Marin Magazine May 2017

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John Deckert painted the winning submission for this year’s cover contest. We loved his view of the Point Bonita Lighthouse and we loved hearing how the image came to be. Unable to get an easel out to the point, Deckert relied on sketches to outline the basic idea.

LENNY

Noises Off at S.F. Playhouse

Switch now to make a difference.

The Carrier with a Conscience

Learn more by visiting credomobile.com/marin

PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Nikki Wood

Editorial

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Mimi Towle

MANAGING EDITOR

Daniel Jewett

SENIOR WRITER

Jim Wood

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kasia Pawlowska

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Leela Lindner

COPY EDITOR Cynthia Rubin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Andrea Gaytan, Melanie Haiken, Laura Hilgers, Kier Holmes, Dawn Margolis Denberg, Tim Porter, Calin Van Paris Art

ART DIRECTOR

Rachel Gr iffiths PRODUCTION MANAGER

Alex French

ILLUSTRATORS

Shannon May, James O’Brien

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Mo DeLong, Lenny Gonzalez, Tim Porter, Debra Tarrant, Victor Volta Administration / Web

CONTROLLER

Maeve Walsh WEB/IT MANAGER Peter Thomas

DIGITAL MARKETING ASSOCIATE Max Weinberg OFFICE MANAGER

Advertising

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Debra Hershon ext 120 | dhershon@marinmagazine.com

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Michele Geoff rion Johnson ext 110 | mjohnson@marinmagazine.com

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Leah Bronson, ext 109 | lbronson@marinmagazine.com Lesley Cesare, ext 113 | lcesare@marinmagazine.com

ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Dana Horner, ext 107 | dhorner@marinmagazine.com Kirstie Martinelli ext 100 | kmartinelli@marinmagazine.com

ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Alex French

Regional Sales O ffices

WINE COUNTRY

Lesley Cesare | lcesare@marinmagazine.com

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Leah Bronson | lbronson@marinmagazine.com NEW YORK

Karen Couture, Couture Marketing | 917.821.4429 HAWAII

Debbie Anderson, Destination Marketing | 808.739.2200

Reader Services

MAILING ADDRESS

One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965 PHONE 415.332.4800 FAX 415.332.3048

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Victor Volta

Photographer, “Field Notes” (p. 52)

Victor Volta is an Alameda-based nature/ landscape photographer and writer. Born and raised in Santa Clara, he graduated from San Jose State University with a B.A. in journalism/photojournalism. In recent years he’s become an avid hiker, backpacker and naturalist. When not hiking in the Sierras, he can often be found walking or crawling with his camera on Mount Tamalpais’ trails, trying to get the best angles on lowgrowing wildfloers and even lower-growing mushrooms. Read about his adventures at themountainjournals.wordpress.com.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Guest speakers, including Jeff Gordon (President, American Birding Association) and Kenn Kaufman (Author, Artist, Conservationist)

Guided field trips on land and sea

Trade show for outdoor and birding equipment

Bird-themed arts and crafts fair NEW birding film festival Photography and art workshops

James O’Brien

Illustrator, “The Zen of Surfing” (p. 48)

James O’Brien, a Minneapolis-based illustrator and designer, creates conceptual, decorative, art and design for editorial, corporate and publishing clients. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Village Voice, Los Angeles Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, Smithsonian magazine, Yoga Journal and Outside Magazine, among others. To view more of his work, visit obrien.art.

Andrea Gaytan

Writer, “The Zen of Surfing” (p. 48)

Mexican-born Andrea Gaytan was one of the fi rst women in the sport of wakeboarding and started her career traveling the world competing against men. In 1996 she participated in the X Games and at the Callaway Masters, and as a result of her performances, a women’s division was added the following year. Gaytan captured the women’s Wakeboard World Championships four times in a row. She retired after winning the 1999 Gravity Games and now lives with her son Kai on Kauai, where she loves to write and surf.

Surfing. Skiing. Baseball. Golf. “Work hard, play hard,” is Randy Ichihana’s motto. He likes to spend all his free time playing sports. But in his early fifties, Randy developed debilitating hip pain. When medication and cortisone shots stopped working, he consulted Marin General Hospital joint replacement experts. They recommended an anterior hip replacement. To prepare, Randy took Marin General Hospital’s free joint replacement class, where he learned about the mobility advantages and faster recovery that anterior hip surgery can provide. Randy had his surgery in the morning and was back on his feet that evening. He went home the next day. A week later, he was back at work, able to sit, drive, and walk without hip pain. Randy has since resumed his active lifestyle and is busy conquering the Marin Headlands, one hill at a time. To read more healing stories, visit www.maringeneral.org/healing

I’m Randy, and this is my healing place.

LUCAS VALLEY

Learning how to identify these fleeting and stunning bursts of color is something I loved exploring nearly 20 years ago.

Going Wild

Learning to appreciate the county’s natural riches just might start with the phrase “April showers bring May flowers.”

AFTER A VERY rainy winter — with some projections putting the season’s total in Marin beyond 93 inches — California is officially out of extreme drought. And yes, thanks to the Marin Municipal Water District, we have learned some valuable lessons in conservation, which is important, as our reservoirs only hold two years’ worth of water. Beyond that, all this moisture could have one happy side effect: a banner spring for wild flowers. To help you understand the blooms you’re looking at, photographer Victor Volta has partnered up with plant expert Kier Holmes to showcase some of our county’s cellulose celebrities

Learning how to identify these fleeting and stunning bursts of color is something I loved exploring nearly 20 years ago as a docent at Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Bolinas Lagoon Preserve. I always fell for the bright orange of the California poppy, the shocking magenta of the chaparral pea flower or the delicate white of the milkmaids, usually the fi rst to bloom.

The program was run by a dynamic group of former teachers who knew how to simplify ecological concepts into digestible nuggets. The goal was to learn enough about the flora and fauna so we could educate schoolchildren around the Bay Area who visited the ranch on field trips. As we roamed the miles of trails surrounding the preserve, I also learned about conservationists who — in the ultimate clever chess move — were responsible for putting an end to plans for a massive development of the Bolinas Lagoon by purchasing Kent Island in the middle of the lagoon.

There has since been a documentary made on these folks called Rebels With a Cause Sadly, my career as a docent was short-lived, as I’d joined this group during maternity leave, thinking I would have lots of downtime. I’m forever grateful to the patient docent trainers who helped me distinguish between a newt and a lizard and who taught me one of my favorite silly riddles: How do you tell the di fference between a crow and a raven? It’s a matter of a pinion (ravens have wedge-shaped tails, while crows have flatter, fan-shaped tails due to feathers known as pinions).

The area is now called the Martin Gri ffi n Preserve, after one of the aforementioned conservationists, and still offers outdoor education, including a wild flower hike on May 27.

Being drawn to Marin’s natural beauty was also one of the themes of Dawn Denberg’s Backstory column. When she turned in the story, we discussed how old we felt, considering the fact that we had met more than 20 years ago and both moved to Marin from San Francisco to be able to enjoy the spectacular open space and share it with our yet-to-be-born kids.

Yes, it’s expensive to live here, but access to miles of natural splendor covered with wildflowers and so close to a major city doesn’t come cheap. As an aside, I suggested she send the couple she interviewed a copy of Rebels With a Cause, a must-see for any new resident who wants to understand what we have here and why we have it. If you haven’t seen it, it can be purchased for $25 at rebelsdocumentary.org.

Mimi Towle, Executive Editor

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MAY IS A very exciting time here at Marin Magazine. It’s when we literally turn our cover over to readers who enter our annual cover contest. This time around, John Deckert’s painting of the Point Bonita Lighthouse earned the top honor — read about Deckert and the 12 fi nalists, and see their art, in our features section.

There you’ll also fi nd stories about the Zen of sur fi ng and identifying Marin’s wild flowers. With the rains over and the sun shining, both are excellent ways to get out and enjoy all the natural beauty Marin offers this time of year.

We also bring you another round of Subcultures. This time, Calin Van Paris talks to Marinites who moved their beer-brewing operation from the garage to a much bigger venue — speci fically, opening East Brother Beer Co. in Richmond. If you haven’t been, it’s a great place to try some outstanding beers and talk about the craft.

It’s a great place to try some outstanding beers and talk about the craft.

Up front we’ve got the details on who gave West Marin’s Nova Albion its name and what those purple meters are doing in San Rafael. We also explore San Francisco’s Chestnut Street and talk to a popular Marin cashier, a footwear entrepreneur and Board of Supervisors president Judy Arnold.

In Destinations, we travel near and far, taking trips to both Jenner and South Carolina’s low country. And writer Melanie Haiken takes us to areas off he beaten path in Turkey, often called the crossroads of the world.

It’s a big issue full of lots of great reads; we hope you enjoy it. And after you do, we hope to see you on the trails and in the water.

A GOOD POINT

We were impressed with cover art contest winner John Deckert’s rendering of the Point Bonita Lighthouse. But when we went to meet him, we discovered that he also has a talent for portraits, as with this painting of his wife. Read the feature story to learn about how the couple reconnected.

Daniel Jewett, Managing Editor

WHEN WHERE WHY YOU SHOULD GO COST

FIND OUT MORE

Bay Area events you’ll want to attend

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

[UPCOMING EVENTS]

MARIN DESIGN AWARDS

May 18, 6–9 p.m.

80 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, Community Center

Vanguard Properties presents the Marin Design Awards, a celebration of creativity and innovation in design. The awards recognize achievements in the areas of architecture, interior and exterior design, home decor, floral design and fashion (clothing and accessories). Designers are selected for their creativity, community participation and overall innovation in their respective fields. The event benefits Home for a Home, an organization that provides housing for underprivileged families in Guatemala. Enjoy an evening of cocktails, appetizers, a fashion show and awards presentation. $50

marindesignawards.com

RANCHES & ROLLING HILLS ART SHOW & SALE

WHEN WHERE WHY YOU SHOULD GO COST

FIND OUT MORE

Lunch: May 20 Show and Sale: May 20–21 4499 Nicasio Valley Road, Nicasio, Druids Hall

Celebrate Marin’s beauty as seen through the eyes of acclaimed Marin and Oak Group artists at MALT’s 20th annual art show. For this special year, 35 artists will paint new works capturing the farms, ranches, families, livestock, hills and waterways that make up West Marin. The preview lunch on Saturday features awardwinning foods from MALTprotected farms. All proceeds from the art show benefit Marin Agricultural Land Trust.

Show: Free Lunch: $200 ($150 members) 415.663.1158, malt.org

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

Your Vote Counts

Do you have a favorite burger or martini in Marin? How about a best place to get a massage or a mani-pedi or do yoga? We’ve compiled a list of our local favorites in five categories — food, drink, shopping, recreation and beauty — and would love to hear from you about which of these places you like best. The top choices in each section will be published in our August 2017 Best of the County issue. In appreciation of your participation, we will add your name to a monthly drawing for a $100 certificate valid at a local restaurant. Register your vote at marinmagazine.com/bestofmarin2017.

• online Be in the Know

Do you find yourself wondering what’s happening for fun and entertainment on weekends? How about looking for that new play? Our weekly Weekend 101 newsletter has top picks and information on all kinds of local activities, dining deals and adventures you won’t want to miss. To sign up, go to marinmagazine.com/newsletters.

POV

Your Letters

Vaccination Information

In your article on Matt Willis (Conversation, April) and vaccinations, can you tell me why he was not asked what the ingredients are in the MMR vaccine and all the other vaccinations he is pushing ? Do you know what the ingredients are? Once you fi nd out this information, do you still think they are safe and effective being injected directly into our bloodstream, bypassing our body’s own natural immune system response? If you look at the World Health Organization charts, you will see that vaccinations getting credit for eradicating the diseases is a myth. It was better hygiene, clean water and better diets that eliminated these diseases, not vaccinations.

DON CLARK, VIA EMAIL

Mimi Towle, I was so excited to get my Marin Magazine and read your Editor’s Note (April). One thing I have to add: teenage boys should also receive the HPV vaccine; it protects against cancers (and there are many) related to the human papillomavirus.

SARAH NOAH, VIA EMAIL

Correction

Regarding Looking Back (April), according to Mailliard family genealogist and historian Carolyn Mailliard Hacker, John Ward Mailliard III is the great grandson, not the grandson, of Adolph and Annie Mailliard, who in 1854 acquired Rancho San Geronimo. Also, according to DNA analysis, Adolph Mailliard was not a relative, shirttail or otherwise, of Napoleon Bonaparte.

CAROLYN MAILLIARD HACKER,

VIA EMAIL

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.

Teenage boys should also receive the HPV vaccine; it protects against cancers.

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

the LOOK

SHOE STORIES OF SAUSALITO is proud to announce the arrival of their newest designer Aquazzura for Spring/Summer 17. For Columbian born designer Edgardo Osorio of Aquazurra, “It’s all about the women” and how his shoes makes her feel, strong, sexy and comfortable. Available exclusively at Shoe Stories of Sausalito.

SHOE STORIES OF SAUSALITO

22 El Portal, Sausalito, CA 415.332.1662 shoestoriesofsausalito.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

THE

OYSTER PERPETUAL

DATEJUST is the watch of reference for those who believe elegance is timeless. Julianna’s Fine Jewelry is proud to be Marin’s only authorized Rolex retailer with new models arriving weekly!

JULIANNA’S FINE JEWELRY

The Village at Corte Madera, Corte Madera, CA 415.413.0898 juliannasfinejewelry.com

SPRING HAS ARRIVED!

Jewelry is not just for dressing up. It is a talisman, a lasting memory of an adventure, a walk through the woods, a stroll on the beach, a trip to foreign lands. 19 karat gold © Aaron Henry.

STEPHAN-HILL JEWELRY DESIGNERS

1226 4th Street, San Rafael, CA 415.459.5808 stephan-hill.com

Ventana. Fine Outdoor Furniture Designed With Style In Mind.

Ventana Fine Outdoor Furniture can be found exclusively at TerraOutdoorLiving.com or in stock at the following locations.

Burlingame 650-343-4500

1320 Burlingame Ave.

Mill Valley 415-331-1603

258 Redwood Hwy

Mountain View 650-969-2200 1064 W. El Camino Real

San Ramon 925-837-7787

2095 San Ramon Valley Blvd.

Los Gatos 408-395-1700

120 N. Santa Cruz Ave.

Walnut Creek 925-935-5553

2042 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

WHITE HOT PARTY

Add more heat to your summer! Put on your summer whites and join us at Cavallo Point for the White Hot Party with Marin Magazine. This cool event not only celebrates the season’s long, warm days, it’s also the party for Marin Magazine’s special publication, Marin Summer: The Ultimate 2017 Guide to Activities and Events. Admission includes a sumptuous array of hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, entertainment by the celebrated David Martin’s House Party—a 9-piece musical experience, and white hot dancing! $85 / person

A portion of proceeds benefit

A nonprofit transforming the school food system at Marin City’s MLK Jr. Academy

Photos: Jasmine Wang, Tim Porter, Kodiak Greenwood

In Marin

CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND CAUSES OF THIS UNIQUE COUNTY

NOVA ALBION

West Marin’s very own White Cliffs. BY

KASIA PAWLOWSKA

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE has been the subject of much lore — and at least one hoax — in Marin County. Given that he was the second person in history known to circumnavigate the globe, and that he purportedly landed here, it only makes sense that his name is omnipresent, gracing street signs and high schools alike. There is another name associated with Drake that also appears frequently, however. Nova Albion was the name Drake gave to North America north of Mexico in 1579. Albion is an archaic name for the island of Great Britain. It’s believed Drake was referring to the white cli ffs of Dover, which strongly resemble these cli ffs at Drakes Bay, when selecting this name.

WHAT’S IN A NAME

CALL FOR HELP Across the country, 2017 has seen an uptick in reported hate crimes, and Marin County is taking steps to make sure its residents are protected. The Marin County District Attorney has set up a Hate Crime Hotline, and anyone who has been the victim of — or witnessed — what seems like a hate crime or hate speech is urged to report it. The hotline is intended to be a follow-up to an emergency 911 call, not a substitute for reporting emergencies, with messages currently available in English, Spanish, Farsi and Vietnamese. “All of us have broad constitutional protections with regard to our speech, religious affiliations and group associations,” says District Attorney Ed Berberian. “However, these protections have limitations and hatebased conduct can and will be prosecuted.” The number for the hotline is 415.473.2585. marincounty.org K.P.

May Day Is Lei Day

Conceived by the poet Don Blanding on May 1 in 1929, Lei Day is a Hawaiian festival that celebrates the tradition of making and wearing leis. Hawaiians wore these flower garlands in ancient times to represent their rank and wealth. Today leis are used to celebrate many occasions, with each flower telling a story. Here are three popular blooms that embody the spirit of aloha and info on local places to fi nd them. Just make sure to place your order early. LEELA LINDNER

Flower Plumeria

Hawaiian Name Melia

Known as the “lei flower,” this sweet-smelling bloom adds a delicious scent and full body to your garland; its waxy, sturdy aspect also makes it a popular choice. A variety of colors, from bright pink to soft white and yellow, can give your lei a vibrant look. Plumerias symbolize positivity and are used both for celebrations and for decorating graves. $25 at Hi’iaka Florist (SF), noveltylei.com

Flower Orchid

Hawaiian Name Okika

For a more refined look, no bloom beats the orchid. What these beauties lack in scent they make up for in durability, longevity and stunning structure; the bright lavender color is especially beloved. Symbolizing love and affection, the elegant blooms are favored for leis celebrating graduations, weddings and anniversaries and are a great option for people sensitive to fragrance. $65 at Nancy Ann’s Flower Market (Sausalito), nancyannsflowermarket.com

Purple Power

Flower Tuberose

Hawaiian

Name Kupaloke

These white flowers with blooms similar to a small rose are one of the most aromatic and delicate lei blossoms available; you only need a handful to make your entire garland smell intoxicatingly sweet. Though the tuberose holds its fragrance long after being plucked, it wilts more quickly than most. The flower symbolizes love, congratulation, friendship and commitment and hence is a favorite for weddings. $48 at Mill Valley Flowers (Mill Valley), millvalleyflowers.com

Move over, cool kid kale, and make room for the color purple. Foods with these deep hues are finally getting their time in the spotlight, and rightly so. Rich in anthocyanins, an antioxidant found in dark blue and purple produce, such foods are said to help fight cancer, inflammation and aging. Here are six favorites found in Marin. L.L.

