Camp YATC has truly blown us away! Of course, I was not in attendance as the Mom. That being…read moresaid, I can begin by saying that the very FIRST thing my 13 year old son said to me today (after giving me a giant, obligatory hug ;) was: "Mom, I'll do anything if you say I can come back here next summer. I had the BEST TIME EVER!!" We live about 2.5 hours away from the beautiful Mt. Cross campsite in the Santa Cruz mountains and had heard about Camp YATC through a local, dear friend of ours. It had been over a year that my son had been begging me to go I had been in contact with Shawn and Valerie beginning last March with tons of questions. My son has a physical special need and all staff were supportive & compassionate. Shawn and Val both listened graciously to concerns I had regarding this prior, & reassured me during the week by response to a text message I sent; that he was safe, smiling, & thriving. It was at this point, that I felt like their promise to treat all campers as kids of their own -- was genuine & sincere. Sometimes the little things for one person are big things to someone else. My son had nothing but positive feedback to share about his cabin counselor, Ian... that he was attentive, patient, & helpful. Themed dinner evenings seemed to have been all the rage; and surprise on and off Broadway actors participated in mentoring with productive & validating feedback. What a remarkable bonus that was to hear about! The team at YATC has magically blended a smooth structure with room for each individual to be themselves -- simultaneously making it appear easy & joyful. He shared that his most significant takeaway from his time away from home st YATC was a tie. Learning and growing as a performer (in the Musical Theatre track) was at the top - and in large part due to the many experienced, talented, & insightful folks who taught. Right up there were the many new friendships made with campers from all over the world, literally. Upon our return home, I found my son in his room organizing each paper that he had torn off writing contact information for various new buddies -- and also reviewing a notebook chalk full of notes he'd taken during instructional classes. It sounds to me as though they have nailed it at being sure there was equal part "fun" to in "class" - and it stood out to me when I was told that he's never experienced how learning can be FUN in and of itself. Togetherness with other campers whose interests often paralleled his own, he mentioned how fantastic it was to learn from peers simply by getting to know these truly special people. "Mom, I don't know if there were bullet points in the adult paperwork about your child needing to be a kind human being, but I never met anyone who wasn't!" This made my Mom heart especially happy. The showcase held at pick up time was incredible! Each camper has been encouraged (but not forced or required) to stand up in front of the crowd & share their talent. Performers were excited and as an audience member, easy to see how hard they had worked! Something else that stood out was the way campers cheered on one another offering high fives or hugs. If you hadn't known that these kids only met 9 days prior, you sure wouldn't have been able to tell! So sweet to witness this! In my opinion, the sheer number of returning campers year after year says a whole lot about the phenomenal team behind the scenes executing this well oiled operation. It was abundantly evident that the people I came into contact with not only wanted to promote & encourage these kids' passion for the arts // but also, help strengthen self confidence, responsibility, and adventure. I promised my son that I'll do everything possible under the sun to make sure he can return to (what he called his new) "happy place and home away from home." This crew has absolutely nailed it!! BRAVO CAMP YATC! His countdown has begun! My gratitude and appreciation are endless for all they've done in playing an integral role in my son's happiness.

