Marin Magazine June 2019

Features

38 Sun, Shade and Slope

Outdoor design for challenging spaces.

44 Rangers on the Range

Local park employees enhance your experience.

48 Eye on History

Capturing the first-ever March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

In Marin

25 Currents

The staff ates keto and paleo health bars.

28 Reading List

Local author puts work aside for self.

30 Conversation

Columnist and radio host Noah Gri ffi n.

34 Fashion

Look your best from sunrise to sunset

36 FYI

San Francisco’s diverse comedy scene.

Destinations

53 Go Fathers

Celebrate Dad with trains, cars and more.

58 Go Tahoe Three shores in three days.

Out & About

61 Calendar

A roundup of what to do in Marin and beyond.

66 Dine An insider’s guide to restaurants and food in the Bay Area.

75 On the Scene

Snapshots from events in Marin and San Francisco.

Marin Home

81 Backstory

Rebuilding from the ground up.

For the cover this month we sent photographer Nick Vasilopoulos to a pool party. He captured this image at the San Rafael home of David and Paige Hirschkop.

Anoushka Shankar at Herbst Theatre as part of SFJazz

PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Nikki Wood

Editorial EDITOR

Mimi Towle

MANAGING EDITOR

Daniel Jewett

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Kasia Pawlowska

SENIOR WRITER

Jim Wood

FASHION EDITOR

Leah Marie

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Christina Mueller

DIGITAL EDITOR

Jessica Gliddon

COPY EDITOR Cynthia Rubin

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PJ Bremier, Kirsten Jones Neff, Dawn Margolis Denberg, Frances Reid, Nathan Spicer

Art

ART DIRECTOR

Rachel Gr iffiths

PRODUCTION MANAGER Alex French

ILLUSTRATOR

Wenjia Tang

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Liz Daly, Mo DeLong, Lenny Gonzalez, Albert Law, Lauren Matley

Administration / Web

CONTROLLER Maeve Walsh

WEB/IT MANAGER Peter Thomas

OFFICE MANAGER Hazel Jaramillo

CHIEF VISIONARY OFFICER

Susan B. Noyes, Founder

Volume 15, Issue 6. Marin Magazine is published in Marin County by Marin Magazine Inc. owned by Make It Better Media LLC. All rights reserved. Copyright©2019. Reproduction of Marin Magazine content is prohibited without the expressed, written consent of Marin Magazine Inc. Unsolicited materials cannot be returned. Marin Magazine reserves the right to refuse to publish any advertisement 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.

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Named for the number of minutes in a day, 1440 Multiversity encourages you to seek your own well-being while o ering the opportunity to connect with nature. Relax beneath redwoods, recharge during an expert-led wellness class, and discover new sources of inspiration during your all-inclusive stay.

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Both of my girls have a loving and committed father who changed diapers, read to them and cooked breakfast on the weekends.

For the Dads

Hats off to the good ones on their special day.

“B

LINK AND they’re gone.” “By the time they leave for col lege, you’ll be ready.” I lost count of how many times people said those words to Pete or to me as we corralled a wayward toddler in a busy mall or lugged either or both like squir relly logs across the hot sands of Stinson Beach.

According to study.com, I must have blinked about 128 million times to get to where I am today, which is packing up my youngest daughter for college. We’re not alone: there are hundreds of high school seniors here in Marin embarking on their bright new futures and double that in parents, blinking away the tears as we try to look strong and not panicked — “are they ready to leave, or, to be real, am I ready for them to leave?”

June is traditionally dedicated to dads and grads. And while last month our issue reflected the theme of the month in spades (an entire issue and a big party dedicated to Celebrating Women), in this issue, the dads and grads did not quite get the same attention. Although, dads, we focused on you in Destinations with an article on five di fferent adventures you are sure to love. The opening shot of that section features a $325,000-plus super-machine on Pismo Beach, one of the few places it is legal to drive on the sand. This luxe opportunity is available with a stay at the fabled Beverly Hills Peninsula Hotel, which, because of the property’s longtime partnership with Rolls-Royce, offers (for a fee) use of a Cullinan luxury SUV for the day. If this is too much for your budget, there are plenty of dune buggy rentals and fi ne hotel/motels in Pismo.

On a serious note, the good dads deserve to be celebrated. I know I tend to get a bit personal in this letter (thanks for reading and bearing with), but I want to give big kudos to the fathers in our community who are making the world a better place, one self-assured, con fident kid at a time.

Having been raised by a single mother, I never had the chance to develop a traditional relationship with my father and because of

that, I’ve never called anyone Dad. My biological father, Bob, is a great guy, but as a kid I never knew what to call him on those infrequent visits. I avoided situations where I had to say “hey, Dad” or “hey, Bob.” I would just say “hey” and wait until I caught his eye. In an unavoidable situation where I had to address him, I’d just combine the two words and it came out something like, “Daboadob.”

Until I saw my ex, Pete, in action with our daughters, I hadn’t realized the deep value of a really positive paternal parent. Both of my girls have a loving and committed father who changed diapers, read to them and cooked breakfast on the weekends, coached their soccer teams and much to their chagrin at the time, made them run the Dipsea. I know this has had a deeply beneficial impact in their lives. While I understand family and support systems come in all forms, I want to take a moment to applaud the “good” dads.

A recent article in Psychology Today made me smile. It stated that due to skewed data, there was an assumption that fathers weren’t so interested in fathering. Why? Because in the thousands of studies, when they talked to a parent it was always a mother. Oops. However, the gist of the research revealed that times have changed, and researchers are making sure to include men in their studies on parenting.

Big surprise: recent fi ndings include statements like “Even from birth, children who have an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure, be con fident to explore their surroundings, and, as they grow older, have better social connections.” So this month, I challenge you to do something nice for a dad you know, or for the male person you see wrestling with a car seat in the parking lot of Starbucks. Maybe buy him a coffee. At the very least, give him a knowing smile that will remind him of the over-expressed but true sentiment, “blink and they’ll be gone.”

Mimi Towle, Editor

SUMMER OFFICIALLY BEGINS later this month, but here at Marin Magazine we say, “Let’s kick it off now.” And to that end, we give you a story on outdoor living. Writer PJ Bremier talks to homeowners in three Marin locations who had to overcome some challenges to get to the yard they wanted. They all overcame, and now they fi nd that the best room in the house is indeed outside.

In keeping with the outdoor theme, writer Kirsten Jones Neff isits wit h five local state and federal park rangers who are dedicated to giving the public the best experience possible. One even found her calling for this work as a 6-year-old listening to a ranger give a talk at Yosemite National Park.

And just in time for Pride Month, we present a fascinating fi rst-person account of a

fi lmmaker who captured the fi rst-ever March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights 40 years ago. Frances Reid describes the camaraderie and passion that went into fi lming and being at that event.

They all overcame, and now they find that the best room in the house is indeed outside

Up front we’ve got a fi rst for the magazine: an official staff aste test that reveals which paleo and keto bars we think are the best. We also talk to a former Oprah Winfrey Show exec who left it all behind for a more personally authentic path; a local columnist and radio show host who was a big part of a recent school name change; and a fan of the funny who explains why the S.F. comedy scene is unlike any other.

In Destinations, it’s all about Dad. We start wit h five epic adventures — how does a brew tour in Santa Cruz sound? — ideal for fatherly bonding, then move to Tahoe, where a family can visit three shores in three days.

This issue is a great start to a summer full of lots of reasons to get outside. So read it, go hit the pool or the trail or the road, and don’t forget the sunblock.

Daniel Jewett, Managing Editor

RANGE OF OPTIONS

When we commission illustra tions for a story, the process starts with an artist who reads the copy and comes up with some sketches. For “Rangers on the Range,” Wenjia Tang developed these cool concepts to visually move us in the right direction. Our art direc tor picked the one you see on page 44; Tang colored in the details and finished the job.

CONNECT WITH US

TOP GRAM

Our top Instagram post this month is by Andre Gregoire, @andre.takes. photos. “The Muir Beach overlook is a great spot to take in a sunset. If you are lucky enough to head out there a lot, the photos all start to look the same. I went a bit extreme in order to try and get a different look. I attached my camera to a retractable painter’s pole and lifted it up about 18 feet in the air. The higher vantage point gives it a whole new perspective.” Want to see your photo in print? Tag us @marinmagazine with your best snap.

Top Five Online Stories

1 “What’s Hot: Moseley’s Spirits & Sports” (May 2019) Tamalpie Corte Madera reopens as a casual sports bar offering more food options.

2 “Melissa Blaustein: Sausalito’s Star Swimmer” (May 2019) The nonprofit founder and director recently swam the English Channel.

3 “High Times” (April 2019) Four San Rafael High students unwittingly coined pot’s most popular code name.

4 “California Wine Festival Guide” (April 2019) As one of the greatest wine regions in the world, our state has a lot to celebrate. Forthcoming festivities abound.

5 “Where to Go in Hawaii This Spring” (March 2019) Now is the perfect season to discover what’s new on the islands — here, we visit the top spots on the Big Island.

Space Makers Design Podcast

In partnership with Spaces magazine, managing edi tor Daniel Jewett brings listeners the inside scoop on the area’s leading designers, architects and more — all in their own words. Find the new Space Makers podcast by searching on iTunes, Google Play or wherever you get your podcasts. Visit marinmagazine. com/podcasts for more information.

New in Town

EAT & DRINK

The bilevel patio at the Marin Country Mart outpost of the New York burger restaurant Shake Shack screams Marin, but burger loyalists are sure to trip out over the chain’s crinkle fries and th e G olden State Double — that’s two Angus beef patties from Richards Grassfed Beef a mped up with white cheddar, pickles and smoked garlic aioli on a potato bun. Shakes include only-in-Marin flavors Mount Tam Graham, with dark chocolate chunks fro m Dandelion Chocolate , a nd a Larks-brr, replete with crispy crunchies. shakeshack.com

A partnership with local Olympian Jonny Moseley meant a shift in Karen Goldberg’s plans for the year-old Tamalpie in Corte Madera. Moseley’s Sports & Spirits is now open in the space, with 11 TV screens, an outdoor beer garden and fire pit, bar games (including pool and shuffleboard) and food until midnight. Food includes pregame eats like wings and nachos as well as sandwiches, salads and yes, pizza. moseleysmarin.com

Reopened in mid-April after an extensive remodel, Sam’s Anchor Cafe in Tiburon kept

the boathouse feel with dark navy seating in the bar and restaurant, spiffy white umbrellas and deck chairs on the patio and brass inlays all around. A new roaming oyster cart is just one of the updates to the menu, which features a raw bar and Sam’s signature cioppino. samscafe.com

New to Mill Valley’s Miller Avenue streetscape is Cup of Joe’s at Joe’s Taco Lounge , a shiny mobile coffee cart kitted out with iced Mexican cof fee, Italian espresso with Straus barista milk, and pastries from Berkeley’s Starter Bakery. Grab-and-go

Design Within Reach

at El Paseo Lane. poetandthebench.com

Co-owners Susan Delurgio and Alisha Irwin’s second Marin location of San Anselmo Beach House , this one in downtown Fairfax, evokes the California lifestyle and look with clothing, jewelry, healing products, furniture and one-ofa-kind global textiles. thebeachhousestyle.com

Design Within Reach ’s new Larkspur Studio, its fourth Bay Area location, brings DWR’s accessible modern design products to the Marin Country Mart. dwr.com

include aerial dance, aerial fitness, and yoga for the airborne and the earth-bound fitness enthusiasts among us. getfitmarin.com

Defying the trend of luxury pricing for high-quality wellness products, Brandless expanded its fairly priced wellness collection, fea turing organic superfood powders and gummy vitamins, non-GMO sup plements, essential oils and an herbal cleanse. brandless.com

CRAFT

Design your own custom graphics and learn

eats include burritos and tacos . joestacolounge.com

DANCE

Helmed by motherdaughter duo Melinda and Lelani Neal, Marin Conservatory of Dance opened in Mill Valley, providing high-caliber, professional training in classical ballet loosely based on the Vaganova (Russian) method. marin conservatoryofdance.org

SHOP

Curator Bonnie Powers and goldsmith Jeffrey Levin moved their home goods boutique and custom jewelry atelier to downtown Mill Valley; Poet and the Bench is now at 11 Throckmorton

WELLNESS

Body By X Skill Development & Training team Xavier Jarrell McClinton and Nadia McClinton, the duo behind Corte Madera’s Get Fit Marin, welcome instructo r V iva Cels o f rom Cirque du Soleil. Classes now

woodworking tech niques at San Rafael’s Board and Brush Creative Studio. Located inside Montecito Plaza, the studio provides all the tools and direction and is the work of former digital marketing spe cialist Stephanie Gates. boardandbrush.com

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

Cup of Joe’s at Joe’s Taco Lounge

PHOTO BY: PHOTOVINO, WWW.1225ALLYN.COM

The scoop on Bay Area events you’ll want to attend

[UPCOMING EVENTS]

FAR NIENTE WINERY CONCERT

WHEN WHERE WHY YOU SHOULD GO COST

FIND OUT MORE

July 13

Far Niente Winery, 1350 Acacia Drive, Oakville

What would a duchess and a prince dance to? This Far Niente celebration features the brilliant British cellist Sheku KannehMason, who drew raves performing at the 2018 royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Kanneh-Mason performs some of the same pieces he played at the royal wedding, under the baton of renowned conductor Daiana García and accompanied by the superb Havana Chamber Orchestra, who return to Festival Napa Valley by popular demand. The festivities begin at Far Niente’s Cabernet Grill, where guests will enjoy Far Niente’s superlative vintages, as well as those of Russian River pinot darling En Route.

$99 festivalnapavalley.org

BROADWAY UNDER THE STARS

WHEN WHERE WHY YOU SHOULD GO COST FIND OUT MORE

June 14–September 8

Jack London State Historic Park, 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen

Transcendence’s Broadway

Under the Stars is a series of award-winning productions featuring accomplished Broadway and Hollywood performers under the stars in the majestic open-air winery ruins in Sonoma’s Jack London State Historic Park. This year’s season includes Broadway performers from Hamilton, The Book of Mormon, Wicked, Les Misérables, 42nd Street, Hair, Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia! and more. Each evening begins with pre-show picnicking on the great lawn, alongside the vineyards of the park. Drink and eat from multiple wineries and food trucks that are in attendance. Your night concludes with an evening of sensational entertainment that The Huffington Post declared “… the most unforgettable evening of my summer.” $53–$159 877.424.1414, bestnightever.org

ROSÉFEST

WHEN WHERE WHY YOU SHOULD GO COST

FIND OUT MORE

June 8, noon–4 p.m. Sterling Vineyards, 1111 Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga

Whether you fancy yourself a wine novice or a connoisseur, Napa Valley’s RoséFest is a must for your summer 2019 bucket list. Enjoy a day in the Wine Country, sipping on sensational rosé, noshing on fabulous food and giving back to Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer awareness. Napa Valley RoséFest will take place at Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga. The upper portion of the winery will feature over 30 of Napa’s finest rosé purveyors, along with bites from several of Napa Valley’s best restaurants. The winery’s grand lawn will feature more entertainment — dance to tunes from Neon Velvet, sip on wines-by-the-glass and nosh on delectable food from a selection of local food trucks.

$75, $95 premium, $225 VIP

naparosefest.com

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

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

the LOOK

DESIGN YOUR SUMMER This season we are featuring new designs from award winning designer Pascal Lacroix with this 14k Alpine Lily tourmaline and diamond bangle bracelet and Colonna 18k Madeira citrine and diamond ring by Stephan-Hill. Come and visit us and see our new Summer Collections!

STEPHAN-HILL JEWELRY DESIGNERS 1226 Fourth Street, San Rafael 415.459.5808, stephanhill.com

BOSSA NOVAFASHION CONCEPTS: Now in Sonoma, Just Offthe Plaza! Bossa Nova inspiring clothing for daily life.

BOSSA NOVA 524 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 707.343.1228 bossanovaclothing.com

ON HOLIDAY MARIN offers beautiful, unique and vibrant resort wear that you will be excited to wear on your next trip! Caftans, maxi-dresses, tunics, pants, sarongs, hats, towels and French market bags. Available by appointment or online.

ON HOLIDAY MARIN 415.722.9367, shop.onholidaymarin.com

INDEPENDENT EYEWEAR 101: Craftsmanship of Japan–style of Paris. For over 44 years, handmade eyewear has been our passion. Whether you are new to eyewear, or a lifelong aficionado– Rims & Goggles of Marin has the most exciting eyewear the world has to offer.

RIMS & GOGGLES 606 Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, CA 415.383.9480 RIMSandGOGGLES.com

Imagine you’re told about a company developing plant-based meat, creating not just a delicious burger, but positively impacting human health, climate change, natural resource depletion and animal welfare.

Imagine if you could invest early in its success.

Via philanthropy. Imagine no more.

Introducing the Venture Impact Program from MCF

Where impact investing meets innovative philanthropy.

CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE,

AND CAUSES OF THIS UNIQUE COUNTY

BEHIND THE BARS

A staff aste test reveals the best in healthy snacks.

BY CHRISTINA MUELLER

Admit it: you are harboring a single-serving, protein-packed rectangular health bar in your desk drawer, backpack or purse. Don’t worry, we are, too. Our staff id a taste test of bars found at local grocery stores to help you learn more about keto and paleo bars. Though each bar comes packaged in a non-recyclable, plastic wrapper (point off ), the convenience and satiety may convince eaters on the run to give one a try. Here’s what our tasting panel thought. For more about keto and paleo bars, look for our blog at marinmagazine.com.

BRAND FLAVOR PROS CONS

DNX Grass Fed Beef Bar Uncured Bacon Jalapeño

Soft texture Nice spicy flavor 14 g protein

Epic Venison Bar Venison Clean, whole ingredients

Clean flavor, easy to chew 12 g protein

360 mg sodium

390 mg sodium

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Bar Vanilla Shortbread

Triglyceride-balancing XCT oil, vegetarian 13 g protein

Perfect Keto Bars Lemon Poppy Seed Triglyceride-balancing MCT oil, smooth texture 11 g protein

Lingering aftertaste of stevia Crumbly texture

Lingering aftertaste of stevia and lemon oil

Dang Bar Toasted Coconut Coconut flavor None

Orgain Blueberry Almond Clean, whole ingredients Fresh blueberry flavor 12 g protein

Keto Bar Mint Chocolate Chip Soft texture Minty flavor 6 g protein

Orgain Organic Protein Bar Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Quest Protein Bar Cookies & Cream

Soft texture Chocolate bits mixed in 10 g protein

Soft but firm texture 21 g protein

14 g sugar

Lingering aftertaste of stevia, contains the sugar alcohol erythritol

Lingering aftertaste of erythritol

Lingering aftertaste of sucralose, lingering aftertaste of stevia

BY THE NUMBERS

FOSTERING MARIN’S FUTURE Through no fault of their own, children of all ages and back grounds come into the child welfare system needing a safe place to call home. Here in Marin, approved resource families (foster parents) are giving back to the community and changing lives by providing a secure, nurturing environment until a child can be reunified with his own family. If reunification is not possible, a re source family’s home can become a child’s permanent one through adoption or guardianship. Marin County’s Children and Family Services created FosterOurFutureMarin.org as a recruitment effort to raise aware ness of the need for more of these families, as well as provide an applica tion platform for them. The goal is to develop a diverse pool of families so kids and homes can be thoughtfully matched. Right now the biggest challenge is providing Marin County homes for teens, especially girls ages 15 to 17. When there is a shortage, children have to be placed outside the county, away from friends and current schools. For information on how you can help, including steps for becoming an approved resource family, visit fosterourfuturemarin.org.

KIER HOLMES

Author Talk

MM: Was there ever a point at the height of your career where you questioned your journey, or did it not hit you until you lef t Oprah?

SS: After I graduated from the University of Iowa, I stumbled through myriad ill-fitting jobs. I was dutiful and devoted and would try and turn every experience into my road to retirement. Walking into the world of Oprah at 35 years old, in an entry-level position, was the equivalent of a career Powerball win. Once I entered that magical Emerald City, I had the ride of my life. I also had the perfect excuse to avoid the areas of my life that were more difficult for me. I began to feel that unless I made some major shifts in how I moved through the world, I would end my days having cre ated the career of my dreams but not the life of my dreams.

