42 8 Questions for M arin’s Tastemakers We asked Marin chefs where they go when they have a night o .
52 M y Generation The sons and daughters of Marin’s rock elite.
60 [415] Top Doctors Health and wellness information and 573 of the area’s best doctors.
Our enchanting coastal hideaway overlooking the Big Sur coastline has drawn travelers from around the world for more than 55 years. From the moment you arrive, the unforgettable ocean views set the tone for relaxation, and a host of complimentary amenities pamper you from morning to night. With our gracious elegance and 35 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, the Tickle Pink Inn is a place you will always remember.
In Marin
25 Currents Bridge of lights, Magnolia Avenue, Marin’s most romantic spot, going gluten-free and Republic of Tea.
30 Style Where to get the best winter boots and scarves.
32 Q&A Marin Rowing Association’s new coach is a winner.
36 Conversation John Kostecki wants to keep the America’s Cup Trophy right here.
Destinations
87 Go Discover SoCal’s Cal-a-Vie.
92 Travel Buzz Tips and deals for both near and far.
94 Journey Canals, cannabis and culture in Amsterdam.
Out & About
101 Calendar A roundup of what to do in Marin and beyond.
112 Dine An insider’s guide to restaurants and food in the Bay Area.
Marin Home 133 Backstory East Coast charm in a San Rafael Victorian.
THE Perfect Wedding
IN
AN Iconic Location
Just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, Cavallo Point Lodge provides an idyllic backdrop paired with breathtaking views. Perfect for wedding celebrations, the lodge offers stunning indoor and outdoor event spaces, including the historic Mission Blue chapel. Wedding menus highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients from local providers – enhanced by a stellar wine list. Book your 2013 wedding now.
CALL 415.339.4709 VISIT cavallopoint.com/weddings
Photos, clockwise from top: Sabine Scherer Photography, Chung Li, Meg Smith, Kodiak Greenwood
PUBLISHER / E DITORIAL D IRECTOR Nikki Wood
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Ranked as the top hospital in the Bay Area by U.S.News & World Report, UCSF Medical Center is known for innovative patient care, advanced technology and pioneering research.
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YOU KNOW WHERE you like to go for dinner. You know where your friends like to go for dinner. But what foods do Marin’s culinary artists crave when they aren’t cooking your dinner? We start o our features this month by asking 15 Marin tastemakers that very question and show you the results with beautiful photos that will stir your taste buds and soon have you on the phone making reservations. For more, visit our online sta blogs for the fun background
on each chef as well as why they picked the dishes they did. Bon appétit.
Next, we take a di erent kind of look, into Marin’s rich musical history. You know the names Lesh, Wasserman, Grisman, Johnston, Schon and Santana, but what happens when the sons and daughters of these icons decide to start their own musical careers? We talk to six young musicians who have decided, each in his or her own unique way, to give the music business a try.
We finish our features with the [415] Top Doctors guide for 2013. Inside you’ll find encouraging health studies on mapping cancer, aging eyes, the gluten-free craze and tips on how to save on health care costs, as well as 573 of the area’s best doctors as chosen by their peers. Here’s to a healthy 2013.
Up front we take a look at the 25,000 white L E D lights that will come to life on the Bay Bridge this month — watch for them starting March 5. We continue with a look at what you can find along Magnolia Avenue in Larkspur, a Q&A with the coach for the Marin Rowing Association and a conversation with one of the world’s top sailors — a man who hopes to keep the America’s Cup trophy right here in the Bay Area.
In Destinations we introduce you to the pleasures of the destination spa Cal-a-Vie and, for something completely di erent, take you to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.
It is our hope that you enjoy our February issue. N ow it’s time to go make that dinner reservation.
Marin Magazine Staff Editors
ON THE COVER
Inside you’ll find encouraging health studies on mapping cancer, aging eyes, the gluten-free craze and tips on how to save on health care costs, as well as 573 of the area’s best doctors as chosen by their peers.
This month’s cover (and the food feature you’ll see starting on page 42) was photographed by Fairfax resident Claire Bloomberg. The S.F. Academy of Art graduate developed a love of food while growing up with a French mother and eating three-course dinners every night. “I developed a deep love for cooking, eating, drinking wine and finishing the meal off with a cheese course,” she says.
Above, from left:
M imi Towle, Nikki Wood, Dan Jewett
age-defy RENEW YOURSELF FOR THE NEW YEAR! Cleanse out the old with one of our Detoxiÿ cation or Weight-Loss Programs.
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What Can Be Done?
Going
brutal torture scenes. Both films have been nominated for an Academy Award.
There are too many guns, too many deranged people and too many violent influences already out there for new laws to have any meaningful impact.
forward, gun control laws won’t be enough. BY
TJIM WOOD
HER E IS CONSID E RABL E violence in our nation’s DNA. For this reason, it will take more than gun control laws to stop school shootings in America.
Over the weekend, I went to the video games section at Best Buy in San Rafael and talked with employee Aaron Henderson. He said none of the grim-looking video games I was eyeing were that violent. “If you want real violence, go to youtube/mortalkombat/ fatalities,” he said with a slight grin. “It’s disgustingly realistic.”
So I did just that — and it was gruesome. Blood gushing, heads severed and bodies being bashed, brutalized and sliced up in every imaginable way. In case you’re as naive as I was, video game sales in the United States were $17 billion in 2011, and a landmark Pew Research Center survey says almost every American teen actively plays a video game of some sort.
The next day I saw Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, an R-rated movie playing at several Marin theaters. I knew it was violent and came prepared. At first, it struck me as a great film: fine acting, scenic settings, clever musical interludes and an intriguing story line. Then came the gratuitous gore: pistols fired at close range, blood gushing, hammers bashing skulls and castration with a molten-hot dagger.
San Francisco Chronicle film critic Mick LaSalle hailed Django Unchained as “the most consistently entertaining film of the year,” (although he did write a piece bemoaning the ill e ects of screen violence a few days later) while columnist Willie Brown rated it “best movie of the year.” Nationwide, in its first weekend Django Unchained took in more than $30 million in box o ce sales. Also grossing high was Zero Dark Thirty, a film featuring
Add to the above that America is the only industrialized nation in the world that practices capital punishment. Literally, some of our state governments kill people to deter killing. Similarly, we wage wars to (somehow) create peace. Our Defense Department has an annual budget of more than $700 billion, while our State Department has well under a tenth of that amount to conduct worldwide diplomacy.
Furthermore, in a recent interview with NPR’s Terry Gross, Tom Diaz of the National Violence Policy Center said, “More die every year from guns in America than die from terrorist attacks worldwide.” Diaz went on to say, “While America has spent trillions on two wars, created a massive Department of Homeland Security and impinged on constitutional rights in order to deter terrorism, the country has spent little and made but a trifling e ort to control guns — while carefully preserving the constitutional right to bear arms.” Obviously, as Diaz inferred, our nation’s priorities need realignment.
Along with enacting e ective gun control laws, America must somehow change its culture of violence if it hopes to prevent more massacres such as the one in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 26 innocent souls. There are too many guns, too many deranged people and too many violent influences already out there for new laws to have any meaningful impact.
What can be done? Consider the impact violent movies have on unstable minds, and no longer patronize them; answer with a resounding “no” when children ask to play violent video games; demand that political leaders reduce America’s defense (war) budget and that they favor negotiating over warring; and do everything possible to end America’s barbaric practice of capital punishment, which, by the way, occurs right here in Marin County. In short: Be the change you wish to see in America. That’s all you can do. That’s my point of view. What’s yours?
Email pov@marinmagazine.com.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DOCS
WE SALUTE THE PHYSICIANS FROM MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL HONORED BY MARIN MAGAZINE.
As the only full-service, acute care hospital in Marin County, we strive to provide comprehensive, top-quality care to our community. And as much as we appreciate our excellent physicians, it’s nice to have them be recognized by others as well.
This issue of Marin Magazine lists the top doctors in the area in a wide variety of specialties. And we’re proud that so many of our physicians made the cut. Congratulations to all the top docs in this special issue from everyone at Marin General Hospital.
For a referral to a Marin General Hospital physician, please call 1-888-99-MY-MGH (1-888-996-9644).
WHO’VE MADE IT TO THE TOP!
James R. Adams
Romeo Agbayani
Edward Alfrey
Gail Altschuler
Jeffre Amen
Peter J. Anastassiou
Robert Anderson
J. David Andrew
Tarun Arora
Margaret L. Baer
Alex Barchuk
Janice Barry
Scott Barshack
Robert Bartz
Anjuli Basu
Rachel Bauer
Mark Bazalgette
Stephen Bearg
Robert Belknap
Patrick Bennett
David Berman
Richard Bernstein
John R. Bettinger
Sally Boero
Julie Bokser
Raymond Bonneau
Charles Bookoff
Michael I. Bozuk
Nelson Branco
Peter N. Bretan
Ray Brindley
Eric Buxton
Aida Calvillo
Charles Calza
Joan Campagna
Alexis Cardellini
Michael Chase
Yanek S. Y. Chiu
Suzanne Christie
Catharine Clark-Sayles
Douglas Cohen
Ilkcan Cokgor
Timothy J. Crowley
Susan Cumming
Anne M. Cummings
Nona Cunningham
Susan Dab
Tancredi D’Amore
Kerry Davidson
Timothy Dawson
Brian Demuth
Keith Denkler
Sujoya Dey
Mohammad Diab
Deborah Doherty
Mark Drucker
Max Duncan
Peter D. Eisenberg
Ahmed El-Ghoneimy
Tareq Elqousy
Milton Estes
Genevieve Estilo
Elizabeth Etemad
Cheryl Ewing
Anthony Fedrigo
Sylvia Flores
Cheri Forrester
Adrienne Fratini
David Galland
James Gardner
Linda Gaudiani
Bart Gershbein
Kent N. Gershengorn
Jonathan R. Goff
Albert Goldberg
David H. Goltz
William Good
Cynthia Goodman
Flash Gordon
J. Michael Graham
Jason Green
Joseph H. Greenberg
Sajot Grewal
Gary Grossfeld
Jodi Grossfeld
David S. Guillion
Joseph Habis
Francine Halberg
Winthrop Hall
Collin B. Hamblin
Terry Hand
Steven Hao
Erin Heath
Richard Hongo
Renee Howard
Kambridge Hribar
Jennie Huang
Yngvar A. Hvistendahl
Sareena Jaspal
Martin Joffe
John Jolley
Ann K. Kao
Danny D. Kao
Leslie Kardos
Brian G. Keeffe
Leah Kelley
John C. Keohane
Uta Kerl
Gabriel M. Kind
Amy Kobalter
Keith F. Korver
Mark Kubik
Lizellen La Follette
Barry S. Landfield
David A. Laub
Mark S. Lawler
Crystine Lee
Natalie C. Lee
Lois Levine
Lawrence Levy
Rebecca N. Li
Darren Lipshitz
Guy Livnat
Meenal Lohtia
Monica Lopez
Elizabeth Lowe
Jennifer Lucas
Elliott Main
Michael Maioriello
Jan Maisel
Katherine Margolin
William McAllister
Richard C. McAuliffe
Kathryn Meier
Jane Meill
J. Richard Mendius
Alex S. Metzger
Khashayar Mohebali
Timothy J. Murphy
Chaithra Nagar
Kathryn Najafi-Tagol
Harry Neuwirth
Malini Nijagal
Merrill Nisam
Barbara Nylund
Michael J. Oechsel
David Ogden
Paul C. Ogden
Alfred Oppenheim
Kara Ornstein
Oliver Osborn
Laura K. Pak
John Panagotacos
Gyorgy Pataki
Mark Peterson
Joseph Poen
Lawrence Posner
Stanley G. Poulos
Richard Printz
Arun K. Raghupathy
Curtis Robinson
James Robison
C. Kip Roebken
Ruth Rubin
Hima Satyavolu
Eric Scher
Cathleen Schmitt
Diana Schott
Elizabeth Seaman
Sally Sehring
Sarabenet Sequeira
Kathryn Sexton
Sandra Shefrin
Gayle Shimokaji
Joel Sklar
Timothy Sowerby
David C. Sperling
Robert T. Sperling
Paul Stanger
Peter H. Stein
Schuman Tam
Cheryl Tanasovich
Teresa Tang
James Taylor
Robert Teasdale
Irene Teper
Gregg Tolliver
David Tully-Smith
Katrina Urbach
Albert A. Varner
Ann Vercoutere
Kirsten J. Voss
Smriti Wagle
Danielle Walker
John Ward
Paul Wasserstein
Stephen Welter
Arnold Werschky II
Mark P. Wexman
Michael Whitt
E. Regina Widman
Gerald Wilner
Michael Yamaguchi
Alice Yee
Pearl Yee
Jerald A. Young
Mohammed Zakhireh
Your Letters
An Academic Gap
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[UPCO M IN G EVEN TS ]
B OUQUE TS T O ART
March 19–23, 9:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m. de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Enjoy a ravishing floral and art mash-up. More than 125 of the Bay Area’s most innovative and indemand floral designers create a spectacular array of arrangements with inspiration taken from art masterpieces also on view. Enhance your experience with special floral demonstrations, lunches, a March 18 opening gala and more. This annual event, now in its 29th year, benefits the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, which encompasses the de Young and Legion of Honor.
Adults $20; 65 and over $17 deyoungmuseum.org/bouquets
February 8–9, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; February 10, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
Taking place at the historic Fort Mason Center, the elegant event showcases a global smorgasbord of more than 15,000 textiles, arts and antiques from 100 top galleries in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. The SFTTA will feature a special exhibition of stitched quilts from the Indian subcontinent, curated by textile specialist John Gillow. The show is the largest vetted exhibition of tribal art in the United States and is an annual destination for collectors and art enthusiasts.
I just finished the December issue of Marin Magazine. Thank you for another excellent issue. Tim Porter’s photojournalistic story about Latinas in the Canal (“Niñas No More) is positive and valuable. However, the challenge for Latinos and our society is with the underperformance of Latino males. Latinas have been steadily improving their high school and college graduation rates while Latino males fall further behind. While the gender academic achievement gap among Latinos is not as severe as that for blacks (black females graduate from high school at a rate of two to one over black males), the Latino gap is rapidly approaching this ratio. Our society cannot a ord to watch black and Latino males drop out of high school and never attend or graduate from college. ROBERTO HARO, LARKSPUR
Chief Talk
In regard to your article about Sausalito’s police chief (Q&A, January 2013), I really don’t care if she is a successful woman in a man’s world, her statement, “I respect everyone’s right to have a gun …” is too much. This attitude is the reason we have Columbine and Sandy Hook. Is she for real? Does she not know that most civilized countries have more stringent gun laws than we have? Look around at what is happening; we are not in the 18th century. DONNA KOGAN, VIA EMAIL
Eds.: Jennifer Tejada, Sausalito’s police chief, completes her quote in our article by saying, “… but we have to balance that with the danger of a gun being in the wrong hands.”
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In the late ’90s I was on a panel of Novato citizens tasked with evaluating candidates for a sergeant position on the NPD. It was an extensive and impressive evaluation, including written material and oral interviews. While all the candidates were qualified, one, Jennifer Tejada, was clearly outstanding. From that day forward, as she rose in the ranks, through her last day in the NPD, Novato was blessed to have her service. Our loss was Sausalito’s gain. BERNIE M EYERS, N OVATO
Bright Lights
In the December issue we showed images of holiday lights (“Light It Up,” page 104–105) and asked readers to send in some of their own. This photo was submitted by Sally Carson and her husband Larry Meilak of Novato.
The Iceman Cometh
For an editorial page of a liberal magazine in the most liberal county in the U.S., this was a most daring piece to write (POV, “On Thin Ice,” January 2013). And, I applaud you for it. Just about everything that Bill Lindqvist told you is true, verifiable, and well known to everyone who has followed that issue for some time. Meanwhile, the scientific process has broken down within the climatology community. If businessmen and bankers were treating financial data the way climatologists have fabricated temperature records, they would all be put in jail. Somehow, among climatologists the roles are reversed: The villains who fabricate the data are glorified and given a Nobel Prize while the heroic whistle-blowers are vilified by the entire climatology community. Anyone who questions the climatologists’ lack of scientific rigor is invariably treated as a global warming skeptic or denier. GAE TAN LION, VIA EMAIL
POV
Creating Independent Learners
Allaire School
I was saddened to read your POV column in the January issue of Marin Magazine. While the issue of climate change and man-made greenhouse gases is complex and di cult, is clearly an important issue and this essay has serious flaws that do not help bring clarity. At the very beginning of the interview, within three sentences Lindqvist acknowledges the measurement of CO2 increase, then describes it as “probably not measurable.” A glance at the graphs of CO2 amounts over time shows a clearly measurable and large upward trend. Later he points out that sea level rise has been a steady 2 millimeters per year near San Francisco for the last 155 years, which is correct. But sea level rise is a lagging indicator because sea level rises after the atmosphere warms and ice melts. Lindqvist ignores leading indicators, such as average global temperature (which has been dramatically rising over the last 50 years) and the recently observed anomalous summer melting of the polar ice cap. This is the behavior of someone who chooses evidence that reinforces his preconceptions. Lindqvist’s statements do not give me any confidence at all that his opinions are based on a comprehensive understanding of actual evidence.
STEVE BRYSON, VIA EMAIL
I note Jim Wood’s editorial regarding climate change. Upon reading it, my first impulse was to encourage you to inform yourself more deeply on this issue, if for no other reason than that Bay Area governments are taking global warming and sea level rise quite seriously. Without getting into detailed critiques of Lindqvist’s poorly informed arguments, please let me suggest that you do some more research. If you do so, I think you’ll agree that there’s far more to this issue than Mr. Lindqvist has taken into account. DAN DRA S IN, GREEN B RAE
ILike It
I just want to thank you for your monthly editorials (POV), both for their breadth of topic (from local issues to worldwide ones like global warming) and for their balanced point of view. I appreciate that you seem to be genuinely interested in and concerned about the topics you address, and that you are sincerely open to learning the facts and changing your
opinion if you learn something new along the way. In contrast, it’s so frustrating to be surrounded by biased, jaded and financially motivated media at every turn. It’s truly refreshing to read your words and know that you are just looking for ways to make this a better community and a better planet, without all of the excruciating biased rhetoric that only serves to confuse the masses and, as a result, prevent them from finding meaningful solutions to extremely critical problems. Jim Wood, I like your style; keep up the good work.
CHRISTINE PAQUETTE, VIA EMAIL
ANew Marin
In regard to Jim Wood’s December column (POV) about reorganizing Marin’s government and in the spirit of presenting another “point of view,” why not also present the views of Holocaust and evolution deniers, birthers and those who believe that the moon landing was a hoax? Sometimes there isn’t a rational “other point of view.” JOHN
BREMNER, VIA
EMAIL
Roadside Litter
Jim Wood’s column “Talking Weeds and Trash” (POV, July 2012) has been sitting on my desk for some time now and I am only just getting around to commenting on your remarks. I, too, am disgusted by all the trash and litter that I see beside the road. When traveling in European countries you just do not see this level of litter and trash on the roadways. I have observed that most of the litter comes from two basic sources: Pickup trucks with trash in the back and restaurants that provide takeout food and food containers. I believe that all of the enterprises that provide takeout containers should simply have to pay a small “green” surcharge, which would go into a fund that would pay workers (including Caltrans employees, the unemployed or prisoners) to get these highways and roadways cleaned up.
T OM GREENFIELD, S AN R AFAEL
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Your comments may be edited for clarity and brevity. Send letters to Marin Magazine , One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965, or email us at letters@marinmagazine com . Please include the town where you live and a daytime phone number.
When growth happens.
the Market grows in short, intense bursts. the goal is to be there when it happens.
Most people know that historically the stock market grows dramatically over time. What fewer people understand is the nature of that growth. It’s not a smooth curve. It’s a series of intermittent sharp spikes, virtually impossible to predict.
Here’s a vivid illustration. Between January 1990 and June 2010, there were 5,168 trading days. If you missed the 10 trading days with the highest upside during that period, you would have lost out on nearly half of the market’s gains*. A simple lesson: market timing is a high-stakes gamble, not a disciplined investment strategy.
To read our “executive brief” on investing, go to www.privateocean.com/growth.
*Source:
Theo Gallier, MBA, is the chief investment officer at Private Ocean. He’s helped affluent investors successfully navigate the markets for 25 years.
Morningstar, Inc. Market: Standard & Poor’s 500 Index
NEW IN TOWN
CELE BRATE
1 Ann Taylor ’s first concept store, premiering its new shabby chic theme, is now at the Village at Corte Madera; anntaylor. com. In November, after three years of success in downtown Mill Valley, women’s clothing boutique 2 Carolina opened a second store in Pacheco Plaza in Novato; carolina boutique.com
For a unique birthday, anniversary or even company event head out onto the bay with up to 12 friends on a 41-foot yacht captained by 3 A Great Escape Sailing Charters; sailsanfran.com. Have a special occasion coming up that needs a little spunk? Hire out a mobile fashion show by the new and local Curbside Couture; curb sidecouture.net
» Marin is already a great place to live, and these new businesses are making it even better. Check out what’s new.
RETAIL
Pier 1 Imports landed in Montecito Shopping Center in San Rafael as of November, featuring gifts from around the world; pier1.com. Also in November, with 3,000 other outlets in the U.S. as well as distribution in 11 countries, San Rafaelbased 4 EO opened its first retail store in downtown Mill Valley; eoproducts.com.
EAT
Cafe Verde just debuted in Corte Madera, serving breakfast, soups, salads and paninis (some made with gluten-free bread); cafeverdemarin. com. Though 5 Piazza d’Angelo in Mill Valley has been around for more than 30 years, the restaurant just hired new chef Andrea Guilini, who is known for creative seasonal dishes like ravioli with butternut squash; piazzadangelo.com
Based in Novato, Green Swan Inc. recently launched a line of safety software that warns cell phone users about the harmful radiation produced by the devices; greenswan.org
In Marin
CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND CAUSES OF THIS UNIQUE COUNTY
BRIDGE OF LIGHTS
THE BAY BRIDGE will soon be transformed from Bay Area workhorse to magnificent light sculpture, as internationally renowned artist Leo Villareal’s vision becomes reality. At the March 5 Bay Lights grand lighting ceremony, 25,000 white energy-efficient L ED lights covering the west span of the bridge will finally be activated (installation began in September). The ever-changing light sculpture, on view through 2015, is Villareal’s largest yet, at 1.5 miles wide and 500 feet high. Privately funded, the fine art experience is expected to play to an audience of some 50 million people in the Bay A rea, generating a projected $97 million in tourism revenue for the local economy. thebaylights.org
ME LI SSA GARDNER W HITE
Nicolette
Head-to-toe, day-tonight, mix-and-match boutique for the Marin woman who has kid duty in the morning and Picco reservations in the evening. In-house stylist. In business 26 years. 499 Magnolia, 415.927.0226
Gallery Bergelli
Magnolia Avenue, Larkspur
WANDERINGS
Larkspur’s main drag has two commercial sections divided by a residential stretch. Each is rife with not only good shopping, but also great dining. On North Magnolia, near Kentfield, are Rustic Bakery, Table Cafe, and R’Noh Thai; South Magnolia, on the Corte Madera side, is home to Picco, Cafe Rulli and Left Bank.
Contemporary painting and sculpture not available elsewhere. Emphasis on visually exciting work from its own group of artists, some international, like Alberto Ludwig (shown above), and others made in Marin. 483 Magnolia, bergelli.com
Embodies
This eco-boutique, now in its seventh year, purveys women’s and men’s clothing and accessories made from organic and sustainable material, as well as owner Kenlynn Wilson’s own One of Collection knitwear handcrafted from wool, cashmere and silk. 1127 Magnolia, embodies.com, oneofcollection.com
I tem Shoes
Hunter Boots, UGGs, Tory Burch — in a bright, boutique atmosphere, something for every foot, pocketbook and style. Keeping Marin women well-shod for more than eight years. 1102 Magnolia, item-shoes.com
Coquelicot From Provence
On Larkspur’s Francophile corner, across from Left Bank, sits this direct importer of wares from Provence and Paris. Inside find a riot of Provençal blues and yellows. Known for linens, wide
price range ($5 and up) and service — free gift wrap year-around. 503 Magnolia, coquelicotfromprovence.com
Village Peddler
Open since ’73, owned by Mill Valley resident Steve Wilson for two decades. Much of Marin rides on wheels bought here. Hottest bikes are 29-inchers, big-rimmed off-roaders that, as Wilson says, roll right over “ruts, rocks and roots.” 1111 Magnolia, villagepeddler.com
What Poppy Wants
Part costume, part vintage, part funk, part designer, all interesting. Valerie Singer’s treasure chest of clothes and accessories is a browser’s delight, with glitter galore. And who’s Poppy? Singer’s Labrador-Aussie mix. 1106 Magnolia, whatpoppy wants.com
Balloon Delights
Need 12 balloons for a birthday or 1,200 for a wedding? This is your place, as it has been for
31 years. Deliveries up to 500 miles. Owner Geri Wilson’s biggest day of the year? New Year’s Eve: 40,000 balloons. 1125 Magnolia, balloondelight.com m
TIM POR TE R
Nicolette
Gallery Bergelli
Item Shoes
Village Peddler
What Poppy Wants
Balloon Delights
Reading List
An Island in Time: 50 Years of Point Reyes N ational S eashore by John Hart, Lighthouse Press, $29.95 . A beautiful softcover book featuring informative and insightful text, as well as color and blackand-white photos. After reading it, you’ll want to personally experience what this beautiful place has to offer. Sold at Marin bookstores only.
Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott, Riverhead Press, $17.95 Great little book at only 102 pages. Funny and insightful; also comforting and instructive. Makes you laugh and think at the same time, as only Lamott can do. Makes a thoughtful gift.
One and Only: The Untold Story of On the Road by Gerald Nicosia, Viva Editions, $16.95
Without Lu Anne Henderson, maintains this Corte Madera author, Jack Kerouac might never have written On the Road. Based in the Bay Area, the account features rare photos and interviews with those who know what transpired.
B eyond B itterroot: AN ovel by Barbara Davies Hubbard, Ashlar Press, $15.95 . The story involves a couple’s marriage in 1930s San Francisco and includes a speakeasy, fistfights, Montana mountains and fascinating train rides. The Sausalito author has realized a lifelong ambition in creating this gripping tale.
Tyler Florence Fresh by Tyler Florence, Clarkson Potter, $35 Making his point with sexy photos and text, Mill Valley’s Florence says cooking with food from a farmers’ market is easier than you think. Bean salad with smoked trout is one case in point; buttermilk poached lobster with sweet peas, rutabaga and marigold curry is another. And there are dozens more JIM WOOD
in
MARIN’S MOST ROMANTIC SPOT
For this Valentine’s Day we asked our Facebook friends to tell us what they think Marin’s most romantic spot is. Have your own opinion? Let us know.
garden cuisine is always in season
“On a boat looking out over Richardson Bay.” Christy Kieffer
“Anywhere
Inverness.” Alexis Cohen
“The outcropping at Muir Beach overlook.”
Chris Adessa
“Surfers Grill at Stinson Beach at sunset.” Monica Hernandez
“The Marin Headlands.” Joyce Foley
Gluten-Free at Last
Do you have a gluten-free valentine this year? Try Klappcakes. San Anselmo resident and aspiring baker Jimmy Klapperich decided his eponymous almond cake treats, Klappcakes, were so good he should market them. And to make sure everyone could try one, he created both a gluten-free and a traditional version. The response from both camps has been very positive: “Most people can’t tell the di erence,” he says. The cakes are sold at Good Earth Natural Foods in Fairfax, United Market in San Rafael, Real Food Co. in San Francisco and online. klappcakes.com SOPH I E SHUL MAN
Here are a few more Marin bakeries o ering tasty gluten-free treats. Did we miss yours? Let us know.
NOTHING BUNDT CAK ES This national company with an outlet in Corte Madera just debuted its first gluten-free treat. The Chocolate Chip Bundtlet is baked with Smart Flour Foods gluten-free flour and topped with a signature velvety cream cheese frosting. nothing bundtcakes.com
A RIZM E NDI Located in the heart of downtown San Rafael, A rizmendi offers pumpkin praline muffins and carrot muffins and ricciarelli (almond cookies) made with blanched almond meal. All are available daily. fourthstreet.arizmendi.com
TE AC AKE BAKE SHOP This Corte Madera Town Center bakery tweaks traditional recipes to make vanilla almond cake, candy bar cake and chocolate cookies with no gluten involved. teacakebakeshop.com
RUSTI C BAK E RY The bakery’s fresh mixed-berry scones, made with blueberries and blackberries but no gluten, are available in both its Larkspur and N ovato locations. rusticbakery.com
Marin Country Club
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Bundle Up
Staying under your cozy comforter all day is the ideal way to beat the February chill. But if avoiding the outdoors isn’t an option, pulling on a pair of chic boots is a close second. Add a stylish scarf and you’re out the door. These local shops have everything you need to brave the chill. CALIN VAN PARIS
Dip-Dye Logo Jacquard Scarf from Tory Burch, $185, at Tory Burch (San Francisco), 415.398.1525.
Mayra Boot from Old Gringo, $525–$550, at Citrus (Tiburon), 415.435.1321.
Ellis Stacked Heel Boot from Loeffler Randall, $495, at Showroom (Mill Valley), 415.381.8801.
5050 Boot from Stuart Weitzman, $595, at Nordstrom (Corte Madera), 415.927.1690.
Dream Boot from Freda Salvador, $525, at Freda Salvador (San Francisco).
Avant Toi Scarf in Peony, $850, at Wilkes Bashford (San Francisco), 415.986.4380.
Silk Dupatta Scarf from Matta NY, $189, at Koze (Tiburon), 415.435.1916.
12 QUESTIONS FOR
Dustin Kraus
Varsity Coach
This month things are ramping up at the Marin Rowing Association. Another day of practice has been added and the 140 rowers and coaches and parents of rowers are preparing for the spring racing season. Founded in 1968 for the Redwood High School crew and an alumni group called Cardiac 8+, the club is now a nationally recognized boathouse producing champion rowers. When the Sacramento-born rower Dustin Kraus stepped into the role of coach for the men’s varsity team at the club this year, a lot was expected of him. And Kraus didn’t disappoint — turning in a winning 2012 season and an impressive showing at last fall’s Head of the Charles regatta. In addition to his novice A, B, C and freshman boats enjoying undefeated seasons, his varsity crew of eight not only defended their two-time champion position, but also were able to pull off another first-place finish a full 30 seconds ahead of the next-fastest boat. MIMI TOWLE
1
Why M arin? I moved here because of my job. I’ve been in Greenbrae for about a year.
2
What does it take to win the Head of the Charles? As a coach, getting the guys well prepared and keeping the rowers calm on race day. As a rower, teamwork and showing up with intention. As a coxswain, excellent navigating and keeping the guys focused.
3
What did you say right before the race? I like to keep things simple. Starting in front is a huge advantage, and they knew they were the target. My job is to keep them controlled and smart. I don’t remember what I said. Probably something like, “ Relax, stay focused, stay in control.”
4
How do you motivate these kids? Their success is largely due to the nature of the program. The culture at Marin Rowing sets a high bar of expectations, which creates a sense of purpose in day-to-day practices, and it makes the coach’s life much easier.
5
How did you get into rowing? One of my friends in high school suggested I start. I didn’t really want to, but I tried it. At first I thought it was weird; it took awhile, but I really liked it once I got better at it.
6
Whom does the sport of rowing attract? Kids trying to find a sport they can be really good at by working hard. Some sports require natural skills, but with rowing, you can be as good as you want to be.
7
A re there different personalities for the different seats? Yes, and part of the fun for a coach is figuring which personalities fit best in each seat.
8
What made you want to be a coach? I really enjoy watching the progression of athletes and the learning process. I’m also pretty competitive.
9
How many hours a day do your athletes train? On average, 3 to 3.5 hours a day.
10
Do you have any really good blister remedies? Keep them clean. After practices use Neosporin and keep them bandaged.
11 Favorite lunch spot? M ichael’s Sourdough in San Rafael; I love their salami sandwich.
12
Where do you go to celebrate? After regattas we adults like to go to Marinitas. With the kids, we stick to the boathouse. m
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Be a Cover Artist
Calling all painters, photographers and illustrators. Enter our 7th annual Cover Art Contest for your chance to have your work featured on the cover of the May 2013 issue of Marin Magazine. We’ll choose one winner for the cover and also run pieces from top finalists. So check your archives and walls, or go out and create something new. The deadline to enter is March 1. Read the full rules and regulations and submit your entry at marinmagazine.com/getcovered.
It’s Hot
It’s a party! Check out our Hot Ticket events photo page to see the latest shots from the biggest local society events. Who was there? What where they wearing? Photos from events are uploaded within 48 hours, so check back often. See yourself in a photo? If so, be sure to share the image on Facebook. marinmagazine.com/hotticket
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation doctors offer personal primary and specialty care in more than 50 neighborhood locations. And, as part of the Sutter Health network, you’ll have convenient online access to view medical records, renew prescriptions, check lab results, e-mail your doctor and book appointments – even same day visits. To experience health care on your terms, find a Sutter Pacific doctor near you by calling 1-888-699-DOCS (3627) or visit sutterpacific.org.
MADE BY MARIN
The Republic of Tea
It was the most expensive book he’s ever bought,” says Pam Rubin of her husband Ron’s purchase of the paperback The Republic of Tea. Ron, a bottled-water distributor at the time, was reading a business book a week, and this one inspired him to buy the company of the same name. PHILOSOPHY The Novato-based company o ers a variety of certified gluten-free (no barley malt or gluten-grainbased flavors) organic deca einated and regular teas. The company’s conviction that tea is an essential element of healthy living is conveyed on its labels. For example, the organic red rooibos in “Get Probiotic” are said to balance the digestive system, while the organic green rooibos and ramon nuts in “Get Restored” may help detoxify and balance sodium and potassium levels after a workout. CLASSIC SELLERS The Be Well Red teas, with names such as “get gorgeous,” “get happy” and “get soothed.” THE SCOOP Teas are sold locally at Whole Foods, Cost Plus World Market and Mollie Stone’s. Bulk specials, such as one-pound bags of full-leaf loose teas and 250-count tea bags, can be ordered on The Republic of Tea’s website. BEYOND MARIN The Republic of Tea is dedicated to fostering goodwill and social responsibility. For example, a portion of sales from the Sip for the Cure tea line is donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation, and The Republic of Tea has donated more than $80,000 to Sunny Hills Services in San Anselmo. WHAT THEY SAY “We are proud to call Marin home while enriching our citizens’ lives through premium teas, education and innovation,” says the Rubins’ son Todd. republicoftea.com SOPHIE SHULMAN
TWO TIN HOLIDAY
SPRING CHERRY GREEN FULL-LEAF TEA, $12/3 OUNCES (50–60 CUPS)
DRAGONFLY TEAPOT, $89.95
RON RUBIN
John Kostecki
One of the world’s top sailors works to keep the America’s Cup trophy in the Bay Area.
BY STEPHANIE M ARTIN P HOTO SB Y T IM P ORTER
JOH N KOSTEC K I IS very happy to be home. Part of the successful team that won the 33rd A merica’s Cup in Valencia, Spain, in 2010, he was proud to bring the famed trophy back to the United States after an almost 20-year absence. A nd that win became even sweeter once his S an Francisco Bay home waters were selected as the battleground for the 34th running of the race.
One of the most decorated sailors in history, the native Marinite is the first person
to have won all the top contests of his chosen sport — namely an A merica’s Cup, the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race and an Olympic medal. Raised in San Rafael and a graduate of Novato High School, the twotime Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and recent National Sailing Hall of Fame inductee won his first world title in the Sunfish class in the shadows of the jets landing at San Francisco International A irport. Now a professional athlete competing around the globe for Oracle Team USA , the American team owned by
Kostecki at O racle Team USA’s headquarters at Pier 80 in San Francisco.
billionaire Larry Ellison, the 48-year-old is looking to add back-to-back America’s Cup wins to his already impressive sailing resume. With the Cup just around the corner, Kostecki divides his time between his home in Nevada and a Sleepy Hollow vacation home he shares with his wife and children.
When you are going upwind in 20 knots of breeze at 20 knots of boat speed, it can be hard to even communicate to your teammates under sail.
Describe what it feels like to sail on an AC72 wing-sailed catamaran. They are incredibly powerful boats that accelerate so fast. It’s a pretty cool experience. It may seem strange, but because the apparent wind speed is huge, you can really feel the wind hitting your face. When you are going upwind in 20 knots of breeze at 20 knots of boat speed, it can be hard to even communicate to your teammates under sail.
You are about to sail your sixth A merica’s Cup. Compare the classic I nternational A merica’s Cup Class (IACC) boats to the next generation of AC boats, the wing-sailed catamarans. The biggest di erence is in the speed and acceleration. The Version 5 IACC boats could go upwind at 10 knots, while these cats can go about 20 knots upwind. With tacking, our bottom speeds are sometimes around 10 knots, which is just mind-boggling to me. Everything happens a lot quicker now.
How does this change your role as tactician? There are a lot of things that have changed, but as a tactician, I still have to figure out the fastest track around the course. That’s what I’m always doing, looking out and forward to find those open lanes. So the biggest change has been how the speed of the boat and the cost of the maneuvers come into the decision-making
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process. Decisions have to be made that much faster, and you have to decide if it’s really worth it to pay the price of making a maneuver that will slow you down. Everything happens very fast, but it’s now my new norm. Just like with anything else, you adjust.
Will any of your job duties change on the new boats? While I’m the tactician on both boats [the AC72 and AC 45], my other jobs are a fair amount di erent on the two boats. On the 72, we have grinding pedestals [special equipment for trimming a sail], so if you aren’t trimming the wing or headsail or driving, you are grinding. So I will grind and do my tactician job. On the 45 it is much more about pulling ropes, so I was furling the gennaker [one of the boat’s soft sails] downwind and doing the boards. I had a lot to do on that boat with just five sailors on board.
Has your training changed now that you’re switching from the AC45 to the AC72? The A merica’s C up races will be much shorter — around 30 minutes — than traditional Cup races of the past, so we’ve been focusing on highly aerobic workouts to match the onthe-water experience. A s we prepare for the AC72, we’ve reconfigured our gym to reassemble the layout of the boat and the jobs we do. We’re in the process of building a simulated cockpit, so one of my new workouts will see me shuttling back and forth from inside the cockpit to grinder and back again. A nd to take it a step further and test me in my role
Kostecki gears up for grinding.
as tactician, we’re going to simulate decisionmaking under these conditions as well. Our trainer is going to throw questions at me, like math problems, while my heart rate is at a sustained 180 because I will need to both grind and be thinking on my feet at the same time. I’ll be doing much more grinding in this Cup than in the past.
One of the most exciting additions to Cup racing is the reaching start, which has produced many a pileup at the first turning mark. Why the change from the traditional starting procedure? When we first launched the 45s in Auckland, we tested a bunch of different types of starts. We wanted something exciting, and we found that both upwind and downwind starts resulted in a clear winner each time. It wasn’t exciting to watch. So we experimented with the reaching starts [boats sail across the wind and reach the starting line mostly together and with speed], where we found everyone was able to get to the mark at about the same time. It’s comparable to other sports’ starts, like motocross, horse racing or NASCAR, where everyone starts behind a line, so it’s easier to understand. This is a huge step forward for our sport.
As we prepare for the AC72, we’ve reconfigured our gym to reassemble the layout of the boat and the jobs we do.
We have a complicated sport and we need to make it easier for spectators to understand. And it keeps the racing exciting for both the sailors and the spectators.
This Cup has introduced a youth event that will see some of the world’s top young sailors compete in the AC45s. Any surprises you’ve seen during their training? I don’t think many of these sailors were prepared for just how physical the AC45 really is. No matter if you are in your 20s or one of the older America’s Cup sailors like myself, you have to learn how to keep pace with a very demanding boat. Because the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup was created to help young sailors develop into professional athletes, I think one of the
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greatest benefits they’ve received has been o the water. By training with us at Oracle Team USA’s Pier 80 headquarters, they’ve seen firsthand just how seriously we take our fitness program, and how it impacts our performance on the water.
Any favorite places for land training? When I get some time back in Marin, I love to ride. I just started on the road bike recently, so from our place in San Anselmo, I like to take the road bike around the Paradise Loop or head out to West Marin and Point Reyes Station.
I loved sailing from a young age, so I looked for as many opportunities as I could to get out on the water.
I also love going up to the Bolinas-Fairfax Ridge. I have a lot of favorite rides in Marin. I’ve also mountain-biked for close to 30 years on Mount Tam. One of my favorite rides is the Fairfax Turkey Ride that I do every Thanksgiving I’m in town. It was amazing this year, held just after a bunch of storms, and the course was just mud. It was one of the hardest rides I’ve done, like riding through sand the whole time. I ate a lot after that ride.
What is your advice for children interested in the sport of sailing? Most important, have fun and enjoy it. If you want to dedicate your
career to the sport, you have to enjoy it. There are so many di erent classes out there, so find the one you love. I loved sailing from a young age, so I looked for as many opportunities as I could to get out on the water. I raced both dinghies and keelboats and learned every role on the boat. I’d go keelboat racing with my dad and his friends, then sail in a junior program. I always tried to hang out with the older kids because they had so much more experience and I learned from them. I didn’t focus on being the skipper, but rather on getting as many experiences as I could get, like getting out on the trapeze.
What are some of your favorite restaurants in M arin? Our favorite restaurants are Sushi 69 in downtown San Anselmo and Sorella Cafe in Fairfax. We pretty much hit those two every time we’re in town. m
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Race management support boats stand ready.
FOR MARIN’S
8questions Tastemakers
We asked Marin chefs where they like to go when they have a night off.
BY MIMI TOWLE • PHOTOS BY CLAIRE BLOOMBERG
Who knows good eats better than a chef? After all, it’s his or her job to stay current on restaurant-goers’ tastes and whims. With that in mind, we contacted the men and women behind the county’s most popular restaurants to find out where they like to take their dates or families, gorge on comfort food, enjoy a cocktail or just celebrate with a dessert. The one rule was that they could only recommend their own restaurant once. We enjoyed getting to know them outside the kitchen, hearing their insightful dining tips and learning that chefs — maybe not unsurprisingly — don’t always follow the rules.
CC = Christian Caiazzo started his career at age 14 as a grill cook at a local country club in Connecticut and is now living on the other side of the continent in West Marin as owner and executive chef of Osteria Stellina, a one-room dining place showcasing locally sourced Marin produce and meats in Point Reyes Station.
MC = Massimo Covello loved working with the Petroni family at Piazza D’Angelo in his first head chef position. In his relatively new and much-celebrated role as executive chef at Servino Ristorante in Tiburon, he’s made that popular waterfront spot a new destination for foodies.
Meet the Tastemakers
= Justin Everett , an awardwinning chef from Napa Valley, was handpicked by the man he succeeded, Joseph Humphries, to be executive chef of the Michelin star–awarded Murray Circle at Cavallo Point in Sausalito in 2011.
SaH = Sammy Hagar, part owner with chef Tyler Florence of El Paseo in Mill Valley, boasts a successful restaurateur track record that includes Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill and his still-very-popular eatery Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas.
ScH = Scott Howard is the cofounder and partner of Brick & Bottle (on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list) and has made his way around the Bay Area starting with the very successful Fork in San Anselmo, moving on to the now-closed Scott Howard restaurant in San Francisco and recently serving as a consulting chef at Five in Berkeley.
SH = Sol Hernandez , owner of Sol Food in San Rafael, is a great cook, but she tips her hat (as do throngs of Bay Area customers) to the cooks in her kitchen. Where else is there a line out the door any time of day or night without the promise of an alcoholic beverage?
HK = Heidi Krahling , executive chef and owner of Insalata’s and partner at Marinitas, both recipients of the Michelin 2013 Bib Gourmand award, has been serving Marin-sourced cuisine in San Anselmo since 1996.
RP = Roland Passot , owner of the Left Bank Brasseries (whose flagship is in Larkspur), has been executive chef of the highly acclaimed La Folie in San Francisco since 1988. He’s garnered many kudos for his culinary talent, including being dubbed one of “the eight wonders of Bay Area dining” by Michael Bauer.
JR = Jared Rogers is in his fourth year as chef of the highly acclaimed Picco restaurant in Larkspur. Rogers met owner and chef/restaurateur Bruce Hill as a student at the California Culinary Academy and worked for him at Bix in San Francisco before becoming a member of the opening staff at Picco and eventually chef.
TS = Todd Shoberg , a former mountain-bike racer and now a fixture at the Marin farmers’ markets, is executive chef at Piatti in Mill Valley and culinary director for the entire Piatti Restaurant group.
PS = Peter Schumacher, who worked for more than 10 years in kitchens in New York and Europe, is the face of the Mill Valley haunts Buckeye Roadhouse and Bungalow 44, where he is owner and general manager. For this story, San Francisco–based executive chef Robert Price let Schumacher handle the Marin questions.
OS = Olivier Souvestre opened the überpopular Le Garage as its executive chef in 2008 with business partner and fellow Frenchman Bruno Denis. The Sausalito waterfront bistro has earned many awards, including a nod for a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2013.
JW = Joanne Weir, cookbook author extraordinaire, can be seen on her PBS TV show Joanne Weir’s Cooking Class and in the kitchen as maestra de cocina of the popular Sausalito restaurant Copita, which she co-owns with restaurateur Larry Mindel.
SW = Scott Whitman is executive chef of longtime Michelin darling Sushi Ran in Sausalito. Prior to creating unique Japanese fare, Whitman worked at a few recognizable spots in San Francisco such as Masa’s, Stars, Campton Place, Casa Madrona, Kuleto’s, Bix and Tra Vigne.
AW = Aaron Wright is executive chef of the popular The Tavern at Lark Creek (formerly Lark Creek Inn). His resume reflects highlights of his experience in Pacific Rim culinary establishments in Seattle and Hawaii, and he has been featured on radio and on TV’s Food Network.
SIGNATURE COCKTAIL
For many, a trip to Farley Bar at Cavallo Point in Sausalito means sampling Justin Everett’s award-winning bar food paired with one of the classic cocktails such as a Manhattan. All of this comes to you as you enjoy dining in a one-of-a-kind historical location with views to die for.
CC: Moscow Mule, Nick’s Cove in Marshall MC: Boulevardier, Farley Bar in Sausalito SaH: Sammy’s Shark Bite, Sweetwater Cafe in Mill Valley ScH: The Blueberry, The Silver Peso in Larkspur SH: Limeade with tequila (at home), Sol Food in San Rafael RP: Elysée, Left Bank in Larkspur JR: Manhattan, Farley Bar TS: Farmers’ Market Black Manhattan, Piatti in Mill Valley PS: Anything at Bungalow 44 in Mill Valley OS: Spicy Bloody Mary, Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael JW: The Lorenzo, Copita in Sausalito SW: The Sun Also Rises, Farley Bar AW: Stinson Sour, Bungalow 44
BAR DINING
M arinitas in San Anselmo is a popular place to dine at the bar while you enjoy quick access to the next cocktail, camaraderie with fellow patrons and a great view of the game.
CC: Sliders, olives and baked goat cheese, Terrapin Crossroads MC: Frantoio in Mill Valley JE: Bar Bocce in Sausalito SaH: Sushi Ran in Sausalito ScH: Brisket at the bar, Buckeye Roadhouse in Mill Valley SH: Ramen and Manhattan roll, Sushi to Dai For in San Rafael HK: Beef taco, guacamole, warm chips and a margarita, Marinitas, San Anselmo JR: Cavallo Point TS: Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur, Joe’s Taco Lounge in Mill Valley, Terrapin Crossroads and Mill Valley Beerworks PS: Oysters Bingo, chicken wings and the off-menu barbecue rib appetizer, Buckeye Roadhouse OS: Mill Valley Beerworks in Mill Valley JW: Braised lamb tacos at Marinitas SW: Sushi Ran AW: Marinitas
FARM -TO -TABLE
Well known for his advocacy of local purveyors, chef Christian Caiazzo of Osteria Stellina in Point Reyes Station keeps it local with entrees like this local sea bass with Tomales heirloom cauliflower, shallot sauce and golden raisins.
CC: Marin Sun Farms
grilled grass-fed meat of your choice served with local potatoes in Point Reyes Station MC: Slowcooked Stemple Creek lamb shank over a bed of Star Route fava beans, Servino in Tiburon JE: The Marin Monday Menu, Picco in Larkspur
SaH: Oysters, Nick’s Cove
ScH: Bellwether Farms
ricotta gnocchi with a Liberty duck confit, Vin Antico in San Rafael
SH: Hog Island oysters at the source in Marshall
HK: Anything at Picco
RP: Whole fish daily special, Fish in Sausalito
JR: Any large plate from Osteria Stellina in Point Reyes Station
PS: Heirloom tomatoes with Point Reyes cheese at Marché aux Fleurs in Ross; market salad, Sweetwater Cafe
OS: The Cheeseburger, Belcampo Meat Company in Larkspur JW: Yellowtail crudo with green strawberries, Poggio in Sausalito
AW: The spring vegetable panzanella, bacon, slowcooked farm egg, Meyer lemon citronette, Picco
DESSERT
The Braziliana is an always-popular choice at Emporio Rulli in Larkspur — the best place to experience an authentic Europeancafe vibe without leaving Marin. Pair with a classic cappuccino, the best in town.
CC: Crème brûlée or chocolate mousse, Left Bank MC: Braziliana, Emporio Rulli in Sausalito JE: Chocolate tasting, Murray Circle in Sausalito ScH: Tarte tatin, Le Garage in Sausalito SH: Pineapple bread pudding, Sol Food JR: Apple pie with bourbon ice cream, Buckeye Roadhouse TS: Soft-serve ice cream with extra-virgin olive oil and sea salt, Pizzeria Picco PS: Jamoca Almond Fudge, Baskin-Robbins 31 Flavors OS: Key lime pie, Buckeye SW: Mocha almond fudge ice cream, Fairfax Scoop in Fairfax AW: Pastries, Emporio Rulli
SALAD
Servino chef Massimo Covello prepares farm fresh salads in Tiburon depending on the season: La Tercera puntarelles and Star Route baby artichoke over a bed of Green Gulch cauliflower and fingerling potato salad. Finished with McEvoy Ranch extra-virgin olive oil and kalamata olives.
