Marin Clean Energy will lower residential electricity rates by an average 9% effective Sept. 1, making its electricity costs slightly less expensive than those of Pacific Gas and Electric.
3 Places In Marin County That Combine Great Food With Nature
If you're a nature AND a food lover, here are three places in Marin County that offer the best of both worlds.
1. Muir Woods National Monument
If you're looking to immerse yourself in the serene beauty of nature, Muir Woods is the place to do it. The Japanese call this shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.
Twelve miles north of San Francisco, the 6 miles of paved and boardwalk pathways lead 'forest-bathers' through old growth redwood groves where banana slugs, ferns and peace reign. The Main Trail wends along a 2-mile loop through 700 year old giants redwoods shrouded in fog, over Redwood Creek to Hillside Trail.
Part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, over 1 million people visit Muir Wood annually.
Nine miles away at Stinson Beach, the Siren Cafe serves up a casual atmosphere, ocean views, juicy burgers, tilapia tacos and an impressive wine and beer list.
2. Mount Tamalpais State Park
At 2,571 feet, Mount Tamalpais is Marin County's highest point. With copses of redwood trees, meadows overflowing with wildflowers and oak woodlands, Mount Tam offers incredible photo opportunities at every turn.
A favorite among serious hikers, those who wish to enjoy a more leisurely stroll can take the .7 mile Verna Dunshee Trail, a loop that encircles the east peak. With vistas that include Ocean Beach, the Farallon Islands, wine country and Richardson Bay, this peaceful path serves up all nature has to offer.
Take a short 11-mile drive into Mill Valley and dine at Molina. Their seasonal fare includes king salmon and scrumptious wood fired foods.
3. Point Reyes National Seashore
A triangular peninsula that juts into the Pacific, Point Reyes National Seashore encompasses 100 square miles of bluffs, sea stacks, forests and untamed landscape.
Abbotts Lagoon Trail is a 2 mile trail that meanders through the native habitats of quail, osprey, river otters and jackrabbits, up, over and through dunes, lagoons and driftwood piles to the Great Beach.
When you're ready to indulge in a hearty meal, head to the Saltwater Oyster Depot overlooking Tamales Bay in Inverness. Their locally sourced oysters head the menu (hence their name) but they also offer rockfish and BBQ pork ribs among other delicious choices.
Marin County is a treat for the senses, an ideal blend of nature, serenity and civilization.
Article excerpt from Via Magazine.
Marin Home & Garden Expo
For those who are looking for inspiration to remodel, redecorate or re-landscape, the Marin Home and Garden Expo at the Marin Fairgrounds May 21st and 22nd.
Sponsored by the Marin Builders Association, the Home and Garden Expo will have hundreds of exhibitors all under one roof, allowing you to see the products, compare price and quality and get advice from the experts.
Whether you're looking to remodel a kitchen or bath, discover new decor, source products and vendors, hire a contractor, learn more about creating open air living spaces or about the latest in home technology, the Expo is a great resource.
Event Details
- Marin Fairgrounds and Exhibit Hall
- 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael
- Saturday, May 21st from 10am to 6pm and Sunday the 22nd from 10am to 5pm
- Admission and parking are free
The Costa Group knows that life begins at home. Let us help you buy or sell a home in Marin County.
How to Secure Fast, Cheap(er) Parking in San Francisco
Parking in San Francisco can be a challenge to say the least. And often, even if you do find a spot, the price can make a serious dent in your wallet. But, in today's day and age, there's an app for that!
Enter mobile apps like SpotHero, BestParking and ParkMe, all of which will show you in real time parking spaces near your intended location, what the prices for each spot are and will let you reserve that spot in advance! And, many of the apps also give discounted rates to boot.
No WAY!
Yes, its true.
BestParking's website shows available parking from lowest (in yellow) to highest price (in red).
SpotHero not only has a mobile app but you can log onto their desktop version specifically for San Francisco in advance, find a spot you need, when and where you need it for a price you want to pay.
ParkMe also has a mobile and desktop version as does BestPark. It pays (or saves, actually) to shop multiple services as each company can have different prices for the same parking places.
So the next time you're heading out to a Giants game, a concert, to your favorite restaurant, to an open house in the Mission or to a meeting in the Financial District, consider locking in your parking place in advance. You'll spend less time, less money and be much less stressed!
BusyGirl Personal Concierge Services
There was an ad posted recently on a local Personal Assistant website for a full time butler to help manage a Noe Valley mansion as well as the activities of the busy family that resides there. The salary for the below position was an impressive $175,000 per year!
Job Description
"You will be responsible for calendar management for this family of 5 (plus a puppy!), help with travel planning, restaurant reservations, to running local errands and organizing closets and pantries. The client has recently remodeled their 10,000 sq foot home and is looking for an Assistant/House Manager who can help run their day to day lives. We are looking for someone who can set up systems for this new home and organize everything from a gift database to cleaning routine for the housekeeper and groundsmen. If you have the best eye for attention to detail, and love keeping everything in its place and want to work for the loveliest, most loyal client, please send your resume. Anyone with a background in architecture or art would be a bonus to this client – as they have an extensive art collection comparable to a museum!"
