Marin Magazine November 2015

Alain Pinel Realtors is Pleased to Announce Our Association with These Distinguished Agents in Our Tiburon Office

Hazel Carter Cynthia DeRouen

Camille and David Jampolsky

1923-2012

Phenomena Furnace Flower, 1968, Acrylic on canvas, 60x72 inches

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Although known as a pretty foggy place in general, the East Bay city of El Cerrito, it turns out, is a pretty great place to grow figs. This particular batch, seen on the cover and in Currents, was harvested from the tree of our managing editor’s mother-in-law, Hiroko. The photo is by Tim Porter.

TIM PORTER (TOP LEFT AND RIGHT); LYNNE GLAZER (MIDDLE)

PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Nikki Wood

Editorial

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Mimi Towle

MANAGING EDITOR

Daniel Jewett

FASHION EDITOR

Veronica Sooley

SENIOR WRITER Jim Wood

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Tim Porter

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Kasia Pawlowska

COPY EDITOR Cynthia Rubin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lynda Balslev, Sukey Forbes, Laura Hilgers, Carrie Kirby, Somer Tejwani, Calin Van Paris

Art

ART DIRECTOR

Veronica Sooley PRODUCTION MANAGER Alex French

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lynda Balslev, Mo DeLong, Debra Tarrant

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SINCE 1932

CORTE MADERA 325 CORTE MADERA TOWN CENTER 415.924.8507

Sale ends November 30, 2015. Some exclusions apply. Ask a designer or visit ethanallen.com for details. ©2015 Ethan Allen Global, Inc.

OUR FEATURES THIS month begin with a story by Somer Tejwani about everything you need to know to plan your next holiday party. We’ve got tips from chefs, recipes, even expert suggestions for compiling a playlist. So start working on that guest list — party season is here.

We continue with an important piece by Mill Valley’s Sukey Forbes. The mother and

writer, who lost a daughter in 2004, shares what she learned about grief and grieving after exploring how other cultures handle this uniquely human experience.

In a series of profi les, Laura Hilgers talks with Marin’s new breed of edgy urban artists. This talented group is enjoying a lot of success in all kinds of venues, including the tech world, but fi nds a remarkably hospitable work environment here in peaceful Marin. And a section on this county’s legal landscape has attorney profi les and features about a justsettled landmark case, how to handle a DUI stop, and the good work the Marin County Bar Association is doing.

Up front, we learn about the life cycle of the mysteriou s fig, local car-charging stations and a tall ship on an educational mission. You’ll also meet a stellar volunteer, a clothing maker and local residents doing big things for vulnerable animals. In Destinations we visit winter beach getaways you’ll want to start booking now and reveal what to expect on an Irish whiskey-tasting tour.

It’s a big, colorful issue designed to help you get the holiday season off to the best possible start. So get out there and enjoy all the parties and year-end celebrations. Just try to leave a little something behind for us on that cheese plate.

ON LOCATION

When editorial assistant Kasia Pawlowska agreed to join Tim Porter on a late-night photo shoot at Rocha Art, a gallery opened by Marin artist Ian Ross and his wife in San Francisco’s SoMa district, she got more than she bargained for. As usually happens in a Porter shoot, she soon found herself the subject as the photographer conducted lighting tests. We got the great shots you’ll see in the “On the Edge” feature, and Pawlowska got an image fit for an album cover.

JACK WOLFORD (TOP); TIM PORTER (BOTTOM LEFT); KASIA PAWLOWSKA (BOTTOM RIGHT)

We’ve got tips from chefs, recipes, even expert suggestions for compiling a playlist. So start working on that guest list — party season is here.

Marin Magazine Staff Editors

Above, from left: Mimi Towle, Nikki Wood, Dan Jewett

Who’s Driving?

Talking with a Dominican University professor doesn’t lessen concerns about technology and humanity. BY JIM WOOD

I’M CONCERNED REGARDING something in the news, and this time it’s not ISIS, the drought or income inequality. My concern is driverless cars.

Where will it all end? More than 550 years ago, the printing press was invented amid fears it would stunt the brain; people would no longer need to make up stories, they’d simply read those written by others. Jump ahead four centuries and folks in England were rioting over steam-powered weaving looms. Young Ned Ludd personally destroyed one of the new contraptions, resulting in his followers being labeled Luddites.

When I was a child, I no longer had to memorize multiplication tables — you could buy a calculator, press some buttons and there’s your answer. Do you see where I’m going with this?

The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.

In his 2015 book Rise of the Robots, Bay Area resident Martin Ford builds a strong case that current unemployment is not only caused by economic forces; it’s also a function of robotics and automation replacing human energy. “And those jobs won’t be coming back,” Ford states repeatedly. Which brings to mind conveniences now considered commonplace: ATMs, computer-answered phone calls, Internet shopping, digital cameras and Google maps. And now we’ll soon have robots building driverless cars. Which begs the questions: will our brains atrophy from disuse? And whose job is safe?

I took my concerns to Kiowa Bower, who holds a Ph.D. in molecular biophysics from Caltech and is a natural sciences professor at San Rafael’s Dominican University. “The human brain’s hard wiring has not changed much in the last 100,000 years, but the world around us is now vastly di fferent and we can only adapt to it as best we can,” Bower assures me. “I think it is a natural aspect of the increasing levels of technology and automation that humans will lose some skills that were once an important part of our lives.”

As for technology eventually replacing human beings in performing an increasing

number of tasks, Bower says, “Honestly, I don’t know if we can do anything about it.” And as for driverless cars, Bower rather embraced the concept: “Driving along while chatting with friends sounds nice,” he says, “or maybe reading a book.”

He does note that during this general surge in technological advances we are — possibly for the fi rst time in recorded history — “seeing the present generation not doing as well economically and socially as did the previous generation.” But meanwhile, “automation tends to improve our day-to-day lives, freeing people’s brains to do more regenerating and rewarding endeavors.” Whether or not humans will take advantage of that opportunity for personal and cultural improvement is yet to be seen; so far, Bower agrees, the picture there has not been encouraging.

Regarding computers and arti ficial intelligence someday causing vast unemployment, Bower con fi rms, “Technology, primarily artificial intelligence, is taking people from the workplace and rendering them, for the most part, worthless. And that concerns me.”

Overall, what really troubles Bower (and me) is the long-range fate of humanity, an issue that even the eminent theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking has raised. Few have benefited more from technology than Hawking, who suffers from Lou Gehrig’s disease: computers write and speak for him. Yet he recently proclaimed, “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.”

In Bower’s view, “it may not have malicious intent, but someday arti ficial intelligence — in the form of robots — could compete with humans for the planet’s limited resources”: water, energy, minerals, land. He has “no idea who will win that battle,” he admits.

While we may be getting freed from mundane tasks such as driving through tra ffic, are we taking advantage of that freedom by keeping our minds active and, in turn, bettering ourselves and our society? We all must think about that before celebrating technological advances such as driverless cars. That’s my point of view. What’s yours?

Email pov@marinmagazine.com.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Marin Magazine and its staff.

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Sukey Forbes

Writer, “How We Grieve” (p.52)

Sukey Forbes is the best-selling author of The Angel in My Pocket: A Story of Love, Loss, and Life After Death. Described as “powerful, uplifting and fearless” by the Chicago Tribune, it is the story of one mother’s decision to embrace life despite an unthinkable loss. A popular speaker, Forbes focuses on resilience and the transformative gifts of suffering. Forbes’ work has been featured in many national publications. She and her family divide their time between Massachusetts and Mill Valley. For more of her work, visit sukeyforbes.com.

Somer Tejwani

Writer, “Party Planning 101” (p. 46)

Somer Tejwani is a former Marin Magazine editor and has been contributing to the magazine for almost 10 years. Her writing interests span topics ranging from fashion styling and beauty tutorials to home entertaining made easy, travel and wine collecting. Tejwani’s other writing endeavors include the website Make It Simple Sister and her recently completed third book, The Art of Fashion Illustration. She lives with her husband and son in Corona Del Mar. To see more of her work, visit somer flaherty.com.

–Jan M. Mill Valley www.AtHomeCaregivers.com

Mo DeLong

Photographer, On the Scene (p. 121)

Mo DeLong has been a resident of Marin for 17 years and is the event photographer for Marin Magazine ’s RSVP Hot Ticket . A ny given weekend, you ca n fi nd her working her magic at the hottest events all over Marin and San Francisco. DeLong has a knack for putting people at ease and will often coach her subjects to get the right shot . Additionally, she is a self-proclaimed foodie and an avid traveler. To see where she goes next follow her on Instagram @momatter #RSVPhotticket.

Monty, Chairman

Finding the right home is more than the square footage and number of rooms. It is about your quality of life and how you live outside those walls. Carey Hagglund Condy is one of the most respected luxury real estate agents in Marin County and one of its most passionate residents. She provides a unique and personal perspective to living in Marin County, with unparalleled knowledge, standard of care and attention to detail to help guide your journey to the perfect home.

Your Letters

Thanks, Jim

The Marin Magazine feature I enjoy the most is the historical photo inside the back cover (“Looking Back”). I turn to it fi rst every month. Thanks for that — I love learning more about Marin’s past, and Tiburon/Belvedere in particular. JOAN BERGSUND, VIA EMAIL

Don’t Forget the Duke

In the October edition, I enjoyed your special guide to the Mill Valley Film Festival and especially the “On Location” map. I wanted to point out, however, one glaring omission from that piece — Blood Alley. T his movie was partially fi lmed at China Camp (now a state park) in 1955. It is considered the breakout role for John Wayne. A nd it co-stared Lauren Bacall. T he nice thing is you can still see the location today much the way it was in 1955

LARRY ANDOW, SAN RAFAEL, VIA EMAIL

Icon Love

Thanks for adding the symbols denoting what meals are offered by the local restaurants in your Dine section. I’m sure it will be a timesaver for both the customer and the restaurant’s reservation sta ff JIM DICKSON, VIA EMAIL

the label due to the power of the wine lobby. My point is that it is not just farming practices that make wine a sustainable product. It also needs to be sustainable for our bodies, and that means the contents of the bottle should be healthy rather than a chemical cocktail, or at the very least we should be supplied with names of the ingredients so that we can make the choice as to what is included in our glass of “wine.”

MARK DARLEY, MILL VALLEY, VIA EMAIL

Housing in Marin

Jim Wood, I completely disagree with your commentary (POV, October). I drive on Tamal Vista multiple times a day and the tra ffic is horrendous. I can’t imagine what it will be like once the units are occupied. And I seriously don’t believe you’ll be seeing Tam Ridge residents strolling down that busy street to do their grocery shopping at Safeway or even Trader Joe’s. It’s a fantasy that’s not going to happen. The residents of the Twin Cities should not be a part of Victor MacFarlane’s “comeback.” GEMMA PLOCKI, VIA EMAIL

Thank you for pointing out all the (obvious to some) positive elements involved in the building of Tam Ridge Residences. We now have so many people commuting for hours to get to their jobs in Marin. The cars of these people are already clogging our roads. How much better it would be if they were living here and able to walk or take a convenient bus to work? The land the apartments are built on is not in the most desirable part of Marin for anything other than the type of housing being built. MARY CONNORS, VIA EMAIL

Ingredient Inquiry

I was dismayed while reading “Sustainably Sonoma” (October). The article implies that grapes that are sustainably grown will create wine that is healthy for us to drink. This is simplistic and misleading. While I am delighted that more vineyards are embracing healthy growing practices — organic, sustainable and biodynamic — the author only hinted at what really goes into our mouths when we drink a glass of wine. Sometimes as many as 20 chemical additives in addition to grapes and yeast are present, none of which are required to be mentioned on

Jim, thanks for some of the new information about this building. You are absolutely right that this will create a “walkable community.” When the 230 cars parked at the building hit the already gridlocked street, the best alternative will be to walk. JOHN LEVINSOHN, VIA EMAIL

Jim Wood, you think that WinCup “could blend in here and possibly even enhance the livability of Marin County.” This is incomprehensible to me. How could this horrendously ugly and over-scaled monstrosity enhance the livability of a county known for its splendid beauty? WinCup is a travesty, and it is hated by we the

Innovating Care for Dementia

The Ray Dolby Brain Health Center at CPMC

Under the direction of Catherine Madison, M.D. the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center at CPMC has helped hundreds of local families deal with not only the challenges of medical care, but also the stress and practical considerations of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Now, in a move toward developing innovative new treatments for dementia, the center has hired Alireza Atri, M.D., Ph.D., formerly of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School to hold the Ray Dolby Endowed Chair in Brain Health Research. “I believe with perseverance we can significantly lessen the health and social impact of dementia,” says Dr. Atri. The center was launched by a generous philanthropic investment from Dagmar Dolby and her family.

To learn more about how you can help provide this exceptional care to even more people, please visit cpmc.org/giving.

(Left to right): Alireza Atri, M.D., Ph.D. and Catherine Madison, M.D. of the Ray Dolby Brain Health Center at CPMC

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people who live here in Corte Madera and we the people in Marin who will pay the price in more ways than one. For starters, we pay with parking issues and increased tra ffic, ugly colors, cheap design, outlandish scale for the area, deviation from the renderings on MacFarlane’s website, overcrowded schools, increased water usage in a drought, and an overall decreased quality of life for all of us living here. GLORIA GALLO, VIA EMAIL

So you are at it again, Jim, defending the WinCup monstrosity. Of what relevance is all that information about the developer that is in your latest column? What is relevant is the incredible density, ugliness and inappropriateness of this monstrosity. If you like it so much then I’d like for you to move in there and deal with the unbelievable tra ffic that is inevitable on Tamal Vista Boulevard. You are in a small minority supporting this development. Who cares about the history of MacFarlane? Is he going to live in that mess? No, he lives in penthouses and hangs around with Willie Brown while the rest of us have to look at his crap every day. JACK LIEBERMAN, SAN ANSELMO, VIA EMAIL

Thanks for the update on the Tam Ridge Residences. Like you, I believe it has the possibility to “enhance the livability” of Marin for the same reasons you cite: its density and location near transportation, schools and shopping. So why all the furor? Massiveness? Colors? Drought? Tra ffic? We must get creatively bold with real long-range visions to upgrade our transportation system for the 21st century — and that will take money. Or we can piddle away our transportation dollars on a little thing here, another there, with our eyes firmly fi xed on the mid–20th century. DWAYNE PRICE, LARKSPUR, VIA EMAIL

Jim Wood, that was the worst thing I’ve seen printed on WinCup. That project should never have happened and I have no sympathy for MacFarlane, who took advantage of the city. MARJIE SHANK, 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.

Bay Area events you’ll want to attend

HALLECK CREEK FUNDRAISING DINNER AND AUCTION

WHEN

WHERE WHY

November 20, 6 p.m. VIP, 6:30 p.m. general

Rancho Nicasio, 1 Old Rancheria Road, Nicasio

Enjoy a wonderful evening with a delicious sit-down dinner, fine wines, music and live and silent auctions. Meet Silver Buckle Honoree Amberley Snyder. Learn about Halleck Creek and support programs for Bay Area youth and adults with disabilities. Proceeds benefit Halleck Creek’s Therapeutic Horseback Riding programs.

• online

Holiday Recipes

With recipes from local chefs like Tyler Florence and Michael Mina, our online Food + Drink section has a tasty selection of irresistible holiday recipes. From appetizers and entrées to cocktails and dessert, we have you covered for all your festive gatherings this year. Be sure to tell us which dishes you make by snapping a photo and tagging @marinmagazine on Instagram or Twitter. To access the recipes, go to marinmagazine.com/holidayrecipes.

Restaurants at Your Fingertips

Last month we launched a new and improved Dine Out section in our print edition. Now, you can access the same guide on your computer, tablet or smartphone. Search by cuisine, price range, whether the restaurant has a happy hour and much more. To view our online guide, go to marinmagazine.com/dine.

• in person

Friend us to share and view

RSVP Hot Ticket photos at facebook.com/marinmagazine

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

Rachel Ferringer, Donna Seager, Fred Cushing and Suzanne Gray

Second Annual MVFF Guide Party

We are running photos from our October 8 Mill Valley Film Festival guide party at Seager Gray Gallery in the “On the Scene” section of the magazine this month. We had a great time mingling with our writers, guests and sponsors and, of course, celebrating the opening night of the 38th annual Mill Valley Film Festival. Be sure to check out all the photos online at marinmagazine.com/mvff38.

Your partner for your good health.

We believe expert medical care should be convenient care. That’s why we have doctors in eight Marin locations. Plus online services so you can email your doctor, schedule appointments and access your medical record—anytime, anywhere. It’s another way we plus you.

Novato Community Hospital

Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation

NEW IN TOWN

BODY AND MIND

Just in time for the holidays, Susan Hauser has opened New Om World in Corte Madera, featuring yoga, Pilates, cardio classes and more; newomworld.com. Relax your muscles after a good workout at 1 Soulstice Spa in Sausalito and treat yourself to deep-tissue, Swedish and other forms of massage therapy; soulsticespace.com.

GRAPES AND OLIVES SHOP

Healdsburg meets Marin with 2 White Oak Winery opening a tasting room bar at the Village at Corte Madera near the Apple Store; whiteoakwinery.com Amphora Nueva , an olive oil company wit h a flagship store in Berkeley, has journeyed across the bridge and settled in San Anselmo. The company sells premium extra-virgin olive oil, fused and infused olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, specialty oils and other gourmet products; amphoranueva.com

The super-soft, 100 percent cotton moon cocoon, a wearable duvet for babies created by Mill Valley–based Nini and Pumpkin, will surely keep your little one warm during the cold months ahead; niniandpumpkin. com. Looking for a new out fit for those holiday parties? Head over to 3 Palette Boutique in Corte Madera to find that perfect look; facebook.com/palettemarin.

To be considered for future listings, email lwalker@marinmagazine.com

In Marin

CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND CAUSES OF THIS UNIQUE COUNTY

FABULOUS FIGS

The perfect cocktail party snack has quite a backstory.

BY KASIA PAWLOWSKA

WHETHER THEY’RE IN classic bar form or wrapped in bacon, stuffed with goat cheese and cooked, figs are a healthy and flavorful addition to any diet. But figs have something else going for them that gives them an edge over other foods, a deep and nefarious backstory. Jesus famously cursed the fig tree for being barren before driving the money changers out of the temple in Jerusalem, and it withered away the following day — the act was considered to be one of his miracles. And the intrigue doesn’t stop there. Spanish missionaries brought over Smyrna figs from Syria in the late 1700s, and while the trees thrived in California’s Mediterranean climate, they never bore fruit. It actually took farmers more than 100 years to realize the importance of a tiny creature that was responsible for pollinating the trees — the fig wasp. This fig variety requires pollination by a specific female wasp that crawls into the flower through a hole, loses her wings while doing so, and gets trapped inside. What happens next depends on the sex of the flower. If the wasp goes into a male fig she lays her eggs, and they hatch, break through, become wasps and carry pollen along. If she ends up in a female fig she pollinates it but, unable to lay eggs, dies inside alone. Enzymes in the fruit completely dissolve the wasp. Be sure to include figs in your holiday spread and be ready to teach a little biology and history while you’re at it.

Members Only

Holiday gift giving can be a stressful ordeal. We often wait until the last second, make a subpar selection and hope to pass it off ith no one noticing. The thing is, you can give a gift card and not be settling. Here are some gift membership cards for three types of people in your life. Besides free admission, benefits vary depending on level of contribution, but we’ve called attention to special highlights you or your loved ones will get to enjoy.

WHO WHAT

Supporter of the Arts

Nature Lover

MarinMOCA marinmoca.org de Young/Legion of Honor famsf.org

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy parksconservancy.org California Academy of Sciences calacademy.org

FEATURES

Discounts at all museum stores. Invitations to special membersonly events and parties.

Invitation to the members’ hiking series at GGNPC and special planetarium shows at Academy of Sciences.

Kids

Bay Area Discovery Museum baykidsmuseum.org Exploratorium exploratorium.edu

Exclusive access to family programs at both museums. Invitations to special members-only events.

ELECTRIC AVENUE Currently, there are more than 30,000 plug-in electric vehicles in the Bay Area, with Marin leading the charge (so to speak). Our county has the secondhighest number of EVs per capita in California; can we reach number one? It’s very likely. Ever since Tesla opened its doors last year in Corte Madera, the coveted cars have been flooding the roads, and the recent announcement of a $35,000 Model 3 should add even more. But you’ll need to make sure all those cars have enough juice, so here are some stations that will allow you to charge for free around the county. Check marinmagazine. com/chargingstations for an updated list of where to plug in for power. K.P.

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Obtain a Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Warning, the California Bureau of Real Estate has not inspected, examined or qualified this offering. Whitetail Club is represented by Whitetail Club Realty. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. Scenes and views may be of a location not on or related to the property.

A TALL ORDER The scent of fresh sawdust emanates from inside a huge nondescript tent in Sausalito. The project underway?

That would be the Matthew Turner, the first schooner to be built in the San Francisco Bay Area in more than 100 years. “When it’s time to put her in the water,” says Alan Olson, director of Educational Tall Ship, “she’ll weigh 150 tons, including 45 tons of lead ballast,” which raises some logistical concerns. The white tent where the Turner is being built lies almost 600 feet inland from Richardson Bay. But Olson isn’t worried. “We’ll remove the tent, get a crane to lift her up and put her on two pods of wheels,” he calmly says. “Then, after we remove a few fences, a tractor will push her along a level roadbed to the Army Corps of Engineers launch ramp near the Bay Model.” Slated for completion in 2016, the ship will sail along the California coast and serve as a floating classroom for kids. Here are some other relevant numbers. educationaltallship.org K.P.

Mighty Mountain

It’s a prominent feature that’s synonymous with Marin as well as a beacon that marks home. As with many monikers in the county, it is said that the name Mount Tamalpais comes from a Coast Miwok term, in this case for the landmass támal pájis, which translates to “west hill.” However, the mountain has been spawning legends and groups have been trying to lay claim to the name ever since the designation first appeared in 1845. One myth contends that Tamalpais is Coast Miwok for “sleeping maiden,” a native folktale of the same name. Another assertion has Asian and Siberian roots, and on top of all that, there’s folklore that points to the mountain being haunted. The Coast Miwok warned of a wicked witch who lived atop the mountain, though it’s believed they only said so to keep settlers away from the hallowed peak. K.P.

WHAT’S IN A NAME

ISLAND LIFE

Two floating islands were built last month in the Civic Center lagoon, but if you’re getting images of Dubai in your mind we recommend shaking those thoughts. The islands are actually placed there to act as biofilters, with plantings on the surface and roots in the water to provide natural water filtration and wildlife habitat. The project was launched during the 2014 Bioneers conference. “We are so pleased to be demonstrating this innovative, completely green approach to improving the water quality in our most local watershed here at the Civic Center,” says Marin District 1 Supervisor Damon Connolly. While the idea isn’t novel — similar projects have been launched in Walnut Creek and Marysville — it’s had favorable outcomes. K.P.

JOHN SKORIAK (TOPL EFT); TIM PORTER (TOP RIGHT)

Left to right: Alex Kahl, ranger Kirk Schroeder and biofilter expert Ed Correa.

An avid surfer, paddle-boarder and fisherman, 60-year old Hank Mielke was so fit, he almost skipped the checkup that saved his life! During Hank’s prostate exam, his doctor found a suspicious lump. It turned out to be a rare, aggressive prostate tumor. Marin General Hospital’s multidisciplinary team of prostate cancer specialists worked with Hank to craft a treatment plan that balanced his personal priorities with cutting-edge care. Hank underwent delicate, robotic-assisted surgery to remove his prostate, while preserving the nerves needed for continence and sexual function. The surgery was followed by carefully planned radiation and hormonal therapy. Hank describes the seamless, collaborative care he received at Marin General Hospital as “first-class treatment, all the way.” With his cancer in remission, Hank is out of the woods – and back in the water.

