Not 5 stars because responses to emails sent to their general email box were lacking. Also,…read morebecause they place all risk on the racers - "In case of a disaster including, but not limited to flooding, tornadoes, terrorism, CitySolve Urban Race will decide whether or not to cancel the event based on the safety of participants and staff. In the event of a cancelation, refunds will NOT be issued; risk is assumed by all participants. However, participants will have the option to transfer registration to a different 2013 race." But the June 8th race in Boston did take place, despite a damp start. For a quicker registration, a packet pick up was scheduled the evening before the race, but alternatively the packets could be picked up the morning of the race - for our 11:30am scheduled start, registration was from 10am - 11am. Packets were pretty basic, and consisted of team numbers, a rules sheet, and a waiver that all team members had to sign. Several teams put in great effort for the costume contest; we did not. Then the race began, not with a shot, but with a multiple choice question to lead us to a nearby intersection where one of the CitySolve volunteers were waiting to hand out the clues sheets. Rules were simple - Transportation was limited to our feet and public transportation (for Boston, that meant the T). We were allowed to ask folks for help and to use technology, such as our phones (whether to phone a friend, or as a smartphone to research online). Teams were required to stay together with a requisite photograph of the entire team at each checkpoint. We were allowed (in fact encouraged) to solve 9 out of the 10 clues, and were provided with the opportunity to take 4 photos worth -5 minutes apiece. Penalties were significant; 30 minutes for each wrong checkpoint and each photo that did not include the entire team. With the awards ceremony scheduled for 3pm we basically had 3.5 hours to make it to the finish line with all checkpoints accounted for. We made it! And with time to spare! As we weren't being particularly competitive, we hit all 10 clues and then some (aka all 4 bonuses plus; not that we could get additional credit for the pluses). Sure, the winning team finished in about 1.5 hours (how in the world did they do that??? It took us nearly half an hour just to figure out the clues!), but we still beat out over half the competition. After reaching the finish line, with our time marked, we were given questionaires to complete and to hand back in trade for a T-shirt, and our photos were checked, and we were done. Ah... PS - register early for a discount. PPS - as a gift from one of the sponsors, my team had the pleasure of racing for free. PPPs - If we can race, you can too!

I had a wonderful time at CitySolve Urban Race Boston yesterday…read more My team of 3 had a great time solving the 10 scavenger hunt clues, then running all over the city to take pictures and do the required activities. Smart phones are allowed in the race, but the cool thing is the clues are written so the answers aren't immediately googleable. For example the 1st clue for the Boston race involved translating English to French, and then using the numbers on the spaces under your translation answer, to write the corresponding letters in other spaces to come up with the name of the location you needed to go to. There are bonus photos you can take to have time taken off your final finishing time, however you need to keep in mind that if taking those photos take longer than the time you're earning, you're not earning anything. It was a great day, and it corresponded with Pride weekend in Boston, so some teams, including my own, ended up running across the street through the Pride parade to get to our next location. Winners of the race usually finish within 1 1/2 hours and everyone must be back by 4 1/2 hours after the race starts. My team didn't win, but we felt competitive anyway. (Edit: The race results were posted the Tuesday after the race, and my team came in 8th out of 69 teams! Pretty sweet!) There are also prizes given out for best tweet & best costume. I loved getting to see Boston in a new way through this race, and my husband has already agreed to sign up again when CitySolve comes back to Boston. Thank you to Yelp for waving the registration fees for our team, as part of a contest for the Yelp Elite program! The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Boston volunteered at the event to check us in at the start & finish, and managing activities on the route. They were wonderfully helpful & friendly!

We love this event. So much excitement for the kids. They have a fantastic Santa every year. They…read morereally go all out with the fun. It's a family tradition.

Honestly I think it would be better if they charged a few dollars for everything even if the…read moreproceeds were to go to a local charity.But keep the snow and parking free.I live off of Bollinger Canyon and left my house a little before 6 and with traffic and bad traffic coordination from the one parking attendant at Bishop Ranch 1, I spent more time in the car than at the actual event. We entered Bishop Ranch 1 at 6:30 to find the clown making balloons. Waited five minutes in line after he rudely yelled simply "NO MORE BALLOONS!" That was enough to crush my three year old's heart. It was nearly 45 minutes before the event ended and I am still perplexed why. If this is the 11th year doing this, then you think they would be better planned with at least a sign or assistant to BOZO the clown to let us know when they run out of balloons or warn us before BOZO loses it. I saw One face painter and One balloon artist for 3000 kids. The lines were worse than the worst day at the mall so to whoever who runs this get a few more vendors to accomodate the crowds. I wouldn't dropping a few bucks for a face painting and balloon dog. If you plan on going to this event leave, get there extra early. Happy holidays all.

I plan on going here every year. It's quite an experience to see the culture represented so well…read more They had mariachis and low riders. They had pretty much everything I could desire.

