The Tobin Clark Estate

David Adler graduated from Princeton in 1904.  And, similar to our oldest son, after graduation Adler travelled extensively in Europe studying all of its varied architectural styles.  He returned to the United States in 1911 and began his illustrious architectural career.  In the late 1920’s Celia Tobin Clark contacted Adler with her dream of building a Cotswold mansion.  She was very involved in every aspect of the design and the building of her breathtaking estate.  Because of Adler’s time spent in Europe, he loved the building materials and the craftsmen of the Continent.  The description of what Adler created can only be appreciated by a firsthand tour.  It is a gift to spend a day at the estate and noticing every little detail of what has been created.

For example, as you enter the hand carved front door you are standing in the gallery with a floor that is marble, laid without mortar, point to point, to create a deep pattern of optical illusion. The walls are dowel-joined Jacobean paneling, purchased through Stair and Andrew in London. Eighteenth-Century English oak surrounds the gentleman’s cloak room, where special shallow cupboards were fashioned to hold shaving mugs. For the master sitting room, the owner and architect chose oak paneling, circa 1724, from Royal House Cononley; and the chandelier, constructed a few years later, is Waterford, purchased from a descendant of the actor Edmund Kean. Pine carving attributed to Grinling Gibbons, woodcarver to St. Paul’s Cathedral under Sir Christopher Wren, and matching eighteenth-century pine bookcases grace to library, which is featured in Helen Comstock’s 100 Most Beautiful Rooms in America.

For more than sixty years, the Hillsborough Mansion with the unassuming name “House-on-Hill” has been cited as one of the most spectacular private residences ever created, and one that is certainly without peer in its fine antique English style.  After its construction, full-grown trees were transplanted from as far away as the Monterrey Peninsula, rose terraces and formal courtyards were laid out amid the oak groves and lawns, and multiple-trunk olive trees were pruned to dip low over matching reflecting pools set in a stone terrace. Completely by hand, an architectural treasure was built – all mellowed brick, Carmel stone and half timbers on the outside, with 35,000 square feet of honey-colored woods, silver, crystal, leaded glass and four hundred year old parquetry on the inside.

It has been written that for several years prior to building the Mansion, Mrs. Clark had been collecting ideas, clippings, photographs and other inspirations for her home. And it is known that during its somewhat lengthy construction, the estate pulled many local laborers and one failing planning mill right through the Depression. In two years alone, more than one million dollars was poured into the local economy, and at least three area firms were spared from bankruptcy.   Once in a lifetime an estate of this magnitude becomes available for sale.  That opportunity has now arrived.  The Mansion is priced at $29,000,000.  For further information contact Jim Walberg. Until next time…

Related posts:

1. Tobin Clark Estate: Historic Tobin Clark Estate Host to Presidents and World Leaders
2. The Tobin Clark Estate: A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity For $29 Million
3. The Tobin Clark Estate: Interior Designer, Syrie Maugham’s Finest Work!

The “Wine & Equine Event” is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Sonrise Equestrian Foundation, a non-profit 501(C)(3) community program. They need your help to make this event a success and to continue to provide these children with help and hope through the Sonrise community. Click on this link for ticket information. This important annual event provides about half of their yearly operating budget and enables SonRise Equestrian to put children with social, emotional and physical handicaps together with gentle therapy horses at no cost to the families. Their participants learn that they can overcome fears, build relationships, and ultimately discover their full potential. At SonRise they believe that strong, loving relationships are a necessary ingredient of a contented heart. They see time and time again, children thrive simply by receiving the unconditional love of a concerned mentor and a special horse. They believe in the necessity of belonging to a nurturing community.

Here are some of the programs that SonRise Equestrian provides kids between the ages of 8 and 18.

• In the Saddle—a one-on-one horseback riding program that teams up one child, one mentor, and one horse 100% of the time. This ensures no hurting child gets lost in a crowd, and keeps our program extremely safe.
• Team Rehab—a working ranch program where children work in teams doing ranch chores and caring for horses in need of rehabilitation.
• Traveling Tails—a miniature horse hospice program which brings minis to children’s hospice care homes to visit children who are near the end of life.
• HorsePlay Day— In addition to our three main programs, we also offer HorsePlay Days quarterly, where children from our program and waiting list are invited to the ranch for a day of group fun. In these four hours children participate in horse related games, crafts and activities ranging from roping to bareback riding to red/light green/light on horseback.

