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CONTENTS

Nobody does it better than James Bond… and the Best of Marin.

FEATURE 15 Best of Marin: Our 25th annual

Readers’ Poll (and all the Bond you’ll ever need)

! Fun! FrMesilhd to Wild!

Fa s h i o n s f

ro m

Yeah! We Won Again!

NEWS & VIEWS 7 8 9 12 14

Letters Upfront: Schizo plan-o! Ask A Teen: The canal raid? The ABCs of Sarah Vowell Overheard: He said, she said

ARTS & LEISURE 16 17 42 48 52 68 76 92 98 100 101 102 103 105 106 107 109 119 120 123 124 129 139

Best of Marin winners Eat Another Day For Your Eyes Only The World Is Not Enough Eon Productions Presents Q Branch Plenty O’Toole You Only Live Twice Category Royale Single in the Suburbs Music: Mike Marshall Theater: Our Town Talking Pictures: Ghost Rider Film: Tiburon Film Festival Food: Lamb Home: Mosaic mania! Marin Real Estate: Open homes Home Sales Focus on Finance/Homefront Movies Sundial Classiﬁed Advice Goddess

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Paciﬁc Sun www.pacificsun.com Embarcadero Publishing Company. (USPS 454-630) with offices at 835 Fourth St. Suite B (entrance on Cijos St.), San Rafael; Mailing Address P.O. Box 8507, San Rafael, CA 94915; Telephone: (415) 485-6700, Fax (415) 4856226. E-Mail: letters@pacificsun.com. Published weekly on Fridays. Mailed free to residents in the communities of Mill Valley, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, San Anselmo, Tiburon and portions of San Rafael and distributed free at over 300 locations throughout Marin County. Adjudicated a newspaper of General Circulation. Mailing fee: 1 year, $50. No person may, without the permission of the Pacific Sun, take more than one copy of each Pacific Sun weekly issue. Entire contents of this publication Copyright ©2007 Embarcadero Publishing Company ISSN; 00482641. All rights reserved. Unsolicited manuscripts must be submitted with a stamped self-addressed envelope.

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LETTERS ACTUALLY, IT WAS BEN FRANKLIN... I read Warren Heiman’s letter [“’Cept for Me and My Monkey,” March 9] stating that he was comfortable giving up the constitutional rights given to all Americans for his security. More Americans have died in Iraq than died in the Twin Towers on 9/11. Don’t they count? Why would terrorists have to come to the USA to kill us when they can get it done in their own back yard? Was it Thomas Jefferson who said: “Anyone who would give up liberty for security deserves neither”? Ella Tumlin Novato

QUITE THE KIDDER I’m writing in regards to Nikki Silverstein’s recent Single in the Suburbs column [“Post Coitus,” March 9]. Since when is the Paciﬁc Sun obliged to publish the retro-racist views of Nikki’s friend Kimberly [who preferred her sperm-bank donation to be from a blond-haired, blue-eyed donor]? Am I being “too sensitive”? I think not. Even were I not of Romanian gypsy and Cuban origins, I think I’d react just as negatively to racist-lite Aryan racial superiority ideology of such a subtle nature. On the other hand, I guess there’s also the schadenfreude aspect of blonde, blueeyed bozos like Kimberly verifying the stereotype of the “dumb blond.” After all, the Nazis gassed lot of Aryan gypsies in the course of their racial-puriﬁcation programs. P.S.: If it’s a boy, the most logical

Jen Sorensen

selection for naming Kimberly’s tyke would obviously be none other than Adolf! (Just kidding...) Frank Marin County

THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR They are selling us fear. In supposedly enlightened Marin, Homeland Security recently sponsored a drill for Marin’s new $430,000 mobile command center. The drill focused on a mockthreatening call from a person urging a pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq. Thus we are being brainwashed to fear those who want an end to war—not those who provoke and impose war. Now our government and the commercial mass media are selling fear of Iran. The superpower U.S. has drawn up plans for attacking Iran within 24 hours. The stated reasons are bogus. The real reason? Redrawing the map of the Middle East to beneﬁt a few political and economic power brokers and expand the global dominance of the U.S. Are we going to buy into the fear? Security can never be gained by making others insecure. A U.S. war against Iran will make us all more vulnerable and must be prevented. If you are among those who reject the lies and the fear, visit the Marin Peace and Justice Coalition’s Web site, www. mpjc.org. Learn about local campaigns for peace with justice—for all the world’s people. Wendy Tanowitz Ross

SOMETHING UNPLEASANT NOW Needless, groundless guilt about having more than other people—and spreading that guilt—does not work. It only makes people miserable and resentful (or appropriately angry). Cars are more fun than bicycles and most everybody wants one. The challenge is manufacturing, driving and recycling them in an environmentally sustainable way (check out www.teslamotors.com). Unfortunately a more significant challenge for the majority of humanity is, first, getting together sufficient income to raise their children in material compassion before procreating. Thanks to the Catholic Church. “Tick, tick, tick”... Why am I expecting something unpleasant, now? Steven Brooks Mill Valley

TROOPS ARE PEOPLE, TOO

SINCE WHEN HAS THE PUBLIC EVER BEEN MISINFORMED? I lost my husband in Vietnam. Then, we had no idea how well our government armed and protected our young men. Supporting our troops means protecting them from being sent into the middle of a civil war inadequately equipped and under-prepared. It’s outrageous that some are labeling Democrats’ plans to provide soldiers with proper equipment and training “anti-troop.” We are sending our armed forces into conﬂict inadequately equipped and under-prepared. Don’t let the public be misinformed and, please, don’t be responsible for letting more of our people die for nothing! Joanne Miller Kentﬁeld

LETTERS POLICY

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT

I’m commenting on We reserve the right to edit letters The Republican adthe Feb. 23 “Cat’s out and we cannot process faxed letministration doesn’t get ters. Please limit letters to 250 of the bag” column. I words. Our e-mail address: it. They are still sending agree that we need to letters@pacificsun.com under-trained and unkick our plastic conYou can also participate in our der-equipped “troops” sumption. I also believe online forum, TownSquare, at into Iraq. Troops, of we must join other www.pacificsun.com. Discuss course, are people— communities and move issues, ask questions or express men and women, boys opinions with your neighbors any to zero waste. Howevand girls; our children time day or night. er, I disagree with some Submitting a letter to the editor and grandchildren and of the comments made constitutes a granting of pertheir friends, our neighin the article. mission to the Pacific Sun and bors (well, maybe not Confusing curbside Embarcadero Publishing Co. to here in Marin!) and huprograms with Marin also publish it online, including man beings from all over supermarket programs in our online archives and as a the country. post on TownSquare. The opinions is misleading. The expressed in Letters are not necPlease see The Ground suggestion that Marin essarily those of the Pacific Sun. Truth, a documentary supermarkets are colabout Marines who have lecting plastic bags to returned from Iraq— ship off to China is not wounded for the rest of their lives in so a fact. Maybe in England it’s done, but many different ways. More than 30 percent where is the proof it is the practice in return with diagnosed mental disorders. Marin? The economics don’t work: who Let your elected officials know where is willing to pay to ship them overseas you stand on the “surge” and everything just to be burned? Locally collected else about the war in Iraq. plastic bags from supermarkets are Vivian C. Snyder usually mixed with wood chips and Mill Valley saw dust and used for a form of plastic lumber. AGAINST THE WIND Recycling is a big myth that the garI visited the Village on a couple of bage and packaging industry are leading cold, rainy late afternoons recently. us to believe in, so we can pat ourselves Many of the stores had their doors wide on the back at what a great job we are open at multiple entrances as their doing. The county manages to [put heaters blasted. The shop I visited had forth] meaningless recycling numbers a wind blowing through it, making the including counting dumped green waste shop uncomfortably cold and unwelcom- as recycled. It’s green washing, as “Mt. ing as a result. It made me want to leave Trashmore” in Novato grows. as soon as I could. More importantly, I Recycling is looking at the wrong end kept thinking how wasteful of energy of the pipe. We must begin rethinkthis is. The Village shops are not alone ing how we package and buy products. here—other shops throughout the Look at form and function, how we can county waste energy in this manner. I reuse, and eliminate, not just with plasdoubt that I am the only shopper that tic products. Let’s take the lead from thinks such a practice shows little conthe European Union, New Zealand and cern about global warming and customer many other countries and start adoptwell-being. If I leave my sprinklers on so ing, and practicing, zero waste today. that water is running down the street in With zero waste we won’t need to worry a wasteful manner, I can be fined. How about plastics and recycling. is wasting energy in so public a manner, Bruce Baum as these shops are doing, any different? Co-Chair, No Wetlands Landfill Expansion Barbara Comnes San Anselmo MARCH 23 – MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 7

UPFRONT

Newsgrams Stick a cork in him?

Bi-planning disorder Schizo county plan could lead to eco-heaven or down in the dumps BY

BILL

ME AGHER

AND

PE TER

SE IDMAN

he update of the Marin Countywide Plan suffers from schizophrenia. That’s the diagnosis of some members of the environmental and sustainability communities in the county. Although treatment for the county plan may not be required, the symptoms are severe enough to raise concerns about the Environmental Impact Report that will accompany it. Earlier this month, the Marin County Planning Commission voted to support the creation of a Baylands Protection Corridor for land north of Point San Pedro. Although the Protection Corridor is similar to the current Bayfront Conservation Zone, the new designation adds weight to the county’s intention to protect the environment in the area, which happens to include two of the last large parcels of undeveloped land in eastern Marin: the St. Vincent’s/Silveira properties. The Baylands Protection Corridor is the county’s attempt to reduce development there, say critics of the new designation. Not so, say county ofﬁcials and others who support creating the Protection Corridor. In the county’s original 1973 plan, three planning designations were included: a coastal corridor in West Marin, an inland rural corridor and a city-centered corridor, which stretches along Highway 101. The city-centered corridor idea was not meant to allow unimpeded growth along the towns and cities strung along the freeway; it simply acknowledged that they already existed. The plan paid special

attention to protecting ridgelines from development, including ridgelines along the city-centered corridor. Along San Pablo Bay, the 1973 plan designated the Bayfront Conservation Zone, which acknowledges the importance of wetlands and marsh habitats. The new Baylands Protection Corridor signiﬁes an increased understanding of wetlands, according to the Campaign for Marin, a coalition of environmental groups that includes the Marin Audubon Society, the Sierra Club, the Marin Conservation League, among others. The new Protection Corridor would carry more clout during the planning process and give a clear indication of the county’s intentions, which could carry legal weight should a lawsuit stem from a county decision to restrict development on a section of property within the Protection Corridor. The proposal the Planning Commission approved for recommendation to the Board of Supervisors is a compromise that excludes property south of Point San Pedro. That decision came after residents in Strawberry and Paradise Cay voiced concern that a Protection Corridor would wreak havoc with any plans to improve their properties. The Planning Commission acceded to those concerns and voted to keep the Protection Corridor north of San Pedro Point. The corridor designation is aimed at affecting only large undeveloped parcels, say county ofﬁcials. > 10 “When the county wrote its plan in 1973,

Marc Hershon

A Sausalito man has been hit with a 19-count indictment for allegedly burning down a warehouse that contained 6 million bottles of wine wor th an estimated $100 million. Mark Anderson, the proprietor of a storage business called Sausalito Cellars, was holding numerous valuable vintages at a facility in Vallejo, including rare private collections and the entire inventories of some small wineries. In October of 2005, the Vallejo warehouse caught fire under suspicious circumstances and an investigation was launched. In announcing the charges against Anderson—which include arson, tax evasion and mail fraud—federal prosecutors say the businessman started the blaze to cover up the fact that he had been embezzling his clients’ merchandise. Anderson is also facing 10 separate felony counts of embezzlement in Marin, stemming from a separate cache of missing wine valued at more than $1 million. County officials say it is unclear what, if any, effect the federal indictments will have on their case. If convicted of the arson charges alone, Anderson could face up to 20 years in prison.

Canal controversy continues In an effort to give a voice to those affected by the recent immigration raids in San Rafael and Novato, the Canal Alliance hosted an unusual press conference earlier this week. Silhouetted behind a screen that obscured their features, an anonymous collection of people discussed what they claimed were their experiences during the controversial federal action, dubbed Operation Return to Sender, which was aimed at rounding up and depor ting illegal immigrants. A teenage boy said he was punched in the jaw during a confrontation with of ficers. A woman, speaking through her sister via telephone, said she and her husband were arrested, and that their repeated requests to speak with an attorney were denied. Officials from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) depar tment maintain that agents carried out their objective in a lawful manner.

Serra files suit Outspoken attorney J. Tony Serra, a sometime Bolinas resident and former Trial Lawyer of the Year award winner, has filed suit against the Federal Bureau of Prisons, alleging that inmates are unfairly forced to labor for substandard wages. Serra recently completed a 10-month sentence at a penitentiar y in Lompoc, California, after being convicted of income tax evasion. While incarcerated, Serra says he was paid just 19 cents an hour to water the prison grounds; he’s now pushing for a mandated minimum wage for prisoners. The 13th Amendment bans both slavery and involuntary servitude, “except as a punishment for crime whereof the par ty shall have been duly convicted.”

Gun present at teen party At least one gun was flashed and quite possibly fired at the teen dance party that devolved into a brawl earlier this month, according to a > 11 repor t presented by police to the Cor te

8 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 – MARCH 29, 2007

ASKATEEN

Giving Marin youth a voice, one tough question at a time

BEHIND THE SUN FROM THE SUN VAULTS, MARCH 24 - MARCH 30, 1977

The recent Homeland Security raid on illegal immigrants in San Rafael’s Canal district left many crying foul—and others quietly saying it’s about time. What actions, if any, do you think should be taken in regard to the county’s illegal immigrant population?

The legend of bagger Larry ‘Long-hair freako’ embraced by elite Mill Valley golf society BY

The immigration raid was not fair at all. People who come to the United States want a better life than they had in the country they came from. Consider if one day we might have to go over to another country to make a better life for our families. Honestly, I don’t even think stopping illegal immigrants is a good thing. A signiﬁcant portion of the workforce is made up of immigrants and most of time they are making minimum wage and doing the jobs that we don’t want to do. Plus, it is not fair to go and ruin people’s lives in an unannounced raid. —Ginny Abballo, 19, Fairfax Let’s be honest, illegal immigrants play an important role in society. They do much of the work that others turn their noses up at. But they have broken a law by entering this country. Obviously raids in residential areas and armed men muscling children out of their homes is absurd, but that is a risk one takes when breaking a law. What is needed is a comprehensive immigrant-integration plan. People who have come here by unsavory means should have a readily available way to gain legal admittance to the United States. Much of the problem with illegal immigration is that people may not know how or where to go to become legal citizens. —Jenna Coughlin, 15, Corte Madera Instead of shipping immigrants back to their native countries, we need to realize that they contribute to society. There are illegal immigrants who pay taxes and work hard just like everyone else. To base our actions on those who don’t is hypocritical. Instead of governmental programs that ship immigrants back “home,” we should work on making America their real, legal home through work visas and more easily accessed citizenship programs. I’m not saying we should hand out visas and give citizenship like it means nothing, but we need to be more understanding. America has always been known as a melting pot. It is amazing that you can’t classify Americans under a certain race, because there is none—Americans are Asian, African, European, Latin American and so on. In the history of the United States, poor decisions have been made to pick and choose who is allowed in and who is not. Unlike history’s other times of atrocity, I hope we truly can say “never again” when re-evaluating our situation with immigrants. —Brittany Smith, 16, Novato

TRiViACAFÉ

BY HOWARD RACHELSON

1. What Marin county resident who attended Terra Linda high school in the 1960s, became a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox from 1969-1978 and the Montreal Expos from 1979-1982, is known as “Spaceman”? 2. Long, long, long before Harry Potter was conceived, what book written in 1865 was the most widely read English-language work for children? 3. He won the Best Actor Oscar two years in a row. In a 1993 film he played an ill attorney and in 1994 he played a simple man on an epic journey. Name the actor and these two films. 4a. What object is located in the center square of a Scrabble board? 4b. How many triple-word squares are on a Scrabble board? 5. Our paper currency is actually composed of what two materials? 6. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee of the European Laboratory for Particle Physics in Switzerland developed a new technique for distributing information on the Internet, that became known as what? 7. Born around 600 B.C., this Greek lyric poet is considered one of the greatest poets of antiquity. Some of her love poems were addressed to women. Who was she, and on what Greek isle did she live? 8. Co-starring with Barbra Streisand in her 1968 film debut, which exotic male actor played the role of Doctor Zhivago? 9. Born in 1904, this outstanding athlete won five Olympic gold medals and set 67 world records for swimming. He later played Tarzan in numerous jungle adventure films. Who was he? 10. The highest mountain in Greece gives its name to the highest mountain in northwestern Washington state. What is it?

JA SON

WAL SH

One of Marin’s finest golfers of the 1970s a job...this is what I do.” But it wasn’t was facing something of a personal dilemma long before that when Kimzey was 30 years ago this week—should he give up juggling a pair of careers that may have marijuana if it would lower his handicap? ultimately kept him out of Mill Valley Larry Kimzey, a “conhigh society: selling firmed pot head” of pyramid schemes eight years, according and dealing drugs. to Sun reporter George When the pyramidFrazier, wasn’t taking scheme/drug-dealing lightly the possibility scene turned sour of sacrificing his pas(“people were getting sion for the “greener” killed...”), he took a in favor of his passion job scrubbing pots and for the greens. But, pans at the famous alas, he worried his freTrident restaurant. quent lighting of the Just when it seemed chronic was hurting his his career in the sershort game. vice industry might be “It’s affecting my taking off (he’d been memory,” lamented promoted to vegetable Kimzey, whose aver- Kimzey: Doesn’t ‘smoke dope with the slicer), Kimzey’s fate age score was then in older guys.’ took a turn: He cut the 80s. “And what is his foot on a piece of putting but memory—trying to remember glass while leaving the Sausalito restaurant. that ‘touch’ or ‘feel’ of putting.” The 26- Several months and one worker’s compenyear-old held dreams of going pro, sation suit later and our hero was but was concerned that he too often $10,000 richer. “ends up looking like a spazo around Still, that kind of money doesn’t the greens.” last too long being an out-of-work Kimzey, at the time, was living in golf fanatic in Marin. “I pinch pena dilapidated truck near Sausalito’s nies, but I’m spending money and Gate 5 and he estimated his cost of I just don’t like it,” said Kimzey. living at about $250 a month. He was “Golf, food, chicks. My money just also the newest member of the prestigious dribbles away.” Mill Valley Men’s Golf Club. Kimzey, now 56, currently lives in San “That long-hair freako often seen Francisco and has upgraded from a truck to hitch-hiking between Sausalito and Mill an apartment. Aside from that, he says, not Valley with a golf bag over his shoulder is much has changed. Kimzey,” wrote the reporter. “I’m still the last of the independents. I But why, in the words of Frazier, would didn’t go corporate. I’m still just a smallthe posh Mill Valley Men’s Golf Club time chiseler just like I was then,” he says. “totally accept...a stoned golf nut”? Kimzey still hits the links with regularKimzey put it down to two primary ity—he’s won flights in the San Francisco qualities his fellow golfers were looking City Golf Championship and has an 8 for in a clubmember: “I don’t run off at handicap. All this despite never having the mouth in a crazed manner...and I don’t abandoned the loco weed. smoke dope with the older guys.” “The one thing that has been universal At this juncture in his life, Kimzey conin my life these 30 years has been golf and sidered golf his chosen profession. “I don’t pot,” reflects Kimzey. “You’re right, that’s play golf for pleasure,” he said. “It’s like two things.” <

30 years ago

Mike Peters

BONUS QUESTION: What hereditary disease did Queen Victoria pass on through her offspring to many of the kings and queens of European countries? Howard Rachelson, Marin’s Master of Trivia, hosts team trivia contests for parties, fund-raisers and special events, including a Trivia Café interactive team contest at the Marin JCC on N. San Pedro Road in San Rafael April 8, at 2pm. Check out his Trivia Café website at www.triviacafe.com. This WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

week’s answers on page 131 MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 9

UPFRONT < 8 Bi-planning disorder we had no notion of global warming and environment change,” says Kiki LaPorta, president of Sustainable Marin and Sustainable San Rafael. “When that plan was drafted, we really didn’t understand the impact and the compelling evidence that is now before us, and the urgent need to develop solutions commensurate with the problem.” LaPorta and others in the sustainable community give credit to the county for even tackling environmental and sustainability issues in the current update of the Countywide Plan. Although no one is completely certain, Marin may be the ﬁrst county in the country to frame its countywide plan on the issue of sustainability. That hasn’t gone unnoticed among environmentalists and Marin residents who are pushing for sustainability, re-use and zero waste measures. “Marin County should be commended for not only going through this process,” says LaPorta, “but also for inviting and enticing so many different components to he discussion.” One of those components is the proposed creation of the Baylands Protection Corridor. Those who think that creating the Protection Corridor would automatically reduce the amount of development allowed on the St. Vincent/Silveira properties may be surprised. The designation and the uses allowed on the properties, as well

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as the number of homes allowed on them, are all different issues, according to county Planning Commissioner Don Dickenson. The Baylands Protection corridor would require a developer to compile an Environmental Impact Report for a proposed project. And development would be allowed only if a developer assures protection of Wildlife Movement Corridors and provides other protections for plants and animals. That means a developer could propose a project, and as long as the number of units falls within general guidelines, those units could be placed to meet the mandates of the Protection Corridor. In other words: build over there rather than over here. The preliminary vision for the St. Vincent’s/Silveira properties calls for a maximum of about 500 homes. There’s also a possibility that a facility for seniors and some affordable housing would be allowed. But that total pales in comparison to a St. Vincent’s proposal to build 766 units on its property alone. The vote to recommend the Baylands Protection Corridor to the Board of Supervisors was only a straw vote, according to Dickenson. The Planning Commission cannot take a formal vote until the final EIR for the Countywide Plan is ready for review and certification. The vote earlier this month was on a draft version of the EIR. The real fireworks over the St. Vincent’s/Silveira properties are likely

to begin when the Planning Commission takes up the plan’s Built Environment Element April 23. According to Dickenson, the discussion will focus on what uses will be allowed and the number of homes and buildings that will be allowed on the properties. So, where does the schizophrenia come into the picture? Critics say that while the county looks as if it’s leaning toward passage of a Baylands Protection Corridor, signifying an increased sensitivity toward the bayside environment, the Countywide Plan’s draft EIR fails to deal adequately with the impact of a proposed increase in the capacity at the Redwood Landfill, located just north of Novato. “Taking the Redwood Landfill’s current operations and future plans as a given is inconsistent with the purpose behind the proposed Baylands [Protection] Corridor...that recognizes the need of protecting Marin’s environmental resources and the need to limit development on unstable soil which may be below sea level and on bay mud.” That’s one of the objections Christopher Gilkerson, co-chair of No Wetlands Landfill Expansion, included in a letter to the county as part of the public input process. The group has been fighting a proposal submitted by Waste Management, Inc. to increase the size of the landfill. Although the company acceded to objections and reduced the size of the increase it’s proposing, No

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BALANCE

Wetlands says the company still would add between 7 and 15 million unacceptable cubic yards of waste to the landfill. If the county really wants to follow a reduced environmental-footprint policy, as outlined in Countywide Plan, say Gilkerson and members of the sustainability community, then county leaders should act specifically on zero-waste and re-use policies that have been bubbling into the public consciousness. “The Countywide Plan fails to address the removal of organics [from material deposited in the landfill], which is roughly 40 percent of the dump. Organics generate methane gas 23 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. Removing organics from the dump would significantly reduce Marin’s contribution to global warming,” writes Gilkerson. In his letter, Gilkerson also asserts that the assumption included in the plan that waste (in the year 2000) accounted for 3 percent of the greenhouse gas generation in the county is wrong—by a lot. He writes that the 3 percent figure comes from “inferential hearsay and an outdated factual record and is contrary to the professed seriousness of the Plan when it comes to climate change and how to reduce Marin’s contribution to global warming.” The objection is not without merit, considering that many experts say gas emissions from landfills around the world account for a significant portion of methane emissions. These same experts assert that virtually every landfill currently in existence will fail eventually, leaving a toxic legacy of profound proportions. The answer, say zero-waste and sustainability supporters, lies with efforts to promote recycling, re-use and zero waste. Those goals, professed as general policy in the general plan, just don’t jibe with the realities of a landfill site, say sustainability proponents, especially when the Redwood Landfill, as part of its business plan, wants

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to become a regional site that accepts more waste from outside the county. Gilkerson and others are calling for the county to match its rhetoric in the Countywide Plan update and promote what they say are obvious alternatives to increasing the size of a local landfill: banning green waste and creating a countywide composting program, adopting a mitigation fee for dumping material in the landfill and creating a “comprehensive resource recovery park.” The mitigation fee would go toward funding the zero-waste policy the county already has adopted. LaPorta reiterates her praise for the county’s efforts to build sustainability as a framework for the Countywide Plan update. And she says reducing the footprint of county residents also is a critical goal. According to a chart in the plan update, Marin’s ecological footprint is 215,000 acres per capita. Italy’s ecological footprint is 9 acres per capita. LaPorta notes that the update will include procedures “that will allow us to circle back” to determine progress toward reducing environmental impacts. In some ways, citizens are in front of the politicians these days, on the international, national and local levels. While the county has come a long way toward recognizing the importance of reducing waste and greenhouse gases, the sustainability community has been organizing a campaign to persuade each city and town in Marin to join the zero-waste movement. Sustainable San Rafael is working on a zero-waste resolution it plans to present soon to the City Council for approval. Fairfax recently became the first town in the county to adopt its own zero-waste resolution. LaPorta says the sustainability community wants to get every city and town in the county on board the zerowaste train by April 22—Earth Day. < Contact the writers at meagher_seidman@ yahoo.com.

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Madera Town Council. Officers say that a .25-caliber handgun and unspent cartridges were discovered in the rear parking lot of the Cor te Madera Recreation Center where the melee took place. Witnesses reported hearing shots on the night in question, and one account had a man standing in front of the rec center with a long-barreled weapon, possibly a shotgun. No gunshot wounds were suffered during the incident, though several young people were hospitalized with minor injuries related to the fighting.

Shorts... Fair fax officials are seeking public input on the draft version of the town’s new financial plan; check it out online at www.town-of-fairfax.org...Marinites looking to hop on a plane won’t automatically have to cross a bridge anymore, with the recent resumption of (limited) commercial flights to and from Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport via Horizon Air. Commercial service was last available at the Santa Rosa airport in 2001.—Jacob Shafer

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On living in the Bay Area: ‘(I had) more conversations about goat cheese than anywhere else I’ve ever lived.’

Little big voice ‘Assassination’ author Sarah Vowell in the Q&A cross hairs BY

NIKKI

SILVERS TEIN

’ve been a Sarah Vowell fan since I first heard her read one of her best stories—the one in which she promises her father that, after he dies, she’ll shoot his ashes out of his homemade cannon. It’s typical Vowell: A hilarious chronicle of growing up in a “house divided,” describing how she, an Allen Ginsberg-reading Democrat, relates to her Republican gunsmith father. As the left-leaning Vowell’s career advanced from NPR commentator to best-selling author in an era rife with conservative airwaves and book deals, it wouldn’t be her last “house divided” story. When you first hear Vowell’s chirpy voice, you might think you’re listening to a 12-year-old girl; even she has described it as being “straight out of second grade.” But when you listen to her entertaining, quirky takes on the world, you know she’s an extremely intelligent woman and talented writer. The acclaimed author of four best-selling books, her latest is Assassination Vacation, an account of the first three assassinated presidents and their murderers, which she’s somehow made both educational and absurdly funny. Vowell is also a contributing editor for NPR’s This American Life. On Thursday, March 29, Vowell will bring her unique perspective to the stage of the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center. Here’s what Vowell has to say about NPR’s “liberal bias,” her work with

12 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

young writers and the “eerie” feeling that we’re reliving the McKinley administration. O O O O

During my research for this interview, I Googled you and got 454,000 listings, though I confess, I never made it past page 2. Do you ever Google yourself? No. It sounds terrifying. Because you would find what people say about you, right? I don’t want to know. My mother likes me. Isn’t that enough? So you’ve probably never read your Wikipedia listing? Someone I met the other day told me that it talks about my wheat allergy. It does. That’s not part of my official bio. It has lots of personal information, including that Conan O’Brien, Seth Green and Stephen Colbert are your friends. I know they were voices on your audio books, but I have this picture in my mind of you hanging out with them. Is that true? Wait. Let me tell those guys to quiet down. Do the four of you spend all day together riffing on Bush? Seth Green is a friend of a friend and

UPFRONT I needed someone about his age for the audio book. When I’m doing audio books, I like to get a lot of different voices to break it up, so it’s not always my voice. Speaking of your voice—a writer on Glorious Noise, a rock critic Web site, says he likes your writing, but he wants your voice banned from the radio. He wrote, “The inside of my ears actually get chapped if I listen to her with headphones.” I can understand that. A lot of regulars on This American Life sound like people who shouldn’t be on the radio, including Ira Glass. If you want the mellow tones of old-time radio or the bombastic prose of talk radio, you probably shouldn’t listen to our show. I wouldn’t call very many of us dulcet. Does public radio have a liberal bias? I’ve thought about the left leanings of public broadcasting. This is a stereotype, but there’s the pay scale. If you’re Mr. Free Market, every man for himself, you’re not going to go into a business that is poorly paid. I’m a businesswoman. I can’t make a living working completely for public radio. I guess I could if I wanted to live in a studio in Coney Island. I don’t do anything just for the money, but I need it to eat. I’ve liked branching out for that reason. What can we expect from your appearance at the Osher Marin JCC next week? I read for an hour from my books or new pieces that I’m working on and take questions for a half hour. It depends on the situation or my mood. When Rosa Parks died, I read my piece about idiots who compare themselves to Rosa Parks. Question and answer is a third of the program, so it’s important to me. It will go from a question about the Iraq war to another meticulous, speciﬁc question about Buffy the Vampire Slayer. When you were the music critic for SF Weekly, did you get to Marin much? I can tell you’re really going to write down what I say next. [loooong pause] I’ve been to Marin a few times. Nice views. I remember having more conversations in San Francisco about goat cheese than anywhere else I’ve ever lived. Funny stuff. Have you ever done stand-up? There used to be a stand-up showcase on the Lower East Side where I’d read in between the stand-up acts. Some comedians are continually inspiring to me. Which ones? I love Demetri Martin. He’s incredibly inventive and linguistically exciting. He’ll use the word “dude” and “isotope” in the same sentence. Don Rickles is one of my all-time heroes. I want things I write to be funny when it calls for it, but it’s not the only goal. Sometimes what I write is really, really sad. That’s good. I want there to be a lot of life in WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

what I do. It’s not all jokes.

CAINS TIRE

When I read your books, I actually hear your voice in my head. I’m a sound-oriented writer. It comes from growing up as a musician. Everything I write, I read aloud. If it doesn’t sound right to my ears, I’ll change it, even if it says what I want to say. I write rhythmically. I’ll need a word that says what I want to say, but then I’ll need it to be three syllables. That’s fairly intentional. I’m an American writer. The writers I always respond to are the more musical ones, the more vernacular. Whitman. Twain. Melville. They’re musical writers and American ones, too.

453-2942

Did they inﬂuence your writing style? Maybe Twain for the folksy sarcasm. I started out as a critic and there were critics early on who were the foundation for what I wanted to be as a writer. Pauline Kael, Lester Bangs. Greil Marcus. I still write as a critic, even though I’m not writing record reviews anymore. It’s how I approach any given topic. Critics are analytic and emotional. Generally, the things I write about have an emotional reaction, too. The rock critics I love gave themselves permission to voice their opinions on other people. That was important, especially for someone like me.

Voted BEST IN MARIN

You didn’t feel like you had permission to voice your opinions? I come from nowhere. I went to a state school. My parents didn’t go to college. I’m not an authority on anything. There was a faith rock critics had in themselves that I found inspirational. They could make an international incident of one bad Dylan record. There’s not this dismissal of what’s called popular culture—the idea of which drives me nuts; there’s no popular culture, there’s just American culture. The way those critics were writing about records—with so much freedom, heart, humor and intelligence—was inspirational to a young writer. You’re now helping young writers with your volunteer work at 826, the organization that works with students to develop their writing skills. What are you doing there? Working with 826 is one of the most remarkable things that ever happened to me. I’m on the National Advisory Board and I’ve spent quite a bit of time at 826 Valencia in San Francisco. I love having all the young writers working in the same room together. It echoes what Dave Eggers does. [Eggers, the San Francisco-based author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, co-founded 826 and started the literary magazine McSweeney’s.] He’s always been good at bringing writers together. That’s been such an important part of my life, not just as a writer, but as a person. It’s like a family. That ethos of let’s get together and put on a show, write a book or make a magazine. It ﬁlters down to the programs at 826—communitarian, unpretentious, yet intellectually rigorous. > 121

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I shall be released Mounting political winds bring storm of press releases BY

SAM

CHAPMAN

nder the category of Press Release Watch, there have been some interesting developments from our elected state officials. Over the past month or so we’ve been receiving what seems like almost one release a day from state Senator Carole Migden. Until recently, releases from her office were sparse. Don’t know whether it’s due to the veteran media staffer she hired recently or to the fact that Assemblymember Mark Leno has announced he’s challenging her in next year’s primary. Maybe both. We also began receiving releases from Leno’s office, though Marin is not in his Assembly district. And to add to the intrigue, we received a joint release from Leno and new Marin Assemblymember Jared Huffman about their coastal protection research legislation. Senate leader Don Perata has made it clear he is circling the Senate Democratic Caucus wagons around Migden. The Migden-Leno match will be interesting to follow by itself, but there’s also a larger picture playing out. Senators don’t like to be challenged in primaries by termed-out assemblymembers. Leno, who is likable and well regarded by colleagues in both the Assembly and Senate, is taking on not just Migden—but also the buddy system of senators defending their own.

O O O O

±Ê Usually when we write about someone helping a child in need, the hero in question is an adult. Not this time. While getting ready to leave the Ignacio Hills Apartments’ pool area with his dad and two brothers, 9-year-old Bryan Cruz spotted a young boy at the bottom of the hot tub. Leaping in, Bryan, a fourth grader at Loma Verde Elementary School, pulled the limp toddler from the hot water and passed him to his father, Juan, who began immediate CPR. The tot soon began to breathe again, and was rushed to the hospital alive and well—thanks to a quick-thinking kid. 14 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

O O O O

For many years one of the joys of summer for me has been the presence of the San Francisco Early Music Society’s baroque, renaissance, music and dance workshops at Dominican University. They put together a worldclass early music faculty and have drawn students from all over the country. Among the major attractions has been Dutch musician Marion Verbruggen, considered by some to be the “world’s greatest recorder player.” Unfortunately for locals, SFEMS is leaving Dominican and will not be in residence this June. Fortunately, they are only moving up the road to Sonoma State University— which is another story. www.sfems.org. O O O O

After many years of fundraising based on a major gift from Donald and Maureen Green, Sonoma State has launched construction of the Green Music Center. The University says its concert hall “has been designed to become one of the great concert halls of the world modeled after Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. In addition to its brilliant acoustics, a signature feature of the hall will be the rear wall, which will be opened to lawns accommodating up to 10,000 additional concertgoers.” Greenmusiccenter.sonoma.edu. This promises to be an exciting regional center for music and, when completed, should provide a happy home for SFEMS, which this year has scheduled its Baroque Music & Dance Workshop for June 17-23, and its Medieval and Renaissance Workshop for June 24-30. Verbruggen groupies will be happy to know that she is listed as a faculty member for the former. <

ZERO

HERO

I’ve had some unusual ice creams over the years. Until now, I think the garlic ice cream at The Stinking Rose in San Francisco was probably the most unusual. However, The Stinking Rose bills itself as “A Garlic Restaurant,” with most menu items including garlic as an ingredient, so it shouldn’t have been unexpected. I returned recently to Picco Pizzeria in Larkspur for its outstanding thin-crust pizza and this time ordered the Straus soft-serve ice cream with olive oil and sea salt for dessert. It was one of those experiences where I kept asking myself throughout whether I liked

it or not. As I ﬁnished I decided I did. The bubbly waitress also recommended the caramel topping with sea salt, which she compared to kettle corn. Next time. www.pizzeriapicco.com.

²ÊImportant Reminder of the Day: Just because it seems like a funny idea, doesn’t mean you should do it. While walking along Cijos in San Rafael recently, a smirking teen decided it would be a funny idea to push a large, garbage-laden Dumpster out into trafﬁc. After giving the wheeled trash holder a hearty shove, the young prankster sauntered off as the bin lurched on the edge of the curb, teetering dangerously in the direction of oncoming cars. Fortunately, our young zero wasn’t quite strong enough to cause the mayhem he was hoping for, and the receptacle stayed put.—Jacob Shafer

BEST F MARIN

2 7

Hello, gorgeous. My name is Bond. James Bond. But you know that already, don’t you, my dear. Like my arch nemeses at SPECTRE, you think you know everything about me—how I like my martinis (shaken), how I like my cars (fast), how I like my women (faster). You also know I settle for nothing but the best. The best for England, the best for MI6 and the best for James Bond. Which is why I’ve accepted M’s most outrageous assignment yet—to find the Best of Marin. Where should my cross-dressing arch rival Ernst Stavro Blofeld go in Mill Valley to purchase fine-quality lingerie? To which Strawberry Village men’s clothier should I turn when Auric Goldfinger’s crotch-seeking laser singes my inseam? Should Scaramanga’s stealing of the heat-storing Solex Agitator affect my choice of Fairfax ice-cream shop? You see my dilemma. I’ve felt a certain fondness for Marin ever since my climactic battle with that madman Max Zorin on the Golden Gate Bridge in 1984. After saving the Bay Area from a massive earthquake on that mission, I dined that evening at the Valhalla, stayed the night in the Tamalpais Motel and brunched the next morning at the Paradise Drive Denny’s. I forever fell in love with Marin that day. Marin and I have many things in common—we’re sophisticated, well traveled and highly educated. Like Marin, I have a short fuse when it comes to nuclear proliferation or megalomaniacs holding the planet ransom with a giant diamond-powered laser. Also like Marin, I rose to super-cool prominence in the 1960s, before lapsing into bloated self-parody in the ’70s. Today we both stand before a precipice of pop-culture insignificance—trying to find our place in a 21st century of hip-hop chic, metrosexual cool and self-reflexive irony. Marin and I will face this future of uncertainty together. And we will once and for all vanquish our greatest-ever foe: cultural irrelevance. And with Marin in mind, I leave with these parting words: Nobody does it better, makes me feel sad for the rest Nobody does it half as good as you Baby, you’re the best...

