For the Birds, Lyzy Lusterman of Buteo Books

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Lyzy Lusterman recently opened Buteo Books, where one will find one of the largest selections of new, used and rare birding books in the world.

What do you do?  

I’m a publisher and bookseller, and now the owner of this brick-and-mortar store.

Where do you live?  

San Anselmo.

How long have you lived in Marin?   

I think it adds up to over 20 years. I was born and grew up here, left for college back east and then lived in the East Bay—lucky to have moved back to my hometown about two years ago.

Where can we find you when you’re not at work? 

Birding. I love to walk, and there are so many amazing places to observe nature all over Marin. Sometimes I don’t even leave my backyard—it’s brimming with finches, titmice, towhees, scrub jays, band-tailed pigeons, juncos and more.

If you had to convince someone how awesome Marin is, where would you take them? 

On a tour of the county’s indie bookstores. I first discovered some of my now-favorite books at Point Reyes Books and have seen some of my favorite authors speak at Book Passage.  

What’s one thing Marin is missing? 

Rent control (though a lot of good people are working hard to change that).

What’s one bit of advice you’d share with your fellow Marinites? 

Look up. Once you start noticing birds, it’s impossible to stop. 

If you could ask anyone to join you at dinner, whom would you invite? Instead of dinner, I’d ask Owl to make a pot of tear-water tea with me. Like the titular character from Arnold Lobel’s Owl at Home, I’m a quiet, sensitive creature and think we’d have a great time crying over pencils that are too short to use.

What’s some advice you wish you knew 20 years ago? Take your time. Things will probably work out.

What’s something that 20 years from now will seem cringeworthy? 

AI. The amount of capital and energy supporting robots making art when the world is full of creative people with great ideas who deserve our support is pretty cringe.

Big question. What’s one thing you’d do to change the world? 

I hope that all of our many small things add up. This week, I’m putting water out for birds, squirrels, deer who might be struggling in the heat.

Keep up with Lusterman at @buteobooks on Instagram and TikTok and at  ButeoBooks.com. The shop is located at 2240 4th St., Suite A in San Rafael.

Nish Nadaraja can be found on Instagram at @IveGotNissues or on the mean streets of San Anselmo.

‘Blithe Spirit,’ Noël Coward Classic at Ross Valley Players

One stormy night, you and your second wife decide to dabble in the occult, and now you and you alone can see and hear your dead first wife. It’s no horror movie. It’s the plot of the beloved Noël Coward English drawing room comedy Blithe Spirit, now running at the Barn at the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross through Dec. 15.

I have always loved this script, but this is really a niche show adored by theater nerds, Anglophiles and lovers of pre-screen nostalgia. It may be a bit out of touch for the modern attention span. 

To begin with, director David Abrams has chosen not to cut a single thing, so the show runs as it initially debuted in 1941 at its full three-hour length with two intermissions. Secondly, what was a light-hearted farce then is a wordy play now, prone to bogging down in the Britishness of it all.  Some line issues and slow pacing at the start did not help with the wordiness and length.

However, pacing and length aside, this production has some beautiful elements. First is the set by Tom O’Brien. Not only did O’Brien put a full drawing room on the stage; he did so beautifully. The deep yet harmonious color palette makes the walls themselves a character in the play.

Second are the “tricks.” If you know the play, you know they’re quite a production challenge. If you don’t know the play, I won’t spoil it. But know that none of the tricks are easy despite how smoothly Adams, his production team and the running crew make it seem. A special commendation to whomever rigs, executes and resets the final moment every night.

There are also some solid performances, such as Malcolm Rodgers’ Charles Condomine. Standout performances include Tori Truss’ Madame Arcati, a hilarious yet believably grounded character with a memorable entrance and exit every time. Similarly, Ashley Garlick plays Elvira with the perfect mix of sensuality, intelligence and strength of character. Linking these two is their mastery of the physical comedy required for both roles.  

