A Hidden Gem in the City Preserved for the Youth

Hello!

I'm on my way to the airport in Frankfurt via taxi, and I struck up a conversation with the driver, a woman.

- I guess you like it here.

- Yeah, I do.

- There's plenty to see. Old buildings, castles.

- Absolutely. It's beautiful.

- Not as nice as yours, I'm sure.

And then I blurted out something embarrassingly blunt...

- You guys had it better.

Which, as it turns out, is actually true. Vornage was destroyed to the tune of 93% during the war, but we managed to hold our ground. We didn't exactly earn hero status, though.

I'm getting sidetracked. You'll understand why in a minute.

Before the revolution, we had an electric theater called the "Palas". Later, this building was home to the "Free Theater", the "Theater of Free Makers", the "Young Theater", and the Children's Theater. But that chapter came to an end during the war.

But the building next door survived. They knew what to destroy – our culture.

You can see on the old photo that the three-story building on the left wasn't too badly damaged. And on the bottom right, it's the way it looks now.

The top shot of the cinema was taken from roughly the same angle.

It wasn't until 1964 that the old electric theater was restored and turned into the "Youth" cinema.

The "Youth" cinema building is a standard issue one. It was built according to project number 2-06-25, designed by S.I. Yakshin.

They just added it to the old, preserved, and restored building.

I've seen statues like this in different cities over the years, starting from a simple paper sketch. It's easy to mistake it for something else. Even though it's in the center, it's kind of small and blends in with the crowd. They call it 'Youth'. It's still growing up, not like those giants of thought like 'Proletary' or 'Amper' – I mean, 'Sparks'. Or those modern Cinem Park complexes.Despite being in the center and surrounded by traffic, it's really hard to notice it.

I've been going to this cinema since 1964, and it's never been a real showstopper. The premieres were always held in other theaters. As the saying goes, 'what's good for Jupiter isn't good for a bull.' But you could say the opposite too. This place was known for showing films that wouldn't make it to the big screen. For a while, it even housed the 'Film Enthusiasts Club.' Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a big group – maybe a dozen people at most. I kind of hung out there too. They'd bring in boxes of films, some real gems that never made it to the theaters. We'd watch these movies in an empty theater, with just a brief discussion afterwards. That was actually a great way to learn about films. So, I've got to admit, I'm not a big fan of modern cinema.This is one side of the story. On the other hand, I wanted to take my granddaughter to an IMAX screening. I thought we could watch something about waterfalls in South America or African jungles. But no, it's all about blockbusters, explosions, and ear-shattering sound effects. People take their kids to these shows. Where are we supposed to go? Ah, but there's 'Youth' right next door, and they're showing the Fikirs – characters we're all familiar with. I think we'll go see the Fikirs on the big screen with my granddaughter. Not that it's a huge screen or anything.

We went in the morning, on a workday. The cinema greeted us with emptiness and cleanliness.

Yeah, it's pretty clear. They're cleaning. The ticket booths are empty. I asked: "Will there be a session at 10:00 AM?" They told me: "If we get two people, there will be one."- So, we're the two!"

We ended up buying two tickets for 300 rubles.

You can also order tickets online.

During the pandemic, I've noticed they've really stepped up their game when it comes to visitor safety. The red stripes on the floor are a great touch - it's become a standard in public spaces, and it really helps people maintain a safe distance.

We scored our tickets, as they say, without a hitch. We had plenty of time to kill before the show even started. So, we headed to the café – it doubled as the foyer, too. The wall decor was refreshingly simple.

But they're decorated with different posters, movie ads - it's like a kids' zone. Same goes for the grown-up kids. And those floor stripes. Maybe there's a time when the place is packed, but for now, it's just us two enjoying the scenery. The bar counter. The way up. I'm guessing there's some kind of big hall up there. We could comfortably sit in the cafe, which we did. You could fit three people in there. Knowing my grandniece's motor skills, we didn't stay in one spot for long. I ordered two beers, please. But we bought, just like they do in cinemas nowadays, popcorn. Notes on the sleeves. This product, which was known since pre-Columbian America, got popular during the Great Depression. To attract audiences, it was sold in cinemas. And people went to the movies just to eat. It was cheap. And, honestly, it's not that cheap for us. Two tickets cost 300 rubles.Now, I'll be honest - this product didn't quite hit the mark. We ended up not finishing it.

We took it to the dacha for a friend's birthday.Let's talk about the foyer-cafe for a bit. The decor's got a nice retro vibe going on.They're clearly prioritizing visitor safety.

It's like stepping back in time - a real customer-centric space.I'm not sure if it's good or bad, but as long as it works, I'm happy.I did like the design of the women's restroom doors, though.

I've got some awesome photos to share with you. Check out Marilyn - she's looking pretty fabulous. And here's Elvis - I think he's trying to say something. But it's not all smooth sailing in Denmark. There are some downsides to consider. Okay, let's get moving to the gym. We're heading there. And then we'll be there.

I love how this wall decor and lighting combo turned out. It arrived. We'd already mentioned what we were up to, but we asked the staff member again:- Is the movie going to be on?

- Of course.

And then we showed up, and the movie started. It reminded me of this one time. We were sipping wine in a cozy little place in Georgia, surrounded by beautiful scenery. There was a kid with us, and the oldest one called out:

- Gogi, go get the kid and tell them not to start the movie without us. We'll be right there.

So we walked into the cinema, just the two of us, and it was spacious and comfortable.

We got to choose our seats.My partner went to pick our seats.

I ended up choosing this design.But then I switched it up again. I think it's just a reflection of a more feminine perspective on things.It looks pretty good. And I love that there's no clutter or distractions.And the conversations are minimal too.My granddaughter was even watching with interest.

The characters are all pretty familiar - like family.The sound is a bit loud, but I'm sure it'll be fine once the room is fully packed.

The climate in the room is great. The chairs are comfy, and the slope of the floor is just right so everyone can see.

We watched, and then we left. We were both happy with the experience.

Now, the cinema complex 'Youth' has restaurants and cafes on site. You won't leave hungry. Not everyone comes from home. I'm glad to see a coffee shop from the well-known brand Perfetto, a blini place called Blynchik, and a culinary studio.

And, of course, there's a gastropub on the side. Even a shisha bar has set up shop. Not my cup of tea, but someone must go there.So, let's wrap up. The 'Youth' cinema complex is now a full-fledged complex offering a range of food and drink options, both physical and emotional. Not spiritual, of course.

We enjoyed our visit.

Here are the highlights:

1. Reasonable prices for daytime screenings.

2. Clean and cozy.

3. The staff were super friendly and polite. My grandkid was running around like a maniac, but no one gave us a hard time about it. Like, who moved my chair and why?

4. It felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.

5. The interior design was totally unique and cool.

6. The picture and sound quality were totally acceptable.

7. The seats were super comfy.

8. There were plenty of snack options available.

9. The movie selection was pretty good.

10. And the best part? It's a family-friendly cinema. We can go with the kids without any stress.

But, of course, there are some not-so-kid-friendly movies too. Or, at least, not for younger kids.

I'd still highly recommend this cinema. It's great that we have a place like this in our city. It's been preserved and restored, and that's awesome. We don't need a bunch of skyscrapers here. I mean, we know how many cinemas were destroyed in Moscow. But this little gem, 'Youth' cinema, is something special. Let's just leave it alone and let the youth enjoy it.