Theater: Zeitgeist

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Theater: Zeitgeist

There are many lists of “America’s 10 Best Plays,” but all that I’ve seen agree on one thing: Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is the winner, followed by Tony Kushner’s Angels in America. Having just attended the opening of Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s (BRT) splendid production of the latter, I’m tempted to rank them as a near tie. Both are extraordinary examples of how a single play can capture the zeitgeist of a generation in a beautifully structured work of theatrical art that has lived in the national conscience for many years, and doubtless will live there for many more.

I have, however, a couple of caveats about Angels that give an edge to its competitor. First, while Miller takes just under three hours to tell his story, Kushner divides his play into two parts—Millennium Approaches and Perestroika—which have a combined running time of seven-and-a-half hours. Ouch! You can, as I did, see both—one in the afternoon, and the other at night—during one of BRT’s periodic marathons, but that’s a lot to ask in time and expense, especially since (despite its humor and relatively hopeful ending) Perestroika meanders along as an often-repetitive tale of illness and death.

My second caveat pertains to the degree of universal appeal in the two plays. Miller’s warning about the failure of the American Dream involves the whole society; Kushner’s subtitle, A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, speaks for itself. Almost everything that happens in the 1985  world of Millennium Approaches is given a gay perspective, often with an overlay of Judaism.  It’s as if a curtain is being lifted on a foreign culture, whose intimate secrets are gradually revealed. At the same time, not everyone will feel the connection.

So, what was this gay world of 1985 like? The historic social, sexual and political revolution of the ’60s and ’70s has run its course and the “me first” conservative counter-revolution led by Ronald Reagan is well underway. There’s talk of Star Wars with the Soviets, while Ollie North and the CIA play with fire in Central America and Iran’s leaders play footsie with an election-bound U.S. president over the release of American hostages. Closer to home, both humanistic morality and traditional religion are in full retreat. Rumors of corporate corruption within the highest levels of government abound. In a nutshell, the outlook for liberal democracy is bleak.

Important as this background is, it is overshadowed by the convergence of two events that particularly affect the homosexual community: The movement to break free of the closet, and the advent of the AIDS epidemic. Kushner skillfully reveals the consequences through his characters, and BRT’s actors bring them to life with unfailing clarity.

Joe Pitt (Danny Binstock), an ambitious young attorney, and his wife Harper (Bethany Jillard) have their marriage crumble around them when he finally admits his sexual orientation and she exhibits signs of the feminist revolution that was beginning to sweep the country.

Roy Cohn (Stephen Spinella), the famed McCarthy Era prosecutor who helped send Ethel Rosenberg (Carmen Roman) to the electric chair, will fight to the finish against the dark curse that threatens them all—even to the point of refusing to give it a name.

Prior Walter (Randy Harrison) is devastated when his longtime partner, Louis (Benjamin T. Ismail) deserts him after his AIDS begins to spread. Belize (Caldwell Tidicue) brings welcome “trench humor” to the role of the hospital orderly who watches as people die.

The Angel (Francesca Faridany on opening night, to be replaced by Lisa Ramirez after the first few performances) flies in amidst the crash of a falling ceiling that announces the coming apocalypse.

All in all, it’s a superb production, sensitively directed by Tony Taccone, who helped birth this remarkable play more than 25 years ago and is just now bringing it to the stage of the theater he heads. Angels in America may not be number one on the charts, but runner-up isn’t exactly shabby.

NOW PLAYING: Angels in America runs through July 22 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley; 510/647-2949; berkeleyrep.org.

Food & Drink: Spring Forward

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Food & Drink: Spring Forward

Spring is officially here, and restaurant chefs often embrace the new season by showcasing their early favorites—asparagus, spring onions and pea shoots.

One of San Anselmo’s celebrated chefs, Heidi Krahling—owner of Insalata’s and Marinitas, and winner of this year’s Best Chef honor in our annual Best of Marin readers’ poll—likes to use the Egyptian spice blend dukkah on roasted spring vegetables. Dukkah is traditionally eaten by dipping bread first in olive oil and then into the mix of nuts and spices. Krahling suggests trying it this way, or tossing it with asparagus or haricots verts. She also recommends experimenting with different nuts, such as almonds or peanuts, to find your own personal favorite combination. In every case, Krahling notes, it’s important to properly toast the nuts and seeds to maximize their flavor and coax out their natural oils.

This heady blend of spices is sure to add depth, flavor and crunch to favorite dishes. And of course, salads packed with spring greens will get a nice kick of flavor from a hearty sprinkling of dukkah. Happy spring!

Dukkah

½ cup hazelnuts, toasted and finely chopped

½ cup sesame seeds, toasted

¼ cup coriander seeds, toasted and lightly crushed

3 tablespoons cumin seeds, toasted and lightly crushed

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

In a small bowl, combine the hazelnuts, sesame seeds, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, salt and pepper; mix well. Store in an airtight container for up to one month.

Food & Drink: Hamburger 101

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Food & Drink: Hamburger 101

The hamburger is one of America’s favorite dishes and famous culinary exports. This simple meal illustrates sophisticated gastronomic principles, and thanks to its culinary stature, as well as some other unique attributes, the hamburger is also in a position to teach us something else: How to shrink the carbon footprint of our meals.

Beef is increasingly regarded as the most environmentally destructive form of human protein, thanks to the greenhouse gases released by cattle and the production of their food. Some grazing advocates have argued that properly managed cattle can be carbon-neutral, and the newly released results of a five-year study—a collaboration between Michigan State University and the Union of Concerned Scientists—support that notion. Only about 1 percent of American beef is currently grass-fed, and it’s an open question as to whether beef eaters will stomach this change.

They would have to agree to eat grass-fed beef, which is often leaner and tougher than its feedlot-finished counterpart. And they would also have to accept eating less, because healthy grazing practices would only produce about half of the beef per acre, compared to current practices. The price, meanwhile, would likely rise.  

As I will explain in a moment, hamburger nullifies these concerns, as well as the one that nobody is talking about: Americans would need to accept buying their meat frozen, not fresh. The idea that fresh meat is somehow superior to meat that’s spent months in the freezer is a notion as deeply rooted as it is unsupported. Unless that attitude changes, grass-fed beef will never be more than a niche product.

Here’s why: Feedlot beef can be supplied year-round, on demand. Whenever meat is required to fulfill an order, fat cows are shipped to slaughter, and meat is available, even in the dead of winter. But a grass-fed beef supplier is at a serious disadvantage trying to compete. The rancher’s cattle are standing around eating hay all winter, while those feedlot cows are eating corn and soy. The grass-fed animals weigh less than they did the previous summer, because hay is not as nutritious as green grass. Thanks to their fat reserves from the previous summer, grass-fed animals make it through the winter fine, but as those reserves are drained, the meat loses quality.

Grass-fed beef is of the highest quality when slaughtered in summer, at peak fattiness. That is when the producer has the most meat per animal to sell, and the consumer gets the richest meat.

The hamburger offers a solution to this and every other obstacle to grass-fed beef. Unlike more prestigious cuts, burgers can be thawed very quickly. Just drop a frozen pack in a bowl of room-temperature water. As a hunter, I do this regularly with my deer and elk burgers, and it’s some of the finest eating there is, year-round.

