Attended the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy event this past weekend and thought the venue worked…read moreperfectly for this theatrical experience. Though the outside does not look like much, the inside of the ballroom is characterized by ornate patterns on the walls and around the stage, and unique light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. Not a whole lot to be impressed by, as it still looks quite plain and simple overall, sort of like an ordinary conference room. But I guess that's what makes Oakstop special, that it's multi-use. It was fitting for the event I attended, and they set up the seating, decor and lighting just fine. It wouldn't be my first choice for a wedding or other celebratory event though.

Had yet another fantastic offsite- this time for my OBGYN chiefs and managers- at the newly…read morerenovated California Ballroom. The space is super charming - it has a simultaneously old and new style, which makes it classically modern. It's like you are going to see some grand theatrical performance upon entering. There is new carpeting, teardrop hanging lights, modern bathrooms, bar counter, small private room for calls or soon to be lactation, and a brand new cozy and stylish extra meeting room in the back! The A/V works well, although there is some minor acoustic issues for people in the back. I think the speaker just needed to use the mic better, however. Our event was an end of year meeting/ celebration for all of the 2019 accomplishments and we did a Grammy-style award show at the end- the stage came in handy for this! Working with Paul to secure the venue was great- he's very organized and detailed. Everything you discuss is in the contract and he's very amenable to any changes and responsive to the many questions I ping ponged to him. Appreciated his patience and coordination very much! Lots of kudos to the day of coordinator, Meghan, who was the wind beneath my wings during my event. She assisted with everything at every request, whether it was new batteries for the mic, ensuring the caterers were able to get in, or just reassuring me when I was acutely stressed. She's the best! Definitely recommend California Ballroom for your next event! Just email Paul at info@californiaballroom.com for more info!

Great affordable space for a party…read more I've been busy, so it was one year ago I through a graduation party for my Best friend. It was a great experience. The event space was a big blank slate and I was able to throw a fiesta themed party. I know the website had a list of approved vendors they wanted you to use but when I inquired about it, I was informed that they hadn't updated the site and I could use any caterer I wanted. I'm not sure if this is updated info since it was a year ago but that was my experience so I'd inquire. It saved me money and since it was a fiesta I was able to use a traditional taqueria for the food which brought an authentic experience to the party. Also it was catered and dropped off in the kitchen so I was able to replenish the buffet area that was located away from the kitchen with ease. I just needed the help of my three closest men to keep it looking good and stocked. The city workers who opened the hall for me were very friendly and helpful. I set up with ease and a different person came to help lock up afterwards. Important note: my friend opted for an afternoon party and we were cleared out by dark. I don't know if I would have felt comfortable if it was a nighttime event since it's a dark lake and open to whomever shows. My opinion is do an earlier party so you can see the beautiful view. I took off one star because there were flies near the entrance that I had to keep the area closed until the party started so they wouldn't get in. But it's nature so it's not their fault. I liked that there were bathrooms located right outside the entrance for my guests. I did not have a problem with outsiders using them since we were on the second floor. I also looked that there was plenty of parking since it was on the lake and a whole parking lot next to the Sailboat house.

I'm surprised there are only a few reviews of this location beside Lake Merritt. It's a venue…read morerented for various events I have attended, namely Oaklandish puts on a Radio Regatta here every year, which has kegs upstairs, and stuff going on in the courtyard below. I also come to some 420 event a few years ago and people were legally sparking up like crazy upstairs. So so Oakland. There's a kitchen area off this main room where food has been served from at events I've attended, but I'm not sure that it's a fully functional kitchen. The space is primarily on the second floor of the structure, so you have a nice vantage point of the Lake, the view is really nice. The room is large and feels like a church rec. hall to me. Someone said the floor is hardwood but I'm pretty certain it's linoleum. Lots of bright light makes it cheerful despite it's institutional vibe. The outdoor patio is also super sweet. It tends to be pretty calm on the water here, so the patio is a nice place to soak up sun. It's not difficult to find parking nearby, and it's also a walkable location from nearby Grand avenue and even from BART, if you had to hoof it from 19th St. BART it wouldn't be too taxing. The restrooms for this building are external, as far as I know, at least for the events I have attended, you have to go outside to the public restrooms. These bathrooms can be a lifesaver when you're walking the lake. I have fond memories of times spent in this very 70's 'boathouse' by Lake Merritt!

