BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN TZID:America/Los_Angeles X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:VEVENT UID:5705@news24-680.com DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260319T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260319T190000 DTSTAMP:20260227T062406Z URL:https://news24-680.com/events/the-clift-royal-sonesta-hotel-continues- its-speaker-series-making-history-fun-again/ SUMMARY:The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel Continues Its Speaker Series: Making History Fun Again DESCRIPTION:SAN FRANCISCO\, CA — (February 26\, 2026) — The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel\, a San Francisco landmark since 1915\, continues its month ly speaker series\, “Making History Fun Again\,” designed to honor the city’s legendary past through lively storytelling and unforgettable per sonalities.\nOn Thursday\, March 19\, 2026\, The Clift welcomes Startup Ar t Founder Ray Beldner for a conversation with Root Division Executive Dire ctor Demetri Broxton about Bay Area Art: Then &\; Now.\nBay Area Art Th en &\; Now: 40 Years of Change\nArtist\, curator and founder of Startup Art\, Ray Beldner\, is joined by Bay Area-based artist and Root Division Executive Director Demetri Broxton for a conversation tracing the evolutio n of the Bay Area art ecosystem over the past four decades.\nSpanning a pe riod marked by institutional closures\, reinvention\, and a renewed focus on equity\, the discussion brings a vital present-day lens to what might o therwise feel purely retrospective. Reflecting on shifts in institutions\, artist-run spaces\, community networks\, and cultural priorities\, the di scussion connects lived history with contemporary experience. Beldner brin gs the perspective of long-term participation in the region’s artist-led initiatives and alternative exhibition models\, while Broxton offers insi ght as a younger artist and nonprofit leader shaping the current landscape .\n  \nTogether they consider how the Bay Area art community has transfo rmed and what continues to define it. According to Beldner\, “Change is hard\, but reinvention is part of San Francisco’s DNA\, and the art comm unity plans to continue to evolve how we approach and define future genera tions of artists and art enthusiasts.”\nAbout the Series\nThe Making His tory Fun Again series:\n\n\n Celebrates San Francisco’s diverse and vib rant history\n Connects generations through lively\, accessible storytell ing\n Showcases authors\, historians\, performers\, and cultural icons\n Invites the public into the Redwood Room for conversations that spark cur iosity and imagination\n\nSignature Speaker Series Cocktails\nGuests atten ding the March 19 event may enjoy themed cocktails honoring San Francisco ’s storied past\, including:\n\n\n Pisco Punch — A Gold Rush original from 1853\n Martini — Born along the trail between San Francisco and M artinez\n Night Moves (Buena Vista Tribute Espresso Martini) — A wink t o the city’s famed Irish Coffee\n Maiden Lane — A nod to one of San F rancisco’s most notorious streets\n\nEvent Details\nWhat: Making History Fun Again — Speaker Series\nFeatured Speaker: Ray Beldner of Startup Ar t and Root Division’s Demetri Broxton\nWhen: Thursday\, March 19\, 2026 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.\nWhere: The Redwood Room\, The Clift Royal Sonesta Ho tel\nAdmission: Complimentary with RSVP\nRSVP: "Making History Fun Again" Speaker Series at The Clift Tickets\, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite\nUpcomin g Speaker Series Lineup\nThursday\, April 16 – John Martini: 1906 Earthq uake &\; Fire\nThursday\, May 21 - SFHS - History of SF’s Legendary H otels\nThursday\, June 18 - Shawn Sprockett - Unthinkable Vice\nAbout The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel\nLocated at 495 Geary Street\, The Clift Royal S onesta Hotel blends contemporary design with timeless character. Home to t he legendary Redwood Room\, the hotel has been a cultural fixture of San F rancisco since 1915. Following a multimillion-dollar renovation\, The Clif t offers 372 stylish guest rooms and suites\, a state-of-the-art event spa ce\, and an enduring commitment to hospitality that is — and always has been — legendary. Learn more at Sonesta Press Room / The Clift. ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://news24-680.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/0 2/cropped_750x750_200kb_700x700.jpg CATEGORIES:Arts,Free,Informational Gathering END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Los_Angeles X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260308T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR