Scene W

Scene
THE EAST BAY WOMAN’S GUIDE TO STYLE
WINTER
MAGIC HOLIDAY The season’s
ENTERTAINING
HIGH HEEL
essentials, from
HEAVEN— OR HELL? coats to clutches
YOUR MONEY
U.S. $5.95
AND YOUR LIFE

Plus:
STAR WOMEN
The best
LBD for you
WINTER 2010
CHEFS
©2010 Porsche Cars North America, Inc. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of all traffic laws at all times. Optional equipment shown is extra.
Somewhere out there, a 911 just did a double take.
The new 2011 Cayenne has been completely reengineered to resemble only one thing:
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away while using less fuel. So come in for a test drive. The all-new 2011 Cayenne
feels as great as it looks. Porsche. There is no substitute.
The new Cayenne.

Experience a new level of utility and performance.
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(925) 280-4900
Showroom hours M-F 8AM-8PM
Sat 9AM-6PM Sun 11AM-6PM
7 FOR ALL MANKIND
AVEDA
BURBERRY
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Cocktail Dress. Teddy Bear. Date Night. Some things are just essential.
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WINTER 2010 • SCENE • 3

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4 • SCENE • WINTER 2010

at Macy's, where it all comes together
MICHAEL KORS
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box at macys.com to order.
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2010 log on to macys.com
• SCENE • 5
UGG® AUSTRALIA
THE BEST GIFTS START WITH
Choose from new and classic styles for men, women and kids. Visit your
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DEC 2–24 AMERICAN CONSERVATORY THEATER
by Charles Dickens Adapted by Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh

Music by Karl Lundeberg Choreography by Val Caniparoli Directed by Domenique Lozano
Based on the original direction by Carey Perloff
The cast of A Christmas Carol. Photo by Kevin Berne.
FAMILY FOUR-PACK SALE

Four tickets for the price of two—packages start at $34.*
*Must purchase by November 15.
Check online for performance dates and availability. Not valid for VIP seating areas.
Limit 8 tickets. Use code CAROLCC when ordering by phone or online at
www.act-sf.org/promotions. Subject to availability.

“This is a Carol built to banish
‘bah humbugs’ for years to come.”
OAKLAND TRIBUNE
“A holiday treat for the entire family!”

KGO RADIO
ASK ABOUT BRING A GROUP,

VIP SEATING SAVE A BUNDLE!
Enjoy the best seats in the house, a limited-edition Groups of 15+ receive discounts of up to 50% ,
souvenir book, access to the Carol Lounge during free tickets for group leaders, and much more.
intermission, and delicious intermission treats.

table of contents
62 104 96 88
features
winter style icons
62 Timeless Chic 88 Agent of Change
Sublime, structured classics keep Mackenzie Lesher’s focus on leadership – her own
a changing world familiar. Plus: Clutches. and growing others’ – is making a difference.
By Donna Kato and Stephanie Grace Lim By Bonnie Wach. Photos by Jose Carlos Fajardo
76 The LBD Primer 96 A Good Pairing

Best Little Black Dress for you, and how She’s a little bit country, he’s a little bit rock ’n’ roll: Christine
to take it from day to evening. and Karl Wente lead the family business into a new era.
By Donna Kato and Stephanie Grace Lim By Julia Prodis Sulek. Photos by Patrick Tehan
Plus: Why I love my LBDs. By Donna Kato
84 Spring’s Hottest Trends special report

A season of color, retro styles, Asian 104 The Lady Is a Chef
influence and more. Women are cooking up inventive, superb dishes all over
By Donna Kato the Bay Area. We shine a light on Sarah Kirnon, Barbara
Llewellyn and Esin deCarion.
By Bonnie Wach

Stylishly Different
ANTHROPOLOGIE RESTORATION HARDWARE
PATRICK JAMES COA MEXICAN CUISINE
STOMP WINE LOUNGE LAURUS BISTRO
R E A D . B O O K S B L A C K H AW K G R I L L E
JELLYFISH SPA SEE JANE RUN GEORGIOU
CRUNCH FITNESS GEOFFREY I SCOTT
DOLLHOUSE LINGERIE DRAEGER’S MARKET
A shopping experience like no other, at a place unlike anywhere else.
Follow us on
4020 Blackhawk Plaza Circle | Danville, CA 94506

925.736.2751 | www.blackhawkplaza.com

table of contents
departments
21 The Insider Beauty Report
Decompress with spa therapy; gifts for guys; local
style news. By Stephanie Simons
51 High-heel heaven – or hell. How to take care of
your feet and still wear stilettos. By Melinda Sacks
29 Indulge 54 Reality TV star and local girl Cheryl Burke on

dancing in high heels.
Winter whites: Pearls, diamonds and platinum, oh
my! Plus divine timepieces. By Janet Kim Paik
122 Getaways
Near: Luxe lodges go green.
38 Shop Talk By Katharine Fong
Antiques? Mais oui! And much more from Souvenir Far: Splendid Istanbul.
and Place Bellecour. By Crystal Chow By Lynda McDonnell and Steve Brandt
43 Body & Soul 174 Seen

Sharon Kedar on why women need to know their Who wore what to “On Broadway”; Scene’s
“money history.” By Melinda Sacks bash at the Blackhawk Museum.
38 54 150
home & design

129 At the Table 146 In the Garden
Murray Circle’s Chef Joseph Humphrey. White blooms are pure elegance.
By Katharine Fong By Joan Jackson
138 Haute Stuff 150 Interiors

Tools and treasures for your holiday table. Home stagers on showing off your best asset.
Don’t entertain without them. By Crystal Chow By Deborah Petersen Swift
142 Solutions Ideas

Avoid holiday stress with these timely tips.
By Brenda Gutierrez
162 A room of your own. By Kim Cook
164 A room for your kids. By Melissa Rayworth

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Health
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We specialize in educating you to

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Scene
Katharine Fong
Josie Lepe
Editor & Publisher
Rebecca Hall-Lucero
Art Director
Donna Kato
Contributing Fashion
A season to give –
& Beauty Editor
Crystal Chow
and to save
Melinda Sacks This is the time of the year we dig deep, and give gen-
Julia Prodis Sulek erously. We strive to do this year-round, of course, but
Contributing Writers
holiday spirit makes it an especially good time to give.
Joanne Ho-Young Lee We can’t take care of others, however, unless we take
Patrick Tehan care of ourselves. Not in a self-indulgent way, as in
Contributing Photographers splurging on a pair of designer shoes or a spur-of-the-
moment trip to Paris. Rather, says financial literacy ad-
Rebecca Parr
Copy Editor
vocate and author Sharon Kedar, we should be thinking
long-term about our personal finances so we can operate
Scene Magazine – including contributing to our favorite charities – from
Vol. 2, No. 3, a position of strength.
copyright 2010 “So that money doesn’t hold you back,” Kedar says.
by the Bay Area News Group
The big problem, says Kedar, interviewed in this issue
All rights reserved. (“Your Money and Your Life,” Page 43), is that many
Material herein may not women don’t like to think about money, or talk about it
be reprinted without expressed with their significant others. Worse, they don’t under-
written consent of the publisher. stand their “money history” – what shaped their attitudes
Make sure you receive every
toward money and drives their interactions around it.
issue of Scene Magazine. They need to. “Understanding your money history and
Email scene@bayareanewsgroup.com, your relationship with money will help you know if it is
or write to Scene Magazine, enabling you or sabotaging you,” Kedar says. “[It] directly
2640 Shadelands Drive, impacts your happiness, peace of mind and ability to
Walnut Creek, CA 94598.
achieve your dreams and goals.”
Visit us at Also critical, Kedar says: Women should be saving
SceneBayArea.com more. Women often find themselves in difficult financial
straits later in life – because they tend to live longer
Join us on Facebook than men, and because their pensions and savings are
Facebook.com/SceneBayArea
generally smaller.
The good news is that getting a grip on your finances
– whether you’re 20-something or close to retirement
– gives you more power and control over your life, now
Join us! and in the future.

And that, I think, is a great gift to yourself, and to oth-
ers. Happy holidays.
Our Spring 2011 issue
publishes April 1 and features
the season’s fashions, trend-
setting shops, a look at locals Katharine Fong
making a difference and more. Editor & Publisher

Scene
David Rounds
President & Publisher
contributors
Bay Area News Group/East Bay
Michael Turpin
Vice President, Advertising & Marketing
Bay Area News Group
John Stoeser
Director, Community Information & Targeted Delivery Stephanie Grace Lim has been nationally
Bay Area News Group recognized for her photography, illustration
and design, and has been featured in Life
Jenny Kohler
Magazine, People, Photographer’s Forum and
Director, Retail Advertising
Print. In addition to her work as a designer
Bay Area News Group/East Bay
and graphic artist, she’s been a hip-hop
Steve Weimer dance teacher, taiko drummer, wushu ninja
Targeted Publications Director and creativity speaker. stephaniegracelim.com
Monica Balistreri
Product Manager
Cissi Holmgren-Kates
Advertising Production Manager
Timothy Tsun & Ad Services

Advertising Design
For advertising information,

call 925.943.8259.
Copyright 2010 Bay Area News Group
Kerry Hiroshi Paul has lived and
worked in the Bay Area since 1973. He
scene advisory board specializes in commercial and editorial
photography, and also enjoys exploring the
Heidi Ashworth Ashleigh Tharp California landscape and coastal regions
Author Blackhawk Plaza Marketing with a camera. You can see his work at
Director, CenterCal kerryhiroshipaulphotography.com.
Kelly McKenzie Hansen Properties
Marketing Manager,
Wente Family Estates Nicole Tucker
Tucker Associates
Marcie Hochhauser Real Estate Services
Vice President,
Walnut Creek Carrie Williams
Chamber of Commerce Director of Marketing &
Business Development,
Lisa Nevares Stoneridge Shopping
Center
Donna Lynn Rhodes
Marketing Maven & Owner,
donnalynn Creative
Melinda Sacks is a former staff reporter
for the Mercury News, where she covered
family, community and education issues. She
Monica Balistreri Karen Peterson has written for Stanford magazine, the San
Product Manager Retail Advertising Sales Francisco Chronicle, Peninsula magazine
Scene Magazine Manager, Bay Area News and other print and online publications. She
Group is director of media initiatives at Stanford
Deborah Nordstrom University’s Office of Public Affairs.
Marketing/Promotional
Manager, Bay Area News
Group

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w w w. g l a m o r a b y s a d i a . c o m
the insider
operation
indulgence
Make the most of holiday spa therapy with tips from a pro
By Stephanie Simons
How best to decompress? We spoke Any tips for “blissing out”

with Changes Salon & Day Spa’s Bonnie at home?
Waters: Light a candle, play soft
music and fill the tub with
What’s the importance of a time-out to your favorite essence; treat
take care of yourself this time of year? your knees, elbows or entire
The holiday season brings feelings of love body to a gentle buffing
and cheer, but it’s also a time of stress scrub; then towel off and
– the damp, cold weather; trying to pick lovingly massage your body
the perfect gift; indulging in fatty, sugary with lotion before slipping into
foods and alcohol at holiday parties. bed for rejuvenating rest.
Personal pampering time can reduce your
stress level and avoid seasonal illnesses.
Lymphatic or pure-energy massages are
the perfect antidotes to low immunity.
What’s your winter pampering prescription?

You can undo sun damage with a rejuvenating facial peel.
A hot stone massage, cocooning wrap or steam canopy
session offsets winter’s chill; moisturizing treatments help
dry, dehydrated skin. For a quick pick-me-up after a day of
shopping or before a big night out, look into “self-applied”
[do-it-yourself] services. Ours include the use of our steam
therapy lounge and cost as little as $25. Or think about
sharing a mini spa getaway with a significant other, mother,
daughter or BFF.
What tips do you

have for making a
spa treatment even
more enjoyable? What’s the best way to hint to
Arrive early to relax and “Santa” for your very own spa day
enjoy steam therapy. this season?
With the exception of Leave a note for your partner with a
express services, we clipping or business card. Or keep
always recommend an ongoing “My Heart’s Desire” list
allowing time to relax with all relevant information – i.e.
following the service where, when, how to make it happen.
— avoid jumping back At the Changes website, you can
into holiday activity too click on “Drop a Hint” and enter your
quickly. information and ideal gift. We’ll do
all the hint-dropping for you. Or just
book a weekend getaway to a relaxing
Changes Salon & Day Spa, place, or sign up for couples yoga or
1475 N. Broadway, Walnut Creek, 925.947.1814, changessalon.com massage.

the insider
gifts for guys

These East Bay boutiques are cool bets
for dapper dude-centric threads and accessories
By Stephanie Simons
Kerry Hiroshi Paul
true
Perfect for: The streetwise suburbanite.
Shopping scene: A spinoff of the original San Francisco locations,
True stocks rogue beanies bearing the store’s signature logo, Casio
G-Shock watches in an assortment of eye-catching colors and clothing
with get-noticed sayings like, “It’s fun to do bad things” (perfect for the
rascal on Santa’s naughty list). This store is the destination for fitted
caps galore and will offer its own line of sunglasses and wallets.
Labels: Jordan, Undefeated, L-R-G, Akomplice, Adidas, Nike.
What we’re gifting: The perfect combo of a beanie and tee by
Kerry Hiroshi Paul
Kerry Hiroshi Paul
Ongaku, adored by club-going music lovers for its beat machine

graphics.
1335 S Main St., Walnut Creek, 925.280.6747, trueclothing.net

convert
Perfect for: The eco-conscious hipster.
Shopping scene: A fresh — and much lauded — addition to Berkeley’s
Fourth Street, Convert boasts sleek interiors, locally made art and a
truly stylish collection of sustainably produced and environment-friendly
streetwear. (Pssst! Snap up a Kim White handbag for yourself — they’re
made from vintage automotive fabrics.)
Labels: Spiewak, Obey, SLVDR, Oaklandish, Life After Denim.
What we’re gifting: The “quilted sweatshirt” by Cameo (a Convert
exclusive), a Crate gingham shirt and organic, Berkeley-made Pact
underwear in Crayola-bright prints.
Kristen Loken
1809-B Fourth St., Berkeley, 510.649.9759, convertstyle.com
edge
Perfect for: The urban-cool guy next door.
Shopping scene: Be sure to take your boyfriend or husband with you
— this rugged haberdashery serves up old-school straight razor shaves
from its barber chair on Wednesdays and Fridays (by appointment),
and a premium denim bar with dungarees by Hudson, Joe’s, Citizens of
Humanity.
Labels: Converse by John Varvatos, George Ross, English Tees, 7
Diamonds.
What we’re gifting: A dashing button-down shirt by Robert Graham,
plus the Art of Shaving Power Shave Set. The smoother his skin, the
Amy Mayerson
more … kisses.
175 E Prospect Ave. #150, Danville, 925.831.8500, shop-edge.com
daskalos
Perfect for: The elegant gent.
Shopping scene: Polos and pinstripes prevail at this family-owned
Broadway Plaza boutique, which stocks a supremely edited selection
of classics-driven sportswear, made-to-measure suits, robes,
undergarments and the all-important items that pull a look together (think
old-fashioned seven-fold silk ties and cufflinks that function as dice).
Labels: Canali, Brioni, Ermenegildo Zegna, Tateossian.
What we’re gifting: A cashmere sweater with faux suede trim by Robert
Talbott Carmel and Jhane Barnes socks, which look like works of art.
Kerry Hiroshi Paul
1243 Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek, 925.937.1808,

daskalosfashions.com
atlas
Perfect for: The metro man.
Shopping scene: A Walnut Creek favorite that keeps it casual
— even the business clothes are built for play and wool slacks by
Suitable fit like jeans. Count on a handsome lineup of designer jeans
to live in, distressed hoodies, logo tees, fedoras and cadet caps.
Perfect for the guy who worships at the altar of GQ.
Labels: Diesel, G-Star Raw, Ben Sherman.
What we’re gifting: A $20 certificate for in-store “hand detailing”
services (roughly translated as a no-frills, no-fuss man’s manicure)
Kerry Hiroshi Paul
and handmade, stackable bracelets by Ettika. We’re not the only

ones who love jewelry.
1356 N. Main St., Walnut Creek, 925.933.8050, atlasshops.com

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the insider
spice up a line of her own
your boots– East Bay retailer Alina Bialobrodska, whose clothing
and accessories shop Alina B. graces downtown Wal-
and your bags nut Creek, has designed her own collection of stylish
sweaters and tops.
Give your old boots a new look with Bialobrodska is known for bringing back trendy
a pair of Bandits or Riders. Jewelry items from her numerous trips to Europe – often several
designers Erica Chan and Tamar seasons before the same styles made their way into
Wider, founders of Berkeley-based other boutiques.
The Two Bandits, created a line of Her new label Alina + Nicoletta (her counterpart in
handmade fabric accessories (Bandits, Italy) is a sophisticated knit collection made in Italy
worn toward the top of the boot) and of merino wool and described as “Italian-inspired
adjustable leather and chain harnesses looks with a twist to fit the fashion-forward American
(Riders, worn at the base of the boot) woman’s lifestyle.”
that work with almost any type of boot, The color palette is perfect
no matter the heel height or width. And for fall and winter. Prices
this season you can customize your start at $195. 1378
handbag with their new collection of N. Main St., Walnut
bag charms. In select online and local Creek, 925.952.9037,
stores, and at The2Bandits.com. alinab.com
local style
sweet deal
at olive
Those fab skinny cargo pants in our
fashion feature (see Page 65) are from
Olive boutique in Danville, and there’s a
lot more great stuff in the store – and
online. So check it out, and save:
Scene readers get 15 percent off
all in-store or Internet orders on
regular priced items through Feb.
28, 2011.
With its motto “fashion with a conscience,”
Olive showcases stylish and sustainable
clothing, accessories, jewelry, skin care
and handbags. 730 Camino Ramon,
ahhh...for eyes Suite 130, Danville, 925.362.0767; and
shopoliveboutique.com (enter the code
What to do when puffy eyes or an eyestrain-induced
Olive&Scene at checkout).
headache threaten to ruin your day? Reach for eyecandy,
soothing eye coolers that you store in the fridge, then pop
into the freezer or a glass of ice water for a few minutes
before placing over your baby blues (or greens, browns,
hazels...). The reusable, travel-friendly soft gels, made by
EVLooks of Danville, beat messy tea bags or cucumbers,
as well as those bulky eye masks. And EVLooks donates a
portion of all proceeds to breast cancer research. $10 a pair
at eyecandycoolers.com.

