I went here to do my bridal portraits (I know, no one in Cali has heard of these, it's a southern thang). Â Basically me running around in my wedding gown taking pictures so I'm not rushed on the day of. Â Anyway, my photographer suggested this park as a place to get some great shots, and while I must say I was skeptical of this Escondido spot, it more than delivered!!
We got some gorgeous shots in front of the old train car, a little barn type area, amidst the trees and near the fountain and giant dome area. Â This would be a great spot for engagement pictures as well!! Â It wasn't too crowded (so you won't have a huge crowd staring at you), and the grounds really were a hidden gem.
One star off for the extremely bossy/rude lady who was ushering people in for a children's ballet or something...she almost didn't let me use the restroom for literally 2 seconds to change into my gown...I mean REALLY lady?? Â There are no public restrooms so I guess she wanted me to change in a shady corner in front of the homeless people. Â I mean, have a heart right?? Â Aside from her, the park was gorgeous!! Go and enjoy :)
Excellent Wedding Venue!!
We got married here back in September. Â I SINCERELY apologize for not writing this sooner (multiple jobs and grad school get in the way of remembering to do things...)
Venue: 5*
We had our ceremony in the Lyric courtyard, and then they flipped it to the reception during the cocktail hour. Â It was a GORGEOUS and very classy setting, well lit, very intimate and romantic, and even photographed well at night. Â It was the perfect setting for our "romantic simple elegance" wedding theme (not really a theme, but that's what we were going for, and CCAE MORE than accomplished that.
Photo-Ops: 5*
Beyond the event space, there were several amazing photograph locations on site. Â From a barn, to old houses, to a funky playground, to an old train, to a huge infinity fountain, and not to mention the museums and amazing architecture, the possibilities for photos were endless
Bridal suite/Getting ready area: 5*
We had several great options for this area, and I was getting a bit anxious towards the date not having this detail locked down. Â Any of the other rooms we had looked at would have been awesome--one had indoor room with lots of windows (good light for photographs) as well as a large balcony (again, great for photos, fresh air, separation/space, etc.). Â I would have been perfectly happy. Â But it turns out, to my pleasant, anxiety-relieving, and ecstatic surprise, their special room (I forget what it's called) that they set up their prime acts (think Anthony Bourdain) happened to be available, and we got to use it at no extra fee (I think we paid $100 for a room to get ready in)!! Â It was a loft with upstairs/downstairs, a kitchen area, bathroom, big windows, and cozy furniture, right next to our wedding site (in their main theater). Â I think we had 20 people at one time in there, and it was still comfy.
Staff: 5*
Friendly, accommodating, personable and personalized service. Â They were SUPER accommodating. Â Terry Thomas-Frye was absolutely amazing. Â She helped me organize everything, set everything up (we paid her of course, although her help and endless positivity were priceless). Â I'm very detail-oriented (maybe a little OCD and neurotic, but at least I can admit it!) and our wedding was DIY--I made and organized and labeled everything, and they let us store it there, and set everything up according to how I wanted it. Â Terry was very conscientious in returning my calls and emails, in offering suggestions, and using her knowledge of the venue to make all my ideas work. Â Ravi (I think his name was?) and the rest of the food and beverage crew were outstanding, pulling everything off. Â There were a couple hitches, as with any large event, but they more than made up for it in how they fixed it. Â Our wedding was so beautiful. Â I've worked in food and beverage, hospitality, and banquet events for over a decade, and being picky (but always nice to employees because they are the heart of it), I can say hands down they did a phenomenal job. Â It wasn't until we were leaving that we saw people from another wedding going on in a different area that we realized, they were doing 2 weddings that night, and we didn't notice a single lag in service or timing. Â Well done!
Price: 5*
We were definitely ballin' on a budget with our wedding, and Terry was so sweet and helpful in coming up with ideas and being flexible about what we could include/exclude to make our wedding as beautiful as possible without promising our firstborn child and bankrupting ourselves in the process. Â This would have been the case with several of the other San Diego wedding venues we looked at, since San Diego is a destination wedding location, everyone and their mom wants to get married here, and the venues price up accordingly. Â Importantly, she didn't make us feel less important for it, as we had experienced at other places we looked at. Â If we were dropping less than $15-20k, we didn't seem to matter. Â NOT SO at CCAE. Â We both felt so special, as people should feel at their wedding, and we didn't lose our rears in debt over it.
Food: 5*
I didn't eat much, but according to friends, I ate more than they did at their weddings, and they ate more than they would have at other weddings. Â I thought the food was delicious, and so did our guests. Â Not a single person complained about their food (one got the wrong meal, but loved it anyway, and I think the staff corrected the mistake anyway). Â Even the vendor meals were yummy. Â You don't realize the low price when you test the quality of the food.
Overall Experience: 5*
I think I've been the unofficial spokesperson for CCAE since we got married there. Â It may have taken me a while to Yelp, but believe you me, I've been singing like a bird in praise of this place as an ideal wedding location.
Please tour this place, ask for Terry, and tell her Nicole and Kevin Sheppard INSISTED you check it out as a PERFECT wedding location!!
