This year the honey and I decided we would try out a couple different Christmas Tree Lanes instead…read moreof just driving around hoping to find different lit neighborhoods. This Christmas Tree Lane is perhaps the ultimate Christmas Tree Lane, considering it's an extremely dense block where every single home is lit up with different displays. On one end there was a table with kids selling cookies and hot chocolate and in the middle there was a frosty ice cream truck. We got a bit lucky as it was less busy when we drove in around 6pm or so, but it was a madhouse by the time we wrapped up our visit. We later drove over to the San Ramon Christmas Tree Lane on Woodland Drive and found it to be much less busy and a bit more enjoyable as their streets were wider. All in all, this Christmas Tree Lane is definitely something to experience once, but unless you're local to Alameda I'm not sure I'd make it a yearly trip.

This was our first time going to Christmas Tree Lane here! There are not much areas with Christmas…read moredecoration / lights in this area, so it was nice to be able to find an area with beautiful Christmas decorations and lights. Not much parking that was close by and it was a bit cold / windy during our visit, so we just drove down the street and it was beautiful still.

The line up at the Hayward/Russell City Blues Festival totally blew me away! This year's line up…read morehas 9 bands each day (their website has a schedule). I attended Saturday and all the acts were solid. I felt it was well worth the cost of admission: $20 in advance $25 at the door (cash only) $35 for both days This event is typically the 2nd week in July, and features amazing blues musicians and vocalists. It's close to the Hayward BART Station at the Hayward City Hall. Russell City is an unincorporated area of Hayward where folks from the deep South settled back in the day. It was a proving ground for blues musicians. http://www.bayareabluessociety.net/russell_city_page.html It's a mellow festival with one stage, a large lawn to spread out blankets, lawn chairs, and a dance area on the side. Note that you can't bring in food or drinks, but you can purchase them through the vendors (bring cash). I was impressed by all the line dancers - great people watching event. Highly recommended.

The music was great! So much fun! Food vendors were sparse and expensive. If the event gets bigger…read moreperhaps there will be more choices in the future. There were several vendors selling their wares. None of them interested me in the slightest. Still, I think it's fantastic that Hayward puts on this event. It's walking distance from our home and really, that's pretty fantastic. Let's keep the cool things happening in Hayward!

the multi paneled mural is viewable at the side of the building. the paint is quite faded. without…read morethe name imbedded in the mural, the theme isn't clear. the lst impression of the mural is prayer...or some kind of co-operation since hand shaking is prominently featured center stage. creator: Community Rujevenation Project.

I came here last night with a friend cruising around in the car. It was fantastic to see many…read morehouses with Christmas lights! I loved the house with 97.8 FM audio with music matching the lights. This is my third year visiting this area and it never disappoints. I would come yearly as my schedule allows.

In this review I'll be comparing this Christmas Tree Lane (which can be found by simply putting in…read more'Woodland Drive, San Ramon' into Google Maps, and the Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda. While Alameda's Christmas Tree Lane is roughly a single densely packed block with a few blocks around it that sporadically participate, this location is an entire development with the homes more often then not having some type of display up. The streets are wider so it's easier to slowly drive along, and because it's bigger its less busy. Although this location lacks the frosty ice cream truck and the hot chocolate table Alameda's locale boasted, I personally found Woodland Drive to be a bit more enjoyable because it was less stressful to drive through. All in all, the honey and I enjoyed both but would be more likely to return to this Christmas Tree Lane, especially since it had my favorite display of the evening - a blue light river with ducks!

This Hayward streetscape painting is a lovely colorful display of the city, completed in 2009…read more Images include the market, art studio, movie theater, shops, restaurants, animals, musicians, first responders, and ordinary people from all walks of life portrayed beautifully in a playful and harmonious community representing downtown Hayward. According to the artist, Suzanne Gayle, the mural aims to encourage passersby to blend in with the art. It's certainly a great opportunity for photo ops, or just a little amusement for theatre-goers as they trek to and from the cinema along the alleyway off of B Street, near the theater entrance and box office, and adjacent to Rockit Char Grill. The paint is more cracked and faded toward the back end of the alley, but overall, the mural is in good condition (as of Jan 2024), and is a nice feature in this otherwise dull and uninspiring walkway.

Big mural in downtown Hayward. I think what prevents it from being a five star review is the…read morereasoning behind the murals - its not a love for art - it is to try to stop graffiti - and ultimately to save money. If you've ever listened to Hayward city council meetings you quickly see how planning commissioners and city council members think. Planning commissioners are obsessed with art and investors often sweet talk them with their artistic visions. I'd love to see art because of a love for art. That is not what this is here. Its sort of like a person wearing expensive brands that are of cheap quality. All about an image and not about character. Hayward does try to improve things and they mean well. The council members are always listening and quick to give a call back. Downtown is their darling and luckily that is where I live - so my neighborhood gets all the attention. If you ever need help with sleeping - let me invite you to listen to Hayward city council meetings on Youtube. I love to watch the city manager and mayor in action.