Back Pain And Sciatica Pain Alert!
New Medical Breakthrough Treatment

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If you are suffering with Severe Back or Nerve pain, despite all the treatments that have failed you in the past,
you may now have hope of eliminating your pain with our New, Advanced Non-Surgical Laser and Disc
Treatment protocols now available in the East Bay Area. Many of our techniques were featured on a episode of
the FOX TV hit “The Doctors”
Are you still suffering from Pain after trying many types of tradition The Deep Tissue laser, approved by the FDA in 2006, packs a punch
treatments? Medications, physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, while remaining non-invasive. The laser is capable of reaching depths
Epidural Injections. Are you contemplating having surgery. Although of 6 to 9 inches, with a treatment beam of up to 3 inches.
operations are necessary for some patients, we have seen many patients
who have had surgery, and are as bad, or worse after the surgery. Because the laser reaches deep into the tissues, it is ideal for treating
sprains and strains, arthritis, calcified muscles and fibrotic adhesions,
Our Advanced Non-Surgical Treatment Methods are the most cutting as well as intra-articular tissues inside of the joints. Its far-reaching
edge, and are proven a safe and effective alternative to surgery for capabilities also allow the laser to achieve better results in less time
many patients. Our treatment methods repair damaged tissues, speed than most cold lasers currently used today. With treatment times of
nerve healing, reduce inflammation, and stop pain. as little as 5 to 15 minutes, the laser allows many conditions to vastly
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Don’t Risk the pain and side effects of Drugs and injections, or the soothing relief that improves with each treatment.
risks of surgery.
A partial list of the kind of conditions that can be helped…
Deep Tissue Laser Treatment is an innovative, scientifically based, • Herniated/Bulging Discs • Neuropathy Pain
therapeutic modality. This new technology offers advanced pain relief • Protruding Discs/Slipped Discs • Degenerative Discs
and expedited healing times through a process known as • Spinal Fusion • Burning/Tingling Feet
photobiostimulation. • Sciatica Pain • Burning/Tingling Legs
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Deep Tissue Laser Treatment delivers, deep, penetrating, photonic • Back Pain & Spinal Conditions • Sprains & Strains
(light) energy to bring about profound physiological changes. ATP • Leg Pain • Knee Pain
(Adenosine-triphosphate) production is increased, inflammation and • Leg/Foot Numbness • Arthritic Pain
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changes in cellular chemistry are triggered by the deep tissue laser You owe it to yourself to see if our advanced treatment protocols can
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If you are tired of living with pain and would like to see if you qualify
Deep Tissue Laser Therapy does not require the use of drugs or
for deep tissue laser treatment call 925-516-5855 for a FREE
surgery, and there are no known side effects or risks that may occur
CONSULTATION right now.
with other forms of treatment. In addition, it can often achieve results
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patient will feel a deep soothing warmth. This pleasant sensation
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Dr. Miller has seen such dramatic
Low Level Laser enhances metabolic activity at the cellular level, fast pain relief with Deep Tissue Laser Treatment,
without generating tissue-damaging heat. Some of the benefits of that he offers one FREE treatment to see if you respond
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Consignment
Jewelry
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place bellecour
Vintage décor for the connoisseur
Almost half of the items Chantal Couturier, proprietor of Place Bellecour, has but one criterion for what
at Place Bellecour are she sells in this 6,400-square-foot showroom: It must be well-balanced and easy on
from France, homeland the eye. In other words, if your taste runs to exquisite vintage home décor, you will
of shop owner Chantal
Courturier, above. In
get an eyeful here.
the winter, lamps and Close to half of the inventory is of French origin; the rest is Asian, Spanish, Italian
chandeliers tend to be and American. Be prepared to be charmed, for example, by a Louis XV-era writing
popular with shoppers. desk, or a wooden carousel horse from the Philippines. Best-sellers include chan-
deliers, accent pieces, small tables and mirrors, but there will always be something
new for repeat visitors.
Couturier picks up items from auctions, other dealers and an annual trip to her
native France. Four dealers besides herself are represented, each of whom sells one
to two substantial pieces a week. There are plenty of paintings, too, if your walls are
Hours: begging for coverage. One artist, Frenchman Bernard Renot, specializes in “moods
10-5 Tuesday and moments, places and people’’ and has a small gallery of his own.
through Saturday, “In November, more dining tables are sold,’’ Couturier says, “and in winter, more
as well as by appointment lighting. In December, people buy presents for themselves.’’ To that end, Place Bel-
887 Industrial Road #A, lecour will be holding a French holiday fair the first two weekends in December.
San Carlos Small giftable items will be available, as well as homemade food, jewelry and body
650.575.3701 products. Instead of lavender sachets, though, you may end up procuring anything
placebellecour.com from an armoire to a set of dishes — just because they’re there.

shop talk
Nikki Ritcher
souvenir
Lafayette’s Parisian flat
Souvenir is the perfect name for this jewelbox of a store, thanks to the astonish- Standing in Souvenir,
ing range of mementos, keepsakes and just crazy cute things you’ll want to scoop you can easily imagine
up and cherish forever. And now that it’s relocated — as of this past April — to a that you’re inside a
French flat. Owner
bigger, brighter space, there’s even more merchandise to love.
Donna Johnson, right
Owner Donna Johnson calls it “a French apartment shoppe,’’ reasoning the in center photo, and
goods she purveys would be right at home in a Parisian flat. manager Meredith
If so, those rooms would be crammed with jewelry, decorations, paper goods, Bartoletti like to surprise
artwork and clothes — lots of clothes. Johnson has taken full advantage of the their guests with one-of-
a-kind jewelry, hats and
extra recesses and stocked them with labels like Dick and Jayne, Coin 1804 and
clothes.
Petit Bateau. There’s also Henri Lou, maker of handbags and jewelry fashioned
from saddle leather and bridle hardware, and two standout jewelry lines: La Vie
Parisienne and Sormeh. Tokyo Milk, a collection of soaps, candles, perfume and
bath products, is popular, as is anything that Johnson crafts herself, such as the
exquisitely decorated headbands and so-cute aprons. Hours:
“I love the challenge of making this fun and kooky,” Johnson says. “It matches 10-5 Monday through
our personalities.’’By that she’s referring to her best buddy of 18 years, Meredith Saturday, 11-3 Sunday
“Meddy’’ Bartoletti, an energetic soul who helps manage the place and is reason 3643-C Mount Diablo Blvd.,
enough to stop by. Lafayette
Be sure to allow plenty of time for your visit. “The store is all that I dreamed of,’’ 925.284.4040
Johnson says. “When people find it, they get it. And our customers become our souvenirlafayette.com
friends.’’
—Crystal Chow

JANUARY 18-23, 2011 MARCH 15-20, 2011


APRIL 12-17, 2011 JUNE 7-12, 2011

!

P A I D A D V E R T I S I N G
This technology, known as the Acrysof ReSTOR lens, is one of

the biggest breakthroughs in cataract surgery in the last decade.
glasses she can’t be grandma’,” laughed order to place a man-made lens inside the
A
s the space shuttle
Discovery carried the Odine Wiens. capsule. If the capsule is broken during the
rotor that he helped design and The human lens is like a camera lens. procedure and there is a large tear in the
develop to the space station Ben Murach It helps focus light onto the retina, which capsule the substance that normally stays
had his mind on another type of space: his is like the film of the camera. The human behind the capsule moves forward.
immediate environment. For more than 30 lens is made up of mostly water and pro- This substance is called vitreous.
years Ben Murach had been wearing glasses tein. The protein lets light pass through When this happens, the surgeon cannot
or contact lenses to see objects at near and and focus on the retina. As the eye ages place the man-made lens inside the
far distances. A recent advance in eye the protein clumps together and starts to capsule where the natural lens normally
surgery allowed him to eliminate glasses cloud a small area of the lens. sits; the surgeon may place a different type
and contact lenses permanently. This tech- The clumps also make the lens hardened; of lens either in the corner between the
nology, known as the Acrysof ReSTOR this hardening of the human lens causes iris and the capsule or in front of the iris.
lens, is one of the biggest breakthroughs in people to have difficulty seeing up close. These lenses are called sulcus-fixated if
cataract surgery in the last decade. This loss of ability to see up close is called they are placed in the corner between the
“I don’t need my glasses or contact presbyopia. The cloudy area in the human iris and the capsule. If they are placed in
lenses for reading, working at my lens is called a cataract. front of the iris they are called anterior
computer or driving,” said Ben Murach. For years surgeons across the U.S. chamber lenses.
He was convinced to have cataract removed cataracts and implanted man- When sulcus-fixated or anterior
surgery performed by Dr. Randal Pham, made lens to replace the natural lens. chamber lenses are used because their
founder of Aesthetic & Refractive This procedure is called cataract surgery. locations are not where the natural lens
Surgery Medical Center, after meeting “This is one of the safest procedures sits, the resulted power of the eye may dif-
Odine Wiens, who wore glasses since performed in the U.S. today,” said Dr. fer from the calculated power which was
she was 5 years old. Odine Wiens who Pham. Each year millions of Americans measured before the surgery with the nat-
just retired from her 20-year job as a undergo cataract surgeries across the U.S. ural lens sitting inside the capsule.
child nutrition assistant at Evergreen Patients who undergo conventional This difference in the calculated power
school district, had the procedure done cataract surgery still need to wear reading and the resulted power may cause patients to
by Dr. Pham more than one year ago. glasses after surgery. Because the Acrysof require glasses or contact lenses after surgery.
“My grandson asked me why I don’t ReSTOR lens works like progressive Ashley Stice, representative of Alcon Inc.,
wear glasses anymore?” said glasses patients who have this lens can per- the manufacturer of the Acrysof ReSTOR
Odine Wiens. form most daily activities without any lens, confirms that of more than 150
“I told him ‘grandma had eye surgery glasses. “To implant the Acrysof ReSTOR Acrysof ReSTOR lenses implanted by
and doesn’t need to wear glasses’ and he lens, however, requires very precise and Dr. Randal Pham, there has been no con-
said ‘but grandma always wear glasses; if skillful work,” said Dr. Pham. Because version to sulcus-fixated lens or anterior
she doesn’t wear patients who undergo implantation of the chamber lens implanted.
Acrysof ReSTOR lens have high expecta- “It is of utmost importance that you
tions-they expect to be less dependent on choose the right surgeon for this
glasses after the procedure, measurements procedure,” said Odine Wiens.
made before the surgery and the surgery Ben Murach agreed: “You only have two
itself must be extremely accurate. The nat- eyes; for a procedure that requires excep-
ural lens of a normal eye stays in a clear tional skills and knowledge of refractive
sac called the capsule. surgery I did extensive research to find a
To remove the cataract, the surgeon first surgeon who is competent in both lasik
3 - 718 1 makes an opening in the capsule. The sur- and cataract surgeries.”
408 ) 9 0 geon then removes the cataract from the

( 9 9 8 - 8109 0 A-B
capsule using ultrasound.
(408 ) Dr, Suit

e #18
The surgeon must save the capsule in
nor u
SE 455
O’Con
lumni .ucsf.ed
SAN JO ham@a *An independent study found 85% of patients who received the Acrysof ReSTOR intraocular lens never had to wear glasses.
randalp Mrs. Odine Wiens and Mr. Ben Murach are actual patients of Dr. Randal Pham. Neither of them receives any monetary
compensation for their testimonials. This ad was reviewed and approved by the Medical Board of California.

body & soul
iStockphoto/Thinkstock
your money
and your life
It may not be sexy, says financial guru Sharon Kedar,
but knowing your financial history and style
can change your life, and your relationships
By Melinda Sacks
Sharon Kedar knows that a lot of women don’t like to ily, friends, and of course, with significant others.
think about or talk about money. Many find it boring. Kedar, 36, parlayed her Harvard MBA into a career in
Others think it is depressing. Some find it too daunting. financial services and planning. As a result of her expe-
But your psychological relationship with money di- riences, she wrote two books aimed at helping women
rectly impacts your happiness, peace of mind and abil- with their financial strategies “so that money doesn’t
ity to achieve your dreams and goals, Kedar says. So no hold you back,” as she puts it.
matter how you feel about it, she argues, there is no Kedar defines herself as a practical feminist whose
time like the present to understand your attitudes, and goal is to promote financial literacy. Her first book, “On
if necessary, to take some practical steps to improve your My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl’s Guide to Personal
attitudes about money. The better you understand what Finance,” and her second book, “Get Financially Na-
drives the way you interact with money, the more em- ked: How to Talk Money With Your Honey,” are both co-
powered you will be in financial relationships with fam- authored with Manisha Thakor. Her new book, a solo

effort about “moms and money,” is yet unnamed.
When she isn’t caring for her two small children, Kedar writes in her
San Francisco home and spends time with her husband of 10 years,
who also works in financial services. Kedar – who has an easy laugh
and broad smile – took a few minutes out of what she calls her “crazy
schedule” to talk to Scene.
What brought you to this career and to writing your books?

Since we were 5, my identical twin sister and I have had multiple
businesses. She was my staff. I made and sold bear magnets first. My
mom remembers the prices of all my stuff – 25 cents, 50 cents. I made
bookmarks and sold them. We sold tie-dye when that was cool. I have to
say, I don’t remember saving, but I do remember earning and what that
allowed me to do. Today my 4½ year-old has an allowance, and the little
one (1½) can say “bank.”
What can you tell us about women’s psychological relation-

ship with money?
We all have something called our money history. Your history is all the
interactions you’ve seen over your entire life. If you saw Mom and Dad
fighting over money, you could have concluded, “I will never fight over
Courtesy Sharon Kedar
money,” or “Money is something to fight about.”
Financial literacy advocate Sharon Kedar, above,
wants women to deal with their finances “so that Two people could have grown up in the same household and come
money doesn’t hold you back.” to different conclusions. Understanding your money history and your
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body & soul
relationship with money will help you know if it is enabling
you or sabotaging you.
Too often what we see is some of the tradition of women
taking the back seat. Those who stay home feel they don’t
deserve the financial purse as much as the breadwinner. [But]
you can have a woman earning seven figures who still has a
negative association with money and one earning a lot less
who has a positive association.
What is the biggest financial mistake women make?

Not dealing with finances is the biggest mistake. You can
take some broad basic steps to be in better financial shape. A
girlfriend of mine called it practical feminism: Giving wom-
en choice through money is such a key thing for the modern
woman so that she can be empowered.
The facts of the matter is that 80 percent of men die mar-
ried and 80 percent of women die single (according to the
Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement). The primary
money through the years
drivers behind this are high divorce rates and the tendency Sharon Kedar and Manisha Thakor, co-authors of
for women on average to live seven years longer than men of “On My Own Two Feet: A Modern Girl’s Guide to
the same age. As a result, there are very high odds that you Personal Finance” and “Get Financially Naked,”
will be the sole provider of your personal finances at some recommend that you target saving 15 percent of
point in your life. your gross (before-tax) income. For most people,
5 percent of that goes toward nearer-term needs
(saving for an emergency, a down payment on
Does your financial history impact how you
a home or car, saving for a wedding, etc.) and
choose a partner?
10 percent goes toward your retirement. Kedar
There is a fascinating study that was done by Schwab (the notes that you’re not just saving – you’ll get to
investment services company) showing that spenders mar- spend that money down the road! And, if you
ried savers, and savers married spenders. When it comes invest wisely, you’ll be able to spend even more
to money, opposites attract. You have to laugh. No wonder money later on, as you’ll have increased your
people fight about money. purchasing power.
It definitely helps if you are financially compatible, but
I would never tell someone just because you don’t see eye Specific tips based on age include:
to eye, that is a reason to keep you apart if you are madly 20 and 30s: Your biggest concern should be to
in love. I can say a relationship won’t last if one of you is establish an emergency fund. Kedar points out
spending wildly and the other just wants to save, and you this sounds simple, but a lot of people who are in
don’t work through that. what she calls the “wealth-building stage” don’t
take this basic step. Your emergency fund should
How do you help women in a relationship accom- ideally be enough money to keep you afloat for
plish financial health? three to six months. In this economy, you might
My approach is rooted in the idea that if you have your want a fund of more like six to nine months.
finances in order, you can lead the life you want to lead and
40s and 50s: Now is the time to start preparing
not have financial issues. for retirement. Even in 2010, you can start the
The No. 1 cause of stress and divorce, and the No. 1 process by making sure you are saving enough
source of fights, is money. Money breaks couples up. In and that your investments are age-appropriate,
our society people concentrate on “Are you emotionally and meaning they will give you what you need at the
physically compatible?” But it really matters if you are finan- right time.
cially compatible, too. [For Kedar and co-author Manisha
Thakor’s financial compatibility quiz, see Page 47.] 60s and beyond: If you don’t have enough for
retirement, which many people don’t these days,
The biggest reason people fight about money is they don’t un-
you will need to work longer, Kedar says. “There
derstand why they make their own personal decisions when it
is no magic bullet other than work longer or save
comes to money. [And] once you are part of a couple, you have more. I wish there was a magic bullet, because
to come to terms with your significant other. You have to find a two-thirds of women over 60 rely on Social Se-
mutual financial voice as a couple. curity as their major source of money.”

How do you come to terms as a couple? What if you find yourself after a number of years
It is important for people to know that sex is not the last married to someone who is not financially compatible?
taboo – it is money. I don’t say you have to do X, Y and Z. I It does happen that people married 30 years find they are
just say you have to talk about it. very incompatible. Whether you can survive has to do with
The point is to have some knowledge about your own your willingness to address the situation and actually com-
attitudes and those of your partner, which I call financial municate and find compromises. Those are the important
authenticity. You need to know what is important – do you things. I tell folks to think about making financial vows just
want a mansion, or to take a lot of trips, or is owning a cer- as you take or renew your other vows. Sitting down and mak-
tain car most important? How much savings do you need ing financial vows when you are having trouble is important.
to feel comfortable? If one of you wants a mansion and the You can schedule financial date nights. Truly. As unsexy as
other does not, that can be an issue. that is, it is more sexy than fighting. Maybe one of you wants
to send the kids to private school, maybe the other wants to
What are the warning signs that you and your part- pay off the house in 15 or 20 years. You need to know that.
ner may be financially incompatible?
If you bring up the topic of money and you get resistance, What financial strategies would you recommend
that isn’t a deal breaker, but it is a warning sign. Or if you during difficult economic times?
want to talk about money and the response is, “Don’t worry, Focus on keeping that emergency fund, aiming for six to
I’ve got it covered.” The common theme is lack of commu- nine months of living expenses. Know that you are not alone.
nication. When things turn around (and they will likely do that over
A woman or man who is conflict-averse and doesn’t want to time), having that emergency fund is an incredibly empow-
fight so just accepts what the other tells them is going to end up ering financial position, and a lesson to be taken from these
with the short end of the financial agreement. rough times to the good times, too. S
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body & soul
the ‘get financially naked’ compatibility quiz

According to Sharon Kedar, the No. 1 cause of stress, fights and even divorce is money. “People concentrate on
‘Are you emotionally and physically compatible?’” Kedar says. “But it really matters if you are financially compat-
ible, too.” The quiz from “Get Financially Naked” can help you know. Answer “yes” or “no” to the following, then
tally up and compare:
Knowledge 8. You prioritize having financial security and stability in

1. You know how much money you need to cover your your life.
regular monthly expenses.
9. You spend time thinking about protecting your assets.
2. You know how much money you need for your per-
sonal three-to-six-month emergency fund. 10. You believe having money leads to good outcomes.
3. You know how much you should aim to save for Behavior
retirement as a percentage of your income. 1. You always pay your bills on time.
4. You know where all of your money is stored today (all 2. You track your progress in terms of meeting your
bank accounts and other financial accounts, including financial goals.
retirement accounts).
3. You regularly look at your bank or other financial ac-
5. You know how much money you owe for all your count balances.
debt, and the interest rates you are being charged on
each. 4. You are on track to save 10 percent or more of your
before-tax income for retirement (if not today, you are
6. You understand basic concepts regarding how to committed to over time).
invest your money.
5. You are paying off debt in a planned, systematic way
7. You know how much risk you’re willing to take with – i.e., starting with the highest interest rate first.
your investments.
6. You regularly check your credit reports to make sure
8. You know what your top five financial goals are. there are no errors (or that identity theft has not oc-
curred), and you know what your credit score is.
9. You know the key types of insurance you need to
protect your loved ones and assets. 7. Any money that you invest in individual stocks (not
mutual funds) is money that you can afford to lose.
10. You know where your essential documents are
stored. 8. You have a will or living trust, and an appropriate
loved one/trustee also has a copy.
Interest
1. You enjoy reading financial books, magazines, news- 9 .You have enough insurance to cover your needs,
letters or blogs. including sufficient life insurance if you have kids.
2. You enjoy watching financial TV shows or listening to 10. You ask financial professionals for help when you
radio programs. need it.
3. You enjoy talking about financial matters.
4. You often think about your personal financial situation Total the number of “yes” responses:
and how to improve it.
5. You often think about whether you are on track to Your results Your partner’s results
meet your retirement and other big financial goals.
Knowledge ______/ 10 Knowledge ______/ 10
6. You are interested in the financial details of your day-
Interest ______/ 10 Interest ______/ 10
to-day life.
Behavior ______/ 10 Behavior ______/ 10
7. You believe money issues need to be addressed
today, rather than letting them “resolve themselves” over
time.