To read more healing stories, visit www.maringeneral.org/healing

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

RODEO BEACH

Shining Light

JIM BRAINERD’S POST-RETIREMENT gig takes him to the end of the earth — literally — as a National Park Service volunteer at the Point Bonita Lighthouse and Marin Headlands Visitor Center. The 74-year-old greets visitors, guides the nervous across the 156-foot bridge that hangs 124 feet above the ocean between a sheer cliff nd the 138-year-old lighthouse, and pitches in on cleaning as needed. When did you start? I’ve been here 16 years. Before you retired? I worked in the family trucking business and then at Big 4 Rents in Corte Madera. I was a part-time commercial fi sherman and a volunteer fi reman in Mill Valley. What’s your schedule now? Monday, I do visitors’ center in the morning, lighthouse in the afternoon. Tuesday, I have competitive archery. Wednesdays, I’m in the visitors’ center. Thursdays, I have an art class. Friday, I am arm candy for the missus. And Saturday I coach a Special Olympics softball team. Is it hard to become a volunteer? It’s really easy. They train you and only require eight hours a month. You have a choice of what you want to do — work a desk, roads and trails, lighthouse, a nursery or whatever. Is there a need? Yes. When I started here there were about 75 of

us and now we’re down to about 25 here in Marin County — about 12 active — and we’re all getting up there in the golden years. It’s a good system, a wonderful place to hang your hat. What do you like most about doing this? I’m an outside person. I’m not an inside person. I get nervous on the couch. If it’s raining, I go around the house looking for leaks. My wife and I have been married for 54 years and she tells me, “Do something.” So, this is my do something. What else? I like meeting the people. I get postcards for Christmas and for my birthday. I’ve got friends in Paris and Denmark and Russia who I’ve met through here. Met any famous people? Peter Coyote came out a couple of times. Phil Frank, the guy who wrote Farley. Carlos Santana. When they’re here on their leisure time, I leave them alone. They didn’t come here to visit you. Exactly. Has your wife visited? She has. She’s of Danish heritage and she likes the sea, but she’s not an outside person. Her idea of tent camping is the Fairmont Hotel. m

This longtime park service volunteer loves the outdoors and people. BY TIM PORTER

Jim Brainerd, National Park Service Volunteer, Fort Barry, Building 948, Sausalito

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MADE BY MARIN

Winston Made

IT ALL BEGAN with a simple T-shirt. Mill Valley native Sam Kraus (pictured) began screenprinting shirts on his dorm room floor in 2007, a hobby that grew into a grassroots business in just two years. Printing tees led to fashioning one from scratch, which led to Winston Made. “Through my own experience as an active person — I enjoy mountain biking and rock climbing — I realized there was a gap in the market for T-shirts that fit active men well and didn’t fall apart,” says Kraus. “Winston Made grew out of my identity as a maker and a drive to create quality goods that stand the test of time.” The streamlined collection is composed of men’s T-shirts, rugged button-ups, leather belts, travel bags and more, all classically themed, all boasting high-quality construction, natural colorways and an attention to detail. Take the Weekender bag, for example. Assembled in the Winston workshop from mostly domestic materials, the popular carryalls are lined with cotton from the U.K. — more specifically, cotton used for British NATO pilot survival suits due to its extreme insulating capabilities and water resistance. “It’s pretty cool stuff,” says Kraus. PHILOSOPHY Winston Made is inspired by daily life in the Bay Area and brought about by a passionate crew of creatives. “We are fortunate to be working in a time of renewed appreciation for handmade goods,” says Kraus. “We’re happy to be a part of a movement of makers, and we take great care in crafting our garments in every step of the process.” THE SCOOP Winston garments are designed to maintain their integrity after many wears — special wash methods are employed dur ing production to ensure fits remain true long after purchase. Many of the shirts are also garment dyed, meaning they are sewn from a neutral fabric that is dyed once the garment has been crafted, rather than the garment being created from fabric of a certain color. “This process a ffords us fl ibility and lets us play with a diverse color palette,” says Kraus. BEYOND MARIN Aside from 7 on Locust in Mill Valley and Trouvé in Fairfax, the Winston Made line can be found at San Francisco’s William the Beekeeper, at Lifestyle in British Columbia and online at Huckberry. WHAT THEY SAY “We’re fortunate enough to call Marin County home and, better yet, our playground — our products are meant to foster our active and urban lifestyles,” says Kraus. “From biking and hiking on Mount Tam to weekend getaways up Highway 1 and dinners out in San Francisco, every day is a new adven ture, and Winston is there to get you through it.” winstonmade.com

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Sweater poncho with asymmetrical hemline, $248, at Eileen Fisher (Mill Valley), 415.388.4400.

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FEW MOMENTS IN life are more joyous than walking through your front door to the delight of an eagerly awaiting dog. And what could be better than having a kitten cozy up to you on the couch? Whether sought out for companionship or for cuddling, pets are widely believed to provide both mental and physical benefits to humans. But while much thought is given to the positive aspects of bringing a new pet home, less attention is paid to the good that can be done by rescuing an animal instead of purchasing one.

The Marin Humane Society (MHS) placed about 2,100 animals in homes last year, euthanizing 350 — which, when you look at national averages, seems to be a relatively small figure. A 2012–13 estimate by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) found that among the 6 to 8 million cats and dogs that enter shelters each year, around 2.7 million are euthanized. For its part, MHS takes in strays and surrenders, along with surplus critters from overcrowded shelters, each of them microchipped, vaccinated and given medical/behavioral evaluations before they are made available for adoption, with fees

in Marin continue to purchase shiny new pets rather than save them — and this county isn’t alone. HSUS estimates that only 30 percent of the country’s pets are adopted from shelters or rescues. “Anecdotally, it appears people in Marin buy from breeders more than they adopt,” says Lisa Bloch of the Marin Humane Society. MHS believes that with growing awareness, the consciousness Marin residents have about the world around them will soon extend to animal adoption.

These small-scale pet rescuers have seriously big hearts. BY CALIN VAN PARIS • PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

Saskia Achilles and her friends at the Dog Shack.

Adoption Resources

But for some, adoption is the fi rst impulse. In addition to well-known rescue agencies like MHS and the Milo Foundation (which relocated from Marin to Point Richmond in 2012), a number of grassroots rescue organizations have been fi nding ways, often with extremely limited funding, to help displaced animal s fi nd loving homes.

From NOLA, With Love

One such outlet, dubbed the Dog Shack by one-woman-show Saskia Achilles of Forest Knolls, was founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Achilles hails from Holland, a no-kill country with stringent spay/neuter laws. She has also been known to hop on the whale-saving, Sea Shepherd boats in Antarctica in an effort to save the whales.

Needless to say, Achilles supports disenfranchised animals.

She began her work as an animal foster parent in 1999, initially taking in a mama pit bull and her litter of 10. “I found homes for the puppies over a period of six months,” she says. “After that there was no end to the amount of mamas and litters, and I continued to foster through 2005.” When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, friends urged Achilles to go to the aid of the thousands of newly orphaned animals.

Achilles fashioned herself a badge that read “Bolinas Canine Control,” pinned it on an Humane Society T-shirt, collected donated frequent flyer miles and was on her way. “I was in a triage center near NOLA where there was a horse ranch; the stables were filled with cages where we took found dogs to get them booked in,” she says. A group of rogue volunteers and veterinarians worked to ensure animals were microchipped, vaccinated and documented before they were adopted out. After several weeks of intense rescue work and a narrow escape from Hurricane Rita, Achilles and her newly adopted dog, Dingy, made their way back to Marin where the animal lover decided to start her own rescue project.

“I decided to call myself Dog Shack because I had to build a makeshift shack for the dozen dogs that ended up in my yard,” Achilles says of dogs later rescued from Louisiana and shipped here. “I found them all homes. It was

ANIMAL SANCTUARY AND CARE SOCIETY A no-kill organization, the society has been pairing homeless cats with owners for more than 15 years. Currently, the society is providing or arranging long-term foster care for more than 50 kittens that were scheduled to be euthanized. ascscats.org

HAPPY HEN CHICKEN RESCUE Proving everyone can make a difference, the rescue was founded by 11-year-old Zoe Rosenberg in 2014. The organization’s efforts has saved hundreds of chickens in the past year and a half, as well as two pigs, three turkeys, one goose and one peahen. chickenrescue.org

JAKE’S PLACE CAT RESCUE The organization works with overcrowded shelters to rescue and re-home kittens, to educate and generate awareness about the issues abandoned pets face, and to create companionship and commitment through programs like “seniors for seniors,” which pairs older cats with senior citizens. jakesplacecatrescue.org

JESSICA’S HAVEN This organization matches small dogs needing love and attention with people who have difficulty communicating or understanding instructions, are easily distracted, suffer from anxieties, or experience physical limitations, in the belief that both parties can benefit. jessicashaven.com

MARIN FRIENDS OF FERALS Through its trap-neuter-return program, this organization aims to manage cat colonies — with the help of volunteer feeders and trappers — to ultimately foster and socialize cats, and to raise awareness about Marin’s stray and feral cat population through education. marinferals.org

MARIN HUMANE SOCIETY The society’s goal is to improve the lives of animals and people through advocacy, education and support. It envisions a better world for all animals and believes that promoting the bond between humans and animals will create a positive change for both. marinhumanesociety.org

MILO FOUNDATION Founded in 1994, this no-kill organization gives an alternative for homeless pets throughout Northern California by providing community education, volunteer opportunities, adoption services and sanctuary for animals until permanent homes can be found. milofoundation.org

NO BOUNDARIES ANIMAL RESCUE A shelter without walls, No Boundaries Animal Rescue sees that animals are cared for in foster homes, not in cages. Its goal is a simple one: to rehabilitate and re-home homeless animals that have been abandoned, are forgotten or are running out of time at local shelters. noboundariesanimalrescue.org

SAVEABUNNY RABBIT RESCUE The rescue works with more than 30 shelters to make sure abandoned, abused and neglected rabbits get a second chance. The organization also specializes in healing physically wounded and emotionally traumatized rabbits. saveabunny.org

THE DOG SHACK This foster-only program was founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when volunteers flew to New Orleans to rescue pets out of flooded homes. It provides emergency shelter and temporary foster homes for dogs that end up on death row in kill shelters. dogshack.org KASIA PAWLOWSKA

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so rewarding knowing that they had certainly been going to die, and now here they were in Marin.” Achilles has since attained 501c3 status via the community-minded nonprofit MarinLink and operates her rescue — which she runs in addition to her window cleaning business — on $250 adoption fees. “If you look at my cash flow I’m broke, but I feel very rich in spirit,” she says. Her next goal is to foray into the world of politics, aiming to help change spay/neuter laws so surplus killing can become a thing of the past.

Hands-On Haven

Sometimes the animals aren’t the only ones who are helped. Nestled in San Rafael, Jessica’s Haven offers a unique opportunity for special needs kids to spend time with and care for rescuable dogs. Founders Laura Cottingham and Laura Hislop share a love of animals and Hislop’s daughter, Jessica, who has autism. When Jessica turned 18, Hislop quickly realized that the typical day programs offered to her daughter’s peers were not a great fit for her. As Jessica loved spending time with animals, Cottingham (who had an interest in pet rescue) suggested opening a kennel. Thus Bed and Biscuits was born. “Jessica worked there for many years and was happy as a clam,” says Cottingham of the initial venture. “We saw her grow in leaps and bounds and thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could do something like this for more people?’ ” In 2013, a local lawyer learned of their cause and helped them obtain nonprofit status, and Jessica’s Haven became a reality. “We take gentle dogs from all over Northern California,” says Cottingham. “The dogs get unconditional love and learn to trust people; our clients learn how to give dog baths and blow-drys through our groomer’s assistant program. The hope is that someday if we can even get one or two of our clients a job as a grooming assistant or at a kennel, we’ve done something great.”

A Limitless Endeavor

Just up the freeway in Novato, No Boundaries Animal Rescue is on a similar white-knight mission. Founded four years ago by Barbara Ziskin Gray and Meagan Nelson, No Boundaries operates what it calls “a shelter without walls,”

YOU’VE GOT to LOVE MARIN. LAND of MILLION DOLLAR HOMES, $10,000 BIKES and 20,000 SENIORS who CAN’T PAY THEIR RENT.

welcoming found, stray and surplus animals from throughout California into their own homes in Novato and Sonoma County. Numbers are kept manageable, and animals, particularly litters of kittens, are housed in separate rooms to avoid cross-contamination.

The two had been working with other rescue organizations when they decided to team up. Gray brought years of rescue experience to the table, while Nelson carries a veterinary technician certificate from Santa Rosa Junior College — and each works a regular full-time job in addition to the time they put in at No Boundaries.

“We keep pretty small and concentrated so we can have animals in and out as soon as possible and are able to take on a lot of special needs animals,” Nelson says. “We recently took in a cat that needed a liver shunt repair, and I don’t know any other rescue that would have devoted the time and money to this cause; he’s 100 percent normal now. It’s the success stories that keep us going.” The duo has an active following on Facebook, consistently posting about newly taken-in animals — “A single share can save animals immediately,” says Nelson — and fundraising small amounts.

Like Dog Shack, No Boundaries was born of a passion for saving furry friends. “The number of animals that are put to sleep each day is mind-blowing — we’re taking about healthy, friendly, even purebred animals,” Nelson says. “Rescue is crucial. They benefit by getting a home; you benefit from the reward of saving and caring for an animal. It really takes a village: rescuers, fosters and more. We cannot do this alone — we have to spread the word and work together.” m

Robert H. Byers, MD

Elizabeth A. Dailey, MD

Lisa M. Elvin, NP

Jon R. Goff, MD

David H. Goltz, MD

Abbey Kennedy, MD

John C. Keohane, MD

John H. Kim, PA-C

Paul H. Kim, MD

Edward S. Moon, MD

Michael J. Oechsel, MD

Ernest H. Sponzilli, MD

Charles A. Stuart, MD

Brian W. Su, MD

18

Mt. Tam Orthopedics proudly welcomes Paul H. Kim, MD.

Dr. Kim completed his training at the Hospital for Special Surgery/Cornell University and the University of Washington.

Specializing in disorders of the foot and ankle, Dr. Kim will begin seeing consultations in August.

Paul H. Kim, MD

Planning 101

THE HOLIDAY SEASON: the time of year when we challenge our inner Martha Stewart to create Pinterest-worthy gatherings. Oh, the pressure. Not to worry, we’ve brought in the experts. If you do it right you can probably get away with a lot less work than you think — a little planning here, some artfully chosen premade food there, mix in a few shortcuts and you’ve got yourself a party. Here, event planners, cookie makers, chefs and wine experts give the inside scoop on easy planning no matter what type of fete you’re having.

1 The Holiday Open House

The holiday open house is the most deceptive of party prospects. At fi rst glance it seems casual — guests drop in whenever their schedule allows for merriment, food and drink — but the host faces what seems a Groundhog Day process of cleaning and restocking, unless you provide snacks that don’t require refrigeration, cooking or prepping once the party starts. With that in mind, who better to school us on what to serve than chef Jared Rogers of Picco Restaurant in Larkspur?

Besides being a celebrated chef, Jared is known for his cheese plate prowess. A great cheese plate is a perfect holiday party attraction: it can be left out at room temperature and filled just once, and it itself can be a topic of conversation. When choosing which cheeses will make the cut, be sure you have a variety of textures and flavors represented. Rogers likes to choose one hard cow’s cheese, one medium-hard cow’s cheese, one soft triple-cream cow’s cheese, one hard pecorino goat cheese, one medium-hard goat cheese, one soft goat cheese and a blue. Locally, he likes Tomales Bay Foods in Point Reyes and Woodlands Markets for their cheese selections.

A noticeably odiferous cheese isn’t an automatic no-go, Rogers adds; he just recommends knowing your guests — are they picky eaters or foodies? If you do choose a strongsmelling cheese, give it its own serving plate away from the other cheeses, so that it doesn’t transfer the aroma and alter the taste of a less pungent cheese.

Cheese Please

Take the guesswork out of your next purchase and consider these cheeses that have been vetted by the pros.

AGED Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam — Gold Winner at the 2014 California State Fair

SOFT Marin French Cheese Camembert — Bronze Winner at the 2015 Cal Expo State Fair

FIRM Beehive Cheese Company Barely Buzzed — Bronze Winner at the 2014 World Cheese Awards

BLUE Point Reyes Bay Blue — Second Place, Best in Show at the 2014 Annual American Cheese Society Conference

GOAT Cypress Grove Chevre Humboldt Fog — Second Place 2013 at American Cheese Society Awards

SHEEP Cypress Grove Lamb Chopper — Second Place 2011 at World Cheese Awards

As for logistics, it’s good to know approximately how many people will be strolling through. If cheese is going to be the main event, plan on buying three pounds for every eight people. If cheese is just one of many items being served, a few ounces per person should suffice. Put out a separate knife for each cheese and set everything out an hour before the start of the party. At room temperature, the flavors of the cheese can open up — like a wine that’s had time to breathe in a decanter. Put the spread on platters around the home so everyone isn’t confined to one gridlocked table, and label each cheese so you won’t have to recite (or memorize) every name.

Although cheese may be the star, the supporting acts are just as important. Rogers recommends quince paste,

Supply Time

BAKERY BOXES TO HOLD COOKIES Sur La Table at Town Center Corte Madera, 415.945.0112

PIPING BAGS FOR ICING Williams-Sonoma at The Village at Corte Madera, 415.924.6799

SPRINKLE DECORATIONS Cake Art, 415.456.7773, cakeartsupplies.com

BULK CANDY DECORATIONS Smart & Final, 415.259.0285, smartandfinal.com

RETRO CLEAR MILK BOTTLES orientaltrading.com

local honey, apples, peaches and Spanish almonds warmed in the oven with fresh thyme, rosemary and lemon as accompaniments to the cheeses; a favorite seasonal jam works well too. Stick with neatly served appetizers that won’t make a mess — anything skewered or on toothpicks is a smart choice — such as chicken kebabs, salami roll-ups or mini caprese salads.

A healthier alternative or supplement to the cheese is fresh crudité platters that can easily be prepped ahead of time. Cut up the produce, cover with a layer of damp paper towels, wrap the platter in plastic, and refrigerate until the start of the party. It’s the holidays, so most guests will expect to indulge in something sweet; platters of bitesize desserts invite chatting while nibbling and still look presentable much longer than a half-eaten cake will. And unless you have the time to bake, Woodlands , Nuggets and Whole Foods have a great selection of “two bite” brownies, cookies and macaroons.

2 Neighborhood Get-Together

What’s the best way to get kids excited about another neighborhood get-together? Tell them they can play with their food. Host the ultimate cookie-decorating or gingerbreadhouse-making party for an experiential activity that will keep the kiddos busy and also let parents get a little creative. Before anyone arrives, cover the workstations with white butcher paper so cleanup is as easy as recycling. For a cookie decorating party, have about three to six cookies for each child to decorate — unless you want a fi ve-minute activity and a room full of restless kids. Sharon Leach , of Tiburon’s Sweet Things Bakery, says it gets messy, but children as young as fi ve can take part. “To them, it is not how good the decoration looks, but how much frosting, sprinkles or candy get onto the cookie.”

If you’re hosting a gingerbread-house-making party, one house per child is plenty, but plan on having prebaked house pieces or graham crackers ready to go to allow guests to get right to work creating their own iced chateaus. John McAteer, owner of Marin’s holiday gingerbread house decorating pop-up Gingerbread Builders, says decorating is great for the whole family. “You’d be surprised at who gets really into the project,” he says. “At Gingerbread Builders, we’ve had everything from toddler parties to married couples out on a date In general, it’s the elementary-school-age kids who enjoy it the most.”

For either activity, set out bowls of small candy and snacks in a variety of colors — gumdrops, candy canes, Nico wafers, Pez candies and even pretzel sticks at each workstation. Place tools like child-safe knives, scissors and spoons for kids to customize their candy decorations. For gingerbread houses, have the kids create their houses on squares of cardboard they can take home.

“Kids love a piping bag of colorful frosting and squirting it onto the cookie. You can buy decorating frosting in squeeze tubes. They are fairly easy for kids to use,” Leach says. “You just have to remember that as long as the cookie is a shape that they recognize and that there is plenty of frosting and sprinkles, they will have fun piling it onto the cookie.” McAteer says the biggest challenge isn’t the decorating, but keeping guests from eating all the supplies while they’re building, and then cleaning up after you’re done.

Besides a little spiked eggnog for the adults, sweeten the neighborhood get-together with the classic milk and cookie pairing updated with chocolate or vanilla milk varieties served in retro glass milk bottles or mason jars with a straw. Once the masterpieces are complete and icing has set for at least 45 minutes, let guests carefully walk their creations home, or provide boxes.

Playlist

Yes, you can tune into a Pandora playlist, but why be like every other party host when you can pull together your own unique tunes inspired by these local music men?

NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN claims you can’t go wrong with the gold standards. “I just love the classics, all Johnny Mathis and Nat Cole for the kids. Even Burl Ives from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Christmas is the best!” He’s also a fan of his song “Candy Cane Park Christmas Kalamazoo” and “It’s Christmas Time in Rhinestone Kittie Land,” by Rhinestone Kitties & the Furry Dog. “You can find these on YouTube,” he adds.

MUSIC PRODUCER/ENGINEER SCOTT

MCDOWELL loves Christmas music, but is very picky. “I really wish Merle Haggard made a Christmas record that lives up to my imagination,” he says. “I often start off with Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’ though she’s got some competition since I fell in love with Ariana Grande’s ‘Last Christmas’ — it’s a fantastic update on George Michael’s epic jam.” He likes to finish with the Charlie Brown Christmas album, but “at this point my patience for holiday music begins to run thin,” he confides, “and I just start listening to Dave Brubeck or other West Coast jazz albums.”

JONATHAN KORTY, general manager and talent buyer at 19 Broadway Bar and Nightclub, says, “I’m a huge fan of the Christmas Jug Band, and I play all the albums every holiday season nonstop — just kidding!”

3 The Oenophile Cocktail Party

If you can’t commit to a sit-down dinner, the two-hour holiday cocktail party is a short and sweet way to celebrate the season. You don’t have to stock a full bar for the party — have a short list of red, white and sparkling wine options and perhaps one specialty cocktail, something that you can whip up a large batch of and keep in the fridge in pitchers to be served as needed. Margaritas and sangria work well for this purpose. Put up a small chalkboard sign to let guests know what is being served so you’ll have time to imbibe with them instead of reciting the evening’s options.

Budget and number of guests will likely determine what the house will be pouring that night, but we couldn’t resist getting the scoop on what to serve from Marin’s Caroline Craig , a director at a successful wine media relations agency, which counts some of the top wineries on its client list, and Brandon Parkhurst , general manager of Marin’s Brick and Bottle restaurant.

For a cocktail party, Parkhurst recommends serving anything that can be made in batches ahead of time. “You don’t want to be mixing cocktails as you go throughout the night, so make sure you have all the glasses ready, with all the garnishes set out, and have the premade batches of your drink ready to go before any guests arrive,” he says. For a holiday party, he recommends season-appropriate drinks like eggnog or a winter punch, including fragrant additions like nutmeg, cinnamon sticks and whole allspice berries and made with or without alcohol. “ Ludwig’s in San Anselmo is a good local store for cocktail ingredients and for everyday needs BevMo is an easy go-to,” he says.

“ Mill Valley Market is a go-to for fi nding a ffordable wine gems in the store’s ‘staffpicks’ section,” says Craig. “I love supporting the local family-owned business and the sta ff is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful for choosing the perfect wine to complement your meal.”

For a small, intimate gathering, keep it casual and have guests pour their own wine from a buffet of options, or do your own service. “We always greet our guests with an initial glass and set up wine service at the kitchen island for self-pouring,” Craig says. “My husband spent many summers bartending on Nantucket and a season in Aspen as the bartender at the Hotel Jerome. He’s very particular about glassware and is very good at keeping an eye on thirsty guests. For larger events, a server can save your life, as it’s difficult to visit with your guests and make sure that everyone’s drinking from a glass half full.”

For still wines, white and red, serving at cellar temperature is ideal. “You want the wine slightly chilled but not so cold you can’t taste it,” Craig says. “We live in the redwoods above Old Mill Park and our foundation is carved into bedrock. It’s the perfect natural wine cellar. For sparkling wines, we use a glass ice bucket to better see the bottle, and we keep it chilled by adding a mixture of water with ice.”

How much is too much? A typical bottle of wine holds at least four glasses — but when determining how many bottles to purchase, fine-tune the math based on what you know about your guests’ imbibing habits. “I typically plan on three glasses per person. But during the holidays I always keep extra bottles on hand in the $20–$50 price range in case neighbors pop in or we’re invited to a holiday open house,” says Craig. For a cocktail-based party, two to three drinks per person is generally a good estimate, but consider your audience and their typical drinking habits. You may also want to consider the alcohol content of what you’re serving: 12 ounces of beer is about equivalent to five ounces of wine and 1.5 ounces of liquor.

If you really want to make a statement, Craig says, consider pouring out of a magnum or double magnum. “These large bottles are perfect for the holidays when you have a large family gathering, especially if you’ve cellared an older vintage to mark the occasion,” she says. “The bottle alone is impressive and adds an instant ‘wow’ factor.”

For a fun twist on the classic cocktail party, consider hosting a themed BYOB in which guests bring their your best bottle or one priced under $20. “It’s a great way to spark conversation and find new favorites,” Craig says. When it’s time for guests to depart, give them the holiday gift of an Uber ride.

4 Alternative Diet

San Rafael’s Erika Lenkert , who publishes the quarterly gluten-free-themed magazine GFF, says for dinner parties it’s always a good idea to inquire if anyone has food allergies or sensitivities beforehand. “There’s nothing more disappointing for a host than to learn one of their guests can eat nothing but salad halfway through the dinner party.”