SonRise Equestrian also is a safe harbor of unwanted horses.  When these special horses in need arrive the SonRise staff immediately begins a careful rehabilitation process, which addresses the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of these equine companions, with the intent of having each horse become an “equine angel” that joins the SonRise Equestrian team as a partner for the in-need and at-risk children enrolled in the horsemanship program.  They are also looking for volunteers to work with the kids and the horses.  Please consider adding this amazing organization to your community service list.  Until next time…Jim Walberg

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1. East Bay Equestrian Update: SonRise Equestrian Foundation Changing Kids Lives!
2. Horses Were THE Real Deal For East Bay Real Estate In The 70’s
3. East Bay Real Estate: Danville Is Still Horse Country!

How Hot Summer Nights got started was in 1993 when a few friends were sitting at Elliott’s Bar on Hartz Avenue and thought that Danville would the perfect spot to have a hot rod and classic car show and a great way to stimulate business for the downtown merchants.  They went to the Town with the suggestion never imagining that it would become a Summer tradition that has now gone on for 17 years!  People from all over the country call to find out the dates and plan their vacations so they can attend.  Over the two shows this Summer there will be more than 30,000 visitors that come to the show!  In addition to the classic cars there are bands to listen to and dancing in the streets.  There are food vendors offering tasty treats as well as wonderful restaurants that provide outside cafe dining with an enormous selection of fine cuisines.

Not only is it one of the best car shows in California, it is also a time for Danville’s downtown businesses to be showcased.  Hartz Avenue is a walking friendly downtown with all of its beautiful historical buildings on display.  The weather was perfect for the first of the two car shows this Summer, and it seemed the entire town was out walking the cars.  I could not believe how many people I ran into during just a couple of hours of admiring the cars.  I even ran into to Jeff King, my longtime friend who was the man who introduced me to my first camping trip on the Walker River in the Sierra’s.  That annual Summer trip is now in its 37^th year! ( There will be 50 to 60 men and boys camping at the Walker River next week from all over the country, because of keeping this tradition alive.  Thank you, Jeff, for sharing this magical spot with so many years ago! )

One of the businesses that I stopped by during last Thursday’s event was Land Home Financial Services. They had invited some of their friends to a wine tasting hosted by Scott Bigelow from the Wine Shop @ Home. WOW!  Scott brought out the “big guns” of reds all the way from Monterey to Mendocino.  And, he even had some cases to purchase at some steep discounts for the friends who stopped by.  My favorite of the evening was a Petite Syrah.  So, a great time was had by all at this Summer’s first Hot Summer Nights.  Join us on August 18^th for the next one in beautiful downtown Danville.

And, CONTACT ME today for more information about the San Ramon Valley and the quality of life it’s residents enjoy each day.  Until next time…Jim Walberg

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1. East Bay Real Estate: Danville Fine Arts Faire – June 18 & 19!
2. The East Bay’s Old Oak Tree Lighting Celebration In Danville!
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Did you know that in the early 1960s, Livermore had as much land under grape vine as Napa Valley did at that time.  However, it has never had the status of Napa and Sonoma.  Wente Vineyards has long been the largest producer in the Livermore Valley,  making around 300,000 cases of wine annually, much of it for export.  It was first established in the valley in 1883. The next largest producer, Concannon Vineyard, makes around 30,000 cases per year. The remainder of today’s wineries are all small family owned boutique style producers. In 1996 I became personally involved in the Livermore wine scene by representing my friend and long-time client, Ricardo Aguirre, in the purchase of 20 acres on Tesla Road. Even though Aguirre is a world class pulmonary surgeon he always dreamt about being a world class winemaker.  Well, his dream has now come true.  Bodegas Aguirre is considered one of the top boutique wineries in the Valley, and he is the winemaker for each of the 11 varietals that he produces.  Stop in any weekend at his tasting room and let him know that Jim Walberg sent you.  Ask him for a tasting of his latest Petite Syrah and his very limited production Malbec.

Another sentimental favorite of mine is Crooked Vine Winery. The original winery on the site was Stony Ridge – established in 1887 at the historic Ruby Hills site in Pleasanton, California.  In 1975, a group of young enthusiastic winemakers leased the property and continued Stony Ridge Winery production.  In 2007, the Corbett Family purchased both Crooked Vine Winery and Stony Ridge Winery.  A grape growing family for over twelve years, The Corbett’s wanted to create complete Estate grown wines, controlling the wine making process from fruit to bottle.  Their dream has also come true by creating world class estate wines that have won many international and local wine competition awards.

