marin living april 2024

FEEL GOOD issue the

A stunning 4,007-square-foot home in the heart of Sleepy Hollow. Swimming pool, sports court, three-stall horse barn, pasture, lush lawn and well-water irrigation all add to the allure of this incredible property. Contact Nick to schedule a showing.

Nick Svenson

nick@nicksvensonproperties.com

415.505.7674

nicks@compass.com

DRE #01918616

We understand the Marin homeowner’s desire for beautiful design and need for durability to accommodate their active lifestyle. As part of the Carpet One national co-op, we have an extensive selection of waterproof hard surface flooring and stain resistant carpeting to create a home you will love. Our experienced design, sales and installation teams will help you every step of the way.

We understand the Marin homeowner’s desire for beautiful design and need for durability to accommodate their active lifestyle. As part of the Carpet One national co-op, we have an extensive selection of waterproof hard surface flooring and stain resistant carpeting to create a home you will love. Our experienced design, sales and installation teams will help you every step of the way.

Leigh & Hossein Bakhtiari, Owners

Leigh & Hossein Bakhtiari, Owners

555

555

San Rafael

San Rafael

JENNIFER BOWMAN

THE VOICE OF MARIN

In 2023 the executive show producer for a new national show about real estate and lifestyles visited the San Francisco Bay Area. He met with only the top producers of this market, and Jennifer Bowman was honored to be invited. Ultimately, they chose a cast of 5 realtors to represent the Bay Area real estate market. The American Dream, a national television show highlights the lifestyle and real estate . This is a real show, not some fake reality show, and focused on positivity and the stories of our neighborhoods. The show in other markets has already been nominated for an EMMY. The show is aired on cable, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and Roku and has a strong following on social media.

We are always looking to interview the movers and shakers, innovators, and philanthropists, who call Marin County home. Those making a positive impact, as the show is meant to combat negative media with real and positive stories. If you have any ideas of people or places in Marin that you would like to see represented in one of my episodes, please feel free to reach out to me. We look forward to hearing from you and celebrating the spirit of Marin County on The American Dream.

The value of our business is measured in the quality of the relationships we build.

LogoCreation

CREATING AND DEFINING YOUR IDENTITY IS OUR PASSION.

JESSICA CLINE CO-FOUNDER, CEO jessica@marinlivingmagazine.com 707.302.0850

DINA GRANT CO-FOUNDER BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR dina@marinlivingmagazine.com 707.238.2030

ADVERTISING

Marketing Strategy Consultant & Wine Country Specialist Chet Klingensmith chet@marinlivingmagazine.com, 707.216.1780

Marketing Strategy Consultant, Hawaii Meredith Low meredith@marinlivingmagazine.com, 808.388.2644

Marketing Strategy Consultant

Kim McGinnis kim@marinlivingmagazine.com, 415.640.4504

Marketing Strategy Consultant & Local Business Specialist

Carrie Moler carrie@marinlivingmagazine.com, 415.271.3080

Marketing Strategy Consultant

Courtney Roberts courtney@marinlivingmagazine.com, 415.720.3752

Marketing Strategy Consultant

Allison Zweig allison@marinlivingmagazine.com, 917.608.4816

CASEY GILLESPIE CO-FOUNDER CREATIVE DIRECTOR casey@marinlivingmagazine.com

DANIEL JEWETT CO-FOUNDER

EDITORIAL AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR dan@marinlivingmagazine.com

EDITORIAL

Editor

Caitlin Hamer

Contributing Designers

Roberto Avalos, Madeleine Hannes, Gregory Odendahl, Kathryn Saffell, Ronald Sequeira, Britney Trezzo

Contributing Writers

Casey Hatfield-Chiotti, Nick Czap, Annie Geiser, Joseph Knelman, Lili Weigert

Contributing Photographers

Lorena Masso, Adam Potts

Copy Editor

Cynthia Rubin

Client Services Director

Lauren Winsett lauren@marinlivingmagazine.com, 415.300.0908

spotlight marin.

18 news.

Good news for Marin libraries; a lecture series at the Buck Institute; S.F. Decorator Showcase is back; and more.

30 local splurges. Fun ways you can dress your kids in head-to-toe florals this spring.

32 eat & drink. Discover the delicious inspiration behind Hey!Hunger veggie burgers.

34 local getaways.

A visit to St. Helena never looked (or tasted) so good.

38 take note.

A filmmaker biked across the country with no money in search of compassion.

42 game changers. Kombucha has a new — low-sugar — competitor in town.

going places.

74 new digs.

A Bay Area gardening company has a new book just in time for spring.

76 land & sea. A gorgeous new luxury SUV has caught our eye.

78 voyager.

Here’s where we are headed to watch the whale migration in style.

82 about last night. Party revelers were out and about at two exciting Marin events this month.

88 drawn together. An origami instructor is changing lives at San Quentin.

from the team.

14 from the ceo.

16 from the creative director.

Top to bottom: courtesy of Hotel Californian; Emma K. Morris; courtesy of Range Rover

FEATURES.

44 Bee Kind

Marin honeybees help us connect with and care for the place we call home.

48 Ride That Wave

A surprising approach to mental wellness for kids

52

Cradled by Nature

A Stinson Beach home sustainably melds the outdoors with the indoors.

On the Cover

A gorgeous Seadrift property designed by Susan Skornicka of Skornicka Designs & Construction (www.susanskornicka.com); photography by Adam Potts.

Lorena Masso

CEO

WRITE YOUR OWN STORY from the

SPRING IS IN THE AIR at Marin Living and with the new season comes the promise of renewal, growth and the joy of cultivating our best selves. As we usher in the warmer months here in Marin, I am reminded of the journey we’ve embarked upon — not just as a community but on my own path of personal health and wellness. Through conscious eating and dedicated exercise, I’ve discovered that every step toward health is a step toward a fuller, richer life. And fitting into that old pair of jeans feels pretty amazing too.

Last month at Lucid Studio in Corte Madera Marin Living held a celebration of our local Trendsetters. There, amid the stunning display of innovative electric cars and the exquisite flavors of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ finest vintages, we were reminded of the power of togetherness. Such gatherings are not just events; they offer a chance to reconnect with each other and remember what we can achieve together. In these moments,

surrounded by the beautiful cars and the warmth of companionship, I am reminded of the importance of being present. Like the meticulous care that goes into each bottle of wine or the precision engineering behind a Lucid vehicle, our own paths toward wellness are forged from a focused dedication.

As we bask in the warm spring light, let us remember the power of slowing down and of cherishing the simple things. Our community at Marin Living stands as a testament to what we can accomplish when we come together, rooted in our shared desire for a life well lived.

Let’s make this spring a time of flourishing, when we cultivate not just our gardens but our well-being, our connections and ourselves. Here’s to the endless possibilities blooming all around us, to the beauty of our journeys and to the stories we’ll tell along the way.

JESSICA CLINE, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

Benjie Upcher and Jessica Cline

Portrait by Becca Teal Batista; Katie Ravas for Drew Altizer Photography

to your best.

North Bay residents take pride in having the best of nature at their doorstep. MarinHealth Orthopedics brings them closer to their best, so they can enjoy it to the fullest. From pain management to sports medicine, innovative robotic surgery, and access to UCSF experts, MarinHealth brings you world-class expertise and leading-edge treatments and procedures to help you with virtually every bone or joint in your body. So, you can focus on getting back on the trail.

MyMarinHealth.org/Orthopedics

from the

creative DIRECTOR

an instant pick-me-up. As I write this, I am sitting in a holiday house with my family in Carmelby-the-Sea, having had a lovely afternoon at the seafront. As we were walking back to the car my mom saw a surfer shivering and struggling to get his wetsuit unzipped and she stopped to help him. He was so grateful I thought he might hug her. See what I mean? Little acts of kindness make everyone feel good. I hope you take note of the things that make you happy and seek them out every day. Enjoy the issue!

FEELING GOOD

WELCOME TO OUR “Feel Good Issue!” This is one of my favorites because it can be interpreted so many different ways. What makes you happy? What makes you feel alive physically? What warms your heart? What connects you to your community and humankind in general? In this issue we touch on everything from very basic environmental matters to luxury buys that act as an extension of one’s personal style. I’ll tell you what makes me feel good. To begin with, all things health and wellness. My weekly visit to the farmers market is my favorite time of the week. A yoga class, a Pilates session, a walk along the Tiburon waterfront, all 10 out of 10 for me. Another biggie is kindness — I don’t even have to be the giver or recipient; simply observing a random act of kindness or reading about a nonprofit doing wonderful things for people in need nearly always brings a tear to my eye. And last but definitely not least, being close to the ocean is

CASEY GILLESPIE CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER

Portrait by Becca Teal Batista; courtesy of Markham Vineyards

A recent visit to Markham Vineyards (below) was high on my list of feel-good moments this month.

spotlight marin.

BETTER LIVING

This April, the Buck Institute (www.buckinstitute.org) is launching the Live Better Longer Community Seminar Series , monthly in-person conversations with geroscience experts on how people can live longer, healthier lives thanks to insights on exercise, nutrition and brain aging. The first seminar in the series, “Exercise: The Ultimate Magic Bullet for Longevity,” is presented April 3 at the Buck Institute in Novato.

FILM, FOOD AND WINE

TO THE FAIR

This year’s edition of the San Francisco Art Fair (www.sanfranciscoartfair.com), formerly Art Market San Francisco, takes place April 25 to 28 at the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion. The event’s programming includes a variety of national and international galleries, special installations and artist talks.

CK Contemporary, “Without Sanctuary,” 2023, graphite and pastel on paper

Napa Valley Film Festival (www.napavalleyfilmfest.org) and the Culinary Institute of America at Copia (www.ciaatcopia.com) have partnered to bring “Salute to Culinary Cinema!” to foodie film buffs April 5 to 7 at CIA at Copia. Four screenings will be followed by dining experiences inspired by the films. On April 27, the Garagiste Festival (www.garagistefestival.com) takes over the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall. This festival exclusively features wines from high-quality, micro-production, commercial California wineries, and the wines are poured by the makers themselves.

