First time ever to the BAL Theatre and after 45 years in Fremont never knew it existed. Went to see…read moreMatt Stone, an Elvis Tribute artist who gave an excellent performance along with his backup band. Every seat is a great seat given the seat versus stage layout. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Venue has been updated but still holds an 'old school charm' making for an enjoyable vibe. Prices are very affordable given the Bay Area and the quality of the tribute entertainers and their bands. Highly recommended and will be going back given the value for price, but most importantly the quality of booked entertainment and the cool vibe of this venue. Will post on YouTube video of Matt Stone. Would love to see him again. Many thanks to the BAL Theatre & staff!

I used to go to this theater when I was a kid. I had very fond memories of it, but I assumed that…read moreit had been remodeled and modernized so I never thought much about it. About 40 years went by and I saw that a Led Zeppelin tribute band, Led Zepagain, was playing there so got a ticket. I was delighted to see that the theater has been completely restored and looks exactly like it did back in its glory days. It's really beautiful, and I so appreciated that it had not been made to look like a cookie cutter theater. Staff were very friendly and welcoming. The margaritas were really good! Theater was clean and looked spectacular. We had fun!

Just last weekend we rented the entire venue to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary. I cannot…read moreexplain in words how wonderful the staff at Almost Famous helped to make in monumental!!!! We have been patrons of Almost Famous for years and when we began planning our party they were the first to come to mind. From contact to planning they helped us with everything we needed even helping us to hire our favorite band and recommendations for caterers. Thanks to all at ALMOST FAMOUS! You helped make memories we will never forget! I highly recommend them for a private party or visit them during there music events. You will not be disappointed!!!!!

I came here randomly to celebrate the birthday of one of my bestest and dearest. In my busy life I…read moredidn't even check reviews or the website. We came to see the Queen of Motown tribute. It's SOOOO FUN! Because I got tickets so late I ended up sitting in the lounge. Not a bad bet at all! The room with the seating has an unobstructed view of the stage but the lounge was popping. We could dance and move at our own free will. I need to mention I'm still here and a tad tipsy so forgive me if this review takes some unexpected turns. Anthony at the bar is adorable and super kind. He took care of us all night. Something important to note, you may want to eat before you come or bring food with you. There is an outside pzza shop that you can purchase from too. Anywho, some people have on jeans others have on bedazzled jumpsuits. Come as you are?! Definitely want to come back. TLDR.... it's FUN. Feels local. Affordable.

We went to a show at The Sound Room last night (Angela LaFlamme -- an extraordinary performance!)…read moreand it was a wonderful experience. The doors opened at 6:30 and we ordered our food and found a table. The menu was small, but everything we had was delicious and reasonably priced. My husband and I both ordered the pork carnitas, which were incredibly tender and very tasty, my brother-in-law had the Chile rellenos and we shared some top-notch French fries. My Sangria was great, too! It's a warm and intimate venue, with a friendly vibe, and our friend who was performing that night said that musicians love the venue! A+

What a great venue to experience jazz! Nice smaller place…read morewith perfect sight and sound. Perhaps one might use the old term a Super Club, since they have exceptionally taste food both entrees and deserts. Plus a full bar. Staff are welcoming. This place exists because the owners are pationate about jazz and want a good space to listen and experience. We're very lucky to have this place. Convenient location. Take advantage and go experience The Sound Room for yourself!

I went to Moe's for a concert it being my first time going there. The bartending staff were really…read morenice and super helpful. When I asked about purchasing a local cider they carried I was given directions to the maker, what time they opened, and who I should talk to when I get there. Now that's going above and beyond. There was a nice variety of drinks and they were delicious. I loved the layout of the venue very intimate with the stage but still tons of standing room and if you didn't want to be inside with the crowd there was a tv with the ample outside seating where you could watch the band. The bathrooms were very spacious and super clean. The little taco stand in the back was perfect too. The tacos were delicious. I wish we had a place just like Moe's in Sacramento . I will definitely come to Moe's again next time in town.

This last Saturday August 29 was yet another in a series of The Best Show Ever's by The Greyboy…read moreAllstars, The Best Band in the World. Yes. That's right. I've seen every band in the world, and GBA are the best. Their music is infectious, like a sonic virus that penetrates the auditory cortex and sets up standing waves of bliss and intrigue, and which also penetrates the motor cortex and sets your feet on autopilot. They find the dirtiest nastiest funkiest grooves with just the right amount of dissonance to keep you hooked, like an itch that you can only partially scratch. In addition to their own vulgar grooves, they pay homage to artists ranging from Gary Bartz, Gil Scott-Heron, and Michael Jackson to Burt Bacharach/Hal David and George Harrison. And they've been at this for over 30 years now - yet you look at them playing and they are constantly laughing and joking with each other. Somehow they still seem to love playing with each other, and that energy comes across to the audience at every show. This might be their hidden superpower - the love the 5 of them have somehow held onto for doing this together all this time.

