Demetrios IV

I was having a rough day, and we were cruising for lunch options in Mariemont. Dan pulled into Demetrios.
ME: "Have you been here before?"
DAN: "Nope."
ME: "But you don't like new things!"
DAN: "I know, but you do."

I love this guy, kids.

Demetrios is an odd little spot. I had no idea it was even there; Dan used to live in Mariemont and was much more familiar with the area, but he'd never stopped in.

It's, uh... how do I put this?

It's a place for old people THERE I SAID IT.

The thing is: hot spots for blue-hairs tend to be right up my alley. Demetrios IV was no exception. As Dan perused the menu I eavesdropped on conversations about grandkids and taxes (no joke) as people sipped coffee and noshed on plates of eggs. I was very at home.

If you hadn't guessed from the name, Demetrios is owned by a Greek family. Thus, if you order the chili, don't expect the Texan kind. (Yea!) I had a 4-way (spag, chili, red beans and cheese)-- it was in the Gold Star tradition. (Double yea!) Dan had some kind of chicken-cheese-bacon fiasco and he enjoyed it.

This is not a place for out-of-this-world dining, but it's a comfortable spot with family photos on the wall and comfort food you can count on. It was delightful new find, and I can see myself there again. Maybe even for the 4-way.

Mariemont Theatre

While I love the Mariemont Theatre... it's no Esquire (which, somehow, I haven't posted about yet?!).

Mariemont and the Esquire are sister theaters-- one in Mariemont (hm) and the other right down the road from Dan's place in Clifton. I prefer the Esquire for a couple of reasons:

1) I run into way more people my age at the Esquire

2.) I can walk to the Esquire

3.) The layout (particularly the lobby) of the Esquire is much more open and friendly.

That being said, there aren't many differences between the two. They don't run all the same movies, which is how I ended up in Mariemont on Friday night: it was playing the new Coen brothers movie, A Serious Man.

The differences, on the other hand, between an independent theater and your local Showcase Cinemas... are vast. For me, there is no comparison. I love the hometown, down-to-earth, almost vintage feel of these local theaters. The prices are often cheaper, the movies are the kind that rarely make it to the major theaters: documentaries, foreign films, indie dramas. (My kind of movies.) These are the kind of theater that play Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight, for crying out loud.

If you go straight to your nearby megaplex for movies, just check to see if it's playing at the Esquire or Mariemont first. Just once. If you hate it, maybe I'll give you a refund.

Mariemont Theatre website: http://www.mariemonttheatre.com/home.htm
A Serious Man on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1019452/