SPIRIT OF THE PENINSULA Musicians Band Together at Novel Club Ducks & Egrets: Inspiring Lakeside Hikes sweet harvest SEPTEMBER 24 Robin’s Hood Supreme Sushi Big Sur Coastline Poetic Landscapes Rhys Vineyards Skyline Inspired PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM
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14 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 45 {punchline} Peninsula Culture 31 Making Her Mark 38 Perfect Shot 40 Diary of a Dog: Wrigley {due west} Travel & Wellness 45 Into the Woods 52 Lakeside Hikes IN EVERY ISSUE 20 Editor’s Note 22 Sloane Citron 25 QuickPUNCH PHOTOGRAPHY: PAULETTE PHLIPOT / COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER STARK / COURTESY OF KODIAK GREENWOOD / COURTESY OF BAMPFA 69 83 {food coloring} Eats, Drinks & Scoops 69 Oh My Omakase 74 Well-Placed Pinots 80 The Beat on Your Eats {home & design} Style and Substance 83 Made to Measure 88 Wild and Wooly {punchout} Features 100 Band Together {landmark} 106 Pedro de Lemos House {september 2024} contents 31
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16 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM “Please call me to remind me to look at the text you sent to remind me to check my email.” —SLOANE CITRON FOUNDER/PUBLISHER Sloane Citron EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Andrea Gemmet CREATIVE DIRECTOR Britt Johnston SENIOR EDITOR Johanna Harlow CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Sheri Baer COPY EDITOR Carrie Lightner PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTORS Annie Barnett Paulette Phlipot PHOTOGRAPHERS Gino De Grandis Robb Most Irene Searles Robert David Siegel WRI TERS Jennifer Jory Sheryl Nonnenberg Amber Turpin SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Dylan Lanier ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS Sally Randall Georgina Fox CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR Airiel Mulvaney ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Alexa Randall PRINT QUALITY DIRECTOR George Marquez PUNCH is an idea about how to live a life that is more engaging and authentic, from personal adventures, growth and what we feed our bodies and souls to the culture that fulfills us and the traditions and new discoveries offered by the Peninsula. It is about appreciating and exploring the richness of where we live and how that understanding can enhance our lives and make them more fulfilling and happy. PUNCH MAGAZINE ADVERTISING Please call 650.383.3636 or email hello@punchmonthly.com PUBLISHED 1047 El Camino Real, Suite 202 Menlo Park, CA 94025 ©2024 by 36 Media, LLC Members Sloane Citron, David Arfin hello@punchmonthly.com punchmagazine.com PUNCH® is a registered trademark of 36 Media, LLC FOLLOW PUNCH: @punchmonthly PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM FOR EVERYTHING PUNCH, COMPLETE CALENDAR, INSIDE SCOOPS & MORE: punchmagazine.com
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20 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM other local sushi chefs whose circumstances prevented them from making their own pilgrimages to the cuisine’s birthplace. Discover his innovative solution in my story. (Page 69) This month, you’ll meet some other people who were inspired by their travels, from Woodsider Kevin Harvey’s persistence in crafting local pinot noirs on par with those of France’s Burgundy region (Page 74) to a Hillsborough remodeling project that draws on influences from both Paris and Texas. (Page 83) Coastside fiber artist Birgitta Bower offers her wooly take on gorgeous scenery that’s closer to home (Page 88) while our short list of lakeside hiking routes invites you to experience beautiful vistas firsthand. (Page 52) When it comes to scenery, we can all agree that it’s hard to beat Big Sur. Senior Editor Johanna Harlow explores how to make the most of a stay at the iconic Post Ranch Inn. (Page 45) Art is top of mind for several Peninsulans featured in our September issue, despite their early careers in the tech world. Atherton’s Komal Shah is a passionate collector on a mission to raise the profile of overlooked and underappreciated contemporary artists. (Page 31) Friends Tom Zarzueta and John Avilla followed their muse and created Redwood City’s Sound Union, a welcoming new space for the musically inclined to band together and make some noise. (Page 100) Summer may soon fade into fall, but September’s adventures await! Andrea Gemmet andrea@punchmonthly.com {editor’s note} My frame of reference for Japanese food didn’t expand much beyond Top Ramen and teriyaki chicken. I’d never heard of soba noodles and if Redwood City had an authentic ramen shop in those days, my family didn’t know about it. Expanding my palate to try sushi was a bridge too far for this picky young eater. That’s not to say I wasn’t delighted by the place. Japan in the 1980s felt like a tween’s fever dream, from the familiar face of Hello Kitty peering from the side of the big Sanrio building to the incredible variety of sidewalk vending