JamesZini

5.0 (70 reviews)

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James Performing at daughter's 4th birthday

Ernesto G.

We met James after waiting an hour in line to get our daughter a balloon at Santana Row Easter festivities. He was incredibly gracious, kind patient, and took his time to make sure our daughter's request was met, he was totally unfazed by sweltering heat and long line, a total pro. We were so impressed with James that we hired him for our daughter's 4 year old birthday party in the East Bay ( Alamo, California). It was a big ask considering James is based in South Bay, but fortunately for us he was able to accommodate us due to happenstance. He was a big hit at the birthday party, and the kids loved his magic act. He went out of his way to make our daughter feel special and included in his act. After the act he made sure all the kids got a customized balloon, and he even made many extras to handout as party favors when the kids left. I never got the feeling one time that he was watching the clock, quite the opposite, he was committed to providing memories and a good time. From a business standpoint he was flexible, easy and pleasant to deal with. I can't recommend him highly enough. We were so thankful to have him be a part of the festivities.

Amir L.

James performed at my daughter birthday. He was phenomenal. He. Amazing with children; they were super excited and he could not make those balloons fast enough. Both kids and adults very entertained by his act. Best of all, he was super accommodating. I cannot say enough about his performance and how happy and entertained the kids stayed. I was particularly amazed at how well he was able to "manage" a know-it-all-seen-the-show-know the jokes kid that wasn't playing through. He worked with him and made him part of his show; in a beautiful shivery that showed that kids show business can be hard but it takes the best of them to perform so well.

Awesome Spider-Man balloons were such a hit for the 4 year old party!

Mk T.

Jameszini did balloon animals for my son's 4th birthday party, and he was a HIT! He's super professional, very patient and amazing with kids and parents, and he does awesome balloon work. Totally would recommend to anyone looking for an awesome entertainer for parties - Jameszini does not disappoint!!

The magical JamesZini and the happy birthday girl.

Bobby B.

We had a blast - a room of 6yr olds (and their parents) enjoyed nearly an hour of magic followed by an onslaught of balloon animal requests. James kept going until the very last kiddo got his balloon. The balloons were quite detailed and a variety of requests were made and delivered - the little mermaid and a "ninja" we're popular requests. Fun time!

Siddharth T.

James performed at my kids birthday today. He was very courteous and entertaining. Both kids and adults very entertained by his act. He involved the birthday boy in his act and my kid had a blast. After his stage performance he also did a bit of strolling magic with the adults. His tricks there were very adult oriented and I think everyone was left amazed. Highly recommended. PS: I overpaid James accidentally. He messaged me about that and returned the extra money. Kudos to his honesty.

Elena A.

First off this is a very late review and I'm so sorry James! My sons party was 2/20/2016. James arrived right on time and immediately got to working on balloons for the kids! He made sure he knew who the birthday boy was and got him taken care of first. All the kids crowded him and he handled it very well! He kept them all interested while waiting in line. He didn't just make your typical balloon animals. My son got a green dinosaur(which he loved!). Even the bigger kids got a bow and arrow ( which all the parents thought was really cool). I had tons of compliments about the way James interacted with the kids. He even stayed over the payed hour for kids that kept coming back. The cutest touch was James making me a flower bracelet and giving it to my 3 year old son to give to me. It was the cutest thing! I will always remember the joy on my sons face. Thanks again James! See you next year! ;)

Omar K.

One word: AWESOME. There's so many options when it comes to balloon artists but I'm glad I went with JamesZini! James did a wonderful job entertaining the kids as well as the adults! There was nothing he couldn't make. Even stayed late to complete any last minute requests. Would definitely be calling him again for my little one's events :)

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Raj B.

21

17

1

1 year ago

JamesZini, makes kids parties special! He has a gift in keeping the kids interested! (my daughter's 5th birthday). He was professional and made my daughter feel special and included her in a few of the magic tricks. read more

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Slurms M.

2

71

22

5 years ago

We booked James for our wedding and it was so much fun! All of our guests raved about his show. We had several kids at our wedding and they loved the magic show and balloon art. James kept the children entertained for the entire 2 hours we booked him. James also tailored the show to appeal to both children and adults. Even the adults joined in to request their own balloons after the magic show. James also included my husband and me in a part of the magic show which we absolutely loved! It was overall such a fun and unique experience and I think it made our wedding extra special. read more

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Anne B.

69

13

14

3 years ago

We had James at our local pool and racquet club this past weekend and he did an amazing job. He went above and beyond for all the kiddos waiting for balloon animals. I really appreciate his professionalism and has a great way working with kids. He stayed over to ensure every child got a balloon, and not just a simple balloon animal..some that were incredible! Thanks James and keep up the great work! read more

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Miguel U.

70

5

0

3 years ago

I found him at Black angus, very friendly, all around good guy! He is very creative with his ballon animals and I found out he teaches little ones how to make balloon animals too. Truly amazing! read more

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Ernesto G.

