Nordling here.
First off, I'm raging because due to other circumstances I'm going to miss seeing RUSHMORE at my favorite movie theater in the world, with Max Fischer himself attending. That's right - Jason Schwartzman returns to Houston, to help present RUSHMORE to the new Vintage Park theater in Tomball. I couldn't be happier that the Drafthouse is spreading like wildfire throughout the country - their philosophy of loving movies is exactly my own, and the more Drafthouses out there, the better.
The Vintage Park Drafthouse in Houston will be the third Drafthouse here (West Oaks has since closed but Mason Parkis still thriving out in Katy) and not the last. Hopefully soon there will be a Drafthouse smack in the middle of town, and I can't wait for that. But the Vintage Park theater is really nice - spacious, elegant, and with all the traditional Alamo Drafthouse greatness.
There's some special events coming with the new Vintage Park opening - the aforementioned RUSHMORE screening, along with other Houstoncentric movies playing like TERMS OF ENDEARMENT and the Dolph Lundgren epic I COME IN PEACE. There's Bruno Bash - A Night Of Willis, leading up to a screening of A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD on February 15th. There will also be some vintage film screenings for only $3, including CREEPSHOW and Quint's favorite movie, JAWS. JAWS for $3 at the Drafthouse. I think that's a decisive yes.
Finally, last but certainly not least, Justin Ishmael and Mondo are bringing a special screening with a new poster on Saturday February 16th. The title, poster, and artist are secret... but knowing Mondo fans like I do, I anticipate a convoy from Austin that afternoon, because this is an event that you will not want to miss. Trust me.
And Houston readers, in the beginning of March I'll be hosting a special event that I won't be able to talk about yet... but when I can, you'll all be the first to know. It's going to be a hell of a treat, and I can't wait to share it. Here's the press release:
****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE CINEMA – VINTAGE PARK ANNOUNCESGRAND OPENING & SNEAK PREVIEWSIGNATURE PROGRAMMING EVENTSGrand Opening Thursday, February 14, 2013Grand Opening Signature Programming Week February 10th – 17thHouston, TX --- Friday, February 1, 2013 --- Triple Tap Ventures LLC, owner and operator of the Houston area Alamo Drafthouse Cinema theaters, is pleased to announce the opening of the new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Vintage Park on Thursday, February 14th and a sneak preview week of signature Alamo programming which begins Sunday, February 10th.Located in the Vintage Park Shopping Village off of HWY 249 and Louetta Road, the first Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Northwest Houston is the area’s ultimate movie haven, a seven-screen theater with a total of 565 seats. Each of the seven auditoriums is equipped with Sony 4K Digital Cinema Projection, including the newest 4K system, the SRX-R515P, on five of its seven screens. The theater also boasts state-of-the-art audio and RealD 3D technology. Two of the auditoriums are equipped with 35mm projectors – providing a way to preserve the classic cinema experience with 35mm screenings of classic films. Each theater in the building has been thoughtfully designed and laid out in a stadium seating style and, as a result, not a bad seat in the house exists. Guests can sit on the end of the front row and still have an incredible view of the entire screen.Providing a unique combination of theater and restaurant, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Vintage Park will show first-run Hollywood blockbusters and independent films, in addition to the specialty repertory programming and star-studded special events that have made the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema a nationally recognized theater chain. The theater’s menu features a wide selection of hand-crafted food while the bar boasts a 24 craft beer tap system and a special four-cask tap system to serve beer at exact temperature the featured brewer designates.“At the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema we are committed to providing our guests with an awesome movie going experience and safe haven from talkers and texters,” states Neil Billingsley-Michaelsen, CEO of Triple Tap Ventures LLC. “We set the bar very high and strive to impart excellence in everything we do from the best projection technology to the quality ingredients used in our food to the thoughtful choices we make in offering the best craft beer selection in our bar. We look forward to serving the Northwest Houston community and making movie memories with every guest we serve at the new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at Vintage Park Shopping Village.”Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Vintage Park Grand Opening Night Events:The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Vintage Park is celebrating its grand opening just in time for the annual day of love, Valentine’s Day. To celebrate the opening of our new state-of-the-art theater, we have slated a number of events suited for those coupled up or singles looking for a home on the most Hallmarked day of the year. On February 14, join us for our signature interactive movie experience at the MOULIN ROUGE Sing-Along complete with a live burlesque set by Houston Burlesque Revue prior to the movie. The show begins at 7:30 PM and the screening comes equipped with props, subtitled songs and a can-can dance contest for brave audience members. Kicked that significant other to the curb? We have a home for you too! Grab a group of your single friends to belt out sappy power ballads at the LOVE BITES Sing-Along at 10PM. We’re turning one of our auditoriums into a dance party – complete with inflatable guitars and lighters to hold up in the air during one of Slash’s legendary guitar solos as we celebrate the decade of big hair and broken hearts.Additional Grand Opening weekend events include:I Heart Houston – Hollywood Comes to HoustonMonday, February 11 at 7:30 PM – RUSHMORE with Jason Schwartzman in attendanceSaturday, February 16 at 10 PM – I COME IN PEACESunday, February 17 at 6:30 PM – TERMS OF ENDEARMENTWe love our city. We also love that our city has been the setting for quite a few incredible films. We celebrate Houston's place in cinematic history with a series of films that - while completely different from one another - make us proud to be Houstonians! On Monday, February 11, we will screen the 1998 Wes Anderson film RUSHMORE. Star Jason Schwartzman will appear at the screening for an introduction to the movie. On Saturday, February 16, we will continue the series with a screening of I COME IN PEACE, the 1990 science fiction film that saw Dolph Lundgren star as a Houston cop on the trail of a drug dealing alien – the extraterrestrial kind, not illegal. Finally, on Sunday, February 17, we’ll screen James L. Brooks’ Texas-sized tearjerker TERMS ON ENDEARMENT.Bruno Bash: A Night of WillisFriday, February 15 at 5 PMIf you're an action junkie, you were probably planning on seeing A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD, Bruce Willis return to the career-defining role of John McClane. Willis is no ordinary movie star so why would you want to settle for an ordinary screening of his latest movie? Why not make a night out of it? Join us for an action-packed night of Bruce Willis movies leading up to a screening of the new DIE HARD movie. There will be live in-theater explosions, giveaways, games and plenty of beer in this celebration of all things Bruce Willis. Here's the thing, though. We're not going to tell you which movies we're playing - it's a surprise! All we can tell you is this: you will leave the theater sporting your own version of that trademark Bruce Willis smirk from having spent the night indulging in Bruno. There will be four movies - including A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD. Get ready. Get set. Get Willis.Alamo Kids Club: WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBITSaturday, February 16 at 11 AMAt the Alamo Drafthouse, we strongly believe in nurturing the next generation of movie buffs. That’s why we regularly screen classic family-friendly films for the whole family to enjoy. Join us for a 25th anniversary screening of Robert Zemeckis’ groundbreaking blend of animation and live action noir. The whole family is invited to this free screening. For every person who attends the screening, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will donate $1 to the local YMCA scholarship fund.An Evening with MondoSaturday, February 16 at 7:30 PMMondo is a division of the Alamo Drafthouse championed for bringing art back to movie poster design. Utilizing the talents of world-class artists and designers, Mondo produces limited edition, screen printed posters based on all things film, television and comic properties. We can’t tell you what movie will be screening yet but every ticket purchased to this event will include a limited edition screenprinted poster from Mondo. As a special treat, the artist will also be in attendance at the screening.Master Pancake: BACK TO THE FUTURESunday, February 17 at 6:30 PMMaster Pancake, the nationally recognized comedy troupe from Austin, returns to Houston to lampoon BACK TO THE FUTURE, a film so iconic that for a brief period in the mid-80’s it convinced people that DeLoreans, down vests, and Huey Lewis were cool. Michael J. Fox (FAMILY TIES, TEEN WOLF) stars as Michael J. Fox -- or Marty McFly as he’s called here -- who travels back in time in order to save his professorial pal “Doc”, played by Christopher Lloyd (TAXI, STAR TREK III). Along the way, McFly ends up inventing rock‘n’roll, changing history, and almost dating his own mom. You’ll have 1.21 jigowatts of fun as Master Pancake riffs on BACK TO THE FUTURE!Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Vintage Park Signature Programming Sneak Preview Week:Beginning Sunday, February 10th, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Vintage Park will offer a sneak preview at its signature programming. Designed to give patrons the chance to experience a signature Alamo event prior to our Grand Opening on Valentine’s Day, the programming includes daily screenings of GHOSTBUSTERS, with $1 of every ticket going to the local YMCA scholarship fund, fan-favorite Action Pack events such as THE BIG LEBOWSKI Quote-Along, independent film highlights including screenings of Drafthouse Films releases, screenings of recent Hollywood blockbusters such as SKYFALL and ARGO, and Big Screen Classics such as JAWS and CREEPSHOW. All tickets for our sneak preview events are $3 and all non-alcoholic menu items will be 50 percent off during this training week.Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Houston Social Media:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alamohoustonTwitter: http://twitter.com/houstonalamoWebsite: http://drafthouse.com/theaters/houston
Hope to see you all there. Nordling, out.