machines. Plus chewing gum in flavors I’d never imagined. (Blueberry! Melon! Strawberry!) Unable to read Japanese, servers would have us point to what we wanted in restaurant display cases, where every dish on the menu was realistically replicated in plastic. Nibbling on crunchy Pocky Sticks and tiny mushroom-shaped crackers with milk chocolate caps as the Shinkansen bullet train hurtled me north toward my friend’s house, I might not have been well-nourished, but I was in no danger of going hungry. Regrets? Yeah, I’ve got a few. While that trip sparked a lifelong love of travel, sometimes it’s hard to see past all the missed opportunities. Over the subsequent decades, I’ve relished some of the best Japanese food the West Coast and Hawaii have to offer. I’d love a chance to eat my way around Japan, and see the country through slightly savvier adult eyes. I thought about this when talking with Adam Tortosa, the chef/owner of modern Japanese omakase restaurant Robin Menlo Park. He was a devotee of sushi long before he took his first trip to Japan— which got him thinking about The first time I confronted a plate of raw fish, I was in Tokyo, a brand-new passport tucked alongside packs of bubblegum and traveler’s checks in my faux-leather purse. I eyed the glistening pink sashimi suspiciously and opted instead for a bowl of rice topped with something that was fully cooked. It’s possible the word “eww!” escaped my mouth. The way I figured, I’d already been pretty adventurous for an 11-year-old. I’d just kissed my parents goodbye at SFO and flown halfway around the world to stay with my best friend and her family who were living in Japan for two years. I’d never left the country before and I’d never been on a plane by myself.
SAN FRANCISCO OPEN STUDIOS 1N t Sept 21 & 22 2 Centra /Sout Sept 28 & 29 4Westsid Oct 12 & 13 3 Eas /Sout Eas Oct 5 & 6 Studios open 11am to 5pm Visit with hundreds of artists in their studios during this free public event. Accompanying Exhibitions SF Open Studios Exhibition @ SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St. On view September 19 - October 13, 2024 From Disco Days to the Tech Craze: 50 Years of ArtSpan SF Open Studios @ SF Public Library, Jewett Gallery, 100 Larkin St. On view September 12 - November 17, 2024 SCAN TO LEARN MORE @ArtSpan @ArtSpanSF #SFOS2024
22 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {sloane citron} and helpful. Not to mention that there are countless places to discover. Though I go there at least once a year, there’s always more to see and do. Of course, Shelley, Dan and I talk endlessly about current events, our families and our long history together. We remember the people we grew up with, our neighbors, and the family and friends we have lost. Often, we’ll crack open an old photo album and look at ourselves as children. That always gets a smile touched with feelings of loss. I love hearing their memories of our childhood, since much of it happened before I was really on the scene. Toward the end of our last visit, we talked about our family cat, Tiger. When I was just an infant, Dan found a cat in the alley that ran behind our home, a young tabby with a sweet meow and a friendly, affectionate nature. My brother brought him home and talked our parents into keeping him. My brother, sister and I discussed the small, quiet cat, and the recollections we each had of him. I thought about asking Shelley and Dan about Tamby, about the story that our father had told me, that after the biting incident he was taken to a large cattle ranch to join a wonderful family. But then, I thought better. I didn’t want to disturb the truth that I had held onto my entire life, of our dog out there on that ranch, happy and content. I wanted to forever imagine him running along the Texas plains, racing after a ranch truck, nipping at its tires and never giving up the chase. One of my favorite memories was of my family dog. I’ve written before about Tamby (the Lord of Timberline was his selfimportant AKC name), a mostly black, medium-sized German Shepherd with a fast gait and a never-ending desire to run and pursue. A loving, friendly dog, he was known for chasing cars down the street for several blocks, nipping at the tires until, finally, worn out, he would limp back home and lie down next to us, panting loudly, his long tongue hanging from his mouth. During the summers while I was growing up in Amarillo, I made the four-hour trip to Chandler, Oklahoma, where I was a regular at Chandler Baseball Camp. Under the dusty, blazing-hot sky, we played ball for eight hours a day. We focused on baseball and baseball only—hitting drills, bunting practices, running the bases. To a boy like me, crazy about baseball, it was heaven on earth. