SPIRIT OF THE PENINSULA SPRING 26 Adobe Redo Historic Challenge Carmel Valley Countryside Charm Wildlife Hikes Spring Adventures Brains, Barns and Stanford’s Very Own Farm The Diekmans’ Art, Straight from the Heart PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM abloomin’
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10 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} Peninsula Culture 25 The Quiet Collectors 36 The Survivor 40 Perfect Shot 42 Diary of a Dog: Boo Bear {due west} Travel & Wellness 45 Countryside Carmel Valley 56 Walk on the Wild Side IN EVERY ISSUE 14 Editor’s Note 16 Sloane Citron 19 QuickPUNCH PHOTOGRAPHY: PAULETTE PHLIPOT / COURTESY OF: YE RIN MOK / 1504 - HOLMAN RANCH / RICK MORRIS {food coloring} Eats, Drinks & Scoops 63 Cabin Cuisine 68 Ruling the Roost 74 The Beat on Your Eats {home & design} Style and Substance 77 Artful Adobe 84 Building Boldly {punchout} Features 122 The Farm’s Farm {landmark} 130 The Dead’s Debut {spring 26} contents 77 68 45 56
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12 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM “Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future.” —NIELS BOHR FOUNDER/PUBLISHER Sloane Citron EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Johanna Harlow CREATIVE DIRECTOR Britt Johnston EDITORS EMERITI Sheri Baer Andrea Gemmet COPY EDITOR Carrie Lightner PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTORS Annie Barnett Paulette Phlipot PHOTOGRAPHERS Gino De Grandis Katya Mizrahi Robb Most Robert David Siegel WRI TERS Jennifer Jory Loureen Murphy Sheryl Nonnenberg ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Georgina Fox PUBLISHING CONSULTANT Sally Randall CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR Airiel Mulvaney 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: 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 ©2026 by 36 Media, LLC Members Sloane Citron, David Arfin hello@punchmonthly.com punchmagazine.com PUNCH® is a registered trademark of 36 Media, LLC
AlysGraceMP alysgracebayarea A L Y S G R A C E . C O M MENLO PARK 899B SANTA CRUZ AVE SAN FRANCISCO 3490 SACRAMENTO ST LOS ALTOS 208 MAIN ST SAN RAMON 6000 BOLLINGER CANYON RD ALEXA LEIGH ALIX OF BOHEMIA AMO DENIM APIECE APART APOTHEKE ASKKNY ATM AUTUMN CASHMERE B. BELTS CHAN LUU CIRCOLO 1901 CLARE V. COCOA CASHMERE LONDON COSABELLA FRAME FRANK & EILEEN HARRIS WHARF LONDON ILLESTEVA JAO BRAND KAI FRAGRANCE KUTJEN LOEFFLER RANDALL M.A.B.E. MANSUR GAVRIEL MICHAEL STARS MOTHER MOUSSY NEST FRAGRANCES NILI LOTAN ONCEPT ONE GREY DAY REPEAT CASHMERE RIDDLE OIL ROYAL NOMAD SAINT ART SAVE THE DUCK THE GREAT THE SHIRT TROVATA TWP ULLA JOHNSON URBAN APOTHECARY VELVET WHITE + WARREN XIRENA
14 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM who reject the idea of storing away their extraordinary collection, but instead set it free around their home. (Page 25) You’ll also step into the kitchen with chef Jared Wentworth of Café Vivant who is highlighting heritage breed chicken, a far cry from the mild-mannered meat we’ve come to associate with this bird. (Page 68) Hop from table to farm as we head to Stanford’s O’Donohue Family Educational Farm to meet director Patrick Archie. He’ll dig into what makes for a thriving farm and how it’s been fertile ground for the community. (Page 122) You’ll find another hub at a historic home in Atherton. Learn how the owners of the place that once hosted the first Menlo Circus Club intend to restore the property to its former glory. (Page 36) Speaking of renovations, we’ll also regale you with Fergus Garber Architects’ herculean task to preserve the soul of an artful adobe while also ushering it into the 21st century. (Page 77) All this and more awaits you in PUNCH’s inaugural quarterly Spring issue. With that, I’ll return backstage and leave you in excellent company, Johanna Harlow johanna@punchmonthly.com {editor’s note} moments that speak to who they are today. The trials they’ve overcome. The triumphs they’ve celebrated. The lessons they’ve learned. I try to see the items on their shelves and the books on their coffee tables as clues to who they are and what matters to them. Of course, no complex human can be condensed into a thousand words. But if I do my job well, you’ll leave with a tantalizing taste of this person— perhaps even a gold nugget of wisdom to inspire your own journey. Still, I owe you a tidbit or two about myself. I grew up in San Jose and, during my younger years, had only a passing knowledge of the Peninsula. PUNCH changed that. After more than 150 stories for this magazine and moving to Menlo Park, I’ve fallen deeply in love with this region and its countless gems. I can tell you which neighborhoods began as sprawling estates, what hikes are best for encountering wildlife (Page 56) and what the deal is with that strange statue you pass on your way to work every day. Looking for local art studios, bonsai clubs, fencing groups or equestrian hubs? I’ve got you covered. I can even point you to the mansion where they filmed Little Lord Fauntleroy and Flubber. Alright, enough about me. Let’s turn our attention back to the Peninsula people shaping this community. Like art patrons, John and Sue Diekman, G reetings readers, I’m Johanna Harlow, the new editorial director at PUNCH! I’ll admit that writing this editor’s note feels a little like I’m back at my first piano recital at the age of 12. For the past four years, I’ve been lurking around the pages of PUNCH as the senior editor, contentedly hiding behind my byline. I’m far more accustomed to working behind the curtain than standing out front. As a journalist for PUNCH— and previously for Content Magazine, Silicon Valley Business Journal, The Six Fifty and other publications—it’s typically my job to recede into the background while I shine the spotlight on someone inspiring. I love delving into a person’s past and finding those pivotal PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: MARIETTA ASEMWOTA
