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.

I had the honor of escorting one very excited astrophotographer and his girlfriend (my Goddaughter)…read moreto experience a talk by Dr. Filipenko on the 150th anniversary of the James Lick Act of Congress. The talk started at 7:45 pm in the evening, and went well into 9 pm after the speaker allowed for a short Q&A session. I learned more about James Lick and how generational wealth was built than I'd ever imagined possible on a Sunday. Unfortunately for us, humidity was at an all time high, so we only had the opportunity to look at these massive telescopes, instead of gazing at the far away stars they were built to study. I did get to walk through The Chabot science center and see how fun it would be to come back with you get kids. Can you believe, you can even decorate a postcard that they will send to space. I would now like to design a piece of mail destined for space. Also, you can come out on Friday and Saturday nights and get the opportunity to look into the heavens with these giant creatures. I guess, this just means I have a rain check to visit Oakland in the near future.

This place is so great! It has a lot of kids to do and the planetarium show was awesome. The…read moretelescopes and observation deck was beautiful. The bottom floor is being renovated right now so I definitely want to come back when that is done. Great place to take kids of all ages!

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 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.

The Pardee Home Museum has been on my radar for a while as one of the few places in the East Bay to…read moreget afternoon tea. I ended up finally booking the garden for a large party this month and was impressed by the experience from start to finish. It's hard to believe that it's entirely volunteer-led! Everyone I met was clearly knowledgeable and passionate about the house, its history, and its preservation. Making a reservation was easy and the coordinators were kind and courteous during the whole process. The day-of place settings were beautiful and the food was some of the best I've had for tea in addition to being generous and variable in servings. There were even some kid-friendly items (including some non-caffeinated beverages) as I had a few young guests in attendance. The tour we had following our tea service was detailed and informative without being boring. The house itself is incredibly preserved and in immaculate condition. It was great learning about the history of the Pardee family and their influence in the Bay Area, California, and beyond. There were some interactive parts too including getting to touch some antique items and listen to some hand-cranked music players. I will undoubtedly be back sometime and highly encourage anyone who likes good food and vibes or learning about local history to book a visit themselves. If you have people from out-of-town visiting, the Pardee Home is an excellent first choice for doing something low-key and private but still touristy.

What a blast my partner Mark and I had on this 4th of July at the 2nd year mark since we crashed…read morethe totally tubular historical tea party at Pardee Museum in Oakland, Ca! Huge thanks to Mr. Isaiah for the wildly entertaining tour of Mayor George Pardee's ridiculously awesome Victorian pad turned museum, where we scored major bonus points for meeting your hilarious Mom Debbie and getting the dirt on your family's roots. Can't wait to meet you again - we'll try to become members soon and maybe even plan a meetup to kick off events at your fantastic establishment... at least let us know if we can volunteer, because Mark and I are total volunteering rockstars.

We planned our first time here thinking 1-2 hours would be enough but we were wrong. This place has…read morelots to do and see and I could spend the whole day here. There are the things to see, read and do. I loved interactive sections where kids (and adults) can create things and learn as they experiment. It feels like an elaborate science fair + museum. My six year old was drawn to certain sections and as a space lover I was intrigued by certain exhibits. We will be coming back. I'd recommend planning your spend at least half a day (if not more).

5/28 It's been quite…read moresome time since my last visit to the Exploratorium. Ironically, I felt like a child when there were no children to be found. I went to experience After Dark and felt like a kid in a candy store. The museum and exhibits seem and feel bigger than ever before with both new and pre-existing experiences. I kept walking, walking, and walking into what seemed like an endless amusement park. My mind was both overwhelmed and exhilarated while I touched, felt, grabbed, banged, spun, tapped, listened and saw with my eyes. There is still much more grounds to explore and it's also a fun group outing to do.

