The Cooperative Cleaning Company (CCC) delivers superior green housekeeping services while providing employees with compensation, health care, and paid time off benefits exceeding the industry average. A native of France, owner Sarah Neil holds a master’s in anthropology from the Sorbonne in Paris and speaks eight languages. Mike Neil, a fourth-generation San Franciscan, spent 30 years in IT before “retiring” to help with CCC. ,
Interior
Curative Comfort
Warm up with some nutritious, delicious soup and stew recipes.
A dated circular Sonoma dwelling gets a modern makeover.
A Writers’ Refuge
New York Times best-selling author Katy Butler reminisces about her time spent at a hidden West Marin writers’ retreat.
Currents
In this issue, we showcase edible bouquets intended to feed the body, and the soul; remember some of baseball’s greatest postseason moments; celebrate some game-changing tech leaders in health, beauty and wellness; and more.
Study Hall
Upgrade your home office or children’s workspace with these functional furniture picks.
Healdsburg Rising
New wine tasting venues, eateries, luxe lodgings and activities lure visitors back to this wine country destination.
Satisfy your craving for a steaming hot bowl of Japanese noodle soup at these local favorites.
Backstory: Artistic Oasis
A Mill Valley home's design is inspired by the owner’s art collection.
As the festival kicks off its 44th season, we provide the inside scoop on what to see, and how the organizers are welcoming attendees back to in-person events while adhering to Covid-19-safe practices.
Shop Local
Celebrate the season with product picks inspired by pumpkin spice delights.
Time Travel Hop aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train for new Murder Mystery Tour experiences.
Author Talk: Turning Tides
Cathy Rath reveals the inspiration behind her new novel set in the turbulent 1960s and ’70s, Ripple Effect.
First Person: The House on the Hill Jessica Gliddon takes a nostalgic look back at the historic Belvedere house her great aunt once called home.
The House on the Hill, p. 36
For the cover, photographer Brian McCloud captured the light and intriguing shape of a dome dwelling in Sonoma.
WANT MORE? For more up-to-the-minute articles, tips, trends and things to do, subscribe to our Better Letter and follow us online at @marinmagazine and marinmagazine.com.
Never have the words, “Yes sir,” been so cutting as when I heard it from my sister. My authority within the had a rift in the Somewhere along the stopped being the when the perfect the big
FOUNDER
SENIOR
EDITORIAL
DIGITAL
SPACES
SOCIAL
DIGITAL
DINING All the of Marin Magazine Unsolicited Marin Magazine reserves the right to to any deemed detrimental to the best interests of the community or that is in questionable taste. Marin Magazine is mailed monthly to homes and businesses in Marin County. Marin (USPS 024-898) is published monthly by Marin Magazine Inc., One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sausalito, CA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Marin Magazine, One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965.
Paul Jenkins is known for pouring paint onto canvas and creating veils of translucent and luminous color which have characterized his work since the 1950s. The paintings of Jenkins have come to represent the spirit, vitality, and invention of post World War II American abstraction. Over more than seven decades, Jenkins’ paintings have been widely exhibited around the world. He has had seven major retrospectives at American and European museums.
Robert Green Fine Arts, established 1969, exhibits primarily painterly, abstract expressive work by painters that thoroughly take advantage of the sensually evocative nature of color and form.
PUBLISHER
Leah Bronson | lbronson@makeitbetter.com
MEDIA DIRECTOR
Lesley Cesare | lcesare@makeitbetter.com
SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANT
Sharon Coleman | scoleman@makeitbetter.com
MEDIA CONSULTANT
Jessica Hamilton | jhamilton@makeitbetter.com
MEDIA CONSULTANT
Julie Eldring | jeldring@makeitbetter.com
STRATEGIC EVENTS AND MEDIA CONSULTANT
Jennifer Woolford | jwoolford@ makeitbetter.com
MEDIA ART MANAGER Alex French
SONOMA COUNTY / SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA / TAHOE
Lesley Cesare | lcesare@makeitbetter.com
NAPA COUNTY
Jessica Hamilton | jhamilton@makeitbetter.com
NEW YORK
Karen Couture, Couture Marketing | 917.821.4429
HAWAII
Debbie Anderson, Destination Marketing | 808.739.2200
MAILING ADDRESS
One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965 PHONE 415.332.4800 FAX 415.332.3048
INQUIRIES: subscriptions@marinmagazine.comeditorial@marinmagazine.com|818.286.3111
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Please send letters to editorial@marinmagazine.com. Include your full name, city, state and phone number. Marin Magazine reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length and style.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Rates are $12 for out-of-state subscriptions or free for California subscribers. To subscribe, manage your subscription or change your address visit marinmagazine.com/subscribe.
BULK ORDERS
For information on bulk orders of Marin Magazine, please call 415.332.4800.
INTERIOR DESIGN BY ROBERT FEDERIGHI
This month, as we welcome the onset of cooler weather, we’re delighted to celebrate the season in Marin County with content that warms the heart and nourishes the soul, from sharing some nutrient-packed soup and stew recipes (p. 38) and pumpkin spiceinspired product picks from local businesses (p. 34) to profiling a Tiburon-based entrepreneur who launched her edible bouquet business amidst the global pandemic (p. 29). Our senior content manager and digital editor, Jessica Gliddon, also shares fond memories of her childhood visits to a historic Belvedere house her great aunt once called home (p. 36), and New York Times best-selling author Katy Butler recalls her time spent at a West Marin writers’ retreat focused on nurturing authors to pen works focused on social justice, the environment and the economy (p. 44).
We’re also heralding some news of our own here at Marin Magazine this month. Leah Bronson, who has been part of the team since 2008, is grabbing the reigns as publisher of Make It Better Media, parent company to Marin, Better and SPACES. We’re all excited to see where her leadership takes us next.
While we’re always looking ahead to what’s coming next here at Make It Better Media, we also wanted to take a moment to remember our core mission and motivation since our inception: helping others. When we launched the better.net website in 2007, which features content that serves Bay Area, Chicago and national audiences, we grew support for it through innovative media sponsorship fundraising techniques on behalf of local nonprofits. We published online stories that brought their mission to life and promoted their events, and we donated $5 to them for every new subscriber to our email newsletter “Better Letter,” which each organization generated, too.
Turns out, our innovative digital strategies and mission to be as helpful to our audience and partners as possible has also been ideal for these pandemic times. We soon found ourselves working with more
powerful and helpful organizations than ever — growing audience, business and donations to causes that our entire team is incredibly proud to support.
In the digital world, there are only two degrees of separation between you and anyone working with Marin Magazine, Better, SPACES and our Make It Bet ter InFoundation.thepast,we kept track of the amount of money our campaigns raised for nonprofits. We also counted the number of lives made better by our work, and included audience, satisfied marketing partners and the people helped by the funds that our nonprofit campaigns raised. Although we stopped announcing these numbers publicly many years ago, you, our readers, have become such an important part of this success that we want to proudly share these numbers again. And, we promise to update them each month.
At the time this issue was sent to press, since Jan. 1, 2020, Make It Better Media Group and our engaged readers and audience members like you have generated this incredible impact:
$5.5 million raised for nonprofits 17 million lives made better
Your attention and your subscriptions/follows/ shares/comments are incredibly valuable. Thanks for trusting Make It Better Media to help you make your life, your community and the lives of others better, too. Happy reading.
Susan B. Noyes, Founder & Chief Visionary Officer
Leah Bronson, Publisher
Lotus Abrams, Managing Editor
marinmagazine.com a go to but marvel in the glory of Marin's beautiful villas, across the bay from one of the most of the greatest accomplishments of its time.”
Make It Better Media Group Was Founded to Connect and Help Our Audience Maximize Their Philanthropic Effort
Help philanthropy thrive. Make It Better Media Group creates connections between our audience, business partners and communities.
More connections and ideas mean more money raised to benefit worthy causes, and better business for everyone. It’s a virtuous circle.
On behalf of the Make It Better Foundation, we’re hosting the 2021 Philanthropy Awards Celebration event in November to honor the recipients of the 2021 Philanthropy Awards — nonprofits that are making a difference and making the community better.
If you are a philanthropist, organization or business looking to celebrate social impact, we want you as a sponsor.
“A Nuclear Legacy,” by Kirsten Jones Neff
“Unfortunately for K. Neff the two women she interviewed for this article are dead wrong. If we follow their policies we will no longer be here. They sound exactly [like] Neville Chamblerland, who said Hilter does not present a threat to Eu rope. They are so naive and misguided. Fortunate ly, for all Americans, [Joe] Biden did not listen to their foundation. Please print this as a rebuttal to the article.” — Justin Mazzon
“My family has lived in Marin County a long time, and I really appreciate your magazine. I read it every time it comes out. Regarding the Private School Guide in Marin, it is sadly lacking one very big grammar school called Saint Raphael School. All of our kids went there. I think next time Saint Raphael should be part of the package." — Bob Stephens, San Rafael Editor’s Note: Thank you for the phone call letting us know about the omission. We’ll make sure to reach out to the school for inclusion in our next Private School Guide.
“A Marin City Native Gives Back With STOP, a Music Therapy Program That Supports At-Risk Youth,” by Lotus Abrams “Great write-up by Marin Magazine featuring John Wallace and his Surviving The Odds Project. Nice work John — we are lucky to have you in our community!” — Eric Lucan, Mayor Pro Tem, Novato City Council (via Facebook)
“Jameson Humane’s Celebrity-Studded WineaPAWlooza Raises More Than $1.4 Million for Animal Rescue and Wildfire Protection,” by Donna Berry Glass
“Thank you Marin Magazine and Donna Berry
WallaceJohn
Glass for the wonderful feature! WineaPAWlooza was a big success for the animals and our partners, and we couldn’t have done it without our friends and supporters!” — Jameson Humane (@jamesonhumane on Instagram)
Best of the County “[Loved] hanging with the Marin Magazine ladies last week to celebrate our Best of the County win 2021! Thank you for voting for us!”
— The Perfect Provenance (@theperfectprovenance on Instagram)
“Shauna Powers and I took a risk at a very uncertain time and created Sugar (@sugarpetaluma) with so much love, sweat and happy tears. It’s turned into this thisThankmywhombadasshardworking,talented,someworkplace,magicalandwealongsideofthemostkind,womenIconsidergreatfriends.youfor
Marin Maga zine. It means the world.”
— Ashley Alexandria, co-owner, Sugar, Best Women’s Haircut/Salon Services, Bay Area YES (@ashleyalexandriahair on Instagram)
“6 Top West Coast Authors to Watch: Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List” “Ah!!! So great! Please include Meredith Jaeger next time. She has a new book this summer. Proud friend.” — Adele Gilani (Art Gallery) (@adelegilani on Instagram)
Club Pilates, Pure Barre, Costco, and over 50 other stores, restaurants and services
Rowland Blvd Exit, Highway 101 ShopVintageOaks.com
Sugar Petaluma
Setting the clocks back during fall means getting an extra hour of sleep one night. But what if, instead of sleeping, you used that hour to check in with yourself? To ask how you’re faring in your existing relationship or search for one? It’s important to recognize when your current formula isn’t working, then invest in your future with a seasoned dating strategist who’ll find a partner thats right for you. So you can spring ahead in your life.
A 21st century approach to dating combining technology and dating/life coaching expertise for three decades.
Join a panel of education and aging experts as they discuss lifelong learning and how it can benefit your brain. We’ll explore ways you can keep your mind engaged — from political science courses and pottery classes to book clubs and more.
As more Americans have the option to work from home, the demand for secondary retreats has soared. SPACES brings together a panel of national design leaders to discuss their approach to designing a second or third home.
Child education experts Meryl Lipton, M.D., Ph.D.; Timothy Dohrer, Ph.D.; and Matthew Pietrafetta, Ph.D. joined us to discuss how parents can best support their children’s education and learning styles. Lipton is a behavioral child neurologist with a background in special education and educational psychology. Dohrer is the director of the Master of Science in Education Program at Northwestern University, and Pietrafetta is the founder and CEO of Academic Approach.
From self-care to sexuality, this event offers information and insight about aging you won't be able to find anywhere else! With Dr. Marisha Chilcott, founder and physician at Morpheus Medical Aesthetics, Melanie Perry, national director for memory support and resident experience at Elegance Living, and Monica Gray, COO of Nice Guys Delivery.
A new restaurant gives a nod to a piece of San Anselmo history. Elsewhere, new shops boast made products, and restaurateur Michael Mina revamps the former Aqua space. BY CHRISTINA MUELLER
Intent on honoring the family that opened San Anselmo Bakery in 1922 and ran it for 57 years in the same space (it closed in 1979), the Moana Restaurant Group named a restaurant after them, which melds a modern airy feel with a bakery’s warmth. Celadon walls and white-framed windows cast cool light on pine tables in a large main room and atrium. A whitewashed rooftop terrace with views of Mount Tam has room for 47 diners and boasts uncannily matched celadon umbrellas. Chef Gary Faulkner, whose pedigree includes stints at Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges in New York and the Pebble Beach Company, helms the open kitchen. Anchored by live-fire cooking, the new restaurant, opened in late August, focuses on the savory side. Look for dishes like rotisserie chicken with caper salsa verde or spit-roasted tri-tip alongside hearty meatless options including a bevy of entrée-sized salads; fire-roasted eggplant with grilled fennel, spicy harissa and Castelvetrano olives; and Nantes carrots with spiced tahini-yogurt, dill and black sesame. 625 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo; 415.991.1502; kientzhall.com
Mediterranean seafood with Greek and Egyptian underpinnings is the latest focus for the iconic Financial District space where chef Michael Mina first made his name at Aqua. Named for a beach on the Greek
island of Mikonos, the restaurant is a partner ship between chefs Mina, Girair “Jerry” Goumroian and Nikolaos Georgousis, and features a beachy vibe, including whole fish preparations. A fish cart with the day’s catch is helmed by what might be the city’s firstever “fish sommelier.” 252 California St, San
Francisco; 415.417.3969; estiatorioornos.com
La Q Marin
Snuggled into the nook under an overhang between The Vitamin Shoppe and Trader Joe’s stands a not-quite-foodtruck yet not-quitepop-up taco stand that opened in August. The restaurant team, lead by
Steve Paoli, serves up tortillas crisped on the plancha before being turned into cheesy or vegan (or both) tacos and calzados, La Q’s version of a burrito. The tight menu includes a campechano Cadillac calzado (it’s big) and street tacos. 2040 Red wood Hwy, Greenbrae; laqmarin.com
Opened amid last winter’s KarenKelleyChristopherhomealongsideapparelculturalcelebratingshutdowns,Covid-19thisshopMillValley’shistorysellsforallgenderscosmopolitangoods.Owners“Doc”andMarinnative“Eli”Loftusalso
offer a meditation room and altar space that reminds many customers of “old” Mill Valley. 118 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley; shopfez.com
Fideaux
With long-running shops of the same name in Healdsburg and Saint Helena, owner Erin Morris dropped an out-
Kientz Hallpost in Marin at the Mill Valley Lumberyard at the end of July. Focused on products for dogs (and their owners) from local small businesses, the store also carries seasonal items that are as suitably spooky or festive as the fall and winter holidays demand. 129 Miller Ave, Mill Valley; 415.888.3298 ; fideaux.net
Certified-organic CBD products and well-being are at the heart of this downtown Larkspur store from owners Allison Tryk (a former Marin aesthetician) and Ruby Hackney that opened this summer. Bath bliss sets and
facial oils are part of the product line, comple mented by brands that are woman-, BIPOC-, LGBTQ+800.484.0124;MagnoliaabilitycommitmentandAA&NHOPI-ownedandsharethesametosustainandquality.270Ave,Larkspur; floramye.com
Clothes and accessories for women, including linen dresses, knits, jewelry, bucket bags, sharp T-shirts, and on-trend denim from well-known brands and local favor ites, arrived in downtown Larkspur in August. Owner Margaret Tuttle is committed to offering an inspiring retail experi
ence for the curious and confident woman. 260 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur; 415.891.8462; margauxlarkspur.com
Though she first launched her brand online in 2001, Tysa Wright committed to a brick-and-mortar shop in Mill Valley earlier this year. Goods bearing the TYSA name are designed, made and produced in California, and the shop carries an array of apothecary and home goods, swim and baby gear, gourmet kitchen items and more. 74 Throckmorton Ave, Mill 415.302.0368;Valley; tysadesigns.com
In an effort to get people back together to reconnect, feed off each others’ energy, and inspire one another in a way that only in-person classes can do, Marin native Matthew Giannini opened a yoga studio in Mill Valley this spring with a full slate of yoga classes, room for 100 well-spaced participants and expansive views toward the Headlands. He also operates a coworking space, Trailhead Marin, next door. 650 East Blithedale Ave, Suite J, Mill Valley; 415.332.0025; thestudiomillvalley.com
Dr. Cat Gibson and Randy Gibson, LAc, medical completeddirector,amove from downtown Novato to Vintage Oaks Shop ping Center in Octo ber, sticking with the town they love for its proximity to the Buck Institute, local charm and space4,000-square-footandclients’helpingnityneighborneighbor-helping-commufeel.Dedicatedtofurthertheirhealth,vitalitylongevity,theirnewisdesignedto
wrap you in a senso rial experience while receiving acupuncture, massage, bio coding, cryo pain relief and other detox therapies.
100 Vintage Way, Ste K29, 415.209.9600;Novato; 9corners.com
Christina Mueller has been in food media for over 10 years. Her work has appeared in many print and online publications including Sunset magazine, Edible Communities and Eater, among others.
WANT MORE? Show your love for our local businesses. Check out new restaurants, shops and other openings at marinmagazine.com/new-in-town
MinaOrnos,EstiatorioaMichaelRestaurant
Ruby FloramyeHackney,
Fideaux
CELEBRATING OF
Over flowing with leafy greens and colorful vegetables, Soul Farmer’s burlap-wrapped bouquets are as visually stunning a s flo ral arrangements, yet the curated veggie bundles are meant to inspire much more than aesthetic enjoyment. Accompanied by seasonal recipes, the edible bouquets are intended to foster creativity in the kitchen and nourishing meals shared with loved ones and friends.
Soul Farmer was founded in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic by Marin-dweller Kelly Lauber, who personally grows, harvests, designs and even delivers the bouquets around the Bay Area. “As markets, restaurants and farms were closing, I decided to transform our small home gardens in Tiburon and Calistoga into ‘backyard farms’ to grow our own food,” Lauber says. “Come summer of 2020, we were swimming in produce, and I began hand-deliv ering bouquets to neighbors, friends and family to share the extra goodness from the gardens.” Bolstered by the overwhelming gratitude she received, Lauber decided to launch Soul Farmer. Her love of healthy eating started long before that, however.
“My inherent passion and appreciation for
growing food and entertaining stems from my childhood, my early working days and a family deeply rooted in gathering around the table together to enjoy a meal,” she says.
Following her graduation from California State University, Chico, the native of Salinas (known as the “Salad Bowl of the World”) worked with some of the largest produce brands (Fresh Express, Taylor Farms and Chiquita Foods) to increase their market share in retail spaces, in the meantime, learning the ins and outs of large- and small-scale farming. She then applied her business and marketing acumen to working in the tourism industry and at a non profit before deciding to leave the workforce to raise her Severalfamily.years later in 2019, Lauber met slow food movement icon Alice Waters at an event
in Los Angeles, which fueled her desire to merge her personal interests in healthy eat ing with her professional experience. “We connected over our love of worms, and how important they are for the soil, our food system and growing your own food — and of course, the importance of teaching children about growing healthy, nutritious food,” she says. Throughout 2020, Lauber helped coordinate online events and fundraisers to raise awareness for Waters’ nonprofit orga nization, The Edible Schoolyard Project, which is dedicated to public education for children promoting healthy eating. A portion of every Soul Farmer bouquet sold is donated to theThisorganization.fall,while she’s delivering bouquets stocked with seasonal produce like broccoli, fennel, leeks, peas, spinach and kohlrabi, Lauber is also planning to launch experiences at Soul Farmer. The first event planned is a fun draiser for The Edible Schoolyard Project. Also in the works: a garden tour with Waters, fol lowed by lunch and a lesson in making harvest bouquets. Says Lauber, “Through intentional acts of service and sharing, I hope to help make our local communities a truly beautiful place to live.”
WANT MORE? For more local food news visit marinmagazine.com/food-drink
THE GOOD LIFE Yoi, which means good in Japanese, is a brand-new plant-based food and beverage company created by Marin County resident Ellie Wells and co-founder Tosh Nakagawa. True to its name, the company’s first product, Probiotic Nut & Seedmilk, is both delicious and good for you. The tart, subtly flavored beverages — inspired by the ancient art of Japanese fermentation — are crafted in small batches from simple organic ingredients including almonds, coconut and pumpkin seeds, and contain no added sugar. “They’re very high in probiotics, and also contain prebiotic fiber, so they’re great for gut health,” says Wells, who worked with Nakagawa in the dairy industry for over a decade before founding Yoi. “It’s great on its own, and it can also be added to smoothies, poured over granola, and used to make overnight oats and chia pudding.” The product is available at independent grocers throughout the Bay Area. yoifresh.com LA
Kelly Farmerfounder,Lauber,SoulRelive some of baseball’s greatest postseason moments of the past decade. BY IAN LARNED
It’s October, when baseball postseason heroes are made and championship dreams are achieved or crushed. As we get ready to watch the World Series starting October 26, we decided to review all of the bat flips, clutch hits and improbable rallies to compile some of the most iconic moments from the Major League Baseball playoffs and World Series over the last decade (we’ll never forget you, Travis Ishikawa). Our research reminded us that the drama and excitement of October baseball are hard to top, and we’re eager to see who writes their names into the baseball history books this fall. Check out six of the best postseason moments here (spoiler alert: The Giants made the list twice!), and let us know if we missed your favorite by emailing us at editorial@marinmagazine.com.
Bumgarner came in after the fourth inning of game seven on two days of rest and delivered the Giants the win. Bumgarner gave the Giants their third World Series win in five years, cementing San Francisco as one of the great dynasties in baseball history.
Where: San Francisco
When: 2014 National League Championship Series
Where: St. Louis
When: 2011 World
What:Series Down 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and runners on first and second, David Freese hit a bomb off the right field wall, which tied the game at seven. Later in
the bottom of the 11 th , Freeze hit a solo home run to win the game and send the series to a seventh game. The next day, the Cardinals beat the Rangers to win the World Series.
Where: Cleveland
When: 2016 World Series
After giving up a
three-run lead in the eighth inning, the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians headed to extra innings in the final game of the 2016 MLB season. At the top of the 10 th , the Cubs manufactured two runs. With two outs in the bottom of the 10 th , Kris Bryant fielded a hard ground ball and threw out the runner to win the
World Series. After a 108-year drought, the Cubs finally were champions again.
Where: Kansas City
When: 2014 World Series
After pitching a nineinning shutout in game five, Madison
In the bottom of the ninth with the game tied at three, the Giants started a rally against the Cardinals. Pablo Sandoval led off with a base hit; Brandon Belt followed shortly after with a walk; and then Travis Ishikawa launched a ball over the right field wall to send the Giants to the World Series.
Where: Toronto
When : 2015 American League Divisional Series
In the series deciding game five between Toronto and Texas, José Bautista stepped up to the plate in the seventh inning with two outs and runners on first and third. He proceeded to hit an emphatic threerun series clinching blast for the Blue Jays capped off by an iconic bat flip.
Where: Boston
When: 2013 American League Championship Series
Down 5-1 in the bottom of the eighth and 1-0 in the best of five series, the Red Sox had their slugger David Ortiz at bat. With two outs and the bases loaded, “Big Papi” hammered a ball to right field, which caused the Detroit Tigers right fielder to fly over the wall. Boston won the game, and the series.
WANT MORE? See video clips of all of these highlights at marinmagazine.com/baseball-moments Reliving the 2014 San Francisco Giants National League Championship Series clinchThese Bay Area-based tech superstars are finding innovative ways to help us feel and look better.
BY KIRSTEN JONES NEFFRemember the days when speaking to a doctor by phone or video conference seemed too, well, remote? Or when we almost always went to a salon to cover our roots? As the world around us shifted due to the pandemic last year, however, so has our relationship with technology, and leaders in the health, wellness and beauty industries were prepared to meet our needs — sometimes, even when we didn’t yet know them. These Bay Areabased business leaders have found ways to use technology to improve the consumer experience and even offer previously unimagined services. And, in the era of social distance, their innovations have become even more relevant.
MING CofounderZHAO,and CEO, Proven Ming Zhao, who emigrated with her family from China to the United States at age 12 and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, reinvented how consumers shop for skincare with her arti ficial intelligence-based brand, Proven ( provenskincare. com). After consumers take a quiz on the company’s website, Proven’s Skin Genome Project database analyzes the effectiveness of skincare ingredients and factors such as the water hardness, humidity level and UV index of where a person lives to generate per sonalized skincare product recommendations.
Launched in 2020, the kegg app ( kegg.tech) connects to a small insertable device that monitors cervical fluid through precise sensing tech nology and accurately predicts the fertile window so women know when to expect their next period, or when they should take a pregnancy test.
