I'm essentially reviewing the show, but the venue definitely exceeded expectations. It's a wide…read moreopen space for a nightclub like event. Bathrooms were clean and bright. The show, Max Cooper, far exceeded expectations. If this is the type of stuff they have here, I'll be back.

The modular synthesizer breadboarding workshop at Gray Area was a hands-on learning experience that…read moredidn't require very much experience. I started with very little electronics knowledge and worked into building working synth modules. It unlocked a new creative medium. The leader of the workshop made circuits approachable without dumbing anything down, and it was exciting hearing sounds come out of something I'd just wired together on a breadboard. It was a good blend of technical skill-building and immediate payoff. It will give you the confidence to keep experimenting with DIY music hardware on your own.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

John A. Duggan (Owner of Original Joes North Beach):…read more "Always an incredible time at their events. Food, drink, and great service all accompanied by a stage for performances of various kinds. Great for company events."

I rarely leave reviews, but my experience here was so consistently unprofessional that I feel…read moreobligated to warn others. From the start, communication was evasive. When I asked for the rental fee, I was never given a straight answer, instead I was pressured to disclose how much I was charging my vendors. After finally agreeing to a fee and then it was suddenly doubled less than a week before my July 13 event. The excuse? That the downstairs space was being "opened for me," even though I never requested it. The owner also insisted I rewrite a press release to promote their "Broadway Revival" agenda, something that had nothing to do with my event. I ended up doing free promotion for their venue and agenda when they should have been paying me. Out of courtesy, I gave an additional $400, clearly stating in writing that it was only for two extra load-in hours on Saturday night and for Sunday's bartender. Once inside on Saturday to do load in with the vendors, I had to spend two hours cleaning just to make the space usable. I paid them, to clean their space. A total joke. When I arrived at 8 a.m. on July 13, after multiple confirmations with the GM Tom that he would personally be the point of contact, nobody was there to open the doors. Vendors and I were left standing outside, delaying setup for an event I had spent months preparing. Other major issues: -I was told there were plenty of 6ft tables for vendors. There were none. I had to buy my own and then fight for weeks to retrieve them. The GM dodged my requests, only returning them after I threatened to file a police report for theft over a month later. -The owner repeatedly told acquaintances they could vend without checking with me, forcing me to awkwardly deny people tables at my own event. -Minutes before opening, I was told the event had to be 21+ only. Families were turned away at the door, vendors lost sales, and community trust was damaged. -The bartender arrived late, overcharged guests, and pocketed the difference. -The sound system malfunctioned, undermining performances and leaving the space silent at times. Afterward, I still tried to resolve things professionally. I met with the GM, Tom Watson, and we agreed to host again on October 3rd, with promises that things would go smoother. He assured me multiple times it was confirmed, but kept dodging signing the contract. On August 18, he finally admitted he had double-booked and wanted me to move my date, even though he had booked the other promoter after me. After weeks of being strung along, I've had no choice but to cancel using their space because he text me on August 18 to tell me that he had double booked and now I'm left scrambling with the potential of canceling my event altogether. Losing time, money, and most of all trust with the community. An event that would have supported over 40 small local businesses, all because of this venue's lack of transparency and accountability. Booking a venue should be simple: clear terms, reliable communication, and mutual respect. None of that happened here. I cannot recommend this venue to any organizer or business owner looking for professionalism, unless you're looking to lose weight from stress. If you're an event planner, promoter, or any person who values professionalism, RUN. Avoid this new "crew" that is trying to revive the fab mab. They've affected my business, and they will do the same to yours.

Went to Fort Mason Festival Pavilion for the Art Fair, April 16 to 19. Got there about 10 minutes…read moreearly and parked right in front of building C. The show was amazing. Over 30+ outstanding galleries from the Bay area, nationally, and internationally presenting their art for sale. Before the fair we found a nice little coffee shop close by, I think it was called Goody, so we got an Americano and an iced matcha latte that was great along with a banana chocolate cake that was super moist. Tickets were $35 to the fair and were a great value. Overall an easy venue to get in and out of. Paid $6/hour for parking. Several relaxing few hours enjoying amazing artwork and even having a cocktail to walk around with. Recommend you go

Large venue and event space for special events. Can host a lot of people! This is a big space!…read more Always great to see people come together. People from everywhere and here together for a good time or shared interest The Chronicle Wine competition/tasting was held at the Gateway pavilion pier 2, which was two floors of booths and vendors. People going to each table to try wine samples and some amazing chocolates Parking can be hard on busy days, even though it's a huge parking lot. Just take the bus if you're willing and able

"THE COW PALACE!" read that in your best old school radio announcer voice…read more This place is such a classic Bay Area venue. Opened in 1941, the Cow Palace has hosted everything from livestock shows and rodeos to political conventions, legendary concerts, and major sporting events. The Beatles played here. The Warriors once called it home. It is one of those venues that just feels historic the moment you walk in. Came here recently for the Guy Fieri Super Bowl Tailgate and it was awesome. The event staff were very organized and things ran smoothly, which is impressive given the size of the crowd. Plenty of space, easy flow, and great energy throughout. Such a classic big Bay Area venue. Old school in the best way. Always a fun experience coming back here.

