SPIRIT OF THE PENINSULA JUNE 25 Beachfront Bliss Monterey Getaway Spanish Revival Cheerful Living Sweet Treats Macaron ATM Heritage Farming at Twisted Fields Cal-Indian Delights at Colorful Eylan PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM breezy
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10 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} Peninsula Culture 27 Question Everything 36 Perfect Shot 38 Diary of a Dog: Jake {due west} Travel & Wellness 41 Beachfront Bliss 46 Coe Park Beckons IN EVERY ISSUE 14 Editor’s Note 16 Sloane Citron 19 QuickPUNCH PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: PAULETTE PHLIPOT / CHRISTOPHER STARK / RON STARR / MANDY PADGETT {food coloring} Eats, Drinks & Scoops 53 Colorful Cal-Indian 60 Macaron ATM 66 The Beat on Your Eats {home & design} Style and Substance 75 Playful Palette 80 Business Is Blooming {punchout} Features 100 Field Studies {landmark} 106 McCormick House {june 2025} contents 75 53 27 41 COVER PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER STARK
12 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM “I love being a writer. What I can’t stand is the paperwork.” —PETER DEVRIES FOUNDER/PUBLISHER Sloane Citron EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Andrea Gemmet CREATIVE DIRECTOR Britt Johnston SENIOR EDITOR Johanna Harlow CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Sheri Baer COPY EDITOR Carrie Lightner PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTORS Annie Barnett Paulette Phlipot PHOTOGRAPHERS Gino De Grandis Robb Most Irene Searles Robert David Siegel WRI TERS Loureen Murphy Sheryl Nonnenberg EDITORIAL INTERN Margaret Koenig ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS Sally Randall Georgina Fox SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE David Fenton CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR Airiel Mulvaney ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Alexa Randall PUNCH is an idea about how to live a life that is more engaging and authentic, from personal adventures, growth and what we feed our bodies and souls to the culture that fulfills us and the traditions and new discoveries offered by the Peninsula. It is about appreciating and exploring the richness of where we live and how that understanding can enhance our lives and make them more fulfilling and happy. FOLLOW PUNCH: @punchmonthly PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM FOR EVERYTHING PUNCH, COMPLETE CALENDAR, INSIDE SCOOPS & MORE: punchmagazine.com PUNCH MAGAZINE ADVERTISING Please call 650.383.3636 or email hello@punchmonthly.com PUBLISHED 1047 El Camino Real, Suite 202 Menlo Park, CA 94025 ©2025 by 36 Media, LLC Members Sloane Citron, David Arfin hello@punchmonthly.com punchmagazine.com PUNCH® is a registered trademark of 36 Media, LLC
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14 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM Olivia Allen-Price out of bed in the morning. She’s the driving force behind KQED’s Bay Curious, the radio show that answers all your questions about the Bay Area’s quirkiest people, places and things. (Page 27) You’ve probably heard of Henry Coe State Park, but if you’ve never been to this underappreciated gem, check out our tips for a perfect day trip to Northern California’s largest state park. (Page 46) If you’re feeling the need to treat yourself, this month’s issue has a few things that might tempt you. Jackie Peng of Anytime Macarons tells us about her “ATM” at Hillsdale Mall that dispenses sweetly colorful double-stuffed delights. (Page 60) Chef Sri Gopinathan shares his inspiration for inventive Cal-Indian cuisine at eye-popping Eylan, the convivial new Menlo Park restaurant. (Page 53) To take rest and relaxation to the next level, a pair of enchantingly refreshed beachside resorts on Monterey Bay make for the perfect weekend getaway. (Page 41) Feeling neutral about prevailing home interior hues? Check out Shea Ross and Dimitra Anderson’s classy-yet-colorful design of a Burlingame abode. (Page 75) And if it’s your yard that needs a pop of color, Mercedes and Juan Navarro are here to help. The personable couple behind Ladera Garden and Gifts welcome the chance to answer questions and offer advice. (Page 80) Are you ready for all that summer has to offer? Then dive right into our June issue for inspiration! Andrea Gemmet andrea@punchmonthly.com {editor’s note} here, a few things there, instead of having to plan ahead for every meal. My only once-a-week excursion was to Menlo Park’s year-round farmers market. Shopping for local, seasonal ingredients is a lot more work at the grocery store, where you can find tomatoes in December and melons in February. At a farmers market, you’ll know when tomatoes aren’t in season because there aren’t any. Oh, but when they are in season, watch out! Once you acquire a taste for vine-ripened beauties, you’ll never be able to stomach insipid, optimized-for-global-shipping tomatoes again. At the farmers market, I discovered tart and juicy tangelos, cured my