THE BEST OF MARIN EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Deborah Crooks, Carol Inkellis, Laurel Kellner, Jacob Shafer, Matt Stafford, Elizabeth Stewart, Jason Walsh, Gabriella West PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jason Bennett, James Hall

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MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 15

BEST F MARIN PLENTY O’TOOLE

JAMES HALL

2WINNERS

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FOR YOUR EYES ONLY Best Consignment Shop Dejá Nu Best Dry Cleaner French Laundry & Cleaners Best Hair Salon (Men) Brewer Phillips Hair Design P.42 Best Hair Salon (Women) Brewer Phillips Hair Design Best Jeweler Johann Paul Best Lingerie Chadwicks of London Best Men’s Clothier Patrick James Purveyor to Gentlemen Best Photography Store Seawood Photo Best Place to Buy Glasses 20/20 Optical Best Women’s Boutique Bella

Best Auto Dealership Marin Honda Best Car Repair (Domestic) tie— Blakes Auto Body and Mellow Motors Best Car Repair, Foreign Marin Honda Best Computer/Tech Store Marin MAC Shop Best Place to Buy a P.68 Musical Instrument Bananas at Large Best Tire Shop Toscalito Tire & Automotive

CATEGORY ROYALE Best Bond Sean Connery Best Bond Movie P.98 Casino Royale Best Celeb to Play the Marin County Fair Joan Jett Best Marin town, other than your own San Anselmo Best Movie by a Marin-Connected Actor All the King’s Men (Sean Penn) Biggest Local News Story New Year’s ﬂoods Worst Bond Timothy Dalton Worst Bond Movie Moonraker Worst Celeb to Play the Marin County Fair Nelson Bros. Worst Movie by a Marin-Connected Actor RV (Robin Williams)

THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH Best Kid-Friendly, Non-Chain Restaurant Easy Street Café Best Pet Store Pet Cottage Best Toy Store A Child’s Delight

Q BRANCH

JAMES HALL

EAT ANOTHER DAY

P.48 ‘Is that garter tight enough for you, Mr. Bond?’

2 007 JAMES HALL

BEST F MARIN

EAT ANOTHER DAY When Bond’s chasing super villains down Highway 101 and begins feeling a bit famished, he doesn’t have time to stroll down Fourth Street browsing menus. Thankfully, Q has equipped 007 with the following Eat Another Day readers’ roundup of the best burgers, burritos and organic produce MI6 will expense him.

Readers’ Poll

THE J.W. PEPPER AWARD FOR BEST AMERICAN RESTAURANT Buckeye Roadhouse, Best of Marin in four separate categories, prides itself on being a home away from home for diners—and managing partners Robert Price and Peter Schumacher are anything but complacent about that. They strive to make their customers “happy, one table at a time.” They have certainly proven there’s far more to American cuisine than a slab of meat alongside a pile of potatoes. The classic American dishes, including prime rib, several ﬁsh offerings and vegetarian lasagna, are tweaked just enough to spark the taste buds. Each dish is prepared with seasonal and fresh ingredients, sustainably and locally grown as much as possible. The warm, elegant surroundings and friendly, professional service contribute to an outstanding dining experience. SUN: What should I expect when I come to the county’s “best American restaurant”? BUCKEYE: The perfectly grilled steak. Q: What does “American restaurant” mean to you? A: Using fresh local ingredients in a manner that showcases them for their inherent qualities rather than the preparation or technique used. Q: You won for best American restaurant. But do you serve French fries or the more patriotically American “Freedom fries”? A: French fries, Brussels sprouts, spaghetti Bolognese, Bavarian (or Boston) cream pie, Philly cheesesteak, Chicago pizza, Denver omelet...these are just names, what matters is how the ingredients are selected and treated by the chef. -----------------------------Buckeye Roadhouse

15 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, 331.2600 2ND Bubba’s Diner, San Anselmo 3RD Lark Creek Inn, Larkspur

Readers’ Poll

LIVE AND LET PIE AWARD FOR BEST BAKERY The smell of freshly roasted coffee wafts into the streets of historic downtown Larkspur. From its authentic Italian interior to its handcrafted delicacies made on-site, Emporio Rulli, this emperor of eateries, transports you straight to the culinary capital of the Mediterranean. Signor Rulli’s ﬂaky creations are inspired by pastry chefs in Milan and Turin. As you sip a cappuccino or savor a ﬁne vino in the sparkling café, WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

whisper a gracious grazie to Romulus. -----------------------------Emporio Rulli

464 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur, 924.7478 2ND Sweet Things, Tiburon 3RD Debbie Does Dessert, San Anselmo

Readers’ Poll

THE TOMORROW NEVER FRIES AWARD FOR BEST BREAKFAST Owner Tori Monahan has been in business for 20 years, and is thrilled to have won another award for her Half Day Café in Kentﬁeld—located across the street from the College of Marin—which specializes in scrumptious breakfasts and brunches. Monahan’s business philosophy is simple: She sticks with fresh and familiar ingredients and provides customers with lots of menu options, focusing on details and quality. She graciously credits her ﬁne staff with making the café a success; she says she only hires people who “want to be there,” and declares that her employees make the homey café what it is. While the Half Day’s renowned for making all of its own baked goods, the orange currant scones are a standout. -----------------------------Half Day Café

848 College Ave., Kentﬁeld, 459.0291 2ND Dipsea Café, Mill Valley 3RD Easy Street Café, San Anselmo

Readers’ Poll

THE HAI FAT AWARD FOR BEST BURGER While they may have originated on foreign shores, hamburgers are without question a singularly American food item; we order them often and consume them with passion. But with all the low-rate, fast-food options out there, it’s important to honor those who take the business of burgers seriously. That’s why a place like Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers is such a delight—they take pride in crafting something that others merely slap together, and the ﬁnished product proves their efforts are worth the while. It starts with quality ingredients (and no hydrogenated fats) and ends with a staff that knows how to make exactly what you want. “If we have it, we’ll make it for you,” says owner Kamran Nassiri of special orders and requests. “There’s no such thing as a ‘no.’ ” -----------------------------Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers

1020 Court St., San Rafael, 454.4594

Bond counts Hula Dance and Marin Pumpkin among his ﬂavor faves at Fairfax Scoop.

2ND M&G’s, Fairfax 3RD Pearl’s Phatburger, Mill Valley

Readers’ Poll

BEST BURRITO While it’s hard to completely screw up a burrito—so long as you have a few simple ingredients and the ability to move your hands and wrists in a rolling motion—it’s also difﬁcult to make one that stands out in the crowd. That task has been accomplished by Taqueria San Jose, a little holein-the-wall joint tucked under the freeway in San Rafael. Driving by, it’s easy to miss—but you should make every effort not to. The menu is loaded with great, authentic Mexican options, perhaps none tastier than the super burrito, which comes loaded with beans, rice, guac, sour cream, salsa and your choice of meat. (For adventurous types, the list of available ﬁxins includes lengua and cabeza; grab your Spanish-English dictionary if you need a clue.) The end result is a gooey, spicy, lick-the-foil-andwish-you-had-more hunk of goodness. And for those pinching pennies, the prices are as low as the grub is delicious.

-----------------------------Taqueria San Jose

615 Fourth St., San Rafael, 455.0999 2ND Lucinda’s, Mill Valley 3RD Taco Jane’s, San Anselmo

Readers’ Poll

BEST CENTRAL MARIN RESTAURANT This is Il Fornaio’s 20th year in Marin. The concept started as a school for bakers outside of Milan, while the ﬁrst American Il Fornaio opened as a retail bakery in S.F. (There are 22 U.S. restaurants now, but no longer any bakeries.) What’s kept them going strong in Marin, according to personable VP of Marketing Mike Mindel, is their consistency in food and service, and authentic Italian cuisine. The Corte Madera Town Center was an underperforming business when they moved in, according to Mindel, and they took something of a risk. Luckily, the Town Center has been successful since then; Il Fornaio has thrived along with it. Offering customers a great wine list, excellent bread and a true knowledge and appreciation of things Italian, it won’t > 18 MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 17

2 007

BEST F MARIN

RISTORANTE JASON BENNETT

DINNER SPECIALS Specials with Caesar Salad

Mon. – Fresh Maine Lobster – $18.95 Tues. – Lamb Shank – $15.95 Wed. – Crab Cioppino – $18.95 Thur. – Veal Involtini – $18.95

Complimentary cordial with dinner

Joseph Alvares of Bombay Garden

LUNCH SPECIAL Monday – Fr iday

$ $8.50

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18 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

Balkar Singh Tamber of Bombay Garden

Let this be a warning to those who leave too much on their plates at the Bombay Garden buffet.

< 17 Eat Another Day be a surprise to see Il Fornaio back in the winner’s circle next year. SUN: Did you ever think you’d be operating a topnotch Italian restaurant in a shopping mall? IL FORNAIO: The foot trafﬁc from surrounding businesses, free parking and easy directions are an advantage. Q: On the downside, you’ve got to compete from a culinary standpoint with Baja Fresh Mexican Grill. A: For some people (being in a mall) is a turnoff. We are fortunate that our restaurant orients toward an unobstructed view of Mt. Tam, which is why we chose this site 20 years ago. Q: Il Fornaio means “the baker” in Italian. Why that name for a sophisticated lunch/dinner destination? A: Well, we started out as a school for bakers outside of Milan in the early ’70s and the original Il Fornaios were small neighborhood bakeries in Italy. The concept was imported to the U.S. in the early ’80s as a retail bakery concept, but that proved unsuccessful. Q: When did the Baker start “rolling in the dough”? A: It wasn’t until the retail bakery was combined with a restaurant that Il Fornaio took off in the U.S. The name is a way we acknowledge and celebrate our heritage as a bakery. -----------------------------Il Fornaio

223 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, 927.4400 2ND Lark Creek Inn, Larkspur 3RD Marin Joe’s, Corte Madera

Staff Pick

CHEAPEST WAY TO SATISFY YOUR HUNGER PRIOR TO THE EIGHT-HOUR ANTONIONI RETROSPECTIVE When you ﬁnd yourself in the urban nexus that is San Rafael’s Fourth Street with stomach growling and a matter of minutes before the movie starts at the Rafael, sprint across the street to Original Buffalo Wings and put in your order for a platter of poultry and a side of housemade potato chips. While your wings are afrying, dash the two blocks

to See’s Candies and avail yourself of the most soul-enriching chocolates east of the Pacific (Scharffen Berger, Schmarffen Berger)—we’re especially partial to the dark bordeaux, the raspberry truffles, the maple walnuts, the orange creams and the divinity puffs, but that’s just us. Race back to 1119 as the establishment’s spicy, smoky, deliriously delicious example of upstate New York cuisine is emerging from the fryer along with those thick, luscious potato chips and dig in, paper napkins flying, crunchy celery sticks and pungent blue cheese dip close at hand. There’s just enough time to polish off the bonbons before showtime, belly full, senses sated, pocketbook unbowed. -----------------------------Original Buffalo Wings

1119 Fourth St., 258.9202 See’s Candies

921 Fourth St., 453.3232

Readers’ Poll

THE CHEU MI AWARD FOR BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT Fans of Jennie Low’s fabulous Chinese food will be thrilled that Ms. Low is opening up another restaurant in Petaluma in June 2007. While Petaluma palates will be sharpened by the taste of Jennie’s succulent dishes, southern Marinites will be upset to hear that she is reluctantly leaving her Mill Valley location after more than 20 years. Low expresses sadness that her longtime landlord’s decision to renegotiate her lease on unfavorable terms has caused her to lose her precious Mill Valley locale. She started as a cooking teacher for College of Marin more than 20 years ago, and her loyal customers have been her “family,” she says, and a solid source of support after her husband’s untimely death last year. As a chef, Jennie still makes all the sauces for her tasty plates, and says that her favorite dishes to make are stir-fries, and traditional Chinese food like Kung Pao tofu, lemon chicken and fried rice. She personally enjoys good pasta, however! SUN: What’s a can’t-miss dish I should order from your menu? JENNIE: Hopefully, each and every dish should be “can’t miss” every time

since I personally make all the sauces; however, I would have to say that we receive more compliments for our won ton soup—“always fresh and consistently good” are some of the comments from my customers. Q: How has Chinese cuisine been affected by the American market? A: The modern Chinese are beginning to like the sweeter dishes. When I was young, we would never think of combining sweet and sour together—that’s a very American thing. I would have to say a favorite on my menu that is not very traditional is Mango Chicken—the young and old seem to enjoy it! Q: If you could write a fortune cookie to yourself, what would it say? A: My fortune cookie would read: “You will be blessed with wonderful family and friends.” I have two great, loving daughters and they have given me three wonderful grandsons. I am so fortunate to have such a close relationship with them—I couldn’t manage the restaurants without them! My loyal and wonderful customers are more like my friends. I am grateful to them for all their support through the years—I can’t express in words how much they mean to me. They’re the ones I keep cooking for! -----------------------------Jennie Low’s Chinese Cuisine

38 Miller Ave., Mill Valley, 388.8868; Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, Novato, 892.8838 2ND Yet Wah, San Rafael 3RD Tommy’s Wok, Sausalito

Staff Pick

BEST ‘CHIPPY’ Word to the wise: when you find yourself in Britain on an empty stomach, confine your diet to high tea, Indian food and fish and chips, that ubiquitous and highly satisfying amalgam of whitefish, potatoes, grease and malt vinegar that has become England’s single outstanding contribution to world cuisine. Most local examples of the genre are limp, soggy and on the bland side, but at Fish, the North Bay’s preeminent seafood venue, the fish and chips are all about crispness, lightness and the rich, meaty flavor of Alaskan halibut. The heavy battering of many an f&c outlet is upgraded here to a lighter, more delicate, almost tempura-like coating that wraps the fillets in a cumulonimbus of steam and crunch. And the chips are so crisp and airy, they’re more like tiny potato souffles than your standard French fries. A bright, citrusy housemade tartar sauce is served alongside with the traditional salt and malt vinegar, but sadly there’s no Manchester Guardian fishwrap in sight. (Caveat: Despite its rustic counter-service picnic-table setting, Fish’s prices tend towards the exorbitant.) -----------------------------Fish

350 Harbor Dr., Sausalito, 331.FISH

Readers’ Poll

THE LIVE AND LET RYE AWARD FOR BEST DELI While running a popular hole-in-the-wall called Hilary’s Little Kitchen in Fairfax, Hilary Kinsler gained a reputation for providing quality, authentic East Coast > 20

415-472-7272

101 Smith Ranch Road, San Rafael

www.Mulberry-Street-Pizzeria.com www.ReallyGreatPizza.com

Award Winning

“For the Love of Mushroom Pizza”

Lunch: Mon – Fri 11:30am – 2pm Dinner: Seven Days a Week

Food Network First Place 7

Sun – Thurs 5 – 9pm • Fri & Sat 5 – 10pm

Thank you Paciﬁc Sun voters!

Dine in or Carry Out

• Seafood Doesn’t Get Any Better! •

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Thanks To You... We Won Again! Thank You Pacific Sun Readers!

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100 Yacht Club Drive • San Rafael • www.seafoodpeddler.com • 460-6669 WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 19

2 007

BEST F MARIN

Mon-Fri 11:45am-11pm; Dinner: Sat. & Sun. 5 to 11pm Private Room for Special Occasions

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1 Blackfield Dr. Tiburon, Cove Shopping Ctr.

388.8100/389.8051

JASON BENNETT

Open for Lunch & Dinner

support the local community, giving back in so many ways, including employing lots of local kids. SUN: Name three key components necessary to ensure efďŹ cient takeout service. COMFORTS: Training, training and Justin Kruland more training. of Robert Price Mill Valley Q: Technically, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just one comof Bamboo Peter Schumacher Buckeye of Roadhhouse ponent... Buckeye Roadhhouse A: With 60-plus employees, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no end to the amount of time spent going over all the details and rules. For many young people, it takes twice the Defying convention, the Buckeye Boys insist a stirred martini is superior in that it avoids bruising the ice time for them to retain information and, thus, watering down the drink. These guys are obviously agents from SPECTREâ&#x20AC;Ś 640 Fourth St., San Rafael, 454.5348 like that as they havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had many 2ND Belli Deli, San Rafael experiences in life and work. There but we like to adorn this symbol of Califor3RD Strawberry Gourmet, Mill Valley are age differences, cultural and language nia bounty with nothing more distracting differences that also add to the challenge. than oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Q: Which foods arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t conducive to take-out? The Bayside Cafe A: Fried or crispy-coated entrees. Texture One Kappas Marina, Sausalito, 331.2313 BEST PLACE FOR KIDS TO is limited and refrigeration requirements PARTY AND EAT BIRTHDAY CAKE destroy crusted entrees. Quality is always at risk for everything reheated, but the Hosting a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday party can be convenience for people in a hurried world among the most stressful tasks a parent canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be overlooked. THE PARIS CARVER AWARD faces. Two dozen rugrats hopped up on Q: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had some take-out spaghetti FOR BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT frostingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;some of them possibly blindBolognese in the back of my car for folded and armed with baseball batsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; about a week. Can I still bring it to my Americans pining to get back to Paris need isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly a recipe for relaxation. neighborhood progressive dinner this look no further than the Left Bank. With Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where the good people at the weekend? not one, but two master chefs de cuisine Bay Area Discovery Museum come in. A: Pasta dishes, unless theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re baked, are a at the helm of this lively, warm brasserie, In addition to free museum admission, challengeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;so preparing them al dente is a diners get as authentic a French meal as their party planning staff provides cake must. This speaks also for stir-fried dishes. can be found across the pond. It is easy for and refreshments, themed decorations, Q: People love sporks. Do you include Marinites to pretend they are along the plus projects, games and other special acSeine rather than Magnolia Avenue as they sporks with each order? tivities to keep your crew of diminutive A: No, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t carry them. We are evolvsup coq a vin or butternut gnocchi with party animals happy and occupied. The ing all our take-out utensils to biodewild mushroom or traditional charcuterie. best part? When itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all over, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gradable corn-based utensils and, to my Even better, chefs have a commitment to have to clean up. knowledge, there arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t any biodegradable - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - preparing meals from the seasonal, local sporks available yet. and primarily organic produce grown by loBay Area Discovery Museum -----------------------------cal farmers with whom they keep in close 557 McReynolds Rd., Sausalito, 339.3900 Comforts communication (without denying their 2ND Doodlebug, San Anselmo 335 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo, 454.9840 unabashedly French roots). â&#x20AC;&#x153;We used to 3RD San Rafael Gymnastics, San Rafael 2ND Sol Food, San Rafael import everything,â&#x20AC;? says executive chef and co-proprietor Roland Passot. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now I 3RD Insalataâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant, San Anselmo have farmers grow speciďŹ c tomatoes.â&#x20AC;? The emphasis, always, is on ďŹ&#x201A;avor not ďŹ&#x201A;ash. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe in simplicity. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going BEST EXCUSE TO CONSUME VAST to build a tower,â&#x20AC;? he says. BEST ICE-CREAM SANDWICH QUANTITIES OF BLUE CHEESE, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (KINDA) BACON AND EGGS Left Bank Although Double Rainbow is best 507 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur, 927.3331 Like every great salad since the birth of known for its luscious array of gourmet 2ND Fork, San Anselmo the crouton, the Cobb was invented in ice creams, this affable cafĂŠ and rendez3RD Chalet Basque, San Rafael Southern California during the Golden vous serves up a menu of soups, salads, Age of Hollywood, when health-conscious baked goods and sandwiches that are movie stars inspired an array of tasty, leafy uniformly impressive. Especially the creations. Bob Cobb, proprietor of the BEST GOURMET TAKE-OUT FOOD sandwiches. Any midnight snacker will Brown Derby, invented the thing himself tell you that the act of creating a sandon a hungry midnight prowl through his wich is a complex discipline requiring an The hungry masses stream into Comforts kitchenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s abundantly stocked icebox, innate sense of balance and a willingness knowing theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be well fed. And with the tossing whatever he could ďŹ nd into a big to push the envelope. The fried oyster wide variety of offerings, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s somewooden bowl and dressing it with a simple thing for everyone, say owners Laura and poâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; boy and the ahi and wasabi BLT are vinaigrette. The Bayside Cafe honors the two noteworthy successes in this area. Glenn Miwa. A fusion of Asian, Italian Cobbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bountiful heritage by combining Another is Double Rainbowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Southand Latin American cuisines, encompassthe traditional chicken, hard-boiled egg, western Chicken Melt, which (like every ing breakfast through dinner, ensures that bacon and blue cheese with avocado, water even the pickiest (as well as the adventurgreat sandwich) offers a lot of satisfaction chestnuts, plum tomatoes, marinated from a relatively small package. Roasted ous) eaters will ďŹ nd something among green beans, purple onion, black olives, red peppers, sautĂŠed onion rings, thick the profusion of everyday and seasonal carrots, bell peppers, garbanzos and kidney dishes to enjoy. The signature Chinese ďŹ llets of tender chicken, sharp cheddar, beans upon a bed of ďŹ eld greens and roChicken Salad remains wildly popular, and mellow Monterey jack, marinated green maine. The warm, freshly grilled chicken chilies and a touch of garlicky aioli are is offered in a â&#x20AC;&#x153;liteâ&#x20AC;? as well as vegetarian ďŹ llets interact wonderfully well with the stuffed between two slabs of olive-perversion (see Best Vegetarian Restaurant). silky avocado slices, the pungent crumbled Everything here is made from scratchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;no fumed foccacia, then the whole megillah cheese, the smoky bacon and the gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is pressed together in a rustic old grill, basesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;using fresh, primarily organic worth of greenery, and the presentation allowing the ingredients to melt together foodstuffs from local purveyorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Marin itself is a Technicolor-worthy sight to beinto a luscious and unholy mess that is Sun Farms, Marin Organic, etc. Not only hold. A selection of dressings is available, do the Miwas support local farms, they also habit-forming. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a thick, juicy hand< 18 Eat Another Day Jewish dishes. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s translated that same sensibility to Hilaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen & House of Bagels. From tasty soups to loaded knishes to bagels with all manner of spreads, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd no shortage of quality deli cuisine. The space sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working with may have changed (and grown) but Ms. Kinslerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedication to delicious dishes has not. ----------------------------Hilaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen

++ +

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll

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48 North San Pedro Rd., San Rafael

492-1530

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Staff Pick

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20 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

Staff Pick

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll

2 007

BEST F MARIN JASON BENNETT

and organic ingredients is why such ďŹ&#x201A;avors as Marin Pumpkin and Tomales Strawberry are the most popular. -----------------------------Fairfax Scoop

++ Al Baylacq of Good Earth

Eva Tuffanelli of Il Davide

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Eva Tuffanelliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; actually sounds like a Bond Girl name Ian Fleming would have come up with.

held meal, and the Oreo sundae makes a perfect chaser. -----------------------------Double Rainbow

860 Fourth St., San Rafael, 457.0803

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll

BEST ICE CREAM/YOGURT SHOP Fairfax Scoop adds to the case that Marin is indeed the promised land with its sublime selection of ice-cream ďŹ&#x201A;avors that leave aďŹ cionados rolling their eyes in ecstasy. The tiny storefront offers a deceptively simple menu of four regular and eight daily ďŹ&#x201A;avors of ice cream with housemade cones and fudge sauce for good measure. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We use all organic ingredients and we make an effort to use local ingredients,â&#x20AC;? says partner and temporary manager Tim Koblenz whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manning the shop while owners Ray and Melinda Martin are away on an around-the-world trip. Sorbet ďŹ&#x201A;avors run along the lines of blood orange and grapefruit during the winter months and inventive ďŹ&#x201A;avorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Grasshopper (mint with spirulina and mint Newman Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) is a perennial favoriteâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;keep things lively. However, the stalwartsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and honey lavenderâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;hold their own in any taste test. The only thing keeping it real is the line of customers trying to be patient as they wait to place their order. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a common gathering spot for the community,â&#x20AC;? says Koblenz. SUN: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your biggest selling ďŹ&#x201A;avor? SCOOP: It varies seasonally. In the fall itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s local Marin Pumpkin. On a hot summer day, Tomales Bay Strawberry. At Christmas time, eggnog. Grasshopper (mint ice cream, colored green with spirulina and mixed with mint Newman Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) and Hula Dance (coconut ice cream with fudge, white chocolate and macadamia nuts) are also big sellers. Q: Ice-cream makers have tried all sorts of fruit, nut and dairy combinations. Will the next ďŹ&#x201A;avor frontier be from the bread and meat food groups? A: Bread and meat might be a little extreme, but we wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be surprised to see more movement into savory ingredients. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve already seen ďŹ&#x201A;avors such as basil, corn, tomato. I think some of the suggestions that I receive such as pork ice cream will remain just a joke. Q: A hilarious one at that. In the ďŹ lm â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Strawberry & Chocolate,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ&#x201A;avor choice said a lot about their, uh...weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll say â&#x20AC;&#x153;personal life.â&#x20AC;? So weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll askâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;do you prefer strawberry or chocolate? A: Chocolate. Q: Shamelessly plug your shop in exactly 22 words. A: Our commitment to local, seasonal WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

63 Broadway Blvd., Fairfax, 453.3130 2ND Double Rainbow, San Rafael 3RD Silbermannâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, San Rafael

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll

BEST INDEPENDENT COFFEE HOUSE â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we do is about more than selling coffee,â&#x20AC;? says Bryan StubbleďŹ eld, owner of Marin Coffee Roasters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re proud to be a part of the community.â&#x20AC;? And indeed, Marin Coffee Roasters has engendered a great deal of loyalty from its faithful customer base, who come not just for the fair trade, organic blends and delicious, bakedon-site pastries (although those things donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hurt), but also for the art, the music, the ambianceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the locally grounded (pardon the pun) sense of togetherness. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coffee is the second-most traded commodity in the world behind oil,â&#x20AC;? says StubbleďŹ eld. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to sell it the right way.â&#x20AC;? -----------------------------Marin Coffee Roasters

546 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo, 258.9549 2ND Dr. Insomniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Coffee & Tea, Novato 3RD Aroma CafĂŠ, San Rafael

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT Little by little, Bombay Garden owner Balkar Singh Tamber and his chef brother are introducing the Bay Area to healthy, high-quality, authentic Indian food served in an elegantâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;yet never stuffyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;atmosphere. San Rafael is the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third location. In addition to the variety of â&#x20AC;&#x153;standardâ&#x20AC;? dishes, the Tambers have created their own versionsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Bombay Chicken Masala and Bombay Lamb, for example. Vegan choices are always available. Manager Joseph Alvares keeps the whole operation running smoothlyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the one responsible for the exceptional service. As anyone involved in the restaurant biz knows, this is a labor of love, and Tamber is quite proud of being recognized by devoted diners. -----------------------------Bombay Garden

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415-925-4365

U O Y K THAN NG I T O V R O F N I R A M US #1 7

909 Fourth Street, San Rafael, 459.9555 2ND India Palace Restaurant, Mill Valley 3RD Avatarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Sausalito

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT Il Fornaio has been a successful Marin business since it opened 20 years ago. The restaurantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s challenge is â&#x20AC;&#x153;to change and at the same time stay the same,â&#x20AC;? VP of Marketing Mike Mindel says. To keep customers returning, Il Fornaio mixes it up with a different menu every month. Not only that, guest chefs take turns presenting special menus that spotlight regions of Italy, and diners can count on a full wine list and a menu of traditional Italian â&#x20AC;&#x153;trattoriaâ&#x20AC;? fare including rotisserie meats, salads and freshly made pastas, topped off with > 24

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1. From Russia with Love (1963) It doesn’t get any better than this: Connery and fetching counterspy Daniela Bianchi travel from Istanbul to Venice on the Orient Express with a high-octane decoder and a briefcase full of tear gas. A dazzling compendium of labyrinthine plot twists, shadowy cinematography and bland wit (Bond smells danger when his dinner companion orders red wine with fish). The fight scene between Connery and Robert Shaw in a cramped train compartment is one of the greatest action sequences ever filmed. 2. Goldfinger (1964) The gold standard. This is the one with the Aston Martin with the ejector seat, the gold-painted naked lady, the henchman with the steel-Frisbee bowler, the glass-shattering Shirley Bassey vocal. Even the golf game’s exciting.

La Toscana

3. Casino Royale (2006) Yes, Daniel Craig is the best Bond since Sean Connery: a tough, competent “blunt instrument” (Ian Fleming’s too-long-forgotten description of his protagonist) with charisma to burn, but the entire movie generates an excitement and snarky hipness more or less missing from the series for the past few decades.

Specializing in Tuscan Cuisine (415) 492-9100 Reservations Recommended

3751 Redwood Hwy. • San Rafael

4. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) The cognoscenti’s pick for the top spot would be ours as well if it weren’t for the clanking presence of George Lazenby as 007; but even his witless (yet oddly engaging) interpretation of the role can’t detract from the breathtaking action sequences, the alpine setting, the John Cage-meets-Esquivel soundtrack and the one and only Diana Rigg as—gasp!—Mrs. James Bond.

Lunch and Dinner 7 Days a Week New Well–Priced Lunch Menu Perfect for Business Lunches

5. Dr. No (1962) The ﬁrst entry in the series is still one of the best, with its startlingly hard-edged Flemingesque ’tude, gorgeous Caribbean backdrop, the all-time sexiest Bond girl in the person of Ursula Andress and, making one of the great entrances in movie history—lighting a Morland at the baccarat tables, theme music swelling behind him—Sean Connery as “Bond, James Bond.”

Nice Wine List • Take Out • Parties

6. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) Faced with unusable source material (see “Your fate has been written, Mr. Bond”), the producers crafted the ﬁrst totally original Bond ﬂick out of intriguing Egyptian locations, a singular henchman named Jaws, Claude Renoir’s lush cinematography, the equally lush presence of Barbara Bach, Roger Moore’s undeniably suave presence, a sexy-romantic theme song and a truly dazzling pre-title ski chase across the Austrian Alps. It worked.

Thank You, Marin, For Keeping Us On Top! Downtown San Rafael

Espresso 7 Sandwiches 7 Salads 7 Soup Bagels 7 Pastries 7 Ice Cream

There are Bond flicks and there are Bond flicks. Twenty-three to be exact (21 official Eon productions, plus Never Say Never Again and the campy David Niven Casino Royale from 1967). Some are better than others, some a lot better than others. Everyone has his or her favorite examples of the 007 canon, but only the martini-swilling, baccarat-playing staff members of the Pacific Sun have the straight dope on how the 23 chapters truly stack up. Our ranking of every Bond adventure follows. Eyes only.

arin 200

Best of M

7. Golden Eye (1995) Finally filling 007’s shoes a decade after his contract with the shoulda-been-canceled-two-years-earlier Remington Steele denied him the historic role in 1987, Pierce Brosnan’s debut was one of the most crucial of Bond films—crucial in that it needed to succeed if the series wanted any chance of survival after the Timothy Dalton experiment sent the series into a more than half-decade hiatus. Brosnan was perhaps the most naturally comedic Bond and he—along with a great cast that included Judi Dench, Alan Cummings, Robbie Coltrane and, thankfully, Desmond Llewellyn—helped usher Bond into the post-Cold War era admirably. 8. For Your Eyes Only (1981) This lean, largely gadget-free thriller finds 007 pursuing a decoding device around the Mediterranean—no grandiose globe-threatening plot, just clever characterizations, beautiful backdrops and action aplenty (the climactic mountain-climbing scene is a heart-pounder).

Open Late

9. Octopussy (1983) Merry mishmash of whimsical camels, gorgeous acrobats, ticking bombs, runaway trains, swordﬁghts, clown suits and an Indian fakir who plays the “James Bond Theme” on his ﬂute. Not particularly edgy but lots of fun. Continued on page 35

860 Fourth Street • 457-0803 22 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

Oregon sofa,

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MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 23

2 007

BEST F MARIN JASON BENNETT

A Family-Owned Business For Over 35 Years

+ ++ + Sol Hernandez of Sol Food

Patty Gessner of Osher Marin JCC

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Elaina Perez of Sol Food

Kelli Maciel of Osher Marin JCC

If Bond can’t stop eating Sol Food’s savory cuisine, he can always burn off the extra calories at the Osher Marin JCC.

< 21 Eat Another Day the famed in-house bread. Loyal staff and a spacious, comfortable dining area make the restaurant’s quality of food and consistency of service even more appealing. SUN: Name a dish on your menu that will leave me shouting “fantastico!” IL FORNAIO: Pizza. We make our own dough every day, use real mozzarella, and make our own tomato sauce. We use an authentic wood-burning oven that imparts that smoky ﬂavor naturally. It’s identical, if

not better, than the pizza you ﬁnd in Italy. Q: What herb or spice can most often make or break an Italian dish? A: Garlic, which can be overused in so many ways. It’s important how it’s stored, sliced and cooked. It can dominate or enhance a dish depending on the skill of the cook. Q: Do your chefs throw pasta on the wall to see if it’s done? A: Never. Overcooked pasta will stick on a wall. Al dente pasta, which is how we > 26

Thank you again for voting me Best Landscape Designer in Marin

CYNTHIA EGGER

LANDSCAPE DESIGN, INC. • 1-4 hour consultation for your design & garden problems • Landscape site planning & design for small gardens • Large projects including pools, patios, outdoor fireplaces/firepits, outdoor kitchens/barbeques, spas, ponds, fountains, decks, walkways, lighting, planting and irrigation • Planting design specializing in deer resistant, drought tolerant and low-maintainance gardens

1928 Fifth Avenue • San Rafael • 415.460.0858 • See my portfolio online at www.eggerlandscape.com 24 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

what if you could lose weight Without Dieting? FOR

LIFE

WITH HYPNOSIS

Mind/Body Connection Do you watch your thin friends gobble up everything in sight while you munch another salad and wonder why the scale won’t budge?

Maybe your problem is stress. Chronic stress can make you pack on the pounds, or keep you from losing them. Here’s why: Literature from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) points to a vicious cycle between stress and weight. A poor diet may contribute to stress, the stress contributes to an eating disorder, and the cycle continues with ever-worsening results for the stressed-out sufferer. Physically, stress has an immediate hormonal effect on the body. According to an ABC News article by Dr. Pamela Peeke, chronic stress triggers the release of a powerful hormone known as Cortisol, which signals the body to relax and refuel. Peeke, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, says the release of Cortisol is our body’s way of slowing us down and getting us out of that stress zone. Unfortunately, Cortisol also makes us feel tired, sluggish, and even hungry. “You end up with a big appetite for the special fuels of stress—fats and carbs,” says Peeke. “That’s how you gain the weight. That’s why, after a

stressful day at work, so many of us want to veg out and snack in front of the TV.” Cortisol also triggers fat storage in the adipose tissue of the abdomen, giving many of us an undesirable apple shape. However, such abdominal fat is not simply a cosmetic nightmare. It is also a health risk, sometimes leading to Cushing’s syndrome, which involves storage of fat on the inside of the abdominal cavity. That may, in turn, lead to diabetes and heart disease. Dieting Ranks 7th Among the Top 10 Stressors! Going on a diet to combat that thickened waistline may be exactly the wrong thing to do, because diets cause stress! Part of this stress comes from depriving ourselves of food we love. Even more critical is the fact that dieting forces us to think and act in ways completely contrary to what we’ve been trained to do since childhood. This is why dieters always end up saying, “I was doing really well until (an unusually stressful event)…” If you’re a stress eater, forcing yourself to do the 7th most stressful human event (dieting), paves the way for another episode of the yoyo dieting syndrome. You’ll keep repeating the pattern until something in your mental strategy changes. In fact, both Peeke and the NLM say the mind is the place to start when combating stress and overweight. If you’ve tried diets, pills, surgery or exercise more than twice and you’re still overweight, your body is not the problem. The problem lies with the way you respond to life events, including stress.

Hypnosis Changes Ingrained Patterns of Behavior Hypnosis helps change the way you think, act and respond to your environment. At Positive Changes Hypnosis, the thinking patterns and behaviors of a naturally thin person are mainlined into the subconscious to help you respond to stress, social situations and other life events, without reaching for the chips or cookies. Positive Side Effects! Stress relief is a natural side effect of hypnosis, making it ideal for the stress eaters among us. Positive Changes clients experience relief from stress, and then learn self-hypnosis techniques that help them keep tension from building up and causing weight gain. Every day in Positive Changes Hypnosis Centers across the nation, men and women are reprogramming their subconscious minds so they can ﬁnally stop struggling with food addictions, smoking, phobias and a host of other unwanted behaviors. Don’t wait another day. Call now to schedule your free consultation.

