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Mansions in Pacific Heights-SF Tour-Alta Plaza Pk.to Lafayette Pk.
Sat, May 23, 5:30 PMDon't be a No-show and lose your membership in the group. Attendance is taken. **We are meeting on the sidewalk at the intersection of Jackson St. & Pierce St., SF, along the north-side of Alta Plaza Park.** (There is a restroom near the top of the Park.) There is available free **parking** around the neighborhood and no restriction on weekends/holidays. (There is always parking on the very steep streets and usually around Alta Plaza Park for example.) To find a spot quickly look on the steep hilly street of Pierce between Jackson & Pacific Ave, 90 degree parking on the west side of the street here. The tour is a little longer than in the past with some new additions as we may make our way from the far west side of the tour at Vallejo & Normandie (where photo above was taken) to Lafayette Park to the east and return to where we started. (Unless lunch intervenes as we cross Fillmore on the return.) After the tour visit Fillmore St. where there are lots of shops, restaurants, coffee houses, bars and bakeries and today. You're welcome to join for lunch. My go to place is, La Mediterranee other places, Mayflower Market for sandwiches, Janes across the street at Fillmore & Sacramento St. Or About midway through the tour we'll stop for a break atop Lafayette Park. The strange 19th century tale of Samuel Holladay and how he got away with building his mansion on the highest point in Pacific Hts., even though his residential real estate "empire", **was atop and within Lafayette Park**. This is a true tale and will be told with some of the old photos. They'll be restrooms at the Park and views and we'll describe the surrounding heritage Victorian houses as time allows, but making our way back through some of the best examples of remaining Victorians in SF. Pacific Heights is best known for being one of the most affluent neighborhoods in San Francisco. This tour highlights the architecture, and some of the people who built, occupied and maintained these grand properties. About 30 of which will be on our tour with a few sentences of information about each property. The walking tour is 3 miles. With the usual SF hills. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Looking at a San Francisco Victorian, what to look for:** *(There are five Styles)* 1. Flat front Italianate- (earliest Victorians). 2. Italianate with slanted bay windows. 3. San Francisco Stick Style (also called East Lake). Simpler square bay windows now used. Overall more elaborate decoration. 4. Queen Anne Tower House&Witches Cap, with angled or rounded bay windows & front gable 5. Queen Anne Row House"Cottage", 1, 1-1/2 or two stories. Large front gable. Possible moon-gate entry. * Features & "Gingerbread" * Floral Decor-Garlands (one of many types of decorations known as \*"Gingerbread") * Fish scale&Diamond shingles- * Towers & Witch's Cap- * Stained Glass or Beveled Glass- * Carvings of grotesque faces- * Sunbursts- often painted gold color, half or full. * Gables (Queen Anne's) in a variety of material- (mainly redwood) * Newel Posts and Finials on Tower tops and roof peaks- We'll see clusters of Victorian homes systematically built for the average working person by a development company, "The Real Estate Assoc." THEA, in business from 1870 to 1880. Not quite magnificent but many still standing. *Periods* **1860 - 1870s *Italianate*:** Buildings were vertical in emphasis with rounded classical detail. Earliest had flat windows, with false roof fronts. **1880s *Stick Style* (also called East Lake):** Squared off bay windows appear. **Late 1880s and 1890s *Queen Anne*** : Gingerbread would be applied to both the Stick and Queen Ann styles in San Francisco. Sloping roofs appear. With gables and towers. *Rooflines in the Queen Anne were irregular, combining the witches hat rooftop on a rounded or octagonal tower*. Following the Victorians the next major architectural style were the Period Revival residences popular in the 1920s and 1930s. [If you would like a scholarly and detailed explanation with photos, click.](https://sfplanning.org/sites/default/files/documents/preserv/bulletins/HistPres_Bulletin_18.PDF)
Architecture, Design & Drinks — June 2026
Sat, May 30, 1:00 AMArchitecture, Design & Drinks is a casual monthly gathering for people who work in, around, or are inspired by design. We meet on the last Friday of each month to unwind, trade ideas, and connect. No agenda, no pressure. Whether you’re an architect, designer, creative, or simply design-curious, this is an easy way to expand your circle and have meaningful conversations in a relaxed setting. New faces are always welcome. Grab a drink, join the conversation, and stay as long as you’d like.
