Dinner and a movie is an idea for which the time has come. Actually, it came 13 years ago, with the opening of the original Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at 409 Colorado, but it suddenly seems to be taking off with a vengeance in and around Austin.
May 7 will see the opening of Australia-born Gold Class Cinemas’ first foray into the Austin theatre market with the opening of its eight-screen complex at the Domain in North Austin. Mark Mulcahy, Gold Class’ vice president of marketing, took us on a tour of the spacious, decidedly upscale venue, which among other amenities allows theatregoers to reserve their seats online (cushy, Barcalounger-like seats, we should add), spend their preshow downtime knocking back any of the 80-some wines, custom cocktails, and 12 on-tap and 12 bottled beers or noshing the various homemade popcorn confections prior to laying waste to a presentation-heavy menu featuring sliders that would probably kill Harold and/or Kumar.
“What we’re trying to do at Gold Class,” says Mulcahy, “is take the stress out of going to the movies.” Mission accomplished.
Also on Austin’s upscale incoming theatre schedule is Violet Crown Cinemas’ four-screen theatre in the AMLI building, slated to open in December. Unlike Gold Class, which will chiefly be screening first-run films, Violet Crown is styling itself as the new arthouse on the block, taking up the slack from the ailing Dobie Theatre, which is looking for new ownership.
Gold Class Cinema at the Domain (3225 Amy Donovan Plaza) opens May 7. For tickets and menu, visit www.goldclasscinemas.com.
This article appears in May 7 • 2010.