We had heard that Cow Palace was not a great venue, and from social media posts, it seems that a…read morelot of it has to do with the staff and with the crowds. Purchasing merch wasn't too bad, there was a trailer towards the back of the line and it was super quick. The staff were really nice in letting me hold the merch to see how sizing was. We got here at around door opening time, and it took us probably about an hour to actually snake around and make it to the front. Along the way, there were a lot of people breaking down the gates to cut people AND us. Other people also took the opportunity to just push through when someone even opened the gates a bit to adjust it...it was actually really aggressive and rude behavior from ravers. At the front, other ravers were also just bolting from the snaking line to the entrance. The whole time we were in line, I was seriously concerned for fights breaking out or a crowd crush because of course everyone was drunk or on drugs, and just pushing and cutting. Seems like the experience I had might have been more tame than ISOxo that just happened a few months before. Once we got in, if you wanted to be on the floor level, you had to get a wristband. Messaging was confusing because I thought floor level wristbands were running low. Even here, ravers were trying to cut. It was so obnoxious. Staff seemed to not care or had no way of controlling them. Lines to the bathroom were long, but moved fairly fast. We were trying to be strategic about the time we went to the bathroom during the early acts versus the main act (Gryffin). Because it was so crowded, we didn't really have an opportunity to get food. Once you're in the floor level, there's opportunities to buy alcohol. When we tried to get to the floor level, there were maybe 4-5 security people checking wristbands, but people were hopping over walls and such, so they couldn't really enforce people having wristbands. If you leave the floor to go to the bathroom, you can't easily walk back inside, so you had to endure going through the security screening for wristbands again. Despite security not being able to enforce wristbands, thankfully the floor was not completely full. Something that I noticed on the floor was that all the people who were tall or had large fans obscuring the view for people behind them, were located towards the center line, so it was way better to be left or right of center. If you go towards the back, there's also way more space to stand and breathe, as well as get a better view. The lights were amazing, sound was very good and loud, and the production was fantastic by Gryffin. Leaving for us was fairly easy, since we booked it once the set was over. They had clear markings for exiting the parking lot. Unfortunately parking was ~$30-40. There wasn't really anyone to organize people when we entered, people just kinda zoomed in/cutting as well. Overall, Gryffin had a great set but this venue is pretty bad as social media portrays it. To be honest, it's probably more of the crowds. Not sure if I'd really want to see any acts here in the future.

I honestly just walked in because I noticed the coffee spot at the entrance and ended up staying…read moreway longer than planned. The coffee was really good, but what surprised me more was the space itself. There are multiple floors with lots of comfortable seating and tables, plus rooms set up for meetings, events, or just for getting work done. It actually feels easy to sit and focus here. The rooms had whiteboards if you need them, WiFi, and everything feels thoughtfully laid out. The owner of the cafe area, The Fold Cafe, was super nice and genuinely easy to talk to, which made the whole experience feel even better. Prices were very fair too with alot of choices. I also appreciated that there are bathrooms on every floor. Overall, this is a really unique spot that doesn't feel forced or corporate. Definitely a place I would come back to, whether for coffee or to get some work done.

Nice space for events ..almost like a home with a hosting space ..spacious and interesting ..hosts…read moreevents

Nice small/ medium venue. Get there early so you can get a…read moreseat along the walls Otherwise you will have to stand. .

Attended a friend's wedding at the Swedish American Hall recently and it was a pleasant experience…read more I will say the venue has a lot of charm and character, and the history of the space is interesting. For access, the stairs up to the main hall are a bit steep, but there is a small elevator that you can use. Honestly, it was a bit challenging with high heels, but manageable. The bar area upstairs is cozy and is right outside the main hall. The main hall is spacious and is a fairly good size for small/medium-sized events. The main hall was used for both the wedding ceremony and reception, which worked out well. The restroom facilities on the first floor were good but the ones upstairs were not the best. The bathroom layout was awkward and it was a narrow space, so shimmying past people & trying to get inside was a bit tricky. Otherwise, the venue was good, and we enjoyed celebrating with friends and had a great time reuniting.

absolutely such a magical time celebration during the christmas holiday comedy magic satire…read moreacrobatics christmas bubbles 2025 show . gene & roxanne galster

Not my type of venue. It was outdated but not in a nostalgic way, and uncomfortable. The show also…read morenot my cup of tea.

I've been coming to the LGBT Center for the low-income housing program for the past 4 years…read more Everyone I've encountered has been extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and courteous. The LGBT Center has been recently remodeled, and their event space is perfect for community gatherings, fundraisers, parties, and more. At my last class for the low-income housing program, the lobby had a local craft fair featuring LGBT-owned business. And they provided donuts! I advise to check out the programs they offer, especially if you need financial education. I found their classes to be beneficial in managing my finances (adulting ftw!). The LGBT Center is located on Market and Octavia, so parking won't be easy to find. I suggest taking Muni if possible.

I went here in my capacity as a law student volunteering in a legal aid pop up clinic. The staff…read moremembers were respectful and welcoming. The area is clean and has good WiFi. Lots of free resources and a welcoming space.