Totally responsive upon initial request. Came and looked at job, very quick with quote. Very fair…read moreprice. Work is quite outstanding, down to minutest detail. Very agreeable to work with, had 5-6 exchanges of ideas, with John the customer is the driver, John delivers what he says he will in the time he says it will take. HIGHLY RECOMMEND for mural work, small scale (mine 250 sq ft), or large.

Very creative, professional, easy to work with, and the work is very widely appealing.read more

This place is a hidden gem in Palo Alto, in an industrial area surrounded by factories. It is a…read moremuseum of the work of Tony Foster, an artist from UK who paints beautiful watercolor landscapes. It's free, and a nice place to visit for an hour or so ... highly recommended.

We tried Story Time with Anna on Sunday. It was an hour experience that our grandson enjoyed. We…read moresigned up ahead of time and street parking was easy. There was also a sign that there is additional parking behind the museum. After checking in there was a craft/art activity with stickers and tempera paint sticks. Low mess :). Adjacent was a play area with colored scarves, a pretend campfire, felt board for the children to explore, and books. Before entering the museum area Anna gave an introductory talk describing what to expect. She made it interactive which was very nice. They also did a song to get their wiggles out. She then guided the group through the museum to the carpeted area with cushions for the kiddos. Ana talked about and asked questions about the art on the walls. She read Under the Same Sky to the children and made this an interactive experience also. It was just the right length of time, thirty minutes. This was just right for our 18 month old grandson.

Recently had my daughters wedding reception here. The grounds are BEAUTIFUL but working with the…read moreclub manager Jim Gorman was a complete nightmare. They have very strict rules on the volume of the music which is fine, but instead of dealing with it in a professional manner he ran around during the reception making a HUGE scene. VERY VERY UNPROFESSIONAL! Being in the event world myself along with both my daughters in the event and hospitality professions, we have never seen someone act like this during a celebration. Also, be prepared that he will charge you to the MINUTE for anything over the EXACT time that he writes on the contract. We had a few guests go about 20 minutes early to make sure that the everything was set up and bring a few last minute things I needed to get there and he counted how many were there and charged me to the exact minute. After the reception, there was a limo timing miscommunication and the limo was late to pick up the wedding party so we stood outside to wait, again he went around and counted the number of people and charged me to the EXACT minute. Had I know this we would have stood across the street to wait for the limo If you are considering this place for any kind of party with music....think again. I would not recommend having a celebration at this place to anyone!

*Caveat: at the time of this review, Ladera Oaks is undergoing renovations, so the grounds may end…read moreup looking different than what we enjoyed at our June 2008 wedding. However, as long as the staff and ground rules don't change substantially, future couples should have just as nice an experience as we did, because the people (and their easy-going and can-do attitudes) were what helped make our event a success.* Our initial visits and phone consults were with Jim Gorman (manager) and various members of his club staff. Upon our first visit, we felt the location, settings and conditions of use all fit very well with our style - basically, no fuss, with a well-choreographed timeline and set-up taken care of by Jim who knows his venue inside and out. This was important, given Ladera Oaks functions primarily as a country club for residents of Portola Valley, so facilities are shared with people playing tennis, kids taking swimming lessons, etc. But the garden is quite clearly separated from the pool area, and for weddings the ballroom, bar/lounge and kitchen are off-limits to all except Ladera Oaks staff, the wedding vendors and guests. The garden is very well maintained, lush and colorful, with a fountain that Jim switches off during the ceremony. There is covered brick patio, and lots of floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors that allow guests to enjoy the garden view from the ballroom and bar area. We did our ceremony on the upper lawn, further away from the garden perimeter and the traffic noise on the other side of the fence. We had a total of 80 guests including about 10 kids, and everyone found a way to enjoy the late afternoon garden setting. The ballroom felt like it was just the right size with our 9 round tables, DJ setup in one corner and dance floor area up front. All in all, it's a really intimate and beautiful atmosphere, perfectly suited for a summer wedding. There is no dedicated bridal changing room, and we just ended up doing the dress changes and touch-ups in the small bathroom (3 stalls and a two-sink counter), sharing the space with guests and even a few club members. Brides who must have the private and classy dressing room experience replete with velvet curtains, loveseat and vanity set will not that find that here... unless this is included in Ladera Oaks' current renovation plans. As for storing wedding party accessories and my two additional dresses while they were not in use, we opted to make use of the ample closet space built into the back wall of the ballroom, which we could discreetly access while guests were up front on the dance floor. Finally, ground rules: this venue is about as relaxed as they come. The only issue on which they kept very close tabs was the sound level. This is due to the club's location - Portola Valley is a rather exclusive town, probably with a powerful and vocal neighborhood association, and these people LIKE their quiet and rural setting. So before sunset, only non-amplified, non-vocal music (think string quartets) are allowed outdoors. After sunset, all music moves into the ballroom, and any time someone tries to open the patio doors, a switch is tripped to immediately cut the power supplying the DJ's audio setup. Other than that, we thought the base rental cost was low ($2K for 8 hrs, with $50 here and there for overnight storage of reception items, use of a piano, etc.), there were no corkage or cake cutting fees, you can bring whatever alcohol you'd like and also choose your own vendors (caterers, musicians, etc.), although Jim does offer recommendations. Lucky for us, the excellent caterer we chose (Frank Schumann of Schumann's Four Seasons Catering) turned out to be a long-time partner with Ladera Oaks. Watching Jim and Frank converse and decide on the wedding day logistics in their own lingo was impressive, and put us totally at ease that here we have two highly competent vendors who actually work well together and like each other! I cannot over-emphasize how important this factor is to the success of your big day.