Benefits

Get It From

Immune stimulating, prevents blood clots and improves circulation

Pure blend bowl at Mana Bowls, manabowls.com

Lowers blood pressure, anti-inflammatory, diabetic friendly and improves collagen health

Purple corn panna cotta at Más Masa, eatmasmasa.com

Boosts immune system, fights arthritis, promotes healthy bones and a healthy gut

Vegetable kraut at Good Earth salad bar, genatural.com

Supports heart health, helps maintain weight, is diabetic friendly, improves brain function

Eggplant stir-fry at R’Noh Thai, rnohthai.com

Antibacterial, antiaging, helps reduce cholesterol

Arugula and mission fig salad at 123 Bolinas, 123bolinas.com

Helps lower blood pressure, boosts immune system, helps with memory

Purple potato power bowl at Urban Remedy, urbanremedy.com

Purple ACAI BERRIES PURPLE CORN PURPLE CABBAGE EGGPLANT

FIGS PURPLE POTATO

BY THE NUMBERS

CREATING CHANGE We all mean well, right? But sometimes when we see someone less fortunate asking for change we ask, “Is this really helping?” Enter the purple meters installed by the Downtown Streets Team’s Put Your Change to Work program. The Downtown Streets Team, which helps homeless people get on track by offering them community work, has partnered with the City of San Rafael on this project. The meters, sponsored by individuals or companies, have nothing to do with parking — they allow people to use change or credit and debit cards to make donations to support the program, which assists participants with employment and basic needs stipends. In the past three years, the Downtown Streets Team has helped 67 team members obtain full-time jobs and gotten 37 into housing. Here are some other numbers on the Put Your Change to Work program. streetsteam.org/ community/marin KASIA PAWLOWSKA

CITY STREETS

Chestnut Street

OF ALL THE neighborhoods in San Francisco, the Marina evokes perhaps the most mixed feelings — you adore it or abhor it. That wasn’t always the case. In the 19th century the area consisted of sand dunes and marshland, and the few buildings located there were destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. During reconstruction, the Marina became the site of the Panama-Paci fic International Exposition, which included the Palace of Fine Arts. Rubble from the earthquake, mud, and sand dredged from the bottom of the bay were used in the rebuilding, which led to later problems. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake caused a fire and severe liquefaction of this “fill” on which the district sits. The neighborhood was quickly rebuilt, however. These days, along with a few gripes about young professionals, it draws plenty of praise. Residents and visitors love the easy access to Crissy Field, the Marina Green and the waterfront, and the dozens of shops, restaurants and bars, all mostly concentrated on one drag — Chestnut Street. KASIA PAWLOWSKA

LE MARAIS BAKERY & BISTRO Flaky croissants, classic French nibbles and Stumptown Coffee are among the treats you’ll find in this charming cafe. lemaraisbakery.com

BLUE BARN GOURMET

Crowds pack

this compact barn-like space for seasonal salads, decadent sandwiches including grilled cheese, and soups. Local ingredients are heavily featured. bluebarngourmet.com

CALIFORNIA WINE MERCHANT

1 2 3

Owner Greg O’Flynn has been in business since 1974. Doubling as a wine store and bar — one that’s open late seven nights a week — it features an array of small California producers. californiawinemerchant.com

MARINA THEATRE This neighborhood theater is small but cozy. Excellent sound quality, a friendly staff and a robust concession stand make it a winning option for a casual night out. lntsf.com/marina-theatre

BLACKWOOD A modern yet comfortable setting featuring Thai food fused with American flavors makes this restaurant a popular destination for brunch, happy hour and dates. blackwoodsf.com

TOSS Founded by Ross resident Jennifer Hogan, Toss carries totes, travel bags in preppy colors and prints, gift items and monogrammed women’s clothing. tossdesigns.com

WHERE TO EAT Aside from the restaurants mentioned, other popular area eateries include A16, Castagna Bistro, Causwells, Chestnut Diner, Delarosa, Dragon Well, Glaze Teriyaki, Mezes, Naked Fish, Pacific Catch, Ristobar, Super Duper, Tacolicious and The Dorian.

TIPSY PIG This popular watering hole with a huge back patio serves American comfort food and distinct drinks like Strawberry Fields (vodka, fresh strawberries, soda water and fresh lime). thetipsypig.com

4 5 6 7 8

SEED + SALT In keeping with the times and often challenging dietary restrictions, Seed + Salt offers gluten-free, dairy-free vegetarian fare in a modern cafe setting. seedandsalt.com

9MAYBECK’S Named after the architect of the aforementioned Palace of Fine Arts, this tavern is known for its California twist on classic Italian staples. A stamped-tin ceiling, fine cocktails and lounge-y bar area make settling in here easy. maybecks.com

WHERE TO PARK Garages and parking lots just off Chestnut Street, in addition to street parking, include the Pierce-Lombard Garage at 3236 Pierce Street, the Lombard Street Garage at 2055 Lombard Street, and a lot at 2055 Chestnut Street between Fillmore and Steiner. Street parking can be tricky.

Be Free

BY TIM PORTER

MOST EVERYONE WHO shops at the Whole Foods store on Blithedale Avenue in Mill Valley knows Jay Tamang. He’s worked a register there since the store opened in 2010. Between his time there and his five years with other stores in the chain, Tamang has become known for two things: his sunny disposition and his nonprofit educational work in Bhalche, Nepal, his native village. When did you come to the U.S.? In 2004. When I left, my youngest boy was only 25 days old. I left my two sons and wife behind. They came here in 2006. Why did you leave? Communists were trying to take over the country. They were kidnapping and torturing and demanding money from poor people. It wasn’t safe to live there. How did you end up in Marin? I had a friend in Mill Valley I met through my work in Nepal, where I was a tour organizer and trekking guide. I organized her trips for her. And Whole Foods? I wasn’t sure what I was going to do here, and my friend suggested I work in a grocery store. She took me into a store and she walked me through the aisles and I was thinking, “Oh my god. How

ON THE JOB

Jay Tamang, cashier, Whole Foods, Mill Valley; founder, Nepal FREED, nepalfreed.org

am I going to learn all this stu ff ?” There are so many di fferent kinds of food here in the United States. What’s your job? I am a cashier, a checker. At the Miller (Avenue) store I was a supervisor for almost a year, but to do that you need to have a flexible schedule and I can’t do that because I have my family. You like your work? I love my job. I meet a lot of good people. I like to be around people and I like interacting with people. What is Nepal FREED? My goal is to aid the schools. In many classrooms [in Nepal] there were more than 50, 60, 80 children. The buildings were crumbling. My goal was to rebuild them or expand the classrooms and to help the children. A lot of parents are very poor and they don’t send their children to school because they can’t pay the fees. Since I started Nepal FREED, I’ve built two schools and a library, all of which were destroyed by earthquake in April of 2015. After the earthquake, I rebuilt the high school (for 390 students) and an elementary school (for 58 children). m

TIM PORTER (TOP); JAY TAMANG (NEPAL)

With one foot in Nepal and one in Mill Valley, this grocery store worker is focused on the big picture.

Images of Nepal, clockwise from left: Tamang stands in the rubble after the 2015 earthquake; a group of children return from school; village children; the high school in the upper village.

For some, philanthropy is more than an interest. It’s an essential part of who they are. For those with a profound commitment to charitable giving–and significant resources to commit–the Marin Community Foundation has established…

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MADE BY MARIN

Mohinders

MANY OF US obsess and try to re-create or replace prized objects. Meals, clothing and, well, even people often number among these long-gone treasures. Finding a suitable substitution, however, is not so simple — Michael Paratore can talk to that. Paratore, founder of Mill Valley–based Mohinders, traveled to India searching for the makers of the prized footwear he’d found there. PHILOSOPHY A corporate lawyer turned social entrepreneur, Paratore partnered with a nongovernmental organization in a small village in India to bring his beloved shoes to the global market. As a result, second- and third-generation artisan weavers now continue to practice an age-old method while breaking themselves out of a cycle of poverty. THE SCOOP Mohinders updated the shoes Paratore discovered as a traveler, using highquality materials such as water bu ffalo leather. Production still includes an ancient vegetable tan dye process and a keen focus on design. It’s a small collection, built around a few styles, and expert leather workmanship remains a point of pride. Styles start at $145.

BEYOND MARIN You ca n fi nd Mohinders at Bay Area retailers like the Perish Trust in San Francisco, other stores nationwide, and at mohinders.com. WHAT THEY SAY “From the beginning, the only way I would do this business was if it was in an ethical manner and if it would make an impact,” Paratore says. “But I don’t think of myself as a social entrepreneur. For me, that’s just the way to do business.” mohinders.com KASIA PAWLOWSKA

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Judy Arnold

After several decades in public life, this Marin County supervisor still loves what she does.

BY JIM WOOD • PHOTO BY LENNY GONZALEZ

IF 70 IS the new 40, Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold is, let’s say, around 45 years old with the energy of a 30-something. Moreover, after more than five decades in public life, her optimism appears hardly tempered by the reality of a life spent in government.

“You were born to be a politician,” Arnold’s father told her just days before he passed away. Currently, as she has since her election in November of 2010, she represents Marin County’s 5th District, which encompasses most of Novato and the nearby communities of Bel Marin Keys, Indian Valley and Black Point, on the Marin County Board of Supervisors. She served two terms on the Novato City Council prior to that.

Arnold began her career as an assistant to Sargent Shriver, President John F. Kennedy’s Peace Corps director. Following a move west, along with marriage and child-raising, Arnold found herself in Marin successfully managing the supervisorial political campaign of the late and very colorful and accomplished Gary Giacomini. For two years she served as Giacomini’s administrative aide as he fought to set beneficial environmental policy in Marin.

When Giacomini retired in 1996, Arnold took a similar position with another colorful politician, Democratic State Senator John Burton. In the late 1990s, while Burton was for all intents running the State of California during the recall and removal of Governor Gray Davis, Arnold was serving as the de facto state senator from Marin. She and Burton still, on frequent occasions, discuss regional politics.

Now, halfway through her third term as a county supervisor, Judy Arnold is president of the Marin County Board of Supervisors. We asked her about the challenges and opportunities facing this region.

Let’s jump right into it: how is Marin County faring with the Trump presidency? Well, the county should be breathing easier now that the vote to repeal and replace the A ffordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was pulled from the House agenda. If Congress had passed it, and President Trump approved it, it would have cost Marin $100 million in federal health care funds, mostly Medicaid, that’s

distributed throughout the county every year. We also estimate that 600 jobs would have been lost. All I can say is, so far so good.

If Congress had passed it, and President Trump approved it, it would have cost Marin $100 million in federal health care funds.

Returning to the home front, you also serve as chair of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit board, or SMART. How is that progressing? It is going really well. By the time this interview comes out, in late spring, trains should be running along the 38-mile route between downtown San Rafael and Airport Boulevard, north of Santa Rosa. The intent is for it to take at least 1,000 cars a day off he Highway 101 commute. Clipper card machines have been ordered, fare structures are set and rigorous safety testing continues. SMART trains will all function under Positive Train Control, or PTC, which enables a computer to automatically stop the cars if a danger appears up ahead and the train’s conductor has somehow missed it. We’ll be one of the fi rst in the nation to have this capability.

Is the rumor of free fares more than a rumor? Indeed it is, it’s a fact. SMARTs board has authorized a free ride period from opening day until the Fourth of July; then tickets will be half-price until Labor Day. By then, people will love taking the train to work and maybe heading north to the Wine Country on weekends.

Which brings to mind a transportation snafu, the winter flooding and five-day closure of Highway 37 connecting Marin, Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties. What will preclude that happening again? This is an important issue. The portion of Highway 37 that’s in Marin is actually below sea level, so it’s a critical issue involving all four counties. The good news is that in February Caltrans completed $8 million in emergency repairs that improved the

drainage, paving and shoulder protection of Highway 37. This should reduce the frequency, duration and intensity of flooding — but in the long term, we need to address the issue of sea levels rising due to climate change. That said, a four-county planning effort, the Highway 37 Policy Committee, is underway to implement a long-term solution and that might possibly result in raising the entire roadway. We’ll see — along with Supervisor Damon Connolly, I’m on the Highway 37 Policy Committee representing Marin.

Continuing with transportation: What is the latest regarding the Novato, or MarinSonoma, Narrows? The goal is still to [add a third lane and] have a continuous carpool lane on Highway 101 through Marin and Sonoma counties. Several phases have already been completed or are under construction, but an additional $200 million is still needed to enact that vision. The complete corridor has been environmentally cleared; the business

The portion of Highway 37 that’s in Marin is actually below sea level, so it’s a critical issue involving all four counties.

community is all for it and this is a top priority of mine. I’ve been working with TAM, Transportation Authority of Marin, to get the costs down, and so far we’ve cut Marin’s portion from $110 million down to between $42 and $75 million.

Let’s jump to affordable, or workforce, housing. What are the latest developments there? I am sorry to report there are few, if any, a ffordable housing developments under construction — or even in the pipeline to someday be developed. Despite the very real need for it, developers are just not applying to build a ffordable housing in Marin County. They say it is too di fficult to get anything done in Marin. Because of that, we are focusing our workshops and planning efforts on preserving the a ffordability of existing housing.

could see the county purchasing multifamily rental housing for long-term preservation

a ffordable housing. It could also mean code amendments to allow second units, even junior second units; a landlord incentive program that would provide cash in case a rental property is damaged; and not allowing landlords to discriminate against Section 8 voucher holders. So progress has been sparse, but I’m far from giving up.

Change course, let’s talk about a pet project in your district that’s moving along at a good pace . That has to be the restoration of the Novato Theater, which opened in 1946 on Grant Avenue in downtown Novato, which is moving right along. I’m an active member of the advisory committee. We’ve raised over $2 million, with $300,000 coming from the county, and have another $2.5 million to go. There’s no doubt that once reopened, the theater will be an enormous economic benefit to downtown Novato; plus, it will benefit the entire community by showing classic and family fi lms as well as cabaret acts, comedy, small theater and simulcasts of sports, opera and Broadway shows. The main theater will have 248 seats, plus an upstairs theater with 48 movable seats. The Mill Valley Film Festival has given us a written commitment to utilize the facility in its programming.

Finally, are there personal secrets you’d share regarding the source of your energy and your eternal optimism? I know, it’s crazy. But I’ve been in government and politics for over half a century and I still love what I do. I think it’s because I love the challenges, and I’m always learning. I rarely give in; I’ll compromise but I won’t give up. If there’s something that needs to be done, I’m going to do it. I couldn’t work like this when I was raising my kids; it’s way more than a full-time job. And my husband, Bruce, is totally supportive. He has his own interests and, when we get together, there’s always catching up to do. My energy? I exercise regularly, watch my carbs and, while I take my work seriously, I mostly stay relaxed and always think we’ll find a solution, a way to make things better. I’m further energized by my four children and six grandchildren. Also, I’m blessed with two amazing administrative aides, Tanya Albert and Leslie Weber; they’re the envy of everyone in regional government. m

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Fine Lines

The more than 200 participants in our eleventh annual cover contest rolled up their sleeves, grabbed their easels and brushes (or cameras) and turned in some outstanding pieces of art reflecting the county and its creative residents. We’re proud to introduce the winner and 12 finalists (in no particular order).

BY DANIEL JEWETT

WHILE IT’S PRETTY obvious what would get people out to Marin’s beautiful outdoor spaces, the story of what got John Deckert out to California in the fi rst place might fit better in a movie.

“I was living in Long Island when the fi rst girl I ever dated saw a selfportrait of me on my website and said, ‘I know him,’ ” Deckert says, adding that the two started a correspondence shortly after. “And 35 years after we dated I came to live with her in Mill Valley.”

They’ve now been married 13 years and, according to Deckert, it was his wife, Anne, a member of the Friends of Mt. Tam and Mountain Play boards, who showed him the natural riches of the county. “She was dragging me up on Mount Tam and getting me out on the mountain,” he says.

Deckert noticed something else about Marin (the couple now lives in Santa Rosa, where John has a large studio in his two-car garage). “People love the landscape and the natural environment here,” the artist says. “People stop their cars to watch the sun go down.” And that is certainly true at one of Marin’s most beautiful places: Point Bonita.

The point and the lighthouse were a subject the oil painter, who once wrote for Arts Magazine and had a display in the window at Ti ff any’s on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, had to tackle. “To get there you walk down this peninsula and then through a tunnel, and as soon as you exit you are blasted by this incredible light,” Deckert says.

Given the short amount of time the attraction is open each week, the narrow trails and the fierce winds, there was no way to paint it on the spot, so Deckert brought some Bristol paper and boards, pens and a camera to get the basics down. “My pen was dancing. I just loved this series of sketches.”

When he later applied paint to the sunset image he captured, he knew he had created something special. “It was truly a magical moment,” he says.

Point Bonita Light 11” x 14”, oil johnd.com

• Meet John Deckert and the finalists at our Get Covered Contest Celebration event May 11, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Suite 325 in Town Center Corte Madera. It’s a great chance to celebrate with the contest winner and to view art by this year’s Marin Open Studios participants.

JOHN DECKERT

ANDREW FAULKNER

Beach Road (Stinson)

6” x 24”, digital painting andrew-faulkner.com

Andrew Faulkner is a graphic designer who loves to produce images of Northern California. He was born into a family of artists, designers and architects and likes to use technology, including a digital drawing tablet, to manipulate his work before he applies it to paper.

“My father-in-law lived at Stinson Beach for several years, giving me and my wife a great excuse to make many trips over the hill from Mill Valley. The view, just as the beach reveals itself, never gets old for me,” Faulkner says.

Barbara Libby-Steinmann moved to Marin in 1996 and currently teaches art at Bacich Elementary School in Kent field. She uses an iPhone to capture her subject, then sketches out the proportion lines and compositional elements before applying layers of oil paint with palette knives and brushes.

