Solid venue with a cute atmosphere. It's managed by the local church and run with integrity!read more

From the owner: Formerly "Hidden Gem La Mesa" our hall offers an open, customizable floor plan allowing you to meet…read moreyour vision, match your energy, and elevate the entire experience. From birthday parties to intimate weddings let's get planning your dream event!

Situated 1365' above San Diego and east of downtown, Mt. Helix Park is a hidden gem to most who…read morelive in or visit San Diego. It is well worth taking the scenic drive up Mt. Helix, starting in neighborhoods and stopping at or near the summit. Parking near the top is very limited, and the road is one way, so be prepared to take the first space you find as you approach the summit and walk to the top. At the summit, you'll enjoy spectacular views that stretch from the mountains to the east, south toward Mexico, and to the Pacific coastline to the west. Here you'll also find an open air amphitheater used for concerts, as well as lookout points and trail heads. Plan to spend time here absorbing the views, fresh air, peaceful surroundings ... and maybe a picnic. I highly recomend a visit.

Amazing, only issue is parking. I'd make sure to come early or park at the bottom and get a decent…read morewalk.

If you're looking for WOW factor, look no further!!! The owner and his staff are fantastic,…read moreanticipating your every need and, then some. The venue is breathtaking. The hotel is tucked between mountains and surrounded by nature. Your guests will be blown away and everyone will wonder how they didn't know about the magic of the Vineyards until now. It is truly a magical place. The rooms are so comfortable, you might wish you could move in. You will feel like you are far away from the hustle and bustle, and can completely relax. With all of the amazing amenities included in the packages, you can truly enjoy your event. We can't wait to go back for a staycation or another big event.

It's beautiful... and that's the most appropriate comment I will type…read more My husband and I met Joseph in August of 2024 to plan our daughter's quinceanera that just took place on May 9th 2026. We went over the contract thoroughly, eventually deciding that we would bring our own vendors (taquero, DJ, photographer, baker, event decorator, and 360 photo booth), as I have known many of these people for years and have an established, trusting relationship with most of them. Joseph said that was perfectly fine, the only service that we had to use from his side was the bartender, which my husband and I understood. During this meeting we also met his assistant Patty and were told that she would also be helping us through this process, but that he was always available, and we would have his complete attention the week of and leading to the day of our daughter's celebration. Part of our contract states that we were able to bring the supplies/decor/spirits to the venue the week of the quince. So, on May 4th, my family and I filled the event room with the decorations et al, that we would be using for the following Saturday, the 9th. Every single day, Monday through Friday that week, my mom and I were at the venue, sorting through boxes, opening packages, putting the cake table pieces together, setting up the candy bar, making sure that when the day of came, everything would be organized and ready for the staff to take out to decorate. Friday afternoon (5/8) we met with Patty to clarify all of this. But first let me elaborate a bit more... My family and I had informed Joseph and Patty that we would be bringing some salads, fruit/vegetable platters, and items for a nacho bar that would need to be set up before we arrived. Joseph explained that he did not have enough staff to help with that (8 people doing various jobs, still unsure of what) and that either myself or a friend/family member would need to come and get this ready because he could not accommodate this. We were so grateful that our BAKER, who is not employed by the venue, was able to help with this since she was also arriving early to bring the desserts for the cake table. More on that in a minute. When we arrived at the venue the day of the quince, it looked beautiful, the tables looked ready, centerpieces, runners, etc. then I started noticing that there was so much more missing, and my guests were already walking into the party space. For starters, I did not see hardly any staff in the party area and Patty was unfortunately running around like a madman. She was feverishly trying to set up the luminaries and LED pillars we had brought for the garden walkway. I also noticed that the fruit/veggie/nacho bar table was not set up. I ended up rushing to the clubhouse where all of this was being stored and took everything out of the refrigerator myself. I encountered a staff member on the way back who said to me, "Oh are you the mom? Oh let me know what you need help with." My mind was absolutely boggled. Did my family and I NOT just spend the entire week here and leave detailed instructions? And then... While carrying said fruit/vegetable trays, I walked by the tables to notice that there were not any "reserved" signs placed. We had asked for two tables to be held for the immediate family. I had mentioned this to one of the staff, I believe Lily (she was very lovely) and said she would get right on it. About 10 minutes later I saw that the signs were there, but what I learned the following week was that one of the tables already had guests sitting at it and they were promptly asked to move to another table. Sigh... And then... Once my husband and I were able to catch our breath, we grabbed a quick drink. Jason was our bartender, very kind and solid drinks. While we were at the bar, Joseph came up to talk to us, telling Jason that someone got sick in the bathroom and that he had to stop serving hard alcohol for an hour. Mind you, the bar has only been open about forty-five minutes, and no one has had any shots or is intoxicated. We all disagreed with this but had to oblige. By this time, we were falling behind schedule and had to do the main entrance. Then I realized that I had not seen my daughter in almost two hours, the sun was starting to set, and we did not take any pictures with her in this beautiful space because we had to do the jobs that we had hired this venue for. In the end: No pictures with our daughter in this space that cost half our budget Staff enjoyed our taquero without checking to make sure all of our guests had eaten Saw photos of Joseph and his staff enjoying our 360 photo booth Learned that 80% of my vendors experienced an unpleasant encounter with Joseph My guests were unsatisfied with parking/golf cart availability Not enough restroom signage Reports from vendors state as of 2pm, tablecloths weren't even on the tables.