CC: Grilled hearts of romaine, Nick’s Cove; potato with blue cheese, onions and bacon, Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station MC: Puntarelle and local Dungeness crab, Servino JE: Smoked herring salad with potatoes, artichokes and mushrooms, Le Garage SaH: Tableside Caesar, Marin Joe’s in Corte Madera ScH: Panama summer salad, Panama Hotel and Restaurant in San Rafael SH: Fattoush with salmon, Insalata’s in San Anselmo HK: Arugula, burrata and pear salad, Pizzalina in San Anselmo RP: Salad de choux frisée, baby organic kale, apples, pomegranate, La Folie in San Francisco JR: Any farm-fresh salad, Servino TS: Frisée, poached egg, lardons, fried red bliss potatoes, sherry vinaigrette and Maldon salt, Piatti PS: Brussels sprout salad, Pizza Antica in Mill Valley OS: Lobster salad with grilled peaches, butter lettuce, white corn, watermelon radishes and Meyer lemon vinaigrette, Le Garage JW: Radicchio, toasted hazelnuts and gorgonzola, Picco SW: Grilled yari ika squid, wild arugula, shaved baby round carrot, gobo, crispy sunchoke skins, olive oil croutons, chorizo vinaigrette, Sushi Ran
ROMANTIC MEAL
Save the ticket to France, and dine on award-winning French cuisine with a view of the bay at Le Garage in Sausalito.
CC: Charcuterie and cheese board, 123 Bolinas in Fairfax MC: La Folie, San Francisco JE: Sushi Ran SaH: Rosé champagne, veal chop, whipped potatoes, a red burgundy and chocolate cream pie, El Paseo in Mill Valley ScH: Avocado bruschetta and then everything else in the vegetarian section, Picco SH: Counter at Marin Joe’s RP: Rib eye and creamed spinach with a great burgundy, El Paseo TS: Oysters at Marshall Store in Tomales Bay PS: Don Antonio in Tiburon OS: Creekstone Cowboy rib-eye for two, El Paseo JW: Bistecca alla fiorentina and a bottle of barolo, Poggio SW: Duck confit or mussels, Le Garage AW: Popovers, El Paseo
TAKE-OUT
From mofongo and pollo al horno to pink beans with rice and garlic plantains — Sol Hernandez’s Sol Food restaurant is famous for its addictive take-out in San Rafael. Opening soon in Mill Valley.
CC: Crab roll, Fish in Sausalito MC: Puttanesca pizza, Tony Tutto Pizza in Mill Valley JE: Cubano, mofongo (fried plantain-based dish) and coconut water, Sol Food SaH: Burritos and tacos, El Palmar in San Rafael ScH: Anything from Sol Food SH: Salad and pasta, Amici’s in San Rafael HK: Anything from Insalata’s JR: Sausage pizza with egg and eggplant Parmesan, Bar Bocce TS: Acme sourdough, Chinese chicken salad and rice crispy treats, Comforts in San Anselmo PS: Anything from Tommy’s Wok in Sausalito; maduros (plantains), Sol Food OS: Anything from Pizzeria Picco JW: Chinese chicken salad, Comforts SW: Punjabi burritos, Avatar’s in Fairfax AW: Banh mi, Fresh Coffee & Sandwiches in San Rafael
APPETIZER
The sea bass, blood orange and pomegranate ceviche has proven to be one of the most popular appetizers at Copita in Sausalito. To go with it, chef Joanne Weir suggests ordering “The Lorenzo,” the o -menu margarita named after her business partner, Larry Mindel.
CC: Devils on Horseback, El Paseo MC: Tonno crudo, Servino; tuna tartare, Picco JE: Oysters, cheese and charcuterie, Hog Island Oyster Farm SaH: Grilled octopus with pork belly and fried egg, Poggio ScH: Crispy Cigars, Insalata’s SH: Vietnamese shaking beef, Sushi Ran HK: Fresh pea shoot dumplings, Harmony in Mill Valley RP: Squash blossoms stuffed with crab, Le Garage JR: Hamachi crudo, El Paseo TS: Padron peppers, Terrapin Crossroads; wagyu sliders, Lincoln Park in San Anselmo PS: Avocado bruschetta, Picco; gorgonzola gnocchi, Bungalow 44 OS: Oysters Bingo, Buckeye Roadhouse JW: Sea bass, blood oranges and pomegranate ceviche, Copita SW: Whole grilled sardine, pickled cauliflower, golden raisin, almond, olive, Poggio AW: Macaroni-and-cheese croquettes, The Tavern at Lark Creek in Larkspur
MY GENERA TION
BY
NATE SELTE N RICH
PHOTO SBY
T IM PORTER
IN MARIN COUNTY AND WELL BEYOND, THE NAMES SANTANA AND LESH MEAN SOMETHING .
What that is, exactly — sixties counterculture, artistic expression, staying power, sheer chops — depends on whom you ask, but in the end they’re bound up with nearly 50 years of pop culture. So what happens when these names pass to the next generation — to the kids trying to find their way in an industry transformed since the days it made their folks famous? That’s just what Salvador Santana, 28, and Grahame and Brian Lesh, ages 26 and 23, are looking to discover. So, too, are fellow Marin products Lara Johnston, Miles Schon, Monroe Grisman and Sara Wasserman, who find themselves following in the footsteps, more or less, of a famous parent — even when they know it won’t be easy.
Salvador Santana
Son of Carlos Santana, guitar and vocals salvadorsantana.com
SALVADOR SANTANA LIVE S IN L os A ngeles, but don’t hold it against him; he was born at Marin General, spent his early years in the hills of Mill Valley and later lived in San R afael. He moved to Southern California after high school, for one reason only: to make it in the music biz.
Given his upbringing, you could’ve seen it coming. “Both my folks and all my family members have always encouraged me to play music and be artistic and to be myself,” Santana says. “My father specifically really wanted me to understand rhythm and tempo, starting at a young age. O ne of the things he always told me was, ‘ No matter what you do as a musician, when you’re playing, if people aren’t dancing, you’re not doing your job.’ ”
Santana took that advice to heart and later developed a lively style all his own, drawing from the artists who influenced his father and were often heard on the home stereo — Miles Davis, A l Greene, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix — and reconciling their styles with contemporary hip-hop and spoken word. T he result is a sound at least as multifaceted as his father’s, with Santana singing, rapping and playing keyboard across a range of genres — the sort of approach he acknowledges took the elder Santana decades to master. “You have a little bit of everything,” he says. “You don’t leave any stone unturned.”
Lara Johnston
Daughter of Tom Johnson, guitar and vocals for the Doobie Brothers larajohnston.com
LARA JOHNSTON GREW UP in Novato around a slightly di erent set of influences than Santana’s, her dad being the frontman for one of the most popular pop/rock bands of the 1970s. T he Doobie Brothers covered a lot of ground, but what Johnston remembers hearing around the house most was the likes of Stevie Wonder and Sam Cooke. “ That really spoke to me,” says Johnston, now 22 and pursuing a singing career. “A big part of developing my voice was emulating those singers. I really looked up to them.” There’s a bit of a stigma in being the daughter of a famous rock musician, she concedes, with people assuming she’s riding her dad’s coattails. Of course, he warned her it wouldn’t be easy. “ The first thing my dad said when I told him I wanted to pursue a career in music is, ‘You’ve got to work really, really hard and give everything to it.’ ” Johnston recalls the moment when, as a young girl, she decided she wanted to sing. She was in the car on a morning drive with her father and an Aretha Franklin song was on the radio. “It was such a sweet sound,” she says. “I remember thinking, I want to be able to do that.” Today she’s doing it, with a soul-infused style, plenty of local shows and a new EP on the way.
THERE’S A BIT OF A STIGMA IN BEING THE DAUGHTER OF A FAMOUS ROCK MUSICIAN, WITH PEOPLE ASSUMING SHE’S RIDING HER DAD’S COATTAILS.
Miles Schon
Son of Neal Schon, guitar for Journey milesschon.com
MILES S CHON M IGHT BE what you call a chip off the old block, at least as far as guitar playing goes. B ut it wasn’t always that way. As a kid, he was more interested in sports than in music; guitar was something he did on the side. T he tables turned during his sophomore year of high school, however, when he threw his knee out playing football. T he instrument he initially took up to emulate his father became a source of solace.
Once Miles began to show serious interest in the guitar, around age 17 or 18, Neal, now regarded as one of the greatest lead guitarists of all time, cautioned him that the music business had changed, and not for the better. “ He said, ‘ It’s a tough industry, and I got lucky. You could be 10 times the guitar player I was when I was your age, and still it’s just not the same anymore.’ ”
B ut S chon, who also plays bass, ukulele and keyboard, couldn’t forsake the joys of writing and performing music. H is style, grounded in the work of blues guitar masters like S tevie Ray Vaughan, E ric C lapton and Muddy Waters, calls to mind the promise his father once showed as a gifted young musician. Now 24, Schon teaches guitar in Marin and is a frequent live performer, previously collaborating with Salvador Santana and Lara Johnston and now involved in an ongoing project with keyboardist Will C hamplin, son of Chicago member Bill Champlin.
AS A KID, HE WAS MORE INTERESTED IN SPORTS THAN IN MUSIC; GUITAR WAS SOMETHING HE DID ON THE SIDE.
Monroe Grisman
Son of David Grisman, mandolin pettytheftrocks.com americandrag.bandcamp.com
INSTRUMENTS DON’T ALWAYS RUN in the blood. Monroe Grisman, son of famed mandolinist and acoustic music composer David Grisman, picked up the electric guitar at an early age, started playing clubs at 15 and never looked back. O ver the 30 years since, he’s forged a substantial career of his own, playing in a variety of rock acts from buzz-worthy indie groups Stereo Flyers and A merican Drag to popular cover bands A Z/ DZ and Petty Theft.
S till, his passion for music didn’t come from thin air. “ My dad had some part in it,” Grisman acknowledges. “He turned me on to Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, James Brown and even Frank Zappa.” Yet the elder Grisman also warned against entering the music business: “He advised me not to get into it, but I didn’t listen to him. … Now I realize that what he was saying to me is that it’s a really tough business to get into.” The advice didn’t work on Grisman’s brother Sam either: he followed his father into the bluegrass scene.
Monroe’s attraction to rock over folk was in part calculated, but also inevitable. “I just kind of wanted to do my own thing,” he says. “A mandolin was probably the last thing I was going to get into … I didn’t need that kind of pressure. … I’m not purposely trying to rebel, but I am kind of the rebel in the family.”
OVER THE 30 YEARS SINCE, HE’S FORGED A SUBSTANTIAL CAREER OF HIS OWN, PLAYING IN A VARIETY OF ROCK ACTS FROM BUZZ-WORTHY INDIE GROUPS STEREO FLYERS AND AMERICAN DRAG TO POPULAR COVER BANDS AZ /DZ AND PETTY THEFT.
MOST OF THE TIME SHE WAS RAISED ON THE ROAD, AWAY FROM OTHER KIDS. LOU REED IS BASICALLY HER GODFATHER.
Sara Wasserman
Daughter of Rob Wasserman, upright bass sarawasserman.com
SOME OF M ARIN’ S ROCK families have unexpected connections. Back in the early 1970s, for example, Carlos Santana gave a teenage Neal Schon his start. A nd 31-year-old Sara Wasserman (shown here with emcee R ichard Habib at her annual benefit for Peruvian children) says that when she was growing up in Mill Valley, her parents — Clare and Rob Wasserman, the latter a Grammy Award–winning bassist who has played with Elvis Costello, Jerry Garcia, Lou Reed, Neil Young, Van Morrison and many others — were good friends with Tracy and David Grisman. The Grisman kids, especially Monroe and his sister Gillian, often babysat her.
Due to her father’s work, Wasserman had a unique childhood in more ways than one. Most of the time she was raised on the road, away from other kids. Lou Reed, she says, is basically her godfather. She also grew up in the company of A aron Neville, another of her father’s collaborators. The experience left her with a somewhat conflicted relationship with music early on.
“When you grow up around something, you just want to try and find your own thing,” she says. “Some people don’t, but I was just determined to do something else for a long time.” She briefly studied musical theater in New York in her late teens, but wound up deciding to be a singer after all. In 2009 came her bluesy, soulful and star-studded debut album Solid Ground; a follow-up is due in the early fall.
Grahame and Brian Lesh
Sons of Phil Lesh, bassist for the Grateful Dead, Furthur and others grahamelesh.com facebook.com/americanjubilee
WHEN MARIN MAGAZINE LAST spoke with Phil Lesh in September 2012, he said he’d never been happier. T he reason? He was enjoying the fruits of his labors at Terrapin Crossroads, a new venue/restaurant launched in S an R afael by L esh and his wife, Jill, earlier in the year — and that included playing frequent shows with sons Grahame and Brian. The three still appear together at Terrapin regularly, with Grahame (left) on guitar and vocals and Brian on guitar, mandolin and vocals.
“Getting the three of us here and playing onstage is always a fantastic experience,” Grahame said. “ It’s quite the family bonding experience.” T he boys, both in the early stages of pursuing their own music careers, aren’t the least bit intimidated in sharing the spotlight with one of rock’s most accomplished musicians — on his home turf, no less. “ It’s like we’re
playing in the living room,” Grahame says. “ It’s a whole di erent experience than you might think when you’re playing with Phil L esh of the Grateful Dead.” A ll L esh senior asks is for them to surprise him. “ He’s been doing this a long time with a lot of di erent people. I think what he wants is to continue exploring new things.”
Both sons are more than up to it. G rahame is honing his skills in G rahame L esh & Friends and Brian is doing the same in American Jubilee, both of which tend toward the folk-rock side of things — though the brothers say they’re comfortable in a variety of genres. Still, the Grateful Dead is in their DNA , which helps explain how they jell so well with their dad. “ I think I was three weeks old when I went to my first Dead show,” Brian says. “Some of these melodies are just ingrained.” m
We asked doctors, “Whom would you send your family members to, or whom would you go to, if faced with a medical problem?” More than 13,000 votes were cast, and the results — 573 physicians, all in the 415 area code — are listed on the following pages. To search by specialty online, visit marinmagazine.com/415topdoctors.
Methodology: Marin Magazine conducted a survey that has resulted in this [415] Top Doctors list — top physicians practicing in San Francisco and Marin counties who received multiple independent recommendations from their peers. The survey process started with a list of more than 4,000 licensed doctors across all specialties in both counties. All doctors on this list were both candidates and eligible voters in the peerto-peer voting poll. Doctors were allowed to cast an unlimited number of votes across all specialties — they could vote for as many doctors as they wanted regardless of specific area of expertise — but they could only vote for the same doctor once. Response rate was maximized by the following procedures: (a) a long field period of 12 weeks that was further extended to allow all doctors ample time to log in and vote for their peers; (b) multiple channels of solicitations including both individual invitations and organizational outreach to maximize contact with all eligible voters; (c) repeated invitations and reminders to doctors who did not respond to initial rounds of solicitations. At the close of the voting period, approximately 600 doctors with the highest vote counts were short-listed for the database. Each one of these doctors received a statistically significant number of votes from their peers based on established principles of sampling probabilities and power analysis. LinChiat Chang, Ph.D.
[415] Top Doctors 2013
ADOLESCENT MEDICINE
CHARLES IRWIN
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
ALLERGY/IMMUNOLOGY
DONALD GERMAN
Asthma & Allergy Clinic of Marin and San Francisco
000 S liseo Dr, Ste 0 Greenbrae • 4 5. 5 . 00
KATHERINE GUNDLING
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
RUSSELL LEONG
Northern California Foot & Ankle California St, Rm 0 San Francisco • 4 5.4 .
SCHUMAN TAM
Asthma & Allergy Clinic of Marin and San Francisco
50 Geary Blvd San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 0
DIANE WARA
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
BREAST SURGERY
LAURA ESSERMAN
UCSF Medical Center
00 Divisadero St San Francisco • 4 5. 5 . 0 0
CHERYL EWING
UCSF Mount Zion Medical Center
00 Divisadero St San Francisco • 4 5. 5 . 00
NIMA GRISSOM
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation 0 Sacramento St, Ste 00 San Francisco • 4 5. 00.
CARDIAC E LECTROPHYSIOLOGY
STEVEN HAO
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
2 00 Webster St, Ste 0 San Francisco • 4 5. 2 . 500
RICHARDHONGO
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
2 00 Webster St, Ste 0 San Francisco • 4 5. 2 . 500
ANDREA NATALE
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
2 00 Webster St, Ste 0 San Francisco • 4 5. 2 . 500
CARDIOLOGY
JAMES RADAMS
Cardiovascular Associates of Marin and San Francisco
CHEMOTHERAPY HAS LONG been considered the gold standard for cancer treatment. A lthough effective, it’s akin to carpet bombing because it destroys both healthy and malignant cells. A s a result, patients can suffer life-threatening complications that are sometimes as dangerous as the disease itself.
Fortunately, doctors now have access to a handful of potent cancer drugs that can attack the cancer with smartbomb accuracy. But figuring out which drug works best for which cancer has been a slow and painstaking process. The good news: a National Institutes of Health initiative called the Cancer G enome Atlas (TCGA) promises to expedite progress by building blueprints for 20 di erent types of cancer and cataloging the genetic glitches that turn healthy cells into malignant ones.
TCGA has identified more than 200 di erent types of cancer and many more subtypes, each caused by a specific DNA mutation that triggers the growth of rogue cells. Identifying the changes in each cancer’s complete set of DNA — its genome — and understanding how such changes interact to drive the disease process will lay the foundation for utilizing drugs that target cancer cells and leave healthy ones alone.
Non-small cell lung cancer, for example, is a highly aggressive tumor that usually isn’t discovered until it has spread to other organs. Patients rarely survive longer than a year after diagnosis. But while looking at the cell’s molecular structure, researchers discovered that up to 7 percent of these cancers share a genetic abnormality known as the AL K gene. T he AL K gene causes about 40,000 cases of lung cancer worldwide each year. As such, drug companies were highly motivated to come up with a treatment that would stop the AL K gene cells from replicating. And in time, they did. In late 2011, the Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of a drug called Xalkori, which can shrink or stabilize tumors by preventing the mutated gene from replicating. And it can do so with far fewer side e ects than traditional chemotherapy has.
The discovery of the ALK gene was somewhat serendipitous because researchers were not looking at the complete cancer genome, but instead at a single gene sequence. “It was a one-o study that hit on something big,” says Dr. Christopher Benz, co-principal investigator at Novato’s Buck Institute for Research on Aging and co-principal investigator at the Buck Institute–UC Santa Cruz Genome Data A nalysis Center, one of seven such centers supporting the TCGA program nationwide. “ Moving forward, the likelihood of making these discoveries is now exponentially greater, given the vast scope of the TCGA’s current eightyear in-depth e ort analyzing the DNA , RNA and protein expressed by all cancer genes, rather than just single ones,”
says Benz. What’s more, these TCGA tumor blueprints are becoming immediately available for researchers around the world to download and further analyze so that they can be used as a springboard for testing even newer hypotheses.
In the meantime, the TCGA research has already yielded a number of groundbreaking revelations. Just recently, the Buck–UCSC team and their TCGA colleagues looked at more than 800 di erent breast cancer cases and categorized their genomic structure using a dizzying array of data points. From here they determined there are four basic genomic types of breast cancer, each containing many di erent subtypes and variations. Perhaps the biggest surprise: one of these basic types (basal-like) has more in common with an aggressive form of ovarian cancer than with the other genomic types of breast cancer. That discovery raises a question: Would doctors do better to treat this form of breast cancer with protocols originally developed to treat ovarian cancer?
On a broader scale, the finding implies that perhaps doctors ought to start categorizing cancers based on their molecular structure rather than simply by their organ of origin. “We identified at least 40 possible drug targets, many of which would not have been considered breast cancer targets, but are instead borrowed from other areas of oncology,” says Benz. “This is what is going to thrust us into personalized, precision medicine where we can tailor treatments to very specific cancer subtypes.”
While the research is promising, Benz is quick to point out that the data cannot be immediately applied outside an academic setting. “It’s all just too new,” he says. “But it gives researchers plenty of new directions and data to apply in the design of future clinical trials.” A nd while sorting out all this new information will take time, there’s reason to hope that targeted drugs like Xalkori and their like will someday be the standard of care for all types of cancer.
DAWN MARGOLIS DENBERG
Fortunately, doctors now have access to a handful of potent cancer drugs that can attack the cancer with smart-bomb accuracy.
When to Get a Vision Exam
IT HAPPENS ONE day, without warning. You attempt to read a price tag, a prescription medication label, or the menu at your favorite restaurant and you can no longer make out the text. The condition, called presbyopia, is an age-related eye disorder in which the lens hardens and diminishes near vision. While this condition is a nuisance, it’s not a health threat. Still, with advancing age, you are at risk for a number of eye disorders that, left untreated, can lead to debilitating vision loss. So if you’re no longer a spring chicken, should you schedule an appointment with the ophthalmologist?
According to Dr. Kathryn Najafi-Tagol, medical director of the San Rafael–based Eye Institute of Marin, when you hit 40, it’s a good idea to get an eye exam. “If everything checks out okay, you probably don’t need to go again for a couple of years,”
she says. “Then around age 50, you’ll want to come in for a comprehensive eye exam.” What will your doctor be screening you for? Glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration are three of the most common age-related eye conditions. “All are treatable when caught early,” says Najafi. “Glaucoma is of particular concern because vision disturbances often aren’t noticeable until damage to the optic nerve is permanent.”
A s for that pesky presbyopia, it’s not reversible. But a good pair of reading glasses will get you back in the game. “It’s important, however, to have your eyes examined so that you can get the right prescription,” says Najafi. “Wearing the wrong prescription can cause headaches and eyestrain.” If you’re too vain to wear specs or simply don’t like the feel of frames on your face, multifocal contact lenses are an option. D.M. D.
KENNETH BINMOELLER
Interventional Endoscopy Services
2351 Clay St, 6th Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 00. 5
DANIEL CONLIN
Daniel Richard Conlin, MD
2 00 Webster St, Ste 5 San Francisco • 4 5. 2 . 20
THOMAS HADDAD
San Francisco Medical Group
0 Hyde St, Ste 25 San Francisco • 4 5. .4
JOHN JOLLEY
John Jolley, MD D St, Ste 0 San Rafael • 4 5.25 . 0 0
2100 Webster St, Ste 412 San Francisco • 4 5. 2 . 5
NEUROLOGY
AMY AKERS
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation 2 00 Webster St, Ste 5 San Francisco • 4 5. 00.
MICHAEL AMINOFF
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
NOBL BARAZANGI
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
2100 Webster St, Ste 404 San Francisco • 4 5. 00.5 0
ILKCAN COKGOR eurology Clinic of Marin
50 Red Hill Ave San Anselmo • 4 5.45 . 0 neurologymarin.com
RICHARD CUNEO
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
VANJA DOUGLAS
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, th Floor San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
MAX DUNCAN
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation Airway Dr, Ste 20 Santa Rosa • 0 .545. 4
PAUL GARCIA
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, th Floor San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
STEPHEN HAUSER UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Research Center
400 Parnassus Ave, Floor San Francisco • 4 5.5 4. 4
SANDREW JOSEPHSON
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
JONATHAN KATZ
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation 2324 Sacramento St, Ste 111 San Francisco • 4 5. 00. 04
DAVID KING-STEPHENS
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation 2 00 Webster St, Ste 5 San Francisco • 4 5. 00. 0
DONALD KITT Kitt, MD California St, Rm 4 San Francisco • 4 5. 5 . 5
Going Gluten Free
WALK THE AISLES of any supermarket and you’ll find shelves brimming with items purported to be gluten-free.
A nd it’s not just at the grocery store: many Bay A rea restaurant menus now o er a variety of gluten-free choices. In fact, according to one estimate, gluten-free sales reached more than $2.6 billion in 2010, and that number is expected to double by 2015. Proponents of the gluten-free diet claim it can help remedy a host of medical conditions ranging from attention deficit disorder to eczema, chronic headaches, infertility and anxiety. While this trend has been ramping up for years, Western doctors have been thumbing their noses at the prospect that gluten consumption is problematic for anyone other than the 1 percent of the population with a wheat allergy or celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that wreaks havoc on the body when wheat, rye or barley are ingested.
Still, evidence to the contrary is quickly mounting. In fact, a landmark study by researchers at the University of Maryland, has caused many physicians to reverse course. The study shows gluten can set o a distinct reaction in the intestines and the immune system, even in people who don’t have celiac disease. “For the first time, we have scientific evidence that indeed, gluten sensitivity not only
exists, but is very di erent from celiac disease,” says lead author A lessio Fasano, medical director at the University of Maryland’s Center for Celiac Research.
Studies like this have prompted many local physicians to rethink the issue. Dr. Je rey A ron, director of the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disorders at California Pacific Medical Center, says he recently gave a lecture urging doctors to consider gluten sensitivities as a potential diagnosis. “About 1 in 100 people have celiac disease,” A ron notes. “ However, we now think that about 1 in 5 have a gluten sensitivity, and that’s striking.” He also points out that many people are probably unaware that they have celiac because, despite its categorization as a gastrointestinal disease, most people who have it don’t present with abdominal complaints.
“Intestinal problems are just the tip of the iceberg,” says A ron. “ Learning disabilities, brain fog, fatigue and depression can also be symptoms of celiac.”
Likewise, folks with non-celiac gluten sensitivity can also su er from symptoms unrelated to the gut. A nd how much gluten — if any — this group can tolerate without ill e ects remains unclear. “I think we are still 10 years away from answering that question,” says A ron. In the meantime, “I tell my patients if being o gluten makes them feel better, then go with it.” D.M. D.
Proponents of the glutenfree diet claim it can help remedy a host of medical conditions ranging from attention deficit disorder to eczema, chronic headaches, infertility and anxiety.
