Princess in Waiting

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Princess in Waiting

Kenneth Branagh’s version of Cinderella has a magnificent palace in it, like a Beaux Arts casino on the edge of an Alaskan fjord. Production designer Dante Ferretti and costumer Sandy Powell fill it up at great expense.

This fantasyland is created after the invention of aniline dyes; as garish as they are cruel, the stepsisters wear all the newly created hues at once. By contrast, the kind yet interesting prince, known as “Kit” (Richard Madden) holds court in a series of elegant Hussar uniforms. If you positively have to wear a military uniform, dress as light cavalry.

Lily James (Downton Abbey) as Cinderella was cast not because she’s this week’s most beautiful girl, but because she’s an actress able to convey an honest heart. Her endurance really changes the story, even if a bit of magic helps—the temporary enchantment melts delightfully during a chase, with the horses growing vast mouse ears and the lizard footmen and the goose coachman metamorphosing in front of us.

Wicked stepmom Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett), wrapped in poison-green gowns, makes this poor orphan Ella sleep in a rickety attic as tall as the library in The Name of the Rose. Though screenwriter Chris Weitz devises an intelligent reason why Ella would hide from her prince, the sturdy writing goes too far and overexplains. After all, Blanchett doesn’t need dialogue to explain why she’s bad; she’s Cate Blanchett—she can show us the hurt on the far side of her wrath without any words.

‘Cinderella’ is playing in wide release.

Debriefer: March 18, 2015

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Debriefer: March 18, 2015

This is our Best Of issue, but in the spirit of balance and contrarianism Debriefer presents a round-up of the worst of the North Bay.

Worst News We Heard About the Drought California’s going to run out of surface water in a year, sayeth Jay Famiglietti, senior water scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, in the Los Angeles Times last week. The drought will never end, and there’s nothing, short of extreme rationing, that is going to stop that. Unless you live in Sebastopol, or Bolinas. They’ve got beaucoup local water resources, and those hippies are armed to the unfluoridated teeth. Keep out!

Worst Utterance by a Gubernatorial Candidate Brother Tim O’Donnelly, the Tea Party favorite who ran last year against Gov. Brown. Of course, Donnelly just had to send out a tweet that compared Barack Obama to that nasty Hitler fellow. Something about guns, and Obama not liking them much. Whatever.

Worst Cop-Out by a Local Elected Official It was quite funny to watch our local Democratic politicians try to grapple with the Bibi Netanyahu visit to Congress. When we asked Rep. Mike Thompson’s office what his plans were for the scheduled appearance, which went down in early March, Thompson told us he didn’t know what he was doing that week. Plans were unclear. Nice one.

Worst Example of a Governor Who May Have Lost His Mind to Wet-Brain Disease How about those twin Delta Tunnels, Gov. Brown? You might be the last man standing who thinks this is a good idea.

Worst Lie That fisherman at Smiley’s Saloon who told us that all those salmon boats trolling in Bolinas Bay late in the season last year were anchored up for the night. He told us they’d be headed out to the fishing grounds in the morning, that they’d made part of the journey from San Francisco, and were just resting up. All fishermen are liars, but that whopper stood out.

Worst News About the Big One The chance for an 8.0 or greater quake in the next 30 years jumped to about 7 percent from 4.7 percent. So there’s a 93 percent chance that the Big One won’t hit in the next three decades—unless you throw in the earthquake enhancing frack-factor, at which point the Big One is imminent.

Worst News for Those Poor Sea Lion Pups El Niño has arrived, the bastard. Warmer water may mean more bad news for the hungry marine mammals.

Worst News for the Oil and Gas Industry Stay out of those marine sanctuaries that the government just expanded in the Gulf of the Farallones!

Worst Development in Law Enforcement Shooting unarmed teenagers is a top contender, especially when you then invite Rudy Giuliani to comment on it. Closer to home, none of our county police departments needs armored personnel carriers or any of that other crap from the military. Send it back.

Worst Way to Die Alone, in a jail cell, while detoxing. The Sonoma County lockup had a string of deaths late last year that highlighted gaps in mental health services and a contractual arrangement with a for-profit health services provider.

Worst Turnabout by a Formerly Beloved Local Athlete Pablo Sandoval, jerk. He was the panda, the Giants fans loved him, and he’s acting like a complete jerk now that he’s signed up with Boston. Dude puts the ass in class.

Worst Case of Foot-in-Mouth Disease No, not the former Rancho slaughterhouse in Petaluma. The title goes to Adam Parks of Victorian Farmstead Meat Co., in Sebastopol who took to his blog last week to offer a suggestion that drivers could make a game out of running annoying bicyclists off the road. He thought it would be funny.—Tom Gogola

Chapter 4: Everyday

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Chapter 4: Everyday

Jake had a frown to match the Roadmaster’s grille when he rolled into Petaluma, only not so shiny. He lost sight of the girls’ bus after they pulled into town. After cursing himself, he found a phone booth to check in with Pemberton, hoping for another lead but not wanting to tell him Molly had given him the slip.

Since the surf shack, Molly had been careful. Paying cash, leaving no trail. Until she used daddy’s plastic at Empire Automotive. The transaction had just popped up on Pemberton’s account. Jake told him he was making progress and headed to the garage.

“Sweet ride.” A mechanic ambled out of the garage, wiping a greasy wrench with a rag. “What’s the horsepower, 144?”

“One sixty-five,” Jake said. “Nineteen forty-two. Last one off the line.”

“So, what’s ailing her?”

“She’s fine. It’s a couple of broads in a yellow krautwagon I’m worried about. Do you know when they’re coming back?”

The mechanic paused and smiled—like an ant just bit his nose. “Oh, you know those nice young ladies in that Vee Dub? Sorry, sir, but I really can’t—”

“Listen here, mac. Reynolds Pemberton is the guy I’m working for and the guy that’s paying your bill, too. So give me the skinny, beanstalk, if you don’t want trouble.”

The mechanic folded like an old metal chair and told Jake that the girls were headed up to Santa Rosa, and that they then planned to get some kind of cedar enzyme spa treatment. Whatever that was, Jake thought.

It was getting late, so Jake looked for the hotel with the best neon sign and checked in at the Flamingo. My kind of place, he thought.

As he walked up, a silver Tesla zipped in and parked right in front of the door. The license plate read, “TECBUKS.” . . .

Continue the Story

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Best Place to Go Really, Really Fast in a Really, Really Small Car

The smell of gasoline and rubber rises from the world-class raceway overlooking the San Pablo Bay. I’ve been invited to join friends in a day of go-karting, that’s all I know. Visions of the small, child-friendly tracks that accompany mini-golf courses dance in my head. Yet climbing the hill that overlooks Sonoma Raceway’s two-and-a-half-mile road course and quarter-mile drag strip, it becomes obvious this is not child’s play. One look at the immense go-kart track and the speeding roadsters hugging the curves tells me this is going to be a serious afternoon of speed.

Simraceway Performance Karting Center boasts not only the largest go-kart track in California, it also features the fastest karts. For novices like me, there are Grand Prix go-karts available to rent for the day, at 25 bucks a pop. These karts, which are little more than four tires, a steering wheel and power-packed engine, will get you going at a teeth-clenching 45 mph.

But if you’re a serious competitor—and, yes, the world of go-karts has career competitors outfitted with jumpsuits and towing equipment trailers—there are introductory and advanced karting programs where you can learn to race at 60 or 70 mph. And while the wind won’t be whipping your hair (helmets are a must, of course), the speed you can achieve at the raceway is a serious rush. 29359 Arnold Drive, Sonoma. 707.939.7600.—Charlie Swanson

Best Ancient Apples

Fort Ross, the iconic stockade founded by the Russian-American Company in 1812, was already described as “dilapidated” by visitors in the 1840s. As rough-hewn and rustic as the buildings appear today, apart from elements of the Rotchev house, these are modern reconstructions. But there are a few more relics, less often visited, that are not only authentic—they’re alive. A 10-minute walk behind the fort, a historic orchard still stands that was first planted in 1817. Since then, it has been expanded, abandoned, grazed by livestock and ruptured by the 1906 quake—the San Andreas Fault runs right through the hapless little orchard. Still, three cherry trees and one apple tree from the Russian era survive amid the park-like mishmash of fruit trees. One late October afternoon, after the annual Fort Ross Harvest Festival, a Russian-speaking couple was furtively gathering apples and pears that hadn’t already been picked for the cultural event earlier in the day. Incredulous at the waste of perfectly good—and perfectly historic—apples on the ground, the wife said,
“And they just left them here!”
19005 Coast Hwy., Jenner.—James Knight

Best Dose of Caffeine That’ll Keep You Quaking All Day

Whether it’s an early-morning jolt, midday pick-me-up or afternoon treat of the coffee variety, look no further—the Acre Dream is your answer. This coffee beverage is Acre Coffee‘s take on New Orleans–style coffee, which is traditionally brewed with roasted chicory. The cold-brewed elixir is then sweetened with cane sugar, served iced and cut with the milk of your choice. The result is a life-saving, happy-making, ridiculously strong cup of joe that makes you wish you never had it so you could have it again for the first time. Another popular Acre favorite is the mocha and hot chocolate, made with chunks of Guittard chocolate melted in the bottom of every fresh cup. Insider tip: pair your beverage with a savory snack like Acre’s house-made toasted English muffin with butter or various gluten-free offerings, and hang out in the beautiful sun-drenched Santa Rosa store or centrally located Petaluma cafe. 21 Fourth St., Petaluma. 707.772.5117; 2365 Midway Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.595.5984.—Jessie Janssen

Best Place to Register Your Car If You Can’t Deal with the DMV

Go see the affable and conscientious Jim Parrot in San Rafael next time you need to register your car but have a panic attack at the thought of those nasty people and long lines. Yeah, you can make an appointment at the California Department of Motor Vehicles to smooth your way, but to heck with that. Parrot runs California Auto Registration Services in San Rafael and is one of about 2,000 people around the state who’ll do the heavy lift at the DMV office for you—if it comes to that—for a modest fee and with a great sense of humor about it all. Mostly, he can register your car and issue plates to you right out of his office in a small strip-mall, all while telling you stories about the hedonic Marin County of the 1970s and taking trips to the DMV for tricky titles and such, so you don’t have to. . . . Wait, did somebody just say that you could have some laughs while dealing with the pain-in-the-neck process of registering an out-of-state vehicle in a state with a notoriously remorseless DMV that doesn’t exactly love these middlemen? Indeed. Go see Jim. C.A.R.S., 73 Grand Ave., San Rafael. 415.482.9900.—Tom Gogola

