The play gym here is awesome! I brought my almost one year old, crawling little boy, here…read more Currently, it's open 10-2 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There are plenty of cars and play areas with big blocks and little play stands and areas for all ages, from first starting to sit up to toddling to enjoy. He really enjoyed watching the other kids and crawling around, discovering neat things to play with. It is a huge space in the community center with a nicely sized parking lot. I don't put my son in day care so it is great to have convenient, indoor, free spaces like this in Seattle. Highly recommended for parents to little ones!

My daughter was not welcomed at the ballet dancing class for 5-7 years old. There were no music, no…read moreinstructor's smile or friendliness although my daughter stepped into the class and we were waiting there inside the class more than 5 minutes looking at them starting the class as if we were invisible. My daughter was too shy and scared to go to the instructor's place because even tho we were only several steps away from her, she ignored us. I could not change another class for her because I was told that it is considered refund and they could not refund me anything. But I would not dare to take my daughter to that cold class again to "try" as the front desk staff recommended us to do it. Perhaps some sort of racism, but it's fine, keep going your way.

After spending seven months on the hunt for the perfect wedding venue, I was ready to give up. I'm…read morenot going to lie, I am picky; I specifically wanted a large, open, indoor space with natural light, and minimal furnishings - ultimately, a blank canvas. Just something neutral, classy, and easy to work with my vision for my wedding. Apparently I was asking too much, because every other typical wedding site was $3000+ to rent, required you to use their vendors (boooo), had hideous carpet or tapestries, or their coordinators liked to ignore me. Then, in a final search of desperation, I found a link to Great Hall at Green Lake. It was meant to be. Nelda was super prompt in responding to me (major cookies and points here), friendly, and didn't just want to throw numbers at me. My fiance and I scheduled a tour of the place and Nelda showed us every nook and cranny, and was more than happy to answer all of our questions. Very reasonable rental prices (in comparison to all the other wedding venues out there) and Nelda is very up-front about any optional/additional costs. I am not a bridezilla, but I do expect a professional attitude and level of interest from someone acting as a vendor on one of the most important days of my life, and I am happy to say that thus far, the communication process and tour of the space has been perfect; I cannot wait to have my wedding here next spring, and I will surely return with another review.

This is a beautiful, simple venue. My now husband and I decided to get married here because we…read moreloved the flexibility in being able to hire our own caterers and other vendors. I also really liked that it got a lot of natural lighting in the building. We initially wanted an outdoor wedding but being in Seattle, that was too much of a risk to take even in the month of August. We were initially concerned that it would be too hot and that we would need to rent air conditioners but it was pretty cool outside that day so we did not need to. They also had some large portable fans on the stage if needed but we did not need them on our wedding day. The staff was very hands-off. We scheduled a tour twice and sometimes it seemed like they were not expecting us. I think it was because someone was on their way out of the job and some things needed to be communicated. They were very flexible about letting us come in to look at the place for a second time with our wedding coordinator and set out chairs and tables to see what it would be like, they basically left us alone and said we could leave whenever we were finished. They have one larger room upstairs to be used as a bridal suite, and then one smaller room downstairs that seemed too small to be a second bridal suite. I ended up letting the groom/groomsmen get ready in the main, larger bridal suite, then us ladies got ready at my friend's house, and then we told the guys to leave when we were on our way and that worked out pretty well. I had about 120ish people at my wedding and it was pretty tight when the tables were out, like my husband and I could barely walk across to get to our table and people had to stand and scoot in. During there ceremony, it was perfectly fine. The main thing that was an issue for me is that they do not have a dumpster that we could use and expected us to haul our own trash out after the wedding reception. They charged quite a lot of money if we were to leave trash for them to dispose of. I think that was the most stressful part, and they also said that we can't dump garbage in the neighboring dumpsters. This was the only reason for me taking off one star. Otherwise, I loved this venue for my wedding!

Ice Box Arcade is the cool cat in the neighborhood! It's always fun to feel like a kid again in a…read morebusiness establishment filled with nostalgic gaming relics of my youth that still work pretty well (minus the control stick on Ms. PacMan that was challenging to control). They have air hockey and a decent selection of video games and pinball. I suggest bringing cash to exchange for quarters on the change machines that are there. There is an ATM machine that takes a physical credit/debit card to withdraw cash to exchange for quarters but I'm guessing they'll charge a fee. Check their open hours online. In general, all ages are welcome until 8pm. Beer, cider, non-alcoholic drinks are available and a few other goodies. Including 2 groovy bathrooms on site that are of course covered with stickers. Such a super cool and fun place! I think you'll get a kick out of it, too.

Fun arcade with pinball and other arcade games. I love it when I find a fast version of ms Pac-Man…read moreand this place has one! I also love supporting a business that supports trans rights and the lgbtqia+ community and this business does with some of the proceeds from their HP pinball game. Win - win for our family. We will definitely be back when in the area!