Courtesy of the artists and San Francisco Art Fair (above); courtesy of Napa Valley Film Festival(below on left); courtesy of Garagiste Festival (below on right)

news. by Caitlin Hamer

Napa Valley Film Festival theatrical poster; Sonoma’s upcoming Garagiste Festival will focus on microproducers.

by Caitlin Hamer

SNAPSHOTS OF LIFE

This month is the last chance to view Marin Art and Garden Center’s (www.maringarden.org) latest exhibition, “ Memento Mori | Memento Vivere ,” a joint show by Bay Area Photographers Collective and Samurai Foto (Yokohama, Japan). The gallery is open Fridays through Sundays until April 21, with works of art reflecting the full cycle of life on display. Seen here: Anthony Delgado’s “Carolside Garden.”

CANCER SUPPORT

Metta Yoga (www.mettayogastudio.com) continues to invite cancer patients and their loved ones to the monthly Survive + Thrive: Deep Healing for Those Impacted by Cancer events. Each class is free of charge and offers participants a safe space to experience sound healing, meditation and reiki. April’s event happens at the San Rafael studio on the 21st.

Courtesy of Anthony Delgado and Marin Art and Garden Center

HOME IMPROVEMENT

The 45th annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase (www.decoratorshowcase.org) returns April 27 to May 27, with this year’s batch of designers working their magic on a famous home in Pacific Heights. The 11,155-square-foot Dutch Colonial Revival mansion, which was commissioned in 1899, features five floors of living space, and once its transformation is complete it will be open to visitors Tuesdays through Sundays and on Memorial Day. Among the 28 design firms participating this year are several you may recognize from Marin: Lark + Palm, Katie Monkhouse Interiors, Lauren Berry Interior Design and Holly A. Kopman Interior Design.

WEEKEND FOR WINE

Wine enthusiasts will want to clear their calendars for the Stags Leap District (www.stagsleapdistrict.com) annual “Vineyard to Vintner” weekend. Taking place April 26 to 28, the exclusive and intimate weekend offers curated tastings, vintner-hosted meals, seminars and vineyard tours. New and rare wines will be sampled, including SLD Cabernet: A Collaboration, and guests will have plenty of opportunities to meet the owners and winemakers from some of the most famed wineries in the region.

JUMP FOR JOY

Starting April 5, Sonoma Botanical Garden (www.sonomabg.org) is home to the Ribbit Exhibit , a whimsical presentation of 22 human-size frogs placed in playful vignettes around the garden. Each frog sculpture, which has its own name, was handcrafted from copper by artist Andy Cobb. This family-friendly exhibit runs through August 31 and a variety of public programs, like scavenger hunts and live music, are planned in tandem with the event.

Sketch by Clay Siebert (above); www.stock.adobe.com/FornStudio (below)

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WATER SMARTS

The Marin Municipal Water District (www.marinwater.org) has adopted a five-year strategy that will focus on water supply, drought resiliency, land stewardship, fiscal responsibility and organizational excellence. The plan’s objectives include reducing water use and waste and setting fair, proportional rates for customers.

SPAHR CENTER CLOSURE

The Spahr Center (www.thespahrcenter.org), a nonprofit organization founded to support Marin’s LGBTQ+ and HIV communities, indefinitely suspended operations in February. Spahr had several funding sources including annual federal funds from the Ryan White Care Act to provide case management, mental health support, counseling and other services to people living with HIV in Marin. The center is transferring its more than 150 clients to Marin County for continued care.

Bon Tempe Reservoir Watershed

SEAL OF APPROVAL

Elephant seals, once nearly extinct, are expanding into new breeding grounds along the California coast thanks to federal protection. The creation of new colonies seems to be driven in part by storms at Point Reyes, with the newest and northernmost colony appearing in Humboldt County.

DIGITAL AGE

Marin County Free Library (www.marinlibrary.org) recently announced that MARINet, a consortium of public and academic libraries in the county, was awarded a state grant to upgrade networking equipment. “This grant will empower all libraries in Marin to modernize and stabilize our networking capabilities, ultimately allowing us to better serve the evolving digital needs of library patrons in Marin County,” says Lana Adlawan, MCFL director.

Courtesy of Marin County Free Library

the LIST

A look at special offers and new products from some of Marin’s favorite businesses.

By Caitlin Hamer

CUE THE CORE

San Rafael’s newest fitness center is all about a self-care approach. Sweat out your troubles in one of the many Pilates classes, or slow things down with a relaxing Midday Mindfulness class. Cue the Core also steps out of the box with its Barre, Bounce & Bubbles classes and monthly book club meetings. www.cuethecore.com

Sutton Suzuki Architects is always busy making Marin even more beautiful. They are so talented at what they do that many clients return to them again and again for new projects. The team here designs new homes as well as ADUs and they also love reenergizing homes they’ve previously designed. www.suttonsuzuki.com 1

ISTANBUL RUG

You can stop by Istanbul Rug in San Rafael, but did you know it also has locations in Berkeley and Menlo Park? In addition, this beloved destination for highquality rugs now offers a bespoke rug service — in just three months, you can get a custom piece completed and delivered. www.istanbulrug.com

SUTTON SUZUKI ARCHITECTS

All images courtesy of the brands

How would you define wellness in a relationship?

Most dating experts typically focus on toxic, unhealthy relationships, which at the outset is logical, considering how being in the wrong relationship could wreak havoc on an individual’s mental health or well-being. I like to look at wellness from a different perspective.

I believe the hallmark of a healthy relationship is the presence of space — for happiness, health, personal satisfaction and mutual respect.

Why is it

important?

Wellness is vital to a relationship because it means you have an increased chance of being happier and healthier in the long run. Research has linked psychological well-being to physical well-being. Feeling satisfied with your life could decrease your risk for certain illnesses and offer similar benefits, including a strong sleep cycle and a healthy diet. Wellness is demonstrably essential and healthy relationships are correlated with increased wellness.

ConciergeMatching 30 Years FOR OVER

CEO and Founder of Innovative Match, Cassie Zampa-Keim, offers tips on finding a healthy and happy relationship.

If someone isn’t in a romantic relationship, can they get these benefits elsewhere?

Wellness should be fundamentally intrinsic, meaning you should determine your self-worth using only internal factors, and not external sources, such as a partner. However, the ability to share your life with another, a partner who inspires you to be your best and healthiest self, and is happy for you when you are, can be fulfilling in a way you cannot replicate platonically.

What are the healthy signs one should be on the lookout for during the get-to-know-you period?

An individual seeking a long-term, healthy relationship should consider prioritizing stability and wellness in a potential match. You should feel confident in your match’s ability to function as an empathetic and productive person.

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS 1

Nothing says spring like kiddos decked out in flower prints galore.

By Casey Gillespie

3

1. Prepare your little one for spring adventures with La Coqueta’s Emilia Cotton Hat. The 100 percent cotton classic bucketstyle hat is a fun-yet-practical choice with ties that fasten under the chin. Available at Poppy Store (Marin Country Mart) and www.poppystores.com, $48

2. Looking for a baby gift? This Apple Park Lala Curio Teething Rattle in Enchanted Leaves) is a thoughtful — and useful — treat. We love the sweet flower motif. Available at San Francisco Avenue, Mill Valley) and www.sproutsanfrancisco.com, $15

3. Even kiddies need defense from the sun and we couldn’t think of a cuter way to protect their eyes than these Sunflower Sunnies by Juni. The shades are the consummate accessory to any outfit. Available at Bon Ton Baby (107 Plaza Street, Healdsburg) and www.bonton-studio.com, $22

2 5 4

4. Appaman’s Day Party Shirt will have your mini me looking cheerfully dapper day or night. The cotton floral shirt is perfect for picture day or an afternoon outing at the beach. Available at Fiddlesticks (540 Hayes Street, San Francisco) or www.shopfiddlesticks.com, $56

5. She is going to look adorable in Posh Peanut’s floral one-piece with a reversible zipper and made of Päpook viscose derived from bamboo. Stylish moms (and dads) will approve of the ruffle detail on the bodice and back, as well as the nonslip grips for walkers. Available at Village Child (869 Grant Avenue, Novato) and www.shopvillagechild.com, $42.99

images courtesy of the brands

IN GOOD TASTE

Meet the newest plant-based protein on the scene.

By Caitlin Hamer

HAVE YOU EVER EATEN SOMETHING so delicious, you still think about it years later? If you ask Shireen Khera, the Fairfax-based founder of Hey!Hunger (www.insta gram.com/hey.hunger), the answer is a resounding yes.

“Food has always been one of the things that centered me,” she says, recalling memories that revolve around tasty treats and childhood days in India, where she helped her family prepare dinner parties for dozens of guests. But according to her parents, becoming a chef wasn’t an option. Instead, she earned an engineering degree and developed a successful career as a Fortune 500 executive.

Yet food remained her passion and it finally crossed over into her professional life during the pandemic, when she was working 16-hour days and needed a fast fix for healthy, nutritious sustenance. While she was a fan of veggie burgers, she didn’t like most of the options she encountered, finding them highly processed, with no protein, no taste and unappealing texture. After much experimentation, she created what she’d been looking for in the form of plant-based patties she dubbed Nutburgers. And so Hey!Hunger was born. Handmade, organic and the prime definition of superfood, these patties are soy-, gluten-, dairy-

and egg-free. They’re also low in sodium, high in fiber and made of entirely plant-based protein. The combinations Khera’s come up with are thoughtfully crafted: “The way every patty is put together is from how I or my family has thought about food, which is every ingredient is taught to us by the impact it has on our bodies,” she says. Khera refers to her patties as Ayurveda-inspired. Like medicine, this food fuels your body; unlike medicine, it actually tastes good.

