36880 Wed Jun 08 00:52:09 -0700 2005 7 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 170922 Went to the Metreon and had stale cold popcorn (which I still finished). They had huge yellow plastic bags full of popcorn that they pop during the deadtime and horde up. Usually, they'll serve you from the popper if it's going and you ask, but it was off when I got there. This made me thing about which movie theaters have the best popcorn. I vote for the Red Vic by a comfortable margin, which only has one screen and pops fresh before every showing. The popcorn is served in large wooden bowls and there's always yeast. Always. Castro is OK, they don't pop as often as they should, but they usually have yeast. The Landmark theatres are also pretty good, especially the Bridge, where's there also only one screen (so frequent popping) and also has yeast. Last time I was at the Lumiere, they only had salt in glass shakers in the lobby, so I couldn't take packets with me into the theater to resalt the middle of the bag. The Embarcadero has a big rack of shakers with specialty topping powders, (some of them are really gross though, especially the sweet ones) and usually has yeast (although they were out the last time I was there). The Century theaters serve Kettle Corn, which might be delicious except they just put tubs of it in heaters and take them out as people order. I actually don't like butter on my popcorn, so I can't speak to which place has good butter. I don't think anyone actually serves real melted butter anymore, and the oily stuff that is usually served doesn't sit so well with me. Wed Jun 08 00:52:09 -0700 2005 0 Hungry Hippo 1 170926 Hungary Hip - love the tips on the yeast. Love the yeast. Wed Jun 08 01:04:59 -0700 2005 170922 0 ChristineV 1 170950 The Balboa has oft-popped corn and great double features! Also some terrific restaurants in the 'hood! Wed Jun 08 02:51:36 -0700 2005 170922 0 ChowFun (derek) 2 171070 I'll second the Balboa. The popcorn is not only good and fresh (with kernal seasonings), it's cheap and it's real butter. Plus the programming is wonderful. I seem to remember the Stanford having good, cheap popcorn but haven't been lately. This is one of those foolish economies for movie theaters. The best way to sell more popcorn is to pop it frequently. The kettlecorn at the Daly City 20 by the way is scary stuff. Wed Jun 08 20:23:56 -0700 2005 170950 0 Windy 3 171251 Who can list all the popcorn kernel toppings at the Balboa? Link: http://www.nomorenakedpopcorn.com/ Thu Jun 09 18:42:39 -0700 2005 171070 0 Cynthia 1 170963 The Red Vic uses real butter. I'm pretty sure the Roxie does also. Wed Jun 08 03:46:53 -0700 2005 170922 0 heidipie 1 170975 The Parkway in Oakland has yeast and various other popcorn toppings. It's also served in a big bowl. The Bay Street AMC theater in Emeryville has self-serve "butter" topping so you can dispense your own to satisfy any grease level. Wed Jun 08 11:10:14 -0700 2005 170922 0 HungryGrayCat 1 170977 In my neck of the woods, it's definitely the Rialto in Santa Rosa. I must admit I just don't get the yeast on popcorn thing (tried some of my friends' freshly popped popcorn with yeast at a music festival recently - not something I'd eat again) but the Rialto uses real butter and will fill it up half way, butter that, fill it all the way and butter it again. They pop fresh often. Even if I've just eaten dinner and I'm full, I always get popcorn there. Wed Jun 08 11:23:30 -0700 2005 170922 0 Kathleen