LHS: -New cafe! Even has coffee…read more -room to run and play -two outside areas to explore -now has bathrooms on upper level -rotating exhibits -animatronic dinosaurs

Well when I came in to pay. This young lady was very I tentative! She explained everything to us…read more So on our merry way. We are the first floor so many activities to do. My cousin and daughter loved the . And outside where they were was an amazing view of Berkeley. We were sitting on top of the world. A little girl came over and talked to us. Her father said it was ok to film her. She was five years old! A very bright, intelligent, fun loving girl! Her favorite pass time was golf. She knew the stands to when u putt! She was amazing. She came and brought us flowers. My daughter n I put them in our hair. Ok down to the exhibits down stairs. Well we walked in no one spoke. Parents kept asking the young lady so what do we do! Horrible horrible horrible! Customer service! Young ladies you should say hellli when someone walks in the door! You should come and explain what to do. Not just stand in the lockers. So, went to the souvenir shop! We all couldn't wait to spend some money. The gentleman never said hello! He kept flipping his hair looking off into space! Wow! Very easily for people to steal items! Tighten up! Greet people pay attention! Speak to the customers! Terrible customer service March 21,2026 3pm-5pm! Do better! I didn't get a chance to give anything I. The suggestion box! Next time I will! Thanks we guess!

I came for the Halloween After Dark where my friend presented. All of the talks were funny and…read moreinformative and well delivered. Very imaginative and fun! The drinks are crazy expensive but thats to be expected. The festivities around Halloween were fun - costume contest, pumpkin carving (though not enough for everyone), etc.

Been always wanting to go here and we finally did it! Came into this thinking we didn't need the…read moreentire 3+ hrs but we did! There is SO much to see, with about over 5 different sections and all being interactive it's a place your inner child can run free. Our favorite part were the many games you could play with a partner or group such as a snake video game, 1:1 table games, and much more. Such an eventful night with music playing and chances to buy a drink. Highly recommend to visit with some friends or for a fun date night!

I absolutely loved the exhibits!…read more I didn't get to try the drinks/food this time around but I'll be sure to try them next time I come.

Whenever I go out - I always carry waaaaaaay too much stuff. I have the bandaids, the blister…read morepacks, the hand sanitizer, the ear plugs, the tissues, the peppermint oil, the lavender oil, the rose spray etc, etc etc. I really have it all - and I will proceed to carry it all with me - -even at the expense of my shoulders etc. It would make sense for me to 'check' my heavy bags at venues like museums and such. But I do not. Instead - I usually end up uncomfortably lugging around said bags everywhere with me. I like to have my things on me in case I need them. Friends, loved ones, and family members usually end up watching me struggle with my cumbersome (often unnecessary) luggage. Shaking their heads at my heavy bags, and my unwillingness to put them down. The SFMOMA is such an inspiring and well curated museum of diverse art that I for once (in a very very long time) - decided to finally check my bags. My dad was surprised as I walked over to the kind staff member behind the counter and voluntarily checked my many bags. I knew that to fully enjoy such a phenomenal museum like the SFMOMA - that I needed to be fully present - and free to roam the beautifully curated space with ease. SFMOMA will do that to you. It makes you want to let go and immerse yourself in its inspiring and profound art. If you live in SF and haven't yet been to the SFMOMA in awhile or ever - remedy that quickly. Make sure you set aside a good chunk of time to explore this special art museum. I'd recommend going solo - or with a friend and/or loved one - who is able to take their time with you. The SFMOMA is too special of an art space to move through quickly. There are too many legendary pieces here to rush through. If you're able to - I'd recommend going during the week - on a cloudy or rainy day - when you're not tempted by SF's glorious sunshine and when the museum isn't busy. I came here with my dad a number of weeks ago on a rainy day - when he was visiting from overseas. It was one of the highlights of his brief visit - for both of us. We both were stirred by the impressive collection of iconic art that graced the walls of this captivating space. We were particularly awed by The Fisher collection of art - https://www.sfmoma.org/artists-artworks/fisher-collection - beautifully displayed throughout SFMOMA. If you're not familiar with Doris and Donald Fisher (the co-founders of Gap) - I recommend reading up about them and their world acclaimed collection of contemporary art. Doris Fisher - actually passed away this year on May 2nd, a week after our visit to the SFMOMA. It struck me - when reading about Doris Fisher's legacy - that her and her husband Donald (who passed in 2009) will forever be remembered through and for their acute eye for profound art. Art that pushed boundaries and made people think. If you're in SF and or visiting SF - and looking to infuse your life with more creativity and inspiration - go to SFMOMA. Check your bags - and indulge in some what's up art. Be sure to also save time to visit the SFMOMA Gift store. There are so many magical finds inside, which make for thoughtful unique gifts for both yourself and loved ones. Take time for yourself and art. It's important. Trust.