Punch Magazine September 2025

SPIRIT OF THE PENINSULA SEPTEMBER 25 Spanish Style Before & After All in the Family Sundance Sizzles Paso Robles Charming Allure Good Grief, Charlie Brown—Peninsula’s Peanuts Seaside Sax at Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM crackling

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12 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} Peninsula Culture 27 Seaside Sax 36 Perfect Shot 38 Diary of a Dog: Mathilda {due west} Travel & Wellness 41 Picturesque Paso Robles 52 Paddles Up IN EVERY ISSUE 16 Editor’s Note 18 Sloane Citron 21 QuickPUNCH PHOTOGRAPHY: PAULETTE PHLIPOT / COURTESY OF: JESSICA BURKE / GREG HADEL - ALLEGRETTO / BRIAN MCMILLEN {food coloring} Eats, Drinks & Scoops 59 Sizzling Sundance 66 Oven Craft 72 The Beat on Your Eats {home & design} Style and Substance 75 Mediterranean Mood 84 Cobbling a Legacy {punchout} Features 100 Good Grief! {landmark} 106 Charles Brown Sawmill {september 2025} contents 75 66 27 41 COVER PHOTO: GREG HADEL - ALLEGRETTO VINEYARD RESORT

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14 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM “I can resist everything except temptation.” —OSCAR WILDE 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 Jennifer Jory Elaine Wu 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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16 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM Life with a well-known father also figures into Johanna Harlow’s story on Barbara Douglas Riching, who runs Half Moon Bay’s Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society. The one-of-a-kind jazz venue is a treasure trove of music history and bohemian hijinks. (Page 27) Also keeping things all in the family is Palo Alto’s Sundance The Steakhouse, a family-run favorite that’s celebrating its 50th anniversary. (Page 59) A different kind of blues takes center stage in our September design story, where the soothing shade centers the family-friendly interiors of a Mediterranean home in San Mateo. (Page 75) If reds and whites are more your thing, check out our guide to winesoaked adventures in peaceful Paso Robles. (Page 41) Is bespoke footwear the ultimate indulgence? As someone with hard-to-fit feet, I see the Cinderella-like appeal of a shoe perfectly molded to your foot by the master craftsman at euGo in Burlingame. (Page 84) On the other end of the Peninsula, Sam Ceccotti, the executive pastry chef at Craftsman and Wolves, tells us about opening the wildly popular bakery’s new outpost in Mountain View. (Page 66) And if you’ve been pondering picking up pickleball, we’ve pulled together all the resources a Peninsulan will need to get started in the fast-growing sport. (Page 52) You’ll find all this and more in our September issue—let’s make the most of this sunny season while it’s still in full swing! Andrea Gemmet andrea@punchmonthly.com {editor’s note} known holidays. (Remember It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown?) Finding out how a man devoted to documenting Bay Area history formed such a prolific partnership with Charles Schultz, jazz musician Vince Guaraldi and animator Bill Melendez, one that resulted in dozens of Peanuts specials, reminded me of why I love being a journalist. The world is full of things that are easy to overlook but, given the chance to dig a little deeper, there are great stories waiting to be unearthed. When I interviewed Sean and Jason, two of Lee’s four children, they overflowed with stories about Peanuts’ jazzy soundtracks, their father’s legacy and a fairly normal childhood (despite occasionally hearing their own voices on TV). They had more delightful anecdotes than I could fit into my story in this month’s issue of PUNCH. I knew that Charlie Brown specials used real kids to do the voices, but had no idea that there’s one adult who can be heard in all of them: Emmywinning animator Bill, born José Cuauhtémoc Melendez in Sonora, Mexico, who played both Snoopy and Woodstock. “So Woodstock and Snoopy are Mexican-American! My dad loved saying this to people,” recalls Jason. I love the story of Lee sitting across from Paul McCartney at a pre-Oscars dinner where Vince Guaraldi’s A Boy Called Charlie Brown was up against The Beatles’ Let It Be for 1971’s best original score. “My dad was having some friendly conversation with Paul McCartney and—according to my father— he said, ‘We’ll never beat these Peanuts guys,’” recounts Sean. Sir Paul was wrong, of course, but coming away with a great anecdote like that is almost as good as taking home an Academy Award. (Page 100) As a kid who grew up watching Wonder Woman and Bugs Bunny cartoons on Saturday mornings, it didn’t occur to me to ask how a comic strip makes the leap to animation. It’s safe to say that the path Peanuts took from newsprint to TV wasn’t typical. In fact, it was downright unlikely. Lee Mendelson was a documentary filmmaker—not an obvious choice as the person who talked a legendary cartoonist into committing Charlie Brown and company to the small screen. And yet, those animated specials were born at Lee’s film production company in Burlingame. Over the past six decades, Peanuts has provided a classic Christmas soundtrack, introduced the Great Pumpkin and educated kids about lesser-

