"do you remember the... christmas tire?" this was wayne a few years ago. i had met him at a time,…read moredecades later, we termed our missing years... maybe you had some of those? days you can't account for, likely stuck somewhere because you chose wrong, turned down a backstreet and came to a deadend. nothing to do then but hope another bus comes along soon to get you out, and wary that your next move goes wrong, too. at such times, heed the advice given to weekend hikers: "if you get really lost in the woods, stay right where you are and wait... someone will find you". what isn't included in that conventional wisdom is the caveat: "sooner or later". all this came to me as i enjoyed the oxtail stew at the basque cultural center. I'd been curious about it for quite some time and finally decided to check it out. Basque restaurants have been one of my guilty pleasures since i made the wrong choice that lead to those missing years. since then I've sought them out when around Fresno, Bakersfield, Reno and smaller towns like Gardnerville and Los Banos: flat, grassy, agrarian places suited to sheepherding, which as far as I know was originally the main occupation for new immigrants from the Pyrenees where it's something of an artisanal career today. Since the 1800s Basque boarding houses were also in SF and LA, all gone now. Newly arrived Bascos heading to the country for work were advised to get off the train and look around for a place called, usually, the Santa Fe Hotel. The menu at the restaurant was then and is still basic: choose chicken, steak, lamb or pork chops as a main item and the rest is the same regardless (soup, salad, beans with ice cream at the end). There's also a preliminary dish, an "appetizer" that is essentially a separate entree in itself. this varies everyday, often oxtail or lamb stew. That's more or less the offering around today, and would have been all I likely ever knew except for my travels a few years ago to the Basque homeland in the Pyrenees. Basque cuisine is much more diverse there than you'll find at the Cultural Center, but you're closer to here than to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Everything from the meat department is very good, but I suggest avoiding the fish entree unless it's the daily special. My favorite was the oxtail stew, reminding me of the same dish at the Santa Fe Hotel in Fresno, during the time when I lived nearby during those lost years, longer than I care to remember. In fact, as I enjoyed the meal I recalled my thoughts after wayne mentioned the "christmas tire". at first i completely blanked, what was my old friend talking about? then slowly it came to me, like a dim memory of something said or done during a particularly white and active night before, something so off-axis that the next morning your left eye looks funny and hurts. it was our second christmas in a small farmhouse near madera. i had stupidly purchased it... leave new york to live here forever? ever wanted to grab someone, someone also rootless, and just walk out the door, run away with less than a half-baked plan about what happens next? well that's exactly what we did, my runway model friend of the moment and i. by the end of the 70s we had developed a nasty habit quite common then, not a true physical addiction mind you but a very real psychological dependence. in the end we couldn't pay our "bills" and needed to be somewhere else, like now!, hard to find for awhile. at that moment a portal of change opened, deux ex machina!: a job offer in the middle of nowhere, relo expenses et al. i accepted without ever visiting madera, ca. i suppose after all this you might wonder what that tire thing was about? i, too, wonder. christmas was memorable in my early years but then something unforgettably sad happened, such that i've disrespected religious events since. for a time i took to making odd abstractions of what alternative forms a "christmas tree" might take. that particular year i covered an old truck tire with that canned "snow" you spray on trees to approximate a "white christmas." but this result wasn't a tree at all, instead the remains of one that had been cut down to be decorated elsewhere, leaving a snow-covered hole in the ground where the tree had rooted. That was the concept, merry christmas perhaps you can see from this that my creative energy in this period ran high... wayne and i spent many and regular hours testing various brandy beverages i was hired to develop. but the lovely Dierdre fell back on pricier habits we had vowed to leave behind when we left the apple. soon after she caught the next bus out of town in the form of a wealthy melon farmer. fortunately none of this mattered much after awhile. all that aside, i highly recommend the cultural center for its displays of Basque art and artifacts, a full gymnasium for Basque games, and of course its excellent traditional cuisine.

Service was great Waiter very personal…read moreRack of lamb was delish Glad they had mint jelly Brocolinni tough

i have been dancing with Ta'ere Tia'i for almost 12 years and in those years they've never failed…read moreto make me feel special. every birthday i've ever had has been celebrated with them, even when my dad passed they didn't hesistate to come and be by my families side. Ta'ere Tia'i is more than a dance studio it's a forever family that i'm greatful to have so if you are reading this and thinking about joining i suggest you do!! from the teachers, to the students, to the families you meet it's something that you don't get to experience often and joining ta'ere tia'i will give you the experience you deserve like the one ive had for the past 12 years

I have been dancing with this studio for a little over 2 years. It all started with my daughter who…read morehas always loved to dance. A friend from school told us about the school, so I brought my daughter in for a trial class. She loved it so much we signed her up right away. Not too long after, I noticed that a lot of the parents are very involved with the group. Some of them dance, others play instruments and some help with costumes and events. A couple of the moms invited me to take a class, but I remember trying Tahitian in high school and never quite picked it up. However, the whole culture at the studio is like a family. Knowing that I could bring my kids, I decided to try it out because I needed some form of exercise. Never did I imagine I would be two years in and still loving it. I went from just dancing as exercise to being able to perform in front of people, which I have always been scared to do. The best part of the studio is all the people from the owners/teachers to the families involved. There are no egos or people trying to outdo one another. Everyone is uplifting, supportive and helpful. And just like the name suggests, it is more than a studio, it is a cultural arts center. We are not just taught dances. We are taught the language, the meaning of the songs we dance and even how to make our own costumes. Plus, you are able to participate as much as you like. If you don't want to perform, you are not forced to do so. They even have special classes where they teach you how to play different instruments. There are even fitness classes like Zumba. Of course, right now due to COVID things are different, and extra precautions need to be taken, so we do not have gatherings like prior. However, I highly recommend this studio for anyone who loves the Tahitian culture or just loves to dance.