Gorgeous venue! So much POTENTIAL! Hoping for many more wonderful prosperous years for this fabulous place. Ushers are adorable, seating is great, and it reminds me of an old Opera House. It is just glorious and grand. The Center can also host private parties, receptions and events. The staff are superb. Long live the ARTS in Escondido!
Review Source:A beautiful, smaller sized venue that I've had the pleasure of performing and watching shows at over the years.. The interior is gorgeous and definitely oozes with class.. It's not gigantic but any means but the spacious seating is designed in such a way that there is not one bad seat in the house.. If you ever have a chance to catch a show here or perform onstage, walk around and really appreciate the design and architecture both inside and out..
Oh and free parking is ALWAYS EXCELLENT..
This has to be one of my favorite venues in San Diego. I came here to see Ravi Shankar play a few months ago. We had seats on the second balcony. I was afraid we would be too far away to really see, but its set up so everyone has a good view.
Everyone was dressed up nicely, which makes it even more fun to go out when you have to get spiffed up. The only people not following that rule was the 3 stoners sitting in front of us texting, and talking outloud to themselves, but that did not spoil our fun.
The bathrooms are huge with a big room lined with mirrors and those lights that you see in old fashioned movie stars dressing rooms. Random fact, but it is definately a good place to fix your makeup or prance around.
There is a snack bar with wine and drinks for sale in the lobby if you wanna booze it up before entering. Parking is plentiful.
What an absolutely amazing venue!!! Â
We came for the Morrissey concert last week and were very happy with his venue selection. Â Much like my review of the Stone Brewery, my only disappointment with this place it its location. Â I wish it weren't sooo far from home.
There seriously isn't a bad seat in the house. Â We were on the first balcony and had a great view of the show. Â The acoustics of the hall are well designed so the music comes through very well. Â I am only dinging them one star due to the fact that they have joined the ranks of many other venues that only accept cash at their snack bar and they don't have adequate ATMs to handle the volume of a large crowd. Â Honestly I think it's ridiculous in this day and age to not accept credit cards. Â However if you aren't going to accept them you need to ensure the ATMs work and have cash.
Anyway I do give them credit for having sufficient parking and NOT charging for it. Â I would definitely return to see shows here in the future. Â I will just be sure to bring more cash with me.
California Center for the Arts is a beautiful venue. Â My fiance and I are looking to have a theater wedding and came across the art center on google. When we went to tour the venue we were amazed at the unique and gorgeous venue! Â And all the different room options to choose from.
The thing that stood out most to my fiance and I was the event cordinator Colby Thompson. She has been so helpful every step of the way! She understood we were working on a budget, she helped implement great ideas and never made us feel presured. Â I would recommend getting married here for sure! Great venue and sweet staff!
This is only for the art gallery.
I came here twice hoping to find something redeeming about escondido... the first time, it was closed on a saturday. I had taken the train out here just so I could go here. What a waste. (After that was a very scary adventure in a seemingly abandoned downtown area... but that's for another post)
My second time, I was actually intending to go to the San Diego Museum of contemporary art... and last minute made the fatal mistake of changing my mind last minute because it was a)closer, b)cheaper.
Well, you get what you pay for. There was only one artist's work on display, and I finished it in a matter of 10 minutes. I got bored quick, and found myself outside confused and angry at myself for letting Escondido break my heart again.
It's sad too. It's a beautiful space and beautiful building... you just wish they could fill it with a lot of beautiful art.
What a beautiful venue with ill trained staff.
It was odd to the staff screw up so much when it came to our catered event.
So, we had a company party and had 90 people there. We actually anticipated 110 and they ran out of food. That is a sad thing.
The food was good, yet it was obvious that they skimped on the meat and veggies. There was a mound of mashed potatoes to compensate.
The cake was dry.
The bar was emptied out by us and their selection was spotty, I mean no Beefeater and only a bit Grey Goose. I wanted a simply gin and tonic.
Last was the water glasses. We had to ask multiple times to get our water glasses fill up. The funny thing is one person would ask and the servers would only fill up their glass, they left all the other glasses empty. Woe Me!
So a nice place that needs to pick up it service.
Headed to the California Center for the Arts last Saturday to see Anthony Bourdain speak.
The plentiful free parking that this venue offers is awesome, and entering the venue was simple and quick. Â My boyfriend and I arrived about half an hour early, but for future trips to the California Center for the Arts I'd prefer to have more time to check out the different tables full of brochures and raffles. Â I also noticed things like wine and cheesecake for sale.
Dress code was all over the place--older women in sequined dresses, shorts, Ed Hardy t-shirts (hilarious that during the show Anthony Bourdain referred to the brand as "Ed Hardy Douche Wear" when describing the attire of a typical American tourist), blazers, Ugg boots--but for most events at this venue one could probably wear jeans with a nice top and footwear and be dressed appropriately. Â The California Center for the Arts, while elegant and visually pleasing, isn't very comparable to the more grandiose arts/cultural centers that I'm accustomed to (i.e., Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh).
Etiquette, etiquette...