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, one of the best parts of camp was its complete divorce from the rest of my life. In the summer after sixth grade, my father drove me to camp as usual, and I entrusted Tamby to him, since there was no one else at home. A month later, after another wonderful summer playing ball, while on the last leg of our return trip home, my Dad said that he had something to tell me. The story he shared was that Tamby had bitten a neighbor child—on our front lawn where he had no business being—when the boy brought his dog over and the two dogs got into a fight. The boy’s family was going to sue us and to settle the situation, Tamby had been sent to live with a “wonderful family on a big ranch not far from Amarillo,” my Dad told me. I had tears in my eyes but didn’t say a word. I had become accustomed to loss. My brother and sister had gone away to prep school and college (I was the youngest by five years) and my mother had moved away to further her career as a concert violinist. The loss of Tamby was just one more slice of sadness in my young life. I never asked any questions of my father and never discussed the incident or Tamby’s well-being with anyone. I think I was afraid of learning something worse than the story I’d been told. Recently, I was in Chicago visiting with my sister Shelley and my brother Dan. We meet regularly just to be together, catch up and share some new adventures. My sister lives in the heart of the city in a beautiful condominium overlooking Lake Michigan. Chicago is my favorite big city. Despite all the negative press, it’s simply a wonderful place. The streets are immaculate; there are beautifully landscaped planters on every block; the people are friendly ruff, rough
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PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 25 SEPTEMBER 2024 + 30 DAYS + SCHOOL! + OUR 74TH ISSUE {quickpunch} Start Up + Celebrate your hard-working self with a barbecue on Labor Day, September 2. + Don’t miss the SF 49ers playing Monday Night Football on September 9. + Enjoy the best drink ever created on Chocolate Milk Day, September 27. + With 162 games down, MLB’s regular season concludes on September 29. Venture Out + SAVOR paintings and pinot at the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival along Castro Street on September 7. + ENCOUNTER deeds most dastardly during Coastal Rep’s latest show, Dial M for Murder, from September 13 to 29 in Half Moon Bay. + FUEL your ardor for automobiles at the Classic & Custom Car Show at College of San Mateo on September 14. September is a month of change and anticipation, when the weather lets us know that summer is on the way out and autumn is sliding in to take its place. While the temperature may still say “summer,” the activities around us are a reminder of the approaching season. Football starts showing up on the TV, kids in backpacks heavy with books travel to and from school, and big box store shelves fill up with the latest Halloween paraphernalia. September is a favorite month for many, with the first hints of fall chilling the morning air and the holidays just around the corner. “Happily we bask in this warm September sun.” —HENRY DAVID THOREAU welcome back
26 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {quickpunch} Dash to Dine + IZAKAYA GINJI—Intriguing Japanese gastropub with a vast selection of rare sake and beer—301 E. 4th Avenue, San Mateo + SHIOK SINGAPORE KITCHEN—Unpretentious neighborhood gem serving authentic Singaporean food— 1137 Chestnut Street, Menlo Park + RARA—Charming Nepalese restaurant dishing up unique dishes like goat curry—201 California Avenue, Palo Alto Carpe Diem + BIKE the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail for miles of scenery along the area’s breathtaking bluffs and beaches. Or sign up for an e-bike tour with Ride California, where a guide will tell you about the lay of the land and the history of the town. + EMBARK on a two-hour cruise of Foster City Lagoon aboard your own private Duffy electric boat. Edgewater Marine makes it easy. Just gather your group, pack a picnic and set up your playlist for a leisurely ride through the Peninsula’s mini-Venice of tranquil waterways. The Art Thief by Michael Finkel—Remarkable truecrime narrative of the world’s most prolific art thief: Stéphane Breitwieser. The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer—Lonely, book-loving woman in the contest of her life for the money she needs to adopt an orphaned child. Natural History—Discover insights and understanding of the natural phenomena around us. naturalhistorymag.com WHO KNEW? John Elway, the famous quarterback of the Denver Broncos, was a Stanford two-sport star playing football and baseball. For the Cardinals, Elway pitched and played right field. During his senior season, he sported a 5-4 record with a 4.51 ERA but more importantly, he hit for .361 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs in 49 games. Despite being drafted by the Yankees in the second round ahead of MLB Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, he opted instead for an illustrious NFL career. Well Read Unscramble R T R D A E S E J O Finally, some half-baked advice: Always live in the ugliest house on the street—then you don’t have to look at it.
