On a recent fall weekend when this city girl needed a recommendation for a solid drink in Mill Valley, there was just one person to ask: Bonnie Powers.
Along with her husband, the wonderful goldsmith and jewelry designer Jeffrey Levin, Powers is the co-proprietor and curator of the sweet Marin County enclave's sweetest shop: Poet and/the Bench. Her afterwork drink of choice? The whiskey sour with aquafaba, at the very buzzy new Corner Bar.
Opened nine years ago, Poet and/the Bench (11 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley) is one of those little jewel boxes that elicits an ooh or an ahh with every turn of the head—you'll find expertly curated art and fine jewelry (including Levin's line of chicly spare wedding rings) alongside elegantly cozy clothing and a few quirky gifts in the hybrid retail/gallery space that stocks more than 60 artists, mostly from the Greater Bay Area.
"We love the relationships we’ve developed with our artists and community," says Powers, adding that "we don’t shop through showrooms or catalogs. It’s all very intentionally curated, with emerging and indie designers and artists who create one-of-a-kind and limited edition uncommon goods."
A new item on the shelves: The Book of Thanks, "a gorgeous book for creating a ritual of noticing," which contains 52 poems and 108 original artworks and makes a perfect gift.
Shop it and more when Poet and/the Bench hosts a trio of artists at its open house during Mill Valley's holiday bash, a festive collaboration with more than 20 shops on Thursday, December 12th (4pm to 8pm).
Powers and Levin love exploring hidden gems across the North Bay so much, they made this lovely map about it. Here are a few more of their favorite local things.
What restaurant is your favorite splurge?
The brand new Bump Bar (1403 Bridgeway B, Sausalito) is chef Lance Dillard’s culinary journey across his 30 years experience crafting exquisite Japanese cuisine. Limited seating means you get an intimate experience learning about his delicious food, together with host extraordinaire Yo Kanagawa.
Do you have a go-to for brunch or coffee?
The barista at Madrona Bakery (17 Madrona St.) in downtown Mill Valley walked into our shop one day and turned us on to their kouign amann. This delicious indulgence, accompanied by a strong cuppa, helps us work even harder!
What is your favorite Bay Area venue for live music?
We are so lucky to work around the corner from one of the most iconic Bay Area music venues, the Sweetwater Music Hall (19 Corte Madera Ave., Mill Valley). The original opened in the '70s and has featured a who’s who of rock and roll legends. Our fave show of all time was DJ Snoopadelic (yes, that’s Snoop Dogg) spinning records from the '90s. It was epic!
When the mood for escape strikes, where do you head?
We love day tripping and most often find ourselves driving through the Wine Country, taking in the views and hidden gems. A few of our faves are El Molino Central (11 Central Ave.) in Sonoma, Bothe-Napa Valley State Park between St. Helena and Calistoga, and Little Saint (25 North St.) in Healdsburg.
What’s your favorite Bay Area park for hiking or biking?
We'd love to share our three favorite hikes on Mt. Tam. Its vast network of trails never fails to delight, in amazing weather or the moody fog. We enjoy forest surfing–the way the light dapples through the trees, the smells from our footsteps crushing leaves, and the bridges over rushing water.
Any beloved weekend stays in Northern California?
The Sea Ranch (60 Sea Walk Dr.) sits on the Sonoma Coast with dramatic cliffs to the ocean and timber-frame architecture that works with the topography–the wind, the sunrise and sunset, the views. It’s an extraordinary drive with some nail biting twisty roads and significant drop-offs, yet worth the breathtaking views. It’s where we go to disconnect, hike, and swim.
What Bay Area–made item can you not live without?
The high polyphenol, extra virgin olive oil from Amphora Nueva in San Anselmo—their quality is ultra premium, going from pick to press within four hours. We’re also obsessed with their aged espresso balsamic vinegar.