MM: How do you approach your days and your time and see the world now?

SS: These days I place the highest prior ity on self-care. For me, that means daily meditation, a workout, a plant-powered diet, great sleep, uplifting relationships and building my professional life in and around my spiritual practices. I am at my best when I deliberately choose

happiness and maintain my focus on appreciation.

MM: What do you value the most now? What do you encourage others to value?

SS: I value choosing happiness. In most every other area of our lives, I have come to understand, we are not one size fits all: each person’s joyride must be fashioned from a personal recipe. A pinch of this good thing. A pinch of that good thing. Happy people spill their love all over their areas of influence. That is the way we make our contribution to the whole, through the offering of our own happiness. And that is how the world rises up.

MM: What advice would you give to a young girl entering the workforce today?

SS: Make happiness your compass from the start. That’s your real goal. The external trappings fall into place once you are lit on fi re with joy and passion. No one is ever going to praise you for 90-hour workweeks. And 90-hour workweeks don’t determine your value. What inspires others is your own happiness. Becoming the most trustworthy steward of your own well-being.

CALIN VAN PARIS

Local Page Turners

The Beautiful No: And Other Tales of Trial, Transcendence, and Transformation by Sheri Salata (Northern California), Harper Wave, $26.99 After 20 years with The Oprah Winfrey Show and OWN the network and witnessing the makeovers and transformations of others, Sheri Salata real ized she’d neglected to cultivate the life of her dreams and decided to do something about it. In The Beautiful No, she candidly chronicles her journey of self-discovery, from detox ing in the desert to rediscovering friendships to opening up in sex therapy, tackling every adventure with an inspiring blend of humor and honesty. Appearing in conversation with April Gargiulo at Book Passage Corte Madera June 15, 4 p.m.

Murder in Bel-Air by Cara Black (San Francisco), Soho Crime, $27.95 . In the 19th installment of the Aimée Leduc series, danger hits too close to home when Aimée’s own mother goes missing. This knife-sharp and riveting story winds its way through Paris’ 12th arrondissement, pulling Aimée into a knotted web of international spycraft and postcolonial Franco-African politics. Appearing at Book Passage Corte Madera June 2, 4 p.m.

Elderhood by Louise Aronson (San Francisco), Bloomsbury Publishing, $30. As humans live longer than ever, the question of how we take care of our elderly — and, indeed, what it means to be elderly — becomes more important than ever. Rather than buying into the idea of old age as something to be feared and neglected, Aronson pulls from her own experience as a geriatrician and from history, science and literature to offer a new vision of growing old — one that’s neither nightmarish nor unrealistically hopeful but instead consistently frank, embracing both frustration and joy. Appearing at Book Passage Corte Madera June 12, 7 p.m.

How Safe Are We? by Janet Napolitano (Berkeley), PublicAffairs, $26 . Few are as qualified to examine and critique the Department of Homeland Security as Janet Napolitano, who was DHS secretary from 2009 to 2013, overseeing 22 federal agencies. Her fascinating and insightful book takes an unflinching look at the multifaceted agency, exploring the current greatest U.S. security threats from cyber to climate, reckoning with DHS’s benefits and pitfalls. Appearing at Book Passage Corte Madera June 29, 1 p.m.

Reviews by Book Passage Marketing Manager Kayla Beckman.

After working for The Oprah Winfrey Show for 20 years, Sheri Salata decided it was time to focus on remaking her own life, a transformation she describes in her first book, The Beautiful No

Noah Grifn

You’ve heard his radio shows and read his columns, but this 44-year Marin resident has taken on many other roles in life — including being a strong advocate for the Dixie School name change.

BY JIM WOOD • PHOTO BY LENNY GONZALEZ

NOAH GRIFFIN HAS a lot to say. The 73-yearold, who’s often referred to as a Renaissance man, was born in San Francisco, graduated from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and earned a doctorate in jurisprudence from Harvard Law School. Gri f n then served in an administrative capacity to such luminaries as former San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and investment guru Charles Schwab. He’s also hosted talk radio shows on KGO, KFRC and K-101; written op-ed pieces for the San Francisco Examiner, the Boston Globe and the Marin Independent Journal; and sung with the San Francisco Boys Chorus, the Philadelphia Philharmonic and Duke Ellington’s band. Oh, and at one time he was a competitive tennis player.

But Gri f n’s life hasn’t been a bed of roses. In his early 30s, recognizing that alcohol was ruining his life, he committed himself to a hospital rehabilitation program, and he’s been sober ever since. In 2006, after his weight reached 265 pounds, he su fered a mild stroke, and he has since eliminated all sugar and processed foods from his diet. Now his 5-foot-10-inch frame easily handles 175 pounds. He endured two divorces before meeting and marrying Meredith, a former Calvin Klein model and current publisher of Marin Arts and Culture magazine, in the mid2000s. Between them they have five children.

For the past 14 years, Noah and Meredith Gri f n have made their home in an inviting, book-lined Tiburon apartment with a baby grand piano and a splendid hillside view. Previously he lived in San Anselmo and Mill Valley; in all, he’s resided in Marin County for over 44 years. These days he’s president of the San Francisco–based Cole Porter Society, which he founded in 2014.

change controversy? Well, I was first involved with this matter in 2003 and it’s been an issue since the name Dixie was first adopted some 155 years ago. I’ve long believed the name is basically ofensive to a certain part of the overall community and should be ofensive to all the people who live in that district. My theory as to why it took so long to change is that many people simply don’t like change; also there’s been a little bit of creative revisionism as to how the name was arrived at in the first place. Whatever: the name is just wrong. All the rest of the country is taking down statues and taking down Confederate flags. Meanwhile, we have folks saying for them the word “Dixie” simply means a good school district and it doesn’t mean much of anything outside of their district. Well, that’s wrong; it does mean something. And so the LA Times and the Washington Post have done pieces on this controversy, as have several magazines. I’m grateful the courageous eforts of Trustee Marnie Glickman, social activist Kerry Peirson and a host of others helped to finally change the name and bring Marin into alignment with its professed values. It is a victory for our children, social justice and the truth.

Over the years you’ve worked with many highly accomplished people. Can you name the three you most admire for the way they worked? Joe Alioto, San Francisco’s mayor from 1968 to 1976, was extremely efective; he was brilliant and singularly focused and didn’t let things bother him. During his time in ofce, he had numerous personal and legal crises but never lost a day of work. He was a mayor who did a lot of good for the city. And I love Nancy Pelosi. She’s been the same Nancy for the 50 or so years I’ve known her. By way of full disclosure, my daughter is one of Speaker Pelosi’s press secretaries and travels with her. Nancy is both thoughtful and strategic and she gets things done in a relatively quiet way; she’s not bombastic nor is she self-aggrandizing and wanting to be seen

After living for many years in Southern Marin, why did you get involved in the Dixie School District name

as a powerful leader. Nancy’s father was Tom D’Alesandro, who was a congressman and then the mayor of Baltimore, so politics have always been in her blood and she has shown an amazing capacity for growing politically. She’s not only history’s first woman speaker of the House; I think she may be the best speaker in history. I also have great respect for two other people I had the honor of working with: Dianne Feinstein, mayor from 1979 to 1987, who left ofce with a 72 percent approval rating while accomplishing a lot, and Frank Jordan, San Francisco’s mayor in the 1990s, was a very decent man who kept the Giants in San Francisco and balanced the city’s budget every year he was in ofce. I think the world of him.

Have you ever run for elective office? In 2005, I ran for the District 3 seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors against the late Charles McGlashan. Andrew Thompson was also in that race and the three of us had a very convivial relationship, no hard feelings. When all the ballots were counted, I wound up fourth. Also, as a very young and inexperienced politician, I ran for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the early 1970s. I was one of only two African Americans in the field of 33 candidates and wound up getting over 33,000 votes, which was considered pretty good for being so young at the time.

We have folks saying for them the word ‘Dixie’ simply means a good school district and it doesn’t mean much of anything outside of their district. Well, that’s wrong; it does mean something.

Money doesn’t seem to be a driving influence for you. No, money isn’t a motivator for me — and it never has been. As long as I have enough to live on, I’m fine. I must say, however, I’ve been thinking about money a bit more as I get older. Because of my role as an entertainer, I have memberships in clubs where the people have lots of money and nice cars and travel a lot. But really, there’s no envy. When Meredith and I go on a vacation, we find ourselves coming home a few days early because we miss our home and our routines. So I measure my successes by being fit, by not doing alcohol and by not involving myself in things that would make my life unmanageable.

For one as sociable and gregarious as you appear to be, has abstaining from alcohol been a constant challenge?

No, it hasn’t been, and yes, Meredith and I are out a lot at social and civic events. Initially it was a struggle. But over a period of time I was eventually no longer being tempted; I realized I didn’t have to drink to enjoy myself. As Thoreau said, “You are rich in proportion to what you

can do without.” I’ve found that I can do without alcohol. For me, it’s a much better way to live.

What caused you to quit drinking? I’ll tell you what happened. When I was 32, I went to a party down on the Peninsula and got so drunk I couldn’t drive home. I woke up the next morning, still drunk, then started driving down the freeway at 95 miles an hour not caring if I lived or died. Once home, I heard a TV commercial that said something to the efect of “If someone you love is becoming someone you hate, don’t be driving a car, as you’ll be sure to kill yourself.” That day, it was August 13 of 1978, I checked myself into Alta Bates Hospital in Oakland and from then until now I haven’t had a drink. Three times a week I go to 12-step meetings.

What about keeping off that 90 pounds of extra weight you once carried? My extra weight — plus my blood pressure being 165 over 135 — resulted in me having a mild stroke that caused me to change my entire way of life. For the past 13 years I’ve followed a rather strict routine and diet. As often as possible I go to bed at eight and wake up at four in the morning. Then I meditate for half an hour and read spiritual material for another half hour. My primary form of exercise is walking. As for my diet, for breakfast I have an ounce of oatmeal, a sliced banana with Saigon cinnamon and eight ounces of low-fat yogurt with blueberries. Lunch is four hours later and I have so many ounces of protein, of salad and of fruits and vegetables. Dinner is pretty much the same and I have it four hours before going to bed. I weigh myself every day and my weight has been 175 pounds and blood pressure 107 over 70 for almost 13 years now. I stay away from sugar and flour and drink only water. Well, maybe I’ll have ginger ale two or three times a year and that’s only for special occasions.

When you look back over your life, at your various pursuits and careers, what high point first comes to mind? It would probably be in 2015, when a group I was with planned a celebration for what would have been Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday. At first I thought I would only be asked to sing a Rat Pack retrospective of one of Sammy Davis Jr.’s songs like “I’ve Gotta Be Me.” But I wound up being the producer of the entire event. We rented and filled the Herbst Theatre. We had a 17-piece orchestra, we found a 1978 video of Sinatra singing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and ran it on a large screen, and I sang eight or nine of his favorite songs. And it all worked; we got three pages in that week end’s Chronicle Datebook section. For me, the highlight was not only putting the show together and singing Sinatra’s songs, but also proving that a black man could do all of this. That definitely was a highlight. m

Noah Griffin

You’ve heard his radio shows and read his columns, but this 44-year Marin resident has taken on many other roles in life — including being a strong advocate for the Dixie School name change.

BY JIM WOOD • PHOTO BY LENNY GONZALEZ

NOAH GRIFFIN HAS a lot to say. The 73-yearold, who’s often referred to as a Renaissance man, was born in San Francisco, graduated from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and earned a doctorate in jurisprudence from Harvard Law School. Gri ffi n then served in an administrative capacity to such luminaries as former San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and investment guru Charles Schwab. He’s also hosted talk radio shows on KGO, KFRC and K-101; written op-ed pieces for the San Francisco Examiner, the Boston Globe and the Marin Independent Journal; and sung with the San Francisco Boys Chorus, the Philadelphia Philharmonic and Duke Ellington’s band. Oh, and at one time he was a competitive tennis player.

But Gri ffi n’s life hasn’t been a bed of roses. In his early 30s, recognizing that alcohol was ruining his life, he committed himself to a hospital rehabilitation program, and he’s been sober ever since. In 2006, after his weight reached 265 pounds, he su ffered a mild stroke, and he has since eliminated all sugar and processed foods from his diet. Now his 5-foot-10-inch frame easily handles 175 pounds. He endured two divorces before meeting and marrying Meredith, a former Calvin Klein model and current publisher of Marin Arts and Culture magazine, in the mid2000s. Between them they have five children.

For the past 14 years, Noah and Meredith Gri ffi n have made their home in an inviting, book-lined Tiburon apartment with a baby grand piano and a splendid hillside view. Previously he lived in San Anselmo and Mill Valley; in all, he’s resided in Marin County for over 44 years. These days he’s president of the San Francisco–based Cole Porter Society, which he founded in 2014.

change controversy? Well, I wa s fi rst involved with this matter in 2003 and it’s been an issue since the name Dixie wa s fi rst adopted some 155 years ago. I’ve long believed the name is basically offensive to a certain part of the overall community and should be offensive to all the people who live in that district. My theory as to why it took so long to change is that many people simply don’t like change; also there’s been a little bit of creative revisionism as to how the name was arrived at in the fi rst place. Whatever: the name is just wrong. All the rest of the country is taking down statues and taking down Confederate flags. Meanwhile, we have folks saying for them the word “Dixie” simply means a good school district and it doesn’t mean much of anything outside of their district. Well, that’s wrong; it does mean something. And so the LA Times and the Washington Post have done pieces on this controversy, as have several magazines. I’m grateful the courageous efforts of Trustee Marnie Glickman, social activist Kerry Peirson and a host of others helped to fi nally change the name and bring Marin into alignment with its professed values. It is a victory for our children, social justice and the truth.

Over the years you’ve worked with many highly accomplished people. Can you name the three you most admire for the way they worked? Joe Alioto, San Francisco’s mayor from 1968 to 1976, was extremely effective; he was brilliant and singularly focused and didn’t let things bother him. During his time in office, he had numerous personal and legal crises but never lost a day of work. He was a mayor who did a lot of good for the city. And I love Nancy Pelosi. She’s been the same Nancy for the 50 or so years I’ve known her. By way of full disclosure, my daughter is one of Speaker Pelosi’s press secretaries and travels with her. Nancy is both thoughtful and strategic and she gets things done in a relatively quiet way; she’s not bombastic nor is she self-aggrandizing and wanting to be seen

After living for many years in Southern Marin, why did you get involved in the Dixie School District name

as a powerful leader. Nancy’s father was Tom D’Alesandro, who was a congressman and then the mayor of Baltimore, so politics have always been in her blood and she has shown an amazing capacity for growing politically. She’s not only history’s fi rst woman speaker of the House; I think she may be the best speaker in history. I also have great respect for two other people I had the honor of working with: Dianne Feinstein, mayor from 1979 to 1987, who left office with a 72 percent approval rating while accomplishing a lot, and Frank Jordan, San Francisco’s mayor in the 1990s, was a very decent man who kept the Giants in San Francisco and balanced the city’s budget every year he was in office. I think the world of him.

Have you ever run for elective office? In 2005, I ran for the District 3 seat on the Marin County Board of Supervisors against the late Charles McGlashan. Andrew Thompson was also in that race and the three of us had a very convivial relationship, no hard feelings. When all the ballots were counted, I wound up fourth. Also, as a very young and inexperienced politician, I ran for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the early 1970s. I was one of only two African Americans in the field of 33 candidates and wound up getting over 33,000 votes, which was considered pretty good for being so young at the time.

We have folks saying for them the word ‘Dixie’ simply means a good school district and it doesn’t mean much of anything outside of their district. Well, that’s wrong; it does mean something.

Money doesn’t seem to be a driving influence for you. No, money isn’t a motivator for me — and it never has been. As long as I have enough to live on, I’m fi ne. I must say, however, I’ve been thinking about money a bit more as I get older. Because of my role as an entertainer, I have memberships in clubs where the people have lots of money and nice cars and travel a lot. But really, there’s no envy. When Meredith and I go on a vacation, we fi nd ourselves coming home a few days early because we miss our home and our routines. So I measure my successes by being fit, by not doing alcohol and by not involving myself in things that would make my life unmanageable.

For one as sociable and gregarious as you appear to be, has abstaining from alcohol been a constant challenge?

No, it hasn’t been, and yes, Meredith and I are out a lot at social and civic events. Initially it was a struggle. But over a period of time I was eventually no longer being tempted; I realized I didn’t have to drink to enjoy myself. As Thoreau said, “You are rich in proportion to what you

can do without.” I’ve found that I can do without alcohol. For me, it’s a much better way to live.

What caused you to quit drinking? I’ll tell you what happened. When I was 32, I went to a party down on the Peninsula and got so drunk I couldn’t drive home. I woke up the next morning, still drunk, then started driving down the freeway at 95 miles an hour not caring if I lived or died. Once home, I heard a TV commercial that said something to the effect of “If someone you love is becoming someone you hate, don’t be driving a car, as you’ll be sure to kill yourself.” That day, it was August 13 of 1978, I checked myself into Alta Bates Hospital in Oakland and from then until now I haven’t had a drink. Three times a week I go to 12-step meetings.

What about keeping off that 90 pounds of extra weight you once carried? My extra weight — plus my blood pressure being 165 over 135 — resulted in me having a mild stroke that caused me to change my entire way of life. For the past 13 years I’ve followed a rather strict routine and diet. As often as possible I go to bed at eight and wake up at four in the morning. Then I meditate for half an hour and read spiritual material for another half hour. My primary form of exercise is walking. As for my diet, for breakfast I have an ounce of oatmeal, a sliced banana with Saigon cinnamon and eight ounces of low-fat yogurt with blueberries. Lunch is four hours later and I have so many ounces of protein, of salad and of fruits and vegetables. Dinner is pretty much the same and I have it four hours before going to bed. I weigh myself every day and my weight has been 175 pounds and blood pressure 107 over 70 for almost 13 years now. I stay away from sugar and flour and drink only water. Well, maybe I’ll have ginger ale two or three times a year and that’s only for special occasions.

When you look back over your life, at your various pursuits and careers, what high point first comes to mind? It would probably be in 2015, when a group I was with planned a celebration for what would have been Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday. At first I thought I would only be asked to sing a Rat Pack retrospective of one of Sammy Davis Jr.’s songs like “I’ve Gotta Be Me.” But I wound up being the producer of the entire event. We rented and filled the Herbst Theatre. We had a 17-piece orchestra, we found a 1978 video of Sinatra singing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and ran it on a large screen, and I sang eight or nine of his favorite songs. And it all worked; we got three pages in that week end’s Chronicle Datebook section. For me, the highlight was not only putting the show together and singing Sinatra’s songs, but also proving that a black man could do all of this. That definitely was a highlight. m

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Sizzling Summer

BY LEAH-MARIE

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A Laughing Matter

San Francisco’s diversity makes for a seriously funny stand-up scene.

BY NATHAN SPICER

EVERY SUNDAY AT the Punch Line, there is a showcase. “It’s where all of comedy in San Francisco comes together,” says Red Scott, a jovial, rotund comedian of artistic per suasion and disarming demeanor. He’s leaning against a wall outside the green room after the show. Other comics who also performed in the string of five-minute sets wander by, banter, stare into their phones, act like everyone else in San Francisco. That’s the heart of it all: comedy in San Francisco looks much like the rest of San Francisco, which means it doesn’t look much like anywhere else.

The showcase lasted two hours. In those extremely brief comedy sets, a woman sang in Hebrew while wading into the audience, a man talked of bus advertisements aimed at people who didn’t take buses, a former teacher applied algebra to discern the correct markup for purchasing street drugs, a first-generation Indian man demonstrated the absurdity of the Kama Sutra, a woman in her 70s lobbed jokes analogizing sex to shopping.