fungus phobia with maitake mushrooms fried in butter and brought home armfuls of fresh basil and filled the freezer with homemade pesto. Besides swapping recipe tips with fellow shoppers and watching preschoolers with strawberry-stained mouths gorge themselves silly, I love getting to know the people who grow my food. I’ve gotten a beekeeper’s insights on colony collapse, sympathized about farm labor shortages and heard some strong opinions about state water policy from both farmers and fishers. I don’t take my easy access to bountiful fresh produce for granted, and over the years, I’ve gained an appreciation for just how difficult it is to make a living farming. That’s especially true for small, organic and regenerative farms. When I heard about Twisted Fields in the Coastside hamlet of San Gregorio, a research farm that created a solar-powered autonomous rover to support sustainable farming techniques, I jumped at the chance to learn more. See what I discovered in this issue. (Page 100) Curiosity is the thing that gets At the risk of sounding like a cliché, I am a farmers market devotee. The array of Peninsula markets wasn’t much on my radar before my husband and I moved to downtown Menlo Park with our toddler. Once we settled in, our food shopping patterns shifted to something that my grandmother would have found familiar. Call it the Old World model—with virtually everything I needed just a few blocks away, I ditched the car and gave up my weekly trips to the supermarket. It was so easy to grab a loaf of bread on my way home from the train station, or make a quick stop on an evening stroll to pick up some chicken for tomorrow’s dinner. A few things
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16 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {sloane citron} had other ideas. They are professionals—real estate agents and designers—and they wanted to give the home more than a cosmetic facelift. Since I did not buy into this idea— mind you, I really hate change of almost any kind—it became their project. Other than a few visits where I mentioned the changes I disliked (to angry comments directed back at me), I had nothing to do with the entire thing. Well, I did get to choose the size of the TVs. Recently, I swung by to get our mail and saw that the front yard had been leveled in its entirety and so, curious and concerned, I went around the side to the back, dodging compact tractors, piles of rubble and collections of tools. And then, in a breathtaking, disheartening moment, I saw that my beloved hawthorn tree lay in pieces on the raw earth. Honestly, I felt the blow as deeply as if one of my dogs had died. Behind the fallen tree were three workers, presumably the ones who had done the deed. My eyes got misty, and the lead man saw my distress. He looked at me with kindness and understanding, this man who spent his time among plants and digging things from the soil. We stood there for a few minutes, me trying to digest the situation and the men waiting quietly. Finally, looking at one of the larger tree pieces, I asked the man, in my best Spanish, to put it in the area behind the pool equipment. As I drove off, still bereft, my mind wandered, and I decided that somewhere in this reconstructed home and yard I would find a place for this remnant of the tree that had persevered while I built our home and our little children grew into adults, watching over us as the years rolled by and doing its best to stay by my side. In 1996, having outgrown our first home in Redwood City, we bought a tear-down in Menlo Park, where we would build a home large enough to raise our four small children and carry us through the years. We barely had the resources to buy the existing home and to build a new one, but with enough negotiating and persistence, we managed to get it done. If I told you what we paid to build the house, you would laugh, because it would just about cover the cost of redoing a kitchen these days. When we finished the home and had a pool put in (something that was my first priority), we had no money for landscaping. Back in those days of publishing, there was much bartering, something I generally avoided. But it was our only option. I worked to find a company that would do a trade: landscaping work in exchange for advertising pages. After several phone calls, I found a company that was willing. It would later turn out that they had done a miserable job (like not turning and amending the rock-hard soil that came with the house) but at least they were a willing partner. In the backyard, there were trees lining the west fence—a majestic oak and several nondescript smaller trees. I think the landscape professional referred to a couple of them as “volunteers.” He did point out one, “the hawthorn,” and immediately suggested that it should be “gone in a second.” Its trunk, about six inches in diameter, was somewhat hollowed out and inside the hollow was climbing ivy. The dark brown trunk was full of prominent ridges and fissures with an exfoliating, chunky bark. To me, it was perfect. For