Scott Harben/SeePictures
Celia Fushille, Artistic & Executive Director

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beauty report
high-heel
heaven…or hell
How to survive the highest heels
with the least pain and the most finesse
By Melinda Sacks
Not that long ago, you may have danced the night away mertoes, inflamed Achilles tendons and sprained ankles
in spike heels. But now, walking in stilettos for more than been so common. Is there any way to wear killer spikes
a few minutes at a time makes you grimace in pain. without serious damage to your feet and back, not to
Yet you do it. Despite a love-hate relationship with high mention fear of falling?
heels, women have long worn them to lengthen the leg or Surprising new research, and a few cutting-edge treat-
finish a stylish look – and not only the young. Women in ments, can help you justify your Jimmy Choos.
their late 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond want to flaunt their “It is possible to wear high-heel shoes without devel-
long, fit legs. Designers are complying, making shoes with oping foot pain,” says Dr. Christopher Segler, a surgical
6- or even 8-inch heels, worn by celebs such as Victoria podiatrist whose San Francisco practice serves patients
Beckham, Beyoncé and Jennifer Aniston as they glide from Vallejo to Milpitas.
down the red carpet. “I don’t see patients and say, ‘OK, first we are going to
But at the same time that towering Christian Loubou- do away with all your high-heel shoes.’ That’s ludicrous,”
tins sell for upward of $2,400, never have bunions, ham- Segler says. “It is like someone who has an auto accident

comes to you and you say, ‘You can never drive again.’ For a lot how to wear
of people, getting rid of high heels is totally unrealistic. You
can mitigate the risk and continue to do what is appropriate heels for life
for you in business and certain social situations.” If you don’t have severe foot problems
Segler is quick to add that this applies to women who don’t and want to keep it that way, here are
have genetic biomechanical foot problems, such as high arch- some common-sense suggestions from
es or flat feet, and haven’t done too much damage already by local foot docs:
wearing the wrong shoes. Keep a comfortable pair of flat shoes
Aging feet also have a tough time in heels. According to the with you to take a break from your heels.
Mayo Clinic, as we age, our feet become wider and longer, Stash soft foldable flats in your purse, car
and the natural padding under the heel and forefoot thins. A and under your desk. Whenever you have
lifetime of standing and walking flattens the arch and stiffens the chance, slip out of those stilts.
both feet and ankles. High heels — shoes with a heel 2 inches
or more — makes the foot slide forward in the shoe, redistrib- Try a variety of heels, not just the
skinny ones. Wedges, platforms and
uting weight, creating enormous pressure points and throwing
chunky heels are all preferable, since they
the body’s natural alignment out of whack.
provide more support and less tilt to your
All of these factors can exacerbate genetic foot conditions foot. Save the super spikes for the times
and make you prone to bunions, hammertoes and other un- when you want the look, but don’t have
pleasant ailments. Very high heels may increase the problem, to do much standing or walking.
Segler says, but often the shoes are not the only cause.
“If you have an unstable foot type and you consistently wear Get a variety of gel inserts or cush-
4-inch heels, you will probably get bunions,” he says. “How- ions that are small enough to slip into
ever, if you have a very stable foot, you can put on heels every all your shoes and protect your natural
padding.
day and it is still possible to not develop bunions.”
The latest research* shows that women who wore high Exercise and strengthen your core
heels most of their adult life are only 1.2 times more at risk for with Pilates or yoga so that when you
bunions than women who did not wear heels. The research wear heels, you won’t teeter, sway your
shows the higher the heel height, the more pressure on the back or take a tumble.
ball of the foot and the metatarsal heads. In an unstable foot,
that pressure leads to problems, but heels in and of them-
selves are not always the culprit, as previously thought.
Another commonly held belief – that being overweight con-
how to walk in heels
tributes to bunions and hammertoes – was disproved in the Be sure ankle straps are secure (not
same study. According to Segler, women with lower body mass like a tourniquet, though) so that the shoe
indexes actually seem to develop bunions at a higher rate than stays snug on your foot and doesn’t slide
heavier women, although it is unclear why. around.
Dr. Naleen Prasad, a Castro Valley podiatrist, is a big believ-
Consider going up a half or whole
er in orthotics (customized inserts to adjust how the foot sits
size. This will give your foot more room
in the shoe) and minimizing time spent in high heels. “Ninety and may prevent crushing of your toes.
percent of my patients get orthotics,” says Prasad, who sees Wider shoes are also often more comfort-
heel pain and metatarsalgia most often among her female pa- able.
tients. “You can imagine that as you change the angle of the
foot with a higher heel, it puts more and more pressure on When standing or walking, put your
the front of the foot. I am not against them, but the amount weight on your whole foot, not just your
of time you wear high heels is important. The celebrities are toes. The more weight you can put in your
heels, the better. Stand on both feet.
probably wearing them for 10 minutes.”
Here’s what you need to know to avoid or alleviate foot Walk heel-to-toe so that your heel strikes
problems and keep your feet in heels for longer: the ground first and the rest of the foot
rolls onto the ground. Push off with the ball
of your foot when you start a new step.
* “Factors associated with hallux valgus in a population-based
study of older women and men: the Maintenance of Balance, Inde- Master small steps on flat ground before
pendent Living, Intellect, and Zest in the Elderly of Boston Study,” trying hills or stairs.
2009. Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston; Har-
vard Medical School Use handrails, or your honey’s arm.

beauty report
problems and foot gadgets
latest treatments From websites such as footsmart.com that allow you
to “shop by condition,” to catalogs that pitch foot spas,
Bunions – The unsightly and often painful
shoes and accessories, you can spend a fortune on your
bumps that result from deformed big toe
feet. Many of the gadgets promising to fix foot problems
joints. The hottest trend, and yet still scien-
don’t work, warn surgeons, so buyer beware:
tifically unproven as a long-term solution,
is the injection of Botox to release muscles Yoga toes: These soft gel toe spreaders slip on like a
that are pulling the big toe toward the ad- fingerless jelly glove. While you wear them, your toes are
jacent toe, creating or worsening a bunion. spread in a lovely broad arc, but take them off and your
Botox doesn’t last, though, and if a bunion toes return to their original shape.
is already there, this treatment won’t fix it
and you may have to undergo surgery. Bunion and hammertoe splints: While these splints
straighten your toes when they are in place, when you
Metatarsalgia – Pain in the ball of the foot, take them off, your toes will go back to the position they
where pressure of bone against the sole of know best.
the shoe is exacerbated by high heels, and
where natural padding thins with age. Facial Gel insoles and pads: Ranging from small forefoot
fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm can pads to whole shoe inserts, these can be very helpful for
be injected into the pad on the bottom of pain. Buy them in foot-friendly shoe stores or order them
the foot. Some medical professionals, who online based on what type of shoe you plan to wear.
charge $500-$1,100 per foot, say this can
help for six months or up to a year. But East Foot massagers: While you can pay for a Cryosphere
Bay podiatrist Dr. Naleen Prasad says they Hot/Cold Foot Massager to roll your achy arches on, you
last less time because the fat in the foot can also just use a tennis ball, advise podiatrists. This
is unique and cannot really be replaced. is particularly good for treating plantar fasciitis (pain and
A longer-term solution, she suggests, is inflammation of the tissue that runs across the bottom of
custom orthotics. your foot), as is filling a water bottle, freezing it, then roll-
ing your foot back and forth over it to ease the pain.
Hammertoe, claw toe and mallet toe
– Just what they sound like, these can be
the result of genetics but also of the wrong
footwear, such as those with pointy toes.
When one of your toes spends too much
time crammed in a too small space, it can
become permanently bent, and the joint
ceases to function normally. The latest
surgical fix (if orthotics or padding don’t
help) is the “Smart Toe Memory Implant,”
inserted inside the deformed toe where it
stays and straightens the joint with less
pain and fewer complications than earlier
procedures.
Morton’s neuroma – A sharp, burning

pain in your forefoot, often accompanied
by stinging or numbness in the toes. It
develops when the bones of two toes –
usually the third and fourth – rub against
one another, pinching the nerve and creat-
ing a growth of tissue around the nerve.
Jupiter Images/Pixland/Thinkstock
Too-narrow shoes are often the cause.

Cortisone injections can reduce the size
of a neuroma. More recent treatment is a
series of injections of a solution of 4 percent
alcohol into the neuroma, to destroy a por-
tion of the nerve that is causing the pain. If
injections don’t work, the damaged nerve
can be removed through surgery.

Kelsey McNeal/ABC
Cheryl Burke partners with Chilean actor Cristián de la Fuente in 2008 during the sixth season of “Dancing With the Stars.”
the dancer
Cheryl Burke makes dancing
in heels look easy
Cheryl Burke of “Dancing With the Stars” fame grew How long are you in heels every day?
up in the Bay Area and is back here often – especially On average, I’m in heels and dancing about six hours
since one of her two dance studios is in Mountain View. a day. But I sit down as much as possible, and when I’m
She’s one busy gal: In addition to “DWTS,” Burke, 26, is at home, I’m usually in bed!
writing her biography, designing clothing and shoe lines,
is a Jazzercise spokesperson and stars in the hot dance That’s gotta hurt after awhile. Your secret?
show “Forever Tango” (Marines’ Memorial Theatre, San I use Kiwi Smiling Feet – their Ball of Foot Cushions
Francisco, Dec. 21-Jan. 9). (clear gel-based inserts).
Of Filipino, Irish and Russian extraction, the efferves-
cent Burke wows “DWTS” judges and makes her dance What’s your routine foot care?
partners look great – all while on heels, and this doesn’t It’s important to stretch. I stretch my feet and my
even count rehearsal time or red carpet appearances. calves, without shoes. I get weekly massages, and I have
We asked her how she takes care of feet. a reflexologist who just works on my feet – relieves pres-

beauty report
sure points and works on certain ar- When you’re not working,
eas. And I make sure I get enough what kind of shoes do you
sleep and rest – I need eight to 10 wear?
hours of sleep a night. I always wear heels. I’ve worn
heels since I was 12 years old. Be-
Rick Fox, your “DWTS” part- cause I have high arches, I look for
ner this season, is 6 feet 7 a high platform, which makes the
inches. You’re 5 feet 4 inches. shoe a little flatter.
Did that affect your footwear?
For dancing I use professional Do you have any foot
dance shoes, usually with a 3-inch problems?
heel. Because Rick is so tall, I I have calluses on my feet – but
danced with a 4-inch heel. It took I like them! It helps to have some-
some getting used to, and I had thing to dance on.
some pain.
Cheryl Burke Dance, 1400 N.
How do you handle soreness Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View,
and pain? 650.864.9150, www.cherylburke-
Adam Larkey/ABC
If my feet are swollen, I’ll ice dance.com. Featuring more than 50
them. Some dances are harder on classes a week in all styles of dance,
your feet than others – Latin danc- private lessons, parties and special
es like the jive, where you’re con- events.
Burke and former NBA basketball player
stantly bouncing, and the samba Rick Fox compete in the current season
and paso doble. —Katharine Fong of “Dancing With the Stars.”
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Anyi Lu, 35, is a shoe designer and founder
of her eponymous company in Tiburon. The
business she started in her house five years ago
is now internationally known, and her uniquely
constructed footwear is carried in boutiques and
department stores across the country, including
Nordstrom.
A former chemical engineer and professional
ballroom dancer, Lu took to shoe design when
her about-to-be-married sister needed wedding
shoes that were beautiful, comfortable and that
she could dance in. In short order, Lu began
studying design at the Academy of Art in San
Francisco, and then worked at shoe designer and
orthopedic surgeon Dr. Taryn Rose’s shop.
Lu is passionate about creating eye-catching
footwear that is made well, fits well, and yes,
great to dance in.
What made you decide to design shoes?

I design for women like me. As a working
mother with a 5-year-old girl, I cannot allow my
uncomfortable shoes to slow me down because
my feet are aching or I am tottering on too-high
Courtesy Anyi Lu
heels. I don’t have foot problems, but I have a

bad back problem.
What makes so many designer shoes

uncomfortable?
the shoe More than 3 inches is unhealthy. When design-

ers add platforms and claim the shoe is not that
high, it is really not true. When you have heels
higher than 3 inches, you throw more than 80
whisperer
percent of your body weight on the ball of your
foot. It’s basic physics. You can’t balance well. If
you turn around or walk fast or don’t pay atten-
tion, you will sprain your ankle right away.
How are your shoes unique?

A couture shoe designer on The heel height on most shoes is under 3
inches. They all have arch support. And there is
beautiful shoes and happy feet enough room in the toe box. We use exclusively
leather outside and inside – the part that touches
your foot. We use very soft, stretchable, breath-
able lining.
We hand-sew the upper and lower together like
a sock. This allows the shoe to mold to your foot
so it is flexible like a sock. Most of what you see
in the marketplace is glued together – when glue
dries, it becomes very hard. Our shoes are the
opposite. They bend back like a piece of dough.
Our shoes give you the sensation of wearing a
shoe, but it is like you are barefoot.

beauty report
Why haven’t other designers taken these kinds of
steps?
Most of the designers in the high-end footwear market are
men. They have an image of how women are supposed to look,
but they aren’t wearing the shoes. If you ask them to spend a
day in their own designs, that would change their perspective.
With a woman’s perspective, everything changes.
I want women to know knowledge is power and freedom.
A lot of young women who don’t have foot problems yet go
for the towering heels, and it is going to have consequences
later on. It is one thing to follow trends, but you have to look
Most of Anyi Lu’s
at them with your own lifestyle in mind. The demographics of shoes have heels
our customers are that they are more confident. under 3 inches.
What inspires you?

I was an engineer before becoming a shoe designer, and I
had to dress nicely, but I had to keep up with men. I found
that in my beautiful shoes, I couldn’t keep up. I was not going
to allow my shoes to stop me, but I was not going to wear my
grandmother’s shoes. Anyi Lu is a merger of comfort and style
and fashion. We call our collection couture comfort.
—Melinda Sacks

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fashion
inspired
menswear
Marey black slim trousers,
$150; waist coat, $185, both
Ted Baker. Imperial wrist-tie
shirt, $185, Alina B. Walnut
Creek. Via Spiga booties,
$225, Bloomingdale’s. Paloma
Picasso 18-karat hammered Hair:
gold hoop earrings, $1,625; Karie Bennett and Shayne
18-karat gold trefoil key Thurston, Aveda Atelier
necklace, $900, both Tiffany SalonSpa, Santana Row
& Co. Clover charm necklace, Makeup: Audrey
$164, triple-strand pearls, Mendoza,
$165, and bird’s nest necklace, makeupaudrey.com
$184, all Flying LIzard Design,
Styling assistance:
Santana Row. Freshwater
Janet Kim Paik
pearls with disc, $249, Alina
B., Walnut Creek. Majorica Models:
pearl rope necklaces, $395 Brooke London and Gina,
each, Bloomingdale’s. Ford Models

fashion
IN HAND
Clutches carry just the essentials –
and that’s all we really need
Handbags are the workhorse of accessories, lugging bits of our vanities, desks
and medicine cabinets wherever we go. D A clutch, though, isn’t about func-
tion. It’s meant to be held gently in a hand or cradled between our waist and
the crook of an elbow. Its size and shape won’t allow for much beyond the
essentials. D With this season’s minimalist approach to dressing, the clas-
sic clutch complements pared-down and traditional looks like a camel coat
or tuxedo jacket. It even anchors the wild whimsy of leopard prints. D While
we might fret about how little they hold, there’s also great appeal in accept-
ing that there’s only room for a little mad money, a cell phone and lipstick.
Big Buddha Meredith clutch with floral applique and wristlet, $46, Flying Lizard
Design, Santana Row

Clockwise from top left:
Capetown Isabelle black leopard
clutch, $198, Cole Haan.
Johanna Boccardo Oversized
Flat Rose clutch, $299,
866.686.1404.
Kate Spade Night Sky striped
sequined evening bag with chain
strap to convert to a clutch, $325,
Bloomingdale’s.
Harlow clutch in python with
palladium-plated brass hardware
and detachable chain handle,
$1,595, Tiffany & Co.

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fashion
the LBD How to choose

the best Little Black
Dress for you
In a season abundant with reliably

chic classics, the Little Black Dress still
reigns in its timeless versatility.
The best LBDs always look and feel
effortless. The right dress has the power
to make you feel confident, powerful,
sexy and appropriate – all at once. The
right dress enhances your best features
and disguises your figure flaws. It defines
your waistline and accentuates curves,
while gently draping over areas of in-
security. You stand taller and straighter
and instantly feel more sophisticated.
But how to find the right LBD for
you?
Marie Claire fashion director Nina
Garcia says searching for an LBD when
you need one can be frustrating, and a
evening
3.1 Phillip Lim dress with back
crisscross sashing detail, $650,
Nordstrom. Velvet corset lace-up shoes,
$198, Cole Haan. John Meier topaz,
peridot and sapphire drop earrings,
$3,300, and topaz ring with amethyst,
sapphire and tsavorite pavé prongs,
$6,700, JohnMeierDesign.com.
day
Elisabetta Franchi for Celyn b. metallic tweed jacket, $650; Claudia Ciuti shoes, $398,
both Alina B., Walnut Creek. Elsa Peretti 18-karat gold cuff, $6,900 and lacquer bangle
in persimmon, $395; carnelian bead necklace as a bracelet, $1,100; 18-karat gold citron
cushion cocktail ring, $1,500; Paloma Picasso Marrakesh earrings, $1,625; Lyn clutch in
silver ring lizard, $1,800, all Tiffany & Co.

primer better strategy is to let it find you. In her
book, “The One Hundred: A Guide to the
Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own”
(HarperCollins), the “Project Runway”
judge advocates keeping your eyes open
as you go about your business.
“If (a woman) sets out on a ‘perfect
little black dress mission,’ the thing will
elude her all afternoon. But if she is on
her way to a lazy Sunday brunch, it will
most likely jump out at her from a store-
front window,” she writes. “No matter
what the cost, she should buy it.”
Oh, yes, the cost. Quality LBDs are
pricey. Good fit comes from fine tailoring,
luxurious fabrics and an expert design
eye, which is reflected in the price tag.
Consider the LBD a high-priority invest-
ment piece as essential as a warm coat.
While you should aim for undeniable
elegance while wearing your dress, you
don’t have to emulate Audrey Hepburn
in her iconic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
Givenchy. An LBD can be edgy or casual,
channeling the personality of the woman
who wears it.
day
Jeffrey Monteiro trench coat, $595,
Crimson Mim, Los Altos. Reversible
Amy Layman Buskirk
tote in metallic and suede with

removable zippered pouch, $595,
Tiffany & Co. Leopard flats, $168,
Cole Haan. Gold-tone cuff, $199, and
dangling earrings, $89, Beau Bijou,
Santana Row.
evening
Narciso Rodriguez peephole dress, $1,385, Nordstrom. “Ceci” beaded pumps, $460,
Donald J. Pliner. Detachable zipper pouch as a clutch, part of the reversible tote bag,
$595, Tiffany & Co. John Meier Persian turquoise drop earrings with tourmaline, amethyst,
tsavorite and sapphires, $4,900, JohnMeierDesign.com.