28 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {quickpunch} How did the Bianchi farm get its start? My great-grandfather grew cabbage for the U.S. Army. He and my grandfather moved on to artichokes, beans and cut flowers. I grew up here, on this same farm where my mom and my grandfather and great-grandfather lived. I am the fourth generation and my sons are fifth. We currently grow several cut flowers, pumpkins and oat hay. Do you have a favorite childhood memory? Riding on the tractor with my dad. What’s your favorite thing that you grow? Pumpkins! I love the flowers that we grow, but there’s something about watching pumpkins develop over the five-month period … They are forever changing from the moment they emerge from the soil—and so fast! We recently began a U-pick pumpkin patch that is unique—everyone gets to come out to the farm to pick their own pumpkins right from the vines. What time of year do you love the most? Crisp fall mornings on the coast. What do you find most rewarding about farming? How hard it is! It is definitely not an easy life, with long hours. And sometimes the hard work you put into something doesn’t work out and you have to pick back up and start again. I like the challenge of trying to create something more each time. THE Q & A BRIDGET JETT Do you have advice for the next generation of farmers? Stay involved with legislation as much as you can. In today’s world, it is not just tilling your soil and growing—you have to till and grow relationships with leaders too. What’s a song you could listen to over and over? Troubadour by George Strait. How do you sustain the farm during difficult times? We continuously have to diversify. In 1998, the final year that we had strawflowers (eight acres), it took us one year to sell an amount that, in prior years, we could not grow fast enough. What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? Pigs’ feet. Is there something about Coastside farming that surprises people? The climate is special here. Beans, pumpkins, artichokes and sprouts grow great on the Coast. Do you collect anything? Spoons from everywhere that I have traveled to. What’s the last thing you do before you go to sleep? Pray. Some nights may be short and sweet, but I thank the Lord for what I have. The self-described farmer’s daughter at Bianchi Flowers & Pumpkins in Pescadero shares the dirt on growing crops, cultivating relationships and her deep family roots.
Pisa, Posing and Posting 16x12”, acrylic on gesso board, 2023 Jill Andre Studio www.jillandre.com @jillandrestudio
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ART making her mark words by SHERYL NONNENBERG PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 31 {punchline} PENINSULA CULTURE PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF BERKELEY ART MUSEUM AND PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE - JAMES WANG
32 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} While some collectors are motivated by the prestige and social advantages that notable art acquisitions can afford them. Komal has always had a very specific focus—she wants to “shine a light” (a phrase she uses often) on women artists and artists of color. And just as she forged her way to success as an engineer at Oracle, Netscape and Yahoo, Komal is leading the charge for artists whom she feels are underappreciated or overlooked. It has, quite simply, become her mission in life. One might assume that Komal’s passion for championing women artists was born out of a childhood What is believed to be the last painting created by the famed Abstract Expressionist Joan Mitchell occupies almost an entire wall in the entryway of Komal Shah and husband Gaurav Garg’s hilltop home in Atherton. This canvas, a lively dance of swooping blue, magenta, yellow and crimson brushstrokes, usually serves as a starting point for any tour of their expansive art collection. “She was making these very expressive gestures,” Komal explains. “As she got older, she really came into her own.” The same can be said of Komal herself, a high-powered executive in the tech world who is now considered one of the most influential art collectors in the United States. ABOVE: Komal Shah; Untitled by Joan Mitchell. PREVIOUS PAGE: Ice 11 by Lorna Simpson from the Shah Garg Collection. PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF BERKELEY ART MUSEUM AND PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE
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34 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} She attended gallery and museum openings, went to artist studios and art fairs. This led to a “natural networking,” she says. Komal learned that Joan Mitchell had influenced a group of contemporary women artists, all working abstractly: Amy Sillman, Charline Von Heyl, Jacqueline Humphries and Laura Owens. She began to collect their work and get to know them personally, through visits to their studios. “My happiest days are when I can go to a studio and watch art being made,” she says. “It is the best part of collecting: the stories, the person.” Art by these four women takes center stage in the first floor of the home, which is bathed in light and completely neutral in color, allowing the large, boldly colored art works to dominate. Walking from piece to piece, Komal speaks knowledgeably about each one, not in an art-history-lecture sort of way, but from personal experience—from the heart. Starting with what she calls “the cornerstone” of the collection, Joan Mitchell’s Untitled. “For contemporary women artists, she was one of the most influential.” And, Komal laughs, “she was a badass.” But it is not just contemporary women artists who have earned Komal’s admiration. She has a special place in her heart for older women who may not have received the attention they deserve. She cites a small sculpture by Sue where she herself faced limited options for the future. In fact, it was just the opposite. “I was so lucky to have a father who encouraged my interest in a career in computer science. In fact, he mortgaged our family home so that I could attend Stanford University,” she shares. He did this in spite of her uncles’ admonishment that “those funds should be used for her dowry.” She earned a master’s degree at Stanford, and then her MBA at University of California, Berkeley. Her first foray into the arts came in 2011 when Komal joined the board of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. She already had an interest in it (her very first acquisition, in 2009, was a painting on paper by Indian artist Rina Banerjee) but found that her innate love of abstract art was leading her in a different direction. “I found that I felt more comfortable with North American artists of my generation,” she says, adding, “I was awestruck the moment I became a crazy collector.” With some guidance from recognized experts in the art world like Gary Garrels, a former curator at SFMOMA, and art historian Mark Godfrey, Komal began the process of learning about contemporary art—and honing her eye in pursuit of her “mission.” PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF BERKELEY ART MUSEUM AND PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE - ALEX MARKS / COURTESY BAMPFA ABOVE: Malcolm X #17 by Barbara Chase-Riboud. TOP: A view of the Making Their Mark exhibition, with Simone Leigh’s sculpture Stick in the foreground.