some reason, I formed a bond with this simple, small tree. It’s the kind of thing I do. This tree had suffered wounds but did its best to stay present, with no give-up in its nature. And despite its damage, it managed to exhibit charm and endurance and beauty, its leaves and flowering blooms presenting a canopy of white during the spring. I immediately told the landscaper that he was not to cut down the hawthorn. I didn’t feel the need to elaborate or share my immediate connection with the odd little tree. Our backyard landscaping was complete in one month, and though it may not have been done properly, it was done, and we were all happy to have a large backyard with a swimming pool and a hawthorn tree to accompany our new home. About a year ago, my wife and my daughters decided that our family home and our landscaping were worn and outdated. I thought it was fine, though a broken window or two could have used some repair and we did need to have the leaking roof fixed. But they the hawthorn tree
PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 19 JUNE 2025 + 30 DAYS + WHERE’S THE AIR + OUR 83RD ISSUE {quickpunch} Start Up + Catch the finals of the seemingly never-ending NBA playoffs starting June 5. + Get ready for fun at Nativity School’s annual carnival in Menlo Park, June 6-8. + Pinehurst Country Club hosts the 125th U.S. Open starting on June 13. + Spend some quality time with dear old Dad on Father’s Day, June 15. Venture Out + SALLY forth to the San Mateo County Fair and celebrate its 90th anniversary with live music, carnival rides and pig races, May 30 to June 8. sanmateocountyfair.com + JOURNEY down the path of learning at San Mateo County History Museum for its free First Friday event on June 6. historysmc.org + ENCOUNTER towering trolls among the trees at Filoli. The handiwork of recycle artist Thomas Dambo will take up residence in the historic estate’s gardens from June 7 to November 10. filoli.org/trolls Like The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson wrote, “Summer means happy times and good sunshine. It means going to the beach, going to Disneyland, having fun.” Yes, after spring’s sometimes inclement and uncertain weather, we can finally break out our shorts and T-shirts and head out the door to enjoy the warmth of the new season. Whether it’s a day at the beach, playing golf or pickleball, or hiking along some of our magnificent trails, it is indeed time to head out for “some happy times and good sunshine.” Enjoy! “June is a love song written by nature.” —PATIENCE STRONG welcome back
20 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {quickpunch} Dash to Dine + SELBY’S—Enjoy exceptional, Michelin-star food and service, plus an enormous wine list, amid elegant surroundings—3001 El Camino Real, Redwood City + PARK & HOWARD BISTRO—Eclectic but polished restaurant with classic American menu offering a great experience—1300 Howard Avenue, Burlingame + CAMPAGNE ONE MAIN—Charming and cozy with authentic ambiance to match a menu of traditional French fare—1 Main Street, Los Altos Carpe Diem + SPLASH into Half Moon Bay with Mavericks Paddlesports, a new shop on Pillar Point Harbor offering everything you need for stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). For those who are newer to the sport, Mavericks offers lessons—try your hand at SUP yoga, or bring your four-legged friend with you to SUP with your pup. Alternatively, rent your own board and venture out onto the water solo. + ROCK OUT to live music this summer at local parks throughout the Peninsula—for free! Savor the sounds of Burlingame’s Music in the Park Series in Washington Park, Los Altos’ Summer Concert Series in Grant Park, San Mateo’s Central Park Music Series, Concerts on the Plaza in downtown Mountain View, Music on the Square at Redwood City’s Courthouse Square and Menlo Park’s Music in the Park at Fremont Park. Find details for upcoming shows posted on each city’s website. Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing—The amazing, inspiring story of the last great leader of the age of Antarctic exploration. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride—A melting pot neighborhood of African Americans, Jews and Italians unite over a shared cause. Set in the 1930s. Sidetracked—Inspiring, compelling and visually stunning journal for the adventurer in you— sidetracked.com WHO KNEW? When Andrew Luck came to Stanford to play football under Jim Harbaugh in 2008, he was already known as a promising quarterback. After a highly successful 2010 season when the team went 12-1, it was widely expected that Luck would enter the NFL draft. Instead, Luck finished 2011 with a spectacular 11-2 season and set multiple Stanford records. His professional career was successful, though injuries led to an early retirement at age 29. Coming full circle, Luck is now back leading the Cardinal as the team’s general manager. Well Read Unscramble A SN ACSOIFRCN SNAGT I Finally, some half-baked advice: If you ever get caught sleeping on the job, slowly raise your head and say “Amen.”
