Just spent my 15th or 16th erev Rosh Hashanah at the JCC, thanks to the wonderful organization…read moreknown as Jewish Gateways and their two amazing rabbis, Stephanie and Bridget. What a fun experience! My three year old was able to enjoy a safe, supervised playground adventure with kids his own age, while we grownups had our own time during the service. If you are searching for meaningful Jewish interaction in a safe, secure, worry-free environment, this is the place for you!

The JCC preschool is the most loving, caring and thoughtful preschool my son has ever experienced…read more We moved from a different country, with huge gaps in language and culture, and the JCC team has made this so much easier for us. My kid is always happy to get in, and never wants to leave. There is a very nice community there as well, with families from all religions and lifestyles, everyone is welcome!

Funny how the owner David left this comment responding to my review when he wasn't there and all of…read moretheir trash cans were full from the previous party. So we proceeded to ask the lady who he left in charge who pretty much knew NOTHING and she told us to just leave it out there and she would take care of it so WE DID and that resulted in them taking our deposit. Sounds like a scam from the business to me. Employee tells you one thing, owners tell you another. Please people don't even bother getting scammed and I'm sure if I left the place in a mess, he would've taken photos. We cleaned up everything and even swept the place. These people are full of it, don't waste your time. Also took him a year to respond, never responded to any of the emails or calls. Scam likely , bravo!

I have hosted several events at this location (an event for my business, a clothing swap, a class),…read moreand attended many more events and parties since the space opened in February. As a host, the space is reasonably priced, clean, well-lit, conveniently located, and most importantly - completely wheelchair accessible. There are very few venues in the East Bay where the entire space is accessible. In this case, this includes the mezzanine (there is a lift), and there are 2 accessible bathrooms (of the 6 total bathrooms). I have also found that the space has adequate tables and chairs, as well as a small stage, a projector, and sound system, so I don't have the added expense of renting those things. I wish it had a kitchen (it has a fridge), but other than that, this space is awesome for lots of types of events! I already have another event booked there in November.

The best place ever. You can book free events here, grab zines and patches, the coolest place and…read morething in the Bay Area, I miss it immensely

Very cool activist and library space that is volunteer run. I borrowed a book in Spanish from them…read moreabout an incident in Mexico that I had never heard about despite having lived in Mexico 3+ years. It took me forever to return it but they were very kind to me when I showed up late with the book.

Confirmed with the Reservations Unit of City of Oakland ... this is not a real community center…read more It is simply a campus for Rockridge Little School.

One old joke is that Albany is where Berkeley Radicals go to die. And a lot of people don't even…read moreknow where Albany is located. I sometimes mention Berkeley first or mention Albany Hill or the Race Track. It also borders Berkeley, El Cerrito, Richmond, and Kensington. Gayle also scoffs when I sometimes tell her that Albany in some ways reminds me of Iowa. She sees an "urban and gritty" East Bay suburb, while I feel that I'm living in a small town with friendly neighbours and a sense of cohesion. We Albanians are passionate about several things. The composition of the City Council changes with the popular issues of the day (like the Waterfront), but those meetings haven't been the same since Dario Mendiketti passed away. We like our services (including schools) and we're willing to vote for most if not all parcel taxes and bond measures put before us. What I appreciate personally is my neighbourhood and local park, the Solano Stroll, the walking distance availability to several things, the Community Center and Library, and the Teen Center services. Good City services and the friendly and helpful folks that provide them are also much appreciated.

Community Centers are the heart and soul of an area now. Combining so many public services that are…read morevital for a healthy community mentally and physically. I went to see an ART SHOW in the FOYER. It was awesome. The exhibit ... "Suenos Enigmaticos"- "Enigmatic Dreams." Local Artist Deborah Schilling make magic happen in pastels. These large pieces invoked a myriad of emotions from different people for different reasons. Just what art is supposed to do. The Albany Arts Committee presented this show and I'm glad they did. The event was January 13 but will run until March 27th, 2017. Wonderful reception and gathering followed this known and respected artist. It is something only your eyes can share with you. A must see.

We recently attended a Quinceañera here. Bright and large…read morecommunity room with lots of supporting rooms. held about 150 - love location in the woods. if you are think about hosting an event, this is a winner

Community centers remind me of the elderly, let's be real here, it's not always the sexiest place…read moreto throw a party. But, when done right, it's not a bad place to celebrate an occasion. I came here for my friend's baby's first birthday. In Korean culture, a baby's 1-year-old birthday is a HUUUUUGE deal. It's called a Doljanchi or a "DOL"--where the baby wears a hanbok (traditional dress) and there's a ritual (sort of a fortune telling) where a bunch of innocuous objects are placed in front of the baby, ex. a string, a gavel, a coin, a brush, etc. And when the baby picks up the object, say a gavel, then s/he will become a judge...something like that. It's all in good fun. Ironically, the baby did in fact pick up the gavel, which is rare, usually babies pick up the coin or a string since it's lighter and easier to grab. I've seen pictures of my DOL and it's off the hook. There is a bunch of food, especially Korean duk and tons of fruit-- to represent prosperity and long-life. My grandparents (on my dad's side) were so proud to hold me in the photo-- I looked kinda miserable. In fact, I looked like a boy. The reason why DOLs are such a big deal is because traditionally in Korea, most babies didn't survive past their first year of life. Apparently, my mom told me that when I was 3 months old, I got really really sick, and was sick for another 3 months afterward and she was afraid that I wouldn't make it. Dramatic, right? So, when I turned one, she threw a huge party-- "a thankful relief," she said. That's why when I get sick as an adult, I get really sick because my immune system is basically shot. And it's really cute, even today, my mom freaks out when I get sick, because she remembers back to when I was a baby. And always gives me the motherly speech about sleeping more and drinking fluids..and it's one of the rare times I actually allow her to "take care of me." Heck, I think it's the only time I let anyone take care of me. Either way, the celebration was beautiful. So proud of my friend for being such an amazing mother/woman-- and she's really blessed to have such a beautiful child, who will forever love and adore her. Babies are the best, they need you like no other, and I absolutely love taking care of them.

Pickleball has exploded at Bushrod. The courts are fantastic - shared pickleball/tennis courts…read more Open plays with skill level(s) are a ton of fun (beginner / intermediate / advanced). There are well-organized open plays with loaner paddles available. There's a solid system to rotate which players go on when a court opens up (paddle racks). It's $2-5 donation for open play only to cover costs of renting courts for the lead volunteer hosts. There are also clinics, drills, round robins and other pickleball events. You can see what's happening and when at DailyPB.com And for tennis people -- during pickleball play, there's virtually always one or more tennis courts available.

Since the renovation, this is one of the best gyms in Oakland. My only complaint is there are not…read moremore open gym hours so I can shoot around here with my son. The outdoor basketball courts were renovated as well! Thanks Under Armour and Steph Curry!