The only advantage of raw meat is the convenience. You can take it home and cook it. But in terms of quality or safety, raw meat might as well be called rotting meat, because this is what happens as soon as meat is no longer attached to a living animal—unless it’s frozen or otherwise preserved. When I walk by the raw meat counter at the supermarket, I give it a wide berth, glancing sideways and thinking, “I wonder how long that has been sitting around?” Frozen meat, assuming it was properly packaged, can last more than a year unscathed by the ravages of time.

Served on a bun with trimmings, the burger succeeds and satisfies, thanks to the sophisticated convergence of flavors that are presented to the mouth in just the right proportions. The meat itself tastes good, but the nibble of onion is necessary, as well as the munch of pickle, crunch of lettuce and juicy gush of ripe tomato. The hamburger is a laboratory for exploring how different tastes can come together in your mouth to provide pleasure.

I prefer to serve my burgers deconstructed. That way I can arrange each bite properly, without struggle to retain control of an unstable sandwich. The bites can be delivered by spoon, fingertips, on a toasted sesame seed bun, or in lettuce leaves. The burger meat itself, I mix with salt and garlic powder and a little bit of olive oil, before cooking. Chopped parsley or other herbs are a great addition to ground, grass-fed meat as well.

When it’s time to eat, I begin with a bite-sized piece of meat, and use a dab of mayo to stick a piece of onion to it. Then I eat it, and while I’m chewing, I’ll adjust the mouthful by taking nibbles of pickle, tomato, roasted green chile and whatever else I think will help.

But that’s just me. There is room for all of us, and all of our differing styles, under the big burger tent.

Feature: Food For Thought

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Feature: Food For Thought

Going to the farmers’ market is a weekend activity that many Californians have learned to take for granted. In fact, the market is very much a part of the Golden State stereotypical dream, complete with permanently good weather and friendly folks. But what does it take to run one? Andy Naja-Riese, the newly appointed CEO of the Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM), knows a thing or two about it; when he begins his position this month, he’ll be running not one, but seven farmers’ markets across the Bay Area, plus a myriad of other tasks geared to promote locally grown food and healthy nutrition.

The Marin Agricultural Institute (MAI) was founded in 2004 by Marin Farmers Markets (MFM), and in 2009, MFM members voted to merge the two organizations into the Agricultural Institute of Marin, with a goal of serving family farmers, specialty food purveyors, artisans and communities. AIM is responsible for seven large farmers’ markets currently operating in the Bay Area: The Thursday and Sunday San Rafael markets, the Hayward and Newark Farmers’ Markets, the Grand Lake market in Oakland and two San Francisco markets, on Clement Street in San Francisco and at the Stonestown Galleria shopping mall. Naja-Riese, who previously served as chief of the Program Integrity Branch of the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, Western Region, is ready for the task, which, despite its relative localization, is still rather challenging.

“I’m coming from working with nine states to working with three counties,” he says of the difference. “I’m really excited about supporting work in my backyard, and supporting local communities.”

Going smaller in his national scope doesn’t diminish his excitement. “California is so abundant, you always know you buy foods that were recently harvested, and didn’t have to travel,” Naja-Riese says. “In other states, farmers’ markets may be limited to summer, but here we have four seasons, and you really get to see the incredible variety.”

Naja-Riese lives in San Rafael, having moved to Marin seven years ago from Long Island. Experienced with leading regional work to aid access to nutrition programs, he plans to bring his expertise to his new position, which officially starts on May 7.

When broken down into numbers, the markets sound like a lot—400 vendors, 200 of whom are farmers, 120 food purveyors and 80 artisans, living all over Marin, the Central Valley, Alameda County and beyond. Visitor-wise, the markets draw around 18,000 shoppers per week, or around 1 million annually.

“It’s a nice variety,” Naja-Riese says. “The wonderful thing is that the whole grid supports people from the community and the broader area, and that it’s all supporting local businesses.”

What are the main agendas that Naja-Riese foresees with such a wide network of customers and vendors? “The most important opportunity is that we innovate and create a really meaningful shopping experience,” he outlines. “Sure, people are coming in to buy food from farmers, but there have been changes—you can buy food through your smartphone these days, so we need to be focusing on experiences, and to make sure that they’re innovative and meeting the needs of shoppers and farmers.”  

One such activity, which Naja-Riese is planning to capitalize on, is farmers’ market tours, which will educate shoppers about seasonality, recipes and local agriculture. Cooking demos are also in the mix, as are experiences for kids, like scavenger hunts and educational programs. Involving people from the community as ambassadors, greeters and guides is also a budding idea. The new CEO favors technological advancements, too.

“There are exciting ways to incorporate technology,” Naja-Riese says. “After all, we’re moving towards a cashless society. Another element I’m interested in is real-time access to what will be available at the market, or an app that will tell you what recipes you can prepare with the produce you just bought.”

Speaking of trending shopping attractions, there’s yet another thing he’s looking forward to: In 2014, voters of Marin passed a regulation to allow a permanent farmers’ market with a canopy and a market hall, in San Rafael.

“We’ll be working with stakeholders to make sure we define what it may mean,” Naja-Riese shares. “We’re in the process right now of working out the most important elements—what can a canopy mean? An educational program onsite? An onsite garden? In the next few months, we will talk about guidelines.”

Solid plans and implementation of the exciting project, Naja-Riese says, will take place in the next few years.  

While apps and plans for swanky markets are exciting to discuss, there are always challenges, like making farmers’ markets more inclusive and affordable, and engaging with a diverse community of shoppers and farmers. The key element, Naja-Riese says, is really getting to know the communities that the markets operate in and making sure that they answer the local needs. Per accessibility, he says, all of the markets accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) coupons and offer programs called ‘market match,’ enabling shoppers to get additional matching dollars for purchases; they also work with the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

“I will be making sure to meet with the school districts, nonprofits and community organizations to understand the needs,” Naja-Riese says, “and also to make sure, particularly in Oakland and Hayward and Newark, to have vendors that come from the local community. It’s extremely important to support the livelihood of farmers; according to a UC Davis study, every dollar spent at a farmers’ market leads to twice as much economic activity in the local region.”

To connect with more farmers, AIM does outreach with agricultural groups and benefits from the farmers’ own networks and connections. Storytelling and promoting farmers’ markets is another challenge in the digital age, which AIM meets with resources and tools gathered through research.

“I get excited about a lot of the stories we learn from Cooperative Extension, especially the ones about children trying broccoli for the first time or asking their parents to pick unfamiliar foods,” Naja-Riese says.

When he wants to get inspired even further, Naja-Riese visits farmers’ markets around the country; his favorite is located on the Big Island in Hawaii, where, he says, there’s an incredible variety of vendors, and the native local food options are endless. “It was so eye-opening to see and be introduced to new things, have new experiences and meet new people there,” he says.

As one may expect, Naja-Riese is full of useful tips when it comes to making the most of your average farmers’ market visit.

