A DATE NIGHT DELIGHT

Enzian & Eden Bar

These theaters serve up more than just a good movie.

// BY MELISSA PETERSON

Before you plan another dinner and a movie date with your special someone, check out these theaters for a unique experience that combines dinner or drinks and a great lm.

ENZIAN & EDEN BAR

Enzian, located in Maitland, just north of Orlando, is Central Florida’s only full-time alternative cinema and home to Eden Bar and the Florida Film Festival. The theater is a single-screen cinema café, o ering mostly independent and foreign lms, with two unique dining options—a true fusion of lm and food.

“Enzian started as a reparatory theater in 1985 and quickly evolved into a rst-run art house cinema with an added variety of nostalgic, diverse and educational special programming,” says Janie Pope, director of development and public relations with the theater. “Eden Bar, the restaurant and bar on property, was founded in 2008.”

When visiting Enzian, you’re guaranteed a unique night out. While Enzian is the theater and overarching organization, Eden Bar is very much a part of that. You can enjoy dinner inside while watching a movie, or join friends outside for a di erent happy hour or dinner experience by the fountain under the oak trees.

“Eden Bar is a full outdoor restaurant and bar, open for lunch, dinner and late-night bites,” says Janie. “Eden serves beer, wine and liquor and boasts a thoughtfully curated craft Tiki cocktail menu, all alongside a vast menu of delicious food ranging from our popular Wagyu beef burger and blackened Mahi tacos to atbreads and more.”

When you see a movie at Enzian, it’s a full dinner-theater experience. Most items on the outdoor Eden Bar menu are also available inside the theater. Beer and wine are also available for purchase inside, while cocktails may be purchased at the outdoor bar and brought into the movie.

If you’re looking for mainstream, blockbuster movies, Enzian won’t cut it. Enzian is, however, the only art house in Central Florida, o ering rst-run independent and foreign lms as its

primary programming.

“In the past few months, guests have enjoyed Another Round, starring Mads Mikkelsen, Denmark’s o cial submission in the Oscars international features category; Promising Young Women, starring Carey Mulligan; Nomadland with Frances McDormand; or Minari, starring Steven Yeun (Glen from The Walking Dead)—all nominees or winners of recent Golden Globe awards and likely Oscar contenders,” explains Janie.

The theater also hosts special programs that cater to other niche audiences, such as Cult Classics, Saturday Matinee Classics, Peanut Butter Matinees (family-friendly lms where kids under 12 get in free) and Music Mondays, which features documentary, narrative or live concert lms preceded by live music outside at Eden Bar. You can also check out Enzian On Demand for a catalog of lms available to stream online through the theater’s website.

The perfect excuse to visit this month, Enzian is home of the Florida Film Festival, which takes place April 9-22, celebrating its 30th anniversary. The Florida Film Festival is an Oscar-qualifying festival in all short lm categories. Learn more about the festival at orida lmfestival.com.

“Enzian is truly a wonderful oasis for the mind and body,” says Janie. “Nestled under beautiful oaks, if you’re not looking for our marquee, you might just miss us, but when you turn into our property, you’re transported to what feels like a literal Garden of Eden, with open air, great conversation, personable sta , delicious food and drinks, and best of all, worldclass lms.”

Enzian and Eden Bar // 1300 South Orlando, Maitland // enzian.org // (407) 629-0054

MARION THEATRE

If you’re wanting a tasty cocktail before a good lm, Ocala’s Marion Theatre is where it’s at. And although the theatre regularly o ers a full bar so guests can enjoy beer, wine and cocktails during the movie, the Marion hosts a special Classics and Cocktails event each month, combining movies everyone loves with a themed drink made especially for the evening.

“The Classics and Cocktails program is something we have been talking about since we were dreaming up ideas for the Marion,” says Pamela Calero Wardell, executive director, development and organizational advancement for the Marion Theatre and Reilly Arts Center. “Classic lms are probably the best type to see inside the Marion. Our rst Classics and Cocktails we showed Casablanca. When the black and white titles entered the screen, the audience sighed and snuggled into their seats with the cocktail, dubbed the Beautiful Friendship. It’s an enchanting and memorable experience to watch a classic lm of this notoriety inside a historic theatre.”

The Marion has Theatre Manager Adam Volpe to thank for its cocktail creations.

With more than 20 years in the hospitality industry designing award-winning food and cocktail menus, Adam crafts each cocktail to t the theme of the movie, bringing in elements guests are familiar with as well as some surprises. And if a guest doesn’t want the featured cocktail, they can always choose another option from the full bar menu. Guests can order drinks from their phone before they arrive in case they’re running late or from inside the theatre to be picked up at the concession without having to wait in line. The entire menu is on the website, and drinks can be enjoyed inside the theatre as well as the lobby.

Recent movie-cocktail combinations have included Dracula and Wolfman with the Monster Mash, Rear Window with The Peeping Tom Collins, My Fair Lady with The Rain in Spain, The Wizard of Oz with the Emerald City Spritz and Breakfast at Ti any’s with The Moon River.

When planning your date night, the Marion has scheduled the following Classics and Cocktails programming: April will feature Citizen Kane paired with The Rosebud, May will feature An American in Paris paired with My

Marion Theatre

“THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING TO REALLY LOOK FORWARD

TO—IT’S MORE THAN JUST A MOVIE. YOU COULD STAY AT HOME

AND WATCH THESE MOVIES ON TV, BUT THERE’S SOMETHING VERY

SPECIAL ABOUT WATCHING THEM IN OUR HISTORIC THEATRE WITH A

BAG OF MOVIE-THEATRE POPCORN AND A SNACK.

-PAMELA CALERO WARDELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Cultured Girlfriend and June will feature North by Northwest paired with A Simple No. You can see the dates and times for these events on the

Marion Theatre website. “The entire experience is something to really look forward to—it’s more than just a movie,” Pamela says. “You could stay at home and watch these movies on TV, but there’s something very special about watching them in our historic theatre with a bag of movie-theatre popcorn and a snack. These classic lms give us a glimpse into a di erent era, and there’s something comforting and fun about the nostalgia of it all.”

Marion Theatre // 50 S Magnolia Avenue, Ocala // mariontheatre.org // (352) 820-3049