fashion
find the best tips for finding and wearing
LBD for your the perfect LBD
figure type Buy the best you can afford. Choose simple, clas-
Pear-shaped women sic silhouettes in fabrics that hold their shape such as
who want to minimize rayon, wool jersey, cotton, raw silk or a blend. Sleeve-
hips and thighs will less, collarless and belt-less dresses are always in fash-
get their best fit with ion and allow you to change things up with trend-driven
an A-line dress. It’s a jewelry, jackets or cardigans.
classic, flattering cut
Look for versatility. Think about where you’ll likely
that is narrow at the
wear a LBD and picture yourself wearing it in different
waist and flares away
scenarios. Find a style that will go from day to evening
from the body, ideally
with a switch of shoes, handbags and accessories.
skimming over trouble
spots. Look for dresses Just one won’t do. Realistically, you should have one
that have some detail LBD for professional outings, such as job interviews
or volume in the bodice and business dinners. Another, less conservative style
and neckline to balance should cover more festive, dressy events, including
proportion. cocktail parties and special celebrations.
Don’t buy too tight, too short, too low-cut or too

shiny. Fit is the priority. Shiny fabrics are rarely flattering
Top-heavy and curvy
and can’t be worn during the day.
women should search
for dresses that empha- Proportion can mean the difference between sleek
size the waistline and and frumpy. The most flattering hemline for LBDs is
accentuate an hour- just above the knee. It’s a length that works with stiletto
glass figure. Choose a pumps, flats, boots and sandals. Proportion is also
dress that’s form-fitting important in the choice of jackets and sweaters worn
without being tight. Pay with the dress: They should never cut the dress exactly
close attention to the in half. Go shorter or longer. If the dress is voluminous,
neckline: too revealing rein it in with a coat or jacket that fits closer to the body.
is inappropriate and too
closed will call attention Go bold with accessories. Always wear jewelry,
to the bust line. A boat whether it’s a signature piece, like Michelle Obama
neck – long and narrow and her brooches, a treasured family heirloom or a
toward the shoulders – splurge purchase. Make sure it says something about
is universally flattering. your good taste and accentuates the best features of
the dress. Play with belts and scarves, choosing scarf
colors that complement your skin tone and belt widths
that work with you as well as the LBD.
No curves? Create
the illusion of round- Bad shoes-free zone. Nothing ruins a perfectly put-
ness with a dress that together LBD ensemble faster than the wrong pair of
has slight volume. Look shoes. Think of shoes as 50 percent of your overall
for ruching, pleating or look. While the tendency is to reach for black shoes,
ruffles. Some dresses the best color may be a neutral or nude shade that
will have curve-creating elongates your legs. When in doubt, go with heels, and
darts and seams that unless you have long, super-shapely legs, stay away
won’t be evident until from ankle straps and cage shoes.
you try the dress on.
Look for fabrics that Change up the makeup and hair. The point is to look
have some structure polished and glamorous, not overdone. Add a shim-
and can add a little mery blush, extra mascara or fake lashes, a brighter
bulk, such as cotton color lipstick or gloss. Make sure your foundation is
pique or wool flannel. flawless and becoming under harsh lights. Put your
A layered chiffon or silk hair up in a loose chignon or high ponytail, the better to
may be flattering, too. show off fabulous earrings.

fashion
why i love my LBD’s

One woman’s paean to a fashion essential
By Donna Kato
At this moment, I own 13 Little Black Dresses. The Chanel with a double row of gold buttons that I pur-
numbers go up and down, but I always have at least one chased for $220 in 1988 at a Los Angeles consignment
for every season. I count Old Navy and Chanel among shop. It’s a sleeveless lightweight wool that I wore to
them. cover the Emmy Awards. It was subtle and authorita-
My definition of a true LBD are dresses that are tive amid the glittery gowns worn by the celebrities. The
black, but not full-length gowns. They are not embroi- knee length allowed me the agility to do my reporting.
dered, embellished or elongated T-shirts masquerading My newest Little Black Dress was picked up at Uniq-
as a dress. Because I have a few of those, too. lo in SoHo during September’s New York Fashion Week,
My favorite LBD is by Narciso Rodriguez, a sheath a $19.99 sale frock. Upon closer inspection of the label
with three-quarter sleeves that was bought at a Nord- the next day, I discovered the dress was from a spring
strom sale five years ago. It looked plain and uninterest- collaboration line between the retail chain and Costello
ing on the hanger, but I knew the designer has a magical Tagliapietra, one of my favorite design teams. An acci-
way with fit, so I tried it on. It instantly made me look dental, lucky score for me.
thinner, taller, yet curvy. I was never more sure of spend- The Uniqlo dress, in fact, was bought while wearing
ing $700 on a dress, and it’s more than paid for itself in another LBD, a prim Tocca sheath with a small bow at
confidence and compliments every time I wear it. the waistline and Peter Pan collar. The Tocca was ideal
The LBD I wear most often is a casual, stretchy J.Jill worn Uptown to a fashion show, but it looked utterly
rayon dress with a slightly empire cut, short sleeves and a ridiculous among the downtown hipsters.
square neckline. Again, flattering and seasonless, I wear The Uniqlo jersey, with its boat neck and draped sil-
it with bare legs and sandals, flats, tights, boots and heels. houette, was a better fit for the neighborhood. I wore it
The square neckline is ideal for showing off small scarves with the flats I carried in my bag.
and statement necklaces. It’s the one dress I took on a Which underscores the power and popularity of the
backpacking trip to Europe in 1997, and it’s still in great Little Black Dress. The right one has a way of trans-
shape, unfaded and unfrayed. forming you into who you want or need to be for that
The oldest Little Black Dress in my closet is a vintage moment or longer. S

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GET READY 2011 has something for everyone
Save the lace looks and buff-toned neutrals from your winter wardrobe, because
they’ll be hot this coming season. Spring also brings back looks from the ’70s – Bianca
Jagger in her maxi halter dress days, and Ali McGraw as the boho preppie – as well as
a hard-edged punk and rebel ’80s vibe (the Sex Pistols and the Dead Kennedys left a
lasting sartorial impression, too).
At a time when designers and retailers are hoping to give women enough choices to
make them buy again, this coming season could be one of temptation. Jet-set sophis-
ticates as well as arty eccentrics will find something fresh and desirable come 2011.
By Donna Kato
higher up color primer

A flattering and comfortable pant It’s a story of contradictions,
for almost any figure, spring’s with fruity colors like tangerine,
trousers are loose and flared raspberry and grape vying for
with a natural waistline that gives love at the same time as buffed
them an easy versatility. neutrals like putty, greige (a
grayish beige), creamy whites
and milky pastels.
Dan and Corina Lecca
marc
jacobs
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
low down
Hemlines are heading south.

What suddenly looks new are
skirt and dress lengths that
marc graze the calf or ankles, even alexander
jacobs the floor.
mcqueen

fashion
FOR SPRING asian sampling rebel yell

Japanese kimonos and shibori Call it counterculture couture:
fabric, Chinese cheongsams, tough and edgy yet deliberately
and Korean hanboks and hats high fashion, from such historically
inspired designers to offer modern, respected design houses as
wearable takes on traditional Asian Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton.
garments.
alexander
mcqueen
AP Photo/Christophe Ena
chanel Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
finishing
touches
Plat-wedges, a hybrid of platform
sandals and wedges
Clogs
Kitten heels
Preppy classics and color
Big bangles
Black and white
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
chanel
marc
jacobs
studio 54
botany 101 revisited
What’s spring without florals and Fluid, transparent dresses in maxi

greenery? This coming season, the lengths, peasant skirts and halter
best prints are graphic takes on gowns reminiscent of the early
wild vegetation and flora, nothing marc 1970s, when style was synonymous
too precious or precise.
jacobs with the New York club scene.

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icons
agent of Mackenzie Lesher’s focus on

leadership – her own and growing
change
others’ – is making a difference
To say that Mackenzie Lesher is “involved” in her com- She’s also, as of last June, president of the Junior League
munity is a little like saying Lance Armstrong is “involved” of Oakland-East Bay, charged with directing and organiz-
in cycling. Sitting at Katy’s Kreek, a popular restaurant ing the chapter’s board and more than 600 members to
across from the Dean Lesher Center for the Arts, the vi- promote volunteerism and service through nonprofit ven-
vacious 34-year-old Walnut Creek resident ticks off a to- tures that range from assisting victims of domestic vio-
do list that would make even the best multi-tasker dizzy. lence to teaching children about healthy diets.
At the moment of the interview, she was putting the final Lesher currently is focusing the chapter’s efforts on
touches on plans for the Lesher Center’s 20-year anniver- Concord-based Stand! For Families Free of Violence, an
sary gala in October, for which she and husband, Steve organization for which the Junior League helped build a
(the grandson of late Lesher Communications newspa- tech center last year. This year, the league is working with
pers founder Dean Lesher), were serving as co-chairs. the center to assist women in developing job-building and
But that’s only a drop in the proverbial punch bowl for life skills.
the former political consultant, elementary school teach- “I had such a misperception of the Junior League,” says
er and mother of a 2-year-old. Lesher, who grew up in the Central Valley and graduated
By Bonnie Wach Photos by Jose Carlos Fajardo

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Mackenzie Lesher at her home in Walnut Creek. Her idea of a perfect Saturday? “I’d sleep in late, see a movie,
take my son to the park and have friends over for a casual dinner around our kitchen table.”
with a degree from UC Berkeley in political science. “I ment, so at the suggestion of friend and mentor Kathleen
thought it was all ‘ladies who lunch.’ But these women are Odne, executive director of the Dean & Margaret Lesher
some of the most talented, diverse, outstanding women I Foundation and past president of the Junior League of
have ever met.” Oakland-East Bay, she joined the Junior League in 2001,
Lesher moved to Walnut Creek in 1999 to be closer to and quickly stepped into leadership roles.
her future husband, Steve, whom she had met at a func- “Mackenzie understands the role of women’s leader-
tion while working as a political consultant after college. ship in creating community change,” Odne says. “That’s a
Soon after, she decided to go back to school at St. Mary’s very valuable aspect of her personal leadership style.”
College for a teaching credential, and then embarked on Lesher proudly cites the Junior League of Oakland-
a career in education, first teaching fourth and fifth grade East Bay’s many accomplishments since its inception
at Buena Vista Elementary School in Walnut Creek and 75 years ago, among them founding six nonprofit orga-
later working as a curriculum specialist for the school dis- nizations, including the Family Stress Center and Super
trict. Stars Literacy, an after-school literacy program for grades
It was her love for her newly adopted “dream commu- kindergarten through second. The chapter also awards
nity” that prompted Lesher to seek more active involve- annual grants to groups such as Girls Incorporated of

S A N F R A N C I S C O Z O O
Unwrap some
adventure this holiday.
Give a Zoo membership.
‘Tis the season for great family fun. Why not kick off
the holidays right by giving a Zoo membership.
Get free sneak peaks to great events like the return of the reindeer now
through New Year’s Day. Or the Fisher-Price® Little People Live Holiday Show
December 4th and 5th. And plenty of excitement in between.
For more information, visit www.sfzoo.org.

icons
the Island City in Alameda, McCullum Youth Court in in her own words
Oakland and the Crucible arts and industry center, also
in Oakland. Three things I’d take to a deserted island: My
“We really have a three-fold mission,” Lesher says. Kindle, lip balm and chocolate-covered pretzels
“Promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of
Favorite meal: Fleming’s petite filet and their
women and training talented women to become leaders
signature potatoes
in the community.”
This last part of the mission, she says, is where her per- Favorite drink: Top shelf margarita (love Maria
sonal passion lies. “I’m very focused on developing the po- Maria’s!)
tential of women and training them to take on leadership
roles. Several Junior League volunteers have gone on to Latest download on my Kindle: “Death by
start nonprofits, become chairs of boards and community Meeting”; “1-2-3 Magic” (toddler discipline book,
of course!)
leaders,” she continues. “I want them to see that women
in these important roles are no different from them.” Favorite places to shop: Footcandy; Nordstrom;
Her persuasive powers are clearly making an impact. the Etcetera clothing line, sold by my friend Noel
“She is inspiring. She is full of energy. She sucks you into Twist.
her world, so you believe that anything is possible,” says
Kingsley Grafft, a special education teacher who recalls Dog: Sam, a cocker spaniel (Full name is Sam
Lesher as the first person she met at the Junior League Bam Cunningham Lesher, after a USC football
great; my husband is a huge USC fan, and I’m a
last year. “She very strongly believes in the cause – that
huge Cal fan, but we’ve found that love conquers
women can make a positive impact on the community
all.)
– and can explain why it’s so important and worth your
time.” Loves: Country music; cooking anything in a
Education and the arts are also close to Lesher’s heart. crockpot
She’s active with the nonprofit Diablo Regional Arts As-
sociation. In addition to sponsoring a full spectrum of Good at: I was a national award-winning speech
and debate competitor.
AGENT OF CHANGE continues on Page 170 Bad at: I am AWFUL at making small talk!

! "
" # $ !

C LO S E TO HOM E

WA L N U T C R E E K ’ S F I R S T W I N E RY
It begins in the soil, and blossoms in the fruit. It’s tended to, by hand, in the vineyard and nurtured in
the winery the very same way. It’s blended with passion and experience, aged with patience and care.
It’s the unmistakable taste of quality. And you’ll find it in every glass of Shadowbrook wine.
HOM E TO CON T R A C O S TA C O U N T Y ’ S ON LY 3 G OL D M E D A L S
Kauai
3739 SHADOWBROOK COURT | WALNUT CREEK, CA 94598 | (925) 988-WINE | w w w. s h a d ow b r o o k w i n e r y. c o m

icons
a
good
She’s a little bit country,
he’s a little bit rock ’n’
roll: Christine and Karl
Wente lead their family
pairing
business into a new era
When Christine Wente throws a par- see his picture in Wente brochures – all
ty at her Piedmont home, she usually 6 feet 7 inches of him – they invariably
starts early so she and her friends can ask, “Is he married?”
feed their toddlers – maybe a gourmet As different as they are, the two sib-
pasta inspired by her training at LeCor- lings – the fifth generation of the wine-
don Bleu in Paris – and still get everyone making family – are a good pairing.
home by bedtime. And there’s always “Christine is a very contemplative,
plenty of Wente wine to go around. deep-thinking, behind-the-scenes orga-
When her younger brother, Karl, 33, nizer. Karl is very immediate, a brilliant
has friends over to his century-old farm- go-getter and very outward-engaging,”
house on the family winery property in says their aunt and company CEO Caro-
the Livermore Valley, a jam session usu- lyn Wente. “It’s a good match. They are
ally breaks out with Karl on a guitar or a good foil for each other.”
mandolin, and a keg of beer on the front And now Christine and Karl are bring-
porch. The party often doesn’t end until ing Wente wines and the Livermore Val-
guests have pitched tents in the front yard ley to the millennial generation – a gen-
and at least one wine glass is broken. eration that is drinking more wine and
Christine, 35, Wente Vineyards’ senior better wine at a younger age than the
vice president of hospitality, is comfort- baby boomers before them.
able in pearls and slim skirts. Karl, the Christine and Wente marketing chief
winemaker, prefers a crocheted cap and Amy Hoopes – an old friend and former
flip-flops. When women at wine tastings roommate from their early days learn-
By Julia Prodis Sulek Photos by Patrick Tehan

Tasting Hours: Thurs - Sun 12pm - 6pm
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www.rockwallwines.com
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I Cult wines I All the accessories

I Wine by the glass I Party and business room
I Grand selection with audio visual equipment
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I Private tasting I Wine lounge
TANNINS
IT’S ALL ABOUT WINE
925.838.1969
www.tannins-at-the-livery.com • tannins@att.net
310 Sycamore Valley Road West • Danville CA 94526

See sales associate for details and qualifying models.
HAYWARD REDWOOD CITY SAN JOSE OUTLET CENTER

20286 Hesperian Blvd. 2424 El Camino Real 966 South Bascom Ave. 1950 Alpine Way in Hayward
at “A” Street one block south of HWY 84 Next to Frazee Paint Walk-Ins only, no phone orders.
(510) 783-3494 (650) 261-0200 (408) 200-2100
Outlet Center Hours:
Store Hours: M-F 10am-7pm • Sat 10am-6pm • Sun 11am-6pm M-F 10am-6pm • Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 12pm-5pm

Karl Wente checks out the vineyards by motorcycle – and sometimes by horseback. As part of the business’
environmental focus, he is experimenting with natural ways to control pests, and minimizing energy consumption
in winemaking.
karl’s campaign
Karl Wente’s “Discover the Wine, Discover the Music” campaign pairs emerging artists’ songs with a Wente
wine. But he also does the same with established artists who have performed at Wente concert series. A
sampling:
Chris Isaak Undertones of earth and spice, a long are similar – multilingual, multigenerational delights
finish to be savored – are we talking velvety vocals or that speak the international language of love.
varietals? In this case, both. Like Stockton’s favorite
son, Riva Ranch Chardonnay and Reliz Creek Pinot Don Henley When the “Boys of Summer” get
Noir are the ultimate sensual calling cards of their together, they’re seeking out the girls of summer.
respective birthplaces. Small lot wines sum up the sunny season of seduc-
tion: Small Lot Winery Grenache (cranberry, cherry,
ZZ Top It’s rare when a band is still together 40 years lavender) or Small Lot Winery Viognier (breeze-blown
in, let alone at the top of its game. Same is true of orchids, mango, apricot).
wine (with a few more centuries in the mix): Charles
Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon and Louis Mel Sauvi- Harry Connick Jr. True pairs: Connick is poster boy
gnon Blanc. for the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans; Morning
Fog Chardonnay (produced in a climate found in only
Earth, Wind and Fire Rolling Stone described them 1 percent of the world!) and Southern Hills Caber-
as “precise yet sensual, calculated yet galvanizing.” net Sauvignon are the ultimate expressions of their
Tamas Estates Double Decker Red and Pinot Grigio unique birthplace.

icons
ing the business at Gallo – are using social networking evenings dining and entertaining.
to the winery’s advantage. Wente’s Facebook page has “I love the seasonal experience,” she says, “and pairing
more fans than almost any other winery. A recent con- wines.”
cert series at the winery had no advertising budget, in- Karl also likes to pair wines – but his pairings are less
stead relying on tweets and posts to get the word out. about food and more about music. (His own band is
“I’m officially Gen X,” Christine says. “Karl borders X called The Front Porch.) He spearheads “Discover the
and Y. He’s a hipster and Wine, Discover the Mu-
helps our generation re- sic,” a national campaign
late to the wine.” that pairs emerging artists’
Karl is also attuned to songs with a Wente wine.
younger generations’ fo- “The goal is to spread
cus on sustainability. As the brand image,” he says,
part of the Wente family’s “but if I can call that work,
“Farming for the Future” how cool is that?”
environmental/conserva- For a family business to
tion program, Karl is ex- thrive, much less survive,
perimenting with essen- into its fifth generation is
tial oils – such as clove, quite an accomplishment.
black pepper and cinna- Many don’t endure past
mon – to control pests. the third, when bickering
He also created a micro among extended relatives
winery within the estate often derail a company.
winery, where work is But this winery founded
done by hand and energy in 1883 by C.H. Wente,
Eli Pitta/Wente Vineyards
consumption is minimal. a German immigrant

Both Karl and Chris- and student of Charles
tine say the “greening” of Krug, has a tight family
Wente is important, as tree. Two of his sons ran
is the Wente tradition of the business, but by the
community involvement Christine auctions off a double magnum of wine before third generation, only
and giving back. They one of the Wente summer concerts. one child, Karl Wente,
serve on various boards, took the reins. When he
including the Tri-Valley died in 1977 at the age
Conservancy (Karl),
christine on christine of 49, his three children
Livermore Chamber of Book on my night stand: “The Blind Side,” by – Eric, Phil and Carolyn
Commerce (Christine) Michael Lewis – stepped in while still
and Las Positas College in their 20s. They all had
Favorite boutique: McMullen in Oakland
(Christine). Both also children of their own.
support local arts and Best dish: Pasta with pancetta, arugula and Christine and Karl, Eric’s
tomatoes
education, and Christine children, are the oldest by
helps raise money for can- Favorite shoes: Black flats or cowboy boots at least 10 years, followed
cer research. Favorite outfit: Jeans and a sweater by Phil’s three children
Before each concert at in college and Carolyn’s
If I were a wine, I would be: Livermore Valley
Wente, a double magnum teenage son. All are show-
Grenache
of Wente wine, signed by ing an interest in the fam-
that evening’s artist, is ily business.
auctioned off. Over the past few years, these auctions It was the fourth generation – Carolyn and her two
have raised some $200,000 for the Livermore Valley brothers – who broadened the interests of the company,
Education Foundation to support local public school becoming the first California winery to export its wines
music programs. to Russia, China and Vietnam; and adding a concert se-
At home, Christine says, she finds passion in prepar- ries in the 1980s, a Greg Norman-designed golf course
ing great food with fresh, local ingredients – and gather- on the property in the 1990s, and a restaurant with its
ing friends together. She and her husband haven’t gone
to a movie in years, she says, preferring to spend their A GOOD PAIRING continues on Page 171

