THE DESIGN & DOMAIN ISSUE
Nick Svenson
nick@marinsfhomes.com MarinSFhomes.com| 415.505.7674
Luxury is an experience, not a price point.
Coming Soon: 46 De Silva Island, Mill Valley © 2021 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. The Sotheby’s International Realty trademark is licensed and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty | Nicholas Svenson DRE: 01918616
Make five19 | brandstudio your in-house marketing team Creating and defining your identity is our passion and we know how to drive activity around your business. What you need is an aggressive marketing plan to separate you from the competition. Now is the time to put your plan in place. We can help. Let us develop a full creative and marketing strategy for you. About Us five19 publishing began with five seasoned publishing and creative partners during the pandemic to bring new life to the media landscape while targeting the changing demographic in Marin. Our senior creative team with decades of experience gives you boundless ideas at your fingertips. five19 publishing includes Marin Living magazine and five19 brandstudio. Contact Jessica Cline at 707.302.0850 or jessica@marinlivingmagazine.com
to get started.
M O U N TA I N S TO M A R I N A S , MARIN IS OUR HOME
BOWMAN REAL ESTATE GROUP is comprised of professionals specializing in negotiation, marketing, construction, design, law, and hospitality. Our diverse backgrounds enable us to focus on each aspect of the process, creating a detailoriented experience for our clients. Negotiation is the most valuable tool we bring to the table. Ever y aspect of our process has been tailored to provide our clients the best possible price and terms for their sale or purchase.
B OWM A N R E A L E STAT E G R O U P.CO M
BowmanRealEstateGroup.com @THEBOWMANGROUP
MARIN MATTERS
Providing Marin families more of what they want
A LEGACY OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS FOR GENERATIONS
THEY UNDERSTOOD US
EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS
We so enjoyed working with Jennifer, Elliott and their
We could not be more pleased with the end-to-end home
team during the whole process of selling our house.
buying service provided by Bowman Real Estate Group.
From the moment we met them we knew that they understood us, the unique value of our house and its location.
Their resources, flexibility and experience
were exactly what we needed.
Their weekly updates
From our initial meeting with Jennifer and Elliott through to scheduling our “Porchtrait” in f ront of our newly purchased home, they exceeded our expectations for the value an agent could provide and made the entire process as stress-f ree as possible.
relating to market conditions were especially valuable to us. We would highly recommend the Bowman Group
As a well-seasoned, consistently top-producing realtor
to f riends who need a realtor.
and Marin County native, Jennifer provided us with all the industry and neighborhood insights, so we know we
— Tom and Betsy S
closed on the right house at the right price. When the time comes, we know exactly who we will call to help us navigate the next step of our journey.
— Justin G and Laurel J
BOWMAN REAL ESTATE GROUP | 415.755.1040 Team@BowmanRealEstateGroup.com DRE# 01933147
PROMOTION
Smart Living Top-name, energy-efficient smart appliances come standard at Santa Rosa’s solar-powered Stony Village, as does affordability and small-town charm — discover what you’ve been missing.
The work-from-home lifestyle has changed how we work, but it has also changed where we work. Why not alter your perspective and consider leaving expensive city life behind for brand new residences on tree-lined streets located just minutes from downtown Santa Rosa? Stony Village by City Ventures is a collection of 43 solar-powered, single-family residences that are reminiscent of a bygone era. The two-story homes, designed by San Francisco–based Hunt Hale Jones Architects, offer farmhouse design, gourmet kitchens with Shaker panel cabinetry and GE® stainless steel appliances, as well as front porches and private patios or yards for alfresco entertaining. But there is so much more to Stony Village: smart, energy-efficient design. Residents will find NEST® programmable learning climate-control thermostats, Alula Connect Hub for home automation and twocar garages with solar-powered car charging. “Stony Village was designed to promote a healthy, CityVenturesStonyVillage.com | 707.307.3444
energy-efficient lifestyle using sustainable technology to keep energy costs low and reduce dependence on the grid,” said Phil Kerr, CEO of City Ventures. Select three- and four-bedroom layouts that range from approximately 1,540 to 2,140 square feet, priced from the high $500,000s. Now is the chance to capitalize on today’s low-interest rates and own your own home for less than it costs to rent an apartment in most Bay Area cities. Part of City Ventures’ Santa Rosa Collection, which also includes Round Barn and Fox Hollow, Stony Village is inspired by Santa Rosa’s small-town charm and the surrounding landscape of Sonoma County and the Russian River Valley. One of California’s top food and wine destinations, the area features legendary restaurants, award-winning tasting rooms and nearby apple orchards. Residents are never far from hiking, cycling and fishing at Taylor Mountain Regional Park, the Laguna Wetlands Trail and Trione-Annadel State Park with Lake Ilsanjo.
PROMOTION
Jessica Cline
Casey Gillespie
CEO jessica@marinlivingmagazine.com 707.302.0850
Creative Director casey@marinlivingmagazine.com
Dina Grant
Daniel Jewett
Advertising Director dina@marinlivingmagazine.com 707.238.2030
ADVERTISING
Wine Country Advertising Consultant Chet Klingensmith chet@marinlivingmagazine.com 707.216.1780
Executive Editor dan@marinlivingmagazine.com
EDITORIAL
Contributing Designers Eric Darrow, Zoe Ekonomou, Sarah Goldschadt, Madeleine Hannes, Allan Nacapuy, David Sebo
Hawaii Region Advertising Consultant Meredith Low meredith@marinlivingmagazine.com 808.388.2644
Contributing Writers Alana Malone, Mitchell Sam Rossi, Laura Schooling, Larissa Zimberoff
Advertising Consultant Kim McGinnis kim@marinlivingmagazine.com 707.559.8598 Advertising Consultant Courtney Roberts courtney@marinlivingmagazine.com 415.297.4507
Contributing Photographers Brent Ferguson, Rachel Weill Interns Paige Elliot, Taylor Leslie, Sydney Segal
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Copy Editor Cynthia Rubin
Mailing Address Marin Living PO Box 2104 Mill Valley, CA 94941 Office phone: 707.302.0850
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Editorial or Press Inquiries casey@marinlivingmagazine.com, dan@marinlivingmagazine.com
Volume 2, Issue 5. Marin Living magazine is published in Marin County by Five19Publishing Inc., Mill Valley, CA 94941. All rights reserved. Copyright ©2021. Reproduction of Marin Living is prohibited without the expressed, written consent of Five19Publishing Inc. Unsolicited materials cannot be returned. Marin Living is mailed 10 times a year to homes and businesses in Marin County and San Francisco. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Marin Living magazine, PO Box 16895, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6895.
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SIT & SWIRL
PLEASE ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. ©2021 JORDAN VINEYARD & WINERY, HEALDSBURG, CA
COMMUNAL TABLES are a wonderful way to meet new people, and they’ll surely make a comeback soon. Until guests are ready to rub elbows with fellow travelers again, Jordan Winery has reimagined its seating format for its outdoor tasting experiences and modified tables indoors.
BOOK YOUR VISIT TODAY Advanced reservations are required due to the intimacy of the experiences. @JORDANWINERY
JORDANWINERY.COM
table of contents. june 2021
18
66
spotlight marin. 18 news.
June is Pride Month — let’s celebrate! Plus, the arts are back, the Richmond– San Rafael bridge is about to get safer for cyclists and more.
24 local splurges.
Go ahead, take a seat and consider your options.
26 beauty.
Are your screens and devices taking a toll on your skin? 10 june 2021 marin living.
Vintage finds, design and real estate know-how come together at this Fairfax shop.
64 land & sea. 30 local getaways.
When you want a quiet break in Wine Country, Glen Ellen is the spot.
34 take note.
This roadie turned his Covid-stalled profession into a passion project: helping dogs find their forever homes.
36 eat & drink.
It’s summer, the sun is out and live music is making a comeback all around Marin and beyond.
Read all about it: Marin is finally getting a bike share program.
66 voyager.
Summer travel is calling. And your new, not-your-parents’ RV awaits.
80 drawn together.
Illustrator Wendy MacNaughton is bringing art to the kids.
from the team.
14 from the ceo. 16 from the creative director.
Clockwise from left: courtesy of Happier Camper; Jonathan Young; Ayla Beauty
26
going places. 62 new digs.
Live retirement on your own terms Are you on track? If you’re planning for retirement, one of the first steps is organizing your finances so you can do all the things you’ve dreamed about. From creating retirement income, to managing your investments and protecting what you’ve earned, I can help guide you toward a successful and secure retirement. Strengthening your financial securitySM Let’s talk—contact me today. Helen Abe, CIMA®, CPFA, CRPC® Senior Vice President – Financial Advisor 300 B Drakes Landing Road, Suite 155 Greenbrae, CA 94904 (415) 445-8468 helen.abe@rbc.com us.rbcwealthmanagement.com/helen.abe
Investment and insurance products: • Not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency • Not a deposit of, or guaranteed by, the bank or an affiliate of the bank • May lose value © 2021 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved.
21-JD-00352 (02/21)
features.
38
The Future of Food Is Silicon Valley’s revolutionary food tech going to change the way we eat and save the planet?
42
Rethinking Home Affordable housing has been a controversial topic in Marin for years — here we tackle the subject head on.
46
House + Home
On the Cover Design is something that speaks to you, check out our stories on how you can upgrade your space.
12 june 2021 marin living.
On the cover and left: markofshell/www.stock.adobe.com
All the home services you never knew you needed, and then some.
How to Take the Leap to Love With pandemic restrictions easing, Innovative Match founder Cassie Zampa-Keim says now is the time to start dating again.
Are singles suffering from FODA, fear of dating again? Many singles have expressed concern about dating again following more than a year of pandemic life. Whether daters’ apathy comes from posttraumatic stress disorder as a result of Covid-19, the development of new routines while living a socially distant existence, declining social skills, or fear of the unknown and what post-pandemic life will be like, the struggle is real. But that doesn’t mean singles can’t overcome it.
How important is it for daters to know what their deal breakers are? While having a list of deal breakers is good advice, it’s also important to make sure there aren’t too many deal breakers, potentially keeping a dater from ever meeting their match. Plus, I don’t like to
think negatively. That’s why, in addition to advising my clients to know their deal breakers, I tell them to figure out what’s a deal maker for them.
Should daters immediately exclude people who are separated and not yet divorced from their search? When I meet with clients, one deal breaker I frequently hear about from them is how they don’t want to date someone who’s separated and not yet divorced. While I understand the concern, after 30 years in the business, I’ve found there are nuanced reasons why a dater might be separated, which can be telling about their potential as a long-term prospect. The reasons can be many and are situational, which means everyone has the option — and the power — to decide what works for them and what doesn’t.
Innovative Match, Ross | 415.259.8714 | www.innovative-match.com
from the ceo.
WE LIKE TO THINK OF OURSELVES as Bold Optimists. Our Marin Living team is full of smart, dedicated and, most importantly, kind people who really enjoy working with each other. Many of us have had uninspiring bosses and hard-to-work-with colleagues, and we know that it’s difficult to do your best when you are navigating minefields every day. We created Marin Living to build a different and more positive environment altogether. One where we all feel safe to have the freedom to do what our decades of experience have taught us. One where we have the ability to explore our own personal interests as we incorporate them into our work. This issue is important to us because it marks our one-year anniversary as a company. We did it under unusually difficult circumstances that included a once-in-a-generation pandemic. After all, we are just rogue humans doing our best to make a living while infusing our passions into our efforts — and we are certain that Marin is better when more voices are brought to the table. Crazy idea, I know. I am so proud of our amazing team — our enthusiasm for Marin and each other is showing in every new issue and the community is noticing. Marin Living has a genuine interest in Marin’s new population, and that population is growing every day. We bring the next generation of Marinites into the conversation — those who are migrating from densely populated Bay Area neighborhoods in search of a more balanced, kid-friendly, outdoor lifestyle — while continuing to engage those who have built their lives here. We are exploring the constant changes in our county and bringing our bold optimism into those stories. We 14 june 2021 marin living.
celebrate the successes — large and small — of local businesses, including our own. Check out our “Trailblazing Men” section on page 54. These guys are impressive and are living their lives to the fullest while their businesses are thriving in our renewed, almost post-pandemic world. We are committed to producing fresh content like this that celebrates positivity, change and the beauty of our surroundings. When you look at the individual backgrounds of our team, you’ll find folks who have been in marketing and publishing their entire careers. When you find yourself in the company of smart, lovely people, it’s time to stay awhile and enjoy the ride. Our journey in Marin is based on a clear vision, hard work and teammates who genuinely respect each other very deeply. Our ride is just beginning, and we are in love with every minute of it. Buckle in Marin, there is more to come. In gratitude,
Jessica Cline, CEO and Co-Founder
Portrait by Becca Teal Batista; stephanie/www.stock.adobe.com
Love This Crew
from the creative director.