Where do I start!? Well, I was nervous-trepidatious-just not sure if we were doing the right thing…read moreby sending our son to Camp YATC. I must say, we were blown away- and so was our son! He's already a working actor, so sometimes it's tough to find a space that caters to someone like him- he has some experience-but of course-he's a kid! And has SO much to learn and so much growing to do. When they say that you'll feel at home- they are absolutely correct! Our son was nervous and within 5 minutes of arriving, he was waving us off~ from tears of anxiety to smiles and an eagerness to join and play and learn and experience all that camp YATC has to offer! From top notch coaches, teachers, performers, counselors, and the sweetest-most accepting & creative kids! All set in the breathtaking Santa Cruz mountains. It's a dreamy place where dreams grow and kids can be themselves, accepted, encouraged, and nurtured. Thank you Shawn & Valerie & everyone at Campy YATC for creating a welcoming space for these sweet performers to hone their craft, while making new friends in a gorgeous setting. PS-our kid is a mega boy-like plays football & has has a ton of bros- but-he's an artist and loves to meet fellow artists from all walks of life - this place delivered! Oh- yeah- the cabins- well- they're cabins... it's not the Ritz-but-it's safe-comfortable- well ventilated!! And really-so fun-our son tells it like it is and is super picky- he loved his time and can't wait to return. As a mom, I am grateful. Highly recommend for your young performer-actor, singer, dancer, writer, dreamer. Ps... the pool is clean and perfect- the cabins are older, but not moldy- I'm not sure where the bad reviewer below stayed, but it does not sound like this camp. The cost is not "cheap" but I feel that the value is there- the kids are learning & are safe-engaged-encouraged-and really well taken care of.

I've been taking vocal lessons with Audrey and she's a wonderful teacher. Knowledgeable,…read moreencouraging and inspiring. Everything you want from someone helping you with your musical journey. The Skype lessons are super helpful as she takes video and the ability to watch and listen back to your exercises is incredibly valuable. I'm a drummer who is adding vocals to my repertoire and her assistance has been invaluable! I highly recommend!

Pulled my daughter (6 years old) out of the Disney Princess camp due to concerns that camp was…read morebeing treated more like a day care than an actual vocal camp. When we first dropped my daughter off at camp, my wife and I immediately felt a bit weird about this place. None of the instructors welcomed us in. In fact, only one of the instructors spoke to us. He actually recognized my wife from somewhere, but they couldn't remember where. After they figured out where they recognized each other from the coach's response was "Jesus F@#%$&* Christ, that's where I remember you from. Time sure flies!" Not exactly the type of language to be using in front of children. We checked in at lunch on the first day, and unfortunately, the instructors seemed to be more interested in whatever was going on with their phones than actually interacting with the kids. The scene was the same at pick up time. Coaches on the couch, kids playing on their own. When checking in with my daughter at lunch on the first day, she told us they hadn't sung anything yet. But instead watched a movie. At the end of the first day, we asked her "What songs did you sing today?" She told us she learned part of 1 song......over the course of a 6 hour camp. The following day was even more alarming when my when my wife went to pick our daughter up from camp and the coach informed her that they had a "very chill day." We asked our daughter what they did at camp and she said "We didn't sing at all today. Instead, the kids voted not to sing because there was a new kid and she didn't want to sing. I wanted to sing, but we voted. So we just watched movies and played dress up." I was dumbfounded. We had paid over $200 for a VOCAL camp. 2 days into this "vocal camp" our kid had watched Disney movies, played a lot of dress up and learned part of 1 song. After hearing all of this, I decided to call Forte. Nobody picked up the phone. So I drove down to their location to try and ask what had happened during camp that day. I proceeded to ask the lead vocal coach about the days events and why there was no singing today. Her response was (loosely quoted) "The kids decided they wanted to spend double time on costumes and so they voted not to sing today." "Also, the kids are young so they can't sing and do stage work all day, despite this being a vocal camp." I then asked when they are going to sing, and her response was (again loosely quoted) "Well they will have to spend the whole day singing tomorrow because they didn't sing today." (Wait....what? I'm confused. I thought the kids were "too young to spend all day singing...????) Never once did I receive an apology. But I did receive multiple attempts to justify why things at camp fell short. I notified the coach that my daughter wouldn't be attending the remaining days of the camp as I felt like this camp was totally misrepresented. To us, this camp acted more like a daycare. (But a daycare where the employees are more interested in whatever is happening on their cell phones than the children they are supposed to be interacting with.) We might have been able to just write this off, and chalk it up to one of those "you live and you learn lessons." But then something too coincidental happened and we felt like we just had to say something. We purchased a spot in this camp after seeing a posting on the Facebook site "Scotts Valley Virtual Garage Sale." The head vocal coach says a parent bought the spot, but their child came down with pneumonia, so she was trying to help her sell it. OK. Well interestingly enough, 2 weeks later the same head vocal coach posts on Scotts Valley Virtual Garage Sale again that a parent purchased a spot for their child for Katy Perry camp, but instead they decided to go to Hawaii, and thus she decided to help sell her spot. Coincidence? Maybe, but it sure feels more like a deceiving way to sell spots in your vocal camp. It feels unethical. I took screen shots of the two postings and uploaded them to yelp so you can review them if you want. Our daughter has attended many dance/performing arts camps for similar or even cheaper pricing. So this was not our first go-round. The other camps we have been a part of have all been professionally run. Unfortunately, Forte Vocal Academy's Disney Princess Vocal Camp felt completely thrown together. It lacked structure, professionalism, and even common courtesy.

