San Francisco's Wild West: Early History of Lake Merced's Neighborhoods

Wednesday, January 11, 2012, at 7:00 p.m.

From the 1850s to the early 1900s, the area around Lake Merced was a destination for gamblers, duelists, sporting men, and other San Franciscans looking for excitement. Woody LaBounty, founder of the Western Neighborhoods Project (www.outsidelands.org), will present historical images and tell tales of roadhouses, squatters' wars, and famous horse races. LaBounty will also explain how the city's wild west was tamed into some of San Francisco's most desirable residential neighborhoods.

 

Learn Outrageous Magic Tricks!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012, 4:00 p.m.

Don't miss this outrageous show where you'll see amazing magic performed and learn some unbelievable tricks yourself.  Robert Strong has twice been voted San Francisco's best comedian by the SF Guardian and is known for his hilarious, high-energy magic.  This program is for children and teens age 10 and above.

Five Fabulous Women Artists of the 1800s

On Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00 p.m., local artist Marlene Aron discusses and presents slides of the beautiful and inspiring art of five fabulous women artists: Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Marie Bracquemond, Eva Gonzales, and Camille Claudel.


They exhibited in the Salon and the World Exposition in Paris, three of them exhibiting their paintings alongside Pissarro, Degas, Renoir, and Monet in the very first Impressionist exhibitions in the early 1870s.

They painted their family, children, friends, and lovers, along with scenes of gardens, forests, and landscapes. Come take a journey through the artistry and lives of some of the movers and shakers of the Impressionist movement that would herald the beginning of the Modern Art movement that was to follow.