I just completed the ASA 101/103 5 day sailing course at Blue Pacific. Jen was the instructor of…read moremy 2 student class. She is a licensed captain and extremely knowledgable, skilled, experienced and patient! I highly recommend this course to anyone looking for a certification to expand their life of sailing.

As someone who didn't grow up near the ocean, I was apprehensive about taking a 6-day 101/103/104…read moreand 114 ASA certification course suggested by my spouse. But luckily Captain Anthony (aka The Happy Captain) helped to dispel any of those fears. His 30+ years of sailing experience and instruction got us up to speed quickly on the 38-ft catamaran "Untethered". In addition to sailing, we learned provisioning, how to anchor at mooring balls in Catalina, and spent 4 nights on board. It's hard to express they joy I felt at seeing the dozens of dolphins that joined us one afternoon. The man overboard drills we did offshore of Marina Del Rey were also memorable. We brought our own Starlink terminal and were able to familiarize ourselves with some of the navigation and weather apps. Ruth in the office made sure all of our logistics went smoothly. We had signed up a few months prior, with a promo offered during the 2025 Newport Boat Show. Big thanks to the team at Blue Pacific. Highly recommend!

Cool experience for my kids…read more Parking plentiful nearby. Nice people. ---------------

If you have motion sickness, you can do this! BUT YOU must know how to recalibrate your equilibrium…read morefirst! Or at least know your triggers. I have motion sickness and Ican not ride 3D/4D rides without feeling queezy. I can not watch the classic Star Wars movie because it was too shaky for me. Hell, (spoilers) i didnt even know they blew up the death star because i couldnt watch the ending of the first movie! I can't do Star Tours, soaring over the world/california, spinning rides, playing first person shooter (fps) games...get the picture? I had to try this for myself to say if I truly can or can not do VR. There are "moving" elements in this VR game that can cause motion sickness. Standing still as your surroundings move is a major part of this very immersing game! You will also be going "up/down" ramps on a flat service, so that will throw off your equilibrium. Defying virtual physics is what Dennis explained. I had my ways to gain back my center and refocus as I was playing this game. If you wear glasses, please bring them, it will help! I thought I had mine, but I forgot it. The staff will help you get calibrated with the equipment and send you on your way. At one point, my vr set started to get blurry so I had a hard time seeing the enemies, but they were big enough to see when they're "five feet" in front of you, lol. It also got blurry because sweat was starting to form around my eyes. This is going to be a very lengthy review. First off, parking is a little confusing if you're not from the area. I had to circle three times to park on the same side as this venue. There is a parking structure on the opposite side of the street. All structures give you 90 minutes free without the need of validation. Then, it can go up to $25 for the maximum structure price. The venue is like the TARDIS. It's bigger on the inside, haha. The door remains locked, but they have a ring doorbell that contains a phone number to call for someone to come open the door for you. Talk about a personal greeting! When you first walk in, you have a set of stairs. They also have a handicap lift, so they are ADA compliant! Kudos! They have a row of stationery equipment that allows you to run/walk in place and turn. They also have a two-seater ride. They have 5 seatbelts that will strap you in for safety. One for each shoulder, one for your lap, and one each for your feet. They also have an overhead bar that you pull down as if youre actually on a Rollercoaster. If you ride the Rollercoaster one, you will get sick. You will experience the motion, but you won't get the effect (wind/air) of a moving vehicle. They have a wall of lights set as an aquarium as a little seated waiting area. They suggest optimum fun and experience, 6 to 8 people in your party. That is also how many guests can play in each area. They have two areas that are meant for 8 players, their pvp area and their main floor. Get this! They have an escape room, max is 6 players! I definitely want to come back and try this one! Another area is family friendly and is great for up to 6 people as well. Dennis explained to us that the reason this place has the word "World" in this establishment is because these rooms came from all over the place! I think he said the family friendly room was from china/taiwan/japan...etc.. so that's pretty cool! They have a little area where you can host a party, but it's not secluded, it's open to the public. This venue is open to the public and walk-ins are good, but you may have to wait. Dennis mentioned some guest had to wait 2-3 hours until their turn. The guest did leave a deposit to ensure their spot in line. So they suggest to book online to set up a reservation. Each gaming area is about a 30 minute session. You will sweat because you will be moving a lot. It is a workout! Only one sad note, I wish there was more air flow in the building. Because I have motion sickness, I needed fresh air to cool me down. This was a fun experience and I do intend on coming back!

Did you know macarons are gluten-free?…read more I took a macaron making class at The Gourmandise School, and it was quite fun & informative. Seeing the process on how those delectable treats are made, gave a greater appreciation each time I wolf one down. Clemence was a great instructor, patient with newbies, explaining things simply & gracefully. I thought creating the unique fillings would be the most daunting task, but they came out great. Located on the 3rd floor of Santa Monica Place, the classes at The Gourmandise School are the perfect opportunity for those intimidated by pastry-making & cooking. I had an absolute blast, and recommend everyone scheduling a future class at The Gourmandise School.

