La Peña Cultural Center — Attraction in Berkeley

First and likely last time I'll go there. Went to a dance class/party. The dance space is so small we could not see the instructor and could barely move. DJ played music so loud it was painful. Small restaurant is connected to dance space -- I would not eat there when any music is scheduled because impossible to hear conversation. One star for being a community space + one for friendly greeter = 2 stars. (A shame that silly management can not figure out how to expand dance area into large adjacent coat room area next door, and how to separate restaurant from...

Went to dance here at the monthly event. They start off with a salsa class followed by a bachata class to learn the basic steps. Thereafter, they have 2 rooms available for each so you can go back and forth as desired. Their kitchen was closed, but they did offer a food truck up front and there are drinks for purchase inside. They have a free coat check. Very respectful and fun community event, I danced the whole night and really like that they emphasize that we should all be taking care of each other...

Maybe I'm biased because my girlfriend has been a member of the community chorus there for decades. But it's the place to go to hear Nueva Canción songs straight in the tradition of Latin American countries. Even more perfect is the presence on-site of a Mexican restaurant, Los Cilantros, that serves dishes that will take you away from the usual rice-and-beans. You can then walk over to the auditorium for the show after...