Kristina Cahojova’s goal: to use technology to empower women to better understand their own bodies with accurate and actionable data.
The San Francisco-based beauty brand disrupted the hair color industry by launching a customized service that relies on color-matching technology and a team of oncall colorists to help women identify the right shade of hair color to order online, and then delivers it to their homes. According to Amy Errett, during the peak of the pandemic, Madison Reed (madison-reed. com) saw its new customers increase dramatically to 12 times the pre-Covid-19 levels.
“We’re humbled that so many people have turned to us,” says Errett, who sees her company’s success during the pandemic as a sign that at-home coloring is here to stay.
In 2019, Varsha Rao took the helm of Nurx (nurx.com), a telemedicine company offer ing birth control prescriptions, emergency contraception and home-testing kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). All prescriptions are written by a licensed healthcare provider and delivered right to the patient’s door — an especially in-demand service during the pandemic. “Nurx breaks down access barriers to help people receive essential healthcare,” says Rao.
WANT MORE? Read about more tech game-changers in beauty, health and welness at marinmagazine.com/tech-wellness-leaders
With yearly rainfall totals drastically low, it’s more important than ever for Marin residents to reduce water consumption.
BY RICHARD WRIGHTThe signs are everywhere. And not just the “Drought is Here Conserve Water” Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) signs posted throughout Marin. The Nicasio Reservoir and Phoenix Lake were near ing pond-like status by March and April. From Horse Hill in Mill Valley to Novato’s Mount Burdell, the vibrant green of the spring grass had already faded to the amber and golds of late summer. Heading into fall after a typically dry summer, water levels remain extremely low.
“This is the lowest amount of rainfall we’ve had in 140 years,” says President of the Board of Directors of Marin Municipal Water District Cynthia Koeher. “Typically this time of year, our reservoirs are about 78% full. Right now, we’re at 40% and we may be heading into a La Niña year, which means it is likely to be dryDroughtsagain.”are nothing new to Marin and California. But the last drought this bad — in 1976 and 1977 — is hardly remembered by most Marin residents. One thing that’s changed since then, at least, is that the MMWD has adapted, adjusted and advanced water measuring and rationing recommendations and“We’retechniques.inbetter shape since the drought of ‘76,” says Koeher. “We’ve doubled the capacity of Kent Lake, built the Soulajule Reservoir and contracted
with Sonoma to bring water from the Russian River to Marin.”Buteven with these substantial improvements, Marin is dependent on rainfall — of which there’s been very little of this year. So, with no precipitation, how do we get through this drought?
“Our biggest opportunity is reducing our depen dence through water-saving tactics,” says Koeher. “We’re very reliant on local supplies, and it will be insanely expensive to bring more water from outside sources to AccordingMarin.”tothe MMWD, in 2005 Marin residents used about 150 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) on average. We’ve been able to bring that down to 124, which is a significant drop. But it’s not low enough if droughts are going to get worse. And they will, cau tions“WeKoeher.doa lot of forecasting, which involves looking back,” she says. “But what is past is no longer prologue. Because of climate change, we can only predict that weather will become more extreme, meaning less pre cipitation or more, just not only one way or the other.”
Given the current scenario, individual efforts to save water are vital to making it through this drought, and others to come. The first step is assessing how you can cut back on your usage effectively — some thing the MMWD endeavors to make as easy as
possible. “We’ll send a technician out for free to do a water audit of your house and property,” says Koeher. “This will help the county, as well as save you money.” The MMWD also offers financial incentives to curb water usage. “MMWD will help you get a rebate of $3 cash for every square foot of lawn you replace with mulch materials,” says Koeher. Rebates are also avail able when you attach a Flume monitor to your home’s water meter and decrease your usage.
To learn more water-saving tips, visit marinwater. org/conserve. Though it may sometimes feel chal lenging to reduce water usage, doing our part in conservation will help Marin survive and flourish — now and in the future.
WANT MORE? Read more about preserving precious resources at marinmagazine.com/sustainability
NicasioA cornucopia of product picks inspired by our favorite fall flavors
BY LOTUS ABRAMS
1 Morrow Cruz Throw Pillow; $170
Prevalent Projects, Mill Valley; prevalentprojects.com
Woven on a pit loom in India by master weavers, this Fair Trade-certified tawny-hued throw pillow adds a rich, modern touch to any space.
2 Pumpkin Spice Tea; $12.50
The Republic of Tea, Larkspur; republicoftea.com
Add a splash of milk to this black tea spiked with pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves to capture the essence of freshly baked autumnal treats in a mug.
3 Nest Pumpkin Chai Liquid Soap; $22 Cos Bar, Larkspur; cosbar.com
Fragranced with wild pumpkin, spicy masala chai, cardamom, ginger and cinnamon, this liquid soap is
infused with nourishing natural plant extracts and antioxidants.
4 Custom Enzyme Boost; from $185 International Orange, Larkspur; internationalorange.com Pamper your skin with this complexion-brightening treatment featuring a customized blend of pumpkin, pineapple and papaya enzymes.
5 Pumpkin Torte 3”; $5.25
Flour Chylde, Novato; flourchyldebakes.com
The gluten-free bakery makes its beloved pumpkin baked treats in individually sized frosted tortes, a 12-pack of minis, a 6-inch cake and an unfrosted loaf.
6 Large Covered Serving Dish; $182 Heath Ceramics, Sausalito; heathceramics.com
Heath Ceramics’ earthy redwood glaze.
7 Pumpkin Spice Latte; $5 Pink Owl Coffee, San Rafael, Petaluma; pinkowlcoffee.com
Come fall, we can’t get enough of Pink Owl’s tempting latte flavored with pumpkin syrup and a hint of pumpkin pie “dust.” Try it with oat milk for a dairyfree option that’s just as delicious.
8 Capri Blue Pumpkin Clove Jar Candle; $34 Anthropologie, Corte Madera; anthropologie.com
Chilly nights call for cozy lights, like this hand-poured candle scented with buttery pumpkin, orange zest, vanilla and cinnamon.
WANT
*check stores
A new book by Cathy Rath uses the turbulent 1960s and ’70s as a lens to tackle social justice issues — and tell a great story.
Cathy Rath wears many hats: She’s a professor, a social justice advocate and organizer, a writing coach and tutor, and now, a novelist. If there’s one thing that unites her passions, however, it’s her unwavering commitment to social good.
Rath is from New York, but was drawn to the West Coast’s activist environment in the 1970s. She attended the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and then San Francisco State University (SFSU), where she is now a profes
God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen, Rhys Bowen A murder interrupts Georgie’s Christmas cheer in this new installment of the best-selling Royal Spyness series. See Bowen online at Book Passage on Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.
Right Within, Minda Harts; Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea, Meena Harris Harts’ book offers strategies for women of color facing racialized workplace moments. Harris’s book is based on her aunt, Vice President Kamala Harris. See them online at Book Passage on Oct. 13 at 3 p.m.
The congressman and lawyer argues that Donald Trump’s presidency so compro mised the Republican Party that the peril will last for years. Schiff is at Dominican University on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.
Freedom, Sebastian Junger In this thought-provoking book, the awardwinning journalist examines the tension that lies at the heart of what it means to be human. Junger is at Book Passage on Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.
Reviews by Paula Farmer, Book Passage
BY JESSICA GLIDDONsor in women’s health. As a social justice advocate, she has led public health campaigns, and her effort to reduce violence against women has earned her recognition and awards.
Her firt novel, Ripple Effect, is set within the turbulent 1960s and ’70s. When the central character, Jeannie Glazer, is arrested for pro testing during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, her bail is paid by her “pop” — but her father passed away years ago. Stunned and suspicious, Jeannie becomes convinced some body is watching her. Her search ends up closing in on an even darker secret about her father’s tragic death. We spoke to Cathy about her novel.
How did your experiences in the 1960s and ’70s inspire you to write this novel?
CATHY RATH (CR): As a junior high school student in the late ’60s, I was raised in a liberal community that paid attention to the era’s turbulence. The nightly news showed shocking scenes of the Vietnam War, massive protests, fiery civil rights marche, and the assassina tion of Martin Luther King, Jr. and others. Something profound had taken root. After “Tricky Dick” was elected that November, the war escalated, and a draft lottery had begun. It was impossible to stay naïve or apathetic, so I entered the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1974 and majored in sociology. By 1976, after transferring to UCSB with my radical boyfriend, I was all in, and have been involved in social justice causes ever since.
Were there any social themes you were hoping to highlight in writing this novel? (CR): My sociology professor, a former Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) activist, steered me onto my career path. By the late ’70s, women had made liberating strides. I jumped in head firt. As a health educator, a violence-prevention
manager and a Women’s Health professor for the past 11 years, women’s rights is a major theme for me. In the book, the protagonist embodies the plight of the controlled, violated and silenced woman of the era. She struggles twice as much to be taken half as seriously as a journalist, as a member of her own family, by her boyfriend and by the anti-war group.
Do you think fiction can help inspire support for nonprofits? (CR): Nonprofitsideally mobilize a community’s capacity to collectively organize for the common good. To manifest human rights for all, storytelling is key. From the “risks’’ of being a woman, black or brown, LGBTQ, disabled or aging, these shared experiences illustrate common struggles of resilience. Isabelle Allende once said, “You can tell the deepest truths with the lies of fiction”
Do you have advice for aspiring novelists? (CR): Attend focused workshops and also fin books on writing fiction. Read new and betloved novels in your genre. Write daily, join a writing group and/or find a supportie coach. Always believe the journey is worth taking. See Rath at Book Passage on Oct. 2 at 4 p.m.
WANT MORE? Find the best new books from local authors and beyond at marinmagazine.com/books.A nostalgic look at a relative’s house inspires a journey into the history of Belvedere and its architecture.
BY JESSICA GLIDDONFew things were more exciting when I was young than my family’s yearly trip to visit my great aunt Barbara in Belvedere. Although I grew up in the Central Valley, my family has roots in the Bay Area, and long before I was born, she had settled in Belvedere in a house known locally as “The Pagoda House.”
Visiting there was magical. From the street, the house’s pointy roof peeked out from behind a large, wooden, Asian-style gate. Inside, a nar row bridge passed over overgrown gardens, leading to a low, rounded doorway. In my imagination, it was like a gateway to another world.
At the entrance to the house a large plaque designated it an historical residence dating from 1896, which had always piqued my curiosity. What I didn’t realize until later, when I began researching the structure, was that this was one of Belvedere’s first homes, and how much it embodies the history of this unique community.
Belvedere began, like many parts of the Bay Area, as farmland, before being transformed into a military outpost. It only became a residential area in 1896 — the city celebrated its 125th anniversary this September.
Belvedere was a planned community. It was developed by the Belvedere Land Company, which sold off lots of land beginning in 1891 that were bought up and built — the Pagoda House was one of the first. In some of Belvedere’s earliest photos, the house sits jutting out on the hill, surrounded only by trees and a few other homes. It was built for Henry Shotwell Wood, an engineer for the S.F. Bridge Company, and con structed by Daniel McLean, who built many early homes in the area.
Before Belvedere was developed, the island had a large cod fish processing plant. “The West Shore and its fishery predates the Land Company,” explains David M. Gotz, the archivist for the BelvedereTiburon Landmarks Society. “They were there until 1939 when the
Union Cod Fishery building burned down.” The fishery was owned by John William Pew, who was also a town trustee, the commodore of the Corinthian Yacht Club, and one of the signees who approved the incorporation of Belvedere — and it was Pew who purchased the Pagoda House from Wood in 1897. According to a Sausalito paper cited in Life in Belvedere and Tiburon 1890–1900, he made his purchase there, as “prices are too high in Sausalito.”
Many houses dating from Belvedere’s early years were built with a simi lar layout that hugged the hill, with the residential portion at the top and the kitchen down below. In my childhood visits, venturing down the house’s narrow, creaky stairs meant encountering Koki, an obnoxiously loud cockatoo who screamed from his bay view perch while my great aunt stood nearby in the kitchen, chopping vegetables.
From the lower level you could walk out onto the deck and get a view of the unusual shape of the house from below. The building was squat and flat at the top, abruptly transforming into a dramatic downward curve at the base, as though it were being pulled down the steep slope. Alongside the overgrown garden with a teahouse nestled in one corner, a pathway descended dramatically downward; this was Pagoda Lane, framed by vines and heady with the fragrance of nasturtiums. It was Asian, yet at the same time, very much of Belvedere.
The Pagoda House’s shape was most likely inspired by the connec tions that the San Francisco Bay Area had with Asia during this time. While this was the only Asian-style building to be found on the island, the house no doubt must have taken its cue from some of the Asianinspired architecture that was popular around the turn of the 19th century. For example, San Francisco’s Chinatown, built only a decade later after the earthquake, showed off ust how invested Western archi tects were in the idea of the pagoda, which most of them had never seen
The Pagoda House in 1902, above the Hotel Belvedere, which was demolished in 1926.in real life. As Chinatown was a fantasy idea of what Asia was, the Pagoda House was, too.
From the beginning, Belvedere’s residents seem to have had a fas cination with the international, and this was reflected in the town’s traditions, as well as its architectural styles. Pew was the one of the organizers of the opulent “Night in Venice” festivities; its 1895 event attracted 30,000 spectators from around the bay to see a parade of the famed ark houseboats. According to a paper at the time, The San Francisco Call, it was quite spectacular: “Like beacons to all mankind the red and green and yellow lights glittered and flashed across the water like a million tongues of fire.” One ark, which was hailed as best decorated, was adorned with no less than two giant paper mâché lions, fishing nets containing 3,000 carnations and 500 colorful lanterns.
As Belvedere’s homes were originally built as summer retreats for the San Francisco elite fleeing the heat (and stink) of the city, the architectural styles here tended to veer toward the eclectic. “In the 1890s, families came over and stayed in what were mostly cottages, summer houses and arks,” explains Gotz. “After the earth quake in 1906, a lot of them just moved over.”
Belvedere has its own unique style of architecture known as First Bay Tradition, which combines an English and Swiss cot tage sensibility with a heavy use of shingles. Some of the opulent architecture that sprung up on the island was influenced by the 1893 Columbian International Exposition in Chicago, which showcased the City Beautiful movement, bringing Beaux-Arts classicism to buildings across the country. Later, beloved Bay Area architect Julia Morgan was responsible for several Belvedere homes on the island, including part of lawyer Gordon Blanding’s grand classical estate that at one point required 25 employees to run. The center of it was Locksley Hall on Golden Gate Avenue, today one of the most expensive homes on the island. There was also “The Organ House,” which was enlarged to accommodate a massive organ that was eventually moved to the Paramount Theater in Oakland.
My great aunt and uncle moved to Belvedere in 1955; she was an artist who had studied at UC Berkeley and the Chicago Art Institute, and he was a graphic designer. She was also an art teacher and a children’s book author, publishing a book called The Otter Twins, which was inspired by otters she viewed at the San Francisco Zoo. No doubt Belvedere’s thriv ing art scene had something to do with their move there.
Art was part of Belvedere life since the town was built. “There were a lot of artists here,” explains Gotz. “A group of artists known as the “The Society of Six” started a movement here in the late 19th century and early 20th century. They were inspired by the French Impressionists, which they would have seen at the Pan Pacific Fair. They applied this French Plien Aire style to the Bay Area; one of them, Seldon-Connor Gile painted
an epic painting of the Tiburon/Belvedere waterfront.”
Many local landmarks, like the Organ House, were gathering places for artists and writers. Belvedere’s famous ark s floated in the bay for several decades before they were relegated to shore in 1939, and were rented by artists and sculptors in the 1950s and ’60s, creating a small artists’ colony. It was home to well-known local artists like John Falter, who painted covers for the Saturday Evening Post Magazine; Esther Meyer, a prolific landscape painter and water color ist; and Bob Bastian, who
was a cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle and KQED.
My great aunt died in 2010 after living in the Pagoda House most of her life. The house’s walls were decorated with her abstract paintings, which were created in her studio with its panoramic views of Corinthian Island and San Francisco. Perhaps the shades of this landscape inspired her work. Undoubtedly, both her art and life were entwined with the his tory of her unique house and the beautiful community it’s part of.
Harvest Vegetable Soup With Butternut Squash, Farro and Kale, p. 40
As evening temperatures begin to dip with the onset of fall, there’s nothing more comforting than digging into a hearty bowl of soup or stew. Brimming with fresh and flavorful ingredients that tout a ros ter of nutrients and disease-fighting properties, these satisfying recipes promise not only to warm your belly, but also to provide a fortifying boost to your health. So hunker down, make a pot, and get cozy with your family and friends with one of these vibrant and healthy stews.
BY LYNDA BALSLEV
Serves 4
Butternut squash and leafy kale contribute a healthy dose of vitamins, beta-carotene and antioxidants to this soup, and their sweet and earthy flavors perfectly balance the tomato-acidity of the broth. Hearty farro, a nutty ancient grain, provides fiber and protein, while homemade or a high-quality chicken stock or bone broth (just as the doctor ordered) ensures an extra dose of immunitystrengthening nutrients.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small fennel bulb, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
2 cloves garlic, fi nely chopped
2 heaping cups butternut squash, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup semi-pearled farro
5 cups chicken stock or bone broth, plus more as needed 1 15-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes with juice
1 2–3-inch Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese rind
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2–3 cups coarsely chopped green kale leaves
Finely grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese
1. Heat the oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and fennel and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the butternut squash and farro; stir to coat and lightly toast the farro for about 1 minute.
2. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, cheese rind, bay leaf, thyme, salt and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil, breaking up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon. Reduce the heat to medium-low, partially cover the pot, and simmer until the squash and farro are tender, about 30 minutes. (If the soup is too thick, add a little more stock.)
3. Stir in the kale leaves and simmer until the kale brightens in color and wilts, about 2 minutes. Discard the cheese rind and bay leaf and taste for seasoning.
4. Ladle the soup into bowls and pass the grated cheese for sprinkling over the soup.
This spicy and aromatic soup is inspired by Korean kimchi jjigae, or kimchi soup. Kimchi is a traditional Korean fermented vegetable condiment usually made with cabbage. Fermented foods are an excellent probiotic and promote healthy gut flora. Umami-rich shiitakes deliver deep flavor to the fragrant broth and are lauded for their myriad medicinal properties, which include promoting healthy blood vessels, bones and immune support.
2 tablespoons grape-seed or canola oil, divided
8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, trimmed, sliced 1/4-inch thick Kosher salt
4 scallions, white and green parts sliced and divided
1 medium carrot, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon peeled , fi nely grated fresh ginger
1/2up kimchi, coarsely chopped 1/4up kimchi juice
4 cups chicken, mushroom or vegetable stock
2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons gochugang (fermented hot pepper paste)
1 teaspoon sugar
5 ounces spinach, stems removed 8 ounces fi rm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and lightly season with salt. Sauté until the mushrooms soften, slightly brown and begin to release their juices, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a plate.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the same pot. Add the white scallions and carrots and sauté until the carrots brighten in color and are crisp-tender, 2–3 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Stir in the kimchi and kimchi juice and cook for about 1 minute, loosening any brown bits in the pot. Add the stock, soy sauce, gochugang and sugar.
3. Bring the soup to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir in the spinach and continue to simmer until the greens wilt, 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently. Return the mushrooms to the soup, gently stir in the tofu, and simmer until just heated through.
4. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with the green scallions. Serve warm.
Serves 4
Indian curries are recognized for their anti-inflam matory and anti-carcinogenic properties, thanks to being made up of a laundry list of immunity-boost ing spices and aromatics, such as ginger, turmeric, coriander and cumin. Protein- and fiber-rich red lentils thicken and add satisfying heartiness to this heady and fragrant soup. Red lentils are more deli cate than green and brown lentils and cook quickly. Take care not to overcook the red lentils or they will become mushy.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 large carrot , fi nely diced
1 small poblano pepper, fi nely diced
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon peeled , fi nely grated fresh ginger
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 cup red lentils, rinsed and picked over 1 cup (8-ounce can) crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon brown sugar or maple syrup
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
1/4up fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, chopped, plus more for garnish
1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until soft, 2–3 minutes. Add the carrot and pepper and sauté until crisptender, about 2 minutes more. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant, about 30 sec onds. Stir in the curry powder, cumin, coriander, turmeric and cayenne and cook for another 30 seconds to toast the spices, stirring constantly.
2. Add the broth, lentils and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook, partially covered, over medium-low heat until the lentils are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the brown sugar, lime juice and salt. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro.
3. Ladle into bowls and garnish with addi tional cilantro and a dollop of yogurt, if desired.
WANT MORE? delicious recipes for whatever you’re craving at marinmagazine.com/recipes
Serves 4
Red meat in moderation makes a superb source of protein, vitamin B12, iron and zinc. Choose healthy, sustainably sourced meat, such as grass-fed bison. Bison is leaner, lower in cholesterol, and richer in protein and Omega-3s than beef. Barley and black beans round out the triple-B triumvirate in this hefty chili, with each ingredient contributing a healthy dose of fiber, vitamins and nutrients.
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound ground bison or 11/2ounds bison steak, cut into bite-size chunks
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 large poblano pepper, seeded and diced
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2–3 chilies in adobo, chopped, with juice
1/4up tomato paste
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes with juice
1 cup beef or chicken stock, or more as needed
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup pre-cooked black beans, or 1 15-ounce ca n black beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup pre-cooked barley
Sliced jalapeño pepper
Chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems Chopped red onion
Crumbled cotija cheese
1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the bison to the pot and season with salt and pepper. Cook the ground meat until it begins to brown, about 8 minutes, or brown the meat chunks on all sides, also about 8 minutes. Transfer the bison to a plate.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the same pot. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat until softened, 2–3 minutes. Add the peppers and sauté until they brighten in color, about
2 minutes more. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 min ute. Add the chilies in adobo, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin and paprikas and cook until slightly caramelized, about 1 minute, stirring constantly.
3. Return the beef to the pot and add the tomatoes, stock, bay leaves, brown sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, and then reduce the heat to medium-low. Partially cover the pot and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir in the black beans and barley and taste for seasoning. The chili should be thick. If it’s too thick, loosen it with additional stock to your desired consistency. Continue to cook over medium-low heat for about 10 more minutes.
5. Ladle the chili into serving bowls. Serve with the garnishes for sprinkling: jalapeño peppers, cilantro, red onion and cheese.
Lynda Balslev is an award-winning cookbook author based in the North Bay, a former Marin Literacy Program board member and volunteer at Lasagna Love.
BY KATY BUTLER
The hidden West Marin retreat that inspired Van Jones, Rebecca Solnit and Michael Pollan
I w ri te to re at e f abric in a w or ld th at often pp ears ack a d white. I w ri te to disc over. I w ri te to nc over. I w ri te to m ee t my gh osts. I w ri te as th ough I m wh isp er ing n th e ear of e on e I l ov e. ” TEMPEST “
On a bluff oerlooking Tomales Bay estuary lies a little-known cultural treasure: an extraordinary house that, since 1997, has given more than a thousand writers the time, silence and freedom to do their most thought-provoking, society-changing work. Designed by West Marin architect Jon Fernandez and built in 1989, the cedar-and-redwood writers’ retreat known as Mesa Refuge was originally a second home for abstract impressionist Sam Francis. One of the smallest of the country’s approximately 500 “artists’ colonies,” its existence has at times been as tenuous as the vanishing species its writers have eloquently championed. Hidden on a quiet country road just outside Point Reyes Station, the retreat has temporarily closed for emergency renovations and a major fundraising campaign.
An Incubator for Creativity Mesa Refuge customarily serves three writers at a time to write about social justice, the environment or the economy. Most of the thought leaders who lug in their notebooks and laptops aren’t famous — yet — and each stays for only two weeks. But the work they produce there has often gone on to earn MacArthur Fellowships, hit best-seller lists, in fluence public policy, and engender hope for a just, livable world in our complicated times.
Van Jones was not yet a CNN commentator or White House adviser in 2004 when he worked on The Green Collar Economy in a writing shed behind the retreat’s main house.
The brilliant African-American policy analyst and public intellectual Heather McGhee had not yet fully formulated the ideas that animate The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, her challenge to the notion that racism is a zero-sum game benefitting whites, when she came here in 2017. Mesa Refuge, she says, “was the fi rst place where I got to spend quiet time away, workshopping the ideas with like-minded writer-activists.” Her TED talk two years later, “Racism Has a Cost for Everyone,” has now been watched by more than two-and-a-half million people. And The Sum of Us was an immediate 2021 New York Times best-seller.
Samin Nosrat had not yet published her charming how-to-cook book, Salt Fat Acid Heat, when she came here in 2011, and agribusiness critic Michael Pollan (whom Nosrat taught to cook) had not yet published his breakout best-seller, The Omnivore’s Dilemma. But in a single fortnight here in the spring of 2005, uninterrupted by email,
child care or phone calls, Pollan drafted a full chapter on his experiences foraging for mushrooms — astonishingly speedy output for the slow work of paradigm-changing writing.