“For my oil paintings and pen-and-ink works I draw inspiration from the beauty of western Marin County,” she says. “St. Mary’s Church is a historical West Marin icon, which has sparked my inspiration in its simplicity and setting.”

BARBARA LIBBY-STEINMANN

St. Mary’s Church in Nicasio

24” x 30”, oil on canvas barbaralibby.com

ELIZABETH GEISLER

Golden Exit

20” x 20”, acrylic on canvas elizgeisler.com

Elizabeth Geisler’s work hangs in collections across the United States and shows in galleries throughout the Bay Area. The Mill Valley resident got her start in high school and went on to study art at many academic institutions, eventually becoming known for her paintings of water and nightscapes.

“I find that light’s reflections and refractions offer endless compositions of abstract beauty, while also imparting a strong sense of atmosphere,” Geisler says. “Additionally, I was compelled by the contrast of nature and the manmade world. The cars and highway seem inconsequential compared to the towering clouds and expansive sky.”

CATHERINE MCCARGAR

Beach Day at Bolinas

15” x 11”, watercolor on paper

cmccargarwatercolor.blogspot.com

Aresident of Walnut Creek, Catherine McCargar joined a group of plein air painters and has been painting with them weekly for more than 10 years. Primarily a watercolorist, she says she enjoys seeing how color presents itself in nature and in works of human creativity.

“While visiting the beach at Bolinas, I noticed a young woman involved in sand castle building with her children, and I identified with her in this simple act of love,” McCargar says. “This painting is one of several watercolors of the scene that I created later in my studio using photos I’d taken on site.”

KIM FORD KITZ

Stinson Gardens 40” x 30”, oil on canvas kimfordkitz.com

After recently relocating to West Marin, Kim Ford Kitz has been happily soaking up her new surroundings. When she is not at the beach, in the woods, on the trails or driving the back roads, she fi nds herself sketching every chance she can get.

“For this piece I was inspired by a sketch I drew after a weekend stay at a beautiful garden property overlooking Stinson Beach,” the artist says. “I chose to enter this piece because I am getting married at that same location in May.”

KATHLEEN LIPINSKI

Mt. Tamalpais from Bon Tempe Lake 36” x 30”, oil on canvas emerylipinski.com

For more than 35 years, San Anselmo’s Kathleen Lipinski has been working with images of the Marin landscape in painting and printmaking. In 2015, she and her husband, Steve Emery, received the 2015 Marin Cultural Treasure Award for their work in art and the community.

“Bon Tempe Lake is distinctly stunning every day with clouds, fog or clear skies; mirror-like reflections or wind; golden summer light or brilliant spring greens and wild flowers; chiseled shadows or pale blue silhouettes,” Lipinski says. “The natural beauty, expansive views and amazing quality of light in Marin provide a never-ending supply of inspiration for my work.”

Now Playing 25” x 33”, acrylic on canvas escalaworks.com

The self-taught artist has lived in the county for 20 years and credits her mother with inspiring her love of art. She enjoys traveling and visits museums for inspiration, always making it a point to drop in on her favorites: Vuillard, Manet and van Gogh.

About Now Playing, Murphy says, “The Lark Theater is such a quintessential Marin icon and having seen it shuttered and then thankfully saved, I really wanted to honor its current splendor.”

michaelryanphotography.com

With a love of nature born of time in Montana, the Sierras and the California coast, Michael Ryan has made capturing what he sees in these places a lifelong pursuit. His goal with his photographic images is to inspire the viewer to connect or even reconnect with the natural world.

“Early on in my landscape photography journey, I found fog to be a frustrating adversary that often concealed more than it revealed,” Ryan says of this shot taken on Ridgecrest Road at Mount Tamalpais State Park. “However, with experience, I began to better understand fog’s nuances and realized that it can bring a special quality to just about any scene.”

MICHAEL RYAN Silken photograph

PEGGY MURPHY

STEVE EMERY

Highway One, Night

24” x 25”, acrylic on canvas emerylipinski.com

Steve Emery grew up in Fairfax and currently lives with fellow artist and wife Kathleen Lipinski in San Anselmo. He loves taking part in groups helping to nourish the artistic community in Marin and has been holding open studios here since 1979.

Emery points to outer space as inspiration for this piece: “This painting began inspired by the rings of Saturn. I have always loved photos of/from space, and this spot along Highway One, along Bolinas Lagoon, seemed to evoke another world.”

VICTORIA LOREN MILLER

Thanksgiving Beach 54” x 40”, photograph victoriamillerart.com

Miller, a native San Franciscan and recent transplant to Tiburon, loves to paint with her camera. Rather than produce a crisp image ,  she seeks an impressionistic quality, a soft, fluid effect that evokes a mysterious narrative.

This image was shot before a Thanksgiving dinner in Huntington Beach, where beach days can happen even in November. “I like the unintentional artistry of daily occurrences, the seemingly banal, unintentional, transient, that can become poetic, or poignant,” she says.

ELAINE WEST

Beyond the Wave Gate 30” x 18”, oil elaineweststudio.com

At age 10 and seemingly overnight, Elaine West realized she could draw. After working in graphic design for 25 years, West was fi nally able to return to her fi rst love, fi ne art. Now, the Sausalito resident lives and works near the water and is often drawn to subjects right outside her window.

“In addition to a live/work space and a ceramics cooperative (called Beyond the Wave Gate), there are the unusual roofl ines, whimsically designed and painted spaces, and the trappings that accompany a light-industry neighborhood,” she says. “I’m a sucker for all the above and don’t shy away from complex compositions or architectural challenges.”

JAN BUSCHO

The Source

40” x 60”, oil on canvas jbuscho.com

The San Rafael resident and former graphic designer now has the time to paint fulltime and be an active member of the Marin arts community. Her work is in oil on canvas, linen or board with imagery primarily based on landscapes, gardens and nature.

“The title refers to both the source of my inspiration and the source of the water element seen in the composition,” Buscho says. “It is based on a scene from a hike near Point Reyes with creative interpretation from my imagination.”

ZEN OF THE SURFING

Surfers find scientific and spiritual benefits in the waters of Marin.

BY ANDREA GAYTAN • ILLUSTRATION BY JAMES O’BRIEN

“Where does the wave come from and where will it go?” a student asked Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. “The wave comes from water and will return to water. The wave is always water. Coming and going are just mental constructions. Birth and death, coming and going are just concepts,” he answered. Zen wisdom attempts to dissolve ideas and beliefs in the human mind that keep us mortal beings preoccupied; in Zen the wave never ends, it just transforms.

Could that be why we feel so drawn to the ocean? The fact is that our planet is two-thirds salt water, and so is the human brain. Could we physiologically reset our brain to the harmony of the ocean’s vibration just by dipping our head in the sea?

Marin’s big wave sur fi ng champion Bianca Valenti believes that what draws us to the ocean is “the comforting feeling of salt water, which is the first element we experience and associate with love while in the womb.”

To further explore the science of our emotional connection to the sea, marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols conducted an experiment in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. First he stood on a pier, attached electrodes to his scalp and recorded his brain waves; then he plunged into the ocean to measure his brain’s response. The brain imaging technology provided new evidence that Nichols deciphers in his best-seller Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do. “Once you get into it, you realize that it is chemistry, it is biology, it is physiology. It’s deeply personal but it’s also strong science,” he says.

Nichols’ findings are exemplified by the Patagonia clothing company founder, Yvon Chouinard, author of Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, who has said, “If the surf is up here, everybody leaves and goes surfing!” Chouinard attests that the best mental states create the best products.

Mill Valley’s Louis Patler introduced these concepts to the business world in his best-seller Make Your Own Waves: The Surfer’s Rules for Innovators and Entrepreneurs Focusing on big wave surfers, he describes 10 sport-inspired rules to help entrepreneurs succeed. Rule No. 2 says to get wet — you can’t succeed if you stick to the shore. “Even the best surfers fall,” he says, “but they learn from their wipeouts and paddle back out to once again push the edge, knowing that with big waves come big opportunities.”

Will Hutchinson, co-owner of Marin’s popular surf and skate shop Proof Lab, doesn’t think it’s just one thing that makes sur fi ng so addicting and rewarding for so many. “A huge range of emotions and experiences can be tapped into one way or another through sur fi ng,” he says. “Adventure and travel to exotic locales, a deep sense of home at your local spot, pure joy and inspiration or frustration, failure and scared-for-your-life fear, being alone, getting away from it all, bonding tight with others, relaxing and cruising or charging and pushing yourself to the next level. And through it all you’re always interacting with nature in a somehow spiritual and otherworldly way,

riding these pulses of energy that travel thousands of miles just to break for you once and then be gone forever.”

Hutchinson attributes Proof Lab’s success to a combination of good fortune and hard work. “One of the luckiest things about the shop is that we are in a community that values the type of products and services we are offering,” he says, “and we can also fi nd great staffwho will run the shops and treat the customers the way we would. I don’t think we could build this sort of a shop just anywhere, because some of the things we do just wouldn’t work.” Proof Lab doesn’t spend money on traditional marketing and advertising. “It’s all spent on events, partnerships with local schools or nonprofits, building skate parks or doing surf contests,” he says. “Around here people appreciate things like that to a degree that I don’t know if they would in every community.”

San Rafael’s 101 Surf Sports is also thriving in Marin. “Our success is rooted in our focus on building a community fi rst, and a business second,” says co-owner David Wells. “Success for us it is about positive experiences and strong relationships that create a new lifestyle for people to embrace. Considering the lightweight boards and minimal extra gear required with stand-up paddling, it’s truly something anyone can do by themselves or with friends. Another major reward is that the physical and mental effort of balancing on the board has been proven to stave off diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s. When you wrap up these health benefits in an inclusive and warm community of amazing people you can see why the sport is growing so fast.”

The sport becomes especially Zenlike, fans say, in a community where people love the water so much. “It is spectacularly beautiful here, from the ocean to the trails of Mount Tamalpais,” Valenti notes. “You do need to have a certain toughness or grit,” she adds, “if you want to enjoy the raw and rugged Northern California coast.”

She should know: the deceptively petite co-founder of the Committee for Equity in Women’s Sur fi ng and the only female pro surfer in the Bay Area is also one of the few women who surf the monumental and deadly waves at Mavericks. “Riding big waves inspires me to be the best I can be in everything I do,” Valenti says, “because in big waves you have to be your best or you will die!”

That goes for even the most dangerous moments, she adds, like getting barreled in a monster wave. “Time stands still. You become truly present, transcending time, and that is meditation and enlightenment.” Like Zen itself, the feeling of diving into the ocean is something that can only be experienced; it can’t be explained. m

FROM TOP: JACK WOLFORD, SEAN COPE, BIANCA VALENTI

COULD WE PHYSIOLOGICALLY RESET OUR BRAIN TO THE HARMONY OF THE OCEAN’S VIBRATION JUST BY DIPPING OUR HEAD IN THE SEA?

Field Notes Poppies & Lupine

For centuries our most creative poets — from Blake to the Bard — have paid homage to the fleeting beauty found in nature. To honor the fragile elegance they so often wrote about, we’ve created a seasonal guide offering places you too can see “Heaven in a Wildflower.”

BY KIER HOLMES •  PHOTOS BY VICTOR VOLTA

Leopard Lily

Hound’sTongue

January-March

MILKMAIDS

Cardamine californica CATARACT TRAIL

Growing in a variety of habitats, milkmaids are one of the year’s first wildflowers to bloom. The white flowers proudly open during the day but close their petals as the sun goes down. Before a rain, milkmaids nod their heads to protect the pollen inside.

CALIFORNIA POPPY Eschscholzia californica

OLD MINE TRAIL

What a sight when local rolling hills are ablaze with the satiny orange blooms of our state flower. California Indians revered the poppy as a food source and for medicine. A prolific re-seeder in nature, the California poppy is also successful in cultivated gardens when scattered in the fall.

CHAPARRAL CLEMATIS

Clematis MUIR WOODS/ REDWOOD CREEK TRAIL

Lupinus albifrons

This California native shrub is famed for its fragrant purple-blue spires that summon bees and butter fl ies. In fact, the University of California’s colors of blue and gold were chosen because fields around the campus in 1868 were fi lled with blue lupines and California poppies. Lupines are also nitrogen-fi xing legumes, so they restore soil when planted as a cover crop, and they were a staple in the Native American diet.

A deciduous native vine displaying a wealth of soft white flowers and then attractive smoky seed poufs. Clematis playfully scrambles over its neighbors while providing nectar for butterflies and attracting other pollinators with its fragrant flowers.

INDIAN PAINTBRUSH Castilleja MATT DAVIS TRAIL

The name comes from the Native American legend: a young man intended to paint a sunset but couldn’t find the right color to match the sky. He asked the Great Spirit for help and received colorful paintbrushes, which were left on the land and re-bloomed as this flower.

MATT DAVIS TRAIL NEAR STINSON BEACH

DIPSEA TRAIL

SHORELINE HWY.

STINSON BEACH

MATT DAVIS TRAIL

GIANT CHALK DUDLEYA Dudleya brittonii

HEATHER CUTOFF TRAIL

Yes, Marin has its own California native succulent, and this chalky bluewhite gem is found on the county’s rocky slopes but is equally stunning in gardens. Arching red stems prop up urn-shaped blooms from hardy rosettes.

Western Columbine

HEATHER CUTOFF TRAIL

Aquilegia formosa

When hiking near Marin’s numerous creeks, look out for this dainty but enchanting perennial. Brilliant red and yellow lanterns burst into bloom in the spring and then dangle from branching stems. Being adaptable to either moist or dry conditions, this California native is found up and down the West Coast. Growing your own columbine is simple: just provide water, and prune flower stalks to the ground in early spring. Let the flowers go to seed because they are proficient at self-sowing. Plus pollinators like bees and hummingbirds will love you for it.

LEOPARD LILY Lilium pardalinum PANORAMIC HIGHWAY NEAR BOOTJACK CAMPGROUND

Reaching 4 feet tall, this elegant native bulb enjoys moist areas. The orange flowers are decorated with contrasting maroon dots and attract bees and butterflies. Folklore says that those who smell a leopard lily will develop freckles just like the plant, but since the flowers have no scent, any freckles you find were likely already there.

MINER’S LETTUCE

Montia perfoliata OLD MINE TRAIL

Historians claim that miners during the Gold Rush ate this native lettuce to ward off scurvy. Luckily, scurvy is long gone and miner’s lettuce is still thriving. Found mainly in our shady woodland areas or sheltered under shrubs, the patches of water lily–like leaves are easily spotted on local trails.

BLUE DICKS

Dichelostemma capitatum MATT DAVIS TRAIL

Naturalizing quickly, blue dicks are notably found in grassland areas recently disturbed by fire. With great speed and strong plasticstraw-looking stems, these foothill flowers outgrow grasses and other wildflowers with ease. The corms of blue dicks were an important form of starch in the Native American diet.

HEATHER CUTOFF TRAIL COAST VIEW TRAIL

REDWOOD CREEK TRAIL

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE DIPSEA TRAIL

Surprisingly a legume with nitrogen-fi xing qualities that aid in its survival on rocky or sandy soil, chaparral pea is a hardy shrub. Easily mistaken for French broom, this attractive bush with electric-pink pea flowers boasts wicked thorns. Black-tailed deer routinely and carefully pick out leaves and flowers from among the thorniness because chaparral pea provides an excellent protein source, despite the painful risk.

COAST MORNING GLORY Calystegia TROOP 80 TRAIL

A lush native vine that is a force to be reckoned with, coast morning glory quickly scrambles up, over and through anything in its path. In garden settings this vine can be considered a nasty nuisance despite its heartshaped leaves and sweet pale-pink cupped flowers.

RAILROAD GRADE TRAIL

Displaying showy butteryellow blossoms on bluish-green leaves, this drought-tolerant native shrub quickly grows to 6 feet. A mature bush poppy can display dozens of blooms at once, making it easy to spot on hikes and sought after in nurseries.

BLUE-EYED GRASS Sisyrinchium bellum TROOP 80 TRAIL

Attractive purple-blue flowers with yellow centers sprout from 1-foot-high grassy grayish clumps. An iris relative, this little native charmer likes sunny spots and was used medicinally by the Miwoks and Ohlone. Though blue-eyed grass’ flowers open for only one day, they are starry sights.

This is a native perennial resembling a petite sunflower. The flower buds contain copious amounts of gummy white sap that Native Americans creatively used as an adhesive but that also protects the blossoms from hungry predators. Gumweed is an excellent nectar plant as well.

Pickeringia montana

BUSH POPPY Dendromecon OLD

GUMWEED Grindelia MATT DAVIS TRAIL

DIPSEA TRAIL COAST VIEW TRAIL

October-December

TRAIL

Bright trumpet-shaped flowers attract hordes of hummingbirds and humans alike. The name perhaps comes from the resinous leaves that feel sticky when touched. In dry, hot summers this plant begins looking bedraggled and then goes dormant.

Common Madia

Madia elegans LAUREL DELL

This is definitely not your ordinary yellow daisy. Madia is a 3- to 5-foot-tall annual wildflower that blooms when most other natives are slowing down. Two-inch showy bright yellow blooms are an important nectar source for bees and butterflies in the late seasons, and this plant reliably re-seeds itself. Deer leave this madia alone, perhaps because the leaves and stems are dressed with sticky, aromatic hairs. Some say the plant’s velvety foliage and flowers smell like pineapple.

CHECKERBLOOM Sidalcea malviflora CATARACT TRAIL

This is a prolific perennial native wildflower that spreads by seed and rhizome. Reportedly the Coast Miwok in Sonoma and Marin counties baked and ate the leaves, and the seeds were pounded into seed flour. When hiking, be sure to stop and admire the checkerbloom’s delicate pink display, because sources say it is mildly endangered.

MANZANITA Arctostaphylos species

ROCK SPRING TRAIL

Popular for its shiny mahogany-colored bark, manzanitas also have urn-shaped flowers rich in nectar that sustains many forms of wildlife. The plant also has superior drought tolerance.

STICKY MONKEY FLOWER Diplacus MATT DAVIS

LAUREL DELL RD.