0

4

8

7 years ago

We met James after waiting an hour in line to get our daughter a balloon at Santana Row Easter festivities. He was incredibly gracious, kind patient, and took his time to make sure our daughter's request was met, he was totally unfazed by sweltering heat and long line, a total pro. We were so impressed with James that we hired him for our daughter's 4 year old birthday party in the East Bay ( Alamo, California). It was a big ask considering James is based in South Bay, but fortunately for us he was able to accommodate us due to happenstance. He was a big hit at the birthday party, and the kids loved his magic act. He went out of his way to make our daughter feel special and included in his act. After the act he made sure all the kids got a customized balloon, and he even made many extras to handout as party favors when the kids left. I never got the feeling one time that he was watching the clock, quite the opposite, he was committed to providing memories and a good time. From a business standpoint he was flexible, easy and pleasant to deal with. I can't recommend him highly enough. We were so thankful to have him be a part of the festivities. read more

JamesZini - James Performing at daughter's 4th birthday - Performing Arts Near Me

JamesZini - James performing balloon art - Performing Arts Near Me

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Amir L.

92

38

4

7 years ago

James performed at my daughter birthday. He was phenomenal. He. Amazing with children; they were super excited and he could not make those balloons fast enough. Both kids and adults very entertained by his act. Best of all, he was super accommodating. I cannot say enough about his performance and how happy and entertained the kids stayed. I was particularly amazed at how well he was able to "manage" a know-it-all-seen-the-show-know the jokes kid that wasn't playing through. He worked with him and made him part of his show; in a beautiful shivery that showed that kids show business can be hard but it takes the best of them to perform so well. read more

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Mk T.

38

3

6

5 years ago

Jameszini did balloon animals for my son's 4th birthday party, and he was a HIT! He's super professional, very patient and amazing with kids and parents, and he does awesome balloon work. Totally would recommend to anyone looking for an awesome entertainer for parties - Jameszini does not disappoint!! read more

JamesZini - Awesome Spider-Man balloons were such a hit for the 4 year old party! - Performing Arts Near Me

JamesZini - Balloon animals, Jameszini, birthday party - Performing Arts Near Me

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Jackie Y.

144

2

0

4 years ago

Smiling faces and laughter is what I saw on all the faces of the friends at my child's birthday party when JamesZini performed his magic show. He is professional, attentive, and full of fun! He asked prior to his show if I thought my child would like to be part of the act. Some children get nervous and too shy to go up in front of everyone so I appreciated that he prompted the question. He also provide a couple of optional packages for me to choose from, and due to time restrictions we chose only the magic show. Next time I would include the ballon twisting too. Everyone had loads of fun! You won't be disappointed with booking JamesZini for your next event. read more

Business owner information

James T.

Thank you Jackie for such an amazing review. I’m glad everyone…

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Masha P.

47

72

10

5 years ago

Had a really great experience with JamesZini today. We hired him to teach a balloon making class and make balloons for my 8 year old's birthday party in the park. The kids had an amazing time. They all made three of their own balloons, and then got fantastic creations by James himself. He was early, came with lots of pre-prepped balloons and stayed until each and every kid (and some adults) got their balloons. He was super easy to deal with, responsive, and helpful in the planning as well. I'd highly recommend him if you are looking for a fun and easy experience. read more

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Margie D.

0

6

3

3 years ago

We invited James Zuni for my son's 9th birthday party, everybody was entertained including the parents.He was good and very professional.I recommend him if you are looking for more fun party! read more

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Alyssa B.

Elite 18

515

486

898

8 years ago

James was performing at Maverick's on Friday night when we came for dinner. We weren't expecting a magician to be in the restaurant, so it was quite a surprise when he walked over to our table and introduced himself as a magician. He (successfully) performed a story-based card trick for us. We were both entertained and impressed. Pretty fun. James performed amongst the tables. There was a table with a lot of kids and they seemed engaged and entertained by his tricks. It was an unexpected but amusing dinner. read more

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TJ M.

1

6

0

5 years ago

We hired JamesZini for our son's birthday party. His magic tricks were cool and he had a lot of humor so the kids loved him. Even as an adult I had a fun time watching the show! read more

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Bobby B.

1

11

1

10 years ago

We had a blast - a room of 6yr olds (and their parents) enjoyed nearly an hour of magic followed by an onslaught of balloon animal requests. James kept going until the very last kiddo got his balloon. The balloons were quite detailed and a variety of requests were made and delivered - the little mermaid and a "ninja" we're popular requests. Fun time! read more

JamesZini - The magical JamesZini and the happy birthday girl. - Performing Arts Near Me

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Arian C.

232

6

1

5 years ago

We hired James for my sons birthday party. Initially had him scheduled to just do balloons, but last second decided to have him to the magic show as well. We are so glad we made the decision to do the magic show. Our son absolutely loved it and was his favorite part of his birthday party. The kids were engaged and were laughing hysterically. They absolutely loved the balloons as well. Great combination for a kids birthday party. Highly recommend James to anyone in the area looking for a magician or entertainment for their kids party. Thank you James for making our sons day! read more

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Sarah F.

