I had not been to this museum in about 20 years but I returned this past weekend and I was so glad…read moreI did. The entire place has been remodeled. It is a small museum but an absolutely beautiful one worth visiting. As a birder, I loved the cases of taxidermied birds, one of the largest collections of this type on the West Coast with over 400 specimens. I was even more enchanted by the jade room full of jade pieces and artwork derived from right here on the Central Coast, the giant Grizzly Bear, the gorgeous nature field guide mural/artwork upstairs, and the imaginative Room of Wonder full of items that had long been stored in the Museum basement and now brought back to viewing public in artistic settings. This room is mesmerizing and hard to describe but you should definitely see it for yourself. Native Americans are included as well as Asian Americans in the different displays, which I appreciate and feel contributes to the holistic and unified way in which the natural history of our state is explained here. One of the highlights, though, was meeting Bill, a volunteer guide at the museum. He gave so many interesting facts, helped with cool photo ops, and conveyed his genuine love for nature and the community. He is the heart of this fine place. We hope to see him again! If you haven't been to the Natural History Museum, I highly recommend a visit. Locals can get in free.

What a cool spot! So glad I went in one day on my trip to the area. Loved the native plant garden…read moreand the massive room full of different birds. The whole place was very cool and I would definitely come back with friends next time to show them around

Small little museum with a lot of neat things on the maritime culture of Monterey. Was neat to see…read morea large portion of the upper floor dedicate to that. Love the balcony and the spotting scopes that you can look through. Some of the written stuff was overwhelming and the connection to the place was a bit lost in all the detail. The real reason I came was to see the Beautiful Whale exhibit. It was phenomenal to see a life size image of a whale. I enjoyed their benches and couches and spent some time staring at the images. I was sad that so many of them were temporarily on display elsewhere. The museum was neat, small, and staff were friendly. Extra star for special whale exhibit!

The current exhibition is Salvador Dalí. It's a fantastic menagerie of art and history. I truly…read morethought I knew so much about his work until my recent visit. The stories of his work and inspirations had me reading every last tidbit. The black and white photos of Dalí preparing his own work were mesmerizing. I could've spent the whole day here. The whimsical arrangements throughout the rooms gave me the notion that I had stepped into a secret space that made me think differently. It's hard to describe. It was beautiful.

Third Thursday at MMA La Mirada: Open until 8:00 pm the third Thursday of the month…read more So here I am, fresh from a four hour drive across our beautiful state, fresh from checking into my hotel, ready to spend a little time looking at some beautiful local arts n culture. Now, pay careful attention to your GPS, folks, because I totally missed the drive the first time. I arrived, but was afraid I had arrived at someone very fancy's personal estate. It was dark, oh so dark. But there must have been 30 cars, so I parked with all the others and walked toward the building. I guess first I walked around the building. There were two places I could see light coming from, and I picked the one on the left. Folks, go for the one on the right. I walked around back and into the rose garden. I was still a little afraid the master of the house would set his royal guard dogs on me for prowling. Back to my car. I'm hustling. I'm thinking, "there was a sister museum that was also advertised to be open late, maybe I should go there!" (apparently that was wrong anyway, cause it;s First Friday at MMA Pacific Street not Third Thursday, but in retrospect I was pretty confused all around). But first I try the other place where light beckoned. It is an adorable, old fashioned door. And all of a sudden, I'm on the other side and inside this beautiful land of art, curated by beautiful people and enchanting enclosed within a historic estate (see, eg., chandeliers, dainty little bathrooms, gift shop in what feels like a dining room). Almost everyone was already in a lecture about art restoration, so I slowly wandered through the collection without having to navigate a crowd. It was super enjoyable. The kids area/library was a place I'd like to spend more time, and the gift shop was well priced. I'd definitely like to go back and see the outdoor area. It was, as hinted at above, almost pitch black at night.

Words cannot describe how lovely La Mirada is! I was married there May 18, 2013, and it was…read moreeverything I had dreamed of and more. The setting of the estate is intimate, comfortable, warm, and the roses add amazing color. For our May wedding, the roses were in their first bloom. They were gorgeous and the scent during the ceremony was heavenly. The guests enjoyed having cocktail hour in the rose garden; they were snapping photos of the blooms and it made for a beautiful back drop. Reading some of the other reviews; it makes me sad to think people picked this place apart! My husband, family, and I had a wonderful experience from start to finish. Our events coordinator was Mel Cota. She is FANTASTIC! This gal does not skip a beat! Not only is she kind, detailed oriented, compassionate, and communicative; she was able to turn my vision and my wants into a perfect wedding day. The day of flowed effortlessly and was seamless, all thanks to Mel. Having recently received my wedding photos from Michele Beckwith Photography; I am so thankful we went with La Mirada. The grounds of the venue came out amazing in the photos. Classy and elegant! Being able to take photo's upstairs in Elizabeth Taylor's room with my groom was such a treat! This place truly is a five! Thank you La Mirada! - Alixandra

The Sunset Center in Carmel is a historic venue for live performances and community events. Built…read morein 1926 as Sunset School, the Spanish Colonial Revival building was saved and transformed into the Sunset Center, giving it new life as a cultural hub. Good lighting and clear acoustics here, and performances are enjoyable from all 718 seats in the main room. For the show we attended, sponsored by Folk-Yeah, our seating was assigned & we picked physical tickets up at will-call --no electronic tickets. It felt relatively small and well organized for a concert venue. Wine is sold in non-spillable sippy cups, a smart, practical detail. For our show, the merchandise line spilled out the front door and moved slowly. More than enough bathrooms at the venue. The ushers are helpful, though pocket lights and seat assistance during the performance can be distracting. Overall, an intimate place to see a live act in Carmel.