“It was a wildly productive two weeks,” recalls Pollan, who is now a member of the Mesa Refuge advisory board, along with environmental writers Bill Mc Kibben and Terry Tempest Williams. “I was astonished at how much I could get done and still go hiking every day — and even go abalone diving off ierce Point.”
Pollan returned in 2007 and wrote a full third of hi s fi rst draft of In Defense of Food. “I’d always thought these places were a kind of indulgence,” he says. “But my experiences at Mesa have con vinced me of their value, and my time there was an incredible bless ing. The work people do here has the capacity to change the world, and that is why I have supported Mesa Refuge ever since.”
Traditionally, past residents sign their names inside their bedroom closets, and among the signatures you wil l fi nd those of Shane Bauer (American Prison); Peggy Orenstein (Boys and Sex); Lewis Hyde (The Gift); Lynne Twist
“
[Mesa R ef uge] was th e fi rs t place wher e I got top en d quiet me away, w or ksh o pp inge ideas wit h like-minded ri ter-a ctivists ”
— HEATHER MCGHEE, AUTHOR, THE SUM OF USMesa Refuge’s room” by at
(The Soul of Money); Robin Kimmerer (Braiding Sweetgrass); Novato native Rebecca Solnit (Hope in the Dark); Muir Beach Zen teacher Wendy Johnson (Gardening at the Dragon’s Gate); palliative care specialist Sunita Puri, M.D. (That Good Night); and Bonnie Tsui (Why We Swim).
The source of the magic here is elusive. At fi rst glance, the place holds little more than an overgrown English garden with eight apple trees; two freestanding writing sheds overlooking the ever-changing wetlands; and a one-and-a-half-story main house constructed of wood, glass and stucco and capped by a skylit entryway. There are three bedrooms; four patios and decks; a gourmet kitchen where residents cook and sometimes share meals; and a high-ceilinged, hip-roofed “gathering
room” with Mission furniture, rocking chairs, a fi replace, exposed rafters and big glass windows with a long view of Inverness Ridge. The bookshelves are lined with hundreds of books by Mesa Refuge authors.
I wish I could better deconstruct the power of the place, with its timeless sense of wabi-sabi (the Japanese notion of the beauty of the worn, handmade, original and imperfect). But having benefited from three Mesa Refuge residencies
myself over the past 20 years, I can testify that everything about this architectural jewel — the quiet, the privacy, the unpretentious beauty, the absence of human visitors, the presence of birds and flowers, the wordless encouragement to do deep thinking and writ ing — nourishes the writer’s soul and inspires her best work.
I came to “the Refuge” in 2012 as a relatively unknown journalist struggling to wrestle my first book (a memoir of family caregiving and a radical critique of medicine’s technological approach to death) into final shape. As soon as I saw the sign reading “IMAGINE” over the front doorway and took in the interior’s ochre, burnt orange and deep teal walls, I left ordinary time behind and entered sacred time.
For the next two weeks, as if in a reverie, I watched bees buzz in the climbing roses and stared at clouds billowing through changing skies as words poured out freehand into spiral notebooks and digitally onto my laptop. Gazing over the Tomales estuary, where wilderness and civilization meet, I left the chores and interruptions of my daily life in Mill Valley far behind. In two weeks, I wrote the fi nal two chapters of Knocking on Heaven’s Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death, which, in 2013, became a New York Times best-seller and Notable Book of the Year.
Whenever I momentarily lost faith, I would go to the downstairs
bathroom and read a framed incantation by the environmental writer Terry Tempest Williams called, “Why I Write.”
“I write to make peace with the things I cannot control,” it begins. “I write to create fabric in a world that often appears black and white. I write to discover. I write to uncover. I write to meet my ghosts…” I would read on to it s fi nal line, encouraging me to be as brave, gen-
in the creative solitude, isolation and wild beauty of West Marin. “I vowed that if I was ever in a position to give back to the universe, I’d like to do something like this,” he says.
His dream unexpectedly came true in the mid-1990s, after he sold his stake in Credo, which had by then morphed into a socially consciou s fi nancial services, credit card and telecommunications company. With some of the proceeds, he bought the Francis house next door to his own home. Then, with Fernandez’ help, he picked
tle and truthful as I possibly could: “…I write as though I am whispering in the ear of the one I love.” Then I’d climb back upstairs to my bedroom-cum-workspace in the Tower Room and write some more.
The Refuge is the ful fi llment of a dream long held by Peter Barnes, a former Newsweek jour nalist, serial entrepreneur (Working Assets mutual funds/Credo mobile) and socially committed venture philanthropist. He had fallen in love with West Marin in his 20s, when he worked on an early book at a 100-acre, semiderelict ranch he’d rented within Point Reyes National Seashore. (The rancher had a heart attack and was forced to move to Petaluma.)
If he ever became rich, Barnes decided, after a stay at another philanthropically funded writers’ retreat, he would create a place where undernourished writers could work
“ I ca nn ot xplain why th e ma gic w or ks, but itoes. It’s e bea uty of e site, th e wet lands bel ow, the tide comingn and out wice a day”
— PETER BARNES, MESA REFUGE FOUNDERPast residents, including Shane Bauer, Peggy Orenstein and Rebecca Solnit, have signed their names inside the bedroom closets during their stays at Mesa Refuge.
out saturated colors to replace the stark whiteness of the original walls, and scoured antique and second-hand stores for furnishings.
“Nothing is new, it’s all sort of second hand, and there’s no plan to it,” he says. “I didn’t want it to look like everything came from Crate & Barrel.” In 1997, the Refuge opened its doors to it s fi rst writers.
“I cannot explain why the magic works, but it does,” Barnes continues. “It’s the beauty of the site, the wetlands below, the tide coming in and out twice a day. There are a lot of ‘edges’ around Mesa Refuge: the edge of the San Andreas Fault, the edge between civilization and wilderness, the edge between land and water. You see something and feel something that is beyond civilization, but you’re not so far away that you can’t capture it and put it into words.”
Barnes funded the place completely at fi rst. Then came the fi nancial downturn of 2000 and the crash of 2008. “I naively thought I could fi nance it all by myself, because I hate fundraising,” he recalls. “I was wrong.” For several years, the Refuge teetered on the edge of fi nancial survival and was forced to curtail some residencies.
Since executive director Susan Tillett took the reins in 2013, it has broadened its donor base and strengthened the board of directors, which currently includes internationally known cheese maker Sue Conley, the visionary cofounder of Cowgirl Creamery. Barnes, now 79, still contributes but is not a major donor. The Refuge owns its building, but the freestanding nonprofit has no endowment. It raises its yearly $350,00 operating budget entirely from donations, and it remains relatively unknown in the eastern part of the county.
“A spirit of generosity permeates the entire Refuge,” says Tillett. “To be given that gift of time, space and support is really life changing for people. Many writers’ residencies are more oriented toward pure art, but we focus on the pressing issues of our time.”
All rested in precarious balance, and then in 2020 came an unexpected disaster. A contractor replacing weather-beaten siding
uncovered leaks and dry rot beneath, and then a termite infestation. The more of the structure he opened up, the more damage he found. Major repairs began at once, and the Refuge was forced to take out a big construction loan. Last winter, the severely damaged Tower Room, where I had so happily stayed, was entirely rebuilt.
Donors, including patrons and hundreds of former Mesa Refuge writer-residents, have so far rallied and contributed more than $160,000 toward the $500,000 needed to retire the loan and make the house safe and livable again before the onset of the rainy sea son — to waterproof and repair the structure, replace worn-out windows and electrical systems, update the kitchen and bathrooms, and replant the English garden with native plants better suited to aridity and climate change. If all goes well this fall and winter, the Refuge will open its refurbished doors in early 2022, welcoming a new crop of writers who will hopefully change our world for the bet ter in ways we can’t yet imagine.
Katy Butler is a past finalist for a National Magazine Award and author of Knocking on Heaven’s Door and The Art of Dying Well. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Vogue and Best American Essays. A former reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, she lives in Mill Valley with her husband, Brian Donohue.
• Join the mailing list for noti fication of Zoom talks and future live events with Mesa Refuge’s change makers. join-our-communitymesarefuge.org/
• Apply for a no-charge formal residency (limited to jour nalists and other creatives with a path to publication and a focus on social equity, nature or the economy). The deadline is December 1, 2021. applicationmesarefuge.org/residencies/
• Organize your own group for a self-funded creative residential retreat during holidays and off-seasons, starting in early 2022. No
application is required, and the rental fee, about $4,500 per week, helps subsidize the formal residencies. diy-retreatmesarefuge.org/residencies/
• Contribute to the rebuilding campaign via refugegivelively.org/donate/mesa-secure. /fi x-this-house ; or P.O. Box 1389, Point Reyes Station, CA, 94956; or to my Facebook fundraiser 632494737731271facebook.com/donate/
—
$100 buys a drought-resistant plant, $1,000 replaces a window, $10,000 funds a new roof, and refurbishing one writer’s living and working space is funded with $50,000.
Top-notch orthopedic care, academic expertise, and a convenient location with imaging facilities down the hall—our new clinic in Terra Linda has it all. Through our strategic alliance with UCSF Health, we are enhancing an already robust orthopedic offering. Now, we can cover all orthopedic needs, offer additional treatments and procedures, and care for patients as young as two. What’s more, our collaboration with UCSF Health provides our patients with local access to the latest research and technologies, including potential enrollment in UCSF Health clinical trials for patients who meet the criteria.
Services cover the full range of orthopedic care, including pain and arthritis management, sports medicine, joint replacement, and more. We offer a variety of noninvasive approaches, including the latest nonoperative spine procedures. If surgery is needed, our experts use minimally invasive procedures whenever possible, and they excel at the most advanced joint replacement techniques.
MarinHealth® Orthopedic Care
A UCSF Health Clinic
4000 Civic Center Drive, Suite 209 San Rafael, CA 1-415-925-896394903
Greenbrae
1240 South Eliseo Drive, Suite 101 Greenbrae, CA 1-415-925-896394904
Sonoma
347 Andrieux Street Sonoma, CA 1-707-721-883095476
Learn more about our outstanding orthopedic offerings at www.MyMarinHealth.org/Ortho
The 44th annual Mill Valley Film Festival continues to expand our minds through film.
Dim the lights, raise the curtain and cue the trailers: The Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) is gearing up for its 44th season, running from October 7–17, and we couldn’t be more excited about the stellar lineup of films and events planned. It’s truly inspiring that the organizers behind this top-notch festival have been able to produce it year after year, especially during a pandemic. And whether you’re interested in attending in-person events and screenings in the theater, or watching from the comfort of your own home, MVFF is making it easy for all to safely enjoy the festival this year.
We were lucky enough to get a first look at this year’s festival program when we attended the MVFF Big Reveal event, held at Mill Valley’s Outdoor Art Club in September. During the presentation, MVFF Executive Director and founder Mark Fishkin and MVFF Director of Programming Zoë Elton regaled guests with highlights and trailers from the films to be shown, as well as events planned — and there is truly something for ever y film fan.
Kicking off he festivities on opening night is the California Premiere of Cyrano, a heart
(see more films with Bay Area ties on page 54); The Hand of God, a deeply persona l film by Academy Award-winning Italian writer and director Paolo Sorrentino, set in Naples in the 1980s; and The Lost Daughter, a gripping drama directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal with an all-star cast, including Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson and Peter Sarsgaard.
There are so many more standout films to see. To help you decide what to watch, MVFF has introduced thematic “strands” this year, nine categories for different interests, from Create (art, dance, theater) to Debate (inves tigations, controversy) and Spirit (body and soul) to Surprise (for thrill-seekers). Read on to learn everything you can expect from this year’s MVFF program, buy your tickets at mvffcom, and we’ll see you at the festival!
breakingly beautiful love story starring Peter Dinklage as Cyrano de Bergerac, with awardwinning director Joe Wright in attendance. A few more not to be missed: Julia, an engag ing look at the life of beloved French-trained food icon Julia Child, directed and produced by Julie Cohen and Betsy West; sci-fi hriller Dune, which stars Bay Area local Zendaya
Lotus ManagingAbramsEditor truly inspiring that the organizers behind this top-notch festival have been able to produce it year after year, especially during a pandemic. ”MVFF Director of Programming Zoë Elton and MVFF Executive Director and founder Mark Fishkin Marin Magazine Managing Editor Lotus Abrams at the Outdoor Art Club in Mill Valley
Following an unprecedented, transformative 2020, the Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) begins its return to form in 2021. From opening night to closing night, from fi lmmaker Q&As to industry panels, MVFF is welcoming in-person audiences back with open arms this year. But rest assured, health and safety will take precedence over all.
“There won’t be a party for 1,200 people,” explains MVFF Executive Director and founder Mark Fishkin via zoom. With a reassuring laugh he con fi rms: “It’ll be a smaller party.”
Fishkin looks to run a tight ship at this year’s festival, putting necessary health protocols in place so that festival-goers can enjoy the fi lms safely. For one thing, proof of vaccination will be required for all MVFF events. Beyond this, festival staff ill adapt their protocols to the ever-developing state and county guidelines.“Wecan do things more strictly or we can loosen them depending on what we’re allowed to do, and what we feel is the best thing for this event,” Fishkin explains. “We can dial things up or down. We’re feeling really good aboutWhileit.” all necessary measures will be taken to ensure a safe environment for in-person audiences, the festival will also provide a robust online component for attendees who would prefer to enjoy the festival from the comfort of their homes. Many of the screenings, Q&As and panels will be available virtually, and Fishkin believes that offering both in-person and online options for viewing will make the festival accessible to all.
“Some people may choose not to go and to only watch online, and we will have online
options for them,” says Fishkin. “Some people will choose to go to a movie and not choose to go to a reception. I believe we can create a safe environment for everyone — it all depends on the audience members’ comfort level.”
While there won’t be as many international special guests in attendance at this year’s festival, the silver lining is that there will be a stronger emphasis on loca l fi lms and talent. “The festival is a world-class event,” Fishkin explains, “but the majority of the guests this year will be from the Bay Area. That’s a nice thing, and it should make people feel really safe. I hope people will feel the pride and enjoyment of the community aspect of the festival more than ever this year.”
A lot of hard work goes into putting on the festival every year, and 2021 has posed its fair share of unique, logistical challenges. But for Fishkin and the MVFF sta ff, the juice will be well worth the squeeze when they welcome audiences back to the theater at long last.
“We’re very, very excited,” says Fishkin of MVFF’s return to in-person attendance. “Movies were made to be seen on the big screen. We look at fi lm as entertainment, as education, as art and, more importantly, we look at fi lm as the best way to create empathy among people. I believe we need that more than ever right now.”
FIshkinMark
Smith RafaelCenterFilm
Bernard Boo is an AAPI arts and entertainment critic, Bay Area native and proud member of the San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle. Find more of his work at PopMatters, Den of Geek and Rotten Tomatoes, and listen to him on the Your Asian Best Friends podcast.
Don’t miss these nine films showing at MVFF with Bay Area ties. BY BERNARD BOO
Most years, fi lmmakers, actors and producers from around the world fly out to Marin from across the globe to attend the Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF). This year, due to travel restrictions as a response to Covid-19, there will be a stronger emphasis on loca l fi lms and fi lmmakers. Here are nine MVFF fi lms with Bay Area ties — from movies featuring local directors or actors to fi lms shot right here.
In fluential Bay Area comic artist Spain Rodriguez was a one-of-a-kind provocateur. Boundary-pushing comics like Trashman earned him a cult following and a reputation as something of a transgressive, left-wing madman. Rodriguez’s widow, Susan Stern, paints a loving, brutally honest portrait of the late artist in this documentary.
“I’m so happy that Bad Attitude is going to be at the Mill Valley Film Festival,” Stern
says. “It’s a homecoming. This is our hood. The Mission and the Haight-Ashbury is where Spain’s comics blossomed.”
The origin story of Chicago Blues is one of cross-cultural enlightenment. In the early 1960s, a group of young, white musicians were invited to sit in on jam sessions with Black pioneers like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Buddy Guy, who taught the teenage prodigies the ins and outs of the craft in Westside and Southside Chicago music clubs. Featuring rare archival footage, this rousing music doc celebrates the roots of musicians like Mike Bloom field, Paul Butter field and Barry Goldberg, and how they learned from the legends of the art form.
“It’s an important story to tell,” says Bay Area-based director Bob Sarles. “The blues migrated from the South and became electrified in Chicago. We needed to tell this story because it would be lost otherwise.”
Shor t fi lm Boys & Girls, by fi lmmaker and Marin resident Caroline Liviakis, is a sensual story of a boy and girl embroiled i n a fiery power struggle. As their game of egos and posturing comes to a head, an epiphany changes the way they see one another completely. Told entirely through dance (choreographed by Liviakis), the fi lm will be making its U.S. premiere at MVFF.
With marijuana legalized in California, this powerful true story focuses on the women and marginalized people from Humboldt, Trinity and Mendocino counties who laid the foundation for cannabis culture in the state and now struggle to fi nd their footing in the rapidly expanding cannabis market. Facing stringent government regulations and massive corporations looking to push them out of the market, six women fight to make a living in the industry they helped create.
The fi lm is making its Bay Area premiere at MVFF, which means a lot to fi lmmaker Chris J. Russo. “It’s perfect,” she beams. “This is the region where all of this rich history occurred, and I know that there will be a lot of cannabis farmers coming down to watch.”
When Bay Area native Ben Fong-Torres was interviewing music legends like Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and Tina Turner in the 1970s for Rolling Stone, he was the coolest journalist in the industry, bar none. In her expansive, deeply personal documentary, fi lmmaker Suzanne Kai chronicles FongTorres’s extraordinary career, including his work at San Francisco Chinatown newspaper East-West.
The documentary shows a vulnerable side of Fong-Torres that his readership rarely got to see. “He was such a broadcast personality,” Kai explains. “For him to allow himself to get really personal…that was precious for us. He really shows his sense of humanity.”
When his estranged father passes away, listless skateboarder Lucas (Pedro Correa) is
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torresleft to run his old man’s apartment complex. Through the stories of the complex’s eccentric tenants, Lucas is able to connect with his father on a level he never thought possible.
Bay Area skate culture folk hero Andy Roy plays himself in the fi lm, and director Fabio Frey says that the living legend was an invaluable addition to the cast. “We shot with Andy in North Hollywood at 10 p.m. with no permits, lighting a skateboard on fi re,” Frey recalls. “A more traditional actor wouldn’t have done it, but Andy was super down.”
Based on the novel by Bay Area author Mitali Perkins, Rickshaw Girl tells the story of Naims (Novera Rahman), a young Bangladeshi painter who works to save her sick father by posing as a boy to drive a rickshaw. The wondrously colorfu l fi lm, which is about selfdiscovery and empowerment, highlights the beauty of Bangladesh, whose rich culture is seldom represented on the big screen.
“It’s a dream come true,” says Perkins about the movie, which wa s fi lmed in her home country of Bangladesh. “To have it be made so lovingly, by Muslim hands…it’s a beautiful thing.”
Over 15 years in the making, Song for Cesar, co-directed by Bay Area fi lmmakers Abel Sanchez and Andres Alegria, pays hom age to the Chicano movement of the 1960s and the struggles of late civil rights and farm-worker activist Cesar Chavez through the power of music. Interviews with iconic
artists including Joan Baez, Carlos Santana and Cheech Marin help paint a lush portrait of the time, with the songs of the era highlighted as one of the driving forces behind the revolution.Th
e fi lm’s world premiere at MVFF will be accompanied by a live concert at the Sweetwater Music Hall featuring all-star guests, entitled “Bringing Forth Song and Celebration of Life.” Led by Sanchez, a storied musician in his own right, the concert will pay homage to the music that defi ned Chavez’s legacy. “We’re going to tie the set into the fi lm, and we’re inviting people who were a part of the movement,” Sanchez says.
A fourth-wall breaking powerhouse of a fi lm, Women Is Losers is a feminist tale set in 1960s and ’70s San Francisco, following
Catholic high-school rebel Celina (Lorenza Izzo), who meets adversity at every turn in her search for independence in a male-dominated world. Shot in the San Francisco Mission District and Chinatown with a 97-percent inclusive crew, the fi lm was a labor of love for writer-director Lissette Feliciano, who was heartened by the support shown by the local community. “From the bodega owners, to the coffee shop owners, to the schools, everybody found a way to accommodate us,” Feliciano
will be playing for a live audience in the Bay Area for the fi rst time at MVFF, and Feliciano urges festival-goers to watch the fi lm with family. “It’s a transformative experience when you watch it with family,” Feliciano says. “You’re going to fi nd things out about each other that you never knew before.”
Lady Buds Women Is Losers Rickshaw GirlWhether it’s uploading clips to TikTok, edit ing vlogs on YouTube, or posting Instagram Stories, most young people these days engage in the art and craft of filmmaking on a daily basis, whether they know it or not. “Students are all creators and media-makers in one way or another,” says California Film Institute (CFI) Director of Education Joanne Parsont. “It’s something that they live and breathe all the time, and film speaks to them particularly because of the storytelling.”
Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF) Education, which is put on each year by CFI Education, offers schools free screenings, film maker Q&As and study guides that immerse students in the world of filmmaking. The goal of the programs is to introduce students to the ins and outs of the craft and show them the viability of filmmaking and film curation as a career path.
“I have the greatest job in the world, and these students can also have this job,” says CFI Outreach Manager Shakira Refos. “We’re demystifying the path toward becoming a filmmaker, a film programmer or an arts administrator.”ThisyearMVFF Education is offering 11 different film programs for schools, several family-style features in the family film sec tion of the festival, documentaries and shorts programs. These will all be available for free on the CFI Education online platform, which was built during the pandemic. At the time of this writing, the CFI team is also working with schools to potentially set up a limited number of small, in-person screenings for individual classes, depending on health and safety protocols.TheFilmmakers
Go to School program gives students from kindergarten through 12th grade an opportunity to connect with film makers in a personalized way. CFI curates appropriate films from the festival lineup, connects with the filmmakers and pitches the program to teachers, who can customize the presentation to suit their students’ tastes. This year’s program will likely be virtual, but will still be customized to meet the educa tors’
CFIneeds.Education has had great success inspiring students to pursue careers in the film industry. Refos cites a young woman who participated in CFI Education’s summer camp program, who has graduated high school and is going into college. “She told us that the program helped her decide that she wanted to be in the arts and become a curator,” Refos explains. “We’ve been getting a lot of that kind of feedback lately.”
Covid-19 has had a major impact on CFI Education, but it hasn’t been all negative. While the pandemic forced the program to go all-virtual for a time, this allowed the organi zation to expand its in fluence far beyond the Bay
“WeArea.were able to reach our long-term goal of broadening our outreach and providing our programming online to schools across the country,” Parsnot says. “We were thrilled to see the impact that we had. The opportunity for students to connect over film really got amplified, and we can much more easily work with filmmakers from around the world, who the students otherwise wouldn’t get to speak
MVFFwith.”Education aims to engage students in a way that speaks to them, but the program isn’t limited to young people. Behind the Screens is a series of panels and workshops that lets people into the kind of inside-baseball conversations that programmers and stake holders typically have behind closed doors.
“CFI and MVFF can be a place for the community to get together, a place for entertainment, and a place for education,” Refos says. “Not just for kids, but for their parents, too.”
MVFF Education provides schools with tools and resources to inspire students to pursue careers in the film industry. BY BERNARD BOOShakira Refos, Joanne Parsont, CFI director of education
This year, MVFF is recognizing the achievements of Latinas in film. BY BERNARD BOO
Since its inception in 2015, the Mind the Gap Summit is an event that has made an impact. Each year at the Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF), the program spotlights the work of women and other historically excluded groups in the film industry, providing them with resources that are typically inaccessible for marginalized communities.
This year, Mind the Gap features screen ings, events and conversations, including the presentation of the Mind the Gap Award, the Mind the Gap Directors Forum, a master class on screenwriting, a toolkit conversation, a net working event for Bay Area film organizations and more. The MVFF team signed a pledge in 2018 to feature equal gender representation by 2020 — they exceeded that goal with their 2020 lineup featuring 57 percent representa tion for
“We’rewomen.trying to elevate the number of women and people of color who have directed films that we have in the festival,” says MVFF Director of Programming and Mind the Gap founder Zoë Elton. “In addition to that, the overall theme for Mind the Gap this year is ‘reconnecting with community.’”
In this spirit, a roundtable conversation called Evolution of Latinas’ Roles on Screen will feature guests from all corners of media, including casting director Carla Hool, who has worked on Narcos, Coco and Sin Nombre. The panel will discuss their in fluences, their expe riences and the changes that they’d like to see regarding Latina representation.
“I’ve been pretty shocked this year looking at the big releases coming out of Hollywood,” says Elton. “There is such a lack of Latina and Latino faces and talent.” It’s true — if you look at the slate of major motion pictures releasing
this year, the Latinx community is woefully underrepresented, with only a handful of titles featuring Latinos in major roles (In the Heights, West Side Story, Eternals)
A more prominent Latinx presence in TV and film is long overdue, and Mind the Gap Producer Faridah Gbadamosi believes that, to make real change, they’ve got to talk to the right people. “We often have conversations about representation with people who aren’t the ones making those sorts of decisions about what’s being seen onscreen,” Gbadamosi says. “The goal for this roundtable is to have direc tors, actors and people from other areas of the industry speak about their experiences, their in fluences and what they want to see.”
