Meet Fellow Yogis
Yogis are headed to the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, January 16—19, for the sixth annual Yoga Journal Conference. The weekend includes everything from panel discussions with environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill to asana classes with Sharon Gannon and Seane Corn to yoga teacher training sessions. 800.561.9398, yjevents.com
Perfectly Unique Boutonnieres
Erin Rosenow, formerly of the acclaimed Laurel Heights floral shop Birch, has branched out on her own with Rosenow Floral. Sure, we love the colorful bouquets, but it’s her line of unique wedding boutonnieres made with guitar picks, sand dollars and miniature birdcages that shines. 415.424.7437, rosenowfloral.com
Christopher Salon
Have you heard? There’s a new man in town…and his name is Christopher Downs. Having just opened his namesake salon on Ark Row, he’s become the talk of Marin and beyond, including a recent callout in Daily Candy. Hailing from NYC, where he still catches the red-eye to work as an invitation-only personal and editorial stylist, he’s landed in Tiburon and couldn’t be happier. With a little help from his partner Paul DeMartini of Williams-Sonoma, he revamped the small, well-lit space into a cozy chic salon. A Yelp contributor in Sausalito sums up the hype. “Christopher actually does that ‘haircut to match your face and lifestyle’ thing! I’ve always heard about it, asked for it, but have never received it until now.” christopher-salon.com
Dinner Fit for a President
No need to travel to Washington to take part in all the inauguration festivities; head over to Nick’s Cove in Tomales Bay, where diners can revel in the restaurant’s special Barack Obama inauguration dinner on January 20. Chef Adam Mali has prepared a three-course menu for $20.09, which includes a salad of escarole, avocado and persimmon, braised lamb shoulder with polenta and gremolata and spiced pear bread pudding.
Project Happiness
This month, head to local movie theaters to check out Bay Area—based nonprofit Project Happiness’s new documentary of the same name. The film features Richard Gere, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and our own local connection Marinite, George Lucas. It follows a high school class from Mount Madonna School near Watsonville who were inspired after reading the Dalai Lama’s book Ethics for the New Millennium. The students embark on a journey to discover the true nature of happiness. projecthappiness.com
All Washed Up
For almost 10 years Forest Knolls resident Judith Selby Lang and her husband have been collecting the plastic that washes up on Kehoe Beach in the Point Reyes National Seashore and turning it into wearable art. According to Lang, there is no better way to spark a dialogue about the health of the oceans than to wear jewelry made from recycled beach plastic. Look for Lang’s exhibit during Earth Day and Costal Cleanup Day in 2009 or pick up your own unique creation at Electric Works in San Francisco. 415.626.5496, sfelectricworks.com
Houseboats of Sausalito
Marin’s newest pictorial history book, Houseboats of Sausalito, not only includes great photos but was written by our beloved Phil Frank, creator of the widely acclaimed cartoon strip Farley and namesake of Cavallo Point’s Farley Bar.
Take the Stage
Imagine children from different schools and different towns all coming together to bring an artistic vision to life. That is exactly what happens every fall, winter and spring at 142 Throckmorton’s Marin Youth Performers group. The sessions—led by local teacher and student favorite Adam Saville—teach children every aspect of theatrical production, from acting onstage to working backstage and operating lights and music. Auditions for the next show, Annie Jr., take place January 12–15 and the show runs March 6–8. 142throckmortontheatre.com
Singing for a Living
From the rough streets of East Oakland to singing on chart-topping albums by artists like Celine Dion, Diana Ross, Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey, session vocalist Clay “Claytoven” Richardson has seen it all. Just ask San Rafael studio mogul Narda Michael Walden, who calls Richardson whenever the backing vocals on an album he is recording just have to be right. Richardson reveals all his secrets from his many years in the music business in his new book The Professional Studio Vocalist, available at amazon.com. claytoven.com