Finally, and perhaps most impressively, is the costume/makeup design by Valera Coble. There are literally no words to express the artistry that went into the Elvira design. If nothing else, see the show for that alone. 

Just don’t go on a night when you have to get up early the next day.

‘Blithe Spirit ’ runs through Dec. 15 at the Barn Theatre in the Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Ross. Thurs.-Sat., 7:30pm; Sun., 2pm. $20–$35. 415.456.9555. rossvalleyplayers.com.

Free Will Astrology: Week of Nov. 20

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Award-winning Aries filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was born and raised in the United States. But he has said, “I don’t make movies for America. I make movies for planet Earth.” I applaud his expansive perspective and recommend you cultivate your own version of it in the coming weeks. You will generate good fortune for yourself as you enlarge your audience, your range of influences and your sphere of activity. It will be an excellent time to transcend previous notions of who you are and what your life’s assignments are. The frontiers are calling you to open your mind wider than ever as you leap to the next higher octave of your destiny.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Earth knows no desolation. She smells regeneration in the moist breath of decay.” Author George Meredith said that, and now I’m conveying it to you. Why? Because you’re entering a phase when you will have maximum power to ensure that decay leads to regeneration. My advice: Instead of trying to repress your awareness of what’s decomposing, tune into it energetically. The sooner you embrace the challenging but interesting work to be done, the faster and more effective the redemption will be. Here’s your battle cry: Turn rot into splendor!

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Mercury will be your slippery but sticky companion in the coming weeks, Gemini. Whether or not you believe he is a literal god who abides in the spiritual realm, I trust you will acknowledge that he is a vivid archetype. He symbolizes forces that facilitate communication and promote connection. Since he is constantly traveling and conversing, he also represents boundary-crossing and thresholds. I encourage you to summon his assistance whenever you want to lubricate links and foster combinations. He can help you unify disparate influences and strengthen your network of allies.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Utility poles and telephones poles may seem to be indestructible towers, but they have a limited life span. A prime factor in their gradual demise is woodpeckers. The birds drill holes that over time weaken the wood. Their handiwork allows moisture to seep in, causing rot, and creates access points for small animals to burrow in and cause further disintegration. I bring this to your attention because I want to encourage you to launch a woodpecker-like campaign against any seemingly impregnable structures that oppress and restrict you. It might take a while to undermine their power to interfere with your life, but now is an excellent time to begin.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): As an American, I’m jealous of how many festivals the Japanese people celebrate. By some estimates, there are over 100,000 events every year—an average of 274 per day! They may feature music, theater, dancing, entertainment, karaoke, sumo matches, games, delicious food, colorful costumes, spiritual observances, and parades of floats and shrines. If you are a Japanese Leo, you’re in luck. The astrological indicators suggest that in the coming months, you should take extra advantage of your culture’s revels, parties and social merriment. If you’re not in Japan, do your best to fulfill your cosmic mandate to frolic and carouse. Start as soon as possible!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Flintstones was an animated TV comedy show broadcast in the U.S. from 1960 to 1966. It was colossally silly and wildly popular. It portrayed cavemen and cavewomen living suburban lives in the Stone Age with dinosaurs as pets and cars made of wood and rocks. The chirpy theme song for the show was stolen from a piano sonata written by the classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I invite you to steadily carry out the opposite of that conversion. Transform what’s daft or preposterous into what’s elegant and meaningful. Change superficial approaches into righteous devotions. Move away from trifling diversions and toward passionate magnificence.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Even if you’re not a professional writer, I invite you to compose three lyrical messages in the coming days. One will be a psalm of appreciation for a person who enchants your imagination and inspires you to be your best self. Another will be a hymn of praise that you address to yourself—a gorgeous, expansive boast or an outpouring of gratitude for the marvel and mystery of you. The third salutation will be an address to a higher power, whether that’s God, Goddess, Nature, your Guardian Angel, Higher Self or Life itself. If you can find it in your brave, wild heart to sing or chant these exaltations, you will place yourself in close alignment with cosmic rhythms. (PS: In general, now is a fantastic time to identify what you love and express your feelings for what you love.)