“Shop the seasons, come prepared with a potential list, plan to walk around for an hour to give yourself enough time to experience all of the vendors, bring your own reusable bag and really ask all the questions—farmers are so knowledgeable, so don’t be afraid to reach out,” he says. “And bring family and friends, have a social experience and have fun.”

What about those awkward moments, when you can’t pass up a free sample but end up not buying the product? Just relax, Naja-Riese advises. “It’s good to try new foods! Maybe you won’t buy it today, but you may come back the next week and buy it then.”

Agricultural Institute of Marin; agriculturalinstitute.org.

This Week in the Pacific Sun

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This Week in the Pacific Sun

This week, it’s the Pacific Sun‘s annual Best of Marin issue, so you can read all about our readers’ favorite people and places in Marin County. Check out winners in categories that include Arts & Culture, Beauty, Health & Wellness, Everyday, Family, Fitness & Recreation, Food & Drink, Home Improvement and Romance. On top of that, we’ve got a piece on outgoing Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards’ recent talk in San Rafael and a review of Aurora Theatre’s production of ‘Eureka Day.’ All that and more on stands and online today!

About our cover artist: Award-winning graphic artist and longtime Marin resident Michael Schwab first gained acclaim in the Bay Area as a poster designer for productions such as Beach Blanket Babylon in the 1970s. Since then, he has established a reputation as one of the country’s leading logo and poster designers, working for clients like Apple, Golden Gate National Parks, San Francisco Opera and Robert Mondavi.

Known for utilizing negative space, Schwab lives and works by the artistic motto that “less is more.” His large-scale works and promotional posters regularly feature simply rendered silhouetted figures dramatically posed in front of striking colored backgrounds.

Whether he’s depicting Muir Woods or Muhammad Ali, Schwab celebrates the interplay between light and shadow and achieves a timeless minimalist harmony in his graphic art. Check out more of his work at michaelschwab.com.—Charlie Swanson

Theater: Two Paths

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Theater: Two Paths

Jonathan Spector’s Eureka Day, onstage at Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre, may not be a play for the ages, but it definitely is a play for the NOW. From the pioneers on, Americans have had to choose between two paths whose advocates claim lead to the common good. One is individualism—the belief that freedom is the ultimate socio-economic value, and the other is that communal interventions will produce better results. Efforts to bridge the two are the main focus of our politics on every level, right down to the governing boards of local community organizations like the school that is the setting for Spector’s play.

While the opposing positions may be clear-cut in theory, in practice they usually depend on the context of the argument and the personal agendas of the people on either side. Throw in democracy’s requirement of majority rule, and the resulting struggle to find consensus, or at least a workable compromise, can be ripe material for a perceptive satirist’s steely gaze. Jonathan Spector is such an observer, and on the night I attended, he had the audience nodding with recognition at the similarity to their own experience one minute, then rocking with laughter at how unnecessary much of it seemed.

Eureka Day is being presented as part of Aurora’s new “Originate + Generate play development program,” (O+G). Unlike the Global Age Project that it replaces, O+G is more narrowly focused on assisting local playwrights to develop scripts that conform to the company’s mission and resources, including its limited playing space, and there is the expectation that some of the best will be candidates for full productions in a future season.

This local emphasis is apparent in the play’s opening scene. Eureka Day School, from which the play takes its title, is one of those high-priced private college preps that dot the Bay Area landscape. A five-member executive committee of its parental governing board is meeting in a room with large windows in the rear wall that reveal an expanse of water crossed by a distant bridge (scenic designer Richard Olmsted). In other words, it’s familiar territory for almost all of us.

After a brief but hilarious discussion of how complicated student self-identification on their  admission applications has become in an age when there are so many ethnic, gender and behavioral choices, the group gets down to business. There has been an outbreak of mumps in the region and since the disease can have serious consequences, should the school require students to be vaccinated against it and other ailments for which protection is available? Pro and con facts about the vaccine’s efficacy are bandied about, but it soon becomes apparent that scientific evidence is not the main issue. It’s that nasty individual rights vs. communal responsibility rivalry all over again, and neither side will give an inch. The former has a fiery  spokesperson in Lisa Anne Porter as Suzanne, whose emotional rhetoric regarding her child’s unfortunate experience with forced vaccination nearly carries the day.

Rolf Saxon’s Don, the amiable school headmaster casually dressed in mustard colored shorts and a T-shirt, is a worthy opponent, especially when he has the backing of Eli (Teddy Spencer), one of the school’s big donors. Carina (Elizabeth Carter), the token person of color, is a fence sitter who ultimately drives a spike into Suzanne’s arguments. Meiko (Charisse Loriaux), is one half of an underwritten sub plot that involves her romantic relationship with the married Eli, but she does have a heartfelt monologue about how we humans have screwed up life on our poor planet. All in all, it’s an excellent ensemble, ably directed by Josh Costello.

Midway through the play, the meeting is opened to the community at large as an imaginary Facebook conference video, with a running series of viewers’ comments projected on screens located near the ceiling of the Aurora Theatre. Their profanity-laden idiocy is very funny, but also a sad reminder of where public discourse is in today’s America.

NOW PLAYING: Eureka Day runs through May 13 at the Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison St., Berkeley; 510/843-4822; auroratheatre.org.

Best of Marin 2018: Romance

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Best of Marin 2018: Romance

Full of scenic spots to dine, dance, stroll hand-in-hand on the beach and more, Marin County, let’s face it, is very romantic. Whether you’ve been married for 50 years, just tied the knot or are planning an adventurous first date, there’s a magical setting just waiting to be explored.

Peso Pick-up

At times, it may seem as though Marin County is all about family life. Couples move here to have kids and stay here to raise them, happily rolling around town. What’s a single person to do? Head to the Silver Peso, Larkspur’s best-kept non-secret and this year’s winner of the elusive Best Place for Singles to Meet category. The Silver Peso looks like a regular bar at first sight, but it’s really a mingling hub, powered by pool and shuffleboard, loud enough music and flattering lighting. Its divey atmosphere is liberating, and its liberal, all-welcome bar is intoxicating.—Flora Tsapovsky

450 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur; 415.924.3448.

Natural Beauty

‘Special’ and ‘magical’ are superlatives that wedding photographers often use, winking at our collective craving for unforgettable moments. Bolinas-based Lynn Bagley, this year’s Best Wedding Photographer, uses ‘honest’ as a key word, and really means it. No schmaltzy staging or cliché lighting here—just honestly beautiful imagery of loving couples and happy families. Bagley favors natural lighting and effortless situations to capture her Marin clients, making everyone look good—but mostly, letting them be themselves.—F.T.

415.847.1396; lynnbagley.com.

Party Time

Founded by entrepreneur Stacey Dillon, the San Anselmo-based event planning company Stacey & Company is surely responsible for some of the most adorable party gimmicks on your Instagram feed. Specializing in polished, chic celebrations for adults and kids, this year’s winner of the Best Wedding Event Planner award is a true multi-tasker. A casino-themed Bar Mitzvah? A picturesque Cavallo Point wedding? A fireman-inspired first birthday? All are doable, with matching stationery and stylish touches to boot.—F.T.

