My favorite and most taken-for-granted Austin experience is, without a doubt, Alamo Drafthouse. I’m so spoiled by being able to combine dinner, drinks, and movies all in one mega event that I just don’t feel right going to any other theater. I expect menus, waiters, relevant and obscure TV and movie clips, and definitely no commercials. Unless they’re vintage. Or really really bizarre. Alamo Drafthouse is one of the coolest I-wish-I’d-thought-of-that ideas to come out of Austin. And everyone else is noticing too. Entertainment Weekly named it the number 1 movie theater in the country. Tim and Karrie League, Alamo wunderkinds, have taken their Rolling Roadshows across the country. Alamo even got a mention in a recent episode of NBC’s freshman drama, Heroes. In addition to the four locations here in Austin, Houston has one, Katy has one, San Antonio has one, and if you meet their qualifications, they’re taking applications for franchising. I can only hope that someday all movie theaters will be as wonderfully fun, tasty, and respectful of both the moviemakers and audience as Alamo Drafthouse.

The best thing about the Drafthouse isn’t the tables in place of every other row, the unobtrusive wait staff, or even the tasty food and drink. It’s the creative movie-themed events, like the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory chocolate feast, God of Cookery chef throwdown, videoke, and, of course, much-beloved Sinus Show. For many events, Alamo brings in big name film folks, such as Quentin Tarantino, Peter Jackson, and local hotshots Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriguez. My favorite events have been the sing-alongs, specifically the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Boyband sing-alongs (evidently, I have an inner teenage girl fighting to be set free). What have been your favorite Alamo memories?

Photo courtesy of Jette Kernion