Architecture Groups San Francisco

Architecture, Design & Drinks — June 2026

Architecture, 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.

Julia Morgan, Arch.Tour-Claremont &*Berkeley City Club Tour

Do the Meetup tour in the morning, stop for the pizza and then: ***\*On*** *the 4th Sunday of the month there are **45 min**. docent led tours of*[ Julia Morgan's Berkeley City Club](https://berkeleycityclubconservancy.org/docent-tours/), *2315 Durant St., starting at 1:00pm-3:30pm.* (Photo above JM in Paris, 1900, Cathedral Notre Dame in the background. For more information about JM, read here and see the photos below.) We're meeting outside the, Berkeley Playhouse/[Julia Morgan Theater on College Ave. at Derby St.,](https://berkeleyplayhouse.org/) our first stop on the tour. (Optional stop after the tour, at nearby, Nabolom Bakery & Pizzeria.) (Along the way we'll see Bernard Maybeck's, First Church of Christ Scientist, a Nat'l Landmark site, where free tours are offered on the first Sunday of every month at 12:15 PM. [One of the best ways to experience these buildings is to attend an event there.](https://www.friendsoffirstchurch.org/tours-and-events) Across the street is Julia Morgan's 1918 Baptist Theological Seminary. (Bowditch & Dwight Way). Built of brick to resemble the Ashmolean Library of Oxford. Britain's first public museum and the world's first university museum. note. The Seminary's windows and Tudor details recall the period when the Baptist Church was founded.) We'll pass 2727 Dwight Way, one of the oldest houses on the tour, 1891, remodeled in 1917 by Willis Polk. Morgan graduated UC in 1894 with a degree in Civil Engineering, one of her specializations was structural engineering. (This benefited her clients greatly, as was seen after the 06' earthquake in her still standing buildings.) She arrived in Paris in 1896. A few years later it was reported in the San Francisco Call: **Paris, Oct.30,1902** - *Julia Morgan of San Francisco passed the examination with honors at the Architectural section of the School of Fine Arts, Ecole de Beaux Arts, Paris France.* The first woman to do so. Ironically one of the greatest architects in history, was made to wait two years, taking entrance exams before admission. By the end of her 45 yr. career she had received over 700 commissions. It was said, "Her rational approach to home design and the public success of her large commissions gave Julia Morgan a solid reputation. It also won her the confidence of her clients. With the hard work, genius, inspiration and true artistic and historic perception to create memorable works. Over the course of her career, Morgan designed nearly one hundred buildings across California and the nation for women’s organizations. Her commissions included social and civic clubs for women; academic, residential, and recreational buildings; primary schools; orphanages; hospitals, sanitariums,and nursing residences. She also designed more than thirty YWCA buildings, including those in San Francisco and Berkeley. We'll concentrate on the many Julia Morgan designed houses, churches and buildings in the Claremont Ct. and Elmwood neighborhoods. Unique here are the Julia Morgan ensemble houses, where she creatively and economically placed two houses on one large lot. We'll see several of these ensembles. In fact when JM bought her own house at Washington & Divisadero in SF in 1925, she bought a pair of houses there. To read more about the many Julia Morgan public buildings, such as the Hearst Castle etc. go to wikipedia. She was one of California's most prolific architects. The first woman to receive the American Institute of Architects highest award, the AIA Gold Medal, awarded posthumously in 2014. The three projects that immediately solidified her future career as a great architect, engineer and fully capable project/construction manager were the rebuilding of the new Fairmount Hotel after its semi-destruction following the earthquake. The design, engineering and building of the beautiful Bell Tower at Mills College and Carnegie Library there, both of which survived the earthquake without a crack. And the completion on time and within budget of the construction of the Greek Theater at UC for John Gayland Howard, campus architect. **\*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.* After the last Julia Morgan home we'll find our way back through what I call the "Pacific Heights" of Berkeley. Look for parking on the smaller side streets. Option for lunch afterward. 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'/) *\*Docent-led, 45-minute tours of Julia Morgan's Berkeley City Club on Durant, are offered on the fourth Sunday of every month (except December) from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM. These are drop-in, public tours that cost $10 per person.*

