Marin Magazine October 2013

MYTH OR REALITY

Is Marin the Nation’s Breast Cancer Capital?

Wine

Marin

Tips, Trips and Tastes

Engineering beauty.

There are no words to truly describe Gaggenau’s remarkable embodiment of form and function. Nothing extraneous. Nothing excessive. Nothing short of perfection. And Purcell Murray is proud to bring you these exceptional appliances through our remarkable network of dealers throughout California.

LIVE LIFE WELL

FAMILY MOVIE NIGHTS

Sat., Sept. 28 | Center Court | UP Sat., Oct. 12 | Center Court | GOONIES

DRIVE-IN MOVIE

Sat., Oct. 26 | Gravel Lot | HOCUS POCUS

Shows start at sunset (7-7:30PM).

Activities and entertainment provided before the show.

Limited seating. Please bring a blanket and lawn chair if you’d like! Refreshments will be available for purchase.

42 Myth or Reality Is Marin County the breast cancer capital of the nation?

48 Going Beyond Exploring Marin’s mystical side.

54 Totems Photographs from the man behind Sausalito’s Wild Image Project.

In Marin

23 Currents Books, candy recipe, Mill Valley Film Festival, migratory birds.

30 Style Ankle boots are perfect for fall.

32 Q&A Catching up with Sammy Hagar.

36 Made by Marin The women behind Freda Salvador.

38 Conversation Dawn Weisz’s passion for clean energy.

Destinations

63 Go Five ways to take a bite out of Napa and Sonoma.

66 Appellations Our picks for big fun in the wine country.

68 Journey Visiting the land where golf was born.

Out & About

75 Calendar A roundup of what to do in Marin and beyond.

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

96 Flavor Profiles of your favorite chefs.

100 On the Scene Snapshots from special events in Marin and San Francisco.

Marin Home

111 Backstory Recent Milwaukee transplants find home in Novato.

Your Wealth is Well cared for...

PUBLISHER / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nikki Wood

Editorial

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Mimi Towle

MANAGING EDITOR Daniel Jewett

SENIOR WRITER Jim Wood

EDITOR-AT-LARGE Tim Porter

COPY EDITOR Cynthia Rubin

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Calin Van Paris

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Daniel Fox, Laura Hilgers, Somer Tejwani, Jennifer Woodlief

Art

ART DIRECTOR Veronica Sooley

PRODUCTION MANAGER Alex French

ILLUSTRATOR Gordon Studer

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mo DeLong, Daniel Fox, Todd Gallopo, Debra Tarrant, Nike van der Molen

Advertising

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

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Volume 9, Issue 10. Marin Magazine is published in Marin County by Open Sky Media. All rights reserved. Copyright©2013. Reproduction of Marin Magazine content is prohibited without the expressed, written consent of Open Sky Media. Unsolicited materials cannot be returned. Marin Magazine reserves the right to refuse to publish any advertisement deemed detrimental to the best interests of the community or that is in questionable taste. Marin Magazine is mailed monthly to homes and businesses in Marin County. Marin (USPS 024-898) is published monthly by Open Sky Media, One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965. Periodicals Postage Paid at Sausalito, CA, and at additional mailing o ces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Marin Magazine, One Harbor Drive, Suite 208, Sausalito, CA 94965.

Just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, Cavallo Point provides an idyllic backdrop paired with breathtaking views. The lodge offers stunning indoor and outdoor event spaces, and menus highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients from

WE LEAD OFF our features this month with an unsettling topic we’ve wanted to tackle for a while now. With October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we decided the time was right to ask writer Jennifer Woodlief — author of our Farallones sailing disaster and teen drinking stories — to investigate Marin’s statistically high breast cancer rates. After months of diligent research,

Woodlief finds that a closer look at the statistics and efforts by local health care experts have taken some sting out of the numbers.

Halloween also happens in October, and with a nod to that otherworldly holiday, we set out to explore Marin’s mystical side. Editorial assistant Calin Van Paris visited Marin psychics, went to an occult bookstore and got caught up on the latest brain research to consider what wonders await in the beyond.

We wrap up our features with a photo essay from Daniel Fox, founder of the Wild Image Project in Sausalito. (Yes, his last name really is Fox.) He presents some stunning images of animals and shares his artistic philosophy and lessons learned from the wild.

In the front of the book we give a sneak preview of Mill Valley Film Festival o erings that have a Marin connection, reveal great trickor-treat spots and catch up with rock star Sammy Hagar, the founders of Freda Salvador, and Marin Clean Energy’s Dawn Weisz.

In Destinations we discover wineries that have taken the focus on food to another level, detail additional wine picks in our Appellations column and, farther afield, invite you along on a golf trip to Scotland’s legendary Gleneagles.

October is a great month; enjoy the issue and then get out to savor the splendor of Indian summer.

With October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we decided the time was right to investigate Marin’s statistically high breast cancer rates.

ON THE COVER

Sausalito’s Kay Carlson is an art teacher, a plein air painter specializing in Northern California scenes and a cofounder and current executive director of Marin Open Studios. Our cover image of her painting Cline Golden Eagle was “created in mid-November when the slant of light brings a glow to color in shadows,” she says. “For me it is thrilling to be in the hills alone with only the changing drama of light and my own struggle to catch it.”

A Classic Community Emerges in Larkspur

Announcing the Highly Anticipated Grand Opening of Garden House at Rose Lane

Homeless Help and Are Helped

San Rafael’s unemployed are cleaning up the town — and improving themselves.

IWe’re

a first step for the homeless and unemployed seeking to rejoin mainstream society.

BY JIM WOOD

T’S A SIMPLE concept: Put unemployed people — most of them homeless — to work cleaning city sidewalks, curbsides and public parks. To see this idea in action, visit downtown San Rafael any weekday between 8 a.m. and noon. The workers wearing yellow T-shirts are the Downtown Streets Team; their supervisors, also unemployed, wear green jerseys.

“Basically,” says Andrew Hening, project director for the San Rafael team, “we’re a first step for the homeless and unemployed seeking to rejoin mainstream society.” Hening, 27 and a history graduate of the University of Virginia, previously managed similar programs in San Jose, Sunnyvale and Palo Alto. The team’s tagline is: “Creating Hope Through the Dignity of Work.”

Last Monday morning, Hening and his yellow-clad volunteers were in San Rafael’s Albert Park picking up wrappers, paper cups and cigarette butts from sidewalks, curbs and planted areas. Here’s how volunteer Alexis Gonzales, 21, who sleeps at the Mill Street Homeless Center, described her involvement: “I really like having something to do, and if it makes the city look nicer, that’s cool too.”

“Volunteer” may not be the right word. At the end of each week, Gonzales will receive a $100 voucher for food, transportation and phone services. ”I use mine for food,” says Gonzales, who’s attractive and well groomed but doesn’t appear confident about attaining full-time employment. And that’s where Downtown Streets Team takes joblessness to the next level.

As the group ends its work at Albert Park, Jennifer de la Fonteijne-Barnett is introduced. “Jennifer manages Rustic Bakery in Marin Country Mart,” announces Hening. “She oversees 18 employees and will tell us what she looks for when hiring.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re applying for a job in food prep, dishwashing or busing tables,” de la Fonteijne-Barnett told the group. “Show up for your appointment on time, look us in the eye and have a firm handshake.” Equally important, she said, “is that you understand what our business does and what makes us different from others — which means you should visit our store before your interview.”

On subsequent days, DST San Rafael crews swept and picked up litter along Fourth Street and in Gerstle Park. Then, on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church on Fifth Street, the group held its weekly Success Meeting; 30 members attended. “On job applications,” urged Malvern Spencer, age 50 and an enthusiastic green-shirted supervisor, “don’t write what you think they want to hear. Tell them the honest truth; that’s how you’ll get the job.”

Spencer then presented a POTW (Participant of the Week) award to Bobby Wood, a young man who su ered a traumatic brain injury in a cycling accident and now hopes to find work as a graphic artist. “Bobby showed up ahead of time every day this week and had that look in his eye that encouraged others,” Spencer said. Wood’s acceptance speech was short: “Doing an awesome job feels really good.” A survey of those present indicated all have lived in San Rafael “for several years.” Two responded with “I grew up here.”

The City of San Rafael has a one-year $274,000 contract with Downtown Streets Team funded by the Marin Community Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Marin County and the city. The collaborative e ort to reduce homelessness and joblessness also involves Ritter Center, Community Action Marin, Homeward Bound, Image for Success, St. Vincent de Paul Society’s dining hall, Helen Vine Detox Center and Enterprise Resource Center.

Downtown Streets Team San Rafael is an exceptional and yet simple employment readiness concept just recently launched. It is to be commended as well as encouraged and, whenever possible, assisted by those in a position to do so. That’s my point of view. What’s yours?

Email pov@marinmagazine.com.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

October 19, 7 p.m.–midnight

Art Works Downtown, 1337 Fourth Street, San Rafael

Art Works Downtown celebrates its 17th anniversary with a wild party, fundraiser and dancing. Enjoy six live bands, gourmet food and wine, cognac in the catacombs and see a live nude model in Matisse’s studio as well as small plates prepared by Cafe Odalisque, fine wine, art, a silent auction and an evening replete with untold surprises. Proceeds benefit Marin’s premier nonprofit art center and its arts outreach programming, classes, lectures, events, exhibit galleries and more.

$125; VIP tables available upon request 415.451.8119, artworksdowntown.org

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

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

Your Letters

What’s Wrong With PB&J?

I wish your story “A Healthy Lunch Box” (In Marin, September 2013) was a parody, but it’s not, as only in Marin would a food writer recommend a child’s school lunch with such a menu: homemade hummus with chopped veggies, fruit salad with fresh pineapple and cooked quinoa, smoothie made with Straus Family Creamery yogurt, and (my favorite) fromage blanc and salami sandwich with arugula. Did you tally the cost of this fantasy lunch? When are parents supposed to “throw it together”? And why would they take all that prep time for the meal when their kids will spend 10 minutes shoveling it down or, often, bring it home or throw it away? Healthy, yes, but so over-the-top and unrealistic it’s maddening. It also touches on a lot that is wrong with Marin, but that’s another column.

ALISON WILSON, MILL VALLEY

A New York Minute

Jim Wood, your references to Friedman, Naim and the Next New World Forum (POV, “Even Change Is Changing,” September 2013), in our local Marin Magazine, has made this fortysomething New York City transplant feel connected and relevant — right here in gorgeous Marin.

Thank you.

CYNTHIA BAHMANI, VIA EMAIL

Keep It Clean

In regard to Jim Wood’s feature “Cleaning Up Marin’s Act” (April 2013), I can’t agree more with what was written. However, when it comes to “the problem,” I believe the cause of the trash was neglected. Where does it come from? Why is there so much trash on the ground? I can tell you, living in Sausalito and using the Spencer Avenue Highway 101 access, I see trash flying out of the back of pickup

grocery store in Marin?

“Good Earth.”

Sue Grant-Marsh

“Woodlands Market.” Caroline Nelson

“Mill Valley Market.”

Deborah Freed Goldman

“Mi Pueblo.”

John Neal

“Whole Foods, Paradise or Woodlands — all fabulous.”

Dana Welch Fitzgerald

Proven

Robert H. Byers, MD

Lisa M. Elvin, NP

Jon R. Goff, MD

David H. Goltz, MD

John C. Keohane, MD

John H. Kim, PA-C

Edward S. Moon, MD

Michael J. Oechsel, MD

Ernest H. Sponzilli, MD

Charles A. Stuart, MD

Brian W. Su, MD

trucks all the time. The situation is even worse with the winds in that area. I think until something is done to require pickups to cover open backs, the excess trash will be a continuous problem on the side of the roads. We are the people who put it there and we need to act responsibly. KATHRYN KELLER, SAUSALITO

Fur Furor

I was shocked to get the most recent issue (September 2013) in the mail and see the furcollared coat on the cover. Since when does Marin County have a fur-wearing populace?

I realized when viewing it the first time that it might be “fake fur” — which it was, as seen on page 63. Nevertheless, it represents real fur and I won’t even go into why that is not OK, especially around here. Surely, next winter you can find a lovely coat for your cover that doesn’t glorify the fur industry. LAURIE RIEBELING, MILL VALLEY

Corrections

Your article about Marin County School Volunteers (“Lending a Hand,” September 2013) captured the essence of the countywide program. We match volunteer tutors with teachers and students, in school and after school. Everyone benefits — students, teachers and our volunteers; it is a joy to participate. Although it was not an error, there is one statement that could use some clarification. Lynn Moody of Ross and I cofounded the program in 1997 with the help of Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke; Tina Cheplick, then executive director of the Volunteer Center; and many others. Joan Flood’s volunteer program at Bahia Vista Elementary School was our model. So many wonderful people have helped bring the program to its present form — I cannot claim exclusive credit. JOAN BROWNSTEIN, GREENBRAE

The amount donated to Marin Clean Highways from In-N-Out Burger in the September “Your Letters” section was incorrectly stated as $200. The actual amount is $1,500.

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.

In Marin

CELEBRATING THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND CAUSES OF THIS UNIQUE COUNTY

TRICK OR TREAT

Does your neighborhood go all out for Halloween? If not, grab your little ghosts and goblins and go check out one of these five Marin neighborhoods that really get into the spooky spirit on Halloween night. Here are five favorites, listed from south to north, of Marin Mommies, a county-centric blog for sharing parenting tips and resources. marinmommies.com

CALEDONIA

STREET, SAUSALITO

Away from the touristy bustle of Bridgeway, Caledonia Street is where Sausalito locals come to shop and dine. Caledonia and its surrounding streets are also great places to trick-or-treat.

SYCAMORE AVENUE, MILL VALLEY

This residential neighborhood is home to fantastic Sycamore Park and plenty of families. It becomes a veritable block party on Halloween.

SHADY

LANE, ROSS

The town of Ross has a perfect leafy autumn atmosphere, and stylish Shady Lane becomes a safe and spirited pedestrian zone on All Hallows’ Eve.

QUIETWOOD DRIVE, MARINWOOD

This street in San Rafael’s Marinwood area is straight out of the 1950s. It really comes to life on holidays, especially those featuring ghosts and goblins.

HAMILTON,

NOVATO

Located in a former naval air base in Novato, Hamilton is home to many families and has a real small-town atmosphere. It’s the go-to trick-ortreat spot for many in northern Marin.

Reading List

Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan, Penguin Press, 468 pages, $27.95 . To cook or not to cook? And how to cook? Each option gets its own element-related section: fire/ barbecue, water/stewing, air/baking and earth/fermentation. The Berkeley author emphasizes the pleasure of producing and preparing food, not just consuming it.

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini, Riverhead Books, 416 pages, $28.95 . A third novel from the author of The Kite Runner. Set in an Afghan village circa 1952, it portrays a brother and sister’s ordeal after the death of their mother. Travels to Greece, France, California and back to war-ravaged Afghanistan. Compelling.

Sweets You Don’t Have to Sweat

There’s no better way to steer your kids away from store-bought Halloween candy than to whip up a healthy homemade alternative. These vegan no-bake bars are easy and fun to concoct with the kids, and the Mounds bar recipe is great for anyone concerned about nut allergies. Check out Jackie Grandy’s blog Marin Mama Cooks for more ideas and photos of this Food52 recipe by Kristin Rosenau. Those short on time can check out the healthy options already prepared at SweetE Organic in Mill Valley. marinmamacooks.com; sweeteorganic.com

JACKIE

GRANDY

Homemade Almond Joy and Mounds Bars

YIELDS 10–11 BARS

Ingredients

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped or broken into small pieces BOOKS

Mary

Coin: A Novel by Marisa Silver, Blue Rider Press, 322 pages, $26.95 . This poignant story ranges from Tahlequah, Okla., to San Francisco (and briefly Marin) while building a fictional profile of two women involved with Dorothea Lange’s iconic Migrant Mother photograph. JIM WOOD

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, lightly packed

3 tablespoons unrefined virgin coconut oil

2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

V teaspoon kosher or sea salt

10–11 roasted unsalted almonds

RECIPE

Directions

1 In a food processor combine shredded coconut, coconut oil, honey, vanilla extract and salt. 2 Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a tablespoon, form balls of the mixture. Drop balls onto baking sheet and mold each into a rectangular shape. Press an almond on top to make an Almond Joy or leave as is to make a Mounds bar. 3 Place the coconut rectangles in the freezer for 15 to 30 minutes, or until solid. 4 Place the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl. Set the bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted. Make sure to keep the coconut bars in the freezer until then. 5 Insert a toothpick into a coconut bar and dip into chocolate. Tap off any excess chocolate, return bar to the parchment paper and remove the toothpick. Repeat the process with the other remaining bars. 6 Place finished bars in the freezer for a few minutes to set.

FUTURE FUN

If you’ve happened to catch any of AOL’s new On Network originals, you’ll know the entertainment company is onto something, creating 15 unique miniseries, each featuring five-minute shorts on a wide range of watch-worthy topics. October’s release features Marin’s own Tiffany Shlain, a tech-lover whose resume includes a laundry list of accomplishments, from filmmaking to founding the Webby Awards and cofounding the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Her eight-episode series, The Future Starts Here , examines humanity’s coevolution with technology — a phenomenon Shlain calls “the participatory revolution” — and includes topics like motherhood, robots and the creative process. Sign on and tune in to the premiere on October 10. tiffanyshlain.com; on.aol.com CALIN VAN PARIS

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To book, call us at 1-888-456-7887 or contact your travel agent.

BOOKS (CONT.)

Reading List

Maya’s Notebook by Isabel Allende, HarperCollins, 400 pages, $27.99. The accomplished San Rafael author’s latest effort is climbing best-seller lists. The story tells of a deeply troubled teen’s downfall and banishment to her grandmother’s native Chile and her eventual recovery. Written with insight and authority, the tale is fascinating in all aspects.

The

Humanity Project: A Novel by Jean Thompson, Blue Rider Press, 352 pages, $26.95 . The acclaimed Midwest author’s novel takes place in Mill Valley. “Sean, a Marin County carpenter and single dad, finds himself beating his head against the brick wall of the world,” writes one reviewer. A truly great read.

Marin’s Mountain Play: 100 Years of Theatre on Mount Tamalpais by Elisabeth Ptak, Mountain Play Association, 140 pages, $25. This beautifully produced commemorative book features historic black-andwhite photos along with captivating color shots. Ranging from Rip Van Winkle (1915) to Hairspray (2011), each production gets its due. J.W.

Marin Shines at MVFF

Whether you’re looking for a film made by a Marinite or one just set here, the 36th annual Mill Valley Film Festival, running October 3–13, has you covered. Sure, the festival will attract the usual A-list Hollywood types, but here are a few local superstars and super films to add to your watch list. mv .com MIMI TOWLE

MARIN FILMMAKERS

George Lucas, Nicasio, Return of the Jedi Lucas will screen his immensely popular 1983 film. In this episode we see Han Solo rescued from the palace of Jabba the Hutt while the Rebels attempt to destroy the second Death Star and Luke Skywalker tries to bring his father back to the light side of the Force.

Jamie Redford, Fairfax, Toxic Hot Seat Redford is on a mission to find and eliminate chemical flame retardants. The problem is these flame retardants don’t seem to stop fires; they do, however, appear to make us sick.

Liam Hughes, San Anselmo, Greed A business executive and a street punk square off over a winning lottery ticket.

Tylor Norwood, San Anselmo, Naples Yellow An intimate look at three local artists — a picture framer from Fairfax, a pigment artist from San Francisco and a West Marin painter — all inadvertently working to create a truly collaborative piece of art.

Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, San Rafael, Yukon Kings Set in the remote Alaskan Yukon Delta during the summer salmon run, Yukon Kings follows Yup’ik fisherman Ray Waska as he teaches his grandkids how to fish. As outside forces threaten their way of life, Ray holds on to the hope that his grandsons will one day pass on his knowledge to their children.

Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, San Rafael, Laugh Clown

Laugh A portrait of Berlin-based clown Reinhard “Filou” Horstkotte, who believes there is truly more to his art than laughter. For Reinhard, the role of the clown is not just to entertain, but to explore the whole human being.

John Antonelli, Sausalito, Unfair Game: The Politics of Poaching This feature-length documentary is set in the wilds of Swaziland and Zambia and explores what happens when measures to protect wildlife come in conflict with indigenous peoples’ rights.

Harris Cohen, Tiburon, Hans A chronicle of an Austrian native’s journey to Shanghai as a young boy to escape the Nazis, his love for the Dipsea Race and his late bloom as a professional photographer.

MARIN LOCATIONS

John Brown’s Body at San Quentin Prison inmateactors reflect on their crimes, their lives and their three-year commitment to mount a production of the classic American song John Brown’s Body

Keeper of the Beat Acclaimed 67-year-old Mill Valley drummer, composer, teacher and peacemaker Barbara Borden tells her story in this autobiographical documentary.

GRAY GARDEN NO MORE Back in 2012, Annie Spiegelman — aka the Dirt Diva — teamed up with a group of Novato High students to resurrect their long-forgotten school garden. This year, Spiegelman, the Garden Club and a slew of like-minded teens decided to augment the roots they had put down with a beautiful mural on the once stark, gray wall behind the garden beds. After months of sketching, planning and painting, the 80-foot sunflower mural serves as a reminder of what can be accomplished with a little color and creativity. C.V.P.

HEART ATTACK

Heart Attack Warning Signs

• Chest Discomfort that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back.

• Discomfort or pain in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach

• Shortness of breath, with or without chest symptoms

• Cold sweat

• Nausea

• Light-headedness

Marin’s ONLY Accredited Chest Pain Center.

When you’re having a heart attack, every minute counts. That’s why it’s critical to get care from an Accredited Chest Pain Center. This impressive designation, awarded by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, means Marin General Hospital follows strict protocols for immediate, life-saving cardiac care. Our seasoned Emergency Department team is exceptionally well-trained to handle cardiovascular emergencies quickly and efficiently. We even have paramedic rigs send us remote electrocardiogram results right from the ambulance, to make sure the cath lab is ready for patients who need it. And our “door-to-treatment” time for those who need cardiac catheterization is exceptional—twice as fast as the national average. So when chest pain strikes, don’t wait: call 911. We’ll take care of the rest.

THE BIRDS ARE BACK IN TOWN

Richardson Bay is an incredibly rich ecosystem year round, but draws extra attention as the weather cools down and thousands of ducks and seabirds flock to the area to feed and rest. The birds begin to arrive in October, and the bay is usually packed by December or January. Keep an eye out for these — and many more — winged creatures in the coming months. richardsonbay. audubon.org

JORDAN WELLWOOD

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT Phalacrocorax auritus

Marin Magazine October 2013 issue - half pg spread

We’re Open for Business. Welcome.

The Pelican Inn is a local favorite – and one of Bank of Marin’s special customers. We’d like you to know it’s open for business with plenty of parking – next to an easy trail that leads to Muir Beach.

As Marin’s community bank we’re all about helping our customers and the community, from funding businesses, to starting kids savings, to helping spread the word that visitors are more than welcome. We look forward to serving you!

Play to Create

A summer spent playing video games: a kid’s dream and a parent’s worst nightmare, right? Not so at Art Reactor, a digital arts school that’s shaking up the gaming paradigm. The school, located in Mill Valley, just wrapped up its first-ever summer video game studio for high school students, a program that a ords kids grades 9–12 the opportunity to conceptualize, design and create their own indie video game. This year’s game, dubbed Flatline, centers around an amnesiac protagonist who awakens on an island made entirely of trash. “I learned about many free, incredible tools to make 3-D art and video games, tools which I can use later in life, and to get an edge on my portfolio,” says Philippe Matheus, 17. The student studio, collectively known as Two Tables, plans to release the game online once it’s completed. theartreactor.com C.V.P.

Short Order

When it comes to boots, this fall it is all about the ankles. The versatile shoe height works just as well with bare legs and a dress in early fall as it does with skinny jeans or tights when the weather starts to cool come winter.

as cool

KEY TO THE CURE

Get the shirt.

Shop the weekend.

Show your support.

Join Saks Fifth Avenue in the fight against women’s cancers. Get the shirt, designed by Emilio Pucci, available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue this October. Then shop Thursday to Sunday, October 17 to 20, when Saks will donate 2% of sales to local and national women’s cancer charities.*

Special thanks to Jennifer Aniston, the 2013 Ambassador for EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund and Saks Fifth Avenue’s Key To The Cure.

*Saks will donate 2% of participating vendor sales up to $500,000 from Thursday to Sunday, October 17 to 20, along with 100% of Key To The Cure T-shirt sales from October 1 to December 31, to the Entertainment Industry Foundation for the Key To The Cure campaign. Visit saks.com/KTTC to learn more.

10 QUESTIONS FOR

Sammy Hagar

Musician, Entrepreneur

Let’s face it: How often does a Rolling Stone article about you start off with “Like always, (your name here) wants to rock out”? Unless you’re Sammy Hagar, that would be never. Hagar, a longtime Marin resident, has just debuted his latest album (25th total, if you’re counting), produced by John Cuniberti and aptly named Sammy Hagar and Friends. And if you follow the Red Rocker’s whereabouts, you know that music is just part of his story, much of which was showcased in his autobiography (which hit No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list) Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock. Besides his music, Hagar has also struck gold with his Cabo Wabo–brand tequilas and cantinas as well as his Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, eight Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill restaurants and a Sammy’s Rockin’ Island Bar & Grill. But most important to us here in Marin are Hagar’s involvement in downtown Mill Valley’s award-wining El Paseo House of Chops and his frequent onstage appearances in local clubs like the Sweetwater.

1

What excites you about your new CD? It’s so cool to have played again with the Wabos and to have so many great, eclectic and local musicians play on every song — from Taj Mahal, Joe Satriani, Kid Rock and Neal Schon to Toby Keith, Nancy Wilson, Mickey Hart, Chad Smith, Michael Anthony and Ronnie Dunn, and even my son Aaron sings on it. This CD is a like a trip through four decades of rock from Montrose to the present.

2

How did El Paseo House of Chops come about? I ran into Tyler Florence when he first moved to Mill Valley. Our families started having dinners together and one night while dining at El Paseo together we found out the owner was willing to sell, so I bought it. Tyler and I wanted to create the ultimate dining experience in our own hometown.

3 El Paseo was recently recognized by Marin Magazine for its excellent carnivore-pleasing dishes. Which is your favorite? I love the veal chop with creamed spinach.

4

Skill from your childhood? I learned to cook standing on a stool at the stove next to my grandfather (who was a chef) and my mother, who was an excellent Italian cook. I cook at home all the time; I love it.

5

Favorite lunch in Marin? Oysters at Nick’s Cove with my wife Kari, driving one of my fast cars on that scenic twisty, winding road.

6 You’ve traveled the world, have homes in beautiful places. What keeps you tied to Marin? Great people, great music, great schools, great outdoors and great restaurants.

7

Perfect day? Sea, sun, salt and sex.

8

Who/what gave you confidence to become Sammy Hagar? My father always told me I was great and that I was a champion and that I could do anything, from an early age.

9

Do you ever get nervous onstage? Every time — because I care so much — and a shot of rum or tequila helps.

10

What’s next?

Launching a Sammy’s Beach Bar rum line that’s made from macadamia nuts, called Sammy’s Redhead Rum in honor of the fans, the Redheads. And of course promoting and touring for the new CD. m

online

Digital Revolution

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App Time

Readers can now enjoy Marin Magazine on their mobile devices, including Apple’s iPad and iPhone, any Android device, and on Amazon’s Kindle. These apps deliver the magazine in a brilliant format that looks just like print and features text-formatted view and the ability to download the whole issue as well as search, bookmark and share functions. Go to the Marin Magazine home page to see links for each format. marinmagazine.com

Mill Valley Film Festival

Marin Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of the 36th annual Mill Valley Film Festival running October 3–13. The California Film Institute event features films of all types including Naples Yellow, Laugh Clown Laugh, Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine, Toxic Hot Seat and many more. The festival also offers conversations with filmmakers and is a great place to see stars and maybe even a future Academy Award–winning film.

Connect WITH US

in person

Saks Fifth Avenue Beauty Event

Saks Fifth Avenue San Francisco will celebrate the world of beauty and fragrance from Thursday to Sunday, October 17–20. Shoppers will be delighted with all the extra goodies that come as gifts included with purchases made in the Saks beauty department. Spend $100 on beauty products and receive a special collectible tote bag. Spend more than $250 and receive a mystery Saks gift card valued up to $50 while supplies last and spend $500 to receive a luxury white cotton spa wrap.

Special event: On October 19, Marin Magazine and Saks invite you to enjoy an assortment of refreshments and light bites while perusing the latest beauty collections. 384 Post Street, San Francisco. Call 415.438.5365 to RSVP or make an appointment.

MADE BY MARIN

Freda Salvador M

EGAN PAPAY AND Cristina Palomo Nelson met while working for a Bay Area footwear company, where they collaborated on three collections. Together, the two created concepts they were confident of, but that weren’t suited for that particular designer. Thus, Freda Salvador was born. The duo, who credit a shared aesthetic, unique (and di ering) personal styles and natural design synergy for their successful partnership, launched their fi rst collection in fall of 2012 and design all their products in Sausalito. The name comes from their mutual admiration of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo with a nod to their El Salvador ties. PHILOSOPHY Megan and Cristina create designer-quality shoes at a contemporary price point, but they also aim to craft shoes women can live their lives in. “We know how to make shoes fit so they are infi nitely walkable,” says Papay. “They are made with the urban woman in mind — fashion is of utmost importance, but she will not sacrifice function for style.” THE SCOOP Freda’s shoes and boots start at $350, with leathers manufactured and produced in Italy and Spain (each shoe is handmade in a small family factory in Elda, Spain). The o erings are simple, understated and wearable, but feature interesting and edgy details like printed snake and lizard haircalf. BEYOND MARIN While the shoes are designed in Sausalito, the company’s flagship store is located in San Francisco’s stylish Cow Hollow neighborhood. You can also fi nd the shoes at Saks Fifth Avenue New York and Atlanta, as well as in various boutiques, and online at shopbop.com. WHAT THEY SAY “We get inspiration throughout the year as we travel to Italy, Spain and New York for business. We love seeing what women are wearing, especially in urban environments,” says Papay. “So in that way, we’re constantly observing ‘street style,’ literally — which shoe each woman chooses to pound the pavement.”

INTRODUCING UCSF BENIOFF CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT MARIN GENERAL HOSPITAL.

Children are special, and not just because we love them—their medical needs are specialized too. That’s why Marin General Hospital has teamed up with UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital to offer Marin families the finest pediatric care available. Now, you have access to the expertise of a renowned pediatric hospital closer to home. UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital at Marin General Hospital is a powerful collaboration that includes:

UCSF neonatologists onsite at MGH

A specialty clinic including experts in pediatric cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, pulmonology, orthopedics and eating disorders

A prenatal diagnostic center staffed with specialists in high-risk obstetrics

Access to all the resources of a top-ranked children’s hospital

Dawn Weisz

Marin Clean Energy’s unassuming executive officer touts its progress. BY

JIM WOOD • PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

DAWN WEISZ COULD be one of any number of Marin moms. She lives in San Anselmo, drives her hybrid or rides her bike to work, and is 43 years old with an outdoorsy look and smile that has Marin written all over it. Tripp, her husband, is a computer graphic artist at Lucasfilm in San Francisco’s Presidio; their son Tyler, 13, is into baseball and jazz; and Hannah, their 10-year-old daughter, enjoys mountain biking and softball.

As for Dawn, oh yes, in addition to being a wife, mother, mountain biker and hiker, she’s the executive o cer of Marin Clean Energy (MCE), the public utility that provides electricity — mostly from renewable sources — to more than 120,000 homes in Marin County and the nearby city of Richmond.

The couple moved to Marin in 1994, and in 2002, while at Marin’s Community Development Agency, Weisz worked on a community choice energy program as a way of getting more renewable energy onto the grid. So when the late Charles McGlashan, a Marin County supervisor, spearheaded the formation of Marin Clean Energy, California’s very first community choice energy program, Weisz was the logical one to be named its acting executive director. Amid some controversy, she was confirmed as executive o cer in 2009.

When you were named long-term executive officer of Marin Clean Energy, a controversy ensued involving claims that your annual salary of $198,000 was excessive for someone with your experience who’d be managing a staff of only four. How do you respond now? A compensation analysis was conducted prior to the creation of my position based on comparable positions in the energy and public utility sector. The salary I now receive, $248,000, is at the low end for executive directors throughout the state. My position at MCE is multifaceted, as MCE currently has an annual budget of $86 million while serving over 120,000 customers; my job includes many tasks. Frankly, I think some of the

controversy might have been gender-directed; if a male with 17 years of energy and sustainability experience had been named to the post, I don’t think there’d have been the outcry. One other update: Our sta now numbers 17, and the whole team does excellent work.

That said, please explain the role of Marin Clean Energy. MCE is a not-for-profit, public provider of electricity that is greener and, in most cases, more a ordable [than PG&E’s]. We are the first, and at present the only, community provider in the state. Over 50 percent of the power we purchase comes from renewable sources — wind, biowaste, solar and small hydroelectric. In turn, we o er two products to our 120,000 customers: MCE Light Green, which is at least 50 percent renewable energy, and MCE Deep Green, which is 100 percent renewable energy. Customers in our region can also choose to get electricity from PG&E, which delivers power that is 19 percent renewable. As for costs, MCE’s Light Green is slightly below PG&E’s rate for most customer classes, and our Deep Green product comes at a premium of about $5 per month more for an average customer.

But don’t Marin’s electric bills still come from PG&E? And aren’t PG&E’s blue trucks all over the county? Right, PG&E still delivers power over lines they own, and they maintain those lines. We are only replacing the generation part of the electric bill that our customers receive.

PG&E still bills all customers directly for power delivery, and MCE generation charges

Make your business work for you.

An insightful discussion on retirement and succession planning for North Bay business owners.

October 24, 5:30-8:30 pm StoneTree Clubhouse, Novato, CA

Featuring

Founder & Chairman

Private Ocean Planning for Your Long-Term Financial Security

Strategies for Selling Your Business

Minimizing Your Tax Exposure Now

A handful of critical decisions can transform your business into the asset you need it to be. Learn from seasoned veterans how you can create a disciplined financial plan — including tax and investment strategies for your future succession or retirement. Discover how intelligent planning can help you maximize the value in your business — and the happiness in your life.

Presented by Private Ocean with Hanson Bridgett and Jorstad & Associates.

Sponsored by Marin Magazine and North Bay Biz.

$30 fee includes drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Capacity limited to 100 people.

Reserve your seat today at www.privateocean.com/1024 or call Michelle Leeds at 415.526.2900.

Personal, powerful wealth management

are incorporated into the existing PG&E bill. Our program was created in part to help achieve California greenhouse gas reduction goals established in the state Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32). Since our launch, we’ve exceeded state targets for the Renewable Portfolio Standard, so much so that the state had to modify its reporting template. And because MCE is a public utility — while PG&E is investor owned and must pay shareholder profits — our rates are competitive, if not lower.

Thursday, October 10 | Marin FREE WEIGHT LOSS SEMINAR

sutterpacific.org/bariatrics

sutterhealth.org/marin

ONE YOU, 9 LOCATIONS CARING FOR MARIN

Whether you’re seeking a pediatrician in San Rafael, breast surgeon in Greenbrae, psychiatrist in Corte Madera, urgent care in Terra Linda or award-winning joint replacement at Novato Community Hospital, Sutter Health’s medical network covers Marin County. Expert care, right in your back yard – it’s another way we plus you.

Whom do you buy electricity from? And how much do you buy? On average, MCE buys 180 megawatts of electricity, and that figure varies according to the season — in wintertime it tends to increase slightly. Much of the electrical power under contract comes from renewable energy sources in Northern and Central California. For example, EDF Energy is building a 30-megawatt solar facility in Central California for our customers. They’ll also build a one-megawatt solar carport shade structure for us in Marin County. Another example is G2 Energy, a supplier with two landfill waste methane recovery projects, one in Solano County and one in Placer County. Our first energy supplier, Shell Energy North America, is providing a diminishing supply of power as its contract winds down over the next four years. As of now, we have 17 di erent contracts for power supply, and many of our California-based contracts are for a term of between 20 and 25 years. Last fall, a project was built for MCE at the San Rafael Airport;

We’re

using power from over 2,000 Marin residents who have solar panels on their roofs; some homeowners are receiving an annual check for the power they provide.

it’s the county’s largest solar installation to date. Twenty jobs were created in placing solar panels on 48 hangar roofs. That project is producing almost one megawatt, or enough to power 1,000 homes on a sunny day. Also, we’re using power from over 2,000 Marin residents who have solar panels on their roofs;

A map depicting presentations that MCE has conducted in Richmond over the last six months.

some homeowners are receiving an annual check for the power they provide. We want to develop as many Marin sources of electric power as possible — it’s a job creator.

Please explain who makes up your customer base. Of MCE’s 120,000 customers, approximately 90,000 are in Marin and 30,000 are in the city of Richmond, which voted to join MCE in 2012. Seventy-five percent of all electricity customers in our jurisdiction are with MCE, and that includes residential, commercial and municipal users — the rest stayed with PG&E. About 1,700 have chosen to receive our Deep Green, or 100 percent renewable power, the rest are Light Green users. We’ve noticed that in Richmond, a greater percentage of customers chose to use Deep Green power than do in Marin. We hope to see more of our customers everywhere choose Deep Green in order to zero out their carbon footprint.

Who maintains oversight over Marin Clean Energy? The Marin Energy Authority governs MCE; it is a 13-member board composed of representatives from each of Marin’s 11 municipalities, plus the county’s board of supervisors and a delegate from Richmond. Of MEA’s original board, in addition to Supervisor McGlashan, Tiburon council member Richard Collins recently passed away. Also, due to membership turnover on city and town councils, only one member of MEA’s original board still serves — that being San Rafael councilman Damon Connolly, the current chairman of our board. MEA meets once a week at 7 p.m. in San Rafael on the first Thursday of each month; meetings are open to the public.

How can residents contact Marin Clean Energy?

To enroll or upgrade service to Deep Green, the number to call is 888.632.3674, or visit mcecleanenergy.com/enroll. Also, our email address is info@mcecleanenergy.com. m

Inside Scoop

MYTH OR REALITY?

THE FACTS BEHIND THE CLAIM THAT MARIN COUNTY IS THE BREAST CANCER CAPITAL OF THE NATION.

BY JENNIFER WOODLIEF • ILLUSTRATIONS BY GORDON STUDER

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it seems appropriate to address a question likely on the mind of virtually every mid-30-something-andolder woman in Marin County: Is the incidence rate of breast cancer really higher here than in California (and any other state in the country)? The answer is yes.

BUT

HERE ARE FOUR PIECES OF GOOD NEWS:

1 The rate is not nearly as high as it used to be, could be or should be.

2 According to the latest research, we are not alone.

3 Women are almost certainly not more likely to get breast cancer simply because they live in Marin.

4 The mortality rate of breast cancer in Marin, while still heartbreaking, does, in some measure, turn the scary statistic on its head.

THE BIG PICTURE

You know the ubiquitous pink ribbon, and you know the term, but did you know that breast cancer is actually an umbrella term that encompasses more than one disease? Subtypes of cancer of the breast are genetically distinct, with potentially di erent causes and certainly diverse responses to treatment. The National Cancer Institute defines breast cancer as cancer that forms in tissues of the breast. Cancer that remains in the breast’s lobules (milk glands) or the lining of the milk ducts (thin tubes that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple) does not kill. The incidence and mortality rates refer to invasive breast cancer — cancer that has spread from the lobules or ducts in the breast to surrounding tissue.

