After our tasting at Chelan Ridge Winery, we were wined out. Plus, considering how pleased we were with the wines there, I’m not sure that we would have been as successful if we had gone anywhere else, so we headed back into Chelan and relaxed a little bit. We got some food at the grocery store so we could have dinner at the room (after 5 days away from home I was getting pretty burned out on restaurant food). Then we went out to a movie for date night! Jon took me to see ParaNorman, the story of a nerdy boy who sees ghosts, and who has to help a little girl ghost find peace. It is an animated film, and it was a really fun movie! But I hate when people give away the details, so you will just have to go see it yourself!
The movie was shown at the historic Ruby Theatre, right on the main street in Chelan. The Ruby opened in 1914, and is believed to be the oldest continuously running film theater in the state of Washington. It is beautifully restored building that remains true to its Moorish design style. The Ruby was state of the art for its time, with sloping floors, individual seats, a built in sound system and a fireproof projection room. The restoration project installed more comfortable theater seats, but the first three rows still have the original seats, so you can get an idea of what once was. You can even sit in those seats, if you are so inclined – we chose not to because there were a lot of kids at this movie, and many of them wanted to be front and center.
The Ruby Theatre, Chelan, Washington – Built 1914 – Renaissance Revival Architectural Style
The Ruby also hosts workshops, community plays and other events, to fulfill its goal of being a true community gathering place. I loved visiting, and it is great to see a community that treasures its history and wants to preserve it. While the projection system isn’t going to satisfy you if you are interested in seeing special effects in all their glory, history and architecture enthusiasts will delight in this special theater.
Ruby Theatre Interior – Looking Up at the Side Balcony
After the movie, we walked back to the hotel and had another evening of relaxing and enjoying some wine. We had a great time in Chelan, but after 5 days of the smoky air, my poor lungs couldn’t take much more, and we decided we would head home the next morning.
Wine and History Visited 