Office Absurdity: Workplace ‘Comedy’ at Marin Theatre

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Pinter once said, “Everything is a comedy, until it isn’t.” That certainly holds true for Marin Theatre’s production of Mara Nelson-Greenberg’s Do You Feel Anger? The show runs in Mill Valley through June 29. 

Set in a debt collection call center, this comedy follows empathy coach Sofia (Sam Jackson) as she tries to teach the dysfunctional team. Met with a bizarre and clueless set of workers, Sofia tries everything in her toolkit to bring some sort of order to the chaos. The wackiness at work is mirrored in Sofia’s private life by a shocking admission from her father about specific likes that have dissolved her parents’ marriage.

The comedy is brilliant. The script, with its over-the-top absurdity and wacky characters, is sharp. Becca Wolff’s direction is precise, and the show is almost perfectly paced over its 90 intermission-free minutes.

This is the sort of production one learns about in college classes on cohesiveness. Randy Wong-Westbrooke’s set is an artfully designed blind of realism. Ray Oppenheimer’s lights start storytelling the moment the audience enters the theater. Matt Stine’s sound design is just the right amount of campy to ease situations that otherwise would bog down the momentum. The costumes by Fatima Yahyaa provide some beautiful foreshadowing while appearing realistic at first.

The cast is also first-rate. Jackson’s Sofia is realistically grounded in a world gone crazy. Atosa Babaoff is heartbreaking as Sofia’s mother. linda maria girón’s Eva seems over the top initially. But as the play progresses, one understands how subtle the characterization is. Max Forman-Mullin’s Howie, Phil Wong’s Jordan and Joseph O’Malley’s Jon showcase actors who understand both high comedy and subtle menace.

This brings me to the point where the comedy stops. This is the type of theater that has kept me doing theater for the last 40 years. It’s a hilarious play that I wholeheartedly think is worth seeing. But with that being said, if one is/has been female/femme-presenting, don’t see this play alone, especially at night.

One will need more than keys to feel comfortable on their way to the car after the show ends. This script is hauntingly unsettling, and this production capitalizes on it. As I write these words, I again feel my skin crawl.

This show is worth that unease.

‘Do You Feel Anger?’ runs through June 29 at Marin Theatre, 397 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. Wed-Sat, 7:30pm; Sat-Sun, 2pm. $10-$85. 415.388.5208. Recommended ages 15 and up. marintheatre.org.

The Scent of Calm: Point Reyes Lavender Co.

Out past the fog line and into the folds of Black Mountain Ranch lies a stretch of lavender planted by hand, harvested by hand and—if founder DeAnna Schaefer has anything to say about it—felt deeply. Not just in the nose, but in the nervous system.

“Every place I have lived has shaped me,” says Schaefer, who grew up next to a cornfield in Missouri. “I learned the value of hard work early in watching the farmers. Hard-working people honoring the land to feed many.” From there, her story spans coastlines and communities, including the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where she says she “deepened [her] connection to ocean breezes, serenity in calm moments and sunsets.”

It all clicked in Marin. “Marin feels like where everything came together for me,” she says. She first visited as a college freshman with Kip, now her husband, who grew up in the area. “The land here is wild and peaceful all at the same time. I wanted to build a brand that is natural, mindful and connected to honoring the land and the community.”

That brand became Point Reyes Lavender Co.—a small-batch body and wellness company rooted in organic farming and intentional design. But it also stems from another part of Schaefer’s life: a decades-long career in physical therapy.

“I have treated patients in physical therapy for 25 years and helped them heal by empowering them, guiding them, to see their own strength,” she says. “The lavender business is an extension of the therapeutic process—slow down and honor yourself, your time for self-care.”

It’s not just packaging copy. “We see it every day when people come into the barn joyful, and a sense of calm comes over,” she says. “I truly believe if we all just took a moment to pause, self-reflect and honor our own bodies and minds we would all be a lot healthier.”

The land certainly seems to agree. “Lavender loves Point Reyes!” Schaefer says. “The sea breezes, sunshine, intermittent fog and ability to drain properly all contribute to an ideal spot. Lavender doesn’t like to have its feet wet!” Lavender Co.’s field design follows the natural contour of the land. “It’s a winning combination for happy lavender.”

Ritual is a recurring word in Schaefer’s work—not in a precious, candlelit kind of way, but in the real rhythms of daily life. “To me, ritual is anything you do with care and mindful intention,” she says. “It can be small—like smelling our sachet at your nightstand before bed or rubbing the lavender-scented pain balm on all your sore muscles … or just spraying the lavender linen spray on your kid’s sheets so everyone can slow down and embrace a relaxing moment.”