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16 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {sloane citron} for things with the “wrong” arm. Historically, being lefthanded came with challenges, but there’s also a belief that lefties are more creative and verbally inclined. As I watch how handedness has flowed through my family, I see my father’s genes at work. I hadn’t given it much thought until, suddenly, three of my grandchildren were holding their, not Scotch, but juice boxes, in their left hands. Two are clearly left-handed, and one is entirely ambidextrous. Three out of seven so far, with two infants still too young to show a preference. Roughly 40 percent. When I’m with these children—which is often—I feel a quiet joy watching their lefthandedness. Early on, I came to believe that one of my most important jobs in this world was to build a large family and carry my heritage forward from my parents to my grandchildren. Seeing these kids confidently use their left hands—including one five-year-old who insists on pink, left-handed golf clubs—and knowing I was the conduit for these genes, passed down from a man who narrowly escaped the Holocaust to these thriving children of today, I know I’ve done my job. I miss my father. As he aged, we grew close, and I cherished the love and care we shared toward the end of his life. One of the loveliest parts of my days now is watching my left-handed grandkids—Evan with the curly hair, Mayer in the middle—being left-handed. When little Mara Citron, age five, swings her left-handed pink driver, I cannot unsee my father—only her swing is a bit better. I can still see old Ralph Citron, settled deep in his large armchair, the oblong wooden coffee table to his left. The television hums in the background as Art Fleming asks the Jeopardy! questions, and my animated father hurriedly blurts out the answers. In his left hand, he holds a Scotch, part water, with several ice cubes clinking together as he shakes the glass, inadvertently punctuating his race against the contestants. My father was, at once, a wonderful and deeply caring orthopedic surgeon—and a rather cold, sometimes frightening parent to his children. He had a brilliant mind, but his own personal history left him emotionally challenged. One of the initial things you might notice about my father had you met him was that he was left-handed. The first time I realized my dad was different was when I began playing golf with him. Though some lefthanders play golf right-handed, many choose to play the hand— literally—dealt to them, using left-handed clubs. Though he was no teacher, it helped me to stand across from him and try to emulate his awkward swing. I am no geneticist, but I have come to believe deeply in the power of our genes to shape who we are—whether it’s the timbre of our voice, the structure of our heart or whether we favor our right or left hand. It is no accident that Christian McCaffrey, our local football legend, became our local football legend. Of course, he worked enormously hard, but as the son of former Stanford and NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and former Stanford soccer player Lisa McCaffrey, his genes gave him a solid head start. Many scientists argue that there is no genetic link to handedness. I suspect they’re wrong. About 10 percent of the population is left-handed. Among my siblings, my sister Shelley received that particular trait—a 33 percent incidence in our family. I’m not left-handed, but I must carry the gene, one that seems to choose unpredictably when and where it will appear. One of the interesting parts of having a family of four children and nine grandchildren (so far) is watching our genes at work. Thirteen living experiments, really, with plenty of other DNA thrown into the mix. It’s fascinating to see how the traits of parents and grandparents weave their way through generations. Take eye color. My dad, my brother, and I all have blue eyes, yet only my oldest son, Josh, inherited them. But with the addition of my children’s spouses, four of the grandchildren now have light or blue eyes—nearly half. Hair tells another story. At least four grandchildren appear to have inherited my wild, curly hair. That number may grow, since my own hair was straight until puberty. Then, at age 15, it suddenly exploded into curls. So, I’m guessing we may end up with a majority of wildly haired grandkids. Of all inherited traits, though, the one I notice most—and the one that gives me the greatest pleasure—is left-handedness. People rarely comment on eye color or height, but they always notice a lefty. Left-handed people stand out as they reach leftover genes
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PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 19 SPRING 2026 + GROWTH & RENEWAL + SUN’S UP + OUR 90TH ISSUE {quickpunch} Happenings + SALUTE the superbloom with Pacifica artist Cara Kozik’s whimsical flowerscapes at M Stark Gallery from February 28 to April 12. + SNEAK a peek into artists’ studios at Silicon Valley Open Studios and meet the Peninsula’s painters, woodworkers, sculptors and more during the first two weekends of May. + FIND the beat at the Stanford Powwow with drumming and dancing competitions, booths and a fun run on May 8-10 at the campus Eucalyptus Grove. The celebration draws members of the Chickasaw, Cherokee and other tribes, many proudly wearing traditional Native American regalia. Ah spring, when love fills the air along with warmer temperatures, more sunlight and new life. Trees are blossoming, birds are returning and the urge to be outside fills us with alacrity and an inner joy. Mornings feel more cheerful, evenings stir with opportunity and even ordinary walks seem newly captivating. It’s a time when life stretches awake—when gardens promise color, our windows open and we look forward. Spring reminds us that change can be gentle, beautiful and full of promise, inviting us to begin again with renewed energy and a grateful heart. “In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” —MARGARET ATWOOD welcome back PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: CARA KOZIK ABOVE: Golden Glow, 2025, acrylic, 24 x 18 inches