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, but over the last 15 months I have become better acquainted with my living space than ever before. Details that I had once ignored became obsessions igniting hours of research as I homed in on just the right pillowcases/throw pillows/bookcase/oven mitts/Dutch oven. It took me five months to find the world’s most perfect fabric to reupholster our dining room chairs with (and two months later, I am still waiting for it to be delivered). If nothing else, the pandemic taught me patience (and perhaps uncovered an underlying case of OCD?). It also taught me the importance of creating separate spaces throughout my home that are inviting — small design moments that make you want to stop and stay awhile. And so it goes with this “Design & Domain” issue. Instead of looking at design on a macro level, we approached it room by room. How is the blue light from the computer in your home office affecting your skin? How do you want the chair you buy for your reading nook to make you feel? The kitchen is the heart of a house, but what happens when technology starts to make its way into that space? We have also rounded up some great home services that you may or may not have already been thinking about — everything from wildfire readiness to in-home dog training for the pandemic puppy, and so much more. In this issue, we also take a hard look at one of the most 16 june 2021 marin living.
controversial topics in Marin: housing availability and affordability. Have a read, let us know what you think. The one thing we have all been dreaming about for the last year is finally here — summer travel. But there is a caveat: all those national parks and beaches we have been fantasizing about? Yep, everyone else has been, too. Which means that they are going to be overrun with people who had the same idea, but not to worry, we have you covered. We have some cool ideas for off-the-beaten-path destinations reached in this summer’s most-sought-after travel accessory — recreational vehicles. Oh, but these aren’t your parents’ RVs; these are much more luxe with amenities like home offices, spa features and kitchens that you will actually enjoy cooking in. Road trip, anyone? Wishing everyone a joyful start to the summer — may your gardens be filled with friends and your wineglasses be filled with rosé. I know mine will!
Casey Gillespie Creative Director and Co-Founder
Portrait by Becca Teal Batista; w production/www.stock.adobe.com
Room by Room
“Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.”
spotlight marin. 18 june 2021 marin living.
tverdokhlib/www.stock.adobe.com
—JASON COLLINS, FIRST OPENLY GAY ATHLETE IN U.S. PRO SPORTS
news.
Celebrate Pride 2021 By Marin Living Editors Cadet Wine + Beer Bar “Taste the Rainbow” Downtown Napa’s favorite local hangout, Cadet Wine + Beer Bar (930 Franklin Street, www.cadetbeer andwinebar.com), will host its legendary Pride celebration, “Taste the Rainbow,” on Saturday, June 19, at 6 p.m. in partnership with Napa and Sonoma LGBTQ Connection. Get there early; no doubt it will be a hit. Donate to the Spahr Center Marin only has one nonprofit community organization committed to supporting and empowering our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community — the Spahr Center (www. thespahrcenter.org). Want to help them grow? Donations are always welcome. Equality Vines Guerneville Tasting Room
Frameline (www.frameline.org) is the longest running and largest showcase of queer cinema, and, after an off-year, is again happening in June and right in our backyard. “In the spirit of celebration, this homecoming will restore some of the magic of our in-person festival experience with a slate of outdoor and drive-in events, as well as the largest lineup of virtual LGBTQ+ programming ever,” says James Woolley, Frameline’s executive director. This year the festival will also offer a Festival Streaming Pass for the first time, which will give attendees access to more than 50 films, live and prerecorded intros, panel discussions, and other exclusive programming. New Conservatory Theatre Center’s Transnational Cabaret Want to show your support for the trans community? Then you won’t want to miss San Francisco’s New Conservatory Theatre Center (www.nctcsf.org/transnational-cabaret) production of Transnational Cabaret. Artists from across the country will perform showcasing the “vibrant kaleidoscope of the trans experience.” The event will steam online on-demand May 10 to June 10 and it’s a pay-what-you-wish donation. Out in the Vineyard presents Gay Wine Weekends 2021 We missed out on a lot of parties in 2020 and Out in the Vineyard, Wine Country’s premier LGBTQ+ event and travel company, is here to help you make up for it. Spreading the fun over 12 weeks of Gay Wine Weekends, there will be a variety of fabulous events
around Wine Country and in San Francisco. Grab your party shoes and get booking. www.outinthevineyard. com/gay-wine-weekend, tickets range from $10 to $150 Porch Pride 2021: A Month-Long Queerantine Festival Is outside still too people-y? Then Porch Pride 2021 — Bluegrass Pride (www. bluegrasspride.net) is just for you. Enjoy joyous live performances from LGBTQ+ artists — with a spotlight on BIPOC and Asian performers — right from the comfort of your own living room. This is a free event with donations benefiting performing artists who have suffered financial hardships due to the pandemic. And the best part? Shows will take place every weekend throughout the month of June; check the website for days and times. Santa Rosa GayDar Presents Tea & Shade Drag High Tea Go “Beyond the Rainbow’’ throughout the month of June with Sonoma County Pride 2021 (www.sonomacountypride. org), from the Annual Pride Flag Raising event (in person or streaming online, June 1) to the drive-through parade at Graton Resort & Casino (www.graton resortcasino.com, June 5). If you are feeling especially festive then you won’t want to miss the Tea & Shade Drag High Tea hosted at the Tudor Rose English Tea Room (www.tudorrose tearoom.com, $65 per person and reservations required). Be sure and opt for the bottomless mimosas — proceeds benefit Sonoma’s LGBTQ+ community. We’ll drink to that!
Javier Brosch/www.stock.adobe.com
The riverside town of Guerneville has been a Bay Area favorite LGBTQ+ getaway for decades. Nestled in the heart of the Russian River Valley, Equality Vines (www.equalityvines.com) has a tasting room right on Guerneville’s Main Street. Support for LGBTQ+ businesses is essential year round, but showing a little extra love during Pride month never hurts. We’ll see you there!
Frameline45: San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival
20 june 2021 marin living.
RH Yountville
Wine Country Rendezvous Have you missed the divine sophistication of Yountville? Get your fill this summer at RH Yountville with the RH Wine Vault Vintner Spotlight series. The events take place the third Friday of the month and focus on small, family-owned wineries in Napa and Sonoma. Guests will be able to taste the wines and hear fascinating vintner stories about their winemaking experiences. Reservations can be made online (www.exploretock.com/rhwinevault) and guests have the option to upgrade the experience with a cheese and charcuterie pairing from local purveyors. Sounds like a perfect summer Friday if you ask us. —Alana Malone
Help for the Homeless
Courtesy of RH; Floating Homes
Spotlight Sausalito This year the Floating Homes Virtual Gala and Tour (www.floatinghomes.org/events) will take place on June 9, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Master magician and comic Jay Alexander will host the 90-minute virtual tour of Sausalito’s legendary waterfront community. The gala will take a closer look at some of the historical landmarks as well as exploring some of its juicy celebrity connections. There will be a live and silent auction and music by local stars like Joe Tate and Maggie Catfish and Slim. —Alana Malone
Although vaccine rollout in Marin has been very successful, there is one population that is at great risk and is sometimes overlooked: people experiencing homelessness. To reduce the chance of Covid-19 spread and exposure, this vulnerable population — which includes single adults, pregnant women and families with children sleeping outside or in their vehicles — Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (www.marinhhs.org) is continuing Project Roomkey through September 30. The State of California–driven initiative uses federal grants to provide homeless individuals with a safe place to temporarily reside. Locally, the project provides funding for 40 rooms at a Marin motel — the program is now at maximum capacity — plus case management support and connections to health care coordination. “Connecting folks to shelter, case management and health care can lead to other positive opportunities. The goal is to give them choices other than returning to the streets,” says Carrie Sager, Marin HHS homelessness programs coordinator. —Daniel Jewett marin living. june 2021 21
news.
Edited by Daniel Jewett
Wangechi Mutu: I Am Speaking, Are You Listening? Legion of Honor, San Francisco, through November 7 In a sprawling new exhibit, the artist, who calls both Nairobi and New York home, creates a new mythology of powerful female characters, hybrid beings and fantastical landscapes that is both inspiring and intimidating. legionofhonor.famsf.org
Nam June Paik SFMOMA, San Francisco, through October 3 After his debut of television experiments in 1963, Nam June Paik continued to wow the art world with his playful take on music, art and
Uncanny Valley: Being Human in the Age of AI de Young Museum, San Francisco, through June 27 This exhibit uses contemporary art from 14 artists and collectives to examine what it means to be human in a world where artificial intelligence tracks, collects and analyzes our data. deyoung.famsf.org
Cool Outside Marin Art and Garden Center, Ross, June 13–August 22 Landscape architect JC Miller curates this exhibit that looks at the work of Robert Royston, a notable Bay Area landscape architect who helped define and establish the California modernism style in the postwar period. Royston’s
innovative playground, Pixie Park, remians a feature at MAGC. www. maringarden.org
Communion American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco, through June 27 This live, world-premiere event created exclusively for A.C.T. will be presented virtually and to limited live audiences. Obie Award–winning Bay Area playwright Christopher Chen’s play is part docudrama, part mystery and part confessional. www.act-sf.org
San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco, June 24–25 Esa-Pekka Salonen returns to the Davies Symphony Hall podium to lead the San Francisco Symphony in Richard Strauss’ masterpiece Metamorphosen, Jessie Montgomery’s Strum and the opening movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 11 in F minor (in a string orchestra arrangement by Gustav Mahler). www.sfsymphony.org
Nam June Paik, “Sistine Chapel” at SFMOMA
22 june 2021 marin living.
Courtesy of SFMOMA
The Arts Are Back
technology and how they intersect. This major retrospective of his work explores the importance of mass media and new technologies and can only be seen at SFMOMA (and streamed through its website). www.sfmoma.org
San Francisco Design Week FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL digital format last year, SFDW (www.sfdesign week.org) returns virtually June 7 to 13 focusing on the theme of “Power” — asking the design community to question existing institutions and consider how they can help distribute and delegate power with equitable intentions. “This year, we as designers and design leaders are revisiting and adapting our mission to better reflect the world around us,” says SFDW Chief Executive Officer Dawn Zidonis. Programs include design author Diane Dorrans Saeks’ cocktail conversations with designer Gary Hutton and architect Joshua Aidlin (his House of Earth and Sky is shown at left) and design editor Zahid Sardar’s conversations with Greg Faulkner, Eames Demetrios and Walter Hood. —Daniel Jewett
Safer Bike Travel
Clockwise from top: Matthew Millman Photography; Maksim Kostenko/www.stock.adobe.com; Jonathan Young
This fall, local agencies hope to close a major gap in the bike network from the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge into downtown San Rafael. “To build a world where a large share of people ride bikes for fun or for transportation, we cannot … just expect people to ride on a busy shoulder or next to trucks,” says Warren Wells of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition. With $4.3 million from the state, this project would extend the Francisco Boulevard East sidewalk for another quarter-mile and create a safer, car-free commute for diverse user groups. The California Transportation Commission is set to vote on final approval of the project when they meet on June 23 and 24, according to a source at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. —Sydney Segal
Butterflies on the Go
Ringlet butterfly
“Any time we do wildlife reintroductions we make it a point to only collect from populations that are thriving and can withstand the loss,” says Jonathan Young, a wildlife ecologist at Presidio Trust in San Francisco. Young is part of a small team that is working to reestablish new populations of ringlet butterflies by transporting pregnant females from the Marin Headlands to the Presidio. The small brownish butterflies were last seen in the area in 2007 and their extinction can be attributed to the military’s degradation of the grasslands over the years. “By the time the Presidio became a protected park in the late 1990s, they were on the verge of local extinction, which finally happened in the mid to late 2000s,” he says. The repopulation should be noticeable within the next couple of years, and according to Young, the project is paramount: “Ecosystem complexity results in ecosystem resiliency, which allows these habitats and the resident wildlife to adapt and survive in the face of climate change.” —Alana Malone
marin living. june 2021 23
local splurges.