Clearly, this wasn’t Milwaukee. Granted, San Francisco has changed, and those changes have altered the comedic fodder. It used to be the Grateful Dead and taxis, now it’s gentrifica tion and tech bros. But the type of comedians writing the jokes has remained remark ably varied. The Bay Area prides itself on its

CLUBS TO VISIT

Cobb’s Comedy Club

One of the two main clubs in San Francisco. The most well-known comedians perform at this North Beach club. Shows Thursday–Sunday. cobbscomedy.com

The Punch Line

The other main club in San Francisco. It attracts some of the biggest names to its Financial District venue. Shows Thursday–Sunday. punchlinecomedyclub.com

inclusiveness and diversity. Which means comics who in other locales may not feel com fortable presenting self-exposing material, or performing in public at all, do so freely here.

Hayley Beacon, with long reddish-brown hair and green eyes, does not look like the typical “funny” person. Then again, that sort of stereotype has been dissolving. You no lon-

Comedy in San Francisco looks much like the rest of San Francisco, which means it doesn’t look much like anywhere else.

ger need to be slightly pudgy, wear flannel and have a scraggly beard to fit the part. “There’s a place for that,” Beacon says, sitting in a Greek restaurant of Market Street; “it’s just getting tired.” Her favorite local comic? A black transgender woman.

Indeed, the tropes that long hindered minorities in stand-up — from women to African Americans to South Asians — do not apply in San Francisco. Natasha Muse is another transgender Bay Area comedian of significant acclaim; she talks of absurd things like ... being a mom. It’s relatable material from someone you’re not used to relating to.

The Setup

Slightly dicey area but gorgeous space in the back of Ales Unlimited in the Tenderloin. Real brick wall. Tons of outof-town talent. Run by Richard Sarvate and Abhay Nadkarni. Shows Thursday–Saturday. setupcomedy.com

Cheaper Than Therapy

A black box theater with no microphone located near Union Square. Unique and intimate space. Run by Jon Allen, Eloisa Bravo and Scott Simpson. Shows Thursday–Sunday. cttcomedy.com

In another town, someone with an unconventional history may not have the confidence to do something as emotionally naked as telling jokes to strangers. But in San Francisco, people listen.

That is both the good and di fcult thing about performing here. Everyone will listen, but maybe not with the same ears. Here, one type of humor may not work from one neighborhood to the next or even from one table to the next.

And that presents a challenge. But it also might explain why San Francisco comedy often seems bulletproof, much like stand-up in demographically diverse comedy meccas like Chicago or Los Angeles or New York.

The Punch Line’s five-minute sets are a format that elsewhere might typically attract amateurs. But no one in this showcase has uncalibrated material. No shaky deliveries, no flat jokes. These comics from radically diferent backgrounds perform with such skill, you end up relating to gags you would not expect to “get.”

But you do relate; the comedians have made sure of it. They need to make you laugh, and to do that, without denying who they are, they must form a bond with you. Which requires tying in parts of their lives with yours. With each successful joke, Beacon says, “you’re connecting with people you don’t even know, by only being yourself.” m

Nightlife on Mars

Seats 40 in a small back room at Murphy’s Pub in the Financial District.

Great lineups with fewer comedians, which allows longer sets. Run by Red Scott, Natasha Muse and Joseph Nguyen. Shows on Saturday night. facebook.com/ nightlifeonmars

COMICS TO WATCH Hayley Beacon Dominique Gelin

Natasha Muse Daaoud Naimyar Red Scott

A Laughing Matter

San Francisco’s diversity makes for a seriously funny stand-up scene.

BY NATHAN SPICER

EVERY SUNDAY AT the Punch Line, there is a showcase. “It’s where all of comedy in San Francisco comes together,” says Red Scott, a jovial, rotund comedian of artistic per suasion and disarming demeanor. He’s leaning against a wall outside the green room after the show. Other comics who also performed in the string of five-minute sets wander by, banter, stare into their phones, act like everyone else in San Francisco. That’s the heart of it all: comedy in San Francisco looks much like the rest of San Francisco, which means it doesn’t look much like anywhere else.

The showcase lasted two hours. In those extremely brief comedy sets, a woman sang in Hebrew while wading into the audience, a man talked of bus advertisements aimed at people who didn’t take buses, a former teacher applied algebra to discern the correct markup for purchasing street drugs, a fi rst-generation Indian man demonstrated the absurdity of the Kama Sutra, a woman in her 70s lobbed jokes analogizing sex to shopping.

Clearly, this wasn’t Milwaukee. Granted, San Francisco has changed, and those changes have altered the comedic fodder. It used to be the Grateful Dead and taxis, now it’s gentrifica tion and tech bros. But the type of comedians writing the jokes has remained remark ably varied. The Bay Area prides itself on its

CLUBS TO VISIT

Cobb’s Comedy Club

One of the two main clubs in San Francisco. The most well-known comedians perform at this North Beach club. Shows Thursday–Sunday. cobbscomedy.com

The Punch Line

The other main club in San Francisco. It attracts some of the biggest names to its Financial District venue. Shows Thursday–Sunday. punchlinecomedyclub.com

inclusiveness and diversity. Which means comics who in other locales may not feel com fortable presenting self-exposing material, or performing in public at all, do so freely here.

Hayley Beacon, with long reddish-brown hair and green eyes, does not look like the typical “funny” person. Then again, that sort of stereotype has been dissolving. You no lon-

Comedy in San Francisco looks much like the rest of San Francisco, which means it doesn’t look much like anywhere else.

ger need to be slightly pudgy, wea r flannel and have a scraggly beard to fit the part. “There’s a place for that,” Beacon says, sitting in a Greek restaurant off arket Street; “it’s just getting tired.” Her favorite local comic? A black transgender woman.

Indeed, the tropes that long hindered minorities in stand-up — from women to African Americans to South Asians — do not apply in San Francisco. Natasha Muse is another transgender Bay Area comedian of signi ficant acclaim; she talks of absurd things like ... being a mom. It’s relatable material from someone you’re not used to relating to.

The Setup

Slightly dicey area but gorgeous space in the back of Ales Unlimited in the Tenderloin. Real brick wall. Tons of outof-town talent. Run by Richard Sarvate and Abhay Nadkarni. Shows Thursday–Saturday. setupcomedy.com

Cheaper Than Therapy

A black box theater with no microphone located near Union Square. Unique and intimate space. Run by Jon Allen, Eloisa Bravo and Scott Simpson. Shows Thursday–Sunday. cttcomedy.com

In another town, someone with an unconventional history may not have the con fidence to do something as emotionally naked as telling jokes to strangers. But in San Francisco, people listen.

That is both the good and di fficult thing about performing here. Everyone will listen, but maybe not with the same ears. Here, one type of humor may not work from one neighborhood to the next or even from one table to the next.

And that presents a challenge. But it also might explain why San Francisco comedy often seems bulletproof, much like stand-up in demographically diverse comedy meccas like Chicago or Los Angeles or New York.

The Punch Line’s five-minute sets are a format that elsewhere might typically attract amateurs. But no one in this showcase has uncalibrated material. No shaky deliveries, no flat jokes. These comics from radically different backgrounds perform with such skill, you end up relating to gags you would not expect to “get.”

But you do relate; the comedians have made sure of it. They need to make you laugh, and to do that, without denying who they are, they must form a bond with you. Which requires tying in parts of their lives with yours. With each successful joke, Beacon says, “you’re connecting with people you don’t even know, by only being yourself.” m

Nightlife on Mars

Seats 40 in a small back room at Murphy’s Pub in the Financial District.

Great lineups with fewer comedians, which allows longer sets. Run by Red Scott, Natasha Muse and Joseph Nguyen. Shows on Saturday night. facebook.com/ nightlifeonmars

COMICS TO WATCH Hayley Beacon Dominique Gelin

N atasha Muse Daaoud Naimyar Red Scott

Sun, Shade Slope and

BY PJ BREMIER

Face it. If Californians didn’t invent this whole indoor-outdoor living concept, we should have. We are consummate experts at finding all sorts of ways to enjoy every inch of our landscapes. That’s not surprising, given that we in Marin occupy some of the most prime real estate in the Golden State. But what if a garden is just a little too hot, too shady or too steep to fully enjoy? The following three landscape installations, along with the talented professionals who created them, offer clever ideas and inspiration to get you around any outdoor challenge.

GARDEN SCHEMES THAT WILL HELP YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BACKYARD.

Landscape

Geoff Hall, Sentient Landscape, sentientlandscape.com ;

contractor: Dan Hendrickson Pool Construction, hendricksonpools.com

shade,” he adds. Besides trees, “trellises covered in vines like table grapes or fra grant star jasmine, simple umbrellas or shade sails are some ways of creating instant shade in full sun gardens.”

LET THE SUNSHINE IN

When David and Paige Hirschkop bought their San Rafael property in 2004, they loved the “bones” of the midcentury house and the sunlight that washed over their spacious garden. With a view of San Pablo Bay from the front, an embrace of open space in the back, and a swimming pool on the side that took advantage of both, they thought, what’s not to love?

Well, three things, to be exact: the house, the garden and the pool. “It was all a disaster,” Paige now says with a laugh. “It needed a lot of work.” They remodeled the home fi rst, and then, just over a year ago, gave the grade its big makeover.

“The main thing is we wanted to use the outdoor space and we wanted it to be fun,” she says.

The fun starts with the swimming pool. Once kidney-shaped, it now has clean, modern lines, a built-in hot tub, a trio of splashy water fountain spouts, and a Dolphin waterslide that travels down through the landscape before depositing adventurous swimmers into the water. A solar cover keeps the pool clean and safe and controls evaporation.

But as in any garden with all that glorious sun, creating spots of respite from the rays was essential. “Kids like sun but adults like shade,” Paige says. “I personally want shade and we wanted comfortable places where people could relax and enjoy being outdoors.”

Geoff Hall of Sentient Landscape, who along with Outer Space Landscape Architecture helped create the garden, agrees. “Full sun gardens provide so many options and opportunities,” he says. “They are where we grow many of our fruits, nuts, berries and veggies and a wide variety of pollinator-friendly native and drought-tolerant perennial flowers.

“Sometimes, for people to enjoy a full sun garden, one needs to create a little

In their garden, the Hirschkops chose primarily the convenience and attractive ness of fabric shading. Sunbrella material draped over a custom shade structure, for example, provides instant relief from the sun for those who want to gather or lounge around the fire pit. A cantilevered Tucci umbrella protects diners while they enjoy meals at the dining table; another Tucci umbrella can be popped up in the shallow end of the pool, provid ing shade to those who want to linger in the water; and still other umbrellas are ready to be deployed wherever necessary. The quiet backdrop to all this poolside fun is an array of drought-tolerant plantings with a low-key palette, such as Grevilia “scarlet sprite,” which attracts bees and humming birds; the golden-orange-blossomed Lantana “radiance”; and “swan hill,” the non-fruiting variety of olive trees. Potted annuals, strategically placed around the seating areas, provide unexpected pops of color in red and orange.

Once a “disaster,” the Hirschkops’ new garden gives them a beautiful new space to enjoy. “We like to entertain and this gar den gives us the space to do it,” Paige says.

“The kids use it all the time. I just wish we had done it when they were younger.”

MADE IN THE SHADE

Who says gardening in the shade has to consist solely of planting favorite standbys such as ferns, rhododendrons or azaleas? Not Jori Hook, principal of Jori Hook Landscape Architects in Mill Valley. In fact, her view is that the bright side of shade gardening is just that — the bright side.

“The beauty of a shade garden is, iron ically, the quality of light,” Hook muses. “Light is so important to almost all of us that even when walking, we stop in our tracks for gorgeous light. That usually doesn’t happen in full sun.”

Tracking sunlight as it courses through a garden, she is able to observe how intense, how dark, or how splashy it is at different times. “Having almost no sun in

SHADE RESOURCES Landscape Architect: Jori Hook, Jori Hook Landscape Architecture, jorihook.com ; landscape contractor: Dan Fix Landscape Construction Company, danfixlandscape.com

GARY YOST

a garden is difficult but still doable, just with a smaller plant palette,” she explains. “Once you know the constraints of a gar den, your opportunities explode.”

For true garden success, she says, “you really must let the space reveal itself at all times of day and in all sea sons. When you tap into the spirit of the place and fully respect the sun orienta tion and soil conditions, when you really dig deep, everything emerges from that.”

For example, it’s important to consider how one will experience the garden when moving through it, to understand how one’s eye will naturally follow the sun light or seek the vista or long view. “There is nothing more frustrating than to move into a garden and be stuck with nowhere for my feet or my eyes to go,” she says.

In this particular Mill Valley gar den, a generous few acres situated under redwoods with some areas that receive hot sun, Hook’s client wanted unusual plants, ones that would offer seasonal interest, and ones without shiny leaves.

“She’s an artist, she loves the land where she lives and she loves the red woods,” Hook says. After two small creative arts studios were built on site, “she wanted to feel that land had been returned to nature.”

The key to achieving this was soften ing harsh lines, avoiding use of concrete paths or patios, and concealing the view of any building.

That’s where the idea of a living roof garden for the lower studio originated. Its planting scheme visually pays hom age to the mosaic of native plants one might see while hiking nearby Mount Tamalpais. Planted with sedums, sem pervivum, senecio and echeveria, the living roof gives the studio below extra insulation and better fi re protection.

Large water-washed bluestone pav ers guide the visitor’s step through the landscape, but it’s the careful place ment of the bright green plants such as Corsican hellebores or variegated ones, like Japanese forest grass, Carex “ever gold,” Heuchera “green spike,” pieris or daphne, that guide the eye.

“This is a gardener’s garden,” Hook says. “There is a delicacy about it, where plants have space for their full expression.”

UPHILL BATTLE

You have a hill. You have the wind. You need a plan. That was the situation for the owners of a gorgeous half-acre in Tiburon, except they had one more sloperelated issue — poor drainage.

Gretchen Whittier and Kate Stickley, partners at Arterra Landscape Architects, took all of this in when they first surveyed the project. Due to the drainage issue, “when we arrived on the scene, the hillside was being torn up,” Whittier says. “It sloped directly onto the house and the house had suffered water damage and was being repaired.”

Still, the visual appeal of the property with its incredible views of the open lands posed yet another challenge: the homeowners wanted full access to all that beauty.

That meant “they wanted to increase the access to the lower garden and pool, they wanted a seating area to drink a glass of wine and take in the view, and they wanted it to remain open, and not fenced offfrom the open space,” she explains.

First, though, the poor drainage needed to be addressed. Whittier and Stickley devised a gently curved grassy swale in the center of the garden that redirects water from the hillside away from the house. A small stone footbridge allows the garden visitor to experience the garden on both sides of the swale.

A stepped path, framed by lavender and both drought- and salt air–tolerant plants, follows the swale as it heads downward. Along the way, remnants of a for mer rock formation once near the house are now seen along the steps and form the viewing platform, or perch, with a pair of chairs for watching the changing view.

When it came to a planting scheme, the land again played a role. “The homeowners were interested in getting rid of water and wanted the side garden to rep resent the opposite,” Whittier explains. So, to counter the cool nature of water, she and Stickley chose an intense hot color plant palette, creating a subtle yinyang effect.

The kangaroo paws are the standouts. “They love the climate and really give this garden the bursts of red and yellow,” Whittier says, while the new grasses play with the wind. “Our clients really wanted to see sweeps of moving grasses,” she adds. “Grasses are a great way to see the wind but not have it be destruc tive to the plants.”

And because the owners wanted to welcome wild life, including deer, into the space, deer-resistant plants like smoke bush and pineapple guava were purposely planted.

“The clients love their garden now,” Whittier says. “They spend a lot of time on that little perch with the chairs and their teenagers love it, too. They wander through the space and go for lots of walks.” m

SLOPE RESOURCES Landscape Architects: Gretchen Whittier and Kate Stickley, arterrasf.com

MICHELE

WILLSON

Rangers

on the

BY KIRSTEN JONES NEFF ILLUSTRATION BY WENJIA TANG

It’s finally summer. After a midwinter government shutdown and a long, wet spring with record-breaking rain, fallen trees and flooding in every direction, the sun is out and the flora and fauna have never been more spectacular on our local trails. For that reason, we’ve decided to celebrate five of our favorite park rangers. These are the folks behind the scenes making our park experiences fun, safe, memorable and educational. No one goes into this profession to pad their wallets; they do it out of love and dedication to the outdoors. Here are our 2019 Rangers of the Year.

MASAKI MIZUSHIMA, GGNRA RANGER, INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION: Military History Buff

HOW HE BECAME A RANGER “I didn’t find this career, it found me.” He spoke Japanese and was hired by the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center in Alaska to work as an interpreter.

WHERE HE WORKED BEFORE Glacier Bay and Katmai national parks in Alaska, Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada.

WHERE YOU’LL FIND HIM In the Marin Headlands, giving tours and sharing the military history of the Cold War and the local Nike Missile site, the Point Bonita Lighthouse and Battery Townsley.

A RECOMMENDED HIKE

The 45-minute “plant stroll,” identifying native plants, their medicinal uses and their purposes in the Headlands ecosystem (parksconservancy. org/events/marin-headlands/ marin-headlands-plant-stroll).

SARAH BURKHART, MARIN COUNTY PARK RANGER: Creative Wreath Maker Extraordinaire

WHY SHE’S A RANGER “I knew when I was a 6-year-old girl, listening to a park ranger give a talk at Yosemite National Park, I wanted to be in that role one day.”

WHERE YOU’LL FIND HER Leading creative activities in the parks, for people of all ages: she offers such classes as, among others, Art in the Park, Thanksgiving Floral Arrangements and Wreath Making. “I enjoy seeing people taking a break from their daily grind and tapping into their creativity, creating something they didn’t know they could.”

A FAVORITE SPOT “The Tiburon Uplands Preserve in springtime for the wildflower viewing.”

MIKE WARNER, MARIN COUNTY OPEN SPACE RANGER: Marin County’s Walking Encyclopedia

BEFORE HE WAS A RANGER “I got a degree in historical geography at Sonoma State, which means I look at how and why places got to be the way they are.”

WHERE YOU’LL FIND HIM Leading visitors to historic Marin County preserve sites where “history is a lot more complex and interesting than you’ll find in history books.” Such sites include the Old Railroad Grade train site on Mount Tamalpais, World War II crash sites such as the 1946 B-17 Flying Fortress on White’s Hill in Fairfax, various mineral mining sites, graveyards and historic wildfire locations such as Blithedale Ridge or Cascade Canyon.

A FAVORITE HIKE OR PROGRAM “I recommend any of our full moon hike programs, like the Roy's Redwoods Preserve hike in Woodacre. It’s a different experience to be in the preserves after dark.”

KRISTA HANOFF, MARIN COUNTY OPEN SPACE RANGER : Top Troubleshooter

WHY SHE’S A RANGER “I grew up in San Anselmo, in these preserves.” Now she crosses those same hills in her truck, on the lookout for fallen trees, lost hikers and flooded trails.

WHAT SHE DID BEFORE BECOMING A RANGER Worked on an Arctic research vessel, wrote scientific articles and was a gardener for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks department.

WHERE YOU’LL FIND HER Leading a mountain bike ride in the Rush Creek Preserve or recruiting volunteers for the open space volunteer patrol program.

A FAVORITE SPOT “Big Trees Trail to Ship’s Mast Trail in Indian Tree Preserve in Novato is a mostly shaded loop through a beautiful mix of redwood, oak, bay and madrone forest with some great views from the top.”

MIA MONROE, RANGER/ COMMUNITY LIAISON, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: Environmental Emissary

HOW SHE BECAME A RANGER

Forty years ago, Monroe joined the activists who worked to preserve the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Then she went to work for the park service.

“I was a nature girl who loved redwoods, and I’ve been able to work as a ranger for decades, sharing the beauty and stories of Muir Woods.”

HER PERSONAL MISSION

To welcome all people to the park to experience nature, “including urban people, people without cars, people who didn’t even think nature was a part of their life.”

FAVORITE PLACE “A walk through Muir Woods in the evening. There is an easily accessible trail, and I like the fox and river otter, birdsong, and the beauty of the light streaming though the timeless giants.”