That “everyone” includes her family. “Family is everything to me,” Schaefer says, recalling her own upbringing waiting tables, babysitting, saving for college with her sister. “We were taught hard work pays off and being kind to others is the only way to have a full joyful life.” These days, that same ethos lives on in her kids, who work alongside her in the barn. “It’s also extra-special to inspire my daughter that girls can be business ladies, too!”

The company’s footprint remains as gentle as its fragrance. “We grow our own lavender plants and use simple natural amendments, no chemicals or sprays,” Schaefer says. “We planted by hand and harvest by hand, too. We do small batches so we know it’s fresh and [has] great quality control.”

And about that lavender scent?

“Lavender is peace and it smells like summer, like home and a sense of calm you can only get from that plant,” she says. “I know I will never get tired of that smell.”

Point Reyes Lavender Co., 13201 Point Reyes – Petaluma Rd., Point Reyes Station. pointreyeslavender.com

Culture Crush, June 24

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Sonoma

Mary Lynn Rajskub Live 

TV’s favorite neurotic sidekick-turned-stand-up star, Mary Lynn Rajskub, brings her singular comic voice to the Sebastiani Theatre for one night only. Known to millions as deadpan tech wizard Chloe O’Brian on 24 and as the hilariously unhinged Gail the Snail on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Rajskub’s recent work includes her stand-up special Road Gig, her memoir FAME-ISH: My Life at the Edge of Stardom and a co-starring role in the upcoming Netflix series North of North. Onstage she mines modern womanhood, motherhood, and Hollywood with the same awkward brilliance that made her a cult favorite across TV and film. Catch her live at 7:30pm, Friday, July 11 at the Sebastiani Theatre, 476 First St. E, Sonoma. Tickets and details at sebastianitheatre.com.

Stinson Beach

Vickisa Unfolds

Accordion books, music festivals, painted bread—Vickisa’s world is anything but flat. Her handmade, fold-out art books burst with painted drawings, collage and visual storytelling drawn from decades of artistic devotion. From the French Quarter to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, her subjects dance across accordion pages that stretch up to seven feet wide. Her latest book, New Orleans is Hot, sizzles with scenes of Mardi Gras Indians, musicians and street life—all captured while her pencil literally melted in the heat. ‘Vickisa Unfolds Her Universe’ is on view for the month of July at the Stinson Beach Library, 3521 Shoreline Hwy. Meet the artist at the reception from 1–4pm, Saturday, July 12. Free admission. More info at marinlibrary.org.

Guerneville

Mighty MORF’n

Where folk meets future, MORF (Music on Regenerative Farms) returns with a climate-positive concert experience tucked into the redwoods in Guerneville. Hosted at Solar Punk Farms, the event blends indie-folk performances from Lucy Clearwater, Foxtails Brigade (solo) and Lonely Parrots with guided farm tours, a regenerative farmers’ market and sustainability minded vendors like Climate Farm School. Think: music festival meets permaculture field trip, with vibes set to “hopeful resistance.” 2–6pm, Saturday, July 12 at Solar Punk Farms, Guerneville. $35 (sliding scale available). More info at morf-initiative.org.

San Rafael

Bug-Tastic Fair

The Marin County Fair returns with a creepy-crawly twist July 2–6, transforming the fairgrounds into an all-ages insect extravaganza. Expect bug-themed exhibits, hands-on art and plenty of six-legged inspiration alongside classic fair fare like free carnival rides, nightly fireworks at 9:30pm, pig races, sheepdog trials and the beloved fine arts competition. This year’s concert lineup features TLC, the Legendary Wailers, Brooke Eden and Elvis Crespo, with themed days celebrating Pride and Latin Heritage. 11am to 11pm daily, Wed-Sun, July 2–6 at Marin County Fairgrounds, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. $25–30. More info at marinfair.org.

Virtuous Cycle, Chef Chris Cosentino

The name Chris Cosentino should be familiar to you. The superstar chef has brought much acclaim to the Bay Area and beyond, being at the forefront of sustainability with his whole animal butchery approach, authoring the James Beard Award nominated cookbook, Offal Good: Cooking from the Heart with Guts, and winning BRAVO’s Top Chef Masters.

Most recently, Cosentino worked with our beloved Nick’s Cove in Marshall to help revamp the menu, and has been working with Athletic Brewing on a new signature beer called Aftershift, with $50,000 of profits benefiting the Southern Smoke Foundation, which provides free mental health services to food and beverage workers across the country.