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18 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {sloane citron} It got me realizing that there really wasn’t much of a difference in experience between large corporate-owned stores and Amazon anymore. The advantage of the store is that you can see a product and take it home with you. Amazon’s advantage—which seems to give it an insurmountable lead over, well, everyone—is its ability to deliver your goods the next day from an endless selection at an unbeatable price. Once you are home from your soulless, human-free day out, there is little conversation with your family because they are absorbed by their phones or iPads. And instead of calling someone on the phone to see how they’re doing—and to hear the emotions and nuances in their voices—we text them or maybe email or WhatsApp them. One can literally go through a full day—out and about and “communicating” with others—with no meaningful human interaction. I think we underestimate how much is lost when we eliminate the conversations—even the small ones—in our day. Just saying, “Hello, how are you?” or “How’s your day been?” brings a touch of humanity to us all. Soulless. That’s where we are and we’re diving in deeper with AI, which will only make matters worse. Even with my introverted personality, I am trying to engage just about every human I encounter. My friend Dan showed me the way. Ask a waiter about themself; ask the postman about his routes; open doors for everyone; help an older person or a young mother navigate their way. Fight it and don’t give in. Don’t let the soullessness being foisted upon us turn you into a soulless person. Make local bookstores, mom-and-pop restaurants and independent hardware stores your destinations. And while you’re there, make sure to ask everyone how their day is going. I watch as the world moves forward, and I’m not impressed. Those of us alive today seem destined to accept that which is put in front of us, without the ability to change much. The untouchable corporate and internet world dominates most of what we buy, watch and read. No longer are there many alternatives, places we can give our business and where we might find an owner who would actually take the time and care to serve us. Along the way, I’ve come to believe that we are part of a growing, unrelentingly soulless society. I looked up the definition of “soulless” and it said, “the lack of human feelings and qualities,” and that is indeed how we now live much of our lives, reduced to dealing with computers at every stage of our day, with little opportunity to be heard or to live differently. Because machines are so capable today, it is far easier and cheaper for the companies that dominate our lives to make us live in a world without human contact. If you have an issue with Google, Amazon, Netflix or Facebook, go ahead and try to find a human to help you. It’s possible to go through a whole day and never have a conversation with another person. That doesn’t sound good and it’s certainly not a recipe for a healthy and fulfilling life. Yesterday, I had to go to Ikea, my least favorite store, to buy a shelving unit that holds metal baskets. We use them in our playroom so that the plethora of toys, games, puzzles, Legos and books can be organized, at least while the nine grandkids (all age six and under) aren’t there. I preplanned my visit so that I could avoid the labyrinth-like layout that defines the store. When I could not find the location of the boxes I needed, I asked an employee who, without a word, pointed to a screen a short distance away where I could look it up myself. I eventually found my box and headed to the shortest line—which was the self-check-out line. I went through it without a word to anyone. From there, I had lunch with a friend at a new, hip Palo Alto restaurant. Though it is rather expensive and high-end, we had to place our order on a screen at the front. A sign pointed to where we would pick up our food when it was ready. If you wanted water, there was a selfserve area for filling a glass. When I realized that we would literally have no human connection, I was a bit flummoxed when the machine gave me the options for a 15-, 18- or 20-percent tip. How about none—does that work for you? After lunch, I headed to Target to look for a 49ers shirt for my grandson Noah’s third birthday. The store was cold and lifeless. There was no music, nothing cheerful, nothing to make my experience enjoyable. I couldn’t find a football jersey (or anyone to ask about it) but there was a nice one for the Giants, so I walked to the front, where the self-check-out line beckoned. Again, I was in and out of the store without any interaction with a human. These stores are all competing for their lives with Amazon, that great killer of everything dear—a monolith that our government has allowed to grow unchecked, destroying everything in its wake, from bookstores and toy stores to pharmacies and delivery companies. soulless