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Greek term pharmakon has a complicated set of meanings: scapegoat, poison, remedy and recipe. According to my astrological analysis, all of these could soon be operative in your life. One surprise is that a metaphoric “poison” you are exposed to may ultimately serve as a remedy. Another curiosity is that a scapegoat may reveal a potent recipe for redemptive transformation. A further possibility: You will discover a new recipe for a very fine remedy. I’m not certain exactly how the whole story will unfold, but I’m betting the net effect will be a lot of healing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The Museum of Broken Relationships is in Zagreb, Croatia. It collects castaway objects left behind after intimate relationships have collapsed. Among its treasures are love letters, wedding rings, jars of bitter tears, stuffed animals, feather-filled quilts and matching sweaters. Inspired by this sad spectacle, I invite you to create a very different shrine in your home: One that’s dedicated to wonderful memories from times of successful togetherness. Making this ritual gesture of hope and positivity will prepare you well for the potential relationship growth available for you in the coming months.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s the Soul Retrieval phase of your long-term cycle, Capricorn. Have there been people, either alive or dead, who wounded or pirated parts of your treasured essence? Have you experienced painful events that weakened your connection to your inner riches? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to undertake meditations in which you carry out repair and restoration. You will summon curative agents whenever you reclaim lost and missing fragments of your soul. Be aggressive in seeking helpers who can synergize your own efforts.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The Wistaria Vine in Sierra Madre, California, is the world’s biggest blooming plant. Spread over an acre, it weighs 250 tons and teems with over 1.5 million blossoms. I propose we regard it as your inspirational symbol for the coming months. Why? I expect you will be more abundantly creative and generative than maybe ever before. Your vitality will overflow. Your vigor will be delightfully lavish and profound. Homework: Start planning how you will wield and manage all that lushness.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean playwright and songwriter Robert Lopez is the only person to have won all four of the following awards more than once: Oscars, Tonys, Emmys and Grammys. He was also the youngest person to have won all four. I propose we make him your inspirational role model in the coming weeks and months. According to my astrological analysis, you are primed to ascend to new levels of accomplishment in your chosen field—and to be acknowledged for your success. Think big! Then think even bigger.

Homework: I invite you and dare you to revise your definitions of success. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

Sur-real life: Annie Baker play gets West Coast premiere

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The Actors’ Reading Collective (ARC), born out of the pandemic, moves from Zoom readings to its first fully-staged theatrical production with Annie Baker’s The Antipodes. It’s a surreal look at the nature of storytellers that questions why story is important. Perhaps not an obvious choice for this particular company, it runs at the Marin Shakespeare Company’s Fourth Street Theater in San Rafael through December 1.  

Eight people are seated at a conference table, brainstorming for… something. It’s never clear what they are pitching ideas for. It could be a film, a book, a TV show, or perhaps they are brainstorming reality itself. All that really matters is that they tell a story about something monstrous. They must draw inspiration from their personal stories, never use cell phones at the table and, no matter what, not include any elves or trolls.

Baker’s writing is not for everyone. More concerned with the heady, cerebral concepts being bandied around, her characters can lack specificity. Depending on the director and cast, bringing those characters to life can be a blessing or a curse. Director Alyson Schacherer meets the challenge with good casting, a unique eye for blocking, and a keen sense of pacing.  

Schacherer makes full use of the new theater’s setup. People can lie on the floor or the table if they want, and due to the theater’s steep angle, they are always visible. The best example of the strength of this blocking comes late in the play when Adam (Samuel Ademola) gives a beautiful monologue while lying on his back on the floor.

