Stay warm and dry, and still have fun this fall
Published on Wed, Sep 9, 2009 by Beckye RandallRead More Local News
Those long summer days spent hiking or swimming are coming to an end as kids go back to school and the temperature begins to dip. But there are lots of options for indoor fun during the cooler days of fall and winter right in our own backyards, many of them locally-owned businesses and community treasures.
In this issue we'll explore a couple of Arlington entertainment destinations. The Olympic Theatre and Rocket Alley Bar and Grill are on opposite ends of Olympic Avenue in downtown Arlington, but both offer affordable family fun with that hometown atmosphere.
Rocket Alley Bar and Grill
Rocket Alley is a new incarnation of the old Melady Lanes at 420 N. Olympic Ave. that has managed to keep the charm and vintage appeal of the bowling alley in a freshly updated environment. From its retro-furnished lounge and dining area to the classic bowling area, owner Steve Saunders has successfully transformed the funky '60s space into a fun and casual hangout.
Saunders had never owned a bowling alley or a restaurant before, but the local man was convinced he could bring new life to the boarded-up bowling alley.
"I loved coming to Melady Lanes when I was a kid," Saunders said, "and it seemed like such a shame to have this great place sitting empty right here in the middle of downtown."
Over the years and through his various jobs, Saunders developed a love for cooking and his passion is evident in Rocket Alley's impressive menu. From pizzas and burgers to grilled cod fillets and ribeye steaks, the comfortable retro café is a great place for lunch or dinner, even if you're not a bowler.
"It's not just bowling alley food, although there's plenty of that," Saunders said with a grin. "Everything is made fresh right here, whether it's the hand-breaded fish and chips or the fresh tortilla chips in our nachos."
For bowlers, Rocket Alley offers six lanes of old-fashioned fun. While the equipment has all been thoroughly serviced and updated, it still retains its retro charm. The balls return to bowlers along an exposed rail and players have to rely on their own math skills to keep score.
The games are affordable too. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, groups of bowlers can rent a lane for an hour for only $6. Weekend and evening prices are $12 for an hour of fun. More information about prices and special events are online at www.rocketalley.com.
The name of the place also comes from Saunders' personal history.
"I earned the nickname of Rocket on the ski slopes in Aspen," he said.
On a recent weekday afternoon, the place was jumping with families, middle schoolers and seniors enjoying an affordable game and tasty snacks. Downtown workers stopped by for lunch in the new outdoor seating area, basking in the late summer sun.
The bowling alley is available for private parties, post-game celebrations and family-friendly outings. For winter, Saunders will add a heated 30 by 40-foot tent in the courtyard, perfect for team events.
Olympic Theatre
For a less-active entertainment option, Arlington's venerable Olympic Theatre is the perfect destination. A rarity in these days of multiplexes and chain movie theaters, the Olympic is an independent, single-screen movie house that offers first-run movies at affordable prices. Heck, even the popcorn is a bargain!
Norma Pappas has owned the theater for 33 years. Demonstrating a remarkable combination of determination, passion and business savvy, Pappas runs the theater nearly single-handedly. The petite dynamo does everything from ordering and picking up concession supplies to running the projectors, selling tickets and sweeping up the popcorn.
"It's an old building, and it needs a lot of TLC," said Pappas. "It definitely keeps me on my toes."
The 300-seat movie house also keeps her tied down. "I haven't had a day off, much less a vacation, in years," she said with only a hint of exhaustion.
The Olympic Theatre was built in 1939 by a local family. Unlike some earlier movie palaces that doubled as vaudeville venues, the Olympic has always been a movie theater. Pappas bought the business in the early 1970s with her father, who insisted it would be good for her to get into business for herself. Using money she had been saving for a down payment on a house, the young woman and her father took over the Olympic, and she's been there ever since.
Competing with the march of modern movie technology hasn't been easy either. The design of the auditorium and projection booth limits the options for screening, and the theater's revenue can't justify an upgrade to a digital projection or sound system.
"Our equipment is comparable to most of the multiplexes," she said. "Many of them only have one or two auditoriums that are fully digital, and the rest of the screens use the same technology we have."
Some structural updates have been necessary throughout the years to meet changing code requirements. The cozy layout of the theater means a trip upstairs to the main bathrooms, but a handicap-accessible restroom is available from the auditorium.
Small-town ticket and concession prices are a definite bonus for moviegoers. Adults pay $6.50 for a full-price ticket, and the cost is only $5 for children and seniors. When Saturday matinees are scheduled, everyone gets in for a $4 ticket.
And then there's that bucket of popcorn. The Olympic's retro popper turns out a healthier version of movie popcorn, cooked in natural vegetable oils, at prices that won't clog your arteries. A large bucket to share with a friend is only $4.50. Add a couple of sodas for $1.50 each, and you've got a date night for around $20.
The Olympic Theatre also offers 2-for-1 Bargain Nights on select Tuesdays. Locals can count on seeing family-friendly movies at the historic theater, since Pappas doesn't book any horror films and very few R-rated movies.
The most recent double-bill at the theater was "The Time Traveler's Wife" and the kid-friendly "G-Force." Pappas is hoping to screen the popular "Julie and Julia" in the next week or so, but the dates weren't yet confirmed.
"The best thing to do is visit our web site at www.olympictheatre.net," said Pappas. "We always have our movies and show times listed along with any special events."