Raw Maca Balls

MAKES

12 ONE-OUNCE SNACKS

INGREDIENTS

K cup raw hazelnuts

K cup raw almonds

1 tablespoon raw maca powder

K tablespoon raw cacao powder

About 10 large soft dates, pitted and chopped

1 tablespoon coconut oil (the solid kind)

1 tablespoon hemp seeds or chia seeds

1 tablespoon flax seeds (dark or golden)

K tablespoon Maldon sea salt flakes (to taste)

TO PREPARE

Place the nuts in a high-powered food processor and pulse into a coarse chop. Add the powders, chopped and pitted dates, oil, seeds and salt and process until a moist blend comes together. Turn off the machine and test the consistency. You’ll know you have it right when you can squeeze the mixture together in the palm of your hand and it holds nicely without crumbling. If it crumbles, process a little longer. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and form it into small balls by rolling in your hands, each a little smaller than a golf ball (about an ounce per ball). Transfer to a cookie sheet or tray and place in the freezer for 20 minutes to allow them to firm up. After that you can store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

San

parties at her home through cookapp.com, also inquires if any of her guests have special dietary needs. “When I was transitioning to a 100 percent vegan diet 10 years ago, there was nothing more stressful than the holidays, because so much revolves around parties and dining in other peoples’ homes,” she says. “It’s a time of year when people love to feature treasured family recipes that are decadent and memorable beyond belief, but not always health conscious.”

Vegan, who hosts her own sell-out

are avoiding dairy can still enjoy your dishes, and those who love cheese will have a whole platter to enjoy.”

When you do put out the spread, Lenkert suggests, “make it easy on yourself and guests; if it’s not obvious what’s in a dish, present a note card that lists ingredients.”

5 The Traditional Sit-Down Dinner

Lenkert says plenty of appetizers and traditional holiday dishes are naturally gluten-free, such as roasts, mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts, but there are simple ways to make the usually off-limits dishes accessible too. “Thicken gravy with cornstarch, arrowroot or a gluten-free flour mix; I like Cup4Cup, but it does include dairy. Swap regular breadcrumbs for a gluten-free version of stu ffi ng or meatballs or over your gratins. Use a gluten-free piecrust or order a glutenfree dessert from a local bakery, like Flour Craft ,” she says. “Gravies, salad dressings, ready-made crab cakes, anything marinated or seasoned with soy sauce are a few common (gluten sensitivity) culprits.” Be careful not to inadvertently include gluten via spice mixes and premade sauces.

Ellis advises limiting the number of dishes that contain milk or butter by using soy milk and a nondairy butter substitute like Earth Balance or a good olive oil. “Switch out beef and chicken broths for veggie broth — I like the Paci fic brand — in your stuffing and bake it in a casserole dish, instead of the turkey,” she says. “Rather than put cheese into sides and salads, put out a cheese tray, so people who

Nothing says “the holidays” more than the traditional meal with all the fi xings and a beautiful formal table setting. Moira Gubbins , owner of Marin’s Parties, Parties, Parties, likes name cards and assigned seating for a formal dinner. “This is an element of the party where you can have your personal vision of the party design or theme come through,” she says. “Hiring a calligrapher for place cards or other directional signs is a great touch, and it ties the entire event together.”

For a formal table setting, Gubbins says, “set a gorgeous charger down first, then set a complementary dinner plate and maybe a salad plate Place a folded linen napkin on top of the salad plate and tuck in a card to really set the elegance up. Although a traditional place setting has the napkin offthe plate and on the left side of the forks,” she adds, “I love the look of the menu card and napkin on top. It is another area where you can customize and personalize the settings.”

If you aren’t preparing your favorite noshes that have been passed down through generations of family recipes, consider a nontraditional menu. So many people are avoiding some kind of food these days, whether it’s animal products, dairy, carbs or gluten. That makes creating the menu more of a challenge than pulling out Grandma’s recipe box, but it’s rewarding when your guests appreciate the thought you put in. m

Francisco vegan personal chef Stacey Ellis of Herb’n

dinner

HOW WEGrieve

A Mill Valley author provides a global perspective on an emotional journey shared by all. BY SUKEY FORBES

APILL, A PATH, a yoga pose or a trance; I looked for these and more to avoid the gutting anguish that set in after my daughter Charlotte, a green-eyed, blond six-year-old who loved wearing sparkly pink shoes in the rain and pushing the limits of her Barbie Jeep, died suddenly in 2004.

In the last decade I’ve worked to get my head and heart around the seismic shifts that accompany loss. I’ve traveled the world to learn about different ways of grieving, interviewed countless people about their own experience, written a book on my journey entitled The Angel in My Pocket: A Story of Love, Loss, and Life After Death , and spoken to groups around the country on the topic of choosing to embrace life despite an unthinkable loss. I’ve become an expert on a subject on which I would gladly have chosen to remain ignorant and yet here I am, re-engaged in life and fully transformed by the experience all parents want nothing to do with, and it actually feels like a gift to be able to share some of this hardwon wisdom and knowledge.

Mourning and grief are important in the process of coming to terms with loss, but in my mind, they are slightly di fferent processes. Mourning is the act of ritual and behavior prescribed by tradition, faith and cultural expectations such as tearing at clothing, wearing black or covering all the mirrors in the house. These actions allow us to help integrate loss into our own lives and those of our community. Mourning is an outward expression of grief and can be shared. Grief itself, on the other hand, is highly personal and emotions based. It is subjective, a ffecting both the body and the mind, and its expression varies enormously by individual. Some describe grief as a big black hole, which has the power to consume one’s every thought and ability to function for protracted periods of time. While mourning is fi nite, there is no timeline for when one is through grief.

When the shadow of death inevitably darkens our doorway, if we are without the rituals designed to ease us into our grief we are handicapped at a time when we most need to

be guided. I was raised with a deep reverence for nature but little to no religion. When my daughter Charlotte died I was ill equipped for the journey of grieving that lay ahead.

I’ve learned there is comfort in the consistency of a cultural norm or tradition. Our darkest moments are often illuminated when we fi nd our way back to the lap of our heritage. Or perhaps even another’s heritage. According to the Pew Research Center, 38 percent of the population in the U.S. who identify their religion as “nothing in particular” also state that religion is either “very important” or “somewhat important” in their lives (Religious Landscape Study 2014). For those of us who come from no faith or perhaps have left our childhood faith behind, bereavement provides an opportunity to pull from the traditions of other cultures in our efforts t o fi nd comfort.

Rituals of Mourning

While I learned about rituals that ranged from quietly floating candles down a river on a raft to exhuming a body years later to dance with it to boisterous processions led by jazz marching bands, the ritual bathing of the body of the deceased by loved ones is encouraged in varying forms in most faiths.

The highly choreographed process specifies position of the body and movements of the attendants. Touch is a potent expression of love whose fi nal physical connection can serve to subtly connect the bathers with the reality of the death. Oils, flowers and special prayers are offered. The body is then wrapped in a simple shroud or blanket with small tokens of a ffection or money to take to the afterlife. In recent years this ritual has been often left to the undertakers, thereby taking away a powerful opportunity for fi nal connection with the physical body for loved ones.

Prior to Charlotte’s death I was of the opinion that subcontracting out most of these tasks was an appropriate choice. In fact, when faced with the prospect of bathing her in the hospital one last time, I am ashamed to admit, I was too fearful the experience might overwhelm me and render me unable to function for my surviving children. However, having had

a decade to reflect on the immediate crippling numbness that overtook me in those hazy early days, and after meeting people who bravely handled this task on their own, I know that being more directly involved would almost certainly have allowed the reality of that loss to set in more effectively and allowed me some final intimacy with my daughter. I will forever regret having missed that chance to lovingly tend to her one last time.

Maria Grayson-Metaxas is one individual who considered the importance of ritual and worked it into her final wishes. Four years ago, when Grayson-Metaxas was in the fi nal days of her struggle with cancer, she designed her own multi-faith mourning ritual. I learned about her through one of her friends, Leslye Robbins, a local psychotherapist. Grayson-Metaxas

on acid. Kazoos and fiddlers accompanied the march. Once we were inside, the ashes were set in an alcove and the makeshift attendees broke into an a cappella version of “Amazing Grace” followed by “Silent Night,” then random folk songs. An unclothed man in the thrall of LSD stood directing people outside the temple, and many shared Leary memories from personal encounters and public accounts. To this serendipitous participant, the roll-your-own tribute seemed entirely fitting for both Leary and his devotees.

As for the viewing of a body of a loved one who has passed, most faiths do not include anyone but the most intimate family members in this custom. Christians and Catholics host a wake prior to the clergy-led funeral service where visitors can pay

was inspired by what she had learned from a rabbi friend and requested the friend lead a small group of her loved ones in performing the Jewish ritual bathing of her body. An avid surfer, she requested that she be laid out on her sur fboard. Her friends bathed and tended to her as they chanted and sang. When they were fi nished and with her body wrapped, they blanketed her with flowers from each of their gardens.

Robbins was one of the friends who participated in the bathing. “I’d never touched a dead body before and I was fearful. A friend clipped the nails of Maria’s left hand. As I watched I thought of my own small children and cutting their nails. I was able to then pick up her right hand and begin clipping. Once engaged in the process I felt an exquisite closeness with Maria that made it easier for me to say good-bye. I did not want to stop touching her,” Robbins says. “It remains one of the singular most powerful expressions of simultaneous love and sorrow in my life. The intimacy and privilege of being in that moment with the other women who held her so dear was one I will never forget and a compassionate and clear way for us to begin to absorb the loss of our dear friend.”

Each culture and faith has a way of paying tribute to the departed, speci fic steps taken at intervals for up to a year and beyond. Some are performed by and for the intimates of the deceased and others are community based. All serve the purpose of focus on and respect for the process of bereavement. They shepherd in the grief.

This year at Burning Man I found myself in the midst of a procession led by the actress Susan Sarandon to deposit some of Timothy Leary’s ashes inside artist Mike Garlington’s temple called Totem of Confessions. It seemed fitting that the godfather of the LSD movement would have some of his ashes laid to fi nal rest accompanied by a swarm of naked revelers

their respects. Music, alcohol and a generally elevated mood are expected, as these events are intended to celebrate the deceased. Protestants have a memorial service with eulogies offered along with songs, prayers and readings from standard scriptures. For some Chinese, a hybrid of Taoist, Buddhist and Christian traditions informs the viewing service. Those attending, in addition to offering condolences, are expected to contribute money. The mourning family at a Chinese wake wail at a volume that increases with each donation. The larger the contribution, the greater the wailing. The cultural variations on public volume and intensity of expressions of grief surprised me. Raised in a stoic Yankee household, I found the thought of wailing for any reason inconceivable, and yet for some it is a given and is likely cathartic: the full-body tension release that follows a physical act such as wailing probably promotes some degree of relief.

In Jewish households, for seven days following the funeral, mourners sit on or low to the ground in a contemplative state (shiva). One is expected to reflect on one’s own grief and the meaning of the deceased’s life during this time. Native Americans also gather in a circle on the ground for a period of days after a ceremonial burial. Traditionally Muslims, Jews and Buddhists cover mirrors in the household; the varying reasons include a concern the soul will see its reflection and be confused as to which direction it should travel.

Grief Is Personal

Expressions of grief vary widely, in individuals and in cultures. Upon receiving the news a loved one has passed, a Jewish person may tear at his clothes and openly weep or even wail. In many Native American tribes wailing is also encouraged. In Buddhism, however, such overt expressions of sorrow are thought to hold the soul back from making its full journey to the “far shore.”

When the shadow of death inevitably darkens our doorway, if we are without the rituals designed to ease us into our grief we are handicapped at a time when we most need to be guided.

In order to fully express grief there must also be mourning. Cultural, religious and societal expectations help us with this expression. Going through the motions can elevate grief to the surface when one is emotionally stuck or numb. For some, grief and mourning are akin to the relationship between heart and head. Culturally, some choose to focus more on the outward community experience of mourning than on the personal feelings of grief in their bereavement.

If you break down the personal realm of grief, you see that your physical body plays a big role: you have a heart, you have a brain, and more recently scientists have even added the gut onto the list of organs involved in the chemistry of emotions. Each of these can be affected physiologically by loss. For some, using pharmaceutical agents to soften the depression, anxiety and sleeplessness that often attend grief is a helpful option. It is known that the physiological response to grief can wreak havoc on the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. Antidepressants and antianxiety medications as well as sleep aids have been beneficial for many, particularly in the acute phases of loss. Although medicating in such instances is controversial, as some believe drugs prevent grief from attaining its full expression, this palliative is generally accepted and widespread.

Whether we rely upon the cultural and faith-based mourning rituals we were raised with or create our own, the attention we bring to the process is an opportunity to gently and organically begin our journey through loss to a state of acceptance, comfort and even transformation.

It is important during this period to remember what Buddha said: “All that is born dies. All those who gather are eventually separated. All is impermanent. Nothing lives forever. This is the Natural Law. Embrace it and flourish; resist it and su ffer even more.”

The Bottom Line

No matter how you grieve and mourn, one question must be addressed: what to do with the body?

The national median cost for a funeral in 2012 was $7,045. Burial rates have been on a steady decline since the 1980s and as of 2012 were at 48.7 percent versus cremation rates of 46.7 percent. It is projected that by 2030, cremation rates will surpass burial rates at more than 70 percent (according to the U.S. Census Bureau and National Funeral Directors Association). Although some mortuaries and funeral homes are religion specific, many cater to diverse segments of the population.

Mill Valley’s Fernwood Funeral Home focuses on combining burial rituals with land restoration. It’s a full-service funeral home and crematory that welcomes “people from all religions and spiritual traditions, including one entirely your own.” But Fernwood is not alone in encouraging people to craft their own traditions.

BJ Miller, executive director of Zen Hospice in San Francisco and a longtime Marin County resident, is a strong advocate for intention and creativity in the experience of dying and grieving. The hospice has developed a ritual of pausing in the garden when wheeling a body out of the gate after death. Anyone who wishes can share a story, a song, or perhaps even a bit of silence while flower petals from the garden are sprinkled over the body. Miller believes this brief ceremony creates a sweet, simple parting image to usher in grief and warmth rather than repugnance. He observes that the drivers hired to transport the bodies to the mortuary have also started to participate in this ritual.

“In short, I don’t think in the U.S. we honor grief well,” Miller says. “We don’t see its vital relationship to love. We don’t give it space. Grief smells like depression, and depression isn’t OK. The ‘get back on the horse’ mentality is rewarded here in the U.S. Not sitting quietly petting the horse with tears running down your face. It’s a shame, because there is a lot of beauty and respect in the latter.” m

ON THE EDGE

A new breed of young urban artists takes center stage in Marin.

BY LAURA HILGERS PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

WALK INTO ZIO Ziegler’s studio — a Mill Valley hillside house that could most politely be described as a “ fi xer”— and your fi rst thought is, “Why is this guy here and not in some loft in Williamsburg, Brooklyn?” Huge, colorful canvases populate the home like dinner guests. Sayings scribbled in pencil and crayon —“Sight is a museum of things seen” — adorn the walls. An empty pool in the backyard has been turned into a blackand-white mural of an angst-ridden humanoid.

It’s all so edgy that you wonder, for a moment, if you’re still in Marin, a county better known for landscape artists than for any kind of street cred. But Ziegler is one of several emerging artists more urban in style who are currently residing in Marin. “They’re the new guard of artists,” says Tara Schon, co-owner of the Zener Schon Gallery in Mill Valley. “Urban art is coming to the forefront now, and these artists are young and gaining visibility.”

They’re also fi nding sanctuary in Marin as a place where they can pursue their own visions, far from the in fluences of the “scene” in New York and Los Angeles. “The peace of Marin,” says Schon, “gives them the space to dig into their creative energy and come out with clarity as to what they want to manifest.”

ZIO ZIEGLER

Zio Ziegler, 27, creates art with the urgency of a man who’s done the math and realized the 60 or 70 years he has left are barely enough. He often works 14 hours a day, seven days a week, creating 600 drawings, 250 paintings and 30 murals a year. “I make a lot of paintings because I don’t want to do anything in this world that is not absolute,” says Ziegler, standing in front of a half-fi nished painting based on Caravaggio’s Crucifixion of St. Peter in his Mill Valley studio. “I don’t want to be an OK painter. I don’t want to make an OK painting.”

Ziegler runs little risk of that. “There’s nobody like Zio,” says Torrey Cook, owner of Artists Republic 4 Tomorrow Gallery in Laguna Beach. “He’s hyper-intelligent and has a di fferent process from some artists. Zio just lets the emotion pour out. He looks at the canvas, feels something, and lets it go.”

His large canvases (6 by 8 feet, usually) are filled with primitivistic and cubist images that echo pop art, Picasso and Dubu ffet. They also make oblique references to Ziegler’s widely ranging intellectual interests, from Byzantine art to Schrödinger’s cat to the novels of Don DeLillo, knowledge he often absorbs through the audiobooks he listens to while painting.

His murals — where he really “lets it go,” preferring, he says, “to be told what to paint by the wall” — are also exuberant testaments to his rich mind. He paints these black-andwhite works, which can be found in Tokyo, Milan and the headquarters of Facebook, in a matter of hours, always without a plan. His art can also be found on sneakers — just this year, Vans came out with a shoe that is covered in one of Ziegler’s mural-like designs. One of his favorite murals resides on a wall of the gym at the Branson School — where, ironically, Ziegler attended high school and was kicked out of his only art class.

Ziegler has tried to live in New York, doing the urban artist gig. “But I keep coming back to Marin to be grounded and close to nature,” says the Mill Valley native, whose parents — successful in both business and the arts — encouraged his creativity. “I paint from a larger inspiration, which is the natural world and the human condition. Those are two things that populate me thoroughly here.”

LAURA KIMPTON

If there were a road map through multimedia artist Laura Kimpton’s soul, it would be paved with words and birds. The Fairfax-based artist, best known for Burning Man’s “Monumental Word” series, has fi lled the playa with enormous words, including LOVE, BELIEVE and EGO, since 2009.

But for every word that Kimpton — who is severely dyslexic — has burned, there’s also been an element of fl ight. Kimpton covered her fi rst word, MOM, with hundreds of cutouts of birds, a motif she’s explored in her work since 2002, when her father, the hotelier Bill Kimpton, died. “All my work is about the heaviness of words or the heaviness of your thoughts,” says Kimpton, who received a master’s degree in psychology from the University of San Francisco. “The birds represent living free from those thoughts.”

While Kimpton is best known for her Burner work, the 52-yearold single mom is also a gifted painter and collage artist. She recently created a series of stunning self-portraits, featuring images of herself in bird costumes, held in frames that feel almost altar-like, composed of crown-molding fragments, candles, books and birds. She’s also working on an eight-foot-high multimedia obelisk covered with sports trophies and videos of “EGO” burning.

“What sets Laura apart is how soulful her work is, and how edgy too,” says Schon, whose gallery will be hosting Kimpton’s onewoman show Buck Shot starting November 10. “It’s a little gritty and messy, but it’s very conceptual and has a lot of depth.”

Her words “BELIEVE” and “LOVE” and “DREAM” have been installed everywhere from China to Virginia to a winery in Santa Rosa. At places like Burning Man and concerts for Widespread Panic, a band she follows regularly, Kimpton is something of a celebrity. But in Fairfax, she enjoys anonymity. “That’s one thing I love about Fairfax,” says Kimpton. “I’ve been living here since I was 26 and nobody knows who I am.”

ALL MY WORK IS ABOUT THE HEAVINESS OF WORDS OR THE HEAVINESS OF YOUR THOUGHTS.

IAN ROSS

An Ian Ross mural is a thing of beauty. Walk by one in SoMa or Silicon Valley, and you’re drawn to the black-and-white lines of street art and the way they drape across, or border, bricks, doors, windows and concrete. Ponder one for a while, however, and you see how deeply rooted they are in nature. “Any time there’s a vertical,” says Ross, 37, “that’s referencing a tree. The horizontals are referencing the surface of the ocean.”

It’s this interplay between the natural world — Ross is a Larkspur native and lifelong surfer who comes from three generations of artists — and the street art he fell in love with in Europe as a teenager that fuels Ross’ work. “I thrive on the juxtaposition between open space and nature,” he says, “and the dense urban sprawl that creates an art form like gra ffiti.”

As Ross straddles these worlds, he’s equally planted in the tech one. He was the artist-in-residence at Facebook for several years, starting in 2010, and ha s created murals or painting s for Google, Lyft and LinkedIn. But he also makes lush, neon-hued paintings on canvas, many of which can be seen at the Rocha Art Gallery in SoMa, which he started with his wife, Daniele Rocha, in 2013.

“What I love about Ian is the way he can transition from creating these huge gorgeous murals to doing beautiful canvas work inside,” says Sara Gough, owner of Project Gallery in L.A. “No matter what surface he’s working on, it’s 100 percent pure. He’s just a true artist at heart.”

Ross, who started his career as a ceramicist, now longs to return to clay and more earthy materials, including constructing Andy Goldsworthy–style installations on beaches and in forests. He’s already created a number of dramatic sand murals along California’s coast — all of which have been swept away.

“It’s just about the pure experience,” says Ross. “When I do something on sand, there’s no way it can be bought or sold. It’s such a departure from the rhythm of making a living as an artist and selling yourself. It’s all about the ephemeral experience.”

A Landmark Settlement

BY CARRIE KIRBY

SEVEN MORNINGS A week, Ada Cañez swept and mopped Redwood City’s Ross Dress for Less store, scrubbed its toilets, cleaned mirrors and did everything else necessary to ready the store for shoppers. For all her hard work, she was paid $450 cash a month — less than minimum wage. After the fi rst year, her pay became sporadic, then stopped. Then her employer told her its janitorial services contract had ended, and her boss changed his contact information. She could not collect her back wages.

These allegations and more were levied in a complaint against Dublin-based Ross Stores and subcontractor USM in a landmark class action suit by Legal Aid of Marin, resulting in a $1 million settlement that should provide Cañez and hundreds of other janitors with thousands of dollars in back wages.

The roots of this case go back to LAM staff attorney Joanna Shalleck-Klein’s days working at Stanford’s Community Law Clinic as a student. There, Shalleck-Klein met several janitors who had been underpaid by subcontractors of big box stores; like Cañez’s employer, the subcontractors would vanish without paying up.

“When I joined Legal Aid of Marin, through our weekly clinics I happened to meet more janitors in a similar situation,” Shalleck-Klein says. Realizing that the case was bigger than her team at LAM could litigate on their own, ShalleckKlein reached out to Mill Valley fi rm Chavez & Gertler, Oakland’s Goldstein Borgen Dardarian & Ho, and the Stanford Community Law Clinic. Together they brought the suit against Ross Stores and its leading janitorial contractor, USM. The settlement was reached in February and approved last month — checks should soon be in the mail soon.

For LAM, the case was unusual in its size; the $1.7 million in settlements LAM has cumulatively collected for workers since 2011 were on behalf of individuals or smaller groups of employees. Legally, the case breaks ground by winning a settlement under California’s Labor Code Section 2810, which bans companies from knowingly underfunding contracts so that their subcontractors cannot a fford to comply with the law.

“Prior to our case, most matters that had been brought under Labor Code Section 2810 had died at the pleading stage,” mostly due to insu fficient evidence, Shalleck-Klein says.

According to the complaint, Ross subcon tractor USM farmed janitorial work out to multiple other subcontractors, which would fold when debts to workers mounted, only to be replaced by new subcontractors. Most of the workers involved in the case are immigrants who speak only Spanish, and many of the sub contractors are low-wage workers themselves, Shalleck-Klein says.

These workers’ victory might be just the fi rst skirmish in a larger battle. ShalleckKlein has reason to believe that the multilayered subcontractor tactic is used by many big box stores to underpay or avoid paying janitors. In fact, a janitor recently came to LAM’s clinic com plaining of a similar problem with a di fferent retailer.

“Lo and behold, her employer was one of the same subcontractors who was a subcontractor in our case,” Shalleck-Klein says.

An ambitious case initiated by Legal Aid of Marin gets janitors their due.

DUI Timeline

GETTING CHARGED WITH driving under the influence is never part of the plan when you go out to dinner or visit a winery.

Unfortunately, it does happen — in fact, about one in 140 licensed drivers in Marin County gets arrested on suspicion of DUI in a year, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

What really happens after you see those blue lights in the rearview mirror? What can you do to minimize the damage a DUI charge wreaks on your life? Veteran San Rafael attorney Paul Burglin, who literally wrote the book on DUI defense — California Drunk Driving Law — walked us through how to deal with a firstoffense DUI case, step by step:

1

YOU ARE PULLED OVER An officer who suspects you have been drinking will ask a number of questions and ask you to perform field sobriety tests, such as a horizontal gaze nystagmus test (tracking a moving stimulus with your eyes), walking a straight line heelto-toe or balancing on one leg. What the officer may not tell you is that you are not legally required to submit to these tests, Burglin says. “It’s a rare situation where the officer lets the person go after conducting field sobriety tests, so you’re probably better off declining to do them, in terms of not incriminating yourself,” the attorney advises. “Finally, you’ll likely be asked to blow into a preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) device, but not only do you have the right to refuse it, the Vehicle Code requires the officer to advise you of this right.”

