Exciting weekend coming up as we look forward to Super Bowl Weekend. While you're preparing for the big game there's still time for a trip to the movies or take in a show before Sunday. If you're looking for choices, this is what I've come across in Iowa City and Coralville for this weekend February 5 through February 7...
Two new movies to share with you this week. The first is From Paris with Love - A deceiving title I think... I would have expected a romantic comedy and I would have been wrong... It's an action adventure movie with John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Myers. John Travolta plays a trigger happy CIA agent with his green side kick (Jonathan Rhys Myers) who are running around the streets of Paris causing mayhem as they try to prevent a terror attack. John Travolta is great in this kind of crazy roll so probably steals the show.
The other movie is Dear John, Lasse Hallestrom's adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' novel. It stars Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. It's about a young man who goes to war after meeting the love of his life. The letters his new love sends him are what get him through his days, but these very letters have consequences that neither could have envisioned. I've said it before, I've never seen a movie that truly lived up to the book. I love Lasse Hallestrom movies, but I'm going to stick by that statement!
You can catch these movies at the Coral Ridge Mall Movie Theatre in Coralville and the Sycamore Mall Cinema in Iowa City.
Moving onto the regular theatre... Lots of fun to be had this weekend in Iowa City. I'll kick off with the Englert where you can see improv sketch comedy at it's best with the 50th anniversary of Second City on both Saturday and Sunday. This is where some of today's most famous comedians started out, so you can expect big laughs as the troupe looks back at 50 years of classic sketches.
More comedy at The Riverside Theater where End Days continues it's run until February 21. This is a play about science, religion and suburbia. (Yes, I did say comedy... And I'm sure you're as surprised as me that a play about science and religion makes it into the comedy gendre!)
Another great weekend at The Mill of course. Friday sees the return of legendary singer-songwriter Dave Moore. Dave has played on nationally known radio programs like A Prairie Home Companion and The World Cafe.
Just to prove the point that The Mill is "the in place in town" Dr Dog with the Growlers is performing on Saturday and that show is sold out already! There's a reason The Mill was voted Best Live Entertainment Venue in the Press Citizen's Best of Area list...
If you like your country music with dance then check out the Wildwood Smokehouse & Saloon. Great music and great food and free wi-fi...They often have specials too like all you can eat ribs on Wednesdays...They're on Facebook and you'll find a list of their specials there.
And for those of you who feel like kicking it up a notch the Riverside Casino might be just the place for you this weekend. It's not all about the casino, they have plenty of live entertainment too. This weekend they have quite a show lined up on Friday and Saturday with The Britins, a Milwaukee band who entertain audiences with a tribute to The Beatles. Talk about a trip down memory lane... It seems we have quite a bit of that going on this weekend in Iowa City.
All of this of course culminates with the big game on Sunday. Who are you rooting for? I think the soft-hearted amongst us will be rooting for the "underdog." From what I can see they know how to celebrate in New Orleans and if they pull this off that will be one heck of a party!
