This was my first time attending, and I attended with my son. We will not be back. First the…read moreConvention Center staff told us to get in the wrong line for the wrong event, and only by pure luck were we alerted that check-in was already happening inside. Checking in was fine, except I was asked to fill out a paper version of something I already filled out online. I had pre-ordered shirts for us, and they had my son's no problem. My shirt couldn't be found, and after having me wait for 30 minutes while they organized the shirt pile I had to demand one of the "same day sale" shirts because they were about to sell out and no one else thought of that solution. We finally get into the event and its dark. Its hot. We aren't allowed any outside drinks, not even water. Every game that wasn't broken (a lot were) seemed to have a line, and no one was in a hurry to let others play. There was no communication that there was a 2nd room with driving/flying games, we stumbled on that ourselves. We gave it 4 hours, and at the end we just left. I was told by staff that they weren't expecting this many people so they were completely in chaos. It really showed.

They work hard to bring it all together, but this year may very well be my last…read more I consider there to be three major Pinball Tournaments in Northern California. They are held at California Extreme in Santa Clara, Golden Gate Pinball Festival in Lodi and Pin-a-Go-Go in Dixon. California Extreme is not exclusive with Pinball Machines. There are also tons of arcade games for those who enjoy them. We have enjoyed attending these events whenever we're able to. In the past, our work schedules often got in the way. Now that we're retired, our vacation schedules often cause conflicts. The people who run this event have always done a tremendous job of getting others to bring their beloved machines, set on free play, for the masses to play. In return, they get free admission. A substantial number of volunteers are also needed to load-in, load-out, wipe down, perform minor repairs, scorekeepers, registration, check-in, etc., etc. We attend to see Pinball Machines that we've never seen before, to play with machines that are hard to find, to play new machines, but mostly to play in the tournament. Yes, there are cash purses and trophies or plaques to be one. Bragging rights galore! But for players at my level, it's mostly about WPPR Points that affect your International Flipper Pinball Association Ranking. As I write this review, I am 8640 out of 103,576 players in the world. Does it mean anything? Only to my ego. At one time, I was sub-3000. I simply don't play in enough tournaments to keep my ranking. This year's tournament entry fee was $2 per game. That is not particularly expensive BUT there was no limit to the number of entries that one could purchase. This changes that tournament of skill and luck to one of skill, luck and DEEP POCKETS. In my opinion, there should be a single buy-in. Everyone plays the same number of games on the games that are available. Yes, this will reduce the prize money but so what? Whatever happens, happens. If you have a great day, congratulations. If you have a lousy day, better luck next year. But under the unlimited buy-in, you just keep putting out money until you have a few good games to tie together for your final score. What? The tournaments almost over but you're in 11th place and only the first 10 places are in the money. Well, play some more and hope to improve your score and win! Anyway, without the tournament to play in, I will either only attend California Extreme one day only or skip it all together moving forward. Additionally, this year, for the first time, the Hyatt is now charging $40 to park overnight. This was either not disclosed at the time of booking or I somehow missed it. When I complained, it was discounted $20 because I was staying there for California Extreme and another $10 because I'm a Hyatt member. I was told that, "all the other area hotels are charging more for parking and the Hyatt is just trying to catch up." There was a 49ers exhibition game on Saturday, August 19th, and parking was expected to be at a premium and traffic would be a zoo. To counter that, we arrived way early to get a space. We arrived at 8:30 for a 10:00 opening. Because we left the house so early, we didn't have time to eat breakfast, but we had plenty of down time in the hotel (check-in was at 3:00pm), so we opted for breakfast in the hotel (see our review for Evolution). Breakfast Buffet at $28 per person vs Continental Breakfast at $22 per person. So, while California Extreme is still lots of fun, between the costs and the crowds and a Deep Pocket Tournament, it may be time for us to move on.

