My children love the School of Rock! No matter their mood coming into their lessons / rehearsals,…read morethey always leave beaming, inspired, and excited for their next visit! The staff are friendly, helpful, kind, and on top of everything; the teachers are intelligent and fun and are great at accommodating the needs of all the students no matter their age or level! The concerts the kids put on at the end of each season are fantastic! I'm so thankful for this place, and I can't recommend it high enough!

From the owner: School of Rock Alameda is the leader in performance-based music education. We provide in-person…read moremusic lessons and group rehearsals (bands) for students ages 6+ through adults. Our bands rehearsal weekly to put on seasonal live performances at local venues. Reach out to schedule a free lesson!

Improv Central is such a cute space! I rented the space for a small arts and crafts session with my…read morefriends and the booking process was quick and easy thanks to Claire! She was very responsive to my questions and gave us a quick tour of the space before our rental time. We had everything we needed including a table and chairs, plus the place was so bright and beautifully decorated it really set the tone! Thank you for everything, Claire!

Improv Central is an absolute gem and we in Alameda are so lucky to have this in our…read moreneighborhood!!! (I have been taking improv classes in the Bay Area, as well as performing, and teaching myself for decades and so, I do not say this lightly.) The Grand Opening day was magical. The opportunity to improvise nearly every hour, all day long! I took three different classes with three different teachers and each one was wonderful! I love the yoga studio model -- this is an absolute innovation, unlike any other improv school currently operating -- you can just drop in on a single class or have a membership and all-access, or get a multi-class pass, rather than signing up for a six-week or 8-week workshop. Each instructor offered such a high-quality level of teaching and great energy and care! I also appreciated how the classes are geared toward all skill levels. Again, this is unlike other schools where often one has to progress through levels with a goal of performing. This is improv for the sake of joyful play, connection, and personal growth. Creativity as the secret sauce to life! I have already purchased a 2-week newbie pass and I'm really excited to dive into as many classes as I can fit into my schedule during this window of time.

I received my 100 Ton Master Mariner license through Maritime Institute in Alameda, Ca and it was…read morean excellent experience. I was able to earn my license in the San Francisco Bay Area. The instructor was knowledgeable and patient and having the class close to home made it affordable. This school is top notch and a highly recommended getting your license here.

I attended a beer making class with the Alameda Elks and I had an absolute blast! Hans is a…read moregracious host with a true appreciation for beer and beer making. The snacks and soft pretzels were superb. The garden was stunning and the beer was delicious. I will definitely be back!

Loved the different varieties of pretzels! Also the variety of mustards, chocolate and cheese!…read moreThe beer was delicious! The garden is full and beautiful! Can't wait to go again

Very satisfied with the service and instruction. They have a…read moresystem down and waste no time on getting you on the water. Good instruction when needed and left alone to ride when appropriate. Did the efoil as training for wing-foiling. Good practice. Now time to sail that foil.

First time foil boarder here; had a fantastic time with our instructor Mike Wang! Mike's a great…read moreinstructor who helped my clumsy self get out on the water and learn basic foil board skills all while we were having SO MUCH FUN FLYING ON WATER! We practiced foundational skills in the calm waters, then wandered out into the bay to see a phenomenal view of SF. Mike's up beat attitude was wonderful when I was feeling nervous out on the water. Odds and ends: All of the staff were incredibly friendly The facility had tons of parking Wetsuit provided Covid safe activity and covid precautions are still being taken seriously

Weezie is amazing, and her cooking classes are so much fun. When I "grow up", I hope I have a…read morequarter of the life experiences, joy, knowledge, and energy that she does. Weezie and her wonderful husband, Howard (aka: The Sommelier), have traveled the world, and in the process have gained a massive amount of knowledge about food, cooking techniques, and wine. Classes are done in the kitchen of her home, and she is excellent at walking you through every step. She is always prepared and takes much pride and enthusiasm for what she does. I use tricks that I have picked up from her classes every time I cook. As a side, Weezie was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the San Francisco Professional Food Society. So, if you don't believe me that she's incredible, believe them! :)

I adore Weezie and her classes...and meet so many interesting 'students'. I have brought friends…read morehere, husband and daughter and they all have enjoyed these experiences. If we all could live life as full as our 94 year old Weezie and with such exuberance! Bon Appetit!

