Dinner and a Movie

It's the classic date. Great conversation over what hopefully turns out to be delicious food, followed by a chance to sit close in a dark room and enjoy a shared experience. What an excellent way to spend an evening. If you're suffering from a small case of the blues, nothing is a better tonic. Kate and I spend most date nights this way.

First we have dinner at Amer's Cafe, a great little Mediterranean spot right off of the Beltway on Belair Rd. They've got this Tandoori Chicken Pasta dish with walnuts that is perfection on a plate. Their stuffed grape leaves are excellent, too. Top it off with belly dancer performances and occasional comically poor service from old greek waitresses that forget you and the rest of the world exist, and we generally have a great experience.

From there it's on to the four dollar theater right next door. We'd reserved all day yesterday for family, but things ended sooner than we thought they might so we went and saw Gran Torino. I was a little leery at first, but it turned out to be a real moving film. I'm not sure why I'm never excited to see Clint Eastwood act. He always turns in a tremendous performance, and yet I never remember that when faced with the prospect of watching something new. But hopefully last night will cement in my leaking boat of a brain the fact that Clint is worth the time.

We change things up sometimes, heading to the Charles or White Marsh for a movie, but something about the Amer's / Beltway 6 combination pulls us back most times.