CATARACT TRAIL

MICKEY O’BRIEN TRAIL

LAUREL DELL

SUBCULTURES

STAY-AT-HOME MALT

More Californians are keeping it local and making high-quality beer right at home. And some have found a way to turn their passion into a successful business.

BY CALIN VAN PARI S  • P HOTOS BY TIM PORTER

FOR FANS OF true in-house beverages, homebrewed beer is a trend that extends to the comfort of your kitchen, with resources sprinkled throughout the county like high-quality hops in a boil. According to the American Homebrewers Association, there are an estimated 1.2 million Americans mixing up batches of beer at home, with 31 percent of these would-be chemists located right here on the West Coast. And far from the makeshift moonshines of yesteryear, modern homebrews have the potential to rival your favorite craft beer.

Who enjoys brewing? Chris Coomber, co-founder of East Brother Beer Co. in Richmond, which opened late last year, brewed in his Mill Valley home for seven years before going pro. “I gradually became interested in beer on a gourmand level, learning and tasting the di fferent flavors,” Coomber says. “Then I became a bit fanatical about it.” His newfound interest took him to The Beverage People, a brew supply shop in Santa Rosa, where he purchased a beginner beer-making kit replete with premixed beer primed to simmer in a pot on your stove — and that was it. “I just became hooked,” he says. “I basically brewed alone, but my friends (who weren’t really brewers) would hang around, have some beers and help me” — including eventual business partner Rob Lightner, the other half of East Brother. He also compared notes with Marty Wall and Sean Cochran of J&M Brewing in Novato, Marin’s answer to The Beverage People. “They became very important to me in terms of talking beer, thinking about things, and trying di fferent ideas,” Coomber says. “Then I just listened to a ton of beer-making podcasts.”

Chris Coomber loved brewing beer so much that he opened East Brother Beer Co. in Richmond. Now he gets to use all the equipment you see here.

What is it all about? Though it may sound intimidating, making your own beer is a pretty simple process. First, sanitize all your equipment. Next, heat water in a large pot — which, according to Wall, is now officially a beer kettle — on your stove Add the ingredients of your beer kit (we’re starting at level one), which generally includes grains, hops and a premade malt extract, crafted from barley, wheat or rye, and offered in either dry or liquid form. To create malt, dry grains are moistened until they begin to germinate, then cooked in hot air. “Malt control s  the color  and contributes part of the fl avor to the fi na l beer,” Coomber explains. “Darker color means the grain was cooked longer and hotter, lighter shorter and/ or at a lower temperature. Like toast.” Cool down the mixture (which, pre-fermentation, is called wort), transfer it to a fermentation tank and add yeast. “The yeast eats all the sugar and converts it to alcohol, CO2 and flavors,” Coomber says. “And in two to eight weeks, out comes beer.”

Where can you get supplies and tips? Founded by partners Marty Wall and Joe Capone just five years ago, J&M Brewing — which also sells supplies for making cheese, kombucha and wine — offers all you need to get started, from gear to premeasured recipes. It’s also is a hub for homebrewers: “We do brewing demonstrations here just about every third Sunday,” says Wall, who recommends trying your hand at homebrewing before attending a demonstration so you know what questions to ask. J&M also plays host to the Marin Society of Homebrewers (MaSH), a county club it helped reinvigorate in 2012.

When can you meet other brewers? MaSH meets monthly at J&M. “Most of our members brew independently, then meet up and share,” says president Damien Perry, also one of the club’s resident certi fied competition judges. “During each meeting we offer feedback on any new brews, or just do general tastings,” says Perry, who adds that the group also tries to include an educational component, discussing factors like water and trends like cold steeping.

Why brew beer? “What I really like [about homebrewing] is the combination of creativity and science,” Perry adds. “It’s a neat combination of biochemistry and other things. You make beer that no one else in the world is making — you can only get it at your house.” And, of course, the endeavor comes with obvious benefits. “My favorite part of home brewing is drinking the beer, there’s no doubt,” Coomber notes. “The whole process — cleaning and sanitizing the pots, all of it — is leading to this same end, which is a glorious, cold glass of beautiful beer that you can share with your friends.” And considering the plenitude of beer-making resources now available, expert-level crafting is an achievable goal. “I say it’s not homebrewing anymore — it’s making beer at home,” says Wall. “It doesn’t taste like homebrew. It tastes like beer.”

How to get started? In addition to its monthly meetings, MaSH is heading up the 2017 Marin County Fair Homebrew Competition on June 10. eastbrotherbeer.com, marinmashers.com, jmbrew.com m

This spread: Beer-making equipment at East Brother; Rob Lightner and Chris Coomber; the finished goods.

Floral designs of the season featured at www.bloomisphere.com, and on the “Kate’s Blossoms” Facebook and Instagram pages

A

DESTINATION Timber Cove, Jenner DISTANCE FROM MARIN 80 miles north

FINDING A NEW destination in an area that doesn’t have cell service can be a challenge. But that’s not the case with Timber Cove. Simply drive half an hour north of where the Russian River spills into the Pacific, continue rounding the bends of Highway 1 until you see a large pillar, and resting on a bluff oerlooking the rugged ocean you’ll find this sylvan retreat. Designed by original owner and celebrated architect Richard Clements Jr., the resort was erected in 1963 with Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architectural style in mind. In 2016, a complete renovation enhanced the original features with modern amenities and comforts. Read on to find out what else is new. timbercoveresort.com KASIA PAWLOWSKA

HIGHLIGHTS Sweeping views of the ocean, forest or namesake cove await visitors from each of the resort’s 46 rooms. What’s inside is arguably even better. Furnishings include live edge wood tables, Pendleton blankets, luxe white linens, handcrafted beds and earthy-hued artwork. Almost all rooms also include a fi replace and most of the suites have a deep soaking tub. Be sure to browse the vinyl albums in the lobby to make use of the in-room record player.

EATS At Coast Kitchen, the on-site restaurant, the focus is the same as that of most fi ner dining places today — seasonal, local, farm-to-table. Taking advantage of the wine country location, drinks range from dynamic organic wines by the glass, fl ights, expert-selected bottles and reserves to craft beers and imaginative cocktails. Expect to see lots of local seafood, Sonoma cheeses, mushrooms and organic fruits and vegetables on the menu.

It Pays to Travel

DETAILS Walking around the grounds, guests will notice several distinctive structures, identi fied by numbered rocks, including the 93-foot obelisk known as the Bufano Peace Statue Monument and the Yakutian serge, a ritual post commemorating native ancestors. An efficient way to get the lay of the land — and have some fun doing it — is to request a copy of Sophia’s treasure hunt at the front desk. Created by the owner’s daughter, the search will take visitors around the property, exposing its beauty in the process.

With dozens of travel credit cards to choose from and each one promising rewards, miles and points, it can be confusing (and time consuming) to determine which one is the best fit for you. We consulted with industry experts NerdWallet, ThePointsGuy and ValuePenguin to demystify credit cards and offer this chart to help you get one step closer to that mai tai. LEELA LINDNER

“All of the perks of the card add up to completely justify what you’re paying for the annual fee . Even if you fly JetBlue just a couple of times a year, the card is an absolute no-brainer.” —ThePointsGuy

Living High in Low Country

BY ANN WYCOFF

ARCHWAYS OF SPANISH MOSS –draped oaks over country lanes, meandering rivers, antebellum estates, sunlit sweetgrass, and the salty perfume of tidal marshes: South Carolina’s low country is a slice of slow-paced paradise.

Whether you’re on a college tour, exploring Charleston’s dynamic culinary scene (two hours away) or intrigued by the cultural character of sultry Savannah (30 minutes away), a stopover at Palmetto Bluff s the perfect portal into the wonders of low country. The 20,000-acre nature preserve, home to 32 miles of riverfront and expansive maritime forests, is a wildlife sanctuary, swanky resort and elegant private-home community steeped in conservation and Old South history.

Once the sprawling estate of R.T. Wilson until his 72-room manse burned to the ground in a fire back in 1926, Palmetto Bluff etains its historic Southern charm with 50 bespoke cottages that line the edge of the May River. They’re notable for their stunning interiors: think claw-foot tubs, fireplaces and oversize settees on screened-in verandas — here, “porching” is a verb and usually involves sweet tea or chardonnay and meditative gazing at the water. Under the luxurious hand of Montage since 2014, a new 150-room inn recently opened, reflecting the original mansion’s architecture and grandeur.

Time at Palmetto Bluff eans early-morning kayaking in the company of playful dolphins feeding in the river; electric Du ff y cruises through greenbelt waterways laced with rookeries of roosting herons, egrets over oyster beds and the occasional sunbathing alligator; tee times on a pristine Jack Nicklaus course that weaves along

MARRIOTT REWARDS PREMIER

RITZ-CARLTON REWARDS

owner’s daughter, who married Cornelius “Neily” Vanderbilt.

Palmetto Bluff eeps expanding, but thankfully with conservation at its core (more than half of its 20,000 acres are preserved). In addition to the Montage Palmetto Bluff nd its 35 private residences, there’s the charming neighborhood of Wilson Village, as well as the just-completed Moreland Village, another private-home hamlet. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, Palmetto Bluff nvites you to gracefully slip into the ebb and flow of its low-country lifestyle.

“While there are better travel card options for you if you don’t stay at Marriott properties, Marriott devotees will be hard-pressed to find better rewards.” —NerdWallet

“Getting the most value out of the card’s perks does require a bit of work, but it’s well worth it.” —ThePointsGuy

STARWOOD PREFERRED GUEST AMEX

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the river’s bench; dressage or trail rides through coastal woodlands; guided hunts or sporting clays sessions at the shooting club; shrimping and crabbing family excursions; indulgent pampering at the spa; banjomaking with the rotating artist-in-residence; and champagne sunset cruises aboard Grace, the restored 1913 motor yacht named for the original

At the crossroads of the world, the layers of history offer an almost impossible list of things to do and see.

BY MELANIE HAIKEN

I’M BLINKING IN the bright sunlight of Taksim Square, squinting down at a small piece of notebook paper covered with my daughter Linnea’s cramped but tidy writing. On one side, an almost ridiculously long list of things she says I absolutely must do during my time in Istanbul, divided carefully into neighborhoods and itineraries. And on the other side of the paper, step-by-step instructions for catching the funicular and M1 tram that will take me down to the city’s oldest — and ridiculously picturesque — neighborhood, Sultanahmet. On today’s list alone: the Blue Mosque (officially Sultan Ahmed), multiple museums, Topkapi Palace with its grand gardens, and the Basilica Cistern, the eerie sixth-century underground water system of Constantinople. And of course Hagia Sophia, the enormous gilded Greek Orthodox cathedral-turnedmosque-turned-museum that made the original seven wonders list. And all this is within a square mile.

This is what you have to understand about Turkey: to call it “the crossroads of the world,” which many do, is an almost laughable understatement. With the

And of course Hagia Sophia, the enormous gilded Greek Orthodox cathedral-turned-mosque-turnedmuseum that made the original seven wonders list. And all this is within a square mile.

Mediterranean on one side, the Black Sea on the other and the biggest city, Istanbul, bisected by the Bosporus, the strait that separates the continents of Europe and Asia, this former capital of the Ottoman Empire has seen its lands fought over and occupied by empires from the ancient Greeks and Romans to medieval Europe to the major powers of today.

And all those people, both the richest and most powerful and the poorest, left something behind, from soaring mosques to Byzantine churches, from ruined Greek and Roman temples to excavated mosaics and even older underground cities. In fact, many argue that Turkey boasts more significant historic sites for its size than any other country in the world, many of them also the best preserved. Certainly more than even the most energetic traveler — which I am — could see in the three weeks I’m going to be spending here. So from day one I had to begin paring, and here’s what I ultimately came to consider my “greatest hits” list.

ISTANBUL

I had a head start here, as Linnea, studying abroad at worldrenowned Boğaziçi University, had already been in Turkey for a jam-packed six weeks and had charted a distractionfree course for me to follow. And thanks to her adventurous (read: risk-taking) tendencies, I found myself following her suggestions to visit places most other tourists miss.

Take the colorful streets, mosques and cafes of Fener, Balat and Fatih, some of Istanbul’s most traditional Islamic neighborhoods, where chador-clad women throng the markets and men play chess and gossip in the cafe-lined squares. Instead of beelining to Chora Church to see its splendid Byzantine mosaics and frescoes depicting the life of Christ, I took a ferry to Balat and zigzagged my way fi rst to Fethiye Camii, a mosque housed in the Byzantine-era Pammakaristos Church, then back past the lively scene at conservative Fatih mosque with a detour to see the Valens Aqueduct.

To savor the sheer worldly sophistication of Istanbul at night, follow in the footsteps of generations before you to Istiklal Caddesi, the long pedestrian and tram route that runs from Taksim Square down to Galata Tower. (Spring for the trip to the top for the iconic view.) My fi rst night on Istiklal I thought there must be a festival going on to account for the jostling throngs and buskers playing late into the night, but this is life as usual in Istanbul’s intellectual heart, where political arguments and raucous singing spill from crowded cafes late into the night. Turn off nto one of the many side streets lined with brightly lit restaurants (my favorite: Çiçek Pasajı, or Flower Passage, with its glass galleried roof) and choose one that serves meze, Turkey’s traditional repast of small plates, meant to be savored slowly accompanied by plenty of raki, an anise-flavored liquor akin to ouzo.

In fact, sampling the cuisine is what you’ll want to do most of all in Istanbul — and everywhere in Turkey. Seek out the last of Istanbul’s traditional kaymak shops, Karaköy Özsüt, where third-generation Haci Hasan Fehmi still trucks water buffalo milk straight from his farm to make the clotted cream, which is unpasteurized and eaten fresh for breakfast on bread layered with honey. Take a ferry across to Kadiköy on the Asian side and wander the sprawling fish market and bazaar; there are dozens of great restaurants and you can’t go wrong if you follow your nose and the crowds. Farther up the shore, Üsküdar boasts several historic mosques as well as colorful antique and flea markets.

But if there was one place in Istanbul I found myself returning to, it’s the quayside neighborhood of OrtakÖy, with its iridescent white marble mosque that seems to soar

Opener: Sunset in Istanbul. This page: Scenes from Istanbul include a cafe with Galata Tower in the background; heritage tramways; boats in front of Ortaköy Mosque.

IF YOU GO

THINGS TO DO

Antalya Archaeological Museum antalyamuzesi.gov.tr/en

Basilica Cistern yerebatan.com/homepage/ basilica-cistern/about-us.aspx

Göreme Open Air Museum goreme.com/ goreme-open-air-museum.php

Hierapolis-Pamukkale World Heritage Site whc.unesco.org/en/list/485

Kaymakli Underground City goreme.com/kaymakli-underground-city.php

Kelebek Special Cave Hotel kelebekhotel.com/en

Topkapi Palace topkapisarayi.gov.tr/en

A NOTE ABOUT SAFETY

There’s no question that recent political unrest has made traveling to Turkey less predictable than it was a few years ago. That said, Europeans still flock to what has long been one of their favorite holiday spots, and I honestly felt safer walking alone in Turkey than I do in many places here at home. Would I go to Ankara right now? Probably not, though I’d love to see Atatürk’s Mausoleum someday. Would I go back to the destinations I visited? In a heartbeat. Just use the same approach you would in other countries where attacks recently occurred: be practical, stay wary, avoid sensitive areas, and time your visit to avoid political anniversaries and demonstrations (the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory page lists these events in advance).

out over the river and the lively scene of clamoring seagulls, honking ferries and colorful market stalls that surrounds it.

CAPPADOCIA

From hobbit holes to fairy chimneys to Alice’s giant mushrooms, Cappadocia abounds with fairy tale metaphors — and some more adult ones, too, like the aptly named Love Valley. That’s because the usual descriptors fail before this otherworldly landscape of volcanic spires, caverns, cli ffs and pillars chiseled out of limestone by thousands of years of meager rainfall. With just a few days and without a car, Linnea and I stayed in central Göreme, where we could walk to the Open Air Museum of cave churches bedecked with spectacular 12th-century frescoes. We chose Kelebek Special Cave Hotel for its cli ffside location, spectacular views of the rock spires at sunset, and the chance to sleep in our own limestone fairy chimney, complete with el fi n wooden door.

We spent an entire day scaling crumbling cliffs to find the most brilliantly painted cave churches and exploring the underground city of Kaymakli, excavated by warring Hittites eight stories below the earth. And, like pretty much every other Cappadocia visitor we met, we woke before dawn to take a hot air balloon ride over the valley, awed by the sight of the sun over the rosehued cliffs as dozens of rainbow-hued balloons soared together into the sunrise.

EPHESUS AND SELÇUK

Arriving in the tiny village of Selçuk by bus, I climbed the hill to the Basilica of St. John the Apostle just in time to see the columned tomb and the walls of Ayasoluk Fort turned gold by sunset. Surrounded by farms and orchards, Selçuk restaurants make good use of the bounty, and I ate the best lamb kebabs and stu ffed eggplant of my trip there at Ejder restaurant, popular for its terrace view of the Roman aqueduct that bisects town.

Two million people visit Ephesus every year, but when the local minibus dropped me off he next morning,

pouring rain gave me the gift of solitude. As I walked the Royal Road through this city once second only to Rome in size and power, I seemed to feel my feet slipping into grooves worn by Caesar’s soldiers. From there it was on by bus to climb the sparkling white travertine terraces of Pamukkale and to soak my feet in the steaming calcium carbonate–infused pools, after clambering around the ruins of Heiropalis, built by the Greeks in the second century B.C. to take advantage of the holy waters.

ANTALYA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST

The gateway to Turkey’s southern “turquoise” coast, Antalya is a dreamy, sensuous city where strolling the sunny waterfront seems to be a way of life. Don’t miss the chance to stay within the ancient walled city, where cars are few, bougainvillea runs rampant and every restaurant seems to have a lantern-lit terrace. Historic sites stud this area, many of them ancient Lycian seaports linked by a footpath known as the Lycian Way. I’ve rarely felt history come alive as it did in Phaselis, where arches, aqueducts, an amphitheater and thousands of giant stone building blocks lie tumbled among the trees as if a giant had just stopped playing with them.