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36 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} Fuller entitled String Composition #552. Komal explains that the artist began as an abstract painter and then decided to replace paint with simple colored thread pulled in geometric configurations, which are then encased in Lucite. It looks very sleek and modern, even though it was created in 1965. Komal says she enjoys art by women who were “ahead of their time.” Unfortunately, that often means that the artist doesn’t enjoy the recognition that a male artist would have received. A good example is Janet Sobel, who is represented by a small mixedmedia painting, Untitled. Komal points out that it is done in a drip style and dated 1946—three years before Jackson Pollock would use the technique that brought him into worldwide prominence. Why does a person whose career has been defined by numbers, objectives and computers find all of this wild, abstract art so compelling? Komal replies without hesitation, “These artists are unbounded by their creativity and imagination— they can go anywhere.” Today, Komal has a foundational collection, serves on the boards of prestigious institutions—SFMOMA, the Hammer in Los Angeles and the Acquisition Committee of the Studio Museum in Harlem—and created Artists on the Future: The Komal Shah and Guarav Garg Conversation Series at Stanford. Now she’s decided she wants to focus her efforts on making the collection more accessible to people beyond the Bay Area. art appreciation Starting this fall, contemporary art aficionados can view over 70 works from the Shah Garg Collection when the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive displays Making Their Mark. The exhibition runs October 26 through April 20, 2025. bampfa.org PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: BERKELEY ART MUSEUM AND PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE - DAVID KAMINSKY / BAMPFA - IAN REEVES Working with curators from SFMOMA, Komal created a 432-page catalog called Making Their Mark: Art by Women in the Shah Garg Collection. The book includes images of works by 136 artists plus eight scholarly essays and short texts by a variety of contributing artists and is available on Amazon. She would love to see it become required or recommended reading at universities. Last year, a large-scale exhibition devoted to the Shah Garg Collection opened to rave reviews in New York City. The show comes to the West Coast this fall at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, opening on October 26 and running through April 20, 2025. The exhibition coincides with the launch of the Shah Garg Women Artists Research Fund, which will support new scholarship in the form of public programs, publications and exhibitions featuring female artists at the Berkeley museum. Acknowledging that art collectors are merely temporary custodians for objects that she hopes will live on, Komal declares that what she is doing right now is more fulfilling than anything she’s undertaken before. “I was a workaholic in the tech world and now I spend 60 hours a week around art,” she says. “I can make a much bigger impact in the arts. This is where my heart is.” ABOVE (from left): Cut/Slip for Flowers by Suzanne Jackson; San Francisco (Night) and San Francisco (Day) by Mary Heilmann.
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38 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline}
PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 39 PERFECT SHOT back to school Calling all shutterbugs: If you’ve captured a unique perspective of the Peninsula, we’d love to see your Perfect Shot. Email us at hello@punchmonthly.com to be considered for publication. Majestic Memorial Church is perfectly framed by the iconic sandstone arches of Memorial Court. Joel Simon, a photography instructor at Stanford University, took this shot of the graceful campus landmark in a quiet moment. With students arriving in September for the start of fall classes, you can expect to find the courtyard much more densely populated. Besides lecturing on travel writing and photography, Joel has journeyed to over 100 countries and published articles on Spain, the Siberian Arctic and almost everywhere in between. Image by Joel Simon / joelsimonimages.com calling all shutterbugs
40 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} calling all dogs If you’ve got quirky habits or a funny tale (or tail) to tell, email hello@punchmonthly.com for a chance to share a page from your Diary of a Dog in PUNCH. wrigley DIARY OF A DOG photography by ROBB MOST I’m Wrigley, the cuddly four-year-old goldendoodle. I make my home in Menlo Park with Steve and Kate and their daughter, Abby, so you might wonder why I’m named after Chicago’s Wrigley Field. I was born in Indiana back in 2020, which meant Steve had to make a June trip to O’Hare Airport to bring me to the Bay Area. I wasn’t scared, because the flight crew kindly let me stay snuggled in Steve’s arms, but he must have been pretty nervous. He was wearing a mask, gloves and goggles the whole time! My family adores my excellent self-control when it comes to my urge to chew on things. My toys stay intact and I never chomp on anything around the house, not even shoes. Tennis balls are the exception. When I see one, I have this irresistible need to destroy it in five minutes flat. Wait, did you say something about tortellini? It’s well-known that I never touch my family’s food, even when it’s within easy reach on the coffee table … but there was this one incident with a bowl of spinach tortellini and peas. When Kate went to call Abby down to dinner, the tortellini went missing, leaving only the peas behind. I wish I could help solve this case since I was the only one in the room, but I swear I didn’t see a thing. It’s a real mystery!
