Ted

We got "out" this evening for the first time in awhile.  Can't beat Bayou Place for convenience for us in downtown Houston, especially since we live only about a mile from the place.  

They normally charge $7/night for the underground parking, but I have a special, magical parking card from my job that gives me 24-hour access to the garage, and the monthly fee is subsidized greatly by my company.  I think the regular monthly fee is $125 for an unreserved parking spot, but we get it for $50/month, which is subtracted from the paycheck so it's a snap.  Doesn't matter what the weather is like, it's dry underground.  (Not that cool since they turned off the fans, but it still beats getting rained on).

So tonight we went to The Blue Fish in Bayou Place for dinner, and then a short walk next door to the Sundance Cinemas to see the new movie, "Ted."  I can't remember the last time we say a new movie on the first weekend of its release.  Seth MacFarlane wrote, produced, starred in and directed this one, in his directorial debut.  If you know Seth, you would know this movie was going to be funny, and it is.  Fucking hilarious.   

Ted is a teddy bear that comes to life after a wish by an 8-year-old Mark Wahlberg.  Once you suspend that disbelief, well, it's mostly laughs from there.  

They did a pretty cool "Ted is Real" website.  

We had some excellent Philadelphia rolls and Rainbow rolls at The Blue Fish, topped with a crab cake and some sort of beef teriyaki.  All of them were outstanding.  Turns out the wasabi mashed potatoes won't make you cry after all.  They were doing quite the booming business, and most of the outdoor tables were full too.  Outdoor!?!  Yes.

This was our first visit to the Sundance Cinema since Robert Redford opened it up about four months ago.  There are still 8 screens, as there were when the place was known as Angelika.  They replaced every chair with a wider, more cushioned rocker, with padded armrests and multiple cup holders.  Quite comfortable.  

Our theater seated about 175, and it was almost full.  The website says that they have an Art Gallery onsite that features a different local artist every three months.  I asked one of the attendants where exactly the Art Gallery was, and she pointed to one picture on the wall.  That's it.  One picture.  Wow.

Cool theater.  Great restaurant.  Funny movie.  

Here's one of the "restricted trailers" for the movie:

Ted: Restricted Trailer - watch more funny videos