Outstanding Mariachi!!! They provide great value and lots of fun!!…read more They know many of the traditional Mariachi songs by Vicente Fernandez, Linda Rondstad, to name a few! Great job!!

We booked Mariachi Sol y Luna for our wedding in Salinas on October 26th, 2019. I was so excited to…read morehave a mariachi and they did not disappoint! We enjoyed having dinner with the mariachi playing and our guests loved it too. Perfect music to have before the DJ! Muchas gracias Mariachi sol Y luna!

Magical! We were tearing our hair out brainstorming how to transform the dull vibe of the 1200 sq…read moreft room for our retro dance party last month (BDay party of 40 guests, all 21+). We were aiming for an exciting, colorful city nightclub-like environment, maybe even black-lighting on the dance floor. But HOW could it happen? We chased down DIY and professional service options--but they were all either paltry or too pricey. At last, a friend told us to check out Legend Theatrical in Scotts Valley. From our first conversation with them--and then all the way through their design, installation and teardown of the black lighted dance floor and colorful uplighting along the walls--Dave and his team were true pros. The truth about Legend Theatrical is that they're very creative, responsive and well-priced--and produce magical results. Guests entering our party were so wowed by the lighting, they instantly began grinning, shouting, and making dance moves--even without without any dance playing yet. Magical!

Legends Theatrical & a special mention to Mike are very thoughtful and detailed in their work…read more Their genuine "human" and non "robotic" approach in solving my last minute problem gave me such comfort and they are "rock stars". I did my research and was highly reccomended to them. Their emergency number saved me and I so appreciate Mike and his team! All My Best, Suzanne Glassman www.MorningStarEntertainment.net

We can't say enough great things about Agape! My daughter started as a petit (3 years old) and…read moreloved the wonderful teachers at the Aptos studio- she was so proud to move up through the classes into her current enrollment in classical ballet. It is very difficult to find a studio that does an exceptional job with both littles and advanced. As a mother to an 8 year old daughter, it can be difficult to also find studios that create an encouraging and supportive environment- Dance girls and Moms are not always the kindest but this couldn't be farther from the truth at Agape. There is really a community between parents, teachers and students and we've been so blessed by the wonderful and creative opportunities Agape has provided throughout COVID.

The instructors, students, and community of Agape Dance Academy played an incredible role in…read moreforming my confidence, self-esteem, physical health, and character over the six years I was actively involved. Built on a foundation of Agape love, which is a deep, profound love characterized by sacrifice, the organization is vibrant, healthy, and thriving. Students are made to feel safe, seen, and secure. The shows are always a wonderful time for ALL students, and great care is taken to ensure that every dancer at every level is having an exceptional experience with classical ballet. I've had the chance to meet some of the most encouraging people I've ever experienced through friendships that have developed, that carry on to this day. If you are looking for a program that has the potential to change your life for the best--sign up for a class at Agape Dance Academy.

