Sally and I go see a movie, Hamnet

 Best Christmas "hymn" ever, not about exhausted Mary birthing that baby every damned year in the dead of winter.

Lights sparkling  on a dark rainy night in December- just my cup of tea! Sally and I went to see Hamnet at the Pickford downtown. We went in  dark daylight at 2:00 . I waited for her in the lobby .

I had an art  studio upstairs once , it was grand! Two rooms, leaded glass, large  windows that opened wide onto the street-   an ancient brothel (?) it was set up that way.  Built as a department store in 1904  with "offices" above- later became an antique shop and then a Deli . A brother and sister rented the space, they were all of 21 years old, fluent in ASL ,because their little brother was born deaf, English and Polish. Fun and charming little family , served polish food and played loud music. I worked across the street @ Little Panda, an import shop, and had lunch from the Deli when I could afford it. Slim chance of affording anything- I made $2.50 an hour early 80's. Took what you could get,everyone was poor.

waiting for Sally in the lobby looking out onto the street.

The film is a good one, comes with advice to stack your purse with tissues because, they warn, floods of tears. I shed not a one but did prepare with half a  toilet roll in my bag. Sally bought pop corn,  freshly popped  in small batches- real butter as much as is desired.  Sprinkle options of brewers yeast flakes or Parmesan or cinnamon and sugar.  Tea or coffee if one needs a warm up- choice of  whole milk or half and half. Bottled organic soft drinks- and an array of sweets. 

 Our favorite theater by far. 

Erik was in high school when the theater was gathering money to build their idea. They sponsored film competitions at schools to interest the kids in a future of film making. Erik entered twice,  and with his team,  won first prize twice.  Glorious  days of kids in the house filming, editing, laughing  way too much. Our family contributed hundreds of dollars to the building project. It took YEARS! Anyway, it holds a place in our hearts.

Movie over, vanta black  and raining outside, of course.  The old Mount Baker apartment building across the street lit up , eight floors built in 1929, art deco-ish  on the inside , is now low income housing- IN STYLE, I might add. the apartments are charmingly old school. 

Sally reckoned that we should walk over to the Leopold, another old building  that has gone through a few incarnations, but is now once again a hotel. There is a pop up bar that she wanted to check out.

I could not get out of there fast enough!
 

There is the hotel bar that is much more mellow , nicer. We did not stop for a drink , we  wandered through the downstairs .

The ballroom where Dead Maggie had her 90th birthday party.

I would give them a nickle for this ceiling light though it might be  demanding to keep it sparkling. Plus I would have to build a house around it. So, I guess I will keep my nickle. As they say- a nickle saved is... a nickle.
 

 so-Hamnet is a most worthy film to see- Jesse Buckley is amazing. Acting skills that will slap you silly!  Her character's  force and emotional journey symbolized  in the wearing of her red dress throughout the film. She deserves ALL of the prizes! 

And now, I love you and leave you with  over -it -apples on a tree...and a ginger bread/ graham cracker  looking house across the street from My friend's across town. Yummy.

it just needs icing....