Julia Morgan in SF, her Architecture in San Francisco

(Photo above JM in Paris, 1900, Cathedral Notre Dame in the background.) Julia Morgan houses and buildings (at least **24** of the 700 commissoins in her life-time are located in SF) are scattered throughout the City. About a third of these are located in Pacific and Presidio Hts. We'll do a combination hike, with a leg on the Presidio side of the Presidio Wall to make it interesting and where we can see two Julia Morgan houses along Pacific Ave as we head over to Presidio Terrace to see a Beau Arts mansion of hers. **\*(Don't be a no-show or your membership will be cancelled.)** It's good to give out name tags which I will do. I fill out the name tags 24 hours before I leave 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, (only visible to the organizer) you'll be cancelled from this Meetup. (To cancel your RSVP beforehand [please at least 24 hrs. or a no-show is recorded.], look for the, **"Edit Attendance",** tab at the bottom right hand corner of the screen on a notebook and left bottom on a phone.) Along the way we'll stop to see two of Bernard Maybeck's, finest SF houses. Morgan graduated UC in 1894 with a degree in Civil Engineering, one of her specializations was structural engineering. (This benefited her clients greatly, as was seen after the 06' earthquake in her still standing buildings.) She arrived in Paris in 1896. A few years later it was reported in the San Francisco Call: **Paris, Oct.30,1902** - *Julia Morgan of San Francisco passed the examination with honors at the Architectural section of the School of Fine Arts (Ecole de Beaux Arts, Paris France.* The first woman to do so. Ironically one of the greatest architects in history, was made to wait two years, taking entrance exams before admission. By the end of her 45 yr. career she had received over 700 commissions. On average a new building every six weeks. It was said, "Her rational approach to home design and the public success of her large commissions gave Julia Morgan a solid reputation. It also won her the confidence of her clients. With the hard work, genius, inspiration and true artistic perception to create memorable works. Over the course of her career, Morgan designed nearly one hundred buildings across California and the nation for women’s organizations. Her commissions included social and civic clubs for women; academic, residential, and recreational buildings; primary schools; orphanages; hospitals, sanitariums,and nursing residences. She also designed more than thirty YWCA buildings, including those in San Francisco and Berkeley. In fact when JM bought her own house at Washington & Divisadero in SF in 1925, she bought a pair of houses there. To read more about the many Julia Morgan public buildings, such as the Hearst Castle etc. go to wikipedia. She was California's most prolific architect. The first woman to receive the American Institute of Architects highest award, the AIA Gold Medal, awarded posthumously in 2014. The three projects that immediately solidified her future career as a great architect, engineer and fully capable project/construction manager were the rebuilding of the new Fairmount Hotel after its semi-destruction following the earthquake. The design, engineering and building of the beautiful Bell Tower at Mills College and Carnegie Library there, both of which survived the earthquake without a crack. And the completion on time and within budget of the construction of the Greek Theater at UC for John Gayland Howard, campus architect. Option for lunch afterward. 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'/) *Or use the Donation feature above.*

Victorians in Pacific Hts.-SF Tour-Alta Plaza Park to Lafayette Park

**\*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. *Paraphrasing William Faulkner from Requiem for a Nun, "The past isn't gone , it's not even past."* At least it looks that way in parts of Pacific Heights. There is available free **parking** around the neighborhood, be prepared to drive around a little bit, but it is early morning and there are no restrictions on weekends. (Don't park by a meter like those on Fillmore.) Restrooms are located at the top of Alta Plaza Park behind the kid's playground. About 2/3s of the way through the tour we'll stop for a break atop Lafayette Park. For restrooms and views and describe the surrounding houses and the saga of Samuel Holladay and his mansion, questionably located atop Lafayette Park. *(Afterwards one of my go to's for brunch is La Mediterranean Cafe at Sacramento and Fillmore. Great food, drinks and service in a cute little iconic SF restaurant. Also Mayflower Market has great picnic items to go, to take over to Alta Plaza.)* Pacific Heights is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in San Francisco. This tour highlights the Victorian architecture, and the architects, builders and people who owned and 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 2.5-3.5 miles. With some typical SF hills for short distances. **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*. [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)

Haight-Ashbury Tour & Golden Gate Park Walk & Band Concert

PARKING 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 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) We'll take a walk down Haight St. to recall the counter-culture movement and hippie days of the 1960/70s. (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. **We'll stop at the Music Concourse Bandshell for lunch.** [The concert starts at 1:00pm and is a good one today.](https://goldengateparkband.org/calendar) Total distance about four miles. When we 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 after the Concert ends at 2:30pm. (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. All the neighborhoods in SF have histories that are fun to learn of. 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)