2

YOU ARE ARRESTED You will be taken to the police station to take a breath test, or to the jail for a breath or  blood test (there are consequences for refusing post-arrest testing, including potential jail time and license suspension). Either your car will be towed, or if it is in an area where it can be left, the police may lock it and leave it there. You are held in jail overnight, or you may be allowed to call a sober adult to pick you up.

3

YOU ARE RELEASED Locals are generally released on their own recognizance while those from outside the area will likely be asked to post bail. You will be given a court date, typically about three weeks hence. The police will send your driver’s license to the DMV and in its place give you an Order of Suspension and Temporary License, which allows you to drive for 30 days after the arrest.

4

THIS IS WHEN YOU NEED TO CALL AN ATTORNEY THAT SPECIALIZES IN DUI The legal proceedings you are about to embark on are complicated, and lawyers know ways to minimize the damage to your life. Most attorneys charge between $2,500–$7,000 to handle all DMV and court proceedings without going to a jury trial, and you can expect to pay an additional $6,000–$7,000 plus the costs of any expert witness(es) if your case goes to a jury trial. If you can't afford to hire an attorney, you can request at your court appearance to be referred to the public defender's office, which will evaluate your ability to pay.

5

THE DMV DETERMINES YOUR DRIVING PRIVILEGES You have 10 days post-arrest to request a DMV administrative hearing to plead your case.

If the DMV upholds the suspension order, and if you are over 21 and tested at 0.08 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or higher, your license will be suspended for four months on a first offense. You can convert this four-month suspension to a 30-day suspension and a five-month restriction period where you are allowed to drive to work and to the required educational program.

If you are under 21 and you tested at 0.01 percent or higher — or if you refused to take a blood or breath test when you were arrested — your license will be suspended for a year. Suspension periods are longer for repeat offenders.

6

YOUR ATTORNEY REVIEWS THE EVIDENCE AND DEFENDS YOU IN COURT Your attorney will study your test results and police report, looking for opportunities to plead for reduced charges or a dismissal. Even if you tested above the legal limit, a conviction is not a foregone conclusion. “He may fi le a ‘motion to suppress evidence’ that challenges the legality of the initial detention, arrest or warrantless taking of a chemical test sample,” Burglin says.

7

YOU ARE SENTENCED The potential jail time for a first offense — up to six months — will likely not initially be imposed, or will be substituted with community service or trash pickup work. You will typically get three years of unsupervised probation. You will have to attend three to nine months of a DUI program with classes and counseling — costing you up to $1,221. First offenders will also pay fines that total about $1,973. Circumstances that could lead to increased penalties and sanctions include having a child in the car at the time of the offense, reckless driving, an accident or having a BAC above 0.15 percent.

8

YOUR ARREST GOES ON YOUR PERMANENT RECORD — BUT YOU CAN HAVE IT EXPUNGED Typically, you can petition the court for expungement of the criminal conviction after you have served your sentence, including probation. Expungement does not erase your criminal record, but “it demonstrates to a potential employer that you have been deemed rehabilitated,” Burglin says. Moreover, the California Labor Code now prohibits employers from asking about expunged convictions.

9

NEXT TIME, YOU CALL UBER Or Lyft. Or a cab. Or a sober designated-driver friend. Or don’t drink. Do anything except risk a second offense, which could result in jail time, $2,639 in fines and assessments, and having an Ignition-Interlock Device installed on your car that requires a Breathalyzer test every time you drive. “I always address the issue of alcohol and/or drugs with each of my clients,” says Burglin, a longtime Alcoholics Anonymous member who has been sober for more than 24 years. “If I suspect they have a dependency problem, I encourage them to get help and give them suggestions on where to get it.” C.K.

The steps you’ll need to take after seeing those blue lights in your rearview mirror.

Bar None

JUST WEEKS AFTER the death of Freddie Gray in the custody of Baltimore police, as social justice leaders and police authorities squared off all over the nation, representatives from both groups sat down together quite civilly at the Marin County Bar Association’s May meeting for a discussion on social justice.

A sell-out crowd of more than 100 — not all of them attorneys — listened to San Rafael Chief of Police Diana Bishop present her force’s community outreach efforts and community organizer Maite Duran explain the Canal Welcome Center’s CONSEJO for Restorative Justice program’s efforts in helping troubled kids turn their lives around.

“It was packed,” Duran recalls. “There are advances everywhere in terms of social justice, and it is great to see that Marin is often at the vanguard.”

This event was just one example of how the bar association has started partnering with other local organizations to reach out to a wider swath of Marin’s population on issues that matter to the community, says Mee Mee Wong, MCBA executive director. In this case, the bar association worked with community development nonprofit MarinLink and the Association of Latino Marin Attorneys to put the popular program together.

When Wong took the helm in spring 2014, she was surprised to learn that more than 1,500

community- and advocacy-geared nonprofits exist in Marin County, many of them working toward the same goals. “Why are there so many separate silos? Why can’t we collaborate? The issues are the same,” Wong says.

With that in mind, Wong pilots the organization as an information resource and a hub linking other local groups that provide muchneeded legal help to the public. For instance, the bar taps its member base to help Legal Aid of Marin staff its clinic with volunteer attorneys, and it funds a scholarship for law students with Marin roots through San Rafael education nonpro fit 10,000 Degrees. The bar even collaborates with Marin County Court to fi nd ways to keep cases flowing through the system efficiently.

That’s not to say that the MCBA doesn’t help the public on its own as well. MCBA’s Modest Means Mediation program, now in its second

year, has helped settle, at very low cost, 16 cases for nonprofits, low-income individuals and other self-represented parties referred by judges of Marin County courts. And members of the public who are unhappy with their attorney bills can turn to the bar’s Fee Arbitration program.

Looking forward, Wong is excited that California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye recently contacted her to ask for help with her nonprofi Foundation for Democracy and Justice’s efforts to educate the public on the role of the judiciary. And Wong is brainstorming law-related topics for future programs that she hopes will draw as much interest as the bar’s recent forums on social justice, marijuana legalization and new housing, several of which were written up in the Marin Independent Journal

Elder abuse is one potential topic for 2016.

“These are programs that impact our community,” Wong says. “You know it’s not just a small set of lawyers who are interested.” C.K.

There are advances everywhere in terms of social justice, and it is great to see that Marin is often at the vanguard.

Marin County Bar Association collaborates to help community.

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Sometimes innocent people are falsely accused, and other times good people just make a bad mistake. Both need a trusted and competent lawyer.

Meet PAUL BURGLIN, a 30-year veteran of the Marin County Courts. Paul is a former Student Body President of the College of Marin and a graduate of U.C. Berkeley. He co-authors the two-volume treatise California Drunk Driving Law and is the only Marin County lawyer Board Certified in DUI Defense (as recognized by the American Bar Association). He is a graduate of the University of Indiana’s Borkenstein course on chemical testing and scientific protocols in DUI cases.

Principally serving San Francisco, Marin County, and the wine regions of Sonoma and Napa Counties, Paul handles all DUI and DMV related matters, ranging from license suspensions and medical revocations to misdemeanor and felony DUI charges.

999 Fifth Avenue, Suite 350 • San Rafael, CA 94901 415.729.7300 • burglin@msn.com • www.burglin.com

SHERMAN, ESQ., LLM

THE FAMILY LAW OFFICE OF CHRISTINA SHERMAN focuses exclusively on family law. Her practice specializes in complex divorce cases, including property division, child and spousal support, and child custody matters in Marin County. Intricate financial issues are of particular interest to Ms. Sherman. The division of property, and distribution of spousal or child support can drastically change an individual’s fi nancial outlook and tax obligations.

So that Ms. Sherman can more accurately understand and explain the fi nancial implications of divorce or separation, she has obtained a Master of Laws and Letters (LLM) in Taxation at Golden Gate University School of Law. Ms. Sherman also has an overriding interest in the well-being of children and has negotiated settlement of and has tried many di fficult child custody cases.

Pictured (from left): Susan English, Senior Paralegal, Christina Sherman, Attorney, Bart Williams, Certified Paralegal

1010 B Street, Suite 203 • San Rafael, CA 94901 415.457.4367 • www.TheShermanLawOffice.com

CHRISTINA

LAW OFFICES OF J. R. HASTINGS

1003 Third Street • San Rafael, California 94901 415.459.6635 • www.jrhastingslaw.com 103 East Blithedale • Mill Valley, California 94941

AFTER ADMIRING A BOLD, RED 1955 CHEVROLET V-8 CORVETTE AND, AS WE ENTERED THE LAW OFFICES OF JAMES R. HASTINGS WE NOTICED THE WORDS “PRESERVE YOUR LEGACY” PRINTED ON THE AWNING. Rather than merely distributing the money to beneficiaries through a will or living trust, James (J.R.) Hastings explained the need to align all decisions and concepts for one’s estate so the personal values of the family are extended to the following generations. J.R. is certi fied as an Estate Planner by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, and a member of the Wealth Counsel and Elder Counsel, which are national organizations that provide resources placing him on the cutting edge of his profession.

Pictures on his office walls include J.R’s grandfather; father; his father’s childhood home; a lithograph of Abraham Lincoln; paintings by his daughter, a professional artist; his legendary, deceased wolf-dog, Bella; and photos and other collectibles from his career as a professional and commercial pilot; along with many Parisian vacation mementos. J.R. offered an example of what his “legacy” estate plan might be: It would include a trust for educating generations of grandchildren; a special endowment to a charity; setting aside money for beneficiaries to experience a European vacation and instructions for donating a ‘55 Corvette to a public museum.

J.R.’s job is to provide an estate plan that supports his client’s vision, maintains family peace, and reduces taxes, expenses and exposure to creditors. He assists clients by getting the “monkey (worry) offof their backs” so they sign an estate plan that Preserves Their Legacy

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Destinations

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

WINTER BEACH GETAWAYS

Whether you’re going on a romantic retreat, a family vacation or a solo sojourn, here are exotic possibilities near and far.

BY ANN WYCOFF, MIMI TOWLE AND KASIA PAWLOWSKA

Jumping off the pier at Kukuiula Harbor on Kauai.

The Lodge at Kukuiula Poipu, Kauai

THE TOWN OF Poipu on Kauai’s south or “sunny” side is a year-round destination. Flour-soft white sand and gentle waves attract not only endangered monk seals but families looking for toddler-safe environs. The area has famously come back strong after Hurricane Iniki’s devastation in 1992 with the Lodge at Kukuiula, a collection of island-style cottages, bungalows and villas as the newest hotel option.

• BEDS Ideal for families or multiple couples traveling together, the property offers two-, three- and four-bedroom plantation-style cottages, all with private plunge pools, outdoor garden showers, gourmet kitchens, indoor/ outdoor screened lanais, fi re pits and outdoor gas grills. Rates start at $1,000.

• EATS While the on-site Plantation House features local farm-to-table cuisine, openair dining and sweeping views, the nearby Shops at Kukuiula boast a bevy of awardwinning options to please every palate, from fi ne-dining Merriman’s to mid-price Tortilla Republic and the casual Bubba Burgers and Uncle’s Shave Ice.

• EXERCISE Poipu’s famed expansive whitesand beach makes sur fi ng, swimming and

snorkeling attractive bets. On site, enjoy one of the seven di fferent pools, or get in a game of volleyball in the large lagoon. O ff-site, nearby activities including golf, stand-up paddling and hiking.

• DON’T MISS Enjoy sunset with poached Kauai shrimp and fresh ahi poke with house-made curry chips and a mai tai at the Plantation House.

Hotel Wailea Wailea, Maui

BECOMING KNOWN AS the quiet adultsonly escape on Maui, the newly renovated Hotel Wailea is getting lots of positive attention on sites like Trip Advisor. Included in the fluff-up are the “ultra-private” one-bedroom suites designed to evoke the ultimate island-style pied- à-terre. Poolside cabanas entice guests to get to that book they’ve been meaning to read, and soon an ocean-view tree house will offer private couples spa treatments within the mango-tree canopies. Beach valet services at nearby Wailea Beach include reserved beachfront lounge chairs, umbrellas, bottled water and towels.

• BEDS The 72 suites are spread out on 15 acres of “ultra-private” ocean-view property. Each

one-bedroom suite has a separate living area, luxury linens, deep soaking tubs, kitchenettes and private lanais. Rates start at $429.

• EATS Wailea Resort itself boasts dozens of award-winning dining experiences, but Capische, the on-site option, ha s a five-star Zagat rating. And when you’re fi nishing the aforementioned book, The Cabanas, a casual poolside spot, offers light alfresco meals and cocktails prepared with Hotel Wailea’s madefrom-scratch sodas and simple syrups

• EXERCISE Go for the complimentary yoga or Hawaiian Outrigger canoe experience, or take advantage of the preferred tee times at the nearby Wailea Gold, Emerald and Blue courses.

• DON’T MISS Be that person in the hot car. Use the on-site reproduction 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster convertible for a ride through town or better yet, head to the North Shore for a kiteboarding lesson at the resort’s own kiteboarding school.

Four Seasons Lanai Manele Bay, Lanai

THE LONG-AWAITED, LUXURIOUSLY reimagined, multimillion-dollar transformation of this 90,000-acre property is just around the corner with an early 2016 opening. While there are a few more t’s to

cross and i’s to dot, the lobby-to-roof renovation includes guest rooms, seating areas, spa and golf pro shop. Famously the elite getaway for those with no budget limit and high expectations, the property has its own lounge at the Honolulu Airport to ensure guests have the ultimate experience from the moment they arrive on the islands.

• BEDS Aiming for wow factor, guest room interiors boast details such as teak, zebra wood and artisan-produced Nepalese lokta paper. The floors are mahogany with wool handwoven area rugs. High-tech execs will feel comfortable with the fully integrated and intuitive lighting, temperature, service and privacy controls, available via wearable key wristbands just in case they want to turn

on the ceiling fan while heading home from the golf course. Rates start at $960.

• EATS Four dining options on site include Nobu Lanai, where famously creative Japanese cuisine is infused with local ingredients and served with sweeping panoramic views of the sea. For a casual cocktail with world-class views go poolside at Kailani.

• EXERCISE Snorkeling and scuba are popular here; the property fronts the largest marine preserve in the state. For landlubbers, the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Manele Golf Course is a must-play.

• DON’T MISS The new pool area features an adults-only space with private sanctuaries and a lagoon-style pool ideal for recharging and relaxing.

Marquis de Cabo Cabo Real Los Cabos, Mexico

WHILE CABO CERTAINLY has its share of sprawling beachfront resorts with dramatic views, this hotel, after a recent $10 million refresh, trumps the lot w ith its wow factor — a chic white minimalist lobby sits under a soaring arch that frames an ombre of blue sea and sky. Underneath it, a serene reflective pool flows into a 40-foot cascading waterfall. Arresting to say the least. Not to mention the in fi nity pools, white sand and a French top toque.

• BEDS This romantic all-suite, all-inclusive, adults-only retreat, just 15 minutes from San Jose del Cabo, has 235 oceanfacing guest rooms, some with private plunge pools and all with dreamy views, crisp linens, hydro-massage tubs, luxe L’Occitane bath amenities and outdoor terraces for lounging and whale sightings. Rates start at $650.

• EATS Michelin-pedigreed executive chef Thierry Dufour oversees al l five restaurants wit h fi nesse, but the true expression of his talents appears at Canto del Mar during a four-course, French-inspired feast for the senses. There’s also fresh seafood and romance at Dos Mares, poolside grilled eats at Marlin Grill, Asian fusion at Sakke, and a grand bu ffet at Vista Ballenas. Thoughtful culinary touches include the Marquis Wake Up, featuring en-suite daily delivery of fresh coffee and pastries, as well as poolside treats like churros and Mexican-style corn on the cob throughout the day. You also won’t want to miss the requisite tequila tastings.

• EXERCISE Whether you want to hit the gym to work off hose margaritas, lap around the two in fi nity pools or try salsa dancing lessons, archery, water aerobics or pool volleyball, you’ll fi nd plenty of creative ways to burn calories. Or let the concierge drum up an off-site adventure like scuba diving or camel riding.

• DON’T MISS You’re sure to fall under a spell of relaxation at the Spa Marquis with its shimmering sea-view treatment rooms and skin-quenching therapies incorporating Natura Bissé, the luxe line from Barcelona. Try the Diamond Rose Ritual, an aromatic body scrub and massage with diamond dust and damask rose oil for radiant skin.

Opposite page: Sunset sail along Kauai’s Napali Coast. This page from top: Tables are ready at Hotel Wailea’s awardwining Capische restaurant; the lobby awaits at the Marquis de Cabo.

Immerse yourself in Hawaii’s beach culture.

Learn to surf by world champions. Jump into an outrigger canoe and surf to shore. There are many Waikīkī hotels, but none that captures the heart of the ocean quite like Outrigger Resorts.

Nayara Springs La Fortuna, Costa Rica

IF YOU PREFER the company of toucans, monkeys, electric blue butter flies and hummingbirds over humans, this Eden is the perfect place to unplug and immerse yourself in nature. Stunning secluded villas dot a jungle ravine in an emerald tropical rain forest with humbling views of mist-shrouded Arenal, an active volcano that heats a network of thermal mineral springs. Thoughtful luxury meets sustainable tourism here with endless eco-adventures right outside your door in the biodiverse Arenal Volcano National Park.

Jaak Toomsalu has recently revamped Nayara’s menus to feature both international and local favorites, from spicy shrimp ceviche and fi sh steamed in plantain leaves to freshly grilled lamb with herbs from the garden. After a day of adventure, cool off ith a local Segua Red Ale in the company of Carlotta, the resident scarlet macaw.

Find out at Outrigger.com

• BEDS T hese gasp-inducing villas (35 in all) defi ne good taste with four-poster beds, handsome textiles, handwoven rugs, mineral-rich spring-water plunge pools, open-air garden showers, colorful hammocks and decks for drinking in the presence of that beguiling volcano to the sound of birdsong. Individual personal hosts for each villa enrich the already attentive service at this adults-only paradise. Rates start at $285.

• EATS Grab fresh-pressed juices and fi sh tacos by the pool at the Terrace, or try the

• EXERCISE On property, cozy half-moon mini-cabanas rim the lap pool and the openair yoga pavilion sits in the treetops. The rain-forest trail calls for early morning birdwatching walks. Off ite, private guides lead the way to zip-line canopy excursions and hanging bridges, mountain biking, rain-forest trekking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding and nature safaris. After the high-octane exertion, try a volcanic mud massage at the spa.

• DON’T MISS Be sure to enjoy a halcyon float down Rio Frio with a local naturalist for howler monkey, turtle, caiman and exotic bird spotting that ends on a Costa Rican family farm with food and drink and a chance to practice your Spanish. Saludos

five-course wine pairing dinner at Nostalgia Wine & Tapas Bar. Estonian celebrity chef

Infinity pool and lounge chairs are just a few relaxation options at Nayara Springs in Costa Rica.

CATCH A WAVE with surf legends and the beach boys of Waikīkī.

Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort

Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort Soufrière, Saint

Lucia

ARGUABLY SET IN the most stunning spot in all of the Caribbean, this lavish 100-acre resort is nestled between two towering volcanic pitons (a UNESCO World Heritage site), rimmed by verdant rain forest and a ribbon of powder-soft white sand. Sugar Beach further enchants with architecture evoking its 18th-century colonial sugar producing roots and rain-forest tree-house spa modeled after the huts of ancient Carib Indians.

• BEDS After a $100 million tune-up and makeover from Viceroy Resorts, Sugar Beach is a classic beauty, composed of 81 guest rooms and 62 hillside villas. The interior design features clean lines and whites against dark hardwood floors. Private pools, patios, fourposter beds and personal butler service up the luxury. Rates start at $520.

Shade is available at Sugar Beach in Saint Lucia.

• EAT Start the morning at the Terrace, overlooking the lily pond and cerulean sea, with blueberry French toast and caramelized bananas, then grab a beachfront seat at the Bayside for conch stew or stone crab and sweet potato cakes for lunch. Savor inventive Caribbean cuisine like lobster carpaccio with osetra caviar in the candlelit Great Room at night. Traditional afternoon tea in the Palm Court Lounge winks to the resort’s colonial sugar-producing heritage, as do the tastings of refined rums in The Cane Bar with the resident “rummelier.”

• EXERCISE Try the latest cutting-edge water sport — cycling across the sea. Sugar Beach is the fi rst resort to have the revolutionary Schiller Bikes, a carbon-fiber hybrid of a catamaran and bike. Guests can pedal across the natural marine reserve out front and espy the colorful coral and underwater denizens below, while metabolizing those dark rum hurricanes from the previous night.

• DON’T MISS At the Rainforest Spa, tucked into the lower slope of the Petit Piton, wooden bridges lead to tree house huts peeking over cascading springs and plunge pools. For a soulful purification ritual, relax in the Temescal, an Amerindian steam dome, and breathe deep.

Blanket Bay

Glenorchy, New Zealand

ESCAPE THE TRAPPINGS of everyday life and snuggle yourself into the highest-rated small luxury lodge in the world. The Blanket Bay Lodge is in one of the most scenic spots on the planet, Glenorchy, New Zealand, at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu in the South Island region of Otago.

• BEDS There is no shortage of privacy or amenities at Blanket Bay. The property features five lodge rooms, three lodge suites and four chalet suites that could be

converted to become staterooms if even more space is needed. And all the accommodations are situated to make the most of the stunning lake and mountain views. Rates start at $1,015.

• EATS Guests are invited to start their day with a lavish complimentary breakfast — words you don’t see together very often. The most important meal of the day at Blanket Bay includes bacon, eggs, muesli, cereals and freshly made mu ffi ns. For lunch, the Lake View Dining Room restaurant offers a changing daily menu specializing in regional cuisine, with choices ranging from roasted beef fi let to Thai carrot and coconut soup. For a truly special and intimate evening, consider reserving the Wine Cave to sample some of New Zealand’s fi nest wines in a space that accommodates six guests. Or if weather permits, go alfresco on the terrace to take full measure of the gorgeous surroundings.

• EXERCISE New Zealand is a hands-on place that encourages both looking and touching. The Harris Mountains will please the adventure seeker in your family; horse riding and mountain biking can be easily arranged.

• DON’T MISS “Marin residents will appreciate the similarities to Lake Tahoe,” says co-owner Pauline Tusher, but on top of that, “being on a large alpine lake, you have spectacular mountains, glaciers and a national park on your doorstep.” Blanket Bay is also known for the four New Zealand chefs of the year who have worked there, so the cuisine is a must-try.

Outrigger, Fiji Beach Resort Fiji

IT’S TIME tO get the whole family out of the country and into a bure. Outrigger Resorts, the newish, luxury branch of the Hawaii-based hospitality company, has just the spot. Situated on the balmy blue Coral

Coast, this 40-acre beachfront resort with a golf course, hilltop spa and award-winning restaurants resembles a traditional Fijian village. Enter the thatched-roof Fijian bure. Guests can opt for this experience or the more familiar four-walled hotel suite. Either way, the resort is ideal for families with onsite meimei (nannies), kids-eat-free programs and plenty of teen and tot activities.

• BEDS The property offers two types of lodging options. Guests staying in the bures will also get the VIP talai (butler) service, which includes complimentary welcome drinks, guest escorts, personalized tours, access to resort facilities and champagne and canapés delivered every afternoon. Rates start at $429.

• EATS With more than half a dozen options on the property (not counting the bars), the offerings range from the white-tablecloth elegance of Ivi Restaurant (leave the kids with the meimei for the evening) to family fare at

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Tub with a view at New Zealand’s Blanket Bay.

the kid-friendly Vale Ni Kana. For an eclectic taste of Thailand, China and Singapore, try the Baravi Restaurant. For wood-fired pizza and cocktails on the beach, Sundowner Bar is your place, and in true Outrigger style, live music su ff uses the Vakavanua Lounge.

• EXERCISE Kayak or stand-up paddle in the gorgeous lagoon fronting the property. Hiking, golf and swimming are also available. Less extreme athletes can forgo the poolside beverage service and walk from the beach chair to the bar and back again.

• DON’T MISS Find your Zen in the hands of trained Fijian massage therapists. At the award-wining Bebe Spa, choose from the uniquely Fijian bobo technique, using fluid strokes from the hands, elbows and forearms and warm coconut oil, or a warm seashell massage to increase circulation, or possibly a caviar mask, or green coffee body wrap. Or better yet, try them all. m

INTRODUCING MAILANI TOWER

THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN, A LUXURY COLLECTION RESORT

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Built to resemble a Fijian village, the award-winning Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort is ideal for families.

