I will sing their praises to anyone who listens! I adopted the very sweetest baby girl-formerly…read moreMadonna, now Bree- three weeks ago. It was love at first sight!!! Where do I start with the excellent care and customer service?! One of the many things I loved is that most of the dogs in their care are in foster homes. So there is so much time, training and attention to each pup that you simply can't get with a shelter. Breezy was mostly potty trained, had time around other dogs to learn how to behave, and so much was known about her behaviors and care. I just adored her amazing foster Mommy, Alex! She let us come to her home and spend an hour meeting both puppies (it was originally between her and her brother, Elvis, who is also a doll!!! Someone PLEASE scoop up that cutie!). I came with a list of questions and she answered every last one in detail and was so patient. I'm forever grateful for the wonderful love and care Alex put into my beautiful girl before I got her. From the application process to the actual adoption it was roughly a week and a half. I was surprised at how fast they were able to move and pleasantly so. I was contacted via email and text at all different parts of the adoption process by various volunteers- Joelle, Deborah, Jen, Alex and Breana are a few of the wonderful women I spoke to, but there was so many more involved. Each and every individual was knowledgeable on Breezy's care and her life before The Animal Pad. However short lived that was. Bree came spayed, had her first round of shots and was even microchipped! Which was a huge selling point for me. You know how expensive those all are out of pocket?!! It's worth every last penny of the $500+ I paid to know she was well cared for before I got her! She's the most loving and easy baby I've ever had! They even came and picked up the old things I had from my former soul baby, Adonis. It was heartbreaking to let the last reminders of him go. But I met some of the kindest humans in the process- Jen and her hubby. With an empathetic ear and even a hug I was left with a sense of comfort in that difficult moment. Knowing Adonis's things will go to good use is far more valuable than any monetary value I may have gotten for any of it. They were happily surprised at all that I was sending and came to me to scoop it all up! The Animal Pad is a rescue full of animal people who do this because it nourishes the soul! Not for profit! They do not discriminate if you live in an apartment, have had a bad experience where you have to return a former adoptee, are actively planning a family or any other reason that I'd been denied from two other rescues. I'd begun to lose hope in finding a new baby to love, until Animal Pad. Now I have the very best fit and I see clearly I simply wasn't meant to have any other puppers aside from Bree! We were meant for each other and she is deeply adored!! THANK YOU to everyone at The Animal Pad!!! You are one of the good ones and I'll continue to sing your praises to all that'll listen! I'm forever grateful to each and every one of you!

I would not recommend adopting from The Animal Pad based on my experience…read more I recently adopted an older dog from them, and it became clear very quickly that some of his medical needs had not been adequately addressed. His medications had not been given consistently, and serious dental issues were left untreated. Since adopting him, I've had to constantly push just to get action taken on problems that should have been addressed much earlier. This past week, his gums became infected, likely related to his ongoing dental problems. It has been one medical issue after another, and what makes this so frustrating is that I believe many of these problems could have been prevented or better managed with consistent care. I understand that rescues rely heavily on fosters and have limited resources. But when you take responsibility for an older dog with significant medical needs, that responsibility includes making sure medications are given consistently, necessary veterinary and dental care is provided, and medical problems are followed up on. I'm exhausted from having to fight for this dog to receive the care he needs. Had his medical needs been managed properly and consistently, I believe his quality of life could have been significantly better.

I've donated here not too long ago. They really are doing something special here. The ppl are great…read moreto talk to and they make great bags for those who are in need. You need school stuff, they have it, you're looking for a job? They have clothes for that, men and women. You are treated with dignity here the only thing you have to do is just ask.