The service here is top-notch, the food is as authentic as it gets, and the kitchen is spotless!…read moreThey've only been open for 4 months, but I was lucky enough to try it out early on. Coming all the way from Texas, I highly recommend trying their falafel and chicken shawarma.

Sad to hear the Make Out Room is closing soon. I know so many folks have plenty of late night…read morestories here - good and bad. A good spot to catch live bands or some raucous drag performance. The bartenders are decently friendly and move pretty efficiently between simple pints to fancier cocktails. The bathroom situation could be better though. Overall still a decent night out to be had. Thanks for the memories.

4/8/2026 was my first time returning to the Guild as a concert venue, I've only ever been to it as…read morea movie theater in the 1990's-2000's. We saw Gary Numan with Tremours as the opening band. Tickets were very expensive, and General Admission/standing areas were sort of confusing and severely limited. There were very few places to stand in order to get a good view of the bands and it was pretty uncomfortable to stand in a tiny spot for hours. Luckily, the staff here is amazing. They were personably, approachable, helpful, polite, and friendly, unlike snobby & distant staff at most concert venues in SF, Oakland, Berkeley, and San Jose. Even the security team was pretty nice, which goes a long way to making a concert experience pleasant. Bartenders were nice too, along with the ushers & box office people. We arrived early and a few of the ushers helped advise us on where we were allowed to stand as G/A to give us the best views. Downstairs is a mess of packed human bodies, limited space, and poor views, so we tried our luck and found a decent space upstairs to camp out at. We had a good view of the stage and weren't smothered by a bunch of Gen X'ers & Boomers. The theater is beautiful and nicely updated from what I remember. It is clean, and the floors, tables, bathrooms, foyer, seats, and stairs are very new, and made to look vintage. Nice touch. Capacity is around 500 people, and this show was nearly sold out. It got very hot, humid, and uncomfortable about 1/2 way through the concert, I think they need to update the HVAC system here, or at least have some fans or A/C. The fire alarm went off probably due to the heat, fog, and humidity of the sweaty crowd. But, it was turned off, and the show went on. Sound system was not the best. Music & vocals were not crystal clear and everything sound slightly muffled. Lighting was good, powerful, and bright, to the point that I became a bit photosensitive along the way, and had to put on my sunglasses to keep from becoming dizzy. Volume was good, not too loud, but I elected to wear earplugs anyways to preserve my hearing. Drink prices are on par with most live entertainment venues, which means incredibly high. $20 for 20oz beers & $20 for cocktails. Adding to the high cost of entry/tickets to the show, this venue became almost unaffordable. It's probably not a big deal to people from Atherton, Woodside, Los Altos, Saratoga, and Portola Valley, but I can't afford these prices. I still had a great time here. I just wish they had better G/A standing area options with better views for those who can't afford the $$$ reserved/VIP seating. Space is limited and oddly configured, hard to get a comfortable place to stand & get a good view, and ticket prices along with drink prices are for the richer crowd. But, the space is beautiful, clean, and intimate, and a great place to see a show. Don't wear too much clothing to come to a show here. It gets very hot & humid, and you will be packed in with a lot of sweaty people. And the sound system should be improved for more clarity & better quality. But, the Guild is a great local venue to see live music. It is clean, staff are wonderful, and location is very convenient for those of us living on the Peninsula. Easy to get to whether taking the train or driving, and there are a lot of restaurants nearby in the downtown area. Prices are not affordable for everyone though, maybe just the rich(er) techies & finance crowd. I'd love to see the Guild evolve a bit on the accessibility & affordability aspect to become a Bay Area destination to all for good, live music. They do line up a lot of 80's bands here, so if you are a fan of that era, make sure to check out the Guild Theater in Menlo Park, CA. We will already be back later this month to see Flock of Seagulls. Now thst I know how this place operates, I will have a better plan to find a good place to be inside to enjoy the show. I will definitely leave my jacket at home, and bring my sunglasses & earplugs again, and I hope to have an even better experience next time!

I hate to complain again but there are no more "open seats" even at the bar. Now they have moved…read morethem to a paid area that will cost you $250 for the night. So if you go here and did not reserve an $$$ seat expect to be standing room only for your 4-5 hour show. If you really need to sit down you can go outside and sit on the sidewalk. That's it. When I called BS on this with one of the servers was told "Nobody has free seats, you have to pay to sit. That's how concerts are" Bullshit. I go to plenty of live music venues that if you get there a little early you can usually find a seat to chill. Unfortunately this place has turned into a money grab. I thought this place was about supporting live music. You guys suck.