Though there are quite a few affluent residents in San Francisco and Marin, most may not require the level of service this family needs. But its fair to say that the majority of us are busy. We have work, family, social obligations and numerous day-to-day items on our To Do list that can overwhelm us and cause extra stress. That's where having a highly efficient Personal Concierge comes in handy.
BusyGirl Personal Concierge Services
Joanna McCormick, owner of BusyGirl Personal Concierge Services, helps busy people by managing and taking on their To Do lists, including personal shopping, organization of home and office, event planning, household services and administrative support. She will even oversee major household renovation projects!
Joanna and her team can and will handle pretty much anything, from grocery shopping and picking up dry cleaning to paying bills, scheduling appointments and managing your calendar, planning vacations as well as house and pet sitting while you're away.
The goal of BusyGirl is to allow busy families to gain back more time for the important things in life. Joanna's attention to detail and well-rounded skills make all of the moving parts of her clients' lives work much more smoothly. Her customers know that they, their families, pets and homes are in good hands with BusyGirl.
A BusyGirl herself, Joanna has worked in Project Management and Communications for over 10 years in both corporate and personal concierge roles. Her experience paired with her impeccable attention to detail and desire for perfection makes her one of the most sought after individuals in the personal concierge industry. She has organized many closets, decluttered lives, managed several high profile and complicated moves and has overseen multimillion dollar renovations. Joanna prides herself on her “operational efficiency”, always leading projects with the utmost amount of productivity to deliver effective solutions for her clients. She approaches each new project with a thoughtful and fresh mindset, catering to each client’s individual needs.
The Costa Group highly recommends BusyGirl. We've used her services for quite some time and thanks to her, we've been able to focus on what's important for us to manage while letting Joanna handle the rest!
Contact BusyGirl by phone or email to discover how Joanna and Team can help you!
Joanna McCormick
Founder and Chief BUSYGIRL
415-531-8985
busygirlusa@gmail.com
Top Decor Trends for Home
If you enjoy changing up the decor in your home, spring is an ideal time to refresh your style.
Here are the latest trends that are gaining popularity. Some are quick and easy to implement while others entail more of a remodel.
Black & White
Black and white minimalist decor is on the rise, replacing the bright, busy patterns that were all the rage a few years ago. If black and white isn't your thing, muted colors are also a top decor trend.
Matte Finishes
Oxidized metals, chalk-like finishes and matte finishes are the texture du jour. Metallic was a huge trend and matte blends beautifully with luxe gold, silver and copper so feel free to mix and match!
Lightyears-Caravaggio matte gray pendant light.
Textiles
Remember macrame? Well, thanks to Coachella's bo-ho chic style, macrame textile objects are now being incorporated into living spaces, especially on pillows, outdoor hammocks, bedding and towels.
Marble Accents
Small touches of this luxurious stone in the form of planters, clocks, coasters, candleholders and other decor items are being used to imbue sophistication and class.
Gray Hardwood Flooring
Offering an almost whitewashed appearance, gray hardwood flooring is unexpected as a floor color but it too adds sophistication and class to any space.
Farmhouse Kitchens
A blend of both modern and rustic, the farmhouse kitchen is inviting and simple. They can and do include high end materials and fixtures but tend toward a minimalistic design and simple hues.
Marin County Continues Its Reign as Healthiest in State
Since 2009, Marin County has been found to be the healthiest in all of California. The ranking is conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and compares counties against over 30 different factors that influence health. These include:
- Health care access
- Life span
- Quality of life
- Healthy behaviors
- Socioeconomic factors
- Physical environment
"Community investments such as reserving land for open space and social norms around healthy eating and staying active have helped Marin maintain our ranking," states Dr. Grant Colfax, director of Marin County's Department of Health and Human Services.
For all major categories except physical environment, Marin ranked either first, second or third best in the state. Fewer Marin County residents per 100,000 die before age 75 than any other county with significant data. Marin's rates of adult smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and teen births are all below the state average.
In the health care category, Marin residents' access is above the state average. Marin County also ranked second to San Francisco with its 150-to-1 ratio of mental health providers and it ranked third in the state with its 930-to-1 ratio of dentists.
If you're interested in buying a home in Marin County, The Costa Group can help.
7 San Francisco Restaurant Makes Yelps Top 100 List
Yelp recently announced its top 100 eateries in the United States. The list was comprised of a wide variety of establishments that had numerous reviews and were the most popular among Yelpers in the local area.
Seven San Francisco restaurants made this list. They vary widely in atmosphere, cuisine, and price but all get kudos from Yelpers. The top-ranking restaurants include:
#6: Gary Danko, high end New American cuisine on N. Point Street whose namesake is widely respected as one of the nation's most talented and respected chefs.
Chef Gary Danko, whose restaurant ranked #6 on Yelp's Top 100 in the nation.
