Views from Sausalito: Bienvenue Sausalito

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Views from Sausalito: Bienvenue Sausalito

by Ellie Klevins, OurSausalito.com Contributing Editor

On a cold rainy Saturday last March, we were exploring Sausalito with our beagle, Bentley, thinking this might be a nice place for the three of us to live. We saw a dog-friendly real estate office (indicated by the bowl of water on the doorstep), so we ventured in. The owner, Eckart Noack was there. He gave us the big picture overview of Sausalito neighborhoods – and drew a map highlighting the micro climates - Hurricane Gulch, The Banana Belt, New Town, and Marina Vista.

He asked if we were planning to have lunch in town – we were starving! He drew a map with directions to one of his favorite restaurants in Sausalito, Le Garage.

We followed his diagram carefully but still thought we were lost when we ended up in an industrial area near the water. It didn’t seem like a restaurant could be here… but something smelled good, so we persevered.

We turned a corner and saw a crowd of people dining inside what looked like a plastic see-through tent. "OK, this must be it!"

But we couldn’t find the front door! We circled, and still could not see an entrance. We were about to give up when the hostess, Natalie, saw us and unzipped the “front door” and welcomed us to the warmth inside.

Lunch at Le Garage was oh-so-French, elegantly prepared and presented, yet the atmosphere was laid-back and casual -– oh-so-Sausalito! Fantastique! We took a quick walk along the shore before the rains came again.

At that moment, we set our sights on living here.

Last week on a sunny summer July morning, we walked to Le Garage for lattes and fresh baked croissants. A woman rushed in with a bunch of sunflowers asking for Natalie. Natalie had found the woman's life vest the other day, and the flowers were a thank you.

Natalie was delighted. Her co-worker joked, “she’ll be in a good mood today”!

It seems Natalie is always in good mood, and who wouldn’t be to live or work here –- in Sausalito.

Contributing Editor Ellie Klevins has lived in the Bay Area all her life, but moved to Sausalito just this April. Her posts will cover the perspectives of life in Sausalito for a new resident as she discovers the joys of our little town.

The opinions expressed in "Views from Sausalito" articles represent those of the authors and do not represent the opinions of OurSausalito.com. Poggio is a charter sponsor of this website. Photo credit: Ellie Klevins.