20 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {quickpunch} CABIN by Patrick Hutchinson—Well-written, amusing account of the author’s attempts to resurrect an old, off-the-grid cabin in the Pacific Northwest. The Wedding People by Alison Espach—Intending to end her life, a woman checks into a luxury hotel—but soon gets dragged into wedding festivities by a headstrong bride. The English Garden— Gorgeous look at spectacular gardens and landscapes as only the British can achieve— theenglishgarden.co.uk WHO KNEW? In the 1850s, San Mateo’s Central Park began as the private estate of railroad tycoon C. B. Polhemus, before being transformed by Captain William Kohl, who filled the grounds with lush landscaping and exotic trees that still tower over the park today. When the city acquired the 16-acre property in 1922, it became San Mateo County’s very first municipal park—and its role quickly expanded. A baseball field, playground, recreation center and the beloved Japanese tea garden soon followed. Anchored by the iconic stone-and-iron fence along El Camino Real, Central Park has grown into a vibrant gathering place. Well Read Unscramble FOS O LCROT N EWROT Finally, some half-baked advice: If you sleep until lunchtime, you can save your breakfast money. Discoveries + MINCE garlic, not words at a cookbook book club hosted by the San Mateo County Libraries. After testing out recipes at home, the group reconvenes to report back on their kitchen triumphs and tragedies. Join in the culinary conversation at San Carlos Library on second Wednesdays or Atherton Library on second Thursdays. + ROAM among the owl’s clover, fiddlenecks and a wealth of other wildflowers at Byrne Preserve in the Los Altos Hills. When visiting this welcoming open space of grasslands and woodlands, park at the lot by Westwind Community Barn and say hello to some horses before heading out on the trails that run along its luscious green hillsides. Dash to Dine + ROJA—Classic European cuisine with a delightful bustling atmosphere. Tasteful dishes and smiling servers—242 State Street, Los Altos + FIREHOUSE BISTRO—California cuisine with standouts like mussels, clams and seafood risotto—2991 Woodside Road, Woodside + HANABI RAMEN—Small no-fuss mom-and-pop with amazing ramen and a whole host of Japanese dishes. You’ll leave happy—723 California Drive, Burlingame
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22 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {quickpunch} What’s a rare book that you would go out of your way to see? The Gutenberg Bible; the Aldine edition of Vergil (1501). How has your field changed since you first started? The great innovations online: internet catalogues, internet research, dealers’ lists sent via email and the online reference tools that are available. Fabulous collegial scholarship and editing, facilitated by online images and online auctions, open up great buying opportunities. What’s something people are always surprised to learn about you? That I hit in the clean-up spot for the library softball team way back when. What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done? Driving half a block without my seatbelt fastened (and it was a long block, just for the record). What are your proudest professional accomplishments? To have encouraged so many faculty at Stanford to bring their classes to Special Collections, to have interacted with so many faculty and students—and apparently, to have made a difference in the lives of so many professors, students, colleagues, donors and other visitors through our time together. What’s a movie you can watch again and again? Casablanca—I have seen it more than 60 times. What was your dream job when you were a child? To become a veterinarian and to play outfield for the Boston Red Sox. THE Q & A JOHN MUSTAIN Do you have a personal motto? “Esse quam videri,” which means “To be, rather than to seem,” a quote from Cicero. It’s a bit pretentious to call this my personal motto, but it is a sentiment I think on often and try to follow. Do you have a favorite book in Stanford’s collection? I have my top 1,000! Pliny’s Natural History (1469) is one of my all-time favorites, but there are so many other treasures. The 1482 Euclid is stunning, the 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle is as majestic and remarkable a book as was ever made. The first edition of the King James Bible (1611) is humbling in its grandness. The list of favorites happily goes on … more titles supplied upon request! Where did you grow up and what was great about it? I was enormously fortunate to spend my early years in Hull, Massachusetts, a small resort town famed for its amusement park and beaches. The population exploded in the summer, but we were year-round residents, and loved it. What do you collect? Baseball cards and baseball ephemera, baseball books, especially about the Red Sox. My wife is my co-conspirator in collecting postcards and ephemera from Hull, and books in no end of areas. Do you have a favorite childhood memory involving books? I obtained my first library card at age four. I remember checking out a book from the library, reading it and returning to check out another—only to find out that one was “not allowed” to return a book on the same day that it had been checked out! Stanford University’s rare books curator emeritus talks treasured tomes, his outfielder ambitions and cherished childhood memories at the library.