Love this place! What great selections of art and cute stuff! Love the display and their taste…read more Atmosphere is great. But ppl work there were not attentive nor friendly. Maybe it's too busy today? Regardless, we come back for shopping some arts and mugs

So cute! I'm not sure how long Smal Market has been around, but it was my first time noticing it…read morewhile walking around Ballard. I'm only here twice a year, so it is fun getting to stumble upon different stores. I think they have a lot of unique items in here that are handmade. Right now, there is a whole selection of handmade ceramics - really intricate and cute designs, and best of all, dishwasher safe! I was able to do some holiday shopping here!

We had the most wonderful experience having our wedding at Cathedral Ballard! The space was…read moreincredibly bright due to the huge windows, the exposed brick was lovely, and the candles were stunning. This venue is exceptional for so many reasons: not only is it a non-profit venue, but they light over 100 candles for your event and provide so many things that you would typically need to rent at other venues (chairs, tables, glassware, etc.). Also there are so many things for your guests to do in downtown Ballard if your wedding is mainly out-of-town guests like ours was. Nate and the team were so kind and thoughtful throughout the entire process. We are so grateful we had the opportunity to spend our special day at Cathedral Ballard - it was truly so special!!! :)

Came here for an event being thrown by a local business - Papa Chango for their anniversary…read more Cathedral is an event space so you can have wedding receptions, local art showing, VIP party and more. There is a ground level and an upstairs. Upon coming in staff greeted us and informed us of the going-Ons upstairs. There were 3 bartenders all of whom were very nice. Lots of seating and small music and dancing area. The food was self-serve, buffet style, catered La Cabana. The salsa and guac were good and was nicely laid out. Cathedral donates much of the earnings made from the use of the space and are also known for their candles which I've received as a gift and can say are nicely scented and benefit causes. So, if you see one in a local shop or otherwise it makes a good gift. Not sure they sell them at this actual location of Cathedral though. If you 're looking to host an event or know someone who wants to, Cathedral has a decent space to be rented out with nice staff who will help manage it.

The food here is fantastic. You can taste the long pepper they use - it adds new dimensionality to…read morethe food you can get at most Indian restaurants

From the owner: India Bistro Event Hall is a unique blend of cultural sophistication and modern elegance,…read moreseamlessly fusing traditional Indian aesthetics to create an inviting and culturally rich atmosphere for various occasions. Our exquisite decor, characterized by intricate designs and vibrant colors, sets us apart, ensuring a distinctive and memorable experience for all our guests. At India Bistro, we take pride in offering more than just a venue – our personalized services go beyond the conventional, providing tailored event planning, dedicated staff, and unique add-ons to make each event special. Our culinary offerings are a highlight, whether it's our authentic Indian cuisine or a fusion menu, bringing a distinctive flavor to every occasion. The versatility of our space allows us to accommodate a wide range of events, from weddings to corporate gatherings and parties, with the ability to transform the venue to suit different themes and purposes. Additionally, our commitment to community connection is evident through our support for local artists, businesses, and charitable initiatives. With state-of-the-art audio-visual systems and technology integration, India Bistro Event Hall offers a tech-integrated experience, ensuring that every event is seamlessly executed and leaves a lasting impression.

Sylvan was an amazing fairy godmother at my daughter's 7th birthday party! She brought face paint,…read morea dress-up kit, wand-making supplies, and she also told a magical story that wove all these elements together, keeping the girls entranced and entertained for an hour and a half. This made the afternoon so much easier and more manageable for the parents. The setup and cleanup was all simple and taken care of, and the house was completely mess-free at the end. I was able to relax and actually chat with the other parents. The only thing I had to think about was the cake. Multiple parents told me it was the best kid birthday party they had seen. Most importantly, my daughter was over the moon. I highly recommend Sylvan for a magical, easy party!

Sylvan hosted the perfect "magical woodland" themed party for our 4 year old. Thank you!read more

A really nice rental space in a Greenwood Avenue-facing location. The brick exterior hides the…read moreinterior space, which is vast and extends to an unexpected and lovely ballroom. The ballroom also comes equipped with a kitchen for use during rentals. Chairs, rectangular/banquet and round tables are available for set up. A projector can be accessed and hooked up to a laptop for presentations, movies, videos, etc. It's quite an unassuming space from the outside, but definitely worth a look if you're on the search for a reasonably priced venue for a gathering of 100+ in the Greenwood neighborhood.

This lodge building is one of the many local gems still operating in the same neighborhood since…read more1923 and in the same building since 1924. Many other local lodges also use this building for their meetings. The building is available to rent for weddings, receptions, classes, and other community activities. Rental spaces include a 1500 ft sq. dining area complete with a commercial kitchen. Upstairs the lodge's 2000 ft. sq. meeting room is also available for use. The decor is staid, but very user friendly. It's also handicapped accessable. One of the many lodges that meets here is St. Johns' #9 which has been working in Seattle since 1860. You'll find they're often in the background of such events as the Freemont fair, Seattle Youth symphony, Dr. Maynard's grave restoration, elementary school reading programs and a small project long ago... the location of the University of Washington here in Seattle. (The four columns by the HUB were carved by one of the brothers around 1869 - a guy named Denny.) Probably the most enjoyable and entertaining lodge that meets at Greenwood is Daylight Lodge 232. A lodge formed for entertainers and others who worked nights. They've been meeting in Seattle since 1920 and are still centered around the arts community. Look at their web page and you'll understand.