Visiting Turkey’s ancient cities, you can’t help but notice that many of the most impressive statues, friezes and sarcophagi have been removed (for the protection of the artifacts). You’l l fi nd them in the Antalya Archaeological Museum, including spectacular Lycian mosaics lifted from Xanthos and Perge’s Three Graces and Gallery of the Gods. Really, there’s nothing like standing before the grand tomb of Pericles, perfectly preserved since the fourth century B.C., to make you feel small.

My last few days, back in Istanbul, were spent bargaining for neon-hued pottery and jewel-toned lamps and carpets in the Grand Bazaar and taking a ferry ride to the Prince Islands, where horse-drawn carriages take you to hilltop Greek monasteries with stunning views of the island-dotted Bay of Marmara. And of course, I made one last pilgrimage for kaymak. m

Opposite, clockwise from top left: The writer with her daughter on top of the castle at Üsküdar with the Turkish flag; sailing over the fairy towers of Cappadocia; travertine terraces and hot springs at Pamukkale. This page from left: The writer in the abandoned fifth-century church of St. John the Baptist; the amphitheater at Hierapolis.

CALENDAR / ON THE SCENE / DINE

Calendar

THRU MAY 21 Phèdre

A new translation of this tumultuous family drama, with roots in Greek tragedy, serves as a reminder of the damaging effects of secrets, deceit and loneliness. Cutting Ball Theater (SF). 415.525.1205, cuttingball.com

DANCE

THEATER

THRU MAY 13 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

THRU MAY 14 My Name Is Rachel Corrie

This unique show follows a 23-year-old Rachel Corrie as she describes leaving her home in Olympia, Washington, to work as an activist in the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian con fl ict. Magic Theatre (SF). 415.441.8822, magictheatre.org

THRU MAY 21

Battlefield Director Peter Brooks presents a work based on Indian epic The Mahabharata, written more than 2,500 years ago. A newly crowned king surveys a postwar battlefield and discovers the real price of his new status. A.C.T.’s Geary Theater (SF). 415.749.2228, act-sf.org

THRU MAY 21 Guards at the Taj Two guards at the Taj Mahal experience a ghoulishly funny existential crisis that will shake their faith in God, the empire and each other. Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley). 415.388.5208, marintheatre.org

THRU JUN 3 The Mushroom Cure This off-Broadway hit is inspired by a scienti fic study showing that hallucinogenic mushrooms may cure obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Marsh (SF). 415.282.3055, themarsh.org

THRU AUG 5 Hamilton: An American Musical

The smash-hit 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

MAY 21–JUN 18 Beauty

and the Beast

The Mountain Play celebrates its 104th season with the classic French fairy tale of a provincial girl, a

prince under a spell and the power of true love. Originally penned by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, the story has made its way from Disney to Broadway. The Mountain Play’s iteration will feature your favorite songs — along with a few new additions. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre (Mill Valley). mountainplay.org

MAY 23–JUN 18 Roman

Holiday: The Cole Porter Musical

Based on the Academy Award–winning fi lm of the same name, Roman Holiday centers on a young princess and an American reporter who set out to discover the magic of Rome, accompanied by some of Cole Porter’s most wellloved music. Golden Gate Theatre (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com

DANCE

MAY 4–14

Ballet Spring

Alonzo

King

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

Alonzo

Lines

Season Choreographer

King partners with endangered language activist Bob Holman to present a ballet set to the sounds

MAY 19–28 Dance Series 02 Smuin concludes its season with a show featuring a world premiere of choreographer Trey McIntyre’s The Chicken Sees, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, and much more. YBCA Theater (SF). 415.912.1899, smuinballet.org

of recorded poetry from indigenous communities and cultures with languages in danger of extinction. YBCA Theater (SF). 415.978.2787, linesballet.org

MAY 7 The Village Matters Dimensions Dance Theater presents its annual youth showcase featuring performances by participants of Dimensions’ Rites of Passage youth program, joined by eight other youth companies from around the Bay Area. Castlemont High School (Oakland). dimensionsdance.org

MAY 18–21 Known

Once Liss Fain Dance presents the world premiere of a performance based on stories in partnership with 826 Valencia and The Redwoods residential community in Mill Valley. Z Space (SF). zspace.org

COMEDY

MUSIC

MAY 5 Hidden Classical Jewels: Beethoven and Mozart The San Francisco Bach Choir, directed by Magen Solomon and featuring the Jubilate Orchestra, presents work from Mozart and Beethoven. First Unitarian Universalist Church (SF). 855.473.2224, sfbach.org

MAY

6 Herdeljezi Romani Music Festival

A 20th anniversary celebration featuring Yuri Yunakov and the Grand Masters of Roma Music. Croatian American Center (SF). voiceofroma.com

MAY 13 Blame Sally The band’s eclectic blend of folk, rock, pop and Celtic in fluences makes for a memorable and spirited performance. Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael). 415.444.8000, marinjcc.org

MAY 13 Soul Ska

Tuesday Night Comedy Funnies

TUESDAYS

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

THRU NOV 29

Josh’s Brain Improvs Monologist Josh Kornbluth presents a series of improvisations based on his experiences working at the Memory and Aging Center at UCSF and Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. The Marsh (SF). 415.282.3055, themarsh.org

Enjoy good vibes and danceable jams from Marin's homegrown all-star ska collective. Rancho Nicasio (Nicasio). 415.662.2219, ranchonicasio.com

MAY 20 A Hawaiian Celebration with Hapa

Enjoy a Hawaiian dance performance, cultural fare, cocktails and, of course, tunes from one of the most recognizable names in Hawaiian music.

Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael). 415.444.8000, marinjcc.org

MAY 20–21

Marin Oratorio Sings Handel

A performance featuring selections from Georg Friedrich Handel, including Dixit Dominus and Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day. College

SPOTLIGHT

Ready, Set, Go!

The 35th annual Bay Area Human Race is back.

OPEN TO NONPROFITS, schools and community groups, the Bay Area Human Race supports people with disabilities, people advocating for animals, and those seeking to increase access to education. Since 1982, San Rafael’s Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership has produced this event to raise funds for the nonprofits it serves. The largest community fundraiser of its kind in Marin County, the event has raised over $7.7 million for more than 2,000 local nonprofits. Race day features a 5K run/walk around the Civic Center Lagoon Park and fairgrounds and includes music, kids’ races and activities, a dog walk, a pancake breakfast and more. cvnl.org/bayareahumanrace KASIA PAWLOWSKA

of Marin (Kent field). 415.485.9385, marin oratorio.org

GALLERIES

MARIN Art Works Downtown Paper As Voice Innovative works primarily on paper, through June 2. 1337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119, artworks downtown.org

Bolinas Gallery An eclectic collection of contemporary art by established and emerging artists. 52 Wharf Road, Bolinas. 415.868.0782, bolinas-gallery.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

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 Marin Open Studios Show at Falkirk Mansion, May 12–June 23. 1408 Mission Ave, San Rafael. 415.485.3328, falkirk culturalcenter.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 Zea Morvitz: Drawings and Books, through May 14. 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 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, through June 2. 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. 415.473.6400, marincounty.org

Marin Society of Artists Dodging the Status Quo, May 18–June 10. 1515 Third St, San Rafael. 415.454.9561, marin societyofartists.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 Luminosity: Reflections on Light, through May 25. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331, ohanloncenter.org

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

Robert Allen Fine Art Landscapes Re-imagined A group exhibition of works on canvas, through May 31. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.2800, robertallenfineart.co

Robert Beck Gallery Early California and contemporary plein air paintings. 222 Sir

Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.456.7898, beckgallery.org

Robert Green Fine Arts Abstract 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 Photographs by Ethan Okamura, May 4–June 22. 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, room artgallery.com

Seager Gray Gallery

New pieces of art. 108 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.384.8288, seagergray.com

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 Works by painter Emmeline Craig. 3415 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach, 415.868.2787, emmelinecraig.com

SAN FRANCISCO ArtHaus Heavy Rotation

An evolving exhibition of works by gallery artists. 411 Brannan St, 415.977.0223, arthaus-sf.com

Caldwell Snyder Gallery

Recent works by Julie Speidel, May 4–31. 341 Sutter St, 415.392.2299, caldwellsnyder.com

California Historical Society On the Road to the Summer of Love An exhibition of rarely seen photographs from more than 20 photographers, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, May 12–September 10. 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

New Weights and Measures Works by Will Yackulic, through May 27. 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

Jenkins Johnson Gallery Dialogues in Drawing Works inspired by the endeavors of women artists living and working through social and political turbulence, through May 14. 464 Sutter St, 415.677.0770, jenkinsjohnson gallery.com

ROBERTA ENGLISH

John Berggruen Gallery

Abstraction Stories told through shape, color and form, through May 13. 10 Hawthorne St, 415.781.4629, berggruen.com

Meyerovich Gallery

Paintings, works on paper and sculpture by modern and contemporary artists. 251 Post St, 415.421.7171, meyerovich.com

Montague Gallery

A collection of contemporary fine art glass featuring works by Lino Tagliapietra, Dante Marioni, Hiroshi Yamano and Chihuly Workshop. 445A Sutter St, 415.964.4978, montaguegallerysf.com

Pier 24 Photography

The permanent collection of the Pilara

Foundation. Pier 24, 415.512.7424, pier24.org

Rena Bransten Projects Hung Liu: Promised Land, through June 3. 1639 Market St, 415.982.3292, rena branstengallery.com

Simon Breitbard Fine Arts Contemporary fine art from established artists and new talents. 843 Montgomery St, 415.951.1969, sbfineart.com

The Midway Gallery

Works from emerging artists. 900 Marin St, themidwaygallery.com

Thomas Reynolds Gallery Contemporary pieces 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, baykidsmuseum.org

Bolinas Museum Hats Off, American Selected works by Paul Harris, through June 11. (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 Altered Book and Book

Arts Exhibition Back for its eighth year, this annual show features book art donated from Bay Area artists, with pieces offered in a silent auction that runs throughout the exhibition and culminates in a live auction event, through May 20 (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 ew and rare species found there, many of which have never been displayed in a public aquarium (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org

Conservatory of Flowers Butter flies and Blooms A beautiful and intimate cottage garden a flutter with hundreds of butter fl ies, through June 7 (SF). 415.831.2090, conserva toryofflowers.org

Contemporary Jewish Museum Roz Chast: Cartoon Memoirs A

collection of works from one of the country’s most celebrated cartoonists, through September 3 (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, art and human perception (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, legion ofhonor.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 Of Dogs and Other People: The Art of Roy De Forest Personal and colorful paintings and sculptures by Roy De Forest, through August 20 (Oakland). 510.318.8400, museumca.org

SFMOMA Matisse/ Diebenkorn An exploration of the inspiration that Bay Area artist Richard Diebenkorn found in the work of French modernist Henri Matisse,

through May 29 (SF). 415.357.4000, sfmoma.org

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Memory and Resistance: The Work of Joseph DeLappe A mini-retrospective of works by mediaarts pioneer Joseph DeLappe, through June 18 (Sonoma). svma.org

The Walt Disney Family Museum Deja View: The Art of Andreas Deja A unique exhibition of original works on paper and maquettes of iconic characters like Scar, Gaston, Lilo and more (SF). 415.345.6800, waltdisney.org

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Visualizing Citizenship: Seeking a New Public Imagination A collection of media centering on immigration by architect Teddy Cruz and political scientist Fonna Forman, through June 18 (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

EVENTS

THRU MAY 29 S.F. Decorator

Showcase

More than two dozen interior and landscape designers along with artists and photographers converge to make over a 11,000-squarefoot residence in the heart of Paci fic Heights. 2698 Paci fic Ave (SF). decoratorshowcase.org

MAY 6 Marin General Hospital Foundation New York, New York

Gala Support Marin General Hospital and its new Breast Health Center at the foundation’s glitzy fundraising celebration. The Village at Corte Madera (Corte Madera). marin general.org

Noises Off at the San Francisco Playhouse, S.F.

Okamura’s photography captures unique moments in time and creates a curiosity and connection with the ocean unlike any other. As a native of Bolinas, Ethan has managed to blend his deep connection to the ocean with a career in the arts. Foam DNA – 8" x 20" All photographs are printed on premium high gloss photo paper with UltraChrome HDR archival inks in limited editions of 50, face-mounted with ½-inch plexiglass and ready to hang.

Melanie Victor-Smith proudly presents the works of local Marin artist Ethan Okamura

Melanie Victor-Smith · 415/846-9864 · victorsmithrepresents.com

Ethan Okamura Photography

MAY

6 Lines Ballet 2017 Spring Gala

Enjoy cocktails and a performance from Lines’ spring season, choreographed by Alonzo King, followed by dinner and a live auction. YBCA (SF). 415.863.3040, lines ballet.org

MAY 6 Oakland Urban Wine Festival Jack London Square will be fi lled with more than 30 Northern California wineries offering tastings as well as small eats, craft beer, live music, eclectic exhibitors and more. Jack London Square (Oakland). 510.645.9292, jack londonsquare.com

MAY 6–7, 13–14 Marin Open Studios 2017 Artists across the

county are given the opportunity to show and sell their work to local art collectors, curators and colleagues (Various locations). 415.343.5667, marin openstudios.org

MAY 7 Pixie Park Nature Fair Enjoy a day of craft, music and stories honoring the park’s founder, Elizabeth Terwilliger. Marin Art and Garden Center (Ross). 415.455.5260, magc.org

MAY 7 Wine, Women and Shoes Shop and sip for a good cause. Enjoy tastings from some of the area’s top wineries, an auction, a runway show and more while learning about Tenderloin Health Improvement Partnership and

the Saint Francis Foundation’s work to improve the health and well-being of the Tenderloin neighborhood. The Ritz-Carlton (SF). saintfrancis foundation.org

MAY 11 Bay Area Bike to Work Day Ditch your usual four wheels for two and participate in the Bay Area’s annual Bike to Work Day. Various locations (Bay Area).

MAY 13 Bay Area Human Race Support your favorite nonprofit, school or community group with this favorite 5K. Marin County Fairgrounds (San Rafael). cvnl.org/ bayareahumanrace

MAY 13 Family Gala: A Night on the Town Grab the family and get dressed up for this spring gala fundraiser celebrating and exploring the innovation of city landscapes, architecture and transportation — with dinner, dancing and a Ferris wheel. Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito). 415.339.3900, bayareadiscovery museum.org

MAY 13 Pre–Mother’s Day Succulents Sale Shop potted succulents large and small, along with containers for planting. Stock up or simply pick out a special Mother’s Day gift. Falkirk Cultural Center (San Rafael). 415.485.3328, falkirk culturalcenter.org

MAY 14 Presidio Picnic Enjoy food and drink from 30 local vendors in one of the city’s most scenic spots. Free activities include yoga, lawn games, bike riding lessons and more. Presidio Main Parade Ground (SF). 415.561.5300, presidio.gov

MAY 14 The French Market Peruse this outdoor antique market in search of art, books, textiles, vintage and estate jewelry, furniture, prints and other wares, all accompanied by French music and crepes. Marin Civic Center (San Rafael). 415.383.2252, golden gateshows.com

MAY 18 Marin Design Awards Vanguard Properties presents the Marin Design Awards,

a celebration of creativity and innovation in design based right here in Marin County. The awards recognize achievements in the areas of architecture, interior and exterior design, home decor, floral design and fashion. Community Center (Mill Valley). marin designawards.com.

MAY

20 Altered Books Live Auction and Closing Party

The culmination of the eighth year of MarinMOCA’s Altered Book and Book Arts Exhibition, this party centers on a live auction that offers up unique literary artworks for purchase in support of the museum. Arts Center (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.org

MAY

20 Trade Feast

Help Marin’s Museum of the American Indian celebrate 50 years of cultural preservation and education with an evening featuring California Native dancers, singing, children’s activities, Native American arts and crafts vendors. Museum of the American Indian (Novato). 415.897.4064, marinindian.com

MAY 20–21

and

MAY 28

Muir Beach

Volunteer Firemen’s Barbecue Head to the 45th annual barbecue, a fun event for the whole family with delicious food, activities for the kids, live music — from IrieFuse and Andre Pessis — and dancing. Santos Meadows (Muir Beach). 415.381.8793, muirbeach fi re.com

FILM

MAY 13 Bill Evans: Time Remembered Enjoy the Bay Area premiere of this new feature-length documentary. Preceded by live jazz with the Dick Fregulia Trio, and followed by a discussion wit h fi lmmaker Bruce Spiegel. JB Piano Company (San Rafael). jbpiano.com.

MAY

evidence linking the Guatemalan government to the event. Smith Rafael Film Center (San Rafael). 415.454.5813, rafael fi lm.ca fi lm.org

WALKS & TALKS

15–16 Finding

Ranches

Rolling Hills

Landscape Art Show and Sale View Marin’s farmland through the eyes of renowned plein air painters from Marin County and Oak Group artists. Enjoy a farm-totable preview lunch and an opportunity to view and buy art. Druids Hall (Nicasio). 415.663.1158, malt.org

MAY 11–14

Obsession

Jude Law stars in this stage play, which follows Gino, a drifter who gets caught up in a passionate a ffair that leads to destruction. Enjoy the fi lmed live production from the comfort of your Larkspur theater seat. The Lark Theater (Larkspur). 415.924.5111, larktheater.net

Oscar This investigative documentary centers on fallout from the 1982 Dos Erres massacre in Guatemala, a slaughter survived only by Oscar and Ramiro, two little boys who were abducted and raised by the soldiers who had murdered their families. Follow the team of scientists, prosecutors and others who made it their mission to fi nd the boys, the only living

MAY 1 Paul Hawken Environmentalist, entrepreneur, journalist and author Paul Hawken discusses sustainability and the changing relationship between business and the environment. Dominican University (San Rafael). 415.927.0960, bookpassage.com

MAY 3 How To: Make Fresh Pasta Learn the secrets of making authentic homemade pasta using simple and seasonal ingredients

with easy-to-follow techniques — no fancy equipment required. Culinary Institute of America (Napa). ciaatcopia.com

MAY 6 Designing for Habitat Create a sanctuary for yourself and local bees, birds and butter fl ies. The course covers soil health, wildlife needs and seasonal plants and is followed by a casual wine reception. Marin Art and Garden Center (Ross). 415.455.5260, magc.org

MAY 6 Marin Master Gardeners: Basics and Challenges of Vegetable Gardening Marin Master Gardener Joe Jennings discusses vegetable gardening basics with a focus on three key challenges: planting in containers,

increasing vegetable fl avor and planting to promote pollination. Public Library (Novato). 415.473.2050.

