we’re the tastemaker of Sonoma wine country.

Plan your stay at Healdsburg.com

Coriander Crusted Liberty Duck Breast, Red Wine Poached Pear, Cherry Gastrique, Red Vien Sorrel, Marcona Almonds

Dustin Valette: Chef/Owner Valette Restaurant

Dine

GUIDE TO RESTAURANTS

FOOD

What’s Hot

WHO Guillermo Lara and Gabriela Vieyra of LaVier WHAT Latin-Fusion Cuisine

WHERE San Rafael

Latin-Fusion Husband and wife Guillermo Lara and Gabriela Vieyra have come together in name, “LaVier,” to create a true labor of love with San Rafael’s newest eatery. Serving up traditional favorites from their hometowns of Yucatan and Mexico City, the menu focuses on fresh seafood and high quality meats. Beyond the usual suspects are unique specials like the pescado asado, a grilled whole fish stu ffed with citrus and herbs, served with a side of black beans and handmade corn tortillas, and tempura plantains with lime aioli, avocado puree and chorizo. 1025 C St, 415.295.7990, lavierlatinfusion.com b $$ S LD BR º

CORTE MADERA

BLUE BARN GOURMET

American The fi rst Marin outpost of the S.F.-based eatery has proven very popular. The menu includes customizable salads, toasted sandwiches, soups and more, prepared with locally harvested produce and proteins. Try the Jersey cow milk gelato from Double 8 Dairy of West Marin. Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.1104, bluebarngourmet.com b $$ S Í LD º

PIG IN A PICKLE

American Fresh local ingredients and the highest-quality brisket, pork, ribs and chicken comprise the menu of this Town Center eatery. Sauces are crafted to represent the best American barbecue regions, from Memphis to South Carolina. House-made pickles, buns and sausages will keep you coming back. 341 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.891.3265, pig inapicklebbq.com b $$$ S Í BLD

FAIRFAX

123 BOLINAS California

Created by four friends wanting to showcase seasonal fare in a relaxing, intimate

environment, this cozy, one-room eatery offers locally brewed beer, small-production wines and seasonal food along with the view of Bolinas Park through the floorto-ceiling windows. 123 Bolinas St, 415.488.5123, 123bolinas.com b $$ S Í D º

BAREFOOT CAFE

American Chef Tony Senehi prepares fresh Californian dishes made with local, organic ingredients, from sustainable sources. A popular brunch location, neighbors and tourists come to this quaint restaurant in the heart of Fairfax for everything from their eggs benedict to panna cotta dessert. 1900 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.460.2160, barefootcafe.com b $$ S BLD

MAS MASA Latin American and Mexican Chef and owner Patrick Sheehy and co-owner William Eoff ocus on the ancient technique of corn nixtamalization, utilizing organic, non-GMO heirloom corn varieties. The kitchen is 100 percent gluten-free and beer and wine lists highlight local California microbreweries and

AN INSIDER’S

AND GOOD

IN THE BAY AREA EDITED BY MIMI TOWLE

Thai Fusion Salad

wineries. 31 Bolinas Rd, 415.529.5444, eatmasmasa.com s $$ S Í LD

SORELLA CAFFE Italian

Run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella, which means “sister” in Italian, serves fresh Italian food with a northern in fluence. Customer favorites include the cioppino, butternut squash ravioli and Pollo alla Sorella. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520, sorellacaffe.co b $$$ S D

VILLAGE SAKE

Japanese Lucky for Fairfax, beloved former Sushi Ran chef Scott Whitman and talented Marin-based restaurateur partners have opened an Izakaya — a Japanese style community pub — on Bolinas Street. In this compact space you’l l fi nd maki rolls and skewers, plus sake and craft beers. Closed Tuesdays. 19 Bolinas Road, 415.521.5790, villagesake.com b $$$ Í D

LARKSPUR

DON ANTONIO Italian Antonio Volpicelli, of Don Antonio in Tiburon, has taken over the old Fabrizio space and fi lled it with more traditional Italian cuisine. Guests are welcome to enjoy any one of these items on the spacious outdoor patio. 455 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.3332, amalfi ristorantelarkspur.com b $$ Í LD

FARMSHOP California

Located in the Marin Country Mart since 2013, Farmshop Marin has quickly become a top spot here in the county. Indoor

and outdoor seating available. Marin Country Mart, 2233 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.755.6700, farmshopca.com s $$$ S Í C LD BR

New

GIA

RISTORANTE

ITALIANO Italian Fabrizio Laudati, along with co-chef Stefano Guasco, has brought his Italian style to Marin. Previously Laudati owned four Italian restaurants in San Francisco, including Bella Trattoria and Panta Rei. The menu features simple, authentic dishes with a modern twist from the Lazio region of central Italy. 286 Magnolia Ave, 415.891.3979, giarestaurant.net b $$ Í LD

PERRY’S American The San Francisco mainstay has a location across the bridge in Larkspur, bringing with it its wide selection of salads, steaks and comfort favorites like French onion soup. Replacing the Lark Creek Inn, the skylights bring in plenty of natural light and an expanded bar is ideal for sipping the restaurant’s famed bloody mary’s. Valet parking is offered and brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.1877, perryssf.com s $$ LD º

PICCO California

Popular since its inception, Picco has a seasonally driven menu featuring items such as risotto (made every half hour). Pizzeria Picco next door is famous for its wood-fi red pizzas, wine selection and softserve Straus Family

• AUGUST 1 FIVE

Indian Focusing on seasonal offerings inspired by the regional cuisines of northern and central India, the cuisine breaks away from expected dishes like curry. 524 Van Ness Ave, 415.771.5900, august1five.com s $$ LD º

options. Dishes include chicken pakora, vegetable biryani and basil garlic nan. Try the thali menu (offered at lunch), a selection of several Indian dishes served at once. 24 Sunnyside Ave, 415.384.8241, prabhindiankitchen.com b $$ S Í LD

ROBATA GRILL AND SUSHI Japanese Robata translates as “by the fi reside”; fittingly, food here can be cooked on an open fi re and served in appetizer-size portions to pass around the table. Or simply order your own sushi or entree from the menu. 591 Redwood Hwy, 415.381.8400, robatagrill.com b $$ S LD

Creamery ice cream. 320 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0300, restaurantpicco.com s $$$ S Í C D

RUSTIC BAKERY

California This homegrown bakery is known and loved the world over. In fact, Pope Francis famously requested Rustic Baker y fl atbread and crostini when he visited the United States in 2015. Bread that’s baked fresh each morning in addition to granola, cookies, mu ffi ns and croissants make this a local staple. 1139 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.1556; 2017 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.461.9900, rusticbakery.com b $$ S Í BLD BR

MILL VALLEY

BUCKEYE ROADHOUSE

American Oysters Bingo, baby back ribs and Chili-Lime “Brick” Chicken are a few of the satisfying, comfort-food menu items that have made

this classic roadhouse a favorite since the ’30s. The warm, dark-wood bar with red leather booths is a popular spot for cocktails, conversations or a light meal. 15 Shoreline Hwy, 415.331.2600, buckeyeroadhouse.com s $$ C LD BR

BUNGALOW 44

American One of Mill Valley’s neighborhood hot spots, featuring contemporary California comfort food, signature cocktails, fi ne wine, and one-dollar oysters from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day. 44 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500, bungalow44.com s $$$ S Í C D

EL PASEO

American This awardwinning eatery in the heart of downtown Mill Valley has been voted most romantic restaurant in Northern California. Built from Mount Tam railroad ties and brick in 1947, El Paseo was restored by owner Sammy Hagar

in 2009. Now with a full liquor license in place, the new Passage Bar and the restaurant offer a curated spirits and cocktail program. 17 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0741, elpaseomillvalley.com b $$$ Í C D

