Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
Fireworks Experience Horrible
RECEIVED Sat., July 5, 2014
Dear Editor,
I have to say, seeing the fireworks at the Circuit of the Americas turned out to be a horrible, terrible, no good idea. The food was a little better than usual, at three times the usual prices. The show itself was mediocre, prefaced with nearly endless sponsorship shout-outs and pleas to upload the Austin Symphony's new app. I'm not sure, but the cannon fire at the end of Tchaikovsky's “1812 Overture” sounded recorded (if so, lame! Especially in gun-loving Texas). The fireworks were late and then marred by whatever nitwit decided that it would be a good idea to shine super-bright, white stage lights on the crowd throughout the show. Everyone around us had a hand raised to block out the lights from the stage.
But it was after the show that the real you-know-what hit the fan. After making our way with the masses back to our car in the parking lot, we proceeded to wait along with thousands of others for over two hours to get out of the lot and onto the road. It was July 5th before we'd even exited the lot. Our daughters were troopers as we sat in line with the engine off playing hand after hand of Hearts and Deuces (thank God I packed a deck of cards). We got home at 1am.
Neither ATX or COTA had any kind of shuttle service, which kinda sucks for anyone who might have wanted to see the show but didn't have a car. That said, the people who decided to skip this one were clearly the winners. I guess we paid our bourgeoise tax that night, driving out there, thinking we'd be home that same day.
Shouldn't a racetrack know how to run a parking lot? I can't think of any event that would entice me back to COTA ever again.
I have to say, seeing the fireworks at the Circuit of the Americas turned out to be a horrible, terrible, no good idea. The food was a little better than usual, at three times the usual prices. The show itself was mediocre, prefaced with nearly endless sponsorship shout-outs and pleas to upload the Austin Symphony's new app. I'm not sure, but the cannon fire at the end of Tchaikovsky's “1812 Overture” sounded recorded (if so, lame! Especially in gun-loving Texas). The fireworks were late and then marred by whatever nitwit decided that it would be a good idea to shine super-bright, white stage lights on the crowd throughout the show. Everyone around us had a hand raised to block out the lights from the stage.
But it was after the show that the real you-know-what hit the fan. After making our way with the masses back to our car in the parking lot, we proceeded to wait along with thousands of others for over two hours to get out of the lot and onto the road. It was July 5th before we'd even exited the lot. Our daughters were troopers as we sat in line with the engine off playing hand after hand of Hearts and Deuces (thank God I packed a deck of cards). We got home at 1am.
Neither ATX or COTA had any kind of shuttle service, which kinda sucks for anyone who might have wanted to see the show but didn't have a car. That said, the people who decided to skip this one were clearly the winners. I guess we paid our bourgeoise tax that night, driving out there, thinking we'd be home that same day.
Shouldn't a racetrack know how to run a parking lot? I can't think of any event that would entice me back to COTA ever again.
Rebecca Schwarz