Watercolor Workshop at the Dancing Cat!

This past weekend I got to go to a watercolor workshop with a friend at the Dancing Cat in San Jose

While art was one of my favorite subjects in school and I was sure to try and take as many classes as I could, watercoloring is something I had absolutely no experience with so I was excited to try this workshop out. Not to mention that I haven't been to the Dancing Cat since they reopened several months ago and so I was excited to re-check this place out.

The Dancing Cat is like a cat cafe minus the coffee. It's really more like a club house for cat lovers which provides a comfortable home for several homeless and family-less cats while they wait for their new forever home. You can see my previous visits to this cat cafe here, here, and here. While they changed a few aspects of the place, the spirit of it remains the same. It was great getting to see all their cats running around freely and lounging away like there's no tomorrow.

As for the workshop, I thought it was very well organized. We arrived a little early and was able to grab some coffee at a nearby coffee shop before getting started. When it was time and we walked into the Dancing Cat, the large center table they have was decked out and ready with all the necessary supplies we would need for the event. The instructor Frances Marin was very informative and helpful keeping instructions simple and yet making it easy enough for us to feel comfortable to just jump right in. Once we got started and throughout the workshop she would come around to each of us giving us individual feedback, suggestions, and encouragement. Periodically she would give further instructions to the group in general to help us along in our work. While it seemed that everyone was working at a different pace, I never felt rushed or discouraged if I was at a different place or working in a different pace from the other students in the workshop. Frances Marin was great with leading this workshop knowing that everyone works at a different speed. Also, I don't think the cats played a small insubstantial role in keeping us calm or giving us necessary distractions when we needed it. The Dancing Cat was very smart as well in selecting some very nice calming jazz to play in the background during the workshop. 

Overall, I had a great time at the Dancing Cat and at this workshop! I'd love to do the workshop again if they offer it again in the future. In any case, I will be sure to be back for visits with the cats. 
 

The Dancing Cat, San Jose, CA

Colorful fun ambience at the Dancing Cat, San Jose

Art work and comfortable couches for the cats and humans at the Dancing Cat

Adoptable cats currently available

The table set up and ready for us for our watercolor workshop

Watercolor station for one

Kitty wants to join in

My watercolor station set up. My inspiration, my sweet girl Murkurie

Another cat says he's ready to join in

This one got tired. Says time for a nap

And a little bit of a drink

Lounge cats at the Dancing Cat

Look at that luxurious tail!

End of the watercolor workshop

Me with my masterpiece ;)

Murkurie on bed with Murkurie on wall

If you missed it, you can check out the Outfit of the Day post from this adventure here.

Christmas at Cat Town

Last Saturday my friend and I popped into Cat Town cat cafe for a visit with the cats

It was my second time visiting and my friend's first time there. The last time I was at the Cat Town Cafe was a few months ago back in August. You can read about my first visit here. All the magic of the first visit was there. The cafe and gift shop were fully stocked with lots of fun for any cat lover and this time in the cat zone they had kittens! Plus, for added fun, with it being the Christmas season, the halls were decked with Catmas cheer!

Cat Town Cafe, Oakland, CA

In the cafe, wet food or dry food?

Meowy Catmas at Cat Town

The cats are ready to start their day!

Ready to play

Oh Hai there!

Honk, Honk. Driving through

Showing off their dance moves

Heathcliff, Heathcliff, No one should terrify the neighborhood

Pretty as a picture

Sleepy time now

What are you so afraid of?

Back in the quiet room

Meanwhile, in the Cat Zone...

Best part of the awesome mural at Cat Town, cat bus!

Farewell Dancing Cat- You Will Be Missed!

Last weekend was the final weekend for the Dancing Cat cat cafe.

Tim and I went on Sunday to say farewell and to see this place, and the cats, one final time. It was hustling and bustling with lots of visitors that day as it was the last day they were going to be open. The Dancing Cat always was set up as a temporary pop up cat cafe and actually ended up staying open several months longer than they expected, but even knowing they were not going to be around for long, it was still awfully sad to see them go!

Because they were a lot busier than usual, I think the cats were especially tired that day. It was great to see though that most all of the cats there found placement in permanent homes and were just awaiting their next move. The Dancing Cat did such an amazing job while they were open! In fact, in their short time there they found loving permanent homes for 48 cats! :D :D :D

My heart was so sad though to see that while an amazing 48 cats found forever homes there were two beautiful great cats that did not, two cats that have been there every time we went to visit, Blanche and Dixie. I asked about what will happen to these two kitties. They will go back to the shelter they came from, Town Cats, a local no-kill shelter. I went to Town Cats' website and learned that Dixie and Blanche are both at the Petsmart in San Jose on Curtner Ave. where they can be seen by potential families to adopt them. I hope they will find forever homes soon. They were always so gentle, loving, and playful cats every time we saw them. I ask Tim every day if we can go get them but he thinks four cats in our small house will be too much. I keep asking but in the mean time, I hope they will find good homes soon.

Welcome back to the Dancing Cat!

Where the couch is full of sleeping kitties

And there are even kitties on the walls

Dixie is snoozing away

Blanche is being zen

Oreo, the man with the mustache

Bonnie in the back hanging out

Blanche striking a pose

Oreo being inquisitive

Blanche is laying low checking things out

Everyone getting some snooze time

Dixie says, "What's that!" when a group of 5pm appointment people show up

I don't think she likes it

But she quickly settles back into her sleep

Oreo, being bad... No, just being a cat!

The emergence of Gaston

Gaston, one debonair man

Gaston and Blanche

Bonnie playing

Farewell Dancing Cat- what a great job you did! You will be missed!

I'm so happy I was able to visit this wonderful cat place and get to know the kitties there and the lovely ladies that made this all happen. I wish everyone, human and kitty, lots of luck with what the future holds!