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PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 21 SEPTEMBER 2025 + 30 DAYS + SUMMER’S END + OUR 86TH ISSUE {quickpunch} Start Up + The 49ers season opener is at Levi’s Stadium on September 7. + The leaves they are a-changin’ as autumn begins on September 22. + Golf’s favorite event, the Ryder Cup—US vs. Europe—starts on September 23. + Don’t miss the SF Giants’ final 2025 game on Sunday, September 28. Venture Out + MAKE merry at the Mountain View Art and Wine Festival with handmade items, music from The Houserockers and a huge collaborative art project, September 6 and 7. + FIND your muse at the Portola Valley Arts Fest where artists, musicians, writers and performers rally around a fair celebrating all things creative on September 13. + RAISE a glass to the Coastside’s best purveyors and producers at Taste of Half Moon Bay, an ocean-to-table dinner along the coastal cliffs at The Ritz-Carlton on September 19. September might be the most anticipated month of the year. Fall is approaching, when leaves turn beautiful colors, the temperature starts dropping and the days grow shorter. The kids are safely ensconced in school and life is more predictable. Our favorite holidays are on the horizon, and the stores are full of Halloween paraphernalia with the smell of candles filling the air. And, of course, football is upon us, and we can root for our favorite teams (Go 49ers!) while the baseball season reaches the playoffs. Yes, September brings us the thrill of anticipation—a little like being 18 and walking into your first college party. Make every day count and enjoy the season! “It was September, and there was a crackly feeling to the air.” —CAROLYN PARKHURST welcome back

22 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {quickpunch} Meat Eater by Steven Rinella—Wonderfully written book that explores hunting, nature and survival through the author’s personal stories. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho—An Andalusian shepherd boy sets out on a quest for treasure and wisdom. An uplifting classic. Standart—Delves into the fascinating world of coffee culture, delivering inspiring literary journeys for coffee lovers—standartmag.com WHO KNEW? The town of Pescadero, which means “fishmonger” in Spanish, was given its name to reflect the area’s early identity and natural resources. By the 1860s, settlers began establishing homesteads, farms and businesses, and Pescadero became an important waypoint for travelers along the stagecoach route between Santa Cruz and San Francisco. The winding coastal road soon became a favorite ambush spot for stagecoach robbers and over the years, large amounts of gold, payrolls and other valuables disappeared into the redwoods and were gone forever. Well Read Unscramble T E H SNFNLITOET EOUHS Finally, some half-baked advice: Don’t yell at your kids. Lean in close and whisper; it’s much scarier. Carpe Diem + HONE your survival skills with Adventure Out’s roster of wilderness preparedness courses ranging from fire-making and backpacking to trap-making and Immersion Overnights deep in the redwoods. It also offers a winter survival and snow cave-building course at Donner Pass. Seeking something a little less survival-focused? The Pacifica-based program extends to surf camps, mountain biking and rock climbing. + HEAD on down to the Swinging Door, a classic pub in San Mateo once frequented by bandleader Harry James and crooner Bing Crosby. Come for the beer and burgers, stay for the entertainment. With weekly karaoke, dueling pianos, trivia and comedy nights, there’s a little something for everyone. Dash to Dine + HORSEFEATHER—Relaxed neighborhood restaurant with ‘60s vibes offering inventive cocktails and an eclectic menu of New American dishes—Town & Country, 855 El Camino, Palo Alto + BISTRO ARANCINI—Cozy, charming spot for authentic Italian flavors and modern culinary flair. Great service and menu—1219 Broadway Avenue, Burlingame + BUBBELAH—Modern Israeli and American Jewish fare in a bright, cheerful atmosphere. Try the falafel!— Springline, 1300 El Camino Real, Menlo Park

