My son just attended a birthday party in this little hidden gem. The space is inviting and the kids…read morehad so much fun . The instructors were so kind and engaging with the kids . My little boy is already asking to go back again ! Definitely recommended !

We just had our 10 year old's bday here! Every thing was great, and the kids really got in to the…read moreproject we picked (felt succulent gardens). Planning to come back soon for an adult night (or another private party with my girl friends!).

My student organization at Cal had their end of semester banquet at Hillside Club, and we couldn't…read moreask for anything better. Not only is the venue beautiful and spacious, but the organizer is super nice and accommodating. There are high ceilings, great audio, a nice stage, and lots of useful equipment. We pretty much didn't have to decorate at all on our end because when we got there, it was already beautifully adorned with holiday decorations and a huge Christmas tree! For such an amazing venue, it's amazing how inexpensive the total cost was! Aside from the venue itself, the planning involved to secure the venue and set everything up was made incredibly easy by the manager. She was very responsive by email and helpful in suggestions for what can be done with the event. She also owns a super cute doggo that's Instagram famous! All in all, great experience and couldn't ask for more.

Our youth choir, Kairos, produces a musical theater/opera performance every season. This year, our…read moreusual venue was closed for renovation and we were faced with the need to find a new theater. We knew about the Berkeley Hillside's affinity for classical music, so we thought our program would be a good match. The Hillside Club's manager Araceli was very responsive and informative about their availability, requirements and willingness to accommodate us. Not only did Araceli understand our needs but she was extremely supportive and volunteered to help us with anything we might need in order to offer a highly successful and professional production. We recommend this venue, not only for the amazing architecture and splendid acoustics, but also for the great communication of our hosts; their openness and their flexibility to accommodate our very specific needs. The venue has a beautiful stage, with ample backstage (a green room upstairs and one downstairs - with access to a bathroom) and it is great for small productions such as ours, or small chamber music concerts that they host often. If you do visit the Berkeley Hillside, be sure to make the acquaintance of Bella - the Boston Terrier of the club whom we adopted as our mascot. She is a real drama queen and will definitely brighten your day

Such a beautiful and well-equipped space. The frame is gorgeous and expertly constructed. The small…read morecozy chic touches, like the vintage cabinet with the cute fox mugs, make it feel like home. Check out this space if you are curious about Shibari and rope bondage. You'll learn from some of the best in the business - Miss True Blue, Bound Moxie, and Ivy Limieux, in a lovely, welcoming environment.

This place is exceptional. The physical space is beautiful and welcoming, and the people working…read morethere were equally welcoming. I just went to my very first Beginner's Rope Jam there, and I'm hooked. There were three instructors, including the owner (I presume) and they were each so clear, knowledgable, patient, and caring. I did not go with a partner, and they very nicely facilitated having people seeking partners be able to find each other, even so much as offering written instructions about how one might approach someone. Happily I was able to find a lovely compatible partner (also a first timer) and we had a great experience. Everything about this was great and I can't wait for more events. The website is also excellent and informative. It's very clear on the site that you need to have proof of vaccination, don't forget this as they check.

I only visited this venue work place area, to hear Council Person Zac Unger, Distruct 1, give an…read moreoverview of the budget proposal for the coming months ahead. It was excellent. Mr. Unger is a former fire fighter who understands of course the imminent need to maintain our fire stations in Oakland. The space is large, open, friendly, attractive and accommodating. I would recommend having more than just one restroom however. There could be another one on the upstairs level already, of course.

Sarah and her team are super friendly and responsive. The space is elegant and maintained extremely…read morewell. Wonderful place to work!

I came here many years ago for a play that my uncle was in. It was good, and a bonus? I ran into a…read morefriend of mine from college. He dropped out for his acting dream. I tried to keep in touch and he was closeted so that didn't happen. But the first floor was beautiful. My school had graduations there and we went up to the fourth floor where there was a "smaller" stage and less room for the audience. I say smaller because it is smaller than the bottom floor, but it's not tiny. Again, it was very nice. The issue? The parking lot is abysmal. It's so small so I arrived a few hours early to get a space because street parking is a joke. Someone else I know parked in a lot and carpooled it in. Another issue? I'm not fat, I'm heavier than I was in high school and college when I was underweight. But I'm a normal sized person and the seats are so tiny that it's uncomfortable to sit in them. I had to be on the floor, I forget why and when told that I could sit in the teacher section, I said, "That's OK. I can sit down here with the students." Why did I say that? Well, it's because I was in a folding chair and there were no sides to rub against or crush my sides. I know that I'm not the only person experiencing that. I'm surprised that they didn't have a standing room only section for people too big to sit in the seats. I don't know how they plan to work on this, but that's no my problem. I'm with a K-8 school this year. But it's sad that whenever someone mentions that something will take place in the Scottish Rite Center my first thought will be of the discomfort of sitting in their seats, rather than the beauty of the auditorium in which I'll be sitting.