Take a Seat Chairs are one of life’s great joys — invest now and love for a lifetime. By Casey Gillespie
1
3
2
1. Jenni Kayne’s Brentwood Boucle Chair is giving us all the feels. Delightfully tactile natural wool boucle, maple legs and a modern silhouette elevate this dreamy neutrally hued piece. Available at Jenni Kayne (Marin Country Mart, Larkspur) or www. jennikayne.com, $3,195
24 june 2021 marin living.
2. The ergonomic design of the Hilco lounge chair will make you wonder how you ever lived without it. An interlocking seat and backrest design offer a contemporary touch — order the matching footstool for the full lounge effect (sold separately). Available at Resource Furniture (111 Rhode Island Street, Suite 8, San Francisco) or www.resource furniture.com, $5,595
3. Featuring a solid, natural ash frame and finger-joint detailing, the Gus* Modern Truss Chair has a midcentury-inspired vibe, but is destined to become a modern classic. Shown here in a vegan apple-skin leather. Available at Prevalent Projects (61 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley) or www. prevalentprojects.com, $1,506
4. Inspired by 1940s French furniture, Serena and Lily’s Costa Lounge Chair is made of coarse hand-braided water hyacinth, giving it a wonderfully textured appearance. And with the cushion’s durable performance fabric you won’t have to worry about the kids enjoying it too. Available at Serena & Lily (3457 Sacramento Street, San Francisco) or www.serena andlily.com, $1,598
5. Curved lines, blocky legs and rounded cushioning gives the Sculpt Chair a contemporary edge. (We love that it is made with certified sustainable wood.) And that color? Perfect as a statement piece or to match with moodier decor (custom colors available). Available at Crate and Barrel (Corte Madera Town Center) or www.crateandbarrel. com, $799
All images courtesy of the brands
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5
Distinctive Design Luxurious Detail
SUTTON SUZUKI Architects
SuttonSuzuki.com Mill Valley CA 415 383 3139
beauty.
Dara Kennedy, clean beauty expert and Ayla founder
Out of the Blue Is the blue light from our digital devices causing our skin to age faster? By Casey Gillespie
26 june 2021 marin living.
Does the blue light from digital screens cause the same damage as blue light from the sun? The blue light from our devices causes oxidative stress in the skin, and it is clearly linked to two of the most difficult-to-treat skin care issues: hyperpigmentation and collagen damage. But perspective is important. The amount of blue light your skin gets from daily device use is probably less than what it would get from the sun if you were spending more time outside. Still, blue light exposure is a good thing to pay attention to and learn more about, since most of us don’t protect our skin indoors in the same way that we do outdoors.
All images courtesy of Ayla Beauty
HAVE YOU NOTICED LATELY that there are a handful of beauty companies touting new products claiming to protect your skin from the blue light that is emitted from your laptop, iPad, LED lightbulbs, TV and smartphone? At first I was confused — isn’t blue light what is used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and, in some cases, acne? And please say it isn’t true, but do we need to add another product to our beauty regime? Most of us know that experts recommend not to look at our phones at least an hour before bedtime so the light doesn’t affect sleep, but now it looks like we need to protect our skin from our computers (and lightbulbs!) because their blue light can promote hyperpigmentation, collagen breakdown and wrinkles. There haven’t been enough formal scientific studies to definitively come up with guidelines, but the science is mounting. I recently sat down with Dara Kennedy, clean beauty expert and owner of San Francisco– based cosmetics and skincare retailer Ayla, to suss fact from fiction.
Dara’s Daily Dose
“I love combining a hydrating serum with a face oil as a moisturizer underneath sunscreen. It gives skin a beautiful glow and makes application easier. Here are some of my favorite serums, which contain hyaluronic acid paired with great antioxidants.” — Dara Kennedy All products available at www.aylabeauty.com
EDITOR’S PICK
“This sunscreen melts into your skin with zero blue undertones unlike some natural sunscreens, and speaking as someone who has super-reactive skin, this is a dream product.” Unsun Mineral Tinted Face Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30, www.aylabeauty.com
ULI Ambrosia Beauty Nectar, $185
Marie Veronique for Ayla – Dara’s Oil, $70
Is the blue light we are talking about the same kind that is used to treat acne and seasonal affective disorder? If so, is it a matter of the quality of the light or perhaps exposure time that makes the difference? Yes, but in cases where blue light is used to treat acne or skin lesions, these are small doses given in measured amounts. And when treating SAD, those lights
MyHavtorn Organic Facial Oil, $50
are used for a limited amount of time in the morning. With the blue light exposure from our phones or computers, you’re looking at longer, chronic exposure and its potential cumulative effects. We don’t really know exactly what the effects are yet. What about people who have sun-sensitive disorders like rosacea or
TWELVE Beauty Ideal Moisture Level Serum, $68
lupus or are taking drugs that make them more prone to sunlight sensitivity — should they be taking extra precautions? In general, it makes sense for those with sun-sensitive disorders and those taking skin-sensitizing drugs to wear mineral sunscreen with iron oxides more frequently, even indoors, if it’s a concern for them. marin living. june 2021 27
beauty.
the substances can shield skin from the oxidative stress of blue light. Ideally, these should be present in multiple steps in your skin care routine, just as they should be present in your diet. Exotic, new ingredients aren’t required to protect us from blue light; antioxidants are sprinkled into most good skin care products these days. I love vitamin C and E as well as astaxanthin. Lycopene is also great, and you can find a number of botanical extracts, like white genepi, that demonstrate antioxidant power greater than vitamin C. And while it may seem strange to wear sunscreen when you’re inside most of the day, I strongly suggest it if you’re concerned about blue light. The best sunscreens for blue light are mineral based — specifically, those made with iron oxides. Are there any hero products that you would recommend people incorporate into their skin care regime? Sunscreen is the most important thing to focus on. You need to find one that you won’t mind wearing every day. Suntegrity’s formulas are favorites at Ayla because they provide solid sun protection with the bonus of iron oxides (great for blue light) and a skin-perfecting tint. I generally suggest the 5-in-1 Natural Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 30 for those who like a dewy finish and Impeccable Skin SPF 30 for those who prefer a satin finish.
Ayla’s brick-and-mortar shop
Does blue light affect different skin tones differently? Yes, blue light seems to cause more hyperpigmentation in medium to dark skin tones. Studies have shown that a number of external triggers — UV light in general, as well as pollution, skin injuries, rashes and acne — tend to more easily cause hyperpigmentation in darker skin tones. Do we need to be concerned about LED lightbulbs causing the same sort of skin damage? More blue light is emitted by LED and fluorescent bulbs than from incandescent bulbs, but the issue with computers 28 june 2021 marin living.
and devices, specifically, is that they are so close to your face and therefore more likely to cause damage to the skin. It’s also a little easier to control the amount of blue light you get from LED and fluorescent bulbs because you can buy bulbs that are coated to emit warmer light. Similarly, your TV is probably backlit with LED lighting, but you can get a blue light filter to put over the screen. What ingredients should we be looking for in our skin care products to protect us from blue light? Just as antioxidants can help protect skin from the effects of sun exposure,
The science seems to say that we need more studies and that current info isn’t as complete as it will be in the near future — what do you hope to see studied further? There have been some studies on blue light’s effects on the eyes as well as on the brain, but a lot of this is also very new. During the past year, we’ve been living very differently than we had been before. So, a lot of the skin changes that people are observing these days — loss of elasticity, for example — can’t be pinned just on blue light exposure. My guess is that its impact is not as big as that of other factors that are heightened in our lives. Stress, for example, has an enormous impact on the skin — and while it’s a complicated thing to study, that is a relationship that I’d love to see more studies dig into.
local getaways.
A Day Out in Glen Ellen
Benziger Family Winery’s biodynamic vineyard
30 june 2021 marin living.
Image s courtesy of Benziger Family Winery
By Casey Gillespie
local getaways.
Glen Ellen is probably best known as the home of famed Call of the Wild author Jack London, but the small town (population 734) is big on winemaking, delicious food and the very beautiful and very popular Jack London State Park. Fun fact: the Sonoma Valley town is named after Ellen Stuart, the wife of early settler Charles V. Stuart, who moved to the area around 1869. There is so much to love about Glen Ellen and not least of all the abundance of charming boutique hotels, which might come in handy if you choose to attend Transcendence Theatre Company’s 10th anniversary season of Broadway Under the Stars this year (running June 4 through September 19, tickets range from $40 to $129, www.bestnightever.org). At its heart, though, Glen Ellen is a winemaking town, so definitely make time to stop in for a leisurely tasting — you won’t be sorry. Imagery’s 2019 White Burgundy, label art by Mai Wyn Schantz
Benziger Family Winery 1883 LONDON RANCH ROAD
www.benziger.com It’s hard not to love this biodynamic farm with its top-notch wines, sustainable farming practices (keep an eye out for the resident sheep) and family-run ethos. Easily one of the prettiest vineyards in Sonoma — it gets busy on the weekends, so book early.
Gaige House + Ryokan 13540 ARNOLD DRIVE
www.thegaigehouse.com If boutique luxury is what you are looking for, then look no further. The flawlessly appointed rooms have a distinct Asian flair, which adds to the Zen atmosphere. There is also an on-site spa, an included signature breakfast (delivered to your room daily) and a thoughtfully prepared afternoon wine and cheese picnic. Weekend getaway anyone?
Glen Ellen Star 13648 ARNOLD DRIVE
www.glenellenstar.com According to the Michelin Guide, “The menu leans Italian, and chef Ari Weiswasser ensures that every plate packs a serious punch” — and we couldn’t agree more. The rustic charm and wood-fire oven showcase Weiswasser’s culinary chops. See for yourself by booking a seat at the chef’s counter.
Ashley Batz
Glen Ellen Village Market 13751 ARNOLD DRIVE
www.glenellenvillagemarket.org Located in the heart of the village,
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local getaways.
Gaige House + Ryokan
Imagery Estate Winery 14335 HIGHWAY 12
www.imgerywinery.com Bold winemaking meets art at this winery. Each label bears a work by an artist that reflects the year and unique varietal. Enjoy a tasting in the bucolic garden, but don’t miss the Imagery Gallery, where you can see the full-size art pieces that grace the labels.
Jack London Lodge and Saloon 13740 ARNOLD DRIVE
www.jacklondonlodge.com
32 june 2021 marin living.
This Glen Ellen institution is a glimpse back to what the charming town was like at the turn of the 20th century. The inn offers quaint, affordable rooms and a swimming pool for guests to cool off after a day of taking in the sights. Rumor has it that the saloon has the best burger in town — pair that with the creek-side setting and unpretentious air, and you just can’t go wrong.
Jack London State Park 2400 LONDON RANCH ROAD
www.jacklondonpark.com As you drive through the gated entry into Jack London Park you immediately understand why the author chose to call this part of California home. Visitors will enjoy tons of hiking trails and picnic areas and exploring the remains of what was once the writer’s 130-acre estate, and so much more.
Les Pascals Patisserie et Boulangerie 13758 ARNOLD DRIVE
www.lespascalspatisserie.com This classically French bakery offers a little taste of Provence in Sonoma. The owners — who are indeed French — do everything from the baking to running the register, and if the queue outside is any indication, both locals and tourists love this little spot.
