Attended the UC Davis Video Game Orchestra "Against All Odds" spring concert at Jackson Hall and sat in the Orchestra Terrace (Right), very good seats for the mid-tier price point. I've seen the UCD VGO perform before, but either at off-campus venues or on-campus at Wright Hall main theatre -- this was my first time watching them at Mondavi, they've grown a bunch! What's especially neat is that all of their members are current students or alumni of UC Davis, and all of their pieces are arranged by their own members. Each quarter is a different theme for the concert that explores various genres of video game soundtracks. Some of their past performances can be found here if you're curious as to what kind of music they play: http://bit.ly/4gLwY54 Some songs that were played (with live vocalists too!) were from Clair Obscur, Deltarune, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Deemo II, Minecraft, Peak, League of Legends, Xenoblade Chronicles, Fire Emblem, Overcooked, Bloodborne, Lies of P, Persona, and more. Same ticket pricing whether you purchase online or in-person at the box office. 10% CAAA alumni discount only for Mondavi Center Presents events throughout the season. Staff get discounted parking via the app as well. There is the Gateway parking garage and Parking Lots #1 and #2 shared with the Manetti Shrem art museum, Mondavi Food & Wine Institute, Alumni Center. They did have some parking attendants providing directions before and after the event. Print-at-home or mobile ticketing. Restrooms clean, did not avail during intermission but they also had a merchandise counter setup. As for concessions, only drinks can be brought into the hall, food has to be eaten in the lobby, also no outside food. Ushers/Ticketers were very good directing people to the correct doors/rows/seats. read more

Mondavi Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Davis, California

Been here a few times & was here for an event on a Saturday evening but realized Ive never done a review. I've always enjoyed every show here just not too excited about the seats especially if people are late since there's not a lot of leg room for people to squeeze by. I always buy tickets at the end to avoid sitting in the middle as I find it really tight. There is a snack bar but it doesn't offer a lot but if you need water/soda/coffee or a cookie/brownie they have it. read more

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It's 2026 and people have to download an app and create a profile to pay for parking? That's not cool at all. It shouldn't be that complicated to add parking to a ticket price or somehow make it user friendly. Park your car, pay at a machine or give people money here. read more

Our first time & maybe not our last. My wife was worried about the parking situation so we left early for this beautiful venue. There was a parking structure across the street. The venue itself opens one hour prior to the performance. But inside seating isn't available until thirty minutes before the event. There were refreshments for sale. Restrooms conveniently stationed next to our seats. Luckily our seats were in the orchestra area. My wife loved her aisle seat. We were seated second row from the front. There was no intermission so the Ledisi's performance lasted for a good ninety minutes. Her voice to hear in person was truly a blessing. All I can say is WOW! She sang for Dinah & she's so talented. Her jazzy, bluesy r/b soul vocals were incredible. We were so happy to experience it in person. Ledisi has such a cute personality on top of it all too. Such a quintessential beauty! And Truly a night to remember! By the way they specifically asked for no photography & the employees there WILL ask you to stop. Just sit back, relax & take in the concert! You will ENJOY! read more

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I've been here twice for concerts and have been extremely pleased with the venue and the overall experiences I've had. The campus is gorgeous that it sits on and the Center is absolutely beautiful inside. What I love most about the seating inside is that it's designed well with comfortable seats that aren't crammed together and you can actually enjoy the show. There are vents under each seat to keep you cool, which is also a plus on warmer seasons. The sound quality here is absolute perfection as well and I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't feel the same way as I do about this wonderful venue! What a true gift it is to have near us! Oh, the parking here is great as well and so are the attendants!!! read more

Mondavi Center - Inside the lobby. They have stairs to get to the other levels and elevators! There are restrooms on each floor. - Performing Arts Near Me - Davis, California

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The box office and customer service is still bad. I was charged for tickets I never received. The box office said they will send a refund check... in about 2 months. read more

Nice interiors and simple concessions, friendly ushers, great acoustics. Parking isn't great because it is a little confusing. read more

Mondavi Center - Early audience at Mondavi performing arts center for "An Evening with W. Kamau Bell". - Performing Arts Near Me - Davis, California

