Our daughter has been going to the after-school art program at Artist Center for many months now…read moreand she loves it. Monica is a great teacher who really knows her stuff. She has over 25 years of experience and has even worked with studios like Disney and Warner Brothers. Our daughter has picked up so many new drawing techniques and her skills have really improved. It's right on Castro Valley Blvd so it's super easy to get to. Definitely recommend for any kids who want to get better at drawing!

Me and my future wife had an amazing time at the paint and sip! Monica was interactive, she made…read morethe entire process fun and was patient with us while helping us perfect these paintings! This was a 10/10 experience and we will be back again!

They specialize in custom framing, art restoration, art exhibits, matting design, and scroll…read moremounting. This gallery was established in 1980 and has been exhibiting Contemporary Asian Art by artists mainly from China and Taiwan. Artist receptions are held here from time to time, check out their website. I'm always blown away by all their exquisite oil paintings. Highly recommended. The owner and his family are extremely accommodating, give them a call or pay them a visit.

Really good service and the owner is really nice. However, the phone is seldom being reached…read more Better use the messenger from their Facebook page for contact. Don't assume that the store is open during their open hours.

This was a very good museum to find in Downtown San Leandro!!…read more I came in here while I was at the San Leandro Cherry Festival, and it was free to enter. This museum tells the history of San Leandro, with murals, exhibits, and photographs!! There's also an exhibit about redlining and housing discrimination in the city and the effects it has had on people! A small, but very informative museum!!!

I love still finding hidden gems in my hometown 18 years later and the community theater at the…read moreMuseum/Auditorium right next door to the Casa Peralta is my latest find. Two years ago, I wrote a blog post comparing movie theater to live theater - http://aroundthebayandaway.blogspot.com/2016/05/live-theater-vs-movie-theater.html discovering that live theater especially community theaters can be a much better value than going to the movies. With my introduction to the SL Player's performance of Agatha Christie's Mousetrap, I cannot wait to return to see what mystery they have in store for us next season. Since this is a community theater with a limited budget, chairs are just stackable chairs put out for the performance but once you are immersed in the storyline unfolding before you, you won't even care.

I love this shop . I live up in Sf and try to stop by anytime I'm in San Mateo .. The wife /…read morehusband duo that owns / runs it are very nice .. and they carry some of the coolest stuff for your home or apartment ... very well curated !!

Finally came in after passing by who knows how many times. Was searching for a birthday present and…read morethey helped me out so much with recs. Went above and beyond to gift wrap things, even though not everything was purchased from them. Very friendly, would come back again!

What a great place to let your creativity flow. They have pottery, raku firing, jewelry…read morefabrication, lost wax casting, painting and so much more. And if you are the creative kind, they have an awesome gallery that is used to exhibit some of the local artists. Oh, I should not forget to give a shoutout to the instructors. They are each top notch, kind and willing to share their experiences to set you down the path to prove your artistic talents. So don't wait, set yourself free from those reruns and sign up for a class through the Hayward Arts and Recreational Department (HARD) and try your hand at your new you. It's a great place to learn, meet people and share experiences.

My daughter attended an art camp at this location, and she loved it! She had so much! She will be…read moreback for sure next year.

Just attended Hayward Arts Council artist reception at Hayward City Hall Rotunda. Incredible…read moreentertainment by youth choir, poetry and the ART! Many of the artists were there to meet them. This is a valuable part of the community.

This free gallery brought to you by the Hayward Arts Council, has some amazing local artists!!!…read moreAbout every 2 months a new show is presented. Currently, they are showing an Open Event, where artists choose up to 6 of their own works ranging in various media. The next upcoming show is the 'Art of the Blues' running from June to July. It will be a nice blend into the Hayward, Russel City Blues and Jazz Festival!!! Come and check out some amazing work, and perhaps catch a drink at Buffalo Bills, Bijou, or grab a meal at the neighboring Sushi Buffet! Downtown Hayward is adding a great splash of culture with its amazing local art!!! Check out what is new at the gallery: http://haywardarts.org/pages/cinema.html

This is a great place if you're interested in a beginning class in mosaic! I just completed the…read more2-day course (3 hour session on 2 Saturdays via H.A.R.D.) and learned a lot from Christine. She was very helpful, knowledgeable, patient and explained the whole process from choosing a medium (interior vs exterior), adhesives, glass vs tiles, and teaching us how to grout our finished artwork. The price for this 2 day session ($80) is very reasonable compared to other places. If you were to buy (an 8x8 piece of colored glass is about $10 ea.) all the supplies yourself, it would cost way more than the fee for the class. It was nice to have all the supplies available for us to use. Also, if you were to do this at home you would definitely have a mess to clean up afterwards! My only suggestion is to have a simple, design ready before you attend class. That will help save a lot of time so you can focus on what colors you want to use. An overall great class...thanks Christine!