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22 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {quickpunch} Who introduced you to the art of bonsai? My father, Ted Taikio Iwaki. He would host backyard parties where his friends would gather, drink beer and talk about these plants. One friend, (author and bonsai master) John Naka, seemed to command the respect of all. I found out much later that these and other backyard parties were the start of the first bonsai movement in Southern California, maybe even the West Coast. What was it like growing up with a backyard bursting with bonsai? While we didn’t have a traditional backyard, this miniature forest made a great place to play army with my friends. And more than once, I was scolded for breaking branches during an assault. Why is bonsai such a unique pastime? You’re nurturing an ever-changing living sculpture. How did you get involved with the Kusamura Bonsai Club in Palo Alto? They originally invited me to do a demonstration and made me an honorary member. To this day, they allow me to show a tree or two in their annual show. I lead five workshop groups and half of my students are Kusamura members. What’s a quote that really resonates with you? “The object is not to make the tree look like a bonsai, but to make the bonsai look like a tree.”—John Naka THE Q & A STEVE IWAKI What are some pointers you give people starting out? Be patient. It’s the process, not the result. What’s your favorite garden to visit? Filoli! I feel lucky to live so close to this historical treasure that has a variety of beautiful gardens and nature trails, but also has legacy bonsai as part of its collection. With the Kusamura Bonsai Club maintaining its collection, Filoli’s trees are doing better than ever. Do you have any favorite hiking trails? I like the Ancient Oaks Trail in the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve because of its old gnarly oaks. It faces west to the ocean and offers panoramic views of the coastline. Also Purisima Creek Trail south of Half Moon Bay and all the westfacing trails at Mt. Tamalpais. Tell us about some of your favorite trees to work with? With junipers, the foliage is tight and very flexible to allow you (with the help of wire) to train branch pads. Many bonsai collected from wild junipers have incredible deadwood. Redwoods are easily collectible and found in the nearby Santa Cruz mountains. The best ones have large bases tapering up to the height of the final bonsai. Many times, I’ll carve the top to make it look like lightning hit it. What is your most cherished possession? My father’s trees, especially a double-trunk juniper he started 70 years ago. Founder of Iwaki Bonsai and San Mateo resident talks tiny trees, favorite places and how his passion first took root.
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INTERVIEW question everything words by JOHANNA HARLOW PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 27 {punchline} PENINSULA CULTURE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: MANDY PADGETT
28 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} Olivia Allen-Price wants answers. “If I see something, I’m pulling out my phone and looking it up—and then finding myself down a rabbit hole of Wikipedia clicks, 10 clicks deep,” chuckles the San Mateo resident. It’s a mindset that suits her career as a journalist. “Getting to immerse myself in all these different worlds from week to week keeps me on my toes,” she says. “Bay Curious is that, on steroids.” Bay Curious, a KQED show that Olivia hosts, fields Bay Area-specific questions from listeners. Why are there ships buried under the streets of San Francisco? Why do we have so many palm trees? Is there really a volcano in the East Bay Hills? Olivia and her team track down the truth. The program started as a pet project while Olivia worked as the radio station’s engagement producer. When they asked her to act as the show’s official host, it came as a surprise. “My background has been as a newspaper reporter. I was comfortable with the written word… I had never spoken into a microphone.” Olivia breaks into a smile. “It was kind of my lean-in moment.” Over the years, Olivia’s evolved as a host. “Early on, I was kind of figuring out, ‘What is my personality as a host? Am I funny? Sincere? Snarky? Irreverent?’ Trying on some different adjectives and trying to figure out what felt like the right fit for the show.” Her verdict? “I try to embody curiosity because that is at the heart of the show,” she reflects. “And to me, curiosity is an openness to learning whatever’s going to come your way.” Recently, Olivia published a book fueled by the podcast’s previous episodes as well as some brand-new stories. “I truly think almost anything can be interesting if the right person is telling PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: ADAM GROOSBERG - KQED / CHRONICLE BOOKS
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you the story,” she says. Stay tuned for a few answers to questions you’ve probably been wondering about for years. ARE THE RUMORS ABOUT THE STANFORD DISH SEARCHING FOR ALIENS TRUE? There’s something about a behemoth satellite dish pointed heavenwards that seems straight from sci-fi. But this 150-foot-wide radio telescope sprouting from the Stanford foothills was built not to listen in on little green men, but to Soviets. Motivated by the Cold War—specifically the Soviet Union’s launching of Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial space satellite—the Department of Defense commissioned the Dish’s construction. This allowed Stanford University scientists to listen to Soviet signals as they bounced off the moon. Later, the Dish communicated with several NASA space probes and helped map {punchline} Venus’ atmosphere via signals sent to the Mariner probe. Still operational today, it aids in satellite calibrations and spacecraft command. Olivia says (a little enviously) that her KQED field reporter got invited to step into the Dish’s observation deck to check out the control console. “All the buttons and switches are Sputnik-era, like a 1960s throwback,” she describes. “It’s almost like you’re on a movie set.” DID MONTEREY JACK CHEESE REALLY COME FROM MONTEREY? Olivia acknowledges that Monterey, our neighbor to the south, has laid claim to Monterey Jack cheese, crediting it to David Jacks. This Scottish scoundrel was among many hopefuls flocking to California for the Gold Rush. “He didn’t have much luck with gold, but still amassed a small fortune selling weapons,” Olivia says. Later, he acquired most of Monterey County through a series of shady land deals and money lending. “He wasn’t a beloved local figure,” she notes. “He becomes kind of the de facto landlord of a lot of the people who are living in Monterey.” This included a multitude of dairies— one of which was making a mild white cheese. He stuck his name on it. “That’s the predominant story,” Olivia says. “But there’s an alternate version.” Enter Stefano Mori, an Italian immigrant who settled just south of Pacifica, on what’s now known as Mori Point. “A family friend steals that recipe and then starts making it at the dairies down in Monterey,” Olivia says. “So the next time you’re at a deli ordering a sandwich and you get it with Monterey Jack, you can shake your fist—maybe it should actually be Pacifica Jack.”