121 San Anselmo Ave., #2457, San Anselmo; 415.913.9229.

Dreamy Date

A repeat winner for Best Romantic Dinner, El Paseo added a new element this year—chef Todd Shoberg, who took over the historic restaurant and transformed its kitchen entirely. Shoberg’s flavorful, adventurous menu is full of sexy hits, from the squid cooked in cast iron to the pork chop of your date’s dreams. Shoberg’s knack for fire-roasting pairs nicely with the festive, medieval-esque interior.—F.T.

17 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley; 415.388.0741.

WRITER’S PICK

Relaxing Romance

Dates can be intimidating, and first dates? An occasional nightmare. Marin County has quite a few date night spots, but places that truly make people who met on apps and websites feel at ease are few and far between. Enter Joinery, a new-ish beer hall in Sausalito that’s casual but also oh-so-cool, the Best Place for a Stress-Free Date With a New Love Interest. One of the Bay Area’s hottest artists, Heather Day, painted the Joinery’s outstanding mural, and the menu is equally colorful and sensual; glistening rotisserie chicken (eating with your hands is supposed to be seductive), ‘dirty fries’ (enter joke here) and other dishes pair well with the drinks. Community tables outside offer views of sailboats and paddle-boarders cruising by. A perfect date spot is born.—F.T.

300 Turney St., Sausalito; 415.766.8999.

WRITER’S PICK

Delicate Blooms

No matter how advanced technology is and how prevalent dating apps are, a flower delivery is always romantic in that tried and trusted, never-gets-old way. Just imagine: You’re checking your emails, watching Love on Netflix and sorting your laundry at home, when suddenly an elegant box of flowers lands on your doorstep. Notice—not a bouquet in crinkly paper, but a decadent box, which allows the delicate blooms to remain long-stemmed until the very last moment. There’s nothing more romantic than a flower delivery, yet Matilda’s Magnolias, offering the Best Delivery of Locally Grown Flowers, somehow takes the whole affair to the next level.—F.T.

650.731.3012; matildasmagnolias.com.

WRITER’S PICK

Express Yourself

There’s something inevitably romantic about tango; we all know that it takes two to do it, but few other couples’ dances are as infused with passion. Whether you’re in a relationship or looking for one, Alma del Tango, San Anselmo’s nonprofit Argentine tango school, is the Best Place to Get Inspired for Romance. Beginner and advanced classes are offered on a regular basis, and milonga, a slightly looser, flowing variation on tango, can also be experienced, along with workshops and themed seminars.—F.T.

167 Tunstead Ave., San Anselmo; 415.350.2593.

WRITER’S PICK

Score!

Shopping for anniversary-appropriate jewelry doesn’t have to be an intimidating, expensive affair. Lulu Designs Jewelry, which sells at many Bay Area jewelry stores, has a flagship shop in Sausalito. It’s the Best Place to Find the Right Ring or Necklace, and the whole task becomes an easy one. The nicest thing about Lulu Designs is the fact that the jewelry looks intricate and personal without wandering into the areas of ‘fancy’ and ‘special occasion.’ The current collection, with names like Asana and Mudra, is a study in everyday sophistication.—F.T.

30 Princess St., Suite B, Sausalito; 415.339.8843.

WRITER’S PICK

Gateway to Love

Marin County is full of magical little spots, but nothing tops Olema, a blink-and-you-miss-it town at the very end of Sr. Francis Drake Boulevard that has the Best Romantic Charm. What Olema lacks in mindblowing landmarks or photogenic vistas, it makes up for in historic buildings, quaint hideaways and picturesque businesses—from the lauded Sir and Star restaurant to the renovated Olema Inn. As a romantic destination, Olema offers the perfect day-to-night itinerary, and if you get lost and do nothing? Well, that’s even more romantic.—F.T.

pointreyes.org.

Full List of Best of Marin 2018 Romance Winners

Best Boutique Hotel

Panama Hotel & Restaurant

Best Couples Counseling

Dr. Rick Scott

Best Erotica Store

Pleasures of the Heart

Best Lingerie Shop

Pleasures of the Heart

Best Place for Singles to Meet

Silver Peso

Best Romantic Dinner

El Paseo

Best Sex Therapist

Dr. Claudia Six

Best Staycation

Cavallo Point

Best Wedding Event Planner

Stacey & Company

Best Wedding Photographer

Lynn Bagley

Best Wedding Reception Venue

Marin Art & Garden Center

Best of Marin 2018: Home Improvement

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Best of Marin 2018: Home Improvement

Marin residents pride themselves on living in an attractive place. So it’s only natural that they’d want their homes to reflect that pride. Good thing there are so many businesses here providing services that help keep homes clean, safe, furnished and beautiful.

Home Improvement

Local Trust

It’s refreshing to find a landscape company run by a “local guy.” Eric Rayner, president and founder of Rayner Landscaping, chosen as this year’s Best Landscape Design Company, fits that description. An avid gardener for 25 years, Rayner knows his stuff. He’s certified in water-efficient landscaping by the Marin Municipal Water District, and he’s also a semi-professional magician. Rayner’s supporters might even say that he performs magic on their outdoor spaces. Rayner Landscaping services include choosing plants and flowers to beautify the outside areas of homes, and tasteful placement of fountains and lights for special effects. Rayner personally oversees every project, and the company’s design philosophy is simple: They aim to translate desires and needs into a beautiful landscape plan.—Lily O’Brien

19 Digital Dr., Suite U, Novato; 415.279.9661.

Lock it Up

Transbay Security Service, this year’s favorite for Best Locksmith, can really help get you out of a jam. In San Rafael since 1964, Transbay provides commercial, residential and automotive security services all over Marin County, and mobile units are ready to come right to your door—or wherever you may be. If the fence around your estate is starting to crumble, Transbay can install a high-security system or an electronic and mechanical access system. And the company even carries a large selection of safes for stashing valuables and secret papers. From installations and repairs to key duplication, Transbay is a one-stop destination for peace of mind.—L.O.

2018 Fourth St., San Rafael; 415.456.3860.

Gimme Shelter

Those of us lucky enough to have a roof over our heads may think of a roof purely as a practical necessity, and not as a reflection of our personal taste. After all, a roof is a roof, is a roof, right? Well, not exactly. McLeran Roofing, Marin’s Best Roofer, shows us that there’s a lot more to roofing than one could ever imagine. Who knew that there were so many parts to a roof? If you speak roof fluently, terms like cornice, frieze board, joist and counterflashing should roll right off the tongue. The company, founded in 1929 by Charles McLeran, who passed his knowledge and expertise on to his son, Brian, prides itself on high-quality products. The attractive styles for tile roofs alone, with brand names like Capistrano, Malibu and Ponderosa, provide completely different but equally beautiful statements to top a house.—L.O.