My partner and I took this cooking class as a date experience. While our chef was truly wonderful,…read morekind, welcoming, and very professional, the overall class didn't meet our expectations for the price. The class structure made it hard to learn honestly. instead of cooking step by step together, all instructions were given at once and we were left to cook independently, which was overwhelming and difficult to remember details like which ingredients to add/when, how long to cook things for and proper technique, especially for beginners. A power outage that required sharing burners added to the disorganization. We were also surprised to be required to share ingredients (including raw meat) with someone we didn't know across from us, which felt awkward for an expensive date experience. There was no clear wrap up at the end, and people began eating and leaving without much direction. Again our chef was great, and we enjoyed the stories and history behind the dishes, but overall the cooking lesson experience didn't match the cost or the hands on learning we were expecting.

What a wonderful opportunity for a brunch cruise!…read more City Cruises knows how to put on a fun event, whether you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or just life. I recommend reserving a window seat so you can get right up close to the view. I am not a big drinker, so the complementary champagne / mimosa options are more than necessary for me. The brunch is served buffet-style. One floor has breakfast items, the other floor has lunch items. Dessert is on both floors. The food is decent - not world-class, but quite good and certainly filling. Go up on the deck for pictures early, ideally before dining begins - people will start hanging out there once they've finished their meal. Service is personable and efficient. I've done a couple of these now, and I've always experienced friendly, hospitable servers. The time goes by quickly, so be sure to enjoy, soak up some sun, eat well, and take pictures!

This was my first time experiencing brunch with city cruise. A gathering for a friend's birthday…read moreand what better way than bottomless mimosas brunch with a view out on the water. The boat is docked at the Fisherman's Village in Marina del Rey. There's plenty of paid parking in the lot out front. Prices are very affordable for hourly or for the day. We did a Sunday funday for the first boarding time in the morning. There was already a few people waiting to get on the boat when we arrived. Beforehand, there's a photograph that will get your picture in-front of the city cruise with your partner or group. She'll come by later to show you the prints which are for purchase. We did pick up a good amount for the group. Anyway, once you board, they do ask to look inside your bags for safety reason. As you get on the boat, you are greeted with a glass of bubble. Seats are assigned which we had the lower level. There's two main dining floor and a third that's the top where you can lounge. Once we got our seat, you're free to roam the boat for a bit before the start time. This gives people time to get on and settle down. So it was nice to come a little early to enjoy the boat. Two floors for seated dining. Our floor was where the buffet was located which made it easier just to get up and walk over to. While the top level had to come down the stairs to get to the buffet. It was assigned which we were first to start. Buffet style with selections of breakfast items such as scrambled eggs, bacons, sausage, roasted potatoes. Then you get to the hot plate of chicken, salmon, pasta, French toast and the carving station. The two tables in the middle consisted of the cold items such a roasted vegetable salad, a mixed salad as well the lox station with bagels and all the condiments. And lastly, there was a dessert table with a selection of mini pastries, and fruits. It is buffet style so you help yourself. Just as the bubbles are pouring, help yourself to whatever you want. We had a big group which our floor was assigned to a waiter to take care of us. He kept the glass full which was great for a Sunday funday. Towards the end of the meal, they also did shoutouts for all the birthdays celebrations and other events being held on the boat. It was a good little gathering with friends to start the day off. For the experience, it was quite fun. The boat wasn't busy which could factor in the day we did it and time. Price was about 95.00 per person for the unlimited buffet and bottomless mimosas. We had the early time starting at 10:30am. The staff were all very sweet and welcoming. From the start with check in, to walking around the boat and checking it out. We had a nice time. It's assigned seating based on your group. Bottom floor where we were seated only had our party of 13, another party of 10 or so and a table of 4. Loads of empty tables left. The rest of the diners were on the second floor. Food was ok. Some dishes were just whatever but the hot dishes were good. Dessert table was just whatever. Nothing fancy which the dessert were probably frozen and thawed out. There wasn't anything that resembles fresh baked at the time. For the price, it was ok. If you like to drink, maybe you'll get your moneys worth. Food was ok. Our waiter what sweet. The staff were all friendly. It was great to arrive a little early to enjoy the boat. I'm sure you can roam the boat during the meal but we just wanted to eat and drink and enjoy the birthday girl. The whole experience was about 2 hrs long and went through the marina. It didn't go out past the jetty so basically up and down the marina. The day was perfect with the sun out so that made it for an amazing experience. Would I do it again, with a group for an outing yes. Just to do, maybe.

Spent my best friends birthday here and we had the most amazing time!! The environment is extremely…read morewelcoming and perfect for pictures! The host was very nice and made our experience so comfortable and fun!! Definitely recommend!! 10/10!!

I booked a paint and sip for my friend's bachelorette party and our experience was so enjoyable…read more Amanda was very flexible with all the different aspects of our time. She allowed us to choose what we painted, to adjust our arrival time a few days before the event, and was overall very knowledgeable and encouraging of our art. The paintings came out great! I look forward to hanging my canvas on my wall and it's nice to have something to remember this time with.

