California Theater is a gorgeous old historical theater with distinguishing beauty and exquisite…read moredetails. It's the type of place you go to where you spend just as much time ogling over the venue as you do the show itself! I went there for a film festival and loved it. The location is also pure perfection because it is within the same block as several restaurants and bars for those who want to grab a bite or drink before or after their show. The only (small) downside is finding parking. We parked in an outdoor lot 2 blocks away for $20. It is about the average rate for the area but still seems steep to me for a 2 hour show. *breathe* Trying to not sweat the small stuff, so I say pay for the steep parking and enjoy the gorgeous theater and watch a nice show! It will be worth the experience.

It looked like it got a 4.6 star review but they say doors open at 6:30 and it didn't. I thought I…read morewas in the back of the place so I walk to market street to find the front but it turns out I was at the right place. It is at first street. I didn't think I showed up early but then someone told me they changed the time and they'll let everyone in at 7 pm. I waited and we didn't get in until 7:15. I don't know; maybe I'm strict with time but it threw me off. We had plenty of time to get to our seats so we got beer for one of us. I was expected an open space to get to my seat because I had a cane. They blocked the open space so I had to scoot in to the aisle to get to my seats. I guess the show was packed and they had to add seats. Seats were not bad but not comfortable. I did have good seats so I can see the people performing.

They really delivered on the art at this event. Beautiful and creative paintings, pottery, and…read morestained glass, one of my favorite vendor booths being Richard Curtner's Collage Art. There was no shortage of wine tents either, including Naumann Vineyards and Shunyi Cellars. The festival took place near State Street Market, so I opted to grab some snacks there rather than from the various food vendors on site. But the offerings were pretty decent, ranging from asian street food to paella. Of course, ice cream and funnel cakes too. I enjoyed the live music, with rotating bands on multiple stages. Caught a performance by the Jazz Connexion at the Veterans Community Plaza and the Wanderers in the early afternoon on the main stage, with a playlist including Walk Like an Egyptian by the Bangles, Bruno Mars' Treasure, and Everybody Wants to Rule the World. The sound system was pretty bad, but the musicians were good as usual... I've actually seen them perform at other local events before and have been a fan for years. There were tables and seating provided as well, though most people squeezed into the shaded area while I was there. All in all, I had a good time, and I appreciate that it was free admission.

This was an amazing art and wine festival. It was easily a city block worth of booths and a…read morewonderful array of vendors. We purchased a really cool print from a so cal artist. Prices of wine were reasonable, I got a solid cup of white for $8 (4 tickets.)

Accidentally stumbled upon this place on a Friday night to roaring jazz music and a sign that said…read moreFREE TONIGHT. What am intimate venue with nice mood lighting. Sat and listens to music before meeting up with colleagues. This was a lovely little gem to find! Would love to come visit again.

This is clearly the personal passion of several locals and I applaud them for it. This is a small…read morespace that also serves as an office I think based on the copying machines and such in the space. Tonight was Stephanie Chou from New York and she was great. Chinese, Pop music in Jazz which was unique and wonderful.

We really enjoyed the Charlie Brown Christmas special here. Parking is pretty easy. You'll need to…read morereserve tickets online for the performances. Acoustics here are amazing and you can hear all the instruments from any part of the studio. Great for adults and kids!

Stanford Jazz Festival 2023. $50+ to sit in Campbell Recital - a classroom! $60+ to sit in…read moreDinkelspiel - probably the worst music venue in the Bay Area! Keepin' the riff-raff out, that's for sure. Stanford's endowment is $40 billion. Checked Bing Concert Hall prices? No (non-Stanford) student or senior rates. Isn't an MBA an entry into the largest crime syndicate in the world. A law degree lets you and your cronies set the rules. Medical degrees don't change a corrupt health care system. Stanford churns out in equity like a fine tuned machine. They owe the local non-Stanford community some small consideration, like reasonably priced tickets to their grossly expensive events. That'll be the day! Ha!

This was my first time at Pruneyard Cinemas and overall I really liked it! The theater itself is…read morepretty big with lots of seating, and the reclining chairs are really comfortable. Each seat also has a pull-out tray for your food, and you can scan a QR code right from your seat to order, which makes it really convenient to enjoy an actual meal while watching your movie. I ordered the Piquillo Chicken Ciabatta, which comes with grilled chicken, avocado, bacon, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and piquillo pepper aioli on toasted ciabatta. It was pretty good! I got the Cajun fries on the side and they were seasoned really well. I also ordered a Shirley Temple. When it first came out, the soda didn't taste right, so I asked if they could take it back and remake it. They were nice about it, and when they brought the new one back, they explained that they actually had to change out the Sprite in the soda machine. I appreciated that they took accountability, fixed the issue, and explained what happened. The remake was much better! My food and drink came out to $33.45, which I do think is a little pricey for one person, but I understand you're also paying for the dine-in movie theater experience and the convenience of having everything brought directly to your seat. One thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the cleanup. After I finished my drink, I asked one of the workers if they could take my cup and they did. Later, when another worker came by with my receipt, I politely asked if she could also take my empty plate because it was getting in the way of my view of the screen. She told me that the plates would be taken at the end of the movie. I understand that may be their normal process, but since the plate was blocking part of my view, I would've appreciated having it taken away when I was finished. Overall, I'm giving my first experience 4/5 stars. I really enjoyed the comfortable reclining seats, the food, and the whole dine-in movie concept. Eating in the dark can be a little difficult , but it's still a fun experience. Hopefully next time everything goes a little smoother, because I would definitely come back and give it another try!

