SHACK15 is part coworking space, part social club, and part event venue, located on the top floor…read moreof the Ferry Building with views of the Bay. The space is stylish, modern, with lounges, work-friendly areas, meeting rooms, phone booths, lockers, a café/bar, and plenty of room to connect with people. It's a community space for entrepreneurs, founders, investors, creatives, and changemakers. They host events, talks, cultural programming, and networking opportunities; you can meet interesting people, get work done, or attend a curated event there.

This place has so much promise but alas it's not for me. After a year I stopped and don't really…read moremiss it. The good is the view. Everyone is impressed with the location and the view. The 3pm coffee break is not bad. But pretty much after that it's downhill - the sales team promises a community but really it's a Coworking space with uncomfortable sitting for working and member predominantly prefer not to interact much from 9-4pm - cafe doesn't really need to try because they have a captive audience as no outside food is allowed. Food is okay unless you are unlucky like me and get myself and my friend food poisoning from their strawberry matcha latte $13.50 each. We got our refund but no word of apology. - cafe staff is more likely not to know how to process your member credit. More than 50% of the time using your member credit is an uncomfortable experience and they just like to blame another team for why they are not trained. - the space is closed or partially closed whenever they can get it rented. Members just have to deal. - for $3000 a year shack15 is trying too hard to be cool but it just feels pretentious and almost unwelcoming. The events. You don't have to be a member to go to the events. À la carte payments work. Some events are good. If you are looking for Coworking space and want ergo set up this is not the place. If you want to meet people it's not great at facilitating a true community. It is a beautiful space that unfortunately doesn't deliver on its promise for me.

I joined because I recently had twins. When I reached out to get more info I got no response. I…read moresent multiple emails and nothing. This place is a joke they make you pay to sign up but don't offer any support. They just take your money and you never hear a word from them. DON'T JOIN IT'S A SCAM! I would have given 0 stars if that was an option.

Membership in this club entitles you to access to the Yahoo Group, member website, monthly…read morenewsletter, and a variety of benefits: *The club provides a hot meal to new parents, offers monthly meetings for new parents, and a babysitting co-op. * Lending closets for preemie clothes, Halloween costumes, and snow clothes. * It also holds a huge consignment sale twice a year. Most important: it gives you access to other Parents of Multiples, whose advice, resources, and mere existence helps keep you sane.

