Reg and I have been in Vancouver for over a year now and FINALLY got to The Rio Theatre which is at Broadway & Commercial. We love rep theatres and have not had one to go to since we stopped hanging out at The Mayfair in Ottawa over a decade ago.
Not only do they show movies they have live performances. I have zero interest in the burlesque but Critical Hit Show? A live D&D comedy experience? Hell yeah!
The Rio is licensed but if you do not want to drink alcohol, there is complimentary lemon water.
The feel of the place is adult but lots of fun.
And OMG, free Kernels popcorn shakers in every flavour? Now I can not wait to see a movie at The Rio. Damn.
The prices were fair too and the show was only $12 a ticket. For a live performance, a total steal.
Instead of having to watch stupid car commercials or annoying cell phone games we got to see what was coming up at The Rio and be encouraged to buy more art. Love it.
We really did not know what to expect from The Critical Hit Show which was a part of the fun.
We were introduced to the DM/host and the players and their characters.
But you really have to see it for yourself. They actually encouraged us to take photos and video.
The audience got to participate and participants were rewarded with mint chocolate Girl Guide cookies. The Tarrasque Egg was made out of chocolate and I even got a bite. So there were foodie elements and we got to come home with a free skunk!
I never feel quite at home until I find my local theatre and The Rio might just be the coolest place on the planet. We can not wait to go back! Pass me the popcorn and the flavour shakers. I’m home.
All that AND a free skunk? OMG now I want to go too! When I was a grad student in Ottawa 25 years ago, I went a couple of times to movies at the Mayfair on Bank Street. But where I absolutely LIVED was the ByTown Cinema downtown on Rideau Street. I saw some great movies there!
Isn’t it crazy Debra, what a night! Wow, you went to the Mayfair too? Oh I love that place. You know I lived in Sandy Hill and only went to the ByTown once. I think they skimped on heating which is why we didn’t go there as much, LOL. It’s a great theatre too though.
Ha ha yeah, they skimped on a lot of things at the ByTown!
LOL, so true! In Ottawa back then I lived in an apartment without heat or hot water so getting me there was just not going to happen. I loved living in Sandy Hill but it almost killed me!