About Us

As authors, we want to tell our experiences from our own perspectives. In the guides, the initials after each GrassRoutes review denote the author:

SB: Serena Bartlett
DL: Daniel Laing
JLA: Joy Lian Alferness
MP: Maria
JH: Jessica Hilberman
IB: Ilsa Bartlett
CK: Cheryl Koehler
DB: Dutsi Bap

Serena Bartlett

Author Serena Bartlett revels in discovering new and fun ways to to tread more lightly on the planet. She has lived and traveled in more than 25 countries as an active spokesperson for eco-travel. Serena is a regular contributor to a number of national and Bay Area publications, having written stories on everything from shampoo-making with garden ingredients to green business tips to an interview with one or her role models, Riane Eisler. She has appeared on KRON 4’s Bay Area Backroads, ABC7’s View from the Bay as a green travel expert as well as on other programs, and has been a featured guest several radio stations. Serena is a sponge for creative solutions to become more self-reliant, like sewing her own sheets and quilts, designing jewelry, making wild forays in the kitchen, and growing her own edible garden. She is a ski bum at heart and a swimming junkie, equally comfortable on a pack trip with her poodle or as a city slicker. Find out more about her writing, recipes, and art at www.serenabartlett.com.

Daniel Laing

Born and raised in Oakland, Daniel’s style of freehand line drawing continues to evolve with each new GrassRoutes Guide. His art has been shown at several galleries, design studios, and cafés. Daniel studied anthropology at UC Berkeley, where he learned to see beyond the superficial by putting aside preconceived notions. He can be found zipping around the streets of Oakland and San Francisco on his speedy bike, scaling the bouldering walls at the local climbing gym, in the front row of a Sonic Youth concert, or buried in a book. See Daniel’s designs and artwork on the illustrations page. His integrative designs can also be found all over the web, start at www.grassroutestravel.com/daniellaing.

Joy Lian Alferness

Joy Lian Alferness grew up in the suburbs of Boston, went even farther north when she attended college at Cornell University, and finally settled in San Francisco in 1998 when she decided she’d had enough of the snow. Working as an actor and an acting teacher, Joy began her blog, www.restaurantwhore.com, when she grew tired of people asking her for restaurant recommendations. She has freelanced for Mesh Magazine, Chow.com, and Tuttifoodie.com.

Maria Pecot

Born and raised in Oakland, Maria is continually intrigued by the cultural richness and scenic diversity that the Bay Area offers. A writer of children’s stories, fiction, poetry and reviews, she finds inspiration for her art in almost every facet of her life. She has traveled to more than 10 countries since she graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in political science. Her knack for sussing any social scene keeps us up to date with how workers are being treated, where to go for the best cocktails, and what is new on either side of the Bay.

Jessica Hilberman

Jessica Hilberman is a writer and editor based in San Francisco. Originally from Los Angeles, Jessica has also lived in London and Chicago, but sunny California has always called her home. Jessica holds a masters degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where her beat reporting allowed her to fly upside down over Lake Michigan in an open-cockpit biplane and cover important chocolate-related events. She has written for regional and national publications, and has a special place in her heart for the gloss and smell of magazines. By day, she is an editor for a tech company, but by night she covers travel, shopping, dining, and the arts. Find more of her writing and projects at www.jessicahilberman.com, or on her twitter feed.

Julia Dodge

Julia Dodge has been a connoisseur of Bay Area culture since her tenure at San Francisco State University’s journalism program. Fascinated with the diversity and uniqueness of her lifelong home, as well as with the quirks of American society, Julia enjoys exploring new places in her own backyard. She has written lifestyle and travel pieces for San Francisco Magazine and Valley Lifestyles magazine, and has been the managing editor of Bay Area Business Woman since 2006. Since contributing to GrassRoutes Northern California Green Road Trip she has lived in London, completing a master’s journalism program, and continues to write and edit in Northern California.

Ilsa Bartlett

Ilsa has been dreaming of California since a young age, making the state her home in 1999. She has previously written on food science and spiritually, and she worked as a journalist on the East Coast. Her blog, Institute for Rewiring the System, focuses on basic breathing meditation.

Cheryl Koehler

Cheryl Angelina Koehler has lived in Oakland for 25 years. She is the editor/publisher of Edible East Bay, a magazine that celebrates the bounty of the East Bay foodshed. Her first book, Touring the Sierra Nevada, was published in 2007 by University of Nevada Press.

Dutsi Bap

Our cheerleader, research assistant, and referee, Dutsi boosts morale and provides support crucial to the GrassRoutes team. When he’s not on the road testing out new locations, he visits local nursing homes to spread joy and fluffiness. He completed therapy dog certification and believes that the meaning of life is to eat roast chicken, run in the park, and take long naps at the feet of our writers. Dutsi also loves our freecycled leather couch!