Exhibition Extended! May 30 - Aug 31, 2025
32 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF HANGAR ONE AT MOFFETT FIELD? The lofty Hangar One was built to house a 785-foot-long dirigible called the USS Macon. It was constructed soon after Santa Clara County residents sold Moffett Field to the U.S. Navy for the price of one dollar back in 1931. “Quite a deal, even in its time,” Olivia says. Used for reconnaissance, the Macon could carry four airplanes, then release them via an arm called the trapeze. “The airplanes would do their scouting mission and then come back and get caught by that arm and brought back into this giant blimp,” she describes. “Ultimately, the USS Macon met a tragic end.” It went down off the coast of Big Sur, after less than two years of flights. “Two people died in that crash—but 81 didn’t … Ultimately, dirigibles went out of favor because they almost all crashed. The Hindenburg happened a couple years after that.” WHY DO PEOPLE PARK ON HIGHWAY 101 NEAR BRISBANE? There’s a stretch of road along Highway 101, between the Bay and the Brisbane Lagoon, where you’ll regularly find cars pulled over on the shoulder, disregarding several signs that shout: “NO PARKING.” So what’s worth risking a ticket? This place, known as “the tubes,” allows fish to swim between the Bay and the lagoon to spawn. “There’s a fish highway right there on 101,” Olivia quips. Fisherfolk, taking advantage of the schools swimming in and out, wait at the entry to catch halibut, striped bass and even stingrays. “Fishermen are so wily,” she says. “It’s like the whole food chain’s congregating there.” Olivia adds that this particular podcast episode segued into a larger story about local fishing spots—and Bay Curious’ field reporter ended up crab fishing on a paddleboard. After bringing her catch back home to Berkeley, reporter Katrina Schwartz recalls, “I had to pull them, alive and angry, from a cooler using these tiny kitchen tongs that were not up to the job.” One of the crafty crustaceans tried to flee the premises. “It was crawling towards her door,” Olivia laughs. “What if this crab had gotten out and it was just roaming around Berkeley? Lost crab!” any questions? kqed.org/baycurious
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One of America’s finest estates, available in its entirety or in numerous possible configurations. 7 Homes 10 Individual Lots Spectacular Gardens Beautiful Views Ideal Climate & Location Numerous Expansion & Development Opportunities TheGreenGablesEstate.com Among Top Teams in SF Bay Area (per RealTrends rankings) HelenAndBradHomes.com
TheGreenGablesEstate.com Rankings provided courtesy of Real Trends, The Thousand list of individual agents by total sales volume in 2022. Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. BRAD MILLER 650.400.1317 brad.miller@compass.com License # 00917768 HELEN MILLER 650.400.3426 helen.miller@compass.com License # 01142061 +
36 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} PERFECT SHOT pastoral paradise These graceful oaks are a favorite subject of photographer Irene Searles, who finds herself driving past them on Portola Road so frequently that she’s come to think of them as “her trees.” “Sometimes horses from The Horse Park at Woodside are there, sometimes not, but I always find them to be beautiful,” she says. Image by Irene Searles / @irenesearlesphotography
PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 37 Calling all shutterbugs: If you’ve captured a unique perspective of the Peninsula, we’d love to see your Perfect Shot. Email us at hello@punchmonthly.com to be considered for publication. calling all shutterbugs
38 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} calling all dogs If you’ve got quirky habits or a funny tale (or tail) to tell, email hello@punchmonthly.com for a chance to share a page from your Diary of a Dog in PUNCH. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but at 15 years old, I’m picking up new skills on the regular. My name is Jake, and I’m a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever, a busy breed that’s notoriously hard to manage. My family loves our intelligence, humor and loyalty, so Lynn and Rick were happy to welcome me into their lives. Tollers love to retrieve—I’ve made fetching an art form— but when I first arrived, I was the one who needed retrieving after I fell under the house’s deck and refused to come out. Later, I deliberately pushed Maisie, another one of Lynn and Rick’s dogs, under the jake DIARY OF A DOG as told to MARGARET KOENIG • photography by ROBB MOST deck, which convinced them to remove the darn thing. Mission accomplished! Despite this less-than-auspicious start, my family fell for my lively demeanor and cheerful attitude. I’m a refreshing change from the high-strung personalities of many tollers. I may be a counter-surfer and a thief, but I almost always return my ill-gotten gains (if I haven’t already consumed them). I mentor my brother Wubbo, Lynn and Rick’s Kooikerhonje, teaching him to howl along with passing sirens and overcome his fear of large stuffed animals. Three years ago, I was diagnosed with a heart condition, so Lynn and I took up Rally, a low-impact dog sport. I progressed from novice to advanced so quickly, people often mistake me for a much younger dog. My heart may be weak, but my spirit is as strong as ever.