Attended an event here for UC Berkeley Labor Center. Built in 1927 overlooking Lake Merritt, this…read morefacility is owned and managed by the Scottish Rite of Freemasons. A huge location to host several type of events from small receptions to large conventions of a few hundred. A historic building with classic architecture makes for great photos.

I love this place. I've been here for music classes, yoga, concerts, and workshops. The space is…read morebeautiful, and completely caters to the heart of the creative process. Artists in the East Bay who haven't found this space by now have been seriously missing out. A gem.

If you've ever fantasized about spending the night in a Bernard Maybeck structure here's your…read morechance. The Faculty Club, on the UC Berkeley campus, was designed by the legendary Berkeley architect and is many things to many people. Most notably, it's: * A place to eat and drink; * A venue to rent out for events; and * A place to spend the night. I ate and drank there* but I also spent the night there and that's the reason for my 3-star rating and the focus of this review. The Faculty Club rents out rooms, some with private bath and some with communal bath, all situated along a long hallway up a set of stairs. If you've drank too much below, are in town to visit a student at UCB, or are just hankering to spend the night on campus it's not a bad option. The rooms for rent are functional (not fancy) and clean (but not new). "Utilitarian" is an apt description. A friend and I stayed in a room with 2 beds and its own bathroom and shower at a cost of $215. Rooms with shared baths are (obviously) less and an additional $15.40 will buy you a parking pass valid until 2 p.m. the following day at a nearby, on campus lot. I don't track the cost of lodging in the Bay Area but this rate seemed reasonable, especially considering the inclusion of a continental breakfast for 2 the following morning. Before falling asleep the night of my stay my friend wondered whether the Campanile's toll would wake us. Fear not; it didn't. Instead, 52 beeps from a garbage truck backing up was followed by the crash of glass recyclables being collected, all before sunrise. So, be sure your room is on the west side of the building if you desire a quieter experience. I can't imagine returning for an overnight here but I'd certainly be comfortable recommending it to others. It was fun and serene to step outside in the morning, right onto the beautiful Faculty Glade of the UCB campus. I can well imagine others enjoying the reasonably-priced experience. * Food and drink are reviewed under Faculty Club Kerr Dining Room

I stayed at The Faculty Club for one night for business. The setting is beautiful, serene, and in…read morethe middle of the Berkeley campus. The atmosphere I loved, the hotel room not so much. I tried to embrace the history and think of all the families and students who have stayed here over the years, and that worked somewhat. I did have a good stay and ultimately enjoyed my room for what it was. Things to know: - The building is challenging to find and GPS is marginally helpful. - There was no place available to park to check-in so I had to risk it and park in a 30 minute loading zone up the hill. - It was hard to find the right door to get the lobby - no helpful signage at all. - After checking in you have to navigate to one of the parking lots they allow you to park in, which is not right at the Club. - You have to navigate your way back to the place after parking - I was lugging my bags. - You have to lug your bags up a significant flight of stairs to get to the rooms - no elevator. - The rooms are like an old cabin - not updated, dark wood, very basic accommodations. - If you get a room with your own bathroom, the bathroom is tiny with nowhere to set your toiletries or even hang your hand towel. - The bed is just okay - nothing like nicer hotels. The bedding is very thin and looks like something you'd find in a Motel 6. They could at least give you a nice mattress and comfy bedding even while keeping the basic/historic look of the rooms. - There is a flatscreen tv, but it's small and uses Dish network - remote is somewhat confusing. - There was a small fridge, but it wasn't plugged in. - There was a glue trap for rodents in my room which didn't instill confidence. Some positives: - The room was very spacious and had a high ceiling. Although it felt very old, it was clean. - The windows open wide letting in a nice breeze and adding a serene feel. - The price is reasonable in my opinion. - The atmosphere is relaxing and the area is safe. - The restaurant has good food and also reasonably priced in my opinion. - Free breakfast.

I am renting the space for my Capoeira school and it is really nice and really big with tall…read moreceilings, a great sound system and a nice big heater. Also has a kitchen and bathroom. What more do you need!

Fantastic, open space with great natural light. Very affordable, and Andrej the studio manager is…read moresuper helpful and friendly. We needed a space to shoot a simple music video on short notice, and Andrej was very accommodating. He was interested in our project and even offered a great idea that we ended up using in our video. Here's the final result: http://youtu.be/3KUi77QZgvE Thank you, Studio 12! Will definitely call you again!