MOMania

By Thor

May 15, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

Very good tips! Thank you! Chamblee has a camp which is inexpensive and quite good; we tried camp for the first time last year and it worked really well.

Movies: we smuggle food in or else we’ll go broke! Haven’t been caught and the kids like sneaking something with the old man!

Thanks for the suggestions.

By JJ

May 15, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

Theresa - what a great idea…I am always looking for stuff to do during summer…….

I know that EE Robinson up in Sugar Hill has movies once a month at the Ampitheater..

Suwanee Town park has free concerts, but they are in the evenings……

I can’t wait to see all this…..

By Ann McD

May 15, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this

The City of Roswell hosts several weeks of puppet plays each summer. They are such quality shows! Each week features a specific performance which is held each weekday at 10 am with puppet making workshops following it. Then on Saturday a final performance of that same play with no workshop is held at 11 am. Here is the info. from the first week’s theme:

he Dragon Queen Puppet Show Cultural Arts Center Monday, June 9, 2008 10:00 AM

2008 Season of Puppet Shows and Workshops begins with The Dragon Queen, June 9 -14.

An underwater fantasy based on Chinese folklore, Tanglewood Marionettes/ newest all-ages show features colorfull sea creatures, an exciting adventure, and a Dragon King that will knock your socks off!

After Show Workshops - Learn how to make a puppet Monday - Friday at 11:00AM

Show times

Mon-Thur at 10am, Fridays at 10am and 1pm; Saturdays at 11am. Children Ages-2-12-$4.00, Adults $5.00 cash or check only

Cutural Arts Center 950 Forrest Street, Roswell, GA 770-594-6411

Call 770-594-6411 and ask for a brochure for the full summer schedule. Also check out the City of Roswell website under Cultural Arts.

By Becky

May 16, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Thanks for all of the info..Ann, this sounds like a wonderful way to spend time with the children..

By DB

May 16, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

I’m not really comfortable with wholesale suggestions and resulting nudge-nudge-wink-wink that encourages people to cheat movie theatre owners by smuggling in food.

Theatres give up 70-80% of the price of the ticket to the movie distributor. (the percentage decreases the longer the movie is in the theatre, but that’s usually because the viewers drop off dramatically after the first week or two.) Also, the movie is paying per head for running trailers. The majority of the theatre’s income comes from concession sales. If I enjoy a clean, comfortable theatre, with those cool club seats, :-), why make it more difficult for the theatre owner to provide it?

Yes, the concessions are expensive. But you don’t have to BUY them — in fact, an argument can be made that sitting down for two hours for the sole purpose of passively watching a movie and stuffing your face is probably not the healthiest use of your time. You can always promise to go out for ice cream after the movie, or eat lunch just before you go. If you can’t afford it, trot down to Blockbuster, rent a DVD and throw some Orville Reddenbacher in the microwave. But don’t cheat the theatre owner out of making a living.

By Jj

May 16, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

DB You have my word that I will NOT smuggle any food or drinks into a movie theater.

I can honestly guarantee that, as I will never go back to see a movie in a theater ever again. The prices are way to high for me to sit in an uncomfortable chair, in a dark room for 2 hours with a bunch of rude strangers……

I much prefer to rent DVD’s and watch them at home, at my leisure……

By Thor

May 16, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this

I’ll smuggle in food if I’m with my boy. Hollywood and the movie theatres have been ripping us off for a long, long time - providing bad quality entertainment, which only gets worse. How many times have I shelled out money to see a money which was moronic, only to get ripped off even more from having a coke and popcorn.

Try taking four boys who are early teens; the concession bill will run $40 to $50 dollars. I’ll smuggle it in and will face the music if they catch me.

Movie theatres have been ripping me off for too long; blatantly ripping me off. I’ll do the crime, and if they catch me, I’ll do the time.

By Whoa

May 16, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

DB, do you OWN a movie theatre or something? Geez, lighten up and add something CONSTRUCTIVE to the blog! To everyone else, thanks for the tips.

By Becky

May 16, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

Thor, you are soooo right on that point..I’m not paying $3.00 for somekind of candy that I can buy elsewhere for $1.00..

By DB

May 16, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

Thor: …providing bad quality etertainment, which only gets worse. How many times have I shelled out money to see a money which was moronic, only to get ripped off even more from having a coke and popcorn…movie theatres have been ripping me off for too long; blatantly ripping me off.

If you feel that strongly about it, DON’T GO. Nobody is forcing you, and it is definitely doesn’t come under the category of “basic life necessity.” If the product is so poor, why do you even bother going at all? Why give such a miserable excuse for an industry one penny of your money?

Interesting how defensive otherwise honorable and fair people get when you gently point out to them that they are doing something they oughtn’t. And no, I don’t own a movie theatre, but I am self-employed. :-) I was just a little shocked to see public encouragement to cheat a business out of it’s primary source of income. It’s sorta like picking up McDonald’s and taking it to Ruth’s Chris’, or bringing your own food to a dinner theatre. I’ll give you a bye on somethig like gum or a breath mint, but dragging in cold popcorn and cans of Sprite in an oversized bag or in your jacket in 90 degree weather is just a bit tacky, IMHO.

But, hey, do what you want. I’m not the Movie Theatre Guardian, I’m just a mom with an opinion. It’s always fun to watch people rationalize.

By claire doumee knightly

May 16, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this

delete me? oh, it’s so on…

By me

May 16, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

DB— I understand what you are saying, but I agree with the rest. It’s akin to USURY. I refuse to participate. I pay for my movie and watch it. But I’ll bring my microwave popcorn in my bag. When they charge moral and fair rates, I’ll buy their popcorn. But what they do isn’t right, moral, just, or fair.

By FCM

May 16, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this

I just don’t purchase anything at the concession period. Problem solved, I don’t get ripped at the theater, and if sales go down enough the might get the point.

By ManOfTeal

May 19, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

I don’t go to the movies anymore. Hollywood has lost any and all of it’s creativity and movies made today are simply remakes of old movies or are just plain crap. Plus I have a better theater in my own home, why would I go out to a movie that I won’t enjoy because of loud, obnoxious people who talk during the movie and don’t turn off their cellphones….talk about a rip off.