Blue Bear School of Music
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow

Fort Mason Center
Building D #255
San Francisco, CA 94123

Todd K. writes: It's hard not to like the whole idea of Blue Bear -- a non-profit, music school that's run by musicians who are there because they love music and want to spread it throughout the world. They offer classes in most Rock / Blues / Jazz instruments…

CookWithJames
Neighborhood: Haight-Ashbury

1373 Masonic Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94117

P K. writes: The last time I had a meal this great with such wonderful people was in Venice, nearly 10 years ago.  We were left behind on the island of Murano when our class moved on to the next excursion without us.  As fate would have it, in the midst of our…

Slinky Productions: Exotic & Pole Dance Instruction
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA

1749 OFarrell St
San Francisco, CA 94115

Kiki G. writes: Yes, this is a re-post.  I don't usually do this sort of thing, but it had to be done.  Original review is below.

This is not strip-aerobics!  If you want to get into that fake bullshit, rent a Carmen Electra video and have at it.  Catherine will…

Parties That Cook
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill, Dogpatch

601 Minnesota St
Ste 115
San Francisco, CA 94107

Mike Z. writes: Since I had so much fun at the private cooking party I went to back in February, I suggested these guys for a corporate party, and it was an even better experience.  The team building event they put on for us was really fun, tasted great, and now I…

The Paul Green School of Rock
Neighborhood: Union Square, Nob Hill

414 Mason St
Native Sons Building, Ste 500
San Francisco, CA 94108

Kristina R. writes: We went to the School of Rock benefit concert at the Great American Music Hall last weekend, and rocked out with some pre-pubescent tweens and their impressively leather attired parents.  Woo!

Little did I know they could make my eardrums bleed with…

Spun Sugar

1611 University Ave
Berkeley, CA 94703

Melisser E. writes: My love for baked goods has moved from purchasing them to baking them myself. Cake mixes are the enemy & suddenly my house has things like sugar, flour, a Kitchenaid mixer, a Silpat, & other baking related goods. How I ended up here? I do not know,…

Just Kids Learning Center
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow

1626 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

Max C. writes: If your child needs some assistance with their social cognitive skills or help with a speech and language issue, these ladies are here for you!  (OK my wife is one of the co-owners)

Media Distributors
Neighborhood: SOMA

1219 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

sparkles m. writes: This is the best place in the city to buy  blank DVD;s and videotapes.  I was shooting a video last week and I bought my hd tapes there.  The people are really nice and they have great prices.  They also carry motion picture film so if you are in…

San Francisco School of Massage
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow

1327 Chestnut Street
Suites A&B
San Francisco, CA 94123

Jamie L. writes: graduate of this place.

good things includes:
100 hour intro packages. personally I am not a huge fan of 500 hour commitment, it's a lot really.

flexibility, in any school this is huge, the swedish program allows you to drop in and work around your own…

City Dance Studios
Neighborhood: SOMA

32 Otis Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Ethan L. writes: Here's my story of last sunday...

So i circled the area for 20 mins looking for the darn studio.  Bunch of empty edifices, odd-angled intersections, road construction, a bum who was "starvin like marvin".  Found a city treasure though... "ahhhh, so…

San Francisco Community Music Center
Neighborhood: Mission

544 Capp Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

jess l. writes: This place is a great community establishment that reaffirms my love for San Francisco.  They are non-profit and offer lessons for nearly every instrument anyone would want to learn, including voice and even ethnic instruments.

Can't afford lessons?…

Cook Club
Neighborhood: SOMA

388 Townsend Street
Ste 17
San Francisco, CA 94107

Scott C. writes: Had these urbane gents over to the office to teach our ragtag fugitive fleet of khazak channel partners how to make a crepe or somesuch, and I'll be damned if it weren't some serious gourmet shit when it come out the oven.  Doubt most of these…

Studio A.C.T. at the American Conservatory Theater
Neighborhood: Union Square

30 Grant Ave
San Francisco, CA 94101

Wakako U. writes: Acting classes are so much fun!!!!!! If you are tired of drinking, clubbing, going out and you want to do something, take acting classes.  It is more fun then language lessons, cooking classes and book clubs!  It really is so much fun.