114

24

0

6 years ago

This review is LONG overdue. I wanted to express my appreciation for James in providing my daughters with his attention, kindness and most importantly MAD SKILLS in balloon artistry! My daughters asked for something odd - snowflake and a dinosaur - and James delivered. He totally went above and beyond. I especially love his involvement in the South Bay communities and beyond. I look forward seeing him at future events in Milpitas. Thanks James! read more

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Siddharth T.

0

20

6

10 years ago

James performed at my kids birthday today. He was very courteous and entertaining. Both kids and adults very entertained by his act. He involved the birthday boy in his act and my kid had a blast. After his stage performance he also did a bit of strolling magic with the adults. His tricks there were very adult oriented and I think everyone was left amazed. Highly recommended. PS: I overpaid James accidentally. He messaged me about that and returned the extra money. Kudos to his honesty. read more

JamesZini - The showman. - Performing Arts Near Me

JamesZini - The milk act. - Performing Arts Near Me

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Elena A.

109

12

18

10 years ago

First off this is a very late review and I'm so sorry James! My sons party was 2/20/2016. James arrived right on time and immediately got to working on balloons for the kids! He made sure he knew who the birthday boy was and got him taken care of first. All the kids crowded him and he handled it very well! He kept them all interested while waiting in line. He didn't just make your typical balloon animals. My son got a green dinosaur(which he loved!). Even the bigger kids got a bow and arrow ( which all the parents thought was really cool). I had tons of compliments about the way James interacted with the kids. He even stayed over the payed hour for kids that kept coming back. The cutest touch was James making me a flower bracelet and giving it to my 3 year old son to give to me. It was the cutest thing! I will always remember the joy on my sons face. Thanks again James! See you next year! ;) read more

JamesZini - James and the birthday boy - Performing Arts Near Me

JamesZini - James with all the kids. - Performing Arts Near Me

JamesZini - James roaring at the birthday boy with his Dino balloon. - Performing Arts Near Me

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B H.

0

8

0

4 years ago

Kids love James's show so much! He is an amazing magician. He kept everyone happy and he is so passionate! Highly recommend him!

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Amy H.

0

2

0

4 years ago

Had james for my son's 4 year old birthday party. Everyone is so happy! will definitely use him in future again!!!

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Omar K.

9

2

9 years ago

One word: AWESOME. There's so many options when it comes to balloon artists but I'm glad I went with JamesZini! James did a wonderful job entertaining the kids as well as the adults! There was nothing he couldn't make. Even stayed late to complete any last minute requests. Would definitely be calling him again for my little one's events :) read more

JamesZini - He's great with kids!! - Performing Arts Near Me

Business owner information

James T.

Thank you for the wonderful review Omar. I do free table side magic…

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Krishna C.

0

10

2

9 years ago

We hired him for balloon twisting in our daughter's 5th birthday party... Just one word AMAZING... He is great with kids... He even accommodated a kid's request for a balloon when he had already packed up everything and ready to go... I asked my daughter what she liked the most in her party... She said... "The balloon maaaann... I like him." He is so good... Don't hesitate... Just go ahead and hire him... read more

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Bo P.

0

4

2

5 years ago

He is on time. He made my son's children party an unforgettable one! Everyone had a great time and especially the adults! He is so great on everything that he does!!! read more

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Sandra A.

133

55

22

9 years ago

Saw him at a friends bday party. He was great with the kids and didn't say "I can't make that. " whatever was asked he made it. read more

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Daniela M.

78

16

8

7 years ago

Had a preview of JamesZini while he visited my job a while back and he is great! I'm looking forward to having him at one of my family events hopefully soon. read more

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Ashley E.

3

6

3

8 years ago

With only a couple weeks in advance James was able to fit us in his schedule. The show was wonderful, my son still talks about it! read more

Business owner information

James T.

Thank you Ashley for the wonderful review and sharing the picture.…

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Virgie S.

6

50

9

9 years ago

James was literally phenomenal, no exaggeration! He is amazing with children; they were super excited and he could not make those balloons fast enough. Best of all, he was super accommodating. I cannot say enough about his performance and how happy and entertained the kids stayed. read more

JamesZini - Flower and bunny! - Performing Arts Near Me

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Xiaowen X.

0

8

7

7 years ago

We had James perform at our son's 4th b-day party. He is very professional. Came in 30-min early to do his set up. Interacted with kids while waiting for the show to begin. Most importantly, he knows how to make kids laugh. They just love him! He also had a 30min balloon twisting session at the end. He managed to make a ballon wand for every kid, even for the one who was absent due to illness! I even got something special for myself. Love love love! Thank you, James. read more

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Kristine G.

176

15

26

12 years ago

JamesZini made my nephews Birthday party so much fun! We all loved his show and balloons, he's so great with the kids and so talented' read more

JamesZini - JamesZini you were awesome! Thank you so much for making Austin's happy day so special! We all loved your show and balloons! - Performing Arts Near Me

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May L.