Haight-Ashbury-History/Culture,Victorians & Walk to Eastside of Golden Gate Park
Sun, Jul 5, 5:15 PMPARKING tips! Parking is not a big problem where we are meeting. (No parking restrictions on weekends, but check the signs.) The higher up the hill you go the more available parking. There are three parts to today's tour. We'll do an hour or so of the Haight's Victorians and local early history, like where the bands lived, and the counter-culture movement here. There was a Calif.League professional baseball park on Stanyan bet. Haight & Waller in 1890. (Then the Hippies of the 1960s) Taking a walk down Haight St. remembering the counter-culture movement and hippie days of the 1960s. (If you want to take a deep dive into what happened in SF in those days, [click here](https://sfplanning.org/project/citywide-historic-context-statement#completed) and once there, look on the right side under the *Cultural heading* and click, "**Citywide Historic Context Statement for Counter-Culture (1965-1975)**, Third we'll walk into the eastern end of GG Park for a walk and a little touring there. Total distance about four miles. (We'll stop at the Music Concourse band shell for lunch. I always get the clam chowder from Sam's Chowder House food truck. (highly recommended) It always seems most attendees go their separate way from here. There's a lot going on at this location, two museums, Japanese Tea House, SF Botanical Garden, Stowe Lake etc. It's popular to take a tour of the SF Botanical Garden from here and/or you are welcome to head back with me from here. (Please don't be a no-show.) It's good to give out name tags which I do. I'll fill out the name tags just before I leave for the tour. This also gives me an opportunity to take attendance. Name tags that are not picked up, are recorded as no-shows. (Be sure to pick up your name tag.) If you get too many no-shows recorded in your personal Meet-up profile, you'll have to be cancelled from this Meetup. Also booking multiple Meetup Events on the same day and time is cause for immediate cancellation. (To cancel your Event RSVP in advance, look for the, **"Edit Attendance"** tab at the bottom right hand corner of the screen.) The Victorians in the Haight are some of the most elaborate in San Francisco. What follows goes into the research done for the tour. It may be of interest if you like the details? For a detailed history of about six Victorian houses near the tour, click the link, [(Detailed info 1071 Page St. & 21 Baker St.)](https://archive.org/details/victorianallianc00unse_13/page/6/mode/2up?view=theater) etc. Additionally the Victorian Alliance of SF, archive link, also has two pages of history, each, about the following houses along or near our route: 23 Baker St. 110 Lyon St. 1283 Page St. 1461 Page St. There are ten officially designated city and national landmarks in the area. 301 Lyon, Clunie House 1111 Oak, Phelps House 1153 Oak, Mish House Stanyan Park Hotel The Four Seansons Painted Ladies on Waller St. bet. Masonic & Delmar. Northwest corner at 1410 Haight St. (Location of one of the first head shops. An historic site, designated as a national landmark, now donated and maintained by a non-profit.) **\*Don't be a no-show. *See the Group's no-show policy below.*** Don't be a no-show and lose your membership in the Group. *Attendance is always taken and no-shows recorded.* The Haight, historically called an "electric streetcar suburb", was least affected by the '06 earthquake and fires. And was almost fully built out by then. Imagine what it must have been like when there were row after row, of these new, exuberant creations. Sparkling new in the bright San Francisco sunshine. Baseball was being played at a baseball stadium at Stanyon & Haight, starting in 1885, for the California Baseball League. Roughly over 48,000 Victorians were built in SF, (1860s to 1890s), with about a third remaining. Bay Area entrepreneurship with the wealth of the best building material, old growth **redwood**, a driving force? *The information below is provided if you are interested in more details about SF Victorian architecture.* **Looking at a San Francisco Victorian, what to look for:** *(There are five Styles)* 1. Flat front Italianate- (earliest Victorians). (French 2nd Empire appear) 2. Italianate with slanted bay windows. 3. San Francisco Stick Style (also called East Lake). Simpler square bay windows now used. Overall much more elaborate decoration, ornament and gingerbread used. 4. Queen Anne Tower House&Witches Cap, with angled or rounded bay windows & front gable 5. Queen Anne Row House, 1, 1-1/2 or two stories. Large front gable. Possible moongate entry. Features & "Gingerbread" Type of Entry & Doorway(maybe a rounded or partial Moongate entry)- Decorative Ironwork- Floral Decor-Garlands (one of many types of decorations known as \*"Gingerbread") Fish scale&Diamond shingles- Towers & Witch's Cap- Stained Glass or Beveled Glass- Carvings of grotesque faces- Sunbursts- often painted gold, half or full. Gables (Queen Anne's) in a variety of material- (mainly redwood) Newel Posts and Finials on Tower tops and roof peaks- [If you would like a scholarly and detailed explanation with photos, click.](https://sfplanning.org/sites/default/files/documents/preserv/bulletins/HistPres_Bulletin_18.PDF)
