I've driven by this yellow Victorian at the corner of Lincoln and Paru many times but did not…read morerealize this was an Arts Center that is a non-profit volunteer operated place for meetings, readings, showings and other creative doings. My friend's art exhibit brought me to the Center for the first time. As you enter, the Main Gallery is in front and the Signature Gallery, where my friend's Between Earth and Sky Exhibit was held is in the back. His 27 paintings are of recent landscapes, spanning the vast canyons and rock formations of the Southwest to the rugged cliffs and vibrant waters of the Pacific coast. It was great seeing the Exhibit and happy that there is a community art center for local artists to display their works of art.

Wonderful place to see, do and buy art! The classes are…read morereasonably priced. The instructors are very knowledgeable . And the Center organize a incredible Plein Air Paint Out every summer

first time making rugs & it was an amazing & fun experience! we had the chance to trim the rug and…read moreto shave the top even. sevyn (owner) is really sweet and welcoming! answered all our questions & concerns prior to starting! located inside the plaza on the right side! there's some parking spots inside the plaza and also on the street right outside. overall if I wanted to make another rug I would definitely come back! - classes are also offered :)

My 10-year-old daughter and I had an amazing day at Sevyn's studio. It was our first time tufting,…read moreand Sevyn was the perfect guide. She is flexible, accommodating, and a wonderful teacher. The environment she facilitates is entirely non-judgmental and free of rigid rules. We felt like we were just hanging out in an artist's personal workshop where you're handed the tools and given the freedom to create at your own pace and guided when needed. We never felt rushed and loved the comfortable, relaxed vibe. Highly recommend.

Kid: I love Miss Patrice and Studio Time so much. I really learn a lot and can't wait to go there…read moreagain! Mom: My daughter just LOVES her Studio Time art class, it is by far the best part of her week. She's so happy and she feels so proud of her work. I'm so touched by it. So much positivity and creativity abound! Miss Patrice is a magical fairy and her magnificent instructors are fabulous with the kids.

Today I took a class with Patrice in her fantastic studio. The classes are very small and…read moreintimate. I worked on a Day of the Dead Teatro for Dia de los Muertos. It was fantastic. I am sad the class is over and more inspired to create than I have been in a L.O.N.G. time. I can't wait for her holiday gift making classes. She also offers classes for kids (morning/afternoon/saturday), call early to register early, because space is very limited and the offering is like nothing else in Alameda.

Definitely a fun, unique workshop to channel your creativity! I found this class by accident as I…read morewas looking for thrift store dolls and mannequins for a friend who loves using the heads and other parts to incorporate succulent, and various plants. Um right...not for me and what nightmares are made of! Well after searching online I also came across The Headdress Workshop which is a subsidiary of Mannequin Madness which was a big score...take a fun class while perusing for used mannequin heads...Class supplies you with all the materials you'll need to create a unique piece: flowers, butterflies, beads, gems, greenery, feathers, etc...the instructor, Kiana was super helpful, energetic, help guide/inspire you while making it a fun experience! Her assistant Susie was equally wonderful with offering help searching for materials or gluing. This 2.5 hour class will fly by and you'll end up leaving with a wearable piece of art. Great for team building, special event or to unleash your inner Project Runway design skilz...SO FABULOUS! Highly recommend this fun workshop...and photo studio available to show off your work and be silly. And if there's time left, you can play with the instructor's resident dog, Gremlin. :) Located off I-880 behind the Buttercup Pantry in Oakland. Plenty of street parking

I stumbled upon this workshop in an attempt to find somewhere I could either buy or make a…read moreheaddress. I signed up for a workshop in late September, but I couldn't make that date so I emailed the workshop and Judi was so accommodating about switching my date. I arrived on time to the workshop, and although we were expecting 2 more people in the class, it ended up being just me!! Judi and Kiara were so wonderful throughout the whole class. They even offered me tea!! Mint with lemon and agave......I felt just so at home. There is a workshop table on the side of the shop, and mannequins EVERYWHERE as they resell mannequins too. I was going for a Mother Nature theme for Halloween. I was looking into pure greenery, not much flowers. I showed Kiara my inspiration, and she knew where to take it from there. They have SHELVES and SHELVES worth of material, as well as example mannequin heads on a shelf above. I seriously could not believe the final outcome. I was so impressed with myself that I made something so beautiful and on-brand for my costume... I had the most fun at this workshop............. or was it a private class? THANK YOU Judi and Kiara...

I am a nanny for the most adorable 2 year old and her parents signed her up for the Messy Makers…read moreprogram. From the moment she walked in she loved it ! Ms. Amy has an enchanting backyard that is child friendly and beautiful. She understands child development and introduces age-appropriate activities for the children that cover all the domains: cognitive, social emotional, physical ( fine and gross motor skills), and language and literacy through a variety of open ended art experiences. The activities are child chosen and she even reads a book and offers a yummy snack during the duration. The other parents are friendly and it's a wonderful learning time ! I have my masters in early childhood education and have been in the field for 30 years and believe me your child will love this !