101

52

7

9 years ago

This post is well over due seeing that my child's bday party was a month ago. James is AMAZING. We hired him because kids love balloon and animals. He is Extremely talented and crafty. He was patient and nice to all our little guest. He doesn't waste a minute. The moment he arrived he put on his gear and right to work and started asking the kids what they wanted. He was worth every minute. A part me wished I had him for more than an hour (next time for Sure). Thanks James for your wonderful service. I wish I took pictures of all The balloon animals he made and post it with this review but I was too busy hosting. Next time ;) read more

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Christopher Y.

3

11

22

8 years ago

James came to perform at our church's Harvest Carnival in October. He did a total of two shows lasting roughly 45 minutes each. During both shows, he did a variety of tricks using coins, strings, balloons, magazines, red/yellow/green light toys, sticks, pouring cups, and cards. He did a great job of keeping the children entertained during both shows. read more

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Saurabh A.

3

4

0

8 years ago

We hired JamesZini for our son's 1st birthday party. He was very responsive, professional and accommodating. The show was awesome. He kept the kids and adults engaged. I would definitely hire him again! read more

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Rene R.

154

54

81

8 years ago

Wow! I had seen Mr. Zini at a magic show and was totally impressed. The kids are really happy with him so it is hard to see the rest of us adults are just as pleased. Then I ran into him at another place, but this time doing Balloon Twisting. Wowx2! All kinds of things. Did one really cool unicorn, but then saw him working with some shiny, metallic like balloons. Very impressive! read more

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Nanette C.

0

20

2

7 years ago

We had the pleasure of having JamesZini perform at our granddaughters 4th birthday party. James performed a magic show and made balloon animals after. James was prompt, professional, well spoken, and very well received. He really helped make the party a great success. My granddaughter was initially shy, but she was giggling with delight soon after James asked for her assistance during the magic show. We were very pleased and highly recommend James without reservation. He was awesome! read more

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Joshaua T.

27

2

0

8 years ago

He is great! Awesome tricks and presentation! Totally recommend to anyone looking for a great entertainer!

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Stephanie R.

0

3

1

7 years ago

James performed for our son's 8th Birthday party recently and the kids (and adults) loved it! The magic show was very entertaining and ran smoothly. He had every kid's full attention the entire time. (That within itself is a magic trick!) Highly recommend. read more

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Amy G.

4

19

7

10 years ago

What a great time the kids had at my daughter's 7th birthday party! The kids crowded around and got into the magic show big time. James is very enthusiastic with a wonderful show personality that the kiddos get excited about. We had a magic show followed with balloons made for each kid. All the parents and kids were amazed with the balloon creations. I highly recommend James for party entertainment! read more

JamesZini - The excitement was high! - Performing Arts Near Me

JamesZini - How is she doing that? - Performing Arts Near Me

JamesZini - Tada! - Performing Arts Near Me

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Alfred G.

23

18

2

8 years ago

It was my baby girl's 1st birthday and i searched high and low to find a really good magician, and after spending countless of hours requesting for quotes and reading yelp reviews, i decided to go with James. At the time I felt comfortable because of the very positive reviews about his amazing performance and it got better as i was communicating with him about the event. He is very nice and easy to talk to, very reassuring that everything will run smoothly, and he is very patient given that I asked him plenty of times about a lot of details - that part is very important especially for parents like me who worries too much about how their kid's party is going to be. On the day of my baby's birthday party James came in ahead of time to give me important information about the show. And when showtime started...Tada!!! Very magical indeed! He has a very good humor that is a hit with kids and grown ups alike. He really got our attention, mind you the kids where little with the youngest ones at 2- 3 years old but James kept them engaged with his funny magic tricks and my 3 yr old son had the best time ever!!! he kept on talking about the magic show up til night time before going to bed and it brought a lot of joy into mine and my wife's heart. all the kids enjoyed and had a great time, the parents who attended had very nice things to say about James' performance. Thank you very much James for the amazing time that you shared with us and for making my daughter's birhtday party unforgettable. read more

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Sophia H.

2

27

7

9 years ago

James is fantastic!! We had James come to our neighborhood party and he was amazing with the kids. He's such a fun, positive energy that the kids instantly felt comfortable with. Two things really stood out to me about James: 1). He was very proactive. He didn't stand around waiting for kids to approach him. If he ever had a spare second, he would walk around and ask kids if they wanted balloons. If any kid initially said no, he would actually suggest creative ideas and get the kid got excited about a balloon. 2). James took the courtesy to ask me if it was ok for him to make bow/arrow and swords. I was absolutely fine with it, and I appreciated that he checked-in first. Very thoughtful. Communication was great. James was responsive, prompt, and had a great attitude. I would hire James again in a heartbeat. read more

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Denise Z.

20

12

5

13 years ago

We hired JamesZini for our son's 4th birthday party, and he did a great job! He was very warm and friendly, and his magic was fun for kids and adults alike. The kids loved it, and James also made balloon animals for them after the show. I would definitely recommend JamesZini. read more

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Ammie L.

