Full circle: I was…read moregraciously invited to a networking meeting for entrepreneurs that was being held at YCAC and when I looked up the name on Google Earth, I got quite a surprise. Turns out, the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center building used to be the old elementary school I attended from 1965-69 called Frank B. Cooper School and located about eight blocks from where I was raised. The meeting was held in one of my old classrooms that had an old piano which if memory serves, I played for my 5th grade teacher. A few other memories I recalled were things like watching a solar eclipse, playing Silent Night in a Christmas show on an auto-harp, my first crushes and the mouthwatering smell of food wafting through the school from the kitchen located near the auditorium. I remember one of the classrooms had a coat closet and when you entered it, there was another door and beyond that, a stairway that led up to the attic where all the duct-work and storage was. A great place to get lost for a bit. Long story short, the last time I was in that building was in 1969 and it is fitting that in a building where the original function was to introduce values, knowledge and the basic skills to successfully interact with American society and culture, I would end up in a networking meeting for entrepreneurs. Talk about full circle! That being said, it was also really cool to combine 3-D visuals with my childhood memories of the place. +1 to the other distinguished Yelpers who reviewed this place and for myself, I left there believing that YCAC is a worthwhile organization for not only renting out my old classrooms, auditorium, or gymnasium, but more importantly, for the education, artistic support, and future of Seattle's teens and potentially, its future entrepreneurs and leaders. Check out their website and if you can, visit the facility when you are in the area because it can certainly use some positive support to keep it going.

I came here for a NIA class. First I missed the turn for the parking lot. Then I was struck by how…read moresmall it was. Not an auspicious beginning... things changed. It is one of those older schools which has been renovated into a community arts, culture and meeting center. In the front doorway are many flyers about interesting art and cultural events. The halls are alive with art and invitations to be involved. Our class used a very lovely high ceiling gym with a good floor for dance and wonderful mirrors.

Cute, eco-conscious shop with unique vintage clothes for kids curated with an artistic eye, plus…read moresuper-cute hand-made creations from recycled fabric. Very reasonable prices. It's a happy little place with good vibes.

A nice friendly center but no weight room. People were doing an exercise class so there is a nice…read moreoffering of events. Staff is friendly too and big parking lot.

My wife signed us up for a Salsa class over the summer at this community center. I had never been…read moreto the community center so I wasn't expecting much. The parking lot was huge and surrounded by tall trees. The shade is great on hot summer days. There is a big play area in the grove of trees behind the community center. You walk through an art-filled garden to get to the door of the community center. Upon entering, there is a bronze statue of books right in front of you. Pretty cool! Off to the left is a kids area where they have Tot Time and story time for kids (there is a small charge to attend). Off to the right is a desk with a receptionist. The dance class is in a large room with mirrors on one of the walls. Our instructor is a local gentleman in his 50's. Such a wonderful teacher. Only 4 couples signed up for the class, but we have a lot of fun despite small numbers. I am anxious to take more classes at the B.C.C.!

We had a great experience at the Rainier Arts Center. It's a beautiful, classical-style venue that…read morefeels really well suited for live performances. The space isn't overly large, but that actually works in its favor--it comfortably fits a good-sized audience while still feeling intimate, which makes performances more engaging. One of the things we liked most is the setting. It's located right in front of a park and open lawn, which makes it easy to turn the evening into more of an experience. You could easily do a picnic outside and then head in for a show. We came here to see Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto, and the venue really complemented the performance. It's one of those places where the environment adds to the overall experience. Definitely worth checking out if you're attending an event here.

The perfect venue for my mother's celebration of life. The staff were so helpful and went out of…read moretheir way go help whenever they could.

Seattle Chinese Garden is located at South Seattle College. Having visited a few Chinese gardens…read moreincluding the one in Portland, I thought this one was a bit lacking and feels somewhat incomplete. It feels like a "set design" Chinese garden which has the facade, but not much of anything else. There is a main Chinese garden building and that is just about it. A bamboo garden can be found behind it, but it is not very big. Found it a bit difficult to get an Instagram worthy photo here. I would skip this spot if you are a tourist in Seattle and time is limited. From a community perspective though, I would find this an appealing place to visit if I lived in the neighborhood and was walking in the area.

We attended Astro Lumina tonight. Wonderful experience. We were very lucky with the weather, which…read moredidn't hurt... but I can imagine in any weather it would be worthwhile. What I didn't realize before going is that there are 9 light installations. Each tells a 3-4 minute part of the larger story. The music and lights are coordinated to tell the story. I found it beautiful and soulful. It was a great way for us to feel part of a greater whole during this holiday season.

What a cool space! We were invited to a party in one of the rooms on a day that the actual center…read morewas closed. The room was large and spacious, allowing for the band, food and dance floor to be well accommodated. Directly outside its doors, the playground could be found for those children feeling anxious and in need of MORE space in which to run and explore. The room was clean and easy to navigate. The bathrooms were also clean on this weekend day.

Given that this is a community center with lots of free or very low cost activities & funded by tax…read moredollars, I think it's great. Lets all manage our expectations a little, shall we?! As someone who has come here & used probably every room of the center, as well as every inch of the playground & play fields, I think they are doing a pretty good job. Could things be a little cleaner? Sure. Could service be a little faster? Maybe. Are there things in disrepair sometimes, yes. However none of those things has ever significantly impacted my ability to enjoy the activities overall. Frisbee, soccer, birthday parties, kids classes, dance classes, summer water fountain, playground, tot play gym, tot play room, exercise classes....you name it, they've got it.

The Old Rainier Brewery (ORB) located in the SoDo district of Seattle holds some awesome art walks…read more The people in the building are laid back and the guests they had (artist's and visitors) were probably some of the coolest people to hang out with, talk to, and buy art from. This building is full of amazing artisans; painters, photographers, sculptors, fire dancers, belly dancers, burlesque, capoeira Brazilian dancers, designers, musicians, stone workers, metal smiths and many more. Like our page to stay in tune with what is happening in this historic building! https://www.facebook.com/ORBarts They have five art walks happening this year: ORB ART WALK CALENDAR: 01-14-2012 04-14-2012 06-09-2012 08-11-2012 10-13-2012

Awesome game lounge and cafe. They sell their own coffee and pastries/snacks. There's also a large…read moreamount of board games on sale, including new and used sets. They also have a decent collection of board games you can borrow to play in store. They accept reservations for tabletop groups and even on a weekday, almost all tables were booked in the evening. Very clean and large space, could also study/work here in the mornings/afternoons.

For a place which is centered around gaming, they have shockingly good and reasonably priced…read moretamales! I came here originally to play games but I think of it as a place to go now for fun and food