(central-cinema.com) – Central District
How I heard of this place: Through my friend Tahirih when she found out they were doing a special Prince-themed New Years Eve celebration to ring in 2010.
Type of cuisine: Everything is handmade in their kitchen, including stone oven pizza, dinner salads, rich desserts, locally brewed beers, small vineyard wines, and fair-trade coffee. The waiters will even bring it all to you at your banquette in the theater!
Ambiance: Casual. There are booth-like seats in the lower half of the theater with a banquette in front of each. In the back of the theater you’ll find seating similar to what you might have found at a lecture in college/university – a small table that folds out from the arm of your chair. The air of the atmosphere changes depending on the movie playing the hosts for the evening – and is always fun, flirty, musical and festive, complete with disco ball!
What I ordered: Sadly each time I’ve gone (twice – the first for a Madonna sing-along) I have been stuffed from dinner or the days events that I generally stray from ordering. But I have to say that I have heard rave reviews of the root beer floats and fresh popped popcorn, served in a ceramic bowl! Last night, a special Valentine’s Day menu was prepared, from which I sampled the profiteroles filled with spicy chocolate cream and they were sweet, spicy and a nice treat for the second half of the show. (Though not something for which I’d necessarily return.)
What I loved: What I always love at the Central Cinema is the flair with which every show is produced. It’s not just a movie or music videos to which you’re invited to sing along. The theater staff goes out of its way to dress up, get in character, play games, offer door prizes and give you little trinkets to get you in the spirit! Last night, for example, we were given kazoos (to blow each time the Duke entered the scene) and large-gem rings for added bling. We were also offered red balloons which we were told to blow up and toss around the room to create the “Red Light District” when the song Roxanne lit up the screen. How much more fun could you have at a movie? And to think, that in just three weeks another classic – Goonies is coming to Central Cinema!
Why I loved it: It’s just like watching a movie at home – where you can sing or quote along to your hearts content, eat popcorn and share the experience with friends…But now you have MORE friends with which to share the experience and props that you may not have considered on your own. Always a fun and high-energy evening, complete with dancing, singing and acting like you’ve never let out before.
Cost: Average for a movie ($10 per person) but with the added door prizes and trinkets, an entertaining host and second- (or third-) run movies that you won’t rent and watch at home.