Call 415-256-9971 Call now for your FREE consultation 25 Bellam Blvd. ste. 101 San Rafael • 415.256.9971 3401 Cleveland Ave. Santa Rosa • 707.544.9500

W W W. P O S I T I V E C H A N G E S . C O M

LOSE WEIGHT WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

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IMPROVE PERFORMANCE MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 25

2 007

BEST F MARIN < 24 Eat Another Day cook our pasta, may or may not stick. Short pasta shapes bounce off a wall no matter how much they’re cooked. -----------------------------Il Fornaio

223 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, 927.4400 2ND Il Davide, San Rafael 3RD Poggio, Sausalito

Readers’ Poll

THE ‘DR. NOH’ AWARD FOR BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT This bustling Fourth Street sushi bar and more reﬂects the energy of the perennially stylish owner and former chef Dai Takeda. With a menu renowned for its fusion-inﬂuenced “designer” sushi, Sushi To Dai For has won over Marin diners hungry for both quality sushi and a good time. At Sushi to Dai For, you can have your Funky-Monkey Crazy Roll and eat it, too. The food is not just for show: A Japan-trained sushi chef is in the kitchen. Moreover, while the party atmosphere of the menu is contagious, Takeda thinks of it as a family establishment. “We’re accessible to all,” he says. “I like people to come in with their kids and think—I am home.” -----------------------------Sushi To Dai For

869 Fourth St., San Rafael, 721.0392 2ND Robata Grill & Sushi, Mill Valley 3RD King of the Roll, Larkspur

Readers’ Poll

THE MONEYPENNY AWARD FOR BEST MEAL UNDER $20 Puerto Rican food isn’t well-represented on the West Coast—its practitioners have traditionally settled in New York, Boston and other northeastern locations, not here—but now a fragrant and friendly purveyor of this lusty Caribbean cuisine has opened two venues in the pan-Latin melting pot of downtown San Rafael. Sol Food isn’t a high-concept, low-quality novelty. Housed in cheerful-West Indies settings of peeling pastels, weathered ironwork, mambo music and enormous potted foliage—it’s like entering a Caribbean courtyard—the two outlets serve absolutely creditable examples of the island’s Afro-Hispanic comidas criollas (home cooking). This isn’t to say that the food is entirely authentic; the island’s predilection for the deep fryer has been tempered by Northern California’s target demographic, and salt cod and pork innards aren’t part of the program. But sink your teeth into the free-range chicken thighs reeking of garlic and oregano, the creamy, soul-satisfying pinto beans and rice, the crisp, hot fried plantains glistening with olive oil and quibbling becomes absolutely...norte. SUN: What’s the reason you’re able to keep menu prices down? SOL FOOD: There isn’t a huge markup for the food. Just enough to keep everyone happy and our fun place open. > 28 Q: Name a particularly tasty bar-

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339 San Anselmo Ave. • 455-5366 • www.sananselmoinn.com 26 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

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MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 27

Thanks for Voting Us #1!

2 007

BEST F MARIN 2ND Easy Street Café, San Anselmo 3RD Crepevine, San Rafael

JASON BENNETT

Where East Meets “Best”

Readers’ Poll

BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT 7

+ Jennie Low of Jennie Low's

Drawing on her Italian heritage, Heidi Insalata Krahling’s restaurant, Insalata’s, serves up excellent Mediterranean cuisine in a sophisticated, yet warm, atmosphere. Dishes are prepared with fresh—and many organic—ingredients, with a careful emphasis on letting the ﬂavors shine through. Spices are interesting and well used—never overpowering. The wine list is chosen to complement the cuisine, and includes choices from Israel and Lebanon along with the expected selections from California, France, Italy and Spain. The added bonus? There’s a take-out counter, too. SUN: What’s a common misconception people have about Mediterranean cuisine? INSALATA’S: Many people think of it as “Middle Eastern” cuisine, whereas Mediterranean cuisine can be anything that borders that sea. Also, many of the spices people already know—and are surprised that they do. Q: Name a can’t-miss dish on your menu. A: The Portuguese Cataplana, with manila clams, tomato, chorizo, grilled bread and rouille. Looks exquisite and tastes better. Q: Complete this sentence: The greatest contribution to Mediterranean cuisine has been __________________. A: The diet itself. It keeps you healthy and happy. -----------------------------Insalata’s Restaurant

Best Japanese Restaurant GUESS WHERE WE ARE MOVING…SOON

Jennie Low’s got a knack for more than just a tasty oyster sauce.

Best Pizza any thanks to all our loyal customers for voting Amici’s delicious East Coast Style Pizzas into the Hall of Fame! Our thin, crispy crusts are topped with M the highest quality ingredients to create an infinite number of flavor sensations. Fresh pastas, great salads and side dishes complete the menu. Enjoy our relaxed atmosphere and prompt professional service. We also offer free delivery to your home or business. Amici’s is open daily for lunch and dinner.

FREE DELIVERY Locally, with minimum order

455-9777

1242 4th St. (Between B & C St.) Downtown San Rafael

Thank You, Marin! We are honored and grateful for your continuing support. Dine with us and celebrate our 10 years in business.

Best Mediterranean Restaurant 3 Years in a Row!

< 26 Eat Another Day gain item on your menu. A: You can close your eyes and point to the menu and you’ll be pointing at a tasty bargain item. Crowd fave: Sandwich Bistec with side salad and a Pineapple Fizzy Lizzy. Q: I don’t think I could ever say “Fizzy Lizzy” to another adult. Any other recommendations? A: If you’re in the mood for more of a combination plate, try the Camarones Criollos with Tostones and an Agua de Coco. Q: Does this award mean you’re a great place to bring a cheap date? A: As long as that doesn’t mean you’re cheap with our staff as well, we’re OK with being Cheap Date Central. Q: Shamelessly plug your restaurant in exactly 25 words. A: Sol is incredibly particular about her ingredients. We use organic dairy, grassfed beef and free-range chicken, organic produce and the local bakery for our bread. -----------------------------Sol Food

120 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, San Anselmo, 457.7700 2ND The Garden Restaurant, Novato 3RD Falafel Hut, San Rafael > 30

732 Fourth St. and 901 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael, 451.4765

L A G INESTRA R ISTORANTE • PIZZERIA • BAR

Still one of the best! Thank you for your loyal patronage

INSALATA’S Restaurant, Catering & Takeout

28 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. San Anselmo • 457.7700 www.insalatas.com

CS IFI U

PAC

and for voting us “Best of Marin” Best Italian restaurant over the past several years.

r of Ma t s e B 2003

127 Throckmorton Ave. • Mill Valley, California 94941 • Tel: 415.388.0224

WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 29

JASON BENNETT

++ Glenn Miwa of Comfort's

Best Health Food Store

Best Green Environmentally Conscious Business

Honored by your votes for 2007 Best of Marin PAGE PROUD30 TO4c!! BE MARIN’S LEADER IN ORGANIC FOODS, BODY CARE, VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS SINCE 1969

2 007

BEST F MARIN

Where Great Tasting Food is Organic!

Laura Miwa of Comfort's

The Miwas—lamenting the fact that there ‘aren’t any biodegradable sporks available yet.’

< 28 Eat Another Day

Readers’ Poll

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT Good Mexican food is one of the great, simple culinary pleasures, and it’s especially well-suited to this time of year; as the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, a good burrito or chimichanga is of-

ten just what the doctor ordered. And there are few more resplendent locales to enjoy a little quality south-of-the-border fare than Guaymas. Situated conveniently near the ferry terminal in picturesque downtown Tiburon, the popular eatery features incredible views of the bay and a menu to match. From traditional dishes to fresh seafood to thirst-quenching margaritas—you’ll ﬁnd it all at this top-quality spot. -----------------------------Guaymas

5 Main St., Tiburon, 435.6300 2ND Las Camelias, San Rafael 3RD Taco Jane’s, San Anselmo

Readers’ Poll

THE DANIEL CRAIG AWARD FOR BEST NEW RESTAURANT It’s all good—but the camarones and the steak plate catapulted this sizzling spot to two wins this year. Sol Food serves up traditional Puerto Rican cuisine at twin sites in San Rafael. It’s simple—with a backdrop of salsa and merengue, “You feel like you’re in your friends’ house,” says Sol, the owner. Diners wash down grass-fed meats and organic salads with authentic Coco Rico (a coconut soda) or Malta (a molasses-based cola). For desserts, they’ve got ﬂan de queso and a vegan tembleque (coconut pudding). From their start at the Farmers Market, they’ve built up quite a clientele. “We have a lot of repeat customers,” smiles Sol. “Some come in twice a day.” > 32

THANK YOU MARIN! FOR VOTING FOR US AGAIN.

=lcc J\im`Z\ Fi^Xe`Z ;\c` Xe[ :Xk\i`e^ ;\gXikd\ek • Quality Produce • Organic Wines • Cookware, Books • Herbs & Spices Learn more about our Organic School Lunch Program by Visiting: www.goodearthorganiclunches.com Your community Market providing natural and organic foods for the achievement of personal and planetary health since 1969.

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ENJOY OUR FABULOUS HAPPY HOUR 007

arin 2 est of M

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Best Martini

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N_\e Pfl K_`eb f] >ff[ ?\Xck_%%% K_`eb f] >ff[ <Xik_ 30 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

Best New Restaurant

PAC

CS IFI U

Mille Grazie! Thanks for voting us “Best San Rafael Restaurant 2007”

CS IFI U

PAC

rin of Ma Best 2 0 0 3 rin of Ma Best 1 9 9 9

THANK YOU, MARIN!

For voting us into the Hall of Fame for Best Paint Store

Come see our newly remodeled decorator showroom and large selection of green products! Free in-store color consultants

IL DAVIDE

901 A St. San Rafael • 454-8080

Michael Teaching & Spiritual Study Center

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MARIN COLOR SERVICE “The Store with Everything for the Painter” Serving Marin County since 1948 SAN RAFAEL 770 Second Street Corner of 2nd & Lincoln

453-4065

Two Convenient Locations...

NOVATO 703 Grant Avenue Old Town

897-9411

South Indian Cuisine

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MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 31

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BEST F MARIN

CHINESE CUISINE

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3001 Bridgeway • Sausalito (near Shell Gas Station) • 415-332-5818

< 30 Eat Another Day SUN: Name one thing that’s been key to readers choosing you Best New Restaurant. SOL FOOD: We think that people like the originality and tropical atmosphere. You’re in Sol’s Cocina Criolla and it’s an inviting place to be. Food comes out quickly, making us an easy lunch option and the perfect stop before a night out. Q: Name an item on your menu that your chefs seem to “get right” practically every time. A: Consistency is key to why we have such a loyal following. Our cooks do an amazing job at keeping up and I have yet to see a plate that doesn’t look like it should. Q: Just name an item. A: A favorite special is the Pescado Frito on Fridays—truly amazing. Q: What’s a common misperception people have about Puerto Rican cuisine? A: That the food is spicy-hot. It can be if you add Sol’s famed pique (which she can barely keep stocked on the shelves) but, generally speaking, the food is not spicy. Q: Shamelessly plug your restaurant in exactly 23 words. A: We love surprising people with how delicious the ﬂavors are and how even the most conservative palate can ﬁnd a favorite dish here. -----------------------------Sol Food

732 Fourth St. and 901 Lincoln Ave., 451.4765 2ND Finnegan’s Marin, Novato 3RD Pizza Antica, Mill Valley

Readers’ Poll

BEST NOVATO RESTAURANT A 44-seat bistro-style eatery with a relaxed, convivial atmosphere, Kitchen (full name Kitchen at 868 Grant) is fast becoming destination dining in Novato, despite the fact that it opened its doors just two years ago. The cuisine team of chef Jason Hoffman and sous chef Justin Close brings a level of skill and creativity that helps set the menu apart—a menu that recently expanded to include lunch service on Thursdays and Fridays. Owner Henry Hautau, a longtime Novato resident with deep roots in the community, knows what his clients want—family-friendly ﬁne dining without the pretentious frills. And that’s exactly what he delivers, from his kitchen to you. -----------------------------Kitchen

868 Grant Ave., Novato, 892.6100 2ND Wild Fox, Novato 3RD Cacti, Novato

Readers’ Poll

BEST ORGANIC PRODUCE With a roster of 190 vendors, 44 percent of whom can claim organic status, the Civic Center Farmers Market inﬂuences much of what the county is eating (if not the state!). Drawing from both chefs d’cuisine and home cooks for its fresh, quality organic produce, the market leads the ﬁeld > 36

0 5 $ y t r a p o a casin

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Celebrating what’s in season, eating locally grown food, and buying direct from farmers are steps we can all take. Together we can keep small family farms alive, minimize the miles our food travels, and enjoy the freshest, most ﬂavorful produce available. Join our village in a local food revolution. It’s a feel-good experience for your mind, your body, and your taste buds.

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MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 33

CREPEVINE

Lucinda’s Family

THANKS YOU from the Bottom of our Hearts

restaurant

Thank you for voting for us. We couldn’t have done it without you. We appreciate your business. Crepevine Staff rin

f Ma

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ALSO VOTED: • best BRUNCH - North Bay Bohemian • BEST BREAKFAST - SF Weekly • bEST PUMPKIN pancakes - Bay Guardian • best creperie in the penninsula - San Mateo Times

Stop by for Some Yummy Mexican Food to Carry Home chiladas n E • s o c a T • s Burrito os & More h c a N • s le a m a T

SAVORY CREPES SWEET CREPES SCRAMBLES OMELETTES BENEDICTIONS PANCAKES & FRENCH TOAST SANDWICHES SALADS & PASTA KIDS’ MENU BEER & WINE

Crepevine Donates 50% To Schools! Ask about Our Fund Raising Program for local schools. A specific date may be chosen by a participating school when 50% of bills paid by parents become a donation.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner All Day • Sat & Sun Brunch Open 7 Days A Week 7:30am-10pm & fri/Sat 7:30am-11pm

9 0 8 4 T H S T R E E T • S A N R A FA E L • 4 1 5 - 2 5 7 - 8 8 2 2 C R E P E V I N E S A N R A FA E L @ S B C G L O B A L . N E T

HOURS: Mon-Fri 9:30am - 9:00pm Sat 9:30am - 8:00pm Sun 11:00am - 7:00pm

930 Redwood Hwy • Mill Valley • 415-388-0754

34 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

BEST F MARIN

2 007

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Best of Bond continued from page 22 10. The Living Daylights (1987) Timothy Daltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s introduction to the series as a rather forlorn 007 features a slam-bang commando raid on Gibraltar, Maryam Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Abo as a cellist-assassin and an amusing turn from Joe Don Baker as a good olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; boy arms dealer. Not bad at all. 11. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Brosnanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second effort featured one of the best Bond villains in years in Jonathan Pryceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Elliot Carver, a media mogul and notso-thinly-veiled stand-in for Rupert Murdoch. At last, an evil genius who actually seemed smart enough to pull off the mad scheme heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d hatched. Come to think of it, the idea of a network baron fomenting the ďŹ&#x201A;ames of international conďŹ&#x201A;ict in order to capitalize on the television ratings of war isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that mad of a scheme. Did we mention the striking similarities to Rupert Murdoch? 12. You Only Live Twice (1967) Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a gritty, almost neorealist look to this unusual entry in which Bond heads for Japan to investigate the mysterious disappearance of U.S.-Soviet rockets and instead discovers his arch-nemesis Blofeld holding court in a hollowed-out volcano. Screenplay by Roald Dahl! 13. Never Say Never Again (1983) A dozen years later, Connery donned his dinner jacket once more in this unofďŹ cial, far superior remake of Thunderball, surrounding himself with the seriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ďŹ nest cast (Klaus Maria Brandauer, Max Von Sydow, Barbara Carrera, Bernie Casey, Edward Fox, Rowan Atkinson and the young Kim Basinger) and giving a gleeful hotfoot to the series that both deďŹ ned and entrapped him.

IN MARIN

SINCE

1971

PaciďŹ c Sun Best of Marin PaciďŹ c Sun Hall of Fame

Daily Specials P a r t i a l l y B a k e d P i z z a s Av a i l a b l e

16. The World Is Not Enough (1999) The tread on the Brosnan era was starting to wear by the late 1990s, despite the fact that this ďŹ lm was helmed by arguably the most gifted director of any Bond ďŹ lm, Michael Apted. The writing seems uninspired (characters are given witless names like Elektra and Mr. Bullion) and, while weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not entirely against furthering M into the middle of the action, here it seemed less out of inspiration than desperation. 17. Die Another Day (2002) By 2002 was there any action ďŹ lm being made that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t either acknowledging Quentin Tarantinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wit and gritâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or, better yet, ripping it off? Only the Bond movies. Brosnan limps out of the Bond role in a movie ďŹ lmed prior to 9/11, but released after the tragedy. Its poor timing made it seem, at the time, out of touch politically; looking back today it seems more out of touch artistically. 18. A View to a Kill (1985) Fifty-seven-year-old Roger Moore in his series ďŹ nale attacks his role even more gingerly than usual, and the entire enterprise is on the dull side, but there are pleasing glimpses of Northern California, and Christopher Walkenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a riot as the chuckling, platinum-blond megalomaniacal supervillain. 19. Diamonds Are Forever (1971) Broadly realized adventure-comedy features a rapidly aging Connery pursuing gangsters and smugglers across Nevada. His co-star is Jimmy Dean of pork-sausage fame. Cool car chase down the Vegas Strip, though. 20. Licence to Kill (1989) Thoroughly unpleasant entry ďŹ nds Bond avenging the shark-mauling of his best friend by chasing down a pit-faced drug lord. Carey Lowell and Talisa Soto, however, are the sauciest Bond girls since Ursula Andress. 21. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) In which Bond gives a sumo wrestler a wedgie, ďŹ ghts it out with Herve Villechaize, and also ďŹ ghts it out with a group of schoolgirls (we kid you not). Oh and then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the jokes about the third nipple and the hilarious kick-in-the-crotch scene. All of which is still preferable to the return of the Smokey and the Bandit-wannabe Sheriff J.W. Pepper. Bearable only in comparison to the next two Roger Moore ďŹ lms on our list. 22. Live and Let Die (1973) Offensive (the bad guys are AfricanAmericans), listless (stolid Roger Moore in his series debut was quite a comedown after the Astaire-like Connery), but it does feature the best title track of the series. 23. Moonraker (1979) The best Bond novel becomes the worst Bond ďŹ lm, a clumsy, ďŹ&#x201A;abby, over-anxious mishmash of broad comedy and Star Wars-era special effects. Feh. <

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14. Casino Royale (1967) We have a sneaking affection for this goofy, megabudget mess of a parody with its all-star cast, surreal Swinging London ambiance and most excellent Burt Bacharach score. 15. Thunderball (1965) Surprisingly lifeless outing considering the sureďŹ re plot (SPECTRE holds two nukes ransom for $1 billion) and the travel-brochure setting (the Bahamas during Carnaval), but the pre-title sequence is terriďŹ c and the scenes with 007 serving time at a health farm are a delight.

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MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 35

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BEST F MARIN JASON BENNETT

owned by a man who used to be chief of police at CSU Hayward? Mulberry Street’s chef/owner Ted Rowe has been in the business for 20 years and has an impressive pedigree; he’s also a professional food writer for Bellissimo Foods and for Pizza Today magazine. Ted runs a full-service restaurant with a large wine selection. Wife Barbara does the accounting and bookkeeping. Ted’s business philosophy is “to train staff well to make excellent pizzas.” Customers love the mostly vegetarian homemade soups, while “For the Love of Mushroom” is their top-selling pizza. Do yourself a favor and check out their thin-crust, handthrown pies. And by the way, the restaurant is named after the main street that runs through Little Italy in New York. -----------------------------Mulberry Street Pizzeria

++++ Martin Hansen of Sunshine Bikes

Johann De Blaauw of Johann Paul

Paul Comerford of Johann Paul

Bridget Moran of Marin Farmer's Market

LIKE Q BRANCH, ONLY BETTER: This foursome can help Bond purchase ﬁne jewelry, test ride the perfect mountain bike and select ripened heirloom tomatoes.

< 32 Eat Another Day in clean, seasonal food. “In 2000, we were only 20 percent organic,” notes the market’s executive director Brigitte Moran. “But now it’s huge.” Explaining how the demand for organics has arisen due to the close communications between consumers and vendors, the market reﬂects the community on all levels. “Organic doesn’t necessarily mean local and we’re both local and direct.” The market will soon feature the ﬁrst Maringrown organic apples as well as Marin-raised organic beef and oysters. -----------------------------Civic Center Farmers Market

Marin Civic Center, 472.6100 2ND Good Earth Natural Foods, Fairfax 3RD Woodlands Market, Kentﬁeld

Staff Pick

world-weary lounge lizards tickling the ivories. In other words, it’s our kind of place. Leave your Corvette with the valet, wink at the doll behind the cash register and make your way into the pleasing chiaroscuro of the lounge. Find a stool at the baby grand in the corner and order a Dewar’s (neat) from the waitress. Tuck a ﬁve-spot in the brandy snifter and ask the piano man for a little Rodgers & Hart—“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” say, or “Spring Is Here” if you’re feeling suicidal. Sing along if you know the words, as of course you do. A dish of crackers and beer cheese appears at your elbow. The scotch slithers down your throat like Ava Gardner in a silk jumpsuit. The aroma of woodsmoke beckons from the kitchen and the second drink is on its way. Man, this is living. -----------------------------Marin Joe’s

1585 Casa Buena Dr., Corte Madera, 924.2081

BEST PLACE DEAN MARTIN WOULD HAVE MADE HIS ‘BAG’

Readers’ Poll

The piano bar at Marin Joe’s hearkens back to an era of three-martini lunches, avuncular barkeeps, faux-rock decor and

BEST PIZZA What other pizzeria can you cite that’s

101 Smith Ranch Road, San Rafael, 472.7272 2ND LoCoco’s Authentic Italian Pizzeria, Terra Linda 3RD LoCoco’s Italian Pizzeria & Pasta, San Anselmo

Readers’ Poll

BEST PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH Triple award-winners this year, Il Fornaio shines as a convenient spot to drop in for a business lunch. Since the location is close to 101 and serves 600 meals a day, it’s always bustling, and the extensive regional wine list and professional, attentive service should keep you and your colleagues or guests happy. The light, savory entrées (roasted meats, wood-fired pizza, grilled fish, fresh pastas, salads) reveal a classier side of Italian cooking than we often find in the U.S., while the casual elegance of the dining area gives customers a chance to relax in style on the comfortable red banquettes. Conveniently, reservations are also taken online. SUN: What makes Il Fornaio such a great place for a business lunch? IL FORNAIO: Well-trained, professional service. We like to talk about our authentic Italian food and our beautiful restaurant, but when you’re conducting an important meeting over a meal, you don’t want to

Dr. Barbara Custer, OMD

be embarrassed by inept service. We have real pros at every position and that’s what a business diner demands. Q: What’s a good pasta to eat when conducting “business”? A: Deﬁnitely ravioli or short pastas. Long noodles can be tricky and have a tendency to be a bit messy. Q: If “business lunch” were a Mob euphemism what do you think it would mean? A: Not sure how to answer that. -----------------------------Il Fornaio

223 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, 927.4400 2ND Lark Creek Inn, Larkspur 3RD Il Davide, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

THE MARY GOODNIGHT AWARD FOR BEST PLACE FOR A DINNER DATE Jonathan Wright, head chef at the Lark Creek Inn, knows a thing or two about rebuilding—he was working in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. That jarring catastrophe eventually led him to Marin where he took on his current post, even as the historic Larkspur landmark was undergoing a bit of a facelift itself. Nothing on the scale of Louisiana’s beloved metropolis, of course—Wright emphasizes that what makes the Lark Creek Inn so special is its longstanding tradition of elegant, Old World-style excellence. But change can be a very good thing, and Wright says he’s looking forward to adding even more variety and quality to the menu, making his dining room the place to be for lovers and anyone seeking a romantic, ﬁne dining experience. -----------------------------Lark Creek Inn

234 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur, 924.7766 2ND Panama Hotel, San Rafael 3RD El Paseo, Mill Valley

The Soapbox is Yours your house, your mouse

Voted Best of Marin Oriental Medicine 2007 Also voted one of the top alternative medical 7 arin 200 Best of M doctors in the SF Bay Area.

Rant and rave Rate a movie Review a restaurant Be a citizen journalist

— SF Focus Magazine

Discuss community issues Announce an event

Specializing in Natural Treatment For: Fertility ) Menopause Women’s Hormone Issues

For the Months of May & JuneDr. Barbara Custer 147 Lomita Drive ) Mill Valley

415 383-3040 36 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

As a thank you to the voters, I am offering 30% off your first treatment.

Ask for advice

TOWNSQUARE Marin’s online neighborhood @

www.paciﬁcsun.com

un S c ﬁ i c Pa MA

BEST RIN’S

ONLI

JASON BENNETT

++ Becky Steere of Sweetwater

Ted Rowe of Mulberry Pizza

These folks have obviously just received their weekly edition of the ‘Paciﬁc Sun’…

Staff Pick

BEST PLACE TO ORDER FROM THE ‘WELL’ MENU

120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, 457.7700

Readers’ Poll

THE ALBERT R. BROCCOLI AWARD FOR BEST RESTAURANT FOR VEGETARIANS Comforts may be most notable for its Chinese Chicken Salad and vast array of gourmet take-out items, but it’s also a haven for non-meateaters. In fact, even the notable salad is available with tofu instead of chicken. The vegetarian variety alongside the many omnivore offerings makes Comforts ideal for group gatherings—everyone dines happily. Vegetarians can choose among pastas—both hot and cold—cabbage rolls with lentils, veggie pot pie, chilaquilas with fresh roasted tomatoes, stuffed peppers, soft polenta with roasted vegetables and port wine reduction, the old stand-by, mac and cheese...the list is long and varied. And, as with all their dishes, they are prepared using fresh, sustainably produced ingredients—owners Glenn and Laura Miwa buy from local organic sources as much as possible. SUN: Name one thing on your menu that’s equally popular among vegetarWWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

335 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo, 454.9840 2ND Insalata’s Restaurant, San Anselmo 3RD Lotus Indian Cuisine, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

BEST ROSS VALLEY RESTAURANT Named in honor of her father, Heidi Insalata Krahling’s establishment Insalata’s, does his memory delicious justice. Executive chef and owner of this famed restaurant, she’s built on her Italian heritage to provide upscale dining at its best. The carefully prepared menu includes flavors from far-flung regions of the Mediterranean, covering Morocco to Greece. Fine wines and captivating flavors characterize this palace to the palate. The woman in charge of the kitchen is a “Four Seasons, Endless Reasons” winner for best American Lamb Chef’s Recipe. How’s that for a tasty mouthful? -----------------------------Insalata’s Restaurant

120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, 457.7700 2ND Fork, San Anselmo 3RD Marche Aux Fleurs, Ross

CS IFI U

Although we tend to disdain fancyschmancy cocktails as a matter of principle, we aren’t fanatics about it, and have even been known to venture out of our gin-and-vermouth comfort zone when spring is in the air or the bartender at hand has conjured up something that sounds unusual without being potentially...unwieldy. The house cocktails at Insalata’s complement the restaurant as a whole by being as tempting, tasty and uniquely conceived as the dishes that come out of the kitchen. The Ginger Lime Drop, for instance, combines lime-infused Seagram’s with ginger and fresh lime in a sugar-rimmed martini glass, and is the definition of refreshing on a warm evening. Or take the Crantini, a festive and flavorful confluence of Ketel One, mint, cranberry, cinnamon and orange zest. In the Tibetan Thunderball, freshly squeezed orange and grapefruit juices cushion a shot of tequila and a dollop of creme de cassis, while the Beautiful is simplicity itself: the heat of Courvoisier and the nectar of Grand Marnier cohabiting in a warm snifter. Insalata’s also does well by the classics, shaking up admirable sidecars, manhattans, old fashioneds and mojitos. -----------------------------Insalata’s

ians and carnivores. COMFORTS: This is easy...baked macaroni and cheese and for lactose-intolerant carnivores we sell a lot of black bean chili. These are home style “comfort” foods that seem to always attract attention from meat lovers and vegetarians alike. Q: Actually, that’s two items... A: Our Chinese tofu salad uses marinated and broiled tofu and the same ingredients as the Chinese chicken salad without the chicken. People have purchased it for the chicken lovers and they can’t tell the difference. Q: Is it ever a goal of vegetarian food to find substitutions for the flavors of meat? A: The short answer is no. Q: We’re paid by the word—we prefer long answers. A: Tempeh, firm tofu or Portobello mushrooms can portray meat entrées, but many vegetarians don’t even like the appearance of meat let alone the taste. I believe vegetarians appreciate the simple taste of freshly prepared vegetables both alone and in various combinations. We do make “burgers” with lentils or black beans that are both quite popular; they certainly do imitate a hamburger in presentation, but not in taste. Q: If you could eat one, and only one, vegetable for the rest of your life, what would it be? A: One vegetable for the rest of my life? It would be a short life, but it would be something crunchy, like radishes or carrots. -----------------------------Comforts

PAC

2 007

BEST F MARIN

rin of Ma Best 1 9 9 9

Celebrating our 53rd year We hope you’ll always think of us as “Best of Marin” Thank you to all of our loyal customers and thank you to all of our treasured employees.... whose careful and precise execution of every satisfying and delicious dish makes every Marin Joe’s dining experience a “Best.” - Romano, Paul & Ralph Della Santina

1585 CASA BUENA DR. • CORTE MADERA • (415) 924-1500

k Than

You!

” d Vote Food ” t u o ake ians met T Vegetar r u o or tG “Bes rant f u a t s t Re “Bes

Thank You!

Readers’ Poll

BEST SAN RAFAEL RESTAURANT Immaculately prepared food, a loyal staff and special features—such as Wine Wednesdays—makes for a solid relationship between Il Davide Restaurant and San Rafael foodies hungry for ﬁne Italian cuisine evocative of the Old World. “We feature high-quality food and amazing specials,” owner Eva Tuffanelli> 38 MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 37

2 007

BEST F MARIN JASON BENNETT

+ Richard Mayﬁeld of Seafood Peddler

Staff at the Seafood Peddler operate under the ﬁrm belief that a ‘mollusk is very personal to an individual’s taste.’

< 37 Eat Another Day Haydon confidently reports, which is no small feat after 14 years in one of the most competitive of businesses. “We’re sophisticated, yet people can come in their jeans. We have a lot of regulars that makes it like a fun family.” What they come back for is one of the most wide-ranging Italian wine lists that’s notable for its affordability as well as its quality, sumptuous food (filet medallions with truffle cream sauce anyone?) and great service. -----------------------------Il Davide Restaurant

901 A St., San Rafael, 454.8080 2ND Sushi To Dai For, San Rafael 3RD Sabor of Spain, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

THE JAWS AWARD FOR BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT What is the recipe for a successful restaurant? “Great food, great service and a clean

restaurant,” says Seafood Peddler general manager Richard Mayfield. Sounds simple, but it is no small feat if you offer just about every seafood known to humankind in one of the county’s larger dining rooms. Nonetheless, since 2000, Mayfield, owner Al Sylvestein and chef Fidel Chacon have been proudly serving line-caught fish, locally grown produce to a celebrity-studded clientele who can tie up at the restaurant’s dock and eat indoors or out. Weekly specials reflect the local catch, a monthly menu makeover keeps the attention of the regulars. An Oyster bar, Ahi tartare starters, classic fish and chips and Chilean sea bass encompass the breadth of seafood choices available—but meat eaters won’t go home hungry. “On Valentine’s Day, we sold 40 percent meat, which tells you we’re an overall good restaurant,” adds Mayfield. Live music nightly makes it go down all that much easier. SUN: Name a dish on your menu your chefs seem to get right every time. SEAFOOD: The chef gets everything right. Every time. Q: Complete this sentence: The most underrated-tasting mollusk is_________. A. Mollusk is very personal to an individual’s taste. Q: Have you ever tasted dolphin? A: No, never have tasted dolphin. Q: C’mon, be honest. What’s it like? Chicken? A: NO WAY! -----------------------------Seafood Peddler

100 Yacht Club Drive, San Rafael, 460.6669

MANY VOTES AND KIND REVIEWS

The Acorn Floats Because of You!

THANKS!

Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 12-5

2ND Fish, Sausalito 3RD Paciﬁc Café, Kentﬁeld

Readers’ Poll

BEST SOUTHERN MARIN RESTAURANT A warm, friendly ambiance, highly professional service, combined with the most interesting and best prepared food possible sums up the goal for the Buckeye Roadhouse, according to managing partners Robert Price and Peter Schumacher. It’s a recipe that seems to work quite well—for locals as well as destination diners. Ribs, chops and steaks; poultry and waterfowl; ﬁsh, seafood and pasta—no one goes hungry here. An always evolving menu—that pushes the envelope just a bit—with enough variety to stave off boredom, prepared using healthy, fresh and many local ingredients keeps diners coming back for more. -----------------------------Buckeye Roadhouse

15 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, 331.2600 2ND Sushi Ran, Sausalito 3RD Poggio, Sausalito

Readers’ Poll

THE SPY WHO LOVED MEAT AWARD FOR BEST STEAKHOUSE Although not primarily a steakhouse, the Buckeye Roadhouse deserves the accolades for its steak offerings. Meat eaters enjoy the choice of several types of steaks, prepared in varying ways, with an assortment of accompaniments. Only naturally raised, hormone-free beef is used at the Buckeye—a better choice for personal and environmental health. Hankering for a truly special steak? Try the New York steak—12 ounces of Kobe beef, the most pampered meat source around, renowned for its ﬂavor, tenderness and well-marbled texture. Truly a treat for the steak connoisseur. -----------------------------Buckeye Roadhouse

15 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, 331.2600 2ND Izzy’s Steakhouse, Corte Madera 3RD Boca Steak & Seafood, Novato

Crafts • Jewelry • Art-To-Wear • Books • Fun Stuff 454-2990 800 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo, CA

Readers’ Poll

THE LIVE AND LET THAI AWARD FOR BEST THAI RESTAURANT

Art • Fashion •Vintage Garden • Eco-Products

Do Collage with Us During Store Hours Egg Cards • Newspaper Eggs Peace Crowns • Bookmarks

Dance into Spring w/Satin Flower Slippers Etched Eggs from the Ukraine

Tues–Sat 11–6 • Sunday 12–5

14 Locust Ave. M i l l

Va l l e y

415- 384- 0802

38 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

Thep Lela has it all: atmosphere, excellent food, good service and something you won’t ﬁnd at most local Thai restaurants—a cocktail bar. Owners Natalie and Sak Kamloon have found that a quite a few different cocktails complement Thai cuisine. But really, it’s about the food here. In addition to the wide range of choices on the traditional Thai menu, the Kamloons have created their own fusion items that have caught on with customers. And all their ingredients are fresh—no frozen or farmed ﬁsh, either—with an emphasis on locally produced goods. Open 18 years, the Kamloons are grateful for their customer support—obviously, diners appreciate the Kamloons. Their hearts are in this business, and it shows. SUN: What’s your restaurant’s specialty? THEP LELA: Our wok-fried dishes and cur-

ries are your best bet. Q: Are you suggesting there are any not-so-good bets at Thep Lela? A: We serve hundred of meals daily. We try our best in all dishes in all circumstances. Q: What’s the biggest misconception people have about Thai food? A: People think that all Thai food is spicy, so they eat more Thai food when it’s a cold or rainy day. Q: Same crowd that would offer a drowning man a glass of water. A: Thai people eat spicy foods to stimulate their appetite when the weather is hot. Q: ‘The King and I’—inspiring or condescending? A: Could be a love story. -----------------------------Thep Lela

615 Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, 383.3444 2ND Orchid Thai Restaurant, San Anselmo 3RD Royal Thai Restaurant, San Rafael

Readers’s Poll

BEST WEST MARIN RESTAURANT A Northern California landmark, this lodge has a fabled history in local lore. More Bond-on-a-break (back rubs and fine foods) than M (no-nonsense efficiency), the Olema Inn is that perfect spot for a last-minute getaway. Fearless neighbors of the infamous San Andreas Fault and survivors of the Big One in 1906, the last time we checked, there was no Quaketini on the avant-garde menu. So, sit back, relax and take a deep breath of that subtle, salty air that permeates the rustic grounds. With their fabulous chef, organic fare and dedicated staff, you can’t find fault with the Olema. -----------------------------Olema Inn

10,000 Sir Francis Drake Bvld., Olema, 663.9559 2ND Station House Café, Pt. Reyes 3RD Rancho Nicasio Restaurant and Bar, Nicasio

Staff Pick

THE TWO GREAT TASTES THAT TASTE GREAT TOGETHER AWARD Why do we give power and glory and Nobel Prizes to backroom politicos and atomic scientists when we don’t even know the name of the genius who ﬁrst dipped a Hershey bar into a jar of peanut butter? The black velvet of the chocolate, the earthy creaminess of the peanut butter, the salty and the sweet in harmonic convergence...Madre de Dios! Judy’s, a Berkeley-based confectioner that’s purist enough to stir their caramels in antique copper kettles over Vulcan burners, truly understands what makes a peanut butter cup great. First, its size. Unlike most peanut butter cups, which tease rather than satisfy, Judy’s is well over 2 inches in width. The chocolate itself is dense as a brick, barely sweet and thick enough to make getting to the inner core of peanut butter a real challenge. When you do it’s rich, it’s creamy and it tastes like honestto-God peanuts, a rarity among peanut butters. Other deeply satisfying items from Judy’s kitchens include chocolate-dipped English toffee, chocolate-covered graham crackers, chocolate-coconut haystacks,

2 007

BEST F MARIN JASON BENNETT

+ + +

Thank You for Voting Us The Best

Julie Knight of Marin Theatre Co.

