Sealevel is unique artist studio a few blocks away from Ocean Beach and Golden Gate Park. They…read morehosts events, popups, collaborate with artists, and for the holidays they have a holiday market! The holiday market (open from 12/12 - 12/21) is lovely, they have tons of handmade items from local artists. From prints, art, jewelry, ceramics, ornaments and more! They also have a print vending machine with prints of Outer Sunset businesses. It was fun to use and they had quarters to exchange which was nice! Definitely recommend stopping by, especially for the holiday market popup! It's the perfect place to get a unique gift for friends, family or yourself. It's also helpful to follow them on Instagram to keep up with any upcoming events.

Sealevel is a neighborhood gem. Not just a charming local art space, it's a whole vibe. Think…read moreweekend coffee and pastry popups, community events that actually feel like community, and a dynamic variety of art that captures the foggy, salty, sandy, seaside soul of the Outer Sunset. Jeana isn't just a wildly talented artist--she's a community builder. She's been commissioned by Adobe and featured in museum collections, yet she's right here, warmly welcoming folks into the creative sanctuary she built. Visit Sealevel on weekends and evenings for live music, skill-sharing workshops, local markets, and art shows. You'll meet friendly folks and leave feeling more connected. You can keep up via Insta or email! Seriously. Spaces like this don't just happen; they're built with love and hard work, and they need our support to thrive. Let's keep Sealevel rising--show up, spread the word, and be part of what makes it special.

I don't know why I didn't do this sooner. Min Hai Wu's tailored ballet lessons are restoring my…read morestrength, and improving my balance and flexibility. It's amazing! Mr. Wu, an alumnus of San Francisco Ballet, is highly regarded for teaching young students. I only recently learned he teaches adults as well--mostly Sundays, and mostly private or semi-private. Whether you're a former ballet dancer, or just want a gentle introduction to ballet, I can highly recommend him.

My daughter attended the school for more than 5 years and has found Mr. Wu's lessons have stuck…read morewith her for 20+ years.

We love Star Dance! My daughter has danced there for the last 6 years (age9-15) and plans to…read morecontinue through high school. We moved to Star Dance because she wanted the opportunity to take a variety of dance styles at one studio. She has taken Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Lyrical, and all have been great experiences. She's made great friends while really advancing as a dancer. The teachers are wonderful and very conscientious about the health and enjoyment of the students. The end-of-year show at Herbst Theater is really special. And, bonus, I've been loving the adult classes, too. Highly recommend this neighborhood gem!

The Pros to this studio is that the teacher we had was very good and the studio makes an effort to…read moreput on a really nice end of the year performance. The kids feel proud of their accomplishment. For me, however, this is overshadowed by the very strict policies. You pay for the entire year up front, so you want to make sure your kid will want to do the entire year. The first year we went here, this worked out OK. However, the second year my 7 yr old was not enjoying the class at all--to the point she would leave the class early crying. We were a couple months in at this point (but before winter break or the beginning of performance dance practices). We were told that we could leave the class but would not be entitled to any refund of the tuition (more than half the year at that point). We were also not allowed to try out another class to see if we could find one my child would like better. I felt this was extraordinarily rigid for a 7 year old. To not even work with a family to try and find a better fit in dance class says to me they are not concerned with the dancer's experience. Our only options were to eat the half year tuition, or force our child to continue a class she really did not like. Perhaps this policy is OK for older kids who know what activities they like, but for younger children I find it inappropriate. Parents should also be aware that the kids are required to wear specific clothing to all practices, so there is an additional cost as you need to order specific dance leotards, tights, shoes, etc.

We had a very wonderful experience at Sunset Academy of Dance. Our 6 year old daughter enjoyed tap…read moreand jazz. After the initial shyness wore off (5min) our daughter was smiling and having fun. Instructors and other kids were very friendly. We'll be back and hoping this is a coordination and confidence builder.

