How Fun Was That?

The Hollywood Palms on Route 59 in Naperville is a veritable emporium of fun fun fun. Food, cocktails, movies. And a bunch of us indulged in all three to watch "The Blind Side" Tuesday night.

The Palms is ginormous, but the ticket prices are not. (Thank you.) The food ranges from C to C Plus, but as far as I'm concerned, if I didn't have to make the Lon Chaney burger or mix the Halle Berry martini, it's a B Plus to A Minus. Add another half credit for someone else delivering it to the long banquet tables at which you are seated. In comfy office chairs. That rotate.  And there's a whispery waitstaff who manage not to compete with Sandra Bullock's dialogue. Is that cool or what? Clearly, I should have thought of this concept.

(That's Lon Chaney on the right, in case you were wondering.)

(And Halle. As if you didn't know.)










Tonight (Dec. 18) there is a really neat twist to the whole cinematic eatery thing. The actress who portrayed ZuZu Bailey is appearing at the Hollywood Palms Friday and Saturday between showings of "It's a Wonderful Life." So we get to see my second favorite Christmas movie on the big screen. How cool is that? (I will let you know when they screen my top fave, "The Bishop's Wife." I doubt, however, that Loretta Young will be making a personal appearance.)

 (Karolyn Grimes, then and now.)