iPic Theater

Last week my brother announced that he had bought eight tickets to see Skyfall at the iPic theater in Old Town Pasadena. I said cool. I actually haven't been to a movie in more than five years. (I used to see movies in theaters at least once or twice a week, I guess it's just one of those things about which I no longer care.)

When I was a teenager, I often saw movies in this theater - I think it was an AMC back then. A few years ago they turned it into a "Gold Class" cinema, with plush seats, gourmet food and drinks, and something like $30 tickets. I can understand the appeal of places like that for some people, but it's not for me and I never went. 

But my brother and I grew up watching James Bond movies, and he was paying for the tickets, and my parents and a few friends were coming along, so I was looking forward to it.

Not a lot of seats in the theater, which is necessary for the oversized seats and plenty of leg room.

It was nice to not have to put my Jack Sack on a sticky theater floor, I will say that. 


My dad immediately got into the spirit of things and reclined his seat.

Wanna see the menu? Okay. 

Definitely a lot of things that looked good.

I opted to try the buffalo chicken spring rolls. (I've mentioned before the difficulty in taking pictures in really dark restaurants without using the flash; a darkened movie theater takes that to a whole new level. I probably took twenty photos; this was the only one that was usable.) 

They were really good, much better than I was expecting: crispy, with juicy chicken and cheese. I wish the buffalo flavor had been stronger - it was barely noticeable - but overall these were a great snack.

I've had beer in movie theaters many times. From movies at the Kennedy School in Portland with a fresh microbrew in front of me, to other, more frowned-upon occasions. (I remember my friends and I sneaking in half a liquor store to a showing of Armageddon when we were teenagers - which, come to think of it, was probably the only way to make that movie tolerable.)

But I've never had a Guinness until now. And it was a very good pint.

As soon as I finished my pint, an usher/server set down a bag of popcorn in front of me. I thought maybe that was my reward for finishing my beer, but then I saw every other person receiving one as well. I guess they give you complimentary popcorn. 

I would return to the iPic if there is a movie I really wanted to see. (As you can guess, that doesn't happen very frequently.) It was an enjoyable way to watch a film. But I won't be making a habit out of it.