HARMONY Chinese

Enjoy a lighter take on Chinese at this restaurant, nestled in the Strawberry Village. The barbecue pork bun is fi lled with house-made roasted meat in a savory sauce, and signature prawns are wok seared with scallions. 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, harmony restaurantgroup.com b $$ S LD

LA GINESTRA Italian 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 wait staff s also part of the attraction. 127 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0224, laginestramv.com s $$ S D

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 s $$ S Í C LD BR

PIZZA ANTICA

Italian This Italianinspired restaurant in Strawberry Village offers much more than impeccably prepared thin-crust pizzas. The seasonal dishes are created with local ingredients and include chopped salads,

house-made pastas, and meat , fi sh and fowl entrees, such as the Tuscan fried chicken and roasted pork chop. 800 Redwood Hwy, 415.383.0600, pizzaantica.com b $$ S LD BR º

PLAYA Mexican Drawing inspiration from travels and the fresh , fl avorful cuisine served on the playa, Peter Schumacher and Bill and Vanessa Higgins, have developed a menu that blends locally sourced, organic and sustainable ingredients with a bar highlighting a selection of exceptional tequilas and mezcals. 41 Throckmorton Ave, 415.384.8871, playamv.com s $$ Í D

PRABH INDIAN KITCHEN Indian Owned and operated by the Dhindsa family, this restaurant is dedicated to serving healthy, organic and sustainable food, including gluten-free and vegan

THEP LELA Thai This jewel is tucked away in the back of Strawberry Village. Diners come for the tasty kee mao noodles, pad thai, fresh rolls and extensive bar menu. It’s also a great place for lunch. 615 Strawberry Village, 415.383.3444, theplela.com s $$ S Í LD

NOVATO

HILLTOP 1892 California

In a historic country estate in Novato with sweeping views, enjoy classic favorites with a California fl air.

There’s a private banquet room for special events. 850 Lamont Ave, 415.893.1892, hilltop1892.com s $$$ S Í C LD BR º

MARVIN’S

RESTAURANT

American Voted “Best Breakfast in Novato,” this spot is known for serving up generous portions at a great value. The corned beef hash, benedicts and

Bison Keema

superb service attract a consistent crowd all year round. 1112 Grant Ave, 415.892.4482 $ S Í BL

RUSTIC BAKERY

California Organic pastries, breads, salads and sandwiches are on the menu here, including daily seasonal specials. Try the Marin Melt — Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam and Point Reyes Toma cheeses grilled on honey whole wheat, served with dressed baby greens and crisp apple slices. 1407 Grant Ave, 415.878.4952, rusticbakery.com b $$ S Í BLD BR

SAN ANSELMO

COMFORTS CAFE

American Established in 1986, Comforts has a cozy sit-down patio and serves breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. A large take-out section offers fresh bakery items, seasonal salads, soups, sandwiches and even entrees for dinner at home. Besides the famous and popular Chinese chicken salad, other winners are the stu ffed pecan-crusted French toast , fl avorful scrambles, Chicken Okasan ( nicknamed “Crack Chicken” by fans) and wonton soup.

335 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.9840, comfortscafe.com b $$ S Í BL BR

TACO JANE’S Mexican

Taco Jane’s new full bar features a robust tequila and mezcal selection. Its regional Mexican cuisine includes Oaxacan mole, fi sh tacos and vegetarian options. Black Gold salsa arrives with complimentary chips and is created using charred blackened tomatoes

and roasted chilis. Live music Thursdays and enclosed patio seating all year round. 21 Tamalpais Ave, 415.454.6562, tacojanes.com s $$ S Í LD BR

VALENTI & CO. Italian

This bright and cozy space is the ideal environment for authentic Italian dishes made with local ingredients. A seat at the chef’s table gives a prime view of the open kitchen.

337 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.7800, valentico.com b $$$ D

SAN RAFAEL

LA TOSCANA RISTORANTE & BAR

Italian Family owned and operated since 1985, La Toscana has completed an extensive interior and exterior renovation, transforming an already popular San Rafael gathering spot into a place for any occasion. The menu features classics like gnocchi and carbonara and an ample selection of wine. 3751 Redwood Hwy, 415.492.9100, ristorantelatoscana.com s $$$ S Í C LD º

LE COMPTOIR French

The owners of San Francisco’s Gamine have opened their second restaurant, this time in the heart of San Rafael. The bistro serves up traditional French favorites like beef cheeks bourguignon and onion soup gratinée in a chic and cozy setting. If you’re planning to go, call ahead. 1301 Fourth St, 415.454.5454, lecomptoirsr.com b $$ Í C D

Gift certificates available Open 7 days a week

Mill Valley 415.388.0988 Union Street 415.409.1500 www.milvali.com

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TERRAPIN CROSSROADS

American This waterfront restaurant and music venue presents fresh food and local talent. The menu includes salads, savory dishes and wood-fi red pizzas plus 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 s $$ Í C D BR º

THERESA & JOHNNY’S COMFORT FOOD

American A favorite with both the kids and the foodie set, this charming eatery serves food like Mom used to make. Drop by for eggs Benedict, tuna melts, coffee and some of the best milkshakes around. 817 Fourth St, 415.259.0182, theresa-and-johnnys.com b $$ S Í BL BR

TOMATINA Italian Tomatina takes a modern approach to traditional Italian recipes. O ffering housemade pasta, pizzas and signature piadine: fresh, hot fl atbreads topped with cool salads, ready to fold and eat. 5800 Northgate Mall, 415.479.3200, tomatina.com s $$ S Í LD º

VN NOODLE & GRILL

Vietnamese Located in Montecito Plaza, the restaurant’s robust menu features standard Vietnamese fare including a wide selection of rice plates, pho and of course, iced coffee. 421 Third St, 415.306.4299 $$ LD

WHIPPER SNAPPER RESTAURANT California/Caribbean

Owner/chef Bill Higgins serves tapas, sangria and reasonably priced organic dishes. The California-Caribbean

lunch and dinner cuisine blends local farm-fresh ingredients with Lati n fl avors. Be sure to try the popula r fi sh tacos, Cuban “cigars” and chocolate bread pudding. Available for parties and special gatherings and the restaurant has a back patio for alfresco dining. 1613 Fourth St, 415.256.1818, whipsnap.biz b $$ S Í C LD º

SAUSALITO

ANGELINO RESTAURANT Italian

An authentic Italian restaurant with handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti, showcasing cuisine of the Campania region for over 20 years. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225, angelino restaurant.com s $$$ S BLD

BAR BOCCE American Food just tastes better on a bayside patio with fi re 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 s $$ S Í LD

COPITA Mexican Chef Joanne Weir serves up fresh Mexican fare in the heart of downtown Sausalito. The everchanging menu is gluten-free, and the in-house tequila bar offers over 100 varieties and fantastic cocktails. Dine at the bar or on the outdoor patio for great people-watching. 739 Bridgeway, 415.331.7400, copitarestaurant.com s $$ S Í LD BR

F3/FAST FOOD FRANCAIS French Owned and operated by the owners of Le Garage, F3 serves brunch, lunch and dinner featuring “Frenchi fied” American comfort food. A rotating menu includes items like the Quack burger (Duck con fit, black pepper chèvre, lettuce and red onion marmalade). Enjoy with a side of Brussels sprout chips or pommes dauphines (tater tots). 39 Caledonia St, 415.887.9047, eatf3.com s $$ S Í LD BR

