I really miss this. I hope they bring it back. I went for many years. It was always entertaining…read moreand fun to go with friends.

Wicked Lit! Went…read morelast year for the first time and then twice this year to see both Production A (The Unnameable, the Chimes, and Cask of Amontillado) and Production B **new** (Casting the Runes, A Ghost Story, and The Body Snatcher). I brought a bunch of people with me to see Production A this year. It was amazing as always... Note to newcomers - if you are meeting people at the event, make sure that all members of your group receive the same color sticker on their program. You want to stay together in the same group. Also note that they have coffee, hot apple juice (which they insist on calling cider), and a few candy bars. $2 each or 2 items for $3. Bring cash, a jacket as you will be outside for a time, and comfortable shoes for walking and standing for short periods. The plays are immersive as you walk following the characters and story progression through the creepy and eeriliy lit long hallways of the mausoleum... and through the cemetery across the street. Most of the acting is great. Last night was unusual because they had BOTH productions going on at the same time. I was concerned that we would be running into each other in the corridors and we would lose the integrity of the individual plays with competing noise in the background. They actually handled it really well and there was only about 5 minutes when I was distracted by noise from another play. Production B was very good for the most part. I will not forget the images from Casting the Runes and The Body Snatcher. The Ghost Story however, started out GREAT but then the second half was kind of ridiculous. What annoyed me most was the fact that because it wasn't as long as the other plays and they all had to end at the same time, the guide read us "The Raven" as we walked back. Now, I take my Poe seriously and want it done right or not at all. This guy read it from the folder, lost his place a few times, used a voice that I assume was supposed to be funny (and wasn't). It just wasn't done well. If they HAD to fill up that time, (and I hope they read this review) they should have the poem read at the original site and read seriously by someone who can do it properly... by candlelight... with some thunder, rain, and lightning in the background. I was not only disappointed, but mad that it had been done so poorly. I could have read it better (and not from a folder). All in all, it's still a Halloween favorite and the location is fantastic and used well.

This was hands-down one of the best classes I have taken in anything, and easily one of the best…read moreoverall experiences I have ever had! The instructors, Corey and Justin, are true professionals, and give earnest and empathetic guidance and instruction throughout the course. They encourage a supportive and fun learning environment, and really break down the mystery of one of the most challenging things I've ever attempted, and made it so much fun! I've met so many awesome and talented people of all ages during my brief time here, and look forward to trying this again! The Ice House Comedy Club provides a super fun contemporary venue, and true a glimpse into the worlds of professional standup comedy. So, it doesn't matter if you want to do this for fun or if you're already in comedy, strongly consider CoolBeans!

Worth the money! And I'm a cheap Asian woman! Doing stand up was always on my bucket list, so…read morethis was a perfect chance to try it out. Corey and Andrew are legit coaches that have a lot of experience and can coach you to present your best sketch. I also have a lot of new friends from the class, my classmates. These courses are available for adults and children. Classes take place inside the historic Ice House. Their air conditioning is the best of all the comedy clubs I've attended. That's important because I run hot.