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24 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {quickpunch} What was your first flying experience? On my father’s two-seater plane, doing acrobatic maneuvers. That’s when my love affair with flying began. How did you approach your job as a flight attendant for Philippine Airlines? I learned early on to treat every passenger who boarded my flights as a guest in my home. Did you have any stressful situations while working? On a DC3 flight, heavy turbulence caused by a big altitude drop caused the rear baggage compartment’s cover to open. Roosters in cages got out and flew around the cabin. Chasing after them was quite an undertaking! What does travel mean to you? It’s a classroom without walls. Which unfamiliar foods have you eaten on your travels? A piece of alligator (which tasted like chicken), cockroach (ugh!), snake and snails. What was one of your most memorable flights? On a flight originating from a city of mostly native tribal groups, two fierce warriors in full regala carried on their kris swords. I asked the pilots to help and was advised (with amusement) that their swords were a sign of authority and would not be surrendered to this newbie flight attendant. I sat the warriors down right in front of my seat where I could have my eyes glued to them the whole flight. THE Q & A MARYLES CASTO How did this stand-off conclude? Just before landing, it was part of our service to pass around a tray of candies. My two gold-toothed warriors considered it a gift and smiled. It was a happy ending. Can you share an important life lesson? Whether you choose to stay the course or try a different path, anywhere you go, your strength, abilities and talents go with you. Tell us about one of your more adventurous travels. Paddling down the Sepik River in New Guinea in dugout canoes to reach Karawari Lodge. The canoes were very uncomfortable—the seats were directly on each crossbeam—but the river also had many villages where we could stop. We chose it because it was remote, still undiscovered and we could experience its various ethnic groups and their traditions. What’s your favorite souvenir from that Sepik River trip? It’s more of a treasure. It’s the mask that a medicine man from a headhunting tribe was wearing. He fancied my old sneakers and a barter was reached. What have you been watching lately? The Americas, a nature series narrated by Tom Hanks. It’s an incredible journey, exploring the creatures and ecosystems from North to South America, with unbelievable footage of snowy mountains, wildlife, tropical rain forests and the oceans. The former flight attendant, Filoli board member and founder of Casto Travel agency shares her favorite moments and biggest lessons from a lifetime in the air.

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MUSIC seaside sax words by JOHANNA HARLOW PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 27 {punchline} PENINSULA CULTURE

28 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} At a beachside venue in Half Moon Bay, a jazz quartet is getting into the groove. The bandleader, a vibraphonist named Jalen Baker, wields his mallets in ways that require quite a lot of core strength. The bassist bobs and bends, the pianist plunges into a rousing riff and the drummer builds into cymbal-crashing crescendos. It’s a good day to be at the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society. “I love places like SF Jazz … I give them a lot of credit, but it’s not my favorite place to go hear jazz. I’d rather be here,” says Barbara Douglas Riching. In addition to her role as artistic director and president, she’s also the daughter of the Bach’s fiery and free-spirited founder, Prentice “Pete” Douglas. You need only attend a show at this 200-seat venue to sense as a San Mateo County probation officer. “More beatnik than beat cop, Pete didn’t conform with correctional life,” reports The Mercury News on Pete’s life. “He wrecked his county-issued Chevrolet—and cracked gum in court. He was most comfortable wearing a Mediterranean fisherman’s cap and smoking a pipe.” The siren song of the sea drew Pete to Half Moon Bay, where he bought a ramshackle beer joint and transformed it into a beach house—a lively one where he regularly hosted parties and jam sessions. On one memorable day, Pete and a few friends were hanging out when visitors popped in to show off some newly acquired dynamite, suggesting they blow it up on the beach. Pete and his pals opted to swing dance to Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos instead, the drama of the music heightened by the subsequent thundering BOOM outside. When Pete opened an official music venue in his home the following year, he had its name all ready to go. the palpable intimacy and authenticity of this place. “My dad felt very strongly that jazz was like chamber music—and it should be presented that way, in a very intimate situation. I totally agree,” says Barbara. “People feel like they’re a part of one organism in this room. It feels like we’re all really connected.” The greats have flocked here since its opening in 1964, with Etta James, Bobby Hutcherson, Bill Evans, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie taking the stage. BEGINNING WITH A BANG At 17, Pete snuck into his first bar and encountered Southern California’s spirited jazz scene. The contagious music of swing, bebop and West Coast jazz caught hold of his soul and never let go. Later in life, Pete took a gig PHOTO: JOHANNA HARLOW ABOVE: Barbara Douglas Riching stands beside photos of Bill Evans and Carmen McRae in Half Moon Bay.