Great time at Messy makers! We did a drop in class while my daughter had a week off of daycare…read more Usually the classes are on weekdays--ideal for stay at home moms or Nannies to take kids. I suggested to Amy to do weekend classes for working moms, she mentioned she would think about it. Overall, nice class where the first 10-15 minutes are free play in stations such as painting, kinetic sand, playdough then there is an actual class where everyone does the same thing and then there is story time and after that kids can jump on the trampoline. Most of the kids in the session I went to were younger than my daughter so come in with an open mind! Your 2 or 3 year old may be the best listener in the world, however if all the other kids are not paying attention, you might not get your desired art project. I think my kiddo liked the trampoline the best :) Overall a cool class, if you sign up for a whole session it's approx $30 a class. Once again, come in with an open mind, your kid is not gonna roll out of here being the next Piccaso.

Allison is a wonderful art teacher and my daughter really enjoyed taking her art classes for the…read morepast year. She is a kind spirited person and really awesome/patient with kids of all ages. Her classes are fun and creative. My daughter always had something beautiful to bring home, and alot of them are hung up in her room at our new place :) Art classes can get expensive but i find Allison's fees to be very reasonable and it is for an hour and a half...Unfortunately we moved out of SL and the classes had to stop, if we were any closer, i would sign my daughter up for her classes in a heart beat! There is a beautiful garden and a play structure right in front of her school, another plus!

Mulford Gardens is a sweet lushly vegetated, pergola blooming playground, outdoor venue, and art…read moreschool tucked off a side street on the industrial section of San Leandro. I saw a sign for a children's art camp and took the opportunity to enrich my little peanut who goes through paper like a bag of Doritos with a little formal instruction. The camp lasted a week, three hours daily, and concluded with a celebratory art show and family friendly picnic. The instructor, Allison, is a talented life long artist from a family of artists, who currently runs the day to day functions of the park along with the school in the rear building. She is amazing with rowdy smocked children running amok flinging actual paint and canvases--not washable fingerpaint, but wear your play garb for a genuine, stain inducing introduction to techniques of fine art. My daughter came home with a bagful of illustrations of every animal known to man, a finished canvas, and a memory of an experience she wants to repeat again. Fortunately, the school offers both after school programs during the year and multiple sessions in the summer. Additionally, there are adult classes--one in the late afternoon and another on Wednesday evenings that I recently decided to dip my 'haven't painted in 20 years palette' into. It's been a fabulous three classes so far. A traditional art curriculum with warm ups, exercises in charcoal still life's, cross hatching, scratch etching, and sustained work on oil canvas. Allison knows when to give guidance and when to let you figure out brush strokes on your own. I'm learning to ride my "artist" bike all over again and enjoying every challenging, creative moment. I highly recommend this obscure little school in San Leandro. I hope it grows like the garden it's situated in.

When the invite initially arrived I was not thrilled thinking it was an indoor jump house (from the…read morename). I am an elementary school teacher so this is my weekend nightmare. I was SO wrong! This is a rare Bay Area gem for kids and families, every city should have one. All the attendees were impressed with the genius of the space, organization, cleanliness, and huge outdoor area. There are multiple indoor and outdoor "zones." The building is a duplex- home, when you enter there is a craft room with multiple round tables with crafts set up, in the center is a book/play area with tons of toys and cute furniture, a side room with a free personalized photobooth (email not printed) which is where the food was set up, and two bathrooms. Outside there was another bathroom. Down the ramp was a patch of fake grass where the party set up a piñata. Next to that, toddler equipment on wood chips. In the center, a huge table for kiddos to eat. Then the back corner has a large play structure and a fun bike ride where multiple kids could ride at the same time. This said, it's important for folks to consider that the two adults provided from Twirl are not enough to supervise an entire party. So keep this in mind as you are planning your party. This wasn't an issue at all for our group as the parents were all very hands on. The party I attended was from 10:30-12:30. I was so impressed with Duponte and Bella's ability to jump in- give the kiddos tattoos, help with the cake, clean up, and transition to the afternoon party. This is the PERFECT place to host your toddler- 2nd grade birthday party!

We hosted my son's 3rd birthday party at the Whimsy location and it was magical, even the planning…read moreprocess was effortless! The staff were so kind, accommodating and caring. I've been at birthday parties where you have to ask the staff the help but not here. Both Duponte and Emma were looking for opportunities to engage. Emma played with the kids and attempted to keep the group entertained with crafts. They both helped set up; Duponte even lifted heavy coolers filled with drinks out of my car (and then reloaded when the party was over). Both staff hung up banners and helped with random set up tasks that I asked to be completed before guests arrived. The morning of our party it had rained at it looked like the weather was cleaning up so both Emma and Duponte wiped down the outdoor play equipment so the kids could spend some time outside. Everyone here loves kids, and it shows. We also received lots of compliments from friends and family truly impressed with the space and the activities available. It was the best place possible to host a birthday party. Thanks to everyone at Twirl for making my son's day so special and my day so easy. We can't wait to come back!

We had a birthday celebration for our daughter at the Village Kids Club, and it was a very nice…read moreexperience. The staff was helpful with set up and cleanup. The facilities and convenient, with lots of fun toys, bean bags, etc. for kids. There is plenty of space, tables, and chairs for some activities and for the food.

We held our child's birthday party here and it's a very nice venue for the kids! The staff wasn't…read morethe most attentive to the kids though. The website advertised "Actively supplies and instruction from our party helper is included." The supplies were provided but the staff just hung back and that was about it. The parents had to do most of the work. It was still a fun place and the kids enjoyed themselves, we just expected a bit more involvement and interaction from the staff.