This year in the United States, nearly a quarter of a million women (and a couple thousand men) will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Approximately 40,000 women and 400 men in the country will die of the disease in 2013. That’s about 109 women and one man every day.

In 1994, the Northern California Cancer Center released a report based on data from SEER (the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute) revealing that Marin County had the highest incidence rate of invasive breast cancer in the world. Within the next half dozen years, multiple reports, including California Cancer Registry statistics, revealed that Marin’s incidence rate was not just higher than in any other county in the state, but much higher — approaching 60 percent more. The media dubbed Marin the “breast cancer capital of the world,” and, as might be expected, hysteria reigned. The o ces of Marin County Health and Human Services were flooded with calls from women asking if it was safe for them to live in, or move to, Marin.

The data cried out for follow-up questions — the most obvious being why is the rate higher in Marin? Was the anomaly explained by specific demographic factors — screening biases, for example — or something more insidious — the air, the water, the land itself? Women wanted to know, did simply living here put them at a higher risk of getting the disease? In response, the community — including members of Congress, doctors, educators, researchers, local agencies, county representatives and a slew of concerned residents — came together to seek some answers.

MYTH BUSTING

First of all, it turned out that due to population estimates that were later made more precise with additional information, the incidence rates in the late 1990s were never actually quite as high as reported. While the numerator used in the calculation (the number of breast cancer cases) was a known quantity, the denominator (the population of the county) was projected from 1990 census estimates. New, 2000 census figures showed the Marin population at risk was actually larger than anticipated — meaning there were really fewer cases per capita than reported. Recalculated, the rate was about 20 percent lower than previously cited.

Within a few years, more information was provided, much of it from the landmark Marin Women’s Study (MWS), funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first breast cancer research in Marin to link disease risk factors with biospecimens and outcomes, the MWS is conducting ongoing analysis of 20-page

questionnaires filled out between 2007 and 2009 by 14,000 women — fully one-fifth of all the women eligible for breast cancer screening in the county. In addition, women were spitting for the cause — donating their saliva so researchers could search for biological links, says Rochelle Ereman, head of the Department of Health Services Community Epidemiology Program.

Right from the start, MWS researchers identified and screened out multiple biases, or data-skewing factors, that could account for the higher rate. To dispel one armchair theory, no, the rate is not attributable to a mostly white population: although breast cancer is most prevalent in Caucasian women, that factor had already been screened out, and the statistics compare white women to white women. A small caveat: incidence is indeed higher among women of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, and statistically a slightly high percentage of such women reside in Marin.

Also, no, the rate is not attributable to the local population’s high percentage of older women whose age puts them at the most risk. That factor is also taken into account and the statistics specifically age-adjusted.

As for the pet theory that in our highly educated, a uent population more women are apt to seek routine screening, and hence more cancers are discovered — no, there is no “detection bias” in the county. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of women in Marin get tested regularly, a percentage in line with or slightly higher than in other counties throughout the state; at most, that factor accounts for just a couple of additional cases per year.

Screening itself is an evolving issue: As a recent New York Times Magazine article points out, the rising prevalence of breast cancer testing in recent decades, fueled in part by aggressive early-detection campaigns (“If you haven’t had a mammogram, you need more than your breast examined”), may have led some women to view mammograms as a means of not just finding breast cancer but essentially curing it. A fair amount of medical controversy persists regarding mammography’s benefits and limitations. Some tumors caught by the test are so slow-moving that they might never actually metastasize, scientists say; meanwhile, the method is not always e ective at detecting the most lethal forms of the disease when they’re still at a treatable phase. Mammography is “a most imperfect test, but the best one out there at this moment,” says Dr. Francine Halberg, a radiation oncologist with the Marin Cancer Institute at Marin General Hospital, who has addressed the president’s Breast Cancer Commission and been selected as one of the country’s top doctors by Who’s Who in North America, Good Housekeeping, Redbook and Ladies’ Home Journal.

THE SMOKING GUN

Over the past decade or so, Marin has seen an unquestionably dramatic drop in breast cancer incidence. And in a correlation that’s rarely so clear-cut in scientific data, removal of one identified risk factor seems to have helped bring about this measurable decline.

In 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative determined that combination hormone replacement therapy — generally taken by women with their uterus intact to combat symptoms of menopause — was contributing to the incidence of breast cancer. Subsequent investigation indicated that Marin women were particularly hard-hit on this

In 1994, the Northern California Cancer Center released a report revealing that Marin County had the highest incidence rate of invasive breast cancer in the world.

issue because they have among the lowest percentages of hysterectomies in California, and combination HRT was recommended for women who had not had their uterus removed (women post-hysterectomy take a di erent HRT regimen that does not appear to increase cancer risk). There is evidence that more a uent women are less likely to undergo a hysterectomy than less a uent women, and preliminary data shows that this is also true in Marin.

It turns out that women in Marin are also particularly receptive to health messaging, and when word got out that when it came to breast cancer risk, combination HRT was more or less akin to throwing water on a grease fire, they listened. And they abruptly stopped the therapy.

As the MWS had collected specific information on what type of HRT women were using, the study was poised to show both a striking downward trend in the type of hormones taken by Marin women and a concomitant drop in the breast cancer incidence rate. With a two-year reporting lag, when the 2003 Marin rate came out in 2005, it was already significantly lower. And as time went on and additional statistics were reported, the HRT-related risk appeared to further decrease.

“It’s encouraging that some of our excess risk appears to have been lifted by this simple change,” notes Dr. Matt Willis, Marin’s Public Health O cer, who has a master’s in public health and is a former clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School and epidemiologist at the CDC.

Brand-new statewide comparative breast cancer rates, reporting data from 2006 to 2010 (there is always a reporting lag of several years), just came out two months ago. According to the most recent five-year data from the California Cancer Registry (the same organization that reported the alarming rates back in the 1990s), for white women, Marin’s breast cancer incidence rate is now approximately 8 percent higher than California’s as a whole — but we are not alone; other counties such as Yolo, Santa Clara and San Mateo ranked just as high. Analysis of that same data based on three-year rates, from

2008 to 2010, while possibly affected by variables like small population sample and size, show that incidence in Marin is even more in line with California rates. Within Marin, high rates of breast cancer do not vary widely by location, and to the extent that there are areas of high and low incidence, they do not appear to occur with any particularly relevant clustering pattern.

Comparing breast cancer risk in Marin to risk in other counties is itself problematic, Willis adds, as “there is no other county similar to Marin.” While that’s true enough subjectively, it’s also accurate demographically. Wealthy communities are generally characterized by city limits rather than by county boundaries, while statistics are reported by county; Halberg suggests that one of the reasons the reported incidence of breast cancer is higher in Marin may lie in the method of collecting the data, pointing out that communities with similar demographics have similarly high breast cancer rates.

Though it is difficult to make annual rate comparisons with other counties due to Marin’s unique demographics, individual studies comparing Marin to other sub-county areas with similar socioeconomic risk factors have found incidence rates similar to Marin’s. For instance, county epidemiology expert Ereman points to research showing that breast cancer incidence in a high-income section of Contra Costa County was similar to Marin’s. “However,” she says, “it’s not that clear cut.” In a November 2012 Breast Cancer Mapping Project report, researchers identified four areas of concern in the state: northern San Francisco, West Los Angeles, South San Francisco and Orange County — and not all of these communities can claim higher income levels.

And finally for the national picture, while the mortality rates have improved, Marin’s breast cancer incidence is unfortunately not much different than earlier reported numbers. According to the latest National Cancer Institute data for white women, Marin and other high-ranking counties in California have a breast cancer incidence for 2006–2010 about 20 percent higher than that in the rest of the country.

LOCAL RISK FACTORS

Affluent, highly educated career women — a demographic profile that abounds in Marin — are obviously not at risk for breast cancer on the basis of those lifestyle aspects themselves. But statistically such women may have no children, have few children, or delay having children, and each of those is a clearly established risk factor for the disease.

As Willis explains, breast cancer is essentially a proliferation of breast tissue, and each menstrual cycle of breast tissue growth and shrinkage brings a tiny risk of uncontrolled growth of tissue. The more times a woman experiences that cycle of growth and shrinkage, the higher incremental risk she has of contracting cancer. Although a precise mechanism for

According to data compiled by the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services in 2012, 57 percent of women in the MWS either have never given birth or gave birth after age 30. (Early puberty and later menopause are also being studied as risk factors, but it’s unlikely those will prove significantly relevant to risk in Marin.) And after specifically comparing the prevalence of known risk factors in the county with cases of women who got breast cancer, in order to see if a correlation in fact exists, the MWS found that the reproductive risk factors coinciding with socioeconomic profile have played a pivotal role in Marin breast cancer rates.

Another major breast cancer risk factor appearing in full force in Marin is excessive alcohol consumption. Even surveys touting Marin as the healthiest county in the U.S. (such as a national study conducted by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute) criticize a self-reported binge-drinking rate of three times the national average. Alcohol can raise lev-

Bottom line: the healthy lifestyle here likely offsets the risk factors present in the population, making the rate much lower than it would otherwise be.

reproductive factors altering lifelong cancer risk has yet to be determined — how long the body is exposed to cycles of estrogen production by the ovaries is a prime suspect, along with cellular and genetic factors — most experts believe natural events, such as pregnancy, that lower the number of menstrual cycles also reduce the risk of breast cancer.

By reducing the lifetime number of menstrual cycles, pregnancy lowers a woman’s cumulative exposure to bodily produced hormones. If she doesn’t get pregnant, she in e ect misses the opportunity to miss having a period, which is why experts suspect a woman faces increased risk from never giving birth (nulliparity), having a small number of children (lower parity), and delayed childbearing (generally defined as having a first child after age 30). Another theory suggests pregnancy may assist breast cells in their lifelong maturation from volatile forms (more prone to genetic mutations) to more stable, “differentiated” forms, so that when it comes to breast cancer risk, the sooner pregnancy occurs the better.

els of estrogen and other hormones associated with breast cancer. While the exact mechanics leading cancer cells to grow at a greater rate are unknown, there is a well-established connection between two alcoholic drinks a day and higher breast cancer risk. The risk increases with each additional drink per day. A study by Dr. Christina Clarke, associate director of the Cancer Prevention Institute of California and an adviser to the MWS, estimated that approximately 6.1 percent of breast cancer cases in Marin were attributable to women having two or more alcoholic beverages a day.

Excessive drinking is often a response to perceived pressures and experts say high stress and alcohol may be tied to breast cancer risk as well. While no well-designed studies have examined it as a risk factor in Marin specifically, research has shown that increased levels of cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress, may stimulate breast cancer development by varying the estrogen production in the body, says Janice Barlow, executive director of Zero Breast Cancer (formerly Marin Breast Cancer Watch).

MARIN’S HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Since the comparative breast cancer incidence rates were first published, it has been a puzzle, a paradox — Marin residents simultaneously existing as outliers on opposite ends of the health spectrum. Marin is overwhelmingly healthy — Willis points out that residents are more physically active and have the highest life expectancy of all the 3,143 counties in the country — and yet its breast cancer rates are also high. Bottom line: the healthy lifestyle here likely o sets the risk factors in the population, experts say, making the rate much lower than it would otherwise be. Some say that Marin women themselves are thinner than women in other counties (measured by a lower body mass index) and are fitter, and most report healthier diets, all associated with lower breast cancer risk. They also smoke less, a factor not just relevant to lung cancer but to breast cancer as well. A large percentage of Marin women with children also breast-feed, which delays resumption of menstrual cycles and thereby may o set reproductively related risk.

“Marin women set the bar for protecting themselves, with high rates of physical activity and low obesity rates,” Willis says; the role of exercise in reducing cancer risk is not theoretical, but “a factual statement.” A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found women ages 35 to 50 cut their risk 18 percent just by taking a brisk half-hour walk three times a week, a regimen most Marin women would view as minimal. Asked if Marin women would have an even higher rate of breast cancer if they were not as healthy? “Almost certainly yes,” Halberg says.

ENVIRONMENTAL ROLE

Environment is unproven as a risk factor in Marin; there’s no reason to believe women are more likely to get breast cancer simply because they live here. A major 2003 study led by UCSF researchers partnered with Marin Breast Cancer Watch (now Zero Breast Cancer) investigated environmental issues specific to Marin

and concluded that a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer did not increase according to the amount of time she spent in the county, suggesting that there is nothing about the land itself that triggers the disease.

“If geography itself plays a role, that is, a specific environmental factor at play in Marin, researchers have not yet identified it,” Willis says. In coming years the MWS will continue to analyze the potential role of carcinogens like the heavy metals cadmium and bisphenol A (often contained in plastic water bottles, food containers and toys) in breast cancer risk. The saliva samples donated in the MWS may also help experts evaluate certain environmental factors over time.

THE MORTALITY RATE

Perhaps the best news of all: “Women with breast cancer in Marin have lower mortality rates on a stage-for-stage basis when compared to other Bay Area hospitals, to other counties in the state of California and to the National Cancer Database,” Halberg says.

According to data disseminated by the California Cancer Registry just last August,

A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer did not increase according to the amount of time she spent in the county, suggesting that there is nothing about the land itself that triggers the disease.

the age-adjusted mortality rate in 2006–2010 (the most recent five-year data) for breast cancer in white women is lower in Marin than in the state overall — by 13 percent. In other words, more women were diagnosed here in that period, but fewer were dying.

Normally diagnosis and outcome trend together, making this scenario yet another Marin anomaly. Once again, factors unique to Marin may explain why: residents here have superior access to world-class medical expertise, with a high number of physicians per capita who provide personalized, coordinated and integrated treatment. “Mortality in Marin is lower at least in part because of better medical care,” Halberg confirms. “You don’t have to go to an academic medical center or even cross a bridge to have access to the latest research.”

The Marin Cancer Institute and Kaiser Permanente are both certified by the National Consortium of Breast Centers as Breast Centers of Excellence, o ering entree to clinical trials, a multidisciplinary tumor board automatically providing each patient with a second opinion, and state-of-the-art technology.

It’s been about two decades since the introduction of the pink ribbon, arguably one of the most recognizable health-related symbols in the world. Over that time, with the immense amount of knowledge already gathered about breast cancer in this county, Marin women are overwhelmingly coming to view that signature loop not as some sort of pastel skull-and-crossbones evoking dread of what may come, but as an emblem of unvarnished hope for what can yet be conquered. m

Going BEYOND BEYOND BEYOND BEYOND

EXPLORING MARIN’S MYSTICAL SIDE

BY

IN THE BUSTLING HAZE of the everyday, where reason reigns supreme, crystal balls and tarot cards seem to belong to a mystical, otherworldly realm. The term psychic and the abilities that accompany the title are often met with skepticism, quickly filed under “impossible” before being completely disregarded. We took the time to speak with five members of Marin’s intuitive community, and what we found was a wealth of information and insight that may have doubters looking to the beyond — with their feet firmly planted on the ground.

“I’m a real estate broker, and some of my friends were wondering if participating in this story would be good for my business,” says Peggy McConnell, who also helms Tiburonbased Peggymagic, a professional outlet for her intuitive abilities. “I create my own reality. Why would I have the power to see beyond the physical and not use it? And besides, wouldn’t you want a real estate broker with good instincts?”

It’s not surprising that many mystics have chosen to set up shop in liberal-minded Marin, where they’re helping locals work through challenging situations in creative ways. Although they may use di erent avenues to communicate with clients — from tarot cards to energy readings — there is a consensus among the county’s transcendental set: it’s all about the unseen. “I think the greater part of us is nonphysical, and I’ve always been able to tap into that and see beyond what ‘is,’ ” says McConnell. “Even when I learned to read as a little girl, I remember thinking, ‘My thoughts have power.’ ”

In the language of McConnell and her peers, the nonphysical or unseen simply refers to the part of us that’s not subject to the five senses — energy, thoughts, feelings and, most important, the interconnectedness of it all.

A Fork IN THE ROAD

It’s also agreed among intuitives that people typically seek out psychic services when they’re at a crossroads or a major change is occurring in their life. “People come to me when they’re in transition,” says Zorica Gojkovic, Ph.D., who operates the psychic business The Time of Light in San Rafael and came to psychic readings by way of doctoral research in consciousness and physics. “They are changing professional fields, or some part of their life is over and they need input about what to do next.”

“They’re wanting to get clear on things that are going on in their lives, and they can’t find solace in themselves,” says Cece Converse, an intuitive coach who works part-time at Open Secret Bookstore in San Rafael and performs psychic readings under the moniker Intuitive Clarity. “They’re looking for information and healing inside themselves.” Psychics agree that aside from providing new and interesting perspectives on a given situation, a reading can also function as an a rmation or confirmation of what a client already knows deep down.

Although many mystics don’t rely on tarot cards for their readings, they admit the cards can be helpful. “The cards are a tangible expression, a connection, a medium,” says Converse. “I could pull a word out of the air, but if you see that word or picture on a card that you pulled out of a deck of 78, that can hold a lot more significance.”

While some people immediately consult a psychic as a way to deal with strife or seek clarity, for others it’s not the

I create my own reality. Why would I have the power to see beyond the physical and not use it?

What’s happening right now is spirituality and brain science are having a marriage. It’s really fantastic.

first recourse — it’s the last. “Often I’m a last resort,” says Jetara Sehart, who runs her business Angel Counsel out of her redwood-encircled home in Woodacre. “People will come to me after they’ve been to therapy and tried everything.” Still, people continue to seek out intuitives and their services regardless of stigma. One-time visits are quite rare; most clients return, either for regular energy “clearing” or when they again find themselves undergoing a major shift. “Typically it’s about twice a year, because the work that we do is often at a turning point in their life,” says Sehart. “If they’re really stuck in something, a reading becomes more of a practice, like a meditation.”

SCIENCE OF THE Unseen

Though corporate climbers surreptitiously leaf through The Secret and the straitlaced CEO may be first in line for a tarot reading at the holiday party, most people keep the supernatural at arm’s length. So why does psychic guidance resonate with those not naturally drawn to alternative ways?

The answer isn’t mystic, but scientific. “What’s happening right now is spirituality and brain science are having a marriage. It’s really fantastic,” says Open Secret Bookstore owner Robert Calef. He opened his store 24 years ago to provide a haven where customers could read and learn about intangible matters. “If you go to a public library, you don’t find many books that address the unseen,” says Calef. “I decided I was going to create the library for the right brain, since the left brain is already covered.”

To review basic high-school physiology: The human brain is divided into two hemispheres, the left brain and the right. Those halves are also divided, and the four brain quadrants are believed to help us interpret our world in di erent ways. The left brain is logical, analytical, organized, fact-based and sequential; the right brain is exploratory, conceptual, emotional, synthesizing and intuitive. The left brain is about planning; the right brain is about the present moment.

“There’s a joke,” says Calef: “God and the devil are walking, and God (right brain) says, ‘I know and feel the truth,’ and the devil (left brain) says, ‘Tell me and I’ll organize it.’ ”

As was recently proven through a two-year neuroscience study at the University of Utah, which looked at brain scans of 1,011 people ages 7 to 29, individuals don’t necessarily have a propensity for either left- or right-brained thinking. That said, from an anthropological perspective,

our society as a whole relies largely on the functions that the left brain carries out. In times of stress and tension, we use left-brain thinking to power through and survive; our public schools emphasize logic and memorization, with programs like music and art taking a backseat to math and science.

We also tend to be tethered by pretty tight schedules — being busy means being successful, it seems — allowing little to no time for truly creative thoughts and feelings to take hold. “The right brain is timeless,” says Calef. “The only moment we truly give ourselves free time is when we’re high on a drug. Well, guess what? If you gave yourself an entire day of timelessness, you would have the same mystical perceptions that you would have in conjunction with a chemical. All psychism, all spiritual understanding, comes when you’re allowed the luxury of having some period of timelessness.”