1. Over $800,000,000+ in career sales 2. 33 Years in the business 3. Specialize in Mid-Peninsula homes, native Los Altos resident 4. Provide knowledgeable advice on pricing 5. Expert in offer negotiation 1. Voiceover video featuring your home’s expertly selected top 3 selling points 2. 2D Floor plan and site plan 3. Professional photography including drone and twilight photos 4. Property description written by on-site, professional editor 5. Outstanding home preparation & property staging
Come explore Jupiter & Main in the heart of Main Street, Half Moon Bay. Shop iconic clothing brands like Double RL and Filson, alongside barware, cast iron, homewares, and apothecary essentials for men and women. Stop by and discover what makes us Half Moon Bay’s most unique shopping experience. Live a life less ordinary. Come visit us at 432B Main Street, Half Moon Bay / www.jupiterandmain.com / @jupiterandmain
PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 41 MONTEREY GETAWAY beachfront bliss {due west} words by SHERI BAER TRAVEL & WELLNESS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: THE SANCTUARY BEACH RESORT
42 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: RON STARR Beach Hotel resides 60 feet from the water’s edge and just minutes from downtown Monterey. While its location always commanded a seabird’s view of the ocean, a dramatic renovation revitalized the hotel’s midcentury architecture, blending it seamlessly with a fresh and contemporary coastal design. Fronting Monterey State Beach and nestled directly over a private stretch of shoreline, the property features 188 guestrooms and four suites. Color palettes— sandy tones, cool blues and warm wood accents—mirror the natural elements outside. Although some rooms have garden views, the majority face the ocean. Book surfside if you can and gaze away, taking advantage of a cozy sitting area and handy binoculars. This is a property that soundly celebrates passion for the sea. Everywhere you look, you’ll find dedicated spaces for paying communal homage. Step into the Lobby Lounge, and you’re greeted by expansive floor-toceiling windows showcasing the ever-shifting show. Against a natural symphony of pounding waves, one moment the beach is veiled in mist as fog rolls in; the next reveals golden sunlight and endless blue sky. Whether it’s for morning coffee or sunset happy hour, grab a table, settle into a comfy chair or hunker down by the fireplace. Think of the lounge like your living room, if it had breathtaking views, a tasty menu and a self-serve tap wall carrying a diverse selection of Central Coast wines. As the famed Danish author Isak Dinesen once penned, “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.” How right Dinesen was … ocean sounds and fresh sea air can lift your mood and promote quality sleep. Indeed, what’s more inherently soothing than being near the ocean—the rhythmic ebb and flow of waves, a salty breeze and an expansive horizon stretching to infinity? If you’re looking to spend time with Mother Nature’s therapist, Monterey now touts two newly remodeled oceanfront hotels: Monterey Beach Hotel and The Sanctuary Beach Resort. Both provide crashing surf just steps from your door with their own signature takes on relaxation, wellness and coastal escape. MONTEREY BEACH HOTEL: COASTAL ENERGY Originally built during 1967’s “Summer of Love,” Monterey {due west}
Pacific Trust Real Estate is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 02014153. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. COMBINED YEARS EXPERIENCE RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE SALES RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS 50+ $2B+ 700+ Offering unparalleled market knowledge, industry experience, and client service to meet the lifestyle and financial goals of luxury home buyers and seers in this unique market. Nick Granoski | 650-269-8556 nick@pactrustrealestate.com DRE 00994196 David Weil | 650-823-3855 david@pactrustrealestate.com DRE 01400271
44 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: RON STARR / PATRICK TREGENZA baths. Another big draw: the hotel’s complimentary Zybra e-bike rentals and jump-right-on access to the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail that stretches from Castroville to Pacific Grove. Venture south five miles and you’ll pedal past barking harbor seals at Fisherman’s Shoreline Park, scenic Cannery Row and the iconic Monterey Bay Aquarium before reaching the grassy park and beach at Lovers Point. THE SANCTUARY BEACH RESORT: OCEANFRONT OASIS Woven into 19 acres of shoreline and protected oceanfront dunes, Marina’s The Sanctuary Beach Resort delivers on the promise of its name. The ethos here is seclusion and tranquility, and the instinct is to burrow in, even though it’s an easy hop to the buzzy hubbub of downtown Monterey. Fully reimagined and reopened in June 2024, the property presents an inviting haven of beachfront bungalows with 60 rooms and suites. Settle in, and let the earthy, serene decor wash over you. Cozy up by a fireplace, relax on the terrace, soak in the views: breathe, unwind, restore. On