An Italian Afternoon In Marin.
On a warm Saturday in August, more than fifty friends of Land Club gathered in Nicasio for an afternoon and evening built around the oldest of Italian traditions: good food, good wine, and a long table full of people. Co-hosted with our wonderful friend Maria Rossi, who brought family, friends, and a little bit of Italy to West Marin, Festa Italiana became our second Trail to Table gathering and another glimpse of the community taking shape around Land Club.
The day began, as these places often do, with the drive. Leaving the city behind, the road into West Marin winds through golden hills, wooded valleys, and small towns, with the landscape changing around nearly every bend. Less than an hour from San Francisco, the journey itself begins to feel like part of the destination.
We started on foot beneath the old-growth canopy of Roy's Redwoods Preserve. Towering redwoods have a way of slowing you down the moment you step beneath them. It was a chance to take in the landscape and walk together before the Festa began.
From the trail we made our way into Nicasio, where the Festa was waiting on a beautiful property overlooking the town's historic square. Wine was poured, friends gathered beneath the trees, and the celebration began.
At the center of it all was Maria Rossi. Having spent most of her life in Italy before recently moving to California, Maria brought with her the food, music, traditions, family, and friends that gave the Festa its unmistakably Italian spirit. She was the heart of the gathering, moving effortlessly between the kitchen, the tables, the music, and eventually the dance floor.
Food, of course, was at the heart of the Festa. Maria and her family prepared an Italian feast, served the way it should be: generously, unhurriedly, and meant to be shared. With wine flowing and accordion music in the background, everyone gathered around the tables to eat together.
And then there was the dancing. Maria, her sons, and friends brought everyone to their feet with the music and dances they grew up with, pulling one person after another into the celebration until nearly everyone had joined in. It was spontaneous, joyful, and the highlight of the day.
Some of us stayed on for the weekend. On Sunday, we headed toward the coast at Point Reyes, where miles of wild shoreline, sweeping beaches, and the Pacific open up at the edge of West Marin.
Sunday brunch was at Rancho Nicasio, a longtime local institution known as much for its live music as its food. On weekends, the lawn fills with locals and visitors for afternoon concerts, another part of the rhythm of this little West Marin town.
Another stop was Heidrun Meadery, a longtime Land Club favorite just outside Point Reyes Station. Set among gardens and farmland, it's one of those special West Marin places we find ourselves returning to again and again.
Gatherings like Festa Italiana are central to the Land Club vision. We believe remarkable places are best understood by experiencing them together, walking the landscape, sharing a meal, meeting the people who give a place its character, and becoming part of the community long before anything is developed.
Marin has been on our list for a long time, and this weekend was another glimpse of why. Our deepest thanks to Maria Rossi and Michael Schinner for helping us bring Festa Italiana to life, and to everyone who joined us around the table. We look forward to many more in Marin.
Photo Gallery
Below are a few moments from the day — captured by our team and the guests who joined us. They're only a glimpse of an afternoon that was hard to put into words.
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Earlier this spring, we gathered at Sutter Creek Farm in Amador County for an afternoon of trails, local food and wine, music, and community.
From Our Last Gathering
We’re building a new way for people to discover, experience, co-own, and steward remarkable places. Through thoughtfully designed gatherings, extraordinary properties, and a growing community, we're creating opportunities for people to connect with nature and one another.