Very frustrating experience with the City of Hayward street sweeping citation system. I never…read morereceived the original notice on time, yet penalties were already added before I even had the opportunity to pay the regular amount. The communication system is extremely poor -- emails and letters go unanswered, and calling customer service involves long waits, transfers, and little resolution. Residents who are trying to responsibly handle their citations should not be punished because of delayed mailing and inefficient processing. The system feels unfair and stressful, especially when notices arrive late but penalties continue to increase automatically. I already paid the citation, but the overall experience was disappointing and needs serious improvement.

Cut and pasted from the internet: "Hayward was originally…read moreknown as "Hayward's," then changed to "Haywood," and later as "Haywards," and eventually as "Hayward." There is some disagreement as to how it was named." I rank this city similar to the City of Oakland. It has so much potential, but... Quality/Quantity - My few favorite things to do in Hayward, CA. Slowly, I mean very slowly, more and better restaurants are opening up. Most of the people I know that live here eat in neighboring cities... Hayward State - Now known as CA State University of East Bay. Chabot College. Stonebrae Country Club - Probably one of the best things to have happened to this city. It sure has brought a lot of $$ and a few snobs, lol. Other things to do in Hayward, CA that I have not experience yet or can not really recommend: Gardens and parks. Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center - I drive by on the bridge, but still have never visited. Southland Mall - I just can not recommend going, not much activity here and businesses closing left and right. Atmosphere - Can you believe Hayward is the 6th largest city in the Bay Area? And the 3rd largest in Alameda County?!?! 64 square miles, 18.3 square miles of which is water. Population 163k. Nearby cities - Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, and Union City. But really, the people of Hayward that I know travel to Pleasanton, Livermore, or Dublin for their dining out and entertainment. Service - Depends on what you do, buy, or eat/drink. Price - Depends on what you do, buy, or eat/drink. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since??? 1929 - Hayward/San Mateo bridge was built/opened. 1944 - Cal State University, Hayward. 1967 - Second Hayward bridge was built/opened. 1972 - BART. 2012 - Renovation of Downtown area, with many mixed reviews...

Drumroll...... For…read moremy widely anticipated 500th review, I present to you the upside-down airplane!!! Now I had a hard time agonizing over whether or not I wanted to put this little known local curiosity up into the spotlight, but I figured that it would be worth it for you yelpers! So, what exactly is the upside-down airplane? Well, it's exactly what it sounds like. You gather a bunch of friends with a heady sense of adventure and get in the car. Start out in Fremont on Morrison Canyon Road and go past the residential area and then go up into the mountains and wind around for a bit and choose the right forks in the road, and you'll reach a dead end. At this dead end, you can see some gates barring you from entering any further into private property. If it's a sunny day or you just happen to have good eyes, you can spot this little airplane that is built upside down on top of this tower. How curious... If you're out at night or if you're unlucky, an old man with a big light will come out of his trailer and chase you away. That means RUN FOOLS!!!!! With your heartbeat thudding wildly in your ears, you drive down the windy mountain road, your demise only an arms width away, until it somehow dumps you off in Sunol. Don't worry...680 is nearby, so you can hop back on the freeway and mosey on home. If you're here for other reasons, there are lots of private little spots to pull off on the side of the road, and you'll often see cars parked off to the side with the windows fogged up. I wonder what they could be doing in there? Hm. There you have it Yelpers! You have torn from me the one spot that no one has ever heard of. Don't abuse it too much! So what's the story about this place? I guess since I'm writing an expose, I should go all the way... Apparently the upside down airplane is the location of a test antenna site for a company called TRW. The wire mesh model of the upside down airplane is supposed to act like an antenna. There are lots of antennas set up around here for whatever purposes, who knows? Supposedly they are still in use. They've been up here for many many years, and been the source of entertainment for many high school and college kids. This spot is passed down through word of mouth and car rides at night...until now. Watch out, they have security here year round and will chase you away. Why? Because you're not supposed to be here. If you would like to pursue this curiosity some more there are many pictures for your entertainment. And if you're lucky, maybe I'll take you up there myself one day ;)

Ride your mountain bike up there ...... You'll need to stop a time or 2 to stuff your heart & lungs…read moredown ..... Have fun on the way down!

this mural is on the side of Bierhaus Beer Garden. not easily seen on the left as one enters the…read moredining area- tables, canopies, overhead sun obscures the view. the sun's glare also made it difficult to take a full pic. at the left is a large pictured bluebird perched on a branch with a NAMAKAN cap floating above it's head. at the right "UNION CITY" appears in blue and purple block letters. creator: illuminaries

It's a must do for fans of California history and/or silent film fans. So many points of…read morearchitecture just on the Main Street. Be sure to stop in to the free Essanay Silent Film Museum and walk past the train station. A great Saturday farmers market. Free parking lot.

Unexpectedly charming little corner of the Bay Area - we stumbled on it by accident and loved it…read more If you go - make sure you visit the train cars at the station, and stop by the plaza to spin the steel reels and watch the moving pictures, an homage to the silent movie museum nearby. If you're peckish, Bronco Billy's serves superb and inexpensive pizza, and there are excellent coffee and ice cream shops as well. Can't wait to be back!