Best Shoe Repairman with an Old-World Feel & Proximity to Cupcakes

Shoes just aren’t made to last these days, so next time, instead of buying a new pair, it will be worth the effort to visit Tate’s Shoe Repair in Santa Rosa. The man himself will let you know if your shoes are fixable and, if so, how much it might cost you (which is often significantly less than a new pair). He is jovial and helpful, and his rates are reasonable to boot. Keep in mind that shoes will take at least a week to go through the repair process and the store is cash-only. In the meantime, it’s an excellent excuse to visit Sift Cupcakes, just a few doors down. Happy cobbling! 402 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.545.3859.—Jessie Janssen

Best Shop Full of Odd Stuff You Never Thought You Needed

Wondering where you can get cat hair, a penis candle or a hoodoo doll? Try Lucky Mojo Curio Company, a secret haven of weirdness and greatness hidden out of sight in Forestville. Functioning as a brick-and-mortar store and an online business with nationwide shipping, this store is part museum, part cabinet of curiosities, and is full of wow moments. A whole shelf might be dedicated to erotic knick-knacks, another to scents and magic potions, a third to charms and trinkets. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and although the place is supposed to be a hideaway for insiders, the store’s design and beautiful surroundings welcomes newcomers. 6632 Covey Road, Forestville. 707.887.1521. luckymojo.com.—Flora Tsapovsky

Best Place to Spend an Afternoon in a State of Whitmanian Bliss, While Staying Indoors

The caveat to this Best Of is, of course, the part where you have to stay indoors to win it. The entire North Bay would otherwise be a contender, this land of vast vistas and natural splendor, and a coastline that poet Walt Whitman would’ve died for. For indoor encounters with the Whitmanian spirit, head to the newly opened Western Gate Revolutionary Teahouse and Book Commons in the lush forest nook of Lagunitas, over yonder at the fringe of West Marin. Here you can lounge with jasmine tea and chat with co-proprietor Scott Traffas, or whoever is present, about the unique and poetically charged blessing of West Marin, “a potent medicine spot,” in Traffas’ recent
words to the Bohemian. The gathering place, a kind of Zen salon fashioned
as a Japanese teahouse, opened in late 2014 with an aim to give the various phreaks and mystics and permaculture yurt-dwellers of the area a space within which to sip and speak, to read and reflect, to do their thang, basically.
7282 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Lagunitas. www.cultureofpermaculture.org.—Tom Gogola

Best Obsolete Technology

My love affair with Laserdisc movies began in Santa Rosa. It was in a thrift shop, Sacks on the Square, in the heart of the downtown’s Railroad Square. I saw a dozen or so records sitting together. Or so I thought. As I pulled the first title from the shelf, I mistook it for the motion picture soundtrack to Terry Gilliam’s Brazil. Yet when I pulled the “record” out of its sleeve, a shining silver disc greeted me. “What the . . . ?” I began to stammer, before the words “Laserdisc” met my eyes, and I realized I was holding the actual movie itself, presented in an outdated, oversized and thoroughly obsolete technology. I was hooked. In fact, there were over 20 Laserdisc films in that lot, with such vital classics as David Lynch’s Blue Velvet and Sly Stallone’s arm-wrestling masterpiece Over the Top in rank. As it happened, the Laserdisc movie player, a Pioneer CLD-D406, was sitting on the other side of the store and in perfect working condition. I walked out of there with both for less than $20. I now have over 400 Laserdisc movies in my collection. I love the throwback look and feel of them, as well as the thrill of finding a true treasure of a film in a bin somewhere. And to that extent, I’ve driven to every distant corner of the Bay Area to relieve them from Craigslist sellers, scrolled countless Ebay listings and scoured miscellaneous racks at every vintage store in San Francisco with abandon. In the North Bay, there is one place I can always count on. Second’s Best is a hidden gem of a store, itself located in the heart of Santa Rosa’s Roseland neighborhood and coincidentally less than two miles from where my obsession began. Feel free to check it out, but hands off the Laserdiscs; I got dibs. (P.S. Any readers wishing to unload their own laserdisc collections can message me at ca******@******an.com.) 1290 Sebastopol Road, Santa Rosa. 707.578.6916.—Charlie Swanson

Best Place to Just Sort of Hang Around Thinking About Seafaring Adventures

Of course, for sheer volume and diversity, the Sausalito area and dockages provide a field day of wandering and biking and looking at the pretty sailboats and the kooky live-aboards and everything between in the various bays and marinas in southeast Marin County. Yet there’s a lot of gates and locks all over the place. You can’t always just wander down a dock anymore, checking out the boats with an aimless mien as you think of seafaring adventures and the complexities of capital, fish, people and beauty. That boatyard in Marshall with all the old hulls and welding sounds—very righteous turf for a quickie sea-head wander. But for a sustained recreational drift, head to the docks around Spud Point Crab Company on Bodega Bay Harbor on an afternoon where you need to clear your head and smell the fish and see the bustle of industry. There’s a long public walkway along a breakwater that encircles the fleet, which is a fine enough vantage point to check out the boats as you lean against a rail and think about lunch. Or chat up a fisherman and get a tour of the docks, get past the gates and up close to the boats themselves—the salmon trawlers and the pilot boat, the sport boats and the cruisers, crab pots lining the road at the processor. Now go get yourself some crabs across the street at the restaurant. 1910 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay. 707.875.9472.—Tom Gogola

Best Happy Dog Dedication

I often read the names of people who had a park bench dedicated to them. You know, the kind of plaque that reads, so-and-so is fondly remembered and so on. Did that person also enjoy this walk or this view? Am I honoring their memory by doing the same, or do I resent them for needling me from the grave with a reminder of my own mortality? And if I sit on the bench, am I really just taking advantage of the fact that they passed on? But none of that chokes me up until I come upon a picnic table dedicated to ‘Zoe the Happy Dog.’ It’s been piled with flowers and festooned with dog swag like chewtoys and biscuits, and here’s a photo of a quite sanguine-looking pooch indeed, who is said to be faithfully “waiting at the rainbow bridge” for
her masters. And how do you like
your brown-eyed dog, Mister Death? 13630 Sonoma Hwy., Glen Ellen.—James Knight

Best Jukebox Caught in a Time Warp

The Forestville Club is a strange beast. A huge parlor on a quiet main street, it’s sometimes packed with visitors who marvel at the old-school vibe; other times, it holds just a few locals. It’s also the last place you’d expect to find a brand-new jukebox—something about the peeling carpet, the ancient pool tables and the odd mix of patrons. And yet there it is in the corner, facing the pool tables: a shiny digital jukebox, probably the latest model. With the club’s kitschy décor as a backdrop, the machine looks especially out of place—an alien of progress in a time capsule. But once you overcome the suspicion, things get groovy—the jukebox has an endless number of tracks, plus an online search option, which results in some of the weirdest playlists ever assembled in a small town. From Aliyah to Fleetwood Mac, picking the perfect soundtrack for a game of pool is an experience like no other—or let the regulars pick, and watch hippie ladies getting down with the White Stripes. 6250 Front St., Forestville. 707.887.2594.—Flora Tsapovsky

Best New Taproom Kid on the Block

Everyone knows you can get excellent brew at Lagunitas, Russian River and Bear Republic. But when you don’t want to wait or battle the crowds, there is an alternative. Fogbelt Brewing Company is making a name for itself on the craft-beer scene. Established a little over a year ago, the brewery and taproom is helmed by a knowledgeable duo of beer experts, Paul Hawley and Remy Martin. These two take inspiration from Northern California and the largest trees in the world that grow along its fog belt. The result: exceptional beers available by pint or taster served in a great location. Their flagship varieties include a rich stout, citrusy red ale, a classic IPA and a cilantro-lime Belgian wheat. Picture that beer paired with the awesome ambiance of artwork, fireplace and central bar with plenty of seats. Located in what could be described as a mini Barlow complete with a pizza joint, juice bar and winetasting room, Fogbelt is in good company. And free parking for all. 1305 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.978.3400.—Jessie Janssen.

Best Place to Freeze While
Watching a Romantic Comedy

A year ago, the humble Rio Theater in Monte Rio became famous thanks to a fundraising effort to bring it into the digital age. Everyone from the local fire department to actor Zach Braff pitched in, and the theater, an iconic local landmark, got a second lease on life. Additionally, a new young crew of co-owners meant a new slick website, a current and at times boldly indie movie selection, and a renewed positive buzz. What no one told the people is just how cold the famed theater is—and that’s part of the fun. Built in an airplane hangar, the theater lacks any heating and gets quite chilly during the winter and spring, which is why fuzzy blankets are given at the entrance with your ticket. The cold oddly bonds the audience, and no matter the movie, you emerge from the theater a changed person. Bring pajamas and your own blanket for extra comfort—no one will blink. 20396 Bohemian Hwy., Monte Rio. 707.865.0913. riotheater.com.—Flora Tsapovsky

Everyday: Readers List|Back to Intro Page

Best Citizen

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Best Citizen

Debt Reckoning Michael Carnacchi would like to stick a boot up the bank’s ass, but he’ll settle for a hearing at the Supreme Court

Michael Carnacchi is a reluctant citizen-hero, a man who leads a conversation with humility and good humor. He’s easily the Best Of winner for Best North Bay Citizen, despite humble protestations to the contrary.

Carnacchi is the living embodiment of the “Main Street” that was often invoked during the run-up to the 2008 presidential election. That election occurred as the global economy was poised to collapse and, in the campaign vernacular of the day, Main Street couldn’t catch a break, while Wall Street demanded—and got—all the breaks it could handle.

He’s the living embodiment because Carnacchi’s cobbler shop, Apple Cobbler, is on Main Street in Sebastopol. And, by late 2007, while George Bush and his irresponsible neoconservative cabal were ruining the American economy—two unfunded wars, tax breaks for the rich—he was trying to stay afloat.

Like many Americans, Carnacchi’s shoe-making biz hit a wall as the economy headed south, which is where his troubles began. He had a Citibank credit card issued through U.S. Bancorp, which had a balance of about $14,000 on it—most of what he’d borrowed had gone right back into his business, he says.

Carnacchi was four days late with a payment back in Dec. 2007—and if you remember those days, they were pretty scary times for small businessmen and big banks alike.

The Bohemian reported at the time that Carnacchi was a responsible borrower whose monthly payments were reasonable, about $213, and his interest rate was about 3 percent. Manageable.

