Mitsuwafest was not all I had hoped it would be. Tons of people walking around like they think it's…read moreComicon and others in kimonos - it was quite an interesting group of attendees at this festival. I do have to say I was jealous of the Hello Kitty masks people had. But $6 for a flimsy Halloween style plastic mask I'll never wear again ain't happening! There were only about 5 stands for food items - octopus balls, ramen, chicken on skewers.I was lucky enough to have my Japanese friend with me so she was able to translate the food signs. Had she not been there, we wouldn't have been completely certain of what we were getting as signs were not in English. Everything I had was good but I definitely expected there to be more food options. I may venture to say that the food in their regular marketplace is better, as well. We went inside during the fest to get some green tea soft serve...sad. The place was completely packed with not enough activities or performances to fill the time. It was mostly just standing around...waiting in longggg lines for food. The festival was completely packed to the brims but it was nice to not have the usual drunk, rude festival goers that you see at other city fests. I did enjoy the drum show but hate to admit that my friends and I rolled out after about 10 minutes watching the drums. The good about the festival is that it's free! It's in the suburbs and will give you a little somethin' somethin' to do that's not the norm. I do suggest coming early to get a parking spot as the later it gets, the harder parking is to find. Now this wasn't my first time going to the fest, but those of you who haven't gone before, hopefully you can be well prepared for next year!

I look forward to attending the Bon Odori Festival every year! Tsukasa Taiko (#TaikoLegacy)…read moredrumming is definitely an entertainment highlight, as is the Bon Dance! The kiddos who do karate also break boards and this year did a nunchuck/swordfighting demo to The Rocky theme!!! YES! They are the most adorbs! And fierce. Definitely fierce. (Please don't beat me up!) ^_^ People-watching is supreme! There are all kinds of cute families, kiddies and adults in kimonos, and cosplayers. Food is plentiful and affordable (btwn. $2-5): ramen, yakitori, takoyaki (ah-maZing aaaand the longest line!), gyoza, SPAM musubi, curry, sno cones, cotton candy, and sooo much more! Note that the fest ends at 8pm, so I would NOT count on food being available last-minute. There are sales in Mitsuwa Marketplace during the fest as well. My ONLY desire? That they could add some recycling bins and do away with the styrofoam containers. Overall, the Bon Odori Festival is a great cultural experience with lots of affordable food! Bring the whole fam!

Booked a class on a Sunday for Valentines Day and loved it!…read more We had Urszula as our instructor and she did not disappoint. She has a great sense of pacing and gives participants autonomy to express their own touches to pieces. She gave me really helpful pointers as it was my first time doing a class and I loved how she demonstrated on her own plate to show me how to blend colors if I wanted to and did not simply do it for me. If you are 21+, they are very accommodating with BYOB providing ice, glasses, and OJ for mimosas! Whether it's a group of friends, galentines, or date night, I highly recommend giving this place a try!

My friend and I had so much fun painting at their Fluorescent Friday/Blacklight: Midnight Glow…read moreevent! Our instructor was really sweet and gave us helpful suggestions to improve our paintings. The owner was super friendly too! I loved how he shared some history about the building. He said Al Capone produced bootlegged alcohol there, and that a burn mark on one of the wooden beams is actually from that time! I thought that was so interesting. He also did a mini trivia game, and the winner got one of the instructor's paintings. I won! I got a really cool painting that's now displayed on my bookshelf. I loved the overall atmosphere and how friendly everyone was at this location. My friend and I are already planning to come back to try another painting style!

U pick strawberries were a blast. The strawberries were red and juicy. Lots of strawberries to…read morechoose from.

Beautiful huge sunflower farms & pumpkins in the fall. Have got to catch the sunflowers at peak to…read moresee large blooms. Not when I was there. Great friendly service. Worth a visit. Bees around but dress the right colors, don't swat or move abruptly, leave them alone and they will give you the same respect.

Clean and attentive staff. Fre refills on popcorn and a beautiful hortorical theater.read more

Cool atmosphere, easy to check in. Seating area is a bit run down but generally clean.read more