Commonwealth Club of California

Can you think of one thing all of these people have in common?
A Teddy Roosevelt
B. Nancy Pelosi
C. Bill Clinton
D, Bill Gates
E. Kim Kardashian.
Believe or not all of them have addressed the Commonwealth Club, yes, even Ms Kim. The bar has been lowered (and I don’t mean the martini bar).

Nice place in the Financial District, 2^nd floor of a high rise office building.
The area is big with lots of books and plenty of seats. The discussions and talks usually take place in a large room with good climate control and audio is clear.
A lot of well known people share ideas here, so I would definitely recommend joining or at least coming to events. This is the original TED talk!

Ive been to a few different talks now both in SF and Silicon Valley. recently caught Mark Bittman talking food politics and cooking. A fairly wide array of interesting speakers and subjects. I may not miss the majority of my college lectures but when the person and subject is interesting i think make the time. Definitely worth supporting

Absolutely wonderful and enriching program series. A gem of SF.
Very friendly, professional and helpful staff. Great private event space as well.

I have been a member for almost a year now. I like the diversity of speakers and various topics. When the more famous speakers come on, it becomes a little too commercialized with a very crafted script that plays out in an interview setting, so i’m not sure if those are worthy of the high fees given that there is less authenticity in the discussion. Since the venue features several rooms, at times the noise from the other events can be a distraction, particularly with loud microphones.
The staff is wonderful and helpful in getting you involved, as well as their responsiveness to new ideas for discussion.
I do wish the club would be more engaging with educational clubs. For example, they feature a lunchtime language discussion, but it is only really for fluent speakers. Why not have more things like that where members can be more engaged and actively participating instead of sitting in an audience for 2 hours just to listen to rehearsed speeches?
They also do this thing with the gavel every time there is a speaker to bring the club to «order». That needs to go.

I love their service and specially the event manager Alex Hernandez is extremely helpful.
I highly recommend this place, highly professional and friendly environment.

I joined Commonwealth Club recently and my first event was an environmental topic in the ‘blue room’. The place is kind of 60s style with the heavy blue curtains, old libary books everywhere, historical pictures. Interesting. The talk was good and eye-​opening how everyday folks can be scientists and environmentalists contributing to education through collecting metrics like how many times a flower is pollenated and by what. I’ve signed up for other talks and I am looking forward to them!

Was looking forward to my first visit to the Commonwealth Club for the 2013 James Beard Awards: The Bay Area’s Big Winners. The event was moderated by Executive Chef Michael Mina, who was awarded the 2013 James Beard Award for Who’s Who in Food and Beverage in America. The other awardees were Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, Chefs and Co-​owners, State Bird Provisions; Winner, Best New Restaurant and Christopher Kostow, Chef, The Restaurant at Meadowood; Winner, Best Chef West. (
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After a Commonwealth employee introduced the event and the panel, Mina moderated a Q&A with the panelists. At the end, audience members were allowed to ask questions of the panelists at microphones set up at the two aisles. For efficiency purposes, a Commonwealth employee should have moved the questioners along after their questions. A couple of people sort of went on and on with their questioning. Also, the chairs set up in the rooms were tight. Knees touching the back of the chair tight.
Overall, nice experience at the Commonwealth Club.

It’s actually a resourceful gem to nurture thoughts, interests, and curiousity. Youre bound to meet someone fascinating in the crowd. Connect your intellect

I had the good luck of attending a media breakfast at the Commonwealth Club. The venue was well organized to receive a lot of people at one time and their breakfast spread was nicely managed with someone always monitoring scone status.
It was a lot of fun browsing through the books written by former by people who have spoken at the Commonwealth Club… very impressive.
I’ve never considered this site as a possible event venue but I will in the future. Top notch.

Great facility, great location. Staff are proactive & friendly. I attended a conference here (book marketing for authors) and could not have been happier with the host location.

I’ve been to a handful of lectures at the Commonwealth Club thus far. Some were fascinating while others weren’t exactly what I was expecting them to be. Regardless, the presentations were each only an hour long, so nothing ever felt like a waste of time.
The topics can range from politics to culture to personal development, so there is always a little something for everyone. Often, the Commonwealth Club hosts well known political figures, news anchors, authors, and local chefs. If thinking and learning is your thing and you’re open to hearing various perspectives, you’d likely enjoy the events held by the Commonwealth Club.
I believe they allow some time for networking prior to or just following some of the events. They also host social events and local walking tours, although being the awkward introvert that I am, I have yet to partake in any of these.

Excellent office building to work at, they have events throughout the year such as children’s art show and annual holiday parties. Security staff is friendly and they rent out umbrellas when it rains.
Also not bad considering Bruce Bochy is part of the commonwealth club and had meetings here!

