The Alamo Drafthouse and the Best Movies to See There

I remember when mom used to load up the 57' Chevy on a Saturday night and head for the local movie drive-in. What a treat it was for us kids. We could watch a movie on a screen that had to be a zillion feet tall. On top of that there was a playground right in front of the screen with swing sets and merry go rounds and even some monkey bars. The parents could keep an eye on the kids and the movie at the same time.

Those days are gone. There is not one drive-in movie within 200 miles of where I live now. But there is an Alamo Drafthouse within driving distance. The Alamo is a great place to watch a movie. Geared more for adults, they serve beer, wine, and mixed drinks along with real food! And they have waiters to bring you whatever you desire. Yep, even during the movie. They duck down out of the way and move along the big aisles between the rows of seats.

Bob orders a strawberry daiquiri, and I usually go for the Chai tea. The burgers are outstanding and the fish and chips are awesome! Of course there is the standard movie fare of popcorn, nachos, and pizza.

The menu is updated for special features like Harry Potter movies. They presented brunches with really cool items like butterbeer and cauldrons of stew. Touches like this make movie-going special.

The last movie we went to see was the new Leonardo DiCapriomovie, Inception . Interesting dreamscapes with some wild plot twists thrown in. The special effects were fantastic and after getting to know DiCaprio from other films such as Shutter Island and Titanic , we were impressed with his acting ability.

My favorite movie of all time to see at the Alamo Drafthouse was Avatar . The movie was in 3D and at the drafthouse, the screen is close and it really felt like we were actually on Pandora! What amazing colors! The flight scenes in 3D were totally fantastic! The final battle in the end just sort of blows you away. Suffice it to say, any 3D movie would work at the Alamo.

The prices for movie tickets are standard and the food is just a bit pricier than just going to a restaurant, but the ambiance is so special that paying for service is not too bad. The quality of the food is first rate so you know you'll always have a tasty meal with the movie. The pizzas are gourmet and freshly baked, the burgers are delicious, and the Sunday brunches and other special menus are heavenly.

Any time you're in Austin, Texas, do give the Alamo Drafthouse a try. There are three locations in Austin, a couple in Houston, and I think there is one in Dallas now. It's a great place to go for lunch or dinner.