JOINERY American The owners of Mill Valley Beerworks opened this rotisserie in the former Wellington’s Wine Bar space on New Year’s Day. The restaurant features

craft beer, burgers and other hearty, seasonal fare in a communal setting. 300 Turney St, 415.766.8999, joineryca.com b $$ LD

KITTI’S PLACE Thai/ California This homestyle family restaurant has been in Sausalito 20 years and features favorites like lettuce cups, soft spring rolls and weekly specials. 3001 Bridgeway, 415.331.0390, kittisplace.com b $$ S Í LD

LE GARAGE French Escape the tourist crush for an indulgent meal right on the water. The atmosphere is animated with light French music (à la Amélie), and the much-adored croque-monsieur is authentic. Indoor or outdoor seating. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625, legaragebistro sausalito.com b $$$ S Í BLD BR

MURRAY CIRCLE 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. Stop by Farley Bar for cocktails with a view. 601 Murray Circle, 415.339.4750, cavallopoint.com s $$$ S Í C BLD BR

POGGIO Italian Chef Benjamin Balesteri creates Northern Italian fare using local ingredients. Private dining rooms above the restaurant can accommodate larger parties (10 to 150 guests). 777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771, poggiotratoria.com s $$$ S Í C BLD

SCOMA’S OF SAUSALITO Italian The Scoma’s boat fi shes seasonally, going out from Pier 47 and is approved for salmon and Dungeness crab resulting in fresh catches year-round. The menu regularly features whole crabs, chowders, grilled fish and house specialties. 588 Bridgeway, 415.332.9551, scomas sausalito.com s $$ C LD

SUSHI RAN Japanese Sample innovative small plates just big enough to share before enjoying some of the best sushi the Bay Area has to offer; the prices don’t deter the herd of enthusiasts who line up nightly to partake. Just stopping by? The wine, cocktail and sake lists keep even the pickiest bar fly satisfied. Reservations are required in the main room. 107 Caledonia St, 415.332.3620, sushiran.com s $$ Í LD

TIBURON

GUAYMAS

RESTAURANT Mexican Situated right next to the Tiburon ferry terminal on the waterfront, it’s got touch-it-you’re-soclose city views and outdoor seating, making it a great place to bring visitors on a warm summer night. Happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. 5 Main St, 415.435.6300, guaymasrestaurant.com s $$$ S Í C LD º

RUSTIC BAKERY

California This location of the beloved bakery offers the same menu as the other locations as well as outdoor dining. Enjoy a wide selection

Smoked Salmon Toast at Tiburon Tavern, Tiburon

of fresh salads, sandwiches and pastries on the boardwalk . 1550 Tiburon Blvd, 415.797.6123, rusticbakery.com

b $$ S C BLD BR

SALT & PEPPER

American This sunfi lled one-room restaurant, featuring hardwood floors and blue-checkered tablecloths, is an area favorite. Popular items include scallops, ribeye steak, a beef burger and traditional crab cakes with jalapeño dipping sauce. 38 Main St, 415.435.3594

b S Í LD

SAM’S ANCHOR CAFE

American The updated menu at this seaside institution features local organic produce and sustainably sourced meats and fi sh. Chef Robert Taylor, formerly of Farallon, has curated an oyster list for the raw bar menu and a fresh cocktail list to boot. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527, samscafe.com

s $$$ S Í C LD BR º

SERVINO RISTORANTE

Italian Chef and owner Angelo Servino highlights organic ingredients in an array of rustic Italian dishes, including house-made pastas, wood oven pizzas, and seasonal specialties. Located on the bay in Tiburon, Servino also prides itself on itsextensive sustainable seafood program. Savor la dolce vita on the waterfront patio. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676, servino.com

s $$$ S Í C LD BR º

TIBURON TAVERN

California The atmosphere here is enhanced by two outdoor patios, two

indoor fi replaces and fresh flowers. Happy hour is 3 to 6:30 p.m. every day. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.5996, lodgeattiburon.com s $$ S Í C BLD BR º

WEST MARIN

NICK’S COVE American Nick’s Cove offers a coastal escape on Tomales Bay, serving famous barbecued local oysters, Dungeness crab mac ’n’ cheese and cocktails using home-grown ingredients. Large windows in the 130seat restaurant provide picturesque views of Tomales Bay and Hog Island. (Marshall). 23240 Hwy 1, 415.663.1033, nickscove.com s $$$ S Í C LD BR

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 up for something unusual, try the goat shoulder, a hit with both tourists and locals (Point Reyes). 11285 Hwy 1, 415.663.9988, osteriastellina.com b $$ S LD

PARKSIDE CAFE

American Perfect for a sit-down alfresco meal or for grabbing a burger. Beautiful patio garden seating, ocean views, and private wood-fi red dinners make this café a relaxing retreat. Check out the market and bakery. Choose from an array of organic, locally grown produce, artisan meats and wild seafood (Stinson). 43 Arenal Ave, 415.868.1272, parksidecafe.com s $$$ S Í C BLD

A Prestigious University in

SPEAKER: Thursday, March 2 7:30-10 am Embassy Suites, San Rafael Continental breakfast included

Company

Registration & Networking: 7:30am Program: 8-10am $65 per person | $675 for table of 10 Table price includes company name on table sign Registration closes Monday, February 27. Price includes a subscription to the North Bay Business Journal (new subscribers only).

RANCHO NICASIO

American Known for live music and an extensive menu featuring everything from crispy calamari to braised lamb shanks, Rancho Nicasio is open seven days a week. Be sure to stop in for happy hour, 4 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday (Nicasio). 1 Old Rancheria Rd, 415.662.2219, ranchonicasio.com s $$$ S Í C LD BR º

SAND DOLLAR

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 s $$ S Í LD

SIR & STAR AT THE OLEMA California

The historic inn has reopened as a roadhouse-style restaurant featuring rustic decor and a delicious yet a ffordable menu. Try the house-made bread and honey butter, the kale Caesar and the stu ffed quail, then come back and work your way through the entire menu — most items are $20 or less (Olema).

10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.663.1034, sirandstar.com b $$ S C D

STATION HOUSE

CAFE American Fresh local homegrown foods are showcased for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stop in on weekends (5 p.m. on Sundays) for live music and wine, beer and cocktails (Point Reyes

Station). 11180 Highway 1, 415.663.1515, stationhousecafe.com s $$ S Í C BLD BR º

SAN FRANCISCO /EAST BAY

AQ RESTAURANT & BAR California AQ takes seasonal to the next level, not only adapting the menu but also transforming the decor of the entire venue to match the weather outside. 1085 Mission St, 415.341.9000, aq-sf.com s $$$ Í D

BENU Asian/French Plan on a formal and sophisticated evening. The compositions on the tasting menu provide a full experience of this restaurant’s unique Asian fusion cuisine. 22 Hawthorne St, 415.685.4860, benusf.com b $$$ C D

BLACK CAT American Grit meets glam at this jazzy supper club in the Tenderloin with a focus on modern American fare. Chef Ryan Cantwell of Zuni and Chez Panisse puts forward a savory small plates menu featuring items like latkes topped with shallot cream and salmon pastrami and a Devil’s Gulch rabbit pot pie. Sip timeless cocktails while listening to live music in the downstairs lounge. Happy hour 5–7 p.m. 400 Eddy St, 415.358.1999, blackcatsf.com s $$ Í D º

BOULIBAR American/ Mediterranean Head to Boulettes Larder’s 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 with handsome wood tables and an open kitchen. In the evening, the dining room can readily be reserved for small private parties of up to 24 on request. The views of the Bay Bridge punctuate an unmistakably San Francisco setting. 1 Ferry Building, 415.399.1155, bouletteslarder.com s $$$ S Í C BLD BR

