In this week’s Field Notes: a live pipe organ at Legion of Honor, stone legacy in Mill Valley, Recology’s Artist in Residence exhibit, and an Aquatic Park doc. Also: Amy Tan with Christian Cooper, teen film 'The Jar', and Sacramento’s music archive.

Rodin, chandeliers, and a hundred-year-old organ

Every Saturday at 4 p.m., the Legion of Honor fills its Rodin Gallery with the sound of a 100-year-old pipe organ.

Jonathan Dimmick playing the Spreckels Organ at the Legion of Honor, 2002. Photograph by Gary Sexton

Built into the museum itself, its 4,500+ pipes are tucked behind chandeliers and sculptures, designed to resonate through the marble rotunda. The concerts are free with admission, turning a quiet weekend visit into something grander. — Secret San Francisco

Sculpting history in Mill Valley

Mill Valley’s O’Hanlon Center for the Arts pays tribute to its founder, the late sculptor Richard O’Hanlon, with Dialogue with Stone, a display of his monumental stone sculptures, sketches, and archival photos.

Fabrice Florin/Flickr

Alongside it, the Dreams and Visions exhibit explores O’Hanlon’s life, techniques, and inspirations — including geology and astronomy, providing context to his body of work as well as his hillside studio and its surrounding landscape, which O’Hanlon and his wife Ann converted from an old dairy farm in 1942.

The grounds feature outdoor works, some now home to lichens, inviting visitors to wander through both art and history. Runs through August 31, with guided tours available. — Bay Area News Group

From trash to treasure: 35 years of Recology AIR

San Francisco’s Recology Artist-in-Residence program turns the city’s garbage into gallery-ready art. For 35 years, artists have transformed discarded materials — from meat grinders to hair clippings — into striking, unexpected works.

The anniversary show at 1275 Minnesota Street highlights 35 years of creativity, with over 250 artists’ pieces on display. Free to visit through August 30, it’s a uniquely SF experience that makes you look twice at what we throw away. — Recology Artists in Residence

Ship-shaped SF landmark gets its due

The iconic Maritime Museum, formerly known as the Aquatic Park Bathhouse — a 1939 WPA-built bayfront building — has a new spotlight in KQED’s documentary A Balcony on the World.

Premiering August 22, the film traces the bathhouse from public gathering space to WWII Army post to museum, highlighting its murals, glazed-tile sculpture, and restoration projects. Catch it on KQED August 22 at 8 p.m., with re-airings August 23 at 2 a.m. and August 30 at 6 p.m. — SF Examiner

10 peaks, one unforgettable walk

Peak2Peak returns Saturday, September 13, for its 21st year, sending participants on a 10-mile urban adventure through San Francisco’s hidden stairways, quiet streets, and secret viewpoints. Guided groups enjoy coffee, lunch, and snacks along the way, plus a commemorative keepsake at the finish.

Even locals will spot corners of the city they didn’t know existed — just be ready for plenty of hills, stairs, and some serious sightseeing. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. — WalkSF

Amy Tan and Christian Cooper to host delightful nature journaling conference in Palo Alto

Amy Tan, Bay Area born and raised, took NatGeo host Christian Cooper on a birding tour of the region — from Bolinas cliffs to Point Reyes marshes, and of course her own backyard. Along the way, they commiserated over dog owners who ignore leash laws and trample birds’ nesting grounds. Cooper — host of Extraordinary Birder and author of Better Living Through Birding and Urban Owls — knows his birds and the rules they deserve.

On September 14, the pair will share the mic at the 7th Annual Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference at the Foster Museum in Palo Alto, live and online. — Amy Tan

Teens turn summer into a city-wide film set

Seventy-one Bay Area teens spent four weeks making THE JAR, a feature-length chase through Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, and the city’s steep streets. Guided by Joe Talbot (The Last Black Man in San Francisco), they rotated through writing, directing, and cinematography, learning pro-level gear and techniques.

The premiere at the Great Star Theater earlier this month drew a line up Jackson Street, and the Q&A revealed the city’s usual hazards: traffic, curious bystanders, and one very unhelpful passerby. Beyond the polished shots, campers walked away with friendships and creative collaborators that might last a lifetime. — Mission Local

A shed full of music history

In a suburban shed outside Sacramento, Shayne Stacy sits among towers of VHS, cassettes, and reel-to-reels — nearly 20,000 recordings of Bay Area punk, thrash, indie, and metal shows. He started filming local gigs in the ’80s, trading tapes through the mail, and now digitizes rare early footage of Nirvana, Green Day, as well as long-lost basement bands.