INSIDER TIPS AND ACTIVITIES

☛

ALL PARKS FREE DAY Get out and play on “Measure A Days,” every first Saturday of the month. Free entry to all Marin County parks and boat launches thanks to Measure A, approved by county voters in 2012.

☛

BE A HAWKWATCHER Join the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory in the Marin Headlands. In the fall a team of volunteer hawk counters identify and tally birds of prey. Hawkwatchers are recruited in the spring, and trainings begin in July. ggro@parksconservancy.org

☛ BIRDSONG HIKES Join ranger Shannon Burke for monthly walks at Mount Burdell focusing on the fascinating variety of bird vocalizations. Take some time to tease out the voice of each species and enjoy discussing how different groups of birds learn to sing and develop their individual songs. marincountyparks.org/ discoverlearn/events-calendar

☛

COYOTE MOON HIKE A three-hour, sixmile hike to learn more about coyotes and a research project being conducted in the Marin Headlands. Dress in warm layers and bring a flashlight, water and a snack. The hike is familyfriendly but includes some steep hiking. Call the Marin Headlands visitor center for more information and reservations. 415.331.1540

☛

HELP THE HEADLANDS GROW Join the Marin Headlands Nursery team to transplant seedlings, prune plants, process seeds for the next growing season, or participate in other fun activities. Volunteers ages 10 and up are welcome. First and third Tuesday of each month, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Wednesdays 1–4 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.–noon.

☛

MOVIE NIGHTS The Friends of Stafford Lake Bike Park (located at Stafford Lake Park in Novato) and Sports Basement host regular family movie nights, usually featuring action sports–related films. Check the Marin County Parks calendar of events to see what’s playing. marincountyparks.org/discoverlearn/ events-calendar

☛ NATURALIST NOTES Before you go to your local park, check out the Marin County Parks website, where park naturalists share info about some of the flora and fauna you are most likely to see. marincountyparks.org/discoverlearn/ naturalist-notes

EY E ON

HISTORY

After 40 years as a docu mentary filmmaker in the Bay Area, a career that gave me access to remarkable people, moving encounters and extraordinary places, I decided it was time to write about those experiences and how they taught me to see and understand the world. Last year after a dear friend, Annie Hershey, died, I was reminded of one of those moments, when I was just a fledgling filmmaker and covering the first-ever March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. The book of which this memory is a part will one day exist.

BY FRANCES REID

JOAN BIREN

OCTOBER 14, 1979. GREETINGS FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

We all sleep on the floor of the young journalist that night. Or don’t sleep — our sleeping bags jumbled here and there in hasty disarray, few of us in them, too excited, some of us meeting for the first time, too much to discuss, too much heady importance, too much needing to prep our gear and to plan our production strategy in the few hours before dawn.

We are an ad hoc, thrown together, ragtag group of lesbian and gay fledgling filmmakers who, realizing the historic importance of the event we’re about to film, scrounge cameras and tripods and sound gear from wherever we can (I, as the proud owner of a new 16 mm camera, am perhaps valued as much for my gear as for my skills). We fly from San Francisco, take trains from New York, five of us — Lucy, Greta, Terry, Rob and me; Rob being the only one I already know — and we form a loose pro duction collective in order to capture the first-ever March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. We recruit whatever friends we can to help.

I’m surprised to find Annie there in the kitchen, just flown in from California with a friend. She is an already accomplished filmmaker whom I know and respect. She’s not part of our crew. She apparently knows the same young journalist and has found herself a spot on the floor too, or maybe, being a significant five years older, a coveted bed upstairs. I

approach her with enthusiasm and shyness and ask her if she would like to join our production team and do some shooting with us the next day, flattering her with my admiration for her work. I am not ofering her a job. None of us are get ting paid. Our expenses so far are out of our own meager pockets. Annie sweetly turns me down; she really just wants to experience and be part of the march without the mediating scrim of the camera between her and the moment.

This is the eternal dilemma of the film maker, the documentarian, the journalist: our compelling urgency to record the moment denies us the moment. But for me in this moment there is no dilemma. For me this moment, my way of experiencing it, is all about filming it. Is all about this tight cadre of new friends and our sense of mission. I am terrified and thrilled. I have made a film of my own already, but this is the first time I am doing something like this, where we need to be spontaneous and fast, not fumbling, not making learner’s mistakes. I am nervous and eager to prove myself to this newfound group of instant colleagues.

We leave the house before dawn, gear prepped, assignments clear. Some of us are interviewing marchers; others are capturing the broad sweep of the crowd from high van tage points. We have assistants lugging heavy tripods, and precious cans of celluloid film that we stop to load into emptied camera magazines periodically. We film judiciously, sparely — the film is gold and not to be squandered. We split up to our assigned posts, with a few spotty walkie-talkies as our only means of communi cation in this pre-cellphone era.

The day cements my identity as a filmmaker — being seen as a filmmaker at a large public event of my community. I relish my assignment to be on the stage filming the speakers and per formers, a spot where I am very visible. My ego soars. When not onstage I am atop the press platform, high above the sea of a quarter mil lion queers, getting my shot, feeling important. Only later do I find myself wishing I had spent more time down in the crowd, framing the faces and the feeling of emerging newfound power and sense of political significance of 250,000 lesbians, gay men, nellie queens and bull dykes, in feather boas and business suits, in clown cos tumes and leather, in sequins and flannel shirts, all demanding our rights.

But in the moment I am ecstatic to be above the fray, to be seen, a powerful Amazon woman,

I RELISH MY ASSIGN MENT TO BE ON THE STAGE FILM ING THE SPEAKERS AND PER FORMERS, A SPOT WHERE I AM VERY VISIBLE. MY EGO SOARS.

Opener: Reid on a platform filming the October 1979 March on Washington. Left: a 1984 portrait. Opposite from left: Filming in 1979; a poster for the film on Castro Street.

20-pound camera on my shoulder, striding the stage, playing my part in telling our story. For some 12 hours, from dawn until dusk on that autumn day in Washington, D.C., I ply the streets and the stages, never stopping to eat or to drink or to pee, only taking the camera from my shoulder long enough to load a fresh magazine of film or to let my assistant carry as we run through the crowds to a new location. I am 35 years old and I am doing exactly what I want to be doing, being exactly who I want to be. It is an exhausting, exhilarating glorious day. I am home.

From that day, we untangle back to into our separate lives. Lucy takes our unruly footage and crafts it into a delightful postcard of a film that gives the world a glimpse of what happened that day when queers from across the country came to Washington, D.C., for the first time as openly proud lesbians and gay men to demand our due. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected ofcial, a San Francisco supervisor, had been assas sinated the year before. His rallying cry had been for all of us to come out, to just come out. And so here we were, in our nation’s capital, as out as we could be, and euphorically showing ourselves to each other and the world on film and television.

We are there that day in Washington. D.C., full of innocence and exuber ance, not knowing the wave that is about to engulf us. AIDS is about to wash over us, taking out many of the best and the brightest and the most mar ginal, the most vulnerable. Ronald Reagan is about to become our president.

The wave hits. We watch a disease erode our community and I am no longer working on films about our vitality, our nascent political power and our future, but now it is about a terrifying illness and death. Camera in hand, I witness vibrant young men turn into old men in a matter of weeks. Friends at the prime of life, at the height of careers, wither and die.

1987. Once again I am in Washington, D.C., behind a camera. I am 40 feet in the air in the tiny basket of a cherry-picker crane, filming a quilt spread out across the mall filling the space that eight years earlier was animated with people. Now each panel of the quilt signifies someone who has died. I am working that day for the film Common Threads, docu menting the first display of the full (at that time) Names Project AIDS

Memorial Quilt. Once again, I am there with Rob, but now he is a filmmaker with an Oscar to his name and a co-director. He has a budget for things like cherry-picker cranes, a professional crew and hotel rooms. I am one small element of a big production.

From my vantage point above the crowd, each patch of the quilt we are filming is a fragment of a grief-stricken whole that stretches on and on across the entirety of the mall. The individual patches are as colorful, creative and unique as the individuals they represent, sewn in love and in sorrow, distinct and collective, a feeling intensified by a callous President Reagan who chose to look the other way.

I wonder how many who were there on that glorious fall day eight years before, pumping fists and laughing and holding hands and kiss ing and chanting and feeling defiant, or perhaps venturing out of the closet for the first time and feeling terrified and safe all at once — how many are now reduced to a patch on the ground below me, the satin and boas, the sequins and denim, the leather and lace that they wore that day now sewn into the cloth of individual and collective grieving.

Standing behind my camera high on the precarious, chilly little platform of the cherry picker that day, experiencing the color and the sadness spread below me, hearing the endless list of names being read of those represented by each panel of the vast quilt, I feel starkly alone, yet still very much at home. m

WE ARE AN AD HOC, THROWN TOGETHER, RAGTAG GROUP OF LESBIAN AND GAY FLEDGLING FILMMAKERS.

Destinations

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

GO DADDY GO

Five epic adventures for Father’s Day.

BY CHRISTINA MUELLER, MIMI TOWLE AND KASIA PAWLOWSKA

JAMES LIPMAN

intensity of sunlight (similar to technology on luxury yachts and business jets). Another improvement: the seats are composite-leather and heated, reclinable without bothering the person behind you and can be turned 180 degrees to face your neighbors. Three additional new cars will join the fleet in 2020 to mark Rocky Mountaineer’s 30th anniversary.

Details A two-day rail trip between Vancouver and Banff, Lake Louise or Jasper (or reverse) starts at $1,247 per person.

Brave the Rapids

Boise is a city on the rise. Downtown bustles with two thriving farmers’ markets, an abundance of farm-totable restaurants and wineries that bring new energy to the Paci fic Northwest scene. It’s less than two hours by air from SFO, so a Father’s Day weekend here, complete with the whitewater rafting Idaho is known for, is totally doable. The Riverside Hotel on the Boise River greenbelt is steps from downtown.

Day One Ride with a local driver from Idaho Town Car for the 45-minute trip to the Payette River, where Cascade Kayak and Raft provides equipment and a whitewater guide. The half-day “Splash” is ideal for fi rst-timers and travelers wanting to catch some rays as they paddle. The full-day “Escape” includes lunch and a wild ride through 11 miles of class II and III rapids. For a chill drink before dinner, head to Meriwether Cider House: with 10 hard ciders on tap, including one that’s ginned up with hops, it is easy to stay awhile. A block away, Saint Lawrence Gridiron delivers on its promise to explore the roots of American cuisine. The grilled bison is grass-fed meat at its best, and the baked cod with trout roe sauce speaks to the region’s abundant freshwater fi sh and Basque heritage.

Day Two Dig into Boise’s past with a walking tour of downtown or explore Basque history at the Basque Museum and Cultural Center. Keep the Basque vibe going with lunch at Bar Gernika. The restaurant’s famous beef tongue is only available Saturdays, but the lamb grinder is a worthy alternative. Bike back to the hotel to hear a band playing on the hotel’s poolside deck, head over to the nearby Boise Whitewater Park to improve your rapids skills, or try your hand at the hotel’s own petanque court. Next door, the Telaya Wine Company offers tours of the immaculate wine cellar and tastes of syrahs, cabernet sauvignons and viogniers sourced from Idaho and Washington vineyards. For dinner, the vegan eats at Juniper might be the best in town (try the lentil beet burger), or sample Idaho standards like

blackened trout reimagined with sa ff ron curry and pea shoots or local Snake River Farms beef medallions with farro risotto. It’s a worthy fi nish to a weekend exploring the Boise scene.

Highlight Spotting wildlife along the Boise River; sipping excellent wine at Telaya Winery.

Details Suites at the Riverside Hotel start at $170; $278 for a river view room. A half-day on the Payette with Cascade Kayak and Raft runs $45 for adults and $30 for ages 5 to 12. A full day runs $85 or $60 for youth 12 and under with lunch included. Rent gear to paddle the Boise Whitewater Park at Idaho River Sports. Bike rentals for touring the Boise Greenbelt are available at the Riverside Hotel.

Slurpy Sunday

Nothing says Dad more than “road trip.” With Father’s Day fortuitously calendared at the height of Marin’s summer, coastal Marin, also known as “the other side of the hill” to locals, beckons with new and refreshed restaurants. Drive north on 101 through Petaluma for a stop at Brewster’s Beer Garden. Go for the all-day smoked hog with Carolina “wet mop” sauce and wash it down with an Anne Marie’s Amber from Iron Springs. Head west through tiny Tomales and stop to admire the awesome coastal views before dropping down to Dillon Beach Resort. The brand-new Coastal Kitchen is open, but if the weather calls for a picnic, source your vittles, including canned cocktails, from the resortadjacent Dillon Beach General Store. Then head to the mile-long stretch of beach for some shoreside aaaahs.

The time has come to hit Highway 1 south and meander along the eastern shore of Tomales Bay. First stop: Tony’s Seafood. Grab a seat by one of the wide windows to watch the fi sherman before ordering what they pulled from the bay or ocean just hours earlier, such as halibut or oysters from Hog Island. (Be sure to ask about any off-menu specials.) At Olema, pull over at Due West, the recently refurbished restaurant adjacent to Olema House. The time of day surely calls for a round of fried oysters and a Marin Sunset cocktail to sip while perched on a high-backed stool at the room-length bar. Made with Tito’s vodka, limoncello and Luxardo, it’s a fitting way to cap off a ay of exploring West Marin’s scenery and cuisine.

Highlight The stellar views over the Paci fic Ocean and Tomales Bay, with as many oysters as you can eat.

Details The drive from Mill Valley to Petaluma is about 30 miles. Let Dad sleep in before hitting the road; the fi rst stop (Brewster’s) opens at 11 a.m. on Sundays. m

Opposite, clockwise from top left: Boise market; whitewater rafting on the Payette River; Tony’s Seafood at Tomales Bay; Due West at Olema Inn.

Tahoe Trifecta

BY KIRSTEN JONES NEFF

WHETHER YOU EXPLORE Lake Tahoe by boat, hike to the highest peak, paddle into a secret cove or mountain-bike down a sandy incline, the views will surely take your breath away. Of course, there are those wonderful lazy Tahoe days when it is enough to relax on the deck, sipping ice tea and staring out into the deep blue bliss of the lake, but it is hard to stay put for long when natural wonders and adventures await in every direction.

Tahoe is a land of possibility; whatever your age or preferred activities, there are beaches and boat rides, massages and mountaintops, trails and treasures to be found. Below are three suggested itineraries — Tahoe summer days tailored to your heart’s desire, depending on whether you are searching for restorative quiet, vigorous activity or playful family time.

East Shore: Outdoor Adventure

Hoping for one of those days where you leave it all on the trail? Whether you prefer to hike or bike, Nevada’s Incline Village and East Shore ofer excellent opportunities to utterly exhaust yourself as you soak up the sights. If you’re a mountain biker, Flume Trail Bikes is the place to start. Bring your own bike or let the sta f set you up with a bike and all the gear you’ll need. The shop ofers shuttles for two exhilarating rides — the Flume Trail from Spooner Lake or, on even-number days of the month, the Tahoe Rim Trail from Tahoe Meadows.

Both are one-way rides, and you’ll get your climbing in on either one, as well as some technical downhill. Both routes bring you

back to Flume Trail Bikes at the base of the mountain. If you prefer to travel on foot, you can head straight up Tunnel Creek Trail. It’s steep, which is exactly why you’ll be rewarded with some of the most dramatic views of Lake Tahoe available. Whether you’ve biked or hiked, when you finish you’ll be hungry, so stop by Tunnel Creek Cafe next door to the bike shop, where delicious salads and grilled sandwiches are the order of the day, along with an array of craft beer on tap.

After lunch, cool down with some lake time at nearby Sand Harbor. It is best to take the East Shore Express shuttle, which runs every 20 minutes from Incline, so you can skip the challenge of parking in the popular state park.

On the northern beach at Sand Harbor you will find several rental outfits. You can rent SUPs and kayaks at Sand Harbor Rentals, Jet Skis at Sand Harbor Water Sports, and even jet boots at Tahoe Jetovator. Bring your goggles and swim and boulder along the shore, exploring sandy coves north and south of the park.

For dinner, make a reservation and enjoy lakeside views at the Lone Eagle Grill at the Hyatt or head up the mountainside for stunning panoramas from the Big Water Grille. Or if you just want to grab some grub on your way home from the beach, stop by T’s Mesquite Rotisserie in Incline or the Char Pit in King’s Beach, a classic old-time joint serving burgers, fries and shakes.

North Shore: Peace and Pleasure Daybreak is Tahoe’s most serene time of day, and there is nothing quite as calming as an early morning kayak or stand-up paddleboard ride, silently breaking the smooth surface of the crystal-clear water, then peering down to see massive boulders resting on the sandy lake floor below.

Several North Lake spots rent both kayaks and SUPs, and Waterman’s Landing in

Three perfect days on three shores.

Carnelian Bay also rents outrigger canoes. There you will find the Waterman’s Landing Cafe for those who want to ca feinate before heading out. Tahoe Adventure Company in Tahoe Vista also ofers rentals, as does Tahoe Paddle and Oar, in Kings Beach.

If you prefer to start your day on land, get your vinyasa fix at The Yoga Room in Tahoe City. Or to bring your yoga practice to the water, try paddleboard yoga through Mountain Lotus Yoga.

For brunch or lunch, Tahoe House Bakery and Cafe in Tahoe City makes sandwiches with fresh-baked bread and has a reputation for the best European-style cofee in the area. For lunch to go, swing by the tucked-away local favorite Sugar Pine Cakery and Cafe in Lake Forest — a great place for gluten-free treats — and take your feast and good vibes into the woods.

At the nearby North Tahoe Cross Country Center you can hike or rent mountain bikes to explore the woods on some of the 45 miles of Tahoe’s most popular trails, including several dog-friendly routes. The rental center provides maps of the well-marked trails.

After hiking or biking, get back on track with your rest and recovery regimen at Massage on

the Lake in Tahoe City, where the bodywork therapists are “amazing,” according to locals in the know.

For a perfect finale to a peaceful day, book an evening cruise with Stellar Tahoe out of Carnelian Bay. Owners and charter hosts Matt and Bethany Lund, who ofer a variety of set and custom tours, know every nook and cranny of the lake, as well as the most majestic views. Chambers Landing Bar, home of the famous Chambers Punch, is a favorite sunset stop to make before heading home under the rising moon.

West Shore: Family Fun

The West Shore is a giant playground for family fun. Start your day just two miles south of Tahoe City at the Fire Sign Cafe, a longtime local favor ite for breakfast scrambles and omelets.

After breakfast, you may need a round of roshambo to decide where to go next: rent rubber boats and tubes at Truckee River Raft Company or Truckee River Rafting, to float down the Truckee River? Visit the Granlibakken Resort treetop adventure ropes course? Or head to High Sierra Waterski School, with locations in both Sunnyside and

Homewood, where the family can rent an array of waterborne vehicles, or sign up for waterski, wakeboard or wake surf lessons?

If you are a hiking family, try the Stanford Rock Trail, which starts in Sunnyside, a recently reworked route with abundant wildflowers and waterfalls (depending on the time of year) and lake views from the top. This is a rigorous climb (11.4 miles and 1,900 feet of elevation gain) if you do the whole loop, but is easy to adjust for an out-and-back.

For lunch the West Shore Cafe in Homewood has lovely lakeside tables. Another option is to stop by Obexer’s General Store, grab deli sand wiches and head to D.L. Bliss State Park. There you can swim and explore coves or hike south on the Rubicon Trail toward Emerald Bay. This trail, which takes you along the clifs above the lake and ofers some of the best hiking views of Tahoe, is long (6 miles each way) but can also be adjusted for a shorter out-and-back.

Wrap up the fun at Sunnyside, a West Shore lodge with two restaurants — the Mountain Grill (where the music never disappoints) or the Lakeside Dining Room. The lodge is popular with visitors and locals, so reservations are a must. m

Tahoe Trifecta

BY KIRSTEN JONES NEFF

WHETHER YOU EXPLORE Lake Tahoe by boat, hike to the highest peak, paddle into a secret cove or mountain-bike down a sandy incline, the views will surely take your breath away. Of course, there are those wonderful lazy Tahoe days when it is enough to relax on the deck, sipping ice tea and staring out into the deep blue bliss of the lake, but it is hard to stay put for long when natural wonders and adventures await in every direction.