I was really excited to donate to Sharia's Closet. I completely believe in their mission and would…read moremuch rather support a local organization doing community work than a place like Goodwill that upells donations for profit. Because of this, I brought in a large donation: six large trash bags of clothes and two grocery bags of shoes and additional clothes, all in excellent, ready-to-wear condition. Unfortunately, the experience when I arrived was disheartening. When I arrived it was unclear where to leave my donations since there were multiple tents set up. They didn't acknowledge me as I was standing there waiting for them to put their phones down. They were entirely focused on taking photos for Instagram. When they finally acknowledged me, I kindly asked for assistance and they very rudely just pointed toward a shopping cart and told me to use that and continued yapping about posting on social media. Mind you, they were just standing there on their phones since I arrived. I needed help lifting the heavy bags since I am petite. It felt dismissive and disrespectful. I left feeling really bummed that this was the "community support" I was met with after going out of my way (from Chula Vista) to bring good quality items. I still have a lot more clothes to donate, but based on this experience, I'll be looking for another organization that is willing to lend a hand when asked instead of being extremely rude and dismissive.

I brought in the watercolor below, for restoration, because they employ the only paper conservator…read morein the city. So grateful for their prompt responses and attention to detail! Although the waiting list for restorations is approximately a year for any new work, they were kind enough to squeeze me in to take a look and help freeze the degradation process that had already begun. Christina, their sole paper conservator, removed the acidic backing, and packaged it carefully and thoroughly in acid-free paper to store until she has time to give it her full attention. She is absolutely the best! She was professional, kind, listened to my questions, and gave very helpful, thoughtful, and practical advice for the care of the painting. I know the painting will be in good hands. I am so grateful to have such a resource for museum quality preservation of this gorgeous piece. Will follow up with an after photo once restoration is complete.

minaturrv train exhibit,, many ethnic restaurants,Theatrer ,music hall recomend day long visitread more

They recently redid the Science Center and it's SO much better! The new layout is more open, and…read morethere's even a free section with fun hands-on activities like the gravity ball spinner and a huge air-powered ball wall. The kids' area got a major upgrade. My 3-year-old spent hours in the building section using real power drills, screws, and hammers! There are also flying-machine activities, a ball pit, building stations, and a toddler area with a pretend grocery store and little city. I do wish some of the building activities had better instructions. Tickets are a little pricey, but CalFresh/WIC admission is only $4 per person, which makes it a fantastic affordable outing for families. Huge improvement overall!

Impressive tech, but proceed with caution for 3-hour feature films!…read more We were super excited to see The Odyssey here for our very first IMAX experience after waiting two weeks for our date! Having already seen the movie twice in a standard theater, we were curious to see how it translated to the Heikoff Giant Dome. Here is the full breakdown of how it works and what to expect: Essential Tips & Logistics for 6:30 PM Box Office Movies: Tickets & Arrival: You MUST buy tickets online in advance. The Science Center itself closes to the public at 5:00 PM, but line up outside around 5:00 PM--the queue fills up fast between 5:00-5:30 PM! Door Opening & Entry: Doors open at 6:00 PM sharp. Once tickets are scanned, you'll enter a second line inside. Members and ADA guests get priority boarding around 6:25 PM, followed by General Admission. Pro-Tip for Groups: Seating is first-come, first-served. It was literally a stampede when doors opened! Have one person hold your spot in the inside queue while another uses the restroom or hits concessions. Concessions: Everything is prepackaged (bags of popcorn, candy, canned sodas/water). No fresh movie-theater popcorn or fountain drinks, but fine for a quick snack. Seats & Seating Placement: Aim as high up and toward the center as possible! We sat in the lower half of the upper section. The seats are clean, comfortable, and feel brand new, but they do not recline. Staring up at the dome for nearly 3 hours caused some serious neck strain. Also, watch out for the glass balcony railings in the upper section, which can partially cut into your sightline. The Film Experience: The sound system is fantastic and the theater itself is spotless, but for a fast-paced action movie like The Odyssey, the dome format just didn't work for us. Being that close made it feel like watching a screen two feet from your face--fight scenes became a blur, and the dome curved the edges of the picture (buildings and straight objects looked noticeably warped/distorted). It felt a bit like looking through a fishbowl. Overall Verdict: No knock at all on the staff, Fleet Science Center, or the incredible tech--for documentary shorts or environmental films, this dome is probably mind-blowing. But for long feature films with heavy action, it didn't add to the movie and was a bit overwhelming. Glad we experienced it, but we'll stick to traditional theaters for feature films in the future! P.S. / Note for Fleet Science Center Management & Staff: I know queuing outside can be tricky to manage, but I wanted to share an observation in case it helps improve the queue process. We arrived around 5:10 PM and were about 10th in line outside. However, the group of 2 people right in front of us gradually grew to 12 as more of their party arrived over the next hour, and another pair grew to 8. By the time the doors opened at 6:00 PM, our spot in line effectively jumped from 10th to around 25th. While holding places for late arrivals is understandable to a degree, seeing groups multiply like that can feel a bit unfair to those who stood outside early. Some retail stores and venues (like those in Hawaii) handle this by handing out numbered queue cards or tokens per person as they join the line, preventing late-arriving party members from jumping ahead of early arrivers. Just a thought for future popular feature film screenings!

