Bringing up Baby arrives at the Cerrito!

CORRECTION: The film on December 8 at Bringing up Baby will be Twilight New Moon.

No, we’re not talking about the Cary Grant-Katherine Hepburn classic, but about something even better – if you’re the parent of a young child!

Rialto Cinemas Cerrito is now welcoming parents with babes in arms to its special “Bringing Up Baby Show.”

On the second and fourth Tuesday of every month – this month, that means December 8 and 22 – parents are encouraged to bring their new babies (under one year) to a baby-friendly showing on one of the screens. Babies get in free! And if they get a little noisy, stroll through the theater knowing that no one will mind – the audience will be packed with understanding parents.

On December 8, Tuesday, the Bringing Up Baby show is the 6:30 showing of “The Blind Side.”

Special events at the Cerrito Theater in November

“Times Talks Live,” featuring author John Irving, will be shown at the Cerrito at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2. This is a live — via satellite video-feed from New York — conversation between Irving and a critic from the New York Times. Irving, author of “The World According to Garp,” “The Cider House Rules,” and “A Widow for One Year” will discuss his new book, “Last Night in Twisted River,” and more! $15.

“Ready, Set, Bag,” a remarkably entertaining documentary about a competition for the best grocery baggers – and a look at the environmental issues behind “paper or plastic?” – will be shown Thursday, Nov. 5, as a benefit for the Contra Costa-Solano County Food Bank. Local filmmakers Justine Jacob and Alex D. da Silva will be on hand to talk about the film and its subject matter.

The film will be shown at 6:30 p.m. – and anyone who brings two or more items of non-perishable food gets $1 off admission and 50 cents off a bag of popcorn.

So catch this film, have a great time, and help feed your less fortunate neighbors!

“Hotel for Dogs.” For you early risers, young people, and the young at heart, “Hotel for Dogs,” a popular children’s movie, will be shown Saturday, Nov. 7 as a benefit for a planned dog park right here in El Cerrito. The park, along the Ohlone Greenway at Potrero, will be named for the late Bruce King, a city employee who was known for his love of dogs. 10 a.m. $7.

Cerrito Theater needs Friends who love plants!

Brandon Holmes and Jessica Tudor plant a redbud tree behind the theater as Bonnie MacKenzie, a member of friends of the Cerrito Theater, ensures proper orientation

Brandon Holmes and Jessica Tudor plant a redbud tree behind the theater as Bonnie MacKenzie, a member of friends of the Cerrito Theater, ensures proper orientation

On Greening El Cerrito Day, three members of Friends of the Cerrito Theater along with three people who help run our favorite theater, planted two redbud trees in the sidewalk strip behind the theater on Kearney Street.

Kudos are due to Friends Bonnie MacKenzie, whose in-depth knowledge of gardening was a godsend, and to Art Tressler and Dave Weinstein. Besides planting the trees, we weeded and removed debris.

But more needs to be done! There is agapanthus to divide, groundcover to install, and general upkeep. We may also want to do some native plantings in the future to supplement the native species that are already growing these.

This is a great chance to make a contribution to the community! Are you interested in helping green our favorite theater?

Contact Dave Weinstein, 510-524-1737 or davidsweinstein@yahoo.com.