Lyzy Lusterman recently opened Buteo Books, where one will find one of the largest selections of new, used and rare birding books in the world.
What do you do?
I’m a publisher and bookseller, and now the owner of this brick-and-mortar store.
Where do you live?
San Anselmo.
How long have you lived in Marin?
I think it adds up to over 20 years. I was born and grew up here, left for college back east and then lived in the East Bay—lucky to have moved back to my hometown about two years ago.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
Birding. I love to walk, and there are so many amazing places to observe nature all over Marin. Sometimes I don’t even leave my backyard—it’s brimming with finches, titmice, towhees, scrub jays, band-tailed pigeons, juncos and more.
If you had to convince someone how awesome Marin is, where would you take them?
On a tour of the county’s indie bookstores. I first discovered some of my now-favorite books at Point Reyes Books and have seen some of my favorite authors speak at Book Passage.
What’s one thing Marin is missing?
Rent control (though a lot of good people are working hard to change that).
What’s one bit of advice you’d share with your fellow Marinites?
Look up. Once you start noticing birds, it’s impossible to stop.
If you could ask anyone to join you at dinner, whom would you invite? Instead of dinner, I’d ask Owl to make a pot of tear-water tea with me. Like the titular character from Arnold Lobel’s Owl at Home, I’m a quiet, sensitive creature and think we’d have a great time crying over pencils that are too short to use.
What’s some advice you wish you knew 20 years ago? Take your time. Things will probably work out.
What’s something that 20 years from now will seem cringeworthy?
AI. The amount of capital and energy supporting robots making art when the world is full of creative people with great ideas who deserve our support is pretty cringe.
Big question. What’s one thing you’d do to change the world?
I hope that all of our many small things add up. This week, I’m putting water out for birds, squirrels, deer who might be struggling in the heat.
Keep up with Lusterman at @buteobooks on Instagram and TikTok and at ButeoBooks.com. The shop is located at 2240 4th St., Suite A in San Rafael.
Nish Nadaraja can be found on Instagram at @IveGotNissues or on the mean streets of San Anselmo.