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30 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM FOR PETE’S SAKE Having the Bach’s early concerts (along with wedding venue rentals) take over your living room was less whimsical than you might think. “In the ‘60s, when people had weddings, it was a big rock band and people slopping red wine all over the place,” Barbara says. She and her sisters would sneak upstairs to swipe food—and sometimes a little booze as they grew older. “But yeah, we hated it.” As word spread, Pete expanded to keep up with the growing demand, adding a dedicated performance space and oceanside deck. But that {punchline} ABOVE: (clockwise from left) Pete Douglas poses on the steps of the Bach with his favorite pipe and Portugese fisherman’s cap, which earned him the nickname Popeye from Etta James; A view of the Jalen Baker Quartet from the mezzanine; Barbara’s mother and older sister Linda around 1960. taker. Tim became Monterey Jazz Festival’s artistic director and founder of the beloved Kuumbwa Jazz Center in Santa Cruz. TUNEFUL TALES Barbara’s gaze grows distant as she journeys down musical memory lane. She resurfaces to recount tales from her time collecting tickets as a teen. “It would get so crowded that the door couldn’t open anymore,” she reminisces. “I would stand on my stool back there and watch the music.” One favorite performance from this time was with Michel Petrucciani, a pianist who suffered from brittle bone disease. “They literally carried him onto the stage,” Barbara recalls. But there was nothing stunted about the nimble didn’t change his opendoor policy. Pete had a tendency to bring home stragglers of all stripes, at all hours. Breakfast in the Douglas household often meant a hitchhiker, starving artist or wayward teen would wander in mid-meal. One of those angsty adolescents, Pat Britt, had Pete as his probation officer. Upon seeing the kid’s saxophone, Pete invited him back to the house to play. Music would become a lifelong career for Pat. It wasn’t the only time Pete left a lasting impression. He permitted Tim Jackson, a flute-playing surfer and Volkswagen vagabond, to sleep in the concert hall while working as a janitor and ticketHISTORIC PHTOGRAPHY: BRIAN MCMILLEN / BARBARA DOUGLAS RICHING / MUSICIAN PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHANNA HARLOW {punchline}

32 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} way that man tickled the ivories. “He just blew me away … After a couple songs, I ran downstairs and got my boyfriend. I’m like, ‘You’ve got to get up here!’” At 85, Pete took his final bow. “For some weird reason, we thought my dad would live forever,” Barbara reflects. Taking up that mantle was no easy feat. “It’s not like my dad ever taught us anything about the business,” notes the director. That said, she was up for the challenge. “The booking came naturally to me,” she shares. “I was exposed to it my whole life. I know all the local jazz musicians.” Thanks to her background as a CFO, businesssavvy Barbara also gave the Bach much-needed structure, a ticketing system and a membership program. “My dad … that was not his thing,” she chuckles. FOR A SONG What is it about jazz that wins us over? For Barbara, a big part of it is the improvisation. “You really never know what’s gonna happen … It just moves me.” There’s also a riveting dialogue that happens between the instruments. “The musicians work together,” Barbara describes. “You kind of learn how they all trade off.” Of all the subgenres, her soft spot is “post-bop and instrumental jazz such as John Coltrane.” Wryly, Barbara notes, “A lot of people might call it headache jazz. I love it when you’ve got a sax player and they just solo for five minutes. It’s heaven to me.” The show has ended. The muall that jazz bachddsoc.org sicians and audience have gone. And only the director remains. A hush has fallen over the auditorium. But the Bach is just catching its breath—biding its time before again raising its voice in another joyful performance. “One of the greatest things my dad gave me is the exposure to different people and musicians and all the patrons who came here,” Barbara reflects in this quiet moment. “My dad taught us how to listen to the music.” PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTSEY OF JIM BOURNE / BACH DYNAMITE & DANCING SOCIETY / MUSICIAN PHOTOGRAPHY: BRIAN MCMILLEN ABOVE: (right) The Betty Carter Trio jams at the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society.

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36 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} PERFECT SHOT salty scenery Ted Simon’s aerial image of a salt pond’s livid hue casts the perimeter of the Bay in an otherworldly light. Tiny microbes that thrive in the briny brew are responsible for the color—the saltier it is, the redder it gets. Ted, a local historian raised in Belmont, has been on a years-long mission to document the area’s transformation through his photos and interviews with locals. Image by Ted Simon / tjsimon@pacbell.net

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. Iwas named for the heroine of the classic children’s book, and while I may lack my namesake’s prodigiousness, my lively spirit more than makes up for it. I’m Mathilda, a four-year-old bernadoodle (half Bernese mountain dog, half poodle) born at Swiss Ridge Kennels in Ontario. Because the U.S.- Canada border was closed during the pandemic, my journey to Menlo Park was complicated. I was driven mathilda DIARY OF A DOG as told to MARGARET KOENIG • photography by ROBB MOST to the border and met by a “puppy nanny” who spent the night with me in Buffalo, New York, before flying to SFO. Robin, who had been kept informed of every detail of my journey, met us at the airport. We were equally excited to finally meet each other! My life with Robin in Menlo Park can be summed up as snooping, socializing and spinning. My favorite activity is sitting high on a hill where I can watch over the world (and spy on everyone I see). I love to meet and play with humans and dogs alike. There’s a transitional home for young adults up the street, and when I meet them on walks, I freely bestow my kisses and affections. I’m equally excited to interact with fellow dogs. The neighborhood knows me for my pirouettes, when I throw myself into the air in greeting. My energetic nature has occasionally led me into trouble. I failed a Canine Good Citizens class after launching myself at the examiner and, in Robin’s words, “going ballistic” on a rescue dog that had been brought in to test everyone. They promised I could try again when I’m older. Until then? I’ll be right here, keeping an eye on everyone and happily twirling.