I really enjoy volunteering here, for many reasons. The presentations and performances are top…read morenotch. Entertainers, artists, musicians, comedians and others adore visiting Carmel by the Sea and the Monterey Peninsula. The venue maximum is about 700 guests in the main theater and 50 for the studio 105 shows. So not overwhelming crowds, thank goodness. Many outdoor patio shows and big screen theater movies are complimentary, to all. As volunteers, we work usually less than 4 hour shifts and see the shows, for free. We earn credits for next season tickets, with Bravo lounge status. Maxed 4 tickets, 10 shifts per ticket. We choose the shifts and shows to volunteer, then get assigned. Older very nice group of people, the majority are women. Exciting to be involved with such a fabulous team. Thank you kindly!

Located at Tyrrell Park with a $5 admission fee for adults (free for kids), and no charge for entry…read moreon first Fridays of each month. Museum permit parking on Pilkington if you're lucky to find a spot (you do need to obtain the permit inside). A nature walk to explore and learn about the tide pooling at Scott Creek is among various programs and workshops offered by the museum regularly. And the lady at the front counter was friendly and shared interesting stories behind some of the items on display. There were a few live critters on site like the rosy boa near the fake snakes, and guests could even touch the sea creatures in the tide pool. Also, see and learn about plant and animal fossils and the history of paleontology in the Santa Cruz area. The animal displays were creatively set up, as well as a redwood tree ring. Lots of bird species, ducks, owls, and the golden eagle, even an interactive exhibit where guests could hear the bird calls of the song sparrow, hermit thrush, and pacific slope flycatcher, among others. My favorite exhibits were the banana slug display describing the importance of being slimy, and of course the black-tailed jackrabbit, cuz I like all things "rabbit". I also checked out the gift shop before leaving, with a variety of cute and creative products and souvenirs for sale, a great way to support the museum.

Forgot to review this place! We had been wanting to see this place for years and finally went. It's…read morea mile or so from the Boardwalk. Long walk or fast drive. They'll give you a parking pass for the street. It's very small but really a neat visit. Perfect for smaller kids especially!

Such a wonderful experience! I visited the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose with my family…read moretoday, and we absolutely loved it. There's something really special about being surrounded by so much history and getting to experience the exhibits together. The museum is beautiful, interesting, and full of fascinating artifacts. We had such a great time exploring and learning, and it made for a really memorable family day. A big thank-you to the museum for welcoming my family and me today! I would absolutely recommend the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum to anyone looking for a unique, educational, and enjoyable experience in the Bay Area. Definitely worth a visit!

If 4-6 people are going, might as well get a family membership for a year, it's the same price or…read moreless. Great collection. Takes a few hours to see everything. Recommend downloading the app ahead of time, the audio tour was pretty neat. Gardens are nice too, and open to the public. There's a small parking lot if no street parking's available.

The Steinbeck Museum was a wonderful literary stop in Salinas. We also visited the Steinbeck House…read moredown the street, which made the experience feel more complete. As a tribute to Steinbeck and his connection to the area, the museum was thoughtful, engaging, and well worth the visit. I especially enjoyed the quirky gift shop, always a bonus when a museum shop has personality. The drive into Salinas was also unexpectedly lovely, with so many fields and vegetables growing. It gave the whole visit a strong sense of place and helped connect the landscape to Steinbeck's writing. A great stop for literature lovers, history fans, or anyone looking for something meaningful to do in the area.

Drove down from San Jose (1.5 hours) only to find the museum had closed early due to an event…read moredowntown. This closure wasn't listed anywhere on their website, and it looked like one of the workers was putting up the announcement when we got there around 2:30. I understand closing early for a special event, but not putting up any notice of reduced hours is completely unacceptable. No one there seemed to care at all

Great experience with GREAT GUIDES who really make the visit fun and worthwhile. A must see if in…read moreSan Jose. I recommend this adventure despite my two very serious complaints:. Tour groups are TOO LARGE! they pack over two dozen people into tiny rooms with the people breathing down your neck. Price of the tour is TOO EXPENSIVE: if the groups were smaller so the experience wasn't so rushed and crowded, I would accept the high price. But to charge this amount and then jam you into a too-crowded tour group is simply price-gouging at the expensive of the customer. Really takes away from the positive feeling of the experience. If it weren't for the great guides (maybe I just go a good one?), I don't think this place would do very well on its own. . ..