#24 Ike's Place, known for their amazing sandwiches, especially those with the 'dirty sauce'
#26 Kokkair Estiatorio, serving delicious Greek/Mediterranean dishes in the Financial District
#53 Lou's Cafe, another sandwich shop in Inner Richmond with many loyal customers
#55 Arizmendi Bakery offers pizza and mouthwatering baked goods on 19th Street
#83 The Codmother Fish & Chips, a favorite British fare served up in a casual, fun atmosphere
#95 Roxie Food Center, a market that makes stellar sandwiches and it right across the street from Balboa Park
Of course, San Francisco is known for its amazing diversity and its cuisine is no exception. There are so many delicious options to explore for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Tell us, what is your favorite place to dine in San Francisco?
Best Açaí Bowls in San Francisco
The açaí berry is a superfood grown on a species of palm tree native to Brazil (our very own Franck Costa is also Brazilian!) and northern regions South America. This dark fruit quickly become a favorite among the health-food conscious as it contains antioxidants, fiber and heart-healthy fats.
If you're looking for the best açaí bowls in the city, look no further than these 5 places.
Basik Cafe in Nob Hill
Basik Cafe's The Drifter, 1958 Polk St. (Nob Hill), basikacai.com
If you're looking for a twist on the classic açaí bowl, Basik Cafe offers up The Drifter is a chocolate lovers dream come true. It includes an organic blend of raw cacao, acai, and housemade cashew milk topped with cacao nibs in addition to granola, banana, crushed almonds, fresh strawberries, and honey.
The Plant
The Plant's Sambazon bowl, multiple locations, theplantcafe.com Photo courtesy of Yelp
The Plant's Sambazon açaí bowl is bursting with berries and includes a side of fresh fruit and granola.
Bowl-d Açaí
Bowl'd Açaí 14 Mint Plaza (SoMa), bowldacai.com (Photo courtesy of Wendy Goodfriend)
Bowl'd Açaí is a food truck that serves up smoothies, juices and 3 signature açaí bowls. These include Original Gangster, brimming with fresh, locally sourced strawberries, blueberries, banana, coconut and honey in addition to the Brazilian berry.
Blue Hawaii Açaí Cafe
Blue Hawaii Açaí Cafe, 2 Embarcadero Center (FiDi), bluehawaiisf.com, Photo credit to Julia Mazzucato
Blue Hawaii's Lime Fresh açaí bowl infuses fresh lime and honey while their classic bowl blends organic açaí, fresh banana, and berries, perfect for a healthy meal on the go.
Judahlicious
Judahlicious, 3906 Judah St. (Outer Sunset),judahlicious.com Photo credit to Jennifer Eng
Known for their healthy, gluten-free cuisine, Judahlicious offers raw and vegan options including their Jungle-Style acai bowl. Made fresh with raw acaí, blueberries, banana atop housemade sunflower, pumpkin seed, and buckwheat granola. For $1 extra, add cacao nibs, goji berries, coconut flakes, hemp seed, or mango.
Article excerpt from 7X7.
Hot Home Design Trends
For those of you looking to update you home's personality, here are 10 design trends that are still hot among designers and homeowners alike.
Worried that by the time you update your condo, townhome or house, these trends may go by the wayside? Like many before them, the popularity of these designs shall (probably) pass at some point, but for the most part, they each have enough sticking power to hang in there for years to come.
1. Graphic tiles
With a foothold in history with their midcentury vibe, graphic tiles embrace color and pattern, making a statement that likens itself to art. If you choose a pattern that you appreciate, it will be something that will endure the test of of time.
2. Statement light fixtures
Lighting is a necessity for every home but can also serve as artwork. The wide variety styles and sizes of lighting can transform any room, giving it a distinct personality and presence as well as be functional and beautiful.
3. Sectional sofas
Homeowners wants spaces that offer comfort and usability and the sectional sofa offers both. Available to fit any design sense, sectionals work well in open floor plans, designating informal spaces for engaging with family and friends.
4. Minimalist design
A trend that benefits healthy living, minimal design creates a clutter-free living environment that is easier to navigate and clean as well as provides a sense of relaxation rather than feeling overwhelmed.
5. Stairs as a focal point
Stairs are being transformed into an architectural element instead of simply being seen as a utilitarian object. When incorporated as a design focal point of a home, stairs add visual interest as well as serving a transportation function.
6. Black window frames
Windows provide our homes with natural light and often amazing views. What better way to accent them than with a black frame? This bold move transforms windows into pieces of art, drawing attention to one of the key elements your home has to offer.
7. Mismatched materials
This daring use of materials, hues and textures, when used correctly, adds visual interest to any room. It adds character, color and keeps boring at bay.
8. Open floor plans
The top request of homeowners is a desire for an open, airy home environment. Gone are the separate, closed off rooms and instead are spaces that flow into each other and provide multiple use and invite connection.
9. Foregoing a formal dining room
Most homeowners no longer want or need a formal living room and many are also ditching the formal dining space. Instead, they want open spaces that flow and invite daily rather than occasional social interaction. An integrated dining space sparks family meals gathered around the table and also allows for larger parties to move about the home more easily.
10. Reclaimed materials
In addition to the sustainable, environmentally friendly aspect of reusing materials, incorporating reclaimed wood, metal and other materials adds personality and interest both inside and out.