the top floor, the hotel’s signature restaurant, The Lantern Room, also greets guests with panoramic ocean vistas. Nautical touches set the scene for local catch and land-to-table offerings. Standouts include plump salt spring mussels in a lobster coconut Thai curry (with grilled bread from Ad Astra for sopping up the broth), Monterey Bay miso black cod and pea shoot mafaldine pasta. Or embrace the elements with outside lounge seating at Tidewater, where firepits and warm blankets await, along with handcrafted cocktails and a curated menu of hyper-local fare. Notably dog-friendly, Monterey Beach Hotel gives off active and energizing vibes. With the beach right there, what’s your excuse? Even the seabirds seem to squawk, “Come take a walk!” Other amenities include a spacious fitness center, pool deck and newly-opened Scandinavianinspired barrel sauna and ice
PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 45 Configured as a wellness retreat, The Sanctuary Beach Resort lets you choose your own path to replenishment. Perhaps it’s a studio or beach bluff session run by Monterey Bay Moves: morning yoga flow, core training or a sound bath meditation. Sign up for a guided nature walk, hop on a complimentary beach cruiser bike or take a dip in the outdoor heated pool. Bury your toes in the sand or swing by the “beach stick library” and play fetch with your dog. Sanctuary’s Renewal Studio & Spa offers seasideinspired massages and facial treatments with enhancements like infrared therapy, healing hot stones and seaweed mask exfoliation. There’s nourishment for the soul—and then there’s the belly. On-site restaurant Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette serves up traditional, lounge and al fresco dining including a “paw-tio menu.” With striking aesthetics anchored by a central live-fire kitchen and oyster bar, Salt Wood specialties include ultra-fresh oysters, whole wood-grilled catch-of-the-day and Pacific spiny lobster pasta. Salt Wood is open for brunch on the weekends. Weekdays, complement your view of sand dunes and surf with breakfast (hmmm … brioche French toast or an omelet?) delivered by picnic basket to your room. OCEAN LULLABY & GOOD NIGHT With a seaside escape, you can count on the ocean’s therapeutic presence to infuse every moment of your stay. Make time PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: THE SANCTUARY BEACH RESORT to fully indulge your senses. Under the night sky, linger by a beach bonfire or fire pit. Sync your breath to the rhythmic lapping of the waves, inhale the cleansing scent of saltwater and feel the gentle touch of ocean breezes. Let all that mind chatter be lulled away before drifting off to sleep. coastal havens montereybeach.com thesanctuarybeachresort.com {due west}
46 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} transcend the madness below. A sense of peaceful quiet settles in. As Richard leads me and my husband up the Monument Trail, the Menlo Park resident tells us he signed up for the park’s Uniformed Volunteer training on his very first visit. Its environmental study program pairs with practical skills like trail clearing, emergency reporting and matching hikers with the right trails for their experience level. The oak- and pine-studded hills offer something satisfying for everyone, Richard says. Visitors with limited hiking ability may walk a quartermile to relish the vista and breathe the fresh air while resting on a trailPhone won’t stop buzzing? Blood pressure rising along with the size of your to-do list? Take note of Sada Coe’s words: “The murmuring hills sighed and whispered … I felt compelled to stop and listen.” Sada is the reason that Henry Coe State Park exists. This 87,000-plus-acre gem weighs in as the largest state park in Northern California. And much like a giant gemstone, Coe is a multifaceted treasure. If you’ve never heard of Coe Park, you’re not alone. The park has gone unnoticed by some neighbors for 25 years or more, according to Richard Todd, the uniformed volunteer who shows us around. Yet newcomers and park regulars confirm that once you enter Coe’s modest gate just minutes from the freeway, you EXPLORING coe park beckons words by LOUREEN MURPHY side bench. Hardier souls can test themselves on the rigorous Mt. Sizer loop, a worthwhile trek across hardscrabble terrain taking up to nine hours. “People can’t grasp the size of 87,000 acres, but when I tell them we have 250 miles of hiking trails, they get it,” Richard shares. As we near the secluded monument to the park’s namesake, Richard points to the Middle Ridge and beyond it, Blue Ridge, the “crown jewel” of Coe. The park rewards those willing to go deep and wide with views of lakes and waterfalls, glorious vistas of the Pacific on one side and the Sierras on the other. Photographers might capture glimpses of blacktailed deer, bobcats, eagles or a stunning rainbow of wildflowers. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
