We had CD release party in this space earlier this year. There are pros and cons to this space.
Pros:
1. the space is rustic and beautiful, has nice lighting and nice vibe
2. It's informal and comfortable for people to hang out, talk, and have fun rather than just sitting in the chairs in rows the whole night
3. It is centrally located, close to the freeway, easy to get to
4. The owner is very nice, positive, welcoming
5. There is a kitchen with the fridge
6. There is working air conditioner
Cons:
1. Parking is very difficult at night. A few of our guest turned back and went home, some were very late for the show. The parking lot around the corner fills up fast as it serves all the businesses in the area, not just this space which was not presented as such in the description
2. Funky neighborhood. Some guests who parked far were very uncomfortable walking to the venue.
3. The kitchen has no sink; if you are putting out food, you will have to go to the bathroom to wash your hand or anything else
4. And the last but the most important: when we came in to check out the place, we were told that after the show we can pack up everything we needed to take back and leave everything we don't need behind. By then we already knew that there was an $80 cleaning fee so it sounded reasonable. HOWEVER THIS WAS NOT THE CASE! At the end of the evening we were told that everything needed to be cleaned up and the space had to be left the way we found it, and it happened in the last 45 minutes of our time there. It was the most embarrassing moment when we actually had to ask our guests to help out. We had to dump at least $100 worth of food platters and wine into garbage because there was no time to figure out what to do with any of it. In the end the $80 cleaning fee was still charged, and when we complained about it, we were told that it pays for the cleaning crew to come in and take the garbage to the dumpster. When we mentioned the conversation with the owner about being able to leave everything behind, he said it was a misunderstanding. No, it was not! there were three of us talking to him and all three heard the same thing. In the end, if you pay extra $80 on top of $125/hour and you still have to clean up which takes time and manpower, and you also lose at least 45 min of your time on top, the space is not worth the money. we had a good time there but the stress of the surprise clean up and the extra expense as a result totally killed the buzz. Later on, when we went back on their website and checked out other comments, we found someone else who complained about the same issue, and the host told them it was a misunderstanding as well. So no, unfortunately we are not going back there. read more