Well designed studio, unfortunately occupied by new-age "spiritual" folks. Managed by a young,…read morefaux-spiritual, spiritual hipster. If you're looking for a hipster spot this is it. If you're looking for classes and community learning, this is not the place for you! So why one star? Well, I've long wanted to create a community based school for intermediate to advanced rock guitar. I've been playing for over 20 years, have studied at Berklee and completed the GIT program at Musicians' Institute. I love this stuff and I have a lot to offer. (Article, with example from my book: http://www.guitar9.com/columnist109.html ) I found about Free School and went to Warren, who pre-approved this ("It would be great having you as a teacher of electric guitar at the free school - thank you so much for offering to do so!" (sic)). I then spent around 40 hours preparing for a course to cover fundamentals, considering a range of skills and backgrounds, not excluding people who cannot sight read, focusing on creating a foundation, and challenging all. I met Warren, took his course on teaching for Free School, and he discussed about scheduling for the studio room at HI. He followed up with this, too. Then Warren told me that he'd turned facilitator duties of HI over to a young man who goes by "Mylo -gan". I contacted Mylo by email. From there, everything went downhill. Mylo replied only to one of my emails -- the one in where I asked him about parking my computer there for shared use. He wanted this (my computer). But he didn't reply to my any emails where I'd asked about teaching my course. I got an uneasy suspicion that maybe Mylo didn't want me to teach the course there. Since Mylo was ignoring email and since I had no phone number to call, I went there in person. I went in to use my computer but primarily talk to Mylo. Mylo was busy talking to somebody when I arrived, so I told him I'd wait. I went to use my computer while I waited. But I accidentally banged my head on a plant that had been hung in front of and above my computer, just above eye-level (couldn't see it). I moved the plant out of the way. Then their "decorator" came back and saw it and got emotional, spilling his plant and dirt all over my computer. I left his disturbing emotional outburst and found Joergan, who teaches campfire guitar. Mylo came to me usher me away from Joergan right away to "have a word" about the complaint he'd received. Then he told me that nobody had complained. I was astonished at Mylo's unflinching contradiction (lie) and told him so. I returned to Joergan, but Mylo followed, asking and waiting for me to leave. Essentially ushering me out of HI. I'd pretty much gotten that the course would not happen at HI. I waited a few weeks and filled out their form to teach a class, https://docs.google.com/document/d/16FYcuDUtgQ5CA1_y_15fXwjFOBky3fmfOiI3yMlcfwM/mobilebasic?hl=en_US , linked from their site. Unsurprisingly I got what I expected: no reply. Several weeks later, I returned to talk to others there regarding time banking (look it up). Mylo was there and when I mentioned that I might have found another place, he said I could teach the course there. I asked if he was sure about that and he confirmed. I told him that I'd pretty much figured he didn't want the course to happen but he denied that. I asked again if he was sure of himself and mentioned that I'd received no reply after completing their web form. He confirmed that I could teach the class there and denied knowledge of the form. Two weeks after that, and months after Warren had approved my course, I went back to HI to get in-person confirmation (so as to avoid confusion with my such emails being skipped). Mylo eventually opened the door but just stood in the doorway, blocking it. I had to ask if I could come in. And after I'd gotten in, I asked about booking the room for teaching my course. Mylo folded again and said that I might be able to teach "somewhere else" but "I might be able to work with Joergan" (same guy he'd previously ushered me away from). I asked if Joergan was there. He wasn't. This new story reaffirmed my initial suspicion that Mylo simply did not want me to teach the course there. I wonder how they pay the rent, though I suspect someone decided to grant these people money. Such great community potential here, squandered. A pity. Well, unless you're only looking new age stuff and don't mind loose moral values (e.g. lying, fraud). If you like to be "spiritual" by sitting in circles with angelic smiles, full of fake compassion and gossip over tea, this might be a good place for you. Me, I'm looking for a community learning center in SoMa where I can teach the class that I designed.

I visited the Happiness Institute last night for the first time. After moving to the neighborhood…read morerecently, I was looking for a yoga class nearby. I stopped by David Schlussel's yoga class and was very pleasantly surprised. Not only is it free (though I believe donations to the institute are encouraged; however, I was never asked to donate) -- David is an excellent teacher! There were only 3 students, so I got a lot of personalized attention. David asked what each of our goals were at the beginning of the class and made sure to address those throughout the class. One of my favorite parts of his teaching style is that he actually helps you into the positions that don't come as easily. I'm definitely going to be back as often as my busy schedule allows, and am stoked to check out the other classes that they offer.

This is the place you want to have your next function at! My girl got married ladt weekend and…read moreeverything was a hit....a little crazy...but mostly fabulous. I wish I had taken more pics to highlight the facilities but let me tell you this one of the best community centers Ive been to. Ample parking, hugh kitchen with mulitple refridgerators, dining and dance floor areas, dressing rooms and restrooms. Best days to rent ..Fridays or Sundays.....check it out for yourself. Ciao for now....

My first time attending an event at this venue and what a beautiful venue! Located in Pleasant…read moreHill, next to a police station but also a near an outside area that has a gazebo. They have a pavilion area, dance floor, mirrors, tall ceilings and huge windows. I attended a 50th birthday, parking was easy, they had a kitchen, staff was super friendly and helped with the garbage when it got full. I bet it gets busy trying to rent out this venue for events but I enjoyed it and if you're looking for a venue in the East Bay/Concord area, this is a great spot!

If you need to be inspired to get you working on ideas, this is the event for you! I am not nearly…read moreas creative or inventive as the presenters, but I get out of there with my brain working around ideas for future presentations! I just need to get going and do one! The location of the event changes every month, so go to the website for information. Also, the theme of each event varies, but I noticed, some people don't even stay withing the theme... www.pechakucha-sf.com The November 08 event was at the Autodesk Gallery- crazy beautiful place, but the sound system truly sucked and was the one thing that annoyed the "beejeezus" out of me... Hopefully next time it will work better... It is not an event for kids, but maybe for the right kid?