Also of note is Harry Davis as young note-taker Brian who, in a fantastic (wordless) scene, demonstrates the power of story to transcend language. Isabel Langen’s Sarah tells a story that, though fabulistic in its very nature, is delivered with such matter-of-fact forthrightness that it comes off as something mundane. 

The simple set (Kate Boyd) helps anchor the audience in the liminal world of conference rooms without being boring. The sound design (James Ard) Is similarly subtle and brilliant in its minimalism. 

Costuming (Cassandra Carpenter) puts the audience at ease with its normalcy, except for Sarah’s. Her costumes grow more interesting as the play proceeds. They become more assertively colored, making us wonder what Sarah’s real role is in this creative confederacy.

The Antipodes is an excellent piece to inject some surrealism into your life. However, it runs for two hours with no intermission. Be prepared to challenge your cerebrum… and your bladder.

ARC presents ‘The Antipodes’ through December 1 at the Marin Shakespeare Company 514 4th Street Theater, San Rafael. Thurs – Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 1pm. $20-$100. 415.388.5208. marinshakespeare.org 

Anne Lamott, Steve Zahn and More

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San Rafael

Sanctuaries

Bestselling author Anne Lamott and Grammy-nominated musician Jai Uttal come together for “Sanctuaries: An Evening with Anne Lamott and Jai Uttal” at the Marin Showcase Theater. This unique event, 7-9 pm, Sunday, Nov. 17, blends sacred songs, heartfelt stories and spiritual reflections, as Lamott reads from her 2024 bestseller, Somehow: Thoughts on Love, and Uttal leads chants of devotion. Uttal and Lamott have been friends since they met in 2001 at a local 12-step meeting. “Annie and I have been trying to figure out a way to work together for ages, and we were super happy when this Marin event came together,” says Uttal. “We look forward to sharing our art and the community we hold dear.” Tickets start at $50, with premium seating available. Marin Showcase Theater, 20 Ave of the Flags, San Rafael. Tickets at bit.ly/sanctuaries-marin.

Sonoma County

Walk to School

On Thursday, Nov. 14, Sonoma County schools will join a national celebration honoring Ruby Bridges, who, at six years old in 1960, became a civil rights icon by integrating her New Orleans elementary school. Promoted locally by Safe Routes to School/Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day invites students, parents, teachers and community leaders to walk together, celebrating her legacy and promoting unity in the movement to end racism. Events will be held across Sonoma County communities, including Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Petaluma and Santa Rosa (start times vary by school). For more information, visit bikesonoma.org. 

Sausalito 

Winter Market

This holiday season is the time to gather with over 25 top-tier local makers under one festive roof, with artisans like Heath Ceramics, Sausalito Arts Club and Botnia Skincare showcasing their finest creations. Hosted at the Sausalito Center for the Arts, this annual Winter Market invites attendees to shop thoughtfully for home goods, skincare, jewelry and more—perfect for last-minute holiday treasures. Cute Coffee and Lucky Penny Bread treats can be enjoyed, as well as activities like kid-friendly crafting and complimentary skin consultations. Opens 10am, Sunday, Dec. 14, Sausalito Center for the Arts, 750 Bridgeway. Free admission, open to all.

Healdsburg

Actor Steve Zahn Honored

The future of film can be celebrated with the True West Film Center second annual Hollywood of Tomorrow fundraiser, honoring actor Steve Zahn (The White Lotus, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Planet of the Apes and Happy, Texas), student filmmaker India Mitchell and community artist Jennifer “Jendala” Utsch. Beginning at 5:30pm, Saturday, Nov. 16 and hosted at Studio Barndiva (237 Center St., Healdsburg), the event supports True West’s mission to bring media arts education to Sonoma County students. The evening will feature awards, including the Impact Award for Zahn, and a showcase of Mitchell’s work. Proceeds benefit the development of arts programs and the forthcoming James Redford Campus. The weekend festivities continue Sunday, Nov. 17, with a community screening of Diary of a Wimpy Kid followed by “A Conversation with Steve Zahn.” For tickets, times and additional locations, visit truewestfilmcenter.org.

