Great affordable space for a party…read more I've been busy, so it was one year ago I through a graduation party for my Best friend. It was a great experience. The event space was a big blank slate and I was able to throw a fiesta themed party. I know the website had a list of approved vendors they wanted you to use but when I inquired about it, I was informed that they hadn't updated the site and I could use any caterer I wanted. I'm not sure if this is updated info since it was a year ago but that was my experience so I'd inquire. It saved me money and since it was a fiesta I was able to use a traditional taqueria for the food which brought an authentic experience to the party. Also it was catered and dropped off in the kitchen so I was able to replenish the buffet area that was located away from the kitchen with ease. I just needed the help of my three closest men to keep it looking good and stocked. The city workers who opened the hall for me were very friendly and helpful. I set up with ease and a different person came to help lock up afterwards. Important note: my friend opted for an afternoon party and we were cleared out by dark. I don't know if I would have felt comfortable if it was a nighttime event since it's a dark lake and open to whomever shows. My opinion is do an earlier party so you can see the beautiful view. I took off one star because there were flies near the entrance that I had to keep the area closed until the party started so they wouldn't get in. But it's nature so it's not their fault. I liked that there were bathrooms located right outside the entrance for my guests. I did not have a problem with outsiders using them since we were on the second floor. I also looked that there was plenty of parking since it was on the lake and a whole parking lot next to the Sailboat house.

I'm surprised there are only a few reviews of this location beside Lake Merritt. It's a venue…read morerented for various events I have attended, namely Oaklandish puts on a Radio Regatta here every year, which has kegs upstairs, and stuff going on in the courtyard below. I also come to some 420 event a few years ago and people were legally sparking up like crazy upstairs. So so Oakland. There's a kitchen area off this main room where food has been served from at events I've attended, but I'm not sure that it's a fully functional kitchen. The space is primarily on the second floor of the structure, so you have a nice vantage point of the Lake, the view is really nice. The room is large and feels like a church rec. hall to me. Someone said the floor is hardwood but I'm pretty certain it's linoleum. Lots of bright light makes it cheerful despite it's institutional vibe. The outdoor patio is also super sweet. It tends to be pretty calm on the water here, so the patio is a nice place to soak up sun. It's not difficult to find parking nearby, and it's also a walkable location from nearby Grand avenue and even from BART, if you had to hoof it from 19th St. BART it wouldn't be too taxing. The restrooms for this building are external, as far as I know, at least for the events I have attended, you have to go outside to the public restrooms. These bathrooms can be a lifesaver when you're walking the lake. I have fond memories of times spent in this very 70's 'boathouse' by Lake Merritt!

This venue was perfect for what we wanted! We wanted a small wedding of 50 guests and I was looking…read morefor a place with some scenery and not just a boring hall that needed a lot to look beautiful. We were on a small budget so we also needed something at a reasonable price. This place hit all that and more. All of our guests loved the venue and it helped that it was a beautiful sunny day. The garden area made for a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony and great for photos. The lake was beautiful with all the ducks swimming around. I loved everything about this venue and definitely recommend it if you are having a small wedding.

I booked the Beach House for my son's 5 PM wedding last weekend. They hired Jasmine catering and…read moreJustin Credible for their DJ. Everything went smoothly, and we felt very comfortable in the hands of these pros. (I was a little worried because we didn't have a wedding planner or wedding coordinator, but my mind was set at ease the moment I walked into the venue and saw these vendors setting up.) The beach house was the perfect size for the 60 guest reception and the patio was a beautiful place to hold the ceremony. Everything went smoothly and everyone was very happy with the event. The only hitch we ran into was that it was difficult to schedule a rehearsal because the venue was booked up. We ended up having to have the rehearsal on July 4, when the venue was closed so we could only use the patio. However, that worked out since the ceremony was all taking place on the patio, and that was the part that they needed to practice. It was a warm day, so it was good to have the air-conditioned rooms for the meal. However, it was also very comfortable outside by 6 PM.

The Piedmont Community Hall was our venue for a Wednesday night wedding rehearsal and Friday night…read morewedding. The venue and staff were delightful, we had a beautiful event here. There is a parking lot directly in front of the hall, a few handicap spots and a lot of street parking.