How did you get into this work?

Growing up as a kid in Rhode Island I was always interested in what was happening in the kitchen…from traditional New England foods or classic Italian dishes, I was always there. I worked at IHOP as my first job washing dishes and got tricked into doing the line cook’s prep because I was interested in what they were doing. Later I would help my friends commercial fish and lobster, while also working at the local restaurants picking up extra work. This led to culinary school, then on to working in Washington DC for Mark Miller at the Red Sage. This was the start of a real culinary education and mentorship that catapulted me to many restaurants, experiences that I built upon over the years. I moved to San Francisco in 1996 and the rest is history. 

Did you ever have an ‘aha’ moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.

One of the things that was very difficult for me is that when I quit drinking I really missed the flavors of a great IPA and also the convivial moment of sharing a drink with friends. Having my first Athletic Brewing NA beer was a game changer…it allowed me to be in a place and not feel like a child, my social aspect of having a beverage with friends changed that day.

What is your favorite thing to drink at home?

I really keep it simple. I drink Athletic Brewing NA beers, and Lyres NA Spirits, either with dinner or hanging out in the backyard cooking with friends.

Where do you like to go out for a drink?

I stopped going out for drinks over six years ago when I quit drinking. It’s a bummer because most of the places at that time didn’t have options other than sugary drinks or sodas. It made me feel uncomfortable and like a kid at the kid’s table.

If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you want to be drinking (besides fresh water)?

I would bring a bunch of Athletic Brewing NA beers with great flavor and carbohydrates to help me survive the desert island with deliciousness.

More at chefchriscosentino.com.

Your Letters, June 24

Prescription Filled

I can’t believe what I just read on your Letters Page: The unsolicited health advice that we should let our children get measles because … it builds resistance? (June 18, 2025) Tell that to the parents who believed RFK Jr.’s wormy advice to avoid vaccinations, only to hospitalize them or, in at least two cases, bury them. Does the “doctor” have a “common sense” folk remedy for flu, Covid and AIDS? Back in the good ol’ days, Americans also smoked heavily, every day, and most of them paid for it with serious consequences above and below ground. Does she also suggest drinking bleach to cure Covid, as the “stable genius” infamously suggested? Does she want to bring back asbestos, as he recently announced? Mis/disinformation like this is more than just “old-timey craziness,” as you rightly said, it’s downright dangerous, so my Rx for the health and safety of mankind is to please keep your f–king unwanted Looney Tunes advice to yourself!

Bob Canning
Petaluma

Truth in Editorializing

I appreciate the editorial comment about the “Measly Measles” letter to the editor (June 18, 2025, re: “old-timey craziness”). Whenever there is disinformation being printed or spoken, others need to state the truth/facts. Otherwise it can spread, and others will be convinced, leading to dire consequences. Please keep up the good work.

Alan Murakami
Sebastopol

Burger Burn

It appears to me you omitted the stockyard and slaughterhouse chapters in your “History of the Hamburger” article (June 18).