We've hosted two birthdays and a baby shower at Brick + Laurel because it's a nice and cozy space…read morethat offers everything you need for a small event. We love that the space already has an aesthetic so it's decorated even before we put anything up. It's convenient to rent tables and chairs on the spot and having the flexibility to fix the space up any way you like is great. I also love that they have a fridge that we've used for cakes and desserts. Our friends and family have complimented how nice the space is and they like how easy and accessible it is to park nearby and walk up. Pat and team have been super helpful, informative, and communicated with us throughout the process, making everything so easy. We're excited to continue having events here in the future.

Brick + Laurel offers a beautifully rustic canvas on which to create your vision. The space allows…read morefor ultimate curation of your event, backed my impeccable communication and service. Patrick was a dream to work with, allowing us time to develop a layout that worked. Event planning is stressful enough; it was a blessing to have B+L make everything as seamless as possible on their end. Forever grateful to have worked with them for an event as important to our family as my mother's 60th birthday was. A million stars ten times over, then double it.

Hidden Gem is a venue for parties and celebrations. There are indoor and outdoor spaces …read more Restrooms are clean, well lit, and sanitary. Parking is plentiful.

Have sent several emails and no response it's been 2 weeks very unprofessional ! They have an email…read moresaying they will respond in 24-48 hours why send that email if you're not going to respond within that time Frame. I have also called and been sent right to voicemail. Idk how they run a Business like that if I could give this place 0 stars I would.

Just recently went to the garden and it was beautiful. Very well kept and had great signage. Mostly…read moresucculents and water saving plants found here. Loved the gift shop, great gifts! A volunteer told me that most of the items in there are actually handmade by the volunteers themselves! How cool. I went around noon in July and it was HOT! They did have a cool zone with AC but highly recommend to bring water and a hat. Very helpful volunteers, great monthly scavenger hunt at the beginning for the kids, and we loved it so much we got a membership. Now my family can go all year to this garden but also they told us it includes over 300 other botanical gardens in the US. If you are looking for a fun thing to do in east county, check out this hidden gem.

Tim T and Yally did a great job telling us more about this beautiful garden. Was so excited to do…read morethe self-guided tour and enjoy the calm scenery. Plants were delight tolerant and blooming. Loved every minute of it! Can easily spend and hour or two here.

My husband and I were so happy with our decision to have our wedding reception at the Crystal…read moreBallroom in El Cajon. From the beginning, we felt such a warm and genuine connection with the owner and planner, Tony B. He made us feel welcomed, supported, and truly cared for throughout the process, which meant so much to us during such an important time. We made multiple visits leading up to our wedding to make sure every detail was in place and everything would run smoothly, and Tony was always gracious, attentive, and reassuring. His involvement and care gave us so much confidence and peace of mind throughout the planning process. When some of the decor did not go according to was originally planned (due to amount of guests) Tony improvised and made everything so simple and easy. On the day of our reception, everything came together beautifully. The venue was elegant, inviting, and created the perfect atmosphere for our celebration. My husband and I were incredibly satisfied with our experience, and we are so grateful to Tony B. and the Crystal Ballroom for helping make our wedding reception so special and memorable. We would absolutely recommend Crystal Ballroom to any couple looking for a beautiful venue and a team that truly cares.

This has been my 2nd Quinceñera event at Crystal Ballroon from the moment I walked in wow! I was…read morespeechless my daughter love it .The decoration was stunning just what I expected. Tony and his team rock! Great customer service ! The food was absolutely delicious received great compliments from my invites. I highly recommend this venue you wont regret it.

I came to this community center for a retirement and awards gala. I use to come here as child to go…read moreswimming at the municipal pool and I have very fond memories of those days. I remember spending a lot of time at the snack bar. Go figure. Anyways, banquet hall we were housed in for the event was spacious and well kept. The tables were in good order and the chairs comfortable enough. The building offered a stage, clean restrooms, an area for the caterer to set up, and a good sounds system. The staff at the front as you walk into the building were welcoming and friendly. There are several parking lots and one adjacent to the banquet hall we were in. The land escaping immediately around the building we were in was very nice, but I did notice that the gold course needed some TLC. The grass was very uneven and not well kept up.

***ATTN: ARBOR VIEW RENTERS MARCH to APRIL 2019*** RENTERS, PLEASE READ --…read more Several weeks ago their large banquet room received significant amount of water damage from the terrible storm. The damage was so severe, a big remodel is needed. Yet all that was told to my family and I was about minor work: new carpet, wall painting, new doors, updated drape holders, and the remodel will be done in a couple weeks. It has now been 3 different "completion dates", and not once we were told by the coordinator. We had to reach out every time and ask what exactly is going on there. Basically, there is not a 100% guaranteed date whatsoever when the work will be done (approximate completion is mid April.) Needless to say, MY WEDDING IS COMPLETELY CHANGING VENUES WITH ONLY 3 WEEKS AWAY!!!! (Pitiful stress and anxious memory I'll always remember.) Thankfully I found out from my CATERING VENDOR that all March & most April events were being postponed &/or canceled. So the coordinator can notify other renters but not us? Really. I definitely feel ignored knowing we were reaching out and keeping in touch about the remodel... I've been more overwhelmed with wedding planning in the past 24 hours verses in the past year. Especially after speaking with quite a few places and knowing my venue budget could double with very slim options left... Good luck to those renters. You will need it!!!

First of all, I want to thank Ivan for everything he was such a friendly and kind person, but also…read moreincredibly professional throughout the entire process. He really helped out with all the arrangements and made sure things ran smoothly. You can truly tell he takes pride in his work and cares about his clients. The venue itself is small, but absolutely beautiful. I was able to comfortably fit a party of 150 people, and everything turned out just the way I hoped. Highly recommend for anyone planning a special event!

From the owner: The cleanest, newest and most modern event space in the city of San Diego. read more