The Fig Cafe 13690 ARNOLD DRIVE
www.thefigcafe.com This cafe (sister to Sonoma Plaza’s the fig & the girl) has been a Sonoma staple for the past 20 years and with one bite it’s easy to see why. The eatery offers a California twist on classic comfort food and a dessert menu that should not be overlooked.
Courtesy of Gaige House + Ryokan
this delightful little supermarket has everything you could ever want for a Wine Country picnic. Grab one of the hot sandwiches from the walk-up deli counter and enjoy lunch outside at the covered tables situated among the trees.
H.W. Collender Imperial circa 1882 • $250,000
Antique Pool Tables • Contemporary Pool Tables • Modern Pool Tables North Bay Billiard & Game Room Dealer
Shop in our showroom at:
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246 Petaluma Blvd. N, Petaluma
Shop Online at:
Buffalo-Billiards.com
Call us at:
707-585-8992
take note.
Dog Days
Using a network of concert industry professionals who are used to long days traveling all over the West Coast, this sound engineer is helping to rescue shelter dogs one animal at a time. By Daniel Jewett Photo by Brent Ferguson
WHEN PETALUMA’S PAUL THOMAS landed his dream job as head engineer at San Francisco’s Bottom of the Hill in 2006, a venue Rolling Stone called the best for live music in the city, he couldn’t believe his luck. When the pandemic essentially paused that and his wedding audio business last March, he again couldn’t believe his luck. Because Thomas had something else to devote his time to, a calling of sorts — taking care of and transporting senior dogs at Lily’s Legacy Senior Dog Sanctuary in Petaluma — something he had started doing only three months before. “Live events vaporized overnight and I was in a panic. I thought the thing 34 june 2021 marin living.
that made the most sense was to do something that makes me happy and is rewarding,” Thomas says. “Even though it’s volunteer work, it’ll keep me sane until we figure out what the heck is going on.” Thomas says it is important to get the older dogs adopted so that they won’t spend their final days in a shelter. But he says that it is equally important to move dogs of all ages out of shelters in rural areas to those in urban ones (adoptions have skyrocketed in big cities during the pandemic) where they are more likely to be adopted, even if it means a 10-hour road trip. It’s a calling that has changed more than the lives of the animals.
“You realize how incredibly forgiving and resilient dogs are — most dogs are not really permanently damaged despite what some have been subjected to; every time they see a person, they start wagging their tails and walk right over,” Thomas says. “There’s really something kind of magical and special about dogs in particular that just seems undeniable to me.” As Thomas got more deeply involved in the world of people who rescue dogs — he was added to all kinds of Facebook groups — he noticed something: volunteers would move a dog as far as they could and then hand it off to another person, extending the length of the trip and the number of people the animal encounters exponentially. “The dog is coming out of a shelter and is already freaked out and now it is going to be in a crate all day and meet eight or nine different strangers,” he says. “Every time that dog gets handed off from one vehicle to another there’s two things that have a huge possibility of happening: it is going to escape or someone is going to get bitten.” That’s when the lightbulb went off and Thomas’ Roadies and Rescues was born. “Roadies and sound engineers are used to getting up at 4 a.m. and driving 10 hours from Denver to Kansas City,” he says. “We’re all unemployed. Maybe the more efficient and safer way to do this is if I just start reaching out to colleagues, a network of people that I know all over the country. I need to enlist their help.” With that idea, Thomas has spent the last six months making contacts, building up ideas for routes, soliciting donations and working with his partners, Second Chance Pet Rescue’s Holly Dalton, who was also able to include Roadies and Rescues in her 501(c)(3), and longtime friend Matt Wedgley, a Coachella transportation manager. For his part, Thomas says that working with dogs has indeed helped to keep him sane during the pandemic. “It really does give you a sense of purpose; it helps give you perspective.” All the work so far has been done with personal vehicles; donations welcome and will go toward gas, sanitation, pet supplies, carriers, meals, lodging for drivers and more. To donate to Roadies and Rescues and learn more visit www. facebook.com/RoadiesAndRescues.
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Live music on The Lawn presented by Meritage and Vista Collina
With pandemic restrictions loosening, live music is coming back to your favorite places for food and drink. Grab some friends and head to any one of these spots to enjoy the warm summer air and some great tunes. By Daniel Jewett
36 june 2021 marin living.
Bon Air This one is for the kids! Starting the morning of June 16 and continuing every Wednesday through July, it’s Music Time With Megan, a Marinbased award-winning songwriter and performer. Preschoolers are encouraged to bring their own egg shakers and instruments to join in on the fun. Under the Bon Air tent, Bon Air Center, Greenbrae, www.bonair.com
Hopmonk Tavern KC Turner’s Cookout Concert Series is back with live tunes in the beer garden, delicious food and cold beer. It kicks off in July with The Mother Hips and continues with former Giants third-
Courtesy of Meritage and Vista Collina
Strike Up the Band
MARIN
eat & drink.
base-coach-turned-troubadour Tim Flannery, as well as Cracker, John Doe of punk band X and more. 224 Vintage Way, Novato, www.hopmonk.com
Jerry’s Downtown BBQ Real Texas-style smoked barbecue featuring ribs and burgers will draw you in, but the music from acts like Pardon the Interruption and Kid Galaga on the outdoor patio will inspire you to stay awhile. Music happens Friday and Saturday evening and all day Sunday. 7380 Redwood Boulevard, Novato, www.jd-bbq.com
Left Bank Brasserie Inspired by the southern bank of the River Seine in Paris, where artists, writers and philosophers would enjoy food and conversation, chef Roland Passot brings that vibe to Larkspur. And on Sunday mornings, the experience is complete with live music on the patio. 507 Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur, www.leftbank.com
Sweetwater Music Hall Sweetwater is back this month! Stop by for music, a new menu, a covered patio and an expanded seating area. 19 Corte Madera Avenue, Mill Valley, www.sweetwatermusichall.com
Terrapin Crossroads Bands have returned in the venue’s Beach Park area with everyone’s favorite Dead member Phil Lesh and other acts. Check the website for times and availability. 100 Yacht Club Drive, San Rafael, www.terrapincrossroads.net
Town Center Corte Madera
The Summer Music Series returns every Sunday starting in July featuring local musicians. So bring the family and eat, shop and enjoy the sounds. 100 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, www.shoptowncenter.com
WINE COUNTRY
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa Pick up some treats from the hotel’s touted food truck, CaliForno Street Eats, and gather around outdoor fire pits and picnic tables for live music Friday and Saturday evenings. 100 Boyes Boulevard, Sonoma, www.fairmont.com/sonoma
Meritage Resort & Spa and Vista Collina Resort Take in music on The Lawn adjacent to the Vista Collina Resort every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through October and you’ll find a gourmet food truck, cocktail bar, wine tastings and lawn games to go along with the tunes. 850 Bordeaux Way, Napa, www.meritagecollection.com
Music in the beer garden at Hopmonk Tavern
Marin Country Mart On the first and third Sunday of the month the regular food truck offerings get an upgrade with tunes provided by Bay Area Jazz Mobile, a program of Jazz in the Neighborhood. Come by for a wide selection of tasty treats and stay for acts like Susan Sutton and Michael LaMacchia performing on June 6. 2257 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur, www.marincountrymart.com
Peri’s Bar While the bar is not open, the music sure is. Stop by the street in front of Peri’s for the Fairfax Summer Music Series every Saturday afternoon through September. June features the Well Known Strangers, Michael Brown/John Varn, Jazz TKO and Danny + Essence. 29 Broadway, Fairfax, perisbar.com
KC Turner
Strawberry Village Enjoy live music as part of the Weekend Sounds program every Saturday and Sunday afternoon in the piazza. Grab an outdoor table at one of the Village’s restaurants to make the experience complete. 800 Redwood Highway Frontage Road, Mill Valley, www.strawberryvillage.com
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38 june 2021 marin living.
kirill_makarov/www.stock.adobe.com
T HE
FUTURE FOOD OF
Navigating the unexpected, and often delightfully delicious, waters of plant-based food created in a lab is a worthy voyage for someone who cares deeply about the future of our planet.
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By Larissa Zimberoff
WHEN I LEFT NEW YORK TO RETURN TO CALIFORNIA, I told anyone who asked that I was moving to the “country.” I put it in air quotes very dramatically. If they needed more, I’d say, “Marin County.” Then I’d attempt to describe the iconic names I repeated like a mantra: Mount Tam, Muir Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore. Compared to my dirty, smelly life in the Lower East Side, Marin was most definitely the country. I moved west to write a book about the radical changes that were potentially going to save our planet. It was lab-made “chicken” nuggets. It was “beef” burgers made from pea protein. It was baby kale grown without soil. In shorthand, I referred to this as food-tech. The future of food was not in Marin, but conveniently, there were dozens of companies working on the concept a bridge away. One of the companies I visited for my book was Perfect Day (www.perfectdayfoods.com) — a startup working to replace the crucial dairy proteins we get from cow’s milk, but without the cow. My first meeting with Ryan and Perumal, the founders, was in a hotel lobby in New York’s Times Square. We were attending a future foods conference, and the pair had stashed a small jar of faux milk in a backpack. Furtively, they let me try it. “Don’t tell anyone,” they said. “We don’t have enough to share.” Five years later they were ensconced in a two-story art deco building in Berkeley. After our interview, I trailed the
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40 june 2021 marin living.
Texture, I would soon discover, was the underpinning of any successful analogue. As for eating potentially weird flora crafted in the lab, my motto was: Anything for the book.
peeowhy/www.stock.adobe.com
founders into a giant test kitchen to taste ice cream. In the center of the room was an island made from Carrara marble interspersed with cooktops, cutting boards and basin sinks. Halfway up the walls were white subway tiles. Soft jazz tinkled from a hidden speaker and a chef wearing whites stood with his hands behind his back. An ice cream tasting wasn’t a normal day for me, but it wasn’t far off. In the two years I spent researching and writing the book, sampling the new, unusual or unheard of was becoming de rigueur. A series of glass bowls sat out on the counter. Tiny metal spoons laid out beside them like soldiers. I was ready for this job! Perfect Day’s ice cream was delicious, and it was plantbased except for the whey protein. It was still an animal-based protein, even if no animal was used. In small amounts, I was told, Perfect Day’s whey protein gave ice cream a creamier and more delicious mouthfeel. Texture, I would soon discover, was the underpinning of any successful analogue. As for
Book cover courtesy of Abrams
eating potentially weird flora crafted in the lab, my motto was: Anything for the book. Appearance was important, too. The kitchen I tasted Perfect Day’s ice cream in was for show. It was a mirage. The whey protein was made in a lab, and the ice cream was made somewhere off-site. It was the Disneyland of Food. A fun house of mirrors. In my car after the tasting, I jotted down more notes –– how I felt, what the founders were wearing, details about the kitchen. How would the scene play out in my book? When it was time to begin writing, I sought out local libraries. In the Mill Valley library, I silently gazed up at the giant redwoods. In Fairfax, I spotted the regulars, soon becoming one of them. When I needed background noise and chatter, I sat at a cafe in San Anselmo. When I wasn’t working on the book, I hiked, cycled and cooked. I shopped for fresh ingredients at the Sunday farmers market. The blue-roofed Civic Center welcomed me to the treasures of Marin: seasonal produce, local cheeses and herbaceous bouquets.