Election Blues: Be Here for Each Other

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At about 4:30pm on Election Day, I heard muffled screams coming from nearby my house and realized my 80-something neighbor had fallen on the street. 

The first one to respond was my neighbor on the other side, a youngish man who lifted up the fallen woman and helped me walk her into her house. It finally took five neighbors, and my girlfriend from down the road, to cleanse her wound, call the advice nurse at Kaiser, drive her to the ER, stay with her through the ordeal, and bring my neighbor and myself back home.

And by the time we got home, we knew things were going against Vice President Kamala Harris. Then the news streaming on my computer told us Donald Trump had won. 

“How could this happen?” my girlfriend asked. The only thing that made sense to me is that Trump is a renegade of sorts, and those who voted for him are would-be rebels looking for a cause. 

First thing when I awoke the day after, I texted my daughter, “It’s hard to watch everything we have fought for go down the drain.”

You all know what I mean—racial equality, gender equality, a woman’s right to choose, the right to love and even marry someone regardless of race or gender, a nuclear-free future, a healthy planet, affordable housing, universal healthcare, a living wage—the list goes on and on.

“Sexism and racism,” my dear friend Mary Moore said when I called her. That was her explanation.

“Yes,” I thought, we live in a country born in ethnic cleansing and genocide.

The concept of a country being “great” sounds like something kids might say on a grade school playground. Countries are not great or anything else. They are geographic locations. What might be great are the people in a country, or a city, or a neighborhood. 

Which brings me back to my neighbors who responded to one of us in distress, without a second thought. This is what we still have left, our ability to be here for each other, through the bad and the good.

Lois Pearlman is a contributor to the ‘North Bay Bohemian’ and other area publications.

Your Letters, 11/13

Pardon the Turkey

Later this month, President Biden will pardon two turkeys at the White House, a symbolic gesture of mercy. Yet, every year in the U.S., over 224 million turkeys endure a far grimmer fate. These gentle birds are raised in overcrowded sheds thick with toxic fumes, their beaks and toes clipped to prevent stress-related aggression.

At just 16 weeks, they are slaughtered—throats slit, bodies dumped into boiling water for feather removal. Meanwhile, their meat, laden with cholesterol and saturated fat, poses health risks to consumers.

But there’s promising news: U.S. turkey production has declined significantly as more Americans embrace plant-based options. This Thanksgiving, let’s celebrate our good fortune with a cruelty-free meal—plant-based roasts, seasonal vegetables, fruits and grains. An internet search for “vegan Thanksgiving” offers countless delicious, compassionate recipes.

Larry Rogawitz

Santa Rosa

CultTV

The day following the November 5th Tuesday Night Massacre, more than one friend stayed home from work due to “existential exhaustion.”

That sums it up well.

Many of us have read accounts of the landslide, some by think tank operatives who don’t often actually think.

Commentaries in publications such as The New York Times typically confer skills and status upon our next president that he does not now or ever did possess.

This is not a social movement about the failure of modern American institutions to serve our citizens; even the institutions are indeed failing.  

It is a cult, driven by television, and it will die when he does.

Craig J. Corsini

San Rafael

Living Stone, Sculptures by Brandon Stieg

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I came across Brandon Stieg’s otherworldly creations while visiting the new Fairfax Ranch on Olema Road, where his sculptures live and breathe.  

What do you do?  

I’ve realized a 20-year dream to open a sculpture garden and gallery here in Fairfax called Element Artworks. 

I love watching the eyes of a young kid light up as they explore some of the pieces we have. Almost immediately, they seem to grasp the story within the art and connect the dots.  

Where do you live?  

Lagunitas, West Marin.

How long have you lived in Marin?   

I grew up in West Marin, moved away to go to college and eventually pursued a career in snowboarding. My wife and I decided to move back to Marin in 2002 three years before our first child, Aiden, was born. 