This line of thinking was recently, and interestingly, encountered firsthand by Harvard-trained brain scientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, who in 1996 had a massive stroke, involving the explosion of a blood vessel in the left hemisphere of her brain. During her episode, Taylor was able not only to recognize but to enjoy what was happening to her. As her left hemisphere was essentially neutralized, she was given the unique opportunity to experience life purely through her right hemisphere.

“We have the power to choose, moment by moment, who and how we want to be in the world,” says Taylor in her TED talk “A Stoke of Insight” (also the title of her best-selling book). “Right here, right now I can step into the consciousness of my right hemisphere, where we are, I am, the life force power of the universe … at one with all that is. Or, I can choose to step into the consciousness of my left hemisphere, where I become a single individual, a solid, separate from the flow.”

In a way, Taylor found what Buddhists call nirvana. She was physically forced to experience what all mystics claim to know innately — that life is about more than just the physical.

“If someone can tap into the right brain and perceive that life is love, wouldn’t you call them psychic? Someone who can see the unseen?” asks Calef. “How thought a ects everything is going to be an area of great study; quantum physics is all about this. You could even say that ultimately, what we’re trying to awaken is the ‘quantum psychic’ — somebody who is in touch with the laws of reality, but can also understand what life is.”

Who IS A PSYCHIC?

Most intuitives say access to the psychic brain is not limited to those who were born with supernatural gifts. “I think everyone has the potential to access the unseen,” says Converse. “But maybe not everyone is supposed to. We each have a choice.”

There’s a learning curve as well. Amid the fast pace and societal conditioning of the modern world, figuring out how to quiet linear thinking is difficult for some, perhaps impossible for others. But the more we know about this not-so-separate way of thinking and feeling, the more easily it can be translated into our own lives. It’s not so mysterious after all.

“Have you ever had a puppy? When they’re very little, and you throw a ball, they run for it,” Gojkovic says. “But if you throw the ball up in the air, they just stare at you because they don’t know to look up. As they get older, they learn and remember to look up. People are like that.” m

totems

Definition: “A natural object or animal believed by a particular society to have spiritual significance and adopted by it as an emblem.”

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DANIEL FOX

OWL (right)

Burrowing owl, Mar Chiquita, Argentina, 2008

Silent and still, the owl is the bird of magic and darkness, of prophecy and wisdom. She gives one the power to extract secrets. The owl teaches us to be perceptive and intuitive. She can hear what others can’t and can detect subtleties when others won’t.

HAWK (far right)

Black-and-white hawk eagle, Guira Oga, Argentina, 2010

Swift and cunning, the hawk is the messenger, the protector and the visionary of the air. He holds the key to higher levels of consciousness. Soaring high above the mundane and everyday problems, the hawk observes and studies, reminding us to accept things the way they are, rather than forcing change.

FLAMINGO (opening spread)

American flamingo, Bronx Zoo, 2008 Delicate and flamboyant, the flamingo teaches how to maintain balance and movement through the emotions. She aids in intuitive filtering and spiritual discernment. Flamingos help to bring color and vivacity into one’s life and to increase community activities.

BACK IN 2009, I founded the Wild Image Project in Sausalito, an ongoing multimedia narrative that focuses on highlighting the true essence of nature and its teachings. Through my photography, writing and videos, I try to provoke a dialogue that forces the viewer to reevaluate his or her relationship with the environment.

Totems are what I photograph. Through my creative process, it is important that I don’t hide from the animals — I want them to see me; I want to meet their gaze and share that deep ancestral sense of commonality we have.

Spending so much time in nature has taught me three very important lessons about life. The first one being humility. Out there you quickly realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you. There are many things that are much bigger than you, conceptually and literally.

Hence I’ve also learned to wait and go with the flow. Rarely does anything go according to plan. Animals are not known to perform on cue and the weather usually doesn’t cooperate either. But for those who can wait and welcome the unexpected, life is an endless source of wonderful surprises and magical encounters.

Finally, all these hours observing wildlife has proven one thing to me — that every single species on earth is exceptional in the sense that it has achieved mastery of its survival by acutely occupying a specific niche within the planet’s ecosystem. Everything and everyone, including us, has evolved and survived by becoming the best at one thing. The indigenous cultures understood and honored this way of looking at the world. They didn’t see themselves as better or above any other species, but alongside all the others, part of life’s complex cobweb. Animals, plants and insects were respected, honored and recognized for their particular abilities and were often named as totems.

This collection is my attempt to present these animals with respect and honor. My goal is not to beautify or humanize them but rather to recognize their respective success of survival in relation to a humbling way of looking at the world that I fear is on the verge of disappearing.

CAIMAN (above)

Black caiman, Yacare Pora, Argentina, 2010

A true survivor, the alligator teaches about ancient knowledge that is currently hidden and gives the strength to create opportunities. This guardian and protector of wisdom will show you how to move in the waters of the self.

MOTH (right)

Gaudy sphinx, Park Urugua-i, Argentina, 2010 Mystical and a master of disguise, the moth flies blindly at night following the moon. Even at the risk of losing its life, it is ever-vigilant in following the path of light. It teaches us about perseverance but also reminds us to keep our own vigilance and not fall victim to blind faith.

SEAL (below)

Southern elephant seal, Punta Norte, Peninsula Valdes, Argentina, 2009 Sleek and patient, the seal “swims” (or moves) in the same manner both below and above the water. He teaches us how to go with the flow and feel at home in our own bodies. With his internal ears, the seal calls us to look inward to find our inner voice and self.

JAGUAR (below)

Candelaria, Argentina, 2010

Powerful and stealthy, the jaguar sees the roads within chaos and understands the patterns of chaos, moving without fear in the darkness. The jaguar moves in unknown places, shape-shifting, teaching psychic vision, and facilitating soul work while encouraging one to empower oneself and reclaim power.

HORSE (right)

Criollo horse, Laguna de los Padres, Argentina, 2009

Friendly and adventurous, the horse is a symbol of freedom and of new journeys. He teaches one how to ride in new directions to awaken and discover freedom and power. No saddle can truly break his spirit and no bridle can force him to betray his nature. The horse teaches us that we alone hold the reins of our destiny.

Destinations

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

WINE AND DINE

Five ways to take a bite out of Napa and Sonoma.

BY SOMER TEJWANI

ON YOUR NEXT winery visit, bring an appetite. For vintners looking to stand out in a sea of homogenized visitor perks, food has become as much of a lure as a library or cult-status vertical tasting. Forget cubed cheese and day-old baguettes; for the wineries that do serve food, from chef-paired tasting nibbles to elaborate private gardensourced dinners, the properly paired edibles can actually elevate the wine and provide a reason for those not imbibing (think designated driver) to join the fun. Here are five premium local food-and-wine pairings.

Jordan Vineyard and Winery

Todd Knoll, who has been at Healdsburg’s Jordan Vineyard and Winery for a decade, is farm-to-table through and through. The Hawaii-raised, Ritz-Carlton–trained chef grows heirloom produce at Jordan, leads the winery’s stone-fruit tree grafting experiments and creates his own sea salt by collecting water during travels to Hawaii, Mexico, Greece, France and places along the California coast. Although Jordan has o ered food-and-wine pairing for years, this fall under Knoll’s direction it’s using the 1,200-acre estate’s on-site ranch to produce eggs, beef and honey and even grow a cutting garden, all featured in the new Jordan Estate Tour and Tasting . In the guided tour, 12 guests can enjoy three hours of wine, food and nature exploration by car and on foot, with tastings

of current chardonnay and cabernet releases, special selections, estate extra-virgin olive oil and paired eats. By appointment Thursday–Monday through mid-November and again starting mid-April; $120 per person; reservations at jordanwinery.com/visit.

St. Francis

In Sonoma, St. Francis Winery and Vineyards has a food-and-wine tasting that’s less expensive than most wine country lunches. The Seated Wine and Food Pairing o ers a five- to six-course spread for just $45. Featuring fresh ingredients from chef David Bush’s two-acre on-site organic garden, the menu changes with the seasons. A recent heirloom tomato salad with pickled compressed peaches, burrata,

mint and harissa croutons accompanied a Russian River Valley pinot gris. Not o ered Tuesday and Wednesday; reservations recommended; stfranciswinery.com.

Pine Ridge Vineyards

This Napa Valley Stags Leap District winery’s 5X5 Tasting is set in a wine cave in a candlelit oak-barrel-furnished space called Cellar 47. Pairings feature five gourmet small bites and wines from each of Pine Ridge’s five estate-owned vineyards in appellations including Howell Mountain, Rutherford, Oakville, Stags Leap District and Carneros. $95 per person; daily at 11 a.m.; reserve at least 48 hours ahead; 800.575.9777 or pineridgevineyards.com.

Vineyard 29

At St. Helena’s Vineyard 29, the Library Tasting starts on the winery terrace, where the host describes the vineyard’s history and wine-making philosophy as guests take in the views 750 feet below. But what sets the experience apart is the trek through 13,000-square-foot caves for a seated event in the Library Tasting room. Four pourings of Vineyard 29’s small-production wines are served with seasonal bites like duck confit with cherry compote or Kobe New York strip steak with roasted garlic potato puree. Chef Austin Gallion discusses flavor profiles and components of wine and food and why they go well together. By reservation; 707.963.9292 or vineyard29.com.

Cliff Lede Vineyards

In the heart of Yountville — a town named after George Calvert Yount, who established the first Napa Valley winery — Cli Lede Vineyards’ Estate Tasting takes guests on a guided tour of the high-tech vineyard, with its state-of-the-art gravity-flow and berry-by-berry sorting system featuring conical tanks based on a design borrowed from Château Latour. The tasting pairs the winery’s sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon with chef Lynn Vita’s seasonal canapés such as mushroom tartare with shaved asiago on toasted brioches and crab cake with endive, grapefruit, avocado and lemon aioli. Tuesday–Saturday by appointment only; 707.944.8642 or cliffledevineyards.com. m

More Perfect Pairings

J VINEYARDS The Bubble Room Wine and Food Pairing is already an indulgent experience, with each of the multiple courses paired with a different J Vineyards wine, but don’t miss the luxury add-on: For an extra $50 you’ll taste a 2004 J Vintage Brut served with Osetra caviar and smoked salmon tartare. jwine.com

LYNMAR ESTATE Estate chef David Frakes’ wine country picnic pairings can be savored in the tasting room’s courtyard overlooking the gardens and vineyards. Edibles change with the season; a recent alfresco offering included organic popcorn sprinkled with amaranth za’atar, a lavash wrap of Willie Bird smoked turkey, home-baked cookies and more. Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., $45 per person, lynmarwinery.com

RAM’S GATE WINERY Sonoma’s Ram’s Gate Winery features an epicurean picnic by the pond. Executive chef Taylr Behnam pairs an assortment of house-made pickles, a seasonal salad, charcuterie and cheese, candied almonds, marinated olives and a bottle of wine (naturally), all tucked in a wicker basket and complete with a picnic blanket. $75 for two, ramsgatewinery.com

SEGHESIO FAMILY VINEYARDS The private Family Table tasting experience teams Seghesio wines with seasonal tastes from family recipes and executive chef Peter Janiak. The tour starts with a visit to the historic cellar, which dates to the 1890s, and features nibbles like king salmon crudo with quinoa and garden cucumber salad paired with pinot grigio or mascarpone polenta paired with an old vine zinfandel. $60 per person, seghesio.com

VINTNER SERIES SOUTH Looking for a winerelated getaway? Instead of driving north, head over the Golden Gate Bridge and through the new Devil’s Slide bypass tunnel to enjoy the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay’s vintner series. It features two great ways to enjoy California wines: Sip samples of wines on Friday and Saturday nights in the Eno Wine Bar tasting room for a tasting fee of $25 to $40 per person. Or dine and imbibe at the resort’s recently renovated signature Navio restaurant; monthly four-course vintner’s dinners, priced at $125 per person, will feature Fogarty Winery on October 25, Beauregard Vineyards on November 22 and Duckhorn Vineyards on December 13. ritzcarlton.com MIMI TOWLE

KIWI POP-UP Good news for those already missing the Kiwi frenzy surrounding the America’s Cup festivities this summer. The New Zealand–based pop-up restaurant Waiheke Island Yacht Club along the Embarcadero in San Francisco will be open through December. This industrial-chic warehouse-style restaurant, with chef Hayden McMillan at the helm, became the go-to spot before, after and during the races. Besides McMillan’s inventive dishes, the establishment also features NZ’s award-winning Moa Beer on tap and in bottles. And these bottles are seriously sized — 330, 375 and 750 milliliters up to 1.5 liter magnums. The glass is thicker and heavier than most beer bottles’ so all the bottle-fermentation and conditioning can take place inside. The finished product is sealed with either a crown cap or a cork and muselet. waihekeislandyachtclub.com M.T.

KEEP IT CORKED Sneak a sip without opening the bottle. The Coravin System sends a thin, hollow needle through the foil and cork to pressurize the bottle with argon (a naturally occurring gas), then lets wine flow through the needle and into your glass. This method preserves the remaining wine for years as the cork reseals itself. coravin.com M.T.

Charge It

Now through December 2013, Harvest Inn in St. Helena is o ering the use of a 240-volt electric car charger as part of an eco-friendly travel package. The “Recharge your Batteries” travel package includes two 60-minute onsite spa treatments, organic juices at the start of the day, a tour and tasting at nearby Hall Winery (which also has a charging station) and a $100 gift card for use at the Culinary Institute of America. Package starts at $559 per night. harvestinn.com M.T.

inspired choices for wine country experiences

Experience Wine Country as it’s meant to be experienced. Find the right deal and make this getaway your best!

Chateau St Jean, Discover the gracious style, exquisite gardens, and award-winning wines of Sonoma Valley’s quintessential winery. Treat yourself to a private tasting in the historic chateau or take in the view on the patio. 877.478.5326, 707.833.4134, Kenwood, ChateauStJean.com

The Hess Collection on Mount Veeder features a trio of passions under one roof, with daily wine tastings, cheese, charcuterie and chocolate pairings and The Hess Art Collection, a world-class contemporary art museum. 707.255.1144, Napa, hesscollection.com

Beringer Vineyards, Take a tour, walk the grounds, and taste of the wines of Napa Valley’s oldest continuously operating winery. Experience this American wine icon with more than 130 years of winemaking tradition. 866.708.9463, 707.963.8989, St. Helena, Beringer.com

CADE Estate Winery sits high above the fog line on the dramatic slopes of Howell Mountain, CADE Estate is a powerful yet nuanced expressions of our mountain terroir, all set against a backdrop of staggering Napa Valley vistas for a visitor experience not soon forgotten. 707.965.2746, Angwin, cadewinery.com

db Autosportif, imagine the possibilities when renting one of our beautiful classic cars to create your own special moments in beautiful wine country. Ideal for any occasion from birthday surprises, anniversaries, weddings… Or simply just because! 707.938.7474, Sonoma, dbautosportif.com

The Chanric Inn® offers 7 exclusive guestrooms. Each guestroom has its own bathroom with marble showers, stone floors, and stone vessel sinks, designed with distinctive character and original art. The modern furnishings are local and sustainably sourced. 707.942 4535, Calistoga, thechanric.com

Scotland

Even without clubs in hand, Gleneagles offers many diversions.

BY JIM AND NIKKI WOOD

THIS IS GOLFER’S PARADISE

There’s no other way to put it. Gleneagles — the historic resort hotel midway between Edinburgh and Glasgow — boasts three of Europe’s fi nest championship 18-hole golf courses, plus a nine-hole par 3 executive course and a nine-hole pitch and putt. Set in the very heart of Scotland, Gleneagles, meaning “Palace in the Glens,” will host the Ryder Cup competition at its famed PGA Centenary Course in September 2014.

A brief disclaimer: Although we enjoy playing golf, we are by no means even above-average golfers. Still, it has been a fantasy to play in Scotland — the land where golf was invented. We played the par 71 King’s Course on our first full day at Gleneagles. It was designed by the legendary Scottish golfer James Baird and has been testing links lovers since it opened 95 years ago. How did we do? Not the caliber of golf the King’s Course deserves, but we received more grins than grimaces and for us that’s a good round. Also, considering we walked (as they do not allow golf carts on the King’s Course), we were continually challenged and mesmerized by the physical beauty of the well-manicured terrain. The sun was poking in and out from behind big pu y clouds, and there definitely was a breeze. When we asked locals about the weather, they would say, “It’s Scotland; we never know from one hour to the next.” When it actually did rain one day, some people played the course with rain gear and big umbrellas.

Baird also designed the secluded Queen’s Course, which, being inundated with appealing things to do, we couldn’t find time to play. But talking with golfers at the Dormy Clubhouse bar, we learned Queen’s Course is known throughout Europe for its wavy fairways, towering pines and feltlike, very challenging greens.

Jack Nicklaus’ creation, the PGA Centenary Course and the one chosen to host the 2014 Ryder Cup, is Gleneagles’ third 18-hole option. On our last day, we got in nine holes on that absolutely gorgeous course before wind-driven showers sent us into Dormy Clubhouse for chowder and grilled cheese. In case you’re wondering, Gleneagles provides use of immaculate Callaway, Titleist and TaylorMade equipment, so you don’t have to lug your bag halfway around the world to enjoy what has to be one of the world’s top golf experiences.

School of Falconry

Gleneagles o ers more than golf. Has a falcon ever landed on your forearm? One will — provided you’re wearing a thick leather glove — when you participate in the British School of Falconry, one of many activities o ered at the resort. Truth be told, our training was not with a falcon, but with a Harris hawk. “Nigel, here, may seem loyal and well trained,” said Steve Burdett, referring to the 7-year-old hawk he was about to put through its paces, “but there’s just one thing causing him to respond; that’s food — fresh meat, to be exact.”

Burdett, who has the wit and charm of Animal Planet ’s late Steve Irwin, then sent Nigel flying to a perch 25 feet away. “Watch what happens when you yell at him,” whispered Burdett as he put a pinch of raw beef on my

Burdett has no problem filling the 60-minute session on falconry with (literally) hands-on lessons and fascinating tales of the hunting prowess of peregrine falcons, golden eagles and Harris hawks.

page: 51

Opposite

heavily gloved hand. “Nigel!” I shouted. In a blink, the hawk flapped his wings, traveled the 25 feet, snatched the beef with his beak and landed on my wrist. “Now what are we going to do?” quipped the trainer with a quizzical look. “He wants more.” Burdett had no problem fi lling the 60-minute session on falconry with (literally) hands-on lessons and fascinating tales of the hunting prowess of peregrine falcons and golden eagles as well as hawks. We even learned the history of such terms as “ferret out,” “tightfi sted” and “fed up,” all rooted in falconry.

Other amenities abound. Gleneagles’ manicured 850acre site includes two main buildings with 232 rooms, several conference areas, an award-winning destination spa by ESPA, an indoor/outdoor pool, several tennis courts, a beautifully groomed croquet course and the aforementioned nine-hole pitch and putt course. And Gleneagles Equestrian School is equipped to handle every level of horsemanship; for the younger set, ponies are available for a

Getting There Is Half the Fun

half day. For a totally di erent type of ride, try the Argocat, an all-weather, all-terrain, semiamphibious vehicle the whole family can pile into for an o -road experience in the Scottish countryside. Further options include Gleneagles’ Shooting School (rifles and shotguns), Fishing School (flycasting on nearby streams) and Gundog School (the world’s first hunting dog school).

A Nearby Town

For us, travel is also about exploring small towns and villages, and we discovered a gem on this trip, Crie , 12 miles from Gleneagles (in Scotland distance is measured in miles, not kilometers). With 6,000 residents, Crie is the largest town in Perthshire, or Perth County. “ ’Tis a resart tahwn,” explained Alistair, our driver for the day. “Luts of auld folks live eerh.” Maybe it’s best to say it this way: Crie defines the word charming. In 1716, Highlanders returning from the Battle of Sheri muir burned much of the town to the

UP, UP AND AWAY Virgin Atlantic has a nonstop flight from SFO to London Heathrow that literally takes the pain out of flying for the eight-plus hours it takes to get to London. Upper class features individual pods that are a comfy home away from home with entertainment screens, reading lamps and fully reclining beds. Timing was such that we took off from SFO just in time for a delicious dinner, watched a movie, slept for several hours and woke up ready to embrace the next day in London with only minimal jet lag. Although Scotland was our destination, we were excited to spend one day in London as it had been many years since we had stepped foot on British soil.