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS
RICHARD CAMMACK & ZOLA DISHONG
C O N T R A C O S TA B A L L E T
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LARGEST SELECTION IN BAY AREA


the
ladyis
a chef Women are cooking up inventive,
superb dishes all over the Bay Area
By Bonnie Wach
At first glance, there would seem to be a dearth of good

women chefs in the East Bay. But the reality is there’s a
cadre of talented women working in the shadows who
are turning the tables on the male-centric restaurant
scene, lending creativity and even a bit of feminine intu-
ition to top menus all around the Bay Area. We thought
it was time to shine a light on a few of them.

special report
Kristopher Skinner
sarah kirnon HIBISCUS

In the flavor-of-the-moment world of Bay Area din- no formal chef training. After pursuing careers in hotel
ing, you’d think being an African-American female chef and housekeeping management and law, Kirnon returned
would be hard enough. to her cooking roots, first on Barbados and then in Lon-
“Try being a black woman in Oakland serving non- don.
traditional fried chicken and barbecue,” laughs Sarah Ten years ago, a friend in San Francisco persuaded her
Kirnon, chef at Hibiscus, the year-old Caribbean-Creole to take over the kitchen at Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack, the
restaurant that’s been flying high on critics’ radar since it over-the-top Italian-American restaurant in the upper
opened last January in the Uptown district. “There are ex- Mission district. Her success there led to a 2½-year stint
pectations in Oakland, and people are not afraid to speak at nearby Front Porch, where she began to add Caribbean
their minds. I had a gentleman come in one day for six elements to the Southern-style menu.
orders of fried chicken. He left saying, ‘I’ll let you know She yearned, though, to have a place where she could
how this goes down.’ He’s come in once a week for it ever devote herself entirely to Caribbean-Creole cooking. So
since.” when the opportunity arose to transform an old Uptown
Outsider status is nothing new for the 42-year-old nightclub into a restaurant focused on the dishes of her
Kirnon, who grew up in Barbados cooking under the tu- childhood, Kirnon jumped.
telage of her grandmother and great-grandmother, both “I’ve had people say to me Caribbean-Creole cuisine
well-established cooks on sugar plantations, but received doesn’t exist,” Kirnon says. “It does. But West Indian cui-

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20286 Hesperian Blvd. 2424 El Camino Real 966 South Bascom Ave. 1950 Alpine Way in Hayward
at “A” Street one block south of HWY 84 Next to Frazee Paint Walk-Ins only, no phone orders.
(510) 783-3494 (650) 261-0200 (408) 200-2100
Outlet Center Hours:
Store Hours: M-F 10am-7pm • Sat 10am-6pm • Sun 11am-6pm M-F 10am-6pm • Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 12pm-5pm

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sine is more fluid. People move around a lot. I looked to
regions such as Trinidad, Barbados, Guyana and Monser-
rat for dishes that had roots in each country and tried to
go back to the original way it was made.”
The menu at Hibiscus reflects this melting pot, with
dishes such as Phoulourie, split pea and wild nettle fritters
served with shado beni (West Indian cilantro) sauce—a
dish left over from plantation times; and the wildly pop-
ular Miss Ollie’s fried chicken, an homage to Kirnon’s
grandmother, which offers a distinctly Caribbean take on
buttermilk-fried chicken, stuffed with cilantro, marjoram,
scallion, scotch bonnet, vinegar and cloves.
Kirnon says she gets her inspiration from the home-
style restaurant kitchens where she grew up, most of
which were run entirely by women.
“In Barbados, all my role models were women. I only
Kristopher Skinner
saw inequality in the kitchen when I moved to England.
Since opening Hibiscus, it’s been heartening to see more
women of color applying for cooking jobs. My hope is to
see the next generation of chefs resemble me a bit more.”
On Hibiscus’ menu: Miss Ollie’s Fried Chicken, with Hibiscus, 1745 San Pablo Ave. Oakland,
Riverdog sweet corn, English peas and mixed field greens. 510.444.2626, hibiscusoakland.com
the season’s fashions

& trend-setting shops
Spring issue publishing

April 1, 2011

special report
Kristopher Skinner
esin decarion
E S I N R E S TA U R A N T & B A R
Like many working women, Esin deCarion has spent he’s your partner in life as well as work.”
a lot of years trying to figure out how to juggle a full-time The deCarions have been a crack cooking team since
career and the full-time demands of a home life. After meeting at culinary school in the 1990s. After moving to
12 years of running first Café de Esin in San Ramon and the Bay Area, the couple worked together at Paragon in
now Esin Restaurant & Bar in Danville with her husband San Francisco before opening their San Ramon café in
and partner, Curtis, it seems like she may have finally fig- 1998. An early bird by nature, as well as an avid runner,
ured it out. Esin slowly gravitated from the savory side of the kitchen
“When our first son was born, I pushed to start our own to the sweet so she could be up at dawn to train and to
business because I didn’t want to give up my career, but make the pastry dough.
I also didn’t want to sacrifice time with my baby. A small “The café came with this enormous dessert case in the
café was the perfect solution,” recalls deCarion, taking a middle of the dining room, and we didn’t know what to
break from the kitchen at her highly regarded 2-year-old do with it,” she remembers. “Since I was the morning
American-Mediterranean restaurant in Danville’s chic person, I retrained myself to make pastries. I must have
Rose Garden center. “We traded off parenting duties, and made meringue a hundred times before I came up with
everyone in the kitchen pitched in. The key is to always the perfect recipe.”
show respect for the other person, and never forget that Today, Esin’s baklava, bread puddings, cheesecakes,

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112 • SCENE • w in t er 2010
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w w w.bas s e t t fur ni t ure.c om
meringues and tarts define the restaurant’s Mediterra- Lemon Meringue Tart
nean-influenced menu as much as signature savory dishes
that include phyllo-wrapped chicken breast stuffed with
with Gingersnap Crust
feta, goat cheese and grana padano; and a meze platter Courtesy Esin deCarion
of eggplant relish, dolmas, tabbouleh, hummus, roasted
feta-stuffed Anaheim pepper and house-made pita. Crust:
And now, the deCarions’ balancing act is a well-oiled 7-8 homemade gingersnap cookies (2¼ cups
routine: Esin gets in early and heads up the lunch shift, crushed)
while Curtis handles breakfast at home and drives their 2 tablespoons melted butter
boys to school. Later, Curtis takes over the dinner service,
Crush cookies in a food processor until fine.
so Esin can spend time with the kids.
Stir in melted butter. Press mixture into bot-
They continue to refine the restaurant’s vision of sea-
tom and sides of 9-inch tart pan. Bake at 325
sonal, healthy cooking, as filtered through the lens of degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Set aside.
Esin’s childhood in southern Turkey and Curtis’ in coastal
Florida. Filling:
“I still can’t say that we’ve made it,” deCarion insists. 4 eggs
“Every morning I wake up and say how can we make this
2 egg yolks
better, how do we stay current. In the restaurant busi-
ness, you can never rest on your laurels. And the truth is, ½ cup Meyer lemon juice (or regular lemons)
I don’t really like to.” ¾ cup granulated sugar
5 ounces unsalted cold butter, cut into ½-inch
Esin Restaurant & Bar, 750 Camino Ramon, Dan- cubes
ville, 925.314.0974, esinrestaurant.com
Zest of Meyer lemons
Whisk together eggs and egg yolks in a stain-
less steel bowl. Add lemon juice and sugar,
stir until smooth. Place the bowl over a pan of
simmering water and cook, whisking con-
stantly until it thickens. Remove from heat and
immediately submerge the bowl in an ice wa-
ter bath just enough to cool outside the bowl
(about 10 seconds). Remove from the ice
bath, add butter piece by piece. Add lemon
zest. Pour the lemon filling into prepared tart
pan. Bake about 8 minutes until filling has set.
Take it out of the oven and let it cool.
Meringue:
²/³ cup egg whites, warm (5 egg whites)
1 cup sugar
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
Place egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar
in a stand mixer bowl. Whisk the mixture over
boiling water until eggs are warmed and the
Cindi Christie/Bay Area News Group
bottom of the bowl is warm to touch. Affix the

bowl to the mixer, and with the whisk attach-
ment, beat the mixture until stiff and glossy
peaks form. Spread the meringue over the
tart cover all around to the edges and shape
it to look like a dome. With a pastry spatula,
create peaks by pulling the spatula up. Form
enough points to cover entire tart. Use a
Above, Esin deCarion’s Lemon Meringue Tart with Gingersnap kitchen blow torch to brown the meringue
Crust; make this at home! lightly all over.

special report
barbara
llewellyn
B A R B A R A L L E W E L LY N
C AT E R I N G A N D E V E N T
PL ANNING
Ask Barbara Llewellyn what part of the catering and

event business is her favorite, and it feels as if you just
asked her which of her children she likes best.
“All of it,” she says after a pause. “I love the whole pack-
age, from coming up with a look and feel to planning the
menu, the music, the colors, the smell. I love pulling it all
together. But of course, it all begins with the food.”
Llewellyn is the founder and matriarch of a Bay Area
catering- and event-planning empire based in Oakland
that started out in her backyard in 1987. In 2010, her
company produced 650 events and grossed $3 million,
ranging from high-end Napa weddings and the Oakland
Speaker Series at Paramount Theatre to the new Under-
dog Wine Bar at Concannon Winery in Livermore, for
which she designed the menu and serves as executive
Laura Oda/Bay Area News Group
chef.
An advocate of fresh and local long before anyone had
heard of the term “locavore,” Llewellyn attributes her suc-
cess in part to a commitment to making everything — in-
cluding breadsticks, rolls and crackers — from scratch,
and to a staff who understands her vision “and then turns
out something that is five times as good.”
The other key ingredient, says the energetic 56-year- Barbara Llewellyn’s early work experience, from prep cook
to back office to room service manager, and commitment to
old Orinda resident, is that by the time she started her quality serve her well in her own business.
company 23 years ago, she had already worn every single
hat in the food and hospitality industry. The youngest of
six children raised on a duck and chicken farm on Cape than prepared.
Cod, Llewellyn grew up working at her family’s farmstand “That first year, I grossed $10,000 and was amazed
and packaged-foods business, doing everything from bak- with myself,” Llewellyn recalls. “I had two little kids and
ing chocolate chip cookies and clam pies to manning the was working out of my house.” Through word of mouth,
office and helping with accounting, payroll and sales. the business kept growing, and today, Llewellyn’s fleet
A college degree in art education honed her talent for of smart-looking white trucks fan out from her two Oak-
design; stints as a prep cook and running the kitchens and land warehouses all over Northern California, catering
dining rooms of a retirement community and a country some of Bay Area’s most prestigious soirées, among them
club developed management chops; and a job as a room- Jerry Brown’s wedding, and fundraisers for Gov. Arnold
service manager for the Hyatt corporation added service- Schwarzenegger and Pixar’s John Lasseter.
industry experience. By the time a friend asked her to Along the way, Llewellyn has cultivated a following for
cater an office party in the East Bay, Llewellyn was more a number of her baked specialties, including squash rolls

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(a family recipe, at right), paper-thin cracker bread Mayo’s Farm Kitchen
and housemade breakfast pastries, as well as for
unusual combinations, such as her sweet-and-sour
Squash Rolls
grilled pork tenderloin paired with spinach salad and Courtesy Barbara Llewellyn
chutney dressing.
Adding something unexpected, a “wow” factor, is “Mayo’s Farm Kitchen was a bakery,
part of what Llewellyn says keeps her engaged and take-out food operation, outdoor barbe-
excited about the business. “I love figuring out peo- cue snack area and catering and event
planning company for the Cape Cod area.
ple’s style and then knocking their socks off. It’s an
Started by my mother in 1953, it was also
adrenalin rush,” she says.
a salesroom for many of the products pro-
And when all of the elements come together, as duced at my father’s farm, started in 1895.
they did at a recent Spanish-themed wedding in In addition to apple pies, rotisserie farm
Orinda, it still gives Llewellyn goosebumps. “The fresh ducks, clam chowder bases and
capper was the enormous full moon that came out lobster Newburg, my mother also made
while the band was playing. Perfect doesn’t happen delicious breads. The squash rolls are one
in catering, but occasionally, we get pretty close.” S of those products that are still a customer
favorite. They were featured in the Time-
Barbara Llewellyn Catering & Event Plan- Life cookbook series ‘American Cooking:
ning, 434 25th St., Oakland, 510.832.1967, New England’ edition.”
– Barbara Llewellyn
barbarallewellyn.com
Yield: 40 rolls
1½ ounces melted butter

1 cup warm whole milk
½ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2½ teaspoons instant yeast
½ cup lukewarm water
½ cup packed, fresh pureed squash (room
temperature, drained of extra water)
2 pounds all-purpose flour
Melt butter and add to the warm milk.

Stir in sugar and salt. Dissolve yeast in the
lukewarm water. Add yeast mixture and
squash to the milk mixture. With a Kitchen
Aid mixer and the bread paddle, begin to
add the flour, approximately a cup at a
time, until fully incorporated. Let the dough
rest until double in size.
On a floured cutting board, roll the
dough into an oval. Brush with melted but-
ter and cut into 40 pieces. Form a ball with
the dough and place in a buttered pan. (I
like to make them in disposable pie tins so
they are easy to share with friends). Let the
bread rise again until double and bake at
350 degrees in a preheated oven. (Ap-
Lisa Lefkowitz
proximately 25-30 minutes.) The tops will

brown – check the bottom of the rolls to
make sure they are brown as well. Brush
warm rolls with melted butter and serve.
Mayo’s Farm Kitchen Squash Rolls, above, have
garnered quite a following.

t h e m o m my m a ke ove r PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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breast augmentation vs. breast lift
Changes in weight or pregnancy can leave your breasts looking “deflated.” If
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these fade nicely over time and is often necessary to get the “girls” up where
they belong.
mini vs. standard “tummy tuck”

If you’ve had little luck getting a flat belly after pregnancy, you may have
Diastasis, a weakening of the abdominal wall. Women desiring a tummy tuck
should not only consider the removal of loose skin and fat, but also whether
they need muscle repair. A standard tummy tuck will include the reuniting of
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belly button basics

You’ve probably never thought about it, but the belly button is one of the
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TABLE 24
BLUE AGAVE CLUB
SUNRISE BISTRO & CATERING
LOCAL FINE
dining Paid Advertising
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BLUE MANGO
OZORO SUSHI BLUE AGAVE CLUB TABLE 24 SUNRISE BISTRO BLUE MANGO
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Discover the personalized Mexicana” or “high-end promises a menu with great A local favorite, we offer Blue Mango blends tradition
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sushi, teriyaki and 60 distinctive flair. Noted for its From the Artisan Cage-Free that combines fresh experience for your taste
different kinds of rolls award-winning Margaritas Egg Sandwich to the ingredients with creative buds using quality ingredients
prepared by long time and 200+ Premium Tequilas. signature Lollipop Lamb recipes. Noted for our fresh for the best flavor. The menu
experienced chefs. Their food Casual Lunches, Fine Dining, Chop, the burgers, pizzas, baked breads and includes an array of
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entertain the appetite. The Garden Dining. Private sure to satisfy your hunger. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. traditional Pad Thai, to the
moment you walk in, the look, parties. Open daily for Lunch Featuring an interior similar Banquet room to 35. Excellent fusion dish of Mango
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we can help you find your new

home
PAT COX
For over 25 years Pat has been
MICHAEL TESSARO providing outstanding results for her

clients in the San Ramon Valley, with 90% of her business
Selling Bay Area real estate since 1984, coming from referrals and repeat business. Call Pat and
Michael Tessaro has developed a reputation for The Cox Team to get the results you deserve.
continuing successes with sellers and buyers in a 925.963.6404
changing and complicated market. Michael has a pat@patcox.com
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staying ahead of the real estate market.
Intero Real Estate Services
Serving San Francisco Bay Area
c: 925.519.9099
tf: 800.888.6116
myeastbayhouses@gmail.com
www.interorealestate.com/mtessaro
LAURA ABRAMS
Former Mayor of Orinda and winner of the Volunteer of the Year Award, Laura
offers a unique network of personal and professional relationships established
over 37 years. She brings an MBA in marketing and finance, outstanding
negotiation skills and a valuable background in interior design to her
representation of buyers and sellers in the East Bay.
5 Moraga Way, Orinda
510.697.3225
925.253.4611
laura@lauraabrams.com
www.lauraabrams.com
SUSAN BAZINETT
• Proven Market Leader specializing in the
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• Cutting edge technology and Comprehensive Marketing Putting people and properties together is my joy. Let me show you how I
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www.SusanBazinett.com 925.487.0524
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925.683.6058 Prudential California Realty
Broker Associate
DRE#00855150
www.winecountryagent.com
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Co
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So
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PATTI CAMRAS
Patti Camras is a consummate professional,
who has been serving her Buyers and Sellers’
Real Estate needs in Lamorinda and Walnut
KHRISTA JARVIS TEAM
In Today’s Real Estate Market, Results Count! The Khrista Jarvis
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J. Rockcliff Realtors
925.855.4065
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MAUREEN WILBUR
Maureen has established herself as a top producer in Real Estate for
over the past 10 years due to her extraordinary care she gives each
and everyone of her clients. In 2009 Maureen was the Top Producing
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925.253.6311
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BONNE WERSEL
Today’s real estate market is complex and ever-changing. Bonne’s
clients have learned the valuable benefits of her knowledge and skill
at marketing condos to castles. Bonne is also in the top 5% of the
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JOE FRAZZANO, Broker Associate

RESULTS ONLY EXPERIENCE CAN ACHIEVE
#1 J. Rockcliff Agent in 2009
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www.FrazzanoTeam.com Homes featured on these two pages may be pending or sold.
gloriously
getaways
Living large with

a small carbon
footprint
By Katharine Fong
To my mind, there is nothing more restor-

ative than unplugging and heading off to a spot
where the rooms and service are impeccable,
the food is fresh and expertly cooked, and heal-
ing – even sybaritic – treatments for body and
soul are easily accessible.
But these days, my desire for a luxury get-
away is often accompanied by guilt – it’s too
extravagant, given the times. Fortunately, a few
top resorts in the greater Bay Area are making it
easy to indulge in the good life. The key: LEED
certification – proof of their commitment to
sustainability and respect for the Earth. They
let you live large with a small carbon footprint
– and you don’t even have to drive very far to
get there.
There are just a few LEED-certified luxury
lodgings in Marin, Sonoma and Napa coun-
ties, though numbers are expected to increase
as more hotels and builders incorporate sus-
tainable materials and practices into their
properties. The U.S. Green Building Council
developed the rating system, which stands for
“Leadership in Energy and Environmental De-
sign.” Platinum is the highest level of certifi-
cation, followed by gold and silver. The point-
based system consider features such as water
efficiency, energy use, materials, indoor envi-
ronmental quality and innovation in design.
Of course, this also means fine organic linens
and towels, polished bamboo flooring and qual-
ity local foodstuff (sometimes grown onsite).
Opulence has never felt – or looked or tasted
– this good.
A rundown of high-end, green hotels in the
green
near north:
On a clear day you can see

Kodiak Greenwood
forever: The view from above

Cavallo Point, left.
To learn more about LEED,
see usgbc.org.

