Past Events - Western Neighborhoods Project

WNP Past Events

Here are some of our recent events. Did you attend? Do you wish you had? Click the title of any event and send us a message about what you thought or a request for a re do.

We're happy to appear at street fairs, festivals, and other community events to show old photos of the neighborhood, give out free booklets, and chat with people about west SF history.

Emiliano Echeverria: Trains into the Outside Lands
Sep 27, 2023 7:00pm-8:30pm (Wednesday) at The Internet Archive

WNP is partnering with our longtime friends and collaborators, Shaping San Francisco, as part of their ongoing 25th anniversary celebration. Join both organizations in this exploration of the deep transit history of the west side of San Francisco. Expect a lively evening featuring the inestimable Emiliano Echeverria, whose knowledge of San Francisco's transportation history is unmatched. Emiliano draws from his remarkable DVD publications on the Steam Railroads of San Francisco and the history of United Railroads to reveal the transit-driven process of "conquering" the outside lands.

The program will be at 7pm at The Internet Archive, 300 Funston Ave. This event is free but donations are appreciated and RSVP is required through Shaping SF; please email shaping[at]foundsf[dot]org

map to: The Internet Archive 300 Funston Avenue
Contact: Shaping San Francisco shaping@foundsf.org
more info: https://www.shapingsf.org/public-talks/index.html#WNP
Fort Miley History Walk(WNP Event)
Sep 23, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday)

Join historian and retired park ranger John Martini for a history walk of little-visited East and West Fort Miley, and the abandoned El Camino Del Mar highway. Highlights include 1890s fortifications at Fort Miley, a quick walk-through of the Veterans Administration hospital campus, and the Octagon House (outside only, sorry).

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 2 hours. Grade: moderate; steep sections of paved roadway. Please note that while we at WNP love animals, we can no longer allow dogs on our walking tours, in order to accommodate the needs of all our guests. Thank you for understanding.

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for WNP members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/701047872057?aff=oddtdtcreator
Who Built Your House?(WNP Event)
Sep 13, 2023 6:00pm-8:30pm (Wednesday) at The Internet Archive

Curious about your San Francisco house? Its age, who built it, and whether anyone famous lived there? Former WNP Board member and historic preservation consultant Richard Brandi will present a how-to tutorial for searching records that may shed light on the history of your house. This is a technical presentation covering various databases and public archival resources. Searching the history of your house is a lot like being a detective: you follow leads and never know exactly what you’ll find!

This event will be held at The Internet Archive, 300 Funston Avenue. Doors open at 6pm; please arrive promptly at 6 if you are interested in taking a short tour of the Internet Archive’s Great Room. The main program will take place downstairs at 6:30pm and run for approximately 1.5 hours, including Q&A. After the main program, a second tour of the Great Room will be offered for those who can’t make the first tour.

Please register through Eventbrite. This program is $20 for WNP Members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $30 for non-members.

map to: The Internet Archive 300 Funston Avenue
Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/who-built-your-house-tickets-698676920477?aff=oddtdtcreator
Point Lobos to Sea Cliff History Walk(WNP Event)
Sep 9, 2023 10:00am-1:00pm (Saturday)

Join historian and retired park ranger John Martini for a semi-strenuous walk along the edge of San Francisco. Our journey will follow the fabled Ferries & Cliff House steam train route along the rugged cliffs of Lands End all the way to Sea Cliff. We’ll return through Lincoln Park and the abandoned roadway El Camino Del Mar. Highlights include an overview of the Cliff House and Sutro Baths area, stories of steam trains and streetcars, incredible vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands, the remains of two shipwrecks (if the tides are right), and the histories of Sea Cliff, Lincoln Park, the Palace of the Legion of Honor and the forgotten graveyards of City Cemetery.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 3 hours. Grade: semi-strenuous; nearly 3 miles of walking that includes several stretches of unpaved trails and stairs. Please note that while we at WNP love animals, we can no longer allow dogs on our walking tours, in order to accommodate the needs of all our guests. Thank you for understanding.

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for WNP members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/701040780847?aff=oddtdtcreator
Fort Mason History Walk(WNP Event)
Aug 26, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday)

Join historian and retired park ranger John Martini for an exploration of Fort Mason’s shady walkways and discover the complex history of this tiny military post. Along the way we’ll see San Francisco’s earliest “subdivision” - a group of snug Gold Rush cottages - plus 1860s army barracks and residences, a Civil War cannon battery, World War II troop embarkation piers, and the site of the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition’s “Joy Zone.”

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 2 hours. Grade: moderate, includes several flights of stairs. Please note that while we at WNP love animals, we can no longer allow dogs on our walking tours, in order to accommodate the needs of all our guests. Thank you for understanding.

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for WNP members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/689428498197?aff=oddtdtcreator
Ashbury Terrace and Ashbury Park (not Ashbury Heights!) History Walk(WNP Event)
Aug 12, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday)

Join former Western Neighborhoods Project board member and historic preservation consultant Richard Brandi for a history walk of two similar-sounding residence parks with very different histories. Ashbury Terrace contains a collection of stately homes. Ashbury Park was launched by a brick manufacturer on Twin Peaks and failed to make it, but some early houses and the Pemberton steps remain. This walking tour is based on Brandi’s book, "Garden Neighborhoods of San Francisco, the Development of Residence Parks 1905-1924," by McFarland Publishing.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 2 hours. Grade: moderate, includes concrete steps with handrails. Please note that while we at WNP love animals, we can no longer allow dogs on our walking tours, in order to accommodate the needs of all our guests. Thank you for understanding.

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for WNP members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/688213353667?aff=oddtdtcreator
Fort Point: From Army Post to Historic Site(WNP Event)
Aug 3, 2023 6:00pm-7:30pm (Thursday)

Called “the fort that never fired a shot in anger,” Fort Point is one of San Francisco’s magnificent but near-hidden treasures. In this online illustrated talk hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP), author and historian John Martini reveals the stories of the fort’s construction, soldiers’ lives during the Civil War, the fort’s stunning architecture, its rescue when the Golden Gate Bridge threatened its demolition, and its restoration as a National Historic Site.

Please register using Eventbrite. This one-hour Zoom program is online only and will include time for Q&A. The program is free with a suggested donation of $10; donations are split evenly between WNP and John Martini. Please RSVP to receive the super-secret Zoom link.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/664251021687
Ingleside Terraces, Westwood Park, and Westwood Highlands History Walk(WNP Event)
Jul 29, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday)

Join former Western Neighborhoods Project board member and historic preservation consultant Richard Brandi for a history walk through three residence parks along Ocean Avenue with different histories and distinctive architecture. The tour will cover the eclectic styles of Joseph Leonard’s Ingleside Terraces (1911), the Craftsman bungalows of Westwood Park (1916), and the Spanish Colonials of Westwood Highlands (1924). This walking tour is based on Brandi’s book "Garden Neighborhoods of San Francisco, the Development of Residence Parks 1905-1924," by McFarland Publishing.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 2 hours. Grade: moderate. Please note that while we at WNP love animals, we can no longer allow dogs on our walking tours, in order to accommodate the needs of all our guests. Thank you for understanding.

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for WNP members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/665644319077
Virtual Paddle Out for Pat Cunneen(WNP Event)
Jul 25, 2023 6:00pm-7:00pm (Tuesday)

Western Neighborhoods Project is staging a Virtual Paddle Out in honor of a local legend who recently passed away: Pat Cunneen

Pat was born in San Francisco and raised in the Sunset District, before leaving to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard and later the Daly City Fire Department. He was passionate about sports and outdoor activities, was a regular at Kelly’s Cove, and was a member of local institutions such as the South End Rowing Club and the Pamakid Running Club (founded by his late wife, Betty). Pat was also an artist, and co-authored the book "South End: Sport and Community at the Dock of the Bay" with Robert Barde.

Please join us on Tuesday, July 25th at 6:00pm; we'll share a brief biography of Pat and then give attendees the mic at the Zoom meeting to share their memories of this special member of our community. The entire program will be recorded and serve as an episode of the WNP podcast, "Outside Lands San Francisco," which will air on Saturday, July 29th.

This event is free but donations to cover recording costs are appreciated. This program is online only; please register through Eventbrite to receive the super-secret Zoom link.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/676339147597
San Francisco: Then and Now(WNP Event)
Jul 6, 2023 6:00pm-7:30pm (Thursday)

In this virtual presentation hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP), author and historian John Martini demonstrates how he uses re-photography of historic images to research such iconic Bay Area sites as Alcatraz Island, Fort Point and Sutro Baths. The show includes dozens of comparison photographs of San Francisco during the 19th century and the same views today, illustrating the dramatic evolution of the city from a wind-blown frontier village to today’s metropolis.

Please register using Eventbrite. This one-hour Zoom program is online only and will include time for Q&A. The program is free with a suggested donation of $10; donations are split evenly between WNP and John Martini. Please RSVP to receive the super-secret Zoom link.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/662721707467
Lincoln Manor History Walk(WNP Event)
Jun 24, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday)

Join former Western Neighborhoods Project board member and historic preservation consultant Richard Brandi for a history walk exploring the Lincoln Manor residence park. Plus! Three other residence parks that never fully made it, but remnants remain: Hillside, Junipero Place, and Sutro Heights. Highlights include a ship captain’s mansion and two 1904 houses with dramatic architecture. This walking tour is based on Brandi’s book "Garden Neighborhoods of San Francisco, the Development of Residence Parks 1905-1924," by McFarland Publishing.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 2 hours. Grade: moderate.

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for WNP members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/641549771637
A Natural History of San Francisco(WNP Event)
Jun 22, 2023 6:00pm-7:30pm (Thursday)

Please join Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) on Thursday June 22 at 6:00pm to experience San Francisco’s amazing natural resources, all from the comfort of your home. Environmentalist, historian, and photographer Greg Gaar will give a virtual presentation covering the history of San Francisco's natural features including sand dunes, grasslands, trees, lakes, creeks, tidal marshes, and rock formations. Greg will also discuss the efforts by government agencies and volunteers to preserve what still remains of the city's natural heritage.