A QUICK LAYOVER What does a couple from Marin do with 24 hours in London? Make the most of it. Since we had a birthday to celebrate, we’d booked at the elegant five-star 51 Buckingham Gate Hotel, a block from Buckingham Palace. It’s a Taj Hotel, run by the owners of Campton Place in San Francisco and the Pierre in New York City. With its very English courtyard entrance, this boutique lodging has 86 suites, all with well-equipped kitchens. But a birthday dinner at the stylish, intimate (and on-site) 51 Bistro was more what we had in mind — and it was perfect, down to the chocolate truffle cupcake with a single candle. It was a great way to end the evening. The following morning broke clear and sunny, and though you wind up looking like the ultimate tourists, we enjoyed gallivanting around on one of those two-story open-air buses that you can hop off and on as you wish. Harrods, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, 10 Downing, Hyde Park, the Houses of Parliament, Paddington Station, the British Museum — we saw them all. We also made a stop at the palace just as the rather touristy ceremonial “butyou-have-to-see-it-once” changing of the guard was taking place; wall-to-wall people craned their necks for a glimpse. We ended the day along the Thames at the London Eye, the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe. The ride ascends nearly 450 feet in a capsule that comfortably holds two dozen people; on a clear day, midair, you take in all of London from a seagull’s view. We could also see that the sun was starting to set. Time to head for Heathrow to board a Virgin Atlantic Little Red flight to Edinburgh; from there, on to Gleneagles. Our trip had only just begun.

ground. Crie , which lies along the River Earn, then became a center for trading black cattle and distilling whiskey. One of those long-ago start-ups, Glenturret Distillery, is just outside town and now open for tours. So is Crie Hydro, a still-operational spa that opened nearly 150 years ago.

On a walk down Crie ’s historic High Street we noticed signs — “Frank’s Hardware: Gifts and Fine China,” “Alan’s Pet Store,” “The Carpet Shop.” Inside, we’d inevitably find an apron-clad shopkeeper tending his wares and/or tidying up. There were no nearby Costcos, Wal-Marts or Home Depots threatening these folks. Other High Street favorites: “Fish in Crie , “Snip, Tuck and Sew” and “D. Gurley, Family Butcher.” There was one American touch: a Subway franchise. But that was it. And at the end of High Street, a bulletin board bore this posting by William McGonagall, a 19th-century weaver, actor and notoriously bad poet:

Ye lovers of the picturesque, if ye wish to drown your grief.

Take my advice, and visit the ancient town of Crie .

Return to Gleneagles

After several hours of exploration, we ventured back to the resort for cocktails and dinner. At Gleneagles, that happens in a thoroughly historic setting. When the hotel opened in June of 1924, it was hailed as “a Riviera in the Scottish Highlands,” which, once you encounter its lush surroundings and interiors, seems to fit. The former Caledonian Railway Company created the resort as a destination for its customers; it’s now owned by London-based Diageo, the world’s largest producer of spirits, whose brands include Smirno , Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan and Guinness.

As you can imagine, a first-class hotel built during the Roaring ’20s is bound to have a handsome bar and dining room, and here Gleneagles won’t disappoint. The bar features dark mahogany wall paneling, massive amber glass chandeliers and oversize leather chairs and sofas scattered here and there. This being Scotland, you might order a Rob Roy, which, because it is a Scotch martini, comes in a classic martini glass. For dining, the magnificent Strathearn Room has a formal touch perfect for a celebratory occasion, complete with inlaid 30-foot-high ceilings and massive Doric columns. A tuxedoed pianist played “I’d Like To Get You on a Slow Boat to China” as well-dressed servers took turns pushing the sterling silver roast trolley from table to table.

Over the past decade Gleneagles has won more than 70 travel, leisure and dining industry awards and was recently named “Best Golf Resort in the World” by The Daily Telegram ’s travel magazine and “Best UK Rural Hotel” by the (London) Sunday TimesTravel Magazine

Whether you most remember the golf, the horseback riding, the spa treatments, the fishing, the falconry or simply dining and imbibing in a magical setting, a visit here is sure to showcase Scotland in all its greenest glory. m

Out & About

CALENDAR / ON THE SCENE / DINE

DANCE

Being Raymond Chandler

LISTING ON PAGE 76

THEATER / COMEDY / MUSIC / GALLERIES / MUSEUMS / EVENTS / FILM EDITED BY CALIN VAN PARIS

GALLERIES

Community Congregational Church Spirit of Place Works by Golden Gate Marin Artists, a branch of the National League of American Pen Women, October 16–November 12. Rock Hill Drive, Tiburon. 415.435.9108, ccctiburon.net

THEATER

THRU OCT 13

Chapter Two The Ross Valley Players bring Neil Simon’s Tony-nominated, semiautobiographical play to life. The Barn Theatre (Ross). 415.456.9555, rossvalleyplayers.com

THRU OCT 20

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical The show centers on the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/ songwriter, when she was still Carol Klein. Curran Theatre (SF). 888.746.1799, shnsf.com

THRU NOV 23

Shocktoberfest 14: Jack the Ripper An evening

of theater, horror and song commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Jack the Ripper murders in London. The Hypnodrome Theatre (SF). 800.838.3006, thrillpeddlers.com

OCT 5–20 It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s Superman! 42nd Street Moon celebrates the Man of Steel’s 75th birthday by bringing

back the 1966 musical. It’s up to Superman to save Metropolis from Dr. Abner Sedgwick, a 10-time Nobel Prize–losing scientist. Eureka Theatre (SF). 415.255.8207, 42ndstmoon.org

OCT 10–NOV 3 I and You Two high school students are paired up to collaborate on a project to deconstruct

a poem about the interconnectivity of everything, and they find a connection between themselves along the way. Marin Theatre Company (Mill Valley). 415.388.5208, marintheatre.org

DANCE

ONGOING 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

OCT 11–13 A Rite Bill

T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and SITI Company present the West Coast premiere of the collaborative work that celebrates the 100th anniversary of Igor Stravinsky’s groundbreaking The Rite of Spring. Yerba Buena Center of the Arts (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

OCT 26–27 Being Raymond Chandler Thirteenth Floor Dance Theater stages its original work set in the mind of a detective fiction

writer as he attempts to write his latest novel. ODC Theater (SF). 13thfloordance.org

COMEDY

TUESDAYS Mark Pitta and Friends The comic hosts an evening for up-and-comers and established headliners to work on new material. 142 Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, 142throckmorton theatre.com

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

THRU OCT 4 Dolores Claiborne San Francisco Opera presents the world premiere of Dolores Claiborne, a new opera based on the novel by Stephen King. War Memorial Opera House (SF). 415.864.3330, sfopera.com

OCT 2 Keith Jarrett Trio

Three renowned jazz masters — pianist Keith Jarrett, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette — mark a three-decade musical alliance with a one-night stop in Berkeley. Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley). 510.642.9988, calperfs.berkeley.edu

OCT 6 Angel Heart

Perfect for families, this musical tells the tale of a young girl with a broken heart and her quest to mend it. Hertz Hall (Berkeley). 510.642.9988, calperfs.berkeley.edu

OCT 10 John Elliott

Elliott and special guests join for the Guitar Pull event and a night of Bruce Springsteen covers. Stop by the sing-along and celebrate the musical legend. The Sleeping Lady (Fairfax). 415.485.1182, sleeping ladyfairfax.com

OCT 11–12 The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream

This concert marks the first time the Rascals have played together since 1970. Original band members Felix

MARIN SYMPHONY

ALASDAIR NEALE | MUSIC DIRECTOR

Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati, Dino Danelli and Gene Cornish perform their iconic songs, accompanied by archival footage and narration. The Warfield (San Francisco). 415.345.0900, the warfieldtheatre.com

OCT 13 Ostraka The San Francisco Early Music Society opens its 2013–14 season with local trio Ostraka, featuring solo and ensemble works for bass viol, theorbo, and baroque guitar. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (San Francisco). 510.528.1725, sfems.org

OCT 25 KC Turner Presents Promoter KC Turner brings the music of The Birds of Chicago to Marin at this special house concert. Email Turner at kc@ kcturnermusic.com to purchase tickets and discover the location (San Rafael). kcturnermusic.com

OCT 25–26 Jefferson Starship: 40th Light Year Anniversary

Join Paul Kantner and Marty Balin of Je erson Starship for an all-star celebration

SUN OCT 6

SAT OCT 26

SUN OCT 27

TUE OCT 29

SAT DEC 8

SUN DEC 9

TUE DEC 17

Fun. Seriously. 20

13–14 SEASON

HIGHLIGHTS

National Young Composers Challenge Composium* Experience six exciting new works by winners—top young composers from all over the country. Witness an amazing afternoon of drama, and music—part concert, master class, competition and live recording session—this totally unique event is thrilling, highly interactive and fast-paced for everyone.

61st Season-Opening 007 Gala An elegant James Bondthemed affair, including dinner, raffle, dancing, and exceptional music including a special appearance by Van Cliburn Gold Medalist Jon Nakamatsu . Please join us for this inspired gathering at the Marin Art and Garden Center on the evening before our season-opening From Russia With Love concerts.

From Russia With Love* The first Masterworks concert in our 61 st Season opens with a spectacular display of Russian music— beginning with Tchaikovsky’s Polonaise from Eugene Onegin and continuing with Jon Nakamastu returning for Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto. Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony is an epic struggle—keeping you on the edge of your seat to the end.

Holiday Choral Concerts by Candlelight

Begin your holiday season with a favorite tradition when our community gathers in the Church of Saint Raphael in San Rafael. Add your voice to the celebration and sing along with our Marin Symphony Chamber Chorus and special guests. Share the glow again with us this year!

Holiday Pops Concert* is the start of a new Marin tradition! Maestro Alasdair Neale conducts the orchestra performing more than a dozen holiday classics with choirs and guest soloists including Waltz of the Flowers from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, White Christmas by Irving Berlin, and classics like Deck the Halls, O Christmas Tree, Jingle Bells and Joy to the World!

Create your own series! Subscribe to 3 or more Season Concerts. Purchase tickets & discover more. Call: 415.479.8100 Visit: marinsymphony.org /marinsymphony

we appreciate our season sponosors:

*Concerts & events at the Marin Center Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium. © Marin Symphony. Dates and details subject to change.

of four decades of psychedelic rock. Sweetwater Music Hall (Mill Valley). 415.388.1100, sweet watermusichall.com

OCT 31 Maceo Parker

Falkirk Cultural Center

A fall juried art exhibition, through October 19. 1408 Mission Ave, San Rafael. 415.485.3328, falkirk culturalcenter.org

The funky and soulful saxophonist/vocalist brings the sounds to jazz up your Halloween night. SFJAZZ Center (SF). 866.920.5299, s azz.org

GALLERIES

MARIN

Art Abloom 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 Memento Mori A street art–based installation featuring works by Bay Area artists Eddie Colla and D Young V, through October 11. 1337 Fourth St, San Rafael. 415.451.8119, art worksdowntown.org

Bay Model Exhibition Gallery BayWood Artists

On the Bay: A Salute to America’s Cup Bayand boating-inspired works by Bay Area plein air painters, October 4–26. 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.332.3870, baywoodartists.org

Bubble Street Featuring genres of fantastic art, imaginary realism, neo-Victorian and steampunk. 565 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.339.0506

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 Works by Jennifer Li and Nicholas Oberling, October 3–November 7. 483 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur. 415.945.9454, bergelli.com

Gallery Route One

Edges and Flows A collection of paintings by Mary Mountcastle Eubank, October 25–December 1. 11101 Hwy One, Point Reyes. 415.663.1347, galleryrouteone.org

Marin Society of Artists

Fall Rental Show A juried show for members, through October 5. 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross. 415.454.9561, marinsocietyof artists.org

O’Hanlon Center for the Arts Unfamiliar Landscapes Abstract and expressionistic mixed-media artworks that reflect imagined or unusual landscapes, October 1–31. 616 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.388.4331, ohanloncenter.org

Petri’s Fine Arts

Caldwell Snyder Gallery Works by Paul Balmer, October 3–31. 341 Sutter St, San Francisco. 415.392.2299, caldwellsnyder.com

Featuring contemporary works in various mediums. 690 Bridgeway, Sausalito. 415.332.2626, petrisfinearts.com

Robert Allen Fine Art

Landscapes/Cityscapes

A group exhibition of contemporary works on canvas and panel, October 3–November 29. 301 Caledonia St, Sausalito. 415.331.2800, robertallenfineart.com

Robert Beck Gallery

Early California and quality contemporary plein air paintings. 222 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo. 415.456.7898, beckgallery.org

Robert Green Fine

Arts Abstract expressionist paintings by Sam Francis, John Grillo, Paul Jenkins, Jim Bird and more. 154 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.381.8776, rgfinearts.com

‘‘I wish Terrestra were right here in Marin!’’

Rock Hill Gallery Things

Seen and Unseen A collection of photographs, through October 13. 145 Rock Hill Dr, Tiburon. 415.435.9108, ccctiburon.net

Room Art Gallery

Works by both Bay Area artists and major masters, housing the largest collection of Picasso, Chagall and others in Marin County. 86 Throckmorton Ave, Mill Valley. 415.380.7940, roomartgallery.com

Seager Gray Gallery

Ever since Terrestra opened in San Francisco, our loyal Marin County customers have been asking us to open a store on this side of the bridge. We were listening. We’ve found the perfect spot and filled it with thousands of fabulous gifts and everything for creative entertaining. As always, free gift-wrapping. Shipping to anywhere. And our expert staff at your service.

Form and Place An exhibition of sculpture and drawings by artist Jane Rosen and works in kilncast crystal by sculptor Ann Hollingsworth, October 1–November 10. 23 Sunnyside Ave, Mill Valley. 415.384.8288, seagergray.com

Lucca, Italy. And now Terrestra, Mill Valley.

You’ve admired them in ne leather shops and museum stores throughout Europe. Now the entire collection of Mywalit handbags and wallets is here at last. Introducing the new Mywalit Store at Terrestra, Mill Valley.

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 Art Work by local artists, classes and workshops with materials included. 1133 Grant Ave, Novato. 415.596.5546, studio4art.net

Throckmorton Theatre

Beyond the Clouds A series of paintings by Susan Schneider, October 1–December 1. 142 Throckmorton Theatre (Mill Valley). 415.383.9600, schneider artworks.com

SAN FRANCISCO

ArtHaus An intimate presentation of diverse

works in various styles and mediums by New York and Bay Area artists. 411 Brannan St, 415.977.0223, arthaus-sf.com

Electric Works Requiem

A collection of collaborative works on paper that focus on the soon-to-be demolished old east span of the Bay Bridge, through October 19. 1360 Mission St, 415.626.5496, sfelectricworks.com

George Krevsky Gallery Points of Interest New works by artist Ken Kalman, through October 26. 77 Geary St, 415.397.9728, georgekrevsky gallery.com

Gregory Lind Gallery

Dannielle Tegeder: The Library of

Abstract Sound New work inspired by Dannielle Tegeder’s original work of the same name, October 3–November 30. 49 Geary St, 415.296.9661, gregorylindgallery.com

Hackett-Mill Jules

Olitski Colorness: The Early Spray Paintings 1965 to 1969 Works by abstract artist Jules Olitski, October 18–December 20. 201 Post St, 415.362.3377, hackettmill.com

John Berggruen Gallery

Chuck Close: Important Works on Paper from the Past 40 Years An exhibition of work by American artist Chuck Close, through November 16. 228 Grant Ave, 415.781.4629, berggruen.com

Rena Bransten Gallery Dowaud Bey: The Birmingham Project, through October 19. 77 Geary St, 415.982.3292, renabransten gallery.com

MUSEUMS

MARIN

Bolinas Museum 30 Years of History The museum celebrates its 30th anniversary with an exhibit and works that look back at its development, through December 31 (Bolinas). 415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org

Marin History Museum

An Afternoon in a Victorian Parlor A display of an old-fashioned sitting room in the historic Boyd Gate House (San Rafael).

415.454.8538, marinhistory.org

Marin Museum of the American Indian Explore Native American history, languages, art and traditions (Novato). 415.897.4064, marinindian.com

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Fall national juried competition, through October 6 (Novato). 415.506.0137, marinmoca.org

BAY AREA

Asian Art Museum

Proximities 2: Knowing Me Knowing You Examining Asia as seen through family and community, October 11–December 8 (SF). 415.581.3711, asianart.org

California Academy of Sciences Nightlife Enjoy music, creatures and cocktails for adults only and explore the exhibits and aquarium displays every Thursday night (SF). 415.379.8000, calacademy.org

Conservatory of Flowers Butterflies and Blooms An English garden with monarchs, swallowtails, painted ladies and more, through October 20 (SF). 415.831.2090, con servatoryo owers.org

Contemporary Jewish Museum Work in

Progress: Considering Utopia New works by three artists encourage viewers to consider the concept of utopia both in a Jewish context and from a contemporary perspective,

October 3–January 20 (SF). 415.655.7800, thecjm.org

de Young David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition A showing of works assembled exclusively for the de Young, October 26–January 20 (SF). 415.750.3600, deyoung.famsf.org

Exploratorium Ongoing interactive exhibits exploring science, art and human perception (SF). 415.397.5673, exploratorium.edu

Legion of Honor Impressionists on the Water Embark on an artistic voyage during the America's Cup in San Francisco with a sensational exhibition that explores the significant role sailing played in the lives of

Marin Country Club Experience the Lifestyle

the impressionists and post-impressionists, through October 13 (SF). 415.750.3600, legiono onor.org

Museum of Craft and Design New West Coast Design 2 Works chosen for the significant contribution they make to the world of design by expanding on the idea of function, exploiting materials, innovative techniques or pioneering applications of new technology, October 26–January 5 (SF). 415.773.0303, sfmcd.org

Oakland Museum of California Peter Stackpole: Bridging the Bay Black-and-white photographs depicting the building of the

“Since joining the club in 2012, we have grown to love it. The fun events, wonderful people and friendly atmosphere have added a new dimension to our social life.”

“I am a people person. I love building relationships with members, the back and forth banter, improving their games, and most of all, helping them enjoy the game of golf. To me, my job isn’t work, it is one of the things that gives me pleasure everyday.”

- KEN DOHERTY, MCC HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL

Out & About / CALENDAR

San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge in the 1930s, through January 26 (Oakland).