But when he was late, the interest and monthly nut ballooned the following month: New interest rate: 31 percent. New monthly payment: $1,224.

Carnacchi protested, but the bank wouldn’t work with him to reduce the interest rate or minimum payment—so he refused to pay it. He fought off debt collectors and fought in court—and continued to rebuff settlement offers as his case jumped from county to state to federal court.

At every turn, Carnacchi pushes credit onto other, anonymous supporters of his years-long David-and-Goliath battle against U.S. Bancorp. Mostly, he says, he couldn’t have done any of this without the support of his Sebastopol neighbors.

That battle comes to a head this week. On Friday, Carnacchi’s petition, the so-called writ of certiorari, will come before the nine justice of the United States Supreme Court. They’ll let the world know by Monday, March 23, whether they think his case has made the cut.

It’s a long shot that they’ll take the case, as the court only accepts a fraction of those that come before it each year. Carnacchi filed the writ himself after he lost his last battle in court, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

He had a nonagenarian lawyer-mentor help him with legalese and research behind the scenes, and an anonymous supporter in Sebastopol covered the printing cost of the writ, about $300. Another Sebastopol supporter used to write him a check for $25 once a week, and he says people come to the store all the time to say, Keep fighting, man.

Win or lose, it’s been worth it for Carnacchi.

He’s eating bacon from a mess cup as the 52-year-old cobbler talks about the case and why he is pursuing it.

Carnacchi has been in business here for 21 years, and, yeah, he was the most expensive bootmaker in the country there for a minute. He makes boots for George Lucas and other luminaries, but business is down. He’s gone from two or three orders a month to one new order every other month. There’s a lot of backlog, so he’s got plenty of work to do—except he’s been spending much of his time at a law library in Santa Rosa trying to fight back against those insane interest and payment spikes from 2007.

Even as the bank aggressively sought to collect from Carnacchi, U.S. Bancorp was crying for relief from the U.S. government after the near-crash of the global economy. The bank got bailed out with Trouble Asset Relief (TARP) funds, even as it played hardball over Carnacchi’s bill.

“They used taxpayer money to sue a taxpayer,” Carnacchi says.

He fought back, and though he’s lost in court at all turns, he’s also turned back four settlement offers and says the case isn’t really about the money, anyway. He’s doing this, he says, for workers who got flushed out of the American economy over bad loans offered by irresponsible banks—and still haven’t made any kind of demonstrable comeback. Main Street has a long way to go.

Each settlement offer, Carnacchi says, came in the form of a “mutual walkaway.” The bank was willing to let him walk away from the entire debt—now eclipsing $50,000 with the fees and interest charges—but Carnacchi wasn’t letting go.

The bank would agree to not collect on the judgment or refer it to a third party for collection, if only Carnacchi would agree to not talk to the media or federal regulators in the aftermath of a settlement.

In effect, he says, he had to release the bank entirely from liability, and that wasn’t going to happen. This is a man from Detroit who rode his Harley-Davidson to California.

Instead of backing down, Carnacchi drew attention to the fact that U.S. Bancorp had merged with a bank incorporated in North Dakota. That move, he alleges in his writ, allowed it to “issue credit cards with no limitations as to interest in nearly every state in the Union.”

His complaint charges that the bank “knowingly conspired to unconstitutionally and covertly” evade usury laws. His basic argument is that U.S. Bancorp conspired to create an elaborate loan-sharking operation, subject to federal anti-racketeering laws. If corporations are people, he argues, then the bank should be treated like a Mafia gangster.

While Carnacchi takes a reporter through the twists and turns of his case, a young woman walks excitedly into the shop.

Carnacchi breaks out a cool pair of moccasins he’s worked on for her, and charges the woman $50, which she doesn’t have on her.

She leaves wearing the moccasins and carrying her sandals, and calls Carnacchi a little later to say she’ll be back soon with that $50. He laughs. He knows where she lives, he jokes. This is the small-town stuff that keeps him going—that has kept him going for seven years now.

“At each step, it was critical to my morale to have the community support,” he says. Not to mention the support of astrologer Rob Brezsny.

“I couldn’t have done it without him,” says Carnacchi with a laugh. He’s a Cancer, like Brezsny.

Justice Antonin Scalia will need to be in retrograde for this writ to have any chance of getting the four votes needed for the judges to hear the case. “I’ve lost so many times, it will be as much a surprise to me as anyone,” he says. Should they accept it, he says, he’ll deliver the oral argument himself.

One of three things can happen on Friday: the case will be rejected, it will be accepted, or U.S. Bancorp could be compelled to respond.

It only takes one justice to compel U.S. Bancorp to respond to Carnacchi’s writ. “That would be huge,” he says.

Readers Picks: Food & Drink

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Readers Picks: Food & Drink

Best Farmers Market

Marin

Marin
Farmers Market

3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael.
415.472.6100.

Napa

St. Helena
Farmers Market

360 Crane Ave., St. Helena.
707.486.2662.

Sonoma

Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market

thesantarosafarmersmarket.com

Best Community Supported Agriculture

Napa

BOCA Farm

1125 Golden Gate Drive, Napa.
www.bocafarm.org

Sonoma

Laguna Farm

1764 Cooper Road, Sebastopol.
707.823.0823.

Best Food Producer

Marin

Marin Sun Farms

10905 Shoreline Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.1800.

Napa

Boca Farm

1125 Golden Gate Drive, Napa.
bocafarm.org

Sonoma

Amy’s

www.amys.com

Best Bakery

Marin

Bovine Bakery

11315 State Route 1, Pt. Reyes Station.
415.663.9420.

Napa

Model Bakery

1357 Main St., St. Helena.
707.963.8192.

644 First St., Bldg. B, Oxbow Market, Napa. 707.259.1128.

Sonoma

Village Bakery

1445 Town & Country Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.527.7654.

6760 McKinley St., Sebastopol.
707.829.8101.

Best Barbecue

Marin

Best Lil’ Porkhouse

2042 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.457.7675.

Napa

Buster’s Barbecue

1207 Foothill Blvd., Calistoga.
707.942.5605.

Sonoma

The BBQ Spot

458 B St., Santa Rosa.
707.585.2616.

Best Burger

Marin

Phyllis’
Giant Burgers

924 Diablo Ave., Novato.
415.456.0866.

Napa

Gott’s Roadside
Tray Gourmet

933 Main St., St. Helena.
707.963.3486.

Sonoma

SuperBurger

1501 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.546.4016.

Best Pizza

Marin

Napoli Pizza & Pasta

869 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.459.3315.

Napa

CaMomi Enoteca

610 First St., Napa.
415.257.4992.

Sonoma

Mombo’s Pizza

1800 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.528.FAST.

Best Chocolatier

Marin

Sacred Chocolate

24 Digital Drive #10, Novato.
415.883.1311.

Napa

Woodhouse Chocolate

1367 Main St., St. Helena.
800.966.3468.

Sonoma

Sonoma Chocolatiers

6988 McKinley St., Sebastopol.
707.829.1181.

Best Cafe/Coffeehouse

Marin

Aroma Cafe

1122 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.459.4340.

Napa

Ritual Coffee
Roasters at Oxbow

610 First St., Napa.
707.253.1190.

Sonoma

Flying Goat Coffee

324 Center St., Healdsburg.
707.433.9081.

Best Breakfast

Marin

Half Day Cafe

848 College Ave., Kentfield.
405.459.0291.

Napa

Jax Diner

1122 First St., Napa.
707.812.6853.

Sonoma

Dierk’s Parkside Cafe

404 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.573.5955.

Best Brunch

Marin

Terrapin Crossroads

100 Yacht Club Drive, San Rafael.
415.524.2773.

Napa

Grace’s Table

1400 Second St., Napa.
707.226.6200.

Sonoma

The Spinster Sisters

401 South A St., Santa Rosa.
707.528.7100.

Best
Business Lunch

Marin

Boca Tavern

340 Ignacio Blvd., Novato.
415.883.0901.

Napa

Goose & Gander

1245 Spring St., St. Helena.
707.967.8779.

Sonoma

Jackson’s Bar & Oven

135 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.545.6900.

Best Diner

Marin

Pine Cone Diner

60 Fourth St., Pt. Reyes Station.
415.663.1536.

Napa

Buttercream Bakery

2297 Jefferson St., Napa.
707.255.6700.

Sonoma

Mac’s Delicatessen

630 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.545.3785.

Best Sandwich Shop

Marin

Michael’s
Sourdough

3095 Kerner Blvd. #L, San Rafael.
415.485.0964.

Napa

Melted

966 Pearl St., Napa.
707.932.9669.

Sonoma

Ike’s Place

1780 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.293.9814.

Best
Outdoor Dining

Marin

Bocce

1250 Brideway, Sausalito.
415.331.0555.

Napa

Farmstead Restaurant

738 Main St., St. Helena.
707.963.9181.

Sonoma

Corks

5700 Hwy. 116, Forestville.
707.887.3344.

Best Dining
After 10pm

Marin

Sol Food

901 & 903 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael.
415.451.4765.

401 Miller Ave., Mill Valley.
415.380.1986.

Napa

Napkins
Bar & Grill

1001 Second St., Ste. 112, Napa.
707.927.5333.

Sonoma

Underwood
Bar & Bistro

9113 Graton Road, Graton.
707.823.7023.

Best Spot to Dine Solo

Marin

Whippersnapper

1613 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.256.1818.

Napa

Market

1347 Main St., St. Helena.
707.963.3799.

Sonoma

Willow Wood
Market Cafe

9020 Graton Road, Graton.
707.823.0233.

Best Caterer

Marin

Sage

35 Mitchell Blvd., San Rafael.
707.491.2222.

Napa

Estate Events
by Meadowood

900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena.
877.963.3646.

Sonoma

Fork Catering

9890 Bodega Hwy., Sebastopol.
07.634.7575.

Best Server

Marin

Naomi Finerman,
Vin Antico Wine Bar

881 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.721.0600.

Napa

Server Team, Zuzu

829 Main St., Napa.
707.224.8555.

Sonoma

Elsa Valdiva, El Coqui

400 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.542.8868.

Best Chef

Marin

David Hayden, Il Davide

901 A St., San Rafael.
415.454.8080.

Napa

Ken Frank, La Toque

1314 McKinstry St., Napa.
707.257.5157.

Sonoma

Mark Stark,
Stark Reality Restaurants

521 Adams St., Santa Rosa.
707.546.5100.
Best Sommelier

Best Sommelier

Marin

Wes Box, Vin Antico

881 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.721.0600.