Please register using Eventbrite. This Zoom program is online only and will include time for Q&A. The program is free with a suggested donation of $10. Please RSVP to receive the super-secret Zoom link.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/641529250257
Restoring the Windmills(WNP Event)
Jun 15, 2023 6:30pm-8:30pm (Thursday) at 4 Star Theater

Over the decades, the windmills in Golden Gate Park have seen periods of action, neglect, and renewed life as city landmarks. Join Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) on Thursday, June 15 for a panel discussion and film screening at the 4 Star Theater to celebrate the windmills and learn more about the people that brought them back to life.

Doors open at 6:30pm with plenty of time to purchase WNP merchandise and goodies from the 4 Star concession stand! The program will begin at 7pm with a panel discussion featuring historian and writer Rose Marie Cleese; historian, writer, and restoration activist Don Propstra; and WNP board member and curator Lindsey Hanson - all moderated by WNP Executive Director Nicole Meldahl. Following the panel and Q&A, we’ll screen “A Jitney Elopement” (1915), a Charlie Chaplin short comedy which was filmed on location in San Francisco and features a guest appearance from Murphy windmill.

Please register using Eventbrite. This program is $15 for WNP Members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $25 for non-members. Tickets sales support both WNP and the 4 Star Theater!

Panelist Bios

Rose Marie Cleese is the granddaughter of former San Francisco mayor Angelo Rossi, and the niece of Eleanor Rossi Crabtree. Eleanor was known as “The Windmill Lady” because of her tireless efforts to restore Old Dutch windmill.

Don Propstra’s Dutch heritage compelled him to assemble a team of passionate volunteers to restore the Murphy windmill.

Lindsey Hanson is a graduate of SF State’s Museum Studies M.A. program. Her exhibit, “The Windmill Sentries,” is currently on display in the front windows of WNP’s office at 1617 Balboa Street.

map to: 4 Star Theater 2200 Clement Street
Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/641453603997
Batteries to Bluffs History Walk(WNP Event)
May 27, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday)

Join historian and retired park ranger John Martini for an exploration of the Bay Trail and Coastal Trails skirting the bluff tops of Fort Winfield Scott. We’ll enjoy gorgeous views, walk beneath the girders of the Golden Gate Bridge, see fortifications that guarded the bay from the 1860s through World War II, and peek at the expansive, waiting-to-be-renovated parade ground and barracks at Fort Winfield Scott.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 2 hours. Grade: moderate with some uphill areas.

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for WNP members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/626545312897
"Garden Neighborhoods of San Francisco" Book Party(WNP Event)
May 25, 2023 6:00pm-8:00pm (Thursday) at The Internet Archive

Come celebrate the latest book from author, historian, and former WNP Board member Richard Brandi: "Garden Neighborhoods of San Francisco, the Development of Residence Parks 1905-1924," by McFarland Publishing. Richard will give an illustrated talk on residence park history. What is a residence park, you ask? You may be living in one and not even know it! Between 1905 and 1924, thirty-six such neighborhoods - called residence parks - were proposed or built in San Francisco, mostly on the west side but also reaching the Marina and Visitacion Valley. They featured picturesque streets, landscaping, detached houses, and setbacks to convey the feeling of living in a park. About half of these projects were built. Some of the better-known ones are St Francis Wood, Forest Hill, and Sea Cliff, but there were many others.

Please register through Eventbrite. This program is $10 for WNP Members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event, for $35 plus tax.

Doors open at 6pm for check-in and the main program will begin at 6:30pm, running for approximately one hour. Both before and after the main program, there will be time to mingle, chat, enjoy light refreshments, and have Richard sign your new book!

This event will be held at The Internet Archive, 300 Funston Avenue.

map to: The Internet Archive 300 Funston Avenue
Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/garden-neighborhoods-of-san-francisco-book-party-tickets-588605493877
WNP 24th Birthday Bash(WNP Event)
May 16, 2023 6:00pm-8:30pm (Tuesday) at 4 Star Theater

Put your party hats on because Western Neighborhoods Project is celebrating its 24th Birthday! Naturally, we’re having a very San Francisco evening at the 4 Star Theater on May 16th. Join us at the Richmond District’s beloved neighborhood theater for a live “Outside Lands San Francisco” podcast recording featuring host Nicole Meldahl and special guest Michael Jang.

You won’t want to miss your chance to hear this 2021 Guggenheim fellow talk about his work in the neighborhood. Graduating from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1977, Jang worked on commission as a successful photographer and also captured the vibrant Bay Area punk scene. To us, however, his most compelling body of work is The Jangs (1973) – a series of intimately dynamic family photographs currently on display at SFMOMA in the “Bay Area Walls” exhibition. But you might know these photos better from Jang’s wheat-pastes around the Richmond District, which Eungie Joo, Curator of Contemporary Art at SFMOMA, observed as “impudently inserted into the visual landscape of this once bustling neighborhood, now silenced by COVID-19 and anti-Asian hate, Jang’s gesture was one of solidarity, belonging, and ownership.”

If you haven’t seen the beautifully restored 4 Star and its rotating art gallery, The Hot House, this is the best reason to visit. The evening begins with Happy Hour at 6:00pm, and the seated program starts at 7:00pm. Tickets are $75 each. Each ticket will include beer or bubbles, birthday snacks and treats, and special giveaways! Additional food and beverages will also be available for purchase at the 4 Star concession stand. And we’re not done yet: you will also be able to purchase authentic Cliff House glassware, our brand new souvenir beer koozie, an exclusive commemorative poster, and maybe more (depending on what we can fit in our cars!).

Support your favorite neighborhood history nonprofit and this historic gem with the funnest fundraiser ever! Please purchase tickets through the Eventbrite link, where you’ll find all the details. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available if you’re able to show WNP some extra love!

We can’t wait to party with you in our favorite local theater! Questions? You can email WNP’s Director of Programs, Chelsea Sellin: chelsea@outsidelands.org

map to: 4 Star Theater 2200 Clement Street
Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-24th-birthday-bash-tickets-607843154237
History Walk: Is it Forest Hill Extension?(WNP Event)
May 13, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday)

Join former Western Neighborhoods Project board member and historic preservation consultant Richard Brandi for a history walk through Forest Hill Extension. Part of this area on realtor’s maps contains what was, in 1914, going to be a residence park called El Por-tal Park. Ten years later it was relaunched as Laguna Honda Park but it lost its identity and was lumped with Forest Hill Extension. The adjacent residence parks of Claremont Court, Merritt Terrace, and West Portal Park were subsumed into the Greater West Portal neighborhood. This walking tour is based on Brandi’s book, "Garden Neighborhoods of San Francisco, the Development of Residence Parks 1905-1924," by McFarland Publishing.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 2 hours. Grade: mostly easy; generally level ground except for Edgehill Way

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for WNP members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-history-walk-is-it-forest-hill-extension-tickets-593284398607
Buffalo Soldiers in California(WNP Event)
May 4, 2023 6:00pm-7:00pm (Thursday) at Virtual Event

The Presidio of San Francisco has many stories to uncover from its nearly 250 years of history, but perhaps none have been more mythologized than those of the Buffalo Soldiers. These men - members of all-Black U.S. Army regiments who passed through the city’s ports, were garrisoned on post, and even buried at the Presidio’s National Cemetery - have left an enduring impact on California.

Please join Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) on Thursday May 4, 2023 at 6:00pm to learn more about the surprising history of these segregated regiments during a virtual presentation by Susan D. Anderson, History Curator and Program Manager of the California African American Museum (CAAM). She curated an exhibition at CAAM in 2022 called "For Race and Country: Buffalo Soldiers in California," which confronted the role of Black soldiers in the Army’s history of violence against Native American peoples, explored historical debates in the Black community over participation in American wars, and exposed cracks in a society permeated by racism.

Anderson will highlight the Black soldiers and their families who made California home during an era of government-sanctioned racial segregation in the U.S. military. There is no better way to commemorate the start of National Military Appreciation Month than by pushing beyond enduring myths with Anderson and finding critical statewide context to an essential San Francisco story - all from the comfort of your own home.

Please register through Eventbrite. This one-hour Zoom program is online only and will include time for Q&A. The program is free with a suggested donation of $10; donations are split evenly between WNP and Susan Anderson.

map to: Virtual Event
Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/buffalo-soldiers-in-california-registration-601637673477
Clement Street Pub Crawl(WNP Event)
Apr 29, 2023 2:30pm-5:30pm (Saturday) at Clement Street

Join historian and retired park ranger John Martini and Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) Executive Director Nicole Meldahl for history and drinks in the Inner Richmond! We’ll visit three Clement Street watering holes, where you’ll hear interesting tidbits about our scheduled stops, as well as neighborhood history along the route. Plus, each attendee will receive a WNP history-themed beer can koozie!

Our journey begins at 2:30pm and takes about 3 hours (depending on how much time everyone spends in each bar!). Grade: easy.

Please register through Eventbrite. $20 for members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $30 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

map to: Clement Street San Francisco
Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-clement-street-pub-crawl-tickets-607625523297
Fort Point Trivia Night(WNP Event)
Apr 10, 2023 7:00pm-10:00pm (Monday) at The Little Shamrock

Join Western Neighborhoods Project and Fort Point Beer Co. for the launch of Trivia Night! There will be 6 rounds of questions, prizes, and plenty of room for competitive spirit. Hosted at The Little Shamrock, one of SF's most historic bars, our first theme is all about the history of The Sunset District.

Bring the history buff in your friend group and come ready for plenty of cold, fizzy beer.

See Eventbrite for full details. Trivia will start promptly at 7pm, we suggest arriving by 6:45pm. Team size: 2-6 people. F?REE to attend & play but RSVP encouraged on Eventbrite.

