What a great train ride! Lots of different cars to explore and ride during the approx. 90 minute…read moreride. The Conductor and Brakeman were both eager to talk about the NCR, and were very knowledgeable about the rolling stock. As my bro-in-law was a volunteer at the So Cal Railroad Museum, he chatted up the Conductor, and we ended up getting an unadvertised tour of the yard, seeing all the engines, cars, and work units that were being renovated. Mason, our energetic and enthusiastic guide, showed us almost every piece of rail history in the yard, and knew the history of them all. Everyone there is a volunteer; Mason is an artitect and volunteers nights and weekends. Be sure to ask about a yard tour. It's not always available. And be sure to visit the quaint town of Niles! It's worth an hour or three!

10/10 -- Worth Every Penny (Parlor/Dome Car Experience)…read more If you're considering the Niles Canyon Train of Lights, do yourself a favor and splurge on the Parlor Car or Dome car. It completely transforms the experience. From the moment you board, you're treated like a VIP: dedicated seating in a fully enclosed caboose, attentive service throughout the ride, and complimentary warm drinks and sweets that are perfect for a cold, wet winter night. Being waited on while rolling through a glowing canyon? Yes, please. One of the biggest perks is having your own reserved space, while still being free to explore the rest of the train--knowing your seat is secure and shared only with fellow Parlor Car Riders. It strikes the perfect balance between comfort and adventure. I've done both the 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm departures, and while both are enjoyable, 4:30 pm is the clear winner for me. You get to take in the scenery before the sun fully sets, which adds a magical transition from daylight to twinkling lights. The 7:30 pm ride feels more social and cozy--great for lingering conversations with family and friends--but the earlier ride lets you truly appreciate your surroundings. As for the cost, it's important to note that this railway is 100% donation-funded and entirely volunteer-operated. Knowing that every dollar goes directly toward preserving the historic railway, maintaining the trains, and supporting the volunteers who make this experience possible makes the price feel even more justified. You're not just paying for a ride--you're supporting a piece of living history. Bottom line: Cozy Thoughtfully curated For a great cause Perfect for winter evenings If you're on the fence about the Parlor Car or Dome Car upgrade--it's absolutely worth it.

I just finished my first month of membership and so happy I found this treasure of a studio in…read moreTracy. One of the things I appreciate is the relaxed atmosphere, which allows me to work at my own pace, experiment with new ideas, and simply enjoy the creative process. The studio is well-equipped, welcoming, and provides a great environment to throw on the wheel or handbuild. Whether I'm refining techniques or trying something completely new, I always leave feeling inspired. I'm grateful to have a space where I can come and go as my schedule allows, and continue developing as an artist. I recommend it to anyone interested in ceramics - seasoned or starting out.

My kids have been members of Oam Studio in Pleasanton for several years now and still look forward…read moreto their class every week. We found the studio through a friend whose daughter graduated from this place and we feel absolutely happy to be part of this art family. I recommend this place to all my friends with kids and the main reason why I love Oam Studios is because they teach the fundamentals and explain the basics (shading, pencil pressure, anatomy, symmetry, etc) to children instead of making them replicate an art by following step by step instructions. Students get to pick their own project and the teacher works with them individually even though it's a group class. Teacher Omar created a system with gateways (drawing, painting, ceramics, digital art) that makes it fun for children to explore different means and 'advance in levels' as they learn more techniques. Our Teacher Monique is so patient, sweet and friendly. The studio is clean, very artsy and filled with student projects.

Totally responsive upon initial request. Came and looked at job, very quick with quote. Very fair…read moreprice. Work is quite outstanding, down to minutest detail. Very agreeable to work with, had 5-6 exchanges of ideas, with John the customer is the driver, John delivers what he says he will in the time he says it will take. HIGHLY RECOMMEND for mural work, small scale (mine 250 sq ft), or large.

Very creative, professional, easy to work with, and the work is very widely appealing.read more

this sculpture is near the entrance to City Hall. it resembles a crown tilted on it's side. it was…read morecreated by welding a series of cut steel panels into zig zag pattern. 2 points are welded into the ground the creator has been making monumental sculpture since 1980 for private, corporate, and museums thruout the country. the meaning of Sisyphus in his words: "The shadows of the front tips graze the back tips in the summer, in the spring and fall the shadows are contained by the piece". no signs are posted at the sculpture. thus no instructions available on how to correctly view this public art. ymmv. creator: Roger Berry sponsor: Dublin. Ca. quotes from Dublin, ca. website note: -in Greek mythology, Sisyphus was punished for his bad deeds. to wit, to roll a large rock up a hill and set it there. the rock always rolled down before he could accomplished his redemption.