First let me say that we LOVE the Redwood Mountain Faire. But we don't love when a band doesn't…read moreshow up and delays the music performances by more than a hour. I understand it's not the events fault and they did try to fill in music with what they had available. It is a fundraiser for local non-profits so I'll forgive them. It's a great venue in a park like setting. Lots of food, beer and wine options available. A bonus is you can walk over to the Roaring Camp side and check out the train and shops they have there. They have there own merchandise like t-shirts, wine and beer glasses for purchase. The beer pints were only 5 bucks. This is a great family friendly event that also offers all sorts of arts and crafts, albeit they are on the pricey side so no real bargains here. There is also a kids area with a swingy bouncy thing, photo booth, bounce house and craft activities for free. Children under 12 are free with a parent. No ice chests, dogs (only certified service dogs allowed) or outside food allowed. Be sure to bring chairs as there is no seating.

Great event! Event usually takes place the first weekend of June…read more Held at Roaring camp in Felton. Steam trains and Redwoods! Bitchin' Relaxed vibe. families are welcome. Plenty of adult space too. Music and art festival in the Santa Cruz mountains. Features 2 stages of music . with around 20 bands. All the proceeds benefit local non profits. http://www.redwoodmountainfaire.com/

Wow, what a beautiful property! I saw on Eventbrite for a tomato jam canning workshop and thought,…read morewhy not try something new and different! This completely blew our expectations, it was so much better than what we had imagined! The setting up in the hills of Ben Lomond is mesmerizing. The home is set up perfectly and it's very comfortable and relaxing. Nothing is pretentious in anyway, just friendly and organized in every way. The light lunch that was provided for this event was delicious sandwiches and a gazpacho that was fresh and executed just right. The homemade ice cream with the cacao bits, completed the meal and you left full! The canning workshop was fun and extremely educational! We learned so much. Hands down a wonderful little experience! The wines are ALL good, the Pinot is exceptional but the rose and Sauvignon Blanc was a real surprise! We ended up buying a case! Trust me, you'll want to buy something! Cannot wait to come back!

We had an exceptional experience at Roberts Ranch today. Sarah, one of the owners made an amazingly…read moretasty 4 course french style lunch paired with their wines. The food and the hospitality were exceptional. I also loved the estate pinot they served. We will be back.

So last night we went on the Train to Christmas Town. Like the previous reviewer, I was worried…read moreafter I read the prior reviews however my kids loved it, and just watching how much fun they had made me love it. The overall experience is definitely a little"kitchy" and more for younger kids, say ages 2-6, although my 8 year old says she would go again because the cookie and hot chocolate were soooo good. So to set expectations, yes the train is at a station near a bunch of warehouses and there are no formal buildings or restrooms. The inside of the train is somewhat older with a vintage feel. It's not fancy but we felt comfortable and warm. All the seats are indoors which is nice. There are xmas songs playing on the speakers and they read the story book that goes with the train ride and a cat and polar bear, who are characters in the story come and visit the kids. My daughter loved it cuz she bought the stuffed kitty as a souvenir and then got a pic with the "real" kitty too! The only part that was odd was the 2 girls serving us in our car kept walking up and down the aisle clapping for the ENTIRE Train to Xmas Town song which is really LONG. And it was really uncomfortable watching them do this for so long. The other odd part was whoever was playing Santa was awkward and seemed really uncomfortable not sure why. I don't think the kids noticed though. Finally at the end of the trip they asked the little girls on the train to join them with their wooden whistles from Santa and that was cute to watch them parade around with the kids. My 4-year old loved this. We also went while it was dark and Christmas Town as night was all lit up so you couldn't tell they were cardboad/wooden cutouts. They looked real at night with the pretty lights and Santa waving at the train was a bit magical. All the kids loved it!

Poor value. Totally misleading. No actual Christmas town. Non credible Santa…read more May be worth $ 10 IF you are desperate for something to do.