Sam Spade's San Francisco

Here's the latest news (March 2010) from the Presidio Trust:

Jews in Modern China Exhibit Now Open
A new exhibit is now open at the Presidio Officers’ Club - The Jews in Modern China. Between 1840 and 1949, Shanghai was an open city that did not require passports to enter. Jewish refugees found sanctuary there and in other Chinese cities where they lived in harmony with their neighbors. Among them were Sephardic merchants from Iraq, Russian Jews escaping czarist pogroms and the Russian Revolution. The exhibit brings this history to life. Several special exhibit programs will also be offered in March. Get details on the website. This program is part of the Shanghai Celebration.

Historic Buildings Tour - Saturday, March 20
Two architectural gems - a former nurses’ dorm and a barracks that housed cavalry soldiers - have recently undergone a complete rehabilitation to prepare them for their next chapter of life. This tour led by the staff members who guided the projects will describe what went into repairing these historic buildings and how environmentally-sensitive approaches were included. These historic buildings are expected to be among the first in the Presidio to achieve a LEED Gold rating. The Historic Buildings Tour will be held on Saturday, March 20, at 9 am & 11 am. Space is limited. Reservation required: or .

Comment on "Wood Line" Proposal from Artist Andy Goldsworthy
The Presidio Trust has received a proposal by the artist Andy Goldsworthy for a new installation in the park titled Wood Line. Wood Line is conceived as a celebration of the Presidio’s historic forest. It will utilize eucalyptus branches generated by various Presidio projects, laying them end to end on the ground to create a sinuous line that, in the artist’s words, “Draws the Place.” The first phase is envisioned as a pilot project, allowing the artist to experiment with his approach and provide the public an opportunity to experience and react to it. The Trust held two informational walks in February, and we welcome additional public comment through March 22. Comments can be sent to . Visit the website for complete details about the project, or call .

Presidio Teacher Workshop
Calling all teachers! A workshop titled Make California History Come Alive with Music and Dance will be held at the Presidio on Saturday, March 13. Experienced presenters will take you back to California’s early days as they perform and teach songs, games, and dances from the Mission and Rancho periods. Discover California’s colorful Hispanic and native roots and take home new ideas for the classroom. Admission is FREE but an RSVP is REQUIRED by March 9 to .

March Events at the Walt Disney Family Museum
The Walt Disney Family Museum at the Presidio features an ongoing series of concerts, screenings, and special programs in addition to its extensive regular collection. View a complete list of their March events. The special screening this month is Darby O’Gill and the Little People, and many other events and programs are on their calendar. The museum is located at 104 Montgomery Street, on the Main Post, in the Presidio.

Presidio Social Club Now Open for Lunch
Presidio Social Club, located just inside the Lombard Gate, is now open for lunch seven days a week. Lunch is served every day from 11:30 am to 2 pm; a mid-day menu is offered from 2 to 4 pm; dinner starts at 5 pm. Brunch runs from 10 am to 2 pm on weekends. Presidio Social Club is one of several eateries in the park.

Leasing Open House for Building 682
The Presidio Trust Leasing Department invites you to attend an open house for newly rehabilitated Building 682, the former cavalry barracks building above Crissy Field (off Lincoln Boulevard near McDowell Avenue). The Leasing Open House will be held on Tuesday, March 2, from 4 to 6 pm. The barracks is offered for office or cultural uses. Available suites range from 2,819 to 14,710 rentable square feet. Features include an open floor plan built out to warm shell, a shared conference room, shared kitchenettes, and hardwood floors. Some suites feature beautiful tin ceilings. Suites are data/telecom ready. To RSVP, and for details and directions, contact us at or . Visit the website for other leasing opportunities. See a photo of Building 682 above.

Resources:
Presidio Trust
Presidio Trust Management Plan (.pdf)
National Park Service at the Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio volunteer opps and internships
Presidio park review - the major attractions
Restaurants on the Presidio grounds
San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio
Presidio: former Headquarters of the U. S. Sixth Army
Maps of the Presidio (includes a transit map)
U. S. Park Police, San Francisco Field Office at the Presidio


You may also want to read about the annual Memorial Day events at the Presidio:
Memorial Day in San Francisco 2009

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