This theater offers a nice alternative to the typical large movie theater experience. The…read moreauditoriums are small, with only about five rows, which creates a cozy and intimate atmosphere. The reclining chairs were very comfortable, and I loved the convenience of ordering food and drinks directly from my seat using a QR code. They also serve alcohol, which adds another option for anyone who wants to enjoy a drink during the movie. The theater delivered good picture quality and clear sound, and I enjoyed the overall experience. If you prefer huge screens and large auditoriums, this may not be your first choice, but if you're looking for a comfortable, quaint place to watch a movie without the crowds of a larger theater, this is a great option.

Loved it! Went to…read morethe combo Sub-zero festival/south first friday last weekend. Wandered thru the institute of contemporary art, ate nachos and a burrito from a Mexican food truck in a beer garden, caught a drag show in the middle of the street, checked out the quilt museum, sat in on SJ symphony's open rehearsal at California Theatre, peeked in art galleries, browsed the street vendors' wares...wanted to check out the SJ museum of art too, but they closed at 9ish and we didn't make it in time. Will def return!

Cool art walk with free admission to a variety of art museums, galleries, and exhibits, as well as…read morelive music performances, this past Friday. Not all venues were within walking distance. Sure there was a cluster of them in the SoFA district, along South First and Second Street. But others were in the Martha Garden District, an inconvenient distance away. This included Machu Picchu Gallery of the Americas at the Citadel Art Studios ("Amazonian Rainforest Arpillera" 3D cloth appliques) and the Art Ark Gallery (featuring "The Last Set Before Dawn" by Lilly Horani). I viewed some amazing art pieces at Chopsticks Alley Gallery and Works SJ. Listened to Opera singers outside the California Theatre, as well as the sounds of the Michael Webster Quartet on the piano, drums, bass, saxophone, and clarinet in the SJZ Break Room. There was more art to explore at MACLA (current program "From Their Hands to Ours"), as well as live entertainment in the attached Castellano Playhouse, the talented musicians of Los Calderones putting on a show for the crowd. Also checked out "The Woven Pixel" exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, and was impressed by the beautiful displays of this unique art form. South First Fridays hosts more lively events throughout the year, such as the SubZERO festival which I've enjoyed before. But this past weekend, the kickoff to the new year was more mellow, no crowds to deal with, just appreciation of the arts. There were a couple food trucks outside some of the bars and entertainment venues too (Tacos El Cowboy, and Stinky Noodle), and no shortage of food options from local businesses in the area to enjoy a snack or meal on this lovely winter evening.

For the Raya movie night, they started the film before it got completely dark. This was bad because…read moreit made the starting of of the film harder to see, But this was also good because the movie ended earlier so the kids could get back home before it got too late at night. They were doing trivia with prizes before the movie started. And there was also a portable bathroom this week on the left side.

I absolutely LOVE the Starlight Cinemas Series featured in Downtown San Jose. This is our 3rd year…read moreattending the series and I cannot speak more highly of this fun and family-friendly event! Taking place every 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesday of the month, the San Jose Downtown Association features this "traveling cinema series" that show FREE outdoor movies in 3 areas in downtown San Jose. Films in the past have included: "Old Skool", "Casablanca", "Shawn of the Dead", and many more! Many of the movie nights offer booths that sell food and "adult beverages" as well as games and raffles. We suggest arriving a bit early to snag an ideal spot, bring warm blankets and/or folding chairs, and a picnic basket with your choice of goodies. :) Complete movie list for Summer 2010 can be found at: http://www.sjdowntown.com/Starlight_Cinemas.html We'll see you there!

Very accessible regional venue and saw Nate Bargatze comedy show here from the upper section with…read morethe whole family. Easy $10 parking at Market & San Pedro garage in downtown San Jose, and a nice 10-15min walk to SAP center. Lines to get in looked long at first but moved quickly. Would have no concerns going to this venue again.

Great venue.... High prices…read more Like most stadiums... bring your $$$$$. We had Bibo;s pizza, which was just ok, the dough was thick - the pizza at their restaurant is MUCH BETTER. Disappointment: They only carry canned wine so we ended up getting very pricy vodka. It is a nice venue... just pricey - eat & grab beverages before going in... Would I go back? Kinda have to if I want to see the concerts or Sharks.