We've been members of the JCC of the East Bay for a couple of years now. With one kid in preschool…read moreand the other in the after school program, you could say we're pretty much typical family members. The preschool has been just terrific for our younger child. She's in her second class there, and the teacher's have been wonderful. She loves going to school every day, and sometimes has to be coaxed to leave. The teachers are very attentive to each kid, organize days with a combination of fun and developmentally focused activities, and seem really dedicated to what they do. There are all kinds of special "extras" such as dance, music, art, storytelling, and gardening. The classrooms and outside space have plenty of room for play and running around. Our daughter's made a number of friends at school, and their parents are more than happy for play dates and other get togethers outside of school. There are classes for kids as young as 2, and all the way up to Pre-K. The program includes extended care as early as 8am and as late as 5:30pm which is just awesome for working parents. We're also very happy with the after school care, Center Stage, at the same Berkeley location. Our son's been there 2 years, and loves it. There's transportation from local schools in multiple districts, with arrivals as early as about 12:00pm (1/2 day kindergarten). The program runs until 5:30pm and is for kids Kindergarten through 6th grade. They run multiple enrichment classes including drama, music, martial arts, art, cooking, etc. There's an option for homework time, including appropriate assistance. There's also plenty of opportunity to forgo all the formal activities and just have free hangout time. Our son's made several friends there, and often prefers to just hang out with them. For both programs, and for the JCC in general, there are plenty of holiday and other events and parties that can include the whole family. There are also holiday/vacation camps available when school's closed during the year, and these typically include some really great field trips. There's also a highly-regarded Summer camp, as well as what's supposed to be a great after school program in Oakland as well, but we haven't signed up for these. For families with kids as well as everyone else in the local community, there's a music festival every year that is a really big deal, all kinds of other performances and classes during the year, and a well-established and very well attended seniors program. Overall we've been very happy with JCC of the East Bay on all counts, and plan to be members for a very long time to come. It's a heck of a great community center. http://www.jcceastbay.org

Just spent my 15th or 16th erev Rosh Hashanah at the JCC, thanks to the wonderful organization…read moreknown as Jewish Gateways and their two amazing rabbis, Stephanie and Bridget. What a fun experience! My three year old was able to enjoy a safe, supervised playground adventure with kids his own age, while we grownups had our own time during the service. If you are searching for meaningful Jewish interaction in a safe, secure, worry-free environment, this is the place for you!

Funny how the owner David left this comment responding to my review when he wasn't there and all of…read moretheir trash cans were full from the previous party. So we proceeded to ask the lady who he left in charge who pretty much knew NOTHING and she told us to just leave it out there and she would take care of it so WE DID and that resulted in them taking our deposit. Sounds like a scam from the business to me. Employee tells you one thing, owners tell you another. Please people don't even bother getting scammed and I'm sure if I left the place in a mess, he would've taken photos. We cleaned up everything and even swept the place. These people are full of it, don't waste your time. Also took him a year to respond, never responded to any of the emails or calls. Scam likely , bravo!

I have hosted several events at this location (an event for my business, a clothing swap, a class),…read moreand attended many more events and parties since the space opened in February. As a host, the space is reasonably priced, clean, well-lit, conveniently located, and most importantly - completely wheelchair accessible. There are very few venues in the East Bay where the entire space is accessible. In this case, this includes the mezzanine (there is a lift), and there are 2 accessible bathrooms (of the 6 total bathrooms). I have also found that the space has adequate tables and chairs, as well as a small stage, a projector, and sound system, so I don't have the added expense of renting those things. I wish it had a kitchen (it has a fridge), but other than that, this space is awesome for lots of types of events! I already have another event booked there in November.

The best place ever. You can book free events here, grab zines and patches, the coolest place and…read morething in the Bay Area, I miss it immensely

Very cool activist and library space that is volunteer run. I borrowed a book in Spanish from them…read moreabout an incident in Mexico that I had never heard about despite having lived in Mexico 3+ years. It took me forever to return it but they were very kind to me when I showed up late with the book.

Confirmed with the Reservations Unit of City of Oakland ... this is not a real community center…read more It is simply a campus for Rockridge Little School.

One old joke is that Albany is where Berkeley Radicals go to die. And a lot of people don't even…read moreknow where Albany is located. I sometimes mention Berkeley first or mention Albany Hill or the Race Track. It also borders Berkeley, El Cerrito, Richmond, and Kensington. Gayle also scoffs when I sometimes tell her that Albany in some ways reminds me of Iowa. She sees an "urban and gritty" East Bay suburb, while I feel that I'm living in a small town with friendly neighbours and a sense of cohesion. We Albanians are passionate about several things. The composition of the City Council changes with the popular issues of the day (like the Waterfront), but those meetings haven't been the same since Dario Mendiketti passed away. We like our services (including schools) and we're willing to vote for most if not all parcel taxes and bond measures put before us. What I appreciate personally is my neighbourhood and local park, the Solano Stroll, the walking distance availability to several things, the Community Center and Library, and the Teen Center services. Good City services and the friendly and helpful folks that provide them are also much appreciated.