Napa

Spencer Chassey, Redd

6480 Washington St., Yountville.
707.944.2222.

Sonoma

Christopher Sawyer

www.sawyersomm.com

Best Restaurant

Marin

Nick’s Cove

23240 Hwy. 1, Marshall.
415.663.1033.

Napa

Jo Le

1457 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga.
707.942.5938.

Sonoma

Stark’s Steak & Seafood

521 Adams St., Santa Rosa.
707.546.5100.

Best New Restaurant

Marin

Beso Bistro

502 S. Palm Drive, Novato.
415.883.6700.

Napa

The Pear

720 Main St., Napa.
707.256.3900.

Sonoma

Naked Pig Cafe

435 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.978.3231.

Best Chinese

Marin

Jenny Lowe’s

120 Vintage Way, Novato.
415.892.8838.

Napa

Soo Yuen

1354 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga.
707.942.9404.

Sonoma

Gary Chu’s

611 Fifth St., Santa Rosa.
707.526.5840.

Best French

Marin

Left Bank Brasserie

507 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur.
415.927.3331.

Napa

Angèle
Restaurant & Bar

540 Main St., Napa.
707.252.8115.

Sonoma

Bistro 29

620 Fifth St., Santa Rosa.
707.546.2929.

Best Indian

Marin

Lotus Cuisine of India

704 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.456.5808.

Napa

Taste of
the Himalayas

376 Soscol Ave., Napa.
707.251.3840.

Sonoma

Pamposh

52 Mission Circle #110, Santa Rosa.
707.538.3367.

Best Italian

Marin

Il Davide

901 A St., San Rafael. 415.454.8080.

Napa

Oenotri

1425 First St., Napa. 707.252.1022.

Sonoma

LoCoco Cucina Rustica

117 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.523.2227.

Best Japanese
/ Sushi

Marin

Sushi to Dai For

816 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.721.0392.

Napa

Eikos

1385 Napa Town Center, Napa.
707.501.4444.

Sonoma

Hana

101 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park.
707.586.0270.

Best Latin American

Marin

Sol Food

901 & 903 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael.
415.451.4765.

401 Miller Ave., Mill Valley.
415.380.1986.

Napa

ZuZu

829 Main St., Napa.
707.224.8555.

Sonoma

El Coqui

400 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.542.8868.

Best Mediterranean

Marin

Insalata’s

120 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo.
415.457.7700.

Napa

JuJu’s Kitchen

3375 California Way, Napa.
707.226.6537.

Sonoma

East West Cafe

128 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.829.2822.

Best Mexican

Marin

Casa Manana

85 Bolinas Road, Fairfax.
415.454.2384.

Napa

Compadres

505 Lincoln Ave, Napa.
707.253.1111.

Sonoma

Mi Pueblo

800 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma.
707.762.8192.

Best Seafood

Marin

Salitos

1200 Bridgeway, Sausalito.
415.331.3226.

Napa

Morimoto

610 Main St., Napa.
707.252.1600.

Sonoma

Willi’s Seafood
& Raw Bar

403 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg.
707.433.9191.

Best Thai

Marin

Bay Thai

809 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.458.8845.

Napa

Mini Mango

1408 W. Clay St., Napa.
707.226.8884.

Sonoma

SEA Thai Bistro

2323 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.528.8333.

Best Vietnamese

Marin

Saigon Village
Noodle house

720 B St., San Rafael.
415.453.3505.

Napa

Bui Bistro

976 Pearl St., Napa.
707.225.5417.

Sonoma

Simply Vietnam

966 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.566.8910.

Best Vegetarian

Marin

Cafe del Soul

1408 Fouth St., San Rafael.
415.457.5400.

Napa

Tarla
Mediterranean Grill

1480 First St., Napa.
707.255.5599.

Sonoma

Gaia’s Garden

1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.544.2491.

Best Bartender

Marin

Steven Schaefer, Flatiron Saloon

724 B St., San Rafael.
415.453.4318.

Napa

Scott Beattie, Meadowood

900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena.
877.963.3646.

Sonoma

Frank Dice, Underwood

9113 Graton Road, Graton.
707.823.7023.

Best Bar

Marin

HopMonk Tavern

224 Vintage Way, Novato.
415.892.6200.

Napa

Empire Late Night Lounge, Methode Bubble Bar

1400 First St., Napa.
707.254.8888.

Sonoma

Underwood Bar & Bistro

9113 Graton Road, Graton.
707.823.7023.

Best Dive Bar

Marin

Silver Peso

450 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur.
415.924.3448.

Napa

Panchas

6764 Washington St., Yountville.
707.944.2125.

Sonoma

440 Club

434 College Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.542.2550.

Best Happy Hour

Marin

Flatiron Saloon

724 B St., San Rafael.
415.453.4318.

Napa

Bounty Hunter

975 First St., Napa.
707.226.3976.

Sonoma

Stark’s Steakhouse
& seafood

521 Adams St., Santa Rosa.
707.546.5100.

Best Cocktails

Marin

Hilltop 1892

850 Lamont Ave., Novato.
415.893.1892.

Napa

Goose & Gander

1245 Spring St., St. Helena.
707.967.8779.

Sonoma

Spoonbar

219 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg.
707.433.7222.

Best Brewpub

Marin

Marin Brewing Company

1809 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur.
415.461.4677.

Napa

Downtown Joe’s

902 Main St., Napa.
707.258.2337.

Sonoma

Russian River Brewing Co.

725 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.545.2337.

Best Microbrew

Marin

White Knuckle Eldridge Grade Double IPA,
Marin Brewing Company

1809 Larkspur Landing Circle,
Larkspur. 415.461.4677.

Napa

IPA BLitzen,
Calistoga Inn & Brewery

1250 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga.
707.942.4101.

Sonoma

LAGunitas IPA,
Lagunitas Tap Room

1280 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma.
707.778.8776.

Best Microdistillery

Marin

Moylan’s Brewery

15 Rowland Way, Novato.
415.898.4677.

Napa

Napa Valley Distillery

601 First St. #8, Napa.
707.226.9269.

Sonoma

Spirit Works Distillery

6790 McKinley St. #100, Sebastopol.
707.634.4793.

Best Wine List

Marin

123 Bolinas

123 Bolinas Road, Fairfax. 415.488.5123.

Napa

Meadowood

900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena.
877.963.3646.

Sonoma

Willi’s Wine Bar

4404 Old Redwood Hwy., Santa Rosa.
707.526.3096.

Best
Winetasting Room

Marin

TREK

1026 Machin Ave., Novato. 415.899.9883.

Napa

Raymond Winery

849 Zinfandel Lane, St. Helena.
707.963.3141.

Sonoma

Francis Ford
Coppola Winery

300 Via Archemides, Geyserville.
707.857.1400.

Best
Sauvignon Blanc

Marin

TREK

1026 Machin Ave., Novato. 415.899.9883.

Napa

Cuvasion

1221 Duhig Road, Napa. 707.942.2455.

4550 Silverado Trail North, Calistoga.
707.942.6266.

Sonoma

Merry Edwards Winery

2959 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol.
707.823.7466.

Best Chardonnay

Marin

TREK

1026 Machin Ave., Novato.
415.899.9883.

Napa

White Rock Vineyards

1115 Loma Vista Drive, Napa.
707.257.7922.

Sonoma

La Crema

235 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg.
707.431.9400.

Best Sparkling Wine

Marin

Heidrun Meadery

11925 State Route 1, Pt. Reyes Station.
415.663.9122.

Napa

Schramsberg Vineyards

1400 Schramsberg Road, Calistoga.
707.942.4558.

Sonoma

J Vineyards & Winery

11447 Old Redwood Hwy., Healdsburg. 888.594.6326.

Best Rosé

Napa

Robert Sinskey Vineyards

6320 Silverado Trail, Napa.
707.944.9090.

Sonoma

Balletto Vineyards

5700 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa.
707.568.2455.

Best Cabernet

Marin

TREK

1026 Machin Ave., Novato. 415.899.9883.

Napa

Frog’s Leap

8815 Conn Creek Road. Rutherford.
707.963.4704.

Sonoma

Jordan Vineyard
& Winery

1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg.
800.654.1213.

Best Syrah

Marin

TREK

1026 Machin Ave., Novato.
415.899.9883.

Napa

Hagafen Cellars

4160 Silverado Trail, Napa.
707.252.0781.

Sonoma

Longboard Vineyards

5 Fitch St., Healdsburg.
707.433.3473.

Best Pinot Noir

Marin

Couloir Wines

72 Main St., Tiburon.
415.937.5698.

Napa

Twomey Cellars

1183 Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga.
707.942.2489.

Sonoma

La Crema

235 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg.
707.431.9400.

Best Zinfandel

Marin

Couloir wines

72 Main St., Tiburon. 415.937.5698.

Napa

Storybook Mountain

3835 Hwy. 128, Calistoga.
707.942.5282.

Sonoma

Seghesio

14730 Grove St., Healdsburg.
707.433.7764.

Best Port

Napa

V Sattui Winery

1111 White Lane, St. Helena.
707.963.7774.

Sonoma

Sonoma Valley Portworks

613 Second St., Petaluma.
707.769.5203.

Food & Drink: Writers Picks|Back to Intro Page

Readers Picks: Recreation

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Readers Picks: Recreation

Best Bike Shop

Marin

Mike’s Bikes

836 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.454.3747.

Napa

Calistoga Bike Shop

1318 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga.
707.942.9550.

Sonoma

The TREK Store
of Santa Rosa

512 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.546.8735.

Best Gym

Marin

Pelo Cycling & Fitness

171 Third St., San Rafael.
415.459.7356.

Napa

HealthQuest
Fitness Center

3175 California Blvd., Napa.
707.251.8468.

Sonoma

Coaches Corner

420 Morris St., Sebastopol.
707.829.5180.

Best Health Club

Marin

Body Kinetics

1530 Center Road, Novato.
415.895.5965.

Napa

Synergy Medical
Fitness Center

3421 Villa Lane, Napa.
707.251.1395.

Sonoma

Airport Health Club

432 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa.
707.528.2582.