BOXING ROOM Cajun

The Southern comfort of Louisiana, updated to fit the polished elegance of the city. Indulge in authentic Cajunstyle eats and fresh California seafood. 399 Grove St, 415.430.6590, boxingroom.com s $$$ S LD BR º

BUN MEE Vietnamese

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.com b $$ S Í LD º

CAPO’S CHICAGO

Italian If you’re craving classic Chicago-style Italian and a venue to match, the endless pizza choices and fl avorful pasta and meat selections here will more than satisfy your appetite and take you back in time to the mobster days of the 1920s. 641 Vallejo St, 415.986.8998, sfcapos.com s $$$ S Í D º

CLIFF HOUSE California

Great food, beautiful view and lots of history

— what else could you want? An awardwinning wine list? They have that too. Not only does Cliff ouse boast a popular Sunday champagne brunch, it also focuses on local, organic, sustainable ingredients and seafood on its everyday menu. 1090 Point Lobos, 415.386.3330, cliffhouse.c s $$ S BLD

DABBA Indian Inspired by the Indian-Mexican restaurant Avatar’s in Mill Valley, this latest twist on the concept comes from tech entrepreneur Andy Mercy and former French Laundry and Spruce chef, Walter Abrams. Applying Abrams’ precision, palate and creativity to global culinary traditions, Dabba offers worldly flavors “wrapped in a California state of mind.” 71 Stevenson St, 415.236.3984, dabba.com b $$ Í LD

EPIC STEAK American

An upscale meat lover’s mecca with a sophisticated atmosphere, Epic Steak’s bayside location delivers on all fronts. Professional service, choice cuts of prime rib and bittersweet chocolate fudge cake are among the things that keep patrons coming back. An upstairs bar is also a happy hour favorite. 369 Embarcadero, 415.369.9955, epicsteak.com s $$$ Í LD º

ESPETUS CHURRASCARIA

Brazilian This steakhouse boasts a tasting menu of 14 meat courses grilled in the traditional Brazilian method. Patrons

KATHLEEN DUGHI JEWELER

HAND-FABRICATED FINE JEWELRY EXQUISITE CUSTOM DESIGNS BRIDAL

11 B ernard S treet M ill V alley 415.383.0462 www . kathleendughi . coM

control the pace of the pri x fi xe experience with colored signal cards. 1686 Market St, 415.552.8792, espetus.com s $$$ S C LD

FRANCES California

San Francisco elegance meets comfort food. The local, seasonal menu complements any trip to the city. Bar is reserved for walk-ins, but reservations are recommended. 3870 17th St, 415.621.3870, frances-sf.com b $$$ D

GATHER American Nicknamed the “Omnivore’s Solution,” this Berkeley hotspot focuses on Northern California cuisine inspired by local farmers, ranchers and artisan food producers.

Executive chef Charis Wahl serves up a dailychanging menu popular with both omnivores and vegans alike. The decadent brunch menu is a favorite with locals on weekends. 2200 Oxford St (Berkeley), 510.809.0400, gather restaurant.com s $$ S Í LD BR

HAKKASAN Chinese

The rich-fl avored slowbraised lamb and the crispy duck salad are popular at this San Francisco destination.

Private dining rooms are offered: the Jade Room complete with lazy Susan and the larger Dragon Room for cocktail parties or dinners. 1 Kearny St, 415.829.8148, hakkasan.com s $$$ C LD

HOPSCOTCH American/Japanese

An upscale diner in Oakland serving regional American food with a Japanese in fluence. Popular items include yonsei oyster with sea urchin, salmon roe and citrus, and the First Base burger with grilled beef tongue. No time to dine in? The to-go menu features an eight-piece bucket of fried chicken. Happy hour 3 to 5 p.m. nightly (Oakland). 1915 San Pablo Ave, 510.788.6217, hopscotchoakland.com s $$ Í LD BR º

HOTEL MAC RESTAURANT

American Filled with old-world charm, this establishment has been serving American classics since 1911. Executive chef Jaime

Molina’s seasonal menu features freshly prepared fi sh and favorites like Chicken Cordon Bleu. Weekly specials including Friday’s half off ottles of wine keep patrons coming back, as does the live music featured nightly (Richmond). 50 Washington Ave, 510.233.0576, hotelmac restaurant.com s $$ C LD º

KIN KHAO Thai Fullfl avored Thai: from spicy curries to pad kee mao (drunken noodles with pork) to off-thewall cocktails designed by Bon Vivants, this San Francisco eatery is sure to impress. 55 Cyril Magnin St, 415.362.7456, kinkhao.com s $$$ S LD º

LA FOLIE French Chef Roland Passot serves critically acclaimed fare in this intimate, family-run restaurant located in Russian Hill but the menu highlights ingredients from farms in Marin and Sonoma and all along the Paci fic Coast and the greater Northwest. 2316 Polk St, 415.776.5577, lafolie.com s $$$ D

LOLÓ Mexican 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 s $$$ S D BR

MAYBECK’S American BIX and Fog City alums Erik Lowe and Aaron Toensing serve inventive American standards like St. Louis–style toasted raviolis and green chileapple pie with a cheddar cheese crust. The chefs explore regional culinary traditions and translate them into a Northern Californian lexicon as evidenced by their playful menu and a Negroni-centered bar. 3213 Scott St, 415.939.2726, maybecks.com s $$ C D

MERITAGE American Nestled in the Claremont Hotel and Spa, the sweeping views and refi ned American cuisine are two reasons to visit this special occasion

Full Service Boarding & Daycare for Dogs and Cats

What does full-service mean?

Temperament assessment to identify your pet’s best social group

Expertly supervised play groups

Nose-to-paw grooming and pampering

Healthy, highest quality food and treats

Special needs and senior pet care

Professional, knowledgeable staff

In-house trainer

Eco-friendly products used for cleanliness and hygiene

Rubberized flooring for comfort

Contact the resort today for a tour! (415) 785-4987 tailsofterralinda.com

Redwood Hwy, San Rafael

hotspot. Partnerships with local purveyors ensure that dishes highlight fresh seafood and produce. Start with lobster cocktail and fi nish with Death By Chocolate Cake for a decadent experience (Berkeley). 41 Tunnel Road, 510.549.8510, fairmont.com s $$$ S BLD

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 s $$$ LD

NAMU GAJI Asian/ California A clean and natural design in a streamlined setting, where housemade shiitake mushroom dumplings and succulent grilled beef tongue are among the many options to discover. 499 Dolores St, 415.431.6268, namusf.com s $$ S LD BR º

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 S D BR

PERRY’S American Perry’s, for over 45 years an institution on Union Street in San Francisco, is known for its classic American food, its warm personable service and its bustling bar. Signature dishes include traditional Cobb salad, prime steaks and, of course, the renowned hamburger. Perry’s also serves a weekend brunch. Hotel Griffon, 155 Steuart St, 415.495.6500, perryssf.com s $$ S Í C D º

PIKANHAS BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE

Steakhouse This all-you-can-eat steakhouse located in Point Richmond offers di fferent cuts of beef, pork,

lamb and chicken that are slowly cooked with special grills to preserve all the natural juices and fl avors (Pt. Richmond). 25 W. Richmond Ave, 510.237.7585, pikanhas steakhouse.com b $$ S LD

PIZZAIOLO Italian Chef Charlie Hallowell opened this Italian gem in 2005 with a focus on topping his hand made pizzas with locally sourced meats and produce. The menu changes daily and includes house favorites like wild nettles and pecorino pizza and braised Marin Sun Farms pork with Tokyo turnips and apples. Breakfast is served Monday though Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon (Oakland).