This Show, put on by the Belly Laugh Productions, is inside the Courtyard Marriott in one of their…read moreconference rooms on the 1st floor, pass the Starbucks. Your options for parking include valet at the hotel, self parking in a parking structure nearby (1st 90 minutes are free) and street parking a few blocks away (if you can find it, and this would be free parking). My husband and I came for a dinner and show last night (6:30 pm show). Making reservations on line was a breeze (be sure to check Groupon for discounted tickets). Check in at the hotel was quick and we were given 2 keepsake glasses. We were placed at table 5 and sat at the only 2 seats left at the table (although you are assigned a table, seating is 1st come/1st served so if you prefer to sit somewhere in particular around a table of 8, be sure to come early). There were only 7 tables with 8 seats per table, which was a good size for this interactive dinner show (you are able to hear the performers/ actors from anywhere in the room). The show is about a princess of Whussels who is thowing this ball (name of this show is called "The Un-Royal Ball") and has several body guards hired to protect her. The story line was pretty disappointing and didn't really have much of a story line. The jokes thrown in were not really that funny and just seemed to have gotten those "oh, ha-ha" chuckles here and there from the audience (which the crowd did seem to be an older crowd). The story line did seem a little predictable as well, and yes there is some raunchiness (so don't bring your kids with you, as this really isn't family friendly as the company website advertise). But the food itself was really good. Often times when you go to a dinner and show type of event, usually the food suffers in terms of taste. But the food was quite good and was catered by the hotel. You have your option of getting chicken, salmon or vegetarian (penne pasta). I went with the chicken and my husband went with the salmon. With this 4 course meal, we had: Bruschetta- This appetizer was delicious and wished I had more. Loved the pesto sauce on the bread and the diced tomatoes (made it quite refreshing). Salad & Dinner Roll- Average dinner salad. There is already 3 different types of salad dressings on the table (raspberry vinaigrette, balsamic vinegar, ranch). The dinner roll was nice and warm and pretty standard. Chicken Dinner- This dish comes with 2 pieces of breaded chicken breast with a white cream sauce, a small scoop of mashed potato and assorted steamed vegetables. The portion size of this dish was quite large. I gave one chicken cutlet to my husband and I ate the other one. I really enjoyed the assorted steamed vegetables and the mashed potato was okay. I was pretty stuffed after I had this meal and really should have only ate half of my food. Salmon Dinner- Just like the chicken dinner, this dish came with a small scoop of mashed potato and steamed vegetables. The salmon itself was a small portion (but would have been find enough for me) but cooked well. But for some reason, this one girl at our table had a huge salmon portion (looked like 3 times the size as my husband's and everyone else at our table who had the salmon too). Chocolate Bundt Cake- I was already too stuffed to eat my dessert so I took my home (don't be afraid to ask for a box, many people took their dessert home too). But I did get a bite of my husband's and it was quite rich and fudge like. Very decadent. There is also water, (unsweetened) ice tea and coffee on the table. If you want alcohol, there is a cash bar. But the line was rather long, as there is only 1 bartender and plenty of people seem to have wanted some libations for the show (so either wait in the long line for your drink or perhaps drink before coming). In the end (the show was from 6:30 pm to 8:50 pm), I had a great meal and a night out on a Saturday with my husband. The show was much to be desired and do not see myself coming back for another one. Service also could have been better.

Where to start. As a late combination Father's Day and Birthday night out, my wife bought tickets…read moreon Groupon. $79 for two for a show and dinner, OK! The $79 deal balloons when they add another $40 for taxes, gratuities ... At the time you redeem you tickets. The venue: The Courtyard in Pasadena is a nice place, clean, hip and valet parking was only $7. The room was laid out in 8 table arrangement. We sat at table 4. In the back. More on that later. There was bar service in the connecting ballroom. Don't know what the prices were for bar, but they had a steady line of traffic. The room's tables were very nicely set for what could have been a more formal dinner.. Was kind off impressed until I realized that virtually none of the setting would be used. The program laid out the night starting with hors d'oeuvres. Being that we were in the back, the hors d'oeuvres never. Made it back to us. I heard they were bruschetta. Not really sure, never got within seeing or smelling range. Water and some weird muddy tasting iced tea was provided. I can't say what kind of iced tea it was, but was reminiscent of washing my mouth out with water after being forced to eat mud pies as a kid. The table was set for coffee service, but no coffee was ever provided or offered during dinner or desert. Water service was slow at best. Hors d'oeuvres down onto the first act! Wow! I would liken the production to a play at a special ed high school. Missed lines, dyslexic delivery, poor timing, meaningless dialog. Then it happened! They moved from an advertised PG-13 into something else. I was mortified to be sitting next to my in-laws. Poorly delivered and tasteless raunchy jokes, not ever really good jokes. However, the "Lion Tamer" joke was the best of the night. While moving at a steady pace, with short acts it seemed not to drag. I guess that is a positive. Salad: Nice proportioned, everyday dinner salad. Nothing bad to say, after all it's salad. Rolls: I thought the rolls were good, probably one of the shining stars out of the food choices for the night. Dinner: Pre-selected choices of chicken, salmon or penne pasta. We had the chicken. Portion was LARGE! Breaded Parmesan crusted breasts, a white garlic sauce on top adorned with squash, carrots and mashed potatoes. Just average, not bad, not great, but not worth the cost. I saw my Father in-law fidgeting with something in his mouth, he pulled out a hair ball, not a hair, but a fully developed hair ball. We notified the service staff, which I'm not sure did any good. The penne pasta and salmon looked good, generous portions. Desert: Pre-fabricated (tasted out of a box) 1x1 cheese cake, garnished with a strawberry and chocolate with raspberry purée. I ate a couple bites and pushed it away, dreaming of a blueberry pie waiting at home. Back to the show. It began to drag as the raunch comedy continued. They were running around, in one door out another delivering meaningless lines. Not sure there was any development beyond the initial plot. Claimed to be from a fictitious country and a ball. Had nothing to do with a ball. My take: A group of college theatrical majors wanting desperately to break into the biz, craft an idea to rent out a hotel ballroom, pack it full of unsuspecting Groupon following customers, put on an ill conceived and developed play all to get a name out and cash in. Sorry. But I cannot recommend this show at this price point. Was very expensive for the level of food, service and production value. There are some great community theaters out there with much better productions and go next door for a dinner in one of then many restaurants that line our city streets. I hope this helps you in your buying decision.