getaways
Kodiak Greenwood
cavallo point lodge

This place grows on you. The property is ceived its LEED Gold certification in Feb-
quiet and serene, situated within Fort Bak- ruary of this year. In addition to preserving
er in Sausalito and part of the Golden Gate and reusing the buildings, developers re-
National Parks. Many of the historic build- stored the landscape with native plants and
ings from the old U.S. Army base, includ- installed solar panels in the metal roofing.
ing those containing the restaurant and bar, They also used low-VOC (volatile organic
lobby and gift shop, are circled around the compounds) glues, paints and carpets, and
central parade grounds, lending a vaguely incorporated materials such as bamboo and
summer-camp feel. recycled wood.
Some of the guest rooms and suites are Cavallo Point’s green focus meshes per-
in former officers’ residences that date back fectly with its surroundings. The Marin
to 1901, with pressed tin ceilings to prove Headlands above encourage exploratory
it. They’ve been tastefully restored with hikes, with spectacular views at every
Cavallo Point
homey walnut furnishings, plus Adiron- turn. The tranquil, light-filled Healing Arts
– The Lodge
at the Golden Gate dack-style chairs (made of recycled plastic Center & Spa offers 11 private treatment
bottles) on or near the verandas. The new- rooms, an outdoor heated basking pool
601 Murray Circle, er, eco-friendly buildings in the back and and a Tea Bar serving herbal tonics and
Fort Baker, Sausalito; higher up the hill feature bamboo furnish- healthful food. (Particularly invigorating is
888.651.2003; ings, radiant heat floors, high ceilings and the spa’s eucalyptus steam room.) And the
cavallopoint.com. expansive windows – and balconies. menus at both the Murray Circle restaurant
68 historic and 74 Balconies, windows and verandas are and Farley Bar take advantage of local and
contemporary rooms
important at Cavallo Point: All views are organic farms and nearby culinary artisans
and suites; rates from
directed toward the Golden Gate and the (see sidebar).
$295. Dog-friendly.
San Francisco skyline, glittering across the Though the lodge advertises itself as
Onsite: bay. Even on overcast days, the views can welcoming to families and the Bay Area
Cavallo Point Cooking be lovely and meditative, foghorns in the Discovery Museum is just across the road,
School; Institute at distance a soothing accompaniment. Cavallo Point is best suited to adults craving
the Golden Gate. The lodge opened in mid-2008 but re- understated luxury in a peaceful setting.

getaways
Zubin Shroff
h2hotel
Lying poolside at the sleek new h2hotel in panels heat the pool, which is next to a creek
Healdsburg, my companion pointed to the rust- that h2hotel is helping restore. The meeting
ed metal balconies, with rust stains also mark- room floor is a reclaimed gym floor from Port-
ing the walls. Design glitch, we wondered? land, Ore.
h2hotel
On the contrary, says architect David Baker All 36 guestrooms offer bed frames and
in the h2hotel blog. It’s “wabi-sabi” – a Japa- cabinetry made from reclaimed woods such as 219 Healdsburg Ave.,
nese aesthetic concept that means something American elm, acacia and black walnut, as well Healdsburg;
like “honest, authentic, natural.” as bamboo flooring and organic linens. Guests 707.922.5251;
Baker explains that the Corten steel used for can fill their room’s glass carafes with purified h2hotel.com.
all the exterior metal at h2hotel epitomizes wa- sparkling and still water from taps located on Rates from $295.
bi-sabi because it “has an outer sacrificial layer each floor.
Onsite:
that oxidizes, rusts and forms a beautiful and Modern-day comforts abound, such as iPod
Eco-artwork by
tough finish. … One of the results of this is docking stations and flat-screen TVs. The bath- Bay Area artists,
the iron oxide red bleeding that occurs as rain rooms in the suites are big enough to warrant such as Ned Kahn’s
washing over the steel carries some of the oxide some DIY spa treatments, with deep soaking Spoon Fountain, an
onto adjacent surfaces. … [I] see the stains as tubs, walk-in showers and fragrant amenities. installation of 3,500
a document of the process of weathering, of h2hotel’s hip vibe is most evident in its airy espresso spoons
the unavoidable aging of all surfaces.” lobby, where the staff at the “Receptobar” can that drip (recycled)
h2hotel’s authenticity carries through to the check you in, make you a cappuccino and let water; Leonidas
rest of its eco-conscious, minimalist construc- you borrow a free cruising bike. Happy hour Kyriakopoulos’ lobby
tion and operations, which should result in draws a young crowd, and dinner at the adja- fireplace, made of
LEED Gold certification by early 2011. The cent restaurant Spoonbar is positively bustling copper Steinway
piano wires; and a
compact, light-filled property was built on the with guests and locals alike. Chef Rudy Mi-
photographic study
site of an old Chevron gas station. Its signature hal’s southern Mediterranean dishes incorpo- of a California live oak
undulating rooftop garden, planted with suc- rate seasonal, locally grown ingredients, as do printed on glass by
culents, provides insulation and collects rain- the artisanal cocktails served up by celebrity Stephen Galloway (in
water (stored in cisterns underground), and is mixologist Scott Beattie. Be sure to get a table 8-foot sections on
a habitat for birds, bees and butterflies. Solar where you can people-watch. each floor).

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This holiday season, you’re invited to visit us
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shop, Harry’s House, where you’ll find the
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DIABLO FOODS
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Lafayette
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Open 8 - 8 everyday
MORRISON’S JEWELERS
At Morrison’s we specialize in beautiful
fine jewelry and unique custom design.
in Lamorinda
We have been serving the Bay Area
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dependable, trustworthy jeweler. Visit WHERE QUILTING &
us for all your jewelry, watch, and
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The Cotton Patch
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Bee. Enjoy our fabulous selection of gifts
best kept secret – The Nut Factory – where
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you will find freshly roasted nuts, gourmet
kind jewelry and ribbon room. Decorate
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with our original art, furniture, and unique
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table tops.
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Lafayette
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925.283.7900
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Get Comfortable
With Your
Lower Energy Bills
You’ll be very comfortable with

Our highly trained
Service Champions and meet
technicians utilize a the nicest people.
new Enhanced
Digital Imaging (EDI)
Inviting people into your home

starts with knowing you can
Ask us about:
trust them.
• High Efficiency Furnaces and
Air Conditioners Service Champions team members are all
• Money saving tune-ups highly trained, drug tested, background checked
• Air duct cleaning, sealing and and meet the highest standards in client satisfaction.
replacement
• Efficient water heaters You’ll experience the same service and integrity as the nearly 50,000
• On-time guarantee clients we have proudly served and welcomed us into their homes.
• Free recycling of your old system
A+ Rating
Call (925) 444-4444 or visit us at www.servicechampions.net #817040

Courtesy Bardessono
bardessono
Two prime spots in Bardessono’s small the rooms – 550 square feet or more – has
parking lot are reserved for Tesla electric- 200 square feet of glass to allow for natural
charging vehicles, which perhaps says it lighting. Sensors detect when no one is in
all. the room, allowing thermostats to raise or
One of only three hotels in the world to lower a few degrees. Motor controlled, ex-
be certified LEED Platinum, posh Bardes- terior venetian blinds protect against heat
sono sits in the middle of Yountville, the from the sun.
little town in Napa Valley that boasts some Almost no offsite energy is used at Bard-
six Michelin stars. Opened in February of essono. An underground geothermal system
Bardessono 2009, the hotel is named after the family provides heating and cooling, and the roof-
farmstead on which it was built (though tops hold 940 solar panels to meet much of
6526 Yount
St., Yountville; there is no longer any connection). Refined, the hotel’s electrical demand.
707.204.6000; intimate, classy, the property’s indoor/out-
bardessono.com. door lobby showcases a striking vertical dis-
Rates from $499. play of air plants, which leads to an inner
courtyard and up to the pool area. The res-
Onsite: taurant and spa feature products sourced
Pet-friendly. Room primarily from local organic or sustainable
rates include
producers, including onsite. Walnut and
use of carbon-
other beautiful woods used throughout, in
fiber bicycles.
Photography by floors and tabletops, are milled from sal-
Stefano Massai in vaged trees.
each guestroom; The spa, however, is almost an after-
rotating artwork thought, as the 62 guestrooms are designed
from Andrea for in-spa treatments, with concealed mas-
Schwartz Gallery in sage tables and soaking tubs, and some with
the public spaces. outdoor as well as indoor showers. Each of

at the table
butternut squash bisque
with whipped ricotta and pistachios
Courtesy Chef Joseph Humphrey; serves 6.
For the soup:

2 medium-sized 2 cloves garlic, peeled
butternut squashes and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons 8 cups chicken stock,
Laura Flippen
unsalted butter vegetable stock or

1 medium-sized yellow water
onion, peeled and 2 tablespoons olive oil
Murray Circle Chef Joseph Humphrey. thinly sliced
Heat oven to 375. Cut the squashes in half length-

wise and place, cut side up, on a baking sheet.
the molteni at murray circle Drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt and
pepper. Cover loosely with foil and bake in the oven
It’s the massive, gleaming Molteni stove that I remember best. until completely soft, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, in
There’s much to embrace at Sausalito’s Cavallo Point. But the a heavy-bottom stock pot, heat the butter over
Molteni, inside the kitchen of the luxury lodge’s award-winning medium high heat until melted and just beginning to
restaurant Murray Circle, is the hidden star. brown slightly. Add the onions and garlic and cook
From the 12-foot long, cast-iron Molteni, executive chef Joseph until very soft, stirring frequently. Once the squash
Humphrey creates his delectable dishes, which have earned him is done, use a spoon to remove the seeds, discard.
Scoop out the flesh of the squashes and add to the
a Michelin star in both years of Murray Circle’s existence. Cus-
stock pot. Add the stock and bring to the boil. Turn
tom-made in France to Humphrey’s specifications, it dominates
the heat down, cover and let simmer gently for 10
the kitchen with a flat, multi-temperature cooking surface, wood- minutes. Carefully transfer the mixture to a blender,
burning oven and gas burners. Moltenis are considered “the Fer- in batches depending on the size of the blender, and
rari of stoves” and are in many of the world’s great restaurants. puree until smooth. Transfer to a clean sauce pot
Humphrey oversees a 30-person staff that turns out seasonal and keep hot, covered, until ready to serve.
menus for the main restaurant as well as the Farley Bar and the
spa’s Tea Bar. That means that the food throughout the lodge is For the ricotta:
uniformly excellent; indeed, our server at Farley Bar said that
1 cup fresh sheeps’ milk ricotta
adults often order off the kiddie menu because the food – mac 1 teapoon grated lemon zest
and cheese, chicken tenders – is so tasty.
Younger brother and sous chef Tim Humphrey points out that Place the ricotta in a large mixing bowl. Whisk vigor-
unlike assembly-line cooking at other restaurants, chefs at Murray ously with a strong whisk to break up the curds of
Circle learn the whole process – for example, how to dress fish, the cheese. Whisk in the lemon zest and reserve
how to make their own sauces, etc. – so they become familiar with until ready to serve.
the cooking arc and are well-positioned to move on to other jobs
To finish:
when they’re ready.
The Tallahassee, Fla.-raised Humphreys prefer oak in the wood- ¼ cup heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks
burning stove vs. the more common (at least out here) almond, ¼ cup toasted, chopped pistachios
because of its slow-burning quality. Naturally, most everything on 2 tablespoons pistachio oil
the menu is organic and locally sourced.
When ready to serve, bring the soup back to the boil.
The tasting menu on the night we visited was a mesmerizing
Whisk in the whipped cream. Place two spoonfuls of
array of flavors, textures, foods, including: quail breast on fava
the ricotta mixture in the center of each warm serving
bean custard, with pickled cherry and olive ragout; endive and bowl. Ladle the soup around the cheese and garnish
grapefruit salad with Aria cheese (made for the restaurant by local with the pistachios and the pistachio oil.
artisan Soyoung Scanlan from cow’s milk, goat’s milk and crème
fraîche), baked in rye and atop whiskey-apricot coulis; and tofu
made at our table.
Humphrey’s holiday menus include fuyu persimmon salad with
Maitake mushroom “escabeche” (see murraycircle.com for more).
His take on butternut squash soup (right) would no doubt be sa-
vory made on the Molteni. But if you can’t get to Murray Circle
soon, try this at home. – Katharine Fong
Hemera/Thinkstock

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getaways
Istanbul beckons with
rich history, vital present
splendid
journey By Lynda McDonnell and Steve Brandt
Our first morning in Istanbul, the waiter in our small hotel served us the tradi-
tional Turkish breakfast of olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, crusty bread and steaming
tea. As we finished, he beckoned us up the stairs to the rooftop.
We gasped at the view. To the south, the Sea of Marmara stretched to the horizon.
To the north, the vast domes of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia looked close
enough to touch. And beside us, the Muslim waiter recited his favorite passage from
Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians: “The first commandment is love.”
Our trip to Turkey was full of moments like this, with Turks reaching across divi-
sions of culture, religion and language with questions and assistance. A country that
straddles Europe and Asia, Turkey reflects the influence and history of both.
In the West, we hear about the growing influence of Islam in Turkish politics
after decades of secularism and military dominance. In the lively city of 16 million
people, we saw more blending than displacement. In Istanbul cafés, Muslim women
wearing chic headscarves sip tea in front of TV monitors blaring sexy rock videos.
Young Muslim men sip Ephes beer and raki, a powerful anise-flavored liquor, at out-
door cafés. One beer-drinking tour guide explained that he’ll repent when he makes
the hajj to Mecca as an old man.
Above, wares from one of thousands of shops at the Grand Bazaar; at right, a city skyline.

Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock

getaways
iStockphoto/Thinkstock, Murad Sezer/ Associated Press (far right)

The Blue Mosque, above and at left, was constructed between 1606 and 1616. The blue tiles that give the mosque its unofficial
name number in the tens of thousands. The building has a total of 260 windows.
Even our waiter’s knowledge of the New Testament is Once we reached the shop, cousin Joseph took over
not as strange as it might seem. Paul once preached in with a patter that blended charm, politics and persistence.
Ephesus, an ancient Roman town of amphitheaters and “Why don’t more Americans visit?” he asked as one assis-
baths that the Turks are excavating a few hours south of tant unfurled carpets and another fetched us tulip-shaped
Istanbul. Istanbul itself was Christian from 330 A.D., glasses of tea. Is it because of the Armenians who died
when Constantine made it the capital of his Holy Roman after World War I? The pile of carpets grew taller. Perhaps
Empire, to 1453, when Muslims conquered the city and you like a kilim. What color? What size? More tea?
made it the center of the Ottoman Empire. By the time we left — without a carpet — we were
After breakfast, we headed off to see Hagia Sophia and hungry. So we hopped a ferry for the Kadikoy district, a
the Blue Mosque close up. Built as a Christian basilica in lively neighborhood of cafés and restaurants on the city’s
the seventh century, Hagia Sophia features soaring Byz- Asian side.
antine domes and brilliant mosaics of saints. When the Along with its hills and the domes and minarets of
Ottomans took the city, they converted it to a mosque mosques, one of Istanbul’s great charms is the water that
and installed enormous medallions in Arabic script, and divides and defines it. The Sea of Marmara, an outlet to
a screened platform from which the sultan could watch the Mediterranean, lies to the south. The Golden Horn, a
unseen. In 1935, the secular Turkish Republic converted wide inlet, divides the two European sections of the city.
the building to a museum, but the worn stone floors and Meanwhile, the 34-kilometer-long Bosphorus Strait
slanting afternoon light still evoke centuries of religious separates the European side from the Asian and connects
devotion. the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. Yachts, fishing boats,
Outside Hagia Sophia, a gentle man named Adnan in- freighters, tour boats and ferries ply the Bosphorus all
troduced himself and offered to show us the Blue Mosque day.
nearby, then take us to his cousin Joseph’s carpet shop. At Kadikoy, a highlight is Ciya Sofrasi, a modest restau-
Carpet sellers are everywhere in Turkey, hailing tourists rant famous for food from many regions of Turkey. Ciya’s
from shops and bazaars. But when a local leads you to owner, Musa Dagdeviren, has dedicated himself to recov-
the mosque entrance, describes its history, then waits for ering old recipes and using local, seasonal ingredients.
30 minutes while you visit, it’s hard to refuse a visit to his Green almond soup and cooked nettles were on the
cousin. menu. Even familiar dishes like tabouli had a distinctive

getaways
Hagia Sophia, above, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, was built in 537 A.D. as a Christian church. Later it became a
mosque, and is now a museum. The Grand Bazaar, above right, is for shoppers and sightseers alike.
if you go
Grand Bazaar: Even if you don’t like to shop, you Getting around: Flights to Istanbul from San Fran-
should visit. With thousands of shops in a roofed cisco (with at least one stop; there are no nonstops)
labyrinth of lanes and fountains, the market’s size and were running about $1,000 at press-time. Within the
hyped-up pitches from carpet and gold merchants country, distances to Cappadocia and the Aegean
can exhaust you. But bargaining over genial cups of coast are greater than they appear on a map. While
tea for felted figures from Belarus or patchwork rugs train routes are limited, inter-city buses are frequent,
made of carpet remnants can charm you. punctual, clean and affordable. But it will take all
night on a bus to get from Istanbul to Cappadocia.
Go early in the day with fresh energy and a destina- Consider flying instead. Domestic fares are reason-
tion in mind. A good guidebook will highlight the most able. Search for Pegasus Air or Onur Air on Google
interesting shops. Searching for a particular shop and click the “translate this page” button to see their
helps get you past the carpet salesmen who gather websites in English. Or stop at one of the many small
near entrances to steer newcomers to their stores. travel agencies in Istanbul to have them book flights
for you.
Bosphorus cruise: From public ferries to posh
dinner cruises, there are many options to see the Where to stay: In the Sultanamet district, the
Bosphorus Strait, the 32-kilometer channel that links Cosmopolitan Park Hotel, despite small rooms, has
the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea. Sites include beautiful views of the Marmara Sea, a rooftop that
European-style palaces that sultans built, beautifully looks out at the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, and
restored Ottoman houses and seaside restaurants a desk clerk whose love of his city is infectious. For
featuring local fish. Depending on your schedule and rates, check cosmopolitanparkhotel.com.
budget, you can devote anywhere from three hours
to a full day to exploring the waterway that gave
Istanbul its strategic importance and carries much of
its commercial traffic.