Questions? Contact info@fortpointbeer.com

map to: The Little Shamrock 807 Lincoln Way
Contact: info@fortpointbeer.com
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fort-point-trivia-night-w-wnp-tickets-602815937697?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb
Mountain Lake History Walk(WNP Event)
Apr 8, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday) at Mountain Lake

Join historian and retired park ranger John Martini for a history walk along the edge of the Richmond District. We’ll learn about lake and creek natural history, a Spanish colonialist campground, the Public Health Service hospital and its little-known cemetery, a restored valley, and a former military balloon launch-site.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 1.5 hours. Grade: easy paved walking route but with one long flight of steps.

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

map to: Mountain Lake San Francisco
Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-mountain-lake-history-walk-tickets-525339072307
Golden Gate Park Music Concourse History Walk(WNP Event)
Mar 25, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday) at Golden Gate Park

Join historian and retired park ranger John Martini and Western Neighborhoods Project Executive Director Nicole Meldahl for a guided tour of the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. Few people know that the park once hosted a World's Fair: the nearly forgotten 1894 California Midwinter Exposition. On this walk around the park’s Music Concourse, we’ll visit many locations from the exotic but short-lived Fair, including scattered surviving remnants from 125 years ago.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 1.5 hours. Grade: easy.

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

map to: Golden Gate Park San Francisco
Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-golden-gate-park-music-concourse-history-walk-tickets-525325882857
Presidio Main Post History Walk (WNP Event)
Mar 18, 2023 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday) at Presidio of San Francisco

Join historian and retired park ranger John Martini for a walk through the Main Post of the Presidio of San Francisco, which encompasses more history than any other site within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Learn about the Ohlone people, Spanish colonists, 1906 Earthquake and Fire refugees, Buffalo Soldiers, Japanese Internment, and a dizzying variety of military architecture. Highlights of this mile-long walk include the Presidio Officers Club and Heritage Center, the Inn at the Presidio, the San Francisco Film Institute, and the new Presidio Tunnel Tops project.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and takes about 2 hours. Grade: easy.

Please register through Eventbrite. $10 for members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members. The super secret meeting location will be emailed to you when tickets are purchased. The walk is limited to 30 people.

map to: Presidio of San Francisco San Francisco
Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-presidio-main-post-history-walk-tickets-525245502437
Community History, But Make it Global(WNP Event)
Mar 16, 2023 6:00pm-8:30pm (Thursday) at The Global Museum

Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) and the San Francisco State University Museum Studies Program invite you to a special event at The Global Museum at SF State. Join us on March 16 for an evening all about the power, purpose, and process of community involvement in the work of our respective organizations. Plus, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to see the Museum’s exhibition after-hours and have unique access to artifacts not normally on view.

The Global Museum highlights the power of diverse communities in a globally-connected world. WNP shares the extraordinary stories of the ordinary San Franciscans that make our west side community so vibrant. Our shared focus on community voices means that we go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Event Schedule

6:00pm-7:00pm: light refreshments and mingling; guests are invited to chat with Museum Studies students and faculty while browsing the current exhibit, "Textures of Remembrance: Vietnamese Artists and Writers Reflect on the Vietnamese Diaspora."

7:00pm - 8:00pm: WNP Executive Director Nicole Meldahl in casual conversation with students Russell Nauman and Emma Gunst, and Christine Fogarty, Associate Director of The Global Museum. Together, they’ll chat about the importance of community involvement in collections care and curation, and how that approach is essential to both organizations. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and be part of the conversation.

8:00pm - 8:30pm: last chance to browse the exhibition and mingle.

Details

Please register through Eventbrite. This event is limited to 50 people. Tickets are free for SFSU students and faculty who have the special promo code; $10 for WNP members; and $20 for non-members (but extra donations are always welcome). Proceeds from this event will evenly support both The Global Museum and WNP.

Pandemic-appropriate masks are recommended but not required. Doors open at 6:00pm and the main program will begin at 7:00pm.

This event will be held at The Global Museum, which is located on the San Francisco State University campus, in the Fine Arts Building, Room 203. Room 203 is just inside the main entrance to the Fine Arts building, up the 2nd floor outdoor ramp. See the Eventbrite listing for a map and more info on transit and parking.

About Our Partners

The Museum Studies Program at San Francisco State offers a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies and an undergraduate Minor. Through their classes in the program, students work together in the Global Museum as colleagues, developing exhibits and educational programs, caring for collections, and taking part in all daily operations of the museum.

The Global Museum acts as a teaching lab for the SF State Museum Studies Program, and also stewards several thousand permanent collections on behalf of the University, serving as a resource for the campus community and beyond.

Panelist Bios

Emma Gunst is a 2nd-year M.A. graduate student in the Museum Studies program, as well as a Curiosity Collaborator at the Museum of Science and Curiosity in Sacramento. Emma recently developed a field trip program for K-6 audiences using objects from the ancient Egyptian collections at the Global Museum that included exploring hieroglyph translations.

Russell Nauman is a 2nd-year M.A. graduate student in the Museum Studies program, as well as the Senior Manager of Operations and Exhibits at the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation. Russell served as Curator in Spring 2022’s Exhibition Development class, collaborating with peers to create "Show & Tell: Ordinary Objects, Revealing Stories." This exhibit explored the hidden stories behind ordinary objects that were selected and installed by students in the class, provoking audiences to find meaning in the world around us. Russell is developing a capstone project with the USS Hornet Museum that explores Asian Americans in the military. His exhibit "Other Worlds: The Art of Storytelling" is currently on display in the Global Lab at the Global Museum.

Christine (Abadilla) Fogarty is the Associate Director of the Global Museum and a Faculty Lecturer in the Museum Studies program. Christine developed an original exhibit for the Global Museum between 2020 and 2022, entitled "Clearly Polluted: The Fight for Environmental Justice in the Bay Area." It investigates environmental racism and its ongoing, disproportionate impact on BIPOC communities through photographs and oral history recordings with local activists and advocates conducted between February-April 2021. Most recently, Christine facilitated the Global Museum’s current exhibit "Textures of Remembrance: Vietnamese Artists and Writers Reflect on the Vietnamese Diaspora" in collaboration with SF State student group Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network (DVAN).

map to: The Global Museum 1600 Holloway, Fine Arts Building, Room 203
Contact: Chelsea Sellin chelsea@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-history-but-make-it-global-tickets-546603464677
SOLD OUT Lost Cemetery of Lincoln Park History Walk SOLD OUT(WNP Event)
Oct 29, 2022 5:00pm-7:00pm (Saturday) at Lincoln Park

Few people realize that today's Lincoln Park Golf Course was once "City Cemetery," the final resting place for tens of thousands of San Francisco's dead, including a Chinese burial ground and the municipal paupers' graveyard called Potter's Field.

Join Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) and our pal, historian and retired ranger John Martini, on this twilight exploration and discover forgotten funerary monuments along the golf course fairways. The walk starts at a super-secret location and proceeds along uphill paved paths and across some stretches of lawn before ending at the Palace of the Legion of Honor. Grade is moderate with some uphill sections and lawn.

Tour begins at 5:00pm and is expected to take about 1.5 hours. The super-secret meeting location will be emailed when tickets are purchased: $10 for members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $20 for non-members.

The walk is limited to 30 people and we will follow whatever San Francisco Department of Health regulations are in place at the time.

map to: Lincoln Park San Francisco
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-lost-cemetery-of-lincoln-park-history-walk-tickets-386530301537
Bon Voyage Party for The Museum at The Cliff(WNP Event)
Oct 16, 2022 4:30pm-7:00pm (Sunday) at The Museum at The Cliff

ACT Art Conservation, The Great Highway gallery, and Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) invite you to join us as we say bon voyage to The Museum at The Cliff in the former Cliff House Restaurant and Gift Shop on Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 4:30pm.

It's been an honor to serve you local art and history in this iconic location at the edge of the western world since October 2021, and now it's time for us to move aside so the building can relaunch as a new restaurant under the stewardship of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. But, before we go, we want to party like's it's 1909 (see what we did there??)!

Doors open at 4:30pm and the party will begin with an indoor reception. Guests are invited to experience our special exhibition, Naiad Cove, for the final time while mingling with the people who made it happen. There will be fun refreshments, live music, and a little bit of speechifying as we mark this watershed moment for everyone involved.

The evening will end at sundown, as we all walk outside to toast Ben Wood's projected artworks that illuminate the windows in the former Cliff House Restaurant and Gift Shop one last time!

Using a variety of photographic media, Ben showcases the bohemian surf culture of Kelly's Cove and the vibrant legacy of Playland at the Beach, which once graced Great Highway until its demolition 50 years ago this month. His animated projections bring together newly-digitized and never before seen films and footage from the Prelinger Archives with photographs submitted by members of the public and historic snapshots from the OpenSFHistory Archive.

Tickets are $10 for WNP Members and $20 for Non-Members. Museum volunteers and contributing artists are invited to attend for free. Please use the special promo code you were given in advance when reserving a ticket. Don't have that code?? Email WNP Executive Director Nicole Meldahl (nicole@outsidelands.org) or The Great Highway gallery's John Lindsey (info@greathighway.com) to get that golden ticket.

Tickets are not required to enjoy the final screening of Ben's projections, which are outside and accessible to the public. We hope you can BYOB and join the outdoor party with us as well!

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bon-voyage-party-for-the-museum-at-the-cliff-tickets-424708503567?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
The Museum at The Cliff: Last Hurrah(WNP Event)
Oct 15, 2022 11:00am-5:00pm (Saturday) at The Museum at The Cliff

The Museum at The Cliff's history gallery in the former Cliff House Gift Shop and special exhibition, Naiad Cove, in the former Cliff House Restaurant, are open to the public one final time as we say Bon Voyage to this incredible community creation and sail off into history.
Join us on Saturday, October 15, 11:00am to 5:00pm. Tickets are free but you must register in advance through Eventbrite.

Visitors will begin in the history gallery for an overview of what was once here in this area known as Lands End, with stories told through pieces on display from WNP's Cliff House Collection, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area's Park Archives collection, and the Global Museum at SF State, which has loaned authentic Egyptian artifacts once collected by Adolph Sutro to The Museum. This provides an overview of the Cliff House and Adolph Sutro, as well as his glass palace, the Sutro Baths, and public gardens at Sutro Heights.