October 2025…read more... Another Halloween season of driving from Sacramento all the way to San Jose to experience Bernal Scream again! We're pretty dedicated fans of this Haunt and they never disappoint! The props are really well executed. Actors stay in character and really perform in a way that is curated well. Security measures are present and it always feels like a safe environment despite the screams and fun. I enjoyed 2024' location, I enjoyed 2025' location... I have one gripe that..... might give away one of the areas during the walk-thru experience.... For 2025... It was held at the fairgrounds and you get your tickets, walk inside to the lined waiting areas and wait to be called for entry. Once we entered the haunt, just the 2 of us, it was a series of different rooms to walk thru, experience the "theme" of each area, actors are spread out within the venue for that extra scare... One of my hesitations with any haunt.... it's not the actors, props, setups, or darkness...... it's usually having to face the unknown of what might be a scare presented as a phobia. For 2025, there was an area that had from what I could see.... like plastic prop style snakes, and that's a real phobia for people. Obviously, this is my issue to deal with personally, but it would be nice to not encounter a snake effect during haunts. That room scared me the most, and although I knew logically they weren't real, it's a real phobia, a real scare, and an elevated heart rate that I didn't want to experience. We will continue to support and enjoy Bernal! The team does amazing work! But please..... if reading this, take that into consideration. Other than that..... thank you for offering another great year of scares!

Absolutely incredible! This haunted house had me scared cheatless from the moment I walked in!…read moreEvery corner had something unexpected, fun, and totally thrilling. The energy, creativity, and detail put into every scene made it feel so real. it's an experience you have to see for yourself. It's not just scary, it's entertaining, dynamic, and full of surprises from beginning to end. A perfect event for the whole family or a night out with friends. Totally worth every penny. I can't recommend it enough, you gotta check this out!

I came here for the Taylor Swift laser show and it was a fun way to spend an hour. It was just fun…read moremusic, lots of screaming kids singing the lyrics, and some cool lasers to look at. I did have to close my eyes a few times to give them a break from all the colorful lights. You can choose where to sit when you come into the planetarium room. The presenter did a good job. The visuals were a bit older, but it was still fun and the ticket prices were pretty reasonable/affordable. There were lots of parking available in I think Lot E.

My husband and I attended the Daft Punk laser show and it was sooo good. Apparently, they only do…read moreDaft Punk once a year and we were lucky to catch it. Parking is easiest in lot E and there were plenty of spots available. The workers were friendly and gave good advice on where to sit, which is toward the back and in the center. We got there 20 minutes early which was perfect because there were only a few people waiting outside the door. Around 15 minutes before the show, they opened the doors, and we were able to snag the best seats. The seats are decently comfortable and you can rest your head against the back for the show; I've been in more comfortable recliners but it was adequate. The laser show was very good - had some of the best Daft Punk music and a variety of lasers from just syncing to the beat of the music to drawing out storylines. The show ended up being about 45 minutes total from start to end and I would definitely go again.

Located at the Moreland Pumpkin Patch next to Easterbrook Discovery School in SJ, we attended the…read morescary version of Grimm's Hollow: The Oubliette. The ticket purchase process for the "scary hour" was far from ideal. Only same day puchases, with very specific sales times?!? Soooo inconvenient!!! ..... But in the end, it was worth it. The attraction itself was better than expected. The props were pretty amazing, lots of great sets, and the actors were beyond frightening. You'll come face to face with the creatures of your scariest nightmares brought to life, and chased slowly through this "maze of madness"... and when they say "maze," they really mean it. Beware, if you get lost in this freak circus, you will not be able to stop screaming. Once you escape one monster, there's already another one creeping up on you. I certainly lost my voice, and that was just our first haunt of the night. This isn't highly advertised like some other haunts in the south bay, and buying tickets feels unnecessarily complicated, but don't be fooled by its cryptic nature or the family-friendly atmosphere (cute outdoor setup with kids' activities, carnival snacks, even a screen showing movies)... This haunt is SCARY, and fun at the same time, definitely top value for what you get (and I've been to a LOT of haunted houses over the years to compare it to). Well done!