Gloria Young Lic. #01895672 +1 650.380.9918 Gloria@YoungPlatinumGroup.com YoungPlatinumGroup.com John Young Lic. #02036387 +1 650.862.2122 John@YoungPlatinumGroup.com YoungPlatinumGroup.com © 2025 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. Equal Housing Opportunity. YoungPlatinumGroup.com Sleek & Spacious Prime Palo Alto YOUNG PLATINUM GROUP Y 1730 Webster Street, Palo Alto 5 Bedrooms | 5 Bathrooms ±5,521 Sq. Ft. | ±10,000 Sq. Ft. Lot Offered at $12,388,000 1730Webster.com

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PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 41 GETAWAY picturesque paso robles {due west} words by JOHANNA HARLOW TRAVEL & WELLNESS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: ALLEGRETTO VINEYARD RESORT

42 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: TRAVEL PASO / BRITTANY APP The private Summit Tasting at Alta Colina Vineyard is about as far as you can get from an opulent room where sommeliers soliloquize over the latest lofty vintages. When I reach this hidden gem in rural Paso Robles, I hop in a truck with Maggie Tillman (and Honey, a German shepherd) for a tour of her family’s winery, learning about vine-training methods and crop killers like the dreaded leafhopper as we rumble {due west} along dirt backroads. When we reach the heart of the 130-acre property, we drink the fruits of all this labor on a deck under the shade of an old oak. Not another soul around. Just us and rows of grenache and Syrah, rolling over the surrounding hills in undulating waves of green. Better watch your throne, Napa. More and more wineries are putting down roots in Paso Robles, which has flourished from fewer than 20 to over 200 in the past several decades. And for good reason. Pairing diverse soil types and topography with the microclimates that result from the region’s hilly terrain, this area is great for grapes. Sixty varietals of grapes, as a matter of fact. Paired with small-town charm and ample activities, this destination is a sweet respite from traffic and overpriced tastings. CABERNET KINGDOM In Paso, cab is king. Best known for its cabernet sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends, the region is also home to historic zinfandel vines. The seemingly endless number of wineries range from widely-recognized names like J. Lohr and DAOU to mom-and-pop gems—some in a warren of warehouses known as Tin City. You’ll also find one-of-a-kind outings like the Bocce & Bottles experience at Booker Wines or Land Rover tours at Halter Ranch’s Estate (which also claims the world’s only fly-in vineyard).

*Per RealTrends, 2025 Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Numbers 01527235, 01527365, 01991628. 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. Coastal Estates for the Legacy Makers 5 Bed | 6 Bath | 8,855 Sq Ft | 6.5 Acres | $14,500,000 | 31453HighwayOne.com 31453 Highway 1, Carmel Highlands 4 Bed | 6 Bath | 6,923 Sq Ft | 6 Acres | $9,000,000 31475HighwayOne.com 31475 Highway 1, Carmel Highlands 3 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 3,135 Sq Ft | .63 Acres | $4,475,000 226HighwayOne.com 226 Highway 1, Carmel Highlands #1 Compass Agent in Monterey County* REALTOR® | DRE 01916757 | 831.238.7420 | jonathanspencerproperties.com

44 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: SCULPTERRA / TRAVEL PASO My favorite glass of wine comes from a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it tasting room. You’ll find Hoyt Family Vineyards’ storefront tucked between a western-wear boutique and an art gallery on the edge of downtown. For only 20 bucks a tasting, you’ll sip floral viognier (a Sunset International Wine Competition gold winner) and fruit-forward petit verdot (a double gold winner at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition). MEAL TIME Paso won’t let you drink on an empty stomach. There are plenty of delectable dining offerings for helping pace the pinot. Take The Hatch, a brick-lined haunt with home-style meals and the hearty portions to prove it. The succulent rotisserie chicken, which the Michelin Guide commends as giving “an expensive steak a run for its money,” is best accompanied by a piping hot skillet of cornbread that’s soft on the inside with a caramelized crunch on the outside. For a magical meal in a space festooned in plants, check out Sculpterra Winery and Sculpture Garden is a must. After your tasting, wander the grounds to admire the craftsmanship of the property’s resident artists, ranging from a baroque awning by blacksmith Robert Bentley to the ethereal and gravitydefying sculptures of Dale Evers. You’ll also want to gaze a while at the wild and sinewy creatures by bronze worker John Jagger, which are so alive with movement you almost expect them to pounce. {due west} A little overwhelmed by the overflow of winery options? Be sure to check out pasowine.com/wineries and click on categories like family-friendly, vast views, highly-acclaimed and off the beaten path. Or attend the Garagiste Wine Festival in November to meet a plethora of winemakers all in one place.

