

Outside Lands San Francisco
Western Neighborhoods Project
Nicole Meldahl and a rotating cast of hosts from the Western Neighborhoods Project (outsidelands.org / OpenSFHistory.org) share San Francisco west side neighborhood history with humor, a real fact or two, and much-better-informed occasional guests.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 23, 2025 • 59min
576: Short Stack No. 16
Nicole and Rebekah give a peek behind the scenes at WNP, sharing exciting new technical updates, Nicole’s appreciation for the volunteers who make it all possible, and her hopes for working together in the future. They also journey through San Francisco Examiner articles from this day 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.

Aug 16, 2025 • 1h 10min
575: Observatories of Golden Gate Park
Join Drew and Nicole as they dive into Nicole’s latest research rabbit hole, exploring the fascinating history of Golden Gate Park’s observatories, with a focus on the original Beach Chalet and the stories behind it.

Aug 9, 2025 • 47min
574: Short Stack No. 15
Rebekah shares stories and curiosities from her night tabling at Cal Academy NightLife, Nicole discusses the closure of the CPB and what it means for communities, and together they dive into San Francisco headlines from on this day 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.

Aug 2, 2025 • 1h 5min
472R: Playland Memories Part 1
Originally recorded around the 50th anniversary of Playland’s closing, this episode revisits cherished memories from those who experienced it in their youth, as Nicole, Arnold, and some wonderful guests share their stories.

Jul 26, 2025 • 31min
573: Short Stack No. 14
Rebekah dives into the summer slowdown, and Nicole shares some surprising discoveries about her home, before the two explore San Francisco Examiner headlines from July 26th, 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.

Jul 19, 2025 • 1h 35min
572: Jason Moore of BAM
Nicole sits down with WNP Film Club partner Jason Moore of Bay Area Movies to discover their shared love for San Francisco, past and present. Hear about Jason’s Bay Area upbringing, the magic of neighborhood theaters, and why there’s still so much to appreciate about the city today.

Jul 12, 2025 • 46min
571: Short Stack No. 13
Join Nicole and Rebekah for another Short Stack as they catch up on life lately and dive into San Francisco Examiner articles from this day 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago!

Jul 5, 2025 • 1h 14min
570: The Surf Theater
Join Nicole and Drew as they explore the history of the Surf Theater—a beloved Outer Sunset landmark once located at 46th and Irving—and the vibrant community and memorable figures who brought it to life.

Jun 28, 2025 • 37min
569: Short Stack No. 12
Join Nicole and Rebekah for another Short Stack as they share what’s been catching their attention lately, what they’ve been working on, and take a trip through time with news articles from this day 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago!

Jun 21, 2025 • 59min
467R: Chet Helms & the Family Dog
In 1969, Chet Helms opened a new music venue called the Family Dog. Located in the building formerly known as the Ocean Beach Pavilion and later, Topsy's Roost, the Family Dog featured performances by bands that epitomized the late 60s/early 70s like the Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Santana, and more.