Great work- talented artist and super hard working. Pleasure to work with…read more Looking forward to much more work ahead. Happy to talk if need be for recommendations

"In working with Morgan, there is nothing that didn't go the way that I thought it would. I…read moreappreciated is how efficient she is - she guided me through the process pretty quickly, and all our communication was spot on. It was such a great connection, so natural. Everything about it was easy, and the whole team was amazing. I start every morning by looking at the murals. I take a breath, look at it for 5 minutes, and then I can go into my office and work. The kids are still hanging out by them at every recess, they enjoy them as a part of their life every day. I didn't expect that parents would walk up to me constantly to thank me. That was a great surprise. One lady cried in my office, 'it is so beautiful!' The school just became instantly better! I would recommend Morgan for every reason -- for the process, experience, the result. She goes above and beyond."

I just recently graduated from Palo Alto University's M.S. in Psychology Program and all I can say…read moreare good things about this university. Programs are rigorous and focused solely on Counseling and Psychology, with bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees being offered. Yes, it is a private school and the tuition is quite high, but it is worth it, especially since it is an institution closely affiliated with Stanford University, and it is one of a few universities that offers fully online programs tailored for working professionals. In my cohort, there were students who had graduated from UCLA, UC Berkeley, and USC, so getting into the graduate programs is not easy. The quality of education and supportive faculty are comparable to none. All faculty are experts in their fields and have clinical experience, so you are not only learning about theory in your courses, but you also learn to apply those theories in a clinical setting. All professors that I had were not only clinicians, but they also conducted their own research to advance their respective areas of focus. PAU is truly a hidden gem that not many people know about. It is more on the smaller side of a typical university in the Bay Area, but this comes as a great advantage in the form of smaller class sizes, supportive and accessible faculty, a collaborative and intimate classroom experience with peers, and professors knowing each student by name. Administration and staff always seemed approachable and went out of their way to help, so I always felt supported during my studies. The campus in Palo Alto is small but beautiful and very peaceful. If you're serious about becoming a competent, compassionate mental health professional, PAU offers the foundation you need. It certainly is not easy, but it is absolutely worth it. I left feeling prepared, confident, and grateful for the experience. Thank you, PAU.

I suggest that potential students think carefully before attending Palo Alto University. There are…read moreseveral serious concerns that you should know about. For one, the tuition is very high, which can put financial pressure on students. My experience with some faculty members was disappointing. I encountered a few who treated students in a condescending way, creating a negative learning environment. My concerns were not taken seriously by the administration. Therefore, this creates an environment where disrespect is condoned. Also, I noticed unprofessional behavior from some professors, which was surprising for a graduate school. The high turnover of faculty is concerns many professors I have taken are no longer with the school. Regarding the master's program, the school claims to be inclusive. However, I don't believe they are inclusive. Some members of the graduate enrollment committee, who are current students, act in a snobbish way, creating an unfriendly atmosphere. I don't think actual students should be given so much power in the acceptance process of a graduate program. If you look up the graduate program questions, it comes across as condescending. Why should you interview so thoroughly for a program you are paying for as a student? Overall, I do not recommend PAU. There are significant issues regarding how faculty treats people. I wouldn't be surprised to receive a rude response to this review, as the school tends to be defensive and unprofessional when faced with criticism that supports my points about staff and disrespect. I've observed that they respond to reviews in an argumentative manner rather than upholding professionalism. I encourage prospective students to think carefully before making a decision.

