I would love to give this park a higher rating because it's in Berkeley and the structures are so…read morenice and safe. Who doesn't love Berkeley. The structures are gated and padded to minimize injury to children and then roaming off. There's an area to play volleyball, soccer and of course the picnic area with grills and tables. The down side... all the garbage cans were overflowing from previous event, there were no accessible restrooms so you have to walk just outside the park on the corner of Eighth x Delaware to a PORTA POTTY that wasn't serviced regularly, urine on the floor, sputum on the floor, empty hand sanitizer or portable hand washing station and more importantly a NON flushing one. Luckily I carry a spray bottle of 91% rubbing alcohol and was able to sanitize my hands. I contemplated driving to the hotel at the Berkeley Marina. There has to be a park ranger that comes around periodically to check for things like this. Apparently not today. Still enjoyed the birthday party but had to watch my liquid intake to avoid using that unkempt porta potty that was CLEAR across the park where the picnic tables and play structure were.

We were here for a away game 7th grade volley ball game. The space was well kept and the bathrooms…read morewere spacious and clean. I was very surprised. The bleachers were plentiful for the amount of people that attended. Parking was easy. We parked on the street right outside the gym. I would be happy to attend another game here.

Just spent my 15th or 16th erev Rosh Hashanah at the JCC, thanks to the wonderful organization…read moreknown as Jewish Gateways and their two amazing rabbis, Stephanie and Bridget. What a fun experience! My three year old was able to enjoy a safe, supervised playground adventure with kids his own age, while we grownups had our own time during the service. If you are searching for meaningful Jewish interaction in a safe, secure, worry-free environment, this is the place for you!

The JCC preschool is the most loving, caring and thoughtful preschool my son has ever experienced…read more We moved from a different country, with huge gaps in language and culture, and the JCC team has made this so much easier for us. My kid is always happy to get in, and never wants to leave. There is a very nice community there as well, with families from all religions and lifestyles, everyone is welcome!

The best place ever. You can book free events here, grab zines and patches, the coolest place and…read morething in the Bay Area, I miss it immensely

Very cool activist and library space that is volunteer run. I borrowed a book in Spanish from them…read moreabout an incident in Mexico that I had never heard about despite having lived in Mexico 3+ years. It took me forever to return it but they were very kind to me when I showed up late with the book.

Confirmed with the Reservations Unit of City of Oakland ... this is not a real community center…read more It is simply a campus for Rockridge Little School.

One old joke is that Albany is where Berkeley Radicals go to die. And a lot of people don't even…read moreknow where Albany is located. I sometimes mention Berkeley first or mention Albany Hill or the Race Track. It also borders Berkeley, El Cerrito, Richmond, and Kensington. Gayle also scoffs when I sometimes tell her that Albany in some ways reminds me of Iowa. She sees an "urban and gritty" East Bay suburb, while I feel that I'm living in a small town with friendly neighbours and a sense of cohesion. We Albanians are passionate about several things. The composition of the City Council changes with the popular issues of the day (like the Waterfront), but those meetings haven't been the same since Dario Mendiketti passed away. We like our services (including schools) and we're willing to vote for most if not all parcel taxes and bond measures put before us. What I appreciate personally is my neighbourhood and local park, the Solano Stroll, the walking distance availability to several things, the Community Center and Library, and the Teen Center services. Good City services and the friendly and helpful folks that provide them are also much appreciated.

Community Centers are the heart and soul of an area now. Combining so many public services that are…read morevital for a healthy community mentally and physically. I went to see an ART SHOW in the FOYER. It was awesome. The exhibit ... "Suenos Enigmaticos"- "Enigmatic Dreams." Local Artist Deborah Schilling make magic happen in pastels. These large pieces invoked a myriad of emotions from different people for different reasons. Just what art is supposed to do. The Albany Arts Committee presented this show and I'm glad they did. The event was January 13 but will run until March 27th, 2017. Wonderful reception and gathering followed this known and respected artist. It is something only your eyes can share with you. A must see.

Excellent and dedicated organization. Thousands of families have decent housing because of RCD.read more

From the owner: RCD is a Berkeley based nonprofit housing developer specializing in rentals for low and…read moremoderate-income people. Our mission is to create and preserve affordable housing for those with the fewest options, to build community and enrich lives. We provide quality, sustainable housing that is affordable, giving low-income people a foundation for a better future. Collaborations with local governments, lenders, investors, funders, and donors contribute greatly to our success in creating housing options that work for people with very modest incomes.The community resources that we develop offer: * Affordable rent and professional property management * Access to on-site resident services and community resources * Green building features that are healthy and cost-efficient, and * A safe home near transportation, jobs, retail, and services.

We recently attended a Quinceañera here. Bright and large…read morecommunity room with lots of supporting rooms. held about 150 - love location in the woods. if you are think about hosting an event, this is a winner