My life in Marin was admittedly precious. I was awash in the privilege of having time and money to live the good life. But as I tapped away on my laptop, I realized the techno future I was writing about wasn’t necessarily the one I wanted to see come to fruition. When I left my laptop to hit the trails, it was all too clear which world I preferred. Our planet is under siege. Temperatures are rising, the oceans are overfished, we’re burning rainforests to make room for animals to graze so that we can eat more red meat. I can’t recall the last time I ate red meat, but it’s not off the table completely. However, I don’t want to support industrial agriculture, feedlots full of miserable animals and cramped buildings filled with an endless stream of chickens laying eggs. These aren’t happy topics. My book worked to untangle what it might mean to shift from traditional animal meat to analogue versions that tasted good and could save us from our climate woes. But were they healthy? I struggled to answer the question. I presented my dilemma to doctors, scientists and nutritionists. The doctors and nutritionists were satisfied. Anything plant based, they said, was a step in the right direction. The scientists answered with more questions of their own. Originally pitched as Disrupting Dinner, the title my publisher, agent and I settled on was Technically Food: Inside Silicon Valley’s Mission to Change What We Eat. I was pleased with what it evoked. It conveyed our shared goal — ending industrial agriculture — plus the uncertainty of where we were headed if we accepted these tech solutions without pressing the makers for answers. One day, after turning in my manuscript, I stood in my own kitchen, complete with white subway tiles, black faux marble counters and kitchen island from IKEA. I placed a cookie sheet covered in vegetables into the oven to roast at 375. While I waited, I ate a cracker spread with cream cheese. The “cheese” was made using a fungus discovered in a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park. Was this how I could have my cake and eat it too? A hybrid approach that blended futuristic know-how and, somehow, an ancient unknown ingredient? It was, I told my friends, the best plant-based cream cheese I’d ever tasted. Larissa Zimberoff is a Marinbased journalist and author. She covers the intersection of food and technology and her work appears on Bloomberg, and in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Wired, Time, Insider and more. Technically Food: Inside Silicon Valley’s Mission to Change What We Eat (Abrams) is available on www.amazon.com and at your local independent bookstore. On June 14, you can catch her online at Book Passage talking with Bloomberg food editor Kate Krader on the future of food.
marin living. june 2021 41
Rethinking
HOME By Mitchell Sam Rossi
42 june 2021 marin living.
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Regional mandates are calling for more than 14,000 new affordable housing units to be built in Marin County in the coming years. How will the county meet that number and ensure that new units are distributed equitably?
rawf8/www.stock.adobe.com
HOUSING IN MARIN COUNTY has long been a challenge and a public-opinion lightning rod. For buyers and renters, it is about access and affordability. For developers with plans to tap into one of California’s most sought-after communities, it can be a gauntlet of rules and regulations. Protective of the region’s picturesque shorelines, its open spaces and small-town feel, county planners have historically resisted the type of development and residential spread that has consumed most of the Bay Area. “Marin is well-known as a slow-growth county,” says Tom Lai, Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) director. “But that is by design. This is a great community with a great environment, but we’re cursed because we don’t have enough land.” While large housing projects are difficult to bring to Marin, California now mandates that local jurisdictions throughout the state make housing available to their communities, including housing for every income level. Data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sets the annual median income for a family of four in the San Francisco Metro Fair Market Rent Area (that contains Marin County) at nearly $150,000. The extremely low-income level is just below $55,000, while the moderate level for a four-person family is just above $170,000. With the average monthly rental for a two-bedroom apartment costing over $3,000, housing for low-income residents is an ongoing concern. To address similar discrepancies across the state, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) sets appropriate housing levels under its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) program. To meet housing demands, the program recently determined that the Bay Area’s nine counties needed to create more than 440,000 units during RHNA’s next eight-year planning cycle, set for 2023–2031. This is a more than twofold increase from the previous cycle. The decision as to how nearly a half-million units are to be distributed across the region is the responsibility of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG). This board of appointed county and city officials uses various methodologies to assign the units equitably. The hope is that cities will resist the age-old practice of building new housing in areas of similar income and instead distribute the units more evenly. This type of distribution fosters marin living. june 2021 43
POSSIBLE PULLQUOTES
This is a great community with a great environment, but we’re cursed because we don’t have enough land. With the average monthly rental for a two-bedroom apartment costing nearly $3,500, housing for residents living at the lowest income levels is an ongoing concern. The concern is that this type of approach opens the door to
A five-story, 74-unit apartment building is coming to Marin City.
44 june 2021 marin living.
This is a great community with a great environment, but we’re cursed because we don’t have enough land. are asking good questions about the size and impact of the project on parking, water, transportation and housing affordability.” Connolly recognizes that public involvement was critical to reshaping the original proposal, which called for a large Costco membership store and gasoline station on the site. Community input has always been an essential facet of the local planning process, but, from a developer’s point of view, it can also create political pressure on city planners to slow down, alter or even derail projects that do not gain neighbor acceptance. To deter city and county governments from creating bottlenecks for new housing, the California State legislature passed Senate Bill 35 (SB35). The bill was approved in 2017 to address any local regulatory process seen as impeding housing increases across the state. “The premise the legislation was written under is that the process is too complicated and takes too long,” says Leelee Thomas, CDA planning manager. “If a housing project comes through that has the required percentage of affordability, then you have to approve it ministerially.” While there are general restrictions against negligent development, a developer can petition any jurisdiction that has not met its RHNA mandate to use SB35 to facilitate its review process. This allows a project to gain approval
AMG & Associates LLC (this page); Merlone Geier Partners (opposite)
more inclusive neighborhoods by placing new housing closer to city services, jobs and schools. For Marin County, ABAG has mandated the creation of more than 14,000 new units. This is more than a 500 percent increase over the previous cycle when the association set the RHNA number at 2,298 homes. “There is a need to provide housing for different income levels,” agrees Damon Connolly, Marin County supervisor for District 1 and a member of the Marin Housing Authority board of commissioners. At the same time, Connolly acknowledges the new RHNA numbers are alarming. “Their methodology is in question, and we are trying to understand it,” he says, referring to how ABAG decides on unit distribution. He notes the county was concerned the association did not account for Marin’s resource constraints, wildfire threats or the fact that the region is on the verge of a historic drought. “There are several jurisdictions around the state raising questions,” Connolly says, adding Marin may seek to appeal the steep increase in the county’s RHNA obligation. Even without the RHNA mandate, the county continues to look at ways to address Marin’s housing issues. “We have had success pursuing an acquisition and conversion strategy,” Connolly says. An example of this repurposing strategy is the conversion of the Northgate Mall, located in the Terra Linda neighborhood of San Rafael. Designed as an open-air center in the mid-’60s, the mall was enclosed in the 1980s. As open-air shopping is again in style, Northgate’s current owner, Merlone Geier Partners, proposes a two-phase plan to transform the mall into a more family-friendly center. Along with new restaurants and retail stores, gathering spaces and an updated cinema that will include a state-of-the-art IMAX theater, the renovation will create a multibuilding apartment complex. The project’s first proposed phase will have approximately 900 residential units, with roughly 460 units added during the second phase. “It is early,” Connolly says about the multiuse facility. “A lot of details need to be worked out. Community members
without previously required environmental review or discretionary hearings. Another powerful tool for developers is California’s Density Bonus Law. When 100 percent affordable senior housing or development projects are proposed, the law allows for an 80 percent increase in the number of units. Additional concessions reduce restrictions on square-footage requirements, height limitations and parking standards. One of the first developments approved under SB35 in the county is in Marin City, the unincorporated township northwest of Sausalito. A five-story, 74-unit apartment building will be constructed on the 1.1-acre hillside parcel that is the previous site of the Village Baptist Church. While local zoning would typically keep the complex to 41 units, with utilization of SB35 and the Density Bonus Law, the project gained an additional 33 apartments. Connolly admits this fast-track procedure could be troublesome. “A developer can set up a by-right-approval process under SB35, which, if it qualifies, would result in significant limits to the community’s ability to weigh in,” he says. “The concern is that this type of approach opens the door to oversized projects without adequately taking into account the community’s wishes and interests. It is an erosion of local control.” Along with new development, Marin Housing Authority has found other ways to increase affordable units. One
such strategy is the Landlord Partnership Program, which addresses the idea that many apartment owners are hesitant to rent to very low and low-income residents. Connolly notes the county’s research has shown it is a misconception that such residents are somehow less responsible than other tenants. “What the county came up with was a business proposition that states if a landlord accepts low-income tenants and there is damage to a unit, the county will cover the costs. It is basically an insurance risk pool,” he says. Another way Marin is expanding its affordable housing numbers is by simplifying the process and lowering the cost of building permits for accessory dwelling units (ADU). ADUs are traditionally backyard cottages or in-law apartments and are fast becoming popular throughout the region. “We believe it is a solid way of bringing new affordability onto the market,” Connolly says of the ADUs. “People who want to repurpose a portion of their house in fairly short order, and without regulatory hurdles, can turn a part of their home into an accessory dwelling unit.” The program helps Marin meet its housing goals and augments the homeowners’ monthly income. With similar strategies planned for the future, Connolly is optimistic about the county’s ability to meet its housing needs while retaining the charms that define the North Bay. “Marin is committed to affordable housing solutions through a variety of strategies,” he says. “The goal is to do it in a way that makes sense for our communities.”
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Planning is underway to rebuild Northgate Mall into a family-friendly center that would include more than 1,300 housing units.
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House
46 june 2021 marin living.
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+ Home
Whether you are looking to upgrade your outdoor space, protect your home during fire season or hire an in-home chef for your next dinner party, we have rounded up some of the best — not to mention unique — home services in Marin and around the Bay Area. By Casey Gillespie and Sydney Segal marin living. june 2021 47
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AVI Marin 647 Francisco Boulevard East, San Rafael www.avimarin.com Is it finally time to explore the outdoor entertainment system you have been eyeing? Or maybe the time has come to invest in home automation — after all, this is where we spend most of our home and work life — so why not make it the space you have always craved? Super Bowl party at your house this year!
Backyard Bungalows www.backyard-bungalows.net Have you been dreaming of your own home office — quiet, free from kids’ toys and designed to inspire productivity? Maybe smart to consider an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). The extra room can be used however you desire — guest bedroom, playroom, crafting room, you name it. Backyard Bungalows can also help you transform a garage or other existing structure into the spare room of your dreams.
Barbara Butler Artist-Builder Inc.
Opposite: markofshell/www.stock.adobe.com; this page: courtesy of Barbara Butler Artist Builder Inc
325 South Maple Avenue, Suite 37,
South San Francisco www.blog.barbarabutler.com Oh, to be a kid again. These custombuilt, eco-friendly play structures made by longtime Bay Area resident Barbara Butler should be on every family’s wish list. Over the past 20 years, Butler and team have created hundreds of imaginative tree forts, clubhouses and lookouts for homes — everywhere from nearby Ross to southern France.
Calico Strawberry Village Shopping Center 800 Redwood Highway Frontage Road, Suite 121, Mill Valley www.calicocorners.com While this home store offers everything from furniture to fabrics to custom window treatments and reupholstery services, the bespoke bedding is what caught our eye. Calico can customize the duvet, comforter, pillows, headboard and bed skirt you have in mind. And when it comes to the fabric selection, theirs is second to none.
Chef Leigh Trombley www.leightrombley.com As a Le Cordon Bleu–trained chef
and former competitive cyclist, Leigh Trombley has a unique love for food and life that she longs to share with others. That’s why she does it all: dinner parties, nutritional consulting, personal in-home cooking, meal preparations and team-building workshops. If you are aiming to up your fitness game this summer, Trombley might just be your secret weapon.
Clean Slate Home Organizing www.cleanslatehomeorganizing.com Busy? Moving? Organizationally challenged? Professional home organizer Julie Siegel and team are here to help. From staging homes to creating new organization systems and stocking pantries, Clean Slate works with homeowners, architects, contractors, builders, interior designers and real estate agents (oh my!) to find sustainable and customized solutions.
Decorist www.decorist.com Want to give your home a design update, but not quite ready to shell out the big bucks? Decorist is the answer. Simply choose your level — classic, elite
A dreamy treehouse by Barbara Butler
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or celebrity, each comes with a flat fee — share room images and specs, and choose a locally based interior designer to create your dream room, all from the comfort of your computer. Easily order the components through the concierge purchasing service and get industry prices, too.