Saw this event listed on Yelp so decided to check it out. I haven't been to RWC in a long time so…read moreit was nice to see it looking good. They had a small procession that started from the Main Library, 1044 Middlefield Rd from 6:30-6:45pm. There were some girls carrying an alter filled w/ orange marigolds and fruit hanging, then dancers were behind them. They lead the procession to the Courthouse Square which was only .21 mi, about 2 blocks. At the Courthouse Square were tables & chairs set up so the public could enjoy the program on the Square from 6:45-8:15pm. There were tables for the kids to decorate pan de muerto (little bit sweet, just ok..no spices in it) & skull cookies. There was also face painters, and Free hot chocolate. There were some youth art work on display in the pavilion windows. Overall, I thought it was just ok, probably more fun for the kids. Good for people that live in the area.

I came here as an aid for a bunch of elderly adults for the Scottish Heritage Festival last July…read more All in all, while the festival wasn't a total waste of this non-Scottish chick's time, it wasn't a terribly great or authentic festival. Pros: The birds of prey exhibit, the sheep herding demonstration, and the traditional Scottish games were cool. The bands were good (although only one was actually an authentic Scottish group), and the two rooms of the estate that were wheelchair-accessible seemed nice. Cons: No authentic Scottish food, and the food there was expensive, with long lines. Almost no shade anywhere to be found, and a lot of the fair wasn't very wheelchair-accessible. I didn't feel like I really learned a lot about Scottish cultural traditions from this festival - most of it was just the stereotypes of Scottish people (bagpipes, the clothing, the games). A lot of what was there seemed really random, such as some non-Scottish cars randomly placed towards the end of the fair. Also, $12 for adult admission!? I got in for free because the program I volunteered for paid for me, but I'd have been pretty pissed to have paid more than $5 or so for this. I ultimately did have a pretty fun day hanging out with the adults and other volunteers while watching the animal exhibits and games, but the festival as a whole was pretty lacking for the cost.

Scottish Highland Games at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate…read moreJuly 11 and July 12, 10 am to 5 pm The sounds of bagpipes and drums will fill the air at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate. The days will be overflowing with numerous activities, sights and sounds that celebrate the Scottish heritage. There will be Highland Athletic Games, sheep dog demonstrations, food and craft booths, gathering of the clans, children's activities, highland and country dancing demonstrations, pipe band competitions and musical performances. Live Performers: Banshee in the Kitchen, Pladdohg, Tempest, The Browne Sisters with George Cavannaugh, Prince Charles Pipe Band, City of Sacramento Pipe Band, Irish Pipers of San Francisco, and MacIntosh Pipe Band. Admission: Adults, $12. Seniors/Military, $10. Children 5-12, $8. Children under 5, Free. Self-guided tours of the 110 year old, 16,224 square foot, Neoclassical mansion, Free. www.dunsmuir.org

Ribbon & The Protectors are monuments in the Dublin Public Safety Complex commentating Police…read moreOffices & Fire Fighters. The Protectors: -a memorial to Police & Fire Fighters who died while doing their jobs of protecting protecting the Dublin community. Creator: unknown Ribbon -a steel structure in the form of a twisted ribbon. It's dedicated to police officers & fire fighters who serve with "commitment, honor, trust & integrity". A plaque states "Ribbon was designed with both Police & Fire equally in mind. Embodying the symbol of the remembrance ribbon, a universally recognized symbol of respect for the contributions of first responders. Ribbon seeks to demonstrate the strength and dedication that our first responders bring to the community without hesitation"..... Creator: Gordon Huether

"Support Those Who Serve the People" is a fundraising appeal to Black businesses for a community…read morePeople's Free Breakfast Program operated by the Black Panther Party. in 1969, a typical breakfast had chocolate milk, breakfast, meats, eggs & orange juice. school teachers found that students in these programs were alert and eager to learn. when J. Edgar Hoover & the FBI found out, he sent communiques to local law enforcement to harass and dismantle it. this happened in Oakland, Ca. & Chicago, Ill. within months, years, many Panther breakfast programs were discontinued. in 1975, the USDA permanently established it's breakfast program nationwide creator: Emory Douglas, Augmented Reality (A/R) by Black Terminus AR *artwork from 10/4/1971 of the Black Panther Intercommunal Newsservice

Sunday With Jessie is a sculpture in the vicinity of Bankhead Theatre. Teaspoon boba shop is…read morenearby. This sculpture won the People's Choice award in Sioux Falls, S.D. In a competition with 54 sculptures. It show a young boy playing with his Labrador Retriever while also eating an ice cream cone. The original shows flesh tones for the boy & dog's tongue. Ice cream is in natural colours. The sculpture here is all bronze. The sculptor is well known nation wide. A couple in Pleasanton, Ca. bought Sunday With Jessie and donated it to the city of Livermore. Creator: Susan Geissler Donor: Gary & Nancy Harrington

This is a sculpture commissioned by the city of Dublin, Ca. It honors community members from…read moreDublin, Ca. Who has served in the 4 branches of the U.S. Armed Services. It also honors those who will later also serve. Sculpture also celebrates the common values that Dublin & the U.S. Armed Services share: loyalty, commitment, duty, respect, selfless sacrifice, honor, integrity & personal courage. Designer: Ellen Wilson Sculptor: Steven Whyte Note: nothing is mentioned of services needed by returning service members..