The Gold Class Experience

Nancy's birthday was on Friday so we needed to try and find something a bit special to do as a celebration of her longevity (next year is a "big one"). Since arriving, people here have been raving about the "Gold Class" movie theaters that are sprinkled around the area so I thought, "Hey, we've been wanting to see "The Bourne Ultimatum" - let's try the Gold Class venue at Chermside". There's a pretty big shopping mall in the outlying community of Chermside so I ordered the tickets online (which you pay extra for) and we had a plan for her B-Day.

Now the cost for the movie itself is a bit insane ($35 per seat) and then you add the food and drinks that they bring to your table while the movie is playing (you schedule the timing of the various things you might order) - we went with the Nachos Supreme (minus guacamole) and the "Meat Lovers" pizza - and you are definitely figuring out why the seats are considered "Gold". The interesting thing was that the theater (which holds 40 patrons per show) was full, as was the waiting room for the show following our - I'm guessing this is a pretty popular feature of the cinema and a decent money maker as well. For us, once was enough - we won't be doing another Gold Class any time soon.

Eating food - even the act of having it served to you - can be pretty distracting and "The Bourne Ultimatum" is a very intense flick that you are trying to pay attention so you don't miss anything. This objective is not 100% compatible with trying to keep from wearing your nachos all over your shirt (a bit embarrassing when the lights come up). Next, depending on the movie - "real" eating (something other than popcorn and Raisinets)isn't very compatible with the experience. "The Borne Ultimatum" features a huge dose of the (currently trendy) "jerky camera style" - apparently an attempt to deliver a more "I'm there" movie experience. It makes eating your (over priced) food quite difficult - akin to trying to chow down in a car that is weaving erratically across a 4 lane freeway, only to be diverted to a bumpy dirt two track road en route to a "wreck-um" derby championship. I felt a bit queasy at points but I was determined not to leave the expensive food on the table (darn Midwestern values). Now I'm trying to figure out how you'd make it work if the movie being shown in Gold Class (and it currently is!) was something like Resident Evil 3 - Extinction. "Hey - I'll take the spaghetti bolognese with extra sauce!"

Nancy and I first experienced something similar in Addison, Texas about 7 years ago when we happened to stumble into the Studio Grill. Not quite as elaborate (or expensive) as our local "Gold Class", this is apparently a trend that is spreading. Be on the lookout, it may be coming soon to a movie theater near you!

Let me end this installment with a big "Thank You" for the pictures of fall colors, the Mackinaw Bridge, new college student daughter, deer eating at the corn feed and the new boat - we appreciated them all and thank you for sharing! Last but not least - a new video entitled "This Is So Not Muskegon" taken off our balcony a couple of weeks ago (look for Nancy as she watches the fireworks) - and keep the comments and pictures coming (please).