I Love this website. It was very helpful and informative. I was looking for workshops for my nephew…read morewho is blind. There were several to choose from. Thank you

Found out from local paper that Braille Institute would offer a free informative lecture titled…read more"All about eyes" at our local library and I am so glad that I attended! I have never heard of this non-profit organization before. After listening to the lecture given by Vicky, I realized for the first time how much the helpful resource are out there for us! And how important it is for everyone to learn the knowledge/information offered by BI for the well being of themselves and people around us. Also we should learn as much as we can before the vision impairment actually happens to us. This lecture literally opened my eyes! And I look forward to attending their open house on Dec. 14'16.

Such an eye-opening experience! It was so great seeing everyone gather for a good cause and support…read moretheir families through this walk. Lots of volunteer abilities and everyone involved was super helpful and kind.

From the owner: Questions about memory loss? We're here to help! We provide free support to people living with…read moredementia, their families, and education to the community at large. As a local nonprofit, every dollar donated stays in San Diego County.

I came to visit this store after seeing it on social media. The video did not do it justice! I was…read moreexpecting some good things but it was all in amazing condition or still sealed in the package and the costs we a steal! Talking to the Cheryl the executive director she shared with me that everything new is always priced below the lowest listed price so people can save money while supporting their local community. The door she showed me was $90-140 online at Lowes and she had it priced around $65 Brand new! If this was a regular store and not a non profit I would keep the secret. Since the cause helps locas with housing I will 100% come here for my projects before I got to the store and I hope other do too!

As a community service provider there are some that work for themselves under a nonprofit status…read moreand then there are others that more fully serve the community. Rebuilding Together San Diego is definitely a group that is determined to provide for the betterment of the community. I am grateful for our opportunity to work with them in the good work they do.

Mid-city is not only a great place to get your car stereo stolen, it's the modern day Ellis Island…read morefor many of San Diego's more vibrant immigrant communities. The AjA Project is a local nonprofit organization that runs an after school participatory photography program for refugee and displaced kids. Basically, these kids arrive off the boat, in some cases from war-torn developing countries, without the ability to speak English, and they find themselves in bizarroland east and southeast San Diego. AjA gives these kids a camera, a little self-reflection and empowerment, and we get to see the pictures in art shows. Think "Born into Brothels" in a slightly different context. The photos these kids take are amazing. A lot of the kids are talented, but every one of them has an interesting story to tell. My favorite part is being able to see inside these local communities I can't otherwise see from my vantage point of walking down the street or eating their food. But the fact is that many of the kids stick with the AjA program for a long time because it plays a big role in their lives in helping them cope and acculturate to life here in the US. It just so happens that their creative outlet can be brought into view of a broader public (me and you) as well. And we're not talking about a classroom of kids from Tijuana. AjA works with teenagers who have been resettled here from Somalia, the Sudan, Colombia, Afghanistan, and so forth. AjA is an acronym for "Autosuficiencia Juntada con Apoyo," which is Spanish for "supporting self-sufficiency." This has been a public service message. Thank you for listening. Now you may go read more reviews about bars and restaurants.

