Central Cinema Rocks - Literally...

Central Cinema's

Rock Anthem Singalong

He Said:

Central Cinema. Plain old-fashioned, bloody good fun. That’s what first comes to mind when describing Central Cinemas’ Rock Anthem Singalong.

When Mandy first said what the deal was for Date Night, I really didn’t pay it much thought. ‘Another trip to the movies - whoop di do’. I of course would never say anything like that out loud to my bride but rather gave the newly married-man staple “Sounds great honey”. But I was wrong. So very wrong, as the Central Cinema is infinitely more than a regular trip to the pictures.

Straight from their website, "Central Cinema is Seattle's only Dine-In Cinema is located in the Central District neighborhood at 21st & Union. A place close to home for your total Date-Nite experience in one spot." What more can I say? It really is just that.

Central Cinema offers off-the-wall cinema features coupled with a fully fledged restaurant/bar and in cinema dining. You wont find the newest, latest releases at Central but rather an eclectic mix of classics, cult favorites and random events. Our random event was a showing of classic 80’s rock anthem video clips. Think AC/DC, Journey, early Beastie Boys. Ahhhhhh music heaven!

Look, I’ll be the first to admit the missus and I are 80’s tragics so this night was made for us. I sometimes think we were born 20 years too late. And not just because of the music. The movies (who doesn’t love Top Gun!), the style (have you seen Mandy’s hair in the morning?) but most importantly the attitude - everything about the decade rocked, and so did the Central Cinema.

Coupled with the video clips, we were also treated to 2 part set from Seattle’s premier air guitar band Airpocalypse. You may have seen them on one of those Americas got X talent idol shows or what ever it is. Anyways-bloody hilarious and I highly recommend seeing them! Armed with blow up guitars, a greasy meal and a lot of beer the whole night was awesome!



Lastly, I wont promise you the most comfortable seat at Central Cinema. Nor does it have the best picture and sound quality around and the food could be better. BUT I do promise you a cracking good time. The atmosphere is second to none (for a Cinema) in the greater Seattle region.

Cheers,
Brett

She Said:

I'd just like to call out one little bit from Brett's post:

"...But I was wrong. So very wrong..."

That's all! ;)

RATINGS:



Central Cinema
1411 21st Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 686-6684

Romance: 2 - not romantic, but FUN!
Cool Ambiance/Interior: 3 - it's a MOVIE THEATER!
All Around Service: 5 - Service was great! Had beer and food the entire time. Very attentive staff.
Cost: $$ = entrees from $8 - 13 or so... (they have a great diverse menu)
Would we recommend it? 5: Yes! And can we come with you?

Be sure to check out their CALENDAR for upcoming events!

Snow in the City and Harry Potter

Harry Potter @ The IMAX

She Said:

This Date Night post is less about the fabulous time we had, and more about Date Night perseverance.

Monday the 22nd of December, Seattle was hit with an unusual amount of snow for mid-November. As most of you who live in the Northwest know, Seattleites + Snow = the biggest disaster known to man. This video should give you a good idea of just how we handle the icy and snowy conditions (this was 5 blocks from my office):



That said... Brett and I had planned on a Monday night Date Night to go see Harry Potter at the IMAX, and have a nice dinner on Queen Anne to start it off right. I even had a little Hermione Granger costume i was going to wear to get into the spirit of things (costumes on date nights are ALWAYS a good idea).

Unfortunately, things did not go quite as planned. Our tickets were for 7.30 pm. Since I work up on Capitol Hill, we knew it’d be a risk trying to get home in the dark, so I had Brett come and pick me up. He left the house (1.3 miles from my office) at 4.30pm.

He didn’t arrive until 6.30. That’s right. TWO HOURS in traffic to get me.

“Mandy, you idiot, why didn’t you just walk?!” you ask???

GREAT question. That morning I had gotten a cortisone injection in my ankle due to a past injury, so I was in worlds of pain and was barely able to stand, let alone walk.

So, Brett battled the traffic and finally rescued me. And it took the entire hour to get back to Seattle Center, where we snagged drive through McDonalds on the way to the movie. Romantic.

We did make it to the film, though, just in time for previews.

The movie was fabulous (the best one since the first one!), and if you get a chance to see it in IMAX, do it.

But the REAL moral of this story is, whatever obstacles – whether it’s the winter Snowmageddon of 2010, a bum ankle you can’t walk on, or any other crazy natural disaster thrown in your path ...

Make sure you power through and keep your Date Nights. We had an adventure out there, but in the end was totally worth it.

Plus, who doesn’t love a city covered in snow??




Happy Dating!

Seattle Date Night on Pike and Pine

September 11, 2009:
Quinn's Gastropub and Molly Moon's Ice Cream!

She Said:

When i read about Quinn's opening on Capitol Hill almost two years ago, i immediately added it to The List.

Why? Well, read for yourself.


A quaint little gastropub, featuring exotic and off-the-wall proteins, a medley of imported beers, and a funky Capitol Hill renovated space (not to mention the same creators as Restaurant Zoe), i was convinced.

So, Brett and i headed up to the Hill to check it out. Unfortunately, we weren't the only ones who had heard about its fabulousness. The wait was over an hour (Quinn's does not take reservations), and we were starving, so we headed to Tango instead.

Almost 2 years later, we figured the popularity of Quinn's would have simmered a bit, and so we ventured up the Hill once more, to finally experience this beauty. Even after two years, Quinn's, located on the corner of 10th and East Pike, was still buzzing with business.

