This place is crazy nostalgic, and I'm loving it. Playing the games I grew up with, along with the…read moresounds of kids having fun, the games are clean, and the area is fantastic. A nice park around the corner and plenty of restaurants a short walk away. I drove just shy of 100 miles to get there and try their games, and it was worth it. The town is like a cool getaway, especially if you live in an area that gets hot.

Good, wholesome nostalgic fun at a great price! I've taken my 22 year old nephew there when he was…read morea kid and a teen and now I take his younger brother who is 11 there to keep the tradition going.

This museum is so underrated!…read more There are plenty of exhibits to explore, along with interactive areas that make learning fun for kids. It's a great place to spend a day with the family, whether you're looking to learn something new, relax, or simply enjoy a beautiful day in Oakland. I especially appreciate that this museum participates in the Museums for All program, which helps make cultural and educational experiences more accessible to families. We had a wonderful visit and I'll definitely be coming back more often. If you're looking for a family-friendly activity that's both fun and educational, this museum is worth checking out.

I have been coming here for years. Specifically for their special exhibitions. They are always so…read moreinteresting and well planned out on display. The museum has three floors and their outdoor garden overlooking lake merrit. They have a little bit of everything, if you're curious about real history and wanting to learn more this is the place. Their annual membership is so worth. As they have several special events. Next to the museum they have plenty of parking. I take Bart as the stop is one block away. Chinatown is walkable for great restaurants. The Oakland library is close by too! There's a restaurant inside the museum while the food sounds great it's okay. I would recommend walking /driving to Chinatown or downtown Oakland for amazing food.

I've been going to Merritt Ceramics since 2019. I have worked in multiple shared-space ceramic…read morestudios over the years, and Merritt is hands-down the cleanest and most well-organized one I have found. ​The staff is incredibly kind, caring, and knowledgeable. I've taken everything at the studio from multi-week wheel throwing courses and one-on-one tutoring to special workshops with world-renowned artists, and I have been impressed with all of them. I am now a 'Daisy' member, which allows me to drop in and work anytime the studio is open. I have learned that I really enjoy sculpting animals. I love working here surrounded by other people who are just as deep into clay as I am. The space is well-equipped with supplies and tools, and the kiln turnaround time is fast. Come join us!

Great creative community, well established studio, very inclusive. Instructors are solid!read more

The CUTEST Mini Golf spot in East Bay! All the holes were East Bay themed which I loved.. it also…read moregave a bit of history of each landmark. Not crowded right at opening on a weekend. There was also beer and food. Facility was clean and overall a grand old time.. Great for friends, date night, and even kids! ANYTHING but a subpar experience!

Fast and friendly service at entry and 19 holes at an affordable price, I had a positive experience…read morehere this past Sunday. I used to play at their very first location in a small room on Park Street in Alameda, more than a decade ago, and the current spot is a total 180, updated, spacious, and offering an arcade, pool tables, and snack bar serving pizza, sandwiches, chicken wings, and twister fries, as well as sweet treats and alcoholic beverages. The mini golf course has a similar theme to their SF location, the props and holes showcasing familiar landmarks in and around the city. Some moving parts, but not a whole lot. Challenge level is minimal, but it was still fun. There were some slow families on the course, but I was able to move around them and do the different holes at my own pace with little or no waiting needed. Easy parking too in the parking lot shared amongst the neighboring businesses.

I went to Bubble Planet with my friend because we were in the area with nothing to do! It was…read morepretty fun even though it was for kids and we got to bring our cameras inside. They only thing was that the tickets were a bit expensive. It was a good way to kill time and we adopted our carrot son there, jjjjaque!

Bubble Planet was PERFECT for my daughter. She's very sensitive to sound and certain textures, so…read moreI'm always careful with activities, but this place was a hit. Her favorite part was right at the beginning, where the sea animals were swimming on the floor and she could step on them to make them go faster. She also loved the bubble pit, the bubbles everywhere, and the VR experiences. Everything felt fun and gentle, not overwhelming. It also wasn't super crowded, which made the whole experience even better. The environment was calm enough for her to enjoy herself without getting overstimulated, and I truly appreciated that. If you have a child with sensory sensitivities or just want something fun and different to do, I definitely recommend Bubble Planet. We had a great time and would absolutely go again.

I went for one of their Intro to Bonsai classes (doesn't teach how to do bonsai, just fundamentals…read moreof what bonsai is, how to appreciate, etc), and thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a one hour intro led by a volunteer, who was knowledgeable and also answered a lot of our questions. Afterwards, they took us around the garden and gave us an overview of some of the trees in the garden. Membership is also available and fairly affordable - also seems to come with a lot of good perks! Regardless if you go for the class or not, it's a very nice and tranquil way to spend an hour or two.

Beautiful gardens hidden away in a busy city…read more Sad to see a group of teen throwing trash into the lake. They don't even respect their own area.

I really wanted to like this theater, and there are definitely some positives, but the experience…read morewas mixed overall. The movie itself ended up being the highlight of the visit. The seating is comfortable, with a home-like feel--cozy couches that make it easy to settle in and enjoy the film. That said, there were a few drawbacks. The popcorn wasn't great, which is always a bit disappointing for a movie night. The wait staff also came across as rude, which took away from the overall vibe. Another surprise was that they only accept cash and don't offer tap-to-pay options, which feels outdated, especially for Oakland. It was interesting that the lobby was busy and lively, yet the actual screening only had about four people in it. The space clearly leans into a community-focused, multi-use model, and they host other events that could be fun depending on what you're looking for. It feels very Oakland--community-driven and a bit unconventional. Overall, it's a decent spot with potential, but not somewhere I'd rush back to just for a movie.

One of the absolute gems of Oakland and East Bay. Coming here is not just for the movie but for the…read morecommunity experience. - They show unique films: mainstream, old classics, camp, documentaries that you won't be able to find elsewhere. - seats that are couches, recliners, love seats, bean bags, etc. - Lots of free community events: karaoke, board games, crafts, trivia/bingo, etc. Or unique events like Saturday morning cartoons, World Cup games, Oscars, etc. - full kitchen on site. Not just popcorn with a huge self-seasoning counter, but also full course meals and many drinks, all delivered right to your seat. - tax and tip are included in all prices. What you see is what you pay. - they don't accept Tap to Pay, so bring a physical card or cash. - parking is hard to find but you have options within a 4 block radius. Busses stop right near it. - friendly staff and management!

MADE is absolutely fantastic. Staff are exactly my people--quirky nerds who love video games. The…read moreselection is great. You'll see a wide variety of consoles, including the Sega Dreamcast and Commodore 64, but also old computers like the Apple II running Oregon Trail. Alongside the consoles and computers running video games, you'll see art pieces that show the insides of various consoles, and info papers that share the history of each one. The magic is in the details. Seeing some consoles have what seems to be a featured game, with info on that game's history and reception, is really cool. The Panasonic consoles had info on their wonky Zelda games, and the Xbox 360 had info on Sonic '06. I also love seeing info sheets about women in gaming. These bits of history really show how much MADE cares about teaching their attendees about video games. It's $20 to get in the door, and you can stay for as long as you'd like. You can even leave and come back throughout the day. It's a great deal and honestly a perfect way to spend a day.

I visited the Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment when it was on 3400 Broadway. I went back to…read moretheir newest location, and it was as good as the last time I visited.