The Presidio-History, Architecture & Tunnel Tops Walk

**\*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. Reserve some time to have lunch near the end of the hike. There are so many nice places. At the Officers Club on the grounds is **Colibri**, a fabulous Mexican Restaurant. Also, there is, **\*\*Chestnut St.** having a large assortment of traditional and avant-garde restaurants. \*See what looks good from the listing below.\* If you are planning on having lunch, please let me know, we'll need a reservation for **Colibri.** Beside the beautiful walk we'll learn about major events in the Presidio's colorful history. For instance did you know that in 1899 during the Spanish/Philipines War thousands of very young, raw American recruits from all over the country where stationed in tents bordering fashionable Pacific Hts. Here they took US Army basic training and awaited deployment to the Philippine War or were sent here at the end of their enlistment to be mustered out. It was not a quiet time there, or nearby to say the least. Let's put our heads together to stay on the most interesting routes through the Presidio. [Here is a link to an excellent Google map.](https://www.google.com/maps/place/37%C2%B047'51.2%22N+122%C2%B027'32.1%22W/@37.7919365,-122.4767243,1522m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d37.7975556!4d-122.4589167?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQwNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) Chestnut St. Restaurants \*\* **Italian & Pizza** * **[A16](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/m/0220x5j&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjH0ZyHiueTAxVkJzQIHVf_DkQQqdYPegQICRAC)** : A highly-regarded spot specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza and wines from the Campania region. * **[Little Original Joe's](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/11t4kffz5b&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjH0ZyHiueTAxVkJzQIHVf_DkQQqdYPegQICRAF)** : A popular neighborhood staple offering Italian-American classics like vodka pasta, pizza, and burgers. * **[Delarosa](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/1tgxts6d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjH0ZyHiueTAxVkJzQIHVf_DkQQqdYPegQICRAI)** : Known for its Roman-style thin-crust pizza, small plates, and craft cocktails in a lively atmospher * **[Norcina (Pierce St)](https://www.norcina.com/)**: Located just off Chestnut, this Italian spot is praised for its Nor-sting-ya pizza and authentic pasta dishes. * **Roma Antica (Scott St)**: An authentic Italian restaurant featuring homemade pasta like Cacio e Pepe and Lasagna, often with Italian-speaking staff. * **[Napizza (Scott St)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=/g/11rn77y0nx&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjH0ZyHiueTAxVkJzQIHVf_DkQQqdYPegQICRAO)** : Offers upscale pizza and pasta, such as truffle mushroom bruschetta and Meyer lemon pizza. **American & Comfort Food** [Causwells](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F1q66z5g1s) [4.3(941)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F1q66z5g1s) [American](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F1q66z5g1s) [Open2346 Chestnut St10.2 mi](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F1q66z5g1s) A European-inspired bistro famous for its Americana double cheeseburger, as well as seasonal salads and baby back ribs. [Cracked & Battered - Marina](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11jghv89cs) [4.6(534)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11jghv89cs) [$20–30Restaurant](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11jghv89cs) [Closed2240 Chestnut St10.1 mi](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11jghv89cs) A cozy brunch restaurant serving savory and sweet dishes, including fried chicken and waffles and lemon ricotta pancakes. [Chestnut Diner](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fjwx0) [4.0(562)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fjwx0) [$10–20Diner](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fjwx0) [1312 Chestnut](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fjwx0) A classic, no-frills American diner known for its fluffy omelets and retro counter seat [The Dorian](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11ckvljj8w) [New American](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11ckvljj8w) [2001 Chestnut St](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11ckvljj8w) A swanky, modern American restaurant and bar popular for social gatherings and brunch. [Balboa Cafe](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F01zn48k) [4.2(842)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F01zn48k) [$20–30Restaurant](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F01zn48k) [3199 Fillmore](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F01zn48k) An iconic neighborhood institution serving classic American fare and known as a social hub. **Global & Specialty Cuisine** [Dragon Well](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fj1z7) [4.2(343)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fj1z7) [$20–30Chinese](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fj1z7) [Open2142 Chestnut](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fm%2F04fj1z7) A long-standing neighborhood favorite for health-conscious Chinese food and handmade potstickers. [Milos Meze](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11lvz40pvx) [4.9(365)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11lvz40pvx) [Restaurant](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11lvz40pvx) [3348 Steiner ](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11lvz40pvx) A modern Greek restaurant serving authentic dishes like lamb chops and spanakopita.[Souvla](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11gv_sljj1) [4.5(481)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11gv_sljj1) [$10–20Greek](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11gv_sljj1) [Open2272 Chestnut](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11gv_sljj1) A casual, modern Greek rotisserie and salad spot.[Lobalita](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11n43r0k2m) [4.6(11)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11n43r0k2m) [$20–30Restaurant](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11n43r0k2m) [Open2231 Chestnut](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11n43r0k2m) Recently replaced The Tipsy Pig, this modern Mexican bar offers tapas-style bites like aguachiles and tacos. SF.gov +7 [Super Mensch](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11xkn4hmzs) [4.3(67)](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11xkn4hmzs) [$20–30Jewish](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11xkn4hmzs) [Open2336 Chestnut St10.2 mi](https://www.google.com/viewer/place?mid=%2Fg%2F11xkn4hmzs) A modern Jewish deli specializing in pastrami on house-made rye and matzah ball soup.