The nutrient-rich Nutburgers come in four flavors: roasted beet and walnut; roasted carrots and almonds; spinach and pistachio; and French lentil and walnut.

Every ingredient is taught to us by the impact it has on our bodies.”

The herbs and spices that make up the rest of the ingredient lists do more than just boost flavor; garlic, for example, is high in antioxidants and can lower cholesterol. The patties are a quick, accessible way to get your vegetables, protein and minerals. And the feel-good factor goes beyond the physical; a portion of the earnings from Hey!Hunger’s sales goes back to the community to help fight food insecurity.

You might’ve found Hey!Hunger at the Marin Country Mart and San Rafael Civic Center farmers markets, but Khera’s adding Fairfax Market to her roster, too. Finding her niche in a healthy region like Marin hasn’t been hard, but it can take some people a bit of time to warm up to the idea of her healthier alternatives.

“There’s a whole genre of people who say, ‘I’m not vegetarian, this is not for me.’ So, you have to help them understand that you don’t have to be vegetarian to eat vegetables,” she says. “It doesn’t mean it’s not for you, it’s just in a different form.”

Founder Shireen Khera

local getaways.

A DAY OUT IN ST. HELENA

There are so many options for a 24-hour Wine Country getaway. One of our top picks? St. Helena. The AVA is not very large in terms of square miles, but it’s home to roughly 400 vineyards, some dating back to the 1800s. You won’t have any trouble finding a tasting room or vineyard to visit, but be sure to leave time for a leisurely stroll down Main Street. The shopping is some of the best in the North Bay and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better meal. We discovered a few new spots and revisited some tried-and-true favorites. Here are some recommendations to get you started.

By Casey Gillespie

BERINGER VINEYARDS

2000 Main Street

www.beringer.com

A visit to the 140-year-old Rhine House is an experience in itself, but don’t pass up the wine. We love the Sip & Stroll ($20 pp), but if you want an immersive visit try the Taste of Beringer Tour ($95 pp). The 75-minute experience includes a guided tour of the estate and gardens, followed by a seated

tasting of winery-exclusive and reserve wines. The culinary team creates seasonal bites to complement each wine.

CHARLIE’S

1327 Railroad Avenue

www.charliesnv.com

The eatery, which opened at the end of last year, is a must-visit. The setting is bright and beautiful, the menu is a seafood-heavy, delicious

Courtesy of Beringer Vineyards (above); Emma Morris

The Rhine House at Beringer Vineyards; a colorful dish from Charlie’s (below)

compilation of dishes, and come happy hour, it’s where all the locals gather. A hidden gem.

CLIF FAMILY WINERY

709 Main Street

www.cliffamily.com

A favorite among wine-loving cycling enthusiasts — you can’t beat the buzzy, friendly nature of this anything-but-stuffy tasting room. It even offers a plant-based tasting menu, a rarity. Book a tasting at the bar or grab a bite from the food truck (Wednesday through Sunday), a glass of wine and a spot outside. And don’t forget to take home a jar of the handmade jam.

ELYSEWALKER

1381 Main Street

www.elysewalker.com

Fashion mavens, this is the mother ship. From clothing to jewelry and accessories, you will only find the best of the best here. On May 16, Elyse will host her third annual Rockout/Knockout fundraiser at The Charter Oak, which has raised more than $3 million for early cancer detection. Visit www. shhfoundation.org/events/rock out-knockout-cancer for tickets.

MARKHAM VINEYARDS, ST. HELENA

2812 St. Helena Highway North

www.markhamvineyards.com

The winery, dating back to 1879, is the fourth oldest in the valley. But with its beautiful new tasting room — remodeled during the pandemic — it’s open, airy and decidedly modern. Winemaker Kimberlee Nicholls has been making Bordeaux varietals for more than 30 years and her expertise is apparent with every sip. If merlot is your red of choice, celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sideways with their merlot-centric tasting experience.

NO|MA HOUSE CAFE & COLLECTIVE

1429 Main Street

www.nomahousecafeandcollective.com

One of the newest additions to Main Street, the cafe and flawlessly curated retail boutique is the casually chic lunch spot we have been waiting for. Breakfast is served all day, but the tartines and a glass of wine are Wine Country perfection. Be warned, it’s nearly impossible to leave empty-handed.

Clockwise from top left: Tubya Yabut; Markham Vineyards; John Merkyl

elysewalker boutique; Markham Vineyards tasting room; NO|MA House Cafe & Collective

ORIN SWIFT CELLARS

1321 Main Street

www.orinswift.com

The new tasting room, opened in downtown’s historic Art Deco bank building, is decked out in loungeworthy vintage furniture, and for the super-observant there are some design Easter eggs waiting to be discovered. Tasting experiences range from $45 to $125 and promise a twist on the conventional.

PRESS RESTAURANT

587 St. Helena Highway

www.pressnapavalley.com

Awarded a Michelin star in December 2022, Chef Philip Tessier’s take on California cuisine is unambiguously sophisticated. We were enchanted by the presentation alone. The restaurant also boasts the largest collection of Napa Valley wines in the world.

Clockwise from top left: John Troxell; Bonwing Lee; courtesy of Definition Films

A mouthwatering appetizer at PRESS Restaurant; PRESS’ impressive wine collection; Orin Swift Cellars

AND CHAMPION SPONSORS AND CHAMPION SPONSORS

BRAYTON PURCELL LLP AND THIRTY-SEVEN WINES

BRAYTON PURCELL LLP AND THIRTY-SEVEN WINES PRESENT PRESENT

SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2024

THE BARN, GAMBONINI FAMILY RANCH

THE BARN, GAMBONINI FAMILY RANCH

7325 Old Lakeville Road No. 3, Petaluma, California

7325 Old Lakeville Road No. 3, Petaluma, California

Host Host

JOSH FRYDAY JOSH FRYDAY

Auctioneer Auctioneer

SENATOR MIKE MCGUIRE SENATOR MIKE MCGUIRE

Chief Service Officer at California Volunteers

Chief Service Officer at California Volunteers

Office of the Governor Office of the Governor

Senate President pro Tempore Senate President pro Tempore

California State Senate California State Senate

Honoring Honoring

MARIN COUNTY SUPERVISOR ERIC LUCAN

MARIN COUNTY SUPERVISOR ERIC LUCAN

with the 2024 Champion for Children Award with the 2024 Champion for Children Award

Join us for a magical evening of cocktails, silent and live auctions, offerings from local artisans and

Join us for a magical evening of cocktails, silent and live auctions, offerings from local artisans and wineries, music, a delicious three-course dinner by Park Ave, and much, much more! wineries, music, a delicious three-course dinner by Park Ave, and much, much more! Proceeds benefit the North Bay Children’s Center. Proceeds benefit the North Bay Children’s Center.

TICKETS:

$175 per person

$2,000 Table of 10

RSVP BY April 20th

MORE INFO: 415-475-4317

www.nbcc.ejoinme.org/nit2024

HEART OF GOLD

An independent filmmaker biked across the country — and back again — to find out if Americans are really as divided and cynical as they are sometimes portrayed.

By Daniel Jewett

ON YOUR NEXT TRIP to the grocery store

if you ran across a 38-year-old man holding a cardboard sign that read “biking across country, ran out of food, anything helps,” would you reach into your pockets to help? That’s exactly the question Daniel Troia wanted to answer on his cashless cycling trip from Monterey to New York and back again.

It all started when Troia read a book called The Kindness of Strangers: Penniless Across America, whose author hitchhiked across the country depending only on help from strangers.

“I had started to really feel the tension and division in the country and it was really having an effect on me,” Troia says. So in 2018 he decided to duplicate the journey depicted in the book, using a bike. He wanted to make a film

“showing people coming together, helping each other out and showing compassion and kindness.”

After seven grueling months on the road, thousands of hours of footage shot with drone, GoPro and camera glasses (the latter used so that genuine emotions were recorded), hundreds of interactions, thousands of miles and a year of editing, a film was made. And it is what audiences apparently needed to see: We Are All in This Together (www.weareallinthistogethermovie. com) has won award after award on the film festival circuit and premiered on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Google Play in January.

The journey did not come without difficulty. There was the time Troia ran out of water in the Great Basin Desert in Nevada with 35 miles left to go on a road littered with dead animal

Courtesy of Daniel Troia

Troia with his sign in Forsyth, Montana.

carcasses. And the time he suffered three consecutive nights of 13-degree weather and was forced to wear every piece of clothing he brought.

Troia didn’t bring winter gear because he wasn’t planning on being out for so long, but when he arrived in New York after a few months he felt something was missing and so he decided to extend the trip and cycle back to California. “I hadn’t found what I was looking for. I think it was that I needed to go through a lot more of the hardship,” he says. “I tried to remind myself that when things would get difficult there was a reason and it was creating an opportunity for something special to happen.”

And sometimes those special interactions came from the most unlikely sources. “I was really amazed at the fact that I would receive a lot more help and attention from people in impoverished neighborhoods,” Troia says. “There were times when people bought me groceries with their food stamps; it was beautiful to see. I learned that the people who face the most adversity had the most to give.”

I tried to remind myself that when things would get difficult there was a reason.”

There was also the beauty of the landscape. “I loved Nevada and just camping out there in the middle of the desert and hearing the coyotes howling at nighttime,” he says. “Or crossing the Rockies in Colorado, working five hours to get to the mountain pass and the feeling of that downhill after.”

As for all the awards, Troia doesn’t feel they are just for him. “This film was a collaboration of all the people who I came across, their acts of kindness without even knowing [in the moment] they were being filmed,” he says. “They were just being genuine in the moment and recognizing someone who needed help and was vulnerable.”