With this context in place, visitors will enjoy the special exhibition. Curated by John Lindsey of The Great Highway gallery and Nicole Meldahl, Executive Director of WNP, Naiad Cove is an immersive experience that instills a deeper sense of place by placing site-specific contemporary artworks in conversation with historic artifactsâ€“both in situ with the landscape that created them.

Enter through San Francisco's iconic fog to meet old friends from the Cliff House Collection “the porcelain muses, carved wooden bear, and Playland cowboy“ who will once again greet visitors at the door. Once inside, guests will experience a simulation of the Sutro Baths mezzanine, where you could once explore a museum, relax with friends, or peer into swimming tanks on the lower level. Walking through the former restaurant's bar and bistro, you'll see what it was like to dine at the Cliff House, which was constructed in 1909 but went through several significant transformations as proprietors catered to changing tastes. Then you'll travel along Great Highway, with a rollercoaster ride and a gallery of contemporary photographs on your way to an area that commemorates the 50th anniversary of Playland at the Beach's closure in 1972.

Projections by Ben Wood and immersive sound installations by Andrew Roth of Roth Audio Design throughout Naiad Cove transport you to another era, and kid-friendly activities in both the history gallery and special exhibition hall make this fun for the whole family.

There is nothing more powerful than experiencing this history in place and we look forward to hosting you at the Cliff House once again.

It's been an honor to serve you local art and history in this iconic restaurant since October 2021. Thank you all for being part of this incredible happening.

Thank you to District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development for making this exhibition possible.

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-museum-at-the-cliff-last-hurrah-tickets-424698132547?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
"Great Highway" Movie(WNP Event)
Oct 14, 2022 6:00pm-9:00pm (Friday) at The Museum at The Cliff

Western Neighborhoods Project and The Great Highway gallery are excited to present a very special screening of "Great Highway," a film that documents and celebrates the unique cast of characters who make Ocean Beach so vibrant.

This hour-and-a-half documentary traces the history of San Francisco surfing and the beach lifestyle from past to present, exploring the changes that time reveals. This history is told by those who lived it, from the lifeguards at historic Fleishhacker Pool to surfing pioneer and wetsuit developer Jack O'Neill, to the kids growing up surfing the Bay Area today.

This movie, produced by Krista Howell and directed by Mark Gunson, has been honored at numerous film festivals, and seeing it in the former Cliff House Restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Great Highway is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Krista will introduce the film and also be available for a Q&A session after the screening.

Join us on Friday, October 14th for an incredible evening at The Museum at The Cliff, now in its final week of community programs before it closes forever. Doors open at 6:00pm and attendees are invited to enjoy refreshments while perusing our special exhibition, Naiad Cove, until the screening begins around 6:30pm.

Tickets are $15 (but additional donations are appreciated!)

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/great-highway-movie-tickets-433201406067?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
“Feedback Loop (Medusa Strategy)" by Jennifer Locke(WNP Event)
Oct 13, 2022 6:00pm-9:00pm (Thursday) at The Museum at The Cliff

The Great Highway and Western Neighborhoods Project are excited to present “Feedback Loop (Medusa Strategy),” a site-specific performance at The Museum of The Cliff by San Francisco-based artist Jennifer Locke.
Working in performance, video, installation, and photography, Locke creates physically intense sculptural actions that activate the relationships between camera, audience, and architecture. “Feedback Loop (Medusa Strategy)” is an act of looking backwards—literally and metaphorically—that considers how chain reactions beginning in the past multiply and intensify to create the present.

Join us on Thursday, October 13th for an unforgettable evening that launches The Museum at The Cliff's final week of community programs before we close forever. Doors open at 6:00pm and attendees are invited to enjoy refreshments and live Jazz from the Fake Melody duo while perusing our special exhibition, Naiad Cove, an an indoor reception until the performance begins after sunset at 7:30 p.m. Then, Locke will generate a ritualized circumnavigation of the Cliff House to manifest a transformative time portal on this Western-most cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean with the help of cameras, projectors, and rear-view mirrors.

Tickets to the indoor reception are $10 for Western Neighborhoods Project members and $25 for non-members. The performance, which is outdoors, is free for the public to attend.

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/feedback-loop-medusa-strategy-by-jennifer-locke-tickets-433189149407?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Residence Parks of West Portal by ShapingSF
Oct 1, 2022 12:00pm-3:00pm (Saturday) at The Great Outdoors at West Portal

You may be living in a residence park and not know it. Between 1905 and 1924, 36 residence parks were planned or launched in San Francisco, with picturesque streets, landscaping, detached houses, and setbacks to convey the feeling of living in a park. Only a few are well known such as St Francis Wood, Forest Hill, and Seacliff. The developers were colorful characters who left a legacy of attractive, landscaped neighborhoods that have lasted more than 100 years.

Author, West Portal resident, and former WNP Board Member Richard Brandi will lead a bike tour for ShapingSF based on his new book, Garden Neighborhoods of San Francisco, the Development of Residence Parks 1905-1924, by McFarland Publishing.

You will see upwards of 10 residence parks in the greater West Portal and Ocean Avenue areas. The 2-hour bike ride will have multiple stops so Richard can point out the unique figures of each neighborhood. The route is on city street and is not too steep. There are no restrooms on the route.

This event is co-sponsored by WNP and ShapingSF. RSVP required in advance by emailing shaping [at] foundsf [dot] org.

map to: The Great Outdoors at West Portal San Francisco
Contact: Hardworking Historians shaping [at] foundsf [dot] org
Combo Curator Tour of Naiad Cove(WNP Event)
Sep 23, 2022 6:00pm-8:00pm (Friday) at The Museum at The Cliff

Join us for a special evening hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project in the former Cliff House Restaurant when The Museum at The Cliff is closed to the public. We will serve you complimentary refreshments as John Lindsey of The Great Highway gallery and WNP Executive Director Nicole Meldahl lead you on an art and history curator's tour of the contemporary art and historic artifacts they chose to feature in "Naiad Cove."

The Museum at The Cliff's special show, "Naiad Cove" is an immersive exhibition that showcases the mythical heritage of Lands End and Ocean Beach by placing site-specific contemporary artworks in conversation with historic artifacts--both in situ with the landscape that created them.

The artifacts on display have far more complex stories than we can tell in small captions. Nicole Meldahl will explain the secrets behind her selections and provide entertaining anecdotes about all things on display related to Sutro Baths, Cliff House, and Playland-at-the-Beach. But, of course, a key part of this experience centers on contemporary photography. John Lindsey has included fourteen submissions from local photographers that explore the landscape surrounding the Cliff House, placing them within a long lineage of photographers who also came to the coast with a camera in hand. Additional works on loan from The Great Highway gallery highlight the intersection of land and water, and foster a deeper connection to this unique part of San Francisco.

You're getting two curators for the price of one! This program is $10 for Western Neighborhoods Project members and $20 for non-members. Doors to The Museum will open at 6:00pm on Friday, September 9, 2022. The curator's tour will begin at 6:15pm and is expected to take about 45 minutes. Afterwards, attendees are invited to explore the full exhibition or simply hang out, sip a beverage, and enjoy the view.

The Museum at The Cliff closes on September 25, 2022 so this is your last chance to experience "Naiad Cove" with the folks who poured their blood, sweat, and tears into it. And we look forward to hosting you for the final time!

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/combo-curators-tour-of-naiad-cove-tickets-411647838767?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Sutro Heights History Walk(WNP Event)
Sep 17, 2022 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday) at Sutro Heights

Join Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) for this in-person scenic and historic walk led by our pal John Martini through his old stomping grounds at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

John's tour brings Sutro's "Pleasure Grounds" alive and recreates the area San Franciscans long considered their very own seaside wonderland. The walk, which features an easy grade with one uphill section and one area of unpaved paths, will include an overview of the Cliff House and ruins of Sutro Baths, Sutro's midway of Merrie Way, and a loop walk through Sutro Heights, the faded formal estate of San Francisco mayor and Comstock millionaire Adolph Sutro.

Tour begins at 10:00am and is expected to take about 1.5 to 2 hours. The super-secret meeting location will be emailed when tickets are purchased: $10 for members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees!) and $20 for non-members.
The walk is limited to 30 people and we will follow whatever San Francisco Department of Health regulations are in place at the time.

map to: Sutro Heights San Francisco
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-sutro-heights-history-walk-tickets-386531384777
WNP History Happy Hour with Kristine Poggioli and Carolyn Eidson(WNP Event)
Sep 14, 2022 6:30pm-8:30pm (Wednesday) at The Museum at The Cliff

History Happy Hours hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) are now in-person!
Join Nicole Meldahl and Chelsea Sellin as they enjoy adult beverages while chatting with local historians, artists, longtime west side residents and other surprise guests on Wednesday evenings at The Museum at The Cliff.

On Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 6:30pm, we invite you to the former Cliff House Restaurant at 1090 Point Lobos Avenue for complimentary refreshments and a casual discussion with Kristine Poggioli and coauthor Carolyn Eidson--the first people known to have walked San Francisco's historic 49 Mile Scenic Drive (over one year, not it one day: sheesh!).

They did it by dividing the route into 17 neighborhood walks. Wanting to share this with other fun-loving people who love San Francisco, they researched the history along each mile of the Drive and turned their adventure into a turn-by-turn walking guidebook, cleverly titled: Walking San Francisco’s 49 Mile Scenic Drive.

Then, they challenged San Francisco to walk it too! Did the challenge succeed? Did they uncover any shocking SF history? How did their marriage survive while writing a book together? What is the 49 Mile Scenic Drive? So many questions...so many secrets to be spilled. Bring your questions, too, and be part of this friendly conversation as the authors tell us all about their adventure. It'll be a hoot!

Doors open at 6:30pm for check-in and the main program will begin at 7:00pm, running for approximately one hour. Afterwards, guests are free to explore our newest exhibition, "Naiad Cove," or simply hang out, mingle, and enjoy the view.
This program is $10 for WNP Members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $30 for non-members. If you aren't part of the WNP family already, you can fix this problem by joining WNP for the low low price of $50 a year.
Plus, for this event only, we have a special offer...If you donate $20 to WNP in advance, the authors will give you a signed book. BUT if you donate $100 to WNP in advance, the authors will give you a signed book AND an 18x22-inch metal replica of the iconic seagull SIGN! How cool is that?!