We won tickets to see a string quartet show at the Mondavi Center and I was really excited to be able to come to the Davis campus to see it. The campus is always so beautiful and the Mondavi Center is a beautiful building as well. The photos online give a good representation of the interior setup when looking for tickets so that is much appreciated while booking. I was not familiar with the event we were going to see as we won the tickets in a charity raffle. I called the tickets office and they told me it was mostly lecture so I was confused about what we would see. The day of the show we made the short drive from Sacramento and shouldn't have missed the entrance to the parking garage, but we did so we had to correct that. There are signs and there were people helping to direct traffic into the garage. We get inside the building and found our seats pretty quickly. There were concessions available, but we didn't partake because we were cutting it close to showtime. The show started and like the tickets office rep said, he was talking quite a bit, but I thought it was a long intro and deep bio of the composer the group would be playing so it wasn't too bad. The instruments came out and they played a piece. They were so great - wow. Then the guy started talking again and he broke down every single detail in the piece: the weather the day the composer wrote it, he set the scene in history where the composer was, the type of characteristics of each musical segment, etc. Then when he was complete with describing the music and why, the quartet played that part of the piece - it was so amazing and SO informative. It was a little over my head as I could barely play my recorder in grade school and I cannot read music to save my life, but even I was able to appreciate the show. I rated 4 stars because I really wish I would have had a better description on the website so I could have known what to tell my husband to expect. I will be back again to this beautiful event space. read more

No one should be reviewing this place with any sort of arts experience, correct? Right now, it's a COVID-19 testing facility and they have it down to an art. Instead of scraping your brain (via nostrils) they have you swish a teeny amount of water in your mouth and spit it through a tube in to the vial. I received a text message before the test reminding me to not consume ("eat, drink, smoke, vape or chew gum") for at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment. To make the check-in process rather quick, have the QR code they email you when you register for the test available. A quick scan of that made my entire visit less than five minutes long because there was no line due to scheduling. It'll be nice when they hold performances in there but for now, it works as a testing facility. read more

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The Mondavi Center is an amazing building. I have had the privilege of seeing shows in both its main theatre and its smaller connected theatre spaces. Everything about Mondavi is so grand that every time I go to see a show there I feel almost exalted. Seeing George Takei there my first year of college was an experience I hold very dear to me. If after the pandemic you get a chance to visit the Mondavi Center do not pass it up! They have events for everyone - whether it be talk backs, orchestras, dance troupes, live music, or theatre you will no doubt be able to find something that peaks your fancy. But for now there are still plenty of ways to support and enjoy the Mondavi through their virtual events, so don't miss out! read more

Amazing fairytale transcendental journey hosted by the ever so amazing San Francisco symphony. My wife Anna & I frolicked amidst the arching spires of mahogany through cathedral like ultra sound reinforced walls to the gallant symphony of love, kindness and peace. God was here shining his glory upon us. Until again symphony. Fairies and ladybugs falling from weeping willow trees untwined.... read more

The venue and performances are excellent, but as other Yelpers have reported the customer service is very disappointing. If not for the assistance of my credit card company, I would have been unable to get a refund for a canceled event, given the various roadblocks that the Mondavi Center customer service dept put in my way. read more

"AN EXQUISITE VENUE FOR ENJOYING PERFORMANCES IN THE ARTS!" SIT REP Early birthday celebration, and my sweet friend Amanda and I head to the MONDAVI CENTER at UCDavis to see "TANGO FIRE". THE SET-UP A wonderful venue set up like an opera house where the acoustics are magnificent and the visual architectural and interior decor are quite sumptious and beautiful. They allowed patrons to go onto the stage - which was set up like an ARGENTINIAN CAFE - BEFORE the performance in fact so that couples could dance to the Tango music. THE PERFORMANCE The dancers were mesmerizing and magnificent! Five (5) couples danced through a century's worth of Tango-styles and elegance. Some of it reflecting quieter times, some of it reflecting the brutal military junta and dictatorships, all of it a breath-taking lesson in to the history and power of the Dance of Tango and how it STILL is reflective of the human spirit for all ages. The couple that included the blonde, were absolutely amazing. There was a lot of power in the way she was vaulted into the air and spun around, and in the way their one particular dance was ethereal and spiritual. I loved this demonstration most of all. THE MUSICIANS My god! This is probably the most amazing LIVE quartet of musicians I have had the pleasure of hearing! A FIDDLER. An ACCORDIANIST. A PIANIST. And a stand-up BASS. I've never heard so much talent (and VOLUME) come from just 4 guys! THE LOWDOWN If you ever get a chance to see this performance in the future, by all means do so! You'll see me there again too! read more

