What Was New in Marin in November 2019

The following is a list of businesses that were new in Marin county in January 2020

EAT & DRINK

Soccarat, the golden crunchy rice that underpins the seafood paella, invokes the Mediterranean at San Rafael’s Revel & Roost Kitchen, located downtown in the former Atalaya spot. The buttermilk fried chicken, artichoke salad and avocado hummus, however, are pure American.

Sausalito resident Blair Warsham is chef at San Francisco’s Wildseed, the latest entrant in the plant-based restaurant fray. Part of Adriano Paganini’s Back of the House restaurant group (Super Duper Burgers, Uno Dos Tacos), it serves impeccably sourced cocktails, two burgers and a sizable menu of shareable plates (the Belga fries are named for the former restaurant occupant) and entrees.

Tucked into the Red Hill Shopping Center in San Anselmo, Jillie’s Wine Bar opened quietly this summer. Jill Cordova-Holt and Michael Holt’s venture offers wines from Italy, Spain and France by the bottle, a rotating bar list of more than 20 by-the-glass choices from around the globe, and small bites like a cheese and charcuterie board and black truffle potato chips.

With a built-in bar, integrated lighting and sound, a disco ball and two bubble machines, Hornblower Party Trolley debuted this summer and now redefines “motorized cable car” just in time for the holidays.

Hornblower classic party trolley interior
The Hornblower party trolley.

SHOP

The Mill Valley Lumber Yard recently welcomed Mad Dogs & Englishmen, the second location of the Carmel-by-the-Sea favorite from Jennifer Blevins and her British husband, Martin. It offers unique bikes, e-bikes, bicycle sidecars, accessories and apparel. Shop dog E.J. is our online dog of the month for November.

Longtime local Cheryl Popp launched Sausalito Books by the Bay on the waterfront, using the same community-centric model as area CSAs to help keep bookstores both local and independent and paper- backs available.

European-and American-sourced sustainable kitchen and garden items, made without a stitch of plastic, are the focus of Sundry, the latest from Kelly Scott, who also owns and curates for The Goods in downtown Mill Valley.

BEAUTY & WELLNESS

Trained in integrative, Eastern and Western methods, Christina Lisac opened Apricot Forest Chinese Medicine in Mill Valley to help adults and children overcome insomnia and other sleep disorders through acupuncture and Chinese herbal treatments.

James Weeks, Boating on the Bay, at Kim Eagles Smith Gallery.

DESIGN

Kim Eagles-Smith recently moved and rebranded his San Francisco gallery to Mill Valley, where he’s lived since 1976. Kim Eagles-Smith Gallery features rotating exhibits, represents emerging and established artists, and buys and sells work with an emphasis on modernist, abstract expressionist and Bay Area figurative art.

The Workroom is a Mill Valley design studio and shop where co-founders Stephanie Thill and Jennifer Tidwell offer a collaborative project workspace and a selection of furniture, custom upholstery, lighting, kitchenware and items for home decor.

Stephanie Thill and Jennifer Tidwell of the Workroom Mill Valley
Stephanie Thill and Jennifer Tidwell of the Workroom Mill Valley.

Chrisitina Mueller

Christina Mueller is a long-time Bay Area food writer. She hails from the East Coast and has spent way too much time in South America and Europe. She discovered her talent as a wordsmith in college and her love of all things epicurean in grad school. She has written for Condé Nast Contract Publishing, Sunset, and the Marin Independent Journal, among others. She volunteers with California State Parks and at her childrens’ schools, and supports the Marin Audubon Society, PEN America, and Planned Parenthood. When she is not drinking wine by a fire, she is known to spend time with her extended family.