Easy booking, great communication and wonderful host. Would absolutely recommend for a party or…read moreevent.

I used Paint the Town for my daughter's 8th birthday. Most of these kids were 7 and have a lot of…read moreenergy. They were all totally engaged for an entire hour, really concentrating on their paintings. Prabin was great. The kids had fun. It was really easy to schedule and I didn't do anything but set up some small snacks and tables in the backyard. The price is similar or even cheaper to a lot of kid bday party events. All the parents raved about it. No goodie bags needed. Every kid took home a masterpiece. A very successful kid party!!

Word to the wise: book *well* in advance if you're looking to stay during Stanford Family…read moreWeekend... A Deluxe Room was all that was available on short notice, but thankfully even this most basic level of accommodation at the Rosewood Sand Hill is plenty nice at 527-553 sq. ft. and with indulgent amenities such as Rivolta Carmignani bed linens. Arrived late and departed early due to a packed schedule so didn't get much of a chance to explore the grounds, but will be sure to do so next time!

I came here to celebrate my friend's birthday. We had afternoon tea for a group of 10 girls in the…read moreprivate room. The afternoon tea we had came with custom menus, four tea sandwiches per person, and a beautiful assortment of desserts. It was more than enough food for one girl. I especially loved that we each were able to enjoy our own teapot, and so we chose the type of tea we each wanted. I had the red tea which was fragrant with a subtle floral undertone. Rosewood is, of course, a beautiful hotel. The dining and patio areas are gorgeous. The staff are friendly and helpful. The private room had a booking fee and a minimum. It was a bit steep but I think the quality of the food reflects it. Everything I tried was well made and thoughtful - not too sweet and a good balance of components for every course. However, the private room felt a bit small, not very luxurious. There was no music playing and so it would feel too quiet when we were not having conversation. If you value privacy, then the private booking is great for you. Otherwise, I'm not sure if it justifies being away from the beautiful main dining room.

My husband and I grew up as alt, pop punk kids, and knew we wanted to bring that energy into a dive…read morebar celebration of us getting married. Not only are The Last Decade extremely talented musicians, but they know how to work a crowd, cultivate the best party vibes, and generally facilitate the best time. Their set was hands down one of the best things about our special day, and the day after, they were all anyone could talk about. Seriously, thank you all for the best time.

The band played at my birthday in our front yard and it was amazing. Great vocals, killer band, and…read moreawesome vibe. The 90s and early 2000s alternative play list brought us all back. Even the kids were rocking out. Highly recommend if you want a live band to bring some energy and great music to your gathering.

Huge shout out to the Palo Alto Container Store and to closet designer Mariah. I downsized and…read moreMariah helped me create elegant closet designs that are efficient and really fit my needs. The showcase is an entry way closet that now works triple time as a kitchen pantry, coat closet, and utility closet. She helped me coordinate everything with The Container Store and was available and responsive to trouble shoot a minor issue that came up during installation. I'm super happy with the result and so is my handyperson who did the install

Some unique products. Good quality and great customer service…read more I would recommend shopping here.

Lots of details about this interesting corner of the Bay Area provided by our guide Dan G. He was a…read morewealth of information, pretty funny and as a local was able to share a lot of perspective on the islands changes. Great day trip and I wish we had more time to poke around.

Wonderful tour led by Jim. History + nature! A great morning spent on the island…read more For people who are looking to visit the Naval Museum on the island, it is no longer open, but this tour is operative and you get to see the naval chapel and walk around the area. I was originally looking for information about the museum and arrived at this page: https://www.mihpf.org/tours. I hope this will help you find their tour options and dates! All digitalized, no fuss. And it turns out I was the only who signed up for today's tour, and they did not cancel on me because of that. I really really appreciated it. One last thing, the money you spend on the tour goes into helping this foundation : ) Yay!