As for his root mission: did the filmmaker find what he was looking for? “I think everybody feels the tension and division and we don’t like it. I think a majority of Americans don’t want to be this divided,” Troia says. “When it comes down to it, the people that I met showed me that we all share the same human experiences.”

Courtesy of Daniel Troia

From top: Troia in Monterey, California; at Lizard Head Pass, Colorado; and at Beartooth Pass, Montana.

A FERMENTATION REVELATION

This drink gets your gut microbiomes in shape with less sugar.

By Annie Gieser

THE SHELVES OF Whole Foods and Mollie Stone’s are stocked with lots of wild and wonderful kombucha brands that require fermentation to make. Fermentation is what helped our ancestors survive, keeping their gut microbiomes in tip-top shape. But according to some experts, kombucha also has one ingredient that can mess with our gut and blood glucose: refined sugar.

“There’s a moment in the process where you brew this big batch of tea and then you’re pouring in heaping cupfuls of refined sugar,” says Ryan Johnston, co-founder and CEO of Biotic Ferments. “And so my brother was like, ‘what other fermented beverages exist? It can’t just be kombucha, right?’ And he found kvass.”

Kvass is a fermented drink dating back centuries and traditionally was made from beets or bread. But here’s the kicker: there is not a single granule of added sugar.

This discovery came to light when West Sonoma natives Ryan and his brother Adam were in the beginning stages of launching Biotic Ferments (www.bioticferments. com). While each was pursuing environmental studies in college, the two brothers started experimenting with making various fermented beverages, including kvass, for family and friends. After selling their concoctions at local farmers markets to a growing loyal customer

base, the brothers knew they had something special.

Biotic Ferments has one beetbased kvass, but twisting on the traditional, most of the fermented drinks are made from organic carrots. Unlike the sweet, vinegar-forward flavor of kombucha, kvass has a light, crisp, clean taste and is full of all three biotics: pre- (fuels beneficial bacteria), pro- (live bacteria), and post- (beneficial metabolites). All the good stuff, none of the bad.

The mascot of the Biotic Ferments brand is the California brown pelican. This bird nearly went extinct due to the toxins in its food supply: pelicans consumed a lot of DDT that humans sprayed to kill mosquitoes. After use of that lethal substance was discontinued, the birds are now thriving — it’s a comeback story for the ages.

“I think that’s a really inspiring story about life … humans, cells,

they want to be healthy. They want to thrive,” Ryan says.

With a strong sustainability focus, Biotic Ferments uses 100 percent renewable energy at the “fermentory” and water that is carbon neutral. Eighty-five percent of the ingredients are grown in California and “they’re either from farms that are practicing regenerative agriculture or from upcycled sources that reduce food waste. We’re different from the root up,” Ryan says about their business, which is now a certified B Corporation.

“It’s basically a multidisciplinary download on the biggest challenges facing the planet. If we don’t solve those, forget about your health,” Ryan says. “If we’re undermining the stability of the climate all bets are off, right?”

Courtesy of Biotic Ferments

Ryan Johnston, co-founder and CEO of Biotic Ferments

A Place for Uniquely Rewarding

Events

Our team will ensure your next event is welcoming, memorable and full of flavor. We can help you host a morning seminar, all-day meeting, team-building activities in our kitchen or a special occasion. You’ll experience caring service and a range of delightful menu options.

The Key Room also helps fulfill a larger purpose in the community as a social enterprise of Homeward Bound of Marin.

Reserve dates and learn more at thekeyroom.com

“Food was incredible, staff were helpful and amazing from start to finish. We will have our annual Hall of Fame event there moving forward. — RYAN C.

bee

Marin honeybees help us connect and care for the place we call home.

kind kind bee

By Joseph Knelman

Masso

Photography by Lorena

Bees pollinate 80 percent of flowering plants, including those that produce our food.

When food and beverage photographer Lorena Masso and her husband moved from San Francisco to Marin,

their new residence came with a hive of honeybees. Though unfamiliar with beekeeping, they were intrigued: “The idea of having fresh honey didn’t sound that bad,” Masso says.

Along with watching documentaries and reading on the subject, Masso’s keen observation behind the lens helped her focus in on the hive, magnifying the details of the bees’ biology. “You can see their hair, their eyes, their legs covered in pollen, and how they collect honey. These are some of the things you don’t really see just looking at them [without a camera lens],” Masso says. The more she learned, the more Masso found the bees connecting her to the Marin environment, inspiring her to garden with native and non-pesticide-treated plants and head to the farmers markets for plants and produce that local bees both benefit from and help sustain (bees pollinate 80 percent of flowering plants, including those that produce our food).

To learn more about the practice of beekeeping Masso contacted Bonnie Morse, a Marin-based bee expert who, with her husband, started Bonnie Bee & Company, a supplier of locally bred honeybees and a leader in Marin beekeeping activities. For Morse, working with bees for many years echoes Masso’s experience: “Bees connect you with the environment in ways that other things don’t necessarily. I’ve worked with plants and animals in some capacity my entire life, and I have never felt closer to the environment than I do than when working with honeybees,” Morse says.

Morse sees many ways beyond beekeeping in which locals can help honeybees and gain awareness of Marin’s unique ecosystems. For one, infusing gardens with native plants that provide forage for bees throughout the year is key. Exotic plantings may add pops of color but can be ‘biological dead zones,’ ” says Morse.

Some of Morse’s favorite native options include coyote mint and ceanothus, aka California lilac, and she recommends that people learn more on California Native Plant Society’s website (www.calscape.org) and at local native nurseries. Native seeds such as those at Home Ground Habitats in Novato are another good garden choice. An upcoming Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership Eco-Friendly Garden Tour on May 18 offers an opportunity to get inspired by sustainable landscape design and includes a pollinator habitat garden that Morse helped establish at Dominican University in San Rafael.

Morse also reminds locals to avoid using pesticides: “I see bees killed every year by pesticide. People think something over the counter is safe and it couldn’t be further from the truth.”

For Masso such lessons and practices have transformed not only her own garden, but also her bond with Marin. While bees are essential to local ecosystems and food production, they also draw our attention toward caring for the place where we live. “I never saw myself as a beekeeper, but it has been one of the greatest things I have done,” she says. “It goes beyond having honey; it’s about taking care of them and being more aware of what I’m planting.”

Over-the-counter

“

“ BEES CONNECT YOU WITH THE ENVIRONMENT IN WAYS THAT OTHER THINGS DON’T NECESSARILY.”

BEES CONNECT YOU WITH THE ENVIRONMENT IN WAYS THAT OTHER THINGS DON’T NECESSARILY.”

RIDE

WHEN IT COMES TO KIDS, A BAY AREA NONPROFIT HAS A SURPRISING APPROACH TO MENTAL WELLNESS.

THAT

BY CAITLIN HAMER

Jessica Paul

Spotting surfers

on the beach is common enough in the Bay Area, but if you happen to see groups of kids taking to the waves, they might be there thanks to the MeWater Foundation (www.mewaterfoundation.org).

What began as a passion project for Marinite founders Eddie Donnellan and Tim Gras nearly 10 years ago has since grown into a one-of-a-kind nonprofit, impacting the lives of more than 5,000 underserved youth in that time, primarily through surf days and camping excursions. On the surface, this may seem like it’s just about having a good time, but the inspiration goes a little deeper — it was Gras and Donnellan’s time working in residential treatment at the Edgewood Center for Children and Families in San Francisco that opened their eyes to the positive effects of outdoor recreation time for at-risk kids.

As he was forming the idea for MeWater, Donnellan drew from his own childhood love of surfing, something he valued as an escape.

Despite the Bay Area’s proximity to the ocean, the beach isn’t exactly accessible for everyone and neither is surfing itself. That’s where MeWater comes in. The nonprofit’s year-round San Francisco and Marin surf camps, as well as occasional overnight camping trips, usually on Mount Tamalpais, are completely free. Transportation is provided and whole families can join in on the fun, too.

“The reason I started this was just to really help elevate underserved youths’ mental health and well-being while giving them access to experience things that under normal circumstances they haven’t had the opportunity to do,” Donnellan says. “Providing kids with this opportunity helps build their resilience and confidence and I think it breaks down a lot of barriers for them.”

Donnellan also hopes that the experiences MeWater offers gives participants a chance to look at the world in a different way once they’re placed in new environments, and he especially counts Mother Nature as a huge factor in the foundation’s success. “The great outdoors is there for all of us, and it’s a really powerful healing outlet,” he adds. That’s why surfing isn’t actually required; sometimes, it’s just enough

Jessica Paul

to get the kids outdoors. “It’s their experience and we’re there to help guide them through it, help them answer questions and also just listen,” he says. That could include getting in the water, but each individual is welcome to just watch the waves, talk or build sandcastles if that’s what the child would rather do.

Since surfing, like any sport, is both challenging and rewarding, the MeWater outings also show kids how to succeed, fail and get back up again, all with help and guidance from the organization’s volunteers. “That helps plant a seed for these kids that there are people in the world that can help and be there for them,” Donnellan says. He adds that surfing helps teach life

skills like quick thinking, adaptability and being present in the moment. And of course, one of the biggest benefits of a day at the beach is having fun and making memories.

“One day this volunteer asked me, ‘Do you remember the first time you went in the ocean?’ And I couldn’t really recall, but this volunteer said, ‘Well, these kids will never forget this day.’ ”

“PROVIDING KIDS WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY HELPS BUILD THEIR RESILIENCE AND CONFIDENCE .”

MeWater provides some kids with their first-ever opportunity in the ocean, something they will likely never forget.