46 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM discover the town’s largest selection of tequila, affordable reposado and a killer slow-braised beef short rib in salsa verde over jalapeño mashed potatoes. AFTERNOON ADVENTURES Seeking a midday indulgence? Consider Sweet Escapes, a bakery … with three escape rooms. Praised by aficionados for its strong storytelling and attention to detail, this place has no bad options. So take your pick: spooky maritime quest involving a crazed sea captain, eerie bakerythemed mystery or mischievous academia-themed heist to steal the school mascot. When you emerge victorious, reward yourself with an exceptional brioche roll or blackberry tartlet. If you want the dessert without the drama, order a sweet scoop of “crazy cookie,” strawberry-basil or peanut butter-chip ice cream made of sheep’s milk at Negranti Creamery. Seeking other ways to cool off? Make a splash at Ravine Waterpark and snake your way down slides with names like the Sidewinder and Anaconda. HOTEL HAVEN Before heading out to your evening activities, check into your hotel. For an intimate venue on the edge of downtown, the Hotel Cheval’s 16 rooms are arranged around a central courtyard with European sensibilities. Your sweet tooth is well taken care of here, with a self-serve candy bar in the library and a s’mores butler who will toast marshmallows by the fire PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: TRAVEL PASO / SARAH KATHLEEN / TRAVEL PASO {due west} The Alchemists’ Garden. Let their mixologists concoct the perfect cocktail to go with your chimichurri skirt steak and fries with fondue. And don’t leave without ordering the duck chalupas, each bite a satisfying combo of crunchy slaw, melt-in-your-mouth meat, decadent aioli and soft pita bread. For a vacation within your vacation, escape to the tropics with Cane Tiki Room’s Spam musubi and chicken teriyaki bowls. Or visit Mexico with a meal at Fish Gaucho, where you’ll

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48 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM hilly haven travelpaso.com {due west} at your behest. On the opposite extreme is the 20-acre Allegretto Vineyard Resort. Graced with grand Tuscanstyle architecture, vineyards and even a bell tower, this venue has surged in popularity since its use as a filming location in season 6 of the TV drama This is Us. Take the hotel’s canary-yellow bikes for a spin, rent a cabana by the pool, visit the Spa Allegretto for a Swedish massage or visit the garden’s labyrinths and meditation stations for some spiritual solace. A guided art tour on Fridays and Saturdays will introduce you to the owner’s ing hills. A colossal field of glowing flowers will have you thinking you’ve tumbled into an after-dark version of Alice in Wonderland—an impression only furthered by a forest of glowing mushroom-like structures that pulse with unearthly music. Further along, wander through a small city of sculptures with geometric cutouts that cast a spiderweb of shadowy patterns across the ground. Before you turn in, visit Downtown City Park where hundreds of lights have been strung from the boughs of its trees. As you stroll, the evening breeze sends the bulbs swaying like stars at sea. Pleasant dreams, Paso Robles. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: GREG HADEL - ALLEGRETTO VINEYARD RESORT / CHRISTOPHER PETRO / JEREMY BALL vast collection, many with ties to different faiths. AFTER DARK For a so-called sleepy town, Paso Robles offers quite a lot to do when the sun goes down. Discover the pulse of its thriving music scene at intimate venues like The Pour House and California Coast Beer Company or take in a show surrounded by oaks at the Vina Robles Amphitheatre. Brighten your world with Sensorio’s surreal light show, a futuristic LED oasis installed in the rural, roll-

