The Alamo Drafthouse has got to be one of the coolest places on earth. A movie theater, bar, and restaurant rolled into one, it highlights off-beat, campy, anything-goes film media, often punched up with an element of live entertainment. In short, you can sit down, order a pitcher of a beer and dinner, and watch a tribute to B horror movies… or participate in a Beastie Boys rap-along… or settle in for a marathon of cult Canadian film favorites, with a special menu of Canadian beers… or see a special screening of Trainspotting in the company of the book’s author. You get the picture.
We were there for one of the Alamo’s most popular shows: The Sinus Show. Formerly known as Mr. Sinus Theater 3000, The Sinus Show is a riff on Mystery Science Theater 3000 (the name change was, in fact, a result of trademark-lawsuit threats from the producers of the classic show). Jerm, Owen, and John (the Sinus Three) provide irreverent commentary on a popular (and delightfully bad) movie, including a stop-the-movie skit about halfway through and a custom drinking game in which the entire audience drinks every time a certain word or action occurs on-screen. I’ve seen The Lost Boys and the Christmas Variety Show in the past; this time, we saw Footloose (take a look at their website archives for a taste of the other gems they’ve featured).
When we arrived, we ordered beers—I couldn’t resist going with the Rogue Dead Guy Ale, a hearty Maibock brew from Oregon, worth it for the name alone; I then moved onto a local brew, the Live Oak HefeWeizen, a lighter and sweeter beer. The list of beers and wines on the menu is pretty impressive, and they all include brief descriptions, so you know what you’re getting (and what to order!).
Since no one had eaten dinner yet, we opted for food here, and we all ended up choosing the gourmet pizza. I went for the "Wild at Artichoke Hearts," with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and goat cheese; Kristina made an equally good choice with the "Moonstruck"—a simple, delicious combination of basil, fresh tomatoes, and cheese. Obviously, vegetarian (even vegan) options are many, but there were plenty of meaty choices on the menu as well. You can keep ordering more until the checks are brought around by the discreet and efficient waitstaff, about 30 minutes before the end of the show.
The combination of great food, great beer, and two-and-a-half hours of complete hilarity was my welcome back to Austin, and I couldn’t have asked for a better one. It would be a sin not to remember the Alamo (sorry) while you’re here, and if The Sinus Show is playing, buy tickets in advance and arrive early; the show always sells out, and the line to get in stretches around the block—for good reason.