Drinking in the Irish countryside and the Irish whiskey.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY LYNDA BALSLEV

THE DRIVING WAS making me want whiskey. As the oncoming semitruck barely missed hitting me on the narrow Irish road, it was all I could do not to yank the car to the left, which would have sent me careening into one of the centuries-old oak trees lining the shoulder, before ricocheting into the adjacent meadow and quite possibly taking out a sheep or two along the way.

Instead of cursing the truck, I cursed my GPS. The 21stcentury driving companion had been a godsend to this point, serenely navigating me through the hills and dales of central Ireland in my quest to learn about Irish whiskey. No need to fuss with maps — my globally positioning gal Friday patiently explained the lay of the land, thoughtfully gathering her coordinates before commenting (without judgment) that I missed a critical turn or was driving in the wrong direction around a roundabout, while I focused on the business of mastering a stick shift with my left hand and remembering to look up and left for the rear view. Something changed between Tullamore and Mallow. My assumed route as I headed south to County Cork was motorway all the way. M-roads had been my friend until now, as I con fidently zoomed along in my TDI at 120 kilometers an hour, admiring the emerald-olive hues of the rolling landscape punctuated by swatches of brilliant yellow mustard fields, beneath a teetering sky of swirling-dervish clouds. I faithfully heeded my GPS instructions as I departed the Tullamore Distillery, but soon found myself zigzagging through a tangle of country lanes, debatably labeled twoway roads. Views? I’m sure there were plenty, but I was so intent on following my course, swerving past oncoming cars, rounding blind bends, buzzing hedges and crumbling stone walls, I had no idea what the scenery looked like. With too much frequency, a lumbering truck or chugging tractor presented itself, challenging me to pass it on a meager stretch of straight and narrow. That last sip of whiskey I had in Tullamore was a distant memory. I wanted another.

Opener: The Rock of Cashel. This page: The Bison Bar. Opposite from top: Vintage copper pot stills at Jameson Distillery; Jameson sign; a classic whiskey tasting.

How did I arrive in this whiskey-craving predicament?

A self-proclaimed whiskey doubter, I’d recently realized in a moment of self-reflection (that un fl inching by-product of age) that my opinion was completely uninformed — shaped by hazy high school memories colored by poor social choices and tepid seven-and-sevens. Whiskey is fashionable now, enjoying a resurgence in popularity with new creatively crafted cocktails and paired with food. Declaring a categorical dislike of the barley-grain spirit was akin to stating a sweeping dislike of, well, fruit or bread. Whiskey’s flavor and blends are numerous and nuanced, with hints of sweet, spice, wood and smoke, while its history is tinged by wars, feuding clans, bootleggers and famines. If whiskey were a person, I would invite it to dinner to get to know it better. So, I decided to go to Ireland and start a relationship.

Politics, Religion and Whiskey

Bags and ibuprofen packed, I headed off o the source — at least according to the Irish. The origin story for whiskey is somewhat murky in the British Isles. Opinions vary

depending on which side of the sea you sit, and as in politics and religion, there are many points of view — and everyone is right. Distillation methods can be traced as far back as the Middle Ages, with all sides laying claim. The Irish will tell you that their monks introduced whiskey-making to the Scottish highlands, when, following the dissolution of the monasteries in the late Middle Ages, Irish monks became the craft distillers of their era, traveling to Scotland and spreading the spirit love. Meanwhile, in Ireland the Old Kilbeggan Distillery was established as the fi rst licensed distillery in 1757, and from there distilleries were born on both sides of the Irish Sea.

As luck would have it, Ireland proved the perfect place for me to get to know whiskey, thanks to two signi ficant factors that in fluence its brand of spirit. The fi rst is that Irish whiskey is triple distilled, yielding a smooth and clean taste, which is an inviting starting point for novice drinkers. The second is that Ireland has the dubious luck of a consistent rainy and cool climate, which is very conducive to whiskey production — and to whiskey drinking.

And a drink was exactly what I needed by the time I reached Mallow, a provincial market town on the northern edge of County Cork, where I promptly got lost in its labyrinth of streets lined with half-timbered shops and pubs encircling the old Mallow Castle. After a few spins around the center (some intentional, some not), my GPS pulled through and navigated me to the outskirts of town and my destination for the night, Longueville House, a Georgian Heritage mansion perched on a grassy knoll with idyllic views over the sweeping valley to the south.

With relief I relinquished my car to the grassy car park bordering the property’s working farm and said good-night to my GPS. I wheeled my suitcase up to the limestone steps in the company of an a ffable saddleback pig and her two piglets, who trotted along on the opposite side of the fence, designating themselves my unofficial welcome committee. I checked into my second-floor room with a view that would make E.M. Forster envious, then wandered around the extensive grounds, exploring the walled kitchen gardens and orchards. That evening under the watchful eyes of the house’s framed patriarchal O’Callaghan clan adorning the dining room walls, I enjoyed a field-to-table dinner of fresh black-water river salmon and garden-plucked vegetables, before retiring to the drawing room to practice the whiskeytasting techniques I had learned earlier in the day.

Tasting 101

Ensconced in a plush armchair beside the fi re, with more extended family members eyeing me from portraits checkering the walls, I ordered a snifter of Kilbeggan. The snifter is a plump glass with a wide bottom that allows a greater surface area of the whiskey to evaporate and a narrow top that catches its aroma. A little water mixed in helps to open up the flavor of the whiskey, as does warmth — so no ice. I swirled the golden liquid in the glass, releasing its aroma, and took a breath: honey, vanilla, almond. I had a sip without taking in any air, and let the whiskey sit on my tongue, detecting a hint of spice, and then I swallowed: smooth, clean, light and fresh. I took another sip and then another — I was getting very used to this — until my glass was empty, and I called it a night.

The following day I woke refreshed and ready to continue my whiskey tour. First, I needed breakfast — and a proper Irish breakfast at that. I rejoined my portraited dining companions and tucked into a fortifying feast of oatmeal, fruit, scones, eggs, bacon, ham and sausage and tried not to think about my porcine welcome. On my departure the doorman suggested I stop in the village of Blarney en route to Cork, where I could visit the Blarney Castle and give its magical stone a kiss. He explained that the gift of eloquence is bestowed upon those who kiss it, and my ears perked up,

This page: The bar at Dingle Distillery.

Opposite from top: The Longueville House; copper pot still at Teeling Whiskey Company, which is bringing craft distillery back to Dublin.

because I love gifts. He continued to explain that the only way to kiss the stone is to hang upside down at the highest point of the castle in order to reach the lucky rock with an inverted kiss, and I realized I would need a gift to overcome vertigo fi rst to make this happen. Instead, I decided to avert any vertiginous challenges, especially on a full stomach, in preparation for more whiskey tasting at Jameson, the next stop on my tour.

The Jameson Distillery is located in the east Cork town of Midleton, and it’s well worth the trip. The sense of heritage is palpable, with original buildings dating back to 1795, a water wheel that turns to operate the cogs and wheels in a mill building, and a still house, the home of three original copper pot stills — one of them the largest pot remaining in existence, holding up to 31,000 gallons. An impressive tour through the cooperage and warehouse revealed hundreds of barrels under lock and key and fi nished with a comparative tasting between Irish, Scotch and Bourbon whiskeys.

What Is the Difference?

In the simplest of terms, the di fferences between whiskeys are geography, spelling and ingredients. Whiskey is the overarching term, while Scotch whisky (without an “e”) is made in Scotland, and Bourbon whiskey is made in the U.S. Both Irish whiskey and Scotch are made from malted (soaked and germinated) barley or a blend of grains, and Bourbon is distilled from corn. The malted barley in Scotch

is dried over bricks of smoldering peat, which gives it a characteristic smoky aroma. The malted barley in Irish whiskey is kiln-dried and rarely peated (Connemara is Ireland’s only peated whiskey) and has no smoky characteristics. I voted for the smooth and honeyed team and departed Jameson’s an Irish whiskey convert.

The next stop on my whiskey tour was Dublin, but that required a three-hour drive, and I had been tasting whiskey, so I decided to make a night of it in on the southeastern coast. Luckily, there is no shortage of accommodation in the region — from castle deluxe (Castlemartyr Resort) to sump-

tuous country house (Ballymaloe House) to plenty of cozy independent bed-and-breakfasts sprinkled in between. I wanted food fi rst and headed to the Midleton farmers’ market, one of the largest and most famous markets in Ireland, where I ogled elderberries and black currants, farmhouse cheese and heritage meats, pasties and scones, before settling on smok y fi sh cakes and mackerel pâté from Belvelly Smokehouse, the only traditional timber smokehouse in Ireland where fi sh are hung for smoking. From there I drove along increasingly narrowing roads, winding through farmland and thatched-roof villages to the sandy beaches of Ballycotton, before turning north on the coast road. I passed the tiny village of Youghal, a Norman walled port, and arrived in Ardmore, a seaside resort and fi shing village believed to be the oldest Christian settlement in Europe and home to the Cliff ouse, my destination for the night.

The Spirit of Dublin

The following day I headed straight to Dublin, where I bade a fi nal farewell to my car and faithful GPS. Dublin was traditionally the heart of Irish whiskey production. By the 19th century John Jameson and John Power had established Irish whiskey as a formidable export and dozens of distilleries were clustered in a one-mile radius in the city, dubbed the golden triangle. The 20th century took its toll on the industry, in large part to due to wars at home and abroad, American Prohibition and the Great Depression. The number of distillers dwindled and those few that remained merged and eventually moved to Midleton by the midcentury. Dublin’s Old Jameson Distillery was one of the last distilleries to close in the ’70s (it is now an exhaustive whiskey museum), and since then there has not been any whiskey distillation in Dublin — until now.

Distillation methods can be traced as far back as the Middle Ages, with all sides laying claim.

Located in the ancient Newmarket Square, a stone’s throw from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Teeling Whiskey Company is bringing craft distillery back to Dublin. Founded by descendants of Walter Teeling, who set up a craft distillery in Dublin in 1782, Teeling represents the best of new Irish whiskey, with a young, forward-thinking, entrepreneurial spirit balanced by a deep respect for heritage. This spirit is apparent in Teeling’s state-of-the-art distillery and is embodied in its whiskeys, blended by an American microbrewer from Oregon. In the industrial-chic tasting room with oversize keyhole windows overlooking the busy market square, I had a taste of the small-batch whiskey. Vanilla and spice notes mingled with hints of rum from the barrel aging. The flavor was bright, sweet and smooth — the unique Irish character to which I’d grown accustomed . T he Teeling story is an Irish story at heart, one of resurgence, reinvention and adaptation, which captures the spirit of the Irish whiskey industry as a whole. Luckily, my original opinion of whiskey had also been reinvented and adapted, and I can safely say I have learned to love Irish whiskey. My tour may have been a brief sip, but I’ll be back for more. m

IF YOU GO

Distilleries

DINGLE DISTILLERY Located on the west coast of Ireland in County Kerry, the distillery is a small artisan whiskey distillery producing malt and pot still whiskeys since 2012. dingledistillery.com

KILBEGGAN DISTILLERY An hour west of Dublin in County Westmeath, this distillery was built in 1757 and is the oldest continually licensed distillery in Ireland. kilbeggandistillery.com

OLD BUSHMILLS DISTILLERY The classic is located on the beautiful north coast of Country Antrim in Northern Ireland. bushmills.com

TEELING DISTILLERY Located in Newmarket Square, Teeling is Dublin’s first craft distillery to open since the demise of the Irish whiskey industry in the mid-20th century. teelingwhiskey.com

THE JAMESON EXPERIENCE Jameson is located in Midleton, County Cork, east of Cork City, in the old Cork Distilleries Company distillery. jamesonwhiskey.com

TULLAMORE DEW HERITAGE CENTER Located 15 minutes south of the Kilbeggan Distillery in Tullamore, County Offaly, the center is housed in an 1897 bonded warehouse from the original D.E. Williams Distillery in Tullamore. tullamoredew.com

Travel Details

• FLY

Aer Lingus has daily direct flights between SFO and Dublin, aerlingus.com

• STAY

Ballymaloe House — Shangarry, County Cork, ballymaloe.ie

Castlemartyr Resort — Castelmartyr, County Cork, castlemartyrresort.ie

Longueville House — Mallow, County Cork, longuevillehouse.ie

The Cliff House Hotel — Ardmore, County Waterford, thecliffhousehotel.com

The Fitzwilliam Hotel — Dublin City, fitzwilliamhoteldublin.com

The Morrison Hotel — Dublin City, morrisonhotel.ie

Thursday, December 3rd

142 Throckmorton Theatre Mill Valley, California

Advance Tickets available at: The Box Office

142 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley www.throckmortontheatre.org

General Admission: $25 (doors 7:30 p.m.) (includes a CD of the new album)

VIP Tickets: $100 (doors 6: 45 p.m.) (includes food and wine reception courtesy of Heidi Krahling of Insalatas, reserved seating and a CD of the new album).

100% of event proceeds go to ExtraFood.org

For more information, please visit: www.mi chelleschmitt.com

Announcing a holiday benefit concert for ExtraFood.org presented by BMW of San Francisco with her band: Ricky Fataar, George Marinelli, Marc Levine, Anton Patzner, Lewis Patzner & Graham Patzner

Out & About

Calendar

THEATER

NOV 19–DEC

1.866.999.8111,

THEATER

THRU NOV 1 Life

Is a Dream Cutting Ball Theater opens its season with Pedro Calderón’s Life Is a Dream. First published in 1635, the play tells the story of Polish prince Segismundo, who after a brief bout of freedom is recaptured by his

tyrannical father and is convinced his time away was only a dream.

Cutting Ball Theater (SF). 415.525.1205, cuttingball.com

THRU NOV 7 Dogfight: A Love Story Eddie, a young marine, gets more than he bargained for when two buddies bet him to play a

cruel trick on a girl on their last night before going off o war. San Francisco Playhouse (SF). 415.677.9596, sfplayhouse.org

THRU NOV 15 Sail Away High seas comedy comes to 42nd Street Moon. Laugh along as a cruise director falls into an a ffair with one

of her passengers on the Mediterranean. The Eureka Theatre (SF). 415.255.8207, 42ndstmoon.org

THRU NOV 28 Having Cancer Is Hilarious Megan Timpane presents her fi rst solo show, which centers on her real-life experience, following her 22-year-old

self as she is diagnosed with cancer. The Marsh (SF). 415.282.3055, themarsh.org

NOV 5–15 The Broken Knife Inspired by graphic novels like Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman and Brian K. Vaughan’s Saga, the play presents a mythological world at war. ODC Theater (SF).

415.863.9834, odcdance.org

NOV 6 The Scion Brian Copeland brings his trademark humor to this dark true-life story. Marin Center (San Rafael). 415.473.6800, marincenter.org

NOV 10–DEC 6 If/Then This original new musical centers on living in New York today, along with the possibilities of tomorrow. The story simultaneously follows one woman’s two potential life paths. SHN Orpheum Theatre (SF). shnsf.com

NOV 11–14 The Method Gun Performance group Rude Mechs of Austin, Texas, shares a play about the realities of performing and the dangers of public intimacy. Z Space (SF). 866.811.4111, zspace.org

NOV 25–DEC

13 Scrooge in Love

Everyone’s favorite humbug, Ebenezer Scrooge, stars in this follow-up to A Christmas Carol. One year after three ghosts changed his life, his old friends and some new ones are back to help hi m fi nd his lost love, Belle. Eureka Theatre (SF). 415.255.8207, 42ndstmoon.org

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

13 Odysseo Internationally acclaimed entertainment group Cavalia presents an immersive theatrical experience in which horses star alongside riders, acrobats and aerialists, as well as a three-story mountain and real lake. AT&T Park (SF).

cavalia.net

War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.864.3330, sfopera.com

NOV 2 King Diamond

Get your heavy metal fi x with King Diamond, an in fluence for groups like Metallica and Pantera, and whose more than 30-year career is one of the most storied in the genre. The War field (SF). 415.345.0900, thewar fieldtheatre.com

NOV 13–15 Rain

Dance Mill Valley Philharmonic shares its effort to end the drought with a selection of earth-centric songs. Marin Municipal Water District will also recount stories and provide information on Marin’s water. United

Methodist Church (Mill Valley). 415.383.0930, millvalley philharmonic.org

NOV 13 Wonderbread

5 This Bay Area band entertains with a selection of spirited covers that draw crowds of local fans at every concert. Sweetwater Music Hall (Mill Valley). 415.388.1100, sweet watermusichall.com

NOV 14 Spark and Whisper with Brindl Songwriters and collaborators Spark and Whisper share their brand of Northern California folk music. Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, throck mortontheatre.org

NOV 16 Blitzen Trapper Dance and sing along to Blitzen Trapper as they perform well-loved selections from their more than 15-year career. Sweetwater Music Hall (Mill Valley). 415.388.1100, sweetwater musichall.com

NOV 16 The Charlatans UK English rock indie band the Charlatans — composed of lead vocalist Tim Burgess, guitarist Mark Collins, bassist Martin Blunt and keyboardist Tony Rogers — comes to San Francisco to perform hits from its 12 studio albums. Regency Ballroom (SF). the regencyballroom.com

NOV 18–DEC 6 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Richard Wagner sets aside gods and goddesses to tell a touchingly human story about the power of art. When a young singer arrives in a proud German city determined to dazzle the townsfolk and a beautiful woman, his attempts to prove himsel f fi nd sympathy in a wise cobbler-poet. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.864.3330, sfopera.com

NOV 22 Divisa Ensemble The classical notes of the flute, oboe, violin, viola and cello converge as this all-female chamber music quintet plays Tiburon. The group’s

name is derived from divisi, a style indicating that players divide into two or more separate sections. Old St. Hilary’s (Tiburon). 415.435.1853, land markssociety.com

GALLERIES

MARIN

Art Abloom Studio and Gallery Classes for artists. 751 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.256.1112, artabloom.com

Art Works Downtown Fire and Water A juried exhibition showcasing artwork utilizing innovative techniques, materials, subject matter or concepts relating to fire, ater or both, through November 13. 1337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119, art worksdowntown.org

Bubble Street Featuring genres of fantastic art, imaginary realism, neo-Victorian and steampunk. 565 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.339.0506

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

Desta Gallery Ongoing work. 417 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo. 415.524.8932, desta gallery.com

di Rosa Robert Kinmont Works by the conceptual sculptor, who explores the interdependency between humanity and nature, through January 24. 5200 Carneros Hwy, Napa. 707.226.5991, dirosaart.org

Fine Art Etc. Featuring a collection of sculptures and paintings by artists from Northern California and around the world. 686 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.332.1107, finearttc.com

Gallery Route One

Ongoing work. 11101 Hwy One, Point Reyes. 415.663.1347, galleryrouteone.org

Marin Civic Center

Visionary Marin An outside venue show celebrating 88 years of Marin Society of Artists members’ works, through January. 30

Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.454.9561, marinsocietyof artists.org

Mine Gallery Original contemporary art. 1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax. 415.755.4472, gallerymine.com

O’Hanlon Center for the Arts Reimagining Minimalism A juried exhibition, through November 19. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331, ohanloncenter.org

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

Robert Allen Fine Art

Nature Abstracted: Abstract Works on Canvas, Panel and Paper Group exhibition, through November 30. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.2800, robertallenfineart.co

Robert Beck Gallery

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

Mood Indigo by Sally Robertson at the Bolinas and Stinson Beach Open Studios

Robert Green Fine Arts

Between Two Worlds

Work by Charlotte Bernstrom. 154

Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.381.8776, rgfineart.com

Roberta English Art by Cheung Lee, Mayumi Oda, Li Huayi, Ju Ming and Toko Shinoda. 1615 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.331.2975, robertaenglish.com

Rock Hill Gallery

Watercolors by Clem McCarthy, through November 25. 145 Rock Hill Drive, Tiburon. 415.435.9108, ccctiburon.net

Room Art Gallery

Works by both Bay Area artists and major masters, housing the largest collection of Picasso, Chagall and others in Marin County. 86

Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.380.7940, roomartgallery.com

Seager Gray Gallery

Memories From the Back Lot Oil and mixedmedia paintings by Inez Storer, through November 8. 108 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.384.8288, seagergray.com

Smith Andersen North Ongoing work. 20 Greenfield ve, San Anselmo. 415.455.9733, smithandersen north.com

Studio 4 Art Work by local artists, classes and workshops with materials included. 1133 Grant Ave, Novato. 415.596.5546, studio4art.net

The Blissful Gallery Oils, watercolors and prints by painter Emmeline Craig. 3415 Shoreline Hwy,

Stinson Beach, 415.868.2787, emmelinecraig.com

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

SAN FRANCISCO ArtHaus Ongoing work. 411 Brannan St, 415.977.0223, arthaus-sf.com

Caldwell Snyder Gallery

New creations. 341 Sutter St, 415.392.2299, caldwellsnyder.com

Fouladi Projects Fall/ Winter Pop-up Shop

West Coast artists and makers converge to create a holiday pop-up shop, with each festive item inspired by natural materials, November 10–January 2. 1803 Market St, 415.621.2535, fouladiprojects.com

George Lawson Gallery

Five Paintings Works by Brandon Shimmel, through November 14. 315 Potrero Ave, 415.703.4400, georgelawson gallery.com

Gregory Lind Gallery Heights Where the Light Still Lingered Work by Sarah Bostwick. 49 Geary St, 415.296.9661, gregorylindgallery.com

Hackett-Mill Abstract Selections A group exhibition featuring the work of Howard Hodgkins, Hans Hofmann, Joan Mitchell, Manuel Neri and others. 201 Post St, 415.362.3377, hackettmill.com

SPOTLIGHT

Live From

Mill Valley, It’s Tuesday Night

Now in its second decade, the famed comedy showcase is as popular as ever.

MARK PITTA & FRIENDS , the popular show created by comedian Mark Pitta and Throckmorton Theatre founder Lucy Mercer, is back with a new name, Tuesday Night Live, and a fresh cast of emerging comics in the same supportive atmosphere the Mill Valley club is well known for. We got a chance to chat with one of these up-and-comers, San Francisco–based comic Kate Willett. Willett opened for Margaret Cho at the Castro Theatre in October and

Position that was recently voted

out her and other talents every Tuesday at the Throck.

Where are some of your favorite places to perform around the Bay Area? I love Lost Weekend Video. My weekly show there has been the highlight of my time doing comedy in the Bay Area. Lost Weekend Video is a video store with a small theater in the basement. It’s a great chance to work out new bits and see other comics work out their most raw and original material. I also love the Throckmorton Theatre on Tuesdays and the Punch Line. The San Francisco Punch Line is a great club, one of the best in the country in my opinion. It’s a great size and feels intimate even though it can hold a couple hundred people, and the audiences are smart and comedy literate.

Advice for aspiring comics? I try to get up every single night, two or three times if possible. I do about 400 shows a year. This has helped me get better way faster than I would have if I was doing comedy less often. I also run five shows. Running shows is great. It’s guaranteed stage time, and it can help you connect with the comics you respect.

What kind of message are you trying to convey onstage? I say this as a joke sometimes, but I also mean it — I’m trying to convey that women are people. Women are still objectified all the time and I’m trying to “subjectify” myself instead. I’m the protagonist in my own stories, even stories in which women are traditionally an object, which is I think why I’m drawn to talking about sexuality frequently.

Subjectify? I describe my own subjective experience of being a woman in this culture, everything from pursuing a career in an industry that is still male dominated to how it feels to date in a culture that often asks young women to be “chill” instead of the passionate, caring, intelligent people we are. I think, as a young woman, it’s easy to feel like you need to be beautiful and low maintenance in order to be lovable and acceptable to your society and the people you want to be intimate with, rather than feeling that it’s fine to just be a human being with the full range of human experiences. It’s not too much to not want to be called “dude” by a guy you love.

runs a showcase with three other comics called The Mission

the best weekly show in San Francisco by Courting Comedy. Check

throckmortontheatre.org KASIA PAWLOWSKA

John Berggruen Gallery

An exhibit celebrating the gallery’s 45th anniversary. 228 Grant Ave, 415.781.4629, berggruen.com

Meyerovich Gallery

Grisha Bruskin: Paintings and Sculpture Works by the artist, through December 31. 251 Post St, 415.421.7171, meyerovich.com

Pier 24 Photography Art from the Pilara Foundation collection. Pier 24, 415.512.7424, pier24.org

Rena Bransten Projects

New works by Nobuyuki Takahashi, November 6–January 2. 1639 Market St, 415.982.3292, rena branstengallery.com

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

MUSEUMS

MARIN Bay Area Discovery Museum Healthyville Explore nutrition , fitness and the human body in this interactive exhibit, through October (Sausalito). 415.339.3900, baykidsmuseum.org

Bolinas Museum Getting Here From There An exhibition of photographs tracing the fascinating history of traveling to the unique

community of Bolinas, through January 3 (Bolinas). 415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org

Marin Museum of the American Indian The First Ambassadors A look at long-forgotten Native American history told through rare lithographs depicting courageous and distinguished tribal leaders (Novato). 415.897.4064, marinindian.com

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Fall National Juried Exhibition: Drawing A juried exhibition, through December 6 (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.org

BAY AREA Asian Art Museum Looking East: How Japan Inspired Monet, Van Gogh, and Other Western Artists, through February 7 (SF). 415.581.3711, asianart.org

California Academy of Sciences Enjoy an adults-only experience after 6 p.m. every Thursday. (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org

Conservatory of Flowers Garden Railway: 1915 Pan-Pacific The conservatory’s newest garden railway exhibition celebrates the centennial of San Francisco’s historic world’s fair, November 12–April 10 (SF).