510.318.8400, museumca.org

San Francisco Botanical Garden California Native Plant Boom A collection of hundreds of wildflowers native to California and a 100-year-old grove of coast redwoods (SF). 415.661.1316, s otanicalgarden.org

The Walt Disney Family Museum Camille Rose Garcia: Down the Rabbit Hole, through November 3 (SF). 415.345.6800, waltdisney.org

EVENTS

OCT 5 Dimensions Dance Theatre The Bay Area's premiere African-American dance company celebrates its 40th year with a formal procession followed by a retrospective of the company's four decades and culminating with the world premiere of Rhythms of Life: Down the Congo Line, an ode to the legacy of traditional Congolese dance forms.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Dissident Futures Look into possible alternative futures brought on by active engagement with current political, economic or technological structures, October 18–February 2 (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SF). 415.978.2787, ybca.org

OCT 8 Diving for Dough The Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation presents its 21st annual celebrity pool toss to raise money for neighborhood kids and families. Featuring appearances by Robin Williams, MC Hammer, Gavin Newsom and more. Phoenix Hotel (SF). 415.358.3906, tndc.org

OCT 11–13 The Dew Tour Championships

A three-day action sports festival featuring skateboarding, BMX, FMX, top athletes and live music. Civic Center Plaza (SF). allisports.com

OCT 12 Savor Marin The Environmental Forum of Marin celebrates the natural bounty of the county with an evening of locally grown food, wine, artisan beer and talks from area foodies. Community Center (Corte Madera). 415.484.8336, marinefm.org

OCT 18 Environmental Leader of Marin Awards Huey Johnson, creator of the Investing for Prosperity policy, speaks as the organization recognizes the accomplishments of environmentalists like Congressman Jared Hu man and more. Mill Valley Community Center (Mill Valley). environmental leaderofmarin.com

OCT 19 Midnight in Paris Art Works Downtown celebrates its 17th anniversary with a party inspired by Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, paying homage to the Paris art scene in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Art Works Downtown (San Rafael). 415.451.8119, artworksdowntown.org

OCT 19 Tamalpa Institute Celebration

Join Tamalpa Institute as it celebrates 35 years of artistic, collaborative and educational work. Enjoy an art and video gallery featuring works from Tamalpa students and alumni, performances, music and more. Halprin Mountain Home

Studio (Kentfield). 415.457.8555, tamalpa.org

OCT 19–20 Goblin Jamboree Local families gather for a Halloween carnival, featuring costumes, circus performers, magicians, pony rides and a petting zoo. Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito). 415.339.3900, baykidsmuseum.org

OCT 19–20 Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival

The festival returns for its 43rd year to celebrate all things pumpkin with championship weigh-o s, pumpkin sculpting, harvestinspired crafts, live music and much more. Main Street (Half Moon Bay). 650.726.9652, miramiraevents.com

BAY AREA’S #1 EATING DISORDER PROGRAM

•

OCT 19–20 Leukemia

Cup Regatta Join the Bay Area Leukemia Cup Committee and the San Francisco Yacht Club for the eighth annual San Francisco Bay Area Leukemia Cup benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Sailors of all levels race to raise money and awareness for blood cancer research. San Francisco Yacht Club (Belvedere).

888.557.7177, leukemiacup.org

OCT 20 MALT Day at the Pumpkin Patch Head to Nicasio Valley Farms for a day of cheese making, pizza baking, apple pressing and the chance to pick the perfect pumpkin. Enjoy the beer garden while the kids enjoy farm crafts. Nicasio Valley Farms (Nicasio). 415.663.1158, malt.org

OCT 26–27 Treasure Island Flea An open-air market that features handmade items, vintage pieces, photography, antiques, food and wine and live music. Treasure Island (SF). 415.898.0245, treasureislandflea.com

OCT 27 Autistry Faire: Cardboard Carnival Themed “Cardboard: from Mundane to Magnificent,” this

fundraiser will help Autistry Studios expand programs, as well as raise money for its Opportunity Fund, which provides scholarships and workshops for students in need. Featuring a custom-built cardboard racetrack complete with radio-controlled race cars. Autistry Studios (San Rafael). 415.454.1037, autistrystudios.com

FILM

OCT 3–13 Mill Valley Film Festival The festival returns for its 36th year to celebrate the best in independent and world cinema. Filmmakers and film lovers gather to view acclaimed new works in Mill Valley, San Rafael

and more. Various locations (Bay Area). 415.383.5256, mv .com

OCT 19 Macbeth A new production of one of Shakespeare’s most tragic tales, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, a renowned Shakespeare interpreter and Academy Award nominee. Lark Theater (Larkspur). 415.924.5111, larktheater.net

NATURE WALKS

& TALKS

ONGOING Foodie Adventures Experience the Mission District, North Beach or Chinatown on a culinary walking tour. Various locations (SF). 888.498.2008, foodieadventures.com

ONGOING Mark Twain

ONGOING 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

THRU OCT 1 2013 Point Reyes Trails Challenge A self-paced hike-athon and community fundraiser for the National Park Service's 150-mile trail network at Point Reyes. Various locations (Point Reyes). 415.663.1200 ext. 304, ptreyes.org

lectures by some of the country’s leading figures in business, politics, entertainment, academia and literature. Dominican University (San Rafael). 415.927.0960, bookpassage.com

OCT 8 Christopher Guest in Conversation with Adam Savage Actor, director, writer and composer Christopher Guest, best known for Waiting for Gu man, Best in Show and The Princess Bride, joins Adam Savage for a chat. Nourse Theater (SF). 415.563.2463, cityarts.net

survivor, sits down with Joanne Greene. Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael). 415.444.8000, marinjcc.org

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

ONGOING 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

THRU NOV 16 Fall 2013 Leadership Lecture Series Dominican University and Book Passage present a 10th season of leadership

OCT 15 Alan Kaufman in Conversation with Joanne Greene Poet and author of Drunken Angel, Alan Kaufman, the son of a French Holocaust

OCT 27 Chef Daniel Boulud French-born Daniel Boulud is a former chef at a variety of award-winning restaurants and current owner of 10 successful restaurants in New York City and around the world. His flagship restaurant, Daniel, has garnered The New York Times ’ coveted four-star rating as well as three Michelin stars. Boulud discusses his book Daniel: My French Cuisine. Jewish Community Center (SF). 415.292.1200, jccsf.org

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22 Miller Ave (415) 388-2000, piazzadangelo.com

24 Sunnyside Ave (415) 384-8241, prabhindiankitchen.com

17 Throckmorton Ave (415) 388-0741, elpaseomillvalley.com

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19 Corte Madera Ave (415) 388-1700, sweetwatermusichall.com

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Enjoy the best dining per square mile in all of Marin. Another reason to Enjoy Mill Valley. www.facebook.com/EnjoyMilValley

Dine

AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO RESTAURANTS AND GOOD FOOD IN THE BAY AREA EDITED BY MIMI TOWLE

SANA MARIN Mediterranean Sample a menu of CaliforniaMediterranean cuisine crafted from local produce and local, organic, free-range meats. The wine bar stays largely local as well, with a number of selections from Napa and Sonoma counties. 2200 4th Street, 415.457.4164, sanamarin.com

CORTE MADERA

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, bluebarngourmet.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

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

THE COUNTER

California/American

The folks at the Counter have taken the “have it your way” motto to a wholenew 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

GRILLY’S Mexican

If you’re looking for a quick, fresh meal, Grilly’s is an easy and delicious stop. Pick up a couple burritos and the much-loved chicken taco salad and you have a lunch or dinner that is sure to please the whole family. 1 Bolinas Ave, 415.457.6171, grillys.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, deerparksteakhousegrill.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. The only thing missing is the sand at this surf-style, upbeat eatery. 302 Bon Air Ctr, 415.461.7400, wipeoutbarandgrill.com

LARKSPUR

AMBROSIA Italian This family friendly Italian joint serves traditional pizzas and homemade pastas, accompanied by one of the best wineby-the-glass programs in Marin. Ambrosia will soon find a new home in Kentfield—look for them on Facebook for details. 1159 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.9292

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

FABRIZIO RISTORANTE

Italian Traditional Italian dishes with an extensive wine list from regions all over Italy; outdoor seating makes the experience even more special. 455 Magnolia Ave, 415.924.3332, fabrizioristorante.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. Two locations: Marin Country Mart, 415.461.9900; 1139 Magnolia Ave, 415.925.1556, rusticbakery.com

MILL VALLEY

BOO KOO Asian

Authentic Asian street food is now available for $10 or less. The restaurant o ers options for every eater—vegans, gluten-frees, 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

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 Christine 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 p.m. 152 Shoreline Hwy, 415.289.5777, frantoio.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 E. Blithedale Ave, 415.381.6010, pearlsdeluxe.com

SOL FOOD Puerto Rican

This Marin favorite has opened doors in Mill Valley, where they continue to serve up everyone’s favorite Puerto Rican cuisine. The line can get long, but the food is well worth it. 401 Miller Ave, 415.380.1986, solfoodrestaurant.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

WEEZY’S GRASS

FED SHED American

Weezy’s has come to Mill Valley, adding their flacvor to the already extensive selection of burgers in teh area. Luckily, the slidersized o erings make sampling two patties a perfectly acceptable option. 507 Miller Ave, weezys-shed.com

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 Harman. 7416 Redwood Hwy, 415.878.0314, chiantinovato.com

HILLTOP 1892 California

Situated on a historic estate in Novato with sweeping views, Hilltop 1892 o ers traditional favorites with a California flair. Open lunch through dinner, as

well as Sunday brunch. 850 Lamont Ave, 415.893.1892, hilltop1892.com

MUSCIO’S Italian

Inspired by the tradition of family dinners, Muscio’s is serving up traditional Italian food. Meals include Mom’s Fettuccine with Prawns (gluten-free rigatoni available), My Sister’s Minestrone Soup and pesto chicken pizza. The kids’ menu encourages the whole family to spend an evening at Muscio’s. 1200 Grant Ave, 415.898.2234, muscios.com

RICKEY’S RESTAURANT & BAR

American Besides a full-service restaurant and bar (with banquet/ meeting rooms,) this comfort food classic o ers poolside dining and a garden patio overlooking green lawns. During the summer, dine while listening to jazz by the pool from 6:30–9:30 p.m. 250 Entrada Drive, 415.883.9477, rickeysrestaurant.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. 1407 Grant Avenue, 415.878.4952, rusticbakery.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 Chinese chicken

Sunday Oct 27 2:00-4:30pm

Marin Catholic Open House

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

French Owners Bruno Denis and Olivier Souvestre, of Le Garage, 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

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. Finish with the rich tres leches cake. This place gets packed, so make reservations.

218 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, 415.454.8900, marinitas.net

MH BREAD & BUTTER

California This onestop-shop o ers everything from coffee and pastries to artisan bread and braised meats. High quality ingredients and a comfortable atmosphere make MH

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

SAN RAFAEL

AMICI’S EAST 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

IL DAVIDE Italian A large selection of both Italian and California wines by the glass along with the dolci menu’s tiramisu have kept locals coming back for years. Don’t leave without sampling the limoncello. 901 A St, 415.454.8080, ildavide.net

ODALISQUE CAFÉ

Mediterranean This casual art cafe was inspired by “La Grande Odalisque,” an oil painting of a slave done in 1814 by Jean-AugusteDominque Ingres. Menu items are built from seasonal items available at farmers’ markets and include persimmon salad, roasted butternut squash risotto and a variety of pizzettas. 1335 Fourth 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

VIN ANTICO American

This newly re-opened restaurant o ers seasonal market inspired cuisine like stone oven baked flat breads, hand made pasta, organic salads. Set in an old brick building, the kitchen is open to the dining room and you can even snag a seat at the chef’s counter. 881 4th St, 415.721.0600, vin-antico.com

WHIPPER SNAPPER RESTAURANT

California/Caribbean

Owner and chef Bill Higgins serves reasonably priced and delicious tapas. Save room for delicious fish tacos and yummy chocolate bread pudding. On Sundays, try the $3 glasses of sangria. 1613 Fourth St, 415.256.1818, whipsnap.biz

YET WAH Chinese

Named after the founder’s wife (“Yet” refers to the moon, “Wah” to brightness), this beloved mainstay o ers dim sum daily along with the traditional Chinese menu. Groove to live music in the Kung Fu Lounge. 1238 Fourth St, 415.460.9883, yetwahsanrafael.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 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

BAR BOCCE American Food tastes better, your company becomes funnier and issues of the day seem trivial when you’re dining on a bayside patio with fire pits and a bocce ball court. Throw in sourdough bread pizzas and a glass of wine, and you’ll see why this casual eatery, whose co-owner and executive chef is Robert Price of Buckeye and Bungalow 44, has become a local favorite. 1250 Bridgeway, 415.331.0555, barbocce.com

BARREL HOUSE

TAVERN California

Stop by Barrel House for local food accompanied by fantastic bay and city views. The setting is the perfect place to enjoy one of the restaurant’s signature, barrel aged cocktails. 660 Bridgeway, 415.729.9593, barrelhousetavern.com

CIBO Cafe Marinites love to stop here for outdoor co ee.

Husband-and-wife team Alfredo and Tera Ancona o er a menu of tarts, croissants, cookies, paninis and

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Open Monday-Saturday 10-5 Consignments taken from Tuesday thru Saturday 10-3 415 456-7309

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soups. Every dish is made from scratch with local and seasonal products. Located in the historic brick building at 1201 Bridgeway. 415.331.2426, cibosausalito.com

DAVEY JONES DELI

American Stationed in the New Bait Shop Market since May 2010, Davey Jones Deli boasts house-roasted sandwich meats, healthy condiments and local, organic vegetables. The deli o ers sandwiches, veggiewiches, wraps and salads with vegetarian, vegan and meat-lover options. 1 Gate 6 Rd, 415.331.2282, daveyjonesdeli.com

FAST FOOD FRANCAIS

French This “frenchified American comfort food” spot opened in February after taking over Plate Shop’s old location. Owned and operated by the owners of Le Garage and L’Appart Resto, F3

serves brunch, lunch and dinner, with specialties such as the le bleu burger and a spinach and oyster mushroom omelette. 39 Caledonia St, 415.887.9047, eatf3.com

FENG NIAN Chinese Busy at lunch and dinner, this spacious hangout has been a popular spot for nearly two decades. For an indulgent treat order the Szechwan crispy calamari or honey-glazed walnut prawn. Free delivery. 2650 Bridgeway, 415.331.5300, fengnian.com

FISH Seafood It is all about the fresh catch here. You can dine at one of the picnic tables or purchase fish to cook at home. Casual, and bring cash (lots of it!). 350 Harbor Dr, 415.331.3474, 331fish.com

KITTI’S PLACE Thai/ California Known for the tasty Chinese chicken salad and spring rolls. Owner Kitti Suthipipiat was the cook at Comforts in San Anselmo for many years. Try weekly specials like the Thai Toast: crispy sliced baguette topped with shrimp and chicken. 3001 Bridgeway, 415.331.0390, kittisplace.com

LA HACIENDA BAR & GRILL Mexican Get your Mexican food fix any time of day: This festive 23-table new location is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Owner Jose Sahagun recently decided to set up in Sausalito after years in the business (he also owns La Hacienda Taqueria in San Rafael). Check out the $7.99 lunch special, complete with a soft drink. 2633 Bridgeway, 415.332.1677

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 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, legaragebistro sausalito.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

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, napavalleyburger company.com

OSTERIA DIVINO

Tuscan Locals come for the tasty pastas and salads as well as co ee drinks, served in a funky one-room setting. 37 Caledonia St, 415.331.9355, ca edivinosausalito.com

PIZZERIA ROSSETTI

Italian Traditional Italian fare made with locally sourced organic ingredients, including organic San Marzano tomatoes and Giusto flour. With a small o ering of appetizers and salads, Pizzeria Rossetti has a large pizza menu with options like the traditional Margherita and the burrata pizza. 45 Caledonia St, 415.887.9526, pizzeriarossetti.com

POGGIO Italian A classic Italian trattoria with comfortable neighborhood charm and destination-caliber cuisine. Executive chef Ben Balesteri 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

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CHEF PROFILES

Who’s in the

Kitchen?

WE WANTED TO find out more about the chefs who were named tops in the carnivore category in our 2013 Editors’ Choice issue. So we spent a little more time with three of them to learn more about their techniques and backgrounds. While they may not all use the same miracle spice or marinade, we did find one similarity: they all love what they do.

MIMI TOWLE

Marin Sun Farms head butcher/chef Paul Bondick lives in Oakland with his girlfriend, Liz, and black lab, Remi, and started working with MSF at its Rockridge Market Hall location in Oakland in 2010.

Tips for grilling? Don’t overcook it.

Favorite type of meat? Bavette, because it’s the Cadillac of skirt steak. It’s nicely marbled and very flavorful.

Favorite quick marinade for steak? Salt, pepper, garlic salt and chili flakes.

Where do you like to go for a steak? Tribune Tavern, in Oakland.

Where did you grow up? Duluth, Georgia, in the suburbs of Atlanta.

Day off activities? Relax, take it easy. I like to do woodworking with my girlfriend and spend time at the dog park. I also read a lot of cookbooks. My favorite right now is the River Cottage Meat Book

Born in Mill Valley, Louise Clow does not consider herself a trained chef. But she’s spent hundreds of hours perfecting the ideal burger to serve at Weezy’s Grass Fed Shed. She considers grilling burgers (all di erent types) an art form and only uses what she describes as “the best of the best” beef from Prather Ranch.

Veggie burger? Considering the fact that 65 percent of my friends are vegetarians, I had to have a really good veggie burger recipe. It took me six months to come up with the best combination of ingredients. We use chickpeas, bulgur, panko and fresh vegetables every day to make up our veggie burgers.

Favorite marinade? Our meat is so incredible, we just use sea salt and pepper. Where else do you go to get a burger? The first place I ever had a grassfed burger was Cavallo Point — it blew my mind; it’s still my favorite. It was like eating a hamburger for the very first time.

Executive chef Michael Ward of El Paseo House of Chops grew up in Yuma, Ariz., 10 minutes from the Mexican border. Early on he learned from his grandmother how to savor and celebrate the rich culinary diversity that surrounded him. Throughout his career he’s headed up award-wining kitchens nationwide and is thrilled to be at El Paseo cooking with and learning from Tyler Florence. Ward lives in Mill Valley with his wife and son Jayden.

Best home preparation for steak? My favorite way to cook steak at home is to let a tri-tip sit in a tasso rub overnight and then wash it off and stick it in the smoker. After a couple of hours it is melt-in-yourmouth delish.

Best restaurant steak? I recently had the rare opportunity to actually eat at El Paseo. My wife and I ordered the Cowboy to share. Man, that was an incredible piece of meat. There is something magical about a 1,200-degree broiler and a beautiful steak rested in butter.

Tips for grilling? Season heavily and rest your meat. When meat is taken off the grill and allowed the right amount of time to rest, all of the juices can be reabsorbed by the meat and that means more flavor.

home to Paradise Bay. Salito’s features a new look and casual ambience. Enjoy a Nick and Nora’s Cocktail Special or a signature dish, including whole roasted Dungeness crab, house-made kettle bread served with Straus butter and sizzling iron skillets of mussels. 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. Happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. M-F. 2009 Bridgeway, 415.332.1512, saylorsrestaurantand bar.com

SEAFOOD PEDDLER

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

SPINNAKER Seafood

Chef Phil Collins excels at preparing seafood, and it shows in the beautiful plate presentations. Set right on the water, this romantic spot is great for an evening occasion. 100 Spinnaker Dr, 415.332.1500, thespinnaker.com

SUSHI RAN Japanese

Fresh, innovative small plates are just big enough to share, the traditional sushi is meltin-your-mouth good, and the wine, cocktail and sake lists keep even the pickiest barfly satisfied. Reservations are required in the main

room. 107 Caledonia St, 415.332.3620, sushiran.com

TOMMY’S WOK

Chinese Scrupulously fresh ingredients and free-range chicken make the yellow coconut milk curry here divine. Nice atmosphere and good takeout. 3001 Bridgeway, 415.332.5818, tommyswok.com

THE TRIDENT 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, thetridentsausalito.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

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 roasted rack of lamb and house-made pesto.