Sunset Academy of Dance wholly nurtures students of all ages + abilities with a professional,…read morepersonalized approach that develops the dancer's innate creative talent + stretches their physical strength. A Sunset District gem for over 30-years, the tiny space operates formidably under the tireless, talented + experienced Lisa Brown; owner-teacher, dancer, bosslady-"den mom". Lisa is also an educator at a SF private school, + brings to the table a genuine appreciation of youth & deep well of knowledge on how to connect + nurture individuals. Many talented alum of Sunset Academy now dance professionally, some teach dance at the academy, all bring forth the best in students with an easy-going but exacting style. The elevated expectations for achieving goals is on par with the high level of support given students. From toddlers in tu-tus to grown folks getting jiggy, the team takes good care to meet people where they are, celebrate diversity + share the expertise...all in a home-away-from-home environ. The moves mighty, the beats bangin but the studio goes beyond basics to strengthen community by providing a sense of belonging to young creatives in an inclusive, honest studio space, while taking time to celebrate academic success. From Hip-Hop to traditional, tap + beyond, the studio performs competitively on a national scale but also provides low-key, fun offerings for soccer moms to twerk some. For three seasons, Sunset Academy of Dance has brought joy, challenges + support during tough times to our teenager + countless others... the June show is an AWESOME end-of-season HOORAY. Thanks Sunset Academy of Dance for being so good in the hood.

We have been loving SFYBA for the last year, when my preschooler did a summer camp and then my…read more3-year-old took a class. We have been attending classes ever since! The teachers are warm, happy, and encouraging. My daughters have fun and my 3-year-old knows what a chasse is. This school is a great balance of good ballet skills and fun for the children. Due to the shelter-in-place orders, we've had classes on Zoom, and they are BY FAR the most engaging, successful Zoom classes my daughters have tried. We've had to give up on other activities because the Zoom thing just didn't work, but Miss Ayana and the SFYBA teachers have very successfully made online ballet work! My daughters are excited every week to do ballet-still! We are so impressed with the graceful transition SFYBA has made to Zoom classes, though we can't wait to be back in the studio-whenever that can happen.

I have a 6 year old who has been here since she was 4 and LOVES it here. Even with class and…read moreNutcracker rehearsals for multiple hours, she still loves being there and being with the instructors and other dancers. It's her favorite day when she gets to go to ballet class. We have found the instructors kind, caring, and willing to work with the younger kids. Ms Jess is amazing and my daughter absolutely adores her. Ms Kellie has been great in responding to any issues (my daughter fractured her clavicle this year and they worked around it with us). We are so thrilled that we found this place and look forward to continuing her ballet journey with them.

The Honey Hive is a multipurpose art space by nature with no frills like food or a bar. The main…read moreroom can be used to show live music to very small audiences (50 people max probably). I have been aware of this place for several years, but never made it inside until just recently, when I attended an indie-rock show. I've always had a soft spot for improvised music venues and house shows. At the show I attended, one of the bands were up-and-comers from the SF-Oakland noise rock scene, seemingly poised to make some kind of big splash, while the other band had their moms in tow, huddled together at the back of the room for moral support (and maybe rides home?) while they played. I like venues like this because they have a certain organic, built-from-the-ground-up, purist feel to them. Unlike nightclubs, which tend to be set up to maximize drink sales, places like the Honey Hive Gallery put the emphasis more squarely on the musician, and to an extend, on the audience they attract. The version you see is a therefore a more distilled, stripped-down form than what you might see at a more high profile venue. With that in mind, there are certain drawbacks as well. It's a bit austere, and there isn't really any place to just hang out in between sets and chit chat, except for out on the sidewalk, which is where everyone goes to have a smoke. There's no alcohol, which can be a good thing if you have a show with the right kind of energy, but otherwise is a bit of a drag for a "going out" night. This type of venue definitely doesn't work for everyone, as evidenced by the Jan 2016 review from Mary L., who wouldn't see you a second time if you brought her here. The Honey Hive Gallery captures a bit of that edge-of-civilization feel that the Outer Sunset has going on. It's a place where you could howl at the encroaching void with a sense of purpose, even if your message is ultimately met with dismissive indifference, or bewildered silence. Luckily, the shows begin and end relatively early here, so you won't be disturbing the neighbors too much while you crank it up to 11 and smash your head against the wall.