Presidio Hts Architecture-including Presidio Terrace&Swedenborgian Church Tours

***\*Don't be a No-Show*** *and have your membership in the Group canceled. See the,\*No-Show policies at the bottom.* (Note: *A perfect follow-up to this tour* is the [Pacific Hts., Victorian Tour coming up on Sunday, August 9th.](https://www.meetup.com/hikes-and-tours-of-wonderful-places-in-the-sf-bay-area/events/313362240/) Outside of the Sunset District and houses in the southern part of SF (mid-century modern tract houses) these two tours will cover, almost, all of the residential, architectural styles, found in SF from 1860 to 1960.) 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. There are no restrooms until the end of the tour. *\*(Don't be a no-show.)* It's good to give out name tags which I do. 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 look for the, **"Edit Attendance"** tab at the bottom corner of the screen.) *Please ask your guests to join the Meetup.* [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 (It fizzled out.) 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 simplification 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.)

SF Mime Troop 2pm@Dolores Pk,-Before Hike/Tour Dolores Hts. & Eureka Valley

**\*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.* *(Come enjoy the Meetup tour then go to the season opening performance of the [San Francisco Mime Troup](https://www.sfmt.org/) in Dolores Park at 2pm. There is a lot of dialogue, so sit close.)* The walk from Dolores Park to Dolores Hts. and Eureka Valley adds something new to today's tour, plus some Victorians we haven't checked out before have been added\*.\* **Due to possible hot weather.** (Highly suggested to bring a bottle of water, wear a hat and take it easy.) Remember the stop at Udepi for vegetarian Indian food at 21st & Valencia and the cute Earthquake Cottages on the way to the earliest houses in Eureka Valley as we pick up where we left off before. **3755-20th St**.(see photo above) [Take a video tour of mostly the interior here and checkout the photos.](https://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Francisco/3755-20th-St-94110/home/713440) This historic house was built by Danish sea captain, *Hans Birkholm* in 1889 who became the Danish Consul in 1898 and the house was used as the Danish consulate. It is a Stick-Eastlake Italianate, 11 rooms , classical Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper, formal dining room w/2nd frplc., stained glass, 12 ft. ceilings, original lighting and hand curved woodwork, Victoriana throughout. Maybe you'll want to engage in the challenging game of identify the Victorian? Along with seeing some of the gingerbread, signature decorations that were unique to a few of the builders of that time. What was it like when there were street after street, of these efflorescent, floriated, flamboyant creations. What prompted them, makes for an interesting discussion. Compare the Victorians of the 1880s to the Modernist California houses of the post WW II era. A startling comparison! I'm open to recommendations for lunch. Or stop by Tartine at 18th & Guerrero. Many others to choose from, like Udepi for Indian Vegen or Hem By Lequy (1050 Valencia St) for Vietnamese. Or to continue the party after the Mime Troupe: Head over to, ***Jazz on Fillmore Street*** **or** Cuban-Latin-Jazz music, at EL Rio, 3158 Mission St. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- *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)* * Flat front Italianate- (earliest Victorians). (French 2nd Empire appear) * Italianate with slanted bay windows. * San Francisco Stick Style (also called East Lake). Simpler square bay windows now used. Overall much more elaborate decoration, ornament and gingerbread used. * Queen Anne Tower House&Witches Cap, with angled or rounded bay windows & front gable * 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 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- Fernando Nelson built thousands of homes in SF. Over many, many decades. We'll also see clusters (2 to 17) of Victorian homes systematically built for the average working person by a development company, "The Real Estate Assoc." THEA, from 1870 to 1880. Not quite magnificent but many still standing. Development of woodworking mills South of Market provided the ornaments with which to add the "gingerbread" to the Victorian houses There was an Old English custom using fancy cutouts of gingerbread to decorate wedding cakes. The term gingerbread was subsequently used for the decorating of Victorian houses. The secret ingredient was redwood. It could be carved, sawn, or turned, or soaked and press molded into almost any design *Periods* **1860 - 1870s *Italianate*:** Buildings were vertical in emphasis with rounded classical detail. Earliest had flat windows & flat roofs with false roof fronts. **1880s *Stick Style* (also called East Lake):** The early buildings in this genre relied heavily on plane vertical board decorations. 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. Front facing gables and towers with witches hat. [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)