Best Pilates Studio

Marin

Pilates of Marin

500 Tamal Plaza, Ste. 503,
Corte Madera. 415.927.7800.

Napa

Downtown Pilates

1338 Pearl St., Napa.
707.257.7382.

Sonoma

Tone

545 Ross St., Santa Rosa.
707.526.3100.

Best Yoga Studio

Marin

Frequency Yoga

1295 Second St., Ste. 210, San Rafael.
415.453.9642.

Napa

Calistoga Pilates

1336-B Lincoln Ave., Second Floor,
Calistoga. 707.396.2442.

Sonoma

Bikram Yoga of Santa Rosa

522 Wilson St., Santa Rosa.
707.545.9642.

Best Martial
Arts School

Marin

Goju Karate

622 Lindaro St., San Rafael.
415.413.0930.

Napa

Red Dragon

2000 W. Pueblo Ave., Napa.
707.255.5470.

Sonoma

ATA Martial Arts

1415 Fulton Road, Ste. 225, Santa Rosa.
707.523.1144.

Best Park

Marin

Gerstle Park

San Rafael Avenue at Clark Street,
San Rafael. 415.485.3333.

Napa

Pioneer Park

1308 Cedar St., Calistoga.
707.942.2838.

Sonoma

Howarth Park

630 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa.
707.543.3425.

Best Snow-
Sports Shop

Marin

Demo Sport

1101 Francisco Blvd. E., San Rafael.
415.454.3500.

Napa

Boardgarden

2740 Jefferson St., Napa.
707.253.7949.

Sonoma

Santa Rosa Ski & Sports

1125 W. Steele Lane, Santa Rosa.
707.578.4754.

Best Skate Shop

Marin

Triumph

907 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.457.1625.

Napa

Boardgarden

2740 Jefferson St., Napa.
707.253.7949.

Sonoma

Brotherhood
Board Shop

1240 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.546.0660.

Best Surf Shop

Marin

Proof Lab

244 Shoreline Hwy., Mill Valley.
415.380.8900.

Napa

Boardgarden

2740 Jefferson St., Napa.
707.253.7949.

Sonoma

Northern Light
Surf Shop

17191 Bodega Hwy., Bodega.
707.876.3032.

Recreation: Writers Picks|Back to Intro Page

Chapter 5: Romance

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Chapter 5: Romance

The next day, Jake slumped in his seat at the hotel bar, ignoring the karaoke. The case had gone stone cold; no girl, no more leads, no idea what the heck a cedar spa treatment was. The dismayed detective was about to pack it in when the big break came waltzing in.

Jake couldn’t believe his eyes. There she was, Molly Pemberton, in all her glory, being dragged through the lobby by a handsome-looking jerk with one of those cordless phones on his belt. She didn’t look happy. Neither did he. Jake shot up and made his way out the door behind them. He could hear pieces of their conversation. The guy was doing most of the talking.

” . . . And then I hear you’re whooping it up in some seaside town, like a hippie?” He was steaming.

“The term is ‘bohemian,’ Steven. It’s a different world up here,” she protested. “I feel alive and happy in a way I never thought I could be.”

Jake realized he felt the same way. He’d been falling head over heels for this corner of California ever since he crossed the Golden Gate. He also realized that Molly was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

Steven clicked his keys and the Tesla silently came to life. So, Molly’s got a Silicon Valley boyfriend she’s fed up with. That’s why she took off. Just then, Steven yelled, “I’ve got reservations at Osmosis. We’re going, and you’re coming with me!”

Osmosis? The cedar spa! Jake fired up the Roadmaster. Things were about to get interesting.

He followed the unhappy couple to Freestone and the Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary. Sidestepping the front desk girl, Jake slipped into the back, where Molly was still giving Steven the business near the ponds.

“I’m not going back to the city, not with you, not ever,” she cried out.

Jake stepped closer.

“You don’t have a choice,” Steven threatened. “Your father promised things to me in return for my investment . . .”

That was all Jake needed to hear. In one motion, he walked up, stuck a wingtip shoe behind Steve’s left ankle and gave the right shoulder a shove. Steven fell into the water with a satisfying splash. Molly looked up, a smile widening.

“Want to get out of here?” asked Jake, offering his hand.

“Do you own a Tesla?”

“Not a chance, sweetheart.”

They both laughed, and Molly took his hand. . . .

Finish the Story

[page]

ROMANCE: WRITERS PICKS

Best Moonlit Date Night

The tracks date back to the 1860s and the cars are about a century old. For pure bygone charm, it’s hard to beat the Napa Valley Wine Train. The train runs a course some 36 miles long and passes several of the area’s premier wineries—and it has long been a destination in itself for romantic meals and picturesque setting. It’s also the best way to enjoy door-to-door winetasting service without having to worry about getting around.

The Napa Valley Wine Train offers leisurely lunch and dinner tours as well as stress-free winery tours, with luxury motor coaches to get you from the station to the vineyard. The train hosts special events like “Murder on the Wine Train Express” dinner theater, but for a romantic night out, you’ve got to book the Moonlight Escape Tour. This nocturnal trip offers private booths in the train’s classic 1952 glass-topped vista
dome car and a freshly prepared dinner for two while panoramic views of the
moonlit valley slowly pass by outside. The Moonlight Escape tours hit the tracks
once a month, and are a sure-fire shot of love that’s perfect for couples young and old. 1275 McKinstry St., Napa. 707.253.2111.—Charlie Swanson

Best Political Romance

To hear some of the more progressive cranks and skeptics of the North Bay tell it, Jared Huffman wasn’t held in much high regard when he ran for Congress in 2012 and won. Since then he’s been a pretty solid progressive voice and advocate for the North Bay, on issues near and dear to residents: drought, the environment, open space, clean water. In short order, Huffman has helped carve out new federal marine sanctuaries along the coastline, and he’s offered to the House of Representatives a quintessentially deft piece of impossible legislation in the form of a fuel tax pegged to a gallon’s relative dirtiness. It’s not going to go anywhere in that monkeyhouse, but give the guy a break—he’s trying. Huffman also threw the stink-eye at any plans for a Big War to deal with ISIS and what this country ought to be doing about it. Yes, Huffman was a little squiggly-wiggly about this whole “Benjamin Netanyahu visit to Congress” episode, but fealty to Israel is nothing new—even among progressives like Elizabeth Warren, who, unlike Huffman, blew us off when we asked to speak to her last year. Call it a bromance.—Tom Gogola

Best Shot at Love in the Time of Elephant Seals

On a winter weekend, a bike ride to the beach where elephant seals meet and mate at Point Reyes Headlands is the way to go. Why drive all the way down that verdant, hilly peninsula only to be directed into a parking lot and line up for a shuttle bus with all the other chumps when you can ride nearly car-free the rest of the way? I knew nothing of this one January afternoon as I cycled by the crowds—it was just a happy discovery. Then, when the tourists moved on after briefly gawking at the thousand-plus seal colony from the overlook, a docent confided to me, you know, you can see them up close on the little beach down there. Sure enough, a bull elephant seal dozed next to his harem, just a few feet away, in a roped-off area guarded by a couple of friendly docents. After studying me awhile, one docent asked, hey, are you single? Because a guy who takes the trouble to ride all the way down here is the kind of guy one of her girlfriends needs to meet, she says. Could this story get any better? No. Turns out later, a rival male had already begun dating her friend. So off the beach I roll, back into the wide open ocean. —James Knight

Best Town in Transition That Would Make a Lovely Olympic Training Village

The town of Jenner‘s got a lot going on these days—as does the former Olympic gold medalist. For Jenner, the town, the transitions mostly involve land-buys from the Wildlands Conservancy that have saved lots of grazing land from possible development. Jenner, as in Bruce, wants to transition into womanhood. Excellent. These twin transitions represent the best of both worlds. Let Jenner transition to an Olympic training town, and let we, as a tolerant and forgiving nation, transition into a transgender-accepting society. Highway 1. Look for the Russian River and shot-putting transsexuals.—Tom Gogola

Romance: Readers Picks|Back to Intro Page

Everyday: Readers Lists

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Everyday: Readers Lists

Best

Antique Shop

Marin

Pavillion Antiques

312 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo.
415.459.2002.

Napa

Alice’s Consignment

810 Randolph St., Napa.
707.927.3224.

Sonoma

Whistlestop Antiques

130 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.542.9474.

Best

Resale Store

Marin

Georgi & Willow

649 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo.
415.721.7917.

Napa

Lolo’s

1120 Main St., St. Helena.
707.963.7972.

Sonoma

Restyle Marketplace

1001 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.284.1700.

Best

Art
Supply Store

Marin

Rileystreet Art

1138 Fourth Ave., San Rafael.
415.457.2787.

Napa

Napa Valley
Art Supplies

3250 California Blvd., Napa.
707.224.2775.

Sonoma

RileyStreet Art

103 Maxwell Court, Santa Rosa.
707.526.2416.

Best

Framing Shop

Marin

Ringseis Designs
Picture Framing

1824 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax.
415.456.8121.

Napa

Fast Frame

13456 Trancas St., Napa.
707.226.3422.

Sonoma

My Daughter
the Framer

637 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.542.3599.

Best

Locally Made Retail Product

Napa

Napa Soap Company

655 Main St., St. Helena.
707.963.5010.

marin

Heath Ceramics

400 Gate Five Road, Sausalito.
415.332.3732.
www.heathceramics.com

Sonoma

Kozlowski Farms

5566 Hwy. 116, Forestville.
707.887.9650.

Best

Bookstore – New

Marin

Copperfield’s Books

www.copperfieldsbooks.com

Napa

Copperfield’s Books

www.copperfieldsbooks.com

Sonoma

Copperfield’s Books

www.copperfieldsbooks.com

Best

Bookstore – Used

Marin

Rebound Bookstore

1611 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.482.0550.

Napa

Napa Bookmine

964 Pearl St., Napa.
707.733.3199.

Sonoma

Treehorn Books

625 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.525.1782.

Best

Musical Instruments Store

Marin

Banana’s

1504 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.457.7600.

Sonoma

People’s Music

122 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.823.7664.

Best

Record/CD Store

Marin

Bedrock Music

2226 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.258.9745.

Sonoma

Last Record Store

1899-A Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.525.1963.

Best

Fashion Jewelry Store

Marin

Shunzi

1233 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.455.9085.

Napa

Villa Iris

618 Third St., Napa. 707.258.1119.

Sonoma

Artisana

6761 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol.
707.829.3036.

Best

Fine
Jewelry Store

Marin

Villa Jewelers

1307 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.458.8799.

Napa

David’s

1343 Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.0239.

Sonoma

E.R. Sawyer Jewelers

638 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.861.4118.

