The parking is easy in the lot right outside. The auditorium has wide comfortable seats like no other I've been to. It's stadium seating so one can hear and see the stage with ease. Each performance has been entertaining which is nice. There are many good restaurants close by so we have a great date night each visit. I also appreciate that before and during intermission there are snack and drinks for purchase/ donation and the monies go to different charities. read more

See all

James Lee is a wonderful recreation center that offers a multitude of free activities that are family friendly at the recreation center. *However one specific person in the staff has caused quite a bit of commotion and has ruined my overall experience with James Lee. Mr. Quincy (if I have spelled his name correctly) is at times extremely rude, prejudiced, and outright hostile. I understand that given his circumstances, hardships of his life, and disability that life has taken a very heavy toll on him, both physically and emotionally. However, I do not find it appropriate for him to take out his anger and hostility on people/family just trying to simply check-in at the front desk. Simply forgetting a registration card to check-in to james lee does not warrant him re-telling a story of his youth where he experienced severe racism. And then using his story as an example, to belittle me and say "I am expected to treat everyone fairly. Do you think you deserve special treatment as well?" Besides forgetting my registration card, I usually do my best to listen to management and follow the guidelines within James Lee. I do not think a mishap like forgetting my card would instigate a hostile discussion on racism and a belittling lecture informing me of what prejudice is. I did not even ask Mr. Quincy the question "Can I get into James Lee without my registration card?" I simply signed my name at the front desk and informed Mr. Quincy "I think I forgot my registration card." Restating James lee policy of no card/no entry would have sufficed. Should I always be ready to be prepared to be verbally attacked because I must be assumed to be "privileged" if I forget to bring a registration card? Should I assume that if I accidentally make a mistake like this again, that it is due solely to my race? That forgetting my card is equivalent to "being categorized as privileged" and the only way to remedy this is to be demeaned in a hostile conversation of what prejudice in society is and be informed with Mr. Quincy's own personal experiences of racism as if presumed I am ignorant? Through out the entire conversation I only continued to nod or agree with Mr. Quincy, but I did not understand why a mistake like mine would warrant a demeaning lecture on racism/judgement of my character . To be honest I do not even understand the connection between forgetting a registration card and educating me on the social issue of racism. As a minority myself, I do understand and have had my own experiences of racism ( And again I am not presuming that one person's personal experience of racism warrants more attention/worth over another person's experience) Furthermore, this is not the first time he has done this to me. He has belittled me before for my mistakes when checking in. I have talked to other members that use James Lee Community Center and they have also experienced various displays of rudeness/unwarranted hostility from Mr. Quincy as well. I am simply writing to others so that they are warned that ,although James Lee Community Center may seem like a family friendly center, be prepared to be verbally scolded on the subject of racism and be ready to be perceived by your race as "privileged" if you do accidentally make a mistake like forgetting a registration card. I'm glad I did not bring my two small nieces that day, as I would never want them to experience what I did. Secondly I am concerned for Mr. Quincy's well being and health. I know given his circumstances, his physical disability, and from his detailed descriptions of his own personal encounters with racism, Life has certainly dealt him a very heavy hand. However, he is not getting the help he needs by yelling, threatening and giving detailed accounts of his history with discriminatory encounters to random strangers/families that use a recreation center. I strongly feel if Mr. Quincy had some form of professional help/therapy it would greatly aid him with his traumatic past and perhaps set him on the road to recovery from his past grievances. read more

I discovered the James Lee Community Center only two years ago, when I was looking for a camp for my child, and I am glad I did. Mr. Quincy was the first "face" of the Center that we got to meet when my husband and I walked in for the first time. I had a zillion questions and he remained calm and answered them all without problems. The rest of the staff has also been super helpful and responsive to my needs. They all go beyond just serving you at the front desk, keeping you informed about the Center's offerings and due dates, even when you are not there. In these past two years I dealt with probably 10-15 staff members and they were all very nice. I see that there is a review that negatively talks about Mr. Quincy. I would like to say that in my dealings with Mr. Quincy, I have always been pleased by his straight-forward way of talking to me. When I have seen him interacting with my child or his camp-mates, he is always been very respectful and direct, offering guidance like any adult should do with youngsters who are growing up. Mr. Quincy is an older no-nonsense gentleman with a solid upbringing that goes back in time and is based on the notion that respect and hard work are a necessary tool to success. In my dealings with him, he has always been very pleasant, cheerful and respectful, notwithstanding that the color of my skin does not match his or that I am not from here. In my experience, Mr. Quincy is not looking at what you are or where you are from, he is looking at you as customer. Also, please keep in mind that in this line of work, one is faced with many different personalities that come to that counter. Sometimes, I am sure, it gets stressful and when you get yet another person with the same problem, you might not present yourself at your best. Mr. Quincy is the heart and soul of that Center. Mr. Quincy, however, is not the only reason why you should go there. Aside from kids programs that are aimed at keeping youngsters away from the streets while out of school, they have a basketball court, a big gym, a senior center, classes of different kinds, a theater with a working company, and much more! I highly recommend that you go see for yourself all the wonderful programs that are offered in the hidden gem that is the James Lee Community Center! read more