Out & About / DINE

114 Main St, 415.435.0400, donantoniotrattoria.com

GINZA Japanese

Whether you simply go for the volcano roll or indulge in the eight-course Omakase meal, the fresh ingredients coupled with the tremendous view of San Francisco keep this place busy, so make reservations or get there early. 41 Main St, 415.789.5123, ginzasushi-tiburon.com

GUAYMAS Mexican

NEW MORNING CAFE

American Sit outside or indoors at this casual cafe. On a sunny morning, tables will be filled with locals enjoying the sun and extensive breakfast menu; lunch served as well. 1696 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.4315

SALT & PEPPER

BLUESTONE MAIN

Situated right next to the Tiburon ferry terminal on the waterfront. The touch-it-you’reso-close city views and outdoor seating make it a great place to bring visitors on a warm summer night. Happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m. M-F. Menu includes specialties like puerco macho — pork loin chop with grilled plantain, topped with an ancho chile, garlic and onion sauce. 5 Main St, 415.435.6300, guaymasrestaurant.com

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

MING’S Chinese

Hospitable service and large portions are just two of the reasons this family-run business is a favorite. Try the sautéed mango chicken with rice and don’t miss the lunch specials. 1550 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.4312

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 jalapeño dipping sauce. 38 Main Street, 415.435.3594

SAM’S ANCHOR 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; here, 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 green business, Servino uses fresh, local and organic ingredients. Check the website for the live music schedule. 9 Main St, 415.435.2676, servino.com

TIBURON TAVERN

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 4 to 6:30 p.m. M–F. 1651 Tiburon Blvd, 415.435.5996, tiburontavern.com

WEST MARIN

DRAKES BEACH 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’S COVE 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, Osteria Stellina suits any occasion. The menu is Italian-inspired using organic, local ingredients. If you’re looking for something unusual try the goat shoulder, a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Don’t leave without indulging in the standout

On the Scene

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

SCHOOLSRULE BENEFIT More than 500 people gathered on July 2 under the Pavilion Tent on the eve of the opening of the Marin County Fair to benefit SchoolsRuleMarin, a coalition of Marin’s school foundations.

HOTBED BENEFIT 2013 The Giardini del Paradiso Estate in Tiburon was the setting for the August 10 Drever Family Foundation event. It was a night of art, music and fashion benefiting 10,000 Degrees.

MARIN SONOMA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

Thousands of car enthusiasts enjoyed an array of historic automobiles May 19 at the Marin Civic Center. Proceeds from the event benefited Hospice by the Bay.

Out & About / DINE

lemon ice cream sandwich (Point Reyes). 11285 Hwy 1, 415.663.9988, osteriastellina.com

PARKSIDE CAFE

American Most people know it as the ultimate breakfast spot (think Guatemalan scramble or wa e with blood orange–strawberry compote and whipped cream — served alfresco) but lunch and dinners are popular here too. 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 Just o the main road, Joannie Kwit has re-created the ultimate neighborhood diner. Vintage china and homemade curtains complement the eclectic but homey menu featuring local fare. 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, 4 to 6 p.m. M–F. 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. Sunny deck is great in the afternoon (Stinson). 3458 Shoreline Hwy, 415.868.0434, stinson beachrestaurant.com

THE SIR & STAR AT THE OLEMA California

The historic inn has reopened as a roadhouse-style restaurant featuring rustic decor and a delicious yet a ordable menu. Try the housemade bread and honey butter, the kale Caesar and the stu ed quail, or take the plunge and sample the entire menu — the majority of items are $20 or less. 10000 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, 415.663.1034,sirandstar.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 up fresh organic salads alongside corn dogs, burgers and fries. Stinson Beach Park, Hwy 1, 415.868.1777, surfersgrill.com

For more local restaurant listings, visit us online at marinmagazine. com/dine

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!

Serving Marin for over 25 years with delicious

Mandarin cuisine. Always fresh food and friendly service, nice decor, and easy parking. Also offer delivery to Southern Marin, and private parties for any occasion.

Specialties include mesquite-grilled steaks and fish , house-made pastas, fresh salads and soups, a wide variety of desserts, and fresh baked bread along with artisan cocktails and a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. Each month, a special regional dinner menu is featured. Groups of all sizes are welcome!

Feng Nian

2650 Bridgeway

415.331.5300

Sausalito, CA fengnian.com

Get Nourished! Join us for authentic, locally-sourced, clubhouse inspired food and drinks in our friendly, casual, beautiful Strawberry Point waterfront location between Mill Valley and Tiburon, in the Club at Harbor Point. Book our main room with picturesque views for your special occasion.

Nourish Grill

475 East Strawberry Dr

415.381.4400 Mill Valley, CA eatatnourish.com on strawberry point

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

Il Fornaio

223 Corte Madera Town Ctr

415.927.4400 Corte Madera, CA ilfornaio.com

Come celebrate Robata’s 30th Anniversary with our “30 for 30” Special. Includes: 10 pc nigiri sushi, glass of premium cold sake, miso soup and Mochi ice cream. Over $50 value for $30! Thank you Marin for 30 successful years! Domo Arigato!

Robata Grill & Sushi 591 Redwood Hwy

415.381.8400 Mill Valley, CA robatagrill.com

Antico

Sanyok Gallery, a center for innovative, contemporary arts presents:

• October 1st: Exodus, Painting Installation by Jenny Bel and Michal Tav.

• October 17th: Marius, Solo Show by Marius Starkey

• November 1st: Sanyok Gallery Contemporary Art Fall Festival.

• November 10th: Conquest, Solo Show by Miriam Ellingson. Private tours are available. Our hours of operation are every day, 11-5pm.

819 Bridgeway, Sausalito info@sanyokgallery.com 415 332 8400 sanyokgallery.com

Tav, Arabesque

LOVE COURAGE

MARIN ADVERTISERS SPEAK UP

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Eric Ziedrich, president of Hudson Street Design of Marin

Hudson Street Design of Marin is one of three HLC Incorporated (Healdsburg Lumber Company) home design showrooms. Our other showroom locations are Napa and Healdsburg. Hudson Street’s product lines include windows, doors, window coverings, kitchen/bath cabinetry, specialty hardware, plumbing fixtures and more. Hudson Street Design of Marin displays a wide variety of home products in the largest showroom in the greater Bay Area.

How and when did HLC move into Marin County?

In 2009, HLC was struggling like everyone in the construction and housing industries. Rather than continue to shrink, the HLC management team explored expansion opportunities. A competing window company, the Window Warehouse in Corte Madera, was available and in 2010 was purchased by HLC and became the second location for us.

How did your business come to be?

HLC Incorporated started in 1876 as a small-town building material yard

Sarah Godsey, owner of Bluestone Main

Located in picturesque downtown Petaluma, Bluestone Main is a furniture and home accessories store that conveys a lifestyle of comfort, grace, beauty and elegance. Housed in a historic building, Bluestone Main features the Ralph Lauren Home Collection, Hancock & Moore and Baker. Also featured is the Simon Pearce Glassware Collection and carefully selected accessories to bring warmth and style to any home.

Briefly describe your business philosophy. I believe in the accessibility of beauty, style and comfort for everyone and that there are things you can do with your home to enhance your life. I try to show people the possibilities.

What is your competitive edge?

Everything about this business is completely personal to me. I care tremendously about my customers and the end result must be that they feel well taken care of.

What do customers want?

Most people want to be inspired. And after that, they want good service.

providing lumber, coal, and agricultural products to the greater Sonoma County market. It ebbed and flowed with the economic cycles, surviving the Great Depression barely, and then grew slowly and methodically throughout the 1900s, always focused on high-quality products and topnotch service.

What is your business philosophy?

We feel that we have an obligation to continually strive to offer the highest levels of technical expertise combined with the finest-quality products available in the industry. We accept the role and responsibility of providing architects, owners and contractors with the information and tools necessary to help make their projects as smooth and seamless as is humanly possible.

Which product or service is your favorite?

The one that performs as expected and meets all of a customer’s needs.

Is there something about your business that isn’t widely known?

We don’t simply supply product. We have kitchen/bath design professionals at each showroom location who can provide hourly consultations for design, color, product specifications, space planning and much more. We also have service technicians to support our customers after the sale. We are proudly not a “big box” operation.

HUDSON STREET DESIGN OF MARIN, 3773 REDWOOD HIGHWAY, SAN RAFAEL, 415.924.8300, HLC-INC.COM, EZIEDRICH@HLC-INC.COM

My job is to make them feel relaxed so they enjoy their experience. I like people to come in and feel a sense of warmth, like they are in somebody’s home.

What makes you excel at what you do?

Because I love design and I care about people. My professional background is advertising and I am the first one to tell you I am not an interior designer. But for almost eight years, I have selected every piece of furniture and accessory for Bluestone Main and have helped hundreds of people find what they love for their homes.

BLUESTONE MAIN, 120 PETALUMA BOULEVARD, PETALUMA, 707.765.2024, BLUESTONEMAIN.COM, BLUESTONEMAIN@COMCAST.NET

Marin Home

FROM TOURS AND MAKEOVERS TO DECORATIVE DETAILS AND REALTOR INSIGHTS

IN WITH THE NEW Milwaukee transplants find a taste of Hollywood in a new Novato development.

BY LAURA HILGERS • PHOTOS BY TIM PORTER

AFTER YEARS OF living in Australia, Singapore, Geneva and London, often in very old homes, Soren Bested and Claudine Ng Bested wanted something that not every Marin home buyer covets: new

“I grew up in Denmark,” says Soren, an executive for a mobile banking app developer, “where having a 150-year-old house is nothing special. I much prefer the convenience of something that works all day, every day.” The Besteds, whose most recent home was in chilly Milwaukee, found what they were looking for in Novato. Not only is their four-bedroom home 21st-century ready (enough outlets to accommodate everyone’s devices, for example); even their neighborhood, Point Marin, is new. “It used to be abandoned military housing before this development in the 2000s,” says their real estate agent, Toni Shroyer.

Specifically, the couple wanted California new, a vision gleaned partly from their own contemporary tastes and partly from Hollywood. “When I first drove down this street,” says Soren, “It reminded me of Desperate Housewives ’ Wisteria Lane. It felt like L.A. I really liked it.” In a nod to TV fantasy, the couple has decorated their living room in a mid-century style à la Mad Men, with a late-’60s-type couch, a large, swooping Arco lamp and white Barcelona chairs.

The warm and open kitchen reflects the scope of their tastes. The cooking area, with a Wolf range, double ovens, Sub-Zero fridge and granite countertops, emanates a contemporary West Coast vibe, while the breakfast nook is all Scandinavia, furnished with a white elliptical table designed by Danish poet and scientist Piet Hein and chairs by Dane Arne Jacobsen.

The Singapore-born Claudine’s Asian heritage is also felt throughout. Two silverpainted Chinese garden stools stand sentry

Specifically, the couple wanted California new, a vision gleaned partly from their own contemporary tastes and partly from Hollywood.

at the entrance, and the guest bedroom is outfitted in Chinese black-and-red silk linens, a color scheme echoed in the expansive master suite. The guest room was something the Besteds could not do without; because their families are so far away, visitors often stay for months.

But it was the two youngest family members, the couple’s four-year-old twins, who were uppermost in their minds when they chose a home. Claudine, an organizational psychologist, wasn’t convinced about this house until she saw the backyard, which has, essentially, its own private park, with a swing set, sandbox and trampoline — and where Shawn and Brooke now run wild.

Just outside this playground, the peripatetic Besteds have planted an apple, a plum, a date and a fig tree. The trees are tiny, but the couple hopes to be around to watch them grow. “I could see us living here a really long time,” says Soren, sounding like a man who has found the perfect new place to happily grow old. m

THE DETAILS

WHERE THEY PURCHASED Point Marin, Novato

WHAT THEY BOUGHT A 3,600-squarefoot contemporary California home

LISTING AGENT Julie Widergren, Frank Howard Allen

SELLING AGENT Toni Shroyer, Frank Howard Allen

STATS Average cost per square foot for homes in the neighborhood: $230

31 West Shore Road, Belvedere offered at $5,995,000 Enter the front gate to a black bottom pool surrounded by a rolling lawn and let the good life begin! This sophisticated home features spectacular, glistening, water views from the Golden Gate Bridge towers to Mt. Tamalpais. Enjoy one of the widest lots available on the Shore and its expansive living and entertaining areas. Every room enjoys spectacular water views. The master suite is private with its own deck, fireplace, marble bath, and huge walk-in closet. The owners have done substantial remodeling including the decks, dock, bathrooms, media room and a gorgeous country kitchen. For resort living at its finest, the decks, dock and entire bay are the ultimate nautical playground. Land is included. 4+ bedrooms, 4 baths. www.31WestShore.com

15 West Shore Road, Belvedere offered

at $5,795,000

This home offers the ultimate in waterfront living on San Francisco Bay, featuring exquisite indoor/ outdoor spaces. The deck, with its dock and boat lift, defines the pleasures of waterfront living, with direct access to kayaking, sailing, water skiing and fishing. Surrounded by lush gardens, lawn and blue stone entry, the impeccable interior includes gourmet kitchen, wine cellar, formal dining room, living room, 4 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, family room and office. Spectacular views of the Bay and Mt. Tamalpais are captured from nearly everywhere. The master bedroom offers the option of one luxurious master suite with his and hers baths and private study. Ideally located approximately 11 miles from San Francisco and only steps away from a bay front scenic path. The rare quality of this home is the perfect complement to its world class location. Land is included in the price. www.15WestShore.com

Rare Sausalito Waterfront Home

offered at $7,195,000

Ideal for entertaining and with the ultimate security, this approximately 4,000 square foot home is on the San Francisco Bay front with spectacular 180-degree views. Features 4 bedrooms, 4-1/2 bathrooms, media room, loft, wine cellar, great room (dining-living-kitchen), expansive slate decks on the water side of all living levels, elevator, office/study, laundry room, extra storage rooms, hospitality room and much more…plans for a boat dock are included.

at $4,595,000

This custom-built ast oast styled beauty with a modern alifornia air, located in popular alm ill close to the village of Larkspur, is simply sensational. The main level features formal living and dining rooms accented with stunning wood moldings and a fireplace. rench doors lead from the living room to an inviting deck and the level, grassy yard. The confection of a kitchen, perfect for your friends and family to hang out and cook together, is highlighted by a large ararra marble center island, exceptional appliances, and ample storage. large breakfast area features built-in cabinets and a walk-in pantry. few steps down from the kitchen is the spacious family room with fireplace and rench doors leading to a patio with an outdoor kitchen and Bocce Ball court. Below the family room is a bonus room, perfect as a playroom or exercise room. Two additional bedrooms, a bath and an office complete this level. The upper level is comprised of a sumptuous master suite with private deck and luxurious bath and large walk-in closet, two additional bedrooms, a bath and laundry room. ich white oak hardwood oors throughout, attached 2-car garage, and a sprawling level lot with room for play and relaxation. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind custom home with nothing left to be desired, open the door and know you are home. www.108PepperAvenue.com

185 Seadrift Road, Stinson Beach

525 Alta Way, Mill Valley

Beautiful Craftsman-Style Mill Valley home boasting an open oor plan with vaulted ceilings and inlaid hardwood oors.

This sun-drenched home also offers 2 family rooms, a gourmet, eat-in kitchen with Sub ero and olf appliances, spacious bedrooms, baths, and a level lawn area with a gate that opens out to green space.

Meticulously maintained and cared for inside and out. ust move in and en oy this wonderful home, the great commute and the award winning schools.

Located in one of Marin’s most coveted neighborhood’s, and situated on a 25,000+ square foot lot that offers privacy, views and the ultimate in Mill Valley living. This 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with separate 1 bedroom guest apartment seamlessly fuses sleek modern lines with farm house details to create an elegant yet relaxed ambiance. The main level open oor plan features 1 -foot ceilings, a great room complete with spectacular bar anked by temperature-controlled, walk-in, red and white wine cellars, and folding doors that connect to an expansive covered loggia, creating an ideal environment for both formal and casual entertaining. Spacious chef’s kitchen anchored by oversized center island and informal eating nook. The luxurious master suite and private office complete the main level. n open staircase leads to additional spacious bedrooms and an informal family room opening out to the lower patio, large level lawn and bocce court. Main house, guest quarters and garage are connected via artisan elevator, and state-of-the-art technology enables remote and local control of lighting, media, and video entry security.

6

172

108 Pepper Ave., Larkspur $4,595,000 Sensational custom-built Modern Hamptons-style beauty w/ alifornia air 108PepperAvenue.com

Chelsea E. Ialeggio 415.300.6881

Karen Z. Hardesty 415.265.3344

185 Great Circle, Mill Valley $2,495,000 1/2+ acre, this gated estate-level property is the perfect family home. Soaring ceilings, great light and gracious rooms define this 4B , . B residence. Alix Fagersten 415.596.6231

60 Vista Tiburon, Tiburon $4,850,000 Experience the best in casual living. San Francisco views, 5 bedrooms, 2 family rooms,BBQ terrace, level lawn, pool and exercise cabana with sauna. Pat Montag 415.519.4818

Elegant Mediterranean Estate $5,250,000 Custom built 6bed/6bath. Located on the Ring Mountain Open Space with sweeping views of Mt. Tam and Richardson Bay. 210Taylor.com Robert Craig 415.720.1053

154 Bret Harte Road, San Rafael

Offered at $1,159,000

This spacious three bedroom and four bath home includes a family room and a large bonus room. The home is sited on a quiet street that offers a “country road” feeling and panoramic views of both the Bay and the hills of San Rafael. At night, enjoy the stunning views of city lights and lots of open sky for stargazing.

Main oor offers a contemporary open plan that boasts a gracious entry, a living room with vaulted and open-beamed pine ceilings, a slate fireplace with lighted bookcases, and a dining room. Sliding glass doors and walls of windows bring the outdoors in and open to a deck that is ideal for entertaining and enjoying the scenic vistas. Island kitchen with a lovely dining area and a huge master bedroom suite with two walk-in closets are also located on main level. onveniently located, you can be on the highway in approximately ten minutes. Many of Marin s finest shops and restaurants are also just minutes away. Move right in and enjoy the wonderful lifestyle this home offers! www.154BretHarte.com

79 WEST SHORE ROAD, BELVEDERE

The minute you walk into this beautiful Walker Moody designed home you are captivated by the stunning skyline view of San Francisco, the Bay and the Golden Gate bridge. The unique Southern orientation of this elegant 3150 (+/-) sf home offers more privacy and sun protection which allows for anora ic bay views fro al ost every roo . his ho e is on the ar et for the very first ti e. Co e see for yourself what a es it so s ecial. The land is included in the sale price. And with a boat dock and mooring buoy, you are minutes from the ocean and the entire bay is your backyard. www.79westshoreroad.com $5,995,000

SUNNY LARKSPUR HOME

LOWER PALM HILL

Set back from the street behind a gate and stone pillars, this quintessential ‘happy family home’ enjoys all-day sun and great indoor-outdoor flow to

beautiful, private yards, front and back. On the main floor is a traditional eat-in kitchen, the living room, dining room & family room, three bedrooms, and a large game room (or guest quarters). Upstairs, an office and a spacious, resort-like master suite with vaulted ceilings and a balcony.

THE NEIGHBOR H OO D

Palm Hill is one of Larkspur’s most beloved neighborhoods, and this home sits close to the historic Holcomb Bridge, the Little League field, the bike path, excellent schools and charming downtown Larkspur. The indoor-outdoor flow & walk-to-everything site offer an unparalleled quality of life!

O ered at $2,350,000

Meadowbrook Farms

Meadowbrook Farms

3

3

65 Seafirth Road, Tiburon

Located in the desirable Tiburon community of Seafirth, this mid-century modern home features a gourmet kitchen, soaring ceilings, and oversized windows. The private and spectacular lot includes a level lawn, mature fruit and oak trees, and a fabulous guest cottage set right on the sand. Kayak, windsurf, paddle board - or simply unwind. It's a lifestyle like no other.

65SeafirthRoad.com | Priced in the high $3Ms

NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR MOVE

With interest rates near an all-time low, we have a surplus of qualified buyers ready to make an offer on your home. Our experienced team of real estate professionals will create a marketing plan that is carefully designed and skillfully executed to help you meet your selling goals.

Connect with us today and experience the APR difference for yourself.

Mountain View, San Rafael Stunning, new, 6bd/4.5ba home in the heart of Dominican. This elegant home gives you 4475+/-sf of luxury living space. Beautiful level grounds, 3-car garage and ample room to add a pool and guest house.

19MountainView.com

$2,895,000 Suzanne Shelhart 415.613.0100

El Capitan Avenue, Mill Valley

Reduced! 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths on a .67+/acre lot. A magnificent property transformed. Private and secluded with gracious outdoor areas ideal for entertaining. In an A+ location.