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ARTWORK the quiet collectors words by SHERYL NONNENBERG • photography by KATYA MIZRAHI PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 25 {punchline} PENINSULA CULTURE
26 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} grown to over 100 pieces, each and every one steeped in stories and memories. Although their collection has no specific theme or parameters (post-war American art, for example), the couple has stuck to one important requirement: they both have to like whatever they acquire. How do two people always agree on something as subjective as art? Sue admits, “There is usually someone who sparks first.” She offers the example of a watercolor that she fell in love with, Sentinels of the Goldfields by artist Judy Holding. John admits, “I was not completely sold on it at first,” adding that watercolor has never been his favorite medium. Upon further consideration, he realized that the landscape of the Australian Outback would be a good reminder of their travels. “We think of those wonderful trips every time we pass it in the hallway,” says Sue. This is the glue, the foundation, John and Sue Diekman did not set out to be art collectors. As young newlyweds, they took a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, where they happened upon a gallery and saw a painting titled Sonora Confluence by James Conaway. As Sue describes it, “We didn’t know anything about art, but we loved the color and the movement in this painting.” They purchased it for their first home in Palo Alto and, as John says with a smile, “We felt real grown up.” John and Sue still have that painting and proudly show it off to anyone visiting their mid-Peninsula home. That initial purchase led to a lifetime of acquiring the art collection that now fills the rooms of their home. The idea of sequestering their art in storage has never appealed to the couple, so they display their whole collection around their residences and John’s San Francisco office. The collection has
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28 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM then became friends with the artist. Getting together with Day and his family has become part of their summer sojourns. John also highlights California painter Roland Petersen’s boldly colorful San Francisco Rooftops, which has pride of place in the room. He has a special affinity for the artist’s signature brilliant cobalt blue paint and reminisces fondly about visiting the artist’s studio. “He is a character and a really good guy.” While they have purchased art from galleries—Paul Thiebaud and Haines galleries in San Francisco, Crown Point Press and Pamela Walsh Gallery in Palo Alto, to name a few—the couple have never utilized the services of an art consultant and love to work directly with artists when they can. There are several whose work they have collected in some depth. Like Wayne Thiebaud, who was the subject of a recent solo exhibition at the Legion of Honor Museum. They own numerous prints by the artist as well as one of his signature food paintings, Six Cakes. “If I could, I would buy a Thiebaud every day,” declares John. They also have a great affinity for the work of Roy de Forest, of their very personal art collection. “That is the nice thing about specific pieces of art,” says Sue. “It reminds you of people, of places you have been and experiences you have had.” Without knowing it, the couple has followed the age-old advice for art collecting: start small, buy what you love and educate your eye by visiting galleries and museums. Art of every media fills the cozy living room and, as they describe the various pieces, another fact comes to light—the importance of relationships with artists whose work they collect. Take two bronze sculptures by English artist Paul Day. On a vacation to Burgundy, France, they happened upon Day’s work in a gallery, bought several pieces, {punchline}
30 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} who is known for his affiliation with the California Funk Movement of the 1970s. As dog lovers, Sue and John appreciate that canines are the subject matter of several of his colorful, almost psychedelic mixed-media works. They enjoy sharing how de Forest visited their home, saw a sculpture of his entitled Dog Bench and promptly decided it needed to be reworked. “He literally showed up one day, took the old one and made a new one,” John says with a laugh. It’s obvious that this quirky interaction only adds more value to the piece for the Diekmans. English sculptor David Nash also holds special interest for the couple. “We met him when he had a residency at the Djerassi Resident Art Program,” explains John. The Diekmans own several of his early-work wood sculptures, all carved with a chainsaw and intended to be rough surfaced. John expresses amazement at the amount of control the artist has in carving out the various types of wood, including oak, madrone and walnut. Now friends with Nash, they also proudly display a collection of pastel Christmas cards sent from the artist over the years. Every once in a while, a special work requires special accommodations. One of their largest pieces, a painting titled Above Fifth Avenue by Ben Aronson, which reminds them of enjoyable visits to New York City, required more space. So the couple remodeled a hallway, making it wider and higher for optimal viewing of the seven-foot-tall painting. As the collection has continued to grow, the overflow of art has advanced outdoors. Large-scale works by Bruce Beasley, George Rickey, Gene Flores and Jesus Moroles grace the yard. Whenever possible, John and Sue allow the artists input as to where their work will be placed. Sue points out a lovely bronze sculpture of a woman by former Stanford professor Nathan Oliveira, which stands outside the front door—a Christmas gift from
