Show Preview: Brackett & Co., Real Estate
J. Tillman at the Mohawk - Giveaway
We've been mentioning the Drafthouse's latest theatre a lot lately because it, like the other locations, has a lot going for it. And while writing about special events and showings is always fun, we thought it was time to write about the location and its merits.
The Drafthouse South is located on South Lamar (1120, to be exact) just a few blocks south of the river. It is in a little strip mall with a large parking lot - a huge improvement over the downtown location where you have to literally fist fight mobs in the street to find a spot. Another vast improvement for those of the lazy variety - no long, sweaty stairway.
Can we be honest for just a minute? We don't like the downtown Alamo. It is old. It is uncomfortable. The screen is bad. The sound is bad. We've seen the circuit break several times, throwing the entire theatre into chaos. And frankly, it just wasn't worth the bother to us to see Labyrinth at midnight while eating nachos.
We say these harsh things only to make our feelings about the new Drafthouse stand out in sharp contrast.
The new Drafthouse is like a real movie theatre. You go to a glass window at the front of the building and slide your money through a hole into air-conditioned little box where a teenager with a lip ring is working. You take your ticket, and go into the theatre. There are stadium style seats that are comfortable and pleasant to sit in. The screen is new and bright and fresh, and the sound is loud and bass-filled.
It is a modern movie theatre. You can see bad movies where cars blow up. And good movies. Where cars blow up.
And then, as if by magic, mid-explosion, a man comes and brings you a pitcher of beer and a pizza. And then, a slice of pie. And then, some ice cream. And then, another pitcher of beer.
This is what we always wanted from the Alamo Drafthouse: a pleasant, modern movie-going experience + beer and pie. They have perfected the formula with this new location, and we have adopted it as our new favorite place to see a movie.
Bravo, Drafthouse! We'll take one more pitcher of beer, and another piece of pie.
Alamno Drafthouse South Lamar
1120 South Lamar
Click for listings
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
I wish the new Drafthouse had breaks in the tables to allow for easier washroom breaks. And the chairs could be more comfortable. Still, I agree an improvement over the downtown one...
At SXSW this year, I was terribly disappointed by the new Alamo South -- exactly because it feels like you're at a multiplex in any-town Suburban USA. The downtown location has character in spades, and while it could use some attention in the way of renovations, part of its charm comes from its hole-in-the-wall rock club like atmosphere. It's not bland. The Alamo South is shiny and new and corporate. It is bland, and, well, boring.