Busy Fall at the Presidio Kicks Off

Presidio of San Francisco (September 1, 2010) — Enjoy a rollicking tale about the complications of love romance and friendship when Free Shakespeare in the Park begins a busy fall events season at the Presidio that offers everything from a science fiction classic and a Mozart opera to the grand openings of the Presidio’s first “green” neighborhood and newest recreational attraction.

Presented by the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and featuring three outrageous outlaws, a misbehaving dog and fun 60’s songs, Two Gentlemen of Verona is a zany, comic caper that’s sure to delight the entire family. Performances begin Saturday, September 4 on the lawn next to the Presidio Officers’ Club. Fans should arrive about an hour early. Pillows and low-back folding chairs are allowed. Snacks and beverages will be available for sale or bring a picnic.

Like Shakespeare, Mozart puts love to the test in his comic opera Cosi fan Tutte, the fourth installment of the popular Concerts at the Presidio series. This compact, fully narrated adaption brings six vibrant voices to the stage to recount the conniving of Guglielmo and Ferrando as they test the fidelity of their fiancées, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, amidst the lighthearted machinations of Despina and the cynical bachelor Don Alfonso. Sung in Italian, the performances include all the important arias, duets and ensembles pieces linked together by a narrative to provide context.

Now in their fifth season, the next Concerts at the Presidio take place September 9 and 10 at 7:30 pm in the historic Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop in the Presidio. A donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children and seniors is suggested.

Author and screenwriter Richard Matheson puts his hero, Scott Carey, through a far more harrowing, though no less fanciful, ordeal in The Incredible Shrinking Man. The film tells the story of the inward development of an ordinary man (Carey), who after a freak encounter with a radioactive cloud and a new insecticide, is shrinking away to practically nothing. The film’s stunning special effects and camerawork, considered remarkable and imaginative for their time, are, even today, a source of amazement. Enjoy a free, outdoor screening of the 1957 science-fiction classic when the Presidio Trust and the San Francisco Film Society present the 9th annual Film in the Fog, Saturday, October 2, at 7:00pm, on the lawn near the intersection of Moraga Avenue and Arguello Avenue. Parking is available on the Main Post. Pre-show entertainment begins at 5:30 pm. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets and to arrive early to reserve a spot. Food and beverages will be available for sale or bring a picnic.

September will also see the opening of the Presidio’s newest recreation attraction, House of Air, an indoor trampoline park opening Wednesday, September 15 in a rehabilitated former airplane hangar on Crissy Field. Open to people of all levels of physical ability, House of Air offers aerial and physical training on trampolines as well as trampoline dodge ball and basketball, fitness classes and open jump time. For more information: www.houseofairsf.com.

Later in the month, visitors will have the opportunity to be among the first to explore the Presidio’s first “green” neighborhood. The historic Public Health Service District (PHSD), where, for more than a century, compassionate care was given to mariners from around the world, has been re-imagined as a welcoming park gateway featuring residences, cultural and educational organizations, and public trails that link the Presidio’s natural, historic and recreational attractions. The Presidio Trust is celebrating the re-birth of this forgotten corner of the park with a “Green” Grand Opening on Saturday, September 25, from 11 am to 4 pm. There is no parking for the event within the district, but free parking, along with a free shuttle, is available at the Main Post.

The public will also have the opportunity to learn more about the Presidio’s ongoing projects including plans for the revitalization of the Main Post, the Tennessee Hollow restoration project and landscape upgrades at a pair of Community Open Houses on September 15 from 8:30-10 am and 6:30-8 pm. Both will be held in the rehabilitated Civil War-era cottage at 11B Funston Avenue.

Lastly, there’s still time to visit the Presidio’s two current exhibits. Presidio Habitats is a site-based art exhibition celebrating Presidio nature and wildlife. Organized by the For-Site Foundation and the Presidio Trust, Presidio Habitats runs through May 2011. Meanwhile, Water+Color showcases winners from the California Watercolor Association’s 41st annual national competition. Nearly 100 original works are on display in the Officers’ Club through September 19.

For more information and a complete schedule of fall events, visit the calendar.

The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1996 to administer the Presidio of San Francisco, an urban national park that is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The areas overseen by the Trust include expansive open space and spectacular views, a 300-acre historic forest, and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. The National Park Service oversees the coastal areas of the Presidio. The park comprises nearly 6 million square feet of buildings, including 469 historic structures that contribute to the Presidio’s status as a National Historic Landmark District.”