1ElCapitan.com

$2,195,000 Kristine Tiret 415.310.0269

Laurelwood Avenue, Mill Valley

Less than 1 block to the downtown Mill Valley Square, these three new construction, green homes are a perfect combination of location and style. Designed by architect Barbara Chambers with close attention to detail.

LaurelwoodMillValley.com

$1,495,000 – $1,959,000

Bernard Link 415.336.8676

Nicasio Valley Road, Nicasio

Best value in Nicasio. Stunning home on 20+/-acres, three bedrooms, three baths, office and panoramic views. Private and just 2+/-miles to SGGC.

2400NicasioValleyRoad.com

$1,750,000

Rick Trono 415.515.1117

Mt Shasta Drive, San Rafael Expansive one-level home offering almost 3000sf, 4bd/3.5ba, den, large separate studio and a sparkling pool. Community features 4 tennis courts, community center and 400 acres of open space.

228MtShasta.com

$1,495,000

Courtney Whitaker

415.686.2223

Carol Olrich 415.971.0332

Wellington Avenue, Ross

Exceptional, 3000+/-sf, remodeled Craftsman. Almost .5 private acre, heritage trees, patios, cascading waterfall, oak floors, exotic wood and tile work, skylights, window seats and antique cabinetry.

54Wellington.com

$1,700,000

Lindy Emrich 415.717.4005

Madrone Avenue, Larkspur

Sunny, 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath home with soaring ceilings & a gorgeous chef's kitchen. The best value in a close to charming downtown Larkspur location.

If

302Madrone.com

$1,495,000

Julie Leitzell

Julie Leitzell.com

Cypress Road, Point Reyes Station

Early California-style, 4bd/3.5ba home with a contemporary feel features stunning views of the Tomales Bay wetlands. Chef’s kitchen, wide oak floors, RH hardware and fixtures. All day sun.

13CypressPointReyesStation.com

$1,545,000

Rick Trono 415.515.1117

Hillside Avenue, Mill Valley

Spacious home in an upscale neighborhood and desirable weather pocket. Set on a street to street lot with level outdoor space, logical floor plan with three bedrooms and office on same level, and an additional bonus room.

BernardLink.com

$1,425,000

Bernard Link 415.336.8676

A warm welcome.

We are very pleased to welcome Kathleen Daly as Assistant Manager of our Central Marin-Greenbrae office. An award-winning agent, Kathleen has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and an excellent reputation in the community.

“I am excited to be joining such an established name in the real estate community, and one of Marin’s most well-regarded and successful offices. I look forward to this new collaboration and all the benefits it will provide my clients.”

Kathleen Daly, Assistant Manager, Greenbrae 415.925.3205 • kdaly@fhallen.com

TEAMWORK

2295 Crane Canyon Road • $1,795,000

Classic European Casual Elegance in the Wine Country. Once the weekend retreat of the family of Gump’s department store fame, this property has absolute privacy yet is only a few minutes to wineries, restaurants, and shopping. Situated on over 4 acres with gated entry, rolling lawns, lavender, lily pond, allée of sycamore, bocce ball, fruit trees, creek, pool & hot tub, and sweeping views. Three classic pavilions with a total of 4BR/5BA. Interior features include high ceilings, French doors, crown molding, and imported tile work. A very special property that is a truly one-of-a-kind.

650 Charles Van Damme • $3,299,000

In prestigious Armstrong Estates on 1/2± acre, this gracious home is reminiscent of the Victorian Era. Main house is 5,220 square ft and consists of 4 BR/3 BA. Sweeping staircase, lustrous wood floors and an uninterrupted view to the second floor add to the drama of the formal entry. In the kitchen, custom granite countertops, wainscoting, abundant cabinets, counters and sinks. Large in-ground pool with 1 BR/1 BA cabana plus detached guest house.

9 Cloud Lane • $3,200,000

Cloud Nine is a spectacular 44± acre private estate with sweeping views, approached through a gated entry and rolling pastures. Main residence of nearly 6,000 sq ft has an open floor plan, generously proportioned rooms, and sweeping views from every room. A true estate property with in-ground pool, detached second unit, and even a golf course with 4 tees and 2 putting greens. Absolute privacy while just minutes to downtown Petaluma and Novato.

SONOMA RANCH ESTATE

Price Upon Request | web: 0243305

Approx. 140 acre paradise. Approx. 11,800 sq. ft. home with 6 bedrooms, lake, beach, softball diamond, tennis court, gardens, pool and Manager’s building, 10 mins to Sonoma Plaza. 50 mins to SF. SonomaRanchEstate.com

DONALD VAN DEMARK

donald.vandemark@sothebyshomes.com 707.337.2227 BRE: 01357054

NAPA VALLEY APPELLATION

$5,500,000 | web: 0243379

Dreamy pastoral views surround this wine country dream home. Completed in 2012, this single level home o ers spacious, light-filled rooms, high ceilings and a sun-splashed pool and spa. It also o ers approx. 3 acres for a Napa Valley appellation vineyard. A guest house with kitchen over a spacious two-car garage completes this estate. 5161LVL.com

SPACE AND LIGHT

$2,995,000 | web: 0243370

Space, light and views -Villa de la Luna has all in abundance. With voluminous rooms, high ceilings and many windows, this is a wine country home that dances with daylight. Approx. 3,346 square foot home with 3 bedrooms, 4 baths and den. Pool, vineyard and orchard on approx. 4.4 gentle acres.

SonomaMtnHome.com

KENTFIELD COUNTRY ESTATE

KENTFIELD | $13,895,000 | web: 0243344

This estate is located in one of Marin County’s most coveted locations just minutes from Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge. Luxurious finishes combine to e ect an elegant understatement and enhance outdoor living on a rare, 3+ acre parcel with remarkable views of Mt. Tamalpais. The home is approx. 7,100 square feet with French door accesses to private balconies, intimate verandas and the land. Grounds include a fabulous entertaining area with pool and spa, olive and fruit orchards, vegetable and flower gardens, lawns and woodlands all irrigated by a private well. Two garages include workout room and shop. A private paradise, this beautiful property embodies the best of California living. 310PalmKentfield.com

PARADISE COVE RESIDENCE WITH PRISTINE SANDY BEACH

TIBURON, CA | $6,995,000 | web: 0086379 | 3636Paradise.com

See and hear the bay from this recently built Tiburon Estate. This gated 7-bedroom/8.5 bath ‘family compound’, is uniquely located in weather-protected Paradise Cove, enjoying deeded access to a gorgeous long sandy beach where swimming, boating and water sports are an everyday pleasure. The Main Residence has 6 bedrooms/6.5 baths with unobstructed views of the San Francisco Bay, beautiful vistas that can be seen from nearly every room. The 1-bedroom/1 bath Guesthouse is spacious and private, and the Pool House/Cabana has a full bath, plus large sauna and steam shower. All of this is built around the focal point of the grounds, the infinity-edge pool and spa which has a saline system, solar heating, and fiber optic lighting, and waterfall which make for gorgeous evening parties. The rolling lawns, the putting green, the fountain, and outside barbecue enhance the outdoor experience, while inside enjoying the 3-D cinema Theatre is a must! The ultimate in smart homes, the Crestron system can control every aspect of running the Estate; for example, security, irrigation, and the amazing built-in sound system throughout. However, the best music of all is the cadence of the waves as you fall asleep, and that’s when you know you are living a dream…

01130681

KENTFIELD CONTEMPORARY

KENTFIELD | Contemporary Dream Home | web: 0086280 | $2,999,000 Price Reduced

This beautiful Mediterranean home built in 2005 feels and looks like a brand new home! This home with Panoramic views of Mt. Tam and the Ross Valley has it all! The property was designed with the beauty of its natural surrounding in mind and state of the art features one would expect for today’s modern family. This approx. 4,600 sq. ft. home features four bedrooms with en-suite baths, three fireplaces, large two car garage with covered carport, two family rooms, home o ce, and beautifully landscaped grounds with plenty of level yard space. The attention to detail is evident in this Lang Development custom home. For a more in depth list of this home’s special features please view the property website at KentfieldLuxuryEstates.com

JERRY GARCIA’S FORMER ESTATE

NICASIO | Jerry Garcia’s Former Estate | web: 0085232 | $3,250,000 Price Reduced

Jerry Garcia’s former estate is regarded as one of the true jewels of Nicasio, if not all of Marin. Perched atop a sunny hillside the estate o ers expansive views from Mt. Tam to the Berkeley Skyline. The approx. 7,000 sq. ft., 5 bedroom, 7 bath, Mediterranean style home sits on approx. 11 acres and has all of the amenities of an extraordinary villa. Besides the lovely grounds, pool, and hot tub, there is an approx. 1,500 sq. ft. artist’s studio, a 6-car garage, an organic garden, and even a high volume well fitted with a water purification system. Approx. 12 min to HWY 101 and 35 to the Golden Gate Bridge. This property can be purchased with nicasiogreenacres.com which is approx. 115 acres and is independently owned. 55ElMirador.com

Terra Mortgage Banking

Pierre Masquelier (415) 389-6558

PMasquelier@TerraMB.com

Larkspur Headquarters (415) 925-9900

FHA Lender

Bridge Loans

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 long time Marin resident Pierre Masquelier pictured above.

Pierre joined Terra because he believes local borrowers should have access to a local direct lender. Terra only works with local appraisers, provides genuine loan approvals and guarantees accelerated purchase closing times. Our new and exclusive Bridge Loan Program can help you buy a home before selling 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 Pierre.

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.

Contemporary Elegance on 3+ Acres, 7 Park Place, Tiburon • Offered at $4,200,000

Located in the exclusive “Cibrian enclave of luxury homes“, this exceptional 5 bedroom 5 full bath 2 half bath multi-level estate affords complete privacy on one of the finest sites in the area. The stately residence offers the epitome of quality craftsmanship and materials, carefully sited amidst an oasis of tranquil landscaping. The lovely manicured grounds, patios, terraced gardens, decks, and expansive lawn of the 3+ Acre site bordering open space, create a most peaceful, yet stimulating setting, blending effortlessly with the natural environment. The premier location features stellar views of Mt. Tamalpais, Richardson Bay, and the surrounding hills and is just minutes to hiking, biking, shopping, and schools. www.7ParkPlace.com

Marcus Robinson Senior Marketing Consultant

•

Located in lower ent Woodlands, this home is situated on a wide street at the end of the cul-de-sac. pen floor plan with huge gourmet kitchen with top of the line appliances and heated floors. Spacious garden grounds including expansive lawn areas, numerous garden pathways, hot tub, children’s zip line and a tree house area. Enjoy the amazing master suite with walk-in closet and adjoining grand office. Also featured is a large family room with wet bar, formal living and dining rooms. ear trails, Woodlands Market & located in the awardwinning entfield School istrict.

Elegant upper two story Point Tiburon Bayside Townhome with three bedrooms, two and one- half bathrooms plus a den. Some of the detailed features include: Bamboo floors crown molding, three fireplaces and three decks. This home has been tastefully renovated with an open view kitchen complete with granite counter tops, Wolf Range & Miele Espresso Machine. Sensational views of Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Cityscape and Tiburon Marina. Close to Town, Ferry and lifestyle amenities. Live the good life in one of the most beautiful and relaxing places on earth.

This delightful four bedroom, two bath San Anselmo home offers a wonderful blend of indoor and outdoor living. Features include a spacious chef’s kitchen, master suite and living room with cozy fireplace. Enjoy peace and privacy from the two

South of France in Sausalito

Spacious Mediterranean Villa with world class views and fabulous potential. High ceilings and grand verandas make the most of incredible views of the Sausalito waterfront. Two separate units on two floors, each with their own kitchen pave the way for gracious living. The elegant top unit has a formal dining room and features one full bath and one powder room. The updated downstairs unit has an enormous bedroom, two full baths, and a deck for taking in the view. A hillside tram unites this property and adds charm.

at $1,849,000

The San Anselmo Home You’ve Been Waiting For

Blending a vintage feel with modern upgrades, this charming three bedroom, two bath home sits in the heart of the sought after Morningside neighborhood. Features include a spacious, remodeled kitchen, hardwood floors, and living room with fireplace. It is graced with plenty of natural light and a nice, flat, grassy back yard. Garage. laundry room and basement. Award winning San Anselmo schools. Truly a special home.

Hillside Gardens is a unique and enchanting, vintage Southwestern Mediterranean style home in what is perhaps Mill Valley’s most lush, verdant and stunning garden setting. Encompassed by a dazzling array of organic flowers and fruit trees; and interspersed with walkways, patios and an outdoor amphitheater, this sublime property, formerly the residence of the founder of Smith and Hawken, and the venue for more than 175 fundraising events over the past ten years, consists of a 5Br/4Ba main house, featuring breathtaking views from Mt. Tam to San Francisco, and a private 1Br garden cottage, which has been the temporary inspirational home for many writers and poets. Distinctive characteristics of the home include a chef’s kitchen featuring custom copper countertops. The family room exudes warmth with an oversized cast concrete fireplace, a generous dining area, and bay windows to overlook the gardens and enjoy the stunning views. The living room o ers the charm of the circa 1918 original architectural period. Two o ces, a library, terraced bedrooms and close access to the village of Mill Valley are among this property’s other fine features.

O ered at $3,650,000 221Hillside.com

815 Stony Hill Road, Tiburon

$5,995,000 www.815stonyhill.com

320 Upper Toyon Drive, Kentfield $2,495,000 www.320uppertoyon.com

90 Upper Toyon Drive, Kentfield

$2,395,000 www.90uppertoyondrive.com

101 Mount Tiburon Road, Tiburon

$5,995,000 www.101mounttiburon.com

11 Makin Grade, Ross $2,995,000 www.11makingrade.com

87 Round Hill Road, Tiburon $1,595,000 www.87roundhill.com

Contact

415.531.4091

pjrichmond@pacunion.com comehometomarin.com

BRE# 00709300

The Richmonds Present Current Listings & Activity

145 Avenida Miraflores, Tiburon

Listed for $1,995,000

Privately located in one of Tiburon’s more desirable neighborhoods – Del Mar, this spacious traditional style home has views of the Bay and Mt.Tamalpais. Soft colors and hardwood floors flow through the main level with formal dining room and an expansive remodeled kitchen with a central island. Through the French doors at one end of the kitchen, enjoy breakfast on the sunny deck overlooking the lush landscaped back yard. Upstairs, there are large bedrooms and a wonderful bath with separate shower and oversized jetted tub. On the lowest level, a family room opens to the level yard. Adjacent to open space and close to hiking trails, the Tiburon bike path, schools and transportation. Not to be missed.

145AvenidaMiraflores.com

117 Country Club Drive, Mill Valley

Listed for $2,050,000

Set at the end of a “closed end” street, this lovely sunlit 4Bd/3.5Ba home has privacy and panoramic views. The main floor has an open flow with the living room and kitchen opening to a sheltered deck. The gourmet eat-in kitchen is a cook’s delight with stainless appliances and a Sub Zero refrigerator. The master has an o ce and separate outside entrance and a hot tub sits on the adjacent deck. The mature landscaped grounds include a level lawn. Close to golf, tennis and hiking and biking trails.

481 Green Glen Way, Mill Valley

Listed for $1,395,000

This stunning 4Bd/3.5Ba contemporary is set on approximately 1/3 acre with views of the Bay and surrounding hills. This home has an open floor plan with the main living spaces on one floor and the bedrooms on a separate level. The “great room” has cathedral ceiling, fireplace, and a wall of glass that brings in the view, and opens to a view deck and level “garden room”. The gourmet kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances, and a wine cooler make entertaining a delight. On the lower level, the spacious master suite has a fireplace and bathroom with both tub and separate shower. The fourth bedroom, with a bathroom en-suite, has a separate outside entrance. Hiking trails are just steps away.

481GreenGlen.com

15 Montecito Avenue, Corte Madera

Listed for $998,000

Fabulous side by side duplex. Each unit has 2Bd/1Ba plus a kitchen, family room combination that opens out to a level fenced in yard. Under each unit there is a 2 car garage and a large bonus room.

7 Bellagio Road, Ross | O ered at $6,900,000

Reminiscent of a classic East Coast estate, 7 Bellagio, also known as the Kinderhook Estate, was designed by renowned California architect William Wurster for well-known original Ross residents Mr. and Mrs. John C. Kittle. Perfectly sited, facing due south and perched atop its own ridgeline, the home enjoys incomparable and unobstructed views over the Ross Valley and Mount Tamalpais and receives all-day sun from sunrise to sunset. When much of Ross is shrouded in afternoon shade, 7 Bellagio is bathed in the long, halcyon, late-day light. Originally built in 1929 with classic New England charm, this 6 bedroom, 6 full and 2 half bath residence (approx. 7,200 sq ft per tax records/ owner) has an understated grandeur and old-world weight and scale that is a rarity in today’s world. This magnificent 3-acre property sits in a park-like setting enveloped by an oak woodland complemented by huge Japanese maples, birches, redwoods, sprawling lawns and a bounty of seasonal fruit trees. Built with quality and integrity, this home is truly an enduring structure, a timeless legacy of beauty. Visit 7Bellagio.com to see an incredible HD aerial video, photos, and additional information.

Patricia Navone Presents

JUST SOLD | Listed at $2,900,000

5 Hillcrest, Mill Valley

Represented the buyer on this new LEED Platinum home, close to town. Exciting modern home combines sustainable materials with recycled fir ceilings plus a system that stores 1,000 gallons of rain and grey water.

JUST SOLD | Listed at $3,150,000

70 Reedland Woods Way, Tiburon Represented the Seller on this luxuriously updated 5Bd/4.5Ba home featured in California Home + Design Magazine. Over half an acre with pool and space for outdoor entertaining. Tiburon Schools!

Ross Valley Modern | Listed at $1,350,000 This beautifully remodeled 4Bd/2.5Ba home has a modern feel with contemporary styling and great flow. Captivating views of Mt. Tam from nearly every room. Nano-type doors open to outdoor living.

Are you considering selling your home? This is the strongest Real Estate market we’ve seen in Marin County in over five years. Call to schedule an appointment so Patricia can help you best prepare and sell your home in this market.

Navone

Jim Fraser & Pacific Union Present These Luxury Properties

Tiburon’s Paradise Lodge | 4709 Paradise Drive | $6,395,000

Originally built as a hunting lodge, it is now a majestic estate of 5900+ sq. ft., with 3 spacious en suite bedrooms plus an additional bedroom and 2 half baths. Updated and special features include a newly added formal dining room, remodeled kitchen/butler’s pantry, 1000 sq. ft. patio, executive o ce suite/ conference room, indoor gymnasium/basketball court, sound proofed music studio and meticulously manicured grounds featuring a regulation size pitcher’s mound, bocce ball court, and horse shoe court. ParadiseLodgeTiburon.com

85 West Shore Road, Belvedere | $4,925,000

Macauba blue granite kitchen counters, casual and formal dining areas, large window bound living room, and all with hardwood floors. Generous master suite with multiple French doors to the deck, and a very spacious en suite. 85WestShore.com

CIRCA 1950s

Marin Rod & Gun Club

EAn 87-year-old group owns 55 acres on the bay. BY

JIM WOOD

STABLISHED IN 1926, the Marin Rod & Gun Club has a friendly bar, a spacious banquet hall and a patio and lawn overlooking the 55 acres of land the club owns along San Pablo Bay. The club also controls a nearby fishing pier that juts almost half a mile into the bay. Initially, MR&GC was located in Santa Venetia; it moved to its current location at Point San Quentin when the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge was completed 57 years ago. Until 1994, the club was an all-male bastion. “Now it’s pretty much a social club,” says longtime club secretary Pat Damos of San Anselmo, “with men and women, but mostly men.” The club’s sign, pictured above, lasted only until Highway 580 was widened in the early 1960s. As for the young women calling attention to the club’s new location in 1956, no one knows where they are now. We would appreciate hearing from readers who might know where any of these women are now — send us a note at editorial@marinmagazine.com with information. m

The club also controls a nearby fishing pier that juts almost half a mile into the bay.