5008 Telegraph Ave, 510.652.4888, pizzaiolo oakland.com s $$ S Í BLD BR

RICE PAPER SCISSORS

Vietnamese At this brick-and-mortar Mission District spot with a pop-up sibling, try the popular pork belly banh mi on one of the bright red stools and stay warm with a pot of jasmine tea. 1710 Mission St, 415.878.6657, ricepaperscissors.com $$ S Í LD

RICH TABLE California

A relaxed environment for savoring fresh ingredients grown only feet from the kitchen, creative cocktails and California wine. 199 Gough St, 415.355.9085, richtablesf.com s $$$ D

SALT HOUSE American Owned by Mill Valley residents Doug Washington and brothers Mitchell and Steven Rosenthal, San Francisco’s Salt House welcomes chef Evan Gotanda, formerly of Anchor and Hope. His take on the menu highlights a Japanese in fluence and includes seasonal dishes like roasted cauli flower with cashews, kabocha squash and furikake, as well as housemade pastas. 545 Mission St, 415.543.8900, salthousesf.com s $$$ LD º

SESSIONS AT THE PRESIDIO American

Located just across the Golden Gate Bridge, this restaurant has serious ties to Marin. The fruits, vegetables,

GRAND PATRON Diane B. Wilsey

Floral display by Ariel Ermatinger. Artwork: Seasons of Astringency, 1958, by Jess (1923-2004), reproduced by permission of the Jess Collins Trust. Photograph by Drew Altizer.

MEDIA SPONSORS

Sepia Salmon

PEOPLE PROTECT WHAT they love, and among chef Mo L’Esperance’s loves is the ocean. A California native raised near the beach, she carried her devotion to marine life into her professional life with a commitment to sustainable seafood. L’Esperance began her career in San Francisco, working with many talented chefs before making her way to Pescadero, where she became executive chef at Costanoa resort. In 2012 she started her own company, Morganics, to help prevent waste of produce in farmers’ markets. Now she belongs to multiple chef-driven groups looking to make positive changes in America’s food systems, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Blue Ribbon Task Force and the James Beard Foundation, and has teamed up with the latter to a ffect food policy on Capitol Hill. As the new executive chef at Tiburon Tavern, L’Esperance is excited to present locally inspired dishes made with the bounty of the Bay Area. The salmon in the recipe shared here “can really be interchanged with your favorite fi sh,” she says, but in that case, “if you want to follow sustainability protocol I suggest arctic char. Squid ink, or sepia, can usually be found at your loca l fi shmonger or high-end grocery store,” she adds, “and a little goes a long way.” lodgeattiburon.com/amenities/tiburon-tavern/ KASIA PAWLOWSKA

Seared Salmon

SERVES 4

Ingredients

2 medium oyster mushroom clusters, trimmed Extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper

4 cups vegetable stock

1 pound fresh English peas

1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon (or basil)

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened 4 salmon fillets, each about 5 ounces

Squid ink, for garnish (optional)

1 ounce pea tendrils

Fresh lemon juice

To Prepare

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the oyster mushrooms on a baking sheet. Drizzle about 1 tablespoon oil over the mushrooms, lightly season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Transfer to the oven and roast until the mushrooms are crispy at the ends and still chewy in the centers, 15 to 20 minutes. 2 While the mushrooms roast, bring the vegetable stock to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the peas and cook until just tender without overcooking. Place a sieve over a bowl to catch the cooking liquid and drain the peas. 3 Transfer the peas to a blender and add enough of the cooking liquid to submerge about three-quarters of the peas. Add the tarragon, lemon zest, and butter and blend on mediumhigh to your desired consistency. Taste the mash and season with salt and pepper. 4 Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the fillets and sear, then cook to your desired doneness (they are served medium-rare at Tiburon Tavern). 5 Cover the bottom of each serving plate with the pea mash, paint the plates with the squid ink and arrange a fillet on each plate. Add the mushrooms on the side and toss the pea tendrils with a little lemon juice and mound on top of the fish. Serve immediately. Tip: Garnishing the plates with squid ink is a dramatic (yet so simple) presentation that will impress your dinner guests.

RECIPE EDITED BY LYNDA BALSLEV

Tiburon Tavern’s new chef serves sustainable fare.

Noises Off is a hilarious backstage farce about a second-rate theatrical troupe combining slapstick, a British sex comedy, and non-stop humor from a menagerie of actors rehearsing a flopcalled Nothing On. The show runs through May 13. Offerings continue throughout the year with the Bay Area premiere of The Roommate and the famous musical revival La Cage Aux Folles. To purchase tickets, please visit their website.

SAN FRANCISCO PLAYHOUSE

450 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 415.677.9596 sfplayhouse.org

the DISH

EAT, DRINK AND BE ENTERTAINED

El Paseo has launched The Passage Bar, featuring a new curated cocktail and spirits program, along with a new food menu. Imbibe on Old Potrero Rye, St. George Terroir Gin and Sammy Hagar’s own Beach Bar Rum and Cabo Wabo Tequila, amongst others. Shareable dishes include Prosciutto Wrapped Pineapple, Fried Chicken with Pimenton Honey and The Passage Burger. Come experience Mill Valley’s most charming restaurant, now with delicious cocktails and new bar bites.

EL PASEO

17 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley, CA 415.388.0741 elpaseomillvalley.com

Marin Magazine Dish image.indd 1

Don’t miss this spectacular “Best of Broadway” celebration featuring over 20 performers from shows such as Wicked, The Book Of Mormon, Mamma Mia, and many more. Enjoy this award-winning evening of song and dance with unforgettable moments from Broadway and beyond. Produced by Transcendence Theatre Company.

1/30/17 6:21 PM

BEST OF BROADWAY UNDER THE STARS I MARCH 18 & 19 Marin Center, San Rafael, CA 415.473.6800 bestofbroadwaymarin.com

Consistently rated “Best of Marin”, Comforts offers finecity and home-style food. We offer seasonal breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch menus, in addition to take-out and catering services. Easter is around the corner - let Comforts provide you with a delicious holiday meal!

COMFORTS

335 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, CA 415.454.9840 comfortscafe.com

Sitting atop the Bay with unobstructed

views, Scoma’s delights with incredibly fresh, creative food and warm, personal service. We offer steaming whole crabs, hearty chowders, clams, perfectly grilled fishand specialties. Seasonal offerings and perennial favorites keep the menu as lively as the daily catch.

SCOMA’S SAUSALITO

588 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 415.332.9551 scomassausalito.com

Spend only $35 for a $50 dining certificte from participating restaurants with this icon. Go to marinmagazine.com/dineout and save 30% on meals.

In Japanese, Robata means “by the fieside” and refers to the grill-style cooking of northern Japanese fishermen.Our menu offers traditional as well as contemporary fare. Over 25 premium sakes. Come see why we’ve been Marin’s favorite Japanese restaurant for over 30 years.