Holy cow that was super cool!!! our first time at this pumpkin patch it's all about the family…read moreHalloween walk! It was extremely fun and well done. I'm going to try the scary walk next year!!

Jason has always been a welcoming presence at SRG since the first time I set foot in the place…read more Jason is very helpful and accommodating especially if you're new to iRacing. I'm now part of the weekly league races and the community is fantastic. Jason has worked hard to make sure the racing is competitive and fair. All skill levels are encouraged to try and improve handling and track awareness to work up the league ranks (currently 3 formulas and endurance teams for iRacing special events like Daytona, Spa, Nurburgring). The shop has 10 rigs, all of them run iRacing and I believe they have all been outfitted with MOZA bases and pedals which are very svelte compared to my Fanatec DD at home. It's very beginner friendly and some days you'll also meet community members who help out around the shop. Great for: Arrive and Drive, solo or with friends Company functions / Birthday parties League nights!!

I decided to try out Sim Racers Group to get prepared for a race I was going to be driving on a…read moretrack I'd never set foot on before and I wanted to get a feel for the track layout. I was prepared to learn a lot about the track and get some practice in over the months before my race. What I wasn't prepared for was the community I would become a part of as a result of spending an evening getting to know the track. I have become a regular in the leagues and endurance team events, the F1 watch parties, and my personal favorite: Motorsports Christmas (F1 at Monaco, Indy 500, followed by Sim Racing). The ownership continue to reinvest in the sim rigs and has upgraded wheelbases and pedals since I started coming in. I have built a sim rig at home with help from Sim Racers Group and am constantly discussing upgrades with the staff. Even though I have a rig of my own I still enjoy coming into the Sim Racers Group for league racing and special events. If you're at all interested in Sim Racing, come in and run some laps at your favorite track and learn some tricks from Jason, he's super knowledgeable about sim racing as well as motorsports in general.

On top of Mount Hamilton lies the lake observatory. This was my third time visiting the…read moreobservatory, I came here with my four year-old daughter, and it was her first coming here. She was surprised and excited to see the telescope. Inside the observatory it's packed up but fascinating information regarding the meteors stars lots of scientific discoveries. This place also tells you about James Lick's achievements the way he brought the astronomy into reality and his life struggle. There are plenty of parking near Observatory just that while driving, you must be bit careful those were the newcomers because the road is very narrow once you get on the hill. There is a small gift shop inside the Observatory you can grab souvenirs like sweatshirt, T-shirt, magnets, some jewelries which was mentioned was made out of meteors which I found it fascinating and some kids related item, etc.

Took my "Goon Sqaud" Neo and laiza to come check out the Famous Lick Observatory. They've never…read morebeen here before. Make sure to go on a weekend because during the week you won't be able to see the telescopes! It's about an hour drive once you start from 130 or from quimby rd. Make sure to ask someone from the area to give you the history behind Lick Observatory. I'm sure you'll find it interesting!

So much fun! Whether it's a date or family fun, it's so worth it. The lazy river is one of my favs!…read moreHighly recommend!

This is a ride I enjoy to go on during the park. Beware the hours from from 11am to 6pm on most of…read morethe days. It can go to 8pm in the summer months, but it does have a specific opening and closing hours usuall at 11am. The best time to go is usually in the morning or at night when the line is a walk on. In the afternoon, the line can be an hour long easily but that is when it is the hottest. This ride is a hit or miss when getting wet. You get wet the most when people use the geysers to soak you. There is parts where you get bumped hard on the edges and then when you hit the wave you will get wet as well and your shoes soaked. I have not gotton drenched yet on the ride. You do dry off fast which is great. I believe they have dryers for $5 dollars as well.

This was a really nice event, much better than I expected. What more can I say?…read more Kim said it all.