Tahoe is a land of possibility; whatever your age or preferred activities, there are beaches and boat rides, massages and mountaintops, trails and treasures to be found. Below are three suggested itineraries — Tahoe summer days tailored to your heart’s desire, depending on whether you are searching for restorative quiet, vigorous activity or playful family time.

East Shore: Outdoor Adventure

Hoping for one of those days where you leave it all on the trail? Whether you prefer to hike or bike, Nevada’s Incline Village and East Shore offer excellent opportunities to utterly exhaust yourself as you soak up the sights. If you’re a mountain biker, Flume Trail Bikes is the place to start. Bring your own bike or let the staff et you up with a bike and all the gear you’ll need. The shop offers shuttles for two exhilarating rides — the Flume Trail from Spooner Lake or, on even-number days of the month, the Tahoe Rim Trail from Tahoe Meadows.

Both are one-way rides, and you’ll get your climbing in on either one, as well as some technical downhill. Both routes bring you

back to Flume Trail Bikes at the base of the mountain. If you prefer to travel on foot, you can head straight up Tunnel Creek Trail. It’s steep, which is exactly why you’ll be rewarded with some of the most dramatic views of Lake Tahoe available. Whether you’ve biked or hiked, when you fi nish you’ll be hungry, so stop by Tunnel Creek Cafe next door to the bike shop, where delicious salads and grilled sandwiches are the order of the day, along with an array of craft beer on tap.

After lunch, cool down with some lake time at nearby Sand Harbor. It is best to take the East Shore Express shuttle, which runs every 20 minutes from Incline, so you can skip the challenge of parking in the popular state park.

On the northern beach at Sand Harbor you wil l fi nd several rental out fits. You can rent SUPs and kayaks at Sand Harbor Rentals, Jet Skis at Sand Harbor Water Sports, and even jet boots at Tahoe Jetovator. Bring your goggles and swim and boulder along the shore, exploring sandy coves north and south of the park.

For dinner, make a reservation and enjoy lakeside views at the Lone Eagle Grill at the Hyatt or head up the mountainside for stunning panoramas from the Big Water Grille. Or if you just want to grab some grub on your way home from the beach, stop by T’s Mesquite Rotisserie in Incline or the Char Pit in King’s Beach, a classic old-time joint serving burgers, fries and shakes.

North Shore: Peace and Pleasure Daybreak is Tahoe’s most serene time of day, and there is nothing quite as calming as an early morning kayak or stand-up paddleboard ride, silently breaking the smooth surface of the crystal-clear water, then peering down to see massive boulders resting on the sandy lake flor below.

Several North Lake spots rent both kayaks and SUPs, and Waterman’s Landing in

Three perfect days on three shores.

Carnelian Bay also rents outrigger canoes. There you wil l fi nd the Waterman’s Landing Cafe for those who want to ca ffeinate before heading out. Tahoe Adventure Company in Tahoe Vista also offers rentals, as does Tahoe Paddle and Oar, in Kings Beach.

If you prefer to start your day on land, get your vinyasa fi x at The Yoga Room in Tahoe City. Or to bring your yoga practice to the water, try paddleboard yoga through Mountain Lotus Yoga.

For brunch or lunch, Tahoe House Bakery and Cafe in Tahoe City makes sandwiches with fresh-baked bread and has a reputation for the best European-style coffee in the area. For lunch to go, swing by the tucked-away local favorite Sugar Pine Cakery and Cafe in Lake Forest — a great place for gluten-free treats — and take your feast and good vibes into the woods.

At the nearby North Tahoe Cross Country Center you can hike or rent mountain bikes to explore the woods on some of the 45 miles of Tahoe’s most popular trails, including several dog-friendly routes. The rental cen ter provides maps of the well-marked trails. After hiking or biking, get back on track with your rest and recovery regimen at Massage on

the Lake in Tahoe City, where the bodywork therapists are “amazing,” according to locals in the know.

For a perfec t fi nale to a peaceful day, book an evening cruise with Stellar Tahoe out of Carnelian Bay. Owners and charter hosts Matt and Bethany Lund, who offer a variety of set and custom tours, know every nook and cranny of the lake, as well as the most majestic views. Chambers Landing Bar, home of the famous Chambers Punch, is a favorite sunset stop to make before heading home under the rising moon.

West Shore: Family Fun

The West Shore is a giant playground for family fun. Start your day just two miles south of Tahoe City at the Fire Sign Cafe, a longtime local favor ite for breakfast scrambles and omelets.

After breakfast, you may need a round of roshambo to decide where to go next: rent rubber boats and tubes at Truckee River Raft Company or Truckee River Rafting, to float down the Truckee River? Visit the Granlibakken Resort treetop adventure ropes course? Or head to High Sierra Waterski School, with locations in both Sunnyside and

Homewood, where the family can rent an array of waterborne vehicles, or sign up for waterski, wakeboard or wake surf lessons?

If you are a hiking family, try the Stanford Rock Trail, which starts in Sunnyside, a recently reworked route with abundant wildflowers and waterfalls (depending on the time of year) and lake views from the top. This is a rigorous climb (11.4 miles and 1,900 feet of elevation gain) if you do the whole loop, but is easy to adjust for an out-and-back.

For lunch the West Shore Cafe in Homewood has lovely lakeside tables. Another option is to stop by Obexer’s General Store, grab deli sand wiches and head to D.L. Bliss State Park. There you can swim and explore coves or hike south on the Rubicon Trail toward Emerald Bay. This trail, which takes you along the cliffs above the lake and offers some of the best hiking views of Tahoe, is long (6 miles each way) but can also be adjusted for a shorter out-and-back.

Wrap up the fun at Sunnyside, a West Shore lodge with two restaurants — the Mountain Grill (where the music never disappoints) or the Lakeside Dining Room. The lodge is popular with visitors and locals, so reservations are a must. m

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Out & About

ROUNDUP OF THE HOTTEST LOCAL EVENTS, SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND

TO EAT

Calendar

Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles

THEATER

THRU JUN 9 Beautiful:

The Carole King

Musical After winning two Tony awards in 2014 and a Grammy in 2015, the musical story of the rise of King returns for an encore performance. Golden Gate Theatre (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com

THRU JUNE 16 Grease

The Mountain Play returns to Mount Tam with Chelsea Holi field (Sandy) and David Crane (Danny) donning saddle shoes and leather jackets not to brave the fog but to belt out classic hits. Cushing Memorial Amphitheater (Mill Valley). 415.383.1100, mountainplay.org

THRU JUN 16 Moll

Flanders Adapted for the stage by Jennifer LeBlanc from Daniel Defoe’s 1722 novel, the story follows the main character from England to the colonies in the New World and back again as she attempts to secure her fi nancial future through her skill as a “fortuned widow.”

Barn Theater (Ross). 415.456.9555, ross valleyplayers.com

THRU JUN 23

Rhinoceros In this new adaptation of Ionesco’s absurdist satire, a rhinoceros rampages through a town square. Villagers debate: was it real or is it fake news? Amid the chaos, one

villager must decide to take a stand or join the mindless hordes. A.C.T.’s Geary Theater (SF). 415.749.2228, act-sf.org

JUNE 5–29 The Fit Sakina, an IndianAmerican venture capitalist, brings her dream of fi nancing the idea of bio-receptive fabric to Silicon Valley, but what will she compromise in order to realize her dream? The Rueff t the Strand Theater (SF). 415.677.9596, sfplayhouse.org

JUNE 6 Me, Myself, And Everyone Else! Christina Bianco returns with her new show, bringing her soaring vocals and rapid-fi re impressions of the world’s celebrated vocalists, plus celeb rity trivia and musical mash-ups. Feinstein’s at the Nikko (SF). 866.663.1063, feinsteins atthenikko.com

JUNE 13–JULY 7 Wink Feline vengeance at any cost underlies this dark comedy about the thin line between savagery and civilization. Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley). 415.388.5200, marintheatre.org

JUNE 14–30 A Chorus Line Transcendence Theatre Company’s 2019 Broadway Under the Stars season opens with the personal stories of 17 Broadway dancers baring their hearts and souls in a Broadway audition. Jack London State Historic Park (Glen Ellen). 877.424.1414, bestnightever.org

JUNE 14–23 Rent On its 20th anniversary tour, the show reimagines Puccini’s La Bohème as an unforgettable year in the lives of seven artists struggling to fol low their dreams, with inspiring messages of love and hope. Golden Gate Theatre (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com

THEATER

COMEDY / MUSIC / MUSEUMS / EVENTS / FILM / TALKS EDITED BY CHRISTINA MUELLER

JUNE 23–JULY 9 The Oldest Living Cater Waiter This one-man show unwraps the complicated and often hilarious careers of Michael Patrick Ga ff ney, professional actor and waiter to the stars. Gateway Theatre (SF). 415.255.8207, 42ndstmoon.org

JUNE 26–27 Liberace & Liza: A Tribute Come for the costumes and comical barbs; stay to clap along in this hom age to glam, starring David Sa ffert and Jillian Snow Harris as the two legendary performers. Feinstein’s at the Nikko (SF). 866.663.1063, feinsteinsatthe nikko.com

DANCE

THRU JUN 1 Dance Series 02 and Best of Smuin Loosely inspired by the 385-mile pro test wall of women in India on New Year’s Day 2019, Smuin Ballet celebrates the end of its 25th season with work from Amy Seiwert, along with the return of Michael Smuin’s favorites. YBCA Theater (SF). 415.912.1899, smuinballet.org

JUNE 2 Cabaret Kids

This year’s production features Chicago and Guys and Dolls and contemporary tunes by the Black Eyed Peas, Sara Bareilles and Christina Aguilera, with original Bob Fosse choreography. Showcase Theater (San Rafael). 415.473.7000, marincenter.org

JUNE 20–22

SFDanceworks New pieces by company members Brett Conway and Laura O’Malley

as well as Alejandro Cerrudo’s Cloudless, his fi rst pas de deux for two women. Cowell Theater (SF). 415.345.7575, sfdanceworks.org

COMEDY

JUNE 1 Chelsea Handler

After a pivot to social activism, the wellknown author and comedienne returns to stand-up with her Sit Down Comedy Tour. Masonic (SF). 415.776.7457, sfmasonic.com

JUNE 21 Jim Jefferies

From his third Net fl ix comedy special Jim Jefferies: This Is Me Now to his Comedy Central series The Jim Jefferies Show, this comedian tackles everything from controversial issues of the day to the challenges of being a single father. Ruth Finley Person Theater (Santa Rosa). 707.546.3600, luther burbankcenter.org

MUSIC

JUNE 1 San Francisco Boys Chorus Special guest soprano Deborah Voigt joins the annual concert. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

JUNE 4 Carmina Burana Carl Or ff ’s masterpiece is performed by the S.F. Symphony Youth Orchestra. Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 415.864.6000, sfsymphony.org

JUNE 11–23 The 37th SF Jazz Fest Fiddlefaddle your way into summer with this celebration of jazz, including performances by Anoushka Shankar, Claudia Villela and Dakhabrakha. Herbst Theatre and SFJazz

(SF). 866.920.5299, sfjazz.org

JUNE 12 Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles Mastering the songs, gestures and nuances of the famous four some, this performance includes high-defi nition imagery and hits from the vast anthology of Beatles classics plus all of Abbey Road. Ruth Finley Person Theater (Santa Rosa) 707.546.3600, luther burbankcenter.org

JUNE 13 Jeff Oster In a style described as “Miles Davis meets Pink Floyd,” this trumpeter’s playing resonates across genres and generations. Fenix (San Rafael). 415.813.5600, fenixlive.com

JUNE 14 Duff McKagan featuring Shooter Jennings Embarking on a spring tour in sup port of his next album, Tenderness, the Guns N’ Roses alum pairs with the son of Waylon. Great American Music Hall (SF). 415.885.0750, slimspresents.com

JUNE 15 Bluegrass Father’s Day Celebration Part of the Rock and Roll Playhouse, a family con cert series that invites kids to move, dance and jam to songs by the likes of the Grateful Dead. Sweetwater Music Hall (Mill Valley). 415.388.3850, sweet watermusichall.com

JUNE 15–16 Unseen | Unheard Using instru ments created by Paul Dresher, Daniel Schmidt and Don Buchla, The Dresher/ Davel Invented Instrument Duo presents it s fi rst fulllength concerts in San Francisco. The audience

will be invited onstage to play the instru ments post-concert. B.Way Theater (SF). 415.549.8519, odc.dance

JUNE 16 Coming Home The ECHO Chamber Orchestra of San Anselmo’s program features works by three Bay Area composers. First Presbyterian Church (San Anselmo). 415.300.7962, echorchestra.com

JUNE 16 Digable

Planets The jazz and hip-hop vibes of Digable Planets kick off his summer’s season of outdoor concerts and performances at the Stern Grove Festival. Local hip-hop hybrid Bang Data opens. 19th Ave and Sloat Blvd (SF). 415.252.6252, sterngrove.org

JUNE 18 Call Me By

Your Name The score of this feature fi lm is performed live by the S.F. Symphony while the fi lm plays on the big screen. Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 415.864.6000, sfsymphony.org

JUNE 21–22 San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus In celebra tion of Pride month, the SFGMC presents Queens, a choral presentation to com memorate the past, present and future of the LGBTQ rights movement. Sydney Goldstein Theater (SF). 415.392.4400, sfgmc.org

JUNE 22 Indigo Girls

Touring behind their 16th studio album, One Lost Day, Emily Saliers and Amy Ray emote their folk rock as only they can. Ruth Finley Person Theater (Santa

Servicing Bay Area professionals & homeowners for over 60 years.

The O’Hanlon Center for the Arts

Celebrating 50 years as a Mill Valley creative hub.

Ann and Dick O’Hanlon bought the Mill Valley prop erty from Antonio and Marie Freitas and converted an old farmstead into a creative hotbed. The O’Hanlon Center’s 50th anniversary open house celebration is June 8. We spoke with Mill Valley native and O’Hanlon teacher and board member Abby Wasserman about the center’s legacy. ohanloncenter.org

The center attracted some well-known artists. The O’Hanlons lived there and they created a studio space out of the barn and lived in the house that the Freitases had lived in. There were outbuildings that were made into Dick’s sculpture studio; the barn was Ann’s studio. In 1958, when Ann and Dick were on an extended world tour, Wendell Berry and his wife Tanya were living on property. Berry wrote the first draft of his first novel (Nathan Coulter, 1960) there. Clement Hurd, illustrator of Goodnight Moon (1947), had his studio on the property.

What are some important points in the development of the center since its founding as the Sight & Insight Art Center in 1969? The nonprofit was founded in 1969. Dick died in 1985. After Ann died in 1998, there was a period of great uncertainty. We lost the charismatic leader who had drawn people to the property. In 2000, the house burned down and in 2004, the name was changed to O’Hanlon Center for the Arts.

For people who do not know about the O’Hanlon Center, what would you like them to know? That everyone is welcome and can create a difference. We always wanted the center to be a place where an individual could elicit discovery of their own creativity.

Rosa). 707.546.3600, lutherburbank center.org

JUNE 22 The Slackers

The long-running New York ska band brings its mix of ska, rocksteady, dub, and jazz along with opening act the Phenomenauts. Slim’s (SF). 415.885.0750, slimspresents.com

JUNE 23 Folias Duo

The husband-andwife duo bring their tango-in fluenced guitar and flute artistry to Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society’s monthly series. Old Saint Hilary’s Church (Tiburon). 415.435.1853, landmarkssociety.com

JUNE 23 Los Van Van Dance the afternoon away to the uniquely Cuban songo sound (a concoction of rock, jazz, and son) and the global stylings of opening act Banda Sin Nombre as Stern Grove continues the new season. 19th Avenue and Sloat Blvd (SF). 415.252.6252, sterngrove.org

JUNE 24 Bill Frisell Trio

Improvisational guitar is the name of the game from this supporter of American grass roots music. Terrapin Crossroads (San Rafael). 415.524.2773, terrapincrossroads.net

JUNE 26 Dido After a quiet five years, the British singer returns with a new album, Still on My Mind. Masonic (SF). 415.776.7457, sfmasonic.com

MUSEUMS

MARIN Bay Area Discovery Museum Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice Explore the land of fires

volcano and squishy forest floor and the land of ice’s chilly slide and cave before digging for fossils in the field research station, opening May 25 (Sausalito). 415.339.3900, bayareadiscovery museum.org

Bolinas Museum

Changing California: Historical Ecology of the Bay Area See this exhibit in the main gallery. 415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org

Marin History Museum

Numerous collections with historical articles, documents, artifacts and photographs commemorate traditions, innovation and creativity in Marin (Novato). 415.382.1182, marinhistory.org

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Exhibits from local, national, and international artists at Hamilton Field (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.org

The Museum of the American Indian Native Expressions

Featuring the works of Becky Olvera Schultz, whose art is inspired by peoples indigenous to the Americas, the exhibit includes clay and mixed-media masks, rawhide shields and other works by this well-known California artist, through June 28 (Novato). 415.897.4064, marinindian.com

BAY AREA

Asian Art Museum

Tattoos in Japanese Prints Turns out the ink on your ankle can be traced back to 19th-century woodblock prints, which were inspired by a popular 14th-century Chinese martial arts

novel, through August 18 (SF). 415.581.3711, asianart.org

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

About Things Loved: Blackness and Belonging Developed in collaboration with UC Berkeley graduate students and featuring collections by black artists, through July 21 (Berkeley). 510.642.0808, bampfa.org

California Academy of Sciences Giants of Land and Sea Discover the forces that make Northern California a place unlike anywhere else. Step inside an immersive fog room, feel a jolt in an earthquake simulator, and explore marine mammal skeletons and models (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org

Charles M. Schulz Museum Peace, Love, and Woodstock The smallest, dare we say flightiet, Peanuts character gets his own exhibition exploring all things Woodstock, from namesake to nest, through September 8 (Santa Rosa). 707.579.4452, schulz museum.org

Contemporary Jewish Museum Daria Martin: Tonight the World Computer gaming technology and film are the tools used to explore the dreams and memories of the artist’s paternal grandmother, who with her family fled the imminent Nazi occupation of the former Czechoslovakia when she was 16, through February 19, 2020 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org

de Young Ordinary Objects/Wild Things Featuring works on paper from the last 50 years, this exhibit asks, What makes the ordinary objects around us extraordinary? Through July 14 (SF). 415.750.3600, deyoung. famsf.org

di Rosa Viola Frey: Center Stage Known for her larger-than-life figuratie ceramic sculptures, the Bay Area artist had a career spanning fie decades and worked in a range of media, through December 29 (Napa). 707.226.5991, dirosaart.org

Exploratorium Self, Made What makes you you? Dare to try on new personas and explore others through interactive pieces, artworks and costumes, through September 2 (SF). 415.397.5673, exploratorium.edu

Legion of Honor Early Rubens Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens’ most productive years, 1608 until about 1620, are explored along with his masterful handling of oil paint and sensuous coloring, through September 8 (SF). 415.750.3600, legion ofhono.famsf.org

Museum of the African Diaspora Coffee, Rhum, Sugar & Gold: A Postcolonial Paradox The legacy of European colonialism in the Caribbean is explored through the works of 10 contemporary artists, including Andrea Chung, Angel Otero and Didier William. 415.358.7200, moadsf.org

Museum of Craft and Design Wanxin Zhang: The Long Journey An installation of monumental clay figures for which artist Wanxin Zhang is known includes traditional shapes and iconography from Chinese history threaded with contemporary California funk and pop culture influence, through July 14 (SF). 415.773.0303, sfmcd.org

Oakland Museum of California Pushing West: The Photography of Andrew J. Russell Commissioned to document the Transcontinental Railroad’s western expansion, completed 150 years ago in 1869, Russell’s photography shows the tremendous impacts of the technological marvel on the land and native peoples, through September 1 (Oakland). 510.318.8400, museumca.org

