Poseidon and I met our pals N & T on Saturday afternoon for a matinee at the Rialto. Why am I blogging about this, and who cares? Because the Rialto Theater is one of the grooviest, primo places on the planet (truly, it is...should be one of the wonders of the world...I'm still petitioning).
For those not fortunate enough to live in the Raleigh, NC area, I will attempt to describe this theater, though I will not do it justice, that is a given, so you will just have to get in your car, hop on a plane, or whatever your desired mode of transportation may be, and come see for yourself.
First and foremost, the Rilato serves beer, and not crap beer, but realbeer (on tap), and wine. Yup, many of my friends in other states can't believe that NC is so progressive when it comes to cinema enjoyment. Well, you won't find beer at the ginormous theaters in Raleigh, only at a handful of hip little movie houses, the Rialto being my fave.
The Rialto has only one theater, so only one movie, usually for a week or two. Here is the best part: they only show foreign and independent flicks, AND, they still show The Rocky Horror Picture Showevery Friday at midnight. Sorry Spiderman 14, Iron Man 8, and even Harry Potter. You won't get any face time at the Rialto (no offense to Harry...I'm a huge HP fan).
The theater itself (originally built in 1942), though recently renovated, drips in vintage beauty with nice velvety seats, and even if you arrive late and have to sit in the first row, you won't have to pay the chiropractor a visit afterwards (seriously, I thought I was going to have to do that after seeing the last Harry Potter flick at one of the "huge" cinemas...we were in the first row and I was envisioning permanent neck injury from looking straight up, literally, straight up, at the screen).
Oh yeah, before I forget, the Rialto is a cash-only venue, so don't forget to knock over an ATM before your Rialto outing.
--Fortuitous Observer
