Movie Theaters
I realllly like small, independent movie theaters. I love them.
When I came to Brown last year, it was a big transition, not just academically and socially. The buildings on campus weren't particularly disarming; they looked like university buildings. Most universities' architecture shares a feel, even though it's a category that spans many styles. There's usually some older buildings, some newer, but all imbued with a sense of import. Learning happens here. Minds are molded. An excess of gravitas has settled on any building located on the Main Green.
However, the feel of a campus is distinctly different from the feel of a residential neighborhood. The abundance of cute little shops and restaurants managed to shock me though. In a mid-size blue-collar town in the Midwest, the vast majority of shopping is done in Wal-Mart, Target, or a grocery store (Krogers). The difference in architecture in general also through me off my game. To me, the ordinary houses here didn't look like homes, they looked like the quaint essence of New England architecture.
Now, part of the reason I chose Brown was because I didn't want to live somewhere just like 'home'. I was sick of it. But it's still nice to have some sign of familiarity when adjusting.
One of the few things that spoke of 'home' to me was a tiny little movie theater on Thayer St. that I passed on my way to the library. In my home town, there's a slightly larger little movie theater of the same name that I frequented. The theaters are probably about the same age, with similar vintage neon signs. They both have beautiful interiors and specialize in indie movies.
The first time I stepped into the campus Avon, memories of home Avon enveloped me. Seeing The Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time, at a midnight showing, in costume, with a full shadow cast. (an annual tradition) Waiting in line for hours to get into the midnight opening of Dark Knight. (In recent years, home Avon has expanded from one screen to two, and has included some more mainstream fair) Watching Big Fat Greek Wedding with my mom after it was held over, and over, and over, and over. (home Avon was playing it when it first came out, before it went big) Trying to see the ghost that supposedly lives in the home Avon balcony.
Now I'm working on making some memories in the campus Avon, and its going pretty well so far. Memories don't have to be from the best movies out there. Sometimes a hilarious experience at a Korean vampire drama is better than seeing a blockbuster again.
I love little movie theaters, especially when they're personal.
(I also love the awful websites both Avons have)