[415] Top Doctors 2013
KENNETH LAXER
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
2100 Webster St, Ste 115 San Francisco • 4 5. 00. 0
DANIEL LOWENSTEIN
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
CATHERINE MADISON
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
45 Castro St, Ste 220 San Francisco • 4 5. 00.5555
J RICHARD MENDIUS
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation 1350 S Eliseo Dr, Ste 220 Greenbrae • 4 5.4 4.04
BRUCE MILLER
UCSF Memory Aging Center
50 Parnassus Ave, Ste 0 San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 242
ROBERT MILLER
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
2 24 Sacramento St, Ste San Francisco • 4 5. 00. 04
TRACY NEWKIRK
Tracy Newkirk, MD
000 S liseo Dr, Ste 204 Greenbrae • 4 5.4 .22 2
JOHN PANAGOTACOS
John J Panagotacos, MD
5 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ste 20 Greenbrae • 4 5.5 . 0
ANN PONCELET
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
CARLOS QUINTANA Kitt, MD
California St, Rm 4 San Francisco • 4 5. 5 . 5
NEILRASKIN
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, th Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .
MARILYN ROBERTSON
California Paci c Medical Center
45 Castro St, Ste San Francisco • 4 5.2 . 20
JACKROSE
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
2 00 Webster St, Ste 404 San Francisco • 4 5. 00.5 0
SANDRA SHEFRIN
Sandra Lynne Shefrin, MD
2 Miller Ave Mill alley • 4 5. 0. 50
DAVIDTONG
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
2 00 Webster St, Ste 404 San Francisco • 4 5. 00.5 0
SMRITI WAGLE
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
1350 S Eliseo Dr, Ste 220 Greenbrae • 4 5.4 4.04
NEUROSURGERY
MANISH AGHI
California Center for Pituitary
Disorders at UCSF
400 Parnassus Ave, Ste A- 0 San Francisco • .55 .554 ccpd.ucsf.edu
TARUN ARORA
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Ave, Rm M San Francisco • 4 5.5 4.
WILLIAM CORN
William Robert Corn, MD 00 Potrero Ave San Francisco • 4 5. 5 . 45
MICHEALHUANG
Micheal Cen Huang, MD 00 Potrero Ave, Rm 0 San Francisco • 4 5.20 . 00
MICHAEL LAWTON
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
MICHAEL MCDERMOTT
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
PRAVEEN MUMMANENI
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, th Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 . 500
ANDREW PARSA
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, th Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .2
PETER WEBER
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
2100 Webster St, Ste 115 San Francisco • 4 5. 5. 2
PHILIPWEINSTEIN
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
OBSTETRICS/ GYNECOLOGY
SECILY BASON-MITCHELL
Pacific Womens Ob/Gyn Medical Group California St, Rm San Francisco • 4 5. . 00
Andrew M Giovannini, MD 4 0 20th St, Ste 20 San Francisco • 4 5.550. 4
JONATHAN R GOFF
Mt Tam Orthopedics
Bon Air Rd Larkspur • 4 5. 2 .5 00
DAVID H GOLTZ
Mt Tam Orthopedics
Bon Air Rd Larkspur • 4 5. 2 .5 00
JOHN C KEOHANE
Mt Tam Orthopedics Bon Air Rd Larkspur • 4 5. 2 .5 00 mttamorthopedics.com
CHUNBONGMA
UCSF Orthopaedic Institute 500 Owens St San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .2 0
WILLIAM MCGANN
San Francisco Orthopaedic Surgery Shrader St, Ste 50 San Francisco • 4 5.22 .0 5
[415] Top Doctors 2013
WILLIAM MONTGOMERY
San Francisco Orthopaedic Surgery Shrader St, Ste 50 San Francisco • 4 5.22 .0 5
MICHAEL JOECHSEL
Mt Tam Orthopedics Bon Air Rd Larkspur • 4 5. 2 .5 00 mttamorthopedics.com
MICHAEL RIES
UCSF Orthopaedic Institute 500 Owens St San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .2 0
TAYLOR SMITH
California Paci c Orthopaedics
Sports Medicine 0 D St, Ste 05 San Rafael • 4 5.4 . 00 cposm.com
ROBERT TEASDALE
Robert Teasdale, MD 5 S liseo Dr Greenbrae • 4 5.4 .4 50
THOMAS VAIL
UCSF Orthopaedic Institute 500 Owens St San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .2 0
OTOLARYNGOLOGY
ROMEO AGBAYANI
Romeo Agbayani, MD
1000 S Eliseo Dr, Ste 103 Greenbrae • 4 5.4 . 0
JEFFREY CHIEN
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Montecillo Rd San Rafael • 4 5.444.2000
MARK COUREY
UCSF Medical Center
2 0 Post St, 5th Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5. 00
IVAN EL-SAYED
UCSF Medical Center
2 0 Sutter St, rd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .2 5
THOMAS LENGEL
San Francisco ar ose Throat California St, Ste 505 San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .4 4
ANDREW GOLDBERG
Andrew Goldberg, MD 2 0 Sutter St, rd Floor San Francisco • 4 5.4 .4 52
WINTHROP HALL
Winthrop H Hall Jr, MD 5 Rowland Way, Ste 202 ovato • 4 5. . 0 0
KAMBRIDGE HRIBAR
Kambridge Hribar, MD
1000 S Eliseo Dr, Ste 103 Greenbrae • 4 5.4 . 0
JACOB JOHNSON
San Francisco Otolaryngology
450 Sutter St, Ste San Francisco • 4 5. 2.544
LAWRENCE LUSTIG
UCSF Medical Center
2 0 Sutter St, rd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .2 5
ADITI HMANDPE
San Francisco ar ose Throat California St, Ste 505 San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .4 4
LISAORLOFF
UCSF Otolaryngology Head eck Surgery
2 0 Sutter St, 2nd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5. 52
STEVEN PLETCHER
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5.4 . 000
GARY RUST
Sutter Health Care
45 Castro St, Ste 2 0 San Francisco • 4 5. 2 .4 00
DAVID N SCHINDLER
San Francisco Otolaryngology
450 Sutter St, Ste San Francisco • 4 5. 2.544
STEVEN WANG
UCSF Otolaryngology Head eck Surgery 2 0 Sutter St, 2nd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5. 52
ANDREAHYEUNG
San Francisco Otolaryngology
450 Sutter St, Ste San Francisco • 4 5. 2.544
PAIN AND ADDICTION
TIMOTHY DAWSON
Dr Timothy C Dawson 050 orthgate Dr, Ste 4 0 San Rafael • 4 5.4 . 24
MICHAEL MOSKOWITZ
Bay Area Pain Medical Associates Harbor Dr, Ste 5 Sausalito • 4 5. 0.04 0
RUSSELL SANDBERG
Marin Treatment Center 4 Lincoln Ave San Rafael • 4 5.45 . 55
ERNEST HSPONZILLI
Mt Tam Orthopedics Bon Air Rd Larkspur • 4 5. 2 .5 00 mttamorthopedics.com
CHARLES SZABO
Charles Samuel S abo, MD 5 Compton Cir Mill alley • 4 5. 0.
Save on Health Care Costs
LIKE ANY PARENT, Lynn Lathan of Mill Valley was sick with worry when her then-4-year-old daughter wound up in the hospital with a broken arm. Lathan’s round-the-clock vigil took a toll on her own health. So when her throat started feeling raw and scratchy, Lathan mentioned to the night nurse that she would likely be visiting her own doctor the following day. Thinking she was doing Lathan a favor, the nurse o ered to fast-track the ailing mother through the emergency room so she could get a strep test without even leaving the building. Lathan was delighted. That delight soon turned to frustration after she received a $250 bill from the emergency room for an o ce visit that under normal circumstances would have cost around $35. At a time when patients with medical insurance endure higher deductibles and reduced benefits, Lathan’s story illustrates the importance of becoming a savvy health care consumer.
Avoid the Emergency Room
For life-threatening conditions, the ER is still the best bet. But because hospitals have higher administrative costs than small medical practices do, they are notoriously expensive for treatment and shouldn’t be the first place you turn for most after-hours medical care. Instead, “try visiting an urgent care center,” suggests Larry Gelb, CEO of CareCounsel, a health care advocacy firm in San R afael. Such facilities o er walk-in doctor’s appointments outside normal business hours. “If you have insurance, you’ll want to make sure you choose an in-network facility, which you can usually find by checking your health care provider’s website,” adds Gelb.
Comparison Shop
If you were planning on buying a large flat-screen T V, chances are you’d do a little research to see where you could get the best deal. The same rules apply to medical procedures. If your doctor recommends a head CT scan, your first instinct may be to choose the one that’s most convenient. But would you be willing to drive a few additional miles to save thousands of dollars? A CT scan of the head without contrast at Novato Community
Hospital will run you $3,201; that same scan costs $295 at Health Diagnostics, a freestanding imaging facility in San Francisco’s financial district.
Know the Details
The idea of reading all the details of your insurance plan may be daunting. But the more familiar you are with its terms, the more you can save. Why pay full price for your acupuncture treatments, for example, if it turns out your policy covers all or part of the costs? Likewise, thanks to the A ordable Health Care for A merica Act, you’re entitled to a number of freebies even before you meet your deductible; depending on your age, that can include services ranging from mammograms and colonoscopies to flu shots and well-baby visits.
Open a Health Savings Account
Another huge money saver: If you’re are on a high-deductible insurance plan — with a deductible over $1,250 for an individual or $2,500 for a family — the government allows you to open a health care savings account. Individual policyholders can contribute up to $3,250 annually. For families, the maximum yearly contribution is $6,450. These funds are not subject to federal income tax at the
time of deposit and can be withdrawn without penalty at any time, provided they’re used to pay medical expenses. Best of all, unlike with a flexible spending account, the funds roll over and accumulate year to year if not spent.
Coming to Terms
You don’t normally pay sticker price at a car dealership — and you don’t necessarily have to when it comes to medical bills. Most doctors spend thousands of dollars each year hiring collection agencies to recoup losses from unpaid bills. That’s a huge cost they’d rather not have to deal with. Likewise, when you pay by credit card, the doctor incurs processing fees it’s in his best interest to avoid. So if you o er to pay in cash up front or within 30 days you can often negotiate a better deal. And if the fee is a financial hardship, let the billing department know; most practices would rather get partial payment than send someone to collection. “If Warren Bu ett asks for a discount, he’s not likely to get one,” says Gelb. “But if you’re in di cult circumstances, explain this, and often they’ll work with you.”
PATHOLOGY
PAUL WASSERSTEIN
Paul Wasserstein, MD 1615 Hill Rd, Ste C ovato • 4 5. . 4
PEDIATRIC BIOFEEDBACK
RUBY NG
California Pacific Medical Center
3700 California St, Ste B555 San Francisco • 4 5. 00.0 50
PE DIATRIC CARDIOLOGY
SCOTT SOIFER
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Ave, Mo tt San Francisco • 4 5.4 .5 5
PAUL STANGER
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Ave, Mo tt San Francisco • 4 5. 5 . 50
NIKOLA TEDE
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation
3700 California St, Ste B555 San Francisco • 4 5. 00.0 0
DAVID TEITEL
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Ave, Mo tt San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .4 40
PE DIATRIC CRITICAL CARE
JEFFERY FINEMAN
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Ave, 6th Floor San Francisco • 4 5.4 .5 5
LORRY FRANKEL
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation 3700 California St San Francisco • 4 5. 00.0 4
SANDRIJN VAN SCHAIK
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Ave, 6th Floor San Francisco • 4 5.4 .5 5
PE DIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
BARBARA BENNETT
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation - Kalmanovitz Child Development Center 1625 Van Ness, 3rd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 00. 200
PE DIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY
SURUCHI BHATIA
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation 3700 California St, Ste B555 San Francisco • 4 5. 00.0 50
A Prescription for Savings
The nearest pharmacy may be right around the corner, but if it’s a Walgreens, you could be paying more than you need to. A cost comparison by Consumers’ Checkbook, a nonprofit consumer watchdog group, revealed retail prices 6 percent higher than average at this drugstore chain. So where can you go to save? Well, it turns out Walmart, Target and Costco o er good deals on drugs as well as toilet paper and toothpaste. In fact, Costco, the lowestpriced source in the survey, sold its prescriptions for 47 percent less than the highest-charging store. If you take certain prescription drugs regularly, mail order may o er even better discounts than the big-box retailers. Consumers’ Checkbook research has found that familymeds.com and AARP Pharmacy Service are your best bet for cutting costs. D.M. D.
STEPHEN GITELMAN
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, 2nd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .
STEPHEN ROSENTHAL
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, 2nd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .
PE DIATRIC GA STROENTEROLOGY
MELVIN HEYMAN
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, 2nd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .2
SUE RHEE
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, 2nd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .2000
PE DIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/ ONCOLOGY
ARTHUR ABLIN
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, 1st Floor
San Francisco • 4 5.4 .4 0
MICHELLE HERMISTON
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, 1st Floor
San Francisco • 4 5.4 .4 0
PE DIATRICHOSPITALIST
DIVA SEDDICK
Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation 3555 Cesar Chavez St San Francisco • 4 5. 4 . 50
PE DIATRICINFECTIOUS DISEA SE
PEGGY WEINTRUB
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, 2nd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .2
PE DIATRIC NEUROSURGERY
NALIN GUPTA
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .2
PE DIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY
ANNA MEYER
UCSF Pediatric Otolaryngology 2330 Post St, 3rd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .2 5
KRISTINA ROSBE
UCSF Pediatric Otolaryngology 2330 Post St, 3rd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 . 5
PE DIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY
EMILY VON SCHEVEN
UCSF Medical Center
400 Parnassus Ave, 2nd Floor San Francisco • 4 5. 5 .
Are your doctors on our list? Look for the [415] Top Doctors plaque next time you visit.
A TRADITION OF INNOVATIVE SPINE CARE
ST. MARY’S SPINE CENTER has o ered a unique, collaborative approach to spine care since 1982, making it the longest continuously operating multidisciplinary spine center in the western United States. Patients at St. Mary’s Spine Center benefit from the shared knowledge of our experienced physicians and nurses.
Our nonsurgical treatment includes osteopathic manipulative medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and interventional pain management. We incorporate exercise, diet and functional integration into customized individual treatment for each person in every stage of his or her rehabilitation. We work extremely hard to first treat our patients without surgery and will review all of the options with you.
If surgery is required, we employ the latest methods, including vertebroplasty/ Kyphoplasty and other minimally invasive approaches, to dramatically reduce recovery time. Surgeons at the Spine Center invented many innovative procedures, including the X-Stop implant for treatment of spinal stenosis and Staflex to avoid fusion.
Doctors at the St. Mary’s Spine Center are experts in disc replacement surgery for the neck and back as well as leaders in cutting-edge technology, serving as FDA investigators in the development of artificial discs. Our team works closely together to provide continuity of care on each patient’s path to recovery.
1 Shrader Street, Suite 450 San Francisco, CA 94117
415.750.5849
stmarysmedicalcenter.org
Pictured (front row):
James Zucherman, M.D.*
Jerel Glassman, D.O.
Masami Hattori, M.D.
Pictured (back row):
Ken Hsu, M.D.*
Dimitriy Kondrashov, M.D.*
Quoc Vo, D.O.
Judy Silverman, M.D.
A 60-YEAR HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE IN MARIN
MariNeyes is a coM re eNsi e eye care ceNter with a long tradition of excellence and a commitment to using proven technologies that improve patients’ vision and quality of life. While specializing in cataract, laser vision correction (LASIK) and glaucoma treatment, we also provide preventive care and eye exams and treat a variety of ocular conditions. Our team approach includes board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrists along with registered nurses, nurse anesthetists, anesthesiologists, and ophthalmic and surgical technicians. On-site optical dispensaries produce custom prescription eyewear, ensuring full continuity of care.
With two Marin locations, MarinEyes has grown remarkably since 1979 when Dr. Ernest W. Denicke — the county’s fi rst ophthalmologist, and a native of Ross — invited Dr. John R. Campbell, a Stanford graduate who interned and trained at California Pacific Medical Center, to practice with him in San Rafael. 1998 Dr. John C. Shin, experienced in corneal and external eye disease, joined the practice. Having practiced in Sonoma for 10 years before joining MarinEyes in 2008, Dr. Christian Kim is a refractive corneal specialist.
MarinEyes was an early adopter of electronic medical record, which currently links the clinic with the on-site surgery center, dramatically enhancing the ability to provide our patients with precise, e cient, cost-e ective care.
At MarinEyes we love the challenge of evaluating and implementing technological advances to benefit our patients and to contain health care costs in the process.
901 E. Street, Suite 285 San Rafael, CA 94901 415.454.5565
165 Rowland Way, Suite 207 Novato, CA 94945
415.892.0111
marineyes.com
Pictured (left to right): Christian K. Kim, M.D.
John R. Campbell, M.D.*
John C. Shin, M.D.*
SERVING MARIN COUNTY AND SAN FRANCISCO FOR OVER 40 YEARS
CALIFORNIA PACIFICORTHOPAEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE (CPOSM)
has been providing comprehensive orthopaedic and sports medicine care to Marin County and the greater San Francisco Bay Area for more than 40 years.
Our surgeons will provide you with the same level of elite care that they do for the San Francisco Ballet, Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors, and many other area sports and entertainment patients.
We have three clinics to serve you, including our newest clinic conveniently located in San Rafael where we o er same day appointments in most cases. Call to find out more or learn about our other clinics in San Francisco’s Presidio Heights and Pacific Heights.
For your convenience we offer in-house MRI and X-ray and have office hours five days a week. We accept most major insurance plans and are Brown and Toland providers. We look forward to serving you.
Now taking walk-in appointments at our new location in San Rafael.
1099 D Street, Suite 105 San Rafael, CA 94901
3838 California Street, Suite 715 San Francisco, CA 94118
415.668.8010
cposm.com
Pictured (seated from left):
William Green, M.D.
Peter Callander, M.D.*
Jon Dickinson, M.D.
Taylor Smith, M.D.*
Christopher Cox, M.D. (standing from left):
W. Scott Green, M.D.
John Belzer, M.D.*
Keith Donatto, M.D.*
Rowan Paul, M.D.
Adrian Rawlinson, M.D.
Robert Gilbert, M.D.
* Recognized on the [415] Top Doctors 2013 list.
PATIENT-FRIENDLY ORTHOPEDICS AND SPINE CARE IN THE NORTH BAY
Mt. taM ort o edics o ers coM re eNsi e orthopedics and spine care from physicians with unparalleled experience in sports medicine, joint replacement, arthroscopy, and arthritis management. We treat issues ranging from rotator cuff problems and ligament injuries to fractures and spinal disorders.
For most orthopedic problems, the first and preferred approach is nonsurgical, but if surgery is required, the specialists at Mt. Tam use the latest state-of-theart technologies. Even the most complex injuries, along with many common problems, can be repaired by today’s new minimally invasive methods and arthroscopy. Our surgeons are leaders in this pioneering approach, which results in accelerated recoveries and shorter hospital stays.
Our services include sports medicine care (we are the o cial providers for the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding Team), minimally invasive hip and knee replacement, joint resurfacing procedures, cartilage salvage and restoration for complex knee conditions, and spine care.
Our patients receive the same level of care we would want our own family to receive. Seamless integration of expert testing, award-winning physical therapy and superb surgical care have distinguished our practice as the leader in patient-friendly orthopedics in Marin and the North Bay.
18 Bon Air Road
Larkspur, CA 94939
415.927.5300
mttamorthopedics.com
Pictured (seated from left):
Brian W. Su, M.D.
Jonathan R. Goff, M.D.*
Michael J. Oechsel, M.D.*
Ernest H. Sponzilli, M.D.*
Pictured (seated from left):
Charles A. Stuart, M.D.
David H. Goltz, M.D.*
Robert H. Byers, M.D.
Not pictured:
John C. Keohane, M.D.
*
SAN FRANCISCO SURGICAL MEDICAL GROUP
saN raNcisco surgical Medical grou s sMg is San Francisco’s premier surgical group specializing in colorectal, general and laparoscopic surgery. Our primary focus is on diseases of the abdomen. Though based primarily in two San Francisco locations, we have long appreciated the opportunity to care for North Bay patients and are excited to have recently opened an o ce in Greenbrae to better serve Marin.
We provide comprehensive care ranging from the management of complex abdominal and gastrointestinal conditions to colorectal cancer screening. The scope of our practice includes treatment of abdominal cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, gallbladder disorders, gastroesophageal reflux, hernias, endocrine disease and anorectal problems. Our surgeons are pioneers in laparoscopic abdominal surgery and in the use of new techniques for treating hemorrhoids, anorectal fistulas and pilonidal disease.
Our practice was established in 1939, and we take pride in our history of surgical excellence and leadership. We strive to maintain those standards set by our founders and past associates. We are proud of our heritage, our specialty training and our dedication to patient care. Members of our sta speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, Tagalog and Spanish.
599 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Suite 302 Greenbrae, CA 94904
415.925.1047
3838 California Street, Suite 616 San Francisco, CA 94118 415.668.0411
2100 Webster Street, Suite 520 San Francisco, CA 94115
415.923.3020
sfsurgery.com
Doctors pictured:
Yanek Chiu, M.D., FACS, FASCRS*
Michael Abel, M.D., FACS, FASCRS*
Laurence Yee, M.D., FACS, FASCRS*
Jeffrey Sternberg, M.D., FACS, FASCRS
Michelle Li, M.D., FACS*
T. Philip Chung, M.D., FACS, FASCRS
Former Partners:
Peter Volpe M.D., FACS, FASCRS
Thomas Russell, M.D., FACS, FASCRS
* Recognized on the [415] Top Doctors 2013 list.
PACIFIC FERTILITY CENTER: PIONEERS IN REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE
aci ic ertility ceNter s c physicians are recognized internationally for their clinical expertise, outstanding academic credentials, and research contributions. PFC’s clinical laboratory director is held in high esteem worldwide.
PFC physicians have continually been voted “Best Doctors in America” by their peers and have been named top reproductive endocrinologists on the U.S. News Top Doctors list.
PFC’s doctors have been performing in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures longer than any other program in the Bay Area. PFC physicians hold the highest level of accreditation in the field as certified subspecialists in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
PFC offers all of its fertility services on-site in one location, from intrauterine insemination (IUI) and ovulation induction, to complex IVF protocols using the most sophisticated techniques such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for male factor cases or vitrification for egg and embryo “freezing.”
New services o ered at PFC:
• Fertility preservation
• Fro en egg banking
• Comprehensive chromosome screening
Located in San Francisco with easy access from Marin, PFC is open 365 days a year, o ering flexible hours to accommodate each patient’s individual needs.
55 Francisco Street, 5th floor San Francisco, CA 94133 415.834.3095 PacificFertilityCenter.com
Pictured (from left):
Liyun Li, M.D.
Philip Chenette, M.D.*
Carl Herbert, M.D.
Isabelle Ryan, M.D.
Eldon Schriock, M.D.*
Carolyn Givens, M.D.
SPECIALIZED AND INTEGRATED CARE
EAR, NOSE AND THROAT EXPERTISE
THE DEPARTMENT OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY – HEAD ANDNECK SURGERY is dedicated to providing superior treatment and preventative medicine. With innovative technology and the highest-caliber health care professionals, we are committed to the ideal that optimal care is both specialized and integrated. O ering comprehensive and leading-edge services provides our patients with the best in diagnosis and management of head and neck disorders.
[415] Top Doctors for Otolaryngology also include:
Mark Courey, M.D. (Director, Division of Laryngology and Voice and Swallowing Center); Ivan El-Sayed, M.D., FACS (Co-Director, UCSF Center for Minimally Invasive Skull Base Surgery); Andrew Goldberg, M.D., MSCE, FACS (Director, Division of Rhinology and Sinus Surgery); Lawrence Lustig, M.D., FACS (Director, Division of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery); Anna Meyer, M.D., FAAP (Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology); Steven Pletcher, M.D. (Division of Rhinology and Sinus Surgery); Kristina Rosbe, M.D., FACS (Director, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology); Steven Wang, M.D., FACS (Division of Head and Neck and Endocrine Surgery)
Pictured:
Lisa Orloff, M.D., FACS* (Director, Head and Neck and Endocrine Surgery)
P. Daniel Knott, M.D., FACS (Director, Facial Plastic Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery)
For more information: 415.353.2757, ohns.ucsf.edu
* Recognized on the [415] Top Doctors 2013 list.
KENNETH BERMUDEZ, M.D.
A NY S UCCESS FUL AE STHE T IC S URGERY is a blend of science and art. Dr. Kenneth Bermudez, a highly experienced board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, works to not just meet but exceed patients’ goals. His exceptional skill in an array of procedures, including body contouring and facelift, let him deliver the best state-of-the-art care available. Trust, compassion and communication are key to the process, and this doctor truly listens, advising honestly on which treatments fit your needs. Always the aim is a balanced result that reduces signs of age and accentuates natural beauty to help people look and feel their best. He provides personalized care and is there with you every step, from first consultation to recovery, supported by a knowledgeable, friendly sta .
A Bay Area physician since 1992, Dr. Bermudez did his medical studies and surgical residencies at UCSF. He sees patients in an ideally located o ce and surgery center and has hospital privileges with California Pacific and Catholic Healthcare West. PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGEON
525 Spruce Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
415.668.2122
plasticsurgery-sf.com
Recognized on the [415] Top Doctors 2013 list.
WORLD-CLASS ORTHOPAEDICS IN YOUR BACKYARD
The internationally recognized department of ort o aedic surgery at ucs provides expert treatment for all aspects of musculoskeletal injuries, rehabilitation, orthotics and prosthetics. Our experienced physicians have specific training in a broad range of orthopaedic specialties such as sports medicine, trauma, joint replacement, pediatrics, oncology, spine, shoulder, elbow, foot, ankle, and hand. We are also recognized for patient care, education and research.