Bill is a fantastic teacher of Improv! I've learned so much about the craft, as well as myself,…read morecoming to class. If you're nervous like I was, this is the perfect place to be supported, heard, and feel safe. Not only is Bill wonderful, but everyone I've had the pleasure of attending class with was equally as kind, and you learn just as much from your peers as you do with Bill by interacting and observing them. If you're still on the fence, check the website for Sample Classes and free showcases so you can get a feel for how great his classes and students are. Thank you Bill and The Improv Trick!

I started taking Bill's class and it has been great! I feel more confident speaking in front of…read morepeople and it has been fun! I definitely recommend taking it if you want to improve your Improvisation and sales!

A nomadic theatre company, with no permanent home, they have consistently produced high quality…read moretheatre for decades, focussing in world and west coast premieres. Very talented.

Great cozy little theater not a bad seat in the house..they offered very reasonably priced…read morerefreshments

I just celebrated my birthday with a group of girlfriends and Aja was both our host and instructor…read more The process of book was seamless she gave all the information we needed and checked in all the way up till our booking. She was thoughtful and showed up early so we could use the kitchen and bar area to set up our appetizers and drinks. She set up the art stations while we drank and ate. Later she lead the class while also taking candid photos of our group. She took her time explaining the process and checking in to make sure we were all following along. Aja was fun and entertaining. She took various groups shots always paying great attention to detail. This was a wonderful experience and I would absolutely book again. We were the only party at the time, she laid out all the art to choose from. The space was clean and large enough to accommodate my 10 group and plenty of space to walk around. There were couches and kitchen area with a small refrigerator. Overall the space was a 10. Experience a 10. And instruction a 10.

Such a great experience with Aja again! We booked her for my nephew's birthday and didn't realize…read moreshe was the same art teacher we had a few years ago! Once we saw her in person, we instantly remembered her. The space where she hosted was spacious, clean and large enough to accommodate a larger crowd if needed. We were a group of four. She was able to help both boys complete their artwork and give the moms extra time to finish. We felt bad taking longer than the kids and Aja did not rush us. She has such a calm demeanor and so much patience with kid and adults. I would highly recommend her. Her love of art and experience with kids is so amazing!

Celebrated our daughter's 12th birthday here with some of her closest friends…read more Emily walked me through the plan of an art journaling/collage making with this age group. She was a fantastic art guide for the children- she encouraged collaboration and open thinking, joy and whimsy! Love how the class was all about connection and process rather than cookie cutter pieces. Looking forward to taking a class there myself for me and my friends. They offer lots of interesting classes and workshops too. A true community gem! Thank you, Hive!

Such a gem in South Pasadena…read more A group of mom friends and I did the Thursday art journaling class and it was so much fun! It was so nice to be able to show up and be instructed. We were able to tap into our creativity and have a fun time. Emily, the owner had wine and snacks and explained everything in detail so you didn't need to have any experience. There was a group of ladies that seemed to be regulars and it very much created a community vibe. And the best part at the end is there was very little cleanup. I can't wait to come back during the day when the shop is open in the front and browse for some gifts.

My wife and I went to Pinot's Palette on Valentines Day this year and we had a great time. Putting…read moreon the apron, following along with the instructor and sipping on drinks was an enjoyable experience to unwind and relax. I definitely recommend this place! I attached a photo of the theme for that day. Very fun time.

Late post: I booked a paint and sip experience with my mom and family. I arrived on time, but they…read morearrived a few minutes late. Once the class started, I had to step away from my own painting to help guide them through the first few steps, which felt a bit off. The instructor moved through the class a bit too quickly at times, and I found myself trying to catch up. As someone who doesn't paint, I would've preferred a slower pace. Wine is not included, but they do offer a selection for purchase. Overall, it was a nice experience, but could be more enjoyable with a more relaxed pace and clearer accommodation for late arrivals.