Beer at the movies -- a good idea?
Usually when I watch a film at a movie theater I don't buy eats or drinks, not even popcorn. I harbor a lingering belief, instilled in me by my parents, that shelling out money for concessions at a movie is "profligate behavior." Go figure.
But Friday night I broke this rule. Sitting in the Landmark Theatre in downtown Baltimore waiting for "The Wrestler" to begin, I made my way to the bar in the theater's lobby and bought a beer.
The bar did not have any beer on tap, but it did have bottles of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I gave the bartender $6, he poured the beer in a plastic cup, and I went back to my seat in the theater. The seat, I noticed, had a cup holder, just like a ball park.
It was Friday, I reminded myself, prime beer drinking time. So I sipped the Sierra Nevada as I watched Mickey Rourke portray Randy The Ram Robinson, a down-on- his luck professsional wrestler, and his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Marisa Tomei, a stripper.
The movie had it moments, but it dragged. This, in a way, was a good thing, because when nature called, as happens when you drink beer, I didn't miss much.
I am not sure "The Wrestler" will win an Oscar. Both Rourke and Tomei are nominated.
And I am not sure I will drink beer again at the movies.
How about you; do you drink beer at the movies?
What did you think of "The Wrestler"? As I recal,l no one drinks beer in this movie. Only shots of booze.
Comments
Drinking beer at the movies is nothing new - in Europe, anyway. I do it all the time when I visit the relatives in Germany.
Posted by: Harvey Morrell | January 27, 2009 10:49 AM
We used to drink beer at the movies long before they sold it at the concession stands. Take the taboo out of it and it's just not that exciting anymore!
Posted by: Canton Man | January 27, 2009 10:58 AM
I think "MoviePubs" are a fantastic idea. There's a franchise in Portland, McMenamin's, that has several which are good fun.
http://www.mcmenamins.com/
I suspect that an enterprising brewer/real estate developer would do well to take a similar business model to some of Baltimore's iconic buildings in search of tenants.
Posted by: Mitch | January 27, 2009 11:03 AM
The 'Premium' theater which used to be in Owings Mills had a bar. I remember getting some beers and seeing some good movies there.
I also remember, shortly after I turned 21, sneaking in some beers to the $2 theater.
I think it is true that everything is better with beer.
Posted by: C Double | January 27, 2009 11:10 AM
The Charles also serves beer and now The Senator has started to serve local brews too. More places should do it in my opinion, it would help their revenues. Also you might get a lot more older patrons. You have a beer when you watch TV or a Movie at home, why not the Theater?
Posted by: Liz Stambaugh | January 27, 2009 11:24 AM
When I sit down on my couch to watch a much anticipated movie (like I did with The Wrestler last night) a nice beer is an absolute neccesity. The two things together bring me all the relaxation I need on a snowy night.
I'm excited to have a hIPA while I watch Milk tonight.
The thing about the theater is, I'd really like to have 2-3 beers, and I don't approve of leaving my seat during a movie. It's tough, but I guess one beer is better than none.
Posted by: ak | January 27, 2009 12:27 PM
In NoVA there are a couple of theatres were you can get a beer, pitchers of beer, and wine. My wife and I came from Portland, and as another poster mentioned there was a chain there called Mcmenamin's. It seemed natural once we got here to have a theater/bar. However, the fad doesn't seem to have caught on.
Posted by: SHJ | January 27, 2009 2:26 PM
I heard somewhere along the line that Mark Cuban (owner of the Dallas Mavericks) is buying up a lot of movie theaters because he is speculating that people will soon tire of paying exorbitant prices to see sporting events live, and will instead want to watch them for much cheaper on 3-D screens close to their home.
I imagine that would encourage beer to be offered.
Posted by: ak | January 27, 2009 3:23 PM
I've been to several moviepubs while traveling and had a great time. I think this would be an excellent idea for Bmore, perhaps a way that the Senater could make some money without a half-hearted city bailout?
Posted by: Cheese | January 27, 2009 10:24 PM
Forget the beer. Grey Goose Cosmos at the Landmark ROCKZ!
and they are pretty cheap.
Posted by: On the Floor | January 27, 2009 11:04 PM
Honestly I love a good beer during a movie or two, not that you don't when you watch a film at home. Enjoy I say.
Posted by: Thomas | January 28, 2009 12:15 AM
I liked the "Wrestler" but it was bit "indieslow". Rob the characters drank beer in the movie and in fact the main characters drank Rolling Rock at a bar. You most of missed that part when you went to the bathroom.
Posted by: bigmusky | January 28, 2009 7:36 AM