MAY 20 Tamalpa Experience Workshop

Using movement, drawing, poetic writing and improvisational performance, participants tap into art’s symbolic language to explore current life themes. Mountain Home Studio (Kent field). 415.457.8555, tamalpa.org

MAY 25 Natural Color: Plant Dye Projects for Your Home and Wardrobe Join Sasha Duerr to discuss her book, which centers on creating natural dyes. Marin Art and Garden Center (Ross). 415.455.5260, magc.org

Dine

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

What’s Hot

WHO Justin and Tyler Catalana

WHAT Beer Hall and Rotisserie

WHERE Sausalito

The owners of Mill Valley Beerworks opened Joinery earlier this year in the former Wellington’s Wine Bar space. The waterfront casual restaurant specializes in rotisserie and local brews with favorites like a fried chicken sandwich with shaved fennel or pulled pork tacos. The sleek wood interior features communal tables and includes glass doors that open to an outdoor deck with views of the bay. 300 Turney St, 415.766.8999, joineryca.com b $$ Í LD

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

BOCA PIZZERIA Italian

This Italian-inspired pizzeria utilizes Northern California’s bounty of seasonal ingredients and showcases local microbreweries and wine country’s boutique varietals. The menu includes large selections of appetizers to share, organic salads when available, pastas, local free-range poultry and meats, desserts and Neapolitan-style pizzas with house-made mozzarella. 1544 Redwood Hwy, 415.924.3021, bocapizzeria.com s $$ Í C LD º

MARIN JOE’S Italian

This Marin mainstay has been around for over 50 years. Choose from a menu of soups, salads, seafood, mesquite-grilled or sautéed meats and a plethora of pasta options. For a fun addition to your dining experience, order the Caesar salad — the server will prepare the dressing at your table. Not looking for a meal? Enjoy a drink and hear local musicians at the well-known piano bar. 1585 Casa Buena Dr, 415.924.2081, marin joesrestaurant.com s $$ S C LD

PACIFIC CATCH PanAsian

The well-priced menu features freshly caught items and Paci fic Rim-inspired small or main plates, including wasabi bowls fi lled with white or brown rice, veggies and a choice of chicken, beef or fi sh (cooked or raw). Paci fic Catch is successfully modeled after the Paia Fish House on Maui, down to the chalkboard menu and Hawaiian music. 133 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.3474, pacificcatchcom s $$ S Í C LD º

EDITED BY MIMI TOWLE

Fried Chicken Sandwich

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

WORLD WRAPPS

Sandwiches This 21-year-old “fast food” joint is getting a facelift orchestrated by two of the original owners Keith Cox and Matt Blair, starting with the Corte Madera location. Expect a newly renovated space and fl avorful additions like the Hawaiian poke wrap and a tahini tofu summer roll that’s vegan friendly. 208 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.3663, worldwrapps.com $ S Í LD

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

GRILLY’S Mexican

If you’re looking for a quick, fresh meal, Grilly’s is an easy and delicious stop. Pick up a couple burritos and the much-loved chicken taco salad and you have a lunch or dinner to please the whole family. 1 Bolinas Ave, 415.457.6171, grillys.com $ S Í C BLD

IRON SPRINGS PUB & BREWERY American

Choose from an extensive beer list, and enjoy your selection with an ale-braised barbecue pork sandwich, prawn tacos or the house-ground chicken bacon cheeseburger. 765 Center Blvd, 415.485.1005, ironspringspub.com b $$ S Í C LD º

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 wineries. 31 Bolinas Road, 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. Another highlight is the giant wheel of Grana Padana cheese. And if that isn’t enough, stop by for live music every second and fourth Thursday of the month, as well as accordion music every Friday and a piano, bass and drums combo every Saturday. 107 Bolinas Road, 415.258.4520, sorellacaffe.co b $$$ S D

TAMAL Mexican Set in the former space of The Sleeping Lady, this contemporary Mexican restaurant serves a plentiful selection of tapas and tequila-centric cocktails. 23 Broadway, 415.524.8478 s $$$ LD

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. The menu offers an assortment of classic dishes like gorgonzola gnocchi, veal parmesan, carbonara and an extensive wine list. 455 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.3332, amalfi ristorantelarkspur.com b $$ Í LD

EMPORIO RULLI

Italian Renowned for its Northern Italian specialties and treats, the Larkspur location (there are four others) is a favored spot for lunch as well as coffee and a sweet treat. 464 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7478, rulli.com $$ S Í BL

FARM HOUSE LOCAL California This downtown Larkspur gem is sure to please with simple, healthy food in a warm, cozy atmosphere — both inside and outside on the covered patio. The seasonal menu follows what is fresh and local with dishes such a s flu ff y omelets stu ffed with local meats, cheeses and vegetables. 25 Ward St, 415.891.8577, farm houselocal.com b $$ S Í BL

FARMSHOP California

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

• COMFORTS CAFE

American Comforts has a cozy sit-down patio and serves breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. Besides the famous and popular Chinese chicken salad, other winners are the stuffed pecan-crusted French toast, flavorful scrambles and Chicken Okasan ( nicknamed “Crack Chicken” by fans). 335 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.9840, comfortscafe.com b $$ S Í BL BR

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

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

LEFT BANK RESTAURANT French Known for award-winning French cuisine and a lively brasserie ambience, this corner spot on Magnolia Avenue rates high with locals. Those with a small appetite (or budget)

can opt for happy hour appetizers (3 to 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close, Monday to Friday), most priced under $7. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331, leftbank.com s $$$ S Í C LD BR

MARIN BREWING CO. American Grab a cold beer made on site and pair it wit h fi sh ’n’ chips — in this case fresh cod dipped in Mt. Tam pale ale batter, served with steak fries and homemade tartar sauce — or another item from the all-American menu. Marin Country Mart, 1809 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.461.4677, marinbrewing.com b $$ S Í LD º

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) that keep patrons coming back. Pizzeria Picco next door is famous for its wood-fi red pizzas, wine selection and softserve Straus Family Creamery ice cream. 320 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0300, restaurantpicco.com s $$$ S Í C D

POSIE Dessert This hip artisan ice cream shop opened by Kyle Caporicci, former pasty chef of Michelinstarred Commis, is making a name for itself with its seasona l fl avors and homemade glutenfree cones. For lunch, meticulously prepared open-faced tartines and Instagram ready pastries are featured. Menu changes weekly, closed Mondays. 250B Magnolia Ave, 415.891.8395 $ L

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

Grilled Chicken

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

BALBOA CAFE MILL

VALLEY California The San Francisco institution has become a place to see and be seen in Mill Valley, especially after 142 Throckmorton comedy nights. Menu includes Niman fl atiron steak, braised beef brisket risotto and classic burgers. 38 Miller Ave, 415.381.7321, balboacafe.com s $$$ Í LD BR º

Update

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

BOO KOO

Asian This locally owned restaurant creates healthy meals that blend equal parts California Fresh with Southeastern Asian inspired street food. With a new chef and recent expansion of the restaurant, they’ve ushered in a vibrant bar with wines and kombucha on tap as well as one of the best craft beer offerings in town. Vegan, GF and vegetarian friendly menu. 25 Miller Ave, 415.888.8303, eatbookoo.com b $ S Í LD

BUCKEYE ROADHOUSE

American Oysters

Bingo, baby back ribs and Chili-Lime “Brick” Chicken are a few of the satisfying, comfortfood menu items that have made this classic roadhouse a favorite since the ’30s. The warm, dark-wood bar with red leather booths is also a popular spot for cocktails. 15 Shoreline Hwy, 415.331.2600, buckeyeroadhouse.com s $$ C LD BR

This award-winning 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

FRANTOIO RISTORANTE Italian

This 6,000-squarefoot eatery is centered around the in-house olive press, which produces a special blend popular with locals. For special occasions and private parties, reserve the olive-press room. The popular weekday happy hour starts at 4:30 p.m. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.289.5777, frantoio.com s $$$ Í C LD º

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

HOUSES TO COME HOME TO

www.harlockarch.com (415) 924-5714

Home is so much more than a house. Its meaning is different for everyone. The concept is an evolving one; often not fully describable or conscious. It encompasses our past, but assuredly, is not final. We consider our greatest value to be the dialogue we establish with Clients, to create living places with meaning and joy; houses to come home to.

Michael Harlock A.I.A. Residential Architecture New & Remodel

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

JOE’S TACO LOUNGE

Mexican Joe’s serves up fi sh tacos, burritos and enchiladas as well as more unusual items like Mexican pizza, tofu tostada and crab tostadas. Colorful interior and quick service make this a fun, easy stop. 382 Miller Ave, 415.383. 8164, joestaco lounge.com b $$ S Í BLD

KITCHEN SUNNYSIDE

American This brunch stop brings some gourmet to your morning with options like Dungeness crab hash, corn fl ake French toast, eggs Florentine and bottomless mimosas. Lunch options like paninis and burgers are also

available. 31 Sunnyside Ave, 415.326.5159, kitchensunnyside.com b $$ S BL BR

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

MOLINA California

Focusing on California coastal cuisine, the menu features items selected from Marin County’s farmers’ markets, including shell fi sh, oysters, rabbit, pig, quail and cattle. Both the menu and the music change nightly. 17 Madrona St, 415.383.4200, molinarestaurant.com b $$$ Í D BR

PIAZZA D’ANGELO

Italian Family owned for over 35 years, Piazza D’Angelo evokes a traditional trattoria dining experience. Enjoy a variety of pastas, meat and seafood dishes, wood fi red pizzas, and gluten free offerings with locally sourced ingredients. 22 Miller Ave, 415.388.2000, piazzadangelo.com s $$ S Í C LD BR º

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, housemade 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

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

SHORELINE COFFEE SHOP American Tucked away in a parking lot at Tam Junction, this coffee shop is a funky diner with a smalltown feel. Check out the mix of Mexican and traditional breakfast fare. 221 Shoreline Hwy, 415.388.9085 b $$ S Í BL BR

SWEETWATER MUSIC HALL CAFE American Located at the entrance of Sweetwater Music Hall, the cafe is dedicated to the FLOSS philosophy: Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal and Sustainable. O ffering breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, the menu includes brown-butter scrambled eggs on avocado toast, crispy potatoricotta gnocchi and

vegan Thai spring rolls with sweet-and-sour sauce. 19 Corte Madera Ave, 415.388.3850, sweet watermusichall.com s $$ S Í BLD BR º

TAMALPIE Italian Owner Karen Goldberg designed this restaurant with a large group seating area, indoor and outdoor fi replaces, and a small casual bar. The food is Italian home cooking with the daily modern inspiration of locally sourced seasonal ingredients found in the salads, house-made pastas and crispy Neapolitan style pizza, with a selection of beer and wine to match. 477 Miller Ave, 415.388.7437, tamalpiepizza.com s $$ S Í C LD

THE WHISK + SKILLET American

This daytime eatery in Strawberry Village serves all-day breakfast and lunch with plenty of egg options to choose from and Equator coffee to boot. Lunch options include soups, sandwiches and salads. 110 Strawberry Village, 415.380.1900 b $$ BL

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

BOCA PIZZERIA Italian

Enjoy authentic pizza prepared with fresh mozzarella made in-house daily and tomatoes imported

from Italy. Other menu items include grilled rosemary chicken sandwiches and braised beef short rib pappardelle. Enjoy weekly specials, such as 50 percent off all wines by the bottle on Wednesdays and half off raft beers on Thursdays. 454 Ignacio Blvd, 415.883.2302, bocapizzeria.com b $$ S Í C LD

BOCA TAVERN

American Bring a date or celebrate a special event at this classic steak house, which features wholesome American fare. Favorites include the mac ’n’cheese croquettes, hanger steak and duck-fat fries. 340 Ignacio Blvd, 415.883.0901, bocasteak.com s $$$ S Í C LD º

RICKEY’S

RESTAURANT & BAR

American Besides a full-service restaurant and bar (with banquet and meeting rooms), this comfort food bastion offers poolside dining and a garden patio overlooking green lawns. 250 Entrada Dr, 415.883.9477, rickeysrestaurant.com s $$ S Í C D º

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

Signature Salad at LaVier, San Rafael

New

SAN ANSELMO

BAAN THAI CUISINE

Thai Known for its mango sticky rice, this restaurant is committed to bringing their customers fresh, local and seasonal food. Warm up with the tom kha soup or stave off he heat with a lychee iced tea. 726 San Anselmo Ave, 415.457.9470, baanthaimarin.com b $$ LD

CUCINA SA Italian

Formerly Cucina Restaurant and Wine Bar, the ownership team of Donna Seymour and Kevin Hansmeyer renovated, renamed and reopened the restaurant in December 2015. This cozy space features homemade pastas, wood-fi red pizzas and Italian wines. A large part of the menu is vegetarian and glutenfree. 510 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.2942, cucina-sa.com b $$ Í D

L’APPART RESTO

French French specialties, local favorites and a $35 three- course prix fi xe menu are served up in an energetic yet sophisticated environment. Check out the live music on Thursdays. 636 San Anselmo Ave, 415.256.9884, lappartresto.com b $$ S Í LD BR

MARINITAS Mexican

The sister restaurant of Insalata’s continues to flourish as a center for creative Latin cuisine in Marin. It may not be as low-priced as most local Mexican restaurants, but this is not your typical southof-the-border spot. 218 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.454.8900, marinitas.net s $$ S LD BR

M.H. BREAD AND BUTTER California This one-stop shop offers everything from coffee and pastries to artisan bread and braised meats. High-quality ingredients and a comfortable atmosphere make MH worth checking out. 101 San Anselmo Ave, 415.755.4575, mhbreadandbutter.com $$ S Í BL BR

SUSHI 69 Japanese Opened in 2001 in San Anselmo, Sushi 69 has been a favorite for locals looking to get thei r fi ll on no frills sushi. The owner hails from Japan and has created an extensive menu featuring traditional tempura and the popular Hiro’s roll (spicy tuna with avocado, salmon and ponzu sauce wrapped in sushi rice). 69 Center Blvd, 415.459.6969, shallwego69.com b $$ Í D

Update

KATHLEEN DUGHI JEWELER

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 and happy hour from 4:30 to 6, Monday through Friday. 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

HAND-FABRICATED FINE JEWELRY EXQUISITE CUSTOM DESIGNS BRIDAL

SBirdMarinmag_ad_May2017_print.pdf 1 4/4/17 4:08 PM

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

table gives a prime view of the open kitchen. 337 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.7800, valentico.com b $$$ D

SAN RAFAEL

AMICI’S EAST COAST

PIZZERIA California A wide array of thin-crust pizzas, freshly made pastas and salads are the ticket here, along wit h fl ame-roasted lemon chicken wings, for dine-in, takeout and delivery. Gluten-free pizza crust is available. 1242 Fourth St, 415.455.9777, amicis.com b $$ S Í LD º

IL DAVIDE Italian

The large selection of innovative and classic Tuscan dishes and house-made pasta has kept locals coming back for years. Ingredients are organic and locally sourced where possible, and there’s a vast selection of both Italian and California wines by the glass. A private party dining

room accommodates up to 45 people. 901 A St, 415.454.8080, ildavide.net s $$$ S Í C LD

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

LAVIER CUSINE LatinFusion Free-range meat and fresh seafood is the focus at this authentic Latin-fusion eatery in San Rafael run by Gabriela and her husband Guillermo who hails from Yucatan. Try the plantain and panko crusted cheese sticks to start and follow that with the popular pu ff y

fi sh tacos with slaw and black beans. Brunch is served on weekends until 2 p.m. 1025 C St, 415.295.7990, lavier latinfusion.com b $$ S LD BR º

MULBERRY STREET PIZZERIA Italian Chef Ted Rowe won fi rst place in the Food Network Television Pizza Challenge with his For the Love of Mushroom pizza —sautéed mushrooms in a creamy garlic sauce and a red wine reduction atop a fresh crust. Be sure to try other unique pies, like the spicy Three Beer pizza and the clam and garlic. 101 Smith Ranch Road, 415.472.7272, mulberrystreetpizza sanrafael.com b $$ S

RANGE CAFE American

With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the grand Peacock Gap lawns, the Range Cafe is the perfect place for comforting American classics with an elegant twist. This inviting

• GREEN CHILE KITCHEN

Mexican Don’t let the name fool you; while green chilies are present on the menu, many other varieties are also featured. From the organic, house made, blue corn tortillas to the red chile chicken wings, this restaurant located in downtown San Rafael offers a cornucopia of hues and flavors. 1335 Fourth St, 415.521.5691, greenchilekitchen.com b $$ S LD

lunchtime cafe with its ice-cold lemonade and refreshing chardonnays makes a great dinner spot once the sun sets. 333 Biscayne Dr, 415.454.6450, rangecafe.net s $$ S Í C BLD º

SOL FOOD Puerto Rican Fast becoming a Marin legend, Sol Food whips up traditional Puerto Rican dishes just like the ones owners Sol Hernandez grew up eating. Favorites include the bistec sandwich, mofongo and fried plantains, but anything tastes good with a dash of the signature hot sauce, also for sale by the bottle (as is the lemon-garlic salad dressing). 901 Lincoln Ave, 415.451.4765, sol foodrestaurant.com $$ S BLD

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 and some of the best milkshakes. 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

YET WAH Chinese Named for the founder’s wife (“Yet” refers to the moon, “Wah” to brightness), this beloved mainstay has a traditional Chinese menu and daily dim sum. Expect live music in the Kung Fu Lounge. 1238 Fourth St, 415.460.9883, yetwahsanrafael.com s $$ S Í LD

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

Blue Corn

Quesadilla

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

BARREL HOUSE TAVERN California

Stop by Barrel House for great local food enhanced by fantastic bay and city views. The relaxed urban setting is a perfect match for the barrel-aged cocktails. 660 Bridgeway, 415.729.9593, barrelhousetavern.com s $$$ S Í LD º

