City Arts & Lectures San Francisco

At the Nourse Theater

Nadine from San Francisco

"San Francisco loves City Arts and Lectures! And, I love it too. Now I can go to the Nourse Theater and enjoy inspiring speakers and discussions."

San Francisco loves City Arts and Lectures! And, I love it too. Over the years, I've seen former President Jimmy Carter, activist Angela Davis with Michael Franti and Margaret Atwood to name a few. At the new location, I got to see Marina Abramović and John Waters.

The wonderful thing about these discussions is that it's just a conversation. It's intimate and enlightening. You feel special, as if you were in the right place at the right party.

The new home for City Arts and Lectures, the Nourse Theater, sat empty for over 30 years before renovation. The Beaux-Arts style building stands out today as something special and beautiful. The seating is original, which means it's very small by today's standards. If you need extra legroom, be sure to get an aisle seat.

The current program includes Salman Rushdie, Alice Waters and Tom Hanks. Many new and exciting events and discussions pop up throughout the season. Tickets for Francis Ford Coppola, a local, sold out quickly. But you can hear the rebroadcast on the radio (88.5, KQED-fm) or the podcast hosted by the indelible Linda Hunt. The schedule for rebroadcasts is posted on the website.

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San Francisco Spotter Nadine

About me Some of my most vivid memories are quintessentially San Franciscan. Learning how to roller-skate down the Hayes Street hill, and eventually learning how to brake. My first fight with Mom was because she wouldn't let me see the Sex Pistols at Winterland. Getting to the public library by navigating my way through a sea of Dead Heads in front of what's now the Bill Graham Auditorium. Nearly falling off the Golden Gate Bridge while biking across too fast on a very wet and foggy morning. My city has a both a buzz and a hum. That's me too. A little intensity is great when...

About this spot

275 Hayes Street

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Oct 12, 2025

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