Community Centers are the heart and soul of an area now. Combining so many public services that are…read morevital for a healthy community mentally and physically. I went to see an ART SHOW in the FOYER. It was awesome. The exhibit ... "Suenos Enigmaticos"- "Enigmatic Dreams." Local Artist Deborah Schilling make magic happen in pastels. These large pieces invoked a myriad of emotions from different people for different reasons. Just what art is supposed to do. The Albany Arts Committee presented this show and I'm glad they did. The event was January 13 but will run until March 27th, 2017. Wonderful reception and gathering followed this known and respected artist. It is something only your eyes can share with you. A must see.

Excellent and dedicated organization. Thousands of families have decent housing because of RCD.read more

From the owner: RCD is a Berkeley based nonprofit housing developer specializing in rentals for low and…read moremoderate-income people. Our mission is to create and preserve affordable housing for those with the fewest options, to build community and enrich lives. We provide quality, sustainable housing that is affordable, giving low-income people a foundation for a better future. Collaborations with local governments, lenders, investors, funders, and donors contribute greatly to our success in creating housing options that work for people with very modest incomes.The community resources that we develop offer: * Affordable rent and professional property management * Access to on-site resident services and community resources * Green building features that are healthy and cost-efficient, and * A safe home near transportation, jobs, retail, and services.

We came here because of a friend's wedding and reception…read more The grounds are located in the redwood forest of Oakland Hills near the Chabot Space Center. That means the surroundings are beautiful. Redwood trees everywhere! The building is dated, but still in good shape. There was plenty of room for the 100 or so guests that attended. Tables were set up for the reception luncheon and the entry had tables of Hors d'oeuvres. Outside the ceremony took place on such a beautiful sunny Oakland Hills day. The breeze was just slightly cool so no one needed a jacket and the trees provided enough shade to keep the sun out of your eyes. It's a romantic place for such an intimate gathering and event.

We recently attended a Quinceañera here. Bright and large…read morecommunity room with lots of supporting rooms. held about 150 - love location in the woods. if you are think about hosting an event, this is a winner

Pickleball has exploded at Bushrod. The courts are fantastic - shared pickleball/tennis courts…read more Open plays with skill level(s) are a ton of fun (beginner / intermediate / advanced). There are well-organized open plays with loaner paddles available. There's a solid system to rotate which players go on when a court opens up (paddle racks). It's $2-5 donation for open play only to cover costs of renting courts for the lead volunteer hosts. There are also clinics, drills, round robins and other pickleball events. You can see what's happening and when at DailyPB.com And for tennis people -- during pickleball play, there's virtually always one or more tennis courts available.

Since the renovation, this is one of the best gyms in Oakland. My only complaint is there are not…read moremore open gym hours so I can shoot around here with my son. The outdoor basketball courts were renovated as well! Thanks Under Armour and Steph Curry!

One of my favorite places to hang out at in Uptown! The Hive is a mix of local businesses,…read moreapartment homes, and courtyard space that's located just off of Broadway. It includes various businesses such us: *The Impact Hub *Drake's Dealership *Calavera *Humphrey Slocombe *The People's Barber & Shop *Firebrand Artisan Breads *Numi Tea There's also a courtyard hangout spot where numerous outdoor events are held throughout the year. My two favorite spots to frequent at the Hive are Drake's and Humphrey Slocombe. Beer, pizza, and ice cream... how about that mix? I've also attended a few events at the Impact Hub and I really admire that space as well. Would love to visit the other businesses that also occupy the space in the future. If you're looking for a fun place to hangout or for local events going on, check out the Hive!

Finding this little spot was really exciting…read more This Hive is perfectly named for a stylish place for people to gather. There is a cute coffee shop, ice cream shop, open seating, chess and checkers, sun covered patio tables, beautiful tucked away courtyard restaurants framed in vines and with open tables like a modern day outdoor assembly hall. It is in the center of a few businesses, co-working spaces and residential apartments. Things here are lively and lots of fun. They frequently have events going on and I wish I was in town longer to attend. I met cool people here as I sipped on a fantastic coffee in the sun and played chess with a stranger. I specifically visited Humphry Slocombe here for delicious creamy ice cream. My coffee was from Red Bay Coffee - the cute walk up coffee shop you see near the entrance. I was really impressed by Red Bay! Crazy nice customer service, the coffee is fair trade. Okay but really though - the UNREAL, OUT OF THIS WORLD thing to get from Red Bay is the CHARCOAL VANILLA LATTE. I normally get plain ol' drip but I'm really happy I tried this latte. Honestly, it was originally a do-it-for-the-gram order but thank ig because I wish I could order this Latte back at home. It's creamy and rich but not too sweet, just a little. Really blew my mind. It is my understanding during my brief visit that Red Bay has bigger, brewery sized locations! So, also hoping to check those out the next time I'm in the area. Please do yourself a favor and visit Hive, meet some cool new friends, and enjoy yourself a Charcoal Vanilla Latte. Bonus points if you get it with oat milk.