Best

Knitting /
Craft Shop

Marin

Dharma Trading Company

1604 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.456.1211.

Napa

Yarns on First

1305 First St., Napa. 707.257.1363.

Sonoma

Cast Away and Folk

100 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.546.9276.

Best

Clothing
Store–Men’s

Marin

Louis Thomas

212 Corte Madera Town Center,
Corte Madera. 415.924.1715.

Napa

Mario’s

1223 Main St., St. Helena.
707.963.1603.

Sonoma

Kaliber

315 D St., Santa Rosa. 707.528.0182.

BEST

Clothing Store–Women’s

Marin

Yeah Baby

1830 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Fairfax.
415.459.4493.

Napa

Betty’s Girl

968 Pearl St., Napa.
707.254.7560.

Sonoma

Silk Moon

195 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.824.4300.

Best

Vintage Clothing Store

Marin

Knimble Clothing
& Knick Knack

851 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.454.4009.

Napa

Wildcat Clothing

www.facebook.com/wildcatvintage

Sonoma

Aubergine

755 Petaluma Ave., Sebastopol.
707.829.2722.

Best

Shoe Store

Marin

Sole Desire

5800 Northgate, San Rafael.
415.472.1202.

Napa

Sole Desire

1209 First St., Napa.
707.252.7280.

Sonoma

Sole Desire

2411 Magowan Drive, Santa Rosa.
707.542.1690.

Best

Furniture/Home Furnishings Store

Marin

The Wooden Duck

1848 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.453.0345.

Napa

VonSaal Design build

101 S. Coombs St., Napa.
707.257.7733

Sonoma

Cokas Diko

3499 Industrial Way, Santa Rosa.
707.570.2341.
21 Washington St., Petaluma.
707.763.9200.

Best

Home Improvement Store

Marin

Jackson’s Hardware

435 Du Bois St., San Rafael.
415.454.3740.

Napa

Zeller’s
Ace Hardware

819 Randolph St., Napa.
707.224.0204.

Sonoma

Friedman’s Home Improvement

429 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma.
707.774.8400.

Best

Digital Creative Services

Marin

Butler, Shine,
Stern & Partners

20 Liberty Ship Way, Sausalito.
415.331.6049.

Napa

Plumbline

1040 Main St., #201, Napa.
707.251.9884.
1754 Second St., Napa.
707.251.9884.

Sonoma

ZDCA Design & Development

751 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
800.985.9322.

Best

Solar Retail

Marin

Solarcraft

285 Bel Marin Keys Blvd., Novato.
415.382.7717.

Sonoma

Solar Works

400 Morris St., Ste. C, Sebastopol.
707.829.8282.

Best

Auto Dealer

Marin

Mini of Marin

5880 Paradise Drive, Corte Madera.
877.665.1492.

Napa

Jimmy Vasser Toyota
of Napa

466 Soscol Ave., Napa.
888.745.7679.

Sonoma

Hansel Auto Group

2925 Corby Ave., Santa Rosa.
866.698.8486.

Best

Motorcycle /Scooter Shop

Marin

Motopia

1121 Francisco Blvd. E., San Rafael.
415.457.1010.

Napa

Napa Valley Classics

820 Third St., Napa.
707.253.8185.

Sonoma

Revolution Moto

518 College Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.523.2371.

Best

Limo Service

Marin

Rixos Limousine
& Wine Tours

www.rixoslimousine.com

Napa

Limos America

www.limosamerica.com

Sonoma

Pure Luxury Limousine

4246 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma.
707.775.2920.

Best

Auto Detailing

Marin

Matt & Jeff’s
Hand Car Wash

125 Vintage Way, Novato.
415.899.9952.

Napa

New Life Auto Salon

684 Lincoln Ave., Napa.
707.254.0223.

Sonoma

Advanced Auto
Glass & Detail

2460 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.526.5700.

Best

Auto Repair

Marin

Jack Hunt Automotive

212 Corte Madera Town Center,
Corte Madera. 415.924.1715.

Napa

Wine Country Motors

755 Sixth St., Napa.
707.255.8697.

Sonoma

Empire Automotive

412 Madison St., Petaluma.
707.762.7577.

Best

Nursery

Marin

Sloat Garden Center

www.sloatgardens.com

Napa

Van Winden’s
Garden Center

1805 Pueblo Ave., Napa.
707.255.8400.

Sonoma

King’s Nursery

1212 13th St., Santa Rosa.
707.542.4782.

Best

Hydroponic Supply Store

Marin

Marin Hydroponics

55 Frosty Lane, Novato.
415.233.4104.
721 Francisco Blvd. E., San Rafael.
415.482.8802.

Napa

Endless Green

55 Enterprise Court, Ste. 2, Napa.
707.254.0200.

Sonoma

Santa Rosa Hydroponics

4130 S. Moorland Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.584.9370.

Best

Grocery Store

Marin

Good Earth
Grocery Store

720 Center Blvd., Fairfax.
415.454.0123

Napa

Cal Mart

1491 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga.
707.942.6271.

Sonoma

Oliver’s Market

www.oliversmarket.com

Best

Ethnic Market

Marin

Asian Market

5 Mary St., San Rafael.
415.459.7133.

Napa

La Morenita Market

2434 Jefferson St., Napa. 707.255.9068.

Sonoma

Asia Mart

2481 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa.
707.542.3513.

Best

Natural
Foods Store

Marin

Good Earth Grocery Store

720 Center Blvd., Fairfax. 415.454.0123

Napa

Nature Select Foods

1080 Main St., St. Helena.
707.967.8545.

Sonoma

Community Market

1899 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.546.1806.
6762 Sebastopol Ave., Ste. 100, Sebastopol.
707.407.4020.

Best

Culinary Store

Marin

Tyler Florence

59 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley.
415.380.9200.

Napa

Shackford’s
Kitchen Store

1350 Main St., Napa.
707.226.2132.

Sonoma

Cultivate Home

186 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.824.1400.

Best

Pipe Shop

Marin

Mighty Quinn

1099 Fourth St., San Rafael.
415.457.2420.

Napa

Mighty Quinn

110 Soscol Ave., Napa.
707.226.7420.

Sonoma

Peacepipe

8492 Gravenstein Hwy., Ste. C,
Cotati. 707.795.3420.

Best

Hair Salon

Marin

Cooper Alley Salon

2215 Larkspur Landing Circle,
Larkspur. 415.461.1146.

Napa

Bloom Creative
Hair Design

1146 Main St., Napa.
707.251.8468.

Sonoma

Leading
Edge Salon

1235 N. Dutton Ave., Ste. B,
Santa Rosa. 707.575.5551.

Best

Full Service Beauty Salon

Marin

Milvali Salon

3 E. Blithedale Ave., Mill Valley.
415.388.0988.

Sonoma

Elle Lui Salon

205 Fifth St., Santa Rosa.
707.575.1474.

Best

Skin Care Spa

Marin

KUR Skincare
Boutique

1435 Fourth St., Ste. D, San Rafael.
415.339.4700.

Napa

Meadowood

900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena.
877.963.3646.

Sonoma

Bliss Organic
Day Spa

186 N. Main St., Second Floor,
Sebastopol. 707.861.3434.

Best

Body Art
Place

Marin

Spider Murphy’s

1006 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael.
415.460.6979.

Napa

Golden Owl

926 Franklin St., Napa.
707.266.2454

Sonoma

Buddha’s Palm
Tattoo & Art Gallery

313 N. Main St., Sebastopol.
707.829.7256.

Best

Day Spa

Marin

Evo Spa

800 Redwood Hwy. Frontage #215,
Mill Valley. 415.383.3223.

Napa

Mount View Hotel & Spa

1457 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga.
707.942.6877.

Sonoma

Osmosis Day Spa

209 Bohemian Hwy., Freestone.
707.823.8231.

Best

Resort & Spa

Marin

Cavallo Point Spa

601 Murray Circle, Sausalito.
415.339.4767.

Napa

Harvest Inn & Spa

1 Main St., St. Helena.
707.963.9463.

Sonoma

Flamingo
Hotel & Spa

2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.545.8530.

Best

Holistic Practitioner

Marin

Ronit Gesundheit, Community Acupuncture

7075 Redwood Blvd., Ste. H, Novato.
415.250.4009.

Sonoma

Joshua Margolis, LAc, DOMTP, Farmacopia

95 Montgomery Drive, Ste. 126, Santa Rosa.
707.861.0625.

Best

Holistic
Herbal Shop

Marin

Community
Acupuncture of Marin

7075 Redwood Blvd., Ste. H, Novato.
415.250.4009.

Sonoma

Farmacopia

95 Montgomery Drive, Ste. 90, Santa Rosa.
707.528.4372.

Best

Medical Dispensary

Marin

Green Light Alternatives

www.greenlightalternatives.com

Napa

Sunshine Valley

www.sunshineoutreach.org

Sonoma

Peace in Medicine

1061 N. Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.843.3227.

6771 Sebastopol Ave. #100, Sebastopol. 707.823.4206.

Best

Chiropractor

Marin

DeSalvo Chiropractic

7595 Redwood Blvd., Ste. 108, Novato.
415.898.6888.

Napa

Rhea Zimmerman Komarek, Blossom Precision Chiropractic

305 Post St., Napa.
707.257.1011.

Sonoma

Jacob Quihuis,
the Chiropractic Center

1819 Fourth St., Santa Rosa.
707.523.9850.

Best

Orthodontist

Marin

Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics

900 Larkspur Landing Circle #200,
Larkspur. 415.459.8006.

Napa

Mary C. Cooke,
Cooke Orthodontics

3392 Solano Ave., Napa.
707.255.4400.

Sonoma

Bernstein Orthodontics

2245 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa.
707.575.0600.

Best

Esthetic Dentist

Marin

Bryan Barientos

79 Wharf Road, Bolinas.
415.868.0168.

Sonoma

Sean Wilson

98 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa.
707.579.1555.

Best

Hospital / Healthcare Clinic

Marin

Marin General Hospital

250 Bon Air Road, Greenbrae.
415.925.7000.

Napa

Queen of the Valley Medical Center

1000 Trancas St., Napa.
707.252.4411.

Sonoma

Kaiser Permanente

401 Bicentennial Way, Santa Rosa.
707.393.4000.

Best

Optical Store

Marin

Site for Sore Eyes

208 Vintage Way, Vintage Oaks
Shopping Center, Novato. 415.897.3377.

Napa

Site for Sore Eyes

1715 Trancas St., Ste. B, Napa. 707.224.7483.

Sonoma

Sonoma Eyeworks

534 Larkfield Center, Santa Rosa.
707.578.2020.

Best

Laser
Surgery Center

Marin

Robert G. Aycock

575 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae.
415.460.7995.