D. A. Bishop
Sebastopol

Free Will Astrology: 6/25-7/1

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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Greek philosopher Socrates declared, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” That extreme statement is a foundational idea of Western philosophy. It’s hard to do! To be ceaselessly devoted to questioning yourself is a demanding assignment. But here’s the good news: I think you will find it extra liberating in the coming weeks. Blessings and luck will flow your way as you challenge your dogmas and expand your worldview. Your humble curiosity will attract just the influences you need.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Recently, I brought an amazing Taurus to your attention: The German polymath Athanasius Kircher, who lived from 1601 to 1680. Once again, I will draw on his life to provide guidance for you. Though he’s relatively unknown today, he was the Leonardo da Vinci of his age—a person with a vast range of interests. His many admirers called him “Master of a Hundred Arts.” He traveled extensively and wrote 40 books that covered a wide array of subjects. For years he curated a “cabinet of curiosities” or “wonder-room” filled with interesting and mysterious objects. In the coming weeks, I invite you to be inspired by his way of being, Taurus. Be richly miscellaneous and wildly versatile.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): How does a person become a creative genius in their field? What must they do to become the best? In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell said that one way to accomplish these goals is to devote 10,000 hours to practicing and mastering your skill set. There’s some value in that theory, though the full truth is more nuanced. Determined, focused effort that’s guided by mentors and bolstered by good feedback is more crucial than simply logging hours. Having access to essential resources is another necessity. I bring these thoughts to your attention, Gemini, because I believe the coming months will be a favorable time to summon a high level of disciplined devotion as you expedite your journey toward mastery.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): There’s a story from West African tradition in which a potter listens to the raw material she has gathered from the earth. She waits for it to tell her what it wants to become. In this view, the potter is not a dictator but a midwife. I believe this is an excellent metaphor for you, Cancerian. Let’s imagine that you are both the potter and the clay. A new form is ready to emerge, but it won’t respond to force. You must attune to what wants to be born through you. Are you trying to shape your destiny too insistently, when it’s already confiding in you about its preferred shape? Surrender to the conversation.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Here’s my odd but ultimately rewarding invitation: Tune in to the nagging aches and itches that chafe at the bottom of your heart and in the back of your mind. For now, don’t try to scratch them or rub them. Simply observe them and feel them, with curiosity and reverence. Allow them to air their grievances and tell you their truths. Immerse yourself in the feelings they arouse. It may take 10 minutes, or it might take longer, but if you maintain this vigil, your aches and itches will ultimately provide you with smart guidance. They will teach you what questions you need to ask and how to go in quest for the healing answers.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Wise gardeners may plan their planting by the moon’s phases. Through study of the natural world, they understand that seeds sown at the ripe moment will flourish, while those planted at random times may be less hardy. In this spirit, I offer you the following counsel for the coming weeks: Your attention to timing will be a great asset. Before tinkering with projects or making commitments, assess the cycles at play in everything: the level of your life energy, the moods of others and the tenor of the wider world. By aligning your moves with subtle rhythms you will optimize your ability to get exactly what you want.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In parts of Italy, grapevines were once trained not on wires or trellises but on living trees, usually maples or poplars. The vines spiraled upward, drawing strength and structure from their tall allies. The practice kept grapes off the ground, improved air circulation, and allowed for mixed land use, such as growing cereals between the rows of trees and vines. In the coming weeks, Libra, I advise you to be inspired by this phenomenon. Climb while in relationship. Who or what is your living trellis? Rather than pushing forward on your own, align with influences that offer height, grounding and steady companionship. When you spiral upward together, your fruits will be sweeter and more robust.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Migratory monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles, guided by instincts and cues invisible to humans. They trust they will find what they need along the way. Like them, you may soon feel called to venture beyond your comfort zone—intellectually, socially or geographically. I advise you to rely on your curiosity and adaptability. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the journey will lead you to resources and help you hadn’t anticipated. The path may be crooked. The detours could be enigmatic. But if you are committed to enjoying the expansive exploration, you’ll get what you didn’t even know you needed.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your assignment is to uncover hidden treasures. Use the metaphorical version of your peripheral vision to become aware of valuable stuff you are missing and resources you are neglecting. Here’s another way to imagine your task: There may be situations, relationships or opportunities that have not yet revealed their full power and glory. Now is a perfect moment to discern their pregnant potential. So dig deeper, Sagittarius—through reflection, research or conversation. Trust that your open-hearted, open-minded probing will guide you to unexpected gems.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong said, “If you have to ask what jazz is, you’ll never know.” What did he mean by that? That we shouldn’t try to use words to describe and understand this complex music? Countless jazz critics, scholars and musicians might disagree with that statement. They have written millions of words analyzing the nature of jazz. In that spirit, I am urging you to devote extra energy in the coming weeks to articulating clear ideas about your best mysteries. Relish the prospect of defining what is hard to define. You can still enjoy the raw experience even as you try to get closer to explaining it.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the Andean highlands there’s a concept called ayni, a venerated principle of reciprocity. “Today for you, tomorrow for me,” it says. This isn’t a transactional deal. It’s a relational expansiveness. People help and support others not because they expect an immediate return. Rather, they trust that life will ultimately find ways to repay them. I suggest you explore this approach in the coming weeks, Aquarius. Experiment with giving freely, without expectation. Conversely, have blithe faith that you will receive what you need. Now is a prime time to enhance and fine-tune your web of mutual nourishment.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): How often do I, your calm, sensible counselor, provide you with a carte blanche to indulge in exuberant gratification, a free pass for exciting adventures, and a divine authorization to indulge in luxurious abundance and lavish pleasure? Not often, dear Pisces. So I advise you not to spend another minute wondering what to do next. As soon as possible, start claiming full possession of your extra blessings from the gods of joy and celebration and revelry. Here’s your meditation question: What are the best ways to express your lust for life?