SFMOMA Andy Warhol: From A to B and Back Again The firt retrospective of the artist’s work in 25 years, the exhibition includes over 300 works over three museum floor, including iconic pieces and lesser-known ephemera. May 19–September 2 (SF). 415.357.4000, sfmoma.org

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art Sonoma Modern | Contemporary Featuring artists who have lived and worked in Sonoma County, including Chester Arnold, Mary McChesney and Dennis Ziemeinski, among others, through June 16 (Sonoma). 707.939.7862, svma.org

The Walt Disney Family Museum Mickey Mouse: From Walt to the World Celebrate Disney’s most beloved and recognizable character, through Jan 6, 2020 (SF). 415.345.6800, waltdisney.org

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Leadingedge contemporary art and cultural programs that spur and support societal movement are at the heart of this cultural institution (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

EVENTS

THRU JUNE 1 Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change This special exhibition on California’s wild flowers features photographs by Nita Winter and Rob Badger and addresses the effects of climate change on a universal emblem of beauty. Bay Model Visitor Center (Sausalito). 650.608.1274, cnpsmarin.org

JUNE 2 Mill Valley Wine, Beer and Gourmet Food Over 65 wineries, 20-plus gourmet food prod ucts, local restaurants and breweries come together to benefit the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce and Kiddo!, the Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation. Depot Plaza (Mill Valley). 415.388.9700, enjoymillvalley.com

JUNE 4–9 Bouquets to Art Along with lun cheons, lectures and pop-up discussions by renowned floral experts from around the world, the museum’s fundraiser features floral

arrangements in all shapes and sizes. de Young Museum (SF). 415.750.3600, deyoung. famsf.org

JUNE 6 TEDxSalon: The Brain and Consciousness A com munity gathering precedes this deep dive into the latest research on the human brain, meditation, dementia and consciousness with host Mark Coleman. Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael). tedxmarin.org

JUNE 7–9 Fairfax Festival Enjoy three days of parades, fi lm, food and drink and live music. On June 8 native daughter Karla Kane returns to play with her band the Corner Laughers on the Redwood Stage. Downtown (Fairfax). fairfaxfestival.com

JUNE 8 Rosé Day Celebration Think pink while savoring nibbles from girl & the fig and wines (pink, of course) from Passaggio Wines, Jeff Cohn Cellars and many more. Suite D (Sonoma). therhoneroom.com

JUNE 8 RoséFest Support the Susan G. Komen founda tion for breast cancer awareness while sipping pink wines and enjoying views of the Napa Valley. Sterling Vineyards (Calistoga). 800.726.6136, napa rosefest.com

JUNE 9 Outdoor Antique French Market French music by Michel Michelis, made-toorder crepes, and rows of booths laden with vintage clothing, retro and antique furniture, art and garden decor. Marin Center (San Rafael). 415.383.2252,

thefrenchmarket marin.com

JUNE 9 San Francisco Zoo Day Following the 2 p.m. matinee of Rhino at A.C.T., join an interactive experience and learn about rhino conservation efforts at the theater in collaboration with the San Francisco Zoo. act-sf.org

JUNE 15 Headlands Center for the Arts Benefit Art Auction

Enjoy cocktails and snacks, live and silent auctions, immersive installations, entertain ment and a pop-up shop, all to raise funds for the center’s programs and mission. Fort Mason (SF). 415.331.2787, headlands.org

JUNE 20–23 MARINSCAPES: Reimagined 2019 This annual fundraiser for Buckelew Programs includes a gala and a live auction, a meetthe-artists reception and a special presentation about investing i n fi ne art. Escalle Winery (Larkspur). 415.491.5705, buckelew.org

JUNE 22 Walk in the Wild Support con servation by strolling through the Oakland Zoo, sampling cuisine from the region’s top chefs before dancing and dessert (Oakland). 510.632.9525, oaklandzoo.org

FILM

THRU MAY 26 Bambi A young deer comes of age in the 1942 animated classic. Disney Theater (SF). 415.345.6800, waltdisney.org

Show your Colors

Events around the Bay Area celebrate LGBTQ culture, past, present and future.

DO THIS

From the California Academy of Sciences’ Pride Nightlife program to the Pride parade and celebration in downtown San Francisco, the Bay Area serves up countless events to commemorate the heri tage of the broader LGBTQ community. Here are a few ways to experience Pride around the Bay:

June 1 Sonoma County Pride Parade and Celebration (Santa Rosa), sonomacounty.com

June 8–9, 15–16 Out of Sight; SOMA (SF), eyezen.org

June 22 Marin Pride (Larkspur), thespahrcenter.org

June 27 California Academy of Sciences Pride Nightlife (SF), calacademy.org

June 29–30 San Francisco Pride Celebration and Parade (SF), sfpride.org

JUNE 5, 9 Exhibition on Screen: Van Gogh & Japan Discover the in fluence of Japan on the works of the famous Dutch artist. Lark Theater (Larkspur). 415.924.5111, larktheater.net

JUNE 7 The Spy Behind Home Plate Morris

“Moe” Berg fielded for five Major League teams during the 1920s and 1930s, while his work for the OSS helped undermine the German atomic bomb effort during World War II. Rafael Theater (San Rafael). 415.454.5813, rafael fi lm.ca fi lm.org

WALKS/TALKS

THRU JUNE 6 Graduate Fellows Exhibition Browse representative

works from Bay Area graduate students in the arts, this program is a window into the work of emerging Bay Area artists and regional arts programs. Headlands Center for the Arts (Sausalito). 415.331.2787, headlands.org

JUNE 4 Amor Towles

The author of A Gentleman in Moscow (currently under development as a miniseries starring Kenneth Branagh) discusses his works. Sydney Goldstein Theater (San Francisco). 415.392.4400, cityarts.net

Eat & Drink

Sam’s Anchor Cafe Is Open for Summer

After a six-week closure — which in construction terms is really a blink of an eye — Tiburon’s beloved waterfront Sam’s Anchor Cafe is back with a fresh look and menu to match. Reimagined by design studio ROY, the restaurant now boasts nautical-inspired touches like aged brass fi n ishes and inlays, vintage metal pendant lighting, textured wood and an elegant deep navy blue and warm white color scheme throughout. A huge floor-to-ceiling glass door connects the main dining room with one of the biggest draws — the sweeping outdoor patio — which now has a heated wraparound bench, great for blustery evenings. The menu has poke, ceviche and local sea sonal oysters on the half shell; signature dishes include San Francisco sand dabs with mussels, potatoes, asparagus and sherry cream as well as a classic Maine lobster roll on a toasted bun with aioli and arugula. Over on the drink side are sharable punch bowls for two or more and specialty craft cocktails like the Hermosa Picante, made with Peligroso Tequila, Cointreau, jalapeño, lime juice, agave nectar, cilantro and a salt rim. Even with all the changes, the spirit of the restaurant remains — case in point: the popcorn machine is still there.

KASIA PAWLOWSKA

WHO Owners Conor Flaherty and James Tate

WHAT Tiburon’s quintessential waterfront restaurant gets a revamped look and menu WHERE 27 Main Street, Tiburon, 415.435.4527, samscafe.com s $$ Í LD º

AN

GUIDE TO RESTAURANTS AND GOOD FOOD IN THE BAY AREA EDITED BY CHRISTINA MUELLER

Lobster Roll

Cioppino

Out & About / DINE

PIG IN A PICKLE

CORTE MADERA

BOCA PIZZERIA Italian

The Italian-inspired pizzeria utilizes Northern California’s bounty of seasonal ingredients and showcases local microbreweries and wine country’s boutique varietals. The menu includes appetizers, sal ads of organic produce when available, pastas, local free-range poultry and meats, desserts and Neapolitan-style pizzas with house-made mozzarella. Wine half off n Mondays. 1544 Redwood Highway, 415.924.3021, bocapizzeria.com

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FLORES Mexican With an emphasis on regional dishes and fl avors sourced from family recipes, the menu is based on California seasonality and revolves around masa. The daily-made tortillas are featured in dishes such as duck con fit enchiladas, Dungeness crab tostadas, and chilibraised beef short ribs. There’s a full bar to boot. 301 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, 415.500.5145, floressf.com

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MOSELEY’S SPORTS & SPIRITS American Olympic gold medalist

Jonny Moseley opened this sports bar with 11 fl at-screen TVs, a beer garden wit h fi re pit, and bar games galore. Food is available until midnight and includes pizza from business partner Karen Goldberg, fresh sandos and salads, and pregame snacks like wings and sweet potato fries. 55 Tamal Vista Blvd, 415.704.7437, moseleysmarin.com

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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 barbecue 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, piginapicklebbq.com

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THE COUNTER

California Create your own salads and burgers using all-natural proteins including Angus beef, turkey, chicken, mahimahi, bison or the latest addition, the Impossible Burger. Gluten-free options and a vegan veggie burger are also available. The restaurant has patio seating, a kick-back vibe and a popular happy hour. Give the spiked milkshake a try. 201 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.924.7000, thecounterburger.com

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WORLD WRAPPS

California Owners Keith Cox and Matt Blair have revamped this “fast food” joint to feature healthy and fl avorful items like a Hawaiian poke wrap and a tahini tofu summer roll that’s vegan-friendly. Exotic housemade beverages include boba tea, mango lassi and Vietnamese iced coffee. 208 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.3663, worldwrapps.com

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ZINZ WINE BAR

California Zinz is an upscale wine bar, retail store and art gallery with a cozy,

sophisticated atmosphere, an eclectic array of boutique wines and craft beer, and light appetizers. The quaint neighborhood space also holds events and happy hours. 207 Corte Madera Ave, 415.927.9466, zinzwinebar.com

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FAIRFAX

123 BOLINAS California

Created by four friends wanting to showcase seasonal fare in a relaxing, intimate environment, this cozy one-room eatery offers locally brewed beer, small-production wines and seasonal food along with a view of Bolinas Park through the floor-to-ceiling windows. 123 Bolinas St, 415.488.5123, 123bolinas.com

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GRILLY’S Mexican

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

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VILLAGE SAKE

Japanese Lucky for Fairfax, beloved former Sushi Ran chef Scott Whitman has opened an izakaya, a Japanesestyle community pub, on Bolinas Road. In the compact space, you’ll fi nd sushi and skewers, salads and small plates, plus great sake and craft beers. The daily wait list opens online at 5 p.m. 19 Bolinas Road, 415.521.5790, villagesake.com

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WAY STATION

American Barbecue from a food truck trailer embedded into the wall is the main attraction at this mechanic’s shop turned eatery, where tall sliding windows frame washed concrete floors that lead to a craft beer garden with fi re pit. The ’cue gets all the love here, but salads, fl atbread pizzas, and a wide selection of tapped and bottled beers plus wines round out the menu. 2001 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.300.3099, waysta tionmarin.com

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GREENBRAE

GOTT’S ROADSIDE

American The restaurant’s fi rst Marin outpost features the signature Californiainspired dishes Gott’s is renowned for as well as a roll-up garage door that brings the outside in when weather per mits and a 30-foot-long

pine table for community-style eating.

302 Bon Air Center, 415.785.4233, gotts.com

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VICTORIA BAKERY & CAFE Italian The famed Italian pastry place now offers elder flower cake, the same kind served at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, as well as savory lunch options like paninis, open-face spinach croissants and quiches.

292 Bon Air Shopping Center, 415.461.3099, victoriabakery marin.com

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KENTFIELD

GUESTHOUSE

American Jared Rogers, the former executive chef of Picco has returned with Guesthouse. Rogers is heading up the kitchen in the Kent field eatery, and has partnered with well-known mixologist Dustin Sullivan to open

this 110-seat space. Look for menu classics such as mini lobster rolls or kurobuta pork chops with crispy pota toes. 850 College Ave, 415.419.5101, guest housemarin.com

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LARKSPUR

DON ANTONIO Italian Antonio Volpicelli, of Don Antonio in Tiburon, has opened a second location in Larkspur. Choose from standbys like gorgonzola gnocchi, veal parmesan and carbonara and an extensive wine list, all served either inside or out on the spacious patio. 455 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.3332, don antoniomarin.com

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EL HUARACHE LOCO

Mexican The menu has gained quite a following for the authentic Mexico City dishes. From mini huaraches

Salmon Tartare at Seafood Peddler, Sausalito

Out & About / DINE

(fi lled corn masa cakes) to the foot-long huarache with two salsas, crema, queso fresco and two toppings of your choice, you’re sure to get a true taste of a homemade Mexican meal. Marin Country Mart, 1803 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.925.1403, huaracheloco.com

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FARM HOUSE LOCAL

California This downtown Larkspur gem 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 flu ff y omelet stu ffed with local meats, vegetables and

artisanal cheeses. 25 Ward St, 415.891.8577, farmhouselocal.com

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FARMSHOP American

Located in the Marin Country Mart since 2013, Farmshop Marin has quickly become a top spot here in the county. Indoor and out door seating available. Marin Country Mart, 2233 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.755.6700, farmshopca.com

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LEFT BANK RESTAURANT French

This authentically 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, it’s a fun and French experience. 7 Magnolia

Ave, 415.927.3331, leftbank.com

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PICCO California

Popular since its inception, Picco has a seasonally driven menu featuring items such as risotto (made every half hour) that keep attracting return visits. 320 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0300, restaurantpicco.com

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PIZZERIA PICCO

Pizza This upscale parlor offers Californiain fluenced pizzas, cooked in a wood-burning pizza oven. Fresh mozzarella is pulled in-house and the menu also features organic salads, a daily soup and Straus Dairy soft-serve ice cream. 316 Magnolia Ave, 415.945.8900, pizzeriapicco.com

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R’NOH THAI Thai This cozy place by the Corte Madera Creek has a reputation for clean and tasty dishes. From curries and Thai barbecue to noodle dishes and the classic tom ka (coconut lemongrass soup), R’Noh is bound to satisfy your Thai cravings. For an indulgent treat, try the fried sweet potato appetizer. 1000 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.0599, rnohthai.com

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RUSTIC BAKERY

California The home grown bakery is known and loved the world over: Pope Francis famously requested Rustic Baker y fl atbread and crostini when he visited the U.S. in 2015. Organic bread, croissants and pastries baked fresh each morning and salads, sandwiches, and soups for lunch make Rustic a local staple. 1139 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.1556; Marin Country Mart, 2017 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.461.9900, rusticbakery.com

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SHAKE SHACK

American Burgers and shakes are the name of the game at the second Bay Area outpost of the New York burger restaurant. Californiasourced Angus beef is amped up with white cheddar cheese, pick les and smoked garlic aioli on a potato bun and the only-in-Marin Mount Tam Graham and Larks-brr shakes are perfect for sipping on the bi-level patio. 1401 Larkspur Landing Circle, 628.212.2050, shakeshack.com

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MILL VALLEY

BUCKEYE

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

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BUNGALOW 44 American One of Mill Valley’s neighborhood hot spots, featuring contempo rary California comfort food, signature cock tails, fi ne wine, and one-dollar oysters from 5 to 6 p.m. every day. 44 E Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500, bungalow44.com

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CAFE DEL SOUL California Healthy options become addictive at this eatery that now has locations in both Tam Valley 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 Highway, 415.388.1852, cafedelsoul.net

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DIPSEA CAFE American A longtime breakfast favorite, the Dipea has been serving up tasty pancakes and egg dishes with

homemade biscuits since 1986. Lunch specialties include BLTs, tuna melts and generous Cobb salads. 200 Shoreline Highway, 415.381.0298, dipseacafe.com

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GRILLY’S Mexican

If you’re looking for a quick, fresh meal, Grilly’s is an easy and delicious stop. Pick up a couple burritos and the much-loved chicken taco salad and you have a lunch or dinner to please the whole family. 493 Miller Ave, 415.381.3278, grillys.com

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HARMONY Chinese

Enjoy a lighter take on Chinese at this restaurant, nestled in Strawberry Village. The pork bun is fi lled with 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. 401 Strawberry Village, 415.381.5300, harmonyrestaurant group.com

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JOE’S TACO LOUNGE

Mexican Joe’s serves up fi sh tacos, burritos and enchiladas as well as more unusual items like Mexican pizza, tofu tostada and tostadas. A colorful interior and quick service make this a fun, easy stop. If there are too many unsupervised kids for a peaceful meal, takeout is easy too. If you stay, grab a selection of hot sauce bottles from the wall and fi nd your perfect match. 382 Miller Ave, 415.383. 8164, joestacolounge.com

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Cauliflower Gratin at Guesthouse, Kentfield

PIAZZA D’ANGELO

Italian Family owned for over 35 years, Piazza D’Angelo evokes a traditional trattoria dining experience. Enjoy a variety of house-made pastas, meat and seafood dishes, wood-fi red pizzas, and gluten-free offerings with organic and locally sourced ingredients. 22 Miller Ave, 415.388.2000, piazzadangelo.com

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PIZZA ANTICA Italian

Besides its popular thin-crust pizzas, this Strawberry Village restaurant serves seasonal dishes like Tuscan fried chicken with spicy honey, burrata with crushed sweet peas and toasted focaccia, and ricotta gnocchi with sun-dried tomato cream. 800 Redwood Highway, 415.383.0600, pizzaantica.com

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PIZZA MOLINA Pizza

One of Mill Valley’s favorite pizzerias is back with a distinctly family-friendly, casual vibe. Patrons ca n fi nd their favorite California wines and beers on tap along with a robust pizza menu that incudes gluten-free and vegan options. 17 Madrona St, 415.383.4200, pizza molina.com

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PLAYA Mexican

Drawing inspiration from travels and the fresh , fl avorful cuisine served on the playa, Peter Schumacher and Bill and Vanessa Higgins have developed a menu that blends locally sourced, organic and sustainable ingredients with a bar highlighting a selection of exceptional tequilas and mezcals.

41 Throckmorton Ave,

415.384.8871, playamv.com

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PRABH INDIAN KITCHEN Indian Owned and operated by the Dhindsa family, this restaurant emphasizes healthy, organic,sustainable eating in choices like chicken pakora, vegetable biryani and basil garlic naan foods, with options for the vegan and gluten-free. At lunch, the thali menu lets you try several Indian dishes at once. 24 Sunnyside Ave, 415.384.8241, prabhindian kitchen.com

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SHORELINE COFFEE

SHOP American Tucked away in a parking lot at Tam Junction, this coffee shop is a funky diner with a small-town feel. Check out the mix of Mexican and traditional breakfast fare. 221 Shoreline Highway, 415.388.9085, shoreline coffeeshop.com

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SWEETWATER

MUSIC HALL CAFE American Located at the entrance of Sweetwater Music Hall, the cafe is dedicated to the FLOSS philosophy: Fresh, Local, Organic, Seasonal and Sustainable. O ffering breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, the menu includes brown-butter scrambled eggs on avocado toast, crispy potatoricotta gnocchi and vegan Thai spring rolls with sweet-and-sour sauce. 19 Corte Madera Ave, 415.388.3850, sweetwater musichall.com

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custom cabinetry

Lamperti Contracting & Design | San Rafael | lampertikitchens.com

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

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WEST COAST WINE CHEESE California

Focused on small production winemakers, the wine menu features a bottle list with over 300 selections, 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.

31 Sunnyside Ave, 415.758.3408,

ROSS

TONY TUTTO’S Pizza

After nine years in Mill Valley, owner Greg DiGiovine relocated to Ross, bringing his famil iar pies and kid- and dog-friendly vibe to downtown. The vegan pies are still here and a gluten-free crust is now available. 16 Ross Common, 415.383.8646, tonytuttopizza.com

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SAN ANSELMO

Along with two dining rooms, a private dining option and outdoor tables on the adjacent bridge, the restaurant is a solid bet for casual after-work drinks or hosting large parties. The menu has woodfi red pizzas, homemade pastas, modern takes on Italian classics and lots of vegetarian, gluten-free options and now a full bar.

510 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.2942, cucina-sa.com

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FLOUR CRAFT BAKERY

westcoastsf.com

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NOVATO

BESO BISTRO AND WINE BAR California

This Hamiton Field bistro highlights locally sourced organic produce, fresh sustainable seafood, and pastureraised and free-range meat. Wine lovers can embrace their inner Dionysus — Beso offers more than 20 selections by the glass and more than 50 by the bottle.