32 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM her husband many years ago. John laughs as he remembers the effort it took to install the piece in a large cement plinth. “It’s never moving!” Which raises the question of the collection’s future. After much discussion, selected works will be gifted to both Stanford University, where John and Sue met as graduate students, and to Princeton University, where John earned his undergraduate degree. Other pieces will be gifted to family members. Are they still collecting? John replies, “Only if we have room.” Sue is quick to add, “We don’t, so the answer is no.” And yet, when asked if they could, perhaps, move things around to accommodate something new that they both really liked, neither said no. The Diekmans clearly have enjoyed their collecting journey as well as incorporating art into their everyday life. “I don’t think of it as ‘acquiring art’ so much as having art that I love around me,” reflects Sue. “For me, art evokes memories and emotions that are relaxing. Art also makes me curious. I look at a piece of art and wonder what the artist was thinking and wanted to convey to the viewer. Most of all, art makes me smile.” {punchline}
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Peninsula by 2025 sales volume Congratulations Top Producing Agents & Teams Jenn Gilson 650.642.6957 #1 Agent by Sales Volume & Transactions Kat Bedbury 650.740.4494 Bob Bedbury 650.817.5065 Bedbury Group #1 Team by Sales Volume & Transactions Lisa Karson 650.759.4644 Jessica Eva 650.704.5483 Jim Minkey 650.576.1732 Henry Chu 650.918.8118 John Shroyer 650.787.2121 Carrie Du Bois 650.766.9069 Allison Fujimoto 650.888.3863 Alison Williams 650.400.6570 Charles Griffith 415.672.3263
Silicon Valley by 2025 sales volume The Dreyfus Group Amy McCafferty #1 Team by Sales Volume #1 Agent by Sales Volume & Transactions #1 Team by Transactions Michael Dreyfus 650.485.3476 Noelle Queen 650.427.9211 Kristin Galvin 650.245.8533 408.387.3227 Bouja & Swenson Group Alex Bouja 408.489.0025 Matthew Swenson 408.655.9398 Peter Cowperthwaite 650.207.4101 Young Platinum Group Gloria & John Young Chris Iverson 650.450.0450 Nicole Colclough 650.996.4221 Shena Hurley 650.575.0991 Brian Ayer 650.242.2473 650.539.5674 650.539.4426 Lori & Andy Orion 408.565.5626 650.400.2528 Margot Lockwood and Ricky Flores Team Omar Kinaan 650.776.2828 Shannon Ray 408.677.8684 Heidi Herz 408.205.9625 Jennifer Bitter 650.223.5838 Dulcy Freeman 650.804.8884 The Kockos Group Sue Kockos 650.430.5524 Jeffrey Kockos 650.430.8587 Rebecca Jepsen 408.357.3990 Laura McCarthy 650.269.1609 Sally Randall 650.520.8771 Rodman Kelly Group Marlene Rodman 408.483.8103 Nicolette Rodman Kelly 408.483.8040 Jakki Harlan 650.465.2180 Lisa Keith 650.703.8644 Susan Tanner 650.255.7372 The Leary Group Terry Leary 408.921.4343 Paula Leary 408.425.3345 Kathryn Harrold 408.307.5687 650.380.9918 650.862.2122 Campi Group 650.917.2433
36 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM HISTORY the survivor Valparaiso Park, in Fair Oaks, an area known for its ample trees that would later bear his name. Atherton’s peers followed suit and soon estates were cropping up everywhere. Nearby estates included Linden Towers, a “white castle” of cupolas and turrets, as well as Fennwood, with gilded detailing, a stained-glass skylight and a two-bedroom “guest tower.” Our Colonial Revival, nicknamed Gateways, was completed in 1902 for Joseph Frank, a tanner who made his fortune churning out tons upon tons of leather hides from his factory each month. Sadly, he barely had time to settle in. After Joseph’s death two years later, the property passed to the Weir family. It was their daughter, Eleanor Weir Tilden, and her girlfriends who hosted the first Menlo Though most homes don’t survive a century, giving way to the bulldozer of progress, a precious few endure, bearing witness to bygone eras. One such gem, a Colonial Revival beauty built in 1902, stands as a testament to the intriguing history of Atherton. But before meeting the house itself, it helps to step back into the world that shaped it. At the turn of the 20th century, the Peninsula was experiencing a remarkable shift from its wilder ranch roots to an era of grand country estates. Before the affluent descended on San Mateo County with an appetite for pastoral luxury, large swathes of the region—including the future town of Atherton—belonged to a 35,000-acre parcel of land called Rancho de las Pulgas where the Arguello family raised cattle and horses. By the mid-1800s, however, the family began selling off portions of land to San Francisco’s early elite, city dwellers eager to swap foggy urban cityscapes for lavish summer homes. They craved a setting where they could spend sun-drenched afternoons in their sprawling gardens and on long idyllic horse rides through the countryside. One of the first to make the move was Faxon Dean Atherton, a Massachusetts-born merchant with a thriving shipping business. He built his estate, christened {punchline} ORIGINAL PHOTO COURTESY OF: DONNA MCMASTER / THIS IMAGE WAS ENHANCED WITH AI RENDERING.