0

11

1

11 years ago

Extremely pleased, again! James Zini is a return performer at our company event & we hope to have him there again, year after year, as well as for other events. Very artistic with balloons, and the magic is something we will be interested in next year. Highly recommend! read more

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More info about JamesZini

(408) 681-9124
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https://jameszini.com

Payment methods

Does JamesZini take Bitcoin?

No, JamesZini does not take Bitcoin.

Does JamesZini take credit cards?

Yes, JamesZini takes credit cards.

Indoor Amenities

Does JamesZini allow dogs?

Yes, JamesZini allows dogs.

Other Amenities

Does JamesZini have free WiFi?

No, JamesZini does not have free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

JamesZini offers a wide variety of Interactive Magic Shows and Artistic Balloon Creations to turn your event into a magical memory for children and families all over the Bay Area. Specialized Events Include: Birthday Parties Baby Showers School/Sporting Events Special Ceremonies Corporate Occasions Fund Raisers Holiday Gatherings Individualized shows including magic, balloons or combinations of both can be created to meet your entertainment needs.

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Hours

Review Highlights - JamesZini

“Highly recommend James to anyone in the area looking for a magician or entertainment for their kids party.”

Mentioned in 44 reviews

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(152 reviews)

I grew up attending the theater and I consider myself very lucky. Community Little Theater in…read moreAuburn, Maine is still around today. I had two brothers who both performed in the theater and one of them is still teaching theater arts now. I usually attend the Broadway musicals at the San Jose Performing Arts Center a couple of times every year and I go alone. John is not a fan of musicals. But he agreed to go to a play last year in SF with me and he enjoyed it. So, when we saw the synopsis of "Running After Shadows," we decided to check it out. The second I walked inside, City Lights Theater reminded me of those wonderful memories I had as a teenager at Community Little Theater. City Lights is smaller than I'm used to but I loved its compact, intimate space. Every seat seems to be a good one and comfortable as well! I loved that the manager spoke to the audience before the show and that they pick a non-profit to donate to that matches with the theme of the play. They also have a little get together after every performance. They have refreshments and you have the chance to talk to the actors. We didn't stay afterwards but maybe next time. John surprised me by wanting to get tickets for the next show. Maybe I can get him to try musicals one day...

It's All an Act…read more Foreword: So, it turns out I kind of like plays. I mean, I recall enjoying watching theater friends perform at school and college back in the day, but I've never actually gone out to see a real live play with professional actors. Anyway, if you're on the fence about coming to see one, then you should definitely do it once. And if you really dig it, do it twice. :) OK, onto the review... The City Lights Theater Company has been supporting local actors and theater makers for forty-five years (ca. 1982) now, and have been in this space since 1991--despite a looming threat from developers... The Good: *Very small intimate venue of ±100 seat theater. There is no bad seat in the house, as even in the back row you still feel like you're practically front row. *Tickets are fairly inexpensive at ±$50-80/ea with season passes available. There's also afternoon matinee shows available for us old farts. *Staff was very friendly *They have a small snack bar and even serve wine *A chance to interact with the performers at the end of the show. *We watched "Running After Shadows" by Vincent Terrell Durham and it was excellent. Great story telling, fantastic acting, and it takes the crowd on a wild range of emotions. The Meh: *Street Parking only but it's free on the weekends. The Ugly: *They must start cutting onions in there at some point, cuz I swear my eyes started watering for no reason. That's right. No reason whatsoever. Conclusion: Intimate venue with great storytelling means a great time out by all. Good spot for a date nite or afternoon (see aforementioned "old farts" mention above).

Louis B Mayer Theatre

4.2

(16 reviews)