Musicians, fans, and former roadies drop off forgotten boxes, and he cleans them up, uploads them online for free, and quietly preserves decades of Northern California music history, one tape at a time. — KQED Arts

North Beach movie mash-up

Every third Wednesday of the month, Films with Friends takes over three venues at the same time in North Beach for a unique and festive night of co-occurring film screenings. This month, live male strippers will be on hand to accompany Savoy Tivoli’s screening of Magic Mike. Alternatively, take a deep dive into Mazatec psychedelic plants at Live Worm’s screening of Salvia Divinorum.

Families should definitely head to Piazza Pellegrini for the 1971 classic, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. — Renegade Cinema

Walnut Creek cafe in the national spotlight

Recently recognized as one of the top new women-owned cafes in the country, Prologue Coffee & Tea quietly thrives inside Walnut Creek’s public library. Vietnamese coffee gets a twist with banana milk, and banh mi sandwiches are crafted from house-made spreads and family recipes.

Owner Thuy Nguyen left banking to open the shop just over a year ago, and locals — plus visitors from across the Bay — are quickly discovering this unexpected gem. — KGO

Top image: Tariq Stone, A Little Bit of This, 2024. Photo by Tariq Stone; Model: Isabel Li; Production Design: Emily Hernandez; Makeup: Niku Radan; Production Assistant: Theo Garvey

Previously: Field Notes: Prelinger Library’s Treasures, SF to Guerneville by Clipper, Historic Lanterns Relit

President Joe Biden has a two-day stint in San Francisco and Silicon Valley this week, attending fundraisers reportedly being hosted by Marissa Mayer and Sun Microsystems co-founder Vinod Khosla.

Plenty of eagle-eyed Redditors noticed something odd Tuesday: An aircraft that appears to be Marine Force One, which is the president’s helicopter, flying over the Bay Area. But President Biden was not here, so the whole thing seemed a mystery. Yet that mystery might now be solved, as Bay City News reports that President Biden will reportedly be in the Bay Area on Thursday and Friday.

What’s Marine One doing in the Bay Area?
byu/longdarkandstormy insanfrancisco

Bay City News says he will be here for “campaign receptions,” which is just another way of saying “fundraisers.” The Bay Area News Group has further details on the bigwig donors involved, saying that “former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla would be among the Democratic donors attending.”  

Though it turns out those two will be doing more than just attending. Puck News’ Teddy Schleifer did some digging to find that Mayer and her husband Zack Bogue are hosting one Friday event in Palo Alto. Tickets for that are $50,000 apiece, or on the low end, $30,000 apiece. And Gavin is expected to be there, too!

And that’s not the only Biden fundraiser Friday, as prior to that, Sun Microsystems co-founder and AI-happy venture capitalist Vinod Khosla will also be hosting a Friday Biden fundraiser. That one’s set to be held in Portola Valley, a wealthy enclave in eastern San Mateo County.

But what about Thursday in San Francisco? There are no Biden events announced here Thursday. But Schleifer points out what is probably more than just a coincidence, which is that there’s a Jill Biden fundraiser scheduled for Thursday night, hosted by investors Stephanie and Mark Robinson, in Marin County’s Kentfield.

So it seems like Biden is cleaning up on the tech money front, huh? Don’t count on it. There is also an emerging Trumper front in the venture capitalist set, as VC and big recall backer David Sacks is reportedly hosting a Trump fundraiser in SF later this spring, for whichever VC bros are not fully on the RFK, Jr. bandwagon by now.

Related: Gavin Newsom Throwing Big-Bucks SF Fundraising Event for Biden During APEC [SFist]

Image: STURTEVANT, WISCONSIN - MAY 08: U.S. President Joe Biden arrives for an event at Gateway Technical College’s iMet Center on May 08, 2024 in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. During the event, Biden spoke about Microsoft’s plan to invest $3.3 billion to build an artificial intelligence data center in the state. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

A star-studded fundraiser for Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton scheduled for this afternoon in San Francisco won't be without detractors, it seems, as over a thousand of her competition's supporters are expected at a sure-to-be ear-busting protest outside the venue.

We told you about the fundraiser a couple weeks ago — it's at the glitzy Nob Hill home of venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar, and is hosted by human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and her husband, who is most notable for being the ex-boyfriend of Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the soon-to-be first lady of California. Oh, yeah, and Hillary Clinton will be there, too.

According to an email sent by Socialist Alternative, attendees at tonight's dinner should expect more than anecdotes from the set of From Dusk Till Dawn, as supporters of Bernie Sanders "will stage a Cacerolazo/Pot & Pan Protest and a #DineWithThe99 potluck" outside the 1266 Washington Street venue.