Sally Randall 650.520.8771 s.randall@ggsir.com Lic. #02143785 GillesRandallGroup.com Mary Gilles 650.814.0858 m.gilles@ggsir.com Lic. #01789710 Contact us for insights into the Peninsula Real Estate Market. ATHERTON | MENLO PARK | PORTOLA VALLEY | WOODSIDE
38 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM Circus Club event on the estate’s grounds in 1920, performing with their ponies and other animals to raise $500 for the Stanford Convalescent Home (now Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital). The oldest of the girls at 14, Eleanor acted as ringmaster. She even roped her goat into the act with some jumping tricks. Passing hands several more times over the years, the residence came to new owners in recent months. They immediately fell for its Old World grandeur and determined to restore it to its former glory. “It was like taking a step back in time,” one of them recalls of their first encounter with Gateways. “When you walk up to it, it has such a presence about it.” As you come up the drive, “It has this Southern belle kind of feel about it,” she describes. “The wraparound porch speaks of something in the deep South with the big columns.” Step inside the foyer and discover a dreamy cloud fresco on the ceiling that seems to swirl around the chandelier. Rich redwood paneling adorns many of its walls, while intricate tilework and oak floorboards grace the ground. The house is also distinct in that its interior reflects several different eras. While the living room has Victorian elements, “The butler’s pantry is very American colonial,” describes the owner. Then, “right next to it is the dining room, which to me, is very much Arts and Crafts,” she says, noting the room’s tasteful coffered ceilings, built-in china cabinet and redwood pocket doors. The owners intend to preserve and elevate these design details. “I like the possibilities of that,” she says. “I’m kind of an eclectic person where I just mix and match what I like.” One thing remains constant throughout the years. After the Weirs’ circus for charity, another one of the home’s previous residents William “Bill” Lee would establish several nonprofits and use the home as a place to collect donations—on one occasion flooding that sprawling front porch with donated mattresses for those in need, and on another, piling it high with thousands of boxes of shoes. The new owners intend to continue using the property to give back to their community. “I think that’s what this house lends itself to,” the owner reflects. Surely this heralds the preservation of this mid-Peninsula residence—both its history and its legacy—for many generations to come. {punchline} WITH APPRECIATION TO STEPHANIE ELKINS, WHO REPRESENTED THE SELLER, FOR INTRODUCING PUNCH TO THIS ARTICLE. / PHOTO: COURTESY OF DONNA MCMASTER / MENLO CIRCUS CLUB / ROBB MOST Above: (top right) A posse of kids pose with their ponies at one of the early Menlo Circus Club performances, a charity event that got its start at Gateways, a storied estate in Atherton.
Tickets On Sale Now! SPRING TOUR 2026 Friday, April 24 & Saturday, April 25, 10AM - 4PM Tour Private Palo Alto Gardens Shop the Marketplace Plant Sale | Silent Auction Over the Garden Fence gamblegarden.org/springtour or call 650-329-1356 Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden | 1431 Waverley Street | Palo Alto, CA 94301
40 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {punchline} PERFECT SHOT comeback story Not long ago, California was down to 30 nesting pairs of bald eagles. But America’s national bird is making a comeback! In recent years, Michael Pagano photographed the Bay Area’s first nesting pair of bald eagles in nearly 100 years at their residence in a Douglas fir along the banks of Crystal Springs Reservoir. In this image, a juvenile, yet to grow into his snowy head feathers, surveys his domain. Image by Michael Pagano / @paganogafx
PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 41 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
42 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. Hello there, I’m Boo Bear from Burlingame—and what’s even more satisfying than the alliteration is the story of how I came to be adopted by my family. Linda and I met while she was volunteering with Muttville, a senior dog rescue center that took me in. I wasn’t exactly feeling my best that day and, having just gone through surgery, I was wearing a big, clunky cone. Linda didn’t seem to mind. She hadn’t planned to adopt, but boo bear DIARY OF A DOG photography by ROBB MOST quickly decided I was coming home with her. These days, I follow her wherever she goes—and voice my objections whenever she has the audacity to leave home without me. Together, we often explore Burlingame Avenue where both of us enjoy grabbing a bite to eat, shopping or catching up on our people-watching. As a long-haired Chihuahua blessed with the silkiest of fur, I also generously volunteer my soft self for constant cuddling. I’m 15 now and may be a little hard of hearing (my vision isn’t the best either), but it’s clear that I’m still living my best life.
NICOLE RUCCOLO 650.823.0002 | DRE 02101054 NICOLE.RUCCOLO@COMPASS.COM LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR HOME’S POTENTIAL LUXURY LIVING Guiding clients through homes that reflect not just taste—but a way of life. Every detail, from setting to design, is considered with intention. Discover a more thoughtful approach to luxury real estate.