Serving Fine Thai Cuisine for the Last 20 Years

Ed Wall of Marin Coffee Roasters

Bryan Stubbleﬁeld of Marin Coffee Roasters

Something’s brewing between these two coffee roasters…

rocky road clusters and chocolate-orange sticks; they’re available in bulk (abondanza!) at Mollie Stone’s. -----------------------------Judy’s

800.223.1642, www.judyscandy.com Mollie Stone’s

100 Harbor Dr., Sausalito, 331.6900

+ HALL of FAME + 1st year BEST PIZZA

In an industry rife with cutting corners and using cheap ingredients in order to undercut the competition, Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria truly stands out. Amici’s is passionate about and takes great pride in its product—authentic East Coaststyle thin, crisp crust pizza. Dig in. -----------------------------Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria

1242 Fourth St., San Rafael, 455.9777

+ HALL of FAME + 1st year BEST BURGER

There’s a big juicy, ﬂavorful, grilled reason why Phyllis’ Giant Burgers has earned HOF status. Here’s a hint—it’s spelled B-U-R-G-E-R-S, as in choice meat, quality ingredients, fresh buns, etc. Yum. -----------------------------Phyllis’ Giant Burgers

2202 Fourth St., San Rafael, 456.0866; 924 Diablo, Novato, 898.8294

+ HALL of FAME + 1st year BEST SUSHI RESTAURANT

A favorite among diners and critics for the better part of two decades, Sushi Ran is the place to go for both quality and variety. Drop by and grab a quick bite at the bar, or settle in for an extended stay and take advantage of the deliciously diverse menu. Whether it’s sushi, sashimi or a fusion dish you crave, you’ll ﬁnd it all here. -----------------------------Sushi Ran

++ Sak Kamloon of Thep Lela

JASON BENNETT

The Kamloons have their hearts set on a gold medal in ‘synchronized betting’ next year in Beijing. WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

“Simply fabulous food, an amazing variety of flavorful dishes.” – Paciﬁc Sun

726 San Anselmo Ave. • San Anselmo • 415-457-9470

Thank You Pacific Sun Readers For Voting Us As One Of The Best Restaurants In Marin Come and dine by the ﬁre place in o ur newly ren ovated pa ti o and outdo or terrace

FOR JOIN USRUNCH B enu EASTER arte m

c 3pm l a la Specia om 11am till fr d e v r se

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS 415- 883-9125 225 ALAMEDA DEL PRADO • NOVATO

2nd Year HOF; 107 Caledonia, Sausalito, 332.3620

+ HALL of FAME + 2nd year BEST COFFEE SHOP

Java junkies the county over have many enticing options when it comes to getting that caffeinated ﬁx. Near the top of the heap—and thus here in the Hall of Fame—is Peet’s Coffee & Tea. With premium beans, blended and handroasted to perfection, Peet’s offers up rich, full-bodied brews; or, for lovers of the leaf, there’s a broad range of teas awaiting your discerning taste buds. Drink up. -----------------------------Peet’s Coffee & Tea

Hilary’s KITCHEN

& HOUSE OF BAGELS + A

+ HALL of FAME + 3rd year Inspired by the clean and hearty dishes of North India (where the food is well spiced, but not so hot that you burn the roof of your mouth), Lotus Cuisine of India’s menu is massive. From vegetarian delicacies to chicken, seafood and lamb curries to tandoori specialties and biriyani rice dishes—they’ve got something for every fan of Eastern eats. -----------------------------Lotus Cuisine of India 704 Fourth St., San Rafael, 456.5808 <

New Yo rk Style D eli

Thank You for Voting Us Best Deli!

various locations, 306.0261

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

Natalie Kamloon of Thep Lela

Lunch • Dinner

Remember only 2 weeks until PASSOVER – Get your orders in early

Home Cooked Jewish Food + Bagels, Bialys & Corn Rye + Matzah Ball Soup & Latkes + Brisket & Corned Beef + Fresh Knishes C a t e r i n g Av a i l a b l e

| 640 4th St. San Rafael | 415- 4 54 - 53 4 8 MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 39

SummeR FUN N CamPS the SU

in SPOTLiGHTS

YOUR KIDS ARE ABOUT TO HAVE THE BEST SUMMER EVER! Whether your children love sports or art, computers or cooking, ďŹ lmmaking or science, the great outdoors or the creative indoors, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd it all on our spectacular Marin campus. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got some of the Bay Areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best educators and a wide range of projects and programs for K-8th graders to dive into and explore.

â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ KIDS ON CAMERAâ&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ SAN RAFAEL 415/440-4400 www.kids-on-camera.com Lights, camera, action, & fun! Ages 4-18. 26th yr. Take one week or more. Award winning. Improve communication skills. Comedy, music & monologues, character commercials with costumes, improv & photo modeling. Success stories include actors in Disney ďŹ lms and an Emmy winner.

Creating. Smiles. An incredible summer experience from the educators at Marin County Day School. Visit www.summer.mcds.org or call 415-945-5123 for details. We ďŹ ll up fast so please act today.

SUPER SUMMER ADVENTURE CAMP For kids, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simply the best kind of summer fun! ENTERING KINDERGARTENERS THROUGH 3RD GRADE Swim Lessons â&#x20AC;˘ Gymnastics â&#x20AC;˘ Arts & Crafts â&#x20AC;˘ Natural Science Program â&#x20AC;˘ Weekly Field Trips â&#x20AC;˘

7:30am to 6:00pm â&#x20AC;˘ Full, mid, or half day Located on the campus of Wade Thomas School in San Anselmo.

1-week sessions June 18th - August 17th

415.453.3181

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DG 86AA )&*").&"++%' Camp Soulajule is a program of the Marin County Office of Education 40 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ LITTLE GYM â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ SAUSALITO 415/289-0600 www.tlgsouthmarinca.com Fun and non-competitive, theme-based camp curriculum combines physical ďŹ tness, gymnastics and play with arts and crafts for children ages 3-8 years old. Must be fully potty-trained. The specially developed camp curriculum is designed around themes such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Adventures of T-Rex & Puff!â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your Hero?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ MUSICAL THEATER DANCE CAMP â&#x20AC;˘ SAUSALITO 415/339-1390 www.stagedor.com Stage Dor Dance Studio and Performance Space offers a unique experience for the teen dancer. This summer camp includes training in Broadway Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Hip-Hop, Tap and Costume Design and concludes with a Broadway Review performance in Stage Dorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own off-Broadway theater. We have a costume loft with an inventory of 2,000 costumes and an in-house designer. Come and have an off-Broadway experience off Bridgeway. â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ CAMP SOULAJULE â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ PETALUMA 415/491-6602 www.WalkerCreekRanch.org â&#x20AC;&#x153;Adventures in natureâ&#x20AC;? - Walker Creek Ranch is the home for this residential camp operated by the Marin County OfďŹ ce of Education. Activities include swimming, canoeing, wildlife observation, ďŹ shing, animal husbandry, archery, pottery, hiking, mask making, organic gardening, solar cooking, an all day beach trip, campďŹ re, skit night, night hike and barn boogie. Three ďŹ ve-day overnight programs offered for ages 812 in July. Visit our Web site to download a brochure or call us for more info.

â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ COLOR ME MINE â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ SAN RAFAEL 415/459-8884 www.sanrafael.colormemine.com The Color Me Mine ART ADVENTURES program is a unique combination of art and academics. Our week-long day camps for Spring Break and Summer will send your budding artist on a journey through space, take them on safari and let them dive into the sea for an adventure they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get a chance to learn about master painters as well as make their own masterpieces using a variety of techniques theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd fun and exciting. Come paint with us! â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ TURTLE ROCK INSTITUTE â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ CORTE MADERA 415/945-5123 www.summer.mcds.org Turtle Rock Institute is a distinctive, full-day rising K-8 summer program. At Turtle Rock, kids dive into projects that pique their interests. They can explore ďŹ lmmaking, art, sea kayaking, cooking, rock climbing, music videos, theater, lacrosse, mountain biking, sewing, web design, outdoor adventures and much, much more!! Returning this year: Turtle Rock Discovery Treks for 6th-8th graders! Kids can sign up for 1-6 weeks. 2007 program dates are Monday, June 25-Friday, August 3. (Multi-week discounts and transportation from San Francisco are available!) â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ DEVILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GULCH RANCH CAMP â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ GG NATIONAL REC AREA 415/662-1099 www.devilsgulchranch.com A working diversiďŹ ed family farm within Golden Gate National Recreational Area. The perfect place to; learn by doing, develop an awareness for agriculture, experience rural life, develop traditional skills, and have ample time for play, exploring and adventure. Includes horses, livestock, gardens, swimming, climbing, archery, crafts and metal work. June 25th - August 17th. Open to 20 children ages 6 to 17. Open house April 7th. â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ OSHER MARIN JCC â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ SAN RAFAEL 415/444-8055 www.marinjcc.org The Osher Marin JCC summer camp offers fun, friendship, and adventure for kids ages 3 through grade 10. Sessions feature sports, drama, art, music, ďŹ eld trips, swimming, and interest-based electives all within a creative and caring environment. This year, we have a new playing ďŹ eld, basketball courts, traversing wall, and playground, plus two beautiful pools, a theater, art room and classrooms.

Point Reyes Summer Camp Explore nature with hiking, tidepooling, backpacking, canoeing, night hikes, camp ďŹ res, arts and crafts and more! 2007 Nature Science Camp Overnight-5 Days June 25-29 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ages 9-11 July 2-6 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ages 10-12 July 9-13 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ages 10-12

July 16-20 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ages 10-12 July 30-Aug. 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ages 9-11 Aug. 6-9 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ages 7-9

2007 Adventure Camp Teen Backpacking Aug. 12-17 (6 days) ages 13-16

www.ptreyes.org Online Registration! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fast, Secure and Instant!

www.ptreyes.org â&#x20AC;˘ (415) 663-1224 â&#x20AC;˘ email: summercamp@ptreyes.org

Musical Theater

SummeR CamPS

Summer Dance Camp Stage Dor Dance Studio & Performance Space 10 Liberty Ship Way, Suite 340, Sausalito CA 94965

Training in Jazz, Ballet, Modern, Musical Theater, Tap, Hip Hop, & Costume Design

THE PACiFiC SUN GUiDE TO

Platters-Mugs-Vases-Pitchers-Tiles-Figurines-You Name it, we have it-Four hundred d

• Team Building • Girl Scouts • Baby Showers • PJ Night • Fundraising

www.sanrafael.colormemine.com 994 Fourth Street, San Rafael • 459-8884

dred different ceramic pieces-Design Computers & Friendly Staff too!-Plates-Platters-

• Birthday Parties • Art Adventures • Girls Night Out • Paint me a Story • Date Night

Ages 12-17 | Weekly Tuition Avalable | July 9th - July 27th

415-289-0600

Mon & Wed 12 - 5 PM / Tues & Thurs 12:30 - 5:30 PM

170 Donahue St. SAUSALITO

+ 3 weeks culminate in a Broadway Review performance at Stage Dor's Black Box Theater on Friday, July 27th

ifferent ceramic pieces-Design Computers & Friendly Staff-Plates-Platters-Mugs-Vases-Pitchers-Tiles-Figurines-You Name it, we have it-Four hun

Now Booking Spring & Summer Camps!

Summer Class & Camp Enrollment begins Feb. 20th

-Register Today!

FUN in the SUN

The Paint -it-Yourself Ceramic Studio

www.tlgsouthmarinca.com

next to Best Buy

Experience of a lifetime • at a working Ranch Learn Real Work Skills Livestock, Poultry Horse Production Gardening and Viticulture Agricultural Mechanics Blacksmithing Dyes from Plants and Soils Making Fire With a Bow Drill Making Soap from Milk and Ashes

Have Play & Adventure Horseback Riding Hiking, Rapelling, Swimming Archery, Throwing the Tomahawk

Youth and Family Camps Adult Workshops & Internships A Diversiﬁed Family Farm Located in California’s North Coast

415-662-1099 devilsgulchranch.com

Mugs-Vases-Pitchers-Tiles-Figurines-You Name it, we have it-Four hundred different ceramic pieces-Design Computers & Friendly Staff

Summer Camp 2007 at the Osher Marin jcc

In Sunny San Rafa el

To register, call 415.444.8055

Toddlers to Teens

June 25 -Aug. 17

ps with Traditional cam , music, trips overnights, field imming, sw a, am dr , sports re & nature. art, Judaic cultu s

+ KIDS ON CAMERA +

ek Session • Two & Three We

... Specialty camps

, Legos, rock band e and nc ie theater, mad sc mps! ca e ur nt 1-week adve

TV/FILM ACTING DAY CAMP

Age 4-18 * www.kids-on-camera.com * 26th Year Comedy, Music & Monologues, Improv and Photos

ssions • One Week Se

Marin & S.F. • Take 1 Week or More • Intern Jobs: Age 16+

JUNE/JULY/AUG • AGE 6-9 & 10-14 SAN RAFAEL @ SAINT RAPHAEL SCHOOL 9:30AM-3:00PM – Extended Care 8:00AM-6:00PM

’ Keepin

l! it coo EXTENDED CARE & TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE | WWW.MARINJCC.ORG WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

Year Round Programs! • San Francisco Camp @ 9th Ave off Geary

FREE NEWSLETTER • 415.440.4400 Award From Santa Clara County Psychological Associsation for our sgniﬁcant contribution to the well-being of children. MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 41

2 007 JAMES HALL

BEST F MARIN

What are you driving these days, Mr. Bond?

What I wouldn’t give for a car that comes with a jet-propelled passenger ejector seat BY

‘Can I wrap those up for you, Mr. Bond, or will you be wearing them out?’

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY This has got to be Bond’s favorite category. Just look at the list of winners. The guy obviReaders’ Poll ously goes to ﬁne men’s clothiers and quality hair salons. (Do Connery and Moore still THE HOLLY GOODHEAD AWARD have hair?) Dry cleaners? Check. Lingerie store? Deﬁnitely. Consignment shop? Doubt it. FOR BEST WOMEN’S HAIR SALON Consignment lingerie? Our one chance at meeting him face to face... THE ERNST STAVRO BLOFELD

Readers’ Polll

THE NICK NACK AWARD FOR BEST CONSIGNMENT SHOP Step back in time and enter the romantic ambiance of Deja Nu. Owner Gayle McClure has a keen eye for the dramatic and the best of retro, from window displays to the mix of consignment, ﬁne vintage, contemporary and resale clothing. Manager Anita Fate says the store also carries plenty of consignment and vintage accessories, including hats, purses, jewelry, belts and scarves. Owner McClure has a second shop, Shards & Remnants, in Sebastopol, and has been in the vintage business for more than 20 years. So if you’d like to learn how to combine old and new for an individual— and great—look, this is the place. -----------------------------Deja Nu

1224 Fourth St., San Rafael, 258.0200 2ND Encore, San Rafael 3RD Stella’s Fine Consignments, San Anselmo

Readers’ Poll

BEST DRY CLEANER Getting taken to the cleaners is generally not a good thing, at least as it’s used in the 42 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

popular parlance. All that changes if the cleaners in question are the good folks at French Laundry & Cleaners. We’ve all been there—you spill tomato sauce on that special piece of clothing, and realize that no amount of Shouting is going to get this one out; no, this job requires the special talents of a professional. Swooping in to the rescue—French Laundry! (Not to be confused with the swanky restaurant of a similar name, though both places do boast a collection of satisﬁed customers.) Whatever your speciﬁc cleaning need, they’re on the job—satisfaction guaranteed. Getting taken to the cleaners never felt so good. -----------------------------French Laundry & Cleaners

228 E. Blithedale Ave., Mill Valley, 388.1774 2ND Alex’s Dry Cleaning, San Rafael 3RD Maxwell Classic Cleaner, Larkspur

'Relax, darling. I’m on top of the situation.’ —Bond, ‘Diamonds Are Forever’

AWARD FOR BEST MEN’S HAIR SALON

For some people (men especially) going to a hair salon can be an intimidating experience. Ann Brewer Phillips realizes this, and that’s why she works extra hard to make everyone feel at ease in her establishment, Brewer Phillips. “We offer the high quality work you expect at a good salon,” she says “but not the pretension. We’re low-key; we want all our clients to have a good experience.” Being low-key doesn’t mean Ann and her crew of topnotch follicle snippers don’t take their work seriously—quite the opposite, in fact. The salon’s staff of highly trained stylists know what they’re doing; whatever your personal taste and style, they’ll give you the look you’re looking for. “I think the fact that we won Best Salon for both men and women speaks to the quality and variety of service we provide,” says Brewer Phillips. Her clientele clearly concurs. -----------------------------Brewer Phillips

1027 C St., San Rafael, 485.1437 MEN 2ND Benvenuto, San Anselmo 3RD At the Top Salon, Mill Valley. WOMEN 2ND DiPietro Todd Salon, Mill Valley 3RD Benvenuto, San Anselmo

JACO B

SHAFER

There are a few things without which Bond simply isn’t Bond. One of them is his car—and not just any car. Picture 007 behind the wheel and you’re almost assuredly conjuring up an image of a sleek Aston Martin, the ride of choice for handling tight corners, outmaneuvering various assassins and impressing mysterious women. Sean Connery first revved the engine of a DB5 model in 1964’s Goldfinger, while the latest model, the DBS, was featured in last year’s Casino Royale, with Daniel Craig cranking the ignition. While this dashing, romantic image will always be associated with the famous sports car, its name was recently in the news for another reason entirely. In an effort to reverse its declining financial fortunes, Ford Motor Co. sold its controlling stake in the brand for some $850 million to a consortium of investors, including a pair of Kuwaiti firms. It’s hard to know how Bond might feel about this development. We’re guessing as long as the cars keep coming off the assembly line and into Q’s gadget-filled quarters, he’ll remain a happy camper. And it appears production of the vehicle— which dipped to just 46 units in 1992—will continue, and likely increase, after the sell-off. That’s good news for Bond—and bad news for pursued assassins. <

2 007 JASON BENNETT

BEST F MARIN

++ + Sukh Oberoi of Flying Elephant

Stacey Kaplan of Bella

Think that’s excitement? Wait’ll you see their faces when the croupier actually spins the wheel…

Readers’ Poll

THE DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER AWARD FOR BEST JEWELER How’s this for a story—a couple of laid-back New Zealanders surﬁng their way up the coast from Mexico wind up in Marin County, ﬁnd it to their liking and open up Johann Paul Jewelers. Perhaps not what you’d call a typical illustration of the American dream, but being typical isn’t what’s kept co-owners Johann de Blaauw and Paul Comerford in business for better than two decades. What has? How about carrying almost entirely exclusive lines of the best stones and jewelry available. Or offering full-service repairs on everything from a priceless engagement ring to an old watch. “We’ve got a wonderfully diverse clientele,” says Comerford. “Lots of them have become our friends.” -----------------------------Johann Paul Jewelers

Tanya: I think my mouth is too big. Bond: No, it’s the right size. For me, that is.

Readers’ Poll

BEST LINGERIE It’s no surprise that Chadwicks of London continues to be a favorite among Marinites—owners Shelley and Michael Chadwick cater to their customers by providing lingerie for a variety of tastes and bodies along with personal attention in a small, relaxed atmosphere. Customers may be more sophisticated and fashion-conscious these days, but they still enjoy shopping for intimate WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

9 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, 388.7704; 526 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo, 721.7119 2ND Pleasures of the Heart, San Rafael 3RD DayDreams, Novato

Readers’ Poll

BEST MEN’S CLOTHIER Featuring West Coast classic styles for men, Patrick James has been in business for 32 years, and its attentive staff offers superb personal service to keep the well-heeled clientele returning. Both sportswear and ready-to-wear items are available at this small but upscale spot; fathers and sons tend to patronize the store, and retired folks are as comfortable coming in as men in their 30s and 40s. “Service is the key,” says store manager Mischa McNab, who grew up in Marin and has always been interested in clothes. Although Patrick James now advertises on KNBR, and has 16 stores across the nation including Arizona, Oregon and Montana, its familiar rhythms keep local customers happy, as shown by the fact it has won the award for the third year. Patrick James Purveyor to Gentlemen SUN: Purvey to gentlemen a crucial piece of fashion advice. PJPG: Well, we here at Patrick James believe in classic wardrobing; however, be comfortable in trying new trends that reflect your own personal lifestyle and comfort zone. Q: We refer to ours as “slob chic.” A: Not everyone IS comfortable wearing some of the pastels or flat-front pants. But tell us what you envision and we’ll fit you in the best style that translates that look. > 44

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apparel in a comfy, cozy spot. Shelley scours the merchandise from some 30 international companies before buying to ensure that an eclectic mix in a range of prices is always available. The goal: for women to ﬁnd and wear beautiful undergarments—from cotton camis and p.j.’s to lacy, low-cut bras and slinky nighties—and feel comfortable, sexy and at ease with their bodies. Comment most often heard? “I knew if I came here I’d ﬁnd something.” -----------------------------Chadwicks of London

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< 43 For Your Eyes Only Q: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion faux pas numero uno when it comes to menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apparel? A: We are not fashion runway models! We are just regular guys trying to dress for a body that moves, breathes and eats! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fall into trends that have you asking why last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pink is this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tangelo. Q: I thought pink was tangelo! What should I do now? A: Buy what you feel good in. Q: I feel great in my white belt and plaid trousers. A. Lose the belt, save your relationship, look good in your fabulous choice of madras and see you at Samâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s! -----------------------------Patrick James Purveyor to Gentlemen

306 Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, 383.2174 2ND Gene Hiller, Sausalito 3RD Wilkes Bashford, Mill Valley

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll

THE DR. MOLLY WARMFLASH AWARD FOR BEST PHOTOGRAPHY STORE

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Seawood Photo has stayed current with the latest camera technology while not forgetting its historyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;selling photography-related items since 1947. Owner Graham Law has a love of all mediums and in educating his clients. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The more they know,â&#x20AC;? he opines, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the more fun theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have.â&#x20AC;? As such, he views Seawood as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a big toy store,â&#x20AC;? replete with Canon, Nikon, Sony equipment, a passionate staff of photographers as well as a museum of 300 antique cameras. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We still sell darkroom gear for traditionalists,â&#x20AC;? Law adds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a very artistic community and people are happy to be here. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great.â&#x20AC;? SUN: Give us one piece of advice for a ďŹ rst-time digital camera buyer. SEAWOOD: Buy it from us! But seriously, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be intimidated by the equipment

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;James Bond. You appear with the tedious inevitability of an unloved season.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Drax, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Moonrakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or the vast number of choices out there. We always ask our customers what their needs are and speciďŹ cally what type of photos they are planning on taking before recommending anything. Cameras today are easier to use than ever. Q: Predict the next great innovation in photography. A: Perhaps cameras will digitally crop out people you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t likeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or maybe improve your looks. Q: Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to need a pretty powerful camera to improve our looks. A: Every year cameras get sleeker, faster, higher resolution... Q: Of the great scientiďŹ c accomplishments of the last decade, where do you rank the elimination of â&#x20AC;&#x153;red eyeâ&#x20AC;?? A: Right up there with the iPod. -----------------------------Seawood Photo

115 Tunstead Ave., San Anselmo, 453.4322 2ND FilmWorks, San Rafael 3RD Framelines Photo, Sausalito

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll

THE GOLDEN EYE AWARD FOR BEST PLACE TO BUY GLASSES When told, â&#x20AC;&#x153;You were voted best place in Marin to buy glasses,â&#x20AC;? David Schwartz of 20/20 Optical exclaimed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re joking!â&#x20AC;? We assured him our

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We like antiques and we like intimate apparel. Where we draw the line is with antique intimate apparel.

readers werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. With years of experience in eyewear, this business offers a variety of styles and topnotch service to match. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re anything from classy Clark Kent to fashionable Jackie-O, 20/20 can meet your needs with its colorful, contemporary and inventive designs. To ďŹ t your fashion, they offer unique frames and custom contacts (including cat-eye). Their glasses with polycarbonate lenses can be reincarnated into car bumpers. Now thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen before. -----------------------------20/20 Optical

1127 Fourth St., San Rafael, 453.2020 2ND Rims and Goggles, Mill Valley 3RD Marin Optometry, Mill Valley

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll

BEST WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BOUTIQUE

JASON BENNETT

Stacey Templeton Kaplan endeavors to keep Bella a friendly and welcoming space with an attractively laid out selection of affordable, feminine clothingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;fun, trendy items along with basicsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in an attitudefree setting. The work ethic: everyone in the store is there to serve customers. With a second Best of under her belt, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear customers appreciate the effort. They also value Kaplanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to ďŹ nd the most ďŹ&#x201A;attering clothes at the best price points.

A bonus for non-fashionistas: an entire outďŹ tâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;shoes and accessories, tooâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;can be put together here. Love to shop, but canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get out during the day? Kaplan, the mother of young children, empathizes. She holds evening-time â&#x20AC;&#x153;private partiesâ&#x20AC;? where she can get to know her customers and their preferences. Having returned recently from a buying trip, Kaplan is gearing up for next season. Better stop in soon. SUN: What is your store currently carrying that is particularly trendy? BELLA: The trends we see for spring and summer are...lots of red and white. Dark jeans in blue or black that are straight leg or boot cut for day or evening, and many types of kimono-style tops in lots of pretty prints and solids. Tunic dresses worn with jeans is another trend to watch for. Q: What was your least favorite fashion trend of the last decade? A: Since the jean revolution of the last few years, separates have become the great staple of a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wardrobe. The dress sadly has been relegated to the occasional wedding or special event. I hope that the dress will make a big comeback, as well as the skirt, but it is going to take a miracle to get women out of their favorite designer jeans. Q: Would you support legislation outlawing the wearing of white after Labor Day? > 47

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Defend your position, Mr. Bond In which Lazenby, Dalton and Connery get what they deserve... Double-O-Seven makes accomplishing seemingly impossible tasks look easy. Keeping humankind from being poisoned by Amazonian orchid extract; saving the economy when a madman wants to nuke Fort Knox; rescuing Silicon Valley from a ďŹ&#x201A;ood-induced San Andreas earthquake. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it, the guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clutch. Now, we at the Sun ďŹ nd few opportunities to save the earth from evil geniuses (though weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing our part to stave off Dean Singleton). Thus, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve assigned ourselves less-daring, though equally daunting, tasks. The very kind at which journalists tend to be quite giftedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;making wildly outrageous claims about things we know little about and then defending our positions through seemingly rational discourse. So with that in mind, Sun staff writers Matthew Stafford, Jacob Shafer and Jason Walsh are putting (whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left of) their reputations on the line and championing opinions other Bond fans are too frightened (read: intelligent) to champion: Timothy Dalton was the best Bond (Stafford); George Lazenby was the best Bond (Walsh); Sean Connery was among the worst (Shafer).

Take a stand, Mr. Dalton The James Bond created by Ian Fleming was not a static, stolid one-trick cardboard cutout. Over the course of 12 novels and nine short stories, 007 evolved from callow idealist (Casino Royale) to gung-ho cold warrior (Live and Let Die) to reborn romantic (On Her Majestyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret Service) to shambling, shell-shocked screwup (You Only Live Twice). Sean Connery was elegantly saturnine as the conďŹ dent, precision-tuned Bond of Dr. No and GoldďŹ nger, and in Casino Royale Daniel Craig essays the young and conscienceless 007 with edgy ballistic aplomb. But only Timothy Dalton could pull off the far more difďŹ cult assignment of breathing world-weary life into the middleaged Bond of The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill. Unlike Connery, George Lazenby and Roger Moore, Dalton had serious thespian credentials when he assumed the role of 007. After making his ďŹ lm debut in The Lion in Winter opposite Katharine Hepburn and Peter Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Toole, he honed his acting chops in movies like Wuthering Heights and Mary, Queen of Scots, and onstage with the Royal Shakespeare Company in King Lear, Henry V and other meaty roles. At the same time, Dalton showed off a gift for that swashbuckling wit so endemic to the Bond persona in The Master of Ballantrae and Flash Gordon, where he played a daredevil bandit leader opposite the gorgeous Ornella Muti. By the time The Living Daylights came along, Dalton was ready to take on 007: not just the secret agentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flynn-like derring-do but the wellspring of gritty melancholia that drives and deďŹ nes his character. In Diamonds Are Forever, the movie right after On Her Majestyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret Service, Connery is barely fazed by his beloved wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cold-blooded murder, bouncing back with barely a raised eyebrow in the arms of Jill St. John. Flemingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bond isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite so sanguine; he staggers through the next two books with his senses dulled, his steely will all but obliterated. Although a decade or so has passed since the murder, Daltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bond travels this same posttraumatic landscape, sorrow and anger burning eternally behind the pupils. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very important to make the man believable to stretch the fantasy,â&#x20AC;? the actor said as he was ďŹ lming The Living Daylights, but his thoughtful interpretation of Flemingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ&#x201A;awed creation wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t universally embraced by audiences accustomed to the superhuman exploits of Connery and Moore. Timothy Daltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take on the man behind the martini glass is due for reappraisal.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Matthew Stafford

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Take a stand, Mr. Lazenby George who? Really? He played James Bond? When? That was a movie? And so goes any discussion about George Lazenbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tenure as Bond with just about anybody but the most die-hard of 007 fans. Lazenby played our favorite spy in 1969â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On Her Majestyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret Service, a pretty darned good movie with one inherent ďŹ&#x201A;aw: It stars the guy no one Cont. on page 100

2 007

BEST F MARIN < 45 For Your Eyes Only A: No comment. -----------------------------Bella

1332 Fourth St., San Rafael, 457.1066 2ND Mad Rags Fashion, San Rafael 3RD Sugar, Corte Madera

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Shopping at Viva Diva is like shopping in a friend’s closet—that is, if your friend worked hard at keeping up-to-date clothing lines with a beautiful, almost personalized ﬁt, had great customer service and kept lists of your preferences and tastes. What’s that? She doesn’t? Well, Diva does. -----------------------------Viva Diva

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BEST F MARIN JAMES HALL

‘The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success.’ —Carver, ‘Tomorrow Never Dies.’

Readers’ Poll

THE PUSSY GALORE AWARD FOR BEST PET STORE

THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH If the Bond series ever loses enough of its audience, we have no doubt some idiot producer’s going to come up with an idea about giving Bond a kid, or worse, a “cool” pet as a sidekick. (Think it can’t happen? In the early ‘80s Clint Eastwood was playing straight man to an orangutan, Han Solo’s life was being saved by annoying elfish teddy bears and a 40-something Fonz was still calling the local drive-in’s toilet his “office.” Trust us, if Hollywood can ruin something, it invariably will.) If Bond ever does find himself attending Wiggles concerts or shopping at the doggie bakery, we hope he considers the following Best of Marin winners for other children/pet needs. After all, our kids and pooches will never let us forget—we can give them the world, but the world is not enough.

Readers’ Poll

BEST KID-FRIENDLY, NON-CHAIN RESTAURANT Conveniently located in the Red Hill Shopping Center and open seven days a week, this busy spot has been running for 26 years! Easy Street Café specializes in fresh, healthy food (with all-American, French and Mexican inﬂuences), some of it organic—and they use canola oil in their preparations, not lard. What makes them unique in the Marin area is that they have a kids’ section in the restaurant. Little ones are welcome, so parents can relax. The green-friendly owner/chef initiated a recycling program in the restaurant; with several tattoos on his skull, he’s a charming fellow with lots of personality. They’ve had to close their main location in Larkspur due to an 48 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

uncooperative landlord, so drop by Red Hill and treat yourself to Easy Street’s funky, down-to-earth vibes. -----------------------------Easy Street Café

882 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, 453.1984 2ND Bubba’s Diner, San Anselmo 3RD Max’s, Corte Madera

Staff Pick

THE ‘I LOVE A PARADE’ AWARD... Nothing delineates a civil community likes its parades: the raucous exuberance of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras ﬂoats, the towering, Broadway-level processional that is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the friendly all-American vibe of the Corte Madera/Larkspur Inde-

‘Why can’t you just be a good boy and die?’ —Alec Trevelyan, ‘GoldenEye’ pendence Day blowout. Sausalito’s Fourth of July Parade is a different breed of cat altogether. Unlike the Twin Cities version, which is as wholesome and nutritious as a picnic at Town Park, Sausalito’s salute to independence happily reﬂects a century or so of highspirited municipal decadence. (Three hotels burned to the ground during one particularly convivial turn-of-the century July Fourth celebration back when opium-smoking and rum-running were popular local pastimes.) Although the town’s modern-day parade isn’t quite so dynamic as the wing-dings of yesteryear, among its frequent attractions are a posse of Smitty’s barﬂies, Nave Patrola—the WWI Italian infantry unit that marches, collides, screams and falls down in close if disorderly formation—and a burly, bearded ballerina in a tutu. The parade meanders from Second and Main up Bridgeway and Caledonia to Dunphy Park, where a perfectly respectable town picnic takes place complete with lemonade, tug o’ war and egg toss.

JAMES HALL

When Bond needs a new ﬁlter for his clownﬁsh aquarium or a leash for his pooch’s personalized collar, he knows Pet Cottage will meet his every need.

Sandy Verdos’s mission to raise the quality of the life of animals pervades Pet Cottage. Her stock of organic, byproduct-free pet food and her extensive knowledge about animal care is endorsed by the referrals of seven area veterinarians. Verdos has 12 animals of her own at home (ﬁve cats, four dogs, two birds and a ferret, including a Katrina rescue) and she brings the same level of quality care to her customers who drive from miles around to glean some of her sage wisdom. Verdos does nutritional counseling “all day long,” she says. “I research every food I sell. I try to educate the public about what’s in dog food and feeding their pets the healthiest food possible,” she says. In 2005, Verdos moved into a 3,000-square-foot storefront, which also features a kitten room and adoption information and plenty of toys, collars and leashes. SUN: What’s an unusual pet that a lot of people buy? PET COTTAGE: We ﬁnd that ferrets and geckos are very popular. We even have a customer who breeds some very colorful geckos. Q: Do any exotic animals—such as tiger cubs or Komodo dragons—ever make good pets? (We’d love a spider monkey!) A: Only if you are Tippi Hedren, the late Steve Irwin or, in a pinch, at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Q: On a serious note, what are your thoughts about pit bulls as pets?

‘This never happened to the other fellow!’

2 007

BEST F MARIN

-----------------------------Pet Cottage

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A Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Delight is a play environment as much as a business. Now in its 14th year, owners Deborah and Jonathan Meyer live to feed the imagination of children of all ages. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I never went to a toy store like the one we have,â&#x20AC;? laughs > 50 Deborah. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making up for

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X Grammar guru and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book writer E.B. White called the martini â&#x20AC;&#x153;the elixir of quietude.â&#x20AC;? (The drink may also have helped inspire the idea of a talking spider and a courageous pig.) X One account has the martini originating as an offshoot of the Martinez, a sweeter drink that got its name from its birthplace, Martinez, over in Contra Costa County. A plaque can be found in the town commemorating this claim. X A martini contains somewhere around 385 calories, roughly the same amount as a small cheeseburger. X Bond ďŹ rst orders a martini in the novel Casino Royale. After asking that the drink be served dry â&#x20AC;&#x153;in a deep champagne goblet,â&#x20AC;? 007 launches into the following detailed request: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Three measures of Gordonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon-peel. Got it?â&#x20AC;? <

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< 48 The World Is Not Enough lost time.” Featuring open-ended toys to fuel a child’s imagination, they specialize in arts and crafts, building materials, dress-up toys and fantasy games. Jonathan is a musician and his taste is represented by a selection of music makers, while Deborah has built an impressive faerie department. “We put toys out so kids can play. We want them to touch and try toys.” While they do carry the carefully curated Barbie or two, the Meyers are ever on the hunt for new and improved products; and given Jonathan’s

excitement after a recent toy-buying mission in New York, toy lovers might want to see what’s new in-store sooner than later. -----------------------------A Child’s Delight

‘This never happened to the other fellow.’

If it will help better the life of your four-legged friend in any way, shape or form, you’ll find it at Pet Club. Just ask owner Wilbur Lee’s grateful clientele, some of whom have been shopping with him since he first opened a grocery store 39 years ago. On behalf of all the pets and owners who’ve benefited from Pet Club’s presence, we offer a hearty hiphip-bow-wow! -----------------------------Pet Club

—George Lazenby’s Bond ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’

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EON PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS Trust us, after a day of fending off the diabolical machinations of mad-genius megalomaniacs bent on crippling the world economy via their highly implausible schemes, a secret agent needs to unwind. And what better way for Bond to do that than renting a Criterion classic from Video Droid or catching a little bluegrass at the Sweetwater? Our Eon Productions Presents category is the place to go for our readers’ picks for entertainment in Marin. (And yes, Bond fans, we realize the inconsistency of naming one of the Eon awards after Never Say Never Again. Like 007, we defy categorization.)