1945 Francisco Blvd. E., #38, San Rafael; 415.456.7663.

Garden Glory

Spring is here, and everything is blooming—time to fix up the garden! Questions about the types of plants to get, the kinds of tools needed and what plants will work best in what climate are welcomed with professionalism at Sloat Garden Center. Family-owned for 60 years, it’s the pick this year for Best Nursery/Garden Center. With four locations in Marin (San Rafael, Mill Valley, Kentfield and Novato), you don’t have to go far to find one. Succulents, flowers and trees are available, as well as unusual finds like summer chocolate mimosa, weeping Japanese maple and cotton candy hummingbird mint. Sloat also offers workshops and seminars that include “Make a Planter for Mom,” “Worms & Bugs!” and “Peppers 101.” If you need assistance, consultants will help design gardens and make custom planters.—L.O.

sloatgardens.com.

Full List of Best of Marin 2018 Home Improvement Winners

Best Appliance Repair

Martin & Harris

Best Architect

Crome Architecture

Best Carpet Cleaning

Atlas Window & Carpet Cleaning

Best Carpeting/Flooring

Ken’s Carpets & Flooring

Best Cleaning Service

Molly Maid of Marin

Best Computer Repair Service

Northbay Computer

Best Contractor (commercial)

Dan Young Construction Inc.

Best Contractor (residential)

Tim Walsh Builders

Best Deck & Fencing

Clough Construction

Best Electrician

Norcal Divine Electric

Best Hauling

1-800-GOT-JUNK?

Best Home Furnishings

Sunrise Home

Best Home Improvement Store

Jackson’s Hardware

Best Home Organizer

Changing Places

Best Kitchen/Bath Remodeler

Kitchens and More

Best Landscape Design Company

Rayner Landscaping

Best Locksmith

Transbay Security

Best Moving & Storage

Johnson & Daly

Best Nursery/Garden Center

Sloat Garden Center

Best Paint Supplier

Tamalpais Paint & Color

Best Painting Contractor

McCarthy Painting Co.

Best Plumber

Ongaro and Sons

Best Real Estate Brokerage

Bradley Real Estate

Best Roofer

McLeran Roofing

Best Self-Storage

Bellam Self Storage & Boxes

Best Solar Supplier

SolarCraft

Best Tree Service

TREEMASTERS

Best Window Cleaners

Atlas Window & Carpet Cleaning

Best of Marin 2018: Food & Drink

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Best of Marin 2018: Food & Drink

Along with gorgeous scenery, a cool vibe and plenty of performing arts, Marin has drawn some of the most revered chefs around to make their culinary magic here. From casual cafés, to micro-breweries to innovative gourmet dining with a view, this place is the envy of many a foodie.

Aww, Shucks

The Marshall Store is the perennial winner in the Best Place for Oysters category, for reasons that need not be explained. The bivalves are extraordinary, the view is out-of-this-world and even though they call it a store, it’s a shack along Tomales Bay that can’t be beat, and probably never will. But this year’s award comes with some major sadness and poignancy, as Charles “Tod” Friend died on the bay last summer. He was the founder of Tomales Bay Oyster Company, from whence the Marshall Store draws its complement of raw and cooked oysters.

His two children run the Marshall Store, and they offered stories about Friend after his passing that revealed him to be pretty much a badass his whole life—smuggled pot, stole draft files during the Vietnam era, stuff like that. His death by drowning was as sudden as it was shocking, and serves to remind us all to enjoy each day as if it were our last. Friend’s legacy along Tomales Bay provides an exquisite opportunity to do just that.—Tom Gogola

19225 State Route 1, Marshall. 415.663.1339.

Health Nuts

Cafe del Soul takes honors for Best Vegetarian and Best Natural/Sustainable Restaurant, and rightfully so—the two outlets in Mill Valley and San Rafael pump out soups, richly adorned veggie wraps, quinoa out the wazoo and too many salads to mention—and the nachos, which always feel a little decadent, are tons of fun to chow on with a group of gluten-wary pals. But here’s the thing, Cafe del Soul: By this time next year, you’re likely to have some competition, as the second scheduled Amy’s Drive Thru is being planned for the old Denny’s location in Corte Madera (the original is in Rohnert Park, and it rocks).

A healthy competition over the healthiest health food in Marin County can’t be a bad thing, and we’d love to see a drink-off between Cafe De Soul’s multiple (and blessedly affordable) juices and smoothies and Amy’s chocolate shake. Going in, I’m partial to the shake, but I bet that Passionate First Date smoothie on the Cafe de Soul menu gives the shake a run for its money.—T.G.

cafedelsoul.net.

Gluten Be Gone

Marin is a mecca for those seeking a healthy lifestyle. But eating out can be a challenge, especially if you’re allergic to or choose not to eat certain foods. Luckily, we have the Miracle Mile Café, chosen as this year’s eatery with the Best Gluten-Free Menu Options. Miracle Mile’s breakfast menu offers scrambles and omelets with cage-free eggs or with non-GMO sprouted tofu, ground Peruvian flax seed pancakes and more. Lunch options include burgers and sandwiches served on Rudi’s gluten-free buns, salads and veggie soup. There’s also a kids’ menu and a selection of “regular” family favorites like eggs benedict, Belgian waffles, a classic BLT and grass-fed filet mignon. This place has it all, but goes the extra mile for vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free folks—L.O.

2130 Fourth St., San Rafael; 415.454.7700.

Foodie Fun

Madcap, the foodie readers’ choice this year for Best New Restaurant, adds another feather to the upscale-dining cap of Marin. Since opening the restaurant last year, Chef/Owner Ron Siegel (Michael Mina, Masa’s, Charles Nob Hill) has garnered praise from numerous publications, including a Zagat listing as one of the Bay Area’s Most Important Restaurant Openings of 2017.

Using organic and farm-raised products, Siegel serves up unusual appetizers like a lobster miso shot, rabbit tortelloni with black trumpet mushrooms and parmesan spuma, and entrees like celery root and mushroom ravioli with truffle broth and Stonington sea scallops with carrot puree, cauliflower and salsify. Desserts are rich and include a chef’s tasting menu selection. And of course, there’s a well-curated wine list that also includes a variety of sakes. All of this can be enjoyed in an intimate, art-filled and casually elegant setting.—L.O.

198 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo; 415.453.9898.

Tea-riffic

Although Marin is clearly hooked on coffee, with every town featuring at least one independent or chain coffee cafe, tea popularity is brewing in a big way. And that’s why this year we’ve added a new category to our Best of Marin list, Best Tea Shop/Cafe, which got snagged by Wu Wei Tea Temple in Fairfax. This charming, cozy place offers a tea “bar” that serves up rare and small-batch tea choices like organic chrysanthemum flower, pu-erh mini tuocha, wild qiaomu shengpu and tulsi/holy basil tea. It also proudly features kava, a 3,000-year-old drink made from the kava plant that they claim is a “wonderful alternative to alcohol,” due to its relaxing qualities. World music, storytelling, open mics and tarot readings are featured on certain nights, so it’s a great place to go to slow down, sip and listen.—L.O.

1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax; 415.516.2578.