What an amazing gem.. came here for a friend's wedding. This place is absolutely beautiful. Once I…read morewalked up the stairs. It was as beautiful as courtyard garden with a fountain with nice flowers and a few benches to sit.. .the cocktail hour was healed in the area a small room hand a large charcuterie table seating with a live band for some entertainment. The reception hall held about 15 tables the couples table . Desert table in the Conner of the dance floor had a Photo Booth.. beautiful well kept event space . My pictures with my family by the fountain came out perfect. I believe it was a parking lot across the street. Street parking was available

I first visited the Albert H. DeWitt Officers' Club 4-5 years ago when the County of Alameda hosted…read morea Combined Charities kick-off breakfast there. I remember being really impressed with the beautiful interior - dark wood and the chandeliers and booths in the main dining room. When my then fiance and I started looking for venues in April 2022, we really had no idea what to expect. Katherine Sirota with Alameda's Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD) quickly let us know their availability for the remainder of 2022 and early 2023 since you can book up to a year in advance. We opted for the first long weekend in 2023 - the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and went ahead and paid the deposit. This place is quite popular for events and I definitely encourage brides to get in touch with staff sooner rather than later to secure their date. ARPD provides really comprehensive documentation to walk you through the planning process including individual room layouts depending on which rooms you book (the Lobby and Main Hallway are included). The Lobby area was perfect for the photobooth we ended up renting, some extra seating for guests who wanted to sit for a bit, and the welcome table. The Main Hallway was great for setting up chafing dishes for buffet service. We also ended up booking the Trident Room for cocktail hour (perfect for our 150ish guests) and they have a portable bar and cocktail tables for use. The Main Dining Room was perfect for dinner and our 18 tables fit quite comfortable with extra room for a fully clear dance floor, coffee and tea station, and boba and dessert tables. There are some limitations when it comes to the kind of decor - no sparklers, no candles/flames, no fog machines, etc., but the venue is honestly beautiful enough without needing too much to dress it up. The venue was also really flexible when it came to all the vendors we used - Cousins Maine Lobster out on the patio, Noodle Belly on the interior, So Good Photobooth, etc. which really helped us cut costs. Lastly, on the day-of, they have an attendant there at 11 am until midnight. It was great because we got to drop things off in the morning so that the waitstaff could set-up before our afternoon cocktail hour and evening dinner. I realize some people may feel more comfortable dropping off and setting up well in advance, but I think the option to do so may only be for Saturday events (our wedding was a Sunday). When it came time to do the walkthrough at the end of the event, the attendant was really thorough and quick. We ended up just needing to clear out a few extra garbage bins but were otherwise told we'd get our deposit back. Katherine confirmed this along with our mailing address the next business day and I was really happy with their responsiveness and guidance throughout the whole process. One thing to note is that parking is not a problem here since there's a huge lot across the street from the building. One other review I read said they didn't feel quite safe in the area, but nothing happened during our event.

We recently held our wedding at the O'Club and found that it was a fun, yet affordable, location…read more We were able to bring our own caterer & alcohol, which was a big bonus, and the tables & chairs come with the rental if you're on a budget. (We ended up renting chaivari chairs at the very last minute, but the ballroom chairs that they own will do in a pinch.) It was quite difficult to find a large enough venue on a smaller budget in the Bay Area, but we found that the O' Club fit our needs beautifully. Some of these pros & cons might be similar to other posts: Pros: - Reasonable fees - On-site staff is very helpful but communication with the Parks & Recs department was a bit difficult at times, i.e. they showed up late to our appointment showing & there was no number to reach them at so we weren't sure if/when they were actually going to show up. - BYOB, which saved a ton of money - Free & ample parking - Huge kitchen access - Multiple areas to use/rent (we used the Trident Room for the ceremony & Ballroom for the reception, Garden for family photos, etc.) Cons: - Pretty old & run down on the outside. - Communication with parks & recs department was difficult at times

Gayle and I took a look at the Leona Lodge yesterday as part of our wedding venue search. The…read moreLodge itself is in a woodsy setting and has a roomy interior that partially looks down on the ravine below. There's also a nice BBQ area on one side. However, both Gayle and I agreed that the Leona Lodge would work better as a place for a family reunion, reception or other party, rather than a wedding location. For that, the Sequoia Lodge would be a better choice.

