Sometimes, as the Severed Right Hand, I get to do something cool. I was invited to attend a preview of the new, completely redesigned, Fork and Screen wing at the AMC 30 in Olathe. It was amazing, and I'll tell you why…
Just keep in mind I'm not wealthy and I watch my expenditures as carefully as I'm able.
Upon arrival, I was handed a press pack, very professional, and it will be very helpful as I compose this, as you need the correct details. I joined a group of other bloggers, and we would all shortly be taken on a tour of the place. I should tell you what the place is, I reckon.
Out in Olathe, at the AMC Studio 30 Theater, they have taken an entire wing of theaters and transformed them into something called "The Fork and Screen." Let me attempt to give you a mental picture of what I saw as I walked through for the first time.
As I walked in the main entrance to the theater, to my left I saw the "Fork and Screen" sign at the entrance to that wing of the building. There was a concierge desk there, and it was explained to us by our guide that anyone with a ticket to any movie in the theater is welcome to enjoy a tasty libation and nosh at the new bar, "MacGuffins" at the end of the hall. Presumably, your eligibility would be verified at that concierge desk, which is a pretty slick and a nice way of making things feel a little exclusive. I like that. I suppose you could slip the concierge a twenty, but I doubt it would help you in any way, but it would help the concierge.
As we walked past the concierge desk and down the hall, I was kind of caught up in the displays lining the hallway. Encased in glass were little tableaus of famous movie bits. It was explained that the word "MacGuffin" was coined by Hitchcock to describe a plot device that motivates the characters or advances the story, but the details of which are of little or no importance otherwise. Clever, huh? The displays showed excellent MacGuffin examples, like the suitcase from pulp fiction, the one ring from LoTR, the map staff from Raiders of the Lost Ark, etc. They will be changing the displays from time to time, and it wouldn't surprise me a bit if they got actual props from the movies to fill out the displays later on. If they hadn't thought of that, well, there's your first suggestion, AMC. Hope you liked it.
Architecturally, the interior of MacGuffins, which greets you at the end of the hall, is bright, lively, and cheerful. The repetition of circles in the carpet, and in the details around the bar area, like the handrails and tables, is a reinforcement of the logo design for the Fork and Screen, which symbolizes libation, food, and service. Suffice to say there are circles EVERYWHERE. Do not look down if you have recently ingested a psychotropic substance. Or do. The carpets are trippy.
The layout of MacGuffins is pretty cool. It's open, with high ceilings and two levels of seating, but it still manages to feel intimate. It has the feel of those old time night clubs where Bogart would hang and the Rat Pack would perform.
The bar itself has an interesting feature that you'll just have to check out for yourself (very cool lighting device inset into the surface), but the wall of alcohol behind it made me wonder if practicality was a consideration. I mean, how do you reach a bottle of gin that's 15 feet over your head? My guess is it's just a display, and that's enough to keep me from asking too many questions. The drink prices were above what I expected them to be. It felt like, as I experienced sticker shock at every turn, that as a rule they were applying the same markup to the drinks and food as they do the candy and soda counter in the main lobby. It would behoove the Manager of that bar to consider drink specials that encourage people to actually purchase drinks that do not have free refills. Like it or not, as I consider the Fork and Screen for future Horror Club events, prices are a factor above service. I, as will many Horror Club minions like me, will sacrifice service for cost. Perhaps the location is to be taken into account, being in Johnson County, which is much more affluent as a whole. Still, I was beginning to feel a bit on the 'excluded because I'm poor' side. I mean, as a general rule, I won't pay seventeen fifty for a bucket of five bud lights. Having someone deliver that to me isn't worth the extra dough. Is it wrong for me to look for a bargain here, to see the cost and compare it with value?
In the bar, we were offered a sampling of the appetizers they offer while exploring the MacGuffin space. It was pretty standard faire; cheese Sticks, little pizzas, quesadillas, etc., really not anything spectacular or unique, and not much that would be considered healthy save the veggie tray, which was the only appetizer that wasn't fried, which did concern me a bit, and again, expensive for what they were. They did have one thing that made me oh so very happy. They make their own potato chips, which were amazing! I ended up ordering that with my meal, as well as putting a big dent in what was laid out for us. They were just wonderful. The rest of the appetizers were very, very tasty too, just not unique. I don't know why I expected everything to be so unique. I suppose I got caught up in the newness of it all, and was hoping for something I couldn't prepare myself out of the frozen section at Hy-Vee. I'm far from saying that what they served was out of a bag. That's hardly the case. The quality is very high, and the portions seem adequate. I'm just saying a nine dollar appetizer should be unique and have some excitement. It should have a quality that says, "I know this is really expensive, but DAMN it's worth it." I have no doubt that as the Chef works out the details of his menu; he'll accept the challenge I've kind of laid out here, and rock it like a hurricane. I met him. He seems nice.