Fortress Mode: Arduino Motion Gates (CHM)

Step into engineer mode and build your own automatic security gate using an Arduino, a motion sensor, and a servo motor! In this hands-on class, you’ll create a mini “fortress gate” that springs open whenever someone approaches. Along the way, you’ll learn: * How motion sensors detect movement * How servo motors create controlled motion * Basic Arduino programming and wiring * How real-world smart security systems work By the end of the class, you’ll have a working motion-activated gate and the skills to customize it with lights, alarms, or secret fortress upgrades. No experience needed — just bring your curiosity and prepare to defend the kingdom. 🏰🤖 **If you have a laptop, please bring it — but come anyway if you don’t!**

Tour West Berkeley's Brewery, Wine Tasting & Most Historic Districts

If you want to learn about the early history of Berkeley by seeing what still exists from those bygone days this tour will show glimpses of the past. **\*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. Lots of variety in architecture and very early Berkeley history on the tour today. We're meeting in what is known as[ Berkeley's, "Drinks" district area](https://www.gilmandistrict.org/drinks) or better known as [the Gilman District. ](https://www.gilmandistrict.org/) The variation in the architecture here is rare, mainly due to the age range from 1854 to 2020. Lots of urban art around too, (see photo above). Its a very nice walk in a very mixed area of Berkeley. The oldest part of the City with a Landmarked heritage district. Some of the oldest and also some of the most modern architecture in Berkeley, (see photos below). See the oldest building(1854), the oldest church and public school building in Berkeley all on today's tour. We'll be touring West Berkeley, along 5th Street, from Carmelita to Hearst, to 10th & Delaware, and return. Good places for lunch around the 4th street shopping district (University Ave. to Virginia. Or have lunch at Trumer Pils brewery. Buy a Tesla on 4th street, next to boutique coffee shops, restaurants and a Nike store and more. Or have lunch at the very nice Picante restaurant around the corner from where we started for good, fresh Mexican food, in a very nice setting, in or outdoors. Well worth it for West Bay people to come over. Easy drive on a weekend morning. Plenty of street parking and no restrictions. Accessible by BART and a relatively short bus ride. Exactly 1.5 miles from University Ave.&San Pablo Ave., to 4th&Carmelita St. Or take a train from Sacramento, the train stops in Berkeley, exactly 1.2 miles away. Lots of trains from all over come through this neighborhood. Meet on the sidewalk at the intersection of 4th & Carmelita St., Berkeley. Plenty of parking on the residential streets adjacent. No parking restrictions. But always check the parking signs and curb, for any restrictions where you park. [To support the group with a small donation click this special link to PayPal.](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&currency_code=USD) Maybe make a day of it with lunch on 4th Street at one of many nice restaurants including Reveille from SF. Bette's Oceanview Diner/Takeout and sit outside. And Trumer Pils Brewery as well. If you have a problem maintaining your social calendar, please be advised! **(Don't be a no-show or your membership will be cancelled.)** It's good to give out name tags which I will do. I fill out the name tags just before I leave 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 be cancelled from this Meetup. (To cancel your RSVP beforehand (please at least 24 hrs. or no-show recorded.), look for the, **"Edit Attendance"** tab at the bottom right hand corner of the screen on a notebook and left bottom on a phone.)

All things software infrastructure

Bring a laptop if you can. Meeting format: * Introductions. Background & goals/interests for the meeting. * Lesson or Demo * Questions & Discussion * Readings & Exercises, for future meetings Find [past notes & more information online](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Meetups/Infra). Find us also in #meetup-infra of [Noisebridge's Discord server](https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Discord#Join_our_Discord).

Downtown First Thursdays - Fashion Photography