502 S Palm Drive, besobistro.com

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BOCA TAVERN

American Bring a date here or celebrate a special event. Favorites at this classic restaurant include bigeye tuna poke, Dungeness crab cakes, mac ’n’ cheese croquettes and duck-fat fries. From the woodburning grill there’s fresh fi sh, shrimp and dry-aged ribeye.

On Tuesdays wine is half off 415.883.0901, bocasteak.com

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HILLTOP 1892 California In a historic country estate in Novato with sweep ing views, enjoy classic favorites with a California fl air. There’s a private banquet room for special events. 850 Lamont Ave, 415.893.1892, hilltop1892.com

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HOPMONK TAVERN American The beer garden–style outdoor patio and live music keep fans coming back to this Novato brewhouse. Weekly events include country line dancing and open mic nights with an ample selection of beers on tap. 224 Vintage Way, 415.892.6200, hopmonk.com

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MARVIN’S RESTAURANT

American This place, known for “Best Breakfast in Novato,” also serves up generous portions for lunch. The corned beef hash, Benedicts and superb service draw a consistent crowd year-round.

1112 Grant Ave, 415.892.4482

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

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

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

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CREEKSIDE PIZZA & TAP ROOM American

Under the direc tion of chef Janet Abrahamson, Creekside serves American-style artisan pizza (vegan and gluten-free options available) and organic salads, along with an extensive selection of craft beer on tap and Northern California wines. There’s a daily happy hour, a big-screen TV and a banquet room available by reservation. 638 San Anselmo Ave, 415.785.4450, creeksidesa.com

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CUCINA SA Italian Cucina SA recently ren ovated and expanded its space to include a full bar that seats 30 with an upstairs mezzanine area that will eventually become a lounge.

American Along with artisan gluten-free pastries, breads and special-occasion cakes, this place serves lunch, with dairy-free and vegan choices available. Customer favorites include oatmeal choco late chip cookies, decadent cinnamon rolls, flourless hazelnut brownies and the bakery’s signature granola 702 San Anselmo Ave, 415.453.3100, flour craftbakery.com

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L’APPART RESTO French Savor a range of French and local favorites or a $36 three-course pri x fi xe menu in an energetic yet sophisticated setting. There’s live music on Thursdays; dinner Monday to Saturday; lunch and brunch Friday to Sunday. 636 San Anselmo Ave, 415.256.9884, lappartresto.com

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M.H. BREAD AND BUTTER California A one-stop shop for everything from coffee and pastries to artisan bread, with a seasonal brunch menu. Highquality ingredients and a comfortable

Gold Medal Goddess Salad at Moseley’s Sports and Spirits, Corte Madera

atmosphere make MH worth checking out. 101 San Anselmo Ave, 415.755.4575, mhbreadandbutter.com

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PIZZALINA Italian

Along with handmade pizzas baked in a wood oven, you’l l fi nd classic shrimp risotto and a caprese salad with mozzarella di bufala. Menus change daily according to seasonal markets but always include salads, antipastos, house-made pastas and main dishes. Outdoor dining available. 914 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.256.9780, pizzalina.com

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VALENTI & CO. Italian

This bright and cozy space is the ideal environment for authentic

Italian dishes made with local ingredients. A seat at the chef’s table gives a prime view of the open kitchen.

337 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.7800, valentico.com

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SAN GERONIMO

TWO BIRD CAFE

California This roadside cafe has it all, including fresh fi sh and goodies from the garden. These guys were doing local and sustainable before it was cool. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and live music. 625 San Geronimo Valley Drive, 415.488.0105, twobirdcafe.com

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SAN RAFAEL

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. Free range, organic eggs anchor a breakfast and lunch menu of omelets, sandwiches and salads that Humphrey Bogart himself might recognize. 1335 Fourth St, 415.492.1530, bogies too.com

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LE CHALET BASQUE

French This familystyle 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 Road, 415.479.1070, chaletbasque.com

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LE COMPTOIR French

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

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LOTUS CUISINE OF INDIA RESTAURANT

Indian A “Best of Marin” poll winner since 1999, family-owned and -operated Lotus serves up organic North Indian cuisine with many vegan and vegetarian options. It is a certi fied green business with an energy-efficient kitchen and features a retractable rooftop and exotic interior decor. The reasonably priced dishes are made with local, non-GMO and gluten-free ingre dients. 704 Fourth St, 415.456.5808, lotusrestaurant.com

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POND FARM BREWING American The new microbrewery in the West End from husband and wife 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. Stein parking is available. 1848 Fourth St, 415.524.8709, pond farmbrewing.com

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RANGE CAFE American The cuisine is seasonal, made with natural ingredients and served in a comfortable and refi ned setting, with floor-to-ceiling win dows overlooking the Peacock Gap lawns. An inviting cafe at lunch with ice-cold lemonade and refreshing chardonnays makes a great dinner spot once the sun sets. 333 Biscayne Drive, 415.454.6450, rangecafe.net

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Out

About

DINE

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 hama chi jalapeño and the omakase (chef’s choice) dinner. 1518 Fourth St, 415.295.7464, sushishiro kuma.com

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SOL FOOD Puerto Rican

Fast becoming a Marin legend, Sol Food whips up traditional Puerto Rican dishes just like the ones owners Sol Hernandez grew up eating. Favorites include the bistec sandwich, mofongo and 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). 901 Lincoln Ave, 415.451.4765, sol foodrestaurant.com

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STATE ROOM American Formerly the Broken Drum, State Room Brewery has ditched the diner vibe in favor of a modern gastropub. All draft beers are made on site and are available in sizes from half-pints to take-home growlers; beer fl ights 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, state roombrewery.com

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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, tajof

marin.com

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TERRAPIN CROSSROADS

American This water front restaurant and music venue presents fresh food and local talent. The menu offers salads, savory dishes and wood-fi red pizzas plus a wide selection of beer, wine and cocktails. Come for the food, stay for the music. 100 Yacht Club Drive, 415.524.2773, terrapin crossroads.net

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THERESA & JOHNNY’S COMFORT FOOD

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

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region for more than 20 years. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225, angelino restaurant.com

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

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BARREL HOUSE

739 Bridgeway, 415.331.7400, copita restaurant.com

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FENG NIAN Chinese

This spacious popular hangout has served up wonton soup, pot stickers and daily specials for nearly two decades. For an indulgent treat, order the Szechwan crispy calamari, honeyglazed walnut prawn or lemon chicken. Staying in? Delivery is available. 2650 Bridgeway, 415.331.5300, fengnian.com

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Vietnamese Located in Montecito Plaza, the restaurant has a robust menu of standard Vietnamese fare, including a wide selection of rice plates, pho and of course, iced coffe. 421 Third St, 415.306.8299

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YET WAH Chinese

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

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SAUSALITO

ANGELINO RESTAURANT Italian Authentic Italian eatery with handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti, showcasing cuisine of the Campania

TAVERN California Stop by Barrel House for great local food enhanced by fantastic bay and city views. The relaxed urbane setting is a perfect match for the barrel-aged cocktails. 660 Bridgeway, 415.729.9593, barrel housetavern.com

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

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COPITA Mexican Co-owner Joanne Weir, along with chef Daniel Tellez, presents fresh Mexican fare in the heart of downtown Sausalito. The ever-changing menu is 100 percent glutenfree, and the in-house tequila bar serves over 100 varieties and fantastic cocktails. Dine at the bar or on the outdoor patio for great people-watching.

JOINERY American

This waterfront res taurant features craft beer, burgers, rotisserie chicken and other hearty, fare in a communal setting, with outdoor seating and great views. 300 Turney St, 415.766.8999, joineryca.com

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KITTI’S PLACE Thai

This home-style family restaurant has been in Sausalito 20 years and features favorites like lettuce cups, soft spring rolls and weekly specials. 3001 Bridgeway, 415.331.0390, kittisplace.com

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MURRAY CIRCLE

American Cavallo Point’s acclaimed restaurant features local seasonal fare by executive chef Justin Everett, with pairings from an extensive wine list and tempting desserts. Stop by Farley Bar for cocktails with a view. 601 Murray Circle, 415.339.4750, cavallopoint.com

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OSTERIA DIVINO Italian Osteria Divino offers authentic

VN NOODLE & GRILL

Chile Relleno at Flores, Corte Madera

Florentine cooking inspired by the fi nest local, organic, seasonal produce, meat and fi sh available, along with an extensive artisan pasta selection. Live music Tue-Sun. 37 Caledonia St, 415.331.9355, osteriadivino.com

b $$ S Í C BLD BR º

POGGIO Italian Executive chef Benjamin Balesteri creates Northern Italian fare using fresh and local ingredients. Private dining rooms above the restaurant can accommodate larger parties (10 to 150 guests). 777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771, poggio tratoria.com

s $$$ S Í C BLD

SEAFOOD PEDDLER RESTAURANT AND FISH MARKET Seafood

The fi sh is bought daily from loca l fi shers, who are also restaurant patrons. Recipes are adjusted to incorporate the freshest catch. 303 Johnson St, 415.332.1492, seafoodpeddler.com

s $$$ S Í LD BR º

SUSHI RAN Japanese Sample innovative small plates just big enough to share before enjoying some of the best sushi the Bay Area has to offer; the prices don’t deter the herd of enthusiasts who line up nightly to partake.

The wine, cocktail and sake lists keep even the pickiest bar fly satisfied. Reservations are required in the main room. 107 Caledonia St, 415.332.3620, sushiran.com

s $$ Í LD

THE TRIDENT Seafood Set in a turn-of-thecentury building constructed for the San Francisco Yacht Club, this waterfront restaurant is a shoein for date night. The restaurant, a famous 1970s hangout, is now known for supporting local farmers, fi shers and organic food producers. 558 Bridgeway, 415.331.3232, the tridentsausalito.com

s $$$ S Í LD BR º

TIBURON

LUNA BLU Italian Executive chef Renzo Azzarello serves Sicilian seafood and homemade pastas with a Californian touch. The seasonal menu incorporates fresh and organic produce, local

naturally grown meat and poultry from small farms. The restaurant complies with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, so all the seafood is sustainable. In 2014 diners voted Luna Blu one of the Top 100 Neighborhood Gem res taurants in America. 35 Main St, 415.789.5844, lunablurestaurant.com

s $$ S Í LD

RUSTIC BAKERY

California 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, rustic bakery.com

b $$ S Í BLD BR

SAM’S ANCHOR CAFE

American Reopened after an extensive remodel, Sam’s boathouse feel and boat tie-ups are intact, and spi ff y white umbrellas and deck chairs line the waterfront patio. Allday cocktails remain a fi xture as does the signature cioppino, while offerings like crab toast, a roaming oyster cart and a raw bar reflect the menu’s enduring sea food focus. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527, sams cafe.com

s $$$ S Í C LD BR º

SERVINO RISTORANTE

Italian Chef and owner Angelo Servino highlights organic ingredients in an array of rustic Italian dishes, including house-made pastas, wood oven pizzas, and seasonal

specialties. Located on the bay in Tiburon, Servino also prides itself on its extensive sustainable seafood program. Savor la dolce vita on the waterfront patio. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676, servino.com

s $$$ S Í C LD BR º

WEST MARIN

DILLON BEACH COASTAL KITCHEN

California Inspired by Marin’s food shed, business partners Brooke Gray and Mike Goebel opened this ocean view restaurant as part of the forthcoming Dillon Beach Resort, west of Tomales. Seasonal eats like local black cod dip and golden beet salad give way to mains like a green chickpea falafel

plate and a burger with Stemple Creek beef. 1 Beach Ave, Dillon Beach, 707.878.3030, dillon beachresort.com

b $$ S Í LD

DUE WEST AT OLEMA HOUSE California

The dark blue walls accented with recessed golden light give the refreshed restaurantcum-saloon at Olema House a modern feel. The menu, including a burger, linguini and clams, and a chopped salad, skews all day casual and speaks to the inn and restaurant’s crossroads locale.

10005 Hwy 1, Olema, 415.663.1264, olema house.com/dine

s $$ S C LD

OSTERIA STELLINA

California Whether it’s to cap off a ay of hiking or celebrate a romantic anniversary, Osteria Stellina suits any occasion. The menu is Italian-inspired and features local organic ingredients. If you’re up for something unusual, try the goat shoulder, a hit with both tourists and locals (Point

Reyes). 11285 Highway 1, 415.663.9988, osteriastellina.com

b $$ S LD

TONY’S SEAFOOD Seafood The crowds still come on sunny weekends for the barbecue oysters and amazing views of Tomales Bay but the recent purchase by the Hog Island Oyster Co team meant a refresh of the interior and a spi ffed-up menu of salads and seafood pulled from the bay’s waters.

18863 Shoreline Hwy, Marshall, 415.663.1107, tonysseafood restaurant.com

b $$$ S Í C LD

SAN FRANCISCO /EAST BAY

CLIFF HOUSE California Great food, beauti ful view and lots of history — what else could you want? An award-winning wine list? They have that too. Besides the popular Sunday bu ffet brunch, Cliff ouse features local, organic, sustainable ingredients and

seafood on its everyday menu. 1090 Point Lobos, 415.386.3330, cliffhouse.com

s $$ S BLD

LOLÓ Mexican San Francisco-style Mexican cuisine fuses market-fresh ingredients with traditional dishes. The whole atmosphere is bright, colorful and festive, a reflection of Loló’s fl avor-blasted menu. 974 Valencia St, 415.643.5656, lolosf.com

s $$$ S D BR

LORD STANLEY

American In the short time it’s been open, this eatery by husbandand-wife team Rupert and Carrie Blease has earned a Michelin star two years in a row and three-and-a-half stars from San Francisco Chronicle restaurant critic Michael Bauer. The onion petals with sherry vinegar is a favorite and not to be missed. 2065 Polk St, 415.872.5512, lordstanleysf.com b $$$ D

NIKU STEAKHOUSE Japanese This American steakhouse has a distinct Japanese in fluence and eschews predictable fare, offering a 10-course seasonal tasting 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. Notables 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 Street, 415.829.7817, nikusteak house.com s $$$ LD º

PALIO Italian After clos ing down to undergo an extensive renova tion, 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 ingredients. Dishes include housemade pastas, whole Mediterranean sea bass and numerous woodfi red pizza options. 640 Sacramento Street, 415.395.9800, paliosf.com s $$ LD º

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

KEY TO SYMBOLS

Full bar

Wine and beer Inexpensive (entrees $10 or less) Moderate (up to $20) Expensive ($20 and over) Kid-friendly

BLD

Outdoor seating

Private party room Breakfast, lunch, dinner Brunch Happy hour s b $ $$ $$$ S

These listings are not intended to be a full review of the business, rather a quick guide to some of the most popular restaurants in the county. For more restaurant listings, visit us online at marinmagazine.com/dine

PROMOTION

Craving local, fresh-caught seafood and stunning views of Angel Island, Tiburon and Mt. Tamalpais? Look no further than Sausalito’s very own Seafood Peddler! Call (415) 332-1492.

SEAFOOD PEDDLER 303 Johnson Street, Sausalito, CA 415.332.1492 seafoodpeddler.com

CAN’T FIND WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR? Visit us online at marinmagazine.com/dine

Marin Chefs Talk Grilling

After the drenching rains of winter, the sun (and fog) have returned. That’s right, it’s summer in Marin and chefs across the county are firing up their grills. They’ve got pointers to help any cook make the most of the season’s bounty; look on our website under “Recipes” and apply these tips to instantly up your grilling game

BY CHRISTINA MUELLER

CHEF JOANNE WEIR

Restaurant Copita Tequileria y Comida Recipe Elote, roasted Mexican corn with chipotle aioli Tip Cut the tips off of the corn before cooking to create an even cooking surface.

CHEF MARIO BONILLA Restaurant Hilltop 1892

Recipe Grilled artichokes with basil aioli Tip Heat the grill to high before cooking.

When it’s hot, use a grill brush to scrape off any leftover food or char.

A clean grill means no weird flavors transfer to your food while cooking.

CHEF MICHAEL MINA Restaurant Yet-to-benamed project in the former Guaymas space

Recipe Grilled lamb chops with tomato confit Tip Your grill is a minioven. Use it to roast or stew vegetables outside when it is too hot to turn on the oven inside.

CHEF CHRISTIAN CAIAZZO Restaurant Osteria Stellina

Recipe Stellina grilled organic broccoli with Calabrian peppers and lemon

CHEF MIKE GARCIA Restaurant Cavallo Point and Farley Bar

Recipe Grilled black garlic bavette with shishito salsa verde, daikon-potato torte, charred bok choy and pickled radish (left)

Tips The grill can be a quick way to cook, but the best marinades for beef need time. Allow this steak to marinate in the refrigerator, then bring meat to room temperature before grilling. Also, small pieces are easier to move around the grill and cook quickly. Cut the torte into even-size pieces before placing them on the grill.

New to the Table

Mill Valley is about to see a restaurant onslaught. Bill Higgins and his sons, Tyler and Henry, are opening Floodwater in the former Frantoio space around October. Meanwhile, at the Mill Valley Lumberyard, BŌL Superfood Cafe is serving bowls packed with nutritious ingredients like açai, spirulina, turmeric and blue algae, and Watershed, the latest project from Ged Robertson (Shoreline Coffee Shop, Small Shed Flatbreads), is also in the works. In the former Balboa Cafe, Gravity Tavern, named for the railcars that once traversed Mount Tam, is opening soon, and The Pilgrimage is under construction where Mama’s Royal Cafe held court for 42 years. The times they are indeed a-changin’. C.M.

Tip Peeling stalks removes the fibrous outer layer and reveals the tender core. Finicky kids love this sweeter, softer part of broccoli.

BŌ L Superfood Cafe

Cavallo Point

On the Scene

Michele Affronte, Monica Yazbek and Marjorie Lew

Krista Knable, Lucy Pecora, Suzanne Lettrick, Nooshin Behroyan, Nurit Raphael, Susan Noyes and Betsy Murphy

Shelly Thigpen, Kathleen Woodcock and Isobel Wiener

Doreen Coppelli and Teri Tonne

Shannon Ruhland, Holly Kopman, Stephanie Cannell and Leslie Ruhland

J’Amy Tarr and Kim Jackson

Carol Levalley and Leah Bronson

Mimi Towle

Heidi Richardson and Elizabeth Suzuki

Gaby Salas and Maggie McDonogh Gayle Peterson and Michele Johnson Johanna Becker and Ali Kala

• CELEBRATING WOMEN More than 125 women gathered at this Marin Magazine event at Ondine in Sausalito April 25 to mingle, enjoy appetizers and wine, and celebrate and support one another.

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

• BAM GALA More than 200 attended the April 13 event at Osher Marin JCC and helped raise almost $190,000 for The Schurig Center for Brain Injury Recovery.

• SONOMA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL For five days in May attendees had the chance to attend parties and see more than 90 handselected films from all over the world showing at various locations in Sonoma.

RICHARD WHEELER AND LAUREN MATLEY (BAM GALA ); MELANIA MAHONEY (SIFF)

Anna Robles and Danny Hernandez

Alison McGirr, Rachael Taylor, Donnell Corelle, Julia Ormond and Ginny Krieger

TO SEE MORE EVENT PHOTOS VISIT MARINMAGAZINE.COM/HOTTICKET

Patricia Gill and Shanna Walker Kati Miller, Joan Ryan, McKenna Becker, Emma Rieser and Pat Cahill

For adults & kids

session

Located through the gates of CNL Native Landscape Nursery ~ next to Proof Lab in Tam Junction. info@ millvalleypottersstudio.com 415. 888. 8906

Buckelew Programs presents

fine art exhibition and sale benefitting Buckelew Programs’ behavioral health and addiction recovery services. 30+ artists, including a new REIMAGINED large-format collection titled “Invented Landscapes” curated by Donna Seager & Suzanne Gray of Seager/Gray Gallery in Mill Valley.

