The kids and I were out on another adventure today. This time we visited the newly renovated movie theater in downtown. It was so cool to see the lights, movie posters, and employees wearing suits and bow-ties. Our downtown is experiencing a much-needed revitalization. I've always loved downtowns in nearly every city I've ever visited. Each downtown has a different feel to it -- Chicago and Atlanta are large and modern, Nashville is large but unique with its honky-tonk bars, DC is educational, Richmond is historic. Even the tiniest downtowns have their own feel.
My hubby and I visited a very small country town in PA one time. The downtown had exactly one stop light, one bank, one hotel, one diner, and one grocery store/pharmacy. And what made it even more special were the Amish horse and buggies that lined the streets. The whole scene made me want to give up my complicated life, buy a farm with a big white farmhouse, have 15 children, and grow a garden. But then I suddenly realized that I'd be responsible for all the work that accompanies such "uncomplicated" living and so I promptly changed my mind.
Our downtown is much bigger than the one in PA, but much smaller than Chicago. It has tall new buildings, shorter historic buildings, attorney offices and banks galore, and it's full of business people during weekdays. Me, my friend, and our four children were in downtown today to see what all the fuss was about with the brand new theater. All movies were just one dollar and popcorn and Coke was just one dollar as well. What a bargain! Kids two years and under got in free, therefore, for three dollars me and L (S is too little to count) saw a movie, ate popcorn and drank a huge Coke (well actually L drank the juice that I sneaked in my diaper bag). The whole experience had a very nastalgic feel to it. The experience reminded me of why I like downtowns. Maybe one day, when the kids are grown and moved out, my hubby and I will buy a downtown loft so we can enjoy the excitement of downtown life more often.