COPITA Mexican Chef Joanne Weir serves up Mexican fare in downtown Sausalito. The ever-changing 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

DARIO’S

RESTAURANT Italian/ Mediterranean Dario’s, a 40-year-old pizza joint in Sausalito is shaking things up by adding a new menu with a Mediterranean flair. In addition to the thin crust pizzas, you can now order items like lamb meatballs, chicken schwarma and falafel wraps. 2829 Bridgeway, 415.332.6636, darios sausalito.com b $$ Í LD

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

FENG NIAN Chinese

This spacious popular hangout has served up wonton soup, pot stickers and daily specials for nearly two decades. For an indulgent treat, order the Szechwan crispy calamari, honeyglazed walnut prawn or lemon chicken. Staying in? Feng Nian delivery available. 2650 Bridgeway, 415.331.5300, fengnian.com b $$ S 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 Opt for an indulgent meal right on the water. The atmosphere is animated with light French music (à la Amélie), and the much-adored croquemonsieur is authentic. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625, legaragebistro sausalito.com b $$$ S Í BLD BR

Congratulations to Rob

Rob Spinosa

Cynthia Schuman, Bejeweled 2014; photo: Phil Bond

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 Executive chef Benjamin Balesteri creates Northern Italian fare using fresh and 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

SAYLOR’S

RESTAURANT AND BAR California/Mexican Chef/owner Sean Saylor uses fresh local ingredients and seafood to create a distinctively Cabo combination of California and Mexican cuisine. Serving more

than 200 varieties of tequilas that are even better when enjoyed in the private Cabo Wabo room named for (and approved by) Mill Valley’s own tequila master, Sammy Hagar. 2009 Bridgeway, 415.332.1512, saylors restaurantandbar.com s $$ S Í C LD º

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

CAPRICE California Book the private party room for large groups or just relax in this romantic dinner spot. Take advantage of the restaurant’s wellpriced three-course dinners for less than $30, and don’t miss prime rib Mondays. 2000 Paradise Dr, 415.435.3400, thecaprice.com s $$$ D

LUNA BLU Sicilian Executive chef Renzo Azzarello and his wife, Crystal, serve English afternoon tea (a special service by reservation only). The menu changes daily, incorporating seasonal, fresh and organic produce. The restaurant has partnered with

the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, so all the seafood is sustainable. In 2014 diners voted Luna Blu one of the Top 100 Neighborhood Gem restaurants in America. 35 Main St, 415.789.5844 s $$$ S Í LD

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 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 homegrown ingredients. Large windows in the 130-seat 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

PARKSIDE CAFE

American Perfect for a sit-down alfresco meal or for grabbing a burger to enjoy on the beach. Beautiful patio garden seating, ocean views, and private wood-fi red dinners make this café a relaxing retreat. If you’re on the go, 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

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 Road, 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

Lemongrass Beef at Baan Thai, San Anselmo

SAN FRANCISCO /EAST BAY

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. For the interior, owner Hetal Shah worked with designer Craige Walters to create a refi ned yet inviting atmosphere to serve modern Indian food interpretations. 524 Van Ness Ave, 415.771.5900, august1five.com s $$ LD º

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

Know Your Jeweler

1331 Fourth Street San Rafael 415.454.2711 marinjewelersguild.com

Marin Open Studios Saturday and Sunday May 6 & 7; 13 & 14

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 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

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

Artist: Sudha Irwin

Artist: Vicki Marinko

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

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 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

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

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

SESSIONS AT THE PRESIDIO

American

Located just across the Golden Gate Bridge, this restaurant has serious ties to Marin. The fruits, vegetables, herbs and olive oil hail from our county thanks in part to the restaurant’s partnership

KEY TO SYMBOLS

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

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

PIZZAIOLO Italian Chef Charlie Hallowell opened this Italian gem in 2005 with a focus on topping his 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 (Oakland). 5008 Telegraph Ave, 510.652.4888, pizzaiolo oakland.com s $$ S Í BLD BR

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

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

Opening Day

2017 BANK OF MARIN RUNNING FESTIVAL

MAY 21

REGISTER AT BANKOFMARINRUNFEST.COM

Join us for the 2nd Annual Bank of Marin Running Festival as we bring together runners of all ages and abilities for a half marathon, 10k, 5k or 1 mile race along the scenic back country roads of Novato.

Presented by:

RUN LIKE AN OLYMPIAN

Olympian Alysia Montano joins us on race day for a meet & greet and autograph signing!

We are proud to support the Boys & Girls Club of Marin & Petaluma and their mission to enable all youth to realize their full potential:

Sponsored by:

Produced by:

New Mexican Zest

MOST CUISINES HAVE a set of defi ning ingredients. Canned tomatoes and pasta ring of Italian, miso and seaweed signal Japanese, and for New Mexico it’s chile. Both red and green chiles are native to New Mexico, each harvested at di fferent times of ripeness during the fall. But it’s the green chile, which is picked earlier than red, that really shines. Many consider green chiles packed with vitamin C a superfood, and some even report a runner’s-like high after consuming them. Over at Green Chile Kitchen in San Rafael Bueno chile is used in every dish. The restaurant is a small chain, with locations in San Rafael, San Francisco and Oklahoma and two Chile Pies brick-and-mortars in Guerneville and San Francisco (Chile Pies Baking Co. serves sweet and savory pies, along with ice cream and other treats). Trevor Logan and Santa Fe, New Mexico, native Ted Razatos operate the San Rafael branch of Green Chile Kitchen. In 1947 Razatos’ family opened downtown Santa Fe’s acclaimed Plaza Cafe, which serves authentic traditional dishes and is the city’s oldest downtown restaurant. Here they share a popular salad recipe. “Our grains and greens salad is a fun and healthy light snack or dinner option,” says chef Justin Diehl. “It’s packed with omega-3s, vitamin C and antioxidants.” greenchilekitchen.com/gckmarin KASIA PAWLOWSKA

Grains and Greens

SERVES 4

Ingredients

Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette

2 dried chipotle peppers (or 2 canned chiles in adobo)

¼ cup white wine vinegar

½ bunch fresh cilantro

Juice of one lemon

1 tablespoon kosher salt

½ tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

¼ teaspoon minced garlic

¼ teaspoon Mexican red chile powder

¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salad

2 cups cooked organic quinoa

L cup cooked organic black beans

L cup oven roasted organic corn

¼ cu p fire-roasted, peeled and diced red peppers, plus more for garnish

¼ cup diced jicama

¼ cup chopped green onions ¼ cup fresh lime juice

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

½ bunch fresh cilantro, finely chopped ¾ teaspoon kosher salt

Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

14 ounces organic green curly kale, coarsely chopped

Garnish

4 ta blespoons oven roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas) 2 avocados, sliced

To Prepare

Make the vinaigrette 1 If using dried chipotles, soak in hot water until soft, 15 to 20 minutes, then drain.

2 Combine the chiles and all of the remaining ingredients, except the oil, in a food processor. With the motor running, add the oil in a steady stream and blend. Makes about 1 ¼ cups. Assemble the salad 1 Combine all of the ingredients, except the kale, in a large metal bowl and mix by hand. 2 Place the kale in a separate bowl, dress with some of the vinaigrette and massage the leaves thoroughly. 3 Divide the kale between four serving bowls. Scoop the quinoa over the kale and garnish with pepitas and additional roasted red peppers. Serve with sliced avocado for extra goodness.

EDITED BY LYNDA BALSLEV

RECIPE

Justin Diehl

the DISH PROMOTION

EAT, DRINK AND BE ENTERTAINED

Consistently rated “Best of Marin”, Comforts offers finecity and home-style food. We offer seasonal breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch in our full-service cafe, in addition to take-out and catering services. Mother’s Day is around the corner - let Comforts help you celebrate this special occasion!

El Paseo has launched The Passage Bar, featuring a new curated cocktail and spirits program, along with a new food menu. Imbibe on Sammy Hagar’s own Beach Bar Rum, Cabo Wabo Tequila and the new Santo Mezquila. 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

INSPIRED THERE. ENJOYED HERE.

Our all new menu of wrapps and bowls was inspired by recent world travels. Signature items like Thai Chicken, Tikka Masala and Korean BBQ utilize housemade fltbread dough that is fresh pressed to order. LIFE IS BUSY. GET IT DELIVERED!

“Better Than Ever” - Marin I.J.

WORLD WRAPPS

208 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, CA 415.927.3663 worldwrapps.com

FESTIVAL NAPA VALLEY Napa, CA 888.337.6272 festivalnapavalley.org

bar and grill

RangeCafe at Peacock Gap

Golf Club has been turning out spectacular dishes for more than fie years. Delight in fresh, seasonal cuisine crafted by our executive chef or simply enjoy a glass from the finet Northern California vineyards on our outdoor patio.

RANGECAFE 333 Biscayne Drive, San Rafael, CA 415.454.6450 rangecafe.net

Try Tomatina for our modern and fresh interpretations of traditional Italian recipes. Our made-from-scratch sauces and housemade pizzas are customer favorites but we are best known for our signature piadine—fresh, hot fltbread topped with cool salads, ready to fold and eat.

TOMATINA

5800 Northgate Mall, San Rafael, CA 415.479.3200 tomatina.com

Festival Napa Valley is back for it’s twelfth season this July 14-23, 2017. Over ten days, the festival will treat locals and visitors alike to a schedule of more than 60 music, theater, and dance productions in total, paired with daily vintner luncheons and dinners with esteemed chefs and 100 participating wineries. This year’s performers include Bill Murray, Gloria Estefan, Joshua Bell, André Watts, the S.F. Ballet, and many more.

adlib

MARIN ADVERTISERS SPEAK UP

ANNIE ROSENTHAL PARR, OWNER/DIRECTOR AT ROCO DANCE

Founded in 1993 by professional dancer Annie Rosenthal Parr, RoCo offers more than 200 classes weekly for adults and youth. In its two locations within Marin County, RoCo attracts the Bay Area’s finest instructors and master teachers. Class offerings include multiple levels of modern, jazz, contemporary, ballet, hip-hop, break dancing, Latin dance, West African, contemporary yoga, Pilates and more. RoCo also offers a conservatory program for preprofessional young dancers interested in pursuing dance after high school. This program offers a complete curriculum in contemporary, ballet, jazz and hip-hop. Performances are held four to six times annually at Marin Center and RoCo’s performance space in Fairfax. Briefly describe your business philosophy. My business philosophy is driven by my customers. We train dancers holistically, from the inside/out. By doing that, we provide a safe place for youth and adults to find their individuality as movers and we take pride in staying on the cutting edge of the dance/art world. My philosophy is to excite and inspire people to dance. What is your competitive edge? RoCo is one of the largest contemporary dance facilities in Northern California and has the largest boys’ dance program. We hire talent from all over the Bay Area to teach classes weekly. Teachers are drawn to teach at RoCo because of our vision as an authentic training space.

What makes your work worthwhile? Employing artists who need supplemented income to survive in the Bay Area gives me great pleasure. I am thrilled I can provide a workplace that is in alignment with who they are as people and their passion.

ROCO DANCE MILL VALLEY: 237 SHORELINE HIGHWAY, 415.388.6786; FAIRFAX: 56 BOLINAS ROAD, 415.456.1590; ROCODANCE.COM

ROWENA FINEGAN, OWNER AT PINE STREET NATURAL INTERIORS

At Pine Street Natural Interiors we strive to create beautiful, colorful and environmentally friendly living spaces using healthy materials that are also socially responsible. In addition to accessorizing and furnishing your home with our products, we offer professional design services to assist in creating spaces that are kind to you, your family and the environment.

Briefly describe your business philosophy. We are adamant about what products will pass muster for our clients. It is important for those of us who have been working in the arena of sustainable interiors for the past decade, and beyond, to take it upon ourselves to continue to lead and help to educate not only our peers but all those who cross our paths. Those who are sometimes ambivalent, sometimes skeptical and sometimes downright untrusting of what they fear may be just more “green-washing.” We must continue to lead by example, to be passionate about what we do and to work together in order to gain the necessary momentum that is required to turn this gigantic ship of unsustainable practices around.

What is your competitive edge? Our standards of design, as well as our product choices, are based on the principles of Bau-biologie, which explores the effect of the built environment on human health. Knowledge of healthy products, along with our design experience, ensures your home will nurture your mind, body and spirit.

Which product or service (that you offer) is your favorite? While we love all the products that we sell, our upholstered furniture line holds particular significance. In 2004, I collaborated with Cisco Pinedo, owner of Cisco Brothers, a furniture manufacturing company in Los Angeles, to create a sustainable, fully upholstered furniture line, utilizing natural, nontoxic and sustainable materials.

PINE STREET NATURAL INTERIORS 323 PINE STREET, UNIT A, SAUSALITO, 415.331.9323, INFO@PINESTREETINTERIORS.COM, PINESTREETINTERIORS.COM

LUMINARIES:

FLORAL DESIGN JENNIFER BRANT Green Bouquet Floral Design

ARCHITECTURE JARED POLSKY Polsky Perlstein Architects

HOME DECOR MONELLE TOTAH & GARY MCNATTON Hudson Grace

INTERIOR DESIGN ROBERT FEDERIGHI Robert Federighi Designs

LANDSCAPE DESIGN MICHAEL YANDLE Michael B.Yandle Landscape Architecture

FASHION NADINE CURTIS 7 on Locust

Please join us in honoring our Marin Design Awards Luminaries as well as this year’s winners to be announced May 18th. www.marindesignawards.com

4/11/17 12:37 PM

CIGARETTE BUTTS ARE CRASHING OUR ECOSYSTEM. Cigarette butts are the number one most littered object on our beaches and leach toxic chemicals that snuff out wildlife. Surfrider.org

Marin Home

FROM TOURS AND MAKEOVERS TO DECORATIVE DETAILS AND REALTOR INSIGHTS

THE NEXT CHAPTER

A casual glance at a for-sale sign leads to finding the perfect Tiburon home.

BY DAWN MARGOLIS DENBERG PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

Bi-fold doors blur the lines between outdoor and indoor living.

HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS

Conor and Lindsey Irvine grew up together in the leafy enclave of Woodside. As adults, they migrated to San Francisco’s Marina district and spent a decade enjoying the area’s cafes, shops and nightlife. But after they added a dog and a baby to the family, apartment living was beginning to feel tight. “We’d discussed the idea of moving to Marin and called a realtor,” Lindsey says. But the busy family never seemed to have time for house hunting. “So, eventually, we stopped looking and decided we’d figure it out when the time was right.”

Then, last October, Lindsey spent the night at a friend’s house in Tiburon. Up early and in the mood for coffee, the girls bundled their babies in strollers and went for a walk to Peet’s Coffee.

Along the way they noticed a “home for sale” sign. Intrigued by the property and

encouraged by her friend, Lindsey took one of the brochures and later checked out the house online. “I took one look at the pictures and knew this could be our home. It was done exactly to our taste, which is incredibly hard to fi nd,” Lindsey says. She called her realtor and said, “I found a house and we love it! We’d like to see it as soon as possible.”

The following day, Lindsey and Conor returned to Marin for a viewing. The sleek, open-concept kitchen with abundant light and a wall of glass doors opening onto a sunny flagstone patio exceeded expectations, as did the private yard with an outdoor kitchen, glistening pool, spa and hardscape fi re pit.

The couple could easily envision the next chapter of their lives unfolding in this home. So, five days after stumbling on the property, these fi rst-time home buyers made an offer and bid city life adieu.

The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home was in near turnkey condition. So the

Irvines had little to do before moving. They refi nished the red oa k floors on the main level and added matching hardwood to the lowerlevel guest room and media room. They also changed a few light fi xtures and repainted the walls. “Other than that, we didn’t have to do much. We loved it,” Lindsey says.

Instead, they focused their efforts on shopping for new home furnishings — not an easy task with a one-year-old in tow. “A lot of our stuff ame from Room and Board, Crate and Barrel and Restoration Hardware,” Lindsey says.

The former city slickers took no time at all immersing themselves in all the county has to offer. “We love hiking Ring Mountain on weekends and running on the Tiburon trail, and we even joined the Corinthian Club,” Lindsey says. “We wake up every day and pinch ourselves. We love our new home and life in Tiburon, and we look forward to all the adventures to come.” m

THE DETAILS

WHERE THEY PURCHASED Reedlands neighborhood in Tiburon

WHAT THEY BOUGHT 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom contemporary

LISTING AGENT Kenton Wolfers, Decker Bullock, Sotheby’s International SELLING AGENT Carey Hagglund Condy, Luxury Marin Homes

THE STATS Price per square foot for homes in the neighborhood: $900

Opposite: An open floor plan is an entertainer’s paradise. This page, clockwise from top left: A lush fern garden and a cable railings set the tone for what to expect inside; a few, wellcurated furnishings corroborate the adage “less is more”; toy shelf; a sybaritic master suite; bookshelves are for more than just books; Conor, Lindsey and Taylor.

Pass the Glass

Stylish and smart items that add beauty to the dining room.

BY PJ BREMIER

APOETIC MAN ONCE advised that one should “always have something beautiful in sight, even if it’s just a daisy in a jelly glass.” We couldn’t agree more as we see his jelly glass and raise it. Consider adding flair to your rooms with gorgeous glass pieces handcrafted in Northern California.

1 Handblown Giant Pear (18 inches high) by Cohn-Stone Studios, $895 each, 510.234.9690, cohnstone.com

2 Custom Jelly Lights by Glass Fire Gallery, various sizes starting at $1,000 each, 707.962.9420, glassfiregallerycom

3 Stemless wine glasses, $25 each, 510.832.2007, slowburnglass.com

4 Recycled glass table setting by Fire and Light Originals, items in image range from $28 to $74, Terrestra, 415.384.8330, terrestra.com 5 Palm Frond Platter ($116) and Banana Leaf Bowl ($95 for medium and $147 for large) by Annieglass at Fig Garden, 415.457.9443 or Ruby Living, 415.381.9095, rubyliving.com

Let’s Be Direct

Sowing spring seeds now for a summer bounty.