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BEST ART GALLERY Artisans Gallery has built a strong reputation within the Marin artistic community. The nearly three-decade-old gallery has only been in San Rafael for 14 months, but it has already held a steady stream of provocative exhibitions of regional artists’ work. Garry Lion, president of the board of directors, says that Artisans is a “nonproﬁt educational arts organization teaching emerging artists to market their art more effectively.” They encourage local talent, and hold juried shows that are open to all, but a part of the gallery is reserved for members’ artworks. Artists can also attend useful classes such as “How to Frame and Mat Your Art.” Artisans’ Annual Fundraising Auction happens April 18 this year. Check out one of the upcoming shows, like the high school artists’ exhibit “Rising Stars,” featured in April. -----------------------------ARTISANS GALLERY

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THE NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN AWARD FOR BEST BAR “What an honor!” exclaims Becky Steere of the Sweetwater Saloon. Our readers’ pick for the Best Bar award says she owes it all to her loyal employees. “Our bartender, Erin, really turned business around,” she says. To top it off, their drinks—healthy pours—are reasonably priced. “We keep up with the drink trends and we have a great happy hour from 3-8pm every night—except weekends,” smiles Becky. Try the mojitos, made with fresh mint grown right in Erin’s home garden. -----------------------------Sweetwater Saloon

153 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, 388.2820 2ND Finnegan’s Marin, Novato 3RD Silver Peso, Larkspur

Readers’ Poll

THE IAN FLEMING AWARD FOR BEST BOOKSTORE Housed in a historic train depot, Book Depot is a must-stop in Mill Valley. “It’s really the heart of downtown,” says owner Mary Turnbull. “Start the day with a good strong coffee,” she suggests, then amble the aisles featuring some of the county’s best writers. The store’s top sellers are aroundtown authors. In addition to local ﬂavor, says Mary, “there is a book for every age or taste.” The Depot’s café patio extends into the town square and gives it the feel of a European plaza. Free weekly readings by famed authors make this spot a modern classic all its own. -----------------------------Book Depot

87 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, 383.2665 2ND BookBeat, Fairfax 3RD Open Secret Bookstore, San Rafael

BEST F MARIN Staff Pick

BEST JAZZ JOINT (AND EXCUSE TO CONJURE THE GHOST OF STERLING HAYDEN) Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only ďŹ tting that the best jazz joint in Marin is really a bar, and not just any bar but the most venerably hip bar in Marin and possibly the solar system. The no name has been serving up cool cocktails and cooler sounds since Sterling Hayden, Alan Watts and other hipsters-in-residence made Sausalito the bohemiansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Marin County crash pad. T-shirt emporiums and postcard palaces have largely obliterated the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s North Beach North ambiance, but every Friday and Saturday night Mel

2 007 Martin, Michael Aragon, Dick Conte and other local luminaries still send the no nameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goateed habitues into blissful states of Jazzville. (Mal Sharpeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s traditional jazz group performs a similar service Sunday afternoons.) The bar itself is moodily lit, on the tiny side, with a breeze-kissed patio out back, a shelf full of used paperbacks, a long worn-wood bar and a stage just big enough to hold a drum kit, a standup bass, an upright piano, a chanteuse and a reedman or two: the perfect setting for the collaborative, spur-of-the-moment creation of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classical music. -----------------------------no name

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in the single digits, the check isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t in the mail after all and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got three birthdays, a baby shower, an intervention and a bat mitzvah on the horizon...what to do? Head on over to the monthly Mill Valley Library Book Sale and behold a dazzling array of gift-giving options at ridiculously low prices. Coffee table books, quality paperbacks, vintage treasures and kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; books aplenty are offered for purchase along with CDs, DVDs, videos, LPs and books on tape for every possible preoccupation. Donations from Mill Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well-heeled citizenry make up the bulk of the sales items, and the book-donation process is stringent indeed (no textbooks, out-of-date reference books or anything remotely disheveled admitted), so > 54

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< 53 Eon Productions Presents the selection is invariably impressive. And the recompense is absolutely reasonable (a cartonful of hand-picked hardcovers rarely exceeds $15 or $20). Sales are held every third Saturday of the month in the library’s lower level from 9am-4:30pm; proceeds are used to enhance the library’s collection and to fund special programs. -----------------------------Mill Valley Library

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BEST REASON TO RESENT RAY DAVIES CLAIMING THAT “IT’S ONLY JUKEBOX MUSIC” The best bar in Marin is Paterson’s, a wonderfully homey Sausalito pub with dark wood paneling, a big stone ﬁreplace, a stellar selection of single malts, venerable decor ranging from moose heads to beer barrels and a vibe that can be moody, cozy or convivial, depending. Best of all is the joint’s eclectically > 56

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+ Mark Lowe of Video Droid

Video Droid’s Mark Lowe knows ‘third base’ (the seat just right of the dealer) is the position that can make or break the entire table. Years in the vid biz have well-prepared him for this kind of pressure.

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Readers’ Poll

THE SHAKEN NOT STIRRED AWARD FOR BEST MARTINI Once again, the Buckeye excels. And

‘It’s just a hat, darling, belonging to a small-headed man of indigent means who lost a ﬁght with a chicken.’ —Bond, ‘Live and Let Die.’ after all, what is an American roadhouse without a great martini? Managing partners Robert Price and Peter Schumacher say it starts with ambiance: the establishment’s unique, warm clubby feel. But a superior martini requires more than that. It’s the small details that make a great drink. A good, dry vermouth, > 60

JASON BENNETT

The Sole Desire team would like to say Thank You for voting us Marin’s Best Shoe Store. We are honored and are looking forward to re-opening in Marin in the near future. We have opened two new stores and a website in your surrounding area. Thank you again for your on-going support. Your perfect sole mate is awaiting your arrival at one of our four locations.

< 54 Eon Productions Presents stocked jukebox, a prime component of the prevailing ambiance. Feel like rockin’ out? The Stones, Pink Floyd, Joe Cocker and Janis Joplin are yours for three plays at a dollar. In a more soulful mood? Just dial up Otis Redding, Sam Cooke or Marvin Gaye. Outlaws can drown their sorrows with Waylon, Patsy, George Jones and the Man in Black, and lounge lizards will ﬁnd that Nat, Mel and the Chairman are in very ﬁne voice tonight. But Paterson’s predominantly quiet, contemplative atmo is best accessorized by the box’s wide array of cool jazz: a backdrop of Miles, Bird, Trane, Diz, Stan Getz, Bill Evans, Chet Baker and Mill Valley’s own Vince Guaraldi go nicely indeed with a crackling hearth, a snifter of Lavagulin and the bliss state resulting. -----------------------------Paterson’s

++++ Michael Mindel of Il Fornio

Bob Phillips of Brewer Phillip's

Ann Brewer Phillips of Brewer Phillip's

Gary Lion of Artisan's Gallery

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California Institute of Integral Studies presents JASON BENNETT

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featuring

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Poet and Translator of Rumi on

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+ Joanne Shafer of Dance Arts Studios

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< 56 Eon Productions Presents chilled glass, special marinated stuffed olives, served ice cold. James Bond would be pleased. SUN: What’s the secret to a great martini? BUCKEYE: Proper ingredients, temperature and attitude. Q: We actually prefer stirred martinis—but the Bond ﬁlms have forced us live in the “martini closet”! A: Everyone seems to shake martinis, but they really are better stirred. Why? Because it doesn’t “bruise” the ice, which waters down the drink. Q: There are many types of martinis— gin, vodka, chocolate, coffee, you name it. What does someone’s martini order tell you about them? A: Gin and (now even we acquiesce) vodka with a splash of dry vermouth served “up” is the only true martini. The others, if ordered, mean you wish you could drink a martini. -----------------------------Buckeye Roadhouse

Thirty years of diamond expertise.

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15 Shoreline Highway, Mill Valley, 331.2600 2ND Noonan’s Bar and Grill, Larkspur 3RD E&O Trading Company, Larkspur

BEST PLACE FOR DANCE LESSONS Dance Arts Studio’s distinguished director, Allen Parrish, has been dancing professionally since he was 8 years old, and his business is a well-established one, serving San Rafael for over 20 years. The school specializes in Competitive Ballroom and Latin styles. It’s an employee-based company with a team atmosphere. They pride themselves on their strong sense of community, focus on their students and consider themselves to be “more than just a school.” With only two other ballroomdance studios in the Marin area, and with nine teachers, full- and part-time, Parrish hopes to encourage more people to come experience and enjoy the beauty of formal dance. SUN: What’s the most important piece of advice you give to dance students? DANCE ARTS: Always remain focused, and practice, practice, practice. Remember at the end of the day we should be enjoying ourselves and having fun. Q: What dance craze did you hate more—the Lambada or the Macarena? A: I can’t say that I hate any dance craze,

JASON BENNETT

Readers’ Poll

+ + + Brendan Moylan of Marin Brewing Co.

Ruh Evans of Easy St. Café

Looks like from now on, this lucky lady’ll be living on Easy Street. 60 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

Avi Bikszer of Easy St. Café

BEST F MARIN 2 007 as a businessman and dancer all dances are great. However, if I had to choose which dance I like more it would be the Lambada. Q: The forbidden dance! A: The Lambada is an actual dance with Brazilian origins and artistic integrity, whereas the Macarena is a line dance developed for a speciﬁc song. Q: What’s your all-time favorite dance movie? It’s ‘Dirty Dancing,’ isn’t it? A: I have to say all the Fred Astaire movies are fantastic; however, my favorite is the Japanese version of the movie ‘Shall we Dance.’ This movie has superb characters and great direction. It makes you both laugh and cry. It’s a very realistic portrayal of the dance business, and it’s a great love story. -----------------------------Dance Arts Studios

704 Mission Ave., San Rafael, 459.1020 2ND RoCo Dance and Fitness, Mill Valley 3RD Stage Dor, Sausalito

Readers’ Poll

BEST PLACE FOR DANCING “The ‘F’ in Fairfax stands for ‘fun’,” says Gerry Graham, co-owner (along with Christopher McCarthy) of the popular after-dark hot-spot 19 Broadway, a nighttime destination for better than two decades. With a varied lineup of music makers and an expanded dance ﬂoor—installed a few years back—19 Broadway is the perfect place to shake your booty. “We get a lot of topnotch performers,” says Graham. “But one important thing—it’s gotta be something you can get down to.” Graham says that dancing is “the perfect way to just let go and forget your troubles,” and that giving people a forum to engage in this stress-reducing, fun-enhancing activity makes him “one happy guy.” -----------------------------19 Broadway

17 Broadway, Fairfax, 459.1091 2ND Sweetwater, Mill Valley 3RD Club 101, San Rafael

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Readers’ Poll

THE SHIRLEY BASSEY AWARD FOR BEST PLACE FOR LIVE MUSIC Rocking a legendary 36 years, Sweetwater Saloon has made its mark in Marin as the music hot-spot. “Everybody > 62 WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

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2 007

BEST F MARIN

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Best of M

< 61 Eon Productions Presents from Jerry Garcia, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker and Carlos Santana has played here,â&#x20AC;? says owner Becky Steere. They mix up the bill with musical greats and fresh artist showcases, featuring local singers and songwriters. Many who hit the Sweetwater stage for the ďŹ rst time have moved on to record deals. Regulars Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks and James Moseleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s R&B dance band set the tone for Sweetwaterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s silver ďŹ nish in Best Place for Dancing. Keep your ears peeled for quirky-sounding surprise showsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;often big bands show up under pseudonyms for rocking one-night gigs. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss the beat. -----------------------------Sweetwater

153 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley, 388.2820 2ND Rancho Nicasio, Nicasio 3RD 19 Broadway, Fairfax

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll

THE ROBERT SHAW AWARD FOR BEST PUB/SPORTS BAR Brendan Moylan opened his ďŹ rst brewpub 18 years ago with the goal of brewing and serving great beer. While Marin Brewing Company does indeed brew award-winning beers, thanks to the great mix of beer, fresh and innovative pub fare and an enthusiastic and capable crew, this popular spot has expanded over the years. According to Moylan, his terriďŹ c staff really makes the place what it isâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to general manager Jenn Procopio to keep it that way. Mt. Tam Pale Ale remains the fave, but San Quentinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Breakout Stout, Old Dipsea Barley Beer and Pt. Reyes Porter, among a number of other seasonal and regular brews, ďŹ ll many a glass. And beer > 64 drinkers can do good while quaff-

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Thank You Marin for Your Votes 7

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2 007

BEST F MARIN < 62 Eon Productions Presents ing—Microbreweries Battling Breast Cancer raises thousands of dollars every summer. Moylan says the locals have been good to him, and it’s great to be recognized with this honor. -----------------------------Marin Brewing Company

1809 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur, 461.4677 2ND Flatiron Sports Bar & Late Night Grill, San Rafael 3RD Mayﬂower Inn, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

BEST THEATER COMPANY These are exciting times for the vener-

able Marin Theatre Company. They’ve been in the business 40 years—2007 is their anniversary year. Watch for their big gala in June, which they’re calling Route 1966 in a nod to their past. They have a brand-new artistic director in Jasson Minadakis and an upcoming season that promises to be as exciting as last season, which featured Bryony Lavery’s Frozen. Marketing Director Julie Knight says that 20 percent of their audiences come from the city, 10 percent from the East Bay; they’re proud of their Bay Area-wide appeal. She adds that presenting a variety of controversial and more familiar theatrical works is important to the company. With Q&A sessions after every show, this organization works hard to keep

its committed audience stimulated. -----------------------------Marin Theatre Company

397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley, 388.5200 2ND Ross Valley Players, Ross 3RD Marin Shakespeare, San Rafael

It’s your bet, Mr. Bond

Readers’ Poll

BEST USED RECORD STORE It’s a sad fact of modern life and the high rents and digital iPodalia that go with it that Village Music, the internationally revered vinyl and memorabilia store, is closing its doors for good this coming September. After nearly four decades of acquiring hundreds of thousands > 66

Chemin-de-what? BY

We would like to thank our students and Marin for voting us Best Place for Dance Lessons

Learn to Dance... BALLROOM & LATIN Allen Parrish - Director WALTZ • CHA CHA • TANGO • SWING • AND MORE! www.danceartsstudios.com | 415 459 1020 704 Mission Ave San Rafael 64 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

JASO N

WALSH

Many Bond fans have watched the casino scenes in films like Dr. No, Thunderball and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and wondered—what the heck is that game they’re playing? Well, the name of the game is chemin-de-fer. It’s a style of baccarat, but with slightly different betting. Casino chemin-de-fer is generally played with multiple decks of cards, shuffled together, but for the casual at-home Bond wannabes, one will suffice. As in baccarat and blackjack, it is played as the dealer vs. everyone else. In a nutshell (or martini shaker, if you prefer), two cards are dealt face down to all players, including the dealer. The goal is to have both cards add up to nine, or at least nearer to nine than the dealer’s cards. Only the last digit of a player’s two-card tally counts; therefore, if your cards total 16, you’ve got six, etc. Tens and face cards equal zero, aces are one and all other cards are face value. If a player’s original two cards add up to eight or nine, it’s called a “natural” and the player turns them over; he’s beat the dealer. If both the dealer and a player have a natural, a nine beats an eight; ties are re-dealt and bets are frozen. If neither the dealer nor the player has a natural, the player has the first choice to either ask for another card or stand. Typically, if you’ve got one through four you “hit” and receive another card face up; if you’ve got six or more you stand. Fives can go either way. (Like in blackjack, if you break from these betting “codes of conduct” you do so at your own risk; other players will view it as upsetting the deck’s order of cards and will blame you if they lose.) When betting begins, players bid to see who will be the dealer. The amount of the winning bid becomes the dealer’s bank total and betting cannot exceed that amount. Betting begins on the right and goes around the table. If players wish their bet to match what remains in the dealer’s bank, they say “Banco.” <

2 007

BEST F MARIN

Can we soothe your savage beast, Mr. Bond?

2006 Deduction

Seven title songs for 007 BY

L AU REL

KELLN ER

Highly anticipated and heatedly discussed, the signature songs of each Bond film can make or break the case. Every fan of James Bond’s lyrical legacy has a sure-fire favorite. Brought to you by an exhaustive selection process, we offer the ultimate soundtrack of stellar 007 singles. 001. “The World Is Not Enough,” Garbage Nothings says Bond like a bit of intrigue. Rumor has it that this single, released on none other than Radioactive Records, couldn’t be recorded in the U.S. Sung by sultry Shirley Manson, “I know what to show and what to conceal,” the lyrics capture the essential Bondness of Being. “We know when to kiss and we know when to kill,” Manson purrs. She embodies the film’s melancholy theme with a recurring lament: “There’s no point in living if you can’t feel alive.” Sealing the song with an end-all apocalyptic explosion, her vocalizations best capture the masochism of our sexiest spy. While you consider disagreeing with its top ranking, Ms. Manson’s murderous melody will eat you alive. 002. “Goldfinger,” Shirley Bassey Who can’t sing a few bars of “Goooooold-fiiinger,” maybe the only Bond song as recognizable as the genre-defining 007 theme. Famed Bond-songstress Bassey belts out a tune that leaves the spine tingling. 003. “Live and Let Die,” Paul McCartney The only Bond theme by a Beatle, punchy “Live and Let Die” is a singular favorite. An epic all its own, the song grows from a delicate piano intro to pounding percussive heights. A journey of dancing horns and wailing violins that touches on McCartney’s pop sensibilities; it’s a masterpiece that surpasses its cinematic namesake.

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BEDROCK MUSIC & VIDEO Bedrock is now a vital part of Four Winds West, a local non-profit serving young adults.

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006. “Die Another Day,” Madonna Loved and hated just like our hero, Madonna’s single received a Golden Globe for Best Original Song and the Golden Raspberry Award for the worst. Choking after every syllable, Ms. M chants, “I...guess...I’ll...die...another...day...” Bullets rip through the techno-beat intro. She continues over video-game beeps and a choppy orchestral sequence that brings to mind a virtual car chase. Proclaiming, “I’m gonna delay the pleasure...Every sin I’ll have to pay,” this is decidedly NOT Madonna or Bond. We have to love it for the way she sings she’s “gonna avoid the cliché,” followed by a predictable, glass-shattering finale. 007. “James Bond Theme,” Monty Norman “Duhnn, da-da-da duhnn dun dun...” Thrilling moviegoers for decades, the stealthy, unmistakable beats and blaring horns of the iconic theme were first performed for Mr. Bond’s debut in Dr. No . Written by Monty Norman and orchestrated by John Barry, multiple renditions match the feel of each film and are tailored like designer suits to the distinct personalities of their different leading men. Even if you’ve lived it twice, this action piece never loses its exhilarating intrigue. Technically, this isn’t a title song, but it’s too Bond not to make our list. What’d you expect for...007? < WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

• Special Orders: If we don’t have it, we’ll track it down, and get it fast!

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Best of M

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004. “A View to a Kill,” Duran Duran A direct hit, “A View to a Kill” is the only Bond song that shotgunned to number one on the Billboard singles chart. Crunching ’80s guitars are shaken—not stirred—with staccato machine guns and deafening ﬁghter jets into a catchy cocktail. This “dance into the ﬁre” is fueled by youthful adrenaline. We certainly feel the chill of lead singer, Simon Le Bon’s “fatal kiss.” 005. “Nobody Does it Better,” Carly Simon This all-out ballad, brimming with unabashed infatuation, has Ms. Simon belting, “Baby you’re the best...makes me feel sad for the rest.” The sweetest 007 singer, she stirs up memories of sunshine, daisy chains and ’70s macramé. Swooning, “I wasn’t looking but somehow you found me,” she smiles for all the Bond girls discovered by their favorite secret agent. With her wholesome delivery, “There’s some kind of magic inside you,” we almost miss the unmistakable double entendre. “How’d you learn to do the things you do?”

• Great Service!

THE DEPOT

Bookstore & Cafe’s staff thank our Marin customers and friends for voting us

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downtown Mill Valley’s historic train depot has long been the favorite meeting place for locals and visitors. Buy a book or magazine, eat a light breakfast or lunch, have a tea, organic coffee or a glass of wine while looking out on the town square.

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foot of Mt. Tamalpais. Open daily, 7 am to 7 pm 87 Throckmorton Avenue Mill Valley

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7 MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 65

2 007

BEST F MARIN JASON BENNETT

-----------------------------Village Music

9 E. Blithedale Ave., Mill Valley, 388.7400 2ND Bedrock Music, San Rafael 3RD Red Devil Records, San Rafael

+ +

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll

Amory Graham of 19 Broadway

BEST VIDEO STORE

If the Grahams get any luckier, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have enough winnings to coax John Barry himself to 19 Broadway.

< 64 Eon Productions Presents of LPs, 45s, 78s, CDs, concert posters, music videos, cardboard cutouts and such treasures as Billie Holidayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passport and Janis Joplinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mug shots (not to mention in-store visits from Mick Jagger, Cab Calloway, B.B. King, Mel TormĂŠ, Ruth Brown and many another icon), owner John Goddard is calling it a day. The good news is that all of that recorded output has to go somewhere, and Goddard is unloading his amazing

inventory of classic and contemporary music at below-bargain prices. A phased liquidation of not only the in-store stock but also treasures from the seldom-unearthed storage vault and most of the memorabilia that covers every square inch of the walls is going on as we speak, with prices decreasing each month until closing day. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your best opportunity to bring an amazing array of rock, jazz, country, folk and every shade of the blues into your life.

When Mark Lowe and his brother Mitch opened their ďŹ rst movie retail outlet in 1982 they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect it to become a Marin institution. At the time, they were most excited about an idea they had for a video vending machine that would dispense VHS tapes like soda cans. The prototype for their invention resembled a robotâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;so they called their store Video Droid. Twenty-ďŹ ve years later, the Droid is still going strong, and while Mitch has parlayed that vending machine idea into a separate venture, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the stores that have amassed a devoted customer base here in Marin. Mark says thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s due in large part to their extremely savvy staff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hire kids who love movies, who like to talk about movies and who relate to

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Various locations, 456.3146 2ND Silver Screen, various locations 3RD Broadway Video, Fairfax

+ HALL of FAME + 1st year BEST PLACE TO DANCE

When Marinites want to bust a move, cut the rug or trip the light fantasticâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;depending on their agesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;many head over to Rancho Nicasio. In the late 1940s and early â&#x20AC;&#x2122;50s movie stars came to hunt in West Marin and wanted a place for big-band dancing. So the big room was added to the lodge, and ever since peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toes have been twinkling to all kinds of bands, big and small. -----------------------------Rancho Nicasio on the Town Square, Nicasio, 662.2219 < JAMES HALL

Garry Graham of 19 Broadway

our customers,â&#x20AC;? says Lowe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just look through the employee picks section and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd a ton of great stuff.â&#x20AC;? It may be named after a machine, but Video Droid is all about people. -----------------------------Video Droid

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2 007 JAMES HALL

BEST F MARIN

Q BRANCH Quite frankly, Bond would be dead if it weren’t for the loyal, snarky Q. The dry-witted Q may appear annoyed by Bond’s devil-may-care attitude, but there can be no doubt he spends every minute of his off-hours thinking up ways to keep our hero alive. The best gadgets are often the ones being tested by Smithers at Q Branch. Our favorites include the gas-emitting parking meter in Goldfinger, the radioactive lint in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the man-eating couch in The Living Daylights and the flame-launching leg cast in Golden Eye. Our Best of Marin winners specializing in various forms of hardware aren’t quite as fascinating as radioactive lint, but when you need a car fixed, some tech help or a bike tire patched, you’ll know where to turn.

At Bananas at Large, secret agents are encouraged to test out any and all merchandise prior to purchase.

Mill Valley Bamboo Flooring “Thank You Neighbors”

You must constantly devote your business to totally satisfying your clientele. You don’t hustle them. You don’t low ball them. You don’t sell them inferior material. You don’t tell them half truths about recycled rail ties or that Brazilian Cherry is not harvested by slave labor or “it doesn’t matter” and such. You respect your customer, their judgement and honor their special needs no matter how petty they seem. You show up on time, you clean up, you don’t have “extra” charges and you always remain available to answer their questions, sometimes well after their checks have cleared.

As a neighborly “Thank you” from our home to yours, this coupon is worth 15% off the list price for any This Coupon is needed for discount of 60 plus styles of safe, highest quality, non-VOC bearing, Mill Valley Bamboo Flooring and bamboo accessories ordered and paid for by April 15, 2007.

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We sell only E-1 rated fully matured bamboo flooring and paneling; meaning the European Union has measured only infinitesimal amounts of formaldehyde, phenols and philates. Unhappily, though Prop 65 exists, no one enforces it at the big boxes or many flooring shops. You can get a lot more than you bargained

Mill Valley Bamboo Flooring Coupon worth 15% OFF THRU 4/15/07

for there. Come and see 80 varieties of premium grade, safe, and fully matured bamboo at either of the Best of Marin’s bamboo ﬂooring stores. Feel free to use the coupon too. So thank you Marin. We are dedicated to always setting the pace of being Best of Marin. We are highest rated Diamond Certiﬁed too.

14 E. Sir Francis Drake, Larskpur • 925-1188 • 101 Roblar Drive, Novato • 883-6888 WWW.MVBAMBOO.COM • WWW.MVINSTALLATION.COM

68 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

BEST AUTO DEALERSHIP Fit. Accord. Civic. Ridgeline. A magnetic poetry of a different sort you’ll ﬁnd at Marin Honda. As progressive as the county it serves, you can expect the real deal from this auto dealership. With local staff and consistently good records on miles and emissions, count on having your new car for the long haul. (For Marin Honda’s other win, Best Foreign Car Repair, see below.) -----------------------------Marin Honda

5880 Paradise Drive, Corte Madera, 924.8990 2ND Marin Acura, Corte Madera 3RD Novato Toyota, Novato

2 007 step and a lifetime warranty on all work done. Blake’s is a member of the EPA’s green-power partnership, operating with solar power since 1999. Active in giving back to the community, Blake knows his satisﬁed customers are his best salespeople. SUN: Name a key element to running a successful car repair. BLAKE’S: Listen to every customer and exceed their needs with every repair. Q: Describe the most damaged vehicle that’s come through your shop. A: One that stands out was the brandnew 2006 fully loaded SL Mercedes convertible. The owner just purchased it, picked it up and totaled it driving it home to show his wife! > 73

JASON BENNETT

BEST F MARIN Readers’ Poll

+ + Vince Ippolito of Toscalito Tires

Ken Toscanini of Toscalito Tires

Moneypenny combs over an all-new formula for steel-belted radials with the boys from Toscalito Tires.

Readers’ Poll

THE 1964 ASTON MARTIN DB5 AWARD FOR BEST DOMESTIC CAR REPAIR (CO-WINNERS) Mellow Motors puts customers at ease about car care. Their most frequent clients are BMWs, but they service everything. Says owner Ric Kellen, “Most vehicles are in the 50 to 100K range [miles] and 5 to 8 years old.” When asked if the autos hum a low, melodious, “ohmm” upon leaving Mellow Motors, Ric laughs, “I dunno about that. They are happy when they leave and I think the car owners are as well. Our main business is referrals. I think that says a lot. We have a huge amount of repeat customers.” SUN: Name one key element to running a successful repair shop. MELLOW: Integrity. Having integrity in your everyday dealings with all the people entering your business sphere will build long-term positive relationships. Clients, suppliers and employees are all critical to one’s success in business. Having integrity as the basis for your dealings with all these people will ensure success. Q: What’s an important thing car owners can do to keep their cars healthy? A: Regular maintenance by a qualiﬁed repair shop. Doing an oil change at some quick lube place once a year does not make it. Q: Do monster-truck rallies inspire or depress you? A: Neither. I do not ﬁnd them particularly interesting, but I can appreciate the technical skill and the dedication involved in building a monster truck. Q: If only those crazy monster-truck builders would use their genius for good... A: I have some crazy automotive passions, so I am not going to judge someone else’s. -----------------------------Mellow Motors

PAGE 69 4/c

34 Rich St., Greenbrae, 924.2211 -----------------------------When he was 19, Blake Andros, of Blake’s Auto Body, dragged his motorcycle in for a few repairs. They took so long he decided he could do it quicker and better himself. Ever since, he’s been in business. Known for over-delivering, Blake’s serves customers with an extra WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

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Downtown San Rafael Congratulates

The 2007 First Place Winners of Pacific Sun Best of Marin

EST THE B L STILL ING KENNE BOARD

70 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

Artisans Gallery Bananas At Large Bella Bombay Garden Deja Nu Il Davide Sol Food Sunrise Home Sushi To Dai For T & B Sports Taqueria de San Jose 20/20 Optical

FINAL DAYS Offer good at 24Seven. Must be 18 yrs. old. No re-sale or cash value. Additional fees apply. See club for details. Expires 4/30/07. © 24 Hour Fitness USA, Inc.

Thank you, Marin, For Voting Us One of the Best!

$50 off enrollment

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MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 71

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SPRING INTO SUMMER CALL NOW!

485-1945 en” rt Wom o p p u en S e Wom r e h (Some restrictions apply) W “

ONLY

149

TO JOIN

$FDFLD *DOOHU\ where custom framing is an art

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230 Greenfield Ave. • San Anselmo • www.elanfitness.com “ONE OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA’S TOP SPAS” - VOGUE MAGAZINE

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Thank You, Marin!

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THREADING An ancient method of hair removal which is an alternative to waxing, even for sensitive skin.

Raw Foods • Holistic Remedies Kitten Adoption • Natural Foods Dental Clinics • Nutritional Advice

415-485-1158 218 Greenfield Ave., San Anselmo

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MASSAGE

Trust You

THANK YOU, Pacific Sun Readers for Voting Us into the Hall of Fame 2007

SKINCARE

World renown skincare specialist, Katayoun has been a European medical esthetician for 30 years. We offer advanced anti-aging treatments which results in revolutionary skin transformation.

MARIN CLEANERS INC. 415 464-9111 www.edendayspa.com • 541 San Anselmo Ave. San Anselmo

7cad`]aYbhUfm Mineral Make-Up Application with any facial through March 31, 2007 when you mention this ad. 72 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

700 A Street, San Rafael • 520 Fourth Street, San Rafael Cove Shopping Center, Tiburon • 818 College Avenue, Kentfield

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BEST F MARIN 2 007 < 69 Q Branch Q: “Hi honey, I’m home! I just threw away $160,000!” A: Fortunately he was OK, but that beautiful car was unrecognizable and unrepairable! Q: Do monster-truck rallies inspire or depress you? A: Monster-truck rallies actually make us sad because the trucks are annihilating the cars beyond repair. We can’t repair any of those cars! Q: Shamelessly plug your business in exactly 35 words. A: Our goal is to make the repair process as efﬁcient as possible for our customers. We want our customers to be so pleased with their repairs and our service that they are our best salespeople. -----------------------------Blake’s Auto Body

31 Bay St., San Rafael, 459.6115 2ND Leonardi Automotive, Novato 3RD North Bay Motorsports, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

LEONARDI AUTOMOTIVE 7426 Redwood Blvd., Novato

arin 2007

Best of M

Best Car Repair

Spring Specials!

(on the corner of Redwood Blvd., and Vallejo behind Napa Auto Parts)

10% OFF

879-1503

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Visit us online to make your next appointment WWW.LEONARDIAUTO.COM Open Mon.-Fri. 8am - 5pm

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30K 60K 90K Service 4 Cyl.

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+ Tax & EPA

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Not valid with any other offer. With coupon only. Expires 6/5/07

Most Vehicles. Coupons may not be combined with any other offer. With coupon only. Expires 6/5/07

2470

Tax & EPA Fee Extra Most cars and light trucks. Up to ﬁve quarts of oil and one ﬁlter. With coupon only. Expires 6/5/07

REIGNING CHAMPS! Best Dog Groomer

THE 2002 ASTON MARTIN V12 VANQUISH AWARD FOR BEST FOREIGN CAR REPAIR Since 1982, Marin Honda has been offering new and pre-owned vehicles coupled with stellar repair service to appreciative Marin drivers. “Our success is based on TLC,” says owner Keith Ray. “We think like the customer.” A member of the Marin business community for more than 20 years, Marin Honda is an active part of its customers’ lives as much as their engines, sponsoring sports teams, donating money and resources to the Special Olympics and to the local schools. While you can be sure they know cars, Ray knows what makes the business a success. “People. It’s all about people.” -----------------------------Marin Honda

5880 Paradise Drive., Corte Madera, 924.990 2ND Mellow Motors, Greenbrae 3RD Leonardi Automotive, Novato

‘You like close shaves, don’t you?’ --Pussy Galore, ‘Goldﬁnger’

AQUA DOGGIE Self-Service Dog Washing Full Service Pet Salon Hypo-Allergenic Products All Natural Shampoo Climate Controlled Facility Older Dogs Welcome In Your Home Pet Sitting

Readers’ Poll

THE DESMOND LLEWELLYN AWARD FOR BEST COMPUTER/ TECH STORE Those ubiquitous TV commercials featuring the young, hip Mac and the old, dorky PC may have worn out their welcome, but they speak to a growing trend among consumers who are turning to Macs for their computing needs. Witness the win for the Marin Mac Shop. “Ease of use, virus avoidance, a rock-solid operating system—there are lots of reasons why people love Macs,” says the store’s Geoff Westerﬁeld. He adds that people also come for their highly trained and friendly staff (none with less than 16 years of experience around > 74 computers) who are ready and WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

Licensed & Insured/Certified CAH Full Service Pet Salon

6 & 10 Red Hill Ave. • San Anselmo • 482-9274

ATM

MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 73

++ Geoff Westerﬁeld of Marin Mac Shop

Keith Ray of Marin Honda

With a Paciﬁc Sun ‘Bond Girl’ on your arm, how can you lose?

THINK GREEN! CONSIDER RE-STORATION INSTEAD OF DE-FORESTATION

< 73 Q Branch willing to answer questions from both the novice ﬁrst-time buyer and the experienced techie. -----------------------------Marin Mac Shop

1031 C St., San Rafael, 459.9380 2ND Computer Connection, Greenbrae 3RD Creative Solutions, Novato

Readers’ Poll

THE JOHN BARRY AWARD FOR BEST PLACE TO BUY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Bananas at Large owner J.D. Sharp, a

Spring into the season with a fresh coat of paint!

• • • • • • • •

Interior & Exterior Commercial & Residential Expert Surface Preparation Stucco Specialists Pressure Washing Re-Caulking, Re-Putty, Waterproofing Top Quality Materials & Labor Repairs to Decks, Walls, Gutters, Windows, Trim, Etc. • We Clean Gutters Too!

2 007 Maryland native and keyboard player, moved to California shortly after the Summer of Love to join the band Mendlebaum and found himself a junior owner of Bananas by 1974. The original store started with “some used stuff, consignments and a couple of Ampeg amps,” he recalls. His love and passion for music never stopped. He took over full ownership in 1978 and has steadily grown the store into a destination for musicians far and wide. Whether you’ve got a gig later that night or need to rent something for band practice, Bananas is there to serve. Acoustic and electric guitars, banjos and resonators hold up the fretted instrument section of the shop, while Apple computers systems and Pro Tools fill out those looking to produce their own recordings. “We offer high-touch service,” says Sharp. “We really take care of people’s needs in an era when service is disappearing. We have a lot of knowledge on the floor, a lot of experience.” The secret to longevity? “Keep playing because it’s good for you and good for your mind.” SUN: What’s the most important thing novice musicians should consider when coming into your store? BANANAS: All guitars and amps are not created equal. Q: But didn’t the Supreme Court overturn separate but equal in James Brown vs. Board of Funk-u-cation? A: [Instruments] are made out of wood and earthen materials. You’re nuts to buy something in a box that you haven’t put your hands on. There are significant variations between what appear to be the same instrument or amp. Even digital keyboards feel different. So, try what you buy—these aren’t DVD players. Q: I’m thinking of starting a 20-piece allrecorder band. Any advice? A: The good news: price of entry has never been lower. You can be on your way for a pittance. The bad news: hard to find a venue that will book you! Q: My 15-year-old wants to quit school to concentrate on his rap-metal-fusion band. Will you help me talk him out of this? A: Quite seriously, music is half art, half business. Sometimes the people who are most successful are the ones with reasonJAMES HALL

JASON BENNETT

BEST F MARIN

For Color Consulting call Megan Clark at 415-310-5475 As seen on HGTV’s Curb Appeal! We Accept:

Th ank You to those wh o voted us Best House Painter 2006

CALL: (415) 383-2640

74 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

Bond samples a drum that would’ve made for a ﬁne prop in ‘Live and Let Die,’ the 007 ﬁlm most-often cited for racism and cultural stereotypes.

2 007

BEST F MARIN

He’s Headed to Judy’s!

JASON BENNETT

A Unique Service & Repair Facility for your Asian, American & BMW cars.

Readers’ Poll

+ JD Sharp of Bananas at Large

Oh jeez. Looks like the Pac Sun bartender has been watering the drinks again…

able talent, but a great nose for business. So if you’re trying to make it on pure talent alone, attach yourself to a bandmate or agent who knows which way is up. Otherwise, don’t quit the day job! -----------------------------Bananas at Large

1504 Fourth St., San Rafael. 457.7600 2ND The Magic Flute, San Rafael 3RD Amazing Grace, San Anselmo

‘I’m now aiming precisely at your groin. So speak, or forever hold your piece.’ —Bond, ‘The Man With the Golden Gun’

Staff Pick

BEST STARGAZING WITHOUT COMPROMISING YOUR SELF-PERCEIVED INTELLECTUAL SUPERIORITY The Mill Valley and Tiburon ﬁlm festivals attract their share of luminaries; Village Music and the Sweetwater have seen several dozen legends pass through their portals; Robin Williams, Sean Penn and Robert Redford can be glimpsed tootling about Marin every now and again. But if you want to see an impressive and eclectic array of big names on a year-round basis, up-close and personal, head on over to Book Passage and stick around a while; someone famous is bound to show up. Jane Fonda, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Julia Child, Paul Theroux, Gloria Steinem, Salman Rushdie, Madeleine Albright, John McCain, Barbara Boxer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Barbara Bush, Calvin Trillin and Amy Tan are among the many authors and pseudoauthors who’ve made this nationally revered independent bookstore their favorite Marin hangout. Coming up: Joyce Carol Oates (June 7), Michael Ondaatje (June 15) and...Chuck Barris (May 17)! -----------------------------Book Passage

51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, 927.0960

THE HONEYCHILE RYDER AWARD FOR BEST TIRE SHOP Vince Ippolito and Ken Toscanini, coowners of Toscalito Tires (the name is a melding of their monikers), say that they’re not in the business of selling tires—they’re in the business of making customers happy. A family-run operation with a solid, longstanding community foundation, Toscalito carries top-name brands and employs people who understand cars, but they take pride in more than just that; it’s also about the people they see coming back year after year, satisfied with their service—that’s where the rubber meets the road. Like the tires they sell, Vince says, Toscalito is “in this for the long haul.” SUN: What’s the difference between a good tire shop and a great tire shop? TOSCALITO TIRES: Tires can be purchased anywhere, but a “great” tire shop is where you find people that appreciate and respect their customers. Q: What’s the biggest misperception the public has about tire shops? A: That tire shops only sell tires. Q: What’s the best tire for spinning donuts? A: We carry three—all made in the USA. One has a sweet tread design and is called the Old Fashion, the second, which is good for cornering and doing donuts, is called the Twist, the last one has a high-calorie content, rides soft and is called Cream Filled. Whenever you get the urge to do donuts think of Toscalito. Q: Shamelessly plug your business in exactly 36 words. A: At Toscalito, our customers are serviced first before the tires go on. We have 36 years of automotive service and repair experience. We’ve grown to be one of Marin’s largest and best respected auto repair facilities. -------------------- - - - - - - - - - Toscalito Tires

670 Irwin St., San Rafael, 455.8475 2ND Able Tire & Brake, Novato 3RD Malugani Tires, Mill Valley

+ HALL of FAME + 1st year BEST TIRES

Cain’s Tires has been under the same ownership for nearly 50 years, long enough to engender customer loyalty from multiple generations of Marinites. With topnotch service and all the best brands, it’s not hard to see why—they’ll never steer you wrong. -----------------------------Cain’s Tires

With a Woman’s Touch!