It is impossible to leave out the Wente Vineyards from your tour of the Livermore Valley wineries.  Founded more than 125 years ago, Wente Vineyards is the country’s oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery, with the fourth and fifth generations running their entire operation.  They are BIG in the wine world with 300,000+ cases sold a year, much it exported throughout the world.  It also has the largest number of acres under production in the Valley – 3,000 acres!  As I mentioned above, Wente Vineyards is actually a destination spot in the East Bay.  Not only does it have great wines to taste and buy you will discover world class dining at their restaurant, world class Summer Concert series, and even championship golf at The Course that winds through the vineyards.

So, if you want a fund day or weekend in the Wine Country, head to the Livermore Valley.  CONTACT ME anytime for my personal favorites for a day of tasting.  And, if I am available, I would be glad to be your personal guide.  Until next time…Jim Walberg

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The Bay Area has many celebrations scheduled for the next seven days.  Bay Area Discovery Museum hosts its Annual Kwanzaa Celebration today from 10AM to 5PM.  The admission is free.  There are various art projects inspired by the African continent and a Kwanzaa altar in the Museum’s Entry Pavilion.  The African Roots of Jazz will trace African-American musical forms, such as jazz, gospel, and spirituals, from their earliest beginnings in African cultures to today.

There are seven days of celebrations with each day focused on a specific life principle. The seven principles are collectively referred to as the Nguzo Saba, and serve as guideposts for meditation and daily living.  The greeting each day of Kwaanza is Habari Gani, and the reply is Habari Gani followed by the principle of the day.

• December 26^th – Umoja – Unity
• December 27^th – Kujichagulia – Self-Determination
• December 28^th – Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility
• December 29^th – Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics
• December 30^th – Nia – Purpose
• December 31 – Kuumba – Creativity
• January 1^st – Imani – Faith

The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa will be hosted at many venues throughout the Bay Area.  Check out the Bay Kwanzaa Blog for updates on the venues. No matter where you are in the Bay Area there will be celebrations all week.  Make sure you find a community of people with whom to celebrate this important traditional experience.  The Kwanzaa principles are ones to integrate into all of our lives each day, not just the last week of December.   Habari Gani!

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1. East Bay Kwanzaa Celebrations Begin Today & Ends January 1st!
2. East Bay Kwanzaa Celebrations – December 26th to January 1st!
3. East Bay Kwanzaa Celebrations – The Seventh And Last Day – Imani/ Faith!

Health:
1.       Drink plenty of water.
2.       Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince,  and dinner like a beggar.
3.       Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants…
4.       Live with the “Three E’s” – Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5.       Make time to pray each day.
6.       Play more games each week.
7.       Read more books than you did in 2009.
8.       Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9.       Sleep for 7 hours a day.
10.    Take 10-30 minutes to walk daily. And while you walk, smile, no matter what you are currently feeling.

Personality:
11.    Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12     Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13.    Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
14.    Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15.    Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16.    Dream more while you are awake.
17.    Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need in your life.
18.    Forget issues of the past.  Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past.  That will ruin your present happiness.
19.    Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.  Don’t hate others..
20.    Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21.    No one is in charge of your happiness except you.  Life is about taking 100% responsibility for ALL your actions.  No Blame!
22.    Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.    Smile and laugh more.
24.    You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree….

Society:
25.    Call your family often.
26.    Each day give something good to others.
27.    Forgive everyone for everything.
28.    Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of  6.
29..   Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30.    What other people think of you is none of your business.
31.    Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32.    Always do the right thing!
33.    Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34.    GOD heals everything.
35.    However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36.    No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up each day.
37.    The best is yet to come.
38.    When you awake and realize you are still alive in the morning, thank GOD for that gift.
39.    Your Inner-Most is always happy.  So, be happy.

2010 is going to be an extraordinary year.  Enjoy every moment it.

Related posts:

1. East Bay Real Estate: Holiday Greetings!
2. East Bay Real Estate: 2010 Update – Short Sales Replacing REO’s!
3. 2010 Home Maintenance Action List For East Bay Real Estate!

