Someone else described it as pompous, and that felt pretty accurate…read more The art itself was weird in a bad way, very dark, heavy vibes that just didn't feel enjoyable or inspiring. The whole place felt small and honestly not worth making a trip for. What really made it worse was the staff behavior. One worker or volunteer took a photo of us and then awkwardly hid behind a wall, which was unsettling. Another staff member kept staring at us the entire time, then eventually approached to say we couldn't have a water bottle inside and had to check it at the front desk. That would have been fine if the front desk had mentioned it in the first place. The inconsistency just added to the uncomfortable atmosphere. Overall, not worth the visit at all. If you are deciding between museums, Oakland Museum of California is much better and a far more enjoyable experience.

I went there today for an international film named "La ciénaga". I love the fact that they show…read moreinternational and other interesting films there! Hollywood movies are getting so boring to me with the same old formulas, so this was a great find! Inside was very spacious, modern, and clean. Bathroom was super clean, too! Location is very near downtown Berkeley ( 2min walk) and so convenient! I would definitely go back:)

All on my phone, easy peasy Stunning building, entry is even…read morebetter. So amazing and beautiful art, evocative and ethereal and solid. Helpful staff. Matisse exhibit was wonderful and wonder filled. Enjoy!

Over the years, SF MOMA has been one of our favorite museums although each visit has depended on…read morethe specific exhibits that have been on. Our favorites here have been the Cindy Sherman and an exhibit on sound (with amazing sign language videos to illustrate windows/doors). Now that we have MARP reciprocal membership, coming to visit when we are in town is a no brainer. The highlight this recent weekend was a single room table showing various creative glassware (including a variety of whimsical, ironic, and impractical pieces). The store is also pretty neat with its pretty jewelry and interesting kids art themed gifts.

If you're expecting an immersive, interactive experience where you'll feel like you won't have…read moreenough time to do everything, then you'll be sorely, sorely, sorely disappointed. The first problem is that it's called a museum--I know, where else do you keep T-rex fossil casts other than a museum? you've got me there, but I want to let your hopes down so that you'll have a properly amazing experience here. The first thing to know is that it's housed in the Valley Life Sciences Building, or VLSB for those of us in the know who use University of California campus building-name acronyms on the regular. It's a living, breathing, working building on campus, which means there are offices and a library, in addition to "museums," which again is a disappointing misnomer. When it was built in 1930, not only was it the largest building in the City of Berkeley, but it was also the largest concrete building in the US west of the Mississippi. It's still the largest building on campus, I believe. When I worked on campus, my classes were often (and my office hours were always) in Wheeler Hall, whose bathrooms leave a lot to desired, to understate it quite ridiculously. So I was always on the lookout for better, less traveled bathroom options. Not just near Wheeler, but everywhere on campus and especially between Wheeler and the western edge of campus, because I often worked part time at my current job while also working as a reader at UC, so I was always walking back and forth between campus and our office in Downtown Berkeley. Anyway, I thought i had found a perfect candidate in a particular men's room on a particular side of a particular floor of VLSB. Who would enter this random, imposing building looking for a restroom, and even if they did, who would go anywhere but the bathrooms on the first floor? Happy with myself, after my second visit to the secret bathroom, I was about halfway back to my office when I realized I didn't have my wallet. I remembered taking it out of my pocket in the stall, so I rushed back up there. And what did I find? My wallet was sitting there on the toilet-paper dispenser, my ID, debit card, and credit cards still there. Whew! But I was also aghast, because the $36 I had in cash was missing. I'm still conflicted to this day--replacing my license and credit cards would have been a huge pain, and if someone had returned my wallet to me, I probably would have rewarded him with at least $20. So should I be angry for this person for stealing from me but not making it as bad as it could have been? I don't really know, and I haven't been back to that benighted bathroom since. So here's the best way to experience the Museum of Paleontology: By total surprise. The first time I came in here, I had no idea I'd find these Pteranodons floating around or this Tyrannosaurus rex hanging out near the staircase. Yes, take the elevator to the fourth floor and then take the stairs down. You'll be so wowed. It's amazing. And that's how you have a four-star experience. Just don't give kind thieves the opportunity to steal some of your valuables.

Fantastic exhibit- open to the public for free during museum hours. Great for toddlers- you can…read moretell because all of the glass for cases below 3-4 feet is stained with hand prints. Amazing nearly complete T-Rex skeleton on display with a pterodactyl in flight above it. They are arranged beautifully in the atrium, ringed by a spiral staircase. I also loved the entomological displays- especially the beetles. Park in the lower Sproul garage and walk less than 5 min. Pack a lunch to eat in the courtyard or under the canopy in the eucalyptus grove by the creek outside.

Great museum! Glad we check this one out. They had two cool exhibits. The day of the dead was real…read morenice. Great art and nice people working here. Nice sculptures on the outside too. Definitely suggest checking out and supporting the local museum. Would definitely come back here again.

A neat surprise of two separate galleries, one art, and the other history. Very interactive and…read moreawesomely local! FYI, it took me about an hour at the history museum in about 30 minutes in the art museum. Art: this museum is the one story building that is on the corner of B St, and very conspicuous with the signs on the wall. I hear that the exhibitions rotate every five months or so and is the contemporary art side of the museum. It's a smaller of the two galleries but definitely worth a visit. History: as someone who is not very familiar with the county, I did not know that this was the post office that used to be on 5th Street, some blocks over from its current location. There's more explanation inside the history museum if you are interested in learning more! The second floor is the permanent exhibition regarding the history of Santa Rosa. The first floor seems to be rotating exhibitions. *I actually found the exhibitions at the history museum quite engaging as they put a lot of interactive elements such as wine tasting (reservations needed) and a petting zoo for band instruments and a chance to listen to music using a turntable and cassette tapes. I usually visit most museums once, but I would definitely love to come back to the history museum in the future- and maybe bring some friends and family so they can also enjoy this magnificent space as well.