* Shame on those who wore flip flops. Â Wouldn't you think an 8PM event at a venue called "Center for the Arts" warrants footwear a bit more refined than what's appropriate for, say, Pacific Beach Bar & Grill?
* This venue isn't a ballgame where one can come and go as he/she pleases and just minimally annoy others. Â The leg room at the California Center for the Arts is tight, and the rows are long with few aisles. Â Don't doubt that you'll be hated when you arrive late and force people in your row to either stand or bend their legs to enable you to awkwardly pass.
A few points of criticism: Â the volume associated with Anthony's clip-on microphone could have been bumped up a couple notches, and I thought the seats were terribly uncomfortable. Â Other than that, a pleasant evening with Anthony Bourdain.
I am not a huge fan of the California Center for the Arts. Â Though the venue is very beautiful, I feel that it is not really a "center for the arts" and I really think that the administrators should not only put what performers that they hired to be there on the website, but also the people who have rented the venue out for a performance. I mean, they want business don't they?
Review Source:What a beautiful theatre! What a great venue for a concert! What a jewel for Escondido!
Recently, Terrie Davies played the California Center for the Arts. In case you don't know who that is, (I didn't until my friend sent me a link to check him out) he covers Billy Joel and Elton John, and does so very convincingly! With his 9-piece band, including two back-up singers and Davies on the grand piano, the sound and acoustics were rich, full and powerful. Even with a less than packed house the performance was energetic and fantastic! Davies himself commented that the theatre was the best he'd played in. Everyone in attendance sang along and had a wonderful night. What a treat! If you haven't been, then you must find something to go see there. The parking is free too!
My sister and husband play in a concert band and recently had their spring concert here. Â It seems that they have both a Concert Hall and a smaller Center Theater, which is where they played.
The Center Theater is an intimate (seats about 400) venue and has surprisingly good acoustics. Â I got to the concert a little late and the ushers were helpful in getting me seated as soon as the first number was over. Â This is a little out of the way for me but is still a nice place to catch a show.
It was one of two venues that I went to visit on Friday. The first of many on my list. California Center for the Arts, Escondido made the list because its facility can hold a wedding reception for up to 650 guests. Of course, I'm looking for something that can accommodate 500 or less guests.
Advantages to this venue:
The wedding reception package includes complimentary:
Guest book table, gift table, cake table, cocktail tables for cocktail hour, round tables for reception, head table for wedding party.
Wedding cake
Champagne or Sparkling Cider Toast
Votive Candles for tables
Table linens and napkins
Dance floor
Lighted ficus trees and decorative lattice
Parking.
They have wedding packages as cheap as $38/person for dinner receptions to $58/person.
Unfortunately, the date I wanted was already booked. Â I could book the reception on a Sunday (which is cheaper), but I have several other venues to view...
All in all not a bad place for the arts. Â I guess what soured me was that I went to see a jam band here as part of a blues festival, and the set up just threw me for a loop. Â While this must be a fine place to see an orchestra, play or opera, a rock concert is not well served here. Â The sound is excellent, but the structured fell of this place ruins the rock vibe. Â Coupled with the fact that it is farther away than you think if venturing from civilization in San Diego, I would have to defer on another concert here. Â The staff, while very friendly, were extremely slow in directing us to our seats, which seemed mandatory. Â The assigned seating only venue made for a very subdued atmosphere that detracted from the overall experience. Â Also, in true un-rock fashion, the show started exactly at the appointed time. Â I was mystified why a band with such a wide following as North Mississippi all stars would choose Escondido over San Diego to perform. Â I enjoyed the music and it is not a bad venue over all, just not the best place to see a rock show.
Review Source:"Oh, I'm sawry I can't let the cahwfy in."
"Wait a sec, did you just say cahwfy?"
"Yeah..."
"For the love of New York and everything that is good in this world just let us slide by...come on...come on..."
"Oh..."
Well, we didn't make it in with the coffee. Â Betsy and I stood outside the Arts Center to finish our drinks and then entered the theatre. Â The exterior is quite nice with nice lighting and the foyer/hall is rather modern, but maybe a little too disinteresting.
The acoustics were nice when the play finally started. Â We went to see N*W*C* (which stands for racial slurs not welcome on Yelp). Â The seating is pretty numbered, leaving a packed house still a small crowd creating an intimate setting.
Escondido desperately needed this. Â While still not a E-dido fan, I may make the trek to see a play or two every now and then.
This arts center gave Escondido a much needed boost of culture. When it was built it lead to a rejuvenation of Escondido's downtown region and now Escondido has become destination for residents of other parts of the county to visit.
The structure is very impressive. The decor is modern and minimalist. Although the building is not as unique and elaborate as the Getty, the Escondido Center for the Arts still merits comparisons to the Getty, and  that fact is impressive enough. Â
The Arts Center has attracted some major acts and the performances are pretty eclectic. I've seen a lot of shows here, I saw an Aztec Indian dance, Bill Maher, and classical concert here, so as you can imagine, a lot of various performers come to the Arts Center.
But the influence that the Arts Center has had on the Escondido community will always impress me more than performance schedule .
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