Community centers remind me of the elderly, let's be real here, it's not always the sexiest place…read moreto throw a party. But, when done right, it's not a bad place to celebrate an occasion. I came here for my friend's baby's first birthday. In Korean culture, a baby's 1-year-old birthday is a HUUUUUGE deal. It's called a Doljanchi or a "DOL"--where the baby wears a hanbok (traditional dress) and there's a ritual (sort of a fortune telling) where a bunch of innocuous objects are placed in front of the baby, ex. a string, a gavel, a coin, a brush, etc. And when the baby picks up the object, say a gavel, then s/he will become a judge...something like that. It's all in good fun. Ironically, the baby did in fact pick up the gavel, which is rare, usually babies pick up the coin or a string since it's lighter and easier to grab. I've seen pictures of my DOL and it's off the hook. There is a bunch of food, especially Korean duk and tons of fruit-- to represent prosperity and long-life. My grandparents (on my dad's side) were so proud to hold me in the photo-- I looked kinda miserable. In fact, I looked like a boy. The reason why DOLs are such a big deal is because traditionally in Korea, most babies didn't survive past their first year of life. Apparently, my mom told me that when I was 3 months old, I got really really sick, and was sick for another 3 months afterward and she was afraid that I wouldn't make it. Dramatic, right? So, when I turned one, she threw a huge party-- "a thankful relief," she said. That's why when I get sick as an adult, I get really sick because my immune system is basically shot. And it's really cute, even today, my mom freaks out when I get sick, because she remembers back to when I was a baby. And always gives me the motherly speech about sleeping more and drinking fluids..and it's one of the rare times I actually allow her to "take care of me." Heck, I think it's the only time I let anyone take care of me. Either way, the celebration was beautiful. So proud of my friend for being such an amazing mother/woman-- and she's really blessed to have such a beautiful child, who will forever love and adore her. Babies are the best, they need you like no other, and I absolutely love taking care of them.

Pickleball has exploded at Bushrod. The courts are fantastic - shared pickleball/tennis courts…read more Open plays with skill level(s) are a ton of fun (beginner / intermediate / advanced). There are well-organized open plays with loaner paddles available. There's a solid system to rotate which players go on when a court opens up (paddle racks). It's $2-5 donation for open play only to cover costs of renting courts for the lead volunteer hosts. There are also clinics, drills, round robins and other pickleball events. You can see what's happening and when at DailyPB.com And for tennis people -- during pickleball play, there's virtually always one or more tennis courts available.

Since the renovation, this is one of the best gyms in Oakland. My only complaint is there are not…read moremore open gym hours so I can shoot around here with my son. The outdoor basketball courts were renovated as well! Thanks Under Armour and Steph Curry!

One of my favorite places to hang out at in Uptown! The Hive is a mix of local businesses,…read moreapartment homes, and courtyard space that's located just off of Broadway. It includes various businesses such us: *The Impact Hub *Drake's Dealership *Calavera *Humphrey Slocombe *The People's Barber & Shop *Firebrand Artisan Breads *Numi Tea There's also a courtyard hangout spot where numerous outdoor events are held throughout the year. My two favorite spots to frequent at the Hive are Drake's and Humphrey Slocombe. Beer, pizza, and ice cream... how about that mix? I've also attended a few events at the Impact Hub and I really admire that space as well. Would love to visit the other businesses that also occupy the space in the future. If you're looking for a fun place to hangout or for local events going on, check out the Hive!

Finding this little spot was really exciting…read more This Hive is perfectly named for a stylish place for people to gather. There is a cute coffee shop, ice cream shop, open seating, chess and checkers, sun covered patio tables, beautiful tucked away courtyard restaurants framed in vines and with open tables like a modern day outdoor assembly hall. It is in the center of a few businesses, co-working spaces and residential apartments. Things here are lively and lots of fun. They frequently have events going on and I wish I was in town longer to attend. I met cool people here as I sipped on a fantastic coffee in the sun and played chess with a stranger. I specifically visited Humphry Slocombe here for delicious creamy ice cream. My coffee was from Red Bay Coffee - the cute walk up coffee shop you see near the entrance. I was really impressed by Red Bay! Crazy nice customer service, the coffee is fair trade. Okay but really though - the UNREAL, OUT OF THIS WORLD thing to get from Red Bay is the CHARCOAL VANILLA LATTE. I normally get plain ol' drip but I'm really happy I tried this latte. Honestly, it was originally a do-it-for-the-gram order but thank ig because I wish I could order this Latte back at home. It's creamy and rich but not too sweet, just a little. Really blew my mind. It is my understanding during my brief visit that Red Bay has bigger, brewery sized locations! So, also hoping to check those out the next time I'm in the area. Please do yourself a favor and visit Hive, meet some cool new friends, and enjoy yourself a Charcoal Vanilla Latte. Bonus points if you get it with oat milk.

THE CITY CLUB BAR…read more John treated me ! Thanks Johnny boy!! I started with a Gin Martini 2 olives & a twist on ice ... Unfortunately the ice wasn't in cubes so the flavor was so watered down that I couldn't taste the gin at all...We then were served some great little warm breads with delicious butter YUM! The split mixed iceburg lettuce salad arrived which was a generous portion & well dressed with some notes of tarragon ..nice! John ordered the braised short rib & he subbed out the mashed potato/roquefort for the fried potato disks that came with the rib eye. Good spuds! My beef bourguignon had wonderful toothsome wide egg noodles but weirdly, chunks of green pepper & undercooked pearl onions? The beefy gravy was perfect on the pasta BUT the beef's texture was terrible.. mushy without a smidgen of bite! YUCK! When John had me taste his beef the resuts were much the same... too soft & textureless.. then the opposite...the pretty split carrot halves were too hard & undercooked on his plate to bring out their sweetness....I assume these 2 long cooked meats styles had been sitting for god knows how long I left most of the dinner to take home & see if I could repair the dish... (I'll probably eat the noodles and use the beef in a taco?). so my suggestion is to order the rack of lamb (if I return....which John had had & recommended) & stay away from long cooked items (except beans)

An absolutely stunning venue for an intimate wedding. My husband and I had the pleasure of…read moreattending a wonderful ceremony and reception here. The outside space for a wedding ceremony is so beautifully designed with all the plants. The historic interior added such a timeless look to our friends' reception and we really enjoyed the food provided too. Would definitely recommend as a venue!