Unlike in competitive sporting situations, defining success in a surfing nonprofit is a bit more complex, especially when so many of the people involved are youth from trauma-impacted communities. “The goal is to make these kids lives’ better,” says Donnellan, though he acknowledges that’s a broad statement. In the immediate sense, there’s the hope that the kids enjoy themselves and maybe learn something. Longer term, he hopes the activities help them gain new perspective and develop self-reliance. But according to Donnellan, the real answer might be simpler than we think: “The most common question at the end of the day is ‘When can I go again?’ Then you know you’re doing something right.”

By Lili Weigert Photography by Adam Potts

Cradled Nature BY

A STINSON BEACH HOME melds the outdoors with the indoors and is a model for environmental sustainability and preservation.

When designer/ contractor

Susan Skornicka of Skornicka Designs & Construction (www.susanskornicka.com) embarked on creating a sanctuary for her clients in Stinson Beach, she pulled the house back 20 feet from the coast and kept its footprint small. “We could have built bigger and closer to the ocean,” she says. “But we wanted to feel connected to the environment.” In contrast to other new beachfront houses, the single-level home is understated and set back. “We wanted it to feel at one with the dunes,” Skornicka says. “Not towering above the beach.”

“Cradled by nature” is how Skornicka describes the Stinson property that her clients, a spiritually minded and environmentally conscious couple in their 60s, bought in 2014. One of the original lots in the Seadrift

community, it consisted of a dilapidated bungalow and an unusually large yard.

“The house was a teardown,” Skornicka says. “The garden was the selling point.”

The project took six years to complete, held up by county permits as well as strict coastal commission regulations, including a wave study, that took three years in all. “Coastal projects present unique challenges,” Skornicka says. “It’s quite different from a typical Marin County build.” Seadrift’s housing association also conducted regular inspections to make sure all the plantings were on its approved list. “They’re so concerned about erosion,” Skornicka says. “They looked

at every single plant to make sure it was OK.”

Skornicka and her team, which includes her daughters Lilly (age 26) and Maia (age 24) and longtime partners Gubbins Building Company and Jane Walter, owner of home-design store SummerHouse, completed the project in 2022. Anna Kondolf Lighting Design, Boyce Electric Company and Mitchel Berman Cabinetmakers Inc. also contributed to the project. It’s unusual for the same team to design both the interior and landscape, but it’s a service Skornicka has offered for more than 20 years. “Integrating the outdoor space into the design is sort of my trade -

Building in the Seadrift community presents unique environmental challeges.

mark,” she says. “It’s not just an afterthought.”

The Stinson Beach sanctuary now consists of two structures: a one-bedroom main house and a twobedroom guest house. The design is elegant and modern, with an open floor plan and simple lines. “We call this style of home ‘natural luxury,’ ” Skornicka says. “It feels incredibly luxurious, but the materials

are all natural and chosen to be comfortable.” Windows, skylights and doors flood the house with light and bring in the natural beauty of the environment from every direction.

Originally from Michigan, Skornicka fell in love with indoor-outdoor living when she moved to California more than 30 years ago. “There’s such an increase in the ‘feelgood’ element in any house

when you can feel the connection to the outdoors,” she says. “And we’re so blessed to have our landscapes alive all of the year.”

“Each step was intentional,” Skornicka says about the landscape design. “I wanted it to feel like a retreat center, where you could exhale and feel at peace.” The design includes multiple seating areas and gathering spaces, a hot tub,

Skornicka is known for her ability to meld the outside environment with the inside, as well as what she calls “natural luxury.”

a fire pit graced by a grand Buddha and several unique water features. “We wanted the garden to feel like an experience,” Skornicka says. “Not just a walk-through to the house, but an immersive magical experience that starts as soon as you walk through the gate.”

Planted with native, low-water plants and pollinators that invite hummingbirds and bees, the garden is full of activity and color. “You smell the lavender and citrus trees that line the entryway, then you hear the sound of flowing water and see the grasses flow in the wind,” Skornicka says. “It’s a multisensory experience.”

It took a long time to get there, but Skornicka says her clients are overjoyed with their new home. “We were all in it together and they were dedicated to the environment and the process,” she says.

I WANTED IT TO FEEL LIKE A RETREAT CENTER, WHERE YOU COULD EXHALE AND FEEL AT PEACE.”

Community Minded

Client Focused. Community Minded.

City Carpets is locally owned by Marin native Leigh Bakhtiari and her husband, Hossein. Leigh was born and raised in Mill Valley where they raised their five kids and still reside today. The sales and design team all live in Marin and have worked with City Carpets for over 20 years which allows them to understand and anticipate the needs of clients in our area. The owners are very active in the Marin community serving on various boards and committees, they support efforts to find solutions for people experiencing homelessness and City Carpets is a key partner in the Giving Marin program which supports many area nonprofits.

City Carpets, 555 E. Francisco Boulevard, San Rafael, CA 94901 415.454.4200

info@city-carpets.com

www.city-carpets.com

Wink Optics in the Community

Wink Optics has been a stalwart business in the San Anselmo community for over three decades and proudly boasts the finest eyewear and professional service in the Bay Area. Wink is a proud member of the San Anselmo Chamber of commerce as well being a formidable presence on the Diversity Equity and Inclusive committee, Economic Development Committee for the town of San Anselmo. The team has been proud to underwrite the “Live on the Avenue” event each weekend during the summer and enjoy providing the “Kid Zone” over the last four years so those of all ages can enjoy the feeling of community.

70 Throckmorton Avenue Mill Valley, CA 94941

623 San Anselmo Avenue,  San Anselmo, CA 94960 415.456.7297

https://sunglasscity.com

Summer Solutions

Summer is just around the corner and we are showcasing businesses, services and products that offer the perfect summer solution for every family. Whether you’re looking for professional experts in buying or selling a home, beauty, fitness or health or even those specializing in jaunts and experiences for the entire family, we’ve got you covered.

JENNIFER BOWMAN AND ELLIOT FINK // BOWMAN REAL ESTATE GROUP

Work with this team to get your home ready for outdoor entertaining.

What is it about your business that makes it the best summer solution for real estate?

We have built a team of highly specialized individuals who have vast experience with real estate transactions and services. Our combined backgrounds include marketing, design, construction, project management, law, hospitality, development, psychology and competitive sports.

How can your business help clients have the best summer ever?

Many of our clients like to make updates to their home in preparation for the warmer months. We work with our clients to help make their dreams a reality by providing recommendations and access to local vendors.

What new services or products are you offering your clients?

Spring is a wonderful time to start thinking about home improvement projects and preparing for outdoor activities in the exterior space around the home.

What is it about you or your business that separates it from the pack?

At Bowman Real Estate Group, our strengths are negotiation and access to a highly experienced, tight-knit community of lenders, tradespeople, legal experts and financial experts. More than working in parallel, our all-star team truly collaborates to achieve success for clients.

What do you want people to know about your business?

Our doors are always open, whether it’s a simple question or access to our comprehensive list of trusted vendors for home improvement or repair.

BOWMAN REAL ESTATE GROUP VANGUARD PROPERTIES

1118 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur 415.755.1040

team@bowmanrealestategroup.com

www.bowmanrealestategroup.com /@bowmangroupmarin / thebowmangroup

DRE #01933147

What is it about you or your business that separates it from the pack?

Our firm’s employees are from all over the world — East Coast, West Coast, Mexico, India, Nigeria and more. With all these unique perspectives, it’s easy to see what we have in common this time of year. We all love celebrating good weather with a fabulous meal, among family and friends. It’s one of the best things life has to offer.

What is it about your business that makes it the best summer solution for home improvement?

With expertise in integrating home design, landscape planning and interiors, we provide full design services in one neat package.

Why is now the time for people to plan for summer property improvements?

Let’s start thinking about those fire pits and electric heaters that extend our warm afternoons into the cool evenings. The sooner we begin the project planning, the sooner you’ll reap its rewards.

What is unique about your approach to taking care of your clients?

Ensuring you get the home of your dreams that still appeals to many, is one of our main goals.

What do you want people to know about your business?

We work to make your unique home and property the very best it can be, minimizing your stress while maximizing your value.

This architecture firm brings world-wide experience to every project.

// DORMAN ASSOCIATES

// FILOLI

What is it about your business that makes it the best solution for summer fun?

Filoli is the Bay Area’s day trip travel destination of the summer. As the weather warms and the days grow longer, Filoli’s Garden fills with the color and fragrance of roses, rhododendron and iris. Wander 16 acres of enchanting English Renaissance gardens and glimpse the history of the meticulously preserved early 20th-century Georgian mansion where Gilded Age luxury meets modern beauty. Explore tranquil nature trails winding through an extraordinary landscape showcasing six distinct California ecosystems from redwoods to wildflowers every day of the week. Slow down, smell the summer flowers and watch the sun dip behind the mountains on summer nights every Wednesday and Thursday this year. The house, garden and trail at Filoli are open until 8 p.m. to meet friends for a drink at the Bluebird Bar or relax on the lawn with your family.

How can your spot help clients have the best summer ever?

Watch the bees and butterflies buzz and flutter among the flowers or search for wildflowers on the trail. Soak up the sunshine and spend time together in an unforgettable setting.

What new adventures are you offering your clients?

Our super popular Summer Nights are being expanded to Wednesday evenings this June through September. Now you

can take in the beauty of the Golden Garden Wednesday and Thursdays while we celebrate the summer season. Filoli is also working with the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone to create the new Lamchin Interpretive Center, a place to share the story of the first people of the San Francisco Peninsula. The Interpretive Center will open on June 8, 2024, along with a brand-new trail. FILOLI

The ultimate place for relaxing summer fun is just a short drive away.

SUMMER SOLUTIONS PROMOTION

VAL HARBIDGE // FITLAB STRONG

Build a better you with this fitness community.

Why is your business the best summer solution for personal improvement?

In addition to a wide variety of group classes and a functional fitness floor, FITLAB offers hands-on nutrition coaching and one-on-one personal training to get your health and fitness back on track. Our experienced coaches are ready to help and summer can be the best time of year to shift your focus back to a healthier you.