This organization was recommended by a teacher & she encouraged us to do an internship with them…read more I interviewed with them & got the internship. We had our first meeting and I was blown away on what a life changing wonderful organization this really is! I've heard some of the students speak & saw their photography which was so inspirational. I wish I had a program like this when I was in my teens/youth. It would have helped me channel my energy into something positive and impactful. I always liked photography and had different types of film cameras. I wish I could review or even showcase it. They are lost now but I'm recollecting, creating more photography & motivating others to do as well. And that's what this organization is helping one to do, especially those from various backgrounds. They help identify their passions, grow their leadership and pursue goals in life through creating art in photography. Thanks for letting me be a part of it!

I first learned about Traci's Paws through a Facebook event back in 2020, and we've been…read moreparticipating in the event ever since. They help military/veteran families and their fur babies. Our very first experience with them happened during a tough time--COVID, and it was only our second Christmas in San Diego after moving from Hawaii. Being away from home during the holidays was hard, but their team created a drive-through Christmas event that brought so much joy to our family. The volunteers were amazing, and you could feel how much heart they put into making the season special for everyone. My children were given toys and my pet was given treats and a toy. They also gave a free fresh Christmas tree. I cried in appreciation for several days everytime I walked out into our living room and saw the Christmas tree. It brought a bit of normalcy during COVID. Since then, we've participated in several of their holiday and pet-friendly events, and each one just keeps getting bigger and better. Their annual Unleash the Holiday Cheer celebration is one of the best community events in San Diego. They offer so many FREE activities and giveaways for military/veterans including (from the flyer 2025): * A free concert * Crafts and professional Santa photos * Gifts from Santa for the kids ** A Pet Costume Runway Show with big prizes ** - we haven't participated in this but I always look forward to what they participants come up with * Story time with the Candylane Princess * Face painting * Carnival games * A "Puppacino Station" for the pups * Foam party, bubble artist & even a Swifites station * FREE Kong pet toys * FREE vet care vouchers for all attendees - We benefited from this last year. The garbage disposal broke in our home and we couldn't wash dishes. At the same time one of our dogs needed a blood test and procedure done on them. I'm so grateful for the vet care voucher. * 1000+ unwrapped Christmas gifts donated to Active Duty Military & Veterans **This year civilians were able attend for free.** It's community effort, and it shows. The vendors are awesome, the volunteers are friendly, and the atmosphere is always warm and festive. Traci's Paws goes above and beyond to support pets, families, and military communities in San Diego. If you haven't been to one of their events before, check out their Facebook, Instagram page and website- you'll be amazed at how much they offer. This organization has become a part of our family's holiday tradition, and we appreciate them so much. If you looking for an organization to donate or volunteer please consider Traci's Paws.

Tracis paws is an amazing organization that put on a wonderful event that not only allowed us to…read moremeet fellow veterans and dog parents, but also gave us an opportunity to have a picture with Santa! Despite it being kind of warm, they toughed it out and gave everyone an opportunity. There were many vendors and a great costume show. We can't wait to go back next year :) they are so good about trying to help the animals and rescue those that are in need. My rescue did so well and made lots of doggy friends. Were extremely grateful! keep up the good work!

This place is so lovely. The cats are so well cared for and you can tell the staff really care. If…read moreyou're looking to donate or even adopt this is the place to go

My family and I go here pretty often. My daughter loves cats so this was a great way for her to…read moremeet and play with a variety of cat personalities - we had a 17yo at home who was well beyond her rambunctious years. Eventually she passed so our mindset shifted from "just saying hello" to finding a new family cat. Lucky for us, we found the perfect little lynx point Siamese kitten who is now the new baby of the family. The staff there are super friendly and you can tell they really care about the well-being of the cats. They aren't just dumping cats to anyone who wants one. They put a lot of thought into finding good matches for the felines. Drop by if you are on the look-out for a new cat friend whether it's a kitten or adult cat. They also have a "senior center" for older cats who need love too!