This music fest, hosted by Jazz 91 KCSM, is an annual event taking place at the College of San…read moreMateo in between the Library and Theatre. Two stages were set up, one in front of each of these buildings, along with long and lovely fountains, creating a picturesque setting for live jazz. Plus, free admission and free parking (though visitor parking was a bit confusing to find, since a few lots had signs noting they were only for vendors and musicians). The event featured awesome performances by various bands on the Main Stage, including Electric Squeezebox Orchestra, Larry Vuckovich and his ensemble performing great tunes like Manteca, and the amazing musicianship and vocals of Kim Nalley: Three Ladies Sing the Blues. I also caught the performance of the SF Jazz High School All Star band on the Youth Stage, the young musicians showcasing their talents on the keyboard, trumpet, saxophone, drums, bass, and violin. There was no shortage of food and drink options, with six food trucks and a coffee shack on site. Lines were short or nonexistent, and I was able to enjoy a yummy gyro quesadilla from Falafel Fresh. Vendors and organization booths included Old Skool Cafe and Mango Blossom Apiary (local wildflower honey). Lots of seating too, campus structures in various locations, chairs provided for the event, and grassy fields with plenty of space for stretching out both in shaded areas and in the sunshine which was comfortable on a bright and breezy Saturday afternoon. I was able to lay out my mat, do some reading and relaxing, and of course, appreciate the beautiful sounds of latin rhythms, funk, and blues filling the air.

Not enough bands. Too much talking and not enough music. They must have had a hard time getting…read morebands. Especially at the youth stage there were huge hour gaps between bands. Stanford group very small unlike last year. I wanted to hear the All stars but they were on late and couldnt stay do to the wind. I wish they would put some of the large bands on first . The amplification was too loud and took away from some of the bands . They claimed this started 20 years ago yet I was there in 1990. It was better when they charged admission .

I used to go there in the late 1980's. Pete Douglas ran the place. Very hip Jazz venue. It was…read morebring your own food and drink. Very laid back. Many hipsters from Silicon Valley plus reight on the ocean. Afterwards we would go to Miramar Beach Inn which was pretty much a dive bar then. What a Sunday. I have not been back since the '90's. J

Best jazz on the West Coast. If you've never been, you have got to go. It's on the coast and the…read moreMiramar restaurant is just walking distance down the street. I can't think of a better way to spend a day on the coast.

Free live concert+free parking. Has some benches and picnic tables under a semi-shaded area…read more Everting is paved so no worries about dirt. Also has some grassy areas. Good to bring your own chairs if you don't get there early to grab one of the available benches. also Porto potties. Right on the water so it can get windy (bring hat/sweatshirt/sunscreen) and ear plugs as it can get loud. Very festive atmosphere with most dancing! They have food trucks, however you can bring your own food and alcohol.

Attending Rock the Dock is like taking a glimpse into what retirement is like. Looking at all these…read morehappy seniors dancing, drinking, socializing. Oh how I crave that all the time! Being there allowed us to enjoy those things. We took advice and got there early. Brought snacks, water bottle, hat, sunglasses, layers, chair and a positive attitude. If you happen to be sensitive to sound, you should sit to the sides of the stage away from the speakers. If you station yourself in front of the stage and speakers, it's LOUD! There are two food trucks, a beer truck and a fried food truck. Bathroom situation was not that bad. There is an actual bathroom close to the piers, but it has only two stalls, creating a slow turnaround. Then there are the port-a-potties near the concert of about 5-6, they move a lot faster. Music was kind of funky, I was looking for more cover songs. We went with the flow and soaked in the vibes. It does get windy, so bring a hat that won't blow off. Have fun shak'in a leg at Rock the Dock.

This Saturday I had a great experience with the door security team (of Charlie and T…read more I lost my ticket and the event organizer initially told me that I couldn't leave and renter the venue. Instead of simply deferring, T. helped resolve the situation so I could briefly hang out with the friends and band members. Instead of leaving frustrated, I ended up having a wonderful experience. I wish more security professionals approached their job the way T. (and Charlie) do.