Where can we find you when you’re not at work? 

I love what I do, and much of my spare time is spent in the shop. Aside from that, you’ll find me at my oldest daughter, Ani’s, running races, or my youngest daughter, Lola’s, soccer games. Mix in a surf or a mountain bike ride, and you have my routine. 

If you had to convince someone how awesome Marin is, where would you take them? 

The Headlands come to mind first… essentially anywhere along the coast, so I tend toward heading west.

What’s one thing Marin is missing? 

Diversity in perspective. We certainly live in a bubble here, and I think it takes living outside our little paradise to see that sometimes.

What’s one bit of advice you’d share with your fellow Marinites? 

This might be more for the younger gens, but hard things matter. Do hard things, and embrace the failures. Finding what you’re NOT good at helps us define our purpose. 

If you could ask anyone to join you at dinner, whom would you invite? 

The easy answer would be da Vinci, but I’m also fascinated by the early explorers of our world who risked it all: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, Ernest Shackleton, Teddy Roosevelt, Lewis and Clark. 

What’s some advice you wish you knew 20 years ago? 

That the end result matters less than the journey.  

What’s something that 20 years from now will seem cringeworthy? 

Fiat currency. Scrolling. Plastic bottles.

Big question. What’s one thing you’d do to change the world? 

My hope and dream is to leave behind a body of work that inspires others to find their personal calling, creative or otherwise.

Keep up with Stieg at @elementartwork and at brandonstieg.com.

Gifts for the Artist

Rileystreet Art Supply

Remind that loved one who’s still paying their art school student loans what got them there in the first place—their love of making art. 

Rileystreet Art Supply has been fueling creative passions in the North Bay for over 55 years—which means they know something about what your favorite artist really wants. With locations in Santa Rosa and San Rafael, Rileystreet is more than just an art supply store—it’s a local institution. 

Year after year, our readers vote them the “best art supply” spot in their respective counties, and with good reason: They’ve got the widest selection of materials, tons of educational workshops and a staff that actually knows their stuff (because they’re artists, too).

Whether it’s premium paints, sketchbooks or that obscure tool you didn’t know existed (but will fall in love with), Rileystreet has the goods—often at a discount. Inspire creativity with a gift that says, “I believe in your art” (or just give them a gift card and let them roam the aisles themselves—a creative dream come true).

1138 4th Ave., San Rafael. rileystreet.com.

Mystic 

Where creativity and community come together in Mill Valley in a whimsical shop chock-a-block with an inspiring array of supplies.

31 Sunnyside Ave., Mill Valley. mysticmv.com.

Dharma Trading Company, San Rafael

Everything your artist needs for textile arts and crafts, including tie dying, silk screening, felting, knitting and crocheting.

1604 4th St., San Rafael. dharmatrading.com.

Gifts for the Lifestyle Maven

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Inspired gifting from nature at Salt

Tucked away in Sausalito, Salt is a haven for those who find their muse in the natural world. Since opening in September 2020, this thoughtfully curated store has embraced the philosophy of “Nature Inside + Out,” blending Nordic and Japanese influences with the tranquil beauty of Marin. 

With a mission to bring well-being into the everyday, Salt offers a collection of beautifully designed homeware and lifestyle pieces that embody nature’s calming essence. From elegant ceramics to simple yet refined textiles, each item reflects the belief that our environment—and the things with which we surround ourselves—shape our experience of the world. With over 100 local and global artisans represented, Salt’s selection celebrates craftsmanship and the connection between form and function. 

Salt has many pieces that inspire, invigorate and elevate. Holiday shoppers are sure to find the perfect gift for those who enjoy imbuing their personal spaces with a touch of nature. It is open daily from 11am to 6pm. 

42 Caledonia St., Sausalito. salt-ca.com. 

SummerHouse

Home design treasures in Mill Valley.

57 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. summerhousemillvalley.com.

