Alamo Drafthouse -- South Lamar

Alamo Drafthouse at South Lamar, aka Alamo South, is one of the three Alamo theaters owned by Tim and Karrie League. It's a six-screen theater in a strip mall, renovated from what used to be a grocery store. The theater primarily shows first-run movies, but also serves as a venue for many local film festivals, and is the primary venue for Fantastic Fest. Locals like this venue during SXSW and other festivals because it's central and has parking.

The six theaters are various sizes: the largest can seat about 200 people. Two of the screens have Sony 4K digital. Lines for the movies may be inside the lobby or outside depending on the size of the crowds and the weather.

Pros: Like Alamo Ritz, you get pre-show clips, food, and beer. Little lights under the tables in front of your seat are meant to make menu-reading easier, but are also helpful if you're taking notes on the film.

Cons: When it gets crowded here, it gets really crowded and verges on the chaotic, although Alamo staff (and volunteers, during fests) have managed to instill very good line control. Avoid the first two rows of the theaters unless you like craning your neck.

Parking: Alamo South Lamar is part of a strip mall with a big parking lot. If the lot in front looks full, you can park behind the theater in a smaller lot. Try to avoid parking in the neighborhood, although that may be impossible during big festivals or events.

Bus routes: #3, #338, #484 Night Owl can take you downtown from here.

Distance: You can't walk to other theaters from here unless you're into hiking, but you can take a bus or find a friendly Austinite with a car. A cab from the theater to downtown isn't expensive, but they're unlikely to hang around the parking lot, so be prepared to phone. Make sure the cab service has your name so they won't drive off with some other film geek.

On-side food and beverages: The menu is similar to Alamo Ritz, except that this Alamo does not serve hard liquor. The milkshakes are my favorite in Austin.

Nearby dining options: The Highball, Suzi's Chinese Kitchen and Casa Garcia are in the same strip mall, and the super-trendy (and pricey) Japanese restaurant Uchi is across the street and down about a block. Almost directly across Lamar, you will find a lot full of food trailers, including Gourdough's huge yummy donuts (open late for your sugar and fat convenience). If you've got a car, you can hit restaurant row over at Lamar and Barton Springs Rd, or go further south down Lamar for Olivia's upscale but tasty cuisine and Kerbey Lane's gingerbread pancakes.

Wireless: Wireless is usually available in the lobby and the theaters, although the signal isn't consistent. If the weather is nice and the wireless is strong, try the picnic benches next to the theater. The Highball also has wireless. The closest and easiest-to-find coffeehouse with free wireless is probably Flipnotics, on Barton Springs Road about a block west of Lamar, but that's not walking distance. About two blocks further south down Lamar (away from downtown), you'll find a Starbucks in a strip mall across the street from Saxon Pub.