We are beginning to experience a little bit of normal in these unprecedented times. Some people want to jump back into life, and some are feeling a little more cautious. Whatever your choice is, we wanted to give you some options whether you want to enjoy a safe night out at a restaurant and your favourite flick, or stay in and enjoy a movie and some take out from your favourite restaurant.
SCENE recently launched their ‘Better Together’ campaign – a program offering new SCENE Experiences and charitable contributions designed to bring Canadians together, even when they’re apart. You can feel good about being entertained your way with a ‘SCENE Night Out’ or ‘SCENE Night In.’ From now until August 27, every time a member uses their SCENE card, $0.25 of the transaction will be donated to Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada, up to a maximum value of $210,000, so that kids and their families can enjoy much-needed experiences after this time of physical distancing. You can earn or redeem SCENE points when you dine in, or enjoy dinner out. Here are our current perfect pairings for dinner and a movie:
For Families: The Secret Garden Home Premiere (The Cineplex Store)
Why not make Friday night Family Night? Have dinner and a movie at home with the kids. Our pick is the classic tale – The Secret Garden. It is the story of a young girl sent to live with her uncle after she is orphaned, where she discovers a magical garden on the grounds of his estate.
The Dinner Pairing
Swiss Chalet is always a favourite and their Family & Party Paks provide great value. Their Honey Garlic Family Pak comes with a Whole Rotisserie Chicken glazed with Honey Garlic sauce. It also comes with your choice of 4 individual sides, 4 coleslaws, 4 dinner rolls, their Signature Chalet Dipping Sauce and your choice of 4 cups of soup or 4 slices of pie. How’s that for a perfect pairing?
For Girls Night Out: Cyrano de Bergerac – National Theatre Live (Cineplex Event Cinema)
Three hours and seventeen minutes of James McAvoy. Have we got your attention? McAvoy (X-Men, Atonement) returns to the stage in an inventive new adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac from London’s West End. Originally broadcast live on February 20, 2020, it returns to Event Cinema on August 27. If you aren’t familiar with the story, here is the synopsis: Fierce with a pen and notorious in combat, Cyrano almost has it all – if only he could win the heart of his true love Roxane. There’s just one big problem: he has a nose as huge as his heart. Will a society engulfed by narcissism get the better of Cyrano – or can his mastery of language set Roxane’s world alight?
The Dinner Pairing
East Side Mario’s has the Italian food that we all crave. They even have a gluten-friendly menu. Our favourite is the “Build Your Own Pasta” so that you can customize your dish. It comes with all-you-can-eat soup/salad and garlic homeloaf. If you are planning on a Cineplex Combo, and you are looking for something lighter, the Classic Calamari Fritti is perfect. Enjoy some adult beverages like the Stone Fruit Pitcher before you head to the theatre.
For Date Night In: Britany Runs a Marathon (The Cineplex Store)
The choice isn’t a conventional one, but this was one of the most underrated movies of 2019. There is enough love (family and romantic), a woman that ends up with strength that she didn’t know that she had and a story that you can watch together without it feeling like a chick flick. This is all about hilarious, outgoing and always up for a good time, New Yorker Brittany Forgler who is everybody’s best friend except maybe her own.
At 27, her hard-partying ways, chronic underemployment and toxic relationships are catching up with her, but when she stops by a new doctor’s office to try to score some Adderall, she gets slapped with a prescription she never wanted: get healthy. Too broke for a gym and too proud to ask for help, Brit is at a loss, until her seemingly together neighbor Catherine pushes her to lace up her Converse sneakers and run one sweaty block. The next day, she runs two. And soon, after finishing her first mile, she sets an almost unthinkable goal: running in the New York City Marathon.
The Dinner Pairing
Let’s face it, you’ll want a salad for this movie, and he’ll probably still want a burger. Montana’s has it all and they offer take out. The Apple Pecan Harvest Salad is our favourite. Spice up his night with the Chipotle Firecracker Burger. Order the Shake N Share Donuts and pretend that you will only have one…or two.
Date Night Out: The Invisible Man (Cineplex)
Thrillers are the perfect date night movie and The Invisible Man looks suspenseful. Watch as Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss (Us, Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale) stars in a terrifying modern tale of obsession inspired by Universal’s classic monster character. Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass (Moss) escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister (Harriet Dyer, NBC’s The In Between), their childhood friend (Aldis Hodge, Straight Outta Compton) and his teenage daughter (Storm Reid, HBO’s Euphoria).
But when Cecilia’s abusive ex (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House) commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turns lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.
The Dinner Pairing
Kelsey’s has been a classic since 1978. This is the place to indulge in favourites like Nachos or Buffalo Cauliflower Bites. They have a Sonoma salad that you will love or their Lemon Pepper Salmon if you are craving a fish dish. He’ll love the Ribs and Wing Combo or one of their Burly Burgers. Try Trapiche Malbec if you are looking for a different take on red wine, with Argentina’s most popular wine export.