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getaways
Murad Sezer/Associated Press
The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with thousands of shops that attract crowds of
visitors daily. It is known for its jewelry, pottery, spice and carpet shops.
flavor, thanks to ingredients like pomegranate vinegar. crowed as if to underscore how the city has swelled with
Our waiter brought plate after plate of mese — appe- millions of immigrants from the countryside.
tizer-sized delicacies made of eggplant, peppers, olives, Dark-haired boys interrupted their pickup games of
lentils, tomato — until we could hold no more. football to test their few words of English, invariably
We left with carryout tins and feasted on the contents ending with the chant “Money, money, money!”
for lunch the next day. Suddenly, a chorus of music — horn, drum, guitar
During five days in Istanbul, we bargained for jewelry — intruded. Following the sound down a steep hill, we
at the Grand Bazaar and admired palaces on a cruise encountered a parade of relatives and friends celebrat-
up the Bosphorus. We strolled past fine shops and res- ing an engagement. Two people carried pans of food on
taurants in the cosmopolitan Beyoglu neighborhood and their shoulders. A young woman carried a set of new
marveled at the luxury of the Topkapi palace, where sul- clothes for her friend. And in front, carrying a bright
tans and their harems lived. bouquet with “You are loved” on the ribbon, walked a
But on the day we most treasure, we headed off in smiling young woman, newly betrothed.
search of more remote parts of the city. We began with a Near the end of our walk, we stopped at a teahouse
plan to explore Yedikule, a massive fortress that guarded high on a hill overlooking the Golden Horn.
the city’s southern approaches. As we sipped strong tea in the afternoon light, the call
With few tourists and no guards, we roamed the battle- to prayer began. In a city with more than 2,000 mosques,
ments that link Yedikule’s seven towers. After admiring the call began with one voice, then two, then a disso-
the glorious views of the Sea of Marmara, we descended nant chorus amplified through loudspeakers mounted
into the dim, cold dungeons. No place in Istanbul gave high on minarets.
us such a bone-deep feeling of the city’s history of power Some voices were high and thin, others low and deep.
and vulnerability. For several moments, they sang out different words in
We took a cab to the northern edge of the ancient city different cadences united in their praise of Allah. Slow-
wall and spent the next few hours meandering through ly, the voices dropped off until only one was left. Then it,
the twisting narrow streets that cut through the hills of too, stopped. For a moment before the murmur of con-
working-class neighborhoods. versation and buzz of motorbikes and buses returned,
Here was another city entirely. Smokestacks venting the sound of prayer echoed. S
coal smoke competed for rooftop space with solar water –McClatchy News
heaters and satellite TV dishes. An occasional rooster

haute stuff
the entertainers
Holiday helpers to make spirits bright
Company’s coming, and you know what that means at this time of year. The vintage china,
silver cutlery and crystal stemware get pulled from their hiding places for a few rounds
of dining glory. No matter how brilliant your tablescape looks with all its familiar pieces
in place, though, it can always benefit from one or more new additions. They’ll give your
guests something fresh to admire and enhance your trove of future heirlooms.
By Crystal Chow
cake stand
and server
Who takes the cake?
You do with this sculpted
sandcast aluminum cake
stand with string-of-pearls
detailing and matching
server, sold separately, from
Maine Cottage. Cake stand,
$149; server, $42; stand
and server set, $191, at
mainecottagecom.

fancy glasses
Fit for royalty, these palace glasses from
Jayson Home & Garden will make any
table setting elegant. 4 by 3 inches with
nickel-plated base; color choices are
gold, blue, aqua and smoke. $22 each
at www.jaysonhomeandgarden.com.
triangle plates
Glam up your salads or desserts by
presenting them on these colorful
Celebration seaglass plates from
VivaTerra. The unique matte finish leaves
no fingerprints. 7 inches diameter. Set of
four, $119 at vivaterra.com.
ice buckets
Put the wine or a bevy of bottles on ice with
the Talavera aluminum receptacles by Roost
from Velocity. Made of recycled, reclaimed
or repurposed materials. Ice bucket, $37;
wine bucket, $95; party tub, $213, available
at velocityartanddesign.com.
candelabra table runner

Illuminate your home dramatically with this Won’t this table runner by Amenity look
forest-inspired Hayworth brass candelabra perfect with a holiday ham or turkey
from Plantation Design (candles not included). gracing it? Made of hemp and organic
Measures 23.25 by 14 inches. $575 at cotton and measures 16 by 90 inches.
plantationdesign.com. $99 at amenityhome.com.
lazy
susan
A whole year’s worth of homespun goodness is depicted on
this colorful lazy Susan from Uncommon Goods. An illustration
by artist Sarah Grant depicting the four seasons is etched into
wood and painted, with blessings and wishes for a happy life
adorning the edge. Handmade in Iowa, 20 inches diameter.
$400 at uncommongoods.com.
beverage
dispenser
Let guests pour their own
with this glass and nickel-
finished metal beverage
dispenser from Wisteria.
Holds two gallons. $149
at wisteria.com.

Let Us Break Bread Together: A Holiday Celebration
Sunday, December 12, 4pm, Paramount Theatre
Michael Morgan, conductor
With special guest appearance by Joan Baez
Celebrate the holidays with Michael Morgan, the Oakland

East Bay Symphony and some of your favorite local choirs!
It’s an afternoon of gospel music, holiday favorites, classical
selections and sing-alongs!
Featuring: Oakland East Bay Symphony, Oakland Symphony Chorus,
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Mt. Eden High School Choir, Pacific
Boychoir, Klezmer band Kugelplex … and a special guest appearance
guest chairs
JOAN BAEZ by legendary folk singer Joan Baez! Invite as many guests as you
want when you have these
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Tickets: Start at $20 for adults, $12 for children! flexible backs and chrome-
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pitcher
The holidays and Victoriana go
together like red and green, and
Tiffany & Co. combines both in
this porcelain pitcher that holds
34 ounces. $150 at tiffany.com.

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planning
makes perfect
Take the stress out of the holidays
by thinking ahead – and writing it down
By Brenda Gutierrez
The holidays typically send most families into high- Organized Family” (Betterway Books, 236 pp.). “Make
stress mode, what with buying and making the right sure everything is written down, because if it’s in your
gifts, welcoming friends and relatives to your home (or head, it’s stressful,” she says.
traveling – sure to reduce some to a weeping mess), and To keep stress to a minimum and stay on task,
cooking up big meals. Schofield recommends starting a notebook and making
But before you start panicking, “The No. 1 thing is lists to keep yourself organized and save time. The real
put the pressure on paper,” says Deniece Schofield, a key is to get your planning under way ASAP – even
home management expert and author of several books starting on next year right now.
on organization, including “Confessions of a Happily Here are more of her helpful holiday tips:

solutions
keep a schedule
List the many things you have to work around:
Check office and school calendars (will
your kids need holiday costumes for school
performances?); note when you have to get things
in the mail so they’re received on time, when
you’re going to decorate the tree, events going
on in the community and service projects for the
family, such as adopting a family or volunteering at
the food bank.
Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock
get wrapping
Set up a card table in a corner of a room and make that
your gift-wrap center, so when you buy something, you
can wrap it right away and avoid the last-minute crunch.
• Stand up rolls of wrapping paper in a waste basket, or
hang in a garment bag.
• If you buy 30-inch-long rolls of paper, cut them in two
— one 18 inches and one 12 inches — then put them in
empty aluminum foil boxes for easy dispensing.
• A desk or wrist tape dispenser releases strips of tape
with one hand.
• Those spindle paper towel holders are great for
storing and dispensing rolls of ribbon.
gifts, cards –
and budgeting
Also list who you want to give gifts to; who your
kids want to give gifts to and what they want
Hemera/Thinkstock
to give; things you want to make vs. things you

want to buy; and your holiday card recipients.
(Most experts also agree that this is time to
evaluate your budget. Be realistic. You’ll want to
be able to stick to it!)
gift lists tackle the big meals

During this holiday period, create a list of what you Holidays are often all about the food. If you’re playing
have given people as gifts. That way, you don’t host, do a lot of preparation in advance, and realize
risk giving something you’ve already given. While that many dishes can be reheated just before guests
you’re at it, start next year’s gift list. Keep your arrive. If you’re hosting a casual affair, have your guests
radar up during the year and make notes, so when contribute a dish or drinks. Afterward, make notes of
it comes time to shop, you have a list of things who you invited, so you’ll remember details such as
people want and will enjoy. whether someone is allergic to nuts.

solutions
decorations evaluate what worked,
Before you put up the tree, take inventory of your
holiday decorations, make a list and identify what box
what didn’t
they’re stored in. When you’re boxing them up at the Immediately after the holidays, ask yourself:
end of the season, sort and store them by room, not • What would you have liked to do this season,
by what they are. Then next year, you can decorate but you ran out of time?
from one box at a time, one room at a time, if you • Which of those things could you plan to do now
don’t have a large block of time to do it all at once. or do earlier in the year so you don’t run out of
time?
• Is your gift list going to change next year? (See
next item.)
use your waiting time • Were there certain baked goods or foods that
people really enjoyed?
Standing in line? Waiting for a doctor’s appointment
• What decorations or ornaments would you like
or dinner to cook? Take advantage of little chunks of
to add, exchange or get rid of?
time to plan things, make your lists or work on little
• What projects would you like to do next year,
craft projects. You can do this throughout the year but
and when should you start them?
especially during the holiday season.
then work ahead for 2011

holiday house-cleaning With kids, it can be difficult to buy gifts too far
Houseguests — either for dinner or for weeks at a time in advance — they tend to want something they
— are often a key part of the holidays. But this isn’t the just saw on TV. But with other people, you can
time to clean out the basement or reorganize storage pick things up during the course of the year to
closets. Ultimately, your goal should be that you’re save time and money. And don’t forget to take
not embarrassed by your home and that everyone will advantage of the after-holiday sales. You can get
be welcome and have a good time. Back off the big staples like holiday napkins, cards and gift wrap
projects and just do those things that pertain to that for a fraction of the seasonal price. Just be sure to
direct goal. write down what you bought and where you have
stashed it, so you’re ready to go next year.
— McClatchy News

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Fresh or faux, white blooms are a decorative delight
It seldom snows in the Bay Area, but that doesn’t white roses. A table centerpiece of white roses,
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is to make white flowers your signature for holiday tion, is always elegant, as are individual tiny vases
décor. If your garden is shutting down for winter, filled with a single rosebud at each place setting.
look to florists, farmers markets and even the su- And, don’t overlook the other whites – lilies,
permarket for the right whites. tulips, orchids, carnations, daisies, even succu-
Start with white poinsettias. Red is the tradi- lents. For fragrance, mix in gardenias, lily of the
tional color, but white poinsettias pack a punch valley and paperwhites.
of their own. Line them up in pots on your front If you dislike the bother of keeping vase water
porch steps or in a small group to the side of your clear or picking up fallen petals, try going faux.
front door to welcome guests. Or, fill your fire- Your guests will never know – as long as you buy
place with pots of white poinsettias, framed with the most realistic-looking silk flowers you can find,
greenery and perhaps a crystal ornament. and don’t skimp.
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onetwosix design
interiors
Home stagers
on showing off
your best asset
By Deborah Petersen Swift
If you’ve ever walked into an open house thinking “Why can’t my

house look like this?” it’s a good bet that a professional home stager
has been at work.
A great stager can transform a nondescript house into a home that
immediately pulls you in, making it easy to imagine sinking into a
cushy sofa with a minty mojito or steaming cup of Tisane.
And while stagers are the first to acknowledge that their canvas
excludes toaster crumbs and mail tossed on the dining room table,
these decorating artists are fitting muses for anyone – not just home
sellers – who wants to make her living space more appealing and
up-to-date.
The good news is that luxe touches and real life can co-exist.
“Fortunately, it’s getting easier to design chic, beautiful spaces in
high-end homes that are hospitable to kids, pets and even husbands,’’
says Sylvia D’Anna of Staging Artists in San Jose. “Finally, we are see-
ing some very durable and easy-to-maintain materials being used to-
day in both outdoor and indoor furnishings.’’
What follows are a few ideas from local stagers on the latest trends
to turn your home into an attractive haven.
the stage WINTER 2010 • SCENE • 151

onetwosix design
color
“Gray is the new beige,’’ enthuses Cathy Lee of C.L. furniture and accessories such as rugs, pillows and art-
Design Services in Danville of the hot trend in wall color. work.
“Purple gray, matte and shiny gray are the new rage,’’ she Crystal Stafford of Elizabeth Stafford Home Staging
adds. Gray is friendly to whimsical accents, such as teal and Design in Santa Clara likes to place at least one black
or orange. piece in a room to make the rest of the colors in the room
Amy Boxer of Welcome Home Furniture Rental and pop.
Staging in Dublin sees the “farm to fork” trend also inspir- Some old-school rules apply, however: Choose a paint
ing paint colors. Walls are becoming “muted and mono- color two shades lighter than your original choice, and
chromatic, with color splashes primarily only in botanical a rug color one shade darker, says Lydia Nordvik of The
hues – soil, hay, eggs, tree bark, leaves. Whites are in- Home Staging Company in Fremont. A paint chip or test
spired by eggs, creamy with brown undertones.’’ spot does not prepare you for how bright the color will
Paint color can either energize or annoy for years to appear when an entire wall is covered, and homeowners
come, so steal a page from the stagers’ playbook: Choose are often surprised at how bright a rug is when they get it
a safe palette for walls, and save playful colors for trim, home (and how much dirt a white rug reveals).

interiors
pick your
battles
The best-staged homes pop because the designers fo-
cus on specific rooms, and then zoom in again on a focal
point in that room.
You want people to say, “I can’t wait to see the rest of
Staging Artists
the home,” says Nordvik, who likes to grab their attention
with a dramatic piece of artwork. But before spending a
couple of thousand dollars on a life-sized model of a Xian
terra cotta soldier, consider where you will put it. ”Make Pick a focal point
sure the size of the art is proportional to the wall’’ or the in the room and
room, cautions Vivian Chen, of One Two Six Design in make it pop.
Before, at left,
Mountain View. the fireplace
And, pick your decorating battles. “You don’t have to and walls
decorate the entire house. Instead, focus on some areas lack interest.
With more
and corners and make them appealing,’’ Chen says. dramatic colors
Boxer prefers a progressive approach. “Choose one and lighting,
item to change in each of your major rooms, and then and inviting
furnishings,
build on that through time.’’ As examples, she cites dress- above, the space
ing up a bedroom with a new bed ensemble, or painting is transformed.
an accent wall in a dining room.
accessorize –
but think asymmetrical
Candles, plants, photographs and well-chosen travel
souvenirs are all fodder for creating pockets of displays
on accent tables and fireplace mantel. “Vary the heights
of objects to create interest: one tall, one medium, one
short,’’ Chen says. “You can stack pretty books to form a
base for lifting other objects.’’
Boxer notes that the rustic theme is big right now.
“We are seeing the return to rustic inspirations for ev-
onetwosix design
ery room of the house, primarily inspired by French an-

tiques,” she says. She suggests looking for accent pieces
“inspired from farm life – rustic collection baskets, vin-
tage milk bottles.”

onetwosix design
mix it up
Gone are the days of relegating great-grandmoth- cultures and embracing the best from the past and the
er’s vintage rocking chair to the garage just because present,’’ D’Anna says.
its curved arms contrast with the angled lines of your “Blending woods is in,” Lee adds. “Hickory and ma-
contemporary furniture, or its cherrywood does not ple mix well with oak and cherry.”
match your maple collection. Don’t be afraid to mix An Oriental rug can ground modern furniture, just
woods and styles, Chen says, but choose wisely. as a contemporary rug can lighten museum-esque
“This is part of a contemporary approach to life that pieces. For the latter, Nordvik suggests a waffle pat-
is inclusive and broadminded, drawing from different tern rug, or a shag (yes, they’re back!).

interiors
light
Stagers often leave win-
dows au naturel to let in
natural light, but for those
who prefer to cover up, try
window treatments that filter
instead of block. Then, mix
in strategically placed lamps
and recessed lighting, and add
a mirror or two. “We like to
use mirrors to reflect light and
increase the sense of space,’’
D’Anna says.
Welcome Home Furniture Rental and Staging
find a purpose
Don’t lose your sense of purpose for each room, Boxer out-of-town guests to stay comfortably?
says. “Is it a place where your family can sit comfort- “Whatever the function may be,” she says, “splurge on
ably together and eat without worrying what will happen the perfect core piece for that room that makes the most
to the furniture? Is it creating a space where you can sense for the purpose.”
retreat to do a favorite hobby? Is it creating a space for
C.L. Design Services

interiors
go natural
Perhaps the biggest trend in home décor is not
so obvious when you walk in the door: the focus
on eco-style.
“Going green is now becoming a standard in
Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Thinkstock
the design industry,” Lee notes. Buying sustain-
ably sourced furniture, lighting that conserves
energy and paints that are environmentally sen-
sitive are fast becoming mainstream.
And it’s easy to go green: Many retailers now
carry green lines, and in addition to specialty
manufacturers, many mainstream manufactur-
ers are now producing green furnishings, light-
ing, paints and more. S
our design muses

Amy Boxer Cathy Lee
Welcome Home Furniture Rental and Staging, C.L. Design Services, Danville, 925.351.6118,
Dublin, 925.828.3463, WelcomeHomeStaging.com. cldesignservices.com.
Boxer and co-owner Donna Lynch provide furnish- Lee is secretary of Contra Costa Realtors in Motion
ings to the staging industry as well as complete and founder/past president of the East Bay/San
staging services. Best sourcing: The Alameda Point Francisco chapter of the International Association of
Antiques Faire (first Sunday of each month); Planta- Home Staging Professionals. Best sourcing: Madison
tion in Hayes Valley, San Francisco (contemporary, McCord Interiors in Livermore, madisonmccord.com.
custom furnishings); Chateau Sonoma, Sonoma
(French antiques). Lydia Nordvik
The Home Staging Company, Fremont,
Vivian Chen 510.381/8995, homestagingco.com.
One Two Six Design, Mountain View, A former graphic designer, Nordvik worked in the
650.967.2575, OneTwoSixDesign.com. advertising business for years before opening her
The company, with 15,000 square feet of inventory staging company 18 months ago. Best sourcing: “At
of designer-quality furnishings, artwork and accesso- HomeGoods [HomeGoods.com], prices are low, and
ries, has staged more than 3,000 homes since 1998. quality is high. You just have to be a more patient
Best sourcing: Restoration Hardware, Z-Gallerie, shopper.”
local boutiques.
Crystal Stafford
Sylvia D’Anna Elizabeth Stafford Home Staging and Design, Santa
Staging Artists, San Jose, 408.348.3844, Clara, 888.595.6221, staffordhomestaging.com.
stagingartists.com. Stafford is certified by the Home Staging Resource.
D’Anna, a Realtor and appraiser for more than 10 Shopping tip: “Put your money into furniture. West
years before founding her firm in 2004, stages both Elm and CB2 offer options for blending contempo-
homes and businesses, including Cisco Systems and rary and traditional pieces, but for accessories, don’t
QualComm. Why use a pro? “An experienced, pro- write off IKEA and Target.”
fessional decorator can be a huge help by navigating
through all the choices and finding the right solutions
at the right prices.”