The Bay Area Discovery Museum hosts its Annual Kwanzaa Celebration today from 10AM to 5PM.  The admission is free.  There are various art projects inspired by the African continent and a Kwanzaa altar in the Museum’s Entry Pavilion.  Renowned jazz drummer E. W. Wainwright and his ensemble, The African Roots of Jazz will trace African-American musical forms, such as jazz, gospel, and spirituals, from their earliest beginnings in African cultures to today. The program features music, songs, theater, and audience participation.  You will also enjoy the Black National Anthem and the South African National Anthem throughout the week’s celebrations.

There are seven days of celebrations with each day focused on a specific life principle. The seven principles are collectively referred to as the Nguzo Saba, and serve as guideposts for meditation and daily living.  The greeting each day of Kwaanza is Habari Gani, and the reply is Habari Gani followed by the principle of the day.

• December 26^th – Umoja – Unity
• December 27^th – Kujichagulia – Self-Determination
• December 28^th – Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility
• December 29^th – Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics
• December 30^th – Nia – Purpose
• December 31 – Kuumba – Creativity
• January 1^st – Imani – Faith

The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa will be hosted at seven different venues throughout the Bay Area.  Communities will present cultural programs intended for the entire family.  The various community partners of for these Kwanzaa events are:  the Filllmore Center; the Buchanan YMCA;  Mayor’s Office Of Neighborhood Services;  Western Addition Family Resource Center;  Marcus Bookstore;  African American Holistic Wellness Program;  Omi YMCA;  Bayview YMCA;  Kaiser Permanente;  Fillmore Benefit District;  Minnie and Lovie Recreation Center;  Bayview Public Library;  African American Art and Culture Complex;  Jazz Heritage Center;  Yoshi’s;  Bayview YMCA;  SNIG;  Margaret Hayward Rec-Connect;  Opportunity Impact;  SF Safe;  Kwanza Morton;  and Malik Seneferu.

No matter where you are in the Bay Area there will be celebrations all week.  There will be dinners each evening with family and friends who prepare traditional African dishes to share with all who come.  Make sure you find a community of people with whom to celebrate this important traditional experience.  The Kwanzaa principles are ones to integrate into all of our lives each day, not just the last week of December.   Habari Gani!

Related posts:

1. East Bay Real Estate: Kwanzaa Celebrations Began All Over The USA Today!
2. East Bay Kwanzaa Celebrations – December 26th to January 1st!
3. East Bay Kwanzaa Celebrations – The Seventh And Last Day – Imani/ Faith!

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1. Holiday Greetings From Jim Walberg & His Family
2. Holiday Greeting From Jim Walberg & His Family
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The four day conference held from September 13^th to September 16^th welcomed Brokers from around the world – from New Zealand  to Spain.  The focus of the best practice seminars included;

• Media Fragmentation: In the age of the internet, where does print fit into your marketing plans – hosted by Nick Antonicello from Unique Homes Magazine.
• The Mechanics Of Creative Listening:  How to listen better, hear more, and find what matters most! – hosted by Matt Smith,  improv actor and corporate trainer.
• The Unabashed Pursuit Of Market Leadership:  How to become the Break-Away brand in your marketplace – hosted by Ron and Alexandra Seigel  from Napa Consultants.
• The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership:  Real estate evolution; How to get through today and prepare for the future – hosted by Liz Christoffersen  Empowering Consulting Group
• Changing Realtor Roles In A Changing Environment:  Tracking Realtor involvement on a National and Global level – hosted by Bonnie Smith Allen  from Exclusive Mountain Retreats Real Estate.
• The Virtual Luxury Real Estate Office:  How to create and Implement your very own profit center – an international luxury real estate office! Hosted by Michael Marquette  from Marquette Turner Luxury Homes, and Jim Walberg  from Caribbean Islands Realty.
• Redefining The New Luxury:  What the new definition of today’s Luxury means to you and your customers. Hosted by Dan McCarthy  from Network Communications, Inc.

Besides the daily high level seminars, the annual Luxury Real Estate Awards banquet is held at each of the Fall conferences.  Each year Luxury Real Estate honors their top members in various categories. The highest award is the Lifetime Achievement Award given to the member who has set the example of excellence for the real estate industry, their career, and is truly a legend within our industry.  This year’s award was given to Tom Anderson  from Washington Fine Properties, which he founded in 1999 and is currently the president. 