If you're not a protester, it's probably best to avoid that stretch of Washington this afternoon, as the protest begins at 5 pm., well in advance of the 7 p.m. dinner. According to the Sanders fans, lots of people will be there to demonstrate against the event, as per their hashtag-laden email "There has been a tremendous response" to the call to protest, with "up to 1600 people" participating in a "Cacerolazo" aka a "pot and pan protest reception" for the guests of the event.

Dismayed by the fundraiser's effort to raise funds, the Bernie boosters write that "ordinary [SF] citizens are appalled by the open bribery that will take place on Friday night," given SF's "massive economic inequality, an out-of-control housing crisis, regular instances of lethal police brutality and a systematic campaign by Mayor Ed Lee to eradicate the homeless population."

While on CNN last month, Sanders was similarly disgusted by the $33,400-$353,400 tickets for the event, saying that “It is obscene that Secretary Clinton keeps going to big money people to fund her campaign...But it's not only this Clooney event, it is the fact that she has now raised well over $15 million from Wall Street for her super PAC and millions more from the fossil fuel industry and from the drug companies."

For his part, Uber-investor Pishevar tells the Guardian that he "welcomed" the demonstration, saying "Only in America would an Iranian-born immigrant son of a taxi driver and maid trying to help elect our first woman president be protested at his home."

"I welcome nonviolent protests as an exercise of our great democracy."

Previously: SF Dinner With Hillary Clinton And George & Amal Clooney Costs $353K

Oh, what a difference a few months makes! Just a few months ago, fans of President Barack Obama ponied up over $32K to bask in his glow. Fast forward to today, and fundraisers are beating the bushes for practically anyone who'll spend $10,000 for a small gathering with POTUS later this month.

When Obama was last in the Bay Area, in October 2014, attendance at a "round table" discussion at the San Francisco home of Democratic donor/Zynga founder Mark Pincus ran participants about $32,400, the AP reported at the time.

Now Obama is planning on returning, to, as the Chron reports, attend a White House cybersecurity summit at Stanford University. But he'll also be here to raise some money for the Democratic Party, according to an email obtained by SFist from a fundraiser for the party.

"I am absolutely elated to invite you to an intimate dinner with President Barack Obama in San Francisco on February 13, 2015 at the home of Sandy and Jeanne Robertson," the email, which was sent Saturday, begins.

According to the Opus Capital website, "Sanford Robertson pioneered the creation of the West Coast technology banking industry in the late 1960s, and has remained one of the industry’s most renowned participants." He is "a principal with Francisco Partners, a $2.5 billion technology buyout fund." Sounds like a fun guy!

"This 60 person experience will include dinner, a photo with President Obama, Remarks and Q&A with the President," the email continues.

According to the PDF attached to the email, participants can pay $10,000 for the "intimate" dinner, a photo with POTUS, and participation in a "Q&A." People who are really into it can pony up $32,400 to get listed as a co-chair (which includes your name on the invitation) and to bring a plus-one, as well as the food and photo.

In the fundraiser's words, as of this weekend, "many" seats were still available, and anyone and everyone is encouraged to dig deep (but, clearly, not as deep us they used to have to) for a night rubbing shoulders with the man ostensibly still in charge.

As if downtown's Salesforce convention street shutdowns weren't set to make downtown San Francisco traffic a total hairball this afternoon, now the President's coming to town to muck it up even more. THANKS OBAMA.

As we previously reported, POTUS will be gracing SF with his presence for a Democratic National Committee fundraiser. As we previously did not report, however, the fundraiser's been moved from City Hall (a DNC insider tells SFist, for "security reasons," which sure is comforting) to the W Hotel at Third and Howard, right in the center of a Salesforced street closure. Since Obama's motorcade closes every street through which it passes, that is going to make for one fun night in SoMa!

According to the White House, Obama's supposed to land at SFO at 3:30, and will be at the W event by 7:05. The Chron reports that he'll spend the night in SF, hit another DNC fundraiser Saturday morning, and will be on his way.

Outside the W event, which will also feature a performance by Maxwell (I was wondering what happened to that guy!), expect an "Emergency Protest Demonstration" at which groups like World Can’t Wait, Code Pink, and ANSWER Coalition "will demonstrate to denounce U.S. air strikes and other war moves, aggression, and military action in Syria, Iraq, and the entire region," they say via press release.

They also promise that "a replica of a war-fighting drone will fly over the protest," which certainly sounds fun.

