If you pay attention, it’s easy to discern an Italian cultural undercurrent in California's Marin county, where I live. Many older lifelong Marin residents have Italian surnames, many of the oldest restaurants are Italian, and there is an Italian Street Painting Festival in San Rafael each summer. The most persuasive evidence to me, however, is the presence of old olive trees, grapevines, and quince trees in many yards and gardens here. (more…)