In 2020, Mind the Gap presented a panel called Evolution of Black Women’s Roles
Onscreen, which was so successful that the team decided they would expand the concept to encompass other underserved groups.
“We were thinking that we could make this an ongoing series for historically excluded communities,” Gbadamosi says. “And being that we’re in Marin, we thought the next group we highlighted had to be Latinas. We’re trying to raise awareness about inequality and rede fine ‘community’ to be about extending access rather than it being a sort of ‘pat-on-the-back’ situation [with regards to] diversity.”
“MVFF is a very well-established, wellheeled film festival,” Elton adds. “We have a certain privilege. And with that privilege comes obligation and desire to offer the access and connections we have to communities who may not receive it otherwise.”
Mind the Gap Directors Forum 2019 (left to right): Petra Costa, Zabou Breitman, Kasi Lemmons, Zoë Elton, Melissa Silverstein, Chinonye Chukwu and Sippy Chadha
When the curtains close on the 44th annual Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF), you may find it hard to wait a whole year to enjoy all of the screenings, special events and exciting parties the festival brings to our community. But there are so many ways to stay involved in MVFF and the California Film Institute (CFI), the Marin-based nonprofit arts organization that presents the festival. If you would like to support their endeavors to celebrate and promote film as art and education, consider volunteering behind the scenes; sign up for a CFI Membership, which offers perks like MVFF early ticket access, free screenings and filmmaker interviews; join the donor circle; become a corporate sponsor to showcase your brand at world-class events; or simply make a one-time donation. Find out how at cafilm.org/support-cfi.
A RETRO, CIRCULAR ABODE IN THE SONOMA HILLS WENT FROM DATED AND DARK TO LIGHT AND BRIGHT.
Designer Tama Bell added light around the main living area with wall sconces by Currey & Company.
We removed things that looked vintage to lighten and brighten up everything,” Tama Bell says. “We also wanted to unite the kitchen with the rest of the house.”
her fi rm in 1998; she has over 20 years of experience in space planning and architectural styling, which made her a perfect choice for this unusual property. Bell’s daughter, Lauren, is a designer at the fi rm and also worked on the project. “I was instantly drawn to their easygoing, earthy aesthetic,” says the wife.
The fi rst thing the duo tackled was the homeowner’s request to lighten and brighten the space. It would have been di fficult and expensive to add the electrical sys tems necessary for recessed can lights within the dome, so the team worked with the existing junction boxes. “There were wall sconces, but the scale wasn’t right,” Bell observed.Shereplaced them with modern white and gold sconces throughout the main living area, and then used the wiring from the previous owner’s picture lights to accommodate warehouse-style lights that extend light into the interior of the dome.
In the kitchen, Bell was able to replace track lighting with recessed lights, since that area has a lower ceiling. They kept the existing cabinet boxes and appliances, but added new cabinet faces, countertops and a backsplash, all in shades of white.
“We removed things that looked vintage to lighten and brighten up everything,” Bell says. “We also wanted to unite the kitchen with the rest of the house.”
Tackling the furnishings also required the team to use their creativity. “Planning zones for the furniture was tricky,” Bell says. “You have to scale things correctly and make sure there’s space for all the things you want to do.”
Inever thought I would live in a dome,” says the wife, who, with her husband, purchased a geodesic dome in Sonoma in 2018. The couple was based in San Francisco and wanted a respite from the city.
“We fell in love with the view,” she recalls, and that ultimately outweighed their misgivings about the struc ture
Rightitself.away, the couple knew they needed design help.
“The fi rst challenge was to undo the brown and tan — brown cabinets, brown tile, brown paint everywhere,” she says. “Then, given the unusual shape, we needed help maximizing the space.”
The homeowners found Tama Bell Design in nearby Sebastopol through an online search. Tama Bell founded
Originally, the dining room table was located near the French doors, but that left the center of the dome unused. When they moved the table toward the middle, the space flowed much better. “Moving the table really made the space much more useable,” the wife says. “Now, we can eat inside and enjoy the beautiful view down to the Sonoma Valley.”
The family room and en suite primary bedroom were in an existing, traditional framed-structure addition to the dome. These areas also needed to be updated, with the same directive to lighten and brighten. Also, the designers needed to make the addition feel like part of the mainThhouse.
e fi replace, which dominated the family room, was an obvious starting point. “We weren’t happy with the
WANT MORE? For more home decor and design inspiration and expert advice from industry leaders, visit spacesmag.com.
“
The guest bedroom features wool-andcotton poufs by Creative Coop and African wall baskets by Kazi Goods.
stone; it was really heavy and just stood out,” Bell says. “We talked about laying a wash over it, and then the cli ent said, ‘let’s just go for it and paint it,’ and it turned out really well.”
In the primary bathroom, the team went with “marble on marble on marble,” which gave the client a luxurious space, but one that’s still infused with fun touches like the ru ffle-edged mirrors over the vanities.
The homeowner notes that “light and bright” often translates to “white, bland and cookie cutter,” but she loves how Bell and Lauren incorporated patterns and textures into the design. The resulting home — now also enjoyed by family and friends who want to escape for a weekend — has an eas y flow, both functionally and aesthetically.“Sometimes, you come into a house and realize that no one thought about the big picture,” Bell says. “We really thought about how to pull it all together so the home tells a continuous story.”
The werecountertopskitchenredone with Phidias white marble quartz by Aurea Stone. The new backsplash tiles are Rice Paper by Clé Tile.
Laura Hine is a design and style writer based in Chicago. She's a former editor-in-chief of Better, as well as the Modern Luxury publications Interiors Chicago and NS
CONNECT
In the family room, the blue slipcover chair is by Bernhardt and the movable Acacia stump stools that serve as a coffee table are by Roost.
WORKING FROM HOME IS THE NEW NORMAL, SO UPGRADING YOUR HOME OFFICE — OR YOUR CHILD’S STUDY SPACE — SEEMS LIKE A SMART MOVE. THESE FURNITURE PIECES ARE THE PERFECT MIX OF STYLE AND SUBSTANCE.
BY LISA BOQUIRENKIDS CANYON NATURAL DESK by Leanne Ford; $599 Crate&Kids; crateandbarrel.com/kids
Designer and HGTV star Leanne Ford came up with this desk with her toddler daughter’s future in mind. It’s made from solid white oak and natural cane, and the production process is environmentally thoughtful. The result is so stylish that grownups will likely want one for themselves.
PARAVENT AMBASSADE SCREEN by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina; $12,460 (as shown, in American Walnut) Dzine, San Francisco; dzineliving.com Arkitektura, San Francisco; arksf.com
This screen, made of 313 solid wood blocks connected with metal tie rods, can be shaped into a room divider, and would certainly make for a killer Zoom background. The piece was designed in 1966 by Charlotte Perriand — one of the most celebrated designers of the 20th century — for the grand residence of the Japanese ambassador to France. It’s in production for the firt time as of this year.
5-DRAWER PIVOT CABINET by Dottus Design; $295 MoMA Design Store; store.moma.org Love color-coded organization? Look no further than this multicolor cabinet that’s made in Italy of durable, power-coated steel. The fie drawers swing out completely for easy access to whatever you’ve got inside. There are a variety of cool color combinations to choose from.
WANT MORE? For the latest furniture designs and unique pieces, visit spacesmag.com/gallery
#1 SCHOOL DESK by Bien Hecho; $5,000 bienhechobklyn.com
Designer-woodworker John Randall took inspiration for this piece from his childhood memories of public schools, with their ubiquitous open-shelf desks. He elevates the form here by recreating it with white pine and antiqued brass. His company is based in Brooklyn, New York, and some of the wood was salvaged after Hurricane Sandy.
CB2; cb2.com
The pandemic rekindled for many a love of print books, and this bookcase, which seems to zig and zag up a wall, is a fun, unconventional take on a furniture standard that’s typically, well, standard. The dark Italian Mappa burl wood adds depth and richness. The bookcase, which stands on its own, can also double as a room divider.
WELCOME TO OUR FIRST EDITION OF TOP AGENTS: SPACES. Choosing a real estate agent takes a lot more consideration than picking at random based on search engine results. After all, buying or selling a home is a deeply personal experience. To ensure the best results, your agent-selection process should entail thorough research. This month, we spotlight Noa Gold — read on to discover what makes this stand-out real estate agent tick.
NOA GOLD HARNESSES HER PASSION TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN REAL ESTATE. As an immigrant to the U.S. and a former tank and mortars instructor for the Israeli Defense Forces, she knows the value of hard work, approaching each client’s wishes and desires with the thirst of a soldier who refuses to give up until the job is complete. Her motto of “service is my mission; real estate is my vehicle” aligns with her determination to stand out as an agent who is resourceful, knowledgeable and strategic.
Adding to this is Noa’s innate style, grace and her perspective from her world travels. Her background in interior design is instrumental in helping clients visualize spaces, whether it’s staging a listed home or imagining their life in a new one.
“Marin is one of the most peaceful places on Earth,” says Noa. “It’s an honor for me to have the opportunity to sell homes here, and a blessing to see people discovering our rare and beautiful county.”
Noa has been recognized as Coldwell Banker Realty’s Top 100 Agents in the North Bay/East Bay 2021.
899 Northgate Dr Ste 100, San Rafael, CA 415.699.5073 I NoaGoldHomes.comNoa.Gold@cbnorcal.com
The Sonoma County locale awakens from the pandemic with a host of brand-new ways to taste, play, eat and stay.
BY LOTUS ABRAMS AND CHRISTINA MUELLER
THE BEST LOCAL PLUS JOURNEYS AROUND THE GLOBE
Aperture Estate
Situated at the crossroads of three of Sonoma County’s premier wine regions — Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley — Healdsburg has long been a desirable wine country destination. Sought after for its walkable plaza lined with chic tast ing rooms, galleries and farm-to-table eateries;
luxe lodgings; and outdoor adventures, the town is rebounding from the pandemic, with many projects finally coming to fruition.
“Healdsburg is in a very formative state at the moment, with new development taking place in all directions,” says Brooke Ross, mem ber of the Healdsburg Tourism Improvement District (HTID) and director of sales and
marketing for Hotel Trio. “Some of these proj ects have been in the pipeline for quite some time but are just opening or breaking ground, while other businesses are expanding, includ ing Bon Ton Baby, The Matheson, Asashi Sushi & Kitchen, and Volo Chocolate. It’s an exciting time for the destination.” Here are some of the newest ways to experience Healdsburg.
A joint venture between winemaker Rob Fischer and owner Baron Ziegler, the vision aries behind Banshee Wines, Marine Layer Wines (marinelayerwines.com) has opened a 3,200-square-foot tasting room downtown with a laid-back vibe for sipping the winery’s small-production pinot noirs and chardon nays; tastings include seasonal nibbles.
A few minutes away, Aperture Cellars (aperture-cellars.com) is celebrating its 10 th anniversary this year with the release their 2019 vintage Bordeaux blend and Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon, the fi rst red wines made entirely at the winery’s new Aperture Estate, which boasts a stunning design that draws inspiration from the aperture of a camera.
For Italian-inspired wines, from rare varietals like Biancolella d’Ischia to tradi tional sangiovese and montepulciano, head to nearby Orsi Family Winery ’s (orsifamily vineyards.com) brand-new tasting room — the winery’s fi rst since it was founded 10 years ago — surrounded by 70 acres of estate vineyards.Alsoafew mintues from downtown Healdsburg, the Mediterranean-inspired Bacchus Landing ( bacchuslanding.com) wine tasting complex ha s fi nally opened after six years of planning. At the more than 3-acre property, taste wines from several di fferent wineries or pick up a bottle to go, along with artisanal bites from the onsite market, and head to the picnic area for bocce ball and lawn games amidst herb gardens and fruit trees.
Above: Marine Layer Wines; Right: BacchusLanding
Not known as a destination for breakfast, Healdsburg recently emerged as a force for morning eats. Stop in at Black Oak Coffee Roasters (blackoakcoffe.com) near the plaza for single-origin signature lattes and awardwinning espresso and a menu designed by executive chef Beryl Adler. Look for dulce de leche brownies, cheddar scones and gluten-free pastry options, and a breakfast menu including a roasted eggplant banh mi, a breakfast burrito and a range of veggie-centric bowls suitable for lunch or brunch. On the other side of the plaza, Quail & Condor (quailandcondor.com) bridges French and American pastries with kouign amann, cheese Danish and croissants, plus a welter of fresh breads and cakes.
Dustin Valette recently opened his
multiconcept, multifloored homage to wine country dining, The Matheson (thematheson. com), which includes two restaurants, a sushi kitchen, ROOF 106 rooftop bar and lounge, and a pastry program. And a few blocks away, Kyle and Katina Connaughton of Michelin-starred Single Thread plan to open 100% plant-based Little Saint (littlesainthealdsburg.com) in the former SHED space later this autumn.
A few miles away at the Montage Healdsburg, which opened last year, Hazel Hill (montagehotels.com/healdsburg) restaurant, helmed by chef Jason Pringle, spins some California cuisine magic to turn out inspired, seasonal fare for all eaters. And, the views of Healdsburg’s oak-studded hills look even better when viewed from the fairy lightbedecked patio.
Top: The Matheson; Bottom: Hazel Hill at Montage Healdsburg
One of the few wineries in Sonoma County to offer lodging, Jordan Vineyard & Winery ( jordanwinery.com) has undertaken a $1 million remodel of its three opulent guest suites, reserved exclusively for members of Jordan Estate Rewards — the fi rst remodel since they were built in the French-inspired chateau more than 40 years ago. San Francisco designer Maria Haidamus’ thoughtful redesign includes furniture from the Louis XV, XVI and XIII periods; botanical wallpaper; fully remodeled bathrooms featuring custom bateau bathtubs; and grand stone fi replaces with new gas inserts. The re-launch of Paris on the Terrace, an alfresco dining experience pairing California-Parisian bistro fare with Jordan’s French-inspired wines, available through the end of October, provides yet another reason to visit the winery this fall.
Events in Healdsburg are once again on the calendar, like Wine Road’s annual Wine & Food Affair (wineroad.com), running November 5–7, offering wine and food tasting experiences from 40-plus local wineries. When it’s time to take a break from all of the indulgences, there are plenty of new ways to burn some calories outdoors in the area, such as Pro-Cycling Experiences With Pete Stetina , available to guests staying at Harmon Guest House (harmonguesthouse.com), h2hotel (h2hotel.com) and Hotel Healdsburg ( hotelhealdsburg.com), and guided hikes by Karen Austin of HealthStarts2Day (healthstarts2day.com) — or, bliss out at Bricoleur Vineyards' ( bricoleurvineyards.com) weekend outdoor yoga classes overlooking the vineyards.
Lotus Abrams is the managing editor at Marin Magazine. She lives with her husband and daughters in San Mateo, where they enjoy hiking the area’s many open spaces protected by her favorite local nonprofit, the Peninsula Open Space Trust.
Christina Mueller is Marin Magazine’s dining editor. Her work has appeared in Sunset magazine, Edible Communities, Eater and others. She volunteers with California State Parks and at her childrens’ schools.
Dressed to the nines in a train car that’s equally well-appointed, sipping champagne and dining with fine silverware over a threecourse meal as vineyards roll by — it’s the stu ff of nostalgic romance. Riding the rails in the Napa Valley Wine Train’s historic Pullman cars, with their walnut, mahogany and red stained-glass interior dating from the turn of the century, it’s not hard to imagine what it was like to take a train journey during glam orous 1920s and ’30s — as Agatha Christie immortalized in Murder on the Orient Express. Whether you’re into the 1974 film adaptation or the Kenneth Branagh remake, this fall you can pretend you’re on that famous train on the Napa Wine Train’s Murder Mystery Tour. Run in conjunction with The Murder Mystery Company, this real-life reenactment of a classic whodunit offers three different opportunities to play detective: Both the Death of a Gangster and Crime and Punishment experiences bring guests back to the golden era of rail travel in the roaring 1920s, while the Wizards and Witches journey brings a supernatural, Halloween twist to train riders during October.
Spooky experiences aside, the Napa Valley Wine train offers one of the most enjoyable ways to tour Wine Country. The gourmet three-course meals onboard, with enticing dishes like honey-chipotle salmon and roasted tenderloin of beef, can be paired with a selec tion of local wines. As the train pulls out of the station and the buildings outside give way to vineyards and wineries, you might just end up realizing that train's greatest luxury really is in the opportunity it gives you to just let the world just roll by in peace. JESSICA GLIDDON
During the Napa Valley Wine Train's Murder Mystery Tour, guests solve a classic whodunit while enjoying a gourmet experience.dining
We are incredibly thankful to our donors for their ongoing support of MarinHealth. Many of those who pledged to sponsor our gala have generously allowed us to direct their contributions toward the purchase of the SPECT/CT Scanner even though our event was regrettably canceled for health and safety reasons. Thanks one and all for your commitment and dedication to the health of our community.
Susan&DennisGilardi
Bruce Braden&Cindy Mercer Braden
Jeanne Sciutti Capurro&Family
Dan&Stacey Case Family Foundation
Ann E. Crump
Doug Dossey&Kathrin Dellago
Jeri Dexter
Pat&Joe Abrams
Bank of Marin
Best Best&Krieger LLP
By the Bay Health Michelle&Kevin Douglas
Marianne&Albert Figen Foundation Ghilotti Construction Company
Anchor Health
Jeff Better
Kirsten&Todd Brockman
Sally Buehler
Canopy Health
Diageo Johnnie Walker
Heffernan FamilyFoundation
Mike&SharonStone
Dr.&Mrs. Thomas J. Dietz Chris&Bob Feibusch
Marie Boylan&Jeffrey Freedman
Nancy&Skip Kniesche Betsy&Ed McDermott
GMH Builders, Inc.
Nancy&John Neerhout, Jr. Heather Lupa&Karen Pell Nancy P.&Richard K. Robbins Family Foundation
A.J.&Melissa Rohde
Brilliant
Sally Shekou&Robert Herbst Jordan&Michael Kahn
Kentfield Hospital
William&Gretchen Kimball Fund
Debbie Matthies
Stone Coxhead Dell Technologies Ettain Group Gay&Wyman Harris Home Care Assistance
Ketel One Vodka Louis Roederer Champagne
*This listing reflects sponsor support as of August 24.
Lustrous
Lois&Robert Meredith
Robert Kaliski&Linda Nelson
NORCAL Ambulance
Jeannie&Ken Perry
Pete&Louise Petri
The Redwoods
Ken&Judy Siebel
James+Gable Insurance Brokers, Inc. Anna Lushtak
Marin Gastroenterology
The O’Hara Family Tucky&John Pogue
Mollie Stone’s Markets Roederer Estate Tanqueray
The Schultz Foundation
Magda Wesslund&Eric Schwartz
Michael&Susan Schwartz
Julie&Timothy Van Voris Dennis Whipp
Marcia&Michael Skall
Lynn&Michael Smith
Tamalpais Pediatrics
Henry Timnick Western Health Advantage Stephanie&Arthur Young
Mr.&Mrs. Peter Sonnen
Southern Glazer’s Wine&Spirits
Vocera Foundation
Michael Savage&Janet Weiner
1-415-925-7770 | foundation@mymarinhealth.org
“MarinHealth ” and the MarinHealth logo are registered servicemarks of Marin General Hospital and used with permission.
Neil&KathyHennessy
BarbaraMcCullough
Stephanie&MarkRobinson
A ROUNDUP OF THE HOTTEST LOCAL EVENTS, SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND PLACES TO EAT
The deceptively simple character of ramen — broth and noodles — hides complexity in technique and chef secrets in equal measure: Good ramen is easy; great ramen is hard. We talked with a few chefs to find out what makes their ramen special.
BY CHRISTINA MUELLER
Marin’s OG ramen house has been slinging tonkatsu and shoyu, tantan and shio for seven years. Owner Kevin Fong says the tonkatsu, a cloudy, slow-simmered pork bone broth, remains his most popular menu item, but the vegetarian broth, the base for the hearty miso, is nearly as popular with diners. Though he won’t divulge the secret behind the animal-free broth’s umami thunder, he will admit to using as many vegetables as he grew up eat ing both in the base and as toppers for the vegan
and vegetarian ramen bowls. He recently added pan-fried ramen with just as many vegetables to the menu, and gluten-free noodles are also avail able. 821 B St, San Rafael; 415.524.2727; uchiwaramen.com
Chonmage Yuthana (Oy San) Sitiprawet runs Chonmage with his wife, Manee Jenkins, turning out Japanese-style ramen with loca l flair. Housemade, walnut-based miso ampli fies the spicy miso ramen, and a recently added garlic ramen turned heads, but the curry ramen continues to inspire a vocal following. The blended tonkatsu and chicken broths are infused with curry and topped with karaage (fried chicken) and french fries, making it the ultimate multi-culti mashup. 1020 Court St, San Rafael; 415.419.5919; chonmageramen.com
Noodles from ramen master Tomoharu Shono, who has multiple restaurants in Tokyo and San Francisco, are made in-house, the custom flour blend ground on an imported Japanese stone mill for a slightly chewy texture designed to the master’s speci fications for fl a vor and impeccable freshness. Crafted exclusively for the San Rafael location, toripaitan is the new trend. The broth is chicken instead of the traditional pork and its lighter style is meant for every day eating, but traditionalists can still get Shono’s Marin-in fluenced version of shoyu and matcha ramen, too. 908 Fourth St, San Rafael, 415.295.7112; menya-shono.com
Widely recognized for their work in sushi, the chefs turned their attention to another popular culinary export from Japan, dropping ramen onto the menu earlier this year. The singular ramen on offer is named for a coastal town on the northern island of Hokkaido. Tonkatsu broth is thickened with miso and topped with braised pork belly, corn and a golden-yolked egg. It’s a carnivorous bowl a fisher man would be proud to eat. 813 Grant Ave, Novato; 415.892.0081; masanovato.com
U.S.-made skinny Sapporo ramen noodles might shock purists for their out-of-the-package ease of use. But the toppings — pork belly chashu, spicy ground pork, charred cabbage, seaweed, spicy greens and wood ear mushrooms — turn the bowl into a des tination-worthy slurping experience. The vegetarian broth pack s a flavorful punch, its saltiness tempered by the fresh vegetables atop. There’s a gluten-free noodle option, too. 6948 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol; 707.827.3609; ramengaijin.com
WANT MORE? Find the hottest new places to eat, drink and brunch at marinmagazine.com/food-drink. AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO RESTAURANTS AND GOOD FOOD IN THE BAY AREA EDITED BY CHRISTINA MUELLER Christina Mueller is Marin Magazine ’s dining editor. Her work has appeared in Sunset magazine, Edible Communities, Eater and others. She volunteers with California State Parks and at her childrens’ schools. Menya Shono Uchiwa RamenBlue Barn Gourmet
American The first Marin outpost of the S.F.-based eatery has proven very popular. The menu includes custom izable salads, toasted sandwiches, soups and more, prepared with locally harvested produce and proteins. A group order takeout menu is available. 335 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.1104
Boca Pizzeria Italian
The zarella.withNeapolitan-stylemeats,free-rangeavailable,organicappetizers,etals.country’sbreweriesshowcasesseasonalCalifornia’sVillageoutdoorpizzeriaItalian-inspiredwithacoveredpatioatTheutilizesNorthernbountyofingredientsandlocalmicro-andwineboutiquevari-Themenuincludessaladsofproducewhenpastas,localpoultryanddesserts,andpizzashouse-mademoz
1544 Redwood Hwy, 415.924.3021
Burmatown Asian The small home-style Asianfusion restaurant offers fresh, light meals like tea leaf salad and basil shrimp stir-fry, as well as curries, coconut rice and chili-garlic green beans. Extra heat optional. Place takeout orders by 1 p.m. via phone or text 415.985.5060 to ensure item availability.
60 Corte Madera Ave, 415.945.9096
Cafe Verde Californian
This revamped cafe offers Neapolitan pizza, pasta, risotto and salads nearly all day long. Enjoy any of these items inside or out on the patio along with local and international wines and beers.
502 Tamalpais Drive, 415.927.1060
Fieldwork Brewing Pizza The outpost of the original Berkeley draft house features pizzas, salads and shareable bites (think crispy Brussels sprouts and meatballs) to round out the day’s list of fresh IPAs, pilsners and more.
107 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.891.8273
Flores Mexican With an emphasis on regional Mexican dishes and flavors sourced from family recipes, the menu is based on California seasonality and revolves around gluten-free masa. The daily-made tortillas are featured in dishes such as duck confit enchiladas, Dungeness crab tostadas and chilibraised beef short ribs.