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52 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} The distinctive pop of a pickleball as it hits the paddle has become an increasingly prevalent sound nationwide—including on the Peninsula. First invented in 1965, pickleball has become widely popular. Today, it’s become known as America’s fastest growing sport. Tempted to give it a try but unsure where to start? We’ve got you! Think of this as Pickleball 101 for Peninsulans. PICKLEBALL paddles up words by MARGARET KOENIG WHAT IS PICKLEBALL? Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of pingpong, tennis and badminton. It’s played by either singles or doubles teams on a badmintonsized court using paddles and a hollow, perforated plastic ball. Though similar to tennis, pickleball is generally considered easier to learn, making it a more accessible kind of racquet sport. “Beginners can feel accomplished in a very short time,” says Monica Williams, co-founder and former president of the Palo Alto Pickleball Club, one of the foremost pickleball organizations on the Peninsula. “I give an enormous amount of complimentary beginner lessons and can have them playing within an hour. That is very appealing to beginners.” GEARING UP Another part of the appeal is that it requires very little equipment to start—all you’ll need is a paddle, a few balls and a place to play. Pickleball paddles come in a range of shapes and sizes, with each style offering its own benefits. Wooden paddles are a popular choice for beginners due to their affordability and durability, but graphite and composite paddles can offer more maneuverability and control, making

1661 UNIVERSITY AVE, PALO ALTO 4 BEDS | 4 BATHS | 2 HALF BATHS | 4,527 SF LIVING | 15,000 SF LOT Nestled on a gorgeous and private lot in one of Palo Alto’s most coveted neighborhoods, this luxurious Crescent Park home offers exceptional design, impeccable craftsmanship, and resort-like living. A spectacular great room boasts beamed & vaulted ceilings, 10 skylights, a stunning fireplace, and a Chef’s kitchen with all the bells and whistles. Formal rooms include an elegant dining room and a handsome living room with coved ceiling and fireplace. The primary bedroom suite wows with vaulted high ceilings, double doors to the central courtyard with fire pit, and custom metal barn doors to the beautiful spa-like bathroom and grand walk-in closet. The first floor also holds a second en suite bedroom and an elegant half bath. The second floor has two generous carpeted bedrooms and two bathrooms; one bedroom is en suite with two walk-in closets. The large professionally landscaped lot is both peaceful and exhilarating, offering multiple spaces for outdoor activities such as a custom regulation-size bocce court, pool and hot tub with waterfall and a wonderful Ipe lounging deck, and outdoor kitchen and al fresco dining in the incredible pavilion that includes a fireplace, radiant heat, TV and half bath. Additional features include a mudroom, a fabulous laundry room, a charming breakfast nook with built-ins, and an oversized 2-car attached garage. A stellar location close to vibrant downtown and Stanford University, and exceptional public schools (Duveneck Elementary, Greene Middle, Palo Alto High) complete the appeal of this magnificent gem. brianchancellor.com | 650.303.5511 brianc@sereno.com | DRE 01174998 The information contained herein has been obtained from third party sources deemed reliable but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno has not and will not verify the information and assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. Buyer should verify and investigate all information to Buyer’s satisfaction. If your home is currently listed with another agent, please disregard this marketing material. 1661UNIVERSITY.COM SERENO OFFERED AT $8,395,000 | 1661UNIVERSITY.COM | BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

54 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} When choosing a paddle, Monica advises beginners not to buy one “until you’ve had a chance to try a few different paddles and you find one that feels just right for you.” WHERE TO PLAY From public courts to private clubs, there’s no shortage of places to play pickleball on the Peninsula. Mitchell Park in Palo Alto is regarded as one of the best public facilities, offering designated courts for beginners and singles. In Redwood City, drop-in outdoor courts can be found at Red Morton, Andrew Spinas, Marlin and Mezes parks; Red Morton Community Center also has several indoor courts. At Nealon and Kelly parks in Menlo Park, pickleball courts can be reserved online, as can Alexander and Hallmark parks’ courts in Belmont. San Mateo also offers plenty of places to play, both indoor and outdoor. Central Park has six dedicated pickleball courts, while Bayside/Joinville Park and Los Prados both have dual-use MITCHELL PARK PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: MONICA WILLIAMS them a more suitable choice for intermediate and advanced players. Paddles also come in three different sizes: standard, the most common type; elongated paddles, for athletes seeking greater reach and control; and wide-body paddles, the easiest type for beginners to use. Local tennis shops on the Peninsula like Tennis Town & Country in Palo Alto, Tennis Station in Burlingame and Swetka’s Tennis Shop in Mountain View all offer a broad range of high-quality paddles for players of all skill levels. Not confident about which paddle to purchase? Tennis Town & Country and Tennis Station both allow you to “demo,” so you can try out a paddle to make sure you’ve found the perfect fit. All three stores also sell balls, shoes and any other equipment you might need.

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