

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

Nov 30, 2025 • 31min
585: Short Stack No. 21
Nicole and Rebekah are back with another Short Stack, live at Tennessee Grill! Tune in as they chat about what brought them to this beloved neighborhood spot—and why they love it—before diving into “On This Day” stories from 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.

Nov 23, 2025 • 1h 16min
584: Alice Eastwood
Nicole and Rebekah explore the remarkable life of botanist Alice Eastwood and the lasting impact she left on the California Academy of Sciences and San Francisco.

Nov 16, 2025 • 50min
583: Short Stack No. 20
Nicole and Rebekah return for another Short Stack to break down the big news about the Cliff House donation and revisit some moments from the recent WNP Family Dinner at Celia’s by the Beach.

Nov 2, 2025 • 45min
582: Short Stack No. 19
Nicole and Rebekah return for another Short Stack! Nicole shares her thoughts and hopes for the preservation of the historic Mother’s Building — formerly part of Fleishhacker Pool — before the pair dive into “On This Day” articles from 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.

Oct 26, 2025 • 1h 15min
581: The Path of Gold Streetlamps
Nicole and Drew explore how a few of Market Street’s iconic “Path of Gold” lamps found their way to Lands End, and uncover the fascinating history behind these glittering symbols of San Francisco’s past.

Oct 11, 2025 • 59min
448R: Presidential Visits to the Outside Lands
Attention was always lavished on US Presidents when they visited Downtown SF. But it was even more notable when they traveled to the West Side. Former WNP Board President, Arnold Woods, shared his research for an article he penned on presidential visits to the Outside Lands in this classic episode rebroadcast.

Oct 4, 2025 • 43min
580: Short Stack No. 18
Nicole and Rebekah return with another Short Stack, as Nicole shares takeaways from her recent trip to Los Angeles and how it has shaped her opinion on the future of development in San Francisco. They also discuss their current reading picks — The Last Madame and Who Killed Jane Stanford — before exploring “on this day” stories from 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.

Sep 27, 2025 • 1h 11min
579: Ocean Beach Treasure Hunt
Nicole and Drew uncover the fascinating tale of an 1890s treasure hunt at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach—a spectacle that gripped the city and sparked unexpected chaos. Join them as they explore the frenzy, the mystery, and the colorful characters drawn to the sand in search of fortune.

Sep 20, 2025 • 57min
578: Short Stack No. 17
Nicole and Rebekah return from vacation with another Short Stack: Rebekah shares insights from her current read “Strangers in the Land,” Nicole talks about her plans for OpenSFHistory and what makes the program special, and together they explore fascinating “on this day” stories from 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.

Aug 31, 2025 • 1h 17min
577: Its It Ice Cream with Peter Hartlaub
Nicole is joined by SF Chronicle’s Peter Hartlaub to dive into the delicious history of It’s-It Ice Cream sandwiches. From their origins at Playland at the Beach to the people who helped turn them into the Bay Area icon found on store shelves today, they trace the story of how a local treat became a beloved classic.