Cheers

Napa and Sonoma counties are well-known for their vineyards and wineries, but you don’t have to leave Marin to taste premium wines. Novato’s newly opened Mantra Wines, voted the Best Winetasting Room this year, features more than 11 red, white and sparkling wines from three labels—Mantra, Mobius and Big Ridge—that can be sampled by the glass, bottle or flight. A family affair, Mantra is dedicated to producing the finest wines that “reflect the unique characteristics” that can only come from high-elevation vineyards. Featuring a selection of tasty bites to go along with the wine, including a local cheese plate, honey, seasoned nuts, bruschetta with tomato, garlic and goat cheese and corned beef sliders, Mantra also offers live music on select nights.—L.O.

881 Grant Ave., Novato; 415.892.WINE.

Writer’s Pick

Prison Cuisine

I was listening to public radio KALW’s San Quentin Radio the other morning, and they were featuring a segment on San Quentin Inmate-Chef John “Yah-Yah” Parratt, considered by inmates to be the unofficial chef of San Quentin, a prison known for its endless outpourings of bland pancakes for the inmates. The segment made me hungry just listening to it. See, it’s all in the seasoning, says radio host Tommy Ross. You’ve got to cook it with your heart, Yah-Yah tells Ross, and he’s been cooking for seven years on a 23-year bid. The segment was so tasty and inviting, I went out and stole a car, because Yah-Yah’s cooking is the Best Culinary Reason to Commit a Nonviolent Felony.

Guilty! I’m guilty! Now when can I tuck into some of Yah-Yah’s Southern cooking, Mr. Judge? It was part of my plea deal.—T.G.

kalw.org.

Writer’s Pick

Arrangiarsi

When Matteo Troncone set out to celebrate the soul of Naples—its pizza—he figured, hey, I’ll make a movie about it and call it Arrangiarsi, which translates into “the art of making something out of nothing.” And that’s just what he delivered—something from nothing, after spending the better part of five years living in his van in furtive spots up and down the California Coast, as he scratched together the funds to travel back and forth to Italy. There, he filmed tomato growers in the shadow of Vesuvius, among numerous pizza-shop owners and street artists who are all steeped in the ethic of arrangiarsi, and even got a minute of FaceTime with Silvio Berlusconi, thanks to a forged press pass. ‘Arrangiarsi: Pizza . . . and the Art of Living’ is the Best Pizza Movie from a Mill Valley Guy who Lived in His Van for Five Years. It’s a total hoot, and after a few showings in West Marin, Troncone hit the road with his van and his decidedly indie labor of love.—T.G.

arrangiarsifilm.com.

Writer’s Pick

Weekend Binge

The winner for Best Chinese is Lam’s Kitchen in Mill Valley, where diners can take their time and explore a massive and old-school menu of Chinese chow. You can’t beat Lam’s for a big Chinese supper with friends or family. They’ve got the orange chicken, the Mongolian beef, and it rates gourmet for sure.

But we still need the good and quick cheap Chinese food, and that’s where Hot Wok Chinese Food, the Best Cheap Chinese Food When You’ve Got Saturday Banking to Do, comes in. Saturdays for me can mean a late-morning drive from West Marin along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to San Anselmo. I’m typically headed to Chase Bank to withdraw the rent, grab a Starbucks in the shopping center and then hit the Hot Wok. I try to resist the temptation and usually I fail, and will typically load up for a weekend-long lo mein binge to go along with whatever the latest Netflix binge happens to be.—T.G.

898 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo; 415.454.0877.

Writer’s Pick

Upgrade

When Side Street Kitchen was the Pine Cone Diner, it was a great place to go to shake off the cobwebs over upper-tier diner fare that never cut corners and was always heaped on the plate with that particular brusque diner love. When the Pine Cone went under a couple years ago, fear took hold. Where can we bring him or her to talk things over? Where can we go to say, “Look, I think you’re really interesting but I’m not taking your kids this weekend so you can go to the casino with your girlfriends.”

Fortunately, the new owners left the built-in aesthetics, added colorful murals, and Side Street Kitchen continues to hew diner-style, even as the grub’s been upgraded. If there’s a siggie dish, it’s the rotisserie chicken.

I was there with a friend last summer, a new friend and maybe more. But when she reached for my iced tea without asking, that was that. We all have our fussy spots, and that’s mine. Side Street Kitchen is the Best New Restaurant to Solidify a Platonic Relationship With a Woman Who Runs With the Wolves. You can touch my heart, but hands off my tea. Now we’re just friends, baby.—T.G.

60 4th St., Point Reyes Station. 415.663.0303.

Writer’s Pick

The Baked Drake

Defying the NIMBY neighbors and the law, the Drake, Marin’s Best Cannabis Restaurant, opened last year to much fanfare, offering a choice selection of cannabis-infused foods that all adhere to the West Marin farm-to-table mandate. Chef Vinnie Morlock has traveled the world cooking and jiving, and he brings it all home at the Drake, even if he has no permits and might wind up as Yah-Yah’s sous chef in San Quentin if word gets out. Shhhhhh.

Menu highlights include the Sour Diesel pork dumplings, the White Widow waffles and the Purple Kush kumquat loaf. The restaurant’s a bit hard to find, but worth the hassle. From 101, head west on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard until you see the sun glinting off Bob Weir’s solar panels, and take a left. Take another left, and then a left and still yet another left—you’re there. You’ll know you’re there when you’re there. On a recent visit, I sampled those luscious dumplings while a trio of West Marin ukulele misfits cranked out a version of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” It’s the only song they know. Go figure.—T.G.

Full List of Best of Marin 2018 Food & Drink Winners

Best Bakery/Cafe

Rustic Bakery

Best Bar

Bungalow 44

Best Bartender

Niki Scioli, McInnis Park Club Restaurant

Best BBQ

Pig in a Pickle

Best Beach Restaurant

Sand Dollar Restaurant

Best Breakfast

Comforts

Best Brew Pub

Iron Springs Pub & Brewery

Best Brunch

Half Day Cafe

Best Burger

Phyllis’ Giant Burgers

Best Burrito

High Tech Burrito

Best Business Lunch

Buckeye Roadhouse

Best Butcher Shop

Belcampo

Best Cafe/Coffeehouse

Equator Coffees & Teas

Best Caterer

Stacy Scott Caterers

Best Cheese Shop

Fisher’s Cheese + Wine

Best Chef

Heidi Krahling, Insalata’s

Best Chinese

Lam’s Kitchen

Best Chocolatier

Pick Me Up Chocolate

Best Cocktails

Buckeye Roadhouse

Best Craft Brew Event

Fairfax Brewfest

Best CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

Table Top Farm

Best Deli

Louie’s Deli Café

Best Diner

Shoreline Coffee Shop

Best Dining after 10pm

Marin Joe’s

Best Dive Bar

Silver Peso

Best Farmers’ Market

Marin Farmers’ Market

Best Food Truck

Johnny Doughnuts

Best French

Left Bank Brasserie

Best Frozen Yogurt

Woody’s Yogurt Place

Best Gluten-Free Menu Options

Miracle Mile Café

Best Happy Hour

Hilltop 1892

Best Ice Cream

Fairfax Scoop

Best Indian

Lotus Cuisine of India

Best Italian

La Toscana

Best Japanese/Sushi

Sushi Ran

Best Latin American

Sol Food

Best Local Coffee Roaster

Equator Coffees & Teas

Best Mediterranean

Insalata’s

Best Mexican

Saylor’s Restaurant and Bar

Best Micro-brew

Marin Brewing Company

Best Natural/Sustainable Restaurant

Cafe del Soul

Best New Restaurant (opened in 2017)

