In a day when a woman leads the House of Representatives and another campaigns for President, it might be hard to imagine a time when the work of four women painters was marginalized because of strict social rules and the artists' gender. For many decades, the four artists celebrated in Women Impressionists were treated with critical ambivalence and lacked major public exhibitions.

The de Young Museum hosts Dale Chihuly’s first major exhibition in San Francisco, June 14 through September 28, 2008. Chihuly at the de Young includes eleven galleries of new and archival works representing the breadth and scope of the artist’s creative vision over the last four decades. The de Young Museum is the only venue for this exhibition. "I'm very excited about my upcoming show at the de Young. It will be the most ambitious show I've created to date," says Chihuly.

"It's like school, but more fun," says Donny. "You learn about what people really do in the world." Catering to youth from underserved communities, XTech keeps its middle and high school students on track and thinking about the future. This program is designed to help inspire some of these students to become part of the next generation of scientists, engineers, and others who work to shape the world we live in.

Send your favorite kid to some cool science classes! Classes described below are for members of the Exploratorium at $30 each. Sign up online at exploratorium.edu. The schedule is as follows:

On Saturday, May 17, at 2pm, join the Exploratorium's Film Program for an afternoon of lyrical short films that resonate with the power of place. Films are shown in the Exploratorium's McBean Theater and are included in the price of admission to the museum. The schedule is as follows:

What do your thoughts sound like, look like, feel like? Do they amble or careen in a flood? We are always thinking, but rarely share our thoughts out loud. What if you could walk through everyone's thoughts, scrawled out for all to see?

All wound up with nothing to do? Swing by the Exploratorium on September 6th, beginning at 10am, for the 2008 California State Yo-Yo Championships. Meet National and World Yo-Yo Champions.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) artistic director Carey Perloff today announced the final casting and design team for A.C.T.’s 30th anniversary production of Sam Shepard’s classic interrogation of the American dream, Curse of the Starving Class.

The legislation required to implement the Market Octavia Plan was approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on its first reading yesterday, paving the way for much anticipated new housing and infrastructure improvements in the plan area. The Market Octavia Plan is a culmination of an 8 year effort by the City and the affected neighborhoods.

A rare collaboration between three of China's most prominent museums brings the first exhibition of Ming dynasty court arts to the United States. For centuries, Ming porcelain vases have been regarded as the epitome of priceless beauty. The Asian Art Museum's special exhibition, Power & Glory: Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty demonstrates why not just vases but Ming art of many types has earned such acclaim.

For many people, Friday the 13th suggests bad luck -- but is it really tempting fate to break a mirror? Are you courting disaster by walking under a ladder? And what really happens if you step squarely on that crack in the sidewalk? Challenge these and other superstitions at the Exploratorium's new Superstition Obstacle Course opening on Friday, June 13 through September 1, 2008.

Send your favorite kid to some cool science classes. The Exploratorium offers Children's Science Classes for Members on April 27 on the topic of Life Sciences. Classes are described below and are for members of the Exploratorium at $30 each, and anyone can become a member.