Sonoma

Aesthetic Laser
& Vein Centers

70 Stony Point Road, Ste. G, Santa Rosa.
707.542.8346.

Best

Plastic
Surgeon

Marin

Kimberly Henry, MD

250 Bon Air Road, Ste. 1, Greenbrae.
415.924.1313.

Sonoma

David Marcus, MD

1128 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.575.1626.

Best

Bank

Marin

Bank of Marin

1101 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.485.2265.

Sonoma

Exchange Bank

www.exchangebank.com

Best

Law Firm

Napa

Hudson Luros

1436 Second St., Ste. 280, Napa.
707.418.5118.

Sonoma

Law offices of Omar Figueroa

7770 Healdsburg Ave., Ste. A, Sebastopol.
707.829.0215.

Best

Credit Union

Marin

Redwood Credit Union

209 Third St., San Rafael.
800.479.7928.
1010 Grant Ave., Novato.
707.545.4000.

Napa

Redwood Credit Union

1705 First St., Napa.
707.545.4000.

Sonoma

Redwood Credit Union

3033 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa.
707.545.5000

Best

Nonprofit

Marin

Big Brother Big Sisters
of the north bay

1618 Second St., San Rafael.
415.453.3800.

Napa

Napa County Landmarks

1754 Second St., Ste. E, Napa.
707.255.1836.

Sonoma

Forget Me Not Farm

5345 Hwy. 12, Santa Rosa.
707.542.0882.

Everyday: Writers List|Back to Intro Page

Chapter I: Recreation

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Chapter I: Recreation

Bolinas, the hidden burg of unrepentant hippies and the assiduously non-9-to-5. It’s about as far from Reynolds Pemberton’s corner office as you could imagine. Maybe that was the way young Molly Pemberton wanted it.

The one lead Pemberton offered was a call he got from Mill Valley’s Proof Lab Surf Shop. Apparently, Molly was the outdoorsy type. One of the shop boys at Proof Lab called when Molly used her father’s credit card to buy a new surfboard. She was headed to Bolinas to go surfing with a friend. He approved the purchase, but then got worried as the days passed.

With that info, a photo of the pinup-pretty young woman and a half tank of gas in his Buick Roadmaster, Jake crossed the bridge and headed north to pick up the trail. He pulled up at Proof Lab and headed to the counter where a tow-headed kid in a ball cap was flipping through a surfing magazine. He didn’t look like a baseball player.

“How’s it?” he said looking up at Jake.

“It’s just fine,” Jake said. “Looking for a dame and wondered if you knew anything about her whereabouts. She bought a board here about a week ago.” Jake passed him the photo.

“Oh, I remember her. Is she OK?” he asked. “She was kind of a babe.”

“She’s not in any danger. Just trying to find her.”

“All’s I remember was she was going to hit Bolinas with her friend, Veronica I think it was. She was pretty hot, too.”

“What did she buy?”

“It was a sick C.I. fish. Five-eight, I think. Quad.”

Jake looked at him without comprehension. “Color?”

“Mango orange. Hey, you ought to pick up a board yourself and paddle out to go look for her.”

“I don’t go in for that surf stuff,” said Jake. “Last time I went to the ocean it was to ID a body that had washed up on Ocean Beach.”

“Gnarly.”

Jake thanked the kid and left the shop. It was getting dark so he’d figured he’d shoot some pool to wind down before he hit the sack at the swanky room Pemberton had reserved for him at Cavallo Point. . . .

Continue the Story
[page]

WRITERS PICKS: RECREATION

Best Solitary Day Trip

Sometimes, you need a little alone time, and although it’s relatively easy to get lost in the North Bay, doing it in style is quite the challenge. Enter the Headlands Center for the Arts—wonderfully empty, full of light, and, hey, there’s art too! The drive to the destination is part of the fun—cut through a one-way tunnel, and then it’s nothing but the stunning Marin Headlands. The center itself is located in a pristine historical building. It gets especially lonely off-season between artist residencies and events. The white walls and the natural surroundings guarantee soft sunlight, and the atmosphere—serene yet welcoming—is tailored for a solitary experience. While there, #whitepeopledoingyoga, part of an exhibition by Chiraag Bhakta previously shown at the Asian Museum in San Francisco, is a good moment to pause and reflect on Western culture, spirituality
and humor—it’s a huge collage of 1960s–’90s memorabilia and media bits of, well,
white people doing yoga. 944 Fort Barry, Sausalito. 415.331.2787. www.headlands.org.
— Flora Tsapovsky

Best Literary Park

Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen offers beauty and mystery galore. There’s the museum at the House of Happy Walls that Charmian London built after her husband died in 1916 at the age of 40. Then there’s the cottage that they called home while he was alive, plus the ruins of Wolf House, the mansion that burned to the ground in 1913 and turned Jack’s life into a nightmare. Still, the stone walls at Wolf House—where London aimed to live the American dream—can be alluring. Recently, designer Ralph Lauren used Wolf House as a backdrop for a fashion shoot with glamorous models. Tourists from Russia arrive almost every week, make a beeline for Jack’s grave not far from the ruins, get out their smart phones, take a zillion photos and send them to comrades in Moscow. There’s live music in the park almost all year round and book groups that meet to discuss The Call of the Wild and other works by the author who fled from Oakland in 1905, bought land hand-over-fist, called it “Beauty Ranch,” farmed organically and invited friends to join an unending party that anticipated the Jazz Age revelry of
F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Miles of newly cleared trails take backpackers to hidden vistas and secluded spots. Walking tours led by savvy docents illuminate the life and times of London the man and the myth. Longtime London readers are often surprised to discover that he raised pigs and horses, trekked the forests of Sonoma Mountain, and that he and Charmian never had the children they wanted. The House of Happy Walls offers stunning artifacts and photos and an excellent selection of London’s novels, including Martin Eden, that might hold the clues to solve the mysteries. 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. 707.938.5216.
&mdashJonah Raskin

Best Before-Work Sweat Fest

Setting new routines can be hard, but one that will undoubtedly jump-start your day is an early-morning yoga class. Tone yoga, Pilates and dance studio offers a before-work class scheduled from 6:45am to 8am, and is located in the heart of downtown Santa Rosa. Yoga is as good for the mind as it is for the body, and this Tuesday and Thursday class can keep you centered all day long. For those who are less inclined to wake up early, cruise on over to Tone for a little lunch-hour yoga on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or a Pilates or Zumba class with a variety of start times. A lengthy list of classes all day and into the evening makes it possible to fit in a class whatever your schedule. 545 Ross St., Santa Rosa. 707.526.3100.—Jessie Janssen

Best Place to Rub Your Mammoth

You know when you see a dark, shiny smudge about one foot above the floor, that was some dog’s favorite spot to curl up against the wall not too long ago. Going back further in time, some porch railings on local farmhouses bear the teeth marks of compulsively cribbing, 19th-century horses. And if you want to see where 14-foot mammoths left their mark more than 12,000 years ago, just take a walk on the Sonoma Coast. Since 2001, archaeologists have identified several ancient rock formations along the Kortum Trail south of Jenner as potential “Rancholabrean rubbing rocks.” Similar to the way present-day African elephants use landmark rocks to scrape parasites off their hides, researchers say large Pleistocene animals such as Columbian mammoths likely enjoyed a nice rub on these rocks, polishing areas to a glassy sheen over thousands of years. Today, the rocks are popular
with climbers, who enjoy a great
view of the ocean from atop them.
But the view through the surface of
the rocks takes you so much further. www.parks.ca.gov.—James Knight

Best River Beach Kept Tidy by Your Mom

While the debate about the best Russian River beach is a toughie, one beach stands above all—that is, if you consider cleanliness, natural beauty, privacy and shade as important criteria. Beautiful as it is, the Russian River is hit-or-miss—some beaches have difficult access or disappoint with rocky grounds, too much highway in sight or zero greenery to take refuge under. Mother Beach, sometimes called Mom Beach, has it all. Just off River Road in Forestville, it welcomes visitors with ample parking and an easy trail down. A note sometimes welcomes the crowd—handwritten by the “mom,” the beach caretaker—and a big trash can awaits recycling when you leave. The beach is crescent-shaped, long and roomy, lined by trees in the back and fronted by just-the-perfect-depth river with some more trees in the background. It’s frequented by groups of city folks and locals who have good taste in beaches. No one is ever too invasive or too obnoxious to ruin your tanning session. The best way to go: duck your head in the shade, let the sun stroke your limbs and look up to a sky framed by branches. It might be just perfect. 10584 River Drive (off River Road), Forestville.—Flora Tsapovsky

Best Opportunity to Bathe in a Forest

Ages ago, Japanese culture brought us sake and sushi, and forever changed our habits of drinking and eating. The next new Japanese thing might be shinrin-yoku, which translates as “forest bathing.” No, you don’t take off your clothes and wade in a babbling brook or pool, though you might sit alongside a stream and watch icy water flow downhill. The idea behind the practice is that walking slowly through the woods can be emotionally and psychologically healing. One might
call it “ecotherapy.” In fact, in Japan doctors prescribe forest bathing for patients with depression and anxiety. North Bay advocates, such as
M. Amos Clifford, hope that it will catch on here and that it will become as popular as Zen, sake and tuna rolls. Clifford and others lead small groups through parks in Sonoma County. Participants follow one another single-file over hill and dale. They sit on the ground, curl up with ancient oak trees and drink hot tea brewed from foraged ingredients. They also get in touch with their own inner selves, or so they say, and realize the value of moving slowly through the wilds without rushing to scale a mountain or cross a tangled valley. Shinrin-yoku encourages mindfulness and appreciation of the natural world. On a two- to three-hour walk, participants might travel less than a mile and yet feel that they’ve been on an epic quest. It’s clearly not meant for ironmen or -women. Shinrin-yoku seems to work for those who want to take it slow. A seductive website (www.shinrin-yoku.org) might whet the appetite.—Jonah Raskin

Best Frisbee Golf Course with a View

Enjoy a panoramic view of Santa Rosa at Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve. About five minutes drive from 101, the park features four miles of dirt trails over two different routes leading up the mountain. For those inclined to try their skills, there is also an 18-hole disc golf course with lots of obstacles. Both the trails and the course are open from 8am to sunset, and during this time it’s common to see cows, as the park doubles as a grazing area. The rolling green hills are the perfect place to explore without driving too far, and a great look-out point for a picnic. It’s also an especially popular place to walk your dog, unlike a lot of the other trails in the Santa Rosa area. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.—Jessie Janssen

Best Way to Shake Away the Pounds

Mock it or love it, Zumba is a damn good way to burn it off. No one really expects you to be a salsa pro, so loosening up and having fun is key, and no one has as much fun as Lucibel Nunez, the very fierce instructor at Fierce Fitness. Classes are held daily in a huge, no-frills facility in the Santa Rosa industrial zone; a punch card costs $50 for 11 visits, or 5 bucks for a single visit—a good deal. What you get for the small fee, however, is priceless. Nunez exudes energy and knows how to pick just the right songs and choreography to make you dance like there’s no tomorrow, and she always has a funky reagaetton or authentic salsa song up her sleeve. Add in unapologetic, fun-loving attendees and a strong sense of community. Every class begins with a request to keep the space welcoming and respectful. 3501 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa. 707.365.8486.—F.T.