Madcap

Best New Winery (less than one year)

Backstage Winery

Best Outdoor Dining

Sam’s Anchor Cafe

Best Pizza

Pizza Antica

Best Place for Oysters

The Marshall Store

Best Restaurant

El Paseo

Best Restaurant with a View

Hilltop 1892

Best Sandwich Shop

Michael’s Sourdough

Best Seafood

Fish Restaurant

Best Server

Ali Askin, McInnis Park Club Restaurant

Best Sommelier

Erick Hendricks, Hilltop 1892

Best Sports Bar

Flatiron

Best Spot to Dine Solo

Marin Joe’s

Best Tea Shop/Cafe

Wu Wei Tea Temple

Best Thai

My Thai Restaurant

Best Vegetarian

Cafe del Soul

Best Vietnamese

Pho Viet Vietnamese Cuisine

Best Waterfront Restaurant

The Spinnaker

Best Wine

Trek Winery

Best Wine Bar

123 Bolinas

Best Wine Event

Tiburon Wine Festival

Best Wine List

Incavo Wine Lounge & Collective

Best Winetasting Room

Mantra Wines

Best of Marin 2018: Everyday

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Best of Marin 2018: Everyday

“Everyday” sounds a bit boring. But the winners on the pages that follow are anything but. They represent the services that we use on a regular basis, but should never take for granted—things like getting a tire changed by someone who wants to keep our families safe on the road; or picking up flowers for a friend who could really use them, from a florist who truly cares about the small but meaningful moments in life.

Floral Fantasy

When strolling in downtown Mill Valley, you can’t help but notice the colorful array of flowers displayed outside the charming, old-fashioned-looking brick building that houses Mill Valley Flowers, this year’s readers’ choice for Best Florist. It’s hard to pass by without wanting to pick up a bouquet. Founded 25 years ago by “a tiny, mighty woman and a tall, blonde Swede” who fell in love and bought the flower shop, it’s become the go-to place for weddings, special occasions and holidays in Marin. With three trips per week to the San Francisco Flower Mart, Mill Valley Flowers prides itself on offering only the freshest seasonal flowers, including a selection of leafy plants and dazzling orchids. Expert design and local delivery can be counted on seven days a week, and this place has everything you need to make someone’s day—or just your own.—Lily O’Brien

54 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley; 415.388.7781.

Budding Biz

With things getting more cannabis-friendly in California every day, The Mighty Quinn, this year’s winner for Best Vape Shop, is strutting its stuff in a more mainstream way. Founded in 1979 in Santa Rosa (there are now four locations), Quinn prides itself on selecting the most beautiful functional art glass—including painted pipes and pendants—from artists and companies around the world. Papers, lighters and assorted vaping accessories can be found here, and The Mighty Quinn offers sales that celebrate holidays like 420. So whether you’re smoking tobacco or ganja, San Rafael’s shop has you covered.—L.O.

mightyquinnsmokeshop.com.

Young at Heart

How did the years catch up with us so fast? The good news is, we’re still living in Marin, and many of us are still pretty spunky. But the kids left home a long time ago, we’re aging and it’s time to downsize. The Redwoods, chosen this year as the Best Senior Living Facility in Marin, is looking good. With a recently renovated campus, The Redwoods is located on 10 acres in Mill Valley, and has glorious views of Mt. Tam. Programs cover everything from music and the arts, to nature, to spirituality and relationships to movement and exercise, so life is never dull. You can choose a studio or one-bedroom apartment, with or without a meal plan, and skilled nursing and assisted living are also available. A transportation program offers shuttles that take residents on special excursions, to the doctor or on a loop to various places all over Marin. Who said that getting old is so bad?—L.O.

40 Camino Alto, Mill Valley; 415.383.2741.

WRITER’S PICK

Digging the Vibe

When you want to “get out of town,” but not out of Marin, West Marin beckons, and Point Reyes Station is the Best Place for Feeling Like You’ve Left the Hubbub Behind. The drive there—during which you’re surrounded by forests and rolling hills—is inspiring in itself. And the town is a lovely place to stroll—slowly. The main drag is lined with gift shops, bakeries and cafes, restaurants, a bookstore and an art gallery with ever-changing shows. The bustling Toby’s Feed Barn, a general store and working feed barn that’s been around since 1942, offers coffee, yoga, a farmers’ market, author talks and more. A mecca for bicyclists and hikers heading to nearby trails and beaches, Point Reyes Station has a hip, friendly and rustic vibe, and it’s managed to maintain its small-town charm.—L.O.

pointreyes.org.

WRITER’S PICK

Nevertheless, She Persisted

It’s very heartening to see women of the world becoming more empowered every day. And sometimes, the only thing holding them back is the tools they need to strengthen their work and their voices. Enter Marin’s YWCA’s Fifty+ Program, the Best Place for Women to Get Back on Their Feet. The San Rafael nonprofit has been helping women 50 and over gain financial independence since 2000. A group of selfless women offers free services that include beginner and advanced computer classes in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel, skills for interviewing and networking, drop-in resume and interview coaching and advice on how to choose a career direction, to those who have either never worked, or need to work now, but don’t have the skills necessary to do it. Employment Specialist Nancy Richardson is a warm and caring person who goes above and beyond to help women find their way, and Administrative Assistant Gretchen Dean is always ready to help anyone who walks through the door. Truly dedicated to helping other women, this program is a gem.—L.O.

4380 Redwood Highway, Ste. A-1, San Rafael; 415.479.YWCA.

WRITER’S PICK

Aesthetic Ace

Grocery shopping can be one of those dreaded things that you have to do in between all of the other things on your list. And walking up and down the aisles of a large supermarket, with harsh overhead lighting and chilly temperatures, makes it even less appealing. Except if you choose to shop at the family-owned Nugget Markets, the Best Place for Grocery Shopping That Doesn’t Feel Like a Chore. They have a dozen locations in California, and the Novato store is pleasant as soon as you pull up and see the fresh produce arranged in bins outside. When you walk inside, you’re greeted by fresh flowers and a large selection of always-fresh and neatly displayed fruits and vegetables, many of them organic. The lighting is warm, the aisles are not too long or wide and everything seems to have a gourmet-but-homey feel to it, which makes it fun to browse for new things to eat. And you will find a lot of unusual, tempting items. But the best part of this market is the service. From the deli, to the bakery, to the meat department to the checkout, everyone serving you does so with a smile. The store is well-managed, so you’ll never have to wait long, and the cashiers always ask, sincerely, if you’ve found everything you wanted. At Nugget Markets, shopping is actually a joy.—L.O.

Nuggetmarket.com.