Our Three Years at YYY -- A Full Journey Review…read more This review reflects our complete experience watching our son grow from a shy two-year-old into a confident, bilingual kindergartener, all within the walls of YYY. Choosing the School When we began touring preschools in Alameda, YYY stood out immediately. We loved the structure -- the cleanliness, the balance of learning and play, and the Montessori-based approach. The fact that they conduct live scan background checks on all hires gave us added peace of mind. Our only hesitation was the bilingual curriculum. Neither my husband nor I speak Mandarin -- we're an English-only household -- and at two years old, our son wasn't talking much yet. We worried that introducing a second language might confuse him. Still, something about YYY felt right, and we decided to take the leap. Year One -- Group 1: Finding His Footing When our son started at YYY, he had just turned two. He was still in diapers, not very vocal, and still getting steady on his feet. The first three months were the hardest. Every morning brought tears -- he didn't want to be dropped off, and it was the first time he'd ever been away from home in a care setting. By month three, however, something shifted. The crying stopped, and in its place, we began to see a little boy growing more independent and comfortable each day. The first year, we measured success differently. It wasn't about academics -- it was about care. Were the kids safe? Were they being guided toward potty training? Were they learning to feed themselves, follow simple directions, and transition between routines? On every count, YYY delivered. Our son became especially fond of his teacher, Ms. Emily, and that bond told us everything we needed to know about the warmth in that classroom. Year Two -- Group 2: The Emotional Roller Coaster Around the time our son turned three, Ms. Emily pulled us aside with exciting news: he was ready to be potty-trained. We were thrilled. We reinforced the process at home, and within a short time, he was fully trained. Shortly after, he moved up to Group 2, where Mandarin learning began in earnest with Ms. Du and Ms. Chen. At three-and-a-half, a new challenge emerged. Our son was struggling to manage his emotions -- when he didn't get what he wanted, he had a hard time expressing himself, likely because he was still working on his verbal communication. We found ourselves questioning again: was the bilingual environment too much for him? Were we doing the right thing? But the teachers met him exactly where he was. They worked with him patiently -- teaching him to speak up, take a breath, drink some water, and step away to calm down. We mirrored these strategies at home, and gradually, the tantrums gave way to something better: self-regulation. The turning point came in October. The kids were asked to talk about their Halloween costumes in both Mandarin and English, and when we watched the video of our son confidently describing his costume in both languages, we were genuinely amazed. We checked in with Ms. Du, who reassured us: he understood Mandarin well -- he might not always speak it aloud, but he could follow along and even sing songs. That was enough for us to commit. We stayed, and we're so glad we did. By age four, our son was singing songs in Mandarin, making friends, managing his feelings, and coming home to tell us about his day. Year Three -- Group 3: Exponential Growth The final year at YYY brought it all together. The focus shifted toward English readiness for kindergarten, and the growth we witnessed was nothing short of remarkable. One of our most memorable moments came when the kids performed on stage at a church. Our son -- the same boy who once cried every morning at drop-off -- stood up there without a trace of stage fright, belting out a Mandarin song at the top of his lungs, complete with all the dance moves he'd learned from Ms. Pearlie, Ms. Du, and Ms. Chen. My husband and I looked at each other in disbelief, the proudest we'd ever been. The rest of the year unfolded in the same beautiful way: daily journal writing, reading his first books, learning to count, drawing, coloring, and deepening his bonds with every teacher and assistant in the school. The graduation performance was the crown jewel -- every child had memorized speeches in both English and Mandarin and performed choreographed dances with joy and confidence. Talking with the other parents that day, it was clear we all felt the same thing: these teachers had given our children something extraordinary. Not just academic skills, but a foundation -- emotionally, socially, and linguistically -- that will carry them far. We couldn't be more grateful for everything YYY gave our son, and our family.

Our son spend 3 year at Yu Ying Learning Center and beneficiate a lot from the highly trained and…read moreprofessional teachers staff. I would recommend for every family!!

The classes are generally good but the program needs better organization. The website is confusing…read moreand needs design improvements. The office is not easily accessible on the phone. To improve service, it would help if the school were to put itself in the position of its students and then proceed to design better systems, both online and by phone. All information needs to be well-organized and easily understandable.

The yoga class was canceled and it's a HUGE hassle to get my refund…read more I show up for class dressed and with my new yoga mat and it was canceled via a piece of paper on the door. Really?! You have my email and phone number, can you let me know before I go through the hassle of changing and driving there that I shouldn't show up? I email AND call to try and receive a refund to no avail. My phone call with Kristin this morning was something like "Did you pay online?" "Yes" "Oh well we can only give you a cash refund. And we only get cash on certain days so call us in the afternoon and you might be able to come by and get your money." "Well can't you set aside the money for me to come by tomorrow and get it?" "No, call us this afternoon." Blech, would not recommend.

John Scott is the voice and singing coach for the voice and signing coaches in the Bay Area. He's…read morefantastic. If you are like me, and started out as a person who wanted to take his voice from semi-pro to pro, then you need to call John. I never thought I'd have the chance to audition one day for some serious gigs, but what do you know - that's exactly what I'm doing. Can John Scott asap if you want to take your singing to the next level.

Frankly, I'm shocked there aren't more current reviews for this talented Seth-Riggs trained coach…read more John has catapulted my semi-professional singing, giving me a strong foundation to audition with the broadest of musicians. I came to him as a "singer" with a ton of intuition and heart and he's graduated me into a trained VOCALIST. I feel I can hold my own with some serious players, lose my inhibition and bring a truer "me" to the stage!