There’s a full bar to boot and everything is easily enjoyed on their large, heated patio. 301 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.500.5145
Il Fornaio Italian Aside from pizzas and pastas, this upscale Italian
franchise serves a variety of salads and carb-free entrées. 223 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.4400
Marin Joe’s Italian A Marin mainstay for over 50 years, with a menu of soups, salads, seafood, mesquite-grilled or sautéed meats and a plethora of pasta options. To add to your dining experience, order the table-side prepared Caesar salad. Not looking for a meal? Enjoy a drink and hear local musicians at the well-known piano bar. 1585 Casa Buena Drive, 415.924.2081
Pig In a Pickle American Fresh and locally sourced brisket, pork, ribs and chicken get star billing at this Town Center eatery. Sauces are crafted to represent various American bar becue regions, including Memphis and South Carolina. House-made pickles, buns and sausages will keep you coming back. 341 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.891.3265
RH Marin American Ride up the golden-hued elevator to the top floor to a restaurant bedecked in RH style and linger over a shaved vegetable salad, a truffled grilled cheese sandwich on Panorama Bakery sour dough or a namesake RH Burger. This rooftop sunroom and outdoor
lounge boasts glass ceilings and walls for an epic view of Mt. Tam and a feeling of floating above it all. 1750 Redwood Highway at The Village, 628.266.2040
Veggie Grill Vegan/ Vegetarian A fastcasual restaurant chain that celebrates all things veg by offering a variety of hot sandwiches and burgers, entree salads, bowls, home-style plates, shareable sides, organic teas and housemade desserts prepared only with vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts. 147 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.945.8954
World Wrapps Californian Owners Keith Cox and Matt Blair have revamped this “fast food” joint to feature healthy and flavorful items like a Hawaiian poke wrap and a tahini tofu summer roll that’s vegan-friendly. Tropicalstyle beverageshouse-madeinclude boba tea, mango lassi and Vietnamese iced coffee. 208 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.3663
Zinz Wine Bar
Californian Locals pop by the petite wine bar for its cozy, sophisticated atmosphere and an eclectic array of boutique wines, craft beer and light appetizers. An expansive outdoor seating area is partially covered and heat lamps warm the
quaint neighborhood space. They also host events and happy hours. 207 Corte Madera Ave, 415.927.9466
Amelie French Stop in for a quintessential French breakfast of coffee and a croissant at this outpost of the origi nal San Francisco wine bar. Stay to enjoy plates of Cal-French escargot with garlic butter, salad Niçoise with pickled egg or slow-baked steelhead with persillade and radishes at lunch and dinner and an extensive French wine list. A petite street-side patio features dining atop wine barrels. 71 628.253.5161Broadway,
Barefoot Cafe American Tony Senehi prepares fresh California dishes with local organic ingredients from sustainable sources. A popular brunch spot, this quaint restaurant in the heart of Fairfax serves locals and tourists everything from eggs Benedict to panna cotta. 1900 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.460.2160
Fradelizio's Italian Fradelizio’s blends Northern Italian rangenaturalhealthyCalifornia-inspiredwithfare,featuringbeefandfree-chickendishes.35 Broadway, 415.459.1618
Iron Springs Pub & Brewery American Pair your pick from the extensive beer list with an ale-braised barbecue pork sandwich, shrimp tacos or the cheeseburger.ground-chickenhouse-bacon 765 Center Blvd, 415.485.1005
Mas Masa Mexican Chef and owner Patrick Sheehy focuses on the ancient technique of corn patio.towineries.microbrewerieshighlightThehandmadeblueusingnixtamalization,organic,non-GMOcorntomakeitstortillas.beerandwinelistslocalCaliforniaandIt’sallavailableenjoyontheshaded
31 Bolinas Rd, 415.529.5444
Sorella Caffe Italian Run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella, which means “sister” in Italian, serves fresh Italian with a northern influence. Customer favorites include the cioppino, butternut squash ravioli and Pollo alla Sorella. Another highlight is the giant wheel of Grana Padano cheese. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520
while the cheeseburger with Stemple Creek beef topped house-curedwithpork belly has already developed a cult following. Two patios provide ample outdoor eating space. 23 Broadway, 415.524.8478
The Hummingbird American This New Orleans–style restaurant serves up Creole staples like fried chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, po’boys, gumbo and beignets. Opt for the spicy syrup or homemade hot sauce to get that Cajun kick. Cash only. 57 Broadway, 415.457.9866
The Lodge American The menu is designed to power up the many riders who swing by, featuring all-American eats like a breakfast burrito stuffed with
eggs, spinach and salsa; share plates like a sausage board served with Lodge tots and slaw; and pour-over coffee and draft beer for riders and hikers alike. Beer, cider and wine are available to go in growlers and cans and can be sipped in the backyard where shaded picnic tables await. 1573 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.456.8084
Way Station American Barbecue from a trailer embedded into the wall is the main attraction at this mechanic’s shopturned-eatery, where tall sliding windows frame washed concrete floors and a craft beer garden with fire pit. The ‘cue gets all the love but salads, flatbread pizzas and a wide selection of tapped and bottled beers plus wines round out the menu. It’s also
kid- and dog-friendly with outdoor seating. 2001 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.300.3099
Gott’s Roadside American The Bay Area chain’sonly Marin outpost features the signature Californiainspired dishes Gott’s is known for (burgers — regular, ahi and Impossible — shakes, salads and fries) as well as a 30-foot-long pine table for communitystyle eating and an expansive patio out front. 302 Bon Air Center, Greenbrae, 415.785.4233
Guesthouse Californian Jared Rogers, the former executive chef of Picco, heads up the kitchen, partnering
with mixologist Dustin Sullivan on this 110-seat space. Look for well-executed California cuisine, such as mini lobster rolls or kurobuta pork chops with crispy potatoes, or savor a Slingshot at the bustling bar. 850 College Ave, Kentfield, 415.419.5101
Half Day Cafe American Tucked away in a setting of intertwining ivy and large open windows, this cafe is the quintessential breakfast nook and is also open for brunch and lunch, including coffee drinks, pastries and much more. Enjoy a casual daytime meal inside or out on the patio. 848 College Ave, Kentfield, 415.459.0291
Patxi’s Pizza Pizza This welcoming neighbor hood restaurant is a great place to share a meal with family and friends. Try the popular burrata bruschetta appetizer and/or focus on what Patxi’s does best —
arefreedeep-dishChicago-stylepizza.Gluten-andveganoptionsavailable.
340 Bon Air Center, 415.526.3889Greenbrae,
Backstage Californian The U-shaped bar makes a comfortable, sociable setting for wine tasting, light appetiz ers (warmed nuts, artichoke dip) and small plates (avocado toast, charcuterie boards) in downtown Larkspur. Or, nab a seat on the patio to enjoy flights of exclusive picks from small-scale California vineyards on a sunny day. 295 Magnolia Ave, 415.898.6778
DJ's Chinese Cuisine Chinese A great place to satisfy a craving for wonton soup before a show at the Lark Theater; the outdoor patio is a scene-stealer in itself. Lunch is popular here, too. 435 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0717
Emporio Rulli Italian Renowned for its Northern Italian specialties and treats, the Larkspur location (there are four others in the Bay Area) is a favored spot for lunch as well as coffee and a sweet treat. 464 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7478
Farm House Local Californian A downtown Larkspur gem that is sure to please with simple, healthy food in a warm, cozy atmosphere, both indoors and on the covered patio. The seasonal menu, inspired by American classics, includes biscuits and gravy; a “BLAT” (with avocado) sandwich; and a daily fluffy omelet stuffed with local meats, vegetables and artisanal cheeses. 25 Ward St, 415.891.8577
Farmshop American Located in the Marin Country Mart, Farmshop Marin is a top spot for people watching and earns raves for its avocado hummus and Neapolitan-style pizzas pulled from the beehive oven. Indoor and outdoor seating available. 2233 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.755.6700
Hog Island Oyster Co. Seafood The full-service Marin Country Mart location features a full bar with seasonal cocktails, beer and wine and the same bay-to-bar philosophy as the Tomales Bay original. Sit inside or at one of the picnic
tables facing the Bay before satiating that oys ter craving; then, check the day’s menu to see what was most recently pulled from Marin’s waters before deciding what else to eat. 2401 Larkspur Landing Circle, 628.253.5905
The restaurant inside the Mt. Tam Racquet Club is open to the public. A menu of fresh toavailablekillerhousewrapsfoods–riceMediterraneanbowls,pitaandkebabswithmadegyroandafalafelburger–areinadditiontheCal-Mexmenu. 1 Larkspur Plaza Drive, 415.301.5367
French This authenti cally classic brasserie has been serving the Larkspur community for more than two decades. Whether on the patio, at the European-style bar or in the casually elegant main dining room with a huge fireplace, it’s a fun and French downtown experience. The restaurant is also hosting two "virtual" restaurant concepts for takeout and delivery only, Kebabery by Meso (Mediterranean) and Lito's Cocina (Spanish/Mexican).Hispana
507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331
Marin Brewing Co.
American Grab a cold beer made on-site and pair it with fish and chips — in this case, fresh cod dipped in Mt. Tam pale ale batter, served with steak fries and home made tartar sauce — or anything from the allAmerican menu, then grab a seat at one of outdoor tables at the Marin Country Mart. 1 809 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.461.4677
Chicken nachos at Barrio, San FranciscoPerry's American Perry's on Magnolia has the grove.andklingdiningbuilding,ingthreefamousoriginalitybarAmericanquintessentiallyfare,bustlingandwarmpersonaltheSanFranciscohasalwaysbeenfor.Alongwithseparatedinroomsinahistoricthere’soutdoorunderthetwinlightsonthepatiointheredwood
234 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.1877
Picco Californian
Popular since its inception, Picco has a seasonally driven menu featuring items such as risotto (made every half hour), mesquite octopus tostada and butterscotch pot de creme that keep attracting return visits. The warm wood and brick interior is fronted by a popular, six seat bar. 320 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0300
Pizzeria Picco Pizza
This able.outdoorserveandorganicthepulledFreshwood-burningpizzasinfluencedoffersinparlorfamily-friendlynextdoortoPiccodowntownLarkspurCalifornia-Neapolitancookedinaoven.mozzarellaisin-houseandmenualsofeaturessalads,antipastiStrausDairysoft-icecream.Heatedseatingisavail-
316 Magnolia Ave, 415.945.8900
R'noh Thai Thai This cozy place with a patio by the Corte Madera Creek has a reputation for fresh flavors. It’s all here, from curries and Thai barbecue to noodle dishes and the classic tom kha (coconut lemongrass soup). For an indulgent treat, try the fried sweet potato appe tizer. 1000 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.0599
Roma Antica Italian Pinza Romana, fried rice balls, burrata with artichoke hearts, and cacio e pepe pasta are just a few of the dishes that reflect the regional Roman ingredients and style of this sister restaurant to the San Francisco original. In Marin, look for fresh seafood pastas on the day’s specials menu and a shaded front porch for outdoor din ing. 286 Magnolia Ave, 415.896.4002
Rustic Bakery
Californian The Maringrown bakery is known and loved the world over: Pope Francis famously requested Rustic Bakery flatbread and crostini when he visited the U.S. in 2015.
Organic bread, crois sants and pastries baked fresh each morning and salads, sandwiches, and soups for lunch make Rustic a local staple.
Marin Country Mart, 2017 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.461.9900
Boo Koo Asian This locally owned restaurant creates healthy meals that blend equal parts California fresh with Southeast Asian–inspired street food. The kids' Red Rooster bento boxes are a hit with the little ones and the vegan, GF and slimofforavailablebeeronWineswithfriendlyvegetarian-menuispopularallagegroups.andkombuchatapaswellascraftofferingsareallatthebarorenjoymentatonethetalltablesonthepatio.
25 Miller Ave, 415.888.8303
Bootjack Wood Fired Californian A transition back to a bakery means hearth-style
A Founding Family of California Wine
An estimated 80% of California’s Cabernet Sauvignon is planted with the Concannon Clones.
Stunning Landmark Estate
Our 138 year old estate has expansive outdoor areas surrounded by stunning vineyard views.
ConcannonVineyard.com | 4590 Tesla Road, Livermore, CA 94550 | Ph. 925.456.2505
©2021 Concannon Vineyard, Livermore, CA
breads (apple walnut), breakfast sandwiches and pastries (cinna mon buns) from baker Cameron Esaryk are pulled daily from the built-in Alan Scott bread oven. Pair with barista drinks from Four Barrel Coffee and focaccia-style pizzas at lunch with the same Central Milling grains and organic approach as before. 17 Madrona St, 415.383.4200
American Oysters bingo, baby back ribs and chili-lime “brick” chicken are a few of the satisfying comfortfood menu items that have made this classic roadhouse a favorite since the ’30s. The warm, dark-wood bar with red leather booths is a popular spot for cocktails, conversations or a light meal. Heated patio seating offers a moment’s respite with a fresh espresso and breakfast burrito from the weekday Buckeye Joe Coffee Kiosk out front. 15 Shoreline Hwy, 415.331.2600
The normally bustling bar is one of Mill Valley’s hot spots, ideal for savoring a seasonal cocktail or an order for their famous kickin' fried chicken. The $1 happy hour oyster program still operates from 5-6 p.m., Monday–Thursday and the heated outdoor patio remains a town hot spot. 44 E Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500
Californian Healthy options become addic tive at this eatery that has locations in both Tam Junction and San Rafael. Once you stop in for the deliciously fresh quinoa wrap, you’ll
want to return to try the chipotle rice bowl. A casual lunch spot and great for takeout, Cafe del Soul also serves smoothies and pressed juices. 247 Shoreline Hwy, 415.388.1852
Equator Coffees
American Mill Valley boasts two Equator Coffee locations. At Tam Junction's Proof Lab, look for bacon and cheddar, steak and egg and vegetarian breakfast burritos made in house. Downtown's spot, kittycorner from Depot Plaza, serves up avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches and those gluten-freefamouswaffles. Both locations feature Johnny Doughnuts, Friday–Sunday and online ordering. 244 Shoreline Hwy and 2 Miller Ave, 415.383.4200
Floodwater Californian Sip a “Gold Rush” (Old Forester bourbon, local honey, lemon) at the room-length bar while noshing on pork belly steamed buns or dive into Shorty's Tall Reuben in the TV-free front room. Up the coziness factor in the back room as you tuck into a margherita pizza cooked in the wood-fired oven at this spacious fireern.Valley/ManzanitaTamtavThepatiofeaturespits.
152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.843.4545
Flour Craft Bakery
American The brainchild of pastry chef Heather Hardcastle, this second location (the first loca tion is in San Anselmo) in the Lumber Yard offers not only glutenfree baked goods but fancy toast, seasonal salads, coffee and takeout to be enjoyed at one of the shaded picnic tables. 129 Miller Ave, 415.384.8244
Gravity Tavern American ingredientsWithsuited to reflect modern tastes, American classics like grilled chicken Waldorf salad with pickled grapes; lobster roll with toasted challah and veggie slaw; and a land and sea pasta with house-made egg pasta, pork belly and crab, may have also been familiar fare for passengers of the Mt. Tam gravity car for which this saloon was named. Enjoy them on the popular patio. 38 Miller Ave, 415.888.2108
Grilly’s Mexican If you’re looking for a quick, fresh meal, Grilly’s is a no-brainer. Enjoy burritos, tacos or the popular chicken taco salad at lunch or dinner on their covered deck and you have a straightforward lunch or dinner to please the whole family. 493 Miller Ave, 415.381.3278
Harmony Chinese Enjoy a lighter, fresher take on Chinese at this restaurant in Strawberry Village. The barbecue pork bun is filled with house-made roasted meat in a savory sauce and signature prawns are wok-seared with scallions. Pair your pick with wine, beer or tea and be sure to check out the weekday takeout lunch special. Both the regular and to-go menus are available for takeout. 401 Strawberry Village, 415.381.5300
Hook Fish Co Seafood
The indoor, woodceilinged dining room feels like a boat’s galley, and the spot’s popular outdoor beer garden adjacent to Mill Valley’s Proof Lab at Tam Junction has 13 taps, but the draw at this counter-service
joint is the seafood. The transparent supply chain means you can enjoy the poke, fish and chips or fish tacos secure in the knowledge of exactly where and on what boat your meal came from. 254 Shoreline Hwy
India Palace Indian Known as “that great restaurant in the Travelodge,” India Palace is a favorite with the takeout crowd; eating on-site is also a treat for its well-regarded North Indian fare. 707 Redwood Hwy, 415.388.3350
Joe’s Taco Lounge Mexican Joe’s serves up fish tacos (which it can never take off the menu), burritos and enchiladas as well as more unusual items like Mexican pizza and tofu tostada. A colorful interior and quick service make this a fun, easy stop. If you stay, grab a few of the hundreds of hot sauce bottles from the wall and find your perfect match. Cup of Joe's coffee cart, out front every morning, serves lattes, Mexican hot chocolate and burritos to go. 382 Miller Ave, 415.383.8164
Kitchen Sunnyside American This brunch stop brings some gourmet to your morning with options like Dungeness crab hash, cornflake French toast, eggs Florentine and bottomless mimosas. Lunch choices like paninis and burgers are also available for enjoying on the open-air patio. 31 Sunnyside Ave, 415.326.5159
La Ginestra Italian House made Neapolitan cuisine, a familiar wait staff, and warm hospitality have made this restaurant a fam ily favorite since 1964.
While this old-school eatery is known for traditional pastas and pizzas, a daily menu of seasonal favorites attracts a hip crowd. The adjourning Sorrento Bar serves up cocktails, amari, and a selection of fine Italian wines.
127 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0224
Le Marais French This Parisian-style French bakery with three San Francisco locations now calls Marin home. An assortment of takeand-bake favorites like cinnamon buns, butter croissants and kouign amann; freshly baked items; and a breakfastall-day menu are popular. There is quiche and salad at lunch, but those in the know opt for avocado croissant toast, chicken paillarde with fresh herbs and the Chartreuse cappuccino. 250 E. Blithedale, Mill Valley, 415.888.3695
Piazza D’Angelo Italian Family owned for over 35 years, Piazza D’Angelo evokes a traditional trattoria din ing experience. Enjoy a variety of pastas, meat and seafood dishes, wood-fired pizzas and gluten-free offerings, all house-made with organic and locally sourced ingredients. A back patio and newer front patio provide ample outdoor dining space. 22 Miller Ave, 415.388.2000
Playa Mexican With a chef from Mexico City, Playa's food offers traditional dishes with modern flavors and presentations. A little gem salad sparkles with tomatillo dressing and enchiladas shine from a glossy coating of house made black mole and micro greens. The bar
highlights exceptional tequilas and mezcals but the “el slushie” and house margarita have legions of fans and are perfect for sipping on the large, heated back patio. Weekend lunch is available. 41 Throckmorton Ave, 415.384.8871
Prabh Indian Kitchen Ind ian This patio.diningAllIndianletslunch,andoptionsbasil-garlicetablechickeneatingorganic,emphasizesrestauranthealthy,sustainableinchoiceslikepakora,vegbiryaniandnaan,withforthevegangluten-free.Atthethalimenuyoutryseveraldishesatonce.ofitisavailableforontheiroutside
24 Sunnyside Ave, 415.384.8241
Robata Grill and Sushi Japanese Robata trans lates as “by the fireside”; fittingly, many dishes here are cooked on an open fire and served in appetizer-size portions to pass around the table. Try the grilled rice balls and beef kushi to get a sense of the smoky flavors. Or, simply order your own sushi or entree from the menu to enjoy on the patio or in the traditional dining room. 591 Redwood Hwy, 415.381.8400
Shoreline Coffee Shop American Hidden behind Good Earth in a parking lot at Tam Junction, this coffee shop is a vintage diner with a small-town feel. Featuring a mix of Mexican and traditional breakfast fare hits, the comfort food spot is gussied up with organic and local goodies like eggs from Tennessee Valley neighbor Woolley Egg Ranch. Try them in the roto–soft eggs and
house-made chorizo with French fries — or a classic diner dish, two eggs your way. You can get gluten-free bread from Green Gulch, too. 221 Shoreline Hwy, 415.388.9085
This Marin favorite serves up everyone’s favorite Puerto Rican cuisine, including Creole prawns, maduros,mofongotostones and a chuleton sandwich on French bread. 401 Miller Ave, 415.380.1986
Tamalpie Italian With views of Mt. Tamalpais from the covered, heated patio, this CalItalian spot known for its local sourcing also features two fireplaces and a full bar serving craft cocktails, wine and beer. The difference is in the pizza dough — small batch,
missed.crispysproutsitems.vegansalads,Neapolitangluten-freehouse-madeand48-hour—pluslargepastas,andandvegetarianTheBrusselsaresuper-andnottobe
477 Miller Ave, 415.388.7437
The former railroad depot turned all-day café and bookstore at the heart of downtown Mill Valley is back with expanded outdoor seat ing and firepits. The kitchen, helmed by chef Mary Pult, offers the same counter service model as before and a veg-forward menu that tilts towards the Mediterranean with bespoke pastries from Sausalito’s Cibo Bakery. 87 415.888.3648Throckmorton,
The Junction American Owner Dez Fielder's devotion to microproduced and local beer is evident from the 30 taps and a robust can program, including Woodfour New Ridge Lager, and experimental bottlings, like Barebottle Brewing’s Tangberry Typhoon, all easy to pair with pizzas from Pizzahacker. Grab your fleece to sip one by a fire pit on the huge backyard patio. 226 Shoreline Hwy, 415.888.3544
The Rock & Rye American Bay Area chef Rick Hackett designed the menu to feature South American and New howwas50-seatmusictributecrafttionAnMusicfocusdishesOrleans-inspiredwithaseasonalatSweetwaterHall’srestaurant.extensivecollec-ofwhiskeysandcocktailspaystoindependentvenuesandtheoutdoorpatioredonetoreflectwedinetoday.
19 Corte Madera Ave, 415.388.3850
Thep Lela Thai The kee mao noodles, pad Thai, and fresh rolls stuffed with beets and herbs have a dedicated following, as does the extensive bar menu (try the Amazing mai tai) at this spot tucked away in the back of Strawberry Village. 615 Strawberry Village, 415.383.3444
Urban Remedy American This is a popular spot for organic and non-GMO coldpressed juices, snacks, ready-to-eat meals and raw deserts, with plenty of gluten-free, grain-free and seemoncashewsakechoices.low-glycemic-indexTrythename-saladorgivethemilkwithcinna-andvanillaashottowhatUrbanRemedy
is all about. Delivery and ordering only via their app. 15 E Blithedale Ave, 415.383.5300
Vasco Italian Whether at a table, the bar or the back counter, you can expect an intimate dining experience in this one-room trattoria facing Depot Plaza. Try one of the pasta dishes or thin-crust wood-fired pizzas. 106 Throckmorton Ave, 415.381.3343
Watershed Californian Gather around the fire pit in front of the restaurant at the Lumber Yard or hang out at the long bar for a pre-dinner glass of wine before sampling one of the many dishes curated to reflect the bounty of Marin. The Stemple Creek Ranch burger and fresh pastas are matched with a bevy of simply prepared, easyto-share dishes (like spicy rock cod lettuce cups or lamb riblets)
that reflect chef Kyle Swain’s careful sourc ing and focus on local flavor. 129 Miller Ave, 415.888.2406
Ayawaska Peruvian This outpost of the Petaluma original fittingly fills the landmark space that once housed Hilltop 1892. A tight opening menu of regional classics includes lomo saltado and the country’s famous ceviches (try the a la Huancaina with the catch of the day) that will expand with the rollout of lunch service. Huge glass-paned doors in the front room slide open to reveal the view, and a beer garden out back is also planned.