What new services are you offering your clients?

FITLAB offers its community the most wellrounded, mindful and intentional fitness programming in the county. We have your back when it comes to building confidence in the gym, achieving new levels of fitness and making lasting lifestyle changes.

What is it about your business that separates it from the pack?

At FITLAB, the coaches’ dedication to their practice is palpable. From the minute you enter the space, it’s clear the team works together to ensure the community sees and feel results, fast. FITLAB has brought together the best team and class schedule Marin has to offer.

What is unique about your approach to taking care of your clients?

At FITLAB, there are no annual contracts or sign-up fees. FITLAB culture is rooted in removing barriers for your journey to a healthier lifestyle.

What do you want people to know about your business?

FITLAB offers 90 classes per week catering to both physical and mental well-being. The brainchild of Marin local Val Harbidge, FITLAB was conceived after a decade-long tenure in the industry.

FITLAB STRONG

711 Center Boulevard, Fairfax, CA 94930 415.785.3026

hello@fitlabstrong.com

www.fitlabstrong.com

/@fitlabstrong

DR. FAYE JAMALI // BELLE MARIN AESTHETIC MEDICINE

Be swimsuit ready this summer.

How can your business help clients have the best summer ever?

At Belle Marin Aesthetic Medicine, our comprehensive suite of body contouring services, including TruSculpt ID, CoolSculpting, TruSculpt Flex+, and more, are designed to help you achieve your ideal swimsuit-ready body by summer. TruSculpt ID utilizes radiofrequency energy to precisely target and permanently reduce stubborn fat pockets, sculpting your silhouette for a smoother, more toned appearance.

CoolSculpting freezes away fat cells in targeted areas, providing noticeable results without surgery or downtime. Additionally, TruSculpt Flex+ offers muscle sculpting and toning, complementing fat reduction treatments for a comprehensive body transformation. With our personalized approach and cutting-edge technologies, you can confidently step into summer feeling comfortable and confident in your skin.

What is unique about your approach to taking care of your clients?

We meet our clients where they are, whether they are new to aesthetics or long-time patients. We never push to sell our products or services — rather, we inform, educate and recommend personalized options.

What do you want people to know about your business?

Our patients are our family, and we feel privileged to take care of their needs. We always strive for a natural, well-rested and healthy aesthetic. Guided by Dr. Jamali’s philosophy of “I would rather look older than weirder,” we understand the importance of enhancing beauty in a way that respects individuality and preserves natural features.

BELLE MARIN AESTHETIC MEDICINE

250 E Blithedale Avenue, Ste. B, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415.887.8718

hello@bellemarin.com

SUMMER SOLUTIONS PROMOTION

// WING & BARREL RANCH

Amazing and unique experiences are just a short drive from home.

How can Wing & Barrel Ranch elevate summer experiences to extraordinary levels?

Wing & Barrel Ranch offers a unique blend of outdoor experiences and luxury amenities that make it the ultimate destination for an unforgettable summer escape. Wing & Barrel Ranch intertwines luxury and leisure to create unparalleled experiences. Located within 30 minutes of Marin in nearby Sonoma Wine Country, Wing & Barrel Ranch is the only one of its kind on the entire West Coast — a private sporting club which offers a haven for discerning sportsmen, women and their families. Year-round sporting clays, youth programs and activities, culinary experiences, vintner member experiences, seasonal bird hunting, fly casting, travel and more, there is something for everyone at the Ranch.

Why is now the time for people to plan for summer indulgences?

As the summer season approaches, families are looking for unique experiences to enhance their season. Wing & Barrel Ranch provides the perfect opportunity for new and engaging activities, as it is the premier destination for all things outdoor lifestyle. Wing & Barrel Ranch offers an exclusive haven where members can indulge in a variety of outdoor activities, making it the perfect summer hub for families and outdoor enthusiasts.

What new services are you offering your members?

At Wing & Barrel Ranch, we are constantly evolving our member activities. This summer, we are proud to introduce our expanded lineup of outdoor activities including archery and fishing derbys, as well as curated culinary experiences featuring field-to-table tasting menu options, bocce tournaments and more. Our Salon Series feature speakers such as authors, eminent leaders, thinkers and innovators from various fields including technology, business and culture.

ROXANNE ALBIN, MBA // APPLIED FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

What is it about your business that makes it the best summer solution for finance?

By setting up financial systems and getting your finances in order now, it will give one great peace of mind so one can truly enjoy a vacation this summer. The services we provide can help take care of your finances, payroll, bill payments and more so one could fully enjoy their well-deserved vacation this summer.

Do you have a notable history in the Bay Area?

Our family moved to San Rafael from Los Angeles on Thanksgiving in 1974 — 50 years ago this year. It was in 2022 that I decided to pursue my dream of having a farm and so I moved to West Petaluma. I have very close connections and ties to resources in the community since I am long established in Marin/Sonoma Counties.

What do you want people to know about your business?

We are a women-owned business based out of Petaluma. We have a team of nine and work collaboratively on our clients. We are fortunate to serve individuals, nonprofit and for-profit businesses nationwide.

JENNIFER BRINN // UNALOME, REIKI & WELLNESS

Now is the time to plan for a summer of well-being.

UNALOME, REIKI & WELLNESS

Ross & Sausalito 415.430.5813

unalomemarin@gmail.com | unalomemarin.com

@unalomemarin | @jenniferbrinnreiki

How can your business help clients have the best summer ever?

Summer is the perfect time to book some selfcare, regulate your nervous system and improve your well-being.

Why is now the time for people to plan for summer improvements?

We offer year-round Reiki classes including two over the summer. These classes are mini weekend retreats that explore self-healing and soul-growth. Offered in small groups and held in beautiful Sausalito, they book up quickly so now is the time to plan.

What new services are you offering your clients?

We’re excited to announce our Community Clinic, a monthly low-cost clinic where clients may receive Reiki healing and massage therapy. We believe healing should be made available for everyone and no one is turned away for lack of funds.

TOMMY GUERRERO // KITO’S TACO SHOP

Enjoy summer eats at this family run business designed just for families.

KITO’S TACO SHOP

60 Corte Madera Avenue, Corte Madera, CA 94925

415.758.7071

kitostacoshop@gmail.com

wwwkitostacoshop.com

@/kitostacoshop

How can your business help guests have the best summer ever?

We created a welcoming environment for all ages.

What new features are you offering your guests? Weekend specials, extended summer hours, a rotating menu and we will be serving breakfast soon including breakfast burritos. Our amazing Chef Billy is from Yucatan, Mexico, and he comes with 25 years of cooking experience. We will be opening a parklet for outdoor dining just in time to enjoy the summer weather.

What is it about your business that separates it from the pack?

We, the owners, Tommy and Stephany, want to provide a welcoming environment for all and get to know our customers and regulars by their first names.

What do you want people to know about your business?

Kito’s is a family oriented restaurant and the name Kito is after “gramma Kitos,” who used to cook homemade tortillas right off the stove.

MARTINE LANGSAM, IAT, WTS // TRICHOLOGY CLINIC

It’s time to focus on scalp health and hair growth.

How can your business help clients have the best summer ever?

Summer is a time when people take time for themselves, to rest, heal and feel better. What better way to do that than to take action, have a Trichological Consultation and Examination with me, and see improvement in your scalp health and hair growth.

Why is now the time for people to plan for summer improvements?

Hair loss needs to be addressed early. The sooner you get help the better the results will be. Time comes and goes quickly. Plan now so you don’t get caught up and get too busy to take care of yourself.

What new services are you offering your clients?

I offer in-person and virtual nutritional coaching to support optimal hair growth. This is customized to the individual’s specific needs.

TRICHOLOGY CLINIC

880 Las Gallinas Avenue, Ste. 4, San Rafael, CA 94903

415.453.9792

martinelangsam@gmail.com

https://martinelangsam.com

KAREN LOVELACE AND WENDY TARANTINO // CUE THE CORE

Join a fitness community unlike any other.

What is it about your business that makes it the best summer solution for a beauty refresh?

Cue the core is more than a workout. We make self-care simple, effective and easy to fit into your schedule.

How can your business help clients have the best summer ever?

Summers can be hectic, with the kids out of school and family vacations. At Cue the Core we offer a place to rejuvenate with a great workout and get your self-care in.

What services are you offering your clients?

We offer privates, duets and classes at all levels. We include reformer, chair, jump and tower classes. Our Mid-Day Mindfulness is a relaxing class working out at a slower pace including meditation and breathwork. If you are wanting to work off stress, classes like Fusion and Jump & Chair will absolutely challenge you.

CUE THE CORE

1327 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901

415.889.0854

hello@cuethecore.com

www.cuethecore.com

/@cue_the_core

// MOONSTONE SKIN & BODY CARE

These noninvasive face and body treatments will have you ready for summer.

What is it about your service that makes it the best summer solution for a beauty refresh?

We all want to look and feel our best as we travel, hit the beach and enjoy outdoor activities. Our Holistic Body Contouring Treatment features microcurrent technology to tighten and lift the skin by building collagen and elastin. It also improves energy, increases strength and builds muscle and body tone.

What is unique about your approach?

We focus entirely on noninvasive treatments for your face and body with a holistic and health-conscious approach — serving as an alternative to fillers, Botox and liposuction. We offer these treatments along with complimentary wellness services to support your overall well-being.

Why is now the time for people to plan for summer?

To see optimal results by summer, we recommend a series of noninvasive Holistic Body Contouring Treatments over 2 to 3 months.

MOONSTONE SKIN & BODY CARE

415.898.0426

1129 First Street, Novato, CA 94945

www.moonstoneskincare.com

@moonstoneskincare

KELSAY ELIZABETH MYERS // DIALOGICAL PERSONA HEALING ARTS

For bold hearts on the road to transformation, embodiment and self-expression.

