It had never occurred to me to ride a miniature clown bicycle, but it turns out that I can. Badly.
That was one of the discoveries last week when I accompanied my son to a birthday party at Shankz Black Light Mini Golf.
Tucked into the old movie theater space on the northwest corner of the Yard Birds Mall, Shankz is a clean, brightly painted funhouse suitable for kids for all ages. It has old-school arcade games, air hockey and (my son’s favorite) a giant table-size checkers game.
It’s also the most fun you can have mini-golfing in the dark. The course (which has more than enough light to easily find your way around) has twists, turns, elevations, overs and unders, plus black light that makes your white clothes even whiter and your neon prints really pop. If you opt to pick up a pair of the 3-D glasses at the front desk, the dinosaurs bedecking the golf course walls leap out at you — thanks to a cool technology called ChromaDepth.
The proprietor of the establishment, David Ostrand, was working the front desk counter next to the popcorn machine during our party last weekend. He’s the one who declared that I needed to try my hand (or rather my seat) on his miniature clown bicycle. With my feet spinning like a windmill in a hurricane and fourth-graders giggling, I navigated the lobby quite ably, if I do say so myself.
It’s heartening to see new life at a place I remember as a movie theater from my youth.
David and I talked about his move from Olympia two years ago, and I was struck by something he said comparing the two towns.
It was actually a comment his daughter made about the Lewis County customers after he moved Shankz down to Chehalis.
“Dad,” she said. “Down here they say ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’”
“Yes,” he told her. “That’s actually how it’s supposed to be.”
Nicely done, Chehalis.
Classic Cinema
Speaking of old theaters reborn, have you seen the fantastic lineup this year at the Fox Theatre in downtown Centralia? It’s a cinephile’s dream.
The theater’s tireless boosters are showing 20 films this year, from golden-era masterpieces like “The African Queen” and “White Christmas” to later era favorites such as “Jaws” and “Beetlejuice.”
Today the theater is showing “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” In two weeks there’s “Singin’ in the Rain.” I’m most excited about the April 11 showing of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” That fantastic Gregory Peck film will be quite timely this year in light of the recent news that author Harper Lee’s original prequel to the novel is being released after more than 50 years.
Check out the entire Fox lineup at www.centraliafoxtheatre.com, call them at (360) 623-1103, or stop by the theater yourself. Showtimes are 2 and 7 p.m.
It’s hard to imagine a better place to take in fine films than in the historic atmosphere of Centralia’s theatrical jewel, the Fox Theatre.
Tree Time
As our early spring continues, there’s an opportunity to get out into the sunshine while lending a hand to a worthwhile environmental project.
The Centralia College Phi Theta Kappa program is leading a tree planting party from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Kiser Natural Outdoor Learning Laboratory. It’s a quarterly tradition of the college’s honor society.
Bring gloves and boots, enjoy free refreshments and help green up the Hub City. If I can pull myself away from my own lawn-mowing obligations, I just might see you there.
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Brian Mittge can sometimes be seen clowning around on a full-size bike on the rural roads south of Chehalis. Reach him at brianmittge@hotmail.com.