Discover Penflora in downtown Burlingame—filled with beautiful American and European furnishings, gifts, and accessories. Shop a highly curated selection of brands like Match, Vietri, ODE, and one-of-a-kind vintage and antique pieces, or reserve a spot at our next floral party. Our warm, layered space is sure to bring inspiration. 1243 Howard Ave, Burlingame, CA penfloradesigns.com @penflora_designs home • gift • floral
PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM 45 GETAWAY countryside carmel {due west} words by JOHANNA HARLOW TRAVEL & WELLNESS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: CARMEL VALLEY RANCH
46 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM {due west} When I tell friends I’m spending the weekend in Carmel, I always need to clarify. No, not Carmel-bythe-Sea. Its lesser-known counterpart, Carmel Valley. Though less talked about than its seaside sister, this town 20 minutes inland exudes its own rustic chic charm with excellent dining, wine tasting, boutiques, golfing ranges and hiking trails. Sheltered from the brunt of the chilly sea breeze and creeping coastal fog, the area is drenched in sunshine and bordered by the stunning Santa Lucia Mountains. RANCH RETREAT When I arrive at my lodging, it feels like I’ve stepped back in time. Wandering the Spanish stone hacienda of Holman Ranch, with its terracotta rooflines and wrought-iron sconces, I’m reminded of Carmel Valley’s long history of cattle ranching, which dates back to before California was even a twinkle in America’s eye—back when this land was a Mexican territory and the fellows roping livestock were called vaqueros, not cowboys. The presence of history is almost palpable here. A retreat since the early 20th century, the property became a Hollywood hideaway for the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Marlon Brando, Clark Gable and other stars seeking an out-of-the-way escape from the less-than-heavenly traffic and noise of the City of Angels. The property fell into disrepair for a time, but rose again in the 1950s as a working cattle ranch and holiday destination. I find remnants from those days: grainy black-and-white photos of guests and cowhands saddled up to ride the rolling hills, a long-horn skull above a doorway, an old saddle with that irresistible smell of leather. “Down below, where the pond is, that’s where they used to host the rodeos,” the estate’s hospitality manager Zoee Johnston tells me as she shows me the grounds. It endures as an intimate getaway today (with a total of 10 cottages and 4 guest rooms in the inner courtyard), but these days you’ll find pinot rather than PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: HOLMAN RANCH / 1504 - HOLMAN RANCH / HOLMAN RANCH
DRE 01475576 glawless@davidlyng.com genielawless.com 831.247.9891 RESTORATION FOUND SANTA CRUZ’S OFF-SEASON Wintertime in the Santa Cruz Harbor carries a hush that feels almost intentional, as if the town itself has decided to exhale. It’s a quiet time here, when the boats sit tucked into their slips, swaying gently but securely, like they know they’re exactly where they belong. Life aboard slows down too. Those who live on the boats keep warm and cozy with hot tea and coffee, stepping outside when the sun makes one of its many winter appearances. The Harbor beaches are nearly empty now, claimed mostly by locals….people walking their dogs, couples wandering along the shoreline, solitary figures pausing to look out at the water. The sounds become sharper in the quiet: fog horns calling out from the buoys, the rhythmic slap of wakes against hulls and jetty ‘jacks.’ I love the way the waves crash over the jetty and swirl around the Walton Lighthouse, powerful but unhurried, like they’re in no rush to be anywhere else. This is the season that invites you to slow down. If you’re looking for a moment to breathe, to feel the sand beneath your toes—and your dog’s paws too—winter at the Santa Cruz harbor offers it freely. No crowds, no urgency, just the steady pulse of the ocean and the gentle reminder that sometimes, stillness is the point. Oh, and bring your layers, it can be chilly! Selling the coast and enjoying the lifestyle.
48 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: ROB CULPEPPER - HOLMAN RANCH / SEE MONTEREY pintos on the ranch. Operating as a winery, olive grove and wedding venue, the property offers tastings and tours of its vineyard and wine cave. Though pinot noir isn’t typically the red I reach for, I find myself savoring every sip of Holman Ranch’s 2023 vintage, a vibrant bouquet of strawberry and cranberry, as we visit the vines. “It’s a very finicky grape, pinot noir. It requires a very specific climate,” notes Zoee. GRAPES GALORE You’ll find Carmel Valley awash in great wine with well over a dozen tasting rooms dotting its half-mile-long downtown. If you’re one for whimsy, Scratch Wines beckons with blue velvet couches, boldly patterned carpets, funky sculptures and amiable staff. For a sophisticated Restoration Hardware-esque space, sip your chardonnay in the modern-luxe lounge or spacious patio at Pelio Estate Wines. For an enchanting afternoon set amidst a storybook-style chateau {due west} and live music, find your way to Folktale Winery. We recommend keeping your glass company with a wood-fired flatbread or panini. Still thirsty? Keep the pinot pouring at Joyce Winery and I. Brand & Family. FARMSIDE FUN We all know what goes great with wine. Stock up on cheese at Carmel Valley Creamery Co., where small batches are crafted on site from the milk of California Grade A cows and goats. Through the viewing window, peek in on the robust rounds aging on the racks. Some have been biding their time back there since before the pandemic! Lean into the area’s rural charm at Earthbound Farm Stand to load up on organic local produce, curated houseware, specialty coffee and freshly-baked bread. Kick back in Adirondack chairs, wander the labyrinth or wind through the series of gardens. Head next door to Hacienda for a good ‘ol fashioned hay-and-feed general store
