On Thursday, February 19, 2026, The Clift welcomes Woody LaBounty, of San Francisco Heritage who will provide a colorful history of San Francisco’s Carville by the Sea.
Carville-by-the-Sea: San Francisco’s Streetcar Suburb is a scrapbook history of one of the quirkiest communities ever imagined. On the empty sand dunes of the 1890s, San Francisco, bohemians, judges, lady bicyclists, and sand-bath-prescribing physicians transformed old transit cars into beachside cottages and clubhouses. Creative carpenters stacked obsolete horsecars, cable cars, and trolley cars into mansions and churches. Famous capitalists, writers, painters, and journalists visited Carville-by-the-Sea to work, play, and enjoy the “oddest village in the world.”
About the Speaker:
Woody LaBounty serves as the President & CEO of San Francisco Heritage, a 50-year-old nonprofit with a mission to protect and enhance San Francisco's unique architectural and cultural identity. Before joining Heritage, he was the longtime executive director of the local history organization, Western Neighborhoods Project. There he led efforts to save 1906 earthquake relief cottages, scan and post more than 50,000 historical images online (OpenSFHistory.org), and bring together arts and history to equitably enrich the neighborhoods of western San Francisco.
According to Labounty, “Because I loved the city then, love it now, and expect to love it forever, I have worked in the local history and preservation communities for the past two decades to help more people learn more about it.” For more, please vist sanfranciscostory.com.
About the Series
The Making History Fun Again series:
- Celebrates San Francisco’s diverse and vibrant history
- Connects generations through lively, accessible storytelling
- Showcases authors, historians, performers, and cultural icons
- Invites the public into the Redwood Room for conversations that spark curiosity and imagination
Signature Speaker Series Cocktails
Guests attending the January 15 event may enjoy themed cocktails honoring San Francisco’s storied past, including:
- Pisco Punch — A Gold Rush original from 1853
- Martini — Born along the trail between San Francisco and Martinez
- Night Moves (Buena Vista Tribute Espresso Martini) — A wink to the city’s famed Irish Coffee
- Maiden Lane — A nod to one of San Francisco’s most notorious streets
Event Details
What: Making History Fun Again — Speaker Series
Featured Speaker: Woody Labounty
When: Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Redwood Room, The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel
Admission: Complimentary with RSVP
RSVP: "Making History Fun Again" Speaker Series at The Clift Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite
Upcoming Speaker Series Lineup
Thursday, March 19 – Ray Beldner: History of Art in San Francisco
Thursday, April 16 – John Martini: 1906 Earthquake & Fire
Thursday, May 21 - SFHS - History of SF’s Legendary Hotels
Thursday, June 18 - Shawn Sprockett - Unthinkable Vice
About The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel
Located at 495 Geary Street, The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel blends contemporary design with timeless character. Home to the legendary Redwood Room, the hotel has been a cultural fixture of San Francisco since 1915. Following a multimillion-dollar renovation, The Clift offers 372 stylish guest rooms and suites, a state-of-the-art event space, and an enduring commitment to hospitality that is — and always has been — legendary. Learn more at Sonesta Press Room / The Clift.
