San Francisco, Uncovered: The Castro

🌈 How did a gritty Gold Rush era Irish neighborhood become the epicenter of a movement that changed America? Long before it was known worldwide as the Castro, this San Francisco neighborhood grew up around Irish immigrant families who settled there during the Gold Rush. In this lecture, Bonnie McGregor traces that early history and follows the neighborhood's transformation through one of its most pivotal chapters, the election of Harvey Milk as the first openly gay person elected to public office in California. Bonnie explores the dark days that followed, from Milk's assassination to the backlash and devastation of the AIDS crisis, and the surprising role that Most Holy Redeemer, one of the most liberal Catholic parishes in America, played in bridging the neighborhood's gay and elderly Catholic communities under Father McGuire. A native San Franciscan and longtime City Guide, Bonnie brings a lifetime of local knowledge to this walk through the Castro's Irish origins and its enduring legacy today, from World AIDS Day observances to the Harvey Milk birthday celebrations that still bring the neighborhood together. 🌈 🕰 Event Details What should I expect? 7:00-7:35 --> arrival & chats 7:35-8:20 --> lecture 8:20-9:00 --> q&a and more chatting Who's invited? Anyone with an interest in learning new things, meeting new people, and doing fun things on weeknights! Lots of people came solo to our last event, so don't be afraid to do the same—you'll meet some awesome people! What about parking? There's no parking on-site, so we recommend street parking or using public transportation. Do I have to be 21+? No :) This venue is open to all ages. If you'd like to purchase alcohol, you must be 21+ and present a valid ID. Will this event be photographed or recorded? Photos and short video clips may be taken for promotional purposes. By attending, you consent to being photographed or recorded. We do not do full recordings of lectures at this time. 🔔 Stay in the Loop I can't make it to this event. How do I stay updated for future events? 📧 Join our mailing list📸 Follow our Instagram How do I become a speaker? Fill out this form and we'll reach out to you if we think your lecture is a good fit! 👉 Speaker form 🧾 Policies The lecture is sold out! Can I join a waitlist? Unfortunately, Luma does NOT support waitlists for paid events yet. We recommend checking back on the event site the day before / the day of the event! Attendees are likely to drop out. What about refunds? You can refund your ticket up to 24 hours before the event starts. Since this is a limited-space event, we encourage you to update your RSVP if you can’t make it—this helps us keep spots open for others. NOTE - you do NOT need to email us for a refund, we will issue one within 48 hours upon changing your RSVP to "Not Going" :) What about the ticket structure? We’re proud to pay all of our incredible venues and hardworking speakers, and the rest supports the Big Brain team so we can keep bringing community lectures to the Bay Area. We also reserve a handful of financial assistance tickets for every lecture. If you need support, please email hello@bigbrainlectures.com. What about accessibility? We want our lectures to be as accessible as possible. Accessibility can vary depending on the space, so please research our specific venue to learn more about things like wheelchair access and service animal policies. If you have any accessibility needs not covered here, please email us at hello@bigbrainlectures.com and we’ll do our best to support you. What about email updates? By registering for this event, you’ll be added to the Big Brain mailing list and receive occasional updates about future lectures and events. You can unsubscribe at any time. 🧠 Community Guidelines Big Brain events are designed to be welcoming, curious, and respectful spaces for learning and connection. By attending, you agree to treat speakers, staff, venue employees, and fell…