DIALOGICAL PERSONA HEALING ARTS

kelsay@dialogicalpersona.com www.dialogicalpersona.com /@dialogicalpersona

ODC // YOUTH & TEEN PROGRAM

How can your business help clients have the best summer ever?

Summer is a time for fun, passion and exploration. It’s just as adventurous to explore your inner world as it is the outer world, and it takes a lot of courage to discover new places within yourself that you haven’t encountered yet. My coaching programs offer creative ways of inquiring within for self-discovery.

What new services are you offering your clients?

The Fierce You Club is designed for you to be your whole self with fierce intentionality. I focus on helping you unleash your voice, explore your leadership style and discover what power means to you. If you want to expand into new ways of being nourished and empowered in the world, this club is a great place to start.

Why is now the time for people to plan for summer improvements?

If you’re feeling like you need a refresh of bold new ways of being, this summer is a great time to work at Dialogical Persona.

Young people can have a blast a blast moving and shaking this summer.

ODC 351 Shotwell Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

415.549.8534

registration@odc.dance

www.odc.dance/youth-and-teen /odcsf

How can your business help clients have the best summer ever?

Embark on a summer of creativity and movement with the ODC Youth & Teen program. From dynamic dance classes to imaginative week-long intensives, our programs are designed for students ages 2 to 18 of all levels. Young people of all ages will have a blast moving and shaking in age-appropriate, challenging and fun dance classes. Curriculum offers creative movement, contemporary and ballet techniques, composition/choreography and more. Secure your spot now!

What new services are you offering your clients?

ODC School Youth & Teen program is a creative hub for students ages 2 to 18 to learn dance and movement techniques, engage in performance opportunities and build confidence and community.

What is it about you or your business that separates it from the pack?

ODC has a three-building campus in San Francisco’s Mission District.

NAOMI ZELL // SWELL EDUCATION GROUP

Take your test prep to the next level with support from this exceptional team.

SWELL EDUCATION GROUP naomi@swelleducation.com www.swelleducation.com

What is it about your team that makes it the best summer solution for education?

Swell offers SAT/ACT prep and academic support tailored to students’ needs and summer schedules. Seniors can ramp up to a fall SAT/ACT; juniors can get a head start on test prep or take proctored practice SAT/ACTs and do planning consultations. All students can shore up academic skills for a strong start to the new school year.

What new services are you offering your clients?

The SAT is now given as a digital, adaptive test, and our team is expert at helping students succeed in the new format. Our phenomenal digital resources and robust knowledge base offer students the best possible prep for the SAT, ACT and other tests. Our process helps students strengthen their grammar and math foundations and build critical thinking and problemsolving skills that last a lifetime.

What is it about your business that separates it from the pack?

Swell is a boutique company and the caliber of our team is unparalleled. We’ve been supporting students and families in the Bay Area since 2010.

Tell Your Story

MAY ISSUE: Groundbreaking Women

Marin Living is honored to feature the most influential women and women-owned businesses in our May Groundbreaking Women special section. These outstanding women have proven to be a groundbreaking force in their industries. They tear down boundaries and provide dynamic services, products and community connections that set them apart in their fields. The feature will include a custom Q&A profile and imagery that showcases the women and/or their products or services. Let us spotlight what makes you and your business stand out. We’ll be honoring all our Groundbreaking Women at a VIP event on May 9.

Let us tell your story to a readership that perfectly suits your marketing needs. Marin Living will also provide a marketing support campaign with a linked sponsored article on our website for one year, newsletter promotion to 16,000 opted-in subscribers and social media posts.

Contact Jessica Cline for more info: jessica@marinlivingmagazine.com

follow us on social @marinlivingmag + subscribe to our newsletter at www.marinlivingmagazine.com/newsletter

www.marinlivingmagazine.com

going places.

FUN IN THE SUN

The inside scoop on where to get the most out of whale-watching season; Range Rover’s latest ride; a Bay Area gardener in bloom; and origami at San Quentin.

Blake Bronstad

The Santa Barbara coastline

SPRING BOUNTY

The Bay Area landscape designer’s new tome shows how to create your own garden wonderland.

By Leslie Bennett

EXCERPTED

FROM

GARDEN WONDERLAND (TEN SPEED PRESS) BY LESLIE BENNETT AND JULIE CHAI

A garden can be so much more than a backyard sitting area or a place with plants in the ground. Many of us think of our outdoor spaces in the simplest of terms — such as low-maintenance, native, flower or veggie gardens — that have been popularized by magazines and makeover shows. But these skip over a garden’s true potential for impacting our lives for the better. In fact, with a little intention our gardens can be shaped into what I think of as real-life wonderlands — that is, places where we can grow our relationship with plants,

experience awe-inspiring beauty, attune with nature and the seasons, and integrate a sense of abundance that inspires creativity and sharing — all while remembering and choosing the stories we tell about who we are and how we belong. Simply put, our gardens can be where we find more connected, inspired and grounded versions of ourselves.

After more than 15 years of garden designing and tending here in the S.F. Bay Area with my design-build business, Pine House Edible Gardens (www.pinehouse ediblegardens.com), I’ve learned so much about how to make gardens that truly support our lives, also that achieving a landscape that you can nurture, and

that nurtures you in return, is about using plants to support an immersive experience where inspiration, connection, belonging, and new ways of being can unfold.

Our new book, Garden Wonderland , focuses on four key lessons: how to make plants part of your daily life, how to surround yourself with beauty, how to make space for connection and how to fortify your sense of belonging. In broad strokes, it outlines Pine House Edible Gardens approach for creating your own

EVERGREEN EDIBLES TO PLANT RIGHT NOW

Food is the driving force behind most Pine House gardens so we always make space in the landscape for evergreen edibles to help provide visual structure in the landscape through every month as well as give our clients tasty seasonal harvests. Here are some of our favorites you might want to plant in your own garden this spring!

• Dwarf myrtle (Myrtus communis “Nana”), which has edible berries and leaves

• Dwarf culinary bay laurel (Laurus nobilis Little Ragu)

• Loquat

• Meyer lemon

• Pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana)

• “Sunshine Blue” blueberries

garden wonderland, from big-picture concepts to more step-by-step tasks, then invites you to wander through 19 lush gardens that can provide inspiration for your own. Together, these wonderlands show a broad perspective of how people are finding their connections, and themselves, in their front yards and backyards and offer views of how gardens can be as meaningful and unique as each of us. You’ll see how life-changing these gardens are and how you can achieve this for yourself too.

Leslie Bennett is the owner of Oakland-based Pine House Edible Gardens and co-author of Garden Wonderland and The Beautiful Edible Garden . She is a winner of the American Horticultural Society’s Landscape Design Award, has been named to the Elle Decor A-List of top international designers and is on Oprah’s list of Top 50 Black Visionaries.

Julie Chai is a garden writer and editor and co-author of Garden Wonderland . She is the editor of the New York Times bestselling Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden and Floret Farm’s Discovering Dahlias

GO ANYWHERE

The Range Rover Sport is as comfortable at the feed store as it is at the opera.

By Nick Czap

IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE

MAXIM that looking good is prerequisite to feeling good, you no doubt devote as much thought to what you drive as to what you wear, knowing instinctively that the design of the machine in your garage influences your state of mind as much as the cut of the clothes in your wardrobe. Which is why, if you

had to choose but a single vehicle to get you from point A to point B, over any terrain, through any conditions, while simultaneously satisfying your sartorial and psychic needs, then the Land Rover Range Rover Sport is an obvious choice.

The Range Rover Sport isn’t simply an SUV, it’s a sculpture. Forged

by modernist philosophy and a reductive design approach, its silhouette is pure seduction. From its bold front end to its gracefully upswept tail, its lightweight aluminum body is a master class in purity of form. Taut, kinetic, muscular and refined, it invites the eye to linger, and to savor the light and shadow of a shape so sleek and a

Its lightweight aluminum body is a master class in purity of form.”

shoulder line so refined that Land Rover’s designers devoted untold hours to developing a retracting door handle would all but disappear into the bodywork.

As much as you’d like to spend all day gazing, though, you have places to go. With a last, longing look at a deliciously proportional 22-inch Satin Dark Grey alloy wheel wrapped in low-profile Pirelli rubber, you enter the cockpit-like cabin, easily accessible with the Range Rover Sport automatically lowered on the haunches of its Dynamic Air Suspension. Inside, you are struck once more by a sophisticated, modern aesthetic, and by the cleanest of lines clad in premium hides and textiles. A single, gently curved touch screen controls the vehicle’s functions, leaving the dash, and your thoughts, supremely uncluttered. You set the climate control, pop a mineral water in the refrigerator compartment, and go.

And so you set out for work or school or the feed store or the opera or the mountain cabin whose precarious track is but a walk in the park for the Range Rover Sport’s unparalleled off-road capabilities. And as you do, something happens. A feeling takes over. A feeling of being wonderfully at ease that is entirely related to the feeling you get when you step out in just the right outfit for the moment at hand, be it flip-flops and your favorite bikini or the perfect little black dress or the suit that fits you like nothing else because it’s bespoke.

Whether aluminum and glass, elastane, wool or silk, it’s all cut from the same cloth, as it were, and so, for that matter, are we. The things we drive are no different from the things we wear, their effect merely magnified by their mass, horsepower and torque. We are drawn to beauty and to beautiful objects, none more so than the beautiful object with the promise of transmitting who we are, transforming us into who we want to be, and transporting us over any conceivable obstacle, imagined or real.

The new Range Rover Sport is the epitome of style.

Images courtesy of Range Rover

SANCTUARY SEA

Santa Barbara, known as a whalewatching destination, has a new designation and hotels that embrace the surroundings.