Presidio Heights, SF, Architectural Heritage Tour & nearby Presidio Hike
Sun, Jun 14, 5:30 PM***\*Don't be a No-Show*** *and have your membership in the Group canceled. See the,\*No-Show policies at the bottom.* This tour highlights not only the diversity of the architecture, but also the mix of architects and people who built, occupied and maintained these grand properties. About 50 of which are on our tour today, including Presidio Terrace. I also have some ephemera we can see to get a feel for what life was like here about ninety years ago. Here are some links if you would like to help with Meetup expenses. [Here is a Venmo link.](https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3262702482882560580&created=1757371525), for my account. Here is my Paypal account. '[herrmann48@comcast.net'](http://herrmann48@comcast.net'/) The walking tour covers approximately 15 blocks (3.0 - 4.0 miles of walking). Afterwards there are a couple of interesting dining spots at Divisadero and California Sts., *Patisserie & Dynasty Dumpling.* Both are good options for lunch. **But sometimes it's fun to try something different, Hinodeya Ramen Bar at 1737 Buchanan St.** I know where to find parking, no worries. So join me afterwards. They also have a location just off Chestnut St. at 3340 Steiner St. This location looks more luxe with nice outdoor seating and more tables. Same menu. The House Ramen or Spinach soup seems like the go to's! ($17.00.) By the way Chestnut St. seems to have a lot of new and unique restaurants if you have a good suggestion that you've actually tried and recommend, let me know. Lots of walking today, about three miles, but mostly level. (On Sundays we'll pass by the **[Swedenborgian Church of San Francisco](https://sfswedenborgian.org/history/)** at the end of our walk. A weekly Sunday tour of this early Arts & Crafts gem is offered at 1:00pm. We'll stop by and take a look. See some of the art there in the photos here.) We're meeting at the intersection of Baker St & Vallejo. Very ample parking on the nearby streets. We always manage to find a relatively clean porta-pottie nearby. But we do pass restrooms on our side hike through the Presidio. *\*(Don't be a no-show.)* It's good to give out name tags which I do. I fill out the name tags 24hrs. before for the tour. This also gives me a way to take attendance. Name tags that are not picked up, are recorded as no-shows. If you get too many no-shows recorded in your personal Meet-up profile you'll have to be cancelled from this Meetup. (To cancel your RSVP beforehand (must be at least 24 hrs. before the Event or a No-show is recorded.), so look for the, **"Edit Attendance"** tab at the bottom right hand corner of the screen.) *Please ask your guests to join the Meetup, otherwise they can't attend.* [Here are several photos, including inside the house at Presidio and Pacific, the house pictured above.](https://www.compass.com/listing/3198-pacific-avenue-san-francisco-ca-94123/1291319997995710705/) Popular architectural genres in the early development of Presidio Hts.- At the time of its development around 1905, the **brown shingle, Arts & Crafts style** was popular. Known as the First Bay Traditional or Regional style we'll see this genre in evidence at the beginning of the tour. (Be sure to take a look at the four photos here of a great example of this type of architecture.) Presidio Hts. was an early hot bed of this style, led by the Swedenborgian Church nearby and Its founding pastor, Rev. Joseph Worcester who is credited with building the first Bay Area brown shingle house in Piedmont, in 1876. **1895 the 1910 *Edwardian and Colonial Revival:*** The continued elaboration of ornament and facade shapes reached its height in the early 1890s as the the Victorian era ended. After that there was a gradual move towards simplicity and away from excess and toward, order. Eccentricity gave way to strict conventions, quiet lines and understated quality materials. Money now made understatement its chief method of display. Style was no longer measured in pounds of gingerbread ornament per square foot, but in elegant proportions and an air of conservatism. (Julia Morgan lived nearby at Washington & Divisadero. There are four JM houses on today's tour.)
