At the Drive-In
It used to be that the ultimate spot for a
make-out session (and other illicit
activities) was the drive-in theater.
Then, for one reason or another, they
started going dark around the country.
Fortunately for us South Floridians, the
once-upon-a-time thing to do on a Friday
night can still be appreciated at none other
than … The Swap Shop.
Sure, the drive-in is a ways “up north,” but
it’s so worth the trek to relive those good
ol’ days. Featuring the latest movies each
week, with 14 screens and plenty of
parking spaces, the drive-in is the
perfect change of pace. It’s a
mini-road trip and a movie night
all in one — for a whole lot cheaper, too.
At $5 per person ($1 per child ages
5-11 and free for kids under 5), you can
still expect to shell out way less
than you would at a movie multiplex.
So there is no need to hide your skinniest
friend in the trunk of your car. Plus, with
the few extra dollars you save, you
can buy something freshly made from the
concession stand, like Jamaican patties or
chicken fingers and a mountain of fries
at pretty reasonable prices. The days of
spending $32 for a movie are over.
As you drive up, pick your flick and you’ll
be directed to a theater. Just tune in on
your car radio to the radio station listed
near the screen, and voilá! Instant
improv surround sound. My entourage
chose to watch Primeval, which
for the record was advertised as a
“serial killer” movie. So, what seemed
like a good idea at the time quickly turned
sour about five minutes into the film, when
we all found out that the killer is a
frickin’ 25-foot alligator. Yawn.
One advantage of the drive-in: You can do
your own voice-over commentary
throughout the entire film and not receive a
single annoyed “Shh!” from a
Very-Into-the-Plot Movie Buff.
The Swap Shop Drive-In Theater
is located at 3291 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort
Lauderdale. Open seven days a week. For more
information or showtimes, visit
www.floridaswapshop.com or call
954-791-7927.
— Calendar Girl