The free Friday nights are such a vibe with live music and the DJ was TOO GOOD for the crowd…read more Food trucks outside were the most diverse options including Swahili, Nepal, South African also ice cream!

This museum is so underrated!…read more There are plenty of exhibits to explore, along with interactive areas that make learning fun for kids. It's a great place to spend a day with the family, whether you're looking to learn something new, relax, or simply enjoy a beautiful day in Oakland. I especially appreciate that this museum participates in the Museums for All program, which helps make cultural and educational experiences more accessible to families. We had a wonderful visit and I'll definitely be coming back more often. If you're looking for a family-friendly activity that's both fun and educational, this museum is worth checking out.

After My Own Art…read more Located on 217 acres of pristine Napa Valley land, the Di Rosa is a contemporary art museum that's been operating publicly since 1997. This museum is the personal collection of Rene & Veronica di Rosa. The Good: *Temporary exhibits rotate approximately every four months. *Complimentary umbrellas (more on that later) *A good portion of the exhibits are outdoors along their gorgeous property. *Shuttle if you don't want to or need assistance walking from building to building. *You really have to like weird shit because this place is full of it. Personally, I love it, but if you're more "serious" art person, then this probably won't be your jam. *Picnic tables on the grounds, as you're encouraged to bring food and drink to enjoy in their outdoor area. *Friendly staff The Meh: *General admission of $25 might be a touch high for an art museum. The Ugly: *Be wary when visiting during inclement weather,as there's a large part of this museum that's outdoors. So you'll probably miss out on some of it, but the free umbrellas (mentioned above) did come in handy. Conclusion: Fun art museum with some really cool pieces and doesn't take itself too seriously.

Great art collection. The car by David best was my favorite - a local. The political exhibits were…read moreinteresting as well. Thought provoking and inspiring conversations. The outdoor gallery seemed so vast and too much to cover in one visit. Appreciated the shuttle ! Everyone that worked there was so knowledgeable and excited about the works. Highly recommend.

ICA is a large cool funky art space that also hosts events…read more Among the many cool restaurants and bars along south First Street are the cool artsy venues. The Institute of Contemporary Arts (i.e. ICA) is fantastic. It showcases local Bay Area artists' works among others. Super friendly staff are on hand and have the latest scoop on upcoming happenings. Go online to see upcoming events at the ICA. You may discover some cool-funky talks and art shows. Happy adventures!

Feeling arty-farty, I decided to go check out the Institute of Contemporary Art. It's located in a…read morereally cool area of First St. Admission is free which is always nice. I wanted to donate and the friendly guy asked if I wanted to sign up to get information, but I declined. I was the only one in there. The exhibit was called "Allegedly the Worst is Behind Us" which featured 12 artists and their work expressing intergenerational trauma. The work was very personal and moving and inspiring too. The work was much more interesting than the San Jose Art Museum. I felt the work would definitely resonate with others who may have experienced the same thing. Since I saved $20 on the last museum, I put it in the donation box in the front. Great place to come to!

Omg! If you are a Charlie Brown fan, this is a must-see! Nestled in Santa Rosa, you'll find this…read moregem. Learn about the life of Charles M Schulz and his beloved list of Peanuts Characters. There are comic strips and stories of Lucy, Linus, Sally, Rerun, Peppermint Patty, Snoopy and more! The Warm Puppy Cafe (where Charles Schulz ate Breakfast and Lunch daily when he was taking a break from his studio). Attached to it, is an Ice Skating rink. Come take your family and friends. Enjoy this incredible museum in honor of the late Charles Schulz and one of the most famous comics of our lifetime!

I am a nice Snoopy fan. Japan isn't the easiest to travel to see my Snoopy so I'm very grateful…read morethere is Museum near by home. There are different events that happen monthly and every holiday. I forgot what this specific event was called. Maybe a back to school or something with the school theme where they had giant yearbooks as a photo prop. That was hella cool. There events where you may have a chance to meet some of the talented artists on the Schultz team. Very family orientated and so much fun for kids AND adults creating art and memories. There is a ice rink available year round equipped with a dining area! A must visit for all Snoopy lovers!

5 stars because it's free and I enjoyed my time…read more Pretty chill art museum I liked all the variations of soccer balls and one painting really caught my attention. I appreciate that it is free. They close early so go before 5pm. I was late and only had 30 minutes to end it that was enough time. I ended up sitting outside and just journaled about my day. Such a relaxing evening.

Small museum but friendly staff. Studios in the back of the park. Catering available. Sculptures in…read morethe park and free to walk around.

The permanent collection at the deYoung doesn't seem to change much…read more I'd rate the collection as just "OK". My favorite section is the Great American West series of paintings. Once a year, the "Bouquet to Arts" occurs in the spring, where floral designs accompany the permanent art - and it is spectacular and worth seeing. But, the big draw of the deYoung is the fantastic exhibitions that rotate throughout the year. I've seen a ton of them. Recently, I saw the Treasures of the Pharaohs. Well-done presentation of beautiful and rare Egyptian artifacts. Whatever exhibition is going on, check it out. That is the main reason to visit the deYoung. I've never been disappointed.

I love Egyptian Art. Had to go…read more Treasures of the Pharaohs at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco is an incredible showcase of over 100 ancient Egyptian artifacts from Egypt. We attended the evening event, which made the experience even more memorable. Along with exploring the stunning exhibits, there was a two DJ spinning music, dancing, delicious food trucks, and great selection of cocktails/mocktails. The combination of history, culture, and entertainment created a fun and unique night out. A must go see.