I most recently came here for a quince but have previously been here for receptions for events and…read moreparties. I believe they have karaoke and dancing on Fridays. It's a very tight parking lot where they only keep on wide open, I think you should have security for your parties there. They have bathrooms in the foyer and an area for the food in the back. Inside they have circular tables and chairs that can fit a lot of people inside and you can have a huge dance floor too. You can do a lot of the space especially when decorated well. Huge space for events and parties!

This is a HUGE UPGRADE from where there LAST location was...very clean w/a welcoming entrance &…read moreparking availablilty...i was here for a funeral service & didn't realize that some of the guests were cleaning up the tables & food area, so I guess that's not part of the package

We are currently out tonight to see Malo and special guest. The music is great. However in past…read moreseating inside theater was perfect no matter where you seat, but Balcony AA Seat # 16 must be Worst, only able to see 35% of stage due to rails blocking your view. Per Kevin at door, show sold out, suggested putting us level one in two chairs behind each other as you enter theater. (Not) Plus, it violates fire codes.

3/30/25 We attended the Sunday matinee performance of Nunsense at the Downtown Theatre in…read moreFairfield. All I can add after giving it 5 stars is EXCELLENT!! The music, talented performers, dance numbers, the spontaneity of the actors, the chemistry of the cast, the gifted youth players, and the comfortable, well-designed venue - fabulous! I must add the ushers were so helpful with the seating. Directed us to our perfect seats (1st-row balcony) but more importantly, so helpful; with people needing assistance such as walkers, wheelchairs, and elderly - so kind and knowledgeable. Free parking and simply fun entertainment; a lots-of-laughs show! Another positive thing is it supports local, community entertainment and the Missouri Street Youth Theater! A must-see!

This arts and crafts fair needs to happen more than once a year! It's such a great time to grab…read moresome cute gifts that you can't find in any regular store. I love all of the Japanese and Hawaiian theme items you can buy here. Shirts, bags, stickers, gift boxes, they have it all! When you're tired from shopping, you can grab food and dessert too. They have a ton of vendors to choose from but the downside is it gets super crowded. Hopefully they'll find a bigger venue in the future so it's easier to walk around and take your time to look at each table!

Once a year always in September. …read more Located in high tech court next to the bowling center on Laguna near it freeway . Inside a gymnasium or basketball stadium. The inside is pretty big but does get crowded with the amount of people who attends. . So this craft show primarily sells hand made arts and crafts. Such as hand made sew on pattern to towels, hand towel, shirts, and clothing. The designs are usually cute and unique, or more oriental theme. . They have hand made reusable bags, lunch bags, coin purse, purses, and all designs varies with sushi, cute drawings designs of Asian stuff, and prices are reasonable. . I picked up a new lunch bag and a new design which is posted so feel free to swipe and look for it. Comment and let me know what you think of it. . They also sell jewelry, yes hand made as well. My mama scored some Swarovski crystal necklaces which she loves and adore. . Lots of buttons and stickers, are drawn and design by crafters. They are so cute but $10 pin which I just dont justify spending. Because it's not a need but a want for a lot of stuff in this art show. . I did score some vinyl waterproof stickers for my hyrdroflask. I'm so excited to stick it on my water bottle and start rocking it. Also a motivation for me to drink more water and stay hydrated. Look to see my pics for that. And let me know what you think. . Overall forfer to/ lThanks for reading and have a yelptastic day! Elite 19!

Great school to learn Korean and be exposed to the culture! Appreciate all the teachers and the…read morekids programs!

My daughters love attending the Spring and Fall programs along with the annual Summer Camp. The…read moreteachers and staff are amazing as they truly care about the students and families. We love getting to meet other families that are new to the area as we all share the goal of learning more about Korean culture and building a community.

I was here for a wedding yesterday and while the wedding itself seemed nice, the actual site seemed…read morereally old (yes, I realize its a historical site) and literally in the boonies. The drive there seemed sketchy to the point of I better drop a pin so people know where I am, kinda thing. Like, dont get a flat tire out here, kinda thing. Its like in the middle of nowhere, to be honest. Lots of mosquitoes of youre outside! We got bitten really bad. Not my favorite venue, nor one I would recommend to others unless looking for something extremely rustic - and not modern rustic. Sorry.

My husband and I had our wedding reception here. It is absolutely beautiful the perfect place for…read moreour wedding.

I was surprised that I'm the 1st reviewer, Tribal ConnecZion has been open for several years now!…read more If you're looking for an Authentic Polynesian dance troop in Elk Grove, you've found them. They teach Tahitian and Hawaiian dancing. Down to the attitude, the teachers and students are soooo relaxed and just want to have fun there. Their prices are amazingly affordable and they have multiple class times throughout the week. The younger classes are separate from the older girls and they have many performances throughout the year to show off their skills. The mirrored dance studio is older but fits the need and price point in order to teach Hula Dancing for any budget!

This place is pretty great! My 4 year old daughter has been dancing for about 5 months now and she…read moreloves it! The staff is great an it is always a positive environment. After attending many of my daughters classes I also decided to join; I had never danced hula a day in my life and although I'm far from mastering the dance I mostly continue to come because it's such a great work out!! And the fact that everyone is super supportive and helpful it made stepping out of my comfort zone that much easier! I'd recommend them any day!!