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Come quick....I Got The SHAKES! After watching the Grammy's this year I decided that I needed to see the Alabama Shakes live, low and behold a chance came a knockin at the Mondavi Center in Davis. Im almost positive this place was pretty fab, but I could barely see it because they had the fog machine on blast way before the performers got on stage. The show started with this band called The Tumbleweeds( thier name truly fits) and they got the crowd warmed up for the next act named Michael Kiwanuka. I thought I might be bored at this point, but I was amazingly surprised by his skills( and his backup guitarist..cutie!) O.M.G...you better.."HOLD ON"..to your seat that is..cause once Brittany Howard hit that stage it was like a volcano erupted. One big power house voice accompanied by the accoustics provided by the performance center was out of this world. No one could sit down even if they had tried. I would love to see other bands perform here...it was a great night. read more

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We were scheduled for a 2:00 start time. It's 2:15 and the Dino light show has still not started. Ridiculous. They should be prompt. Especially when the Niners are in the playoffs! read more

UC Davis' beautiful new performing arts center. It's that beautiful building that can be seen from highway 80. Is opened up as a study space during finals week. read more

Mondavi Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Davis, California

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Great venue , very roomy and the sound is also very good. We sat on grand terrace area which is like the middle level you could hear good but I think I would have like to have been on lower level or on one of the side balconies that are closer to stage . Parking is a breeze pay ahead online $14 , I had plenty of room I drive a Ram and easily fit in garage . They have drinks and snacks but nothing really just outside the Mondavi as In restaurants we drove about 2 miles away to Downtown Davis several places there to pregame we chose Mikuni Sushi great choice read more

A Taste of Davis presented by the Mondavi Wine Institute at UC Davis, CA. Great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Great outdoor setting with food, wine, and beer from local businesses. The red wines of the Sierra foothills wineries are competitive with those of any other area of California. I spend the two hours sipping and enjoying mostly zinfandels from the region. I will now have to add a visit of the region to my agenda in 2018. Very few whites were available, so that left me little room to try my favorites. I did sample a Sauvignon Blanc which was surprisingly pleasant and refreshing. As fanatic as I am about craft beers, I did not try any. The food was a Taste" of local restaurants in the Davis, CA area and they always seem to take the opportunity to let you sample some of their more popular dishes. A "Taste" it was and the wines made the food even better, and the food made the wines more special as well. Fun evening, can't wait until the next one. From there we made our way to the Mondavi Concert hall for a self-tour of the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art to view the John Cage exhibit and Dimensions of Black, a collaborative exhibition from San Diego, Ca. Finally to cap of the night we had tickets to the hear some very talented musician at the Mondavi Center. for the next 2 hours we enjoyed the music of DeJohnette, Grenadier, Medeski, and Scofield, a group better know as "Hudson". Very talented musicians displaying their interpretations of songs by Jimi Hendrix, and others of the Woodstock Festival and some originals from Hudson. These 3 venues were within 2-4 min. of each other. A very special evening. read more

Mondavi Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Davis, California

Mondavi Center is a nice place, even nicer if you can hook into that student discount! Mondavi always seems to have a varied calendar filled with diverse and interesting speakers and performers. The facility is big, but not huge, so you will have a good experience no matter where you sit. The sound system and acoustics are fine, its not an audiophile's dream but for people like me who care about how things sound, but don't have a super sensitive ear, you will be happy. The bar and bathroom get really busy, so don't think you can just mosey on up to either. Plan ahead and go to the bathroom beforehand and get in the bar line as soon as you get there. Parking can also be a challenge. The seats themselves are comfortable, and like I said almost every seat is a good one, EXCEPT the first few rows in front, unless you are a giant. The stage is set pretty high, and if you aren't tall or you don't bring a booster seat, you probably wont be able to see much, although you will be really familiar with te grain of the wood in front of you! Overall it's a cool place to get a ticket too, just don't be tricked into thinking the first rows are prime seats. read more