Wife got two free tickets to this performance by Rhiannon Giddens. Who? Checked on the internet…read moreand thought she sounded decent on YouTube videos. Only problem was that it was Friday at 730pm at the Louis B Mayer theater, as in Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Wife bought the tickets expecting me to drive all that way in rush hour traffic, and find the theater at night in unfamiliar surroundings? Yes. Why do you think she married me? Left our house in Sunnyvale at 6:15pm, and 7 miles, 40 minutes and 30+ traffic signals on El Camino Real reached Santa Clara University. LBM theater address is 500 El Camino Real, but that's the address for the whole Santa Clara University. The theater is on the opposite end of the campus, at least a half mile from El Camino Real. All nearby street parking taken, with on campus street parking restricted to vehicles with SCU parking permits. The central parking garage is located near the stadium, but that was completely across campus. Closer parking garage at the corner of Alviso and Franklin St. Take El Camino Real, right on Lafayette, left on Franklin. Took 10 minutes of DWA to find it, at night. Only spaces near the garage entrance are compact spots. Backed into a compact spot, so named as next to a concrete wall. So you are pulling out blind. $5 to park, with you having to enter your license plate number on the receipt. Guess this is to prevent cheapskates from loaning the ticket to a friend for reuse. Parking free after 8pm, but wouldn't you know it, but the show starts at 7:30pm. 5 minute walk from the 4 story parking garage to the theater, the entrance of which is not visible from the street. The usual bag check at the entrance, with hand searches, just like at Disneyland. Sign says no food nor drinks permitted in theater. Ticket electronically scanned. Wife wisely goes to the bathroom before the play starts. Inside a very modern theater, full house, with seating 395-525 depending on configuration, with movable seats up front. 20 rows of seats, two aisles, with stairs going down, and hand railings on the side. Stadium seating at the bleacher area, with your knees at head height of the people in front of you. Great panoramic viewing. Got to stand up to let people get by. One poor dude gets stuck behind a lady wearing a fedora hat the entire show. Francesco Turrisi plays the piano, drums and accordian, while Rhiannon Giddens plays the violin and the banjo. Bluegrass music, Irish ballad music, folk music, instrumentals, and Rhiannon singing. Rhiannon featured on Ken Burns country music, and performed for the Obamas at the White House. Her songs tell stories of historic black womanhood and survival. If it's good enough for Obama, it's good enough for me. Intermission the wife races to the bathrooms, while I take my time. Men's bathroom has 5 urinals and 2 toilets, with line backed up a dozen deep in no time. Women's restrooms have even longer lines. Assume 7 stalls for the women, or at 3 minutes per use, 49 women can be accommodated in the 20 minute intermission. The other 150 women are just going to have to hold it for the 2 hour performance, as the theater was designed for university students age 18-21 with strong bladders. Get back to my seat, just as the college age ladies behind me, remove their bare feet off the top of my seatback. Some people are still learning proper manners. End of the show, get back to the parking garage. Drive out just as the person next to me is backing out, hidden behind a concrete wall between us. Just did avoid meeting by accident, and no it was not an Asian woman driver!

Great small auditorium venue for comedy shows, drama and public speaking engagements. You can hear…read morethe stage and see well from pretty much any seating location in the place and it's a good venue as well for family events. Really nice!

San Jose Center For The Performing Arts

3.5

(372 reviews)

•$$

Came here for a comedy show--Max Amini…read more Can't speak about parking because we took an Uber to the venue nor did we purchase food. The ushers were friendly and helped get us to our seats. The theater is clean, a good size though its architecture isn't particularly striking or memorable.

To be honest, it's not the best in terms of sound for a venue if you sit near or close to the…read morespeakers on the balcony. So we recently went to see "A Beautiful Noise" and sat in the orchestra Row 21 Seat 27 basically right of center and I could see the balcony speakers a few rows in front of me. The balance and loudness in those speakers are off and can be really loud and jarring. When we saw &Juliet and sat center second row from the stage, the sound was so much better. So perhaps it's just those speakers that are off when they do tests and it can be horrifying or great. Each side of the theater do have bathrooms but it does take a while to get to the right side of the theater. I still wish they had a center aisle as people were having to climb over chairs when they missed their row by one. We're now parking a couple blocks away for free after 6:30pm which is nice but it's definitely a gamble. Worse case we park at the nearby open lot across the street and pay a fair amount for a downtown city parking lot. Definitely cheaper than SF. Also if you check out seating before a show you want and there's plenty of seats available, go a a couple hours before the show and buy it for only $40 for rush seats. You can choose where to sit and all the seats left are $40. If a show has digital lottery, if you win, the seats are only $35 and I learned this year that the seats are basically the first few rows right in front of the stage. So well worth it if you win. Recently the ushers have been better about giving out the pamphlets which has been lovely. Overall, will I still come here to see shows? Yes cause it's much easier to get to than SF. Is it the best venue? Hit or miss depending on how the soundcheck goes (if they even do a soundcheck).

Musson Theatrical

4.2

(17 reviews)

Went to Musson because my theater makeup color had been discontinued. The salesperson at the front…read more(I forgot to get her name, 0375) spent a lot of time helping me find the closest shade to it - quite a challenge given that a lot of the brown skin tones are no longer available from any company. We were able to find something that'll work! Will definitely go back for future makeup needs instead of ordering online. Please support local theater and stores!

This place rocks!…read more When I do design gigs outside of work, they are always happy to help me out. Need gel or gobos? Need paint? Don't know what you need? Call Musson, they are all knowledgeable about the stuff they sell. Got questions about your venue? They probably installed the equipment. They have great prices and work with the manufacturers to get your stuff in a prompt fashion if they don't have it in stock. Need a demo? Call them, they'll set it up. They can set you up with stuff for your disco party at home or your opera in the park. Small or big they can handle it. Wow, I sound like a car salesman. Bottom line: Call them, they'll help you out with your theatrical needs. What they don't do: I haven't found it.

California Theatre

4.6

(201 reviews)

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.

