I *heart* Rooftop Cinema, I really do! and nope, this isn't my first rodeo. I saw one of my childhood favorites, 'Never Ending Story' 2 years ago and even though it kind of spoiled the movie for me, the experience was legen - waitforit - dary! This is the one thing I look forward to every summer, that and warm weather (of course). This time I went with the relatively new to Melbourne, Violet and James.
It's an 18+ event, you get carded at the door downstairs and are made to wear one of those trendy yellow wrist bands when you show your ticket/buy your ticket at the door.
If you're early (like I am 100% of the time), you stand around the bar for a bit, enjoy the breeze and pray like hard it doesn't rain. Then when it's time, you run for one of these deck chairs, because it's free seating, because you want a good seat and because if you get a dodgy one, it ruins the whole night (I'm serious):
There's even a burger stand. Why no queue you ask? because they deliver, how awesome is that! Though I had to use Violet's pink hair as a reference because the queue bit threw me off a bit (sorry Violet). I ordered fries by the way, no burger cause we'd already had dinner. Doors open at 8.30 and no way was I waiting till then to eat.
Have I mentioned there are awesome deck chairs? I want one so bad!
Oh and the bar area, this is open all year (I think).
There was a teeny tiny bar inside the cinema area and I picked the first drink that stood out. It's called 'Falling water' and if you're an architecture geek like me, you'll get it *winkwink*
Don't ask me what's in it, it's got lemonade and alcohol, that's all I need to know.
Oh and lookie, our fries showed up (which didn't get lost thanks to Violet's lovely pink hair). Yummy shoestring fries with 'Stereo sauce' which is just a mayonnaise mix, quite good actually.
(note: I'm a fry addict so my opinion does not matter.)
This is what it looks like when it's dark out, the burger stand and string lights all go out but there's nothing they can do about the surrounding building lights *pout* oh well, the sound's relatively good and you're so comfy, you might be close to falling asleep at some point.
Oh, I should mention you should also bring a throw or a really thick jacket, Violet and I were quite cold by intermission (15 min toilet break!) and thank god they have blanket rentals (5bucks a piece).Β Stupid thing was that I'd brought heat pads, but totally forgot and nobody remembered. Fail of the year you say? I have to agree with you..
Oh, the movie? We saw Labryinth starring David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly and a whole lot of Β evil muppets. Most of the time was spent laughing at inappropriate jokes and counting David Bowie crotch shots. Score!
Well?
What are you waiting for, book your rooftop cinema tickets now.
p.s they're showing beetlejuice on the 8th. That sounds, you know, awesome.