Went here for a graduation party and the venue was great! The graduation party had about 70 people…read more(with circle tables) and there were tons of room to move around and enough space on the dance floor too! We even had a 360 camera and there was still a lot of room. The sound system for the music was great, and there was a stage if you want to have a performance, or speakers, or even have a photo prop up there. The restrooms were clean and there are 3 stalls in the ladies room with a full body mirror too! There's a large parking lot for all of your guests, caterers, vendors, etc. If you want to go outside for some fresh air, there are some benches for you to sit at too. I would book this venue in the future! Safe location as well.

A group of us hosted a week-long youth event, a Live Action Role-Play Game at Orinda Masonic Center…read morein Summer 2022 and it was fantastic. The facility is lovely, the staff very helpful, the tech and sound equipment worked great for our event. The teens and facilitators all had a great time. The location, close to BART and Orinda Village, was convenient, with plenty of parking. The Masonic leaders were very generous and supportive of this endeavor that engaged local youth. Highly recommend!

This place was a Godsend…read more We married here on September 10, 2011. We had originally booked another venue, but considering how many people we were going to have to invite we needed a larger venue. Because the date was popular (9-10-11) many of our choices were booked. Then, we pretty much stumbled in to Bayside Pavilion. We checked it out and went over initial details with Anna Marie. The place could use a minor facelift, I admit, but inside was a whole 'nother story. The place is SPACIOUS! It can easily SEAT 400 people comfortably! It also has vaulted ceilings with In house lighting and sound! it also has a large projection screen and a Dlp Projector, for those who love slideshows! (we don't hahaha). the bar is HUGE and there is also a nice spacious patio area as well. THe restrooms are clean and have plenty of stalls, and there is a private changing room and a coat check at the front main entrance. What makes this place extra special is the flexibility of the staff. Bernadette, who took over as event coordinator, was stellar in her service to us! She was very accommodating! Prices were also VERY Reasonable, and the venue is easy to get to, right by the Webster Tunnel! I won't get into the rates and all that, but let me tell you...you will NOT be sorry you booked this place!

I first visited the Albert H. DeWitt Officers' Club 4-5 years ago when the County of Alameda hosted…read morea Combined Charities kick-off breakfast there. I remember being really impressed with the beautiful interior - dark wood and the chandeliers and booths in the main dining room. When my then fiance and I started looking for venues in April 2022, we really had no idea what to expect. Katherine Sirota with Alameda's Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD) quickly let us know their availability for the remainder of 2022 and early 2023 since you can book up to a year in advance. We opted for the first long weekend in 2023 - the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and went ahead and paid the deposit. This place is quite popular for events and I definitely encourage brides to get in touch with staff sooner rather than later to secure their date. ARPD provides really comprehensive documentation to walk you through the planning process including individual room layouts depending on which rooms you book (the Lobby and Main Hallway are included). The Lobby area was perfect for the photobooth we ended up renting, some extra seating for guests who wanted to sit for a bit, and the welcome table. The Main Hallway was great for setting up chafing dishes for buffet service. We also ended up booking the Trident Room for cocktail hour (perfect for our 150ish guests) and they have a portable bar and cocktail tables for use. The Main Dining Room was perfect for dinner and our 18 tables fit quite comfortable with extra room for a fully clear dance floor, coffee and tea station, and boba and dessert tables. There are some limitations when it comes to the kind of decor - no sparklers, no candles/flames, no fog machines, etc., but the venue is honestly beautiful enough without needing too much to dress it up. The venue was also really flexible when it came to all the vendors we used - Cousins Maine Lobster out on the patio, Noodle Belly on the interior, So Good Photobooth, etc. which really helped us cut costs. Lastly, on the day-of, they have an attendant there at 11 am until midnight. It was great because we got to drop things off in the morning so that the waitstaff could set-up before our afternoon cocktail hour and evening dinner. I realize some people may feel more comfortable dropping off and setting up well in advance, but I think the option to do so may only be for Saturday events (our wedding was a Sunday). When it came time to do the walkthrough at the end of the event, the attendant was really thorough and quick. We ended up just needing to clear out a few extra garbage bins but were otherwise told we'd get our deposit back. Katherine confirmed this along with our mailing address the next business day and I was really happy with their responsiveness and guidance throughout the whole process. One thing to note is that parking is not a problem here since there's a huge lot across the street from the building. One other review I read said they didn't feel quite safe in the area, but nothing happened during our event.