ROBATA GRILL & SUSHI 591 Redwood Hwy, Mill Valley, CA 415.381.8400 robatagrill.com

Out & About / DINE

herbs and olive oil hail from our county thanks in part to the restaurant’s partnership with Skywalker Ranch. Additionally, the 100 craft beer offerings, including 24 draft options, will keep beer lovers more than satisfied. 1 Letterman Dr, 415.655.9413, sessionssf.com s $$ Í LD

STATE BIRD PROVISIONS American

With a wide variety of choices, from fresh local seafood to spicy kimchi yuba to savory 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 b $$ S D

THE PROGRESS

Californian The second restaurant venture from State Bird Provisions’ chef proprietors Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski brings the same kind of innovation as thei r fi rst. Popular dishes include shaved cauli flowerherbs and pig fries as well as a

“treasure chest” of fermented sausage. The beverage list is also worth a look as general manager and wine director Jason Alexander has curated an expansive wine list and a number of craft cocktails. 1525 Fillmore St, 415.673.1294, theprogress-sf.com s $$$ LD

TOWN HALL American

The exposed brick and warm, unconventional lighting turn Town Hall’s large space into an intimate yet elegant environment. With a more-than-adequate wine list and savory American classics like fried chicken with rosemary crushed marble potatoes, a visit here should be on everyone’s list. 342 Howard St, 415.908.3900, townhallsf.com s $$$ Í C LD º

KEY TO SYMBOLS

s b $ $$ $$$ S Í C BLD BR º

Full bar Wine and beer Inexpensive ($10 or less per entree) Moderate (up to $20) Expensive ($20 and over) Kid-friendly Outdoor seating Private party room

Seating: Breakfast, lunch, dinner Brunch Happy hour

For even more local restaurant listings, vistit us online at marinmagazine.com

On the Scene

• BLOOM Image for Success became Bloom and celebrated its

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

DREW ALTIZER PHOTOGRAPHY (FOG DESIGN+ART); LOUIS BRYANT (MR. PRESIDENT)

• THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT Performing Stars held a dinner event celebrating Barack Obama at the Osher Marin JCC in San Rafael on January 7.

grand reopening with a ribbon cutting at its San Rafael store on September 15.

• FOG DESIGN+ART The fourth edition of the event kicked off with a preview gala benefiting SFMOMA at the Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture on January 11.

Gary Garrels, Mary Zlot, Nancy Bechtle, Helen Schwab, Joachim Bechtle and Charles Schwab

Diane Ettleson, Gary Phillips and Barbara Lee

Kate Sears, Felecia Gaston, Karen Jenkins-Johnson and Kevin Johnson

Chris Buchbinder and Tyler Florence

Mark Buell and Susie Tompkins Buell

• JOURNEY TO WEALTH Investment manager James Demmert hosted an event at Servino Ristorante in Tiburon December 1 celebrating the launch of his new book and benefiting Marin Charitable.

• FOUR CHARITIES FUNDRAISER

More than $110,000 was raised at the December 7 event at the Bentley Reserve to benefit Rocket Dog Rescue, Save the Bay, Juma and Habitat for Humanity.

Maryanna and Chuck Stockholm

Alison Bricker, Sharon Stiffler, Lionel Shaw and Griff and Violet Marshal

Ben Armellini, Stephanie Hawk, James Demmert, Natalie McMahon and Aaron Stern

Tamara Stern and Bruce Hutt

adlib

HALSEY SCHROEDER, FOUNDER AND CEO OF HALSBROOK INC.

Halsbrook is a luxury fashion boutique with a signature, personalized approach to online shopping. We thoughtfully handpick our collection of European and American designers and build head-to-toe looks that mix sophistication with ease for any day or any occasion. With a passionate focus on service, we strive to make shopping easy and enjoyable for our customers.

What prompted you to start Halsbrook? I was inspired to start Halsbrook after shopping online with my mother and seeing her frustration while searching for stylish and sophisticated clothing on retail websites that didn’t cater to her. Most things we saw were too trendy, too tight or too short. So, I set out to create an online luxury fashion destination that offers beautiful, timeless clothing and accessories, approachable styling and first-class customer service.

Which product or service (that you offer) is your favorite? Halsbrook on Approval is a service we launched to make online shopping easier. Our customers like to try things on and feel fabrics before making a purchase. With our On Approval service, customers can place an order for free, try on their new items at home and then decide what they want to keep. Ultimately, they pay only for what they keep, and of course, shipping and returns are free. This service makes it much easier to explore new designers and new styles when shopping online.

What makes Halsbrook different from other retailers? Our designers and our service. We carry some designers that can be found in department stores, like MaxMara and LK Bennett. But, we especially love our hidden gems and enjoy introducing our customers to these new designers, like Fabrizio Gianni for the best-fitting pants and Kinross for their luxe cashmere knits. When it comes to service, we are hands-on. We strive to ensure our customers’ every need is addressed. No question goes unanswered.

HALSBROOK INC. 855.448.2332, CUSTOMERCARE@HALSBROOK.COM, HALSBROOK.COM

TERRI ABELAR, CEO OF AGING SOLUTIONS, INC

As seasoned geriatric care managers, coordinators, advisers and advocates we guide families with older or disabled relatives through the overwhelming medical and nonmedical aging systems. We expertly design and manage plans for making living transitions including highlevel skilled medical services that fit into a caring and cozy environment. This can truly make a senior’s final wishes come true. Stressed and worried adult children have been turning to us for relief for two decades.

Briefly describe your business philosophy. Our allegiance is always to the older person and to what is in their best interest. We advocate person-centered care, a holistic approach that means we address all of the elements in a senior’s life that may affect its quality. We make the aging/senior systems accommodate our clients’ needs, not the other way around.

What is your competitive edge? Twenty years of doing what we do makes us one of the pioneering care management firms in California, with few able to match our hands-on experience and knowledge. We are employee-based, rather than relying on independent contractors; each client has an exclusive team of professionals by their side. Additionally, being a fee-for-service company with the highest of ethical standards, we do not accept nor pay any commissions or kickbacks, ever.

Describe your dream client/customer. An adult child (it’s almost always a woman) with a career and family but who also has aging parents whose need for help with daily activities have increased. Such clients have enough confidence and self-knowledge to understand they cannot turn themselves into full-time care managers, and that finding a professional is the best bet for both their parents and themselves.

AGING SOLUTIONS, INC., 1000 FOURTH STREET, SUITE 440, SAN RAFAEL, 415.324.5088, INFO@AGINGSOLUTIONS.COM, AGINGSOLUTIONS.COM

THE MEADOW HOUSE BACKS TO THE

8112 Lahontan Drive Truckee, CA 91616: Modern architecture brings the outside in, with floor to ceiling windows, telescoping sliding patio doors and vistas that draw you out and into the soothing surrounding landscape. Thoughtful designer finishes by Walton Design set this home apart and include a floating stairway up to a second master suite. Entertain or unplug in the expansive outdoor living space with an outdoor fire feature and spa, optimally situated on the cusp of the meadow.

LARGEST DEDICATED NATURAL PRESERVE IN LAHONTAN MINUTES BY SHUTTLE TO NORTHSTAR AND THE RITZ CARLTON.

FROM TOURS AND MAKEOVERS TO DECORATIVE DETAILS AND REALTOR INSIGHTS

CHANGE OF PLANS

With an eye on the active real estate market, a family decides now is the time to buy.

BY DAWN MARGOLIS DENBERG PHOTOS BY DEBRA TARRANT

WHEN LONG ISLAND native Kristen Bailey’s husband called to say he’d been offered a job in the Bay Area, she was game for an adventure. “I’d never lived more than 17 miles away from my family but wanted to give it a try,” Kristen says.

However, not knowing how they’d adapt, the couple agreed to rent for a year to see how they’d acclimate.

The Baileys, along with their two young children, packed up their belongings and moved into a rental in Tiburon, a town they chose for its natural beauty and proximity to the city. Everything was going great.

Well, mostly great. They hadn’t anticipated Marin’s crazy real estate market. “I couldn’t believe how fast homes were appreciating,” Kristen recalls. It took just a few months and some quick math to recognize the fi nancial rami fications of renting versus buying. So

the Baileys then called an audible: “We hired a realtor who showed u s five places, and we quickly chose one.”

The house they settled on needed some cosmetic updates but ticked all the boxes on their must-haves list. “We needed a layout where the kids’ bedrooms were on the same floor as ours,” Kristen says. Another nonnegotiable: a home wit h a flat yard on a flat street. For them, “coming from the East Coast, this was an aesthetic that really spoke to us.” When the couple learned that this particular house had all that plus 15 kids right on the block, it sealed the deal.