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a room
Humera/Thinkstock

ideas
of your own How to turn unused space

at home into a haven
By Kim Cook
Guys have done it for years: turned a room into the who teaches in Evanston, Ill.
quintessential “man cave,” where men do manly, some- New York designer Elaine Griffin embraces the concept.
times messy and sporty things, often involving a recliner. She recently partnered with HomeGoods in Manhattan
It’s a private, almost sacred space where men can get away to show some décor and space suggestions for “where the
from the din and distractions going on in the rest of the woman who nurtures everyone goes to nurture herself.”
house. Here’s what you need for your own “gal cave”:
But increasingly, women are understanding the advan- • A place to sit
tages that come with what Virginia Woolf termed “a room • Storage space
of one’s own.” These spaces aren’t exclusive to women with • An area to do what you want to do
families underfoot; in her social circle of women age 60- • Room for occasional visitors
plus, Barbara McDonald says the “getaway room” serves “Organizing your stuff makes your space feel bigger. I
many purposes. “It’s invaluable as a project room. Close the love bookcases — you can hide in plain sight,” Griffin says.
door and leave the mess for next time,” says McDonald, of Colorful boxes and file folders work well; group an array of
Nova Scotia, Canada. favorite photos in fun frames on the shelves.
Many women are taking over fallow ground at home Griffin has a penchant for color — among the mini-
and turning it into their sanctuary. They stake out an un- rooms she created for HomeGoods: a reading corner with
used closet, basement nook or extra bedroom. Some use chaise and bookcases painted vibrant fuchsia, and a closet
the space to work without interruption — they’ve got it all transformed into a tiny yet functional office, swathed in
teched up with Wi-Fi, perhaps a TV. Others say none of a warm caramel hue and accented with dramatic touches
that’s allowed, just books and maybe a music player. such as rattan lamps and black furnishings, including a
Roxanne Jacoby has a guest room that no guest has ever chair with a nice wide seat.
slept in. It’s really her “mom cave.” Outfitted with memen- No extra rooms available? Griffin suggests turning a stair
tos and comfort items, it’s the only room in the house she landing into a mini-sanctuary using narrow console tables,
calls her own. a luxurious rug and a couple of armchairs.
“I’ve put in an alpaca throw, down pillows, a fan, my fa- Since you don’t share it, you’ve got more freedom with
vorite scented candle and a whole bunch of stuff that I your space to play with unusual wallpaper and accessories,
want to read,” says Jacoby, who lives in Philadelphia. create a Zen-like refuge or, like Atlanta-based Robyn Freed-
It’s not as if she couldn’t set all that up in a corner of man, revisit your childhood room.
the family room. But that “guest room” has an important Freedman, who runs a creative think tank, even has a
feature: “I can close the door.” name for her space: the Hobbit Hole.
Lori Remien took over an unused nook off her daughter’s “My room’s purple with green polka dots. It’s got all kinds
room when she needed a place to work on her teaching of silly things from my childhood — my light-bulb collec-
exams a few years ago. “I went to IKEA and bought a comfy tion, Dr. Seuss books and college letterman blanket. Lots of
wicker chair, a plush red rug, some pretty black-and-white goofy stuff, and everything makes me smile,” she laughs.
curtains. It’s still a great retreat where I can watch the Which is the whole point. S
shows the rest of my family doesn’t watch,” says Remien, — Associated Press

Hemera/Thinkstock
space to
grow With the right basics, children’s
rooms can have staying power
By Melissa Rayworth

ideas
Betsy Burnham loves designing bedrooms for young can be a functional and stylish alternative to a traditional
children. But before she can begin, she sometimes has to changing table. And rather than buying a prefab kids’
steer clients away from painfully cute design ideas. table and chairs set, Henderson recommends hunting at
“I don’t like cutesy things – the murals, the Disney flea markets for vintage school chairs and desks.
things,” says Burnham, an interior designer based in Los No need to buy a toddler bed: “If you invest in a couple
Angeles. of really nice twin beds, or just one twin bed,” Burnham
A child’s room can be wonderfully whimsical, she says, says, “you can probably turn that bed into a daybed once
“but it can also fit in with the rest of your décor.” the child moves on to a full- or queen-size bed.”
Many parents feel obligated to stick with colors and And leave that Spiderman lamp on the shelf at the big
imagery commonly associated with little kids. “But when box store. Flynn says vintage lighting can give a child’s
you do that,” says designer Brian Patrick Flynn of decor- room much more style. Chrome or brass works well, he
demon.com, “you create a powder keg, because then you says, “or use the plastic ones from the ’60s. It’s playful and
have to redecorate when they get bigger.” fun and doesn’t take itself seriously.”
How do you create a space that is kid-friendly, but will Note: If you’re bringing in sophisticated colors and pat-
also grow with your child and mesh with the rest of your terns, Burnham says, you may want to balance them with
home? kid-friendly soft things, such
Flynn, Burnham and as Flokati rugs and velvety
HGTV’s latest “Design Star” fabrics.
winner, Emily Henderson,
share their advice: toy characters
“Buy them a Buzz Light-
break the rules year toy,” Burnham says, “but
Forget the typical pastels don’t put Buzz Lightyear all
and primary colors. Flynn over the walls.”
loves vibrant oranges and Many kids’ rooms these
greens for kids’ bedrooms: days look like advertisements
“They’re high energy, but to- for popular licensed charac-
tally gender-neutral.” ters. Remember that within

White and brown are also a few years, your child will
a great combination, he says, be into something new and
because you can accessorize you’ll be stuck with the re-
them with a range of other decorating bill.
colors as the child’s taste Vibrant oranges and greens are “high energy, but Burnham had a client
changes. gender-neutral,” says designer Brian Patrick Flynn. whose son loved maps, so
If you’re set on pink, Burn- she bought a batch of vintage
ham suggests using a shade maps on eBay. The maps,
like salmon or watermelon originally used by sailors,
instead of bubblegum pink. And rather than a basic royal were colored with soft yellows and pale blues. She had
blue, consider a deep navy for a look that’s crisp and more them pasted up as wallpaper, each one overlapping the
grown-up. next.
“There are so many ways of doing color and pattern in a
sophisticated way,” Henderson says, “fabrics and wallpa- creative space
pers that are modern and fresh and fun.” Let the room be a canvas for self-expression. Frame
Consider painting stripes on kids’ ceilings, or wallpa- some of the child’s favorite artwork and make it a chang-
pering the ceiling to bring in a pop of texture and color. ing gallery. Or affix a row of cork tiles floor-to-ceiling for
“Especially for a baby,” Henderson says, decorating the tacking up their latest creations.
ceiling “is going to wake up their imagination.” Henderson suggests creating a simple stage for im-
Flynn likes using geometric print wallpaper that evokes promptu performances or stringing up some vibrant fab-
’60s or ’70s style, perhaps in black and white or olive and ric to create a secret fort.
taupe. He also likes using indoor/outdoor fabric in chil- Chalkboard paint and dry-erase wall paint can be used
dren’s rooms, because of the impressive durability. to delineate an ample area for scribbling and drawing.
And, Flynn says, “Do a built-in bookshelf,” and let the
skip kiddie furniture child know you’re investing in something special. S
Burnham says a dresser with a changing pad on top – Associated Press

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make the scene!

Join us for our Spring 2011 COLOR issue, publishing
April 1, when the season’s bright hues come into focus
in both fashion and home and design. We’ll also look
at trendsetting local shops and services, the latest in
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Be sure to receive your copy. E-mail us at Scene@
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find us on On the web: SceneBayArea.com, and Facebook.
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Bay Area News Group archives

Jenn Miller, left, and Mackenzie Lesher at a past Junior League event.
AGENT OF CHANGE continued from Page 93
dance, theater, opera, music and visual one feel comfortable.

arts at the Lesher Center, the association “I love to entertain and cook, espe-
funds the Arts Access Program, which cially if there’s a good cause involved,”
November 11, 2010 - provides community outreach arts edu- she says. “I generally try to design a
cation, as well as performance tickets menu that I can make in advance, so I’m
January 17, 2011 and transportation to families, children, not the stressed-out host in the kitchen
seniors and low-income residents in the when my guests arrive. I try to keep the
East Bay. tone relaxed and unfussy.”
Lesher’s work on the Lesher Center’s A sign in the kitchen says “Welcome,
Visit the Website for Complete
20th-anniversary “On Broadway” gala Friends. He who enters is a stranger but
Details including Public Skating
this fall resulted in a sold-out auction once,” and that, perhaps, sums up Lesh-
Hours, Admission Prices, Skating
and dinner party, which transformed er’s entertaining philosophy.
Lessons, Private Ice Rental,
downtown Walnut Creek into a tented “I like to greet people at the door with
Birthday Party Packages,
party pavilion for more than 550 people. a glass of champagne,” she says. “I’ve got
and more...
(The annual event in recent years had a 2-year-old, so I let them know it’s defi-
presented by: taken place at Diablo Country Club.) nitely OK to spill wine in my house.” S
“It’s always been the dream of [Lesher
? Center General Manager] Scott Denison give Stand! a hand
and [Diablo Regional Arts Association
This holiday season, Stand! For
Executive Director] Peggy White to bring
Families Free of Violence is hoping
the gala back to the Center,” Lesher says.
to give over 150 client families gift
“But it was a gamble in this tough econo- cards for use at Target and grocery
? my. We took a leap of faith, and it’s been

staggering, the support that’s flowed in.
stores. These are families who have
@
been affected by domestic violence
We sold out the cocktail auction and din- or abuse, and are working with
ner in July. I think it shows how much of Stand! to recover and live healthy,
a priority arts and culture are to Walnut happier lives. (The Junior League of
The o
ide f B
sy Families Creek.” the East Bay is a Stand! partner.)
www.activekidsdirectory.com
That inclusive attitude and can-do

Donations can be made by Dec.
enthusiasm extend to entertaining at
17 to Stand! For Families Free of
A home as well. In recent years, Lesher has
opened her home to host benefit dinners
Violence, 1410 Danzig Plaza, Ste.
200, Concord, CA 94520. For
Visit www.facebook.com/ for the Walnut Creek Library and the Di- ideas on organizing a gift card drive
contracostatimes for more ablo Regional Arts Association. As with at your workplace or in your com-
information on how
to win tickets
her approach to the gala, Lesher says the munity, see standagainstdv.org or
key to entertaining lies in making every- call 925.603.0138.
www.IceSkateWalnutCreek.com

Patrick Tehan
Karl and Christine Wente, on Karl’s front porch, are bringing Wente wines to the millennial generation. Karl plays in
a band called The Front Porch, and lives in a farmhouse on vineyard property; Christine lives in Piedmont.
A GOOD PAIRING continued from Page 101

own organic garden. Palo Alto while dressed as the character Uma Thur-
Christine joined the family business in 2000 and is man played in “Pulp Fiction.” (With her blond pageboy
now in charge of managing those businesses to give cus- and willowy figure, it was a perfect choice.) They were
tomers many reasons to enjoy the Livermore Valley. Karl married on vineyard property, and are raising two chil-
joined two years later and is responsible for the quality dren. From their Piedmont home, Roland commutes to
of the wine. his job in San Francisco.
“It’s great to have them as the forward face and the Karl commutes from his yoga studio upstairs to the
people that generation are connecting with,” Carolyn vineyard right outside his door. After earning a chemi-
Wente says. “Those will be the relationships that will cal engineering degree from Stanford and two master’s
bring business forward.” degrees in viticulture and food science from UC Da-
Christine and Karl grew up in a Livermore neighbor- vis, he worked at Peter Michael Winery in Sonoma,
hood, so they could ride their bikes to school. But most then Brown Brothers in Victoria, Australia. (In blond
weekends were spent on what they call “the ranch.” cornrows, he took a six-week trek through Africa, in-
Christine would spend time with her Aunt Carolyn, cluding an ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro.) In 2002, he
tagging along on wineries tours and picking fresh veg- returned to Livermore, and to a historic farmhouse
etables and herbs from her backyard garden. Karl would on Wente land built by a 19th-century winemaker
often stay at his grandmother’s house nearby. who once owned the property. Karl’s Italian girlfriend,
Christine graduated from Princeton, then Stanford a singer and songwriter, keeps a pottery wheel in his
with an MBA. She worked for Gallo in the Central basement.
Valley before joining the family business. She met her “We both lived on different paths,” Karl says of his
husband, investment manager Roland Von Metzsch sister. “But we share a common pride with the business
(a fellow Princeton graduate) at a Halloween party in and with the land.” S

behind the scene
the winter look

For this issue’s fashion shoot, contributing Model Brooke
fashion & beauty editor Donna Kato wanted a London’s hair
smoky, bold eye in shades of gray and brown, is smoothed
and strong brows to balance winter’s heavy back by Karie
fabric, strong shoulders and layered clothing. Bennett.
Makeup artist Audrey Mendoza went to work
on models Brooke London and Gina. Mendoza
has a degree in electrical engineering from the
University of Michigan, but she’s clearly found
her passion. Janet Kim Paik
Kato conferred with Atelier SalonSpa and Ate-
lier Studio’s Karie Ben-
nett to make the mod-
els’ hair be “voluminous
but controlled, with silky
softness.” Bennett was
aided by Atelier senior
artist Shayne Thurston.
Janet Kim Paik pro-
vided styling assistance
and kept track of the Janet Kim Paik helps make
bags, boxes and gar- a trenchcoat fit perfectly.
ment bags full of the
merch – no small feat,
as included were myriad
shoes, handbags and
jewels.
Audrey Mendoza put a

Stephanie Grace Lim
Scene
bold, smoky eye on model
Gina, above, and Brooke,
at right.
A special thank-you to Style notes:

Rob Barker
• When clothes are busy, hair works best pulled away from the
Erika Brown
face. This fall and winter’s modern look is hair worked to be high
Matt Coffee
on the head and crown, and sleekly twisted back into a bun or
Pat Danna
ponytail.
Ed Eke
• Winter complexions are pale but flawlessly dewy, achieved
Rudy Knight
with a light touch of foundation, topped by a light-reflecting pow-
Janet Kim Paik
der and pink or peachy blush on the cheeks.
Gail Petty
• Lips are neutral and glossy, or, for high drama, a bright red.
Robin Siegfried
Red should work with your skin tone and eye makeup. (In gen-
June Stephens
eral: Pair reds with blue undertones with gray eyeshadow and
Mark Yamamoto
pink-toned skin; pair reds with yellow/orange undertones with
brown eye makeup and olive-toned skin.) S

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seen
out and about

in the east bay Glam was on view at the “On Broadway” gala this fall,
which celebrated the Lesher Center for the Art’s 20th anniversary.
We asked a few key people involved what they wore,
and what it says about their personal style:
Ben Krantz Studio

Sue Rainey, Chance Kim,
Walnut Creek mayor Tiffany’s Walnut Creek
and gala committee What she wore: Black,
member (with husband Susie Fisher, Jill Winspear, ruched knit jersey with
Richard Rainey) Diablo Regional Arts asymmetric neckline and
gala committee member
Association board and handkerchief sleeves,
What she wore: A What she wore: A one- gala committee member
black St. John with accessorized with
strap, gun-metal BCBG Tiffany jewelry, including
transparent long What she wore:
dress embellished with a yellow diamond with
sleeves. Strapless, Bordeaux-
beading, accessorized Christine Wente, double row micro pavé
colored long gown and
What it says: “Classic with a wide diamond gala committee member pendant.
jacket from Blossoms,
vintage. I’ve had this for bracelet and diamond
What she wore: A little with silver heels. What it says: “Classic
a long time and love it.” earrings, and pumps
with beading. black dress and pearls, What it says: “It’s and comfortable – and
with black heels. comfortable, which is accentuates my best
What it says: “I love features.”
What it says: important when I’m
diamonds! My style:
“Traditional, but running around. And I
trendy, but not over the
current!” made sure my husband’s
top.”
tie and pocket square
matched my dress!”
Peggy White,
Diablo Regional Arts
Association executive
director Kimberly
What she wore: A Brown,
cerise strapless short gala committee
gown by Max and Cleo, member
Ben Krantz Studio
and Kate Spade suede Mackenzie What she wore: A

shoes with black sequin Lesher, black, one-shoulder,
bows. “My jewelry is by gala co-chair
cocktail dress with a
Sorrelli. The necklace is What she wore: A navy, splash of bling on the
a classic crystal antique one-shoulder Tadashi shoulder strap, with
Carrie Lederer, silver bib.” Shoji gown. “I wore the a four-inch burgundy
Bedford Gallery curator
What it says: “It amazing Louboutins I heel “to add some
and gala committee
represents what I strive bought at a fundraiser color.” Silver bangles,
member
for: ‘Classic with a that Footcandy held for with two chunkier Angie Coffee,
What she wore: Nicole Creative Twist.’ ” the Junior League, with bead bracelets, and gala committee member
Miller techno metal special guest Candace black chandelier What she wore: The
dress (fabric woven Bushnell [of “Sex and earrings. same dress she wore
with metallic yarns, the City” fame]. They are
What it says: “Stylish, 20 years ago to the
“which provides for a by far the most fabulous
but also comfortable. Lesher Center opening,
relaxed sculptural form”). shoes I own.”
As a new mom, I don’t accessorized with Tiffany
The dress is flared —
What it says: “The get the opportunity starburst diamond earrings
“replete with petticoat!”
gown demonstrates that to go out and get and metallic Ferragamos.
What it says: “I love I am conservative and dressed up that often, What it says: “My
fashion — it provides pretty traditional. But so in our household typical dress for black-tie
both men and women the shoes say that I like this was a big event!” fundraisers is St. John,
the opportunity to to take a calculated risk
[but] I thought it would
be creative from a now and then. And I’m a
be fun to wear the dress
personal perspective. sucker for glitter!”
I wore 20 years ago. The
I’m interested in a look
dress is fuchsia and quite
that’s relaxed, distinctive
fun, so I didn’t have the
and artistic. Form, color,
heart to part with it! Who
texture and pattern are
knew it would appear
all important.”
again at the 20th?”

Navid Armstrong and DRAA trustee Gala committee member Kathleen LCA General Manager James Busby, gala committee member Lynette Busby,
Bill Armstrong Odne and John Odne Scott Denison DRAA director Loella Haskew, Ralph Haskew
All grown up: Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts celebrated the 20th anniversary of the center’s opening with its annual On
Broadway fundraiser. The event, which included a tented gala dinner on the streets outside the center, raised more than $200,000 for
the Diablo Regional Arts Association programs. Guests bid on auction items ranging from works of art on display in the Bedford Gallery to
a country estate getaway in Umbria, Italy, and after a performance by the Manhattan Transfer, they danced the night away.
Ben Krantz Studio

Philanthropists Jean and Ken Philanthropists Kristen and Peter Walnut Creek City Council member Gala co-chair Steve Lesher and
Hofmann Bedford Gary Skrel and Natalie Skrel DRAA trustee Ira Hillyer
San Francisco Giants’ Brian Wilson San Francisco Giants’ Tim Lincecum Logan Severance, San Jose Sharks’ Angel Velez, San Francisco Giants’
and Crosby Hyde and Liza Bromley Frazer McLaren Jonathan Sanchez
Scene caught the scene at the fourth annual Logan’s Freedom Ride in San Francisco. Started in 2007 by San Francisco Giants
strength and conditioning coach Ben Potenziano to benefit Logan Severance, LFR has raised more than $80,000 for Families of Spinal
Muscular Atrophy. For more info, see freedomridesf.com.
Stephanie Simons
San Jose Sharks’ Frazer McLaren, Jason Jean Ashworth, Stephanie Hoobery Comcast’s Rich Caitlin Marantz and Tiffany Davis
Demers and Devin Setoguchi and Alex Peais Aurilia (former Giant)

seen
1
2
10 3
Party! Scene celebrated its August issue with
a few friends at the Blackhawk Auto Museum. In
addition to amazing raffle prizes (SkinSpirit goodies,
a Tiffany charm bracelet and Kate Spade bag among
them), guests were treated to a musical number from
“Becoming Britney,” performed by its writer and star,
Molly Bell. (The show recently had its West Coast
premiere at Center Rep.)
1. Center Rep’s Michael Butler, Bay Area News Group/East

Bay Publisher David Rounds, Bay Area News Group’s Debbie
9 Nordstrom, Kurt Kuckein and Molly Bell (star of “Becoming
Britney”) 4
2. Candi Hoyle, Pat Cox and Bonnie Wersel, from Alain
Pinel Realtors
3. Casey Johnston and Candice McGraw, from Quarry
Lane School
4. Deb Mariotti and Dr. Eric Mariotti
5. Tiffany Pociecha, and Paula Cole and Hannah Barger
from Kate Spade
6. Stephanie Yeraka from J. Hettinger Interiors and Tiffany’s
Chance Kim and Terri Tiffany
8 5
7. Maria Billingsley, Robineve Cole, Dorene Gomez and
Cindi Stephenson, from J. Hettinger Interiors
8. Jane Omick and Cheryl Sass, both from Queen Bee
9. Rebekah Brannon from SkinSpirit, and Kari Wahl from J.
Rockcliff Realtors
10. Danny Chan and Petra Martinez, from Salon Epiffani
For more photos, see Facebook.com/SceneBayArea
7 6
Edwin Suarez

just for you
congratulations
to our winners! Scene Magazine reader contests
Kara Douglas, answering Pat Scott, from Pleasant Hill, won tickets to the “On Broadway” encore party,
our query on who we should profile the which featured the Manhattan Transfer, dessert and dancing. (The October event was
next time we cover women in wine (as part of the anniversary gala to celebrate the Lesher Center for the Art’s 20th birthday.)
we did in the Fall 2010 issue), sug- Pat’s winning entry described what she’d be wearing: “a muted blue and chartreuse
gested Anne Vawter. Walnut Creek- silk and chiffon dress that I complement with a stunning Pashmina. The hues are remi-
based Douglas notes that Vawter is a niscent of Mount Diablo in springtime.”
young up-and-comer who is winemaker
to several small wineries and also
produces her own. Ann Meuel, a speech-language pathologist with the
Douglas’ fab Mount Diablo Unified School District, won tickets to Center
prize: tickets Rep’s hilarious “Becoming Britney.” Her entry told us how
to see Wil- she teaches happiness to others: “I find that my greatest
lie Nelson happiness comes from facilitating or creating a moment of
at Wente joy for my family, friends or students that puts a smile on
Vine- their face. It may be a simple touch, a quick e-mail just to say
yards. hello, a conversation focused on them or an all-out production!”
join us online
“Like” us on Facebook:
Facebook.com/SceneBayArea, for the latest news,
more contests, photos from local style events.
Connect with us at SceneBayArea.com:

For current stories, past issues, style news and,
yes, more contests!
ebsig6.indd 178 11/5/10 9:44 AM

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