Rear view
Stage
Stage
Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy
Outside
Lighting fixtures/decor/architecture
Outside
Back view of the California Ballroom.
Beautiful wedding crowd watching dancing and performances
View from the back
California Ballroom view from the stage.
Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy
Quinceañera stage and buffet setup
Stage decorated with flowers
From the back, looking towards the stage.
Newly renovated!
Quinceañera band performing on our stage
Wedding party all lit up
Wedding dance party begins
Quinceañera
Built-in bar and more art deco features in ballroom
Tabletop examples in ballroom
Annabelle R.
Feb 6, 2024
Attended the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy event this past weekend and thought the venue worked perfectly for this theatrical experience. Though the outside does not look like much, the inside of the ballroom is characterized by ornate patterns on the walls and around the stage, and unique light fixtures hanging from the ceiling. Not a whole lot to be impressed by, as it still looks quite plain and simple overall, sort of like an ordinary conference room. But I guess that's what makes Oakstop special, that it's multi-use. It was fitting for the event I attended, and they set up the seating, decor and lighting just fine. It wouldn't be my first choice for a wedding or other celebratory event though.
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Rachel M.
Dec 19, 2019
Had yet another fantastic offsite- this time for my OBGYN chiefs and managers- at the newly renovated California Ballroom. The space is super charming - it has a simultaneously old and new style, which makes it classically modern. It's like you are going to see some grand theatrical performance upon entering. There is new carpeting, teardrop hanging lights, modern bathrooms, bar counter, small private room for calls or soon to be lactation, and a brand new cozy and stylish extra meeting room in the back! The A/V works well, although there is some minor acoustic issues for people in the back. I think the speaker just needed to use the mic better, however. Our event was an end of year meeting/ celebration for all of the 2019 accomplishments and we did a Grammy-style award show at the end- the stage came in handy for this!Working with Paul to secure the venue was great- he's very organized and detailed. Everything you discuss is in the contract and he's very amenable to any changes and responsive to the many questions I ping ponged to him. Appreciated his patience and coordination very much! Lots of kudos to the day of coordinator, Meghan, who was the wind beneath my wings during my event. She assisted with everything at every request, whether it was new batteries for the mic, ensuring the caterers were able to get in, or just reassuring me when I was acutely stressed. She's the best!Definitely recommend California Ballroom for your next event! Just email Paul at [email protected] for more info!
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Keith B.
Jun 24, 2019
Paul is a pleasure to do business with. He is dependable, thoughtful, hardworking, and dedicated to creating a pleasant experience for his clients and their guests. The venue itself has a lot of potential when it comes to accommodating the needs of a unique event, and I'm very impressed with the great efforts that are being taken to enhance the space. I'm looking forward to a continued relationship with Paul and California Ballroom!
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Brenda B.
Mar 18, 2017
I Was there last Saturday to support and watch my cousin Miss auctioneer, Miss ashaki Johnson do her thing. had a very nice time Everett and Jones cater the food, and nothing bundt cakes provided the deserts. This was a fundraiser for a Oakland High School.
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Emanuel P.
Dec 27, 2018
Me and my wife had our reception here and space is amazing the decor is beautiful and it had a stage changing rooms just about everything you could ask for especially if you have a big family we had at least 150 members and it was more than enough space only promblem one may encounter is parking with these big numbers but there are lots nearby and the security there blended right in it seemed like they were apart of the part we were very satisfied and the owner is very accomaodating to your situation and relaly helps you figure out what you want.
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Shayla J.
May 14, 2019
Paul is awesome and super informative and knows the ins and outs of the CALIFORNIA BALL ROOM your reservation is in great hands
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Jerico O.
Nov 23, 2015
This is a pretty awesome place to hold an event. I love discovering new places in Oakland. I've must have passed this place a 1000 times and never knew it was here.It has plenty of old school charm. I bet they probably could have filmed American Bandstand here once upon a time. It has a sizeable stage, that comfortably fits a podium and a table for a panel. The main ballroom held 16 big tables and wasn't near capacity yet. If this wasn't a conference we would have had plenty of room for a dance floor. In the back there is a bar and I think there may even be a balcony, but we didn't have access to that.Fun fact: This place has speakers in the restrooms. You can hear the person speaking from the stage while you're in there. That may not be as fun for some people. I thought it was weird when I went, but that's what made it fun!
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Judie H.
Oct 5, 2009
Pretty cheap place to have your event at. Its huge and has a kitchen and bar facility for you to use. There is a parking lot for people hosting the event. Its really safe because you need to have a remote control to open it. You can tell this place is really old and has gone through many parties in its day. They should really pull out the carpets and replace with wood floors.I've been to two very different events here. My High School's homecoming dance and a baby shower. Its not the MOST beautiful place, but a decent place if you're strapped for cash.
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P D.
Jan 5, 2019
I am so pleased with all of the staff and crew at the California Ballroom. We spent months and months planning our party and Paul Campagna and his crew were a wealth of knowledge and support for the entire process. The staff at the party were incredibly friendly and professional. The space is quite versatile and, as you can see from the pictures, can become quite GRAND. You will not regret your experience with this venue. I would recommend this venue for any type of gathering.
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Soheila V.
Dec 18, 2018
Gorgeous venue with very helpful staff!We just had our Holiday Luncheon party with over 200 guests and it was a fun event with smooth organizing process. Paul even took some beautiful pictures of our event (we did not have a photographer) and shared with us. They allow parking for the caters and the music band which makes things easier. The kitchen facility is good. The sound system is excellent! And they all come at a very reasonable price. I highly recommend this venue.
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