850 Lamont 415.944.2066Ave,
Beso Bistro and Wine Bar Californian This Hamilton Field bis tro highlights locally sourced organic
produce, fresh sustainable seafood, and pasture-raised and free-range meat. Wine lovers can embrace their inner Dionysus — more than 20 selections by the glass and more than 50 by the bottle are available. The patio is naturally shaded by local oaks. 502 S Palm Drive, 415.883.6700
Boca Pizzeria Italian Enjoy authentic pizza prepared with housepulled mozzarella and tomatoes imported from Italy, or go for a grilled rosemary chicken sand wich or the braised beef short rib pappardelle. 454 Ignacio 415.883.2302Blvd,
Chianti Cucina Italian
This cozy eatery offers an array of Italian and American dishes, includ ing a long list of pastas; try the house-made ravioli cooked up by chef Edgar DeLon. It's all available for takeout and
drive-through via their app. 7416 Redwood Hwy, 415.878.0314
Crave Californian Executive chef Christian Pulido serves up seasonally driven California cuisine on the shaded terrace and in a modern dining room, replete with George Nelson bubble lamps. Char siu octopus and a soba noodle salad push the flavor boundary while a CAB burger and halibut with corn pudding are instantly familiar. 340 Ignacio Blvd, 415.883.0901
Finnegan's Marin
American The dark wood-paneled booths and high backs on bar stools mean it is easy to linger over Irish-inspired meals like corned beef and cabbage or nachos made with waffle fries instead of corn chips. They taste just as good on the heated outdoor patio. 877 Grant Ave, 415.899.1516
Ghiringhelli’s Novato Vino American The Ghiringhelli family, lifelong Marin residents who own onsite.availabledepthandbitesthehard-to-findtaurant.totastingaVillaPizzeriaFairFixGhiringhelliTrattoriainNovato,Cafe,GhiringhelliandDeerParkinFairfax,addednewwineshopandroomadjacenttheirNovatores-Uniqueandwinesbybottleortaste,lightofcheeseboardsflatbreadsandin-dinnermenusaretogoorenjoy 1535 South Novato Blvd, 415.878.4915
Hopmonk Tavern
American The beer garden-style outdoor patio and live music keep fans coming back to this Novato brewhouse tucked into the Vintage Oaks Mall. And let’s not forget the ample selection of beers on tap. 224 Vintage Way, 415.892.6200
Jerry’s Delicatessen & BBQ American Southern flavors and plenty of smoked meats are highlights of an all-day menu that includes avocado toast and breakfast bur ritos for breakfast any time and a classic BLT updated with housesmoked salmon or a BBQ plate with tri-tip and chicken. 7380 Redwood Blvd, 415.895.5592
Michael’s Sourdough
American The bread is made on site and is said to have magical qualities. It better, as it is the only holder for the overstuffed wonders served at this Best of the County 2019 winner. Fans return over and over to the San Rafael and Novato locations for their faves, ordered by number, then swoon over the huge sandos piled with meat, cheese
and enough shredded lettuce to ooze out the sides and onto your lap. 999 Andersen Drive, Suite 165, 415.485.0964
The Speakeasy American There’s noth ing like the comfort of a solid burger and beer when you’re kicking back and watching the game. In addition to the 10 beers on tap, cocktail inspo ranges from the 1920s to the 2020s. A new menu includes buf falo chicken lollipops and mini street tacos to savor on the patio. 504 Alameda del Prado, 415.883.7793
Toast American With outdoor dining and spa cious inside seating at Hamilton Marketplace, large parties, families and everyone else dives in on comfort food favorites. 5800 Nave Drive, 415.382.1144
The Baan Thai Thai Known for its mango sticky rice, crispy corn cakes and The Baan Thai salad, this restaurant reopened in 2020 with a new owner, a new menu and a new heated outdoor seating area. Warm up with new menu items like fresh spring rolls and steamed dumplings, or old favorites such as the tom kha soup. The commitment to serving fresh, local and seasonal food is unchanged. 726 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, 415.457.9470
Bistro Viz Californian
After a two-year hiatus, owner-chef Soo Young Kim brought back this petite restaurant with bistro favorites and a focus on local. Though ingredients often change with the seasons, squash blossoms stuffed with
Roasted Mediterranean Sea Bream at Estiatorio Ornos, San Francisco
makrut lime and Thai curry-infused wild salmon, vegetarian fritto misto and halibut with romesco and garliclemon yogurt inspire return visits. The lightbedecked patio is cozy, even with fog or rain’s chill. 115 San Anselmo Ave, San 415.902.9084Anselmo,
Comforts Cafe American Established in 1986, Comforts has a cozy sit-down patio and serves breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. A large takeout section offers a wide selection of house-made bakery items, seasonal salads, soups, sandwiches and entrees for dinner at home. Besides the famous Chinese chicken salad, other winners are the stuffed pecancrusted French toast, chicken okasan (nick named “Crack Chicken” by fans) and roast chicken enchiladas. 335 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, 415.454.9840
Creekside Pizza & Tap Room American A perennial Best of the County winner known for their artisan pizzas, hearty sandwiches, and flavorful pastas and salads, Creekside offers plentiful glutenfree and vegan options, too. Their of40-handlecopper,selectioncraftbeersmakes a beloved local pizza joint a destination for fresh beer in equal measure. There’s even gluten-free beer and kombucha pulled straight from the taps. 638 San Anselmo Ave, San 415.785.4450Anselmo,
Crown & Crumpet American A tidy back patio shaded by roses and cascading pear trees is ideally suited for sipping a pot of loose
leaf tea, cup of pourover coffee or a hot chocolate at this outpost of the Japantown original. Savory croissants and crumpets are just part of the breakfast menu, and a traditional sausage roll and chicken potpie are highlights at lunch. A signature afternoon tea service is available on weekends. 22 Ross Common, Ross, 415.771.4252
Cucina sa Italian Open for lunch Wednesday–Saturday and six nights a week for dinner, takeout or delivery. Homemade pastas, seasonal salads and wood-fired pizzas strike a balance between southern Italy and northern California. Full bar and cocktails are available to go or enjoy a tipple on premise inside or at the new heated parklet. 510 San Anselmo Ave, San 415.454.2942Anselmo,
Flour Craft Bakery American Along with artisan gluten-free and an assortment of vegan pastries, breads
nola.bakery’snutrolls,decadentchocolateitesflair.saladsricotta)fancylunchthisspecial-occasionandcakes,petitecafeservesamenuofso-calledtoast(avocado,andbiggreenwithseasonalCustomerfavor-includeoatmealchipcookies,cinnamonflourlesshazelbrowniesandthesignaturegra 702 San Anselmo Ave, San 415.453.3100Anselmo,
Insalata’s Mediterranean Awardwinning chef Heidi Krahling’s restaurant has featured andcataplanaDinnerforMediterraneansoulfulfare24-plusyears.favoritesincludewithmusselschorizo,Middle
Eastern-inspired vege tarian platter, Moroccan lamb flatbread, housemade pastas and of course, the fattoush salad. An expansive takeout counter offers a wide range of selections for family meals, cele brations or a quick lunch option. 120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.457.7700
Californian A rotating list of more than 20 globally sourced and Californian wines and a few beers are on tap at owner Jill CordovaHolt’s thewhileblackandsmallShoppingshopnamedeponymouslybarandretailintheRedHillCenter.Savorbiteslikeacheesecharcuterieboardortrufflepotatochipssippingatoneofoutdoortables.
906
Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.521.5500
Kientz Hall Californian Chef Gary Faulkner (Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges, the Pebble Beach Company), helms a kitchen where live-fire cooking is the focus. Tri-tip or rotisserie chicken with caper salsa verde can be paired with roasted eggplant with harissa and olives or carrots with spiced tahini-yogurt and dill. Sit inside the sunny atrium or enjoy the views of Mt. Tam on the rooftop terrace. 625 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo; 415.991.1502
Madcap Californian Chef Ron Siegel opened his first solo venture in a contemporary art-filled space with an urban edge. The vegetablecentric menu, available as a tasting menu or a la carte, incorporates seafood and Japanese techniques in colorful dishes that are bold,
balanced and bright. The petite patio is as popular as the front room. 198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.453.9898
Marinitas Mexican This sister restaurant of Insalata’s continues to flourish as a bastion of creative Mexican and Central and South American cuisine. Not your typical of-the-bordersouth-spot, it serves up margaritastop-notchandLatin lusciousness. 218 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.454.8900
M.H. Bread and Butter Californian A one-stop shop for everything from coffee and pastries to artisan bread, with a seasonal brunch menu. High-quality ingredients and a comfortable atmosphere make M.H. worth checking out. A “front porch” patio bustles dur ing the morning hours. 101 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, 415.755.4575
Marche Aux Fleurs French A local favorite known for its seasonal cuisine and
too.available(quantitiesvationburgernight;nightandpaniedartisan’smeatsseafoodproduce,casingmarketplaceextensiveshow-locallyfarmedwildandfreshandfree-rangepreparedwithantouch,accombyalengthywinebeerlist.Thursdayishamburgerrequestingyourwithyourreser-isrecommendedarelimited),onthepatio,
23 Ross Common, Ross, 415.925.9200
Pizzalina Italian The menu of Neapolitanstyle, wood-fired pizzas changes daily according to seasonal markets but always includes salads, antipastos, house-made pasta and main dishes. Look for favorites like a
classic shrimp risotto and a caprese salad with mozzarella di bufala. 914 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.256.9780
Sushi 69 Japanese Opened in 2007, Sushi 69 has been a favorite for locals looking to get their fill of no-frills sushi. The owner hails from Japan and has created an extensive menu featuring tra ditional tempura and the popular Hiro’s roll (spicy tuna with avocado, salmon and ponzu sauce wrapped in sushi rice). 69 Center Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.459.6969
Taco Jane’s Mexican
The full bar features plentiful tequila and mezcal selections, and its regional Mexican cuisine includes Oaxacan mole, fish tacos and vegetarian options. Black Gold salsa arrives with complimentary chips and is created using charred blackened toma toes and roasted chilis. Enclosed patio seating is available year round. 21 Tamalpais Ave, San Anselmo, 415.454.6562
The Hub sunnytocidersaladsismadeonionmeltedchickenCenter.spotorder-at-the-counteraredarburgerfries,burgersCraveableAmericangrass-fedandhand-cutlikethe#1hubwithwhitechedandspecialsauce,attheheartofthisinRedHillShoppingWhilethe#4burgerwithSwiss,crispystringsandhouse-srirachachilimayonottobemissed,bigandtapbeerandarealsoavailablebeenjoyedonthepatio.
Red Hill Shopping Center, 882 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, 415.785.4802
Tony Tutto's Pizza After nine years in Mill Valley, owner Greg DiGiovine relocated to Ross, bringing his crusthereveganvibekid-farm-to-tablefamiliarpiesandanddog-friendlytodowntown.Thepiesarestillandagluten-freeisavailable.
16
Ross Common, Ross, 415.383.8646
Valenti & Co. Italian The bright yet cozy indoor space and warmly lit back patio are ideal environments for authentic Italian dishes made with local ingredients. The menu changes daily but look for the carpaccio of beef, the pan-seared Pekin duck and chef Valenti's famous tower of triple chocolate love at dessert. A seat at the chef’s table gives a prime view of the open kitchen. 337 San Anselmo Ave, San 415.454.7800Anselmo,
Arizmendi Bakery Californian A workerowned bakery cafe, Arzimendi prides itself on high-quality local ingredients. nextline,don'tsourdoughsandwiches,breakfastforWednesday–SundayVisitcoffeeandpastries,andlunchandartisanpizza.Ifyouwanttowaitinorderonlinefordaypick-up.
1002 Fourth St, 415.456.4093
Bogie's Too American Relocated from the Civic Center to downtown San Rafael after 29 years, this second coming of Bogie’s highlights breakfast, brunch and lunch. Organic eggs anchor a breakfast and lunch menu of omelets, sandwiches and salads that Humphrey Bogart himself might recognize. They are famous for the
eggs Benedict and a full spirits menu, a la "Rick's Cafe." 1335 Fourth St, 415.492.1530
Boiadeirus Steak Brazilian The picanha is the signature cut at this Brazilian-style steak house where gauchos carrying grilled meats on long swords cruise the room, offering portions of up to 10 meats. A huge salad bar offers everything from feijoada and potato salad to yucca and deviled eggs. 925 Fourth St, 628.253.5854
Brazilian Breads Brazilian Brazilian street eats and the country’s famed pao de quejo are on offer at this catering and baking hub and take-out shop in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood. gluten-freeNaturallycheesy bread and tapioca crepes pair well with Brazil’s native açai bowls, coffee and desserts or build your own sandwich with linguica or roasted eggplant. 20 Medway Rd, 510.647.8894
Bruno’s Italian One part market, two parts deli and cafe just off the downtown strip features all things Italian. Sandwiches, salads and entrees–Il Padrino (aka The Rafael;1304espressowinesItalianandMamma'sGodfather),Meatballs–arangeofimportedpackagedgoods,andcoffee/areavailable.SecondSt,San415.785.7487
California Gold American Death Proof, a “lethal” blend of dark rum, calvados, orange and aromatic bitters, is just one of the pre-tiki, handmade drinks that highlight the cocktail menu in the slickly comfortable space,
decked out in a style befitting the Roaring Twenties. The drinks range from California beer styles on the 12 taps to globally sourced wines. Fresh cocktails, like the tropical, smash and thunderbolt, feature produce sourced from the San Rafael farmers’ markets. Enjoy them at an outdoor table with a meal from neighbor Revel & Roost. 848 B St, 707.337.6159
Caribbean Jerk chicken with just the right amount of heat is a menu highlight at this brick-and-mortar San Rafael extension of chefowner Frantz Felix’s food truck of the same name. Go for the Caribbean sangria and Haitian specialties like griot or goat curry and atthenandsionsAmerican–inspiredAfricanverofcreolesnapperseafoodgumbo,savoryourmealasidewalktable. 819 Fourth St, 415.299.2680
Flatiron American The remodeled Flatiron is where refined American bar food lives happily in its ideal environ ment — with a bevy of craft beers. This polished sports bar serves noshes like chili-lime cauliflower, classic sand wiches, and truffle and waffle fries in a space that also features classic arcade games. 724 B St, 415.453.4318
Gaspare’s Italian Carved stylescaloppini,homemadeanywithcosmobusyroomtwo-roomfoyerplasterworksMoroccan-stylegracetheatthisboisterous,spot.ThetothelefthostsabarwhereanItaliancocktailistoppedproseccobutplaceisfinetotrygnocchi,vealoraSicilianpizzawitheggplant
and feta. 200 Merrydale Rd, 415.472.7101
LaVier Cuisine Latin American Free-range chicken and sustain able seafood plus vegan and vegetarian dishes are the focus at this all-organic Latin fusion eatery run by Mexico City native, Gabriela and her husband Guillermo, who hails from Yucatán. Try the feelsbedeckedstreet-siderellenos.blackfishpescadotop-sellingasado,puffytacoswithslawandbeans,orchileThecolorfuldiningpatio,withpalms,downrighttropical.
1025 C St, 415.295.7990
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
Le Comptoir French In the heart of San Rafael, the bistro, complete with bright red chairs and a small adjoining grocery, serves up traditional French favorites like beef cheeks bourguignon and onion soup gratinée in a chic and cozy setting. 1301 Fourth St, 415.454.5454
Lou’s Takeaway American Bicyclists returning from a ride along San Rafael’s Lucas Valley Road are in on the not-so-secret eats from Anthony (Lou) Rizzi’s petite restau rant. Though the menu changes frequently, look for favorites like chilled chicken noodles with roasted peanuts
and pickled long beans, spicy honey-glazed fried chicken, and pork belly with black vinegar caramel sauce. 621A Del Ganado Rd, San Rafael; 415.226.7994
Magnolia Park Kitchen American This American bistro features lots of farm-fresh salads (quinoa with cranberry and carrot) and sandwiches (Cubano, Reuben) to choose from. The heated, partially covered outdoor patio is well suited to sipping a glass of wine or enjoying a burger or a signature fried chicken bomb sandwich with fire cracker aioli and serrano pickle slaw. 1016 Court St, 415.521.5591
Masala Kitchen Indian Cuisine Indian Into a quiet corner of Montecito Plaza comes the latest from coowner and chef Timothy Maharjan and co-owner and manager Atit Subba who serve up the varied cuisines and techniques of the Indian diaspora. A tandoor oven turns out chicken, shrimp and lamb kebabs and extensive selection of naan, roti and other breads. Chicken tikka masala and masala chai are already local favorites, also served on the petite patio. 227 Third St, 415.526.3161
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
Menya Shono Japanese Noodles from ramen master Tomoharu Shono are made in-house, the flour ground on a Japanese stone mill in the kitchen. Designed exclusively for the San Rafael location, toripai tan uses chicken broth instead of the traditional pork, but traditionalists can get breezes.fromsmallmatchaversionMarin-influencedShono’sofShoyuandramen,too.Apatioisshieldedthemarinelayer’s
908 Fourth St, 415.295.7112
American The bread is made on site and is said to have magical qualities. It better, as it is the only holder for the overstuffed wonders served at this Best of the County winner. Fans return over and over to the San Rafael and Novato locations for their faves, ordered by number, then swoon over the huge sandos piled with meat, cheese
and enough shredded lettuce to ooze out the sides and onto your lap. 999 Andersen Drive, Suite 165, 415.485.0964
Monk’s Kettle
American Like the original in San Francisco, Christian forwardthereardentFriedtheandElderbeersPoolfrompingrestaurantAlbertson’sintheshop-centerkitty-cornertheTerraLindaservesquaffable(likePlinytheontap),burgers,pubgrubtomatchsuds.TheMissionChickenhasanfollowingbutareplentyofveg-offerings,too.
655 Del Ganado Rd
Mulberry Street Pizzeria Italian Chef Ted Rowe won first place in the Food Network Television Pizza Challenge, Season 5, 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 threebeer pizza. 101 Smith Ranch Rd, 415.472.7272
Pond Farm Brewing
American The microbrewery in the West End from husband-andwife team Trevor and Stephanie Martens has a rotating list of beers on tap from brewer Trevor, pop-up food from local businesses in the beer garden, and snacks at the bar. 1848 Fourth St, 415.524.8709
RangeCafe American
The cuisine from chef Stephen Simmons is local; seasonal; made with naturally raised ingredients; and served in a casual, comfortable and refined setting, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the grand Peacock Gap lawns. An inviting cafe at lunch with ice-cold lemonade and refreshing char donnay makes a great dinner spot once the sun sets. 333 Biscayne Drive, 415.454.6450
Revel & Roost Californian The atlimitedatablefulleredindoorsflavorsEuropeannaturefreshclassicstions,eightmustClassicdowntownatlocallyfromFrenchhintflower-bedeckedsun-tablesattheSpanishandflavorstocomethechef-driven,sourcedmenuthiscornerspotinSanRafael.friedchickenisaandisavailableindifferentcombinabutMediterraneanlikepaella,seafoodandsig-flatbreadsbringandAmericantothetableoronthecov-heatedpatio.Themenuisalsoavail-acrossthestreetCaliforniaGoldandamenuisavailableLibationTaproom. 901 B St, 415.870.9946
Rocket Roll Japanese
There are plenty of fusion thecadoSmoothiessashimitoaoffersJapanese.thataround,restaurantsbutnotmanyblendMexicanandRocketRolleverythingfromspicytunaricebowlyellowfinorsalmon“sushiburritos.”liketheavo-fresherroundoutmenu.
1109 Fourth St, 415.866.0537
Sabor a Mexico Mexican Fresh mar garitas know no border, while salmon fish tacos are topped with chopped onion and cilantro a la Distrito Federal and a pambazo, a sandwich stuffed with chorizo and potato is done up with a Jaliscan-style sauce. A six-table patio offers outdoor seating. 1559 Fourth St, 415.306.9404
Shiro Kuma Japanese Shiro kuma, which means polar bear, takes its inspiration from chef Yasuo Shigeyoshi’s childhood in a small rural town in the south of Japan and offers traditional-style sushi and
wagyu A5 and Kobe beef to cook over ishiyaki grilling stones. Popular weekly specials include hamachi jalapeño and the omakase (chef’s choice) dinner. 1518 Fourth St, 415.295.7464
Sol Food Puerto Rican A Marin legend, Sol Food whips up traditional Puerto Rican dishes just like the ones owner Sol Hernandez grew up eating. Favorites include the bistec sandwich, mofongo and other fried plantain dishes, 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). It shares space with sister restaurant, Viqtor Cafe. 901 Lincoln Ave, 415.451.4765
State Room American State Room Brewery has ditched its former diner vibe in favor of a modern gastropub. All draft beers are made on site and are available in sizes from half pints to takehome growlers; beer flights are also available. The menu, created by Alex Stricker and Andrew Toy, changes seasonally and includes a burrata cheese BLT and sashimi-grade tuna poke. 1132 Fourth St, 415.295.7929
Sushi to Dai For Japanese Snagging a seat in this popular Fourth Street spot can be a challenge, but patience is rewarded with fresh sashimi and unique sushi rolls. 816 Fourth St, 415.721.0392
Taj of Marin Indian Both North and South Indian cuisine are offered here, with lunch specials and dinners that include goat curry, spinach, lentils and tandoori. 909 Fourth St, 415.459.9555
Tam Commons Tap Room & Kitchen American Pub grub like karaage “popcorn” chicken, French bread pizza, and big meaty plates of ribs and tritip with all the fixin’s define the menu from chef Chris Lyon at this brewpub in a National Historic Landmark build ing in downtown San Rafael. A pull from one of the 34 taps yields a handcrafted beer, cider or kombucha from local and global breweries. A street-side deck was recently expanded. 1300 Fourth St, 415.521.5770
Terrapin Crossroads
American This water front restaurant and music venue presents fresh food and local talent and was opened by former Grateful Dead member Phil Lesh. The menu offers salads, savory dishes and woodfired pizzas, plus a wide selection of beer, wine and cocktails. Brunch on the patio is very popular. 100 Yacht Club Drive, 415.524.2773
Uchiwa Ramen
Japanese It has been seven years since Kevin Fong and Ben Yang opened Marin’s first ramen shop, and it has found a spot in the hearts of ramen lovers for its rich broths, fresh noodles and assort ment of small plates. While the tonkatsu and gluten-free options remain popular, new items such as pan-fried ramen, vegan miso ramen and rice dishes meet a variety of needs. A petite patio offers outdoor seating. 821 B St, 415.524.2727
Vin Antico American Vin Antico, “where passion meets the plate,” serves market-inspiredseasonalcuisine
The Greek cocktail at The Rock & Rye, Mill Valley
like cocktails.fullroomisprepared.salads,pastasflatbreads,stone-oven-bakedhandmadeandorganicallinnovativelyThekitchenopentothediningandthere’sabarwithartisan 881 Fourth St, 415.721.0600
Viqtor Food Puerto Rican The latest spin-off of the Puerto Rican food empire owned by Victor Cielo and Sol Hernandez operates in the same dining space of the San Rafael original and is takeout only. Familyfriendly fare (spaghetti with garlicky shrimp, tacos with red sauce) and a pork rib sandwich cradled by the original restaurant’s famous tostones incorporate the broader flavors of the Caribbean. 902 Lincoln Ave, 415.737.0655
Vivalon's Jackson Cafe American The menu changes weekly to reflect the seasons, so today’s panko crusted crab cake with potato salad and coleslaw will give way to tomorrow’s bacon and tomato mac ’n’ cheese with Caesar salad at this spot near the San Rafael Transit Center. Daily soup and sandwich choices and the hamburger are also available. 930 Tamalpais Ave, 415.456.9062
VN Noodle & Grill Vietnamese Located in Montecito Plaza, the restaurant has a robust menu of standard Vietnamese fare, includ ing a wide selection of rice plates, pho and of course, iced coffee. 421 Third St, 415.306.4299
Owner/chef Bill Higgins serves tapas, sangria and reasonably priced organic dishes. The
forerings,partiespudding.andtacos,toLatinfreshblendslunchCalifornia-Caribbeananddinnercuisinelocalfarm-ingredientswithflavors.BesuretrythepopularfishCuban“cigars”chocolatebreadAvailableforandspecialgath-plusabackpatioalfrescodining. 1613 Fourth St, 415.256.1818
Yet Wah Chinese Named for the founder’s wife (“Yet” refers to the moon, “Wah” to brightness), this beloved mainstay has a tradi tional Chinese menu and daily dim sum. Expect live music in the Kung Fu Lounge. 1238 Fourth St, 415.460.9883
Angelino Restaurant Italian Multiple gen erations of the Arcona family create an authentic Italian eatery with handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti that has showcased the cuisine of the Campania region for more than 20 years. The newer Angelino Pastry Bar features classic croissants, focaccia and a raspberry-polenta pop tart, among other treats, with pickup from 8 a.m. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225
Avatar’s Indian If you’re on the hunt for innovative, multi-culti Indian fare, head to Avatar’s. Sip masala chai sweet ened with brown sugar before digging into Cajun-spiced shrimp on the heated and shaded patio. A curried sweet potato enchilada in the casual one-room restaurant makes a quick vegetarian lunch or dinner on the new patio. 2656 415.332.8083Bridgeway,
Bar Bocce American Food just tastes better on a bayside patio with fire pits and a bocce ball court. Order one of the sourdough bread pizzas, a shredded kale salad and a glass of wine and you’ll see why this casual, beachy eatery, overseen by Robert Price of Mill Valley's Buckeye and Bungalow 44, has become a local favorite. 1250 Bridgeway, 415.331.0555
Barrel House Tavern Californian Stop by Barrel House for a feel ing of rising above it all (it's on the second floor) where the soaring ceiling work reflects the restaurant's name. The barrel-aged cocktails are worth a visit (try the Negroni) but dishes like maitake mushroom flat bread and tartare tacos reflect a locally focused ethos that is enhanced by the cool setting and fantastic bay and city
views. 660 415.729.9593Bridgeway,
Copita Mexican Co-owner Joanne Weir and chef Daniel Tellez present fresh Mexican fare in the heart of downtown Sausalito. The ever-changing menu is 100 percent glutenfree, masa is prepared and pressed in house for each and every tortilla, and the in-house tequila bar serves more than 100 varieties, ideal for crafting your own margarita. Dine at the bar (when it is permitted again) or on the outdoor patio for great people watching. 739 Bridgeway, 415.331.7400
F3/Fast Food Francais French Owned and operated by the owners of Le Garage, F3 serves brunch, lunch and dinner menucomfort“Frenchified”featuringAmericanfood.Arotatingincludesitems
like the quack burger (duck confit, black pepper chèvre, lettuce and red onion marmalade), and a bucket of fried chicken is designed to be enjoyed family style. Enjoy with a side of Brussels sprout chips or pommes dauphines (tater tots). 39 Caledonia St, 415.887.9047
Feng Nian Chinese
This spacious popular hangout has served up wonton soup, potstick ers and daily specials for nearly two decades. For an indulgent treat, order the Szechwan crispy calamari, honey-glazed walnut prawn or lemon chicken. At lunch, the spicy green bean chicken is a favorite of one of our staffers. A gluten-free menu is available. 2650 Bridgeway, 415.331.5300
Fish Seafood It has been said that this restaurant and fish market launched the sustainable
seafood movement, making it the ultimate place for freshly caught, unobjectionable fare. Order any of the day's offerings — the menu changes daily but usually has a variation of fish tacos, ceviche and grilled fish of the day — then take in the bay views on the open-air deck. Though cash is still king, credit cards are now accepted (woot!). 350 Harbor 415.331.3474Drive,
Joinery American This large waterfront restaurant’s broad patio, big salads and shareable plates make it a destination for families and other groups. Order at the front, and then grab a seat to enjoy the craft beer, Joinery or Impossible burger, rotisserie chicken and other hearty, seasonal fare. 300 Turney St, 415.766.8999
Kitti’s Place Thai This home-style family-run restaurant has been in town for over 20 years. It features Californiainspired favorites like lettuce cups stuffed with chicken and almonds, soft spring rolls and a curried turkey burger. A patio out front gets midday sun, even in winter. 3 001 415.331.0390Bridgeway,
Le Garage French Escape the tourist crush for an indulgent meal right on the water in a spacious room that was once, well, you know. The atmosphere is animated with light French music (à la Amélie) and plenty of natural light from the often-open garage door. A Niçoise salad is gussied up with white anchovies and the croque monsieur oozes with Gruyere and mustard-infused bechamel
sauce. Escargot, tucked into puff pastry, is easily reheated at home. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625
Lighthouse American Weekend classic break fasts — eggs Benedict, fruit pancakes, a Norwegian omelet with smoked salmon — are the little engine that could for this restaurant on Harbor Point, with long lines to be expected. Locals head over on weekdays for Nordic-inspired lunch and dinner fare; try the meatballs or the burger topped with horseradish, capers and beets. 1311 Bridgeway, 415.331.3034
Mint n Chili American The former BBQ ‘n’ Curry House, tucked into a corner in Marin City’s shopping center, changed its name to reflect a menu refreshed with a tandoori soul and curry at its heart. Owner Shahid Paracha fuses Indian and Pakistani food traditions with Marin’s love of beef burritos, chicken tacos, and veggie bowls. There’s even a burger and a lamb cheesesteak. 160 Donahue St, 415.289.0786
Murray Circle American Cavallo
ethos.thecocktailsStopbymeansextensivepotatoconfitchickensalmondinnerGarciafarefeaturesacclaimedPoint’srestaurantlocal,seasonalfromchefMikeatlunchand(grilledsumacBLT,roastedwithlemonandsourcreampuree).Anwineprogramglobalofferingsthebottleorglass.byFarleyBarforwithaviewandsamelocallyfocused
601 Murray Circle, 415.339.4750
Osteria Divino Italian Authentic Florentine cooking with an eye on local and seasonal means fresh fare all year long. The extensive artisan pasta selec tion includes vegan and vegetarian options and a breakfast menu includes frittatas and English muffin sandwiches. Live music on Friday and Saturday evenings lifts everyone’s spirits. 37 Caledonia St, 415.331.9355
Poggio Italian Vitello sliced excruciatingly thin and topped with lemon and tonnato sauce is a singular dish in the hands of executive chef Benjamin Balesteri, who creates Northern Italian fare using local and Italian ingredients. The bar may be the most hopping in town and is recognized for its killer Negroni. Private dining rooms above the restaurant can accommodate larger parties (10 to 150 guests). 777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771
Sausalito Equator
American The transition of Cibo Bakery to Sausalito Equator, com pleted in 2019, means a coffee menu including Equator’s iconic drinks like the shakerato (coffee shaken with cream) and rotating, seasonally focused beverages. The veggie hash topped with a fried egg is insanely popular at breakfast, as are the pastries from Cibo Bakery, and pair beautifully with chai from San Rafael's Silk Roads. Locally sourced salads, sandwiches and paninis easily transi tion from breakfast to lunch. 1201 415.521.5770Bridgeway,
Saylor’s Restaurant and Bar Mexican Chef/ owner Sean Saylor uses
Mixed baby lettuces with watermelon radish at Kientz Hall, San Anselmofresh local ingredients and seafood to create a distinctively Cabo combination of Californian and Mexican cuisine. That means polenta with green chili and mozzarella or a Caesar salad with ancho chili croutons and queso fresco. Choose from more than 200 varieties of tequilas that are even better when enjoyed in the private Cabo Wabo room, named for (and approved by) Mill Valley's own tequila master, Sammy Hagar. 2009 Bridgeway, 415.332.1512
Scoma’s of Sausalito Italian Sausalito’s old est seafood house has its own boat, berthed at Pier 47, which fishes seasonally and is approved for salmon and Dungeness crab,
resulting in fresh catches year-round. The menus at both the Sausalito and Fisherman's Wharf loca tions were revamped by chef Gordon Drysdale in accordance with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program and regularly feature whole crabs, chowders and grilled fish. 588 Bridgeway, 415.332.9551
Taste of the Himalayas Himalayan Popular for lunch and dinner, serving dishes from countries close to the famous mountain region. Stick with familiar curry and tandoori or dive into regional specialties like jasha maroo (from Bhutan) and churi pama (from Tibet) found nowhere else. 2633 Bridgeway, 415.331.1335
Tommy’s Wok Chinese Fresh free-rangeingredients,chicken and traditional dishes fulfill the Chinese food craving with a nice atmosphere for dining in and great takeout for a night at home. 3001 415.332.5818Bridgeway,
The Trident Seafood Set in a chips.beer-batteredwithcioppinofromducersandlocalknown1970srestaurant,inrestaurantClub,thebuildingturn-of-the-centuryconstructedforSanFranciscoYachtthiswaterfrontisashoo-fordatenight.Theafamoushangout,isnowforsupportingfarmers,fishersorganicfoodpro-ineverythingitswell-regardedtoaLouiesaladcraborprawnsandfishand 558 415.331.3232Bridgeway,
Caffe Acri Italian The well-lit corner cafe in Tiburon is a go-to for bikers, city commuters and locals. Diners will find Italian roast espresso drinks, freshly baked pastries and eggs for breakfast and a selection of soups, salads and paninis for lunch. A market stacked with pantry items and coffee operates inside the café, and outdoor dining is available. 1 Main St, 415.435.8515
Rustic Bakery Californian This location of the beloved bakery offers the same menu as the other locations in Novato and Larkspur, as well as outdoor dining. Enjoy a wide array of fresh
salads, sandwiches, and pastries on the boardwalk. 1550 Tiburon Blvd, 415.797.6123
Sam’s Anchor Cafe American Reopened after an seafoodthecarttoast,whiletheremainpatio.thelasandtie-upshouseremodel,extensiveSam'sboatfeelandboatremainintact,spiffywhiteumbrel-anddeckchairslineexpansivewaterfrontAll-daycocktailsafixtureasdoessignaturecioppino,offeringslikecrabaroamingoysterandarawbarreflectmenu'senduringfocus.