This art gallery impressed me so much -Kim, the sweet, friendly and knowledgeable manager chatted…read morewith us as we looked at all the amazing artwork. Some paintings were absolutely astonishing - made me wish I had more wall space! This is an art gallery for everyone. Make sure you go in and enjoy!

This studio is bright and beautiful, and I always feel welcomed. They have so many works of art to…read moreadmire. Unique stand out and colorful conversation starters, striking handmade jewelry, prints representing Ca and the Bay Area. I stopped in yesterday because my daughter was attending a birthday party across the street. I've already taken note of my next splurge. I am so happy to share that unlike some touristy spots, this gallery has a wide selection of reasonably priced art and gifts. High end is available, but there truly is something for everyone. I could spend hours in awe of the talent on display. I look forward to bringing some home soon.

I love my local library in Pleasanton, so much to offer the community…read more Open daily, closed on holidays, guest lectures, movie showings, summer reading program, an array of children's activities throughout the year, they host community classes such as, emergency preparedness, cultural events just to name a few. The city's office for recreational programs are now housed in the library. Their staff is friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. A gem for the City of Pleasanton.

I come here once a week with my kids. There's plenty of rooms for studying/working. The kids…read moresection is adorable with a Pleasanton train soft bench children can (quietly) sit on. They have a few toys/puzzles in the back corner for those antsy toddlers. Computers are always available. Try advantage of their free classes and events!

Coffee shop located in the heart of Downtown Pleasanton. I'm not sure this place took over another…read morebusiness at some point because the space is really large. It also has an old-timey study or library or at least a literary vibe to this place. There's multiple rooms, including a stage in the back room. I think they have events here. Service is friendly and they have classic drinks as well as some festive ones. I was here on St. Patrick's Day so I got something festive even though it was overly sugary lol. I ordered the Lucky Charms White Mocha. It was tasty, but definitely a drink I wouldn't be able to order on the regular. I was able to set up my computer and one of the side rooms and get some work done. This place seems to be a very popular place for studying and doing some work. Just a great place in a great area. They have a large lot and there's also plenty of street parking in the area, especially during the day.

I've bookmarked this place for a while! Really loved the interior of the cafe, especially the…read morevault. However, service-wise, it's lacking the same warmth that the place provided. Also, the special menu items didn't have their prices listed, but since the regular menu items were very reasonably priced, I thought the special menu probably was just slightly higher. I ordered a Cookie Butter Latte and a cappuccino, paid in cash with a $20, tipped $2 and had $3 and some coins left. Didn't really think about it until we've left - Cappuccino was $4.25, meaning that the Cookie Butter Latte was a $10 drink. Apologies but personally, it didn't taste like a $10 drink. Probably won't go all the way there again.

It was super fun and barely any augments! The meadus was the hard room and it was super awesome and…read morefun and detailed!

We've done all the rooms at this location over the course of the year and had a great experience…read moreevery time. The games are the right length for the 1-hour duration, the puzzles are sufficiently complex, and the rooms are very well designed with high-quality props. The staff are all very friendly and attentive to the games, checking in at an appropriate frequency. My favorites in order were (1) Medusa, (2) Three Kingdoms, (3) Back to Childhood*, and (4) Frankenstein, though all of them are worth doing. You can ask for a discount code on future games after you complete your first one. *Back to Childhood was different from the rest, definitely on the easier side but more focused on the fun theme and nostalgia elements.

Mural commemorates "A view of the Valley looking South back in town" before downtown Pleasonton…read moreevolved into a suburb. Highlights the race track, the Original Fair Buildings, the Original Castlewood, the Bernal Bridge, Meadowlark Dairy, & Hopyards Donated to the community by the Pleasonton Downtown Assoc. 7/12/2007 Creator: Gary O Winter

These guys have been very good to me since i first connected with them. Vishnu and Alok are…read morequality individuals who go out of their way to add value in the form of extra supports. They took an active interest in my background, which means they do want to serve my personal needs. I will, for sure, be taking their PMP class this year.