For our UCSF patients in the North Bay, we are pleased to o er expanded services in Greenbrae. In this convenient Marin location, we provide treatment in pediatric orthopaedics, sports medicine primary care, and spinal disorders, continuing UCSF’s pioneering multidisciplinary approach to clinical care, education and outreach. Physicians work with patients to improve function and quality of life, tailoring treatment plans to individual needs.
Our Marin High School dedicated sta of certified athletic trainers and physicians provide high-quality sports medicine care and event coverage, as well as health education and advice to young athletes. By offering up-to-date information to students, coaches and parents, we strive to keep youth performing at their potential to achieve their goals both on the field and o
Whether you live down Lucas Valley Road or Petaluma Valley Road, we’re bringing our expertise to your backyard so you can get back to your life!
IF YOU NEED GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY, we have the experience to provide comprehensive patient education, perform challenging surgeries, and achieve superior results. Gynecologic surgeries include hysterectomies, removal of uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts, incontinence procedures, and repair of pelvic prolapse and herniations. We o er minimally invasive options to high-risk patients, including those with prior abdominal surgery, obesity, or complicated medical histories.
• Comprehensive gynecology
• Minimally invasive surgery
• More than 450advanced robotic laparoscopies
Heidi Wittenberg, M.D., M.S., FACOG
Director of Pelvic Medicine, Continenceand Reconstructive Surgery, PGOMG Residency: Johns Hopkins
Leslie Kardos, M.D., FACOG
Chief of Gynecology, CPMC; Director of Gynecologic Robotic Surgery, CPMC Residency: Harbor UCLA
Pictured (left to right):
Heidi Wittenberg, M.D.
Leslie Kardos, M.D.*
* Recognized on the [415] Top Doctors 2013 list.
Pacific Gynecology Medical Group
2100 Webster Street, Suite 319 San Francisco, CA 94115
415.923.3123
pacificgynsurgicalgroup.com
LAUB DERMATOLOGY & AESTHETICS
DAVID A. LAUB, M.D., F.A.A.D.
FOR TWO DECADES, DR. LAUB has provided excellence in medical andcosmeticdermatologycaretoallagesinMarin. A Harvard-trained, nationally recognized leader in his field, he is expert in pigmentation, rosacea, psoriasis, skin cancer, and noninvasive techniques to reverse signsofsundamageandaging.HeoffersThermage™,IPL,fillers, Botox®,multiplelasersincludingFraxel, andthenewCoolSculpting™ to remove fat bulges. He has chaired the free skin cancer screening in Marin for thepast20years.
Dr.Laub’sexpertiseisbasedonextensivetraining,experience,artistry and attention to detail. He chose dermatology after su ering his own skin problems in youth — and compassion is what drives his practice today:“Wewanteveryonewhocomestoourofficeto feelcomfortable and cared for. I feel very fortunate to be a dermatologist and love what I do.Seeingmedicalpatientsgetbetterandthehappyexpressionon cosmeticpatients’ facesafter a treatmentbrings satisfaction andjoy.”
591 Redwood Hwy, Suite 2210 Mill Valley, CA 94941
415.381.6661
laubdermatology.com
Recognized on the [415] Top Doctors 2013 list.
DEDICATED TO EXCELLENT AND COMPREHENSIVE NEUROLOGICAL CARE IN MARIN
Neurologist a N d N euro-o N cologist i lkca Nc okgor, M. d ., sees every type of brain-and-nerve-related problem in her San Anselmo clinic: headache, dementia, spine disorders, fibromyalgia and chronic pain, stroke, seizure, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, Parkinson’s disease, thoracic outlet syndrome and more. Studies like EMG and neuropsychological testing and treatments like Botox for migraines and movement disorders are offered on site, so there’s no need for outside referral; all incorporate the latest cutting-edge research.
Born in Izmir, Turkey, Dr. Cokgor attended American medical school in Ankara and did her neurology residency at Duke University, where she was a neuro-oncology fellow and faculty member before moving to Marin in 2000. Besides daily clinic appointments from 8 to 5, she works closely with UCSF and area hospitals and covers her patients when they are admitted.
A solo practitioner, Dr. Cokgor takes pride in being fully available. “We are open during lunch and after hours. I am on call for my patients 24 hours. I check messages and answer questions even when I am on vacation.” Four sta members handle all administrative tasks and patient phone calls the same business day. “I love my job and my patients,” she adds. “My sta knows every patient and we are personally attached to all of them.”
Neurology Clinic of Marin
Ilkcan Cokgor, M.D.
50 Red Hill Avenue San Anselmo, CA 94960
415.456.8180 neurologymarin.com
Pictured (left to right):
Brenda Cupul
Marta Martinez
Ilkcan Cokgor, M.D.*
Leslie Arce
Dreyana Carter.
*
PERSONALIZED PRIMARY CARE
RUTH RUBIN, M.D., M.P.H.
DR. RUTH RUBIN is a Board Certified Internist who has served in Marin County since 2000. She studied medicine at U.C. Davis and received her Masters in Public Health from U.C. Berkeley. For close to 20 years, Dr. Rubin has served on the clinical faculty at UCSF.
Dr. Rubin maintains a hybrid concierge practice, which allows her to see patients according to a traditional insurance model and to allocate time for concierge patients who prefer additional time, convenience and support.
Chloe is a hypoallergenic Maltese who has passed the American Kennel Club Good Citizen Test and has graduated from the Marin Humane Society SHARE program which trains dogs to volunteer in healthcare facilities.
Recognized on the [415] Top Doctors 2013 list.
KATHRYN NAJAFI-TAGOL, M.D.
EYE PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON, GLAUCOMA AND CATARACT SPECIALIST
AS MARIN’S ONLY FELLOWSHIP-TRAINED, full-time glaucoma specialist, Kathryn Najafi-Tagol is unique among area eye physicians. A board-certified ophthalmologist, she launched her independent, state-of-the-art practice in 2004. From eye exams to treatment, she provides comprehensive care, with a sta of experienced optometrists, opticians and technicians and the latest equipment for diagnosing cataract, macular degeneration and more. An on-site optical boutique assures quality control so patients get the highestquality lenses and fashion frames available.
Specializing in laser and microsurgery, Dr. Najafi-Tagol is also a clinical instructor at California Pacific Medical Center, a longtime volunteer physician with EyeCare America, and a scientist involved in research on new drugs for currently untreatable conditions. While gratified to be performing sophisticated multifocal lens implant surgery that enables patients to see without glasses — “far and up close, often for the first time” — she’s a big believer in prevention. “Studies show half of people with glaucoma are unaware of this potentially blinding condition. Annual screening and early detection are key to keeping one’s eyesight bright.”
4000 Civic Center Drive, Suite 200A San Rafael, CA 94903
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED NEUROSURGICAL CARE
u cs s de artMe N t o Neurologi c al surgery is home to some of the country’s leading physicians and research scientists, offering Bay Area residents a nationally recognized neurosurgery center in their own backyard.
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the best neurology and neurosurgery programs in the country and the best on the West Coast, we provide the full gamut of neurosurgery services for Bay Area patients. The most advanced, evidence-based treatments for neurosurgical disorders –brain tumors, aneurysms, pituitary tumors, spinal disorders, brain and spinal cord injury, movement disorders and more – are available for both adults and children.
Two full-time neurosurgeons in our Marin clinic seamlessly coordinate state-of-the-art treatment with patients’ local medical care. “Our top-quality expertise is matched by an unwavering commitment to safety and compassion for patients,” says department chairman Mitchel S. Berger, M.D. “We provide superb care and attention and make sure both patients and their families are well taken care of.”
Front row, (left to right):
Keith Quattrocchi M.D., Ph.D., Michael Huang M.D.*, Vincent Wang M.D., Ph.D., Shirley Stiver M.D., Ph.D., Jennifer Clarke M.D., Kurtis Auguste M.D., Michel Kliot M.D., Daniel Lim M.D., Ph.D., Christopher Ames M.D., Nicholas Butowski M.D.
Second row, (left to right):
Philip Weinstein M.D.*, Susan Chang M.D., Manish Aghi M.D.*, Ph.D., Nalin Gupta M.D.*, Ph.D., Edward Chang M.D., Andrew Parsa M.D.*, Ph.D., Philip Starr M.D., Ph.D., Paul Larson M.D., Tarun Arora M.D.*
Third row, (left to right): Michael Lawton M.D.*, Geoffrey Manley M.D., Ph.D., Dean Chou M.D., Peter Sun M.D., Michael McDermott M.D.*, Lewis Blevins Jr. M.D.*, Mitchel Berger M.D.
Not pictured: Anuradha Banerjee M.D., Sandeep Kunwar M.D., Praveen Mummaneni M.D.*, Michael Prados, Caroline Racine Ph.D., Archimedes Ramirez M.D., Ronald Shallat M.D., Jeffrey Yablon M.D.
* Recognized on the [415] Top Doctors 2013 list.
Destinations
THE LATEST LOCAL TRAVEL DEALS AND GETAWAYS PLUS JOURNEYS AROUND THE GLOBE
SERENITY IN SOCAL
A spa editor finds rest, relaxation and solitude imported from France.
BY JULIE SINCLAIR
Cal-a-Vie offers immersive health and wellness programs in Vista, California.
SOMETIMES THE TRUE value of a getaway isn’t revealed until you’ve arrived. This was the case for me on a four-day fall retreat at the destination spa Cal-a-Vie, about an hour’s drive north of the San Diego airport.
As far as I was concerned, I was heading south for a quick fitness tune-up and a bit of warmth. H aving been a spa-magazine editor for quite a few years, I was familiar with Cal-a-Vie’s full-immersion wellness program of exercise, treatments and healthy cuisine. You begin the day with a 6 a.m. hike through chaparral-covered rolling hills, spend four hours before noon in fitness classes, use the afternoon to wind down in mind/body classes or in a spa treatment room and end the day with a healthy meal — perfect
for my goal of losing a few pounds while getting some restorative nutrition.
First Impressions
After a driver greeted me at the San Diego airport with my name on a sign (transportation to and from the airport is included in the cost of the stay), we departed on the hour’s drive to the spa. As we progressed farther inland, my focus was pulled from checking email on my iPhone to the beautiful rolling hills we were driving through. I was aware that the Golden Door — one of the first destination spas in the U.S., built in 1958 — is less than 10 miles away from Cal-a-Vie and that the inland, warm, dry climate is likely one of the reasons the spas were located here.
As we pulled onto the Cal-a-Vie property and drove over what looked to be a very
old bridge (the driver told me it had been shipped from France), we passed several Mediterranean-style cottages with terracotta roofs, shutters and window boxes overflowing with flowers. I felt as if I were in the Provençal countryside.
I had read that Cal-a-Vie’s proprietors, Terri and John Havens, were Francophiles, and I could now understand why the couple, after purchasing a week at the spa through a charity auction in 1998 (the property has been open since 1986), was drawn to buy it. Since then, they’ve invested $10 million in refurbishing and redecorating, bringing furnishing and fixtures — many of them antique — here from their annual excursions to France.
After I checked in at the living-room-like reception area, the desk attendant suggested
I have lunch while my bag was delivered to my room. She walked me over to the dining area, and I sat with two women outside on the patio (lunch can be served either indoors or out). Having been at several destination spas before, I knew it was common to ask to join others and mix and mingle in general. Although it was November, the day was sunny and warm. Flowers were blooming, and I could hear the trickling of a stream. The women, in their 50s and very fit, wore trendy exercise garb and were discussing which classes they had taken that morning.
Having seen the Cal-a-Vie cookbook by executive chef Jason Graham, I was looking forward to trying the fare firsthand. Graham creates low-fat, low-sodium dishes that focus on whole grains, legumes, locally
sourced fresh vegetables and fruit supplemented with lean animal protein. Lunch — grilled salmon on a wild rice blend covered in a tasty sauce — was great.
I had filled out a questionnaire before arriving, and the gluten-free diet I requested was attended to seamlessly throughout the stay. The food was anything but bland: huevos rancheros for breakfast; chicken salad with roasted corn and black beans for lunch; sea bass over curried risotto for dinner. The agave-syrup-sweetened desserts were incredible.
After lunch, I was escorted to my villa, where my bags awaited. Two sets of spaprovided exercise clothes were also there for my use, and the attendant who showed me to my room told me they’d be replaced daily
and laundered (along with any other clothes I wanted washed). I hadn’t seen many other guests yet (there are only 32 villas and fewer than 40 guests at any one time), but those I had seen were not wearing the exercise clothes from Cal-a-Vie; they were wearing their own form-fitting, body-complementing togs they’d brought from home, perhaps because it was coed week. I decided to do the same during my stay. The villa was large (400 square feet), luxurious (Frette linens and robes) and decorated with handcrafted antique French country furniture. It also had a deep soaking tub and a private sundeck.
Body Meets Spirit
Next up: my appointment with a wellness consultant to create my customized program. I grabbed the property map and headed to her o ce. We determined that my fitness goals were to stretch and tone, so my suggested fitness schedule avoided some of the more hard-core classes, such as H.E.A.T. (High-Endurance Athletic Training) and Tread and Shed (a guided group treadmill workout), and instead included less intense workouts like Stability Ball Strength, Stretch and Chakra Yoga.
After my first class, Chakra Yoga, I had a massage. That night I decided to have a silent dinner in my room, took a bath and went to bed. It was blissful. I was already starting to unwind, and I had not even been here half a day.
While I’d intended to take the sunrise group hike through the hills surrounding the 200-acre property the next morning, when the alarm clock rang I turned it o and slept in. The quiet solo meal the night before had unlocked an awareness that, more than fitness, what I really needed was solitude — a space to connect with my spirit. But my ego was still burning with a desire to burn calories, so I attended the morning spinning class.
I had heard that President George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush had been guests at the spa in the past and that Hollywood celebs often stay here too, but I didn’t expect to
Opposite page: Guests relax by the pool. This page, top to bottom: An exercise room; guest rooms offer views from private sundecks.
encounter any. To my surprise, actress Valerie Bertinelli was on the bike next to me in class. (I found out later she was there to get in shape for the next season’s taping of the television series Hot in Cleveland.)
What finally led to some profound healing moments for me: first, the heated outdoor Olympic-length saline pool — which I had completely to myself each time I swam — followed by a visit to the 400-year-old chapel that the Havenses brought in, stone by stone, from France.
The chapel was about a 10-minute walk from my villa, and one afternoon I decided to check it out. The closer I got, the more stunningly beautiful the stone building appeared. Rosebushes lined the path leading up to foot-thick, ground-to-ceiling wooden doors. I reached down to gingerly pull what looked to be the original door handle. The door was unlocked, and it opened. No one was inside.
I stepped in and was at once transported to Dijon, France. It was as if I could feel the ghosts of those who sat in the pews 400 years ago. First I just stood there, looking around in awe. Then, because I could, I walked up to the pulpit, imagining what it must have been like to stand there as minister of a congregation. Then, like a Quaker, I sat, in silence, for about an hour on a wooden bench, focusing on nothing but my breath as my retinas soaked in the rich, various hues of the stained-glass
Cal-a-Vie Calendar: Upcoming Themed Weeks
FEBRUARY 24: M other/Daughter Week
A PRIL 28: Culinary Week
MAY 5: Booty B arre
JUNE 16: Women-Only, M om and Teen Week
JUNE 21: Women-Only, M other/Daughter Yoga Week
AUGUST 18: Life Coach Martin S mith
S EP T EMBER 22: Tennis, Kris Kluis
windows. Something shifted. I’d finally found what I truly needed — stillness — and I was able to hang out in that space for a full hour, completely at peace.
The day I was leaving, celebrity hairstylist Sam Brocato and his crew arrived for Beauty Week. I chatted with him and his crew during breakfast. I left the San Diego airport at 1:35 p.m. and arrived home in time to unpack and start thinking about the workweek ahead.
I’d wanted to lose a few pounds on this trip, and I did. But what I gained — an ability to connect with and fully appreciate an inner stillness and peace — was more valuable by far. m
BOOK IT Destination spas are inclusive, meaning all meals, accommodations, fitness classes and evening seminars are part of the package. Unlike some others, Cala-Vie also includes three spa treatments each day. Seven-night stays ($8,595), the “standard” length for a destination spa, are Sunday through S unday; “ La Petite” four-night stays ($5,595) are Wednesday through Sunday; and three-night stays ($4,195) are Sunday through Wednesday. 866.772.4283, cal-a-vie.com
This photo: A 400-year-old chapel was imported from France. B elow: A view of the grounds.
CALL for ENTRIES
Attention Artists:
Enter the Seventh Annual Cover Art Contest.
Winners:
A winner from one of the following categories: painting, photography and illustration.
e xposure:
The winner will be featured on the cover of the May 2013 issue.
e nter no WA t: MA rinMA gA zine.co M /getcovered
GO OAHU Heading to Oahu? The new Go Oahu card can save you money and booking time for nearly 40 top attractions, from museums to sailing adventures. Choose from a one- or seven-day pass, starting at $50. smartdestinations.com
MIMI T O WLE
Faraway Places, Familiar Names
International travel can be intimidating, especially if you’re staying someplace unfamiliar. These new locations of universally recognized hotels o er the comforting reliability of a home away from home. SOP HI E S HU L MAN
1 Tokyo, Japan: Palace H otel
Rebuilt from the ground up and opened in May 2012, this 290-room hotel o ers luxurious decor, stylish amenities, an Evian spa, views of the Imperial Palace gardens, and renowned chefs directing an international roster of restaurants — Japanese, Chinese and French menus (among others) make this a destination for food lovers. The Palace Lounge is a hot spot for cocktails or Japanese-style afternoon tea, complete with fireplace and music from a grand white Steinway. palacehoteltokyo.com
2 Da Nang, Vietnam: InterContinental
The InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort o cially opened last June. Situated on a private bay, the hotel has 197 rooms, suites and beachfront villas with panoramic views of the surrounding rain forest and the East Sea. Three-star Michelin chef Michael Roux heads the French restaurant La Maison 1888. Entertainment and recreation options include a kids’ club; there’s also a spa and ample meeting space. Designer and architect Bill Bensley incorporated earthy colors and Vietnamese-inspired decor to create a glamorous retreat. danang.intercontinental.com
3
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: Hard Rock Hotel
This beachfront property opened last August as one of four all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels. With four restaurants featuring specialty cuisines, two large outdoor swimming pools, two outdoor Jacuzzis, a children’s pool, a dive pool, sports courts, a golf course, a spa, a fitness center, a beauty salon and nightly theme parties at an outdoor amphitheater, this Hard Rock is easy to love. hardrockhotels.com
Marin Invades Terminal 2
NEXT TIME YOU’RE FLYI NG out of town, before you go, grab a piece of M arin at a market that foodies on Yelp are saying has “the best airport food they’ve ever had.” Napa Farms M arket at SFO ’s Terminal 2 (which looks like a mini Ferry Building and even was designed by the same architect) features a host of M arin-based suppliers providing what they call Farm to F light food. San Anselmo’s M ichael L evine, C EO of Tastes on the F ly, the company behind the market, says, “We are trending 30 percent above projections after just our first year of operation and intend to open more Napa Farms M arkets in other airports and select street locations nationwide.” M EL I SS A GAR DNER WH IT E
Look for these familiar Marin delicacies in Napa Farms Market:
LY D IA’ SO RGANIC S offers several raw, vegan and gluten-free items including health bars, kale chips and granola. The founder is Lydia Kindheart, a longtime Fairfax resident with a kitchen on Bolinas Road. lydiasorganics.com
CC MA DE Founder C assandra Chen of M ill Valley personally delivers her products, made in San Anselmo, to the airport, including her artisan caramel corn, handmade caramels and chocolate sauces. ccmade.com
TY LE R F L OR E NC E T he famous M ill Valley resident and restaurant chef/owner of El Paseo provides rotisserie chicken, mac ‘n’ cheese, seasonal salads and specialty dishes. Florence often stops by the market when en route to the sets of his Food N etwork cooking shows. tylerflorence.com
RUS TIC BAK E RY T his Larkspur-based company features organic flatbreads, lavash, cheese coins and cookies. rusticbakery.com
EQUATOR COFFEES The San Rafael specialty coffee roaster founded by Helen Russell and Brooke
McDonnell offers its only retail coffee bar (to date) and serves organic Fair Trade blends and individual pour-overs. The coffee beans are sold at Whole Foods and many other markets and are the coffee of choice for top restaurateurs like Thomas Keller, Traci Des Jardins and Elizabeth Falkner. equatorcoffees.com
M IG H TY L EAF TE AS O rganic and sustainable teas from San Rafael. Both hot and specialty iced teas with fresh fruit are sold. The founders and husband-and-wife team of Gary Shinner and Jill Portman run the show. mightyleaf.com
SOM ERS AU LT SNACK C O. A Sausalito-based natural snack company specializing in the power of the seed. somersaultsnackco.com
NAV ITA SN ATURA LS T his N ovato-based company makes and distributes organic superfoods such as chia seeds, goji berries, power trail mixes and more. navitasnaturals.com
COW GIR LCRE AM E RY Everyone’s favorite local cheese is also available at the market. cowgirl creamery.com
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
HIGH For 95 years, the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs has served as the stomping grounds for a long roster of highprofile guests such as former presidents as well as Hollywood starlets. With a $60 million revamp almost complete, the grand plan for the 3,000-acre property includes an expansion of the on-site pub The Golden Bee and a new activity center replete with a bowling alley and billiards, all set to debut in April. But don’t worry: guest rooms won’t be neglected either. Rates start at $250. broad moor.com JE NNI E NUNN
Amsterdam adventure in
Canals, cannabis and culture mix in a historic city that’s as current as tomorrow.
STORY BY JIM AND N IKKI WOOD
“W
ATCH OUT FOR bicycles,” our guide Willem sternly advises as we step out of Hotel Vondel — a quaint establishment located in seven early-1900s mansions on the outer rim of A msterdam’s bustling city center. Conveniently located within walking distance to museums, public transportation, shopping, restaurants and Vondelpark, this boutique hotel has its own cozy restaurant and bar. For the four days we were there, it was a warm and welcome home base after spending several hours touring the city each day.
And Willem was right — bikes are everywhere and in Amsterdam they rule the road. Here bikes have designated lanes and tra c signals, they outnumber cars and they can easily (and legally) run over you if you don’t yield the right-of-way.
Wanting to experience a cycle-centric culture was one reason we were in A msterdam. A nother was curiosity about this permissive society where marijuana is sold in co eehouses and prostitutes are allowed to solicit in storefronts. When we inquired about such activities, once again our guide Willem had a succinct response: “We allow them,” he said, “so we can control them.”
Yes, prostitution is legal and yes, it’s controlled. T he Red Light District is clearly marked on tourist maps as just another attraction and is only three blocks from the A msterdam C entraal railway station. Here’s how it goes: One minute you are window-shopping for a camera or a computer, then suddenly you’re looking at a blonde wearing lingerie in the glow of red lights. That’s basically all you’ll see for the next four or five blocks — blondes, brunettes, slim girls, plump girls, some with tattoos, most young, a few older. It is mostly the tourists who gu aw and giggle. Meanwhile, the locals — many of them families out shopping — treat the scene like business as usual, which for them it is.
In countless ways, Amsterdam and its 784,000 people are fascinating. We visited before the recent law banning co eehouses from selling marijuana to foreigners took e ect. When we were there, the practice didn’t appear to be a problem. It could have been because inside the co eehouses, along with a wide assortment of cannabis products like joints, candies, cookies and brownies, only fruit juices and co ee are sold. Alcohol in any and all forms is strictly prohibited in the co eehouses. And never in Amsterdam did we see, or smell, anyone on the street smoking a joint. That could be one aspect of what Willem meant by allowing vice in order to control it.
The reality is that Amsterdam — and all of the Netherlands — has a history of tolerance. In the Middle Ages, so stories go, people who lived behind dikes — below sea level — had to accommodate one another’s di erences when facing the constant danger of flooding. And in the 18th century, although the Dutch Reformed Church was the o cial state religious denomination, Catholicism and Judaism were not only tolerated but welcomed.
In 2001, the Netherlands — Amsterdam is its capital, though the government is located at T he Hague — became the first country in the world to legalize samesex marriage. Moreover, for years, euthanasia has been lawfully practiced, and state-supplied sex education and contraception have been available to both genders starting at age 12. (A BBC documentary we happened to catch in our hotel room claimed the Dutch have the world’s lowest rates of abortion and unwanted
Opening spread: The Grachtengordel, or canal district, features three main canals. Opposite page: Cafe de Prins in the canal district. This page: A line of bikes near the railroad and ferry terminals.
pregnancy.) “About the only thing this nation does not tolerate,” quips our guide Willem with a wry smile, “is intolerance.”
Exploring at a modest pace, we found, Amsterdam to be a very manageable and inviting city. Clean and quiet electric trams glide along cobblestone streets connecting all major museums, shopping districts, the zoo, the floating flower market, the public urban oasis Vondelpark, hotels, restaurants and the train station.
Then there’s the Stop/Go, small buses with big windows that crisscross the entire central area, picking you up and letting you o almost whenever you chose — just a nod to the driver seemed to work for us. A more romantic, less hurried way to go is the Canal-Bus: boats that circulate throughout the city’s famous system of waterways built in the 1500s, with 24-hour passes available. “Just hop o where there’s something you want to see,” the skipper shouted to us in clear English. “Then jump back on when I float back by.” We were sure he meant after he’d put into a docking platform.
And trust us, there’s plenty to see in Amsterdam. When it came to picking a favorite site, we were split between two excellent museums. One favored the newer Van Gogh Museum; the other the venerable Rijksmuseum, which features some 400 works from Dutch masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer. Visiting both museums — they’re adjacent — took most of an afternoon and we could have gone back for more. Each o ered self-guided audio tours in English that were enlightening, informative and entertaining.