Best Way to Dry
Out Your Wolf

Making conversation on an easy hike up Old Railroad Grade to Mount Tam one day, I ask my friend, so, did I ever tell you about the dry wolf? No, he says, tell me about the dry wolf. Well, I say, here’s the thing: after an evening of one tipple too many, I planned to rally myself next day with a strenuous ascent up the Dipsea Steps. Scores of confident, chattering groups passed me on the way up. As I finally trudged to the top, a trio of young people bounced downhill past me, playing hacky-sack all the while. And I swear that one of them called out these words: “Dry wolf!” Must be some kind of a game, I concluded in my fog of exertion—the first one to identify a “lone wolf” who’s hiking to “dry out” is the winner! Makes sense to me. The Dipsea Steps, a 680-some step stairway that’s part of the famed Dipsea Trail, is best tackled after a good night’s sleep and a healthful breakfast. Old Mill Park, Mill Valley.—James Knight

Recreation: Readers Picks|Back to Intro Page

Best Of 2015: North Bay Confidential

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Best Of 2015: North Bay Confidential

The words “Best Of issue” have been know to strike fear into the hearts of Bohemian writers and editors. This is my first Best Of issue as editor, and I have to say I’ve rather enjoyed it.

It’s our biggest issue of the year and a beast to put together, but it’s also a lot of fun because we get a revealing look at what you, our readers, think are the best people, places and businesses in the North Bay. And we get to write about our favorite North Bay personalities and experiences in our “writer’s picks.”

We also had fun with the theme of this year’s issue: North Bay Confidential. The conceit is that it takes some sleuthing and insider knowledge to discover what makes the North Bay special. So in the spirit of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, we invented a hardboiled detective named Jake McGuinness and set him loose in the North Bay to find a wayward dame. News editor Tom Gogola, calendar editor Charlie Swanson, regular contributor James Knight and I each took turns writing the “chapters” that introduce our six sections: Recreation, Food and Drink, Culture, Everyday, Romance and Family. Each of us had to pick up where the previous writer left off and move the story forward. We also enlisted artist Joe Leonard to ink our noirish cover and the illustrations inside the paper to set the scene. I think he did a brilliant job.

If you won an award, click here to get yours.

Did our detective find the girl? Read on to find out.

NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN’S BEST OF 2015: NORTH BAY CONFIDENTIAL

Reynolds Pemberton’s office was on the 14th floor of a slate-gray tower of steel and glass at Battery and Sacramento. Pemberton was CEO of a financial services firm. Jake McGuinness’ net
worth meant he didn’t need Pemberton’s services. But the CEO needed his.

“Good morning,” Jake said to the receptionist. “I’m here to see Mr. Pemberton. The name’s McGuinness.”

The receptionist, an angular blonde with her hair pulled back so tight it looked like it would snap, appraised Jake with a faint sniff.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“I sure do, doll. Ten a.m. Do you have a name?”

She didn’t respond, but glanced at her computer monitor to confirm Jake’s appointment.

“Please have a seat, Mr. McGuinness.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” said Jake, pulling out a smoke and a scuffed Zippo.

“This is a no-smoking office,” the receptionist said, looking at him as if he’d pulled out a gun.

“Easy, toots. I’ll hold my fire.”

After a half hour a heavy oak door opened behind the nameless receptionist. A tall man of 60 or so with a dark pin-stripped suit strode toward the receptionist and said something to her, then looked up at Jake.

“I’m Reynolds Pemberton. You the detective?”

“I am, but I usually go by McGuinness. Jake McGuinness.”

“Wise guy, are you?”

Pemberton’s face flushed, and he looked like he was going to say something else but thought better of it.

“Come into my office, please.”

With a wink at the receptionist, Jake followed Pemberton.

What an office it was. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered views of the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate. Pemberton settled into his black Eames chair like a man climbing into a plush sedan.

“Drink?” he offered, pointing to a row of bourbon and gin bottles on a small table.

“Not quite yet, thanks.”

“I’ll get right to it, McGuinness. My daughter, Molly, is gone and I want her found. And I want you to be discreet. Can you do that?”

In spite of all the trappings of wealth and power, Pemberton looked vulnerable with his back against the plate-glass window high above the thrum of the city.

“I can be discreet, Mr. Pemberton. As for finding your daughter, that I can’t guarantee. But I’ll do my best. Fill me in. Where did you last see her?”

Pemberton paused and then rotated his chair to face the orange bridge and fog-shrouded Marin Headlands beyond.

“Last I heard, she was there,” he said, pointing with his chin. “In Bolinas.”

He spoke the name of the town like it was coated with dirt. . . .

Continue the story

Princess in Waiting

Kenneth Branagh's version of Cinderella has a magnificent palace in it, like a Beaux Arts casino on the edge of an Alaskan fjord. Production designer Dante Ferretti and costumer Sandy Powell fill it up at great expense. This fantasyland is created after the invention of aniline dyes; as garish as they are cruel, the stepsisters wear all the newly created...
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Debriefer: March 18, 2015

This is our Best Of issue, but in the spirit of balance and contrarianism Debriefer presents a round-up of the worst of the North Bay. Worst News We Heard About the Drought California's going to run out of surface water in a year, sayeth Jay Famiglietti, senior water scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, in the Los Angeles Times...
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Chapter 4: Everyday

Jake had a frown to match the Roadmaster's grille when he rolled into Petaluma, only not so shiny. He lost sight of the girls' bus after they pulled into town. After cursing himself, he found a phone booth to check in with Pemberton, hoping for another lead but not wanting to tell him Molly had given him the slip. Since...
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Best Citizen

Debt Reckoning Michael Carnacchi would like to stick a boot up the bank's ass, but he'll settle for a hearing at the Supreme Court Michael Carnacchi is a reluctant citizen-hero, a man who leads a conversation with humility and good humor. He's easily the Best Of winner for Best North Bay Citizen, despite humble protestations to the contrary. Carnacchi is the...
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Readers Picks: Food & Drink

Best Farmers Market Marin Marin Farmers Market 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael. 415.472.6100. Napa St. Helena Farmers Market 360 Crane Ave., St. Helena. 707.486.2662. Sonoma Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers Market thesantarosafarmersmarket.com Best Community Supported Agriculture Napa BOCA Farm 1125 Golden Gate Drive, Napa. www.bocafarm.org Sonoma Laguna Farm 1764 Cooper Road, Sebastopol. 707.823.0823. Best Food Producer Marin Marin Sun Farms 10905 Shoreline Hwy. 1, Pt. Reyes Station. 415.663.1800. Napa Boca Farm 1125 Golden Gate Drive, Napa. bocafarm.org Sonoma Amy's www.amys.com Best Bakery Marin Bovine Bakery 11315 State Route...
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Readers Picks: Recreation

Best Bike Shop Marin Mike's Bikes 836 Fourth St., San Rafael. 415.454.3747. Napa Calistoga Bike Shop 1318 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga. 707.942.9550. Sonoma The TREK Store of Santa Rosa 512 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.546.8735. Best Gym Marin Pelo Cycling & Fitness 171 Third St., San Rafael. 415.459.7356. Napa HealthQuest Fitness Center 3175 California Blvd., Napa. 707.251.8468. Sonoma Coaches Corner 420 Morris St., Sebastopol. 707.829.5180. Best Health Club Marin Body Kinetics 1530 Center Road, Novato. 415.895.5965. Napa Synergy Medical Fitness Center 3421 Villa Lane, Napa. 707.251.1395. Sonoma Airport Health Club 432...
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Chapter 5: Romance

The next day, Jake slumped in his seat at the hotel bar, ignoring the karaoke. The case had gone stone cold; no girl, no more leads, no idea what the heck a cedar spa treatment was. The dismayed detective was about to pack it in when the big break came waltzing in. Jake couldn't believe his eyes. There she was,...
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Everyday: Readers Lists

BestAntique Shop Marin Pavillion Antiques 312 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo. 415.459.2002. Napa Alice's Consignment 810 Randolph St., Napa. 707.927.3224. Sonoma Whistlestop Antiques 130 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707.542.9474. BestResale Store Marin Georgi & Willow 649 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo. 415.721.7917. Napa Lolo's 1120 Main St., St. Helena. 707.963.7972. Sonoma Restyle Marketplace 1001 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa. 707.284.1700. BestArt Supply Store Marin Rileystreet Art 1138 Fourth Ave., San Rafael. 415.457.2787. Napa Napa Valley Art Supplies 3250 California Blvd., Napa. 707.224.2775. Sonoma RileyStreet Art 103 Maxwell Court, Santa Rosa. 707.526.2416. BestFraming Shop Marin Ringseis Designs Picture Framing 1824 Sir...
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Chapter I: Recreation

Bolinas, the hidden burg of unrepentant hippies and the assiduously non-9-to-5. It's about as far from Reynolds Pemberton's corner office as you could imagine. Maybe that was the way young Molly Pemberton wanted it. The one lead Pemberton offered was a call he got from Mill Valley's Proof Lab Surf Shop. Apparently, Molly was the outdoorsy type. One of the...
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Best Of 2015: North Bay Confidential

The words "Best Of issue" have been know to strike fear into the hearts of Bohemian writers and editors. This is my first Best Of issue as editor, and I have to say I've rather enjoyed it. It's our biggest issue of the year and a beast to put together, but it's also a lot of fun because we get...
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