Took in the charming Julie and Julia at my favourite neighbourhood cinema this past weekend: the Dolphin Theatre at 4555 E. Hastings in Burnaby.

It’s not actually in my ‘hood–I live on Bowen Island–but I drive by on my way up to SFU on Burnaby Mountain once a week and I always slow down long enough to check what’s playing. There are two films, newish, usually well-reviewed and one’s always something appropriate for family viewing.

After a recent reno, the lobby is still plain and simple but the cinemas feature plush new high-backed seats worthy of a Hollywood’s agent’s private screening room. (In fact, it often feels like your own private screening at the Dolphin; I’ve never seen the place full.)

I like to come for the early weekend matinees–I can be in by 1, out by 3 and still have time on either side of the day for errands, visits and the ferry ride back home. I like that I don’t have to pay for parking, and that admission is cheap whether you come in the day or evening–just $7.95 for adults (and only $5.95 on Tuesdays).

When I lived near UBC in Point Grey, I used to frequent the Ridge Theatre on Arbutus. But there must be other great neighbourhood-sized cinemas still out there in the Metro Vancouver area–care to share?