DanceSF - DanceSF.com - A Salsa Dance Academy
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond

380 18th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94101

Kathleen S. writes: Truthfully, I was a bit leary going into my intermediate salsa workshop: I was expecting to find the typical sweaty-palmed, can't-keep-the-rhythm kind of dance partners (who really just want, ahem, something else). But I was pleasantly surprised: the…

Ruta's Indian Kitchen

Oakland, CA 94620

Lisa T. writes: Ruta knows her stuff!
I have taken two classes with her and each one was memorable and oh-so-yummy.
Go ahead and ask Ruta any Indian food or Ayurveda-related question, no matter how obscure, and by golly she will have a well-informed answer for you!…

Purple Crayon Art Studio
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond

301 Cornwall St
San Francisco, CA 94118

Bruce R. writes: I'll help a sista out by offering a review that is non-employee based.  My eldest daughter took classes there for a few rounds and loved it!
Why it was good:
:: Teachers were well rounded, creative and taught technique in a relvant way;
:: Kids come out…

Public Glass
Neighborhood: Bayview/Hunters Point

1750 Armstrong Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94124

Liza B. writes: I love public glass. I'm so happy to have this wonderful resource so near to San Francisco!

Some recent events I not only attended in the last year, but extremely benefited from:

~ the "Good Things Come In Small Packages" exhibit of small glasswork…

The Beat

2560 9th Street
Suite 119
Berkeley, CA 94710

Eddie H. writes: If you're walking in the area between Dwight & Parker and 8th & 10th streets at night and it's the 2nd Friday of the month, the music you hear is not coming from some house party, it's coming from the Latin Fever Fridays salsa social at The Beat…

Susan Miller Gallery & School of Fine Art
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow

1888 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

Zang S. writes: Susan is a TRIP...a great artist & great & fun teacher. Classes are reasonably priced (a series works out to about $20/hr) and I'm learning at my pace. She teaches beginners to master level painters. I've never had more than 3 other people in a class…

Learn iT!
Neighborhood: SOMA

33 New Montgomery St
Ste 300
San Francisco, CA 94105

Nancy R. writes: PowerPoint training means the following to me:
a) Not waking up ass-early to drive to San Mateo.
b) A bountiful selection of lunch places in the FiDi rather than the company cafeteria.
c) Minimum day -- 4 pm byotches!
d) Shopping!!

Oh yeah, I suppose I…

Home Chef
Neighborhood: Laurel Heights

3527 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94118

Diane R. writes: I took a wonderful cooking class series called essential I.  It is a great comprehensive series of classes that teaches you everything from baking to braising.  I also just recently completed the second series, the advanced essentials which teaches…

School of the Arts

555 Portola Drive
San Francisco, CA 94131

Jackie I. writes: Are you serious? No one has written a review about SOTA? Come on SOTA alum, represent! Well, if I have to be the one, well then I'll be the one.

The SOTA that I remember is long gone. I'm talking about the Font Boulevard campus. Tucked away behind San…

Tianne Frias

San Francisco, CA 94101

Shawn T. writes: Spunky, spunky Tianne!

I have been taking both group and private Salsa lessons from Tianne for several months. I can say without hesitation they have been not only helpful but, more importantly, very enjoyable.

The problem I see with many physical…

Viking Home Chef

1604 Mount Diablo Blvd
Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Steven G. writes: Ooooh the trouble I could get in shopping here!  You see I don't cook, I'm quite the opposite, I EAT!  So what a better place to support my habit than a store with the most cutting edge kitchen gadgetry, appliances, food items or as I like to call…

California Rider Education of Alameda

Alameda, CA 94501

Mortiche W. writes: I took this class and it was well worth the two-hundred-something bucks, and then some.

After riding two-up with my friends for the last 11 years, I finally got off my fat ass and decided to take the class.

