Netra Center for Arts and Culture

A rose by any other name is still a rose at the Morcom Rose Garden. The municipal rose garden opened in 1920 with a green thumb that reaches across eight acres of green space blooming more than 6,000 roses. The classic rose garden is the ideal place for you to stop and smell the roses and capture picture perfect memories.

Celebrate the sound of music at the Art and Soul Festival. Put your dancing shoes on for two days of the best jazz, rock, gospel, Latin, R&B, acoustic and blues performed by national artists and local superstars. Sample exotic foods, view great art and be sure to bring the kids to enjoy carnival rides, face painting, hands-on art projects and more!

Feel zen at the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. The garden contains one of the most beautiful open-air bonsai collections in the nation, with more than 150 outstanding bonsai trees. Tour this and other rare spectacular garden wonders such as a Japanese Garden, Mediterranean Garden, and Rhododendron Garden.

Spend some time hanging out at Café Van Kleef. Gather with politicians, artists, entrepreneurs and a host of other very interesting people at a café bar. This nightlife destination is fast becoming the hippest spot to mingle with intellectuals, enjoy elegant drinks, and hear the best from local blues, jazz and contemporary musicians.