However, before moving in, the Baileys hired a demolition team to remove the home’s inground swimming pool. “It was a safety issue,” she says. “I wouldn’t move into the house with my kids until it was gone.” Other pre-move-in improvements included removing several dated built-ins, adding new flooring and refreshing the walls with new paint and wallpaper.

Just recently the couple updated the powder room, refaced the fi replace and tweaked the kitchen by improving its sight lines. “The home had three hanging cabinets that blocked the view into the family room,” Kristen says. They popped them out, patched the ceiling and voilà, open concept living.

The Baileys also got lucky with previous home purchases that transitioned seamlessly into the new space. “Other than a coffee table and a couple of chairs, we really haven’t had to buy much,” Kristen con fides.

Next on the family’s to-do list: turn the garage into a dance studio/game room/artsand-crafts space for the kids. “We don’t park in it anyway, so it makes more sense to use it as a playroom.”

And while jumping into a purchase was not part of their original plan, the Baileys have no regrets. “We love it here,” Kristen says. “We wanted an outdoor lifestyle with access to hiking and biking and now we have it.” m

THE DETAILS

WHERE THEY PURCHASED Reedlands neighborhood in Tiburon

WHAT THEY BOUGHT 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom, single-level home

LISTING AGENTS Janet Williamson and Sally Williamson, Paci fic Union

SELLING AGENTS Missy Zech and Stacy Achuck, Decker Bullock Sotheby’s International Realty

THE STATS Price per square for homes in the neighborhood: $860

Opposite: The living room. This page, clockwise from top left: The manicured entryway looks welcoming even in the rain; eliminating the cabinets above the kitchen’s breakfast bar exponentially improved this home’s sight lines; a dated fireplace was retiled; purple packs a punch; antique chairs were reupholstered to complement the Baileys’ custom sofa and banquette; the Bailey family.

Stunning modern architecture in an estate setting with magnificent views of Mt. Tam and the surrounding valleys. The two-story design is seamlessly integrated with the grounds of approximately two-thirds an acre opening onto expansive level spaces for outdoor living. The home’s public rooms are arranged on the top level, a series of open connecting spaces for formal entertaining and casual living surrounded on all sides by a vast terrace. All four bedrooms are located on the ground floor, plus an office with private entrance. Adding the finishing touch are the resort-inspired outdoor venues with a gas fire pit, hot tub spa, expansive level lawn, and Zen gardens, the quintessential California lifestyle in an unparalleled setting. www.2cypressavenue.com

Radhi Ahern Luxury Property Specialist

Contact 415.531.2981

Radhi@ahern-kalmbach.com License #01411471

Scott Kalmbach Luxury Property Specialist

Contact 415.350.7911

Scott@ahern-kalmbach.com License #01795204

Stinson

Located 45 minutes from San Francisco, surrounded by Golden Gate National Seashore, Stinson Beach is the ideal getaway. You can surf, paddle board, kayak, swim, run the beach, hike the trails, or just kick back. Bring the kids and the family dog, or take a solo retreat. Oceanic Realty can help you identify the property to suit your needs.

Conveniently located in Stinson Beach since 1970. (415) 868-0717 www.oceanicrealty.com • 3470 Shoreline Highway, Stinson Beach, CA

Joshua Deitch Southern Marin

MARIN COUNTY

HOMES IN MARIN COUNTY AND BEYOND

COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE: 17.8%

DECKER BULLOCK SOTHEBY’S: 17.7%

PACIFIC UNION: 13.2%

BRADLEY REAL ESTATE: 11.3%

ALAIN PINEL REALTORS: 5.3%

ZEPHYR REAL ESTATE: 2.9%

PARAGON R.E. GROUP: 2.6%

MARIN MODERN REAL ESTATE: 2.3%

BAY AREA

Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties

COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE: 11.8%

ALAIN PINEL REALTORS: 7.5%

INTERO REAL ESTATE SERVICES: 5.9%

PACIFIC UNION: 4.7%

SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY: 2.1%

SERENO GROUP: 2.0%

J ROCKCLIFF REALTORS: 1.6%

ZEPHYR REAL ESTATE: 1.5%

On a sunny cul-de-sac close to

#00945576, #00959151

Vista Dorado 227 Evergreen Drive 75 Upland Road 91 Upper Toyon Drive

LISTED

Vista Dorado | Sausalito Offered at $2,500,000 - $10,000,000

227 Evergreen Drive | Kent Woodlands Offered at $2,900,000

75 Upland Road | Kent Woodlands Offered at $3,495,000

SOLD

91 Upper Toyon Drive | Kentfield Sold off-market in 14 days

A llison Salzer 415.297.2110 allison@vanguardmarin.com BRE#01978463

“My passion is delivering results that consistently beat market averages while exceeding my clients’ expectations of the home buying and selling process. I have applied my negotiating and marketing skills in Marin for nearly 30 years in a spirit of commitment and integrity, yielding solid results and enduring relationships with clients and colleagues alike.“

Laurie Schenk | 415.271.2121 laurie@vanguardmarin.com BRE# 00631129

Allison Salzer impact organized

“We keep our minds and bodies in shape, why not our homes? Moving can be chaotic, so as a part of my service

I offer clients simple solutions for packing, organizing, and decluttering: saving them time, money, and their sanity! Moves don't have to be stressful. I'm here to help.“

Pamela Herz | 415.244.5585 Realtor ® | Professional Organizer pamela@vanguardproperties.com BRE#01197160

Napa Valley Vineyard Estate

Beautiful contemporary Napa Valley Estate home on 9+ acres with 7.8 acres planted in Cabernet in the Oak Knoll AVA. Perfect Valley floor location with mountain views and surrounded by vineyards. Extensive gardens, entertainment areas, pool & spa, classic vineyard style and new quality construction. Winemaking options. 2000 sq.ft. building for potential hobby winery, all the comforts of country living with city water.

Offered At $5,888,000

Curtis Carruth (707) 363-0303

Town and Country-Best of Both Worlds

One of the finest homes in Mill Valley for sale combining a private and tranquil setting with high-end, contemporary style. The result is an extraordinary environment that epitomizes graceful and distinctive family living. This home was built in 2007 by builder John Ravizza, and feels like new construction. Minutes to Good Earth, freeway and forest living. www.699ForestWay.com

Offered At $2,650,000

Lyndasue Johnson (415) 515-7010

Costa De Sausalito

Hills & bay views; private drive, and cul-de-sac location; minutes to the Golden Gate Bridge & the charming seaport town of Sausalito, this home has been rebuilt from the foundation up; Approx. $1.6M invested in new foundation; use of green sensitive materials, appliances & systems; hi-end, water filtration system; skylights; expansive wraparound decking; spacious guest suite with deck; additional bonus room with 1/2 bath.

Offered At $2,595,000

Glenn Roberts (415) 516-5782

Gated Custom Estate in Marin

This luxury property boasts approx. 3709 sq.ft. of living space, including five bedrooms and four full baths with an au-pair suite with separate entrance, a gorgeous marble entry, formal living room and dining room with 12 ft. ceilings and white Oak plank floors, open great room. Gourmet kitchen, two large fire places and panoramic views. Fully landscaped secluded yard with patio and room for pool. www.610Canyonrd.com.