By Casey Hatfield-Chiotti

WE PASSED BY A red-andwhite-striped buoy marker — a popular hangout spot, it seemed, for fuzzy brown sea lions who like to sun themselves on the wide base — as we glided into the Santa Barbara Channel.

There was a grayish cloud cover and a veil of haze. The blue sea’s dappled surface mimicked the clouds’ shape, almost making it difficult to know where the water stopped and the sky began.

My family and I were on a whale-watching excursion aboard the Condor Express (www.condorexpress.com), a fast catamaran with a teak-paneled

cabin and upper sundeck for sightseeing, which offers whalewatching year-round. The channel seemed vast. Finding a whale, I thought, would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Onboard naturalists educated us about whales and the challenges they face. We learned that gray whales have returned from the brink of extinction twice, and that whales play an important role in mitigating climate change. During their long lives, whales accumulate carbon in their bodies, keeping it out of the atmosphere even after their deaths.

Protectors of the channel have a new reason to celebrate. It was

Whales play an important role in mitigating climate change.”

This page: Blake Bronstad; opposite page, clockwise from top left: David Collier, Blake Bronstad, David Collier

named a Whale Heritage Area in October 2023 — only the second in California and ninth in the world — recognizing the region’s commitment to responsible tourism. The designation will help support ongoing research and conservation efforts.

A marine sanctuary, the Santa Barbara Channel, extending from Santa Barbara to Ventura,

is renowned for its abundant biodiversity and thriving marine ecosystem, the result of warm and cool currents from north and south meeting and creating nutrient-rich waters. It’s a refuge for more than 25 different marine mammals, a higher number than in other California coastal areas. Still, whales like Scarlet, a friendly humpback who has

been visiting the channel for 15 years, have scars from propellers. The Condor Express is a quad-jet boat with no sharp propellers beneath, so it can approach whales and dolphins safely.

Forty-five minutes into our excursion, things started to get interesting. Up ahead, we could see a patch of choppy water, but as we got closer, we realized it was hundreds of dolphins frolicking in the sea. Our captain, Captain Dave, told us the curious dolphins loved to surf in the jet boat’s wake, and indeed, they quickly surrounded us, jumping and spinning in the drag. We approached the mist-shrouded cliffs and sea caves of Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the five islands that comprise Channel Islands National Park (www.nps.gov/chis).

Considered the “Galapagos of the U.S.,” the island chain has more than 2,000 species of plants and animals, 145 unique to the islands. Visitors can access the islands on a day trip with Island Packers (www.islandpackers.com), which departs from Ventura Harbor. We cruised along the coastline, and then Captain Dave told us to look starboard. He had spotted a minke whale. My son and I oohed and aahed as its dorsal fin glided in and out of the water like a serpent.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center (above); Santa Barbara coastline (right); whale watching tour aboard the Condor Express (below)

The steep east-west-facing Santa Ynez Mountain range backs the coastal city of Santa Barbara. The red-tile-roof buildings, moderate Mediterranean-like climate and mix of cypress, oak and palm trees make it feel like Tuscany, the South of France and Spain’s Alicante all in one. The best time to see whales is mid-February through mid-May, when more than 28,000 gray whales journey through the channel headed to the Arctic to breeding grounds in Baja. Visitors can also see humpback whales from May through September and the giants of the ocean, blues whales, during the summer. As my

family and I explored the city, it was clear that the residents revered these gentle creatures.

At the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (www.sbnature. org), my two sons loved playing beneath the 72-foot-long blue whale skeleton nicknamed Chad. Clearly too large to go inside, it sits in front of the museum near the parking lot. Life-size whale models hang in the entryway at the Sea Center, an

interactive aquarium on Stearns

Wharf where visitors can pet small sharks and touch whale baleen, the filter-feeding system found in the jaws of large whales. The gray whale baleen felt like silky straw.

On my way out, I noticed a quote on the wall from Jean-Michel

Cousteau — Jacques Cousteau’s son is a Santa Barbara resident and influential environmentalist — that read, “Protect the ocean, and you protect yourself.”

We are undoubtedly connected to whales. Both our fates may depend on just how much we care.

Blake Bronstad

The stunning Santa Barbara oceanfront

HOTELS FOR NATURE LOVERS

The seaside Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara (from $838 per night; www.ritzcarlton. com) in Goleta hosts Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program. Through excursions and activities, adults and children can learn about the Gaviota Coast’s habitats and traditional Chumash culture.

A beloved retreat for Hollywood elites since 1918, El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel (from $947 per night; www.belmond.com) in the hillside Riviera neighborhood feels timeless with California Craftsman and Spanish colonial architecture and large luxurious rooms with fireplaces. It’s one of the most familyfriendly properties in Santa Barbara: kids can explore seven acres of gardens, spot resident turtles in the lily pond and splash in a zero-edge swimming pool.

On the edge of the Funk Zone, a lively neighborhood where wineries and art galleries fill industrial buildings, the historic Hotel Californian (from $729 per night; www.hotelcalifornian.com) is within walking distance of the harbor. The Moorish interior design by Martyn Lawrence Bullard transports guests to a riad in Marrakech.

A stay at the luxe San Ysidro Ranch (from $2,495 per night all-inclusive; www.sanysidroranch.com) puts visitors within easy striking distance of some of the area’s best hiking trails, like the popular Cold Spring Trail Loop. The hotel has 38 cottages shaded by sycamore and oak trees and memorable dining in a 19th-century citrus packing house. Guests can book private dinners in the firelit Old Adobe, a California historic landmark that dates to 1825. Try specialties like sea urchin with Meyer lemon and a smoky blood orange margarita prepared tableside.

The Steward Santa Barbara (from $350 per night; www.thestewardsb.com), a new hotel in Goleta, has 87 suites. Horticulturist Joseph Sexton created one of the area’s first nurseries on the grounds in the 1860s; the property, near the magical Monarch Butterfly Grove at Ellwood Mesa, where monarch butterflies migrate each year, still protects many of Sexton’s original trees and plants. 1 2 3 4 5

Courtesy of El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel; Hotel Californian; San Ysidro Ranch

EL ENCANTO, A BELMOND HOTEL HOTEL CALIFORNIAN

SAN YSIDRO RANCH

Marin Living celebrated its Trendsetters at a lively event at Lucid Studio in Corte Madera. Guests sipped Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars vino, nibbled on Johnny Doughnuts and mingled with friends, new acquaintances and fellow entrepreneurs. Burns Florist provided the stunning floral arrangements.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT.

Katie Ravas for Drew Altizer Photography

Dr. Cat Gibson hosted a select group of VIPs for “The Magical Evening to Remember” at 9 Corners Healthstyle Galleria. Guests sipped champagne and strolled the Galleria’s Med-Cryo-Spa, Fashion House and Wine Tasting Salon to learn about this innovative new concept. They also enjoyed Mystique Dining and up-close magic — an evening attendees won’t soon forget.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT.

9 CORNERS MED-CRYO-SPA’S “THE MAGICAL EVENING TO REMEMBER”

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

Katie Ravas for Drew Altizer Photography

01. Kyle MacBeth, magician Matt Donnelly and Michael Perry 02. Dr. Cat Gibson 03. Guests enjoying the show 04. The evening’s delectable dessert 05. Michael Perry 06. Steve Branham

07. Dina Grant and magician Matt Donnelly

08. Annette Sullivan and Randy Gibson

Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul. - Luther Burbank

Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul. - Luther Burbank

Stephan-Hill invites you to view our spring collections along with this stunning cabochon peridot and diamond 14k yellow gold Quattro® pendant.

Stephan-Hill invites you to view our spring collections along with this stunning cabochon peridot and diamond 14k yellow gold Quattro® pendant.

FAIRFAX MILL VALLEY

EAST BAY TEACHER and Buddhist Jun Hamamoto didn’t intend to start a trend at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, formerly San Quentin State Prison, but she did anyway.

Hamamoto, who has worked and volunteered at the prison for 20 years, was teaching a group in a program called Kid C.A.T., consisting of men sentenced to life in prison for crimes they committed as children, when she had the idea to ask them if they would like to fold origami cranes for the World Tree of Hope project in San Francisco. “I was very surprised at the overwhelming response I got,” she says. “And so the members of the Kid C.A.T. group started enthusiastically folding cranes. And then they spread the word around the prison that I was teaching how to fold these cranes.”

As for why origami has caught on so quickly — Hamamoto has been teaching the art form to incarcerated

A FOLDING CRAZE

How a local math teacher introduced the Japanese tradition of folding paper, also known as origami, to San Quentin.

By Daniel Jewett

persons since 2014 — she points to what she has noticed as someone who does Buddhist meditation. “There’s a calming effect to folding origami,” she says. “You can be sitting and folding; it’s truly a present-moment activity.” She says a couple of students told her that they fold something every night to bring calm before they go to sleep. “I thought, wow, ‘that’s a really great idea’ and now I do it, too.”

She says the classes, which accommodate about 15 students, are really joyful. “While I’m teaching, it’s relatively quiet. And then when we’re working, there’s a lot of laughing and talking,” Hamamoto says. “They come on Friday and spend time with their friends or other students and they get

to create something beautiful and fun. And they feel, for two hours, that they’re not in prison.”

Many of them send the cranes attached to a card to loved ones and family and get a lot of positive feedback and encouragement, Hamamoto says. She adds that the origami teaching has become kind of an extension of her work in socially engaged Buddhism — where she is a tireless volunteer for multiple causes. “I try to bring one or two formerly incarcerated students with me, and they’re always really happy to join,” she says. “They told me they want to feel like they’re giving back to the community.”

One thing that gives Hamamoto a lot of joy is seeing the power of origami spread far beyond her classroom. “Some of the students have told me that there’s this whole origami craze at San Quentin,” she says. “I think it’s from my students who are becoming teachers themselves.”

Jun Hamamoto teaching her Friday night origami class at San Quentin.