50 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM site. Avid readers should peruse the shelves of Olivia & Daisy Books, and foodies should sample standout balsamic vinegar and olive oil at Quail and Olive. For the connoisseur of all things artisan, Tancredi & Morgen curates everything from coffee table books and handmade textiles to vintage champagne bowls and Frenchstyle caramels. If you still have energy, take your best swing at the 18-hole golf courses at Carmel Valley Ranch and Quail Lodge. Or if you’re all tuckered out, sign {due west} as well as a sprawling outdoor area with picnic tables, blacksmith forge, saloon and petting zoo. Check out their line dancing and bingo nights or prove your mettle at a blacksmith class. ACTIVITIES ABOUND Carmel Valley offers something for every kind of traveler. Those with an appetite for art should stop by Patricia Qualls Contemporary Art for large-scale abstracts, then head to Masaoka Glass Design to see resident artist Alan Masaoka designing stained glass masterpieces on ABOVE: (clockwise from top) Soak and sweat at the pools and sauna at Refuge; meet Carmel Valley Ranch’s onsite beekeeper and taste honey from the hive; alpacas at Carmel Valley Ranch. up for a spa treatment at Refuge instead. After some thermal-cycling with a series of hot and cold pools, detoxing in the eucalyptus steam rooms and toasting your hands over the firepits, you’re sure to feel renewed. DELECTABLE DINING To fuel up for the day’s adventures, set a course for Sunny Bakery Café. A no-frills spot as welcoming as its name, it’ll pair your cappuccino with a mushroom-Gouda frittata or savory quiche. Corkscrew Café embodies the Carmel Valley restaurant scene: unpretentious dining with really tasty food. Their wood-fired pizza oven doles out all the faithful standbys as well as pies with intriguing toppings. Like the elote pizza with roasted corn, shishito peppers, Calabria chilis, cotija cheese and lemon cream sauce or the salad pizza loaded with red onions, roasted red peppers, prosciutto, mixed greens and decadent globs of burrata, all drizzled in spicy honey. For a waterside bite, make for Covey Grill—home to a gourmet PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: SEE MONTEREY - REFUGE / CARMEL VALLEY RANCH / CARMEL VALLEY RANCH
YOU’RE NOT JUST BUYING A HOME You’re Buying the Place Where Your Next Chapter Begins Leslie Woods, Your Mid-Peninsula Real Estate Advisor —lwoods@sereno.com | lesliewoodsrealestate.com 650.796.9580 | DRE #01855901
52 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM come to carmel seemonterey.com burger crowned with triple-crème brie, bacon marmalade and butter pickles, not to mention chimichurri fries. Or embrace Carmel Valley’s rustic roots with Cal-Mex cuisine and old-school charm at Baja Cantina, coated in old photos and vintage automobile memorabilia, or the Running Iron, a honky-tonk that dangles weathered cowboy boots from the rafters. For dazzling indulgence, Valley Kitchen steals the show. From the spiced lamb on a bed of farro, cauliflower, dried fruit and nuts to the New York striploin with wild mushroom ragout, potatoes, pickled kohlrabi and Swiss chard, each elevated dish delivers a medley of flavors and textures. And don’t you dare skip dessert. The Orchard Apple may mimic its namesake, but sink in your spoon to discover gingerbread cake and a delightful pocket of apples, apple butter and caramel-like cajeta, all topped with a dainty chocolate stem. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: CARMEL VALLEY RANCH - VALLEY KITCHEN / SEE MONTEREY- FOLKTALE WINERY / 1504 - HOLMAN RANCH HEAVENLY HIKING Time to burn those extra calories on the trails. At the 4,462-acre Garland Ranch Regional Park, the terrain shifts from maple-filled canyons to oak woodlands to dense shrub-lined chaparral with paths running along the Carmel River and Garzas Creek. Palo Corona Regional Park provides an additional 4,500 acres of rolling hills to explore. If you’re basing yourself at Holman Ranch, take advantage of the property’s private trails. You’ll be treated to stunning vistas of the valley on Sagebrush Trail. And if you continue to Lace Lichen Loop, you’ll find the aforementioned lichen cloaking the oak trees in alluring veils of lacey green. Yes, Carmel-by-the-Sea will always have its charms, but Carmel Valley proves that other treasures lie just beyond the coast. MORE LUXURY LODGINGS Carmel Valley Ranch – A sprawling 500-acre luxury resort with a spa, golf course, courts for tennis and pickleball, pools and upscale restaurant. Bernardus Lodge – A European-style estate with an onsite vineyard. Each of its 73 guest rooms, suites and villas comes with a soaking tub and fireplace. Quail Lodge – A charming 93-room hotel with an 18hole golf course and waterside restaurant. {due west} Audrey and Nancy Torres ART STUDIO OWNERS & INSTRUCTORS
I N S P I R I NG WOME N Stephanie Martin STUDIO SHOP | GALLERY [ Stephanie Martin Studio Shop | Gallery 650.344.1378 stephanie@thestudioshop.com studioshopgallery.com @studioshopgallery What do you find most satisfying about your work? I’m especially passionate about helping collectors build meaningful, enduring fine art collections and beautifully preserving and showcasing their artwork. We are living in a time of remarkable artistic abundance, and I’m deeply excited to curate exceptional works for our community—art that sparks joy, invites curiosity and stays with the viewer. I love supporting artists as they find their voices while guiding collectors toward art they can truly live with and love for a lifetime. What motivates you in your life? My work and my family motivate me every day. Being surrounded by art gives me energy and perspective. Art is powerful—it comforts, challenges, and inspires us—and I feel grateful to bring that power into my community. It’s something people can lean on in both good times and difficult ones. I’m deeply thankful for my husband, who supports and pushes me to grow, and for my family, who keeps me grounded and reminds me what truly matters. Their support gives me the confidence to take risks and build something meaningful. Where do you find inspiration on the Peninsula? The Peninsula is full of treasures. I love how quickly you can step into nature and feel worlds away from the city’s energy. The coastline holds a very special place in my heart—walking barefoot along the beach, breathing in the salty air. That connection to nature is how I recharge, reflect and find clarity. PHOTOGRAPHY: ANNIE BARNETT [[ A PUNCH PROMOTION ] ]
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