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UNL CKING THE PUZZLE TO YOUR DREAM HOME 855 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto 855HamiltonAve.com 192 Fair Oaks Lane, Atherton 192FairOaks.com 23 Flood Circle, Atherton 23Flood.com AVA I L A B L E The finest real estate representation in all price ranges in Atherton, Menlo Park, Woodside, Portola Valley, Palo Alto, Los Altos Hills and surrounding cities Judy Citron 650.400.8424 | judy@judycitron.com DRE 01825569 Talia Citron Knapp 650.400.8424 | talia@taliacitron.com DRE 01987761 #2 Small Team SILICON VALLEY, 2024 #9 Small Team CALIFORNIA, 2024 $2B+ SOLD
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44 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM $25 per concert $15 students/seniors Reception one hour prior to each performance. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks included. Cash bar for wine and beer. Information & tickets: www.harker.org/concerts The Harker School | San Jose, CA | TK-12 College Prep | www.harker.org Nancy Zhou Fri., Nov. 8, 2024 | 7 p.m. The Tropicales Fri., Sept. 13, 2024 | 7 p.m. Rothschild Performing Arts Center The Harker School - Upper School Campus 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose Photo by Robert Spencer UP NEXT: Photo by Sophie Zhai Poulenc Trio with soprano Shawnette Sulker Fri., Feb. 28, 2025 | 7 p.m. Poulenc Trio photo by Titilayo AyangadeJulia Photo by Aliah Husain We’re delighted to announce this year’s 2024-25 Harker Concert Series. The arts are integral to a complete education at Harker, and we are honored to share this year’s lineup of outstanding performers with the community. Plan to join us! SERIES CONCERT 2024-25
BIG SUR into the woods {due west} words by JOHANNA HARLOW • photography by KODIAK GREENWOOD TRAVEL & WELLNESS
46 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} It’s the kind of landscape that inspires poetry. Driving along the Big Sur coastline, I can’t help but start spinning metaphors. These soaring cliffs are giant green waves plunging into the sea. No, they’re the fingers of some emerald-hued giant, stretching out to the water. This mountainside, now cloaked in sunshine, would look equally splendid shrouded in a shawl of fog. I’m on my way to Post Ranch Inn, a luxury retreat where those stunning natural views spread across its 98-acre property. It’s no surprise that all 40 of its luxury cabins and treehouses— whether built into the bluffs or roosted among the redwoods—are exuberant with windows. The same goes for the onsite restaurant Sierra Mar, which toes the edge of those jaw-dropping cliffs. Lofty not only in elevation (1,200 feet above the Pacific, if you were wondering), but also in reputation, Post Ranch Inn earned three-key status from the Michelin Guide. With a plenitude of activities on the grounds and several on-property trails, the inn also boasts lavish accommodations and Architectural Digestworthy building design, meaning you’ll be surrounded by beauty even when indoors. Settling Inn Needless to say, Post Ranch Inn’s contemporary cabins aren’t your typical Lincoln Log structures. Frank Lloyd Wright-esque in design, these organic architectural wonders of wood, metal and glass with their intriguing lack of 90-degree angles were built by Mickey Muennig, with later additions by Vladimir Frank. “Treehouse” rooms on stilts seem to tiptoe through the forest, while other lodgings cling to the cliffs. ABOVE (top): Stunning cliffside views from Post Ranch Inn’s Sierra Mar restaurant.
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01866771. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. Nick Granoski | 650-269-8556 Nick@GranoskiWeil.com DRE 00994196 David Weil | 650-823-3855 David@GranoskiWeil.com DRE 01400271 No one knows our local real estate market like Granoski | Weil & Associates. Led by veteran real estate professionals and local residents, Nick Granoski and David Weil, our team brings unmatched local knowledge, insight, expertise, and connections to home buyers and sellers in this unique market. When it comes to local real estate, we’ve seen and covered it all. We’ve got this. Sold | Sophisticated Charm in the Willows 223 Okeefe Street, Menlo Park Offered at: $2,298,000 Sold | Gorgeous Home in the Heart of Allied Arts 927 Roble Avenue, Menlo Park Offered at: $2,698,000 Active | Elegant Home in Menlo Park's University Heights 2006 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park Offered at: $3,698,000 Peninsula real estate right now.
