Meet Me At The Alamo!

Photo by Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Loaded Fries and Buffalo Wings photo by Eden Washington.

January 7, 2022.  I went to the Alamo over the winter break and it was AMAZING....the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in NE DC that is.  This is the District’s newest go to hotspot.  It has been a while since the District has added a new cinema, but there is none like this one.  The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is not your run-of-the-mill movie theater, so don’t come expecting the routine bag of popcorn, nachos, overpriced candy and hotdogs.  What you can expect is to be WOWED by the ambiance, the hospitality, the novelty, the experience, and the waiter.  YES, I said waiter!  

Upon entrance into the theater to watch my movie, I was greeted yet again by a very pleasant waiter who showed me to my seat and asked if this was my first visit.  Since this was my first visit, he proceeded to explain how ordering from the menu (stowed under the table) at my seat works during the previews as well as during the feature.  The menu has something for everyone, from appetizers, salads, entrees, sandwiches, pizza, and fresh hot cookies.  They even offer vegan fare and pizza with cauliflower crusts, vegan desserts and more.  The drink menu consists of soft drinks, hot drinks, iced tea, shakes, and of course beer, wine, and cocktails for the 21 and over crowd.

Pricing is moderate, as price points fluctuate depending on when you plan to visit.  There were two people in my party and we paid $15.86 each for a ticket on a Friday afternoon.  Our food order was a total of $65 including the tip.  Altogether, the experience cost about $100 for two people.  This gives a whole new meaning to dinner and a movie.  It is more like a “moviner.”  And for a cinema complex, the fare is tasty.  We had buffalo wings, loaded fries, and fish & chips.  There are so many options from which to choose, thus reasons I keep finding to go back to try more items on the menu.  Did I mention that the seats are plush soft leather reclining seats?  Friends, you may want to sit up so you don’t miss your movie.  I saw some folks nodding after they’d eaten. Y’all ready to go yet?

That is not all, this place is loaded with all kinds of perks and if you are a movie fan, the Alamo offers a “Biggest Boat” season pass option for $29.99 a month.  With this pass, you can watch a movie a day every month.  Purchase your tickets here.  You can also accumulate perks and points by ordering through other vendors like, Fandango, Flixster, and Movie Tickets.com.

Don’t forget to check the Alamo Gift Shop here.  It is full of movie fandom from 20th century hits to the present, and if that is not enough, they have a noble cause attached to every purchase in the Alamo Gift Shop.  According to their website, “100% of proceeds go towards paying Alamo Drafthouse staff, and debt accrued during COVID closures.”  This is especially nice because many of the employees there are from the DC community.

So what are you waiting for, let’s go!  Meet me at the Alamo!!

Eden Washington is a 7th grade scholar at Friendship Public Charter School Online.