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-history-happy-hour-with-kristine-poggioli-and-carolyn-eidson-tickets-411420749537?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
WNP Curator Tour of Naiad Cove(WNP Event)
Sep 10, 2022 6:00pm-8:00pm (Saturday) at The Museum at The Cliff
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Join us for a special evening hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project in the former Cliff House Restaurant when The Museum at The Cliff is closed to the public. We will serve you complimentary refreshments as WNP Executive Director Nicole Meldahl guides you through historic art and artifacts she chose to feature in "Naiad Cove."

The Museum at The Cliff's special show, "Naiad Cove" is an immersive exhibition that showcases the mythical heritage of Lands End and Ocean Beach by placing site-specific contemporary artworks in conversation with historic artifacts--both in situ with the landscape that created them.

The artifacts on display have far more complex stories than we can tell in small captions. Nicole will explain the secrets behind her selections and provide entertaining anecdotes about all things on display related to Sutro Baths, Cliff House, and Playland-at-the-Beach.

This program is $10 for Western Neighborhoods Project members and $30 for non-members. Doors to The Museum will open at 6:00pm on Friday, September 9, 2022. The curator's tour will begin at 6:15pm and is expected to take about 45 minutes. Afterwards, attendees are invited to explore the full exhibition or simply hang out, sip a beverage, and enjoy the view.

Time is running out to see "Naiad Cove" after hours. The Museum at The Cliff closes on September 25, 2022! The tour is limited to 40 people so snag your tickets soon.

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture 50th Anniversary Open House
Sep 10, 2022 11:00am-1:00pm (Saturday) at Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture

The Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture at the San Francisco Botanical Garden is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with an open house on Saturday, September 10, from 10am-4:00pm!

There will be a book sale featuring hundreds of gently used plant and gardening titles; an exhibition titled "From Sand Dunes to Forest: Canopy Trees of Golden Gate Park;" hourly raffles, and all kinds of fun for all ages.

Our own Nicole Meldahl will take part with a storytime that starts at 11:00am. She'll read a very special book from the Library and then everyone gets to put their imaginations to work with vintage crafts for kids.

This event is absolutely free and no registration is required. Masks are strongly recommended for all attendees over the age of 2.

map to: Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture 1199 9th Avenue
Contact: Library Director: Brandy Kuhl library@sfbg.org
more info: https://sfbg.secure.force.com/ticket/#/events/a0S6Q00000UQYRZUA5
The Great Highway Curator Tour of Naiad Cove(WNP Event)
Sep 9, 2022 6:00pm-8:00pm (Friday) at The Museum at The Cliff

Join us for a special evening hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project in the former Cliff House Restaurant when The Museum at The Cliff is closed to the public. We will serve you complimentary refreshments as John Lindsey of The Great Highway gallery leads you on a curator's tour of the contemporary art he chose to feature in "Naiad Cove."

The Museum at The Cliff's newest activation, "Naiad Cove" is an immersive exhibition that showcases the mythical heritage of Lands End and Ocean Beach by placing site-specific contemporary artworks in conversation with historic artifacts--both in situ with the landscape that created them.

A key part of this experience centers on contemporary photography. John Lindsey has included fourteen submissions from local photographers that explore the landscape surrounding the Cliff House, placing them within a long lineage of photographers who also came to the coast with a camera in hand. Additional works on loan from The Great Highway gallery highlight the intersection of land and water, and foster a deeper connection to this unique part of San Francisco.

This program is $10 for Western Neighborhoods Project members and $30 for non-members. Doors to The Museum will open at 6:00pm on Friday, September 9, 2022. The curator's tour will begin at 6:15pm and is expected to take about 45 minutes. Afterwards, attendees are invited to explore the full exhibition or simply hang out, sip a beverage, and enjoy the view.

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-great-highway-curators-tour-of-naiad-cove-tickets-411643716437?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
WNP History Happy Hour with San Francisco Neon(WNP Event)
Sep 7, 2022 6:30pm-8:30pm (Wednesday) at The Museum at The Cliff

History Happy Hours hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) are now in-person!
Join Nicole Meldahl and (sometimes) Chelsea Sellin as they enjoy adult beverages while chatting with local historians, artists, longtime west side residents and other surprise guests on Wednesday evenings at The Museum at The Cliff.

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 6:30pm, we invite you to the former Cliff House Restaurant at 1090 Point Lobos Avenue for complimentary refreshments and a casual discussion with Randall Ann Homan and Al Barna of San Francisco Neon. This dynamic duo advocates for the artistic legacy of historic neon signs in San Francisco by helping to actively preserve survivors in the city, as well as hosting tours, talks, and other events, including an annual international festival and symposium called Neon Speaks. We adore them and their work and are so excited to chat about what they've been up to lately, some of their favorite neon signs, and more.

Doors open at 6:30pm for check-in and the main program will begin at 7:00pm, running for approximately one hour. Afterwards, guests are free to explore our newest exhibition, "Naiad Cove," or simply hang out, mingle, and enjoy the view.
This program is $10 for WNP Members (and we absorb your Eventbrite fees) and $30 for non-members. Plus, for this event only, an extra $8 donation means you can go home with your very own Trad'r Sam enamel pin!
If you aren't part of the WNP family already, you can fix this problem by joining WNP for the low low price of $50 a year.

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-history-happy-hour-with-san-francisco-neon-tickets-405927529167?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Projection Party at The Museum at The Cliff(WNP Event)
Sep 3, 2022 6:00pm-9:00pm (Saturday) at The Museum at The Cliff

Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) is thrilled to premiere new artwork by Ben Wood animating local history at The Museum at The Cliff on Saturday, September 3, 2022.

This installation will illuminate windows in the former Cliff House Restaurant facing east, overlooking the lower terrace and Ocean Beach. Using a variety of photographic media, Ben will showcase the bohemian surf culture of Kelly's Cove and the vibrant legacy of Playland at the Beach, which once graced Great Highway until its demolition 50 years ago this month. His animated projections bring toghether newly-digitized and never before seen films with photographs submitted by members of the public and historic snapshots from the OpenSFHistory Archive.

And if you can believe it, this work is a companion piece to Ben's projection illuminating three northerly-facing windows of the former Cliff House Gift Shop with diverse cenes of the Cliff House and connected sites that has been showing nightly from sundown to 10:00pm since December 2021! What better way to celebrate Labor Day Weekend than by celebrating the artistic labor of Ben Wood, his indispensable collaborator, Rick Bellamy, and everyone who contributed to the piece than by joining us for a Projection Party?!

The party begins with a Fancy Pants Reception inside The Museum from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Guests at the Reception will receive complimentary refreshments and have access to the special exhibition, "Naiad Cove," while enjoying the fabulous accompaniment of the Aloha Uke Squad. Then, we'll move outside to see the projection which will be viewed from the lower terrace after sundown, beginning at 8:00pm(ish). Here, members of the general public will join us to see Ben's projection for the first time.

Tickets to the Fancy Pants Reception, which will take place inside The Museum at The Cliff from 6:00-8:00pm, are $15 for WNP Members and $30 for Non-Members. The screening will be outside and is free to the public but reservation in advance is appreciated. You can BYOB and register now by selecting "I Wanna See Ben's Projection!"

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Avenue
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/projection-party-at-the-museum-at-the-cliff-tickets-402113661787
The Great Highway Curator Tour of Naiad Cove(WNP Event)
Aug 26, 2022 6:00pm-8:00pm (Friday) at The Museum at The Cliff

Join us for a special evening hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project in the former Cliff House Restaurant when The Museum at The Cliff is closed to the public. We will serve you complimentary refreshments as John Lindsey of The Great Highway gallery leads you on a curator's tour of the contemporary art he chose to feature in "Naiad Cove."

The Museum at The Cliff's newest activation, "Naiad Cove" is an immersive exhibition that showcases the mythical heritage of Lands End and Ocean Beach by placing site-specific contemporary artworks in conversation with historic artifacts--both in situ with the landscape that created them.

A key part of this experience centers on contemporary photography. John Lindsey has included fourteen submissions from local photographers that explore the landscape surrounding the Cliff House, placing them within a long lineage of photographers who also came to the coast with a camera in hand. Additional works on loan from The Great Highway gallery highlight the intersection of land and water, and foster a deeper connection to this unique part of San Francisco.

This program is free for Western Neighborhoods Project members and $30 for non-members. Doors to The Museum will open at 6:00pm on Friday, August 26, 2022. The curator's tour will begin at 6:15pm and is expected to take about 45 minutes. Afterwards, attendees are invited to explore the full exhibition or simply hang out, sip a beverage, and enjoy the view.

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Avenue
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-great-highway-curators-tour-of-naiad-cove-tickets-388895726587
SOLD OUT WNP History Happy Hour with Woody LaBounty SOLD OUT(WNP Event)
Aug 24, 2022 6:00pm-8:00pm (Wednesday) at The Museum at The Cliff

History Happy Hours hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) are now in-person!

Join Nicole Meldahl and Chelsea Sellin as they enjoy adult beverages while chatting with local historians, artists, longtime west side residents and other surprise guests on Wednesday evenings at The Museum at The Cliff.

On August 24, 2022 at 6:00pm, we invite you to the former Cliff House Restaurant at 1090 Point Lobos Avenue for complimentary refreshments and a casual discussion with Woody LaBounty, WNP's co-founder and lifelong San Francisco historian. Guests will hear Woody talk about his newest venture, San Francisco Story, and share some of his favorite Cliff House stories (naturally). We encourage you to wear your best hat in honor of Mr. LaBounty's iconic fedora, but the presence of a jaunty hat will not be required.