***************************** 1369 ***************************…read more Bite Silicon Valley, Day 1, How Can We Shape The Future of Food, Health, and Technology to help our Growing Population, End Food Waste, Create Affordable Food for All, and GMOs Debate Conference, at Levi's® Stadium. The Bite Silicon Valley, the nation's first-ever FESTIVAL exploring the intersection of food + tech, at Levi's® Stadium June 5-7, 2015 has come to a close, marking the very first year of the best and the brightest in the worlds of culinary, chefs, innovators, pioneers, winemakers, and tech all got together in the heart of Silicon Valley. With over 60 chefs, 30 wineries, 20 speakers, and all for great cause, Bite SV Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara & San Mateo Counties and the 49ers Foundation. Unlike other Food & Wine Festivals in Las Vegas, South Beach or Aspen, where celebrity sightings, fancy dinners, after-parties, and happy hours sponsored by many luxurious high end brands; Bite has been a successful food + wine + tech + innovation festival, like no other, where ideas, issues, awareness, and solutions were raised and together we will make this world a better place. I was humbled and truly honored to attend Bite SV and joined favorite chefs and Bite Silicon Valley to make a difference in our community. Day 1 with chefs: Jose Andres, Michael Chiarello, Roy Choy, Kerry Diamond, Editor in Chief, Yahoo Food., Dorothy Cann Hamilton CEO of International Culinary Institute, Hampton Creek, Josh Tetrick, CEO/Founder, Dr. Robert Fraley, EVP and CTO of Monsato, food waste activist Jordan Figueiredo, and more. It was an amazing day 1 of the festival. Bite Silicon Valley, Day 2 & 3, Grand Tasting, Cooking Demonstrations, Seminars, Plant Based Food, Clean Energy, and Wine Industry, at Levi's® Stadium. There was different chefs on each day, but you can always check the website, so you can meet your favorite celeb chefs and chat with them - Chefs: Roy Choi (LA), Jose Andres (ThinkFoodGroup, Bazaar Meat, e, Jaleo), Michael Voltaggio (Top CHef alum, Ink LA), Michael Mina, Peter Armellino (Pumed Horse), Dominique Crenn (Atelier Crenn), Dmitry Elperin (Village Pub), Richie Farina (chicago), Yu Min Lin (The Sea by Alexander's Steakhouse), Louis Maldonaldo (Top Chef Alum, and Spoonbar), Charles Phan (Slanted door), Parke Ulrich (waterBar) just to name a few. There was so much food and wines flowing all weekend long. There was NEVER a line to anything. This is probably 1 of my favorite food and wine festival of all, because of the imitative and goal to end food waste, how to feed the 9 billions people on this earth by the year 2050, fight GMO, and better way to end world hunger. No food went wasted this inauguration Bite Silicon Valley because company Feed Forward took the food and passed on the less fortunate each day. They were able to feed more than 500 homeless and low income families on each day of the festival. This is not only a festival but it's for a greater cause. BITE Silicon Valley is pleased to support two outstanding organizations: Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties (SHFB) is the trusted leader dedicated to ending local hunger in Silicon Valley. Since its inception in 1974, SHFB has become one of the largest food banks in the nation, and could literally fill Levi's Stadium three times over with the number of people that it serves every month. Second Harvest provides the equivalent of one million meals every week of the year. Through a network of more than 330 non-profit agencies, SHFB distributes healthy food to one out of every ten local residents. More than 90% of the food distributed is highly nutritious, and over half is fresh produce. The 49ers Foundation mission is to 'Keep Kids Safe, on Track and in School.' The Denise DeBartolo York Education Center, located inside The 49ers Museum at Levi's Stadium, provides learning platforms that connect, inspire, and engage students in grades K-8. The curriculum will feature content-rich lessons in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), ingrain invaluable life skills and encourage physical activity. Your $150 for the grand tasting is money well spent. Because you make a different in your community! P.S. Parking is FREE, the volunteers and staffs were amazing the whole 3 days of the festival.