Homework: What aptitude of yours do you underestimate? Use it more aggressively! Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Insider Art: Nicole Frazer of Artist Within Gallery and Studio

In 1919, The Cedars of Marin was established as a supported, community-centered residence for adults with “developmental disabilities.” It marked a progression in the West, at a time when the only option for families was “commitment” to grim, state-run “asylums.” In the hundred years since that founding, The Cedars has grown and expanded within the slowly marching-forward disability rights movement.

The Cedars now includes eight residences in Marin and programs where participants can develop practical life skills—such as budgeting—go on fun outings, volunteer in the community, work for pay, craft and make fine art.

Cedars established Artist Within, an undivided art studio and art gallery, in San Anselmo in 1989. Receiving the output of its art works and textile program, Artist Within serves as a front yard and stoop for Cedars. It is the place where Cedars meets the public. I took a tour of the art with Nicole Frazer, the gallery manager, meeting one of the artists as he drew a full-length portrait of Frank Zappa. Another worked a handloom.

What I can say of the art is this: Despite ghettoizing labels such as “art brut,” “outsider art” and “naive art,” this art often contains complex technique and challenging themes. These are not “artists with disabilities,” but simply “artists”—humans seeking self expression and enlightenment through the modes of art. Pull a catalog from NIAD Art Center: Genius is as common among these people as without. And the Canon of Art cannot long exclude them. As we chatted, a Bob Marley album played along.

Nicole, I have focused on your fine art. What other inventory do your artists have for sale here?

In addition to framed and unframed art we have cards, artist-made jewelry, pillows, tea towels, placemats, scarves, beanies …

We are sitting amid your current, abstract art show, which will have dropped by the time of publication as you install your June 27 fiber arts show. Let me pick a piece at random—that beautiful, densely-layered mixed-media canvas. What can you tell me about the artist?

That is from the “Lotus Series,” by Zina Walker. Zina is almost nonverbal. Art is her expression. For her tiny size—and staff help her to walk—she is super physical and tactile in her art-making.

There are 40 artists in this outgoing show. And I understand your facilitation is very limited; you just expose the artists to new media, which they take or leave.

Yes. Zina wasn’t very interested in painting until she discovered inking with sticks. That launched her. She also loves wrapping mannequins in beaded jewelry … I could go off on tangents about any of the artists [laughs].

I understand you helped place one of your artists in the de Young Museum’s triennial survey of Bay Area painters.

Yes! Jeff Haines. His piece Comical World was selected for the de Young open. There were 8,000 submissions to be in that show.

That’s where your artists deserve to be.

We hope to be collected into their permanent collection. It’s not unprecedented. Last year SF Moma added an entire show, “Into the Brightness” from Creativity Explored [a program analogous to Artist Within], to their collection. It was in the New York Times: “outsider art, being collected, being elevated!”

Learn More: ‘Tying it Together: The Art of Fiber’ opens at Artist Within at 6pm, June 27 and runs through Aug. 15. The show opening coincides with San Anselmo’s LiveOn The Avenue three-stage concert and street fair. Details at cedarslife.org/artist-within.

Open Mic: Reflecting on ‘No Kings,’ a Protest from the Soul

Shouts and cheers, honking horns, people banging on drums. Oshkosh. No kings—at least not today. I’m with my sister and great nephew, attending the nearest national rally, about 20 miles south of their home in Appleton, Wisconsin. I’m up here with them because I’m getting cataract surgery (left eye, tomorrow). But what the heck, Saturday is open. Let’s go to the No Kings rally. One of multi-thousands of rallies across the country.

The collective vibration is enormous. Honk. Honk. Save the country. But as we walk among them, as the cheers and claps reverberate, I can’t stop feeling small and cynical—by myself, a spectator among the participants. Does creating change amount to nothing more than joining the cheers?

We can’t shrug and surrender the country to the idiots and racists, the billionaire warmongers. I want to feel myself expand spiritually, become part of … what? The anti-Trump, we’re-better-than-you-guys movement?

The drums beat. We keep wandering through the park, looking at the signs. Lots of them are basically middle fingers to the president: “No crown for the clown.” “Elect a rapist. Expect to get f**ked.”

And then I see this one: “Power to the people. No one is illegal.”

And suddenly everything changes. I’m no longer a spectator. The words are simple—they’re cliches, right? In this context, amidst the cries and cheers, the honks and drumbeats of endless enthusiasm, the words come to life. And I start to cry.

On that day, I found myself envisioning a future in which they were true. I wasn’t angry and alone with them but part of a wave of awareness. The honking car horns, the beating drums, the shouts and cries were a thousand-plus people—nationwide, worldwide, multi-millions of people—embracing the dispossessed and rejected among us and creating a world, this very moment, in which no one is illegal. No one is collateral damage. No one is less than human.