Had been wanting to go visit ever since I was in 3rd grade. Was so excited to go, even though it's…read more$50, but was deeply put off by a gift shop full of junk that has nothing to do with the beautiful house and the shooting game attraction. Signed on for the optional self guided attic and basement tour and I'm so happy I did. Got to speak with a guy named JT who works there and he was so full of knowledge regarding Sarah and the house. He really gave such a new perspective to the designs I had never thought of before. I understand the tour guides have a script and they like to lean into the paranormal but Sarah is such a character, just like her house. It almost felt disrespectful walking through and hearing they had 'ghost' noises playing in part of the basement. This woman was highly intelligent and did so many great things just to be painted as a crazy woman. Winchester needs to do better. Major shout out to JT, if he ran that place I just know it would be spectacular.

The food was delicious and served with right temperature, the ambiance was great and the service…read morewas excellent!

"do you remember the... christmas tire?" this was wayne a few years ago. i had met him at a time,…read moredecades later, we termed our missing years... maybe you had some of those? days you can't account for, likely stuck somewhere because you chose wrong, turned down a backstreet and came to a deadend. nothing to do then but hope another bus comes along soon to get you out, and wary that your next move goes wrong, too. at such times, heed the advice given to weekend hikers: "if you get really lost in the woods, stay right where you are and wait... someone will find you". what isn't included in that conventional wisdom is the caveat: "sooner or later". all this came to me as i enjoyed the oxtail stew at the basque cultural center. I'd been curious about it for quite some time and finally decided to check it out. Basque restaurants have been one of my guilty pleasures since i made the wrong choice that lead to those missing years. since then I've sought them out when around Fresno, Bakersfield, Reno and smaller towns like Gardnerville and Los Banos: flat, grassy, agrarian places suited to sheepherding, which as far as I know was originally the main occupation for new immigrants from the Pyrenees where it's something of an artisanal career today. Since the 1800s Basque boarding houses were also in SF and LA, all gone now. Newly arrived Bascos heading to the country for work were advised to get off the train and look around for a place called, usually, the Santa Fe Hotel. The menu at the restaurant was then and is still basic: choose chicken, steak, lamb or pork chops as a main item and the rest is the same regardless (soup, salad, beans with ice cream at the end). There's also a preliminary dish, an "appetizer" that is essentially a separate entree in itself. this varies everyday, often oxtail or lamb stew. That's more or less the offering around today, and would have been all I likely ever knew except for my travels a few years ago to the Basque homeland in the Pyrenees. Basque cuisine is much more diverse there than you'll find at the Cultural Center, but you're closer to here than to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Everything from the meat department is very good, but I suggest avoiding the fish entree unless it's the daily special. My favorite was the oxtail stew, reminding me of the same dish at the Santa Fe Hotel in Fresno, during the time when I lived nearby during those lost years, longer than I care to remember. In fact, as I enjoyed the meal I recalled my thoughts after wayne mentioned the "christmas tire". at first i completely blanked, what was my old friend talking about? then slowly it came to me, like a dim memory of something said or done during a particularly white and active night before, something so off-axis that the next morning your left eye looks funny and hurts. it was our second christmas in a small farmhouse near madera. i had stupidly purchased it... leave new york to live here forever? ever wanted to grab someone, someone also rootless, and just walk out the door, run away with less than a half-baked plan about what happens next? well that's exactly what we did, my runway model friend of the moment and i. by the end of the 70s we had developed a nasty habit quite common then, not a true physical addiction mind you but a very real psychological dependence. in the end we couldn't pay our "bills" and needed to be somewhere else, like now!, hard to find for awhile. at that moment a portal of change opened, deux ex machina!: a job offer in the middle of nowhere, relo expenses et al. i accepted without ever visiting madera, ca. i suppose after all this you might wonder what that tire thing was about? i, too, wonder. christmas was memorable in my early years but then something unforgettably sad happened, such that i've disrespected religious events since. for a time i took to making odd abstractions of what alternative forms a "christmas tree" might take. that particular year i covered an old truck tire with that canned "snow" you spray on trees to approximate a "white christmas." but this result wasn't a tree at all, instead the remains of one that had been cut down to be decorated elsewhere, leaving a snow-covered hole in the ground where the tree had rooted. That was the concept, merry christmas perhaps you can see from this that my creative energy in this period ran high... wayne and i spent many and regular hours testing various brandy beverages i was hired to develop. but the lovely Dierdre fell back on pricier habits we had vowed to leave behind when we left the apple. soon after she caught the next bus out of town in the form of a wealthy melon farmer. fortunately none of this mattered much after awhile. all that aside, i highly recommend the cultural center for its displays of Basque art and artifacts, a full gymnasium for Basque games, and of course its excellent traditional cuisine.

Had a blast spending New Years 2022 here. From the decorations to the food and the balloon drop…read more Thank you to the board members and the club manager as well as the president of the club for a great evening!

It's A Bingo Thing! Nice people get together to socialize,…read moreplay a bit of bingo and have fun. This easy to find club has been around a long long time. Two different groups sponsor the non profit bingo games on various nights. The hall may be rented out. Hot and cold food is available for purchase. Good Luck!