On the heels of star studded, red carpet events, such as the Academy Awards.
Cinema operators are increasingly taking steps to entice adults out of their living rooms and back into theaters. Pairing dinner and a movie helps a cinema stand out and gives people a reason to visit. With DVD-by-mail companies, home entertainment systems and digital downloads, people have more and more reasons not to leave home. "We all have the same product, but need to package it differently,"said Jeremy Welman, chief operating officer of Cobb Theaters in Birmingham, Ala.
Some of the country's biggest chains are investing millions into renovating and building new upscale cinemas. There's more than popcorn and soda on the menu at Robert Redford's new Sundance Kabuki movie theater - try roasted game hen ($17), braised oxtail ($21) or crab cakes ($12). Cocktails, craft beers and local wines populate the drinks list. Reserved seating, plush rocking chairs and made-to-order food make it feel more like a restaurant than a traditional cinema. It also has a 50-foot-high lobby with live bamboo, a glass atrium and reclaimed wood walls. Here, a night at the movies is less about enduring the hordes at the mall and more about feeling pampered.
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http://www.sundancecinemas.com/kabuki.html