Elevated Home Buying. Expertly Done. Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number [license number to be inserted by region]. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate. License Number 01991628, 01527235, 1527365. DRE 02101054 | 650.823.0002 nicole.ruccolo@compass.com | nicoleruccolo.com YOUR DREAM HOME IS OUT THERE & I WILL HELP YOU FIND IT
48 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM Park Trivia • On a clear night, you can see the Andromeda Galaxy with the naked eye. • The smooth trunk of a madrone feels cool to the touch, even in 100-degree weather. • The Monument Trail is the only place in the park where you’ll find granite. {due west} The monument honors cattle rancher Henry Willard Coe. Though he thought ranching would be too hard for a woman, his daughter Sada Sutcliffe Coe proved a capable rider and ranch hand. She operated Coe’s Pine Ridge Ranch, first with her husband and later on her own. Convinced that the only way to preserve the land and its heritage was to share it with the public, Sada deeded it to Santa Clara County in 1953. The stories and poems she wrote left another kind of profound tribute to the ranges and bygone lifestyle that she loved. At the park’s southeast end, the 1860s discovery of hot springs drew entrepreneurial families Roop and McDonald. They created a resort hotel that, at its peak, drew up to 500 guests a day. Like Sada Coe, William McDonald left a trove of prose and poetry about the place and the people who Sensible Precautions • The summer heat can be fierce. Wear sun protection and carry 1-2 liters of drinking water per person per day. • Know how to identify and avoid poison oak. • Some areas of the park have no cellular service. flocked to it. In 1938, Watsonville farmer Kyuzaburo Sakata bought and remade the resort into a distinctive Japanese-style haven. After World War II, he welcomed returning internees to the Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs to refresh and rebuild their lives. Now a national historic landmark owned by the state park service, it’s been closed to the public since 2003 due to budget constraints. START YOUR ADVENTURE To explore Coe on foot, plan a self-guided hike or sign up for guided tours—or opt for overnight backpacking treks. Backpackers need to get a permit in person PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: LOUREEN MURPHY / CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
50 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} (first-come, first-served). For campers, there are both drive-in and hike-in sites. Lock down your site at reservecalifornia.com or by calling 800-444-7275. If you prefer to saddle up, you can access equestrian trails from any of Coe’s entrances. Drive in with your trailer at some sites, or pack-in at others. The six designated horse camps offer corrals and nearby water sources. For those ready to roll, mountain bikes make a great way to traverse Coe’s ridges. To plan your best route and avoid restricted areas, download a map at the Visitor Center. Fancy an al fresco fish dinner? Coe’s lakes and ponds teem with bluegill, largemouth bass, green sunfish and more. Cast your line in a creek and you may land a rainbow trout, but make sure you have a valid California fishing license with you. Check coepark.net/fishing for details. As I conclude my visit, the final lines on Coe’s monument encapsulate the power of this spectacular park: “May these quiet hills bring peace to the souls who are seeking.” Or, as our guide Richard puts it: “If you’re open, you’ll feel something special here.” Getting There • Coe Ranch Entrance/Visitor Center: 9000 East Dunne Avenue, Morgan Hill. • Hunting Hollow Entrance: 4826 Gilroy Hot Springs Road, Gilroy. • Dowdy Ranch Entrance: northeast of Hollister off of Highway 152. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
GO GETTERS! Talia Citron Knapp TALIA KNOWS MENLO PARK AND SAN CARLOS! No one knows these communities like Talia, who, with her passion to help clients knows how to find the perfect home or sell their largest investment. With a degree from Berkeley, living on the Peninsula for more than 30 years, and part of the #2 small team in Silicon Valley and #12 small team in the United States for more than a decade, Talia has the experience, professionalism and knowledge to get the job done for her clients. No one works harder for her clients than Talia. Every inch of the way, she is there by their side. BUYERS—Working with an agent who knows the market and how to close the deal is critical to success. Talia works closely with buyers to understand their needs, educates them on the current real estate climate, values, schools and location and is there with them every step of the way. SELLERS—Work with an agent who has sold hundreds of homes. Make sure your agent knows how to properly prepare and strategically price your home. Talia uses her design, organizational skills and market knowledge to ensure successful transactions. With her infectious upbeat attitude and attention to detail Talia will make your experience a positive one. If you’re thinking Menlo Park or San Carlos, Talia is the one to call! Talia Citron Knapp 650.465.4814 talia@taliacitron.com DRE 01987761
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