Outside Lands San Francisco

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.

Episodes

December 8, 2025 43 mins
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, we’re rerunning this classic episode where Nicole and Michael provide the inspiring story behind this groundbreaking endeavor.
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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.
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November 23, 2025 75 mins
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.
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November 16, 2025 49 mins
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.
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November 2, 2025 44 mins
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.
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October 26, 2025 74 mins
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.
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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.
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October 4, 2025 43 mins
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.
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September 27, 2025 70 mins
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.
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September 20, 2025 56 mins
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.
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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.
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August 23, 2025 59 mins
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.
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August 16, 2025 69 mins
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.
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August 9, 2025 46 mins
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.
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August 2, 2025 64 mins
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.
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July 26, 2025 30 mins
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.
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July 19, 2025 95 mins
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.
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July 12, 2025 45 mins
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!
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July 5, 2025 74 mins
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.
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June 28, 2025 37 mins
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!
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