DogOvation Dog Training www.dogovation.com With summer here, newly adopted pups are just as antsy to get out and about as we are. But they first need to learn how to behave, and with the help of canine expert Lisa Caper that (and more) is certainly possible. Also a licensed psychotherapist, Caper has the unique ability to train dog owners how to train their dogs so that you’ll be set up for long-term success.
Calico
Frontline Wildfire Defense System
Opposite: markofshell/www.stock.adobe.com ; this page: courtesy of Calico
www.frontlinewildfire.com This incredible tool is an exterior sprinkler system that covers your home and surrounding area with biodegradable firefighting foam on demand. The system offers remote activation, built-in battery backup and wildfire tracking and system activation, all available through an app. Most important, this proactive hydration product protects your home from flying embers — the leading cause of home destruction during wildfires.
Haven Home www.havenhome.la From organizing to moves, closet design, space planning and furniture layout, Haven Home is a team that even Marie Kondo would approve of. Haven Home also offers online courses, workshops and gift cards. Check out the online shop for free resources like an eBook on Decluttering 101 and a Home Wellness Challenge.
Leon & George www.leonandgeorge.com Want mature, thriving greenery to fill your home or office, but have a thumb that is a little less than green? Then Leon & George is the premium plant delivery service for you. Just visit the website, choose the type of plant and
size, set up a delivery date and before you know it your space will be thriving. Leon & George also offers a selection of attractive planters and accessories.
L’Aromatica Perfume www.laromaticaperfume.com Loreto Remsing of L’Aromatica Perfume is a modern-day magician, combining botanical ingredients and aroma molecules into beautiful-smelling potions. We especially love Remsing’s custom scents — including room sprays, candles and diffusers — which she’ll formulate for private label clients or design with customers for home, office or retail shop use. Should your home have its own scent? Absolutely!
Marin Feng Shui www.marinfengshui.com Want to bring prosperity, happiness or better communication into your life? Then it might be wise to call Anne Cadigan, a Marin-based feng shui consultant. Cadigan specializes in the ancient art of arranging pieces in a living or commercial space to create balance and focus energy toward thriving in targeted areas of your life. She can also advise on buying, selling and remodeling homes.
Paw Zone Mobile Pet Grooming www.pawzone01.com This grooming salon doesn’t just have top-of-the-line equipment and natural products, but wheels as well. Save yourself time and money — and, most important, save your dog the anxiety — by booking a home appointment and Paw Zone will come right to your driveway.
R.H. Pulley Design www.rhpulleydesign.com A talented team of two, owner Ric Pulley and designer Andrea Spencer have more than 65 years of combined experience in the real estate and interior styling industries. From staging homes — their specialty — to designing offices and curating art collections, they’re the whole package. Tell all your friends; the team serves Marin, San Francisco and Sonoma.
Rick’s Energy Solutions 1421 Guerneville Road, Suite 106, Santa Rosa www.ricks-energy-solutions.com Based in Sonoma County, one of the nation’s top green building consultants is making our corner of the world more eco-friendly, one building at a time. marin living. june 2021 51
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Design by Decorist designer Jessica McCarthy
Opposite: markofshell/www.stock.adobe.com ; this page: Sean Litchfield
Since 2007, Rick’s Energy Solutions has been helping build new homes as well as inspect and add on to old ones with renewable energy systems. We’re really big resource-saving fans, and now you can be too.
Rolling Thunder Custom Home Theater www.rollingthunderhome.com An award-winning home theater or media room doesn’t have to just be for the movie moguls. For more than 30 years, Rolling Thunder Group has offered the best in technology and integration across Marin and the greater Bay Area. The best part? When you’re not using your projector or loudspeakers, they seamlessly blend into your decor.
Tom Remus Electric www.tomremuselectric.com Master electrician Tom Remus specializes in both landscape lighting — think outdoor kitchens and barbecue areas,
ponds, walkways, etc. — and residential electrician services. Need someone to install that ceiling fan or dimmers or hook up your electric water heater? Tom is your man. With his 35 years of experience, free estimates and conviviality, you might just want to keep his number on speed dial.
Tucci Lighting 660 York Street, Suite 217, San Francisco www.tuccilighting.com This San Francisco–based architectural lighting design agency takes illumination to the next level. Whether you want to add some high-design lighting to your living space, rethink office lighting or upgrade your retail space for greater impact, Tucci can do it all. Don’t know what you want? This is where Tucci’s expertise shines — from mock-ups to installation and maintenance, you can sit back and let them lead the way.
Upstart Modern www.upstartmodern.com Upstart Modern is all things art: installation, measuring and planning for proper placement, prep for moving, moving art to storage and even online cataloging. Trying to find that perfect piece of art to finish a room or considering an outdoor sculpture to show off this summer? Upstart can help with that, too.
Victoria Hamilton-Rivers Interior Design & Home Staging www.hamiltonrivers.com If you are aiming to fully remodel a home, stage it or just pick a new wall color for your office, you can’t go wrong with the help of Victoria Hamilton-Rivers. With a degree in design and two decades’ experience in the fashion industry directing exhibitions around the world, Hamilton-Rivers has an eye for decoration like no other.
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trailblazing men. Marin Living magazine is honored to focus on Trailblazing Men. They are creative, innovative and resourceful. They steer clear of mediocrity and boldly pave their own paths when it comes to providing exceptional services, products and connections. Known for their passion, commitment and love for their craft, these guys are always looking for ways to raise the bar so their customers and clients know they are working with the very best. Marin Living is proud to introduce our Trailblazing Men.
trailblazing
men
PROMOTION
Barr Haney and Whitney Potter Own Marin is an incredible real estate success story — put the team to work for you.
What makes you trailblazing men? In our industry, things have been static for far too long. When we started 17 years ago, we weren’t afraid to break the mold and form a team — two best friends with a common goal. The best part is that clients get the support of not one but two agents and our whole team — all Marin natives and extraordinary agents. How have you used technology to innovate during the pandemic? We were one of the first to use the full power of social media, like Instagram, to market homes and this has really paid off during the pandemic. We also implemented new strategies to show homes like virtual walk-throughs and open houses, Matterport 3D tours and much more. How are you shaking things up in real estate? We try not to be stereotypical agents; we do everything we can for our clients. We’re the source for everything Marin County and everything related to home. Our clients know they can reach out to us — even after closing — for recommendations on restaurants, hiking, biking, schools or anything else that helps them connect with the community.
This photo: Whitney Potter and Barr Haney. Below: Whitney Blickman, Julia Fitzpatrick and Allie Fornesi with Potter and Haney.
How do you make your listings look so good? We try to present our properties in a very stylish, innovative and magazine-ready way. Now more than ever it is vital to have a property look its best online in order to drive the greatest amount of traffic through the home. Our cutting-edge design team is always ready to make our clients’ homes stand out in the crowd. How are you boldly paving the way in your industry? We’re constantly evolving the way we work to produce the best results for our buyers and sellers. Whether it’s preparing a home for the market using current design trends or finding new ways to help our clients stand out in a multiple-offer competition, we’ll stop at nothing to get stellar results for our clients.
Own Marin | info@ownmarin.com | www.ownmarin.com | 415.737.5663 | @ownmarin Barr Haney DRE #01478074 | Whitney Potter DRE #01468633
trailblazing
men
PROMOTION
Ken Dara Engel & Völkers
What makes you a trailblazing man? Maybe it’s my affinity for data and my love of travel, but I tend to see parallels between the lifestyle of Marin and other gorgeous locations across the country and the world. Describe how you are innovative and resourceful. I really value the wisdom and insight of a talented support staff in order to continue to perform at the highest level possible. That’s why I am one of the few agents I know who has a full-time social media manager, a full-time videographer, a professional writer and an entire support team at Engel & Völkers working with me. Why is making good connections in your industry so important? Who you know and how you do business as a realtor in Marin has never been more important, particularly in this seller’s market where we are seeing so much competition for so little inventory. Having a strong reputation among colleagues and maintaining great relationships can be the difference between getting my clients the home of their dreams or not. How are you boldly paving the way in your industry? What I can offer my clients access to is more than just the real estate they want: it’s about helping them find the lifestyle they want. Furthermore, my team uses collaborative practices and aggregated, targeted data to deliver that concierge level of service to them. How are you shaping the future of Marin and the Bay Area? Marin is increasingly becoming a home base for global citizens. Thanks to my experience interpreting and navigating real estate transactions for people from Switzerland and all across Europe, I’m able to be the guide these clients need as we see patterns shift around the world.
Engel & Völkers | 539 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965 | 415.425.3626 | ken.dara@evrealestate.com kendara.evrealestate.com | @coffeewithkendara
trailblazing
men
PROMOTION
Steven J. Magner Marin County Photo turns architectural photography into an art. What is it about you that makes you a great choice for clients? My main goal is to capture the essence of the atmosphere within the spaces that I shoot and, when collaborating with clients, I dig deeper to find the story of the space. This allows me to tell their story in the final images and create a sort of visceral reaction that is often missed in architectural photography. What separates you and your photography business from the pack? By offering both photography and videography as dual forms of interaction, I have built a business around storytelling. Adding in videography really allows me to capture movement and emotion that may otherwise be lost in offering only stand-alone images.
Marin County Photo | steven@marincountyphoto.com www.marincountyphoto.com | @marincountyphoto
Dennis Green KARL breaks the mold to give customers a one-of-a-kind retail experience. What makes you a trailblazing man? I wouldn’t exactly call myself a trailblazer, but I am not afraid to take a chance. I have learned over the years to trust my gut and develop my intuition. Describe how you are innovative and resourceful We live in a disposable world. I make an effort to offer upcycled products whenever possible. I use curated midcentury furniture to display various home goods and surround that with a mix of old and new, including art, apparel and various collectables.
KARL the store | 1201 Bridgeway, Ste. C, Sausalito, CA 94965 415.729.9009 | www.karlthestore.com
PROMOTION
trailblazing
men
Kyle Chambers Chambers + Chambers Architects continues to build on its long and impressive history. Do you or your business have a unique or notable history in the Bay Area? Barbara Chambers built this firm out of her home over 25 years ago. I have grown up surrounded by design. It is an honor to collaborate with Barbara as her son and colleague. Our stunning homes are a significant source of beauty and pride in Marin. Known for symmetry and simple lines, our details have become notable along Northern California landscapes.
Chambers + Chambers Architects 420 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415.381.8326 | kyle@chambersandchambers.com www.chambersandchambers.com | @chambersandchambers
How are you disrupting your industry and thinking outside the box? My background is Industrial Design (furniture and product). Chambers + Chambers is traditionally known for our classical residential designs. I am excited to use my skills to complement our custom residential work.
Why is making good connections in your industry so important? An immense level of trust must exist between you, your client, consultants and contractors. Considering your client’s preferences, priorities and how they lead their life is critical to the process. We are shaping how our clients engage and function within their home. The result should feel seamless. What are your hobbies and interests outside of your business? Music and sound. Along with producing music, I’ve been building a modular synthesizer. Having hobbies that are unrelated to my day job is important. Breaking out of habits allows you to explore new creative solutions.
Dr. Payam Behradnia EZ Smile Family Dental Group has grown to become a leader in high-quality, affordable dental care. How did you grow your business? I started the EZ Smile Family Dental Group seven years ago with a very small office in Santa Rosa. Since then, my team and I have been working hard to become a leader in high quality and affordable dental care in the North Bay Area. How do you serve the community? We make dental care possible for all patients, whether or not they have insurance. No matter your circumstance, EZ Smile Dental Group can help you to get the best dental care. Everybody should have access to basic dental care.
How do you make dental care affordable and accessible? We created an in-house dental plan for as low as $1 a day. We accept all insurance including PPO or HMO Kaiser. We provide all aspects of dentistry under one roof — our knowledgeable and experienced dentists and specialists will help you to get the best treatment for your budget. Has your practice grown? EZ Smile Dental Group today consists of nine dental corporations that help more than 37,000 people from age 1 to 104 in the North Bay.