Mondavi Center - jose gonzalez from row BB (2nd row from front. Too close to the stage unless you are pretty tall. - Performing Arts Near Me - Davis, California

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I've seen four or five shows at the Mondavi - both concerts and educational presentations. For Sacramento it's nice to have a good moderate sized upscale venue around - fairly intimate, yet not small. Other than the Community Center, Sacramento doesn't have much else in the mid-range size, unlike the Bay Area. Two Issues: (1) Don't park in the parking garage - it's the same $7 or $10 as the nearby lots (depending on event the prices change) - but you might have to wait *thirty minutes* to get out. (2) They could also use a couple more bar areas, the lines for wine & beer are very long and then you CAN'T TAKE A DRINK INSIDE. Before a show or at intermission you might wait 15 minutes to get something and then have 15 seconds to chug it down or throw an $8 drink in the trash. Other than that - the sound is very good, the seating is great throughout - nosebleeds, front row, box seats all have decent views and sound. The selection of shows is good, from nerdy science talks through alt-rock concerts; Mondavi really mixes it up. Yelper tip - since the shows are sold in season packages seat availability and choice can be a problem. I've had good luck with tix off of *StubHub*. Yesterday I bought tix for a sold-out concert last night and got a fair price on center orchestra, only 13 rows from the stage. Excellent. read more

I don't remember when's the last time I was at Mondavi Center but I came back for Hella Capella 2014!! When buying tickets at Mondavi Center, I recommend purchasing them in person to avoid the surcharge if possible. If you don't have any other choice to buy them online, then what else can you do? Fortunately, I was able to get someone to buy them online and when you call the ticket office, they are very friendly as well!! They are not opened the usual Mon-Fri business hours 8-5, they open at noon or something along those lines. They must get to sleep in then huh?! So on the day of the show, I was running late so we arrived 10 minutes before 7:30pm (our show is at 7:30pm). It is packed. Lucky for us, we have a C parking permit. You can use your UC Davis parking permit, it works. If not, TAPs is going to collect money and ask you to pay the daily parking rate (I think it's $8?). There's so much parking, parking is NOT an issue. The show was packed, but thank goodness for assigned seating! It was easy to find out seat. It was such a lovely place. Mondavi center is really nice and during the intermission, you can walk around and there's patios as well. I think the trickiest part about the whole event was getting out of the parking lot. It was crazy! We waited forever!! Next time, I rather spend my time and money parking in a nearby parking lot and walking here. Or better yet...it is Davis, c'mon and just bike! read more

Not have again: you would think having the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science next door would mean great snacks available during the performances. Not so with the cookies - skip these, both chocolate chip and the half chocolate-covered "shortbread" cookies are lousy. Have again: we've been subscribers since the first season, so greatly enjoy many performances. Many wonderful presentations to attend. read more

What a nice venue to see a concert. We came here after waiting oh so anxiously to see the Postal Service...the place is small so everything is quite intimate. The crowd seemed to be above average and respectful...although it could be the nature of the type of group the Postal Service is also. The seats were comfy...the stage was a good size. For refreshments, they served...WINE! Of course they did...this is the Mondavi Center! Parking was convenient...$7, not bad at all. Would love to come back here again! read more

This is a review for the outside of the Mondavi Center. 1. My best friends and I did a photo shoot by the waterfall structure. It's so beautiful! 2. Past few months, Golden Turtle Lion Dance Association has been practicing for DDR (Davis Dance Revolution) in the parking lot behind the parking structure on Thursdays from 7-10pm. It's very spacious and we can be as loud as we want without getting any complaints :) TIP: Be aware when there are large scale events, because traffic will be bad! read more

Why this place rocks in a simple list: 1. The acoustics are incredible. 2. Staff is super friendly 3. Very beautiful building 4. Good shows 5. I like the number five and have no fifth point. If you get a chance to see a show here, jump at it. :) read more