415.831.2090, con servatoryofflowers.org

Contemporary Jewish Museum NEAT: New Experiments in Art and Technology This unique exhibit features nine Bay Area artists, each of whom has been commissioned to make a new piece or update an older artwork that demonstrates how digital programming is a central tool for artist creativity, through January 17 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org

de Young Jewel City: Art from San Francisco’s PanamaPacific International Exhibition The landmark exhibition at the de Young reassembles more than 200 works by major American

and European artists, most of which were on display during PPIE, through January 10 (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 Luminous Worlds: British Works on Paper, 1760–1900, through November 29 (SF). 415.750.3600, legionofhonor.org

Museum of Craft and Design Constructed Communication: Nakayama, Sinbondit, Venom In support of the museum’s Visible Transparency Project, this group exhibition

constitutes a collection of four artists who will communicate publicly through their work, through March 27 (SF).

415.773.0303, sfmcd.org

Oakland Museum of California Michelle Dizon: Drifting Islands The artist explores memory, loss and experiences of displacement, through November 8 (Oakland). 510.318.8400, museumca.orgs

San Francisco Botanical Garden Mesoamerican Cloud Forest Bloom Stroll through cloud forest plant communities typical from southern Mexico to Panama and throughout Central America (SF). 415.661.1316, sf botanicalgarden.org

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Kara Women

Speak Works by fi ne art photographer, videographer and sound artist Jane Baldwin, centering on the people of Ethiopia’s Omo River Valley and Kenya’s Lake Turkana, through December 6 (Sonoma). svma.org

The Walt Disney Family Museum Disney and Dali: Architects of Imagination Works depicting the trajectory of an unlikely creative alliance, through January 3 (SF). 415.345.6800, waltdisney.org

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Murmur Wall Designed by Future Cities Lab, the Murmur Wall is a unique combination of sculpture,

light and data collection along the wall at the main entrance to YBCA, through May 31, 2017 (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

EVENTS

NOV 6–7 Art Angels Fair This fundraising weekend benefits a number of outlets — from Ritter House to Camp Create — beginning with Bubbles and Bach, a concert and champagne celebration featuring the American Bach Soloists, followed by a premiere party and an all-day arts fair and boutique. St. Stephen’s Church (Belvedere). 415.435.4501, art angelsfair.org

NOV 7 Hospice by the Bay Anniversary Ball Hospice by the Bay celebrates its 40th anniversary with this year’s gala, themed Puttin’ on the Glitz. Revel in a red-carpet entrance, sparkling cocktail lounge, silent auction, dining and dancing — all to benefit the organization. Marin Center Exhibit Hall (San Rafael). 415.526.5500, hospice bythebay.org

NOV 7–8 Wine and Food Affair Head to wine country for a full weekend of wine and food pairings. All participating Wine Road wineries will have a recipe for a favorite dish, which they will prepare both days for you to sample, paired with the ideal wine. Various

locations (Sonoma County). 800.723.6336, wineroad.com

NOV 14 Perfect Pairings: A Night of Food, Wine, Music and Stories of Inspiration

Enjoy an evening of food, wine, Latin music and inspiring stories with host Spencer Christian of ABC-TV. Chateau St. Jean (Kenwood). 415.453.3800, bbbsnorthbay.org

NOV 20 Halleck Creek Ranch Annual Fundraising Dinner Head to Halleck Creek for an evening of fi ne wine, dinner, music and auctions, all to support the organization’s Therapeutic Horseback Riding Programs for youth and adults with special needs. Halleck

Creek Ranch (Nicasio). 415.662.2488, halleck creekranch.org

NOV 21–DEC 20

The Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party Step back into Victoria-era London to celebrate the season in true Dickensian fashion. The lively streets are complete with holiday carolers, pleasant aromas, one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts and even Fezziwig’s dance hall. Cow Palace (SF). dickensfair.com

NOV 27 San Rafael Parade of

Lights and Winter Wonderland

The 36th annual Parade of Lights features a holiday marketplace with arts and crafts, live entertainment, children’s activities,

free snow sledding, a tree lighting ceremony, and the Parade of Lights with Santa and his friends. Downtown (San Rafael). sres productions.com

FILM

NOV 5 Most Likely to Succeed The featurelength documentary Most Likely to Succeed examines the history of education, revealing the growing shortcomings of our current school model, and offers a plan to empower children to succeed in an increasingly demanding and innovative 21stcentury world. This screening will benefit YES in San Anselmo. Drake High School Theater (San Anselmo). speaktomeevents.com

NOV 7 Hamlet National Theatre London presents its version of Hamlet, viewed live from the comfort of your Marin theater seat. Enjoy a starring performance by Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch. Lark Theater (Larkspur). 415.924.5111, larktheater.net

NOV 11–15 Napa Valley Film Festival Take a trip to the walkable towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga to view more than 125 independent fi lms alongside more than 30 0 fi lmmakers and fi lm industry guests, 150 wineries, a slew of chefs and much more. Various locations (Napa Valley). 707.226.7500, napavalley fi lmfest.org

NOV 21 Lulu Artist and director William Kentridge puts his own spin on Alban Berg’s femme fatale who shatters lives, including her own. Presented by the Metropolitan Opera, as seen live from Larkspur. Lark Theater (Larkspur). 415.924.5111, larktheater.net

NATURE WALKS & TALKS

ONGOING Free First Wednesdays Visit the Bay Area Discovery Museum the fi rst Wednesday of every month for an outing full of exploration and fun. Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito). 415.339.3900, baykidsmuseum.org

ONGOING Sunday Hikes on Mount Tam

Cap off our weekend with a three- to fivemile group hike up Mount Tamalpais. Each trek is led by a Friends of Mount Tam volunteer. Various locations (Mill Valley). 415.258.2410, friendsofmttam.org

NOV 9 Gloria Steinem

Women’s rights activist

Gloria Steinem began her illustrious career with the founding of Ms. Magazine in 1971, providing a platform to discuss political and cultural issues from a female point of view. She comes to San Francisco to discuss her forthcoming memoir My Life on the Road with poet and educator Chinaka Hodge. Nourse Theater (SF).

415.563.2463, cityarts.net

NOV 9–12 Jill Bolte

Taylor Harvardtrained and published neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor discusses her New York Times best-selling memoir

My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist’s Personal Journey, which describes the severe brain hemorrhage she had in 1996. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 650.340.7004, speakerseries.net

NOV 9 Time to Lead on Climate A group of powerful speakers at the state, national and global levels discuss climate change.Dominican University (San Rafael). leadonclimate.org

NOV 10 Zahid Sardar

The design journalist created a library vignette to celebrate his new book In & Out of Paris: Gardens of Secret Delights, featuring Room and Board shelving, a thicket of side tables and a custom hand-hewn pendant. Room and Board (SF). 415.252.9280, room andboard.com

NOV 18

Patti Smith

The artist, musician and author joins Dave Eggers to discuss her new book M Train, which she describes as “a road map to my life.” Dominican University (San Rafael). 415.927.0960, bookpassage.com

Slide Ranch, where all ages can have food and healthy eating questions answered, help bake bread, learn about di fferent food traditions, explore organic gardens and more. Slide Ranch (Mill Valley). 415.381.6155, slideranch.org

discusses whether our brains are hardwired or live-wired — continually shaping and shaped by our reality — in his forthcoming book The Brain: The Story of You Nourse Theater (SF). 415.563.2463, cityarts.net

NOV

17 Women of Industry Luncheon

Female business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs of Marin come together to recognize San Rafael’s exemplary businesswomen. Peacock Gab Clubhouse (San Rafael). 415.454.4163, srchamber.com/ womenofi ndustry

NOV 19 Nutrition for a Healthy, Vibrant, Beautiful You Sonya Angelone discusses healthy aging, the various health concerns facing women and the crucial role of nutrition as we get older. Community Center (Mill Valley). speak tomeevents.com

NOV 21 Give Thanks to Food Family Farm Day

Grab your family and enjoy a Thanksgivingthemed farm day at

NOV 22 Art Auction Survey and purchase local art at this auction also featuring music, food and beverages. Claudia Chapline Gallery (Stinson Beach). 415.868.2308, artcontemporary marin.com

NOV 23 The New Science of the Brain: Unlocking the World’s Most Complex Machine Neuroscientist and best-selling author David Eagleman

NOV 27–29 Bolinas Stinson Beach Open Studios Celebrate the holiday weekend with visits to local artists and craftspeople in the studios where they create. More than 20 artists working in mediums including painting, ceramics, textiles, photography and more are participating. Various locations (Stinson Beach). coastalmarin artists.com

Dine

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

• INSALATA’S Mediterranean Award-winning chef Heidi Krahling offers Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes prepared with delicious produce and artisan meats. 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.457.7700, insalatas.com s $$$ s C LD BR

CORTE MADERA

BENISSIMO Italian “Benissimo” means “really, really good” in Italian. Aside from the daily 4 to 6 p.m. happy hour in the large remodeled fullbar area (drinks $3 to $5, small plates $5 to $7.50), the menu offers a large selection of pizza, pasta and large plates, like cioppino, fresh fi shes of the day, T-bone steaks and the signature Benissimo Burger or portobello burger. Vegetarian and gluten-free items are also available. Stop by for an early dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. or anytime on Sundays for a fourcourse menu for only $23. 18 Tamalpais Dr, 415.927.2316, benissimos.com s $$$ s D º

BEST LIL’ PORKHOUSE

American For a selection of authentic Southern appetizers, smoked ribs, pulled pork, outstanding wings, sliders and homemade barbecue sauce, head to this barbecue joint just off Highway 101. The vibe is honky-tonk, and the bar boasts two pool tables and several televisions always tuned into the latest sporting events. Opt for a “Stina,” a

pomegranate/jalapeño margarita. 60 Madera Blvd, 415.927.7427, bestlilporkhouse.com s $$ s C LD BR º

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 buffalo milk gelato from Double 8 Dairy of West Marin. Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.1104, bluebarngourmet.com b $$ s ∞ 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 $$ s ∞ C LD º

BY MIMI TOWLE

Chocolate Hazelnut Napoleon

BRICK & BOTTLE

California Seasonal selections made with local ingredients are the specialty here, with service also available for private parties and catered events. Enjoy signature dishes like orzo mac ’n’ cheese with smoked Gouda and local favorites like petrale sole and tomato-braised short ribs. The restaurant also has one of the best happy hours in town. 55 Tamal Vista Blvd, 415.924.3366, brickandbottle.com s $$$ s ∞ C D º

IL FORNAIO Italian

This upscale Italian restaurant franchise’s menu offers, aside from the pizzas and pastas, a variety of salads and carb-free entrées. 223 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.4400, ilfornaio.com s $$ s ∞ C LD BR

LA MAISON DE LA REINE Vietnamese

Enjoy family-style Vietnamese dishes at this lovely restaurant, located in the Town Center. The crunchy cabbage chicken salad with peanuts, fresh spring rolls and combinations of pho are popular picks. 346 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.0288, lamaison delareine.com b $$ s ∞ C LD

MARIN JOE’S Italian

This Marin mainstay has been around for over 50 years. Choose from a menu of soups, salads, seafood, mesquite-grilled or sautéed meats and a plethora of pasta options guaranteed to satisfy. For a fun addition to your dining experience, order the Caesar salad — the server will prepare the dressing at your table. Not looking for a meal?

Enjoy a drink and hear local musicians at the well-known piano bar. 1585 Casa Buena Dr, 415.924.2081, 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 ∞ C LD º

PIG IN A PICKLE

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

THE COUNTER

California/American

Customers can build their own salads and burgers with fresh ingredients. Burgers are made with allnatural Angus beef, turkey, chicken or bison. Gluten-free options and a vegan veggie burger are available. The restaurant also has patio seating, an airy kick-back vibe, and a popular happy hour (give the adult

milkshake a try!). 201

Corte Madera Town Ctr 415.924.7000, thecounterburger.com s $$ s ∞ LD º

THREE BIRDS WINE BAR California This oneroom bar and wine shop features more than 20 options by the glass and a selection of bottles to take home. Enjoy an array of cheese and charcuterie in addition to other bar snacks in the comfortable lounge. 207 Corte Madera Ave, 415.927.9466, three birdswinebar.com b $$ ∞ º

VEGGIE GRILL Vegan/ Vegetarian Veggie Grill is a fast-casual restaurant chain that celebrates the veggie by offering a variety of hot sandwiches and burgers, entree salads, bowls, home-style plates, shareable sides, organic teas and housemade desserts prepared with vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts. 100

Corte Madera Town Center, 415.945.8954, veggiegrill.com b $ s ∞ LD

FAIRFAX

123 BOLINAS California

This Fairfax spot was created by four friends wanting to showcase seasonal fare in a relaxing, intimate environment. Try locally brewed beer, smallproduction 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 ∞ D º

FRADELIZIO’S Italian Fradelizio’s blends

Northern Italian cuisine with Californiainspired healthy fare using the freshest

ingredients possible. 35 Broadway Blvd, 415.459.1618, fradelizios.com b $$$ s LD BR

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 ∞ 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 ∞ C LD º

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 Rd, 415.258.4520, sorellacaffe.co b $$$ s D

GREENBRAE

JASON’S California

Head to Jason’s for seafood dishes with an Asian and Italian fl air. Try the fi sherman stew or miso-glazed Chilean sea bass. 300 Drakes Landing Rd, 415.925.0808, jasons restaurant.com s $$$ s ∞ C LD

KENTFIELD

HALF DAY CAFE

American Tucked away in a setting of intertwining ivy and large open windows, this cafe is the perfect breakfast nook and is also open for brunch and lunch. The menu includes coffee drinks, pastries and much more. Enjoy a casual meal inside or out on the patio. 848 College Ave, 415.459.0291, halfdaycafe.com b $$ s ∞ BL BR

LARKSPUR

BELCAMPO MEAT CO. American The goods at this meatery are delivered from the certi fied-organic Belcampo Farms near Mount Shasta, dedicated to practicing a holistic approach to pasture management. Try the classic grilled items, like the roasted tri-tip sandwich or the sloppy joe. Marin Country Mart, 2405 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.448.5810, belcampomeatco.com b $$ ∞ LD BR

EL HUARACHE LOCO

Mexican The menu has gained quite a following for the authentic Mexico City dishes. From mini huaraches (fi lled corn masa cakes) to the foot-long huarache with two salsas, crema, queso fresco

and two toppings of your choice, you’re sure to get a true taste of a homemade Mexican meal. Marin Country Mart, 1803 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.925.1403, huaracheloco.com b $ s ∞ BLD

EMPORIO RULLI

Italian Renowned for its Northern Italian specialties and treats, the Larkspur location (there are three others) is a favored spot for lunch as well as coffee and a sweet treat. 464 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7478, rulli.com $$ s ∞ 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 and made with Glaum eggs from the South Bay. 25 Ward St, 415.891.8577, farmhouselocal.com b $$ s ∞ BL

FARMSHOP California

Located in the Marin Country Mart, Farmshop Marin has been recognized by the San Francisco Chronicle as a Top 100 restaurant in the Bay Area for the second year in a row. Opened in 2013, it’s a stone’s throw from the Larkspur Landing ferry dock. The private dining room and lounge area can accommodate a wealth of functions, from small gatherings, business meetings and presentations to cocktail parties. Up to 60 seated

guests or 80 standing can be accommodated.

Marin Country Mart, 2233 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.755.6700, farmshopca.com

s $$$ s ∞ C LD BR

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 (4 to 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close, Monday to Friday), most priced under $6. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331, leftbank.com

s $$$ s ∞ 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 ∞ 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 ∞ C D

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 $$$ ∞ LD BR º

BOO KOO Asian

Authentic Asian street food for $10 or less. The restaurant offers options for every eater—vegans, glutenfrees, vegetarians and carnivores. Popular items include chicken pho, vegan summer rolls, pad thai and five-spice pork satay, all made with organic, locally sourced veggies and proteins. 25 Miller Ave, 415.888.8303, eatbookoo.com b $ s ∞ LD

BUCKEYE ROADHOUSE

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

BUNGALOW 44

American One of Mill Valley’s neighborhood hot spots, featuring contemporary California comfort food, signature cocktails, fi ne wine, and one-dollar oysters from

5 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Check out the three outdoor fi re pits for a night out with friends. 44 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500, bungalow44.com s $$$ s ∞ C D

CAFE DEL SOUL

California Healthy options become addicting ones at this Tam Valley eatery. Once you stop in for the deliciously fresh Hummus Yummus wrap, you’ll have to return to sample the Chipotle Sunrise Rice Bowl. A casual lunch spot and great for takeout, Cafe del Soul now offers a range of quinoa options. 247 Shoreline Hwy, 415.388.1852, cafedelsoul.net $ s ∞ LD

CANTINA Mexican

The popular family restaurant serves traditional Mexican fare including soups, salads, sandwiches and sizzling fajitas in lunch-size portions and at lunchsize prices. An outdoor fi re pit provides the option of alfresco dining, or take in the lively

atmosphere indoors. Stop by for drinks and appetizers Monday to Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. 651 E. Blithedale, 415.381.1070, thecantina.com s $$$ s ∞ C LD BR º

DIPSEA CAFE Comfort

This longtime breakfast spot has been serving up tasty pancakes and egg dishes with homemade biscuits since 1986. Try a biscuit with a poached egg and sausage or with just plain butter. Lunch specialties include BLTs, tuna melts and generous Cobb salads; enjoy Greek-inspired dinners in the later hours. 200 Shoreline Hwy, 415.381.0298, dipseacafe.com b $$ s ∞ BL

EL PASEO American

The Marin chophouse continues to impress as the years pass — the restaurant itself has been around since 1947. Its menu reflects the elegant setting, with offerings like roasted bone marrow, crispy duck wings and the El Paseo short rib.

17 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0741, elpaseomillvalley.com b $$ ∞ C D

FRANTOIO

RISTORANTE Italian

Known for its in-house olive press, superior olive oil and excellent Italian cuisine, this spot is a great choice for an intimate dinner, celebration or anything in between. 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 $$$ ∞ C LD º

GRILLY’S Mexican 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. 493 Miller Ave, 415.381.3278, grillys.com b $ s ∞ C BLD BR

HARMONY Chinese Enjoy a lighter take on Chinese at this

restaurant, nestled in the Strawberry Village. The barbecue pork bun is fi lled with housemade roasted meat in a savory sauce, and fresh mussels are accented with red chili and Thai basil. Pair your pick with wine, beer or tea. Be sure to check out the weekday lunch special for an excellent deal. Strawberry Village, 415.381.5300, harmony restaurantgroup.com b $$ s LD

INDIA PALACE Indian

Known as “that great restaurant in the Travelodge,” India Palace is a favorite with the takeout crowd; eating on site is also a treat. 707 Redwood Hwy, 415.388.3350, india palacemillvalley.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. If there are too many

unsupervised kids for a peaceful meal, takeout is easy too. If you stay, grab a selection of hot sauce bottles from the wall and fi nd your perfect match. 382 Miller Ave, 415.383. 8164, joestacolounge.com b $$ s ∞ BLD

KITCHEN SUNNYSIDE

American This brunch stop brings some gourmet to your morning with options like Dungeness crab hash, mascarpone-stu ffed 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

MILL VALLEY BEERWORKS American

Known for handcrafted beers, imported and local microbrews and house-made kombucha and root beer, this popular downtown brewery is also a full-blown restaurant. Choose from a large selection of small plates, including king oyster mushrooms, roasted potatoes and grilled squid, and a small list of large portions like con fit rabbit. 173 Throckmorton Ave, 415.888.8218, mill valleybeerworks.com b $$$ D BR

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 ∞ C LD BR

MOLINA California

Chef/proprietor Todd Shoberg’s cooking focuses on wood-fi red, California coastal cuisine. The daily rotating menu features items cooked in the famed Alan Scott oven and 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 $$$ ∞ D BR

PIAZZA D’ANGELO

Italian It’s always a party at this longstanding hot spot. A great place to meet up with friends for a fresh plate of pasta, or make some new friends at the bar. The menu is known for creative, seasonal dishes like the stu ffed veal loin with wild mushrooms and house-made mozzarella. 22 Miller Ave, 415.388.2000, piazzadangelo.com s $$ s ∞ C LD BR º

PIZZA ANTICA

Italian This Italianinspired restaurant in Strawberry Village offers much more than impeccably prepared thin-crust pizzas.

Fire Roasted Bigeye Tuna at Sushi Ran, Sausalito

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

THE PLANT CAFE

California One of San Francisco’s favorite organic cafes has found a home north of the Golden Gate. The Plant offers healthy food made from local, organic ingredients. Stop by for a California-inspired meal, raw organic juice, a diet-supplementing smoothie or a delicious dessert. Strawberry Village Shopping Center, 415.388.8658, theplantcafe.com b $$ s ∞ BL BR

PRABH INDIAN

KITCHEN Indian Owned and operated by the Singh family, this restaurant is dedicated to serving healthy, organic and sustainable food, including gluten-free and vegan options. Dishes include chicken pakora, vegetable biryani and basil garlic nan. Try the thali menu (offered at lunch), a selection of several Indian dishes served at once. 24 Sunnyside Ave, 415.384.824, prabhindiankitchen.com b $$ s ∞ LD

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

415.381.8400, robatagrill.com b $$ s LD

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 ∞ BL BR

SOL FOOD Puerto Rican

This Marin favorite has opened in Mill Valley, still serving up everyone’s favorite Puerto Rican cuisine. The line can get long, but the food is well worth it. 401 Miller Ave, 415.380.1986, solfoodrestaurant.com $$ s ∞ BLD

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 chicken sliders with gingery cabbage slaw and vegan Thai spring rolls with sweet-and-sour sauce.

19 Corte Madera Ave, 415.388.3850, sweet watermusichall.com s $$ s ∞ 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

Holiday Comfort

THE HOLIDAY SEASON often fi nds us cozied up with home-cooked meals or, should we hit the town, chatting with regulars at a warm and friendly local bar, like the one at Bungalow 44. The bedimmed yet lively Mill Valley eatery — a sister to county favorites Buckeye Roadhouse and Bar Bocce — has been popular with locals since its opening in 2005, serving up plates of California comfort cuisine in equally comfy leather banquettes. In 2012, chef Michael Pihl took the reins. Pihl, who moved to the Bay Area from Arizona at age 14, began cooking at Sonoma’s The Girl and The Fig fresh out of high school, then relocated to San Francisco to try his hand in citycentric kitchens. It was then he really fell in love with the art. After a two-year stint at Cyrus in Healdsburg — where he began what he calls his “formal training” under chef Douglas Keane — he further honed his craft at Michael Mina in Union Square. At Bungalow, he says, “I love cooking for our loyal, food-savvy regulars who are open to new and exciting seasonal items and are willing to branch out and try something they normally wouldn’t.” Asked for a slightly simpler dish to add depth to this year’s Thanksgiving spread, he presented this take on a beloved standby: Black Garlic Mash. bungalow44.com CALIN VAN PARIS

Black Garlic Mash

SERVES 6

Ingredients

5 large Yukon gold potatoes

Salt and pepper to taste

1 head of black garlic, peeled

½ pound butter

1 quart heavy cream

To Prepare

1 Scrub, peel and quarter potatoes.

2 In a large pot, cover potatoes with cool water and add a pinch of salt. Bring potatoes to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and continue to simmer until tender. Strain excess water. 3 Using a food mill or ricer, mash the peeled black garlic (a type of caramelized garlic), followed by the potatoes. 4 Place pot — now containing mashed garlic and potatoes — back on the stove on low heat. 5 Add butter and stir before adding cream to achieve desired consistency. 6 Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Chef Michael Pihl shares Bungalow 44’s secret to marvelous mashed potatoes.

Black garlic mashed potatoes are paired with a wood-grilled pork chop, guanciale braised kale and mission figs.

