Tuesday, September 18, 2007

IMAX No More

Posted by Nick Smith on Tue, Sep 18, 2007 at 7:21 AM

Last Friday I got an email from the local IMAX, telling me about all the cool that would be showing at the theatre through October. Transformers at the IMAX? I'd go see that. Dinosaurs 3D coming soon: an exciting film as IMAX documentaries go, with hungry dinosaurs coming right at atcha. So I was looking forward to catching these, and others, at the Aquarium Wharf theatre.

Three days after the email, IMAX shut its doors - apparently for good. There's a short message on the official website: 

With deep regret, Rivers Enterprises Real Estate, Inc. announces the closing of the Charleston IMAX Theatre Monday, September 17, 2007. After seven and a half years providing Lowcountry residents and visitors to Charleston an educational and entertaining experience, the theatre is no longer financially viable.

The loyal support of our customers, our staff, and the city has been greatly appreciated over the years. Rivers Enterprises is undertaking a complete review of its roles as part of Aquarium Wharf and looks forwards to proving enhanced services for that area in the future.

That means no more 70mm-wide helicopter shots, no more cheezy voice telling us that if we find the sensation of motion unsettling, "simply close your eyes," and worst of all, no more screenings of NASCAR 3D. Seeing that film was an indelible part of my Charleston experience when I moved here; let's just say that the audience was vocal in their appreciation of their favorite drivers. I was also touched when a thin-haired dweeb proposed to his wife at the theatre, his beaming face blown up to IMAX size (she said yes and the whole auditorium burst into applause).

The closure is a purely financial decision; IMAX Corp's aren't as strong as they'd like. But it leaves a big, sad hole in the tourist lure area of Aquarium Wharf.  And thanks for giving us some notice, guys.

Topics: Film, Recreation

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Clara’s Coffee to close this weekend

Posted by Patrick Sharbaugh on Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 2:27 PM

In another sign of the impending apocalypse, and of the big changes overtaking King Street, we received word this weekend that Clara’s Coffee will close for good this Saturday, June 30, when owner “Papa” Ron plans to shut the doors at 344 King St. for the last time. The neighborhood coffee shop has been a Lower King institution for 14 years — a hangout for countless college kids, favorite locals-only lunch spot, top people-watching spot, and the site of probably untold thousands of fervent, caffeine-fueled, badly supported philosophy debates. An employee tell us that Ron has simply had enough (of the retail business, one assumes, not the philosophy debates), and that the space will become home to yet another King Street antique shop.

Topics: Retail, Recreation

Friday, June 15, 2007

Colbert finally decides to play ball

Posted by Patrick Sharbaugh on Fri, Jun 15, 2007 at 12:33 PM

Stephen Colbert fan? Mark your calendar for July 7. That’s when the Colbert Report host and Porter-Gaud grad will be in back on his home turf, tossing out the first pitch (in a manner of speaking) at Joe Riley Park, when the Charleston RiverDogs meet the Savannah Sand Gnats. According to the RiverDogs, Colbert’s gonna be here pimping for the new Ben & Jerry’s AmeriCone Dream ice cream flavor, for which he’s donating all proceeds to his AmeriCone Dream Fund — which sounds like a charity, but for all we know if could be a slush fund for rainy day trips to casinos and strip clubs. In any event, Colbert will also leading the crowd in a no doubt stirring rendition of “Take Me Out To the Ball Game” during the 7th-inning stretch.

But they couldn’t get him here for Spoleto? Colbert is obviously a man of the masses.

Topics: Comedy, Recreation

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

If Vikki Carr had heard me, she’d sue

Posted by Patrick Sharbaugh on Tue, May 1, 2007 at 3:39 PM

As editor Stephanie Barna noted to me a few days ago, having your own blog is nice and all, but with ownership comes constant pressure to post — and, when I don’t, enough guilt that I may as well be Catholic. (It doesn’t help that I am, as a matter of fact, Catholic.)

Part of the reason I’d been looking forward to turning my Unscripted column into an online forum is so I can bloviate to my heart’s content about whatever arts events I’m inclined to attend on a weekend — and given that I’m the arts editor around here, I tend to go to a lot of them. But I’m quickly finding that weekend activities do not lend themselves well to timely posting, at least for this youthful blogger.

Case in point: last Thursday evening, I mingled with the blanket-bearing masses on the green at Marion Square for our second Movie in the Park, Casino Royale (great film, great Bond, great popcorn). On Friday, I caught Geoff Cormier’s intriguing outdoor shadow puppet performance Mr. Evening at Read Brothers Stereo on King Street. The first show was at 10pm, and by midnight I was two glasses deep into a bottle of something red and delicious at The Trusted Palate around the corner. By 2am Sunday morning, I was performing the liner notes to Vikki Carr’s Intimate Excitement for a crowd of either three or six, it was hard to tell at that point. (Sorry, Matt.) Finally, I spent Saturday inside Theatre 99 giggling like a little girl at their Piccolo Fringe Preview.

When, I ask you, was I supposed to write a coherent post about all, or any, of this? I’m not an early riser on weekends (one of the many benefits of being unmarried and without children), and for all its techy, populist appeal, blogging is still work, I’m afraid. Mondays, with the possible exception of Fridays, are the busiest day of the week for us editorial staffers at The Paper, and Tuesday mornings aren’t much better.

All of which explains why — only now, late on Tuesday afternoon — am I finally getting around to posting on events dating to last Thursday. Yes, all of this could be solved by simply waking up early on weekend mornings, drinking a little less, and working every morning.

Don’t hold your breath.

Topics: Nightlife, Comedy, Theater, Film, Recreation

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Support the Troops: Send +4 Longswords

Posted by Patrick Sharbaugh on Wed, Apr 18, 2007 at 11:07 PM

Some folks are worried that U.S. troops in Iraq don't have enough heavy armor and equipment. Others worry that there aren't enough polyhedral dice, graph paper, and little lead figurines to outfit a good game of Dungeons & Dragons. Yep, G.I.'s across Iraqalacky are apparently waiting with baited breath for Ziggurat Con, a D&D convention scheduled for June 9 from 1200-2100 hours at Camp Adder on Tallil Airbase. Problem is, there's a frustrating lack of Green Dragon Bookstores in Iraq at the moment. Something tells me that if Rummy hears about this, he's gonna be pissed. -PS

Topics: Recreation
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