Escape rooms

I haven’t been out to see a film in a theatre since December. My daughter and I went to ‘the big theatre’ for her birthday. I think when you are very young, that chaotic ground of huge popcorn lines and overpriced fountain pop feels like a rite of passage. An experience you crave as much as hot butter and chocolate itself. The human brain loves indulging in stories—it’s why we fall so easily into the appealing escape of books and films. Personally, I desire something a little more intimate in my viewing experiences these days, and thankfully Charlottetown has got options for that. 

It just so happened that I was presented with a whole weekend of films to my tastes and in my preferred setting. City Cinema, that long-standing gem of independent cinema was showing The Lord of the Rings. I have been trying to get one of my kids into starting the book series and figured that spending an afternoon seeing The Fellowship might help push her to dive in. Plus rewatching an old favourite with 70 other fans on the big screen didn’t sound like a bad evening to me. It was like getting to be with two old friends at once. 

The vibe is always so much more chill, there aren’t tons of random dings and whirs or flashing lights assaulting my senses. The prices are right, the popcorn is fresh, and if you’re so inclined you can grab yourself a local adult beverage too. Parking may be a limiting factor but that is kind of an issue in the whole of downtown. Independent films are what make up the majority of their scheduling but the occasional mainstream hit does also make its way to the listings. If you’ve never been, you should really go check it out. If it’s been a while, it’s just like you remember in the very best way.

Charlottetown’s newest theatre, Tivoli Cinema, is one I have also been keen to get over and engage in some repertory viewing at. It opened its doors this past winter offering classics and curios, matinees and midnights, along with new and re-releases. I decided it was time to make the scheduling work for me when I saw a screening for Solastalgia by one of my favourite local filmmakers, Millefoire Clarkes of One Thousand Flower Productions.

The venue is located on Kent Street, so again parking is going to come into play, but being Sunday afternoon we scored a spot right out front. The underground establishment is vibrant and inviting. The staff were friendly and engaging and again the prices were in line with what I’m willing to pay for popcorn. The films are on a rotating roster that you want to keep an eye on because you never know what’s going to show up and pique your interest. The seating is immaculate, huge adjustable seats you can really sink your butt into. I will definitely be a repeat viewer here in the future.