I love this place! As a music major, I get into all the department-sponsored events for free. Hell yes! This place is beautiful. The wood they used to make it was underwater for the longest time, so the resulting acoustics are amazing. I don't think there are bad seats anywhere in Jackson Hall, in terms of sound. If you want to be able to see the stage very, very clearly, that might be harder to achieve in the upper tiers. I'd like to play something on that stage before I graduate, but alas, the instrument I play doesn't really get me into orchestra. The juries for performance majors are held in the studio theater. One of my teachers (well, TAs) says it looks a lot like a giant toilet seat from far away. :P It's kinda out in the middle of nowhere, so if you want to catch dinner beforehand, you probably want to eat early, or drive fast(-ish). You can always spot this place from the freeway. :] read more

What a beautiful venue! The architecture is amazing, the acoustics are wonderful, parking is easy, the staff is very professional, and the seats are comfortable. What more could you want out of a performing arts venue? Key tip to new UC Davis students: You get 1 free ticket (Tier 2) to most any event! Trying to maximize on this freebie, I decided to attend an orchestra performance by a Brazilian youth orchestra (normal ticket price $49) and was awestruck by how amazing the performance was. I dare say that the acoustics may rival more "famous" venues such as that of the SF symphony. If the students have already used their freebie or it's not their first year, then you continue to get tickets at 50% off! I've also attended a talk here by Nicholas Kristof, the author of the NY Times bestseller "Half the Sky." The talk was excellent and the beautiful venue enhanced the experience. I've also had friends who've done beautiful engagement photo shoots outside the Mondavi Center and the nearby Vanderhouf Quad. The fountain makes a seemingly "sparkling curtain" effect that is stunning with the nearby lighting, particularly at night. TIP: as other Yelpers have stated, there are no adjacent venues for food/drink so enjoy yourself in nearby downtown Davis before the performance. read more

Mondavi Center - View from the second floor patio - Performing Arts Near Me - Davis, California

A second show at the Mondavi left me super-impressed. I know the tendency to review a performance venue favorably depends on what you came to see, but I don't know how anyone couldn't enjoy even the most mediocre show here. We came to see Hasan Minhaj of The Daily Show, a native of the area, perform during a live recording of his first Netfilx special. It was quite impressive to see what they could do with the stage in terms of lighting and backdrop. There really isn't a bad view in the house but I definitely prefer to be on the lower floor about halfway back. It gives you full view of the stage. The minor annoyance for both shows I've seen is the acoustic balance. Both shows were live comedians and every time the audience clapped or cheered they were impossible to hear. It seemed like the sound was only coming from the front stage. Again, this was minor though. The quality of the sound in here is incredible. read more

This place is gorgeous. Fantastic acts from all around the world come here to perform, entertain and speak. Beer and wine are very expensive and they do not sell food. This venue is also difficult to park at so find a place downtown to park at and walk. The acoustics of this place can also be frustrating. I would advise getting seats close to the stage if you are seeing stand up comedy or a lecture. Atmosphere 5/5 Variety of talent 5/5 Acoustics 4/5 read more

This is the best music hall at any college campus I've visited so far. Not only am I a musician who constantly performs with the UCDSO, the quality of sound that rings through the auditorium is as good as some of the old music halls in Eastern Europe. If you never been here, I would HIGHLY recommend sitting through a concert, long or short, be amazed by the sound and quality of the performance. read more

Gorgeous, nice, comfortable building with wonderful acoustics. Pleasant staff, easy parking - remember that you do need to pay $7 for a parking permit. Tickets are pretty affordable for most events, especially for students, and it's in a great area of campus. read more

This is a great place performing arts center. Bathrooms are new and clean. The stage is large and the seats allow for you to see the stage no matter where you are. There are also a number of large backstage rooms used for practices and storage. read more