SPRING CHECK-UP SPECIAL

$25.00

Inspect Safety Items: Tires, Brakes, Lights, Steering. Complete Bumper to Bumper Inspection. Load Test Battery, Check Charging System, Review Factory Maintenance Schedule.

OIL CHANGE & SAFETY INSPECTION

Judy’s Automotive

$28.95*

Judy Mayne, Owner ASE Certiﬁed Master Technician 155 Alto Street 415-454-4400

Inspect Front Brake Pads, Exterior Lights, Wipers & Washers, Belts & Hoses, Fluid Levels, Tire Wear, Exhaust System, Axles & CV Boots. *Most cars. Includes ﬁlter, up to 5 quarts of oil & recycle fee.

www.judysautomotive.com

DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY

MA PSYCHOLOGY SPRING INFORMATION MEETING M.A. in Psychology

DEPTH PSYCHOLOGY Jungian and Archetypal focus

Saturday, MARCH 31

1:00-3:00 pm O Stevenson Hall 3042 For more information call 707/664-2682 visit our web site at www.sonoma.edu/psychology/depth

SCHOOL OF EXTENDED EDUCATION

Thank You Again Marin For Voting Us Best Domestic Car Repair in 2007!

THE BEST!

VOTED

Best Foreign Car Repair

-1999

1997

Best Domestic Car Repair

1531 Fourth St., San Rafael, 453.2942 <

‘Keeping the British end up, sir.’ —Bond, ‘The Spy Who Loved Me.’

A Legacy of Customer Satisfaction for 35 years!

34 Rich Street • Greenbrae • 415 924-2211 WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 75

2 007 JAMES HALL

BEST F MARIN

PLENTY O'TOOLE Few at MI6 seem to own homes or even have lives outside the world of international espionage but, assuming they do, who do you think is handiest with a hammer? All right, so it’s probably Q. Bond, we’re betting, is likely pretty inept at landscape design, tree trimming (of the non-euphemistic kind) and selecting appropriate frames. So the next time he needs his toilet unclogged, we’re hoping he turns to Best of Marin.

Readers’ Poll

BEST ANTIQUES Open in the same location for a decadeand-a-half, Dove Place Antiques has established itself as the county’s premier antique and consignment store, a favorite of expert and novice browsers alike. The store specializes in an array of merchandise, ranging from American and European country furniture to tabletop antiques, including porcelain, sterling and stemware, to decorative accessories, plus primitive paintings, lighting and architectural antiques. SUN: What gives an antique value? DOVE PLACE: Factors including age, scarcity, regional trends and quality of craftsmanship make an antique valuable. But objects are ﬁlled with memory and emotion for the owner, and that gives

them a type of value, too. Q: As time passes, new items enter the “antique” realm. What should I be rooting around my garage for these days? A: Items move from the collectible to the antique realm all the time. At our store, consigners bring us a range of pieces, from 1940s art pottery to old Victorian photograph albums—and everything inbetween. However, we suggest you keep looking for Grandma’s china, sterling silver and crystal or stemware. These are categories we specialize in and which traditionally do well on the secondary market. Q: My great-grandfather’s false teeth just passed the 100-year mark. How much will you give me for them? A: What a ﬁnd...If it is allowed, we’ll sell them on eBay for you! Q: Tell us more than we want to

Is that Bond shopping at Good Earth, or does Timothy Dalton work there now as a part-time checker…?

know. A: Some older false-teeth sets were actually made from rubber and are quite collectible, as well as the antique dental torture tools that were used a century ago. -----------------------------Dove Place Antiques

160 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, 453.1490 2ND The Pavillion Antiques, San Anselmo 3RD Yankee Girl Antiques, San Anselmo

Readers’ Poll

BEST APPLIANCE STORE Quality appliances function well, serve your needs and are always dependable—sort of like the folks at Martin & Harris Appliances. A part of the Marin community for over 40 years, Martin & Harris carries all the top name brands you trust—Maytag, Whirlpool,

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2158 4th St., San Rafael (415) 454-2021

76 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

KitchenAid—and if, on the off chance you want something they don’t have in their extensive warehouse, they’ll special order it for you. Add to that a savvy staff, speedy pickup and delivery and some of the most competitive prices around, and it’s not hard to see why these guys have attracted such a loyal, satisﬁed customer base. Is your refrigerator running? If not, you know where to go. -----------------------------Martin & Harris

2158 Fourth St., San Rafael, 454.2021 2ND Bay Area Built-Ins, San Rafael 3RD Standards of Excellence, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

fur ﬂoor rugs. SUN: What’s a frequently asked question you hear from carpet buyers? CITY CARPETS: People always want to know how soon they can have their new carpets installed, and because our installers are our employees we are able to install as soon as we receive the carpet from the manufacturers. Q: We’ve been predicting the return of shag since 1982. When will we be vindicated? A: Shag is back and cooler than ever. Shag rugs made of leather, wool and nylon in a wide variety of colors and textures are available. With names like Shagtastic, Shagadelic, Shaggy > 79

JASON BENNETT

2 007

BEST F MARIN

Sandy Verdos of Pet Cottage

+ Peter Gumina of Cheap Pete's

‘Mr. Bond, I’ve been framed—I swear!’

BEST CARPET CLEANERS There is a reason Elliot Atlas calls his service Carpet Conﬁdence Stain Removal System. Atlas Window & Carpet Cleaning gets business because he means business about making carpets as spotless as they were when they were installed. This Best-of winner in two categories (see also Best Window Cleaners) has a service ethic like few others, backed by 28 years of experience. “I like doing quality work. I enjoy pleasing people,” he says. “I try to educate my clients.” SUN: What’s the difference between good carpet cleaning service and great carpet cleaning service? ATLAS: As opposed to a good carpet cleaning service, a great carpet cleaning service excels in all or most of the aspects of the carpet cleaning system—such as a great technician, high-level equipment, superior tools, excellent cleaning agents that are safe, etc. Q: Is there anything I can do to keep my carpet clean year-round? A: You may need to clean your carpets more than once a year. It may be twice, three or four times a year. It could mean that you clean certain sections more often. It depends on the situation of what happens on your carpet throughout the year. Q: Ours changes like the seasons—from white to yellow to brown... A: Having a great spot and stain removal system for between cleanings would add a great deal to maintaining a good-looking carpet. Q: How can I remove blood stains from my white carpet? Seriously, I need to know... A: I’m going to refrain from this one. If you personally would like help with that challenge, I’ll be glad to talk to you. -----------------------------Atlas Window & Carpet Cleaning

PAGE 77 4c Uibol!Zpv!Nbsjo!Gps!Wpujoh!Vt!$2!Ò!Lsjlps!'!Sptfnbsjf 7

118 Auburn St., San Rafael, 256.8321 2ND North Coast Carpet Care, Novato 3RD Hagel Carpet Cleaning, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

BEST CARPETING Leather, nylon, horsehair and glass tile? “The funkier the better!” says Leigh Bakhtiari, owner of City Carpets. Boring beige is out, and custom colors (think avocado green) and patterns (mosaics, carpet tiles) are making ﬂooring fashionable again. You don’t have to leave Marin to get polka-dot coverings or fauxWWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

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526.58:.2111 MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 77

Simply the Best! Hearth & Home of Marin Beautify your home & maximize your comfort while substantially reducing your energy bills. Marin County's premier fireplace showroom offers a wide array of energy efficient, environmentally friendly fireplaces, inserts and free standing stoves. All our products can be installed to your specifications, (including any necessitated gas lines), by our licensed company owner.

Visit Marin County's largest fireplace showroom for the widest selection of beautiful hearth products, and experience the warmth and comfort your family deserves.

License No. 847647

902 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael | 415-479-2876 www.hearthandhomeofmarin.com 78 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

2 007

BEST F MARIN JASON BENNETT

++ Krikor Halajian of Kitchens and More

Rosemarie Halajian of Kitchens and More

When choosing a kitchen/bath remodeler, it’s important to select a business that’s not afraid to crack a few pipes.

< 77 Plenty O’Toole Chic, need we say more?! Q: How do I get red wine out of my carpet? What about blood? (Don’t ask.) A: Red wine and blood can be tricky, especially if you have light-colored rugs. If you purchased an Ultra-Life Stainmaster carpet (available only at City Carpets in Marin and Sonoma counties) then you are covered for 15 years, meaning if you can’t remove the stain, we’ll replace it!

-----------------------------City Carpets

555 E. Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, 454.4200 2ND Ken’s Carpets and Flooring, San Rafael 3ND Mertel Carpets, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

BEST FRAME SHOP Cheap Pete’s Frame Factory Outlet’s owner Peter Gumina, a white-bearded native San Franciscan of Italian descent who resembles Lawrence Ferlinghetti, has

spent an astonishing 32 years in the frame business. With four Bay Area locations (he says the S.F. store at 7th and Geary is his highest volume shop), Cheap Pete’s serves an impressive 150,000 customers a year. Since Pete’s has won in this category for several years in a row, there’s no denying the fact that his customers like the discounted rates and no-nonsense DIY framing options at Cheap Pete’s stores. Prices haven’t gone up a great deal over the years, Gumina muses, and in fact, getting a picture framed is cheaper now than it was years ago. This savvy entrepreneur says he is scouting new locations all the time! -----------------------------Cheap Pete’s Frame Factory Outlet

all of us become more aware: for example, items in the produce department carry tags stating the number of miles each fruit or vegetable traveled to get to the shelf. Good Earth not only “walks the walk,” it is educating customers in maintaining their own health as well as the health of our community. -----------------------------Good Earth Natural Foods

221 Third St. at Montecito Plaza, San Rafael, 455.8055 2ND Frame Crafters, Greenbrae 3RD Ragged Sailor Gallery and Framery, Larkspur,

THE LICENCE TO DRILL AWARD FOR BEST HARDWARE STORE

Readers’ Poll

BEST GREEN (ENVIRONMENT CONSCIOUS) BUSINESS Good Earth Natural Foods was the ﬁrst business in the county to be certiﬁed green. And the store continues to push the envelope in introducing greener practices. From solar hot water to electricity sourced from wind to surfaces that don’t require industrial cleaners, owners Al Baylacq, Edwin Cariati and Mark Squire are committed to lessening the store’s “footprint.” To that end, they continue to stock more and more local goods. And they’re helping

1966 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., 454.0123 2ND Green Fusion Design Center, San Anselmo 3RD Marin Sanitary Service, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

“Employee-owned” and “excellence” are two traits that ﬁt Jackson’s Hardware better than a gardening glove. Bigger than a bowling alley, this local institution has kept Marin’s nuts and bolts together for decades. In addition to running a topnotch business, the employee-owners value being part of and contributing to the community. If you come to Jackson’s searching for great selection and expert service, you’ve hit the nail on the head. -----------------------------Jackson’s Hardware

435 Du Bois St., San Rafael, 454.3740 2ND: Pini’s Ace Hardware, Novato 3RD: Fairfax Lumber and Hardware, Fairfax

> 80

Since 1982, we’ve served over 42,000 customers…just ask your neighbor!

Best Auto Dealership 2 Years Running! Come See Why!

THANK YOU MARIN!

HONDA – Most Fuel Efficient Auto Company in America*

*’06 CAFE avg. fuel economy rating in U.S. by major manufacturers.

5880 Paradise Drive • Corte Madera • 415-924-8990 • www.marinhonda.com

MARIN WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 79

2 007 JASON BENNETT

BEST F MARIN

+ Cynthia Egger Landscape Designer

Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5 Visa, Mastercard, Discover 90-Day Free Financing

457-9900

MARINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LARGEST Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; & Teensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Showroom!

No landscape designer should appear in public without the proper security.

< 79 Plenty Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Toole

Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poll SLEEP CENTER BEST HARDWOOD FLOORING Furnishing Marin Since 1979

115 BELLAM BLVD. (AT EAST FRANCISCO) SAN RAFAEL WWW.PMSLEEPCENTER.NET

In only its ďŹ fth year of business, Mill Valley Bamboo Flooring has trumped traditional wood-sellers by offering the most environmentally conscious and aesthetically pleasing bamboo ďŹ&#x201A;ooring available. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The higher the quality, the less headache,â&#x20AC;? says owner Justin Kurland. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The less headache, the happier the customer.â&#x20AC;? It helps that Kurland loves his clients as much as he does the merits of bamboo ďŹ&#x201A;ooring. He educates customers about the many varieties of bamboo as well as its correct harvest so people can make optimal choices. SUN: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an important thing a cus-

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tomer should consider before ordering bamboo ďŹ&#x201A;ooring? BAMBOO: Ninety-seven percent of all bamboo ďŹ&#x201A;ooring comes from China, a country which is hellbent to be in the 22nd century last week and has little regard for safety and health issues. As a nation, it is totally disengaged from the health of its citizens and, unhappily, our government, both at the state and national level, seems all too accepting of Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s poisoning the American public. Q: Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re like a nation of Alexander Litvinenkos to them! A: There are a few things to look out for. Does the retailer own, invest or at least visit their factories in China; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doubtful they do. We do all ours. Are the working conditions up to Western standards; no prison or child labor employed? We exceed all regional health, safety and human kindness standards by far. Q: What makes bamboo ďŹ&#x201A;ooring so eco-friendly? A: Bamboo is a grass that regenerates up to eight plants upon being cut and they grow at a rate of 18 inches per day; absorbing eight times the amount of CO2 and nitrogen of any other plant. (The nitrogen is the fertilizer.) Q: Will importing all that bamboo from China create a generation of starving panda bears? A: There are 2,000 varieties of bamboo growing on all continents other than Antarctica. This one, Mao Bam> 82 boo, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even eaten by worms or

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BEST F MARIN JASON BENNETT

A: Sunrise prides itself on our custom capabilities and we could certainly accommodate anyone’s special-design needs no matter how macabre or odd they might seem. No questions asked! -----------------------------Sunrise Home

831 B St., San Rafael, 456.3939 2ND Feathered Nest, Novato 3RD Flegel’s Home Furnishings, San Rafael

+ Rick Ragusa of Smith & Hawken

Readers’ Poll

THE FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE AWARD FOR BEST IMPORT FURNISHINGS

What fun is winning if you can’t lean out across the length of the table and cuddle the chips in a gentle, warm embrace?

< 80 Plenty O’Toole beetles. It is too hard, too dense and only becomes tasteful upon your ﬂoor to the eyes and praise of your visitors. -----------------------------Mill Valley Bamboo Flooring

14 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Larkspur, 925.1188 2ND Rafael Floors, San Rafael 3RD EcoTimber, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

BEST HOME FURNISHINGS If hubby’s a couch potato and you need more than a La-Z-Boy to match his mood, Sunrise Home can deliver the goods for the den you’re wishing for. With their designer lines and European models, they offer furniture from footstools to futons. Settle in to a comfy recliner, kick up the leg-rest and let Sunrise bring your home a whole new look. SUN: What will be 2007’s hot item in home furnishings? SUNRISE: This year will bring us a resurgence of stronger colors—blues, reds and

even yellows. Q: We knew our yellow electric bull would come back in style. A: Yellow is very hot in apparel now and furnishings usually follow very closely on fashion’s heels so I expect to see yellow a lot! Q: I’m always tripping over my ottoman when I greet my family after work. Should I get rid of that thing? A: Ottomans are still extremely important—storage ottomans, ottomans on casters, “pull up” ottomans and benches, foot stools, cubes, etc., as well. Q: Why don’t people buy thrones anymore? A: Our society has progressively gotten more democratic so thrones don’t parallel that trend very well. We even see less use of serious host and hostess chairs at dining tables and round dining tables are huge with the “everyone is the same” concept in identical chairs—so no one is singled out as special. Q: If someone asked if you stocked a chest “large enough to store a body,” what would you say?

For more than 20 years, Flying Elephants has provided Marinites with unusual and distinctive indoor and outdoor furniture, home dÈcor, accessories and garden-related items from all over Southeast Asia. Brothers Sukhdev and Surinder Oberoi deal directly with designers and craftsmen, ensuring high-quality products. But what keeps customers coming back is the bright and colorful store filled with an ever-changing array of pieces large and small, old and new—many made from recycled teak—intriguing accent pieces and great prices. Sukhdev is pleased that Sun readers have bestowed this honor on Flying Elephants. SUN: What is it about southern Asian furnishings that so fascinates Western furniture shoppers? ELEPHANTS: Traditional Asian furnishings are handcrafted pieces of art. They are unique and influenced by the culture as well as the individual craftsmen involved. Some of our customers enjoy this, as it reminds them of their trip to Southeast Asia. There also are furnishings made specifically for the Western market. Q: By that you mean bad taste? A: These items may not be as exotic as the traditional furnishings, but the quality and pricing is appealing. Q: Is there a particular nation that’s

newly emerging on the Asian import furnishings scene? A: Often this is determined by the duties and relations between the governments of the countries involved. For example, with the easing of regulations on Vietnam, we see a lot of new products from that country. On the other hand, Indonesia will continue to be a part of the furnishing scene due to the tremendous amount of resources, designers and creativity. Q: Why don’t people buy thrones anymore? A: As it was one of our top-selling items in the ‘90s, we assume that they didn’t wear out quickly enough in order to be replaced... -----------------------------Flying Elephants

2000 Northgate Mall, San Rafael, 499.7785 2ND Feathered Nest, Novato 3RD Via Diva Home Furnishings, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

THE NIGEL SMALL-FAWCETT AWARD FOR BEST KITCHEN/ BATH REMODELER Kitchens & More has been voted Best of three times—because Rosemarie and Krikor Halajian “get it.” They know there’s far more to a remodel than the craftsmanship of the ﬁnal product. Clients truly appreciate that Kitchens & More is right there through the entire project, from design to the very last detail. SUN: What’s the most important thing someone should consider before remodeling their kitchen or bathroom? KITCHENS: What do you value? What do you really care about? Q: I value and care about kitchens and toilets. A: Prioritize these things before designing a space and selecting materials. Some things you may consider: aesthetics, entertaining, appliances and the way you cook/live, budget and resale value,

Thank You, Paciﬁc Sun Readers, For This Great Honor! A Family Owned Business

415.454.5367 www.KensCarpets.com 619 Lindaro Street, San Rafael

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BEST F MARIN < 82 Plenty O’Toole energy efﬁciency, air quality and overall how “green” you want your project to be. Make sure your design/build team genuinely gets behind you and makes your priorities matter. Q: Will your kitchens make me a better cook? A: I’m thinking of those great words— “under-promise, over-deliver.” Q: President Bush said that, right? A: Oh well, I’ll say—our kitchens will do several things. Some of our clients tell us they are happy in their kitchen. Some tell us they get along better as a couple. Some say they get ready for parties in half the time it used to take. For me,

personally, my kitchen made me a better dancer. (The wood ﬂoors remind me of ballet school and suddenly I’m doing pirouettes again.) Q: Is it true your business offers everything but the kitchen sink? A: In fact, we offer every kind of kitchen sink. Our personal favorite is a locally made, single-basin stainless steel sink. You can ﬁt (almost) everything in it. Babies and little children look especially cute in them. -----------------------------Kitchens & More

4178 Redwood Highway, San Rafael, 479.1000 2ND Marin Kitchen Works, Novato 3RD Lamperti, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

BEST LANDSCAPE DESIGNER When Cynthia Egger talks about landscape design, her passion for it is apparent. “Whether I’m helping someone add a few plants to their yard or doing a total overhaul, I want that person to be satisﬁed and happy,” she says. “I always tell them, ‘This is just like adding a room to your house or remodeling; you want it done right.’ “ Egger, a third-generation horticulturist, grew up around plants. She’s been in business 25 years, and over that time has met and teamed with the best building and landscaping professionals the area has to offer, meaning

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she can help oversee your entire project, from the conceptual phase to the work itself to the satisfying ﬁnished product. “I care about my clients,” says Egger. “That’s why they keep coming back.” -----------------------------Cynthia Egger Landscape Design

1928 Fifth Ave., San Rafael, 460.0858 2ND Earthwomen Plus One, Fairfax 3RD Bertotti Landscaping, Novato

Readers’ Poll

THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS AWARD FOR BEST LIGHTING Light Express is known for—you guessed it—great lighting. They specialize in both design and fixtures, from over 100 different manufactures, featuring traditional to contemporary lighting. What makes them special? “Our welleducated staff,” says Justyna, an in-store expert. They stay abreast of the new trends; for example, “Lime green is cool right now...and angled black crystal.” The store’s mantra: “Lighting can make or break a space.” “With a perfect lighting palette,” Justyna adds, “you can look beautiful and feel great.” They invite you to see their lighting in effect at Comforts, in San Anselmo. Their most magnificent piece for sale is 6 feet of crystal bubbles, suspended on a cable. “It looks just like they’re floating in water,” she says. SUN: What’s the difference between a good lighting store and a great lighting store? LIGHT EXPRESS: Knowledge, listening to customers’ needs and desires, a unique product offering and the ability to combine all three to achieve great lighting. Q: Actually that’s four things. How do you stay plugged in to the community’s lighting needs? A: Staying current with the newest developments in the field—from energy conservation and new light sources to design trends. Q: We’re going to put you on the spot with this one—how do light bulbs work? A: There are many types of lamps: incandescent, fluorescent, LED, HID and RF. Each type is used in specific applications, and sometimes mixed to create a certain psycho-visual ambiance. Q: You don’t know, do you? A: How they work? That’s a large question, depending on the bulb! How they are put to work is the question. We are here to help you select the best product for your application. As we all know— lighting can make or break the space! Q: Shamelessly plug your business in exactly 36 words. A: Light Express is a great resource for the Marin design community and builders. We also work with homeowners on additions and remodels, and have a great selection of decorative lighting, from traditional to transitional to contemporary. -----------------------------Light Express

838 West Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, 459.1261 2ND North Bay Lighting and Electrical Supply, San Rafael 3RD Marin Lighting & Electric, San Rafael

BEST MOVERS

First-time winner Tim Johnson of Johnson & Daly Moving and Storage started his moving business in 1979 with his high school friend Kevin and a beater pickup truck. Based in the Canal district, they began their business moving furnishings out of and into apartments. Now—with 45 employees and 18 trucks—they work internationally. They move in snow. “Rain or shine, movers gotta move,” says Tim. Sometimes the kids ride along, too. The business is known for local, household moving. “Sure, we’ve done famous people,” Tim acknowledges. “I don’t think they’d want to be named, though...” The hardest things to move? Tim thinks “a square grand piano.” -----------------------------Johnson & Daly Moving and Storage

124 Belvedere St., San Rafael, 491.4444 2ND Earl Farnsworth Express, San Rafael 3RD Aloha Moving and Storage, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

BEST OUTDOOR/ PATIO FURNITURE Smith & Hawken has a well-deserved reputation as a premier purveyor of premium teak outdoor furniture. But if you haven’t checked out the new store,

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JASON BENNETT

2 007

BEST F MARIN Readers’ Poll

Tad of Treemasters

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: Women love licensed tree-care professionals.

you may not be aware of all the possibilities for furnishing an outdoor space. From formal to casual, cold climate or warm, in wood, iron, cast aluminum and all-weather wicker, Rick Ragusa, vp of marketing, says no matter what your style or space—grand yard to apartment balcony—there’s something for every outdoor area. High quality is a given, but the move beyond traditional garden chic is welcomed by many with nontraditional spaces. Ragusa says as the company refocuses, its goal is to become more relevant locally—get back to its roots, so to speak—and this Best of recognition is a gratifying conﬁrmation. -----------------------------Smith & Hawken

405 Strawberry Village, Mill Valley, 381.1800 2ND Frellen’s Casual & Outdoor Furniture, San Rafael 3RD West End Nursery, San Rafael > 86

MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 85

JASON BENNETT

Glazy Daze

2 007

BEST F MARIN

a contemporay ceramics studio Paint Your Own Pottery & Mosaics too • Walk-ins Welcome • Parties Available • New Glazes • New Clay Day Sunday

1133 Grant Ave. • Downtown Novato

415.898.0900 www.glazydaze.com

+ + Marrion Johnson of Johnson & Daly Movers

Tim Johnson of Johnson & Daly Movers

It’s your move, movers.

< 85 Plenty O’Toole

Readers’ Poll

THE GOLDFINGER AWARD FOR BEST PAINT STORE The color and quality of paint you choose can be the factor that makes or breaks a room—but many people don’t know where to begin. Enter Tamalpais Paint & Color, a trusted source for all

things paint-related for almost 15 years. Owner Rob Martin says the secret of his store’s success is a simple two-part formula: First, hire friendly, knowledgeable staffers (including specially trained “color consultants”); and second, stock a diverse selection of the top name brands in both paint and paint accessories. Whether you’re looking to brighten your living room with a fresh coat or revamp your entire office building, Tamalpais Paint is your one-stop shop. SUN: What’s the most important thing to do before deciding on a color for a room? TAMALPAIS PAINT: Apply a sample of the color to your wall or large brush card before purchasing your paint—you will be happy you did. It’s difficult to see how color will look from a small colorchip sample. Q: We learned that the hard way with our recently painted hot-pink dining room... A: Our in-store color consultants will be happy to assist you in narrowing your choices. One brand we sell has 500 colors already painted for you on a 24-by-18 inch board, no need to break out the brush! Q: In the Bond film, ‘Goldfinger,’ arch-villain Auric Goldfinger kills people by painting them gold. Have you ever considered offering this service? A: Only to some extremely difficult customers—no, just kidding! With all > 88

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YOUR SUPPORT… KEEPS US ON TOP!

arin 200

Best of M

Thank you for your votes of confidence!

Celebrating Our 12th Anniversary For a FREE Estimate

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San Mateo 650-577-8979

Los Altos/Mtn. View 650-917-8526

Saratoga 408-871-8890

Danville (925) 866-6164

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1901 Camino Ramon

MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 87

2 007

BEST F MARIN < 86 Plenty O’Toole the choices people have and all the places to buy paint, we’re honored when they choose Tam Paints. (Besides have you seen the price of gold paint these days?) Q: “Melon Sunset,” “Morning Yolk,” “White Heron in the Rain”...who names the paint colors? A: Not sure, but wouldn’t it be a great job? It probably gets tough after the ﬁrst 1,000. Let’s see “White Heron in the Sunset,” “Yolk on the Melon,” “Morning Rain”—just doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. -----------------------------Tamalpais Paint & Color

30 Tamalpais Dr., Corte Madera, 924.7321

2ND Marin Painting Specialists, San Rafael 3RD Jackson’s Hardware, San Rafael

Staff Pick

BEST PLACE FOR THE SUDDEN REALIZATION THAT NOVATO’S DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENTS HAVE REALLY IMPROVED NOVATO’S DOWNTOWN Afternoon tea in Novato? Well, yes. (Not so long ago, though, the answer would have been—huh?) But things have changed for the better in Old Town and what was once depressing and rundown is now upbeat and pleasant. Recently,

after an afternoon of running around, I found myself tired and hungry on Grant Avenue. It was too late for lunch and too early for dinner but the perfect solution arrived at Flour Chylde. The popular bakery, long a fixture at the farmers market, has a newish storefront, with inside seating and a few sidewalk tables, too. The sandwiches and savory tarts looked yummy, but harking back to my roots, I chose a pot of tea and a scone. Sitting outside at a spindly bistro table on one of the first fine days of spring, I saw the town from a new and fun perspective. The charming tray of sweet old mismatched bone china —cup and saucer, teapot, cream jug, plates—echoed the

STILL THE REIGNING CHAMPS! THANK YOU MARIN.... BEST HOT TUBS

old buildings, now in their new incarnations of smart boutiques, spas and restaurants. The scone was the ideal afternoon snack, light but sustaining, and the chocolate chip cookie was over the top, unnecessary and divine. I will make sure to arrive at Flour Chylde at teatime more often.—Elizabeth Stewart -----------------------------Flour Chylde

850 Grant Ave., Novato, 328.5522

Readers’ Poll

THE ODD JOB AWARD FOR BEST PLUMBERS Think all plumbers are the same? When 20 gallons of H20 are ﬂooding what’s left of your newly remodeled bathroom you’ll think again. For three generations Burkell Plumbing has been plunging into county pipes, tanks and sinks on both the residential and commercial fronts. Whether it’s air conditioning, heating help, furnace ﬁxing or general plumbing, you’ll be glad when Burkell’s on the job. -----------------------------Burkell Plumbing

2000 Bridgeway, Sausalito, 479.0170 2ND Doke’s Plumbing, San Rafael 3RD Peter Levi Plumbing, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

BEST ROOFER Family owned and operated since 1927, DeMello Roofing has long been a Marin staple in the residential roofing business. They do everything: tile, shingles, slate, cedar, fiberglass—even staggered shapes and the set-up for sod roofs. For green roofing options, they offer recycled rubber tiles and fake-slate shingles. What’s the hardest roof? “Slate is the most labor intensive to install,” the guys say. No problem for this outfit—DeMello is distinguished by their service. “We don’t do subcontractors,” says co-owner Ricci Garzoli, “our average employee has over 10 years of experience in roofing.” -----------------------------DeMello Roofing

45 Jordan St., San Rafael, 456.0741 2ND McLeran Rooﬁng Co., San Rafael 3RD Marin County Rooﬁng, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

BEST SOLAR DISTRIBUTOR

3815 Redwood Hwy San Rafael • 472-7727 www.creativeenergy.com 88 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

“Watching that little wheel spin backwards,” says Marin Solar owner and president Roy Phillips, was his moment. He felt he’d been struck by “lightning bolts out of the sky.” And he still gets excited each time he installs a system and experiences the electric meter moving backwards. A longtime general contractor, Phillips sees his move to solar as a win-win for all, including the environment; as he rattles off the savings, plus current incentives, it’s easy to see why he’s so enthusiastic. Phillips and crew shine in all aspects of the biz—sales, design, engineering, installation—they do it all, no subcontractors. The recognition by Sun readers is a source of pride > 90

License # 132128

THANK YOU TO MY CUSTOMERS

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Residential Specialists since 1973 Best

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DeMello Rooﬁng 45 Jordan Street • San Rafael, Ca 94901 • Lic. #290726 C-39

Tel: 415-456-0741 • Fax: 415-456-1273 WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

526 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo • 721.7119

9 Throckmorton Mill Valley 388.7704

300 Center • Healdsburg 2068 Chestnut 707.431.9031 San Francisco • 775.3423

MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 89

JASON BENNETT

+ + Rob Martin of Tam Paint

Jonathan Wright of Lark Creek Inn

Rob Martin of Tam Paints can’t decide whether to bet his ‘morning indigo’-colored chips or the ‘tangerine essence’-colored chips.

2 007

BEST F MARIN < 88 Plenty O’Toole for them, Phillips says, because it shows they do go that extra mile for customers. -----------------------------Marin Solar

1163 B East Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, 456.2800 2ND Solarcraft Services, Novato 3RD SPG Solar, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

THE SHADY TREE AWARD FOR BEST TREE SERVICE Owner Tad Jacobs’s business is a ﬁrsttime winner in this category, but this Mill Valley native has been in business

for 20 years and clearly knows his stuff. Jacobs, who has the soothing and earnest manner that beﬁts a tree doctor, says he has more of an organic approach to tree healthcare. Treemasters works with native trees, offers eradication (they have their own cranes), performs soil aeration services and even recycles diseased wood. Treemasters’ trucks run on biodiesel fuel and have for years. Jacobs’s obvious commitment to customer service and low turnover in staff speaks well of his business priorities and principles. And his primary focus is Marin. -----------------------------Treemasters

3175 Kerner Blvd., San Rafael, 491.1009 2ND Marin Tree Service, San Rafael 3RD Bartlett Tree Service, San Rafael

Readers’ Poll

THE IT’S CURTAINS FOR YOU, BOND! AWARD FOR BEST WINDOW BLINDS/DRAPERY

SECRET, Our SERVICE*

It’s No • Voted The Best Paint Store In Marin •

Is The Best!

Expert Computer/Eye Matching & Color Consultations Custom Color Specialists *And Products MARIN

Pratt & Lambert Paints

! 90 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

Window dressings are a lot more than just, well, window dressing—they serve an important functional as well as aesthetic purpose. That’s why when looking for blinds, drapes, shutters and the like you shouldn’t go just anywhere; but you should go to Shades of Marin. A familyowned business for over 50 years, Shades carries everything from basic roller shades to elegant draping to the latest motorized coverings, and proves their commitment to customer satisfaction by offering free estimates, plus complimentary decorating and measuring and a full-service repair facility. In short, they’ve got you covered. SUN: What’s the difference between a good window covering store and a great window covering store? SHADES: A great window coverings store provides the customer with great product knowledge as well as great customer service. Here at Shades of Marin, we are all about making the shopping for window coverings a relaxed, no-pressure experience. Q: Yeah, we really hate it when drape sellers lean on us with “the hard sell.” A: We listen to our customers’ likes and dislikes and we provide suggestions based on those, as well as our vast experience. Q: What’s new in curtain trends for ‘07? A: Motorized window coverings, along with sun protection and insulation are the newest trends for 2007. Understated protection with comfortable design qualities are important to today’s customers. Q: I’m a hard-boiled private investigator with a sordid past. How should I adjust my blinds so that the shadows run across my face—properly reﬂecting the duality between good and evil that exists in my personality? A: Adjust the blinds with remote-control battery powered window coverings. It is so easy and so functional to change your personality and mood by controlling light. Q: Shamelessly plug your business in exactly 30 words. A: We have been a family business since 1953. We put our family’s name and reputation out there with every customer. We really make doing business with us an

BEST F MARIN enjoyable experience. -----------------------------Shades of Marin

2070 Fourth St., San Rafael, 453.1518 2ND Marin Window Coverings, San Rafael 3RD Budget Blinds, Novato

Readers’ Poll

BEST WINDOW CLEANERS Elliot Atlas goes two for two in this year’s Best-of voting (see Best Carpet Cleaners). “We believe in good quality work that is good AND lasting,” he opines about the window portion of Atlas Window & Carpet Cleaning. The only company in Marin to use extension poles (leaving ladders out of the usual cleaning equation), his team of carefully trained workers performs quickly, safely and more importantly, effectively. SUN: What’s the difference between a good window cleaner and a great window cleaner? ATLAS: Most professional window cleaners can do an adequate-to-excellent job when right next to the window (either standing next to it or on a ladder by the window). In my opinion, a great window cleaner has the skill to do a great job, even with extension poles that can reach anywhere from 8 to 24 feet (accurate work from a distance). A great window cleaner has a lot of pride in the work and is very detail-oriented. Q: What’s a common mistake people make when cleaning their own windows? A: Not using a good squeegee is the biggest mistake people make when cleaning their own windows. The other mistake is the lack of knowledge of how to use glass cleaners correctly. Q: That’s me to a T. What should I do? A: Most people apply the cleaner and then wipe it clean and usually this leaves a streaky residue. My suggestion is to apply the cleaner then wipe with a paper towel. Repeat that and then buff it with a dry paper towel. Q: Complete this analogy: If eyes are the windows to the soul, then windows are the eyes to_______. A: ? -----------------------------Atlas Carpet and Window

118 Auburn St., San Rafael, 256.8321 2ND Clear Light Window Washing, Novato 3RD SMART Window Cleaning, Novato

+ HALL of FAME + 1st year BEST PLUMBER

Plumbing isn’t something many of us think about all that often—until it needs ﬁxing. Then, it can become the most important thing in the world. Enter Ongaro & Sons, a trusted, family-owned business with over 70 years of exemplary service under its tool belt, and now, an HOF induction to boot. -----------------------------Ongaro & Sons

243 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo, 454.7400

WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

2 007 + HALL of FAME + 1st year BEST PAINT STORE

Top brands, expert customer service, an impeccable reputation—these are the things that have earned Marin Color Service a spot in the HOF. How about the most complete selection of green paints and paint-accouterments in Marin? That earns them an enviro thumbs-up. -----------------------------Marin Color Service

770 Second St., San Rafael, 453.4065

+ HALL of FAME + 2nd year BEST CARPETING

Offering carpets made from a variety of materials designed to enhance both aesthetic appeal and durability, Rafael Floors remains among Marin’s elite carpeting outlets. Come on down and walk all over them today. -----------------------------Rafael Floors

GoodStuff Resale Shop (Except Wed.)