We recently held our wedding at the O'Club and found that it was a fun, yet affordable, location…read more We were able to bring our own caterer & alcohol, which was a big bonus, and the tables & chairs come with the rental if you're on a budget. (We ended up renting chaivari chairs at the very last minute, but the ballroom chairs that they own will do in a pinch.) It was quite difficult to find a large enough venue on a smaller budget in the Bay Area, but we found that the O' Club fit our needs beautifully. Some of these pros & cons might be similar to other posts: Pros: - Reasonable fees - On-site staff is very helpful but communication with the Parks & Recs department was a bit difficult at times, i.e. they showed up late to our appointment showing & there was no number to reach them at so we weren't sure if/when they were actually going to show up. - BYOB, which saved a ton of money - Free & ample parking - Huge kitchen access - Multiple areas to use/rent (we used the Trident Room for the ceremony & Ballroom for the reception, Garden for family photos, etc.) Cons: - Pretty old & run down on the outside. - Communication with parks & recs department was difficult at times

What a fascinating place. Aside from the Historic Preservation Park, I attended a conference in a…read moreVictorian neighborhood there. While these look like 19th-century homes, they are all spaces for rent. I've never seen anything quite like it. When I walked from my hotel, I was sure I was in the wrong place. I expected a stark hotel and conference center. I didn't expect to see a bunch of homes set up as a neighborhood. After walking around for a bit, I saw the banner for the conference. The interior of the space was darling. It must have once been a home. The wood looked older and well-worn, with very few electrical outlets. There was a large room for the speakers and lunch. I was surprised by the size of the room. Looking from the outside, I wouldn't have conceived there would be a room that large. I understand these are used for business, parties, weddings, and more. It would be fun to rent one of these spaces for something, but I live too far away. I only wish I'd taken pictures of the neighborhood for those who haven't ever seen it before.

Great space. Beautiful setting with amazing infusions of nature and venue. In the heart of West…read moreOakland. Town biz indeed. Make sure you hold your next nonprofit event or special occasion here!

This venue is phenomenal and holds a special place in my heart. Chris helped me set up a surprise…read moreproposal here for my now-fiancé and it went exactly as I'd imagined. The space itself is beautiful -- high ceilings with great skylights, beautiful brick wall on one side, and every media capability you can think of including customizable lighting, sound, and 2 projectors. But as much as the venue was amazing, what really made the day magical was Chris. From my very first conversation with him I could tell that he was going to do everything in his power to make the proposal as perfect as possible. He provided every option, made great suggestions, and went above and beyond for me. I can truly say that I would not be engaged if it wasn't for Chris. I cannot thank him enough.

I highly recommend this venue! We rented it for a wedding reception of 125 people and start to…read morefinish had a great experience with the 1544 Events team. I have nothing negative to say- the space was beautiful, displayed artwork was beautiful, the bartenders, day-of staff, security guard were all so helpful and friendly to not only me as the bride but to ALL of our guests. We got a ton of compliments all night about what a cool space it was and that it was a perfect choice for our party. We worked closest with Stacy and she was phenomenal! She helped us throughout the year of planning and went above and beyond on numerous occasions to make sure our needs were met. We are so happy we chose this venue for our special day!!!

Gayle and I took a look at the Leona Lodge yesterday as part of our wedding venue search. The…read moreLodge itself is in a woodsy setting and has a roomy interior that partially looks down on the ravine below. There's also a nice BBQ area on one side. However, both Gayle and I agreed that the Leona Lodge would work better as a place for a family reunion, reception or other party, rather than a wedding location. For that, the Sequoia Lodge would be a better choice.

This is a great facility for a baby shower or bridal shower…read more I hosted a babyshower at the Leona Lodge two weeks ago, and it was great. The only issue we had was with the attendant assigned to stay at the facility during the time of our event. She wasn't an attendant whose presence went unnoticed. My family and guest definitely knew she was there for these reasons: 1. She sat right at the entrance of the facility; so you'd assume that she was part of the welcome committee, but her attitude immediately told you otherwise. 2. She hung out in the main part of the facility where the baby shower was taking place. 3. She made a plate of food and had lunch/dinner on us (Maybe she forgot she wasn't a guest). 4. We had a desert table, and she helped herself to cupcakes. She then planted herself right next to the desert table, thus solidifying herself in quite a number of our pictures. Armando, was an absolute pleasure to work with in reserving the facility. It's unfortunate that the attendant they used (Ronnie), provided a completely opposite experience.