
Outside Lands San Francisco
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.
Latest episodes

Dec 25, 2021 • 44min
443: Santa Claus Association
Unlike today's SantaCon, Mabel Hawkin's Santa Claus Association does not involve scores of drunken Kris Kringles. Instead, the Association was a charity group that distributed thousands of gifts to San Francisco's children. This week, Nicole and Michael provide the inspiring story behind this groundbreaking endeavor.

Dec 11, 2021 • 55min
442: West Side Art and Artists
This week, we resume the topic of West Side Artists with guest, John Lindsey, owner of The Great Highway Gallery.

Nov 27, 2021 • 59min
441: The Museum at The Cliff
If you haven't already visited the Museum at The Cliff, where we are displaying many of the Cliff House and Sutro Baths historical items successfully won at action - get to it! We're open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 - 4:00 PM located at the Cliff House Gift Shop. The Museum would not have been possible but for the herculean effort by our podcast guests: Alexandra Mitchell of ACT Art Conservation and John Lindsey of The Great Highway gallery in collaboration with Western Neighborhoods Project. Hear how a magical series of events had to fall into place to bring the Museum into existence.

Nov 13, 2021 • 40min
440: GGIE art at City College of San Francisco
As a World's Fair, the Golden Gate International Expo, held on Treasure Island in 1939-40, brought together exhibits from all over the globe. One exhibit featured artists (both notable and unknown) creating their art, some of which visitors could actually purchase. Some of the commissioned works were destined to be displayed at City College. This week, Nicole and Michael talk about the GGIE artists and their work on display at CCSF.

Nov 6, 2021 • 22min
178: 50th Anniversary of the Sutro Baths Fire (Repodcast)
Have you visited our Museum at The Cliff? Through mid-April 2022, see artifacts from the Cliff House and Sutro Baths, now on display (Thurs-Sun) in our free pop up museum at the former Cliff House Gift Shop. Some pieces were saved, first from the fire at the Sutro Baths (the topic of this podcast) and again more recently when a fundraising effort allowed Western Neighborhoods Project to acquire these items at auction.

Oct 24, 2021 • 27min
265: Sutro Women (Repodcast)
Museum at the Cliff is now open! Our pop up museum is open Friday-Monday (11:00 - 4:00 PM) at the former Cliff House gift shop until mid-April 2022. https://www.outsidelands.org/Event/500. In celebration (and because we're crazy busy) we're repodcasting Cliff House and Adoph Sutro-related episodes. This week's podcast is on Adolph Sutro's women.

Oct 9, 2021 • 33min
386: The Cliff House Project (Repodcast)
In celebration of the upcoming Fall 2021 opening of WNP's Museum at the Cliff and assuming stewardship of the Cliff House Project web site (www.cliffhouseproject.com), we're repodcasting this episode with the site's founder, Gary Stark to talk about his organization and share some fascinating facts about the ever evolving, west side landmark.

Sep 24, 2021 • 60min
439: Pacific Rod and Gun Club
Not long ago, the sound of shotguns echoed around Lake Merced. Until 2015, skeet shooting at the Pacific Rod & Gun Club was a regular occurrence. This week, Nicole and Michael explore the Club's origins and colorful history on the shores of Lake Merced.

Sep 11, 2021 • 1h 8min
438: Miniature Mansions Makers
Elizabeth Larke Blodgett, mother and passionate supporter of returning Great War soldiers, took her doll house making hobby to incredible levels. One masterpiece miniature house, has been featured at the Emporium downtown and at the Cliff House, Nicole and Michael are joined by a very special guest and Elizabeth's granddaughter, Janet Dyer.

Aug 27, 2021 • 50min
437: AP Giannini Middle School
AP Giannini Middle School was one of many SF schools built in the 1950s to educate the growing baby boomer generation. Originally part of the Sunset Community Center, the school was named after a well known financier and San Francisco icon. This week, sharpen your #2 pencils as Nicole and Michael take you back to school.