the palm theatre and other San Luis Obispo, CA Things to Do Tips

Feel like catching a movie but don’t want to watch the blockbusters? The Palm, SLO’s only locally owned movie theatre, plays many independent films. I've watched films like Asylum, House of Flying Daggers, The Aristocrats, March of the Penguins and Mirrormask there, just to name a few.

You can't buy tickets ahead of time, but only in the 30 minutes before your movie starts. Show up a little earlier than that if you're going to watch something rather popular. I remember the line for Sideways grew longer with every night after all the nominations came out.

Oh yeah, the seats have no cupholders!!

Trivia: It's the first movie theatre in the US to have switched completely to solar power.

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Address: 817 Palm Street
Website: www.thepalmtheatre.com

Since SLO is halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on Highway 101, it seems like a lot of the smaller bands play through here. However, there aren’t many venues in this town where shows can be held. One popular location, The Dwelling, was shut down a little while ago. Still, there are some okay places to catch a show.

Numbskull Shows (one local promoter) puts on punk-, emo- and indie-type shows—they have been bringing in independent hip-hop groups more frequently in recent years too. Bands that I’ve seen come through in recent years include Pretty Girls Make Graves, si*se, Flogging Molly, Bad Religion, the Hieroglyphics, The Aquabats, The Ataris, etc. Check the Numbskull website for a schedule of upcoming shows and for links to tickets. (Make sure you look at the SLO shows, as Numbskull promotes lots of shows all around Central California.)

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Address: locations vary
Website: www.numbskullshows.com

Local actors perform plays and musicals in this little community theatre. It really is little. I think a decent-sized car would have difficulties turning in it. The stage rises barely above floor level, and the audience sits around the stage in seats 2-4 rows deep. The intimacy can be refreshing, though, especially if you know someone in the act. The theatre is amateur (as in non-professional, not as in terrible) and not-for-profit, run by volunteers who really love what they do.

Dress was casual when I went. I’m not sure about all shows.

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Address: 888 Morro Street
Website: www.slolittletheatre.org

Big movies deserve big theatres. The Fremont is one of those relics. Built in 1940, it still retains such charm and character that you can imagine limos dropping off tuxedo men and glamorous women to catch a film. (I don’t know if that ever happened, though.) Inside the theatre itself, you can kill time before the previews come on by gazing at the beautiful purple and gold swathed ceiling. I just want to touch it. It looks like velvet.

In addition to the latest big movie, the Fremont also shows series of classic movies. For the younger folk who never caught Gone with the Wind or other classics on the big screen, or for the older ones who want to recapture that magical old-time motion-picture glory, the Fremont can be a magnificent venue. Check out the website for a listing of current movie show times and upcoming series shows.

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Phone: (805) 541-2141
Address: 1025 Monterey Street
Website: http://www.themovieexperience.com/tme-slo.shtml

The art in this gallery is different from most of others around this area, which mainly feature stuff like landscapes and wildlife. I don’t really know how to describe art or know any names for the genres. I guess I would call local painter Claassen's stuff “edgier” or “more hip.” In any case, the gallery is located on one of SLO’s busy commercial streets (Higuera) and ducking in for a look may open your eyes to a new favorite artist.

You should check out his website because I have provided only a vague description in this tip. There, you can see examples of his art and also find out which exhibition is currently being put on at the gallery.

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Address: 968 Higuera Street #208
Website: www.jeffclaassen.com

Everyone loves bubblegum, right? Yes, yes, they do. Unless it’s someone else’s used gum that they accidentally touch on the underside of a school desk. Well, right in the middle of downtown SLO is this alleyway for pedestrians. The walls are covered with gum. If you look carefully, you’ll even see some pictures “drawn” and names “written” out amid the bulbous mess. I’ve heard that people have been sticking their chewed wads of gum on the walls since the 1960s. I’m not sure if it’s been scraped off at all or if the lower layers have merely disintegrated over time.

This place as it stands now won’t be around for much longer. The buildings have to be torn down and rebuilt because they aren’t earthquake-safe. However, the owners know that this place is one of tradition for both locals and visitors and will continue to allow people to chew away and affix their gum art again once it is rebuilt. Stop by while you’re at Farmer’s Market or shopping downtown and leave your mark on this historic site of chewy sticky icky ickiness. Or, bring a friend with you and then push them into the wall when they least suspect it!

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Directions: on the southern side of Higuera, between Garden and Broad