This was a smaller and less intricate escape room than others I've been to but we still had fun. We…read morehad a group of 4 adults and 1 kid and everyone was able to get involved to successfully escape. We chose the spy room which was rated as the most difficult but we found it very doable and I probably wouldn't want a room any easier than that. I do wish there was a more involved storyline and more details in the room setups! There's street parking next to the location, a waiting lobby, and bathrooms. Overall I think it can be a fun first time experience for kids or for people new to escape rooms!

Well this was a pretty cool experience. Lot of puzzles that challenge your mind. We went as a group…read moreof 3 adults ans 3 kids, and we were able to finish it in just under an hour. They have different themes to choose from, and our guide (Sean) was very helpful. I look forward to going back again for another round.

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 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.

So fun and unique. Came here with someone I was meeting for the first time and we had a blast…read more Games were a good mix of mental and physical. Lots of figuring things out and collaborating. We sucked but took it in stride and still had a really good. Currently there are 6 gaming rooms, though more rooms are in the works. The games offered in each room change depending on how many people are in your group. And there are different levels, so once you beat the game, you can return to the same room to advance to the next level. If you fail, you leave the room for it to reset and then can return to try again as many times as you want. I'd never done escape rooms or anything like this, and was really impressed at the sophistication and technology. You get 1 hour and 45 minutes to play, and time flies fast. Came on a Friday night at 8pm and there were only about 2 other groups. Free parking in lot. The man showing us around (Tim?) was really nice. Overall a great experience to try. I'll be back with other friends for sure.

Came here with my family of 4 (2 teens), and we had a blast. We enjoy games, puzzles and escape…read morerooms, so this seemed up our alley while still being something "different" that we've never done before. We beat at least level 1 on all the rooms except one--the marble contraption. I enjoyed that there was a good mix of skills required in each of the rooms. Some of the physical ones really tired me out! I think this would be a good birthday party activity for 7/8th grade kids and above, as long as they're semi-mature and the type of kids that enjoy puzzles.

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

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!

Emporium has give me some great memories. Not many times you see a bar with high reviews…read more They have a great mix of things to do, whether it is watch a Giants game, dance to their DJs, or just have some fun at their arcade downstairs - you can't go wrong with a good time here with some friends. You are welcome to bring your own food from the outside but just no drinks which is a great way to keep the party going with friends. Though my buddy got kicked out, the bouncers were nice enough to kick him out respectfully - that is for being a bit too drunk. Love you guys for that and please don't ever give the bouncers are hard time. :)

I went on 6/13 for the Brazil v. Morocco watch party. When I arrived, the line was out the door and…read morearound the corner, so I was really excited to come here for the game! However, it seemed like the event was misinterpreted and I ended up going elsewhere to watch the game. I was in line for about 10 minutes and it didn't move, which isn't a huge issue because the line was crowded. The girl behind me went to see what was happening at the entrance. She came back and said they were charging $25 per person to enter. She also mentioned that Emporium's system was down and they were accepting Zelle payments instead of card payments. This was extremely confusing as the flyer advertised that all World Cup matches would be shown on the 50ft. screen and entry would be free. We were pretty annoyed by this since we drove up from the South Bay. I wish communication on the flyer and on the website had been more clear. It also would've been helpful had someone from Emporium went outside to inform everyone in line that there was a fee for entry and that their system was down. Thankfully I was only in line for about 15 minutes and was able to Uber over to Hi Tops to watch the game. I'd like to try visiting again on another day because the place looks super cool. Who doesn't love a Bar-cade?!

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.