27 Main St, 415.435.4527
The Caviar Co. American Strawberry resident Petra Bergstein expanded her nessFrancisco-basedSanbusiwithadowntown
shop and home.ingtotruffles,grilledandbyalongdelicacy.dedicatedrestauranttothebrinyCaviarflights,withChampagnetheglassorbottlesmallplateslikecheesewithareavailableenjoyintheirtast-roomortotake
46A Main St, 415.889.5168
Tiburon Tavern American Renzo and Crystal Azzarello of nearby Luna Blu took the reins in August for the Tiburon Tavern bar and restaurant with Chef Babak Nasser on board to handle the flow from breakfast and brunch through dinner. The same wide patio is back in service, too. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.3133
Waypoint Pizza Pizza Family-friendly, 15 Main St, 415.435.3440 MARIN Reyes Pizza
Though there’s no oyster pizza on the menu, a short menu of bivalves and Neapolitan-style pies at this cozy spot means the brick oven is a hub of popular.pepperonicriminibuttomatoescrushedMargheritaactivity.withhand-SanMarzanoisaclassic,theFarallonwithmushroomsandisequally 11101 California One, Point Reyes Station, 415.663.9493
Dillon Beach Coastal Kitchen Californian
Inspired by Marin’s foodshed, Dillon Beach Resort’s eatery, located west of Tomales, offers seasonal coastal cuisine like local line-caught fish and chips, classic clam chowder and Stemple Creek burger. tioncream8alsoBeachaccompanyingTheDillonGeneralStorefeaturesDoubleDairysoftserveiceandalocalselec-ofwinesandbeers.
1 Beach Ave, Dillon Beach, 707.878.3030
Due West at Olema House Californian The dark blue walls accented with recessed golden light give the includingmodernatrestaurant-cum-saloonrefreshedOlemaHouseafeel.Themenu,aburger,linguiniandclams,anda
chopped salad, skews all-day casual and speaks to the inn and restaurant’s crossroads locale. 10005 Highway 1, Olema, 415.663.1264
Nick’s Cove American This escape along Tomales Bay is famous for barbecued local oysters, Dungeness crab mac ’n’ cheese and cocktails andmostdiningandlounge.pieraofvide120-seatLargehomegrownincorporatingingredients.windowsintherestaurantpropicturesqueviewsTomalesBay,orenjoyseatoutsidealongtheorinthewaterfrontThecozybarfireplaceinthemainroommakestheoffog-whippedrainydays. 23240 Highway 1, 415.663.1033Marshall,
Tony's Seafood Seafood The crowds still come on sunny weekends for the barbecue oysters and amazing views of Tomales Bay but the restaurant's purchase by the Hog Island Oyster Co team meant a refresh of the interior and a spiffed-up menu of salads and local seafood. 18863 Shoreline Hwy, Marshall, 415.663.1107
William Tell House American The oldest continuously operat ing saloon in Marin makes a mean apple brandy cocktail aptly named for the Swiss folk hero, William Tell (who famously shot an arrow off his son’s head), but the revamped restaurant strives to make its name around food with a seafood chowder made with local cod, a Cobb salad
with applewood bacon, and a butcher’s cut of the day sourced from nearby Stemple Creek Ranch and grilled to order. 26955 Highway 1, Tomales, 707.879.2002
Barrio Latin American With Latin American flair, executive chef Tim Milojevich prepares foods of the so-called Latin diaspora designed for a local audience. Fresh heirloom blue corn tortillas are a worthy partner with the notto-be-missed birria, but a seafood emphasis means standout fish tacos and ceviche, along with epic bay and bridge views. A full bar is focused on agave spirits. 900 North Point St, San Francisco, 415.741.2000
Benu Asian Plan on a formal and sophisticated evening. The compositions on the tasting menu provide a full experience of this restaurant’s lateconceptnewWon,previewskitchenOnAsian-fusionuniquecuisine.Sundays,Benu'sisofferingmenuofSanHochefCoreyLee'sKoreanfinedininglaunchingin2021. 22 Hawthorne St, San 415.685.4860Francisco,
Black Cat American
Grit meets glam at this jazzy Tenderloin supper club. Executive chef Tu David Phu and chef de cuisine Robert Hurtado have designed a unique menu fusing American and andlabaisse,classics.internationalSaigonbouilCaliforniacurryMayanceviche
tostada are some of the choices, along with timeless cocktails and live music in the downstairs lounge. Happy hour 5:30–7 p.m. 400 Eddy St, San 415.358.1999Francisco,
If you’re craving classic Chicago-style Italian and a venue to match, the endless pizza choices and flavorful pasta and meat selections here will more than satisfy your appetite and take you back in time to the mobster days of the 1920s. 641 Vallejo St, San Francisco, 415.986.8998
Craftsman and Wolves American At this contemporary pâtisserie in the Mission District, pastry whiz William Werner serves eggfilled muffins known
as the rebel within, bonbons, coffee, and many other sweet and savory baked goods. 746 Valencia St, San Francisco, 415.913.7713
An upscale meat lover’s mecca with a sophisticated atmosphere, Epic Steak’s bayside eatery delivers on all fronts. Professional service, choice cuts of prime rib and chocolatebittersweetfudgecake are among the things that keep patrons coming back. An upstairs bar and soaring patio are also happy hour favorites. 369 Embarcadero, San 415.369.9955Francisco,
Brazilian This steak house boasts a tasting menu of 14 meat courses
grilled with the tradi tional Brazilian method. Patrons control the pace of the prix-fixe experience with col ored signal cards. 1686 Market St, San Francisco, 415.552.8792
Estiatorio Ornos, a Michael Mina restaurant Mediterranean Seafood with Greek and Egyptian underpin nings is the latest focus for the iconic Financial District space where chef Michael Mina first made his name at Aqua. Named for a beach on the Greek island of Mikonos, the restaurant features a beachy vibe, whole fish prepara tions and a roaming spread cart. A fish cart with the day’s catch will be helmed by what might be the city’s first ever “fish sommelier.”
252 California St, San Francisco; 415.417.3969
Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine Thai First impressions matter, and this establishment makes a bold one with a staple item. The rice here is blue. Not artificially dyed, but tinged by butterfly pea flowers, which is a current trending ingredient in Thailand. Topped with a dollop of shaved ice, the Thai iced tea is also as fun to look at as it is to consume. The popular Wagyu beef rolls and fried chicken round out the menu. 710 Florida St, San Francisco, 415.814.2920
Hotel Mac Restaurant American Filled with old-world charm, this establishment has been serving American
classics since 1911. Executive chef Jaime Molina’s seasonal menu features freshly pre pared fish and favorites like chicken cordon bleu. Weekly specials including Friday’s halfoff bottles of wine keep patrons loyal, as does the live music featured nightly. 50 Washington Ave, Point 510.233.0576Richmond,
Jaranita Latin American Its name refers to a “spontaneous colorful street celebration in Peru” and the quaffable sake cocktails, grilled chicken with huacatay sauce, small plates like salchipaps and wholeroasted cauliflower, and chocolate cake with dulce de leche do indeed make it feel festive at this colorful spot. Heated, covered outdoor
dining is available. 3340 Steiner St, San Francisco, 415.655.9585
Loló Mexican menu.ofandpatio,includingwholetraditionalfreshcuisineFrancisco-styleSanMexicanfusesmarket-ingredientswithdishes.Theatmosphere,theoutdoorisbright,colorfulfestive,areflectionLoló’sflavor-blasted
974 Valencia St, San 415.643.5656Francisco,
Maybeck's American Erik Lowe and Aaron Toensing serve inventive American standards, including fried chicken and bubbly on Tuesday and resurrection of Beef Wellington on Wednesdays. The chefs explore regional culinary traditions and translate them into a Northern
It’s time to celebrate again. Plan your upcoming holiday party at The Clubhouse at Peacock Gap. Let our full-service team amaze your guests and ensure that your event is festive and memorable.
Fine Jewelry Handcrafted in California
Available at Citrine in downtown Larkspur lelamooi.com lelamooifinejewelry@gmail.com
California lexicon, as evidenced by their playful menu and a Negronicentered bar. 3213 Scott St, San 415.939.2726Francisco,
Niku Steakhouse Japanese This American steakhouse has a distinct Japanese influence and eschews predictable fare, offering a 10-course seasonal tast ing menu in addition to an à la carte menu where vegetables get the same kind of attention as meat — kimchi and koji are made on-site. Notable dishes include Japanese wagyu from the Hyogo prefecture, in-house dry-aged domestic beef, porterhouse steak and a bone-in tomahawk steak intended for sharing. 61 Division St, San Francisco, 415.829.7817
Nopa Californian The easy California menu shows off roasted chicken and pork chops, with a bouquet of appetizers to set the mood. Although this San Francisco destination is busy almost every night (a good sign), the wait at the legendary bar is half the fun. 560 Divisadero St, San 415.864.8643Francisco,
Palio Italian After an extensive renovation, Palio d’Asti has been reimagined as Palio, and now offers a brand-new dining space, expanded bar and lounge, as well as private dining rooms. The menu features different regions of Italy while maintaining an emphasis on seasonal, sustainably sourced California ingredi ents. Dishes include house-made pastas, whole Mediterranean sea bass and numerous wood-fired pizza
options, including a ter rific gluten-free option. 640 Sacramento St, San Francisco, 415.395.9800
Perry’s American This Union Street institution with branches on the Embarcadero and in Larkspur, is famous for classic American food, personable service and a bustling bar. Signature dishes include Cobb salad, prime steaks, eggs Blackstone and of course, the burger. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch weekends and holidays. 1944 Union St, San Francisco, 415.922.9022
The Pressed Cafe Italian Tucked in the lobby of 3 Embarcadero Center, this Italian spot from the owners of Mill Valley's Prabh Indian Kitchen, has a wide selection of paninis and artisanal coffee for breakfast and lunch. 3 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, 415.781.0302
The Progress Californian The second venture from State Bird Provisions chefproprietors Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski is as innovative as the first. Along with seasonal variations on favorites like roti, pierogis and meat-centric platters meant for sharing, sip on a craft cocktail or pick from general manager and wine director Jason expansiveAlexander’swinelist.1525 Fillmore St, San Francisco, 415.673.1294
Town Hall American The exposed brick and warm, largelightingunconventionalturnTownHall’sindoorandoutdoor
spaces into intimate yet elegant environments. With a onvisitmarblewithsicssavoryadequatemore-than-winelistandAmericanclaslikefriedchickenrosemarycrushedpotatoes,ahereshouldbeeveryone’slist. 342 Howard St, San Francisco, 415.908.3900
West Coast Wine Cheese Californian
Focused on small production winemakers, the wine menu features a bottle list with more than 300 selections and wines by the glass that change weekly, as well as California, Oregon and Washington beers on draft and by the bottle. A rotating cheese and charcuterie menu, served with bread from San Francisco’s Jane Bakery, is also offered. 2165 Union St, San Francisco 415.376.9720
Wildseed VegetarianVegan/ The plantbased trend put down roots in Cow Hollow, where chef Blair Warsham serves up shareable bites of beet poke, Mexican corn cakes and a ceviche of king trumpet mushrooms. Add a “neatball” to one of the many salads and bowls on the menu to boost your protein intake, or simply chill with a freshly juiced cocktail or biodynamic wine at this aspira tional eatery. 2000 Union St, San Francisco, 415.872.7350
For comprehensive restaurant listings,Cucina sa is open for lunch and dinner 6 days a week! Tuesday through Sunday, lunch is 11:30am-3:00pm, with dinner going from 5:00pm-9:00pm. Outside dining on our bridge and parklet. Hope that you can join us soon! Please call for larger parties or special requests.
CUCINA SA 510 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, CA 415.454.2942 cucina-sa.com voted city home-style San Anselmo Anselmo, Jane’s neighborhood gem. Offering fish JANE’S Tamalpais Anselmo, 415.454.6562
OCT 18 Temple Grandin
The autism and animal behavior specialist and professor of animal sci ence at Colorado State University discusses personal experiences and her new book, Navigating Autism: 9 Mindsets for Helping Kids on the Spectrum, to empower parent and child mindsets and develop the full potential of every child. cityarts.net
OCT 19 Sandor Katz
Food nerd and culinary maker alert: The king of fermentation is hosting an online event to discuss his newest book, Fermentation Journeys: Recipes, Techniques and Traditions From Around the World, and regale viewers with a showand-tell from his home kitchen. copper fieldsbooks.com
OCT 29–NOV 7
artists Zakkubalan, aka Neo S. Sora and Albert Tholen, features their 2017 collaboration with composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, async – volume - , a 24-channel video installation that serves as a portrait of the composer and his creative process, and new work created in response to San Francisco’s David Ireland House. 500cappstreet.org
OCT 31 Frankenstein Mary Shelley’s classic story (dare we say a love story?) is presented by a corps of actors and puppeteers who will create a silent animated fi lm in real time while an immersive score is performed live by four musicians. calperformances.org
online and in-person screenings and events this year throughout the Bay Area, including at CineArts Sequoia in Mill Valley, Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael, and the Berkeley Art Museum and Paci fic Film Archive. mvff.com
OCT 15–24 Dance Film Festival More than 100 long- and short-form fi lms, a mix of in-person and virtual experiences, capture the essence of movement and its prac titioners and includes “Australia’s Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra” and the California pre miere of “Coppelia,” which combines liveaction dance with animation. sfdancefilmfest.org
OCT 5 HellaSecret
SEPT 28–OCT 2
Bacchae Before With a dance theater project inspired by the tragedies of gender reveal parties and Anne Carson’s Bakkhai, Hope Mohr Dance returns to live
ofThebes,Pentheus,ofwithperformanceanancientstorythemurderofKingofatthehandshisownmother.
hopemohr.org
OCT 2 Epoch Presented before an in-person audience, as well as a live digital simulcast,
this extended-length, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. dance bills itself as “a gra tuitous surplus of movement, interrupted by moments of noth ingness,” and calls into question the idea of performance as ritual, together with an inves tigation into structures of power. odc.dance
Take 3 A virtual event from laterapherdedicatedonHealer,”digitalourpremieremuch-delayed“ShadowincludesRAWDancetwoworks,(part1),”aworldthatexploresever-expandingdebris,and“Theameditationhealthandwellnesstochoreog-KaterinaWong’saunt. odc.dance
OCT 30–FEB 19 Below the Lighthouse The fi rst solo exhibition in the United States of the work of New York-based
The secret comedy lineup is brand new and back at Public Works in San Francisco’s Mission District with a twodrink minimum (hello, can of Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey!) and a fully seated show. publicsf.com
OCT 7–OCT 17 Mill Valley Film Festival
Back for its 44 th year, MVFF will feature
OCT 1–3 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Though the festival of American music will not return to Golden Gate Park this year, a weekend’s worth of performances from Bob Mould with Fred Armisen, Steve Earle, Las Cafeteras and many more will be livestreamed. strictlybluegrass.comhardly
OCT 17 The Well Known Strangers Opening for Bill Kirchen at Novato’s Hopmonk Tavern, San Francisco’s countrysoul band is on tour in
THEATER / COMEDY / MUSIC / MUSEUMS / EVENTS / FILM / TALKS EDITED BY CHRISTINA MUELLER MoAD, Artist Amoako Boafosupport of their latest EP, “King Tide.” kcturnerpresents.com
THROUGH NOV 30 Continuity Like Interactive Van Gogh, the teamLab project at the Asian Art Museum invites participants to step into a lush imagery ecosystem, this version drawn from nature and East Asian art, of a moving landscape of blooming flowers and darting fish. asianart.org
SEPT 25–NOV 14 Johan
Hagemeyer A lifechanging meeting with Alfred Stieglitz turned a fruit farmer, who first arrived in the United States in 1900, into a renowned photographer whose work was widely in fluenced by his circle of friends — and many of their works also appear in this exhibition. bolinasmuseum.org
OCT 9–FEB 13, 2022
Color Into Line Pastels from the Renaissance to the present trace the technical evolution of pastel, from its introduction in
Planet Earth Fights Back One of Marin’s cultural treasures, experimental artist Phyllis Thelen opened a new show at the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art in September. The long-time San Rafael resident and founder of Art Works Downtown places nature at the heart of the show, which brings awareness to the environmental tipping point we’re facing. With works depicting environmental disasters, Thelen’s sculptures and “wallworks” allude to the results of human impacts — pollution, over population and more — on “Our Mother” and only terrestrial home while demonstrating our precarious perch and power to fight back. “For over 50 years, Marin has provided a safe and supportive environment for me and my art,” Thelen says. “That’s why I feel so free to expand my mission to celebrate and defend nature in the political arena. The Earth is in trouble, and it’s important for each of us to save it.” This show is one small step to give the Earth a voice while helping protect it from ourselves. marinmoca.org
16 th -century Europe to current works, through drawings by Rosalba Carriera, JeanBaptiste Perronneau, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Eva Gonzalès, Diego Rivera, Wayne Thiebaud and Richard Diebenkorn, among others. legionofhonor. famsf.org
OCT 21–FEB 27, 2022
Soul of Black Folks
Featuring more than 20 works created by Amoako Boafo between 2018–2021, this show case of the artist is an exploration into Boafo’s efforts within his paint ing practice to capture the essence of the Black figure, including Black subjectivity, Black joy and the Black gaze. moadsf.org
EVENTS
SEPT 16–NOV 7
A three-series collaboration bshowSBHGCornerstone’sContemporaryOakland-basedbetweenSLATEandonsiteGallery,thisfeaturesworks y five local, mixedmedia artists, including
Robert Buelteman, who utilizes an innovative blend of electricityhigh-voltagean d a fiberoptically delivered light system to cast plants in photographs cornerstonesonoma.com
SEPT 23–OCT 31 The Immortal Reckoning A fully updatesThefromhauntedimmersive,experiencethemindsbehindTerrorVaulttheperformanceforthespookyseasonwithasupernaturaladventure. intothedarksf.com
OCT 2 Brooks Island
Get to know the San Francisco Bay; spot leopard sharks, bat rays and seals; and learn how to kayak on a tour that originates at the Richmond Marina and heads to Brooks Island Regional Preserve — 300 acres of protected bay waters. rei.com
OCT 2 Blues, Brews and BBQ Downtown Napa shifts its focus to beer for a day dedicated to the frothy beverage, with 12 withandincludingmicrobreweriesSaintArcherHopValleypairedanidealculinary
partner, plus eight bands such as I*Ko Yaya, Andre Thierry and the Marshall Law Band — and maybe some zydeco too if y’all behave. donapa.com
OCT 3 The Heart
A series of events orga nized by San Francisco’s Antenna Theater means an opportunity to join in watching a contrail heart as it emerges
above the Golden Gate Bridge; support many of the theater’s wishes of love; or help create a royal barge for Queen Cala fia, the fictional queen of the island of California, first intro duced by 16th-century poet Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo. antenna-theater.org
OCT 9–30 High Water Unmoored by internal tidal shifts, artist Karima Cammell looked for a place to make a safe landing, utilizing our very human power facetransformationoftodownanxiety, dis cord and fear through art, presented at the Holton Studio Gallery in Berkeley. castleintheair.biz
OCT 14–17 Meet Us Quickly With Your Mercy The second in a trilogy of outdoor aerial public art
performances and a world premiere in San Francisco addresses the devastating effects of mass incarceration, with choreography by Jo Kreiter and research and text by 2020 Pulitzer Prize fi nalist Rahsaan Thomas, who lives behind bars at Marin’s San Quentin State Prison. counterpulse.org
OCT 16–17 Trolley
Dances Ten of San Francisco’s MUNI train stops from the Castro to the East Cut/ Rincon Hill neigh borhood will be the outdoor performance venues for a tour of timed, eRhythm.CompanyParangal&Theater,Epiphany&dancessite-specififromBabatunjiCharmaine,DanceJoeLandiniDancers,LaMezcla,DanceandRising
piphanydance.org
Marin Museum of Contemporary Art
RAWDance
Since the late 1960s, the Exploratorium has been a popular haunt for families, with its original inter active science and art exhibits that both entertain andOneducate.May7, the museum held its annual fund raiser, Party at the Piers, to gain public support for its educational and public programs, as well as to off set a portion of the fi nancial hardship it endured under a 15-month lockdown during the pandemic. The virtual event was hosted by KGOTV’s news anchor Kumasi Aaron , and included a spotlight piece from world-renowned artist Leo Villareal. There was also a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s programs, exhibits and collabora tive work with other institutions around the world.
