For my final interview of the year, I had to go with Jeff Burkhart.
His popular “Barfly” column has led him to be voted “Best Media Personality: TV, Radio, Print” three times by the readers of the Pacific Sun, and he himself has been voted “best bartender” seven times, by the readers of three different publications. I am honored to consider him a good pal as well.
What do you do?
I am either a bartender who writes, or a writer who bartends. There is a lot of overlap.
Where do you live?
Hamilton Field Novato.
How long have you lived in Marin?
Thirty-two years, minus a brief sojourn to Southern California.
Where can we find you when you’re not at work?
Doing aikido at the dojo (Bay Marin Aikido), reading at the Novato Public Library or walking around Phoenix Lake.
If you had to convince someone how awesome Marin is, where would you take them?
The walk around at the top of Mt. Tam will show you everything that Marin has to offer: the ocean, the bay and almost the entire county! It’s also far enough up Highway 1 to get the gist.
What’s one thing Marin is missing?
A North Bay (San Pablo Bay) ferry!
What’s one bit of advice you’d share with your fellow Marinites?
Progress is inevitable. Let’s work on making it work, not on stopping it.
If you could invite anyone to a special dinner, who would they be?
Three writers who all have a Marin County connection: Mark Twain, Jack London and Jim Morrison. Twain for the wit, London for the prose and Morrison, well, why not?
What is some advice you wish you knew 20 years ago?
You are exactly where you are supposed to be. Don’t fight it; try instead to enjoy it.
What is something that in 20 years from now will seem cringeworthy?
Modern pop music. And espresso martinis. Especially espresso martinis.
Big question. What is one thing you’d do to change the world?
That we would spend as much money and time on peace as we currently do on war.
Keep up with Burkhart at jeffburkhart.net.
Nish Nadaraja was on the founding team at Yelp, serves on the San Anselmo Arts Commission and attempts to play pickleball at Fairfax’s Cañon Club.