Gorgeous theatre, nicely preserved, and a great place to see some theatre, music, opera, et al. I…read morevisited one night to see an opera, and really had a great time. Sure, it was nice that the opera was NOT nine hours long, but that's me. Your mileage may vary. The outside of the building blends in so well to its surroundings, you may not notice it at first. But, the California Theatre is easy to find, and perfect to walk to from parking or a restaurant. Even in the entrance way before you walk in (where there's the Box Office for will-call or day-of tickets), you see the elegance and grandeur that awaits. Still, there's nothing stuff about it at all. Every staff member or volunteer I encountered was helpful, friendly, and welcoming. There happened to be live music in the Lobby before and after the performance. Refreshments are found on each floor. We had Orchestra Seats. The opera looked and sounded crisp. The singing, the set, the orchestra, the costumes all radiated excitement and serious fun. This particular opera, by Bela Bartok, is rarely done and having some familiarity with the composer, I was excited to check it out. Very much enjoyed the opera, and the venue. If you are an SJSU student, ask about tickets and/or big discounts available at the Box Office.

Roberta Jones Junior Theatre

3.5

(8 reviews)

I sent my niece to Robert jones junior theater so that she could make friends. Though they were a…read morelot of kids, most of them were hostile and mean. The casting is biased, most kids lack the basic talent and singing ability for the roles they were given. My niece came home crying multiple times. Not all of the kids had a fair chance and many felt left out. Jen is an awful director, she clearly hates children. As for the rest of them, had niece had good things to say. But the program is crooked, unfair, and clearly biased.

This review is for the Imagine Me class by the city of Santa Clara. The class was the quality of a…read morepreschool drop in. Barely any props and they only acted in the last 3 minutes. The plays were simple like goldilocks. Most of the class was the teacher telling the kids to be quite and to sit down and reading the play out twice. I may have had bad luck because it was apparent some parents used this class to drop off their very loud and misbehaving kids and run off. Mine was the youngest but was very serious about acting. Even if it were not for the kids who didn't really want to be there, the class itself was just very basic and disappointing. I also could not get a refund we ended up just not going as it was not worth it. My message to the theatre. some youngers kids are really passionate about this and if given the opportunity will shine. You can start with a selection process or a more advanced class for younger kids

De Anza College Visual & Performing Arts Center

5.0

(1 review)

A great venue and very nice management!! We had several…read moreperformances at this venue and tony ,sean and Andy did everything to make our experience as smooth and easy as possible, working with these gentlemen was a great experience.

From the owner: The Visual Performing Arts Center (VPAC) Theater is a 400-seat theater available for rent to the…read morelocal community. This theater offers top audio, video, and lighting capabilities for a variety of different performances including dances, orchestras, concerts, theatrical plays, and presentations.

Children's Musical Theater

4.5

(102 reviews)

My family and I frequently visit this theatre for all different plays and school events. We love…read morethe energy of the staff and how the plays are organized. The enthusiasm is just mind blowing. Very clean and well maintained theatre for the young students and parents to enjoy . A big shout out to all the staff and sponsors for this theater in San jose .

Had both of my kids participate in season 58, and both my husband and I could not be happier with…read morethe community and experience that our children had. I cannot stop singing praises for CMT.

U Pick Orchards

4.2

(77 reviews)

Easy to go and price is good. Big farm. Frienly employees…read more Just a bit too far for me or I will go every season.

Really enjoyed our visit to U Pick Orchards. The staff was friendly, the orchard was…read morewell-maintained, and picking fresh fruit straight from the trees was such a fun experience.

Lost Emu Farms

5.0

(8 reviews)

The goats have moved on to greener pastures and I'm ecstatic with the results! There is not a…read moresingle square inch of green less than 6 feet off the ground anywhere. We thought this would take a week but it took 3 days - those goats take their work seriously. The good: -Billie and the goats and dogs (and emu) are all delightful. Billie was extremely accommodating and hard working. The goats and dogs are absolute sweethearts and all come running when they see you for pets. -Poison oak is now extinct on my property. -The ground is fertilized and there is nothing to clean up other than sticks. The bad: -Noise. The "baaa"-ing was one thing, but the guard dogs were pretty brutal through the night. We had some coyotes hanging around so there was lots of barking. So that's it, thanks for following. I'm really happy to finally be able to present this and I'm actively brainstorming on how we can get a goat co-op going in our neighborhood.

Lost Emu Farms run by Billie was one of the best decisions we had made. She came out to the…read moreproperty promptly on time to meet with us for an estimate. Her assessment was spot on and we decided to go with her services. She was kind, compassionate, extremely thorough and just plain fun to be around. The result of her services left our property so much safer and useable. We are so grateful for Billie and will have to have her back sooner than later! Thank you again!!! To anyone in the market for her services, we have recommended her to all of our close friends, if appropriate for your needs, you will be beyond satisfied! Best value ever!!!

U Pick at Webb Ranch

4.1

(20 reviews)

Too many people, not enough berries, no fun, not worth it…read more If you're not there in line before it opens don't bother coming at all.