So after milling about noshing and chatting, we continued the tour into one of the two entrances on either side of the bar, into the Cinema Sweets side on the right. Again we were greeted by a concierge to assist in seating. This is where a little extra cost becomes TOTALLY WORTH IT. The press release describes these intimate theaters as, "the ultimate in luxury movie going at an affordable price." Leather recliners, food and drink service, swing out table tops and TONS of legroom, with an armrest that flips up for romantic kanoodling, I dare say they are on the money!
Ticket prices for such luxury are ten dollars more than the regular ticket price, but in my estimation, that is an equitable charge for such opulence. Seats are reserved for each person at the time of purchase, so one can specify the seat they want at the time of their purchase, or they can see a better seat and ask the concierge to change to a better location. Honestly though, the seating layout would preclude unsatisfied customers. I found a seat on the aisle to test the field of vision, and it was perfectly fine. I could see the screen in its entirety, and I couldn't see the seats in front of me. Perfectly cozy, I must say. I'll be back to enjoy a film in that space, or one of those spaces, rather, but that was not where we were to enjoy the evening's entertainment.
Back up the hallway, back into MacGuffins we went, to check out the Fork and Screen theaters, whose entrance is on the other side of the bar.
The Fork and screen is different from the Cinema Suites in that some of the opulence is stripped away to accommodate more seating, and the ticket prices are exactly the same as the rest of the theaters in the multiplex. You still get food service (all you gotta do is push the button and they come running. Their system is quite good, and needs no improvement). You get very comfortable seating and a place to set your food and drink. It is a little awkward because the table you dine on is across the walking path, so I had to lean forward on the edge of my seat to reach my meal, which with knowing in the other theater I could have just swung the table to me, kind of sucked. I wouldn't know how to fix that though. Seems to me the best solution for an unusual problem, but if I think of anything, like a swing up desk top that is easily stowed like they had when I was in college (which I know isn't perfect either), I'll let them know.
At that point we were encouraged to sit back and enjoy the experience. Well, the first thing that happened, before I could even push the button, was one of the wait staff popped up and took my drink order. I got a Cherry Coke. I was still irked about the beer prices. It's really easy to get your food and drinks before the movie starts so your wait staff won't interrupt you unless you call. My wait person was totally on the ball all night. Well trained, charming, and easy to communicate with in a darkened room where people are sensitive about interruption. For my dinner, I ordered the fish and chips, with an appetizer of those house prepared potato chips. The fish batter was made with Boulevard pale ale. If you've made a beer batter you know that it is tricky business to cook the batter all the way through as the carbon dioxide is released from the beer. It tends to thicken the batter and make it spongy on the inside, which is an unpleasant texture with the flakiness of the fish and crispiness of the outer batter. That is not the desired effect. A few bubbles are ok, but alas, my fish had that spongy texture, and the batter was undercooked. It wasn't enough of an offense to send back, but I note it here because it cost eleven dollars, and cooking fish isn't difficult. It was served with tartar sauce, which was not to my liking, I asked for the promised malt vinegar, and the accompanying sweet and spicy jalapeño tomatillo relish was nowhere to be found. Well, I couldn't find it in the dark anyway.
The fries that came with the fish were terrific. However, it is my sincere hope that the chef at AMC abandons the house prepared smoky ketchup. That just didn't work at all for me. Sounded great, but after a couple samples of it I just couldn't have any more. It also got me thinking, how does one "smoke" ketchup without just adding liquid smoke? No idea.
There weren't interruptions save the ones I caused, and that is truly remarkable. Honestly I can't remember if anyone else besides Justin ordered anything at all. That's how unobtrusive the staff is.
All in all, it was great. I really enjoyed the experience, and I'll be back to check out the Cinema Suites, as well as the Fork and Screen. It's an experience that can still be enjoyed if one is on the kind of budget I'm on. But if they add items like fried brie, or perhaps a kabob dish, or spring rolls, or a whole section of healthy, not fried items one can eat in the dark, and if they have an affordable drink special, I could be swayed to splurge a little. I do wonder how the populous at large is going to take to this theater, given the state of our economy. I hope they do, like ducks to delicious water. I would if it were within my regular means.
Next time I go, here's what I'll do:
First, I'll budget for it.
Second, I'll bring my gal.
Third, we'll eat first. Wherever.
Fourth, we'll make out a lot during the movie if we can get away with it.
As for horror club, I think a very special engagement could be arranged, but with plenty of notice so people can save for it. It won't be an easy thing, but if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right.
I strongly recommend you check it out. Give them a chance. It really is a really cool place, and deserves your patronage.
Your Severed Right Hand,
Curtis