A Better Way to Get High
A burned-down ski house led to a fortuitous turn of events for San Anselmo’s Dave Schaeffer, who met his future business partner, Sausalito’s Paul McGeehan, when sharing a new Squaw Valley rental. When the two were on a drive back to Marin from Tahoe, they came up with the idea for House of Air. Years later the trampoline park is now open in San Francisco’s Presidio, off Crissy Field. With a trampoline larger than a basketball court, a freestyle area modeled after a skate park, a kids-only bounce house and activities like trampoline dodgeball and basketball, as well as a ton of safety precautions, House of Air is ready to fly. Prices start at $14 per hour. 926 Mason Street, houseofairsf.com
Chefs de noël
Buy tickets early to secure a spot in The Twelve Days of Christmas at Meadowood Napa Valley. The December event brings together some of the top chefs from around the world with local vintners to support the nonprofit Share Our Strength. Local Roland Passot of La Folie is teamed up with Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars on December 7 and Novato’s Michael Mina and Bond Estates wine will be paired on the eighth night of the event, while Meadowood’s own Christopher Kostow closes the series on December 18. 707.963.3646, meadowood.com
New Way to Snack
Sausalito-based Somersaults snack company is living up to its mindful munching credo. When health guru Dr. Mehmet Oz noted the superfood power of sunflower seeds, general manager Heidi Otto says, the news also boosted the overall awareness of the snack brand. Otto says sunflower-seed-based and nugget-size snacks offer a boost of vitamin E, more antioxidants than blueberries and more protein than almonds. somersaultsnackco.com
Supermarket Splash
Mill Valley’s gluten-free Can Do Kid nutrition bars celebrated a fifth birthday with the introduction of its healthy snacks at Safeway.
iamacandokid.com
Meet the Designer
Don’t miss a chance to meet fashion designer Prabal Gurung (see his work on page 66 of our September fashion feature) at Neiman Marcus for a special preview of his spring 2011 collection, November 4 and 5. 415.249.2711
Congrats
Between teaching music and drama at local schools the past 10 years and performing improv comedy, Blanca Florido is a maven of the Marin art scene, but she’s also adopted a new title, as Novato Theater Company’s artistic director. In that role, she manages new programs and funding as well as production of the season’s performances. With her extensive professional arts background, board president Brenda Weidner says, Florido will be a great asset toward helping achieve the company’s goals.
Congrats also to Sarah Oliver (pictured at left), who was named Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in Mill Valley by the Bay Area nonprofit Women’s Initiative for Self-Employment. Oliver, who owns her own signature line of handbags, works with the knitters of the Redwoods Senior Retirement Community in Mill Valley to produce her “wearable art.”