McCalls Catering and Events delivered exqui site meals and cocktail boxes directly to homes of major supporters on the evening of the event. Notable attendees included Board Chair Roberta Katz and Trustees Cameron Phleger, Jennifer Van Natta and George Cogan exploratorium.edu
CateringMcCalls and Events delivered gourmet boxes to major supporters
IMPACT: Donations help sustain the museum as it recovers from a prolonged closure and support its educational and public programs.
SPONSORS: Power Engineering Construction Co., Asset Management Company, Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP, McGriff Architects and Autodesk
KGO-TV’s Kumasi Aaron hosted this year’s Party at the Piers• Exploratorium’s Virtual Party at the Piers Event Rallies Support for Museum Impacted by the Pandemic $900,000 raised to help offset high cost of 15-month closure; supports educational initiatives
On the night of July 31, individuals, families and community teams around Marin camped out on their living room floors, sofas, decks, porches, driveways and backyards. They were taking part in Under the Stars Sleepout to End Homelessness in Marin, a benefit orchestrated by the Ritter Center asking the public to give up their beds with the intention of experiencing what it feels like to be homeless. The event kicked off irtually with a series of speak ers on the homeless epidemic, including U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman and Marin County Supervisor Damon Connelly. Book Passage also shared a bedtime story for children on homelessness. rittercenter.org
IMPACT: Donations are used to instill greater public awareness of homelessness and provide accessible, high-quality medical care and social services to those living in poverty in Marin.
SPONSORS: Redwood Credit Union, United Markets, Nugget Markets, Good Earth, Equator Coffee and EO Essential Oils
OLE Health, a nonprofit community health center operating in Napa and Solano counties, secured $520,000 in donations during its June 12 fund raiser, SALUD 2021. The nonprofit provides medical and dental care services to nearly 40,000 people per year, many of whom are uninsured or underinsured.Historicallya
gala-style dinner for 300 people, SALUD this year centered around 20 intimate vintner-hosted dinners at notable wineries throughout Napa Valley. Event attendees included Darioush and Shahpar Khaledi, Naoko Dalla Valle, and Jeff and Valerie Gargiulo.
The dinners were accompanied by an online auction of experiences and wine lots, including a trip to Morocco with an exclusive stay at Sir Richard Branson’s magical Kasbah Tamadot in the Atlas Mountains. olehealth.org
IMPACT: Money raised will provide funds for outreach and mobile health programs and to administer vac cines to the community’s most vulnerable residents.
SPONSORS: Darioush, Dalla Valle Vineyards, Redwood Credit Union and the Doctors Company
• OLE Health Foundation Rounds Up Support for Vulnerable and Uninsured Wine Country Workers $520,000 raised during SALUD, surpassing donation totals from previous years
• Ritter Center Raises More Than $143,000 to End Homelessness Nonprofit challenges the community to spend one night sleeping on anything other than a bedBea and Edie Robilliard sleeping out with Dad Dom
A creative homeowner’s rotating collection of art inspired the room-by-roomyears-long,designofherdwellingonaMillValleyhillside.
BY TATE GUNNERSON
PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER STARK
Art is like air for a Mill Valley single mother and budding glass artist, who has served as a docent at the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art in Napa. She’s also worked in a variety of roles at Burning Man and has attended the desert festival 13 times. “There’s really nothing like rid ing your bike around and looking at incredible, monumental art,” she explains. “Art nourishes my soul.”
That passion is deeply reflected in her shingle-style, four-level Mill Valley home overlooking Mount Tam. It’s fi lled with pieces she’s collected over the years. That collection inspired interior designer Holly A. Kopman as she worked on the space over the course of a decade.
The homeowner and the designer were acquaintances when they bumped into each other in the grocery store. That chance encounter led to a consultation about window treatments, and then, an overhaul of the entire house, room by room. “I wanted to create a beautiful space, but I needed things to evolve organically, as an expression of creativity,” the homeowner says. “I didn’t want to feel like someone
was doing it for me.”
Instead, the two viewed it as a collaboration. And that led to friendship. Early on, the pair took a hiking trip to Peru, where they bought textiles that covered the pillows on the back porch. There, a hand-painted Moroccan motif transformed a once-bland concrete wall. “This area begged for cozy seating,” Kopman says. Perforated metal globes reinforced the international ambiance.
Things took a more luxurious turn inside, where the formerly red dish cherry-woo d floors were stained ebony, juxtaposing white walls. The yin-and-yang palett e flowed into the kitchen, where black granite counters played off efaced white cabinet doors and a marble herring bone backsplash.
In the breakfast area, a custom table made of old industrial gears, with a thick top made of recycled paper, acted as a rough foil to a sleek, contemporary banquette. Hanging above was a refi ned modern light fi xture by David Weeks Studio. “This house was whimsical,” Kopman says, pointing to the mix of antiques, artwork and contempo rary furniture.
A sense of elegance carried through the whole house. In the master bedroom, a wall-to-wall carpet from Stark and a textural wallcover ing by Phillip Jeff ries created a cozy backdrop for a custom winged headboard, which wa s fl anked by bedside tables by Scala Luxury. When the client didn’t love the vintage Venini chandelier Kopman selected, the designer paired it with a shade to create a custom look that wowed them both.
Lighting also played an important role in the office, where teardrop-shaped pendant lights by Apparatus bounced light off he ceiling’s graphic wallcovering by Lindsay Cowles, and the handpainted window shades by Carolyn Ray. “The lighting had to live up to the artwork,” Kopman explains, noting that there was a constant dialogue between art and decor during the design process.
P revious page: The breakfast area features a mod chandelier above a custom table made of old gears, with a pressed paper top. This page: Perforated metal lights from Tazi Designs and a wall hand-painted by Caroline Lizaragga created a Moroccan milieu on the front porch. A brass fireplace screen complemented the black tile by Heath Ceramics on the protruding fireplace wall in the formal living room. The chairs were by Jium Ho and the sofa was by Holly Hunt.The gallery-like front stairway wa s fi lled with pieces the client col lected over the years. A piece that spells out the word “love” in large red letters by artist Laura Kimpton made an uplifting statement near the bocci ball court. “The client kept moving and adding to the art work, so the house was always changing,” Kopman says.
After many years, the project wa s fi nally completed, and the home owner was overjoyed. Reinvigorated by her living space, she found herself spending more and more time in her garage studio, where she and her adult son made colorful, kiln-formed glass pendants, which they placed in the bark of redwood trees on a nearby hiking path.
“We loved that hikers may have felt a sense of surprise and delight upon discovering the pendants,” she explains. “Maybe we were mak ing the enchanted forest a little more so.”
CONNECT home decor leaders pieces local artists,
Tate Gunnerson is a freelance journalist who has written for numerous publications, including Architectural Digest. He is a passionate supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A plush sofa and a linear log bench by Kreoo fostered a sense of comfortable elegance in the family room.
The primary bedroom includes a vintage Venini chandelier, bedside tables from Scala Luxury and a custom upholstered bed. The wallcovering was by Phillip Jeffries. The artwork on the right was by Sausalito artist Barbara Vaughn.
Perched in the hills above Sausalito abutting miles of parkland, off ering world-class views from Belvedere and Tiburon across the East Bay to the iconic skyline of San Francisco, this modern retreat, designed by esteemed architect Obie Bowman of “Sea Ranch” fame, pulls the outdoors in with his design, emphasizing a combination of views, warm architecture, fi ne construction and proximity to both Sausalito and San Francisco that is rarely seen in the Bay Area. From three levels of tremendous glass windows, one can unwind watching the constant activity on the Bay from about 750 feet above sea level from anywhere in the home or on the decks. In this serene setting you feel at peace with the surrounding nature - bordering the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a jewel of a park with hiking, biking, and horse trails on which to enjoy the vistas. Timeless materials including douglas fi r, composite concrete smooth as silk, and steel are used throughout the home to create a harmonious flow and a casual luxurious feeling. The main level includes a skylit open space for living/dining/kitchen/deck perfect for entertaining friends and family. Upper level is presently used as two home offices, each with birds eye views, and a half bath. Lower level is complete with two en-suite bedrooms, with media room and a bedroom opening to another deck. Interior access leads to the three car garage with storage, plus two car driveway and another parking pad behind a gated entrance. With awe-inspiring views and an exclusive private community enclave, this trophy residence awaits its fortunate new owners to enjoy for years to come. OFFERED AT $5,250,000 | VISIT COPE-HOUSE.COM
20westgate.com | $5,500,000
Rare and iconic modern masterpiece residence designed by internationally renowned architect situated on a beautiful one-acre lot. Outstanding private setting, surrounded by century old oaks and olive trees with tons of sun that backs up to open space with beautiful views of rolling hills. Arched steel roofs, soaring ceilings, walls of glass and multiple entertainment spaces with incredible breathtaking views. Spacious and versatile floor plan (4,500 sq. feet) that includes four bedrooms, office, che’s kitchen and much more.
Stylish and sleek design throughout with luxurious comfort and endless indoor/outdoor space. Majestic setting and location that will appeal to everyone. This is truly a one-of-a-kind property.
SUSAN FERRINGTON Coldwell Banker Realty | Marin County Property Specialist | susanferrington.com 104 Tiburon Blvd. Suite 200 | Mill Valley, CA 94941 | 415.519.3240 | CalRE #01352287
17 Eucalyptus Road, Belvedere $12,777,000 | 17EucalyptusRoad.com
• Gated and private estate
• Enjoy world class views spanning San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito to Mount Tamalpais
• 6 bedrooms, 5 full, 2 half bathrooms, 6,135 +/- sqft
• A recreational paradise featuring resort like amenities; pool and spa with all day sun
• Chef inspired kitchen with marble countertops, a center island with seating, walk-in pantry, and boasts top of the line appliances
• The living and family rooms feature Nana folding glass doors for easy indoor/outdoor living and taking in the magical sunsets and sweeping views
• The main level is complete with two en-suite bedrooms generous in size, both with walk-in closets and private bathrooms
• Extraordinary walk in wine cellar and fitness room
101 Mount Tiburon Road, Tiburon $9,200,000 | 101MountTiburon.com
(Co-Listed with Patricia Montag, Compass)
• Located on Tiburon’s most prestigious drives, this incredible estate features world class views spanning the Bay Bridge, San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge to Mt.Tamalpais
• 5 bedrooms, 5 full and two half baths, 7,600 +/- sq. ft. on 1+ acres, this stately residence provides indoor/ outdoor living surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds and a worming pool on the view terrace
• Custom built with unsurpassed craftsmanship in 2000 and recently updated with high tech features for easy living, this residence hos spacious, open rooms for entertaining
• Picturesque landscaped gardens, built-in BBQ, fireplace and multiple sitting areas, level lawn and patio with fire pit overlooking the sweeping views
189 Gilmartin Drive, Tiburon $7,977,000 | 189Gilmartin.com
• Architecturally stunning private view estate located in one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in Tiburon
• Situated on almost half an acre of land, this grand three-story residence was custom built in 2006
• 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, 7,693 +/- sqft, and .93 (+/-) acre lot
• Designed for the ultimate California lifestyle offering easy indoor and outdoor living; the flowing floor plan features wonderful natural light, chef’s kitchen, inviting living areas, home office spaces, private ensuite bedroom retreats, wine cellar, and a billiard room
• Landscaped grounds, bocce ball court, putting green, and terraced gardens
• 3 car garage & motor court for 10+ cars
201 Linden Lane, San Rafael $7,477,000 | 201LindenLane.com
• Perfectly sited on 2.06 +/- acres of land with majestic views of Mount Tamalpais and the Dominican neighborhood
• 7 bedrooms, 6 full, 3 half bathrooms
• Large scale public rooms and a myriad of additional private spaces offer a wonderful indoor-outdoor connection and make this home ideal for family living and grand scale entertaining
• This stately residence offers high ceilings, extraordinary detail and finish work, elevator, wine cellar, recreation room, fitness room, and a large updated kitchen
• The park like grounds offer two gated entrances, an extensive motor court, rose gardens, and resort like living featuring a swimming pool and spa with a slide, and two poolside cabanas with changing room and outdoor kitchen
• 7 car garage with a 1 bedroom guest house above
2472 Mar East, Tiburon $5,077,000 | 2472MarEast.com
• Spectacular 3 bedroom, 4 bathroom, waterfront home located in Old Town Tiburon only a few blocks to Main Street; seaside living on the edge of the Son Francisco Boy overlooking Angel Island, Keil Cove, and Raccoon Straits
• This sought after, exclusive Tiburon location embodies the essence of tranquil Morin living; floor to ceiling windows optimize the dramatic water views
• Custom built by the current owner in 1998
• The interior spaces ore a succession of open and light filled rooms with tasteful finish work throughout in a sophisticated transitional style; the kitchen is the heart of the home with high end appliances, abundant storage, and casual dining area
• This entertainer’s dream embodies the indoor - outdoor lifestyle with multiple waterfront terraces for dining and relaxing; boot lift and water access
7 Seafirth Place, Tiburon $4,997,000 | 7Seafirth.com (Co-Listed with Carey Hagglund Condy, Compass)
• This exceptional contemporary residence is located in one of Tiburon’s most sought-after locations, Seafirth Estates
• The exclusive Seafirth Estates community offers a community swimming pool, sport court, private beach and dock with bay access
• 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, 5,000 +/- sqft, on approximately 1/2 an acre
• This custom residence offers the highest quality in design and craftsmanship and showcases stellar views of the bay, San Rafael Bridge and Bay Area Vistas
• Inviting and spacious primary suite and additional ensuite bedroom located on the upper level
• The lower level with rec room, 4 bedrooms, and 2 baths
60 San Rafael Avenue, Belvedere $3,977,000 | 60SanRafael.com
• Vacation at home on the coveted Belvedere Lagoon in this charming East Coast style waterfront residence
• 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Beautiful white and bright newly updated kitchen with marble countertops and new appliances
• Hardwood flooring throughout all the main living spaces
• Sweeping views of the bay, Mount Tamalpais, and the Belvedere Lagoon
• An entertainers dream with a large backyard offering a lush lawn, gardens, and a dock
• 1 car attached garage
• The perfect location, across the street from Old Rail Trail waterfront pathway, and only blocks to downtown Tiburon’s Main Street and ferry service to San Francisco and Angel Island
4 Park Place, Tiburon $4,777,000 | 4ParkPlaceTiburon.com
• Gated residence at the end of a cul-de-sac with picturesque views of Mt. Tamalpais and the Bay
• 5 bedrooms, 5 full, 2 half bathrooms
• The easy flowing floorplan offers the ultimate for relaxed California living and embodies a traditional style offering a wonderful feeling of space and light
• All the main living spaces and the office/4th bedroom are located on the entry level
• The second level features three bedroom suites all with private bathrooms
• The lower level features a private guest unit with separate entrance, complete with a living room, kitchenette, bedroom, full bathroom, powder bathroom, office or additional lounge area and access to patio with hot tub
• 3 car attached garage
400 Greenwood Beach Road, Tiburon $3,577,000 | 400GreenwoodBeach.com
• 3 waterfront units with picturesque views of San Francisco and the Bay
• Incredible investment opportunity as a triplex or a single family home conversion
• All three units offer stunning views of San Francisco, Sausalito, Belvedere Island, and the bay
• 3 Units: (1) 4 bed, 2 1/4 baths, (2) Studio, (3) 1 bed, 1 bath
• The 4 bedroom unit (the main house) features hardwood flooring and floor to ceiling windows highlighting the views with sliding doors opening to the view deck
• The studio features dramatic views of the San Francisco Bay, ideal for a rental or home office
• The 1 bedroom unit features high ceilings with floor to ceiling windows and a private deck overlooking the bay
• The ideal location offers close proximity to the popular Blackie’s Pasture, waterfront pathways, and shopping
409 Paradise Drive, Tiburon $3,477,000 | 409Paradise.com
• Beyond the extraordinary this luxury condo is located in the prestigious Point Tiburon Bayside development with picturesque views of the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge
• 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
• The thoughtfully designed living and dining room is filled with natural light and features hardwood flooring, a wood burning fireplace, and sliding glass doors opening to an inviting view terrace
• The inviting primary suite offers a fireplace, built-in dresser drawers, a walk-in closet and opens to a sunny terrace with views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge; primary bathroom with dual sinks, and a shower/tub combination with a beautiful view window
• 1 car garage and 1 assigned spot
• The community grounds boast mature landscaping, meandering walkways and a sparkling swimming pool
10 Buckeye Road, Belvedere $4,177,000 | 10Buckeye.com
• One of a kind Belvedere compound located on one of Belvedere’s most desirable private lanes
• Two homes in an idyllic setting overlooking the Belvedere Lagoon and Tiburon hills, with distant views of Angel Island
• This unique property provides a rare opportunity for extended family living or rental opportunities
• The main home offers 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, an abundance of space, vaulted ceilings, hardwood flooring, great light, picturesque views, and privacy
• The large detached 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom second home is accessible from Bayview Ave. and offers a great floorplan, inviting kitchen, hardwood flooring, and a two car garage
2389 Paradise Drive, Tiburon $2,717,000 | 2389Paradise.com
• This charming residence features captivating views of Angel Island and the Bay
• 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• The light-filled open floor plan offers a contemporary style with vaulted ceilings, newly refinished hardwood flooring in a ‘light finish,’ and optimal window placement bringing in wonderful natural light
• Open and airy living room with a wood burning fireplace opens to a view deck
• The backyard offers a flagstone patio and picturesque gardens, the perfect setting for al fresco’ dining and entertaining family and friends
• 1 car garage with off street parking for 4+ cars
• Conveniently located minutes to Tiburon’s Shoreline park and downtown Tiburon
“Within a few days, we accepted an offer for $150k over asking with all of our terms being met, which was the highest sales price in Hamilton. Megan’s professionalism, knowledge, negotiating skills and staying on top of all the details made this transaction go smoothly..She stayed on top off all the details – given we were staying in the house rent-free for a few months after closing- she followed up on details after we moved out. We highly recommend Megan as your real estate professional – her knowledge, work ethic, customer service, reputation in the Real Estate community and attention to details make her an excellent choice for your real estate needs”
Dipsea Realty was born out of a love of family and life in Marin. Founded by two pairs of sisters and the mother of one pair, Dipsea Realty is rooted in the principle that nothing is more important than family and home – than having beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces to relax, laugh, and play with your loved ones.
We can’t wait to introduce you to your dream home in the mostm beautiful environment in the world, Katie, Ashley, Jordana, Betsy & Ali
This stately 8 bedrooms, 6 full baths and 2 half baths, appx. 7,695 sq. ft. mansion is one of the most admired homes on Belvedere Island for its Italianate villa styling, spectacular views, extensive gardens and the gorgeous ceramic-tiled pool. It is located on the desirable warm side of the island with all-day sun. The residence was fully renovated in recent years, featuring a beautiful custom-designed kitchen with eat-in breakfast area and eight rooms opening onto balconies with expansive bay views. Generously sized master suite with separate his and her dressing/sitting areas, closets, bathrooms, and a steam shower. Two sunrooms, sauna, wine cellar and 2-car garage plus adjacent carport. Extensive multi-level gardens bloom year-around. Large ceramic-tiled pool with automated cover, street-to-street lot, security system and ample spacious storage. Three separate entrances and multiple living spaces can accommodate an au pair unit and an inlaw unit, each with their own entrance. It is walking distance to San Francisco Yacht Club, Corinthian Yacht Club, downtown Tiburon’s restaurants, shops, ferry services and charming Belvedere Cove, reminiscent of Portofino, Italy. The home is designated as an Historic Property by the City of Belvedere and enjoys a significant property tax reduction.
Wonderful and conveniently located townhome, light-filled with an open floorplan and views of the Bay, Tiburon and Sausalito houseboats. Open kitchen to dining and living space, carpets throughout, recess lighting and half bath. Close to assigned covered parking and community pool. Upstairs has 2 large bedrooms with high open beam ceilings, view of the Bay, extra hall closets and spacious bathroom. 4RossRoad.com
Light-filled top floor end-unit at The Point in Larkspur Isle. Private deck, open living space with vaulted ceilings, kitchen with gas range stove. Large primary bedroom has walk-in closet, en suite bath with shower over the tub, large vanity, and skylight. In unit laundry. Second bedroom is ideal as a guest room or o ce. 651LarkspurPlaza.com
Light and bright, well-maintained top floor condominium in peaceful Marin Lagoon! Spacious living/dining rooms are highlighted with arched entryway, vaulted ceilings, and bay windows. Enjoy water and hillside views from private patio, dining/ living room and primary bedroom! In unit laundry. Two decks for outside living. Roomy 1-car garage. 9MarinersCir.com LISTED SALE SALE
The spacious 3,102± square foot home is located on a sunny 2.49± acre site. The original home was built in 1989, then re-imagined and expanded in 1994 with the addition of a spacious well-appointed kitchen with high ceilings and skylights and large exposed beams. Additionally, a large living/dining room and formal entry was created along with the second story family room/sleeping loft with views that are nothing less than spectacular. A spacious master bedroom wing features high ceilings, skylights, large exposed beams, a perfectly framed view of Black Mountain and a private deck. The large outdoor patio features a brick pizza oven, wine cellar and place to entertain outdoors!
KathleenDaly
LARKSPUR | Price Upon Request
Enjoy exquisite waterfront views with astonishing Mount Tamalpais as your backdrop. This 4br/3ba property offers all that you want and more.
Angela Pennino Curley
SAN this handsome Indian Rock home refl ects a mid-century modern aesthetic with mix of mountain beauty.
On September 25, Marin County’s Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch (nicasiovalleypumpkinpatch.net) will once again open for the season, welcoming families to shop for the perfect pumpkin, get up-close and personal with the farm’s animals and get lost in the hay mazes. It’s a tradition that — thankfully — has persisted, despite the pandemic, for 26 years. “Opening last year was definitely more of a service to our community, given what everyone had been through, and we wanted to reassure people that our traditions will still continue,” says Heidi Falkenberg, the manager and event coordinator at Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch. “This year, we plan on restoring normal weekend activities, such as face painting, the petting zoo and the hay rides.” Weekend visitors can also enjoy live music and Big Jim’s BBQ. “There haven’t been too many changes over the years, which I believe is one of the things our community enjoys,” Falkenberg says. “We even have second- and third-generation pumpkin patch goers who come back every year.” LOTUS ABRAMS
Nicasio RandyownersPumpkinValleyPatchNancyandLafranchi
You are unique. Choose a philanthropic partner who understands that. Virtuoso at MCF.
The modern alternative to a private foundation. With O ces in Marin and San Francisco. www.marincf.org | 415.464.2507