WRITER’S PICK

Wheels & Wildlife

When it’s sunny in Marin, there’s nothing better than getting out in nature. My first choice is always to head out on my bike to the Bay Trail at Hamilton in Novato, which ends up at Las Gallinas Wildlife Ponds, the Best Place for Biking and Birding in Marin. The trail is mostly paved, and perfect for walking or riding—but a bonus is the birds. As you weave in and out on the pathways that crisscross the ponds, depending on the season, you can spot swans, egrets, ducks, geese, herons (including the great blue), northern harriers, finches and sparrows. Pack some binoculars, and you just might spot some newly hatched babies. For a change of attitude, this place does not disappoint.—L.O.

lgvsd.org.

Full List of Best of Marin 2018 Everyday Winners

Best Accountant

Gary Winston

Best Antique Shop

Laurel House Antiques

Best Art Supply Store

RileyStreet Art Supply

Best Attorney

Roger M. Vosburg

Best Auto Body Repair

Blake’s Auto Body

Best Auto Dealer (new)

Toyota Marin

Best Auto Dealer (used)

Toyota Marin

Best Auto Detailing

Matt & Jeff’s Car Wash & Detail Center

Best Auto Repair

Easy Automotive

Best Barber

Barber Lane

Best Body Art Place (tattoo, piercing, etc.)

Spider Murphy’s Tattoo

Best Bookstore (new)

Book Passage

Best Bookstore (used)

Rebound Bookstore

Best Business Bank

Bank of Marin

Best Camera/Photography Store

Seawood Photo

Best Car Audio

City Car Radio

Best Chamber of Commerce

San Rafael

Best Clothing Store—Men’s

Gene Hiller: Fine Menswear

Best Clothing Store—Women’s

The Store

Best Consignment Store

Knimble

Best Consumer Bank

Bank of Marin

Best Costume/Festival Apparel Shop

The Belrose

Best Credit Union

Redwood Credit Union

Best Culinary Store

Dvorson’s Restaurant Supply

Best Digital Creative Services

Anna Trueman, Lotus Live Design & Social Media

Best Eco-Conscious Business

Bellam Self Storage & Boxes

Best Ethnic Market

Mi Pueblo

Best Event Production Services Company

Steve Restivo Event Services

Best Fashion Jewelry Store

Marin Jewelers Guild

Best Financial Advisor

Andrei Jigalin, Alpha Wealth Management & Planning

Best Fine Jewelry Store

Sofia Jewelry

Best Florist

Mill Valley Flowers

Best Framing Shop

Ringseis Designs

Best Furniture/Home Furnishings

Sunrise Home

Best Gift Shop

Columbine

Best Grocery Store

Mollie Stone’s Markets

Best Home Audio

World of Sound

Best Hotel/Resort

Cavallo Point

Best Hydroponic Supply Store

Marin Hydroponics

Best Judge

Roy O. Chernus

Best Law Firm

Kelley & Farren, LLP

Best Local Food Product

Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company

Best Locally Made Retail Product

Miyoko’s Kitchen

Best Motorcycle/Scooter Shop

Motopia

Best Musical Instruments Store

The Magic Flute

Best Natural Foods Store

Good Earth Natural Foods

Best New Retail Business (opened in 2017)

Baba Yaga

Best Nonprofit

Whistlestop

Best Optical Store

20/20 Optical

Best Phone Repair

Gadget Pro

Best Pipe Shop

Telford’s Pipe & Cigar

Best Psychic/Medium

Kay Fahlstrom

Best Record/CD Store

Mill Valley Music

Best Recycling Center

Marin Sanitary Service

Best Senior Living Facility

The Redwoods

Best Senior Services

Whistlestop

Best Shoe Store

San Francisco Running Company

Best Tire Shop

Cains Tire

Best Tow Service

Redhill Towing & Auto Repair

Best Town Other Than Your Own

Larkspur

Best Transportation

SMART Train

Best Travel Agency

Dimensions in Travel

Best Vape Shop

The Mighty Quinn

Best Vintage Clothing Store

Baba Yaga

Theater: Zeitgeist

There are many lists of “America’s 10 Best Plays,” but all that I’ve seen agree on one thing: Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is the winner, followed by Tony Kushner’s Angels in America. Having just attended the opening of Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s (BRT) splendid production of the latter, I’m tempted to rank them as a near tie. Both...
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Food & Drink: Spring Forward

Spring is officially here, and restaurant chefs often embrace the new season by showcasing their early favorites—asparagus, spring onions and pea shoots. One of San Anselmo’s celebrated chefs, Heidi Krahling—owner of Insalata’s and Marinitas, and winner of this year’s Best Chef honor in our annual Best of Marin readers’ poll—likes to use the Egyptian spice blend dukkah on roasted spring...
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Food & Drink: Hamburger 101

The hamburger is one of America’s favorite dishes and famous culinary exports. This simple meal illustrates sophisticated gastronomic principles, and thanks to its culinary stature, as well as some other unique attributes, the hamburger is also in a position to teach us something else: How to shrink the carbon footprint of our meals. Beef is increasingly regarded as the...
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Feature: Food For Thought

Going to the farmers’ market is a weekend activity that many Californians have learned to take for granted. In fact, the market is very much a part of the Golden State stereotypical dream, complete with permanently good weather and friendly folks. But what does it take to run one? Andy Naja-Riese, the newly appointed CEO of the Agricultural Institute...
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This Week in the Pacific Sun

This week, it's the Pacific Sun's annual Best of Marin issue, so you can read all about our readers' favorite people and places in Marin County. Check out winners in categories that include Arts & Culture, Beauty, Health & Wellness, Everyday, Family, Fitness & Recreation, Food & Drink, Home Improvement and Romance. On top of that, we've got a...
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Theater: Two Paths

Jonathan Spector’s Eureka Day, onstage at Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre, may not be a play for the ages, but it definitely is a play for the NOW. From the pioneers on, Americans have had to choose between two paths whose advocates claim lead to the common good. One is individualism—the belief that freedom is the ultimate socio-economic value, and the...
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Best of Marin 2018: Romance

Full of scenic spots to dine, dance, stroll hand-in-hand on the beach and more, Marin County, let's face it, is very romantic. Whether you've been married for 50 years, just tied the knot or are planning an adventurous first date, there's a magical setting just waiting to be explored. Peso Pick-up At times, it may seem as though Marin County is...
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Best of Marin 2018: Home Improvement

Marin residents pride themselves on living in an attractive place. So it's only natural that they'd want their homes to reflect that pride. Good thing there are so many businesses here providing services that help keep homes clean, safe, furnished and beautiful. Home Improvement Local Trust It’s refreshing to find a landscape company run by a “local guy.” Eric Rayner, president and...
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Best of Marin 2018: Food & Drink

Along with gorgeous scenery, a cool vibe and plenty of performing arts, Marin has drawn some of the most revered chefs around to make their culinary magic here. From casual cafés, to micro-breweries to innovative gourmet dining with a view, this place is the envy of many a foodie. Aww, Shucks The Marshall Store is the perennial winner in the Best...
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Best of Marin 2018: Everyday

"Everyday" sounds a bit boring. But the winners on the pages that follow are anything but. They represent the services that we use on a regular basis, but should never take for granted—things like getting a tire changed by someone who wants to keep our families safe on the road; or picking up flowers for a friend who could...
Read more
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