Fan Rant: Forget the Popcorn! I Want a Beer/Burger Combo at the Movies!

What about a royale with cheese?

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Honestly, I'd be irritated by the chewing and slightly tipsy people. And I wouldn't want to be distracted while eating something like a steak or whatever, but a burger would probably be okay.

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i also question the wisdom of allowing people that are already annoying when sober to become even slightly inebriated.

i guess i really want my own private screenings with just me and my hand-selected non-annoying friends. not too much to ask, i think. let's work on that amc.

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This post is an oddity to someone who lives in Portland OR - we have several cinemas (one of which is a 2 block walk from my house) to choose from where beer and food are sold, except the food is generally crappy pizza.

Another reminder why I moved here and why I think I'll stay...

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We have a theater near us where waiters serve you menu items during the movie. The food has been pretty good, but eating that type of food and dealing with the waiters can be a bit distracting. It's okay for a once in a while thing, but not every time I go see a movie.

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We can take drinks into our cinema. There is nothing better than sipping a cold beer or sharing a nice bottle of wine while watching a good film. One of the reasons why staying at home is often the best way to get totally engrossed in a great film.

Where I live it gets very, very hot in the summer (now), my local cinemas need to work harder to convince me that leaving my air-conditioned apartment and 50" TV is a good way to watch a film. Having a bar is a great start.

Though would not bother with the burger, going out for a meal afterwards is a big part of our movie going evening, would not want to change that.

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What? You mean you've never been to a Cinema Cafe?
Virginia, at least in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area, has maybe 5 of them.

It's pretty awesome.

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Yeah, Anchorage has an awesome theater like that. The Bear Tooth. In fact, it's a brew pub. They serve their own beers. And the pizza is terrific.

http://www.beartooththeatre.net/index2.html

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I used to live in LA and I never thought I'd find a theater better than the ArcLight (reserved seats, no kids under 18, one screen which serves alcohol, a nice restaurant in the lobby, etc)
But then I moved to Austin and found the famed Alamo Drafthouse. I've lived here since May and I've only been to another theater 3 times since then, the last being to see The Happening on opening weekend. Nothing compares.

Every other row has been replaced with tables, the waiters come around a couple times before the movie, then once it starts only to bring food or if you but up your paper requesting something else, then once at about the 3/4th mark to give you your check. The one I go to has Stadium seating so you don't really notice the waiters.

No kids under 18 allowed without an adult, which makes the crowd a whole lot better. I've yet to go where someone has been drunk and rowdy, and you can report anyone who is by flagging a waiter with your paper.

The food is also amazing as they hire good chefs (unlike a drafthouse knock off in Arlington I visited that had frozen pizza that sucked) I've had burgers, pizza, chicken sandwiches, fries, nachos, shakes, even creme brule and it's all been great.

What's even better is that on Tuesday all shows before 2pm (usually the first 2 showing of each movie) are Baby Day Screening which means parents can bring their little ones to the movie, they turn the sound down and the lights up, and as a parent of a 10 month old my wife and I have been going each week for the last couple of months.

It really is the ultimate movie going experience. I think since it's a huge Geek Mecca of Moviegoing it makes a big difference in the crowds, not once in my multiple viewings at the drafthouse have I had to ask someone to be quiet. And I've gone on average once every week and a half to two weeks since moving here if not more (so around 20 to 25ish times)

Also cool is that they always have somehting going for the 20min or o before the movie that relates to it, like for Hancock we saw some old Fresh Prince music videos and clips from the Fresh Prince show. For Let the Right On In they had strange 50 and 60s hammer horror films. Always something cool.

Seriously if you want to go to a good theater come to Austin, and the special events are awesome, just a few weeks ago I got to see Bruce Campbell and My Name is Bruce, and they are always showing smaller films like "Let the Right One In"

The only thing I'd change is make it reserved seating.

Sorry this rant went on so long.

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In central Ohio there is a theater which is part of a larger chain throughout Kentucky and Texas called The Movie Tavern. I frequent there and the food is amazing. They also have a no one under the age of 18 past 7pm without a parent or guardian rule which is a nice addition. When you need something there is a button in front of you that signals the wait staff in the kitchen, so they aren't too big of a distraction unless someone beckons them.

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We have the Rivoli in La Crosse, Wisconsin (a wonderful old theater house) and the Main Feature Theater and Pizza in Waukon, Iowa (less atmosphere but still fun). The thing is, movie tickets are cheaper because they know you can't resist the smell of the pizza. It's a great place to take the family.

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Also in central Ohio, we have Studio 35, Ohio's longest running single screen movie house. They have fourteen beers on draft - local, regional, and of course, PBR. And we can order pizza, subs, and other things from a Pizza Shop down the road. You order it whenever, and then you have to come back in about twenty minutes to get it. The theater was built in 1938, first theater to have a beer license, and focuses on double features. It's a great place. www.studio35.com

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The Alamo Drafthouse in Houston would get my money weekly if they showed better movies. The atmosphere is much more adult, with a whole lot less kids.

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I moved from the armpit of California, Hesperia, to Bend Oregon recently and found a much better movie going experience. I used to have to drive 45 minutes to southern California to see movies in a big theater, but now I just walk to McMenamins old St. Francis School.
Micro Brew and a burger make movies so much more enjoyable.

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The Alamo Drafthouse is by far one of the greatest places on Earth. It's a movie house for people who truly loves movies. The food is great (could be it's own restaurant) but its the programming that makes it truly amazing.

Not only do the surrounding Drafthouses, which show first run movies, choose great films to see (I saw VOLVER sold out weeks into its run,) but they have really fun tie-ins (everyone got a free creme brulee at AMELIE, a free condom at KNOCKED UP) but it's the original programming that is truly fantastic (LABYRINTH sing-a-longs, "Saved by the Bell" after school special nights, Movie-oke nights, etc etc etc.)

The Oscar watch parties - complete with red carpets, Oscar bingo, singalongs and nominee's most embarrassing performances during the commercials - was seriously one of the most hilarious nights of my life.

And the the person above, yes the Drafthouse serves a Royale with Cheese. Go to drafthouse.com to see it in all its greatness - and no, I don't work for them, just someone who misses Austin like crazy :)

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Of course I'm open to enjoying ANY cinema / restaurant combo, but they'd have to be pretty damn amazing to earn a comparison to, yes, Alamo Drafthouse.

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