Wanted to try a different activity on the weekend and stumbled upon this cute farm in the Peninsula…read morewhere you can pick your own berries! Berry picking is seasonal and it's currently closed, I believe** During peak season, hours are from 8am - 11am so make sure you arrive early! My friends and I arrived at 10 near the tail end of the season and there was plenty of parking (a small, unpaved lot!) and space to pick berries. There are signs indicating which rows correlate to which berries (I didn't know there were so many varieties) and the farm offers both black and raspberries. One thing i really liked was that they have specific rows they recommend visitors pick from. We didn't see the signs are first so we ended up picking from the back/middle rows, but the berries were all so sweet and juicy. I'd definitely recommend people checking this out for a quick, cute weekend date with friends or loved ones :)

Mariani Orchards Harvest Experience

4.6

(10 reviews)

Went cherry picking here in early June…read more Very simple. You "check in", they give you a bag(s) and a grasper for high up ones if you're serious (we weren't that serious). You walk around picking the cherries you want. The trees are marked to indicate the different varietals. You put them in your bag, and you go back to the table to pay for what you picked. Great date idea. There are a couple photo spots designed for Instagram type photos. We didn't use those, just took regular pics. And the whole thing cost like $10 for both of us. That's less than 2 coffees and you get the cherries too. Make sure to check in advance as crops aren't always predictable.

It was our first time at Mariani and we had a great time picking cherry ..though, we went toward…read moreend of cherry picking season ( last weekend be 6/12/26)? , there was still plenty of nice ripe cherry to pick , small to large sizes , even some at toddler height level . No outside bags or buckets allowed, they will give u plastics bags ... wear good shoes cuz there were many fallen cherry on certain parts and dirts on the grounds. I would recommend shoes you don't mind getting dirty or stained. Parking was small but we still found parking at the entrance maybe cuz we went toward end of the season and later in the afternoon. If going on warm spring weather , bring a hat or umbrella., there were still plenty of shades under cherry trees as walk tree to tree or row to row . We got carried away and end up picking 6 lb +, cost added up fast . 6.50$ per pound for cherry and 3.50$ / lb for apricots . Both cherry and apricots were sweet ! Distanced only 20 mins from San Jose Central area , which is great location if you are in nearby town/city .

Passion Gardens

3.8

(8 reviews)

The mulberries are so good!…read more After reading a lot of their reviews, i was a bit worried about driving all the way there and not getting any mulberries so I texted their number to schedule a pick up. The berries are super fresh and sweet! I feel like it's the perfect summer fruit. The darker they are, the sweeter they are but i also really like the slight tartness that the just ripe ones have as well. I picked up 2 pounds on my first go but my family and I ate it all within 3 days so I had to go back to pick up 5 more pounds. I recommend texting or calling before you go to make sure they're open as they do sell out quickly. I didn't try the u-pick as I didn't have time but I would like to try next year!

The ladies in the front were super nice and inviting. I came with my mom & daughters - we had such…read morea great time. It's a clean and beautiful place. We were saying we'd like to come back again with the rest of our family since the kids enjoyed it! We were told the golf cart will do their rounds to drop and pick people up. However, since the cart wasn't there yet & we needed to use the restroom close by, we decided to just walk to the restroom. And we can see the front from there so we decided we would just walk back after. A car was coming so I told my daughter to move in so the car can pass. *HONK HONK* as if we were running. She rolls down the window and starts giving us a huge attitude about how we are not suppose to be walking around "Stay right there!" She was so completely rude I knew it had to be none other than the owner because everyone else we encountered were so kind! Literally a family with small children just walking didn't need to be honked at. We were already stopped when she approached so she could have just rolled her window down and spoke to us nicely. We didn't know there was a rule of no walking or we would have been more than happy to obligated. She should definitely have a staff member roaming the grounds instead of herself because she definitely cannot control her bad attitude and should not be out in the wild.

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Sandu F.

0

1

0

2 years ago

JamesZini has recently taught a class of magic in my daughter's school. I was happy to attend several of his lessons while supporting my daughter overcome being shy. JamesZini not only provided great magic lessons to the kids who were absorbed by those (we all feel naturally attracted to magic), but also taught them, on the way, to speak in front of an audience, to manage their emotions, to be mindful of the stage environment. One important lesson was that in order to succeed one needs to practice a lot, including in the field of magic :). I highly recommend JamesZini for magics lessons in schools and any other settings. Beside being a great magician, he was always attentive with all the kids and making everyone feel welcome and part to everything happening in the class! My daughter loved her magic course and now she occasionally performs in front of us and her grandparents, with dignity and in full control of the situation :) read more

Monica M.

47

2

3

11 years ago

This was the first time I ever had a balloon guy for my sons party. My son is 7 and he was extremely happy with his balloons. I was suprised of the quality of work he puts into his balloons. All the kids were excited they kept coming back for seconds!! He is very interactive with the kids while creating there balloons he had alot of patience. I highly recommend James and I'll be sure to book him again for future parties! read more

Anu J.

2

3

0

10 years ago

James performed in our son's 4th birthday party. He also made balloons. Kids simply loved him. He stayed longer so that all kids could get a balloon. Thank you for making our son's birthday party memorable! read more

Emma A.

0

7

0

11 years ago

James has come to a few of our events. Both kids and adults alike, have absolutely loved him. He does an amazing job we hope to keep having him for many more events to come. read more

JamesZini - theater - Updated July 2026

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JamesZini - theater - Updated July 2026

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