Doors open at 6:00pm for check-in and the main program will begin at 6:30pm, running for approximately one hour. Afterwards, guests are free to explore our newest exhibition, "Naiad Cove," and the history gallery in the former Cliff House Gift Shop or simply hang out, mingle, and enjoy the view.

This program is free for WNP Members and Friends of Woody. Members of the general public can purchase tickets for $30 each. If you aren't part of the WNP family or a registered friend of Woody, you can fix this problem by joining WNP for the low low price of $50 a year and/or joining the San Francisco Story squad for just $70 a year.

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-history-happy-hour-with-woody-labounty-tickets-388907782647
Cliff House & Sutro Baths History Walk(WNP Event)
Aug 20, 2022 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday) at The Cliff House

Join Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) as we explore the fabled Cliff House and the ruins of Sutro Baths on this in-person history walk led by historian John Martini.

We'll venture around the Cliff House to learn about the history of San Francisco's most incendiary landmark (poof!). The Baths visit will include a steep walk downhill into the ruins to visit the mysterious tunnels through Point Lobos, followed by an uphill climb to the old Sky Tram overlook where we'll see the wave catch basin constructed by Adolph Sutro that trapped Pacific waves and sent roiling seawater to the Baths.

Our two-hour tour begins at 10:00am and please note that the grade is strenuous with steep downhill sections, unpaved trails, stairs, and walking across sandy areas. The super-secret meeting location will be emailed when tickets are purchased: $10 for members and $20 for non-members. Each ticket includes a complimentary pass to see "Naiad Cove," WNP's new special exhibition on view at The Museum at The Cliff after the walk.

The walk is limited to 30 people and we will be following whatever San Francisco Department of Health regulations are in place at that time.

map to: The Cliff House 1090 Point Lobos Avenue
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-cliff-house-sutro-baths-history-walk-tickets-386478275927
The Great Highway Curator Tour of Naiad Cove(WNP Event)
Aug 19, 2022 6:00pm-8:00pm (Friday) at The Museum at The Cliff

Join us for a special evening hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project in the former Cliff House Restaurant when The Museum at The Cliff is closed to the public. We will serve you complimentary refreshments as John Lindsey of The Great Highway gallery leads you on a curator's tour of the contemporary art he chose to feature in "Naiad Cove."

The Museum at The Cliff's newest activation, "Naiad Cove" is an immersive exhibition that showcases the mythical heritage of Lands End and Ocean Beach by placing site-specific contemporary artworks in conversation with historic artifacts--both in situ with the landscape that created them.

A key part of this experience centers on contemporary photography. John Lindsey has included fourteen submissions from local photographers that explore the landscape surrounding the Cliff House, placing them within a long lineage of photographers who also came to the coast with a camera in hand. Additional works on loan from The Great Highway gallery highlight the intersection of land and water, and foster a deeper connection to this unique part of San Francisco.

This program is free for Western Neighborhoods Project members and $30 for non-members. Doors to The Museum will open at 6:00pm on Friday, August 19, 2022. The curator's tour will begin at 6:15pm and is expected to take about 45 minutes. Afterwards, attendees are invited to explore the full exhibition or simply hang out, sip a beverage, and enjoy the view.

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Avenue
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-great-highway-curators-tour-of-naiad-cove-tickets-388873550257
History Happy Hour with Reino Niemela Jr.(WNP Event)
Aug 17, 2022 6:00pm-8:00pm (Wednesday) at The Museum at The Cliff

History Happy Hours hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) are now in-person!

Join Nicole Meldahl and (sometimes) Chelsea Sellin as they enjoy adult beverages while chatting with local historians, artists, longtime west side residents and other surprise guests on Wednesday evenings at The Museum at The Cliff.

On Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 6:00pm, we invite you to the former Cliff House Restaurant at 1090 Point Lobos Avenue for complimentary refreshments and a casual discussion with Reino Niemala Jr.. His father, Rey Niemala Sr., was an artist and designer who began working for the Whitney Family in the 1930s and was responsible for all the hand-painted signage at Playland at the Beach. "Naiad Cove" is the first expansive exhibition of his work thanks to Reino's generoisty. Guests will hear Reino talk about his dad, his memories of Playland, and more!

Doors open at 6:00pm for check-in and the main program will begin at 6:30pm, running for approximately one hour. Afterwards, guests are free to explore our newest exhibition, "Naiad Cove," or simply hang out, mingle, and enjoy the view.
This program is free for WNP Members and $30 each non-members. If you aren't part of the WNP family already, you can fix this problem by joining WNP for the low low price of $50 a year.

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-history-happy-hour-with-reino-niemela-jr-tickets-390634467207
WNP History Happy Hour with Patrick Moser(WNP Event)
Aug 10, 2022 6:00pm-8:00pm (Wednesday) at The Museum at The Cliff

History Happy Hours hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) are now in-person!

Join Nicole Meldahl and (sometimes) Chelsea Sellin as they enjoy adult beverages while chatting with local historians, artists, longtime west side residents and other surprise guests on Wednesday evenings at The Museum at The Cliff

On Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 6:00pm, we invite you to the former Cliff House Restaurant at 1090 Point Lobos Avenue for complimentary refreshments and a casual discussion with author Patrick Moser. Guests will hear Patrick talk about his book, "Surf & Rescue: George Freeth and the Birth of California Beach Culture," its connection to Sutro Baths and San Francisco, and how he got interested in the subject in the first place!

Doors open at 6:00pm for check-in and the main program will begin at 6:30pm, running for approximately one hour. Afterwards, guests are free to explore our newest exhibition, "Naiad Cove," or simply hang out, mingle, and enjoy the view.

This program is free for WNP Members and $30 each non-members. If you aren't part of the WNP family already, you can fix this problem by joining WNP for the low low price of $50 a year.

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-history-happy-hour-with-patrick-moser-tickets-390576824797
Surf & Rescue: George Freeth and the Birth of California Beach Culture(WNP Event)
Jul 28, 2022 6:00pm-7:30pm (Thursday) at Virtual Event

Western Neighborhoods Project is thrilled to host a virtual author talk by Patrick Moser, who recently published "Surf & Rescue: George Freeth and the Birth of California Beach Culture," on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at 6:00pm.

"Surf & Rescue" is about a mixed-race Hawaiian athlete named George Freeth who brought surfing to Venice, California in 1907. Over the next twelve years, Freeth taught Southern Californians to surf and swim while creating a modern lifeguard service that transformed the beach into a destination for fun, leisure, and excitement.

Patrick Moser places Freeth's inspiring life story against the rise of the Southern California beach culture he helped shape and define. Freeth made headlines with his rescue of seven fishermen, an act of heroism that highlighted his innovative lifequarding techniques. But he also founded California's first surf club and coached both male and female athletes, including Olympic swimming champion and "father of modern surfing" Duke Kahanamoku.

Moser's work contextualizes the surf history we've long held dear at Kelly's Cove on Ocean Beach, and the book also features several photographs from our OpenSFHistory Archive. Hear how Freeth and Kahanamoku are connected to Sutro Baths and San Francisco and so much more.

This online event is free but you do need to register in advance and donations are always appreciated.

map to: Virtual Event San Francisco
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/surf-rescue-george-freeth-and-the-birth-of-california-beach-culture-tickets-386546851037
The Museum at The Cliff: Now Showing, Naiad Cove(WNP Event)
Jun 25, 2022 11:00am-5:00pm (Saturday)
Sep 25, 2022 11:00am-5:00pm (Sunday) at The Museum at The Cliff

The Museum at The Cliff's history gallery in the former Cliff House Gift Shop and special exhibition, Naiad Cove, in the former Cliff House Restaurant are open to the public on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays),11:00am to 5:00pm, from June 25, 2022 until September 25, 2022. Although we encourage you to regularly visit our Events Page to see a list of special programs held at The Museum on weekdays and evenings.

Visitors will begin in the history gallery for an overview of what was once here in this area known as Lands End, with stories told through pieces on display from WNP's Cliff House Collection, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area's Park Archives collection, and the Global Museum at SF State, which has loaned authentic Egyptian artifacts once collected by Adolph Sutro to The Museum. This provides an overview of the Cliff House and Adolph Sutro, as well as his glass palace, the Sutro Baths, and public gardens at Sutro Heights.

With this context in place, visitors will enjoy the special exhibition. Curated by John Lindsey of The Great Highway gallery and Nicole Meldahl, Executive Director of WNP, Naiad Cove is an immersive experience that instills a deeper sense of place by placing site-specific contemporary artworks in conversation with historic artifactsâ€“both in situ with the landscape that created them.

Enter through San Francisco's iconic fog to meet old friends from the Cliff House Collection “the porcelain muses, carved wooden bear, and Playland cowboy“ who will once again greet visitors at the door. Once inside, guests will experience a simulation of the Sutro Baths mezzanine, where you could once explore a museum, relax with friends, or peer into swimming tanks on the lower level. Walking through the former restaurant's bar and bistro, you'll see what it was like to dine at the Cliff House, which was constructed in 1909 but went through several significant transformations as proprietors catered to changing tastes. Then you'll travel along Great Highway, with a rollercoaster ride and a gallery of contemporary photographs on your way to an area that commemorates the 50th anniversary of Playland at the Beach's closure in 1972.

Projections by Ben Wood and immersive sound installations by Andrew Roth of Roth Audio Design throughout Naiad Cove transport you to another era, and kid-friendly activities in both the history gallery and special exhibition hall make this fun for the whole family.

There is nothing more powerful than experiencing this history in place and we look forward to hosting you at the Cliff House once again.
Tickets are free but you must register in advance through Eventbrite.

Thank you to District 1 Supervisor Connie Chan and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development for making this exhibition possible.

map to: The Museum at The Cliff 1090 Point Lobos Ave
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-museum-at-the-cliff-tickets-351326465917
Steam Trains, Shipwrecks, and Statues History Walk(WNP Event)
Jun 11, 2022 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday) at Lands End

Join us for this in-person history walk led by our pal John Martini through his old stomping grounds at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The wild northwest corner of San Francisco known as Lands End will be highlighted in this moderately strenuous walk. Along the way weâ€™ll follow the right of way for the famous â€œFerries & Cliff Houseâ€ steam train, see the remains of the oil tanker SS Lyman Stewart that wrecked in 1922, visit the site of the vanished community of Ocean Terrace, and explore the once-lavish grounds of Adolph Sutroâ€™s estate of Sutro Heights.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and is expected the to take about 2 hours. The super secret meeting location will be emailed when tickets are purchased: $10 for members and $20 for non-members. Please register through Eventbrite.