The activists say they'll start gathering outside the W at around 3, creating yet another traffic wrinkle for anyone trying to make it though SoMa this afternoon.

But don't worry, as the cops say that they are ON IT! As San Francisco Police Department spokesperson Officer Gordon Shyy tells the Chron, “We’ve got a lot of experience with this, since (Obama) comes here quite often..We’ll be allowing them to have their free speech rights, but also making sure that people abide by traffic laws and other regulations."

Related: Gwyneth Paltrow Holds Fundraiser For Obama, 'You're So Handsome That I Can't Speak Properly'
Here's How The Salesforce Convention Might Screw Up Your Life

President Barack Obama will head to the Bay Area next week for fundraising events and unparalleled glamour! Before heading to crime-ridden Atherton for a $32,400-a-plate reception, he'll get the chance to dine at the Getty mansion.

SF Appeal reports, "Obama will be visiting the house of asset manager and Democratic fundraiser Tom Steyer for a reception on April 3, followed by a dinner that night at the home of philanthropists Ann and Gordon Getty."

Describing the home as "harmonious," Harper's BAZAAR says of the Getty manse: "walls covered in Chinese gauze boast Canaletto vistas of Venice as well as paintings by Degas, Matisse, and Renoir, which happily accompany verre eglomisé cabinetry, George III gilt-wood armchairs, 18th-century Chinese porcelain figurines, and glittering girandoles from the collection of Hubert de Givenchy."

Fantastic.

What's up the Getty clan as of late, anyway? We don't hear much from them these days. Anyway, be prepared for motorcades and high security next week. Obama will be here for four fundraising events in total.

[SFA]

Spare $35,800? Or need a date? Because there are few things we love more than this scene from Waiting to Exhale. And this SFist editor would like to personally thank Angela Bassett for bringing it into our world, into our simple life. See, Bassett will join President Barack Obama and actress turned celebrity chef Gwyneth Paltrow on May 9 for a special presidential fundraiser at an undisclosed San Francisco home. Which house? No idea. But it's sure to be an opulent one, we can only assume. And tickets will run at $35,800 per person. (Hey, it beats a BBQ with Toby Keith, Patricia Heaton, and Mitt Romney.)

Pasha and Laney Thornton, Nadine Weil, and Scott Hassan and Allison Huynh will also serve as co-hosts. The night will feature a cocktail reception, Q&A with Obama, a gourmet dinner, musical entertainment, and after party in the private ballroom, photo opportunities, and much more.

We'll update with more info, like RSVP details, as soon as it becomes available. Until then, the invite seems limited to media types and fancy folks. Stay tuned.

In related news, a Waiting to Exhale 2 is in the works, even without Whitney Houston. Hmm.

Update: Though not "taken in" as suggested by one local blogger, SFist was misled by our sources at the reelect Obama campaign. Looks like the even might not be as star-studded as we reported. We regret the error.

Christopher Evans, as known as DJ Toph One, sits in the Intensive Care Unit at San Francisco General Hospital with a broken pelvis. The well-known DJ fell victim to a hit-run while riding his bike after midnight Sunday at the corner of Ocean and Geneva near City College. The driver took off. And now a noteworthy DJ, one who's been on the scene for years and pleasing your drunk ass on the dance floor, needs your help. It's time to give back.

A couple of benefits are underway to support Toph One. First, a benefit at Public Works will take place on January 20 at Public Works, boasting sets by J Boogie, Chris Orr, B Cause and other aural talent. Another fundraiser pops up at Som Bar on January 22, featuring a lineup that includes DJs Sake One, Stef, Doc Fu, Rascue.

As SF Examiner points out, "Both events will be accepting donations and a percentage of bar sales will go toward Evans' recovery."

Oh, and if you know anything about Sunday's accident, or the creep(s) involved, please contact the SF Police Department's posthaste via their anonymous tip line at (415-575-4444 or by text message to TIP411.

President Barack Obama will make a pitstop in the Bay Area tomorrow to attend an afternoon campaign fundraiser in San Francisco at...the W Hotel? (That's like hosting a dinner for Prince Charles at Blowfish Sushi, yes? Not that Blowfish or the W are terrible. It's just, you know, the St. Regis is but a few steps down the block. Anyway.) According to SF Appeal, "Ticket prices for the event--which will feature a performance by Jack Johnson--start at $5,000 and roughly 200 people are set to attend."

As with any presidential appearance so comes ire: protest group The World Can't Wait will rally outside the SOMA hotel "to protest U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Obama administration's funding of other military operations in the Middle East."

[SFA]