Corner of 4th & G Streets ~San Rafael~

Good Quality Furniture & Household Items Competively Price Call 415-883-1302 for Pickup of Quality Furniture Donations Supporting Marin Food Bank

'HVLJQ <RXU 2ZQ &XVWRP %HG FUTONS • COMFORTERS • PILLOWS COVERS • ZEN SUPPLIES ASIAN ANTIQUES • GIFTS & MORE

1435 4TH ST. SAN RAFAEL

(415) 482-6699

For other locations visit our website:

avant garde MARIN’S BEST CONSIGNMENT STORE MARIN’S BEST CONSIGNMENT STORE

+ HALL of FAME + 2nd year Lighting up the lives of Marin residents for years, Lights of Rafael combines superior customer service with impressive know-how and design skills. Working with business and residential customers on new construction, remodels or just a makeover, the staff consults and searches out lighting to suit any situation. -----------------------------Lights of Rafael

OAK, CHERRY, MAPLE & WALNUT BED FRAMES

www.matsu-store.com

822 West Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, 456.3656

BEST LIGHTING STORE

Open 7 days

Open Every Day 10:30 - 5:30

“Everything at Avant Garde is upscale, except the price.” “Everything at Avant Garde is upscale, except the price.” – San Francisco Chronicle – San Fracisco Chronicle

arin 2005 Best of M in 2005 ar Best of M

contemporary home furnishings CONTEMPORARY HOME FURNISHINGS decor items & unique gifts DECOR ITEMS & UNIQUE GIFTS women’s clothing • jewelry

Best Best Consignment Consignment Furniture Furniture

WOMEN’S CLOTHING • JEWELRY

Gisela Greene Owner

1328 4th St. • San Rafael • 415.485.4497 1328 4th St. • San Rafael • 415.485.4497

MARIN’S ECONOMY HEALTH CARE CENTER

P E R S O N A L PAT I E N T C A R E Medication Information, Evaluation & Management Are Our Specialties

4100 Redwood Hwy., San Rafael, 472.7292

+ HALL of FAME + 3rd year BEST CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE

DRUGSTORE

A company that thrives because it is simultaneously au courant and accessible, Scandinavian Designs prides itself on bringing its customers high-quality European creations that are affordable and functional. Hey, there’s no reason why your sofa can’t be stylish, squishy and nicely priced. -----------------------------Scandinavian Designs

& M E D I C A L S U P P LY

1212 Fourth St., San Rafael, 457.5500

over 60 years in Marin County

Marin’s Most Complete Drug Store COMPLETE ORTHOPEDIC DEPARTMENT • • •

+ HALL of FAME + 3rd year BEST KITCHENWARE

When confronted by Williams-Sonoma’s massive array of kitchen goods and gadgets, home chefs tend to feel a lot like a kid in a candy shop, as they gaze up at every gizmo a foodie might fancy. Cooks, prepare to be kissed! -----------------------------Williams-Sonoma

The Village, Corte Madera, 924.6799

• • • • •

Canes Wheelchairs Medical Compression Hoisery Support Garments Braces of All Types Certiﬁed Fitters On Duty Breast Prosthesis Post Mastectomy Supplies

DELIVERY SERVICE & LOW PRICES • Quality Products — Professional Services

(415) 454-1451 • 121 TUNSTEAD • SAN ANSELMO MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 91

2 007

BEST F MARIN

JAMES HALL

YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE

If anyone knows the importance of staying healthy, it’s James Bond. In fact, 007’s frequent visits to our ﬁt-leaning Best of Marin winners over the years have made it possible for the secret agent to become surprisingly adroit at a number of skills. Not only is Bond a superior equestrian, cyclist, skier and mountain climber, but we’ve seen him drive a bobsled, hang glide, parasail, deep-sea dive, fence, bungee jump, tango and slow his own heartbeat through meditation. And to whom does he turn to ﬁnd the best places to acquire these talents? M? Q? Moneypenny? Not bloody likely. Try Best of Marin.

Readers’ Poll

THE ‘PIERCE’ BROSNAN AWARD FOR BEST ACUPUNCTURE From heart disease to cancer to diabetes to simple back pain—the ailments and afflictions that can be aided by acupuncture are numerous. For years, the Pine Street Clinic has offered individuals the chance to receive some first-rate exposure to this ancient Eastern technique, and the results have been good. SUN: What’s the biggest misunderstanding people have about acupuncture? PINE STREET: That acupuncture hurts. It doesn’t tickle either, but there is a lot of space between tickle and hurt. Q:Like “twinge.” A: A tranquil clinic environment, a calm practitioner and super-thin needles always makes the acupuncture experience successful. Q: Have you always wanted to stick sharp objects into people—and get paid for it? A: The desire to stick sharp objects into people started out as a political experiment. There are secret acupuncture points that can be used to convert a Republican into a Democrat. Q: Does one of those punctures result in a bleeding heart? A: We have successfully treated thousands of Republicans here in Marin and plan to publish our clinical results soon. Q: Your clinic has pioneered the use of cancer-sniffing dogs. Wouldn’t cancer-

snifﬁng acupuncturists save on overhead? A: During our research where we trained dogs to scent-detect human cancer an unexpected side effect occurred. The human researchers, after months of interaction with the dogs, were able to smell which samples were cancer and which ones were not. However, human noses are still not as powerful or accurate as a dog nose. -----------------------------Pine Street Clinic

124 Pine St., San Anselmo, 485.0484 2ND Barbara Custer, Mill Valley 3RD Lotus Center of Oriental Medicine, San Rafael

Staff Pick

BEST AUDIO DISPLAY BY THE ANURA ORDER OF THE AMPHIBIAN CHORDATA Hidden Lake—not more than a wet meadow half the year—is tucked in the upper reaches of Mt. Burdell. Come springtime, it’s hopping with frogs. Arrive at the right hour, and you’ll stumble upon a symphony. The a cappella amphibians are startled by passersby, but if you stand still long enough, their sudden silence will turn into timid croaks, then slowly crescendo into a cacophony of sound. Hikers have been known to mistake their vocal orchestrations for heavy machinery. -----------------------------Hidden Lake

Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve, Novato

JASON BENNETT

+ Louise Estupinian of Pine Street Clinic

+ Michael Broffman of Pine Street Clinic

‘If we could only harness the odor-detecting powers of the cancer-snifﬁng dogs we could rule the world! Ha ha ha ha ha…!’ 92 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

When Bond feels like he’s packing ‘a few too many pints 'round the Midlands,’ he can often be seen stretching to the oldies at Bikram Yoga in San Rafael.

Readers’ Poll

BEST BIKE SHOP/SERVICE Bike shops come and go, but Sunshine Bicycle Center—which has been on the scene since 1971—maintains its favored status because its services are for everyone—elite cyclist to 2-year-old. Martin Hansen’s longtime crew is there to fix customers up with what fits their needs, regardless of the latest gear. And they fix it all, from the high-end gadgetry right on down to strollers. Repairs definitely keep people coming in—stuff happens when you cycle. But Sunshine also carries a complete selection of all bike types and sizes—including the newest in comfort bikes—along with all the accessories and accouterments. SUN: What’s your favorite bike ride in Marin? SUNSHINE: From Fairfax go up Bolinas Road, over Alpine Dam and up to Ridgecrest; then ride down to Highway 1 all the way to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and back to Fairfax. It’s a ride that takes some effort and provides every type of bike riding discipline: good climbs, fast descents and a rolling road. Q: Complete this sentence: Lance Armstrong is cycling’s biggest_______. A: Star. The first man to win seven Tours de France. Survives a cancer that should have killed him. Beats the Euros at their own game. Stumps the drug testers. Q: What do you mean he “stumps” the drug testers? A: It’s doubtful any of the elite pro racers are 100 percent clean. The physical tasks they acheive are inhuman. The loopholes in testing are getting tighter and

the results (disqualiﬁcations) are evident and obvious. Q: Why do men’s bikes have the toptube bar and women’s don’t? A: The reason for a missing “top-tube” on ladies’ bikes enabled the rider to pedal without having to wear pants— man or woman! Q: Shamelessly plug something I can get from your store in exactly 49 words. A: A great off-road ride is Boy Scouts/ Camp Tamarancho.Tamarancho is a 9- to 10-mile loop for almost any level of rider. Lots of guilt-free trail riding. No rangers. No horses. Few hikers. Maintained and supported by riders. Requires a pass. Day passes can be purchased at Sunshine Bicycles for $5. -----------------------------Sunshine Bicycle Center

737 Center Boulevard, Fairfax, 459.3334 2ND Mill Valley Cycleworks, Mill Valley 3RD Fairfax Cyclery, Fairfax

Readers’ Poll

HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE AWARD FOR BEST EMPLOYMENT AGENCY Solina Walton, president and CEO of Perfect Timing Personnel stafﬁng agency, makes a strong impression. This charming and self-assured expat Englishwoman admits that she puts her own stamp on the business, which is in its 19th year. She still interviews job seekers for placements, which tend to be in the administrative, support and accounting ﬁelds. For those who have suffered through the impersonal

+ + + Cameron Nassiri of Barney's Burgers

Elliot Atlas of Atlas Window

Steve Merriﬁeld of Demo Sport

Marin Window Coverings & Workroom

JASON BENNETT

2 007

BEST F MARIN

THANKS FOR YOUR VOTES

tio

700 Larkspur Landing Circle, Ste. 165, Larkspur, 461.6450 2ND Nelson Stafﬁng Solutions, San Rafael 3RD Index Stafﬁng, San Rafael

Staff Pick

BEST HAUNT TO COME HEAD TO HEAD WITH SOME UNMOUNTED ANTLERS Take a hike any time of the year in this remote West Marin outpost and you’re apt to spot more than a few bobbing heads in the brush. The Tule Elk Reserve on Tomales Point is the perfect place for some harmless head hunting. These benign bellowers, reinstated to the National Seashore beginning in 1978, are thriving today. Bring binoculars for the best view. Protected by law, there’s no taking these racks back to the local pool hall. -----------------------------Tule Elk Reserve

Tomales Point, Point Reyes National Seashore

Readers’ Poll

BEST HEALTH CLUB Open since 1991, the Osher Marin JCC completed a huge renovation last year, reopening January 2 with a new floor for its 5,000-plus membership base. “We have the highest standard of customer service and functionality with topnotch personal trainers, state-of-the-art equipment,” notes fitness director Kelli Maciel. However, she is quick to add that “it’s a community center, not a gym.” With a newly rebuilt gym, open workout room and three studios for fitness classes, the JCC is truly a haven for all those seeking physical well-being. SUN: What’s the difference between a good health club and a great health club? JCC: Our research shows that the top three most important features for a health club are cleanliness, a friendly staff and a high level of customer service. So assuming you have those covered, the rest of it—a full array of state-of-the-art equipment, indoor and outdoor pools, a wide variety of group fitness classes, experienced personal trainers, individual TV monitors, full spa amenities, full-size basketball court—is just gravy. WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

Q: Does the fact that I can bench-press 450 pounds impress you? A: How nice that you have that in common with the governor of our great state of California! Q: Shamelessly plug your business in exactly 50 words. A: On any given day in our health-and-ﬁtness center, you will ﬁnd members of all ages, sizes, styles and levels of ability hard at work at one goal: strengthening their bodies and spirits. You should be able to come as you are and feel welcome and part of a community. -----------------------------The Osher Marin JCC

200 N. San Pedro Road, San Rafael, 444.8000 2ND Elan Fitness Center, San Anselmo 3RD Marin YMCA, multiple locations

Readers’ Poll

BEST HEALTH FOOD STORE A Fairfax staple for 38 years, the Good Earth Natural Foods’ philosophy and business practices can be described in one word: integrity. Customers trust Al Baylacq, Edwin Cariati and Mark Squire’s commitment to local, certified organic, sustainably produced goods; decision-making based on what’s best for consumers as well as the environment (see Best Green Business); and a clean, well-stocked store— with an outstanding ready-made section and bakery full of whole-grain breads and more, all made in-house. SUN: What’s the difference between a good health food store and a great health food store? GOOD: There are so many “great” stores in our industry. The better ones seem to always include a personal story about someone. Meaning, what led to the farmer becoming an organic farmer, etc. More often these days, folks want to know where their food is coming from. Part of that understanding includes who is primarily behind producing the product. Q: What’s the least healthy item in your store? A: Well there aren’t many... Q: C’mon, ’fess up... A: One does stand out. We have been making traditional apple fritters now for about six months. Folks just love ’em! Whole wheat and white flour infused with fresh apples, spices and sugarcane deep-fried in safflower oil and topped with organic powdered sugar. We try and keep products like this to a minimum. > 94

arin 200

415-457-4242

Best of M

15 Woodland Ave, San Rafael CA 94901 www.marinwindowcoverings.com

THE GAME STARTS HERE! QUALITY AUTHENTIC SPORTING GOODS

When all else fails, bet with the man who can build the perfect burger...

“cattle call” aspect of temp agencies, Perfect Timing, a community-based organization that gives back to the public, offers a welcome alternative. -----------------------------Perfect Timing Personnel

PACIFIC SUN READERS!

7 (415)

453-2433

1345 FOURTH ST. SAN RAFAEL

(707)

544-2433

1250 MENDOCINO AVE SANTA ROSA

MONDAY - SATURDAY 9:00-5:30

NOW OPEN 24/7 - SHOP ONLINE - WWW.TANDBSPORTS.COM

Ultimate 12-Week Physique Transformation Kathy lost 9 pounds in 8 weeks, lost 2 inches off of her waist and dropped a full dress size! “This is the best training program with the quickest results.”

PROGRAM INCLUDES: • Complete Fitness Assessment • Nutrition Plan • Before And After Pictures • 36 Sessions Of One-On-One Personal Training In Our Private Suites • Weekly Nutritional Counseling • Reassessments

765 East Blithedale, Mill Valley

415.383.2234 www.ftmillvalley.com MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 93

S DAY 7 N OPE

320 Bon Air Center, Greenbrae 461-7688 614 Strawberry Village, Mill Valley 383-8793 www.framecraftersgallery.com

Say You Saw it in the

Whitney Vest of Fat Kat Surf Shop

Sun

Thank You, Marin for Voting Us 1 #

ment New Shnipdonesia. From I y For Best Stop B lection. Se

From Sex Wax to Dogtown, Fat Kat never fails to meet all of Blofeld's surf-skateboard needs.

< 93 You Only Live Twice Q: Why is brown rice better for us? A: Brown rice is nutritionally superior to white rice for a number of reasons. The difference is that brown rice has its bran layer intact while white rice is polished in order to remove the bran. A long time ago, food manufacturers decided to remove this nutrient-rich, high-ﬁber layer of bran because the oil and nutrients would oxidize or turn rancid. It was all about shelf life. Mother Nature put all the wholesome nutrition in the outer parts of the rice grain, antioxidant vitamins, minerals, as well as the bran that keeps our inside clean. -----------------------------Good Earth Natural Foods

1966 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax, 454.0123 2ND Oasis Natural Foods, Sausalito 3RD Real Food Co. (Fresh Organics), Sausalito

BRING THE EXOTIC HOME Furnishings from Thailand, Bali & India

Northgate Mall • 499-7785

Reg. $150 • Sale $50 Thank You Price!

(near Macy’s)

DIRECT IMPORTERS • REASONABLE PRICES • BEST SELECTION

Honoring the Spirit of Living

Staff Pick

BEST HIKE THAT’S LITERALLY A DAY AT THE BEACH A great way to blow off some steam is this downhill trek through Tennessee Valley. The trail takes you right to the beach, rich with shipwreck lore and rocky sands. Paved at the start, the path eventually morphs into a dirt road and a single-track coast trail cuts off toward the breaking waves. A small lagoon just before the shore hosts mallards, great blue herons and other waterfowl. While the views as you descend are marvelous, the hike back up isn’t half bad, either. -----------------------------Tennessee Valley Trail

Tennessee Valley Road, Mill Valley

Readers’ Poll

THE HAROLD SAKATA AWARD FOR BEST MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO Experience the comfort, the community and the value of life at the Redwoods. Enjoy an engaging and active lifestyle on our breathtaking campus located near the heart of Mill Valley. • INDEPENDENT LIVING A PARTMENTS • A SSISTED LIVING OPPORTUNITIES • SKILLED NURSING SNF#010000390 RCFE#210102866

40 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415-383-2741 www.TheRedwoods.org

THE SHOP at The Redwoods Antiques & Collectibles. 415-282-1600 x256 94 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

2 007

BEST F MARIN

JASON BENNETT

Creative Desig ns Mirrors, Oils, S hadow Boxes Home & Office Consultations Complimentary Pick-Up & Del ivery

Mikyo Riggs’s barely 1-year-old martial arts studio—Marin Mixed Martial Arts— came on strong in 2006, not only winning a Best of Marin award in its ﬁrst year out, but also gaining an international reputation for the great training it offers in jujitsu, mixed martial arts and Muay Thai. Riggs brings a contagious enthusiasm for martial arts backed by the ﬁrsthand knowledge he has accrued over 16 years of martial arts training and competition. Riggs understands what a gift disciplined practice can

be and his passion for sharing the lineage has attracted a loyal base of students, from young children to professional fighters. A team of four instructors offers a full schedule of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, youth and self-defense classes. Three professional mixed martial artists train at the studio: Bon Kim, Marco Falcone and Luke Stewart. And the MMA boasted 17 medals in competition in 2006. SUN: What’s unique about the way your studio teaches martial arts? MMA: Well first of all, my staff and I have been highly successful in competitive martial arts for over a decade. We bring to the table very high level technique and have a lot of competitive experience. We use principles from the Positive Coaching Alliance to teach our students. I teach students to control their egos, and to walk a humble path. Q: Do Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee help or hinder what you do? A: They have no impact on what I do. They are not really on my radar except that I admire and respect both of them very much. Q: Be honest. If I wanted to pick a fight with one of your students—what color belts do I really want to avoid? A: It would be a very bad idea to pick a fight with any of my students regardless of belt color. Q: Shamelessly plug your business in exactly 59 words. A: At Marin MMA we have two goals: We want to win and be successful in our sport, but we also place a great emphasis on teaching life lessons to students. We want to give our students skills that they can apply to many areas of life. Once someone becomes a member of Marin MMA they are treated like family. -----------------------------Marin Mixed Martial Arts

222 Greenﬁeld Ave., San Anselmo, 497.5050 2ND United Studios of Self Defense, various locations 3RD Kim’s Martial Arts Institute, San Anselmo

Readers’ Poll

THE DINK AWARD FOR BEST MASSAGE SALON Being pampered is great. And at the usual prices, many of us consider massage a form of pampering. But massage therapist Thea Langer and husband Michael—aware of the physical > 96

2 007

BEST F MARIN

Your fate has been written, Mr. Bond

Fleming’s Bond vs. film’s Bond BY

M AT TH EW

STAFFO RD

The James Bond who has been saving the world on a regular basis since his screen debut 44 years ago bears an only occasional resemblance to Ian Fleming’s edgy, fallible, all-too-human hero. A primary reason Casino Royale is the best Bond movie in many a decade is that it’s the first entry since the early ’70s to be based with any degree of fidelity on one of Fleming’s original novels. The books aren’t great works of literature, but the plots move like clockwork; Fleming had the rare ability to describe action vividly and precisely, and his previous life as a Naval Intelligence officer and Moscow correspondent for the Times of London gave his writing a crackling sense of verisimilitude. And his protagonist, Bond, possessed a multitude of complexes, prejudices and foibles intriguing enough to captivate a worldwide reading public. A few little-known facts from the 007 dossier: X Bond drinks bourbon a lot more than he drinks vodka martinis. He also indulges now and then in Red Stripe, sake and schnapps. X Fleming considered Bond to be a bit left of center politically and, in fact, in his private moments 007 expresses a preference for Castro over Batista and Kennedy over Eisenhower. (JFK had said that From Russia with Love was one of his 10 favorite books.) X Bond not only lives in a pretty elegant flat in a tree-planed square off the King’s Road, he has a live-in maid—not, as you might imagine, a statuesque blonde named Inga, but an elderly Scotswoman named May who tuts over him and prepares his favorite breakfast of soft-boiled eggs, wheat toast and marmalade. X 007 isn’t always the emotional vacuum he appears to be. In From Russia with Love his plane hits some turbulence and he has what can only be described as a freak-out; in Diamonds Are Forever he turns off a recording of “La Vie en Rose” because the song “has memories for him”; and in Moonraker, a blinking neon sign disturbs him so much, he has to pull his Bentley over to the side of the road. X Bond smokes 60 high-nicotine Balkan cigarettes and knocks back half a bottle of booze per day. X In the short story “Agent 007 in New York,” a travel piece Fleming wrote for the Herald Tribune, Bond proffers his recipe for scrambled eggs, to be served “to four individualists with pink champagne and low music.” X Fleming despised The Spy Who Loved Me so much, he specified in his will that if the book were ever to be made into a film, the plot could not be used. The novel is told from the point of view of one of Bond’s conquests and takes place in a Vermont motel. X In every novel there comes a moment when Bond gives up all hope and then realizes that the fate of the world (or the British Secret Service, or some girl he just met) is in his hands. He thereupon spends several minutes drawing upon his inner strength and emerges with all of the confidence necessary to vanquish his opponents. Very Zen. Penguin recently reissued all of the James Bond novels and short stories in handsome new quality-paperback editions. Dive in and meet the man behind the movies. <

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"44*45&% -*7*/( .&.03: $"3&

Áegis of San Rafael 111 Merrydale Rd.

(415) 472-6530

www.aegisliving.com

Áegis of Corte Madera 5555 Paradise Drive

(415) 927-4200

2#&% 3AN 2AFAEL 2#&% #ORTE -ADERA

WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 95

2 007

BEST F MARIN

Author, Physician and Nutritionist Celebrating 30+ years in Marin

Seventh Annual

Offers these services:

BOOK SUPER SALE

• Expert in Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia • Nutrition and Vitamin Therapies • Allergy Testing Program (In-Office) For Foods and Inhalents • Bioidentical Hormones • Celllulite Reduction

Bring in this ad for $2 off your purchase!

Saturday/Sunday, March 24–25 10 AM to 5 PM Members' preview: Saturday 8 to 10 AM (anyone can join at the door for $25)

National Guard Armory

Michael Rosenbaum, MD

(on Armory Drive, across from the Civic Center in San Rafael)

Medical Director 300 Tamal Plaza, Ste 120 Corte Madera, CA 94925

For information and map: http://marinlibraryfriends.marin.org 415-892-0238; 415-388-0839

(415) 927-9450 www.michaelrosenbaummd.com

“An extraordinary account of a local endeavor which resulted in a national triumph.”—U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) New Guardians for the Golden Gate How America Got a Great National Park BY AMY MEYER With Randolph Delehanty Foreword by I. Michael Heyman

“Open space and wilderness don’t save themselves. Dedicated people do. This book is an important reminder of that.” —San Jose Mercury News

“A primer showing how intelligent people with a worthy goal can alter the landscape. Or in this case, keep it the way it was always meant to be.” $29.95 at bookstores or www.ucpress.edu

—San Francisco Chronicle

BOATS TIMESHARES RVs REAL ESTATE Tax Deduction

•

We Do All DMV

Running or Not – Restrictions Apply

800 380- 5257 Live Operators – 7 days!

Free Pick Up Providing safety information and assisting families in bringing kids home safely

96 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

++++ Michael Langer of Mill Valley Massage

Thea Langer of Mill Valley Massage

Ricci Garzoli of DeMello Rooﬁng

Gary Mazzoleni of DeMello Rooﬁng

Though of distinct and separate species, masseuses and roofers have been known to congregate in the wild.

< 94 You Only Live Twice and emotional beneﬁts of regular massage treatments—believe that most of us would be less stressed if, rather than viewing massage as an indulgence, we incorporated it into our well-being routine. That was the genesis of Mill Valley Massage. No green tea, no plushy robes, no gimmicks. Instead, clients are welcomed into a clean, comfortable environment with certiﬁed massage therapists and the full gamut of massage options—myofascial, deep tissue, Swedish, hot stone, prenatal, etc.—all at affordable prices. Obviously, it works—the Langers have just opened a second site in San Rafael. -----------------------------Mill Valley Massage

61 Camino Alto, Ste. 102, Mill Valley, 381.1855; 1007 C St., San Rafael, 460.1855 2ND Evo Spa, Mill Valley 3RD Stellar Spa, Corte Madera

Readers’ Poll

BEST PILATES STUDIO Every body is different, and everybody’s response to movement and exercise is different, says Stacy Allegro, the owner and driving force behind Fit First Pilates. In fact, before any talk of getting in shape, Allegro emphasizes the importance of establishing a trusting relationship between client and trainer. The equipment can be intimidating and people often come in worried about not “performing” well enough—but Pilates isn’t about competition. A program is tailored specifically for each body’s needs and abilities and trainers maintain a positive focus with each client. And Allegro’s lively personality and enthusiasm are difficult to ignore. She must be doing something right—in its 12 years, Fit First is the only Pilates studio to earn Best of—five times now. -----------------------------Fit First Pilates

21 Tamal Vista, Ste. 162, Corte Madera, 458.4477 2ND Mill Valley Health Club & Spa, Mill Valley 3RD Novato Pilates, Novato

Readers’ Poll

THE THUNDERBALL AWARD FOR BEST PLACE TO BUY SPORTS EQUIPMENT From prep athlete to weekend warrior, those living the sporting life in Marin know when they need a pump, a ball or a jersey, T&B Sports in San Rafael is the place to go to cover all their bases (pun intended). T&B has been serving North Bay run-and-gunners since 1946 and has a vast selection for practically every sport. Softball? Soccer? Basketball? They’ve got the helmets, gloves, bats, high tops, low tops and athletic supporters your ofﬁce team needs to look every bit the pro (even if your play is more of a con). SUN: What are the kids buying these days? T&B: All the related equipment needed to participate in sports—gloves, bats, balls and the like. Speciﬁc items that are red-hot right now are all items from Under Armour performance apparel, shoes and accessories. Q: What’s the worst reason anyone’s given you for a return? A: Return of athletic shoes after a season’s use and stating they were the wrong size! Also, the return of a bat because it “lost its pop” or “I just can’t hit with it...” Q: Speaking of that, I bought Air Jordans from you in ’94 and I still can’t slam—what gives? A: As they say, you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink...Could be God-given talent—or buy a ladder. -----------------------------T&B Sports

1345 Fourth St., San Rafael, 453.2433 2ND Arch Rival, Greenbrae and Mill Valley 3RD Fleet Feet, San Anselmo

Staff Pick

BEST SHRINE/PLACE FOR POIGNANT INDIGNATION ABOUT THE MODERN WORLD Half a mile or so above Fern Canyon Road up Mt. Tam’s rugged Temelpa Trail there’s a small clearing off to the left, and in the middle of the clearing is a large boulder, and set into its side is a plaque. We came upon it by accident during a long

JASON BENNETT

Michael E. Rosenbaum MD FRIENDS OF THE MARIN COUNTY FREE LIBRARY

2 007

BEST F MARIN JAMES HALL

In an episode Bond would just as soon forget, the secret agent was ordered to the showers after failing to sufﬁciently wipe clean his yoga mat.

hike on the vernal equinox last year, and this is what it says: “Behold, my brothers, the spring has come; the earth has received the embraces of the sun and we shall soon see the results of all that love! Every seed has awakened and so has all animal life. It is through this mysterious power that we too have our being and we therefore yield to our neighbors, even our animal neighbors, the same right as ourselves, to inhabit this land. Yet hear me, my people, we now have to deal with another race—small and feeble when our fathers ﬁrst met them, but now great and overbearing. Strangely enough they have a mind to till the soil and the love of possessions is a disease with them. These people have made many rules that the rich may break but the poor may not. They take tithes from the poor and weak to support the rich who rule. They claim this mother of ours, the earth, for their own, and fence their neighbors away; they deface her with buildings and their refuse. That nation is like a spring freshet that overruns its banks and destroys all who are in its path. Sitting Bull, 1877.” At the base of the boulder is a framed image of the great Sioux leader along with such offerings as passing hikers and supplicants have bestowed: seashells, bits of quartz and amethyst, dried ﬂowers in a makeshift vase. -----------------------------Sitting Bull Plaque

Temelpa Trail (Near Fern Canyon Rd.), Mt. Tam

Readers’ Poll

BEST SKI/CAMPING SHOP For more than 20 years, Steve Merrifield has been building a committed, passionate customer base of the area’s most avid skiers, boarders and general outdoor sorts who live for surf, turf, tarmac and snow. It takes one to know one, and while Merrifield is modest about his athletic pursuits, you can trust that someone who loves adrenaline has stocked the shelves and outfitted skiers, skaters and boarders of all levels for their chosen pursuits in gear by Atomic, K2, Volkl and more. At DemoSport, Merrifield says, “We specialize in the right tool WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

for the job.” SUN: What advice would you give to a ﬁrst-time skier? DEMOSPORT: Take a lesson. Or, at least don’t let your friend, sibling or spouse teach you. (Unless they happen to be a certiﬁed PSIA instructor!) Q: That was one of my four requirements for marriage proposal... A: The learning curve will decrease with proper technique and body positioning that facilitate proper muscle memory. As with the Boy Scouts, be prepared. Q: And wear bright yellow neckerchiefs. A: Whether it is the dress-up from hat, gloves, goggles and warm waterproof outerwear to proper gear, proper terrain selection, proper instruction and proper choice of weather and timing, be prepared. Physically, normal exercise of any sort would be good ski training and conditioning. Q: Complete this sentence: Bode Miller is skiing’s biggest_________. A: Marketing tool. Q: So you think he’s a tool? A: Personally, I think he has had unrealistic expectations for consistent results cast upon him. On the other hand, he should show more respect for training and discipline as a chosen member of the U.S. ski team. Skiing needs publicity. Bode is news. Enough said. Q: If I don’t have the proper skiing goggles, will beer goggles do? A: Although proper eyewear is preferred, beer goggles have the added advantage of dual use in the aprés-ski environment, which includes increasingly distorted night vision. -----------------------------DemoSport

1101 Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, 454.3500 2ND Uli Seiler Ski Shop, Kentﬁeld 3RD Old Town Sports, Novato

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At The Top placed Best of Marin “Best Men’s Hair Salon” 2007

Staff Pick

BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE WELL-COIFFED COWS COME HOME

10 East Blithdale • Mill Valley • 381-3707 thetopsalon@hotmail.com

Mt. Burdell offers miles of trails to share with its native bovines in the waning light of day. It’s also home to some of the most exciting hairdos ever put out to pasture. While sitting patiently in the hay, you may see the spitting image of Donald Trump mooooo-ve on through the cow crowd. If you’re lucky, you could be treated to variations of the Billy Idol spike and, a traditional favorite, the George Washington wig-curl. Sometimes the beasts get a little too friendly. When they clod closer for your honest advice on product—gel or hairspray?—they’re best fended off with something au naturel—a handful of acrid acorns that wouldn’t make a squirrel slobber. -----------------------------Mt. Burdell

Mt. Burdell Open Space Preserve, Novato

Readers’ Poll BEST SPA

Relaxation—it’s something we all say we need more of, but who can ﬁnd the time for a weekend getaway? That’s not > 98 MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 97

2 007

BEST F MARIN < 97 You Only Live Twice a problem when the getaway is right in your own backyard. No matter where in Marin you reside, centrally located Stellar Spa isn’t far away. But you’ll feel like it is, in the best possible sense, as you enjoy state-of-the-art rejuvenating treatments in a soothing, whisk-your-cares-away atmosphere tailored to men and women alike. And with an array of quality products on hand, you can take a little of this invigorating experience home with you. What are you waiting for? -----------------------------Stellar Spa

26 Tamalpais Dr., Corte Madera, 924.7300 2nd Evo Spa, Mill Valley 3rd Tea Garden Springs, Mill Valley

Readers’ Poll

BEST SURF SHOP If there is one thing that matters in the surf world, it is cred—and Fat Kat Surf Shop is steeped in it. New owners, locals Whitney Vest and Chad Peterson, are partners in business and surf and bring their lifelong passion for the ocean to this respected Fairfax storefront. Vest grew up surﬁng in Bolinas and shopping at Fat Kat before buying it from Rick Dillon (who still does repairs out of the shop) and renovating it with Peterson. The duo reopened in April 2006, stocking it full with top-of-theline beach apparel, surfboards, wetsuits and footwear, and since reopening, skate equipment (much of which is also locally produced). “I enjoy talking to people and I’ll often do special orders,” says Vest, who can be found most days helping customers select from brands such as Surf Prescriptions, Rip Curl, Reef and Think. -----------------------------Fat Kat Surf Shop

1906 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax, 453.9167 2ND Bolinas Surf Shop, Bolinas 3RD Live Water Surf Shop, Stinson Beach

Staff Pick

RESTAURANTS WITH CHEESY PLASTIC MENUS SHOULDN’T BE THIS GOOD Serving up brunch, super sundaes and hearty hamburgers, Star Restaurant has become a local institution in sleepy Novato. Pink faux ﬂowers, mirrors that reﬂect them into an endless hanging garden and views of Novato Creek in the back room make this a comfy corner for some downhome dining. Pink-sugar sweetened coffee on the side, Star staff serve up smiles with just the right touch of sass. -----------------------------Star Restaurant

1700 Novato Blvd., Novato, 897.1970

Readers’ Poll

BEST YOGA STUDIO While it can be intense, the rewards of Bikram yoga—a style comprised of 26 speciﬁc poses done in a hot room over 90 minutes—are many. If you choose to get into this intensely invigorating activity, you’ll notice improved energy, ﬂexibility and endurance, plus weight loss and reduced 98 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

stress levels. If this piques your interest, check out Bikram Yoga San Rafael. With a varied class schedule to fit around your busy life and a staff of experienced instructors, Bikram San Rafael caters not just to hard-core athletes, but to anyone interested in improving his or her overall health and well-being. SUN: Is it a difficult stretch to be a unique yoga studio in these parts? BIKRAM YOGA SR: We’re an official Bikram Yoga School, specializing exclusively in Bikram’s yoga (a series of 26 poses performed in a heated room). Our yoga room was designed to have the best heated environment in the country with fresh air, special lighting and humidity. Q: Do you have an important piece of advice for us not-so-limber yoga novices? A: Keep an open mind, keep it simple. Just do what you can do, have a sense of humor, relax and have fun! Q: What’s the most mind-blowing yoga stretch you’ve ever seen? A: Every day we see folks stretch physically, mentally and emotionally all through the practice of a few simple poses—which is far more mind-blowing than watching someone struggle to twist themselves into a pretzel. Q: I once saw a man sit on his own head. Is this healthy? A: Through this work, bodies transform, habits change, stress and anger diminish and what is left is a happier, healthier, more resilient individual. Q: Shamelessly plug your business in exactly 34 words. A: Our classes are taught with humor, respect and validation. We pride ourselves on knowing our students by name and our dedication has paid off by attracting clients of every age, background and physical ability. -----------------------------Bikram Yoga San Rafael

1295 Second St., Ste. 210, San Rafael, 453.YOGA 2ND Yoga Center of Marin, Corte Madera 3RD Red Dragon Yoga, Mill Valley

+ HALL of FAME + 3rd year BEST HEALTH CLUB

This famed, decades-old establishment continues to set the...well...gold standard for places to get pumped up. A visit to Gold’s Gym should be just the motivation you need to set that body in motion and keep it ﬁt. Going for the Gold has never felt so good. -----------------------------Gold’s Gym

10 Fifer Ave., Corte Madera, 924.GOLD

+ HALL of FAME + 3rd year BEST BIKE SHOP

When the original Mike’s Bikes opened in San Rafael in 1964, it was considered cutting-edge and continued with that reputation as one of the ﬁrst in the country to sell mountain bikes. Four decades later, it remains an innovative purveyor of cool new products, garnering widespread respect among pedal-pushers countywide. -----------------------------Mike’s Bikes

Various locations, 454.3747 <

Of these four celebrities, two received ‘Paciﬁc Sun Best of’ awards, two received ‘worst.’ Quickly now: Who got which?

CATEGORY ROYALE No Bond-themed Best of Marin issue worth its martini olives would be complete without allowing readers to weigh in on the ﬁlms and actors themselves. Here are our poll results on a few things Bond, as well as a few things Marin:

Readers’ Poll

BEST BOND It comes as little surprise that Sean Connery took home this prize—he was first, coolest, appeared in three of the top handful of films and refused to allow his career to be defined by the role. Still, the numbers were eye-opening—he outdistanced second-place Daniel Craig by more than 3 to 1. In something of an upset, Pierce Brosnan edged longtimeBond Roger Moore for third, proving that fans still resent his devolution of the character into the smirking hero of some of the worst Bond films including Moonraker and A View to a Kill. ----------------------------2ND Daniel Craig 3RD Pierce Brosnan

Readers’ Poll

WORST BOND That Timothy Dalton ﬁnished ahead of one-and-done George Lazenby (by a mere seven votes) is testament to how viliﬁed he was for his perceived humorless Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill. The actor’s attempts to lend depth and seriousness to the character after years of campy Roger Moore oneliners obviously did little to impress fans. ----------------------------2ND George Lazenby 3RD Pierce Brosnan

Readers’ Poll

BEST BOND MOVIE Fans placing Casino Royale (the 2006 version, we emphasize) above classics like Goldﬁnger and From Russia With Love speaks volumes about how the Bond series desperately needed to be updated to the grittier realism of the 21st-century thriller. Ten years from now, fans might not be so generous to the ﬁlm but, in the here and now, Casino Royale has revitalized the series.

----------------------------2ND Goldﬁnger 3RD From Russia With Love (The rest of the readers’ Top 10 are as follows: Dr. No, Diamonds Are Forever, Octopussy, For Your Eyes Only, The Spy Who Loved Me, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.)