The walk is limited to 30 people and we will follow whatever San Francisco Department of Health regulations are in place at the time.

map to: Lands End San Francisco
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-steam-trains-shipwrecks-statues-history-walk-tickets-252270757627
Residence Parks of San Francisco with Richard Brandi(WNP Event)
Jun 2, 2022 6:30pm-7:30pm (Thursday) at Online

Recently, the State Historic Resources Commission voted to nominate St. Francis Wood as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. It's a remarkably intact residence park featuring homes by some of San Francisco's most significant architects and a landscaping plan conceived by the Olmstead Brothers. But what exactly is a residence park and what's the deal with these racist covenants you might be hearing about?

Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) has answers for you. Join us on Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 6:30pm via Zoom for a virtual history talk by Richard Brandi, former WNP board member and author of the book "Garden Neighborhoods of San Francisco: The Development of Residence Parks, 1905-1924."

In that time period, residence parks were either planned or created with picturesque streets, landscaping, detached houses, and setbacks to convey the feeling of living in a park. St Francis Wood, Forest Hill, Seacliff, and Ingleside Terraces are all residence parks, which were located mostly on the west side of San Francisco, with a few on Twin Peaks, the Outer Mission, the Marina, and Visitation Valley. Learn about how these neighborhoods came to be and their complicated but colorful history from the man who literally wrote the book on this subject.

This WNP event is free but donations are appreciated, and you must register in advance via Eventbrite. We're trying a new event registration format for this program so bear with us as we learn together. If you have any questions about this event or problems receiving the link, please email Executive Director Nicole Meldahl.

map to: Online San Francisco
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-franciscos-residence-parks-with-richard-brandi-tickets-336678814397?keep_tld=1
Fort Funston History Walk(WNP Event)
May 28, 2022 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday) at Fort Funston

Join us for this in-person history walk led by our pal John Martini through his old stomping grounds at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Fort Funston is more than hang gliders and dog walkers. It began its history as San Franciscoâ€™s most remote (some said desolate) military fort in 1900. From World War I to the Cold War, the sandy post featured barracks, massive gun emplacements, trenches, antiaircraft guns, and NIKE missiles that protected the southern approach to San Francisco Bay. Today, the remains of many of these fortifications lie buried beneath the cityâ€™s last large expanse of natural dunes.

Our journey begins at 10:00am and is expected to take about two hours. This is a moderately difficult walk with terrain that includes walking unpaved and sandy areas. The super secret meeting location will be emailed when tickets are purchased: $10 for WNP members and $20 for non-members. Please register through Eventbrite.

The walk is limited to 30 people and we will follow whatever San Francisco Department of Health regulations are in place at the time.

map to: Fort Funston San Francisco
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-fort-funston-history-walk-tickets-252259694537
Giving My Father Back His Name: Talk and Book Signing with Jerry Strauss
May 21, 2022 1:00pm-3:00pm (Saturday) at de Young Museum

This talk will illuminate and celebrate the life of Dewald Strauss, portrayed by Alice Neel in her painting Fuller Brush Man. In this talk and book signing, Jerry Strauss will share the true story behind the painting of his father, a Holocaust survivor and door-to-door salesman. Book signing to follow.

This event is put on by the Public Programs team at the de Young Museum and is not a WNP event. It will be held in the Koret Auditorium at the de Young on May 21, 2022 at 1:00pm. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis an hour before the lecture begins in front of the Auditorium. Free exhibition tickets will be available onsite. Seating is limited and unassigned.

Can't join us in person? You can watch the livestream on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfYMP1FoFPlxUwed1BkWz5Q
About the Speaker: Jerry Strauss has always loved music, art, and a good story. As a longtime employee of The Met, he had the chance to experience art on a daily basis. One day, during a TED event at the museum, he got an opportunity to tell the story of his dad, a Holocaust survivor, war hero, and subject of the very famous portrait Fuller Brush Man by Alice Neel. That story evolved into his book, Giving My Father Back His Name, which teaches us that there is a profound tale behind every picture.

About the Exhibition: Alice Neel (1900â€“1984) was one of the centuryâ€™s most radical painters, a champion of social justice whose longstanding commitment to humanist principles inspired her life as well as her art. Alice Neel: People Come First is the first comprehensive West Coast retrospective of Neelâ€™s work. The award-winning exhibition includes paintings, drawings, and watercolors, along with additional artworks and media exclusive to the San Francisco presentation.

Neel spent most of her life in New York City, and her work testifies to the diversity, resilience, and passion of the people she encountered there. The exhibition includes depictions of Neelâ€™s neighbors in Spanish Harlem, political leaders, queer cultural figures, activists, and mothers, along with a diverse representation of nude figures, including visibly pregnant women. Neel's "pictures of people" embody a rare candor and irreverence. Together they emphasize her belief in the dignity and worth of all individuals, a view that remains critical to the social and cultural politics of our time.

COVID-19 Guidance: Masking is strongly recommended, but no longer required for members of the public or employees while in the museum.

map to: de Young Museum 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
Contact: de Young Public Programs publicprograms@famsf.org
more info: https://deyoung.famsf.org/calendar/giving-my-father-back-his-name-talk-and-book-signing-jerry-strauss-0
WNP Gala 2022!(WNP Event)
May 15, 2022 6:00pm-10:00pm (Sunday) at The Clubhouse at Presidio Golf Club

Join us for a celebration of all things Outside Lands at our annual fundraising benefiting Western Neighborhoods Project!

April 15, 2022 ONLY: In honor of 4-1-5 Day, we're doing a flash sale of early bird tickets. These discounted tickets will be available starting on April 14, 2022 at 11:30pm and the sale will end at Midnight on 4/15. Don't delay, get your tickets today and we'll also cover the Eventbrite fees for you!

We're thrilled to FINALLY be able to hold our biggest party of the year and we're doing it in style. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its closing, our 2022 gala will have a Playland-at-the-Beach theme. We'll provide passed appetizers and a hearty meal, complimentary wine, and of course all kinds of entertainment. You won't want to miss this special evening where you can greet neighbors and make new friends, maybe see old classmates, and even spot some local history "celebrities."

JUST ANNOUNCED. Program highlights include but are not limited to: performances by the Golden Gate Park Band; west side merchandise for sale as well as special raffle and silent auction items available for bid; and the first-ever presentation of our Founders' Award to our co-founder, Woody LaBounty, now Vice President of Advocacy and Public Programs for San Francisco Heritage, and our History Hero Award to Palma You and Steve Haines of the Chinese Historical Society of America for their tireless work on our collaborative project, "Chinese in the Richmond."

We hope you'll join us on Sunday, May 15th at 6:00pm at The Clubhouse at the Presidio Golf Club. Tickets are $225 each plus Eventbrite fees. All tickets purchased (and not previously refunded) for our cancelled gala in 2020 will be honored at this event.

You can also sponsor a student seat for the event, make a donation to our silent auction, or fully co-sponsor our biggest night of the year; see full sponsorship details at https://www.outsidelands.org/gala or email Executive Director Nicole Meldahl, nicole@outsidelands.org

COVID-19 Policy: we will be following guidance from the San Francisco Department of Public Health at the time of the event. Please be prepared to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 24-hours of the event if it's necessary. Thank you for helping us to ensure this is a safe and worry-free gala!

map to: The Clubhouse at Presidio Golf Club 300 Finley Road
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-gala-2022-tickets-267177203207
SFPL Presentation: Uprooting Chinatown
May 9, 2022 7:00pm-8:00pm (Monday) at SFPL Virtual Library

Sponsored by the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, Ranger Hector Falero, Education Program Manager at Fort Point National Historic Site, will lead a discussion of the uprooting of San Franciscoâ€™s Chinatown in several instances throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, highlighting the places in the Presidio where segregated camps existed for Chinese and Chinese Americans escaping the damage of the 1906 Earthquake.

Unable to make the live Zoom event? You can also watch it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW3iZCHGTGM

This is not a WNP hosted event but is too amazing not to share. It is free but you do need to register in advance in order to receive a Zoom link. Please use the link in the more info field below to register.

Questions about the program or problems registering? Contact sfplcpp@sfpl.org. For accommodations (such as ASL interpretation or captioning), call (415) 557-4400 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 72 hours in advance will help ensure availability.

map to: SFPL Virtual Library San Francisco
Contact: sfplcpp@sfpl.org
more info: https://sfpl-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lP7FEm64SQeCGKWfXMDJsg
SFPL Presentation: Introductory Family History Research
May 6, 2022 2:00pm-3:30pm (Friday) at SFPL Virtual Library

Sponsored by the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, this is an introductory session on how to access and use the San Francisco Public Libraryâ€™s resources, genealogical databases, online tools and government records to trace your Asian American ancestors.

Learn how to conduct genealogical research and find people using billions of records of U.S. census data, vital records, directories, old photos and government records. This workshop is ideal for beginners, students and novice researchers.

This is not a WNP hosted event but is too amazing not to share. It is free but you do need to register in advance in order to receive a Zoom link. Please use the link in the more info field below to register.

Questions about the program or problems registering? Contact sfplcpp@sfpl.org. For accommodations (such as ASL interpretation or captioning), call (415) 557-4400 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 72 hours in advance will help ensure availability.

map to: SFPL Virtual Library
Contact: nbemgr@sfpl.org
more info: https://sfpl-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_92dXpHxoRFa9OoJm85Ip-A
Ingleside Gallery Storytelling Night
Apr 30, 2022 5:00pm-6:00pm (Saturday) at Ingleside Gallery

To celebrate the closing weekend of their current show, "Inside/Outside Lands," the Ingleside Gallery is hosting a Storytelling Night on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 5:00-6:00pm.