This is a fantastic theater with great acoustics - classical music in particular really shines here. The only drawback is the location: It's great for Sac/Davis residents, but for anyone in the Bay Area outside of Solano County this venue is quite a chore to get to. That and there's literally NOTHING in proximity to the Center, because it's on the outskirts of Davis. Want dinner before or after your concert? Need to put in gas before you head home? You'll have to drive a ways into town for that. Still, the Center makes up for its inconvenience with its fantastic lineup of people and performers. Included among the many people I've seen here are SF men's choir Chanticleer and West African diva Angelique Kidjo, and I'm still annoyed that I missed out on a chance to see Jane Goodall speak here. Basically the lineup at Mondavi is like an NPR junkie's wet dream... Which reminds me, Terri Gross has spoken here as well. It's a shame that the prices here discourage a lot of the UCD students from attending the events here - but hey, it's all about priorities. Some of us save up for that green couch on Craigslist - some of us save up for an awesome night out. P.S. I really need a couch. read more

I love the venue...great place to see music or dancing. I have seen the Pat Metheny Group, Lyle Lovett and classical music there. However, the management of Mondavi are ridicoulous penny pinchers for the insulting way they sell you a drink. They literally give you 6 ounces of wine for $10. WTF??? Seriously, that is expected at a high end restaurant for a great wine.....can you say greedy! My advice is to drink before you get there!!! :-) read more

I recently came here for the first time to see the Ballet Folklorico. This is a great venue. We sat in the balcony and the view was great. Parking was close and easy. I would definitely come here again. read more

Love going to the Monday Center. Have been a season's ticket holder for past 3 years. There is a wide variety of programs, my favorites have been the Triples of Bellville (animated movie with live music), the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and the rising stars of opera. Parking is across the street. We usually park in the covered garage. If you have a placard or plates identifying you as a person with a disability - parking is free. Tip: Get there early though if you need an accessible parking space as they fill up fast! Good news is that there is quite a bit of accessible parking, and accessible spaces far from the front fill up last. Since I use a power chair distance is not an issue for me, but if it is for you, get there early. We sit in the box seats in the orchestra because they are easy to get to, just off the entry to the orchestra area and you are close but not too close. Plus they have pillows and foot stools! The main problem with these seats is at times your view is blocked. Recently we went to see the Messiah and the way the orchestra was arranged, our view was blocked of the chorus and the soloists. Tip: Barbara Jackson's box is on the left side of the stage as you are facing it on one of the upper levels. Jackson hall is named for her. We sit to the right. Thus, most stage set ups are probably arranged to allow her the best view. Food lines can be long, so earlier is best. Recently Capitol Garage has been the caterer. We had the BBQ pork sliders, tasty but no condiments came with them, including BBQ sauce. They were regular burger size, too, not slider size. Had we known we would have split one. Usually you can only take bottled water into the main hall, but occasionally they allow other drinks. So be sure and check that out before you arrive with a packed dinner or expect to take food you purchase there into the hall. Rest room access is great, accessible stalls wide and useable. read more

I LOVE this venue. Have seen four different shows there in the past year, and they have run the gamut in variety. Ballet Folklorico, modern dance, Los Lobos and Cirque Works have all been top-rate performances in this beautiful theater on the UC Davis campus. They work hard to attract a wide variety of performances/shows, along w/ speakers as well. What a gem! read more

I bought tickets to see Mary Chapin Carpenter. The tickets stated her name with Shawn Colvin. As with most concerts I've been to, I thought it was Shawn as the warm up with Mary Chapin headlining. I felt like it was Shawn Colvin with her in the background. SUPER disappointing. Not that Shawn Colvin doesn't have a nice voice, but Mary Chapin Carpenter was who I came to hear. Perhaps I didn't read the fine print. The only song she sang was "Come On Come On"(solo) and her new "Walter Cronkite" song. Does she ever sing with her band anymore? read more

At first glance, the Mondavi Center looks like something from the future if it was 1995. Its the only really recognizable structure in Davis (no offense) and somewhat looks like a mirage in a place where most buildings go go past 3 stories. I had the opportunity of exploring the inner workings of this building and i must say, it is a technological achievement. It has several areas on which it can set up performances, seats still have that brand new creak to them and the mood and styling are elegant. Dont let the outside design that resembles 5 day old road kill distract you from venturing in and seeing whats inside the Genies Lamp. read more

The acoustics at the Mondavi Center are INCREDIBLE! Run, don't walk, a go see a performance here.