Located on the very hip Pike Pine corridor on Capitol Hill, Quinn's location makes it a perfect place to grab a Friday night drink or some nibblies. Again, we were not the only ones with this brilliant idea. Fortunately for us, Quinn's has a main level (more conducive to drinking and nibbling and socializing) as well as an upstairs (more of a sit-down dining experience), and we were seated immediately at a small table on the upper deck.


I love love LOVE the decor of this place. Similar to many other Seattle haunts, it's open, with visible plumbing, cloaked in dark wood and exposed beams, with transom smokey glass windows.

It was dimly lit (we took no indoor pictures as to not upset the ambiance this darkness created), which made for THE MOST romantic setting.

We glanced over the menu, which is as diverse as the clientele at Quinn's: beef tongue, bone marrow, wild boar, frogs legs -- you guys, if you want funky foods at affordable prices, this is the place for you! None of it is pretentious, either. It's simply different. And rustic. And a little bit heavy. I love it.

What really caught our eye was on the drinks portion of the menu. There was a $27 bottle of beer (Koningshoeven Bock Trappist Ale). Both Brett and I were eying it, wondering what it was laced with to be that expensive...

Our waiter (Jerry, loved him) approached and welcomed us, asking if we had any questions. I immediately asked him what made this bottle of beer $27... he proceeded to tell us that all the beers on the list of imports were made by Trappist [silent] Belgian monks, and that all the proceeds of this beer went back to the community as a donation. So, basically, Brett and i would be philanthropists by purchasing this beer... We were convinced.


The beer arrived (large bottle -- probably held about 3 pints worth of beer), and the sommelier poured the glasses. It was a deep red color, and had hints of berry to it. One thing i noted (and loved) is that the sommelier gave Brett the beer with the most foam, saying, "Let's let you wait, and not the lady." I just loved that! Pure class, all the way (much to Brett's chagrin!).

Halfway through our beers, we ordered our mains. Brett ordered pork ribs ($19?), and I ordered the roasted half-chicken and arugula ($16).

They arrived quickly, and we devoured them. Brett wasn't overly impressed with his meal, but i was blown away. The chicken had a subtle lemon flavor, and the mashed chick-pea puree it was on was to die for. Coupled with the warm tomatoes and olives, and the spicy arugula, the flavors mashed perfectly. OH MY GOSH, so so good. Now i want to try everything on the menu!

We cleaned our plates, and sipped the rest of the beers with fat and happy bellies. I could've stayed and enjoyed people watching all night, but alas, Molly Moon's ice cream was calling!

We headed out into the night, and walked a block north to Seattle's most happening ice cream spot, Molly Moon's. This place is amazing. Simple flavors, creative medleys, home made, hormone-free, local ingredients. The line was out the door!



We ordered a single scoop ($3) of the raspberry mint sorbet in one of their home-made waffle cones (an extra $1) and walked across the street to watch an urban haphazard game of dodgeball happening at the park.


[so happy with my sorbet!]
Hand in hand, sharing an ice cream cone, and watching people of all ages, race, size, skill try to pelt each other with rubber balls... well, it just doesn't get more romantic than that!


[Brett enthralled with the dodgeball!]

RATINGS:

Quinn's Gastropub
quinnspubseattle.com
1001 E Pike St
Seattle, WA 98122
(206)325-7711

Romance: 5

Cool Ambiance/Interior: 5 (LOVED IT!)

All Around Service: 5: Class, all the way!

Cost: $$$ = entrees from $14 - 22

Would we recommend it?
5: Yes! And be sure to head to Molly Moon's, 917 E Pine St, Seattle, WA‎ - (206) 708-7947‎, for some sweet treats afterwards!

Seattle Date Night Idea!

Next time you're digging for something fun to do on a random date night, why not try out some swing or salsa dancing?

What? You don't dance? Not a problem!

Century Ballroom (located upstairs in the Oddfellows building at East Pine and Broadway on Capitol Hill) offers a plethera of dance lessons, for all skill levels, shapes, and sizes!

[source]

Whether you want to try your hand at swing dancing (Sunday and Wednesday nights, lesson from 9p-9.30p, dance from 9.30p to 1.15a) or salsa (Thursday nights, lesson from 9p-9.30p, dance from 9.30p to 1.15a), $7 will get you a beginners' 30 minute lesson and entrance to the dance afterwards!

Plus, right next door to the ballroom, you'll find the CUTEST little restaurant called the Tin Table, where you can nibble on grilled stuffed eggplant rolls ($7), some thai pork ribs ($12), or sip on their world famous ginger mojito ($9) to build up enough energy (and nerve) to keep your dance partner on his/her toes for the entire evening!

[source]

If you have some time, too, after dinner and before your dance lesson, be sure to head downstairs (follow your nose towards the smell of freshly pressed waffle cones) for some of the most amazing (and interesting!) ice cream at Molly Moons, who is famous for her handmade (and hormone free) ice cream ranging in flavors as simple as vanilla bean, to as eccentric as balsalmic strawberry or salted caramel!

[source]

Click HERE for Century Ballroom's calendar of events.
Click HERE to check out the Tin Table.
Click HERE to check out Molly Moons.




(PLUS! If you are an old dancin' pro and interested in advanced lessons, Century offers several series, which include myriad dance styles, like swing, salsa, the walz, tango and more! They even offer private lessons, if the group thing isn't your gig. Check out their website for more information!)