Huge fan of the ritz as you don't get to see a lot of bars with live shows anymore. I have seen the…read moreritz people deal with some pretty wild Customers. I typically don't like shows as they aren't the safest place for women who enjoy going out alone but the ritz staff really Help me feel safe and have checked in on me before. They take their job seriously

Pretty terrible service, the picture booth stopped working so I went to find a bartender…read more The bartender was there so I hailed him and he looked at me without saying anything then started washing his hands, like okay? I wait then he looks up again so I start telling him and he says "I'm washing my hands, gimme a fucking minute" like wow alright He washes his hands and I try to tell him the booth isn't working, he tells me there's a number on the booth I can text, I told him id seen it and I'm letting him know so they can put a sign up or something so no one else wastes money, he tells me its not their machine and to text the number then walks away. Super rude​​​​​​

Elk's Lodge hosted a delightful birthday celebration in August, and it was a memorable experience…read more The festivities took place in one of their elegant ballrooms, downstairs, and were expertly catered by High Street Station. The food was simply scrumptious, and it was heartwarming to witness older Alameda residents coming together to celebrate the birthdays of their peers. We were also served by the Alameda Boy Scouts who were great servants and made sure our glasses were full and assisted with busing our plates. Elk's Lodge, a renowned national fraternal organization, has a close-knit Alameda chapter. The dance floor was a lively spot, and their Chardonnay was an absolute treat. I eagerly anticipate attending another event at this wonderful venue. Additionally, they provide ample parking in their own lot.

A very generous neighbor of mine invited my husband and me to the Alameda Elks Lodge Annual Crab…read moreFeed, which was held yesterday evening. I'm giving the lodge a four star for my dining experience and an enjoyable evening. My husband has been here more than a few times to play games of pool with our friendly neighbor and one of his friends. I have been here before for another event almost three years ago. The interior is beautiful, but the walls are thin. One can actually hear people talking in the next room. Our meeting place was the Mahogany Room for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. I did not want to stuff myself with the appetizers and not have enough room in my stomach for the main entree - crab. Nor did I want any libation before the meal. After the cocktail hour, we were escorted to the Rathskeller (basement of the lodge) where the dinner was held. The gentlemen on the waitstaff were lined up in an orderly manner, serving us whatever we desired - be it the bowtie/penne pasta, dinner rolls/garlic bread, coffee, dessert. Presentation of the crab, the wines (red and white), Caesar salad and the antipasti plates was excellent...casual, yet classy. Dessert was a serving of raspberry sorbet. The only minor drawback was the bowtie/penne pasta served on the same plate as the salad plate. Even though I did not win any of the door prizes after making a donation of $20 for 20 raffle tickets, they had some nice ones, such as the $100 gift card from Scott's Seafood, $100 gift card for Yoshi's dinner and show, $50 gift cards from La Penca Azul, C'era Una Volta, 1400 Bar and Grill, Jim's Coffee Shop, Pier 29. From what I heard, the lodge raised about $1,500 in raffle ticket sales. I also have to give kudos to the waitstaff, many of whom were very tolerable and patient with this woman who sat at the next table behind my husband. She was in the wine (whine) mode. "I want penne pasta. I don't want this dinner roll with butter. I want some garlic bread. Don't you guys have any garlic bread?" On and on she went...egads...she had a sense of entitlement. Yes, there were two bottles of wine at each table, but her incessant whining almost had me do a "face palm" on her. Ooh, I wanted to offer her a piece of cheese, which would have complemented a glass of wine very well. (Now, quit your whining, lady...lol.)

My friend and I came here right before they closed and they still happily served us. Daniela was…read moresuper sweet and the Jell-O shots we ordered were super yummy!!

The wines here were excellent. The selections between both the reds and whites were hard to choose…read morebetween in the best way possible. Daniella provided such a fun, welcoming experience!

Always a fun time with great music and vibes. Food is handy and service is great considering the…read morerush and timing. Just perfect for a night out treat!

I was very disappointed with this venue. First, I was unaware that I needed to buy parking tickets,…read morethe original Blue Note in Napa, it wasn't necessary. The parking location was terrible. We had purchased decent seats, but when the people in front of me stood up, we couldn't see anything. There are no optional screens to see the artist, so if your view is obstructed directly in front of you, you either stand up, or you don't see. For the money I paid $222.00 plus parking, it wasn't worth it. I'll never go again, no matter who is playing!