Restoration Hardware

The Corte Madera juggernaut boasts a wine bar—’nuff said.

1750 Redwood Hwy., Corte Madera.  rh.com/us/en/marin.

For the Birds, Lyzy Lusterman of Buteo Books

Lyzy Lusterman recently opened Buteo Books, where one will find one of the largest selections of new, used and rare birding books in the world. What do you do?   I’m a publisher and bookseller, and now the owner of this brick-and-mortar store. Where do you live?   San Anselmo. How long have you lived in Marin?    I think it adds up to over...

‘Blithe Spirit,’ Noël Coward Classic at Ross Valley Players

One stormy night, you and your second wife decide to dabble in the occult, and now you and you alone can see and hear your dead first wife. It’s no horror movie. It’s the plot of the beloved Noël Coward English drawing room comedy Blithe Spirit, now running at the Barn at the Marin Art and Garden Center in...

Free Will Astrology: Week of Nov. 20

Free Will Astrology: Week of Nov. 20
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Award-winning Aries filmmaker Quentin Tarantino was born and raised in the United States. But he has said, “I don’t make movies for America. I make movies for planet Earth.” I applaud his expansive perspective and recommend you cultivate your own version of it in the coming weeks. You will generate good fortune for yourself as...

Sur-real life: Annie Baker play gets West Coast premiere

The Actors’ Reading Collective (ARC), born out of the pandemic, moves from Zoom readings to its first fully-staged theatrical production with Annie Baker’s The Antipodes. It’s a surreal look at the nature of storytellers that questions why story is important. Perhaps not an obvious choice for this particular company, it runs at the Marin Shakespeare Company’s Fourth Street Theater in...

Anne Lamott, Steve Zahn and More

San Rafael Sanctuaries Bestselling author Anne Lamott and Grammy-nominated musician Jai Uttal come together for “Sanctuaries: An Evening with Anne Lamott and Jai Uttal” at the Marin Showcase Theater. This unique event, 7-9 pm, Sunday, Nov. 17, blends sacred songs, heartfelt stories and spiritual reflections, as Lamott reads from her 2024 bestseller, Somehow: Thoughts on Love, and Uttal leads chants of...

Election Blues: Be Here for Each Other

At about 4:30pm on Election Day, I heard muffled screams coming from nearby my house and realized my 80-something neighbor had fallen on the street.  The first one to respond was my neighbor on the other side, a youngish man who lifted up the fallen woman and helped me walk her into her house. It finally took five neighbors, and...

Your Letters, 11/13

Pardon the Turkey Later this month, President Biden will pardon two turkeys at the White House, a symbolic gesture of mercy. Yet, every year in the U.S., over 224 million turkeys endure a far grimmer fate. These gentle birds are raised in overcrowded sheds thick with toxic fumes, their beaks and toes clipped to prevent stress-related aggression. At just 16 weeks,...

Living Stone, Sculptures by Brandon Stieg

I came across Brandon Stieg’s otherworldly creations while visiting the new Fairfax Ranch on Olema Road, where his sculptures live and breathe.   What do you do?   I’ve realized a 20-year dream to open a sculpture garden and gallery here in Fairfax called Element Artworks.  I love watching the eyes of a young kid light up as they explore some of the pieces...

Gifts for the Artist

Rileystreet Art Supply Remind that loved one who’s still paying their art school student loans what got them there in the first place—their love of making art.  Rileystreet Art Supply has been fueling creative passions in the North Bay for over 55 years—which means they know something about what your favorite artist really wants. With locations in Santa Rosa and San...

Gifts for the Lifestyle Maven

Inspired gifting from nature at Salt Tucked away in Sausalito, Salt is a haven for those who find their muse in the natural world. Since opening in September 2020, this thoughtfully curated store has embraced the philosophy of “Nature Inside + Out,” blending Nordic and Japanese influences with the tranquil beauty of Marin.  With a mission to bring well-being into the...
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