EZ Smile Family Dental Group | San Rafael 415.456.3273 San Francisco 415.584.2537 | Santa Rosa 707.575.9595 Napa 707.255.7711 | www.ezsmilefamily.com
Thank You! To Our Partners
Barr Haney and Whitney Potter – Own Marin 490 Magnolia Ave Larkspur, CA 94939 415.737.5663 info@ownmarin.com www.ownmarin.com @ownmarin
Engel & Völkers Ken Dara
539 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965 415.425.3626 ken.dara@evrealestate.com kendara.evrealestate.com @coffeewithkendara
Steven J. Magner Marin County Photo
Novato, CA 415.349.0733 steven@marincounty photo.com www.marincountyphoto.com @marincountyphoto
Dennis Green Karl The Store
1201 Bridgeway, Ste. C, Sausalito, CA 94965 415.729.9009 www.karlthestore.com
Kyle Chambers Chambers + Chambers Architects 420 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415.381.8326 kyle@chambersand chambers.com www.chambersand chambers.com @chambersandchambers
Dr. Payam Behradnia EZ Smile Family Dental San Rafael 415.456.3273 San Francisco 415.584.2537 Santa Rosa 707.575.9595 Napa 707.255.7711 www.ezsmilefamily.com
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marin visionaries. Let us showcase you and your business. Marin Living magazine is pleased to feature the most influential leaders and businesses in the Bay Area in our July/August issue. These visionaries are leaders and innovators in their fields and we can help tell their stories. Let us provide you with a readership demographic and show you why this special promotion perfectly suits your advertising needs. Contact Dina Grant at dina@marinlivingmagazine.com, 707.238.2030.
www.marinlivingmagazine.com
Courtesy of Moterra Campervans
going places.
Wild Blue Yonder Summer travel finds us on the road again; Marin is finally getting a bike share program; and a quaint shop in Fairfax is our new one-shop stop for unique vintage home items. marin living. june 2021 61
new digs.
Eclectic offerings at Outpost Home
Design Points West
Outpost Home is a new Fairfax decor shop that combines elegance, sustainability and affordability with a mixture of new and vintage finds. By Laura Schooling Photos by Rachel Weill
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IF EVER THERE WAS A DESIGN STORE that makes you feel like you’re shopping in a fabled great aunt’s country estate, Outpost Home (1828 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Fairfax) is it. Running counter to the big box ethos of sameness and neutrality, Karin Young and Tracy McCulloch have set out to add dimension, warmth and history to people’s homes. The store seems to come alive as you step into it, or perhaps you come alive with the possibility of how the abundant treasures could add color to your life. The small shop, which opened in the fall of 2020, has expertly sourced furniture, tableware, artwork and decor — both new and antique. “We want to tell the story about what came before and add depth to the home,” says Young. To that end, each item in the store has a tale to tell. Handwoven dog collars and baskets support international female artisans by providing the workers with fair wages. Pillows are hand-dyed in the East Bay. A titanic fabric chandelier was rescued from a junkyard and once hung in a Mexican restaurant. Finestemmed wineglasses, English porcelain salad plates, a fireplace mantel and countless other treasures were hand-picked from thrift stores and estate sales. If a knack for resourcing and precise curation would presumably go hand-in-hand with exorbitant price tags, think again. Glassware starts at $5 a stem; a set of four colorful plates was marked at $40. Pillows, baskets, books and other items can be had for under $100. Those with a penchant for character will be hard-pressed to leave empty handed. The owners are thrilled to welcome in customers, hear their stories and help them find items that they help may sate people’s unfulfilled desire for the trinkets usually acquired during travel. The decor destination has been welcomed by locals, thrilled with a new downtown Fairfax storefront, and discovered by droves of weekend cyclists and staycationers from around Marin and San Francisco. Tracy McCulloch and Karin Young are longtime collaborators and friends. They met when their oldest kids were at preschool in Mill Valley and their connection grew as their second kids entered school and became close. Over the years, the two found opportunity to work together; McCulloch is a realtor and Young is an interior designer. So last year, when the two were struggling to be productive in the Zoom zoo of their homes, they decided to take office space together. But when Young found the charming location, the two knew they needed to add a retail component. “We’re design, property consultancy, remodeling, art sourcing — a united skill set, a one-stop shop,” says McCulloch. The front two rooms are pure retail, while both women have private offices in the back where their real estate and design clients can meet. Though many retail locations suffered during the past year while the world was on lockdown, Outpost Home is off to a roaring start. Life has never revolved around the home more than over the prior year, so McCulloch and Young have welcomed house-weary consumers in for consultation and inspiration. They describe their store as a “gateway to West Marin,” and that notion of a timeworn, simpler life shines through in their small space. The local community has embraced the duo, presumably in no small part because they insisted on preserving the murals by Mill Valley artist Ian Ross that adorn front alcoves. The owners are also championing other local artists like Isabelle Truchon, Susan Schneider Williams and Tyler Bewley,
Tracy McCulloch and Karin Young
whose prints and canvas originals can be found adorning the walls of the store. They’ve even managed to host (Covid-safe) artist receptions. Outpost Home is the kind of store where you can pop in to see what’s new and reliably find a gift for every occasion. But as you immerse yourself in the vibe of the store, you may wind up seeking additional help with your home decor or even a remodel. Not sure if your design choices of today may impact resale values of tomorrow? Those are exactly the questions Young and McCulloch want to help you answer. A small store where you’re encouraged to ask questions, tell stories, buy sustainably and be unique. That’s Marin to its core. marin living. june 2021 63
Electric Avenue
A new bike share program for Marin and Sonoma nears completion and could roll out by the end of the year. By Daniel Jewett
64 june 2021 marin living.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, planners at the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) and the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) began looking at ways to expand mobility options in their counties and decided to collaborate on bringing a bike share program, a phenomenon already popular in urban areas, to the suburbs. “We wanted to link to the SMART train corridor, and we considered which options might bridge the gap between what we call the first and last
This page and opposite: Michael Lewis
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mile of a trip,” says Scott McDonald, senior transportation planner at TAM (www.tam.ca.gov). “It will be great for people who live or work beyond walking distance to transit and could easily connect with it by way of bike share.” Judy Arnold, chairperson at TAM, adds, “We are committed to trying new methods of connecting residents and commuters to transit and to jobs, and this program will build on the options today.” The two counties applied for and won an $826,000 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to create a three-year pilot program that would place hubs containing about 12 bikes each near SMART stations in Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael and Larkspur. In all, 300 electric-assist bikes will be deployed, about 150 in Marin and 150 in Sonoma. As planning on station locations continues this summer, most city councils in those cities have already approved the program, while presentations are being prepared for the others now. McDonald says the program is intended for local residents and the workforce, but he envisions that some visitors to Marin will want to utilize it, too, especially at the connection near the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. He also says it could be a good midday option for workers who left the car at home and want to run an errand or grab lunch. “They are nice-looking bikes, they have some cool features like really solid rubber tires and a basket. I think a lot of people will enjoy them,” McDonald says, adding that electric-assist bikes were chosen in part to help riders navigate Marin’s hilly topography. “There’s definitely some excitement around that aspect of it.” After a thorough review of proposals, the agencies chose a company out of Charleston, South Carolina, called Gotcha that would provide bike and station maintenance, move bikes between stations when necessary and provide the bikes themselves. “Overall, we were just really impressed with the device and the team behind it,” McDonald says. Early this year that company was
McDonald says that electric-assist bikes were chosen in part to help riders navigate Marin’s hilly topography. acquired by Bolt Mobility, co-founded by Olympic athlete Usain Bolt, but the technology and team are essentially the same. The bikes will all be GPS enabled and rentable through an app that will tell users exactly how many bikes are at each station. The system will be connected to the regional Clipper Card, which can be used on Marin Transit and Golden Gate Transit and can also activate a rental, making the system available to those without smartphones. There will be pay-as-you-go or monthly
subscription options and discounts for students 18 and up, veterans and those on government assistance. McDonald says the partnership with SCTA, TAM and other local governments has been highly positive and that he expects planning for the pilot to be completed by late 2021, after which the system should be available for use. “We’re excited about the project — we’ve been working on it for a while and we’re looking forward to delivering it to the public,” McDonald says. marin living. june 2021 65
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Courtesy of Moterra Campervans
Moterra Campervan
voyager.
New Rules of the Road
Exploring the magic of #vanlife is easier and more stylish than ever.
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By Casey Hatfield-Chiotti
FOR MANY, THE WORDS “recreational vehicle” might conjure up images of people in their sunset years traversing the country in oversize tan motor homes, stopping at sparse RV parks along the way. Today’s RV landscape, which includes everything from vintage Airstream travel trailers to kitted-out Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, is vastly different and in demand, says Jen Young, the co-founder of Outdoorsy (from $58 a night for smaller vehicles like teardrop trailers and $120 a night for campervans and RVs; www.outdoorsy.com), the Airbnb of trailer and campervan travel. “More than ever, people are craving disconnection and distance from the modern world and a reconnection to the natural world,” says Young. A survey conducted by OnePoll found two-thirds of respondents are more inclined to rent an RV, campervan or trailer now than before the pandemic started. Young and co-founder Jeff Cavins saw the benefits long before the start of the pandemic. They left high-powered jobs to found Outdoorsy in San Francisco six years ago. Like with Airbnb, you enter the dates you want to travel and choose a locally owned trailer or van for rent, and the nightly fee will pop up. While they moved the company headquarters to Austin, Texas, in 2018, Cavins and Young still spend a lot of time in the Bay Area. Outdoorsy has many successful recreational vehicle owners who rent in both Marin and San Francisco. “The Bay Area is the perfect base camp to start an RV adventure. There’s such a variety of rich landscapes and nature within easy driving distance whether you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway or a longer sojourn,” says Young. One of her all-time favorite campgrounds within driving distance of Marin is Kirk Creek Campground in Big Sur. “The views are unmatched,” she says. Whether you decide to rent, buy or go on a curated trip, here are three Marin itineraries that include some Outdoorsy-approved spots. marin living. june 2021 67
Marin to Southern Oregon Loop If you like towering trees and coastal views, try this itinerary that starts with a drive up Highway 1 along Sonoma’s rugged 55-mile-long coastline. Stop to admire Bodega Bay before spending the night at Timber Cove Landing & Campground (www.timbercoveboat landing.com), which has first come, first serve RV and tent camping on a calm cove with fishing, diving and a boat launch. The posh Timber Cove Resort (www.timbercoveresort. com) is nearby if you want to make a reservation at the hotel’s excellent Coast Kitchen. Redwood National Park, six hours north, should be your next stop. Plenty of recreational vehicle–friendly campgrounds surround the park, famous for protecting some of the tallest and oldest trees on earth, including Gold Bluffs Beach (www.parks.ca.gov), with views of the Pacific (note this campground is not suitable for trailers and no electrical hookups are available), and the Redwoods KOA in Crescent City (www.koa.com), where there are full hookups.
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From Crescent City, head north on the Route 199. Consider a slight detour to Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserves (www.nps.gov/ orca), which has underground marble passageways and old-growth forests, on your way to Crater Lake National Park (www.nps.gov/crla). One of America’s deepest lakes, Crater Lake is a deep sapphire blue, and the Mazama Campground has 200 sites for tent, trailer and RV camping. On your way back south, stop in Ashland, Oregon, a college town known for its excellent restaurants and summer Shakespeare festival. Near Redding, you won’t want to miss a gem of a campground, Castle Crags State Park Campground in Shasta-Trinity National Forest (www. parks.ca.gov). The campground has 64 RV and tent campsites with grills and picnic tables.