This is one planet. We’re still learning to live with each other on it.

Robert Koehler is the author of ‘Courage Grows Strong at the Wound.’

‘Marin Lately.’ Who’s Behind the County’s New Satirical Website?

About three months ago, while researching some random topic on Google, “Marin Lately” popped up in the search results. I clicked. I read. I laughed.

Marin Lately, a satirical online publication, has nailed the essence of this quirky county with its overabundance of wealthy residents. Think The Onion, Marin style.

Don’t take my word for it. Have a gander at some recent headlines:

Ross to Tentatively Welcome First Resident Not Traced Directly to Mayflower

Marin’s Last Blue-Collar Resident Caught, Tagged

Amazing: Marin’s Entire 18-35 Demographic Fits in Small Van They Are Using to Move

Quite amused, I perused the Marin Lately site, looking for the person behind the insightful, hyper-local observations. Zilch. The “About Us” tab taunted me.

“We are controlled by shadowy interests and thus unable to disclose any additional information,” it said.

I signed up for the newsletter. After receiving the first one via email, I crafted a reply chock-full of praise for the writer and asked for an interview. Radio silence. Ditto the next week.

Well, two could play this game. Determined to find the shadowy interests, I went down the interweb rabbit hole, only to discover subterfuge at every turn.

The registered owner of the website? Name redacted for privacy. The address of the private party? In Reykjavik. That’s the capital of Iceland, for all those wondering. (Oh, wait, this is moneyed Marin—most of our residents have surely relaxed in the European country’s geothermal pools.)

My hunt for the elusive entity brought me to Facebook, where I enlisted my 1,000 followers as fellow sleuths. The best clue came from pal Andrey Kamentsky, who discovered that renowned photographer and local resident Ian Bates had posted a trio of photos on social media under the headline, “Marin, lately.”

I badgered Bates with messages but never heard back. Dead end after end. Frustrated, I sought advice from my editor, Daedalus Howell, also a fan. Perhaps it’s written by AI, he posited. And he encouraged me to stop looking.

“They’ll come to us when it’s time,” Howell said.

Hmm. Sounded ominous and omniscient. That’s when I credited—actually more like accused—my eloquent and witty boss of being Marin Lately. He denied it. After a couple more failed attempts at identifying someone clever enough to deliver the weekly wisecracking headlines and articles, I gave it a rest.

During the ensuing two months, I religiously read Marin Lately. My curiosity remained piqued. Occasionally, I considered tracking down Mill Valley’s Dana Carvey or Fairfax’s Anne Lamott to ask whether they’re ribbing Marin.

And then it happened, exactly as my editor predicted—Marin Lately came to me. They appeared on my Facebook post, the one that asked people for tips on who was behind the website.

“Just checking in to see if anyone has gotten to the bottom of this,” Marin Lately commented.

Game on. I asked whether they had received my emails. Nope. They posted an address, and I forwarded my previous messages. Fortunately, they didn’t keep me waiting for a response.  

“Thank you for saying such lovely things about Marin Lately. It’s been great for morale around the office, and a boon to staff across the entire organization. We really want to stress the fact that Marin Lately is a vast and faceless corporation, and that our work cannot be attributed to one person. Best, Marin Lately LLC.”

Dispatches flew back and forth as I struggled to keep up with their repartee. Silly me for thinking that a lone erudite person put out such a droll publication—a feat that even AI couldn’t manage, I wrote. They assured me that AI did not and never will augment Marin Lately’s content.

“That’s very important to note. ‘They’ copy us,” Marin Lately said.

Then, just like that, they granted me an exclusive interview with the corporation’s head writer. Darn tootin’. I worked hard for this scoop.

Prior to the phone interview, the powers that be required written questions. I threw out a dozen and received a tome of answers in return.

A private equity company based in Dubai owns the publication, they claimed. None of the staff has written for The Onion. Although my prime suspect, photographer Ian Bates, doesn’t work at Marin Lately, he became an early follower.

Clearly, they toyed with me at times. When I asked who came up with the idea for Marin Lately, they feignedly floundered.

“I guess that would be me—I mean, us—the huge team behind Marin Lately. We all thought of it at exactly the same time” came the reply.

They all observed, at exactly the same time, that conversations and online chatter in the county were limited to pleasantries and complaints.

“It’s either ‘We love living here, any problems we have are manageable and everything is generally going really great!’ or ‘WHAT are we going to DO about all these TEENAGERS on E-BIKES!?’” they said.