Thanks again to our food guide Nancy for the K Town food tour! Delicious and minimal walking as…read moreeverything yummy is so close by & learned some new Korean facts (like the silverware!) It was a memorable work outing & will be back! The only tricky part was figuring out parking nearby but it all worked out. Thank you!

We had an awesome Six Taste Tour today with Darlene in Downtown LA!! We learned a lot of history…read morethroughout our walk and had so much tasty food along the way! Love the commitment to family-owned businesses! For five people who all grew up and live in LA - we re-discovered DTLA today! Can't wait to check out which Six Taste Tour to try next!

Our newly formed work team had the very best team building event here and I highly recommend it to…read moreanyone. From the friendly and knowledgeable staff to highly engaging activities and tons of laughter. And the best part? We learned how to make fresh, authentic pasta with a beautiful red sauce.

I joined Impastiamo's Italian Pasta Sauces Class and had such a great time! The evening was full of…read morewine, charcuterie, and plenty of laughs. We got hands-on making three classics: Carbonara, Amatriciana, and Cacio e Pepe. I picked up many tips for getting those authentic flavors. It was fun, interactive, and way more than just a cooking class. Can't wait to recreate these sauces at home for friends and family.

Bored of the typical, drunken Halloween weekends, I began a search of an out of the ordinary event…read moreto attend. I stumbled upon the OOTBE Halloween Hunt on a Yelp board. The details were vague, but intriguing: $25 per person Hunt was 1.5-hours The hunt will take you through haunted spots in Hollywood. Bring a flashlight Whhhhaaatttt? A flashlight? What kind of hunt was this?! I was so intrigued, I immediately called my best group of friends and spread the word - we had something super cool to do for Halloween! The night of the event was great! I don't want to reveal all of the details (that's that fun in it!), but the event was challenging and fun. We learned alot of about Hollywood and had a great time doing it. I would definitely recommend this to someone who literally enjoys thinking outside of the box. One of their next events is based around Hollywood scandals. Is it bad we're already getting together our team? Tip: Arrive on time. The event begins promptly.

Everyone in my office wanted to do something "new & fun" for the office Christmas party... but no…read moreone offered up any ideas. So my co-planner & I ran to the internet & found Out of the Box Events... they're located in LA, but do hunts in San Francisco as well. We weren't sure how this would go over with everyone, but thought we'd give it a go! Kristin at OOTBE was super-fantastic! She did research on our company & worked that info into the scavenger hunt as well as cool history about SF. She was also cool with me e-mailing her non-stop with random questions. So the day of the scavenger hunt arrives & Kristin's on-time & completely patient with the chaos going on in our office. Each team got a polaroid camera & a list of clues... and we're off! We ran around the city taking silly pictures & deciphering clues. Trying to throw our competitors off the trail when we could. You get points for creativity as well as finding the clues.... so that made for some fun photo ops! We ended at a hotel bar and had a drink while Kristin tallied the scores! My team won (and not because we were the ones who hired Kristin, but because we're awesome)! Ok - so the point of this long review is this: Hire Out of the Box Events. They're top-notch!!! I promise you'll have a great time!

I popped into These Hands Maker's Collective this afternoon after having driven by it countless…read moretimes but also because I was trying to find a needlepoint kit that I thought they might carry (turns out they don't). Not sure why unwind.studio lists them as a Stockist but alas, it was great to finally have a reason to check this place out. It is a maker's collective so there are various forms of art available for purchase. But, also, they have a variety of classes that I am definitely going to explore their schedule because I am interested in the Dubai Chocolate Bar class and candle making, among others. Definitely a neat space and you can get some inspiration by checking out the crafts available for sale.

Love this place!…read more Great for gifts-- handmade wares (jewelry, paper goods, art, etc) + craft kits with everything you need to create your own work of art. Lots of classes/workshops. I took the paper flower wreath class which was SO FUN. The instructor was great. Ample high quality supplies (we're talking Paper Source, not Michael's...) The space is lovely. Parking can be a little hairy, so give yourself time. SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS & LOCAL ARTISTS. Spend your money here, it's worth it!

I absolutely love coming to this cozy, organized and sparkling clean pottery studio. The…read moreinstructors are friendly and excellent which always makes classes worthwhile. I especially enjoy using all the cool tools and super fancy wheels they have. As a member, I get to come here often and meet the most lovely people in this one of a kind community. This is my all time favorite studio!!!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this place! This pottery studio is absolutely fantastic. No matter if you're a…read moretotal beginner or advanced potter - Donna and Richard are the best teachers and full of knowledge. They always take their time to explain everything to you and the selection of clay and glazes is mind blowing. You can tell that they really love what they do and are always having the best materials there are. Everything is top notch - and in amazing condition. On top of that the studio is dog friendly and all the other students are always super nice too. It's just a wonderful place to go to and create some beautiful ceramics.