Marin to Jackson Hole
This more mountainous, high-elevation itinerary begins with a stop in Lake Tahoe at the Outdoorsy-approved Lake Tahoe Valley Campground (www. rvonthego.com/california/tahoevalley-campground). The place is more
like a resort than a campground, with a swimming pool, clubhouse and Wi-Fi, and it’s near South Lake Tahoe’s beaches and Emerald Bay. It’s just a few hours from there to Rye Patch State Recreation Area (www.parks.nv.gov/parks/rye-patch) in a remote area of Nevada where early humans reportedly thrived in prehistoric times. It remained largely isolated until the California Gold Rush, and today the state recreation area, with an 11-milelong reservoir, is popular for fishing, boating, swimming and recreational vehicle camping. In Wells, Nevada, stop at Bishop Creek Hot Springs, a 40-foot-long man-made pool fed by a 105-degree spring. Recreational vehicles are allowed in some campsites at the stunning City of Rocks National Reserve (www.nps.gov/ ciro), a national reserve in Southern Idaho known for rock spires, excellent rock climbing and hiking. The final stop on this one-way itinerary is at Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park, which has many excellent campsites and RV parks and majestic scenery.
Courtesy of Happier Camper
Happier Camper
voyager.
Marin to Southern Utah
On the Road Whether you rent or buy, here are some unique ways to embrace modern RVing. XGRiD This company matches clients with the off-road camper that is right for them. Manufacturers have designed off-road campers to go through ravines and over rocks, but these adventure base camps can still feel like a “hotel on wheels,” with full bathrooms, bamboo dressers and gleaming stainless-steel sinks. Rentals are available for pickup and drop-off at their Las Vegas location. If you purchase a camper, it can be delivered to you. From $120 a night; www.xgridcampers.com Living Vehicle The Aston Martin of trailers: this Santa Barbara–based company, owned by an architect and his wife, creates custom trailers that are more like luxury apartments, with spa bathrooms and chef’s kitchens. The vehicles can also go off road. www.livingvehicle.com
Your destinations in this adventurous itinerary are Utah and Arizona’s red, rocky landscape. Preferably with an off-road camper model, head to Mammoth Lakes, which is just as fun in the summer as the winter, and explore Kings Canyon National Park (www. nps.gov/seki) to (hopefully) escape some of Yosemite’s crowds. The Tioga Gas Mart and Whoa Nellie Deli (www. whoanelliedeli.com) in Lee Vining at the corner of 395 and 120 is the most idyllic gas station you’ll ever visit; it has views of Mono Lake and Dana Plateau and serves house specials like wild buffalo meatloaf and mahimahi fish tacos. HipCamp, a company specializing in camping, RV and glamping
bookings, has lots of campsites to recommend in the Dixie National Forest (www.hipcamp.com/en-us/ discover/utah/dixie) in Utah. Check out Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument and drive along Hell’s Backbone, a windy route that follows ridges and mountain contours on your way to the remote hippie town of Boulder, Utah. The town has an excellent farm-to-table restaurant called Hell’s Backbone Grill (www.hellsbackbonegrill.com). Embrace Nomadland life and find a spot on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land on the north rim of the Grand Canyon. It’s typically OK to camp a mile off paved highways on BLM land for free. Cut down travel time by flying in and out of Las Vegas and renting at one of the dealerships there.
Moterra Campervans
Courtesy of Moterra Campervans
Happier Camper This trailer company, specializing in cute, ultralight custom travel trailers, has a showroom at Proof Lab Station in Mill Valley. The brand-new HC1 is on display. www.happiercamper.com Moterra Campervans The Jackson Hole–based company customizes itineraries for people who want to travel in luxurious Sprinter vans that can be picked up in San Francisco. One-way trips are possible and include Big Sur, the California coast and the Sierra ranges. From $339 a night for vans and from $4,399 for package itineraries that include the rental and cleaning fee, prebooked campsites and a dedicated expert to work with you on your itinerary. www.gomoterra.com
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Patricia Oxman 415.461.4100 Patricia.Oxman@sir.com Lic.# 01103895 #1 Agent in Marin County by Transactions, 2020 Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty
Thoughtful, Sophisticated Landscaping
MARIN LANDSCAPE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE G-LANDSCAPE-DIV.com | 415-342-5857
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18k yellow gold Cabochon Collection™ with ocean blue aquamarine by Garfolo©.
1226 Fourth Street • San Rafael, CA • 415.459.5808 • stephanhill.com
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Whether you are looking for a complete design redo or just a little refresh, visit us at Buttercup Home for all your interior design, staging and home shopping needs.
Let us help evolve, grow and promote your brand. For more information, contact Dina Grant, advertising director, at dina@marinlivingmagazine.com, 707.238.2030. follow us on social @marinlivingmag + subscribe to our newsletter at www.marinlivingmagazine.com/newsletter
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Buttercup Home 366 Ignacio Boulevard, Novato buttercuphomestyling.com
SUMMIT PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS, INC.
Creativity · Collaboration · Craftsmanship Serving the Marin and Napa communities with quality construction projects since 1999.
Gregg Foster President, Director of Construction 1010 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 201 Kentfield, California 94904 Office: 415-454-3280 gfoster@spb-inc.com www.spb-inc.com
FIND YOUR TREASURE IN OUR GALLERY OF JEWELS! Located on the romantic waterfront in Sausalito, Prince Estate Jewelry is your destination for unique Antique, Vintage & Modern fine jewelry & timepieces. Specializing in engagement rings from the Deco and Modern periods. * Extraordinary selection of fine rings, bracelets, earrings & more * Exceptional pricing * Expert custom design, repairs & restorations * Sell your jewelry, watches, silver & gold with confidence Complimentary appraisals Visit us for a fun time trying on exquisite diamonds and precious stones! We are a family-owned business with over 40 years of experience in the jewelry industry. 599-B Bridgeway Sausalito, CA 94965 415.289.0702 marin@princeestatejewelry.com Instagram: @PrinceEstateJewelry Text Sara Chezkian at 415.994.8344
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PROMOTION
Community Minded
Music Time at Bon Air Visit Bon Air Wednesday mornings this summer for interactive and engaging family entertainment with Bay Area award-winning singer-songwriter and musical talent, Megan Schoenbohm. Sing and dance to all your favorite songs, and perhaps learn a few more! Optional: bring your own egg shakers and instruments to jam along. Designed for preschoolers. Bon Air, Greenbrae (under the Bon Air tent) 11 a.m. Wednesdays June 16, 23, 30 and July 7, 14, 21, 28. www.bonair.com
A Fifth-Generation Local With A Fresh Perspective on Real Estate Set yourself up for real estate success by partnering with Aviva. Aviva’s local knowledge coupled with her tenacious and detailed focus, makes her someone you want on your side. Whether you are buying or selling in Marin or San Francisco, Aviva has expertise in both markets and will skillfully guide you at all stages of the transaction. Aviva is a full-service luxury-focused agent that has an entire team behind her ready to make your buying or selling experience a seamless one. Aviva was named a Top Producer in her first year, and continues to impress her clients with her strategic approach, unrelenting commitment, problem-solving ability, and her warm and welcoming presence. Aviva Kamler aviva.kamler@sothebys.realty | 415.717.1056 DRE #02076186 | @Avkamler
Collaboration in Construction At Summit, every project — large or small — is a collaboration between the owner, architect, designer and our team of builders. We carefully guide clients through every step of the construction process, often including site selection, permitting, scheduling, budgeting and other pre-construction services. We meticulously research cost-effective construction techniques and details, provide accurate estimates and realistic schedules and strive to manage our clients’ risks. We take pride in quality workmanship and in tailoring our approach, from inception to completion, to respond to each client’s needs. Summit Professional Builders, Inc. | Gregg Foster 415.827.3896 | gfoster@spb-inc.com www.spb-inc.com
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Savor Summer Are you ready to embrace summer’s bright, fresh flavors? Dee Coleman, owner of Marinbased Dee’s Organic Catering, is standing by to be your personal chef for daily or weekly meals. “We serve the freshest, local and organic ingredients. I love designing menus for my clients that will provide a delicious meal or gracefully complete an event,” Dee says. “I want you to always remember the food.” A Black-owned family business, Dee wants to bring her elevated dishes to your table. www.deesorganic.com | 415.312.0790 #Deesorganicmarin
stepping out.
SPRING FLING Marin Charitable (www.marin charitable.org) held a virtual spring-themed event on April 24 in order to be able to maintain the grants it provides to organizations that supply critical support, education and enrichment for school-age children in Marin County. Attendees hosted intimate gatherings in their homes and connected with others virtually to enjoy bingo games, wine flights and fruit and cheese plates. The event was a success, raising $54,000, 100 percent of which will go toward a larger grant-giving campaign later this year.
Dawn Shalhoup, Aimee Westbrook, Christine Gaudenzi and Marti Grimminck
Gail Schreuder and Jennie Gill
Courtesy of Marin Charitable
Food and drink provided by Classic Culinaire, Scout & Cellar and Marich Confectionery
78 june 2021 marin living.
Respectful, Traditional, Contemporary Funeral Home & Cemetery
Cremation Services On-Site
Natural Green Burial & Traditional
Chapel & Reception Center
Crypts & Niches
Pre-Planning Available
We now offer Natural Green Burial in our Garden of Tranquility. Our grounds stay green year round as we use Recycled Water. All of your service needs in one location. Simple Pre-arrangement counseling and insurance funding of future expenses.
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415.897.9609 | valleymemorialpark.com 650 Bugeia Lane, Novato, CA 94945 COA377-CR206-FD2295
drawn together.
Never Look Down Illustrator Wendy MacNaughton has built a career drawing the world she sees around her and spreading her love of art to others. By Daniel Jewett
MARIN-RAISED AND SAN FRANCISCO–BASED illustrator and graphic journalist Wendy MacNaughton (www.wendy macnaughton.com) has had many pursuits and professions, including working in advertising, serving as a campaign manager for nonprofits and even creating the national campaign for the first democratic elections in Rwanda, before returning to the Bay Area to once again work in advertising. It was then, commuting from Oakland to S.F., that she found a way to start drawing again, discovering a new vocation in the process. “I was taking BART every day and I started drawing everybody on the train,” she says. “I taught myself how to draw without looking down because you have to, you’re rolling pretty fast and people move all the time.” While still working at the agency and trying to transition over to illustration full-time, MacNaughton met her wife, 80 june 2021 marin living.
Caroline Paul, and they wrote a book, Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology, together in 2013 about their relationship and a “big catastrophe that happened” — Paul writing and MacNaughton illustrating, and her new career began to come into focus. A year later came Meanwhile in San Francisco, The City in Its Own Words, featuring the kind of observational journalism that became her trademark and led to recurring columns in The New York Times and The California Sunday Magazine. “Let’s say you’re driving along and you see a funny-shaped tree or a person who’s wearing an interesting outfit. And you say, ‘Oh, I wish I just could go back and look at that thing,’” MacNaughton says about her style. “That is your artistic brain screaming at you saying ‘Stop, pull over, go back, look at this thing, draw it and talk to it, because it will never happen again.’” Around this time an author and chef named Samin Nosrat approached MacNaughton about illustrating a cookbook called Salt Fat Acid Heat that would seamlessly fuse the talents of the two and go on to become a sensation. “We had a great breakfast meeting and then started down a long journey together,” MacNaughton says. “It’s mostly all drawn from real life — she and I worked together in the kitchen.” Five years ago, MacNaughton, partnering with co-founder Julia Rothman, founded Women Who Draw, a database of female, BIPOC, LBTQ+ and other marginalized illustrators that has since exploded to more than 5,000 members. “If you have art directors who are white men then they’re probably going to hire their white, straight, dude friends because that’s who they know,” MacNaughton says. “We wanted to make it impossible for any art director, creative director or editor to say, ‘I would hire more blank if I could find them.’” Right now, MacNaughton and Paul’s attention is focused on expanding another initiative called DrawTogether that the two started right after the pandemic lockdown. The free or subscription program offers drawing classes for kids on its website (www.club.drawtogether.studio) and has since been seen by tens of thousands of people in 70 countries. “It was the biggest joy ever; it was amazing to create that space during such a challenging time,” MacNaughton says. “I really do believe that art transforms the way we see the world and each other, and it really transforms our hearts.”
Portrait by John Keatley
MacNaughton’s “Meanwhile” column for The New York Times