Also on our list was the Anne Frank House, including the immortal red-andgreen-checked diary and a peek into the attic where the young girl and her family hid from the Nazis for two years. However, the lines were long and slow-moving, so we took in the amazing floating flower market, had a delicious late lunch at Cafe Walem and walked back to our hotel though the 120-acre Vondelpark.
On our last day in Amsterdam we found Westerkerk, an iconic 17th-century Dutch Reformed church and site of the unmarked grave of the artist Rembrandt van R ijn. We also discovered the highest church tower in Amsterdam here, a 279-foot spire known as the Westertoren that famously sways in the wind. Up the many stairs we went.
IF YOU GO
KL MRoyal Dutch A irline Daily nonstop flights just over 10 hours long from SFO from $958 economy class. 866.434.0320, klm.com
Hotel Vondel A boutique hotel composed of seven former upscale homes, from $175 U SD. Near museums, city center and Vondelpark. hotelvondel.nl, vondelhotels.com
Hotel de l’Europe Central Amstel River location, from $475 U SD. New D utch Masters suite features art from R ijksmuseum. leurope.nl
Canal House Newer, with only 23 rooms, from $276 U SD. Chic, romantic, with restaurant facing a private garden. canalhouse.nl
A mbassade Hotel Central location with spectacular top-floor views, from $260 U SD Frequented by authors, has a fine library. ambassade-hotel.nl
Back on the street, a plaque told us we were in the Jordaan, an old bohemian working-class neighborhood famous for its Noordermarkt (North Market), a sprawling square featuring a regular Saturday farmers’ market and Monday swap meet. Fortuitously, it was Monday, and we saw colorful Indian saris, art books, clever toy cars, painted ceramic tiles, antique birdcages and used bikes by the dozens. As we’d made a vow to travel light, all we did was seriously browse.
After a quick stop at the Houseboat Museum, which we found quite cramped, we rounded a corner and stumbled upon Cafe ’t Smalle, a twostory place with outdoor seating. Once inside we learned that its walls were cocoa-colored from a patina of smoke and age — the structure was built in 1787. We snagged a canal-side table and checked out the traditional appetizer fare — tostis (toasted sandwiches), bitterballen (savory meatballs), broodjes (sandwiches) and vleess en kaas schaal. We ordered the latter, a veggie, meat and cheese platter that was quite delicious.
After washing it all down with, what else, a pair of ice-cold Heinekens, we noticed the menu featured wines from a place called the Napa Valley. Which served to remind us … it was time to start packing. Four days in Amsterdam was barely enough for an introduction. The city combines canals, commerce, culture and, yes, cannabis, in a creative yet comfortable manner. Just remember, as our guide Willem so succinctly said, ”Watch out for the bicycles.” m
Opposite page: A canal bridge. This page: The tram connects the various shopping districts where bike riders and pedestrians far outnumber cars.
Out & About
CALENDAR / O N THE SCENE / DINE
GALLERIES
LISTING ON PAGE 106
South Tower Golden Gate by Matthew Frederick
THEATER
FEB 27– MAR 3 DISNEY ON ICE : DARE TO DRE AM Popular Disney characters come to live in an iceskating show. Coliseum (Oakland). 510.569.2121, coliseum.com
THEATER
THRU FEB 3
Troublemaker, or The Freakin Kick-A Adventures of Bradley Boatright A story set in working-class Rhode Island about a group of boys and their nemesis. Roda Theatre (Berkeley). 510.647.2749, berkeleyrep.org
THRU FEB 9 R isk Is This … The Cutting Ball N ew Experimental Plays Festival A series of plays that push the boundaries of theater. Cutting Ball Theater (SF). 415.525.1205, cuttingball.com
THRU FEB 10 4000
M iles A comic drama about a young man and his grandmother. American Conservatory Theater (SF). 415.749.2228, act-sf.org
THRU FEB 17 Pack of Lies A tale about espionage during the Cold War, based on a true story. The Barn Theatre (Ross). 415.456.9555, rossvalleyplayers.com
THRU FEB 17 Waiting for Godot Marin Theatre Company’s take on the 20th century classic. Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley). 415.388.5208, marintheatre.org
THRU FEB 17 The Wild Bride A dark fairytale for adults. Roda Theatre (Berkeley). 510.647.2949, berkeleyrep.org
FEB 1–2 Cold Virtues A Smuin Ballet performance with popular songs by Trey McIntyre and the Shins. Lesher Center for the Arts (Walnut Creek). 415.912.1899, smuinballet.org
FEB 14– MAR 10 Steel M agnolias A tale of friendship and trust set in the South. Novato Theater Company Playhouse (Novato). 415.883.4498, novato theatercompany.org
FEB 26– MAR 3 M ike Tyson: U ndisputed Truth A one-man show about the life and mind of one of the most feared men ever to wear the heavyweight crown, directed by Spike Lee. Orpheum Theatre (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com
DANCE
ON GO IN G Israeli Folk Dancing Learn dances that combine Middle Eastern, Eastern European, Latin and African traditions inspired by the ambience of Israeli festivals. Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael). 415.444.8000, marinjcc.org
THRU FEB 3 Suite en Blanc A world premiere by Wayne McGregor and the San Francisco Ballet. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.865.2000, s allet.org
FEB 13–19 Hamburg
Ballet in N ijinsky A performance based on the tumultuous life of dancer Vaslav Nijinsky. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.865.2000, s allet.org
FEB 17 Cinderella
Russian National Ballet’s rendition of the classic tale. Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.473.6400, marincounty.org
FEB 22 Pilobolus Dance Theatre A dance group founded at Dartmouth College in 1971 featuring acrobatic and unusual dance moves. Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.473.6400, marincounty.org
COMEDY
TU ESDAYS Mark Pitta and Friends The comic hosts an evening for up-and-comers and established headliners. 142 Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmorton theatre.com
FEB 9 Whose Live Anyway Improvised comedy and song based on audience suggestions, featuring Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Chip Esten and Je B. Davis. Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.473.6400, marincounty.org
FEB 16 George Lopez
A stand-up routine by the comedian, entertainer and host of Lopez Tonight. The Warfield (SF). 415.345.0900, goldenvoice.com
ALEXANDRA SIMPSON — viola
A Family Valentine!
The joy of the Marin Symphony’s annual Family Concert is undeniable. Specially designed to introduce children to the wonders of a live symphonic concert, the program is part performance, part family outing and exceptionally fun. It’s the ideal place to bring your family together and pass on the Symphony tradition from one generation to the next.
This year’s program presents themes of courage, love and a special Valentine celebration. Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra Alumni viola virtuoso Alexandra Simpson is the guest artist. Music from the hit movie Brave , by Patrick Doyle, is the climax of the concert.
Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra musicians assist aspiring young artists at the Petting Zoo following the Family Concert. The energy and enthusiasm is captivating! Sponsored by The Magic Flute.
FEBRUARY 10
SUNDAY @ 3:00 PM
PROGRAM
Berlioz Le corsaire Overture
Berlioz Harold in Italy (excerpts)
Telemann Viola Concerto featuring the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra viola section Doyle Music from Brave
TICKETS:
Ann Krinitsky, conducting
Adults $15, Children $10
Call 415.473.6800 or buy in person at the Marin Center Box Office, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael, Monday through Friday, 11am – 5pm.
MARIN SYMPHONY M S
Where great music comes to life.
MUSIC
TUESDAYS Swing Fever
The band pays tribute to jazz artists and composers with selections from its roster of more than 1,000 tunes, every first and third Tuesday. Panama Hotel (San Rafael). 415.457.3993, panamahotel.com
FEB 1 Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers A performance by the local rock and country musician. Sweetwater Music Hall (Mill Valley). 415.388.3850, sweet watermusichall.com
FEB 1 Celebrating Gershwin A performance by Dan Hicks, Kim Nalley and Paula West. SFJazz Center (SF). 866.920.5299, s azz.org
FEB 2 Chinese New Year Concert and Celebration A family event with a mix of music and instruments in a fusion of East and West, featuring Asian dancers, Chinese calligraphers and more. Davies Symphony Hall (SF). 415.864.6000, sfsymphony.org
FEB 3 Music of the S pheres A performance
of French baroque music presented by the San Francisco Early Music Society. St Mark’s Lutheran Church (SF). 510.258.1725, sfems.org
FEB 4 Cool M usic
— Clear Water The Left Coast Chamber
Ensemble performs a program of music inspired by water, featuring George Crumb’s "Voice of the Whale" and more. Conservatory of Music (SF). 415.617.5223, leftcoastensemble.org
FEB 9 D ean Wareham and Britta Phillips The duo perform original
compositions and cover songs against a backdrop of 13 silent black-and-white Andy Warhol screen tests. Jewish Community Center (SF). 415.292.1233, jccsf.org
FEB 10 Family Concert
Join the Marin Symphony for an afternoon of live music designed to introduce children to the symphonic concert experience. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.499.6800, marinsymphony.org
FEB 14 Delta Rae and ZZ Ward The alt-pop band and American singer make a stop on the Fire and Shine Tour. Great American Music Hall (SF). slimspresents.com
FE B 14–15 Kliptown Youth Program Celebration A performance by representatives from the Kliptown Youth Program of South Africa, with songs, drumming and dancing. RSVP required. Saint Mark’s School (San Rafael). 415.472.8000, saintmarksschool.org
FEB 8 Duo with Kenny Barron Dave Holland and Kenny Barron perform. SFJazz Center (SF). 866.920.5299, sfjazz.org
FEB 15 Jake
S himabukuro The Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso takes the stage. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.473.6400, marincounty.org
FEB 16 David Lindley
The multi-instrumentalist treats fans to an intimate solo concert. Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael). 415.389.5072, murphyproductions. com
FE B 18 Pink The popular singer/songwriter performs her current and past hits. HP
Kenny Barron
Pavilion (San Jose). hppavilion.com
FEB 21 Adrian Legg
The award-winning solo guitarist strums a few songs. 142 Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmorton theatre.com
FEB 21–24 Afro-Cuban
All Stars The multigenerational band draws on both classic Cuban styles and contemporary dance rhythms. SFJazz Center (SF). 866.920.5299, s azz.org
FEB 23 Paco Pena
Flamenco Vivo See the guitarist, composer, dramatist and producer, playing guitar since age 6. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 415.473.6400, marincounty.org
GALLERIES
MARIN
Art A bloom Studio and Gallery Oil paintings by Gabriella Spina Drake and classes for artists. 751 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.256.1112, artabloom.com
Art Works Downtown Shadows Art by Kay Russell, Patricia Ancona and Claudia Tarantino, through March 22. 1337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119, artworksdowntown.org
Bubble Street Featuring genres of fantastic art, imaginary realism, neo-Victorian and steampunk. 565 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.339.0506
Falkirk Cultural Center Works by BayWood artists, a group dedicated to
Jake Shimabukuro at Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, San Rafael
painting and preserving Marin’s natural landscape, through March 9. 1408 Mission Ave, San Rafael. 415.485.3436, falkirkculturalcenter.org
Fine Art Etc. Featuring a collection of sculptures and paintings by artists from Northern California and around the world. 686 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.332.1107, fineartetc.com
Gallery Bergelli About Larkspur Paintings by Bryn Craig, through March 5. A portion of the sales will be donated to the Lark Theater. 483 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.945.9454, bergelli.com
Gallery Route One Out of the Blue Annual juried show, through February 3. 11101 Hwy One, Point Reyes Station. 415.663.1347, galleryrouteone.org
Marin Society of A rtists High school show. 3501 Civic Center Dr, San Rafael. 415.454.9561, marinsocietyofartists.org
M ona Lease Gallery The Leasing Inventory. 39 Greenbrae Boardwalk, Greenbrae. 415.461.3718, monalease.net
O’Hanlon Center for the A rts BOLD A mixed-media group juried show. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331, ohanloncenter.org
Robert Allen Fine A rt Abstract Works on Canvas A group exhibition featuring art by Suzie Buccholtz, Heather Gordon, Michael Moon and others, through March. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.2800, robertallenfineart.com
Robert Green Fine
A rts New desert and Marin landscape work by James Shay. 154 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.381.8776, rgfinearts.com
Room Art Gallery Art by Peter Foucault. 86 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.747.8139, roomartgallery.com
Smith A ndersen N orth
Photography by Klea McKenna, through March 23. 20 Greenfield Ave, San Anselmo. 415.455.9733, smith andersennorth.com
Studio 333 Ongoing exhibition featuring more than 40 Bay Area artists’ work in di erent mediums. 333A Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.8272, studio333.info
Studio 4 A rt Work by local artists; classes and workshops with materials included. 1133 Grant Ave, Novato. 415.596.5546, studio4art.net
SAN FRANCISCO
A rtHaus California Impressions A group exhibition featuring works by Carolyn Meyer, Matthew Frederick, Daniel Berman, Brian Blood and Deborah Brown, through March. 411 Brannan St, 415.977.0223, arthaus-sf.com
Berggruen Gallery
Photography by Taryn Simon. 228 Grant Ave, 415.781.4629, berggruen.com
Caldwell Snyder Art by Deladier Almeida. 341 Sutter St, 415.392.2299, caldwellsnyder.com
Gregory Lind Gallery
Neues Bauen Art by Eamon O’Kane, through February 16. 49 Geary St, 415.296.9661, gregorylindgallery.com
Rena Bransten Gallery
Art by Bovey Lee and Sam Perry, through March 9. 77 Geary St, 415.982.3292, rena branstengallery.com
MUSEUMS
M ARIN
Bolinas M useum A Delicate Imbalance Featuring the work of Carl Dern (Bolinas). 415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org
Marin History M useum Justice and Judgment Three-part exhibition about Marin’s law enforcement
After Breakfast He Put on His Snowsuit and Ran Outside by Ezra Jack Keats at the Contemporary Jewish M useum, S.F.
and judicial system, through June (San Rafael). 415.454.8538, marinhistory.org
Marin Museum of the A merican I ndian
Explore Native American history, languages, art and traditions (Novato). 415.897.4064, marinindian.com
Marin Museum of Contemporary A rt State of Mind
MarinMOCA artist members’ exhibition, through February 24 (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.org
BAY AREA
California Academy of Sciences Nightlife
Enjoy music, creatures and cocktails for adults only and take some time to explore the exhibits and aquarium displays every Thursday night (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org
Conservatory of Flowers Boomtown: The Barbary Coast A garden railway exhibition celebrating San Francisco’s Gold Rush boomtown era and Barbary Coast neighborhood, through April 14 (SF). 415.831.2090, conserv atoryo owers.org
Contemporary Jewish M useum The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats A tribute to awardwinning children’s book author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats, through February 24 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org
de Young Girl with a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis A collection of paintings from the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis at The Hague, through June (SF). 415.750.3600, deyoung.famsf.org
scarves
Al Gore at the Herbst Theatre, S.F.
Exploratorium Ongoing interactive exhibits exploring science, art and human perception (SF). 415.397.5673, exploratorium.edu
Legion of Honor Artful Animals A portrait of the animal world, represented in an array of cultures, artistic styles and media, through A pril (SF). 415.750.3600, legiono onor.org
Oakland Museum of California we/customize A showcase of customized objects as part of artistic and personal expression, through May (Oakland). 510.318.8400, museumca.org
San Francisco Botanical Garden Annual Magnolia Bloom A display of 100 rare and historic magnolias, through March
(SF). 415.661.1316, s otanicalgarden.org
The Walt Disney Family M useum Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic Featuring more than 200 works of conceptual art, model sheets, layouts and animations, through A pril 14 (SF). 415.345.6800, waltdisney.org
Yerba Buena Center for the A rts Without Reality There Is No Utopia An examination of false narratives that masquerade as truth, including the collapse of Communism in the 1980s and the current financial crisis, through June (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org
EVENTS
FEB 2 Dinosaur Petting Zoo An interactive event with lifelike puppets that come to life.
Jewish C ommunity Center (SF). 415.292.1233, jccsf.org
FEB 7 Valentine
Wine Walk A Union Street festival featuring wine samples, finger foods and special treats. Union St (SF). 800.310.6563, sresproductions.com
FEB 9 Marin Valentine’s Ball Enjoy a New Orleans theme at this annual ball benefiting charitable organizations in Marin. Exhibit Hall (San Rafael). 415.883.6222, marinvalentinesball.org
FEB 14 The Eternity
Ball A black-tie gala celebrating Valentine’s Day and benefiting USO Bay Area. Fort Mason Center (SF). eternityball.com
FEB 15–17 California I nternational A ntiquarian Book Fair
The world’s largest antiquarian book fair features more than 200 booksellers from around the world. Includes manuscripts, maps, illustrated books and more. C oncourse E xhibition C enter (SF). 415.962.2500, cabookfair.com
FEB 16 S.F. Chronicle
Wine Competition
Tasting The largest competition of American wines in the world. Fort Mason (SF). 650.548.6700, winejudging.com
FEB 16–17 Garden
A rt Fundraiser The first annual event will feature a display of functional birdhouses made by artists to benefit the Dance Palace. Point Reyes Station (Point Reyes). 415.663.1075, dancepalace.org
FEB 21–24 Pacific
Orchid Exposition More than 150,000 unique orchids from across the globe are the focus of this 61st annual expo. Fort Mason C enter (SF). orchidsan francisco.org
FEB 23–24 Marin Show:
Art of the A mericas Indigenous arts from across North, C entral and South A merica, including jewelry, textiles, pottery and more. Exhibit Hall (San Rafael). 310.822.9145, marinshow.com
FEB 24 Awards Night at The Lark Watch the Academy Awards on the big screen while enjoying a costume contest, auction, food and beverages. The Lark Theater (L arkspur). 415.924.5111, larktheater.net
TH RU J UN E SFMOMA
Lebbeus Woods, Architect Work presenting shifts, cycles and repetitions within the built environment, through June (SF). 415.357.4000, sfmoma.org
FILM
FEB 5 The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia Local filmmaker James Redford documents the experience of dyslexic students. Allaire School (C orte Madera). 415.927.2640, allaire-school.org
NATURE WALKS & TALKS
ON GO IN G The San Francisco Gourmet Chocolate Tour A threehour walking tour from the San Francisco waterfront to Union Square, with seven stops and generous tastings at each. Justin Herman Plaza (SF). gourmetwalks.com
ON GO IN G Foodie Adventures E xperience the Mission District, North Beach or Chinatown on a culinary walking tour. Various locations
Inhabiting the Quake, Quake City by Lebbeus Woods
(SF). 888.498.2008, foodieadventures.com
ON GO IN G Mark Twain
Walking Tour of Napa and Sonoma Local actor George Webber morphs into Mark Twain as he brings alive the pasts of the historic towns. 707.694.5097, georgewebber.com
ON GO IN G Sausalito
Walking Tours Take a one-hour walk through Old Town and learn about its history. Vina del Mar Plaza (Sausalito). 415.331.3791, travelswithteri.com
FEB 2 WildCare Family Adventures E xplore Las Gallinas Ponds and learn about waterfowl. Las Gallinas Ponds (San Rafael).
415.453.1000, wildcare bayarea.org
FEB 4 Jeb Bush The governor and business, economic, education and health care reformer addresses challenges facing America today. Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium (San Rafael). 650.340.7004, speakerseries.net
FEB 12 Al Gore The former Vice President discusses politics, the Climate Reality Project and his other endeavors. Herbst Theatre (SF). 415.392.4400, cityarts.net
FEB 13 Jamaica Kincaid
The author talks about her published works. Herbst Theatre (SF). 415.392.4400, cityarts.net
FEB 20 Marin Scuba Club Seabirds in Our Sanctuaries A talk with Karen Carlson from the Seabird Protection Network. Saylor’s Restaurant (Sausalito). marinscuba.org
FEB 22 Madeleine K. A lbright The former U.S. Secretary of State talks about growing up in Czechoslovakia during the Nazi occupation. Fairmont Hotel (SF). 415.597.6700, commonwealthclub.org
FEB 27 The Brilliance of Sleep with Matt Walker
The researcher at UC Berkeley discusses compelling findings about sleep. Herbst Theatre (SF). 415.392.4400, cityarts.net
Gemini by Heather Gordon at Robert Allen Fine Arts, Sausalito
ad lib marin advertisers speak up
Lisa Benbow,
designer
and owner at Garnish Home Decor
Garnish is a boutique home decor store with an emphasis on contemporary coastal decor and interior design. Vivid use of color, bold patterns, texture and pops of whimsy are key elements in our projects. We strive to provide clients with a source for unique home decor items and an alternative to large-scale retail chains. We are the go-to place for those clients who want their homes to be as unique as they are.
Briefly describe your business philosophy.
Design is a process and a journey, much like life, and you must be open to where the process takes you. If you can do that, it’s a joyful, wonderfully creative experience.
What is your competitive edge?
Garnish is unique because no other store in Marin has our vibe. We’re hip, contemporary and a little coastal and provide a one-of-a-kind experience where you can custom-design upholstered goods and case goods. Right now, we’re hot on lacquer.
Describe your dream client/customer.
One who takes risks, doesn’t get hung up on one thing, can make decisions
What is your competitive edge?
mary allaire, president/director/head teacher at Allaire School
Allaire School is a nonprofit elementary school for children with learning disabilities, ADHD and/or executive functioning difficulties.
Our goal is to help students become independent learners by using compensatory, organization and focus skills.
We individualize the students’ academic programs based on their psychoneurologic profiles. We also teach attention, organization and productivity skills.
Describe your dream client/customer.
Our ideal student has average to above-average intelligence, is well adjusted socially, is gifted in some area and has a discrepant learning style, which makes academic learning a challenge.
What (or whom) did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was 9 years old, a blackboard was installed in my basement. It
and allows me some freedom in the selection process.
Which product (that you offer) is your favorite?
Love, love, love that we have the ability to design and create custom pieces without the huge price tag.
What makes your work worthwhile?
I believe that a beautiful home is the best gift you can ever give yourself. Your home reflects your inner soul.
What is the funniest thing that’s happened recently in your business?
I had someone walk in the store and ask me if it was my house. I can maybe see why — we do have an inviting living room space.
Five years from now, what changes will your business experience? My hope is that the economy is strong so that more people have discretionary funds to do more design work.
GARNISH HOME DECOR, 80 MAIN STREET, TIBURON, CA 94920, 415.435.5472, GARNISHHOMEDECOR.COM
inspired me to teach my neighbors and I began sharing the joy that I felt when knowledge was bestowed upon me.
What makes you excel at what you do?
A B.S. in education and an M.S. in Medical Science (neuropsychology) that help me show students that learning can be fun and help form the building blocks for future academic success.
What makes your work worthwhile?
Every minute is rewarding when you’re teaching those who have not been taught according to their needs because these students appreciate being recognized as intelligent and are thrilled to finally succeed.
What is the funniest thing that’s happened recently in your business?
While studying civic government, students were asked who makes rules in their homes and one replied, “My mom thinks she makes the rules but my dad thinks he does.”
From a business standpoint, who is your inspiration?
My mother, because she is a highly organized, frugal Yankee who taught by example. She praised jobs well-done and encouraged taking challenges and facing the consequences.
ALLAIRE SCHOOL, 50 EL CAMINO DRIVE, CORTE MADERA, CA 94925, 415.927.2640, ALLAIRESCHOOL@ATT.NET, ALLAIRE-SCHOOL.ORG
Dine
TERRAPIN CROSSROADS American Phil Lesh opened this waterfront restaurant and music venue serving fresh food and local talent. Veteran chef Chris Hernandez prepares salads, savory dishes and woodfired pizzas to go with a wide selection of beers, wines and cocktails. Come for the food, stay for the music. 100 Yacht Club Dr,415.524.2773, terrapin crossroads.net
CORTE MADERA
BENISSIMO Italian “Benissimo” means “really really good” in Italian. Happy Hour daily 4 to 6:30 p.m. daily. 18 Tamalpais Dr, 415.927.2316, benissimos.com
BLUE BARN GOURMET
American The first
Marin outpost of the S.F.–based Sustainable Restaurant Group, Blue Barn Gourmet has proven to be very popular since opening in October 2012. The menu consists of customizable salads, toasted sandwiches, soups and more prepared with locally harvested produce and proteins. 335 Corte Madera Town Center, 415.927.1104, bluebarn gourmet.com
BOCA PIZZERIA Italian
Good luck getting a seat at this new indooroutdoor family-friendly pizzeria in the Village at Corte Madera. Owners Shah Bahreyni and Sam Ramadan’s 142-seat eatery features Neapolitan-style pizza topped with imported San Marzano tomatoes and fresh house-made mozzarella. 1544 Redwood Hwy, 415.924.3021, bocapizzeria.com
BRICK & BOTTLE
California Sourcing local and artisanal ingredients, executive chef Scott Howard brings simple California cuisine to Corte Madera’s Brick & Bottle. The restaurant features a large bar area, an outdoor patio and family-friendly dining. 55 Tamal Vista Blvd, 415.924.3366, brickandbottle.com
CALIFORNIA PIZZA
KITCHEN California/ Eclectic Be prepared for chaos. Easy place to bring the kids: Mom and
Dad can enjoy a tasty Thai crunch salad and a glass of wine while the little ones feast on child-size portions of pasta and pizza. 347 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.945.0401, cpk.com
CHAMPAGNE BAKERY
French This casual bakery displays freshly made pastries, croissants, tarts, cookies and cakes, to be enjoyed indoors or out on the patio. Brioche French toast and a French dip sandwich with Swiss cheese are among the many menu options. Catering is also available. 103 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.5470, champagnebakery.com
IL FORNAIO Italian
Sausalito’s Larry Mindel hit a home run with this upscale Italian restaurant franchise. Besides the awardwinning breads, pizzas and pastas, the menu o ers a variety of salads and noncarb entrées.