48 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} A row of hobbit-like houses burrow into the hillside, their roofs sprouting with native grasses and wildflowers. My room, an oceanfacing suite, is flush with rich wood paneling and funky, colorful artwork and statues. Alarm clocks and televisions are intentionally absent, leaving nature center stage. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors lead to a deck with chaise longues and a stainless-steel hot tub with a spillover water feature. I note the towels folded neatly beside it, the staff anticipating my needs before I do. The soundproof windows and the tub’s rushing water completely mask any sounds from the neighboring cabins and the strategically angled windows almost completely block them from sight, creating a welcome sense of seclusion. The wood furniture is cut and assembled on-site by descendants of the Post family. Who are the Posts you ask? It all goes back to 1848, when 18-year-old William Brainard (W.B.) Post sailed from Connecticut to the untamed expanses of California. After marrying an Ohlone woman named Anselma, the couple and their children homesteaded this parcel of land in 1860. The family raised cattle and hogs, cultivated an orchard, and William, living up to his last name, opened the area’s first post office. One of the Post’s ranch hands, a young man by the name of John Steinbeck, mended fences and herded cattle here to earn some cash before starting his studies at Stanford University. In the 1980s, the Post family pivoted from ranching to hospitality. They named the cabins after Big Sur homesteaders. The inn’s logo remains the ranch’s old cattle brand. As I settle into my room, I scout out the room’s ample amenities. In the closet: robes and slippers for the laid-back guests as well as binoculars and carved walking staffs for the more adventureseeking visitors. In the complimentary mini-bar: seven kinds of drinks, locally made salami and fresh cheese. In the bathroom: poison oak wipes and sunblock. Epsom salts by the tub. A floating flower on the coffee table. Cookies and cabernet. No detail is left unconsidered. Out on the Grounds The tantalizing views out the windows require closer investigation, so I set off to track down the many sculptures tucked among the trees and shrubs. Afterward, I hike one of Post Ranch’s private trails, savoring the dry crunch of pine needles under my shoes. I take a dip in one of the infinity pools (open 24 hours), and plan to come back when the lightpollution-free night sky brings out
50 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} nature nurture postranchinn.com less views us as treelike sources of shelter. We then pull on gauntlets for a “hawk walk” with Diego, a Harris’s hawk who uses us as landing pads whenever Antonio tempts him over with bits of meat. As the day draws to a close, I arrive for my dinner reservation at Sierra Mar. My Fogline Farm chicken breast in red wine jus and asparagus with fermented gai choy and trout roe are served at a table beside floor-to-ceiling window panels. It’s a front-row seat for watching the sun as it sinks into the sea. When a bobcat slinks along the ridge no more than a dozen yards away, I want to applaud. Mother Nature and Post Ranch Inn have put on quite the show. the blazing stars. The resort’s outdoorsy opportunities extend to a full roster of activities. Whether it’s an early morning yoga session at the yurt with Jade, a garden tour of the season’s herbs, edible flowers and fruits with head gardener Chris or an art walk of the property’s sculptures with Mike, the onsite gallerist, there’s something for everyone. I’m most looking forward to a session with falconer Antonio Balestreri and six of his feathered friends. Since it’s on the far side of the property, I catch a ride with the ranch’s task force director Phil Hildreth. Due to the property’s windy, narrow roads, the staff and a fleet of Lexus vehicles assist guests in navigating the grounds. You’re also welcome to borrow the keys yourself for adventures along the picturesque Highway 1 or famed Pfieffer Beach. When I ask what to expect from my time with Antonio, Phil chuckles. “Sometimes I think he has wings tucked underneath his jacket.” Soon I understand why. Standing under a willow, the falconer spouts a torrent of raptor facts and introduces us to owls, hawks and a peregrine falcon. He invites us to press our foreheads to the chest of a great horned owl who seems to welcome the interaction—though Antonio assures us it’s not because it wants a cuddle, but because it more or
52 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} If you’re seeking to liberate yourself from the Silicon Valley grind, a lakeside hike is a splendid way to reset. Among the many scenic trails the Peninsula has to offer, a handful of routes curve alongside bodies of gently lapping water. So step away from it all for a quiet moment with nature. Watch a duck bobbing for pondweed or a dragonfly zipping through an obstacle course of reeds. Help youngsters hunt for tadpoles. Get lost in the rippling reflections of clouds and sky. Take a moment to breathe before returning to the bustle. For a refreshing change of scenery close to home, give one of these picturesque spots a try. PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF ALLAN HACK OUTDOORS lakeside hikes words by JOHANNA HARLOW Rent a paddleboat or paddleboard and you can join the ducks and geese out on the water. For those who’d rather view this bustling lake from the sidelines, pick out a bench and soak up the views. Keep in mind that there’s not much shade to help you avoid the noonday heat. shorelinelake.com + 3160 N. Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain View + Paved and dirt trails + Plenty of parking + No dogs allowed Shoreline Lake Trail MOUNTAIN VIEW For a relaxed mile-long route, take a leisurely stroll along the north side of Shoreline Lake before looping back around by way of the Bay Trail. The second half of this trail will take you along the slough, a favorite place for birdwatchers seeking to spot skimmers (black and white birds with funky beaks that look kind of like lobster claws). When you’re done, grab a bite to eat at the lakeside café or spread out a picnic lunch on the lawn.