There were several other significant awards presented, with one of them being received by Jim Walberg – the 2009 Global Real Estate Networking Award.  This award is presented to the individual who has created the largest real estate network within the luxury real estate world.

Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate (LuxuryRealEstate.com) is a global network of over 1,500 luxury real estate brokerages that is by invitation only.  It provides an annual reference guide for luxury real estate agents worldwide to connect their practices, their Buyers and Sellers, and it is made easy because of this member-directory that is published each year.  Each member is carefully selected based on the company’s established reputation for performance, experience with high-end properties, and quality service.  We are very fortunate that The Bay Area Team and Caribbean Islands Realty were invited three years ago to be members of this prestigious group.  Click here  for more information about LuxuryRealEstate.com and how it can benefit your real estate needs.

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Old guys are still surfing - I promise!       Jim Walberg  just discovered that Roy’s Cabana  has re-launched their board shorts and surfing apparel after 25 years of retirement.  Roy and Dody Colburn’s son,  Jeff Colburn,  now heads the re-launching of the company his parents started in 1952.  It is now based in Cardiff in Southern California with surfing apparel in the Caribbean by going on-line.  The world’s surfing community will love the clothing Roy’s is now ready to deliver.

Most of you know I grew up in Redondo Beach  and surfed all through the 1950’s and 1960’s. Roy’s was my board shorts of choice all those years.  Roy’s began in 1948 when Roy and Dody Colburn started a café at the beach end of Santa Monica Canyon at State Beach in Southern California.  Besides all the meals that came out of Roy’s each day, they also sold beachwear, hats, lotions, etc.  This little beach café became the hangout for the surfing crowd that was just beginning in California.  When this crowd was not in the water, playing volleyball, or baking in the sun, they were hanging out to Roy’s Café. 

During the first few years of serving this crowd, Roy noticed that the surfers were in need of something other than cut-off jeans or white surplus navy pants.  What they needed was a durable board short that would endure the sun, waves and sand.  Roy suggested that his wife,  Dody, start taking sewing and pattern classes do they could capitalize on this idea he had.  In 1952 Dody created the first versions of Roy’s board shorts.  In 1956, they opened a small right next to their café and called the store Roy’s Cabana,  They stocked it with very colorful bolts of materials so you could actually design your own shorts, or you could buy the finished board shorts off the shelves that Dody had already made.

Roy’s Cabana was the surfing apparel headquarters until 1977  for surfers, beach volleyball, the L.A. County Lifeguards, and tens of thousands of Southern California beachgoers.   I can’t even count the number of Roy’s board shorts that I owned from the mid-1950’s through the 1970’s.  They were indestructible, colorful, and immediately recognizable as a Roy’s board short.  But, in 1977 Roy and Dody decided to retire.  They didn’t sell their company, they just closed it, sold the property, and bought a ranch in Napa Valley where they retired. 

Most thought that was the end of Roy’s Cabana surf shop.  But, hold on…here is the rest of the story!  Roy’s son, Tom Colburn, was looking through an old storage room at their Napa Valley ranch and found all of the patterns,  tons of old photos and newspaper articles, and even the old sewing machines that had been untouched for almost 20 years.  After some discussions with some of his old surfing buddies who had gone on to lucrative careers in the surf apparel industry, he decided that Roy’s board shorts and surfing apparel that had been created in 1952 was still an authentic premium brand of board shorts and clothing that had a loyal following and millions of new potential converts.

Fast forward to today… Tom Colburn has brought back his Dad and Mom’s brand – Roy’s Cabana board shorts  and surf apparel are now available to all of us who appreciate what they originally created.  Roy’s Cabana is producing premium quality board shorts that actually reflect a simpler carefree time in our lives.   The headquarters is now in Cardiff-By-The-Sea instead of Santa Monica, and it is re-launching when the surf industry has become a $3.5 billion market.  Tom doesn’t expect to compete with the giants like Quicksilver  and Billabong,  but Roy’s Cabana has now recaptured my business. 

So, I just bought my latest Roy’s Cabana board shorts this week.  The last ones were purchased over 25 years ago.  They felt like old slippers being put on when I went for a morning of surfing.  Those of you who remember Roy’s Cabana or just want to capture the thrill of the best board shorts ever made, will want to check out one of their stores, or go online today  and buy a pair.  Enjoy the ride!  Until next time…your East Bay lifestyle detective remains on duty.

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