223 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.4400, ilfornaio.com
LA MAISON DE LA REINE Vietnamese A refreshing change amid the plethora of Italian, Mexican and Chinese options. The crunchy cabbage chicken salad with peanuts, fresh spring rolls and combinations of pho are popular menu items.
346 Corte Madera Town Ctr, 415.927.0288
Hangtown Fry at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael
MARIN JOE’S Italian
Authentic Italian dishes have been served here for over 50 years. Pick from soup, salad, seafood, mesquite-grilled or sautéed meats and more than 10 pasta options guaranteed to satisfy. Have a drink and hear local musicians at the well-known piano bar. 1585 Casa Buena Dr, 415.924.2081, marinjoesrestaurant.com
THE COUNTER
California/American
The folks at the Counter have taken the “have it your way” motto to a new level. Mostly known for all-natural Angus beef, turkey, chicken or veggie burgers, the restaurant also o ers options like a bowl (all the ingredients without the bun) or salads. And if you want a martini with your burger, no problem; there’s a full bar.
201 Corte Madera Town Center 415.924.7000, thecounterburger.com
FAIRFAX
123 BOLINAS California
Known for farm-fresh, organic cuisine, 123 Bolinas was created by four friends who aimed to showcase seasonal fare in a relaxing, intimate environment. Enjoy locally brewed beer and small-production wines as you take in the view of Bolinas Park through the floorto-ceiling windows. 123 Bolinas St, 415.488.5123, 123bolinas.com
SORELLA CAFFE Italian
Open for over six years and run by sisters Sonia and Soyara, Sorella, which means “sisters,” serves up fresh Italian food with a northern influence. Customer favorites include cioppino, butternut squash ravioli
and eggplant parmesan. Easy place to bring the kids. 107 Bolinas Rd, 415.258.4520, sorellaca e.com
STEAKHOUSE GRILL
& BAR American Celebrating its 90 year anniversary, this steakhouse at Deer Park Villa is more than just a restaurant serving signature Angus steaks and prime rib. It is a gathering place with daily happy hour, live entertainment and a large heated deck. Events include Ladies’ Night, Prime Rib Weekend and the Redwood Music Series. 367 Bolinas Rd, 415.456.8084, deerpark steakhousegrill.com
GREENBRAE
BISTRO VIS À VIS
California This Bon Air Shopping Center eatery features the cooking of Soo Young Kim, who previously acted as owner, chef and sommelier at Petaluma’s Sooze Wine Bar. The neighborhood spot boasts outdoor seating for casually fine dining. 282 Bon air Ctr, 415.925.4370, bistrovisavis.com
WIPEOUT BAR & GRILL
American The familyfriendly hot spot has sur oards hanging from the ceiling, funin-the-sun music, a full bar and large televisions displaying surfers riding waves. Menu includes fish tacos, salads and burgers.302 Bon Air Ctr, 415.461.7400, wipeoutbarandgrill.com
LARKSPUR
BELCAMPO M EAT CO.
American This eatery serves classic grilled items like the roasted tri-tip sandwich and classic sloppy joe. The
meat is delivered from the certified-organic Belcampo farm near Mount Shasta, which is dedicated to practicing a holistic approach to pasture management.
Marin Country Mart, 2405 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.448.5810, bel campomeatco.com
EL HUARACHELOCO
Mexican Bringing authentic Mexico City dishes to Marin, chef Veronica Salazar’s menu has gained quite a following. From mini huaraches (filled corn masa cakes) to the footlong huarache with two salsas, crema, queso fresco and two toppings of your choice, you get a true taste of a homemade Mexican meal.
Marin Country Mart, 1803 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.925.1403, huaracheloco.com
EMPORIO RULLI Italian
Pastry chef Gary Rulli is renowned for his Northern Italian specialties and treats. The Larkspur location (there are three others) is a favored spot for lunch as well as co ee and a sweet. 464 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7478, rulli.com
LEFT BANK
RESTAURANT French
Known for awardwinning French cuisine and a lively brasserie ambience, this corner spot on Magnolia Avenue has rated high with locals for well over a decade. Those with a petite appetite or budget can opt for happy hour (4 to 6:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.–close M–F) for appetizers, most of which are priced under $6. 507 Magnolia Ave, 415.927.3331, leftbank.com
MARIN BREWING CO
American Grab a cold beer made right on site and pair it with fish ’n’ chips — fresh cod dipped in Mt. Tam pale ale batter, served with steak fries and homemade tartar sauce. 1809 Larkspur Landing Circle, 415.461.4677, marinbrewing.com
PICCO California This has been a popular place ever since opening in 2005. Dishes like miniburgers and seasonally driven menu items, along with risotto made every half hour, have kept people coming back. 320 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.0300, restaurantpicco.com
RUSTIC BAKERY
California Organic mouthwatering pastries, breads and sandwiches are on the menu here, including Meyer lemon mascarpone danishes and a bacon, avocado and heirloom tomato sandwich with mesclun. Marin Country Mart and 1139 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.1556, rusticbakery.com
THE TAVERN AT LARK CREEK American
The next chapter in the 1888 Victorian Murphy House, formerly known as Lark Creek Inn, is being written by chef Aaron Wright. 234 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7766, tavernatlarkcreek.com
THEMELTING POT
French Share the “Big Night Out” feast featuring chef’s specialties, or design your own spread with cheese fondue, salad, meat entrée and chocolate fondue dessert. 125 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.461.6358, themeltingpot.com
YANKEEPIER American
This family-friendly casual clam shack is harbored in a quaint house built in 1924 as a private residence. Though known for beer-battered fish ’n’ chips, clam chowder and tasty salads, Yankee Pier serves fresh seafood delivered daily from both coasts. 286 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.7676, yankeepier.com
MILL VALLEY
AVATAR’S PUNJABI
BURRITOS Indian A small and friendly place with only a few tables but a myriad of Indianinspired burrito dishes to choose from. Try the curry chicken or Jamaican jerk wrapped in warm naan. Cash only, but worth the trip to the ATM. 15 Madrona St, 415.381.8293, enjoyavatars.com
BALBOA CAFE
MILL VALLEY
California The San Francisco institution has already become a place to see and be seen in Mill Valley, especially after the 142 Throckmorton Comedy nights. Menu items include pan-roasted Alaskan halibut and risotto and burgers. 38 Miller Ave, 415.381.7321, balboacafe.com
BOO KOO Asian Asian street food is now available in Mill Valley for $10 or less. The restaurant o ers options for every eater—vegans, gluten-frees,
SUSHI RAN Japanese Fresh, innovative small plates are just big enough to share, the traditional sushi is melt-inyour-mouth good, and the wine, cocktail and sake lists keep the pickiest barfly well satisfied. Even the prices don’t deter the herd of sushi enthusiasts who line up nightly to partake; reservations are required in the main room. 107 Caledonia St, 415.332.3620, sushiran.com
vegetarians and carnivores alike. Menu items include chicken pho, vegan summer rolls, pad thai and five-spice pork satay, all made with organic, locally sourced veggies and proteins. 25 Miller Ave, 415.888.8303, eatbookoo.com
BUCKEYEROADHOUSE
American Oysters Bingo, baby back ribs and chili-lime “brick” chicken are a few of the satisfying, comfortfood menu items that have made this classic roadhouse a favorite since the ’30s. The warm dark-wood bar with red leather booths is a popular spot for cocktails, conversations or a light meal. 15 Shoreline Hwy, 415.331.2600, buckeyeroadhouse.com
BUNGALOW 44
American Much like sister restaurant Buckeye Roadhouse, Bungalow 44 o ers a mean dose of homey carbo- and lipid-laden dishes, such as the burger, fried chicken and tru e fries, as well
as a few lighter items. The bar is a neighborhood favorite, known for tasty spirits and eye candy. 44 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.381.2500, bungalow44.com
CAFEDEL SOUL
California Beware of addiction. Casual lunch spot, great for takeout. 247 Shoreline Hwy, 415.388.1852, cafedelsoul.net
CANTINA Mexican
The popular family restaurant o ers traditional Mexican fare including soups, salads, sandwiches and sizzling fajitas at lunch portions and prices. Stop by for Happy hour M-F from 4 to 7 p.m. for drinks and appetizers $5 and under. 651 E. Blithedale, 415.381.1070, the cantina.com
CHAMPAGNE
BAKERY French Enjoy a croque-monsieur alfresco, linger over a flaky, buttery croissant with a cappuccino, or pick up chocolatedipped strawberries
Fire Roasted Big Eye Tuna at Sushi Ran in Sausalito
for your dinner party. 41 Throckmorton Ave, 415.380.0410, millvalley.champagne bakery.com
EL PASEO HOUSE OF CHOPS American The menu speaks to the restaurant’s elegance, with o erings like roasted bone marrow, hamachi crudo, smoked trout salad and the El Paseo short rib. 17 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0741, elpaseomillvalley.com
FRANTOIO
RISTORANTE
ITALIANO Italian
Known for its in-house olive press, superior olive oil and excellent Italian cuisine, this spot is a great location for an intimate dinner, large groups and anything in between. Owned by Roberto Zecca and chef Duilio Valenti, both from Milano, the kitchen uses local and organic ingredients. For special occasions and private parties, reserve the olive-press room. The popular weekday happy hour starts at 4:30. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.289.5777, frantoio.com
INDIA PALACE Indian
Known as “that great restaurant in the Travelodge,” India Palace is a favorite among the takeout crowd; however, eating on site is a treat too. 707 Redwood Hwy, 415.388.3350, india palacemillvalley.com
HARMONY Chinese
Dishes here are an infusion of many flavors. The barbecue pork bun is filled with house-made roasted meat in a savory sauce; fresh mussels are accented with red chili and Thai basil. Pair your pick with wine, beer or tea. Strawberry Village, 415.381.5300, harmonyrestaurant group.com
JOE’S TACO LOUNGE
Mexican Joe’s serves up regular fare such as tasty fish tacos, burritos and enchiladas as well as more unusual items like Mexican pizza, tofu salad and crab tostadas. And if there are too many unsupervised kids for a peaceful meal, takeout is easy too. 382 Miller Ave, 415.383.8164
Apricot Scones at Wildfox in Novato
LA GINESTRA Italian A favorite family spot for over 30 years. While this old-school Italian eatery is known for traditional pastas, veal dishes, pizzas and dry martinis, the familiar wait sta is also part of the attraction. 127 Throckmorton Ave, 415.388.0224
MI LL VA LL EY
BEERWORKS American
Known for handcrafted beers, imported and local microbrews and house-made kombucha and root beer, this popular downtown Mill Valley neighborhood brewery recently doubled its space and expanded its food and beverage menu. 173 Throckmorton Ave, 415.888.8218, mill valleybeerworks.com
NOURISH GRILL
American Open for brunch, lunch and dinner, Nourish o ers a variety of classic seafood like fish ’n’ chips as well as American grill fare like the Niman Ranch black ’n’ bleu burger. The establishment is
also the restaurant for the Club at Harbor Point and is situated on the waterfront and open to the public. Many ingredients are locally sourced and organic. 475 E Strawberry Dr, 415.381.4400, nourish. harbor-point.com
PEARL’S PHAT BURGERS American
Dubbed a silver-spoon alternative to a greasy spoon diner by The New York Times, Pearl’s has a loyal following for the big juicy all-natural patties (vegetarian, turkey, beef, bu alo or grilled chicken) served up with tasty sides such as garlic or sweet potato fries, shakes and seasonal smoothies. Eat in if you can get a seat, or take out. 8 East Blithedale Ave, 415.381.6010, pearlsdeluxe.com
PRA BH I NDIAN K ITC HEN Indian Owned and operated by the Singh family, this restaurant is dedicated to serving healthy, organic and sustainable food with gluten-free
and vegan options. Dishes include Chicken Pakora, Vegetable Biryani and Basil Garlic Naan. 24 Sunnyside Ave, 415.384.8241, prabh indiankitchen.com
TAMALPIE Italian
Traditional pizzas from a 1,500-year-old recipe, with organic ingredients gathered from the farmers’ market twice weekly. Sit indoors or out; enjoy starters like creamy polenta, salads, and pies with names like Hoo-kooE-koo and Railroad Grade. 477 Miller Ave, 415.388.7437, tamalpiepizza.com
VASCO Italian Whether you’re at a table, the bar or the back counter, you can expect an intimate and tasty dining experience at this one-room trattoria. Try one of the restaurant’s pasta dishes or thin-crust pizzas. 106 Throckmorton Ave, 415.381.3343, vascomillvalley.com
of Toast. Fare highlights include Chicken Pear Salad and mac ’n’ cheese. 807 Grant Ave, 415.897.7707, leftcoastdepot.com
MUSCIO’S Italian
Inspired by the tradition of family dinners, Muscio’s is a new restaurant serving traditional Italian food. Meals include Mom’s Fettuccine with Prawns (gluten-free rigatoni available), My Sister’s Minestrone Soup and Pesto Chicken Pizza. 1200 Grant Ave, 415.898.2234, muscios.com
RUSTIC BAKERY
NOVATO
CHIANTI CUCINA
Italian “This cozy eatery features an array of Italian and American choices, including a penne pesto described by one Yelp contributor as a “hot creamy bowl of heaven.” Another standout menu item is the house-made ravioli cooked up by chef Chris Hapra. 7416 Redwood Hwy, 415.878.0314, chiantinovato.com
HILLTOP 1892 California
Situated in a historic estate in Novato with sweeping views, Hilltop 1892 o ers traditional favorites with a California flair. Open from breakfast through dinner, as well as Sunday brunch. 850 Lamont Ave, 415.893.1892, hilltop1892.com
LEFT COAST DEPOT
American Located in Old Town Novato, this new eatery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared by chef Mike Garcia, formerly
Chinese chicken salad, both classics. 335 San Anselmo Ave, 415.454.9840, comfortscafe.com
INSALATA’S
Mediterranean Awardwinning chef Heidi Insalata Krahling o ers Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes prepared with local organic produce and artisan meats.
120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.457.7700, insalatas.com
L’APPART RESTO
California Organic mouthwatering pastries, breads and sandwiches are on the menu here, including Meyer lemon mascarpone danishes and a bacon, avocado and heirloom tomato sandwich with mesclun. 1407 Grant Avenue, 415.878-4952, rusticbakery.com
TAVOLAITALIAN
KITCHEN Italian A neighborhood gathering place for friends and family, Tavola o ers locally sourced and sustainable produce, meats and decor. Traditional favorites like heirloom tomato and zucchini Panini and minestrone soup pay homage to its Italian roots. Open for Sunday brunch. 5800 Nave Dr, 415.883.6686, tavolaitaliankitchen.com
SAN ANSELMO
COMFORTS CAFE
American This cozy spot features local ingredients and serves breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. Be sure to try the Philly cheesesteak and
French Owners Bruno Denis and Olivier Souvestre o er a menu most Francophiles would be proud of, complete with items like smoked herring, bone marrow and cassoulet de legumes. 636 San Anselmo Ave, 415.256.9884, lappartresto.com
LINCO LN PARK WINE
BAR American Choose between an intimate setting at a marble bar with vintage stools or the lounge room with built-in banquettes. Adhering to a farm-totable and grape-to-glass philosophy, the Lincoln Park Wine Bar serves locally sourced and organic food and wine. 198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.453.9898, lincolnparkwine.com
MARINITAS Mexican
The sister restaurant of Insalata’s, Marinitas continues to flourish as a bastion of creative Latin cuisine in Marin. It may not be as lowpriced as most Mexican restaurants in the area, but this is not your typical south-of-theborder spot. The festive atmosphere and funky decor complement the excellent food for a classy, lively experience.
Burrata at Servino in Tiburon
Finish with the rich tres leches cake. This place gets packed, so make reservations.
218 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.454.8900, marinitas.net
PIZZALINA Italian
This restaurant is a neighborhood gathering place to relax and unwind with friends and family. Menus change daily according to the seasonal markets. 914 Sir Francis Drake Blvd,415.256.9780, pizzalina.com
SWEETLIFE BAKERY AND CAFE American
With an emphasis on simplicity and tradition, the menu here includes fresh-baked pastries, sandwiches, salads and pizza. 101 San Anselmo Ave, 415.456.4580, sweet lifebakeryandcafe.com
SAN RAFAEL
AMICI’SEAST COAST
PIZZERIA California The array of pizzas includes gluten-free crust options and the new Siciliano, an enticing mix of mozzarella, slowroasted garlic, sausage, broccoli and crushed red pepper flakes, sans tomato sauce. 1242 Fourth St, 415.455.9777, amicis.com
ODALISQUE CAFE
Mediterranean This casual art cafe was inspired by “La Grande Odalisque,” an oil painting of a slave done in 1814 by JeanAuguste-Dominque Ingres. Menu items are built from seasonal items available at the farmers’ markets and include persimmon salad, roasted butternut squash risotto and a variety of pizzettas. 1335 4th St, 415.460.1335, odalisquecafe.com
SAN RAFAEL JOE’S
Italian Guido and Theresa Farina run this Marin institution, which has been famous for sophisticated yet casual Italian fare since 1947. Great for large parties, the dining room holds 240. The Pacific red snapper meunière and roast sirloin of beef are standouts. 931 Fourth St, 415.456.2425, srjoes.com
SOL FOOD Puerto
Rican With south-ofthe-border treats like yellow rice, beans and plantains and authentic Puerto Rican specialties, this one-room eatery on Fourth Street just o Highway 101 can be hard to get into, but it’s worth the wait. No alcohol served. 903 Lincoln Ave, 415.451.4765, solfoodrestaurant.com
SUSHI TO DAI FOR Japanese Snagging a seat in this popular sushi spot can be a challenge, but patience will be rewarded with tasty and fresh sashimi, unique sushi rolls and great prices. 816 Fourth St, 415.721.0392
THERESA & JOHNNY’S COMFORT FOOD
American Cooking like Mom used to make. Drop by for eggs Benedict, tuna melts, co ee and some of the best milk shakes around. 817 Fourth St, 415.259.0182, theresa-and-johnnys.com
SAUSALITO
ANGELINO RESTAURANT Italian Father-and-son chefs Pasquale and Alfredo Ancona o er handmade pastas and seasonal antipasti at this authentic Italian restaurant, which has been showcasing cuisine of the
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Campania region for the past 24 years. 621 Bridgeway, 415.331.5225, angelinorestaurant.com
AVATAR’S Indian
Looking for “the best meal of your life?”
Let owner Ashok Kumar order for you. One-room casual dining for lunch and dinner. 2656 Bridgeway, 415.332.8083, enjoyavatars.com
FENG NIAN Chinese
menu items, is to die for, and the much-adored croque-monsieur is under $10. Opt for indoor or outdoor seating. 85 Liberty Ship Way, 415.332.5625, legarage bistrosausalito.com
MURRAY CIRCLE
American Enjoy the sun on the deck of this Cavallo Point restaurant. Locals say they come back for the fresh seasonal specials like wild sturgeon and Wolfe Ranch quail. 601 Murray Circle, 415.339.4750, cavallopoint.com
Busy at lunch and dinner, this spacious hangout has been a popular spot for wonton soup, pot stickers and daily specials for nearly two decades. Free delivery. 2650 Bridgeway, 415.331.5300, fengnian.com
LE GARAGE French
Escape the touristy Sausalito spots and grab brunch right on the water. The atmosphere is animated with light French music (think Amélie). The Kobe Burger, though not as Parisian as the other
NAPA VALLEY BURGER COMPANY American
Serving local, all-natural and organic meats, produce and wines, this burger joint o ers classic burgers (glutenfree buns available), fries, salads, tacos and root beer floats. With outdoor and indoor tables, the space can accommodate up to 100 people. 670 Bridgeway, 415.332.1454, napavalley burgercompany.com
Warm Olives at Tavola in Novato
POGGIO Italian A great place to celebrate a special occasion or simply enjoy a night out. Executive chef Peter McNee cooks up delicious Northern Italian cuisine using fresh and local ingredients, including produce from the nearby Poggio chef garden. 777 Bridgeway, 415.332.7771, poggiotratoria.com
SALITO’S Seafood In a well-known location on Richardson Bay that was most recently home to Paradise Bay, Salito’s features a new look and casual ambience. 1200 Bridgeway, 415.331.3226, salitoscrabhouse.com
SAYLOR’S RESTAURANT AND
BAR California/Mexican Marin’s first tequila bar o ers over 100 tequila options. Nightly meal specials include chicken potpie, roasted salmon, baby back ribs and traditional meat loaf. The private dining room is perfect for large parties.
Seafood A great place to seek out fresh seafood in a warm and inviting environment. Varieties of east and west coast fish are flown in daily. 303 Johnson St, 415.332.1492, seafoodpeddler.com
SWEET GINGER
Japanese Edna and Wayne Chiang know their way around good sushi. Try fresh sashimi, the classic Dragon Roll, 49er’s Roll or Rock ’N Roll, or be adventurous and have Wayne whip you up something o the menu. Good
sake and a comfortable setting round out the reasonably priced meal. 400 Caledonia St, 415.332.1683, sweet gingersausalito.com
THETRIDENT Seafood
Originally a turn-ofthe-century building constructed in 1898 for the San Francisco Yacht Club, this waterfront restaurant reopened in October after a remodel. Executive chef James Montejano, known for supporting local farmers, fishermen and organic food producers, prepares dishes like Hawaiian mahi mahi fish tacos and grilled swordfish. 558 Bridgeway, 415.331.3232, thetrident sausalito.com
TIBURON
CAPRICE California
Book the private party room for large groups or just relax in what one Yelp reviewer called “the perfect romantic dinner spot.” Midweek, take advantage of the restaurant’s wellpriced three-course dinners for less than $25. 2000 Paradise Dr, 415.435.3400, thecaprice.com
DYNASTY Chinese
Chinese Mu shu pork and pot stickers are among the menu choices; located near the point of Tiburon. 1801 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.6766, tiburondynasty.com
DON ANTONIO
TRATTORIA Italian
Located in Tiburon’s historic Ark Row, this trattoria o ers authentic Italian cuisine in a quaint setting. The menu includes traditional courses with selections such as chicken piccata, organic
DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA Leadership Lecture Series
Dr. Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani
Beyond the Possible
Friday, February 8, 2013
Tickets: $30, includes autographed copy of their book. Al Gore
The Future
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Tickets: $45, includes autographed copy of the book.
Madeleine Albright
Prague Winter
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Tickets: $25, includes autographed copy of the book.
TO PURCHASE TICKETS: Call:Book Passage at 415-927-0960
Visit:Corte Madera or San Francisco stores Web:www.bookpassage.com FOR ENTIRE SPRING LINEUP: Visit:dominican.edu/LLS Call: 415-485-3202
Pain Medicine Consultants
Out & About / DINE
roasted rack of lamb and house-made pesto. 114 Main St, 415.435.0400, donantoniotrattoria.com
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• If you do need surgery, we have strong relationships with the best surgeons in the country.
MILANO Italian Located in the Cove Shopping Center, this familyowned neighborhood spot is known for its pasta and friendly service. A good place to take the kids — or catering option for your next birthday party. 1 Blackfield Dr, 415.388.9100, tiburonmilano.com
SALT & PEPPER
green business, Servino uses fresh, local and organic ingredients whenever possible. Check the website for the live music schedule. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676, servino.com
TIBURON TAVERN
• Double Board Certified. Trained at Harvard, Stanford, and the Mayo Clinic.
American This sunfilled, hardwood-floored one room restaurant with blue-checkered tablecloths is a local favorite. Popular items on chef Abraham Monterroso’s menu include scallops, rib-eye steak, a beef burger and traditional crab cakes with jalapeno dipping sauce. 38 Main Street, 415.435.3594
SAM’SANCHOR CAFE
American Everyone knows Sam’s deck is the prime spot for brunch on a lazy sunny Sunday, and its bar is the town’s historic watering hole, but Sam’s is also a great place for lunch or dinner. Enjoy transfat-free calamari, fresh fish, seasonal salads and pastas. 27 Main St, 415.435.4527, samscafe.com
SERVINO RISTORANTE
Italian Executive Chef Massimo Covello comes to the kitchen via Frantoio and Piazza D’Angelo, where he cooks up an array of rustic Italian dishes, including house-made pastas, wood oven pizzas and seasonal specialties. A member of Marin Organic and one of Marin’s first eateries to become certified as a
California The atmosphere here is truly enchanting, with two outdoor patios, two indoor fireplaces and candlelit tables at dinner. No item is more than $20, including the steak, with entrées falling in the $14 to $18 range. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.5996, tiburontavern.com
WEST MARIN
DRAKESBEACH CAFE
American If you’re OK with the long drive, you can’t beat the view and the fresh, local ingredients used to make the burgers, salads and soups at this casual spot (Inverness). Walk on the beach after lunch. 1 Drakes Beach Rd, 415.669.1297, drakescafe.com
NICK’SCOVE American
Large windows open the 130-seat eatery to the picturesque Tomales Bay and Hog Island. Menu consists of the freshest available local seafood, oysters and bounty from nearby West Marin farms, including Bodega Bay Dungeness crab cake and Tomales Bay clam chowder (Marshall). 23240 Hwy 1, 415.663.1033, nickscove.com
OSTERIA STELLINA
California Whether it’s to cap o a day of hiking or celebrate a romantic anniversary,
American Choose from an array of organic, locally grown produce, artisan meats and wild seafood (Stinson). 43 Arenal Ave, 415.868.1272, parksidecafe.com
PINE CONE DINER
American A favorite for locals as well as tourists (Point Reyes Station). 60 Fourth St, 415.663.1536, pineconediner.com
RANCHO NICASIO
American Known for live music and an extensive menu featuring everything from Dungeness crab burgers to walnut-crusted goat cheese, Rancho Nicasio is open seven days a week. Be sure to stop by for happy hour, M–F, 4 to 6 p.m. 1 Old Rancheria (Nicasio) Rd, 415.662.2219, ranchonicasio.com
SAND DOLLAR
American Originally built from three barges in Tiburon in 1921, the Sand Dollar Restaurant was floated to Stinson that same year. Enjoy live music along with barbecued local oysters and New England clam chowder. (Stinson). 3458 Shoreline Hwy, 415.868.0434, stinson beachrestaurant.com
STATION HOUSE CAFE
American Fresh local homegrown foods, served when available, are showcased on the chef’s menu. Stop in on weekends for live music and enticing wine and beer lists. 11180 State Route One, 415.663.1515, stationhousecafe.com
SURFERS GRILL
American The view doesn’t get better than this — nor does the surf salad. Built right out on Stinson Beach, this casual lunch spot o ers tasty fresh organic salads alongside corn dogs, burgers and fries. Stinson Beach Park, Hwy 1, 415.868.1777, surfersgrill.com
CHARLES M STEWART ARCHITECTS
Panini at Grazie Cafe in Novato
DINE out
DEALS ON MEALS
Deals on Meals
Enjoy local restaurants and save 30 percent on meals.Check out the participating restaurantsin our “Deals on Meals” section and experience big savings. Spend only $35 for a dining certificate worth $50. Simply go to marinmagazine.com/dineout to purchase a dining certificate from a restaurant in this section and we will mail it to you. Try a new restaurant or purchase a certificate for an old favorite. A perfect gift for any occasion. Limited supply each month.