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{due west} 54 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF DAVID BARON / COURTESY OF KRISTIN catch your breath at the pier. If you own a fishing rod, it’s also a great place to cast for carp and bass. As you’ve probably guessed by the name, you’re welcome to bring canine companions along. Keep a lookout for mountain bikers and poison oak. belmont.gov + Water Dog North Trailhead, Lake Road at Hallmark Drive, Belmont + Dogs allowed + Dirt trail + Street parking Water Dog Lake Loop Trail BELMONT Tucked into a quiet Belmont neighborhood, this hidden gem of a trail leads to Water Dog Lake. As you hike along this 1.5mile dirt track, trees shade your way and lizards are bound to dart across your path. Though steep in places, the payoff is elevated outlooks across the Bay, making it well worth the extra effort. For a shorter route, take the halfmile John Brooks Trailhead off of Somerset Drive. Once you’ve reached the lake, Foothills Nature Preserve & Boronda Lake PALO ALTO Boronda Lake, cradled by the surrounding hills and lined by bulrushes, is the crowning glory of Palo Alto’s Foothills Nature Preserve. After taking an easy loop around the lake, cross the bridge and investigate the island. Find a bench by the water and keep a lookout for small bass and redear sunfish—or get a closer view from a canoe (rentals available on weekends and holidays from May 1 to October 31). If you’re up for a challenge, take on the steeper inclines of the surrounding trails. With 15 miles of oak-shaded paths to choose from, the 2-mile loop of the Woodrat and Toyan trails will give you a lay of the land. As you continue down the Toyon Trail, keep an eye out for its namesake. The toyon shrub— also known as California holly due to its red, glossy berries—is a favorite among peckish birds. More species for your wildlife bingo card: slender salamanders, duskyfooted woodrats, deer, coyotes, dragonflies and (if you’re lucky) bobcats. Nature walks, full-moon night hikes, astronomy star parties and summer campfire programs are offered throughout the year. cityofpaloalto.org/enjoyonline + 11799 Page Mill Road, Los Altos Hills + $6 entry fee (free passes available through Palo Alto libraries) + Packed dirt trails, hilly terrain + Dogs allowed, except for weekends and holidays
56 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} and cyclists. About midpoint, pay a visit to the over 600-year-old Jepson Laurel, named after a botanist from the 1920s. And before you head home, consider a stop at nearby Pulgas Water Temple at 56 Cañada Road. The majestic Greek-inspired structure with fluted columns and a tree-lined reflecting pool stands as a monument to the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct, which carries drinking water from the Sierra Nevada mountains. smcgov.org/ parks/sawyer-camp-segment + 950 Skyline Boulevard, Burlingame + Paved, flat trail + Picnic areas at the halfway point and the parking lot + No dogs allowed + Open to cyclists, hikers, joggers and equestrians Sawyer Camp Trail by San Andreas Lake & Crystal Springs Reservoir REDWOOD CITY The sprawling 17-mile Sawyer Camp Trail winds along the San Andreas and Crystal Springs Reservoirs. These shining lakes stretched out before you have long supplied fresh, clean water to the Peninsula and San Francisco. As you follow the paved, mostly flat path running along a rift valley formed by the San Andreas Fault, picture the stagecoaches that once rumbled along this route in the 1800s, carting travelers between Millbrae and Half Moon Bay (or Spanishtown, as it was known back then). You’ll still spot horses and riders out on the trail today. One of San Mateo County’s best-known trails, you’ll also be sharing the road with plenty of other hikers, joggers PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF BGWASHBURN
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