Donna in Hollywoodland

Arclight Sherman Oaks

I haven't driven out to Sherman Oaks in, oh, maybe 15 years....
But the Arclight Cinemas is having their "soft" opening there this month.
And they invited the Members out to private party last night. (See it is worth it to sign up for that free little blue card.)

Down Ventura Blvd I went to the Sherman Oaks Galleria.
I expected to see a big sign saying "Arclight Cinemas", like there is in Hollywood.
But Nope - so I passed it, and had to turn back around.

Once parked, a nice security noticed my confused look as I read the "You Are Here" map.
When I told him I was heading to the Arclight, he laughed and said "Oh you are one of those Special People - you get to go there first !"
Sounds like the Mall employees are even dying to get into the new theatre.

He pointed me through the Mall.
The escalator that goes to Arclight is right smack in between The Cheesecake Factory and El Torito Grill .

And those Arclight people really know how to throw a party.
Complementary everything - Bar, cheese table - waiters walking around with appetizers like Duck Potstickers.
Many guests didn't bother with the fancy food and drinks, and went right for the free concessions.
Lots of people walking around the lobby with Carmel Popcorn.
I stuck to Chardonnay and fancy hors d'oeuvres.

Nice employees from the Arclight main office were there with name badges to chat with us about our "Arclight experience". From what I heard, the square footage in Sherman Oaks is smaller. But they have more seats - resulting in a smaller lobby, and the front row being closer to the screen.
There will be a similar restaurant like the one in Hollywood, along with a Coffee Bar.
And the movies will vary alittle between Hollywood and Sherman Oaks, because Sherman Oaks has a higher "family demographic".
And from what I heard, they hope to have Four more Arclights in the works, but no locations have been confirmed.

I told the nice Arclight person, how spoiled we are these days. Most people I know do not want to sit in a theatre that does not have stadium seating.
In Los Angeles the theatres have become so fancy, that we just can't deal with noise or a big head in front of us blocking the screen.

I headed over to get my complementary concessions - soda and regular popcorn. And headed to the theatre.
One guy, arms filled with popcorns and sodas and candy, couldn't make it up the stairs.
The usher had to help him, and he said "Sorry, I am really inebriated."
The lady next to me muttered "Thats classy".
Some people just can't stop when its free booze.

Our movie for the night was "American Gangster".
Starring Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe .
If you want a drug story with alittle bit of a Moral to it, I guess this would be it.
It is based on a true story.

All in all, it was a really fun night. And a really fun party.
Well, usually anything that includes a free movie is fun.

I will be driving back to Sherman Oaks to check it out again. Once they have finished the final touches, and the Arclight restaurant is opened. The Grand Opening is the middle of December.
There is an afternoon of shopping at The Sherman Oaks Galleria, following by a Carmel Corn and film, in my very near future.

Labels: arclight, cinema, film, movies, restaurants