I’m so confused. I was sure I’d see all my friends here as reviewed before me. I mean truly, you’re as smart as you are beautiful. Am I to conclude because you’ve not already carved your name in this tree that you’ve never been? The salve for me must be from the tube marked «oversight.» There’s so much going on, truly, how can you take it all in. You’re probably reading this on your mobile device in the stacks at City Lights. I’m cool with that.
This established then, take if from me — you have to check out the Club. Whether you write about it after or not, please, come. It’s convenient to many things (2^nd and Market), the headliner events are usually at 6PM (meaning you can have a cocktail before and a fabulous supper in the Fidi after), and it’s so different from the groove in which we so often find ourselves that this in itself makes the experience enervating and so worthwhile.
The Club has been around for over 100 years. It’s mission is to provide a forum for the discussion of all manner topics and ideas. Seriously, all manner. There is no question that in their calendar of events you will absolutely find two or three things that trip your intellectual trigger. What ensures this is the broad base of Club volunteers, the committees that work tirelessly to bring topical and relevant speakers, the Inforum (oriented more towards the under 30s), the reputation — all working to make this a place where those with something to say come to say it.
Over the recent years the Club launched their Climate One initiative, an ongoing series of events illuminating climate change, energy policy and related social responsibility. I was in the audience to hear Robert Kennedy speak to this the other night. It had been some time since my last visit. Robert and host (Greg Dalton, superman), reminded me why I must go more often.
So, my friends, feel like getting your pencil sharpened? Want to share a glass of free wine («free» with the really inexpensive price of admission) with me before the lecture on the Mexican cartels and drug policy along our southern border? Then meet me at the Club on June 29. And if this subject isn’t one that intrigues, check out the calendar of events, pick one or two that look cool and give the Club a trial run.
You can thank me after.

I love listening to the Commonwealth archives, especially the ones from the Climate One series.
Check the lectures from 4÷13÷2010−4÷22÷2010.
1. Cap and Charade? (Recorded Apr 22 2010)
2. Vinod Khosla: Forecast or Invent Our Energy Future?
(Recorded Apr 20 2010)
3. Global Warring (Recorded Apr 13 2010)
4. Fossil Fuels and Security Risks (Recorded March 29 2010)

I’m not sure why I’m not a member yet. I mean really. Great guest speakers, interesting topics, a wealth of knowledge, friendly people, and a super convenient location.
And although most of their speakers don’t put me to sleep their vibe might. What this place needs badly is a breath of fresh air — maybe some better lighting, apple scented candles, better chairs (please)!

I recently put in my notice at The Commonwealth Club. Having worked there for several years, I’ve come face to face with some extraordinary people.
My fondest memories:
* Seeing Enron’s Jeffrey Skilling get pied by activists.
* Getting a kiss on the cheek from the ever-​cantankerous Spike Lee.
* Watching Ethan Hawke get pulled off the stage by a crazy lady fan.
* Being hit on by Al Franken.
* Seeing Jews and Arabs exchange business cards after a heated debate.
Worst moments:
* Listening to Bush coin the term compassionate conservativism.
* Waiting for a bomb to go off at the Henry Kissinger event.
* Meeting Cristy Turlington.
Yeah, meeting Cristy Turlington had to be the absolute worst moment. She is super sweet, that supermodel biatch.

If you’re not using your gym membership.
Not paying attention to your magazine subscriptions.
Getting tired of expensive hangovers.
Been buying way too many clothes which you don’t even wear.
And getting tired of just reading snippets of stuff on blogs.
Then join Commonwealth Club.
It’s a chance to question and learn more about all of the stuff that you could and should be learning more about.
If you’re not excercising those glutes — may as well try to excercise your mind.

Full disclosure: I volunteer for the Commonwealth Club…
Love the Commonwealth Club!!! I finally decided to join, and INFORUM (their club for younger people) has a ton of great and interesting events. In addition to the normal Commonwealth Club events related to public affairs, INFORUM had a social event at Bourbon and Branch… and I’m a huge fan of Bourbon and Branch. There was a «drink special» at the Bourbon and Branch event (though not sure if $ 1 off the gimlet is really that special), but generally, they are pretty good at providing drinks and light snacks at their INFORUM events (I guess they know what makes us tick).
I’ve generally been pleasantly surprised by how friendly people are; it’s one of the few places in San Francisco where I really feel like people are talking to and meeting new people…
Membership is pricey so I definitely think of it more as a donation to the club. Virtually all events are open to the general public.

Where to meet good looking political and social activists?
Sign up for a couple of these, and your brain might just get hooked in addition to your heart.
Dragged to several of these by a pretty liberal friend of mine to hear a panel discussion on global warming. And have to say, despite the price of tickets at times, the public panels/​solo speakers are quite inducing and make me feel a bit more enlightened once I hit the busy streets of SF.
Sign up to be on their mailing list and go to events that interest you.