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 ∞ C LD

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 ∞ LD

URBAN REMEDY Juice

With a selection of juices, snacks and bowls including plenty of gluten-free, grain-free, and low-glycemic-index options, this is a popular stop. Raw desserts round things out. Try the namesake salad or give the cashew milk with cinnamon and vanilla a shot to see what Urban Remedy is all about. 15 E Blithedale Ave, 415.383.5300, urbanremedy.com $$ ∞ BLD

VASCO Italian Whether you’re at a table, the bar or the back counter, you can expect an intimate and tasty dining experience in this one-room trattoria. Try one of the pasta dishes or thincrust wood-fi red pizzas. 106 Throckmorton Ave, 415.381.3343, vasco millvalley.com s $$ s D

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 ∞ 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 ∞ C LD º

CHIANTI CUCINA

Italian This cozy eatery features an array of Italian and American choices, including a long list of pastas; try the house-made ravioli cooked up by chef Edgar DeLon. 7416 Redwood Hwy, 415.878.0314, chiantinovato.com b $$$ s ∞ D º

GARDEN BISTRO

Mediterranean Fresh, local ingredients combine in dishes that represent Mediterranean cuisine. The appetizer sampler includes dolmas, falafel, baba ghanoush, pita, tomato tahini and cucumber mint dipping sauce. 333 Enfrente Rd, 415.883.9277, gardenbistronovato.com b $$ s ∞ C LD

HILLTOP 1892 California

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

Beauty. Simplicity. Creativity. The elegance of clean, modern design. Free gift-wrapping. Attentive, experienced sales staff. All this plus thousands of handcrafted designer gifts for your home and tabletop, wearable art, jewelry, and much more await you at Terrestra in downtown Mill Valley. Featuring the largest-in-USA selection of fine leather goods from Mywalit of Lucca, Italy.

‘‘Wish I could skip the shopping crowds this season!’’

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

LEFT COAST DEPOT

American Located in Old Town Novato, this eatery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menu items include sticky ribs, roasted beet and cauli flower salad and old-fashioned meatloaf. Ask your server about the nightly threecourse Depot Dinner Meal. 807 Grant Ave, 415.897.7707, leftcoastdepot.com b $$ s ∞ BLD

MARVIN’S RESTAURANT

American Voted “Best Breakfast in Novato,” this spot is known for serving up generous portions of Americanstyle breakfast and lunch fare at a great value. The corned beef hash, benedicts and superb service attract a consistent crowd all year round. 1112 Grant Ave, 415.892.4482 $ s ∞

RICKEY’S RESTAURANT & BAR

American Besides a fullservice restaurant and bar (with banquet and meeting rooms), this comfort food bastion offers poolside dining and a garden patio overlooking green lawns. Visit during summer from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. for live jazz with your meal. 250 Entrada Dr, 415.883.9477, rickeysrestaurant.com s $$ s ∞ 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 ∞ BLD BR

SMASHBURGER

American This burger joint invented, and makes use of, a patented smashing tool that turns a fresh (never frozen) certi fied Angus beef meatball into a burger patty while it’s on a hot buttered grill. Pair that burger with a Häagen-Dazs milkshake and a side of haystack onion rings. 7320 Redwood Blvd, 415.408.6560, smashburger.com b $ s ∞ LD

THE SPEAKEASY

American There’s nothing like the comfort of a solid burger and beer when you’re kicking back and watching the game, and the Speakeasy provides you with just that. In addition to the 10 beers on tap, you can go beyond traditional pub grub with treats like a deconstructed salmon salad. 504 Alameda del Prado, 415.883.7793, thespeakeasynovato.com b º

TOAST American

Toast Novato features outdoor dining and contemporary architecture by Stanley Saitowitz. The spacious restaurant is ideal for large parties and families looking for generous portions of comfort food. 5800 Nave Dr, 415.382.1144, toastnovato.com b $$ s BLD

ROSS

MARCHE AUX FLEURS

French A local favorite known for cuisine showcasing locally farmed produce, wild and fresh seafood and free-range meats prepared with an artisan’s touch, accompanied by a lengthy wine and beer list (bacon, wine and beer are available for sale). Thursday night is hamburger night; requesting your burger with your reservation is recommended (quantities are limited). 23 Ross Common, 415.925.9200, marcheauxfleur restaurant.com b $$ s ∞ D

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

COMFORTS CAFÉ

American Established in 1986, Comforts has a cozy sit-down patio and serves breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. A large take-out section offers fresh bakery items, seasonal salads, soups, sandwiches and even entrees for dinner at home. Besides the famous and popular Chinese chicken salad, other winners are the stu ffed pecan-crusted French toast , fl avorful scrambles and wonton soup. 335 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.9840, comfortscafe.com b $$ s ∞ BL BR

FLOUR CRAFT BAKERY

California The artisan pastries, fresh bread, desserts, specialoccasion cakes and lunch items are all gluten- and peanut-free, with dairy-free and vegan options available. Customer favorites include the cacao nib & walnut coffee cake, flourless hazelnut fudge brownies, and the signature granolas. 702 San Anselmo Ave, 415.453.3100, flourcraftbakery.com $ s ∞ BL

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. 636 San Anselmo Ave, 415.256.9884, lappartresto.com b $$$ s ∞ LD BR

MARINITAS Mexican

The sister restaurant of Insalata’s continues to flourish as a bastion of creative Latin cuisine in Marin. This is not your typical south-ofthe-border spot. The festive atmosphere and funky decor complement the excellent food for a classy, lively experience. This place gets packed, so make reservations. 218 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.454.8900, marinitas.net s $$ s LD BR

MH 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 ∞ BL BR

PIZZALINA Italian

Pizzas are handmade and cooked in a wood oven; other classic Italian items include shrimp risotto and a burrata antipasto dish. Menus change daily according to the seasonal markets but always feature salads, antipastos, house-made pastas and main dishes. 914 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.256.9780, pizzalina.com b $$ s ∞ LD º

TACO JANE’S Mexican

Named after the owner’s mother, this casual, colorful place welcomes the whole family. Don’t miss out on Jane’s handmade agave margarita or grilled plantains with crema. 21 Tamalpais Ave, 415.454.6562, tacojanes.com s $$ s ∞ LD BR

VALENTI & CO. Italian

This bright and cozy space is the ideal environment for authentic Italian dishes made with local ingredients. A seat at the chef’s table gives a prime view of the open kitchen. 337 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.7800, valentico.com b $$$ D

SAN RAFAEL

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 ∞ LD º

ARIZMENDI BAKERY

California A workerowned bakery cafe, Arzimendi prides itself on high-quality local ingredients. Visit any time of day for coffee and pastries, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and thincrust sourdough artisan pizza. 1002 Fourth St, 415. 456.4093, arizmendisanrafael.com $ s ∞ BLD BR

BEST LIL’ PORKHOUSE

American For a selection of authentic Southern appetizers, smoked ribs, pulled pork, outstanding wings, sliders and homemade barbecue sauce, head to this barbecue joint just off Highway 101. The vibe is honky-tonk and the bar boasts two pool tables and several televisions always tuned into the latest sporting events. Opt for a “Stina,” the famous pomegranate/jalapeño margarita. 2042 Fourth St, 415.457.7675, bestlilporkhouse.com s $$ s C LD BR º

FENIX California An intimate live-music venue in the heart of downtown San Rafael, Fenix features globally inspired California cuisine with a Southern French twist. Dishes like fried green tomatoes or 72-hour sous-vide short ribs, accompanied by a glass from the extensive wine list, defi ne the experience. The menu is guided by Neo Soul, the healthy modern soul food approach that imparts the rich fl avors of Southern food without all the “bad” calories. 919 Fourth St, 415.813.5600, fenixlive.com s $$$ s C BLD BR º

once around

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 great selection of both Italian and California wines by the glass. Don’t leave without trying the limoncello. 901 A St, 415.454.8080, ildavide.net s $$$ s ∞ C LD

JOHNNY DOUGHNUTS

Breakfast The fresh doughnuts are handmade in small batches with local dairy products in the dough and fi llings. Stop by the shop or have the food truck come to you. 1617 Fourth St, 415.450.1866, johnnydoughnuts.com $ s BL

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. 3751 Redwood Hwy, 415.492.9100, ristorantelatoscana.com s $$$ s ∞ C LD º

LE CHALET BASQUE

French This family-style place features dishes inspired by the Basque regions of France and Spain, like frog legs in a garlic butter and lemon sauce, a veal calf liver sauté and sweetbreads with port wine sauce and mushrooms. On a warm night, enjoy alfresco dining on the patio. 405 North San Pedro Rd, 415.479.1070, chaletbasque.com s $$$ s ∞ C LD

LOTUS CUISINE OF INDIA RESTAURANT

Indian Family owned and operated since 1999, Lotus serves up organic North Indian cuisine with many vegan and vegetarian options. The restaurant is a certi fied green business with an energy-efficient kitchen and features a retractable rooftop and exotic interior decor with casual pink-tablecloth settings. The reasonably priced dishes are made with local, nonGMO and gluten-free ingredients. 704 Fourth St, 415.456.5808, lotusrestaurant.com b $$ s C LD

MCINNIS PARK GOLF CLUB RESTAURANT

American Grab a meal prepared by chef Chris Harman before or after hitting the driving range (or even without picking up a club). Outdoor seating is popular, as is the full bar, with a selection of premium Scotches, small-batch bourbons and more than 50 wines from California vineyards. McInnis Park, 415.491.5959, mcinnis parkgolfcenter.com s $$$ ∞ C LD

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 Rd, 415.472.7272, mulberry streetpizzasan rafael.com b $$ s

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PANAMA HOTEL RESTAURANT

American The dinner menu has a large selection — tortilla soup to wild mushroom raviolis — but it’s the Sunday brunch that will please the kids; try the Panama Wa ffle with bananas, warm chocolate sauce and whipped cream, plus a pitcher of “make-your-own” mimosas for the adults. The tropical garden is a prime spot for peoplewatching. 4 Bayview St, 415.457.3993, panamahotel.com b $$$ ∞ C LD BR º

PHO VIET Vietnamese

This family-owned restaurant’s big menu offers a variety of traditional Vietnamese dishes at a ffordable prices. 555 E. Francisco Blvd, 415.455.8063, phovietmarin.com b $$ s LD

PIZZA ORGASMICA

American Enjoy indulgent favorite pies like the Serpent’s Kiss or Inspiration Point with a crisp beer, Orgasmica style. Eat in or order a half-baked pizza to cook and enjoy at home. 812 Fourth St, 415.457.2337, pizzaorgasmica.com b $$$ s ∞ C LD º

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 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 ∞ C BLD º

SAN RAFAEL JOE’S

Italian A Marin institution famous for sophisticated yet casual Italian fare since 1947. The dining room, with a friendly atmosphere and seating for 240, is great for large parties, and the roast sirloin of beef and Fettuccine Joe’s are sure to please. 931 Fourth St, 415.456.2425, sanrafaeljoe.com s $$ s LD 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

SUSHI TO DAI FOR Japanese Snagging a seat in this popular Fourth Street sushi spot can be a challenge, but patience is rewarded with tasty and fresh sashimi, unique sushi rolls and great prices. 816 Fourth St, 415.721.0392, sushitodaifor.net b $$ s LD

TAJ OF MARIN Indian Delicious North and South Indian cuisine, from the $8.95 lunch special to dinners that include goat curry, spinach, lentils and tandoori. Gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian available. 909 Fourth St, 415.459.9555, tajofmarin.com b $$ s LD

Sparkling Treats

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Equity Conversion Mortgage = Cash Flow

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 $$ ∞ C D BR º

THERESA & JOHNNY’S COMFORT FOOD

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

TOMATINA Italian Tomatina takes a modern approach to traditional Italian recipes. While the pasta with made-fromscratch sauces and homemade pizza are customer favorites, the place has become known for its signature piadine: fresh hot fl atbread topped with cool salads, ready to fold and eat. 5800 Northgate Mall, 138, 415.479.3200, tomatina.com s $$ s ∞ LD º

URBAN REMEDY Juice

With delicious juices, snacks and bowls including plenty of gluten-free, grain-free, and low-glycemic-index choices, this is a popular spot. Raw desserts round things out. Try the namesake salad or give the cashew milk with cinnamon and vanilla a shot to see

what Urban Remedy is all about. 1904 Fourth St, 415 .786.8011, urbanremedy.com $$ ∞ BLD

VIN ANTICO American Vin Antico, “where passion meets the plate,” serves seasonal marketinspired cuisine like stone-oven-baked fl atbreads, handmade pastas and organic salads, all innovatively prepared. The kitchen is open to the dining room and there’s a full bar with artisan cocktails. 881 Fourth St, 415.721.0600, vinantico.com s $$ s C LD º

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. 1613 Fourth St, 415.256.1818, whipsnap.biz b $$ s ∞ 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 ∞ 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

AURORA

RISTORANTE

& PIZZERIA Italian Novato’s Auror a fi nally has a counterpart in southern Marin. Traditional Italian food, a full bar and friendly service make it a great option for families, groups, dates and sports fans, who can keep up-to-date on the game via fl atscreen TV. 300 Valley St, 415.339.8930, aurora-sausalito.com b $$ s ∞ LD

AVATAR’S Indian If you’re on the hunt for innovative Indian fare, head to Avatar’s. Sip masala chiar sweetened with brown sugar in this casual, one-room restaurant, ideal for a quick lunch or dinner. 2656 Bridgeway, 415.332.8083, enjoyavatars.com b $$ s LD

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 ∞ 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 ∞ LD º

CIBO Cafe Located in a historic brick building on Sausalito’s main drag, this is a great place to a sip a quick cup of coffee outdoors. The menu offers tarts, croissants, cookies, paninis and soups. Every dish is made from scratch with local and seasonal products. 1201 Bridgeway, 415.331.2426, cibosausalito.com $$ s ∞ BL

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

DAVEY JONES DELI

American Stationed in the New Bait Shop Market, Davey Jones Deli offers houseroasted sandwich meats, healthy condiments and local, organic vegetables; the deli serves sandwiches, veggie-wiches, wraps and salads with vegetarian, vegan and meat-lover options. Gate 6 Rd, 415.331.2282, daveyjonesdeli.com b $$ s ∞ L

F3/FAST FOOD FRANCAIS French

Owned and operated by the owners of Le Garage, F3 serves brunch, lunch and dinner featuring “Frenchi fied” American

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415.456.4327 www.hearsogood.com l 2154 4th Street (on the Miracle Mile) San Rafael, CA. l

comfort food. A rotating menu includes items like the Luxe burger (Diestel turkey, brie, lettuce and a fried egg topped with tru ffle aioli). Enjoy with a side of Brussels sprout chips or pommes dauphines (tater tots). 39 Caledonia St, 415.887.9047, eatf3.com s $$ s ∞ 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

FISH. Seafood The ultimate place for freshly caught fare. Order the fi sh tacos, ceviche and a bottle of wine and take in the bay views on the open-air deck. Casual; bring cash. 350 Harbor Dr, 415.331.3474, 331fish.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 ∞ LD

LE GARAGE French

Escape the tourist crush for an indulgent Sausalito brunch right on the water. The atmosphere is animated with light French music (à la Amélie), and the much-adored croquemonsieur is under $10. Indoor or outdoor seating. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625, legaragebistro sausalito.com b $$$ s ∞ BLD BR

LIGHTHOUSE American

A great spot to grab a classic breakfast — the fruit pancakes, omelets and Danish-in fluenced dishes will make you a return customer. This is a small but popular space, be prepared for a wait. 1311 Bridgeway, 415.331.3034, light house-restaurants.com $$ s BL

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 ∞ C BLD BR

NAPA VALLEY BURGER COMPANY American Incorporating local, all-natural and organic produce and meats, this burger joint serves up gourmet patties, fries, root beer floats and more. With outdoor and indoor tables, the space can accommodate up to 100 people. 670 Bridgeway, 415.332.1454, napavalleyburger company.com s $$ s ∞ L

OSTERIA DIVINO Tuscan Osteria Divino offers authentic florentine cuisine inspired by the fi nest local, organic, seasonal produce, meat and fi sh available, along with an extensive artisan pasta selection.

SPAGHETTI BROS. American BIX and Fog City alums Erik Lowe and Aaron Toensing serve inventive American standards like St. Louis–style toasted raviolis and green chile-apple 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, spaghettibrossf.com s $$$ C D

•

Live music Tue-Sun. 37 Caledonia Street 415.331.9355, osteriadivino.com b $$ s ∞ C BLD BR º

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 ∞ 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. Marin’s fi rst tequila bar has more than 200 varieties, served in a festive fullbar setting along with ceviche, carnitas, and Cabo prawns, to name just a few possibilities. Good friends at Cabo Wabo and the man himself, Sammy Hagar, gave their blessing for naming the banquet

spacec the Cabo Wabo Room. 2009 Bridgeway, 415.332.1512, saylors restaurantandbar.com s $$ s ∞ C LD º

SEAFOOD PEDDLER RESTAURANT AND FISH MARKET Seafood The fi sh is bought daily from loca l fi sherman and recipes are adjusted to incorporate the freshest catch. 303 Johnson St, 415.332.1492, seafoodpeddler.com s $$$ s ∞ LD BR º

SEAHORSE Italian The spacious dining area, accompanied by a dance floor and stage, make Seahorse ideal for celebrations large and small. Enjoy a modern twist on classic Tuscan coastal cuisine while grooving to the nightly live music and entertainment. 305 Harbor Dr, 415.331.2899, sausalitoseahorse.com b $$$ ∞ C LD BR º

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 $$ ∞ LD

TASTE OF THE HIMALAYAS Himalayan

The name itself introduces the food brought to the table. In the words of the establishment: “Traditionally, guests are like gods; therefore, we serve them the best we have. It is our pleasure to bring you the fl avors of the Himalayan cuisine via popular dishes.” Utsav Chaudhary, Pasang Sherpa and their team personally guarantee a satisfying dine-in experience. 2633 Bridgeway, 415.331.1335, sausalitotasteofthe himalayas.com b $$ s LD

TOMMY’S WOK

Chinese Scrupulously fresh ingredients, free-range chicken and traditional dishes ful fi ll the Chinese food craving with a nice atmosphere for dining in and great takeout for a night at home. 3001 Bridgeway, 415.332.5818, tommyswok.com b $$ s ∞ LD

THE TRIDENT Seafood Set in a turn-of-thecentury building constructed for the San Francisco Yacht Club, this waterfront restaurant is a shoe-in for date night. The restaurant, a famous 1970s hangout, is now known for supporting local farmers, fi sherman and organic food producers.

Eggplant Parmesean

558 Bridgeway, 415.331.3232, the tridentsausalito.com s $$$ s ∞ LD BR º

TIBURON

CAFÉ RENZO Sicilian

Café Renzo is a new European cafe on Tiburon’s historic Ark Row featuring Sicilian street food, frozen yogurt, pastries, sandwiches and soup and salads. A relaxing place not just for dining but for socializing, it’s named after executive chef Renzo Azzarello and is the “baby brother” of Luna Blu restaurant up the street. 110 Main St, 415.937.5913

b $ s ∞ BLD º

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 $25, and don’t miss prime rib Mondays. 2000 Paradise Dr, 415.435.3400, thecaprice.com s $$$ D

DON ANTONIO TRATTORIA Italian

Located in Tiburon’s Ark Row, this trattoria serves authentic Italian cuisine in a quaint setting. Traditional selections include chicken piccata, organic roasted rack of lamb and house-made pesto. 114 Main St, 415.435.0400, donantoniotrattoria.com b $$ D

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

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

101 NORTH BREWING CO.

MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW AMERICAN BEERS.

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 ∞ LD

MILANO Italian Located in the Cove Shopping Center, this familyowned neighborhood spot is known for its pasta and friendly service. Favorites like the cheesy garlic bread and pesto keep customers coming back. 1 Blackfield Dr, 415.388.9100 s $$ s ∞ LD

NEW MORNING CAFE

American Sit outside or in at this casual cafe. On a sunny morning, the place is fi lled with

locals enjoying the sun and extensive breakfast menu; lunch is served as well. 1696 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.4315 s ∞ BL

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 ∞ LD

SAM’S ANCHOR CAFE

American Sam’s deck is a popular spot for brunch on a lazy sunny Sunday, and its bar is the town’s historic watering hole, but Sam’s

is also a great place for lunch or dinner. Sample a seasonal menu served all day, every day. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527, samscafe.com s $$$ s ∞ C LD BR º

SERVINO RISTORANTE

Italian Executive Chef Massimo Covello 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 ∞ C LD BR º

101 NORTH BREWING COMPANY, a Petaluma-based craft brewery, was founded by brothers Joel, Jake, and Joey Johnson along with lifelong friends John Brainin, John Lilienthal and Anthony Turner. 101 NORTH produces quality ales using inventive interpretations of traditional styles, creating distinct flavor profiles that have earned their brand special recognition in the craft brewery scene.

TIBURON TAVERN

California The atmosphere here is enhanced by two outdoor patios, two indoor fi replaces and fresh flowers. Happy hour is 4 to 6:30 p.m. every day. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.5996, lodgeattiburon.com s $$ s ∞ 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 ∞ C LD BR

OSTERIA STELLINA

California Whether it’s to cap off a ay of hiking or celebrate a romantic anniversary, Osteria Stellina suits any occasion. (Point Reyes). 11285 Hwy 1, 415.663.9988, osteriastellina.com b $$ s LD

PARKSIDE CAFE

American Perfect for a sit-down alfresco meal or for grabbing a burger 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 new 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 ∞ C BLD

PINE CONE DINER

American You ca n fi nd this ultimate neighborhood diner just off he main road. Vintage china and homemade curtains complement the eclectic but homey menu featuring local fare. Tourists and residents love this place (Point Reyes Station). 60 Fourth St, 415.663.1536, pineconediner.com b s ∞ BL

RANCHO NICASIO

American Known for live music and an extensive menu featuring everything from Dungeness crab cakes

to garlic-rosemary lamb medallions, Rancho Nicasio is open seven days a week. Be sure to stop in for happy hour, 4 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. 1 Old Rancheria (Nicasio) Rd, 415.662.2219, ranchonicasio.com s $$$ s ∞ 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 ∞ LD

SIR & STAR AT THE OLEMA California

The historic inn has reopened as a roadhouse-style restaurant featuring rustic decor and a delicious yet a ffordable menu. Try the house-made bread and honey butter, the kale Caesar and the stu ffed quail, then come back and work your way through the entire menu — most items are $20 or less (Olema). 10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.663.1034, sirandstar.com b $$ s C D

STATION HOUSE

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

cocktails (Point Reyes Station). 11180 Highway 1, 415.663.1515, stationhousecafe.com s $$ s ∞ C BLD BR º

THE LUNCH BOX

American Swing by this modern day momand-pop take-out deli for such healthy beach bites as deli salads and custom sandwiches cooked to order, as well as sweets, treats and snacks. The Lunch Box also has a Thursday and Friday night taqueria menu featuring hometown favorites by chef Gabino Chavez (Stinson). Private event or party? Fullservice event catering is available too. 15

Calle del Mar, Ste 2, 415.868.8884 – catering, 415.367.5305, lunchboxmarin.com $ s ∞ LD

SAN FRANCISCO

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

BOULI BAR American/ Mediterranean Head to Boulettes Larder’s new bar and dining room for the savory fl avors of spicy lamb, feta and mint or the bittersweetness of salad topped with barberries, bulgur and pomegranate. 1 Ferry Building, 415.399.1155, bouletteslarder.com s $$$ s ∞ 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 ∞ LD º

CAPO’S CHICAGO

Italian If you’re craving classic Chicago-style Italian and a venue

to match, the endless pizza choices and fl avorful pasta and meat selections here will more than satisfy your appetite. 641 Vallejo St, 415.986.8998, sfcapos.com s $$$ s ∞ 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.com s $$ s BLD

ESPETUS CHURRASCARIA

Brazilian This steakhouse boasts a tasting menu of 14 meat courses grilled in the traditional Brazilian method. 1686 Market St, 415.552.8792, espetus.com s $$$ s C LD

FRANCES California

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

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

KEY TO SYMBOLS

s b $ $$ $$$ s ∞ C BLD BR º

Full bar

Wine and beer

Inexpensive ($10 or less per entrée) 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

head over HEALDSBURG

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS in HEALDSBURG

❈

DINE AROUND (a 4-course, progressive feast) Dec. 2, 3 & 9, 10

HISTORIC INNS TOUR Sunday, Dec. 13 2-4 pm

DETAILS: healdsburg.com/events www.healdsburg.com

In the famed Sonoma County wine country. Local hospitality meets San Francisco chic. Bakeries, bistros, tasting rooms and 5-star restaurants. Stylish boutiques, art galleries and antique shops. Picnic baskets brimming with local farmers’ market delicacies.

Taste the wine country the way Northern Californians do. And like everyone who visits, you’ll fall head over Healdsburg.

DINE out DEALS ON MEALS

Deals on Meals

Enjoy local restaurants and save 30 percent on meals. Check out the participating restaurants in our “Deals on Meals” section and experience big savings. Spend only $35 for a dining certificate worth $50. Simply go to marinmagazine.com/dineout to purchase a dining certificate from a restaurant in this section and we will mail it to you. Try a new restaurant or purchase a certificate for an old favorite. A perfect gift for any occasion. Limited supply each month. Dine local — save big time!

The name Baan Thai (which means house, or home) is intended to suggest a sense of home cooking. Presenting a homestyle Thai cuisine to an appreciative Marin County community, we are now proud to offer gluten-free menu options (just ask your server).

Baan Thai Cuisine 726 San Anselmo Ave. 415.457.9470 San Anselmo, CA baanthaimarin.com

Barrel House Tavern, nestled in historic downtown Sausalito offers a northern California vibe, attentive hospitality, and a locally sourced seasonal menu. Overlooking the Bay with breathtaking views, Barrel House Tavern is a lively destination fit for an intimate dinner for two, or a celebratory venue for large groups.

Barrel House Tavern 660 Bridgeway 415.729.9593 Sausalito, CA barrelhousetavern.com

Consistently voted “Best of Marin” , Comforts offers fine city and home-style food. Our menus change regularly to reflect what is fresh and in season, using only the best quality ingredients. The holiday season is fast approaching! Comforts can provide you with an easy and delicious feast for your holiday gatherings. Contact our catering department for details.

Comforts Cafe

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

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

Serving Marin for over 25 years with delicious Szechwan, Mandarin cuisine. Always fresh food and friendly service, nice decor, and easy parking. Also offer delivery to Southern Marin, and private parties for any occasion.

Feng Nian 2650 Bridgeway 415.331.5300 Sausalito, CA fengnian.com

Grilly’s serves up fresh, healthy and fast Mexican food to Marin. Everything is made from scratch daily-from the marinated and grilled meats, the fire roasted salsas, our world famous chicken taco salad to the housemade agua frescas. A great line up of vegan and gluten free items.

L’Appart Resto serves a French-inspired seasonal menu. We also offer a $35 prix fixe option daily and live music on the patio every Thursday. L’Appart is available for private events. Open for lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and dinner 7 nights a week.

L’Appart Resto 636 San Anselmo Ave 415.256.9884 San Anselmo, CA lappartresto.com

Perched on the Sausalito waterfront, the renowned Trident honors its original founding philosophy, showcasing quality organic and sustainablyprodued local fare. Whether seated indoors or on one of our two decks, spectacular bay views make dining here a feast for all the senses.

The Trident - Best Deck Dining 558 Bridgeway 415.331.3232 Sausalito, CA thetrident.net

Grilly’s Mill Valley

Grilly’s Fairfax 493 Miller Ave One Bolinas Ave 415.381.3278 415.457.6171

Serving Lunch, Dinner and Weekend Breakfast. RangeCafe Bar and Grill, located on the course at Peacock Gap Golf Club, offers a delicious array of dining options to satisfy the whole family. All items are freshly prepared and served in a relaxed and inviting environment.

RangeCafe Bar and Grill 333 Biscayne Drive 415.454.6450 San Rafael, CA rangecafe.net bar and grill

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

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

PHOTO: LEE RUE, INTELITE-DESIGN.COM

MARIN ADVERTISERS SPEAK UP

ad lib

David Kasten, general manager at Creative

Energy

Approaching our 40th anniversary serving Marin County, Creative Energy is a retailer, installer and service provider for both spas and fireplaces. The bulk of our business is with HotSpring Spas and Travis Industries Fireplaces. We started building wooden hot tubs with thermal solar packages and heat exchangers in Novato in 1976. Now we have four locations and continue to provide the best service possible to our customers.

Briefly describe your business philosophy. Take care of both your customers and your employees, and they will take care of you. Hire great people and find a spot for them — even if you don’t have one.

Chris Michna, owner of California Sofa

California Sofa specializes in custom sofas, sectionals, headboards and chairs, with modern, transitional and classic styles. First choose the style, then a configuration (to the inch if needed), and then the fabric or choice of leather. Production is typically two to three weeks, with some jobs needing four to five weeks. Everything is made in California.

Is a custom sofa expensive?

The cost of a custom California Sofa is very affordable. People typically associate custom with a high price tag. When customers come to California Sofa they are pleasantly surprised by the affordability.

Can someone create their own style?

We do this all the time. Customers will come to the showroom with images of different styles and we will create something that will incorporate certain features from different styles. The process is fun and creative and not cost prohibitive.

What is the fabric and leather selection like?

California Sofa offers more than 2,500 fabrics and several hundred leathers. There are several grades of fabric. Depending on which grade is selected

What is your competitive edge?

First off we believe our products are superior. Having a contractor’s license allows us to do most everything in-house. We have more experience in our fields than our competition does.

Describe your dream client/customer. The best customers are advocates of Creative Energy. Those that we have served well and tell their neighbors.

Your thoughts regarding working with a spouse, family or partner?

I commute most days with my father to work. He is both my mentor and tormentor. I would not have it any other way. His ethics are so inspiring to me. (Pictured left to right: David, John and John Kasten)

Which product or service (that you offer) is your favorite?

I love gas fireplace inserts. All of our customers who have one installed say the only regret is they did not do it sooner.

What makes your work worthwhile?

Knowing we are making a difference in our customers’ and employees’ lives and to provide a living for 40-plus people.

CREATIVE ENERGY SPAS AND FIREPLACES, 3815 REDWOOD HWY, SAN RAFAEL, 415.472.7727, INFO@CREATIVEENERGY.COM, CREATIVEENERGY.COM

this will determine final cost. Customers are also welcome to bring in their own fabric for orders.

Can sleepers be added to a sofa?

Sleepers can be added to almost all of our models for a nominal charge. We can also add a sleeper to a sectional.

Why purchase from California Sofa? Basically, we offer a quality product at an affordable price with great attention to detail. All pieces are made in California with a quick production time.

CALIFORNIA SOFA, 993 EAST FRANCISCO BLVD, SAN RAFAEL, 415.454.7632, INFO@CALSOFA.COM, CALSOFA.COM

On the Scene

• MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL PARTY Marin Magazine celebrated the publication of its second Mill Valley Film Festival guide October 8 at Seager Gray Gallery. Small bites were provided by Piazza D’Angelo, Pinot Noir was from Hale Mary and beer was from 101 North Brewing.

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

Chris and Lisa DeNike

Prince Andrew Romanoff and Inez Storer

Polly Williams and Julian Garfolo

Cyd Gardner and Andy Gellepis

Mark McLaughlin and Brent Thomson Holly and David Kasten

Julie Mascheroni and Mary Bourke

LaTonya Lawson

Greer Westerink and Penna Omega Seta Kembikian and Camille Miller

William Barrett and Gary Martin

Chris Laeng and Allyson Wright

Marce Olson, Fabio Castellotto, Nannette Love and Geoff Pearson

• MARINMOCA: EMERGING ARTISTS

Guests enjoyed refreshments and the chance to see the directions emerging artists are taking August 29 at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art.

• MED-AESTHETICS EXPO Guests sampled hors d’oeuvres and drinks and watched demonstrations of 10 treatments to turn back time at the June 3 PowerMD MedSpa event.

Suhair Hattar and Karron Power

Janet Kindel, Monica Green, Courtney Dowdall and Kristin Barbaryka

Otto Fabri, Kate Janos, Tibor Simon-Mazula and Diana Mazula

Ron Collins and Donna Morris

• WATERFRONT POPS It was Beatlemania at it’s best. The third annual version of the concert October 3 at Marin Center Lagoon Park was a big success with Beatles music, picnics and fireworks.

• MILL VALLEY FALL ARTS FESTIVAL Attendees enjoyed the magic of the redwoods, art and music September 19 in historic Old Mill Park.

• ANGELS BY THE BAY Guests enjoyed wine, dinner, dancing and cigars at the October 3 event at the Meadow Club benefiting the Marin Center for Independent Living.

Jamie and Joe Behrendt, Peter McLauglin and Lisa Barry

Eta and Thomas Roedoc

Valrie Joy Williams and Melissa Prandi

Joe and Maya Cresalia, Serena Mraz and Chris Gernhard

David Garcia and Alicia and Yngvar Hvistendahl

Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd., Building A San Francisco, CA 94123 415-441-4777

sfmoma.org/visit/artists_gallery

Brilliant Iris on Glistening Blue, 2014; photo: Wilfred J. Jones

Curt Humphrey

Jeff Smith

Nolan Misitano

Karen Burrous

Erin Whalen

Marin Home

FROM TOURS AND MAKEOVERS TO DECORATIVE DETAILS AND REALTOR INSIGHTS

VINTAGE VALUE

A house from the 1880s and a newer apartment are the perfect combination for this Rhode Island transplant.

BY LAURA HILGERS • PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

Coral-motif pillows are reminiscent of the owner’s former seaside home.

WHEN PEOPLE SEARCH for a home, they usually create a list of what they want, from the number of bedrooms to a certain location to a view. Beth Rowe’s list was considerably less speci fic. “What I was really after,” she says, “was a feel.”

Rowe, who relocated to Marin from Block Island, Rhode Island, to be closer to her grown daughters, has a history of living in charming, historical abodes. In Block Island, home was an old seaside cottage; before that it was an 1897 schoolhouse in upstate New York. To her, a cookie-cutter home would have felt off

“It’s a lot more fun and intuitive kind of search when you’re trying to find a place that’s got soul and character,” says Rowe’s realtor, Scott Kalmbach. The task was challenging. Rowe wanted to live in Sausalito and thought

she could only a fford a condo. But when this property came up — an 1880 cottage with apartment attached — everything fell into place.

It had all the charm of an old East Coast home, with a rental opportunity that made it a ffordable. Even better, the property had a stream running through it, and the overgrown yard would give Rowe, who owns Hands-On Garden Design, a project to work on. “I was so in love with this house when I went through it,” says Rowe, “that afterward I couldn’t remember how many bedrooms it had.”

For the record: the main home, which looks like a clapboard schoolhouse, has two bedrooms. The attached apartment, where Rowe now lives, has one. Ironically, the apartment, built in the 1970s, looks a lot older than the cottage itself.

The cottage is a two-story with dormer ceilings upstairs, old handrails and large, sunny windows. But the apartment, which Rowe

completely renovated, has the real charm, with vaulted ceilings in the living room and eight-foot wood-framed windows that flank the front door.

Shortly after moving in, Rowe and her contractor, D.J. Pu ffert, ripped up the apartment’s wall-to-wall carpeting and replaced it with peca n floors; installed a gray IKEA kitchen; and painted all the walls in what Rowe calls “Beth’s blue,” a custom-blended blue with hints of green and gray. It’s dramatic and soothing.

With the help of gardener Tim Leon, Rowe also ripped out most of the overgrown yard and created a lush, East Coast–style garden that runs alongside the property’s tiny stream. Where there once were bamboo and ivy, she planted carpet roses, hydrangea, salvia and hellebore. She decided, however, to keep the palm trees that soar over the property and remind her that she is indeed in California. Which to her feels just fi ne. m

THE

WHERE SHE PURCHASED The edge of the Banana Belt in Sausalito

WHAT SHE BOUGHT An 1880 cottage with attached apartment

LISTING AGENTS Barr Haney and Whitney Potter, Paci fic Union SELLING AGENTS Ahern + Kalmbach, Pacifi Union

Opposite page: The apartment kitchen. This page, clockwise from top left: The cottage’s exterior; Rowe in her garden; the apartment’s deck; a bedroom in the cottage; collectible plates; the backyard; the apartment’s living room.

More than just a home, it’s a

YOGA STUDIO

Exquisite Vineyard Estate in Sonoma County

Located in the coveted Russian River and Sonoma Coast AVAs is this pinnacle of Wine Country Living! Artisanal luxury abounds in the 9000± square feet, main villa, featuring 4 master suites 6.5 bathrooms, an exercise room, theater room, Dali lithograph-inlaid gallery, and gourmand’s kitchen. A pool, spa, cabana, and expansive outdoor cooking. Temp-controlled 2000+/- bottle wine library and cave. Also includes 2 casitas and 2500± square foot vacation rental. 21+/acres of vineyard planted to pinot noir and chardonnay. www.7390starr.com

offered at $8,500,000

Lysbeth Wiggins (707) 529-5087

Private, peaceful serenity abound in this resort location of times gone bye. Completely rebuilt in 1993 with upscale design touches. Access to expansive sunny patios and decks from four en-suites set the mood for outdoor enjoyment while 3 fireplaces and zoned heating enhance the ambiance of spacious bright and separate living areas including a 640± sq.ft. guest house. Cathedral ceiling, cable railings, and hardwood floors. Street to street lot, extra parking, two car garage. Low maintenance landscaping. Walking distance to town, trails and quality schools.

offered at $3,250,000

PJ sterLing (415) 302-7225

Exquisite Turn-Key Remodel in Greenbrae

offered at $3,150,000

Deborah soLvason (415) 519-3555

george cagWin (415) 272-5113

Brand new remodel taken down to the studs & brought back with remarkable quality & detail. This exquisite home boasts an open floor plan that seamlessly transitions to the sprawling yard complete with hot tub, pool, & Mt. Tam views. Luxurious Master Suite & bath, three additional bedrooms, two full baths, chef’s kitchen, dining room, & living room on main level. Bed & bath downstairs w/ separate entrance could be used as a home office, au pair quarters, or in-law suite.

offered at $2,399,995

MichaeL MiLano (415) 246-6868

Mill Valley’s Blithedale Canyon Banana Belt

Sunny, resort-style pool and gardens, San Francisco Bay & Mount Tamalpais views. Bright, major modern remodel with master suite on main level + kitchen, formal living, dining & family room. Upstairs has three bedrooms (one ideal for use for rec/office/studio). Separate office/kitchenette and full bath plus 2-car garage.

Bay & Water Views from Mill Valley Estate

Beautiful and desirable lower unit in Point Tiburon Bayside. This rarely available two bedroom and two bath home provides a relaxing retreat near downtown Tiburon. Special features include stainless steel appliances, wine cabinet, an eat-in-kitchen, wood burning fireplace, three landscaped patios, private one car garage and outside space. Very close to restaurants, shops, movie theatre, and ferry dock. The complex features a pool, spa, and beautifully landscaped grounds.

offered at $1,995,000

C Jay Key (415) 699-5747

Exquisitely remodeled and expanded Tudor Style home in desirable Ross. 4BR/3.5BA home with over 2600 sq.ft. of living space. Sited on a substantial corner lot and park-like back yard with sparkling pool and pool-side bar. Open floor plan features a new kitchen with Italian Verona stove/ oven, stainless steel appliances, granite counters and tile floors. Inviting living room with new floors and wood burning fireplace adjacent to the formal dining area. Within the coveted Ross School District, yet just steps to the Downtown shops and easy transportation access. www.90SFD.com

offered at $1,695,000

Matt thoMas (415) 342-7293

Amazing Investment Opportunity in Gerstle Park

Take advantage of the strong rental market! Invest in an attractive duplex in desirable Gerstle Park! Live in one unit and rent out the other. Upper 3BR/1.5BA sunny unit w/vintage details and private decks. Lower 2BR/1BA remodeled unit w/garden. New foundation in 1992. Close to downtown restaurants, shopping, art galleries, movie theater, parks and schools. Easy commute and access to 101.

offered at $1,150,000

fiona rogers (415) 310-0797

Sleek 2BR/2.5BA loft in a perfectly convenient location close to freeway for easy commute, shopping and trails. This approximately 1,740 sq.ft. unit features soaring ceilings, walls of windows and views. Chef’s kitchen with granite counter tops, stainless appliances and a gas range. Light and bright living room with gas fireplace, spacious bedrooms en-suite with double closets and pristine bathrooms.

offered at $625,000

Jennifer Bowes (415) 717-1632

Chris hodge (415) 845-2518

Stunning Views of San Francisco Skyline & Bay

Sophisticated Modern Living in San Rafael

Remodeled Tudor in Coveted Ross

Local Knowledge + Personalized Strategies + Global Relationships = the McGuire Difference

As one of the leading luxury real estate boutique’s in the Bay Area, McGuire offers an exemplary level of service and an exceptional team of professionals dedicated to helping our clients achieve their real estate and investment goals. We pair local knowledge with the use of forward thinking marketing technologies and a global reach enhanced by our exclusive international association with Savills, one of the world’s largest and most premier real estate companies, providing our clients and our properties unparalleled international exposure.

1040 REDWOOD HWY MILL VALLEY, CA 415.838.8500

We needed a place to innovate

Paragon is an innovative real estate company serving all of the San Francisco Bay Area. With a culture where every agent is productive and where its vibrant network of experts are key, Paragon has a reputation for listening, providing superior insight and interpreting the needs of every one of its unique agents.

Paragon has found success by taking a straightforward approach: we hire the best agents and provide them with the training, market research, marketing and transactional resources, technology and management to do an exemplary job for every client. Our people are passionate, proven experts equipped to produce real results.

300 DRAKES LANDING RD., ST.120 GREENBRAE, CA 94904 PARAGON-RE.COM

ERINN MILLAR SALES MANAGER

CHRIS BACKER

STEPHANIE CONNER

JEAN LUDWICK

JULIE KENNEDY

GEORGE CROWE

ROBERT DANA

CRAIG BURNETT

CHRIS DENIKE

JIM OLMSTEAD

JENN PFEIFFER

BEVERLY SHWERT

STEPHEN PRINGLE

KRISTY REDPATH

ANDREW ROTH NICK SVENSON

JUNI WALSH NICK SARIBALIS

JULIE SEGURA GREG ULIN

SARA MILLER

DAVID TUCKER

RICK STERN

CAROLYN SVENSON

PAULA STETLER

DAVID O’BRIEN

STEVE USSERY

I needed a place to stop and smell the roses.

100 Jamaica Street, Tiburon

Arguably one of the best lots in Paradise Cay, this is resort living at its finest! Wide open water views and a rare 100 ft. long deep-water boat dock. Approved plans for a 2,800 square foot home including a huge water-side deck for entertaining. Time to build the home of your dreams in the most desirable, sought after, waterfront community in the Bay Area. Award winning Tiburon School District.

100JamaicaLot.com

572 San Pedro Cove, San Rafael Waterfront Oasis in the exclusive gated San Pedro Cove community with views from every room that will take your breath away! Watch the activity of the bay during the day and the lights of the two bridges in the evening. Sleep to the sounds of the waves lapping on the shore. This beautiful home is over 3,600 sq. ft. with 3 beds and 3 baths.Office space that can easily be converted to a fourth bedroom. Two large decks over the water for entertaining plus a Bocce Ball Court! 572SanPedroCove.com

Just Listed! 910 Vernal Avenue, Mill Valley Completely renovated, this 4 bedroom, 3 bath midcentury modern home looks firmly ahead with an enormous deck reaching out to commanding views of Mt. Tamalpais, ridgeline, and the bay. With soaring spaces, an abundance of floor to ceiling windows, gorgeous white washed oak floors, this inspired home boasts a chef’s kitchen, and a versatile master suite or family room. Comfortably elegant, the quiet simplicity of the architecture underscores the sensational views. Listed at $1,790,000 | #likewhereyoulive

Sold! 9 Quail Ridge Road, Kentfield Amazing opportunity to own 6.5 private acres with huge Mt. Tamalpais and ridgeline views. Completely landscaped with level lawns, gardens, redwood grove, and a resort-like pool. Custom 5 bedroom/5.5bath home with over 5,388 sq. ft features a Bulthaup kitchen, incredible indoor/outdoor living, and 4 car garage. Buyer Representation. Listed at $5,995,000 | #likewhereyoulive

Matthew Pouliot & Erica Elsner

Sold! 35 Carmelita Avenue, Mill Valley This Downtown 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home is situated on a beautifully landscaped verdant oasis. Expansive level lawn, spa/hot tub, koi pond, sundry flowers, ferns, and an enormous cypress tree that will take your breath away. Listed at $2,595,000 | #likewhereyoulive

Luxury Property Specialists 415.265.7020, 415.505.7313 matthew.pouliot@pacunion.com, erica.elsner@pacunion.com likewhereyoulive.com

Non-profit: homeforahome.com License# 01393281

Deitch 415.572.5433 JoshuaDeitch@me.com www.JoshuaDeitch.com CalBRE# 01902477 196 Elm, Mill Valley Offered at $1,795,000 Pending

69 Walnut, Mill Valley Offered at 2,500,000 Pending

167 W Blithedale, Mill Valley Offered at $1,650,000 Pending

Joshua ©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker®, Previews® and Previews International® are registered trademarks licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees o Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

YEARS 25

Linda Gridley & Mary Edwards

Linda and Mary have brought their enthusiasm and professionalism to their clients for 25 years creating a pleasant and successful experience time after time.

What their clients say…

“Linda and Mary are the best! They have handled 7 real estate transactions for me over the past 20 years. They follow up expeditiously, think creatively, and most importantly, they always put their clients interest first. They have been a huge help to my family over two decades!” - Hal S.

“Once again Mary and Linda have done it. I have worked with them on 11 transactions over the past 21 years. There is no one else I would trust or recommend more highly. They are the ‘best of the best’ in real estate.” - Lisa H.

We feel so privileged to share the Marin county lifestyle with our clients every day, and feel grateful to call Marin County our home.

Contact info:

LINDA GRIDLEY

International President’s Elite 2014

25 Years of Award Winning Service 634 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo, CA 94960 415.531.3622 | lgridley@cbnorcal.com

LindaGridley-MarinRealEstate.com

CalBRE #01077981

Contact info: MARY EDWARDS

International Presidents’ Circle 25 Years of Award Winning Service 634 San Anselmo Avenue | San Anselmo, CA 94960 415.652.2566 | medwards@cbnorcal.com

MaryEdwards-MarinHomes.com

CalBRE #01053526

©2015 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real Estate Agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are Independent Contractor Sales Associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

Located on prestigious Rock Road in Kent Woodlands, up a private, gated driveway, sits the former Bechtel Estate. Sited on 2.3 acres, the exclusive hilltop estate o ers the ultimate privacy and style with a mid-century modern four bedroom, three and one half bath main house, and two bedroom, three bath guest house with separate gym.

This property o ers a gracious and convenient singlelevel lifestyle, with easy access throughout the home

and grounds. Large patios, pool, and entertaining areas, along with private walking trails surround the property. Unmatched 360 degree views of Mt. Tamalpais and the entire Bay Area, including downtown San Francisco, East Bay, North Bay, and beyond, from almost every room. This is truly a very special home, and a remarkable property.

565Oak.com This contemporary hilltop retreat is sited on 2.3 sun-drenched acres adjacent to some of Marin County’s most coveted hiking trails and just minutes from downtown San Anselmo. The fi ve bedroom, four and a half bath home features a spacious open fl oor plan and luxurious fi nishes such as slate fl oors and smooth venetian plaster walls. Gourmet kitchen with huge island, formal living and dining rooms, family room, wine cellar, and home gym. French doors open to an expansive deck for entertaining and enjoying the stellar views. Wonderful pool and patio area.

3535Paradise.com Best value in Tiburon! This dramatic four bedroom/two bath Tiburon home is located in a peaceful setting. The property is surrounded by nature in a top destination for biking and enjoying the outdoors, yet only minutes from San Francisco. The open fl oor plan is perfect for entertaining; huge windows invite the outside in. Large decks provide ample space for relaxing and basking in the glorious water views.

2515Lake.com Amazing investment opportunity! Gorgeous details set this elegant large condo apart from the rest. A Cathedral ceiling, an inviting fi replace in the living room, and gleaming wood fl oors are a few of the rich details. Large windows fl ood this home with light. This is a two bedroom, two bath flat, plus a separate deeded studio with cooking facilities on the lower level. Two car parking and storage room.

Susan Hewitt 415.407.8349 susan@sir.com

C.J. Nakagawa 415.407.2151 cj@sir.com

Gile’s Mural

BY JIM WOOD

IN 1934, A down-on-his-luck artist named Selden Connor Gile was appointed parttime librarian for the city of Belvedere. Reportedly, his starting salary was $10 a week, then $15 a week. Truth be known, Gile was hardly a go-getter except when it came to painting. He was the un-appointed leader of half a dozen Bay Area plein air painters known as the “Society of Six.” And in 1937, he completed a two-and-a-half-by-12-foot mural depicting nearby Corinthian Island — a place that’s half in the town of Tiburon and half in Belvedere — and hung it in the town’s tiny library. The mural attracted attention. So much so that when the Belvedere library merged with Tiburon’s library in 1953, a library volunteer offered to hang it in her home for, as she

put it, “safekeeping.” And there it remained for 36 years — while interest in the colorful painting continued to grow. Finally in 1989, the son of the volunteer sold it to an East Bay collector for $65,000. Unfortunately, the collector’s home was in the Oakland Hills, and the painting was destroyed in the disastrou s fi restorm of 1991. But fortunately, the collector had a color transparency, done for an art book titled If Pictures Could Talk. And in 1994 an article by Jeanne Price in The Ark newspaper announced that the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society had printed a limited edition of 100 archival prints, of which a few remain for sale for $200. If indeed pictures could talk, this one might be saying, “On Corinthian Island, over the past nearly 80 years, not much has changed.” m

This colorful painting has an even more colorful history.

JIM WOOD; COURTESY OF BELVEDERE-TIBURON LANDMARKS SOCIETY (INSET)

Compare the mural to the contemporary image to see how times have changed (or haven’t).

rolex oyster perpetual and day-date are ® trademarks.