THINK SOWING ANNUAL seeds in the ground is time wasted and not worth getting your gardening gloves dirty for? Well, that might not be the case. Here are some reasons you should consider direct-sowing seeds. If nothing else, it provides good motivation to get you and your gardening gloves into the garden. BY

KIER HOLMES

TIPS FROM THE EXPERT “The easiest plants to direct-sow would be sunflowers and beans for sure,” Vanessa Lyons, a garden coordinator at Conscious Kitchen – Bayside MLK, says. She recommends planning ahead and getting the kids involved. “Starting in late September through fall, start to harvest, dry, sort and save your favorite seeds. And kids love to save sunflower seeds and flowering heirloom beans, as well as poppies with their rattles and tiny black seeds.”

THE GROUND RULES

Why Seeds are inexpensive, you have more choice in varieties when you direct-sow, and some plants like zinnias with delicate roots fare better from seed than from nursery transplants. How To First read the seed packet directions to determine seed depth and spacing. Then prepare the area by loosening the soil, removing weeds and working in organic compost. Finally, smooth the area. Row by Row One way to plant is to make furrows for the seeds. Either tap the seeds out as you move along the rows or individually place larger seeds. Broad Idea To create a meadow look, evenly broadcast seeds, like a California native wildflower mix, over a bed or an area, then rake lightly to barely cover the seeds with soil. Seed Depth Rule of (a green) thumb is to plant a seed twice as deep as the width of the seed. H20 No matter what the sowing method, remember that all seeds need a fine spray of water and need to be kept moist (not soggy) until they sprout. Crowd Pleaser When seedlings have two sets of leaves, thin those too closely spaced to avoid crowding. Fresh Idea Make sure your seeds are fresh and dated for the current year. Where to Buy Shop online or at your local nursery. Tip The Mill Valley Library has an ingenious seed-lending library called SeedSmart, where you can check out seeds, grow them and return any new seeds.

WHAT TO SOW AND GROW NOW

Sunflower Nasturtium Poppies Nigella Linaria Cosmos Zinnia

Calendula Radish Spinach Beet Carrot Cucumber

involved

"The saying goes that 'home is where the heart is'. Marin is my home and I love where I live! To me, home is also about community. I take pride in being involved in my community and working with other business owners to make Marin a better place. This allows me to form relationships that help me take great care of my clients. If it's a home in Marin, you can be assured that my heart is in it!“

Kevin Kearney | 415.297.3874 kevin@vanguardproperties.com BRE# 01355515

“We are a family of Realtors; it runs in our blood. With roots in Mill Valley for over 45 years, we see homes differently. We know the quickest shortcuts to town; when the plum trees & wild flowers bloom, the in-town traffic patterns and the unique microclimates of Mill Valley. We value family, and family is our home.“

Iga Schaffer | 415.302.6449 Emily Schaffer | 415.302.6450 iga@vanguardmarin.com emily@vanguardmarin.com BRE# 00631129 | BRE# 01863623

legacy relentless

“Keen instincts make the difference between success and failure on every deal. To that end, I am relentless at helping people find the right property based on their financial and lifestyle goals. I have a sixth sense about the Marin real estate market, can crunch numbers on a dime and have the contacts to make miracles happen. For real estate investments, I'm your guy.“

Troy Luchessi | 415.902.8769 troy@vanguardproperties.com BRE# 01322760

www.vanguardproperties.com

PROPERTIES

LEADERS BY DESIGN

ARCHITECTURE

RON SUTTON & ELIZABETH SUZUKI | Sutton Suzuki

BARBARA CHAMBERS | Chambers + Chambers

MICHAEL REX | Michael Rex Architecture

MAX CROME | Crome Architecture

DAVID HOLSCHER | Holscher Architecture

INTERIOR DESIGN

ANN LOWENGART | Ann Lowengart Interiors

ALLISON BLOOM | Dehn Bloom

MARTIN KOBUS | Marin Kobus Residential Design

ELENA CALABRESE | Elena Calabrese Design & Decor

MOLIE MALONE | Molie Malone Interior Design

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

IVE HAUGELAND | Shades of Green

PETE PEDERSEN | Pederson Associates

WARREN SIMMONDS | Simmonds & Associates

JOHNNY FORT AND LISA SECHSER | Bon Terra Landscapes

SCOTT REILLY | Reilly Designs

HOME DÉCOR

TRICIA ROSE | Rough Linen

SERENA DUGAN & LILY KANTER | Serena & Lily

ROBERT LONG | Robert Long Lighting

KELLY BEDFORD WILLRICH & MELANIE MOUNT | The Well Made Home

CATHERINE BAILEY & ROBIN PETRAVIC | Heath Ceramics

FLORAL ARTS

JODI SHAW | Flourish Succulents

SARAH MCCONNELOUG | Verde Event Flowers

GAYLE NICOLETTI | Blooming Gayle’s

KATHLEEN CAGE | Kate’s Blossoms

ANGELLA GARRETT | Angella Floral Arts

FASHION DESIGN

STEPHEN GORDON | Guideboat

AMY NORDSTROM | Amy Nordstom Jewelry

DAVID, DENISE AND ZACH WEINSTEIN | CP Shades

ASHLEY & SARA KELLENBERGER | KIN/K

CHRISTINA PALOMO NELSON & MEGAN PAPAY | Freda Salvador

For tickets or more information www.marindesignawards.com

VANGUARD

is proud to announce the nominees for the

Just Listed

Fabulous, hip and cool contemporary on a completely flat, sunny corner lot in the heart of the Kent Woodlands. Palm Springs style living with an ideal indoor/outdoor flow-an entertainer’s paradise!

§ 3 BED / 2 BATH SINGLE-LEVEL

§ 2052 sq.ft /.6320 acre lot

§ Brilliant pool

§ Expansive level lawns and manicured grounds

§ Fully fenced rear yard

§ Huge master bedroom suite with french doors opening to private patio

§ Newly updated with top of the line finishes and appliances

§ Detached 2 car garage

Panoramic Bay View from this Tiburon Estate

Unrivaled San Francisco bridge to bridge views tucked into a quiet Tiburon cul-de-sac. Built in 1989 with approximately 4,500 square feet, this home features large outdoor living space complete with a large bluestone terrace and one of a kind views, perfect for entertaining. The classic layout lends itself to comfortable living in an elegant setting. www.3BerkeCourt.com

Offered At $4,500,000

Bryan Locke (415) 828-1104

Historic Nob Hill Home with Separate Au Pair

This historic Nob Hill home is now ready for your sophisticated buyer. Let your imagination guide you from the stained-glass front door to the chef’s kitchen with German made cabinets and over the top appliances, to the parlor...charm personified. Three ample size bedrooms and beautifully appointed bath one with a jetted tub. Separate au-pair garden unit on lower level. Built in 1908 and re-furbished from top to bottom.

Offered At $2,788,000

Donna Falzon (415) 265-7424

Privacy, Views & Acreage in Novato

One of a kind gated home situated on almost 4 acres. The main level has a large kitchen, formal dining and living rooms, 3BR/3BA. Downstairs: 2BR/2BA +, a den/office, sauna, family room with fireplace and a large kitchen. The house on is surrounded with beautiful decking; the back yard includes a pool with a gorgeous gazebo, built in picnic areas and meandering trails. Two APNs 2.5 and 1.3 acres each.

Offered At $1,669,000

Katie Wigington (415) 827-3626

Fabulous Fairfax Home

Beautifully updated, this sunny home with four bedrooms and three baths is Fairfax at its best. Expansive deck, perfect for outdoor living and entertaining. Gourmet kitchen, hardwood floors, gardener’s delight! Close to town with a country feel. Mt. Tam views!

Offered At $995,000

Diane Hoffman (415) 482-3139

Come Home to San Anselmo

Offered exclusively at: $3,195,000 565 Oak Avenue San Anselmo

Spectacular, private, gated estate like property with some of the best views in Marin. This grand home features cathedral ceilings, five stone fireplaces & a sparkling pool connecting to a huge, knoll like yard. On over two acres, it’s like your very own private resort. An entertainer’s dream with chef’s kitchen opening to living/dining rooms with amazing views of the SF Bay & beyond. In the desirable Seminary area, 6 minutes to town. Top notch San Anselmo schools. Wow!

Exclusively Listed By Eric Gelman 415.686.1855 eg@BradleyRealEstate.com

Bradley Real Estate 850 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. San Anselmo, CA 94960 EricGelman.com

I needed a place to explore.

Like you, we know a home isn’t merely where we live, rather, it's a place where one creates a life. We are committed to ensuring your success in buying or selling, across all market segments, from luxury homes to investments. Our goal is to create tailored solutions for your distinct real estate needs and provide the “place” to create your unique life.

• 6BR / 4BA

• Separate Large in-law suite

• Built in 1891

• 18,000 Sq.Ft. Lot

• 4,842 Sq.Ft. House • Historic details throughout • Modernized for today’s family Offered at $2,695,000 www.22Terradillo.com

Stinson Beach Highlands Property

In the luxurious Stinson Beach Highlands this captivating three bedroom and two bath home sits on a beautiful 1/2 acre (.462 acre) with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. The entire interior has been impeccably updated. There are new stainless steal appliances and new counter tops in the kitchen with a view. The Douglas Fir floors are refinished and spotless through the house. The appointment of the property allows for southern exposure and landscaping in the back and the front of the house. There is an endless pool and a large deck space. The beach and town are not far and hiking trails are close too! 7 Avenida Olema, Listed for $2,500,000 7avenidaolema.com

This shingled Queen Anne Victorian built in 1891, has not been on the market since the early 1900’s. Situated in the prestigious Dominican Neighborhood on a double lot, don’t miss this rare opportunity to own a piece of Marin history. SARAH NANCY BUTLER (415) 868-0717 | DRE #01258888

Conveniently Located in Stinson Beach 3470 Shoreline Highway, Stinson Beach, CA 94970, oceanicrealty.com Specializing in Sales, Vacation Rentals, and Property Management in Stinson Beach.

Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty is pleased to announce that Howard Wynn has joined our talented team. Howard is an awardwinning, top-producing agent consistently ranked among the top 1% of Marin County realtors, including being among the top 10 countywide in individual production for several years. Howard’s success can be attributed to one thing: his unlimited dedication to each client’s needs. He brings integrity, commitment, and meticulousness to every real estate transaction.

Howard Wynn 415.828.9966 howard@howardwynn.com HowardWynn.com CalBRE# 01211772

Vintage Spanish Mediterranean in Old Ross

Enchanting, one-of-a-kind vintage (circa 1931) Spanish Mediterranean home in a sunny, verdant and private setting in coveted Old Ross, moments to school and Ross Common. This three bedroom, two bath home exudes charm. Exquisite custom design features complement the authentic original architecture in a way that brings beauty and inspiration to this immensely livable home. The combination of patios, decks, walkways, and two level yards are set amidst lush flowers and gardens, and are directly accessible from almost every room. Areas of the home and grounds enjoy the sun virtually throughout the day.

Coming Soon

Classic, Charming Cape Cod Style Home

120 Oak Avenue, Kentfield 120oakAve.com

Located in the sunny flats of Kentfield, with wonderful curb appeal and level front, back, and side yards. Indoor/ outdoor living with French doors openimg to surround decks and a serene garden of mature Japanese maples, roses, blooming jasmine, wisteria, lemon vines, and raised vegetable beds. Gourmet chef’s kitchen, formal dining room, living room with fireplace, three bedrooms, two baths PLUS a bonus fourth bedroom perfect for an office, playroom or guest suite. Close to the award winning Kentfield schools.

Excellence Through Experience, Integrity, and Resourcefulness; Representing Buyers and Sellers.

“Jen possesses the perfect combination of deep market knowledge, technological sophistication and warm/thoughtful personality. Jen was very patient with us throughout the house selection process, and she provided prompt and professional feedback at all times. We have been involved in 12 real estate transactions over the years and Jen is by far the best agent we have ever encountered.” —CW, Tiburon

Jennifer Dunbar 415.272.4635 jen@jendunbar.com JenDunbar.com CalBRE# 01251221

2800 Paradise Drive, Tiburon. Spanning over 14.5 acres and approximately 2,100 feet of San Francisco Bay shoreline, this extraordinary parcel of undeveloped land within minutes to downtown Tiburon and the Golden Gate Bridge, provides an ­offering unprecedented in recent history. This forested and entirely private estate site is now fully entitled, with ­approved plans for an approximately 15,000 square foot main residence, 2,200 square foot guest house, and 700 square foot caretaker’s cottage. Extremely private and serene, with up-close water views and sandy beaches, this is the last and only waterfront parcel of this size and entitlements. $47,000,000

111-117 Belvedere Avenue, Belvedere. On the Island’s west side, with its dazzling views and stunning sunsets. Two separate parcels, mostly level and at water’s edge, with existing boat house & dock, and water-level views from Mount Tamalpais through the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco’s financial district. Rare potential for­a­grand, gated bayfront estate, entirely private and secluded, and accessed by water or land. Magical place, captivating views, irresistible possibilities. $20,000,000

Modern Farmhouse in the Dominican Hills of San Rafael

32 Highland Avenue, San Rafael | Offered at $2,400,000

Prepare to come home to complete relaxation in this meticulously, renovated, hip 4 bedroom / 3.5 bathroom home plus gracious detached 1br/1ba guest unit nestled in the hills above the coveted Dominican neighborhood. Privacy, views and a light-filled open floor plan creates a perfect environment of functionality and simplicity for your family. A bright, open kitchen with soaring ceilings, Amazon Oak floors, Carrera Marble Island and countertops and Thermador Appliances makes this kitchen/living/dining room and viewing decks a great place for central activity for your family and entertaining. With the Master Bedroom and ensuite bathroom on the main level, the separation from the rest of the house is a perfect match for parents that seek a little division of space from the rest of the bedrooms. Off the master is a perfect office or 4th bedroom and full bathroom for guests to enjoy.

Downstairs is the ideal children’s zone, complete with its own living/game room, powder room with hip, colorful wallpaper and two large bedrooms with built-in shelving and bathroom with a tub/shower combination. Off this lower living room is a large yard area with several sections to do with as you wish; A chill-out area with a fire pit, hammock, bocce ball court and level lawn area for playtime with the children. Whatever you can imagine is possible on this incredibly generous lot. Off of the enormous 5-car covered parking structure, you step down to your own private entrance to a brand new, ~800 sq ft 1 bedroom/1 bathroom unit with incredible light and modern finishes. This unit is perfect for a separate home office or guests, who will be impressed by this unique, generous and separate space.

You can settle right into this beautiful home knowing that everything is NEW! 32 Highland is the perfect, ideally located contemporary with a splash of modern masterpiece that will welcome and impress any family or couple. For more info, visit: www.32Highland.com

Lisa Smith

Luxury Property Specialist

415.328.9752 lisa.smith@pacunion.com pacificunion.com License #01927676

Amy Deming

Luxury Property Specialist

415.827.8900 amy.deming@pacunion.com pacificunion.com License #02004578

Janet Williamson & Sally Williamson Present

2 Cypress Avenue, Mill Valley Offered at $4,750,000

Stunning modern architecture in an estate setting with magnificent views of Mt. Tam and the surrounding valleys. Resort type outdoor venues with a gas fire pit, hot tub spa, expansive level lawn and Zen gardens integrate with the home for a seamless indoor/outdoor flow. Master suite with his and her bathrooms, 3 additional bedrooms, office or 5th bedroom and family room on lower floor. Elegant public rooms and spacious kitchen with high end appliances on the upper floor. Attached three car garage.

For more info, visit: www.2cypressavenue.com

10 Tower Point Lane, Tiburon Offered at

$3,199,000

Welcome to this stunning wood, glass, and light-filled contemporary home perched at the end of a private road with sweeping views of Raccoon Straits all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. Wrap around floor to ceiling windows and glass folding doors in the common rooms open to an expansive outdoor deck space that captures the magical setting and is perfect for indoor / outdoor entertaining. The kitchen features high end appliances and an abundance of light maple custom cabinetry. The serene Master Suite encompasses the gorgeous water views and includes custom walk-in closets. A garden path takes you Paradise Drive and a short walk to downtown Tiburon and the ferry, shops and fine dining.

For more info, visit: www.2cypressavenue.com

2420 Mar East Street, Tiburon Offered at $2,595,000

Waterfront home with sweeping views of the Bay and Angel island from every room located on one of Tiburon’s most coveted streets. The open inviting floor plan on the main level features an elegant living room with dining area that opens to a sleek kitchen with center island. 3BD/3.5BA including a private master suite on the top floor. Award winning Tiburon schools and close to town and ferries.

For more info, visit: www.2420mareast.com

Janet Williamson & Sally Williamson 415.309.6223, 415.713.3348 janet.williamson@pacunion.com sally.williamson@pacunion.com License #00628777, #01321468

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

Big Band Fun

For more than 25 years, couples danced at the Redwood Bowl’s outdoor music event.

BY JIM WOOD

THOSE WERE THE days. On Saturday nights, at the Marin Town and Country Club in Fairfax, couples would glide across the outdoor dance floor to bigname big band music broadcast over radio station KYA. That’s club owner Max Friedman, far right with his hand on the post, a San Francisco businessman who opened the club in April 1944. The Redwood Bowl debuted in 1946 and, with a reputation of being “well-run and disciplined,” lasted until 1972, when the entire Marin Town and Country Club closed down. Twenty-five years later, a new owner’s attempt to develop the bucolic site was defeated in a Fairfax election 2,401 to 681. Today, the lonely site sits mostly intact. m

The Redwood Bowl debuted in 1946 with a reputation of being ‘well-run

COURTESY OF ANNE T. KENT CALIFORNIA ROOM, MARIN COUNTY FREE LIBRARY

and disciplined.’

WE ARE LUXURY

Luxury is bearing the hallmark of one of real estate’s most iconic names. Luxury is having not just one real estate professional working for you — but a global network of 88,000 affiliated sales agents in 3,000 offices in 49 countries and territories who can share the beauty of your home with an affluent audience worldwide. Luxury is knowing that you have mastered representation that sells more than $129.6 million in luxury homes every day.*

Dare to indulge.

Coldwell Banker Global Luxury