Offered At $2,199,000

Nancy Bandettini (707) 479-5621

Privacy & Endless Possibilities in Novato

This incredible custom home in Rancho de Novato on 2.5± acres comes with adjacent 1.3±-acre buildable lot. Two kitchens, dining, living and family rooms, sauna. Beautiful decking; a pool with a gorgeous gazebo, built in picnic areas & meandering trails. Numerous areas for planting and greenhouses or chicken coops for your farm to table, sustainable life style. 5BR/5BA. www.2415LagunaVistaDr.com Katie Wigington

Please Call For Price

(415) 827-3626

Come Home to San Anselmo

Delightful, updated home in the desirable Oak Springs neighborhood of San Anselmo. Features include hardwood floors, master suite with gorgeous bathroom & a large, open kitchen with granite counters. The kitchen opens to a formal dining area & large view deck, great for indoor/outdoor entertaining. Sweeping views of Sleepy Hollow & and beyond to the SF Bay. Fireplace. Garage (used as office), laundry & storage. Award winning schools. A must see!

Offered At $995,000

Eric Gelman (415) 686-1855

Serenity in Inverness

Restored & remodeled contemporary home sited in Inverness Park. Come to this peaceful setting & enjoy all that West Marin has to offer. Downstairs features open kitchen with granite island & counter tops, dining area, cozy living room with wood burning fireplace, family room,1BR/1BA. Bamboo floors throughout the downstairs living areas. Upstairs features a bedroom with vaulted ceiling & skylight. Loft with full bath, stove, and a large deck attached.

Offered At $925,000

Michael Milano (415) 246-6868

Single Level Turn Key Home in Novato

This home features an updated kitchen with granite counter tops, gas range and double oven, large living room with fireplace, huge dining room, spacious bedrooms including a master suite with dual closets and crown molding and remodeled bathrooms. Other features include gleaming hardwood floors, newer windows, updated electrical and ceiling fans. Both front and back yards have been freshly landscaped.

Offered At $829,000

Jennifer Bowes (415) 717-1632

DECKER BULLOCK SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

is pleased to announce that Jeff Brown has joined our talented team. A second-generation real estate professional and raised in San Francisco, Jeff brings to the table his broad network of resources in finance and related areas, legal training and hardearned negation skills. Jeff was raised on real estate. His father, Ray Brown, is a former President of the San Francisco Board of Realtors and author of the best-selling real estate books “Home Buying for Dummies,” “House Selling for Dummies,” and “Mortgages for Dummies.” We are proud to welcome Jeff, his seasoned skills and talents, and look forward to this new chapter in his career.

Jeff Brown 415.637.3172 jeff.brown @ sir.com CalBRE# 01870772

48 Stonetree Lane, Novato The luxurious Tuscany style home in the heart of Stonetree golf club! This “Santa Barbara Model” is surrounded by beautiful oak trees and adjoining hills! Relax in your private outdoor spa & enjoy the fresh breeze of nearby wine country wafting through! 4 bed, 3.5 bath, office, rec room, 4773± sq ft. $1,848,000 48stonetree.com

20 Owl Ridge Ct, Novato French Country Living at its best! The “Avignon Model” is located in the prestigious Golf Country only a short drive away from Napa/Sonoma and the GG bridge! Surrounded by majestic oak trees, this beautifully designed home features the chefs kitchen, 4 bed, 3.5 bath, office, rec room 3993± sq ft. $1,768,000 20owlridge.com

SOLD

601 Nevada St, Sausalito A designer, contemporary townhouse in the heart of Sausalito! Just remodeled 2 bed, 2 bath plus a lovely sunroom off kitchen/dining room. Designer tiles in both bathrooms. Hardwood flooring throughout the house. Close to ferry, harbor, restaurants, stores. $938,000 601nevada.com

15 Owl Ridge Ct. Novato This luxurious French Country contemporary property shows like a model home! A tasteful designer showcase in a gated golf community! Serene private view of the hills from every room. 4 bed, 3.5 bath. Den, rec room, Chef’s kitchen, 3 fireplaces. Sold $1,825,000 I would like to thank all my clients for their trust in me and in making 2016 a successful year!

Behzad Zandinejad Top Producing Agent 2015 & 2016

Please visit Marin.com for more properties

Behzad Zandinejad Broker Associate 415.793.0015 b.zandinejad @deckerbullocksir.com Marin.com CalBRE# 01175448

5 bedrooms plus office/4.5 bathrooms. Beautifully built Craftsman home nestled in a secluded setting in Seminary Estates. Views, sunshine, hiking trails right out the door. High ceilings, open floor plan, plenty of room for entertaining indoors and out. Classically elegant, yet welcoming and warm. Gorgeous, sunny office, open kitchen/great room, extensively upgraded and well maintained. Co-listed with Glen Williams & with Hailey Chang, Alain Pinel Realtors.

2

baths

Enjoy the Tiburon lifestyle with or without a car! Located just steps from recreational paths and downtown grocery store, cafes, library and other services. The ferry and transit buses are near as well. Spacious end unit w/southern exposure and lovely views of the water and Mt. Tam. Iconic MarinMidcentury Modern with redwood, high arched ceilings & full-length windows for a stylish, expansive feel. Open kitchen, wood floors, 1-car garage. Only 8 units in this well-maintained complex. 50

3 bedrooms plus bonus room/3 baths. Best ‘fixer’ of the year? Ideal to live in and fix up gradually. The fundamentals are great- the size, location, views, charm & sun exposure truly merit all the TLC you can give it. Quietly tucked away in one of San Rafael’s most sought after neighborhoods with great natural light and Mt. Tam views. Very appealing artistic character. Secluded patio garden & pool. Appx 2620 sq.ft of living space per tax records.Street-to-street lot from a shared private driveway to a quiet cul-de-sac below.

We needed a place to park our wheels.

Collision Course

A tragedy on the bay in the dark of night.

BY JIM WOOD

THEN EVERYTHING HAPPENED, and with inconceivable rapidity. The fog seemed to break away as though split by a wedge, and the bow of a steamboat emerged, trailing fog wreaths on either side like seaweed on the snout of a Leviathan. Those words are in the opening paragraph of Jack London’s novel The Sea-Wolf. And according to numerous sources, they were inspired by London’s reading of the San Francisco Chronicle ’s account of the November 30, 1901, dark-of-night, fog-shrouded collision of the steam-powered ferryboats San Rafael and Sausalito. “It was the newer Sausalito that set off rom Sausalito to the city on an extremely foggy Saturday evening,” writes historian Barry Spitz in Marin: A History. “Meanwhile, the San Rafael had left San Francisco a few minutes later than its scheduled 6:15 departure due to the fog. On board were over 200 shoppers and matinee-goers.” Prior to the accident, both ships were proceeding slowly with their fog bells, horns and whistles constantly ringing. The cause of the collision, other than a dense tule fog, was never clearly determined. Both captains’ licenses were temporarily suspended. First reports claimed anywhere from a dozen to over 100 deaths. Yet although the San Rafael sank within 20 minutes, fast action by both vessels’ crews, who lashed the ferries together and placed planks between them, kept actual fatalities to between three and five. A conclusive count was never reached, but “it remains the worst collision in the 166-year history of San Francisco Bay ferry service.” according to a December 1, 2016, Chronicle article marking the 115th anniversary of the tragedy. Both the San Rafael and the Sausalito were owned by the Northwest Paci fic Coast Railroad, which, due in no small part to the two ships colliding on that foggy November night, fell into bankruptcy soon after. m

DATED 1907 (SAUSALITO)

The cause of the collision, other than a dense tule fog, was never clearly determined.

DATED 1898 (SAN RAFAEL)

Rainforests are responsible for about one in eight of the breaths we take. Visit our ever-evolving indoor rainforest to learn how these vital ecosystems affect life globally. Plus, see all the colorful new species just added to the 1,600 plants and animals from around the world.

Get tickets at calacademy.org

The Osher Rainforest is generously supported by The Bernard Osher Foundation