Gala and all events at Escalle Winery 771 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur

and information at buckelew.org 415.491.5705

Kim Ford Kitz

Marilyn Greenblat

FROM TOURS AND MAKEOVERS TO DECORATIVE DETAILS AND REALTOR INSIGHTS EDITED BY DAWN MARGOLIS DENBERG

CLEAN SLATE

A family discovers the best way to get the house they need is to rebuild from the ground up.

PHOTOS BY LIZ DALY

TWELVE YEARS AGO, Krista Harris and her husband David closed on their first home together, a tiny two-bedroom, two-bath bungalow in the flats of Mill Valley. Shortly after settling in, she gave birth to their first child. In the ensuing years, they were blessed with two additional children. Unfortunately, they were not blessed with additional bedrooms.

“We had all three girls sharing one room,” Krista says. “It was really tight.” The couple discussed relocating or expanding, but the timing never made sense. “We wanted to save enough money to do it right,” says Krista, who as a professional interior designer had very specific ideas about what it would take to create her dream home. Ultimately, it took until the girls were 12, 9 and 6 to pull the trigger.

And by the time they felt ready, the couple realized the best approach was to start from

scratch. This meant razing the old house and coming up with a brand-new design. For the latter they tapped architect Ann Bool.

With permit in hand, the family packed up their belongings and moved out, into even tighter quarters. “We went from 1,300 square feet to 800 square feet,” Krista says. “You could barely fit three beds in our daughters’ room.”

In the rebuilt house, the girls would finally each get a bedroom of their own. “It was also important to us to have all of our bedrooms be upstairs,” Krista says. Another wish list item: blurred lines between indoor and outdoor spaces, which they achieved with a bifold wall across the entire family room and a passthrough window that connects the back wall of the kitchen to the adjacent bluestone patio. An outdoor counter makes it easy to pass food and drinks from inside into the yard.

The couple blew most of their budget on quality finishes, including high-end kitchen

cabinets, premium appliances, designer plumb ing fixtures and marble countertops. They also sprang for a fabricated-steel fireplace surround and stair railing. “I love all the steel,” Krista says. “Looking at it makes me happy.” As does her new yard, which is still a work in progress; they plan to extend the patio and add an out door kitchen and built-in sectional sofa.

For furniture, the couple reused most of their pieces, but did invest in a four-poster bed for their oldest daughter and a cofee table for the family room. “And my husband insisted on buying a 75-inch TV for the family room,” Krista says.

Stressful as rebuilding was, they couldn’t be happier with the results. “I never want to go away anymore,” she says with a smile. “I just love soaking it all in.” m

For column consideration, please send photos and a description to dawn@marinmagazine.com.

THE DETAILS

WHERE THEY LIVE The Tamalpais Park neighborhood of Mill Valley

WHAT THEY OWN A four-bedroom, 2.5-bath modern farmhouse

CONTRACTOR Synergy Group in Santa Rosa

ARCHITECT Ann Bool of Ann Bool Design + Planning

FAVORITE DETAIL “I love our little powder room,” Krista says. “It’s finished in Venetian plaster and has these great brass fixtures.”

Opener: The kitchen is full of high-end finishes. Opposite: A bold fireplace surround is the crown jewel of the Harris family’s new living room. This page, clockwise from top: Marble countertops in the kitchen; the fabricated steel stair banister solidifies this home’s modern farmhouse vibe; the Harris clan on their home’s new front porch; less is more in a small bathroom; serious curb appeal.

FROM TOURS AND MAKEOVERS TO DECORATIVE DETAILS AND REALTOR INSIGHTS EDITED BY DAWN MARGOLIS DENBERG

CLEAN SLATE

A family discovers the best way to get the house they need is to rebuild from the ground up.

PHOTOS BY LIZ DALY

TWELVE YEARS AGO, Krista Harris and her husband David closed on thei r fi rst home together, a tiny two-bedroom, two-bath bungalow in the flats of Mill Valley. Shortly after settling in, she gave birth to thei r fi rst child. In the ensuing years, they were blessed with two additional children. Unfortunately, they were not blessed with additional bedrooms.

“We had all three girls sharing one room,” Krista says. “It was really tight.” The couple discussed relocating or expanding, but the timing never made sense. “We wanted to save enough money to do it right,” says Krista, who as a professional interior designer had very speci fic ideas about what it would take to create her dream home. Ultimately, it took until the girls were 12, 9 and 6 to pull the trigger.

And by the time they felt ready, the couple realized the best approach was to start from

scratch. This meant razing the old house and coming up with a brand-new design. For the latter they tapped architect Ann Bool.

With permit in hand, the family packed up their belongings and moved out, into even tighter quarters. “We went from 1,300 square feet to 800 square feet,” Krista says. “You could barely fit three beds in our daughters’ room.”

In the rebuilt house, the girls would fi nally each get a bedroom of their own. “It was also important to us to have all of our bedrooms be upstairs,” Krista says. Another wish list item: blurred lines between indoor and outdoor spaces, which they achieved with a bifold wall across the entire family room and a passthrough window that connects the back wall of the kitchen to the adjacent bluestone patio. An outdoor counter makes it easy to pass food and drinks from inside into the yard.

The couple blew most of their budget on quality finishes, including high-end kitchen

cabinets, premium appliances, designer plumb ing fi xtures and marble countertops. They also sprang for a fabricated-steel fireplace surround and stair railing. “I love all the steel,” Krista says. “Looking at it makes me happy.” As does her new yard, which is still a work in progress; they plan to extend the patio and add an out door kitchen and built-in sectional sofa.

For furniture, the couple reused most of their pieces, but did invest in a four-poster bed for their oldest daughter and a coffee table for the family room. “And my husband insisted on buying a 75-inch TV for the family room,” Krista says.

Stressful as rebuilding was, they couldn’t be happier with the results. “I never want to go away anymore,” she says with a smile. “I just love soaking it all in.” m

For column consideration, please send photos and a description to dawn@marinmagazine.com.

THE DETAILS

WHERE THEY LIVE The Tamalpais Park neighborhood of Mill Valley

WHAT THEY OWN A four-bedroom, 2.5-bath modern farmhouse

CONTRACTOR Synergy Group in Santa Rosa

ARCHITECT Ann Bool of Ann Bool Design + Planning

FAVORITE DETAIL “I love our little powder room,” Krista says. “It’s fi nished in Venetian plaster and has these great brass fi xtures.”

Opener: The kitchen is full of high-end finishes. Opposite: A bold fireplace surround is the crown jewel of the Harris family’s new living room. This page, clockwise from top: Marble countertops in the kitchen; the fabricated steel stair banister solidifies this home’s modern farmhouse vibe; the Harris clan on their home’s new front porch; less is more in a small bathroom; serious curb appeal.

Plant Good Vibes

Good feng shui can promote positive energy.

Sometimes life feels like a frenzy of chaotic energy. Luckily, your garden can provide a calm counterpoint — the yin (quiet) to your home’s yang (action). By designing your outdoor space using the ancient art of feng shui, you can enhance tranquility, improve relationships and, some say, maybe even increase money flow. Here are simple ways to lay the groundwork for greater well-being.

BY KIER HOLMES

DEFINE IT Feng shui (translated as “wind” and “water” and pronounced “fung shway”) is a venerable Chinese practice meant to pro mote beneficial energy through careful siting, orientation and placement, guided by the five natural elements of fire, earth, metal, water and wood.

MAP IT To start, know the bagua or energy map of your garden. Search online for “bagua map.” From there you can take a compass reading of your property and begin mapping.

SIZE IT UP Even a small patio can bring

auspicious energy. The key is creating a harmonious area that is comfortable, uncluttered, welcoming and well-balanced vis-à-vis the five elements.

GET ELEMENTAL The five elements appear in certain objects and plants and evoke dif ferent qualities and states of mind: earth, for grounding and balance, is in rocks, boulders and clay pots; wood, for creativity and growth, is in planters, benches and arbors; water, for spiri tuality and wisdom, is in birdbaths and fountains; fire, for leadership, is in lanterns, lights and fire

pits; and metal, for logic and mental clarity, is in sculptures and wind chimes.

SHAPE IT Undulating pathways allow a smoother energy (chi) flow. Nature has few straight lines, so mirror that principle with softly curving shapes for patios and garden beds.

DECORATE IT Wind chimes are gently healing, and candles, stringed lights and lanterns invoke boldness and inspiration. Brighten dim areas and lift spirits with light-colored plants or even a gazing globe or mirror.

COLOR IT Choose certain hues for flowers, furniture and accessories to enhance specific energies: red for positive chi, pink for relaxation, purple for spirituality, blue for focus, black for uniqueness.

PREVENT THE NEGA TIVE Bad plant shape, health or placement can bring “negative” feng shui, and the spiky cactus in particular is thought to bring threatening energy. Positive feng shui plants include citrus (in the health and wealth areas of your garden), jade for good fortune, bamboo for longevity, and tulips for love.

Beautifully located on a glorious knoll-top lot just blocks from the charming and bustling town of Fairfax, and built circa 1910 by the prominent Frustuck family of San Francisco, this grand 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath Craftsman home has been enjoyed by all who lived here for generations. With dead-on views of Mt. Tamalpais and Cascade Canyon, such an impressive setting provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to own one of the most iconic properties in the Ross Valley. The spacious and light-filled eat-in country kitchen is ideal for family gatherings and entertaining, with double French doors leading out to a huge patio/deck, complete with built-in gas fire pit, rock walls and custom benches all under the shade of an old majestic oak tree. The classic living room leads out to a wrap-around front porch with incredible Mt. Tam views.

Beautiful Home in Extraordinary Setting

On one of the most coveted cul-de-sacs in Marin, a circular drive leads to this 1997 Waterford-built 3700 square foot residence on 1.25± private acres. With a fabulous floor plan, the beautifully appointed home features five bedrooms plus an office, four and one-half baths. There are four bedrooms and three baths all together on the second level. On the main level is another bedroom/den and office plus both full and half bath. Wonderful for entertaining and indoor/outdoor fun, the gracious living and dining room look out the mature landscaping. The great room, combining kitchen with breakfast bar, informal eating area and family room, opens to a private backyard, patio, pool, spa, lawns and gardens—wonderful for entertaining and just enjoying life! There is a laundry, three-car garage plus lots of parking. The property is convenient to schools, shopping, trails, ferry and 101. It is located in the award winning Tiburon-Reed School District.

This sun-filled and spacious home has been artfully renovated with no expense spared. Enjoy a gracious lifestyle with an intelligent, open floor plan that brings the outdoors in at every turn. Eat-in kitchen opens to the family room and flows seamlessly through French doors to a spacious dining deck with slate-surround grill and a refreshing pool with limestone patios. Open more French doors to experience this beautiful, private, south-facing backyard from both the grand scale living room and elegant dining room. Relax in the master suite with walk-in closet, spa bathroom and access to private hot tub. Walk to some of the best shopping Marin offers, or be on the freeway or ferry to San Francisco in minutes.

415.279.9362

ggsir.com

Lic.# 01459526

$2,350,000

Elm Avenue, Larkspur Sunlit Simplicity—Santa Barbara Style

You’ll love the light, open and timeless quality of this well designed and located lower Palm Hill move-in ready home. Built in 2005, it is gated, private and tranquil, yet steps (literally) from downtown Larkspur and award winning schools. 106Elm.com

• Spacious living/dining area with Mt. Tam view

• Gourmet kitchen has top of the line appliances

Media/family room

• Luxurious master suite

• Attached 2-car garage

Judy Klayman-Smith 415.215.6789

j.smith@ggsir.com Lic.# 00871536

Enchanting Retreat on Double Lot with Art Studio and In-Law Unit

4 BEDS 2

$1,475,000

8 Arroyo Avenue, San Anselmo

Beautifully updated property with brand new renovated kitchen situated on huge double lot. Enjoy two backyard areas, including new art studio, pergola, fruit trees, and vegetable patches. Charming vintage home with optional in-law unit, located in the highly desirable Brookside neighborhood of San Anselmo flats. Gardener’s dream yard with S/W exposure, sundrenched level grassy lawn, large patio, various outdoor area options for entertaining, enclosed garage, office, plenty of storage, much more! See seller improvement list, which includes A/C and solar panels. 8Arroyo.com

Valantina Graff 415.272.8120

v.graff@ggsir.com Lic.# 01872470

31 Locksly Lane, San Rafael

Charming Loch Lomond one-level updated and spacious home with family room. Full of light, slate entry, dual-paned windows and doors throughout & hardwood floors under carpets. Newer appliances plus a barbecue & grill in the kitchen!

Large set-back from the street & from tall back fence, with lush landscaping. Patios plus lawn and planting areas in back. Impeccably maintained. A few blocks to Marina, park, market, golf course, and water sports including fishing.

Carolyn Svenson

415.720.4773

carolyn@marinsfhomes.com MarinSFHomes.com Lic.# 01122182

Rick Trono

Broker Associate 415.515.1117

Arguably one of the best homes in West Marin.

Contact Rick Trono for information and features of this remarkable property.

r.trono@ggsir.com

RickTronoSellsMarin.com Lic.# 01045523

Top Producer 2018 18400StateRoute1.com

Remodeled Peacock Greens showplace on over an acre with pool and pool house. Situated on approximately 1.2 acres of serene park-like grounds, this exquisite gated estate provides a captivating, private setting and resort-like backyard in a much sought-after location.

Pointe Marin showstopper! This gorgeous, well-appointed home boasts an expansive, level wrap-around yard with outdoor fireplace and kitchen with built-in barbecue and refrigerator for summer enjoyment. The expansive floor plan includes a spacious family room, office and den/retreat.

Janice Guehring 415.717.9636

01164842

“Experience counts! Falla Associates made our home “turn-key” ready. Not at all to our surprise, it sold after the first open house well above the list price. You can trust Falla Associates to take you to the finish line.” — Dr. Jerome C.

Presented by Marin Magazine

Lisa

and

The

master suite has

ceilings,

private balcony ideal for guests. The view-side of the house features a

well as an outdoor doggie shower. Captivating views, easy access to hiking trails

living make this home perfect for family gatherings and entertaining.

REDWOOD CREEK RANCH

Last of its Kind... Solitude. Peace. Serenity. Redwood Creek Mt. Zion offers the unique opportunity to build your own private residential compound on 437 pristine acres, located in the center of Marin County.

Adjacent to George Lucas’ Loma Alta Preserve and directly above Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Property of the same size and scope this near to the city of San Francisco is rare and nearly impossible to find.

Stuart Island, Goose Landing

Discover the embodiment of West Coast living at its finest. Situated on Stuart Island lies a family retreat that transcends limitation, a perfect union of tranquility, beauty and luxury. This multi residence compound boasts an incredible array of amenities such as a greenhouse, guest house, workshop and a private moorage. A vast 120-acre parcel provides a range of topography with temperate old growth rainforest comprising the bulk of the property and a kilometre of shoreline. Magnificent, in every sense of the word.

Year Built:

Acres

Islands (Zone

Sq.Ft.

Bedroom, 4 Bathroom.

Lodge:

Staff Lodge: Greenhouse:

Studio:

Boathouse:

Sq.Ft. 2948 Sq.Ft. 212 Sq.Ft. 288 Sq.Ft. 644 Sq.Ft. 1006 Sq.Ft.

Seaplane Docking Carport, Double, Driveway,

Single, Garage Double, Garage Triple, RV

PERFECTION IN NOVATO

UPDATED

JUST SOLD

337 JEAN STREET

By Coldwell Banker

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor agents and are not employees of the Company.

9 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker logo, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury and the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury logo are service marks registered or pending registration owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. CalBRE License #01908304

premier neighborhoods w/generous master, fabulous backyard and many upgrades.

Time to Right Size?

Just a couple of hours away from Marin, the charming Sierra Foothills offer the ideals of your happily ever after, whether you’ve dreamed of a lakefront home, a charming downtown Victorian or a five-acre parcel with views, privacy, and place for your goats in pajamas! The very affordable stretch from Auburn to Nevada City is loaded with great food, wineries, music, festivals and fantastic land on which to hike, bike, swim, golf, and explore. Plus, it’s just below the snow line.

If you are considering a move from Marin, allow me to introduce you to a beautiful alternative.

Muriel Ballard 415.225.4641 muriel.ballard@compass.com DRE 01726991

“Sharon helped us successfully find and purchase our new home in Kentfield. Being new to Marin and with school-aged children, we needed an experienced agent who understood our family’s needs and could make the buying process as stress-free and seamless as possible. After interviewing several agents we decided on Sharon and never looked back. Throughout the process Sharon proved herself to be extremely responsive, knowledgeable and capable. Not finding the listing we wanted, Sharon tapped her vast network and identified an off-market opportunity we jumped on. Sharon is a joy to work with and I highly recommend her to future buyers.”

Matt & Sam Parish

Two Homes, Pool & Gardens on Oversized San Anselmo Lot

Spacious, light-filled main house (100 Forbes) has 3 bedrooms plus bonus room, a large family room with vaulted ceilings, an office, laundry & workshop. The open kitchen/ dining room leads to a private back terrace with pool, gazebo, gardens and lovely, expansive hillside which backs to more open space.

The 2 bedroom/1 bath cottage (90 Forbes) offers great views of Mt. Tam, and is separate from the main house, with its own parking at the far side of the parcel.

100 Forbes and 90 Forbes, San Anselmo

$1,795,000 www.100forbes.com

104

Sharon Faccinto 415.272.3799

sharon.faccinto@compass.com DRE 01036478

Sharon

415.272.3799

sharon.faccinto@compass.com DRE 01036478

Call

Steve Sekhon 415.480.4562 steve.sekhon@compass.com DRE 01843478

Top Rated San Anselmo Schools!

520

$1,450,000

A one-of-a-kind, West Marin enclave that symbolizes the trail blazing spirit of the Northern California Coast. A historic place where creative, independentminded people sustain on an abundance of inspiration and natural resources. thisisdogtown.com

Nearly limitless possibilities await at this iconic 15-acre working ranch steeped in West Marin history. Amazing setting at the southern tip of Point Reyes National Seashore, just north of Bolinas Lagoon, and mere minutes to the Pacific Ocean. Sunny and warm topography with serene vistas.

The property features three single family residences, workshops, growing acreage, unspoiled forest, live-stock holding areas, a stream, a pond + much more. Create a family compound, grow crops, graze live-stock, own horses, build yurts or cabins, paint, sculpt, etc.

Less than one hour from San Francisco and unbeatable proximity to world class outdoor activities and cuisine.

LUXURY PROPERTY SPECIALIST

CONTINGENT

JUST LISTED

The Luxurious Hotel Rafael

The massive Victorian structure’s life came to an end inside of two hours.

THE MAJESTIC HOTEL Rafael was Marin’s fi rst luxury hotel, yet it had a rough life. After costing a then-whopping $200,000 to build, it opened in 1888 with 101 rooms, several banquet halls and a tennis court bordered by grandstands. But according to Barry Spitz, author of Marin, A History, the good times lasted only until 1909. That’s when the hotel’s owner, one Baron von Schroeder, closed the hotel and moved back to Germany. Following the outbreak of World War I, the hotel was declared “alien property.” In 1915 the Rafael was refurbished and reopened — yet lasted only three years before being foreclosed on. Then, further diminishing its status, the county used the once-magnificent lodgings as an emergency hospital during

BY JIM WOOD

the influenza pandemic of 1918. Next, in 1921, in a final flicker of life, an entrepreneur electrified Hotel Rafael’s lighting and added an Otis elevator along with 40 private bathrooms. But within seven years the ultimate disaster struck. According to Spitz, a fire started when Willie Fisher, an arsonist, poured kerosene on Hotel Rafael’s top floor, then lit a match. At the time, 134 guests were registered at the hotel, but none were seriously hurt. Still, the mas sive structure burned to the ground within two hours. In 1939 the property’s 43 acres were sold to a developer for $40,000 and the land became a 79-lot subdivision known as Rafael Gardens. Currently, two concrete towers stand at the corner of Belle Avenue and Rafael Drive in San Rafael — formerly the grand entrance to the Hotel Rafael. m

At the time, 134 guests were registered at the hotel, but none were seriously hurt.