East Bernal Hts. Walking Tour-Via Stair Path & SF Vernacular Architecture
Wed, Jun 10, 5:30 PM(Photo above: *Family moving "their" earthquake Cottage from Precita Park up to Bernal Hts.,1907. Occupants could keep the government provided, Union built cottage they had lived in after the earthquake, if the rent was up to date. Sometimes charged $100. for the cottage. But land values had bottomed after the earthquake. Rows of these, painted, park bench green, were temporarily built in most of the parks in SF and the Presidio.* East Bernal Hts. is rarely seen on City Guides or other organization's listings. But we're adventurous and we'll risk the wilds of East Bernal Hts. and have a great time. In what is one of the most unique neighborhoods in San Francisco little houses cling halfway up the hills here. We'll explore and discover the scenic, up and down stair pathways, as well as the Victorian architecture in this especially unique neighborhood. Not to mention the marvelous views as we ascend the stair paths. ([Here's a simple link that will allow you to support the Meetup and add a thank you.](https://www.paypal.com/donate/?business=TJ8W6VVEGJ6BS&no_recurring=1&item_name=%0AIt%27s+very+nice+of+you+to+respond+and+give+support.%0AThank+you%2C%0AJordan¤cy_code=USD)) (Total distance, three miles, but there are several novel steps/stair/paths to climb up, resulting in a total elevation gain of a few hundred feet. You'll get your, "steps"/exercise, but overall we go slow, stopping to see some of the Victorian and vernacular varieties while taking in the gorgeous views of the bay. Wear sturdy shoes. *Don't risk a fall or a sprained ankle, or worse ,by wearing inappropriate footwear for this activity.* I think what makes Bernal Hts. unique in SF is that the early difficulties in commuting due to the terrain, made it a less desirable location. Resulting in a very working class, blue collar neighborhood with affordable housing for the locals. It also lacked in City infrastructure with some dirt roads not being paved until the 1980s. The typical SF, rigid grided, street layout didn't work well in Bernal Hts. The Berkeley ideal of streets following the contour of the land may have resulted in much more expensive housing? Instead we see so many moderate wood houses almost defying gravity in clinging to the sloping hills. If you have a problem maintaining your social calendar, please be advised! ***(Don't be a no-show.)*** It's good to give out name tags which I do. I fill out the name tags 24 hours before r the tour start time. This also gives me a way to take attendance. Name tags that are not picked up, are recorded as no-shows. (See photo below.) If you get too many no-shows recorded in your personal Meet-up profile you'll have to be canceled from this Meetup. (To cancel your RSVP beforehand (please at least 24 hrs.), look for the, **"Edit Attendance"** tab at the bottom right hand corner of the screen.)
Golden Gate Park, Eastside Hike to POIs & SF Botanic Garden
Sun, May 24, 5:00 PM**\*Don't be a no-show. *See the Group's no-show policy below.*** Don't be a no-show and lose your membership in the Group. Attendance is always taken and no-shows recorded. **[Here's a link to the video of the tour we did here on May 21st, 2022.](https://youtu.be/bJWphCOOW1g)** Golden Gate Park celebrated its 150th year anniversary in 2020. That's a lot of urban history. We'll get into just a little bit of that fascinating history today. But we want to get a good walk in. Distance today will be around 3.5 miles. Little up hills or elev. gain. Bring water only. Food trucks are available. My all time favorite is Sam's Chowder House truck, behind the huge, music Band Shell. Just the best clam chowder around. If you tip a dollar I'm sure you get extra clam, let's try it!. Also Annie's food carts, always around here and there. Below are the highlights to choose from in the eastern section. Unique about this walk is the members will choose as we go from the suggested sampling below. Come and see how this, **"we do it ourselves"**, style tour works. (I love it!) ***Golden Gate Park, (A sampling of POIs)*** Conservatory of Flowers (1878) US President James Garfield Statue (1884) Victorian era Baseball Player Statue, by Douglas Tilden (1891) Lily Pond & Australian Tree Fern Dell (1902) Tennis Courts (1894-2021) Lawn Bowling Courts (1901) Sharon Meadow (1894) Coffee House in the Park (recent) Lake Alford (1882) Alford Bridge & Tunnel (1889) Children's Quarter (1888) Sharon Building (1888) GG Park Carousal (1888-first Carousal) A Monastery Stone & the amazing story of these 8000 tons of stones that landed in the Park from Spain in 1931? Handball Courts Big Rec Baseball fields (1893) Shakespeare Flower Garden(1928) Spreckels Temple of Music , the "Band Shell" (1900) LUNCH (about 12:00pm) Music Concourse (built for 1894, Calif.Mid-Winter Fair) & new Ferris Wheel (Golden Gate Park Band plays Sundays at 1:00pm in season.) Japanese Tea Garden (1894) Stowe Lake (1881) San Francisco Botanical Garden (1940) (Then returning to where we started to the Conservatory of Flowers, we'll pass by the following.) **Itinerary-San Francisco Botanical Garden Tour, If we go there on this tour?** Garden of Fragrance Rhododendron Garden Heidelberg Hill & Magnolias Mediterranean Garden Ancient & Primitive Plant Garden South Africa/(Cape Town) Garden New Zealand & Australia Andean Cloud Forest Zellerbach Garden of Perennials Japanese Moon Viewing Garden Camellia Garden Redwood Grove California Natives Lots of interesting things in the Park. In-season: "Magnificent Magnolias", peak bloom time around Feb.1st. But we'll find lots of other beautiful plants and flowers to amaze. (\*Don't be a no-show.) It's good to give out name tags which I do. I fill out the name tags just before I leave for the tour. This also gives me a way to take attendance. Because name tags that are not picked up, are recorded as no-shows. If you get too many no-shows recorded in your personal Meet-up profile you'll be cancelled from this Meetup. In the photos is a picture of No-show name tags in February 26. (To cancel your RSVP beforehand [please at least 24 hrs. in advance]. Look for the, **"Edit Attendance"** tab at the bottom right hand corner of the screen for lap tops and left, bottom for phones.)
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