Readers’ Poll

WORST BOND MOVIE Produced during the heyday of campy space movies, the 1979 blunder Moonraker featured such “classic” Bond moments as our hero driving a “Bondola” (a gondolacar-embarrassment) through the streets of Venice, the ruining of a previously cool villain in Jaws—who now can survive parachute-free falls from airplanes—and what’s known as the double-taking pigeon scene in which a bird is edited to appear to be doing a double-take at a supposedly hilarious chase scene. When you need the assistance of garbage-consuming street fowl to tell viewers when to laugh, the gag may not be as funny as you think... ----------------------------2ND Die Another Day 3RD A View to a Kill

Readers’ Poll

BEST MOVIE STARRING A MARINCONNECTED ACTOR (2006) The critics savaged All the King’s Men (starring Sean Penn), but Marinites are loyal to the slightly surly, very talented Penn. Besides, the competition was pretty weak this year—seriously, was any voter going to declare Robin Williams’s RV the best movie of the lot? (Actually, 169 of you did!) ----------------------------2ND Man of the Year (Robin Williams) 3RD Breaking and Entering (Robin Wright Penn)

BEST F MARIN Readers’ Poll

WORST MOVIE STARRING A MARINCONNECTED ACTOR (2006) Of the 169 who loved RV (starring Robin Williams) (see the above entry), apparently one of you is currently writing reviews for the Internet Movie Database. Here’s what IMDB contributor “movieguy3” has to say about Sun readers’ “worst” movie of the year: “Bob Munro is the dad of a dysfunctional family. He hires an RV to take the family on vacation. However Bob is NOT the best RV steering wheel operator in the neighborhood and the hilarity is added on by the fact that the brakes are about as useful as a chocolate ﬁreguard. Bob ﬁrst realizes it when the RV rolls (not literally) backwards into a line of shopping carts. Also Bob’s job is in danger if he doesn’t go to a very important meeting. Before you can say “COME BACK! COME BACK!,” things go gloriously, hilariously, Munro-annoyingly wrong due to the lack of brakes, Bob’s job, toilet waste not cleared out from the last rental and more hilarious stuff.” ----------------------------2ND Factory Girl (Don “Father Guido” Novello) 3RD Behind Enemy Lines 2 (Peter Coyote)

Readers’ Poll

BIGGEST LOCAL NEWS STORY (2006) Raging waters in the Ross Valley New Year’s Floods still haven’t washed from readers’ memories. The waters that devastated so many homes and businesses—felt most harshly in San Anselmo—were a post-Katrina wake-up call at the local level. Out of the creekbed dregs, the county continues to recover. We think our next category winner has a little something to do with this one... ----------------------------2ND West Marin marijuana busts 3RD SMART campaign

Readers’ Poll

BEST MARIN TOWN (OTHER THAN YOUR OWN)

2 007 salata’s and Comforts are among this year’s Best of Marin recipients), fantastic shopping on and about San Anselmo Avenue and central proximity within the county, San Anselmo might have won this contest even without the ﬂood. But the way the community banded together (especially with the town budget already deep in the red) to pick itself up off its collectively soaking feet showed it’s a town with guts as well. ----------------------------2ND Fairfax 3RD Mill Valley (The rest of the readers’ Top Ten towns are as follows: Point Reyes Station, Sausalito, San Rafael, Larkspur, Tiburon/Belvedere, Stinson, Bolinas.)

Best Music and Audio Gear?

Easy . . Just Go B a n a n a s ! Thanks for voting us the Best of Marin once again. We strive to bring you our best, with experienced and knowledgeable sales people, and the very best products and brands available, always at low discount prices. Come visit today — we’re open seven days a week to serve you!

Readers’ Poll

BEST CELEB TO PLAY THE MARIN COUNTY FAIR (2006)

BANANAS AT LARGE

Even we’ve got to admit Joan Jett is surprisingly edgy for the county-fair circuit— though we’re referring to her work with the Runaways and the Germs. Yet, since her 1982 breakthrough single—her career-deﬁning version of the Arrows’ “I Love Rock ’N’ Roll—she’s built a career out of releasing inferior versions of other artists’ songs (“Crimson and Clover,” “Love Hurts,” “Roadrunner”...) and lapsing into Riot Grrrl self parody. Perhaps she was ready for the county-fair circuit after all... ----------------------------2ND Eddie Money 3RD Rick Springﬁeld

Readers’ Poll

WORST CELEB TO PLAY THE MARIN COUNTY FAIR (2006) In a year of questionable “big name” talent at the fair, Nelson Bros., twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson still made this a slam dunk. They earned a recording contract because of their father Ricky, they had a 1990 MTV hit because of their twin glam hairdos and they were soon out of a recording contract because of the Peter Principle. ----------------------------2ND Eddie Money 3RD Rick Springﬁeld

Audio • Musical • Computers • Video • 1504 Fourth St • Central San Rafael OPEN EVERY DAY! call 415-457-7600

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Awaken Your Spirit Nourish Your Soul Congregation Kol Shofar invites you to:

Women’s New Moon Spirituality Group with Rabbi Chai Levy Tuesday, March 27, 6:30 - 8:30 pm Join a circle of women for song, study and ritual.

Shir Chadash – A Musical Shabbat Service Friday, April 6, 7:30 pm

JASON BENNETT

With its award-winning restaurants (In-

Publisher’s picks These may or may not be “Best” in an absolute sense, but they are certainly my favorites:

Hellooooo, Mr. Chips.

Best place for locally made lemon ice cream (often hard to ﬁnd): Silbermanns, in the Northgate One shopping center Best local, easily accessible 360 degree views: China Camp and Ring Mountain Best place for outdoor summer evening picnic and live entertainment: Marin Shakespeare, at the Forest Meadows Amphitheatre Best regional symphony director (particularly with the departure of Jeffrey Kahane in Santa Rosa and Kent Nagano in Berkeley): Alasdair Neale, Marin Symphony Best bluegrass duo: Keystone Crossing Best children’s librarian: Holly from the San Rafael Public Library Best very local Fourth of July parade: Woodacre Best local online community forum: Town Square at www.paciﬁcsun.com —Sam Chapman WWW.PACIFICSUN.COM

Join us for a joyful and accessible musical Shabbat service.

Neshama Minyan – Introspective Shabbat Service with Rabbi Lavey Derby Saturday, April 14, 9:30 am Experience a nurturing prayer service with singing, meditation, movement and discussion.

For more information: 415-388-1818 ext. 18 www.kolshofar.org Congregation Kol Shofar 215 Blackfield Road, Tiburon

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Defend...continued from page 46 knows was James Bond as James Bond. Which is why On Her Majestyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is the only Bond movie in which I can truly accept the actor as 007. Sean Connery and Roger Moore played Bond for seven ďŹ lms each, both eventually turning the tables on the nature of characterâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and by the end of their tenures in the role, Connery and Moore were no longer Bond; Bond had become either Connery or Moore. The same holds true for Timothy Dalton, though for far less triumphant reasons (many consider him the worst thing to have happened to the franchise since Roger Mooreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plastic surgery). And Brosnan? Not only is Bond not Brosnan, but Brosnanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not even Brosnan. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Remington Steeleâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the wise-acre cineaste detective who solved crimes by recalling crime plots from famous movies. (Now thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cool.) With Lazenbyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;who was also the most physically ďŹ t of the actors under discussion, as well as the one with the most â&#x20AC;&#x153;everymanâ&#x20AC;? persona (two essential qualities for any successful secret agent)â&#x20AC;&#x201D;I can lose myself in the world of 007. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a wellknown actor up there who I will compare to his Bond predecessor and antecedent. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not Daniel Craig the blond Bond; Connery the ďŹ rst-and-only Bond; Moore the longest-running Bond; Brosnan the Remington Steele Bond; or Dalton the viliďŹ ed Bond. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good olâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-His-Name. And what is his name? Bond. James Bond. Next week: Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss when I explain why Pete Best is a better drummer than Ringo.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Jason Walsh

Take a seat, Mr. Connery

TOWNSQUARE MARI

BEST F MARIN

While all due credit must be given to Sean Connery for jump-starting one of the most iconic and enduring ďŹ lm franchises in the history of cinema, contrary to popular opinion, he is not the best Bond. Or the second best. Or even the third best. You read that rightâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;of the six men who have channeled 007 (with the ofďŹ cial seal of approval), there are three who did it better than the oft-lauded Mr. Connery. Let me begin my defense by stating that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m aware Bond creator Ian Fleming once said Connery was perfect for the part, or something to that effect. But when it comes to the casting of his beloved secret agent, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d argue Fleming didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have enough critical distance. And really, who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t favor his ďŹ rstborn? Which brings me to my main point. The reason people so commonly associate Connery with the role isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t because he did it best, but because he did it ďŹ rst. Before Dr. No, few, save fans of pulpy spy novels, had ever heard of James Bond. Then the movie came out, and suddenly Connery was Bondâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;just as any halfway-charming thespian lucky enough to land the gig would have been. And so each subsequent Bond has been judged against Connery, while the myth of his greatness has continued to grow, buoyed by sentimentality and hazy hindsight. Meanwhile, three superior Double-Os have gone woefully underappreciated. First and foremost is Roger Moore, who gets points for being the only true Brit ever to serve on her majestyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secret service. While Connery struggled in vain to restrain that indelible Scottish brogue, Mooreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cadence was smoothly spot-on. And it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just his voice that gave Moore an edge; he struck the perfect balance between suavity and silliness with his dashing charm and winking asides. He never took the whole enterprise too seriously, but he absolutely oozed the unďŹ&#x201A;appable self-assurance every good Bond must possess. Yet Moore will always be unfairly relegated to second banana status. The two most recent Bonds have fared little better when it comes to the inevitable Connery comparisons. Nevertheless, each is superior in his own way. Both Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig were given the difďŹ cult task of embodying Bond in a sociopolitical era very different from the one in which the spy was created. The Cold War was over; espionage and international relations had changed dramatically. Bond was starting to seem more like an outmoded relic than a viable hero. How to revive his relevance? Brosnan and Craig approached this challenge in different, but equally effective, ways. Brosnan combined, in many respects, the best traits of both Moore and Conneryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;slyly smiling one minute and then getting down to the dirty work of beating up a baddie and bedding a dangerous dame the next. Craigâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the current reigning 007â&#x20AC;&#x201D;brought a much darker sensibility to his only effort to date, 2006â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Casino Royale. Taking James back to his gritty roots, Craig created the most animalistic and least cartoonish incarnation of the character. So take a bow gents. The world may remember you as those other Bonds, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the real spies worth loving.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;By Jacob Shafer

MUSIC Almost famoso Mike Marshall brings spirit of Carnaval to 142 Throckmorton BY

MAT T

KR AMER

hat music goes with warm weather and sunshine? Well, what music doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something about the arrival of steady sunshine and warming weather that makes people wanna get up and dance. 142 Throckmorton Theatreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebrating the beginning of spring by bringing Mike Marshall and Choro Famoso to our wildďŹ&#x201A;ower-festooned county Thursday, March 29. You may remember Bay Area-based mandolinist Mike Marshall from the original David Grisman Quintet, when Marshall was a teenager. Regardless of your musical memory, just keep in mind that Marshallâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;who also holds his own on ďŹ ddle and guitarâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;has honed his skills over the decades studying and performing bluegrass, classical, jazz and world music. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the latter genre, especially the rhythms of Brazil, which ďŹ nds this founder of the Modern Mandolin Quartet in the company of Choro Famoso. OK Kramer, what the hell is choro? Good question. In this case, take a mandolin, a guitar, a clarinet and perhaps

PLUG INTO THE

soprano saxophone (if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re feeling especially breezy) and back it all up with mucho percussion. This South American music style sounds to me like a cross between the gypsy jazz of Django Reinhardt and bossa nova. Rhythmically complex and lending itself to improvisation, choro ďŹ&#x201A;owered in Brazil in the late 1800s. Fortunately for us, the Bay Area has a ďŹ&#x201A;ourishing Brazilian music scene and Marshall, after taking a pilgrimage to Brazil, sought the accompaniment of Brazilian-born, Bay Area-based guitarist Carlos Oliveira, percussionists Michael Spiro and Brian Rice, and Andy Connell on clarinet and sax. Their self-titled disc, released in 2004, cooks. Joining these South American-minded gentleman Thursday is Colombian guitarist and singer/songwriter Claudia Gomez. Now based in Palo Alto, Gomez (like Choro Famoso) holds an afďŹ nity for the music of Brazil. Though she grew up in London playing and singing Beatles tunes since her teenage years, Gomez has immersed herself in the culture of South America. Emotion

Choro translates to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tearful lamentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Portuguese--though no one is suggesting thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll feel following Choro Famosoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show this weekâ&#x20AC;Ś

emanates from her music, whether beautiful ballad or more lively call-and-response compositions, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evident that she absorbed plenty of musical magic during the years she lived in South America. Adding her to Choro Famoso, some of whose musicians have performed with Gomez on her recordings (2005â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Majagua is the most recent), should make for a memorable and moving (as inâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;get up and dance!) musical evening. Another world music concert takes place Saturday night, March 24, as the Osher Marin JCC features Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca. Lemvo, the Congo-born multilingual leader and singer, formed the band in Los Angeles in 1990 after turning his back on law school in order to fully embrace the music that he realized was his calling when he was 8 years old. The bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four CDs have delighted

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legions of listeners and dancers; the ďŹ fth release, Isabela, arrives at stores four days prior to their appearance at the JCC. Lemvoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s musical mission is to blend African and Cuban elements, which Makina Loca does in dance-inspiring manner, translating a celebrational attitude into its lyrics and melodies. Fiery horns, Cuban rhythms, African vocal styles and percussion patternsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you can hear all that in the ďŹ rst few seconds of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kasono Boogaloo,â&#x20AC;? the new discâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening track. Imagine how much shaking a Saturday evening show will inspire. Arrive early and take advantage of free dance lessons prior to the performance. The warm weather and this rush of world music makes me wish that New Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s would reincarnate as Ashkenaz del Norte: weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have more great live musicâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;with Sol Food nearby for preshow sustenance. <

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THEATER be Love and Marriage. As for the third, he tells us: “I reckon you can guess what that’s about.” Actually, the third act is the payoff for the entire evening and if Emily’s cry—”Oh, Earth, you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you”— doesn’t bring you to tears, it will surely make you sit up and pay attention. Grover’s Corner may be small, but the wise humor, but his wry attitude is never play requires a large cast. And the actors cynical; he communicates warmth and inhabit the town as if they were all born love both to fellow characters onstage as there. Kathleen Gerard has many strong well as to the audience. moments; in one of the lighter ones she Our Town describes several days of life confesses her desire to travel somewhere in Grover’s Corner, New “they don’t speak EngHampshire. It starts on an lish—and don’t want to!” NOW PLAYING ordinary day in 1901 as Dr. Jennifer Reimer takes hold Our Town runs through Gibbs (Chuck Isen) returns of a role she picked up a April 22 at The Barn Theahome early one morning few days earlier (Susan tre, Marin Art & Garden (after delivering twins to a Suomi, cast as Mrs. Webb, Center, 30 Sir Francis woman in “the Polish secwill be back for the rest of rake Blvd at Lagunitas, tion”). His wife (Kathleen the run). Reimer brings a Ross; 415/456-9555, Gerard) worries about his passionate intensity to her www.rossvalleyplayers.com. working too much as she character’s rant about how SPECIAL NOTE: On Friday, tries to get the children, the world sends young girls March 23, “Pay What ou George (Francis Serpa) and into marriage ignorant and Will” tickets are available at Rebecca (Emily Pathman), unprepared. Isen and Jefthe box office from 7-7:20pm. out of bed. Next door, Mrs. ferds each bring an individWebb (Jennifer Reimer) ual flair to their supportive prepares breakfast for her husband roles. Stephen husband, the editor of the town’s paper, Dietz’s drunken choirmaster stays bitter her daughter Emily (Vivian Kane) to the end—and beyond, as he should; his and her son Wally (Philip Bohlman). character lives on the dark side of Grover’s This first act, the Stage Manager tells us, Corner (with the Polish immigrants who are is called Daily Life; the second act will talked about in whispers).

RVP goes to ‘Town’

‘Our Town’ like you’ve rarely seen it—starring adults! BY

LEE

BR ADY

ur Town is classic theater, with all the baggage that the adjective timeless implies. Too many high school productions over too many years may have audiences muttering, “Not again,” as they go in, but this RVP production, thoughtfully and respectfully directed by Robert Wilson, will have them murmuring, “Hey, it still works,” as they go out. This play broke new ground in 1938 as Thornton Wilder included new theatrical techniques, many borrowed from the Chinese. With bare-bones staging, his stories appear to be ordinary and personal, but turn out to be universal truths about our existence on this planet—and beyond. The playwright, using presentational techniques, broke the fourth wall with his narrator/stage manager, a character who carries the play on his back. He has to be warmly caring even as he reveals the bitter secret of life: “We can never see it while we are living it.” Wood Lockhart brings all the necessary qualities to this role. He exudes a

You know you’re wedding a beautiful bride when even the Stage Manager in ‘Our Town’ is leering at her…

Small roles are made individual and distinctive by Maurice Thouvenin as the milkman, Eleanor Prugh as an “artistic lady,” Kathryn Daskal as the giddy Mrs. Soames, Hugh Campion as a long-winded professor. And the two young lovers, Emily and George, are poignantly brought to life by Vivian Kane and Francis Serpa. These two carry the action of the play as they create the beating heart of Grover’s Corner. Kane’s nervous energy as a conﬂicted young girl is entrancing, while Serpa’s George is engaging as the young boy who grows up much too soon. Audiences new to Wilder’s Our Town will ﬁnd this production surprising and pleasing. For those who have seen it many times it will still please. <

SINGLE IN THE SUBURBS

A child at heart ‘Dropped from the sky,’ Kimberly searches for her connection to the world BY

NIKKI

SILVERS TEIN

hen last I left you, my friend Kimberly was holding a minuscule amount of semen in a test tube, bemoaning how much she had spent on this itty-bitty vial of life-creation ﬂuid. I was marveling at the notion that donating sperm has become big business; apparently taking advantage of childless women before their menopausal years is quite lucrative. “Is the test tube cracked?” I asked optimistically. “No,” Kimberly responded. “This is all they sent.” “Let me see.” I demanded. Kimberly passed the tube to me. “It’s yellow. Isn’t it supposed to be white?” “I think I just spent $500 for mucus.” Kimberly went to the phone to call the sperm bank. I hopped online to do more research. I discovered from the World Health Organization that the average adult male ejaculates anywhere from 2 to 5 cubic centimeters of semen. “Yellow is normal and they send 1 cubic centimeter, which they claim is enough to do the job,” Kimberly said as

102 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 – MARCH 29, 2007

she hung up the phone. “OK. You break out the turkey baster. I’m going home.” Sauntering across the street to go home, I did the math again. I previously calculated that the donor frequency requirement at Kimberly’s sperm bank afforded a man the opportunity to father 208 kids. That was before learning that each woman’s order was ﬁlled with approximately one-third of a typical semen deposit. Now we’re looking at about 624 potential offspring from one man. Consider the possibility that two of the aforementioned offspring meet, fall in love and reproduce without ever knowing that they are half-siblings. I’m no geneticist, but I didn’t like this. Kimberly called two weeks later. “I got my period.” “Oooh. Sorry, Kimmy. You can try again.” “I feel like I just ﬂushed $500 down the toilet—literally.” “Maybe you should reconsider the other options,” I said. “What about adoption?”

“I want my own,” Kimberly answered in a determined voice. “A child to love...” She cut me off mid-sentence. “I’m adopted. I have no connection biologically with anyone in the world. No one. I feel out of place—like I was dropped from the sky. This is my way of trying to have a biological family.” I pondered that for a moment. My family drives me crazy, but they’re mine. I have my mother’s eyes, my father’s cheekbones. My sister and I both have squeaky little voices and my brother and I were frequently mistaken for twins. My possible hereditary health issues aren’t a mystery. I was planned and I was wanted, which was comforting. “I didn’t know you felt this way. Of course, yes, try to have your own baby. What about seeing a fertility specialist?” “I did,” Kimberly’s voice cracked as she held back tears. “I went to a seminar where the doctor bragged about helping a 50-year-old woman have a baby with her own eggs. I go to him and have all these tests done. At the follow-up appointment, it was bait and switch. He told me my eggs are ﬁne, but he uses donor eggs. I want my eggs, like the 50-year-old. He said that was a special case and asked me my budget. It wasn’t enough.” “I’m so sorry this happened to you.” “I just want someone to do what he promises. I want the real truth.” “Maybe you should try a sperm bank

around here, instead of that one in Boston. I’ll go with you and we’ll ﬁnd out more about the insemination process.” “I want my Harvard man’s sperm.” “What about a Stanford grad?” I asked. “No. I did this extra thing. I sent in pictures of an old boyfriend. A woman at the sperm bank picked this man because he had the facial features, the look I want.” “Jeez. How much was that Match Game?” “Oh, $250. I don’t care. I know him now. I know what he looks like. I’ve held his semen.” “Kimberly, you don’t know him.” “I want to. I even tried to ﬁnd him. I put all the information I had into search engines.” “This isn’t healthy.” “I know,” she sobbed. “I just want a baby.” Nine months have passed since Kimberly began navigating the road to fertility. It’s been a dead-end. She feels taken advantage of, “a bitter, barren woman.” I ask her if it’s because she spent more than $1,500 on sperm from a man she never met but felt like she knew. It’s not. And it’s not the $10,000 she threw away on a doctor doling out false hope and expensive tests. “I gave up pieces of my heart,” Kimberly says. “And there’s no bank in Boston where I can buy it back.” < E-mail: nikki_silverstein@yahoo.com

TALKING PICTURES

Thank You to All Our Loyal Fans!

Programs not to be missed - for women! Lindy Boggs: Steel and Velvet

Lindy Boggs, wife of former House Majority Leader Hale Boggs took over her husband’s seat in Congress after he died. After winning a special election to fill the seat, the Pointe Coupee Parish native became the first woman from Louisiana ever to be elected to Congress. Sunday, March 25 at 10:30 PM

Mystic Iran - The Unseen World

Serving Marin Since 1984 with 4 Locations: Even his friends say Ghost Rider’s developed a bit of a reputation as a hot head.

Beat the Devil Author Eliot Fintushel, ‘Ghost Rider’ and why bloodsucking Jesus stories are a hard sell BY

DAVID

TEMPLE TON

and he’s pretty bad—but then we meet the son of the Devil, who is so evil that in comparison, the Devil suddenly seems relatively good, and we are now rooting for the Devil, hoping that the hero, the Ghost Rider, will defeat the worse guy. That’s pretty complex and shaded compared to all of the simplistic, black-andwhite versions of the Faust story.” Fintushel has been interested in mathe treatment of Mephistophters of good and evil since his boyhood eles, the Devil—the whole in Rochester, New York. Such stuff has treatment of evil in genbeen the foundation of his work as a eral—is unexpectedly complicated and intricate in this movie, don’t you think?” prize-winning science fiction author and performance artist. That said, there is no posits North Bay author Eliot Fintushel, such thing as Absolute Evil and Absolute just moments after leaving the theater where we’ve just seen Ghost Rider, the Good in the stories and plays of Eliot popular Nicolas Cage comic-book film Fintushel. In his new novel, Breakfast with the Ones You Love in which a cycle(Random House, riding stunt man 2007, $19.95), (Cage) sells his soul to the Devil (Peter “By the way,” he adds, “If you he tells the story of Lia Tillim, a Fonda) and ends want a story rejected by a young woman up as Hell’s bounty with the power to hunter, transform- science fiction or fantasy hurt or kill people ing into a flaming by looking at skeleton whenever magazine, one of the surest them, who falls in demons, monsters and purse-snatch- ways to do it is to write about love with a crazy young man who’s ers appear. It is Jesus being a vampire.” building a spacean entertainingly ship in a hidden stupid movie that section of Sears occasionally stops being dumb and cliché-ridden just long & Roebuck, an act that he believes will enough to bump shoulders with some- hasten the coming of the Messiah. The forces of evil (such as they are), led by a thing tangibly deep and searching. buffoonish Devil and his army of vermin, “In most sell-your-soul-to-the-Devil are hot-and-heavy to stop the spaceship stories,” Fintushel says, taking a seat at a from being built; the “good guys” include coffee shop near the theater, “you’ve got a secretive band of Jewish senior citizens the Devil, and he’s evil, so you root for the good guy to put the Devil in his place. and a subsection of the New York Mafia. But in Ghost Rider, you’ve got the Devil— The book is riddled with Jewish > 104 The Pacific Sun is pleased to present this new regular feature in which writer David Templeton takes interesting people to interesting movies in his ongoing quest for the ultimate post-film conversation. This is not a review—rather, it’s a freewheeling, tangential discussion of life, alternative ideas and popular culture.

“T

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6TIBURON International th annual

ph: 415.381.4123 info@TiburonFilmFestival.com

FILM FESTIVAL

MARCH 22-30 {TIBURON, CALI FORNIA} MORE THAN 240 FILMS FROM OVER 90 COUNTRIES! Tributes

Special tributes to Mark Rydell (Even Money), John Ford (Oscar® Winning Director), Marcello Mastroianni (Oscar® Nominated Actor), and French Film Pioneers

Marin Filmmakers Program

Films from some of Marin County’s finest independent filmmakers

Animated World

Mark Rydell

Brilliant, innovative animated cinema, including works from PIXAR Animated Sutdios and DreamWorks One Man Band

Cinema for the Ages

Films for the young, old, and everyone in between

full schedule and details at w w w. T i b u r o n F i l m F e s t i v a l . c o m

MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 103

“THE THINKING PERSON’S MONSTER MOVIE. WILDLY ENTERTAINING!’’ – Lisa Schwarzbaum, ENERTAINMENT WEEKLY

‘‘ITS A DREAM FUSION OF ‘JAWS’ AND ‘LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE.’ YOU MUST, MUST, MUST SEE THIS MOVIE!’’

– Colin Covert, MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

‘‘A THING OF BEAUTY.’’ – Anthony Lane, THE NEW YORKER

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TALKING PICTURES < 103 Beat the devil folklore and references to Talmudic scripture, shot through with electrifying jolts of pure, funfilled Apocalyptic fantasy. “It’s funny,” Fintushel remarks, fiddling with his coffee cup. “In my writing, I use a lot of the same kind of jokey, comic book, superhero humor that is all through Ghost Rider, the kind where you combine the sublime and the ridiculous and end up with this weird, indescribable hybrid. Hopefully, though, I don’t resort to cliché and predictability the way this film does most of the time, which is a major problem in the whole science fiction genre these days. “By the way,” he adds, “If you want a story rejected by a science fiction or fantasy magazine, one of the surest ways to do it is to write about Jesus being a vampire. And the reason it would be rejected is not because it’s such an outrageous idea, or because it’s a blasphemous idea—it’s because too many people have done it already.” Asked how his benign, sympathetic view of evil came to be, Fintushel leans back in his chair and smiles. “My view of the world, and my view of good Author Eliot Fintushel finally agreed to stop spying and evil, comes from one single inspiration,” he on his dad and letting the air out of his tires. says, “and that was my father going crazy when I was a teenager.” and I decided to just stop arguing with him. A consummate performer (his bread-andHe would say, ‘You’ve got to stop spying on butter is earned doing children’s shows, mime me!’ and I responded, ‘You’re right. I’m sorry.’ and mask extravaganzas, for schools all over the He’d say, ‘And you’ve got to stop letting the country), Fintushel pauses for the perfect numair out of my tires,’ and I’d say, ‘Yes, Dad. I’ve ber of seconds before telling the story. decided I’m not going to do “When I was 13, my fathat anymore.’ It went on ther started having paranoid like that, with me agreeing states. He became violent “Good and evil are with him, never questioning sometimes,” he says. “He had his view of reality. We ended interchangeable in been the most gentle and kind up having this beautiful man before that, gentle to a moment, this connecting fault. Then he had this break- all of us,” he says, moment, where we comdown—and everything began softly. “My father’s municated deeply with one to change. This other person, the ‘Evil’ side of my dad, be- story—and this stupid, another while talking this utter nonsense. The things gan to show up. What an incredible paradox for a young boy. silly ghost movie—are we were saying were ridiculous, they were unreal, were My father, the central good guy objectively untrue and yet, in my universe, the hero of my both examples of the on an emotional level we own personal story—this really basic human struggle were really in contact with good man—suddenly became demonically evil. How do you between our goodness one another in a very, very satisfying way. It was a big reconcile those opposites?” Ultimately, the way he recon- and our animal nature. lesson for me.” The lesson he learned ciled that irreconcilable juxtapowas, as it so happens, part of sition was simply to accept it. the underlying message of Ghost Rider. Says Fintushel, “My father would have “Good and evil are interchangeable in all of these crazy paranoid ideas about people us,” he says, softly. “My father’s story—and this plotting against him and stuff, tape-recordstupid, silly ghost movie—are both examples of ing him, letting the air out of his tires, doing the basic human struggle between our goodness things behind his back. I would try to argue and our animal nature. There is a price we pay with him about all of this, of course, trying to for hiding that nature and locking it away inside convince him he was mistaken. But that only ourselves, and there is a price we pay for letting made things worse. And then one day, I was on vacation from college, I was home sitting up it out. The trick of being human is to find a nondestructive way to have both.” < late with him, he was in one of his ‘evil states,’

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104 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007

J F JO P V

FILM

AN EPIC LOVE STORY DESTINED TO BECOME A CLASSIC “‘THE NAMESAKE’ ELICITS LAUGHTER AND TEARS IN ITS PROFOUND AND EMOTIONALLY RESONANT FAMILY PORTRAIT.” Claudia Puig, USA TODAY

Welles of talent

“a Deeply moving Saga.” Ruthe Stein, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

The curtain rises on Tiburon Film Fest part VI BY

RENATA

POLT

he Tiburon International Film Festival may be the new kid on the block— this year’s fest is only its sixth—but it’s set to present an impressive array of films from now to March 30. What would a film festival be without tributes? That’s when filmmakers are trotted out, asked questions from brainless to bright, applauded and subjected to viewing some of their old movies. Unless, of course, they’re dead, like John Ford, Marcello Mastroianni and the Lumièºre brothers, all subjects of this year’s tributes. There’s also one to Mark Rydell, who is alive. One of Tiburon’s features is the Marin Filmmakers Program. Among the directors presented will be Allie Light and Irving Saraf, who will also participate in a seminar on Scriptwriting and Independent Film, together with Matt Hader. Saraf and Light’s latest, The Sermons of Sister Jane, will be shown separately. Here are some more highlights: animated films, including a series of shorts from Pixar Studios; Tunisian films; war films; films on music and dance, such as To Play and To Fight, a doc about Venezuela’s remarkable system of music education, one of the world’s best. Films for kids and for teens are featured, as well as a program of shorts for seniors. OK, you can discover all this for yourself by reading the festival’s brochure or checking out its Web site (www.tiburonfilmfestival.com), where you’ll also find out that shows take place at the Tiburon Playhouse Theater. Ticket prices range from $7 to $10. I like to highlight a few festival films that I can see in advance, either at press screenings or on DVDs, but the festival organizers provided me with only one DVD that worked, and I’ll discuss it in a moment. Other films, all documentaries, that I wish I’d seen are, in alphabetical order, as follows: The First Zionist Bunny, about the competition to become Israel’s first Playboy bunny. (Bunny! Is that kosher?) Hammer and Tickle: The Communist Joke Book. The title says it all. Risto & Minna, a Finnish film about a handicapped couple (he’s in a wheelchair, she’s “short statured”) who are dance performers. Teen Mothers, a Brazilian film about four pregnant teenagers. What I did get to see—and I’m glad I did—is Jakov and Dominik Sedlar’s Searching for Orson. If all you remember of Orson Welles is a bloated TV spokesman intoning, “We will sell no wine before its time,” then you owe it to yourself to see this imperfect but informative rumination on Welles’s career and life—and then to rent Citizen Kane, The Magnificent Ambersons, The Lady from Shanghai

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Veteran director Peter Bogdanovich can barely contain his excitement over being part of Dominik, left, and Jakov Sedlar’s ﬁlm ‘Searching for Orson.’

and some of the films Welles merely starred in, such as The Third Man and Touch of Evil. Searching for Orson follows a number of threads, including Welles’s 20-some-year relationship with Oja Kodar, an actress and model whom he met while filming his weird take on Kafka’s The Trial. Another theme is the director’s unfinished films. Welles had at least as many disappointments and aborted projects—Don Quixote, The Merchant of Venice and many more—as he had triumphs. Getting funding was always a problem, and the filmmakers try to figure out why. Searching for Orson uses too much of a scattershot approach, and it never finds—though to its credit it never tries to—what if anything was Welles’s own “Rosebud.” But the film adds to our understanding of this “last Renaissance man,” who, in addition to writing, directing and acting, was a painter, sculptor, set and costume designer, radio reporter and, not least, magician, both literally and figuratively. The film screens Sunday, March 25, at 3:10pm. <

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MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2007 PACIFIC SUN 105

FOOD&DRINK BROOKE JACKSON

Eating

Listen up, kids. Lamb is just about the only time you can moan ‘eewwweeee’ at the family dinner table and stand a reasonable chance at getting away with it.

Shanks for the memories Lamb recipes for bleating hearts BY

BROOKE

JACKSON

What can lambkins do All the keen night through? Nestle by their woolly mother, The careful ewe.—Christina Rossetti s I drove out toward West Marin, I passed rolling green hills full of white and black dots. On closer inspection, I could see these were sheep with newborn lambs. How cute they were doddering around after their moms, looking for a sip of milk. Seeing the lambs was a sure sign that spring was on the way. In the past, lambing season meant a plethora of tender, sweet meat from lambs raised on the spring milk of their grass-fed mothers. These days, much of the lamb readily available is from Australia and New Zealand and lamb-breeding programs last all year so there is always a supply of fresh meat. Yet there is no denying the superior taste of locally grown, pasture-raised lamb for the spring dinner table. The flavor is more delicate and not as strong or gamy as the commercial meat, with a richer flavor. At the Civic Center Farmers Market, you can often buy fresh lamb from Prather Ranch and Marin Sun Farms. You can also visit Marin Sun Farms’ store in Point Reyes Station. If you are in the market for whole lambs, try CK Lamb in Healdsburg or Bellwether Farms in Petaluma. Also, RedHill Farms has organic whole lambs; their number is 707/477-8751. Sharing a whole lamb with a friend or two makes the amount much more manageable and allows you to get exactly the cut you want. I’ve included a couple of recipes for lamb in slightly different forms than the usual legs or chops. The first is for a butterflied leg of lamb. You can sometimes find the meat already but-

106 PACIFIC SUN MARCH 23 – MARCH 29, 2007

terflied but if you can’t, ask the butcher to bone a leg for you. When you are ready to marinate it, open the leg so that it lies as a flat piece. You will see that it is very uneven in places. Take a sharp slicing knife or chef’s knife and split the lumpier places so they also open flat and the entire piece of meat is mostly of one thickness. The treatment is an aromatic paste and marinade of red wine, then the lamb is grilled. You can serve the barbecued lamb fanned out on a plate with new potatoes and asparagus for a lovely dinner and/or sliced up as more casual fare with pita bread, tzatziki, olives and tomatoes. The second recipe is a slow-cooked number for lamb shanks. Be sure to buy them already “cracked” or cut crosswise about halfway down the shank. This makes for ease in preparation and presentation. The shanks are dredged in a spice mixture, browned, then cooked for several hours with prunes until the meat falls off the bones. Serve these as a hearty supper with couscous or farro and a green salad. O O O O

BUTTERFLIED MARINATED LEG OF LAMB Yields 4 servings with leftovers 2 tablespoons rosemary needles 2 large cloves of garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt Freshly ground black pepper 3 tablespoons grainy German or Dijon mustard 1 cup of full-bodied red wine 1 boneless leg of lamb, butterﬂied Chop the rosemary with the garlic, salt and several grindings of pepper until the ingre- > 122

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S TAFFORD

You never forget your first time... My first mar tini was ser ved to me by John the sur fer dude at D’Angelo in Mill Valley back when it was a sleepy little trattoria only patronized, or so it seemed, by the editorial staff of the Mill Valley Record. I had ordered a kamikaze and John had misunderstood me. I used to order kamikazes when the pressures of day-to-day life had taken their toll; in any event, I had always appreciated the cultural iconography of the martini, and so I accepted this one without comment and with a certain amount of curious anticipation. There are cer tain comestibles that take getting used to: beer, horseradish and anchovies are three examples of body fuel I initially hated and can’t get enough of now. The martini would have to be another. That first taste was evocative of paint thinner more than anything else, a far cr y from the elusive, almost vaporous transcendence I have evolved enough to appreciate. It’s said that the martini was invented at the Occidental Bar in San Francisco 140 years ago by the redoubtable Professor Jerry Thomas, proclaimed “the greatest bartender of the past” by The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930), one of the treasures of my home librar y. Thomas also invented the Blue Blazer and the Tom & Jerry, so his credentials are in order, but contemporary accounts indicate that his martini (named either for a barfly from Martinez or the Martini & Rossi vermouth Thomas employed, depending on your source) was made up of half gin and half sweet vermouth, an appalling thing to contemplate. The martini has evolved over the years, becoming steadily drier and acquiring a corresponding patina of sophistication in the process. Think of Nick and Nora Charles, dripping with savoir-faire and olive juice (and who, admittedly, seemed to overdo it upon a recent rereading of The Thin Man), or of suave superspy James Bond, the motif and cynosure of this issue of the Pacific Sun, who even proffers his recipe for the perfect martini midway through his first adventure, Casino Royale. (The drink’s a complicated affair involving Lillet, London gin and Russian vodka made from grain and not potatoes and is, God knows, shaken and not stirred.) Like Bond, all martini-lovers have their own favorite mixing formulae. American culture maven Bernard De Voto’s slender, sublime volume The Hour is in effect an extended, curmudgeonly essay on the proper martini (served at six o’clock among no more than three or four friends, prepared in a rigid 4-1/2 to 1 ratio with a plenitude of ice). Food aesthete Roy Andries de Groot prepared his favorite martini from ice-cold Russian vodka, a hint of the driest vermouth, a droplet of lemon oil, two freezer-solid drops of Genever and an orange Tuscan pepper. I myself didn’t get the hang of mar tini-making until I received my silver cocktail shaker several birthdays ago. A great martini should be chillingly cold, with its sharp edge removed through the diluting process of a rhythmic shaking with ice. (A friend and I disagree on this point. She is horrified at this “bruising of the spirits”; I think that gentle stirring rocks the spirits to sleep, when they should be shaken awake.) Another sticking point is the gin-or-vodka question; I consumed nothing but vodka mar tinis throughout my callow youth, then something—a sated palate hungry for new tastes and sharper flavors, perhaps—clicked in, and I’ve been a gin-drinker ever since. Ultra-smooth Bombay Sapphire had been my fallback liquor for many moons when I came upon Tanqueray 10, which is distilled in small batches from fresh lime, orange and grapefruit as well as > 122 chamomile, juniper berries and God knows what, and