Twiter for the visually inclined. Karaoke for designers…read more Adult show and Tell. Inspiring. A.D.D. friendly. An Intellectual happy hour. I have to say, while it may not change my life, it sure improves my life. I walk out of these events feeling uplifted, that not everything that happens in the grind of a career has to be so limiting, and when you step back, we live in a city with an amazing array of talent and passion I've been attending this since the first one, over 3 years ago, i've presented 3 times, and clearly, I get more out of it than most. So come by, or better yet, give it a shot and show us your goods, its quite easy to do and no one has ever gotten boo'ed. Even if you don't present, you'll see some great creative minds sharing things, with the occasional eccentric that can only be found in SF, presenting the zany ideas that you just have to chuckle at and say, well, to each their own.

As much as I appreciate online networking, sometimes you just need to meet people face-to-face,…read morechat, laugh and break bread. This time-honored tradition is alive and well at the Rotary Club. In the world of service organizations and Rotary clubs, this one is at the top of the food chain. They meet in the lovely California Building, and there is ample parking right across the street. They always have a quality lunch spread with a salad bar for $20. As one of the largest clubs, and as the 3rd oldest club, they attract a steady stream of high quality speakers. Oakland Rotary Club #3 is a service club in the truest sense of the word, and club members are active in the community, and they are absolutely committed to making a difference.

This is a terrific members only club. The food is outstanding and the service is terrific. The…read morebest thing about this club is you cannot use any phones or electronic devices and no business papers can be shared at the table. I only wish every restaurant would do the same. The people go there just to talk and have a great dinner. I was a guest and really enjoyed the atmosphere.

Lovely club to relax in. Assistant GM Jay was a rockstar. We needed a specific restaurant menu…read moremid-day on a Sunday, a nearly impossible feat, yet he found it and even printed out the menu. Jay is missed at the Olympic Club! Great guy, great service!

As many of you will probably hear on Saturday night from my mother, I graduated 1st in my bar…read moreschool class at the casino I used to work at. Why my mother feels this will help me land a husband, I will never know. I don't think my abilities to press buttons on a liquor gun or my memorization of casino-standardized drinks are a part of what makes the men flock, but you never know. Graduating 1st in my casino bar school may sound impressive, what with the learning drinks, glassware, wines, the order for cocktail waitresses to call drinks, etc...but it's really not. I was the only girl in the class, and as far as I knew, the only one with an actual college degree. Which clearly served me well in my bar school studies. We had to think of drinks when we "graduated"- one of which was tasty, and the other was disgusting but looked cool. Anyhow, I probably know more than most when it comes to bartending. And when I mean most, I mean the rest of you people who only know the being served side of a bar. For a bartender, I actually know quite a bit. I've paid my dues in the service industry- working my way up from hostess, through server, as a barback, and finally a bartender. It's not like I went to some hinky dink school that doesn't teach actual customer service skills. Oh no, I deserve every bit of being a bartender, when I was one, that is. I had the pleasure of working at a cabana bar, where I got to pretty much make up drinks all the time, to one of the busiest bars in the casino at a microbrewery. Again, the only female. Despite what my mother will try to tell you, I am not a champion bartender. I had the opportunity last night to see some of the masters in action, thanks to Nicole G. CMYE cocktail smackdown? I'm in- not only because I can talk the talk (mostly), but because I like to see what others come up with. I had no idea what to expect from this, although I was pleasantly surprised. Sure, my A.D.D. started rearing it's ugly head after awhile (or it could have been my liver growling), but it was quite informative. Once we were released to the alcohol, that's when the problems started. It was just too darn crowded. They should have demonstrated the drinks during the panel discussion, so we could see it, not when everyone was jostling to be the first one to grab a glass. I would be interested in joining...possibly. Only if they can promise that I'll get elbowed less, because I will ALWAYS win that battle.

Stay smart and current. Makes me feel great too get off work and engage my brain for an hour…read morebefore going out or home. Interesting speakers & topics that actually pertain what is happening in the world today. Infourm is the 35 and under commonwelth club membership. .