Aiming to address the middle ground, they launched Marin Lately, where they described themselves as “neither thankful nor up-in-arms.”

Today, I finally got on the horn with the Head Writer. Little by little, more of this Marin Lately mystery unraveled. Not only does HW possess writing chops; he has solid experience as a humorist for major publications, including The New Yorker, and got his start in local media. Sure, I totally buy that a huge conglomerate backs the website, but I reckon a nationally funny guy with an eye for small county foibles gave birth to Marin Lately.

While headlines like Bizarre Dietary Guidelines Issued by RFK Jr. Not Weird Enough for Fairfax Woman make it seem that nothing is too sacred for HW and his team, he said they do have boundaries.

Marin Lately is meant to be a back-handed compliment, or a razzing love letter,” HW opined. “Walking that fine line is tricky, of course, but that’s what this art form is all about—staying on the tightrope, where there’s tension.”

Sadly, not everyone in Marin understands. Marin Lately news posted on Reddit and Nextdoor gets flagged and removed, according to HW. Some people fret that they include real names in the farcical articles. Untrue, HW said. Others provide heartfelt “testimonials,” as noted in a recent Marin Lately article:

“It’s not very funny though. I am usually good at getting jokes, but this was over my head.” –PookieCat415, Reddit

“Humble yet declarative, Pookiecat415 grapples valiantly with the material.”
Marin Lately

 A tightrope indeed.

Still, Marin Lately has made a big splash in a little county pond. The website has tens of thousands of “active users,” aka devotees. And for data nerds familiar with email marketing, get a load of this stat—80% of people open Marin Lately’s newsletter the day it arrives in their inbox.

Despite their success, HW and the massive team at Marin Lately don’t dwell on the numbers. The focus remains on finding the funny in the wonderful and ridiculous places throughout bucolic Marin County.

“We used to have more pranksters and a more mischievous culture, and I don’t see why we shouldn’t still have that,” HW said. “Marin Lately is really meant to be a gift, which is why, you know, it doesn’t cost anything.” 

History of the Hamburger: A Burger Week Backstory

This is Bay Area Burger Week (June 18-29), providing a time to reflect, respect and perfect our experience of the once humble hamburger. 

The concept of a protein patty betwixt sides of a sliced bun has evolved from a fast food to a complex symbol of the country from whence it came—that is, if we can agree on which that is. From Roman emperors to Ray Kroc (memorably played by Michael Keaton in the film The Founder), this is a story of the wholesale repackaging of a global culinary journey into an “American icon,” served with fries and a Coke.

Let’s rewind.

The hamburger didn’t start in America. Sorry, freedom fries. Its ancestry includes ancient Roman “isicia omentata” (minced pork with wine and fish sauce, wrapped in caul fat) and a few medieval meat rissoles—basically the artisanal sliders of the 10th century. 

By the 1600s, Germans were pan-frying “frikadelle,” and the Brits were busy stuffing minced meat into toast and calling it “Hamburgh sausage.” Meanwhile, the Georgians were quietly inventing ketchup, which would eventually become the one true faith of condiment theology.

Fast forward to the 19th century, when German immigrants hauled their Hamburg-style beef across the Atlantic and into the ports of New York. American menus obliged with “Hamburg steaks”—sometimes raw, sometimes fried and often prescribed by doctors, who were just beginning their long tradition of giving terrible diet advice. One Dr. James H. Salisbury suggested we cook these patties for better digestion. Thus: Salisbury steak. A dish that continues to live on in TV dinners.

The hamburger’s big break came when someone—no one can agree who—had the radical idea to stick the patty between two pieces of bread. Was it restaurateur Charles “Hamburger Charlie” Nagreen in Wisconsin? The Menches brothers in New York? Fletcher Davis in Texas? Louis Lassen in Connecticut? Pick an origin myth. They’re all trying to solve the same mystery: how something so simple could become so culturally omnivorous.

Technology helped. The invention of the meat grinder meant more people could afford to eat chopped meat without having to wield a cleaver. Railroads and refrigerator cars turned cattle into cargo. And Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle freaked everyone out just enough to demand cleaner meat, but not enough to stop eating it.

Enter White Castle. Founded in 1921 by a fry cook and a real estate agent (how American is that?), White Castle decided the way to sell the public on ground beef again was through aggressive hygiene and onion-smothered sliders. They invented the sack lunch. They perforated their patties for optimal steam. They looked like porcelain sanitariums for tiny square burgers. It worked.