Dine local — save big time!
Amici’s offers a taste of the Northeast’s distinctive Italian fare, including authentic thin-crust pizzas, and freshly made pastas and salads. Amici’s offers dine-in and takeout as well as delivery of their entire menu to local homes and businesses. A Gluten Free menu is also available at the San Rafael location.
Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria
1242 Fourth Street
Angelino Restaurant specializes in bringing the taste of Southern Italy to Sausalito. When you dine at Angelino Restaurant you experience the flavors of authentic Italian fare. We try to capture the beauty of Italy in every bite.
415.455.9777
San Rafael, CA amicis.com
Gather Together for the New Year! Traditional to chef-inspired, join us for a locally-harvested dinner with your family and friends. Enjoy cuisine stations celebrating the season, vegan selections, and Chef Scott’s family recipes for dessert. The table is set, no dishes to be done. Call for details and reservations and book your next party!
Angelino Restaurant 621 Bridgeway
415.331.5225 Sausalito, CA angelinorestaurant.com
Cucina, a family friendly Italian restaurant in Novato, welcomes you to our family, where great food, service and atmosphere await you. We invite you to our table, offering a casual and memorable experience. At Chianti Cucina, you’ll feel like a neighborhood regular. OpenTable.com Diner’s Choice Winner 2011 & 2012.
Brick & Bottle 55 Tamal Vista Blvd 415.924.3366 Corte Madera, CA brickandbottle.com
Cucina 7416 Redwood Blvd 415.878.0314
Chianti
The historic Cliff House offers awesome views from every angle and one of nature’s best shows every day. Dine in the casual Bistro Restaurant or the elegant Sutro’s at the Cliff House. Sunday Brunch in the Terrace Room is a Bay Area tradition with free-flowing champagne and a delicious buffet.
Cliff House
1090 Point Lobos
San Francisco, CA
415.386.3330
Visit the Seafood Peddler for the freshest seafood Marin has to offer shipped in daily from the east coast to west! Enjoy the view indoors or enjoy our beautiful flower lined patio. Book our private Harbor View banquet room for any occasions.
Seafood Peddler
303 Johnson Street
415.332.1492
Sausalito, CA seafoodpeddler.com
223 Corte Madera Town Ctr
415.927.4400 Corte Madera, CA ilfornaio.com
San Rafael Joe’s wishes everyone the happiest of New Year’s. Wellknown for its contemporary Italian-American cuisine, modest prices, and convivial atmosphere offering a
415.456.2425 San Rafael, CA sanrafaeljoes.com
Dining in? Try one of the great recipes in Organic Marin. Produced by Marin Magazine, this seasonal cookbook celebrates the organic farmers of Marin County and over 40 delicious recipes from local restaurants. 35% off with the code DINEIN. Go to themarinstore.com/organicmarin
The Counter offers all-natural, humanely-raised beef and 312,120+ combinations to build your own burger. The Counter is a great place for family, friends, great music and a full bar. Voted best burger in Bay Area by SFGate.com readers on Baylist 2011. ‘LIKE’ us on www.facebook.com/ TheCounterCorteMadera ! The Counter 201 Town Center
415.924.7000 Corte Madera, CA thecounterburger.com
On the Scene
SNAPSHOTS FROM SPECIAL EVENTS IN MARIN AND SAN FRANCISCO EDITED BY D ANIEL JEWETT
CELEBRATION OF WOMEN AND FILM Guests enjoyed a film, wines and crafts donated by the Women’s Building’s 34th annual Celebration of Craftswomen at the December 1 event held at Fort Mason Center.
48TH ANNUAL GHIRARDELLI SQUARE TREE LIG HTING
CEREMONY Ghirardelli Square’s gift to the city included free live entertainment for the entire family, culminating in the lighting of the new tree on November 23.
T HE TOUR DE N OEL St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ross celebrated its 26th “Tour de Noel” Holiday House Tour December 8 with a tour of five lavishly decorated homes in both Ross and Kentfield.
Mallory Cain, Jessica Beitch and Katie Longchamps
Sophie, Julian, Peter and Francesca McWilliams
Christina Loren and Santa
Alison and Olivia Gold
Arlene H enry, Keith Granger and LaRae Q uy
HALLECK CREEK R ANCHANNUAL FUNDRAISER HONORING BUCK
BRANNAMAN The legendary horse trainer was honored for his work helping horses and people overcome barriers in their lives at the November 16 Halleck Creek Ranch event at Rancho Nicasio.
ICB WINTER OPEN STUDIOS
#44 Live acoustic music filled the halls of Sausalito’s ICB Building as guests wandered from studio to studio December 1–2 taking in the work of more than 80 artists riffing on the music theme of 4/4 time.
Jerry and Nancy Cuff, Steve Schwindt, Art Yee and Stacey Singer
Amanda and Eric White
Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Buck Brannaman
Anne- Marie De Rivera
Tim Abdellah Marilyn Steele
LOVE COURAGE ASK
For those withAlzheimer’s, dementia or other special needs, WindChime of Marin offers a fully licensed Memory Care environment with 24-hour care and supervision. We are dedicated to helping our residents live as independently as possible, with a host of activities designed to encourage interaction and participation through appropriate programming and engagement by our highly trained and dedicated staff.
1111 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Kentfield, CA 94904 www.WindChimeOfMarin.com
March 19–23, 2013
The annual event benefitting the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is a ravishing floral mash-up with the museum’s own masterpieces from the permanent collection.
Please visit our website at charle.com, to view our photo gallery and read client testimonials.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact us at: 1(888) 680.4247 -or- chdewitt@aol.com
Karron Power, MD, MPH
From left to right: Melanie Victor-Smith, Nolan Misitano, Marian Jung, Marc Herrenbruck, Judy Stern, David Wilson, Karen Burrous, Jeff Smith
Marin Home
FROM TOURS AND MAKEOVERS TO DECORATIVE DETAILS AND REALTOR INSIGHTS
The 1890 Victorian was described in sales material as a New England home in Northern California.
FRAN AND LISA Strachan had been married only two years and were living in Fran’s Mill Valley home of 20 years when Lisa decided the couple needed to find a fresh new place to start their lives together.
The very idea struck fear in Fran’s heart. “My first thought was, ‘Oh no, this house is paid o ,’ ” he says. “I managed to put it o for about a year, but the idea wouldn’t go away.” So this spring, the couple began hunting for a new home with realtor Kathleen Cli ord.
“Working with Fran and Lisa was so enjoyable because they are genuinely nice folks,” she confides. “They were introduced to each other by a mutual friend a couple of years earlier, hit it o and ended up getting married. Lisa’s new to California and was really homesick.”
B oth Lisa and Fran are East C oasters — he’s from Massachusetts and she’s a recent
newcomer from Vermont — and still they had different ideas about the kind of house they wanted.
Fran, the retired founder of Zia Natural Skincare and current head of business development for EO products, explains that he had his vision of “living on top of a hill with a large view and big deck, and Lisa had her vision of a home like the ones you see in Vermont with a big lawn and lots of property.”
With C li ord’s help, they looked at about 50 homes, and Lisa, a nurse supervisor at Sutter Health in S an Francisco, looked at even more online. “We were struggling to come together on a place and we went to so many places,” Fran says. “ Nothing really clicked for a long time.”
Then they came across a home for sale in the Dominican area of San R afael, an area neither Fran nor Lisa had initially considered, and found their new home. “We pulled up to the house, went into the living room and out to the backyard, and just looked at each other at the same time and said, ‘Let’s do it,’ ” Fran recalls.
The expanded two-story 1890 Victorian had been described in sales material as a New England home in Northern California, “which just clicked for Lisa in a big way,” Fran says, “and I liked it, too.”
With a parlor, living room, kitchen and master suite on the main floor and three bedrooms upstairs, there’s enough space for his two teenage boys and her middle daughter to comfortably share the home with them.
Even so, the house wasn’t perfect. The couple quickly replaced the oldest parts of the foundation and removed the unattractive 1970s-era aluminum siding. They patched the 100-year-old walls, repainted the home inside and out and laid new pavers in the gravel driveway.
They also returned the bonus room to its original purpose as a garage while keeping the garden o ce and workshop intact.
But did the home’s swimming pool really remind Lisa of her beloved Vermont? “Oh, yes,” says Fran. “She had a pool in Vermont — a pool/ice skating rink.” m
The entrance to the home features a pink-flowering rose vine. The rustic farmhouse kitchen includes a utilitarian hose perfect for washing dishes or hosing off the dog.
THE DETAILS
WHERE THEY PURCHASED San Rafael–Dominican area
WHAT THEY BOUGHT An 1890 Victorian with swimming pool and garden o ce
LISTING AGENT Patti Oxman, Frank Howard Allen
SELLING AGENT Kathleen Cli ord, Pacific Union and Christie’s Great Estates
STATS Average cost per square foot for homes in neighborhood: $423 (based on three recent sales)
Clockwise from top left: An antique brass coffee table; Lisa and Fran with her daughter Casey and his son Skye; a library off the great room; the great room; a painting of two cows hangs in the kitchen; the century-old home is outfitted with new siding and sits on a new foundation.
Palms Up
They stand tall and proud, guarding our backyards and walkways. Indeed, the impressive palm trees of Marin bring good vibes to any neighborhood.
Email a photo of yourself standing by your tree to letters@marinmagazine.com; we’ll choose one or more submitted photos to run in the next issue.
PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER
RECOGNIZED LOCAL
LEADER
Alain Pinel Realtors is an established market leader and has a reputation for expertise in representing some of the finest homes in the Bay Area. Due to our powerful local brand, we were selected to be a founding member of Luxury Portfolio InternationalTM, the luxury face of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® – the largest global network of premier companies, dominated by many of the world’s most powerful independent luxury brokerages.
Our affiliation with this influential organization allows us to market your unique property to nearly 200 well respected firms in 45 states and 27 countries. This relationship gives our properties additional domestic and global exposure, and has proven to be the most effective luxury real estate marketing system in the world.
Golden Gate Avenue, Belvedere
From the estate of the inventor of the first automatic swimming pool cleaner, Andrew L. Pansini. See the sun rise and set from this magnificent, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath, 5200+/-sf property.
200GoldenGate.com
Mariposa Court, Tiburon
Elegant, Mediterranean-style home designed for indoor/outdoor entertaining and to maximize the world class views. Custom built home with a sauna, library and gymnasium. 4 bedrooms, 6 baths (4 full, 2 half). 5280+/-sf.
$2,800,000 Stephen Pringle 415.720.7832 Sold!
$7,900,000 The Stewarts 415.898.1244
7Mariposa.com
$3,900,000 Toni Abruzzo-Ramirez 415.827.8280
Spring Road, Kentfield
Located in desirable Kent Woodlands on a gated, southwest-facing knoll sits this stylish and modern home, with incredible sun exposure and spectacular views of Mt. Tam and the bay. Pool and privacy.
15Spring.com
Prestwick Court, Novato Custom home with history and elegance. 3bd/3.5ba, 3900+/-sf, 700+/-sf guest house, beautiful landscaping, privacy, pool, golf cart garage. End of a cul-de-sac, surrounded by holes 5, 6 and 7 of the Marin Country Club.
33Prestwick.com
$1,999,000
Lorraine Watkins 415.328.6797
Las Casas Drive, San Rafael Custom-built home in a private setting with just over an acre of land. 4bd/4ba built by Diego Brothers in 1996 with a well-designed floor plan, large master suite with views and wonderful outdoor space with fireplace.
72LasCasas.com
$1,699,000
Michael Cohen
415.602.9969
De Silva Island, Mill Valley
2bd/2.5ba on one level with a 2-car attached garage, elevator and fantastic San Francisco and water views. Sophisticated interior, exceptional finishes, high ceilings, crown molding and an elegant master suite.
32DeSilvaIsland.com
$1,649,000
Suzanne Shelhart
415.613.0100
West Brooke Drive, Novato Gorgeous, gated mini-estate. Elegant yet charming. Spacious 4bd/3.5ba plus detached 1bd/1ba guest house. Situated on .5+/-acre with pool, sport court, playground, manicured gardens and a five-car garage. 13WestBrooke.com
Cable Roadway, Sausalito
Single level condo with amazing views of San Francisco/Bay, Berkeley Hills, the Bay Bridge and Belvedere Island. Large living room and no HOA dues. The perfect lock and go lifestyle.
SausalitoViewHome.com
$1,395,000 Jenn Pfeiffer 415.302.3198
you to
27 Evergreen, Kentfield 203 Bolinas, Ross 81 Kent, Kentfield 88 Culloden Park, San Rafael
120 South Ridgewood, Kentfield 12 Drake’s Cove, Larkspur 281 Fawn, San Anselmo
137 Bolinas, Ross
2 Alturas, Mill Valley
9 Willow Hill, Ross
200 Molino, Mill Valley
574 Summit, Mill Valley
187 Lagunitas, Ross
Coming Soon in Ross: Call for a Private Showing!
A premiere, private estate, 117 Laurel Grove is close to everywhere: San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Wine Country, trails, beaches and ski areas, yet occupies a world all its own in the highly desirable, charming town of Ross. South-facing on a green knoll with views of Mt. Tam and Mt. Baldy from almost every room and throughout the grounds, this updated home offers authentic, classical architectural character with contemporary styling and an ideal floor plan.
1903 Arts & Crafts-style Estate | 7100+/-sf with 5bd/6.5ba plus Full Guest Cottage | Views of Mt. Tam from Nearly Every Room and Throughout Grounds | Highest Standards of Architectural Design Excellence | Coffered Ceilings, Wide Paneling, Deep Crown Moldings, Old World Craftsmanship | 1.4+/-acres with Stunning, Groomed & Natural Grounds | Private Well for Irrigation | 15' x 50' Lap Pool
www.117LaurelGrove.com | Price Upon Request
69 MAGNOLIA AVENUE, LARKSPUR
is classic Larkspur home is light, open and inviting. Private, sunny backyard lawn & patio right o the great room. Two bedrooms plus a small o ce or nursery, possible expansion potential (check with city). Nicely updated kitchen overlooks private back yard. Close to the park, Little League elds, transit, trails, historic downtown & great schools. O ered at $879,000
www.southernmarinhomes.com
Discover Your Dream
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You might not know what you’re looking for, but now you know where to find it, mcguire.com
Connie Irwin 2012 Realtor of the Year
Connie Irwin is richly deserving of the 2012 Realtor of the Year award, presented annually by the Marin Association of Realtors to an individual who exemplifies high principles, high ethical standards, dedication to service, and a commitment to giving back to the community of Marin. Connie lives by these attributes, taking it a step further with her outstanding loyalty and devotion to the success of MAR. We are extremely proud to call Connie one of our own.
Congratulations, Connie
Kathleen Clifford
Charismatic Corte Madera Avenue
390 Corte Madera Avenue, Corte Madera
Serenely sited behind a private gate, 390 Corte Madera Avenue is a peaceful place you will immediately call home. The exceptionally upscale kitchen features a Subzero refrigerator, a Wolf range, Bosch dishwasher, and opens to the “great room” with a brick wood burning fireplace. Peaked open beam ceilings, gleaming hardwood floors and plantation shutters are just a few of the essential touches that add to the allure. A home office, den or children’s playroom adjoins the living area, adding flexibility to your lifestyle. 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths and a powder room (all updated, with wainscoting trim) and a large, 2 car garage plus storage complete the home. Beautiful grounds include outdoor dining and entertaining deck and patios, gazebo, a pool and spa, and mature gardens.
With the town centers of both Larkspur and Corte Madera a short walk or ride away, as well as fantastic hiking and biking trails right across the street, 390 Corte Madera Avenue boasts one of the best locations in Marin County.
Price Upon Request
TRACY McCULLOCH, J.D.
Pacific Union Congratulates Tracy McCulloch on a Decade of Success
Coming Soon Rare Opportunity!
PRICE UPON REQUEST
“I am dedicated to personalized service. I use cutting edge tools, while maintaining a personal client focused approach when it comes to finding the right home. Real estate sales will be robust in 2013. Don’t miss this opportunity! Connect with me and I will help you every step of the way.”
To my clients, friends and family, a warm thank you for your loyal and continued support. A
TRACY McCULLOCH, J.D.
"Representation with Integrity"
VICTORIA LO VE
Exquisite Kent Woodlands Estate
4 Orchard Way, Kentfield
Elegant Hampton’s style 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath residence in the flats of Kent Woodlands with stunning Mt. Tam views. Offered at $5,995,000 • 4orchard.com
Chic Architectural Jewel
25 Harcourt Street, San Rafael
Classic 1914 Forbes 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath beauty, renovated top to bottom in 2012 with impeccable taste & style, on a level landscaped lot. Offered at $1,795,000 • 25harcourt.com
Extraordinary Results Sold 2012
16 Crest Road Belvedere
Multiple Offers
Buyer Representation
Listed at $4,995,000
200 Forbes Avenue San Rafael
Sold Off Market
Seller Representation
Listed at $2,150,000
27 Eye Street San Rafael
Multiple Offers
Seller Representation
Listed at $2,995,000
60 Corte Del Bayo Larkspur
Multiple Offers
Seller Representation
Listed at $1,499,000
“You both did a wonderful job. I can’t count the times you went the extra mile for us over the past year. You really showed us just how much value outstanding real estate professionals can add. Thank you so much.”
Scott
Pearson, VP, AOL
“You two are the very best I have ever worked with. I am amazed by your insight, knowledge of the market, and gutsy approach at dealing with whatever is thrown your way. We are truly blessed to have been referred to you.”
Brian Hills, Mortgage Broker/Banker
“We could not be more pleased with the high level of expertise and professionalism you both brought to the sale of our home in Tiburon and purchase of our new home in Belvedere. Your negotiating skills are extraordinary, and you worked tirelessly for us.”
Robin & Andy Bloch
Let Us Go to Work in Managing Your Real Estate Transaction Call Us for a Consultation the Moment You Consider Selling or Purchasing.
Contemporary Farmhouse in Ross
43 Laurel Grove Avenue, Ross
Prepare to be enchanted! This exquisite Ross property was renovated in 2008 and offers exceptional style, living space, privacy, and light. A stylish, gated front yard welcomes you with a level lawn, lush plantings of lavender & rosemary, and a Bluestone porch leading to the entry of this inviting one-storyhome.Thelivingroomfeatures ra iliancherryfloors,awood-burningfireplacewithanelegantwoodmantle,alargebuilt-inblackwalnutmediacabinetwitha ilesA system,andwallsofwindowslookingouttotheyardandpatioareas.Adjacenttothelivingroomisaspaciousdiningroomandcontiguouskitchenwithdoorsleadingtoalarge, luestonepatioandthepoolarea.Theimpeccablekitchenwelcomesthemostdiscriminatingchef,featuringaLaCornuerangewithtwoovens,a hawdoublefarmhousesink, ub- erorefrigerator,MieledishwasherandCalacattamarblecountertops. therfeaturesincludealargecenterisland,tonsofcabinetspaceandabo beamceilingwithchiclightfi tures.Amastersuite,twoadditional bedrooms, a second full bath and a half bath, and tons of attic storage complete the living space with fabulous features throughout. There is also a large two-car garage with built-in storage. Complete with the bonus of indoor/outdoor California living, this home has it all. Close proximity to the award-winning Ross School. www.43LaurelGrove.com
$1,595,000
This contemporary four bedroom, three and one half bath home on a private lot seamlessly integrates the amenities of today’s California lifestyle. An open kitchen flows into the spacious family room, yet remainsseparate fromthe formal living anddining rooms for ease of entertaining. The four bedrooms are conveniently located on the same floor and separate fromthe common areasproviding a quiet retreat fromthe activity on the mainfloor at any time. A spacious Master with well-appointed bath and generous walk-in closet flanks one side, while atthe other two bedrooms share a “Jack & Jill” bath, withan en-suite guest room sandwiched in between. The almost .25 acre lot allows for ample room to play, with a large flat patio space, privategardens, secluded sitting areas, and decks from which to enjoy the sun setting behind Mt. Tamalpais.Located justa few short blocks to the shops and acclaimed Kentfield schools, with easy access to 101 and the Larkspur Ferry terminal. This home provides a welcome retreat atthe end of a busy day while keeping you within easy reach of all of the amenities of life in central Marin. www. tetson. om
Beautiful curb appeal at the end of its long driveway in a closed cul-de-sac, this property offers end-of-street privacy, view-side level lawns, trellised-patio and stunning San Francisco, Sausalito and Bay views. Formal living and dining rooms, overlooking the patio and lawn areas to the views, and exceptional kitchen/family area with granite-top counters, light-wood cabinets, informal dining area and step-down family room with large-window views of the lawns and San Francisco skyline and Bay. The three garages, large foyer, powder room and separate study with beautiful built-ins, complete the entry level. Upper level comprises four large bedrooms, all opening to the huge view-side terrace. Two bedrooms with Jack & Jill bath, one en-suite bedroom, and the stunning master suite with fireplace, large view-side seating area/office and beautiful marble bath with two sinks, stall shower and jetted tub. Beautiful wood floors throughout, four bedrooms, three and one-half baths, three-car garage… $3,795,000
And buy the home you really want. We’ll provide up to half of the 20% or more down payment required on a jumbo loan. It’s an investment for us, not a loan, so we don’t charge interest and you make no monthly payments to us, ever. Instead, we earn a return based on the future value of the home. If you qualify for the mortgage but the required down payment is holding you back, find out how REX HomeBuyer can help put you in the home you really want, today.
Island Invasion
During the wee hours of November 20, 1969, three boats headed out from Sausalito. BY
AJIM WOOD
CCORDING TO MARGARET Goldstein’s intriguing book You Are Now on Indian Land, there had already been two failed attempts to take the island. So the authorities were on their toes. Yet when police checked on Sausalito’s No Name Bar around closing time on Sunday, November 20, 1969, they readily accepted manager Peter Bowen’s word that things were routine. They weren’t. Bowen, along with a small group of patrons, wasn’t going home. They — plus about 80 others who’d gathered furtively along Sausalito’s waterfront — were sailing across San Francisco Bay; the Native A merican occupation of A lcatraz Island was under way. Their mission:
to claim A lcatraz, where the federal penitentiary had by then been out of commission for six years, for Indian possession. A fter landing in three darkened boats, the parties, mostly Native A merican college students, clamored onto the island with boxes of food, clothing and supplies. Security guard Glen Dodson spotted them, turned on his flashlight and yelled, “Mayday, Mayday, the Indians have landed.” Fortunately for the intruders, Dodson was part Cherokee and so, according to Goldstein’s book, he spent much of the night chatting with occupiers. It wasn’t until late afternoon that headlines screamed “INDIANS SEIZEALCATRA Z.” The occupation lasted a year and a half, until June 11, 1971, during which the island’s 94-foot-tall water tower was adorned with gra ti reading “PEACE AND FREEDOM W ELCOME HOMEOF THE FREE INDIAN L AND.” A recent $1.1 million National Park Service restoration of the tower included plans to repaint those words atop A lcatraz’s tallest structure. “That message is definitely part of the island’s history,” explained the project’s manager. A nd it all started at the No Name. m
CIRCA 1969
Terra Mortgage Banking
Marc Loeber (415) 464-3167
Terra Mortgage Banking
Larkspur Headquarters (415) 925-9900
FHA lender
Super-Jumbo Loans to $5 Million TerraMortgageBanking.com
In only three short years, Terra Mortgage Banking has grown to be the largest independent residential lender in Marin County. How? By taking a local approach to real estate lending.
That’s Marin native Marc Loeber in the picture above.
Marc joined Terra because he believes local borrowers should have access to a local direct lender. Terra works with local appraisers, o ers genuine loan approvals and quick closing times, and our rates meet or beat those of the national mega-lenders.
Our ve Marin branch o ces are sta ed with experienced, nationally accredited Mortgage Advisors who live in Marin and understand the local market. Like Marc.
If you are purchasing a new home, or re nancing your present one, we invite you to contact us today to discover the advantages of a local approach to lending.
