Dear husband and I were delighted to see that the movie Her was still playing somewhere and the place is the Federal Way Gateway Cinema (Starplex Cinema, at 2501 S. Gateway Center, Federal Way, WA, 98003. This is a discount theater, with our tickets being $2 each. We went to the 11:15 show and had the theater to ourselves. Their website is here.
Blockbuster Video at 3833 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98418-7897 is closing. It is the last Blockbuster Video in Tacoma and once gone, the closest store will be in Kent. I use to get my dvds there and found the parking lot to be difficult to maneuver. This month (November 2013) it was announced that the remaining stores will be closing.
Until today, I hadn’t realized this six theater Regal Cinema existed. The Regal South Hill Cinema 6 is located at 3500 South Meridian, Puyallup, WA. More importantly it is located in the back of the mall, behind Target, so it is easy to miss. It was the only theater playing The Impossible, a striking movie about a family of five’s experience during the 2004 Thailand Tsunami.
Bob’s Famous Java Jive at 2102 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma, WA 98409 is indeed a Tacoma landmark. It was constructed in 1927 and it was originally known as The Coffee Pot Restaurant. It has functioned as a drive through restaurant, a speakeasy during prohibition, a go go bar and a place for karaoke. Between talking to the bartender and online research, I learned a couple of things. At one point the Java Jive had two chimpanzees — Java and Jive. When it was a speakeasy the liquor and gambling was hidden away behind a secret door behind the men’s room urinal. But it was the secret room in the ladies room which had the illegal supplies for the mayor and other VIPs. The structure was built in the tideflats and then the sections were bolted together on the site. Two movies were filmed there: I Love You To Death with River Phoenix and Say Anything with John Cusack. Nirvana and The Ventures have both played here. And it is on the Tacoma Historic Register.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2977
My family had made a point to watch all of the movies that lead up to the Avengers, but then two of us went on a long trip and somehow it seemed like we’d missed it on the big screen. But yesterday dear husband noticed that it was still playing at the Regal Longston Place Stadium 14 at 13317 Meridian Avenue in Puyallup. The movie was great and we are glad to have made the effort to see it. The theater itself was just fine with friendly employees and comfy seats. Our theater only had a dozen or so customers in it and we were a little surprised when the security person came through with her glow stick three times. Wonder if that has always been the procedure or if it was in response to the recent movie shooting in Colorado.
The AMC Loews Lakewood Town Center 12 has the most comfortable theater seats ever! The theater had been around when the Lakewood Mall was in place and over the past 12 months or so they have been replacing their traditional seating and putting in these oversized and very comfy chairs. The best part is that with the push of a button the seat turns into a recliner! Dear husband and I claimed our own adjoining chairs, but I noticed other couples and parent/child combinations sharing 😀
http://www.amctheatres.com/Lakewood/
I’ve been wanting to see the Woody Allen’s new movie Midnight in Paris and today was the day. It is playing exclusively at the Grand Cinema at 606 South Fawcett Avenue, Tacoma, WA and that is great, since it is one of my favorite theaters. It was a wonderful movie that made me want to book a ticket to Paris right away. I was especially glad to see it since my book group is reading Tender is the Night this year and F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the characters in the film.
To see more about the movie, go here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/
The Grand Cinema is a nonprofit, art house theater and its mission is to enhance the cultural vitality of the community through the art of film. Their selection of movies is very thoughtful and they show films that often just aren’t available any place else in Pierce County. In addition their theaters are comfortable, the snacks extra good and the mostly volunteer staff is excellent!
The Grand’s website is here:
