Moviegoers with savoir-faire can catch an independent or foreign flick at this theater, built in 1939.

The downstairs theater is grandiose and baroque, all heavy red-velvet curtains, patterned carpet and ornate carvings, with moderately comfortable seats. The two upstairs screening rooms are tiny and cramped; even the most diminutive person will want for more space. Two concession stands carry standard fare, as well as herbal teas, gourmet coffee, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, high-end candies and vegan cookies. A funky cafe-like hangout next to the upstairs concession is painted in folk-art style and includes all sorts of alternative reading material.

Tip: Catch special midnight movies on Friday and Saturday nights.

Love this theater; relic from before I was born; my mom and her friends used to go there. It definitely gives Houston some character apart from its stereotypical business, corporate, oil facade. They still do midnight movies here; lots of Rocky Horror Picture Show, and they also show smaller Indie Films that don't always make it to the bigger theaters.