I work in San Ramon and happened to see this company's artwork on electric boxes in San Ramon. See…read morethe videos for an example of the wonderful work they do. Really help to brighten up our town!

About three weeks ago I received an invite on Facebook to attend the opening event of a photo…read moreexhibit by Philip Hennen at the Joyce Gordon Gallery. I have never met Mr. Hennen, but I was always impressed with his photos titled Mood City posted on that website in one of the groups I belong to. His main focus were the urban areas of Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco, which brought back memories of growing up in the area. I love his work, especially the ones of Oakland Chinatown and West Oakland. The Joyce Gordon Gallery is a well lit gallery in the downtown area of Oakland. The ambiance is a comfortable one without being pretentious. What an amazing gallery to have works of the African American artists on display. Indeed this gallery and Sanchez Contemporary (Uptown) are welcome sites to the City of Oakland. I usually don't head back to Oakland in the evening, but Mood City beckoned my husband and me to attend this event and to show support to a Facebook friend. The presentation of the photos was beautiful. I finally met Mr. Hennen through another Facebook friend, Vanessa Williams, who was also at the event. Much appreciation to this gentleman who was very pleasant and engaging in conversation with everybody attending this event. The minor drawback to this gallery is trying to find street parking in the area. Public transportation (AC or BART) is easier than driving around the block or blocks in search of a parking space. Then there is also a parking garage close by. When in the area, stop by this gallery and admire the works on display of local artists.

This is a cool space that is conveniently located near downtown Oakland (transit hub). The main…read morespace itself is wheelchair accessible, but as for the single gender-neutral bathroom, I'm not so sure it'd be easy to get in there due to the angles and width of the doors, especially if your mobility equipment is wider than a typical doorframe. They have some nice artworks of black and African or African diaspora people on display right now. I came to the gallery as a part of an evening event in BlackSolidarityWeek and I appreciate that they allow this space to be used for such events and talks. It seems there's a lower level that requires stairs to access, did not get to see what was in there at the time.

In May, I shop for a couple birthdays and of course like to keep gifts locally made. So one May…read moreweekend I stopped in this maker's retail space and was delighted to find numerous affordable beautiful jewelry, art, and home & bath creations for sale. The staff was friendly and helpful too in answering all of my various questions. I decided on a few purchases that day, including this card for a Bay Area native friend. For any occasion that pairs well with a gift for a Bay Area enthusiast, I invite you to stop in.

Cute shop with nice selection of crystals. I got a few crystals and a bracelet. The woman who was…read moreringing me up asked me if I knew the price of two of the stones. I didn't, so she went to look. The total came out higher than expected, but I waited until I was home to review the digital receipt. Turns out I was overcharged for two of the stones and charged for 8 items when I only bought 7. Could possibly have been a mistake but enough to make me not want to go back.

This was such a beautiful picturesque event! A few moms got together for a paint & sip and we LOVED…read morethe entire experience. First of all, the property is absolutely beautiful and it is so much better than being cooped up indoors in some paint studio. You feel like you're on a retreat. Second of all, the instructions were very specific and we were very well guided throughout the process. I have two left hands - and art is definitely not my forte. However, even for someone like me- the painting was a success! Last of all, the food was phenomenal. I love authentic Indian food- and the food was very delicious and added a wonderful touch to the entire experience. I HIGHLY recommend coming here for a GNO, team building, or just to enjoy with friends. I am excited to bring my kids here for a party some day.

Wow! What an unforgettable experience at Paint and Picnic! I…read morewas planning my daughter's 17th birthday and originally thought of doing a picnic with a "paint with me" activity. While searching for vendors, I came across Paint and Picnic and I'm so glad I did! The website was easy to navigate, and everything was clearly laid out. I reached out to the owner, Sophia, and she responded quickly and answered all my questions. Booking was super easy, and once it was confirmed, everything was handled--setup, food, decor, and paint supplies! The venue is absolutely beautiful--relaxing, cozy, and perfect for pictures. Sophia works with a small local vendor in Berkeley for food, and each sandwich was customized to our guests' needs. I love that she supports small businesses! The paint session was fun and easy to follow, and all the girls loved it. Sophia is kind, professional, and incredibly accommodating. I didn't have to stress about a thing--just showed up and enjoyed the day. Highly recommend Paint and Picnic if you're looking for something unique, stress-free, and beautiful. You won't regret it!