Then McDonald’s showed up, took one look at the system and franchised the hell out of it. Cue the golden arches, the Big Mac, the Quarter-Pounder and the global burger monoculture. Meanwhile, the hamburger became a culinary canvas: ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce, tomato, bacon, cheese, truffle aioli, gold leaf, foie gras—whatever fits between the buns.

And that’s where we are now: a world in which one can eat a burger made of wagyu beef in Tokyo or kangaroo in Queensland. A tasty paradox: something that began as working-class fare now serves as both punchline and platform for haute cuisine.

So this week, as one samples their way through the North Bay’s burger creations, whether it’s a gut-bomb from a roadhouse or a meticulously curated brioche-bunned art piece, remember: the hamburger contains multitudes—Ancient Rome, industrial America, roadside diners and global empire—sometimes topped with cheese.


Where the Burgers Are

Participating establishments

Visit bayareaburgerweek.com or download the app for Apple and Android devices for special offers from these purveyors.

Marin County

Amy’s Drive Thru
5839 Paradise Dr., Corte Madera | 415.737.6055 | amysdrivethru.com

Due West Tavern
10005 CA-1, Olema | 415.663.1264 | olemahouse.com

Red Rooster Brick Oven
901 B St., San Rafael. 415.234.8414 | redroosterbrickoven.com

Super Duper Burgers
Locations:

430 Miller Ave., Mill Valley. 707.415.9219

5800 Nave Dr., Novato. 707.415.9219

superduperburgers.com

Napa County

North Block Restaurant
6757 Washington St., Yountville. 707.299.5030 northblockyountville.com

Super Duper Burgers
3900 Bel Aire Plaza D, Napa. 707.415.9219 superduperburgers.com

Sonoma County

Acme Burger
Locations: 

550 East Cotati Ave., Cotati. 707.665.5620

701 Sonoma Mountain Pkwy., Suite D1, Petaluma. 707.665.5012 

330 Western Ave., Petaluma. 707.559.3820

1007 W. College Ave., Suite D, Santa Rosa. 707.615.7309

acmeburgerco.com

Amy’s Drive Thru
58 Golf Course Dr. W., Rohnert Park. 707.755.3629 amysdrivethru.com

Ausiello’s 5th Street Grill
609 5th St., Santa Rosa. 707.579.9408 ausiellos5thstreetgrill.com

Ausiello’s Homeslice
5755 Mountain Hawk Dr., Santa Rosa. 707.595.3923 ausielloshomeslice.com

Beer Baron Whiskey Bar & Kitchen
614 4th St., Santa Rosa. 707.757.9294 | beerbaronsr.com

The Bird
4776 Sonoma Hwy., Santa Rosa. 707.542.0861 thebirdrestaurant.com

Carmen’s Burger Bar
Locations:

619 4th St., Santa Rosa. 707.526.1575

90 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. 707.526.1575

carmensburgerbarsr.com

Downtown Barbecue
610 3rd St., Santa Rosa. 707.843.4830 | downtownbarbecue.co

El Dorado Kitchen Cantina
405 1st St. W., Sonoma. 707.996.3030 | eldoradosonoma.com

Iron & Vine Restaurant, Bar & Events
3330 Yulupa Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.852.1162 bennettvalleygolf.com

Machado Burgers
406 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa. 707.546.6835 machadoburgers.com

Machado Burgers
9238 Old Redwood Hwy., Ste. 126, Windsor. 707.546.6835 machadoburgers.com

The Madrona
1001 Westside Rd., Healdsburg. 707.396.6700 themadronahotel.com

Palooza Brewery & Gastropub
8910 Sonoma Hwy., Kenwood. 707.833.4000 | paloozafresh.com

Pub Republic
3120 Lakeville Hwy., Ste. A, Petaluma. 707.782.9090 pubrepublic.com

Sazón Peruvian Cuisine
1129 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa. 707.523.4346 | sazonsr.com

Superburger
Locations:

1501 4th St., Santa Rosa. 707.546.4016

8204 Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati. 707.665.9790

originalsuperburger.co

Sweet T’s Restaurant + Bar
9098 Brooks Rd. S., Windsor. 707.687.5185 sweettssouthern.com

Valley Swim Club
18709 Arnold Dr., Sonoma. 707.243.3032 | valleyswim.club

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This is Bay Area Burger Week (June 18-29), providing a time to reflect, respect and perfect our experience of the once humble hamburger.  The concept of a protein patty betwixt sides of a sliced bun has evolved from a fast food to a complex symbol of the country from whence it came—that is, if we can agree on which that...
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