So stay in friendly downtown Arlington this fall and enjoy some locally-grown indoor fun. In the next issue, we'll take a look at Marysville options for fall and winter activities.
In this issue we'll explore a couple of Arlington entertainment destinations. The Olympic Theatre and Rocket Alley Bar and Grill are on opposite ends of Olympic Avenue in downtown Arlington, but both offer affordable family fun with that hometown atmosphere.
Rocket Alley Bar and Grill
Rocket Alley is a new incarnation of the old Melady Lanes at 420 N. Olympic Ave. that has managed to keep the charm and vintage appeal of the bowling alley in a freshly updated environment. From its retro-furnished lounge and dining area to the classic bowling area, owner Steve Saunders has successfully transformed the funky '60s space into a fun and casual hangout.
Saunders had never owned a bowling alley or a restaurant before, but the local man was convinced he could bring new life to the boarded-up bowling alley.
"I loved coming to Melady Lanes when I was a kid," Saunders said, "and it seemed like such a shame to have this great place sitting empty right here in the middle of downtown."
Over the years and through his various jobs, Saunders developed a love for cooking and his passion is evident in Rocket Alley's impressive menu. From pizzas and burgers to grilled cod fillets and ribeye steaks, the comfortable retro café is a great place for lunch or dinner, even if you're not a bowler.
"It's not just bowling alley food, although there's plenty of that," Saunders said with a grin. "Everything is made fresh right here, whether it's the hand-breaded fish and chips or the fresh tortilla chips in our nachos."
For bowlers, Rocket Alley offers six lanes of old-fashioned fun. While the equipment has all been thoroughly serviced and updated, it still retains its retro charm. The balls return to bowlers along an exposed rail and players have to rely on their own math skills to keep score.
The games are affordable too. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, groups of bowlers can rent a lane for an hour for only $6. Weekend and evening prices are $12 for an hour of fun. More information about prices and special events are online at www.rocketalley.com.
The name of the place also comes from Saunders' personal history.
"I earned the nickname of Rocket on the ski slopes in Aspen," he said.
On a recent weekday afternoon, the place was jumping with families, middle schoolers and seniors enjoying an affordable game and tasty snacks. Downtown workers stopped by for lunch in the new outdoor seating area, basking in the late summer sun.
The bowling alley is available for private parties, post-game celebrations and family-friendly outings. For winter, Saunders will add a heated 30 by 40-foot tent in the courtyard, perfect for team events.
Olympic Theatre
For a less-active entertainment option, Arlington's venerable Olympic Theatre is the perfect destination. A rarity in these days of multiplexes and chain movie theaters, the Olympic is an independent, single-screen movie house that offers first-run movies at affordable prices. Heck, even the popcorn is a bargain!
Norma Pappas has owned the theater for 33 years. Demonstrating a remarkable combination of determination, passion and business savvy, Pappas runs the theater nearly single-handedly. The petite dynamo does everything from ordering and picking up concession supplies to running the projectors, selling tickets and sweeping up the popcorn.
"It's an old building, and it needs a lot of TLC," said Pappas. "It definitely keeps me on my toes."
The 300-seat movie house also keeps her tied down. "I haven't had a day off, much less a vacation, in years," she said with only a hint of exhaustion.
The Olympic Theatre was built in 1939 by a local family. Unlike some earlier movie palaces that doubled as vaudeville venues, the Olympic has always been a movie theater. Pappas bought the business in the early 1970s with her father, who insisted it would be good for her to get into business for herself. Using money she had been saving for a down payment on a house, the young woman and her father took over the Olympic, and she's been there ever since.
Competing with the march of modern movie technology hasn't been easy either. The design of the auditorium and projection booth limits the options for screening, and the theater's revenue can't justify an upgrade to a digital projection or sound system.
"Our equipment is comparable to most of the multiplexes," she said. "Many of them only have one or two auditoriums that are fully digital, and the rest of the screens use the same technology we have."
Some structural updates have been necessary throughout the years to meet changing code requirements. The cozy layout of the theater means a trip upstairs to the main bathrooms, but a handicap-accessible restroom is available from the auditorium.
Small-town ticket and concession prices are a definite bonus for moviegoers. Adults pay $6.50 for a full-price ticket, and the cost is only $5 for children and seniors. When Saturday matinees are scheduled, everyone gets in for a $4 ticket.
And then there's that bucket of popcorn. The Olympic's retro popper turns out a healthier version of movie popcorn, cooked in natural vegetable oils, at prices that won't clog your arteries. A large bucket to share with a friend is only $4.50. Add a couple of sodas for $1.50 each, and you've got a date night for around $20.
The Olympic Theatre also offers 2-for-1 Bargain Nights on select Tuesdays. Locals can count on seeing family-friendly movies at the historic theater, since Pappas doesn't book any horror films and very few R-rated movies.
The most recent double-bill at the theater was "The Time Traveler's Wife" and the kid-friendly "G-Force." Pappas is hoping to screen the popular "Julie and Julia" in the next week or so, but the dates weren't yet confirmed.
"The best thing to do is visit our web site at www.olympictheatre.net," said Pappas. "We always have our movies and show times listed along with any special events."
So stay in friendly downtown Arlington this fall and enjoy some locally-grown indoor fun. In the next issue, we'll take a look at Marysville options for fall and winter activities.
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