The instructors were knowledgeable, helpful,…

Baking Arts
Neighborhood: SOMA

542 Brannan St #410
San Francisco, CA 94107

Karen Y. writes: Watching 'Ace of Cakes' has awaken some desire in me to learn how to fondant.  The search led me to Richard and his group classes.  Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a fondant icing class that fit my schedule but souffle making did and my…

Eggbeater

Shuna Lydon Baking Classes
Berkeley, CA 94709

anita c. writes: I spent a lovely Sunday afternoon learning the tricks of seasonal fruit desserts at the elbow of Shuna Fish Lydon (who also writes the award-winning "eggbeater" blog).

Shuna's enthusiasm for this subject matter is infectious, and the class style is so…

Community Street Jam

849 Veterans Blvd
Redwood City, CA 94063

Heidi V. writes: Federico Moreno is the fitness manager and personal trainer at CSJ. He is totally awesome to work with, either for personal training or for ballroom/salsa dance instuction. I've worked with him as my trainer for five years now. He is truly a master…

Music In Schools Today
Neighborhood: SOMA

582 Market Street
Suite 213
San Francisco, CA 94104

Tracie P. writes: Finding this resource had me scouring through my stuff to find that old flute my sister played in elementary school. Remember the days when public school meant you were exposed to art, music and physical education?  Well those days are gone and art…

TestMagic
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset

1722 Irving St
San Francisco, CA 94122

Jackie C. writes: As a former student turned receptionist/spokesperson of Testmagic, I must say I'm glad my Mom signed me up there back in the day. I got to know the owners (Erin and Ivy) pretty well, and they definitely know what they're doing. The teachers were…

Jean Henry School of Art
Neighborhood: Lakeside

2640 Ocean Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132

Victoria Z. writes: If you're looking for a place to create oil paintings, this is it. This school has been around for many decades and I've been painting here for the last 5 years. Not only have I learned many new painting skills, I have also met so many interesting…

Doodlebug

641 San Anselmo Ave
San Anselmo, CA 94960

Cheryl D. writes: I love doodlebug.

The owner is so warm and friendly.  I was really sad when the flooding completely took out San Anselmo Avenue (the other year) and I couldn't visit my lil bug for months!!!

They leave a dog bowl outside.

The first time I walked in,…

The Sewing Workshop
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond

2010 Balboa St
San Francisco, CA 94121

Stacy J. writes: I'm taking a Beginning Sewing Class here and it's a blast! The classes are very small and you get to work cutting your pieces in the first class. The project is to make a kimono-style robe, which sure beats a pillowcase.

Very casual atmosphere,…

Children's Art Studio

3117 Santa Clara Ave
Alameda, CA 94501

Jen W. writes: JaYing Wang the owner of this studio has a fantastic way of working with children and bringing out their artistic vision.  Her drop in art time costs $7, she has a new project every week, individual play stations (including dough, paper doll making,…

Oakland Chinatown Traffic School
Neighborhood: Lake Merritt, Oakland Chinatown

320 10th St Ste 138
Oakland, CA 94607

Jeffrey G. writes: they are on "vacation" the "rest of the year."

so, dont bother to call - i think they might be all done.

Studio One Art Center
Neighborhood: North Oakland, Temescal

365 45th St
Oakland, CA 94609

Andrea V. writes: I'm reluctant to write about Studio One b/c it's one of the East Bay's best kept secrets and I like the small class sizes! I have been taking lessons here for a couple of years now and the instruction is fabulous, and you can't beat the price. Studio…

Acupressure Institute
Neighborhood: Gourmet Ghetto, North Berkeley

1533 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94709

Amy O. writes: I have been attending classes at the Acupressure Institute since 2005 and it feels like home. I have gained more from the program than I ever imagined. There is more to this school than just education in different modalities, there is a very healing…

Tradewinds Sailing School & Club

1230 Brickyard Cove Rd
Ste 100
Point Richmond, CA 94801

Bryan Jay M. writes: So first I should mention that sailing schools are wicked territorial. They all claim to be the best and pretend other schools don't exist. It's tough to pick a school and hard to get unbiased info, especially if you have no sailing friends to point…