Had a great time watching an underground hip hop show here. I loved the stickers all over the walls…read moreand the general feel of the whole space.

This place is so fun! I participate in Unicycle Club but hope take a few classes. Here's a…read morepicture of me with a 5 foot unicycle. They have lots of beginner unicycles you can try too.

This place is full of cliques and mean girls, a lot of them on staff. Men get preferential…read moretreatment while a lot of female students get iced out. I love the space and coaches here but for years it's been a space rife with bullying and favoritism. The leadership over the past two years has been inept and there are many lapses in how they treat students. Also credits disappear with no explanation since they started using the new system. The admin is pretty much useless. Customer service is terrible. They cancel classes and don't contact you and act like it's your fault when you show up and there's no class. All of this is even more annoying because they keep raising the prices with no improvements to staff or facilities. And they constantly beg for donations. If you want to do circus, I recommend The Hive. It's clean and organized with competent staff. (There's always someone at the front desk unlike at Circus Center where it's often just an iPad with no directions.) Also, the place is filthy and the mats are covered with hair and stains. There are cobwebs everywhere and weird stains on the walls. It's gross.

Boswick made magic happen! Super responsive, and accommodating! We're so excited to meet him!read more

My best friend hired Boswick to perform at her daughter's 3rd birthday party at Dolores Park, and…read morehe was fantastic! First, Boswick is a true professional. It was a very hot day, and all the kids were originally seated facing the sun, before starting his show, he had the parents turn the children around so they wouldn't be staring into the sunlight. That spoke volumes about his experience. Boswick had so many tricks up his sleeve and kept the kids engaged and laughing throughout. The birthday girl (as is perfectly appropriate for her age!) wandered off midway through, but the older kids were totally captivated the entire time. When the balloon-making began, she came right back, a perfect ending to the performance. Even the adults were entertained! Boswick effortlessly switches between engaging 3-year-olds, 7-year-olds, and adults alike with his humor and charm. As a teacher, I really appreciated his ability to manage a crowd and keep everyone entertained. Other nearby parties had a jump house and a traveling petting zoo with a runaway turtle, but Boswick was by far the highlight of the park. Overall, we were impressed. I would recommend Boswick for any kids' event.

Cute indie theatre. Went for a family movie on Saturday mornings at 10am. They were already playing…read morea short related to the film when we got there at 9:55am. Neighborhood parking might be a little rough if it is a popular showing. Definitely worth going.

Old venue in the Richmond ..reopened ..got ticket to cursive good life musician ..seats ..250…read morepeople ..food ..records ..first time ..interesting

The SF Civic Music Association offers free concert performances by musicians of various skill…read morelevels for the community to come together, enjoy, and appreciate. Three different ensembles perform at various locations throughout the year: the SF Civic Symphony, Mozart to Mendelssohn (M2M), and Civic Strings. This rating and review is more for the organization rather than a single ensemble. But we had the pleasure of experiencing the wonderful talents of the M2M group this past Sunday, Classical Classics (Mozart's Symphony #40 and Beethoven's Symphony #5) at Herbst Theatre inside the War Memorial Veterans building. Such powerful music, the beautiful sounds on a wide range of instruments including the violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, and kettledrums. Music director and conductor for this ensemble (the association's second full orchestra) is John Kendall Bailey. I love what the association does for both musicians and the community, and with the amazing performance by M2M this past weekend (playing incredible masterpieces by two classical music greats), I have no doubt that the SF Civic Symphony and Civic Strings are impressive with what they do as well.

I recently had the opportunity to see the Civic Symphony when they performed their Fall concert at…read morethe Elks Lodge. NOTE: This is not the SF Symphony, these guys are a non-profit! WOW - standing room only! (Did I mention their concerts are FREE?) The acoustics of the room were terrific and the head conductor did a great job introducing each piece they performed. The final piece was perfect for the time of year: "Night on Bald Mountain". Fun! I was surprised how much I really enjoyed this and was impressed by the fact that these guys do it for the love of music - not for the money (they are a non-profit).