Just off the corner of Solano and San Pablo, not too far from the 80 freeway exit…read more At the tip of the epicenter of gastronomic delights-Solano Avenue in Albany. I was there the other night with my beer buddy and all around friend with the same first name as I (and that's another story!) for the tribute to the local beloved character that passed recently, Mr. Bailey Pendergrass. A longtime institution in the Berkeley music scene from way back in the day till present. An interesting, kind fellow who still walked around in skinny trousers and a leather jacket- even on very hot days. And a hairdo like no other! He kind of reminded me of a character from Rocky Horror Picture Show or someone who could be played by Johnny Depp in some hip artistic movie. A bit of an eccentric, soft-spoken, amazingly charming man. A joy to sit down and chat with who had strong opinions and a distrust for doctors and their prescribed medication's,etc. I don't go very far back other than six or seven years when I met him at a popular watering hole called the Cornerstone on Shattuck. He would invite me to hang out while he ate his standard hamburger and fries and wash it down with what I remember was cranberry juice. He could never finish the whole burger so he'd take half home but would eat the fries usually, with a little help from me. We would talk about Minneapolis (where I'm from) and Prince of course, and he would share interesting stories. I'd keep him company until the music event would start where he had carte blanche, complementary entry with a plus one at the Cornerstone. I was his plus one and it was fun one night. I'll have to dig up the mixed CDs that he made for me that he presented in a recycled/repurposed "In-n-Out" bag, it was a nice touch. There was a little hand written note as well. The IVY ROOM put on a nice event and many showed up to pay their respect. Some were given a chance to get on the stage and recall memories. However, the crowd never stopped talking, so it was very hard to hear their praises, etc. The bartender was superb, but I'm sorry I didn't catch her name, very kind and approachable and humorous and of course, extremely efficient! It's a nice cozy room with a lot of history and an eclectic group of patrons. I chatted with a couple of extremely friendly kind people. However, I left before the music started as after a long day of work, I started to fade. Thank you Ivy Room for opening up your space to honor Mr. Bailey Pendergrass, and the wonderful people attending this event.

Ivy Room is happening Planet Booty is having Booty Camp for…read more4 nights Lani owner, is very wise

I have never seen live Improv and it was incredibly impressive…read more I hosted a small client event at Stone Soup Improv and I reached out to folks who attended after the fact and everyone loved it. So this review is only a single review, but there is research from about 20 other people behind it. Everyone I asked would give Stone Soup Improv 4 or 5 stars. My cheeks hurt until Tuesday following the show. Even the skits that bombed were funny. An absolutely great time. I would certainly recommend Stone Soup to anyone who is wavering.

Improv is hard, man. I know that from attempting it at a couple of workshops within the last year,…read moreduring which I bounced from the high of getting something really right to the low of feeling the trickle of yolk on my face. Which is why I applaud the six brave souls of Stone Soup Improv, who hit way more highs than lows in the show I attended last night. Stone Soup consists of three guys and three gals, though gender was highly irrelevant during their entertaining romp of a show in which roles were often reversed to strong comedic effect. Female performers played mustachioed bartenders in a Western and a stalking boyfriend in a Paris nightclub. Blokes were suddenly aged mothers and passionate daughters in scenes from a Spanish soap opera. Mind you, this show had much more than gender reversal going on: there were talking wristwatches, two-faced customer service representatives, kung fu masters, bullfighting dentists, world knitting championship competitors - all conjured up out of the imagination of the performers, with seeds planted by the audience. There were memorable moments sprinkled throughout the show, my favorites being the poetry slams performed by Jonathan Stern and Dan Rosenthal (about dish soap lingerie and eagle scouts, respectively) and the song composed on the spot by the magnetic Jennifer Simmons built around random words lobbed in by the audience (you try coming up with lyrics on the theme of Nantucket, including the words pterodactyl, eukelele and fink). And even occasionally less successful skits became classic - when Ryan Fuller turned to Stern in the middle of one scene and said " I'm lost", the audience roared, sharing Fuller's confusion. A couple of skits fell a little flat, but that's the beauty of improv - you shut the scene down, wipe the slate, and start over. In the interests of full disclosure, I should make it known that I work with three members of this cast. Regardless though, I'd recommend this show to anyone looking for a night of unpredictable comedy where just about anything can happen.

My 9-year-old son loves School of Rock. He looks forward to his keyboard lessons with Jo every…read moreweek, and the Rock Band experiences with Mike and Angel are always a blast. The school strikes a great balance between following each kid's interests and building real teamwork skills. Everyone belongs at SOR!

This place seems to be poorly run. We scheduled a lesson, organized our Saturday around it, and…read moredrove 15 min. for it. When we got there, they said they saw they had confirmed over email but it "didn't make it into their system." Rather than apologizing, the person tending the front desk shrugged and said, "Mistakes happen."

Had the Mensch wine last night. The red was excellent. I don't drink much white wine but I had…read moresome and it was quite drinkable. If looking for a wine for a Jewish holiday I think this fits the bill

We highly recommend a tasting experience at Covenant Winery in Berkeley. The Morgan family has a…read moreheartwarming approach to making wine, coupled with years of experience and vast knowledge of the science as well as the art of producing a truly great product. We'll be going back again!

AWESOME! Danceversity World Dance Camp ages 8 to16 During…read moreAugust Summer is the most high energy & fun, week or more, my daughter enjoys this . They have multiple dance teachers and often have live drums. 9AM to 4PM. They do a performance on Fridays! Held at Ashkenas in Berkeley.this is her 3rd year! They also offer: Weekly Classes though out the year in different locations. Summer Program DANCEVERSITY SUMMER CAMP 2010 REGISTRATIONS NOW ACCEPTED! 40% off additional weeks of camp! Contact Hannah for details at 415-794-7463 School Workshops Youth Performance Company Professional Performance Company Birthday Dance Parties

This year I enrolled my daughter for 2 weeks of dance camp with DanceVersity and she was able to…read moreexplore dance styles and culture from 8 different countries! Not only has she improved her ability to work together in a creative way but she made lots of new friends and has increased confidence to perform! This program is awesome for youth as well as our local artists who get to share their passion and love for their art form. Happy they continue classes during the school year but eager for summer camp again!

Breakthrough Moments From the Very First Lessons…read more I can't recommend Danielle LoPresti enough as a singing teacher. She is amazing--supportive, patient, and incredibly kind. Almost immediately after I started taking lessons with her, she helped me break through obstacles that I had struggled with my whole life. What I appreciate most is her holistic approach to singing. For me, it's about expression, not perfection, and Danielle truly understands that. She creates a safe environment where I never feel judged or rushed, which makes it much easier to explore my voice and grow with confidence. Another thing that makes her classes special is the community she has built among her students. She organizes opportunities for us to meet and perform, which is incredibly valuable. Watching and learning from others is inspiring, and it also reminds us that many of us share the same challenges--stage fright, nervousness, and sometimes the pressure of perfectionism. If you're looking for a supportive teacher who truly helps you grow as a singer and as a performer, Danielle is fantastic.

Incredible singer, incredible teacher! Technique, oh yes she knows how to train the voice, but then…read morebeyond that is her joyful enthusiasm and encouragement that helps so much with the mental side (hello anxiety!) of performing. Seven out of five stars!

It's a down to earth, barn like music venue with a very small bar and amazing music!…read more Hard to find a place like this in a city!

I come for a weekly Bhangra class which I love. It's a get your body moving and the more you put…read morein the better your workout will be. The instructors, especially Andrea, is consistently welcoming. I also find her easier to follow because her pants are not override and it easier to see the leg movement. Viki, the lead instructor, is nice on email but when I try to talk to her in person, I find the interaction awkward. Maybe it's me but I see her interacting with others. Come! Great music, energy, joy and movement. A great way to spend an hour.

First time visiting for a concern this past weekend. The space is intimate and has great acoustics…read more I liked how the sofas and other furniture were all mismatched - adds to the esthetic! Our event was 2 hours long, and it was BYOB. Towards the back there are high chairs with seating so if you come early could grab those and settle down with your drinks. It did get a little warm in the afternoon as they turn the fans off during the performance, which makes total sense, but overall enjoyed our time here and would come back for another performance. It's also close to a ton of restaurants and cafe's, and the BART station is just a few blocks away. There is a parking lot around the corner if you're driving.

Great intimate music venue, with a variety of different styles of music…read more Bring your own drinks and food, nothing is available.

Ravi is such a talented musician!…read more Over the past few years, my,{now}, husband and I have thoroughly enjoyed Ravi's public performances throughout San Francisco and Berkeley. We enjoyed him so much we decided to have Ravi perform at our wedding! Ravi peformed as part of a trio during our ceremony procession, father-daughter dance and our first dance as husband and wife! He also entertained our guests during the cocktail hour. We received so many amazing compliments and inquiries on Ravi's performance. He added such an incredibly, perfect element to our special day and we are forever grateful!! I strongly recommend Ravi's music talents for your next event. I promise everyone will ask for his information!

From the owner: The Ravi Abcarian Quintet will help you create just the right atmosphere for your special event by…read moreplaying jazz classics, upbeat tunes from great musicals as well as relaxing ballads and bossa novas.