The Ingleside Gallery is an artist-run gallery at 1507 Ocean Avenue operated by artist-curators Shrey Purohit and Neil Ballard. They feature works from emerging and mid-career artists to celebrate the beauty in life that is all around us. And we at WNP love their community approach to west side art and culture.

The April group show features still lifes, landscapes and portraits by forty artists from the Bay Area and beyond. To close out this show in anticipation of next month's installation, "Visions for the Future" (accepting submissions now), they're hosting an evening of storytelling by Don Collier, Clayton Curtice, Nik Greene and Geri Hunt.

This is not a WNP-hosted event, just an awesome program we felt you needed to know about. It is free but the Gallery would like you to register in advance using the link provided in the More Info field below.

map to: Ingleside Gallery 1507 Ocean Avenue
more info: https://www.inglesidegallery.com
Among the Ruins with Jim Ganz
Apr 30, 2022 10:00am-11:00am (Saturday) at Legion of Honor Museum

Jim Ganz, a contributor to the recently published book Among the Ruins: Arnold Gentheâ€™s Photographs of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Firestorm, will provide an overview of the multi-year curatorial and conservation initiative that resulted in many new discoveries concerning Arnold Gentheâ€™s powerful body of work. Ganz will also revisit some of the key sites that Genthe photographed on April 18, 1906 using the artistâ€™s images and other contemporary resources.

This lecture is sponsored by the Achenbach Graphics Arts Council and is not a WNP event. It will be held in the Gunn Theater at the Legion of Honor museum on April 30, 2022 from 10:00-11:00am. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis an hour before the lecture begins in front of the Theater. Seating is limited and unassigned.

Can't join us in person? You can watch the livestream on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfYMP1FoFPlxUwed1BkWz5Q

About the Speaker: Jim Ganz has been senior curator and department head of photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum since 2018, when he left his position as curator at the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts which he held for a decade. During his tenure in San Francisco, he was responsible for numerous exhibitions and publications, including Jewel City: Art from San Franciscoâ€™s Panama-Pacific International Exposition shown at the de Young museum in 2015. Prior to his time in San Francisco, he was curator of prints, drawings, and photographs at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He has a doctorate in art history from Yale University.

COVID-19 Guidance: Masking is strongly recommended, but no longer required for members of the public or employees while in the museum.

map to: Legion of Honor Museum 100 34th Avenue
Contact: Achenbach Graphic Arts Council agac@famsf.org
more info: https://legionofhonor.famsf.org/calendar/among-ruins-jim-ganz
Total SF presents: An evening with Emperor Norton(WNP Event)
Apr 28, 2022 6:30pm-7:30pm (Thursday) at Mannys

Manny's and the Total SF team will be recording a live podcast that showcases the rich history of the Bay Area by highlighting Joseph Amster.

Weâ€™ll celebrate Norton I., Emperor of the United States, whose life and love of San Francisco continues to resonate 204 years after his birth, while recording a live Total SF podcast. Chronicle columnist Heather Knight and culture critic Peter Hartlaub will be joined by Joseph Amster, who celebrates the Emperor and his city by taking on his persona and giving tours through his business Emperor Nortonâ€™s Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine.

Also joining Hartlaub and Knight is Western Neighborhoods Project board president Arnold Woods (subbing in for executive director Nicole Meldahl), who will help us mine the history of the Emperor and his era of San Francisco. Expect good vibes, trivia, prizes, images from the San Francisco Chronicle archive and audience participation as we pay tribute to the Emperor â€” and we fire up our time machines to talk about which eras of San Francisco weâ€™d like to visit the most.

Manny's never turns away anyone for lack of funds. To receive a complimentary ticket just email the word "grapefruit" and the title of this event angelina@welcometomannys.com. Otherwise, tickets are a sliding scale from $5-$12. See link below.

About Total SF: A San Francisco culture podcast featuring celebrity guests, non-celebrity guests, personalities from the San Francisco Chronicle and a celebration of Bay Area life. Hosted by culture critic Peter Hartlaub and columnist Heather Knight and recorded on the streets, hilltops, parks and landmarks of San Francisco. The pair's focus on the whimsy and wonder of San Francisco began in 2018 when they rode every bus, train, cable car and street car in the city in one day. They believe in highlighting the eccentric characters, independent bookstores, burger joints and bars that make the bay so great.

map to: Mannys 3092 16th Street
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/total-sf-presents-an-evening-with-emperor-norton-tickets-315720547657
Paddle Out for Bill Hickey
Apr 24, 2022 11:00am-7:00pm (Sunday) at Kellys Cove

On March 16, 2022, Western Neighborhoods Project and The Great Highway gallery staged a Virtual Paddle Out in honor of Bill Hickey, a local legend who recently passed away. Now his daughters, Amber and Jennifer, are holding the real deal to remember and celebrate the life of their father

If you don't know, Bill Hickey worked at the original O'Neill surfshop on Wawona Street in the Sunset District. He began making surfboards in the late 1950s and eventually opened his own shop in 1964. His name pops up in just about every interview from our Kelly's Cove oral history series spearheaded by Woody LaBounty, and the west side simply won't be the same without him. Listen to Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Episode #452 to learn more.

Please join Amber Brosnan and Jennifer Hickey along with other members of the Ocean Beach community at Kelly's Cove at 11:00am for the actual paddle out and a small celebration on April 24, 2022. A reception will be held afterwards at the United Irish Cultural Center at Wawona Gates.

This event is not hosted by WNP and we have no hand in its organization, it just feels right to spread the word. As always, we're here to hold your memories if you'd like to share them with us.

map to: Kellys Cove Ocean Beach
Native Plant Sale at Sutro Nursery
Apr 16, 2022 10:00am-2:00pm (Saturday) at Sutro Native Plant Nursery

It's planting season! California native plants create habitat for local birds, bees, and butterflies and are well adapted for our San Francisco climate. Help support the Sutro Nursery by picking out the perfect additions to your garden.

Since 2006, Sutro Stewards have mobilized volunteers to build trails, remove invasive species, and grow and install native plants. Their mission is to build community, connect people with nature, and protect and enhance Mount Sutro, one of the city's wildest and most beautiful green spaces. Their work conserves habitat through ecological restoration and native plant propagation while providing recreational opportunities in the UCSF Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve.

Who wouldn't want to support an organization like this?! Be sure to join Sutro Stewards at their native plant nursery to purchase local plants for your garden on Saturday, April 16, 2022 from 10:00am through 2:00pm. All proceeds from the plant sale help to support their nursery operations and increasing biodiversity on Mount Sutro.

Masks are required to enter the nursery and they recommend you bring a box to carry out plant pots. Cash, card, and check are accepted. Parking is available in spaces directly above the nursery marked "Aldea Center Parking Only" in red. Additional street parking available along Clarendon Avenue at Johnstone Drive.

map to: Sutro Native Plant Nursery 476 Johnstone Drive
Contact: Nursery Manager abigail@sutrostewards.org
more info: https://www.sutrostewards.org/event-details/native-plant-sale-at-sutro-nursery
NOW VIRTUAL Presidio Main Post History Walk (WNP Event)
Apr 16, 2022 10:00am-12:00pm (Saturday) at The Interwebs

Join Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) for this NOW VIRTUAL history walk led by our pal John Martini through his old stomping grounds at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

The Main Post of the Presidio of San Francisco encompasses more history than another other site within the GGNRA: Ohlone people, Spanish colonists, Buffalo Soldiers, Japanese Internment. Highlights of this mile-long walk include the newly renovated Presidio Officers Club and Heritage Center, the Inn at the Presidio, the San Francisco Film Institute, and the new Presidio Tunnel Tops project.

Originally intended as an in-person history walk, we've pivoted to a live Zoom presentation due to a historian injury. We apologize for any disappointment or inconvenience. Refunds for the walk will be made upon request.

This online event is now free but donations are still appreciated and will go directly to John Martini. You must register in advance to receive the super secret Zoom link. Our journey begins at 10:00am and is expected the to take about 2 hours..

map to: The Interwebs San Francisco
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wnp-presidio-main-post-history-walk-tickets-252254288367
Saving The San Francisco Earthquake Shacks(WNP Event)
Apr 14, 2022 6:00pm-7:30pm (Thursday) at The Interwebs

To commemorate the 116th anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire on April 18th, Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) is hosting a Zoom program that highlights the tireless efforts to identify and preserve surviving refugee cottages, alternately referred to as "shacks."

Over 5,600 cottages were constructed by the Relief Corporation's Department of Lands and Buildings at 11 refugee camps across the city to house those left homeless by one of San Francisco's worst disasters. When the camps closed, nearly 5,340 were relocated and repurposed but now only a handful of certified "shacks" are still standing.

Join us via Zoom on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 6:00pm as we speak with Jane Cryan, whose successful efforts to preserve a complex of several shacks at 1227 24th Avenue (City Landmark #171) has evolved into a lifetime passion. Cryan was also instrumental in saving the shacks on display at the Presidio of San Francisco and she was our first phone call when WNP launched its own successful compaign to save endangered shacks on Kirkham Street in 2002. And we'll have Woody LaBounty, former Executive Director of WNP and current Vice President of Advocacy and Programs for San Francisco Heritage, to regale you with tales from this community effort.

More recently, Cryan has been a critical advisor for the San Francisco Planning Department's effort to survey and document the remaining shacks. We'll have Preservation Planner Melanie Bishop with us to explain how the Earthquake Shacks Theme Document, which was adopted in November 2021, came together and how it fits into the broader mission of the Citywide Cultural Resource Survey & Landmarks Team.

Don't miss this opportunity to chat with San Francisco's most famous "Cottage Lady" and hear what the Planning Department is doing to provide historic context for a rapidly changing city. This event is free but donations are appreciated, and you do need to register in advance in order to receive your Zoom link.

map to: The Interwebs San Francisco
Contact: Nicole Meldahl nicole@outsidelands.org
more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saving-the-san-francisco-earthquake-shacks-tickets-304221975117