This is a great facility for a baby shower or bridal shower…read more I hosted a babyshower at the Leona Lodge two weeks ago, and it was great. The only issue we had was with the attendant assigned to stay at the facility during the time of our event. She wasn't an attendant whose presence went unnoticed. My family and guest definitely knew she was there for these reasons: 1. She sat right at the entrance of the facility; so you'd assume that she was part of the welcome committee, but her attitude immediately told you otherwise. 2. She hung out in the main part of the facility where the baby shower was taking place. 3. She made a plate of food and had lunch/dinner on us (Maybe she forgot she wasn't a guest). 4. We had a desert table, and she helped herself to cupcakes. She then planted herself right next to the desert table, thus solidifying herself in quite a number of our pictures. Armando, was an absolute pleasure to work with in reserving the facility. It's unfortunate that the attendant they used (Ronnie), provided a completely opposite experience.

This place was a Godsend…read more We married here on September 10, 2011. We had originally booked another venue, but considering how many people we were going to have to invite we needed a larger venue. Because the date was popular (9-10-11) many of our choices were booked. Then, we pretty much stumbled in to Bayside Pavilion. We checked it out and went over initial details with Anna Marie. The place could use a minor facelift, I admit, but inside was a whole 'nother story. The place is SPACIOUS! It can easily SEAT 400 people comfortably! It also has vaulted ceilings with In house lighting and sound! it also has a large projection screen and a Dlp Projector, for those who love slideshows! (we don't hahaha). the bar is HUGE and there is also a nice spacious patio area as well. THe restrooms are clean and have plenty of stalls, and there is a private changing room and a coat check at the front main entrance. What makes this place extra special is the flexibility of the staff. Bernadette, who took over as event coordinator, was stellar in her service to us! She was very accommodating! Prices were also VERY Reasonable, and the venue is easy to get to, right by the Webster Tunnel! I won't get into the rates and all that, but let me tell you...you will NOT be sorry you booked this place!

This venue is phenomenal and holds a special place in my heart. Chris helped me set up a surprise…read moreproposal here for my now-fiancé and it went exactly as I'd imagined. The space itself is beautiful -- high ceilings with great skylights, beautiful brick wall on one side, and every media capability you can think of including customizable lighting, sound, and 2 projectors. But as much as the venue was amazing, what really made the day magical was Chris. From my very first conversation with him I could tell that he was going to do everything in his power to make the proposal as perfect as possible. He provided every option, made great suggestions, and went above and beyond for me. I can truly say that I would not be engaged if it wasn't for Chris. I cannot thank him enough.

I highly recommend this venue! We rented it for a wedding reception of 125 people and start to…read morefinish had a great experience with the 1544 Events team. I have nothing negative to say- the space was beautiful, displayed artwork was beautiful, the bartenders, day-of staff, security guard were all so helpful and friendly to not only me as the bride but to ALL of our guests. We got a ton of compliments all night about what a cool space it was and that it was a perfect choice for our party. We worked closest with Stacy and she was phenomenal! She helped us throughout the year of planning and went above and beyond on numerous occasions to make sure our needs were met. We are so happy we chose this venue for our special day!!!

Place was lit the photo and video team with the people working at the VENUE for a Quinceanera knew…read morehow to put and organized coordinated event together.

Oh my God first time here I am highly impressed very professional and classy environment clean and…read moreI am enjoying myself first time here I cannot stress enough. I am happy with Catherine Xena and Kiki. My brother got married. Mareo and I am the sister and I Haile I cannot stress it out. Highly recommend this place. Lost my glasses. I had such a fabulous time. Left it on the table or the restroom. If anyone found them in the Lost and Found please respond to the wedding that I went to from Mareo thank you and you all have a blessed day and I appreciate the wonderful time