Charley the owner and Tee the guy at the door are stand up guys! I had a great experience at this…read moreclub seeing Careless Whisper and plan to go back as soon as possible. Highly recommended! There is plenty of parking at the nearby parking lot but if you can walk a few blocks you can find street parking that is free after 8pm. Tons of places to eat within walking distance. The cover charge is also very reasonable considering the quality of the talent and how helpful the staff are.

October 5-8, 2006 in Burlingame, CA. is the best West Coast Swing dance competition in the US…read more Usually on the Columbus day, holiday weekend of October. 1200 WCSwing competitors and social dancers come from across the US, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Scotland and France to compete, take workshops and social dance on a 5200 sq. ft. dance floor. Four days are allotted for WCS dancing and socializing. There is also a second ballroom for Lindy dancers. If you want to see the best West Coast swing in the country, come out on a Saturday or Sunday night and see the best of the best compete, it is awesome to see. If you love partner dancing, love dancing to top 40's, R & B, Motown, Blues and Jazz, this is the dance for you. The 3 day event pass covers watching the competitions, social dancing, 10+ workshops and Saturday buffet. There are one day passes and evening passes avail for those who just want to check it out. Nearby to other restaurants, Max's Opera Cafe, Elephant Bar and a movie theater.

Came here for their early bird class (marching orders from my West Coast Swing prof at ccsf)…read more First off, it's rather expensive to park in their parking structure (charges by the hour - my final tally was around $14 for a little more than 2 hrs), so look for some on the street - should be plenty within a couple of blocks. The lessons and the dance were just $10. I've never taken a class that had 200 students in it! It is a spectacle to see so many pairs of wcs enthuasiasts, all their slots lined up in parallel - there were four rows of maybe 50 people each running across the entire dance floor, which was held in the main conference room. As we rotated partners, I think I barely got through one row to the other side of the floor. The teachers, Kyle and Sara, were fabulous, complementing each other as they gave commentary and critique in rapid-fire succession. And of course, there was a free dance afterwards, where all the convention competitors took to the floor and lit in on fire. Literally.

Such a cool space for recording. Super friendly staff, well-stocked fridge. Solid equipment…read more Came here to record for a podcast, would definitely use them again.

The best social club anywhere! Musicians now have a place to gather and create together thanks to…read moreSound Union.

This is good for those amateurs who want to be noticed or discovered that they do have talents!…read moreKeep up the Good talents to all! Wishing you all the best! Thank you very much Melody for organizing such a FRIDAY NIGHT KNOCK OUT talent show for those who want to be discovered someday soon!!!!!

The Alpaca Barn is wonderful local place to listen to listen to live music. The owners host…read moremultiple events per year. Both inside the Alpaca Barn. And for larger events outside on the lawn too! I have been to the barn for multiple event. But one of the biggest and best events is the yearly Harvest Festival held on site. Last year's Harvest Festival 2024 had two soundstages, vendor booths, a food truck, and lots of different drinks available to suit most anyone's desires and needs. Plus other foods too. And the music with 8+ bands ran from 2 PM until long after I left at 10:30 pm. They also have Alpacas on site in their fields that are friendly and come to the fence to feed and pet. There were games and other activities to keep even the kids happy all the time I was there. I love this place! A plus is most of the events at the Alpaca Barn Studio and Soundstage provide at least some benefit Second Harvest Bay Area Food Bank. If you want a cozy and welcoming place to listen to all kinds of music then the Alpaca Barn Studio and Soundstage is the place for you! Bonus points,,, It's a short walk to Montara state beach from here! A beautiful local beach! And there are hiking trails up Montara Mountain close by too.

Just a fun local place . Wonderful people, music sounds great. Can also sometimes get to see the…read moreAlpacas.